Crime, Law and Justice

Lawsuit challenges Minnesota's mask mandate
A lawsuit filed in federal court is challenging the constitutionality of the mask-wearing mandate that Gov. Walz issued to fight COVID-19.
‘Hey, don’t do what you’re doing’: Teaching cops to say something if they see something
Amid growing calls for police reform in the wake of Floyd’s death, law enforcement agencies around the country are rethinking their expectations for officers who witness misconduct by fellow officers. Some departments, including St. Paul, are planning to train officers to speak up when they see a colleague do wrong.
Minneapolis crime continues to spike as crucial decisions on police near
Violent crime continues to climb to levels not seen in the last several years. It’s happening at a time when the number of police officers on the street is declining and members of the City Council are supporting a change to the charter that would eliminate the department as we know it.
Walz again requests federal help to rebuild after unrest
Gov. Tim Walz is again asking for federal help to rebuild from the unrest that followed George Floyd's killing. Last month, Walz had asked President Donald Trump to declare a “major disaster” in a request to FEMA because of extensive damage to public infrastructure. The federal government denied that request. 
Investigation launched into leaked Floyd bodycam video
Authorities in Hennepin County are investigating how officer body camera video of George Floyd’s final moments was leaked to a British tabloid after the newspaper published the footage on its website Monday.
Bloomington police say the boy walked away from his apartment Monday morning near 82nd Street and Lyndale Avenue in his pajamas. He was found later in the morning inside a local business.
Orphaned toddler grows up in shadow of El Paso massacre, coronavirus
It will be years before 1-year-old Paul Anchondo learns what happened to his parents in an event that many El Paso residents still struggle to comprehend. Andre and Jordan Anchondo died one year ago while shielding their baby during a mass shooting at a Walmart store.
Washington farmworkers ask state Supreme Court for overtime pay
Farmworkers in Washington state have gone to court to demand overtime pay. Coronavirus outbreaks in agricultural communities have focused new attention on working conditions and pay on farms.
El Paso marks Walmart shooting anniversary amid pandemic
Events to mark the anniversary of the shooting that claimed 23 lives in El Paso have taken on a new look amid the pandemic: parks lit with lanterns that people can walk or drive through, and private tours for victims' families at a museum exhibit of items preserved from a makeshift memorial.