curious minnesota
Was Moorhead once a destination for drunks?
Decades before Prohibition, Moorhead benefited from a lesser-known liquor ban.
Listen: State Fair attendees tell us their questions about Minnesota
The Curious Minnesota podcast solicited questions from fairgoers. Which is your favorite?
Ask a question now: What are you curious about, Minnesota?
Help us answer questions that matter to you.
How did Kid Cann become Minneapolis' most infamous gangster?
Isadore "Kid Cann" Blumenfeld rode Prohibition to wealth and influence in the city.
Why is it that Minnesotans will 'give you directions to anywhere but their home'?
Some say the state's Minnesota Nice reputation is offset by a reluctance to form deep relationships with newcomers.
How did Minnesota become a hub for Hmong people?
Hmong people are the largest Asian group in Minnesota, decades after many sought refuge here.
Listen: Why is Minnesota such a hotbed of professional wrestling?
The Curious Minnesota podcast discusses how locals helped develop this unique sport.
Homeless encampments aren't a new Twin Cities phenomenon. But the latest ones are different.
From Bohemian Flats to "Rooseveltville," the urban core has a long history of makeshift housing — and local leaders trying to erase it.
Listen: Why did Minnesota once require margarine to be dyed pink?
The Curious Minnesota podcast discusses the state's crusade against the 'abomination' of margarine.
What happened to the Rabbit Race game at the Minnesota State Fair?
The carnival game dated back to the 1930s and was a staple at the Penny Arcade.
How do vendors land a booth at the Minnesota State Fair?
Choosing vendors for the coveted spots is one big puzzle. "We want something we can't say no to," a fair spokeswoman said.
Why is the Minnesota State Fair 12 days long?
The Great Minnesota Get-Together outlasts state fairs in neighboring states. Its length hasn't changed since 1975.
What is the significance of the Jeffers Petroglyphs in southwestern Minnesota?
Indigenous people over many millennia have left their mark on the site's rocks.
How a sacred Dakota island was destroyed by Minneapolis' industrial ambitions
Spirit Island was once a prominent landmark of the downtown Minneapolis riverfront.
Why did Spam become an international sensation?
It's just canned meat with a catchy name. But this Minnesota invention has a cultural legacy that extends across the globe — and even into our email inboxes.
How do Minnesota lakes get their names?
Minnesota has more than 200 Mud Lakes, though state and federal guidelines discourage duplicate monikers.
Why do Minnesotans cut their pizzas in squares?
The style is so emblematic of the state that the CEO of Heggies once lobbied former Gov. Mark Dayton to declare the square cut Minnesota's official pizza style.
Bob Dylan, Kevin McHale, Roger Maris: Why are there so many famous people from Hibbing?
The Iron Range town has produced a litany of prominent residents who have shaped American culture.
Local
St. Paul Public Schools, Junior Achievement North to bring professional projects to classrooms
With mine stalled, Twin Metals wants to drill exploratory shafts in Boundary Waters watershed
Oakdale woman gets nearly 3-year sentence for drunken hit-and-run that killed teen in Bloomington
Lake Elmo swimmer hospitalized from ammonia exposure in Illinois tanker crash
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Sports
Twins look to close out series with Blue Jays as Gray faces Berríos
An upset for the ages: Reliving the Gophers '86 win over No. 2 Michigan
Reusse: Playoff heroes? Twins had Lewis, López and those 38,450 fans.
Minnesota's top girls basketball recruits: Where are they going for college?
Business
Bloomington-based HR software company Ceridian changing name in rebranding effort
General Mills closes its Iowa pet treat plant, contracting the work instead
Cargill faces criminal probe in Brazil over Amazon port project
Minnesotans are still spending, but the post-pandemic boom is slowing
Opinion
McCarthy's slow, then abrupt, fall from grace
In defense of Amazon
Editorial cartoon: COVID's back
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Was Moorhead once a destination for drunks?
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How did Kid Cann become Minneapolis' most infamous gangster?
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What is the significance of the Jeffers Petroglyphs in southwestern Minnesota?
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Variety
Meet the matriarch of Native cooking, who inspired Owamni chef Sean Sherman
Meet this year's MacArthur 'genius grant' recipients, including a hula master and the poet laureate
Adrian Peterson (barely) dodges elimination on 'Dancing With the Stars'
The Big Gigs: 10 concerts to see in the Twin Cities this week
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Politics
Rep. Tom Emmer plans House majority leader run, source says
The House is left paralyzed as divided Republicans search for new leader after McCarthy's ouster
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Nation
Trump lawyers go after accountant and appeal major pretrial ruling in New York fraud case
Police in Holyoke, Massachusetts are investigating after multiple people were reported shot
America's epidemic of chronic illness is killing us too soon
Meet this year's MacArthur 'genius grant' recipients, including a hula master and the poet laureate
World
Trio wins Nobel Prize in chemistry for work on quantum dots, used in electronics and medical imaging
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Point of no return: Pope challenges leaders at UN talks to slow global warming before it's too late
Shares in Scandinavian Airlines plunge to become almost worthless after rescue deal announced
Curious Minnesota
Was Moorhead once a destination for drunks?
Listen: State Fair attendees tell us their questions about Minnesota
Ask a question now: What are you curious about, Minnesota?
How did Kid Cann become Minneapolis' most infamous gangster?
Celebs
Julia Ormond sues Harvey Weinstein saying he assaulted her; accuses CAA, Disney, Miramax of enabling
Adrian Peterson (barely) dodges elimination on 'Dancing With the Stars'
Suspect charged in rapper Tupac Shakur's fatal shooting makes first court appearance in Las Vegas
Will Taylor Swift show up to Sunday's Vikings vs. Chiefs game?
Inspired
Minnesota woman's 'incredible' recovery from crash injuries takes her to Ironman championships
Program helps Minnesota social entrepreneurs launch their dreams
Anderson: Epic adventure born in Minnesota takes paddlers into the Arctic
Jimmy Carter's final chapter: Peanut butter ice cream and his 99th birthday
More Stories
Why are there suddenly credit unions 'everywhere' in Minnesota?
Traditional banks are closing branches. But credit unions are taking an alternate approach.
Minnesota was once a leader in corporate philanthropy. Is that still true?
Local companies drew praise for launching the Five Percent Club nearly five decades ago.
Listen: How did Tonka trucks get their start in Minnesota?
The Curious Minnesota podcast discusses the local origins of this well-known children's toy.
Why is Minnesota such a hotbed of professional wrestling?
Locals helped develop the sport back when wrestling was dominated by major regional centers.
Did teenagers 'riot' when the Beatles stayed in downtown Minneapolis in 1965?
The Minneapolis police crackdown on Beatlemania left the Fab Four with the impression that this is a "very narrowminded town."