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The question facing the Iron Range
I had another conversation about the Iron Range yesterday. I have these talks from time to time. Along with a few working historians, a few journalists and no shortage of political leaders, I’m one of the people who get the call when someone wants the story — the real deal — about the Iron Range…
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Bring on the top news lists, including bears
The Duluth News Tribune released its annual list of the top 10 northern Minnesota news stories for 2010. I don’t argue with the top story, the Republican gains and defeat of Jim Oberstar in Minnesota’s Eighth District. That was easy, though. The editorial decisions made after that are dubious, in my opinion. I wasn’t going…
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COLUMN: Top words of 2010: Spillcam is not what you think
This is my annual “top words of the year” column for the Dec. 26, 2010 edition of the Hibbing Daily Tribune. Thanks for reading and supporting my work in 2010! On to a new year of stories and possibilities. Top words of 2010: Spillcam is not what you thinkBy Aaron J. Brown When I opened…
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It IS a Wonderful Life
Merry Christmas from MinnesotaBrown.com! I’ll be on a special prerecorded Christmas morning edition of “Between You and Me” on 91.7 KAXE. The show will cover many different aspects of Christmas, along with some appropriate tunes. My essay will explore the movie “It’s a Wonderful Life.” It’s dubbed a holiday classic though I’ll be talking about…
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Must be Santa
A year old now but still worth a play. Iron Ranger uses accordion to reinterpret classic Christmas song. Also, bar fight. Related posts: No related posts.
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Inside the Christmas tree
In honor of Christmas I’m sharing some bonus content this week. Here’s an essay I wrote for KAXE a couple weeks ago. The topic for the show that week was “Christmas Trees.” Inside the Christmas tree By Aaron J. Brown HOST INTRO: It’s Between You and Me on KAXE. Today, with the holiday season upon…
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Porky Pig sings Blue Christmas
Sometimes the remake is better than the original. Porky Pig sings Blue Christmas. Merry (blue) Christmas! Related posts: No related posts.
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Duluth Metals and Magnetation make the news
Here’s a couple developments in Iron Range mining projects. Unless something blows up this is my last newsy post for a while. Holiday features and good times on the way. Duluth Metals has acquired Franconia Minerals, consolidating two proposed nonferrous underground copper mining initiatives. This will simplify permitting and capitalization. We spent plenty of time…
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The Ocho lives!
Minnesota has retained its 8 Congressional seats after the release of today’s U.S. Census numbers. It was literally the last state “on the bubble” for losing a seat, just narrowly edging out Missouri. Minnesota gained population but not at the national average rate. Texas is the big winner, gaining four (!) seats, mostly in Hispanic…
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Good thing we can explain this
There’s a total lunar eclipse tonight to go along with the gorgeous but haunting yellow moon I saw over the treeline on the northwestern horizon this early morning. I was out on the country road by our house in northern Minnesota waiting for the bus with my kindergartner who was seeing his first yellow moon.…
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Cravaack handy with snowblower, planes, etc.
John Lundy of the Duluth News Tribune had Sunday’s front page profile of incoming U.S. Rep-elect Chip Cravaack (R-MN8). Cravaack is an impressive political candidate who caught fire at the right time and managed to avoid almost all negatives during a first-time run against an 18-term incumbent. He’s known as a good neighbor down in…
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COLUMN: To boldly go where we’ve been before
This is my weekly column for the Sunday, Dec. 19, 2010 edition of the Hibbing Daily Tribune. A version of this was broadcast as my weekly contribution to yesterday’s “Between You and Me” on 91.7 KAXE. To boldly go where we’ve been beforeBy Aaron J. Brown In science fiction, such as Star Trek and Star…
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Brown on the Air: HOLIDAY TRAVEL!
“Between You and Me” on 91.7 KAXE this Saturday morning features calls, music and commentary about travel for the holidays. Many of us will be on the roads, rails or in the air this upcoming week. Host Heidi Holtan will be listening to your stories and sharing some great music on the last Saturday before…
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Cravaack named to transportation commitee
Incoming Rep.-elect Chip Cravaack (R-MN8) has been assigned to the House Transportation and Infrastructure committee, the same one chaired by his 2010 opponent, longtime Rep. Jim Oberstar (D-MN8). House members generally serve on one committee, so this is a pretty sweet assignment for a freshman. Oberstar served there for his 36 years in Congress, succeeding…
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Iron Range agency OKs loan for PolyMet
The Iron Range Resources board approved the $4 million land swap loan to the PolyMet mining company Thursday afternoon. This was expected as the nonferrous mining project proposed by PolyMet for the eastern Iron Range is politically popular as a job creation plan. It’s a complicated deal, though, one that puts the Iron Range public…