News and Current Affairs
2013 Duluth Election: The Candidates
The filing period to run for city and school board offices in Duluth runs from July 2 to July 16. This page will update as the candidates file.
The primary election will be held on Sept. 10; the general election will be Nov. 5.
Duluth Second District City Councilor
Patrick Boyle, 2201 E. First St.
Duluth Fourth District City Councilor
Howie Hanson, 2864 Wellington St.
Garry Krause, 1220 Stanford Ave.
Duluth At-large City Councilor
Four candidates advance to general election; two will be elected
Zack Filipovich, 219 S. 21st Ave. E., Upper Apt.
Barb Russ, 322 N. 22nd Ave. E.
Ray (Skip) Sandman, 2602 W. Sixth St.
Ryan Stauber, 4723 Pitt St.
Ray Whitledge III, 202 N. 24th Ave. W.
Duluth District One School Board
Rosie Loeffler-Kemp, 2902 Bald Eagle Trail
Joseph Matthes, 5319 Colorado St.
Marcia Stromgren, 6179 Lakewood Rd 55804
Duluth District Four School Board
David Bolgrien, 1306 N. 57th Ave. W.
Art Johnston, 37 N. 93rd Ave. W.
Justin Perpich, 4211 W. Seventh St.
Duluth At-large School Board
Top two candidates are elected
Henry Banks, P.O. Box 16811, 55816
Joshua Bixby, 2809 E. First St.
Annie Harala, 1129 N. Seventh Ave. E.
Loren Martell, 623 E. Seventh St.
Nancy Nilsen, 446 N. 85th Ave. W.
Harry Welty, 2101 E. Fourth St.
Ground Zero: Duluth’s Battle Against Synthetic Drugs
I wanted to share this documentary with anyone who is interested in viewing it. The film is 25 minutes and takes an objective look at the synthetic drug problem in town. I have put it together over the past year and a half, and while the situation is still ongoing, I think it does a good job of educating the viewers on the toll this issue has had on the different people involved with the issue.
Amazon cuts off Minnesota affiliates
News release from “Shelf Awareness.” Do you think this has more than anecdotal Duluth impact?
Amazon cuts off Minnesota affiliates
With Minnesota’s online sales tax law due to take effect July 1, Amazon has played a familiar card by cutting ties with 5,200 members of its Associates program in the state, the Pioneer Press reported. The online retailer has previously taken comparable action in other states that passed similar legislation.
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The Two Faces of Al Franken
Minnesota Senator Al Franken loves Big Brother.
Kojak Street?
Group campaigns to get Duluth street named after ‘Kojak’ star Savalas
A push is underway from a group to get a street named after late “Kojak” star Telly Savalas, Minnesota Brown reports.
“Telly Savalas lived in Duluth Mn. Telly Savalas paid taxes in Duluth Mn. Telly Savalas made advertisements for Duluth Mn. Telly Savalas needs a street named after him,” says the Citizens for Telly Savalas Blvd. Facebook page.
Ruh Roh, Don Ness!
Four mayors in Denmark now know what it’s like to become a target of an international recording label out for blood over copyright. The controversy stems from the publication of a YouTube video featuring the officials dancing to Gangnam Style. Universal Music, the company holding the copyright to the original track, have warned the mayors that unless they pay $42,000 by tomorrow, a copyright infringement battle will follow.
Communities of Color leaders take issue with UMD’s lack of diversity
I have been working as a radio producer lately, and I increasingly find myself in situations where I need to try and be even-handed and to try to represent different perspectives on nuanced issues. Racial diversity is one of those things that keeps popping up for me.
The issues surrounding racism and inclusion are loaded with bad history, a lot of grey area, and many answers that seem to pull good people in opposing directions. Potentially worst of all, people just stay with the status quo, trapped by indecision. (more…)
Great Gatsby got his start in Duluth
The blockbuster movie remake of Fitgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby, doesn’t mention Duluth … but the book does (chapter VI). Check it out on Jim Heffernan’s Blog.
This Week in LakeVoice
This week LakeVoice releases its final edition of the semester, and will return to its regular publishing cycle in the fall. Check out this week’s stories about a WDIO reporter who shares his post-graduation experience, Animal Allies and its partnership with PetSmart Charities Rescue Waggin, learn about Geocashing and how to participate, and how hunger impacts the Northland.
UMD students fundraise for friend with chronic kidney disease
Kelsey Krautkremer is a UMD early-childhood education student suffering from chronic kidney disease. This spring Kelsey received news that her kidney function had dropped from 34 percent to 18 percent and was put on the national deceased donor list. Kelsey is in need of a type-O kidney donor. If she doesn’t find one by the fall she will have to go through dialysis treatment. This will dramatically decrease the chances of her getting a new functioning kidney.
Read her story at lakevoicenews.org and donate to help her and her family cover medical costs.
Vote on same-sex marriage bill scheduled for Thursday
This is actually happening! Call or e-mail your representative now!
07A Huntley, Thomas (DFL) 651-296-2228 rep.thomas.huntley@house.mn
03B Murphy, Mary (DFL) 651-296-2676 rep.mary.murphy@house.mn
07B Simonson, Erik (DFL) 651-296-4246 rep.erik.simonson@house.mn
The world is mud-luscious
Duluth’s Parks and Recreation Dept. has issued its annual plea to the public to refrain from using city hiking trails, snowmobile trails and cross country ski trails until the mud dries up. Refer to the 2010 PDD post “Where to hike in Duluth when it’s muddy,” for guidance.
If you enjoy the mud, well, the Mudman Race will be held at Spirit Mountain on July 20. It features 5k and 10k courses with obstacles to “test strength, endurance and mental fortitude.” So, in addition to mud, you better enjoy hopping over hay bales and climbing through a spider web of ropes.
Just to tie this all together, it bears mentioning that Mud Sisters Pottery will open a new exhibit at Washington Studios on May 10 called “Mud Madness, Mud Magic, Mud Sisters.” It features a collection of functional and decorative pottery, and sculpture in clay and bronze.
Sadness About Wisconsin Point
I was wondering if anyone had any information on the following:
My uncle, Bob Miller, has been an advocate for protection of the Indian burial ground located at the end of Wisconsin Point and has been working on this project for over ten years. My ancestors are buried out there and the foundation from my great grandmother’s childhood home still remains. We are descendants of Chief Osagie who owned the land before selling it to Wisconsin (he’s my greatx5 grandfather). Many of us go out there to perform ceremony and the land is held sacred by all local Anishinaabe people. (more…)
Bond, Comics, Kayaks and Bags of Books
Saturday was a full day for pop culture nerds.
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UMD student tells stories of poverty, homelessness through photography
During the past few months, LakeVoice reporter and UMD student Daniel Badhwa set out to learn more about the issue of homelessness within the Duluth community. With a camera in hand, Badhwa explored the city, talking with people he encountered. Several of the people Badhwa photographed and interviewed shared stories of their current struggles with homelessness, but not all identified themselves as homeless.
His project, featured on the student-run community news magazine, LakeVoice, includes a video, produced by Badhwa, that describes how he went about this project and what he learned both about himself and society. The article he wrote shares some of the intimate portraits Badhwa captured as well as stories from Duluth people living on the margins.
Copper and Nickel Mining in Minnesota
[This post originally contained an embedded video that is no longer available at its source.]
Here’s a video from a UMD Center for Ethics and Public Policy discussion about mining in our region.
Congrats to Shane Courtland, the director, for creating a space for this important dialogue.
Honour, jail and consensual sex
The 2014 race for Minnesota Governor is already underway. Republican Scott Honour, a businessman from Orono, has launched his campaign website. (Amusing sidenote: The announcement page is at “/splash/#prettyPhoto.” Well, it is a pretty photo.)
Zenith City Online launched a redesign today and has delved into the history of the Tycoons Alehouse building, formerly Duluth’s City Hall, answering the question, “Was Tycoons Alehouse ever a jail?” Spoiler: For one year the Rathskeller was home to a holding cell, not an official jail.
There will be a full moon tonight for the Take Back the Night march and I Heart Consensual Sex Party. Sexual Assault Awareness Month will be recognized in Superior as well, with the Speak Out Superior march. Howl like a wolf; hump like a civilized person.
Rockridge Elementary Rezoning
The Rockridge Elementary school property’s proposed rezoning reminds me of the age-old phase “you sleep in the bed you made.” The school district knew from the get go what building zones the schools are in. It also knew the market has its ups and downs. We are now in a down cycle. Why didn’t the district’s budget include a more conservative estimate just in case the market went down?
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Boston Marathon Tribute Run
The board of directors of the North Shore Striders will dedicate our next group run to those affected by the bombings at the Boston Marathon. We encourage runners and non-runners alike to come out in support for those injured on Monday. There will be a free-will offering collected at the run that will be sent to the One Fund Boston, Inc. to help those afflicted by the attack. Everyone is encouraged to wear a race shirt or blue and yellow as a visual show of support.
The Run will meet at the Rose Garden parking lot at 6 p.m. on Monday, April 22, and be approximately 5k.
This Week in LakeVoice
On Thursday, LakeVoice will release its first ever photo issue. For this issue, LakeVoice staff will go out into the community to capture snapshots of people living their lives in Duluth. The project is inspired by Humans of New York. The goal is to share stories of people’s everyday lives through photos. LakeVoice would like to invite you to join in the project.
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New stuff in Canal Park
The Rustic Olive, an olive oil and balsamic vinegar bar, opened in the Paulucci Building on Dec. 8. The store doesn’t have a sign or a website, but both are coming soon. There is a Facebook page, though. The owners are Tom and Tami Thoma. They have another store in Wisconsin.
Emily and Joel Vikre are planning to open a distillery next to the Rustic Olive. What kind of “spirits” will be distilled is left vague on the Vikre Distillery website, but bourbon and gin are the words on the street. Apparently the state legislature has work to do before Vikre is allowed to offer samples.
One block away, Amazing Grace Bakery & Cafe is apparently looking to add a few intoxicating beverages to its offerings. Next week’s Duluth City Council meeting agenda includes a resolution “approving the issuance of an on sale wine license and issuing a 3.2 percent malt liquor license.”
Of course, we are morally obligated to remind you that Canal Park remains a Skateboarders GTFO area.
Minnesota withdraws from mercury pollution project
The Duluth News Tribune reports the state of Minnesota is withdrawing from a research project regarding mercury pollution in the St. Louis River, even though much of the river’s fish are inedible to women and children, and despite the fact that 1 out of 10 North Shore infants have unsafe levels of mercury in their blood.
The article states that sources of mercury in the environment are well known. They include power plants, taconite plants and sulfate pollution (like the pollution from sulfide mining).
Officials from the MPCA said the state first needs more research on how mercury behaves in nature, but later in the article the proposed study is said to have included new research on how mercury behaves in the environment. Huh? It seems this research would be especially timely due to proposed copper-sulfide mining in Northern Minnesota.