| 3.29.21

IT: Prosecution in Derek Chauvin trial: 'It's a homicide. You can believe your eyes,' and... Are you at risk of eviction because of COVID-19?

Join us and tell your reps how you feel!

Welcome to Tuesday, March 30th, folks...

9:29.

Jurors heard opening statements and witness testimony during the first day of former Minneapolis Police officer Derek Chauvin's murder trial in the death of George Floyd on Monday.

Both prosecutors and the defense team referenced the 9 minutes and 29 seconds Chauvin kneeled on Floyd's neck.

Prosecuting attorney Jerry Blackwell repeatedly highlighted "9:29," telling jurors they were the "three most important numbers in this case."

Defense attorney Eric Nelson also referenced 9:29, telling jurors: "The evidence is far greater than 9 minutes and 29 seconds."

"You will learn that Derek Chauvin did exactly what he had been trained to do over the course of his 19-year career," Nelson said during his opening statement.

The first witness called by the prosecution: Jena Lee Scurry, who's worked as a Minneapolis 911 dispatcher for almost 7 years.

Scurry said that as time passed, she wondered why the image on her screen — police holding Floyd on the ground — wasn't changing.

"My instincts were telling me that something's wrong."

Read about all the key quotes and moments from day 1 of the trial here, then join the conversation:

What's your verdict? Is Chauvin guilty of the murder of George Floyd?

Eviction Ban Extended

The current eviction moratorium was set to expire at the end of March.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has presented a historic threat to the nation’s public health,” CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said in a statement.

“Keeping people in their homes and out of crowded or congregate settings — like homeless shelters — by preventing evictions is a key step in helping to stop the spread of COVID-19.”

Are you at risk of eviction because of COVID-19?

U.S. Energy Consumption From Renewables Surpasses Coal

U.S. energy consumption from renewable sources ― including hydroelectric, wind, and solar ― surpassed the consumption of energy from coal for the first time in 2019.

Coal consumption peaked at 22.75 quadrillion BTUs in 2007, which is enough power to provide for the needs of 73.6 million people for one year. But it has been on a steady decline since then to 11.32 quadrillion BTUs by 2019, while renewables increased 74% from 6.52 quadrillion BTUs to 11.35 quadrillion BTUs in the same period as this USAFacts chart shows: