In Nigeria, Somalia, and Afghanistan: what is a foreign fighter?
As yet another suicide blast strikes yet another church in northern Nigeria, immigration officials have announced that they are cracking down on the flow of foreigners into northern Nigeria who may be...
View ArticleColombia's FARC rebels say group will stop kidnapping
Colombia’s largest rebel group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), announced Sunday it would abandon the practice of kidnapping — a tactic that has long defined the FARC.The group's...
View ArticleWikiLeaks publishes Stratfor e-mails. What's in them?
WikiLeaks says Stratfor is a corporate CIA — a shadowy firm that vacuums up intelligence from the top levels of governments around the globe. WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange says that’s why his...
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Carlson, Marty plan bill to limit Citizens United decision
JonathunderArne CarlsonEven with a nod to strange bed fellows, this team is unusual.Former GOP Gov. Arne Carlson and his DFL opponent for that office in 1994, state Sen. John Marty, are collaborating...
View ArticleDid Putin make up that assassination plot to get votes?
MOSCOW, Russia — Instead of panic and fear, news of a foiled attempt to assassinate Russia’s prime minister — and likely future president — Vladimir Putin, has drawn ridicule.Popular blogger Oleg...
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‘Uncommitted’ Council Member John Quincy sees lot to like in comprehensive...
Council MemberJohn QuincyHe’s on some lists as a possible “yes” vote for the stadium because he hasn’t yet publicly said “no.” And he has some interesting ideas about the possibility of a...
View ArticleOne student in custody in Ohio, after fatal Chardon High School shooting
A prime suspect is in custody after a shooting in a high school cafeteria outside Cleveland early Monday that killed one student and injured four others.A gunman opened fire at about 7:45 a.m. in the...
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The hockey stick and the climate wars
Neorenaissance I often argue that science is never partisan, but science is always political. It is political because new knowledge either confirms or challenges vested interests.Take Galileo. His...
View ArticleDespite problems elsewhere, Minnesota Republicans remain happy with caucuses
WASHINGTON — Between the flubbed vote counting in Nevada and Maine and the topsy-turvy order of finish in Iowa, it hasn’t been the best year ever for the venerable caucus system.Minnesota’s caucuses...
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Ten things to know before you move to Duluth
'A Prairie Home Companion' took its show on the road up to Duluth last weekend, where host Garrison Keillor offered some helpful tips for those planning to relocate to the Atlantic Ocean's westernmost...
View ArticleFour appointed to St. Paul STAR Board, which awards revitalization grants
The St. Paul City Council has approved four appointments to the Neighborhood Sales Tax Revitalization (STAR) Board, the group that allocates loans and grants from the city's half-cent sales tax.The...
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Parents frustrated with reshuffling of hearings on school-levy bill
During the last legislative session, some of the least popular, most controversial education-related measures literally were decided in the middle of the night. After the cameras went off, and after...
View ArticleU.S. upper classes more likely to lie, cheat and think greed is good, study...
Members of America's upper classes are more likely to engage in unethical behavior than those of its lower classes, according to a fascinating new study.The study was specifically set up, say its...
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Monsanto asks its scientists if global warming is real
In the world of agriculture, when Monsanto speaks, farmers listen. It is one of the world’s largest agribusinesses, and while it has more than enough detractors, Monsanto does its homework.Along with...
View ArticleHumphrey School forum will analyze redistricting
A panel will discuss Minnesota's new political landscape after redistricting at a Humphrey School of Public Affairs forum March 5.Lori Sturdevant of the Star Tribune's editorial page will moderate the...
View ArticleFormer Kansas lottery director to run Minnesota's lottery
Edwin Van Petten, who'd been executive director of the Kansas State Lottery for 11 years, is moving north to run the Minnesota Lottery.Gov. Mark Dayton's office announced the appointment this...
View ArticleEnd of federal subsidies hurts ethanol profits
Minnesota ethanol producers are being hit hard by the end of major federal subsidies, reports MPR today.And it's not just here; across the country "ethanol profit margins have declined sharply, even...
View ArticleBorowitz says Santorum seeks complete merger of church and state
Just so there can be no misunderstanding, this is a joke (sort of) from political satirist Andy Borowitz:LANSING (The Borowitz Report) – Telling a crowd of supporters that the separation of church and...
View ArticleLeap Day can add headaches in court system
Who'd have thunk that leap day would be a problem in the court system, and that inmates aren't leaping for joy.Because in the eyes of the law, there are 12 months in a year sentence, so those getting a...
View ArticleNorthfield City Council to consider same-sex marriage registry
Although domestic partnership registries carry little weight, the Northfield City Council decided last week to draft an ordinance allowing a domestic partnership registry, writes Suzanne Rook of the...
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