The bleg is over and outperformed expectations, though readers are welcomed to give tips at any time. Thanks to all for their contributions.
Note: Bluestem continues to post new material, although this "bleg" remains on the top of the page. If you've come here to read new posts, just scroll down. Thank you!
Update June 12: So far, the response has been tremendous. I'm floored by readers' generosity, and hope that Bluestem can live up to it in the rest of the year and beyond [end update]
If you're reading this post, you're probably one of the hundreds of Minnesotans who visit daily for Bluestem's quirky progressive take on the news from Greater Minnesota, as well as the stories that BSP breaks. For the second time, BSP is having a bleg (that's blogspeak for putting out the begging bowl, for asking for your spare change in the tip jar).
This post will stay at the top of the blog until June 15.
Since BSP's winter bleg, the blog has uncovered some significant stories. Bluestem broke the news about the email from Senator Newman's office refusing a meeting with local members of the Minnesota Nurses Association.BSP was first to note Newman's peculiar anti-nonprofit bill.
Bluestem has bird-dogged the careers of Republican State Chair Tony Sutton and Bridget Sutton; her departure from Baja Sol was first reported here. The phrase "failed burrito baron" was coined here. BSP has monitored the MNGOP's failure to finish paying rural counties for recount expenses. And it has kept close tabs on the party of no compromise and no common sense.
Bluestem exposed the misinformation at the heart of a Republican talking point about Hutchinson Technology closing down manufacturing jobs in Minnesota. I've caught Senator Gretchen Hoffman stretching the facts more than once.
The blog has kept tabs on Mike Parry, Steve Drazkowski and Glenn Gruenhagen like none other. Most recently, Bluestem asked some questions about Bradlee Dean's Street Team fundraising at Walmart.
But the blog isn't just gotcha: readers come for sassy and thoughtful commentary about rural Minnesota politics, whether a response to Bradlee Dean's offensive prayer or a salute to a fallen warrior or posts like Because, pardner, Ol' T-Paw done grew up punchin' cows in South Sain' Paul.
Like what you find here? Consider a contribution. For every contribution Bluestem receives, that money gets plowed into the expenses of running a small, independent online publication.
For a modest contribution of $45, you can by a tank of gas to cover Farmfest or events in Mankato, Owatonna, Marshall, St. Cloud, Worthington and other areas--or a drive to the cities to look at public records. Other expenses add up when doing research and interviewing: a phone, photocopying, driving, drinking a lot of strong coffee.
Or you could designate a contribution to go to pay for various costs; $150 will pay for hosting for a year, (Thanks to the contributor for this generous gift) for instance. The older laptop a friend donated a couple of years ago is also slowly fading and my camcorder isn't HD, (Thanks to the friend who gifted the gently used video gear) so equipment upgrades are in the works (there's a wish list under my name at Amazon).
Contributions can be made via the tip jar or by mail. Please email me for an address if you're not a Paypal sort of person.
Like Bluestem? Help keep it coming through a contribution. Thank you--and tips for story ideas are also welcome as well.
Photo: You Can Run But You Can't Hide Street Team in the Hutchinson Walmart. Bluestem's post led to closer scrutiny of the fundraising by the media and Walmart.
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