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Taking requests: Bob Dylan Fudge Bars
Over the next few days I’ll be responding to questions or requests that I’ve been getting via e-mail. The next few days will include idle speculation on local retail developments and the Minnesota Steel project. Today I’ll clear out an old request, the posting of the recipe for the Bob Dylan Fudge Bars that I…
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Creature Comforts is back … on cable
Some of you might remember that I was one of several key interviewers for the show “Creature Comforts,” which aired last summer on CBS. In essence I and others interviewed real people about a broad range of topics and then the show’s producers, writers and animators made it look like animals were saying the lines.…
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Franken handles tax situation with perfect P.R.
Sure, you can dismiss this because my blog has been supportive of Al Franken’s bid for the U.S. Senate. But I also know quite a bit about public relations and the news as part of my past career as a newspaper editor. I don’t think Al Franken could have handled this tax story any better…
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Governor signs miners’ health study funding bill
This was out earlier, but I’ll make belated mention that Gov. Tim Pawlenty signed a bill funding research about the cause of higher-than-average rates of a rare form of cancer in former Iron Ranger miners. As I’ve said, this will provide a whole lot of people a whole lot of answers about the risks of…
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"Good Morning Northland" now hosted by Jim, Pam from "The Office"
For those in the Duluth TV market who watch morning TV, let me recommend the new morning team at WDIO/WIRT Channels 10/13 (the ABC affiliate). Cassie Limpert was named the new Good Morning Northland anchor this week after having filled in for a few weeks. She joins weatherman Kyle Underwood who used to do evening…
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Souls of future candidates at stake in Democratic race
Andrew Sullivan of the Atlantic has a good post today putting perspective on the situation for Barack Obama and his supporters. Watching shows like “Good Morning America” and any of the 24-hour cable news networks reminds me that the national media is increasingly devoid of perspective. Hence why the last 72 hours of news has…
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Wide open spaces (will build to suit)
The Duluth News-Tribune reports today on the practice of public entities building speculative buildings on the Iron Range to attract business. The appeal, according to the stories sources (all governmental), is that these buildings are modern, attractive and can be customized at public expense for any company willing to sign a long term deal that…
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Political blogs at the Minnesota Capitol
The Forum Communications legislative bureau ran a story on the role of blogs in Minnesota politics in their state papers. Marisa Helms interviewed me and used a quote at the end of the story. I was dubbed a “liberal blogger” in the story, though I bet other “liberal blogs” don’t support legalized moonshine and automatic…
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May 8 PUC meeting could reveal fate of Mesaba boondoggle
The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission will revisit the second phase of the Mesaba Energy Project Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Xcel at its May 8 meeting. Two major questions are to be answered. Will the PUC recognize Excelsior Energy’s proposed coal-gas power plant as a “least cost” innovative project AND will they set a deadline…
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Losing mind, one child at a time
This is my weekly Hibbing Daily Tribune column for Sunday, April 27, 2008. I archive my columns at my writing site. Losing mind, one child at a timeBy Aaron J. BrownSo we’ve got these babies all over the house. Two actually. Twins. And a toddler. All boys. And while that particular configuration is neither historically…
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Overheard at Senate District 3’s endorsing convention
Today, the Minnesota Senate District 3 Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party held its endorsing convention for House district’s 3A and 3B. Rep. Loren Solberg (DFL-Grand Rapids) and Rep. Tom Anzelc (DFL-Balsam Township), both incumbents, were endorsed for re-election. The biggest news of the day was the terrible weather that many believed would keep people away from the convention.…
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48 hour media blitz
Within 48 hours, I’ll cover all major forms of media. Tonight at 6 and 10 I’ll be on Range 11’s TV newscast talking about Dylan Days (May 22-25 in Hibbing); tomorrow the radio commentary on KAXE, Sunday morning’s Hibbing Daily Tribune column and, of course, the omnipresent blog you see here. I’m riding the air.…
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Sertich’s take on state budget fix
Iron Range State Rep. Tony Sertich (DFL-Chisholm), the Minnesota House Majority Leader, offers his take on the state budget fix over at MNPublius. Related posts: No related posts.
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Snow no
Forecasters are calling for more snow, about six inches in some places, for parts of northern Minnesota tonight and tomorrow. The melt off to this point has already flooded many roads up here. This brings to mind an interesting question. Should I be building an ark and, if so, should it have skis? The Senate…
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Controversial one-eared bear dies
Folks may remember the Christmas-time controversy of Solo the one-eared bear and her cubs who hibernated under a cabin near Tower. The DNR initially expressed an intent to kill the bears before a public outcry demanded her rescue. Gov. Tim Pawlenty pardoned the bears and the DNR instead sent them to a bear farm in…