Hubbard Reporting Experience

THE BOOKHOUSE IN DINKYTOWN
50 years of adaptation

The store has relocated thousands of books twice as local business scene has transformed the area. “Somehow we’ve survived,” its owner says.

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Story and Photos by Nicolo Schaust / The Hubbard Reporting Experience

A long-awaited garden

A group of neighbors in the Como neighborhood of Minneapolis have fought for nearly 20 years for a pollinator garden near the railroad crossing on Talmage Ave. Now, that dream is coming true.

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Story and Photos by Carina Dieringer / Hubbard Reporting Experience

PHOTO BY ERIK DRESSER / COURTESY MINNESOTA ATHLETICS

FROM FRESHMAN WALK-ON TO OLYMPIC ATHLETE
Collegiate rowing offers athletes fast-track to D1 athletics

Universities across the country actively recruit walk-ons to their women’s rowing teams — and they can end up beating Top 25 teams, winning world championships and gold medals.

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Story and Photos by Maddie Mullikin / The Hubbard Reporting Experience

THE MARKET AT MALCOLM YARDS
The back story of a hidden gem

Five years after the former factory in Prospect Park
was renovated into a food hall — What has changed?

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Story and Photos by Matthew Jegers / The Hubbard Reporting Experience

NEIGHBORHOOD NIGHT OUT IN MARCY-HOLMES
Strengthening connection with community, instead of local police

In one neighborhood, organizers wanted community networks to form outside of relationships with law enforcement.

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Story by Ella Hendrickson / Hubbard Reporting Experience

Childcare costs increase,
local centers face challenges

Rates to increase as much as 9% due to changes in demand
and staff retention issues at centers around the U

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Story and Photos by Nicolo Schaust / Hubbard Reporting Experience

Augsburg football: Finishing well on and off the field

An Augsburg player returns as one of the best tacklers in Division III and wants to do more. Another just wants to get healthy and be a good dad. Their coach wants both to succeed in football and life.

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Story and Photos by Henry Creel / Hubbard Reporting Experience

Watch all HRE newscasts

Anchored by recent Hubbard School alumn Jo Larson and journalism senior Atticus Marse, the HRE newscasts launched on Tuesday, July 28. You'll find each of four newscasts produced during the 2026 Hubbard Reporting Experience here, along with individual packages from Ellie Bognar, Ana Padro, Taylor Schiltgen and Isabel Tifre as they cover stories in the Twin Cities. Watch all HRE newscasts, and see the individual video reporting packages from students.

Rafaela Silva fills her 2010 Toyota Tacoma, Monday afternoon. The increased fuel costs have hindered her ability to pay tuition as she prepares to start graduate study in North Carolina.

International conflicts with local consequences

How the Iran War and the rising costs of fuel are affecting people in the Como neighborhood.

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Story and photos by Mason Bierbaum / Hubbard Reporting Experience

Minnesota Fringe embraces West Bank businesses

The Voices of Fringe project brings Cedar-Riverside business owners into a festival to support local economy after Operation Metro Surge.

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Story by Ella Hendrickson /
Hubbard Reporting Experience

Cinema, music bring neighbors to the parks
after sunset

Minneapolis parks keep summer tradition alive through free events

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Story by Alex Elbaz /
Hubbard Reporting Experience

Feeding people in need brings summer challenges

Nonprofit Loaves & Fishes provides
free and healthy meals to Minnesotans, also faces problems of heat and
post-surge fears

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Story by Jess Keairns /
Hubbard Reporting Experience

Community gardeners
persist through the heat

Prospect Park and Como residents work the soil to escape apartment life, experiment and salvage a railroad crossing.

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Story and Photos by Alissa Lee / The Hubbard School

Reselling: The new wave of thrifting

How the rise of resell impacts communities that depend on thrift stores.

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Story by Jayme Braden / Video by Taylor Schiltgen / The Hubbard Reporting Experience

How the legacy of Elwell Park shines through

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Story by Jess Keairns /
The Hubbard Reporting Experience

FORMER GOPHER
New opportunity as soccer player is traded

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Story by Patrick Gaulin /
The Hubbard Reporting Experience

Chowgirls aim
to cater with
a conscience

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Story by Booker Douglas /
The Hubbard Reporting Experience

WAM EXHIBIT
Making meaning of color via
the senses

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Story by Alex Elbaz /
The Hubbard Reporting Experience

The Como Barber Shop
is the oldest in the city

Owner Craig Ylitalo works to keep this little-known piece of Minneapolis history alive.

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Story and Photos by Karida Tashakor / Hubbard Reporting Experience

David Kind gets his hair cut Tuesday, July 28. “That's why I keep coming back,” Kind said after receiving a compliment on his finished cut, "that and the conversation.” PHOTOS BY KARIDA TASHAKOR / THE HUBBARD SCHOOL

NBA names + free admission at DeLaSalle High School

Twin Cities Pro-Am brings basketball fans together as NBA players compete over next two weeks

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Story and photos by Henry Creel / Hubbard Reporting Experience

Terrell Smith sits on the bench with his daughter at the Twin Cities Pro-Am, Monday, July 27, 2026. Smith played basketball at Camden High School in Minneapolis.

UMN Gophers withdraw from American Solar Project race, yet still host major event on campus

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Video story by Ana Padro / Hubbard Reporting Experience

Water taxi provides private cruises along Mississippi,
hopes to expand to commuting in next few years.

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VIdeo story by Isabel Tifre /
Hubbard Reporting Experience

Gopher basketball star leads lawsuit looking
to change the game

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Video story by Ellie Bognar /
Hubbard Reporting Experience

UMN student tour guides make a difference.
What's it like to be a guide? Watch an interview.

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Video story by Taylor Schilgen /
Hubbard Reporting Experience

What do you want to see change in your neighborhood?

HRE students talked with people in the areas surrounding the U on Friday, July 24, 2026 to get a sense of how they feel about where they live and work. See more in the first project from the summer.

Student starts organization to make arts classes accessible

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Story by Karida Tashakor / Hubbard Reporting Experience

Women's kickball gets more serious than you thought

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Story by Logan Reitzner / Hubbard Reporting Experience

Library in Dinkytown: historic architecture, colorful public art

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Story by Aleide Achenbach / Hubbard Reporting Experience

Prospect Park residents' share thoughts on the
DFL Senate Primary

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Story by Mason Bierbaum / Hubbard Reporting Experience

Where cannabis meets community

A locally owned cannabis dispensary hopes to become part of Dinkytown’s rich history by creating a welcoming space.

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Story by Aleide Achenbach /
Hubbard Reporting Experience

Driving out of homelessness

Tony Collins, was unhoused for more than four years before finding a job with Metro Transit. He's driven at least 30 former acquaintances on his routes. Only two have recognized him.

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Story and Photos by Carina Dieringer /
Hubbard Reporting Experience

Parks, community activities and students

John Dahl, parks and rec supervisor at Van Cleve Park, envisions activities that foster inclusive communities.

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Story and Photos by Logan Reitzner /
Hubbard Reporting Experience

CEDAR-RIVERSIDE
Ever-changing mosaic of cultures, people

As new businesses flood in and old ones leave, residents weigh in on shifts to community over the decades.

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Story and Photos by Maddie Mullikin /
The Hubbard School

DINKYTOWN
Local businesses
navigate turnover

Three prominent local businesses in Dinkytown give insight on strategies to combat corporate businesses.

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Story and Photos by Jayme Braden /
Hubbard Reporting Experience

MINNEAPOLIS
The hidden work of keeping up public parks

Volunteers play a crucial role in maintaining local green spaces.

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Story and Photos by Matthew Jegers /
Hubbard Reporting Experience

STORIES FROM 2025 HUBBARD REPORTING EXPERIENCES PROJECTS

A looming icon: United Crushers is here to stay

The Prospect Park grain elevator has amassed supporters from different crowds across the cities.

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Story and photos by Abbey Mulcahy / The Hubbard School

Mixed Blood: Celebrates 50th season

Mixed Blood Theater is looking back to look forward with a 50th anniversary YouTube series releasing new episodes every week.

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Story and photos by Eleanor Steffen / The Hubbard School

"Basketry Now" showcases art of sculptural weaving

The exhibition is the first juried display that the National Basketry Organization has done since 2019

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Story and photos by Hannah Kovnar / The Hubbard School

Visionary artist, art museum engages with community

The owner of House of Balls uses his art with found objects to connect with his community and bring creativity to the world.

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Story and photos by Claudia Staut / The Hubbard School

What's it like to live and work around the U?
Student reporters talk to people in neighborhoods bordering the UMN Twin Cities campus.

Market still exists for radical lit in Minneapolis

Independent progressive bookstore May Day Books has not wavered in its socialist mission, despite current political pressures threatening left-wing literature.

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Story and photos by Eleanor Steffen / The Hubbard School

Motorcycles on the road: Lane splitting and lane filtering is legal

If you thought you had to be aware of motorcycles in the past, it is even more important now, because Minnesota just passed a new law for motorcycles.

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By Leslie Bleess / The Hubbard School