Minnesota Star Tribune launches statewide News Literacy Initiative
Partnership with News Literacy Project and ThreeSixty Journalism aims to combat misinformation among Minnesota students
Howie: Why Amy Klobuchar entered the governor's race
Klobuchar is not running to rescue a party or reset a narrative. She is running because the existing electoral terrain already fits her strengths. She knows where her votes are. She knows where she must hold ground. And she knows where simply limiting losses is enough.
Minnesota 2050 sent to the printer
A release date for Minnesota 2050 will be announced in mid-February. Minnesota 2050 looks at compounding pressures already visible across Minnesota’s cities and regions.
Howie: The Star Tribune livestream a must-watch
The Star Tribune did something smart: it didn’t just roll out a slogan. It put reporters in front of readers and let them explain what they were seeing, what they were verifying, what they still didn’t know, and what it costs — emotionally and operationally — to cover a story that is still moving.
Howie: Why Tuesday’s Star Tribune livestream matters — and what I’ll be watching
The livestream itself is another step. It blends print reporting, digital-first engagement, live video, audience participation and donor relationships into a single moment. It’s a test of whether a statewide news organization can operate comfortably across platforms without diluting its authority.
The Minnesota Star Tribune launches new brand campaign, ‘Because the world is watching’
“At moments like this, people everywhere are paying attention. They’re asking why they should care, where to turn, and who they can trust. This campaign reflects the importance of local journalism when the world is watching.” -- Chris Iles, vice president of communications and brand marketing
Prep Hockey Notebook
The Hermantown High School boys hockey team closed January with its most demanding weekend of the season, shutting out defending Class 1A champion East Grand Forks 5-0 on Friday before dropping a 5-4 decision to Class 2A No. 2-ranked Moorhead on Saturday. The split left the Hawks 16-2-3 overall. At
Howie: In a league of spin, Mark Wilf chose accountability
Wilf spoke plainly—and in doing so, reminded everyone what leadership is supposed to sound like.
Howie: Where Amy Klobuchar stands in the Minnesota governor’s race
Klobuchar’s greatest asset is also her sharpest test: total name recognition. She does not need to introduce herself. She does not need to prove seriousness. She does not need to build trust from scratch. That saves time, money, and risk.
Howie on Duluth Tourism: How a local yes turned Duluth into a destination
Legendary Canal Park entrepreneurs Andy Borg and Mick Paulucci bet on Duluth before betting on Duluth was fashionable. They could have wished Scott Keenan luck and gone back to worrying about lunch service. That their restaurant brand didn’t need a long-distance running experiment attached to it.
Hawks hockey, boys basketball coast to victories
It was a productive Friday night for Hermantown High sports teams, who picked up convincing victories on the ice and the basketball court. In boys hockey, Beau Christy recorded a hat trick as Hermantown shut out host East Grand Forks 5-0. After a scoreless first period, Christy put the Hawks
Howie on Duluth Tourism: Why Duluth is taking back its tourism story
Supporters of the shift believe a homegrown approach allows for better targeting, faster response to trends and closer collaboration with local businesses and institutions. It also keeps more tourism-related spending circulating locally, rather than flowing out of state.
Howie: Vetean GM Eliot Wolf is the classic correction hire
The Vikings don’t need comfort. They need a general manager who understands that this roster is not one tweak away. It is several foundational players away. Anyone who doesn’t see that immediately is lying — or worse, believes otherwise.
Howie: Vikings fire general manager Adofo-Mensah, sources say
The firing comes nearly four weeks after the Vikings finished the 2025 season with a 9-8 record, missing the playoffs. Minnesota’s front office and coaching staff have faced scrutiny over roster decisions, including the team’s quarterback situation and free-agency moves.
My legacy media book debuts
Blunt, funny, reflective and unapologetically human, Stop Managing Media Decline: How Legacy Media Gave Up Its Communities will resonate with journalists, media skeptics, civic leaders and anyone who has ever wondered who’s watching anymore.
Howie: Adversity isn’t the issue for Bulldogs. Execution and points are.
The question wasn’t how they’re handling adversity. The real question is whether they can turn good hockey into points — starting now. Because in the NCHC, effort keeps you competitive. Execution keeps you home in the first round of the playoffs.