Social Issues

Second banana in porn troll case gets five years
John Steele, who helped with the prosecution of his porn troll partner, Paul Hansmeier, was sentenced in Minneapolis to five years in prison. Steele and Hansmeier ran an extortion scheme involving pornographic videos.
Cities and immigrants drove census controversy -- 100 years ago
A century ago, debate over immigration and urban-rural power stalled congressional action on the results of the census. The tensions that mattered then still persist a century later.
Equal pay for equal play: U.S. women's soccer team tackles its next quest
Fresh off its fourth Women's World Cup title, the U.S. Women's National Team has its eyes set on another prize: more money. The women make less than their male counterparts.
Scene at St. Louis Park pledge protest is far from indivisible
The City Council had voted to stop the routine recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance at its meetings. Protesters objected.
Teen odds of using marijuana dip with recreational use laws
One reason may be that it's harder and costlier for teens to buy marijuana from licensed dispensaries than from dealers, said lead author Mark Anderson, a health economist at Montana State University.
Motorcycle crash shows bioethicist the dark side of quitting opioids alone
When medical bioethicist Travis Rieder tried to taper off pain medication after a roadway accident, he was disappointed by his doctors' reaction: "Everybody had a reason to send me to somebody else."
Barr sees a way for census to legally ask about citizenship
Attorney General William Barr said Monday he sees a way to legally add a citizenship question to the 2020 census, despite a Supreme Court ruling that blocked its inclusion, at least temporarily.
Double standard? Players, fans push back on criticism of U.S. women's soccer
The U.S. women's team at this year's World Cup faced criticism that they're too cocky, or disrespectful. The players answered their critics by winning the tournament on Sunday. And Minnesota soccer fans' take on the criticism? They aren't buying it.
Acting homeland security secretary defends border conditions
Acting Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan on Sunday defended conditions at U.S. Border Patrol stations following reports of crowded and unsanitary conditions that have heightened debate about President Trump's immigration policy.
Biden says he was wrong in comments about segregationists
Former Vice President Joe Biden on Saturday apologized for recent comments about working with segregationist senators in his early days in the U.S. Senate, saying he understands now his remarks could have been offensive to some.