Lifestyle

Appetites investigates: Was Chicago Mix actually invented in Minnesota?
It’s called Chicago Mix: that curious mixture of savory and sweet popcorn, the candy-coated mixed with the cheesy. But despite the regional name, there are claims that Chicago Mix originated in Minnesota.
Two people charged with animal abuse after dozens of cats, dogs seized in Beltrami County
Authorities said 64 dogs and cats were removed from the property last week, and brought to Animal Humane Society in the Twin Cities. But deputies had counted well over 200 animals on previous visits.
The right (and wrong) things to say to a grieving friend
It can be hard to find the right words to say to a friend whose loved one has died. Experts share the dos and don'ts of expressing condolences.
Writer Thoreau warned of brain rot in 1854. Now it's the Oxford Word of 2024
The term brain rot first appeared in Henry David Thoreau's famous “Walden,” according to the Oxford University Press. How did he use it — and what might he have made of its modern meaning?
Deaths from ATV crashes in Minnesota surged in 2024
As of Nov. 5, 30 people have died in ATV crashes on Minnesota roads, ditches and trails in 2024. That number surpasses a previous high of 27 people killed in 2020.
How to be not lonely? 'Cohousing' is an answer for some people
In cohousing communities, neighbors share common spaces, chores and a sense of connection that benefits everyone. For some, it's an answer to the isolation of parenting that many families feel today.
Minnesota businesses that rely on snow hope for better conditions after less-than-ideal winter last year
Unprecedented warmth and record-low precipitation during the 2023-24 winter season left many Minnesota businesses that rely on snow and cold weather struggling to survive. Now those businesses are working to prepare for their upcoming seasons after a less-than-ideal experience last year. 
Thanksgiving recipes from Minnesota’s best culinary minds
For Thanksgiving this year, we asked some of Minnesota’s best culinary minds — many of them regulars on Appetites — to share what they’re thankful for this year and some dishes you can add to your Thanksgiving menu.