Remembering Daunte Wright, who had 'a big heart and a bright smile'

Good morning, Minnesota.

Today is Earth Day, and we'll have pleasant weather for any outdoor activities. Almost all of Minnesota makes it into the 60s with mostly sunny skies. Get the latest from Updraft.

Today, Daunte Wright's family celebrates the man's life during a funeral in Minneapolis.

He was shot and killed by a Brooklyn Center police officer a week and a half ago during a traffic stop. The 20-year-old's mother says he was headed to the carwash when he called to tell her he was pulled over for having an air freshener hanging from his rear view mirror. Minutes later, he was dead.

Katie Wright says her son was a loving father.

"My son was an amazing, loving kid. he had a big heart. ... He had a smile that would light up the room, it was so big and bright."

National civil rights leaders will speak at the service and Rev. Al Sharpton is expected to deliver the eulogy for Daunte Wright.

In the wake of Chauvin verdicts, the Department of Justice is launching an extensive investigation to see if there's a pattern of unlawful policing within the Minneapolis police.

Federal officials are using one of its strongest tools to compel police departments to change, and address practices that lead to racial discrimination and excessive force. The Justice Department will investigate police policies, training, supervision and use of force, including during protests, Attorney General Merrick Garland said Wednesday.

If officials do find there are concerns that the MPD isn’t operating lawfully, they’ll release a lengthy report and negotiate what’s called a “consent decree," which is a contract between the department and the federal government, making certain promises about steps they’ll take and policies they’ll change.

A bill in the state House to limit police powers is far from certain to reach the governor’s desk.

The measure would set new standards for police, including no-knock warrants to be severely limited. So would the ability of police to pull over drivers solely because a tail light is out, an air freshener is dangling from the rearview mirror or the vehicle registration is out of date. The Republican-led Senate plans hearings later next week on an unspecified set of policing bills, but Majority Leader Paul Gazelka said the Senate won’t rush into changes.

Minnesota's vaccination pace slips as supplies stall.

Minnesota’s COVID-19 numbers continue to suggest the recent wave of new cases may have crested, but the race is still on to get more Minnesotans vaccinated. The vaccination pace peaked at more than 40,000 first doses per day last week. Now, it looks like the state is headed for half that and may last for several weeks -- at about 27,000 first doses per day.

The vaccination efforts have been hampered recently by supply cuts, particularly in the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which federal authorities paused last week as they investigate the possibility of rare side effects associated with the shot.

-- Jiwon Choi, MPR News, @CHOIGEE1