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Road lamenting
The Mesabi Daily News makes hay out of an AP news analysis of the federal stimulus plan’s transportation goals, saying that the spending overlooks some areas hit hard by the economy. The MDN ran the story out front and included a corresponding editorial. My favorite line about the stimulus package in the editorial: “It was…
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Thank you, Virginia (again)
Last Friday I spoke at the Virginia (Minn.) Historical Society annual dinner about my book “Overburden: Modern Life on the Iron Range.” It was a fun evening with a very welcoming crowd. I get a kick out of giving speeches when people audibly “harrumph” at the mention of Bob Dylan. There aren’t many crowds left…
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Essar: Nashwauk project on track … for real
Some clarification from the Sault (Ontario, Canada) Star on yesterday’s Essar story. Everything is on track again. Nice to know that Canadians are also punchy about this project. Essar Steel Ltd., parent company of Essar Steel Algoma Inc., wants to set the record straight on its massive Essar Steel Minnesota project. Media reports out of…
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More economic delays for India/Iron Range steel project?
Well, this is strange. The Sault Star, a newspaper in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, is reporting that Essar Steel is, in fact, delaying its North American developments including the long-awaited proposed iron mine and steel plant at Nashwauk. This paper serves the area where Essar’s Algoma Steel facility is located. What I don’t get is…
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Histro-tainment at sunset tonight
Tonight I’ll be giving the keynote presentation at the Virginia (Minn.) Historical Society Annual Dinner at the Elks Club on 5th Ave. North. As usual I’ll be exploring some aspects of my recent book “Overburden: Modern Life on the Iron Range.” I’ll also be sprinkling in some newer material to keep my brain from smoothing…
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‘I’ll stop there and wander around’
Bob Dylan has been granting some fascinating interviews lately. The Duluth native and Iron Range-raised musician is also waxing nostalgic about the place where he’s from. This item ran in Tuesday’s “Eh?” column in the Duluth News Tribune, which contained this excerpt from this month’s Rolling Stone interview of Dylan. In the latest issue of…
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The duality of the mining economy crisis on the Range
Recent updates at Business North call to question the existential crisis facing the Iron Range in northern Minnesota. Do we embrace our mining history with full force, to the extent that our future planning remains focused on mining. Or do we find a way to continue mining as is possible and necessary, but expand our…
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Rock out, Friday night history style, as my ‘Overburden’ road show forges ahead
I’ll be giving the keynote speech at the Virginia (Minn.) Historical Society Dinner this Friday. The social hour begins at 5:30 p.m. with the dinner and my whatsit to follow. Unfortunately, I didn’t get this up in time for anyone to RSVP for the dinner but you can check out the events page at the…
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Another leadership opportunity for northern Minnesota women
The Iron Range Go Run conference training women for political leadership was last weekend. Another opportunity for women interested in regional leadership is coming up. The Rural Women’s Leadership Project (RWLP) Invites local women in the Grand Rapids area to an evening of engaging discussion & social networking! Please join us at The MacRostie Art…
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Where’s my money?
So I guess this is what the Duluth News Tribune does when someone owes them money. Beats a bat to the knee, I guess. Related posts: No related posts.
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Matt Entenza: The MinnesotaBrown interview
Last week my series of interviews with 2010 candidates for Minnesota Governor continued as I met with former State Rep. and progressive policy advocate Matt Entenza. Previous interviews have included Mark Dayton, Paul Thissen and Tom Bakk. I hope to eventually speak with all or most candidates, depending on scheduling availability. I spoke to Entenza…
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Brown on the Air: Monday 5/4 Range Report
I’ll be on the Monday KAXE Morning Show around 7:20 a.m. talking about a variety of Iron Range topics including the effects of local taconite mine layoffs, how population loss is this area’s biggest problem and a review of my recent gubernatorial interviews. My interview with Matt Entenza will be posted early Monday. You can…
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Dylan Days names creative writing contest winners
As some of you know, one of my side projects is co-organizing Dylan Days in Hibbing, Minnesota and coordinating the Dylan Days Creative Writing Contest. Well, for those interested we just announced our 2009 contest winners. This is one of the most geographically diverse pool of winners we’ve ever seen. What’s interesting is that we…
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Watch for smoke monsters
Read more about the new underground physics lab near the Iron Range. Between this place and the existing lab in the Soudan underground mine this scientific project is just vaguely starting to remind me of the Darma Initiative from “Lost.” I guess that makes me a “hostile.” Or an “other?” Where’s John Locke when you…
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In defense of the pit
Mesabi Misadventures shares the most poetic defense of mining you’ll read today. Related posts: No related posts.