DULUTH, Minn. (Northern News Now) - City, state, businesses, and mining leaders gathered on the Iron Range to discuss the progress over the last year and the new challenges the region faces.

The Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation (IRRR) hosted the second annual “State of the Range” on Tuesday at the Iron Trails Motors Event Center in Virginia.

Many of the speakers focused on what is being called a downturn in mining after many challenges they have faced, from the idling and layoffs at Cleveland Cliffs to the potential regulations to be imposed by the MPCA.

“Many of you in this room tonight, or your family members, friends, and neighbors, were a part of those layoffs,” said IRRRB Commissioner Ida Rukavina. “All of us in this room are in some way impacted by this mining downturn.”

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