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Despair, I shall name you Canisteo
Jon Collins, legislative correspondent for the Mesabi Daily News, Hibbing Daily Tribune, Grand Rapids Herald-Review and other northern newspapers, has a story today about the ongoing, never-dying, omnipresent, will-outlive-us-all problem of the retired Canisteo Mine Pit by Bovey. The pit has too much water, is considered a major flood risk and is currently causing all…
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Stimulus provides at least one thing for the Iron Range: hope
It could be argued that half the problem with the economy right now is mental. People (and businesses) are scared and letting their fear control their actions. That’s not to dismiss the very real recession and shaky financial system, but it seems fitting that the federal stimulus package is addressing the not-so-insignificant matter of hope…
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Ice Living in Northern Minnesota
Life in northern Minnesota is great. Our cost of living is low and our communities are increasingly becoming modernized. The only problem is that there’s a bag in my car right now containing a snowsuit and giant boots in the event today’s ice storm drives my Ford Focus into the ditch where I would presumably…
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Bullish on steel?
The Duluth News Tribune has a story today showing that several new Iron Range mining projects remain on track despite the economy. The Mesabi Daily News had a similar story in their Sunday edition. Both quote experts saying that the steel industry seems to be preparing for a post-recession upswing in the not-so-distant future. Related…
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Thank You, Chisholm!
Thanks to everyone who came out to Ironworld on Saturday to hear my lecture and book signing for “Overburden: Modern Life on the Iron Range.” Ironworld is now one of several Iron Range locations where you can buy a signed copy of the book. The others include Howard Street Booksellers in Hibbing and the Village…
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Sad news from Oregon
I got this tip from my Eugene, Ore.,-based Iron Range pal Andy who saw it in his local paper. The Eugene Register-Guard ran an obituary today for Virginia, Minn., native and popular longtime Oregon political science professor and political leader Jim Klonoski. I hadn’t heard of him before, but Klonoski clearly lead a very impactful…
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Paper: Range mines won’t benefit much from stimulus package
The Duluth News Tribune published a Peter Passi story today quoting industry analysts saying that the economic stimulus package being negotiated in Washington does not stand to benefit the Iron Range much. That is, unless the demand for durable goods like cars and washing machines improves. This comes in contrast to the MinnPost story I…
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Those beeping cameras
I’ve been writing about the St. Louis County Board more often these days. I had forgotten how entertaining this governmental body can be. Commissioner Keith Nelson is seeking a legal opinion about whether the board can bar citizens from video recording county workshops (which are legally open meetings). The material filmed could be taken out…
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Old School: Range town ponders closing budget gap with Tommy Gun
Here’s a typical political dispute from an Iron Range town, this time Virginia. The city has owned a prohibition-era Tommy Gun since, well, no one knows for sure. Probably came from the feds, we’re told. Police chief suggests selling said Tommy Gun to close the city’s budget gap. (They called them “choppers” sometimes; Bonnie and…
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Reminder: Ironworld ‘Overburden’ event is Saturday, Feb. 7
Last reminder! This Saturday, Feb. 7, I will be at Ironworld in Chisholm giving a lecture and signing copies of “Overburden: Modern Life on the Iron Range,” my new book that is rocking the vaunted Iron Range literary establishment to its core. The lecture begins at 2 p.m. with the signing to follow. Admission includes…
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MinnPost: ‘Buy American’ clause could help Iron Range
MinnPost’s Washington reporter Cynthia Dizikes pens a story today about a “Buy American” provision in the federal stimulus bill that could be a big boon to Iron Range mines and domestic steelmakers in general. Free trade proponents are fighting the measure, as is the European Union and pretty much any other place that sells steel…
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North vs. South
The Duluth News Tribune has an interesting editorial today decrying the “north-south” rift on the St. Louis County Board — the Iron Rangers being the “north” and the Duluthians the “south.” I wrote about this battle, fought under the guise of a hiring dispute, a couple days ago. The editorial board seemed especially miffed by…
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‘Overburden’ tour comes to Ironworld this Saturday
This Saturday, Feb. 7, brings one of my most anticipated stops on the “Overburden: Modern Life on the Iron Range” book tour. I’ve been selected to be part of the Ironworld 2009 Lecture series and Saturday’s my big day. Ironworld is an Iron Range interpretive and historical center in Chisholm, Minn. Starting at 2 p.m.…
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Duluth vs. The Range?
This Duluth News Tribune story shows the rift between the Iron Range and Duluth on the St. Louis County Board. The Duluth commissioners voted down the Range commissioners in selecting MNDOT official Kevin Gray as the county’s next administrator. The Range commissioners preferred former Iron Range State Senator, former county commissioner and current Range lobbyist…
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Look! In the sky! The Finn Signal
The Laskiainen Finnish Sliding Festival is coming this weekend to the greater Palo metropolitan area on Minnesota’s Iron Range. Related posts: No related posts.