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Activity commences in new northern districts
After the new maps came out several days ago I detailed the redistricting implications in northeastern Minnesota. Today I’m going to take a new look at those districts and the political situations unfolding there. I have never precisely defined the borders of this blog’s coverage area, but I have to draw the line somewhere for…
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The Lud Andolsek story, more than just hockey
Jayson Hron’s Historically Inclined has another fine post today about the early career of Chisholm’s Lud Andolsek, who emerged from Slovenian immigrant roots to build the sport of hockey in Minnesota, specifically the program at St. Cloud during the Great Depression years. Ostensibly this is a post about hockey and a guy who was good…
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Apparently Riverdance is still happening
Duluth schools, UMD, air travel and more are closed due to today’s blizzard. Many highways are impassible. Nevertheless, Riverdance, the celtic dance sensation, is a go. They are in Duluth. They have nothing else to do and must leave tomorrow. Chuggita Chuggita Chiggita Chuggita Chuggita Chiggita, Chunk Chuck Chick, ZING, WHUMP, (pause), Seamus, Seamus are…
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Winter’s Empire Strikes Back
We’ve made much of the lack of snow this winter. It’s still poised to be a well-below-average snow year here in northern Minnesota, and certainly a record warm season. Nevertheless, inexplicably (well, it being winter) it began snowing again last week. We got about 10 inches at our house over the weekend in Itasca County…
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Radinovich to run in open Cuyuna Range House seat
In my detailed discussion of northeastern Minnesota legislative redistricting last week I did not talk about the new Senate District 10 and House 10A and 10B races. This is the Brainerd Lakes/Cuyuna Range district. House 10B is now an open seat including all of Aitkin County and most of Crow Wing County. Today, the first…
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Keillor, Prairie Home dodge the snow for big show
You can hear the Duluth episode of Garrison Keillor’s “A Prairie Home Companion” here. I wrote last week about the program’s expedition to the head of the lakes over the weekend. The DNT and Star Tribune reviewed “Prairie Home’s” stop at the DECC. Naturally, everyone’s talking about the “10 Things to Know Before you Move…
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MPR details disturbing patterns of pursuit in remote MN county
The perils of cultural isolation and human nature appear in so many surprising ways. There’s “The Lottery,” of course, and backwoods places where all manner of family arrangements might not pass their way into a lighthearted sitcom. And then there is this shocking story from Minnesota Public Radio today. It details the prevalence of older…
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Hot Bog: Study tests warming in northern Minn. swamp
Fans of this blog know that few things excite me like peat bogs. Well, maybe a few more things, but peat bogs among them. Some people like peat bogs because they are such complex ecosystems. Some people like peat bogs because they welcome a most fascinating collection of migratory birds. I like peat bogs because…
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Dylan Days writing contest deadline is March 1
Dylan Days is an annual arts event in Hibbing celebrating famed alumnus Bob Dylan and the arts community of the region. I have had the privilege of serving in various leadership roles for the event since 2001 and founded and edited the Dylan Days lit magazine “Talkin’ Blues.” That publication features the winners and finalists…
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COLUMN: From the Grange to the Range, Minnesota’s protest history shapes today
This is my Sunday column for the Feb. 26, 2012 edition of the Hibbing Daily Tribune. From the Grange to the Range, Minnesota’s protest history shapes todayBy Aaron J. Brown I’ll never forget the night of the 1998 election. I was working as a reporter for KDTH-AM in Dubuque, Iowa. My boss Cindy Kohlmann and…
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Duluth welcomes Prairie Home Companion this Saturday
Garrison Keillor’s “A Prairie Home Companion” broadcasts live from the symphony hall at the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center this Saturday evening. The show is iconic to public radio, and this broadcast features some great local talent including Duluth’s Trampled by Turtles and the Grand Rapids High School Jazz Ensemble. (My kids could be in…
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Royal Swedes plan Duluth stop
The king and queen of Sweden are planning a visit to Duluth in October. The news comes just one year after the visit of the king and queen of Norway. That leaves only Denmark on the list for our Scandinavian monarchy punch card. The king and queen of Finland will not be visiting because they…
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Minnesota moose population in danger
The Minnesota moose population is in free fall, according to recent reports. Scientists are preparing us for the possibility that Minnesota might one day soon lose its moose population entirely. The cause is not over-hunting. Rather, moose mortality and pregnancy rates are being affected. Biologists in this Duluth News Tribune article say that a generally…
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Brown on the Air: OSCARS!
This week on 91.7 KAXE’s “Between You and Me” the topic veers into the pop culture apex that is Sunday’s Academy Award ceremony in Hollywood. My essay is just good clean wackiness merged with cultural observation. I have charted my seven-year plan to win an Oscar. Step One: acquire film skills. You can hear the…
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‘Range of Arts’ event set to begin Feb. 25 at Lyric Center
The Lyric Center for the Arts in Virginia, Minnesota, kicks off its annual “Range of the Arts” event this Saturday, Feb. 25. The event, which runs through the following week, includes art exhibits, a crafts expo, a seminar for creative women and more. Check out the Lyric Center’s blog for more. Related posts: No related…