Reporter | Region & State

John Reinan is a news reporter covering Greater Minnesota and the Upper Midwest. For the Star Tribune, he's also covered the western Twin Cities suburbs, as well as marketing, advertising and consumer news. He's been a reporter for more than 20 years and also did a stint at a marketing agency.

Reinan has reported for seven newspapers from Alaska to Florida and points in between. A graduate of Fergus Falls High School and St. Olaf College, he usually can get within two degrees of connection to just about anyone in Minnesota. In his free time, he reads a lot of history, drives the historic Lake Harriet trolley in Minneapolis and plays the stand-up bass.


Bitter fight between Moorhead GOP factions lands in court

The state GOP is suing what it calls a rogue party official.


What happened to Minneapolis' famous Weatherball?

The glowing orb was a fixture on the city's skyline for decades.


41 Minnesota cities are switched from urban to rural classification


Minnesota workers brave cold, blizzard conditions

From mail carriers to liquor store clerks, Friday was just another day on the job.


Orono gave 'sweetheart' land deals to city officials, ex-mayors charge

Current city leaders say the transactions were needed to correct inaccurate, century-old property maps.


Rural Minnesotans head back to taverns as municipal liquor sales set a record

Profits more than doubled at muni-owned bars, largely in rural Minnesota.


Minnesota organization opposed to abortion sues Bemidji man over $842K donation

He says Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life took advantage of his ailing father before his father's death.


Deep staff cuts leave St. Cloud Times a 'ghost paper'

Serving a region of 200,000 residents, the paper now has a news staff of two.


Minnesota briefs: Luverne museum now has more nutcrackers than city has residents

Plus: Duluth direct flights to Florida paused in January; USDA looking to give out digital access grants; Bemidji moves to limit teardowns.


These Minnesota cities are winning the fight against light pollution

Much of the progress with "dark sky" initiatives has come from rethinking public buildings.