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E-book/Wrath of God update
I am proceeding with plans to publish my series of DFL governor candidate interviews into a revised and improved (and highly affordable) e-book. Ideally this book will become outrageously popular with the 1,000-plus DFL delegates, campaign staffs and journalists covering the race. At $2.95 a pop you can imagine how papa might yet get a…
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Merry Christmas from MinnesotaBrown
Another throwback column to celebrate Christmas. Thank you to all who read and support this blog and my other writings all year long. May you have a joyous new year! Santa’s Christmas punch listBy Aaron J. Brown Dear Mr. Claus, I am writing in regard to your recent Christmas delivery. People the world over enjoy…
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O, Christmas Threat
Merry Christmas Eve to all! In honor of the season, enjoy this reprint of my 2006 Christmas column about Santa Claus’s night flight. Let’s hope Santa has an easier time this year! O, Christmas Threat By Aaron J. Brown It’s Christmas Eve. My column is due and I am so hosed. I’ll just have to…
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Oh ya, we got that dark matter real good now
My apologies for failing to pass along this story. Scientists might be closer to understanding dark matter, the nature of the universe and the origins of the Big Bang thanks to results from experiments conducted at the bottom of one of the Iron Range’s oldest and deepest underground mines. A collaborative effort including physicists from…
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The DFL 10: a MinnesotaBrown analysis
This week I finished my series of interview posts for the 2010 Minnesota DFL gubernatorial candidate field. For posterity, here are the links and dates of the posts: State Sen. Tom Bakk (June 13, 2008)State Rep. Paul Thissen (Nov. 17, 2008)Former U.S. Sen. Mark Dayton (April 24, 2009)Former State Rep. Matt Entenza (May 4, 2009)State…
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Iron Range research library to remain closed after all
Business North is reporting that Iron Range Resources will not follow through on the board recommendation to temporarily fund the Iron Range Research Library at the Minnesota Discovery Center (formerly Ironworld) over the winter. It will fund the winterization, audit and planning costs for the Ironworld Development Corporation to reorganize. So, the research library remains…
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R.T. Rybak: the MinnesotaBrown interview
Today my series of posts profiling the 2010 Minnesota DFL governor candidates ends with Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak. Stay tuned for more news after the post. The interview First, the facts: This interview took place at Zimmy’s Bar and Restaurant in Hibbing on Dec. 9, 2009. It was very cold outside. R.T. Rybak is running…
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Iron Range agency extends funds for audit, limited operation at former Ironworld
The Mesabi Daily News is reporting (subscription link) that the Iron Range Resources Board has approved a $450,000 expenditure to the Minnesota Discovery Center, formerly Ironworld, “to pay some bills do an audit of the operation, heat the buildings, secure its historical documents and also to reopen the facility to those who want to use…
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Rybak post delayed by crushing force of reality
I don’t know what I was thinking by suggesting that my interview post on R.T. Rybak would be ready by this morning. With a healthy stack of papers to grade and some unexpected (well, more like “forgotten) tasks to complete today, I think this post will most likely appear in a couple days, no later…
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COLUMN: ‘Problems of an iron world demand iron will’
This is my weekly column for the Sunday, Dec. 13, 2009 edition of the Hibbing Daily Tribune. Problems of an iron world demand iron willBy Aaron J. Brown Ironworld (by any other name) is, or was, the interpretive center designed for the sole purpose of telling the story of the Iron Range. In a fitting…
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‘Overburden’ holiday book signing in Hibbing Thursday evening
The holiday tour for my book “Overburden: Modern Life on the Iron Range” continues Thursday where it all began. I’ll be signing books today from 5-7 p.m. at Howard Street Booksellers in downtown Hibbing, the site of my first signing last year. “Overburden” is a part-funny, part-serious creative nonfiction title written in a memoir style.…
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Rural Range district narrowly OKs consolidation bond
With few votes to spare, St. Louis County schools passed its bond referendum yesterday 52 percent to 48 percent. (Stories in today’s DNT, on WDIO and elsewhere). This affirms the district’s plan to consolidate its seven K-12 schools into four K-12 schools and an elementary school. The plan combines the building of new schools with…
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Interview with R.T. Rybak on the way
Wednesday I’ll be interviewing Minneapolis Mayor and DFL gubernatorial contender R.T. Rybak on the Hibbing stop of his Minnesota kickoff tour. Rybak reflects the FINAL entrant in my series of DFL candidate interviews and analysis. I’ll be leading an Iron Range-specific line of questioning that I hope will reveal a fair amount about Rybak’s Greater…
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Important vote today will determine future of rural Range district
People are voting right now on the St. Louis County Schools referendum that will fund a consolidation and construction plan in this rural Iron Range-area district. District 2142 covers Albrook, Babbitt-Embarrass, Cherry, Cook, Cotton, Orr and Tower-Soudan, along with a vast swath of locations that once had schools many years ago but no longer do.…
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An update on Ironworld
Business North reports on the latest news regarding the former Ironworld, currently shut down and entering reorganization. Yours truly briefly enters the scuffle. My opinion is short and sweet: The unique history and culture of the Iron Range demands preservation. Ironworld (by this or any other name) is in the public good and a variety…