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curious minnesota

Did Ford make car windows of sand mined from under its St. Paul 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?
  • When’s the last time a Minn. Republican won a majority statewide?
  • Why doesn't Minnesota charge a sales tax on clothing?

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.

  • When’s the last time a Minn. Republican won a majority statewide?
  • Why doesn't Minnesota charge a sales tax on clothing?
  • Why was I-94 built through St. Paul's Rondo neighborhood?

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

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.

Listen to the Curious Minnesota podcast

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.

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.

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

Help us answer questions that matter to you.

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.

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.

Grizzly bears ... Curious Minnesota

Summary here

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.

Are motorcycles allowed to be louder than cars in Minnesota?

Loud bikes are a pet peeve of many who say the unbridled mufflers make their bodies shake, hurt their ears and wake them from sleep.


Local

Conservation Corps crew leader Sarah Curran planted trees on the bits of raised land she could find along a Mississippi River floodplain in southeast

Minnesota's forests, land offer chance to cut greenhouse gases

Police watchdog group says Minneapolis uses legal loophole to hide police misconduct
Car skids on ice, goes airborne and nose-dives onto 2 parked vehicles in Mpls.
Fire damages greenhouse at Gertens in Inver Grove Heights

Current Conditions Minneapolis

  |   Hourly forecast


Sports

Wild goaltender Cam Talbot stopped a shot by the Ducks during the second period Monday.

No late-game magic as Wild gets shut out by Ducks

Scoggins: Pitino's weekend shows joy, sorrow of hoops in a pandemic
Shorthanded Wolves, missing Towns, fall flat in Atlanta
Toby Gardenhire will manage Twins' top affiliate, the St. Paul Saints

Business

Chris Brooks, left, and Paul Campbell, co-founders and general partners of Brown Venture Group met in Golden Thyme Coffee in St. Paul.         ] GLEN

Minneapolis-based venture-capital firm for founders of color aims to raise $50 million

Florida company accused of selling fake 3M masks to HCMC hit with injunction
Construction to begin on apartments at former Flyte Tyme Studios site in Edina
Pakistan PM angry over reports TV anchor knew about strike

Opinion

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., may be tempted by the Senate’s opportunity to bar Donald Trump from running for president again. Abov

Why the Senate may convict Trump

A new viral threat, but still time to act
Sack cartoon: Presidential pardons
Readers Write: Inauguration Day, Trump and impeachment, icy roads

Latest Sack Cartoon

Sack cartoon: Presidential pardons
Presidential pardons

See more Sack cartoons


Most Read

  • Ford cars built at the St. Paul plant are loaded on to river barges on the Mississippi River in 1925.
    Did Ford make car windows of sand mined from under its St. Paul plant?
  • Big Ole, a 50-year-old wood and fiberglass viking sculpture needs $24,500 in repairs. He has a family of birds nesting in his shoulder, his cape may c
    How many iconic roadside attractions does Minn. have? And where are they?
  • July 12, 1970: Nicollet Island, as seen in an aerial photo that was published in the Star Tribune's Picture Magazine.
    How did Nicollet Island become parkland with private housing on it?
  • Single family home construction is booming at the Kingston Fields development in Cottage Grove. ] Shari L. Gross ¥ shari.gross@startribune.com Over t
    How did Minnesota become one of the most racially inequitable states?
  • Image
    Listen: How is Mississippi River water made safe to drink?

    Variety

    Living with an empty plate now can have a long-term impact on future eating habits.

    How Twin Cities parents can guide kids through food shortages

    Streamed concerts by Minnesota Orchestra and SPCO offer both intimacy and brilliance
    Working from bed: Productive cocoon or symptom of malaise?
    Historic $1.55M St. Paul home was hangout for a young F. Scott Fitzgerald

    Comics

    Dilbert

    Arlo & Janis

    For Better or For Worse

    HOROSCOPES

    Games

    Mini Crossword

    The Daily Sudoku

    Spider Solitaire

    Super Quiz

    All Games


    Latest Columns


    Politics

    Advocates for immigrants with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, rally in front of the U.S. Supreme Court June 15, 2020 in Washington, D

    Biden to propose 8-year path to citizenship for immigrants

    Dominion Voting Systems threatens to sue MyPillow CEO over false claims.
    North Dakota lawmaker sorry for mass email of QAnon video
    Freshman Rep. Fischbach faces challenges as a loyal Trump ally

    Nation

    In this Oct. 17, 2017, photo, Stevie Wonder attends the TIDAL X: Brooklyn 3rd Annual Benefit Concert in New York.

    In open letter to Dr. King, Stevie Wonder calls for equality

    California becomes first state to top 3 million virus cases
    Coronavirus deaths rising in 30 US states amid winter surge
    Man allegedly hid 3 months at Chicago airport due to virus

    World

    In this image taken from video released by Navalny Life youtube channel, Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny speaks as he waits for a court heari

    Kremlin foe Navalny jailed for 30 days; allies plan protests

    WHO chief lambasts vaccine profits, demands elderly go first
    China economy grows in 2020 as rebound from virus gains
    Xi, Modi expected for 'virtual' Davos in era of pandemic

    Curious Minnesota

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

    Did Ford make car windows of sand mined from under its St. Paul plant?

    How are courts in Minnesota coping with the pandemic?
    Listen: How is Mississippi River water made safe to drink?
    Listen to the Curious Minnesota podcast

    Duluth

    The razor wire that surrounds the state-operated sex offender treatment center in Moose Lake. Offenders have been protesting what they see as unsafe c

    Sex offenders at Moose Lake protest after rash of COVID deaths

    Blatnik Bridge between Duluth and Superior headed toward retirement, replacement
    2021 BWCA visitors will have to learn to 'leave no trace' of their visit
    Federal stimulus will help pay internet bills, boost broadband access across Minnesota

    Celebs

    In this Oct. 17, 2017, photo, Stevie Wonder attends the TIDAL X: Brooklyn 3rd Annual Benefit Concert in New York.

    In open letter to Dr. King, Stevie Wonder calls for equality

    Garth Brooks joins lineup of entertainers at Biden inaugural
    Betty White marks 99th birthday Sunday; up late as she wants
    Blue Jackets hold on, defeat Red Wings 3-2 for their 1st win

    Inspired

    Brooklyn Center Fire Chief Todd Berg, right, talked about the winter meals program with Rob Williams, executive director of Every Meal, at the fire st

    Roseville nonprofit expands free food pick-up sites for Minnesotans in need

    In recovery from perilous addictions, young adults share their stories through Change the Outcome
    Twin Cities-based Remember Project uses plays to talk about dementia and memory loss
    For her 53rd birthday, 53 acts of kindness

    More Stories

    020720 ... Curious Minnesota

    Summary here


    013120 ... Curious Minnesota

    Summary here


    How many WPA projects were built in Minn. as part of FDR's New Deal?

    It's easy to stumble across the fruits of the agency's work, however — just look for the telltale bronze plaques.


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

    Southdale was designed to be more than a shopping experience, complete with a day care center, aviary, fish pond and sidewalk cafes.


    Do the Twin Cities really get their drinking water from the Mississippi River?

    Minneapolis and St. Paul treat about 100 million gallons of river water per day.


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