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Rukalinka
It’s a linky kind of day I guess. The Minnesota Independent has a profile of Iron Range lawmaker Tom Rukavina as he considers a full blown run for governor next year. Related posts: No related posts.
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Meantime, in the transportation committee
Forum Communication’s Capitol Chatter has a compelling profile on Jim Oberstar’s big week. His major transportation initiatives are ripening and, amid all else going on, he will be making a push for his vision of a 21st century transportation system. Related posts: No related posts.
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They were right and wrong
I am trying to avoid wading into the morass of national political arguments. I don’t have the time to have cable news yelling wars with every Johnny-Come-Bloggy on the internet. But I will highlight a fine piece by David Mindeman for MinnPost about the lessons that can be learned about race in America from the…
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Big money, big problems
Politics in Minnesota has an interesting list of the third party donations to legislative candidates in swing districts for last year’s election. There aren’t many surprises, but the amount of money is interesting and a little disturbing when you consider the spending limits that most candidates agree to abide by for public financing. The argument…
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Other blogs join the fray
Grace Kelly at the Minnesota Progressive Project joins me in tearing the lid off the fantastical magic factory that is the proposed Mesaba Energy Project on the Iron Range. This project is not a power plant, it’s an expensive metaphor for everything that’s wrong with economic development on the Iron Range. Read the post. You…
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Rukavina files paperwork for governor run
Longtime Iron Range state representative and colorful orator Tom Rukavina has filed state finance board paperwork to run for governor, according to Minnesota Progressive Project. UPDATE: The Mesabi Daily News has the exclusive first interview, albeit brief. Related posts: No related posts.
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The Bakk tapes keep rolling
Grace Kelly at MN Progressive Project continues her interview series with State Sen. Tom Bakk (DFL-Cook), gubernatorial candidate and Iron Range legislator. Today’s topic is unallotment and the crushing budget deficit facing the next person foolish enough to take the oath of office for governor. Related posts: No related posts.
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Don’t fear the wood chipper
Duluth now has its fifth city administrator in two years. I wish I could offer something profound about this situation but all I can offer is the predictable snark. Personally, I was conflicted about making a 1980s New York Yankees joke or something involving the state of the local media. Meh. Mayor Don Ness has…
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Seifert makes Range stop
Former House Minority Leader Marty Seifert (R-Marshall) was on the Iron Range recently touting his gubernatorial campaign to the Mesabi Daily News. Guns and mining, good. House Majority Leader Rep. Tony Sertich (DFL-Chisholm) has some thoughts on that. Jobs, education, and health care, also good. Related posts: No related posts.
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Franken shaping up as friend of freedom for the internet economy
As one of those crazy kids with the internets and the blogs I was very proud that Minnesota’s new senator Al Franken chose to spend his first moment in the white hot spotlights of the Supreme Court confirmation hearings to discuss net neutrality. The expansion of availability and education of how to use high speed…
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Radio and Brainerd: the day ahead
Here’s an oh-so-quick reminder of the day’s activities. I’ll be doing an interview on Iron Range/political issues at 7:20 this morning on 91.7 KAXE. They post archives if you miss it. And then at noon I’ll be at the Brainerd Public Library for a brown bag lunch discussion of my book “Overburden: Modern Life on…
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Susan Gaertner: The MinnesotaBrown interview
My semi-regular series of interviews with DFL gubernatorial candidates continues today with Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner. My previous posts have included Tom Bakk, Paul Thissen, Mark Dayton, Matt Entenza and John Marty. I’ve now interviewed a little over half of the probable pool of candidates for the 2010 DFL gubernatorial nomination. I met with…
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Brown on the Air: 7/13 Range Roundup
Tune in to hear my semi-regular Range news and views segment on the Monday KAXE Morning Show. The segment is scheduled for 7:20 a.m. on 91.7 FM in northern Minnesota and streaming online all over the world at www.kaxe.org. Subjects will range from local mining woes, to Excelsior Energy’s recent Hail Mary pass into the…
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Bakk ties Range history to modern times
Grace Kelly at the Minnesota Progressive Project features a video of State Sen. Tom Bakk explaining and analyzing Iron Range history in the context of modern politics. Bakk is actually pretty good at this stuff when you can keep him on point. Check it out. Related posts: No related posts.
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Gaertner interview coming
Thursday I’ll be interviewing DFL gubernatorial candidate Susan Gaertner after the meeting of the Itasca County DFL Social Club in Grand Rapids. Gaertner will be meeting with local DFLers starting at noon at the Itasca Co. DFL headquarters on Highway 169. You don’t have to be a member to attend. I’ll be releasing the post…