RICK NELSON

A California fire that gutted hundreds of homes is advancing toward Lake Tahoe as thousands of firefighters try to box in the flames and tourists are enveloped in a thick yellow haze.

Thousands of firefighters are trying to box in a California wildfire that is advancing toward Lake Tahoe and has shrouded the popular vacation spot in ash and yellow smoke.

A defense expert says George Floyd died from a sudden heart rhythm problem due to his heart disease while being restrained by police officers, not because former Officer Derek Chauvin kept his knee on Floyd's neck.

The attorney for the former Minneapolis police officer on trial in George Floyd’s death has revisited the disputed concept of excited delirium.

A decision looms for a former police officer about whether to speak to jurors directly at his trial for murder and manslaughter in George Floyd’s death.

Prosecutors trying a white former Minneapolis police officer in George Floyd’s death put one of Floyd’s brothers on the witness stand in a further effort to humanize him for the jury.

Doctors charged with determining the cause of an individual’s death try to learn all they can about the person’s life.

The attorney for the officer on trial in George Floyd’s death has raised the concept of excited delirium as testimony examines whether reasonable force was used on Floyd.

The foundation of the case against the former Minneapolis police officer charged with killing George Floyd is a mountain of video evidence, but presenting that to jurors isn’t as easy as pushing play.

A medical expert says George Floyd died from a lack of oxygen that damaged his brain and caused his heart to stop.

The defense attorney for the former Minneapolis police officer on trial in the death of George Floyd has tried to show that Floyd yelled “I ate too many drugs” as officers pinned him to the ground.

Jurors in the trial of a Minneapolis police officer charged in George Floyd’s death are hearing from investigators from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.

A use-of-force expert says Derek Chauvin had his knee on George Floyd’s neck area the entire time that he was handcuffed behind his back and lying facedown.

A critical factor for jurors to consider at Derek Chauvin’s trial in George Floyd’s death is whether he violated the department's chokehold policy.

The Minneapolis police chief says now-fired Officer Derek Chauvin violated departmental policy in pinning his knee on George Floyd’s neck and keeping him down after Floyd had stopped resisting and was in distress.

Viewers watching the trial of a former Minneapolis officer charged in George Floyd’s death may be struck by the array of prosecutors presenting their case.

As former Officer Derek Chauvin stands trial in George Floyd’s death, a central question is whether he followed the Minneapolis Police Department’s guidelines on the use of force — and used that force reasonably.

The head of the Minneapolis Police Department's homicide division has testified that kneeling on the neck of someone who is handcuffed and lying on his stomach is “totally unnecessary” deadly force.

Prosecutors trying a former Minneapolis police officer in George Floyd’s death put Floyd’s girlfriend on the witness stand in an effort to humanize him for the jury.

In this image from Minneapolis city surveillance video, Minneapolis police are seen attempting to take George Floyd into custody May 25, 2020, in Minneapolis, Minn. AdThe video shows Chauvin with his knee wedged into the back of Floyd’s neck. Despite the disturbing video, prosecutors still must show some supporting evidence that it was Chauvin’s actions that contributed to Floyd's death, especially to prove murder. But many legal experts say the video evidence in Chauvin's case is among the most convincing they have ever seen. Under rules of trial procedure in Minnesota, they can ask the judge if they can see video evidence again.

There is a growing crowd and what officers perceive to be a threat.”The carefully calibrated language by each side is no accident. She said she identified herself as a firefighter but officers refused to let her come to Floyd's aid. Nelson asked if Williams grew angrier as the arrest continued, and the mixed martial arts fighter agreed that he did. When Williams appeared to step off the curb and Thao touched him, Nelson said Williams threatened the officer. The answer, again, “No.”___Find AP’s full coverage of the death of George Floyd at: https://apnews.com/hub/death-of-george-floyd

AdWhen Floyd was finally taken away by paramedics, Charles McMillian, a 61-year-old bystander who recognized Chauvin from the neighborhood, told the officer he didn't respect what Chauvin had done. At one point, he threw his upper body out of the car, and officers tried to push him back in. Lane was heard saying officers found a “weed pipe” on Floyd and wondered if he might be on PCP, saying Floyd's eyes were shaking back and forth fast. Minutes earlier, as Floyd was pinned down by Chauvin and other officers, McMillian, the bystander, could be heard on video saying to Floyd, "You can't win" and “Get up and get in the car." Martin said he also held back another man who was trying to defend himself after being pushed by Thao.

MINNEAPOLIS – 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. It seemed as if he didn’t care what we were saying,” said 18-year-old Darnella Frazier, one of several witnesses who testified through tears. “There was a man being killed,” said Hansen, who testified in her dress uniform and detailed her emergency medical technician training. Williams admitted under questioning that he told Thao he would beat the officers if Thao touched him again. But witnesses also testified that no bystanders actually interfered with police.

In this image from Minneapolis city surveillance video, Minneapolis police are seen attempting to take George Floyd into custody May 25, 2020, in Minneapolis, Minn. But many legal experts say the video evidence in Chauvin's case is among the most convincing they have ever seen. “If you are the defense, you want jurors to get in the weeds, into issues other than the video. Under rules of trial procedure in Minnesota, they can ask the judge if they can see video evidence again. He said allowing jurors to view video evidence in the jury room and to discuss what they see among themselves can be crucial in reaching the right verdict.

In this image from Minneapolis city surveillance video, Minneapolis police are seen attempting to take George Floyd into custody May 25, 2020, in Minneapolis, Minn. Floyd’s name is more widely known than Chauvin's, but calling it the “Floyd trial” would wrongly imply that the victim was the one on trial. Most called it the Chauvin trial. CourtTV called it “The Death of George Floyd Murder Trial.” ABC said it was the “Derek Chauvin Trial, 10 Months After George Floyd’s Death.”For some of the specialty networks, the trial offers a rare opportunity to increase viewership, both on the air and online. CBS' website will carry its own coverage, along with that of the network's Minneapolis affiliate, he said.

Floyd, 46, had none of the telltale signs of asphyxiation and he had fentanyl and methamphetamine in his system, Nelson said. Jurors watched intently as the video played on multiple screens, with one drawing a sharp breath as Floyd said he couldn’t breathe. Everything hurts,” Floyd says in the video, and: “I can’t breathe, officer.” Onlookers repeatedly shout at the officer to get off Floyd, saying he is not moving, breathing or resisting. AdBefore the trial began, Floyd family attorney Ben Crump blasted the idea that the trial would be a tough test for jurors. Three other former officers go on trial in August because Cahill ruled there wasn't enough space to try all four at once.

Jury selection begins Monday, March 8, 2021, for Derek Chauvin, a former Minneapolis police officer charged with murder and manslaughter in George Floyd's death. (AP Photo/Jim Mone, File)MINNEAPOLIS – Opening statements are set for Monday in the trial of a former Minneapolis police officer charged with murder and manslaughter in George Floyd's death. THE JUDGEHennepin County Judge Peter Cahill is respected and has a reputation as a no-nonsense, fair judge. PROSECUTIONDays after Floyd's death, Minnesota's governor announced that Attorney General Keith Ellison would take the lead on prosecuting the case. He helped win an acquittal for a Minnesota man who was charged with fatally shooting his unarmed neighbor in 2017.

But it's an argument that's almost certainly not available to Derek Chauvin, the fired Minneapolis police officer who goes on trial Monday, March 29, 2021, in George Floyd's death. The fired Minneapolis police officer who goes on trial Monday was captured on video pinning George Floyd to the pavement, his knee on the Black man's neck, for about nine minutes last May. In 2020, six officers were charged in such cases, including at least four after the nationwide outrage over Floyd’s death. AdProsecutors in Chauvin’s case hope the pleas from onlookers to check on Floyd will serve the same purpose. “But each second after that, there was no need for a split-second decision.”___Find AP’s full coverage of the death of George Floyd at: https://apnews.com/hub/death-of-george-floyd

Weren’t Derek Chauvin and other officers “duty bound to deal with the arrestee as they find them?” Cahill asked. That duty could be key at the trial that starts with opening statements Monday, especially as the defense asserts that Floyd's swallowing of pills contributed to his death. The Minneapolis Police Department sought to train its officers to minimize violence in the years before Floyd died. Floyd's death indicates the 2016 reforms in Minneapolis didn't work, he said. The officers get Floyd to the ground and hold him there.

AdDerek Chauvin is charged with murder and manslaughter in the May 25 death of Floyd. The widely seen video set off street protests in Minneapolis, some violent, that spread across the U.S. and the world. He said Floyd’s death sparked discussions about racism at work, and he decided to educate himself by reading a book about the subject. Throughout jury selection, the defense frequently struck people who told the court they already had strong feelings about Chauvin’s guilt. ___Find AP’s full coverage of the death of George Floyd: https://apnews.com/hub/death-of-george-floyd

Jury selection in the trial of Derek Chauvin will stretch into a third week after attorneys seated just one additional juror Friday. The 13th juror picked is a woman who said she’d seen only clips of the video of Floyd’s arrest and needs to learn more about what happened beforehand. Hennepin County Judge Pete Cahill said court would resume Monday to pick two more jurors -- for a total of 15, one more than expected. AdSeven jurors had been picked last week when the Minneapolis City Council announced it had unanimously approved the massive payout to settle a civil rights lawsuit over Floyd’s death. Floyd’s death, captured on a widely seen bystander video, set off weeks of sometimes violent protests across the country and led to a national reckoning on racial justice.

It’s an apparent mismatch that results from the state’s takeover of the prosecution, but defense attorney Eric Nelson is getting some help. Days later, amid massive protests over Floyd's death, Minnesota Gov. AdPeters said the MPPOA works with a group of 12 defense attorneys who take turns handling cases as they come up. He's enough of an expert on driving while intoxicated that he frequently lectures on the topic and often contributes to a DWI sourcebook for Minnesota attorneys, his biography says. “I saw a couple of reports of, ‘The MPPOA selected a DWI lawyer to represent Chauvin,'" Peters said.

So far, the racial makeup of the jury is evenly split; six of the jurors are white, four are Black, and two are multiracial, according to the court. “The defense is doing a full-on trial of George Floyd, who is not on trial, but that is what they're doing," said Blackwell, adding that the defense also planned to make arguments about Floyd's drug use. Floyd’s death, captured on bystander video, set off weeks of sometimes-violent protests across the country and led to a national reckoning on racial justice. Three other former officers face an August trial in Floyd’s death on charges of aiding and abetting second-degree murder and manslaughter. Ad___Find AP’s full coverage of the death of George Floyd: https://apnews.com/hub/death-of-george-floyd

Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill recalled seven jurors who were seated before the settlement was announced last week, at the request of former officer Derek Chauvin’s attorney, Eric Nelson. Cahill questioned each about what they knew of the settlement and whether it would affect their ability to serve. The dismissal of only two jurors suggested the impact of the settlement on the jury pool was less than feared, likely reducing the chance of Cahill granting a defense request to delay the trial. Chauvin is charged with murder and manslaughter in the May 25 death of Floyd, a Black man who was declared dead after Chauvin, who is white, pressed his knee against his neck for about nine minutes. AdThree other former officers face an August trial in Floyd’s death on charges of aiding and abetting second-degree murder and manslaughter.

Chauvin is charged with murder in the death of George Floyd during an arrest last may in Minneapolis. Floyd’s death, captured on a widely seen bystander video, set off weeks of sometimes-violent protests across the country and led to a national reckoning on racial justice. AdThe judge previously rejected Chauvin’s attempt to tell the jury about Floyd’s May 2019 arrest — a year before his fatal encounter with Chauvin — but heard fresh arguments Tuesday from both sides. But he said he would weigh the defense's argument that alleged drug use during the 2019 arrest that led to “a hypertensive emergency” is relevant to what may have caused Floyd's death in 2020. Three other former officers face an August trial in Floyd’s death on charges of aiding and abetting second-degree murder and manslaughter.

MINNEAPOLIS – The first week of jury selection in the trial of a former Minneapolis police officer charged in George Floyd’s death established patterns for how attorneys go about dismissing potential jurors they perceive as unfavorable to their side. The defense is striking people who tell the court they already have strong feelings about Derek Chauvin's guilt. One candidate wrote in his questionnaire that he had a “very negative” perception of Chauvin after watching the widely seen video of Floyd’s arrest. The court has two more weeks of jury selection blocked out before opening arguments scheduled for March 29. The woman said Floyd’s death has affected her life, prompting her to volunteer at a nonprofit group that helps underserved and vulnerable children.

FILE - In this Feb. 8, 2021 file photo, A mural of George Floyd is seen in George Floyd Square in Minneapolis. Floyd’s death sparked sometimes violent protests in Minneapolis and beyond and led to a national reckoning on racial justice. “I just want you to know how deeply we are with you,” she said to Floyd's family members. Floyd’s family filed the federal civil rights lawsuit in July against the city, Chauvin and three other fired officers charged in his death. ___Find AP’s full coverage of the death of George Floyd: https://apnews.com/hub/death-of-george-floyd

Defense attorneys complain the doctrine allows prosecutors to play on jurors' emotions and has nothing to do with evidence. If Cahill allows prosecutors to go too far, he could hand Chauvin grounds for an appeal. WHAT IS THE “SPARK OF LIFE” DOCTRINE? Frank told Cahill he plans to bring in photographs of Floyd at various stages of his life and present at least two witnesses. The smart defense attorneys will figure out how to use this.”___Find AP's full coverage of the death of George Floyd: https://apnews.com/hub/death-of-george-floyd

Prosecutors have already challenged the dismissal of two potential jurors, objecting that defense attorneys threw out the Hispanic man and woman based on their race. AdEach side also gets a certain number of peremptory challenges to dismiss potential jurors that they don't have to justify. However, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in the 1986 Batson v. Kentucky case that peremptory strikes cannot be used to dismiss jurors based solely on their race. Prosecutors did that in Minneapolis this week after Chauvin’s attorney, Eric Nelson, blocked two potential jurors who identify as Hispanic. “So while that can be accepted as a race-neutral justification for dismissing a potential juror, there is implicitly race built into the question.

Judge Peter Cahill seated two more jurors to go with the three picked Tuesday for Derek Chauvin’s trial on second-degree murder and manslaughter charges. In a separate development, the Minnesota Supreme Court declined to hear Chauvin's appeal to block a third-degree murder charge from being reinstated. AdThe new decision from the state’s highest court left open the possibility that Cahill could add the charge back. Legal experts say giving the jury another option for convicting Chauvin of murder raises the chance of a conviction. “In my community, I think when there is suspicious activity the police will stop by, they will ask a question,” he said.

MINNEAPOLIS – Because the trial of a former Minneapolis police officer charged in George Floyd’s death is being held during the coronavirus pandemic, the courtroom has been overhauled for safety. The pandemic has upended court systems across the country, delaying jury trials and creating huge backlogs of cases. Many courts have installed barriers or moved jury orientation and even trials themselves to bigger spaces such as convention centers to get at least some jury trials going again. In Minnesota, in-person criminal jury trials have been mostly on hold since November. The constitutional requirement for a public trial is being satisfied by allowing gavel-to-gavel TV coverage, which is rare in Minnesota courts.

One woman who saw the video said she doesn't understand why Chauvin didn’t get up when Floyd said he couldn’t breathe. The exchanges between potential jurors, attorneys and the judge illustrate the challenges in seating a jury in such a well-known case. Chauvin is charged with second-degree murder and manslaughter in Floyd’s death, and jury selection is proceeding despite uncertainty over whether a third-degree murder charge will be added. Floyd’s death sparked sometimes violent protests in Minneapolis and beyond, leading to a nationwide reckoning on race. The races of the second and third jurors selected were not made clear in court.

Derek Chauvin is already facing a second-degree unintentional murder charge and a manslaughter charge. Floyd's death sparked months of mass protests nationwide over police brutality and race. For those seeking justice in Floyd's death, anything less than murder is likely to feel like injustice. Chauvin's lawyer sought to dismiss the charge, arguing there was not probable cause to charge him with third-degree murder. The second-degree murder charge requires prosecutors to prove Chauvin caused Floyd’s death while committing or trying to commit a felony — in this case, third-degree assault.

(Court TV/Pool via AP)MINNEAPOLIS – Jury selection for a former Minneapolis police officer charged in George Floyd’s death was halted before it began Monday by the state's effort to add a third-degree murder charge. AdThere was no indication when that court will rule, but a hold could delay Chauvin’s trial for weeks. Chauvin is charged with second-degree murder and manslaughter in Floyd’s death. For third-degree murder, they must prove that Chauvin's actions caused Floyd's death, and that his actions were reckless and without regard for human life. Floyd’s death sparked sometimes violent protests in Minneapolis and beyond, and led to a nationwide reckoning on race.

Chauvin is charged with second-degree murder and manslaughter and jury selection in his trial begins Monday, March 8, 2021. Jury selection begins Monday in Derek Chauvin's trial, which is expected to come down to two key questions: Did Chauvin's actions cause Floyd's death, and were his actions reasonable? Floyd’s death sparked sometimes violent protests in Minneapolis and beyond, and led to a nationwide reckoning on race. The second-degree murder charge requires prosecutors to prove Chauvin caused Floyd's death while committing or trying to commit a felony — in this case, third-degree assault. Instead, they must prove his actions caused Floyd's death, and that they were reckless and without regard for human life.

Jury selection begins Monday, March 8, 2021, for Derek Chauvin, a former Minneapolis police officer charged with murder and manslaughter in George Floyd's death. (AP Photo/Jim Mone, File)MINNEAPOLIS – Jury selection begins Monday for a former Minneapolis police officer charged with murder and manslaughter in George Floyd’s death. City, county and state officials are preparing for any sort of reaction that trial testimony or a verdict might elicit. AdTHE JUDGEHennepin County Judge Peter Cahill is respected and has a reputation as a no-nonsense, fair judge. AdPROSECUTIONDays after Floyd's death, Minnesota's governor announced that Attorney General Keith Ellison would take the lead on prosecuting the case.

Chauvin was prepared to plead guilty to third-degree murder in George Floyd's death before then-Attorney General William Barr personally blocked the plea deal last summer, officials said. (Hennepin County Sheriff's Office via AP, File)MINNEAPOLIS – Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was prepared to plead guilty to third-degree murder in George Floyd's death before then-Attorney General William Barr personally blocked the plea deal last year, officials said. Barr rejected the deal in part because he felt it was too soon as the investigation into Floyd's death was still in its relative infancy, the officials said. Tom Kelly, Chauvin's attorney at the time of the plea talks, said Thursday he could not discuss the case. AdSeparately, the judge handling Chauvin's case on Thursday declined a prosecution request to reinstate a third-degree murder charge.

Prosecutors in the case against the four Minneapolis police officers charged in the death of George Floyd requested that the trial delayed by three months. Prosecutors cited the COVID-19 pandemic and the amount of time needed before enough people are vaccinated and health risks are sufficiently diminished. (Hennepin County Sheriff's Office via AP)MINNEAPOLIS – Prosecutors in the case against the four Minneapolis officers charged in the death of George Floyd requested that the trial delayed by three months. Chauvin’s attorney, Eric Nelson, said he doesn't intend to object to the prosecution seeking a delay in the trial. “The pandemic has been around for a while.”Thao’s lawyer, Robert Paule, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Protesters hold a die-in outside the Hennepin County Family Justice Center where four former Minneapolis police officers appeared at a hearing Friday, Sept. 11, 2020, in Minneapolis. The officers are charged in the death of George Floyd who died in police custody in May. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)

Prosecutors say they may revisit the issue of audio-visual coverage of the trials of four former Minneapolis police officers charged in the death of George Floyd. Kueng, Lane and Thao have been charged with aiding and abetting Chauvin. Thomas Lane, J. Kueng and Tou Thao are charged with aiding and abetting both second-degree murder and manslaughter. “Here, all four Defendants worked together to murder Floyd: Chauvin, Kueng, and Lane pinned Floyd face-down, while Thao stopped the crowd from intervening, enabling the other Defendants to maintain their positions. “The other defendants are clearly saying that, if a crime was committed, they neither knew about it nor assisted in it,” Nelson wrote.

This combination of photos provided by the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office in Minnesota on Wednesday, June 3, 2020, shows Derek Chauvin, from left, J. Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane and Tou Thao. Kueng, Lane and Thao have been charged with aiding and abetting Chauvin. Minneapolis adopted a policy in 2016 requiring officers to intervene when colleagues are using inappropriate force. Yet three other officers at the scene failed to stop 19-year police veteran Derek Chauvin when he put his knee on Floyd's neck despite Floyd's cries that he couldn't breathe. (Hennepin County Sheriff's Office via AP)