Range readies for belated impact of economic downturn

Peter Passi at the Duluth News-Tribune has this Sunday story about the economic downturn’s inevitable impact on the steel industry and the Iron Range. Right now, the economic slide has not yet hit the Range. In fact, for a lifelong Ranger, this has been a strange couple of months as the local economy has been stronger than the economy we see on the national TV. But it will hit us. As hard, usually harder, than anywhere else. It’s a good thing we’re used to it. Living on the Range is like living next to a train track in a big city. You know when the rattling starts that you need to make sure the breakable things won’t fall off the shelf.