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Howie

Duluth's homegrown columnist. Since 1971.

Pen-and-ink portrait of Howie Hanson

Howie Hanson

Editor & Publisher of HowieHanson.com

What I Cover

I write about power, business, sports and civic life in Duluth and across Minnesota. My columns examine the people making decisions, the organizations behind those decisions and what their choices mean for the communities they serve.

My Background

My journalism career began in 1971 at the Cloquet Pine Knot. More than five decades later, I'm still reporting and writing from Duluth. I publish HowieHanson.com, an independent site built around original columns, local reporting and Minnesota sports coverage.

My Approach

My work combines reporting, analysis and commentary. I believe in checking facts, asking direct questions and giving readers enough information to make up their own minds. My reporting and opinions are mine, and I stand behind the words I publish.

Contact Me

I welcome story ideas, questions, corrections and tips from readers. Email is the best way to reach me.

Email: GuyHowieHanson@gmail.com

Latest

Monsters make roster moves, add consultant

With three consecutive home games to finish the regular season, Minnesota is hoping to finish at least fourth in the nine-team league and secure a home playoff game in the first round of the six-team playoffs.

Could AI become the next iron ore for Duluth?

Duluth has spent generations moving the raw materials that fueled America's industrial economy. The question now is whether it can play a role in powering America's digital one. The answer may help define the city's next century.

Howie: My final 2026 NBA Big Board

BYU freshman AJ Dybantsa, a 6-foot-9 wing combines elite athleticism, shot creation and scoring ability that evaluators believe translates immediately to the NBA game. Most projections have him headed to the Washington Wizards with the No. 1 overall selection.

Don Ness and the reinvention of Duluth

Ness convinced Duluth to stop speaking about itself like a city waiting for the next economic funeral and start speaking about itself like a place with a future worth competing for nationally. Not perfectly. Not without backlash. Not without legitimate criticism. But undeniably.

Howie: My AF1 Dream Team

Player of the Year frontrunner Malik Henry of Michigan tops my 2026 AF1 Dream Team, as teams battle for six playoff spots. Offense QB

My Final Top 50 Prospects for the 2026 NHL Draft

The first five names on this list will generate most of the headlines. That's how the draft works. The real story, however, often emerges years later. Somewhere between picks 25 and 50 sits a future NHL star. Every draft has one.

Shea, Myran repeat as William A. Irvin 5K champions

The race attracted 2,525 finishers, narrowly missing the event record of 2,548 participants set in 2025. The William A. Irvin 5K serves as one of the traditional kickoff events for the annual Grandma's Marathon weekend, drawing runners from across the region and beyond to Duluth's waterfront.

Juneteenth Basketball Classic shows Duluth at its best

The event represented something larger than a summer exhibition. It was a reminder that basketball remains one of the city's most powerful community connectors, capable of bringing together people from different neighborhoods, backgrounds and generations for a common purpose.

Duluth Monitor wins state journalism awards

The awards represent a significant achievement for the Duluth-based online news outlet, which has built a reputation for watchdog reporting on local government, development projects and public policy issues in northeastern Minnesota.

Five Bulldogs earn academic All-District recognition

The Academic All-District Team recognizes student-athletes who maintain at least a 3.50 cumulative grade-point average while also making significant contributions to their teams. Eligible athletes must be at least sophomores academically and athletically