MPR News photos of the week

1

Fargo, ND, USA — Businessman John Stern entertains customers by showing off a pair of giant Levis at Straus Clothing in Fargo, N.D., earlier this month. Also pictured is Joe Kourouma, 11, of Fridley, Minn. Stern, who co-owns Straus with his brother and owns a home on the Red River, is looking forward to visiting his grandchildren in Colorado this spring without worrying about his basement flooding. (Ann Arbor Miller for MPR/ Read Fargo-Moorhead residents welcome no-flood spring) link to this photo

2

Moorhead, MN, USA — Adirondack chairs sit on a deck that overlooks the O'Connor family's backyard and Red River in the distance. The O'Connors moved into their Moorhead house in June 2008 and have dealt with major spring flooding for three consecutive years. The family -- like most Fargo-Moorhead residents -- are enjoying a relaxed spring given the unlikelihood of a major flood fight this year. (Ann Arbor Miller for MPR/ Read Fargo-Moorhead residents welcome no-flood spring) link to this photo

3

ST. PAUL, MN, USA — Benilde-St. Margaret's fans celebrate with Red Knights players after they defeated Hill-Murray 5-1 Saturday evening in the Minnesota Class AA championship game at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn. (Derek Montgomery for MPR/Read Benilde-St. Margaret's caps emotional tourney with state title) link to this photo

4

Shoreview, MN, USA — Minnesota Warriors player Pete Stahley, an Army veteran of the first Gulf War, gets ready for the team's game Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2012. Stahley sustained a leg injury years ago from a car accident while on leave from the Army. Now he plays for one of the two hockey teams in the nation for disabled U.S. veterans. (Alex Kolyer for MPR/Read For disabled Minn. vets, hockey offers healing) link to this photo

5

Lino Lakes, MN, USA — Principal Ron Burris drops in on a classroom dance party Thursday, Feb. 9, 2012 at Lino Lakes Elementary School. The school's popular Spanish-immersion program is a small island of linguistic diversity in a community where, a year and a half ago, officials passed an English-only ordinance. (MPR Photo/Jennifer Simonson/Read The Outsiders: Is Minnesota 'Nice' to Newcomers?) link to this photo

6

Willmar, Minnesota, USA — Bev Skare, 81, assists Safio Ahmed with a citizenship practice quiz as Hamdi Ali looks on at the Willmar Public Library in Willmar, Minn. Feb. 28, 2012. Skare and two other women have been voluntarily tutoring immigrants in the Willmar area for years about everything from reading to sewing. (MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson/Read The Outsiders: Is Minnesota 'Nice' to Newcomers?) link to this photo

7

St. Paul, Minnesota, USA — A group including members of Occupy Minneapolis rally in opposition to the American Legislative Exchange Council's influence on politics at the Capitol in St. Paul, Minn. Tuesday, March 13, 2012. (MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson/Read ALEC's relations with conservative lawmakers riles Democrats) link to this photo

8

Rosemount, MN, USA — In this March 9, 2012, photo Joel and Lisa Martin pose outside their barber shop and salon in Rosemount, Minn. The barber pole, one of the oldest signs that can be seen on storefronts across America, are an increasing source of friction between barbers and beauticians over which businesses get to display the iconic striped poles. (AP Photo/Jim Mone/Read Barbers, beauticians get snippy over poles) link to this photo

9

Worthington Area, MN, USA — John Blomme from the Minnesota Department of Health looks down a manhole while conducting a sanitary survey in rural Round Lake, Minn. Shawn Nelson of Lincoln Pipestone Rural Water holds up the manhole cover for Blomme. Nelson and others at LPRW are pumping water in from Iowa to meet the demand after not receiving the expected water from the Lewis and Clark water project. (Jackson Forderer for MPR/Read Slow moving water supply project nears completion) link to this photo

10

Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA — Sam Hulin, a mechanic at Freewheel Bike in Minneapolis, is one of several mechanics tuning up bikes to keep up with warm weather business. (MPR Photo/Julie Siple/Read Record warm Minnesota weather could heat economy) link to this photo