Jp Lawrence
Reporter
Lawrence has worked for the Albany Times Union, the San Antonio Express-News, and Stars and Stripes. He was born in the Philippines and grew up in Redwood Falls, Minnesota. He joined the Army National Guard and deployed to Iraq in 2009. Big Minnesota Timberwolves fan.
Contact me with tips on stories on local governance, immigration, and interesting slice of life experiences from Mankato to Worthington to Willmar and anywhere in-between.
Latest from Jp Lawrence
Minnesota refugees and immigrants are hiding in ‘a prison of fear’
Across Minnesota, thousands of immigrants and refugees are staying home from work, church and school to avoid ICE agents.
February 5, 2026
A decade ago, fire destroyed a chunk of a small Minnesota downtown. Now it’s thriving again.
Businesses chose to stay in Madelia and rebuild, and people rallied to aid the recovery that has resulted in vibrant downtown.
February 3, 2026
What’s it like to live in Minnesota right now? Life in the shadow of ICE.
We asked people how their lives have changed, or not changed.
February 3, 2026
Bring your dog to the dorm? Some can at this Minnesota college next fall.
Gustavus Adolphus’ pilot program has rules so the campus won’t become a zoo.
January 30, 2026
With ICE surge spreading across state, rumors and anxiety grow in greater Minnesota
Reports of federal agents conducting arrests has some residents on edge in cities and rural communities.
January 14, 2026
Raucous Mankato meeting briefly halted by ICE protesters
The incident laid bare anxieties about ICE and federal operations in Minnesota’s cities.
January 13, 2026
Billionaire Glen Taylor transfers $100 million land gift to support rural areas
The gift to his Taylor Family Farms Foundation follows a $172 million transfer last year.
January 6, 2026
Walz got his start in Mankato. Here’s how his Minnesota hometown is reacting to his decision not to run
The governor first ran for office while teaching high school geography in Mankato.
January 5, 2026
How ‘inclusive’ culture brought an All-America pass rusher to Mankato
Marcus Hansen said he found a home at Minnesota State University, Mankato after a private Christian college ousted him.
January 4, 2026
In Minnesota hockey rinks, tariffs hit the boards
The dasher boards that line ice arenas in Minnesota contain aluminum components from Canada, adding tariff bills of thousands to rink renovations.
January 3, 2026
What one travel writer learned from visiting every city in Minnesota
A travel writer learned about the state’s wildly different ecological areas, observed Nisswa’s turtle races and found his favorite pho in Winona.
December 29, 2025
Archbishop: ICE agents don’t plan to raid churches over holidays
Archbishop Bernard Hebda’s statement comes after Gov. Tim Walz warned of a possible surge of ICE agents in Minnesota in the next two weeks.
December 24, 2025
