Minnesota

How do you know spring is near in Minnesota? This stinky plant blooms – and kicks out heat

Published

12 months ago

March 16, 2025

How do you know spring is near in Minnesota? This stinky plant blooms – and kicks out heat

With an off-putting scent and maroon flower buds that blend in with fall’s leaf litter, skunk cabbage is not on the radar of many Minnesota hikers.

The plant blooms early and looks bizarre enough to fit in with Addams Family home décor.

But the coolest part? Skunk cabbages actually pump out warmth.

You read that right: They are one of just a few plants capable of thermogenesis, which is the power to generate heat.

Skunk cabbage at Interstate State Park. (Jenni Webster)

Inside the flower’s spathe — a conical sheath protecting an egg-shaped spadix covered with tiny blooms — the temperature can rise at least 30 degrees warmer than the outdoors. That helps skunk cabbage push through any lingering snow on the ground.

It also makes skunk cabbage one of the first plants to bloom, sometimes appearing as early as February during warm winters and as late as April during cold ones.

This year, the plant’s blooms began showing up the first week of March in Minnesota. They can be found in moist areas, such as Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden’s marsh and Minnehaha Falls Regional Park in Minneapolis, in state parks along the St. Croix River, and other areas near swamps, springs and bogs.

Besides the promise of warmth inside the spathe, skunk cabbage plants also have a chemical called cadaverine that is the same substance found in decaying animal matter. Its Latin name, foetidus, means putrid or stink. That smell attracts flies and gnats known to feed on carrion, as well as other insects, which pollinate the skunk cabbage.

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Minnesota

Reynolds scores 21, winner to take Minnesota 67-66 past Northwestern

Published

9 hours ago

March 8, 2026

Press Room

Reynolds scores 21, winner to take Minnesota 67-66 past Northwestern

March 8, 2026 / 1:52 PM CDT
/ AP

Langston Reynolds scored 21 points and scored the game-winning basket to lead Minnesota 67-66 past Northwestern in the final regular season game of the season for both Big Ten teams on Saturday.

Reynolds was 9 of 13 from the floor and scored the final four points over the last 26 seconds. He turned a three-point Golden Gophers (15-16, 8-12 Big Ten) deficit into a win with a layup with 11 seconds left, and scored 17 in the second half.

Cade Tyson had 15 points, while Isaac Asuma added 14 points and eight rebounds. Bobby Durkin scored 12, made 4 of 8 from behind the arc and had two steals.

The Golden Gophers had a 39-29 lead at the half after opening the game with an 18-2 run fueled by nine points from Asuma.

Nick Martinelli, the nation’s sixth-leading scorer (22.7 per game), had 23 points on 9-of-18 shooting and nine rebounds for the Wildcats (13-18, 5-15). Jake West added 14 points and hit 4 of 7 behind the arc, and Tre Singleton scored 10 to go with six rebounds and four assists.

Northwestern will be the No. 15 seed in the Big Ten tournament and face No. 18 seed Penn State on Tuesday in the opening round.

Minnesota will enter as the No. 11 seed and face No. 14 seed Rutgers in the second round Wednesday.

In:

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Minnesota

A couple mild days before chance of snow returns to northern Minnesota

Published

21 hours ago

March 8, 2026

Press Room

A couple mild days before chance of snow returns to northern Minnesota

We are tracking more clouds around the Arrowhead today, but temperatures are warming up nicely to wrap up the weekend. Overnight lows were kept milder by a bit of a breeze, and that west wind will continue to push warmer air in, with sustained winds at 10 to 20 miles per hour today. By the afternoon, highs look to top out in the upper 40s and low 50s throughout the Northland.

Tomorrow will be a sunnier but cooler day for much of the Arrowhead. Winds will be rather similar to today, with temperatures remaining a little cooler, in the low 40s for the afternoon. However as we go through the rest of the week, we cool down rather quickly. Monday night will bring in a chance for snow across much of the region, and by Tuesday, we will be returning back below the freezing mark with a bit of a chill that will last through the middle of March, with highs in the 20s and 30s through next weekend.

I grew up in Central Minnesota, and my in weather and storms led me to pursue my passion for meteorology. I got my Bachelor of Science from Iowa State University, and my experiences with forecasting there led me to start my career as a Meteorologist for WDAY as well as The Forum.

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Minnesota

How To Watch Orlando Magic-Minnesota Timberwolves Lineups, Injury Report, Betting Lines & More

Published

1 day ago

March 7, 2026

Press Room

How To Watch Orlando Magic-Minnesota Timberwolves Lineups, Injury Report, Betting Lines & More

The Orlando Magic have an opportunity to continue their surge on the road in Minnesota, where they’ll look to continue a win streak that began in L.A. with wins over the Clippers and Lakers.

The Magic are on a two-game weekend road trip that’s all business, featuring this contest against the Timberwolves and a matchup with the Bucks in Milwaukee on Sunday.

Orlando guard Anthony Black and center Wendell Carter Jr. returned from one-game absences to help the Magic defeat the Dallas Mavericks 115-114 on Thursday behind 19 points from Tristan da Silva.

Minnesota is perfect through three March dates and brings a five-game win streak into this matchup with the Magic. An 8-1 run dating back to Feb. 9 has lifted the Timberwolves into third place in the Western Conference, although their lead on current No. 6 seed Los Angeles (Lakers) is just two games.

The Magic have fallen behind the Miami Heat in the Southeast Division by a half-game, although they hold a tie-braker since they have defeated Miami all four times they’ve played. The Magic have slipped to eighth in the East. The entire Southeast would be headed for the play-in tournament if the season ended today.

Orlando is 13-15 on the road 13-9 against Western Conference foes. Minnesota is 22-11 at home and a solid 16-6 against Eastern Conference competition.

Vitals – How to Watch Magic at Timberwolves

Game date, time and location: Sunday, March 7, 3:10 p.m. EST, Target Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota

TV: FanDuel Sports Network Florida (Magic), FanDuel Sports Network North (Timberwolves)

Radio: FM 96.9 The Game/AM 740 WYGM (Magic), KFXN (Timberwolves)

Magic hope to avoid three-game losing streak vs. Wolves

The Orlando Magic (33-28) visit the Minnesota Timberwolves (40-23) in the first matchup between these teams this season. After being swept in last season’s meetings, Orlando looks to win at Target Center for the sixth time in seven tries since they’ve had a lot of success there under Jamahl Mosley.

The Timberwolves won last season’s contest at home, which happens to be the most recent matchup in the series, 118-111 on March 14. Paolo Banchero scored 43 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in the loss, while Anthony Edwards led the Wolves with 28 points.

Orlando had won five straight in Minneapolis prior to last season and are 8-5 over the last 13 against the Timberwolves. That has helped the Magic open a 44-27 lead in the all-time series, which dates back to 1989-90.

Betting Lines (via DraftKings)

Spread: Timberwolves -6.5 (-112), Magic +6.5 (-108)

Moneyline: Timberwolves -270, Magic +220

Total: 223.5 (Over -112, Under -108)

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.

PROJECTED STARTERS

MAGIC

G/F Desmond Bane

F Paolo Banchero

C Wendell Carter Jr.

G Jalen Suggs

G Anthony Black