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Hot battles, high times on the Iron Range
There’s a lot of Iron Range news going on these days. I’ve got more to post, but it’s a busy day. I’ve already written about the Capitol controversy over the GOP raid of an IRRRB economic development fund last week. This drama will continue all the way to the close of the session. MinnPost had…
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Up north, it’s more change than migration
Census speculation continues, and I’m starting to reach a bold new conclusion about our numeric fate in northern Minnesota. Demography reinforces attitudes. Attitudes can change demography. I’ve written a column on the region’s census numbers that will run this Sunday, but I’m already finding some new content for future writings on the topic. For instance,…
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The steel hauled ’round the world, and what it means for the people of the Iron Range
As potential Iron Range economic development projects go, Essar Steel Minnesota is the biggest and most likely to happen. With most permits in place and actual concrete being poured as we speak, the young but rapidly expanding Indian steel giant Essar is on its way to opening up the ore formation near Nashwauk abandoned when…
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Electricity problems, fireball problems … brother, Minnesota has some problems
We drove to Grand Rapids this morning to bring our dog to the vet. The whole town and several surrounding towns had lost power after a Minnesota Power transformer blowout at 9:15 a.m. Grand Rapids is still without power here at 12:30 p.m. and could be for several more hours. We’ve heard from our son’s…
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Asia expands influence over northern Minnesota’s future
One of the interesting northern Minnesota economic stories of the past decade has been Cirrus Aviation in Duluth. The narrative was innovative airplanes built in an old steel town. And while the company has struggled at times, especially in the recent economic slump, it still represents compelling story. This week a Chinese airplane manufacturer has…
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COLUMN: Rest not easy in these modern times, but welcome them
This is my column for the Sunday, Feb. 13, 2011 edition of the Hibbing Daily Tribune. Rest not easy in these modern times, but welcome themBy Aaron J. Brown The winter presses on, a dry, cold march through snow to the oil tank to see if we’ll make it another couple months without ordering fuel…
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Love Reads Rough: the 2011 Hibbing Winter Frolic Medallion Mystery
I’m happy to report that the 2011 Winter Frolic Medallion was located last weekend. For the second straight year the Staudahar family of Hibbing found the translucent disc which comes with a monetary prize. Congratulations! I wrote this years clues with my recurring “Sal Winter, Private Investigator,” mystery theme. Enjoy the entire story here: Love…
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IRRRB is set; so is the drama
If you hadn’t heard, the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board is now set with appointments from Gov. Mark Dayton, House Speaker Kurt Zellers and the special Senate committee led by the majority with influence from Republican Majority leader Sen. Amy Koch. A variety of policies, rules and traditions influence the selection of these members,…
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DFL to endorse in 5B primary; Pierce wins backing of Steelworkers local
A few more interesting notes on 5B to pass along: The DFL will hold an endorsing convention at the former HCC/Range Tech central campus at 9:30 a.m. Saturday. None of the candidates will be able to abide by the endorsement, on account of the impending primary on Tuesday, Feb. 1, but local DFL leaders have…
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House 5B Primary Candidate Commentary: Carly Melin
MinnesotaBrown offered a 600-word guest post to all the candidates in the House District 5B Special Election. The third in the series runs today with Carly Melin. I am honored to have the privilege of asking for your vote for state representative next Tuesday, February 1. We have a long tradition of great public…
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House 5B Primary Candidate Commentary: Ray Pierce Jr.
MinnesotaBrown offered a 600-word guest post to all the candidates in the House District 5B Special Election. The second in the series runs today with Ray Pierce Jr. I am a lifelong resident of Hibbing MN. I graduated from Hibbing High School and attended classes in Business Management at HCC. I have grown up on…
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House 5B update: Door to door at ten below
I received some reports from boots on the ground in the House 5B DFL primary campaigns this weekend. And when I say boots on the ground, I mean big, honking clod-hopper boots on the cold, hard ground. On a pair of days in which the temperature barely reached zero here on the Iron Range, candidates…
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Veda Ponikvar endorses Robinson in 5B special
Shelley Robinson earned a notable endorsement in the House 5B special election Thursday. Former Chisholm newspaper publisher and longtime Iron Range leader Veda Ponikvar offered her support to Robinson. From the campaign release: … Ponikvar reports that “for the past 20 years, Shelley Robinson has been a passionate advocate for the less fortunate among our…
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DFLer Carly Melin will vie for 5B House seat
Carly Melin of Hibbing, an Iron Range attorney, is filing today for the open District 5B House of Representatives seat vacated by Rep. Tony Sertich, now Commissioner of the Iron Range Resources agency. Melin (pronounced Meh-leen) recently graduated from Hamline Law and now works for the Minnesota State Judiciary on the Range. She once worked…
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Tony Sertich and the seachange on the Iron Range
As previously reported, Rep. Tony Sertich (DFL-Chisholm) will resign Thursday to take his new position as commissioner of the unique state agency Iron Range Resources. This agency overseas the tax revenue paid by mining companies in lieu of local property taxes. Though much maligned by foes, both of the informed and uninformed variety, IRR remains…