Karen Tolkkinen
Columnist
Greater MinnesotaKaren Tolkkinen is the Minnesota Star Tribune's greater Minnesota columnist. She has more than three decades of experience in local journalism, most recently serving as a reporter, copy editor, and columnist at the Echo Press in Alexandria, Minn. She lives with her husband and son in Otter Tail County, in a farmhouse built by her husband's great-great grandparents in the early 1920s.
Latest from Karen Tolkkinen
News & Politics
Tolkkinen: At age 5, he wanted to be New York Mills mayor; he was just sworn in
Mayor Marsha Maki stepped aside and Latham Hetland, now 29, ran unopposed.
January 17, 2025
Rochester
Tolkkinen: Bondage imagery for first-graders? No thanks.
Rochester superintendent shows courage in pulling “The Rainbow Parade.”
January 11, 2025
Politics
Tolkkinen: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. supports raw milk. Here's what to know before jumping on the trend.
Raw milk is delicious, but there are dangers.
January 8, 2025
Greater Minnesota
Tolkkinen: We will all pay the price for Trump’s immigration policy. And we should.
Her undocumented immigrant husband was deported during Trump’s first term.
January 3, 2025
Duluth
Tolkkinen: Supporters ease the sting of hockey stick theft in Duluth
After a thief stole the Mankato West High School hockey team's hockey sticks, they couldn't play their final tournament game in Duluth this weekend. Now hockey lovers and kid lovers have united to buy them new sticks.
December 30, 2024
Greater Minnesota
Tolkkinen: It shouldn't be easier for swindlers to get public money than our smallest cities
The Feeding Our Future scam stole millions of taxpayer dollars. So why can't the Minnesota city of Richville, population of 76, get funding for a new well?
December 28, 2024
Greater Minnesota
Tolkkinen: A long-ago good deed by two radiologists has helped women across Minnesota
It’s never too late to follow your dreams.
December 21, 2024
Politics
Tolkkinen: Stauber, Emmer and Gazelka flap their feathers over Satanist phoenix display
Tom Emmer, Pete Stauber and Paul Gazelka call the Satanist display in the state Capitol an insult to Christians and Minnesotans. As a Christian, I disagree.
December 19, 2024
Duluth
Tolkkinen: Supporters ease the sting of hockey stick theft in Duluth
After a thief stole the Mankato West High School hockey team's hockey sticks, they couldn't play their final tournament game in Duluth this weekend. Now hockey lovers and kid lovers have united to buy them new sticks.
December 30, 2024
Greater Minnesota
Tolkkinen: It shouldn't be easier for swindlers to get public money than our smallest cities
The Feeding Our Future scam stole millions of taxpayer dollars. So why can't the Minnesota city of Richville, population of 76, get funding for a new well?
December 28, 2024
Greater Minnesota
Tolkkinen: A long-ago good deed by two radiologists has helped women across Minnesota
It’s never too late to follow your dreams.
December 21, 2024
Politics
Tolkkinen: Stauber, Emmer and Gazelka flap their feathers over Satanist phoenix display
Tom Emmer, Pete Stauber and Paul Gazelka call the Satanist display in the state Capitol an insult to Christians and Minnesotans. As a Christian, I disagree.
December 19, 2024