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 search for the recession-proof job

Bob Collins February 16, 2009, 9:20 AM Feb 16, 2009

3

If mortician is no longer a recession-proof gig, what hope is there for the rest of us?

The hidden airlines

Bob Collins February 15, 2009, 10:11 AM Feb 15, 2009

10

The chances are good that you’re not flying on the airline you think you’re flying on, and that’s just how the airlines want it.

What is Sylvia going to do?

Bob Collins February 13, 2009, 5:47 PM Feb 13, 2009

8

The economy is more than a philosophical and political debate. It involves people like Sylvia Martinez, who is short of hope.

Why Somalis don’t trust the Twin Cities news media

Bob Collins February 12, 2009, 9:41 PM Feb 12, 2009

20

There are few relationships on the planet these days worse than the one between the Somali community in the Twin Cities and news organizations which don’t know how to cover it.

Worthington redux

Bob Collins February 12, 2009, 6:01 PM Feb 12, 2009

Thoughts on this week’s stop on the News Cut on Campus tour.

Hospitals in a squeeze

Bob Collins February 12, 2009, 5:03 PM Feb 12, 2009

2

Financially, just about everything is going wrong for hospitals these days.

Next?

Bob Collins February 12, 2009, 3:22 PM Feb 12, 2009

2

Another Commerce Secretary nominee bails.

Regional history · War

History or legend?

Bob Collins February 12, 2009, 12:17 PM Feb 12, 2009

4

Why is the mass execution of Dakota not mentioned much in discussions about Abraham Lincoln?

Live-blogging: Should you be required to prove your ID when voting?

Bob Collins February 12, 2009, 10:15 AM Feb 12, 2009

26

A House committee takes up the always-controversial proposal.

What did the Big Bang look like?

Bob Collins February 12, 2009, 9:53 AM Feb 12, 2009

1

Scientists have created images of the most active period after the Big Bang.

Immigration: One woman’s story

Bob Collins February 12, 2009, 8:42 AM Feb 12, 2009

American Public Media’s The Story features an interview with a woman who entered the country illegally, and was caught in an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid.

On Campus: The soldier-nutritionist

Bob Collins February 11, 2009, 9:01 PM Feb 11, 2009

Jose Saravia went to Iraq thinking he’d be a cop someday. He came home a different guy.

On Campus: The law enforcer

Bob Collins February 11, 2009, 8:33 PM Feb 11, 2009

Joey Larson catches shoplifters. Business is good.

On Campus: The diplomat

Bob Collins February 11, 2009, 7:47 PM Feb 11, 2009

1

Carrie Bauer loves Luverne, Minnesota. But she can’t wait to leave it.

On Campus: The engineering, football-playing minister

Bob Collins February 11, 2009, 7:18 PM Feb 11, 2009

Jordy Nunez escaped the violence of Miami for the occasional boredom of Worthington.