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.

Is Saberi caught in the middle?

Bob Collins March 3, 2009, 2:01 PM Mar 3, 2009

Roxana Saberi isn’t the first female American journalist to be arrested for ‘illegal activities.’

Are high school sports a luxury?

Bob Collins March 3, 2009, 11:48 AM Mar 3, 2009

14

The Minnesota State High School league has taken no action on a request to allow districts to hold fewer sports games. Should schools rethink the role of sports?

Surveys and trivia

One small step for mathematics

Bob Collins March 3, 2009, 11:36 AM Mar 3, 2009

1

It’s Square Root Day.

Surveys and trivia

Satiating the armadillo paparazzi

Bob Collins March 3, 2009, 11:17 AM Mar 3, 2009

2

The Minnesota Zoo today announced the birth of an armadillo, but no pictures, please!

The deficit

Bob Collins March 3, 2009, 9:59 AM Mar 3, 2009

2

Highlights of the budget forecast:

Lifting secrecy

Bob Collins March 3, 2009, 8:20 AM Mar 3, 2009

1

In the last 24 hours, there have been three major revelations as a result of lifting the ‘cone of silence.’

The budget turnaround

Bob Collins March 3, 2009, 5:30 AM Mar 3, 2009

3

Two years ago, Gov. Pawlenty said he presided over ‘the biggest financial turnaround in state history.’ If the budget deficit reaches the expected levels, he’s just done it again.

Days off

Bob Collins February 27, 2009, 6:47 AM Feb 27, 2009

Bob isn’t writing today, but he’s got something for you to read anyway.

No Wonder

Bob Collins February 26, 2009, 9:20 PM Feb 26, 2009

5

Mysterious — so far — audio problems confound some TV viewers in the Twin Cities.

Can you exceed the speed limit to pass?

Bob Collins February 26, 2009, 3:14 PM Feb 26, 2009

23

The Legislature is considering a bill that gives you an extra 10 mph to pass another vehicle. Good idea or bad?

Credit card blues

Bob Collins February 26, 2009, 2:31 PM Feb 26, 2009

4

The increase in credit card rates is having a bad effect on college students.

Live-blogging: The storm

Bob Collins February 26, 2009, 12:41 PM Feb 26, 2009

12

This is going to be the second-cousin-twice-removed of all snowstorms.

The voice of Bill Holm

Bob Collins February 26, 2009, 11:27 AM Feb 26, 2009

11

Bill Holm, whose death we learned about today, was a frequent voice on Minnesota Public Radio and has left plenty behind to listen to.

Proud, deeply committed, deeply honored, and out of here

Bob Collins February 26, 2009, 10:54 AM Feb 26, 2009

2

St. Paul’s school superintendent Meria Cartarphen’s decison to take a job in Austin leaves some St. Paulites angry.

How much would you risk to help someone?

Bob Collins February 25, 2009, 9:20 PM Feb 25, 2009

17

An Arkansas man is $300,000 in debt because he tried to stop a man from beating a woman.