Research
Numbers from public records, worked out in the open
Each study starts from a public record, shows how the figures were computed, says what could not be collected, and lets you download the results.
Original analysis Draft
Minnesota ice-out dates, 1950 to 2026: what 65 long-record lakes show
Volunteer reports of the day the ice left 65 Minnesota lakes, each with at least 50 years on file, show ice-out arriving about 1.4 days earlier per decade. The range is wide, and the data cannot say why.
Data collected · 2 CSV downloads
Original analysis Draft
What Minnesota charges to put a new car on the road, from the statutes and state fee pages
For a new car the state sales tax comes to $2,750 on a $40,000 price, and the first year's registration tax adds $640 more. Electric cars pay an added $200. County wheelage tax adds $0 to $20.
Data collected · 2 CSV downloads
Original analysis Draft
Will your lake be open on the fishing opener? Ice-out and opener dates, 1999 to 2026
Joining DNR ice-out reports for 65 lakes with each year's opener date: ice-out came after the opener in 31 of 1,492 lake-years, all in four springs, all on lakes at 45.5 degrees north or above, and all with a May 10 or 11 opener.
Data collected · 2 CSV downloads