Recent content from Jennifer Brooks
Brooks: Find comfort in your food. Tips from a chef about how to keep holiday stress out of the kitchen
Keep it simple, make dishes ahead and remember that what matters this time of year is sharing food you like with people you love.
Brooks: At the White House, a timely pardon for two Minnesota turkeys
Peach and Blossom: This is your life.
Brooks: Pink's foster fail is a big win for one Minnesota puppy
The singer picked up Graham Cracker to foster during her tour. He's Pink's puppy now.
Brooks: Camp Ripley opens its first full-time daycare
Welcome to the most secure day care in Minnesota.
Brooks: South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem's fealty to Trump gets rewarded with Cabinet post
Trump demonstrates his dedication to border security by tapping the governor of a state with no international borders to run Homeland Security.
Brooks: At this Minnesota college, every student is entitled to free bagpipe lessons
The pipes, the pipes are calling at Macalester College
Brooks: In a democracy, we get the government we deserve. America asked for Trump.
This time around, we know what Donald Trump's plans are.
Brooks: The Great Halloween potential snow accumulation of 2024 is upon us
It may not be the Halloween Blizzard of 1991, but still, get ready to layer those Halloween costumes!
Brooks: Fear, hope and the 2024 election in Pandora's ballot box
Three out of every five Americans somehow approach Election Day with a sense of optimism.
Brooks: Timid tagger sprays graffiti on roof of Minnesota governor's residence
Can you call it a political statement if no one can see it without a drone?
Brooks: When an Isanti wedding venue left a young couple out in the cold, friends and strangers saved the big day
After the nightmare at the Circle B, a couple are still able to have their dream wedding thanks to gracious vendors, a backyard backdrop and a few well-dressed alpacas.
Brooks: Pink takes a Minnesota foster puppy on tour, searching for a forever home
Lucky pup Graham Cracker already has an Instagram account with more followers than you do, probably.
Brooks: The coolest thing made in Minnesota? This contest winner will stick with you
The final four of Minnesota inventions included a timeless Red Wing Shoes boot, a floating marsh island, a park-ready motorized wheelchair and an unlikely underdog, a roll of Scotch tape.
Brooks: Raptor Center pleads with Minnesotans to help keep birds out of soccer nets
Metro soccer fields have netted almost a dozen owls and hawks already this year. Not all of them survived the encounter.
Brooks: What the wannaveeps are telling America about Minnesota, Ohio
The vice presidential debate between Sen. JD Vance and Gov. Tim Walz pits the guy from Ohio against the guy from Minnesota. Choose your fighter.
Brooks: Don't abandon the small businesses caught in road construction
Big road construction projects are making it tough to get around. But small businesses need the extra effort.
Brooks: John Stamos calls crop art 'crap art' after he's immortalized in seeds at Minnesota State Fair
Now there's going to be weirdness between you and Minnesota, John Stamos.
Brooks: The Audacity of Ope? Wisconsin breweries battle over Tim Walz-inspired beer
A judge scooched on by with a temporary restraining order on cans of Walz-inspired beer.
Brooks: Will the Trump campaign repay St. Cloud?
In the debate, Trump stridently defended the size of his campaign crowds. But will he chip in to cover the cost of his Minnesota rally?
Brooks: On the patio of the Park Tavern, a community gathers to heal
The Park Tavern was always there for St. Louis Park. Now the community will be there for a grieving workplace.
Brooks: For State Fair enthusiasts, it's the most wonderful time of the year
The weather is gorgeous, the crowds are manageable. It's opening hour of the opening day of the fair.
Brooks: Minnesota State Fair makes space for a bumper crop of crop art
Oh say can you see(d)? You can, now that the fair is expanding its crop art display space.
Brooks: GOP throwing everything against the Walz to see what sticks
Bold move for a five-time draft dodger to question someone else's military service. Let's see how this works out for Team Trump.
Brooks: Minnesota is just happy to be mentioned as Kamala Harris picks Tim Walz
As Kamala Harris taps Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate, Americans turn to their maps, in search of Minnesota. (We are up here.)
Brooks: Highly paid Hennepin County Board officials think they deserve a huge raise
A six-figure salary is nice. A slim majority of the Hennepin County board think a 49% raise would be nicer -- for them, not for you
Brooks: Hope Street offers homeless youth in Minneapolis choices that go way beyond a new set of clothes
It's a shelter that offers young people a fresh start. And it's getting a wardrobe refresh of its own.
Brooks: GOP melts down after Walz calls Trump and Vance weirdness 'weird'
Political parties that aren't weird don't usually have to prove they're not weird.
Brooks: After insulting Jennifer Aniston and 'childless cat ladies' everywhere, JD Vance heads to Minnesota
Why do politicians keep dragging cats into this?
Brooks: One heartbeat away from making Kamala Harris' search for a running mate all about Minnesota
Minnesota: Cradle of Veeps
Brooks: Don't cry because it's Joever; smile because I'm about to tell you my incredibly wholesome Naked Joe Biden story
For two years, I was Delaware's entire national press corps. The Biden who passed the torch is the Biden I remember.
Brooks: The VA wants your help picking a name for a new clinic for female veterans
If you know a veteran who served her country and her community, the VA is accepting nominations until Oct. 30.
As all eyes turn to the GOP convention in Milwaukee, a look back at 2008 in St. Paul
A very different catastrophe — a hurricane — dampened spirits at the 2008 Republican Convention in St. Paul.
Brooks: Biden's debate performance was so bad, it may have put Minnesota in play
The Cook Political Report no longer considers Minnesota a "likely" Democratic win — merely leaning that way.
Brooks: Minneapolis parks workers want you to know why they're striking
This is the final day of a weeklong strike by park workers who say they've done too much with too little for too long.
Laser loon lives: The second life of Minnesota state flag(s)
Residents have flocked to online and brick-and-mortar shops to buy whichever design says "Minnesota" to them.
Brooks: Check out the llamas all summer long at Hennepin County libraries
There are llamas at the library for the same reason there are books on the shelves.
Saving lives at the push of a button: Minneapolis unveils first Narcan vending machine
Lifesaving drugs that reverse the effect of an opioid overdose are available free from a vending machine outside a south Minneapolis fire station.
Brooks: A Minneapolis restaurant was beautifying the neighborhood with flowers. A flower thief stood in the way.
Good thing El Sazon Cocina has good neighbors who are good florists.
Brooks: A horror show of a debate - and what's that you say about Minneapolis, Donald Trump?
One man lied and blustered, the other was muddled and unconvincing.
Brooks: Tarantula and assault charges fly in Hennepin County Board race
Political hopeful Marisa Simonetti seems to think buying and deploying a tarantula is how adults settle disputes.
Brooks: Feisty the seal serves as a reminder of resilience a dozen years after devastating Duluth floods
Still Feisty after all these years, Duluth's favorite seal survivor just became a father.
'No such thing as bad weather,' Minnesotans remind ourselves, as it rains and rains and rains on our parades
Rain or shine, Minnesotans press on with summer plans.
Brooks: Are we there yet? Minnesotans debate true meaning of 'up north'
What Minnesotans mean when they say "up north" becomes fodder for social media skirmish over where to draw the line.
Brooks: Minnesota Legislature unites to help a soap maker and her celebrated bear fat soap
How one Hinckley soap maker and her local rep helped change state law. Maybe there's soap for us all.
Brooks: On Mondays in Minneapolis, Northern Fire Dynamic plays with fire
The fire performance troupe will stage a free performance in Powderhorn Park on June 10.
Brooks: Check out this dog, literally! Minneapolis Animal Control is lending out pups to help reduce kennel stress.
Minneapolis hopes taking adoptable dogs on day trips will help dogs and humans alike.
Brooks: Trump felony convictions reveal Minnesota GOP's lack of conviction
In the space of a news cycle, MNGOP pivots from screaming for the resignation of a Democrat accused of a felony to "Vote Trump."
Brooks: That Minnesota 'snow' was cottonwood seeds, Sir Charles. Bring ya antihistamines!
In which the screams of millions of relieved Wolves fans blow the fluffy seeds off the trees and baffle Charles Barkley.
Brooks: A sad end of an ERA in Minnesota as legislative session closed
A century on, Minnesotans pick themselves up from the legislative wreckage and prepare to try, try again to pass an Equal Rights Amendment.
Brooks: No funding, no lab, no problem for dogged University of Minnesota student inventors
Undergrads spent six years building a new medical device to treat Raynaud's.
Brooks: Kristi Noem's puppy tale reads even worse in print
The only thing worse than puppy killing excerpts? Puppy killing in full detail.
Brooks: Kristi Noem's tale of killing her dog backfires
Noem shoots, Noem scores few fans for her approach to dog training.
Brooks: Only you can prevent wildfires, Minnesota
DNR firefighters are hoping Minnesotans take care as fire season comes early.
Brooks: Minnesota state senator's burglary arrest puts private family drama in the election year spotlight
Public waits to learn more after state Sen. Nicole Mitchell was arrested in a relative's home.
An Isanti wedding venue closed without warning. Now these couples have 'nowhere to go.'
Community rallies to help after the Circle B wedding venue closed without warning or refunds.
Brooks: A tale of 124 hoarded Minnesota cats has at least a hundred happy endings
As animal abuse cases soar, Minnesotans trek to the Animal Humane Society to offer neglected animals loving new homes.
Brooks: The end of the line for Minneapolis' longest-serving bus driver and the start of a new adventure
Veteran Metro Transit bus driver Melanie Benson bids a fond farewell to the job she loved.
Brooks: If Uber and Lyft let Minnesota down, maybe Metro Transit will pick us up
Minneapolis' hottest new rideshare: The bus.
Brooks: During Doors Open Minneapolis, you could play DJ along Nicollet Mall
Roller skating, chess, therapy dogs, festivals and more fun events are aimed at bringing folks downtown.
Brooks: Beware these (innocent) April Fools' Day jokes
Maybe the dogs are all getting promotions today. Or maybe it's the first day of April.
Brooks: Kwest for Kwik Trip's bagged milk ends with moo-ving realization
The end of a squishy era, as Kwik Trip prepares to discontinue beloved bagged beverage.
Brooks: NBC's fast-moving Ronna McDaniel flap shows defending U.S. democracy worth the hassle
Faced with petitions, withering criticism and a near-revolt in the news division, network quickly changed course on its decision to hire former RNC chair.
Brooks: Billionaire pees in Duluth's Cheerios
In which Kathy Cargill tries to buy up Park Point, insults the neighbors, ignores questions and withholds pickleball from Duluth.
Brooks: Once a year, the homeless speak and the politicians listen
At Homeless Day on the Hill, a chance to hear stories like Sandra Johnson's.
Brooks: Poll finds America more eager to protect kids from TikTok than school shootings
Where "won't someone think of the children?" meets "thoughts and prayers."
Brooks: Why Kamala Harris' visit to a Minnesota abortion clinic is so important
Everyday rights we have taken for granted are being stripped or attacked.
Brooks: The tooth, and nothing but the tooth: S.D. Gov. Noem posts ad for out-of-state dentist
In a stunning setback to the SoDak dentalverse, governor brags about outsourcing her veneers.
Brooks: What would Goodhue County do? Pick up trash along the Mississippi River. And so can you.
This year's Mighty Mississippi Cleanup Challenge runs from April 15 to May 15.
Brooks: Sen. Katie Britt's State of the Union performance Makes America Uncomfortable Again
Writing this from the kitchen where I, a woman, apparently belong?
Minnesota deputy paddles to the rescue after dog crashes through lake ice
Chisago County Sheriff's video shows dramatic kayak rescue of Honey the collie.
Brooks: Shirtless politician plunges into icy lake to prove to Wisconsin he's got what it takes
Nobody said running for a U.S. Senate seat in Wisconsin would be easy.
Brooks: As Burnsville grieves shooting victims, its neighbors stand watch
Police officers and firefighters from across the metro area volunteered to patrol as a community mourns.
Brooks: Wash your Big Ten fingers before you share a bowl of chips on game day
Minneapolis PSA: Beware the norovirus.
Brooks: After homelessness and heartache, Minneapolis Animal Control reunites a family
Here's a tail with a happy ending.
Brooks: Three Burnsville first responders join toll of domestic violence
We lose so many to domestic violence — police and paramedics included.
