Bob Collins
Why people drown, the amazing climbing airline fee, dispatches from the battlefield, now this message from real life, and free art Friday. Read more →
MPR News Reflections and observations on the news
Here’s the story behind it.
The NewsCut 4th of July tradition… The annual posting of the official News Cut July 4th observation: And here’s why there’s a 4th of July, and why we should be off all week. When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them Read more →
On the Fourth of July, and many other times of the year, people love the flag. And they prove it by not loving it, or at least not enough to respect it under the U.S. Flag Code, which is a pretty simple document that explains proper respect for the nation’s icon. Every year around this Read more →
I’m not sure how I missed this and I apologize for posting for those of you who didn’t. But over in Michigan, Johnny and Jeff Agar have been running distance races for a while with dad Jeff pushing Johnny, who has cerebral palsy. Then this happened last weekend. Here’s a tissue.
Save me a parade space? I don’t think so. Read more →
Stunning NASA photo of the Egyptian protest? No. Read more →
Paid time off — PTO — always seemed like a dastardly idea, given that it seems designed to make taking a break from work come straight out of the wallet. In each check, a few dollars are set aside for PTO and when you take time off, the money is deducted from the accumulated pot of cash. Read more →
Was the storm a ‘federal disaster,’ that thing that good people do, the Hotshots on climate change, how to be your own big brother, and North Dakota’s crime boom. Read more →
A Catholic school boss quits because he’s in a same-sex relationship, the Minneapolis office rampage case is allowed to continue, things go from bad to worse in the Arizona wildfires, a not guilty plea for the alleged Fort Hood shooter, Snowden’s dad speaks out, and a border billboard battle takes a turn in Fergus Falls. Read more →
There’s a fair amount of irony in the situation developing in Boston, where the Fourth of July celebration on the Esplanade along the Charles River dwarfs the Boston Marathon for symbolism. Thursday will be a real test of “Boston Strong” because there can’t possibly be a greater target for those who wish to attack that Read more →
The deaths of 19 firefighters battling a wildfire in Arizona is, of course, beyond sad. “It’s only stuff,” people like to say — and appropriately so — when homes burn but people make it out alive. So it was particularly painful to watch a young widow on CBS this morning assess the life of her Read more →
At a time when Minnesota is getting some criticism for its new gift tax, Forbes Magazine has good insight on how rich families stay rich families. It’s focusing on a dispute between the Pohlad family (owners of the Minnesota Twins) and the Internal Revenue Service over the estate of the late Carl Pohlad. Pohlad’s heirs Read more →
Under gorgeous skies last evening, 29,619 fans showed up at Target Field to watch a fairly bad ballclub play a fairly mediocre one. That’s pretty impressive unless you’re a sportswriter who gets into the games free. 29,619. For the Yankees. On the nicest night in Minneapolis history. Twins fans officially don't give a damn. — Read more →
Team Josh, Gettysburg at 150, a special session for the Internet tax, why don’t people like books anymore, and Lake Pepin with glorious weather. Read more →