Minnesota roads were busier over the past year than before the pandemic, a puzzling trend considering the rise of remote work.

Why it matters: Traffic jams are frustrating, especially when it seems like they shouldn't be happening.

By the numbers: Between June 2023 and May 2024, vehicles traveled 59.4 billion miles in the state, which is up from 58.6 billion during the same period of 2018-2019, according to Federal Highway Administration traffic volume counts analyzed by Axios.

Context: That 1.4% increase is almost on par with Minnesota's population increase of 1.7% over the past four years.

Zoom out: Nearly 17% of Minnesota workers told the U.S. Census Bureau that they worked from home most or all of the time in 2022.

Reality check: Remote work has taken a toll on downtowns, but the raw number of primarily remote workers was 527,000 in 2022 — less than 10% of the state's overall population of about 5.7 million.

• Many of them were already working from home before the pandemic: 6.7% in 2019, according to the Minneapolis Federal Reserve.
• Remote work is also becoming "hybrid" for many, as some of the metro's largest employers have been calling employees back to the office.

The intrigue: Axios asked economists from the University of Minnesota and the Minneapolis Federal Reserve if they had an explanation, and both organizations said they had not studied the topic.

What they're saying: The state Department of Transportation doesn't regularly ask motorists why they drive, said spokesperson Anne Meyer.

• But she told Axios that driving decreases when it's snowy and cold, so last winter's record warmth and lack of snow probably played a role.

Between the lines: There could be other factors. Metro Transit ridership was still 41% below pre-pandemic levels last year, meaning people are opting for cars over transit.

Weigh in: Are you driving more or less than you did before the pandemic? Reply to this email and let us know.

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Minnesota voters head to the polls today for the state's primary election.

Why it matters: The winners of these races will be on the November general election ballot.

• In overwhelmingly Republican or Democratic seats, the primary can effectively crown the ultimate winner.

The big races: Voters will make their picks in contested same-party battles for the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of Representatives, and the state Legislature, plus some local posts and ballot questions.

By the numbers: About 92,000 Minnesotans had already cast an absentee ballot as of last Thursday.

Zoom in: Here's what you need to know to vote:

⏰ Polls open at 7am in most cases and close at 8pm.

📍 Where you vote depends on your address. Find your location.

🧐 The races and questions on your ballot also differ based on where you live. Generate a sample ballot.

🙋‍♀️ Minnesotans who are eligible to vote can register day-of at the polling place. What to bring.

📫 Those who already voted by mail can check the status of their ballot online. It must arrive by today to count.

• If you requested an absentee ballot but have yet to mail it back, you can drop it off at the office that sent it to you or go vote in person instead.

👀 Results will start to trickle in after the polls close at 8pm. Track via the Secretary of State.

📆 What's next: Early voting for the general election starts in just over a month, on Friday, Sept. 20.

Races to watch

🔀 Derek Chauvin has been moved to a prison transfer facility in Oklahoma. Officials wouldn't say why, but his attorney said "anything is better" than his prior prison in Arizona. (KSTP)

• Another inmate stabbed Chauvin in November 2023.

🚊 Metropolitan Airports Commission staff oppose a proposed streetcar line from downtown St. Paul to the Mall of America, which they say could snarl traffic near MSP Airport. (Star Tribune)

🧯 The Minneapolis Public Housing Authority has finished outfitting all 42 of its high-rises with sprinkler systems. (WCCO)

📺 Fox 9 Morning News anchor Alix Kendall is retiring on Sept. 6 after a 25-year run at the station. (Fox9)

🇺🇸 Twins great Rod Carew, a Panama native, is now officially a U.S. citizen. (The Athletic)

More than half of Minnesotans say the Honeycrisp is their favorite apple, according to a survey commissioned by the University of Minnesota, which developed the popular variety.

Why it matters: The Honeycrisp harvest has already begun in parts of the U.S., and typically hits peak season in Minnesota between Sept. 15 and Oct. 5, according to the U.

Between the lines: Nearly a third of Minnesotans said they're willing to pay a premium for Honeycrisps, according to the survey of 1,005 state residents taken in early July.

Yes, but: They aren't having to shell out the big bucks this year. Honeycrisp prices have fallen in the past year thanks to a bumper crop in Washington state, New York, and Michigan.

• Average prices in the U.S. last week were $1.59 per pound, down from $2.20 the year prior, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Brag to a Granny Smith fan

T-minus nine days until the Great Minnesota Get-Together, and we're giving five Axios Twin Cities Instagram followers two free tickets each!

• All you have to do is give us a follow and comment on this post. We'll randomly select the winners this Friday at noon.