-
From northern MN flood devestation: music & community
Yesterday Trampled by Turtles played a benefit show at Twin Ports Bridge Fest for victims of flood relief. The flooding in Duluth received a lot of attention, but it truly is a regional problem, illustrated by this June photo of flooding on Highway 210 in Jay Cooke State Park. More DNR flood photos are here.…
-
Mt. Iron approves resolution opposing marriage amendment
I never got to follow up on this because of last week’s power outage, but if you missed it the Mountain Iron City Council last Monday approved a resolution opposing the marriage amendment on this November’s ballot. I had written about how the Iron Range region is a major battleground in this debate. Mountain Iron…
-
On the Range, marriage amendment a contentious issue
Minnesota Public Radio has done an excellent story about how the anti-gay marriage amendment is playing in the Iron Range’s largest city of Hibbing. MPR’s Sasha Aslanian did a marvelous job talking to people on both sides of the issue as they organize ahead of this fall’s big vote. In my experience no issue causes…
-
Duluth tourism numbers drag after historic floods
Duluth is struggling with a big drop in tourism after last week’s floods. The most popular tourist areas are largely cleaned up from the mess, but visitors haven’t returned at normal summer levels yet. Residential areas and streets were the worst hit. This is a great city and could use your support this summer. Related…
-
Range labor politics web talk was on MPR today
I did a live video interview with Michael Olson at MPR’s Minnesota Today this afternoon talking about labor politics on the Iron Range. You can view the conversation here at MPR or below. Yes, that is MinnesotaBrown world headquarters. I put the white fedora on my coin jar to class up the dehumidifier for the…
-
Talking Range labor woes at 2 p.m. on @mntoday
I’ll be doing a live video chat over at Minnesota Public Radio’s “Minnesota Today” site at 2 p.m. talking about my recent post about the union vote at Mesabi Nugget last week. The Steelworkers lost that organizing vote in this Iron Range labor region by a 2-1 margin. I’m hoping that my satellite internet holds…
-
Excelsior Energy tries new approach to failed Range project
So Excelsior Energy is still kicking around. This is the collection of energy industry lobbyists and lawyers who had proposed a $2.1 billion coal gasification plant that never got built because it was overpriced and unwanted by any potential customers. Nevertheless they received more than $40 million in local, state and federal taxpayer dollars. Now…
-
Trampled by Turtles to play Duluth for flood relief
There had been rumblings of a concert event to benefit Duluth, Minnesota flood victims and those from affected areas in the surrounding region. Now something has come together and it’s pretty big. The Twin Ports Bridge Festival, already scheduled for Saturday, July 7, has added a second day on Sunday, July 8 that will be…
-
Steelworkers suffer big defeat in Mesabi Nugget vote
Last Friday, the United Steelworkers conceded defeat in the unionization vote at the Mesabi Nugget plant near Aurora. The Mesabi Daily News had the story. According to Mesabi Nugget the vote was 57-21. The vote took place over two days, included a complete unionization drive by the Steelworkers and was overseen by federal labor officials.…
-
COLUMN: When the water comes
This is my Sunday column for the June 24, 2012 edition of the Hibbing Daily Tribune. Those who would like to do something to help the people in Duluth, either financially or with your time and effort, should go here. When the water comesBy Aaron J. Brown Like most folks we’ve encountered leaky basements in…
-
A harrowing flood story of fear and miracles
Here is the definitive story of that 8-year-old boy who was sucked into the Duluth floodwaters Wednesday, dragged through a culvert and spit out to relative safety, by Jana Hollingsworth for the Duluth News Tribune. Related posts: No related posts.
-
After the flood
It will be sometime before we have a full picture of the damage caused by the Duluth-Superior flood, but a remarkable number of businesses in the affected area are reopening today. The Duluth News-Tribune, which has done a fantastic job with its coverage, has an update. The Miller Hill Mall is still down, but expects…
-
Loose seal
This is the widely distributed Ellie Burcar photo of the seal that has become the emblem of the 2012 Duluth-Superior flood. As always, the eyes tell the story. The zaniness of the zoo escape story has distracted from the utter devastation across Duluth. Amazingly, no human lives have been lost. Related posts: No related posts.
-
Animals escape, drown at Duluth zoo; flood prompts State of Emergency
The flooding in Duluth brings a state of emergency. The North Shore has lost 911 and most phone service. Sinkholes all over Duluth. Some of the Lake Superior Zoo’s barnyard animals drowned while two seals escaped along with the polar bear, which was subdued with a dart. One of the seals started a Twitter account…
-
Essar on track for 2013 start on the Range
The big grinding mills have arrived at Essar Steel Minnesota’s taconite plant north of Nashwauk. The photo here shows one being unloaded at the Port of Duluth Tuesday. These mills are a distinct feature of taconite plants, constantly rotating 24 hours a day crushing rock down to fine powder for concentration into iron-rich taconite pellets.…