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Tag Archives: Aaron Brown

Mining fight continues to roil DFL factions

At Tuesday night’s hearing over a controversial plan for the PolyMet open pit copper mine, a sharply divided crowd traded talking points about the risks and rewards of copper mining. It is a good bet that few were swayed from their original opinions by the three hours of testimony, the 59 speakers, the guy who performed a Pete Seeger-inspired anti-mining song, the prophecies of a pristine wilderness despoiled or the happy visions of an Iron Range restored to prosperity by “mining done right.”

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Open Huntley seat brings out DFL throng

The last time folks on Duluth’s east side had an open seat to fill in the Minnesota House of Representatives, President George H.W. Bush was running for re-election, the sitcom “Cheers” was still on the air, and Duluth residents eligible to vote for the first time this fall had not yet been born.

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Gauthier still running; DFL reeling

Embattled DFL Rep. Kerry Gauthier shocked nearly everyone in the Minnesota political firmament on Wednesday morning when he announced that he plans to seek reelection to his seat in the state House of Representatives. The announcement came one week after it was publicly reported that Gauthier had been investigated by Duluth police following an incident in which he used a Craigslist ad to meet and have oral sex with a 17-year-old male at an area rest stop.

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6B House primary may turn on mining, jobs

Voters are faced with a familiar dilemma in the heart of the Minnesota Iron Range. The unexpected retirement of 26-year DFL Rep. Tom Rukavina at the end of session has left a big hole in DFL-friendly House District 6B, which stretches across cities like Virginia and Eveleth and includes some of the state’s most mining-dependent towns.

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