MPR News Reflections and observations on the news

By 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.

The Daily Snow

Bob Collins December 21, 2007, 1:25 AM Dec 21, 2007

2

How will Jon Stewart treat the actions of… Jon Stewart?

Stanek’s training video

Bob Collins December 20, 2007, 3:52 PM Dec 20, 2007

4

The I-35W training video isn’t a disaster itself. Yet.

Dispatches from Planet Parenthood

Bob Collins December 20, 2007, 11:48 AM Dec 20, 2007

A swing around today’s news proves you don’t have to know the Spears family to shake your head at the good, bad, and ugly side of parenthood.

Diving for dollars

Bob Collins December 20, 2007, 11:44 AM Dec 20, 2007

When is pork pork?

The health insurance debate

Bob Collins December 20, 2007, 7:27 AM Dec 20, 2007

Three new studies show the depth of the debate.

Photograph of the year

Bob Collins December 19, 2007, 5:34 PM Dec 19, 2007

1

It’s the ‘of the year’ time of the year.

Saving history

Bob Collins December 19, 2007, 10:33 AM Dec 19, 2007

When a historic building burns, history burns, too.

Christmas comes to Cass Lake

Bob Collins December 19, 2007, 8:46 AM Dec 19, 2007

1

How area residents pitched in to right a wrong.

Bridge help

Bob Collins December 19, 2007, 6:04 AM Dec 19, 2007

Help funds for bridge victims are going untapped.

From France with love

Bob Collins December 18, 2007, 4:13 PM Dec 18, 2007

Two Minnesota vets get their medals.

Driven to complacency

Bob Collins December 18, 2007, 11:35 AM Dec 18, 2007

Rural Minnesota drivers are more complacent than their urban counterparts.

In the dark

Bob Collins December 18, 2007, 10:00 AM Dec 18, 2007

5

Has reality left Minnesota’s solar energy future behind?

The smart iPod

Bob Collins December 18, 2007, 12:23 AM Dec 18, 2007

Ten ways to get smart using your iPod.

Measuring happiness

Bob Collins December 17, 2007, 3:53 PM Dec 17, 2007

13

A new study says children bring no happiness. Really?

A doomed icon?

Bob Collins December 17, 2007, 12:02 PM Dec 17, 2007

6

A meeting this week could decide the future of the Fighting Sioux nickname and logo.