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The not-so-special election in MN House 3A
Remember when the Iron Range political structure appeared poised for street riots heading into a closely-watched DFL primary in House District 3A? Anyway, that was a thing that happened not that long ago. Today we are just shy of a week away from the Dec. 8 House 3A general election that will determine who actually heads…
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Everybody wants to save the Range
I can’t stand this indecision Married with a lack of vision Everybody wants to rule the world Say that you’ll never never never never need it One headline why believe it? Everybody wants to rule the world ~ “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” by Tears for Fears So, that’s the tune, only try it…
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Awkward Minnesota turkey non-pardon ceremony continues
On Monday, Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton greeted a frightened turkey in a poorly-lit conference room somewhere near his St. Paul office. While the President typically pardons a turkey every Thanksgiving, turkeys aren’t pardoned here in the nation’s leading turkey-producing state. One ceremonial bird is “greeted,” “petted,” and then whisked back to the turkey farm to rise…
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Political theater ensures people keep ‘driving through’ Range
It’s been a busy week and will be a busy weekend, so I can’t get too wound up about highway politics on the Mesabi Iron Range. After all, I’ve probably said enough in recent months about State Highway 53 and St. Louis County Highway 5, both of which are on the move to accommodate mining…
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IRRRB to discuss $26 million biochemical project in Mt. Iron
Friday, the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board will meet to discuss new projects and public works spending. A number of interesting items will be on the docket. Topping the list is a proposal to loan $18 million as part of a state and Iron Range package of $26 million to a company called Sweetwater Energy. Sweetwater is…
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Governor Dayton tours mines to inform his PolyMet decision
I’ve already expounded upon challenges facing the iron mining industry on the Mesabi today, but state political news is focusing on the much louder though more theoretical debate over nonferrous mining in Northeastern Minnesota. Well, that debate is finally starting to get real. Gov. Mark Dayton visited the Gilt Edge Mine in South Dakota yesterday and…
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Heads of state named ‘Justin’ nearing reality
UPDATE: Justin Trudeau and the Liberals won a majority government in Monday’s election. It was an unexpected rout. I’ve long foreseen a world in which heads of state — including one day a U.S. President — might be named “Justin.” Lots of kids are named Justin now. And once the Justins take over, then come…
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In House 3A, geography & labor politics shaped outcome
On Tuesday, Koochiching County Commissioner Rob Ecklund won Tuesday’s DFL Primary in the Minnesota House 3A special election to replace the late State Rep. David Dill (DFL-Crane Lake). Ecklund beat Tofte businessman Bill Hansen by about 450 votes, or 6 percentage points. I live blogged the election here. There are a few different ways to interpret…
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LIVE BLOG: MN House 3A DFL Primary
Today, four candidates — Rob Ecklund, Bill Hansen, Eric Johnson and Heidi Omerza — sought for the DFL nomination in the House 3A special election DFL primary. The winner will face Republican Roger Skraba and independent Kelsey Johnson in the Dec. 8 general election. I will provide news and analysis on the race throughout the evening in…
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Polls open in House 3A special election DFL primary
Polls are open until 8 p.m. in today’s Minnesota House District 3A special election DFL primary. It’s been a fascinating campaign, full of inky barbs and clashes between Northern Minnesota political factions. Going into today’s election, Ecklund and Hansen have emerged as frontrunners, but with the potential for low turnout and the general unpredictability of this vast, rural…
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Old fashioned newspaper fight in 3A special
We reported yesterday on the rising tumult in the race for next Tuesday’s DFL primary in the House 3A special election. Earlier this week the Iron Range’s largest newspaper attacked candidate Bill Hansen on some rather overdramatic accusations that he was speaking against unions in his criticism of copper-nickel mining rhetoric and boom-chasing economics. The next…
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Ecklund rides labor tide as 3A race enters final week
Tonight the International Falls Chamber of Commerce held a House 3A special election DFL candidate’s forum in advance of next Tuesday’s primary election in the race to succeed the late Rep. David Dill. Two of the four candidates call International Falls home — labor leader Rob Ecklund and businessman and former Republican nominee for this seat Eric Johnson.…
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Range paper lashes at 3A candidate; Hansen strikes back
The most interesting dynamic in the House 3A special election DFL primary is the competition between a nonferrous mining skeptic in Tofte businessman Bill Hansen and three candidates who generally support copper-nickel mine proposals in the district. Most campaigns in Northeastern Minnesota have been a knock-down drag-out battle to see who supports mining MORE. Now mining…
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Nolan, Mills rematch appears likely in MN-8
Stewart Mills is planning another campaign for Congress, laying groundwork for a rematch against U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan (D-MN8) according to a Michael Brodkorb post at the Star Tribune. Nolan defeated Mills in the 2014 midterm cycle by about 4,000 votes or 1.5 percent. This isn’t terribly shocking, as Mills seemed to be hinting a…
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Hear the House 3A DFL showdown
Tonight at 7, the four DFL candidates in the House District 3A special election will participate in a forum at Vermilion Community College. The forum will be aired live on WELY and recorded for rebroadcast on Ely TV. The four DFL candidates are Koochiching County Commissioner Rob Ecklund, Tofte business owner Bill Hansen, International Falls…