curious minnesota

Were grizzly bears ever indigenous to Minnesota?

A grizzly bear roams near Beaver Lake in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming.

Long before grizzlies were driven into the mountains, they thrived in the plains, with their brown fur blending in almost perfectly with tall prairie grasses,

Did Ford make millions of windows from sand mined beneath its plant?

Ford cars built at the St. Paul plant are loaded on to river barges on the Mississippi River in 1925.

Henry Ford chose the St. Paul site carefully. Minnesota was a central location, and the plant was sitting on a mine — not of gold, but of pure, white silica sand.

How are courts in Minnesota coping with the pandemic?

In the U.S. District Court of Minnesota, Chief Judge John Tunheim issued an order in December that continued a suspension of federal trials until Jan.

There were only five state jury trials in December, with COVID-19 protocols in place, but plenty of court hearings are happening, mostly remotely.

Listen: How is Mississippi River water made safe to drink?

We visited Minneapolis' drinking water treatment facility to understand the complex process that makes river water safe to drink.

Ask a question now: What are you curious about, Minnesota?

Help us answer questions that matter to you.

When's the last time a Minn. Republican won a majority statewide?

You have to go back a full quarter century for the answer.

Why doesn't Minnesota charge a sales tax on clothing?

Minnesota is one of just a handful of states that does not charge sales tax on clothing — a bit of tax policy that's so well known that it attracts tourists.

Why was I-94 built through St. Paul's Rondo neighborhood?

The highway connected Minneapolis and St. Paul, but its construction tore a hole through a thriving, historic Black neighborhood.

Listen to the Curious Minnesota podcast

What do you wonder about the people, places and culture of Minnesota? Listen to our community-driven reporting project, which invites listeners to ask questions that our newsroom researches and answers.

Should you really let your car run on cold mornings before driving it?

A reader wonders if it's really important to let your car warm up before driving in the cold. Also: Does it matter exactly how cold it is?

Why does Minneapolis keep planting trees under power lines?

After a few years, the trees are pruned into "ridiculous V shapes" to keep them from hitting power lines, a Curious Minnesota reader points out.

Listen: Will Minnesota join push toward a national popular vote?

Fifteen states have joined the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, but Minnesota isn't one of them. Host Eric Roper talks to reporter Torey van Oot about why.

Why are car tabs more expensive in Minnesota?

The cost of annual motor vehicle registration varies wildly around the U.S. States use a variety of methods to calculate registration fees, including a vehicle's age, weight, value or a flat rate.

Why is Minnesota the only mainland state with an abundance of wolves?

In October, federal wildlife officials announced they were delisting the wolf, removing endangered species protections.

Will Minnesota join the push to switch to a national popular vote?

Coming off the 2020 presidential election, the conversation around the Electoral College continues to heat up.

Is it legal to panhandle in the median of Minneapolis city streets?

The legality of panhandling on a median is a bit complicated. "Whether it's legal or not depends on how you conduct yourself," says Timothy Richards of the Minneapolis City Attorney's Office.

Why does St. Paul leave alley snowplowing to its residents?

In St. Paul, many residents have to band together to hire plow drivers during the winter.

Listen: Why do so many Twin Cities mall names end in 'dale'?

Malls ending in the suffix "dale" are peppered across the Twin Cities. But why "dale"? Reporter John Ewoldt joins host Eric Roper to discuss the history of the Dales, starting with the landmark mall that started it all — Southdale.

Local

Volunteer Sheila Dingels of Minneapolis sanitized her workspace after her volunteer shift back in May at Second Harvest Heartland in Brooklyn Park. ]

In-person volunteering slowly returns in Minnesota after COVID surge

Saturday storm could bring significant snow to Twin Cities, southern Minnesota

State's vaccine allocation increases to 871,650 doses

Wisconsin DNR board refuses to set early wolf hunt

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Sports

Hank Aaron eyes the flight of the ball after hitting his 715th career homer in a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Atlanta, Ga., Monday night, A

Hank Aaron, Hall of Famer and legendary home run hitter, dies at 86

Dubnyk starts in Wild home opener ... but for San Jose

Cooking at home: Gophers lament being undefeated in their empty Barn

Kirill Kaprizov: The most dynamic Minnesota rookie since . . .

Business

The buyer of MTS Systems Corp., a presence in Eden Prairie since 1959, has found another buyer for the company's test and simulation unit, its big

Buyer of Eden Prairie's MTS finds another buyer for its biggest business

Pounded by the pandemic, Duluth shipping seeks rebound in 2021

200 Teamsters on strike at St. Paul Park refinery

Biden's choice on econ aid: Deal with GOP or go for it all

Opinion

In 17 executive orders, memorandums and proclamations signed hours after his inauguration, President Joe Biden moved swiftly on Wednesday to dismantle

President Joe Biden's scouring start

A Minneapolis police plan that failed at liftoff

How does someone live at the airport undetected for nearly three months?

Can liberty survive all this 'unity'?

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