Good Questions: Dog Tails, Idle Lawmakers, & WCCO
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Every Friday, we rapid-fire answer some of your various Good Questions. This week, Heather Brown takes a look at dogs, the 2016 legislative session, and WCCO itself.
Dale from Cologne asked: "Why do dogs wag their tails?"
"Dogs wag for a lot of reasons. They wag when they're aroused," Canine Coach owner Maureen Haggerty said.
There are different wags for different emotions, Haggerty said. For example, if a dog is scared, the tail goes under, but still wags.
"When any animal is happy, we have increased motor activity. We like to move and run," she said. "When you come home, the dog starts running, tapping their feet, wagging their body and they dance."
The speculation that there may not be a 2016 Minnesota legislative session had Andrew from Woodbury and Ed from Belle Plaine wanting to know: "If there's no session next year, would lawmakers still get paid?"
Yes. According to Alyssa Siems Roberson, communications director for Senator Tom Bakk, lawmakers would still get their annual $31,140 salary, but would have the choice whether or not to take the money. The Minnesota House Research Service also said how much per diem money would be paid, if any, is still unclear.
Roberson noted that even if there is no session, which is unlikely, members would still work.
"Members of the legislature fulfill many duties for their communities in addition to their work during session. Members meet with constituents, attend and hold community meetings, serve on commissions, boards and working groups, participate in educational seminars and may hold informational committees and bill hearings, during and outside of session," she said.
Gerald from Bloomington asked: "What does WCCO stand for?"
It stands for Washburn Crosby Company. In 1924, Washburn Crosby Company bought radio station WLAG and renamed it WCCO. Washburn Crosby would later become General Mills.