Social Issues

Duluth residents: Help us take on synthetic drugs
Duluth residents called on Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson on Friday for help combating synthetic drugs. More than 100 people packed a public hearing that Swanson and a special legislative committee held in Duluth. The subject was what to do about what Swanson called "this terrible venom" of synthetic drugs.
Counties tally marriage license requests on first day same-sex couples can apply
Officials in Hennepin County say they processed at least 38 marriage license applications from same-sex couples on Thursday, the first day the county allowed such applications. In Ramsey County, authorities reported receiving 14 marriage license applications from same-sex couples.
Photos: Minn. same-sex couples line up for marriage licenses
Same-sex couples lined up at government offices in the Twin Cities this morning to apply for marriage licenses for the very first time, just a few weeks after same-sex marriage was made legal in the state.
Politicians react to phone data collection by US goverment
The Obama administration is defending the National Security Agency's need to collect such records, but critics are calling it a huge over-reach. "I think people want the homeland kept safe to the extent we can," said Sen. Dianne Feinstein.
Same-sex couples start applying for marriage licenses
Same-sex couples are heading to license bureaus in the Twin Cities this morning to apply for marriage licenses for the very first time, and Al Giraud and Jeff Isaacson were among the first in line at the Hennepin County Government Service Center.
In leaving abusive situations, women should seek help
Advocates for victims of domestic abuse say most women leave bad situations safely, but the threat of violence escalates when a separation is imminent. In cases where there has been a pattern of abuse, a break-up can be dangerous.