Union members under fire for booting National Guard from St. Paul Labor Center

Union members in St. Paul kicked out Minnesota National Guard soldiers who were using the St. Paul Labor Center on West 7th Street as a temporary staging area Wednesday night.

In a video posted on Facebook by a registered nurse and member of the Minnesota Nurses Association, union members can be seen and heard mocking the soldiers and telling them to 'get out' and 'go home.'

It happened as the National Guard was mobilizing in the aftermath of the killing of Daunte Wright by a Brooklyn Center police officer.

'We came down here to confront them,' Cliff Willmeng, a registered nurse, says on the video he posted. 'The labor movement and the National Guard has had a river of blood between the two institutions.'

Charles Coolidge, Medal of Honor Recipient Who Fought Boldly in WWII, Dead at 99

8 Apr 2021

Military.com | By Stephen Losey

Charles Coolidge, one of the nation's most storied World War II veterans and a Medal of Honor recipient, has died at the age of 99.

Coolidge passed away Tuesday at Memorial Hospital in Chattanooga, Tennessee, while surrounded by his family, the Charles H. Coolidge National Medal of Honor Heritage Center announced.

"Tennessee has lost a beloved son and one of its bravest men," Coolidge's grandson Brad wrote in the obituary posted by the center, also located in Chattanooga.

Before his death, Coolidge was the oldest living Medal of Honor recipient. There is now only one other living recipient who was recognized for actions during World War II, Iwo Jima veteran Marine Cpl. Hershel "Woody" Williams. According to the National World War II Museum's website, there were 473 Medal of Honor recipients from that war.

'Enough is enough': Law enforcement partners announce plan to reopen George Floyd Square

Wednesday afternoon, law enforcement leaders from local and federal departments came together to announce a new plan to reopen George Floyd Square in Minneapolis and hold those who are committing violence accountable.

Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo recognized it's an important area for many people but acknowledged that violence there has gotten out of hand, calling it "staggering and unacceptable."

Arradondo, along with the U.S. Attorney's Office, Hennepin County Sheriff's Office, FBI Minneapolis Field Office and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, said the focus will now shift to restoring order in the area.

"I'm putting them on notice, enough is enough. Our community will not tolerate this anymore," Arradondo said when asked about those contributing to the violence.

Derek Chauvin's defense asks to delay and move trial in light of Minneapolis settlement with George Floyd's family

Derek Chauvin's defense attorney Eric Nelson asked the court Monday to delay Chauvin's criminal trial and move the venue in the wake of a $27 million civil settlement between Minneapolis and George Floyd's family.

In a hearing Monday, Nelson said he is "gravely concerned" by the announcement, calling it "incredibly prejudicial."

"It's amazing to me, they had a press conference on Friday, where the mayor of Minneapolis is on stage with city council, and they're using very, what I would say, very well-designed terminology. 'The unanimous decision of the city council,' for example. It just goes straight to the heart of the dangers of pretrial publicity in this case," Nelson said.

Nelson said the court should "strongly consider" their request to delay the trial and move it outside of Hennepin County. He also asked for extra peremptory strikes and re-questioning of jurors who had been selected.

Minneapolis City Council approves $27M settlement in George Floyd family lawsuit

The city of Minneapolis on Friday agreed to pay $27 million to settle a civil lawsuit from George Floyd's family over the Black man's death in police custody, even as jury selection continued in a former officer's murder trial.

The Minneapolis City Council emerged from a closed session to announce the record settlement, which includes $500,000 for the neighborhood where Floyd was arrested. Floyd family attorney Ben Crump called a news conference for 1 p.m. that was to include family members.

Crump, in a prepared statement, said it was the largest pretrial civil rights settlement ever, and "sends a powerful message that Black lives do matter and police brutality against people of color must end."

Floyd was declared dead on May 25 after Derek Chauvin, a former officer who is white, pressed his knee against his neck for about nine minutes. Floyd's death sparked sometimes violent protests in Minneapolis and beyond and led to a national reckoning on racial justice.

Chinatown Shop Owner Who Saved Woman from Robbery By Firing Gun is Arrested, Bailed Out

An Oakland Chinatown liquor store owner was arrested and bailed out after firing his gun four times to save a woman in her 30s from a violent robbery on Monday. The 36-year-old store owner faces one count of felony assault with a firearm. He was bailed out on Tuesday at $60,000, the Alameda County Sheriff’s department said, according to KTVU. The investigation into the case is ongoing.

New Oakland Chief of Police LeRonne Armstrong addressed the incident on Tuesday, saying he would prefer residents to call the authorities rather than getting involved, CBS San Francisco reported. “Our message really is that we don’t want to see our business owners or others begin to arm themselves,” the police chief told reporters. “We would really prefer them to be good witnesses and give us the observations that they have; share that information, call law enforcement immediately and let OPD respond and follow up. What we really don’t want to do is bring any additional issues that threaten safety into the equation.”

Armstrong also pointed out the problem authorities may face when they cannot determine who the assailant is when armed citizens intervene. Another issue the police chief raised is the potential injuries when armed citizens fire their weapons in the community. “Particularly, we don’t want people to fire weapons into our community,” he said. “When weapons are fired in our community, there could be unintended victims; people who are hit by gunfire. And we want to avoid that as much as we can.” Carl Chan, head of the Chinatown Chamber of Commerce, spoke to other community members and said they felt sad “that someone is trying to help others and ends up to be the one arrested or being in custody.” “So, I think many of the people feel strongly that we should be supporting the store owner,” he added.

Chan continues to appeal for more police patrols in Oakland Chinatown as armed security guards, funded by donations from the community, patrol the streets. However, he fears that without more cops, business owners might have to resort to arming themselves and take matters into their own hands. “I am so worried because I heard the news that many people are trying to find ways to protect themselves,” Chan said. “And we do not believe that violence against violence is the way to go.”

Tennessee principal apologizes for 'All Lives Matter' theme for Black History Month

The principal at a Chattanooga, Tennessee, middle school has apologized after announcing that the school's Black History Month theme would be "All Lives Matter."

East Ridge Middle School announced the theme in its weekly newsletter, which was sent out to families Sunday.

Principal Christy Caldwell Drake issued an apology Monday, explaining that her inspiration for the theme was a mural in the school which says "Where Every Child Matters."

"I want to apologize for not more fully considering the context of that theme," she wrote in a letter that was sent to families.

Walz seeks at least $4.2 million for securing Chauvin trial in March

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz expects to send hundreds of state law enforcement agents into Minneapolis to secure the March trial of Derek Chauvin, the former police officer accused of murdering George Floyd.

Walz's budget proposal asks lawmakers for at least $4.2 million -- and likely more through the creation of a special fund -- to pay for the security costs.

Here's the breakdown:

$2.382 million for State Patrol trooper overtime, lodging, food and supplies, which Walz's administration describes as "conservatively estimated." The state expects 400 troopers and 70 supervisors to be deployed to the Twin Cities during the trials.

$1.485 million for DNR officers. The state plans to send 125 officers to the Twin Cities, at an estimated cost of $1,200 per officer per day.

$385,000 for Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement officers. Seven officers would respond during the trials.