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Debate analysis: Media hungry! Media feed!
From the wooded wilderness in the shadow of the Mesabi Iron Range’s western ridge, I offer a brief commentary on the national political scene. The progressive blogs are hammering last night’s ABC Democratic Presidential debate moderated by Charles Gibson and George Stephanopoulos (along with more objective media critics and journalism experts). I’m glad that I…
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Minnesota Steel groundbreaking delayed
Financial close on Essar’s Minnesota Steel plant has been delayed until May or even June, according to reports I’m hearing. I have confirmed this in Range political circles. The worldwide financial market is bad, so Essar is having trouble locking in on “financial close” for what would be the first iron to steel facility on…
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JNP trying to poach Range area Franken delegates
It’s been fairly quiet on the DFL Senate endorsement front lately, but I did get a tip last night that yields some insight on the Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer strategy to close what seems to be a wide deficit between him and Al Franken in pledged delegates. Apparently, JNP is inviting pledged Franken delegates to meet him…
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Tuesday’s Range headlines
Here’s an abbreviated roundup of stories with Range impact this morning: Pawlenty fires shot at House Majority Leader Tony Sertich (Duluth News-Tribune) for going public with comments the governor admits making in private. In his rebuke, T-Paw said Sertich is “fond of the theatre,” which sounds like some kind of 1872 insult. The outlook for…
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Dylan’s Pulitzer montage
City Pages has a post about the Iron Range’s own Bob Dylan and his recent special citation Pulitzer Prize. The post includes a unique collection of You Tube clips showing Dylan’s increasingly unusual career path. Dylan’s Pulitzer is going to be mentioned often as we continue to promote Dylan Days, May 22-25, in Hibbing. Related…
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What my TV told me this morning…
As many who consume political news online know, the only reason to watch political news on television is to see how political events are playing “on the street.” For instance, I read Barack Obama’s comments about the frustrations of small town voters in context last weekend and formed my own opinion. Then, over the course…
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Blight Me: the unique aesthetics of the Iron Range
This is my weekly column for the Sunday, April 13, 2008 Hibbing Daily Tribune. I archive my columns at my writing homepage. Blight Me: the unique aesthetics of the Iron RangeBy Aaron J. BrownIt’s spring on the Iron Range. I know this because last week we had to hire a guy with a loader to…
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Pawlenty vs. Range battle running hotter
More evidence of increasingly difficult relations between Gov. Tim Pawlenty and the Iron Range legislative delegation. This story is from today’s Duluth News-Tribune: ST. PAUL — House Majority Leader Tony Sertich says Gov. Tim Pawlenty erased $1.5 million in state construction projects from his district as revenge for comments he made about the Republican governor.…
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Coal gas boondoggle circling the drain
There hasn’t been much coverage about the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission meeting from this past Thursday. Two decisions regarding my least favorite Iron Range economic development project emerged from that meeting. As you may know, Excelsior Energy is proposing the Mesaba Energy Project, a coal-gas power plant for the Iron Range. The project enjoys a…
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Enjoy these fine Range blogs
I’d like to point out a couple of quasi-political blogs that people have sent me. The blogging community on the Iron Range is rather small so I am happy to spread the love, and links, when I can. These two blogs are both run by guys named Paul, but one is east Range and the…
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Pawlenty fails to understand Iron Range, again
I’m not as harsh in my criticism of Gov. Tim Pawlenty as most other Iron Rangers and most other progressive bloggers. I’ve always considered him a likable guy and a worthy political foe. But today, the governor deserves special rebuke for his threat Thursday to veto funding for a state study to investigate the cause…
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Guessing about 2010
MN Publius, one of the state’s top progressive blogs, has a great backgrounder on potential candidates for the 2010 DFL gubernatorial nomination. Read it right now. I commented on their post over there and decided to share some of those thoughts here: Since this is just a good ol’ guessing game, I’ll make my educated…
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Thank you, sir, may I have another?
The TV weather people are being administered oxygen on the air. See, there’s a blizzard coming to northern Minnesota. All this after last weekend’s oppressive snow storm. And in April! Here’s what I’m hearing around the region. I hear it’s the storm to end all storms! I hear the snow from this blizzard are the…
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Ore chasing
For hardcore Iron Rangers or those interested in how mining plays into our culture, take a look at this guest column from today’s Hibbing Daily Tribune by retired mining engineer Thomas J. Mesich. He talks about taconite (a low grade iron ore that used to make steel) veins around the central Iron Range and how…
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Denny Anderson faces health issues
Dennis Anderson is the Walter Cronkite of northern Minnesota. The Duluth News-Tribune reports today that Anderson, evening anchor of the top-rated Duluth newscast at WDIO/WIRT, is fighting prostate cancer. The prognosis is good, according to the report. Still, thoughts and prayers go out to the dean of Northland media. For those outside northern Minnesota, Anderson…