Recent content from Patrick Condon
The 11 biggest Minnesota moments and stories of 2023
Readers were drawn to stories about pot, pop stars and our shared Minnesota identity.
An immigrant learns to 'Pay as You Go' in beguiling debut novel
FICTION: Eskor David Johnson's novel is "strange, clever and mysterious."
Minnesota political leaders past, present react to death of Gov. Al Quie
Al Quie, who represented southern Minnesota in Congress for two decades before returning home to serve a single term as governor, has died at age 99.
Review: In Richard Ford's 'Be Mine,' a boomer reckons with his past and present
FICTION: Ford's everyman Frank Bascombe is back for one more brush with existence.
Why thousands of board games are buried beneath Mankato
The Anti-Monopoly alternative to America's most successful board game took off in the 1970s. But a gaming giant with Minnesota ties sought its destruction.
Review: 'Participation,' by Anna Moschovakis
FICTION: Poet Anna Moschovakis experiments with language and form in her novel about a woman who belongs to two reading clubs during a time of climate disaster.
Review: 'Dr. No,' by Percival Everett
FICTION: A witty, possibly insane billionaire is out for revenge in the latest satire from this Pulitzer finalist.
The voyageurs helped power Minnesota's historic fur trade. Who were they?
French-Canadian laborers were key to the Great Lakes fur trade, and were among the first Europeans to blend with Native tribes.
Review: 'Boys Come First,' by Aaron Foley
FICTION: This frank, funny debut novel follows three thirtysomething pals as they ride the ups and downs of relationships and careers over a few months in Detroit.
Review: 'Avalon,' by Nell Zink
FICTION: Nell Zink's sixth novel in seven years is about a woman's rise from dire beginnings.
Review: 'Ocean State,' by Stewart O'Nan
Told through multiple voices, "Ocean State" examines the murder of a young girl.
Winter storm forecast for large swath of Minnesota today, Tuesday
Snow will come in two waves, with the second on Tuesday currently expected to dump more than the first.
Key USDA agency has new Minnesota leader
Former state ag official Whitney Place now leads Farm Service Agency, which doles out federal dollars to farmers.
Minnesota's 'Millennial Farmer' is YouTube star
Western Minnesota farmer Zach Johnson has amassed big YouTube following with his down-on-the-farm videos.
Land donated by a bachelor farmer creates windfall for Willmar church
Escalating farmland values pushed up bids at auction to $4.5 million, shocking leaders at Calvary Lutheran Church in Willmar.
CHS sees large profit gains as global trade and demand for energy soar
The Inver Grove Heights-based agribusiness giant posted strong first quarter results in the new fiscal year.
On Minnesota farms, winter doesn't always mean less work
For many farmers, the workflow may slow in winter, but the demands of running a small business seldom ease.
Review: 'The Farmer's Lawyer,' by Sarah Vogel
Part memoir, part history by a lawyer who fought foreclosures on family farms in the 1980s.
St. Thomas students plot indoor vegetable-growing kits for home use
Engineering students worked with nonprofit Seeds Feeds on project to grow produce year-round.
3M wins earplug case days after big loss
Following a big judgement against 3M in military earplugs case, the manufacturing giant bounced back with a win in bellwether trials.
3M loses latest in series of military earplug cases
A $22.5 million ruling over military earplugs is largest judgment against the Maplewood manufacturer in bellwether trials.
Cargill eliminating trans fats from global edible oil supply
Minnesota agribusiness company says it's first global supplier of edible oil to sign onto World Health Organization goal
Two Minnesota community colleges will bring meat-cutting back to classroom
Schools in Brainerd and Willmar hope meat-cutting courses will help break bottlenecks in livestock processing.
Minnesota's Cargill is largest U.S. private company, again
The Minnetonka-based agribusiness is once again atop Forbes' list of largest private companies in U.S.
Zumbrota's small businesses team up to defy odds: 'Last year was brutal'
Store owners in Minnesota's small towns are yearning for a surge of holiday spending to finish up 2021.
Wright County farmer to lead Minnesota Farm Bureau
Dan Glessing wins contested race to take leadership at one of state's leading farm organizations.
Minnesota startup aims to make sustainable acrylics using corn instead of petroleum
Lakril Technologies uses U of M-pioneered technology to make acrylics, an ingredient in paints, coatings and adhesives, from corn rather than petroleum.
CHS creates new capital fund to bolster ag tech startups
The Minnesota ag giant is partnering with Illinois's Growmark on a $50M venture capital fund to advance breakthrough technologies in agriculture.
Minnesota's Living Greens Farm has ambitious indoor produce plans
Vegetables grown indoors still a small fraction of produce market, but Faribault company sees a lot of possibility.
Minnesota Farm Bureau leader steps down after 16 years
Kevin Paap, who's led one of state's top ag interest groups, is wrappig up his tenure this month.
Polls closed: Minneapolis voters weigh in for historic election year
Views on the Minneapolis mayoral race also seemed to be heavily influenced by the city's public safety debate. Voters in St. Paul and cities around the state also went to the polls with big issues at stake.
Nearly all Minn. farmers white, and change doesn't come easy
Two farms in Pine County illustrate how America's evolving discussion on opportunity and race is threading into one of its most lopsided industries: agriculture.
World Food Day brings focus on global conflict, food security
Global Minnesota is holding a virtual symposium on food scarcity challenges Friday.
Hormel takes another big step in plant-based meat alternatives
Minnesota-based food giant Hormel is partnering with Better Meat, a specialist in proteins from potato fermentation.
Minnesota farmers lack access to federal conservation dollars
Two Minnesota nonprofit organizations say farmers are trying to set aside more land for conservation, but federal help isn't coming as planned.
![Dave Marquart surveyed a corn field he hopes to harvest in the coming days that has been affected by the drought on his family farm in Waverly. ] LEIL](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/MH7ARE4SQL3XTEZLVT2AMHK3HI.jpg?h=120&w=180&fit=crop&bg=999&crop=faces)
After dry summer, Minnesota's harvest is underway and yields already differ
The dividing line appears to be right through the middle of the state, with the northern half enduring lower yields because of the lack of rain in the heart of summer.
Beef prices are surging, but processors are benefiting more than farmers
Four companies control processing and distribution of 80% of U.S. beef, a choke point that is drawing scrutiny from Washington.
Birds Eye building huge vegetable processing plant in Waseca
It's the largest investment that food giant Conagra Brands has ever made in a production facility.
Why don't farms water their crops at night?
Keeping fields properly watered is a complex challenge for Minnesota farmers — especially during this year's drought.
Tough summer for Minnesota sweet corn, but there will be plenty at the fair
Most of the sweet corn Minnesotans eat is from other states. Most of the sweet corn grown in Minnesota is processed for later consumption.
Returning Minnesota State Fair has full slate of ag programming
After a year off for the pandemic, the Minnesota State Fair is back with plenty of agricultural offerings.
Some small Minnesota towns push back against Dollar General
Residents, elected officials in two Redwood County towns successfully opposed construction of Dollar General stores this year.
Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack, local leaders discuss food security in Brooklyn Park
Food bank officials, school nutritionists from Twin Cities told the agriculture secretary that pandemic-era food assistance must continue.
Minnesota farmers reconnect as Farmfest returns
The three-day ag show in southern Minnesota drew good crowds but fewer vendors after taking last year off due to the pandemic.
Minnesota's Farmfest back after a year off
The yearly farm show in southwestern Minnesota starts Tuesday after a year off
No one thought farmers could work together — then came Land O'Lakes
CEO Beth Ford continues to chart new paths for the 100-year old cooperative, which took its name from a stick of butter.
To know what's happening in a field, ag advisers learn to 'just start digging'
University of Minnesota Extension's "Field Days" aims to give ag professionals a farmer's-eye view.
As drought concerns grow, so do Minnesota farmers' worries
While dry weather can push up commodity prices, grain farmers increasingly worried about lower yields this year.
Minn. lawmakers push to restore year-round sales of ethanol blend
Democrats join Republicans in the push to save year-round E15 sales that were first enacted by the Trump Administration.
In rural Minnesota, 'nothing but upside' as farmland values near record highs
With the peak sales season coming in September, per-acre prices are already reaching $9,000 threshold in parts of rural Minnesota.
New Minnesota co-op wants to profit from getting Kernza wheat in marketplace
Group of organic farmers join together to promote the perennial wheat that's proven itself in the field but not yet the marketplace.
Where big issues stand at the Minnesota Legislature
In special session, the divided Legislature must finish a two-year state budget and agree on other key policy issues.
Alternative realities persist after the presidential election
National polls show large numbers of Republicans continue to believe Trump was the election's real winner.
Minnesota's governors form a small club with little small talk
Men who held state's top office mostly keep opinions to themselves.
Biden picks Duluth native for ambassadorship
If confirmed by the Senate, Thomas Nides will serve as ambassador to Israel.
Minnesota Republican Party sets 2022 convention for Rochester
The main event will be endorsing a Republican gubernatorial candidate.
Minnesota's top LGBTQ rights group gets new leader
Anna Min, a photographer and activist, will take over OutFront Minnesota on an interim basis
Despite slow progress at Capitol, legal marijuana supporters see momentum in Minnesota
Even some legislators who aren't on board admit to seeing the writing on the wall.
Session hobbled by pandemic winds down with a whimper
By Saturday, with only a few dozen hours left until the adjournment deadline of Monday at midnight, legislative leaders and Gov. Tim Walz still had not cut a deal on the two-year state budget that kicks in on July 1, or agreed on new policing laws sought by Democrats.
Kasson business owner joins GOP field for Minnesota governor
The list of Republicans running for governor of Minnesota is slowly growing.
GOP leaders at Capitol pan Gov. Tim Walz's reopening plans
The DFL governor's lifting of COVID restrictions by May 28 come as he, lawmakers try to wrap session.
OutFront Minnesota became LGBTQ rights powerhouse under departing leader
Monica Meyer is stepping down after more than a decade leading state's premier LGBTQ equality group.
Minnesota won't lose eighth congressional seat, Census Bureau rules
The state kept its eight U.S. House seats by the narrowest of margins.
Minnesota Republican politician has unusual link to Walter Mondale
"He grew up in the house that I'm sitting in right now," state Rep. Bjorn Olson said.
Public memorials for Walter Mondale in September, family says
Family of former VP, who died Monday, says they'll memorialize him in Minnesota, D.C. later this year.
Advocates fear Minnesota, federal police reform efforts could lose momentum
Minn. Senate GOP still noncommittal and bill named for George Floyd stalled in U.S. Senate.
After life of history-making service, Walter Mondale dies
He served as vice president under Jimmy Carter, and then chose the first woman to run for vice president on a major-party ticket. It followed a series of landmarks in a public career that spanned seven decades in Minnesota and Washington.
Walter Mondale remembered for decency, sweep of accomplishments
Political leaders from across the political spectrum praised the former vice president, who died Monday.
Protesters, police clash at Brooklyn Center police station; 40 arrested
Protesters had been on hand throughout the day outside the Brooklyn Center Police Department, but the scene escalated after the start of a 7 p.m. curfew across four Twin Cities metro counties.
Jennifer Carnahan re-elected to lead Minnesota Republican Party
Carnahan wins third two-year term despite challenge for top state GOP post from Sen. Mark Koran
Jennifer Carnahan fights to stay atop Minnesota GOP
Carnahan, state Sen. Mark Koran facing off in a contentious fight to lead state's Republican Party.
