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curious minnesota

Why did Scandinavian immigrants choose Minnesota?

The American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis celebrated the lifting of the majstang (maypole) in 2009. Minnesota has more residents of Swedish and No

No state in the country has more residents of Swedish and Norwegian ancestry.

  • How the heck did Minnesota end up with a state muffin?
  • Why does Minnesota require new license plates every seven years?
  • What is Minnesota's connection to the historic Dred Scott decision?

Listen: How an inside joke led to St. Cloud getting its name

A shrine to St. Cloud, the patron saint of the Diocese of St. Cloud, inside St. Mary’s Cathedral in downtown St. Cloud. The statue is a replica of t

Reporter Jenny Berg joins the Curious Minnesota podcast to share the tale behind St. Cloud's moniker.

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

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

Help us answer questions that matter to you.

  • What do you wonder about our state and the people who live here?
  • Our new podcast will make you smarter in 15 minutes

How the heck did Minnesota end up with a state muffin?

How the heck did Minnesota end up with a state muffin?

Students at a northern Minnesota elementary school received a civics lesson they'll never forget.

Why does Minnesota require new license plates every seven years?

Regularly replacing license plates is a hassle for drivers that dates back more than three decades.

Listen: The hidden electrical system that keeps our lights on

Reporter Mike Hughlett joins the Curious Minnesota podcast to discuss where Minnesota's electricity originates, and how it gets to homes.

What is Minnesota's connection to the historic Dred Scott decision?

The U.S. Supreme Court case that laid the groundwork for the Civil War traces its roots to the frontier area that became Minnesota.

Why is Minnesota a national leader in its share of women who work?

Minnesota has ranked among the top 10 in women's workforce participation for many years.

Listen: Why do Minnesotans have accents?

The Curious Minnesota podcast delves into the accent's origins and what defines this uniquely Minnesotan way of speaking.

Why can't Minnesotans bypass the Legislature to change state laws?

Several past attempts to allow citizen initiatives in Minnesota have failed at the ballot box.

Why are there so many stucco homes in the Twin Cities?

The region's "love for stucco" is unique in the Midwest.

Listen: Did St. Paul really protect gangsters during the Prohibition era?

The Curious Minnesota podcast explores an unusual historical agreement between criminals and St. Paul police.

What are Minnesota's most exported products?

From snowmobiles to Scotch tape, companies ship an eclectic mix of locally made products to other countries.

What happened to Minneapolis' famous 'Mighty Kimball' organ?

One of the largest pipe organs ever produced in the U.S. fell silent when the Minneapolis Auditorium was demolished in the 1980s.

Listen: Why did Minneapolis' famous flour boom go bust?

The Curious Minnesota podcast explores how Minneapolis became a flour milling capital and why it didn't last.

What's the story behind Minnesota's military training ground, Camp Ripley?

For nearly a century, soldiers have prepared for war at a sprawling facility in central Minnesota.

Does water really only flow out of Minnesota — not into it?

A rare intersection of North America's continental divides on the Iron Range has a big impact on the flow of water in the region.

Listen: The stories behind Minnesota's oldest building and the Northwest Angle

The Curious Minnesota podcast talks with reporter Katy Read about listeners' favorite questions from the State Fair.


Local

The American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis celebrated the lifting of the majstang (maypole) in 2009. Minnesota has more residents of Swedish and No

Why did Scandinavian immigrants choose Minnesota?

Maple Grove Transit to launch new route serving Downtown East
Water main break floods 40 St. Louis Park homes
Sister Rita Foster, who served the poor and protested violence, dies at 89

Current Conditions Minneapolis

  |   Hourly forecast


Sports

Max Kepler scored the winning run in the ninth inning on Sunday.

Twins mount major comeback in 7-6 win over Kansas City to secure sweep

Souhan: By pumping brakes on Buxton and Lewis, Twins avoid downside risk
Thomas wins 2nd PGA title in playoff after 7-shot rally
Loons get back to winning ways with 2-1 victory at Dallas

Business

You need to make sure you are prepared and that you treat the worker with dignity when you fire someone, professionals say.

Firing someone is hard. Here's how to prepare.

Being fired is hard. Here's how to protect your rights in Minnesota — and move on
With $287.6B in revenue, UnitedHealth again tops list of Minnesota public companies
Amateur investors who joined the market during the pandemic confront first big pullback

Opinion

Even though Democrats and Republicans have opposing goals for moderating online content — one side wants more rules, the other wants fewer — both

Bad ideas for fixing the internet have gone viral

Build on insulin affordability reform
Editorial Counterpoint: Give small steps a chance to reduce gun violence
Readers Write: COVID-19, transit, safe driving

Most Read

  • The American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis celebrated the lifting of the majstang (maypole) in 2009. Minnesota has more residents of Swedish and No
    Why did Scandinavian immigrants choose Minnesota?
  • A prisoner inspects license plates produced at Rush City correctional facility north of the Twin Cities.
    Why does Minnesota require new license plates every seven years?
  • A painting of Dred Scott by artist Louis Schultze, based on an 1857 photograph.
    What is Minnesota's connection to the historic Dred Scott decision?
  • Frances McDormand as Marge Gunderson in the film ‘Fargo’
    Listen: Why do Minnesotans have accents?
  • A group of friends swimming in the Minnesota River in Bloomington in 2020.
    Is it safe to swim in Twin Cities rivers, or are they all too polluted?

    Variety

    The second floor of the Bob Dylan Center in Tulsa contains a wide-ranging interactive display of material from the center’s vast archive.

    How does it feel to visit the new Bob Dylan Center? In a word: terrific

    Review: Minneapolis' Petite León redefines the local neighborhood eatery
    Yuen: Why boys' volleyball 'feels like home' for a new generation of Minnesota players
    Go, Gophers! University of Minnesota alumni travel revs back up

    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

    Rep. Heather Edelson and Rep. Emma Greenman spoke with another legislator in the House Chamber during a recess Sunday at the state Capitol.

    Minnesota Legislature misses key deadline to finish its work

    Newcomer Jim Schultz is GOP's pick to challenge Keith Ellison
    Attorney General Keith Ellison easily wins DFL endorsement for second term
    Tax deal reached in final weekend of session at State Capitol

    Nation

    In this June 11, 2019, photo, Christa Brown, of Denver, Colo., speaks during a rally in Birmingham, Ala., outside the Southern Baptist Convention’s

    Report: Top Southern Baptists stonewalled sex abuse victims

    Man fatally shot on New York subway train; suspect at large
    6 hurt when bull escapes Northern California rodeo arena
    78,000 pounds of infant formula arrives in US

    World

    A Ukrainian officer in a factory destroyed by an airstrike in Slovyansk, in the Donbas region, May 13, 2022. Russia has pressed ahead with its assault

    Russian offensive turns to key Donbas city, heavy shelling

    Kim, other N. Koreans attend large funeral amid COVID worry
    Beijing extends work-from-home order as COVID-19 cases rise
    Migrant back home after 7 years in Mexico jail with no trial

    Curious Minnesota

    The American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis celebrated the lifting of the majstang (maypole) in 2009. Minnesota has more residents of Swedish and No

    Why did Scandinavian immigrants choose Minnesota?

    Listen: How an inside joke led to St. Cloud getting its name
    Ask a question now: What are you curious about, Minnesota?
    How the heck did Minnesota end up with a state muffin?

    Duluth

    The US Naval Sea Cadet Corps, Twin Cities Squadron, prepared to present the colors before the commissioning ceremony for the USS Minneapolis-St. Paul

    USS Minneapolis-St. Paul commissioned for duty in ceremony at Duluth Port

    Tension brews over vacation rentals in Duluth
    'We can't keep up': Walz sends National Guard to NE. Minnesota for flood support
    St. Louis County Depot upends tenant base; will Duluth Art Institute, historical society get kicked out?

    Celebs

    FILE - Kate McKinnon arrives at the 77th annual Golden Globe Awards on Jan. 5, 2020, in Beverly Hills, Calif.

    Kate McKinnon, Pete Davidson departing from 'SNL'

    Ethan Coen on his Jerry Lee Lewis doc and filmmaking return
    Heard's lawyers try to poke holes in Depp's libel lawsuit
    Ozzy Osbourne's daughter Aimee escapes Hollywood studio fire

    Inspired

    Freddy Tirado jumped in line to get ice cream as he visited Hennepin Healthcare’s new mobile pediatric van outside the hospital in Minneapolis.

    In Minneapolis, a mobile van rolls out with health care outreach to kids

    From the Twin Cities to Africa: A better world for women, 'By Us'
    Jail writing program helps reduce stress, clear heads, gain insights
    Get involved

    More Stories

    Is Minnesota really one of the nation's top sugar producers?

    Americans consume sugar from beets every day, whether they realize it or not. And Minnesota farmers produce a lot of it.


    Why did so many Jewish people move to St. Louis Park decades ago?

    The western suburb is famously associated with Minnesota's Jewish population, which built a sizable community there in the latter half of the 20th century.


    Will electric vehicles pay their fair share for Minnesota's road costs?

    Electric cars and truck owners don't pay gas taxes but do contribute to road upkeep in other ways. Some think the state's policies need to change.


    Why is the BWCA a wilderness and not a national park?

    The area's history as a hub of industry and recreation led to unique protections and management for the Boundary Waters — and a national park next door.


    Listen: Historic wildfires once destroyed part of Minnesota. Could it happen again?

    The Curious Minnesota podcast talks with Jana Hollingsworth about the tragic fires of 1894 and 1918.


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