Ricardo Lopez

I cover state politics and government for the Star Tribune where I'm based in St. Paul.

Before coming to Minnesota, I was a business reporter at the Los Angeles Times where I covered the California economy, focusing on labor unions, the ports. I wrote also on agriculture.

I began writing in high school, earning bylines in hometown paper, The Las Vegas Review-Journal. I completed summer internships with the The News Journal in Delaware, The Virginian-Pilot and the St. Paul Pioneer Press. Here are recent work samples:

Star Tribune

Leader in payday loans makes his presence felt at Minnesota Capitol

Hasty 3 a.m. decision triggered Minnesota's budget impasse

The early morning vote on gutting the state auditor's role brought talks to a halt.

Preschool funding fight shows teachers union's political muscle

Education Minnesota's top issues this year are seniority, pre-K funding

Los Angeles Times:

Whistle-blower warned EDD bosses about glitches in software upgrade

Citrus growers use predator wasp to fight disease threat

Canada looks to lure energy workers

In its quest to increase oil production, Canada is lobbying job fairs and air waves for laborers. California has become a prime target.