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The true nature of this deal
Here’s a seemingly benign story about the delay of a land sale deal from Itasca County to Essar Steel, the company that has backed a proposed iron mining and steel-making operation on Minnesota’s Iron Range. What is really going on here is that there is question about the true intent of Essar Steel in operating…
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How to fight the T-Paw cuts: "We’re getting the band back together"
A small victory in the HCC Theater debate, with a price. Hibbing Community College Theatre Director Mike Ricci has announced a major HCC Theatre Support Gala, featuring the return of the original Blues Brothers who performed on the HCC Theatre stage in 2004. This event will be held at Hibbing High School Auditorium on Thursday,…
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John Marty: The MinnesotaBrown interview
Today I continue my semi-regular series of posts featuring candidates for Minnesota Governor with a look at State Sen. John Marty. This is the first post written after Gov. Tim Pawlenty announced he wouldn’t seek re-election and, if anything, the field on both sides is even more chaotic than before. Starting about a year ago…
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COLUMN: ‘You don’t need a weatherman’
This was my weekly column published in the Sunday, June 7, 2009 edition of the Hibbing Daily Tribune. You don’t need a weathermanBy Aaron J. Brown Have you ever received a gift that became much more than a gift? Have you ever received a gift that became an obsession? Flashback: Christmas 2008. It was a…
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Hibbing editor’s final column shows what’s at stake in newspaper crisis
Mike Jennings, editor of the Hibbing Daily Tribune, penned his final column today as he announced the newspaper’s decision to lay him off in advance of his summer retirement plans. The paper, like all papers, is facing tremendous financial pressure amid the recession and ever-contracting share of advertising and circulation revenue. They’ll make due without…
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Who runs this joint?
Mike Jennings of the Hibbing Daily Tribune turned in this report of Wednesday night’s (Itasca County Railroad Commission) meeting. It shows a compelling conflict over who the commissioners work for — a company or the citizens of the county. This particular story — over how generous the terms toward Essar Steel are ultimately structured —…
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Itasca County moves toward placating global steel company on land deal; vote to come
I’ve been getting reports that last night’s Itasca County Board Meeting enjoyed its share of fireworks. This story from the Grand Rapids Herald-Review details some of the concern over the county’s relationship with Essar Steel, the company that announced plans to build an iron mining and steel operation in Nashwauk. Ultimately, Essar got what it…
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10 years or 20: How long can the Iron Range go without a return on investment?
Some recent developments indicate that Essar Steel, the Indian company backing an Iron Range taconite-to-steel plant, is either playing a very short game or a very long game in their endeavor. The company is battling with Itasca County over the duration of access to ore stockpiles depending on the timeline of construction. They’d prefer 20…
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More economic delays for India/Iron Range steel project?
Well, this is strange. The Sault Star, a newspaper in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, is reporting that Essar Steel is, in fact, delaying its North American developments including the long-awaited proposed iron mine and steel plant at Nashwauk. This paper serves the area where Essar’s Algoma Steel facility is located. What I don’t get is…
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The duality of the mining economy crisis on the Range
Recent updates at Business North call to question the existential crisis facing the Iron Range in northern Minnesota. Do we embrace our mining history with full force, to the extent that our future planning remains focused on mining. Or do we find a way to continue mining as is possible and necessary, but expand our…
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Matt Entenza: The MinnesotaBrown interview
Last week my series of interviews with 2010 candidates for Minnesota Governor continued as I met with former State Rep. and progressive policy advocate Matt Entenza. Previous interviews have included Mark Dayton, Paul Thissen and Tom Bakk. I hope to eventually speak with all or most candidates, depending on scheduling availability. I spoke to Entenza…
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The third rail is the one with the juice
Those who follow Minnesota politics already know the basics of the state’s budget debate. We’ve got an historic, crushing budget deficit amid an economic downturn. All three “legs of the stool” — the GOP Governor, DFL State Senate and DFL House — have kicked in their budget proposals for consideration now and there isn’t a…
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Range ‘Go Run’ program revs up for another round
Below is a press release for the Rural Go Run program, which gives Iron Range area women the training and tools they’d need to run for political office. Though my gender renders me ineligible for this program, I heartily endorse any effort to increase the number of people involved in political leadership on the Iron…
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Brown on the Air: steel and schools
There were some technical difficulties that cut out part of my interview with Scott Hall on today’s KAXE morning show. The whole interview is posted here. I talk briefly about Essar Steel and at length about my suggestion for an Iron Range Congress. Our working plan is to try to do this style of conversation…
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Bartering hard in the Information Age
This was my weekly column from the Sunday, April 5, 2009 edition of the Hibbing Daily Tribune. A version of this also aired as an essay on KAXE‘s “Between You and Me.” Bartering hard in the Information AgeBy Aaron J. Brown Between 6,000 and 9,000 B.C. people started using livestock as a sort of living…