MPR News photos of the week

1

Los Angeles, CA, USA — Justin Vernon, of Bon Iver, poses backstage with the award for best alternative music album for "Bon Iver" at the 54th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 12, 2012 in Los Angeles. (Mark J. Terrill/AP/Link to story here.) link to this photo

2

Duluth, MN, USA — "It's a pain using a taxi," said Erica Thatcher. "It's an extra $15 there and back and the bus isn't practical for carrying lots of grocery bags." Thatcher lives east of the Plaza Super One Foods without a car and is dependent on taxis to transport her to and from the grocery store. Here, she packs groceries into the back of a taxi Monday, Feb. 13, 2012 at the Plaza Super One Foods in Duluth, Minn. (Derek Montgomery for MPR/Link to story here.) link to this photo

3

St. Paul, MN, USA — Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton addresses a combined Minnesota House and Senate with his State of the State speech Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2012, in St. Paul, Minn. Behind Dayton is House Speaker Kurt Zellers. (AP Photo/Jim Mone/Link to story here.) link to this photo

4

RED WING, Minn. — Kyle Mehrkens of Lake Pepin Innovation designed a device to pull wakeboarders so they can practice without a boat or another person. Mehrkins got help starting his business from the Red Wing Innovation Incubator, a local business incubator looking to help locals become entrepreneurs. Incubators are becoming a popular way for helping entrepreneurs find their way in today's uncertain economy. (Photo by Alex Kolyer for MPR/Link to story here.) link to this photo

5

Chisago City, Minn. — Bob Harding, 68, of Chisago City, helps his daughter, Megan, at mealtime. Harding is paid as a personal care assistant for Megan. The Legislature last year cut the wages of PCAs caring for family members by 20 percent, but a judge has blocked the cut. Now, some PCAs are asking lawmakers for a permanent fix. (MPR Photo/Elizabeth Dunbar/Link to story here.) link to this photo

6

Fort Myers, FL, USA — Minnesota Twins first baseman Chris Parmelee takes batting practice during spring training baseball, Friday, Feb. 17, 2012, in Fort Myers, Fla. (David Goldman/AP) link to this photo

7

Fort Myers, FL, USA — Twins pitcher Matt Capps throws during a spring training baseball workout Friday, Feb. 17, 2012, in Fort Myers, Fla. (David Goldman/AP) link to this photo

8

St. Paul, MN, USA — Minnesota Wild's Darroll Powe (14) and Winnipeg Jets' Tanner Glass exchange punches during a fight in the third period of an NHL hockey game on Thursday, Feb. 16, 2012, in St. Paul, Minn. The Jets won 4-3 in a shootout, and the Wild have fallen to 5-17-5 in their last 27 games. (Jim Mone/AP) link to this photo

9

Bismarck, ND, USA — In this photo made taken from Feb. 4, 2012 security camera footage provided by Bismarck Schools, a man identified as 28-year-old Sherwin Shayegan of Bothell, Wash., dressed in a basketball uniform, stands in a hallway at Century High School in Bismarck, N.D. Dubbed the Piggyback Bandit, Shayegan crashed school sporting events in at least five states from Washington to Minnesota, in some cases coaxing players to give him a piggyback ride. (Anonymous/AP/Link to story here.) link to this photo