Staff Directory 6370537

Erica Pearson

Reporter | Features
Phone: 612-673-4726

Erica Pearson is a reporter and editor at the Star Tribune.


Pearson grew up in rural Cozy Corner, Wisconsin and spent more than a decade reporting in New York City before joining the Minnesota Star Tribune. She has covered an earthquake in Haiti, a hurricane in Brooklyn and beats like immigration, faith and lifestyle news.
Recent content from Erica Pearson
Rocky and Bullwinkle episodes often featured the Minnesota island of "Moosylvania." For a few years in the 1960s, it was (kind of) a real place.

The stranger-than-fiction tale of how a real Minnesota island became 'Moosylvania'

Rocky and Bullwinkle creator Jay Ward leased a tiny isle on Lake of the Woods as a publicity stunt and took a silly bid for statehood all the way to the White House.
Giant Canada geese wintered in Rochester's Silver Lake in huge numbers in 2003.

How was the giant Canada goose rediscovered in Rochester after being declared extinct?

A Mayo brother's private flock led to a rediscovery of these big birds. Decades later, the geese nearly took over town.
Kansas City's immersive new museum, tThe Rabbit Hole, lets visitors step right into the page of their favorite kids' books.

New in Kansas City: An immersive children's lit museum, a women's soccer stadium and Thai barbecue

The Rabbit Hole and CPKC Stadium are just two reasons why K.C. should be on family travelers' radar right now.
A major threat to the goblin fern is the invasive earthworms destroying the forest floor that are being spread by anglers improperly dumping bait and

How did earthworms invade Minnesota?

They aren't native to the state. And the toothless, wriggly creatures are destroying our forest floors.
The newly redesigned Des Moines River Safety Rest Area near Minnesota's southern border.

Why are Minnesota's roadside rest areas so nice?

The state was 'ahead of the curve' installing these facilities, which serve an important safety function.
Mary Tharp grabbed some pull tabs out of a box for a customer at the Fridley American Legion in 2012.

Why is Minnesota the top state for pulltab gambling?

Most states allow pulltabs. But the game has become a unique part of our bar culture.
Temperatures were so low that winter day that everything became covered in ice.

A 1940 inferno remains the deadliest fire in Minneapolis history. Why was it so lethal?

The Marlborough Hotel blaze on a freezing morning in 1940 left 19 people dead.
Author Edwidge Danticat sits for a portrait photo.

Talking Volumes guest Edwidge Danticat on the 'literary loves' of her life

The beloved author will kick off the Talking Volumes series in St. Paul, reading from her new book "We're Alone."
In this screen grab from video, former Brooklyn Center Police Officer Kim Potter stands with defense attorney Earl Gray, as the verdict is read Thursd

Kim Potter was set to help lead use-of-force training in Washington state. Then it was canceled.

A board changed its mind after learning the training would have been co-led by Potter, the former police officer who shot and killed Daunte Wright in 2021.
Badlands National Park is home to one of the world's richest fossil beds. The Big Badlands Overlook shows off some of the striped formations.

How my two daughters, 7 and 10, achieved 'fossil finder' status in Badlands National Park

A family explores otherworldly landscapes and gets a glimpse of the ancient past in this South Dakota gem.
A brick building photographed in the 1880s shows where the Tribune was once located.

How did the Minnesota Star Tribune get its start?

The Strib is as old as the city of Minneapolis. It grew out of several strikingly different papers.
Stylist Katie Howie in her home office with her dog, Chip. Howie shows how she layers vintage, new and family heirlooms.

St. Paul 'slow stylist' takes a sustainable approach to decorating

Katie Howie's clients include Mayor Melvin Carter and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan.
Minneapolis in 1857, looking down Washington Avenue from 2nd Avenue S.

How did Minneapolis get its name?

The debate over a name for the baby burg was once so fierce that citizens had to "agree to disagree."
Hayl Lindma prepares to host a full moon medicine circle at Haus of Ritual on Lyndale Avenue in Minneapolis.

Minnesotans are using the moon as a guide

Wellness rituals and classes align with lunar phases.
Legs sticking up in a hand stand in Buffalo Lake.

Why Wisconsin claims — incorrectly — to have more lakes than the Land of 10,000 Lakes

America's "water states" don't quite agree on the definition of a lake.
Grace Vanderbush of Earth Clay demonstrates how she makes her tiny clay pendant necklaces representing landscapes of National Parks.

Visiting our national parks inspired a rural Minnesota woman to re-create them in miniature

With clay, she sculpts striking vistas on pendants the size of a penny.
East Central Minnesota Pride attendees enjoyed the humor of comedian Tommy Ryman in 2007.

'A total unicorn': How Pine City, Minn., became a pioneer in rural Pride

The nearly 20-year-old East Central Minnesota Pride has grown from a small picnic to a major event.
William Rausch, 12, from Royalton, Minn., competes during the Scripps National Spelling Bee, Tuesday, May 30, 2023, in Oxon Hill, Md. (AP Photo/Nathan

C-H-E-E-R on these 9 Minnesota kids at the Scripps National Spelling Bee

Young super spellers from across the state love words, relish competition and don't mind being in the limelight.
Can we be comfortable putting our hearts behind a Timberwolves win, or will our hopes be dashed?

T-Wolves tips: How to ride the Minnesota sports roller coaster

This team has us going up and down and spinning around. How should we handle this week? Here are some tips.
Campervan parked in Watchman Campground at Zion National Park.

We took in Utah's 'Mighty 5' national parks in one epic campervan trip

The seven-day itinerary stopped at Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Arches and Canyonlands.
Adam Turman's exhibit "Did You See That?" is showing at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum.

Can you spot the pop culture references in these Adam Turman paintings?

The prolific artist has a new exhibit at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. Yes, Paul Bunyan and Babe make an appearance.
Abby Jimenez was once known for her creative cupcakes. Now she's known for her bestselling romance novels, too.

Nadia Cakes baker writes 'Minnesota spicy' romance novels with 'cinnamon roll' heroes

Nadia Cakes' Abby Jimenez has become a rom-com powerhouse and a booster for the state, setting modern tales in Lake Minnetonka, Ely and along the Root River.
Kids from Miss Maria Lazowski�s 2nd grade class from Saint Paul Music Academy planted, mulched and watered three native ornamental trees around the

Six changes to make your backyard greener life while reducing your carbon footprint

Plant a tree. Or four. And ornamental grasses can absorb three times as much CO2 as a typical lawn.
The smiling chef with hair tied back stands in the Tullibee dining room.

Here's how a Minnesota chef plans to celebrate Eid at the Hewing. And you can, too.

Tullibee's takeover menu on April 10-11 is inspired by chef Aref Zalatimo's memories of celebrating the holiday back home in Amman. Want a head start? He also shares a recipe.
People leave a Sephora store in the Hudson Yards shopping mall in New York City.

Help! My kid wants to be a Sephora tween

Skin care products have become status symbols for young kids in Minnesota. A dermatologist and a pediatrician weigh in on the latest trend.
Nickelodeon Universe. ] GLEN STUBBE * gstubbe@startribune.com Thursday, June 2, 2016 Jess Nelson, MOA case manager, Oasis For Youth, walks through the

Not going anywhere for spring break? Try these fun Twin Cities area family activities

Get slimed, grab a joystick, brave a cold plunge.
U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy wants you to exercise your social muscles

U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy wants you to exercise your social muscles

As The Loneliness Cure series wraps up, our nation's top expert on the epidemic answers readers' questions.
David Aquilina and his friends at Target Field.

Finding a sense of purpose and community helps combat loneliness

Joining a choir, a fix-it club or becoming a regular at a coffee shop is better for you (and those around you) than you realize.
The U.S. surgeon general issued an advisory last year calling loneliness a public health crisis.

What questions do you have for the U.S. surgeon general about loneliness?

Vivek Murthy issued an advisory last year calling loneliness a public health crisis.
An array of Girl Scout cookie boxes lined up on a table.

Are you a smart cookie? Test your Girl Scout cookie IQ

Think you know all there is to know about the iconic cookies? Take our quiz to see how you stack up.
Snowdrops poking through dry leaves.

Daffodils thought spring was here, but it's not

Here's what you can do to protect plants from our winter-like cold snap, (The snow may actually help.)
Jaw-dropping rainbow hues at Naniboujou Lodge near Grand Marais.

After Lutsen, what is the state of classic lodges in Minnesota?

These old-time lodges are steeped in history for Minnesota travelers.
Brandon Buchanan is working on finishing the lace crochet tablecloth that Kara King's grandma left incomplete when she died. Buchanan and King were ma

Grandma Jen was making a lace tablecloth when she died. A stranger stepped in to finish it.

The Loose Ends nonprofit connects volunteer crafters with unfinished knitting, crochet or sewing projects. Hundreds in Minnesota have signed up to help.
Are you lonely? You're not alone. Here's how to fight the loneliness epidemic.

Are you lonely? You're not alone. Here's how to fight the loneliness epidemic.

Our latest public health crisis is growing and impacts our health in surprising ways. But it has an antidote: social connection.
The Rev. John Nienstedt, archbishop of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, before his resignation in 2015 amid allegations of a clergy sex ab

Vatican bars former Archbishop John Nienstedt from public ministry in Minnesota, Dakotas

No crime was found under canon law, but pope calls Nienstedt's behavior "imprudent" and also forbids him from living in the three states.
A new generation can’t get enough of the beloved beagle.

Why is Gen Z obsessed with Snoopy? These Minnesotans offer a few clues.

Teens and twentysomethings are stalking CVS stores and donating blood to show their love for the 1950s beagle.
Christmas Eve service in 2022 at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Minneapolis.

What are Minnesotans' most meaningful Christmas Eve traditions?

We mark the holidays with tamales, lefse, the classic movies, even an extended visit from Santa.

Evangelical pastor celebrates women in faith at her Minnesota megachurch

Pastor Becca Ketterling is uniting Pentecostal women at a time when other conservative denominations are limiting female leadership roles.

Share your most surprising and meaningful Christmas Eve traditions

Fondue? Oyster stew? Midnight mass? Family ski? For a story, Star Tribune reporter Erica Pearson is collecting Minnesota Christmas Eve traditions. Share yours.

Showers for caregivers, with gifts, games and support, aren't a thing — yet

Two artists are trying to "culture hack" the idea of honoring caregivers into existence.
Rabbi Marcia Zimmerman of Temple Israel will share a message during Minneapolis’ annual interfaith Thanksgiving service.

Minneapolis' Thanksgiving interfaith service offers unity in divided times

The annual holiday tradition has heightened importance for Jews. Muslims and Christians as war rages in the Middle East.
Rabbi David Locketz of Bet Shalom in Minnetonka said he wants his congregation to know they aren’t alone.

Minnesota rabbis and imams help communities cope with fallout from the Israel-Gaza war

Local faith leaders are inundated with pleas from members who feel afraid, confused and angry.
Calvary Baptist Church is celebrating its 140th anniversary and fundraising to restore its steeple.

Landmark Minneapolis church beat the odds by thriving. Now the 121-year-old building needs some TLC.

The neighborhood mainstay is an architectural gem, but needs help to restore its steeple.
Margaret Renkl's latest book, "The Comfort of Crows" chronicles a year in her Nashville backyard. William DeShazer

Author Margaret Renkl wants you to fall in love with nature — in your own backyard

"The Comfort of Crows" writer will be in St. Paul for Talking Volumes on Nov. 1.
The big gift shop at the Walker Art Museum, shown here in 2016, is reopening with a whole new look next month.

At Walker Art Center, soon you'll be able to shop for furniture, 'collectible' home goods

The Idea House 3 "collectible design store" will sell furniture, textiles, lighting and tableware.
Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood are set to host a five-day Habitat for Humanity building event in St. Paul.

Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood will build homes for Habitat for Humanity in St. Paul

Thousands of volunteers will build dozens of homes in one block of the Heights redevelopment in 2024.
Jane Cavanaugh spoke at the St. Joan of Arc Catholic church in Minneapolis during a celebration honoring Catholic women leaders.

Minnesota women head to Rome in an effort to open the Catholic Church to female deacons

Pope Francis' monthlong synod also is addressing other sensitive topics, such as blessing gay couples.
Chronic pain is the most common reason for Minnesotans to enroll in the state’s medical marijuana program.

Marijuana may help with chronic pain. So may being in Minnesota's medical pot program.

While its effectiveness varies from person to person, using pot may lower long-term pain and curb opioid use.
Dora Zaidenweber testified at the State Capitol in March.

Dora Zaidenweber, Holocaust survivor and educator, dies at age 99

Zaidenweber gave powerful testimony to Minnesota lawmakers in March.

What's up with the 'JewBelong' billboards in the Twin Cities?

Lines like, "Judaism. Come for your girlfriend. Stay for the lack of hell" are sparking confusion, conversation.
Kelly Smith hosts the Mindful in Minutes podcast.

Kid can't sleep? Anxious? Minneapolis yogi and podcaster shares ways to cope

The author of "Meditation for the Modern Family" outlines how children and adults can keep calm.
Mashed potato wrestling has been a favorite event during Barnesville’s Potato Days festival.

Minnesota town's Potato Days to skip mashed potato wrestling this year

Past champ called the Barnesville showdowns the "Kentucky Derby" of spud wrestling matches.
A sleep mask under a starry sky of marijuana leaves

Can pot help you sleep better?

The answer is a qualified maybe.
’Twas the Night Before, Cirque du Soleil’s holiday show, will have a two-week run at Northrup.

Cirque du Soleil's holiday show is coming to Minneapolis for the first time

"'Twas the Night Before" is inspired by the classic Christmas Eve poem.
Two Minneapolis congregations held a celebration to mark the change in building ownership.

An aging Minneapolis church gave its building to a younger congregation

New City Church will focus on community and "healing justice."
Lou T. Fisk decorates the water tower in Madison, Minn.

Do you like lutefisk? Help this Minnesota town celebrate Norsefest competition

To take part in the 50-year-old fest in Madison, Minn., you need to be able to eat lutefisk — and keep it down for one minute.

A church is all this Minnesota town has, and it might be demolished

Parishioners did the sign of the cross at the end of Friday Mass at St. Joseph Church.

A church is all this Minnesota town has, and it might be demolished

Parishioners at St. Joseph's in Rosen say the church is their community.
Sisters Natalie Redinger, center, and Heather Dewitt, center right, dance around a maypole at the American Swedish Institute in 2021.

6 ways to celebrate the summer solstice in Minnesota

Minnesotans are embracing gatherings, festivals and quiet rituals to mark the longest day of the year.
Schulze Lake Beach in Lebanon Hills Regional Park was closed Friday.

Schulze Lake in Eagan closed due to potential viral outbreak

Beach, water activities off-limits in Lebanon Hills Regional Park until further notice

Missing kayaker's body found in Mississippi River in St. Cloud

A boater called 911 to report the discovery at the St. Germain Street bridge.
Minnesota's class of 2023 offered heartfelt advice, crowd-sourced content and humor

Minnesota's class of 2023 offered heartfelt advice, crowd-sourced content and humor

Keynote themes include embracing "lived experiences," drawing your own Venn diagram for success
Humanists MN paid for two billboards, including this one at Como Ave. and Marion St., this spring.

Minnesota humanists take out billboards to spread the secular word

The state's largest group of nonbelievers aims to fight what they see as a push to impose Christian beliefs in government.

Crystals fill a spiritual need for anxious, stressed Minnesotans

In times of anxiety and loneliness, stones like selenite and rose quartz are popular.
At the new Punk Rock Museum in Las Vegas, the old sign from Minneapolis’ defunct Triple Rock Social Club hangs behind the bar.

Planning a trip to Las Vegas? Here are 4 museums worth gambling on

Spots include a new punk-rock museum with a surprising Minnesota connection.

Sim Glaser, Minneapolis' rock 'n' roll rabbi, dies at 67

Drew Brockington is not really an astronaut.

Minneapolis writer behind CatStronauts graphic novels is ... allergic to cats?

Graphic novelist is set to appear at Talking Volumes event in Rochester.
Jim Zieba mixed up a batch of egg coffee at Salem Lutheran Church’s State Fair dining hall in 2018.

How did egg coffee become a Minnesota tradition?

This smooth brew was a common offering around the state before the proliferation of modern coffee machines. You can still find it, if you know where to look.

From his Brooklyn Park studio, this dad brings 'Ramadan Camp' to thousands

From his Brooklyn Park studio, this dad brings 'Ramadan Camp' to thousands

Amin Aaser founded Noor Kids to help give Muslim children a sense of pride in their religious identity
Child in purple coat hunts for Easter eggs at Renovation Church in Blaine.

More Minnesota churches are going all in on everything Easter — even the bunny

Massive egg hunts, petting zoos, even an egg roll food truck are part of a "holistic" approach to the holiday.

This Passover matchmaking service finds spots at Twin Cities seder tables

TC Jewfolk helps people find a seder or extend an invite.
Corned beef will still be on the menu for many Catholics this St. Patrick’s Day, even though the holiday falls on a Friday.

This St. Patrick's Day, it's OK for Catholics to eat corned beef in St. Paul, but not in New Ulm. Why?

Most Minnesota bishops have granted a special dispensation for the holiday, which falls on a Friday.
Sarah Moe is the founder of Sleep Health Specialists.

Don't lose sleep about 'springing forward'

A Twin Cities sleep educator answers all your questions about snoozing.

These Minnesotans are combining faith and fitness in surprising ways

Physical well-being is part of mission of a growing number of churches.