2025.02.13

Riley Moser, Frankie McLister at WCCO report: “The Department of Education announced Wednesday it is investigating the Minnesota State High School League for allowing transgender student-athletes to compete in sports consistent with their gender identity.” Via MinnPost https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/education-department-mshsl-title-ix-investigation/

Tommy Wiita at Bring Me the News reports: “Eden Prairie-based UnitedHealth Group has agreed to pay $20.25 million to settle a lawsuit with the U.S. Department of Labor, after it was found to have wrongly denied thousands of medical claims via its third-party administrator.” Via MinnPost https://bringmethenews.com/minnesota-news/unitedhealth-group-to-pay-20m-to-settle-lawsuit-over-denied-coverage

The Star Tribune’s Paul Walsh reports: “A woman lured a man she met on a dating app to a predawn meetup in north Minneapolis, where her accomplice fatally shot him as part of a carjacking plot, according to criminal complaints filed Wednesday and Thursday.” Via MinnPost https://www.startribune.com/charge-carjacking-victim-killed-after-being-lured-on-dating-app-to-predawn-meetup-in-minneapolis/601221200

Nick Longworth at FOX 9 reports: “Minnesota lawmakers are considering a new bill that would stiffen the penalties for those who engage in the prostitution of minors.” Via MinnPost https://www.fox9.com/news/minor-prostitution-penalties-law-change-proposal

Kevin Drum is in hospital and doing poorly. https://jabberwocking.com/health-update-89/

Rape under wraps: how Tinder, Hinge and their corporate owner chose profits over safety Match Group has known since 2016 about abusive users on its dozen dating apps, but leaves millions of people in the dark Emily Elena Dugdale and Hanisha Harjani https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/13/tinder-hinge-match-investigation

It’s a cowboy show out there’: the deadly lottery of the snakebite antivenom industry Investigation reveals ineffective products being sold across Africa, with poor regulation and shortage of effective medication leading to needless deaths By Paul Eccles, Andjela Milivojevic and Rachel Schraer. Additional reporting by Shafa’atu Suleiman and Laura Margottini https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2025/feb/13/its-a-cowboy-show-out-there-the-deadly-lottery-of-the-snakebite-antivenom-industry

‘Here lives the monster’s brain’: the man who exposed Switzerland’s dirty secrets Inspired by Che Guevara, Jean Ziegler has spent the past 60 years exposing how Switzerland enabled global wrongdoing. His enemies accuse him of treason By Atossa Araxia Abrahamian https://www.theguardian.com/news/2025/feb/13/here-lives-the-monsters-brain-the-man-who-exposed-switzerlands-dirty-secrets

London’s first Roman basilica found under office block Archaeologists hail discovery of near-2,000-year-old structure as one of most significant recent finds in the city Esther Addley https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/feb/13/londons-first-roman-basilica-found-under-office-block

From Timothée Chalamet to TV’s latest epic series: Six reasons the 2025 Berlin Film Festival is set to make waves Hugh Montgomery and Nicholas Barber https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20250212-six-ways-the-berlin-film-festival-will-make-waves

2025.02.12

Crime Former St. Paul high school volleyball coach pleads guilty to criminal sexual conduct By WCCO Staff https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/st-paul-volleyball-coach-guilty-sexual-assault/

With federal funds on the line, officials in Minneapolis and St. Paul are feeling the impact of Trump’s presidency Officials say they were caught off guard by the breadth of the January executive order — later blocked by a federal judge — intended to shut off grant spending. by Winter Keefer https://www.minnpost.com/metro/2025/02/with-federal-funds-on-the-line-officials-in-minneapolis-and-st-paul-are-feeling-the-impact-of-trumps-presidency/

Please, somebody tell me the trains ran on time: Inflation picks up speed after Trump promised to ‘rapidly’ bring down prices onsumer price index rose by 3% in January as president has yet to fulfill pledge of tackling high cost of living Callum Jones in New York https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/feb/12/trump-january-inflation

FBI says it has discovered 2,400 new records related to JFK assassination The agency was transferring the records for declassification and did not say what information they contained https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/11/fbi-jfk-assassination-new-records

The whole Icelandic nation in one face: Ragnar Axelsson’s best photograph ‘
Guðjón was kind of angry that day. He was looking for a mink that had been killing his eider ducks. This image opened doors for him, leading to advert and movie work’ Interview
by Chris Broughton https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2025/feb/12/ragnar-axelssons-best-photograph-icelandic
Book: https://qerndu.com/books/behind-mountains/

2025.02.11

Brian Bakst and Mathew Holding Eagle III at MPR report: “Becker County Attorney Brian McDonald added a second burglary charge Monday against state Sen. Nicole Mitchell focusing on items she had with her when police encountered her stepmother’s home in April 2024 in Detroit Lakes.” Via MinnPost https://www.mprnews.org/story/2025/02/10/new-felony-count-added-to-charges-against-sen-nicole-mitchell-for-april-2024-incident

With a new hit film, Netflix has reduced disabled lives to feelgood fodder – and got the facts shockingly wrong Archie Bland and Ruth Spencer https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/feb/11/netflix-film-disabled-lives-feelgood-child-cerebral-palsy-families

Lockboxes ‘littering’ Dublin’s streets become latest front in overtourism battle Council to remove keyboxes left in public areas by landlords Lisa O’Carroll in Dublin https://www.theguardian.com/news/2025/feb/11/key-lockboxes-dublin-overtourism

At Bisto and Aardman’s new pop-up floating restaurant you can pour gravy over your pudding or down a gravy drink – but where’s the cheese board, Gromit? Stuart Heritage https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/feb/11/gravy-cocktail-wallace-gromit-cheese-free-dining-venture-bisto-aardman

On board the maiden sleeper from Brussels to Venice: we got there in the end Affordable couchettes, wonderful scenery and good company make up for the teething problems en route Monisha Rajesh https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2025/feb/11/brussels-to-venice-on-board-a-new-sleeper-train

Manchester theatre suspends Dolly Parton musical over homophobic abuse Actor in Here You Come Again says cast left stage because ‘a woman was so disgusted there was a gay character’ Nadeem Badshah https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2025/feb/10/manchester-performance-of-dolly-parton-musical-suspended-due-to-homophobic-abuse

2025.02.10

Euclid telescope captures Einstein ring revealing warping of space Dazzling image shows galaxy more than 4bn light years away, whose starlight has been bent due to gravity Hannah Devlin https://www.theguardian.com/science/2025/feb/10/euclid-telescope-captures-einstein-ring-revealing-warping-of-space

Why we all need sisu – the Finnish concept of action and creativity in hard times This is something more profound than resilience. It is the part of us that comes alive when we feel we have nothing left Moya Sarner https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/feb/10/why-we-all-need-sisu-the-finnish-concept-of-action-and-creativity-in-hard-times

Sewer fatberg of ‘grease and rags’ forces Bryan Adams to cancel Perth concert Singer was due to perform Sunday night but authorities worried large blockage could cause sewage to back up in venue toilets Mostafa Rachwani https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/feb/10/sewer-fatberg-of-grease-and-rags-forces-bryan-adams-to-postpone-perth-concert

Moment India police unplug Ed Sheeran’s street performance British pop star Ed Sheeran was stopped from busking on a street in the southern Indian city of Bengaluru by local police. The incident happened on Sunday, ahead of his concert in the city. Video taken by onlookers showed the moment a police officer unplugged his microphone. Officials told the ANI news agency that a request from Sheeran’s team to busk was rejected to avoid congestion in the area. In a social media post, Sheeran insisted he did have the permission to busk. https://www.bbc.com/news/videos/c4g3ve3ll21o

2025.02.09

Bad Meta! Bad! Bad! Bad!
Revealed: gambling firms secretly sharing users’ data with Facebook without permission Meta accounts of those affected flooded with ads for casinos and betting sites
We didn’t click ‘consent’ on any gambling website. So how did Facebook know where we’d been?
Shanti Das and Jon Ungoed-Thomas https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/feb/08/gambling-firms-secretly-shared-users-data-with-facebook-without-permission

Matisse’s muse: new exhibition dedicated to the illegitimate daughter he spent a lifetime painting Marguerite, who survived diphtheria and torture by the Gestapo, is the focus of Musée d’Art Moderne showcase Kim Willsher in Paris https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2025/feb/08/matisse-muse-new-paris-exhibition-dedicated-to-the-illegitimate-daughter-he-spent-a-lifetime-painting

Flat whites or long blacks? What our changing coffee tastes say about us From a 13th-century Yemen brew to the latest full-on blast of beans, the quest for the perfect caffeine hit continues Rachel Cooke https://www.theguardian.com/food/2025/feb/09/flat-whites-or-long-blacks-what-our-changing-coffee-tastes-say-about-us

Anti-ageing jabs – they can rejuvenate mice, but will they work on humans? Senescent cells power the body’s ageing process, and scientists are developing treatments to annihilate them David Cox https://www.theguardian.com/science/2025/feb/08/anti-ageing-jabs-they-can-rejuvenate-mice-but-will-they-work-on-humans

Frozen in time: Rare early images of the Himalayas from Italian pioneer Sudha G Tilak https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8edg6n5xp3o

How a former slave became the world’s first drag queen Over 100 years before RuPaul was telling us to “sashay away”, William Dorsey Swann, who had been born into slavery in 19th Century America, was making a name for himself as the world’s first self-described “drag queen”. LGBTQ+ historian Channing Joseph, author of House of Swann, explains how he discovered this forgotten history of one of the earliest efforts at queer resistance and liberation in America. Video by Alva French Animation by Dan John https://www.bbc.com/reel/video/p08ts62f/how-a-former-slave-became-the-world-s-first-drag-queen

The dishes Singaporeans turn to when illness strikes Daniel Seifert https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20250205-rasam-to-congee-singapore-dishes-for-flu

Pastis: The French cocktail born from a banned spirit Emily Monaco https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20250207-pastis-the-french-cocktail-born-from-a-banned-spirit

2025.02.08

How an outsider captured the intimacy of Gullah Geechee life in 13 portraits Jeanne Moutoussamy-Ashe’s exhibit at the Whitney Museum depicts the rich culture of Daufuskie Island Gloria Oladipo https://www.theguardian.com/news/2025/feb/08/jeanne-moutoussamy-ashe-whitney-museum-gullah-geechee

Three-hundred-year-old Stradivarius violin sells for $11m in New York Proceeds from sale of 1714 instrument will be used to fund scholarships for violinists at New England Conservatory Richard Luscombe https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/07/stradivarius-violin-auction-sale

Rediscovered, a young English novelist’s warning of the Nazi threat Crooked Cross, Sally Carson’s ‘electrifying masterpiece’ from 1934, to be republished Vanessa Thorpe Arts and media correspondent https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/feb/08/rediscovered-a-young-english-novelists-warning-of-the-nazi-threat

Splat’s entertainment: I watched Rotten Tomatoes’ 40 lowest-rated films to find out which was worst Our brave victim writer sits through the film site’s 0%ers to see what makes a bad movie. Will she emerge with her sanity intact – and are all these flops really so bad?

“It was the hardest movie I ever did,” Billy Bob Thornton said ahead of its release. “We were squeezing 10lb of shit into a 5lb bag. We didn’t have enough money or enough time […] We hope we do you proud with the film. If we let you down, I apologise in advance, but we sure gave it our best.” It’s a moving quote…

Rebecca Liu https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/feb/08/watching-rotten-tomatoes-lowest-rated-films

Trump says he will appoint himself chair of Kennedy Center President plans to fire board members and chair David Rubenstein to bring about ‘golden age in arts and culture’ Dara Kerr https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/07/trump-kennedy-center

All 10 people aboard Alaska plane that crashed died, says US Coast Guard Authorities found the plane, which was carrying passengers across Norton Sound, about 34 miles south-east of Nome Marina Dunbar and agencies https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/07/alaska-missing-plane

Crew on boat that hit rocks off Tasmanian coast rescued by swimming police officer The 13-metre vessel, crewed by a man in his 70s and a woman in her 60s, hit rocks near Wynyard just after midnight on Friday Cait Kelly https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/feb/08/crew-on-boat-that-hit-rocks-off-tasmanian-coast-rescued-by-swimming-police-officer

Donald Trump revokes Joe Biden’s security clearance in latest revenge move US president cites Biden’s removal of Trump’s security clearance in 2021 in the wake of the January 6 attacks and attempts to overturn the 2020 election result https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/08/donald-trump-revokes-joe-bidens-security-clearance-in-latest-revenge-move

Meera Sodha’s vegan recipe for beetroot risotto with curry leaf butter All the rich, savoury creaminess of a risotto with an enticing Indian temper of spice, chilli and lime Meera Sodha https://www.theguardian.com/food/2025/feb/04/vegan-beetroot-risotto-with-curry-leaf-butter-recipe-meera-sodha

2025.02.07

From Jon Bream at the Star Tribune: “It’s official: The controversial nine-hour authorized Prince documentary directed by Oscar-winning Ezra Edelman for Netflix will not be released.” Via MinnPost https://www.minnpost.com/glean/2025/02/minnesota-ag-to-sue-trump-administration-over-doge/

Prince estate blocks release of Netflix documentary by Oscar-winning director Ezra Edelman Nine-hour film will not be seen, after ‘mutual agreement’ between estate and Netflix, with estate announcing plans for its own film Ben Beaumont-Thomas https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/feb/07/prince-estate-blocks-release-of-netflix-documentary-by-oscar-winning-director-ezra-edelman

Interview New DNC vice-chair David Hogg on reaching young voters: ‘We need to be a tsunami of content’ Joan E Greve in Washington https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/07/dnc-vice-chair-david-hogg

Sweden plans to tighten gun laws in wake of Örebro mass shooting ‘We have to ensure that only the right people have guns in Sweden,’ says the prime minister, Ulf Kristersson Miranda Bryant Nordic correspondent https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/07/sweden-to-tighten-gun-laws-in-wake-of-orebro-mass-shooting

Detox your kitchen: three things you can do right now to avoid toxic chemicals Pfas and microplastics lurk everywhere – from pots and pans to storage containers and utensils. These simple changes are a first step in reducing them quickly Tom Perkins https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/feb/07/how-to-remove-pfas-microplastics-chemicals-kitchen

2025.02.06

Dana Ferguson at MPR News reports: “A nearly four-week standoff over control in the Minnesota House appears to be near an end, with Democrats and Republicans planning to announce a deal on Thursday. The House has been unable to convene as Democrats have boycotted since the Jan. 14 session start and Republicans couldn’t muster the 68 members to conduct business.” Via MinnPost https://www.mprnews.org/story/2025/02/05/minnesota-house-dfl-gop-say-they-have-agreement-to-end-stalemate

The Strib’s Deena Miller reports: “The city of Minneapolis is poised to settle another batch of workers’ compensation cases with police officers, including one who cost the city over $400,000 in legal fees after he was sued for beating people up while off duty.” Via MinnPost
https://www.minnpost.com/glean/2025/02/dfl-gop-come-to-agreement-over-control-of-the-minnesota-house/

Winona man sentenced in sextortion scheme involving minors By KTTC Staff https://www.kttc.com/2025/02/05/winona-man-sentenced-sextortion-scheme-involving-minors/

Nothing to see here, folks. Move along. Kansas reckons with large tuberculosis outbreak as health officials hamstrung Experts fear consequences of Trump’s restrictions on CDC as state sees one of largest outbreaks ever recorded in US Melody Schreiber https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/06/kansas-tuberculosis-public-health

US health department condemns private equity firms for role in declining healthcare access Government report says private equity investment in nursing homes led to 11% increase in patient deaths Hannah Harris Green https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/06/private-equity-healthcare

Nothing to see here either, folks. Move along. Hottest January on record mystifies climate scientists EU monitor says global temperatures were 1.75C above preindustrial levels, extending run of unprecedented highs https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/feb/06/hottest-january-on-record-climate-scientists-global-temperatures-high

US supreme court may revive doctrine that would curb federal agencies’ power Case on nondelegation doctrine comes after conservative court substantially curbed regulatory power in recent years Tom Perkins https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/06/nondelegation-doctrine-supreme-court

Lost cities of the Amazon: how science is revealing ancient garden towns hidden in the rainforest Archaeologists using 3D mapping are uncovering the remains of thousands of green metropolises with composted gardens, fisheries, and forests groomed into orchards By Mac Margolis in Rio de Janeiro and Belém, Brazil https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2025/feb/06/ancient-garden-cities-amazon-indigenous-technologies-archaeology-lost-civilisations-environment-terra-preta

2025.02.05

AI helps researchers read ancient scroll burned to a crisp in Vesuvius eruption Writing on PHerc. 172 papyrus, found at Roman mansion in Herculaneum, revealed after 3D X-rays and software competition Ian Sample Science editor https://www.theguardian.com/science/2025/feb/05/ai-helps-researchers-read-ancient-scroll-burned-to-a-crisp-in-vesuvius-eruption

‘Everyone is on tenterhooks’: Santorini streets empty after days of tremors Thousands of locals and tourists have fled Greek island amid fears of bigger earthquake or volcanic eruption Helena Smith in Athens https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/05/santorini-streets-empty-after-days-of-tremors-greece

Australian scientists produce kangaroo embryos using IVF for first time Team has produced more than 20 embryos using method used in humans, though there are no plans for live joeys Donna Lu Science writer https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/feb/06/australian-scientists-produce-kangaroo-embryos-using-ivf-for-first-time

New Orleans clergy abuse: Lawyer says claims that Saints emails protected by court order have no basis Saints attorney maintains disclosure of messages showing team execs’ aid in softening media coverage was ‘violation’ Ramon Antonio Vargas in New Orleans https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/05/new-orleans-clergy-abuse-saints-emails

US Postal Service briefly halts packages arriving from China and Hong Kong Normal service resumes after initial suspension, in latest episode of growing trade war between the US and China Helen Davidson in Taipei and agencies https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/05/trump-in-no-rush-to-speak-with-xi-after-chinas-retaliatory-tariffs

The rise and fall of Emilia Pérez: how did it all go so wrong for the Oscar-nominated film and its star? Less than two weeks ago, the movie was flying high, with 13 Academy Award nods. Then came a social media scandal and a serious backlash Steve Rose https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/feb/05/the-rise-and-fall-of-emilia-perez-how-did-it-go-so-wrong-for-oscar-nominated-film-star

How to protect yourself from scams: six easy ways to stay safe Whether on social media, online shopping or fielding calls, there is plenty you can do to cut the risk of being caught out Rupert Jones https://www.theguardian.com/money/2025/feb/05/how-to-protect-yourself-from-scams-six-easy-ways-to-stay-safe

How to make cassoulet – recipe A superbly rich bean stew laced with duck fat, sausages and pork belly Felicity Cloake https://www.theguardian.com/food/2025/feb/05/how-to-make-cassoulet-recipe-felicity-cloake

Paprikash fish and leek and olive stew: Irina Georgescu’s recipes from the Danube Two traditional and homely dishes from Romania Irina Georgescu https://www.theguardian.com/food/2025/feb/05/paprikash-fish-and-leek-and-olive-stew-recipes-mancare-irina-georgescu-romania

2025.02.04

It’s clear why Trump blames DEI for everything Judith Levine Everyone but the credulous media seems to understand what’s behind Trump’s attacks on diversity, equity and inclusion https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/feb/04/trump-dei-judith-levine

Neil Gaiman: accuser files civil lawsuit alleging rape, sexual assault and human trafficking Author’s former nanny accuses him of sexual assault and his estranged wife Amanda Palmer of ‘procuring’ her to be abused Sian Cain and agencies https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/feb/04/neil-gaiman-accuser-files-civil-lawsuit-rape-sexual-assault-allegations-ntwnfb

No worries ifn you ain’t a believer in Climate Change — your insurance company is. State Farm seeks emergency 22% rate hike in California after LA wildfires State’s largest home insurer, which has paid customers over $1bn, claims fires put firm under increased financial strain Marina Dunbar https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/03/state-farm-emergency-insurance-hike-california-wildfires

Johnnie Walker owner Diageo says Trump tariffs could hit profits by $200m UK drinks company considering possible price rises as shares fall despite strong Guinness sales Julia Kollewe https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/feb/04/johnnie-walker-owner-diageo-trump-sales-recovery

Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot in the works with Sarah Michelle Gellar returning to the titular role Oscar-winning director – and longtime Buffy fan – Chloé Zhao is onboard to direct, with Dolly Parton as executive producer Sian Cain https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/feb/04/buffy-the-vampire-slayer-reboot-sarah-michelle-gellar-returning-hulu