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Dear friends and neighbors on the Iron Range,
I must start by addressing the tragedy that struck Minneapolis last week. On just the third day of the school year at Annunciation Catholic School, a horrid attack shattered what should have been a time of learning and joy. My heart goes out to the students, families, and staff of Annunciation, and I am grateful for the swift response of law enforcement and medical personnel in the face of such tragedy. Please keep this community in your prayers as they begin the difficult process of healing, and work to recover in the wake of this attack. As I write this message, Governor Tim Walz is contemplating a special session. While our caucus will discuss this possibility, for now it seem like a way for our Governor to score political points whilst the tragedy is fresh, which is a sad state of affairs for Minnesota, and our political system. More to come on that situation.
Letter to the Star Tribune
As I’m sure you know, the sulfate standard is being unfairly applied to taconite mining while other industries are ignored. This has been an ongoing problem particularly here on the Range, and media like the Star Tribune fueling a false narrative against mining is only making matters worse. This threatens our heritage, livelihoods, and future on the Range. I’m proud of our six local United Steelworkers presidents who called out this bias in a letter to the Tribune. This is the defining issue for our region at this time, and I’ll keep working with colleagues to fix the standard and protect our communities. Wednesday, Sept. 3rd, there will be a public meeting at the Iron Trail Motors Event Center, hosted by the MPCA. We hope to pack the room with common-sense supporters that will speak to the benefit of our industries here on the Range.
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 MSP Airport Tour
Last week, my family and I had the unique opportunity to tour the MSP airport courtesy of Mitch Kilian, the Metropolitan Airports Commission Executive Director. During 3 hours of tour time, we were able to see much of the facility and learn about the work that some 20,000 employees do each day. Next time, I hope to see more of the maintenance shops and tower operation, but it was a great first tour!
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Minnesota Zoo
While in the cities, we took the opportunity to check out the Minnesota Zoo as well, and it sure was worth the visit! Thanks to Minnesota Zoo Executive Director John Frawley we were treated to an incredible behind-the-scenes tour. To start, we saw the sea lion show, the Treetop Trail, and several exhibits before meeting with John and his assistant, Kayla. The bird show was a highlight as well! We were able to see the important work happening behind the scenes, including food preparation and the animal hospital, before heading back to enjoy the public side of the zoo.
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Interstate Park
On the way south, we took in a stop at Interstate Park. It was quite impressive and I highly recommend it!
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Habitat for Humanity Project
A HUGE thank you to those who volunteered for our North St. Louis County Habitat for Humanity project day. We were fortunate to have great weather and made strong progress thanks to the hard work of so many hands. This project was also made possible through taxes paid by Minnesota’s mining industry, which is a great reminder that mining supports far more than just its employees and companies. It was a great day of service and I look forward to the next opportunity!
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Iron Range Labor Assembly Picnic
To round out Labor Day weekend, I was honored to speak at the Iron Range Labor Assembly’s annual picnic yesterday. The program included remarks from Governor Tim Walz, Senator Grant Hauschild, Representative Roger Skraba, and others. A poignant reminder came through the day’s conversations: organized labor depends on strong core industries. Without jobs, there can be no union opportunities. Here on the Range, more than 10,000 jobs are tied directly to mining, with 11 million more supported downstream across the country. Thank you to all who attended and made this event a success!!
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Thanks to the Mesabi Tribune for this last photo and caption from the picnic! |
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Please Contact Me
Please continue to reach out if I can be of any assistance to you. The best method is to use my email – I am rarely near the office phone, but that number is 651.296.0170 and you can try me there too.
Have a great weekend!
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