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Economic reality won’t be politicked away
One of the marks the current national mood is a general sense of uncertainty and financial strain. It’s not a Depression. We’re technically recovering from the “Great Recession” that began in 2008 and hit hard at the turn of 2009. It doesn’t feel like a recovery, though, and this is probably why: The net worth…
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Magnetation now cites land issues in dropping MN plant site
A new twist has been added to the revelation that Magnetation would build their taconite pellet plant in Wisconsin or Indiana instead of in northern Minnesota where the iron concentrate is produced. Dan Kraker of Minnesota Public Radio reports that company officials say land issues related to their properties in Itasca County prevent them from…
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On public radio and automotive repair
As I’ve already explained, I’m the son of several generations of Iron Range mechanics, truck drivers, railroaders and miners. I’m the first male in my direct family line since American naturalization doing work that doesn’t require the occasional turning of a wrench. I think you have to go back to a long line of 18th…
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Soudan underground mine reopens after last year’s fire
A year after the frightening underground fire that threatened both an important historical state park and a multi-million dollar physics research laboratory, the Soudan Underground Mine has reopened for tours. Related posts: No related posts.
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Plan a Great Northern Twin Turtles weekend for your hip dad (or your hip self)
If you’re like me, your weekend was consumed by a massive garage sale, purging the tangible evidence that the small boys in your house were ever babies. OK, that’s a mite specific. But my point is maybe you’d like next weekend to be even more hip and happening than this one. We know it might…
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COLUMN: Northern Minnesota’s awkward dance with summer
This is my Sunday column for the June 10, 2012 edition of the Hibbing Daily Tribune. This is based on a shorter piece that aired on “Between You and Me” last week on Northern Community Radio. Northern Minnesota’s awkward dance with summerBy Aaron J. Brown The other day the dog went outside and barked her…
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Cherry Tigers are state softball champs!
Congratulations to the girls from my alma mater, Cherry High School, for their state championship victory today. Cherry is a tiny school. I graduated from a class of 38 and it’s much smaller now. Their only other team championship prior to this was the 1997 baseball title won when I went to school there (and…
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Magnetation to build plant in WI or IN, expand MN ore operations
Magnetation announced Thursday it will not build its pellet plant in northern Minnesota as locals had hoped. Instead the scram mining operation that’s expanded quickly on the western Mesabi Iron Range is considering the sites of Superior, Wisconsin or Butler, Indiana. Permitting issues are the top reason, according to the company. Magnetation President Matt Lehtinen…
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Iron Range Maidens host international roller derby bout
So you know about Friday’s jazz concert and next week’s Great Northern Radio Show, but if you need even more Iron Range-based entertainment consider this Saturday night’s Iron Range Maidens roller derby bout. The Iron Range Maidens will face the Babes of Thunder of Thunder Bay, Ontario, in the team’s first international smackdown. The bout…
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Great Northern Radio Show in Brainerd on June 16
What’s new, AB? How you been? Well, the Great Northern Radio Show returns Saturday, June 16 at the John Chalberg Theatre at Central Lakes College in Brainerd, Minnesota. So things are looking up. Great Northern Radio Show heads to Brainerd Variety program to broadcast live from Central Lakes College June 16 BRAINERD, Minnesota (June 5,…
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Battlegrounds emerge in NE Minn. legislative races
Filings have closed for Minnesota’s legislative and congressional races. Here’s a roundup of some of the races in northeastern Minnesota that I’ll be following. District 3: This is the big new district that covers the outskirts of Duluth, the North Shore a vast chunk of northern St. Louis County and Koochiching County (International Falls). State Sen.…
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Connie Evingson back on the Range for benefit concert
Culture, music and history converge this weekend for a special benefit concert in Virginia, Minnesota. Connie Evingson is a great talent who is back to the Range often and Sam Miltich always does a good show, whether in a concert hall or the V-Dub in downtown Grand Rapids. Shows like this remind us of the…
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Researchers closer to report on rare lung disease among Range workers
It’s been a long time since I’ve read much about the study of mesothelioma occurrences among Iron Range workers. The Pioneer Press ran a story over the weekend. The premise behind the state funding for this U of M study was that an unusual amount of mesothelioma was being found among current and former taconite…
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Ness profile highlights Duluth’s success
Duluth Mayor Don Ness was the subject of an extremely positive profile in the Minneapolis Star and Tribune on Sunday. Duluth’s success in diversifying its economy continues to be a good model for the region. In fact, the Iron Range’s historical and geographical relationship with Duluth means that the fate of these two places are…
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Oberstar endorses Nolan; MN-8 primary contest sharpens
At this hour former U.S. Rep. Jim Oberstar is endorsing Rick Nolan in the DFL primary for Minnesota’s Eighth Congressional District. Nolan was endorsed by the DFL last month and faces two primary challengers in former St. Cloud state Sen. Tarryl Clark and former Duluth city council president Jeff Anderson. The Oberstar/Nolan press conference is…