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Short memory on gas prices prevents progress
It’s happening again. Gas prices are inching upward, approaching and soon to breach $4 a gallon with some experts saying that even higher prices are possible. Local, state and national media outlets are going to gas stations, sticking cameras and microphones into the faces of motorists to garner their opinion. People don’t like price increases.…
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Nursing strike, fast internet, highway news, squad smashups, etc.
The news backlog has grown large so I’ll just link you to some stories about what’s going on around the Iron Range. Hibbing nurses authorized a strike at the town’s big regional hospital last Friday (Duluth News Tribune). Parties now enter a 10-day “cooling off” period while labor and management continue negotiations. At issue is…
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Range profile eyes political culture, trends of storied region
Session Weekly’s Nick Busse pens a profile of the Iron Range legislative delegation worth reading. Perhaps repetitive for political insiders, “Ranger in a Strange Land” is a great primer for those who have wondered about the mindset of the fabled Range Delegation, which held its annual “Ranger Party” in St. Paul last Tuesday. For me…
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IRRRB to meet Friday; anger to be sustained afterward
The Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board meets 1:30 Friday afternoon at the agency’s headquarters south of Eveleth. Afterward there will be a press conference by Iron Range legislators to discuss several issues, most notably the economic development fund at stake in the legislative budget negotiations in St. Paul. Related posts: No related posts.
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Range future debate enters crucial phase
I have almost too much to talk about this morning, so I’ll just cover the basics. Yesterday was a notable day. MPR and Northland’s NewsCenter hosted a “Economic Prospects for the Arrowhead” forum at the Radisson in Duluth. Immediately before that the state House voted to strip $60 million in local mining revenue (the Iron…
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LIVE: MPR presents Prospects for the Arrowhead
Follow the “Prospects for the Arrowhead” northern Minnesota economic forum below. I’ll be joining other speakers in talking about the future of the region. Time permitting, I’ll add some live blog content below. MPR’s Minnesota Today is offering a liveblog. MPR Presents: Prospects for the Arrowhead Hit refresh if you aren’t seeing new content. The…
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State House to debate fate of Range economic fund this afternoon
While I’m preparing for tonight’s MPR “Economic Prospects for the Arrowhead” forum in Duluth tonight, the state House is debating the slashing of an Iron Range economic development fund in St. Paul at 3 p.m. You can follow the debate, which I expect to be colorful, here on the House web TV channel. This conversation…
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Tuesday Night at the Forum: MPR/KBJR’s Prospects for the Arrowhead
There’s still time to register for Tuesday evening’s “Prospects for the Arrowhead” forum at the Radisson Hotel in Duluth. This event is organized by Minnesota Public Radio and Northland’s NewsCenter and will be hosted by Cathy Wurzer. The reception starts at 6 to be followed by an open discussion of the region’s economic future at…
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Problems admitted in Range pension issue; important days ahead
As previously discussed, retired Iron Range miners from National Steel (now Keetac, under new management) have been through the wringer on their pensions after National folded in 2003. A specific group of miners receives pennies on the dollar, less than half the promised amount. Late last week the Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation, a federal organization…
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Range labor march slated today in Virginia, Minn.
The April weather in northern Minnesota has taken a February turn, with snow and cold blanketing the Iron Range. Nevertheless, programming is planned for this April 4 “Day of Action” traditionally reserved for community action in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. There are events all over the state, but the one that might interest…
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COLUMN: Today’s Range pioneers must break the circle
This is my weekly column from the Sunday, April 3, 2011 edition of the Hibbing Daily Tribune. Today’s Range pioneers must break the circle By Aaron J. Brown No position, no land, no political condition may be defended indefinitely. Always in history the walls fall, the barbarians throw open the gates. The same is true…
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Hibbing grad pens NY Times op/ed on value of education
In Wednesday’s New York Times, author Marie Myung-Ok Lee shares her experiences as a student at Hibbing High School 30 years ago. An essay on the often unheralded value of good teachers, this is a loving tribute to two teachers who made an enormous difference in her life. Though I’m separated from her experiences by…
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ChinaPlaneNewsBuildingPlaceCenter
Here are a couple more items to tag onto my list of local news links for the day: Rep. Chip Cravaack (R-MN8) has announced he’ll try to block the new ownership deal for Duluth-based Cirrus Aviation, saying that Chinese control of the company is a national security risk. Cirrus officials think that’s kind of dumb.…
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Hot battles, high times on the Iron Range
There’s a lot of Iron Range news going on these days. I’ve got more to post, but it’s a busy day. I’ve already written about the Capitol controversy over the GOP raid of an IRRRB economic development fund last week. This drama will continue all the way to the close of the session. MinnPost had…
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Iron Range delegation strikes back against raid on local funds
Today members of the Iron Range legislative delegation held a press conference to decry the recent proposal to balance the cuts from one part of the state budget on the backs of an Iron Range jobs fund. Complete audio of the press conference is available at Rep. Tom Anzelc’s legislative site. Give it a listen.…