-
Mining may displace yet another Iron Range highway
By now we’ve talked plenty about the rerouting project for Iron Range Highways 53 and 135 near Virginia and Eveleth to accommodate new mining activity at Cliffs’ United Taconite mine. Now Cliffs says it will need to move Highway 5 between Hibbing and Chisholm to allow Hibbing Taconite to continue mining. The project would happen…
-
Some icons, surprises in Labovitz award-winning businesses
Several Northern Minnesota entrepreneurs were honored today as the University of Minnesota-Duluth Center for Economic Development named this year’s winners of the Joel Labovitz Entrepreneurial Success Awards. You might recognize some of the businesses on the list, while others might surprise you. Among the honorees was Bergquist Imports, proprietor of the iconic orange Swedish horse…
-
Despite industry crisis, steel provisions fail Minnesota House
With a summer of political and economic hardship ahead, Iron Range lawmakers tried to attach “buy American steel” provisions to state projects under debate this week at the legislature in St. Paul. These kinds of provisions have been used in the past, particularly in association with the new Vikings stadium and other large projects. New…
-
Trampled by Turtles to lead a Minne-so-big lineup on July 11
The regional interwebs are ablaze with the news that Northern Minnesota’s own Trampled by Turtles will headline a stacked July 11 Bayfront Park Duluth concert lineup of Minnesota bands on their way up the national music scene. Other acts include past Great Northern Radio Show guests Actual Wolf and the Hobo Nephews of Uncle Frank.…
-
Mesabi Nugget stays down; U.S. Steel continues cuts
Business North reports that Steel Dynamics, owner of the Mesabi Nugget plant in Hoyt Lakes, will keep the plant idled as the price of iron remains lower than the cost of production. The idling was announced months ago with the hope that it would end after new equipment was installed during the shutdown. Though the upgrades…
-
‘Onions’ to killer murder birds of death
Last week I was talking to a friend from out of the area who had picked up a Saturday edition of the Mesabi Daily News at a local gas station. “You’re in for a treat,” I said. “You get to read Orchids and Onions, the most vile opinion page in all of Minnesota.” And it is.…
-
‘Dirty Shirt’ a rough hewn yet moving tribute to BWCA, family
My Sunday column referenced a new book by Jim Landwehr called “Dirty Shirt: A Boundary Waters Memoir.” I figured I’d spend a little more time talking about that book today. Here’s what I said in “On Wilderness“: Landwehr, a St. Paul native now living in Wisconsin, writes about he and his family’s special relationship with…
-
Legislative Auditor to investigate IRRRB
The Star Tribune reports that the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board agency will face a review by Minnesota’s Legislative Auditor after months of scrutiny by the state’s largest newspaper. The April 18 story seems to indicate that Legislative Auditor Jim Nobles would focus on a widely reported deal to help relocate a Democratic-leaning call…
-
On wilderness
This week the ice retreated from the lake. Hard-blowing southern winds warmed the jackets off our backs before knocking over the driveway basketball hoop just hours after we set it up. Colorful birds, fresh off winging 2,000 miles, flitted through our old trees, considered the scene, moved on. When you live in the woods of…
-
On fate and one last good deed
The city of Duluth is still shaken up by a deadly bus accident that occurred on Superior Street last Tuesday. The driver of one Duluth Transit Authority bus experienced a medical emergency which caused that bus to careen out of control on Superior Street, striking another DTA bus. One man was killed and nine were injured in the…
-
Lindström is only the beginning
Lindström, Minnesota, made news this week, winding its way into the New York Times and Washington Post for one simple reason. It wanted its dots back. Specifically, the central Minnesota city wanted the umlaut that makes the distinct Swedish “ö” in the distinctly Swedish immigrant story of Lindström. When the Minnesota Department of Transportation put up the new…
-
‘Vintage’ baseball on the Iron Range
Here’s the deal, see. They’re forming a ball club, see. Up at the Minnesota Discovery Center, see. Yeah, the old Ironworld. Yeah, by the Glen Location, see. Grow your best muttonchops and handlebar mustache, see. We’re getting the Orators back together. That’s right, the Chisholm Orators, terrors of the infield back when Silent Cal Coolidge was…
-
KAXE/KBXE music event will spin you right round in Bemidji
This Saturday in Bemidji, Northern Community Radio will host its first-ever vinyl and CD music sale fundraiser in honor of National Record Store Day. This independent northern Minnesota public radio organization has been collecting donated LPs and CDs for the past month to sell as part of this live music event Brigid’s Pub in downtown Bemidji starting noon…
-
Iron Range Earth Fest promises blend of heart and Sol
If you follow national and international news, it’s easy to see some underlying trends hovering just off the front pages. The cost of solar energy has gone way down in the last couple years, making it affordable and arguably a leading prospect for new energy production in the near future. Climate change continues to affect places all…
-
McCollum bill seeks to protect BWCA from mining
As the mining industry readies its strategy for the next few years, those seeking environment protections in Northern Minnesota generated headlines this week as well. Yesterday, U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN), representing the St. Paul metro district, introduced legislation that would prevent mining in the same watershed as federal wildernesses like the Boundary Waters Canoe…