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Bob Dylan and the Iron Range
I happened across a 2007 essay “A Trip to Hibbing High” by the Bob Dylan historian Greil Marcus, one of the best known scholars of Dylan’s work, after his trip to Hibbing that year. I recall his visit because of my work with Dylan Days, but had not read the piece before. He describes a…
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Huntley retires; open House seat in east Duluth
State Rep. Tom Huntley (DFL-Duluth) announced today he would not seek re-election in 2014. From his press release: Saint Paul, Minnesota — State Representative Tom Huntley (DFL – Duluth) announced today that he will not be seeking re-election to the Minnesota House of Representatives. Huntley is the chair of the House Health and Human Services…
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Bentleyville to stay open through Jan. 4
The Bentleyville Festival of Lights attraction in downtown Duluth will stay open past New Years until Jan. 4, organizers say, to make up for several days lost to extremely cold conditions last week. Bentleyville is an annual tradition for many in northern Minnesota. We went the day after Thanksgiving and were surprised to see a…
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Aging veterans clubs struggle to stay open
In a phenomenon seen across Minnesota, veterans clubs such as the VFW and Legion are struggling to stay open as members age and new veterans opt not to join. The Star Tribune took a look at the problem in their Sunday edition, while the Mesabi Daily News reported on the possible closure of the Virginia…
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Team USA curling advances to 2014 Olympics
The Shuster rink, with Duluth and Iron Range roots, qualified for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia at a tournament in Germany over the weekend. Though the experience involved a heart-pounding tie-breaker and a tight match against the Czech Republic, Team USA prevailed and will try for its first medal since 2006. From the…
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Mining schism threatens Minnesota DFL coalition
Baird Helgeson’s story in the Sunday Dec. 15 Star Tribune explores the schism in the Minnesota DFL over the issue of mining copper and rare minerals in northern Minnesota. It’s a good read that highlights what I’ve been talking about here at MinnesotaBrown. This debate is personal, cultural, even existential for the people involved. GOPers…
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Great Northern Radio Show weekend is here
This “Straight Outta Compton” parody video by the Fosston-raised rapper turned big city comedian Bino White was our initial inspiration when we started working on tomorrow’s Great Northern Radio Show in Fosston, Minnesota. My radio variety program heads to this northwestern Minnesota farming town Saturday, Dec. 14 for a live broadcast 5-7 p.m. on Northern…
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MnDOT names costs of Highway 53 reroute options
WDIO reports on the Minnesota Department of Transportation’s cost estimates for rerouting State Highway 53 on the eastern Mesabi Iron Range. From the WDIO story: For the M1 route, which would take the highway through the current United Taconite mine pit, the costs are estimated to be between $248 and $319 million dollars. For the E1…
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Minnesota’s Iron Range subject of Kentucky forum
Diversifying the economy of a mining region, especially when mining is still a viable industry, is an extraordinarily difficult task. Building a future-based economy is hard because the benefits to tomorrow’s generation are harder to see in the current one. The reward is promissory; gratification delayed. It often seems Iron Range elected leaders and residents remain…
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Grand Rapids’ Actual Wolf has top MN album of 2013
Grand Rapids, Minn., native Eric Pollard’s alter ego Actual Wolf was seen performing at a coffee shop in his western Iron Range hometown today, a jaunt home for the Duluth and Minneapolis-based singer/songwriter who is quickly moving up in the music world. Actual Wolf’s new self-titled album is out now and the Wolf is…
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Great Northern Radio Show, live from Fosston
For the last two years I’ve been producing, writing and hosting a live radio variety program called the Great Northern Radio Show. We’re a production of Northern Community Radio, where I’ve written and produced programming for many years, but this is the show I’ve been waiting my whole life to do. Yes, it’s a take…
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Great Northern Radio Show: Katie Wig
Brainerd-based Minnesota singer-songwriter Katie Wig was an early discovery on the Brainerd edition of my Great Northern Radio Show in 2012. She also performed in Bagley last spring. The 20-year-old recently announced she was going to focus full time on her music. That’s a bold move, and she’s starting on our December 14 show in…
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New use for old building? Ely eyes indoor garden
In between arguments about mining, people in Ely, Minnesota, have been wondering what do with an old city building with historical significance but not much practical use. Hey, how about an indoor garden? Organizers have come up with an idea to have an indoor farming operation in the former Ely Community Center, essentially a local…
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Great Northern Radio Show: Reina del Cid
On Saturday, Dec. 14, I bring my Great Northern Radio Show to the small farming community of Fosston, Minnesota, for our annual winter show. Our program brings music, comedy and storytelling to unique locations around northern Minnesota, exploring what it means to live a modern life off the beaten path. Each show is planned around…
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Kelly Westlund to challenge Duffy in WI-7
Ashland, Wis., City Councilor Kelly Westlund will challenge U.S. Rep. Sean Duffy (R-WI7) in the 2014 election. Westlund is in her first term as city councilor in this northern Wisconsin city where Duffy served as a county attorney prior to his election in the Tea Party wave of 2010. Duffy won his 2012 re-election bid…