Chris Hawkey, a radio talk show host in the Twin Cities, is certainly doing his part to convince people — especially men — to talk about mental illness and depression. Read more →
MPR News Reflections and observations on the news

New York Times columnist Michelle Goldberg has given voice to the conflict that supporters of Sen. Al Franken may have in the wake of Thursday’s bombshell. Read more →

Having apologized for a tweet that seemed aimed at the election of two transgender candidates to the Minneapolis City Council, an Alexandria state representative is now saying it had nothing to do with the election.
Read more →

What we have here is the latest lesson in the First Amendment, courtesy of a sheriff in Texas who posted this image on his Facebook page, seeking to identify the driver so he could have a little chat with her. Read more →
A Shakopee man has canceled his annual toy drive in a dispute with the city over the ordinance that bans the metal storage container that’s in his driveway. Read more →
Because it’s Friday, that’s why. Read more →

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

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 →

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 →

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 →

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

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 →

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 →