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Range newspaper employees face furloughs, layoffs loom
The parent company of the Hibbing Daily Tribune, the paper that runs my column, has announced temporary unpaid furloughs for “many or most” of its employees in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Other papers involved include the Mesabi Daily News and Grand Rapids Herald Review. Some permanent layoffs are likely, according to the story. Related posts: No…
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My daring escape from A4
The Hibbing Daily Tribune, my column’s home for the last eight years, kindly ran a story on today’s front page about the recent success of my book “Overburden: Modern Life on the Iron Range.” I think it’s the first story of the summer for their intern Matt Nelson, a former student and fellow conflicted intellectual…
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COLUMN: An organizer’s lament (Dylan Days is coming)
This is my weekly column that was published in the Sunday, May 17 edition of the Hibbing Daily Tribune. An organizer’s lament (Dylan Days is coming!)By Aaron J. Brown When I was a reporter I used to marvel at the busybody community activists who were in charge of such things as Chisholm Parallel Parking Days…
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My way or I’ll cut your highway (and by highway I mean everything)
Here’s the Iron Range take on Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s edict yesterday about the state budget negotiation process. (Story by Jon Collins for Hibbing Daily Tribune, Mesabi Daily News and others). Rep. Tom Rukavina, DFL-Virginia, said cuts to health and human services would be “devastating” for the Iron Range. “People are going to understand the pain…
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Dicklich strikes back, demands satisfaction
Last week I mentioned Hibbing Daily Tribune publisher Wanda Moeller’s editorial smackdown on Ron Dicklich’s appointment to the Laurentian Energy Authority. Well, somehow I missed the significant fact that Mesabi Daily News editor and co-publisher Bill Hanna hit Dicklich with a similar argument on the same day. You ever see professional wrestling? You ever see…
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COLUMN: Mom vs. Fish: Who will prevail?
This is my weekly column for today’s May 10, 2009 edition of the Hibbing Daily Tribune. This also served as my essay for “Between You and Me” on KAXE this weekend. Mom vs. fish: Who will prevail?By Aaron J. Brown Mother’s Day is here and for many Northern Minnesotans this Hallmark holiday brings an unholy…
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Range paper: Dicklich represents ‘good ol’ boys’ pick for energy board
Hibbing Daily Tribune publisher Wanda Moeller unleashed a sharp editorial today criticizing the Laurentian Energy Authority for appointing former State Sen. and longtime lobbyist Ron Dicklich to the LEA board. The LEA is the group responsible for Hibbing and Virginia’s shared biomass project which has been beset by engineering problems and cost overruns. It’s worth…
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A dark stage no more
This is my weekly column for today’s Hibbing Daily Tribune. I’m posting early because of the timely nature of the topic. A dark stage no moreBy Aaron J. Brown The history of the Iron Range has been shaped by people, geography and geology. To the outside world, we’re known for the iron beneath our ground.…
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The real dog days
This is my weekly column that ran in the Sunday, April 26, 2009 edition of the Hibbing Daily Tribune. It is based in part on an essay that I wrote for KAXE last year. The real dog daysBy Aaron J. Brown They’ll tell you the dog days come in August when it’s hot, but I…
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Group warns utilities about proposed Range coal gas plant risks
An Iron Range citizen group is cautioning public utilities in Minnesota against any power purchase deal with the startup company Excelsior Energy, the proponent of the coal gasification Mesaba Energy Project. Mike Jennings posts a story for the Hibbing Daily Tribune: The message, which a leader of CAMP says was sent by e-mail last week…
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A better welcome wagon means fewer farewells
This is my weekly column that ran in the Sunday, April 19, 2009 edition of the Hibbing Daily Tribune. Ironically, this piece written in an 18th century format was inspired by a prompt from the ProBlogger 31 Days to a Better Blog challenge. What a world! A better welcome wagon means fewer farewellsBy Aaron J.…
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Lawmaker: Essar plans are consistent
The Hibbing Daily Tribune talked to Rep. Tom Anzelc (DFL-Balsam Township) who explains that Essar’s description of their timeline and business plan is consistent with what they told him last year when they bought the previously named Minnesota Steel project. Essentially, Essar is trying to create vertical integration in their North American operations, mining and…
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Big Easter, Inc.
This is my weekly column for the Easter Sunday, April 12, 2009 edition of the Hibbing Daily Tribune, posted on the day of publication in honor of the holiday. Happy Easter, everyone! Big Easter, Inc.By Aaron J. Brown Easter Sunday dawns today, bringing all manner of religious, seasonal and sugar-related significance. For Christians, Easter remains…
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Essar CEO: Company is committed to Range project
On Friday, Essar Steel again reiterated plans to continue with its planned integrated mine and steel facility in Nashwauk in this Mike Jennings story for the Hibbing Daily Tribune. Essar’s North American CEO Madhu Vuppuluri says that the dirt work will continue on site this year, despite the financing delay that is holding up plant…
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Bartering hard in the Information Age
This was my weekly column from the Sunday, April 5, 2009 edition of the Hibbing Daily Tribune. A version of this also aired as an essay on KAXE‘s “Between You and Me.” Bartering hard in the Information AgeBy Aaron J. Brown Between 6,000 and 9,000 B.C. people started using livestock as a sort of living…