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Mining company describes ‘underground city’ in N. Minn. plans
Twin Metals, one of the companies proposing nonferrous mineral mining near Ely, announced this week it is drawing up plans for its mine. This March 27 John Myers Duluth News Tribune story paints quite a picture of Twin Metals’ mining aspirations. The so-called Nokomis project along Minnesota Highway 1 near the Kawishiwi River is now…
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KFAI profiles Range’s ‘Iron Lady’ Veda Ponikvar
Britt Aamodt of KFAI-Minneapolis profiled groundbreaking Iron Range newspaper publisher and civic leader Veda Ponikvar recently as part of the station’s series on Women’s History Month. The piece is about 30 minutes and gives you a good introduction to the Iron Range and the woman who rose from immigrant roots to great local and even…
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Nolan posting big lead in MN-8 DFL delegate race
I suppose it’s time for a quick update on northern Minnesota politics. As this Star Tribune story clearly shows, U.S. Rep. Chip Cravaack (R-MN8) will face a tough race for re-election in this northern Minnesota district. Three DFLers are vying to challenge him, former Duluth City Councilor and Ely native Jeff Anderson, former St. Cloud…
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Highway 53 reroute options become more clear
This Duluth News Tribune story details the two leading plans for rerouting Highway 53 as it approaches Virginia, Minnesota, from the south. Because of a deal forged between mining companies and the state back in 1960 the Minnesota DOT is on the hook for an expensive route change as the mine, in this case Cleveland…
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Magnetation eyes 1,000 acres in Itasca County
The fast-growing scram mining operation Magnetation plans to acquire 1,000 acres of land in Itasca County near Taconite. This land is adjacent to the infamous Canisteo Pit which had posed a serious flood risk to the Iron Range city of Bovey. Recent “de-watering” efforts have stemmed the complaints, but Magnetation is touting its ability to…
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COLUMN: From way up here the ants look like people
This is my Sunday column for the March 25, 2012 edition of the Hibbing Daily Tribune. From way up here the ants look like peopleBy Aaron J. Brown I ran up the driveway from our lime green and white trailer house across County Highway 7 to the mailbox. Mom used to let me do this…
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Great Northern Radio Show returns April 7 in Bemidji
I’m very excited (and busy) these days with the next episode of the Great Northern Radio Show slated for Saturday, April 7, 2012 at the Chief Theater in Bemidji. In coming weeks I’ll be sharing some bonus show notes and materials here at MinnesotaBrown. In due time we hope to have our own interactive website…
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Brown on the Air: EARLY SPRING!
This week’s Between You and Me on Northern Community Radio deals with the unusual early spring in northern Minnesota. What are you seeing? What does this mean? Stories of nature and the nature of change will abound. My essay is adapted from my column last week, so if you liked that and would like to…
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Bemidji Pioneer features Great Northern Radio Show
The Bemidji Pioneer ran a feature today on our upcoming Great Northern Radio Show, Saturday, April 7, live from the Chief Theater in downtown Bemidji. You can hear the show 5-7 p.m. on 91.7 KAXE/90.5 KBXE and kaxe.org. We’ll also be podcasting and rebroadcasting the show on Northern Community Radio and other public stations around…
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MPR: "Awkward hugs can’t save northern Minnesota"
My recent thoughts on the “Hug a Ranger” campaign in St. Louis County got me a spot as today’s commentator on the Minnesota Public Radio News website. The title is “Awkward hugs can’t save northern Minnesota” and I’m sure other people aren’t writing things like this. I’m quite sure. It’s a distillation of some of…
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DNT editorial backs Anzelc IRRRB daylight provisions
Another follow-up, today the Duluth News Tribune editorial board strongly backs Balsam Twsp DFL Rep. Tom Anzelc’s IRRRB transparency provisions which recently advanced out of a House committee. No one wants to be a detriment to progress. But when public money is being doled out — whether by the millions or more, or even by…
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This hugging business just got real
This is a follow up on my “Hug a Ranger” post of last week. St. Louis County Commissioner Keith Nelson wrote me to clarify that the “Hug a Ranger” brochure the county put out to market the region’s impact and importance in the state included a typographical error. The claim that nonferrous mining would produce…
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Anzelc bill demanding IRRRB transparency advances
A bill by Rep. Tom Anzelc (DFL-Balsam Township) requiring more transparency for potential development projects by the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board has cleared a committee hurdle in the State House, advancing in an Omnibus civil law bill. The bill has no Senate counterpart, where Iron Range senators have been cool to the idea.…
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The benefits of looking up; the costs of looking down
This video asks some important questions about the decline of space exploration in our age of austerity. It features a mash-up of statements by one of my favorite speakers, the astrophysicist Neil DeGrasse Tyson. I am left wondering what good can come of our nation if we can’t figure out how to strategically spend money…
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The last snowman falls
My Sunday column prompted a loyal reader to wonder if I would conclude my winter snowman series. I hereby offer the conclusion. I’m now taking nominations for the art motif I should use through the summer. Related posts: No related posts.