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The real story on these banks
I don’t often insist that you do something, but I am doing that now. Check this out. I am a frequent listener of “The American Life” on NPR and released as a very popular podcast. The shows are always interesting, providing a fascinating look at aspects of American society and culture. But their show this…
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Rhetoric heats up in Range mining battle
The Duluth News Tribune ran a Sunday editorial blasting the environmental bill that would place new restrictions on nonferrous mining in Minnesota. It’s interesting to watch the DNT editorial board these days. They lurch to the political left and right at random, it seems. It’s like watching the state TV station of a South American…
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Range paper hits lawmakers’ term extension bill
The Mesabi Daily News echoes some of the same concerns I did about Sens. Tomassoni and Bakk’s proposal to extend Minnesota lawmakers’ terms from four to six years for senators and two to four years for representatives. Read the MDN‘s Sunday editorial. I have no idea why a bill like this would get a hearing…
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GUEST POST: $12 million that could have helped, didn’t
A while back I offered readers of this blog the opportunity to write guest posts. A few have written me saying they’re thinking about it, but I finally got one for real this week. Bob Tammen is a retired miner from Soudan who has been a vocal critic of nonferrous mining projects on the East…
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School start debate spurs controversy
My friend State Rep. Tom Anzelc (DFL-Balsam Township) is leading a fight to stop the start of the school year before Labor Day. (Story from Mesabi Daily News via legislative correspondent Jon Collins). The move to a pre-Labor Day school start would reduce tourism traffic in economically depressed areas that depend on those extra days…
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Oh, just release the budget forecast so these guys can stop writing bills
Iron Range State Sens. Tom Bakk and David Tomassoni have authored legislation that would extend state senate terms from four years to six and state house terms from two years to four. The amendment, if passed into law, would go to Minnesota voters for approval. The move would save public money and reduce the amount…
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They took’ar jabs!
I’ll say this, if it it weren’t for fear and anger about immigrants the local papers would have hardly anything to run as guest commentaries and letters to the editor. Hooray, xenophobia! Your angry ranting might save newspapers! “Celebrate our melting pot, but don’t make it a jackpot” (Duluth News Tribune) I agree. The world…
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Sunday remainders from the Iron Range
Here are some remainders from the bad news files over the weekend: Hibbing to close Family Investment Center, reopen with narrower focus (Hibbing Daily Tribune, link to be updated) Hundreds pack room to offer DFL legislators opinions on state budget fix (Mesabi Daily News) Community to rally for Cherry school amid closure rumors (Mesabi Daily…
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Copper-nickel showdown on the Range
This Mesabi Daily News story clearly demonstrates the coming battle over nonferrous mining on the Iron Range at the legislature. A bill that would severely limit nonferrous mining is now in the hopper. Storm clouds a’ gathering. Related posts: No related posts.
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Recovery and Reinvestment Act’s understated gem: broadband plan for all of America
Most aspects of the federal stimulus bill are designed to kick in immediately, but there’s one provision that may prove to be the most prescient. Stimulus bill directs FCC to create broadband policy (from CED Magazine) The FCC report is to include: An analysis of the most efficient mechanisms for ensuring broadband access A strategy…
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Tomassoni set to take helm of IRR board
As promised, here is that Mesabi Daily News story about State Sen. David Tomassoni taking over the helm of the Iron Range Resources board. Only one specific reference to “jobs” and no repetition of “jobs, jobs, jobs.” Maybe that cliche’s day has finally come? Tomassoni stressed that the board focus on infrastructure improvements amid the…
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Legislative tour coming to the Iron Range
The legislature’s public forum tour will pass through the Iron Range this Friday. Topic #1: the crippling state budget and finding solutions that might be tenable. There’s a stop in Virginia and another in Grand Rapids. UPDATE: The Grand Rapids stop will be March 7. Related posts: No related posts.
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MDN editorial backs Anzelc Sunday liquor revenue bill
The Mesabi Daily News published a Monday editorial supporting Rep. Tom Anzelc’s bill that would allow Sunday liquor sales in Minnesota with revenue going to child social services. The MDN calls the bill “innovative.” I wrote about this topic yesterday. Some highlights from today’s MDN editorial: To his credit, Anzelc has offered a proposal for…
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Anzelc’s Sunday liquor bill to fund children’s services getting attention
Jon Collins has a story in today’s Hibbing Daily Tribune and Mesabi Daily News about a bill by my friend Rep. Tom Anzelc (DFL-Balsam Township)* that would allow Sunday liquor in Minnesota with tax proceeds to be directed toward budget gaps in children’s social services. In tough times, funding for at risk kids must be…
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Despair, I shall name you Canisteo
Jon Collins, legislative correspondent for the Mesabi Daily News, Hibbing Daily Tribune, Grand Rapids Herald-Review and other northern newspapers, has a story today about the ongoing, never-dying, omnipresent, will-outlive-us-all problem of the retired Canisteo Mine Pit by Bovey. The pit has too much water, is considered a major flood risk and is currently causing all…