MPR News photos of the week: Beargrease, marriage bill drama, and celebrating a new pope

1

An excited dog from the team that belongs to marathon musher, Odin Jorgenson, of Grand Marais, Minn., as race official Michael Levig, left, looks on. Jorgenson calls the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon the "Superbowl of distance mushing in the lower 48." Nathan Schroeder of Chisholm won the race on Wednesday. (Paul M. Walsh for MPR/More photos) link to this photo

2

Dead loons were staged for burial at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in Michigan. On Oct. 16, 2012, volunteers Lynette and Dave Grimes discovered nearly 100 dead loons along a stretch of beach. Scientists are not sure what killed the loons, but they suspect that invasive species may be to blame. (Photo courtesy Lynette Grimes/Read the story) link to this photo

3

(From left to right) Brothers Erik, Bill and Pete Gahbow beat an honor drum in the ballroom of the Crowne Plaza hotel in downtown St. Paul Monday, March 11, 2013 to mark the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe's acquisition of that hotel, and the nearby Doubletree hotel, to kick off what they hope will be a nationwide hospitality operation. (MPR Photo/Tim Nelson/Read the story) link to this photo

4

Shrimp tempura ramen at One Two Three Sushi in the Minneapolis skyway. The opening of One Two Three Sushi is just one of a number of recent culinary developments in the Twin Cities. (Becca Dilley/Heavy Table/Read the story) link to this photo

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Lesbian couple Marianne Christianson and Kate Wulf talk about how important marriage is to them Tuesday, March 12, 2013 during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing at the State Capitol in St. Paul. (MPR Photo/Jennifer Simonson/Read the story) link to this photo

6

State Sen. Scott Dibble, center, answers questions from the media after his bill to legalize same-sex marriage was approved Tuesday, March 12, 2013 during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing at the State Capitol in St. Paul. (MPR Photo/Jennifer Simonson/Read the story) link to this photo

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Some streets, like West 41st Street looking east from Zenith Avenue, in Linden Hills were closed to traffic because of a gas leak Wednesday, Mar. 13, 2013 in Minneapolis. (MPR Photo/Jennifer Simonson/Read the story) link to this photo

8

Peter Schoell owns several movie theaters in central Minnesota, including the three-screen Hollywood Theater in downtown Litchfield. His employees are mostly teenagers who work an evening or two a week. He pays them minimum wage. But even that's too much, he said. A bill that would raise the minimum wage is moving through the state Legislature. (MPR Photo/Matt Sepic/Read the story) link to this photo

9

Five-year-old Alicia Ayala, who was with her father Jose Ayala, looks around the Basilica of Saint Mary during a Mass to celebrate Pope Francis Thursday, Mar. 14, 2013 in Minneapolis. (MPR Photo/Jennifer Simonson/Read the story) link to this photo

10

William Brooks comforts his restless daughter, 10-month-old Adelaide, during a Mass to celebrate newly-elected Pope Francis Thursday, Mar. 14, 2013 at the Basilica of Saint Mary in Minneapolis. Brooks, who is from St. Paul, attended Mass with his wife Heather. (MPR Photo/Jennifer Simonson/Read the story) link to this photo

11

Richfield, Minnesota, USA — Karen Mueller practices with her student Kieran Hammer, 14, during a dulcimer lesson at Homestead Pickin' Parlor in Richfield, Minn. Wednesday, March 13, 2013. In addition to teaching classes, Mueller plays the dulcimer and autoharp professionally around the world. Mueller will be performing with the Lirica Chamber Ensemble Sunday, March 17, 2013. (MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson) link to this photo

12

At Maplewood Tobacco, store manager Anan Barbarawi is not a fan of Gov. Mark Dayton's proposals to increase the tobacco tax, making cigarettes more expensive. (MPR Photo/Mark Zdechlik/Read the story) link to this photo

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Duluth, MN, USA — Crews work on a water main break outside the Radisson Hotel in Duluth, Minn., on Thursday, March 14, 2013. (AP Photo/Duluth News Tribune, Bob King/Read the story) link to this photo

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Duluth, MN, USA — The skywalk tunnel between the Radisson Hotel and the Duluth Public Library flooded Wednesday night, March 13, 2013, after a water main broke during a planned repair project in Duluth, Minn. (AP Photo/Duluth News Tribune, Jaime DeLage/Read the story) link to this photo

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St. Paul, MN, USA — A volunteer holds down an injured great gray owl as it is checked by veterinary technician Greg Hansen, Wednesday, March 13, 2013, at the Raptor Center on the St. Paul campus of the University of Minnesota. The center listed about 30 owls as patients this week. It has been a tough winter for owls in some parts of North America. Some have headed south in search of food instead of staying in their northern territories. (AP Photo/Jim Mone) link to this photo

16

St. Paul, MN, USA — Minnesota Wild's Matt Cullen, left, celebrates a goal by Torrey Mitchell against Colorado Avalanche goalie Semyon Varlamov, front, of Russia, during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 14, 2013, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Jim Mone) link to this photo