Aaron Brown
Editorial Columnist
Iron RangeAaron Brown is a columnist for the Minnesota Star Tribune Editorial Board. He’s based on the Iron Range but focuses on the affairs of the entire state. He was raised in a trailer house on a local junkyard and is the first in five generations of his family to never work in an iron mine. He lives down a dirt road on the western Mesabi. His past writing can be found at MinnesotaBrown.com.
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Latest from Aaron Brown
Brown: Mental illness threatens the harvest in rural Minnesota, but hope grows
State-backed program offers a lifeline, but breaking stigma remains a tough row to hoe.
May 10, 2025
Brown: Trump boosts NorthMet, but mines need strong economy, not just bluster
If Trump wants copper-nickel mining in Minnesota, he will need to stop tanking the economy.
May 6, 2025
Brown: U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame debate crashes into the boards
Banning a nonprofit organization from moving is an overreach. We must find a way for the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame to succeed on its own.
May 4, 2025
Brown: Lessons on courage from the plucky mama duck in the DNR's EagleCam nest
Mama Mallard has no fear.
April 28, 2025
Brown: To heal generational pain, we must recognize and ease Minnesota’s mental health crisis
Progress has been made in mental wellness, but the path forward is long.
April 26, 2025
Brown: Capital for companies, unintended consequences for us
Customers fear higher bills if BlackRock-led group buys Minnesota Power.
April 20, 2025
Brown: Why have regulations when you can have safety shanties?
Given that a box of angry raccoons might soon oversee federal worksite safety, it could be time to revive the 19th century shanty tradition.
April 16, 2025
Brown: No place for myth in future of Minnesota forest industries
Better management makes safer industry, healthier forests, but markets and tech are changing
April 13, 2025
Brown: To heal generational pain, we must recognize and ease Minnesota’s mental health crisis
Progress has been made in mental wellness, but the path forward is long.
April 26, 2025
Brown: Capital for companies, unintended consequences for us
Customers fear higher bills if BlackRock-led group buys Minnesota Power.
April 20, 2025
Brown: Why have regulations when you can have safety shanties?
Given that a box of angry raccoons might soon oversee federal worksite safety, it could be time to revive the 19th century shanty tradition.
April 16, 2025
Brown: No place for myth in future of Minnesota forest industries
Better management makes safer industry, healthier forests, but markets and tech are changing
April 13, 2025