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Range street dance melee is totally typical, right?
Iron Range street dances get a little rough sometimes, but seldom this rough. Last weekend’s Hibbing Jubilee Street Dance boiled over into a melee that may have had racial overtones. This is from Mark Stodghill’s story in the Duluth News Tribune: “It’s supposed to be a fun family event and it’s been a great event…
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The pasty gets its due
Kate Angus, a Michigander writing for the popular borderline alcoholic snark blog The Awl, has done a fine job telling the story and the makings of the pasty to her jaded audience (myself among them). Her perspective on the pasty comes from a fine source, her upbringing in Michigan where the Upper Pennisula pasty is…
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Nolan issues mining plan for MN-8; Anderson responds
This morning Rick Nolan and Jeff Anderson held dueling press conferences on mining issues at the Natural Resources Research Institute in Duluth as their race for the MN-8 DFL nomination rolls to an Aug. 14 primary election. Tarryl Clark is also running on the DFL side. The winner will face incumbent freshman Rep. Chip Cravaack…
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Trampled by Turtles to appear on Ferguson tonight
Minnesota based and Duluth born progressive bluegrass band Trampled by Turtles will appear on the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson tonight. The show airs at 11:35 p.m. CST on CBS. In northern Minnesota that’s Channel 3 over the air. The band continues its breakout year, which has meantime elevated the status of northern…
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What the money means in MN-8 DFL primary
I wish money weren’t such an overwhelming influence on American politics. I intend to change that. And, to ensure that I do, please send me a check for $2,300. Oh, yes. I’ll take your calls when I win. We’re friends now! Democrat or Republican, union political chief or conservative business owner, this conversation plays out…
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A Wednesday morning mining showdown in MN-8
Earlier today Rick Nolan, the DFL endorsed candidate for Congress in MN-8, announced he would be holding a press conference at the Natural Resources Research Institute in Duluth regarding a new mining policy proposal he’s been working out. The presser was scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Now tonight, Jeff Anderson, one of Nolan’s two opponents in…
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10,000 jobs to break even
A story by Beth Bily in the July 12, 2012 print edition of the Scenic Range News Forum contained the following nuggets of data regarding mining jobs on Minnesota’s Iron Range. Total Minnesota Mining Wages2011: $356.9 million (up 25 percent gross, down 7 percent adjusted for costs)2000: $286.8 million; (adjusted for costs): $383.3 million Total…
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Nolan debuts ads, joining Clark, Anderson on MN-8 airwaves
Yesterday the DFL launched biographical ads for Rick Nolan in the MN-8 DFL primary, finally putting the endorsed candidate on the air. A DFL insider I spoke to expressed some confidence Nolan will win the primary, but I continue to believe that no one really knows until Aug. 14. Nevertheless, this is a clean, sharp…
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COLUMN: To age firmly like the mighty oak
This is my Sunday column for the July 15, 2012 edition of the Hibbing Daily Tribune. To age firmly like the mighty oakBy Aaron J. Brown The other day I went into a coffee shop to do some work on my computer and I noticed that the row of seats by the power outlets were…
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Remembering Gwen Swanson
On Thursday I learned that my friend Gwen Swanson, a reporter during my tenure at the Hibbing Tribune, passed away after a brief battle with cancer. Just three weeks from diagnosis. Just 34 years old. She was one of those kind, gentle souls who put others first as a sort of reflexive instinct. Gwen’s last…
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One month out, MN-8 DFL contest remains a mystery
“It’s quiet.” “Yeah, too quiet.” We all know that movie cliche. This dialogue always comes before some sort of inevitable action sequence that we saw in the film’s trailer. And in Minnesota’s 8th Congressional District it is most certainly quiet, too quiet, as the Aug. 14 DFL primary to challenge incumbent Rep. Chip Cravaack (R-MN8)…
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Major opera production kicks off Range tour tonight
A casual drive through northern Minnesota’s Iron Range might give you the false impression that the Range is nothing but ATV shops and random industrial sprawl. Well, it is those things, but also more. People often overlook the artistic depth of the area, something illustrated by the number of opera houses and performance halls –…
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Famous people don’t say the most important things
It’s been quiet in my rustic environs. Too quiet. While I figure out why that is please read this fine post from my friend and Great Northern collaborator Matt Nelson. A journalist, he was asked by some kids if he got to interview any famous people. He writes this as a belated response. Famous people…
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From northern MN flood devestation: music & community
Yesterday Trampled by Turtles played a benefit show at Twin Ports Bridge Fest for victims of flood relief. The flooding in Duluth received a lot of attention, but it truly is a regional problem, illustrated by this June photo of flooding on Highway 210 in Jay Cooke State Park. More DNR flood photos are here.…
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Mt. Iron approves resolution opposing marriage amendment
I never got to follow up on this because of last week’s power outage, but if you missed it the Mountain Iron City Council last Monday approved a resolution opposing the marriage amendment on this November’s ballot. I had written about how the Iron Range region is a major battleground in this debate. Mountain Iron…