curious minnesota
What are the financial pros and cons of retiring in Minnesota?
The state has higher taxes. But it is also important to look at the "whole picture."
How did Faribault become home to Minnesota's deaf and blind academies?
These southeast Minnesota institutions date back to the earliest days of statehood.
Introducing the Curious Minnesota Collection. Every question we've answered — now in one place
Our new searchable database is home to more than 260 stories about Minnesota history and culture, all inspired by reader questions.
Why is my mail addressed to a city where I don't live?
The city in official mailing addresses can be different from the actual destination.
What's the story behind Duluth's Aerial Lift Bridge?
The largest mechanical bridge in Minnesota once operated very differently than it does today.
Skid-steers, Softsoap and Nerf: 8 more Minnesota inventions that changed the world
One article couldn't hold all of the state's innovations that shape our daily lives.
Why does Maplewood have such an odd shape?
The suburb bordering St. Paul is home to one of Minnesota's largest companies — and that's not an accident.
What roles did Minnesota's Native American chiefs play? And who were some notable ones?
There are many misconceptions about these leaders, who sometimes had a fragile hold on power.
Ask a question now: What are you curious about, Minnesota?
Help us answer questions that matter to you.
Listen: What does it mean when Minnesota courts sentence offenders to 'the workhouse'?
The Curious Minnesota podcast discusses the background of these unique correctional facilities, which are neither jails nor prisons.
What's the story behind the Minnesota communities in Arizona and Florida?
Even far away from their home state, Minnesotans often find each other.
How did Northfield become home to St. Olaf and Carleton colleges?
The prominent private schools have given the town an outsized stature.
What caused the 'horrific' deformities of Minnesota frogs in the 1990s?
The discovery by Minnesota middle schoolers became national news, leading to similar finds elsewhere in the country.
Listen: What is Minnesota's deepest lake?
The Curious Minnesota podcast discusses how humans created many of the state's deepest water bodies.
What Minnesota inventions have shaped modern life?
Many know the story of the pacemaker and Post-it notes. But creative Minnesotans have devised hundreds of other products we take for granted.
Did union rules prevent Leonard Bernstein from joining the Minnesota Orchestra?
The "West Side Story" composer's career might have unfolded very differently had he worked with his mentor in Minneapolis.
Listen: How did Minnesota become the nation's top turkey state?
The Curious Minnesota podcast discusses how a turkey turnaround a century ago made Minnesota birds a Thanksgiving staple around the country.
What happened to Paul Wellstone's green campaign bus?
The vehicle became famous for its central role in an underdog campaign. It has survived two decades out of the spotlight, but its future is uncertain.
Local
High winds flipped a FedEx truck traveling on Bong Bridge in Duluth
Walz, St. Paul leaders urge support for copper wire theft bill: 'We've got to get in front of it'
Unlicensed driver sentenced to 5 months for fatally hitting priest on bicycle in Rosemount
Brooks: A tale of 124 hoarded Minnesota cats has at least a hundred happy endings
Current Conditions Minneapolis
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Sports
Naz Reid's path to breakout stardom featured mentor unlike any other
Wolves' Edwards named to Team USA for Paris Olympics
'Tension and pressure' mount as Twins are swept in Baltimore by walk-off home run
Grateful for the beast that is the Boston Marathon
Business
Land O'Lakes CEO Beth Ford named to Time's list of 100 influential people
As other banks report decline in deposits, Minneapolis-based U.S. Bancorp experiencing a surge
Ramstad: How Rochester is keeping its housing growth on track
Cyberattack could cost UnitedHealth Group up to $1.6B this year
Opinion
Minnesota's sports betting limits could be self-defeating
An urgent call for long-term care advocates
Editorial cartoon: Presidential debate
Readers Write: $15 cigarettes, federal debt
Most Read
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What are the financial pros and cons of retiring in Minnesota?
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Why do some cars in Minnesota have 'whiskey plates'?
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Why is my mail addressed to a city where I don't live?
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Why thousands of board games are buried beneath Mankato
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What does it mean when Minnesota courts sentence offenders to 'the workhouse'?
Variety
Yuen: Parents, let's make a pact to get our kids off their screens and back to real-life play
Review: Sibling pop band AJR put on a fun show in St. Paul, but not a good concert
Your fridge is a place where fresh food goes to die. That doesn't have to happen.
Meet the Oscar-winning cinematographer who has changed the way the movies look
Latest Columns.
Chip Scoggins
Scoggins: Hot Suns loom, and Finch feels the heat
Can coach Chris Finch figure this out? Phoenix has owned the Wolves this season, and now he has a full work week to fix that.
Evan Ramstad
Ramstad: Misinterpreting data led me to the wrong conclusion about Minnesota retirees
My misreading undermined and distracted from my main point about fewer working-age Minnesotans.
Jennifer Brooks
Brooks: A tale of 124 hoarded Minnesota cats has at least a hundred happy endings
As animal abuse cases soar, Minnesotans trek to the Animal Humane Society to offer neglected animals loving new homes.
La Velle E. Neal III
Neal: Eulogy for a bad season. May the Wild's future come quickly.
A eulogy is when one says nice things about someone, right? That's the intention here as the season winds down to Thursday's final game.
Politics
Senate rejects impeachment articles against Mayorkas, ending trial against Cabinet secretary
House's Ukraine, Israel aid package gains Biden's support as Speaker Johnson fights to keep his job
Walz, St. Paul leaders urge support for copper wire theft bill: 'We've got to get in front of it'
Boeing put under Senate scrutiny during back-to-back hearings on aircraft maker's safety culture
Nation
Trump lawyers say Stormy Daniels refused subpoena outside a Brooklyn bar, papers left 'at her feet'
Lockdown lifts at Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota after report of a single gunshot
An NPR editor who wrote a critical essay on the company has resigned after being suspended
Bond denied for 4 'God's Misfits' defendants in the killing of 2 Kansas women
World
Secret Russian foreign policy document urges action to weaken the U.S.
Netanyahu brushes off calls for restraint, saying Israel will decide how to respond to Iran's attack
In Australia, 'cats are just catastrophic'
9 are facing charges in what police in Canada say is the biggest gold theft in the country's history
Curious Minnesota
What are the financial pros and cons of retiring in Minnesota?
How did Faribault become home to Minnesota's deaf and blind academies?
Introducing the Curious Minnesota Collection. Every question we've answered — now in one place
Why is my mail addressed to a city where I don't live?
Celebs
Jewel 'blushes' at Kevin Costner dating rumors as she reveals painful mishap with a live raven
Olympic champion Suni Lee back in form after debilitating kidney ailment
Hugh Grant says he took 'enormous sum' to settle suit alleging illegal snooping by The Sun tabloid
Seinfeld's upcoming Netflix movie about Pop-Tarts to be featured in IndyCar race at Long Beach
Inspired
At 90, Northfield woman looks back on 57 years of blood drives
Brooks: A tale of 124 hoarded Minnesota cats has at least a hundred happy endings
These Rochester teens wanted to help families like theirs. Now Congress is recognizing their new app.
How you can help
More Stories
Listen: Why does Maplewood have such an odd shape?
The Curious Minnesota podcast discusses how Maplewood was born out of leftover land — and became home to a signature Minnesota company.
Listen: How did Northfield become home to St. Olaf and Carleton colleges?
The Curious Minnesota podcast discusses the collaborative roots of these two prominent institutions.
Listen: Did union rules prevent Leonard Bernstein from joining the Minnesota Orchestra?
The Curious Minnesota podcast discusses how sometimes rejection is the beginning of an exciting new path in life.
