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Last ‘saltie’ to leave Port of Duluth this afternoon
The last “saltie” (ocean-going) vessel of the year will depart this afternoon from the port of Duluth, Minnesota and Superior, Wisconsin. Here’s the news from the Duluth Port Authority: Duluth, Minn. (Dec. 19, 2013) – The last oceangoing vessel to call on the Port of Duluth-Superior for the 2013 shipping season is expected to depart…
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Underwater Christmas tree on the Iron Range
Finally, a Christmas tree you don’t have to worry about watering! The Mesabi Daily News shares the story of an underwater Christmas tree decorating event at the Mesabi YMCA in Mt. Iron. Related posts: No related posts.
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Taconite looks strong in 2014
The Duluth News Tribune reported recently that taconite industry insiders predict a strong 2014 market for iron ore and the likelihood of expanded operations at Iron Range mines. From the John Myers story: Because most taconite produced in Minnesota goes to large U.S. blast furnaces to make domestic steel, the continued rebound of the U.S…
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Bob Dylan and the Iron Range
I happened across a 2007 essay “A Trip to Hibbing High” by the Bob Dylan historian Greil Marcus, one of the best known scholars of Dylan’s work, after his trip to Hibbing that year. I recall his visit because of my work with Dylan Days, but had not read the piece before. He describes a…
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Huntley retires; open House seat in east Duluth
State Rep. Tom Huntley (DFL-Duluth) announced today he would not seek re-election in 2014. From his press release: Saint Paul, Minnesota — State Representative Tom Huntley (DFL – Duluth) announced today that he will not be seeking re-election to the Minnesota House of Representatives. Huntley is the chair of the House Health and Human Services…
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Bentleyville to stay open through Jan. 4
The Bentleyville Festival of Lights attraction in downtown Duluth will stay open past New Years until Jan. 4, organizers say, to make up for several days lost to extremely cold conditions last week. Bentleyville is an annual tradition for many in northern Minnesota. We went the day after Thanksgiving and were surprised to see a…
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Aging veterans clubs struggle to stay open
In a phenomenon seen across Minnesota, veterans clubs such as the VFW and Legion are struggling to stay open as members age and new veterans opt not to join. The Star Tribune took a look at the problem in their Sunday edition, while the Mesabi Daily News reported on the possible closure of the Virginia…
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Team USA curling advances to 2014 Olympics
The Shuster rink, with Duluth and Iron Range roots, qualified for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia at a tournament in Germany over the weekend. Though the experience involved a heart-pounding tie-breaker and a tight match against the Czech Republic, Team USA prevailed and will try for its first medal since 2006. From the…
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Mining schism threatens Minnesota DFL coalition
Baird Helgeson’s story in the Sunday Dec. 15 Star Tribune explores the schism in the Minnesota DFL over the issue of mining copper and rare minerals in northern Minnesota. It’s a good read that highlights what I’ve been talking about here at MinnesotaBrown. This debate is personal, cultural, even existential for the people involved. GOPers…
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Failure is the theme in top words of 2013
Language tells all there is to know about people. Death of a language is the death of a culture. Complex languages denote complex people. Languages change, so do we. If this is to be believed, our times shall be designated as the error message one gets when clicking on something that isn’t really there. To…
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Great Northern Radio Show weekend is here
This “Straight Outta Compton” parody video by the Fosston-raised rapper turned big city comedian Bino White was our initial inspiration when we started working on tomorrow’s Great Northern Radio Show in Fosston, Minnesota. My radio variety program heads to this northwestern Minnesota farming town Saturday, Dec. 14 for a live broadcast 5-7 p.m. on Northern…
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MnDOT names costs of Highway 53 reroute options
WDIO reports on the Minnesota Department of Transportation’s cost estimates for rerouting State Highway 53 on the eastern Mesabi Iron Range. From the WDIO story: For the M1 route, which would take the highway through the current United Taconite mine pit, the costs are estimated to be between $248 and $319 million dollars. For the E1…
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Minnesota’s Iron Range subject of Kentucky forum
Diversifying the economy of a mining region, especially when mining is still a viable industry, is an extraordinarily difficult task. Building a future-based economy is hard because the benefits to tomorrow’s generation are harder to see in the current one. The reward is promissory; gratification delayed. It often seems Iron Range elected leaders and residents remain…
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Grand Rapids’ Actual Wolf has top MN album of 2013
Grand Rapids, Minn., native Eric Pollard’s alter ego Actual Wolf was seen performing at a coffee shop in his western Iron Range hometown today, a jaunt home for the Duluth and Minneapolis-based singer/songwriter who is quickly moving up in the music world. Actual Wolf’s new self-titled album is out now and the Wolf is…
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Great Northern Radio Show, live from Fosston
For the last two years I’ve been producing, writing and hosting a live radio variety program called the Great Northern Radio Show. We’re a production of Northern Community Radio, where I’ve written and produced programming for many years, but this is the show I’ve been waiting my whole life to do. Yes, it’s a take…