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Christopher Vondracek

@cvondracek.bsky.social
780 followers 30 following 34 posts

D.C. Correspondent for The Minnesota Star Tribune. Moonlights on piano. Book from U of Nebraska Press this fall - Redlin or Rodin: Essays on Midwestern Scenery.

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Christopher Vondracek @cvondracek.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Back in Minnesota and South Dakota this month, I spotted many oil-paintings-in-waiting, like this one. On Nov. 1, my book, “Redlin or Rodin: Essays on Midwestern Scenery,” comes out, which talks to these scenes. Pre-order here! www.nebraskapress.unl.edu/bison-books/...
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Christopher Vondracek @cvondracek.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
I know Van Gogh didn’t make it up to the eastern edge of the Red River Valley of Minnesota, but he could’ve. Wheatfields of Mahnomen County here. 
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Christopher Vondracek @cvondracek.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
In tiny Lake George, MN, up in the northwoods this morning I interviewed both a retired janitor who told me she was voting “against communism” as well as a maple syrup distributor who rolled up in a mini-van and said he’d gone with Flanagan, so my beloved rural MN remains beguiling.
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Christopher Vondracek @cvondracek.bsky.social · 19/06/2025
Former ag reporter encountering farm art in a museum in Montreal today.
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Reposted by Christopher Vondracek
Minnesota Star Tribune @startribune.com · 16/06/2025
Tomorrow's front page of the Minnesota Star Tribune
The June 16, 2025, front page of the Star Tribune with the headline suspect caught
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Christopher Vondracek @cvondracek.bsky.social · 16/06/2025
A dispatch on the manhunt for the assassin that ended tonight in a farm field in southern Minnesota, rural Sibley County www.startribune.com/on-second-da...
startribune.com
Two-day manhunt for suspected Minnesota political assassin ends with surrender in farm field
Authorities had been searching woods and farm fields in search of Vance Boelter as anxiety reigned across the state.
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Christopher Vondracek @cvondracek.bsky.social · 15/06/2025
My dispatch from today’s anguish back home in Minnesota www.startribune.com/melissa-hort...
startribune.com
Melissa Hortman, shepherd of Legislature’s historic 2023 session, called House Democrats’ ‘captain’
Gov. Tim Walz said Hortman and her husband, Mark, were killed in what he called targeted political violence.
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Christopher Vondracek @cvondracek.bsky.social · 23/05/2025
We couldn’t fit details about a 2-pound Duke burger from Eagle Lake into the story on tax exemption for tips, but happy with this collab nevertheless www.startribune.com/tips-tax-exe...
startribune.com
What no federal tax on tips would mean for Minnesota service workers
The provision comes in the budget bill passed by Republicans in both chambers of Congress. The issue may be more complicated than it seems, industry watchers and workers say.
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Christopher Vondracek @cvondracek.bsky.social · 20/05/2025
Morning walking commute here in DC: spotted a video billboard critiquing Interior Sec Doug Burgum, a tiff between staffers at coffee shop over “a colon or em dash” in budget bill, and animal control on hunt for raccoon loose at car mechanic.
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Christopher Vondracek @cvondracek.bsky.social · 12/05/2025
Dispatch from DC: www.startribune.com/trump-tariff...
startribune.com
With trade war pause, Minnesota firms rush to place orders from China, remaining wary of what’s next
U.S. and Chinese negotiators worked out a deal to lower tariffs for 90 days.
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Christopher Vondracek @cvondracek.bsky.social · 06/05/2025
A Midwest trifecta here in DC today as farmers from South Dakota, Minnesota, and Iowa lead presser of those barnstorming to DC calling for passage of farm bill.
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Reposted by Christopher Vondracek
Alex Chhith @alexchhith.bsky.social · 30/04/2025
Minnesota's only salt lake attracts more than 150 species of birds and guess what? If you don't have time to make it this spring, you can go again in the fall when they're making their way down south. Photos by the @startribune.com's intrepid Anthony Souffle www.startribune.com/where-to-fin...
startribune.com
Where to find Minnesota’s only salt lake
It attracts huge flocks of migrating birds — and birders — this time of year.
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Christopher Vondracek @cvondracek.bsky.social · 24/04/2025
Either the Red River Valley or France here with farm art in Nashville.
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Christopher Vondracek @cvondracek.bsky.social · 22/04/2025
My dispatch yesterday from the big Cathedral on a hill in Saint Paul. www.startribune.com/pope-francis...
startribune.com
Minnesota Catholics mourn Pope Francis and his ‘gospel of mercy’
At an afternoon Cathedral mass led by Archbishop Bernard Hebda, Francis was remembered for his commitment to social justice and forgiveness.
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Christopher Vondracek @cvondracek.bsky.social · 18/04/2025
Wisconsin cattle man says Pequot Lakes feedlot operator essentially ‘rustled’ hundreds of his cattle when he claimed they died at his facility — latest from me www.startribune.com/cattle-rustl...
startribune.com
Wisconsin man claims Minnesota feedlot operators broke cattle-rustling law
The man wants $4.1 million from Pequot Lakes feedlot for disappearance of nearly 600 cattle. The feedlot operators say the cattle died of disease.
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Christopher Vondracek @cvondracek.bsky.social · 12/04/2025
Over winter I ventured to a Baldwin piano in a south Minneapolis home to record my new album, “Packinghouse,” tales of the roads of southern Minnesota. Give a listen on this Record Store Day! Come see me play April 21 at White Squirrel in StP. open.spotify.com/album/3IlTUS...
open.spotify.com
Packinghouse
Christopher Vondracek · Album · 2025 · 9 songs
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Christopher Vondracek @cvondracek.bsky.social · 11/04/2025
The blurred space between my new DC-MN biz beat and old ag reporter beat continues in latest dispatch (from my hometown of Wells, with Jp Lawrence. www.startribune.com/minnesota-so...
startribune.com
In Minnesota’s soybean country, trade war with China hits hard
Soybeans are the country’s largest export to China, and southern Minnesota farmers are worried about the effect of skyrocketing tariffs.
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Christopher Vondracek @cvondracek.bsky.social · 10/04/2025
Helped on this dispatch from Duluth with @janahollingsworth.bsky.social www.startribune.com/klobuchar-sm...
startribune.com
Anxiety increases over possibility that Duluth EPA Great Lakes lab could close
Klobuchar, Smith send letter to EPA administrator as doubt mounts that the lab’s 170 jobs are safe.
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Christopher Vondracek @cvondracek.bsky.social · 09/04/2025
Needed to talk to soybean farmers, so I drove home to Wells, MN — pivoting between my former ag beat and the new Washington biz correspondent beat for @startribune.com.
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Christopher Vondracek @cvondracek.bsky.social · 27/02/2025
Feels fittingly absurd that on eve of my last day on the Minnesota agriculture beat I am stuck in traffic on the Minneapolis/Edina border thanks to some jaywalking turkeys.
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Reposted by Christopher Vondracek
Minnesota Star Tribune @startribune.com · 24/02/2025
In rural Minnesota, advocates and legal clinics are preparing immigrants for family separation amid the Trump administration’s immigrant crackdown.
startribune.com
In rural Minnesota, immigrants prepare for the day they’ve long feared
In rural Minnesota, advocates and legal clinics prepare immigrants for family separation with things like Delegation of Parental Authority (DOPA) forms, amid the Trump administration’s immigrant crack...
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Christopher Vondracek @cvondracek.bsky.social · 21/02/2025
Spent last week in DC, preparing to move (spiritually, literally) my beat to our growing DC bureau at @startribune.com, and I encountered (as I so often have on Ag beat) farmland paintings: grain elevator and wheat in Smithsonian, soybeans and farmhouse in Sen. Smith’s office.
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Christopher Vondracek @cvondracek.bsky.social · 14/02/2025
Passenger seat-on the roving MN ag beat today—in town of my birth, Albert Lea. We bought some local locker beef sticks. Happy Valentine’s.
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Reposted by Christopher Vondracek
Greta Kaul @gretakaul.bsky.social · 06/02/2025
Is it just me or are skate paths having a moment? The one in Warroad looks so freaking cool. You don't have to go all the way up there to find a skate path though -- read to the bottom for more options (probably pending snow!) via @walkerorenstein.bsky.social
startribune.com
A river runs through Hockeytown USA, and you can skate on it for miles.
Ice trails like the one in Warroad have become destinations for skilled hockey players and new skaters alike.
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Christopher Vondracek @cvondracek.bsky.social · 06/02/2025
News today from me on how USAID dismantling also impacts Minnesota farmers and agribusiness www.startribune.com/usaid-shutte...
startribune.com
Shuttering of USAID could mean the end of millions in income for Midwest farm operations
Frozen by Elon Musk’s DOGE personnel, the USAID program purchased $70 million in commodities in 2024 from Minnesota vendors.
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Christopher Vondracek @cvondracek.bsky.social · 14/01/2025
Minnesota hat trick tonight at the bar: Vikings on TVs, bingo in lounge, someone jumping a stranger’s stalled car out front.
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Minnesota Star Tribune @startribune.com · 07/01/2025
See if 2024 was anything like what you remember from growing up.
startribune.com
How does 2024’s weather compare with your childhood?
See if 2024 was anything like what you remember from growing up.
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Christopher Vondracek @cvondracek.bsky.social · 19/12/2024
Saw a man negotiating his snowboard into an Uber today in snow-encased Minneapolis and then reminded the driver for the “airport” — felt very much the first leg of a long journey to some mountaintop west of here.
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Christopher Vondracek @cvondracek.bsky.social · 18/12/2024
Day later, we’ve got ANOTHER Minnesotan matriculating to ranking-member status on a congressional ag committee, as Sen. Klobuchar will hold that spot in the Senate.
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Christopher Vondracek @cvondracek.bsky.social · 17/12/2024
We’ve got some breaking MN ag news today, Rep. Angie Craig — from suburbs and cornfields south of Cities — has just been named top Democrat on House Agriculture committee.
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Christopher Vondracek @cvondracek.bsky.social · 13/12/2024
Folks ice-skating the lakes in Minneapolis.
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Walker Orenstein @walkerorenstein.bsky.social · 12/12/2024
Minnesota regulators Thursday unanimously approved what would be the state's first carbon dioxide pipeline. The Summit project still hinges on the Dakotas but has sparked debate over ethanol, climate & rupture risks. “It’s a new concept, we get that." www.startribune.com/commission-a...
startribune.com
MN regulators approve controversial Summit carbon pipeline
Construction on Summit’s pipeline can’t start until the project moves ahead in North Dakota. It has inspired a debate over risk of a leak and the value of carbon capture for ethanol as a climate solut...
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Christopher Vondracek @cvondracek.bsky.social · 07/12/2024
Santa at a St. Paul dive bar tonight. FYI.
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Christopher Vondracek @cvondracek.bsky.social · 05/12/2024
Here’s a snapshot from my coffee with Sonja Trom Eayrs, attorney, author, and southern Minnesota farmer to talk about her book, ‘Dodge County, Incorporated.’ www.startribune.com/a-divisive-f...
startribune.com
Sonja Trom Eayrs' 'Dodge County, Incorporated' takes a deep dive into what's happening with Minnesota farms
When corporate farms swallow up family farms, it's community and compassion that are lost, says attorney/farmer Sonja Trom Eayrs in her new book "Dodge County, Incorporated."
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Christopher Vondracek @cvondracek.bsky.social · 03/12/2024
From my colleague, Brooks Johnson: www.startribune.com/cargill-layo...
startribune.com
Cargill laying off about 8,000 people, 5% of global workforce
The cuts come amid a corporate restructuring in response to falling sales and profits.
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Christopher Vondracek @cvondracek.bsky.social · 03/12/2024
I’ve been off for a couple days, but there’s some MN Ag news coming in: farmers are looking to disband the Barley council. Stay tuned.
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Christopher Vondracek @cvondracek.bsky.social · 27/11/2024
No #MnAgNews today as far as I see, but related: I’ve been tapped to play piano in a 90s era country band at Turf Club tonight. See you there! #Twangsgiving2
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Reposted by Christopher Vondracek
Kristen Leigh Painter @kristenpainter.bsky.social · 27/11/2024
Minnesota’s large companies and their emissaries are getting chattier about tariffs.
startribune.com
Minnesota business leaders say Trump’s proposed tariffs would result in higher prices for consumers
Canada, Mexico and China are Minnesota’s biggest trading partners, and the tariffs could disrupt companies from 3M and Cargill to Target and Polaris.
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Nancy Yang @nyang.bsky.social · 26/11/2024
In Minnesota we recognize, but don't pardon, turkeys.
startribune.com
This western Minnesota turkey don't be pardoned. But in his dwindling days, he got the spotlight in a governor's reception room.
Minnesota chief executive returns to annual Thanksgiving ceremony that spares no birds from their dinner-plate fate.
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Christopher Vondracek @cvondracek.bsky.social · 26/11/2024
We’ve got some more Mn Ag news coming to you today from the Capitol, where a 40-pound Tom Turkey bruiser has taken over a table in the decorative room at Gov. Walz’s reception (not a pardoning) ahead of Thanksgiving.
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Christopher Vondracek @cvondracek.bsky.social · 25/11/2024
Other MN farm news: Rep. Angie Craig (suburbs and southern corn fields) has put hat in ring to be top Democrat on House Agriculture.
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Christopher Vondracek @cvondracek.bsky.social · 24/11/2024
Minnesota agricultural products getting unloaded this morning in Linden Hills. Later, we pick up the Lake Mille Lacs-area turkey in hardware store parking lot. Good month for #MNFarmReporter.
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