Minneapolis officials estimate damage at $55 Million

By The Associated Press undefined

MINNEAPOLIS — Officials in Minneapolis say the looting and property damage that following the death of George Floyd has caused at least $55 million in destruction.
Vandals damaged or set fire to at least 220 buildings in the city where Floyd died, but that number is expected to go up, city officials said.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey will ask for state and federal aid to help rebuild after the civil unrest. Until that happens, community members are pitching in to support Minneapolis neighborhoods.
More than $1 million has been raised to help businesses in north Minneapolis, WCCO-TV reported. The West Broadway Business and Area Coalition says it will announce how they plan to use the money in the coming weeks.
The violence follows the death of Floyd, a handcuffed black man who died May 25 after a white Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee into Floyd’s neck, ignoring Floyd’s cries that he couldn’t breathe.
Prosecutors upgraded charges against the officer, Derek Chauvin, to second-degree murder on Wednesday and charged three other officers with aiding and abetting in the case that has rocked the nation with protests over race and police brutality.

Intruder Killed in Home Invasion in Brentwood

(Brentwood, Pa.) Allegheny County detectives are investigating an incident that happened around 10 p.m. Wednesday June 3, 2020 on West Bellecrest Avenue in Brentwood.

Detectives said that a home invasion occurred and during the home invasion the intruder was shot and killed by the residents of the home.

The intruder was pronounced dead at the scene and has not been identified.

Autopsy report shows Floyd had tested positive for COVID-19

Autopsy report shows Floyd had tested positive for COVID-19
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A full autopsy of George Floyd, the handcuffed black man who died after being restrained by Minneapolis police, has been released and provides several clinical details, including that Floyd had previously tested positive for COVID-19. The 20-page report released by the Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office came after the coroner’s office released summary findings Monday that Floyd had a heart attack while being restrained by officers, and classified his May 25 death as a homicide. Bystander video showing Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin pressing his knee on Floyd’s neck, ignoring Floyd’s pleas until he eventually stopped moving, has sparked nationwide protests. The report also said Floyd’s lungs appeared healthy but he had some narrowing of arteries in the heart.

Prosecutors charge 3 more officers in George Floyd’s death

Prosecutors charge 3 more officers in George Floyd’s death
By AMY FORLITI, STEVE KARNOWSKI and TIM SULLIVAN Associated Press
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Prosecutors have charged three more police officers in the death of George Floyd and filed a new, tougher charge against the officer at the center of the case. The move delivers a victory to protesters who have filled the streets from coast to coast to fight police brutality and racial injustice. The most serious charge was filed against Derek Chauvin, who was caught on video pressing his knee to Floyd’s neck and now must defend himself against an accusation of second-degree murder. The three other officers at the scene were charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. All four were fired last week.

Storm kills 3, rips roof off 7-story apartment building in Pa.

Storm kills 3, rips roof off 7-story apartment building
NORRISTOWN, Pa. (AP) — Authorities say a brief but severe storm killed three people in southeastern Pennsylvania and ripped the roof off a seven-story apartment building. Montgomery County officials say the three fatalities occurred in separate incidents during Wednesday’s noontime storm, two in Lower Merion Township and one in Lower Moreland. The chair of Montgomery County’s board of commissioners, Dr. Valerie Arkoosh, said there were also a number of serious fires and the loss of the seven-story apartment building’s roof left 150 units uninhabitable. Arkoosh said some areas may be without power for several days, and many nursing homes are on generator backup.

Pa. AG Shapiro Charges Man With Selling Dynamite In Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA ― Attorney General Josh Shapiro today announced the arrest of a man attempting to sell illegal, homemade dynamite in the Philadelphia area. Office of Attorney General agents — in partnership with the ATF and the Philadelphia Police Department — staged a sting operation that resulted in the charge and arrest of Talib Crump, 26, in the Frankford section of Philadelphia.

“Over the past several days in Philadelphia, we have seen brave, courageous people practice their constitutional right to peacefully protest — all in the name of justice,” said Attorney General Shapiro in Wednesday’s press conference. “I will not let violence hijack this righteous cause, at this important moment, when thousands of people in our streets are calling for change. We will not allow this movement to be co-opted by opportunists or people who cause violent distractions.”

The defendant was advertising sticks of dynamite for sale on Instagram. Agents initiated contact to make a purchase, and during the negotiation of the sale, Crump left a voicemail alleging that dynamite was the most effective method to blow up an ATM and steal its contents.

The defendant then instructed the agent on how to properly place the sticks of dynamite to quickly destroy an ATM. Crump also told the agent that the previous night, June 1, he blew up several ATMs and stole approximately $8,500 from one machine.

Crump is being charged with one count of possession of weapons of mass destruction, one count of risking a catastrophe, one count of criminal use of a communication facility, and related charges.

The arrest comes as a result of a partnership between the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General’s Gun Violence Task Force, Bureau of Narcotics Investigations and Organized Crime Section, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Philadelphia Police Department.

This is an ongoing investigation. All charges discussed are accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Schools can reopen in-person teaching on July 1

Officials: Schools can reopen in-person teaching on July 1
By MARK SCOLFORO Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Elementary and secondary schools inside Pennsylvania’s less restrictive reopening zones are getting the OK to resume teaching in person and other activities at the end of month. The Education Department said school boards in the green and yellow zones under the stoplight-colored reopening system must first adopt health and safety procedures that meet federal and state guidelines. The state’s more than 300 colleges and other post-secondary institutions can restart on Friday if they have a plan to keep students and teachers safe, the agency announced.

Statue of divisive Philadelphia Mayor Frank Rizzo is removed

Statue of divisive Philadelphia Mayor Frank Rizzo is removed
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Workers have removed the statue of divisive former Philadelphia Mayor and Police Commissioner Frank Rizzo. A crane lifted the 10-foot bronze statue in the wee hours of Wednesday and workers shook it from its base outside a public building across from City Hall. Mayor Jim Kenney had already said he planned to move the statue this month after it was defaced during a protest over the death of George Floyd. The statue was frequently targeted by vandals, and call to remove it have grown louder in recent years. Rizzo had a reputation for being tough both on crime and on racial minorities.

Johnny Majors, Former Tennessee and Pitt coach, Dies At 85

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Johnny Majors, the coach of Pittsburgh’s 1976 national championship team and a former coach and star player at Tennessee, has died. He was 85. Majors died Wednesday at home, according to a statement from his wife. Majors compiled a 185-137-10 record in 29 seasons as a head coach at Iowa State, Pittsburgh and Tennessee. He finished second to Notre Dame’s Paul Hornung in the 1956 Heisman Trophy balloting.

Chris Archer Out For 2020 Season

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Chris Archer won’t pitch for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2020 and his time with the club may be over.

Pittsburgh announced Wednesday that 31-year-old Archer underwent surgery to relieve symptoms of thoracic outlet syndrome. The procedure was conducted on Tuesday in St. Louis, and the Pirates said Archer will not be available this season if Major League Baseball finds a way to put together a truncated schedule.

The Pirates were banking on a bounce back year by Archer, who is 6-12 with a 4.92 ERA in 33 starts since he was acquired from Tampa Bay at the 2018 trade deadline for outfielder Austin Meadows and pitcher Tyler Glasnow. Archer has struggled to find any consistency with the Pirates, while Meadows became an All-Star last season and Glasnow also blossomed.

Archer’s contract includes a $9 million salary this year, but he will receive only a portion due to the coronavirus pandemic. Pittsburgh holds an $11 million club option for 2021, with a $250,000 buyout.