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Hakly plans House 6A write-in campaign
Steven Hakly of Iron has announced the unusual decision to seek the District 6A House of Representatives seat as a write-in candidate. Hakly, 59, is a union equipment operator and former Marine. “I’ve put myself behind the 8 ball right off the bat A write-in candidate! What the hell am I thinking?” wrote Hakly in…
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Powerful ‘What’s Left’ exhibit comes to Hibbing
The exhibit “What’s Left: Lives Touched by Suicide” will open at Hibbing Community College Monday and remain open throughout the month of April. This multimedia exhibit intends to create a proactive community dialogue about suicide and mental illness with a goal of reducing the stigma surrounding them. The exhibit will located in the main entrance…
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First ‘saltie’ of 2016 arrives in Duluth today
Today, the Port of Duluth welcomes its first ocean-going vessel of the 2016 shipping season. The Dutch-flagged Albanyborg just dropped off some wind turbine parts in Canada and is now set to load winter wheat bound for Italy. The first Great Lakes vessel arrived more than a week ago. Even though Northern Minnesota is firmly in…
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Trump to campaign in Twin Ports
On Monday, Republican front-runner Donald Trump will hold a campaign rally in Superior ahead of Tuesday’s Wisconsin primary. He will appear at the Richard I. Bong airport at 1:30 p.m. Doors open at 10:30 a.m. Ticket information is here. This is the first time Trump has appeared in the Twin Ports of Duluth and Superior.…
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Dayton faces criticism, stands ground on Range
Gov. Mark Dayton was on the Iron Range Friday defending his decision to deny permission for Twin Metals to drill on public lands near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Technically, there were two meetings, both held at the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board (IRRRB) headquarters in Eveleth. The Range Association of Municipalities and Schools (RAMS)…
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Itasca County fires administrator
Last night in an emergency closed session the Itasca County Board fired its administrator Trish Harren. This was the brief statement released by the county board: The County Board of Commissioners terminated the employment agreement of the County Administrator, Trish Harren, effective, April 15, 2016. April 15th was selected as the date because the County…
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Ely pitches new Electric Paddle
I don’t know what it is about April 1 in Ely, Minnesota, but it always seems like strange news emerges from this hub of the Vermilion Iron Range and gateway to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area on this date. Today, officials in Ely took to the wires to tout the brand new Ely Electric Paddle. Last year…
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Great Northern Radio Show in Pequot Lakes
Next week I’ll be hosting another of my traveling Great Northern Radio Show programs from the Central Lakes town of Pequot Lakes, Minnesota. If you follow the blog, please consider attending the show or listening on the radio. Participate in social media during the show. This project is arguably my greatest passion. So many great…
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Iron Range economic imbalance, in one graphic
I’ve already written at length about the recent report by the Minnesota Office of the Legislative Auditor. That document details serious management and governance problems at the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board (IRRRB). Today I’d like to talk about an aspect of that report that paints a broader picture of what ails the Iron…
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How Iron Range political drama helps no one
In his daily “Morning Take” newsletter on Monday, March 28, Blois Olson offered this editorial about the way Iron Range politics disproportionately dominates state political priorities: Minnesota politics can’t seem to ever avoid drama when it comes to the Iron Range. In 2016, the emotions and angles are more complex than a Tolstoy novel but some…
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Dayton coming North, definitely not a vacation
The Mesabi Daily News reports this morning that Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton will make public appearances in Eveleth on Friday. The governor will talk to local officials and the public about his recent decision to block new drilling on public lands for the Twin Metals project, a controversial copper nickel mining proposal near Ely. Gov.…
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Homegrown ‘invades’ Iron Range this Friday
Duluth’s Homegrown Music Festival has developed into one of the state’s biggest cultural events of the year. This Friday, the second annual Homegrown “Iron Range Invasion” takes place in Virginia, Minnesota. The event features nine Duluth and Iron Range bands at three venues throughout the Queen City of the Iron Range. Here’s the announcement from Homegrown:…
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Essar Steel Minnesota nears bankruptcy
Essar Steel Minnesota is preparing for bankruptcy. This morning the Duluth News Tribune shared a Reuters report that the company building a new taconite plant near Nashwauk is close to bankruptcy. From a John Myers story: Essar has hired financial and legal advisers to help restructure its debt, several financial news sources reported over the…
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IRRRB reforms announced after tough audit
The Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board will voluntarily reform itself to comply with findings from a recent Legislative Auditor’s report. Under a new plan, the IRRRB would retain its power to allocate funds from its unique regionally-funded state agency but those allocations would require the governor’s approval. This would address the Legislative Auditor’s finding that having…
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Jobless benefits for miners extended
On Thursday the Minnesota House of Representatives passed an unemployment benefits extension for workers affected by the downturn in the Iron Range mining industry. They also passed separately what House GOP leaders wanted attached in one bill: a rebate to businesses who pay into the unemployment fund, which now has a surplus because of the…