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Land auction may scuttle beleaguered Range project
UPDATE: The land in question was sold at auction today … to Excelsior Energy! Some thoughts below. The hard luck story of Excelsior Energy’s failed Mesaba Energy Project reaches a new milestone today as a land auction could deprive the proto-company of the site it named for its proposed power plant. The company had initially…
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‘Inwardly, we are being renewed’
There is no denying the dark pallor hanging over every corner of the United States after last Friday’s devastating tragedy. President Obama spoke Sunday at a memorial service for the teachers and students lost in Newtown. I share his remarkable speech here: I also share this piece, “I Am Adam Lanza’s Mother,” by Liza Long,…
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Our paychecks now face constant ballot test
In a glimpse of what could easily have happened in Minnesota and could yet occur, a Republican legislature and governor passed “right to work” laws in Michigan yesterday, one of the biggest union states in the nation yesterday. Lawmakers did so with little debate and no hearings, ushering in laws that weaken both public and…
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LIVE FEED: Dayton, legislative leaders discuss 2013 agenda
Gov. Mark Dayton (DFL-Minnesota) and legislative leaders from the state House and Senate will hold a joint press conference today at 11:30 a.m. Courtesy of The Uptake, I’ll carry the event live here at MinnesotaBrown.com. Last week, state budget forecasters announced a deficit of about $1.1 billion, about what was expected. Still in the mix…
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Nolan featured in NY Times story on political experience
Rep.-elect Rick Nolan (D-MN8) is in the lede of a story in the New York Times about the importance of experience in political leaders. Nolan ran as an experienced “down-home” small businessman, but had this little nugget in his resume: he served in Congress 30 years ago and left of his own choice because of…
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Nolan lifts curtain on backroom congressional fundraising
WTIP’s Jay Andersen has this intriguing interview with Rep.-elect Rick Nolan (D-MN8) as he prepares to take office in January. It was noted in the interview that Nolan’s election this November represents a 32-year span between his last term, which ended in 1980, and the one he’ll begin soon. Nolan spends most of the interview…
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Nolan names campaign manager as chief of staff
U.S. Rep.-elect Rick Nolan (D-MN8) has named his campaign manager as his new chief of staff for his Washington office and Minnesota field offices. Michael Misterek led Nolan’s successful campaign against outgoing Rep. Chip Cravaack (R-MN8) in one of the nation’s most-watched congressional races. There are often mixed results when campaign staff are kept on…
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COLUMN: Atop hill of slime, a clear view of northern political landscape
This is my Sunday column for the Nov. 25, 2012 edition of the Hibbing Daily Tribune. This piece is based on some analysis I did for the blog last week. Atop hill of slime, a clear view of northern political landscapeBy Aaron J. Brown As you know by now, Rep.-elect Rick Nolan (D-MN8) ousted Rep.…
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A night of jokes and thanks for Iron Range’s Rukavina
Last night, more than 400 people piled into the Mt. Iron Community Center to roast retiring Rep. Tom Rukavina (DFL-Pike Township), one of the most outspoken and well-known Iron Range lawmakers in recent memory. I am told that footage of the event will be forthcoming, which I will share here, but John Myers of the…
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Northern MN lawmakers named committee chairs
With the DFL taking majorities in the Minnesota State House and Senate earlier this month, House Speaker-elect Paul Thissen and Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk are announcing their committee structure and new chairpersons. Last week the following roster of chairs was announced. I’ve highlighted the northern Minnesota legislators who have earned these influential positions. See…
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Inside N.E. Minnesota 2012 Legislative Election Results
It was frustrating to see little or no reporting of election results on the western Mesabi among the bigger Grand Rapids and Hibbing papers. The weekly Scenic Range News Forum actually did more than the two larger papers combined. The Grand Rapids Herald-Review ran some numbers a week later (and only the numbers that came…
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See MDN interview of Iron Range Rep.-elect Metsa
Of the major Iron Range newspapers, the only one investing in regular political coverage is the Mesabi Daily News. And it’s cool to see them try some new things here, by posting a YouTube video of editor Bill Hanna interviewing Rep.-elect Jason Metsa (DFL-Virginia). It was disappointing to see very little newspaper coverage of the…
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Cravaack talks fiscal cliff, uncertain future in MinnPost
Outgoing Rep. Chip Cravaack (R-MN8) gives an interesting interview with Devin Henry of MinnPost. He is gracious to election winner, Rep.-elect Rick Nolan (D-MN8), but isn’t prepared to say what he’ll do next. Seems like an awful lot is up in the air. He also comments on the current “fiscal cliff” negotiations that he’ll be…
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"Ruk Roast" to honor, pillory iconic Range lawmaker
On Monday evening, Iron Range community members, leaders and state politicos will join to roast retiring Rep. Tom Rukavina (DFL-Pike Township), an icon of recent Iron Range politics. Donations will be collected to establish a Tom Rukavina scholarship at Mesabi Range Community and Technical College in Virginia, Minnesota. I expect stories aplenty, as Rukavina left…
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Nolan win restores DFL, but MN-8 will keep wild edge
As you know by now, Rep.-elect Rick Nolan (D-MN8) ousted Rep. Chip Cravaack (R-MN8) in last week’s election, ending the longest, most expensive Congressional race in northern Minnesota history. I’d been saying before the election that only Tuesday’s results could shed light on the district’s new political make-up after demographic shifts and redistricting ushered in…