MPR photos of the week

1

Brother Ali is a local hip-hop icon who's been in the game for over a decade. He began his career with the small-circulation tape Rites of Passage, but it was his second studio album Shadows on the Sun that first earned him widespread acclaim. He solidified his reputation as a smart, vital voice in hip-hop with The Undisputed Truth in 2007 and Us in 2009. Now, he's returned with Mourning in America and Dreaming in Color. (MPR/Nate Ryan/More at The Current) link to this photo

2

NEW PRAGUE, Minn. — Dr. Charles Jones checks Celia Shetka's blood pressure on Friday, Sept. 7 at the New Prague Hospital. The hospital has been run by the Mayo Clinic Health System since July 2011. (Jackson Forderer for MPR News/Read the special report on rural health carew) link to this photo

3

St. Paul, Minnesota, USA — The two-day Rosh Hashana holiday, which began at sundown on Sunday, commemorates the creation of the world in the Jewish calendar. It's ushered in with prayers and the blowing of a shofar, a horn carved from a kosher animal. The holiday also begins a 10-day period of introspection culminating with Yom Kippur, or the Day of Atonement. Teacher Jodi Joseph encourages her student, Maddie Hall, as she tries her shofar sounding at Talmud Torah of St. Paul in St. Paul, Minn. Friday, Sept. 14, 2012. (MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson) link to this photo

4

Indianapolis, IN, United States — Percy Harvin #12 of the Minnesota Vikings runs with the ball while defended by Antoine Bethea #41 of the Indianapolis Colts during the NFL game at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sept. 16, 2012, in Indianapolis. (Getty Images/Andy Lyons) link to this photo

5

Rochester, Minnesota — Said Osman, 17, and Amal Sheikh-Mursal, 16, take notes in their economics class at the STEM Academy in Rochester, Minn., on Monday, Sept. 10, 2012. The school is preparing students for fields such as microbiology, nursing, nanotechnology, computer graphics, software engineering and physics. (Alex Kolyer for MPR/Read the story here) link to this photo

6

Archbishop John Nienstedt speaks in support of the proposed amendment banning same-sex marriage in the Minnesota constitution on the steps of the State Capitol on Tuesday, September 18, 2012. Nienstedt leads the Catholic Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, which is the single largest contributor to the vote yes campaign. (MPR Photo/Curtis Gilbert/Read the story here) link to this photo

7

Wildlife Research Institute biologist Lynn Rogers hand feeds June, a 300-plus-pound pregnant black bear, on Thursday, Aug. 30, 2012 in the woods near Ely, Minn. (Derek Montgomery for MPR/Read the story here) link to this photo

8

Minneapolis, MN, USA — Minnesota Lynx guard Monica Wright (22) goes up for a rebound against Indiana Fever forward Erlana Larkins (2) in the second half of a WNBA basketball game, Monday, Sept. 17, 2012, in Minneapolis. The Lynx won 86-79. (Stacy Bengs/ASSOCIATED PRESS) link to this photo

9

St. Paul, Minnesota, USA — Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra bassist Fred Bretschger, left, rehearses with the orchestra Thursday, Sept. 6, 2012 at the Ordway Center in downtown St. Paul. (MPR Photo/Jennifer Simonson/Read the story) link to this photo

10

Princeton, Minnesota, USA — Stiff Sunflower seedheads dry on a table at Prairie Restorations, Inc. in Princeton, Minn. Sept. 12, 2012. (MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson/Read the story here) link to this photo

11

St Paul, Minnesota, USA — Patrons at O'Gara's Bar and Grill in St. Paul gets their hands on the state's first electronic pull-tab gambling games Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2012. (Anthony Kwan for MPR/Read the story here) link to this photo

12

Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA — Monique Bourgerie of Minneapolis searches job postings at the Minnesota Workforce Center in Minneapolis Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2012. Bourgerie was hired for a job about a week ago but said she continues to look for other work to supplement the intermittent job. (MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson/Read the story here) link to this photo

13

Minneapolis, MN, USA — Wilbur Cole, left, and Herman Jones get together in Minneapolis, Minn., on Sept. 10, 2012, to practice songs they originally played four decades ago. They'll perform at the Twin Cities Funk and Soul release party on September 22. (MPR Photo/Nikki Tundel/Read the story here) link to this photo

14

Bon Iver's Justin Vernon at Minnesota Public Radio. Minnesotans proudly claim the Eau Claire native as a "local" artist. And this weekend, The Local Show is hitting the road for a special all Eau Claire episode featuring the Bard of Wisconsin. (MPR Photo/Nate Ryan/More at The Current) link to this photo

15

WASHINGTON — The Minnesota Lynx visit with President Barack Obama at the White House on Sept. 18, 2012, nearly a year after winning the WNBA championship. (MPR photo/Brett Neely/Read the story here) link to this photo

16

Conor Oberst performs in the studios of 89.3 The Current. The singer-songwriter may be best known for his work in Bright Eyes, but he is also a busy dude, playing with several other bands including Desaparecidos, super-group Monsters of Folk and his solo act with the Mystic Valley Band. Oberst played the Fitzgerald Theater on Sept. 20. (MPR/Nate Ryan/More at The Current) link to this photo