Topic: Minnesota
Top galleries, list articles, quizzes
-
10 best books of January, according to Amazon's editors
Amazon editorial director Sara Nelson shares her thoughts about the Amazon staff picks for the 10 best books of January 2013.
-
Sports in 2012: here are some Monitor highlights
It’s impossible to list all the records set in 2012, but here’s a short rundown of some heralded highlights, plus 20 of our favorites, including some you might have missed.
-
Thanksgiving Day by the numbers: 10 mind-stuffing facts
Data from the Census and other sources provide some numerical insights into Thanksgiving, arguably the most cherished national holiday.
-
Briefing
Four curious outcomes if the Electoral College ends in a tie
Here are four ways that a 269-to-269 tie in the Electoral College could play out in the 2012 presidential election.
-
Voter turnout: the 6 states that rank highest, and why
Which state will have the highest voter turnout on Nov. 6?
On average, about half (51.6 percent) of eligible US voters cast ballots, but six states averaged more than 60 percent. The policies and attitudes in these states may hold lessons for those trying to get out the vote around the country.
All Content
-
10 best books of January, according to Amazon's editors
Amazon editorial director Sara Nelson shares her thoughts about the Amazon staff picks for the 10 best books of January 2013.
-
Sports in 2012: here are some Monitor highlights
It’s impossible to list all the records set in 2012, but here’s a short rundown of some heralded highlights, plus 20 of our favorites, including some you might have missed.
-
Change Agent
Restoring US native prairies, acre by acre, yard by yardAcross the US Midwest, homeowners are restoring their yards and former farmland to the native prairie that existed in pre-settlement days. The benefits can be substantial — the need for less water and no fertilizer, and an ecosystem that supports wildlife.
-
Decoder Wire
Might Ben Affleck try leap from Hollywood to US Senate? So far, he's cagey.The actor and director says he's 'happy being involved from outside in government.' But Ben Affleck didn't exactly put the kibosh on talk about a possible run for John Kerry's Senate seat.
-
Let it snow? Christmas may be white in Northeast, southern Plains, Seattle
Snow on Christmas Day marks the start of a week of wet and wild weather through much of the US, including more of the white stuff. Here's where residents will want their shovels and sleds.
-
Is the NRA push for guns in schools crazy? It depends on where you live.
Reaction to the NRA’s controversial proposal to have armed guards in all schools illustrates the regional divide over guns – how and even whether to control the nation’s private arsenal.
-
Midwest blizzard leaves some stranded
Blizzard conditions in the midwest on Thursday delayed holiday travelers and caused hazardous conditions on the roads. Despite the inconvenience, some were glad to see the snow.
-
In Texas, a town where the teachers carry guns (+video)
Harrold, Texas offers a window on how one school manages guns in the classroom. After the Sandy Hook shooting, Oklahoma, Missouri, Minnesota, South Dakota and Oregon have said they may propose laws allowing teachers and school administrators to carry firearms at school.
-
School shooting in Connecticut casts somber mood across nation
School shooting in Connecticut kills 27 people, including 20 children, marking the deadliest and most shocking primary-school shooting in recent US history.
-
Decoder Wire
Is Stephen Colbert trying to buy Senate seat in South Carolina?Stephen Colbert's decision to campaign for the seat being vacated by GOP Sen. Jim DeMint gives the famous funnyman yet another chance to educate Americans on how to game the US campaign finance system.
-
How does US compare in math, science, reading? Younger students do better.
Two international studies show fourth- and eighth-grade scores in math, science, and reading in 2011. In the US, there’s no cause for alarm, or celebration.
-
Supreme Court takes up gay marriage: what the justices have to decide
The main question before the Supreme Court is not whether the Constitution protects gay marriage, but whether Prop. 8 and DOMA discriminate in violation of the 14th Amendment.
-
Too much religion at military academies? West Point cadet revives charge.
Citing overt religiosity on campus, a West Point Academy cadet publicly quit this week just months before graduation. This is not the first time the military has come under fire for practices that nonreligious students see as aggressively evangelical.
-
Reader recommendation: Canoeing with the Cree
Monitor readers share their favorite book picks.
-
Same-sex weddings in Washington State: Breakthrough for gay marriage?
On Election Day, voters in Maine, Maryland, and Washington State approved same-sex marriage – the first time such unions had been approved by popular vote. Same-sex marriage licenses in Washington were issued for the first time Thursday.
-
Department of Homeland Security spending questioned as debt looms
Every dollar counts when the government faces $16 trillion of national debt. A new report found questionable expenses made by the Department of Homeland Security from fish tanks, to underwater robots.
-
Governors urge action to avoid tumbling off 'fiscal cliff' (+video)
Six governors met Tuesday with President Obama, urging timely resolution of the tax and spending negotiations. If automatic cuts go into effect, states stand to lose 18 percent of federal grant money.
-
Change Agent
Would the lights go out if superstorm Sandy hit the Netherlands? Nope.The US can learn from the modern, disaster-resistant electric grid in the Netherlands.
-
Decoder Wire
Ashley Judd for Senate: Could she win? (+video)Charlie Cook’s Political Report website lists actress/activist Ashley Judd as a possible Democratic nominee in the 2014 Kentucky Senate race. But so far, she hasn't given a definite 'yes' to running.
-
Saving Money
'Tis the season for free gift cardsFreebies attached to full-price gift cards are abundant during the holidays. Now is a good time to stock up on gift cards, both for you and for others.
-
Minn. police officer killed in ambush shooting
Ryan Michael Larson, of Cold Spring, was held Friday on suspicion of second-degree murder. The county attorney's office was considering criminal charges.
-
Will Supreme Court decide if gay marriage is constitutional? (+video)
The Supreme Court meets Friday to decide whether it should take up a case on same-sex marriage, and the claim that the Constitution gives people the right to marry regardless of sexual orientation.
-
'Stand your ground' laws: Do they put teens in greater danger?
Three shooting deaths in the past week raise questions about whether prank-prone and reckless teens are particularly vulnerable under states' 'castle doctrine' and 'stand your ground' laws.
-
Is the California economy finally turning a corner?
In California, the deficit for the current fiscal year is projected to be $1.9 billion, down from $25 billion in recent years. The unemployment rate and some home sales are also improving.
-
Stocks climb on hopes for 'cliff'-skirting deal
Stocks rose in afternoon trading Wednesday on signs that the US may avoid the 'fiscal cliff' after all. 'Fiscal cliff' concerns have weighed on stocks since the election.
Become part of the Monitor community