-
Nolan appears on "Face the Nation"
U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan (D-MN8) made his first national TV appearance after being sworn in this week. He joins other lawmakers in a discussion of major issues before the Congress on this morning’s edition of “Face the Nation.” I thought he came across well in this appearance, though I’ll leave it for you to decide…
-
COLUMN: The Oracle is keen on 2013
This is my Sunday column for the Jan. 6, 2013 edition of the Hibbing Daily Tribune. The predictions column is part of an old New Year’s tradition of mine, which also includes my annual “top words” column and “top posts” item. The Oracle is keen on 2013By Aaron J. Brown My hands burn on the…
-
A great loss in Minnesota journalism
Larry Oakes, a reporter and editor for the Star Tribune, has died after a long battle with depression. Oakes was probably the best working journalist in northern Minnesota. I offer my deepest condolences to his family. He will be greatly missed. His reporting was fearless and important. As someone who’s experienced depression throughout my family,…
-
Minnesota DNR to investigate moose population losses
WDIO reports that the Minnesota DNR is researching why moose population numbers have dropped so much in the past year. It occurs to me that I forgot to include this graphic in my annual list of top traffic and favorite posts from 2012. I spent a whole morning on it some time ago. Anyway, I…
-
After Newtown: fast response in Grand Rapids, MN
This morning, we were working here at the house and my wife and I both got notification calls from the Grand Rapids (Minn.) School District. Law enforcement had contacted the superintendent about a potential danger at one of the schools in the district (not our kids’ school). Here is the notification we got from Superintendent…
-
Downton Abbey in Downtown Duluth
Hey, Aaron, do you watch Downton Abbey? No, I’m afraid I don’t. You should. It’s really good. It’s about old stuff and history and elegance and England and such. You like that stuff. I do like that stuff. It’s about power dynamics and such. You like that. Yes, I do. It’s on Channel 8. You…
-
Twin Cities public TV sends in the Turtles to debut new show
The Lowertown Line, a new show by TPT’s Minnesota Original public television project, made its debut this week. (I saw this on MinnPost). It is, by appearances, Minnesota’s answer to PBS’s Austin City Limits, where I and many have long mined new original music for my iPod. TPT certainly seems to have ambitions to find…
-
Our century, the teenager
My Twitter thought on the new year and the state of our politics: Our century is a teenager now. These will be the hard years. #2013 #fb— Aaron Brown (@minnesotabrown) January 1, 2013 Nevertheless, teenagers often grow up. People will figure this out, in time. You can catch more gems like this, occasionally and with…
-
BREAKING: Squash named Duluth vegetable of the year
Squash celebrate historic win in Duluth vegetable election, also revealing the segregation that pervades squash community. BREAKING: Duluth citizens elect squash “Vegetable of 2012.” Kale has been defeated. Repeat, KALE DOWN. SELL SELL! DEVELOPING… CORRECTION: We’ve been informed that kale was subject to Duluth vegetable of the year term limits. Kale was vegetable of the…
-
Really old pipe breaks, snarls downtown Duluth
A tall ship prepares to embark on Superior Street. A Duluth, Minnesota, water main originally built in 1887 broke on New Year’s Day, flooding a section of Superior Street in Duluth’s vibrant downtown. This is causing some trouble for many returning to work today after the holiday. The Duluth News Tribune, among others, has the…
-
Dylan Days readies for 2013, calls for writers
Robert Zimmerman fronts the Golden Chords at the Hibbing Memorial Building Little Theater in 1958. (Copyright: Monte Edwardson, the guitarist pictured at left. LeRoy Hoikkala is the drummer.) I continue to work with Dylan Days, the Hibbing-based arts organization honoring Bob Dylan every year in his Iron Range hometown. The big shindig will be May…
-
Nolan names former opponent Anderson, others to staff
Today, Rep.-elect Rick Nolan (D-MN8) announced several of his key staff appointments. Most notable among them: Jeff Anderson, one-time opponenet in the DFL primary and former Duluth City Council President, will be Nolan’s District Director. Anderson will oversee district offices in Duluth and Brainerd, along with yet-to-be-determined offices on the Iron Range and another city…
-
Top MinnesotaBrown posts for 2012
Happy New Year from MinnesotaBrown.com! As we conclude 2012 and approach the bounty of 2013, enjoy my annual roundup of the year’s top posts. This is a comprehensive list of the most popular and my personal favorite writing from the year. Which post made #1? Which northern Minnesota politician owns the northern Minnesota internet? Is…
-
This post is a living #humblebrag (I mean, shucks)
In my wildest dreams I could not imagine a story about me as kind as this one, or that such a thing would appear in a publication entitled “Wilderness News.” Aaron Brown could easily be dubbed the Garrison Keillor of the north. He possesses a keen eye for the attributes that make Minnesotans Minnesotan—specifically, Iron…
-
COLUMN: Apocalypse Then: Meet the top words of 2012
This is my Sunday column for the Dec. 30, 2012 edition of the Hibbing Daily Tribune. The complete list of top words from the Global Language Monitor may be found here. Apocalypse Then: Meet the top words of 2012By Aaron J. Brown Some say 2012 has been a rough year, but consider this. I used…