As the mining industry readies its strategy for the next few years, those seeking environment protections in Northern Minnesota generated headlines this week as well. Yesterday, U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN), representing the St. Paul metro district, introduced legislation that would prevent mining in the same watershed as federal wildernesses like the Boundary Waters Canoe… Read More →
Ely, MN, bans drones, effective April 1
April 1, 2015 by Leave a Comment
It’s April 1, which means Ely, Minnesota, is up to its annual shenanigans: Find out more about Ely’s campaign to ban drones. Related posts: No related posts.
Grin and Bear it: Ely to host beard contest
February 2, 2015 by Leave a Comment
This week brings Winter Fest to the unique northern environs of Ely, Minnesota. A mining town filled with hippies? Or a hippie town obsessed with mining? You never can tell, but this little burg sure has a lot going on if you know where to look. In this case, you’ll see snow sculptures in the city park in the Feb. 5-15… Read More →
Ely pulls out of RAMS until Tomassoni matter resolved
January 20, 2015 by 4 Comments
Tom Coombe, editor of the Ely Echo, tweeted this breaking news tonight. The City of Ely is pulling out of the Range Association of Municipalities and Schools (RAMS) until the controversy surrounding the hiring of sitting State Sen. David Tomassoni as the RAMS executive director is resolved. Amid firestorm over hire of new director, Ely… Read More →
Remembering Ely storyteller Mike Hillman
December 19, 2014 by 3 Comments
As I travel around the state with my Great Northern Radio Show I’ve had the privilege of meeting many wonderful and talented people in all the towns we visit. Mike Hillman was one such person. Mike told stories in our Ely show last summer. One story was an old pioneer legend from the early day… Read More →
Ely couple completes 2,000-mile canoe trip protest
December 4, 2014 by 8 Comments
Dave and Amy Freeman, two professional adventurers based in Ely and Grand Marais, just completed a 2,000-mile canoe trip through the Boundary Waters, out to the Atlantic Ocean and down to Washington, D.C. The reason for the trip was to highlight the natural beauty of Minnesota’s Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and deliver petitions opposing… Read More →
The global X-factor in Range mining projects
November 17, 2014 by 72 Comments
Reeling from lack of investor confidence, Duluth Metals allowed itself and its Ely, MN, mining development Twin Metals be acquired by the Chile-based Antofagasta Mining Company two weeks ago. An earlier gambit to get Antofagasta to buy part of the company had fallen apart, and in a shrewd bit of international wheeling and dealing, Antofagasta ended… Read More →
The politics of retribution on the Iron Range
October 24, 2014 by 15 Comments
This week, Robbie Feinberg of City Pages penned a long form story about the nonferrous mining debate in Northern Minnesota. He spent time with supporters and opponents of projects like PolyMet and Twin Metals to compose his story, which I’d recommend reading in its entirety. The story treads over some familiar ground, but also does… Read More →
A dozen Iron Range concerts for price of one
October 21, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Another season of the Mesaba Concert Association series is upon us. For a $35 membership, you have tickets to five shows at the historic Hibbing High School auditorium and other shows at the beautiful school theaters in Virginia and Ely as well. According to the Mesaba Concert Association, the schedule for this year is as follows:… Read More →
Star Tribune eyes (noncontroversial) renaissance in Ely
October 19, 2014 by Leave a Comment
What an interesting and exciting story in today’s Star Tribune. Pam Louwagie writes about a Missouri developer, a longtime summer resident in the Ely area, who has purchased a number of decaying buildings in downtown Ely with the goal of renovating and re-imagining their use for a modern town set amid the pines. Louwagie makes specific… Read More →
