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East Range mining rumble coming to St. Paul
This Mesabi Daily News story from yesterday explores the legislative strategy of environmental groups opposed to the PolyMet mining project on the East Range. The MDN also writes about the legislative strategy of pro-development groups, but usually in the form of drippingly-ironic editorials. Is drippingly a word? Anyway, there will be a legislative smackdown over…
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Iron Range agency adds blog
Over at the Iron Range Resources agency, longtime area newspaper reporter and current IRR public information officer Lee Bloomquist has begun blogging for the agency. It’s a “company blog” to be sure, but his first post gives some interesting information and pictures on the new Mesabi Nugget plant near Hoyt Lakes which will be operating…
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Poor is the new rich
Check out this interesting feature from today’s Duluth News Tribune profiling people who choose to live at the poverty line in northern Minnesota. Anecdotally, I can say there are LOTS of people like this up here, often living below the radar. The fact that you can do this is a testament to the greatness of…
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MinnesotaBrown on the Twin Cities airwaves
If you want to hear me on KTNF’s Mark Heaney Show from Wednesday you can listen to the archive here (other listening options here). The show highlights some of the things I talk about during my usual reading/lecture for my new book “Overburden: Modern Life on the Iron Range.” I also threaten to raise an…
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Chinese economic plan could indirectly aid Iron Range
MPR has an intriguing story showing how China’s recent economic stimulus plan for its own economy may serve Minnesota’s Iron Range well by creating a firewall in international steel prices. It was Chinese growth associated with the Beijing Olympics that yanked the Range out of the doldrums five years ago. Fascinating stuff, economically speaking. Related…
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See me, hear me, but don’t touch me
Like my “Tommy” reference? I’ll see you tonight at the Duluth Barnes and Noble in the Miller Hill Mall for the first public reading/discussion of my new book “Overburden: Modern Life on the Iron Range.” The event starts at 6:30 with a brief talk and book signing to follow. I’ll be on hand to talk…
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On transportation, punditry and vultures
By now you’ve probably heard the speculation that U.S. Rep Jim Oberstar is on President-elect Obama’s short list for Secretary of Transportation. The Mesabi Daily News welcomed the idea in a Monday editorial. This speculation has been around a long time. I wrote about a collection of potential succession candidates should Oberstar move over to…
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Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday! First book event in Duluth!
Like taconite, my “Overburden: Modern Life on the Iron Range” book tour is heading for Duluth this week to get loaded. Ha! Just kidding. I don’t mix boozin’ and book sellin’ (Book writin’ … well, that’s different). We’ve had some fine book events here on the Iron Range, with more to come, but this Wednesday,…
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100-plus layoffs likely at Range mine; more to come?
Labor officials are now estimating that up to 110 people could be laid off at Hibbing Taconite, the second largest mine on the Iron Range, as part of Cliffs Natural Resources cutbacks amid the global recession. Additional layoffs at Eveleth’s United Taconite and Silver Bay’s Northshore Mining are expected. No word on how other Range…
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Range towns continue to heighten drama in Franken/Coleman race
The Mesabi Daily News is reporting that Norm Coleman’s campaign is filing a data practices request after 100 additional ballots for Al Franken were recorded Thursday night from the Iron Range city of Mountain Iron. Naturally, Coleman’s people are in a tizzy amid the escalating national drama of the impending recount. Though I don’t know…
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Still jonesing for some red/blue maps? Check this out
Check out this graphic from the Pioneer Press showing the last five presidential election results in Minnesota. This is something I have lacked the time to do for the Iron Range. Look at big blue up there in the north. That’s the Range. And, what’s interesting in this graphic that I hadn’t considered before was…
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Cliffs prepares for layoffs on the Iron Range
The Mesabi Daily News is reporting that Cliffs Natural Resources, owners and/or operators of three Iron Range mines and taconite plants, is preparing for layoffs amid a global recession. Related posts: No related posts.
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The coolest city administrator ever
The Hibbing Daily Tribune is reporting that Hibbing City Administrator Brian Redshaw was officially reprimanded for brandishing a shotgun at work. He was just showing it off to a co-worker, not waiving it around as a threat or anything like that. In a 5-2 vote (these things are never unanimous), the council voted to place…
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Oh, Buhl
The Iron Range town of Buhl (home of Buhl Water) made headlines when its election officials accidentally went home without reporting their results to the Secretary of State’s office. This led to a lot of confusion and jumpiness when the need for a statewide recount in the U.S. Senate race became apparent. I will avoid…
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Landslide Country: A look back at 2008 legislative results on the Iron Range
I’m posting MPR’s fine customized election results widget in this post to preserve it for all time (or until MPR cuts off the feed, whichever comes first). I’ll just make a few comments about the legislative races on the Iron Range, mostly for the benefit of about eight people. First, the results: I’ve already discussed…