Bob Collins
Whatever it is, it’s certainly not reflected in the political campaign ads, which apparently work. 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.
Jay Cooke State Park, when most of the leaves have fallen.
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Like the vanishing jetliner of months ago, Ebola is good business for the 24/7 news channels. That might explain why they won’t tell you that Ebola isn’t the threat we might think it is. Read more →
Two large employers in Minnesota can’t find enough workers. Why? Read more →
Maybe people who have the day off today should be conscientious objectors and show up for work. Read more →
In Superior, Wisconsin, Daniel Phu has taught his kids algebra and calculus. They’re 8 and 5.
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In an interview with Oprah Winfrey this week, actress Raven Symonè started a meaningful national dialogue when said she doesn’t like labels and she considers herself “American, not African American.”
From the moment she said it, there was a fair chance she’d be misunderstood. And she was. Read more →
As warm as many reasonable people felt today when the notion of educating women was recognized with the Nobel Peace Prize, some of the reaction is enough to make you throw up your hands. Or just throw up. Read more →
Is it too soon for honest talk about the Vietnam War? The Pentagon is planning a 50-year anniversary website of the war and the old band is getting back together to oppose it, the New York Times reports. Read more →
If autumn could hold its beauty for more than just a few days, summer would be a second-banana season around here. Read more →
Today’s column from the Pioneer Press’ Ruben Rosario is the sort of thing you want to put before every young person in your house to whom you’ve given a smartphone.
It’s the story of a courageous seventh-grade girl in Woodbury who reveals how a typical middle-school relationship degenerated quickly into sexual manipulation. Read more →
The moments you don’t cherish today will be the ones that fascinate you later. Read more →
The Nobel Peace Prize committee has made some bonehead choices in recent years, but today’s announcement that Malala Yousafza is the recipient is about as perfect as any selection has ever been. Read more →
This is a story that is sad, depressing, horrifying, but ultimately incredibly beautiful.
Shane Michael Haley died today. Millions of people on Facebook knew him even though Shane Michael Haley was also born just today. Read more →
October is breast cancer awareness month, which means the annual debate over ‘pinkwashing’ is flaring anew. Read more →