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Remembering the Mesabi Strike of 1907
One-hundred and five years ago this month the first major labor strike on the Mesabi Iron Range was busted by company strikebreakers. Finnish labor leaders were blacklisted from working in the mines. As a great-grandson of Finns (and Norwegians, Swedes and Cornish mining stock), I sit out here typing on a computer in the woods…
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I know raccoons have stripes, but this is ridiculous
A crew painting lines in Gnesen Township near Duluth painted over a dead raccoon. The DNT has the story and, of course, the photograph, which I will refrain from stealing. This is good because it lets everyone from the Mississippi River to the Apostle Islands talk about something other than the strife in the Middle…
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Something heard in a van down by the river: Joel Maturi is Matt Foley?
Iron Range native Joel Maturi’s stint as athletic director at the University of Minnesota got mixed reviews, but it was no small feat for a Chisholm kid from an area so devoted to athletics to rise to the pinnacle of the state’s most storied athletic program. Though Maturi has stepped down as athletic director, this…
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A movie house divided cannot stand
The movie event of the year, according to me: Steven Spielberg directs. The script is based on Doris Kearns Goodwin’s fantastic book “Team of Rivals.” The best method actor of our times, Daniel Day Lewis, plays Lincoln. I spotted at least three guys in the trailer who could have played Lincoln, too. Related posts: No…
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So much progress; so much repetition
I edited the Hibbing Daily Tribune during its last years as an afternoon newspaper in the early 2000s. We had been experimenting with ways to keep that format alive by running earlier deadlines so we could “be on the stands by lunch.” You know, so all the workers out on their breaks would pour quarters…
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Essar says construction will continue, taconite plant to open on time
An Essar Steel official has contacted me to clarify that work at the company’s new taconite plant near Nashwauk has not stopped. About 100 contractors remain on site in some capacity (I hear electricians and excavators), along with about 100 employees working on other aspects of the project. So Essar is not “shutting down” its…
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A big day for our boys
One of my biggest goals (and struggles) is balancing my desires to work, write and keep projects like this blog going with my need to be a good husband and dad. So excuse me if I take a moment to remark that after a week of limited kindergarten all three of my guys got on…
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Legislative debate season arrives on the Range
I’ll try to pass along news of northern Minnesota legislative forums as I see them. Unlike federal election debates, where candidates are usually fairly polished, legislative debates are often loads of madcap fun. Unfortunately almost no one sees them. They’re like indy bands. Anyway, you should catch some of these and huzzah to anyone who…
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COLUMN: Conventional wisdom
This is my Sunday column for the Sept. 9, 2012 edition of the Hibbing Daily Tribune. Conventional wisdomBy Aaron J. Brown The two major parties just wrapped up their national conventions: the Republicans in Tampa, Florida; the Democrats in Charlotte, North Carolina. Now President Obama and Gov. Romney begin the sprint to Nov. 6, which…
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Simonson wins DFL nod for Duluth House 7B seat
Duluth assistant fire chief Erik Simonson, who had a bad news week, nevertheless emerged with the DFL endorsement at today’s convention in west Duluth. He narrowly achieved the 60 percent necessary to defeat Julene Boe in one ballot at the lightly-attended contest. Simonson has already been organizing his write-in campaign to replace outgoing Rep. Kerry…
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Essar unexpectedly slows down new plant construction
Essar Steel is slowing construction of its new taconite plant north of Nashwauk on Minnesota’s Iron Range. The India-based global industrial giant announced a two-week shut down related to global steel and taconite prices, according to company spokespeople in local media. Rumors of odd supply chain delays at the site were rampant around the area…
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Steelworkers, ArcelorMittal reach deal
ArcelorMittal and the United Steelworkers have reached a tentative contract agreement that applies to the workers at the Minorca Mine on the Mesabi Iron Range. Subject to member ratification, the deal appears to preserve most of what the union wanted. Last week U.S. Steel settled with the Steelworkers and what I’ve heard so far is…
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Family drama, DFL convention charge House 7B frenzy
It’s time to check in with the Minnesota House 7B race in West Duluth. For a time it seemed that the rest stop sex scandal that claimed the candidacy of the incumbent had abated. It was to be just another typical election. You know, an historically unprecedented multiple write-in candidate affair involving a Republican and…
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Range solar plant woes another black eye for local strategy
Struggles at a Mt. Iron solar panel manufacturer have the attention of the Minneapolis Star Tribune. I’ve heard that other media organizations are also sniffing around after Silicon Energy has missed two payments on its IRRRB loan. While solar energy is a good thing and jobs are a good thing, increasingly this deal is looking…
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Steelworkers, ArcelorMittal struggle for a labor deal
We know that U.S. Steel and the Steelworkers have a labor deal. Cliffs Natural Resources and the Steelworkers have a temporary deal while they resolve final disagreements. These two companies control the largest mines on the Iron Range of northern Minnesota. But a deal between ArcelorMittal and the Steelworkers appears to be farther behind the…