Mesabi Daily News
Congressman Rick Nolan

As a born and bred Cuyuna Ranger, I spend a lot of time talking mining with my colleagues out in Washington. I tell them that up on the Range, mining is who we are. It’s in our blood, our history and our way of life.

I explain that mining is about jobs. Mining is a big job that drives thousands of jobs. Two-thirds of all the iron ore used to make steel in the United States is mined right here — a capitol investment of more than $4 billion dollars. Mining puts food on tables, kids through college and money in the bank.

I share a little history. Mining’s “Greatest Generation” won World War II. Mining’s unions created a middle class that’s built thriving businesses, schools and communities.

I invite them to join all of us, and the thousands of visitors from all over the nation, who enjoy our clean air, clear lakes, pine forests, hunting, fishing and camping. No one appreciates the great outdoors more than us Rangers.

Read more: http://www.virginiamn.com/mine/article_18a4b848-419e-11e3-a875-001a4bcf887a.html

Mesabi Daily News
Senator Al Franken

For generations, mining has played a unique role in the economy, and the culture, of our state.

I travel to the Iron Range as often as I can. And whenever I’m there, I meet with workers who are rightly proud to be earning good paychecks in good jobs, producing steel for skyscrapers, iron ore nuggets for electric arc furnaces, and much more.

Mining is a true Minnesota tradition. So, too, is respect for our environment and careful stewardship of our natural resources — not just for our own sake, but for the sake of our children, grandchildren, and future generations.

Nobody knows this better than Iron Rangers, who enjoy both the economic opportunities offered by mining and the quality of life provided by Northern Minnesota’s beautiful landscape and abundant recreational opportunities.

Read more: http://www.virginiamn.com/mine/article_e83c973e-41a2-11e3-b0eb-001a4bcf887a.html

Mesabi Daily News
Bill Hanna

Dick and Pam Backstrom are a lifetime mining couple.

How important is mining to their lives, their marriage, their family, their community? Well, when they talk mining, they often finish each other’s sentences. Literally.

The founders of IDEA Drilling who still continue as part-owners of the company, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary last June.

IDEA is currently doing exploratory work for Twin Metals Minnesota, which has offices in the Twin Cities, Ely and Babbitt, and plans a long-term nonferrous mining project that would create more than 1,300 permanent jobs, thousands more spin-off positions for other businesses and vendors and about 5,000 construction jobs.

Read more: http://www.virginiamn.com/news/local/article_86515948-4106-11e3-b8bf-0019bb2963f4.html

Hibbing Daily Tribune

Building off the success of our first special 48-page section called MINE, today we present to you MINE II, the second ACM newspapers publication focusing on the importance — past, present and into the future — of mining to the Iron Range.

The MINE venture is a cooperative effort of the Mesabi Daily News, Hibbing Daily Tribune, Grand Rapids Herald-Review and Chisholm Tribune Press.

Mining is the very foundation of the Iron Range. It cuts to the core of our heritage and traditions, and holds so much continued financial promise for the region. And the stories of mining’s history, its current status and its promise for a better future for the Range are never-ending.

Read more: http://www.hibbingmn.com/news/local/article_81066318-4109-11e3-8912-0019bb2963f4.html

Mesabi Daily News
Bill Hanna

Mineral leases — 31 of them — for exploratory drilling in Northeastern Minnesota were approved by the Executive Council Friday after a more than 10-month delay.

The council, comprised of the state’s five constitutional offices, voted 4-1 to issue the leases to the highest bidders. Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Tom Landwehr and his staff had recommended the leases be awarded prior to the council’s December 2012 meeting. Their recommendation held into this year.