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Stimulus provides at least one thing for the Iron Range: hope
It could be argued that half the problem with the economy right now is mental. People (and businesses) are scared and letting their fear control their actions. That’s not to dismiss the very real recession and shaky financial system, but it seems fitting that the federal stimulus package is addressing the not-so-insignificant matter of hope…
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Hey chumps, don’t get your hopes up
I wrote Sunday about the heavy influence of lobbying in St. Paul after a Mesabi Daily News story detailed how lobbyists outnumber lawmakers 4-1 at the Capitol. I was about to write that one way to improve the state of affairs would be to encourage more citizen lobbying like what you see with “St. Louis…
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Ice storm lays an egg
Ice storm? I don’t think so. The temperature never fell below freezing these last couple days in Northern Minnesota, so the vaunted “Ice Storm” instead ended up being a little bit of rain and a lot of high talk. Nevertheless, Duluth schools canceled classes TWO DAYS IN A ROW. That’s not good for our street…
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Ice Living in Northern Minnesota
Life in northern Minnesota is great. Our cost of living is low and our communities are increasingly becoming modernized. The only problem is that there’s a bag in my car right now containing a snowsuit and giant boots in the event today’s ice storm drives my Ford Focus into the ditch where I would presumably…
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Bullish on steel?
The Duluth News Tribune has a story today showing that several new Iron Range mining projects remain on track despite the economy. The Mesabi Daily News had a similar story in their Sunday edition. Both quote experts saying that the steel industry seems to be preparing for a post-recession upswing in the not-so-distant future. Related…
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From hugs to headlocks
This was my column for the Sunday, Feb. 8, 2009 edition of the Hibbing Daily Tribune. This piece was based on an early essay I wrote for KAXE’s weekly program “Between You and Me.” From hugs to headlocksBy Aaron J. Brown Hornets. In summary, hornets buzz around the center of my sibling experience growing up…
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Thank You, Chisholm!
Thanks to everyone who came out to Ironworld on Saturday to hear my lecture and book signing for “Overburden: Modern Life on the Iron Range.” Ironworld is now one of several Iron Range locations where you can buy a signed copy of the book. The others include Howard Street Booksellers in Hibbing and the Village…
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Sad news from Oregon
I got this tip from my Eugene, Ore.,-based Iron Range pal Andy who saw it in his local paper. The Eugene Register-Guard ran an obituary today for Virginia, Minn., native and popular longtime Oregon political science professor and political leader Jim Klonoski. I hadn’t heard of him before, but Klonoski clearly lead a very impactful…
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Paper: Range mines won’t benefit much from stimulus package
The Duluth News Tribune published a Peter Passi story today quoting industry analysts saying that the economic stimulus package being negotiated in Washington does not stand to benefit the Iron Range much. That is, unless the demand for durable goods like cars and washing machines improves. This comes in contrast to the MinnPost story I…
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Those beeping cameras
I’ve been writing about the St. Louis County Board more often these days. I had forgotten how entertaining this governmental body can be. Commissioner Keith Nelson is seeking a legal opinion about whether the board can bar citizens from video recording county workshops (which are legally open meetings). The material filmed could be taken out…
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Lobbyist, Lobbyist, Lawmaker, Lobbyist, Lobbyist,
Here’s an interesting story from Jon Collins, the legislative correspondent for the Mesabi Daily News, Hibbing Daily Tribune, Grand Rapids Herald-Review and other northern papers. I’ll show you the headline as it appeared in the Mesabi Daily News: Lobbyists outnumber lawmakers by 4-1Good or bad? Both I’m going to go out on a limb and…
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Old School: Range town ponders closing budget gap with Tommy Gun
Here’s a typical political dispute from an Iron Range town, this time Virginia. The city has owned a prohibition-era Tommy Gun since, well, no one knows for sure. Probably came from the feds, we’re told. Police chief suggests selling said Tommy Gun to close the city’s budget gap. (They called them “choppers” sometimes; Bonnie and…
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Reminder: Ironworld ‘Overburden’ event is Saturday, Feb. 7
Last reminder! This Saturday, Feb. 7, I will be at Ironworld in Chisholm giving a lecture and signing copies of “Overburden: Modern Life on the Iron Range,” my new book that is rocking the vaunted Iron Range literary establishment to its core. The lecture begins at 2 p.m. with the signing to follow. Admission includes…
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My funny senator
The performance of Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) at the National Press Club Foundation dinner this week is getting plenty of headlines in nerdy political circles. For the uninitiated, the premise is that this annual event always features comedic performances from one Democrat and one Republican member of Congress. Usually these people aren’t funny. This year,…
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Brown on the Air: OLD THINGS
My weekly essay for the 91.7 KAXE Saturday morning call-in and music program “Between You and Me” covers the topic de jour of “Old Things.” If I recall correctly, this topic was selected because someone in the show’s sphere of influence has a really old snowblower that they just won’t give up on. So this…