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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.

Education

South St. Paul students want identity at their commencement

Bob CollinsBob Collins April 23, 2019, 7:11 AM Apr 23, 2019

What is it that gives us our identities? For a group of South St. Paul students, it’s sashes at commencement. Read more →

What’s on MPR News – 4/23/19

Bob CollinsBob Collins April 23, 2019, 5:45 AM Apr 23, 2019
8

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

What’s on MPR News – 4/22/19

Bob CollinsBob Collins April 22, 2019, 5:57 AM Apr 22, 2019
2

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

Arts & Culture · Education · Sports

In Minnesota high schools, the boys can now dance

Bob CollinsBob Collins April 20, 2019, 9:07 AM Apr 20, 2019
8

The Minnesota State High School League, the organization that controls high school sports here, is giving up its opposition to allowing boys to be on competitive dance teams in high school. Read more →

The jobs we do · This or That

It got better for a young reporter. Then someone killed her.

Bob CollinsBob Collins April 19, 2019, 3:51 PM Apr 19, 2019
2

This is Lyra McKee, who was shot and killed while trying to do her job on Thursday. She’s a reporter. Read more →

Sports

After link to racist songs, sports teams give Kate Smith the boot

Bob CollinsBob Collins April 19, 2019, 11:04 AM Apr 19, 2019
10

At one time, Kate Smith pretty much was America. Times change, though, and the legendary — and dead — singer of her signature God Bless America is out at no less an American institution than Yankee Stadium. Read more →

Health

In Fargo, a stunning display of deescalating a bad situation

Bob CollinsBob Collins April 19, 2019, 8:02 AM Apr 19, 2019
13

The news is full of stories of people in a mental health crisis ending up dead at the hands of people who were called to help. That’s why what happened in Fargo on Thursday night is a game changer. Read more →

This or That

Ancestry.com romanticizes slavery to sell you a DNA kit

Bob CollinsBob Collins April 19, 2019, 7:17 AM Apr 19, 2019
21

Slavery is good marketing for Ancestry.com, the outfit that sells DNA tests. It’s not a good look for the firm. Whitewashing never is.
Read more →

What’s on MPR News – 4/19/19

Bob CollinsBob Collins April 19, 2019, 5:57 AM Apr 19, 2019
29

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

Sports

U acknowledges the obvious: It costs too much to watch hockey, basketball

Bob CollinsBob Collins April 18, 2019, 1:38 PM Apr 18, 2019
15

The athletic department announced on Thursday that season tickets for men’s basketball will drop to $340 in some sections, a $190 drop. Six sections overlooking the court will drop by $150. Hockey will drop from $600 to $500. It’s the second straight season that hockey will drop by $100. Read more →

This or That

Prediction: The keyboard will be gone in five years

Bob CollinsBob Collins April 18, 2019, 10:30 AM Apr 18, 2019
64

If you had a technical choice now to give up your keyboard, would you? Read more →

Arts & Culture

Family in viral Notre Dame photo found

Bob CollinsBob Collins April 18, 2019, 9:28 AM Apr 18, 2019
1

Unfortunately, we still don’t know who they are. Brooke Windsor tweeted the father and daughter wish to remain anonymous. Read more →

Education

Chatfield students win Rube Goldberg competition again

Bob CollinsBob Collins April 18, 2019, 8:54 AM Apr 18, 2019
6

Schools in the competition were given a single challenge and left to come up with something that would creatively accomplish the task. This year’s challenge: put money in a piggybank. Take a look at what the Chatfield kids built. Read more →

Arts & Culture · Economy

Will readers take the bookstore challenge?

Bob CollinsBob Collins April 18, 2019, 7:28 AM Apr 18, 2019
59

Sure, a local bookstore is a business, but when an owner — especially a new owner — shovels sand against the economic tide, it stands as a challenge to the rest of us: are we willing to do anything to keep local businesses and industries in our community and if so, what?
Read more →

What’s on MPR News – 4/18/19

Bob CollinsBob Collins April 18, 2019, 5:55 AM Apr 18, 2019
17

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

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