MinnesotaBrown

Hurry, the pipeline's in trouble

2009-07-09T12:00:00.002-05:00

The Duluth News Tribune is slapping down late hour protests against Enbridge Energy's proposed pipeline from Canada to Superior, Wis. The theme: Where were these protesters when there were public hearings?

Yeah, yeah, whatever. Listen, I don't have a dog in this fight. People want a pipeline? Fine. Oil. Tar sands. I care, but not enough to read up on this stuff yet. Jobs, jobs, jobs. Whatever. I've already had this conversation, like, eight times.

But here's my question. What is it about being on a newspaper editorial board that makes people want to write stuff like this? Oh man, some people are waiving crude, homemade signs and talking smack about the pipeline. Oh man, we have to get with the pipeline. The pipeline is in trouble. Quick, open a new document and start typing. Really, is this what they get out of bed to do each day?

Gaertner interview coming

2009-07-08T12:39:00.003-05:00

Thursday I'll be interviewing DFL gubernatorial candidate Susan Gaertner after the meeting of the Itasca County DFL Social Club in Grand Rapids. Gaertner will be meeting with local DFLers starting at noon at the Itasca Co. DFL headquarters on Highway 169. You don't have to be a member to attend.

I'll be releasing the post early next week as part of my ongoing series of gubernatorial interviews. A Steve Kelley interview will be coming next, along with (eventually) everyone else.

The key to our future

2009-07-07T18:39:00.003-05:00

This MinnPost article shows how broadband usage by the American population continues to grow even as the economy shrinks. My back-of-the-envelope math, however, shows that the demographics of the Iron Range still put us in risk of falling behind the rest of the country (and certainly the industrialized world) in both usage and understanding of the internet. The dissemination and usage of high-speed internet as an economic tool for the Iron Range is probably the one great opportunity of our generation to change the story that has already been written for us.

Old.

Dying.

Ignorant.

Hell, no. I reject that and you should too. We have the resources. We have the intelligence. Fight for the future.

Oh, and one more thing while I'm getting warmed up

2009-07-07T18:30:00.006-05:00

If I can add anything else to my earlier post about Excelsior Energy's changes to the Mesaba Energy Project it is to remind everyone in Minnesota politics that this project DOES NOT represent a universally agreed-upon solution to economic development or energy policy for the Iron Range or anywhere else. Take heed, our new U.S. Senator Al Fraken. Take heed, senior Sen. Amy Klobuchar. We need your help on a thousand issues. This issue, unfortunately, benefits the few over the many. Treat it like any other power plant for any other well-heeled investor.

My word is boondoggle. A project that exists to exist, unsustainable but surviving though a parasitic dependence on political patronage.

Major (and baffling) changes coming to Mesaba Energy Project?

2009-07-07T14:55:00.007-05:00

Business North's Beth Bily is reporting that Excelsior Energy, an eight-year-old start up company, received some rather hushed assistance in the waning hours of this year's legislative session from gubernatorial candidate Sen. Tom Bakk (DFL-Cook). It now appears the company is exploring the option of building a 100 mW natural gas peaking plant on the Iron Range instead of its original proposal of a much larger coal gasification (excuse me, Carbon Capture and Sequestration is the preferred term, or CCS) plant.

This whole thing is called the Mesaba Energy Project. It's backed by a handful of deep insider energy industry lawyers and lobbyists, some with Iron Range roots. This blog and my columns have maintained a hugely skeptical position on this project, as it has the appearance of a sweetheart deal for a few energy insiders that exploits the economic desperation of the Iron Range and uses taxpayer dollars as most of its start up capital. You can catch up on my past writings here.

Anyway, it now looks like after Excelsior was shot down at the state Public Utilities Commission a couple months ago and found no customer since that they are taking another stab. No surprise that Bakk would be supportive, since he and everyone else at Iron Range Resources in 2001 and 2003 has had egg on their face over the structure of those $9.5 million in loans given to the project on little more than a concept and a mushy promise of repayment.

The glory of the Excelsior strategy is that to discuss the truth of the project is to dig so deep into minutia and use insider terms so vague that its hard to draw much attention from the media or public. This development is no exception and it's perhaps fitting that this provision was ensconced entirely in back rooms during the legislative session.

Key questions that I'll be exploring over these next few weeks:

How many jobs would a 100 mW peaking plant create compared to the 1,000 mW magic factory that was proposed back in 2001 when Iron Range Resources gave the first part of what would become $9.5 million in cushy loans? I'm betting not many at all, for the time, effort and money invested.
Why is Bakk doing stuff like this during a gubernatorial run?
Who is going to buy the energy from the natural gas plant?
Will someone, anyone, who voted for this thing just say "Sorry. We screwed up. We won't do things like this again," please? Write it in sanskrit and mail it to my house. I won't tell anyone.

And it goes on and on.

No sound, no work

2009-07-06T12:32:00.002-05:00

Mesabi Misadventures describes the feelings of an Iron Range mine worker when there is no mining work. She does a great job incorporating the sights, sounds and emotions of the Iron Range behind the well known news headlines of our various mine shutdowns amid the slumping economy.

No Boom

2009-07-06T09:55:00.003-05:00

What a difference a point of view makes. This story from today's Hibbing Daily Tribune explores the exact same data as a similar story from last week's Mesabi Daily News that I wrote about. Iron Range population is holding, with a very slight loss of people.

However the headline here, "No Boom," reminds us that just one year ago meetings were being held across the Iron Range about what to do with all these people who would no doubt pour into the Iron Range region to work construction and populate all the new jobs that were coming. It seemed too good to be true and it was. Now it seems one of the hardest things to do this summer is sell a house for a profit on the Iron Range.

COLUMN: 'Swimming lessons for life'

2009-07-05T11:30:00.000-05:00

This is my weekly column for the Sunday, July 5, 2009 edition of the Hibbing Daily Tribune. A version of this essay was featured on an episode of "Between You and Me" on 91.7 KAXE recently.

Swimming lessons for life
By Aaron J. Brown

I live in Minnesota, the Land of 10,000 Lakes, in a northern county that holds about 1,000 of these sparkling bodies of water. I grew up one county over with another 1,000 lakes. The point is, water. I’ve always been around it. For as long as I can remember my family has spoken of lakes, boats and swimming as though the nouns and verbs, respectively, were part of our family.

I can’t swim. At least not well. I have this sort of hybrid dog paddle, mad flailing thing that I do and sometimes I can control its direction. I think I could get back to shore if I fell off a boat somewhat close to shore. That’s something I tell myself. I also tell myself that I could win a bar fight against a large, powerful man under ideal circumstances, such as being near a pool cue or folding chair and facing an opponent whose primary approach was to lunge haphazardly forward. Life has a way of denying you the folding chair when you need it most.

I could tell you about the childhood incident where my flail paddle technique failed, and I lost strength and dipped below the water. I could tell you how I flailed kind of helplessly in the hope that doing so would shoot me over to the shore, just 30 feet away, and how a friend pulled me to safety. But man, that’s a bummer. And not just a little bit. That’s a king size, housing bubble bursting kind of killjoy that I will spare you right now.

We’ve been taking our oldest son Henry, age 4, to swimming lessons this summer. He’s been dog paddling, jumping in the water, but mostly learning that you shouldn’t “spout,” or spit water out like a whale, even though that is a totally awesome thing to do. Also, there are rubber ducks and giant noodles involved. We want him and his two brothers to learn how to swim because we live on a lake now. There is a large, natural swimming pool just several hundred feet away from the house at any given time and it’s only a matter of time before these little guys figure that out. I don’t want my boys to struggle in the water. I want them to handle themselves like my dad and uncles, who swim like fish.

My uncle once told me that the best thing you can do for a six month old baby is to throw them into the water. Their instincts will direct them to float, and from that point forward they will have ease in learning how to swim. My uncle is a bachelor, but he is also a competitive swimmer, which makes his advice all the more difficult to interpret.

Swimming, like knowing how to interview for a job, is one of those life tasks that can save you when the time is right. Unfortunately, I gravitated toward the job interview, not the pool. Swimming remains a mystery to me. I could take lessons, but I’d have to admit that thing which no parent really wants to admit. My kid knows more than me.

To sink or swim. That is the question.

Aaron J. Brown is a columnist for the Hibbing Daily Tribune. Contact him or read more at his blog MinnesotaBrown.com. His book “Overburden: Modern Life on the Iron Range” is out now.

NY Times: Franken & MN's 'Odd Politics'

2009-07-05T09:44:00.007-05:00

The New York Times has a fun, fascinating look at the "odd politics" of Minnesota after last week's conclusion of the U.S. Senate Recount Legal Proceeding/Election, Inc.

Good Iron Rangers won't like the characterization of late former Gov. Rudy Perpich, but it is true that Perpich, Ventura, Bachmann, Ellison, Franken, Wellstone, McCarthy, Humphrey, Mondale and the great Farmer-Laborites of the '30s and '40s (juxtaposed with the Volstead Act and Prohibition, a Minnesota creation) represent a very unique political tradition in Minnesota that deserves study.

Brown on the Air: BUG CONGRESS!

2009-07-04T09:32:00.000-05:00

I almost forgot to promote this morning's edition of "Between You and Me" on 91.7 KAXE. This call-in and music program features the voices of northern Minnesota discussing a new topic every week. On this Independence Day the topic is "Insects." So as you're driving around, enjoying parades and such, probably swatting bugs, tune in or even call in if you can.

I dare say I've penned and recorded one of the most daring essays I've ever done. I call it "Bug Congress." Have you ever imagined what the Continental Congress would have been like had the members been insects? I have. And I made it happen. Five unique characters portrayed by yours truly. I think you'll like it. My bit usually runs in the first half hour, depending on calls.

Tune in to "Between You and Me" from 10 a.m. to noon on 91.7 FM in northern Minnesota or streaming online all over the world at www.kaxe.org.

Franken enjoying warm reception on Iron Range

2009-07-04T09:31:00.000-05:00

Northland NewsCenter covered the first of several Iron Range parade appearances by Sen.-elect Al Franken in Aurora last night. It looks like the DFL-friendly environs of the Iron Range were glad to see him. But you have to see the video because it shows all sides of the contentious political recount battle to be crazy. The people dressed up as Star Trek characters like Franken but the twitchy guy in the chicken suit doesn't.

God Bless America, and the Wienermobile

2009-07-04T00:22:00.002-05:00

Happy Fourth of July!

Yesterday, my family and I were able to see the most American of American meat-related vehicles, the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile, in Grand Rapids, Minn.

This was significant to more than just the kids. In fact, my kids -- like most of the kids I saw that day -- were only moderately interested. I was the one who dragged the family into town to see the Wienermobile. Why? First, you must know the story.

In 1988, when I was in second grade, I won the Weekly Reader National Invention Contest for an invention that, sufficed to say, did not pay for my college. The prize included a trip to Washington, D.C., including a visit to the Smithsonian, the Capitol, the Supreme Court, and a variety of other sites. This trip changed my life. I know that now, but back THEN there was an enormous disappointment. My win was supposed to include a trip to New York City for an appearance on Late Night with David Letterman (as a "kid inventor") and a ride in a New York parade on the Oscar Meyer Wienermobile. Unfortunately, there was a writers' strike that year and the Letterman appearance was cancelled .... thus, so too was the Wienermobile ride.

No biggie for most folks. But for a second grader this was notable. Enough so that I remember even today. Was this the reason I spent my high school years watching David Letterman and eating hot dogs? Maybe. Just maybe.

Well, on July 3, I got a chance to see the Wienermobile with my wife and kids in Grand Rapids.

This is me at Ogle's Supermarket. With the Wienermobile. That just happened.

Here are some observations about the Wienermobile:

Two nice women were attending to the Wienermobile on this day. I got to thinking that if you worked for the Weinermobile that you're probably never off the clock when you're on the road. Pull up to the Super 8. Pull up the Ruby Tuesday's for dinner. You are the driver of the Weinermobile and that is your identity.
One would think that Oscar Meyer would try to play down the phallic nature of their massive hot dog capable of highway speeds. One would be wrong.
I have entered the drawing to have the Wienermobile come to my Labor Day gathering. I have not scheduled such a gathering but, on the off chance I win, you are all invited.
Enjoy your holiday weekend, everyone! More excitement is planned for next week here at MinnesotaBrown.com.

The MinnesotaBrown Palin files

2009-07-03T22:27:00.004-05:00

On a night when Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin executed her holiday weekend news dump of her impending resignation, I share my previous posts. These were all pre-election, but share some unique, sometimes first-hand observations.

See Russia, sure, but true Alaskans throw their garbage at Russia, too

It's good to have Alaska friends

North to Alaska, going north, the race is ON!

'Overburden' and the Fourth of July on the Iron Range

2009-07-03T21:58:00.005-05:00

With so many Iron Range natives returning to the area for the Fourth of July for parades, street dances and festivals, I must point out that my book "Overburden: Modern Life on the Iron Range" won the Northeastern Minnesota Book Award and is available now at book stores all over the state and online at Barnes and Noble and Amazon.com.

This book is a humorous, historical and personal look at the Iron Range from the eyes of a 20-something fifth generation native. A series of light-hearted essays ask questions about what is the Iron Range, what makes it work and what the future holds.

The Wienermobile is coming

2009-07-03T09:54:00.004-05:00

NEWS FLASH: The Oscar Meyer Wienermobile will be in Grand Rapids today from 11-1 p.m. at Ogles.

I AM SO THERE! Look for pictures later.

At the right time I will explain why the Wienermobile played an important role in my youth. Not now. No time!

Franken to take part in legendary Range Fourth parades

2009-07-03T09:40:00.006-05:00

Sen.-elect Al Franken will be joining Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Rep. Jim Oberstar in the Iron Range's famous Fourth of July parades. Everyone in Range politics got their start at these parades. They have a reputation for controlled chaos. Their reputation for good times is why we've got both senators here so soon after last week's Supreme Court decision. I wonder how many governor candidates will show?

SEN-ELECT AL FRANKEN CELEBRATES FOURTH OF JULY ON THE IRON RANGE

Senator-Elect Franken Joins Senator Klobuchar and Congressman Oberstar For Parades In Aurora, Gilbert, Eveleth, Nashwauk, Keewatin & Biwabik
____________________________________________________________

MINNEAPOLIS [7/03/09] - Senator-elect Al Franken and his family will celebrate the Fourth of July on the Iron Range this year. Catch up with them at any of these six parades on Friday and Saturday, with Sen. Klobuchar and Congressman Oberstar.

Locations are for the beginning of the parade route. Please call Jess McIntosh at (651) 357 5115 to meet up with the Senator-elect while he is on the Iron Range.

FRIDAY, JULY 3

WHAT: Aurora Patriotic Days Parade
WHEN: Parade begins at 6:00 pm, Friday, July 3
WHERE: 405 West 3rd Ave North, Aurora

WHAT: Gilbert 4th of July Parade
WHEN: Parade begins at 7:00 pm, Friday, July 3
WHERE: Main St. & Broadway, Gilbert

SATURDAY, JULY 4

WHAT: Eveleth 4th of July Parade
WHEN: Parade begins at 9:30 am, Saturday, July 4
WHERE: Eveleth-Gilbert Senior High Track and Football Field; 801 Jones St., Eveleth

WHAT: Nashwauk 4th of July Parade
WHEN: Parade begins at 12:00 pm, Saturday, July 4
WHERE: Near Nashwauk City Hall; 301 Central Ave, Nashwauk

WHAT: Keewatin 4th of July Parade
WHEN: Parade begins at 2:00 pm, Saturday, July 4
WHERE: Depot Street, Keewatin

WHAT: Biwabik 4th of July Parade
WHEN: Parade begins at 7:00 pm, Saturday, July 4
WHERE: St. John's Church of Biwabik; 600 Main St. S, Biwabik

'Da Range on 'Da Fourth

2009-07-03T03:57:00.000-05:00

One of the most common observations made about the Iron Range by outsiders is that we Rangers put on a hell of a Fourth of July every year. Parades, street dances, fireworks, stuff for the kids, stuff most definitely for the adults. We've got it all. A lot of people walk out with a smile, a few walk out looking like the characters at the end of "Apocalypse Now." That's how we roll.

RangeBuzz has a comprehensive list of Iron Range Fourth of July events that you should check out if you're in the area.

One take on Rukavina's governor ambitions

2009-07-02T18:46:00.000-05:00

My urban progressive friend Grace Kelly penned a post for the Minnesota Progressive Project that is bullish on legendary Iron Range State Rep. Tom Rukavina's chances if he runs for governor. This post is worth a read, but you should especially check the video of Rukavina's speech at the recent DFL State Central Committee meeting held on the Iron Range. Rukavina's message is important but his delivery and style reminds me of what I love about having grown up in the Iron Range political tradition. Very important things happened on the Iron Range and Rukavina always remembers that even if others have forgotten. He receives a good deal of criticism from those across the spectrum, some of it fair, but he remains one of the most fearless and big-hearted Iron Range leaders of his generation.

Again, I must reiterate my neutrality in the governor's race. Rukavina is a deep longshot if he runs but you can bet he'd add spark to the mix.

Tonight only

2009-07-02T11:55:00.001-05:00

Amid the stream of bad news that's come out today, don't forget that there is a great opportunity to get together with friends and neighbors and enjoy a great show to save HCC Theater tonight. The HCC Theater Support Gala featuring the Blues Brothers and hosts of other performers will take place at 7:30 p.m. at the historic Hibbing High School auditorium. As Elwood would say, "You have to understand, this is much bigger than any domestic problems you might be experiencing." Or at least it's a good time when a good time is needed.

Report: Hibbing Taconite may be closed until April 2010

2009-07-02T10:44:00.003-05:00

On a scale of 1-10 on the "Oh, hell no" Iron Range bad economic news metric, this would be a 7. Cliffs Natural Resources has announced that Hibbing Taconite may remain in temporary shutdown until April 2010 because of the global economic slump and slow steel sales. This is bad news at a bad time. All Iron Range mines are currently in slow down or shutdown because of the economy. A shutdown of this length will probably run out the unemployment benefits of several miners, especially the younger workers with families.

What's in a name?

2009-07-02T05:18:00.000-05:00

A strong reaction in opposition to the decision by the former Ironworld's management to rename itself the Minnesota Discovery Center. This June 20 Mesabi Daily News op/ed by Pam Brunfelt is worth a read. Pam was a key source in my book "Overburden: Modern Life on the Iron Range."

Major No. Minn. trucking company to close

2009-07-01T20:56:00.005-05:00

This is bad news. Monson trucking, a longstanding trucking company in northern Minnesota and throughout the region, is closing. 200 jobs lost.

The loss of these kinds of jobs will deeply affect people living on the margins between middle and low income levels. Anyone who's driven up Highway 53 or from West 169 into Virginia has seen these M(O)nson (the big red "O") trucks parked at their hub along the intersection. Now they'll be gone.

UPDATE: A story from MPR

Iron Range Blues Brothers preview movie links

2009-07-01T14:33:00.000-05:00

The HCC Theater Support Gala is Thursday, 7:30 p.m., at the Hibbing High School auditorium. I've been sharing the preview videos featuring the star attraction(s): The Blues Brothers. This event has the added benefit of being a perfect Blues Brothers metaphor, the reunion of an old collection of performers to save something that matters to the community where they're from. Life imitates art.

You can see the first video about Elwood Blues (shot on location in Santa Monica, California) here or on YouTube. The last two humorous promotional videos were blocked (I assume for the music copyrights) so for those who couldn't see the Facebook links you can download them here:

Meet Joliet Jake Blues

The Reunion (in front of the Chisholm Hibbing Airport, no less)

These are Quicktime movies. You should be able to right click and "save as" to download them.

A mine or a mill? Both? Let's make sure

2009-07-01T13:00:00.000-05:00

I've been holding onto this for a couple days trying to find time to write about it. Check out this June 27 story from the Sault Star (Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario) about Essar's Algoma steel facility. The Algoma CEO explains Essar's long range strategy in North America, including its plans for Essar Minnesota in Nashwauk.

Also important to the company's long-term vision is the massive Essar Steel Minnesota development.
Essar Steel Holdings plans to invest $1.65 billion into the two-phase project, first to get an iron ore mine, shuttered for more than 20 years, operational and producing ironmaking pellets by 2011.
The second-and-final phase would be slab production by 2013-2014.
Groundbreaking on the project was last fall but little beyond site-clearing and engineering has been completed as Essar attempts to nail down financing in difficult financial markets.
Of particular interest to the Sault mill will be the iron-ore pellets.
"Once operational we expect Essar Minnesota to become our primary iron-ore supplier," he said.
Essar Algoma could also tap into its sister mill's multi-tonne slabs, which would only need to be reheated prior to being rolled into finished product, but the Sault is not the new mill's primary slab market.

What I read between the lines, however, is that while the company seems to be hungry to access Iron Range ore reserves there remains a large gap between their motivation to get the taconite and their motivation to build a direct-reduced iron facility in northern Minnesota. This is partially evident in the company's dealings with Itasca County over a controversial land sale deal. Truthfully, until there is a massive upswing in the steel market like what we saw two years ago I don't know how any CEO green lights a steel plant at Nashwauk.

The point is that the people and leaders of the Iron Range need to proceed with caution and think like CEOs. We are the chief executive officers of our land and our society. Like a good CEO we must never relent in the defense of our interests and the value of our people and cherished institutions. I'm not saying there won't be a steel mill at Essar's facility, just that there are now questions and that a backup plan -- economically speaking -- is not only a good option but a necessity.

Report: Range population holding (with slight bleed)

2009-07-01T10:39:00.005-05:00

The real problem facing the Iron Range and places like it is population loss. You can argue about any matter of policy you want, but things won't really start getting better around here or anywhere in the Rust Belt, small towns or rural areas until population loss is reversed.

This Mesabi Daily News story explores some of the U.S. Census Departments 2009 estimates for Minnesota's population. It would appear that Range towns have experienced only very slight population loss during that time, less than one percent. But these are estimates and, though our economy has been bad, many of those on layoff still expect to be called back at some point. That's what makes this different from 1982, when mines were closing and laying off thousands permanently. People then had no choice but to leave. For the time being, it seems, today's remaining Iron Rangers are holding the line. But for how long?

The 2012 census is coming and its results will be much more comprehensive and accurate. The results will determine much about our state, both politically and demographically.