Ferguson Update: Morning of Thursday, September 4, 2014

WASHINGTON (AP) — A person briefed on the matter says the Justice Department plans to open an investigation into the practices of the Ferguson, Missouri Police Department. The person said the investigation, which follows a police officer's shooting of an unarmed black man on August 9th, could be announced as early as today. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation, first reported by the Washington Post, had not yet been announced.

FERGUSON, Mo. (AP) — Missouri Governor Jay Nixon has lifted the state of emergency he declared August 16th in response to looting and violent protesting in Ferguson. The decision means the Highway Patrol is no longer in charge of Ferguson law enforcement. Nixon also terminated an executive order that had activated the Missouri National Guard.