Obama stokes the gun debate; protecting sex traffic victims

Firearms Enthusiasts Practice Shooting At Gun Rang
A handgun lays on a table after being fired at the "Get Some Guns & Ammo" shooting range on January 15, 2013 in Salt Lake City, Utah. President Barack Obama and some congressional lawmakers are calling for tougher gun legislation after recent mass shootings at an Aurora, Colo., movie theater and at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn.
George Frey/Getty Images

Along with stories about U of M hiring, sex trafficking, the flu and food stamp programs, we spent a lot of time Wednesday talking about guns. President Obama offered his specific proposals to help decrease gun violence after the attacks at an Aurora, Colo., movie theater and the Dandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut.

GUNS: On a live blog, we tracked the announcement and reaction. Today's Question asks for your thoughts about what the president proposes. We also talked the the place of the NRA in American politics on The Daily Circuit. There's also a full report from The Associated Press and a copy of the president's proposals here.

SEX TRAFFICKING: Two years ago state lawmakers agreed to treat sexually exploited children as victims, not as criminals. Now, the state public safety department has released new recommendations on how to respond to young people who are sold for sex. The report recommends asking the Legislature for nearly $10 million to help build a comprehensive system of housing and services.

U BUREAUCRACY: University of Minnesota President Eric Kaler says criticism of the U's administrative hiring is not accurate. Kaler appeared before the state Senate higher ed committee yesterday.

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RASMUSSEN TUITION: Bloomington-based Rasmussen College is cutting tuition at its 23 campuses across the nation. Tuition at Minnesota campuses should drop an average of 18 percent. The tuition cut comes at a time when enrollment is dropping at for-profit colleges. But Rasmussen President Kristi Waite says that's not why Rasmussen cut tuition.

DATA BREACH: The state DNR is promising to improve data security after a worker improperly accessed driver and motor vehicle records.

ASIAN CARP: DNR officials and state lawmakers are debating the best way to slow the spread of Asian carp in the Mississippi River.

FLU SHOTS: State health officials say some people haven't been able to get a flu shot from their primary care clinics. Infectious Disease expert Kris Ehresmann says some clinics have run out of vaccine, and have apparently chosen not to reorder. She says that doesn't mean there's a shortage.

FOOD STAMPS: An effort to help Minnesota food stamp recipients eat healthier could shrink as a result of the fiscal cliff deal. You may remember, part of that deal right before the new year called for Congress to take action to prevent dairy prices from skyrocketing. That money came directly from a nutrition education program for low-income people. Program leaders in Minnesota are scrambling to absorb the cuts.

EASY MONEY: The head of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis says the central bank's current easy money policies need to be pushed further.

ST. JUDE: The Federal Food and Drug Administration has released the text of a warning letter sent to Little Canada-based St Jude Medical concerning a plant in California that develops the wires connecting an implantable defibrillator to a patient's heart.

"CALLE LAKE": Photographer Xavier Tavera's latest work takes on the diversity of the Twin Cities Latino community. Tavera's "Calle Lake" exhibit is on display at Augsburg College in Minneapolis.