MPR News photos of the week

1

Krasnaya Polyana, RUS — Lindsey Vonn, of the United States, who grew up competing on Buck Hill in the suburbs of the Twin Cities, competes during a women's World Cup downhill on the Sochi Olympics course, in Krasnaya Polyana, near Sochi, Russia, on Saturday, Feb.18, 2012. Vonn clinched her fifth consecutive World Cup downhill title Saturday. On Sunday, won her third straight super-combined trophy after the final race in the discipline this season was canceled due to heavy snowfall. (AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati | Link to story) link to this photo

2

Sharron Van Etten and her band perform in The Current studio. (MPR Photo/Nate Ryan | Link to video) link to this photo

3

Alexandria, MN, USA — Emergency crews work the scene of a fatal crash on Interstate 94 west of Alexandria, Minn. on Monday, Feb. 20, 2012. The Minnesota State Patrol has confirmed at least four people died in the crash. (AP Photo/Alexandria Echo Press, Lowell Anderson | Link to story) link to this photo

4

Syd Neyhull, left, holds a candle with other North Dakota State University students at a candle light memorial in Fargo, N.D. on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2012 for four NDSU students killed in a car accident earlier this week. (MPR Photo/Nathaniel Minor | Link to this story) link to this photo

5

Jackson, MN, USA — Rapper NikeeJS lays down some lyrics on February 16, 2012. The Jackson, Minn., musician began writing rhymes when he was 14 years old. (MPR photo/Nikki Tundel | Link to story) link to this photo

6

St. Paul, MN, USA — Construction workers continue work on what will be the Central Corridor of the LRT at the intersection of Cedar Street and Seventh Street Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2012. (Alex Kolyer for MPR | Link to story) link to this photo

7

Minneapolis, Minnesota — Workers attempt to stabilize the Martin Olav Sabo Bridge with metal beams Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2012. A support cable on the pedestrian bridge broke Sunday night, causing officials to close the bridge, Hiawatha Avenue traffic and light-rail service between the 38th Street and Franklin Avenue stations. (Alex Kolyer for MPR | Link to story) link to this photo

8

Eric Mahmoud is CEO and president of Seed Academy - Harvest Preparatory School in Minneapolis. The Twin Cities area's 30,000 charter school students score 7.5 percentage points lower on math testing and 4.4 percent lower on reading tests than students at traditional public schools, according to the report from the University of Minnesota Law School's Institute on Race and Poverty. But his students routinely outperform others from across the state, Mahmoud said. (MPR Photo/Tim Post | Link to story) link to this photo

9

Fort Myers, FL, USA — Minnesota Twins catcher Joe Mauer, right, stretches with teammates Ryan Doumit (18) and Danny Lehmann, during spring training baseball, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2012, in Fort Myers, Fla. (David Goldman/ASSOCIATED PRESS) link to this photo