‘Prospects for the Arrowhead’ to shake blues off this dusty place, or dance trying

I’ll be at this MPR/Northland’s NewsCenter “Future of the Region” event on April 5, participating in some yet unknown way. Come on down, if only to see what the Oscar and Felix act of MPR and KBJR collaboration might look like.

“What is this, B-Roll of people jumping in Lake Superior? Get that out of here!”

“Shut up, you. That’s what the people like to see, if you knew anything.”

Meantime, unrelated and offered without commentary, Cathy Wurzer will co-host with Barbara Reyelts.

MPR News and Northland’s NewsCenter Present
“Prospects for the Arrowhead: What Do You Want For Your Future?”
Tuesday, April 5 at Radisson Harborview
Admission is free and the public is invited to attend

WHAT: MPR News and Northland’s NewsCenter are hosting a community conversation about the economic future of Northeastern Minnesota. An economic evolution is underway in the Arrowhead region. New mining projects, continued development along the North Shore, the growth of health care and increasing numbers of self-employed workers present a fresh generation of choices.

While the economy shows signs of life, the path to prosperity raises tough questions about jobs and quality of life. Host Cathy Wurzer from MPR News and Barbara Reyelts from Northland’s News Center will conduct an invigorating and important discussion.

“Prospects for the Arrowhead” is the third in a series of statewide events to be hosted by MPR News. The events are collaborations between MPR News and greater Minnesota news organizations to explore local issues, and are made possible in part by the Minnesota Legacy Amendment’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. “Prospects for the Arrowhead” is co-sponsored by Northland’s NewsCenter.

“We are thrilled to work with MPR News to explore the economic options in Northeastern Minnesota,” says Barbara Reyelts, News Manager for Northland’s NewsCenter. “Northeastern Minnesota has unique economic potential and some hard choices to make.”

“Northland’s NewsCenter covers the gamut of economic issues in the Arrowhead,” says Chris Worthington, managing director of MPR News. “We’re looking forward to a lively discussion. We know what happens in the Arrowhead will affect the whole state.”

The media organizations will work together on taped interviews leading up to the event.


WHEN: 7-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 5. Free pre-event reception begins at 6:00 p.m.

WHERE: Radisson Harborview Great Hall, 505 West Superior Street, Duluth. Parking is free.

TICKETS: Admission is free, but RSVP is requested by going to mprnews.org/arrowhead

Comments

  1. Both North and South Dakota are booming. Why don’t we try their model? If Wisconsin, who’s copying the Dakota model, starts stealing our jobs also, will we stay with our system? High state/property taxes plus unsustainable pensions for state workers has driven jobs out of every state that has tried it over the past 15 years. The states who went with our current model (New Jersey, Ohio) the past 15 years, are doing a 180 degree turn like Wisconsin and trying to bring jobs to their states by lower taxes and getting state employee pensions under control. Lets watch and see what happens over the next 4/5 years.

  2. North Dakota is booming because of oil. We don’t have any oil. I just can’t get on board with the notion that the South Dakota “model” is truly a blueprint for the rest of the country. I think we’ve had this conversation before.

    Minnesota has had higher taxes to go with generous services and better schools over the latter half of the 20th century. I rather like the state that Minnesota became and still prefer it, and its taxes, and its services, to what South Dakota offers. South Dakota has Rapid City and Sioux Falls and then a vast expanse of poverty. Those cities are both near other states where they can use attractive tax packages to draw in portable industry of one kind or another. Good for them. Can Minnesota do some of this? Well, I guess. And we’d have temporary gain, maybe something would stick. I don’t know. The JOB-Z tax program had mixed results. Our population is much larger and more diverse than S.D.’s. When moving to South Dakota becomes remotely appealing to me I’ll let you know and concede the point.

    Minnesota will prosper, especially if we maintain our good schools and make our towns and townships enjoyable places to live.

    Not to go down another rabbit hole, but Minnesota’s pension plan is funded and more stable than most. Pension plans are negotiated contract items. We’ve talked about this recently, too.

  3. You can talk all you want about many things….. the Dakotas are growing and creating jobs…. That’s the bottom line. We along with many other states are not.

  4. I forgot to add they have oil in the Dakotas, we have minerals here on the Range. Same difference, except their elected officials fought tooth and nail to get permits to get oil out of the ground. Don’t see that here.

  5. Oil to ore is apples to oranges. Iron to copper is apples to oranges. South Dakota and North Dakota are not magical lands of plenty. They are areas that became desperate and found a market for their desperation. I wrote about this earlier in the week. Just my opinion. We’ve already talked about this, too.

  6. I disagree, natural resources are natural resources. When you don’t have a job and kids to feed you don’t care where the check comes from as long as it comes. I grew up in the 60’s prior to taconite, my father wasn’t worried about all the things you mentioned that makes living in Northern Minn special, he was worried about feeding his kids. I’m worried about jobs, from the jobs good things will come. I come from a whole different generation than you Aaron, I have kids around your age. I’ve been through a lot here on the Range, the thing I like about you is you care for this area. I’ll keep on working you towards the light, you’re too good for the darkside…. ):):

  7. Our shared love of this place is a great starting point! We have different perspectives and opinions but we wouldn’t get hot and bothered about this if there wasn’t something at stake that mattered.

Speak Your Mind

*

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.