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Fate of Iron Range school district hangs in the balance
Education remains one of the top political issues (and largest portion of the state budget) in Minnesota. But on the Iron Range, education takes on special importance. Here’s why: 1) As a blue-collar region with an immigrant history, quality public education has been the #1 priority for the Iron Range for about a century. It…
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Range town wants balls back
From today’s Mesabi Daily News, the new administration in Virginia, Minn., has revived the tradition of the annual “Mayor’s Ball,” a big formal dance that was abandoned by his predecessor. I’m sure this adult prom is a fun tradition and that it could raise money for charity (in this case, perhaps a bit too ironically,…
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Closing gender gap in Range leadership a worthy goal
This is my weekly column for the Sunday, March 23, 2008 edition of the Hibbing Daily Tribune. My columns are archived at my writing page. Closing gender gap in Range leadership a worthy goalBy Aaron J. Brown Anyone familiar with the news these days knows that the issues of race and gender play a big…
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Ron Paul vandalism just catching on up north
I know the stereotype is that the Iron Range is behind the times when it comes to trends. These punks aren’t helping. Vandals deface Iron Range welcome signsBy Janna GoerdtDuluth News Tribune Four highly visible signs on the outskirts of Eveleth, Virginia, Gilbert and Mountain Iron were spray-painted with obscene political messages earlier this month.…
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Fire damages landmark Iron Range pizza joint
Perhaps not big news to everyone, but the original Sammy’s Pizza in Hibbing was damaged by fire yesterday. (Well, actually the original was in Keewatin before moving to a different location in Hibbing and then to this spot, but that’s just the sort of local local history tedium that you don’t need). The Hibbing Daily…
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The Iron Range’s global connection
Though not providing any new information, regional editor Charles Ramsey has an informative piece in today’s Mesabi Daily News explaining how the Iron Range is plugged into the global economy. A good refresher or backgrounder for those unfamiliar with Iron Range current events. PS: Perhaps you’ve noticed, but you need to create an account if…
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Damning comments about Mesaba boondoggle covered up; project faces new criticism from key federal agencies
The federal Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued comments last month in the matter of Excelsior Energy’s Mesaba Energy Project, a coal-gas power plant proposed for the Iron Range. I’ve declared this project a boondoggle that will produce neither electricity nor jobs before its “owners” walk away with bags of…
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Iron Range high speed internet at crossroads
Public investment in high speed Internet on the Iron Range should be among our highest priorities. Whether we use this method or another, we need to make tech infrastructure happen. It’s not for the people who are here now, it’s for the people we need to come here and stay here. Range fibernet project at…
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Range Wars in tomorrow’s DFL county unit conventions
County unit conventions are taking place all over Minnesota in the DFL and Republican parties. The only matter of statewide significance is who the Democrats will endorse in the U.S. Senate race to oppose Norm Coleman, Al Franken or Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer. Both have agreed to abide by the party’s endorsement. One of the most important…
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Sertich wins plausibility contest
The final numbers are in. The question: Several Iron Rangers are mentioned as possible candidates for statewide office. Which Iron Ranger do you think has the best chance of winning a statewide election? * Tony Sertich, 21That guy who posts the crazy signs along Highway 53 south of Cotton, 17Tom Bakk, 8Tom Rukavina, 6 It’s…
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Help Wanted?
The Duluth News-Tribune has a story today about the estimated number of needed construction workers for the proposed mining projects on the Iron Range. I’m tired of these stories. I want to see financial close and shovels in the ground before I dance a jig for developers. Mining plans require thousands of workersJane Brissett, Duluth…
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It’s book time
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Cliffs looks to another good year
WDIO reported last night (sorry, no direct link available) that Cleveland Cliffs is anticipating a return to pre-2001 production levels at its Minnesota taconite operations, including HibTac and UTac, in the near future. The company is also considering building a biomass power plant to cover some of the power needs for this revived taconite production.…
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Range colleges have new boss
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Wassomatta Tech?
As fans of Bullwinkle know, Minnesota is home to the fictional college “Wassomatta U,” where the famous moose received his education (and played football). Well, Bullwinkle’s fictional, highly theoretical children (mooselets?) might be headed off to Wassomatta Tech. During this election year, we’re bound to hear plenty of criticism and debate about the federal “No…