Mary Turck

Snelling and Selby is on a fast track for big-time redevelopment, which will make the already-gentrifying corner even shinier. The big Associated Bank building on the northeast corner will go, and most of the two blocks between Marshall and Selby will be completely rebuilt with retail space, apartments and — yes — a new bank building.

The Education Department released new high school graduation data November 26, and the news isn't good. Overall, Minnesota doesn't do well, with an overall 77 percent four-year graduate rate placing us in the lower 50 percent of all states. Even worse, Minnesota has the biggest graduation gap, with 35 percentage points separating the African American graduation rate of 49 percent from the white graduation rate of 84 percent.  Only Nevada has a lower African American graduation rate than Minnesota.

Cornel West, a very smart man and vehement critic of politicians and governments said he would vote for Obama in November and protest his policies in February. I agree — and here are three issues that are at the top of my list.

The morning after: Obama has four more years, but he'll still be contending with a Republican House of Representatives.