Dave and Dave Blog

Another potential roadblock for the proposed PolyMet copper-nickel mining operation near Hoyt Lakes has been sidestepped.  A bill that would have added more up-front assurances that non ferrous mining companies would pay for any remediation needed, was pulled from Minnesota senate consideration last night.  While on the "Dave and Dave Show" this morning, Minnesota Mining Executive Director, Frank Ongaro, says the project is still on track and a final environmental impact statement is due later this spring.  He says after two years of construction jobs, the 600 million dollar PolyMet operation would create around 400 fulltime jobs that are desperately needed in northeastern Minnesota. 

 We also featured news from New York state where the legislature there is proposing to ban the use of salt in restaurant cooking.  The Brooklyn lawmaker who introduced the measure, says patrons could decide whether to add salt to their food after it arrives at the table.  Legislating what we can eat may be going a bit overboard.  Besides the proposed ban on salt, many states already ban trans-fat in cooking and some are thinking of taxing drinks and treats that contain sugar.

The face of the Duluth waterfront is expecting another change for the better as a group of investors has purchased the old LaFarge Cement property just west of Bayfront Festival Park.  Sandy Hoff, who represents the group, was a guest on "Dave and Dave" this morning and outlined the highlights of a plan that could include a hotel, restaurant, retail shops and lots of recreational opportunities at the site.  Hoff is excited about the possibilities and praised the city of Duluth for all the cooperation they've been getting for the development. 

Another former child actor was found dead today in Hollywood.  Corey Haim was 38 years old and died from an apparent prescription drug overdose.  He joins a long list of kid stars who couldn't say "no" to the drugs that were easily available when they were "famous".  Haim and many others who found fame early in life were not able to adjust when they got older and the "child actor" roles dried up. One of the major exceptions to that trend was Ron Howard who was very successful as a child actor in the "Andy Griffith Show" and "Happy Days" and then continued his steller career through adulthood behind the scenes as a director.  He needs to write a "how-to" book for all the other child actors to read and heed while they are still around.

It happens every year about this time, with the coming of warmer temperatures is the usual increase in gasoline prices.  The standard answer for the spring spikes is the re-formulation to a "summer blend" and increased demand by motorists who start driving more.  According to the website minnesotagasprices.com, the average in Minnesota for a gallon of unleaded regular is 2.72, which compares favorably to the national average of 2.73.  Here in the Twin Ports, its an entirely different story.  Most stations in Duluth were charging 2.85 a gallon on Monday while it was 2.89 in Superior.  Nobody seems to know why it is 13 cents a gallon cheaper just a few miles down I-35 in Minnesota.  Superior prices are normally a few cents above Duluth's because of higher Wisconsin gas taxes.  The average price is also about 80 cents a gallon more than it was a year ago at this time.  Just like the old saying about the weather...you can complain about it but there's not much you can do about it.  Except, lately, there haven't been many complaints about the warmer than normal weather.

Senator Amy Klobuchar was a guest on today's Dave & Dave Show and talked about a bill she proposed that was just signed into law and several others that are being considered.  President Obama signed the bill that Klobuchar authored that promotes the U-S as a tourism attraction and competes with other countries' tourism efforts.  She is also pushing for a bill that will help small and medium businesses expand to include overseas markets for their products.  Klobuchar is also working to put limits on the amount of money cell phone companies can collect if you terminate service before the contract is up. 

 John Warren is filling in for a couple weeks while Dave Walter is re-charging his batteries and training for the upcoming "Office Olympics". 

One of the more bizzare distracted driving accidents we've ever heard of happened in Florida over the weekend.  A woman ran into another vehicle while she was attempting to shave her "private parts" while driving down the highway.  She may have ended up with a much closer shave than she expected.

Minnesota State Legislator from Duluth, Roger Reinert, was a guest today on the Dave and Dave Show and provided us with some insights into the ongoing discussions involving a bonding bill, the general assistance medical care program, tax reciprocity and budget matters at the capitol.  Reinert also was very enthusiastic about this week's Duluth and St. Louis County Days.  He said such a huge show of support from area citizens does make a difference when legislators consider projects that benefit northeastern Minnesota.  This weekend, the annual Academy Awards will be handed out in Hollywood.  Between the two Dave's, we saw just one of the ten nominees for best picture this year.  I think we need to get out more often.  Enjoy the weekend and be with us Monday when U-S Senator Amy Klobuchar will be our special guest. 

A marathon negotiating session with a mediator in St. Paul resulted in a tentative agreement between AFSCME Local 66 and the city of Duluth early this morning.  Pending a ratification vote, the deal will avoid a threatened strike against the city by the union.  Details of the agreement will be released after union members are notified.  Hundreds of citizens and government officials from Duluth and St. Louis County are returning home today after the annual lobbying effort at the state capitol.  Andy Peterson from the Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce, which organizes the event, says it appears to have been a very productive two days.  The true test will come when a final bonding bill, that includes Duluth and northeastern Minnesota projects, is passed by the legislature and signed by the Governor.  State Representative Roger Reinert is scheduled to be a guest on the Friday Dave and Dave Show with a progress report on this year's Minnesota legislative session.

The Northland Chapter of the American Red Cross is holding several fund raising events during the month of March.  Among them is "Restaurant Relief" being held this Friday at several area eating establishments.  A portion of the profits that day will go toward helping the good work of the Red Cross.  Grandma's Restaurants are also donating a percentage of their soup sales for the entire month of March.  "Play It Again Sports" in the Kenwood Shopping Center in Duluth and the Belknap Plaza in Superior will also offer discounted merchandise in return for a Red Cross donation.  Get more information, including the participating restaurants, elsewhere on this KDAL website.

Another Dave & Dave guest this morning, St. Louis County Commissioner Dennis Fink, talked about the board approving the sale of the old county jail for 54 thousand dollars.  Closing on the deal is expected next month.  Fink says the new owners are hoping to turn a portion of the building into office space.

There are nearly 200 kids in Duluth waiting for a mentor.  Dave Schaeffer from "Mentor Duluth" says they have started the March recruiting campaign to find 31 new mentors, one for each day of the month.  On the Dave & Dave Show today, Schaeffer says mentors should be 18 or older, have a reliable means of transportation and be willing to build a strong friendship with a young person.  Get more information by calling Mentor Duluth at 722-4745 or drop by their offices in the Board Of Trade Building, 301 W. 1st Street. 

You might want to set your watch.  Scientists at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California say the strong earthquake in Chile over the weekend has cut about one millionth of a second off the length of the day.  That's because the earth's axis, around which the planet's mass is balanced, may have shifted up to three inches.  No wonder it seems I've been running late all this week.

Pilots and technicians at the Duluth 148th FIghter Wing of the Minnesota Air National Guard will soon shed the distinction of flying and maintaining the oldest F-16 fighters still in U-S service.  Last week, they got the good news that 18 newer "block 50" F-16's are on their way to Duluth over the next several months.  On the Dave & Dave Show today, officials at the Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce said that should assure that the Air Guard base, jobs and 95 million dollar annual economic impact should be safe for at least the next 15 years. 

It was a tough loss for the U-S Olympic hockey team Sunday as they dropped the gold medal game in overtime.  But still, the squad topped most of the pre olympic expectations by winning the silver...congratulations to all the athletes who represented their countries well by performing to the best of their abilities and, in many cases, exceeding them.  Training starts now for 2014.  After over two weeks of coverage from Vancouver, it will certainly be strange not watching some sort of olympic event on T-V tonight.

The Twin Ports are among the communities that are looking to become one of the U-S locations of an ultra high speed broadband network proposed by Google.  Community leaders and citizens are banding together to create a formal application for the service that would benefit existing businesses and would likely draw more to the area.  Curt Walczak from the UMD Center for Economic Development and Brian Hanson, the Business and Community Director in Duluth, were guests this morning on the Dave & Dave Show explaining how important it would be to see internet speeds up to a 100 times faster than current delivery methods.  Find out what it's all about and how you can help by logging on to their website www.googletwinports.com 

Last weekend the Boat Show at the DECC was a sure sign of the warmer weather to come.  If you are ready for yet another cure for cabin fever, take the family to the DECC this weekend for the annual Lake Superior Family Fun Fest with Ronald McDonald, Chowder from the Cartoon Network and the Twins mascot "TC".  There is also an indoor carnival with a wide assortment of rides for all ages. 

Ever since my blog yesterday about communication being the first step in solving problems, Governor Pawlenty and DFL leaders in the legislature actually got together to discuss the bonding bill and the General Assistance Medical Care issue.  Had I realized the power of this blog, I would have submitted it weeks earlier.  Anyway, here's hoping the talks will be fruitful and those who aren't talking yet (hint-hint for AFSCME and city of Duluth officials) will make every effort to meet and work out their differences.  The attached audio cut from the movie "Cool Hand Luke" is most appropriate.  This morning on Dave & Dave we talked a bit about the tragic death of an animal trainer at Sea World in Orlando.  It serves as a sad reminder that no matter how tame trained killer whales, bears, tigers, elephants and other animals seem to be, they are still wild animals and rough "play" or frustration with the trainers can be fatal. 

One of the primary ways to come to decision that all parties involved can agree on is communicating with each other.  That key ingredient to reaching a compromise has been lacking recently in government at all levels.  Nationally, the health reform bill has stalled because of across the aisle bickering.  Hopefully, a bipartisan conference on Thursday can get the ball moving again.  In Minnesota, there are some early signs that Governor Pawlenty and the legislative leaders may actually meet to discuss the bonding bill that faces a veto unless changes are made.  Now, if we can only get cooler heads to prevail between the AFSCME union and Duluth city officials to resume contract talks and avoid a potential strike.  Thanks to a group of involved and concerned students, the Duluth School Board was pushed to take action Tuesday night to keep the school names and mascots the same when the district goes to a two high school configuration.  So many opportunities are lost in this world just because of an avoidable "failure to communicate".