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Matt DeLong

Digital projects editor | Newsroom
Phone: 612-673-4854

Matt DeLong is the Star Tribune’s digital projects editor. He has worked on many digital initiatives, from election planning to the Minnesota Beer Bracket to helping tipsters contact reporters securely. He has reported on extremism in the state and written reader guides on many topics, including Minnesota gun laws, voting and out-of-state Vikings bars. DeLong oversees the Star Tribune Minnesota Poll and curates the daily Talkers afternoon newsletter. 


Prior to joining the Star Tribune in late 2014, DeLong was a digital editor on the national desk at the Washington Post, where he focused on national politics, the federal government and national security. He was part of the team awarded the 2014 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service for coverage of the National Security Agency's secret surveillance programs. A native of upstate New York, DeLong currently lives in Minneapolis. He can be reached on the encrypted messaging app Signal at 612-643-0344.
Recent content from Matt DeLong
The bill would legalize the possession and use of marijuana for Minnesotans 21 and older. Here, Andrew “Reefer Man” Sumner smoked during Hash Bas

What you need to know about Minnesota's marijuana legalization law

Minnesota is the 23rd state to legalize recreational cannabis. Here's a detailed look at what the new law allows — and what it won't.
A mature marijuana plant.

Send us your questions about marijuana in Minnesota

How is the new THC law working out? What's the deal with all these new products? We want to know what's on your mind.
TALKERS051923

TALKERS051923

TOP STORIESWhat you need to know about Minnesota's marijuana legalization bill: The DFL-controlled House voted 73-57 late Thursday to give its final approval of…
TALKERS031323

TALKERS031323

TOP STORIESFeds charge 10 new people in Feeding Our Future fraud probe: The additional charges in the case, which was first filed in September, are…
FILE- In this June 19, 2017, file photo, a person types on a laptop keyboard in North Andover, Mass. The availability of remote work has increased sig

Minneapolis Public Schools cyberattack: What to know and how to protect your data

The district has not specified exactly what information was accessed, but there are steps people can take to protect their information.
Marijuana in Minnesota

Marijuana in Minnesota

More coverage of the debate over legalization of recreational marijuana.
TALKERS022323

TALKERS022323

TOP STORIESMinnesotans begin digging out from two-day storm: The powerful storm didn't bring quite as much snow as originally forecast, said National Weather Service meteorologist…
TALKERS022223

TALKERS022223

TOP STORIESStorm disrupts travel, school and Ash Wednesday church services across Minnesota: From just a few inches of snow in the Twin Cities to as…
TALKERS022123

TALKERS022123

TOP STORIESLatest forecasts show up to 7" tonight, more than a foot the next two days: Gov. Tim Walz issued an emergency executive order to…
TALKERS022023

TALKERS022023

TOP STORIESMulti-day storm could bring up to 20 inches of snow to the Twin Cities: In a winter that has already served up more than…
Vikings bar finder: Updated list of where to watch games across the U.S.

Vikings bar finder: Updated list of where to watch games across the U.S.

With 83 verified Vikings bars in 27 states — a list that's been growing because of suggestions from readers — connecting with fellow fans may be easier than you think.
City of Minneapolis plow clears snow from a Olson Highway Service Road in Minneapolis.

Where to park during a snow emergency in the Twin Cities

What you need to know about parking rules when a snow emergency is declared in Minneapolis or St. Paul.
TALKERS092622

TALKERS092622

TOP STORIESOnline threats force Richfield to close its secondary schools: The district's decision came three days after gunfire wounded two people outside its high school…
TALKERS100322

TALKERS100322

TOP STORIESPandemic frontline workers will each get $487 from state: State officials will send out payments to 1,025,655 people, significantly more than initially anticipated. The…
The latest Star Tribune/MPR News/KARE 11 Minnesota Poll released this week found that DFL Gov. Tim Walz, left, holds a comfortable but not overwhelmin

Six key takeaways from this week's Minnesota Poll

A deeper dive into the latest Star Tribune/MPR News/KARE 11 Minnesota Poll's findings on the 2022 statewide elections, abortion, marijuana and more.
Scott Marszalek receives a monkeypox vaccine Wednesday at a pop-up vaccination site in West Hollywood, Calif.

What you need to know about monkeypox in Minnesota

Questions about the monkeypox outbreak? Here are some answers.
A new state law legalizes some products containing hemp-derived THC.

Some THC products are now legal in Minnesota: Here's what you need to know

A new state law allows Minnesotans 21 and older to purchase certain edibles and beverages containing the active ingredient in marijuana.
Demonstrators last year protested the Texas abortion law, which prohibits most abortions after about six weeks, outside the U.S. Supreme Court buildin

What the end of Roe means in Minnesota and elsewhere

The U.S. Supreme Court appears poised to overturn Roe v. Wade, effectively ending the era of federal protection for legal abortion across the nation.
A Moderna COVID-19 vaccine dose for a preschooler on Monday, June 20, in Minneapolis.

How to find a COVID-19 vaccine appointment for kids under 5 in Minnesota

The federal government has finally approved shots for younger children. Here's what you need to know.
FILE - Minneapolis police stand outside the department’s 3rd Precinct on May 27, 2020, in Minneapolis. Almost two years after George Floyd died at t

7 takeaways from the report on MPD racial discrimination

The Minnesota Department of Human Rights on Wednesday released a 72-page report detailing widespread racial discrimination by Minneapolis police officers.
Still frames from police body camera footage of the shooting of Amir Locke.

Breaking down the police bodycam video of the Amir Locke shooting

A second-by-second look at what the footage shows and what it doesn't.
TALKERS012822

TALKERS012822

TOP STORIESTwin Cities metro hospitals halt ambulance diversions amid COVID-19 crush: COVID-19 pressures have forced Twin Cities hospitals to suspend the long-standing practice of…
From left, former Minneapolis police officers J. Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane and Tou Thao

What you need to know about federal trial this week of 3 ex-officers in George Floyd's death

Opening statements are set to begin Monday.
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TALKERS100421

TOP STORIESMinnesota accident victims surrender millions to a relentless, lightly-regulated industry: About 750,000 Americans receive billions of dollars in payments each year from legal settlements.…
TALKERS100522

TALKERS100522

TOP STORIES2 masked Texans among 3 who ambushed ATM technician in Edina, fled with $112K: Two men from Houston were arrested and charged in Hennepin…
TALKERS100622

TALKERS100622

TOP STORIESFeds say suspected militia adherent had machine gun, grenade launcher in his Anoka home: A Twin Cities man described by prosecutors as an anti-government…
TALKERS093022

TALKERS093022

TOP STORIESRichfield, Bloomington schools will require parent chaperones for students at football away games: The stringent security measure is a response to last week's shooting…
TALKERS102022

TALKERS102022

TOP STORIESMinneapolis moves forward on community safety office after council approves: The split vote came two months after the city hired a new commissioner to…
TALKERS081222

TALKERS081222

TOP STORIESMinnesota's newly elected GOP U.S. Rep. Brad Finstad sworn in: Finstad, of New Ulm, defeated Democrat Jeff Ettinger in Tuesday's special election to fill…
TALKERS112921

TALKERS112921

TOP STORIESTall Ships festival moves to Two Harbors for 2022: The Festival of Sail featuring tall-masted ships of yesteryear will have a new port of…
TALKERS021722

TALKERS021722

TOP STORIESTwin Cities meal distributors under federal investigation have history of legal troubles: The owners of several companies at the center of an FBI fraud…
Talkers100721

Talkers100721

TOP STORIESMurky laws hobble judges weighing lifechanging deals for accident victims: Last weekend, the Star Tribune published the first part of a special report examining…
TALKERS100821

TALKERS100821

TOP STORIESCOVID-19 testing, positivity rate reach 2021 highs in Minnesota: A key barometer of pandemic activity has matched a 2021 high in Minnesota, where the…
TALKERS100422

TALKERS100422

TOP STORIESLife prison sentence for fatal road rage shooting of youth baseball coach: Jamal Lindsey Smith, 34, of Chicago, appeared virtually inside the packed courtroom…
TALKERS112321

TALKERS112321

TOP STORIESSecond-oldest Minnesota State Fair food vendor ends 90-year run: One of the Minnesota State Fair's longest-running food vendors has turned off the ice…
TALKERS100722

TALKERS100722

TOP STORIESInside the fight to save the last of a "most Minnesota butterfly": 20 years ago, this butterfly disappeared from the state. Now, biologists are…
TALKERS071122 (new template)

TALKERS071122 (new template)

TOP STORIESHEADLINE GOES HERE: BLURB GOES HERE. Read more.HEADLINE GOES HERE: BLURB GOES HERE. Read more.HEADLINE GOES HERE: BLURB GOES HERE. Read more.HEADLINE GOES HERE:…
TALKERS092822

TALKERS092822

TOP STORIESMinneapolis' popular summer music fest Rock the Garden is being 'retired' for 2023: Held most years in early June on the hillside outside the…
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TALKERS081522

TOP STORIESMinneapolis Mayor Frey outlines spending plan focused on safety: The mayor's proposal — which calls for $1.6 billion in spending in 2023 and $1.7…
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TALKERS081722

TOP STORIESMinneapolis' Patrick Henry High School will get a new name: The Minneapolis school board's school names advisory committee, which was formed in 2020, on…
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TALKERS092922

TOP STORIESMinneapolis police chief top pick is 'reformer' from Newark: Mayor Jacob Frey has nominated Brian O'Hara, deputy mayor of Newark, N.J., to serve as…
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TALKERS100521

TOP STORIES50th and France is quickly moving on from the pandemic: A wave of luxury apartments, shops and restaurants have energized the urban shopping…
TALKERS100621

TALKERS100621

TOP STORIESWill Santa have enough toys this holiday season? Toy companies are racing to get their products to retailers as they grapple with a…
TALKERS092221

TALKERS092221

TOP STORIESVaccinated make up minority of severe COVID-19 hospitalizations in Minnesota: Updates from two large Minnesota hospital systems show that fully vaccinated people make…
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TALKERS092121

TOP STORIESMinnesota surpasses 8,000 COVID-19 deaths: Another 18 deaths were reported Tuesday by state health officials, bringing the number of known pandemic-related deaths to…
TALKERS091721

TALKERS091721

TOP STORIESGirl killed in overnight storm that raced through Minnesota and Wisconsin: A four-year-old girl was killed early today when a tree branch fell…
TALKERS081721

TALKERS081721

TOP STORIESTwin Cities transit strike averted: Following a year of difficult negotiations, the union representing more than 2,300 Metro Transit bus drivers, light-rail operators and…
TALKERS081621

TALKERS081621

TOP STORIESBiden to address nation on Afghanistan: President Joe Biden will speak at 2:45 CT about the U.S. evacuation from Afghanistan, after the planned…
TALKERS081321

TALKERS081321

TOP STORIESMore fallout from arrest of state GOP strategist Anton Lazzardo: The drumbeat of condemnation from prominent Minnesota Republicans grew louder today, after one…
TALKERS081221

TALKERS081221

TOP STORIESMinnesota reaches 70% vaccination goal in people 16 and older: The state reached its goal of 70% of Minnesotans who have received at…
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TALKERS081121

TOP STORIESDelta variant found in 90% of Minnesota cases: A fast-spreading coronavirus delta variant is now the dominant source of COVID-19 in Minnesota, where…
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Talkers081021

TOP STORIESGun rights group sues to let State Fair visitors be armed: A gun owners advocacy group went to court today on behalf of a…
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TALKERS080921

TOP STORIESHow housing rules in the Twin Cities keep the metro segregated: In this special report, the Star Tribune analyzed 102 metro communities' zoning ordinances,…
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TALKERS080621

TOP STORIESApple Valley's Gable Steveson wins wrestling gold with 0.2 seconds left: The 21-year-old University of Minnnesota wrestler became only the second American to win…
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TALKERS080521

TOP STORIESWhat you need to know about the COVID delta variant, Minnesota mask requirements and more: Advice is evolving along with the coronavirus. Here…
Talkers070121

Talkers070121

TOP STORIESRevived charge in George Floyd murder: Third-degree murder is back on the table in the criminal cases against three former Minneapolis police officers…
Sherry Johnson, a nurse practitioner, drew a dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at St. Luke’s Hospital in Duluth on Dec. 18.

The Star Tribune is dialing back COVID-19 data tracking. Here's what that means.

We will be making some changes to our Minnesota COVID-19 tracker on July 1.
Archive: Tracking COVID-19 vaccinations in Minnesota

Archive: Tracking COVID-19 vaccinations in Minnesota

Daily vaccination data is not being updated after June 30, 2021. To see current weekly vaccination rates and COVID-19 data in Minnesota, go here.…
Archive: Tracking coronavirus in Minnesota

Archive: Tracking coronavirus in Minnesota

Talkers063021

Talkers063021

TOP STORIESQuarter-billion dollar makeover in Hopkins: A plan has been approved to build a 14-story tower and a handful of low-rise buildings on a…
Talkers062921

Talkers062921

TOP STORIESCan already taste it: The Minnesota State Fair is back after a one-year hiatus because of the pandemic and announced that it has…
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TALKERS062821

TOP STORIESFamous Dave's and famous pies: BBQ Holdings, parent company of Famous Dave's, is continuing its expansion outside of barbecue with the acquisition of…
Elizabeth Santoro, left, and Kristin Anderson, medics with the Minnesota Air National Guard 133rd Medical Group, sanitized and prepared for their next

Where are the COVID-19 cases in Minnesota? Here's a look by ZIP code

The Minnesota Department of Health releases weekly data on COVID-19 cases by ZIP code each Thursday. See where new cases are appearing in the state, and which areas have been hardest hit over the pandemic.
Paula McMahon prepares a shot of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, as the mass public vaccination program gets underway, at the NHS Louisa Jordan

What you need to know about Minnesota's vaccine plan

Here are answers to questions you may have about vaccines and the state's strategy to vaccinate millions of Minnesotans.
TALKERS042621

TALKERS042621

TOP STORIESStudent arrested, no injuries after shots fired at Plymouth Middle School: A student fired gunshots Monday morning inside Plymouth Middle School, and no…
Derek Chauvin as the verdict was read.

Guilty on all counts: What you need to know about the Derek Chauvin verdict

A look at the charges, verdicts and potential sentences in the former Minneapolis police officer's murder trial in the killing of George Floyd.
Breaking down the video: What happened during Daunte Wright's fatal stop

Breaking down the video: What happened during Daunte Wright's fatal stop

A Black man was killed by police in Brooklyn Center. The chief said the officer may have gotten her gun and Taser confused.
TALKERS041221

TALKERS041221

TOP STORIESBrooklyn Center police chief says officer meant to use Taser, not firearm, on Daunte Wright: Residents, curious onlookers and business owners in Brooklyn Center…
The courtroom C-1856 where the Derek Chauvin trial will take place at the Hennepin County Government Center and seen Friday in Minneapolis. ]

What you need to know about the trial of Derek Chauvin

Here are answers to questions you may have about the trial in the killing of George Floyd and how to watch it live.
In this image taken from video, defense attorney Eric Nelson, left, defendant and former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, right, and Nelson�

How to watch the murder trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin

Opening statements in the murder trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin in the May 25 killing of George Floyd begin Monday at 9…
TALKERS031821

TALKERS031821

TOP STORIESMinneapolis City Attorney defends timing of Floyd lawsuit settlement, says it reflected need to act fast: Minneapolis agreed to the $27 million settlement in…
The courtroom C-1856, including these juror seats, where the Derek Chauvin trial is taking place at the Hennepin County Government Center in Minneapol

What's it like inside the courtroom where Derek Chauvin is being tried?

The demands of the high-profile Chauvin court case combined with the limitations of large gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic have created an unusual courtroom setting.
Read the charges against Buffalo shooting suspect Gregory Ulrich

Read the charges against Buffalo shooting suspect Gregory Ulrich

Prosecutors on Thursday charged Gregory Paul Ulrich, 67, of Buffalo, Minn., with second-degree murder, four counts of attempted murder and other charges related to…
Trump supporters who are not shy about saying they believe the election was unfair have been gathering at state capitols around the country, including

'Shy Trump voters,' polls and the 2020 election

After the 2020 presidential election, the political world is debating a familiar question from 2016: What went wrong with polls in key states? One poll…
This combination of Sept. 29, 2020, file photos shows President Donald Trump, left, and former Vice President Joe Biden during the first presidential

Mason-Dixon pollster Brad Coker on 'shy Trump voters,' polls and the 2020 election

The political world is once again fiercely debating a familiar question from 2016: What went wrong with public-opinion polls in a number of key battleground states?