Bob CollinsIf it wasn’t for Milton Pitts Crenchaw, the Tuskegee Airmen might never have proven that African Americans can fly airplanes. Read more →
MPR News Reflections and observations on the news
By Bob Collins
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.
In the category of politicians and cartography, Minnesotans are pretty well spoiled by Sen. Al Franken, who can draw a map of the United States freehand while speaking of each of the states. So we’ll allow ourselves to heartily chortle over the campaign staff of presidential candidate Ben Carson, which has created the great state Read more →
Counties are sending out Truth in Taxation notices, indicating the proposed property taxes for the coming year. Each year I invite people to put some hard numbers to the usual debate on taxes. Read more →
Like our neighbor to our east, our neighbor to our south has said if Syrians end up in the state, it will not provide any help with housing or services. Read more →
It’s about to turn colder, all the way to the 30s in the Twin Cities. That should be a relief from the delight of a warm November morning. Read more →
A Packers fan adopted a highway in Northfield.
Sure it’s clean and spiffy until our eyes are blinded by sign trash. Read more →
There are cries of anguish in Boston this afternoon. David Ortiz has announced his retirement.
He’ll give up the game at the end of next season, FoxSports’ Ken Rosenthal reports. That gives him a chance for a farewell tour. Read more →
The University of Minnesota is in the national debate this afternoon because of a decision last week by the Minnesota Student Association to reject a resolution calling for a moment of recognition every 9/11. Read more →
We have our first political ad using the Paris bombings.
David Vitter, who is running for governor of Louisiana, unveiled this ad today. Read more →
Bill Aldridge, 80, wasn’t homeless when he died a month ago. But he was alone. He had no family and nobody stepped forward to make any funeral arrangements. Read more →
We’ve reached another predictable stage in the coverage of a terrorist attacks: the ‘how to talk to your kids about Paris’ articles are starting to populate the InterTubes.
Here’s an idea: Don’t bother. Read more →
There are many things I don’t know about the shooting this week in Minneapolis that has sparked days of protest. And while I’d love to provide some contextual words to frame a news story, I can’t. Maybe you can. Read more →
You’re in a train station in Atlanta when your wife notices a young man struggling to tie a tie.
What do you do? Keep walking or stop to help? Read more →
Given the times, there are probably things we needed more than hearing Ode to Joy performed by a flash mob (the Wayzata Symphony Orchestra and the Edina Chorale) in the IDS building lobby in Minneapolis this afternoon. But we can’t think of any offhand. Read more →
When is a Confederate flag not offensive? When it’s a memorial to a family member and friend who liked the Dukes of Hazzard, according to a Minnesota school district. Read more →