curious minnesota

Your top questions about Minnesota lakes answered

Brendan Peterson and Tyler Grondseth try their luck on a hot fishing hole on Lake Elora in Northern Minnesota. ] BRIAN PETERSON â€¢ brian.peterson

If Minnesotans love one thing, it's their lakes. We did some research to answer your five most frequent questions about Minnesota's cherished bodies of water.

Why does Minnesota have one of highest rates of volunteering in the country?

About 500 volunteers at Target Field packed lifesaving meals for children around the world. They will work furiously for about two hours before anothe

Minnesotans penchant for helping others goes beyond "Minnesota Nice."

Pandemic prep: Here's what you need to know

This electron microscope image made available by the U.S. National Institutes of Health shows the Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, in orange, emerging fr

As the novel coronavirus spreads across the world, we asked readers what they want to know about the pandemic. Host Eric Roper talks with Pulitzer Prize-winning reporters Jeremy Olson and Glenn Howatt to answer your most pressing questions.

What's the truth behind Minnesota's Kensington Runestone?

KENSINGTON RUNESTONE - (1929 - 1948) ACME

After Swedish immigrant Olof Öhman said he unearthed the rock on his farm in Kensington in 1898, it immediately became a subject of fascination.

Why do electric-vehicle owners pay a surcharge in Minnesota?

Because EV owners aren't gas guzzlers, they don't pay state and federal gas taxes that help maintain roads and bridges. Yet they still use the state's crumbling road system.

Why can't Minneapolis and St. Paul play nice?

It turns out Minneapolis and St. Paul's neighborly competition goes back more than a century.

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

Help us answer questions that matter to you.

Are Minnesota's day-care costs really the highest in the nation?

Policy experts agree that child care is expensive here. But averages can be misleading, they say, and Minnesota may not be the outlier so often portrayed.

When did wild bison disappear from Minnesota?

Once on the verge of extinction, the American bison is no longer an endangered species. Minnesotans can now visit the iconic animal in three locations around the state

Does Minnesota really have the worst winters in the country?

The land of 10,000 (frozen) lakes has a nationwide reputation for brutal, relentless winters. But are they the worst in the United States?

What you need to know about the coronavirus pandemic

As the novel coronavirus spreads across the world, we've asked readers what they most want to know about the pandemic. Host Eric Roper talks with Pulitzer Prize-winning reporters Jeremy Olson and Glenn Howatt to answer your most pressing questions. Read more here: www.startribune.com/virus

What does Ski-U-Mah mean and how do you pronounce it?

It's part of the popular fight song for the University of Minnesota, but many students and alumni don't know a whole lot about the history of the phrase.

How to see the northern lights

The elusive aurora borealis has an attraction that's indisputable. Host Eric Roper talks with reporter Kelly Smith and photographer Brian Peterson about where and when to find the northern lights — and how to capture them when you do. Read the story: http://strib.mn/2Neo9Dd. Check out Astro Bob's blog: http://bit.ly/astrobob

Why is Minnesota's Democratic Party called the DFL?

"If you look at Minnesota's political history, a lot of people call us the 'Maverick State' just because we never were really Republican or Democrat," Brian Pease said.

Is Minnesota actually more German than Scandinavian?

A reader wants to know: Why do Scandinavians get all the attention when there are more Minnesotans of German descent?

Our new podcast will make you smarter in 15 minutes

Our new Curious Minnesota podcast answers your questions about "Minnesota Nice," the Stone Arch Bridge and beyond. Tell us what questions you want answered.

Why are felons stripped of voting rights, and what other rights do they lose?

Minnesota passed disenfranchisement of felons with statehood in 1858, but the practice didn't become commonplace nationally until after the Civil War — when newly emancipated African-Americans gained the right to vote.

How did Minnesota settlers make it through the cold, dark winters?

Most modern-day Minnesotans take pride in their ability to cope with, or even embrace, the cold weather. But what did surviving extreme temperatures look like for the state's first settlers? Host Eric Roper talks with reporter Mara Klecker about creative ways settlers coped. Read the story: http://strib.mn/39soP0v. Minnesota Historical Society with Anna Ahonen: http://collections.mnhs.org/cms/largerimage.php?irn=10388879&catirn=11459703