Recent content from Erica Pearson
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.
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.
How did earthworms invade Minnesota?
They aren't native to the state. And the toothless, wriggly creatures are destroying our forest floors.
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.
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.
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.
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."
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.
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.
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.
St. Paul 'slow stylist' takes a sustainable approach to decorating
Katie Howie's clients include Mayor Melvin Carter and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan.
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."
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.
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.
'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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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
As The Loneliness Cure series wraps up, our nation's top expert on the epidemic answers readers' questions.
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.
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.
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.
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.)
After Lutsen, what is the state of classic lodges in Minnesota?
These old-time lodges are steeped in history for Minnesota travelers.
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.
Our latest public health crisis is growing and impacts our health in surprising ways. But it has an antidote: social connection.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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, 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.
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.
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.
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.
An aging Minneapolis church gave its building to a younger congregation
New City Church will focus on community and "healing justice."
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 at St. Joseph's in Rosen say the church is their community.
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 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
Keynote themes include embracing "lived experiences," drawing your own Venn diagram for success
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.
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.
Minneapolis writer behind CatStronauts graphic novels is ... allergic to cats?
Graphic novelist is set to appear at Talking Volumes event in Rochester.
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
Amin Aaser founded Noor Kids to help give Muslim children a sense of pride in their religious identity
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.
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.
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.
This Mpls. pastor uses his church sign to spread joy — part dad joke, part holy missive
At University Baptist, the Rev. Doug Donley telegraphs his church's mission and some humor.
