The city of Minneapolis will pay $600,000, including attorney fees, to settle a lawsuit filed by a woman who says then-police officer Derek Chauvin used excessive force against her in 2020, four months before Chauvin kneeled on George Floyd, killing him.

The City Council voted Thursday to approve the settlement after a closed-door briefing with members of the city attorney’s office.

Patricia Day claims that on Jan. 17, 2020, Chauvin and his partner pulled her out of her vehicle and threw her to the ground.

“Chauvin then assumed his signature pose, pressing his knee into the subdued and handcuffed Patty’s back — just as he would later do to snuff the life out of George Floyd,” the lawsuit reads.

Day said she suffered a cracked tooth and injuries to her arm and leg.

The lawsuit also takes police leadership to task for not correcting Chauvin’s actions after reviewing the incident involving Day.

“The video evidence was available for MPD supervisors and policymakers to see, if anyone had cared enough to look,” reads the suit. “But MPD command and control personnel ignored this evidence or, worse, reviewed it and did nothing, in either case continuing to condone such actions by Chauvin and other officers.”

Chauvin was convicted of murder in Floyd’s murder and sentenced to spend more than 20 years in prison.

The city has already paid out nearly $40 million to settle a lawsuit from Floyd’s family as well as $9 million to settle suits from Zoya Code and John Pope. They say Chauvin knelt on their necks and backs during separate confrontations in 2017.

— MPR News

Country star Lainey Wilson plans Xcel stop

Country star Lainey Wilson — who in 2023 became the first woman named Country Music Association entertainer of the year since Taylor Swift in 2009 — will hit the road on her biggest tour to date, which includes an Oct. 18 show at St. Paul’s Xcel Energy Center.

Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Feb. 7 through Ticketmaster. Citi cardholders and Verizon customers have access to a presale that runs from 10 a.m. Feb. 4 through 10 p.m. Feb. 6.

After graduating high school, the Louisiana native moved to Nashville, releasing two albums on small labels before landing a deal with a major in 2018. Two years later, her debut single “Things a Man Oughta Know” hit No. 1 on Billboard’s country airplay chart. Her upcoming tour is in support of her fifth album “Whirlwind.”

— Ross Raihala

Cars in new parking area should move weekly

Drivers in Highland Park and Payne-Phalen would be wise to pay close attention to parking signs. Beginning Sunday, St. Paul Public Works will launch its pilot program, alternating parking on either side of the street on a weekly basis.

The goal is to make room for plows and emergency vehicles all season, instead of trying to get drivers to move their cars during snow emergencies alone. Yes, temperatures hit the unseasonably warm low 50s this week. Public Works officials say the point is to plan for snowier weather.

The pilot program will continue through April 12, and then likely return next year for a second round of testing, possibly in new areas. If results are encouraging, it will be rolled out citywide.

During “even” weeks — weeks where a Sunday falls on an even number, such as Feb. 2, Feb. 16, March 2, March 16 and March 30 — drivers will be expected to park on the even-numbered side of the street based on home addresses. During odd weeks, park on the odd-numbered side. Sundays are changeover days, where drivers will have some grace time from 3 to 9 p.m. to shift from one side to the other.

Ticketing and towing will begin Feb. 17. Detailed alternate one-sided parking maps can be found online at stpaul.gov/NewSnow.

— Frederick Melo