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AUDIO SPECIAL: Feel lucky? Try my superstition sketch
A while back I stopped posting promos for my appearances on “Between You and Me.” It was hard to make the sentiment “Listen to me! Take interest in my work!” compelling in the blog format, which already implies so much of that. But that doesn’t mean I’ve stopped writing and producing for this unique public…
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MPR piece digs deeper into story of Range women in mining
MPR reporters Stephanie Hemphill and Catherine Winter have produced a documentary telling the story of the first women who worked at the taconite plants of the Mesabi Iron Range. Though many have an impression of this story, aided in part by the Nikki Caro-directed film “North Country” starring Charlize Theron, the actual story has a…
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Great Northern stars expand profile in local music scene
A while back I had mentioned that a couple of young stars from our Great Northern Radio Show were competing in a big talent show at the Reif Center in Grand Rapids. Well, I’m happy to report that our two talents Sonny Johnson and Iris Kolodji did, in fact, win first and second prizes, respectively,…
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Steelworkers, U.S. Steel reach tentative 3-year deal
U.S. Steel has a tentative agreement with leaders of the United Steelworkers. Local unions at U.S. Steel’s MinnTac and Keewatin Taconite plants will have to ratify the three-year deal. Cliffs and ArcelorMittal have yet to settle with the Steelworkers, but the U.S. Steel deal suggests the others will follow with similar deals this week. Details…
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COLUMN: And there goes the big yellow bus
This is my Sunday column for the Sept. 2, 2012 edition of the Hibbing Daily Tribune. A version of this piece aired on KAXE’s “Between You and Me” a week ago. And there goes the big yellow busBy Aaron J. Brown In a couple days all three of our boys will get on the school…
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Mine labor talks stop; Range labor gathering is Sunday
It appears that the United Steelworkers union and the major owners of mines in northern Minnesota and Michigan are taking a break from negotiations. The Duluth News Tribune is among those reporting the news. This means that tonight’s deadline will pass without a contract deal. The unions at the Cliffs mines had already authorized strikes,…
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No deal between Steelworkers, Arcelor-Mittal
The United Steelworkers may have agreed to a temporary extention with Cliffs, but no such deal is in place with Arcelor-Mittal, according to WDIO. Furthermore, the deadline is, in fact, tonight at midnight. My understanding was midnight last night, but such is the confusion that surrounds the hour “0.” Related posts: No related posts.
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Cliffs, Steelworkers hold off contract deadline
The United Steelworkers have reached a temporary agreement with Cliffs Natural Resources to continue operations at three Iron Range taconite plants past tonight’s midnight contract deadline. This would prevent any work stoppages at the Cliffs-run properties Hibbing Taconite and United Taconite in Eveleth. Cliffs’ Northshore Mining is non-union. Negotiations between Cliffs, U.S. Steel, Arcelor-Mittal and…
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Nolan leads Cravaack in MN-8 poll
The National Journal reports an independent poll conducted by a Democratic-aligned PAC shows DFL nominee Rick Nolan leading Rep. Chip Cravaack (R-MN8) by three points. The poll memo shows that Cravaack is far better known than Nolan, but that Nolan leads regardless. Though Nolan’s 47-44 lead is well within the poll’s margin of error, it’s…
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Social issues make for tricky politics in MN-8
I hadn’t mentioned this earlier, but I talked to Catherine Rychart at MPR this week about social issues in Minnesota’s Eighth Congressional District race. In short, different congressional campaigns around the state are seeing very different reactions to the infusion of social issues — particularly Missouri GOP Senate nominee Todd Akin’s comments about rape and…
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Steelworker talks go to the wire; tune in Friday morning
We’re still waiting on word from Pittsburgh about the outcome of negotiations between the United Steelworkers and the three companies that operate taconite mines in northern Minnesota and Michigan. A deal may be reached today but would have to be ratified by membership, sight unseen, sometime before the Friday midnight deadline to avoid work stoppages…
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Swedish chef most likely Norwegian
Where I live, the Iron Range region of northern Minnesota, ethnic heritage is still kind of a big deal. The effect is fading with the generations, but you still get asked where your people came from and you best know the answer. My people came from, in order of blood percentage, Finland, Norway, Sweden, England…
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Steelworkers contract deadline nears, temp workers could be called in
Steelworkers at most Iron Range taconite plants await word from Pittsburgh where their union leaders are negotiating with Cliffs Natural Resources, U.S. Steel and Arcelor-Mittal, over a new contract. The current labor contract expires at midnight Friday. At least one major taconite producer, Cliffs, is preparing to bring in temporary workers if negotiations fail to…
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The season turns
Leaves are coming down. It always seems so soon but there’s nothing special about this. Always with the first days of school come the leaves, the chill, the smell of plant cells dying days before we see any evidence. The grasshoppers take the place of the mosquitos and deer flies. We welcome them because, like…
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COLUMN: The blurring line between (218) and (612)
This is my Sunday column for the Aug. 26, 2012 edition of the Hibbing Daily Tribune. The blurring line between (218) and (612)By Aaron J. Brown Growing up, we had a phone book back when that really meant something. That’s where the numbers were. You had to know your friend’s dad’s name. If a girl’s…