News and Current Affairs
Help create a Community Energy Classroom in Lincoln Park
The Duluth Energy Efficiency Program has entered the Green Awards, a program that recognizes individuals making a giant difference in communities across the country with $25,000 to further the work of their organizations. 25 percent of the award selection is based upon public online voting occurring from March 12-27. If awarded to DEEP, the proceeds would be utilized for development of a community energy classroom in Lincoln Park.
In the meantime… DEEP is offering rebates of up to $3,150 for Duluth households for energy home improvements. More info is available at duluthenergy.org.
Cravaack in the news
Congressman Chip Cravaack gets a lesson on what it’s like to live in a country under the rule of law.
Apparently there is a procedure that is followed when people (or organizations) are suspected of crimes. Who knew?
LakeVoice has a new look
See it. Hear it. Read it.
Check out the LakeVoice’s new additions to its website. Our banner and logo has been updated along with a new tab that lets you look inside the news room and meet our staff. We have also opened our comment section and would appreciate the community sharing their opinions with us.
Top stories on LakeVoice this week include an introduction to the 2011 Homegrown Music Festival, a local business owner recalls the floods of 1972, and learn how you can get involved in feeding people in the community by exercising.
Also be sure to check out this week’s top photos from around the area.
LakeVoice News is a weekly online publication produced by UMD journalism students. The stories are reported on and written by students, but the content is for the community.
Blue Laws are Stupid, Post #4
The bill to allow retail sales of alcohol on Sundays in Minnesota is scheduled to be heard in the Senate Commerce Committee on Wednesday, March 16, at 10:30 a.m.
Quoth Sen. Roger Reinert of Duluth:
“Sunday liquor sale laws are remnants of a bygone era that no longer make sense in a 21st Century world.”
Bring awareness to sexual assault — donation-based class raising PAVSA funds
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
Rep. Milroy tackled at the Capitol
Rep. Nick Milroy of Superior was tackled to the ground as he entered the Capitol building in Madison to retrieve some clothing from his office. Apparently he showed his ID to an officer, but the officer didn’t give him clearance to get in.
(This post originally contained an embedded video that was later removed from YouTube.)
This week in LakeVoice…
Students at UMD have launched their second week of stories on LakeVoice, along with this slick audio spot. Week2 LakeVoice
Prospects for the Arrowhead: What do you want for your future?
Part of the Public Insight Network
An economic evolution is underway in Northeastern Minnesota. New mining projects, continued development along the North Shore, the growth of health care and increasing numbers of self-employed workers present a fresh generation of choices.
While the economy shows signs of life, the path to prosperity raises tough questions about jobs and quality of life. So what do you want for your future?
MPR News and the Northland’s NewsCenter are holding a community-wide forum on the economic outlook for Duluth and the Arrowhead. We want you for this important discussion. If so, please click here to RSVP.
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Cirrus to be acquired by Chinese Company
Cirrus Industries, parent company of Cirrus Aircraft of Duluth, announced today it will be acquired by China Aviation Industry General Aircraft Co. of Zhuhai, China. The transaction is expected to close by midyear.
Cirrus will apparently continue to assemble airplanes in Duluth. Mayor Don Ness issued this statement:
“We anticipate that this merger will give Cirrus the additional financial resources and stability to ensure their recovery and grow operations and employment as the economy rebounds. I appreciate the assurances that Cirrus management has given us that operations will remain in Duluth; obviously that is our primary concern. We look forward to continuing the partnership with Cirrus not only to retain local operations, but also to grow jobs and support the company’s future success.”
Gypsy moth abatement
Nothing will drive viewers to a new blog like gypsy moth abatement! Did anyone else get the gypsy moth abatement report in the mail yesterday and can anyone explain to me why pheromone treatment is fine for 99 percent of the treatment areas, yet in a small area of East Hillside they’ll be spraying insecticide?!?
Results of Duluth focus group meetings
Here it is, in its 30-page glory:
Citizen’s Perspective, Priorities & Performance
City of Duluth Focus Group Research
Compiled by Zenith Research Group
Last Day to Celebrate I Love to Read Month!
Kids and parents come and join United Way Success By 6 at the Duluth Public Library for our final Cozy Pajama Story Time!
The last three weeks have been a huge success and we want to make sure more people can enjoy our final story time on Thursday, Feb. 24, at 6:30pm in the Green Room at the library.
Three teen readers from the Boys and Girls Club of Duluth will be reading as a part of a service project. The stories are expected to go from 6:30-6:50 with a craft activity planned for 6:50-7:15.
It will be another great night of fun during that restless time between dinner and bedtime for your little ones.
Duluth mansion demolition makes way for big box store
Well, they have begun to tear down the mansion to make way for the mega Walgreens. Some other houses will be torn down, too. See my post The Last Mansion Between Kitchi Gammi Club and 14th Ave. East.
Superior 2011 Primary Election Results
Superior Mayor
Bruce Hagen — 2,099 | 69%
Kevin Peterson — 710 | 23%
Don Raihala — 120 | 4%
Gilbert Davidson — 113 | 4%
Bruce Hagen and Kevin Peterson advance to the General Election on April 5.
Mmmmmm. Monorail.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jF_yLodI1CQ[/youtube]
Personally, one of my favorite episodes.
Derailed train cars fall from bridge by Duluth’s ore docks
A Canadian National train carrying 17 empty cars derailed while approaching a limestone storage area on a trestle bridge near the Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range Railway Ore Docks this morning.
Two cars fell; one landed upside down, the other landed against a support for the ore docks and sat standing on its end. No one was hurt.
Blue Laws are Stupid, Post #3
The Duluth News Tribune is reporting that State Senator Roger Reinert has introduced legislation that would allow Minnesota liquor stores to open on Sundays.
Story link: “Liquor on Sunday?”
And we haven’t even bitched about blue laws on PDD since September. Too busy drinking to fight for our rights, I guess.
New Food Regionalism Lecture Series at University of Minnesota Duluth this Spring
Unless otherwise noted, speaker sessions begin promptly at 3:45 p.m., UMD Library Rotunda (4th Floor).
Thursday, Feb. 3: “The American Good Food Movement: Communities, Health & Social Change,” Maggie Adamek, Terra Soma Consulting
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Soon, we will never leave the house
Google plans to do for art galleries what it did for maps and street view.
I can’t wait till I can Google my groceries.
Pilot has a PDD thanks to Cirrus!
A small plane pilot walked away unhurt from a crash near Kiowa, Colo. early Sunday after he deployed the aircraft’s parachute system, authorities said.
(“Pilot unhurt after plane’s parachute cushions crash near Kiowa” story from Denver7 no longer archived.)
Amy Klobuchar’s Hot Dish Recipe
Amy Klobuchar’s Taconite Tater Tot Hot Dish recipe is now available for all who remember when tater tots were not the enemy of school lunches that Michelle Obama has made them out to be in her campaign to bring health lunches to schools. Anyone else notice the irony of this “situation?”
G. Love & Special Sauce at Clyde Iron Works on April 27
First Ave. is announcing G. Love and Special Sauce with special guests The Belle Brigade will be performing at Clyde Iron in Duluth on Wednesday, April 27, 2011. Tickets on sale this Saturday, January 29 at 10:00am. I am assuming via Ticket Master but I do not see that show listed as of yet on ticketmaster.com.
“G. Love’s new album, Fixin’ To Die, is set for release on February 22nd on Brushfire Records. Recorded at Echo Mountain Studios in Asheville, NC, and produced by Scott and Seth Avett (The Avett Brothers), this new body of work is arguably G. Love’s most sincere and candid work to date.”