Thursday morning news - April 22, 2021

JILL NELSON, REPORTER: DOJ launches probe into Minneapolis police » The Department of Justice has opened an investigation into policing practices in Minneapolis. U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland made the announcement Wednesday.

GARLAND: The investigation I am announcing today will assess whether the Minneapolis police department engages in a pattern or practice of using excessive force, including during protests. The investigation will also assess whether the MPD engages in discriminatory conduct, and whether its treatment of those with behavioral health disabilities is unlawful.

The announcement came less than 24 hours after a Minneapolis jury convicted former police officer Derek Chauvin of murder and manslaughter in the death of George Floyd.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said he welcomed the investigation as “an opportunity to continue working toward deep change and accountability in the Minneapolis Police Department.”

The state’s Department of Human Rights is also reviewing the department’s policies and practices. It’s looking for evidence of systemic discrimination during the last 10 years.

White House pushes for federal police reform act » Meanwhile in Washington, President Biden is pushing Congress to pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act.

BIDEN: As we saw in this trial from the fellow officers who testified, most men and women who wear the badge serve their communities honorably. But those few who fail to meet that standard must be held accountable.

The bill would ban restraining techniques like the chokehold used against Floyd. It would also ban no-knock warrants and end qualified immunity. That’s the policy that protects law enforcement officers from most civil lawsuits. And it would create a national registry for police misconduct.

But because police departments are local entities, the bill cannot force them to comply. Instead, it ties federal funding to measures it wants departments to adopt.

Congressman Steve Scalise of Louisiana said he thought some measures could win bipartisan support. But he criticized House Democrats for passing the bill in March without any effort to gain Republican support.

SCALISE: You look at what the Democrats have proposed, and it’s things like taking away qualified immunity. That is defunding police in a different way. You talk to good cops all across the country. They say if they’re exposed in that kind of way, they won’t stay in law enforcement. You won’t be able to recruit good police officers.

The qualified immunity provision in particular is a sticking point for Republicans. But Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said he’s not giving up on the bill.

SCHUMER: We will not rest until the Senate passes strong legislation to end the systemic bias in law enforcement.

Ohio police shooting under investigation » The Ohio Attorney General’s Office is investigating a police shooting in Columbus that left a teenage girl dead.

Body camera footage released Wednesday appears to show the teen attacking two other women with a knife before an officer shoots her.

Interim Columbus Police Chief Michael Woods said the officer would be taken off patrol while the department conducts a criminal investigation.

WOODS: Deadly force can be used to protect yourself or the protection of a third person. So that is within the policy and that is within the law. That is what the law says. Whether this complies with that, will be part of that investigation.

Family members identified the teen as 15-year-old Ma’Khia Bryant. Police were responding to a 9-1-1 call about a girl attacking others with a knife. It wasn’t immediately clear Wednesday who made that call.

Putin threatens West in annual address »

SOUND: CLAPPING, MUSIC

Russian President Vladimir Putin gave his annual state-of-the-nation address Wednesday.

PUTIN: SPEAKING RUSSIAN

In it, he warned Western nations against crossing a “red line in respect to Russia.” Putin claimed Moscow wants good relationships with all members of the international community. But he said Russia’s response would be “asymmetrical, quick and tough” for any country that interferes in what he called the country’s core national security interests.

That is likely a reference to Russia’s troop buildup on its border with Ukraine. The Kremlin has dismissed concerns expressed by the United States and others about possible military action. Cease-fire violations in the seven-year conflict between Russian-backed separatists and Ukrainian forces have escalated in recent weeks.

Judge orders LA to address homelessness » A federal judge has ordered Los Angeles to find housing for all of the homeless people now camped on Skid Row. WORLD’s Paul Butler reports.

PAUL BUTLER, REPORTER: Judge David O. Carter gave the city and Los Angeles county 180 days to come up with shelter for the more than 66,000 people now living on the streets. Women and children must have housing within 90 days.

The order came a day after LA Mayor Eric Garcetti pledged to spend nearly $1 billion dollars over the next year to address the problem. Carter ordered Garcetti to put that money in an escrow account. And he gave the mayor seven days to come up with a plan for spending it.

The judge’s ruling stems from a lawsuit filed last year by a group of business owners, residents and community leaders. It accuses the city and county of failing to address the desperation that homeless people face.

Garcetti said he shared the judge’s sense of urgency but didn’t know whether his proposed solution was feasible. An attorney representing LA County said it might appeal.

Reporting for WORLD, I’m Paul Butler.

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