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: Former Walz rival fights for service dogs
Two-time Republican gubernatorial candidate Jeff Johnson is living the good life after public office.
May 1, 2025
Olson’s Cheers & Jeers: International Falls City Council wisely changes course
Mary Moriarty, International Falls and the University of Minnesota Dance team round out a week of Cheers & Jeers.
April 24, 2025
Olson: Pete Hegseth has no business at the Pentagon
Trump’s loyalty to the Minnesota native is a crisis in the making.
April 23, 2025
Olson: Meet politics opinion columnist Rochelle Olson
A productive fixture on the news pages, Olson transitioned to Opinion recently.
April 21, 2025
Olson’s cheers and jeers: When OLA speaks, it’s best we listen
Booker Hodges, Bueckers and a Hail Mary.
April 18, 2025
Olson: Champion’s lack of clarity shows need for immediate ethics change at the Legislature
Who will step up and build a bipartisan coalition dedicated to advancing long overdue reforms?
April 12, 2025
Olson's cheers and jeers: Why Steve Simon stands above
The secretary of state is knowledgeable, committed and ready with the data. Always.
April 10, 2025
Olson: You carry keys (probably). Are you a criminal?
The Legislature in 2023 rendered nearly all keys manufactured in Minnesota illegal.
April 9, 2025
Olson’s cheers and jeers: Attaboy, Wisconsin, for rejecting Musk’s millions
Cheers to Wisconsin voters for proving they can’t be bought.
April 3, 2025
Olson: Focus on connection, not billions in stadium funding debates
Billionaire owners easy to demonize, but communal moments are priceless
March 31, 2025
Olson’s cheers and jeers: U.S. Bank Stadium keeps its lid for 10th winter
You had your doubts about U.S. Bank Stadium’s roof, but it just made it through its 10th winter without incident.
March 27, 2025
Olson: With ‘Trump derangement’ and Eichorn arrest, it’s the Minnesota Senate’s turn for chaos
A weekly roundup of reactions to events, notable or not.
March 20, 2025
