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First MN-8 debate reaction: Fire and ice
The first debate between freshman GOP Rep. Chip Cravaack and former DFL Rep. Rick Nolan took place early this morning in Duluth. Though few probably got to see the debate live, it will be re-aired on MPR and local television in days to come. You can, of course, watch it here. There will be three…
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Tune in here for first Cravaack/Nolan debate in MN-8
This morning MinnesotaBrown.com is proud to present a live feed from The Uptake of the first debate in Minnesota’s Eighth Congressional District between Rep. Chip Cravaack (R) and former Rep. Rick Nolan (DFL). The debate begins at 8 a.m. from Duluth. This is the Duluth News Tribune/Duluth Chamber debate that was the source of such…
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Job growth on western Mesabi could tilt tight races
Gov. Mark Dayton was on the western Mesabi Iron Range last week, touting job growth in the area from the new Essar Steel and Magnetation projects in Itasca County. He used the occasion to reiterate his support for these projects, including whatever Magnetation needs in its quest to open new endeavors in coming years. In…
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Duluth paper endorses Republican for Rukavina seat
In the new House District 6B, the seat currently held by colorful Range political figure and retiring Rep. Tom Rukavina, the index is so strongly DFL that it seldom draws coverage in legislative politics. The DFL candidate, blessed heartily by Rukavina, is Iron Range native and local labor organizer Jason Metsa, a young but wily…
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Here upon my return from the South
It was a glorious trip to Atlanta last week, one I decided not to encumber with blogging efforts. Over the next few days I’ll share some photos and thoughts about my first meaningful trip south of the Mason-Dixon line. But by now readers I’m sure most of you are concerned with what Gov. Pappy O’Daniel…
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Great Northern Radio Show set for Oct. 20 Eveleth show
A new season of my Great Northern Radio Show launches Saturday, Oct. 20, with a live KAXE/KBXE broadcast from the Boardman Theatre at Eveleth-Gilbert High School in Eveleth, Minnesota. Our new take on the variety show format has been touring northern Minnesota for a year and we’re excited to show off our progress back “Home…
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COLUMN: New game, no rules
This is my Sunday column for the Sept. 30, 2012 edition of the Hibbing Daily Tribune. A version of this piece aired Saturday on “Between You and Me” on KAXE/KBXE Northern Community Radio. New game, no rulesBy Aaron J. Brown One spring morning a few years ago the residents of the Brooklyn neighborhood in Hibbing…
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First mining equipment arrives at Essar’s Nashwauk site
Since news a couple weeks ago that Essar Steel was slowing construction at its Nashwauk taconite plant site the company has been working hard to convey the notion that the slowdown is only temporary. Today, the company announced that its first piece of mining equipment, the pictured drill, has arrived on site. Essar Steel Minnesota…
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Northern Minnesota is at peak fall colors
I saw this DNR map showing autumn foliage levels this morning. I live in that darkest red splotch in the North. Here’s what this looks like out behind MinnesotaBrown.com World Headquaters in Itasca County: If you’re planning a foliage tour in Northern Minnesota, this is THE weekend. The next heavy wind is going to take…
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Supreme Court orders DFLer Simonson onto 7B ballot
In an unexpected turn today the Minnesota Supreme Court has ordered the name of DFL-endorsed candidate Erik Simonson onto the Nov. 7 House 7B ballot. Simonson was running a write-in campaign after State Rep. Kerry Gauthier dropped out of the race amid a personal scandal. This order removes much of the election day confusion that…
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Steelworkers to back Nolan in MN-8, halting Cravaack gains
The United Steelworkers, representing about 3,000 Iron Range taconite miners, are set to endorse Rick Nolan in his bid to unseat Rep. Chip Cravaack (R-MN8). The endorsement is expected to occur during a “major announcement” planned by the Nolan campaign at 3:30 Wednesday at the Mineview in the Sky south of Virginia, Minnesota. The Steelworkers…
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Hard to write fiction when you’ve covered a small town
This is blog is, in my heart anyway, a thought experiment wrapped in the cloak of local politics. Quite a thing, local politics. Ultimately and alternatingly more redemptive and more cruel than the national business. Jeff Winkler penned a post for The Awl yesterday entitled “My Sister the Candidate.” In this, a small town newspaper…
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Talking mining and MN-8 politics on the radio
On Sunday I was on the LeftMN Radio Hour with Aaron Klemz and Tony Petranglo on AM950 in the Twin Cities. The topic was politics in Minnesota’s Eighth Congressional District and mining issues in northern Minnesota. You can listen to the show below or here. My segment is at about the 9:30 mark. Podcast Powered…
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What Magnetation looks like
There are many “proposed” projects bandied about in Iron Range economic talk. There is Essar Steel, a major project under construction. But in terms of new production and new jobs, Grand Rapids-based Magnetation, Inc., has done the most new hiring and new shoveling in the past year. Magnetation processes iron ore once discarded as waste…
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We must put down the canoe menace
Maybe you’d like to better understand the media landscape on the Iron Range as it relates to the ongoing debate between supporters and opponents of proposed copper-nickel mines in the region? Last week, opponents of the mining projects announced that a group would canoe from the BWCA to St. Paul using various waterways to protest…