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Social Issues

Taxpayers League and religious coalition unite against casinos

Opposition to gambling has brought together a couple of unlikely partners. The Taxpayers League of Minnesota is joining forces with a coalition of religious organizations to speak out against proposals that would expand gambling. The groups say they intend to run radio advertisements and lobby the DFL-controlled Senate to stop the creation of a state-run casino in Minnesota.

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St. Cloud's new civil rights vanguard

The civil rights scene in St. Cloud is taking a new shape. At a community meeting tonight, residents will have the chance to discuss a range of civil rights issues. The discussion comes against a backdrop of years of reports of discriminatory and racist patterns in the town. But a new civil rights vanguard might be turning things around.

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Take a tour of 'Alcoholic Central'

We used to call them bums. You pass them on your way to work. They're leaning against a building in ragged clothes. They're drunk. In every city, there's a neighborhood where the street alcoholics hang out. Most of us catch only brief glimpses of them from the car, or the bus. Sometimes we think about them, and wonder how they got in that place. But you can't just walk up and start asking questions. You need a guide. Someone like Paul Ojanen He's going to take us on a tour of First St. in downtown Duluth. He calls it Alcoholic Central.

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Why I told you my story

Paul Ojanen first contacted Minnesota Public Radio several weeks ago to respond to a story about methamphetamine use and its impact. Ojanen wanted to share his thoughts about the devastation that alcohol abuse causes, but seems to be ignored. Ojanen and MPR reporter Chris Julin decided to take a tour of "Alcoholic Central" in Duluth. Here, they each describe how the project came together.

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Logging on to less conflict

Even if they want to, parents who divorce rarely sever their bond completely because they have to talk to each other about the children. But for some, just hearing a former spouse's voice can reopen emotional wounds and turn almost any discussion into a fight. So Hennepin and several other Minnesota county courts have started suggesting a Web tool designed to take the emotion out of communicating between divorced parents.

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Civil unions: possible compromise?

A recent poll from the Minneapolis Star Tribune suggests that civil unions for same sex couples could be more acceptable than marriage to a majority of voting-eligible Minnesotans. Are there other commitments that don't go so far as marriage, but are just as good? And how do same sex couples view the differences?

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English-only drivers test debated

In the Minnesota House, lawmakers are expected to debate an amendment that would require drivers license tests be given only in English. The amendment was proposed earlier this week as an addition to a larger transportation bill. The written portion of the Minnesota drivers license exam is currently given in several languages, including Hmong, Somali, and Spanish. Morning Edition host Cathy Wurzer spoke with Republican Representative Marty Siefert, sponsor of the amendment.
by Cathy Wurzer

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What is marriage?

Everyone's talking about marriage these days. The debate rages from pulpits to the Legislature. Most of the discussion centers on who can get married -- whether gays and lesbians should have that right. We wanted to back up a step and ask, What is marriage? We put that question to some married couples.
by Chris Julin

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Bus strike creates hurdles for those on welfare

The Metro Transit bus strike creates a nearly impossible hurdle for many wanting to get off welfare and is driving others to turn to public assistance. Now a month old, the strike is also costing the state more to transport people on assistance needing to get to appointments such as doctor visits. Agencies that help poor or disabled people are trying to pick up the slack, but they face money and time constraints.

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The story of welfare in Minnesota

How to get people off welfare and into work has governments pursuing various ideas. Minnesota's version was working before it was changed and cut back, according to a Minneapolis Star Tribune editorial writer.

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