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Nolan proposes no pay for Congress during shutdown
Northeastern Minnesota U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan (D-MN8) finds himself making headlines amid another big story today with his introduction of the “No Government – No Pay Act” of 2013. Under Nolan’s bill, members of Congress would not be paid during any period of federal government shutdown. From Nolan’s statement: In the event of a shutdown,…
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William Jennings Bryan in Duluth
I played the narrator role of the “Stage Manager” in my high school junior year production of “Our Town.” I remember giving a line about how William Jennings Bryan once spoke in Grover’s Corners, a sign of some strange and isolated collision between this small town and the churn of national events. The Zenith City…
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Shut it down
If their logic weren’t so utterly outrageous and dangerous, I’d almost be impressed with the sheer audacity of House Republican talking points watching last night’s news coverage of the impending U.S. federal government shut down. This site endeavors not to drive into one-sided partisanship, but in this case I’m going to simply suggest that what…
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What Twins, fed gov’t, research bear have in common
The Minnesota Twins have concluded a terrible season. The federal government will shut down at midnight. Something about a dead bear. I’m writing a radio show for Oct. 19. There will be more to say, just not today. Related posts: No related posts.
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Fall: Love it or leaf it
High up an old oak tree on a rolling hill just outside Hibbing, Minnesota, two talking leaves dangle by hardening stems. Fall has arrived. LEAFY: Lefty, you ever get the sense that things are changing? LEFTY: Everythin’ changes, Leafy. No point worryin.’ LEAFY: But, I mean, *really* changing. I don’t know how to tell…
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Northern Minnesota fall colors near peak brilliance
Here in northern Minnesota you can feel fall in the wind. The freeze warnings have come; the mosquitoes are dead or dying. This begins my very favorite time in this watery, forested landscape: northern Minnesota fall colors. The Minnesota DNR predicts this year’s season of fall foliage will be “brilliant,” according to the AP. I…
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Study: Wolves threaten northern Minnesota moose
The northern Minnesota moose population has been in crisis for a few years now. A precipitous drop in the number of moose in the region has led to the cancellation of the moose hunting season and widespread concern that disease, climate change and a crowded habitat are conspiring to drive moose from a state that…
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Talking northern Minnesota mining on MPR
This morning I was a guest on Minnesota Public Radio’s Daily Circuit program, talking northern Minnesota mining politics with co-host Tom Weber. It’s been a busy couple weeks of mining news with debate over the approaching release of PolyMet’s Environmental Impact Statement, Rep. Rick Nolan’s vote in favor of a pro-mining deregulation bill and a…
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50 years later: Kennedy’s visit to Duluth, Ashland
It was 50 years ago today that President Kennedy walked out the doors of the Hotel Duluth in Duluth, Minnesota and flew off to another stop on his national tour. The day before he had landed and spoke in Ashland, Wisconsin at an airport that now bears his name before speaking and politicking in Duluth…
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UPDATE: Former Hibbing mayor dies unexpectedly
Former Mayor Rick Wolff died unexpectedly Tuesday according to the Hibbing Daily Tribune. Cause of death has yet to be announced but Wolff had recently undergone hip surgery. Wolff defeated Mayor Pru Lolich in 2002 and was re-elected in a memorable campaign against Jason “The Mechanic” Roebuck in 2006. (Roebuck was the only Iron Range…
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Funniest school mascot names in northern MN?
Something about fall brings out memories of football games and school days. This column by Duluth News Tribune reporter Louie St. George III about funniest school mascot names got me thinking, what is the most unusual or distinct mascot in northern Minnesota? Like a lot of places we’ve got various birds and animals. I was…
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Iron Range mall at heart of latest Daily Yonder piece
The Daily Yonder published my second contribution today, “Decaying Malls Struggle to Find Niche.” I explore the specter of failing malls, a common site on northern Minnesota’s Iron Range. I pay special attention to one Iron Range mall in Hibbing, the Irongate Plaza, which is still open but has never recovered from losing most of…
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Duluth balloon festival barely clears windy weekend
Krista Burns via Northland NewsCenter Windy conditions threatened to deflate Duluth’s first-ever hot air balloon event, Le Festival des Montgolfières à Duluth, this weekend, but the first (albeit tethered) balloon lift over Duluth in 125 years had taken place. So, “flight.” Kind of. It turns out that a port city with lots of wind, a giant…
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Comfort food for the dieter’s soul
My name is Aaron and it has been four months since my last Holiday gas station cookie. This, of course, refers to the third cookie I ate that night, because they cost less if you buy three, and why wouldn’t you want to eat three? They are the greatest cookies ever made. Sure, your mom’s…
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Hot air balloon festival opens today in Duluth
Photos: Don Biresch, Creative Commons license, from a New Jersey balloon festival. UPDATE: The gates are open and the balloon festival is under way! Watch weather conditions in Duluth to see if they affect the flight of balloons. (Wind and such). Duluth, Minnesota, will host a hot-air balloon festival Sept. 20-22 at Bayfront Park…