MPR News photos of the week

1

Brainerd, MN, USA — Jenny Munoz is overcome with emotion as Freddy Munoz's bus pulled away from the Brainerd National Guard Armory April 26, 2011. MPR News followed the Munoz family for much of 2011 as they dealt with Freddy's deployment. (MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson) (Story by Jessica Mador) link to this photo

2

St. Francis, MN, USA — Jenny Munoz paused in her kitchen while preparing a meal for her daughters Nov. 11, 2011. Although Jenny said she does better when she's busy, she often feels the stress of raising two children on her own. MPR News followed the Munoz family for much of 2011 as they dealt with Freddy Munoz's deployment. (MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson) (Story by Jessica Mador) link to this photo

3

Spencer, IA, USA — Republican presidential candidate, Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn, with husband, Marcus, right, visits customers during a campaign stop at the Hy-Vee grocery store, Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011, in Spencer, Iowa. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) link to this photo

4

Minneapolis, MN, USA — Minnesota Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder is sacked by New Orleans Saints' Tom Johnson (96) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 18, 2011, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall) link to this photo

5

Minneapolis, MN, USA — Minnesota Timberwolves players Kevin Love (42), Ricky Rubio (9) and Derrick Williams pose for photographer David Sherman, left, during media day for the NBA basketball team, Friday, Dec. 9, 2011, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Andy King) link to this photo

6

Minneapolis, MN, USA — Minnesota Timberwolves guard Ricky Rubio, left, drives past Milwaukee Bucks guard Shaun Livingston in the first half of an NBA preseason basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011, in Minneapolis. (STACY A. BENGS/AP) link to this photo

7

Lake City, Minn. — Members of a tactical response team prepare to enter the home in Lake City, Minn. where a suspect was after shooting and critically wounding a Minnesota police officer Monday, Dec. 19, 2011. Law enforcement later entered the house and found the body of 25-year-old Alan Sylte of Hager City, Wis. (AP Photo/The Rochester Post-Bulletin, Jerry Olson) (Story by Elizabeth Baier) link to this photo

8

Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA — Cammy Carteng of Edina, Minn. performs with the Ding Dong Dollies, a Minnesota-based handbell group, at the Benedictine Health Center of Minneapolis Dec. 1, 2011. (MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson) (Story by Dan Olson) link to this photo

9

Jackson, MN, USA — Jasen White mops up around a large tractor tire in the Agco manufacturing plant after a celebration held for the employees on Thursday, Dec. 15, 2011. Mark Steil reported this week that the agriculture sector of the economy is performing very well. (Photo for MPR by Jackson Forderer) (Story by Mark Steil) link to this photo

10

Minneapolis, MN, USA — Pastor Stacey Jones preaches in front of a graffiti mural of an angel at Urban Jerusalem in Minneapolis, Minn., on Dec. 3, 2011. Jones and his wife founded the hip-hop church in 2006. (MPR Photo/Nikki Tundel) (Story by Nikki Tundel) link to this photo

11

Minneapolis, MN, USA — Teens and twenty-somethings make up the majority of the congregation at Urban Jerusalem in Minneapolis, Minn. (MPR Photo/Nikki Tundel) (Story by Nikki Tundel) link to this photo