The U.S. is recommending a “pause” in using the single-dose Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine to investigate reports of potentially dangerous blood clots.
AP: US recommends ‘pause’ for J&J vaccine over clot reports
BREAKING: Campus events canceled amid Monday night curfew
All classes and events on-campus starting after 5 p.m. are canceled, an alert from St. Thomas Public Safety to the campus community said following Gov. Tim Walz’s announcement of a 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew Monday night for three counties that include Brooklyn Center, Minneapolis and St. Paul.
AP: Police: Minnesota officer meant to draw Taser, not handgun
The police officer who fatally shot a Black man during a traffic stop in a Minneapolis suburb apparently intended to fire a Taser, not a handgun, the city’s police chief said Monday.
St. Thomas sophomore learns to make music from her bedroom
St. Thomas sophomore Bella Nardini said she’s always been musically inclined. She will attempt to show this in the future with a “mini album” which will feature five to six songs across different genres. University Affairs Editor Scout Mason has the story.
AP: Prince Philip, husband of Queen Elizabeth II, dies at 99
Prince Philip, the irascible and tough-minded husband of Queen Elizabeth II who spent more than seven decades supporting his wife in a role that both defined and constricted his life, has died, Buckingham Palace said Friday. He was 99.
University calls for student memorial statue
St. Thomas’ Art History department called on two artists to commission a piece of memorial art for students who have died during their time at the university that is hoped to go up by the end of September 2021. Libby Simpson has the story.
St. Thomas Off-Campus Student Life opens new lounge
St. Thomas’ Off-Campus Student Life opened a new lounge Feb. 1 on the second floor of the Anderson Student Center for students living off campus. Natalie Hoepner and Casey Eakins have the story.
COVID-19 UPDATE: Rising case count levels out at 17 for second straight week
Seventeen COVID-19 cases were reported the previous two weeks by the Center for Well-Being, ending a four week streak of an increasing case count. Joey Swanson and Lauren Dettmer have the story.
USG discusses graduation, future buildings and Dakota Land Acknowledgement art piece
University President Julie Sullivan spoke and answered questions on graduation, future buildings, sports and vaccination plans, and the Land Acknowledgement Committee requested $74,000 for an art piece at the Undergraduate Student Government general council meeting on March 25. University Affairs Editor Scout Mason has the update.
AP: Lieutenant: Kneeling on Floyd’s neck ‘totally unnecessary’
Kneeling on George Floyd ‘s neck while he was handcuffed and lying on his stomach was top-tier, deadly force and “totally unnecessary,” the head of the Minneapolis Police Department’s homicide division testified Friday.
AP: Floyd’s girlfriend recalls their struggles with addiction
George Floyd’s girlfriend tearfully told a jury Thursday the story of how they met — at a Salvation Army shelter where he was a security guard with “this great, deep Southern voice, raspy” — and how they both struggled mightily with an addiction to opioids.
AP: Ex-cop told onlooker Floyd was big, ‘probably on something’
After the ambulance took George Floyd away, the Minneapolis officer who had pinned his knee on the Black man’s neck defended himself to a bystander by saying Floyd was “a sizable guy” and “probably on something,” according to police video played in court Wednesday.
AP: Witnesses: Onlooker anger increased as Floyd stopped moving
Onlookers grew increasingly angry as they begged Minneapolis Officer Derek Chauvin to take his knee off George Floyd’s neck, but Chauvin would not let up, and another officer forced back members of the crowd who tried to intervene, witnesses testified Tuesday at Chauvin’s murder trial.
AP: Jurors shown video at ex-officer’s trial in Floyd’s death
The video of George Floyd gasping for breath was essentially Exhibit A as the former Minneapolis police officer who pressed his knee on the Black man’s neck went on trial Monday on charges of murder and manslaughter.
Tommie women enhance the community during Women’s History Month and beyond
During Women’s History Month, St. Thomas shed a light on the women who have contributed to the Tommie community. Through their hands-on engagement, research and efforts to diversify the campus, Candy Sauer, Kathlene Campbell and Kha Yang have demonstrated their desire to make St. Thomas a better place.