Proposed 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...
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,...
View ArticleWas the fish you had for dinner caught by slaves? New report raises alarm
Thailand's multibillion-dollar fishing industry is facing allegations of using slave labor, following the publication of an investigation into the exploitation of migrant workers on shrimping ships.The...
View ArticleFacebook cracks down on hate speech against women
If Facebook were a city, these would be its seedy back alleys – user-generated groups filled with jokes about rape and domestic violence, captioned over gruesome images of assaulted women. But after...
View ArticleNew Egypt NGO law could expand Morsi's control
Rights advocates are criticizing legislation proposed by Egypt's president to regulate civil society organizations, saying the law could be used to cripple organizations dedicated to documenting human...
View ArticlePeterson: Re-election decision will come next year
WASHINGTON — In the wake of Michele Bachmann's retirement announcement this week, the Marshall Independent asked 12-term Rep. Collin Peterson if he's planning to run for re-election next year:A veteran...
View ArticleSenator wants entire Chicago gang arrested. Would that work?
Illinois Sen. Mark Kirk (R) is recommending that the next US attorney in Chicago step up federal efforts to combat street gang violence through mass arrests of the Gangster Disciples, the prevailing...
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