Opening statements in Chauvin trial begin this morning

Welcome to the last week of March! Here are top headlines for your Monday morning:

Buckle up! Temps and winds will be rising sharply today. Highs will reach the mid-60s to lower 70s today with winds gusting at 40 to 50 mph. Get the latest from Updraft.

Opening statements are set for this morning in Minnesota’s most high profile criminal trial in recent years.

The former Minneapolis police officer faces second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter charges in the killing of George Floyd. Floyd's death sparked protests in Minnesota and across the nation calling for police reform and racial justice. It will be key evidence for the prosecution's argument that Chauvin caused the death of Floyd. The defense, however, is expected to argue that Floyd's medical conditions were a factor in his death.

Watch the opening statements starting 9 a.m. on MPRNews.org or our Facebook page.

Listen to the latest episode of our new podcast, In Front of Our Eyes, to catch up with the latest on the trial, and hear community voices as a series of healing events aims to help people reliving trauma.

The Chauvin trial is the first time in state history we get to see every twist and turn of a case inside a Minnesota courtroom.

Unlike Iowa, Wisconsin and other states, Minnesota courts had long opposed electronic media coverage -- until a judge in Chauvin's trial decided to allow the court proceedings to be broadcast. While you can watch the livestream of the trial on MPR News and other media outlets, you don’t need social media, internet access or even cable to watch -- In the Twin Cities, all it takes is a television set with antenna.

On the eve of the opening statements, Gov. Walz pleaded with Minnesotans: Make your voices heard through nonviolence.

In his third State of the State address, delivered from a Mankato classroom where he once taught, Gov. Tim Walz rallied Minnesotans for a final push against COVID-19 and urged calm as the ex-cop's trial continues. “Practice your First Amendment right — but please heed Dr. King’s advice that nonviolence is the only way to truly move hearts and create change."

With the record vaccination pace over the weekend, "normalcy is on the horizon."

Minnesota is well-positioned to contain future spread as more people access vaccines, Gov. Walz said during his Sunday address. The hopeful remarks came as the state reported nearly 150,000 COVID-19 shots administered over the weekend. And starting tomorrow, the state will open the vaccine eligibility to anyone 16 and older.

Learn ways to sign up for a COVID-19 vaccine in Minnesota through this FAQ.

Here are Minnesota’s latest COVID-19 statistics:

4 people died and 130 were rescued amid record flooding in Nashville.

Floodwaters submerged roads and left people clinging to trees; 49 roads were completely closed as the storm drenched the area in a total of 7 inches of rain. Nashville-area residents took to social media to share photos and videos of flooded roads, submerged vehicles and cleanup efforts getting underway.

The giant ship stuck in the Suez Canal has been "partially refloated" but is still blocking traffic, holding up $9 billion each day.

Nearly a week ago, the skyscraper-sized container ship, Ever Given, got stuck sideways in the crucial waterway, creating a massive traffic jam. The obstruction is straining supply chains already burdened by the coronavirus pandemic. While engineers were able to partially refloat the ship on Monday, there are no details about when it might be fully freed.

🎧 Tune in to stay informed and connected. Here's what's coming up on MPR News today.

— Jiwon Choi, MPR News | Find me on Twitter @ChoiGEE1