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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.

Health

The art of the obit: The man with Alzheimer’s

Bob CollinsBob Collins December 2, 2015, 9:32 AM Dec 2, 2015
2

Today’s obit section reveals another poignant piece of writing. This time, unlike some of the other obituaries we’ve highlighted over the years, the compelling part is just a single line at the end of an obituary for a gentleman who died of Alzheimer’s.
Read more →

Crime and Justice · Politics · War

The law is the law, except when common sense intervenes

Bob CollinsBob Collins December 2, 2015, 8:25 AM Dec 2, 2015
16

Gov. Mark Dayton used some common sense this week when he unraveled a public relations disaster at the state’s Department of Corrections. Read more →

Saltie’s crew stranded for weeks off Duluth

Bob CollinsBob Collins December 2, 2015, 7:06 AM Dec 2, 2015
8

If you’ve ever had a desire to work on a “saltie,” the tale of the Cornelia should clear that up. The oceangoing freighter has been anchored off Duluth for weeks, the Duluth News Tribune reports, and it, its cargo, and its crew may soon fall victim to winter. Read more →

Sports

The bride, the burger, and a hockey game means instant fame for couple

Bob CollinsBob Collins December 1, 2015, 2:45 PM Dec 1, 2015
8

Not since ‘the lady in pink’ has the state of hockey been so smitten with an attendee at a Minnesota Wild game. Read more →

The two-minute bridge

Bob CollinsBob Collins December 1, 2015, 1:34 PM Dec 1, 2015
5

The new bridge over the St. Croix River is taking longer to construct than expected, but this time-lapse video, just released by the Minnesota Department of Transportation, is still a riveting testimony to the industriousness of humans.
Read more →

Economy

Tearing down Edina

Bob CollinsBob Collins December 1, 2015, 11:15 AM Dec 1, 2015
39

Here’s something you don’t hear every day. A neighbor applauding the tear-downs happening on her street.
Read more →

Sports

U of M football disarray costs it a 4-star recruit

Bob CollinsBob Collins December 1, 2015, 8:58 AM Dec 1, 2015
24

The University of Minnesota football program can never seem to get out of its own way.
Read more →

Weather

With weather hype, we’re in mid-season form

Bob CollinsBob Collins December 1, 2015, 8:35 AM Dec 1, 2015
20

The snowstorm that didn’t live up to expectations wasn’t a lot of fun for a few hours yesterday, but do you feel ‘pummeled’ by it?
Read more →

Crime and Justice · Politics

Ellison loses influence on police shooting protest

Bob CollinsBob Collins December 1, 2015, 6:54 AM Dec 1, 2015
72

Ellison and other officials tried the declare-victory-and-go-home strategy to get Black Lives Matter protesters to end their 4th Precinct demonstration. It didn’t work. Read more →

Regional history

A Hy Berman story slam

Bob CollinsBob Collins November 30, 2015, 12:25 PM Nov 30, 2015
6

We throw ‘giant’ around too much, but Minnesota really did lose a giant today when it was announced that Hy Berman has died at age 90.
Read more →

Crime and Justice

When getting shot isn’t ‘great bodily harm’ in Minnesota

Bob CollinsBob Collins November 30, 2015, 11:05 AM Nov 30, 2015
11

The Minnesota Court of Appeals today agreed with a man who shot his ex-girlfriend that he can’t be convicted of first-degree assault in the state because the bullet he fired into her back didn’t hit any vital organs. Read more →

Happy holidays ad: Man fakes death to get his kids to visit

Bob CollinsBob Collins November 30, 2015, 10:17 AM Nov 30, 2015
2

It’s not even December yet and we have a clubhouse leader in the ‘Tear my guts out, why doncha?’ competition for 2015. Read more →

War

Swimmer nearing end of 6-month tribute to Gold Star families

Bob CollinsBob Collins November 30, 2015, 9:10 AM Nov 30, 2015
1

It seemed like only yesterday that Navy vet Chris Ring jumped into the little creek known as the Mississippi River in Itasca and headed south. Read more →

Health · Politics

The myth of mental health parity

Bob CollinsBob Collins November 30, 2015, 8:13 AM Nov 30, 2015
21

Washington Post columnist Dana Milbank learned what thousands — maybe millions — of other Americans have already learned recently: Getting help for mental illness is an impossible task. Read more →

Politics

The language of resentment

Bob CollinsBob Collins November 30, 2015, 7:45 AM Nov 30, 2015
12

Why do the people who want to lead the country act as though it’s a burden they’re forced to endure?
Read more →

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