Figure Open Studio September 28

The Latest News Headlines

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  Bicyclist dead after westside hit and run, FHP searching for suspect

  A 66-year-old Jacksonville man is dead after an SUV crashed into him while riding his bicycle last night on the westside.  The Florida Highway Patrol says around 9:45 pm, a Ford Explorer was heading westbound in the 10100 block of Normandy Boulevard, when it hit the bicyclist and then fled the scene.  The suspect's vehicle is described as a dark green 90’s model Ford Explorer with a roof rack, and damage to its right front consistent with hitting a bicycle and a broken orange marker light.  Anyone with information about this crash is asked to contact FHP at 904-301-3700 or *FHP.
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  George Floyd protests: 3 Minnesota officers charged Wednesday to appear in court Thursday

  Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison on Wednesday announced that charges have been filed against all four officers involved in the situation that led last week to the death of 46-year-old George Floyd while he was in police custody in Minneapolis. Former Officer Derek Chauvin, who was previously charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter, has been charged with second-degree murder. The other officers involved in the situation, Thomas Lane, J.A. Kueng and Tou Thao were charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder and aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter. Floyd, 46, died May 25 after he was detained for questioning regarding a possible forgery in progress. Video of his death caught by bystanders showed a Chauvin holding his knee to Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes as Floyd pleaded for air, sparking outrage. Live updates for Thursday, June 4 continue below: Meghan Markle speaks out against George Floyd’s death Update 3:37 a.m. June 4: Meghan Markle spoke out about the death of George Floyd, calling it “absolutely devastating.” The Duchess of Sussex made her comments in a video to the graduating class of Immaculate Heart High School in Los Angeles “George Floyd’s life mattered and Breonna Taylor’s life mattered and Philando Castile’s life mattered, and Tamir Rice’s life mattered, and so did so many other people’s names we know and names we don’t know,' Markle said. “You’re going to use your voice in a stronger way than you have ever been able to because most of you are 18, or you’re turning 18, so you’re going to vote. You’re going to have empathy for those who don’t see the world through the same lens that you do.” Kareem Abdul-Jabbar says arrests ‘a step toward justice’  Update 3:20 a.m. June 4: Basketball Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul Jabbar told CNN the decision to charge all four former Minneapolis police officers was “a step toward justice.” The NBA legend, who wrote an op-ed in the Los Angeles Times on Sunday and observed that “racism in America is like dust in the air,” praised Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis MayorJacob Frey for their fast actions. “It’s like, you know, the United States is this wonderful bus with great seats in the front of the bus,' Abdul-Jabbar told CNN. “But as you go further to the back of the bus, the seats get worse and the fumes from the exhaust leak in and really wreck with people’s health and their lives. But the people at the front of the bus, they have no complaints. It’s kind of like that. “That dust accumulates in the lives of black Americans, and it eliminates all the mechanics of democracy. Democracy doesn’t work for us.” The former Los Angeles Lakers center said nothing had changed in terms of systematic racism since the Rodney King incident and riots in Los Angeles in 1992. “Something has to be done,” Abdul-Jabbar told CNN. “It’s not enough to say, ‘That was terrible and my thoughts and prayers are with you.’ That’s not getting anything done.” National Guard to assist authorities in San Diego County Update 2:59 a.m. June 4: Two hundred members of the National Guard have been deployed in San Diego County to prevent looting, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office said in a tweet. The Guardsmen will work with local law enforcement agencies to provide security to “critical infrastructures” during protests to prevent looting and arson, the department tweeted. Police use tear gas when protesters try to block Iowa interstate Update 2:33 a.m. June 4: Hundreds of protesters attempting to block an Iowa interstate were met by state troopers and Iowa City police, who fired tear gas, the Iowa City Press-Citizen reported. The crowd attempted to skirt the line of officials who were blocking their path, the newspaper reported. “Disperse immediately,” said a speaker, who was identified as an Iowa State Patrol officer. The voice added that failure to do so would result in the deployment of chemical deterrents. “Quit your job,” the crowd chanted back, the Press-Citizen reported. Huntsville police arrest more than 20 protesters, use tear gas Update 2:13 a.m. June 4: Police in Huntsville, Alabama, arrested more than 20 protesters and used tear gas at the Madison County Courthouse square, WHNT reported. Protests began peacefully earlier Wednesday in a march sponsored by the NAACP and ended around 6:30 p.m. The majority of the crowd stayed and marched from Big Spring Park East to the courthouse, the television station reported. Around 8 p.m., authorities used rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse the crowd, WHNT reported. The area was cleared within an hour, according to WHNT. Police said more arrests could be pending. New Orleans police fire tear gas at protesters Update 1:33 a.m. June 4: Police in New Orleans fired tear gas into a crowd of protesters near the Crescent City Connection late Wednesday, NOLA.com reported. Police said the action was taken after protesters refused to comply with three orders not to walk across the CCC. “The NOPD deployed tear gas tonight to disperse protesters after the crowd refused to comply with three orders not to attempt to walk across the CCC,” the department said in a statement. “Escalation and confrontation hurts us all. NOPD is committed to respectful protection of our residents’ First Amendment rights. However, tonight we were compelled to deploy gas on the CCC in response to escalating, physical confrontation with our officers.” 3 Minneapolis officers charged Wednesday to appear in court Thursday Update 1:15 a.m. June 4: The three former Minneapolis police officers who were arrested Wednesday on charges of aiding and abetting the murder of George Floyd will have their first court appearances Thursday afternoon. The former officers -- J. Alexander Keung, Thomas Lane and Tou Thao -- are set to appear before the judicial officer at 1:45 p.m. EDT, CNN reported. The hearings were pushed up by 45 minutes from their original schedule, according to court records.
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  Coronavirus live updates: Confirmed cases top 6.5 million worldwide

  More than 6.4 million people worldwide – including more than 1.8 million in the United States – have been infected with the new coronavirus, and the number of deaths from the outbreak continues to rise. While efforts to contain the COVID-19 outbreak continue, states have begun to shift their focus toward reopening their economies. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is tracking cases in the U.S. here. Live updates for Thursday, June 4, continue below: South Korea confirms 39 new cases Update 4:56 a.m. EDT June 4: South Korea health officials confirmed 39 new cases of COVID-19onn Thursday -- 33 of which are locally transmitted. According to the country’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the news cases are related to several clusters in Seoul and surrounding areas. Yoon Tae-ho, an official with the South Korean Health Ministry, warned that locally transmitted cases may become tougher to trace, CNN reported. Confirmed cases top 6.5 million worldwide Update 4:10 a.m. EDT June 4: The number of confirmed novel coronavirus cases worldwide topped 6.5 million early Thursday, according to Johns Hopkins University. According to the tally kept by the university, there are at least 6,514,639 confirmed cases of the virus, and there are at least 386,111 deaths. The United States remains the leader in confirmed cases with 1,851,520 and 107,175 deaths. Pakistan has more confirmed cases than China Update 2:50 a.m. EDT June 4: Pakistan has passed China in confirmed cases of COVID-19, according to Johns Hopkins University. As of Thursday, Pakistan had 85,264 confirmed cases and 1,770 virus-related deaths. China has reported 84,160 coronavirus cases and 4,638 deaths. US coronavirus cases climb past 1.85M, deaths top 107K Update 12:50 a.m. EDT June 4: The number of novel coronavirus cases in the United States continued to climb past 1.85 million early Thursday across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands. According to a Johns Hopkins University tally, there are at least 1,851,520 confirmed U.S. cases of the virus, which have resulted in at least 107,175 deaths. The hardest-hit states remain New York with 374,085 cases and 30,019 deaths and New Jersey with 162,068 cases and 11,880 deaths. Massachusetts, with 101,592 cases, has the third-highest number of deaths with 7,152, while Illinois has the third-highest number of cases with 123,830. Six other states have now confirmed at least 54,000 novel coronavirus cases each, including: • California: 117,215 cases, resulting in 4,305 deaths • Pennsylvania: 77,225 cases, resulting in 5,667 deaths • Texas: 67,310 cases, resulting in 1,716 deaths • Michigan: 57,731 cases, resulting in 5,553 deaths • Florida: 57,447 cases, resulting in 2,530 deaths • Maryland: 54,175 cases, resulting in 2,597 deaths Meanwhile, Georgia, Virginia, Connecticut and Louisiana each has confirmed at least 40,000 cases; Ohio, Indiana and North Carolina each has confirmed at least 30,000 cases; Colorado, Minnesota, Tennessee, Washington, Arizona and Iowa each has confirmed at least 20,000 cases; Alabama and Wisconsin each has confirmed at least 18,000 cases, followed by Mississippi with 16,041 and Rhode Island with 15,112; Nebraska and Missouri each has confirmed at least 14,000 cases, followed by South Carolina with 12,415; Utah and Kentucky each has confirmed at least 10,000 cases; Kansas and Delaware each has confirmed at least 9,000 cases; the District of Columbia, Nevada and New Mexico each has confirmed at least 8,000 cases; Arkansas, Oklahoma and South Dakota each has confirmed at least 5,000 cases Click here to see CNN’s state-by-state breakdown.
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  Coronavirus live updates: Virus by-mail voting guidelines in Tennessee ambiguous, judge says

  More than 6.4 million people worldwide – including more than 1.8 million in the United States – have been infected with the new coronavirus, and the number of deaths from the outbreak continues to rise. While efforts to contain the COVID-19 outbreak continue, states have begun to shift their focus toward reopening their economies. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is tracking cases in the U.S. here. Live updates for Wednesday, June 3, continue below: Virus by-mail voting guidelines in Tennessee ambiguous, judge says Update 11:45 p.m. EDT June 3: A Tennessee judge on Wednesday said the state’s guidance about who can vote by mail due to the coronavirus is “very ambiguous,” and she cited “weighty proof” that other states have expanded to let all voters cast absentee ballots this year — something Tennessee officials say is not feasible. In a hearing via video conference due to the pandemic, Davidson County Chancellor Ellen Hobbs Lyle cast doubts on some of the state’s key arguments against two lawsuits that seek a by-mail voting option for all voters this year to curb the virus’ spread at the polls. Lyle also cautioned that whatever she orders needs to be “a practical, workable solution, or it will throw the election into chaos.” She raised particular concerns about costs for local governments. The judge plans to rule Thursday on whether to issue a temporary injunction to allow all voters to request absentee ballots in the Aug. 6 primary. A similar federal lawsuit is also pending. Mexico reports new one-day high of 1,092 coronavirus deaths Update 10:50 p.m. EDT June 3: The coronavirus toll in Mexico soared to a new daily high Wednesday, with the health department reporting 1,092 test-confirmed deaths — more than double the previous one-day record and in line with numbers in the United States and Brazil. The announcement was an embarrassment for officials, who have consistently predicted that cases in Mexico were about to start leveling off. The country began a gradual re-opening of industrial and business activity Monday. Officials rushed to say that many of the new confirmed deaths had occurred days or even weeks ago and were being announced now because of delays in processing tests or other reasons. ‘Making a Murderer’ convict infected with COVID-19, attorney says Update 7:30 p.m. EDT June 3: The Wisconsin man whose criminal case was featured in Netlfix’s “Making a Murderer” documentary has contracted COVID-19 in prison, his attorney said Wednesday. Kathleen Zellner tweeted that Steven Avery has the disease but is expected to fully recover. She said in an email to The Associated Press that Avery, 57, is suffering only mild symptoms and is expected to recover. Avery is serving a life sentence for the 2005 killing of photographer Teresa Halbach. State Department of Corrections spokeswoman Anna Neal said she couldn’t share any health information on any individuals in the department’s care. Offender records show Avery is incarcerated at Waupun Correctional Institution. The DOC announced Friday that 184 inmates there have tested positive for COVID-19. Florida to begin second phase of reopening Friday Update 2:30 p.m. EDT June 3: Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida announced Wednesday that the second phase of reopening businesses shuttered statewide due to the coronavirus pandemic will begin Friday, according to WFTV. DeSantis said 64 of Florida’s 67 counties will move into the new phase. The counties not moving into the phase are Palm Beach County, Miami-Dade County and Broward County, according to WFTV. The second phase of reopening in Florida will allow bars, nightclubs, bowling alleys and movie theaters to reopen at 50% capacity, WFTV reported. >> Read more on WFTV.com 652 new cases of COVID-19 reported in New Jersey Update 1:50 p.m. EDT June 3: Gov. Phil Murphy of New Jersey said Wednesday that 652 new coronavirus infections have been reported, raising the total number of COVID-19 cases in the state to 162,068. On social media, the governor encouraged people to continue social distancing. “We cannot lose sight of what’s important -- remaining vigilant and keeping up with our social distancing,” Murphy said. “We’re still at or near the top of the list in terms of patients in our hospitals and the number of residents we are losing to (COVID-19).” Officials also reported 112 more deaths associated with the coronavirus pandemic. As of Tuesday, 11,880 people have died statewide of COVID-19. New Jersey to allow restaurants, bars to reopen for outdoor dining Update 1:20 p.m. EDT June 3: Gov. Phil Murphy of New Jersey said Wednesday that he plans to sign an executive order to allow for in-person, outdoor dining at restaurants and bars statewide beginning June 15. The governor said businesses will still need to allow for social distancing measures to continue at the businesses. Last coronavirus patients leave Boston Hope field hospital Update 1:05 p.m. EDT June 3: The last two patients released from field hospital Boston Hope Medical Center departed the makeshift facility for recovering coronavirus patients to applause and celebration Tuesday, WFXT reported. Joseph Murphy, 68, pumped his fists in victory as staff wheeled him outside following a 36-day stay, according to WFXT. Family members watched by FaceTime as staff members sang along to Murphy’s favorite songs from Frank Sinatra and Neil Diamond with tears in their eyes, the news station reported. The very last patient to leave, Oger Julien, 78, of Malden, waved his arms, thankful for his health and his medical team. >> Read more on Boston25News.com 1,871 new coronavirus infections reported in the UK Update 1 p.m. EDT June 3: Officials in the United Kingdom reported 1,871 new coronavirus infections Wednesday, raising the country’s total number of infections to 279,856. Officials said that as of 5 p.m. local time Tuesday, the most recent date for which data was available, 39,728 people had died nationwide of COVID-19. 49 new fatal COVID-19 cases reported in New York Update 12:05 p.m. EDT June 3: Gov. Andrew Cuomo of New York said Wednesday that 49 more people have died of COVID-19 in the state, the lowest daily death toll reported from the virus since the beginning of the pandemic. The number fell below the 58 new fatal cases reported one day earlier and below the 54 deaths reported on Monday. Some Pennsylvania schools to resume in-person classes in July, officials say Update 11:40 a.m. EDT June 3: Officials with the Pennsylvania Department of Education announced Wednesday that some elementary and secondary schools in the state will be allowed to resume in-person classes and activities July 1. Officials said schools in parts of the state that are under the yellow or green phases of reopening will be allowed to resume on-campus activities. Post-secondary institutions and adult basic education programs will be allowed to resume in-person classes as soon as Friday. “We need to direct our energy to focus on how to resume instruction in the 2020-21 school year,' state Education Secretary Pedro Rivera said Wednesday in a statement. 'We fully expect students to return to classrooms in some capacity and are confident that schools will use this guidance to build a framework that best meets the unique needs of their students and communities.” 130 new cases of COVID-19 reported in DC Update 11:15 a.m. EDT June 3: Health officials in Washington D.C. said Wednesday that 130 new coronavirus infections have been reported in the area, raising the total number of cases in the area to 9,016. Officials also announced that three more people between the ages of 67 and 91 had died of COVID-19 in Washington D.C., bringing the total number of deaths in the District to 473. University of Southern California to resume in-person classes in August Update 10:40 a.m. EDT June 3: University of Southern California President Carol Folt said Tuesday that officials expect to resume classes on campus for the fall semester beginning in August. “While we still have many details to work out, we are planning for an in-person fall semester for students beginning on August 17, 2020, a week earlier than scheduled,” Folt said in a letter posted on the school’s website. 'All classes, including final exams, will end by Thanksgiving. By ending the semester before Thanksgiving, we are aiming to minimize the spread of the virus, particularly as the flu season commences.' To accommodate for the changes in the school schedule, Folt said the regular fall break has been cancelled for the 2020-2021 school year. “Please understand that these plans remain contingent on several factors, including the continued spread of COVID-19, and the health orders from state and local authorities,” Folt said. “So, things could change, but we are excited to move forward and to have you back.” Wall Street’s rally rolls into Day 4 on reopening hopes Update 10 a.m. EDT June 3: Stocks pushed higher in early trading Wednesday on Wall Street as the stock market’s rally carried into a fourth day. The S&P 500 added 0.7% to gains made in earlier days on optimism that lifting lockdowns around the world will allow the economy to recover from its current hole. Treasury yields also rose in a sign of improved confidence after a report suggested U.S. job losses weren’t as horrific last month as economists expected. “The theme of reopening optimism has its stronghold on markets going into the midweek,” said Jingyi Pan, market strategist for IG. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 191 points, or 0.7%, at 25,933, as of 9:37 a.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was up 0.3%. NC governor: ‘Unfortunate’ RNC didn’t agree to ‘make changes to keep people safe’ from COVID-19 Update 9:55 a.m. EDT June 3: Gov. Roy Cooper of North Carolina said Tuesday that officials in the state have been committed to ensuring that people are safe during the Republican National Convention, planned for August, and lamented that party officials wouldn’t agree to “make changes to keep people safe.” “We have been committed to a safe (Republican National Committee) convention in North Carolina and it’s unfortunate they never agreed to scale down and make changes to keep people safe,” he said Tuesday in a tweet. “Protecting public health and safety during this pandemic is a priority.” Cooper’s comments came after President Donald Trump announced that he’s seeking another state to host this year’s convention, saying that North Carolina officials couldn’t guarantee that the event could be held in Charlotte as planned without restrictions due to the novel coronavirus outbreak. City officials later said in a statement obtained by WSOC-TV that they had yet to receive notification from the RNC about plans to move the convention. City officials said the RNC is under contract to hold the convention in Charlotte and that the city attorney would be in contact with the RNC’s attorneys, WSOC-TV reported. >> Read more on WSOCTV.com First human trials begin for COVID-19 antibody therapy Update 9:15 a.m. EDT June 3: Officials with Eli Lilly and Company announced Monday that the first human trials of the pharmaceutical company’s COVID-19 antibody therapy drug have begun. “Lilly scientists delivered the first doses of our potential COVID-19 antibody treatment, flown to hospitals in several U.S. cities to start the world’s first human study of this kind of therapy to fight COVID infections,” company officials said on Twitter. Officials said the of its experimental drug were administered to patients in Atlanta, New York and Los Angeles. >> Read more on WSBTV.com Global deaths near 381K, total cases top 6.4M Update 7:58 a.m. EDT June 3: The global death toll attributed to the novel coronavirus reached 380,764 early Tuesday, according to a Johns Hopkins University tally. In the four months since the virus was first identified in Wuhan, China, it has infected at least 6,404,872 people worldwide. Meanwhile, 16 nations now have total infection counts higher than China’s 84,159. The 10 nations with the highest number of infections recorded to date are as follows: • The United States has reported 1,831,821 cases, resulting in 106,181 deaths. • Brazil has recorded 555,383 cases, resulting in 31,199 deaths. • Russia has confirmed 431,715 cases, resulting in 5,208 deaths. • The United Kingdom has reported 279,393 cases, resulting in 39,452 deaths. • Spain has confirmed 239,932 cases, resulting in 27,127 deaths. • Italy has reported 233,515 cases, resulting in 33,530 deaths. • India has reported 208,479 cases, resulting in 5,834 deaths. • France has confirmed 188,450 cases, resulting in 28,943 deaths. • Germany has reported 184,097 cases, resulting in 8,576 deaths. • Peru has reported 170,039 cases, resulting in 4,634 deaths. South Korea will start importing remdesivir to help treat COVID-19 patients Update 7:42 a.m. EDT June 3: South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety announced Wednesday it has approved imports of the antivirus drug remdesivir to address the nation’s novel coronavirus infections. In its announcement the ministry pointed to success with the drug in shortening the treatment period for severe COVID-19 patients in the United States, Japan and the United Kingdom throughout the pandemic. The ministry, alongside its Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, will now negotiate to import the drug via Gilead Science Korea. UK ethnic minorities up to 50% more likely to die from COVID-19 than white people, report Update 7:26 a.m. EDT June 3: A government review has concluded people from the United Kingdom’s ethnic minority communities are as much as 50% more likely to die from contracting the novel coronavirus than their white peers. Public Health England’s study found that people of Bangladeshi heritage who tested positive for the virus were around twice as likely to die as their white British peers, CNN reported. Other minority communities such as people of Chinese, Indian, Pakistani and Caribbean descent also had a 10% to 50% higher risk of death from COVID-19. Meanwhile, the rate of infection per 100,000 patients was more than double for women in black ethnic groups than for white women and nearly triple for men in those same groups, the network reported. USC resuming in-person classes in August Update 7:18 a.m. EDT June 3: The University of Southern California will resume in-person classes when the fall semester begins in August, president Carol L. Folt confirmed Tuesday. According to Folt’s message to students, classes will start one week earlier than originally planned and conclude by Thanksgiving. Folt also said the majority of in-person classes will also be offered online, giving faculty and students the option of not returning to campus. In addition, masks and physical distancing will be mandatory at all times, while dorms and dining halls “will be modified to reduce density and contact,” Folt wrote. Oklahoma State linebacker tests positive for COVID-19 after attending protest Update 7:04 a.m. EDT June 3: Oklahoma State linebacker Amen Ogbongbemiga said in a Tuesday tweet that he has tested positive for the novel coronavirus after attending a protest. “After attending a protest in Tulsa AND being well protective of myself, I have tested positive for COVID-19,” Ogbongbemiga tweeted. “Please, if you are going to protest, take care of yourself and stay safe.” India confirms COVID-19 cases top 200K Update 6:57 a.m. EDT June 3: Today is the day tourism returns to Italy, at least partially. As the country reopens to European visitors only, Italian tourism officials can only wait and see how much wanderlust remains among the traveling public following the extended novel coronavirus pandemic. According to The Washington Post, Italy hosted 63 million overseas visitors last year, but the country’s minister for culture and tourism, Dario Franceschini, has said that he does not expect the industry to recover fully until 2023. Major attractions such as the Colosseum and the Leaning Tower of Pisa have already reopened for domestic tourists, the Post reported. Italy welcomes return of European tourists Wednesday Update 6:38 a.m. EDT June 3: With 8,909 new novel coronavirus cases confirmed during the past 24 hours, India became the seventh nation worldwide to surpass 200,000 total infections. According to a Johns Hopkins University tally, India has confirmed a total of 208,404 cases, resulting in 5,833 deaths. The other six nations topping the 200,000 mark to date include: • United States: 1,831,821 • Brazil: 555,383 • Russia: 431,715 • United Kingdom: 279,392 • Spain: 239,932 • Italy: 233,515 US coronavirus cases climb past 1.8M, deaths top 106K Update 12:50 a.m. EDT June 3: The number of novel coronavirus cases in the United States continued to climb past 1.8 million early Wednesday across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands. According to a Johns Hopkins University tally, there are at least 1,831,821 confirmed U.S. cases of the virus, which have resulted in at least 106,181 deaths.  The hardest-hit states remain New York with 373,040 cases and 29,968 deaths and New Jersey with 161,545 cases and 11,771 deaths. Massachusetts, with 101,163 cases, has the third-highest number of deaths with 7,085, while Illinois has the third-highest number of cases with 122,848. Only 15 states and territories have confirmed fewer than 5,000 cases each. Six other states have now confirmed at least 54,000 novel coronavirus cases each, including: • California: 117,215 cases, resulting in 4,305 deaths • Pennsylvania: 77,225 cases, resulting in 5,667 deaths • Texas: 67,310 cases, resulting in 1,716 deaths • Michigan: 57,731 cases, resulting in 5,553 deaths • Florida: 57,447 cases, resulting in 2,530 deaths • Maryland: 54,175 cases, resulting in 2,597 deaths Meanwhile, Georgia, Virginia, Connecticut and Louisiana each has confirmed at least 40,000 cases; Ohio, Indiana and North Carolina each has confirmed at least 30,000 cases; Colorado, Minnesota, Tennessee, Washington, Arizona and Iowa each has confirmed at least 20,000 cases; Alabama and Wisconsin each has confirmed at least 18,000 cases, followed by Mississippi with 16,041 and Rhode Island with 15,112; Nebraska and Missouri each has confirmed at least 14,000 cases, followed by South Carolina with 12,415; Utah and Kentucky each has confirmed at least 10,000 cases; Kansas and Delaware each has confirmed at least 9,000 cases; the District of Columbia, Nevada and New Mexico each has confirmed at least 8,000 cases; Arkansas, Oklahoma and South Dakota each has confirmed at least 5,000 cases Click here to see CNN’s state-by-state breakdown. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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  George Floyd protests: Autopsy report shows Floyd had tested positive for COVID-19

  Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison on Wednesday announced that charges have been filed against all four officers involved in the situation that led last week to the death of 46-year-old George Floyd while he was in police custody in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Former Officer Derek Chauvin, who was previously charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter, has been charged with second-degree murder. The other officers involved in the situation, Thomas Lane, J.A. Kueng and Tou Thao were charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder and aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter. Floyd, 46, died May 25 after he was detained for questioning regarding a possible forgery in progress. Video of his death caught by bystanders showed a Chauvin holding his knee to Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes as Floyd pleaded for air, sparking outrage. As of Wednesday, at least 40 cities across 16 states have imposed curfews. Live updates for Wednesday, June 3 continue below: Floyd protests suppressed in NYC as police enforce curfew Update 11:30 p.m. EDT June 3: Peaceful protests over the death of George Floyd continued Wednesday in New York City, but an early curfew, drenching rain and refined police tactics appeared to have stopped some of the destruction of previous nights. Some critics said the calm came at a high price, as the city was forced to grind to a halt at 8 p.m., bridges were closed to traffic and police arrested dozens of orderly people for violating the curfew. About an hour after the deadline to get off the street, officers began moving in on crowds of demonstrators in Manhattan and Brooklyn, at times blasting people with pepper spray or using batons to shove people who didn’t move fast enough. When one demonstrator asked an officer why he was being taken into custody, an Associated Press reporter heard the officer reply, “Curfew violater. You didn’t hear the news?” NYPD Chief of Department Terence Monahan said about 60 people were arrested near Central Park out of a large band of protesters who had marched from near the mayor’s residence, Gracie Mansion. Police moved in just before a heavy rain began. Autopsy report shows Floyd had tested positive for COVID-19 Update 10 p.m. EDT June 3: A full autopsy of George Floyd, the handcuffed black man who died after being restrained by Minneapolis police, was released Wednesday 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 with the family’s permission and 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. The report by Chief Medical Examiner Andrew Baker spelled out clinical details, including that Floyd had tested positive for COVID-19 on April 3 but appeared asymptomatic. The report also noted Floyd’s lungs appeared healthy but he had some narrowing of arteries in the heart. The county’s earlier summary report had listed fentanyl intoxication and recent methamphetamine use under “other significant conditions” but not under “cause of death.” The full report’s footnotes noted that signs of fentanyl toxicity can include “severe respiratory depression” and seizures.  6 Atlanta police officers booked into jail on excessive force charges Update 8 p.m. EDT June 3: Six Atlanta police officers who were charged after a violent confrontation with two college students during protests this weekend were booked into jail Wednesday. A viral video on social media and body camera footage showed officers use Taser stun guns on two students, Messiah Young and Taniyah Pilgrim, while they sat in their car. The officers then forcefully dragged them out of the car and arrested them. Atlanta Police Chief Erika Shields and Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms fired officers Mark Gardner and Ivory Streeter after the video surfaced, saying it was a clear use of excessive force. The four other officers involved were placed on desk duty. Shields said she was blindsided when Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard filed charges against all six officers Tuesday. But the Fulton DA told WSB-TV the chief knew about the charges were coming. “I had discussions with the chief about the people that we were going to charge. I had conversations with the mayor about people that we were going to be charging,” Howard said. 'And so I’m a little confused when anyone indicates that they did not know anything about it. Former defense secretary Mattis denounces Trump in statement Update 6:20 p.m. EDT June 3: Shortly after defense secretary Mark Esper overturned a Pentagon decision to send active-duty soldiers home, former defense secretary Gen. James Mattis broke his silence condemning President Trump. Full statement: In Union There Is Strength I have watched this week’s unfolding events, angry and appalled. The words “Equal Justice Under Law” are carved in the pediment of the United States Supreme Court. This is precisely what protesters are rightly demanding. It is a wholesome and unifying demand—one that all of us should be able to get behind. We must not be distracted by a small number of lawbreakers. The protests are defined by tens of thousands of people of conscience who are insisting that we live up to our values—our values as people and our values as a nation. When I joined the military, some 50 years ago, I swore an oath to support and defend the Constitution. Never did I dream that troops taking that same oath would be ordered under any circumstance to violate the Constitutional rights of their fellow citizens—much less to provide a bizarre photo op for the elected commander-in-chief, with military leadership standing alongside. We must reject any thinking of our cities as a “battlespace” that our uniformed military is called upon to “dominate.” At home, we should use our military only when requested to do so, on very rare occasions, by state governors. Militarizing our response, as we witnessed in Washington, D.C., sets up a conflict—a false conflict— between the military and civilian society. It erodes the moral ground that ensures a trusted bond between men and women in uniform and the society they are sworn to protect, and of which they themselves are a part. Keeping public order rests with civilian state and local leaders who best understand their communities and are answerable to them. James Madison wrote in Federalist 14 that “America united with a handful of troops, or without a single soldier, exhibits a more forbidding posture to foreign ambition than America disunited, with a hundred thousand veterans ready for combat.” We do not need to militarize our response to protests. We need to unite around a common purpose. And it starts by guaranteeing that all of us are equal before the law. Instructions given by the military departments to our troops before the Normandy invasion reminded soldiers that “The Nazi slogan for destroying us...was ‘Divide and Conquer.’ Our American answer is ‘In Union there is Strength.’” We must summon that unity to surmount this crisis—confident that we are better than our politics. Donald Trump is the first president in my lifetime who does not try to unite the American people—does not even pretend to try. Instead he tries to divide us. We are witnessing the consequences of three years of this deliberate effort. We are witnessing the consequences of three years without mature leadership. We can unite without him, drawing on the strengths inherent in our civil society. This will not be easy, as the past few days have shown, but we owe it to our fellow citizens; to past generations that bled to defend our promise; and to our children. We can come through this trying time stronger, and with a renewed sense of purpose and respect for one another. The pandemic has shown us that it is not only our troops who are willing to offer the ultimate sacrifice for the safety of the community. Americans in hospitals, grocery stores, post offices, and elsewhere have put their lives on the line in order to serve their fellow citizens and their country. We know that we are better than the abuse of executive authority that we witnessed in Lafayette Square. We must reject and hold accountable those in office who would make a mockery of our Constitution. At the same time, we must remember Lincoln’s “better angels,” and listen to them, as we work to unite. Only by adopting a new path—which means, in truth, returning to the original path of our founding ideals—will we again be a country admired and respected at home and abroad. James Mattis Thousands again protesting near White House Update 5:50 p.m. EDT June 3: Thousands of protesters in the nation’s capital knelt and sang “Amazing Grace” on Wednesday, the sixth night of protests over the death of George Floyd in Minnesota. “We are not going anywhere,” the protesters chanted. As the protesters sang and chanted, law enforcement officers in riot gear stood watching over the crowd, which stretched down 16th Street near the White House. The crowd knelt silently as the time neared for a virtual town hall by former President Barack Obama to discuss Floyd’s death, policing and the protests that have engulfed the country. Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser imposed an 11 p.m. curfew after a peaceful night of protests. The curfew then had been 7 p.m. Virginia governor to announce removal of iconic Richmond statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee Update 5:20 p.m. EDT June 3: Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam is expected to announce plans for the removal of an iconic statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee from Richmond’s prominent Monument Avenue, a senior administration official told The Associated Press. The governor will direct the statue to be moved off its pedestal and put into storage while his administration seeks input on a new location, according to the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the official was not authorized to speak before the governor’s announcement. The announcement is expected Thursday and comes amid turmoil worldwide over the death of George Floyd, a black man who died after a Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee into Floyd’s neck for several minutes, even after he stopped moving. Floyd’s death has sparked outrage over issues of racism and police brutality and prompted a new wave of Confederate memorial removals. The Lee statue is one of five Confederate monuments along Monument Avenue in Richmond, the former capital of the Confederacy. It’s been the target of vandalism during protests in recent days over Floyd’s death. Esper reverses plan to send active-duty troops home, Army says Update 5 p.m. EDT June 3: In an abrupt reversal, Defense Secretary Mark Esper on Wednesday overturned an earlier Pentagon decision to send a couple hundred active-duty soldiers home from the Washington, D.C., region, amid growing tensions with the White House over the military response to the protests. Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy told The Associated Press that the reversal came after Esper attended a meeting at the White House, and after other internal Pentagon discussions. It is unclear if Esper met with President Donald Trump. McCarthy said he believes the change was based on ensuring there is enough military support in the region to respond to any protest problems if needed. ‘This is going to take months': Minnesota AG asks for patience as investigation continues Update 4:50 p.m. EDT June 3: After charges were filed against all four officers involved in the situation that led to George Floyd’s death last week, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison asked for patience as authorities continue to investigate. “In order to be thorough, this is going to take months,” Ellison said Wednesday at a news conference. “I don’t know how many, but it is better to make sure that we have a solid case -- fully investigated, researched -- before we got to trial than to rush it.” Ellison noted that cases against police officers are particularly difficult to prosecute. “It will take awhile,” he said, “and I can’t set a deadline on that.” 2 of 4 former officers accused in Floyd’s death have been arrested, officials say Update 4:45 p.m. EDT June 3: Two of the four former Minneapolis police officers who have been charged in connection to the death last week of George Floyd were in custody as of Wednesday afternoon, said Drew Evans, superintendent of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. Authorities had previously arrested Derek Chauvin, who on Wednesday was charged with second-degree murder in Floyd’s death. Evans said that officials had apprehended one of the other three former officers charged in Floyd’s death and that authorities were working to arrest the other two. He did not specify which former officer was jailed Wednesday. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said charges of aiding and abetting second-degree murder and aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter were filed Wednesday against Thomas Lane, J.A. Kueng and Tou Thao. Chauvin, Lane, Kueng and Thao were fired last week from the Minneapolis Police Department. Assault by officer led to second-degree murder charge, Minnesota AG says Update 4:40 p.m. EDT June 3: Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said Wednesday that a second-degree murder charge was filed against former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin because George Floyd died as Chauvin was committing or attempting to commit third-degree assault. Under Minnesota law, a person can face a second-degree murder charge if he or she cause someone’s death without premeditation while committing or trying to commit another felony crime, with some exceptions. Prosecutors initially charged Chauvin with third-degree murder. Floyd’s family has called for even stronger charges against the officer. In a statement released through their attorney, family members said, “Attorney General Ellison has informed the family that his office will continue to investigate and will upgrade the charges (against Chauvin) to first-degree murder if the evidence supports it.” A person can face a first-degree murder charge in Minnesota if he or she is accused of causing another person’s death with premeditation. Attorney Ben Crump, who is representing Floyd’s family, said the failure of officers to do more once they realized the 46-year-old no longer had a pulse -- two minutes before body cam footage showed Chauvin took his knee off Floyd’s neck -- amounted to premeditation. Minnesota AG urges demonstrators to continue calling for change peacefully Update 4:20 p.m. EDT June 3: Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said Wednesday that the decision to charge all the officers involved in the situation that led to George Floyd’s death won’t solve all the issues that have sparked widespread protests nationwide. “What I do not believe is one successful prosecution can rectify the pain and loss that so many people feel,” Ellison said at a news conference, noting that the work to ensure justice and fairness for all in America “is the work of all of us.” “The pursuit of justice is always good and right,” Ellison said. “I want to signal to them that we hope that they continue to raise the cause of justice but do it in a peaceful manner.” Ellison announced a second-degree murder charge had been filed Wednesday against Officer Derek Chauvin. Officers Thomas Lane, J.A. Kueng and Tou Thao were charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder and aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter. Minnesota AG holds news conference Update 4:05 p.m. EDT June 3: Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison confirmed he has filed a second-degree murder charge against former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin. Ellison also said he has filed charges of aiding and abetting second-degree murder and aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter against former officers Thomas Lane, J.A. Kueng and Tou Thao. Minnesota AG requests $1 million bail for all officers charged in Floyd’s death Update 4 p.m. EDT June 3: Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison on Wednesday requested that a judge set bail for the four officers charged in George Floyd’s death at $1 million, according to Reuters. Family: Minnesota AG still investigating, may upgrade charge against Chauvin Update 3:55 p.m. EDT June 3: In a statement released Wednesday through family attorney Ben Crump, George Floyd’s relatives said that Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison’s office is continuing to investigate the 46-year-old’s death. The attorney general confirmed to the family that a charge of second-degree murder had been filed Wednesday against former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chuavin, who had previously been charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. Authorities also charged three other officers who responded to the situation that led to Floyd’s death last week, Thomas Lane, J.A. Kueng and Tou Thao, with aiding and abetting second-degree murder and aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter. “Attorney General Ellison has informed the family that his office will continue to investigate and will upgrade the charges (against Chauvin) to first-degree murder if the evidence supports it,” Floyd’s family said Wednesday. The family also demanded accountability for police, noting that, “These officers knew they could act with impunity, given the Minneapolis Police Department’s widespread and prolonged pattern and practice of violating people’s constitutional rights.” George Floyd’s family calls charging decisions against officers ‘bittersweet’ Update 2:40 p.m. EDT June 3: The family of George Floyd called the decision Wednesday to charge three more officers in the 46-year-old’s death and to upgrade the charge against Officer Derek Chauvin to second-degree murder “bittersweet.” “We are deeply gratified that (Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison) took decision action, arresting (and) charging ALL the officers involved in (George Floyd’s) death (and) upgrading the charge against Derek Chauvin to felony second-degree murder,” Floyd’s family said in a statement shared by Crump. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., confirmed on Twitter that Ellison had decided to upgrade the charge against Chauvin from third-degree murder and to charge the other three officers seen in video captured by passersby standing by or helping to pin Floyd to the ground last week. Chauvin and the other three officers who were part of the police response, identified as Thomas Lane, J.A. Kueng and Tou Thao, were fired last week from the Minneapolis Police Department. Prosecutor upgrading charge against Chauvin, charging 3 other officer involved in Floyd’s death Update 2:15 p.m. EDT June 3: Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., said Wednesday that a murder charge leveled against former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin is being upgraded to second-degree murder. The senator also said three other officers involved in Floyd’s death, Thomas Lane, J.A. Kueng and Tou Thao, will also be charged. Earlier Wednesday, attorney Ben Crump, who is representing Floyd’s family, told protesters gathered in Minneapolis that he expected the officers who had yet to be charged in the death of the 46-year-old to face charges as accomplices to murder. Crump said the three other officers “are accomplices because (of) their failure to act when they say he (didn’t) have a pulse.” 14,000 complaints made about Seattle police during protests Update 1:30 p.m. EDT June 3: Video of a young girl who appeared to have been pepper-sprayed by Seattle police during a protest over the weekend went viral -- and generated at least 11,000 complaints to the city’s Office of Police Accountability, according to KIRO-TV. OPA Director Andrew Myerberg said Tuesday that his office had received 14,000 complaints about 13 incidents over four days of protests following the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police. “People are angry, people want answers now, and we need to do our best to move forward expeditiously with these cases while still being thorough,” Myerberg said, according to KIRO-TV. Myerberg said he wants his civilian-led investigations into the most pressing cases done in 45 to 60 days, instead of the usual six months, KIRO-TV reported. “We are going to get to the bottom of all these cases,” he said. >> Read more on KIRO7.com Photo of boy praying for police during unrest goes viral Update 1:15 p.m. EDT June 3: A photo taken of a 7-year-old boy praying for police in Tulsa, Oklahoma, gone viral with more than 10,500 shares as of Wednesday morning, KOKI-TV reported. The photo shows Trey Elliott with his hand on the shoulder of a Tulsa police officer. The boy’s mother, Brittany Elliot, and her husband told KOKI-TV that they’ve spoken to Trey about protests going on nationwide. Britney Elliott told the news station that her son wanted to pray for officers as some demonstrators began to vandalize Tulsa. >> Read more on Fox23.com Floyd family attorney says he expects 3 officers to be charged as accomplices Update 1 p.m. EDT June 3: Attorney Ben Crump, who is representing the family of George Floyd, told protesters gathered Wednesday in Minneapolis that he expects the officers who have yet to be charged in the death of the 46-year-old to face charges as accomplices to murder. Crump said former Minneapolis police officers Thomas Lane, J.A. Kueng and Tou Thao “are accomplices because (of) their failure to act when they say he (didn’t) have a pulse.” A criminal complaint filed last week against former Officer Derek Chauvin showed that Lane asked about whether they should move Floyd onto his side after he appeared to stop breathing and speaking. Prosecutors said Kueng checked Floyd’s pulse and said that he couldn’t find one, but officers remained on top of Floyd for another two minutes. “To us, that is intent,” Crump said. “That’s why the family is calling for first-degree murder charges against Officer Chauvin for having his knee in (Floyd’s) neck.” ACLU sues law enforcement over attacks on journalists covering protests Update 12:50 p.m. EDT June 3: Officials with the American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota filed a class action lawsuit Wednesday on behalf of journalists who said they were targeted by police as protests over the killing of George Floyd erupted nationwide. The lawsuit alleges a “pattern and practice of conduct by law enforcement,” which the organization says, “tramples on the Constitution.” “Law enforcement is using violence and threats to deter the media from vigorously reporting on demonstrations and the conduct of police in public places,” ACLU-MN Legal Director Teresa Nelson said in a statement. “We depend on a free press to hold the police and government accountable for its actions, especially at a time like this when police have brutally murdered one of our community members, and we must ensure that justice is done. Our community, especially people of color, already have a hard time trusting police and government. Targeting journalists erodes that public trust even further.” The lawsuit’s lead plaintiff is Jared Goyette, a freelance journalist who says he was shot in the face by a rubber bullet fired by police. The suit outlines the number of journalists who have been arrested or injured by police since the demonstrations began last week. Named in the suit were the City of Minneapolis, police Chief Medaria Arradondo, police union head Lt. Bob Kroll, Minnesota Department of Public Safety Commissioner John Harrington and Minnesota State Patrol Col. Matthew Langer. Decision on more charges in Floyd case expected to be announced Wednesday, report says Update 11:30 a.m. EDT June 3: Unidentified law enforcement officials told CNN on Wednesday that authorities have come to a decision on additional charges against the officers involved in George Floyd’s death. An official told CNN that Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison “will be making a significant announcement in the case early this afternoon.” Last week, officials charged former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in Floyd’s death. Video footage caught by passersby showed him pressing his knee to Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes May 25 as Floyd begged for air. Three other officers who were part of the police response, Thomas Lane, J.A. Kueng and Tou Thao, have not been charged in Floyd’s death. All four officers were fired last week from the police force. Officers involved in George Floyd’s death should be ‘held accountable for his murder,’ Esper says Update 11:10 a.m. EDT June 3: Defense Secretary Mark Esper on Wednesday said that the officers involved in the death of George Floyd should be “held accountable for his murder.” “Let me say upfront, the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis policeman is a horrible crime,' Esper said at a news conference, according to CNN. “The officers on the scene that day should be held accountable for his murder. It is a tragedy that we have seen repeat itself too many times.” Authorities have arrested and charged one of the four officers involved in the incident that led to Floyd’s death. Video footage shot by passersby showed then-Officer Derek Chauvin pressing his knee to Floyd’s neck for nine minutes May 25. He has been charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. Former officers Thomas Lane, J.A. Kueng and Tou Thao, who have all been fired along with Chuavin from the Minneapolis Police Department, have not been charged in Floyd’s death. Esper said Wednesday that while he tries to keep his department apolitical, he felt compelled to denounce the killing of Floyd. “What happened to George Floyd happens way too often in this country and most times we don’t speak about these matters as a department, but as events have unfolded over the past few days it became very clear that this was becoming a very combustible national issue,” he said. Defense Secretary Mark Esper: ‘I do not support invoking the Insurrection Act’ Update 10:25 a.m. EDT June 3: Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Wednesday that he does not support invoking the Insurrection Act amid nationwide protests due to the killing of George Floyd. “The option to use active-duty forces in a law enforcement role should only be used as a matter of last resort and only in the most urgent and dire of situations. We are not in one of those situations now,” Esper said during a news conference. President Donald Trump said Monday that he plans to invoke the 1807 federal law, allowing him to deploy active-duty U.S. troops to respond to the unrest nationwide. Trump denies he was taken to bunker during protests Friday in Washington Update 10:15 a.m. EDT June 3: President Donald Trump on Wednesday denied reports that he was taken to the White House bunker on Friday as hundreds of protesters gathered outside the executive mansion. “It was a false report,” he said during an interview with Fox News Radio. The president said he did go down “for a tiny little short period of time” but he said that happened during the day and “was for an inspe