Star Tribune
Mesabi Metallics wins small victory with judge allowing its antitrust claims against Cleveland-Cliffs to go to trial
But in a Wednesday filing, Goldblatt denied Cliffs’ motion for summary judgement, saying there are enough factual disputes to merit a trial in federal district court.
“A (reasonable) jury could find that Mesabi suffered the type of injury that antirust law is intended to prevent,” he wrote.
From 2015 to 2019, Cleveland-Cliffs was by far the largest independent iron ore merchant for the Great Lakes steel business with 73% to 78% of the “non-captive” market for taconite pellets, Mesabi claims. The term “captive” refers to iron mines owned directly by steel companies. In 2020, Cliffs bought two major U.S. steelmakers and now primarily produces iron ore for its own “captive” steel mills.
The Nashwauk plant would have competed with Cliffs in the non-captive market. Essar Minnesota made a critical deal in 2014 to supply taconite pellets to ArcelorMittal’s U.S. subsidiary, then one of the nation’s two largest steelmakers. But ArcelorMittal terminated the contract in 2016 since Essar Minnesota had yet to finish its Nashwauk plant.
Cliffs then signed a 10-year agreement with ArcelorMittal. Mesabi Metallics claims Cliffs structured the contract to give Cliffs exclusive access to Arcelor and shut Mesabi out of the market.
Mesabi Metallics also claims Cliffs’ anticompetitive conduct included blackballing construction contractors who worked on Mesabi’s project. The Jamar Co. and Barr Engineering, two Minnesota prominent contractors, had worked for both Mesabi and Cliffs. Cliffs refused to let Jamar continue to work on ongoing projects – or bid on new ones, Goldblatt’s ruling said. Once Jamar stopped supporting Mesabi, it got its Cliffs business back. A similar tale unfolded with Barr.
”This senseless act of violence has touched each of us, whether directly or indirectly,” he said at the school’s homecoming convocation Sunday morning.
A pastor who leads the Tuskegee National Alumni Association told those at Sunday’s convocation service that the shooting is a reminder of the fragility of life.
”It is in moments like these that we need to be reminded not to stand on our own understanding because in a moment like this, I don’t have understanding,” said the Rev. James Quincy III.
”I can only rely on my faith, and my prayer for our entire family, this community, as we close out this marvelous family reunion that we shared this week,” Quincy said, “and most importantly because of that faith walk and that trust in God, that we have resilience, resilience in the time of trouble.”
Miles College in Fairfield, Alabama — the school’s opponent for Tuskegee’s homecoming football game on Saturday — released a statement expressing sympathy.
”Today, our hearts are with the Tuskegee family as they face the tragic aftermath of the recent shooting on campus,” the college said. ”We extend our deepest condolences to those impacted and pray for healing and justice. Miles College stands with you in this difficult time.”
Star Tribune
Billie Eilish visits vintage store in former Minneapolis White Castle ahead of Xcel Energy Center shows
Pop star Billie Eilish stopped at VINTAGE, a south Minneapolis vintage store located in a historic former White Castle, on Saturday, the store’s owner confirmed.
Singer and songwriter Eilish is in town playing two sold-out nights at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. She stopped in at VINTAGE on Lyndale Avenue near closing time, store owner Justin Schaefer said, describing her visit as a “complete surprise.”
“She seemed very into the vibe of the shop,” Schaefer said. “She was quoted as saying, ‘this place is so awesome.’”
The “BIRDS OF A FEATHER,” and “What Was I Made For?” singer bought a ‘60s cooking apron with a female nude on it, which Schaefer described as “very punk.” She also bought a 1950s Coca-Cola work shirt and a black and white striped ‘60s referee jacket, Schaefer said. Members of her entourage also bought items.
At the store, Eilish posed for a photo with Schaefer’s 11-year-old son, who Schaefer said “played it cool.”
“My son was the most excited, which is the best,” Schaefer said.
Schaefer wondered how Eilish found his shop, which he said carries niche items.
“I don’t really know how she found it, probably like anybody else,” he said. “People are always curious what’s in this 1930s White Castle on the National Register of Historic Places.”
Star Tribune
Paris to deploy 4,000 police officers for France-Israel soccer match following violence in Amsterdam
PARIS — Paris police said Sunday that 4,000 officers and 1,600 stadium staff will be deployed for a France-Israel soccer match to ensure security in and around the stadium and on public transportation a week after violence against Israeli fans in Amsterdam.
France and Israel are playing in a UEFA Nations League match on Thursday.
”There’s a context, tensions that make that match a high-risk event for us,” Paris police chief Laurent Nuñez said on French news broadcaster BFM TV, adding authorities ”won’t tolerate” any violence.
Nuñez said that 2,500 police officers would be deployed around the Stade de France stadium, north of the French capital, in addition to 1,500 others in Paris and on public transportation.
”There will be an anti-terrorist security perimeter around the stadium,” Nuñez said. Security checks will be ”reinforced,” he added, including with systematic pat-downs and bag searches.
Nuñez said that French organizers have been in contact with Israeli authorities and security forces in order to prepare for the match.
Israeli fans were assaulted last week after a soccer game in Amsterdam by hordes of young people apparently riled up by calls on social media to target Jewish people, according to Dutch authorities. Five people were treated at hospitals and dozens were arrested after the attacks, which were condemned as antisemitic by authorities in Amsterdam, Israel and across Europe.
On Sunday, Dutch police detained several people for taking part in a demonstration in central Amsterdam that had been outlawed following the violence targeting Israeli fans, a local broadcaster reported.
