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.

Happy days aren’t here again

Bob Collins February 4, 2010, 3:58 PM Feb 4, 2010

2

A sour stock market reaffirms the reality that the economy is still getting worse.

Golden Snowball Challenge – Round four

Bob Collins February 4, 2010, 3:39 PM Feb 4, 2010

From the sounds of things, we’ve got a Golden Snowball Challenge-size storm heading toward Minnesota.

The obituary minefield

Bob Collins February 4, 2010, 1:47 PM Feb 4, 2010

1

How far is ‘too far’ when assessing the life of a public figure who’s just died?

The case for a Vikings stadium discussion

Bob Collins February 4, 2010, 10:37 AM Feb 4, 2010

26

If lawmakers don’t talk about a stadium for the NFL team, the state will be dealing with a problem by ignoring it.

Five at 8 – 2/4/10: Personal politics

Bob Collins February 4, 2010, 7:15 AM Feb 4, 2010

2

The orchestrated life of a politician, connecting Toyota’s dots, the Art Shanty cure for winter, technology and the North Shore, and what’s wrong with the National Anthem?

Fresh Eye on the Radio: Communicating with the near-dead

Bob Collins February 3, 2010, 4:47 PM Feb 3, 2010

5

Researchers have developed a brain scan that allows them to communicate with people in a vegetative state.

Respect for the game

Bob Collins February 3, 2010, 11:02 AM Feb 3, 2010

15

The girls of Wrenshall High School have a right to be dispirited. Amazingly, they’re not.

One giant clinical trial

Bob Collins February 3, 2010, 10:25 AM Feb 3, 2010

2

What if we shared more about our health issues?

Five at 8 – 2/3/10: Flying cheap

Bob Collins February 3, 2010, 6:57 AM Feb 3, 2010

6

Would you pay more to fly safer, curling’s every-four-years moment of fame, digital doomsday, Favre’s ankle, and why a projection may spell danger for the Twins.

Fresh Eye on the Radio: What you know can kill you

Bob Collins February 2, 2010, 5:36 PM Feb 2, 2010

5

A study says men have a greater risk of heart attack once they’ve been told they have prostate cancer.

The Los Angeles Vikings?

Bob Collins February 2, 2010, 3:19 PM Feb 2, 2010

6

A stadium design for Los Angeles has a hint of purple to it.

The Minnesota Olympics

Bob Collins February 2, 2010, 1:49 PM Feb 2, 2010

4

Minnesota is sending more athletes to the Olympics than any other state.

The Mauer story

Bob Collins February 2, 2010, 12:41 PM Feb 2, 2010

2

Competing media rush to say WCCO’s story is wrong, but offer little proof it is.

Study: Abstinence education works

Bob Collins February 2, 2010, 9:56 AM Feb 2, 2010

2

Can a message of abstinence delay teens from having sex?

Five at 8 – 2/2/10: The myth of the American family budget

Bob Collins February 2, 2010, 7:05 AM Feb 2, 2010

10

Politicians say the government should budget the way families do. The problem is it already is.