Recent content from David Joles
North Shore gets snow and freezing rain.
Sleet, freezing rain, hail and snow pelted the region, with thunderstorms and heavy winds rolling through, too.
Another winter storm hits the North Shore
A storm hitting the North Shore Tuesday and on into Wednesday is expected to bring with it winds gusting to 60 mph or more, potentially generating 20-foot-high waves on Lake Superior.
Gallery: St. Michael-Albertville fights past Hopkins to win Class 4A state championship
St. Michael-Albertville defeated Hopkins 71-70 to win the Class 4A state basketball tournament on Saturday at Williams Arena in Minneapolis.
Gallery: Benilde-St. Margaret's wins Class 3A state championship
Benilde-St. Margaret's won 66-60 over Stewartville in the Class 3A state championship game on Saturday at Williams Arena in Minneapolis.
Photos: Second day of storm brings cold, wind
As the snow that fell Wednesday subsides, a winter storm will bring a prolonged period of strong winds that are expected to drop wind chill readings dangerously low and create whiteout conditions that threaten to disrupt travel on the ground and air for a second straight day on Thursday, December 22, 2022.
Winter weather system rolls into Minnesota
Rain swept over the Twin Cities metro area on Tuesday, as a winter weather system begins its sweep over Minnesota. A mix of rain, snow, sleet and wind were expected in the southern half of the state, while heavy snow expected in the northern half.
Incredible photos show hundreds of sandhill cranes migrating south
Tens of thousands of sandhill cranes have passed through and some continue to arrive at the Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge during their annual fall migration south. As of Tuesday, Nov. 8, a record 29,256 cranes were recorded staging on the refuge, more than double the previous record of 14,578 birds from 2019.
Benilde-St. Margaret's volleyball sweeps Kasson-Mantorville 3-0 in 3A semifinal
Benilde-St. Margaret's volleyball team took on Kasson-Mantorville during a 3A tournament semifinal match on Friday, Nov. 11 at Xcel Energy Center. The Red Knights won 3-0 and will advance to the championship.
Marshall volleyball flounces past Grand Rapids in 3A semifinals
The Marshall Tigers defeated Grand Rapids in the three sets during a 3A tournament semifinal match on Friday, Nov. 11 at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. Marshall will advance to the championship.
Pigs feast on Halloween pumpkins
Pigs named after "Monsters, Inc" movie characters Boo, Sully, Mike and Randall munched on discarded Halloween pumpkins on Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2022 at Richard and Tanya Franta's Sunnyside Farm near River Falls, Wis. The retired jack-o-lanterns will be collected for the pigs at River Falls cookie shop Mei Mei's Cookies & Creamery until Saturday, Nov. 5.
Gophers defeat Michigan State 34-7
The University of Minnesota took on Michigan State at Spartan Stadium in Lansing, Mich., Saturday, Sept. 22, 2022.
Bethel beats St. John's 28-24
St. John's University takes on Bethel College at Royal Stadium in Arden Hills, Minn., Saturday, Sept. 22, 2022.
Photos: Consumers plan to save ahead of holidays
With higher prices, consumers could spend less on toys for the holidays.
Animal Humane Society agent Amanda Oquist
On the job and at home with Animal Humane Society agent Amanda Oquist in rural Minnesota.
Forager Russ Henry's small urban food forest
Forager Russ Henry's small urban backyard — his food forest 15 years in the making that he and his family are growing and eating — is seen Thursday, June 23, 2022 in Minneapolis.
Kids get vaccines at the Mall of America
Children under 5 were able to receive newly available COVID-19 vaccines at the Mall of America vaccination site.
Hot and humid day in the Twin Cities
An excessive heat warning went into effect at 11 a.m. Tuesday, June 14 in the seven-county metro area and will last until 8 p.m.
Bois Forte celebrates historic return of tribal land
More than 28,000 acres of reservation land lost a century ago is back under Band ownership.
Memorial Day storm aftermath in Forada, Minn.
The National Weather Service and law enforcement confirmed at least one tornado touched down in the western Minnesota town of Forada, where between 80 and 100 structures were damaged, numerous trees uprooted and power lines were toppled during a severe storm on Memorial Day. The aftermath is seen on Tuesday, May 31, 2022.
Summer storms leave trail of damage
Storms packing tropical storm force winds toppled trees and power lines leaving thousands across the metro in the dark from storms on Wednesday, May 11, 2022.
Friends School plant sale
Spring has finally arrived and Minnesotans are wasting no time embracing the long desired warmth. Crowds swelled Friday morning at the Friends School Plant Sale at the State Fairgrounds
Craft Brewers Conference in Minneapolis
With 10,000 people gathered for this week's Craft Brewers Conference in Minneapolis, leaders say the industry is maturing and smaller breweries must keep pace with consumers.
Minneapolis artist Kat Corrigan paints a pet portrait a day
Over the past decade, Kat Corrigan has captured the eye colors, head tilts and swirling fur of hundreds of pets via her monthlong dog-a-day and cat-a-day challenges. Sure, she paints landscapes. Wildlife, too. But "pet portraits — that's the practice that keeps me going," she said.
St. Paul's St. Patrick's Day Parade is back!
After a hiatus during the pandemic, the St. Paul's St. Patrick's Day Parade was back and full of Irish cheer on March 17, 2022, in downtown St. Paul.
Gophers pro day
Scouts all 32 NFL teams gathered Wednesday at the University of Minnesota's indoor football facility to watch the 13 Gophers and a handful of players from other area schools go through drills to prove they're worthy to be selected in the NFL draft on April 28-30.
Hermantown wins 3-2 over Warroad
Hermantown plays Warroad during the MSHSL 1A championship boys hockey game Saturday, March 12, 2022 at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn.
Southern Minnesota town hit hard by Dec. storm
After hitting Hartland about 7 p.m., the storm moved north and east and damaged homes near Lewiston and in Plainview, about 20 miles away, produced wind gusts of 85 mph. Initial reports there indicated a second tornado touched down. That was not confirmed, despite reports Wednesday night, Kurz said.
Black Friday shopping less frenzied
Though there were definitely shoppers Black Friday, Nov. 26, 2021, the crowds were smaller than before the pandemic.
Lynx beat Indiana Fever
The Minnesota Lynx beat the Indiana Fever 90-80 at Target Center on Sunday, September 12, 2021.
Restaurants to discover in Alexandria, St. Joseph
There's plenty of delicious ground to cover along I-94 on the way to lake country.
Book conservator breathes new life into family heirloom
Bailey Kinsky of Valkyrie Conservation runs a one-woman shop out of her garage loft in Stillwater. She brought Phil Handy's 250-year-old family Bible back to life.
Photos: Boxers train on the Minnesota backroads
Boxers work towards bouts at Circle of Discipline training center in Barnum, Minnesota.
Workouts ahead of Canterbury Park opening
Exercise riders and horses head to the track for a workout Friday at Canterbury Park in Shakopee.
COVID patient discharged after 81 days
John Grubb, of St. Michael, was discharged from HCMC after 81 days on the ECMO heart-lung bypass machine.
Student fires gunshots in Plymouth Middle School
A school resource officer apprehended the student, who fired the shots in a hall outside a bathroom, police and the district superintendent said during a media briefing late Monday morning. A gun was recovered, police said.
Lorie Line: At home in music
After nearly losing home to foreclosure, entertainer Lorie Line has come back to relishing her life.
Visitors at Paisley Park on the 5th anniversary of Prince's death
People remembered Prince on the 5th anniversary of his death on Wednesday, April 21, 2021.
Minnesota students stage walkouts to protest racial injustice
Students from dozens of Minnesota schools walked out of their classrooms Monday afternoon, in a coordinated protest against racial injustice and the killing of Daunte Wright, the 20-year-old man shot by a police officer in a traffic stop in Brooklyn Center earlier this month.
Chet Holmgren chooses Gonzaga
Minnehaha Academy basketball star Chet Holmgren chose Gonzaga to continue his basketball career.
Class 2A wrestling tournament
Action from the Class 2A wrestling team semifinals and finals at St. Michael-Albertville High School on Friday.
A newborn born in a car outside hospital named after security officer who helped deliver her
A press conference featured Hennepin Healthcare officer Tiffany Owen, who delivered the baby of Lacey Gonzalez on March 8 in a car outside the hospital.
Photos: Winter on the wing
Remember winter? These birds do because they likely spent most of it here. And staff photographer David Joles remembers, as well. He set out to photograph some of these images when winter was at its worst — 20-below worst. "I figured it would look as cold as it felt," he said. He worked in 30-minute stints, until his camera equipment and fingers froze. "I have a great respect for birds and animals that can survive a Minnesota winter," he said.
Wild vs Kings
Minnesota Wild played L.A. Kings at Excel Friday night.
Formerly homeless, now helping others
Through hard work and the help of others, Allen Touche may get the stability he has longed for.
Black Friday in-store shopping lighter during pandemic
Though people did still turn out for Black Friday deals early, the crowds were lighter than usual.
Day before Thanksgiving still brings out the crowds at airport
Traffic at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport was occasionally brisk Wednesday morning as travelers hurry to celebrate Thanksgiving with friends and family, despite warnings from health officials to stay home as the deadly COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread.
Photos: Gophers women's hockey loses to Ohio State
The Minnesota Gophers women's hockey team lost 2-1 to Ohio State to split the series.
Excelsior house on the move Friday
A century-old Excelsior house, marked for demolition, is being saved by moving it from its current location about eight blocks away.
The "No-Go Zone," surrounding the area of 38th and Chicago
The "No-Go Zone," surrounding the area of 38th and Chicago where George Floyd was killed, is a different experience from day to night.
Target reopens Lake Street store heavily damaged in riots
The Target Store on Lake Street in Minneapolis will reopen Wednesday for the first time since shutting down in May following riots that destroyed the business and many others along the normally bustling commercial corridor.
Photos: New saliva testing center
A new saliva testing center for COVID was set up in the Minneapolis Convention Center.
COVID antigen testing at UW-Eau Claire
The testing was for those who are asymptomatic and took about 20 minutes from the time the swab is taken until the results came back. UW-Eau Claire has a comprehensive COVID tracking program and can quickly test students and faculty.
A young mother, a cancer diagnosis and a year of grieving
When cancer hijacked a new mother's happily ever after, she planned a death as unconventional as her life. A year later, her husband is the father he never expected to be, carrying on her legacy.
The Farmington band plays on working through COVID times
The pandemic has disrupted just about every part of school, but things are tough this year for band and choir programs but adjustments are making in person learning possible.
Voting begins in Minnesota
On Friday, the first day of voting in Minnesota, people turned up in person to cast their votes despite a record number of Minneapolis voters requesting mail-in ballots.
Vegetable plots are a working pandemic victory garden
Since June, the farm has grown nearly 7,000 pounds of fresh produce for an Elk River food shelf.
Homeless encampment space reclaimed
A homeless encampment has once again sprung up at the site of the Wall of Forgotten Natives, the 2018 encampment that raised the state's awareness of the growing homeless problem. There was a news conference by the homeless advocates and the park board's announcement Wednesday that all encampments on park property must be gone by October.
Colleges prep for COVID-19 differently
Plans to monitor college students for coronavirus and disclose campus cases very widely across Minnesota.
Fire at Metro Metals Recycling
A large fire at Metro Metals Recycling sent a giant black plume of smoke skyward, visible around the metro for miles Tuesday mid-morning in St. Paul. St. Paul fire responded to the fire --mostly old cars awaiting recycling--and fairly quickly had the fire under control.
Nonprofits get creative in race for donations
Some organizations worry they may not survive the economic crisis. Erich Mische of Spare Key will soon begin a two-month,1,700 mile journey down the Mississippi River to raise money to help keep his non-profit afloat.
Giving mussels to the Mississippi River
For the first time in nearly a century, native mussels may soon return to a barren stretch of the Mississippi River above St. Anthony Falls in downtown Minneapolis. First, however, river mussels were transplanted to a spot in the St. Croix River to grow, across from Hudson, Wis.
Helping the homeless and looking for solutions
Thousands of Minnesotans who are poor, elderly or have disabilities will get more help staying in their own homes and avoid becoming homeless under an innovative Medicaid program launched this week by the state Department of Human Services. People Inc., a St. Paul nonprofit, provided outreach services to a group of homeless people camping at Eastside Heritage Park in St. Paul.
Mall of America reopens
Mall of America reopens Wednesday for the first time since the pandemic and delays after protests in the aftermath of George Floyd's death.
Canterbury Park prepares for racing
On the day before racing starts, Canterbury Park was humming with activity, including trainer/horse owner Shawn Davis of Idaho and Arizona as he headed for an elevated spot to watch some of his 18 horses work out Tuesday.
Teens celebrated during drive-in graduation ceremony
Class of 2020 students were celebrated during drive-in ceremony for graduates with ties to Shiloh Temple.
Mendota Heights artist with autism garners international fame
Painter and mixed media artist Jimmy Reagan's works have been shown around the world, alongside that of Picasso and Seurat. His pieces sell for up to $8,000.
How did wolves become dogs? These Minnesota wolf pups may hold the answer
Three wolf puppies are key to a new theory about how wolves evolved into dogs.
Preparing for a quieter Memorial Day
Memorial Day 2020 will be yet another strange holiday because of COVID-19 at Fort Snelling National Cemetery and beyond.