Curious Minnesota
Why doesn't Minnesota's governor pardon the ceremonial turkey?
Iowa pardons a turkey. So does North Dakota. And President Trump pardoned two, named Bread and Butter. But Minnesota's ceremonial turkey is destined for a needy family's table.
Curious Minnesota
Why do we have water towers and what do they do?
Some cities — usually large ones — don't use water towers, but they are an unmistakable part of the Minnesota landscape. What do they do and why do we have so many of them?
Curious Minnesota
Who are all those people hanging out on sidelines during Vikings games?
Accounting for the full perimeter of the field during a Vikings' home game, there are roughly 300 people with their feet on the turf. But who are they all?
Curious Minnesota
Why isn't it a crime to punch someone if you're playing pro hockey?
Players have been charged for NHL fights, including one notorious Minnesota incident in 1975, but those cases are the exception. Why aren't hockey fights considered assault?
Curious Minnesota
Why does the Stone Arch Bridge cross the Mississippi at such an odd angle?
Older than most historic buildings still standing in the Twin Cities, the 136-year-old bridge has long been Minneapolis' de facto welcome mat. But why was it built the way it was, with such a long angle?
Curious Minnesota
How did Minnesota become the Gopher State?
It appears Minnesotans have been misled about their beloved gophers. We try to unravel the gopher mystery.
Curious Minnesota
![KYNDELL HARKNESS • kharkness@startribune.com] Traffic moved through the roundabout on 66th Street near Hwy 77 in Richfield.](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/DWJKQI52DFPWEZDEEVK2K2K5ZE.jpg?h=91&w=145&fit=crop&bg=999&crop=faces)
Are roundabouts really safer than traditional intersections?
With only about 5,000 roundabouts on the nation's roads — making them still somewhat uncommon — it's natural for drivers to initially be confused.
Curious Minnesota
Why do so many Fortune 500 companies call Minnesota home?
The country's 16th largest metro doesn't dominate the Fortune 500 list because of its size.
Curious Minnesota
![Jack Weber drove his wheat combine on his field. The wheat doesn't bring much cash but it does improve the health of his soil. ] GLEN STUBBE ¥ glen.s](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/Q52DDKM4VPGMHUNPCJC6RT27QI.jpg?h=91&w=145&fit=crop&bg=999&crop=faces)
Is Minnesota part of the Midwest? Should it be?
Sure, it's roughly in the middle of the country, but some think of the Midwest as more than a location.
Curious Minnesota
Why are Honeycrisp apples still so expensive?
One of the University of Minnesota's most profitable inventions continues to be a best-seller despite its top-priced status.
Curious Minnesota
Playing favorites: What's the story behind the Twins' game jersey picks?
Pitchers generally pick the game jerseys worn for home games, but each one goes about the selection process differently.
Curious Minnesota
Why is it so much harder for U students to graduate debt free compared to the '60s?
Fall college tuition bills are coming due, and if the number behind that dollar sign seems high, well, it is.
Curious Minnesota
How did Minn. become one of the most racially inequitable states?
By almost any measurement, Minnesota is plagued by racial disparities — in unemployment, in poverty, in homeownership. Readers want to know what's behind the inequities.
Curious Minnesota
Nearly $60M flowed into State Fair coffers last year. Where did it go?
We asked what State Fair facts you were curious about, and several readers have done the math and want to know what happens to all that dough.
Curious Minnesota
How much of what we think we're recycling is actually getting recycled?
One reader wants to know what percent of Twin Cities sorted recyclables are actually recycled. Another wondered whether most of it is just sent to the dump. We get to the bottom of both questions.
Curious Minnesota
What makes a manhole cover go airborne during storms?
Urban "geysers" are rare. But they do happen. We get to the bottom of what makes manhole covers dance, levitate and, sometimes, explode off storm drains.
Curious Minnesota
We call Wisconsinites cheeseheads. What do they call us?
There have been some mostly halfhearted attempts to label Minnesotans over the years, mostly in reference to its sports teams.
Curious Minnesota
What do you want to know about the Minn. State Fair?
We're asking readers to tell us what they want to know about the people, history and culture of the State Fair. Your question could be our next Curious Minnesota story.
Curious Minnesota
![Miguel Fidler (12) of Edina celebrated after scoring a goal in the third period. Edina beat Duluth East by a final score of 3-2. ] CARLOS GONZALEZ cgo](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/QJY6S5BOCACXSEBGZ672TFYH4U.jpg?h=91&w=145&fit=crop&bg=999&crop=faces)
Why does everyone love to hate Edina?
The "cake eaters" of Edina have been a target for generations. Why all the hate? Curious Minnesota tackles this reader question.
Curious Minnesota
Has Minnesota ever had a major earthquake?
Residents of the North Star State will persevere through the toughest blizzards, of course, and kids are drilled to take shelter away from windows during tornadoes. But earthquakes?
Curious Minnesota
How did these 11 Minnesota towns get their unusual names?
From Climax to Nimrod, Embarrass to Nowthen, we get to the root of some of Minnesota's most unusual place names.
Curious Minnesota
Why is 'southeast' Mpls. actually northeast of downtown?
The area considered southeast Minneapolis actually sits, from a bird's eye view, in the top-right quadrant of the city and north of I-94, which many consider the city's unofficial north-south divider.
Curious Minnesota
Sorry, but why do Minnesotans say 'ope' all the time?
Have you ever bumped into someone and uttered this phrase? Chances are you're from the Midwest.
Duluth
Is Duluth the most inland seaport in North America?
The Port of Duluth-Superior serves as a transportation epicenter, connecting railroads and interstates with the marine "highway" used to ferry millions of tons of cargo around the world.
Curious Minnesota
Why can't Minnesotans zipper merge? Here's how.
The Minnesota Department of Transportation says zipper merging reduces the overall length of a traffic backup by as much as 40 percent. Here's how to do it right.
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Curious Minnesota
Curious Minnesota, a Star Tribune community-driven reporting project, puts readers' inquiries at the center of our newsroom's reporting.
