MPR News photos of the week

1

Hoar frost covers an abandoned farm near McGivern Park in Staples, Minn. (Photo courtesy Janice Winter) link to this photo

2

Maiden Rock, Wisconsin — Al Nelson, plant manager at Wisconsin Industrial Sand Co. in Maiden Rock, Wis., watches a loader deposit sand onto a conveyor belt in the underground mine. Sand mining has become big business in recent years and mining companies are looking to expand their properties. Now, some landowners are considering the option of selling or leasing their land to big companies who want to explore the area's natural resources and alternative forms of energy. (Alex Kolyer for MPR) (Story by Elizabeth Baier) link to this photo

3

Teresa Nordich of Rothsay, Minn. pulls a perch through one of the two fishing holes in the Ice Hole bar on Saturday, Feb. 4, 2012. (MPR Photo/Nathaniel Minor) (More photos of the Ice Hole) link to this photo

4

Bemidji, MN, USA — Republican presidential candidate former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, center, looks at a display of his official, Santorum for president sweater vest, at the Bemidji Wollen Mills store, with owner Bill Batchhelder, right, during a campaign stop at the vest manufacturer Sunday, Feb. 5, 2012, in Bemidji, Minn. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) (Story by Tom Robertson) link to this photo

5

Coon Rapids, Minnesota, USA — Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul signs a book for a supporter during a stop at Coon Rapids Middle School on caucus night, Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2012. (MPR Photo/Jennifer Simonson) (Read the story) link to this photo

6

Stillwater, Minnesota, USA — Volunteers count Republican presidential candidate ballots in the library at Rutherford Elementary School in Stillwater, Minn. Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2012. (MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson) (Read the story by Jon Collins) link to this photo

7

Oxbow, ND, USA — River ecologist Luther Aadland of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources checks boulder placement in the Red River on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2012, near the Oxbow, N.D., Country Club. Efforts to convert this dam into a spillway dam are underway and will ultimately make this stretch of river safer for boaters while also improving fish habitat. (MPR Photo/Ann Arbor Miller) (Story by Dan Gunderson) link to this photo

8

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) link to this photo