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Duluth’s Bob Dylan sculpture project launches Kickstarter
A small scale rendering of the sculpture image. Today sculptor Tom Page and his organization launched the Kickstarter page to raise funds to put a Bob Dylan-themed sculpture. The art would be placed in downtown Duluth, the city where Dylan was born, just down the road from Hibbing, the city where he grew up. I…
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Iron Range soldier is ‘The Bomb Whisperer’
Another interesting read this morning, the Los Angeles Times profiled an Army soldier from Eveleth, Minnesota, known among his fellow troops in Afghanistan as “The Bomb Whisperer.” KHOGIANO, Afghanistan — Spc. Kyle Klobuchar spends his days listening intently to the beeps, hums and warbles of a hand-held explosives detector known as a Minehound. He likes…
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Testosterone problems in western North Dakota
This commentary in Sunday’s Star Tribune shows the social strife facing women in western North Dakota as the region teems with male workers in the booming oil industry. Reading this reminds me of the stories surrounding northern Minnesota’s Iron Range in the early 1900s as male immigrants poured into this region, most of them single…
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Minnesota’s true past becomes clearer in ‘Land of the Dakota’
This is my Sunday column for the June 2, 2013 edition of the Hibbing Daily Tribune. Congratulations to Gwen Westerman and Bruce White for winning the Minnesota Book Award for “Mni Sota Makoce.” Minnesota’s true past becomes clearer in ‘Land of the Dakota’By Aaron J. Brown “Human beings have recorded their relationships with places in…
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Duluth to remove iconic downtown bricks
Workers install bricks on Superior Street on Oct. 6, 1985. From the Duluth News Tribune “News Attic.” When I was a tiny little kid I remember seeing all the hubbub on the news about Duluth putting in bricks along a key downtown chunk of Superior Street. As an Iron Range tyke who only knew Duluth…
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B’nai Abraham shares Range Jewish history with stories, music
B’nai Abraham Cultural Center, Virginia, Minnesota When the Iron Range received a surge of immigrants in the early 20th Century it become one of the most diverse places in the country, a fact that often seems foreign on the Iron Range of today. Among its many groups was a vibrant Jewish community, and though that…
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The last day of school
Ned Horton, Creative Commons license The last day of school is that giddy feeling in your gut, warmed over by sunlight felt even through the clouds where your head goes until you see mom or dad and you realize that this is still the world, a sad fact that is not so sad when you…
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MN seasonal, tourism industry gets tax extension for bad weather
The strange late spring in Minnesota prompted action by the state legislature and governor before last week’s close of the session. Seasonal and tourism-based businesses will receive a property tax extension for the lost business due to the weather. The state revenue department released the following: Due date for property tax payments extended for resorts…
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Skeeters!
The mosquitoes hatched last night. They’re late this year, but appear to be healthy. Saw them drive a deer out of the woods this morning. This could be a rough year. Related posts: No related posts.
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Cook, MN slates week of art displays in the north woods
The Northwoods Friends of the Arts kicks off their Spring Arts Expo this Friday, May 31 in Cook, Minnesota. You can read more about the activities here, including gallery displays, live music and more. To see the poster with more details, go below the jump. Read more… Related posts: No related posts.
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Iron Range mine tax adds dime-a-ton to school funds
Last week I looked at how the legislative session affected the Iron Range. There was one thing I overlooked. John Myers at the Duluth News Tribune explained the 10 cent per ton taconite production tax increase, which will be dedicated toward school improvements in the Taconite Tax Relief Area (loosely speaking, the Iron Range communities…
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Nolan details congressional dysfunction in Boston Globe
Rick Nolan, from my MN-8 interview series last year. Northern Minnesota congressman Rep. Rick Nolan (D-MN8) was profiled this weekend in the Boston Globe. As we’ve covered here, Nolan is in the unique position as a guy who was in Congress 30 years ago, left, and then came back. He’s shared specific details about the…
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Putting fire to a rare feast
This is my Sunday column for the May 26, 2013 edition of the Hibbing Daily Tribune. A version of this piece aired on the May 25 episode of “Between You and Me” on Northern Community Radio. Putting fire to a rare feastBy Aaron J. Brown When I was a small child I saw my Grandpa…
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Dylan Days reach fever pitch today in Bob’s hometown
Dylan Days continues this morning with the famous Bobby Zimmerman bus tour, an interactive storytelling experience that takes visitors through “Bob’s” Hibbing. The tour departs from downtown Hibbing at 10:30 a.m. and lets out at 2:30 p.m. (refreshments available) at Howard Street Booksellers. Author M.L. Liebler will hold an event there at the end of…
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PolyMet plans open house, tours in Hoyt Lakes May 29
PolyMet Mining will hold an open house to show people how the company plans to mine nonferrous minerals in northern Minnesota. The event will take place at the Hoyt Lakes Arena from noon to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, May 29. PolyMet Mining Open HouseMay 29, 201312-6 p.m. Hoyt Lakes Arena102 Kennedy Memorial DriveHoyt Lakes, MN…