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Twilight for the unlovable chair
NOTE: Today’s column is a condensed version of a monologue I did in the Sept. 19, 2015 Great Northern Radio Show which re-airs today at 11 a.m. on Northern Community Radio and will be made available as a podcast in coming days. *** My wife and I have a term for the decorating style of our…
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Hear the Bemidji State edition of Great Northern Radio Show
LISTEN NOW to the Bemidji State show. This Sunday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. you can hear the rebroadcast of last Saturday’s Great Northern Radio Show, which aired live Sept. 19 from the Bangsberg Theater at Bemidji State University. This was one of our more successful shows. The musical lineup featured American Scarecrows, Corey Medina…
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KeeTac staying down indefinitely
As many media outlets have already reported, U.S. Steel announced Friday that, come Oct. 11, the company would lay off all remaining maintenance workers at Keewatin Taconite. The mine has been idled since May. The local newspaper reported that it was “another” shutdown, but it is important to note that the plant never started up again. The cooling…
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U.S. Steel, ArcelorMittal back to table with Steelworkers
Next Monday U.S. Steel and ArcelorMittal will resume negotiations with the United Steelworkers of America over labor contracts at Mesabi Iron Range mines. Cliffs Natural Resources is also negotiating with Steelworkers over contracts at its mines. All of the Minnesota’s 4,500-some miners are affected by these talks. U.S. Steel took a break from talks nine days ago to allow…
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Old fashioned newspaper fight in 3A special
We reported yesterday on the rising tumult in the race for next Tuesday’s DFL primary in the House 3A special election. Earlier this week the Iron Range’s largest newspaper attacked candidate Bill Hansen on some rather overdramatic accusations that he was speaking against unions in his criticism of copper-nickel mining rhetoric and boom-chasing economics. The next…
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Climate change’s local impact subject of talk tonight
Climate change is the kind of issue that generates predictable political reactions. That’s why it’s good sometimes to change the tone, localize the story and talk in practical terms about the scientific observations people are making. For instance, our forests are changing. Trees that once thrived here are being replaced by trees that once did…
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Ecklund rides labor tide as 3A race enters final week
Tonight the International Falls Chamber of Commerce held a House 3A special election DFL candidate’s forum in advance of next Tuesday’s primary election in the race to succeed the late Rep. David Dill. Two of the four candidates call International Falls home — labor leader Rob Ecklund and businessman and former Republican nominee for this seat Eric Johnson.…
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Ely adventurers begin year in the BWCA
At this hour, Ely and Grand Marais-area educational adventurers Dave and Amy Freeman are entering the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. That, in itself, isn’t very surprising. The Freemans make a living showing people the BWCA while going on educational adventures all over the world. But one thing is unusual: they aren’t coming back for…
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Range paper lashes at 3A candidate; Hansen strikes back
The most interesting dynamic in the House 3A special election DFL primary is the competition between a nonferrous mining skeptic in Tofte businessman Bill Hansen and three candidates who generally support copper-nickel mine proposals in the district. Most campaigns in Northeastern Minnesota have been a knock-down drag-out battle to see who supports mining MORE. Now mining…
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Nolan, Mills rematch appears likely in MN-8
Stewart Mills is planning another campaign for Congress, laying groundwork for a rematch against U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan (D-MN8) according to a Michael Brodkorb post at the Star Tribune. Nolan defeated Mills in the 2014 midterm cycle by about 4,000 votes or 1.5 percent. This isn’t terribly shocking, as Mills seemed to be hinting a…
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Steel-making shortfall spurs Essar scrutiny
It was supposed to be an innovative integrated steel mill. That remains the fundamental shortfall of the Essar Steel Minnesota project near Nashwauk on the western Mesabi Iron Range. Work continues, to be sure, but Essar Minnesota will initially open as a straight-forward taconite plant. Perhaps next summer. Perhaps later, depending on who you talk to. That’s the trouble.…
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The missing empathy in our politics
Something remarkable happened the night Vice President Joe Biden appeared on Stephen Colbert’s new Late Show during its first week on the air. A national political figure, one often mentioned as a presidential candidate, spoke like someone you knew. He opened his heart and let us see inside. Biden did so not as part of…
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Taking the Great Northern Radio Show back to school
On Sept. 19 I’m bringing my Great Northern Radio Show to Bemidji State University. From 5-7 p.m. Saturday we’ll broadcast live from the Bangsberg Theater. Audience members need to be in their seats by 4:30 p.m. Tickets are $10, free for kids and college students. Last I checked we’ve got a few seats left, so call today…
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Hear the House 3A DFL showdown
Tonight at 7, the four DFL candidates in the House District 3A special election will participate in a forum at Vermilion Community College. The forum will be aired live on WELY and recorded for rebroadcast on Ely TV. The four DFL candidates are Koochiching County Commissioner Rob Ecklund, Tofte business owner Bill Hansen, International Falls…
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Larson wins majority, Horton advances in Duluth mayor primary
Duluth city councilor Emily Larson won a large majority in Tuesday’s primary election. She and conservative boxing promoter Chuck Horton will advance to the Nov. 3 general election to replace popular outgoing Mayor Don Ness, who opted not to seek re-election. The Duluth News Tribune and WDIO teamed up to report election results and, near as I…