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Howie: The Northland’s media ecosystem is messy

Howie: The Northland’s media ecosystem is messy

No single institution controls the public conversation anymore. The region now operates inside a decentralized information economy where television owns immediacy, newspapers own documentation, Facebook owns emotional momentum and independent publishers increasingly own personality-driven loyalty.

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Howie: Duluth moves beyond emergency shelter thinking

Serious cities eventually discover homelessness sits at the intersection of housing costs, addiction, mental illness, family collapse, poverty and social isolation. Remove one piece while ignoring the others and the system keeps recycling human beings through crisis.

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AF1

AF1 continues rapid digital growth

Arena Football One says it is seeing major growth in digital engagement during the 2026 season, fueled by viral highlights, expanded streaming audiences and exposure on ESPN’s “SportsCenter.” The league announced Tuesday that a Week 4 game-winning play by the Kentucky Barrels generated 5.6 million views after being

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Plante scores game-winner in World Championship exhibition

Former Hermantown standout Max Plante scored a third-period goal as Team USA defeated Germany 5-2 in its lone exhibition game ahead of the 2026 IIHF Men’s World Championship before a sellout crowd of 12,909 at SAP Arena. Plante, a sophomore forward from University of Minnesota Duluth and the

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Howie: Rebuilding the Twin Cities core

American downtowns historically reinvent themselves every generation or two. Warehouse districts become loft districts. Industrial corridors become medical corridors. Rail hubs become entertainment hubs.

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Howie: The Star Tribune’s statewide gamble paid off
The Minnesota Star Tribune. Howie / HowieHanson.com

Howie: The Star Tribune’s statewide gamble paid off

The Pulitzer validated more than excellent reporting. It validated the strategic vision behind what the Minnesota Star Tribune has been becoming. Not simply a city newspaper with statewide aspirations. But a statewide institution capable of helping Minnesota understand itself in real time.

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AF1

Howie: Monsters riding ground game, defense during AF1 surge

At 3-1, the Monsters have positioned themselves among the early contenders in the nine-team AF1, doing so with a formula that looks noticeably different from many of the league’s more pass-heavy offenses. Minnesota has leaned into physical football, defensive pressure and ball control

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AF1

AF1 Week 5 Results

Minnesota 31, Michigan 28 OT – Aiden Johnson connected on a 29-yard field goal on the Monsters' first possession in overtime at The Dow Event Center in Saginaw, Michigan. Minnesota quarterback Ja’Vonte Johnson threw two touchdown passes and completed 17 of 32 passes for 135 yards for Minnesota (3-1)

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Howie: Grandma's Marathon to open museum exhibit at Depot

Howie's daily column is sponsored by Lyric Kitchen Bar. The story of Grandma's Marathon has always lived in pieces scattered across the Northland — in shoeboxes filled with fading race bibs, newspaper clippings tucked into basements, volunteer jackets hanging in closets and family photo albums showing exhausted

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Howie: Why independent voices are winning local media
Howie's book, Stop Managing Media Decline, available at Amazon.com.

Howie: Why independent voices are winning local media

Readers today follow trusted voices first and institutions second. That is the modern reality of local media whether legacy newsrooms fully enjoy admitting it or not. The old ecosystem was built around control of distribution. The new ecosystem revolves around control of attention.

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Howie: Max Plante on preliminary U.S. world championship roster
Minnesota Duluth Athletics

Howie: Max Plante on preliminary U.S. world championship roster

The IIHF Men’s World Championship annually serves as the highest-profile international men’s hockey tournament outside the Winter Olympics, drawing many of the world’s top professional and amateur players after the NHL regular season concludes.

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