A judge this morning dismissed a juror who had been seated for the trial of a former Minneapolis police officer in George Floyd’s death. The move came amid fears that the juror had been tainted by the city’s announcement last week of a $27 million settlement to Floyd’s family.

When questioned by judge Peter Cahill about what they knew about the settlement and whether or not it affected their ability to serve, the jourer stated, “I think it will be hard to be impartial.”

This year, St. Patricks Day was held mostly virtually in New York. Though the city usually conducts a large parade with floats and marching bands to celebrate Irish heritage, the celebration was canceled for the second year in a row due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This year, New York’s then and now Mayor Bill de Blasio, kept the tradition alive by joining parade leaders and several dozen national guard members on a march up Madison Avenue Wednesday morning.

This year, due to Covid-19 restrictions, places that serve alcohol to customers are allowed to stay open if they also serve food. Restaurants can only seat 35 percent capacity. Thus will change to 50 percent, two days after the holiday.

Supporters for the University Survivors Movement, a group that advocates for the end of sexual assault on college campuses, is seeking changes for title nine.

Recent amendments in May 2020 by former president Donald Trump’s administration, conflicted with St. Thomas’s own process for dealing with Title nine related assault cases.

St. Thomas’s Title nine coordinator Danielle Hermanny said, “We are committed to facilitating this environment free from sexual violence, and so rules and regulations and Title IX itself is a tool for that,” Hermanny said. “For St. Thomas specifically, our mission and convictions really ground that work for us.”

Allen Burback can be reached at burb9255@stthomas.edu