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Ready the horses; MN-8 charge to begin
Minnesota Public Radio has a nice summary of the MN-8 Congressional race. It’s a good primer before I release the audio and video from my interviews with DFL candidates Jeff Anderson, Tarryl Clark and Rick Nolan, recorded Wednesday at the Minnesota Discovery Center in Chisholm. The candidates weighed in on hot-button issues like the federal…
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The MinnesotaBrown MN-8 interviews begin Wednesday
On Wednesday, Jan. 18, I’ll interview each of the DFL candidates for Minnesota’s 8th Congressional District at the Minnesota Discovery Center in Chisholm. At 1 p.m. I meet with Rick Nolan. At 2, Jeff Anderson. At 3, Tarryl Clark. You might recall the series of interviews I did with DFL gubernatorial candidates in 2010. This…
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Dog Have Mercy: Beargrease cancelled
The lack of snow in northern Minnesota this winter has led to the cancellation of the John Beargrease sled dog race (WDIO) for only the second time in its history. Low snow totals make racing more dangerous for people and dogs. The Duluth News Tribune also has a story. Related posts: No related posts.
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Beating the bumps in an Iron Range mining boom
I’ve recently advocated a sort of temperance in talk that boom times in mining are enough to propel the economy of Minnesota’s Iron Range forward. That’s not very fun, or very popular, or very important, I suppose, as the economy will react independently of what some blogger writes or what you see on your computer…
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KSTP "On the Road" features Sunrise Deli
KSTP’s On the Road segment with Jason Davis featured the owners of the legendary Sunrise Deli in Hibbing as they made the decision not to close down, but to continue as a wholesaler of the popular ethnic foods that characterize the Iron Range. It’s been a turbulent year for Hibbing food landmarks. The similarly named,…
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Dust in the wind … public meeting on dust in the wind
Tonight at 6 a public meeting will be held in the small western Iron Range city of Keewatin regarding the red dust blowing off the Magnetation scram mining site south of town. Representatives of Magnetation have been invited, as have local officials. Magnetation is a newer company producing iron concentrate from mine dumps once considered…
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Zenith City’s Hipster King Speaks Fire from Podium of Ice!
Duluth, Minn., mayor Don Ness delivers remarks Monday from a unique lectern after being sworn in for his second term in office. Ness ran unopposed in the November 2011 election. Ness enjoys historic popularity as some credit him with leading a more youthful, economically diverse Duluth, once known mostly for decline and political discord. Several…
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This January heat is a killer
I just went for a walk outside. I had to unzip my coat. I sweat through my shirt. This is Hibbing, Minnesota. The temperatures in northern Minnesota are running 50 degrees warmer than you often see this time of year, a couple dozen degrees above average. There’s almost no snow in open areas, just an…
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Kicking our habit: The trouble with politics in our time
In the last couple years I’ve come to regard modern politics as a drug. You take the “politics opiate” for a reason you regard as good — the future of your country or community, issues close to your heart, a cause of some importance. But it doesn’t take long before you can find yourself in…
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Humans vs. ore: a modern retelling
It’s been interesting to watch the patterns of mining and economics on northern Minnesota’s Iron Range lately. In addition to bullish numbers from the big taconite producers, small scram operations like Magnetation are expanding wildly. This most recent story from WDIO shows how a joint venture between two companies, Magnetation and Steel Dynamics, parent company…
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Fanning withdraws from MN-8 race
Daniel Fanning, the Iraq war vet and Duluth political organizer, announced Wednesday in a letter to supporters he would withdraw from the race for Congress in Minnesota’s Eighth District. Citing a lack of funds and insufficient support from likely delegates in the DFL endorsement process, Fanning said he will focus on helping the DFL win…
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DM&IR is no more
Though it’s been in the works for some time, today it’s official. The Duluth Missabe and Iron Range Railway is no more. Parent company Canadian National has merged it with two other regional railroads to streamline its operations, which carry a robust array of commodities including Iron Range taconite bound for eastern steel mills. I…
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Cool new nicknames for Iron Range cities
Suggested nicknames for the major cities of northern Minnesota’s Mesabi and Vermillion iron ranges, listed without commentary (west to east): Grand Rapids: G-RapColeraine: Raine MakerBovey: V-BoTaconite: Tac AttackMarble: MarbsCalumet: The MetNashwauk: Wauker Texas RangerKeewatin: Kee WestHibbing: HistocityChisholm: Chisel TownBuhl: Water CityMountain Iron: MyronVirginia: 53169Eveleth: Eva-lastGilbert: BroadwayBiwabik: Pen CityAurora: Sky LightHoyt Lakes: Hoy HoyBabbitt: BabsEmbarrass: FrozoneTower:…
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COLUMN: Time to delve into ’12
This is my Sunday column for the Jan. 1, 2012 edition of the Hibbing Daily Tribune. My annual predictions column is one of my favorite traditions. Enjoy and Happy New Year! Time to delve into ‘12By Aaron J. Brown The pathway was clogged with skunks. I hate skunks. Warm winters bring out the skunks. So…
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2012 brings new energy to MN-8 donnybrook
Later this week I’ll be sharing my top posts for 2011, including my favorites and the ones that were most popular. Traffic would indicate that many of you still come here for political analysis of the Iron Range and Minnesota’s 8th Congressional District. Last summer I wrote a series on the topic, which largely holds…