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MN-8: The campaigns that never were
My series on the early status of the MN-8 congressional race in northern Minnesota continues. On Monday and Tuesday I’ll be posting updates on DFLers seeking to unseat incumbent freshman Rep. Chip Cravaack. This post focuses, surprisingly, on all the top tier DFLers who opted not to run. Normally you’d just ignore these people. Most…
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Brown on the Air: SHUTDOWN?
The “Between You and Me” program on 91.7 KAXE this Saturday morning represents a bit of a departure. The show, which begins at 10 a.m. and runs until noon, dedicates its weekly discussion to the impending state government shutdown. I’ll be joining the conversation with my usual weekly commentary, this time sounding a bit more…
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MN-8: Cravaack readies defense against DFL challenge
My series on the upcoming 2012 race in MN-8 continues with a look at the candidates. The list includes Republican incumbent Chip Cravaack and several northern Minnesota Democrats mulling a challenge. I plan to conduct interviews with all the candidates at an appropriate time in the future. Most candidates, including Cravaack, have already committed. The…
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MN-8: A new district in more ways than one
Today we begin my series by discussing Minnesota’s Eighth Congressional District and how it might change in 2012. I’ve written about redistricting before, and the changing nature of the district. Below are three possible redistricting scenarios, each of which would produce a very different situation for northern Minnesota politicos. Remember the basic composition of the…
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MN-8: covering a key northern toss-up
MinnesotaBrown is the only daily news blog operating on Minnesota’s Iron Range (Right? Why not? I’m going with that). As a result, when the conch shell is blown I will cover the closely-watched 2012 MN-8 congressional race. This week I’m posting a series on the state of the race at this early date. I’ve held…
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Civic engagement, a dry topic that greatly matters
Peter Levine presents a paper on improving civic engagement in communities that’s worth a look. Below are the five strategies from his executive summary. Strategy 1: Create a Civic Information Corps using the nation’s “service”infrastructure to generate knowledge. Take advantage of the large and growinginfrastructure of national and community service programs by requiring all serviceparticipants…
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Live music, junk art & creative social media on the Range
“Art in the Park” returns to the amphitheater stage at the Minnesota Discovery Center in Chisholm at 7 p.m. Thursday. Josh Palmi and the band Colmekill will provide free live music at this Iron Range culture and history center. I neglected to mention the show last week. They do this every Thursday, for free, during…
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This week on the Range — Bar fire, senators & Showcase Showdown
Late last week fire destroyed the Risky Business bar in Gilbert. No one was hurt. Gilbert, you may recall, is the historic epicenter of the region’s checkered relationship with alcohol. Sen. Mark Begich (D-Alaska) visited Chisholm Friday for an event with Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.). The two discussed their Range roots in this interesting Duluth…
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Remaking the Mitchell Yards on the Iron Range
My life takes place in two worlds. In one of these worlds the history and seemingly immovable fate of the Iron Range of northern Minnesota collides with the hopes and dreams of its people. In the other (the one preferred by my three young sons) trains with faces work, play and explore their way across…
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Essar reiterates plans to produce steel on the Range
The Hibbing Daily Tribune reports that the Essar Steel Minnesota project near Nashwauk is making progress (subscription link). This according to statements at a public meeting between local officals and Essar represntatives. The company’s commmunication with the people of the region, who have underwritten much of the infrastructure, has been lacking, however. The meeting was…
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A big day of mining news on the Range?
There will be some news rumblings on the Iron Range today. The IRRRB meeting at 9 this morning isn’t expected to generate many sparks. Nevertheless, like a pistol in a Chekhov play, you shouldn’t be surprised if it goes off at some point. The meeting I’ll be waiting to hear about will be the gathering…
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Alaska Sen. Begich to join Sen. Klobuchar on the Range
Sen. Mark Begich (D-Alaska) will be on the Iron Range Friday night to appear at a fundraiser for Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota). This is Begich’s first public trip to the Range since he was elected to the Senate from his home state. He is the nephew of former State Rep. and current IRRRB board member…
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Pan fish restrictions proposed for some northern Minnesota lakes
Pan fish restrictions in Itasca County? Five crappie bag limit? That’s just great, DNR. The good news is that the government will fall long before these proposed restrictions take effect. So we’ve got that going for us. I highly doubt the warlords will enforce these rules. Long live Kronos! Related posts: No related posts.
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The old Cherry School is gone
I attended Cherry High School, graduating in 1998. Cherry is a township at the edge of Hibbing’s rural eastern borders on the Iron Range of northern Minnesota. On Tuesday the old part of the school, built in 1928, was torn down to make way for a major renovation. I’ve written more on the topic to…
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B’nai Abraham Center to hold benefit jazz concert on the Range
A cultural center in the last remaining synagogue on the Iron Range will hold a benefit concert Thursday night featuring jazz singer Connie Evingson, a Hibbing native, and a host of other Minnesota jazz musicians including the Miltich boys from my west Range township. The B’nai Abraham Museum and Cultural Center in Virginia stands a…