MPR News reporters share 13 of our most memorable stories from 2022

At the end of 2022, MPR News journalists shared the unforgettable stories they covered throughout the year. It’s not an exhaustive summary of everything that happened during a year, but these stories stood out to our staff.

Many of the memorable stories we covered throughout the year were part of The North Star Trip, our news coverage initiative that celebrates the diverse communities and history found in Minnesota.

To me, this story really speaks to the unique sense of place in Northeast Minnesota, and the people’s pride in this area and their roots. I’ve been seeing a lot of stories lately of people discovering their Native American identities – this story appealed to me because it highlights how people who grew up largely within Native communities are inspired to reconnect with their Norse heritage, and why it was important to them.

Written by Dan Kracker | Duluth

Melissa Walls grew up in International Falls, Minnesota, the daughter of an Ojibwe — or Anishinaabe — mother and a Swedish-American father. But, for the most part, she was raised as part of her mother’s extended family, which is descended from Ojibwe bands on both sides of the Canadian border.

Many of them worked at the Indian Center in the city, where she remembers playing with other Aboriginal children as a child. “So I knew very well that I was an Anishinabe, Ojibwe, growing up,” Walls said.