Christopher Vondracek
Washington Correspondent
AgricultureChristopher Vondracek has reported on prairie dog lawsuits in the Black Hills to federal education policy in Washington D.C. A native of Wells and Kiester, Minn., Vondracek graduated from the University of South Dakota and taught college English for years before becoming a full-time journalist. A previous agriculture reporter for the Strib, Vondracek also authored a memoir ("Dancing with Welk") and poetry book ("Rattlesnake Summer"). He lives on Capitol Hill with his wife, Carrie, and children, Rosie and Eamon.
Latest from Christopher Vondracek
He had to move away from Minnesota to begin to figure it out
Local nonfiction: “Greater Minnesota” travelogue details a home-grown returnee’s conversion.
December 3, 2025
Trump administration to investigate Minnesota over claims of fraud pipeline to terrorists
DFL Gov. Tim Walz has said he welcomes a federal investigation.
December 2, 2025
Thousands of Minnesotans flock to find big deals on Black Friday
The day-after-Thanksgiving start to Christmas shopping season is not the urgent juggernaut of yore, but still the biggest day for most brick-and-mortar stores.
November 28, 2025
Trump says he’s ending Temporary Protected Status for Somalis in Minnesota
Over 400 Somalis were living in Minnesota with Temporary Protected Status as of 2023.
November 22, 2025
Rep. Kelly Morrison calls for House to vote on Trump tariffs
The Deephaven Democrat, who is Minnesota’s newest member of Congress, sent House Speaker Mike Johnson a letter asking for a vote on lifting tariffs.
November 17, 2025
How Minnesota’s House delegation voted on ending shutdown
The 43-day shutdown of the federal government was the longest in American history.
November 13, 2025
Minnesota Democrats, moderates and progressives alike slam shutdown deal
The moment for Democrats comes as the party looks to recapture both houses of Congress in the fall 2026 midterm elections.
November 10, 2025
Minnesota’s U.S. senators call potential shutdown deal ‘a mistake’
A growing number of Democrats appeared to be ready to debate legislation to end the government shutdown. But Minnesota’s two Democratic senators were not among them.
November 10, 2025
Minnesota soybean farmers fear lasting scars from Trump’s trade war with China
Farmers are already feeling financial stress, but they hope a deal might alter what they fear is a shift that will result in permanent lower demand for U.S. soybeans.
October 29, 2025
Bipartisan backlash, led by Midwest politicians, rises against Trump’s comments on beef industry
Some Minnesota ranchers, though, are supportive of the president’s economic policy.
October 23, 2025
MAHA is complicated for sugar beet country as its ideals collide with livelihoods
Demand for sugar, a $3.1 billion industry for Minnesota, is down, and farmers see a direct connection with the MAHA movement.
October 22, 2025
Federal cuts have emptied Minnesota food shelves. Officials say things could get worse.
As demand increases, food pantries struggle to keep up.
October 21, 2025
