On joining the Minnesota Star Tribune editorial page

At last, I can share a really big update. This week, I joined the Minnesota Star Tribune as a full time columnist and member of the editorial board. I’ll be working remotely, based here at MinnesotaBrown World Headquarters in Balsam Township, with liberty to travel the state as necessary. In fact, I’ll be the first… Read More →

Black spruce in the Sax-Zim Bog

Bringing it owl bog home

My latest column for the Minnesota Star Tribune, “I grew up in a Minnesota bog the size of New York City; I didn’t know it was special,” is out now. I know longtime readers already heard my stories about growing up on a junkyard in the Sax-Zim Bog. What can I say? In more ways than… Read More →

Rolling dice on housing

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 →

Childrens' shoes strewn about a play mat at a child care center.

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

On joining the Minnesota Star Tribune editorial page

At last, I can share a really big update. This week, I joined the Minnesota Star Tribune as a full time columnist and member of the editorial board. I’ll be working remotely, based here at MinnesotaBrown World Headquarters in Balsam Township, with liberty to travel the state as necessary. In fact, I’ll be the first… Read More →