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.

Don’t ask, don’t tell

Bob Collins November 24, 2008, 1:48 PM Nov 24, 2008

6

What’s the future of the controversial policy on gays in the military?

How MPR found the ‘Lizard Person’

Bob Collins November 24, 2008, 12:24 PM Nov 24, 2008

6

The story behind the story is nowhere near as gripping as the story itself.

Hanging in with retirement plans

Bob Collins November 24, 2008, 11:59 AM Nov 24, 2008

3

A survey shows most Americans are still contributing to retirement plans.

Imponderables: Celebrating the Metrodome

Bob Collins November 24, 2008, 11:43 AM Nov 24, 2008

8

If the Metrodome was so bad for baseball, why are the Twins planning a year-long celebration of it?

Live-blogging Obama’s economy news conference

Bob Collins November 24, 2008, 11:00 AM Nov 24, 2008

The president-elect unveils his economic team and plans for kick-starting a bad economy

The state’s budget deficit

Bob Collins November 24, 2008, 10:59 AM Nov 24, 2008

One budget expert’s solution to a looming $4 billion budget deficit.

The Citi deal

Bob Collins November 24, 2008, 9:49 AM Nov 24, 2008

5

The government is back to buying up bad mortgages.

The economy is driving the train

Bob Collins November 23, 2008, 3:15 PM Nov 23, 2008

6

The worsening economy is wiping out campaign promises.

Wait a minute!

Bob Collins November 23, 2008, 10:08 AM Nov 23, 2008

Three different perspectives on the economy that gives one pause.

Recount training

Bob Collins November 14, 2008, 7:57 PM Nov 14, 2008

1

The Secretary of State’s office has provided video training for the upcoming Senate recount.

On vacation

Bob Collins November 14, 2008, 4:10 PM Nov 14, 2008

2

Bob is gone. Steve and Than are in.

Let’s bail!

Bob Collins November 14, 2008, 2:13 PM Nov 14, 2008

2

First the financial institutions. Then the auto industry. Who’s next in line for a government bailout?

Small-town news

Bob Collins November 14, 2008, 1:56 PM Nov 14, 2008

When you’re a reporter for community media — a small-town radio station or a newspaper in a suburb — you have a different role and a different relationship with people than the big-shots.

RNC: Who was in charge?

Bob Collins November 14, 2008, 1:46 PM Nov 14, 2008

1

An MPR reporter finds the bosses of two law enforcement agencies clashed before the opening of the Republican National Convention in St. Paul.

Nothing to say, but saying it anyway

Bob Collins November 14, 2008, 12:29 PM Nov 14, 2008

2

Mainstream publishers have wondered for years whether reader comments associated with news stories put a newspaper’s credibility — one of the few assets that still has value — at risk.