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Watch the debates in bellwether MN-LEG northern district
KAXE’s series of non-traditional radio forums in the hotly contested MN Senate District 5 continue Thursday morning at 8:15 with a District 5B conversation between Reps. Tom Anzelc (DFL-Balsam Township) and Carolyn McElfatrick (R-Deer River). The segment begins at 8:15 a.m. on 91.7 KAXE/Northern Community Radio, streaming at kaxe.org. This is the district featuring three…
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Beneath arguments, amendment battles foretell bad politics
This week the Duluth News Tribune endorsed a “no” vote on both of Minnesota’s upcoming proposed constitutional amendments — one forbidding gay marriage and another requiring a photographic ID to vote. And while this also happens to be my view, the DNT’s argument raises an important point in these debates. Legislating by biennial ballot initiatives…
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Jobless rate quite low in northeastern Minnesota
The Duluth News Tribune reported Tuesday that unemployment in Duluth has dipped below 6 percent. Moreover, unemployment in the entire region has also dropped: The jobless rate reached 6.2 percent for Northeastern Minnesota, down from 6.7 percent in August. And the greater Twin Ports area, which includes all of St. Louis, Carlton and Douglas counties,…
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Final stages of Cravaack vs. Nolan race show volatility
For a long time there the Twin Cities was getting far more TV advertising in Minnesota’s Eighth Congressional race than the traditional Duluth-area base of this northern district. That’s all done. Duluth TV is now marinated in MN-8 advertising from the campaigns of both Rep. Chip Cravaack, former Rep. Rick Nolan and their outside allies…
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KAXE to air pivotal MN-LEG forums for SD5, 5A & 5B
All told, I don’t think you’ll find a more interesting combination of legislative races than in the new District 5 in northern Minnesota. Two incumbent senators were paired together by redistricting and four incumbent representatives were paired in the respective House districts. All three races sport local issues, unique candidates and a tight, “could-go-either-way” partisan…
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LIVE FEED: Cravaack, Nolan debate again today in MN-8
U.S. Rep. Chip Cravaack (R-MN-8) and former Rep. Rick Nolan, his DFL challenger, face off for their third debate today at noon in Cambridge, Minnesota. The pair debated in Duluth a week ago and participated in a KSTP “At Issue” debate which aired this past weekend. This one will be aired live on Minnesota Public…
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Money, Medicare & the Iron Range: MN-8 lurches to climax
The third MN-8 debate is on for noon today, but here’s another view of the race that’s been collecting in the oak barrel I keep outside my back door. There’s more in there, of course. Always more. Fundraising: Surprisingly, Rick Nolan out-raised Chip Cravaack in the final quarter before the election. Cravaack enters these final…
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Week brings political sparring, radio showmanship
I’ve been underground for a couple days, on the mend from a bad cold and ear infection. I’m not all the way back yet but aim to be ready for the busy week ahead. Later this morning I’ll post the live feed for the third debate between Chip Cravaack and Rick Nolan in Minnesota’s Eighth…
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The nitty gritty reality of NoMinn mining debate
Sometimes you get tired of explaining the same thing, over and over, so here is a haiku describing the political, economic and geological issue of our time on northern Minnesota’s Iron Range. They say with new rocks,mined clean, our kids prosper.They speak truth, we hope. People think that the issue of precious mineral mining in…
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Inside the polls, local factors in MN-8’s waning weeks
The campaign for Minnesota’s Eighth Congressional District now enters its final weeks. Politico recently profiled the race, showing a wider view of the contest than we see in the more earnest, adorable local media. The first debate between incumbent Rep. Chip Cravaack and challenger Rick Nolan was Tuesday. And now the polls. We’ve long been…
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Duluth House 7B candidates to debate Thursday
If watching the Vice Presidential Debate between Joe Biden and Paul Ryan isn’t your thing, how about a local debate in Duluth? That might sound crazy, as Biden vs. Ryan may get weird fast, but if there’s any part of the political universe where things can get weirder faster, it’s Duluth’s House District 7B. The…
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First MN-8 debate reaction: Fire and ice
The first debate between freshman GOP Rep. Chip Cravaack and former DFL Rep. Rick Nolan took place early this morning in Duluth. Though few probably got to see the debate live, it will be re-aired on MPR and local television in days to come. You can, of course, watch it here. There will be three…
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Tune in here for first Cravaack/Nolan debate in MN-8
This morning MinnesotaBrown.com is proud to present a live feed from The Uptake of the first debate in Minnesota’s Eighth Congressional District between Rep. Chip Cravaack (R) and former Rep. Rick Nolan (DFL). The debate begins at 8 a.m. from Duluth. This is the Duluth News Tribune/Duluth Chamber debate that was the source of such…
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Job growth on western Mesabi could tilt tight races
Gov. Mark Dayton was on the western Mesabi Iron Range last week, touting job growth in the area from the new Essar Steel and Magnetation projects in Itasca County. He used the occasion to reiterate his support for these projects, including whatever Magnetation needs in its quest to open new endeavors in coming years. In…
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Duluth paper endorses Republican for Rukavina seat
In the new House District 6B, the seat currently held by colorful Range political figure and retiring Rep. Tom Rukavina, the index is so strongly DFL that it seldom draws coverage in legislative politics. The DFL candidate, blessed heartily by Rukavina, is Iron Range native and local labor organizer Jason Metsa, a young but wily…