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Another 7B update: Brandon Clokey plans serious challenge
Throughout the discussion of who will succeed Mike Jaros as District 7B representative, I’ve noted the fact that one person had announced their candidacy for the DFL nomination long before Jaros’s announced retirement. Brandon Clokey, a Duluth small businessman and political newcomer, announced his run for this office back in January. And today, his campaign…
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Minnesota Power to run on anchor power
Hey, remember Channel 3? We used to have this channel (3) here in northern Minnesota that was like a real channel. It had news and people worked there and back in the 1960s there were clown shows and whatnot, the whole deal. There is still a Channel 3 (CBS) in Duluth, but it’s operated by…
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Go to hell, KSTP
Let me begin by saying the way things have been done on the Iron Range hasn’t always been perfect. It’s an area with a unique governance structure because of our mining tax system and that system has taken time to make more efficient. There’s been plenty to criticize and I’ve been one of the critics.…
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Range school woes like canaries in the coal mine
Public schools everywhere face challenges from unfunded federal mandates, tighter state aid and local tax bases that are tapped out. But here on the Iron Range some special circumstances threaten the very existence of two districts, which I think are like canaries in the coal mine for school districts all over the state. First, in…
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Just deal with the scary flood pit already!
Janna Goerdt of the Duluth News-Tribune reports today on the ongoing saga of the Canisteo Mine Pit near Bovey. The long abandoned mine pit has been filling with water for decades, causing what many residents and scientists fear will be a major flood risk. Others, including those at the DNR charged with monitoring the pit,…
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For sale, cheep!
Economic gloom reaches the Iron Range. A sign seen along a country highway north of the western Mesabi today reads: “Lake home for sale. Cheep!” That’s not a typo. The home is owned by large, sentient birds who can’t afford the rising cost of seed. Related posts: No related posts.
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More on Reinert in House 7B race
I continue to monitor the House 7B race, which has become vastly more exciting after last month’s surprise retirement by longtime State Rep. Mike Jaros (DFL-Duluth). Currently there are four DFLers and one Republican running, with the potential for more to jump in before the filing deadline of July 15. A source tells me that…
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Iron Ranger profiled in Star Tribune
The front of the state edition of the Star Tribune features Chisholm native Philp Falcone, an Iron Ranger turned New York hedge fund manager, who made it big betting that the mortgage bubble would pop. I don’t know Mr. Falcone, but I wonder if growing up on the Range influenced his success as someone known…
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The ‘Wall-E’ election
Frank Rich of the New York Times has a great column today about the Pixar movie “Wall-E” that effectively sums up my present opinion of the summer’s best movie and the state of the presidential election. Check out “Wall-E. “It’s a much more important movie than the previews would indicate. Related posts: No related posts.
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Derbis enters 7B race in West Duluth
The race for State Representative in West Duluth’s House District 7B keeps getting more interesting. John Derbis, a UM-Duluth student and longtime DFL activist, announced his candidacy today at the Boys and Girls Club in West Duluth. Durbis, 23, lives in West Duluth. His campaign presents this biography: (Derbis) … was born in Minneapolis and…
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KSTP readies hit piece on Iron Range landmark
A promo that aired on KSTP Channel 5 in the Twin Cities indicates that everyone’s favorite news whore station is preparing a hit piece on Ironworld. “See what your state dollars are paying for” says one tag line of Monday night’s “expose.” Except I’m betting KSTP lacks the attention to nuance to realize that Ironworld…
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Corrections to Franken parade post
Please note the corrections to the Al Franken Iron Range parade post from earlier in the day. My bad. Related posts: No related posts.
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Franken to appear on Iron Range for 4th of July, RE-UPDATED
UPDATE x2: For real this time! After a great amount of confusion, Franken’s Range parade schedule is finally in my hands. July 3 (today): Al joins the picket line at a labor protest outside the Hibbing Wal-Mart. I have been seeing this picket line the last few days and will be posting about it at…
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MinnPost: Oberstar doesn’t rule out Cabinet position if Obama wins
MinnPost has an intriguing story about veteran Minnesota Congressmen Colin Peterson and Jim Oberstar. Peterson ruled out serving in an Obama Cabinet, but Oberstar left the door open just a tiny little bit. Now, I agree with comments made on a post I wrote about this last month. Oberstar won’t leave his chairmanship of the…
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First day filers
Iron Range State Reps. Tony Sertich (DFL-Chisholm) of District 5B and Tom Anzelc (DFL-Balsam Township) of District 3A have filed for re-election today. Here are the corresponding press releases. Sertich will face Republican John Larson, a Hibbing bar owner, in the general election. Anzelc will face Republican Marvin Ott, a former county veterans official. I…