Bob Collins
When you live in Underwood, Minn., and a Congo African Grey Parrot shows up on your deck for no particular reason, you don’t turn away. There aren’t a lot of Congo African Grey Parrot in the Underwood flyways. 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.
Despite the small but significant steps to dismantle a symbol of institutional racism by way of removing a government-sponsored display of the Confederate flag in South Carolina, racist symbolism is still good for business for some companies. Read more →
For the last few years, David Thorpe has wondered why some men ‘sound gay.’ I began asking people for their thoughts on the subject, and received a surprising range of answers. Read more →
Put up a sign that says people can’t go somewhere, and they’ll try to go there. Read more →
You probably don’t recognize Don Featherstone’s name. But you will most likely recognize what he gave the world.
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A new program in Minnesota got scant attention during the legislative session, but lawmakers approved funding for a program offering early detection and treatment of psychosis in young people. Read more →
We need some sort of amber alert system so that those of you who see the Northern Lights can wake the rest of us up.
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The Enge family of Thief River Falls was planning to spend Saturday’s Twins-Cubs game at Target Field, celebrating the survival of Allie Enge, who survived brain surgery three years ago, almost to the day.
Then someone stole their tickets. Read more →
The Minnesota Court of Appeals today provided a fascinating glimpse into a two-decade fight inside the Walser family business. Read more →
Publisher Andrew Wallmeyer announced the MinnPost+ program, which will make some content available only to people who donate $60 or more a year. Read more →
There’s still no more powerful word in the English language right now than the ‘N-word.’ To prove it, we give you the coverage of President Barack Obama using it.
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The best part about the summer solstice is it ushers in a summer of slow news days, which gives us a legitimate excuse — almost — to watch cat videos. Read more →
A study by a group of scientists says the sixth great extinction on earth is already underway.
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It is odd, yet true, to think that the voice of Rev. Clementa Pinckney, which a white supremacist thought he was silencing by killing him, is now being amplified to a wider audience. Read more →
I was driving home from work last night thinking about the shootings in South Carolina and also one of the most amazing mass murder stories I’ve ever heard.
In 2006, Charles Roberts walked into an Amish schoolhouse and shot 10 girls and killed five of them before killing himself. Read more →