Bob CollinsThe Mankato Free Press this week provided an unusual glimpse of the sacrifice some Minnesota lawmakers have to make to be legislators. Rep. Jack Considine’s parents died within days of each other, just as the session started. Read more →
MPR News Reflections and observations on the news
Politics
It seems Americans are occasionally challenged by simple civics. But the notion that voting marks an engaged country seems questionable Read more →
You don’t often see a bill’s roll call on the front page of the morning paper, but the Fargo Forum went all out today following yesterday’s vote in North Dakota to deny protection to gays. Read more →
In Massachusetts, this billboard got people all stirred up this week.
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Minnesota spends nearly $100 per capita on state-run gambling in which they have little chance of winning. Read more →
She’s been talked up as a Supreme Court nominee and potential attorney general. Now comes word Klobuchar’s writing her memoir, a requirement these days for a presidential run. Read more →
I generally don’t pay a lot of attention to Michele Bachmann; she’s low-hanging fruit for bloggers.
But sometimes she reaches a new level. Read more →
If he’s frustrated by it, Bill McGuire, the man behind the effort to bring MLS to downtown Minneapolis, can end the speculation on whether he’ll be seeking public subsidies for a new stadium anytime he wishes. He just has to answer the question. That he is shying away from the answer is understandable; it’s a Read more →
A lot of newspapers are pretty shy these days about running editorials; margins are so thin, it’s not worth angering the readers.
This morning, the Indianapolis Star isn’t like a lot of newspapers. Read more →
Indiana’s governor signs a bill providing legal cover for businesses and institutions who don’t want to do business with gay and lesbian customer. Read more →
Minnesota thinks it can compete with the Sun Belt through tax policy. Here’s why Minnesota is wrong. Read more →
Can’t we all just get along? Not in two communities in the East Metro, which have become the poster children for dysfunctional government and might provide some insight into why reasonable and talented people don’t want to take on jobs in city government.
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The Minnesota Supreme Court today upheld Bloomington’s right to deny a permit for expansion of a senior care facility, a blow to some groups who said it gives neighbors of projects too much power. Read more →
High-speed rail between Rochester and the Twin Cities is never going to happen at the snail’s pace efforts have moved in recent years.
A Rochester group apparently has the solution — cut the government out of it. Read more →
Starbucks is serving up a conversation about racism while making your coffee. Read more →