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MN Governor’s Fishing Opener floats on familiar waters
I just got off the phone with my wife, a Friday morning regular at the Caribou Coffee in Grand Rapids. Today there were a lot of fancy strangers with Macintosh computers on hand, streets choked with Mitsubishis and Hondas. This can mean only one thing: The Minnesota Governor’s Fishing Opener is here. Because Minnesota is…
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Iron Range film to screen at MN Discovery Center Saturday
Those looking to bone up on Range history (I’m looking at you, most of the people running for Congress) can take in this excellent film next week at the Minnesota Discovery Center in Chisholm. I’ve seen it several times now and it will absolutely reshape your view of the region in the context of American…
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Will Victor Laszlo be on the last plane off the Iron Range?
Rural northern Minnesota air service could be severely threatened by cuts to the federal Essential Air Service program. This program subsidizes passenger air service to airports like Hibbing, Thief River Falls and International Falls. Three times a day the turbo prop plane buzzes over my house in the woods on its way to International Falls…
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Open Water exhibit opens in Virginia tonight
You can tell the weather if finally getting pleasant because the arts world on the Iron Range is revving up. The Lyric Center for the Arts in Virginia will host an artist reception tonight from 6-7:30 for the opening of “Open Water.” (Pictured at right: painting by Nancy Luloff) Information below: Open WaterA visual art…
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"Alleged mayor biter"
From today’s Hibbing Daily Tribune, the greatest headline of our time: “Alleged mayor biter, attackers charged.” (Subscription only link). This is, of course, an update on the attempted robbery that led to Hibbing Mayor Rick Cannata being bitten on the face by an assailant as he sought to hold down one of the attackers for…
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"My Fair Lady" on the Iron Range; auditions next week
This theater note was passed along. Those interested in enhancing the theater community of the Range should take note: Mesabi Musical Theatre will be extending the auditions for My Fair Lady: Mon-Thurs, 6-8 pm, May 16-19, Virginia High School music room (door 9, 6th Ave). Paid stipends for principal players. No parts have been cast…
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Northwoods Friends of the Arts announce first big event
Northwoods Friends of the Arts, a new Iron Range arts group, is kicking off its inaugural event next week. If you should be north of the formation, check this out: New Iron Range Art Group Presents First Event–Spring Art Expo Northwoods Friends of the Arts, (NWFA), the new Iron Range area arts group in Cook,…
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Hibbing mayor describes random bite attack
The story of Hibbing Mayor Rick Cannata’s encounter with street toughs, including one who bit him above his eye, is worth a watch. The mayor and his wife and a couple friend of theirs were walking home Friday night when two adults and a juvenile attempted to rob them. Cannata and his friend simply refused…
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Dylan Days 2011 approaches in Hibbing
Dylan Days 2011 is coming. Readers might remember that I’m the spokesman and co-organizer of this annual music, art and literature event in Bob Dylan’s hometown of Hibbing. This year the event is May 26-29. Check out the site for information. I’ll be posting more here in coming weeks. Related posts: No related posts.
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Hibbing mayor attacked, bitten in attempted robbery
In a news brief on the front of Sunday’s Hibbing Daily Tribune, we learn that Hibbing Mayor Rick Cannata was attacked in an attempted robbery Friday night and suffered a bite near his left eye. There were three arrests, including an adult and two juveniles. The mayor’s injury required several stitches. According to the HDT…
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MN-GOP redistricting plan offers Iron Range a Trojan horse
As I’ve written before, one of the major cultural barriers we face on northern Minnesota’s Iron Range is the notion that political clout and tradition will “save” the region from an unfolding economic and demographic fate. Not doom, mind you, but a region with a smaller, older population, a greater divide between relative wealth and…
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On the Range, industry built on red ore shows gray hairs
Paul Tosto at the MPR’s MinnEcon blog reported some interesting data today. Minnesota enjoys a diverse economy and, like most of the country, an aging workforce. Which sector of Minnesota’s economy has the most workers aged 55 and older? Well, according to the Department of Employment and Economic Development, the answer is mining. And in…
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Newsweek explores copper boom
Newsweek‘s Niall Ferguson pens an interesting story about the booming prices of copper around the world and the increased viability of copper mines. This should rightly remind those of us on Minnesota’s Iron Range of proposed copper and other nonferrous mineral mining proposals in our area. The article does a good job of explaining the…
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Range cities explore shared services; can they move fast enough?
It was one of those bad news/good news/additional bad news days on the front of Sunday’s Hibbing Daily Tribune. There will be a few more of these in coming months. The bad news is not really news. Cuts to local government aid (LGA) at the state level will force cities on the Iron Range to…
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Hibbing nurses call off strike
The Hibbing hospital nurses have cancelled their impending strike after a productive negotiating session. (Story, Fox 21) Related posts: No related posts.