Today's Question Blog

October 30, 2013 1:44 AM

Who should pick up the tab in the fight against zebra mussels?

“Vigilance is crucial in fighting invasive zebra mussels. The tougher question of who should pay for that vigilance is up for debate. Officials and private groups in Becker County want the state to spend more, but they aren’t waiting for that to happen,” writes MPR News reporter Dan Gunderson. In Becker County, where officials are…

by Michael Olson

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October 29, 2013 1:46 AM

Who has the right to know where your phone has been?

Photo: Cell phone tower by Gary Lerude via Flickr Law enforcement agencies subpoena cellphone location data regularly. But civil liberties groups hope a series of state-level legal victories will usher in stronger protections. Reporter Larry Abramson writes for NPR: You probably know, or should know, that your cellphone is tracking your location everywhere you go.…

by Michael Olson

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October 28, 2013 1:52 AM

Are you happy with your job?

“Not happy with your job? Just wait.” (AP) A study by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research finds that 9 in 10 workers who are age 50 or older say they are very or somewhat satisfied with their job. Older workers reported satisfaction regardless of gender, race, educational level, political ideology and income…

by Michael Olson

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October 25, 2013 1:53 AM

What limits should be applied to mind reading technology?

“By scanning blogs of brain activity, scientists may be able to decode people’s thoughts, dreams and intentions,” writes Kerri Smith in Nature Magazine. Although companies are starting to pursue brain decoding for a few applications, such as market research and lie detection, scientists are far more interested in using this process to learn about the…

by Michael Olson

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October 24, 2013 1:50 AM

Have you changed how you listen to music?

“YouTube is preparing a premium on-demand music service — akin to a Spotify, but with video — to launch later this year, according to several sources familiar with the plans,” writes Alex Pham for Billboard. The service, designed with mobile listening in mind, will have a free component and a premium tier that offers unlimited…

by Michael Olson

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October 23, 2013 1:53 AM

When do you know what you read on Wikipedia is true?

“The loose collective running the site today, estimated to be 90 percent male, operates a crushing bureaucracy with an often abrasive atmosphere that deters newcomers who might increase participation in Wikipedia and broaden its coverage,” writes Tom Simonite for MIT Technology Review. The sixth most widely used website in the world is not run anything…

by Michael Olson

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October 22, 2013 1:47 AM

Is there too much pressure on new moms to give their babies breast milk?

Photo by Summer via Flickr Expecting and new mothers hear a steady refrain from medical professionals and child-rearing experts of “breast is best” when it comes to feeding their newborns. Some of those that can’t or have trouble providing breast milk are turning to online marketplaces. A cottage industry has sprung up facilitating the sale…

by Michael Olson

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October 21, 2013 2:29 AM

What should be the focus of the next state legislative session?

Minnesota State Capitol Dome by Furqan Rauf via the MPR News Flickr pool “If Gov. Mark Dayton has his way, next year’s legislative session will be unlike any other.” “Dayton has already dubbed 2014 the ‘unsession,’ because he wants legislators to spend much of their time eliminating old, outdated state laws rather than adding new…

by Michael Olson

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October 18, 2013 2:08 AM

Should police be required to wear cameras?

“In a bid to reduce instances of officer misconduct and help the Minneapolis Police Department defeat frivolous brutality complaints and lawsuits, city officials are considering whether to issue wearable cameras to police officers,” writes MPR News reporter Brandt Williams. The city has paid more than $20 million to resolve misconduct lawsuits and claims during the…

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October 17, 2013 2:29 AM

What is one thing the American public should takeaway from the shutdown?

On Day 1 of post-Govt shutdown, @dougmillsnyt catches return of tourists to reopened Lincoln Memorial this morning. pic.twitter.com/7SVwmZ0dJh — Mark Knoller (@markknoller) October 17, 2013 “Almost all of Minnesota’s Congressional delegation voted in favor of the bill to re-open the federal government and raise the debt ceiling. Republican Congresswoman Michele Bachmann was the sole no…

by Michael Olson

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