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IRRRB OKs extension for failed Range project
On Monday the IRRRB voted to approve the reorganized loan agreement for Excelsior Energy, the failed Iron Range economic development project that spent $40 million in taxpayer dollars with no results. The agreement extends the loan until 2019, since the company is unable to make payments. The Duluth News Tribune reported on the proceedings. Board…
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IRRRB to seek loan restructure for Excelsior Energy
So, in case you’ve forgotten, Excelsior Energy, the beleaguered company forged by energy industry lobbyists with Iron Range ties more than a decade ago, still exists. It’s out of money. Its efforts to mandate a customer using political connections to finance the construction of a new power plant in Itasca County have all failed. But…
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Mills mulls 2014 run against Nolan in MN-8
Stu Rothenberg reports that Stewart Mills III, scion of the Mills Fleet Farm stores, is considering a run for Congress in Minnesota’s Eighth Congressional District. He would challenge U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan (D-MN8) as a Republican. Rothenberg spends considerable time talking about how good looking the 40-year-old CEO is, but I keep going back to…
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Highway 53 meeting to determine economic impact of reroute
State Rep. Jason Metsa (DFL-Virginia) is inviting people to a public meeting about the economic impact of the Highway 53 re-route from 10 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, June 19 at the Mountain Iron Community Center. An economist doing an official study will be there and gathering comments from people affected by the required move…
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Candidates break loose on Minnesota Secretary of State race
Earlier I reported that Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie (DFL) would not seek re-election in 2014. I speculated that because this is one of the few open statewide races and one that doesn’t cost a ton of campaign cash, we could see a lot of candidates. Well, that was true: DFL: First out the…
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Ritchie won’t run for 3rd term as MN SOS
Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie announced today he will not seek a third term. The DFLer was first elected in 2006, defeating conservative firebrand Mary Kiffmeyer, and oversaw the closely-watched U.S. Senate recount of 2008 and governor recount of 2010, shortly after his own re-election. Last year he was an outspoken opponent of the…
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MN seasonal, tourism industry gets tax extension for bad weather
The strange late spring in Minnesota prompted action by the state legislature and governor before last week’s close of the session. Seasonal and tourism-based businesses will receive a property tax extension for the lost business due to the weather. The state revenue department released the following: Due date for property tax payments extended for resorts…
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Iron Range mine tax adds dime-a-ton to school funds
Last week I looked at how the legislative session affected the Iron Range. There was one thing I overlooked. John Myers at the Duluth News Tribune explained the 10 cent per ton taconite production tax increase, which will be dedicated toward school improvements in the Taconite Tax Relief Area (loosely speaking, the Iron Range communities…
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Nolan details congressional dysfunction in Boston Globe
Rick Nolan, from my MN-8 interview series last year. Northern Minnesota congressman Rep. Rick Nolan (D-MN8) was profiled this weekend in the Boston Globe. As we’ve covered here, Nolan is in the unique position as a guy who was in Congress 30 years ago, left, and then came back. He’s shared specific details about the…
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Session shifts state priorities, creates opportunity for northern MN
The Minnesota state legislature adjourned late last night, passing the last of its necessary budget bills — all of which will be signed by Gov. Mark Dayton (D-MN). This is the first time in more than 20 years that our state’s Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party has held the House, Senate and governor’s mansion at the same time.…
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Sometimes ‘zee plane’ really is ‘zee plane’
It’s this picture again. Second time! You’d think it couldn’t happen again but it JUST DID. The Mesabi Daily News has made another Fantasy Island reference, again quoting Tattoo’s famous line, “Zee plane! Zee plane!” Last time it was a March 7 reference to the function of state government in job creation. That was a…
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Price of gas a combustible crisis in northern MN
Gas prices reaching $4.50 in some places have northern Minnesotans hopped up on angry fumes. It reflects a jump of more than a dollar a gallon in just over a week. Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken, along with Rep. Rick Nolan, are all calling for federal investigations of price fixing. The reason given for…
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WATCH: Gov. Mark Dayton signs Minnesota marriage equality bill
UPDATE: Gov. Mark Dayton signed marriage equality into Minnesota law this afternoon. He gave these remarks before signing the bill, pictured below: Yesterday, the Minnesota State Senate approved same-sex marriage. At 5 p.m., Gov. Mark Dayton will sign the marriage equality bill into law in a ceremony in St. Paul. Minnesota becomes the 12th state…
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WATCH: MN Senate tackles monumental marriage equality vote
After last Friday’s dramatic Minnesota House of Representatives vote in favor of marriage equality, today brings the crucial Senate follow-up. If the measure passes the Senate Gov. Mark Dayton has said he will sign the bill. The Uptake will once again provide live coverage of the debate and the activity around the capitol building. This…
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Governor, Thissen, Bakk reach agreement on Minnesota budget
This will be a big political week in Minnesota. While the marriage equality debate rolls to an historic conclusion Monday, leaders of the state House and Senate have announced that they and Gov. Mark Dayton have reached the framework of a budget agreement. Specific measures that would affect people living in northern Minnesota’s Iron Range…