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Brown on the Air: Parties!
My weekly radio essay for KAXE’s “Between You and Me” this Saturday, April 26 will cover the topic of parties. What makes a good one? What makes a bad one? I also talk about the importance of fire in any Iron Range gathering. Tune in between 10 a.m. and noon on 91.7 FM in northern…
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Update: 4A endorsement race
It’s looking like Irene Folstrom vs. John Pernell for the DFL endorsement in House District 4A. For now, I’ll just try to share as much information as I can. Irene contacted me with information about a candidate meet and greet next week. Meet the Candidate:Irene FolstromFriday, May 25-8 p.m.At her home, 300 Irving Beach DriveBemidji,…
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Updated: Persell to join 4A hunt
When Rep. Frank Moe made his surprise announcement Saturday that he would not seek reelection in Minnesota House District 4A, the Bemidji Pioneer quoted two names as being on the minds of 4A DFL delegates: Irene Folstrom and John Persell. Folstrom officially joined the race for the DFL endorsement on Tuesday; Persell did so Wednesday.…
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Pop a top to get through another month
Wednesdays remain busy at my real job so I didn’t get to offer my post-Pennsylvania analysis this morning. Just as well. I had nothing to add that others weren’t saying. Clinton won by 9 points giving her a reason to continue the campaign while Obama ensured that he will win the pledged delegate race and…
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Folstrom out first in 4A DFL race
Irene Folstrom has entered the race to succeed Rep. Frank Moe (DFL-Bemidji). The Bemidji Pioneer reported this Tuesday. From what I know in my political endeavors (I chaired Tom Anzelc’s campaign in 2006, which involved an incumbent stepping down after the county convention), ramping up early is crucial in special endorsement conventions. In this regard…
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Hey Pennsylvania relatives, please end this
Oh hell, let’s talk about the elephant in the room. I’m trying to avoid excessive thought about today’s Pennsylvania primary. I’d really like this race to wrap up soon, not because I’m an Barack Obama supporter (I am, but that’s so cliche) but because this campaign has become something of a self-satire. In other words,…
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Hometown Focus to start weekly newspaper
There are two community journalism Internet presences on the Iron Range. (Compare that to your blue collar network of small towns). One is KAXE’s nonprofit Community Journalism Project (for which I am a paid blog instructor) and the other is the commercial Hometown Focus, which is run by folks I used to work with. Both…
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Range town PUC considers abandoning coal for alternatives
The head of Hibbing Public Utilities says the city should consider phasing out coal in its power generation, preferring instead renewable sources of energy or buying cheaper power from Minnesota Power. Mike Jennings has the story in today’s Hibbing Daily Tribune. … Jim Kochevar, the public utilities general manager, said Monday that some problems with…
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Dylan Days stokes literary flames on the Iron Range
As some of you know, I am one of the organizers of Dylan Days, an annual event celebrating Hibbing’s own Bob Dylan and the arts community of northern Minnesota’s Iron Range. This week we’re releasing the results of the Dylan Days Creative Writing Contest. The contest takes on even deeper meaning this year in the…
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MinnesotaBrown featured in ‘Politics in Minnesota’ weekly report
My thanks to Politics in Minnesota and their morning report editor Peter Bartz-Gallagher for profiling me in the new Blogger Q&A feature in their Weekly Report. To be the first blogger included in this feature is an honor deserved more by some of the fancy big city bloggers out there but I wasn’t about to…
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Rangers polled on bitterness, result: bitterish
I suppose this was inevitable. Larry Oakes of the Star Tribune localized the two-week-old “bitter” comments of Sen. Barack Obama by interviewing Iron Rangers. You know, because Rangers get laid off a lot and like guns. Opinions about the comments (that Obama himself has expressed regret over wording poorly) vary widely based on who the…
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Smoking ban aftermath: Duluth bars holding on
The Duluth News-Tribune reported Saturday that a review of tax receipts has shown little change in the success of Duluth bars after the statewide smoking ban went into effect last year. Tax data collected by the city of Duluth suggests that the statewide smoking ban that went into effect six months ago has not had…
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A game changing announcement in Bemidji
State Rep. Frank Moe (DFL-Bemidji) surprised the political establishment of SD 4 and northern Minnesota by announcing he won’t seek re-election during what was expected to be his nominating speech for the 4A DFL endorsement Saturday. (The Bemidji Pioneer has a good story on this). Moe is finishing his second term in the House and…
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Newseum shows that in journalism, puns reign supreme
This is my weekly column for the Sunday, April 20, 2008 Hibbing Daily Tribune. I archive columns at my writing site. Newseum shows that in journalism, puns reign supremeBy Aaron J. Brown I love puns. If I were a football player, Iād be a pun-ter. I wake up each day to see the pun rise.…
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The world needs more Jerry Springer
I’m normally not one of those people who cite stories they heard on National Public Radio to make conversations more intellectual. (For instance: “Can you believe it, a Manhattan researcher has learned that too many NASCAR races cause brain stem detachment. It’s called the Petty Effect. Can you believe they let those people vote.” Yeah,…