Daunte Wright, England Reopens, and Reasons to Daydream
A Minneapolis officer says she mistakenly pulled her gun instead of her Taser in the killing of Daunte Wright. This and more in today's digest.
Good morning. It's Tuesday, April 13, and we're covering more details on a Minneapolis police shooting, loosened COVID-19 restrictions in England, and much more. Have feedback? Let us know at [email protected]. First time reading? Sign up here. NEED TO KNOW
Daunte WrightPolice officials in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, said yesterday an officer who fatally shot a motorist during a Sunday traffic stop mistakenly pulled their gun instead of their Taser. Twenty-year-old Duante Wright, a Black man, had been pulled over in the early afternoon for a traffic violation. Officers attempted to detain him after finding he had an outstanding warrant; Wright attempted to get back in the vehicle and flee. Body camera footage from the incident (view here, warning: sensitive content) shows an officer yelling "Taser" before discharging their firearm. Wright was pronounced dead a few blocks from the scene, where his vehicle crashed. The killing sparked protests across the Minneapolis region, with a reported 40 people arrested last night. Tensions in the area are already high in anticipation of a verdict in the Derek Chauvin murder trial. The prosecution is expected to rest its case today; George Floyd's brother took the stand yesterday. Chauvin's defense will make opening statements today. See a recap of the trial here. England ReopensRevelers in England returned to the pubs yesterday, albeit outdoors, as the country loosened a number of COVID-19 restrictions. Britain had been under one of the globe's strictest lockdowns for months, but raced ahead in efforts to vaccinate its population—some experts believe the country reached herd immunity this week. The government aims to lift all restrictions by June 21. See photos from the first day back here. Separately, a top Chinese health official appeared to admit the country's COVID-19 vaccines are not as effective as originally believed. China has released limited data on its main drug from SinoVac (how it works), but a preliminary trial in Brazil suggested just slightly over 50% efficacy when accounting for asymptomatic cases. The official later walked back his comments. In the US, new COVID-19 cases have risen nearly 30% over three weeks, with a seven-day average of about 70,000 new cases each day. However, five states—Michigan, New York, Florida, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey—make up about 40% of new cases. Government officials called on Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) to reimpose restrictions, with the state having seen a 400% increase in cases since early March and many hospitals again reaching capacity. Whitmer has resisted more restrictions so far. The rise comes as the US faces a shortage of the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine due to manufacturing problems at a Maryland facility. More than 46% of the adult US population has received at least one vaccine dose; see how your state is doing here. 'The Jinx' Trial to Resume Officials announced the trial of eccentric real estate heir and suspected serial killer Robert Durst will resume May 17, more than 14 months after it was suspended due to the then-emerging pandemic. The 78-year-old Durst is charged with the killing of friend Susan Berman two decades ago, allegedly to conceal his involvement in the 1982 disappearance of his wife Kathleen. The details of the case are incredibly strange ($$, LAT); Durst is also suspected of killing his friend Morris Black to hide his identity while living in Galveston, Texas, posing as a mute female botanist. Durst burst back into public consciousness following HBO's 2015 documentary "The Jinx," in which Durst appeared to inadvertently admit to the murders while speaking to himself in a bathroom after forgetting to turn off his microphone. He was taken into custody the day before the final episode aired. Watch the self-incriminating clip here. Trust in media is at an all-time low. Help spread the word about 1440. START INSIDE
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How Austin Won the PandemicTexas Monthly | Michael Agresta. For years, Austin, Texas, has enchanted Bay Area techies with its hip atmosphere and the promise of cheaper and more available housing. With the pandemic as a tipping point, the city's tech sector boomed over the past year, despite (or because of) the broader economic upheaval. (Read) The Sixth WaveMIT Press Reader | Per Espen Stoknes. The past three centuries have seen five waves of innovative disruption that not only created new industries, but reshaped the world's social, political, and cultural boundaries. Are we on the verge of a sixth? (Read) MORE THAN ULTIMATE
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Go ahead, keep on daydreaming. Watch a butterfly construct and emerge from its cocoon. Kitten with rare two-toned face rescued from construction site. Prince Harry releases a eulogy for his grandfather. Future SpaceX spacecraft will have observation domes. Ugh millennials: You're about to take over the housing market. Cadet smashes women's record for West Point's obstacle course. Domino's Pizza to launch robot pizza delivery in Houston. Clickbait: Boston nurse rescued from mud. Historybook: President Thomas Jefferson born (1743); New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art founded (1870); Author Eudora Welty born (1909); Sidney Poitier becomes first Black male to win Best Actor at Oscars (1964). 
"I always wanted to be someone better the next day than I was the day before." - Sidney Poitier Enjoy reading? Forward this email to a friend. |