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Essar environmental appeal, cont.
This is the rundown on yesterday’s appeal from an environmental group regarding Essar Steel’s proposed Nashwauk mine/steel mill. Related posts: No related posts.
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‘The clock is still ticking’
The Hibbing Daily Tribune reports today on the passing of Hibbing community activist Bob Kitchen. I knew Bob when I was editor of the paper and everyone active in the Hibbing community has probably crossed paths with him at some point. He’s been involved with decades worth of public works, beautification projects, economic development, history…
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Enviro appeal to Essar permits reaches court
A St. Paul based group was hoping to derail the permits for the proposed Essar Steel project near Nashwauk in appeals court this morning. (St. Paul Legal Ledger) I’ll post an update when I know more. I wouldn’t bet money that they succeeded. Related posts: No related posts.
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No pot shots here
I guess I won’t make any jokes the next time lightning hits the Mesabi Daily News printing plant. But in this unfortunate weather-related event there was a silver lining for those of us who passionately believe in the future of newspapers, particularly local community newspapers. To those who have taken ridiculous pot shots speaking of…
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Woes of the Fourth Estate (north version)
As the Hibbing Daily Tribune, Mesabi Daily News and Superior Publishing group recover from their lightning strike, Business North‘s Wayne Nelson explores the enormous challenges facing northern Minnesota newspapers. Worth a read. UPDATE: Byline on story has been corrected. Related posts: No related posts.
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Even God is trying to kill small dailies
Et tu, Yahweh? Several Iron Range newspapers, including the Mesabi Daily News and Hibbing Daily Tribune (where I write my column), were knocked off press this morning when lightning struck their central printing plant in Hibbing. Today is also the publication day for the twice weekly Grand Rapids Herald-Review. According to separate releases, the MDN…
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Itasca OKs Essar land sale
WDIO is reporting that the Itasca County Board has approved a $2 million, 4,000-acre land sale to Essar Steel for its proposed mine and steel-making facility in Nashwauk. UPDATE: Business North has more. Related posts: No related posts.
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Thank you, Brainerd!
On Monday I enjoyed a fantastic event at the Brainerd Public Library for my book “Overburden: Modern Life on the Iron Range.” About 40 people showed up to hear my talk on the Iron Range, northern Minnesota culture and life as an (increasingly less) young professional in an old place. The Brainerd Library has done…
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I’ve gone Joad
This Brainerd Dispatch story explains my upcoming Monday noon visit to Paul Bunyan town for the public library’s brown bag lunch series. It’s pretty standard, but my favorite part is this: Aaron Brown, 29, of the Iron Range I’ve gone the full Tom Joad. I don’t have an address. Wherever people are hungry I’ll be…
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Brown on the Air: 7/13 Range Roundup
Tune in to hear my semi-regular Range news and views segment on the Monday KAXE Morning Show. The segment is scheduled for 7:20 a.m. on 91.7 FM in northern Minnesota and streaming online all over the world at www.kaxe.org. Subjects will range from local mining woes, to Excelsior Energy’s recent Hail Mary pass into the…
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The exodus
This Grand Rapids Herald-Review story relays data that has been in several newspaper stories this week. Census data is showing something that most northern Minnesotan have observed for themselves. People are moving from the towns to the country. This is changing the culture of the region a little more each year: more of a focus…
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Start your excavators
An impasse in negotiations between the state of Minnesota and U.S. Steel is dashing hopes of a new state park on Lake Vermilion. (MDN) Related posts: No related posts.
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‘Overburden’ road show closes Monday in Brainerd
We’re entering the long hot summer of my semi-regular Minnesota tour for my book “Overburden: Modern Life on the Iron Range.” At noon this Monday, July 13, my last (for now) scheduled book event will take place at the Brainerd Public Library (416 S. 5th St.). I’ll be participating in their “brown bag” lunch series…
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MinnPost series: Iron Range mining among worst hit sectors of Minnesota economy
MinnPost has been doing a series about the state of the Minnesota economy. Their third part ran today and includes a compelling comparison between the various regions and economic sectors of the state. The following excerpt may seem obvious, but sums up our problems here: May’s job statistics tell mining’s story. Unemployment in Duluth was…
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Gaertner interview coming
Thursday I’ll be interviewing DFL gubernatorial candidate Susan Gaertner after the meeting of the Itasca County DFL Social Club in Grand Rapids. Gaertner will be meeting with local DFLers starting at noon at the Itasca Co. DFL headquarters on Highway 169. You don’t have to be a member to attend. I’ll be releasing the post…