In a big world with big problems, we should not overlook small places.
My writing has mostly focused on one such place: Minnesota’s Iron Range. It’s not that this one place explains everything about everywhere, but rather that taking the time to understand the many layers of a place helps you understand the composition of other places, too. People are different in so many ways, but also not.
When I started as a full time columnist for the Minnesota Star Tribune editorial page this year, I hoped to write about new places and people. I don’t work from the “ivory tower” of Minneapolis, as some critics have alleged. But I do file columns from the woods of the western Mesabi. This can be just as far, if not farther away from the people and places I don’t yet know.
Today’s column (gift link) is the first one I wrote about a story found out on the road. I wasn’t looking for it, nor was it suggested. It didn’t show up in my social media feed. Instead, I was just passing through a town, experienced an emotion, and discovered something.
After some follow-up research, I had the makings of this inspirational story from Randall, Minnesota, just northwest of Little Falls in west central Minnesota. I hope to do more of this in the months and years ahead. If enough people read and share the article, my argument for the expense budget would be much stronger (hint hint).
Read “Randall, Minn., mourns its school, but opportunity grows from loss,” in the Monday, Oct. 20, 2025 edition of the Minnesota Star Tribune.
Aaron J. Brown is a columnist and member of the editorial board for the Minnesota Star Tribune. His new book about Hibbing Mayor Victor Power and his momentous fight against the world’s largest corporation will be out soon.
