Recent content from Laura Yuen
Your fridge is a place where fresh food goes to die. That doesn't have to happen.
Can't see the contents of your own fridge? It's not your fault (well, not entirely). Here are some quick hacks to reduce wasted food in your kitchen.
Yuen: Parents, let's make a pact to get our kids off their screens and back to real-life play
I wanted to give my kids a taste of my '80s free-range childhood. Here's how it went.
Yuen: He donated his sperm to friends. Now he wants to be dad to the 5-year-old.
A sperm donor's paternity case could have statewide ramifications for same-sex couples and other families who rely on assisted reproduction.
Yuen: This Minnesota man has written thousands of poems over more than a decade — all to his wife
The daily missives can be silly and flirty or painful and ponderous, reflecting on everything from the couple's dog to the intensity of their love.
Yuen: Spring came to Minnesota a while ago, but its official arrival won't be any less sweet
Got seasonal confusion? Talk to a gardener, a canary in the coalmine of climate change.
Yuen: Why two Asian American musicians had to announce they're not the same person
Mistaken for each other for years, Meghan Kreidler of Minneapolis' Kiss the Tiger and the Current radio host Diane Miller are tired of shaking it off.
![Nickelodeon Universe. ] GLEN STUBBE * gstubbe@startribune.com Thursday, June 2, 2016 Jess Nelson, MOA case manager, Oasis For Youth, walks through the](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/QJCOZT7T2GDRUXT5FLPZPJGYRA.jpg?h=120&w=180&fit=crop&bg=999&crop=faces)
Not going anywhere for spring break? Try these fun Twin Cities area family activities
Get slimed, grab a joystick, brave a cold plunge.
Yuen: Tour the 'quietest place on Earth,' and see if it quiets your mind
In a new twist, Orfield Laboratories in Minneapolis is promoting group tours of its silent chamber, which is listed as a Guinness World Record.
Yuen: Seller, beware — if you're hoping to unload this Ikea dresser, it may be worth more than you think
Enterprising "flippers" are scouring online sites for used goods, snatching up items they know will resell for much higher.
Yuen: Leap Day twins reunite in Minneapolis for 'one moment in time'
Every four years, Nora Whalen throws herself a birthday bash. This time it was extra special.
Yuen: The Minneapolis City Council is showing us the dysfunction of disrespectful politics
It's no surprise that the name-calling and personal jabs we've seen in national politics has found its way to our own backyard.
Yuen: Yep! One punctuation mark speaks loads about gender, tone and whether I'm mad at you
Why do we rely on the exclamation point so often, even though we've been taught to eschew it? Our columnist defends its use — within limits.
Yuen: Summer camp literally changed the lives of these six Minnesotans
Former campers reflect on how a magical childhood summer away led to them finding their best friend, a career path, or everlasting love.
Yuen: Mark Rosen became a public face of grief and caregiving. This is how he found love again.
The Minnesota sportscaster showed his vulnerable side as he mourned the loss of his first wife, Denise. He's now sharing the joy that can exist on the other side of grief.
Yuen: This 'quiet little family' said yes to housing three international teens
Uprooting themselves and opening their doors have led to joy and laughter for a Twin Cities family that was up for the adventure.
Yuen: Can a Minneapolis startup solve the summer camp registration nightmare?
The perennial signups are one of the most frustrating chores of modern parenting. But rest easy, "the moms will figure it out," says one of the co-founders of the new site Camperoni.
Yuen: Schools shouldn't exclude kids with lice, but they do need to inform parents
A group of moms banded together to make lemons into lemonade — and help stop the spread of lice in their kids' school.
Yuen: The unironic mustache and other trends I'm hoping will die in 2024
Mayor Jacob Frey's facial hair experiment lasted just over a week. I'm hoping that the Stanley mug craze, spam texts and the diss "mid" will disappear just as quickly.
Yuen: What Minnesotans lose when a winter is this warm
We are choosing the convenience of dull weather over winter magic.
Yuen: A formerly homeless student sees the world; a couple navigate the heartbreak of dementia
A year's worth of columns show joy, heartache and change.
Yuen: The 'giving circle' movement shows that philanthropy isn't just for the rich
The trend of collective giving allows everyday people to maximize their impact.
Yuen: Tou Ger Xiong was an optimist, and that's why his brutal murder hurts the most
The killing of the Hmong American community leader is an affront to everything he stood for.
Yuen: Their sweet friendship was born on the same playing field
He's a football player for the University of Minnesota. She's a Special Olympics athlete. They met playing unified sports.
Yuen: After years of hustle and hardship, this undocumented Minnesotan finally earns a law degree
Juventino Meza will be the first to tell you that his path to success was paved with setbacks.
Yuen: 'Ricky Lake' swims every day — 'sun, winds, snow or rain, light or dark'
The guy known to the ice-dipping community as "Ricky Lake" says it's a blessing to live in the City of Lakes.
Yuen: Those Minnesota state flag finalists aren't as bad as you think
Despite the lack of a loon, these designs are growing on me. Let me explain why.
Yuen: Readers write about Taylor Swift, head lice and medical scares
Responses sound off on our columnist's take on whether a man should have been hired to cover a feminist icon.
Yuen: A Minnesota man's radical service reminds us about the 'giving' in Thanksgiving
A former CEO found his new path in homeless ministry.
Yuen: Thank you, Camryn and Lalaine Bynum, for personalizing a familiar story of love and separation
The Vikings safety and his wife got their storybook ending after a yearlong quest to be reunited.
Yuen: The Taylor Swift reporting gig went to a man. Here's why it stings.
Swift is a feminist icon, but it's a man who gets to make a living writing about her influence.
Yuen: There's still a stigma about head lice. So let me be the first to admit I had it.
Lice are an ancient problem, but myths and misinformation persist.
Yuen: How to keep the peace when a loved one roots for the wrong sports team
Deep-seated sports rivalries can can test familial bonds, but fans say it keeps things interesting.
Yuen: How ChatGPT helped plan my trip and cured my traveler's indecision
Artificial-intelligence software can provide detailed itineraries for your next vacation.
Yuen: 'The father of gynecology' experimented on her body. It's time we learn her story.
A former St. Thomas prof hopes to give voice to a young enslaved woman subjected to experiments.
Yuen: Let the youth protest — and let Amy Coney Barrett speak at the University of Minnesota
College campuses should still be a place to air — and hear — opposing views.
Yuen: In the age of 'sharenting,' can we balance the need for connection and our kids' privacy?
Posting photos of our children on social media without their consent can violate their trust. Just ask your kid.
Yuen: The return of the man perm — Gen Z males are seeking a softer, modern wave
A trend fueled by TikTok and Korean pop culture has officially migrated to Minnesota.
Yuen: New word game makes the case for more screen time
Puzzle from the New York Times is already the second-most-played game after Wordle, and it's easy to see why.
Yuen: The rise of the pickleball clique — is the game becoming too exclusive?
The fastest-growing sport in America has been known for its socially inclusive nature. But some say that's changing.
Yuen: Should homework for schoolkids be a thing of the past?
Research shows homework offers little to no academic benefit for elementary school students.
Yuen: How Minnesota native Gretchen Carlson faced down a giant and propelled the #MeToo movement
Seven years after taking down Fox News CEO Roger Ailes, the former anchor is celebrating a couple of big wins in Washington.
Yuen: Remembering Steve, a one-eyed cuddle-kitty who 'ran' her Minneapolis neighborhood
Her obit, stapled to telephone poles, was raw, vulnerable and slightly profane.
Yuen: To bring workers back, bosses need to do more than demand. They need to lead.
Companies are again trying to revive the office — sometimes by making threats.
Yuen: This Minneapolis chef wants more Black women to give hunting a shot
Lachelle Cunningham's first turkey hunt brought her to tears. She now wants others to have that experience.
Yuen: When a Minnesota summer ends, I feel FOHMO — the Fear of Having Missed Out
Quick! Can we squeeze in one more trip to the lake or to the State Fair?
Yuen: It's really hard to pick a perfectly ripe watermelon — unless you use these expert tips
If you struggle to pick a tasty watermelon in the store, the problem is not you. But here's some advice.
Yuen: What happened when my body failed me and I had no idea why
A healthy 45-year-old, I suddenly lost the ability to walk. My first real medical scare taught me to be my own advocate.
Yuen: It's like Draft Day at this north Minneapolis pre-K graduation
These kids are about to take their talents to kindergarten.
Yuen: Consider the long-term cost when teens lose the freedom to roam
This summer you may have noticed fewer gaggles of young people roaming the once-popular hangouts.
Yuen: How to protect your organic composting bins from raccoons, squirrels and maggots
Organics recycling may take some trial and error, but defeat is not an option.
Yuen: Bad air quality in Minnesota is turning precious summer into a bummer
It seems like we're being cheated out of something we desperately count on and even need.
Yuen: Cellphones in schools? Minneapolis should look to Florida — yes, Florida — for the answer
If we care about kids, we should help teachers do their job. Minneapolis Public Schools, are you listening?
Yuen: This Minnesota mother and son have worn matching outfits nearly every day for years
Dressed head to toe in vibrant colors, the duo is a walking work of art in a staid sea of suburbia.
Yuen: These Minnesota-designed tees supporting trans kids grew out of a dad's love
A Minnetonka father wants his son to know there is more kindness than bigotry in this world.
Yuen: A PBS Kids podcast teaches families about Juneteenth from north Minneapolis
"Keyshawn Solves It" features local talent, including students from Lucy Craft Laney Elementary School.
Yuen: Why are there so many Asian Connies? A Minnesota-raised author set out to find the answer
Connie Wang discovered an outsize sisterhood of Connies — namesakes of the iconic Connie Chung.
Yuen: This Minneapolis author wants us to celebrate and accept disability for what it is
Claire Forrest's new young adult novel is getting rave reviews for its authentic portrayal of disability.
Yuen: Let's empower teens to take control of their screen use
Many Minnesota adolescents know they're up against a powerful foe in social media.
Yuen: With a new pontoon boat, I'm embracing a Minnesota Dream
In her family's bid to become "lake people," our columnist experiences the pain and promise of a new pontoon.
Yuen: Tale of lost pork chops fueled this leader's journey up Medtronic's executive ranks
What are the stories that your parents have passed on that remind you of the resilience of your roots?
What we learned from our own high school graduation speeches
Our columnists recalled the advice they dispensed to their peers decades ago. Do they stand by their words?
Yuen: A bar mitzvah marks 'a moment in time, but years in the making'
I wasn't prepared for how moving attending my first bar mitzvah would be.
Yuen: Her story of forgiveness helped others heal — now they're helping her remember it
Less than two years after she was diagnosed with dementia, Mary Johnson-Roy's memories won't be lost if her community can help it.
Yuen: Why 10 is the golden age of childhood
It's a glorious but fleeting year when your kid laughs at your jokes and still thinks you're cool.
Yuen: Caring for animals helped this University of Minnesota veterinarian heal himself
Our pets give our lives purpose, a truth Jody Lulich knows all too well.
Yuen: St. Paul TikToker gets obit advice from dead people
Mary McGreevy has built a following by sharing her joy of reading memorable obituaries.
Yuen: 3 Minnesota parents on why gun laws need to change now
A viral educator, a mom who fights for her son's memory and a hunting dad call on elected officials to make the country safer for kids.
Yuen: I tried to go plastic-free for a week — here's what I learned
Our columnist tried to go without plastic. Is she out of her mind?
Yuen: The kids are doing 'new math,' and maybe that's a good thing
Instead of memorizing, elementary schools are teaching concepts that help kids be problem-solvers.
Yuen: These 10 (real) women from Minnesota deserve their own statues
From Olympic gold medalists to singers and civil rights leaders, women are underrepresented in Minnesota's statues. Let's change that.
