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There’s more iron in them thar’ hills
Magnetation, Inc., the outfit that is reprocessing old Iron Range mine dumps, made Fortune Magazine this week. The company shows a lot of promise. Beats a kick in the face, economically speaking. Buuuuut … none of our taconite mines are producing anything right now. Contextually, we’re still in the rough. On a side note, a…
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Taconot
How much taconite (an iron ore product used to make steel) is being produced on the Iron Range right now? Catherine Conlan at MinnPost tells us: none. The Iron Range is the largest domestic source of iron ore in the United States and we are generating zip as of today. They’re shipping some stockpiles, but…
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Bakk checking with the fam, will totally get back to us
Channel 10 reported that Iron Range State Sen. Tom Bakk is “internally” committed to his run for governor after yesterday’s conclusion of the legislative session. The Mesabi Daily News is reporting that he is taking a family trip to think about it. I am reporting that I will eat a deer pelt if Bakk does…
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‘Three Amigos’ approach only works in, well, ‘Three Amigos’
On Tuesday, the Duluth News Tribune editorial board opined that Minnesota should do a better job ensuring that Minnesota-set movies are filmed in Minnesota. They lamented that mediocre releases like “Leatherheads” and “New in Town” were both set in Minnesota but obviously (sometimes ridiculously) were filmed elsewhere. The editorial concluded that other places offer more…
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Dylan Days Today: DD Eve brings live music, art
It’s Dylan Days Eve in Hibbing, Minn. The stockings are hanging. I’ve been mixing spiced liquor into my coffee. Tonight we all go to bed with hopes that jolly old St. Zimmerman visits through the chimney. Unlike Santa, however, he only shows up if he feels like it. In any event, Dylan Days 2009 starts…
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Upper Mississippi Forest Legacy project survives the storm (we think)
Though the Minnesota legislative session ultimately proved disappointing on many levels, northern Minnesota has one item to cheer. It appears the first installment of money to fund the Upper Mississippi Forest Legacy project — the transfer of vast amounts of Blandin Paper land in Itasca County to public use — is on track. Related posts:…
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World premiere of original play to debut on Dylan Days stage in Hibbing
Also in today’s paper edition of the Hibbing Daily Tribune is a special tab commemorating Dylan Days, one of my many side ventures. It’s a nice collector’s piece and a good guide to this year’s set of arts and entertainment events for Dylan Days in Hibbing, May 21-24. Pick up a copy wherever newspapers are…
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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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What happens when unemployment runs out?
A casual conversation with a friend last week leaves me with lingering questions. We live on the Iron Range, you see. Like the rest of the state, nation and world, the Iron Range of northern Minnesota is experiencing an economic downturn. But things are always a little different on the Range where iron mining is…
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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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‘Overburden’ wins Northeastern Minnesota Book Award
Tonight I was honored to accept the Northeastern Minnesota Book Award for my book “Overburden: Modern Life on the Iron Range.” I guess they said some nice things in the judges’ comments but I don’t think I comprehended a single word after I heard the syllables “O-VER-BER…” This was my first book and the first…
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No obvious spoils in federal coal money for Range boondoggle
The U.S. Department of Energy announced support for a series of carbon capture and sequestration projects (what the industry calls “clean coal”) through the economic recovery act. Though some of the the $2.4 billion in funding areas will still grant funds to applicants, this list seems rather grim for Excelsior Energy’s proposed Mesaba Energy Project…
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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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A week out from Dylan Days 2009
There might not be as many political or Range news posts this week. Why? We’re a week away from Dylan Days in Hibbing and the excitement (and organizational pressure) is rising. I’ll be on 103.3 KUMD Radio in Duluth Friday morning shortly after 8:20 talking about Dylan Days. I’ll also be recording an interview for…
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Mitchell Bridge to be toppled this summer
On the subject of roads, we learn today in the Hibbing Daily Tribune that the Range-famous Mitchell Bridge between Hibbing and Chisholm will be removed this summer thanks to MNDOT and federal stimulus money. The rough looking landmark will be replaced by new infrastructure that will actually route the Mesabi Trail underneath the new highway.…