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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.

The question

Bob CollinsBob Collins February 4, 2009, 5:57 AM Feb 4, 2009
4

The Obama transition team had 63 questions for potential Cabinet members. Number 63 could’ve saved it some embarrassment.

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News Cut: On to Winona

Bob CollinsBob Collins February 4, 2009, 5:00 AM Feb 4, 2009

This week’s News Cut on Campus stop is Winona State University.

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Tax cheating

Bob CollinsBob Collins February 3, 2009, 3:30 PM Feb 3, 2009
12

The amount of money lost by tax cheating is almost half the size of the economic stimulus package.

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The Greenwash Brigade

Bob CollinsBob Collins February 3, 2009, 1:13 PM Feb 3, 2009
1

A group of ‘environmental professionals’ is monitoring the eco-friendly claims of corporations.

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The space race

Bob CollinsBob Collins February 3, 2009, 10:50 AM Feb 3, 2009
3

Iran has launched a satellite.

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Should music reflect the national mood or entertain us?

Bob CollinsBob Collins February 3, 2009, 8:11 AM Feb 3, 2009
8

What is the role of entertainment when the national mood is depressed?

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Cellulosic ethanol gets a boost

Bob CollinsBob Collins February 3, 2009, 7:20 AM Feb 3, 2009
7

A U of M study finds ethanol from plant fiber beats corn-based production hands down. But there’s little indication it’s getting much of a chance to prove it.

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Whiskey plates revisited

Bob CollinsBob Collins February 2, 2009, 4:31 PM Feb 2, 2009
22

Should police be able to stop a driver with ‘whiskey plates’ without cause?

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Five bills worth visiting before they die

Bob CollinsBob Collins February 2, 2009, 3:20 PM Feb 2, 2009
6

The most interesting bills at the Capitol are the ones that have little chance of passage this year.

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Who’s bankrolling the recount?

Bob CollinsBob Collins February 2, 2009, 2:01 PM Feb 2, 2009
5

Al Franken and Norm Coleman have filed reports detailing who’s contributing to their effort to win the U.S. Senate recount in Minnesota.

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Turning to the tools

Bob CollinsBob Collins February 2, 2009, 12:42 PM Feb 2, 2009

The Obama administration turns to its technological strengths to push the stimulus plan.

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Job hunting

Bob CollinsBob Collins February 2, 2009, 11:10 AM Feb 2, 2009
4

Tips for how to survive a layoff.

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Weather

The rodent has spoken

Bob CollinsBob Collins February 2, 2009, 10:31 AM Feb 2, 2009

Northfield residents fight back against the whistlepig’s hold on the seasons.

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Peanut butter widget

Bob CollinsBob Collins February 2, 2009, 10:18 AM Feb 2, 2009
1

The FDA tries a new way of alerting people to the salmonella recall.

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Context is everything

Bob CollinsBob Collins February 2, 2009, 8:30 AM Feb 2, 2009
3

A report from the Commerce Department says Americans’ personal income is dropping, even as we save more of less of it.

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