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SPCO forced to make cutbacks after loss of corporate funding

The St. Paul Chamber Orchestra is facing a loss of corporate funding and will stop sponsoring a contemporary chamber music series and pre-concert discussions starting next season.




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Cuban diva Omara Portuondo feels as strong as ever on 'Last Kiss' world tour

Now 88 years old, Cuba's musical matriarch wants to perform for audiences until she dies. "What I have left to live for is smiles," Portuondo says.




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Lil Nas X's 'Old Town Road' video is here to lasso the yeehaw agenda

Folks, the yeehaw agenda has reached its absolute apex. Chris Rock, Rico Nasty, Vince Staples, Diplo and, of course, Billy Ray Cyrus guest in the video for the smash hit.




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Minnesota-inspired Cuban American Youth Orchestra launches its first tour

Eleven members of the Minnesota Orchestra will join 25 young U.S. musicians in Cuba for the inaugural tour of an organization inspired by the 2015 Minnesota Orchestra visit to Havana.




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Lizzo on feminism, self-love and bringing 'hallelujah moments' to stage

The flute-playing pop star celebrates self-acceptance on her latest album, Cuz I Love You. "About 10 years ago, I made the decision that I just wanted to be happy with my body," she says.




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Minnesota music legend Tony 'Little Sun' Glover dies at 79

Known internationally for playing harmonica with Koerner, Ray and Glover, Glover is being remembered for his musical artistry and influence -- and his remarkable writing.




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So, how old aria? Minnesota Opera's newest work targets tots

The Minnesota Opera takes the expression "start 'em young" just about as far as it can this weekend with its latest production, "Nooma." It's "an opera for babies," but don't call it that.




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R. Kelly pleads not guilty to latest charges

At an arraignment in Cook County, Ill. court on Thursday morning, the embattled R&B singer entered a not guilty plea on 11 felony charges.




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Opera company soon to exit Mill City Museum stage

The Minnesota Historical Society, which operates the museum, wants to move toward programs more in keeping with its mission.




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Lil Nas X's 'Old Town Road' inspires Minnesota boy with autism to sing

An Atlanta rapper's take on country music has inspired a mostly nonverbal Minnesota boy with autism to sing.




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Wu-Tang Clan set to make history as first hip-hop act to headline Ryman Auditorium

Nashville's Ryman Auditorium, nicknamed "The Mother Church of Country Music," has never hosted a hip-hop show. After 125 years, Wu-Tang Clan will be the first rap act to headline at the venue.




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Alone together: Robyn's 'Dancing On My Own' opens the corners of community

The magic of Robyn's millennial anthem is its bait and switch: It's a fun, energetic dance song about being lonely and heartbroken. And yet, the minute you hear it, you instantly feel less alone.




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A new hope: Seal learns to sing 'Star Wars' theme

Researchers say teaching seals to copy melodies might help inform speech therapy for humans.




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"Hot Stuff" tops charts 40 years ago

"Hot Stuff" by Donna Summer reached No. 1 on the Billboard pop chart 40 years ago today. The disco classic features a solo by former Doobie Brothers guitarist Jeff "Skunk" Baxter.




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It's been 50 years since Rolling Stones founder Brian Jones died

July 3, 2019 is the 50th anniversary of the day that Brian Jones was pronounced dead. Jones founded the Rolling Stones, gave them their name and was their first business manager.




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Independence Day: 'To Honor and Inspire: U.S. Military Bands Special'

For your Fourth of July listening, an hour of music, including marches by Sousa, Jewell and Gould, and classical works by Copland, Saint-Saens and Holst.




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Brazilian bossa nova pioneer Joao Gilberto dies at 88

Joao Gilberto, a Brazilian singer, guitarist and songwriter considered one of the fathers of the bossa nova genre that gained global popularity in the 1960s and became an iconic sound of the South American nation, died Saturday, his son said. He was 88.




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Stevie Wonder says he's set to receive a kidney transplant

Stevie Wonder surprised concertgoers in London on Saturday night by announcing that he will take a break from performing so that he can receive a kidney transplant this fall.




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Human Challenges His Cat to Jump Into a High Cabinet With Increasingly Smaller Openings

The human belonging to a cat named Ruka, set up a jump challenge for his feline, who loves to sleep in a high cabinet in their apartment.




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How Different Forms of Cognitive Distortion Can Lead to a Continuous Cycle of Negativity

The Wiser Way explained the overarching concept of cognitive distortion, an "all or nothing" way of thinking and how to break its cycle.




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Artist Commemorates Unrecognized Heroes With Temporary Monuments Projected Onto Trees

"Monuments" by artist Craig Walsh is a powerful site-specific video installation that projects images of unrecognized local heroes onto trees.




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A Fascinating Montage of Hasidic Families Trying to Cross the Street During the New York City Marathon

Abe Kugielsky shot footage of Hasidic people trying to cross the street in Williamsburg during the 2024 New York City Marathon.




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Asian Elephant Expertly Uses a Water Hose to Give Herself a Shower

An Asian elephant named Mary, who lives at the Berlin Zoo learned how to wash herself clean using a hose as a flexible shower head.




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Artist JR Gives a Tour of His Elaborately Designed L’Observatoire Suite on the Orient Express

French artist JR gave a wonderfully detailed tour of the L’Observatoire Suite he designed for the Venice Simplon Orient Express.




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Fearless Cat Rides on Her Human’s Back While They’re Skateboarding Together

A fearless cat named Callie who was found as a kitten by her human Sam Wallace loves to sit on their back while skateboarding.




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Popular Christmas Toys Introduced in the 1980s

Rhetty for History takes a look back at the top Christmas toys for kids that were introduced in the 1980s.




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A Touching Holiday Short About A Friendly Little Octopus Who Comes Home With a Young Beachgoer

"The Boy & The Octopus" is a touching holiday short about a tiny octopus who latches onto a young beachgoer and refuses to let go.




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Hennepin County will pay $3.4 million to family of man who died in jail

Lucas Bellamy had been in jail for three days in July 2022 when he died of an infection after suffering a perforated intestine. A lawsuit filed in January said jail staff were deliberately indifferent to his son's obviously-worsening symptoms.




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Minnesota Twins initiate front office transition with Falvey to president, Zoll to GM, St. Peter to adviser

The Minnesota Twins will promote Derek Falvey to president of baseball and business operations and Jeremy Zoll to general manager as part of a front office succession plan initiated by current club president Dave St. Peter’s move into a strategic adviser role. 




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Investigators believe Wisconsin kayaker faked his own death before fleeing to eastern Europe

Investigators say they believe a Wisconsin kayaker missing since mid-August faked his death before fleeing to Europe. 




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Denzel Washington details a retirement path that includes a role in 'Black Panther 3'

Denzel Washington is retiring after his next few projects, he said in a recent interview.




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Fireworks incident raises tensions in the Mankato Muslim community

After a tension filled day following an incident Sunday near the Mankato Islamic Center initially feared as an arson attack, the police have a more benign explanation, but anger remains.




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Olympic champion wrestler Gable Steveson ends retirement, returns to University of Minnesota

Wrestler Gable Steveson, who won a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, is coming out of retirement. Steveson will compete for the University of Minnesota for a fifth and final season. 




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Tell your story

The voice in my head, the feeling in my stomach, conspire to tell me the answer: nothing. Apparently, this is the day when I can't fool anyone anymore. I knew it would come sooner or later.



  • This or That

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This blog stood on the shoulders of a giant

Paul Tosto applauded, supported, defended, and created a fair amount of the material that found its way onto these pages, and he did so without getting or needing attention. At least until today.




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Storytime with Bob: A treat outside of the blog

Being a member of the MPR News staff for a little over a year, and located outside of the St. Paul office, I’ve only had the privilege to observe the NewsCut magic as many readers have, with interactions through emails and reading Bob Collins’ words. But the one time I got to meet Bob in…



  • Theft of the Blog
  • You should meet ... Bob Collins

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Something Wild: Olfactory Hues

We know…we’ve been remiss, and it’s time to talk about the elephant in the room. Something Wild, as you know, is a chance to take a closer look at the wildlife, ecosystems and marvelous phenomena you can find in and around New Hampshire. But over the years there is one species in New Hampshire that we haven’t spent much time examining. A species, I think that has been conspicuous in its absence. Humans. So we’re grabbing the bull by the horns and digging in to a complex species that is an important part of the ecosystem. And we thought we’d start with a particular trait that’s been with us almost since the beginning: olfaction.




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Something Wild: Ode To Late February

February in New Hampshire can be a bitter time, weather-wise. In some places, layers of ice and snow still weigh heavily on conifer limbs, and on the souls of even the heartiest of New Englanders. But at last, the days are noticeably longer. So take heart winter-weary friends. The first pulses of springtime arrive in the smallest of signs.




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These charts show how Trump's strategy to lose by less won the swing states

President-elect Donald Trump won the election by flipping Georgia, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin after President Biden won them in 2020. Looking at how Democratic counties voted explains how he did it.




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Wisconsin high court to hear arguments on whether an 1849 abortion ban remains valid

The Wisconsin Supreme Court will hear oral arguments Monday on whether a law that legislators adopted more than a decade before the Civil War bans abortion and can still be enforced.




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What to know about Tom Homan, the former ICE head returning as Trump's 'border czar'

Homan was the acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement from January 2017 to June 2018, where he was a key architect of the Trump administration's controversial family separation policy.




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Trump names Stephen Miller to be deputy chief of policy in new administration

Donald Trump is naming longtime adviser Stephen Miller, an immigration hard-liner, to be the deputy chief of policy in his new administration. The announcement was first reported by CNN on Monday.




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Biden's White House invitation to Trump continues a tradition Trump shunned in 2020

Before he comes back for good on Inauguration Day, Donald Trump will return to the White House briefly at the invitation of President Joe Biden.




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Walz commends veterans and says it’s time for the country to unite

At his second official event since the Democratic presidential ticket lost to Republican Donald Trump, Gov. Tim Walz noted the nation’s democracy “is strong.”




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Trump plans to revoke many Biden policies. Where does that leave marijuana?

The president-elect recently affirmed that he supports legalizing marijuana for recreational use. His stance means cannabis could be a rare issue on which Trump carries a Biden policy forward.




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President-elect Trump is expected to nominate Marco Rubio for Secretary of State

If confirmed, the Florida senator would become the first Latino to ever serve as the nation's top diplomat.




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Why Trump’s immigration rhetoric appeals to one first-time Latino voter in Minnesota

President-elect Donald Trump made notable inroads with Latino voters this year, particularly among young men. One voter’s family history provides a window into Trump’s appeal.




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Federal judge blocks Louisiana law that requires classrooms to display Ten Commandments

The new Louisiana requirement that the Ten Commandments be displayed in every public classroom by Jan. 1 was temporarily blocked Tuesday. The judge said the law is "unconstitutional on its face."




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Minnesota attorney general on Trump: ‘If he violates the rights of people, we’re going to sue’

The second-term DFLer says he’ll challenge Trump if Republicans push politics that contradict Minnesota laws.




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Election expert: Audits and recounts bring more confidence to the system

Recounts are expected in two Minnesota House races. The election results could determine control of that legislative body. The upcoming recounts are expected soon and come after initial ballot totals changed when election officials discovered technical glitches.