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Posted: 04 Mar 2015 06:50 AM PST  This story focuses on state law’s that allow such transactions, even if they “smell bad” to the general public. Minnesota Legislative Auditor Jim Nobles said he would examine the loans made by the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board (IRRRB) to Meyer Associates following a Star Tribune story about the deal on Sunday. But state law is “surprisingly sketchy” on the topic of using public funds for partisan political activity, Nobles said.I’ve cautioned local lawmakers against deals like these and believe the agency should stop doubling down on failure in cases where personal relationships or a sense of “sunk costs” exist. That said, it’s interesting to me that this Meyer deal is becoming the showcase for IRRRB scrutiny. The $9.5 million that went to Excelsior Energy for its failed Mesabi Energy Project was at the center of a much seedier and conflict-of-interest-driven deal than this one. Once again, though, we see reactions from Republicans that are essentially “shut down the IRRRB.” What many critics fail to understand is that, even though the IRRRB badly needs reform in my opinion, it is a function of state government only because of political considerations related to taconite taxation. Mines pay taconite taxes in lieu of local property taxes (i.e., mines don’t payany property taxes), which means that the revenue generated should be compared to local revenue, not state revenue. That’s not to condone misuse or wasteful spending, but it’s a fact of the situation. “Shutting down” the IRRRB means finding a new method to employ regional economic development, a process that would simply lead to a different kind of IRRRB under a new name. Keep the mission. Reform the process. Develop a real strategy for economic diversification. Written by Aaron Brown for Minnesota Brown © 2014 | Political storm over IRRRB project rumbles on |
Posted: 04 Mar 2015 06:32 AM PST  It’s true, I haven’t written a book since my 2008 release “Overburden: Modern Life on the Iron Range.” I made one failed attempt at a novel, and have considered writing other nonfiction titles at different times, but frankly I got busy with the radio show and young kids. I write 5,000-10,000 words a week, just not for a book. Not yet.I can announce, however, that a short humor essay I wrote is part of a charming young adult anthology called “Love and Profanity.” Edited by Nick Healy, this work of creative nonfiction shares stories of teenagers navigating the tricky world of love, social status and growing up. My story is a retelling of a disastrous prom date that I’d written about for the radio before, but now told from the point of view of my teenage self — which is the voice of the whole book. Forty authors, including a mix of established writers and newcomers, contributed specific stories to the mix. It’s a great book for teens, who will identify with the heartbreaking and hilarious stories, but worth picking up by a general reader as well, especially if you want to be transported back to a much more awkward time in your life. Love & Profanity features more than forty brief, brilliant, and unforgettable true stories from writers both renowned and on the rise. Discover strange and surprising scenes of people coming of age amidst the everyday intensity of teenage life. Witness transformative moments arising from the mundane. Behold the young adult in full splendor and horror, bursting with love and profanity.Find out more at Switch Press. Available at major online bookstores. They’re having a book release party in St. Paul the same night as my Great Northern Radio Show up in Brooklyn Park. Which is another way of saying that I can’t go to the party because I’m working, just like back in high school. Written by Aaron Brown for Minnesota Brown © 2014 | On ‘Love and Profanity’ |
 It appears that one of the main concerns citizens have is their desire to maintain a good portion of the green space around the Northern Minnesota city’s original school building. At least three different ways of approaching the project would affect varying degrees of grass to add parking and an addition onto the building. Nevertheless, it’s encouraging to see an Iron Range town (fringe of the Range though it may be) fight to give a cherished old landmark a new lease on life for another century. Though Grand Rapids features the same kind of box store sprawl that ails a lot of small towns, the city’s unique layout has allowed a lot of traffic to remain in its downtown, which the city has endeavored to keep up. Written by Aaron Brown for Minnesota Brown © 2014 | New future for Old Central? |
Dr. Vijay Pithadia, FIETE, PhD, MBA Director, PhD Guided: 5, Author of 6 Books, Google Scholar Citations - 585, h-index - 8, M: +91 9898422655 UGC/Scopus/Web of Science Publication: 30, Referred/Peer Reviewed Publication: 63, Chapters Published In Books: 12, Full Papers Published in Conference Proceedings: 21, Patent Published: 3, Invited Lectures and Chairmanship etc.: 41, Conference Organized: 4, AICTE faculty ID: 1-24647366683