Aaron J. Brown

Brown: Strict new registration proposals could leave legal voters in limbo "The SAVE Act is less a voting bill, more a not-voting bill. Rhetoric claiming that illegal immigrants are currently allowed to vote is a loud and easily refutable lie," columnist Aaron Brown writes.

The SAVE Act is premised on idea that voter fraud is common (it isn't) & that illegal immigrants do it (they almost never do). Is that a reason to disenfranchise citizens? (which the law would) If you're not sure, today's column has a compelling example.

Brown: Would you live in a building that was once a jail? Across Minnesota, ambitious developers are converting school buildings — and even jails — into multifamily housing, columnist Aaron Brown writes.

Adaptability is a noble trait, which is why we should get used to former schools, and even jails, being repurposed for housing.

Brown: The quiet crisis gurgling beneath our feet Beneath the streets of most Minnesota towns lie pipes past the end of their useful life. But many cities can’t afford to maintain this crumbling water infrastructure, columnist Aaron Brown writes.

Closer to home, a big wet water crisis threatens to bankrupt small towns and big cities alike. It will take spending and thrift alike to save the day.

Brown: What a 1921 Ford Model T can teach us about today’s tech "Pops, who drove mining and semi trucks for decades, told me that his new machine 'scares the hell out of me.' This, coming from a guy who once piloted an out-of-control tractor-trailer down from the ...

What me being a dumbass, a Ford Model T and a long dead Polish philosopher can tell us about the monumental changes coming to our lives in just the next few years.

Brown: Betsy-Tacy books show the humanity in our immigration story Maud Hart Lovelace’s books extolled curiosity and kindness, two traits we could use a little more of today, writes columnist Aaron Brown.

Sometime along the way, the immigration debate in America got stuck on what we fear, rather than what should be. Minnesota's past, including the charming, gentle story of a curious girl named Betsy, shows a way forward.

I'm really excited to have an essay featured in this collection alongside some excellent writers. When you see those clickbait maps saying we're land-locked YOU TELL 'EM. YOU TELL 'EM IT AIN'T TRUE.

Brown: When betting is everywhere, we gamble with our future "There’s a difference between legal gambling and ubiquitous gambling. When everything is a potential bet, we commodify our existence," writes columnist Aaron Brown.

Legal gambling might be entertainment, but when a culture of gambling takes over a society, it becomes something else entirely. As Super Bowl Sunday approaches, is the bet we should be making?

Brown: Ojibwe-language hockey announcers bring new cultural life to the sport It takes more than words to describe a hockey game in Ojibwe. To hear the game in Anishinaabemowin, “the language of the people,” is an immersive experience, columnist Aaron Brown writes.

"Biinjweba’ige! Score! No other word lights up a hockey game the same way, whether players skate at Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul or on a pond somewhere up north. But it takes more than words to describe a hockey game in Ojibwe." My latest column:

Brown: Arrest of journalists escalates the constitutional crisis in Minnesota This is a red line that must not be crossed, writes columnist Aaron Brown.

"The arrest of journalists for covering news events in public places is another red line that must not be crossed." My latest column:

Brown: As freedom is tested in Minnesota, the world watches Igor Yakovlev is a communication officer for a pro-democracy political party in Russia. Since an ICE agent shot Renee Good Jan. 7, his colleagues have been paying close attention to Minnesota.

The Russian opposition is watching Minnesota with concern, because they've seen this before, and hope, because they envy our constitution and admire the resolve of Minnesotans. Our state is setting an example in the defense of freedom around the globe.

I haven’t seen it yet!

Brown: Under the bright lights of Walmart, an economic story unfolds "What I’ve seen change in these aisles over the past few years tells a story about our demographic, economic and cultural future," Aaron Brown writes.

Under gleaming lights, a story of social dynamics and technology is unfolding at your local Walmart. Shopping there is emblematic of the American experience, which is why we must pay attention to what's happening in the aisles.

"Fear is no match for common purpose." --Aaron J. Brown

Brown: Our weary state must find shared reality amid chaos and fear As Minnesotans from metro to meadow spar over immigration enforcement, we can look to history for a lesson: A 1916 miners’ strike showed the depths of division a community can sink to — and yet recove...

Oppression, violence, death and competing narratives are not new to Minnesota. It's happened before - up north - and the past can show us a way forward.

Brown: Trump’s child care funding freeze harms working people. Is anyone surprised? "Today, child care facilities in Minnesota wonder whether they can stay open if a Dec. 31 freeze to federal child care assistance continues," columnist Aaron Brown writes.

Funding freezes to federal programs like childcare assistance are being used to punish political opponents, rather than to address problems like fraud or the economic crisis of inadequate childcare options. www.startribune.com/day-care-fra...

I don't have a GDP number off the top of my head, but when US Steel was formed in 1901 it was the world's largest corporation and the world's first billion-dollar capitalized company. A significant majority of its raw iron came from northern Minnesota. I do not know how to calculate what was taken.

Brown: Despite arguments and heartbreak, a bipartisan friendship shows the way From columnist Aaron Brown: Karl Oberstar Jr., 74, is a Democrat. Matt Matasich, 65, was a Republican. They didn’t disagree about everything, just most things.

A really nice column by @startribune.com's
@minnesotabrown.bsky.social: Despite arguments and heartbreak, a bipartisan friendship shows the way | After 40 years, what they had left was not disagreement but devotion.

Brown: High costs? Budget cuts? Even more reason to protect public libraries. "For me and legions of library patrons from all walks of life, what’s happening these days feels personal," Aaron Brown writes.

The public library is a place for everyone, free to use, open to all. In a world of subscriptions, higher prices & limited access, fight for libraries. To paraphrase George Bailey, "if only to have some place to go without crawling to Jeff Bezos."

Looking backwards and forwards at MinnesotaBrown - Minnesota Brown Iron Range author and Minnesota Star Tribune columnist Aaron Brown looks back at 2025 and forward to 2026 at his blog.

For the loyal hangers-on at my honest-to-god-I-still-call-it-a-blog, I have a year-end post devoid of lists. How does an Iron Ranger navigate working at the state's largest newspaper? What's coming in 2026? All that and more.

Brown: Tragic death highlights security challenges at Minnesota hospitals "Each day, hospital staff seek to help people on the worst day of their lives, knowing that the situation can sometimes become worse," Aaron Brown writes.

A tragic death on Christmas reminds of the critical challenge to keep patients and staff safe during a dangerous crisis.

Another must-read from Aaron Brown

Brown: Despite arguments and heartbreak, a bipartisan friendship shows the way From columnist Aaron Brown: Karl Oberstar Jr., 74, is a Democrat. Matt Matasich, 65, was a Republican. They didn’t disagree about everything, just most things.

Two local Iron Range politicians maintained a bipartisan friendship over 40 years, even in the age of Trump. Here's how they did it. www.startribune.com/us-political...

Brown: We need more communication about mining and the environment, not less "The insinuation that only granola-crunching nonprofit organizations try to influence the federal government is laughable. International mining corporations lobby public officials all the time," Aaron...

Despite recent political theater, communication between mining interests, regulators and environmental groups is good, already happens and should happen more. www.startribune.com/pete-stauber...

I can't believe I missed this very apt comparison. No hoods, though, because we're hard core.

Brown: It’s Christmastime, which means it’s time to count birds "As millennials enter midlife, many face one of the most insidious hazards of aging: Sudden Onset Birding, or SOB," columnist Aaron Brown writes.

When you're ready, and only if you're ready, I present a free and easy opportunity to enter the world of birding in today's Minnesota Star Tribune. Be careful, this escalates quickly.

Brown: Resurgent film industry can elevate Minnesota to the A-list "Our state is a blank canvas for filmmakers, especially up North, where the gorgeous vistas we often take for granted have yet to appear in movies," Aaron Brown writes.

Northern Minnesota is carving a unique niche in the film industry. TV and film carry cultural and economic power, so our state should encourage a home-grown media industry. After a week off, my latest column:

Brown: Self-driving cars in Minneapolis? A small Minnesota town did it first. Free, self-driving cars came to Grand Rapids in 2022 — years ahead of the Twin Cities, Aaron Brown writes.

Minnesota is embroiled in an important debate about autonomous ride share services in Minneapolis. You may be surprised to learn that driverless vehicles have safely operated in a small northern Minnesota town for three years.

Brown: Bitterness dies, but gratitude lasts generations Columnist Aaron Brown recounts stories from the life of his grandfather — a man whose gruffness couldn't erase his moments of kindness.

As you prepare to celebrate the holiday, here's my story of grumpy old men brought back to life by kindness from long ago. Happy Thanksgiving, friends.

Minnesota's first new taconite mine in 50 years is a modern marvel that reveals the challenges and opportunities coming to the Iron Range, where change is afoot. www.startribune.com/mn-iron-rang...

What if addressing the climate crisis also solved economic problems we've battled for generations? One Florida climate strategist brings ideas to his Duluth hometown. www.startribune.com/mn-climate-p...