Bob CollinsWhat does it mean to defend the right to free speech on a college campus? The question has been analyzed for several years, mostly surrounding the choice of speakers — as was the case this month at the University of Minnesota — but rarely does it involve a truck. Read more →
MPR News Reflections and observations on the news
Jeff Bradley used to be somebody, he says. He was a sportswriter. He covered the Yankees for the Newark Star Ledger. He wrote for ESPN the Magazine. He’s had his work featured in Sports Illustrated
But when he was laid off, he became more like the rest of of the somebodies in America who can’t find work even as they’re told the economy is zipping right along and unemployment is low.
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Prince has canceled his appearance at a concert in Europe, but Bob Dylan went ahead with his in Italy last night after he got another dozen armed guards assigned to the security force, International Business Times reports. Read more →
P.F. Sloan, who died on Sunday, penned one of the most famous protest songs in history. Then he disappeared. Read more →
Today’s Star Tribune letter to the editor relays the horror of being the subject of a news feature in today’s social media environment.
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There is value, of course, to the social media of participants, who now have the freedom to raise voices previously muzzled.
But it has not yet eclipsed — not nearly so — the value of a courageous storyteller.
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If you haven’t seen this video in your Facebook feed, you will.
‘In the Now,’ the Russia Today weekly program, says it doesn’t know who the man was who stood in the middle of Paris with a sign that asked, ‘Do you trust me?’ Read more →
Despite a rejection of a Student Association resolution calling for a campus-wide moment of recognition on 9/11, the University of Minnesota today said it intends to honor victims of the attacks each year.
The U of M news release today responded to news reports about the Student Association’s vote, which came after MSA representative and Director of Diversity and Inclusion David Algadi said it might inflame anti-Muslim sentiment. But it reaffirmed a statement from the Minnesota Student Association which said the resolution was voted down because of uncertainty about the logistics of a campus-wide moment of recognition. Read more →
We acknowledge up front that we’re just guessing, but we can’t imagine anything that could enrage terrorists more than the beauty a civilized mind can provide in response. Read more →
If it wasn’t for Milton Pitts Crenchaw, the Tuskegee Airmen might never have proven that African Americans can fly airplanes. Read more →
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 →