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Mining layoffs starting to inflate jobless rate
Some bad news in the short run: Iron Range mining layoffs are just starting to appear in the jobless rate data you’ll be reading about in the coming month. This is from today’s Mesabi Daily News. The state analyst sees cause for optimism. I think, however, that it’s his job to say that. Related posts:…
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Dylan Days Today: Farewell, travelers!
Dylan Days 2009 wraps up today. Thanks to all the people who came to Hibbing to take part in this celebration of music, art, literature and the work of Hibbingite Bob Dylan. Today is Bob Dylan’s 68th birthday. This summer his Hibbing High School class will celebrate its 50th reunion. All that’s left for now,…
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Mesabi Nugget announces delay in start-up
Mesabi Nugget, the iron nugget plant under construction in Hoyt Lakes, has announced that it will delay operational start-up until the fourth quarter of this year instead of August as originally planned. This is from today’s Mesabi Daily News. The delay comes amid a global recession and the continued lagging steel prices, a situation that…
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Dylan Days Today: the Saturday apex
Saturday is the premium day of events for Dylan Days. Stop by and soak up the many different people visiting Hibbing in celebration of hometown son Bob Dylan. Saturday at Dylan Days Dylan Days Bus Tour 10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., a fascinating guided tour of the Hibbing that inspired a young Bob Dylan. Tickets…
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Dylan Days Today: Weekend brings songwriter smackdown
Now we’re getting warmed up. Friday is when many visitors start arriving in Hibbing for Dylan Days weekend. The highlight today is our signature Dylan Days Singer/Songwriter Contest tonight at Zimmy’s. Twenty-four musicians from all over the world will sign one Dylan song and one original song to compete for prizes and glory in Bob…
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Excelsior facing long odds at PUC (yes, again)
Excelsior Energy, proponent of the vast and controversial Mesaba Energy Project on the Iron Range, goes before the state PUC for one final plea for special treatment in finding a customer for its expensive electricity it intends to generate in a carbon capture coal plant. Doesn’t look so good for them. An appeal to follow.…
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Dylan Days Today: Welcome to Hibbing!
The opening day of Dylan Days is typically the whole kit and caboodle for me, even more so this year. I am one of the organizers of the Dylan Days Creative Writing Contest, the winners of which participate in this evening’s Literary Showcase. The special highlight is the world premiere of “Blur in the Rear…
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Bye American?
Here’s an interesting quandary. We all know the Iron Range mining sector is reeling right now. Partly because of this, our elected officials sought and received some strict “buy American” provisions in the federal economic recovery package. The logic was to bolster American steelmakers and iron mining operations by ensuring that American steel was used…
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There’s more iron in them thar’ hills
Magnetation, Inc., the outfit that is reprocessing old Iron Range mine dumps, made Fortune Magazine this week. The company shows a lot of promise. Beats a kick in the face, economically speaking. Buuuuut … none of our taconite mines are producing anything right now. Contextually, we’re still in the rough. On a side note, a…
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Taconot
How much taconite (an iron ore product used to make steel) is being produced on the Iron Range right now? Catherine Conlan at MinnPost tells us: none. The Iron Range is the largest domestic source of iron ore in the United States and we are generating zip as of today. They’re shipping some stockpiles, but…
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Bakk checking with the fam, will totally get back to us
Channel 10 reported that Iron Range State Sen. Tom Bakk is “internally” committed to his run for governor after yesterday’s conclusion of the legislative session. The Mesabi Daily News is reporting that he is taking a family trip to think about it. I am reporting that I will eat a deer pelt if Bakk does…
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‘Three Amigos’ approach only works in, well, ‘Three Amigos’
On Tuesday, the Duluth News Tribune editorial board opined that Minnesota should do a better job ensuring that Minnesota-set movies are filmed in Minnesota. They lamented that mediocre releases like “Leatherheads” and “New in Town” were both set in Minnesota but obviously (sometimes ridiculously) were filmed elsewhere. The editorial concluded that other places offer more…
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Dylan Days Today: DD Eve brings live music, art
It’s Dylan Days Eve in Hibbing, Minn. The stockings are hanging. I’ve been mixing spiced liquor into my coffee. Tonight we all go to bed with hopes that jolly old St. Zimmerman visits through the chimney. Unlike Santa, however, he only shows up if he feels like it. In any event, Dylan Days 2009 starts…
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Upper Mississippi Forest Legacy project survives the storm (we think)
Though the Minnesota legislative session ultimately proved disappointing on many levels, northern Minnesota has one item to cheer. It appears the first installment of money to fund the Upper Mississippi Forest Legacy project — the transfer of vast amounts of Blandin Paper land in Itasca County to public use — is on track. Related posts:…
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World premiere of original play to debut on Dylan Days stage in Hibbing
Also in today’s paper edition of the Hibbing Daily Tribune is a special tab commemorating Dylan Days, one of my many side ventures. It’s a nice collector’s piece and a good guide to this year’s set of arts and entertainment events for Dylan Days in Hibbing, May 21-24. Pick up a copy wherever newspapers are…