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Questions or requests? Contact MPR News editor Michael Olson at molson@mpr.org.

Five things Nicholas Sparks told us about ‘The Notebook’ — and Minnesota
Nicholas Sparks returned to Minnesota last week to see the touring production of “The Notebook: the Musical” at the Ordway. He also revisited the state where some of his earliest memories were formed. Here’s what we learned.
Falling tree kills man in NE Minnesota as winter storm brings high winds, heavy snow
An early-season winter storm packing heavy snow, howling winds and falling temperatures swept across Minnesota Tuesday into early Wednesday, leaving treacherous conditions and at least one death — a man struck by a falling tree while clearing snow near Duluth.
Rochester hopes to grow economy beyond Mayo in the next decade
Rochester’s Destination Medical Center is the state’s largest economic development project in history. At 10 years old, it has accomplished some of its goals. In the next decade, local leaders said diversifying Rochester’s economy will be a focus.
On the Iron Range, ore trucks as large as two-story houses set to transform the mining industry
Mesabi Metallics, an iron ore mine under construction in Nashwauk, has purchased the largest trucks ever used in Minnesota’s iron mines. The trucks haul 400 tons of rock in a single load and are designed to be operated autonomously. 
Youngest Feeding Our Future defendant gets 10-year sentence
U.S. District Judge Nancy Brasel on Monday imposed a 10-year prison term on the latest defendant to be sentenced in the Feeding Our Future case.
‘Oat Mafia’ in search of a market for oats in the upper Midwest market
Some corn and soybean farmers in southern Minnesota and northern Iowa have started planting oats for environmental reasons, but also in an effort to diversify what’s grown in the Midwest. One area farmer has broken ground on a new oat mill in Albert Lea, Minn., for a local market.