MPR News photos of the week

1

St. Paul, Minnesota, USA — The Best Steak House owner Mike Hatzistamoulos prepares a plate of food at his restaurant on University Avenue in St. Paul, Minn. Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2012. Hatzistamoulos said he has tried to make the most of the light rail construction along University Ave. including making upgrades to the restaurant and encouraging construction workers to dine at the restaurant. (MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson) (Read the story) link to this photo

2

Elgin, Minn. — Workers sort apples at Wescott Agri Products in Elgin, Minn., on Monday, Sep. 24, 2012. Apple producers are finding more of their apple trees without fruit statewide due to weather conditions like this year's warm spring and hard frost. (Alex Kolyer for MPR) (Read the story) link to this photo

3

Elgin, Minn. — A damaged apple is seen at Wescott Agri Products in Elgin, Minn. Apple producers are finding more of their apple trees without fruit statewide due to weather conditions like this year's warm spring and hard frost. (Alex Kolyer for MPR) (Read the story) link to this photo

4

Hastings, Minnesota, USA — President of 3M's Skin & Wound Care Paul Keel releases a female Bald Eagle during the Fall Raptor Release Saturday, Sept. 22, 2012, at Carpenter Nature Center in Hastings, Minn. The eagle was being rehabilitated from toxicity by The Raptor Center's veterinarians. (MPR Photo/Anthony Kwan) link to this photo

5

Hastings, Minnesota, USA — Laura Freeman, community program associate of The Raptor Center, displays a Northern Saw-whet Owl on Saturday, Sept. 22, 2012, at the Carpenter Nature Center in Hastings, Minn. The owl is a permanent resident and educator from The Raptor Center at the University of Minnesota. (MPR Photo/Anthony Kwan) link to this photo

6

Alt-J performs in The Current studio. (MPR Photo/Nate Ryan) (Listen to Alt-J's performance) link to this photo

7

Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA — A temporary memorial was set up at the junction of Park Ave. S. and E. 27th St. in Minneapolis, where Louise Laugen was hit and killed by a vehicle while crossing the street on Dec. 30, 2011. The intersection was recently upgraded with traffic lights and a crosswalk signal. (MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson) (Read the story) link to this photo

8

Decorah, Iowa — Left to right, the Rev. Marion Pruitt-Jefferson, the Rev. Phil Gibbs and the Rev. Joan Mau are three of Decorah's religious leaders. Pruitt-Jefferson and Mau support same-sex marriage, while Gibbs is opposed to it. (Alex Kolyer for MPR) (Read the story) link to this photo

9

St. Paul, Minnesota, USA — Jumping in tandem with U.S. Army 1st Sgt. Aaron Figel, Minnesota Lt. Governor Yvonne Prettner Solon skydives in support of military servicemen and women and their families above St. Paul, Minn. Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2012. (Courtesy of the U.S. Army) (More photos) link to this photo

10

A logging truck moves through downtown Duluth, Minn. Thursday, September 27, 2012 during a protest by loggers over federal weight restrictions on the interstate highway system. Over 60 logging trucks moved through Duluth's downtown during the protest. (Derek Montgomery for MPR) (Read the story) link to this photo

11

Timber from a logging truck idled at a stoplight next to parked cars in downtown Duluth, Minn. Thursday, September 27, 2012 during a protest by loggers over federal weight restrictions on the interstate highway system. Over 60 logging trucks moved through Duluth's downtown during the protest. (Derek Montgomery for MPR) (Read the story) link to this photo

12

Mendota, Minnesota, USA — Scott Dalglish and his 20-month-old son Drake Dalglish-Zeitlin play together on a Mississippi River beach in Mendota, Minn. Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2012. The Friends of the Mississippi River and the National Park Service's Mississippi National River & Recreation Area unit recently released The State of the River report, which highlights water quality and health of the Mississippi River in the metro area. (MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson) (Read the story) link to this photo

13

Darcey St. John of Duluth, Minn. sings while rehearsing with Oshkii Giizhik, a community singing group on the Fond du Lac reservation, Tuesday, September 25, 2012 at Fond du Lac Community College in Cloquet. (Derek Montgomery for MPR) (Read the story) link to this photo

14

Cottage Grove, Minnesota, USA — Dressed as Marilyn Monroe, Jennie Gorbunow, of Cottage Grove, Minn., checks her makeup at Cottage View Drive-In in Cottage Grove, Minn. Thursday, Sept. 27, 2012. Gorbunow competed in the costume contest held during a farewell event at the theater. (MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson) (More photos) link to this photo

15

Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA — Two Accent Signage Systems employees comfort one another Friday, Sept. 28, 2012 while visiting the signage business where five people where killed in the Bryn Mawr neighborhood of Minneapolis, Minn., the day before. (MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson) (Read the story) link to this photo

16

Minneapolis, MN, USA — Officers with the Minnesota State Patrol man the Penn Avenue bridge over Bassett's Creek near the scene of a shooting at a business in the 2300 block of Chestnut Avenue West in Minneapolis, Thursday, Sept. 27, 2012. The shooter who opened fire inside a Minneapolis sign company was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound Thursday and was among "several" people killed in the incident, the city's deputy police chief said. (AP Photo/The St. Paul Pioneer Press, John Autey) (Read the story) link to this photo