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NewsCut

MPR News Reflections and observations on the news

By Bob Collins

Bob Collins
bcollins@mpr.org • @newscut

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.

Health

Claire Wineland, who documented her disease online, dead at 21

Bob CollinsBob Collins September 4, 2018, 7:15 AM Sep 4, 2018
3

At its best, social media allows us to be joined at the heart. Claire Wineland, who had cystic fibrosis, was a perfect example.
Read more →

What’s on MPR News – 9/4/18

Bob CollinsBob Collins September 4, 2018, 6:12 AM Sep 4, 2018
11

Here are the topics, stories, and guests you’ll hear today on MPR News. Read more →

Surveys and trivia

Again, Twin Cities drivers are horrible

Bob CollinsBob Collins September 3, 2018, 8:15 AM Sep 3, 2018
42

Minnesota and the Twin Cities usually rank high in almost every survey of life.

Except driving. Read more →

What’s on MPR News – 9/3/18

Bob CollinsBob Collins September 3, 2018, 6:03 AM Sep 3, 2018
0

Here are the stories, topics, and guests you’ll hear today on MPR News. Read more →

Theft of the Blog

Show us your summer

Bob CollinsBob Collins August 31, 2018, 11:06 AM Aug 31, 2018
36

That’s it, then, eh? Summer’s over on Monday and then we wait for the sun to come back in this direction.

We will, again, go gently into the good night of the dark months, shielded only by our memories of summer. So let’s see and hear about yours. Read more →

Education

Why not teach anger management in school?

Bob CollinsBob Collins August 31, 2018, 7:30 AM Aug 31, 2018
27

The world would be a better place if so many people weren’t so angry.

So an angry Wisconsin man’s idea makes a lot of sense, even though it probably doesn’t have a prayer: require an anger management class at some point in school.
Read more →

What’s on MPR News – 8/31/18

Bob CollinsBob Collins August 31, 2018, 5:58 AM Aug 31, 2018
6

Here are the stories, topics, and guests you’ll hear today on MPR News at the State Fair. Read more →

Sports

Here’s why watching baseball on Facebook should be the future

Bob CollinsBob Collins August 30, 2018, 1:33 PM Aug 30, 2018
31

Baseball fans hate change. So there’s plenty of chortling among the purists because today’s game between the Twins and the Indians was limited to Facebook Watch — the rival to YouTube — rather than a traditional TV channel. Read more →

This or That

For sale: Starfighter. Cheap

Bob CollinsBob Collins August 30, 2018, 12:08 PM Aug 30, 2018
14

Some people ask ‘why?’ Some people ask ‘why not?’ Greg Anderson, of Menahga, Minn., clearly falls in the latter category because he built a half-size Star Wars starfighter. Read more →

Weather

The falls are gone from Como Falls Park

Bob CollinsBob Collins August 30, 2018, 9:31 AM Aug 30, 2018
3

Given the comparative scarcity of rain in the Twin Cities and our metro-centric ways, the amazing flooding in southeast Minnesota and southwest Wisconsin is almost happening in secret.
Read more →

A moment on Madeline Island

Bob CollinsBob Collins August 30, 2018, 8:54 AM Aug 30, 2018
7

Oh, nothing. Just a bear swimming to Madeline Island. Read more →

Sports

Gophers sports fans are sending a message

Bob CollinsBob Collins August 30, 2018, 7:53 AM Aug 30, 2018
50

It’s welcome week at the University of Minnesota. Last evening, bands of roving future leaders checked out the campus and got tours from their veteran peers. There’s little that’s more inspiring than watching a bunch of kids who are excited about the future. Read more →

This or That

When politicians get great advice and some jokes from a kid

Bob CollinsBob Collins August 30, 2018, 7:08 AM Aug 30, 2018
4

What happens if you take three of the most impressive people in Minnesota and stick them out at the Minnesota State Fair? Read more →

What’s on MPR News – 8/30/18

Bob CollinsBob Collins August 30, 2018, 6:08 AM Aug 30, 2018
0

Here are the stories, topics, and guests you’ll hear today on MPR News. Read more →

Economy

General Mills makes a case for giving parents a break

Bob CollinsBob Collins August 29, 2018, 2:43 PM Aug 29, 2018
15

General Mills has always made lists of best places to work in these parts and in unveiling expanded parental leave and caregiving policies today, the company has demonstrated anew why.
Read more →

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