Reposting to fix a headline typo: RRHS Dean of Students arrested in child exploitation investigation. Awaiting extradition to Georgia. ironrangetoday.com/2025/03/18/chr…

NEW: Two Iron Range school districts are facing millions in budget cuts, with decisions possibly coming as soon as this afternoon. ironrangetoday.com/2025/03/19/fac…

Cleveland-Cliffs set to layoff 600 steelworkers at Minorca, Hibbing Taconite ironrangetoday.com/2025/03/20/hau…

No date has been set, but the IRRR Board has initiated a reorganization meeting now that Sen. Justin Eichorn, its chair, has resigned. ironrangetoday.com/2025/03/20/iro…

UPDATED: Today's layoff notices are especially hitting hard at Hibbing Taconite: "Are those 240 people coming back?" Letter from Cliffs says temporary could "exceed six months." ironrangetoday.com/2025/03/20/hau…

Chris Chad, the dean of students at Rock Ridge who is awaiting extradition to Georgia on felony child exploitation charges, is no longer listed on the school’s staff directory. Supt. Noel Schmidt said he didn’t have an immediate update, but to stay tuned. Board meets Monday.

UPDATED: 15 staff members have been listed on the Rock Ridge School Board agenda for termination or unrequested leave as the district looks at $2.5 million in budget cuts. ironrangetoday.com/2025/03/21/on-…

NEW: Rock Ridge pushed a final decision on 15 staff positions back to Monday, March 31 — the final day it can take action on tenured staff. It also accepted four early buyouts, while rejecting the option for principals. ironrangetoday.com/2025/03/25/roc…

We've updated this story. More to come Friday and Monday nights.

Rock Ridge looked at new cuts in an effort to avoid reducing teachers. The next vote will be Monday, when directors will put the entirety of cuts on the table. ironrangetoday.com/2025/03/28/roc…

Rock Ridge delayed voting on 16 staff cuts Monday, pushing a decision back to its next regular meeting on April 14. ironrangetoday.com/2025/03/31/roc…

NEW: Extending unemployment benefits for 630 laid off Iron Range miners has a clear path through the Minnesota Legislature. But first it had to hit some political potholes. ironrangetoday.com/2025/04/02/ext…

SCOOP: A criminal warrant in Fulton County alleges Chris Chad, the jailed Rock Ridge dean of students, told a 12-year-old male victim they could "have fun" in a "blind spot" of the Rock Ridge security cameras. More: ironrangetoday.com/2025/04/08/war…

Rock Ridge School Board has approved a resolution tonight that will start the process to discipline and dismiss Chris Chad, the HS dean of students currently imprisoned in Georgia on child exploitation charges.

NEW: Mining layoffs and school budget cuts are again testing the Iron Range, with few indicators that Minorca Mine will be going through a short idle period. As one long-time Ranger told me: "It does feel different" this time. ironrangetoday.com/2025/05/02/iro…

ICYMI: Mining layoffs and school budget cuts are again testing the Iron Range, with few indicators that Minorca Mine will be going through a short idle period. As one long-time Ranger told me: "It does feel different" this time. ironrangetoday.com/2025/05/02/iro…

Introducing: Range Makers, an ongoing series. A call for story ideas. Meet the people forging the Iron Range's future, today. MORE INFO: open.substack.com/pub/ironranget…

NEW: I took a quick look at how the U.S. Steel sale and Trump's "golden share" would directly impact the Iron Range. There's a bit of good ($800M in planned investments) and a bit of a question mark (job protections?). ironrangetoday.com/2025/06/19/wha…

BIG NEWS to kick off our Monday morning! Iron Range Today has officially become a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization! More to come on how you can contribute. Exciting times over here!

New from me today: For Iron Range Today, an international curling competition this October in Eveleth and Virginia will put the Iron Range on the world stage. USA Curling ironrangetoday.com/2025/07/15/its…