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The sound and the fury over Range taconite revenue
This morning Gov. Mark Dayton signed the last of the budget bills ending the Minnesota state government shutdown and funding the next biennium. Though the deal was messy and unpopular, arguably unwise, it will be nice to have a semblance of normalcy return to what was once regarded as a good governance state. I’m also…
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Rural, post-industrial closures are opportunities in disguise (For real!)
One thing people in rural and post-industrial places like the Iron Range need to do is … Sigh. Here I go again. Listen, just look outside your window right now. Do you see a green or blue thing that is not a building where animals live or could live? I mean big ones, not squirrels.…
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The internet freedom fight for the future
Last week I had a conversation with a local business owner in northern Minnesota who provides WiFi internet to her customers. Or, at least, she did. Her internet provider shut down her service because someone, presumably a customer, had illegally downloaded music using the connection. Efforts to implement security to prevent such downloads did not…
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Cravaack’s Granite State situation adds more intrigue to MN-8
One time I was at this woeful cocktail party at a private college in Iowa. By that I mean it was a VIP gathering for college donors in which students like me were to intermingle harmlessly as a sort of living reminder of why guests paid too much to drink white wine punch mixed in…
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Brown on the Air: MINNESOTA’S FIGHTIN’ EIGHTH
I’ll be on the radio Monday with Scott Hall on the 91.7 KAXE Morning Show at about 7:20. The topic is Minnesota’s 8th Congressional District and the 2012 election featuring incumbent freshman Rep. Chip Cravaack (R) and his three announced DFL challengers: Jeff Anderson, Tarryl Clark and Rick Nolan. Themes will closely match my blog…
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COLUMN: Bad ‘economojo’ plagues Range, and beyond
This is my weekly column for the Sunday, July 17, 2011 edition of the Hibbing Daily Tribune. Bad ‘economojo’ plagues Range, and beyondBy Aaron J. Brown These are unsettling economic times for American small towns, particularly the mining towns and surrounding region here on northern Minnesota’s Iron Range. It’s not that the Range economy is…
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The #mnshutdown could still become a #mnshowdown
By now those interested have absorbed much of the analysis of the tentative compromise between Gov. Mark Dayton and Republican majority leaders in the legislature to end the state’s two-week shutdown. Dayton loyalists are calling this the best the governor could have gotten under the circumstances and that’s probably true. It’s still a terrible budget.…
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‘Iron in the Sky’ air show slated July 22-23 at Range airport
To quote one airplane, “BBBBWWWWEEEEWSSSSSCCHHHHH!” “RRRRUUUUUUSSSSSSCCCHHHHWWWAAA,” added its friend, another airplane in the sky. Range Regional Airshow Announced Hibbing, Minnesota, June 24, 2011 – The Chisholm-Hibbing Airport Authority is thrilled to announce the 2011 Range Regional Airshow, July 22-23, at the Range Regional Airport, Hibbing. The event celebrates 80 years of providing business and leisure…
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Deal to end #mnshutdown could be near
Today could be a big day in negotiations to end the Minnesota state government shutdown. Gov. Mark Dayton has offered to accept an earlier all-cuts budget deal if it includes a substantial bonding bill. Dayton meets with GOP leaders this afternoon with the possibility of a special session in the near future. Follow the Shutdown…
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Rock, classical and blues: sounds of the Range at Art in the Park
The Minnesota Discovery Center continues its “Art in the Park” series, running tonight through the rest of summer. Below they describe their next three shows, including three different and interesting genres from northern Minnesota musicians: Minnesota Discovery Center’s Art in the Park continues with varied performances July 14, Josh Palmi takes to the Art in…
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The copper sirens call
MinnPost published an interesting commentary on copper and other nonferrous mineral mining on the Iron Range Monday, written by geologist Rolf Westgard. True Range insiders know that the human story of the Iron Range may largely be explained by geology. Westgard makes some notable observations in his piece. Simply put, global demand for copper will…
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Fostering a culture of success in ALL Minnesota schools
As many of you know I’m a community college educator who holds the belief that robust, world-class public education is the fundamental responsibility of any modern, civilized society. People have different views of how we should do this. Some have more trust in private education vouchers than I have. Some believe in reform. Some belief…
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Nolan officially joins Clark, Anderson with DFL bid in MN-8
Former Congressman Rick Nolan makes it official today by announcing his DFL bid for the seat currently held by U.S. Rep. Chip Cravaack (R-MN8). Nolan is touring the district today, though he’s been seen at local DFL events for months. Nolan joins Duluth city council member Jeff Anderson and former St. Cloud area State Sen.…
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Dayton winning the compromise argument
The choppy, awkward first couple minutes shows why I’ve always wondered what’s up with Gov. Mark Dayton. The strong last minute shows why I respect him and ended up voting for him. Dayton is not a compelling public speaker. Perhaps his policy positions put him in line with a brand of Anderson/Perpich progressivism that is…
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Hibbing nurses strike underway
The Hibbing hospital nurses began their strike Monday. The Minnesota Nurses Association strike will continue until Thursday with negotiations to start over after that. The sticking point has been staffing levels, patient safety and the inclusion of nurses in the hospitals decision making process. The Fairview University Medical Center-Mesabi is the region’s largest hospital. It…