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Entenza interview is today
I’ll be interviewing Matt Entenza today for my series of profiles and analysis of 2010 gubernatorial candidates. Look for the post tonight or more likely tomorrow. Related posts: No related posts.
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Coal Future$
This week on “60 Minutes,” Scott Pelley reports on coal in America’s energy production. Watch CBS Videos Online The segment is somewhat bullish on Carbon Capture and Sequestration technology with most sources saying the technology works. However a look at this story will show you how monumental the engineering challenge for converting our nation’s coal…
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Brown on the Air: Monday Morning Range Roundup
I’ll be continuing the new segment at 7:20 a.m. on the Monday KAXE Morning Show. This week we’ll probably explore some state and local political issues. You can listen at 91.7 FM or streaming online at www.kaxe.org. UPDATE: OK, so you should listen in but there is a chance this might not happen. If that’s…
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Divide and compare
Nate Silver over at Fivethirtyeight.com explores some alternative universe concepts today. You’re probably familiar with Gov. Rick Perry (R-Texas) and his threat to lead his state into secession over … federal spending I guess. Well, secession is an unlikely prospect, but Nate explores the very real constitutional right that Texas enjoys to subdivide into several…
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Entenza has access to Clinton’s donor list?
Back during the 2008 presidential primaries, when Hillary Clinton’s campaign was on its last legs, my mother in law angrily demanded use of my wife’s e-mail address so she could donate to Hillary’s campaign. Since then she’s received an amusing amount of Hillary Clinton fundraising solicitations as Clinton seeks to retire her large debt from…
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Mark Dayton: The MinnesotaBrown interview
On Wednesday, April 22, I sat down for about 45 minutes with former Sen. Mark Dayton, one of several DFL candidates for the 2010 Minnesota gubernatorial nomination. I’ve been interviewing candidates infrequently (Tom Bakk last summer, Paul Thissen in the fall) with the hope of talking to all of them as the 2010 campaign heats…
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Dayton interview story up tonight
My interview with former U.S. Sen. and DFL gubernatorial candidate Mark Dayton was yesterday. I’ll be posting a synopsis of the interview and some analysis this evening. Related posts: No related posts.
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The third rail is the one with the juice
Those who follow Minnesota politics already know the basics of the state’s budget debate. We’ve got an historic, crushing budget deficit amid an economic downturn. All three “legs of the stool” — the GOP Governor, DFL State Senate and DFL House — have kicked in their budget proposals for consideration now and there isn’t a…
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Dayton and Entenza interviews on the way
I’ll have a couple exciting interview posts coming over the next week or so. Tomorrow I’ll be sitting down with former U.S. Sen. Mark Dayton, an early DFL candidate for Minnesota governor. Next week I’ll be meeting with former State Rep. and Minnesota 2020 leader Matt Entenza, another candidate. I’ve interviewed other DFL candidates like…
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The tax shell game shows up in numbers
Minnesota 2020 has a fascinating analysis of a Minnesota Department of Revenue tax study. When you factor in local taxes with state taxes, high income Minnesotans pay less as a percentage of their income than low income Minnesotans. Local property taxes are taxes. Tuition is a tax. Fees are a tax. Minnesota has abandoned its…
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Group warns utilities about proposed Range coal gas plant risks
An Iron Range citizen group is cautioning public utilities in Minnesota against any power purchase deal with the startup company Excelsior Energy, the proponent of the coal gasification Mesaba Energy Project. Mike Jennings posts a story for the Hibbing Daily Tribune: The message, which a leader of CAMP says was sent by e-mail last week…
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‘We are change’ forum on Friday
Another item I’m passing along: “We Are Change” Forum at Itasca Community College The “We Are Change” Progressive Forum will be held on Friday, April 17, from 1 – 9 p.m. at Itasca Community College, 1851 E. Hwy 169 in Grand Rapids. This will be an opportunity for the community to listen, learn, and exchange…
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Range ‘Go Run’ program revs up for another round
Below is a press release for the Rural Go Run program, which gives Iron Range area women the training and tools they’d need to run for political office. Though my gender renders me ineligible for this program, I heartily endorse any effort to increase the number of people involved in political leadership on the Iron…
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Brown on the Air: steel and schools
There were some technical difficulties that cut out part of my interview with Scott Hall on today’s KAXE morning show. The whole interview is posted here. I talk briefly about Essar Steel and at length about my suggestion for an Iron Range Congress. Our working plan is to try to do this style of conversation…
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Ritchie speaks about fair elections in Grand Rapids
Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie spoke to the annual Itasca Community College Civil Liberties Conference on Wednesday, April 8, about the importance of free and fair elections. Several area residents and college students attended the day long conference which explored freedom, social, privacy, and justice issues. Ritchie’s appearance came just a day after a…