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‘Free community college’ not free, but necessary
For me, one of the biggest difference-makers in my life was going to college. What success I’ve found comes not only from the degree I earned, but from the growth I experienced trying to get that degree. Like many of my fellow 1990s high school graduates, I was taught that if you had the will,…
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Range leaders beginning to talk broadband
This morning, the Mesabi Daily News and Hibbing Daily Tribune published a Bill Hanna story about rural broadband. It begins: ST. PAUL — The governor and lawmakers, both in northern and southern parts of the state, agree that better broadband is needed in rural areas, especially as an economic development tool. But there is real concern…
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Walk-through inflatable body in Hibbing
This Saturday, Jan. 17, the 2015 Fairview Range Health Expo will be held at the Hibbing Community College gymnasium. A wide variety of medical organizations and services will display their work and doings, but that’s not why you clicked on this link and it’s not why you’ll drive over to the college this weekend. The…
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Cliffs CEO strikes positive tone with Range lawmakers
According the reports I’ve read and gathered on my own, Cliffs CEO Lourenco Goncalves had two goals for the private meeting he held Monday night, Jan. 12, with Iron Range lawmakers: 1) to stress his company’s commitment to its Iron Range operations, and 2) to vehemently oppose state funding of the Essar Steel plant near Nashwauk.…
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McReynolds-Pellinen named to Virginia City Council
Last night on the east central Mesabi Iron Range, Mary McReynolds-Pellinen was sworn in as a Virginia (Minn.) City Council member. The city council appointed her to fill a seat left vacant when Larry Cuffe was elected mayor in the last election. McReynolds-Pellinen was the fourth highest vote-getter in the at-large council race in that…
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Our penchant for meat raffles nets LA Times story
Minnesotans just want to be acknowledged. We see the airplanes flying overhead, the contrail expanding behind them in the cold Northern skies. We want the people on those planes to look down and see us. Yes, that’s me waving! Yes, see me. SEE ME! New York and Los Angeles are false idols. We have peace…
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Cuyuna cycling group sets goal of ‘3 days of riding’
We’ve written before about the Cuyuna Iron Range’s tremendous success rebranding itself for fat tire mountain biking instead of just as a “former mining region.” Late last week, the Cuyuna Bike Crew — the organization created to organize and advocate for mountain bikers and trails — announced its comprehensive plan. While the plan is replete…
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Sitting Range senator takes job with lobbying group
UPDATE 3: Moments ago, State Sen. Tom Bakk, the Senate Majority Leader, issued this statement regarding Sen. Tomassoni’s new job: ST. PAUL, Minn. – Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk (DFL-Cook) released the following statement concerning Sen. David Tomassoni’s employment at the Range Association of Municipalities and Schools. “As Sen. Tomassoni has publicly indicated, he has…
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Big meeting Monday between Cliffs CEO, Range lawmakers
On Monday, Iron Range lawmakers will meet with the new CEO of Cliffs Natural Resources in St. Paul. The meeting has the potential to be hugely influential in several political matters facing Northern Minnesota, particularly the Essar Steel project on the western Mesabi. CEO Lourenco Goncalves was installed by the board of directors that prevailed…
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Three drunk birds
Winter birds eat what they can to survive, including some berries that have been out a little too long. This leads to a common phenomenon this time of year: birds drunk on fermented berries. National Geographic wrote about this last month, even describing a sort of rehab program used on some exceedingly drunk waxwings in…
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Duluth’s ‘Boy Mayor’ plans interesting book project
Uber-popular Duluth Mayor Don Ness might not be running for re-election, but he is writing a book of essays and photos about Duluth that sounds atypical of most books by politicians. “Boy Mayor and His City: Snapshot Essays” by Don Ness isn’t done yet. Ness launched a Kickstarter to pay for the production costs of what…
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Minnesota DNR to sell CL-215 water bombers
One summer afternoon my boys and I walked down the hill to the lake. I heard a low rumble out of sight. The sound grew louder. Soon enough I could feel the vibrations as well as I could hear them. Then I saw one of my life’s truly memorable scenes: a twin-engine CL-215 “scooper” plane used to fight…
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Governor names Mark Phillips as IRRRB commissioner
Today, Gov. Mark Dayton is expected to name Mark Phillips as the next Commissioner of the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board (IRRRB). Phillips, an Eveleth native, served as Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development in Dayton’s first term, resigning in October 2012. He has worked in the private sector as a business…
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The intrigue, impact & warning of lower gas prices
I live in the woods of Northern Minnesota’s western Mesabi Iron Range, 27 miles from the town where my kids go to school and 27 miles from the town where I work. That was a choice. We live on old family land. Nevertheless, public transit is not available and the cost of gasoline is a significant part…
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LIVE: Gov. Mark Dayton, constitutional officers sworn in today
Today at noon, Gov. Mark Dayton, Lt. Gov.-elect Tina Smith, Secretary of State-elect Steve Simon, State Auditor Rebecca Otto and Attorney General Lori Swanson will all be sworn in. The Uptake is providing live coverage, followed by an archived link if you care to see the ceremonies and remarks: As an interesting aside, Lori Sturdevant…