Northern Progressives
Updates

2025-12-21

Hoping you are all warm & cozy

Hello friends

A gray sky with calm winds...snow falling gently on the Earth and all living things. Mino is not in the mood to appreciate this. Labs, as you may know, love to have something in their mouths at all times...and, they love water in all its forms. So today, as we embark on our journey through the woods, she has invented a new interactive game. She carries a rock or a stick for a distance, then drops it at my feet, looking at me expectantly and refusing to move. After a time, i figure out she wants me to throw snow into the air, and when i do, she is giddy. Leaping in the air over and over, she squeals with delight with each mittful of snow i propel skyward. Better yet, when i add the word, 'Whee!' to this action, her response is even more frenetic. In my mind, she envisions herself as a character in a snowglobe that is constantly shaken. What delight in such a simple thing! Enjoy.
... jester

Urgent opportunity December 23

Free Webinar — Minnesota Waters Are Under Attack

Mining Impacts, Regulatory Rollbacks, and How You Can Help

When:
Tuesday, December 23, 7:00pm
Where:
Zoom (register for link)

Hear "them 2 miner guys" Mike and Chris talk about existing and proposed mines in Minnesota, and how they harm our fish, health, and clean water.

Paula Maccabee, WaterLegacy Executive Director & Counsel, will then explain new federal bills aiming to gut Clean Water laws and how you can take action to protect Minnesota waters.

Register

Next Membership Meeting

See you next year!

When:
Wednesday, January 7, 6:30–8:00pm
Where:
Cook Community Center
510 Gopher Dr.
Cook, MN
Topic:
Caucuses 101
Special Guests:
Leah Rogne & Emanuel Anastos

Caucuses 101 explained by Leah, plus, Emanuel Anastos, candidate for CD-8.

Please bring a donation for the Cook Area Food Shelf.

All are welcome to attend.

Looking ahead

Special Meeting: January 14th Richard Carlbom, MN State DFL Chair will hold a Listening Session in Cook at 3 p.m. at the Cook Community Center. Bring your questions, comments, and concerns for our region.

See below for more

Breakfast in the Afternoon

When:
Friday, January 9th, 2:00pm
Where:
Tavern In The Bay
Greenwood Township
near Tower, MN

Here's your opportunity to set the agenda for our future actions and programming! Come join in the conversation as we plan upcoming events.

All are welcome to attend.

Book Club!

A Northern Progressives book club is forming. Anyone interested should contact us at: hello@northernprogressives.org.

All are welcome to attend.

Listening Sessions with Richard Carlbom

Sponsored by Iron Range Indivisible, WARR and Northern Progressives

Richard will engage participation with questions, discussion and action plans. Join in this discussion-based session at a location near you. Bring your questions, concerns and ideas.

When:
Wednesday, January 14, 12:00pm
Where:
Jim's Sports Bar
Chisholm, MN
When:
Wednesday, January 14, 3:00pm
Where:
Cook Community Center
Cook, MN
When:
Wednesday, January 14, 6:00pm
Where:
The Hive Coffee & Bakehouse
Aurora, MN
Download poster
Learn more about Carlbom

Signing & Resisting Events

Each Friday at noon at the following locations:

  • Cook: Hwy 53 and River Street
  • Tower: Mainstreet by the locomotive
  • Ely: Sheridan St. & Central Ave

Signs should include issues common to everyone like good jobs, enough money for food and healthcare, and a good education.

poster for event

Free Community Meal (Every Other Sunday)

Strength through Community

When:
Sunday, December 21, 12:00-4:00pm
Where:
510 Chestnut Street
Virginia, MN

Every other Sunday starting December 7.

  • Free hot meal
  • Food distribution
  • Clothing distribution
  • Free store table

Note that food, hygiene, clothing donations are needed!

poster for event

Calls to Action

Save our watershed

Take action to prevent large-scale, toxic mining operations by huge, extractive, foreign-owned, mining conglomerates with no interest in the people or or resources of our region

A copper mine in the Boundary Waters watershed would pollute the Wilderness for generations to come, causing irreversible harm to water quality, wildlife, public health, and a sustainable outdoor recreation-based economy.

Let's join together & stop the billionaire takeover of our economy, ecological heritage & way of life.

Learn more

"Sulfide-ore copper mining is proposed on the edge of the Wilderness

"Unlike iron mining, sulfide-ore copper mining has never been done in the state of Minnesota. This type of mining generates waste rock full of sulfates, which, when exposed to air and water, becomes sulphuric acid, and leaches toxins like heavy metals into the surrounding water. This destructive industry should not be allowed in the headwaters of the Boundary Waters."

It has been shown that a "Wilderness-based economy creates more jobs than a Twin Metals mine.

Read on

Take action

Save the Boundary Waters Actions
Water Legacy Actions
Prove it First!
Other actions

Northern Progressives Schedule & Structure

NP Group meetings are held:

Breakfast in the Afternoon

Everyone is welcome to come and discuss current happenings, help shape the direction of NP, and get to know each other.

Thanks for all you do!

— the Northern Progressives Communication Committee

General email (submit ideas here):
hello@northernprogressives.org

***Note***

If you have news or events you'd like us to consider for the newsletter, submit them for review to Northern Progressives by Friday at 5pm!

Write to us at: hello@northernprogressives.org to speak your mind & send ideas. We value your input!