MPR News photos of the week

1

Tower, Minn. — Charlie Farrow of Duluth, Minn. approaches the finish line of the Arrowhead 135 ultramarathon Tuesday afternoon at Fortune Bay Casino in Tower, Minn. (Photo for MPR by Derek Montgomery) (More ultramarathon photos) link to this photo

2

Richfield, Minnesota, USA — Fourth-grader Piper Basso loads her lunch tray with carrots and fruit before selecting an entree Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2012 at Richfield STEM School. The school participated in a study that showed students ate more fruits and vegetables if those items were pictured on their trays. Right now, to encourage kids to eat more fruits and vegetables, those foods are placed at the beginning of the lunch line before the entree options. (MPR Photo/Jennifer Simonson) (Story by Elizabeth Dunbar) link to this photo

3

Eagan, MN, USA — A gay rights activist, not pictured, throws a cup of glitter on Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney as he walks to the stage at the start of a campaign rally in Eagan, Minn., Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2012. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) (Story by Mark Zdechlik) link to this photo

4

EAGAN, MN, USA — Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney left, hands 6-month-old Dexter Hall of Plymouth, Minn. back to his mother, Laura, during a campaign stop at Freightmasters, Inc. in Eagan, Minn., on Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2012. Romney, who won big in Florida with a barrage of negative ads, predicted the tone of the GOP campaign was "just a precursor to what you'll see" from President Barack Obama in the general election. And he said voters paid more attention to what they heard in the campaign debates than whatever ads were flooding the airwaves. (AP Photo/The St. Paul Pioneer Press, Ben Garvin) (Story by Mark Zdechlik) link to this photo

5

Duluth, MN, USA — Jason Krause of Duluth, Minn. empties tanks at Fitger's Brewhouse in Duluth. Krause was emptying one tank of root beer into the serving tank behind him to the right. (Derek Montgomery for MPR) (Story by Tom Crann and Dara Moskowitz-Grumdahl) link to this photo

6

Roseville, Minnesota, USA — Horace Munoz skates laps at the Guidant John Rose Oval in Roseville, Minn. Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2012. Munoz has been skating at the Oval since shortly after it opened in 1993. (MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson) link to this photo

7

Minneapolis, MN, USA — Indiana Pacer' Tyler Hansbrough topples over Minnesota Timberwolves' Kevin Love on a layup-attempt in the second half of an NBA basketball game on Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2012, in Minneapolis. The Timberwolves wore throwback uniforms of the old Minnesota Muskies of the American Basketball Association (ABA). The Pacers won 109-99. Love led the Timberwolves with 21 points and 17 rebounds. (Jim Mone/AP) link to this photo

8

Minneapolis, MN, USA — University of Minnesota athletic director Joel Maturi, who spent a decade with the Golden Gophers, wipes his eye during news conference announcing his retirement, Thursday, Feb. 2, 2012 in Minneapolis. Maturi will leave his post when his contract expires this summer. (Jim Mone/AP) (Story by Madeleine Baran) link to this photo

9

Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA — Kedija Ahmed, left, and Merim Eisa, holding her 2-month-old son Anas Qaembek, visit with their friends at the East African Women's Center Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2012 at Riverside Plaza in Minneapolis. After seven years of helping immigrant women learn English and navigate life in a new land, the non-profit women's center is closing because of a lack of funding. (MPR Photo/Jennifer Simonson) (Story by Sasha Aslanian) link to this photo

10

Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA — President of Velocity Telephone Jim Hickle, photographed on Thursday, Feb. 2, 2012, rents this space in the 511 building near the Metrodome in Minneapolis. It's where most of Minnesota's telecommunications networks converge. (MPR Photo/Jennifer Simonson) (Story by Curtis Gilbert) link to this photo

11

Denver, CO, USA — Minnesota Wild goalie Niklas Backstrom (32), of Finland, watches as Colorado Avalanche center Peter Mueller (88) and Wild defenseman Nick Schultz (55) fight for the puck in the third period of an NHL game in Denver on Thursday, Feb. 2, 2012. Backstrom made 37 saves in the game, earning his third shutout of the season and the 25th of his NHL career as Minnesota won 1-0. (Joe Mahoney/AP) link to this photo

12

Denver, CO, USA — Minnesota Wild defenseman Clayton Stoner (4) skates off the ice with linesman Mike Cvik, left, after being bloodied in a fight with Colorado Avalanche left wing Cody McLeod in the second period of their NHL game in Denver, Thursday, Feb. 2, 2012. Goalie Niklas Backstrom made 37 saves in the match, as the Minnesota Wild blanked the Avalanche 1-0. (Joe Mahoney/AP) link to this photo