Rochelle Olson
Editorial Columnist
Minn. PoliticsOlson has covered St. Paul and Minneapolis City Halls, Ramsey and Hennepin county governments, as well as courts and state government. Before joining the Star Tribune in 2000, Olson worked for eight years with the Associated Press in Kansas City, Topeka, Charleston, W.Va. and St. Paul. She has a master's degree from the University of Kansas and a bachelor's from Hamline University. She grew up in Bloomington. She loves to swim and do yoga.
Latest from Rochelle Olson
Olson’s Cheers & Jeers: Massive dinner party on Nicollet Mall to span 7 blocks, feed 2,000
Plus: Illegal backyard fireworks, access to water, Xcel Energy Center name change and more.
July 3, 2025
Olson: Moriarty’s 'me-first' approach to Minnesota assassination prosecutions is another misstep
Hennepin County attorney should defer to feds, who say they will go first.
June 28, 2025
Olson’s Cheers & Jeers: Good Samaritan rushes to aid 11-year-old shot in Minneapolis
Plus: Road construction woes, Melissa Hortman memorial, summer heat wave and more.
June 26, 2025
Olson: Civility is the bare minimum, Minnesota Republicans in D.C.
Republican state Sen. Zach Duckworth calls for common cause and a foundation for the future.
June 22, 2025
Olson’s Cheers & Jeers: Just cheers — no jeers — as a painful week in Minnesota comes to a close
Kudos to Gov. Tim Walz, Melissa Hortman’s staffers, U.S. Sen. Tina Smith, local law enforcement and others for their service to Minnesotans following last weekend’s shocking tragedy.
June 20, 2025
Olson: In Melissa Hortman, so soon after Kari Dziedzic, Minnesota politics loses another selfless leader
They both played fair and trusted that good policy would prevail.
June 15, 2025
Olson’s Cheers & Jeers: Walz skips the sweet stuff for law school grads
Gov Tim Walz’s speech at the U’s law school graduation ceremony was more political than is standard. Good.
May 22, 2025
Olson: Overtime at the Capitol: As stakes climb, talks get tougher
Voters should tune in now to see what’s happening on their behalf.
May 20, 2025
Olson’s Cheers & Jeers: Just cheers — no jeers — as a painful week in Minnesota comes to a close
Kudos to Gov. Tim Walz, Melissa Hortman’s staffers, U.S. Sen. Tina Smith, local law enforcement and others for their service to Minnesotans following last weekend’s shocking tragedy.
June 20, 2025
Olson: In Melissa Hortman, so soon after Kari Dziedzic, Minnesota politics loses another selfless leader
They both played fair and trusted that good policy would prevail.
June 15, 2025
Olson’s Cheers & Jeers: Walz skips the sweet stuff for law school grads
Gov Tim Walz’s speech at the U’s law school graduation ceremony was more political than is standard. Good.
May 22, 2025
Olson: Overtime at the Capitol: As stakes climb, talks get tougher
Voters should tune in now to see what’s happening on their behalf.
May 20, 2025