Minnesota Shutdown ends with a whimper...

It appears the infamous Minnesota Shutdown 2011 will at long last come to an end... not with a bang but instead with a whimper. No side is happy in this deal. The question is... what's in store now for Minnesota?  Check out this MinnPost link to find out more about the final blows.

Newspaper industry is a changing...

I guess I got out of the newspaper industry in the nick of time. I left when the Duluth News Tribune was under Knight Ridder and patterned itself in the tradition of the standard newspapers of it's day. When I was asked to continue my column at the DNT following my retirement as editorial page associate there in 2005, I did so under Knight Ridder and later continued through Forum Communications. My column was cut in June of 2008 and the changes at the DNT have have been monumental ever since. The whole industry is changing by the minute and now it's reported that some of the top people at the DNT are out of there. I hear too that 100 jobs in the copy desk and other departments are eliminated at the Strib (Minneapolis Star Tribune). All over the nation, these changes are happening. Click HERE for David Brauer (the Braublog) at MinnPost.com report on the DNT changes.

21st Minnesota Book Awards announced

The 21st annual Minnesota Book Awards were announced following the gala awards event on Saturday night in St. Paul. You can read more about the event and the winners on Minnpost.com. Our northland authors were well represented as as Minnesota Book Award Finalists. Tony Dierckins, my original book publisher and author, was a finalist in the Minnesota category for Crossing the Canal, his outstanding history of the world famous Duluth Aerial Lift Bridge. Chris Monroe, local cartoonist and children's book author, was a finalist in the Children's Literature category for Monkey with a Tool Belt, a popular book with children of all ages.  These two authors deserve kudos for outstanding works recognized both locally and nationally. We're very proud to note their recognition as local writers and of their contributions. Congrats to to Tony and Chis!