What will the Afghanistan war legacy be?
There may be two years left on the clock for the war in Afghanistan, but NATO's ability to shape events has largely come to an end, with the fighting at a stalemate, stalled peace negotiations, and...
View ArticleAir travel still clogged by hurricane Sandy, but some flights resume
Hurricane Sandy largely grounded air travel in the nation's busiest air corridor, and it will take days for travelers to get their plans back on track.Flooding means it's unclear when New...
View ArticleHurricane Sandy puts renewed pressure on food supply in Haiti
Before turning its sights on the United States, Hurricane Sandy left a fresh disaster in Haiti, killing dozens and flooding cities and farmland. The storm set off fears of renewed challenges, including...
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Enjoying bouja and arts reciprocity in and around St. Joseph
This past weekend, I was able to get out of town for a few hours to eat bouja in an American Legion Hall and see an ambitious new art project by two ceramic artists named Anne Meyer and Domonique...
View ArticleMinnesota newspapers on marriage, voting amendments: a resounding 'No'
Minnesotans may be split on this fall’s two proposed constitutional amendments, but Minnesota’s newspapers are not. Through Wednesday, no paper has endorsed Minnesota’s anti-gay-marriage amendment, and...
View ArticleMinneapolis' 'antiquated facilities' can’t match suburban recreation attractions
When the suburb next door has a very fancy aquatic park, Minneapolis residents are willing to forget about the ukulele lessons and ballet classes offered for 3-year olds at their neighborhood...
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My Republican friends, the system is broken
politics.mn Election Day is one week away from today and by all available public polling, coffee shop talk, water cooler chatter and blunt common sense, the Republican endorsed candidate for the U.S....
View ArticleHennepin County Board votes to oppose voting amendment
The Hennepin County Board of Commissioners voted Tuesday to oppose the voting amendment that will be on the state-wide ballot next week.The resolution passed by the board makes these points: The...
View ArticleTwo new studies, including one from Mayo, vindicate workplace smoking bans
Two new studies appear to offer vindication for health officials and others who advocate laws banning smoking in public places, including here in Minnesota.In a meta-analysis published in the American...
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Exploring the other vote-yes ad campaign
This pro-marriage amendment ad appeared in the Savage Pacer on October 13.Have you seen the latest ad campaign on the proposed amendment to Minnesota’s constitution banning same-sex marriage?No, not...
View ArticleEn France: presidential campaigns
In France, a presidential election lasts about four months, from beginning to end. (Ours has no official starting date other than the Iowa caucuses, in January. But at least for the party that has a...
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Mobilize the power of youth: Cycles for Change
Cycles for Change is an organization whose mission is straightforward: they teach youth the skills needed to repair bicycles. The impacts of this simple mission go farther, as the Cycles for Change...
View ArticleBrad Pitt gives $100,000 for gay marriage ballot efforts in Minnesota and...
Part of actor Brad Pitt's $100,000 contribution to the Human Rights Campaign will be used to help the effort in Minnesota to defeat a marriage amendment that would place a ban on gay marriage in the...
View ArticleLive-stream of final Cravaack-Nolan debate
Rep. Chip Cravaack and Democratic challenger Rick Nolan debate at noon on Wednesday in Virginia, Minn. This is the final debate in the 8th District congressional race.
View ArticleRochester woman says chair hanging from noose represents Obama but isn't hate...
A Rochester woman has hung a chair from a tree with a noose and says it refers to President Obama.Laura Mulholland told the Rochester Post-Bulletin that she and her husband got the idea from Clint...
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Remembering Ambassador Christopher Stevens
Ambassador Christopher Stevens was a conscientious, well-informed, and engaging diplomat who served our country exceptionally well. He earned the right to be called a hero. His status as a hero...
View ArticleSt. Charles mayoral candidate keeps running but couldn't serve because of...
A candidate for mayor in St. Charles, Minn., has been convicted of felony marijuana possession charges, but says he'll keep campaigning for the next week.But the Winona Daily News says that if Stephen...
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Report: Menards 'class' for workers favors Romney
At the progressive/lefty site AlterNet, Adele Stan has a piece up on Menards’ not-so-subtle election message to employees: “This January, as the Iowa Caucuses were underway, Menards began encouraging...
View ArticleCravaack, Nolan mine Iron Range and mining issues in final debate
VIRGINIA, Minn. — Republican U.S. Rep. Chip Cravaack and DFLer Rick Nolan talked mining during their final debate in this Iron Range city on Wednesday.Over an hour and a half, the two debated...
View ArticleLockouts gain momentum as Minnesota employers seek upper hand
Minnesota's Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party is still a potent force in the political arena, but several labor union members have been locked out of their workplaces by employers who show little fear of a...
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