Paul Tosto

Marilyn Hagerty, Herald reporter and columnist for nearly 70 years, dies at age 99 She wrote for the Herald for more than 60 years and became nationally famous for her work as a food critic.

Readers of the great @mprnews.org NewsCut blog will recall @mylittlebloggie.bsky.social was a Hagerty fan.
newscut.mprnews.org/tag/marilyn-...

www.grandforksherald.com/news/marilyi...

I really loved Dan Gunderson's @mprnews.org story on the Cozy Theatre. I remembered Dave Quincer from the story @mylittlebloggie.bsky.social wrote back in 2018 on the Starlite Drive-In Theater in Litchfield. Still one of my favorites www.mprnews.org/story/2018/0...

It's my friend Paul Osmundson's last day at @thestate.com He's the best editor I've ever worked for. He made me a better reporter, and I've tried to emulate him as an editor. He's been a force for good in journalism for 40 years. Not many people can say that. He can.

Great reporting by Dan Kraker, and great mapping by our own @alyclary.bsky.social in the latest article in @mprnews.org's Troubled by the water series

Across northern Minnesota’s pristine lake country, mercury contamination is growing

www.mprnews.org/story/2025/0...

‘Sticker shock’: Inflation, Ozempic drive health care costs higher for Minnesota schools School districts across Minnesota are struggling to contain double-digit health insurance cost increases. Some officials say inflation and accelerating prescription costs, especially for new weight lo...

Rising costs due to inflation and covering drugs like Ozempic have left Minnesota school staff facing huge health premiums — some districts say they may lose teachers and hourly workers.

“They’re going to be paying to work here," said the superintendent of Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa district.

‘Someone’s got to help’: Minnesota volunteers give injured, orphaned animals a chance Trained wildlife rehabbers work to save injured and orphaned wildlife. Most get no pay. They scrape by on grants and help from local volunteers, doing the work for the joy of giving animals a chance t...

A network of trained wildlife rehabbers work to save injured and orphaned animals at the Northwoods Wildlife Rescue near Menahga. Most get no pay. They scrape by on grants and help from local volunteers, doing the work for the joy of giving animals a chance to return to the wild.

‘Always had Melissa’s back’: Friends, family remember Mark Hortman as smart, funny, fierce protector As they struggle now through their own grief, those who knew Mark Hortman say he loved mountain biking, music, his family and playing pool. He easily made friends and kept them close, and centered his...

Mark Hortman was married to one of the most powerful politicians in Minnesota. But to the people who knew him well, he was just Mark, their incredibly positive, kind friend who loved mountain biking, fine whiskeys, music, his family and playing pool.

Red tape, rising costs slow efforts to rebuild businesses burned after Floyd’s murder Five years after George Floyd’s killing set off nights of destruction, vacant lots and broken buildings remain along Lake Street and other Minneapolis business districts. Some business owners say mone...

Vacant lots and broken buildings remain along Lake Street and other Minneapolis business districts five years after George Floyd’s killing set off nights of destruction. Some business owners say money woes and city zoning rules have made it hard to rebuild.

Read the story 👇 and explore the map by @alyclary.bsky.social to see details about specific lots and buildings.

Near the Twin Cities, a hermitage invites all to embrace the silence In the Isanti County woods, austere cabins at the Pacem in Terris center offer visitors silence, solitude and simplicity. Some people have profound spiritual experiences, some struggle with the silenc...

For decades in the Isanti County woods, a refuge of rustic cabins sit scattered through more than 200 acres of prairie. They have offered visitors the promise of silence, solitude and simplicity. Some people have profound spiritual experiences. Some struggle. Others simply sleep for hours.

U of M shuts down research center plagued by plagiarism allegations The school announced the closure of the Center for Antiracism Research for Health Equity one day after its founder, Rachel Hardeman, departed.

The University of Minnesota is shutting down a multi-million dollar research center that has been roiled by plagiarism allegations. The school announced the closure of the Center for Antiracism Research for Health Equity one day after its founder, Rachel Hardeman, departed.

Young girls often struggle with self-esteem. This Minnesota native is ready to help Worried about the negative effects of cultural messages on her daughters, Missy Heilman started a nonprofit to teach girls to value themselves. BIO Girls is now active in 120 communities across Minnes...

One Minnesota mom channeled her worries about the negative effects of cultural messages on her daughters into starting a nonprofit to teach girls to value themselves. BIO Girls is now active in 120 communities across Minnesota and the Upper Midwest.

Schools across Minnesota face ‘reckoning’ as they struggle to close budget gaps Minnesota schools are facing budget shortfalls and staffing cuts as they face inflation, uncertainty from possible federal cuts and the rising costs of recent state legislation.

"While overall money issues are less severe compared to those predicted by districts last year, they’re still likely to lead to layoffs...Inflation and ongoing costs from state laws passed in 2023 are the main reasons districts are struggling with budgets now," www.mprnews.org/story/2025/0...

5 things Minnesota got right since Earth Day 1970 Minnesota has multiple success stories that produced a cleaner environment since the original Earth Day in 1970.

Since the first Earth Day in 1970, Minnesota has set an example for working towards a cleaner environment. The state continues to strive for cleaner water and air, recycling, renewable energy and increasing climate change awareness.

She's on a mission to end human trafficking in rural Minnesota Anne LaFrinier-Ritchie grew up in northern Minnesota wanting to be a journalist. Life led her instead to become a social worker and then to devote herself to protecting the state’s most vulnerable chi...

Anne LaFrinier-Ritchie grew up in northern Minnesota wanting to be a journalist, but life led her instead to become a social worker and then to devote herself to protecting the state’s most vulnerable children.

Minnesota baseball lovers make a pitch to honor bygone ballpark, 2 historic St. Paul teams The St. Paul Saints and St. Paul Colored Gophers played ball in the early 1900s at a tiny ballpark near the Capitol, called the Pillbox. The Colored Gophers were a vital piece of Black baseball histor...

The St. Paul Saints and St. Paul Colored Gophers played ball in the early 1900s at a tiny ballpark near the Capitol, called the Pillbox. The Colored Gophers were a vital piece of Black baseball history nationally. A local historian is lobbying now for a public commemoration of the site.

‘A better direction’: Minnesota starts mandatory training for police in schools Lawmakers last year ordered required training for school resource officers, a decision rooted in the 2020 police killing of George Floyd. A recent training session in St. Michael — the first of its ki...

A recent training session for school resource officers in St. Michael — the first of its kind in Minnesota — offered a glimpse of life in schools that’s real but rarely discussed.

This story from @elliemroth.bsky.social is a must read.

Low income housing around the state have serious problems that go unrepaired. Ellie’s investigation found that housing shortages mean city leaders are hesitant to hold landlords accountable.

Grief brought her back to western Minnesota. Now she’s helping restore her hometown Kris Shelstad left Madison more than 30 years ago for a life in the Army. When tragedy struck, she returned to heal. When she saw Madison needed some restoration, too, she asked people what they wante...

More than 30 years ago Kris Shelstad left Madison for a life in the Army. When tragedy struck, she returned to heal. After she got back and saw how Madison needed some restoration, too, she asked people what they wanted and then started building it.

Does anyone know if there are any developments on this lately

MPR News journalist, storyteller Euan Kerr calls it a career after 40 years on the air A gifted storyteller, Kerr’s journalistic career has been driven by a natural curiosity about the world and a knack for connecting with people.

Congrats to Euan Kerr on this well-earned retirement. He lived in and covered Minnesota for decades with kindness, thoughtfulness and humor. www.mprnews.org/story/2025/0...

Judge demands answers from immigration officials over U student’s detention A federal judge in St. Paul on Wednesday ordered immigration officials to say why they’re detaining a University of Minnesota graduate student. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested Doğu...

www.mprnews.org/story/2025/0...

"My job was to dance so well that it didn't matter who favored me or why." - #JoyWomack, "as told to" podcast guest and first-time #collaborator @eshockmanwrites.bsky.social...
listen: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...

#ghostwriting #writing #memoir #BookSky #ballet #Bolshoi #DanceSky #books

University of Minnesota says ICE detained a graduate student U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement officials Thursday detained a University of Minnesota graduate student at an off-campus residence. The international graduate student was enrolled at the scho...

The international graduate student was enrolled at the school’s Twin Cities campus, according to the email sent Friday evening.

Poll: Minnesotans think race, gender impact individual success About 40 percent of Minnesotans believe that being Black, Indigenous or Hispanic makes it harder to succeed in the state compared to being white or of Asian ancestry, newly released polling shows. Min...

About 40 percent of Minnesotans believe that being Black, Indigenous or Hispanic makes it harder to succeed in the state compared to being white or of Asian ancestry, newly released polling shows. Minnesotans also perceive a distinct advantage for men.

www.mprnews.org/story/2025/0...

Story coming shortly on @mprnews.org

Bock convicted on all charges

Behind the Red Velvet Curtain: An American Ballerina in Russia This book an unflinching, complex, and compassionate true tale of the first American ballerina to sign a contract with the Bolshoi Ballet Theater in Moscow, Russia. The narrative is drawn from mor...

My book is out today! "Behind the Red Velvet Curtain" took me 12 years to report and write. You can request it at the library, buy online or at Subtext or come get a signed copy at The Museum of Russian Art in Minneapolis next month! rowman.com/ISBN/9781538...

In western Minnesota, she helps new immigrants put down roots Alma Contreras remembers how hard it was to make the transition to rural western Minnesota when she came from Mexico 16 years ago. It’s what drives her to help others now in tense times for immigrants...

Alma Contreras remembers how hard it was to make the transition to rural western Minnesota when she came from Mexico 16 years ago. Those memories drive her to help others coming to the region, especially in tense times for immigrants.