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COLUMN: ‘The talk of any town’
This is my weekly column for the Sunday, Sept. 27, 2009 edition of the Hibbing Daily Tribune. The talk of any townBy Aaron J. Brown The best part about being from somewhere is knowing the story of that place. I still can’t understand the transient nature of my generation, the random iPod shuffle between Atlanta,…
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Scenes from the commute
For the last few weeks of fantastic weather here in northern Minnesota I’ve been meaning to take my camera to catch a particular shot of an old tractor that I see on my 30 minute commute into the big city of Hibbing. The sun rises right behind the ancient machine as it rusts away in…
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Range unemployment falls with state trend
Iron Range unemployment is down by about 1-2 percent. Related posts: No related posts.
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Rural northern school district faces extinction if bond fails
I’ll break radio silence again to share this press release from the St. Louis County School District from last week. It illustrates the plight of many rural Iron Range school districts, in this case one that has already consolidated many times over. The St. Louis County school system is just one of the many districts…
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Brown on the Air: RANGE NEWS 9/17/09
Though blogging has been slow lately (I have two big writing projects in the works) I have made some comments on recent good news in the Iron Range mining economy and will be sharing more of that analysis on the radio tomorrow. You can hear me on the KAXE Morning Show with Scott Hall at…
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KeeTac is back
Here’s good news from the Iron Range. U.S. Steel’s Keewatin Taconite will resume production after nearly a year of an indefinite shutdown. Of northern Minnesota’s six taconite mining operations, KeeTac was the one that worried many insiders. Now five of six plants will be operating nearly at capacity within a few weeks. Hibbing Taconite is…
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COLUMN: "The toys indicator"
This is my column for the Sunday, Sept. 13, 2009 edition of the Hibbing Daily Tribune. The toys indicatorBy Aaron J. Brown So some of the mines, not all of the mines (including none of the mines closest to Hibbing) are back to work here on northern Minnesota’s Iron Range. We are supposed to feel…
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Tom Rukavina: the MinnesotaBrown interview
My semi-regular series of interviews with DFL gubernatorial candidates continues today with State Rep. Tom Rukavina. My previous posts have included Tom Bakk, Paul Thissen, Mark Dayton, Matt Entenza, John Marty and Susan Gaertner. I’ve got four more candidates to interview, including House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher who is speaking to me later this week.…
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MinnPost republishes Rolfzen column
MinnPost kindly republished my column about B.J. Rolfzen as part of its Community Voices segment. Thanks to them! And check out MinnPost if you haven’t yet. It’s a great collection of writers publishing an online media site about Minnesota news and views. They need support! Related posts: No related posts.
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Rukavina post Tuesday, Kelliher later this week
My interview post featuring State. Rep. and gubernatorial candidate Tom Rukavina should be done by Tuesday morning. On Wednesday I am meeting with House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher, another possible candidate, during her visit to the Iron Range. These posts will inch me closer to the completion of my series on the DFL field in…
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COLUMN: A legacy of words and dreams
This is my weekly column for the Sunday, Aug. 9, 2009 edition of the Hibbing Daily Tribune. Relevant disclosures: Tom Anzelc is a personal friend and I run his campaigns. I am also a co-organizer of Dylan Days. A legacy of words and dreamsBy Aaron J. Brown I share a unique experience with many, if…
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More governor interviews coming
The blogging hiatus has been difficult but good. Work on the novel and other projects continues, but I will break radio silence a few more times this fall to complete my series of interview posts about candidates or potential candidates for governor. First up is a conversation with legendary Iron Range lawmaker Tom Rukavina whose…
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Baby, it’s cold outside
Record setting cold is expected this summer for Duluth and International Falls. It’s kind of adding to the ambiance for a summer where almost one in five Iron Rangers is unemployed. All we need now is a serial killer and some kind of enormous chemical spill. Then we’d be a latter day Dickens novel. Related…
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Rukalinka
It’s a linky kind of day I guess. The Minnesota Independent has a profile of Iron Range lawmaker Tom Rukavina as he considers a full blown run for governor next year. Related posts: No related posts.
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Iron Range county fairs bring beer, cheer, carnies to town
The St. Louis County Fair opens this Wednesday and runs through Sunday. The Itasca County Fair comes two weeks later. These events mark the waning days of summer for most red-blooded Iron Rangers. The blue bloods get a few more weeks until the houseboats come off Vermilion. The green bloods are still hospitalized. Don’t even…