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Iron Range’s top reporter moves on
The Range’s best and most experienced mining/Range reporter is stepping down for an inside job. Lee Bloomquist, who I’ve known for years and respect greatly, is leaving the Duluth News-Tribune for a position with the Iron Range Resources agency as an information officer. He’s going to be a big help for the agency and the…
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Oh, what the heck, one more log on the fire
Excelsior Energy continues to get news coverage for their plan to add $20 million in environmental upgrades to their vast $2.3 billion proposed Iron Range coal-gas plant while paying for $500,000 worth of improvements to Taconite, Bovey and Coleraine’s wastewater plants. This unproven new company, using taxpayer grants and loans, is buying the support of…
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Al Franken nabs two big endorsements
Al Franken has received two big endorsements for his U.S. Senate campaign in advance of the Feb. 5 precinct caucuses, Education Minnesota (almost all of Minnesota’s K-12 and college teachers, including my local) and Operating Engineers, Local 49. It had seemed that labor was splitting between Franken and Ciresi. This changes the equation quite a…
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The 935 reasons we’re still in Iraq
Old news, but I’ve never seen the bogus run-up to the Iraq War quantified so specifically as in this AP report. I know Iraq policy is a touchy subject, but we’re starting to see how badly the situation was handled at the start. Study: Bush, other officials issued hundreds of false statements before Iraq invasionBy…
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Early challenge in West Duluth House race
For the most part, I believe it will be a fairly uneventful election year in Northeastern Minnesota legislative races. However, it appears there will be a least one interesting race in west Duluth’s District 7B House District, a seat currently held by longtime Rep. Mike Jaros. Clokey to run for Jaros’ seatDuluth News Tribune Following…
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Obama meeting CANCELLED, to be rescheduled
UPDATE: The Obama organizational meeting for tonight has been cancelled and will be rescheduled because the field organizer is out sick today. Watch this site for an update in a day or two. Find out more about Barack Obama’s campaign for president and plans for the Iron Range at an introductory meeting tonight. It’s at…
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Climate change and our forests
In this story, Minnesota Public Radio explores how climate change may affect the forests of northern Minnesota. This is a good read (or listen, if you are so inclined.) Hope you all like leafy trees. Related posts: No related posts.
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Spin, baby, spin
Remember that scene in “Monty Python’s Holy Grail” where King Arthur is dueling with the Black Knight and keeps cutting off the knight’s arms, then legs. Each time he cuts off a limb the knight refuses to admit defeat, saying things like “Oh, it’s just a scratch.” Yeah, Excelsior Energy and their boondoggle Mesaba Energy…
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The progressive future … brought to you by coal?
Is anyone else somewhat unnerved by the fact that tonight’s CNN Democratic Presidential Debate is sponsored by the coal industry? I guess it means they think the Democrats will win, but it must also mean they think they can buy 50 more years of good coal prices even if they do. Related posts: No related…
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In honor of Dr. King
I’m again posting from the deep woods instead of the office today in honor of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. national holiday. The Hibbing Daily Tribune has an interesting story about a community outreach effort that I’m involved with at the college where I teach. We help bring a diverse group of college students…
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Gen. Butt Naked to face justice
Check out this AP headline from the Star Tribune: Gen. Butt Naked, Liberian ex-rebel leader, confesses to killing thousands I thought maybe it was a deal where an after-hours copy editor slipped a goof into the paper, but this is actually real. By JONATHAN PAYE-LAYLEH, Associated Press AMMONROVIA, Liberia – One of Liberia’s most notorious…
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Join me in ‘real time’ for 1/23 blogging seminar in Grand Rapids
For those interested in joining a special project for northern Minnesota, take note. KAXE is part of a community journalism initiative to create a website to share local news and culture. They have been holding Community Journalism seminars for people interested in gathering, analyzing and sharing information. Starting this week MinnesotaBrown is getting involved. This…
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Old school nomination fight
The more things change, the more they come full circle. By now you may have heard that despite coming up just short in the Nevada caucuses, Barack Obama takes more state delegates out of Nevada because of how delegates are allocated by congressional district. Let’s just use this as a time to remember that this…
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Celebrate National Something Month this month
… Thyroid Awareness Month must share its month with Soup Month, Oatmeal Month and Braille Literacy Month. Now, I like soup. I like oatmeal. I’m all for the Braille. But as an informed citizen who seeks to abide by the commemorative months discussed on the 5:15 TV news dump, what I am to do? I…
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A view of the presidential race from the Iron Range
I have a cold and lost my voice yesterday, so I have to watch the political coverage today in relative silence. My particular throat issues prevent me from saying the words “yeah,” and “uh-huh” without pain. I had never realized how important those words were in my vocabulary, especially at home. Hillary Clinton just won…