-
What’s a Yooper? Check the dictionary
Fans of this site know I keep a watchful eye on the world of popular linguistics. So, big news this week: Our compatriots over in the Upper Peninsula of northern Michigan made the dictionary. On Monday, Merriam-Webster added the word “yooper” to its vaunted list of official words. Here’s the local news: As the AP reports,…
-
On China, spies, steel and intrigue
On Monday, the U.S. Justice Department announced it was prosecuting five Chinese military officers for corporate espionage. From the BBC, emphasis mine: In Washington on Monday, [Attorney General Eric] Holder said a grand jury had laid hacking charges against the Chinese nationals, the first against “known state actors for infiltrating US commercial targets by cyber…
-
Dylan Days waning in Hibbing
Bob Dylan’s birthplace of Duluth, Minnesota, kicked off its annual Dylan Fest this past weekend with a concert and live music. They’ve got more events going on throughout the week. Then, this Friday, May 23 and Saturday, May 24 (Bob’s birthday), Bob Dylan’s hometown of Hibbing begins its annual Dylan Days event up here on…
-
Rukavina will run for St. Louis Co. Board
It’s official. The rumor we discussed a few weeks ago is true. Former Rep. Tom Rukavina is running for St. Louis County Board, District 4. The announcement marks the end of a political retirement that lasted about 20 months. In retrospect, it was amazing that it lasted that long. UPDATE: The Duluth News Tribune offered some more…
-
My micro-mining argument in The Daily Yonder
I’m in the Daily Yonder today talking about the microscopic realities of the mining debate in northern Minnesota. Here’s a taste from my story “Tiny molecules, big fight over wild rice”: The reason for all these emotions over tiny molecules isn’t because of numbers, or even, for most people, science: it’s a cultural battle. Will…
-
Range lawmaker, family key to medical marijuana win
This piece is cross-posted with my Up North Report blog at the Star Tribune. Yesterday, House and Senate leaders announced they had a deal to allow medical marijuana in Minnesota. Gov. Mark Dayton announced he would sign the bill, which allows for two major medical marijuana producers to be created in Minnesota, and eight locations…
-
Costco considers Duluth for 2016 expansion
UPDATE: Duluth officials are denying this report. A commercial development blog in Duluth reports that the city is on the retail giant Costco’s list for potential new markets in 2016. CDinDuluth says: Unfamiliar with Costco? We don’t blame you as there are no locations in Northern Minnesota and they’re relatively new to the Minnesota market.…
-
Northern MN projects thrive in bonding bill deal
House and Senate DFL leaders announced yesterday they had agreed on a $846 million state bonding bill package, though there remain questions about whether they have the Republican votes needed to pass the bill. Gov. Mark Dayton has yet to weigh in on the deal as well. Blois Olson posted an informative spreadsheet showing the projects included…
-
Grand Rapids city sales tax headed for ballot
Citizens from the far western Mesabi Range town of Grand Rapids, Minnesota, will vote on whether the city will seek a $0.01 Grand Rapids city sales tax when they cast their general election ballots this fall. The Grand Rapids City Council unanimously approved the ballot measure at a recent meeting. The only northern Minnesota city with a…
-
FARGO REVIEW: Episode 5, “The Six Ungraspables”
The FX series “Fargo,” inspired by the 1996 Coen Brothers film, is based in northern Minnesota. As northern Minnesota’s leading pop culture, news, entertainment, iron mining and invasive species blog, MinnesotaBrown is here to review the show through Minnesota eyes. Now, to this week’s episode: Fargo’s Episode 5: “The Six Ungraspables” briefly takes us back to…
-
Look out, kids, HERE COMES SATURN!
So, what if the planet Saturn took a hard turn and headed straight for the sun. You know, all random like. What if it passed right by Earth? This video from “yeti dynamics” was my lunchtime entertainment today and I encourage you to use this for that five minute block of time where you want…
-
Jim Oberstar: a memory held up by union steel
My Sunday newspaper column for May 11, 2014 was excerpted from the post I wrote after the passing of Jim Oberstar on Saturday, May 3. I am republishing that post today. Early Saturday morning former Congressman Jim Oberstar died peacefully in his sleep at his Maryland home at the age of 79. The news of…
-
Don’t give me that look; a MN fishing opener plea
Near my house there’s a place called the Twin Bridges. As advertised, it’s a pair of small bridges along Itasca County Highway 336 spanning a winding section of the Prairie River right where it feeds into Crooked Lake. It’s known locally as a place where, shortly after ice-out, you can angle for fish emerging from their icy winter…
-
SS James L. Oberstar hails namesake in Duluth harbor
Yesterday, mourners commemorated the late Rep. Jim Oberstar at his funeral in Potomac, Maryland. Meanwhile, in Oberstar’s native northern Minnesota a maritime tribute took place in the Port of Duluth. The James L. Oberstar, an iron ore freighter named for the venerated Iron Range political leader, made its first entrance into Duluth for the season.…
-
Essar Steel secures funds to finish Nashwauk project
This item is cross-posted with my Up North Report blog at StarTribune.com. The Star Tribune’s Dee Depass reports that Essar Steel has secured $450 million in new private financing, and is injecting $300 million of its own money into finishing its long-awaited Nashwauk taconite plant. Here on the ground north of Nashwauk, the project has…