Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Ben Hovland @benjovland.bsky.social · Jul 11

Back with some full moon photos for your viewing pleasure.

The full Buck Moon rises next to the historic Gold Medal Flour sign in Minneapolis on Thursday. Taken at 400mm from the Hennepin Ave bridge. #mnwx

A large full moon, partially shrouded in clouds, rises above an orange neon sign atop a building. The sign reads “GOLD MEDAL FLOUR.”

A large full moon, partially shrouded in clouds, rises next to an orange neon sign atop a building. The sign reads “GOLD MEDAL FLOUR.”

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Ben Hovland @benjovland.bsky.social · Apr 23

Birds and a bike in northeast Minneapolis.

A single heron flies toward a tree full of bird’s nests.

A great blue heron flies with a twig held in its beak. Its legs stretch out gracefully behind its body.

A heron stands in a nest while another passes it a twig with its beak.

A pink and white bicycle with drop handlebars next to a river, the Minneapolis skyline visible behind it. It is outfitted with white bar tape and saddle in the style of a 1990s Eddy Merckx Corsa Extra.

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Ben Hovland @benjovland.bsky.social · Mar 30

Gonna pitch updating our style guide to Minynabolis.

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Ben Hovland @benjovland.bsky.social · Mar 4

Weekly bike post on our way to Kat’s appointment on Monday. #mspcyclecast

A woman who is 38 weeks pregnant rides an orange ebike across a bridge. She’s wearing overalls and a white helmet.

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Ben Hovland @benjovland.bsky.social · Feb 22

Weekly bike post, Crosby Regional Park edition.

A person rides a fat tire bicycle along a snowy path through trees next to the Mississippi River. The sun, low on the horizon, casts long shadows on the ground.

A man balances while sitting on his bike, arm resting for stability on the handrail of a wooden bridge.

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Ben Hovland @benjovland.bsky.social · Feb 14

OK bike nerds, ice skating season is over. Have some pics from Stupor Bowl last Saturday.

By my count, it’s been seven years since the last truly snowy edition of the event.

Hundreds of people run across a snowy field. They are wearing helmets, some ski goggles, and the downtown Minneapolis skyline is framed behind them.

A person riding a brakeless fixed gear bicycle performs a skid stop in the snow. Their spokes, rims, frame and drivetrain are covered in icy snow.

Three people smile as they sled down a hill at a checkpoint.

A person dismounts their bicycle at the finish of the Stupor Bowl.

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Ben Hovland @benjovland.bsky.social · Jan 30

Sorry bike bsky, this is still an ice skating account.

Ben poses for a selfie on a frozen lake. Golden afternoon light is reflected on his face. Ignore the silly GoPro chest mount thingy i screwed up the settings.

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Ben Hovland @benjovland.bsky.social · Jan 30

Ice skate sunset patrol on Lake of the Isles with my pal Raven.
#mnwx

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Ben Hovland @benjovland.bsky.social · Jan 25

Personally, I’d love to see all outlets hire more photojournalists 😉.

But this isn’t any fault of the strib. Only 1 still and 1 video journo is allowed in the rm during Supreme Court sessions. Yesterday was just my turn to provide pool pics for the outlets.

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Ben Hovland @benjovland.bsky.social · Jan 24

OK I’ll bite. If you feel like it, quote this with a pic of a BRIDGE.

The 110-year-old Thebes, Ill. railroad bridge spanning the Mississippi River is framed below a composite image of the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024. The photoshopped picture shows 20 separate phases of the eclipse, taken at 8 minute intervals, with the central phase depicting the sun’s corona during totality.

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Ben Hovland @benjovland.bsky.social · Jan 23

They’re saying blades are the new studded tires ⛸️

Ben Hovland @benjovland.bsky.social · Jan 23

Sorry cyclists, this is an ice skating account now

A person pushes their friend on a yellow plastic dolphin ice skating trainer.

Ben takes a selfie of himself being pushed by his friend Erin who is learning to ice skate.

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Ben Hovland @benjovland.bsky.social · Jan 18

Nordic ice skating on Lake Harriet kinda rips #mnwx

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Ben Hovland @benjovland.bsky.social · Dec 21

I managed to mash out a few words that went on @mprnews.org tonight, you can read them via the link below.

Always a privilege to share photos of the artists and community members that make my corner of the city so special.

www.mprnews.org/story/2024/1...

Several people ladle out soup in the lobby of a crowded theatre.

People walk down the middle of a street holding lanterns and puppets.

Four members of Stay Well Magdalena perform on a stage.

A 3-year-old lets out a howl from atop his father’s shoulders.

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Ben Hovland @benjovland.bsky.social · Dec 21

Hundreds celebrated the winter solstice tonight with a lantern-lit parade through south Minneapolis with puppets from In the Heart of the Beast Theatre.

After a snowy singalong around bonfires in the park, revelers returned to the theatre for hot soup and more musical performances.

A giant heron puppet leads dozens of people through a snowy park.

People hold lanterns and puppets as they sing together.

The facade of the historic Avalon Theatre in Minneapolis. People hold lanterns as they stand outside.

A wide angle view of a large group gathered in a park. They hold dozens of lanterns and large puppets.

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Ben Hovland @benjovland.bsky.social · Dec 19

A view of Marshall Avenue and the Mississippi River on my ride this morning. #mnwx #MSPcyclecast

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Ben Hovland @benjovland.bsky.social · Dec 19

Winter fans, rejoice — finally seeing plowable snow in the Twin Cities.

A few weather features from my bike ride around town this morning for @mprnews.org:

#mnwx

A person pilots a snow plow on a sidewalk in front of a 33-foot tall silver loon statue.

A brown tabby cat sits on a front porch, snow falls in front of them. Above, a Minnesota state flag hangs from the awning.

Two orange snow plows drive down I-94, a wake of snow flowing off their curved plows.

Kids run through thick falling snow to catch a school bus, its lights flashing red.

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Reposted by Ben Hovland

Anika Besst @anikabesst.bsky.social · Dec 4

I am working on a story about the job hunt in Minnesota and the Midwest and what experiences people are having. Are you someone who has recently been laid off, looking for a new job or beginning the job search for the first time? DM me here.

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Ben Hovland @benjovland.bsky.social · Nov 27

And finally, just to be clear, Tom the turkey did *not* receive a pardon yesterday. Minnesota, apparently, doesn't partake in that tradition.

He's back in Hutchinson, Minn., with his owner Paisley VonBerge (center, first photo) to be processed for Thanksgiving dinner for her family.

Godspeed, Tom.

A man and young woman stand next to a large turkey who is standing on a table.

Kids watch as a large white turkey walks past them.

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Ben Hovland @benjovland.bsky.social · Nov 27

After Walz and other officials finished fielding questions, it was Tom's turn in the spotlight.

The nearly 42-pound bird wasn't super talkative, though @mprnews.org's @claymasters.bsky.social tried his best.

A man wearing earphones holds a mic up to a white turkey standing on a table.

People watch as a turkey spreads its wings while standing on a table inside the governor's reception room at the State Capitol.

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Ben Hovland @benjovland.bsky.social · Nov 27

Walz boasted that MN is the nation's leading turkey producer at the traditional Thanksgiving-week event.

He & other officials weighed-in on questions about potential tariffs under the incoming Trump administration.

Walz also said he had no regrets about his VP run with Kamala Harris.

A man speaks at a podium, gesturing with both hands.

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Ben Hovland @benjovland.bsky.social · Nov 27

Tom isn't here for a long time, but he's here for a good time. The 22-week-old turkey got a tour of the Capitol's steps after appearing at a presser with Gov. Tim Walz & members of Minnesota's agriculture industry on Tuesday.

A white turkey trots along the front steps of the Minnesota State Capitol. Two human men follow him.

A majestic turkey stands on the State Capitol's steps, white feathers slightly ruffled. We look up at him from an ant's eye view, the turkey's head framed against a partly cloudy sky.

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Ben Hovland @benjovland.bsky.social · Nov 22

Rest easy, Ralphie!

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Ben Hovland @benjovland.bsky.social · Nov 22

Hear more from Theo Casio and Kat Rohn in this video, edited by @mprnews.org video producer @anneguttridge.bsky.social:

(Sorry for the outside link — thanks for your patience as we get our Bluesky workflow ironed out)

www.instagram.com/mprnews/reel...

MPR News on Instagram: "Members of the transgender community, allies and state leaders gathered to commemorate Transgender Day of Remembrance at the state Capitol rotunda Wednesday, Nov. 20. Particip...

2,567 likes, 42 comments - mprnews on November 20, 2024: "Members of the transgender community, allies and state leaders gathered to commemorate Transgender Day of Remembrance at the state Capitol rot...

www.instagram.com

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Ben Hovland @benjovland.bsky.social · Nov 22

Kat Rohn, executive director of OutFront MN, said in the face of tragedies the state’s trans communities are persevering.

"We are beautiful, we are tenacious, and we will not be erased," Rohn said.

A person speaks at a podium in a large rotunda. A seated audience watches and listens.

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