Recent content from Catherine Preus
Structures at the Minnesota State Fair built to last, but also to change
If these walls could talk, you'd hear a lot of interesting stories, of course, but the State Fair's historic structures continue to shelter young leaders, echo with the favorite songs of every era, and showcase regular Minnesotans doing their best work.
Group aims to help Minnesota spouses worn out by caregiving
A national nonprofit provides a place for spousal caregivers to connect.
What the 12 candidates said about key issues in last night's debate
With a dozen participants, the debate was the largest in modern history.
Crowds are huge part of the State Fair. See how they've grown over the years.
The state's largest gathering got rolling just after we became a state and has changed with the times. In 2019, will fair magic again conspire to haul in the population of several Minnesota cities each day?
Lily the therapy pony retires to the Stall of Fame
After 12 years of working with kids with disabilities, Lily, now 20, has retired at Hold Your Horses, a nonprofit in the west metro area dedicated to equine-assisted therapy.
Obama returns to Kenya for first time since presidency
Despite not being born here, Barack Obama is as close as Kenya has to a favorite son. He is far more popular than the country's politicians. "He is our son," said a Kenyan professor.
Last day of the fair, and it's a doozy
There were 242,759 people at the fair Sunday and the count Monday meant attendance was on track to break the record.
Como Conservatory festival celebrates ancient Japanese tradition
The Como Park Conservatory came alive with Japanese culture Sunday at its Obon Festival.
The red carpet at the Metropolitan Museum of Art benefit gala
From camo (Madonna) to flower petals (Rihanna), outrageous looks are de rigeur at the annual agala.
Moose rescued from northern Minnesota lake
A young female moose was crossing Hungry Jack Lake, located midway up the Gunflint Trail about 20 minutes from Grand Marais, Minn. when she suddenly fell through the ice on April 10, 2017.
Jason Aldean wins country's entertainer of the year
Florida Georgia Line may have lost entertainer of the year to Jason Aldean, but the country duo owned the Academy of Country Music Awards, thanks to some help from the Backstreet Boys.
Photos: Two tornados touch down in Minnesota
Strong winds and thunderstorms roared across southern and central Minnesota Monday and possibly spawned the earliest tornadoes ever recorded in Minnesota.
Civilians trapped as troops take Aleppo
Syrian rebels retreated from former strongholds in eastern Aleppo in a "terrifying" collapse Monday, holding onto a small sliver of territory packed with fighters and thousands of civilians.
Obamas host their last Kennedy Center honors
The president and First Lady received a long ovation at the awards.
Thousands flee as Syrian troops move into Aleppo
Panic spread as rebel-held areas fell to government forces.
Super moon shines bright this week
Get outside and look at it; if you miss it, you'll have to wait for 2034.
Quake spares lives, but strikes at Italy's identity
Sunday's was the third powerful earthquake to hit Italy in two months.
Iraqi offensive to retake Mosul begins
Iraqi and Kurdish forces launched a long-awaited offensive Monday to drive ISIL out of the country's second largest city, but the operation could take weeks, if not months, and many fear a humanitarian crisis.
Wreckage in Syria as cease-fire fails
Images Monday, Sept. 19, 2016, show the city of Homs in ruins.
Do we live in the tropics? This was an unusually wet summer
The Twin Cities got twice as much rain as usual in August, but southern Minnesota was the hardest hit by precipitation this year.
Miss Arkansas wins Miss America pageant
Savvy Shields was crowned on Sept. 11, 2016.
For one month, Minneapolis pianos drew out our thirst for making music
An amateur pianist was determined to play all 25 of the downtown Pianos on Parade, and she was delighted by her encounters.
Photos: Fires destroy communities in California
A California wildfire left a trail of devastation, killing two people and destroying 200 homes in the southern Sierra Nevada.
The longest day and the strawberry moon get together today
It's the first time in nearly 70 years that the two astronomical events happen on the same day.
Photos: Tony Awards dedicated to Orlando victims
Some stars wore silver ribbons to show solidarity.
Muslims in Minnesota, worldwide begin Ramadan
The month of fasting began with prayer and gatherings.
Gallery: Red carpet style at the Golden Globes
Stars arrived Sunday for the 73rd annual Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, Calif.
Storm troopers hit the red carpet at "Star Wars" opening in L.A.
Stars streamed into the TCL Chinese Theatre as fans crowded the streets.
Pope's visit to Central African Republic in photos
Pope Francis visited a beleaguered mosque, a volatile section of the Central African Republic, and held mass at a stadium.
Gallery: American Music Awards
Jennifer Lopez hosted the awards at the Microsoft Theater on Sunday in Los Angeles.
Photos: World stands with Paris after attacks
Friends of France held vigils and other memorials across the globe.
Janet Jackson packs in the dancing
Fans at Target Center knew they could count on Janet to dance, which she did with style, aplomb and lots of assistance from her skillful backup dancers.
To escape war, migrants risk everything
From Syria or Afghanistan to Austria or Slovenia, the wave of migrants faces a deadlier flight as winter closes in.
Seeing India through childrens' eyes
During a three-week trip to India, children slow down the pace and open paths to ordinary people.
Dogs on parade in N.Y.
The annual Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade in New York Saturday attracted 376 entries and thousands of spectators.
Gallery: Trudeau leads Liberals to victory in Canada
Son of former prime minister ousts Harper's Conservatives.
Gallery: Supermoon eclipse
The rare confluence of a lunar eclipse and a supermoon.
Cyrus hosts 2015 MTV awards
Nicki Minaj won the award for hip-hop video of the year for "Anaconda."
Migrants flood across Europe
A wave of tens of thousands of migrants and refugees — many fleeing wars in Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan — has worked its way up the length of the Balkans in recent days.
Gallery: Senior Games attract top athletes
The competition begins Friday in the Twin Cities.
Gallery: U.S. beats China, heads to semifinals
The U.S. women's soccer team will face Germany on Tuesday.
Gallery: Mom describes shooting that injured toddler
She was injured in the drive-by shooting and didn't realize her daughter had also been hit until they were in the ambulance.
Gallery: From Honduras alone, teen makes his way in Minnesota
Elder Leiva is part of a wave of unaccompanied minors who left Central America to escape a life of poverty and violence.
Fans can see Dylan sights in Hibbing, Minn.
A tour for the fan could include the auditorium where Robert Zimmerman played to his family home. And Hibbing has other things to see, too.
Whooo knows what awaits visitors at Owl Center?
A prime target for a weekend trip, the newly opened International Owl Center in Houston, Minn., is the only such center in the country focused on owl education and open to the public.
Verne Gagne: 1926-2015
Legendary wrestler Verne Gagne, the Robbinsdale High athlete who went on to WWE fame, died Monday.
Protests swell in Baltimore
After a suspect died in police custody, demonstrations against police brutality grew Saturday, with pockets of protesters growing violent.
Mysteries of Antarctica
Earth's past, present and future come together here on the northern peninsula of Antarctica, the wildest, most desolate and mysterious of its continents.
Preserving the bison
South Dakota rancher Dan O'Brien believes Americans can save one of their country's most revered wild animals by eating it. He's one of a small but growing number of bison producers — including billionaire-turned-philanthropist Ted Turner — who want to preserve the great landscapes of the west by changing how America gets its protein.
Midwest Traveler: Your guide to a bookstore roadtrip
From Chicago to Stillwater to Iowa City to Bayfield, Wis., independent bookstores give the traveler a taste of the place and a welcome respite from the highway.
A year after deadly Mpls. fire
The investigation into what caused the Cedar-Riverside blaze, which killed three people, continues a year later.
Preserving Vietnam stories
Vietnam veterans' Wall project continues to drive Herb Reckinger of Cottage Grove.
Royals visit U.S.
On the first day of their visit, Prince William spoke to President Obama, Kate toured N.Y. with the city's first lady, and the couple met with the Clintons.
Garth's backstage retreat
Where do country headliners Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood hang out between shows? In their own "elegant cowboy" retreat.
Minnesota's apple pioneer
U master breeder David Bedford puts his taste buds — and his teeth — on the line, in pursuit of a better apple.
World marks WWI
100 years after the war began, the Great War's imprint remains — on land and geography, people and nations, and on the causes and consequences of modern war.
Storms shake up metro area
High winds swept through the metro Saturday, delaying air travel and knocking out power to thousands.
Obama visits Indian Country
President Obama on Friday became only the third U.S. sitting president in eight decades to set foot in Indian Country, encountering both the wonder of Native American culture and the struggle of tribal life on a breeze-whipped afternoon in the prairie.
146th Belmont Stakes
Tonalist outran California Chrome to spoil his attempt at the 146th Belmont Stakes to become the first Triple Crown winner since 1978.
U.S. soldier freed in Afghanistan
Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, the only U.S. soldier held prisoner in Afghanistan has been freed by the Taliban in exchange for the release of five Afghan detainees from the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay, Obama administration officials said Saturday.
Pope visits Middle East
Francis is on a three-day trip to the Mideast, his first visit as pope to the Holy Land.
Minneapolis City Council passes ban on polystyrene packaging
To-go containers must be easily recyclable, ordinance says.
California Chrome wins the Preakness
Ten horses took part in the running of the 139th Preakness Stakes in Baltimore.
6-year-old Sammy fights for his life
Sammy Nahorny became the first patient at Comer Children's Hospital to undergo high-dose radiation therapy for neuroblastoma, one of the deadliest pediatric cancers.
Police push back Dinkytown crowds
A loss in the NCAA title game didn't keep Gophers fans from acting out Saturday night. But the city and the university were prepared.
Pritzker Architecture Prize
The Japanese architect Shigeru Ban, who has combined a talent for innovative design and experimental use of everyday materials with extensive humanitarian efforts around the globe, has won the 2014 Pritzker Architecture Prize.
Michelle Obama in China
Obama, traveling with her two daughters, has been photographed at famous spots including the Forbidden City and Great Wall during the first independent trip by a U.S. president's wife to China.
Midwest Traveler: Family fun in Danbury, Wis.
Lakes surrounded by cabins, pine and oak adorn the corner of the map near Danbury, Wis., a draw for cross-country skiers, snowmobilers, anglers and cabin owners who like to split wood.
Westminster dogs show off their agility
The renowned Westminster Kennel Club show added its first agility competition.
'American Hustle' wins at SAG
David O. Russell's "American Hustle" has won the Screen Actors Guild award for outstanding cast, setting up the con-artist comedy as the film to beat at the Academy Awards.
