The death toll from devastating mudslides and floods that swept through a mountainous region of Rio de Janeiro state has reached 44, local authorities said Wednesday.

The state fire department said late Tuesday the area received 25.8 centimeters (just over 10 inches) of rain within three hours Tuesday — almost as much as during the previous 30 days combined. Petropolis’ civil defense authority said moderate rain was expected Wednesday afternoon and evening.

A former Minneapolis police officer charged in George Floyd’s killing testified that he was relying on his fellow officers to care for Floyd’s medical needs while he controlled traffic and onlookers as police tried to arrest the Black man.

Tou Thao is one of three former officers charged in federal court with violating Floyd’s constitutional rights when Officer Derek Chauvin pressed his knee into Floyd’s neck for 9 1/2 minutes as the 46-year-old man was handcuffed, facedown on the street. Thao is scheduled to resume testifying Wednesday.

St. Thomas President Julie Sullivan announced the renaming of the Tommie East residence hall on campus to Frey Hall in a virtual State of the University address Tuesday.

Vice President of Student Affairs Karen Lange addressed the new living requirement, which requires first-year and sophomore students to live on campus.

“There are tremendous rewards to a residential liberal arts experience,” Lange said. “It creates opportunities for meaningful connections for students with each other.”

Sullivan discussed how donations have played a big role in this new requirement, ensuring students’ access to this experience.

In particular, a gift of $15 million from donor Gene Frey will help “to provide room and board grants for first- and second-year students in financial need,” Sullivan said.

With this donation, the university decided to rename Tommie East to Mary and Gene Frey Hall; a celebration of this donation will occur in early May.

Angeline Terry can be reached at terr2351@stthomas.edu.