MPR News photos of the week

1

Elias Featherly (orange shirt) and Glenn Olson (background, blue top) take a break from trail building to test out a berm on a portion of a new mountain biking trail Friday, Sept. 21, 2012 at Spirit Mountain in Duluth, Minn. (Derek Montgomery for MPR News/Read the story here) link to this photo

2

Students at Maxfield Elementary School in St. Paul, shown here on Thursday, Sept. 27, 2012, are spending more time on reading and math in an effort to raise test scores. Maxfield is one of 130 Minnesota schools that has filed an improvement plan with the state. (MPR Photo/Tim Post/Read the story here) link to this photo

3

Michael Kiwanuka plays in The Current's studio. (MPR Photo/Nate Ryan/Watch the performance here) link to this photo

4

Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA — Members of the Minnesota Orchestra, including violinist Taichi Chen, left, acknowledge drivers passing by during a rally in Minneapolis, Minn. Monday, Oct. 1, 2012. Minnesota Orchestra management locked out the musicians after contract negotiations reached a stalemate. (MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson/Read the story here) link to this photo

5

Brian Greenslit climbs up a grain cart ladder to get a sample of soybeans from his neighbors field. He'll test the soybeans for moisture. Greenslit says his yields are decent this fall despite some adverse summer time weather. (MPR photo/Mark Steil/Read the story here) link to this photo

6

Minneapolis, MN, USA — Seattle Storm guard Tanisha Wright (30) protects the ball against Minnesota Lynx guard Candice Wiggins (11) in the second half of Game 3 of their WNBA basketball first-round playoff series, Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2012, in Minneapolis. The Lynx won 73-72 and moved on to the Western Conference finals. (Stacy Bengs/ASSOCIATED PRESS/Read the story here) link to this photo

7

Minneapolis, MN, USA — Minnesota Lynx forward Maya Moore (23) fights for rebound against Los Angeles Sparks forward DeLisha Milton-Jones (8) in the second half of Game 1 of the WNBA basketball Western Conference Finals Thursday, Oct. 4, 2012, in Minneapolis. Moore lead the Lynx with 20 as the Lynx won 94-77. (Stacy Bengs/ASSOCIATED PRESS/Read the story here) link to this photo

8

Camp Ripley, MN, USA — Ashley Daniels, aide to paralyzed veteran John Novicki of Emily, Minn. takes aim with the Remington 1100 shotgun Novicki used to shoot a fork horn buck, Wednesday morning Oct 3, 2012 at the 21st annual Veterans Camp Ripley Deer Hunt at Camp Ripley, Minn.. Novicki's buck was shot at 71 yards and weighed 121 pounds dressed out. Novicki was a Navy corpsman who became paralyzed and belongs to the Minnesota Chapter of the Paralyzed Veterans of America. (Steve Kohls/AP) link to this photo

9

Karlstad, MN, USA — Firefighters discuss plans to combat a wildfire encroaching on Karlstad, Minn. at the city's Fire Hall on Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2012. (MPR Photo/Nathaniel Minor/See more photos here) link to this photo

10

Karlstad, MN, USA — Firefighter Alicia Pasquerillo ignites a "backburn" or controlled fire on the east side of Karlstad, Minn. on Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2012. The controlled burn was just a few hundred yards from a number of homes and a church. (MPR Photo/Nathaniel Minor/Read the story here) link to this photo

11

KARLSTAD, Minn. — The homeowner of the Englund family estate on the Pembina Trail in Karlstad, Minn. surveys damage on Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2012 after a wildfire destroyed his home, garage, and collection of classic cars. (MPR Photo/Nathaniel Minor/Read the story here) link to this photo

12

New Ulm, Minnesota, USA — Bluegrass musician Dick Kimmel, photographed near Flandrau State Park in New Ulm on Tuesday, Oct. 2, plays mandolin, banjo, guitar and sings. He performs and records frequently, and he's also a retired wildlife biologist who helped restore the state's wild turkey population. (MPR Photo/Jennifer Simonson) link to this photo