MPR News pictures of the year, January through March

1

Minneapolis, MN, USA — Lake Nokomis hosts the U.S. Pond Hockey Championships in January 2011. This year, conditions were ideal for pond hockey; last year, the championship was halted before the final Sunday because of rain. (MPR Photo/Elliot deBruyn) link to this photo

2

Minneapolis, MN, USA — Jason "High Hopes" Withee, with snow caking his 70's-style moustache, admits defeat against the Northstars, 23-9. "It was something to learn from, I guess," Withee said. "And they're trying to rep the Northstars, yeah right!" (MPR Photo/Elliot deBruyn) link to this photo

3

Minneapolis — Professional dog walker Breen Beell takes his client Sherlock for a walk in Minneapolis, Minn., on Jan. 21, 2011, one of the coldest days of the season. Sherlock loves deep snow and cold weather. (MPR Photo/Nikki Tundel) link to this photo

4

Minneapolis — St. Stephen's Street Outreach workers Ethna McKiernan, left, and Lam Truong provide Ernest French with socks and gloves as French panhandles in Minneapolis, Minn. Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2011. McKiernan and Truong work the streets of Minneapolis, reaching out the homeless community, trying to build relationships that lead to housing for those in need. (MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson) link to this photo

5

Minneapolis, MN, USA — Erik Wardenaar sands a face of one of the pieces of "Ice-Henge" on Lake of the Isles in Minneapolis, Minn. Thursday, Feb. 3, 2011. "Ice-Henge" is one of several installations created by the luminarian team for the Luminary Loppet being held Saturday, Feb. 5, 2011. (MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson) link to this photo

6

Fargo, ND, USA — Josh Tobin, 19, whose cowboy boots and legs are visible, visits Stepping Stones Resource Center in south Fargo, N.D., a couple times of weeks. It's a place to hang out, relax, meet people and, perhaps, watch a movie, said Tobin. (MPR Photo/Ann Arbor Miller) link to this photo

7

St. Paul, MN, USA — Friends and Normandale Community College students Isaac Davy and Anna Johnson cheer during a rally to end tuition increases in St. Paul, Minn. Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2011. (MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson) link to this photo

8

St. Paul, MN, USA — Brimhall Street was buzzing with activity as residents dig out in St. Paul, Minn. Monday, Feb. 21, 2011. (MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson) link to this photo

9

Rural Holt, MN, USA — University of Minnesota graduate student Mark Ditmer, right, weighs a bear cub, while Krista Rothstein, left, a recent graduate of the University of Minnesota's biomedical engineering program, observes during a research outing on Tuesday, March 8, 2011, in northwest Minnesota. (MPR Photo/Ann Arbor Miller) link to this photo

10

Minneapolis, MN, USA — Jessie McDaniel displays a tattoo he had done honoring his brother who was killed by gun violence in 2010. (MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson) link to this photo

11

Minneapolis, MN, USA — A large gas fire burns near Interstate 35W in Minneapolis, Minn. Thursday, March 17, 2011. (MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson) link to this photo

12

Minneapolis, MN, USA — Firefighters help evacuate residents on E. 61st Street in Minneapolis, Minn. Thursday, March 17, 2011. (MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson) link to this photo

13

St. Paul, MN, USA — Hundreds of unionized public employees filled the state Capitol on Tuesday, March 22, 2011. (MPR Photo/Tim Pugmire) link to this photo

14

Nowthen, MN, USA — Family and friends wait for the parachutes to bring down a rocket launched into the sky by the Inver Thrills USLI Team on Sunday, March 13, 2011 near Nowthen, Minn. The team of students from Inver Hills Community College will compete in the 2011 NASA USLI (University Student Launch Initiative) competition on April 16 in Alabama. (MPR Photo/Caroline Yang) link to this photo

15

St. Paul, MN, USA — A St. Paul police officer patrols a row of boats that were pulled out of water at the St. Paul Yacht Club because of flooding in St. Paul, Minn. Monday, March 28, 2011. (MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson) link to this photo