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Obama delivers unprecedented speech today
Barack Obama delivered his much-anticipated speech on race issues in America and how they have become a divisive factor in this presidential campaign. He addressed the matter of his controversial former pastor, but did much more than that. Read the text of Obama’s speech today from the Obama website. This also includes a video link.…
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The Iron Range’s global connection
Though not providing any new information, regional editor Charles Ramsey has an informative piece in today’s Mesabi Daily News explaining how the Iron Range is plugged into the global economy. A good refresher or backgrounder for those unfamiliar with Iron Range current events. PS: Perhaps you’ve noticed, but you need to create an account if…
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Dylan Days announces schedule for May 22-25, 2008
If you didn’t know, I am the co-chair and volunteer media coordinator for Dylan Days in Hibbing — a celebration of the Iron Range’s most famous son, Bob Dylan, and the arts community of the region. We’ve recently posted our schedule for the 2008 event which runs May 22-25 (perhaps you caught my blatant sales…
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Damning comments about Mesaba boondoggle covered up; project faces new criticism from key federal agencies
The federal Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued comments last month in the matter of Excelsior Energy’s Mesaba Energy Project, a coal-gas power plant proposed for the Iron Range. I’ve declared this project a boondoggle that will produce neither electricity nor jobs before its “owners” walk away with bags of…
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Range bar cited for trying smoking ban theatre loophole
An excerpt from the story in today’s Duluth News-Tribune: Babbitt bar gets smoking citation for “Gunsmoke Monologues”Will AshenmacherDuluth News Tribune – 03/15/2008 What may have been the first ticket issued in connection with a bar hosting a “theater night” to get around the statewide smoking ban is now hanging behind the bar in a Babbitt…
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I am a cooking fraud (the column)
This is my weekly column for Sunday, March 16, 2008 published in the Hibbing Daily Tribune. I archive my columns at my writing page. I am a cooking fraud (and almost got away with it)By Aaron J. Brown If you missed it, I recently appeared on “WDSE Cooks” on Channel 8, northern Minnesota’s public television…
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Franken sweeps Iron Range
I bring news from the Iron Range. DFL county unit conventions were held for Senate District 5 and Itasca County today in Hibbing and Nashwauk, respectively. Both use walking subcaucuses to elect delegates to the 8th Congressional District and State DFL conventions. Both were essentially proxy fights between Al Franken and Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer for the…
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Iron Range high speed internet at crossroads
Public investment in high speed Internet on the Iron Range should be among our highest priorities. Whether we use this method or another, we need to make tech infrastructure happen. It’s not for the people who are here now, it’s for the people we need to come here and stay here. Range fibernet project at…
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Range Wars in tomorrow’s DFL county unit conventions
County unit conventions are taking place all over Minnesota in the DFL and Republican parties. The only matter of statewide significance is who the Democrats will endorse in the U.S. Senate race to oppose Norm Coleman, Al Franken or Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer. Both have agreed to abide by the party’s endorsement. One of the most important…
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Generational change in the Democratic party
For all we see in the media, especially television, you would think that the campaign for the Democratic nomination is all about the identity politics of race, gender and style. But that’s just what’s visible on the surface. When you consider history, voting trends and technological advances, what we’re seeing in Obama vs. Clinton is…
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"The Mind" might run in ’08
Seeing as this year’s presidential race will be so boring, former Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura is entering the speculation of of national bloggers as a 2008 alternative candidate. Related posts: No related posts.
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Sertich wins plausibility contest
The final numbers are in. The question: Several Iron Rangers are mentioned as possible candidates for statewide office. Which Iron Ranger do you think has the best chance of winning a statewide election? * Tony Sertich, 21That guy who posts the crazy signs along Highway 53 south of Cotton, 17Tom Bakk, 8Tom Rukavina, 6 It’s…
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Help Wanted?
The Duluth News-Tribune has a story today about the estimated number of needed construction workers for the proposed mining projects on the Iron Range. I’m tired of these stories. I want to see financial close and shovels in the ground before I dance a jig for developers. Mining plans require thousands of workersJane Brissett, Duluth…
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Brown on the Air: Gas Prices
We get topical on “Between You and Me” this week as the music and call-in show will focus on gas. My commentary discusses gas prices and continues my growing advocacy for legalized moonshine. Huh? You’ll have to tune in to “Between You and Me” Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon on 91.7 FM in northern…
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I return, bearing the head of the dragon called First Draft
I still have to mop up the blood on the last essay, but I’ve had a good week of writing for my book of Iron Range essays and finally feel like I can dabble in the time vortex that is blogging. Thanks to the person or persons who contributed so many fine lines of dialogue…