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Range town’s PUC claims right to close meetings ("Guffaw!" replies newspaper)
The Nashwauk Public Utilities Commission has a legal judgment that they believe allows them to close meetings regarding the infrastructure for the proposed Minnesota Steel project in Nashwauk. The Hibbing Daily Tribune has the story. Really, really bad idea. This is a public policy issue, not a missile silo. (Or IS it?) Related posts: No…
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On proper boat maintenance and our fathers’ mysteries
This is my weekly column for the Sunday, Aug. 17, 2008 Hibbing Daily Tribune. On proper boat maintenance and our fathers’ mysteriesBy Aaron J. Brown Today, I have a boat. Not a boat, but the boat. I would need to consult my notes, the dusty old owner’s manual and the title to tell you all…
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Bobby Aro highway named
The renaming of Highway 7 as the Bobby Aro Highway has been officially named in honor of the Iron Range polka legend who recorded a 1957 hit about the highway. Check out the story. I grew up on Highway 7. Related posts: No related posts.
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KSTP resorts to wrestling-style gimmicks
State Rep. Tom Rukavina (DFL-Virgina), the sentimental icon of the Iron Range legislative delegation, has turned down an invitation to debate former State Rep. and Taxpayers’ League conservative Phil Krinkie on KSTP, the station that aired last month’s ridiculously unfair story about Ironworld. Rukavina said his beef is with KSTP, not Krinkie. This story tells…
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The future is past
The future show went reasonably well this morning. Thanks to all those who listened and participated. I’ll be returning to my role as contributing essayist next week. Related posts: No related posts.
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Excelsior vows to fight on
Now that a couple days have gone by I’m starting to calm down about Thursday’s news about the PUC’s denial of Excelsior Energy’s mandated power purchase agreement with Xcel. The company’s outrageously optimistic reaction to this news, a serious setback for EE’s Mesaba Energy Project, is driving me nuts, but it’s really all they can…
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Women for Obama event slated in Duluth
The Obama campaign is reaching out to women in several events across Minnesota this week. Up north, there will be a Women for Obama Kick-off gathering in Duluth on Wednesday, Aug. 20 at The Midi Restaurant in the Fitger’s Building at 600 East Superior Street. Doors open at 7 p.m. with a 7:30 start time.…
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Coleman tours the Iron Range
A Republican contact has informed me that Sen. Norm Coleman will be in Hibbing on Tuesday for an 8 a.m. town hall meeting at the Hometown Restaurant (formerly Country Kitchen, because all things on the Iron Range used to be something else). The last time (also the first time) I interviewed Norm Coleman was during…
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U.S. reporters couldn’t do this
This Georgian reporter is giving a standup during the ongoing war with Russia, gets shot and keeps reporting. And not in a weepy, Emmy-clip kind of way, but ALL BUSINESS. Hardcore. Related posts: No related posts.
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Range journalism club to meet
Passing this along: Hey, Iron Rangers! Are you a writer (active or in your heart)?Get together with like-minded people forming a Community Journalism Club. Monday, August 25, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.Room C156Mesabi Range Community & Technical College1001 W. Chestnut StreetVirginia, MN 55792 The Community Journalism Club is designed for anyone interested in using the Internet…
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Hibbing paper interviews Excelsior CEO after PUC drubbing
Mike Jennings at the Hibbing Daily Tribune pens a story today with details about yesterday’s PUC ruling against Excelsior Energy and reaction from the company’s co-founder Tom Micheletti. The PUC ruled against Excelsior Energy, ending efforts to force Xcel to buy the expensive experimental coal gasification power proposed by Micheletti and his partners. In short,…
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Brown on the air LIVE for TWO HOURS: The Future
Remember to tune in Saturday morning for my first-ever guest hosting appearance on KAXE’s “Between You and Me,” the call-in and music show that’s tearing up the northern airwaves. We’ll be talking about the future. The program is ready to go, I just need to keep from screwing up the boards or saying stupid things…
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Excelsior dealt serious blow at PUC
Excelsior Energy’s boondoggle Mesaba Energy Project — a proposed coal gas power plant that exists solely through lobbyist will and legislative fiat — was dealt a serious blow today at the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission. Commissioners shot down almost all of what Excelsior needed to move forward. The project’s backers will attempt a more positive…
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All 7B candidates share stage for first time
The Progressive Minnesota House 7B Forum last night nabbed some local TV and newspaper coverage. You’ll remember there are five DFL candidate’s for State Rep. Mike Jaros’s West Duluth legislative seat left open after Jaros retired suddenly two months ago. The Duluth News-Tribune story gives an overview. I saw the WDIO (Channel 10, ABC) coverage…
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An empire or a beacon?
The Russia/Georgia situation is looking grim. It begs the question, how much can saber-rattling ensure democracy across the world? The message our country has projected the last several years has been “be democratic or we’ll whoop you.” Now, that might work if we could actually whoop every nation on earth, including Russia and China. But…