Kindling a small, but growing flame in rural manufacturing
The manufacturing industry has always been a tough nut to crack in northern Minnesota. This place produces great amounts of raw materials, such as iron ore and timber, but lies far away from customers who buy manufactured goods. Thus, only small scale and specialty manufacturing has succeed, and less so as time has gone by…. Read More →
Looking for a win, not just a fight, in Range hockey hall brawl
At first, I was skeptical of the news that the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Museum in Eveleth was considering a move to St. Paul. The idea allegedly stemmed from a proposed renovation of the Xcel Energy Center where the Minnesota Wild plays. Lately, an cycle of Iron Range outrage seems to kick up when… Read More →
The affordability we can’t afford
Americans like to argue, but seem to agree that we don’t have enough money. The median household income in St. Louis County runs just below $58,000 a year, about $30,000 for individuals. Half make less, and these folks certainly know how hard it is to cover rising expenses. Nevertheless, candidates who support publicly funded health… Read More →
A very special Bob Dylan Christmas
Today, you can read my latest column for the Minnesota Star Tribune, “In Hibbing, Dylan biopic taps the unknowable.” The Bob Dylan biopic “A Complete Unknown” opens Christmas night. Last Friday, Searchlight Pictures authorized a special advance showing of the film at Mann’s Cinema 8 in Bob Dylan’s hometown of Hibbing. In a rare twist,… Read More →
Solving high costs, low availability of child care
My latest column for the Minnesota Star Tribune is out today: “Child care is expensive, but no one is getting rich from it.” Monday is “Day Without Child Care” in Minnesota. Child care providers, families and employers will raise awareness and lobby for policies that reduce the cost and improve the availability of child care… Read More →
This just in
Kindling a small, but growing flame in rural manufacturing
The manufacturing industry has always been a tough nut to crack in northern Minnesota. This place produces great amounts of raw materials, such as iron ore and timber, but lies far away from customers who buy manufactured goods. Thus, only small scale and specialty manufacturing has succeed, and less so as time has gone by…. Read More →
Power in the Wilderness
Aaron J. Brown is currently writing “Power in the Wilderness,” a book about the late Hibbing mayor Victor Power and his tumultuous early 20th Century world. Until the book is done Brown is collaborating with independent filmmaker Karl Jacob on an exciting new podcast of the same name. The program is a special production of KAXE/KBXE Northern Community Radio where it will also air on the radio. To listen or read show notes, check out “Power in the Wilderness.” Meantime, Contact Aaron with any Hibbing-area recollections from 1900 to 1926, especially if they involve Victor Power. Family histories and old letters are great, but even second-hand stories are useful. We are trying to solve a historical mystery and need your help to get it right.
