
Justice Department opens probe of Minneapolis police after Chauvin conviction
CBSN
Washington — Attorney General Merrick Garland announced Wednesday the Justice Department has opened a civil investigation into the Minneapolis Police Department's policing practices following the conviction of former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin for the death of George Floyd. Floyd's killing, caught on camera, shocked the nation and sparked widespread protests against police brutality.
In brief remarks from the Justice Department, Garland said the sweeping probe will determine whether the Minneapolis Police Department engages in a "pattern or practice" of unconstitutional or unlawful policing. The new civil investigation is separate from an ongoing federal criminal probe into Floyd's death from the Justice Department. While Garland praised the verdict rendered by the Hennepin County, Minnesota, jury Tuesday, he said it "does not address potentially systemic policing issues" in Minneapolis.
Santa Fe, New Mexico — A representative for the estate of actor Gene Hackman is seeking to block the public release of autopsy and investigative reports, especially photographs and police body-camera video related to the recent deaths of Hackman and wife Betsy Arakawa after their partially mummified bodies were discovered at their New Mexico home in February.

In the past year, over 135 million passengers traveled to the U.S. from other countries. To infectious disease experts, that represents 135 million chances for an outbreak to begin. To identify and stop the next potential pandemic, government disease detectives have been discreetly searching for viral pathogens in wastewater from airplanes. Experts are worried that these efforts may not be enough.