Eric Roper
Columnist
News & PoliticsSince joining the Minnesota Star Tribune in 2009, Eric has covered the Twin Cities metro area, the city of Minneapolis, the state Legislature and Congress. Prior to becoming a columnist, he oversaw the Star Tribune's Curious Minnesota project and helped create the narrative podcast "Ghost of a Chance." He is a graduate of the George Washington University and lives in south Minneapolis. In his spare time, Eric is a hobbyist woodworker and old home DIYer. To follow Eric's work by email, sign up for his newsletter at startribune.com/roperalert.
Latest from Eric Roper
Roper: My bus stop is going away — and that’s OK
Metro Transit is consolidating stops across the region to help improve bus reliability.
August 12, 2025
Roper: Moriarty’s academic approach to a bare-knuckle job hasn’t served her well
Mary Moriarty’s decision to leave the Hennepin County Attorney’s office caps a rocky tenure.
August 9, 2025
Roper: After riding a boom into office, Frey and Carter fight for third terms in a challenging era
Eight years after their election, the mayors will be defending diverging records in heated re-election campaigns.
August 6, 2025
Roper: Tiny house fight is a microcosm of affordable housing resistance
Property rights are at the heart of a lawsuit over Blaine’s rejection of a proposed mother-in-law suite for homeless families.
July 25, 2025
Roper: DFL endorsement of democratic socialist wakes up sleepy Minneapolis mayor’s race
Omar Fateh’s win over Jacob Frey Saturday is likely to energize both sides of the city’s political landscape.
July 21, 2025
Roper: New Minneapolis light rail route threads through strange concrete wasteland
The city got a raw deal on the location of Southwest’s stations, but should make the most of them.
July 18, 2025
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Roper: Hennepin County’s lax hybrid work policy deserves more scrutiny
The county’s one-day-a-month minimum for hybrid workers bucks the trend of employers calling more people to the office.
July 15, 2025
Roper: The community steps up to save Loring Park’s dandelion fountain
Half a century after it opened, the Berger Fountain is in need of large-scale repairs. It hasn’t operated in five years.
July 10, 2025
Roper: Momentum is building for a rebirth of Uptown
Here’s hoping its next chapter captures the eclectic, youthful energy that has made it special.
June 28, 2025
Roper: We’ve got a surplus of cities. The metro’s toughest problems require a regional approach.
Loads of local governments in the Twin Cities have created a patchwork of priorities and regulations.
June 22, 2025
Roper: Toxic politics keeps some on the sidelines
Reader anecdotes show how threats and vitriol discourage involvement in public life, which impoverishes us all.
June 20, 2025
Roper: The legacy of June 14 hinges on confronting a vicious cycle in our politics
We must ensure Melissa Hortman’s assassination marks a turning point for Minnesota’s civic dialogue.
June 18, 2025
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