Stories from June 5, 2020

Floyd demonstrators vow to sustain momentum until change happens
Protesters stirred by the police killing of George Floyd are vowing to turn an extraordinary outpouring of grief into a sustained movement as demonstrations shift to a calmer, but no less determined, focus on addressing racial injustice.
Gov. Walz announced more easing of coronavirus restrictions in Minnesota starting on Wednesday. The state will allow indoor restaurant dining, more capacity at religious institutions and limited reopenings of pools, gyms and more. MPR News evening update for June 5, 2020. Hosted by Nina Moini. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.
How to assess risk during a global pandemic
There’s still much we don’t know about the coronavirus. But we can’t stop living. How do we make decisions for ourselves and our families that are good enough?
Trump says strong economy will bring racial justice
The president intimates that George Floyd, killed by police, would be happy with the lower than expected unemployment rate.
Walz tours devastated Minneapolis businesses
Gov. Tim Walz said as Minnesota communities devastated by rioting rebuild, all efforts must be made to bring them back to life in their own image. Walz and several other DFL politicians toured some of the hardest-hit areas of Minneapolis Friday morning.
Minneapolis to ban police chokeholds in wake of Floyd death
Negotiators for the city of Minneapolis agreed with the state Friday to ban the use of chokeholds by police and to require officers to report and intervene anytime they see an unauthorized use of force by another officer.
In Focus: Black Trauma and Policing
In partnership with MPR’s Call To Mind mental health initiative, MPR News host Angela Davis moderated a livestream virtual conversation about the most recent high-profile incident to become an example of historic racial injustice.
U of M president calls for in-person classes to resume in fall
University of Minnesota President Joan Gabel will recommend regents reopen the U to in-person instruction and reopen residence halls, dining facilities and other campus services for the fall semester, within public health guidelines.
Holy Land grocery CEO faces boycotts after daughter’s past racist posts resurface
In an interview with Sahan Journal, Majdi Wadi said he will hire a consultant to train employees against bias and examine any issues of racism at Holy Land. “I am ready to conduct an investigation,” he said. “I’m ready for any consequences.”
Fargo's George Floyd event remains peaceful, despite threats
Hundreds of people attended a memorial for George Floyd in North Dakota's largest city, which ended with a Fargo police officer standing arm-in-arm with event organizers during a final song. 
Witness: Floyd didn't resist arrest, tried to defuse things
A man who was with George Floyd on the night he died said his friend did not resist arrest and instead tried to defuse the situation before he ended up handcuffed on the ground and pleading for air as an officer pressed a knee against his neck.
After a quiet and sunny Friday, the weather turns active again over the weekend and into early next week, including a severe weather risk for northwestern Minnesota.  Meanwhile, temperatures rise into the 90s by Monday.
The Minneapolis City Council will hold an emergency meeting Friday about the future of the city’s police department. The meeting comes amid fallout for the department after George Floyd was killed last week while in police custody.
U.S. unemployment drops unexpectedly to 13.3% amid outbreak
U.S. employers unexpectedly added jobs last month as the unemployment rate declined, signs that people are returning to work as states reopen their economies. President Trump celebrated the news.
Police injure protester in Buffalo as demonstrations continue nationwide
Buffalo, N.Y., officers, sweeping through an area to be cleared after curfew, shoved a man. He hit his head and bled onto the sidewalk. Also in New York City, officers moved against curfew violators.
The former officer who kneeled on George Floyd’s neck will appear in court on Monday. Bail was set yesterday for the other three officers accused of aiding and abetting. This is an MPR News morning update for June 5th, 2020. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.
Friday brings fairly comfortable weather with mostly sunny skies, lower humidity, and highs mostly in the 70s and low 80s.
Former Joint Chiefs chair condemns Trump's threat to use military at protests
In rare remarks, retired Gen. Martin Dempsey rebuked the president's threat to use military troops against protesters as "dangerous," saying it would hurt relations between the military and civilians.
'We can’t let this go': Calls for justice, changes as George Floyd honored in Minneapolis
Hundreds of family, friends, elected officials, celebrities and civil rights activists honored George Floyd in Minneapolis, the first stop in a series of memorials across the country.
'This is part of their history': Song, sorrow envelop Minneapolis park during Floyd memorial
As members of George Floyd's family remembered his life inside the chapel at North Central University in Minneapolis, a few hundred people gathered in a nearby park to listen. The sounds of song and sorrow poured through speakers placed outside the building for all to hear.
June 5 update on COVID-19 in MN: Walz eases more life, business curbs
“COVID is still with us, but we gotta live with it,” Gov. Tim Walz said Friday as he announced a further loosening of restrictions on restaurants, salons and barbershops, religious services and other parts of daily life amid some evidence the pandemic may be plateauing.
Being black in America: 'We have a place in this world, too'
As protests continue around the country in response to several high-profile deaths of African Americans in recent weeks, black people say they are frustrated, fearful and fatigued.
Pressure eases on farmers to destroy hogs as meatpacking operations restart
When COVID-19 infections forced pork companies to close processing plants, some farmers predicted that it would force them to euthanize millions of hogs. The actual number has been much lower.
Rashad Turner had wanted to be a cop. He founded a Black Lives Matter chapter instead
The St. Paul native trained to be a police officer — because he wanted to help. To him, the cops were the good guys. But what once felt like a calling to wear a badge ended long ago.
As the nation chants her name, Breonna Taylor's family grieves a life 'robbed'
Breonna Taylor's family and friends mourn her death — and process what it means for her to become a national symbol. Police in Louisville, Ky., shot and killed the 26-year-old EMT in March.
MN county attorneys: State AG office should handle police deadly force cases
County prosecutors, who work closely with police on criminal cases, have been accused of having a conflict of interest in prosecuting cases against cops. The Minnesota County Attorneys Association acknowledged that sentiment and said it is important that people have faith in the process.
Authors retract hydroxychloroquine study, citing concern over data
A paper suggesting hydroxychloroquine increases the risk of death for patients with COVID-19 has been retracted by three of its authors because they were not able to verify the data used in the study.