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Cravaack to open Duluth office at last
U.S. Rep. Chip Cravaack (R-MN8) finally announced that he’ll open a field office in Duluth, possibly by early April. This was a wise, if overdue, move. Duluth is the largest city and center of Minnesota’s Eighth Congressional District. Until now he’s operated with a district office in North Branch, near the district’s southern corner and…
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The steel hauled ’round the world, and what it means for the people of the Iron Range
As potential Iron Range economic development projects go, Essar Steel Minnesota is the biggest and most likely to happen. With most permits in place and actual concrete being poured as we speak, the young but rapidly expanding Indian steel giant Essar is on its way to opening up the ore formation near Nashwauk abandoned when…
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Soudan mine shaft fire out, power restored to pumps
Some good news from the state DNR and others fighting the fire deep in the the Soudan Underground Mine. A crew was sent into the mine today and was able to restore power and confirm that there were no more flames amid the water and fire suppressing foam. Pumps that had been shut down are…
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The day Rocky came to breakfast
This is my weekly column for the Sunday, March 20, 2011 edition of the Hibbing Daily Tribune. The day Rocky came to breakfast By Aaron J. Brown Many different woodland creatures live in northern Minnesota but these creatures are knowable, just as the people of a city can be known to the advantage of the…
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DNR fights fire, time in underground blaze at Soudan mine
The DNR reports that fire fighters are making significant progress in its battle against the fire at the Soudan Underground Mine State Park. The advanced physics laboratory at the 27th level, just below the fire at the 23rd-25th levels, is still OK. The fire might still be burning, however, and more work and danger lies…
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In northern Minn., Soudan mine fire menaces underground science lab
The uncontrolled fire deep in the Soudan Underground Mine now threatens the advanced $60 million scientific MINOS laboratory two levels below the fire, reports WDIO. It’s not the fire, but the water collecting at the bottom of the mine that poses a risk. Pumps that normally keep the mine dry are without power. In 1-2…
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Reports of fire at historic Soudan Underground Mine
I’m trying to find details, but the Mesabi Daiy News is reporting a fire between the 23rd and 25th levels of the Soudan Underground Mine burning since yesterday. UPDATE: A press release from the DNR: Fire underway in mine shaft at Soudan Underground Mine State Park Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Minnesota…
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Brown on the Air: RESTAURANTS!
Tune in this Saturday morning to “Between You and Me” on 91.7 KAXE as I contribute a piece to the show’s rotating topic: restaurants. The show, guest hosted by Julie Crabb, will feature music and listener calls talking about favorite restaurants, recommendations and restaurant stories. My essay will explore the experience of dining out, itself…
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Census shows decline in most Range towns, boom in Itasca County
The Census released its 2010 population data for Minnesota Wednesday. Population and demographic trends that were forming in recent years were confirmed. Last year I wrote a piece about how the demographics of the Iron Range region of northern Minnesota were changing. The changes were not just in population. In actuality, northern Minnesota population isn’t…
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Electricity problems, fireball problems … brother, Minnesota has some problems
We drove to Grand Rapids this morning to bring our dog to the vet. The whole town and several surrounding towns had lost power after a Minnesota Power transformer blowout at 9:15 a.m. Grand Rapids is still without power here at 12:30 p.m. and could be for several more hours. We’ve heard from our son’s…
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‘Prospects for the Arrowhead’ to shake blues off this dusty place, or dance trying
I’ll be at this MPR/Northland’s NewsCenter “Future of the Region” event on April 5, participating in some yet unknown way. Come on down, if only to see what the Oscar and Felix act of MPR and KBJR collaboration might look like. “What is this, B-Roll of people jumping in Lake Superior? Get that out of…
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The Ocho holds its own
Moments ago U.S. Census data for Minnesota was released, including specifics related to Congressional and legislative redistricting. Long story short, Minnesota’s 8th Congressional District did not change population much. Analysis indicates it only needs 2,649 more people to be balanced properly with state population. That’s just one small town annexed from the 6th CD, for…
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China and the Range: one degree of separation
Asian demand for steel has had a large and positive influence on northern Minnesota’s Iron Range economy for several years, mostly because of how it affects prices and demand for steel products. Chinese demand, in particular, fueled the historic Range taconite production of 2007 and early 2008. Chinese stagnation spurred the widespread shutdowns in late…
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Iron Range job fair to be held Tuesday, March 22 in Virginia
I had an opportunity to check in with Craig Walter from the state Department of Employment and Economic Development this week. He was reminding me of the 13th Annual Iron Range Job Fair from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, March 22 at the Thunderbird Mall in Virginia, Minn. With the Range economy sputtering…
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90 minutes on the bus one way, and back
Susan Maricle has an interesting personal post from her Poultry and Prose blog featured on MinnPost’s “Blog Cabin” today. She writes of her son’s 90-minute one-way bus ride to school from her family’s central Minnesota farm. The post struck a chord with me because our oldest son has a similar length bus ride to kindergarten…