Rochelle Olson
Editorial Columnist
Minnesota PoliticsRochelle switched to the Opinion pages in February 2025 after 25 years of covering various beats at the paper. She began her Minnesota Star Tribune tenure in March 2025 covering Minneapolis City Hall. From 2007-2011, she covered the Hennepin County District Court as well as the state's appellate courts. From there she covered St. Paul City Hall and the Ramsey County and Hennepin County boards. She's also been a general assignment reporter. She reported on both the federal and state trials of the former Minneapolis police officers convicted in the murder of George Floyd. She's also written innumerable stories about efforts to rebuild and refurbish sports stadiums, ballparks and arenas across the Twin Cities. She spent the first eight years of her journalism career with the Associated Press in Kansas City, Mo., Topeka, Charleston, W.Va. and St. Paul. She has a master's degree from the University of Kansas and a bachelor's from Hamline University. She grew up in east Bloomington and graduated from John F. Kennedy High School. She still loves to swim laps in the southern suburb's outdoor 50-meter pool formerly known as Valley View.
Latest from Rochelle Olson
Olson’s Cheers & Jeers: Jacob Frey stands firm under siege
Plus: “Heated Rivalry” steals Minnesota’s thunder, the horrors of Whipple Federal Building and more.
February 6, 2026
Olson’s Cheers & Jeers: Ilhan Omar’s got some serious cojones
Plus: Minnesota CEOs’ weak-sauce letter, Chris Madel dropping out of the gubernatorial race, one cool soccer dad and more.
January 30, 2026
Olson: You can believe your eyes. There’s tyranny in the streets.
A reckoning will come, just as it did after George Floyd.
January 28, 2026
Olson’s Cheers & Jeers: Twin Cities police demand an end to illegal ICE activity
Plus: Greg Bovino’s folksy news conference, Tommy Brennan’s hot take on SNL and more.
January 23, 2026
Olson: ‘F------ b----’: What two words tell us about ICE and violence against women
It’s impossible to dismiss the threads of misogyny present in the fatal shooting of Renee Good.
January 21, 2026
Olson’s Cheers & Jeers: An unbelievable assist for Gophers hockey captain Murphy
Plus: Prosecutors resign over Good investigation, beloved Ely wolf dies, Mike Lindell’s run for governor and more.
January 16, 2026
Olson: By handing over ICE shooting investigation, Rosen betrays Minnesota
The U.S. attorney has torched his office’s reputation and failed those seeking a fair investigation into the fatal shooting of Renee Good.
January 14, 2026
Olson: Walz and other leaders just showed us who they are
And it was impressive, in some cases.
January 11, 2026
Olson’s Cheers & Jeers: Finally, Minnesota gets a real winter
Plus: Hope Walz does her family and hometown proud, Pete Hegseth doesn’t — and more.
January 9, 2026
Olson: Walz did the right thing
It’s not easy for anyone to step away from power, but the governor’s decision was a wise one.
January 6, 2026
Olson: Top 10 political stories to watch for in 2026
A sneak peek at the issues sure to define the new year.
January 3, 2026
Olson’s Cheers & Jeers: High school senior turns personal tragedy into action on mental health
Plus: Twin Cities immigration enforcement, Brainerd’s ice skating trail, the viral fraud video and more.
January 2, 2026
