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: GOP’s Chris Madel will need more than snark to win the governor’s race
The political newcomer’s my-way-or-the-highway approach won’t work at the State Capitol.
December 4, 2025
Olson: Trump’s 'piggy' insult is yet another stain on his record with women
Outrage over his use of the barnyard nickname shows the president’s dangerous disparagement of his foes faces limits.
December 1, 2025
Olson’s Cheers & Jeers: Here come Diggins and Vonn whizzing by for the coming season
Plus: Rising property taxes, Lake Superior’s silly social media, Pete Stauber’s resistance to in-person town halls, and more.
November 28, 2025
Olson’s Cheers & Jeers: From 9/11 to Annunciation, cheers to this family’s legacy of heroism
Plus: U.S. strikes on Venezuelan boats, U-Fairview drama, votes on the Epstein files and more.
November 21, 2025
Olson: Ramsey County Attorney is a model progressive prosecutor
He’s built a mountain of goodwill and found an improbable ally in Sheriff Bob Fletcher.
November 18, 2025
Olson’s Cheers & Jeers: Kudos to this year’s election winners ... and most of the losers
Plus: The Madeline Kingsbury Foundation, sloppy record-keeping in Gov. Tim Walz’s office, Tom Emmer’s mean streak and more.
November 7, 2025
Olson: St. Paul Mayor-elect Kaohly Her emerges as a new Minnesota star
It happened after a sprint of a political campaign. The state representative entered the mayoral race in August and built her coalition face-to-face with voters.
November 5, 2025
Olson: Demuth brings Trump into the governor’s race, leaning into MAGA outrage
While her Capitol colleagues generally avoid invoking the president’s name, the House speaker’s first move as a statewide candidate was to angle for Trump’s endorsement.
November 3, 2025
Olson’s Cheers & Jeers: A vision to upgrade Allianz Field’s bleak surroundings
Plus: Halloween dangers to pedestrians, graduation ceremonies at the U, Mold-A-Rama departing Como Zoo and more.
October 31, 2025
Olson: Wake up, Walz — it’s go time
The governor has a year to make his case, if he’s willing to tackle the hard stuff.
October 25, 2025
Olson’s Cheers & Jeers: Klobuchar calls out Trump’s blatant money grab
Plus: Hermantown’s secretive data center plans, SNAP cuts, the FBI’s illegal gambling probe and more.
October 24, 2025
Olson: Hope Hoffman’s 911 call raises questions about police response to lawmaker shootings
The haunting question: Why weren’t the Hortmans warned?
October 22, 2025
