MPR news photos of the year: Part 3

1

Grand Marais, MN, USA — Students in Cook County take one of the longest bus trips in the state to get to school in Grand Marais, Minn. Each morning, the school district there sends a bus up the entire length of the 50-mile Gunflint Trail. (MPR Photo/Tom Weber) link to this photo

2

Jordan, MN, USA — A shadow of a hot air balloon is cast on a field north of Jordan, Minn. Friday, October 1, 2010. (MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson) link to this photo

3

Pete Heitzman stands on the cutting table during a sound check on Sunday, Oct. 17, 2010. The legs of the table have hinges so that the table easily folds into a stage. Quilt shop co-owner Dan Senstad in the background borrows a sound system from a friend for each concert. (MPR Photo/Ambar Espinoza) link to this photo

4

Bloomington, MN, USA — Rep. Michele Bachmann speaks to the media at an election party at the Sheraton in Bloomington, Minn. on Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2010. (MPR Photo/Caroline Yang) link to this photo

5

Minneapolis, MN, USA — Jack Baker, 19, of Apple Valley, Minn. and Chelsea Skog, 18, of Eagan, Minn. relax on the floor they wait for election results at the Minneapolis Hilton in Minneapolis, Minn. Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2010. (MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson) link to this photo

6

Rothsay, MN, U.S.A. — Tess Seay, 6, snacks on a Popsicle in her grandmother's kitchen on Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2010. Several appliances in the home have recently been replaced thanks to a home energy makeover. For example, an old cook top was replaced with an efficient range and oven, center. (MPR Photo/Ann Arbor Miller) link to this photo

7

Inver Grove Heights, MN, USA — Korean War veteran Richard LaMotte, of South St. Paul, spent nine years in the military, including a tour of combat duty in Korea. He attended the state Veteran's Day gathering in Inver Grove Heights on Thursday, Nov. 11, 2010. "I lost a lot of buddies," he said. "I remember them every day." (MPR Photo/Tim Nelson) link to this photo

8

Minneapolis, MN, USA — Sarah Dschaak of Hettinger, North Dakota consoles her 9-month-old daughter Shay, who was recovering from heart surgery in Minneapolis, Minn. on November 17, 2010. (MPR Photo/Lorna Benson) link to this photo

9

Minneapolis — Mee Yang, right, the widow of Jason Yang, receives support from her aunt, Zoua Vang in Minneapolis, on November 19, 2010. Jason Yang died earlier that week when running away from police. (MPR Photo/Laura Yuen) link to this photo

10

Little Falls, MN, USA — After a morning dose of caffeine, Sgt. Jozy Olson (left) and Staff Sgt. Joshua Stinson joke around before heading back out for battle training at Camp Ripley in Little Falls, Minnesota, on November 20, 2010. (MPR Photo/Nikki Tundel) link to this photo

11

St. Paul, MN, USA — Jason Jewell waited with his bike for a bus along Snelling Avenue, despite knowing bus service was shut down because of the weather in St. Paul, Minn. Saturday, Dec. 11, 2010. An official storm total of 17.1" piled up at Twin Cities Airport. That's the 5th highest storm total snowfall on record in the Twin Cities dating all the way back to 1891. (MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson) link to this photo

12

A car near downtown St. Paul is stuck under piles of snow on Tuesday, December 14, 2010 as the region continues to dig out. (MPR Photo/Tim Post) link to this photo

13

St. Paul, MN, USA — Gov.-elect Mark Dayton speaks at the Capitol in St. Paul, Minn., on Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2010, after his opponent Tom Emmer conceded the election in a morning press conference. (MPR Photo/Nikki Tundel) link to this photo

14

Landfall, MN, USA — Ken Peil turns on holiday lights at his home in Landfall, Minn. Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2010. Recent census data revealed that Landfall has the highest poverty rate in the Twin Cities metro area, but the community has also been included on a list of "100 Best Communities in America for Young People" by America's Promise Alliance. (MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson) link to this photo

15

Minneapolis, MN, USA — Thee Viking World Order member Greg Hanson of Watkins, Minn. make his way back to TCF Bank Stadium before the Vikings game in Minneapolis, Minn. Monday, Dec. 20, 2010. (MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson) link to this photo