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MinnesotaBrown |
- Big names circling Duluth mayor’s race
- U.S. Mail pickups changing across the 218
- Questions linger over Highway 53 plan
Posted: 26 Mar 2015 06:15 AM PDT Though it’s been slow in starting as Don Ness wraps up his final term, Duluth’s 2015 mayoral race is showing signs of intrigue. So far, only one candidate has announced a campaign for mayor: City Councilor Emily Larson. And while Larson is a strong contender, she’ll likely face challenges for the important DFL endorsement in this liberal northern city, and in the primary. One of the biggest names waiting in the wings is former DFL Lt. Gov. Yvonne Prettner Solon, who still hasn’t announced her decision about running for her “dream job” as mayor of her hometown.   State Rep. Erik Simonson (DFL-Duluth)Simonson and Dahlberg both enjoy the luxury of keeping their current elected office to take a crack at the odd-year city election. Still more candidates may emerge, but any combination of Larson, Dahlberg, and either Simonson or Prettner-Solon would make an interesting primary. Any other names out there? Written by Aaron Brown for Minnesota Brown © 2014 | Big names circling Duluth mayor’s race | ||||||||||||||||||||
Posted: 26 Mar 2015 06:00 AM PDT Across Northern Minnesota, the U.S. Postal Service is bumping up post office pickup times with the impending closure of the Duluth mail processing center. Starting April 18, Duluth post office mail will be picked up at 3:15 p.m., with much earlier times in post offices outside of the Zenith City. Places like Floodwood and Alborn will see pickup times at 9 a.m., while I noticed that the new time in Grand Rapids would be 12:15 p.m. Signs are posted on mailboxes across the region explaining the changes. In addition to the earlier pickup times, customers can expect an additional day or two added to the usual delivery time. Northern Minnesota’s mail will now be processed in Eagan and shipped to and fro by truck. Written by Aaron Brown for Minnesota Brown © 2014 | U.S. Mail pickups changing across the 218 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Posted: 26 Mar 2015 05:30 AM PDT  Plans to relocate one of the Iron Range’s busiest highways to accommodate a mining company continue to progress, though the Virginia City Council opted to hold off its support, for now, after a recent public forum.The Mesabi Daily News reports that Virginia councilors remain concerned about how the new route of the highway will serve the Midway addition, an isolated section of the city located near the new proposed mining area between Virginia proper and Eveleth. Other details, however, such as the $220 million, 1,100-foot bridge spanning part of the Rouchleau Pit appear to be a go. The more fascinating part of the MDN story, however, are the nuggets gleaned from comments made during the meeting. For instance, the long bridge across the pit will feature a 42-inch concrete barrier and four-foot “ornamental fence” to prevent people from jumping. Water and sewer lines will cross the bridge underneath the highway. Pilings for the bridge will not be placed in the water, meaning that the part over the pit will be freestanding. Environmental concerns prevent use of deicing methods on the bridge, but a bumpy, coarse bridge surface will allow traction, engineers say. Though MN-DOT is studying the effects of nearby mine blasting on the bridge, the bigger concern now (and in the minds of most Highway 53 commuters I speak to) is wind. MN-DOT will provide $500,000 for “aesthetics” for the bridge, though any desire to light the bridge with different colors for special events would have to be paid for by the city of Virginia. Some kind of decorative flags — either of nations or particular colors — would be my suggestion, though it occurs to me that maintaining anything along this bridge is going to be a tall order, pun intended. The relocation of the highway, which is otherwise up to code, is required by a 1960s agreement between the mining land fee holders and the state. At the time it was not certain when, if ever, the mine would reach the highway. Well, it has, and Cliffs-operated United Taconite now seeks to mine the area underneath the existing highway. Efforts to locate the highway off the ore formation entirely were met with strong local opposition because it would have bypassed Eveleth and most of Virginia entirely. So now we’ll have a new road an expensive new bridge over land that still has iron ore underneath it. Don’t worry, 45 years is pretty much the same thing as forever, right? Written by Aaron Brown for Minnesota Brown © 2014 | Questions linger over Highway 53 plan
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