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Abandoned farm
Hoar frost covers an abandoned farm near McGivern Park in Staples, Minn.
Photo courtesy Janice Winter

This week, Republican presidential candidates visited the state, we looked at the expansion of sand mining and visited the Ice Hole -- a bar on Lake Lida.

Gallery
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Fitger's Brewhouse
Jason Krause of Duluth, Minn. empties tanks at Fitger's Brewhouse in Duluth. Krause was emptying one tank of root beer into the serving tank behind him to the right.
Derek Montgomery for MPR
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Abandoned farm
Hoar frost covers an abandoned farm near McGivern Park in Staples, Minn.
Photo courtesy Janice Winter
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Al Nelson
Al Nelson, plant manager at Wisconsin Industrial Sand Co. in Maiden Rock, Wis., watches a loader deposit sand onto a conveyor belt in the underground mine. Sand mining has become big business in recent years and mining companies are looking to expand their properties. Now, some landowners are considering the option of selling or leasing their land to big companies who want to explore the area's natural resources and alternative forms of energy.
Alex Kolyer for MPR) (Story by Elizabeth Baier