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Don’t mind the black smoke, it’s just the power plant
The Hibbing Daily Tribune issued a breaking news alert Wednesday reassuring the people of Hibbing that the black smoke visible over the city was not an uncontrolled fire, but actually the burning of biomass material in the city PUC plant. “There is smoke wafting through the city, but it’s not a from a fire,” [Fire…
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Highway 53 meeting to determine economic impact of reroute
State Rep. Jason Metsa (DFL-Virginia) is inviting people to a public meeting about the economic impact of the Highway 53 re-route from 10 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, June 19 at the Mountain Iron Community Center. An economist doing an official study will be there and gathering comments from people affected by the required move…
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Great Northern Radio Show hits Reif Center stage June 29
We’ll be doing the summer edition of the Great Northern Radio Show from the stage of the Reif Center in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, on Saturday, June 29. My seasonal variety show is, on one hand, a simple incarnation of the traditional radio variety program, on the other it’s a rather quirky exploration of northern Minnesota…
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Dylan tickets moving fast, but not cheap
This Robin Washington column from Sunday’s Duluth News Tribune shows that the tickets for the July 9 Bob Dylan concert at Bayfront Park in downtown Duluth are selling well, but that some remain if you head down to the DECC to get them. He also raises an important point, something that concert-goers in Minnesota have…
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‘Ghost’ of the Henry B. Smith found in Lake Superior
The Henry B. Smith, from YooperSteez.com If you missed it, Andrew Krueger at the Duluth News Tribune had a fascinating Sunday feature about the discovery of a century-old shipwreck on Lake Superior. Most have heard of the Edmund Fitzgerald sinking (thanks to Gordon Lightfoot’s song) in the 1970s, but a similar iron ore ship disaster…
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Summer madhouse open for business
This is my Sunday column for the June 9, 2013 edition of the Hibbing Daily Tribune. Summer madhouse open for businessBy Aaron J. Brown The time is 6 a.m. One of our boys stands four inches from my wife’s sleeping face. We don’t know how long he has been there. “I’m bored!” he screams into…
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#springmapmadness wraps up with 45 states
This year’s Minnesota spring was a rough one, with record late ice-out on local lakes and a generally cold and snowy April. I got through it by requesting free maps and travel guides from all 50 states, allowing me to imagine warmer places, or at least gather the daily mail with excitement. After two months,…
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Arts camp for kids at historic Iron Range park
The 19th Annual Northstar Arts Camp will be held at the Iron Range’s famous Mesaba Park near Hibbing next week from June 17-20, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. The camp, which costs $90, “offers children ages 8-13 an opportunity to experience dance, music, theater and puppet making, as well as nature activities.” Mesaba…
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Paul Bunyan slasher pic gets Duluth showing
“Axe Giant: The Wrath of Paul Bunyan” was reviewed by Christa Lawler of the Duluth News Tribune today. The movie will enjoy a weeklong run at the Zinema 2 on Superior Street in downtown Duluth. I’ve actually watched the movie now and will post a review when a northern Minnesota showing is scheduled further. Apparently,…
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Campaign seeks to name Duluth street after Telly Savalas
Who loves ya’ baby? Did you know that Telly Savalas, best known as Kojak on 1970s and ’80s TV, once lived in Duluth, Minnesota? It’s totally true. And now a Facebook effort to get Duluth to name a street after the lollipop-loving character actor is underway. When I was a small child I was left…
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Finnish baby boxes for everybody
My cousin Adam sent me this interesting story about why every newborn Finnish baby spends time in a cardboard box. In fact, this special box that almost ever Finnish mother gets is a universal experience for all classes, a cultural touchstone for several generations. From the Helena Lee story at the BBC: It’s a tradition…
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Mt. Iron to get Wal-Mart Super Center
The Iron Range city of Mountain Iron is getting a Super Wal-Mart, according to the Mesabi Daily News. I’d argue this has more effect on the local economy that the re-routing of Highway 53. The first Super Wal-Mart on the Iron Range was in Hibbing. It was a huge success for Wal-Mart, posting big numbers during…
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Candidates break loose on Minnesota Secretary of State race
Earlier I reported that Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie (DFL) would not seek re-election in 2014. I speculated that because this is one of the few open statewide races and one that doesn’t cost a ton of campaign cash, we could see a lot of candidates. Well, that was true: DFL: First out the…
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Ritchie won’t run for 3rd term as MN SOS
Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie announced today he will not seek a third term. The DFLer was first elected in 2006, defeating conservative firebrand Mary Kiffmeyer, and oversaw the closely-watched U.S. Senate recount of 2008 and governor recount of 2010, shortly after his own re-election. Last year he was an outspoken opponent of the…
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Bob Dylan to play Duluth this summer
News just broke that Bob Dylan will return to his birthplace of Duluth to play at Bayfront Festival Park on July 9. WDIO reports: An announcement has confirmed that Bob Dylan & His Band will come to Duluth and play at Duluth’s Bayfront Festival Park on Tuesday, July 9. The concert begins at 5:30 p.m.…