-
‘Pro-union’ Republican Farnsworth enters 6A race
On Friday, Republican Rob Farnsworth of Hibbing entered the House 6A race to succeed Rep. Carly Melin (DFL-Hibbing). He’ll seek the GOP endorsement at the Feb. 9 local convention. Farnsworth described himself as a “pro-union” Republican, who cites his family connection to the iron mining industry. “I want nothing more than to see this region…
-
Busy Hibbing intersection to get roundabout
One of the reasons the Highway 53 bridge project garners so much attention is that, for Iron Rangers, everything that happens on Highway 53 matters. It’s one of the two major highways that connects the band of communities that comprise the Range. The other major Iron Range highway is 169. Though also listed as a…
-
New Quack City: giant rubber duck headed for Duluth
Tall Ships Duluth 2016 will be held Aug. 18-21 in the International Port of Duluth, Minnesota. Real, fully-functional wooden masted sailing ships that replicate historical vessels will dock at Duluth for tours, rides and historical interpretation. These are always huge events, drawing hundreds of thousands to Duluth at arguably the most beautiful time of year…
-
Cliffs to close Empire, move production to Eveleth
Odds of United Taconite in Eveleth reopening this spring took a big jump today after Cliffs Natural Resources announced it would be closing its Empire Mine in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. From UpperMichigan Source: The Empire Mine will permanently close this year. That could mean over 500 employees losing their jobs. Cliffs Natural Resources CEO Lourenco…
-
Steelworker Mark Larson joins 6A DFL race
Mark Larson announced late yesterday that he’ll run for the DFL nomination for House of Representatives in the central Iron Range 6A district. Larson is a Steelworker at Minntac who lives north of Chisholm. He’s also a woodworker, a former associate pastor at Hibbing Alliance Church and married father of three. Larson lists four major issues in…
-
Teacher Julie Sandstede enters 6A race
Julie Sandstede, a music teacher who lives in Hibbing and teaches in Virginia, is the first candidate to announce for the House 6A DFL nomination. The central Iron Range seat is open due to Rep. Carly Melin’s Jan. 14 announcement that she will not seek re-election. Sandstede made her announcement in today’s Hibbing Daily Tribune.…
-
Glencore loans $11 million to PolyMet
The global mining giant Glencore has loaned $11 million to Canadian development company PolyMet, owner and developer of a proposed copper-nickel-paladium mine in Hoyt Lakes, Minnesota. This according to a John Myers story in today’s Duluth News Tribune: With no source of income until its mine permits are approved and production can begin, the company…
-
Warmer winters part of MN moose dilemma
The Minnesota Associated Press reports that researchers are closer to finding out why so many Minnesota moose have been dying off in recent years. Theories abounded over the past few years. The truth, as you might expect, is somewhat complex. Wolf kills are an obvious reason for many deaths, but a variety of natural causes such as…
-
GOPer Donna Bergstrom to seek SD 7 seat
We’ve heard about DFL candidates for the office, but today Donna Bergstrom joined the District 7 Senate race as a Republican. Erik Simonson and Sharla Gardner are the announced DFL candidates to succeed Sen. Roger Reinert (DFL-Duluth) who is not seeking re-election. Here is her press release: Duluth, MN (January 27, 2016) – Donna Bergstrom…
-
Liz Olson first to announce bid for open 7B seat
Liz Olson, a Duluth community organizer, has announced her candidacy for the open District 7B seat in the Minnesota House of Representatives. The district covers much of western and central Duluth. “I believe in a Minnesota that promises all of us a chance to live with dignity — A Minnesota that offers access to living…
-
Great Northern Radio Show coming to Aurora
I’m excited to announce that my next Great Northern Radio Show will broadcast live from the Mesabi East High School auditorium in Aurora, Minnesota, on Saturday, Feb. 6. A good Iron Range Finn would know the significance of that place and date: This will be our Laskiainen Show. Laskiainen is the Finnish Sliding Festival held the…
-
Cliffs CEO defies global trends, predicts strong 2016
In today’s earnings report, one in which earnings were less than expected, the CEO of Cliffs Natural Resources said that he sees the domestic iron ore business turning around later in 2016. Lourenco Goncalves said Iron Range mines at Northshore Mining and United Taconite in Eveleth would stay closed through March, but would reopen after that.…
-
Range economic talk needs focus on future, not past
It’s been interesting reading the responses to my recent post about the Highway 53 bridge. On one hand, we have a question about an expensive bridge and its place in our infrastructure planning for the future. But really, like most things related to mining, it quickly becomes a litmus test on your perspective toward the…
-
Talkin’ middle school parking lot blues
Let me be clear. I do not plan to murder anyone. But if I did the crime would almost certainly take place in the parking lot of my son’s middle school. Winter parking in Northern Minnesota is hard enough. Ice and snow cover the yellow lines. Every slight maneuver involves spinning tires and the risk…
-
GOP now floating proposal for special session
On Thursday, Minnesota House Speaker Kurt Daudt (R-Crown) seemed skeptical about a special session to extend unemployment for laid-off Iron Range miners. But yesterday, the Mesabi Daily News ran a story indicating there is, in fact, a Republican proposal for a special session. It hinges on a shorter extension for the benefits, and eliminates any discussion of addressing economic disparities in…