News and Current Affairs
A superficial — and less superficial — look at the candidates for Minnesota governor
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
Primary Election Sample Ballot for Douglas County, Wisconsin — Sept. 14, 2010
Wisconsin is keeping it old school, with a traditional September primary. Here’s what’s on the ballot:
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Duluth Parks and Recreation Master Plan
PDFs of the most recent draft:
Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapters 4-5
There will be a public meeting to review the draft plan on Monday, Aug. 23, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Parks and Recreation Offices, 12 E. Fourth St. It’s your chance to talk to consultants, city staff, and the Parks and Recreation Commission and tell them what you think.
“Habitat Here!” Festival is for the Birds …
… as well as birders and non-birders alike who enjoy Laura Erickson’s “Speaking For the Birds” program on KUMD (Laura will be speaking at the festival!). The event is an essential for gardeners or non-gardeners interested in native landscaping; and/or all your friends and neighbors!
*Wild Ones Arrowhead Chapter and Hartley Nature Center invite you to the second annual:
Habitat Here! Festival and Native Plant Sale
Sunday, Aug. 22, 10-3
Hartley Nature Center, 3001 Woodland Ave. Duluth, MN 55803
A free, open-house style festival to celebrate habitat and learn to create a haven for nature in your own yard; featuring:
- Garden Tours
- Speakers
- Native Plant Sale
- Expert Advice
- Kid’s Activities
Hey, wait, I wasn’t paying attention and now I’m upset and want everyone to go over the whole thing again from the beginning
So, remember a few weeks ago when I tried to spit out as much information as I could about the planned development in Riverside because apparently local news organizations didn’t think it was particularly controversial and had no interest in reporting on it until after the Duluth City Council voted? (more…)
Negative Coverage?
Does any photo published in the DNT even exist on celluloid? I would have thought not, but this suggests otherwise. Or read in your own perceptions of bias. From the home page this morning.
Duluth 2010 Primary Election Results
With 4,136 of 4,136 precincts reporting:
FEDERAL OFFICE
United States Representative, Minnesota District 8 Independence Party
Timothy Olson — 2,515 | 100%
United States Representative, Minnesota District 8
Republican Party
Chip Cravaack — 26,602 | 100%
United States Representative, Minnesota District 8
Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party
James L. Oberstar — 56,369 | 80%
W.D. (Bill) Hamm — 13,836 | 20% (more…)
A special primary election day message from the guy in Cotton who reminds us we’re all a bunch of toys
Yeah, this sign is from the 2008 election — and has been posted on PDD before — but it’s still up, and the “I told you so” has been added since then.
Whether you’re a toy or not, you still have the right to vote and bitch. You even have the right to not vote and still bitch. So take that for what it’s worth.
Learn more about the judicial candidates
I was a little surprised by the lack of comments on the wealth of information I had provided about the judicial candidates in a previous post. I know a lot of people are complaining that there isn’t much information out there and they have no idea who to vote for. Does no one really care about this or was the lack of comments because I didn’t make names clearly visible and easy to click onto?
Did you know that this judge will actually sit at the bench in Two Harbors but that the people of Duluth could out vote what the people of the Two Harbors area want? Does that make any difference to you?
Minnesota Sixth District Court Judge 11 candidates:
Russ Conrow
Timothy Costley
Michael J. Cuzzo
Juhl S. Halvorson
Tim Little
John Steven Lind [Did not return questions]
James Ross
Lawrence W. Ulanowski [Did not return questions]
County Attorney Candidates:
Melanie Ford incumbent
Mark Rubin
It’s time to party and the candidates’ answers
See the Hillsider electronic newsletter here for links to where the National Night Out parties are located and candidate questionnaires for the upcoming election.
Many people are especially interested in the judicial candidates. At our last board meeting we decided to ask the judicial candidates:
What could you do in your position to prevent the disproportionately high number of children of color that are in the juvenile justice system? Are there alternatives to juvenile detention by focusing on solutions rather than punishment?
Downtown Sales
You may have noticed in the past month or so that the old sign has been removed from the Lange Motor Building, best known as the location of the former Carlson Book store, revealing an older sign for Downtown Sales.
What was Downtown Sales? It was an odds and ends store that preceded Bob Carlson’s bookstore venture. Does anyone remember anything about it? We’re talking late 1970s.
R. O. Carlson Used Book & Record closed in March 2003. Big Lake Book had a short run after that, followed by Boardwalk Book. Rod Raymond and Tim Nelson own the building now, which is being gutted of literally tons of old water-damaged books and magazines. No word on future plans.
This part of Superior Street used to be called “Automobile Row,” up until about the 1960s. The Carlson Book building was home to Interstate Auto Co., Kent Motors, Lange Motors and probably a bazillion other businesses.
So there’s a half-ass history outline. Fill in the blanks if you know anything.
Lake Superior Brewing on Facebook
There for the liking at facebook.com/LakeSuperiorBrewing.
Target Corp Gives $150,000 for Republican Tom Emmer
Some Minnesotans seem upset about Minneapolis-based Target giving money for Republican Tom Emmer’s campaign for Minnesota Governor, as Target is usually not associated with conservative politics. Minnesota-based BestBuy also gave $100,000. National News has picked up the story. (more…)
The Duluth Academy
News release from Pakou Ly, public information coordinator for the city of Duluth:
An unprecedented partnership between the city of Duluth, Duluth Public Schools and Lake Superior College was announced today that will create an innovative educational, workforce development and community enrichment hub called the Duluth Academy.
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Will Walleye-gate Matter?
The attempt by St. Louis County Commissioner Dennis Fink and State Senator Satveer Chaudhary to circumvent the standard Department of Natural Resources process for changing fishing regulations on the Fish Lake Resevoir has already cost Senator Chaudhary his DFL endorsement and may likely cost him his job. The question is what impact will the Fish Lake scandal have on Commissioner Fink’s bid for re-election? (more…)
Merging in construction zones on I-35
I know previously someone started up a conversation about the proper use of the merge lanes on I-35, but I am unable to find that posting.
I now have been honked at, given the finger, had one woman actually move her car to block me and then just sit in the left lane blocking traffic, because I’ve properly used the left lane for merging and have zipped past all those who have chosen to sit and creep along in the right lane. My husband has actually had cars swerve out at him as he’s passed, which is now making me nervous to even attempt to use the merge lane.
Have any of the local news stations talked about this? It’d be sweet if they’d all remind people that those of us who actually use the left lane and merge at the appropriate point are the one’s doing the correct thing.
St. Louis County Primary Election 2010 Sample Ballot
Some notes on the Aug. 10 Primary Election:
* This is an election in which you have to choose a party. You can’t, for example, vote for a Republican governor and a DFL congressman. On the partisan side of the ballot you have to vote for the same party in all races. That’s how it works, whether you like it or not.
* Your party choices are Republican, Democratic-Farmer-Labor and Independence. Yes, there are some candidates representing other parties — Constitution, Green, Ecology Democracy, Resource and Grassroots — but those candidates do not have any opposition within their parties and therefore move on to the General Election automatically.
* If you live in Duluth, you won’t see the County Commissioner races that are listed on the sample ballot — those are for districts outside of Duluth. Pretty much all of the Duluth-relevant nonpartisan county races have only two or one candidate, so you won’t get to vote on them until November. The exception is the Sixth District Court Judge 11 race, which has eight candidates.
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No Bad Apples
Members of RWDSU-UFCW Local 220 in Williamson, NY, have been trying to negotiate a contract with Mott’s, a subsidiary of Dr. Pepper Snapple Group. The company is looking to slash wages by as much as $1.50 an hour for each and every employee, and is trying to take away the workers’ pension plan. There is no economic necessity for what the company is seeking to do. It is a profitable, growing company.
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River Walk West development seeks city land on trail in Riverside neighborhood
The view looking out to the St. Louis River from land the could become part of the River Walk West development.
On the Duluth City Council agenda for a first reading on July 12 is an ordinance authorizing the sale of city property in the upper Riverside neighborhood between Spirit Mountain and the U.S. Forestry Department’s Superior National Forest headquarters. (more…)
Exhibit by writer/photographer Brenda Paro opens Friday
Duluth writer and photographer Brenda Paro is presenting new work at the Washington Gallery beginning Friday, July 9. Subtle Cargoes is an exhibit of complex photographic collages paired with poetry, presented using a variety of printing techniques and materials.
The opening reception takes place Friday, July 9 from 6 to 8 pm at Washington Gallery; the exhibit will also be open every Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 5 pm (or by appointment) through July 25. Washington Gallery is located at 315 N. Lake Ave. in Duluth. For more information visit brendaparo.com, or call Paro at (402) 740-5122.
Bemidji Beaver Returned
The Bemidji City Council voted on Tuesday to return the beaver sculpture which had been removed from display over concern that decorations on it resembled a pudendum. DNT story here
Tornado Warning in Duluth?
Today is the first Wednesday of the month, and that’s when the emergency sirens are routinely tested, but today’s drill was a little unusual. The siren went off three times, and the middle siren was followed by a “tornado warning” and instructions to “take cover.”
I guess the snafu two weeks ago wasn’t an isolated incident.