News and Current Affairs Posts

Ford and Rubin answer our questions

Oct 07, 2010 No Comments

Have you decided who you will vote for in the race between Melanie Ford and Mark Rubin?

The October issue of The Hillsider is out. We have a candidate questionnaire for several of the candidates running for office this November. Read all the candidates who answered by picking up a paper copy.

Here are links to the St. Louis county attorney candidates’ answers to our most recent questions.
Melanie Ford
Mark Rubin

The questions we posed:

  • What things in the County Attorney’s office would you like to see change, expanded or improved upon.
  • What is the greatest injustice that needs correction?
  • What is your favorite place in any of the three neighborhoods that we cover, i.e. Central Hillside, East Hillside or Lincoln Park.



News and Current Affairs, Politics , , ,

This guy likes to show off his junk

Oct 02, 2010 39 Comments

At 5:23 p.m. Saturday I was driving west along Grand Avenue and had to stop for a red light at Central Avenue. A tall, bald guy in a red jacket and black pants started walking across the crosswalk, then stopped and turned to look at the young lady sitting in the car in front of me. He reached for his belt … and … well … what follows is my thought pattern from there.

Read More


News and Current Affairs

Northland Anti-war Coalition Statement on FBI Raids

Sep 26, 2010 10 Comments

On Friday, Sept. 24, FBI agents raided four homes of anti-war and social justice activists in Minneapolis, the offices of the Twin Cities Anti-War Committee, two homes in Chicago, and others in Michigan and North Carolina.

All of the activists targeted have been involved in legal, open political work against U.S. wars and for solidarity with the people of Palestine and Latin America. None have yet been charged with any crime.

Reports indicate that this raid was more than a year in the making, and it follows on the heels of a U.S. Justice Department investigation revealing that the FBI has been illegally spying on activists in the peace and social justice movements for several years.

Read More


News and Current Affairs, Politics

Wednesday night at Hartley Nature Center

Sep 22, 2010 No Comments

Adult Night Out at Hartley Nature Center:

This week, Sept. 22 at 7 p.m.- Fabulous Ferns! Learn to identify our areas “top ten” most common ferns and which work well in home gardens. Speakers include Carol Andrews, President of the Arrowhead Chapter of Wild Ones, and Clayton Oslund, author of What’s Doin’ the Bloomin’?

Free for Wild Ones and Hartley members, $4 donation for non-members


News and Current Affairs, Outdoors

Presenting the most complicated ballot question of all time!

Sep 20, 2010 6 Comments

If you live in Duluth, this fall’s ballot asks the question below, which I will not even try to simplify.

School District Ballot Question
Approval of School District Bond Issue
Shall the School Board of Independent School District No. 709, Duluth, be authorized to issue general obligation bonds totaling $128,000,000 to be used with an estimated $66,092,086 in bonds and investment earnings previously approved by the board for alternative facilities to build two new middle schools and two new elementary schools; repair and remodel three high schools, one middle school, and five elementary schools; repair and expand two elementary schools; and repair and remodel Old Central High and the Secondary Technical Center?

My question to you, PDD readers, is do you even want anyone to explain what this means?

It would be awesome if a local TV news show asked people on the street what they think this question means. The answers would be precious.


News and Current Affairs

NorShor to Remain Closed

Sep 15, 2010 53 Comments

The NorShor received the ban hammer from DEDA today. The building will be closed indefinitely until it meets ADA compliance.


Events, News and Current Affairs

Another Station Change

Sep 14, 2010 27 Comments

After yet another radio format switch I find myself wondering the reason for it all, and when it will end.  I must admit, the Bridge was one of the few stations left that I could stand to listen to.

Upper Midwest Broadcasting Station News reports:

Midwest Communications’ KDAL-FM/95.7 (Duluth) has dropped its “Bridge” Adult Alternative format and is now carrying Rock of the 1970s, `80s, and `90s as “Rock 96.”

What are everyone’s thoughts?


Music, News and Current Affairs ,

One hiker could be freed on Saturday

Sep 09, 2010 15 Comments

The Minneapolis Star Tribune is reporting that one of the three American hikers jailed in Iran for more than a year could be released Saturday.

Iran to release 1 of 3 jailed American hikers

There is no word on which hiker might be freed. One of them, Shane Bauer, is a Minnesotan. His sister and brother-in-law live in Duluth, and he also has family in Shakopee and Pine City.


News and Current Affairs

Hillsider to Fink and Jewell: Why are issues relating to mining and forestry important?

Sep 07, 2010 3 Comments

The September issue of The Hillsider features candidates running for District 1 County Commissioner, Dennis Fink and Frank Jewell, answering two questions:

  • Why are you running?
  • Why care about mining and forestry?

Click on the links below for the answers. The paper issue also contains an encore presentation of questions and answers from candidates for other offices.

Dennis Fink | Frank Jewell

By the way, St. Louis County is over 6,000 square miles — larger than three states: Connecticut, Delaware and Rhode Island. It has an abundance of natural resources contributing to mining and lumber industries. Why should people in the core neighborhoods of Duluth be concerned? Read up.


News and Current Affairs, Politics

Duluth’s 2011 Proposed Property Tax Levy and General Fund Budget

Aug 31, 2010 No Comments


Click here for the mayor’s summary.

The city council will approve a maximum tax levy in September, followed by budget presentations from each of the city departments in the upcoming months. The council will vote on and certify the final 2011 tax levy and budget in December.

Highlights:

  • Fourth consecutive year of decreases in general fund expenditures
  • Zero increase in general operating tax rate

News and Current Affairs

Loud & Angry

Aug 30, 2010 32 Comments

“Councilor Kerry Gauthier said he plans to support the proposed ordinance, especially after witnessing the effects of K2 on a neighbor boy who ‘got loud and angry’ after smoking the stuff.”


News and Current Affairs

Uncle Paul Retires from Positively 3rd St. Bakery

Aug 26, 2010 7 Comments

Uncle Paul Steklenski, aka “The Cider Man,” is retiring after 27 years of baking wholesome breads for the community. He is one of the bakery’s founders, establishing the worker-owned co-operative in 1983. Luckily he will still do some part-time maintenance.


News and Current Affairs

DEDA Approves Budget for Norshor

Aug 25, 2010 2 Comments

DEDA Approves Budget for Norshor
Posted on the WDIO website at: 08/25/2010 9:22 PM

The Duluth Economic Development Authority approved a capital improvement budget on Wednesday for the Norshor Theatre.

The City of Duluth purchased the building in June, for $2.6 million. Fundraising is now underway for renovation work.

DEDA voted Wednesday night to put almost $100,000 towards those efforts. The Duluth Playhouse is managing the Norshor Theater and intends to have a full line-up of entertainment this fall.

____

I’ll say it before Paul does: NorShor, with a cap S.


News and Current Affairs

A superficial — and less superficial — look at the candidates for Minnesota governor

Aug 24, 2010 15 Comments

Setting aside the issues and personal party affiliations for a moment, which candidate for Minnesota Governor has the best website in terms of appearance and functionality?

Farheen Hakeem (Green)
Tom Horner (Independence)
Tom Emmer (Republican)
Mark Dayton (Democratic Farmer Labor)
Ken Pentel (Ecology Democracy)
Linda S. Eno (Resource)
Chris Wright (Grassroots)

As for substance, all the candidates seem to like to provide an “issues” section with a few paragraphs of philosophy about a handful of topics. So far, I’ve only seen two somewhat detailed position papers on the state budget:

Minnesota Works: Horner-Mulder Budget Outline
Mark Dayton’s Deficit Solution


News and Current Affairs, Politics

Duluth – Superior Pride starts Sept. 2

Aug 23, 2010 1 Comment

www.dspride.com


Art, Music, News and Current Affairs, Random