News Net NYC Chinatown market not actually selling Minnesota dogs as food

Since sifting through dull newspapers, hyperbolic blogs, and overflowing RSS feeds for meaningful news can be an arduous process, News Net catches and compiles both the amusing and the significant reports that were overlooked throughout the weekend. Here are some things to think about as the workweek begins.

• November sweeps usually mean a ton of pressure is placed on local news reporters, who are expected to bring in big ratings with explosive investigative pieces. WCCO’s James Schugel probably thought he struck gold when he stumbled upon a meat market in New York City’s Chinatown that was supposedly buying dogs from Minnesota and selling them as food. Unfortunately for the young reporter, none of it was true. To make matters worse, the bulk of the false reporting came from Schugel’s inability to understand the meat market owner saying he sold “duck,” not “dog.” Considering the New York Post has picked up on the faux pas, we’d say WCCO might want to lawyer up in case a libel suit comes its way, although we’re pretty sure Schugel and his sickeningly syrupy voice-overs will ease away all the tensions.  

• As much as we here at The A.V. Club support any American’s right to protest on public property, the cold, hard fact is that the current sites of Occupy protests are disgusting heaps of strewn-about blankets, sleeping bags, and smelly people. Now it seems like the area at Government Plaza won’t be getting a needed makeover anytime soon, with the announcement from protest organizers that they plan to construct a single-room longhouse to be used as a winter meeting place during Minnesota’s unbearably low temperatures. We admire the dedication, but, um, kinda gross.

• Jesse Ventura sometimes seems a bit crazy, but typically it’s in that fun “unstable uncle at the Thanksgiving table, who’s probably going to say something inappropriate”-type way that we’ve all come to secretly love. Now, miffed over his lawsuit against TSA security that got dropped last week, Ventura is speaking up regarding his disillusionment with his native country, stating that he and his wife are considering getting dual citizenship in Mexico. Ventura went on to announce that he has thought about running for president, which he said right around the time he also said “I lost my patriotism” and that he refuses to stand during the national anthem anymore. Sounds highly electable to us!

• Method acting is one thing, but St. Paul police put on sex sting assignments might want to dial their enthusiasm back just a notch or two. Otherwise we’re just paying tax money for cops to look at strangers’ junk in public parks.

• And finally, a Public Service Announcement: The Star Tribune will now only allow online readers 20 stories a month unless they are full-time subscribers to the newspaper. We recommend you don’t waste all your clicks on C.J.’s column, but you probably will anyway.