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.

Weathering the storm

Bob Collins October 8, 2008, 10:52 AM Oct 8, 2008

2

Questions and answers for budgeting in a collapsing economy.

The McCain-Obama debate – Nashville

Bob Collins October 7, 2008, 7:28 PM Oct 7, 2008

38

The two candidates spent most of their time providing bad — or no — answers to good, thoughtful questions.

Rainbow logic

Bob Collins October 7, 2008, 6:57 PM Oct 7, 2008

2

What if a vibrant rainbow really were a sign that things are getting better?

No pets allowed

Bob Collins October 7, 2008, 3:58 PM Oct 7, 2008

6

A Minnesota soldier is making international news after her dog was confiscated in Baghdad.

Tough times for coffee

Bob Collins October 7, 2008, 3:35 PM Oct 7, 2008

2

Is the bloom off the coffee-shop rose?

Surveys and trivia

Survey: American couples argue more

Bob Collins October 7, 2008, 1:01 PM Oct 7, 2008

1

A U.K. survey explores how couples relate in different parts of the world.

Live-blogging the Obama-McCain debate (pre-game)

Bob Collins October 7, 2008, 12:15 PM Oct 7, 2008

3

The debate ‘pre-game show’ is underway.

Polls adding to voter confusion

Bob Collins October 7, 2008, 9:12 AM Oct 7, 2008

15

We are inundated with polls, but clarity is in short supply.

What’s News Cut up to?

Bob Collins October 7, 2008, 5:22 AM Oct 7, 2008

9

Here’s some of the things Bob Collins is working on for News Cut and ways you can help.

Whatever happened to the flu pandemic?

Bob Collins October 6, 2008, 5:01 PM Oct 6, 2008

8

A new report suggest who should get vaccines first in case of a flu pandemic.

When Main St. melts down: Nonprofits are worried

Bob Collins October 6, 2008, 2:20 PM Oct 6, 2008

1

Some of Minnesota’s most humanitarian agencies may be the first to feel the impact of the financial crisis

We’re melting!

Bob Collins October 6, 2008, 9:50 AM Oct 6, 2008

6

Any notion that the big bailout bill would bring confidence to the markets and stabilize the financial meltdown in the U.S. disappeared today in early trading on Wall Street.

Minnesota U.S. Senate debate – Rochester

Bob Collins October 5, 2008, 7:00 PM Oct 5, 2008

8

Read about Sunday night’s debate, comment, and tell us if the debate made any difference in your position.

Senate poll: Who to believe?

Bob Collins October 4, 2008, 11:45 AM Oct 4, 2008

5

Polling in the U.S. Senate race is resulting in scattered results. Can history be our guide?

The challenge of ‘citizen journalism’

Bob Collins October 4, 2008, 8:42 AM Oct 4, 2008

1

Reconsidering the merits of citizen journalism after the Steve Jobs heart attack story.