Social Issues

Departing Nina Archabal reflects on history
The longtime director of the Minnesota Historical Society departs at year's end. She joins Midday to talk about why history is important, the role of museums, and how best to convey the story of Minnesota's people and places.
Fast food regulation
San Francisco is taking aim at McDonald's Happy Meals by requiring restaurant meals to meet certain nutritional guidelines in order to include a toy with the food purchase. Midmorning asks whether such actions will change our children's health and if the government should be policing meals.
Pilots among those dismayed at scanners, pat-downs
The widespread use of full-body image detectors this year and the simultaneous introduction of more intrusive pat-downs seems to have ramped up the frustration with airport security.
Administrators at Benilde-St. Margaret's School in St. Louis Park issued this statement in response to concerns raised by its student newspaper staff. The paper had published several items last week regarding the Catholic Church's opposition to same-sex marriage, and an essay written by a gay student. The paper removed the pieces at the request of the administration.
Staff of the Knight Errant, the student newspaper at Benilde-St. Margaret Catholic High School in St. Louis Park, published this op-ed piece last Thursday and attracted many online comments. The paper deleted the column at the request of the school's administration.
Catholic school paper deletes student editorials on Catholic DVD, gay teens
A student newspaper at a suburban Catholic school has sparked a debate over free speech by criticizing a Catholic DVD and defending gay teens. The DVD denouncing same-sex marriage was sent by Minnesota's Catholic bishops to parishioners prior to the Nov. 2 election.
For gay teens who have considered suicide
A student journalist at a Catholic high school offers a glimpse into the fears and pressures that confront young gay people.