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The cheese connection
This Green Bay Press Gazette story by Nathan Phelps connects the economic dots from a laid off miner on Minnesota’s Iron Range to a struggling small business owner in Sturgeon Bay, Wis. It’s a good demonstration of the integration of economies, especially here in the Great Lakes states. Related posts: No related posts.
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First Iron Range Earth Fest is this week.
There’s a lot going on this upcoming week. One item I’ve been meaning to share is the first annual Iron Range Earth Fest, an April 17-18 exhibition of all manner of sustainable living practices for northern Minnesota. Local farmers and small businesses, among others, are participating in the event which will be held at the…
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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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Monday Morning Radio Rouser
For you morning commuters, I’ll be on 91. 7 FM KAXE at 7:20 a.m. talking Range news and politics. It could be a regular segment if this works out. Listen at 91.7 FM in northern Minnesota or streaming live at www.kaxe.org where they also keep the archives (you know … for when you get to…
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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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The Iron Range: Join, or Die
This cartoon is obviously adapted from Benjamin Franklin’s famous cartoon before the Revolutionary War. It fits the situation many Range towns, school districts, counties and other institutions face today. Amid LGA cuts and uncertain education financing, only Iron Rangers working together to pool resources and present a united front to state and federal government will…
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Ritchie speaks about fair elections in Grand Rapids
Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie spoke to the annual Itasca Community College Civil Liberties Conference on Wednesday, April 8, about the importance of free and fair elections. Several area residents and college students attended the day long conference which explored freedom, social, privacy, and justice issues. Ritchie’s appearance came just a day after a…
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In today’s New York Times … Bemidji State
The “Frozen Four”-bound Bemidji State Beavers men’s hockey team is featured in today’s New York Times. This also has the distinction of being the first time the words “Bemidji” “hockey” and “Beavers” have appeared in a single edition of the Times. “Did we expect to win both games? I don’t know,” Travis Winter, the senior…
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RIP Steve Cannon
City Pages provides a warm, informative obituary for Steve Cannon, the well known WCCO radio host who grew up in Eveleth on Minnesota’s Iron Range and passed away this week. Related posts: No related posts.
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Dylan on Obama, Grant, Sam Houston and the accordion
The must read interview of the week features prominent northern Minnesota native Bob Dylan, who was born in Duluth and raised in Hibbing on the Iron Range before leaving for New York and international fame. Bill Flannigan interviewed Dylan for the Monday London Times. Normally I’m not one for the heavy-handed personal interviews of famous…
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Dire scenarios discussed for St. Louis County Schools
Most news and education observers in northern Minnesota know that the St. Louis County Schools are in a heap of financial and enrollment trouble. All Iron Range and Duluth area schools are struggling to cover unfunded mandates, maintain quality curriculum and pay huge legacy costs with less funding and fewer students. The St. Louis County…
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‘Dark Days, Hope, and the New Deal at the Grass Roots’
It’s a little late for tonight, but try to check out one of Pam Brunfelt’s programs at the Lyric Center for the Arts “First Stage” in Virginia. Pam is a great Iron Range historian who provided crucial perspective for my new book “Overburden: Modern Life on the Iron Range.” I’ve heard Pam talk about these…
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Business North poses tough questions on Range ‘clean coal’ project
Business North revisits the ongoing saga of the Mesaba Energy Project in this month’s edition. This is the “clean coal” power plant proposed on the Iron Range by the start-up company Excelsior Energy. Reporter Beth Bily boils criticism of the project down to three major questions. And yes, I’m quoted in the story as a…
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Ely launches 2016 Olympics bid!
The Minnesota “Must See” on this April Fools Day is the launching of the Ely 2016 Summer Olympics Bid. The “press conference” is an especially worthwhile click. On a side note, this is some very clever marketing done by the people up in Ely. It’s attention-getting and creative while showcasing what’s great about the Iron…
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Customers, everyone! Customers!
What if a small town was bypassed by a major freeway years ago? What if the town’s downtown went through a long period of struggle as a result? What if the town got one more chance at its past glory when a bunch of cars came through because of something big and important? And what…