Midway Como Frogtown Monitor

The costume maker who convinced Hersheypark to embrace candy mascots and ‘chocolatize’ their old-timey theme park

The park, with its name originally two words, Hershey Park, opened in the early 1900s when Milton Hershey built it for his chocolate factory workers and their families.

Hersheypark underwent a total transformation in the 1970s, when candy mascots and thrill rides replaced barn animals and old-timey recreations of Tudor England.

The Declaration of Independence did more than assert the Colonies' independence from Britain.

1776’s Declaration of Independence inspired Washington’s troops to fight against the odds – and also helped bring in powerful allies

The Declaration of Independence isn’t just a philosophical breakup letter. It was a strategic move to secure vital support for America after its first declaration of war.

Beyond September: Building a daily culture of literacy for children

Literacy is described as the ability to read, write, speak, and understand information. September is recognized as Literacy Month. This year’s global theme is: “Literacy for people, the planet …

Can we get a little commotion for vanilla? It's having a moment – and Minnesota is here for it

Chocolate may get most of the attention, but vanilla is quietly making a statement — and Minnesota is helping lead the way. A new University of Minnesota College of Food, Agricultural and …

Backpack giveaway at Eastside Salvation Army

The Salvation Army along with 125 volunteers distributed 1,200 backpacks, school supplies, food, clothing and more to an estimated 1,500 attendees at The Salvation Army Eastside Service Center (1019 …

Reading journey starts here: Helping your child connect with literacy spaces

When I was young, my mother would take me out of the house on weekends and during the summer. Among the amazing places we would visit were libraries, museums, and community literacy spaces. I …

ConneQt staff help a youth move from host home to stable housing. ConneQt is under the umbrella of Avenues for Youth, an organization founded in 1994 by Michelle Basham, a 19-year-old youth experiencing homelessness. The organization aimed to provide resources. (Photo submitted)

ConneQt offers youth solidarity not charity

It is a time of political and cultural assault on trans youth. That assessment was made by Ryan Berg, program manager for ConneQt, which provides host families for LGBTQI+ young people between the …

The Crossword Puzzle

Loading crossword puzzle. One moment please.

‘Shining knights of the ring’

More than a century ago, Frogtown brothers Mike and Tommy Gibbons made headlines for their boxing prowess. They are remembered in the new book, “The St. Paul Phantom: The Gibbons Brothers’ Fight …

‘A Woman’s Place is in the House’

The political views and actions of the first Minnesota women to be elected to the House of Representatives in 1922 were told in a recent Minnesota Fringe play. “A Woman’s Place is in the …

The Glenwood-Inglewood Company in 1910. The Glenwood and Inglewood springs were on adjacent property and ran as separate water companies until about 1896. Minnesota Historical Society.

DO DRINK THE WATER

Before a new house is completed today in the Twin Cities, the utilities (sewer, water, natural gas, electricity, etc.) are already in place. The owners take it for granted that their new home will …

The original home of Holcomb-Henry Boom-Purcell when it was just the A.E.Henry Funeral Home. Note the street car tracks in the foreground.

Dearly departed

A “for sale” sign is up at the Holcomb-Henry-Boom-Purcell funeral home, 536 N. Snelling Ave. If property use changes under a new owner, that brings an end to more than a century of …

Did you know about the old Hippodrome?

Eighty years ago, a center for year-round fun was repurposed for the World War II wartime effort. The original Minnesota State Fair Hippodrome and nearby structures that housed livestock at fair time …

The leaked document about AI data centers, oil and gas causing a stir in Alberta

The Narwhal reports on a leaked cabinet document revealing plans to revamp Alberta's natural gas pipeline system to support AI data center growth, sparking controversy.

Ontario is reviving its threat to cut electricity exports to the US. What does that mean?

The Narwhal reports Ontario Premier Doug Ford threatens to cut electricity exports to the U.S. amid trade tensions, affecting 1.5 million homes and businesses.

Americans are relocating less than ever, but still frustrated by packing

Closets by Design reports that Americans are moving less than ever, with only 11% relocating in 2024.

Proposed Roadless Rule rescission could hurt rural economies

The Daily Yonder reports that in August 2026, the Trump administration proposed rescinding the Roadless Rule, risking 45 million acres of public land for development, despite local opposition citing economic and ecological concerns.

Healthcare and insurance rules for 8 investor-residence programs

Golden Visa Lawyers reports on healthcare requirements for eight investor-residence programs, highlighting the need for private insurance and public enrollment details.

A 1917 silent film about a deadly factory fire was lost for over a century. It just resurfaced.

UL Research Institutes reports on the rediscovery of the 1917 silent film "An Unbeliever Convinced," revealing its impact on industrial safety and film preservation.

The cannabis industry’s trafficked workforce

The Economic Hardship Reporting Project and High Country News report on how Chinese immigrants are trafficked into New Mexico's marijuana farms, facing exploitation and harsh conditions.

Paleontologists uncover a new ‘Spinosaurus’ species by following a clue from a decades-old book into the Sahara Desert

The hunt for a mythicized fossil hot spot took a team of researchers on a journey through the Sahara Desert.

Keeping first responders connected during wildfires

AT&T reports wildfires are increasing in frequency and severity, emphasizing the need for reliable communication for first responders during emergencies.

Michelangelo's 16th-century fresco 'The Last Judgment.' Sistine Chapel collection via Wikimedia Commons

Why Michelangelo’s ‘Last Judgment’ endures

The artist used daring imagery that sparked controversy from the moment it was unveiled.

As part of the Artemis II mission, humans will fly around the Moon for the first time in decades.

NASA’s Artemis II crewed mission to the Moon shows how US space strategy has changed since Apollo – and contrasts with China’s closed program

Today, there aren’t just two countries competing to get to the Moon. More countries have space programs, and private industry plays a larger role.

Your shoes might not necessarily free your mind.

Can shoes alter your mind? What neuroscience says about foot sensation and focus

Your feet can send a lot of sensory information to your brain. But whether you believe that your footwear is affecting your cognition may matter more than what shoes you wear.

A land manager examines young longleaf pines, some in their grassy phase, in a private forest in South Carolina.

How fire, people and history shaped the South’s iconic longleaf pine forests

One of North America’s richest ecosystems, sustained and shaped by Native peoples before European contact, nearly disappeared. A recovery is underway.

Boston and much of the U.S. faced a cold winter blast in January 2026.

How the polar vortex and warm ocean are intensifying a major US winter storm

The atmosphere is a complicated place. Warm temperatures in one spot can contribute to brutally cold storms somewhere else.