A comprehensive collection of U of M news clips including select U of M news from local, national and global sources, as well as News Service releases and multimedia content. It is delivered via e-mail every morning, Monday-Friday. Subscribe here.
Today's News: Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Featured News
State of the Union: Obama’s Cabinet hitting the road
President Obama is hitting the road Wednesday on a three-day, five-state tour to promote the themes of his State of the Union address… Energy Deputy Secretary Daniel Poneman will visit the University of Minnesota.
Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/federal-eye/post/state-of-the-union
-obamas-cabinet-hitting-the-road/2012/01/24/gIQAo3LbOQ_blog.html
Broadcast News
President: Extend student tax credit
President Barack Obama wants higher education to be more affordable and believes the Congress should make it a high priority… About a half dozen students watched in the University of Minnesota student union hoping to hear concrete ideas on how to make college more affordable.
KARE-TV
To watch: http://www.kare11.com/news/article/958470/391/President-Extend-student-tax-credit
EPA chief Lisa Jackson at the U of M
Lisa Jackson was appointed by President Obama as the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency in 2009, making her the first African American to head that agency. She speaks at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota about environmental regulations and policies, and the role of science in the EPA's decision-making process.
Minnesota Public Radio
To listen: http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/01/24/midday2/
Could Vikings Settle into TCF Stadium?
Though there isn't a deal on paper yet, if the Minnesota Vikings do get a new stadium at the Metrodome site, they will likely need to play a few seasons at TCF Bank Stadium.
KMSP-TV
To watch: http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/dpp/sports/could-vikings-settle-into-tcf-stadium%3F
U Faculty, Staff or Students in the News
Kaler to Discuss 2012 Legislative Priorities, Capital Request
University of Minnesota President Eric Kaler will be talking about the university’s 2012 legislative priorities this week.
KSTP
http://kstp.com/article/stories/s2466411.shtml
Minn. researchers study standing vs. sitting at a desk
Minnesota researchers set up special work stations at a Minneapolis business Tuesday to assess the health benefits of standing rather than sitting at a desk. Dr. Steven Stovitz, a family medicine and community health associate professor at the University of Minnesota, is one of the lead investigators on the study, heads a team that will measure how standing affects muscle tone, blood pressure and an employee's sense of well-being.
Minnesota Public Radio
http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/01/24/sitting-vs-standing-study/
Rochester Post-Bulletin
http://www.postbulletin.com/news/stories/display.php?id=1483584
Return of the Activist
Hundreds of miles and a vast ideological divide separate Cecily Friday from Tim Dake. But what they share is a passionate dislike and distrust of the American political elite… Some academics like Larry Jacobs, a politics professor at the University of Minnesota, see the Occupiers and others like them eventually succumbing to the enticements of professional activism.
Reuters
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/25/us-nick-ca
rey-return-of-the-activist-idUSTRE80O18820120125
Shoreview man wins benefits fight, months after his death
On the ice, Jim Cunningham was an enforcer, a strong man who wasn't afraid to get in a scrap to protect his teammates and win the game… Cunningham's experience is an illustration of recessionary pressures -- getting more work from fewer employees, said John Budd, a labor expert at the University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management.
Star Tribune
http://www.startribune.com/business/138013958.html
Does Peeing On Your Plants Actually Help Them?
Science is a wonderful adjunct to gardening, offering effective, well-informed techniques to boost the health and productivity of your plants. Like peeing on them… That’s what Linden Hills resident and long-time gardener Meleah Maynard discovered—along with a whole host of other tips—when she and co-author Jeff Gillman set out to rewrite the book, as it were, on gardening tips, sorting the old wives’ tales from the reputable bits of advice... Trying to clear the air, Meleah Maynard and Jeff Gillman, a University of Minnesota researcher, took a laundry list of purported gardening tips and tricks, and went back to the scientific literature to see if they could back those up.
Southwest Minneapolis Patch
http://southwestminneapolis.patch.com/articles/does-peeing-on-your-plants-actually-help-them
Miles to go for Google’s car
The self-driving vehicles developed by Google have enormous legal, regulatory and insurance hurdles to cross, reports John Markoff… Yet simple questions, like whether the police should have the right to pull over autonomous vehicles, have yet to be answered, said Frank Douma, a research fellow at the Center for Transportation Studies at the University of Minnesota.
U.K. Deccan Herald
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/221827/miles-go-googles-car.html
Articles of Interest - Metro and State
Minn. Lawmakers Learn Bipartisanship At Conference
Legislators are leaving the Capitol to learn lessons on working together. State lawmakers are invited Wednesday to the all-day One Minnesota conference at the University of Minnesota.
WCCO
http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2012/01/25/
minn-lawmakers-learn-bipartisanship-at-conference/
KSTP
http://kstp.com/news/stories/S2467368.shtml
Minnesota Public Radio
http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/01/24/legislative-session-begins/
Vikings get bad news in stadium push
The Minnesota Vikings have been given an ultimatum of sorts in their quest for a new stadium… Specifically, the Vikings point out that pursuing the $918 million Metrodome site proposal would force them to play several seasons at the University of Minnesota's football stadium, at significant expense to the team.
Fox News
http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2012/01/24/dayt
on-senator-to-vikes-dome-site-or-nothing/
CBS News
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505245_162-573
65551/vikings-get-bad-news-in-stadium-push/
Pioneer Press
http://www.twincities.com/ci_19817438
U of M Hosts Lecture on Cold War, Vladimir Putin
History buffs are welcome to attend a course about the end of the Cold War and the regime of Vladimir Putin. The University of Minnesota’s College of Continuing Education is hosting a two-session course about this period in history.
KSTP
http://kstp.com/article/stories/S2465873.shtml
Ping Pong Ball vs. Pop Can... Pop Can Loses
The University of Minnesota is bringing a fun side of physics to Eden Prairie. Demonstrators plan to show amazing scientific feats, like shooting a ping pong ball through a pop can.
KSTP
http://kstp.com/article/stories/s2466534.shtml
Bright stars, sun-kissed dust among jewels in February skies
A climbing sun takes some of the chill off February, and nights are still long and dark enough to see lots of wonders… The University of Minnesota offers public viewings of the night sky at its Morris, Duluth, and Twin Cities campuses.
Superior Telegram
http://www.superiortelegram.com/event/article/id/62281/group/News/
Columns, Commentary, Opinions and Blogs
U students' videos win them scholarships
The University of Minnesota asked students to submit 30-second videos about how they are "Driven to Discover," the slogan of the U's marketing campaign.
Star Tribune
http://www.startribune.com/local/blogs/137893763.html
Shooter Now: Vikings' Zygi Wilf might OK Metrodome site, after all
Zygi Wilf was expected in town as early as Tuesday, and one insider says the Vikings owner reluctantly will accept the Metrodome site for a newly constructed stadium, although nothing is final… Meanwhile, a little birdie says the University of Minnesota has begun talks with the University of Illinois to learn of its experience in hosting the Chicago Bears for the 2002 season while Chicago's Soldier Field was renovated.
Pioneer Press
http://www.twincities.com/sports/ci_19807112
MinnPost
http://www.minnpost.com/stories/2012/01/24/34578/suddenly_theres_new_momentum_for_a_stadium_decision_this_session
Star Tribune
http://www.startribune.com/opinion/editorials/138005608.html
Instead of dissing Minneapolis skyways, look to Venice
The skyway system in downtown Minneapolis began as a single link that was the idea of architect Ed Baker decades ago. Since then, it has become a signature element… Robert D. Sykes is associate professor of landscape architecture at the University of Minnesota.
Star Tribune
http://www.startribune.com/opinion/otherviews/138006363.html
State of the Union registers at 8th grade reading level
President Obama's 2012 State of the Union address again rated at an 8th grade comprehension level, on the Flesch-Kincaid readability test — the third lowest score of any State of the Union address since 1934… "Shorter sentences and sentences incorporating more monosyllabic words yield lower scores," the University of Minnesota's Eric Ostermeier explains.
Politico
http://www.politico.com/politico44/2012/01/state-of-the-
union-registers-at-th-grade-reading-level-112236.html
House GOP, Obama administration to face off over Keystone
House Republicans are holding their first hearing Wednesday on President Obama’s decision to reject the Keystone XL oil pipeline, giving the GOP a high-profile opportunity to attack the administration for killing the project... Deputy Secretary Daniel Poneman, meanwhile, will visit the Eolos Wind Energy Research Station at the University of Minnesota on Thursday, according to the department, while other top officials also have stops this week.
Hill
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/206189-overnight-energy
Environmental Expert
http://www.environmental-expert.com/news/secretary-chu-and-energy-department-officials-to-travel-across-america-to-discuss-the-obama-administrations-commitment-to-energy-innovation-and-manufacturing-277930
Duluth public service campaign to tackle racism
Duluth area organizations are starting an anti-racism campaign, using posters, billboards, a website, events and broadcast public service announcements to raise awareness about white privilege in the community and to provide resources to help overcome the problem… Among the sponsors: the University of Minnesota Duluth.
MinnPost
http://www.minnpost.com/politicalagenda/2012/01/24/
34575/duluth_public_service_campaign_to_tackle_racism
How risky is it to speak out on such a controversial issue?
Marilyn Carlson Nelson is categorical in saying that business has "already voted" against the November ballot measure that would make same-sex marriage unconstitutional in Minnesota… The General Mills Chair in Marketing at the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota, Akshay Rao has to issue a couple of disclaimers before answering.
MinnPost
http://www.minnpost.com/stories/2012/01/25/34603/how_
risky_is_it_to_speak_out_on_such_a_controversial_issue
What Sen. Bakk wrote Kaler about the U’s union literature
Sen. Thomas Bakk (DFL-Cook) appears to take exception with the way the University of Minnesota is presenting the grad-student union drive.
Minnesota Public Radio On Campus
http://oncampus.mpr.org/2012/01/what-sen-bakk-wrote-kaler-about-the-us-union-literature/
Rethink Soil Value: Why Not Reflect the True Cost of Soil Erosion in the Economic Value of Land?
If your soil became worth 10 times what it is today, would you modify your management systems to better preserve it?… “These folks are saying if topsoil has a separate value, people will be more careful with it,” says Steve Taff, University of Minnesota ag economist and manager of the university’s land economics website.
Corn and Soybean Digest
http://cornandsoybeandigest.com/conservation/rethink-soil-val
ue-why-not-reflect-true-cost-soil-erosion-economic-value-land
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