• Minnesota Public Radio
  • Stations
      Cancel
    • NewsMPR News mprnews.org
    • The CurrentThe Current thecurrent.org
    • ClassicalClassical MPR classicalmpr.org
    • Minnesota Public Radiompr.org
  • MPR Information
    MPR Information
    Cancel
    • Give Now
    • Archive
    • Events
      • Tickets
      • Events Calendar
      • MPR Custom Travel
    • Shop
    • About us
      • Radio Heartland
      • Wonderground Radio
      • Company Information
      • Stations
      • Public Insight Journalism
      • Contact Info
      • Press Room
      • MPR People
      • Career Opportunities
      • Partners
      • Educational Sponsors
      • Minnesotans for MPR
      • Tapes & Transcripts
      • Tower Rental
    • Members
      • Member Benefits
      • Sustaining Membership
      • More Ways to Give
      • Contact Us
      • Become a Member
    • Give Now
Search MPR
Cancel
NewsCut

MPR News Reflections and observations on the news

By Bob Collins

Bob Collins
bcollins@mpr.org • @newscut

Bob Collins retired from Minnesota Public Radio in 2019 after 12 years of writing NewsCut and pointing out to complainants that posts weren’t news stories. A son of Massachusetts, he was a news editor 1992-1998, created the MPR News regional website in 1999, invented the popular Select A Candidate, started several blogs, and every day lamented that his Minnesota Fantasy Legislature project never caught on.

This or That

And now this message from two little kids

Bob CollinsBob Collins November 17, 2017, 6:30 AM Nov 17, 2017
3

Because it’s Friday, that’s why. Read more →

What’s on MPR News today? 11/17/2017

Bob CollinsBob Collins November 17, 2017, 6:00 AM Nov 17, 2017
4

Here’s a list of topics and guests on MPR News’ programming today. Read more →

People doing good

Ellen DeGeneres surprises Twin Cities kidney donor.

Bob CollinsBob Collins November 16, 2017, 3:11 PM Nov 16, 2017
1

Stacey Elsenpeter, of Andover, got the Ellen DeGeneres treatment in a segment that aired today when the show surprised Elsenpeter, a single mom who participated in a parent-kidney exchange to find a match for her son, Zach, who was born with kidney failure.
Read more →

Politics · Regional history

What if Franken resigns?

Bob CollinsBob Collins November 16, 2017, 12:24 PM Nov 16, 2017
89

Politics is a tough game and Franken is spilling blood in its water right now. It’s a fair bet that sharks in both parties are moving toward it just in case. Read more →

This or That

It’s OK to eat at a Mankato restaurant if you don’t have a driver’s license

Bob CollinsBob Collins November 16, 2017, 9:45 AM Nov 16, 2017
4

According to a sign at the Olive Garden, you have to have a driver’s license to enter the restaurant. It refers to a city ordinance that doesn’t exist. Read more →

War

A toast, a drink, and an end to the ‘Last Man’ club

Bob CollinsBob Collins November 16, 2017, 8:18 AM Nov 16, 2017
1

Luverne’s famed bottle of bourbon is no more. Neither is the famed Glen’s Coffee Clique Last Man Club. The last two living members — World War II veterans — opened the bottle and toasted their dead friends, the Globe of Worthington says. Read more →

Politics

A low bar for ‘extremism’

Bob CollinsBob Collins November 16, 2017, 7:01 AM Nov 16, 2017
41

It doesn’t take much to be characterized as an “extremist” anymore; you pretty much just have to have a different position on a civic or political issue. Read more →

What’s on MPR News today? 11/16/17

Bob CollinsBob Collins November 16, 2017, 6:13 AM Nov 16, 2017
10

Here’s a list of topics and guests on MPR News’ programming today. Read more →

Sports

For basketball star, it’s a matter of heart over height

Bob CollinsBob Collins November 15, 2017, 3:15 PM Nov 15, 2017
4

Johnny Ortiz is trying to believe what people routinely say. If you want something badly enough, you can achieve it. Now it’s up to everybody to give him the break he’s already earned. Read more →

Health · Science

For first time, scientists edit DNA inside the body

Bob CollinsBob Collins November 15, 2017, 1:47 PM Nov 15, 2017
19

The description of the process used in the gene therapy is enough to make you proud to walk the same planet as the scientists who have figured out how to do it.
Read more →

Crime and Justice

When ignorance of the law is an excuse

Bob CollinsBob Collins November 15, 2017, 11:48 AM Nov 15, 2017
3

The Minnesota Supreme Court struck down the conviction of a man who was supposed to register as a predatory offender when he entered Renville County in 2014. Juanel Anthony Mikulak’s defense? He thought he had a week and didn’t know otherwise. Read more →

This or That

Church visitors dragged out after objecting to female pastor

Bob CollinsBob Collins November 15, 2017, 10:50 AM Nov 15, 2017
24

Perhaps in years past a couple of guys who didn’t think women belonged in the pulpit of a church would be a minor nuisance, but one can hardly blame the parishioners of a Dickinson, N.D., church for quickly throwing them out. Read more →

This or That

Papa John’s takes a knee in earnings call controversy

Bob CollinsBob Collins November 15, 2017, 10:15 AM Nov 15, 2017
20

Judging by the tweets from Papa John’s Pizza, a lot of people boycotted the company after its CEO took exception to the NFL players protest for racial equity. Read more →

Economy

Another small-town grocer calls it quits

Bob CollinsBob Collins November 15, 2017, 9:37 AM Nov 15, 2017
9

Miltona, Minn., (pop. 408) is the latest small town to lose its small grocery store and some people in town are none too happy about it. But the people in town are primarily responsible for the closing. Enough of them decided to shop at the big-box retailers instead. Read more →

Education

With canceled school trip, a win for the terrorists

Bob CollinsBob Collins November 15, 2017, 8:13 AM Nov 15, 2017
49

School trips to Washington are a rite of passage for America’s school kids. But fear has won out in North Ridgeville, Ohio, where school officials have decided the threat of terrorism is too real to risk the eighth-graders’ lives by showing them the capital of the land of the free.
Read more →

‹ Older Previous 15 posts
Newer › Next 15 posts
  • Member Supported · Join Now ›
    “MPR is a constant in my life. I come to work informed and ready to go for the day.” —Ginger from Stillwater, MN
  • Sponsor
  • Latest from MPR News Blogs
    • NewsCut

      Good night and good news

    • Capitol View® - MPR News

      Politics Friday: Should we stop trusting pre-election polling?

  • Sponsor
Sponsor
More MPR News
  • Listen Live
  • Audio help
  • MPR News on iOS
  • MPR News on Android
  • MPR News blogs
  • iOS Streaming app
  • Android Streaming app
  • Podcasts
  • RSS feeds
  • Program schedule
  • Station directory
  • About Minnesota Public Radio
  • Contact Us
  • Shop
  • Become a Member
  • Volunteer
  • Fundraising Credentials
  • Terms of use
  • Your privacy rights
  • Public Inspection Files

Minnesota Public Radio ©2022. All rights reserved.