The archbishop defends the marriage amendment

Archbishop John Nienstedt
Archbishop John Nienstedt speaks in support of the proposed amendment banning same-sex marriage in the Minnesota constitution on the steps of the State Capitol on Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2012. Nienstedt leads the Catholic Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, which is the single largest contributor to the vote yes campaign.
MPR Photo/Curtis Gilbert

Today on the MPR News Update, Archbishop Nienstedt defends the marriage amendment. The Occupy movement has a beachhead in Little Falls. Minnesotans have a new way to gamble. Lynn Rogers keeps feeding the research bears. And President Barack Obama joins those criticizing Mitt Romney for comments he made in a secretly-recorded video. First, the archbishop:

The Archbishop defends marriage amendment
The Catholic Archbishop of St. Paul and Minneapolis, John Nienstedt, said the proposed state constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage isn't about forcing religious teachings on non-believers.

Occupy Little Falls
From the street, it's a little hard to see Robin Hensel's house. Behind an overgrown hedge, several dozen colorful cardboard signs dot the yard. Some are the size of a garage door, creating a fortress-like wall around the front of her house. And neighbors aren't pleased.

A new way to gamble, while building Vikes a new home
In the biggest expansion of Minnesota gambling in a generation, electronic pull-tab games came online Tuesday, the result of a two-year battle over how to keep the state's NFL franchise here without raising taxes.

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Feeding the bears, battling the critics
Last month, the Department of Natural Resources shot a bear that wore a tracking collar. The animal had refused to leave an area where children were present. That bear's death lies at the heart of a longstanding tension between mainstream wildlife scientists and a controversial researcher.

Unprofessionalism cited in state trooper's record
The Minnesota State Patrol sergeant at the helm of a suspended drug training program has a documented track record of unprofessionalism.

Conservation groups challenge wolf hunt
Two groups opposed to Minnesota's first regulated wolf hunt are suing the Department of Natural Resources to try to stop the hunting season. The groups allege the DNR did not make sufficient effort to seek public input when it designed the season.

On Letterman, Obama needles Romney, video
President Barack Obama declared the occupant of the Oval Office must "work for everyone, not just for some," jabbing back at Mitt Romney's jarring statement that as a candidate, he doesn't worry about the 47 percent of the country that pays no income taxes.

In Morocco, so signs of unrest
A Minneapolis-based attorney currently serving as the U.S. ambassador to Morocco said Wednesday that violent protests sparked by an anti-Islam Internet video produced in the United States have not reached the north African country.

Dayton moves insurance exchange to budget office
Gov. Mark Dayton is changing leadership of the administration's work on the state's health insurance exchange, shifting oversight away from the Department of Commerce after questions of conflict of interest and lack of transparency.

The Cheerios Kid returns
General Mills is bringing back some of the iconic characters used in past advertising campaigns: the Cheerios Kid and the Green Giant.

Judge grants defense access to videos in alleged child porn case
A Blue Earth County judge has granted a defense attorney access to videos that resulted in child pornography charges against Minnesota State University Mankato football coach Todd Hoffner.

Lynx praised by Obama at White House visit
President Barack Obama welcomed the Minnesota Lynx to the White House today, honoring the WNBA team for winning the 2011 championship. "There's no question that these are some outstanding basketball players. But they also find the time to raise money for breast cancer research, help local students with their reading," Obama said. "I hear they clean up pretty well."

Obesity could double in Minnesota if patterns hold
The Minnesota obesity rate will more than double in less than 20 years if the state's current weight-related trends don't change, according to an analysis from the Trust for America's Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation