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Legislative debate season arrives on the Range
I’ll try to pass along news of northern Minnesota legislative forums as I see them. Unlike federal election debates, where candidates are usually fairly polished, legislative debates are often loads of madcap fun. Unfortunately almost no one sees them. They’re like indy bands. Anyway, you should catch some of these and huzzah to anyone who…
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COLUMN: Conventional wisdom
This is my Sunday column for the Sept. 9, 2012 edition of the Hibbing Daily Tribune. Conventional wisdomBy Aaron J. Brown The two major parties just wrapped up their national conventions: the Republicans in Tampa, Florida; the Democrats in Charlotte, North Carolina. Now President Obama and Gov. Romney begin the sprint to Nov. 6, which…
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Simonson wins DFL nod for Duluth House 7B seat
Duluth assistant fire chief Erik Simonson, who had a bad news week, nevertheless emerged with the DFL endorsement at today’s convention in west Duluth. He narrowly achieved the 60 percent necessary to defeat Julene Boe in one ballot at the lightly-attended contest. Simonson has already been organizing his write-in campaign to replace outgoing Rep. Kerry…
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Essar unexpectedly slows down new plant construction
Essar Steel is slowing construction of its new taconite plant north of Nashwauk on Minnesota’s Iron Range. The India-based global industrial giant announced a two-week shut down related to global steel and taconite prices, according to company spokespeople in local media. Rumors of odd supply chain delays at the site were rampant around the area…
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Steelworkers, ArcelorMittal reach deal
ArcelorMittal and the United Steelworkers have reached a tentative contract agreement that applies to the workers at the Minorca Mine on the Mesabi Iron Range. Subject to member ratification, the deal appears to preserve most of what the union wanted. Last week U.S. Steel settled with the Steelworkers and what I’ve heard so far is…
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Family drama, DFL convention charge House 7B frenzy
It’s time to check in with the Minnesota House 7B race in West Duluth. For a time it seemed that the rest stop sex scandal that claimed the candidacy of the incumbent had abated. It was to be just another typical election. You know, an historically unprecedented multiple write-in candidate affair involving a Republican and…
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Range solar plant woes another black eye for local strategy
Struggles at a Mt. Iron solar panel manufacturer have the attention of the Minneapolis Star Tribune. I’ve heard that other media organizations are also sniffing around after Silicon Energy has missed two payments on its IRRRB loan. While solar energy is a good thing and jobs are a good thing, increasingly this deal is looking…
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Steelworkers, ArcelorMittal struggle for a labor deal
We know that U.S. Steel and the Steelworkers have a labor deal. Cliffs Natural Resources and the Steelworkers have a temporary deal while they resolve final disagreements. These two companies control the largest mines on the Iron Range of northern Minnesota. But a deal between ArcelorMittal and the Steelworkers appears to be farther behind the…
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AUDIO SPECIAL: Feel lucky? Try my superstition sketch
A while back I stopped posting promos for my appearances on “Between You and Me.” It was hard to make the sentiment “Listen to me! Take interest in my work!” compelling in the blog format, which already implies so much of that. But that doesn’t mean I’ve stopped writing and producing for this unique public…
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MPR piece digs deeper into story of Range women in mining
MPR reporters Stephanie Hemphill and Catherine Winter have produced a documentary telling the story of the first women who worked at the taconite plants of the Mesabi Iron Range. Though many have an impression of this story, aided in part by the Nikki Caro-directed film “North Country” starring Charlize Theron, the actual story has a…
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Steelworkers, U.S. Steel reach tentative 3-year deal
U.S. Steel has a tentative agreement with leaders of the United Steelworkers. Local unions at U.S. Steel’s MinnTac and Keewatin Taconite plants will have to ratify the three-year deal. Cliffs and ArcelorMittal have yet to settle with the Steelworkers, but the U.S. Steel deal suggests the others will follow with similar deals this week. Details…
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Mine labor talks stop; Range labor gathering is Sunday
It appears that the United Steelworkers union and the major owners of mines in northern Minnesota and Michigan are taking a break from negotiations. The Duluth News Tribune is among those reporting the news. This means that tonight’s deadline will pass without a contract deal. The unions at the Cliffs mines had already authorized strikes,…
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No deal between Steelworkers, Arcelor-Mittal
The United Steelworkers may have agreed to a temporary extention with Cliffs, but no such deal is in place with Arcelor-Mittal, according to WDIO. Furthermore, the deadline is, in fact, tonight at midnight. My understanding was midnight last night, but such is the confusion that surrounds the hour “0.” Related posts: No related posts.
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Cliffs, Steelworkers hold off contract deadline
The United Steelworkers have reached a temporary agreement with Cliffs Natural Resources to continue operations at three Iron Range taconite plants past tonight’s midnight contract deadline. This would prevent any work stoppages at the Cliffs-run properties Hibbing Taconite and United Taconite in Eveleth. Cliffs’ Northshore Mining is non-union. Negotiations between Cliffs, U.S. Steel, Arcelor-Mittal and…
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Nolan leads Cravaack in MN-8 poll
The National Journal reports an independent poll conducted by a Democratic-aligned PAC shows DFL nominee Rick Nolan leading Rep. Chip Cravaack (R-MN8) by three points. The poll memo shows that Cravaack is far better known than Nolan, but that Nolan leads regardless. Though Nolan’s 47-44 lead is well within the poll’s margin of error, it’s…