Fewer cigarettes, more alcohol in youth-rated movies
Although cigarettes and other tobacco products are making fewer appearances in youth-rated movies than they were a decade or so ago, the same can’t be said for alcohol.In fact, there has been a...
View ArticleMoney-laundering scheme hid $6 billion for fraudsters like 'Joe Bogus'
Criminal investigators slammed the digital door on a massive $6 billion cyber money-laundering scheme with 1 million users worldwide, including more than 200,000 users in the US, according to court...
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Toward making the Twin Cities a dementia-friendly community
This December, Gianna Homes, a single-family house serving as a memory-care facility, petitioned Minnetonka's city council to expand its capacity from 10 patients to 11. The proposal sounded innocuous,...
View ArticleChicago simmers over school closings. Is that bad for Mayor Emanuel?
Chicago’s controversial decision to close 50 public schools was challenged by a third lawsuit Wednesday, inflaming a public relations war between City Hall and the teachers union that polls say is...
View ArticleProposed charitable-giving tax-law change didn’t survive conference committee
Minnesota nonprofit groups that worried about the impact of a proposed change in state tax law on charitable giving can relax — at least for now.The controversial House plan, which was not supported by...
View ArticleMcCain visit, end of arms embargo signal that West won't let Syrian rebels sink
After pleading with the international community for well over a year to provide weapons and military support, this week the Syrian opposition received two positive signs that the West may be moving...
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Rock Stories: Why we need field trips and fossils
The end of the school year signals the start of high field-trip season for teachers like me. I have eight field trips in 10 days with fourth- through sixth-graders at the end of June — and I planned...
View ArticleThissen sets up select committee on drug abuse and synthetic drugs
Minnesota House Speaker Paul Thissen has set up a Select Committee on Controlled Substances and Synthetic Drugs to look at ways to combat drug abuse.The committee will be headed by state Rep. Erik...
View ArticleAfter drone kills Taliban deputy, what will new Pakistan government do?
A drone strike in Pakistan’s tribal region along the border with Afghanistan has killed the deputy commander of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Waliur Rehman, according to military sources...
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Mankato police officers to take training program on handling mental health...
Eighteen Mankato police officers will take a 40-hour course this summer on dealing with people in a mental health crisis, reports the Mankato Free Press.The city has seen "several high-profile...
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State of polarization: Ideology and the Minnesota Legislature
LeftMN If you are unfamiliar with it, DW-Nominate is a way of classifying United States Congress people based on how they vote. It rates them on a liberal to conservative scale, with -1 representing a...
View ArticleHennepin County to begin same-sex marriage license applications June 6
Hennepin County officials say they will begin accepting same-sex marriage applications on June 6, in preparation for the new state law that goes into effect Aug. 1.Earlier reports indicated that, under...
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Ruling puts Minnesota's wolf seasons beyond public challenge — by anyone
CC/Flickr/Todd RyburnThe court's logic would seem to mean that nobody can have standing to challenge the wolf hunt in court, for any reason whatsoever.Whether you're for or against the killing of...
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St. Paul students build solar-powered boats
MN2020 checked in with students in City Academy of St. Paul's Engineering Design class, who have been working on solar-powered boats. The boats will participate in Minnesota Renewable Energy Society's...
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Could a Democrat ever win in Bachmann’s GOP-leaning district?
MinnPost photo by Jana FreibandJim GravesNormally, in U.S. congressional politics, when a long-time incumbent retires, it elevates the opportunity for the other party to capture the seat. In the case...
View ArticleInk-stained wretch on Fox
KMSP-Channel 9, the Twin Cities Fox News affiliate, had me on the air last night to talk Bachmannia.You can see at a glance why I've had to make my living all these years as a scribbler/typist. I...
View ArticleCandidates continue to crowd into St. Paul's Ward 1 council race
The prospect of an open St. Paul City Council seat is attracting more attention than we've seen in a city campaign in some time.There appear to be nine interested candidates now, which will prove very...
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First Franken foe fits familiar GOP pattern
MPR’s Tim Pugmire has a piece on the businessman willing to take on Al Franken:“Mike McFadden, a business executive from Sunfish Lake, announced Wednesday that he filed the paperwork to form a campaign...
View ArticleMt. Everest: Why you hatin' on Sherpas?
KHUMJUN, Nepal — In the shadow of a sparkling white stupa, Sherpas dressed as yaks prance and spin. Wind-battered men in charcoal-colored robes and white Stetsons, the formal dress of the Sherpa clan,...
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