Recent content from MaryJo Webster
Racial covenants found embedded in Ramsey County deeds
The research is far from complete, but the Mapping Prejudice group plans to launch a dialogue about the consequences of racial covenants in Ramsey County as it has in Hennepin County.
Did the Twin Cities population grow or shrink during the pandemic?
Two new datasets showing city-level population estimates give quite different results.
Census overcount of Minnesota's population may have aided political win
Data released Thursday helped explain how the state narrowly retained its last congressional seat.
How popular is your first name (or any other) in Minnesota?
Track the popularity of any first name in Minnesota over the past century.
Minnesota eviction filings soared in April
Court filings last month were not only higher than March, but far above pre-pandemic levels.
Minnesota's juvenile justice system failing youth, families, victims
A Star Tribune examination of hundreds of juvenile court records finds that the system is failing to effectively intervene in the lives of Minnesota's most troubled youth, often despite anguished pleas from parents.
Minnesota's graduation rate dipped slightly in 2021, but Black students see gains
State education leaders say the pandemic led the class of 2021 to face unprecedented challenges in crossing the finish line.
Hennepin, Ramsey counties show population declines in 2021
State demographer says early retirements and college disruptions due to COVID-19 played a role.
These are Minnesota's top greenhouse gas polluters
About 100 facilities in Minnesota generate about 25% of the state's total greenhouse gases.
Ethanol's clean air benefits clouded by greenhouse gas emissions
Corn ethanol's per-gallon carbon output shrinks, but greenhouse gas from plants remains high.
Minn. 2021 death toll well above expected total despite vaccine
More than 5,000 COVID-19 deaths in the state last year account for most of the increase.
Twin Cities homebuyers flocked to these neighborhoods in 2021
The most dynamic neighborhood in Minneapolis for home buyers last year was in the northeast corner of the city, according to the Star Tribune's Hot Housing Index.
Minnesota public school enrollment drops, but decline is less severe than previous year
Kindergarten enrollment, which fell during the pandemic, has bounced back somewhat.
Six takeaways from Minnesota's new redistricting maps
Last week's release of new congressional and legislative maps has shifted Minnesota's electoral landscape.
Maps show how redistricting reshapes Minnesota's political borders
Every legislative seat is up for re-election in a redistricting year, meaning control of state government is at stake in the fall election.
Where buyers have best odds in Twin Cities area housing market
These communities had the most listings, lowest price increases and least amount of competition, according to a Star Tribune list of the best markets for home buyers.
Hottest Twin Cities housing markets were far out from cities
The exurbs rose in popularity and price as the pandemic unfolded in 2020, and then they took all 10 hottest spots this past year.
Exurbs rise to the top in ranking of Twin Cities area's hottest housing markets
Space and lower prices helped cities on the edge climb to the top of the Star Tribune's latest Hot Housing Index.
For 19% of Mpls. voters, Frey was the only mayoral choice ranked
New data released after votes were certified offers a deeper look at how voters ranked the mayoral candidates - and why a campaign urging people not to rank the incumbent mayor ultimately lost.
Minnesota student math, reading scores drop in pandemic year
More than 20% of eligible students did not take statewide tests.
5 takeaways from the 2020 census data for Minnesota
Interesting things we're seeing in the 2020 census data released Thursday.
How Twin Cities housing rules keep the metro segregated
Decades of zoning policies that prioritize single-family homes have perpetuated more racially explicit discrimination.
Minnesota legislators aim to spur creation of more entry-level housing
Proposed bill follows Star Tribune report examining zoning restrictions.
Tracking coronavirus in Minnesota
See how COVID-19 has spread in Minnesota and across the United States.
Homeownership gap in the Twin Cities is highest in the nation
A surge in single-family rentals in Hennepin and Ramsey counties is eliminating options for minority and low-income buyers.
Minnesota's public school enrollment drops 2% as parents explore pandemic options
Enrollment is down by 2% statewide, with bigger drops in kindergarten and the other early grades.
COVID-19 fuels highest annual Minnesota death count
Increases in all causes of mortality in Minnesota in 2020 refute claims that pandemic only killed people who already were going to die.
Inequities persist in St. Paul and Ramsey County COVID relief
Despite efforts to be fair, some historically underserved areas of the capital city still came out behind as $12.7 million in emergency funds were given out.
What were the hottest housing markets in the Twin Cities metro area?
With mortgage rates falling to record lows and a pandemic upending how and where people want to live, sales exceeded new listings throughout much of the metro. Find out how your community fared in our searchable Hot Housing Index for 2020.
Every police-involved death in Minnesota since 2000
The Star Tribune collected the names and stories of everyone who died after a physical confrontation with law enforcement in Minnesota since January 2000, and continues to update this database as new incidents occur.
Young and social North Loop sees rapid rise in COVID cases
The Minneapolis neighborhood has the city's third highest growth rate in new coronavirus cases, which tracks with the large number of young adults who live there and were more likely to socialize and dine out.
Minneapolis police overtime in 2 weeks after Floyd death: $3.3M
Costs associated with the summer unrest doubled the Minneapolis Police Department's allotted overtime budget for 2020.
New look shows violent crime's spread across Mpls. this summer
The surge in violent crime this summer included more prosperous neighborhoods that typically experience few such incidents while continuing to exact the heaviest toll in the city's poor areas, according to a Star Tribune analysis of police statistics.
How COVID-19 case rates will affect each Minn. school district's reopening plan
The state's Safe Learning Plan relies on many variables.
People of color hit harder by COVID-19 in Twin Cities, data confirm
Black and Hispanic Minnesotans are far more likely to be infected than white Minnesotans, state data show.
Minnesota's online schools attract interest amid pandemic
State concerned about online charter schools' math scores.
Pandemic leads to 20% increase in overall deaths in Minnesota
In just seven weeks, the additional fatalities have cut into generations and communities, especially the elderly and people of color.
Minnesota parents tell us what they really think of online learning
We asked parents to fill out a survey about how K-12 online learning is going as a result of the pandemic. Comments ranged from intense enthusiasm and gratitude for what teachers have done to immense frustration.
Minnesota parents, educators stress need to maintain personal connection with students
A Star Tribune survey of parents shows that the more frequent the live video sessions between staff and students, the greater their satisfaction with their children's learning.
Minnesota schools will have to detail how they spend aid for struggling students
Legislative Auditor's Office says more disclosure is needed for aid intended to shrink achievement gap.
Minnesota, how is remote learning going for your family?
Do you have children between kindergarten and 12th grade participating in online learning through their Minnesota school during this stay-at-home order period? We’d like to…
COVID-related reforms bring cautious optimism from Twin Cities activists
The novel coronavirus has already seriously disrupted police and court systems in the Twin Cities, as elsewhere.
On Census Day, about 44% of Minn. households have said: We're here
Officials hope more Minnesotans will complete the form online.
Minnesota eviction numbers see dramatic decline in past decade
The number statewide has dropped 33% since the foreclosure crisis.
Downtown East leads Mpls. neighborhoods in crime increase
The area, also known as East Town, was part of the nearly two-thirds of the city's 81 neighborhoods that saw an increase in overall crime in 2019, from the previous four-year average.
Once-obscure suburbs are the new hot housing markets
First-time buyers and baby boomers are getting priced out of newer, more expensive suburbs and popular urban neighborhoods.
How Minneapolis might reshape its school district
Minneapolis has released five proposals to shift schools and students around the district.
Violent crime dropped in St. Paul last year, despite record gun deaths
A Star Tribune analysis of newly released police data shows that while homicides soared in 2019, reports of aggravated assaults, rapes and robberies decreased, contributing to a reduction in overall violent crime.
Minnesotans' income grew faster than inflation last year, while inequality expanded slightly
Latest Census survey shows more effects from retiring baby boomers.
More Minnesota students opt out of state tests, create a dilemma
Around the state, the rate of students choosing to bypass the state's largest standardized exams has risen steadily for more than a decade.
How did Minn. become one of the most racially inequitable states?
By almost any measurement, Minnesota is plagued by racial disparities — in unemployment, in poverty, in homeownership. Readers want to know what's behind the inequities.
Which Minnesota schools are scoring better than expected?
A Star Tribune analysis of standardized math and reading test scores can determine whether schools are doing better than their demographics would suggest. Look up whether your school made the cut.
2019: $600M a year to fight Minnesota's achievement gap, yet it persists
It's tricky to track where the aid to schools is going – and whether it's working.
Minnesota graduation rate hits all-time high; racial gap narrows
More than 83 percent of students graduated on time, with some progress in narrowing the achievement gap.
As rents rise in the Twin Cities, suburbs embrace affordable housing efforts
With rents rising across the metro, cities find stable options to help, and keep, tenants.
Look up vaccination rates at more than 2,900 Minnesota schools and day cares
Hundreds of Minnesota schools and child care centers face an increased risk of measles outbreaks because not enough of their students have been vaccinated.
With fewer kids vaccinated, more Minn. schools vulnerable
"Herd immunity" is lost in one-third of state schools, several of which have had chickenpox outbreaks since 2017. That's the same year unvaccinated children helped drive a measles outbreak.
Police undertrained and overwhelmed by rape cases in Minnesota
Inadequate training for police who investigate sexual assaults, along with poor staffing and high turnover, plagues many police departments across the state – resulting in fewer charges against suspected offenders.
How alcohol foils rape investigations
Police are less likely to interview witnesses, assign cases to a detective or forward them to a prosecutor if the victim was drinking, according to a Star Tribune analysis. When cases involving alcohol do reach prosecutors, suspects are much less likely to be charged with a crime or convicted.
When rape is reported in Minnesota and nothing happens
A Star Tribune examination of more than 1,000 recent sexual assault cases shows pervasive failings by law enforcement — neglecting to interview witnesses, collect crucial evidence, or conduct criminal background checks on suspects. Many cases were never even assigned to an investigator.
When rape is reported and something happens
As dozens more women have stepped forward to tell their stories, reforms are underway in Minnesota. Victim advocates and rape survivors say they are heartened by the pledges of reform by police leaders, prosecutors and lawmakers.
A better way to investigate rape
Utah's shift is a promising sign of how a state can do more to help rape victims get the justice that so often eludes them — if everyone involved is working with the same priorities.
Convicted for rape in Minnesota, free from prison time
Felons spend less time in prison in Minnesota, and the state says that's by design.
Schools struggle with widening student and teacher racial gap
Minnesota's student body is rapidly becoming more diverse, while the teaching force remains mostly white.
Special Report: A victim heard, justice served
Many sexual assault reports in Minnesota are poorly investigated.
Most don't result in charges or convictions. This one was different.
Minnesota rape cases: Rejected by the prosecution
In Minnesota, half of sex assault cases police send to prosecutors never result in charges. Prosecutors reject cases that include DNA evidence, witnesses, and sometimes even confessions, records show.
Insurers target seniors with shifting Medicare options
New plans in mix as more than 300,000 Minnesota seniors seek new coverage.
Minnesota has new benchmarks for schools, IDs 485 for help
New accountability system is designed to give better picture of overall performances.
Twin Cities STEM teachers are facing pay challenges
A Star Tribune analysis reveals that Twin Cities STEM teachers make less than many other kinds of teachers.
Minnesota police board promises steps to improve sex assault investigations
POST Board will prepare officer training standards and a model policy for sex assault investigations.
Frey pledges 'care and compassion' for sex assault victims
Minneapolis mayor was responding to a report showing chronic failings in sex assault investigations in Minnesota.
No houses available to buy in Twin Cities? Blame rentals
More owners of affordable homes rent them out rather than offer them for sale.
2017's most popular baby names: How popular is yours?
Whether you favor perennial favorites or trendier names, see how popular they've been in 2017 -- and in all the years going back to 1910.
Pawlenty laps GOP field with $1M in 3 weeks of fundraising
Tim Pawlenty has the money and name recognition to skip an unpredictable GOP endorsement convention and head straight to the primary.
