Reporter

Jp Lawrence is a reporter for the Star Tribune covering southwest Minnesota.

Lawrence has worked for the Albany Times Union, the San Antonio Express-News, and Stars and Stripes. He was born in the Philippines and grew up in Redwood Falls, Minnesota. He joined the Army National Guard and deployed to Iraq in 2009. Big Minnesota Timberwolves fan. Contact me with tips on stories on local governance, immigration, and interesting slice of life experiences from Mankato to Worthington to Willmar and anywhere in-between.


House collapses into river near Rapidan Dam in southern Minn.

Blue Earth County authorities "monitoring for downstream impacts" after house falls into water.


The Rapidan Dam near Mankato will likely survive this flood. But what about the next?

Destructive flooding in 2019 and 2020 had previously left the 114-year-old hydroelectric plant inoperable and county officials grappling with the choice of spending at least $15 million to repair it — with little hope of making enough money from selling power — or shelling out $82 million to remove it.


Dam near Mankato in danger of 'imminent failure'

Flooding has washed out a portion of the Rapidan Dam on the Blue Earth River, as the water continues to rise.


Flooding fears rise in the state as residents scramble to control the tide

Flooding and no-wake warnings were issued across the state on Saturday after intense rain, especially in the south. Up north, families left stranded at Camp du Nord near Ely were able to leave.


Rainfall swamps southwestern Minnesota, closing highways and raising concerns

"This is by far the worst that I've seen," Windom resident said of the flooding.


I-90 reopens; other Minnesota roads close as waters keep rising

Hwy. 91 north of Adrian and Hwy. 75 south of Luverne remain closed; some metro area road also shut down. Parts of southern Minnesota faced more flood warnings into early Saturday.


Something fishy in the air as corpse flower blooms at Gustavus Adolphus College

The flower, which uses its rotten scent to attract flies, beetles and other insects, only opens for a few hours before the smell fades.


Stinky corpse flower set to bloom at Gustavus Adolphus College

The college may have two blooms this year for those who missed the recent show in Como Park.