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John Ramos

“A wake-up call”: DECC ammonia leak exposes safety concerns, draws EPA investigation

One year ago, on July 13, 2021, the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC) and the neighboring Marcus Theaters were evacuated due to an ammonia leak from a chiller housed...

While under contract with Ruth’s Vegetarian Gourmet, Mayor Swanson advocated for their expansion project with city

In late January of 2020, Jennifer Sterbenz, the newly-hired Director of Community Development for the City of Two Harbors, received an email from a citizen with concerns about “the...

Publisher’s Desk

Hello, readers. Man, oh man. Life is crazy sometimes. One story. Three months ago, we planned to publish one story about Mayor Chris Swanson and Two Harbors, Minnesota—“Unmasking Mr. O.” Today,...

Boss Swanson, Part II: Shining light of hope

Two Harbors Mayor Chris Swanson loves entrepreneurs, and takes pride in what he has done to promote entrepreneurialism in Two Harbors. One might even say that entrepreneurialism is Swanson’s...

Woot woot! Mayor Swanson promoted Swanson businesses 50 times on Facebook

On March 9, 2022, I published an article entitled “Mayor Swanson promoted own businesses 97 times on city Twitter account.” The mayor, who did not appreciate my findings, filed...

Short-term rental boom creates housing shortage in Two Harbors

“There’s one house for sale in Two Harbors,” realtor Sue Bott told the Two Harbors Planning Commission, incredulously, on March 1, 2022. “Well, there was a couple hours ago....

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Superior landfill gas-to-data project terminated over a year ago

In November of 2023, the City of Superior entered into a contract with Vespene Energy, a California company interested in constructing a small data...

How the data center guided the new Hermantown Comprehensive Plan

The most important document underlying Google’s proposed data center in Adolph is the City of Hermantown’s 2045 Comprehensive Plan. The city would not have...

Broken Burke Apartments elevator makes life difficult for disabled tenants

Managed by Accessible Space Inc. out of St. Paul, the Burke Apartments serve tenants with mobility issues and other physical disabilities. On Aug. 13,...

Superior woman paints 90 rocks in memory of father

On Aug. 17, 2026, Superior resident Gemma Davies and her husband, Brad, spent the day traveling around the Twin Ports and along Lake Superior’s...

State shuts down Northland Driving School

On Aug. 13, 2026, the Minnesota Department of Public Safety Driver & Vehicle Services (DVS) taped a Cease and Desist Order to the door...