News and Current Affairs Posts

LPOE

There seems to be a lot of concern for the rights of the millionaire businessman who is attempting to use loopholes in the law to make money at the great expense of others who want nothing to do with his business, but are forced to carry the burden of his business model.  Jim Carlson hides behind a dubious technicality claiming that the poison he is selling at the Last Place on Earth is OK because the chemists keep playing Russian roulette with his customers by changing the chemical compounds on a regular basis.

A true libertarian wouldn’t hide behind technicalities of the law – they would take full, personal responsibility for their actions.  Carlson has a business model in which he is making millions and externalizing costs onto the community.  Because of his business model, other businesses are struggling, the government pays for the emergency health care for uninsured addicts, and our public sidewalks and parks are taken over by people getting high, selling drugs, and harassing other folks who want no part of his business – yet are forced to absorb the costs that Carlson is imposing on them.

Update on New Stuff

Noodles & Company opened at the Miller Hill Mall yesterday, according to Business North.

Shake It, the new nutritional protein shake and juice bar in West Duluth (at the former Spirit Bottle Shoppe) will open Sunday if I remember correctly what the sign by the door indicated today.

Carmody 61, the new bar/restaurant in Two Harbors that is taking over the former Viking Legends opens on Oct. 1, according to co-owner Rick Boo.

7 West Tap House, Minnesota Wine Exchange and Canal Park Brewing are all potential late October openings, according to word on the street. (We haven’t mentioned Minnesota Wine Exchange on this site before. The location will be 3 W. Superior St., the owners are Brent Johanson and Debra Fellman, and the place will have a rotating selection of Minnesota wines.)

Is the Last Place on Earth Ruining Duluth? Volume 2

Welcome!

Duluth’s New Nameless Park

Today there was a ribbon-cutting ceremony to open the new park above the corner of the Lakewalk holding tank — aka the East Interceptor Sanitary Sewer Overflow Storage Facility.

And the city is looking for citizens to come up with a name for it.

Bishops Muscling Votes

I’m concerned about a “vote this way” letter received recently from our local Catholic bishop. Urges a yes vote for the November ballot “MN marriage amendment” and that you send the “yes” group money. This church move oversteps the line in my opinion. I vote for the church to lose tax exemptions.

For Sale: Endion Station

Minimum bid: $200,000.

Auction to be held Oct. 5 at 2 p.m.

Link to all the details.

Precious Waters Flotilla Podcast

In August, I ventured north to Finland to meet a man I had only communicated with via email. Little did I know, you have to hike a mile back into the woods to find his modest log cabin he built for his wife and two sons.

Rory Scoles will be guiding a group of sulfide mining protestors on a 30-day canoe trip from the Polymet Mine Site to the St. Paul Capitol. I sat down with Rory at his favorite look-out, the only spot he gets reception on his phone and the best spot to view the wild rice he is harvesting and that could be in danger if proposed mining projects go through.

Listen to the interview at Duluth Outdoors.

It bears repeating how awesome Minnesota Vikings punter Chris Kluwe is, doesn’t it?

“They Won’t Magically Turn You Into a Lustful Cockmonster”: Chris Kluwe explains gay marriage to the politician who is offended by an NFL player supporting it

Roads and Poles

Is there any news about the Vermillion-Tischer road repair? Is there an estimated time of completion?

Also, I’m perplexed by Denfeld High School’s parking lot and traffic pattern with utility poles in the middle of a drive path.  What gives? When will that be fixed?

Minnesota Chippewa could cease to exist by 2080

I’m not sure if that headline is sufficiently dramatic, or maybe overly dramatic, but I am just having trouble wrapping my head around this chart from the September 2012 (PDF link) Fond du Lac Tribal Newspaper (Nahgahchiwanong Dibahjimowinnan).

It shows the Fond du Lac people falling into a demographic abyss. Disappearing as a people by 2080.

Edward Moody back in Minnesota

Former Northland’s NewsCenter reporter Edward Moody will make his debut with WCCO-TV in the Twin Cities on Friday. He has been hired as a weekend anchor/ reporter. He had been working at the Fox affiliate in Indianapolis, but Duluthians will remember him from his KBJR stint from 2002 to 2007.

Hey, leave Duluth out of it, punk.

Minnesota Republican Senator Dan Hall of Burnsville decided to become the next social-media idiot today with this Tweet. We’d typically ignore something like this on PDD, but … isn’t that Duluth’s Inner Pier Lighthouse in the photo?

Duluth 2012 Primary Election Results

Here’s the statewide numbers for races relevant to Duluth.

United States Senator, Independence Party
Stephen Williams – 3,068 | 60%
Glen R. Anderson Menze – 2,074 | 40%

United States Senator, Republican Party
Kurt Bills – 63,380 | 51%
David Carlson – 43,850 | 35%
Bob Carney Jr. – 16,755 | 14%

United States Senator, Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party
Amy Klobuchar – 183,702 | 91%
“Dick” Franson – 6,831 | 3%
Jack Edward Shepard – 6,638 | 3%
Darryl Stanton – 5,161 | 3%

United States Representative for Minnesota District 8, Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party
Richard Nolan – 20,839 | 38%
Tarryl L. Clark – 17,540 | 32%
Jeff Anderson – 15,978 | 29%

Minnesota House District 7A, DFL Party
Thomas Huntley – 3,337 | 82%
Brandon Clokey – 756 | 18%

St. Louis County Commissioner, District 3
Chris Dahlberg – 1,658 | 55%
Debbie Isabell-Nelson – 1,188 | 40%
Dennis Szymialis – 160 | 5%

Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice:
Lorie Skjerven Gildea – 145,004 | 50%
Dan Griffith – 85,828 | 29%
Jill Clark – 61,242 | 21%

Minnesota Supreme Court Associate Justice 4:
David R. Stras – 139,197 | 49%
Tim Tingelstad – 83,942 | 29%
Alan Nelson – 61,908 | 22%

Operating levy for Duluth schools in November? Well, actually no.

Superintendent Bill Gronseth’s remarks at the August 13 School Board Business Committee meeting:

As you know, I’ve served as Superintendent for about six months. In that time, I have spoken with many groups, organizations, families and citizens.

Recently, I had the opportunity to have a cup of coffee with one of our alums. He told me that he has been a long-time supporter of the schools, but during last year’s operating levy he didn’t feel he could vote “yes.” I asked him why. He explained that it was a loss of trust – he didn’t really understand what the money was for and was confused about the facilities plan and how that might be tied to money for programs.

Primary Election is Tuesday

Here are links to the websites of candidates on the Duluth primary ballot:

U.S. Senator:
Independence Party:
Glen R. Anderson Menze
Stephen Williams
Republican Party:
David Carlson
Bob Carney Jr.
Kurt Bills
DFL Party:
“Dick” Franson
Darryl Stanton
Jack Edward Shepard
Amy Klobuchar

U.S. Representative District 8:
Republican Party:
Chip Cravaack
DFL Party:
Tarryl L. Clark
Jeff Anderson
Richard Nolan

State House District 7A (East Duluth):
Republican Party:
Therese Bower (No website.)
DFL Party:
Brandon Clokey
Thomas Huntley (No website.)

County Commissioner District 3 (Western Duluth):
Chris Dahlberg
Debbie Isabell-Nelson
Dennis Szymialis

Supreme Court Chief Justice:
Lorie Skjerven Gildea
Jill Clark
Dan Griffith

Supreme Court Associate Justice 4:
Alan Nelson
Tim Tingelstad
David R. Stras

The MN League of Women Voters website is another good resource for information on candidates.