Reading

2025.07.07

Mosquitos with West Nile found in Twin Cities. From Bring Me The News: “The findings suggest West Nile activity is starting to pick up in the area. Officials say the timing of the positive tests aligns with when mosquitoes have historically first shown signs of the virus.” Via MinnPost
https://bringmethenews.com/minnesota-news/first-west-nile-positive-mosquitoes-of-the-year-found-in-twin-cities-counties

Michael Douglas says he has ‘no real intentions’ of acting again: ‘I had to stop’
The 80-year-old, two-time Oscar winner said he had been ‘working pretty hard for almost 60 years’ – and is ‘quite happy’ watching his wife Catherine Zeta-Jones work
Sian Cain
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/jul/07/michael-douglas-says-he-has-no-real-intentions-of-acting-again-i-had-to-stop

‘Chipping away at democracy’: authors fear outcome of US supreme court’s LGBTQ+ book ruling
Some parents can now opt students out of LGBTQ+ book readings. The writers warn of increased book bans and bias
Melissa Hellmann
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jul/07/authors-lgbtq-book-ruling-supreme-court

The radical 1960s schools experiment that created a whole new alphabet – and left thousands of children unable to spell
Decades ago, a generation of UK schoolchildren unwittingly took part in an initiative aimed at boosting reading skills – with lasting consequences
Emma Loffhagen
https://www.theguardian.com/education/2025/jul/06/1960s-schools-experiment-created-new-alphabet-thousands-children-unable-to-spell

At least 81 dead and dozens missing in Texas floods as more rain looms
Gary O'Donoghue Chief North America correspondent
Ana Faguy BBC News
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cddzrj323zzo

2025.07.06

Weedkiller ingredient widely used in US can damage organs and gut bacteria, research shows
Diquat is banned in the UK, EU, China and other countries. The US has resisted calls to regulate it
Tom Perkins
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jul/06/weedkiller-diquat-organ-damage-study

‘I want my vote back’: Trump-voting family stunned after Canadian mother detained over immigration status
Family of Cynthia Olivera reconsiders support for president after Ice detained her at green card interview
Ramon Antonio Vargas
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jul/06/trump-voting-family-canadian-mother-detained-immigration-status

Reboots and remakes: why is Hollywood stuck on repeat?
Catherine Shoard
https://www.theguardian.com/news/ng-interactive/2025/jul/06/reboots-and-remakes-why-is-hollywood-stuck-on-repeat

Archaeologists unveil 3,500-year-old city in Peru
Jessica Rawnsley
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c07dmx38kyeo

2025.07.05

Owning dog or cat could preserve some brain functions as we age, study says
Fish or bird ownership showed no significant link to slower cognitive decline in study with implications for ageing societies
Amelia Hill
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2025/jul/05/dog-cat-ownership-could-preserve-specific-brain-functions-as-we-age-cognitive-decline

Trump is waging war against the media – and winning
Edward Helmore
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2025/jul/05/trump-attack-us-media

‘The vehicle suddenly accelerated with our baby in it’: the terrifying truth about why Tesla’s cars keep crashing
Elon Musk is obsessive about the design of his supercars, right down to the disappearing door handles. But a series of shocking incidents – from drivers trapped in burning vehicles to dramatic stops on the highway – have led to questions about the safety of the brand. Why won’t Tesla give any answers?
Sönke Iwersen and Michael Verfürden
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/jul/05/the-vehicle-suddenly-accelerated-with-our-baby-in-it-the-terrifying-truth-about-why-teslas-cars-keep-crashing

US debt is now $37trn – should we be worried?
Simon Jack
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1lj8rmyn5eo

2025.07.04

Palmer's Bar to close after serving beers for 120 years on West Bank
The bar didn't give a reason for its closure, but said it will have a "jam-packed" calendar and "plenty of time to party and say farewell" before shutting the doors.
Author: Samantha Fischer
https://www.kare11.com/article/entertainment/palmers-bar-to-close-after-serving-beers-for-120-years-on-west-bank/89-0c845523-e6cc-4fed-8be2-82e7540144cc

Trump’s Medicaid cuts are coming for rural Americans: ‘It’s going to have to hit them first’
Experts worry the tax-and-spending bill will gut healthcare and hospitals, especially in states like North Carolina
Jessica Glenza and George Chidi
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jul/04/rural-americans-medicaid-cuts-trump-bill

Trump’s big bill achieved what conservatives have been trying to do for decades
Chris Stein
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jul/03/trump-spending-bill-conservatives-law ( Read more... )

2025.07.03

A Wisconsin brewery owner wants to shut down Fourth of July parades, both in Minocqua, where the brewery is located, and across the nation. Kirk Bangstad “says he ‘will not allow this town to comfortably celebrate its most important event of the year’ because he believes he’s been targeted by city officials,” according to Bring Me The News. Via MinnPost
https://bringmethenews.com/wisconsin-news/wisconsin-brewery-owner-plans-to-disrupt-parade-over-feud-with-officials

Scientists warn US will lose a generation of talent because of Trump cuts
Political interference and chaotic cuts to staff, programs and grants at the National Science Foundation are producing ‘devastating consequences’
Nina Lakhani
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jul/03/national-science-foundation-trump-cuts

New Orleans teacher fired by Catholic school for being gay says ‘it’s just time’ for discrimination to stop
Mark Richards was fired from St Francis Xavier school after an obituary identified him as his late husband’s widower
Ramon Antonio Vargas in New Orleans
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jul/03/new-orleans-teacher-mark-richards ( Read more... )

2025.07.02

Dinner du Nord invites diners to a 7-block-long table on Nicollet Mall
Dinner du Nord organizers share a toast at a model table in Minneapolis on July 1, featuring dishes from several local restaurants.
Estelle Timar-Wilcox
https://www.mprnews.org/story/2025/07/01/dinner-du-nord-invites-diners-to-a-7blocklong-table-on-nicollet-mall

Concerns about Uptown’s changing face are familiar and overwrought
Yes, the critical Minneapolis retail and entertainment hub is suffering. But the key to its future isn’t recreating the past.
by Bill Lindeke
https://www.minnpost.com/cityscape/2025/07/concerns-about-uptowns-changing-face-are-familiar-and-overwrought/

Judge blocks Kristi Noem from ending temporary protected status for Haitians
Homeland security secretary attempting to end legal status for approximately 521,000 Haitian immigrants
Reuters
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jul/01/kristi-noem-haitian-immigrants-tps

Kristi Noem failed to disclose $80,000 received while South Dakota governor – report
Homeland security secretary was paid by group listed as American Resolve Police Fund, according to Politico
Edward Helmore
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jul/01/kristi-noem-payment-south-dakota-governor ( Read more... )

2025.07.01

Severe weather hits the US hard as key forecast offices reel from Trump cuts
This year marks the first time that local NWS offices have stopped round-the-clock operations in the agency’s history
Eric Holthaus
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jul/01/severe-weather-nws-trump-cuts

And everybody sez irony is dead?
Trump threatens to set Doge on Musk as pair feud again over budget plan
Aleks Phillips
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/czdvv2qqlrqo

Rebuilding journal search again

We're having to rebuild the search server again (previously, previously). It will take a few days to reindex all the content.

Meanwhile search services should be running, but probably returning no results or incomplete results for most queries.

2025.06.30

Trump’s justice department issues directive to strip naturalized Americans of citizenship for civil offenses
Memo says those subjected to civil proceedings are not entitled to an attorney like they are in criminal cases
Edward Helmore
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/30/trump-birthright-citizenship-naturalized-citizens

15 Hmong Minnesotans face deportation over convictions, some decades old
More Hmong Americans are facing deportation over past convictions, after the Trump administration increased pressure on Laos to approve travel visas.
by Katelyn Vue
https://sahanjournal.com/immigration/hmong-deportation-ice-minnesota-laos/

Throwing their bodies on the gears: the Democratic lawmakers showing up to resist Trump
Republicans may literally own social media platforms, but some Democrats are buying back legitimacy with protests
George Chidi
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/30/democrats-trump-resistance

Zohran Mamdani won by being himself – and his victory has revealed the Islamophobic ugliness of others
Nesrine Malik
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/jun/30/zohran-mamdani-new-york-islamophobia-us-politics

Boeing's 787 Dreamliner was deemed the 'safest' of planes. The whistleblowers were always less sure
Theo Leggett
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwyq7vgq2e5o

'Every word has come back to haunt me': China cracks down on women who write gay erotica
Yi Ma BBC News Reporting from London
Eunice Yang BBC Chinese
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c056nle2drno

2025.06.29

‘Explosive increase’ of ticks that cause meat allergy in US due to climate crisis
Unusually aggressive lone star ticks, common in the south-east, are spreading to areas previously too cold for them
Oliver Milman
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/29/lone-star-ticks-increase-climate-crisis

‘Lidar is lame’: why Elon Musk’s vision for a self-driving Tesla taxi faltered
The company’s rollout of its new driverless cars has gotten off to a wobbly start – and rival Waymo remains well ahead
Nick Robins-Early, Dara Kerr and Johana Bhuiyan
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/jun/29/elon-musk-tesla-robotaxi

Tens of thousands defy Hungary’s ban on Pride in protest against Orbán
Crackdown on Pride is part of effort to curb democratic freedoms ahead of a hotly-contested election next year
Lili Rutai in Budapest, and Ashifa Kassam
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jun/28/tens-of-thousands-defy-hungarys-ban-on-pride-in-protest-against-orban

Meera Sodha’s vegan recipe for Thai-style tossed walnut and tempeh noodles
Rice noodles topped with a rubble of tempeh and walnuts and tossed in garlic oil and a sweet, salty and tangy hot sauce
Meera Sodha
https://www.theguardian.com/food/2025/jun/28/vegan-thai-walnut-and-tempeh-noodles-recipe-meera-sodha

America's dive bars are disappearing. Montana didn’t get the memo
The state boasts cozy venues featuring buffalo mounts, barbecue and bras on the wall – but the mark of a great bar is always the people
Janie Osborne
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2025/jun/28/montana-dive-bars

'Proud to be gay': K-pop star on coming out to the world
Yvette Tan BBC News Reporting fromSingapore
Juna Moon BBC Korean
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn5kx7wn1nzo

Almost ripe! My first tomatoes

No they are not large or red, but they aren’t supposed to be; they are yellow grape tomatoes. We could never grow tomatoes before we took out that giant tree, so this is a big adventure. Now it’s a race between us and the squirrels!

2025.06.28

From soul food to Little Mekong Market to Pride, a jam-packed Twin Cities weekend
Twin Cities events will celebrate Pride, Indigenous fashion, and food from the African and Southeast Asian diasporas this weekend.by Myah Goff
https://sahanjournal.com/arts-culture/things-to-do-twin-cities-pride-soul-food-little-mekong-night-market/

Bringing back the ‘gayborhood’ in Loring Park: New Pride Cultural Arts Center debuts
Sam Stroozas
https://www.mprnews.org/story/2025/06/27/twin-cities-pride-cultural-arts-center-opens-in-minneapolis

Sven Sundgaard: Heat dome loosens its grip; several rounds of severe storms possible
Cooler air arrives in the East and Midwest, but repeated rounds of storms will continue on the northern edge of the retreating heat dome.
Meteorologist Sven Sundgaard
https://bringmethenews.com/minnesota-weather/sven-sundgaard-heat-dome-loosens-its-grip-several-rounds-of-severe-storms-possible ( Read more... )

2025.06.27

Bill Moyers, Lyndon Johnson press chief and celebrated broadcaster, dies at 91
Moyers, who served as Johnson’s press secretary for two years, became one of television’s most revered journalists
Associated Press
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/26/bill-moyers-broadcaster-dies

Road rash: Construction to close 3 major interstates this weekend
Road and bridge projects will shut down I-494 in Bloomington and Richfield, I-35W in Richfield, and I-94 in St. Paul between Friday night and Monday morning.
Author: Dana Thiede
https://www.kare11.com/article/traffic/traffic-nightmare-stretches-of-3-major-interstates-closed-this-weekend/89-76c556df-9be4-4dfa-952c-e77d6978230c

Wild, safe and sober: An antique mall in Fridley centers the queer community
Married couple David Wenzel and Joshua Larson are co-owners of Wild Things Antiques in Fridley, pictured here on June 16. "It's very important to us that our identity as a queer couple was going to be on the forefront of what we were doing as a business," Larson says.
Alex V. Cipolle
https://www.mprnews.org/story/2025/06/26/wild-safe-and-sober-an-antique-mall-in-fridley-centers-the-queer-community ( Read more... )

2025.06.26

Mamdani’s defeat of Cuomo offers Democrats a path out of the wilderness
David Smith in Washington
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/25/zohran-mamdani-nyc-mayor-election-democrats

Zohran Mamdani offered New Yorkers a political revolution – and won
Bhaskar Sunkara
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/jun/25/zohran-mamdani-offered-a-political-revolution-and-won

Trump is angry with a world that won’t give him easy deals
Rafael Behr
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/jun/25/donald-trump-angry-middle-east-ukraine ( Read more... )

2025.06.25

Zohran Mamdani declares historic victory in New York City mayoral primary after Cuomo concedes
‘Tonight is his night,’ says ex-governor as progressive state representative tells supporters ‘we made history’
‘We made history’: Mamdani celebrates after shocking Cuomo in New York City mayoral primary – US politics live
Adam Gabbatt
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/24/new-york-mayoral-primary-results

Who is Zohran Mamdani?
Nada Tawfik and Rachel Hagan
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cly2rgzye9no

Union leaders’ exit from DNC exposes ‘mind-boggling’ tensions inside Democratic party
Lee Saunders and Randi Weingarten say party not standing up for working people amid ‘existential battle’ under Trump
Steven Greenhouse
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/25/dnc-union-leaders-democratic-party ( Read more... )

2025.06.24

Old and corrupt vs young and Islamic -- you decide!
New Yorkers vote in mayoral primary as poll shows Mamdani leading Cuomo
Leftwing Zohran Mamdani sees surging support in race against former governor for Democratic nomination
Adam Gabbatt
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/24/new-yorkers-mayoral-primary-mamdami-cuomo

Get earplugs – and never remove wax at home: 16 ways to protect your hearing, chosen by audiologists
Turn the volume down, don’t use cotton buds and get your hearing tested before it’s too late. Here’s what experts recommend to keep your ears healthy
Sarah Phillips
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/jun/24/get-earplugs-and-never-remove-wax-at-home-16-ways-to-protect-your-hearing-chosen-by-audiologists

Three-hundred-year-old painting in the Uffizi damaged after visitor trips while trying to ‘make a meme’
The Uffizi Gallery in Florence is considering imposing restrictions on visitor behaviour after the incident, which follows a similar mishap earlier this month
Dee Jefferson
https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2025/jun/24/300-year-old-painting-in-the-uffizi-damaged-after-visitor-trips-while-trying-to-make-a-meme-ntwnfb ( Read more... )