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St. Urho’s Day marks Finnish-American spring
St. Urho’s Day, the Finnish-American celebration of a non-existent saint, who freed Finland from a non-existent grasshopper problem, is March 16, but the celebrations kick up in earnest around the “Finnish-American” states of the Great Lakes before then. It’s always been a particularly strong holiday here in Northern Minnesota’s Iron Range region, something I wrote about at…
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U.S. Steel to idle Keewatin Taconite, affecting 400 workers
Today, U.S. Steel announced it will idle its Keewatin Taconite mine and processing plant in 90 days. The mine employs more than 400 people and produces about six million tons of taconite pellets annually. With about five million tons stockpiled on the property this shutdown could last several months unless market conditions improve dramatically.…
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‘North Country’ Dylan Fest sets 2015 schedule
Late last year, I was part of the outgoing committee announcing that Dylan Days in Hibbing, Minnesota, would be put on indefinite hiatus until new leadership stepped up to take over. After 12 years of working on the annual event, a confluence of personal factors — including the demands of my growing radio show —…
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Minnesota winters confound mound septics
Just a couple weeks ago it was thirty below zero. Now teenagers are wearing shorts and the dirt roads are breaking up. I saw forecasted highs in the 60s coming down the pike. That’s how fast the weather turns in Northern Minnesota. A few weeks ago I warned about the possibility of frozen septic mounds this year…
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Duluth’s ‘cribs’ sinking out of sight
It’s an interesting phenomenon when abandoned skeletons of industry become endearing local landmarks. Part of the their appeal is that these ruins endure without human aid; in fact, they survive active hostility. So it’s a strange, sad feeling when these vestiges of the past succumb to natural causes. This has been the case as Duluth’s…
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Political improv for a new Iron Range generation
A young professionals group on the Iron Range is bringing some cutting edge political humor to the Mesabi with a Saturday performance by the Theater of Public Policy improv group from Minneapolis. ReGen is sponsoring the show, which will be Saturday, March 14 at the Minnesota Discovery Center. Will they add some unique Iron Range…
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Annual rite of Minnesota ‘All Hockey Hair Team’
Many of you might have seen this already, but it’s honestly worth another look even if you have. Every year, John King details the best hockey hairdos of the Minnesota State High School Boys Hockey Tournament in a segment he calls the “All Hockey Hair Team.” Minnesota is a hockey state, where a significant number…
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Great Northern Radio Show airs live tonight!
Tonight from 5-7 p.m. the Great Northern Radio Show will broadcast live from the North Hennepin Community College theater in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. This is our first Twin Cities metro broadcast of the show I started on the Iron Range in the fall of 2011. We’ve done 13 unique programs from different locations around Northern…
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Another Range boy heads down highway for blood & spoils
Today I am on my way to the Twin Cities to prepare for tomorrow night’s Great Northern Radio Show in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. It’s our 14th program, the first show we’ve done in the metro area after almost four years of touring small towns and cities in Northern Minnesota. Growing up on the Iron Range — especially as…
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Amelia Earhart on the Iron Range
Almost 80 years ago, on Oct. 4, 1935, the famed pilot Amelia Earhart spoke to citizens in Hibbing, Minnesota, about advances in human flight and previewed some of her upcoming adventures. During her stop on the Iron Range she reassured a nervous crowd about air travel, dismissed the prevalence of air sickness, and explained why she thought…
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Political storm over IRRRB project rumbles on
Today, the Star Tribune‘s Jennifer Bjorhus follows up her Sunday story about IRRRB funding for a failed, then resurrected, Democratic telemarketing firm. This story focuses on state law’s that allow such transactions, even if they “smell bad” to the general public. Minnesota Legislative Auditor Jim Nobles said he would examine the loans made by the Iron Range…
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On ‘Love and Profanity’
It’s true, I haven’t written a book since my 2008 release “Overburden: Modern Life on the Iron Range.” I made one failed attempt at a novel, and have considered writing other nonfiction titles at different times, but frankly I got busy with the radio show and young kids. I write 5,000-10,000 words a week, just not…
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New future for Old Central?
Last year we learned that a group of investors was exploring the idea of starting a brewpub restaurant in the Old Central School in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. Earlier this week community members met with architects for the project to ask questions and air their concerns about the idea. The idea is still very much in…
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Looking ahead for Duluth as Ness gives final State of the City
Monday night, Duluth Mayor Don Ness gave his final State of the City address as he looks ahead to his last year in office. In a Peter Passi Duluth News Tribune story today, Ness is quoted advocating for a new library at First Ave. E. and Superior Street and discussing improvements to trails and other…
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Range schools show strong grad rates, but challenges loom
Last week, the state Department of Education released graduation rates for Minnesota high schools. Graduation rates across the state increased to 81 percent last spring, and also increased for all groups of students tracked by the state. Here in Northern Minnesota’s Iron Range region, our rates were higher, often much more so. Here’s a rundown of what…