Looking for the best used book store in Minnesota? The best hiking trail? After-hours joint? The Star Tribune has endeavored to select the best of everything in the state in its annual rankings.

Minnesota is the only state in the nation with a statistically significant rise in the number of uninsured children. Children Defense Fund advocates blame rising insurance premiums.

The sour economy dented Minnesota's tax receipts in 2009. But we still moved up in the state rankings of per capita tax revenue.

Education officials will revise Minnesota's application for a waiver from the federal law in light of conditions laid out by President Obama. The state wants to be freed from the testing requirements and mandatory sanctions in No Child Left Behind.

In the latest report on the state's revenue picture, state revenues were just over $58 million -- or 4.4. percent -- less than forecasted.

The CDC reports a child in Minnesota caught a flu strain known as H1N2. The virus is found in swine and this case is only the second known infection in the United States. The child has recovered, and the CDC says there's no evidence the virus has spread to other humans.

New competition and a decline in liquor profits has led 46 cities across the state to close city-run liquor stores since 1995. The Star Tribune reports more cities are also weighing whether it's time to join the growing list.