"ALMANAC" IS A PRODUCTION OF TWIN CITIES PBS FOR THE STATIONS OF MINNESOTA PUBLIC TELEVISION ASSOCIATION.

>> CATHY: IN THE NEXT HOUR, WE'LL LEARN HOW BIRD FLU IS KILLING MINNESOTA EAGLES, HAWKS AND OWLS.

WE'LL TALK ABOUT LAST NIGHT'S EXCRUCIATING TIMBERWOLVES LOSS.

KYELAND JACKSON WILL CONTINUE - HIS SERIES ON MEDICAID, AND WE'LL HAVE A STORY ON HOW ARE LAWMAKERS GEARING UP FOR THE FINAL MONTH OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

HERE'S A SNEAK PEEK... >> Mary: AFTER THEIR SPRING BREAK, LAWMAKERS AND RALLIES RETURN TO THE STATE CAPITOL.

WE'LL SHOW YOU WHAT'S BRINGING THEM BACK HERE.

>> THIS IS WHAT'S BEEN MISSING.

WELCOME TO THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE.

>> Mary: THAT'S COMING UP ON "ALMANAC."

♪♪ "ALMANAC" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY MEMBERS OF THIS PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION.

SUPPORT IS ALSO PROVIDED BY... WHOLESALE POWER TO 28 MINNESOTA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES.

DELTA DENTAL OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION: IMPROVING ORAL HEALTH WHILE ADVANCING SOCIAL EQUITIES.

DELTADENTALMN.ORG/TPT.

THE SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY: A TRIBAL NATION FOCUSED ON COMMUNITY AND COLLABORATION, ESPECIALLY IN TIMES LIKE TODAY.

ENBRIDGE: CONNECTING MINNESOTANS WITH ENERGY FOR OVER 70 YEARS.

MORE AT ENBRIDGE.COM/LINE3US.

AND EDUCATION MINNESOTA: THE VOICE FOR PROFESSIONAL EDUCATORS AND STUDENTS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

MORE AT EDUCATIONMINNESOTA.ORG.

ONE GREATER MINNESOTA REPORTING ON "ALMANAC" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE OTTO BREMER TRUST, WHOSE MISSION IS INVESTING IN PEOPLE, PLACES AND OPPORTUNITIES IN OUR REGION.

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT IS PROVIDED BY THE BLANDIN FOUNDATION, WORKING TO STRENGHTEN RURAL MINNESOTA.

>> CATHY: LATER IN THE HOUR, KYELAND WILL CONTINUE HIS SERIES ON MEDICAID, AND MARK SEELEY WILL STOP BY TO TALK ABOUT THE SLUGGISH ARRIVAL OF SPRING.

BUT OUR FIRST TOPIC THIS WEEK, ONGOING WORRIES ABOUT BIRD FLU.

>> ERIC: AVIAN FLU HAS KILLED MORE THAN TWO MILLION TURKEYS AND CHICKENS ON MINNESOTA FARMS.

AND WE ARE NOW LEARNING ABOUT HOW DEADLY AVIAN FLU IS TO EAGLES AND HAWKS AND OWLS IN OUR STATE.

HERE WITH MORE, JULI PONDER IS THE FORMER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE RAPTOR CENTER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA AND IS NOW THE ASSOCIATE DEAN OF THE COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE AT THE U OF M. WE ARE JOINED AS WELL BY GAIL BUHL WHO HAS WITH HER BUBO, A GREAT HORNED OWL.

DEAN, WE'VE JUST LOST A PARLIAMENT OF OWLS IN MINNEAPOLIS.

>> YEAH, A COUPLE HIGH-PROFILE NESTS.

ERR WHAT SYMPTOMS ERE THEY EXHIBITING, HOW DID THEY CONTRACT THE FLU?

>> GO SO WHEN RAPTORS GET THE INFLUENZA VIRUS, THE MOST COMMON SIGNS ARE NEUROLOGICAL.

WE PROBABLY MISS THE DEPRESSION, THE ANOREXIA, THOSE SUBTLE THINGS, WE DON'T SEE THOSE IN THE WE WOULD BUT WHEN THEY COME INTO THE RAP TIER CENTER, IT'S NEUROLOGICAL.

>> Cathy: I WONDER, HAT ARE YOU SEEING WHEN -- I'M SURE IT'S HARD TO QUANTIFY LOSS OF OWLS, EAGLES AND OTHER RAPTORS.

WHAT ARE YOU HEARING?

>> WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE POPULATION IMPACTS ARE AT THIS POINT.

WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS OF THE BIRDS THAT COME INTO THE RAP TIER SENT, A VERY LARGE PERCENTAGE, 40% OF THE BIRDS THAT HAVE COME IN SINCE MARCH 28th HAVE HAD AVIAN INFLUENZA VIRUS, AND IT'S FATAL FOR RAPTORS.

VERY DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE'VE SEEN WITH AVIAN INFLUENZA IN THE PAST.

>> Eric: THE RAPTOR CENTER STANCE IS TO SHUT DOWN BIRD FEEDERS?

>> I WOULDN'T SAY THAT'S OUR STANCE.

>> E. >> Eric: HOW WOULD YOU SAY IT IS THIS.

>> I WOULD ASK PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THE WHY, SO AIR YOU KNOW INFLUENZA VIRUS IS TRANSMITTED, COMES OUT IN THE SALIVA AND FEE SESSION, SO WHEN YOU EVER SHARED STATIONS, LIKE BIRD FEEDERS AND BIRD BATH AND ATTRACT DIFFERENT GROUPS OF BIRDS TOGETHER, IT'S CREATING A SPACE THAT THE VIRUS CAN BE PASSED AROUND.

SO WE ARE SAYING THAT WE SHOULD CONSIDER PAUSING OR BEING REALLY, REALLY GOOD.

WE'VE ALL BEEN THROUGH A PANDEMIC, WE KNOW THE HIGH LEVEL OF HYGIENE, WASHING AND TAKING CARE OF THINGS, SO YOU CAN DAILY WORK ON YOUR BIRD FEEDERS AND KEEP 'EM CLEAN.

BUILT THE MAIN THING IS, THINK ABOUT WHETHER WE REALLY WANT TO CONTRIBUTE TO THAT PASSING -- POTENTIAL PASSING OVIRUS.

>> Cathy: GAIL, YOU WORK WITH THE BIRDS ALL THE TIME.

WHAT ARE THE LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCES OF BIRDS LIKE BUBO GETTING SICK?

>> WELL, FOR AMBASSADOR ANIMALS, WE'RE VERY, VERY CONCERNED AND IT IS -- WE'RE TAKING A LOT OF PRECAUTIONS, SO, FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN WE STARTED DOING PROGRAMS AGAIN WITH OUR 'EM BASS CORE BIRDS, WITH COVID, WE SAID, OKAY, PROGRAMS OUTSIDE, PROGRAMS OUTSIDE.

AND THEN WHEN WE KNEW THAT HIGH PATH ENIC AVIAN INFLUENZA WAS GOING TO HIT, PROGRAMS INSIDE, PROGRAMS INSIDE.

SO WE DO A LOT TO MAKE -- WE'VE SHUT DOWN TOURS SO THAT THE GENERAL PUBLIC CANNOT COME INTO THE BUILDING WHEN ANY STAFF COME INTO THE BUILDING, WE CHANGE SHOES.

WE HAVE DISIN EFFECTING MATS THAT WE -- WE PUSH THE CARTS THROUGH TO MAKE SURE THAT THE TIRES ARE DISINFECTED AND WE'LL DO THAT TONIGHT AGAIN AS I LEAVE, AND WHEN I GET BACK TO THE RAPTOR CENTER.

ALL DESIGNED TO NOT ALLOW FULL MITES, WHICH IS THE VIRUS POSSIBLY BEING ON SHOES OR CART TIRES OR THINGS LIKE THAT, TO BE ACCIDENTALLY TRANSMITTED TO THE BIRD, THE EDUCATION BIRDS.

>> Eric: WILL THE FLU ITSELF FADE AS KIND OF THE SPRING MIGRATION OF BIRDS PHASES OUT?

>> TYPICALLY, AVIAN INFLUENZA IS A CO-COLD-LOVING VIRUS SO WHEN THEY HAVE THE MASSIVE OUTBREAKS, TYPICALLY THE WARM WEATHER, THE DRYER WEATHER AND THE BIRDS DISSIPATING TO BREEDING TERRITORIES, AND IT USUALLY JUST IND OF MIRACULOUSLY FADES OUT.

NOW, THIS PARTICULAR VIRUS HAS BEEN CIRCULATING IN EUROPE FOR THE PAST COUPLE YEARS WITH THIS DIFFERENT PRESENTATION, AND IT HAS COME BACK IN THE FALL THERE.

>> Eric: THAT I WHAT IS WAS GOING TO ASK.

>> WE DON'T KNOW THAT BECAUSE THAT'S DEFINITELY ONE OF THE SEVERELY WAYS THIS VIRUS IS PRESENTING DIFFERENTLY THIS TIME.

WE'RE GOING TO BE WATCHING CAREFULLY TO SEE IF IT COMES BACK THIS FALL BUT WE DO EXPECT IT TO KIND OF GET QUIETER WHEN THINGS GET WARMER.

THEY ARE GOING TO GET WARMER, RIGHT?

>> Cathy: I HOPE SO, I HOPE SO.

SO IF SOMEONE IS WATCHING AND THEY HAPPEN TO HAVE A BUBO IN THE AREA, HOW DO YOU KNOW THE BIRD IS SICK?

SHOULD YOU DO SOMETHING?

>> ELL, IF A RAPTOR IS - EXPOSED AND GETS AVIAN INFLUENZA VIE RIGHT SIDE, YOU'RE GOING TO KNOW IT'S SICK, IT WILL BE DEAD AND DYING.

SO YES CALLING THE RAPTOR CENTER, CALLING THE DNR, AND NOTIFYING US ABOUT IT WOULD BE THE FIRST STEP RATHER THAN JUMPING IN AND DOING ANYTHING.

BUT RAPTORS ARE EXQUISITELY SUSCEPTIBLE TO THIS VIRUS.

>> Cathy: WHY IS THAT?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

[Overlapping Conversation] >> TALK TO PONDER ABOUT THAT.

>> Cathy: I WAS CURIOUS.

>> ALL BIRD SPECIES OR SUSCEPTIBLE TO THE AIR ARE YOU KNOW FLEW VIRUS AND SOME MORE THAN OTHERS AND RAPTORS JUST ARE.

WE'RE SEEING EAGLES, OWLS, GREAT-HOUNDERS OUST, RED TAIL HAWKS GETTING SICK AND DYING.

>> Cathy: I ASKED ABOUT THE LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCES.

I'M WONDERING, IN THE POPULATION, IF THIS HE IS RAHS THROUGH THE POPULATION, WHAT ABOUT THE, YOU KNOW, NEXT YEAR, YEAR AFTER, WHAT ABOUT PROBLEMS WITH THE POPULATION?

>> SO WE LOOK AT THINGS AS THINGS ARE CUMULATIVE.

WE HAD WEST NILE VIRUS BACK IN 2002 AND THERE WERE SOME POPULATIONS OF SMALL BIRDS THAT, BLUE JAYS, ET CETERA, THAT WERE REGIONALLY ALMOST WIPED OUT.

THEY RECOVERED, THERE ARE ALWAYS A FEW THAT SURVIVE AND THERE'S ONES THAT MOVE BACK IN.

WE DON'T EXPECT THERE TO BE MASSIVE POPULATIONS IMPACTS.

THAT SAID, THERE'S TIPPING POINTS.

YOU KNOW, E KNOW THAT EAGLES AND OTHER RAPTORS AND OTHER BIRDS ARE FACING OTHER HUMAN CHANGES IN THE ENVIRONMENT.

HOW MANY OF THOSE CAN THE POPULATION TAKE BEFORE IT TIPS.

>> Cathy: BEFORE YOU GO, WE HAVE TO KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT BUBO.

[Laughter] WE HAVE TO.

>> BUBO WAS HATCHED IN THE YEAR 2000, SO HE IS 22 YEARS OLD.

WE KNOW THAT BECAUSE A WELL-MEANING FINDER FOUND THIS BIRD AS A CHICK AND TRIED TO RAISE HIM, AND BECAUSE HE SAW PEOPLE AND DIDN'T GET RAISED BY OWLS, HE DOESN'T THINK HE'S A PERSON OR THAT WE'RE OWLS BUT HE'S IN A PERMANENTLY CONFUSED PLACE SOMEPLACE IN BETWEEN.

>> Cathy: AREN'T WE ALL.

>> AREN'T WE ALL AND THAT MAKES HIM UNRELEASABLE TO THE WILD.

>> Eric: HE'S BEEN ON TV BEFORE, VERY WELL-BEHAVED.

>> HE'S A LITTLE WARM RIGHT NOW, THE LIGHTS ARE WARM.

BUT HE'S GOOD.

>> Cathy: BUBO, TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF.

>> Eric: THANK YOU SO MUCH.

♪♪ >> CATHY: THIS WEEKEND MARKS TWO MONTHS SINCE RUSSIAN FORCES INVADED UKRAINE.

MANY INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS THOUGHT THAT THE BLITZ WOULD RESULT IN A SWIFT RUSSIAN VICTORY.

BUT UKRAINE, WITH THE HELP OF THE WEST, HAS MORE THAN HELD ITS OWN AGAINST THE RUSSIAN ONSLAUGHT.

THIS WEEK, THE WAR ENTERED A NEW PHASE AS RUSSIAN TROOPS STARTED AN OFFENSIVE IN THE EASTERN PART OF UKRAINE.

PEACE TALKS CONTINUE.

AND SO DOES MASSIVE SHIPMENTS OF WEAPONS FROM THE WEST.

MARY CURTIN TEACHES COURSES IN FOREIGN POLICY AND DIPLOMACY AT THE HUMPHREY SCHOOL AT THE U OF M. SHE WORKED FOR MORE THAN TWO DECADES AS A FOREIGN SERVICE OFFICER AT THE U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT.

PROFESSOR, NICE TO HAVE YOU HERE.

>> NICE TO BE HERE.

THANK YOU.

>> Cathy: HOW ABOUT VLADIMIR PUTIN MISCALCULATE THIS IN UKRAINE.

>> I THINK HE MISCALCULATED FROM TWO SIDES.

ONE, I THINK HE PROBABLY HAD MORE FAITH IN HIS OWN MILITARY THAN MAYBE HE SHOULD HAVE BUT HE REALLY UNDERESTIMATED THE WILL OF THE UKRAINIANS AND THE WAY THAT THEIR ARMY HAS TRAINED AND BEEN EQUIPPED OVER THE LAST EIGHT YEARS, AND THEN THAT SORT OF INTANGIBLE, THE MORALE OF THE UKRAINIAN PEOPLE AND THE MORALE OF THE UKRAINIAN FORCES, AND I DON'T THINK HE OR FRANKLY A LOT OF THE WEST ANTICIPATED THAT.

>> Eric: YOU DID WORK IN POLAND DURING YOUR STATE DEPARTMENT STINT, RIGHT?

>> THAT'S RIGHT, I WAS THERE FOR FOUR YEARS.

>> Eric: I WONDER IF YOU COULD COMMENT ON THE MASS OF REFUGEES POURING INTO POLAND AND HOW THAT'S ALL GOING.

>> SO, THAT FLOW OF REFUGEES IS OBVIOUSLY A STRAIN BUT THERE ARE ALREADY A LOT OF UKRAINIANS LIVING IN POLAND FOR, YOU KNOW, ECONOMIC REASONS AND OTHERS AND A LOT OF UKRAINIANS WHO WENT TO POLAND WERE ABLE TO FIND PLACES TO STAY ALREADY WITH FAMILY.

BUT, THAT SAID, IT'S A HUGE STRAIN.

EDUCATIONAL SYSTEMS, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING ELSE, AND THE LONGER THAT IT GOES ON, THE MORE I THINK THAT IT WILL STRAIN THINGS IN POLAND BUT I THINK THAT IT IS LINKED TO POLAND'S VERY STRONG POLITICAL SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE OVERALL.

>> Cathy: IT'S INTERESTING TO SEE THAT NATO IS EXPANDING BECAUSE OF THIS.

I'M SURE PUTTIAN WAS SURPRISED AT THAT, AS WELL.

>> SO, JUST TO BE LEAR, WE ARE NOT SURE YET WHETHER NATO WILL EXPAND BUT TO HAVE FINLAND AND SWEDEN SERIOUSLY TALKING AFTER THEIR OWN DECADES OF VERY, ERY CAREFUL NEUTRALITY TO EVEN TALK ABOUT JOINING NATO, I THINK IS THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT PUTIN EXPECTED.

I THINK THAT HE, IN ADDITION TO UNDERESTIMATING UKRAINE, I THINK THAT HE DIDN'T REALIZE THAT THIS KIND OF AN INVASION WOULD ACTUALLY GALVANIZE NATO AND MAKE COUNTRIES LIKE FINLAND AND SWEDEN RETHINK THEIR OWN POSITION.

>> Eric: WHAT DO YOU MAKE OU.S.

COMMITMENT TO UKRAINE AS FAR AS WEAPONS ARE CONCERNED?

I THINK 800 MILLION WENT, NOW ANOTHER 800 MILLION IS GOING.

THE WEAPONIZING F THE COUNTRY.

>> I THINK THAT WHAT THE UNITED STATES HAS PROVIDED, NOT JUST HIS YEAR OR LAST YEAR BUT, REALLY, OVER THE LAST, SAY, FIVE OR SIX YEARS, I THINK THERE WAS A REAL SIGNIFICANT NCREASE AND THE UNITED STATES HAS WORKED CAREFULLY TO PROVIDE THE RIGHT WEAPONS SO, FOR EXAMPLE, F-16s ARE NOT THE RIGHT WEAPON BECAUSE IT TAKES A YEAR AND A HALF O TRAIN A PILOT AND SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT WHAT THE UNITED STATES IS DOING AND THE TRAINING THAT'S GONE ALONG WITH IT BUT IT'S ALSO REALLY IMPORTANT THAT OTHER EUROPEAN COUNTRIES HAVE ALSO PROVIDED SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF WEAPONS.

>> Eric: NUCLEAR WAR?

>> I THINK THAT WE ALWAYS HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THAT.

THE UNITED STATES AND RUSSIA BOTH STILL HAVE THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF NUCLEAR WARHEADS AND THEY ARE SOMETHING THAT IS THERE AND THAT WE CAN'T DISMISS THE POSSIBILITY OF THAT.

>> Cathy: THEN HOW DOES DIPLOMACY POTENTIALLY WORK HERE?

>> SO, I THINK THE WAY THAT DIPLOMACY WORKS IS TWOFOLD.

ONE IS IN WORKING TO EEP WESTERN COUNTRIES STRONGLY SUPPORTING UKRAINE, WHETHER THROUGH PROVISION OF SUPPORT OR THROUGH THE SANCTIONS ON RUSSIA, AND THEN I THINK THAT NOW THAT THIS WAR HAS STARTED, I THINK THAT IT'S THE UKRAINIANS WHO WILL ULTIMATELY DECIDE WHAT AND HOW THEY ARE WILLING TO NEGOTIATE AN END TO THIS WAR.

ALL WARS END WITH SOME KIND OF NEGOTIATION IN THE END.

>> Eric: U.N. SECRETARY GENERAL MEETS WITH VLADIMIR PUTTIAN NEXT WEEK, I THINK.

>> UH-HUH.

>> Eric: HOPES FOR THAT MEETING?

>> I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY REAL HOPE THAT THAT WILL BRING AN END TO THE WAR BUT THE U.N. SECRETARY GENERAL HAS TO BE ENGAGED, AND FOR HIM TO GO TO RUSSIA AND AT LEAST PASS THAT MESSAGE THAT AS MANY PEOPLE SAY, THIS WAR CAN STOP TOMORROW IF THE RUSSIANS STOP IT.

AND SO I DON'T THINK THERE IS ANY REAL HOPE BUT SOMETIMES THOSE SYMBOLIC GESTURES ARE AN IMPORTANT PART OF SIGNALING, WE GAVE RUSSIA THE CHANCE, WE WENT TO MOST COULD YOU, WE TALKED TO PUTIN, EVEN IF, TO BE HONEST, I DON'T THINK ANYONE THINKS THAT THERE WILL BE A DIRECT LINK BETWEEN THAT VISIT AND THE END OF THE WAR.

I THINK THE PRESSURE ON RUSSIA IS WHAT WILL DO THAT.

>> Cathy: PROFESSOR, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> Eric: NICE TO HAVE YOU HERE.

THANKS.

>> CATHY: A MONTH AGO, WE BROUGHT YOU THE STORY OF KEVIN WHITE, A MAZEPPA MAN WHOSE FAMILY HOME COULD BE CLAWED BACK BY THE CONTROVERSIAL ESTATE RECOVERY PROGRAM.

ANOTHER WAY FAMILIES MAY HAVE TO PAY BACK THE GOVERMENT FOR MEDICAID COSTS INVOLVES LEGAL ARRANGEMENTS KNOWN AS LIFE ESTATES AND JOINT-TENANCY AGREEMENTS.

THESE ARRANGEMENTS HAVE LEFT SOME FAMILIES HOMELESS.

"REPORT FOR AMERICA" AND "ALMANAC" DATA REPORTER KYELAND JACKSON HAS MORE ON THAT, AND BEGINS WITH THE STORY OF JAYNE GRIFFITH.

>> SO I WAS BORN IN MINNEAPOLIS.

WE LIVED IN MINNEAPOLIS AS A KID AND AND MOVED OUT TO THE SUBURBS SO I'M ABOUT AS LOCAL AS YOU CAN GET.

AND THEN ALSO WENT, YOU KNOW, TO SCHOOL, DID MY DEGREES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA.

MY DAD WAS IN THE NAVY AND THEN HE WAS DISCHARGED.

HE TOOK A JOB AT THE NORTHERN PACIFIC RAILROAD, BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE HIS DAD WORKED.

MY MOM WAS JUST A HOMEMAKER.

MY PARENTS WERE NOT WEALTHY.

MY DAD DID NOT GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL, YOU KNOW, HE HAD A GREAT JOB BUT IT DID NOT PAY VERY WELL.

SO MY PARENTS WERE NEVER ABLE TO AMASS INVESTMENTS OR PROPERTIES OR, YOU KNOW, THINGS THAT MAYBE SOME THER FAMILIES HAVE.

>> FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS, JANE GRIFFITH'S HOME WAS A PLACE TO CARE FOR HER AGING PARENTS.

SHE BOUGHT THE HOUSE WITH A JOINT TENNESSEE AGREEMENT, A WAY WITH SPLITTING OWNERSHIP IN THE HOME SO THAT OWNERSHIP PASSES ON TO THE SURVIVOR THE.

BUT WHEN HER PARENTS' HEALTH WORSENED AND THEY LATER DIED IN A HOSPITAL, SHE GOT A LETTER FROM ANOKA COUNTY CLAIMING HER MOTHER ODE $155,000 FOR MEDICAID EXPENSES.

BUT BECAUSE JAYNE PURCHASED IT A FEW YEARS BEFORE THE RULE BECAME LAW, SHE AVOIDED AN STATE RECOVERY THAT COULD HAVE TAKEN THE ROOF OVER HER HEAD.

>> IT WAS A LITTLE TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT, IF THE STATE WOULD HAVE MADE IT RETROACTIVE PRIOR TO TWEET, WOULD I HAVE KNOWN, WOULD ANYONE HAVE TOLD ME THAT?

YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THIS WAS MY HOUSE, THE HOUSE THAT I'VE PAID THE MORTGAGE FOR, THAT, YOU KNOW, I HAVE LIVED IN, THAT TO THINK THAT IT COULD HAVE BEEN SUBJECT, YOU KNOW, TO ESTATE RECOVERY IS REALLY FRIGHTENING.

>> OTHERS.

BEEN SO LUCKY.

MINNESOTA'S ESTATE RECOVERY PROGRAM HAS RAKED IN $265 MILLION IN RECENT YEARS, AND ANOKA COUNTY TOPS MOST OTHERS WHEN IT COMES TO CLAWING BACK FROM THE ESTATES OF DEAD MEDICAID RECIPIENTS.

THEY'VE RE COVERED 9.8 MILLION IN ESTATE RECOVERY, MORE THAN TWO OF THREE OF THOSE ESTATES BELONGED TO WOMEN.

WE ASKED ANOKA COUNTY OFFICIALS HOW MANY INVOLVED JOINT TENNESSEE, BUT THEY SAID THEY DON'T TRACK THAT INFORMATION.

AND ALTHOUGH THEY ANSWERED QUESTIONS VIA EMAIL, COUNTY OFFICIALS DECLINED OUR REQUEST FOR AN ON-CAMERA INTERVIEW.

ATTORNEY LAURA SIGNET HAS RECOMMENDED MANY PEOPLE GOING THROUGH ESTATE RECOVERY AND SHE SAYS HAT ASES LIKE JANE'S DON'T HAPPEN OFTEN.

WHEN IT DOES HAPPEN, SIGNET SAYS THAT PEOPLE ARE OFTEN BLIND-SIDED BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T RECEIVE ENOUGH NOTICE ABOUT KNOTS ABOUT HE STATE RECOVERY.

IN SOME CASES, PEOPLE LOSE THE HOMES THEY'VE SPENT YEARS OF MORTGAGE PAYMENTS ON.

>> THE TRUTH IS THE STATE AND THE COUNTIES HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO PROVIDE PEOPLE WITH NOTICE ABOUT THE STATE RECOVERY PROGRAM AT THE TIME THEY PLAY FOR ENEFITS.

I'M NOT SUGGESTING IN ANY WAY SHAPE OR FORM THAT THEY DON'T DO THAT AT ALL UT I THINK THE CLARITY AND THE FOCUS ON THAT INFORMATION IS PRETTY LACKING.

SO TO SOME DEGREE, YOU HAVE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT THESE FOLKS FIND THEMSELVES IN.

IF IT'S, FOR EXAMPLE, LET'S SAY IT'S A MARRIED OUPLE AND ONE SPOUSE IS GOING INTO A LONG-TERM CARE FACILITY.

THEY GOT A LOT ON THEIR PLATES WITH THAT.

THEY'RE ALREADY DEALING WITH AN AWFUL LOT OF STRESS AND SO IF WHAT THEY'VE RECEIVED WAS A LITTLE FINE PRINT AT THE BOTTOM ONE OF THE FORMS THAT THEY SIGNED FOR THE COUNTY, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF RECOLLECTION ABOUT THAT.

>> YOU'RE SAYING THERE ARE OTHERS WHO ARE CARE-GIVERS SAVING MONEY BUT MAY NOT KNOW OF THE EXEMPTIONS THAT COULD KEEP THAT PROPERTY.

>> RIGHT, AND THE DIFFERENCE IS, IF WE KNOW HAT BEFORE THE PERSON DIES, WE CAN TRANSFER THE PROPERTY WITHOUT PENALTY.

THAT'S A HUGE EXCEPTION.

IF THEY DON'T KNOW THAT UNTIL AFTER THE PERSON DIES, THE BEST WE CAN DO IS A DEFINITELY OF THE CLAIM UNTIL THE PROPERTY SELLS OR THEY'RE NO LONGER LIVING THERE AND THEN THEY HAVE TO SELL.

>> MUCH LIKE KEVYN WHITE IN MAZEPPA, JAYNE GRIFFITH FEELS HER FAMILY DIDN'T GET ENOUGH NOTICE ABOUT IT, AND SHE BELIEVES HER PARENTS WOULD BE DEFER VAST STATED TO KNOW WHAT SHE'S GOING THROUGH.

FOR THOSE DEALING WITH THE ESTATE RECOVER -- RECOVERY, GRIFFIN HAS SOME VOICE.

>> I COUNT MY BLESSINGS BECAUSE IN MY SITUATION, MY HOUSE IS NOT SUBJECT TO RECOVERY BUT I, YOU KNOW, I WOULD TELL ANYONE ELSE WHO HAS A JOINT TENNESSEE TO REMI PREPARE FOR -- TENANT SEE TO PREPARE FOR WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN.

>> ERIC: APPLY THE ADJECTIVE YOU LIKE BEST FOR OUR SLOW- ARRIVING SPRING, RELUCTANT, LAGGARD, DAWDLING.

IT'S ALL THOSE THINGS.

NOT TO MENTION SLUSHY AND CHILLY AND SLOPPY.

BUT DON'T TAKE MY WORD FOR IT.

THAT'S WHY MARK SEELEY IS SEATED RIGHT NEXT TO ME.

DR. SEELEY IS PROFESSOR EMERITUS AT THE U OF M AND IS FAMED FOR HIS WEEKLY WEATHER CONVERSATIONS ON MINNESOTA PUBLIC RADIO.

WELCOME BACK TO THE STUDIO.

THESE APRIL NUMBERS, HOW UNUSUAL ARE THEY?

>> WELL, THEY ARE UNUSUAL AND THEY'RE CHALLENGING.

I WOULD REMIND VIEWERS, ERIC, THAT SINCE THE YEAR 2013, WE HAVE HAD THREE OF THE COLDEST APRILS IN STATE HISTORY.

>> Eric: WOW.

>> AND SO APRIL'S BEEN REALLY A CHALLENGE FOR US.

THIS MONTH HAS BEEN ESPECIALLY A CHALLENGE, IT'S BEEN A TWO-SIDED COIN.

WE WANT TO FIRST SAY, IT'S HELPED US ECOVER FROM DROUGHT, ESPECIALLY IN THE NORTHERN AREAS OF THE STATE BECAUSE WE HAD A LOT OF CARRYOVER DROUGHT FROM LAST YEAR.

BUT IT'S ALSO IMPEDED A LOT OF OUR ACTIVITY OUTSIDE.

GARDENERS ARE FRUSTRATED, FARMERS ARE FRUSTRATED, PEOPLE THAT LIKE TO BE OUTSIDE, AND WE'VE HAD A LOT OF MOISTURE.

WE ALREADY HAVE WITHIN THE NETWORK IN THE STATE WE'VE GOT MOST OF OUR OBSERVERS REPORTING TWICE NORMAL PRECIPITATION FOR THIS MONTH.

TO GO ALONG WITH THE COLD TEMPERATURES.

>> Cathy: YOU KNOW, OUR FRIENDS AT THE LUMBERYARD UP NEAR GRANDMA MARAIS SAID THEY HAD 170 NTERESTS OF SNOW THIS WINTER.

IT'S STARTING TO MELT UP THERE AND THERE COULD BE FLOODING AND THAT KIND OF THING SO IS THE DROUGHT, THEN, OVER IN THAT NORTHEASTERN PART OF THE STATE?

YOU COULD SAY THAT.

>> I THINK PRETTY MUCH, CATHY.

REMARKED ON THIS THIS MORNING ON YOUR SHOW, ON "MORNING EDITION."

WE'RE GOWN NOW TO JUST 2% OF THE STATE LANDSCAPE IS LEFT IN MODERATE DROUGHT.

THAT'S THE LOWEST AMOUNT OF THE STATE BEING AFFECTED BY MODERATE DROUGHT SINCE THE SPRING OF 2020, TWO YEARS AGO.

SO -- BUT, WE ALL KNOW THAT WITH THE WILD AND VARIABLE BEHAVIOR OF OUR CLIMATE, WE CAN SEE A TURNAROUND.

I DO SEE WETNESS CARRYING OVER INTO MAY, I THINK THE FIRST HALF OF MAY IS GOING TO CONTINUE THE WET TREND.

>> Cathy: AND COLD?

>> AND COOL.

AND OF COURSE THAT'S GOING TO BE FRUSTRATING FOR ARMERS.

I THINK FARMERS -- I HAVE YET TO SEE OR HEAR OF ANYBODY THAT'S ACTUALLY GOT ANY APPRECIABLE FIELD WORK DONE, AND, YET, COMMODITY RICES ARE UP THERE PRETTY GOOD.

INPUT COSTS ARE UP, TOO, I MIGHT ADD, BUT THEY'RE ANXIOUS TO GET OUT THERE AND GET THINGS IN THE GROUND.

>> Eric: DOES THE COOL SPRING HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH WHAT WE'LL SEE THIS SUMMER?

>> NO.

THERE'S NO HISTORICAL CORRELATION, ERIC.

IT'S WILD.

APRIL IS ABSOLUTELY WILD.

I WOULD REMIND VIEWERS A COUPLE OF LANDMARK EVENTS WITH TODAY'S DATE.

1980, ON TODAY'S DATE, WE HAD 100 DEGREES IN THE RED RIVER VALLEY.

EARLIEST 100 DEGREE READINGS IN STATE HISTORY.

25 YEARS AGO, ON TODAY'S DATES, THIS VERY NIGHT, IN 1997, WE HAD 54.35 FOOT FLOOD CRESTS GOING THROUGH EAST GRAND FORKS, AND THE HIGHEST EVER MEASURED IN 130 YEARS.

SO WILD, WILD SWINGS, AND BY THE WAY, THAT'S A THEME FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL.

WILD, WILD SWINGS, HISTORICALLY.

>> Cathy: YOU KNOW, I HAVE RELATIVES WHO LIVE IN EUROPE, AUSTRIA, AND THEY MADE THIS COMMENT AND SAID -- ASKED PAUL DOUGLAS ABOUT THIS LAST WEEK.

THEY'VE BEEN NOTICING, AND WONDER IF IT'S CLIMATE CHANGE, THAT THEY'LL O FROM WINTER TO SUMMER, JUST LIKE THAT, THERE'S REALLY NOT A SPRING.

>> RIGHT, RIGHT.

>> Cathy: SO THIS IS KIND OF THEN NOT SO MUCH SPRING BUT ALMOST LIKE THE TAIL END OF WINTER AND THEN WE'RE DOING TO GO RIGHT INTO SUMMER?

IS THIS PART OF CLIMATE CHANGE?

>> LIKE FLIPPING A SWITCH.

WE USE THAT A LOT, CATHY.

THE IN FACT OF THE MATTER IS, WE HAVE TO REMEMBER IS AS OUR CLIMATE IS CHANGING, AND WE KNOW IT'S CHANGING, THERE'S NO IFs, ANDS OR BUTS ABOUT THAT, THE ARIABILITY IS BECOMING MAGNIFIED AND THAT CAUSES THAT SWITCH TO FLIP.

WHEN YOU FLIP IT RIGHT AROUND AND FLIP THE SWITCH, YOU GO WAY THE OTHER WAY.

AND WE'RE SEEING FAR MORE EXAMPLES OF THAT IN IN OUR LIFE TIME THAN WE'VE SEEN IN THE PAST.

>> Eric: WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THIS, FIRST EARTH DAY, 1970, SINCE THEN THE TWIN CITIES IS WARMING FASTER THAN THE COUNTRY AS A WHOLE.

>> YES, ABSOLUTELY.

>> Eric: WHAT'S GOING ON THERE?

>> IN FACT, WE EVEN HAVE A GRADIENT FROM THE IOWA BORD DEER IN MINNESOTA ALL THE WAY UP TO THE CANADIAN BORDER.

WE HAVE A GRADIENT IN THE PACE OF THAT CHANGE, ERIC.

SO EVEN THOUGH T'S -- WE THINK IT'S FAST HERE, IT'S EVEN FASTER UP AT INTERNATIONAL FALLS AND ROSEAU.

WE HAPPEN TO BE A PART HAVE OF AMERICAN GEOGRAPHY THAT IS SEEING SOME OF THE MOST RAPID PACE OF CHANGE.

>> Cathy: SAY, BEFORE YOU GO, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT IF IT'S GOING TO BE WETTER IN MAY BUT COOLER, I WOULD THINK THERE WOULDN'T BE REALLY -- WHAT OPPORTUNITIES FOR SEVERE WEATHER, THEN, OR MAYBE THERE ARE?

>> YEAH, WE'LL SEE.

WE MAY EVEN HAVE A PEAK AT THAT TOMORROW, YOU KNOW, DEPENDING ON -- DEW POINTS ARE SUPPOSED TO GET UP INTO THE 50s LIKE THEY WILL DID BACK ON THE 12th WHEN WE HAD THOSE TORNADOES DOWN IN MAUER AND FILLMORE COUNTIES, SO WE MAY SEE BUMPS OR SHORT BURST EPISODES OF SEVERE WEATHER THREATS AS WE MIGRATE INTO MAY BUT THE OVERALL TREND THROUGH THE FIRST HALF OF MAY STILL LOOKS COOL AND STILL LOOKS WET.

>> Eric: WE'RE GETTING THE WRAP-UP.

THANKS VERY MUCH.

>> Cathy: GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> Eric: GOOD STUFF AS USUAL.

>> THANK YOU WILL.

>> YOU BEAT AN N.F.L.

FOOTBALL PLAYER, CORRECT?

>> THAT'S TRUE, AND THAT WAS A CHALLENGING RACE.

I PLAYED UP MY OWN FOOTBALL EXPERIENCE IN THAT CAMPAIGN, PLAYED FOUR SEASONS FOR THE TWIN VALLEY TIGERS IN HIGH SCHOOL.

I'VE BEEN THROUGH FOUR TARGETED RACES NOW, TWO TARGETED RACES IN THE HOUSE, TWO TARGETED RACES IN THE SENATE.

THEY ARE VERY CHALLENGING.

I'M SO GLAD I DID IT.

I ENCOURAGE OTHER PEOPLE TO DO IT, ESPECIALLY YOUNG PEOPLE TO GET INVOLVED, THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS I WANT TO GO BACK INTO TEACHING AND EDUCATION.

WHETHER YOU LIKE POLITICS OR NOT, IT HAS A HUGE IMPACT ON PEOPLE'S LIVES AND SO IT BEHOOVES US ALL TO BE ENGAGED TO A CERTAIN DEGREE.

I HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT HOW CAMPAIGNS HAVE BECOME MORE NEGATIVE AND UGLIER NOW AND THAT THAT'S DISCOURAGING A LOT OF GOOD PEOPLE FROM GOING INTO POLITICS.

♪♪ >> CATHY: AFTER LAST EVENING'S SPECTATCULAR COLLAPSE, THE TIMBERWOLVES ARE NOW DOWN 2 GAMES TO ONE IN THEIR NBA PLAYOFF SERIES.

MEANWHILE, THE WILD HAS CLINCHED AN NHL PLAYOFF SPOT.

SOCCER AND BASEBALL SEASONS ARE NOW IN FULL SWING.

LET'S TALK TO LARRY FITZGERALD ABOUT IT ALL.

IN ADDITION TO LARRY'S MONTHLY "ALMANAC" VISITS, YOU CAN LISTEN TO HIS RADIO WORK ON STATIONS AROUND THE REGION.

WELL, MY FRIENDS, THURSDAY'S -- THAT WAS A CLASSIC MINNESOTA SPORTS CHOKE, DON'T YOU THINK?

>> IT WAS TERRIBLE TO WITNESS.

YOU KNOW, I STILL HOLD OUT DREAMS AND ASPIRATIONS TO COVER A CHAMPIONSHIP FOR MINNESOTA TEAM, YOU KNOW, WHEN KIRBY PUCKETT LED THE TWINS TO TWO WORLD TITLES '87 AND '91, I'LL NEVER FORGET 'EM, I COVERED EVERY GAME.

AND WHEN THE WILD REACH HE STANLEY CUP, LOST O PITTSBURGH, YOU DON'T FORGET IT.

BUT THE VIKINGS HAVE NEVER GOTTEN TO THE SUPER BOWL AND THE TIMBERWOLVES, YOU KNOW, THEY'VE BEEN A MAJOR DISAPPOINTMENTS AND LAST NIGHT, TO SEE A TEAM DO EVERYTHING RIGHT FROM A MARKETING STANDPOINT, THEY HAD 19,000, ALMOST 20,000 PEOPLE IN THE BUILDING AND THEN TO COLLAPSE LIKE THAT, THAT WAS TOUGH TO TAKE.

>> Eric: DO YOU BUY CHARLES AND SHAQ'S CRITICISM OF KARL ANTHONY TOWNES?

>> WELL, I'LL SAY THIS, I DIDN'T PLAY SO I DIDN'T TAKE ANY SHOTS.

HE TOOK FOUR.

SO I WOULD SAY THAT THE TIMBERWOLVES ARE NOT GETTING IT DONE FROM A MENTAL STANDPOINT.

THEY ARE SO DEEP, MEMPHIS, AND KARL ANTHONY TOWNES' PSYCHE AND MINDSET THAT I DON'T KNOW IF THEY CAN GET OUT OF IT BECAUSE, WHEN YOU AVERAGE 24.5 POINTS A GAME AND ALMOST 12 REBOUNDS, BE AN ALL-STAR AND IT'S YOUR TIME TO SHINE BECAUSE YOU ARE THE FRANCHISE PLAYER, AND YOU TAKE FOUR SHOTS?

AND YOU GET IN FOUL TROUBLE.

YOU KNOW, THEY LOST TO THE CLIPPERS -- THEY BEAT THE CLIPPERS IN THAT PLAY-IN GAME BUT THE CLIPPERS SHOWED THE TIRED N.B.A., THIS IS HOW YOU PLAY THE TIMBERWOLVES.

KARL ANTHONY TOWNES ARGUES WITH THE OFFICIALS, HE DON'T THINK HE GETS FOULED, AND THEN HE DOESN'T DO WHAT HE'S SUPPOSED TO DO, WHICH IS TO LEAD.

HE PASSES OFF AND, YOU KNOW, THE YOUNG GUYS DID OKAY, THE GUARDS, BUT WHEN YOU'RE UP 26 AND YOU HAVE TWO 12-POINT QUARTERS IN AN N.B.A.

PLAYOFF GAME?

IT WAS MORE THAN DISAPPOINTING, IT WAS FRUSTRATING TO WATCH ND I DON'T KNOW IF CHRIS FINCH, YOU KNOW, HE'S DONE A TERRIFIC JOB AS COACH BUT TO SIT THERE AND HAVE AN 83-67 LEAD GOING INTO THE FOURTH QUARTER AND HAVE MEMPHIS SCORE 21 POINTS IN A ROW BEFORE YOU SAY TIMEOUT?

COME ON, HE'S GOT TO DO BETTER THAN THAT.

>> Cathy: SPEAKING OF DOING BETTER THAN THAT, THE TWINS, I DON'T KNOW, WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THEM?

THEM CAN'T SEEM -- >> HEY CAN'T HIT.

THEY'VE GOT A TERRIFIC LINE-UP, YOU KNOW, COREA IS HERE, BUXTON IS BACK, HE DHED IN THE WIN OVER KANSAS CITY, SO THE PITCHING'S BEEN GOOD, WHICH IS A SURPRISE BECAUSE MANY HAVE BEEN CRITICAL OF WHAT THEY'VE BONE.

BURRIOS IS IN TORONTO, HE'LL HELP THEM DO WHATEVER THEY DO, BUILT THE TWINS ARE MARCHING ALONG, 5-8.

THE WHITE SOX ARE HERE, ONLY BEAT THEM FIVE TIMES LAST YEAR.

THE SOX ARE STRUGGLING LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE BECAUSE THE LOCK-OUT HAS HURT BASEBALL IN GENERAL BECAUSE THE TEAMS IN MY VIEW ARE NOT READY'.

THEY AREN'T HAD ENOUGH TIME.

WHEN YOU PLAY 162 GAMES, YOU HAVE TO BE THERE FOR 30 OR HO DAYS SO YOU CAN GET EVERYBODY ON THE SAME PAGE PHYSICALLY AND PSYCHOLOGICALLY AND MANY OF THE TIMES >> THERE YET.

>> Eric: WILD VERSUS THE BLUES IN THE PLAYOFF, DO YOU WANT THE ROTATING GOALTENDERS OR HOW TO HANDLE THAT?

>> I LOVE WHAT I SAW THE OTHER NIGHT, THEY WON IT 6-3, CRILL KAPRIZOV,S I'VE BEEN COVERING HOCKEY A LONG TIMING.

THEY GOT A GUY WHO SCORED 44 GOALS, CRILL KAPRIZOV.

THIS RUSSIAN CAN LEAD THEM TO A STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONSHIP IF THEY DO A BETTER JOB ON THE BLUE LINE.

THEY'VE BEEN OFF AND ON IN THAT REGARD BUT THEY'VE GOT 105 POINT RIGHT NOW, THEY CAN GET TWO POINTS TONIGHT AGAINST SEATTLE, AND KEEP MOVING FORWARD, BECAUSE St. LOUIS HAS THEIR NUMBER AND YOU DEFINITELY WANT TO HAVE THE HOME ICE AGAINST SOMEBODY THAT THINKS THEY PSYCHOLOGICALLY HAVE YOUR EDGE.

>> Cathy: NOW, I KNOW YOU'RE DISAPPOINTED ABOUT I TIMBERWOLVES AND YOU SHOULD BE, BUT THERE'S STILL THE LYNX.

THEY WON CHAMPIONSHIPS.

>> THAT'S TRUE AND THEY'VE WON FOUR AND THIS WEEK WAS THE MEDIA DAY AND, YOU KNOW, CHERYL REIFF HAS GOT ANOTHER TEAM THAT'S GOING TO FOLLOW HER SYSTEM AND LEADERSHIP AND THEY'LL BE LOCKING AT THE DOOR BECAUSE THEY'VE MADE SOME GOOD ADDITIONS TO THIS TEAM AND I LIKE WHAT THE PROSPECTS LIE AHEAD BECAUSE WHEN YOU'RE THE OLYMPIC COACH AND YOU'RE THE COMB OVER A TEAM THAT'S YOUR -- YOUR REGULAR JOB, BELIEVE ME, THEY ARE GOING TO FIGHT TO WIN FOR YOU BECAUSE THEY KNOW WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.

>> Cathy: FAITH, THERE YOU GO.

>> Eric: AS ALWAYS, FRITH', THANKS FOR COMING.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> Cathy: HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.

SINGING: HAIL TO THEE, HAIL TO THEY OUR SAINT DEAR THY NIGHT SHALL EVER BE, A BEACON BRIGHT AND CLEAR ♪♪ >> NOTHING PLEASES ME MORE THAN LEARNING SOME NEW TIDBIT OF HISTORY, ESPECIALLY IF IT INVOLVES MINNESOTA.

EXAMPLE: WE'RE ALL FAMILIAR WITH THE SHAPE OF OUR STATE, THE NORTHERN BORDER, ABOVE THE ARROWHEAD, SEPARATED FROM CANADA BY THE NATURAL BOUNDARY OF RAINY LAKE AND RAINY RIVER.

THE NORTHERN BORDER TO THE WEST, THE 49TH PARALLEL.

BUT RIGHT THERE IN BETWEEN, THERE'S THAT LITTLE ODD "BUMP" IN THE BORDER.

WHAT'S UP WITH THAT?

WELL, TURNS OUT EARLY MAP-MAKERS THOUGHT THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER STARTED UP THERE IN LAKE OF THE WOODS.

THEY WANTED TO BE SURE THAT THE SOURCE OF THE MISSISSIPPI WAS IN THE U.S.

SO THEY DREW THE BORDER LINE AROUND IT!

IT WAS SOME YEARS LATER THAT WE FOUND THE ACTUAL SOURCE OF THE RIVER MANY MILES SOUTH, IN LAKE ITASCA.

BUT THE BORDER WAS DONE, EVEN GOT ITS OWN NAME, NORTHWEST ANGLE.

SO NOW YOU KNOW, MODERN MAP-MAKERS AGREE, THE MIGHTY MISSISSIPPI HAS ITS START, RIGHT HERE IN MINNESOTA, "LAND OF SKY-TINTED WATER."

>> CATHY: TODAY IN A FIRST DAY OF ISSUE CEREMONY AT GRAND PORTAGE ALONG MINNESOTA'S NORTH SHORE, THE ART OF NOTED AMERICAN PAINTER AND SCULPTOR GEORGE MORRISON WAS CELEBRATED IN A SERIES OF NEW POSTAGE STAMPS.

THE FIVE STAMPS HIGHLIGHT THE ROLE THAT LANDSCAPES AND HORIZONS PLAYED IN MORRISON'S ART.

BORN AT CHIPPEWA CITY NEAR GRAND MARAIS, WHERE HIS FAMILY HAD LIVED FOR GENERATIONS, MORRISON'S COLORFUL WORK WAS INSPIRED BY HIS SURROUNDINGS.

A FEW YEARS BACK, GEORGE MORRISON'S WORK WAS THE SUBJECT OF A TPT DOCUMENTARY PRODUCED BY SHARI LAMKE.

THIS WEEK IS A FINE TIME TO REFAMILIARIZE OURSELVES WITH MORRISON'S WORK.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK.

>> SUPPOSE THAT MAKES IT SORT OF INDELIBLE PERHAPS IN YOUR SUBCONSCIOUS MIND, EVEN AS A CHILD GROWING UP NEAR THE LAKE, THAT YOU KNOW THAT THE LAKE IS THERE SO PERHAPS THAT LINE BEGAN VERY EARLY.

IT BEGAN MORE OF A CONSCIOUS ASSOCIATION WITH IT AFTER MY RETURN FROM NEW YORK AND PROVINCETOWN AND THE EAST COAST, WHEN I CAME BACK TO MINNESOTA IN THE '70s AND BEGINNING TO COME BACK TO THIS AREA WITH THE IDEA TO LIVE HERE AND RETIRE HERE.

AT THAT TIME, I WAS BECOMING MORE CONSCIOUSLY TO UTILIZE THE LINE AS A POINT OF IDENTITY.

THE LANDSCAPE HAS BEEN ONE OF MY MAIN THEMES THROUGHOUT MY LIFE, SO, THEREFORE, I THINK THE REASON I CAME BACK FULL FORCE, CONSCIOUS AND SUBCONSCIOUSLY AND UTILIZING IT ALMOST OBSESSIVELY SINCE THE LATE '60s.

>> IN THE MID '40s, THERE ARE SOME DRIFTWOOD PAINTINGS IN WHICH THE HORIZON LINE SEEMS TO HAVE AN IMPORTANT PLACE.

I THINK OF 1949, WATER COLOR PAINTING CALLED "SUN ND RIVER" WAS THE MOMENT IN WHICH THE HORIZON LINE BECOMES LIGHT MOTIF, OR A CONSTANTS THREAD THAT GETS PULLED THROUGH HIS CAREER AT PRETTY STEADY INTERVALS.

>> AN ABSTRACT ART, IT'S OFTENTIMES NOT CONNECTED TO SPACE OR TIME OR LOCATION, WHAT IS REALLY QUITE IMPRESSIVE ABOUT GEORGE'S WORK IS HOW INTENSELY CONNECTED IT IS TO GRAND PORTAGE AND TO LAKE SUPERIOR ND TO THE HORIZON AND HIS PEOPLE.

YOU CAN'T REALLY UNDERSTAND HOW POWERFUL THAT IS IN HIS WORK UNTIL YOU'VE BEEN TO WHERE GEORGE LIVES AND LOOK OUT ON LAKE SUPERIOR.

AND THERE'S THAT DIRECT CONNECTION BETWEEN THE LAKE AND GEORGE'S WORK, AND THAT WONDERFUL METAPHOR OF THE HORIZON LINE.

>> HE BUILT A CABIN RIGHT ON LAKE SUPERIOR AND HIS BED WAS THERE, IT WAS THE KITCHEN, IT WAS BASICALLY A CABIN THAT WAS THE LIVING SPACE WITH A HUGE STUDIO BUILT OFF TO THE SIDE.

>> DOING A SERIES OF HORIZON PAINTINGS, THAT MEAN THE SKY AND THE LAKE AND THEN PERHAPS SOME OF THE BEACH OR ROCKS IN THE FOREGROUND.

BUT IN MANY KIND OF MOODS, AS REFLECTED BY THE COLOR AND THE TEXTURE AND SO ON.

HIM I'M NOT PAINTING SPECIFICALLY ON THE SCENE AND LOOKING OUT THE WINDOW AND PAINTING THE PICTURE BUT THIS IS ALL IMAGINATIVE PAINTING THAT I'M DOING IN MY STUDIO BUT DOING IT FROM MEMORY.

♪♪ >> ERIC: THIS WEEK, LAWMAKERS RETURNED TO THE CAPITOL AFTER THEIR SPRING BREAK, AND SO DID THE CROWDS AND RALLIES.

AFTER MORE THAN TWO YEARS OF COPING WITH COVID, LIFE AT THE CAPITOL APPEARS TO BE RETURNING TO NORMAL.

POLITICAL REPORTER MARY LAHAMMER SHOWS US WHAT ISSUES ARE BRINGING ACTIVISTS BACK TO THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE.

>> IT'S GOOD TO BE BACK.

GOOD TO BE BACK.

GOOD TO SEE THIS ROOM FILL UP AGAIN WITH VETERANS AND OUR SUPPORTERS.

>> Mary: PEOPLE ARE BACK AT THE CAPITOL, FILLING UP THE ROTUNDA INSIDE THE BUILDING, IN THIS CASE, FOR AN TISSUE THAT HAS BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.

>> THIS IS WHAT'S BEEN MISSING, WELCOME TO THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE.

IT'S BEEN A CHALLENGING FEW YEARS FOR EVERYONE BUT TO HAVE YOU BACK UP HERE, FOLKS WHO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE COST OF DEMOCRACY LOOKS LIKE.

>> Mary: THOSE FOLKS ARE VETERANS AND THE GOVERNOR, OF COURSE, IS A VETERAN, AS WELL.

>> IF A VETERANS OMNIBUS COMES TO Y DESK TOMORROW AND NOTHING ELSE HAPPENS IN THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION, I WILL SIGN THAT AND SAY AT LEAST WE MADE PROGRESS WHERE IT COMES TO THE VET.

>> Mary: BUDGET BILLS ARE MAKING THEIR WAY THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE AS LAWMAKERS RETURN TO THE CAPITOL AFTER BREAK, STILL FULL OF DISAGREEMENTS BUT THIS IS ONE ISSUE THERE IS AGREEMENT ON.

>> WE'VE KEPT IT NONPARTISAN AND WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO WORK ON ISSUES, AND WE DON'T ALWAYS AGREE ON EVERYTHING BUT WE WORK TOGETHER AND THAT'S -- WE CAN AGREE TO DISAGREE AND THEN DO WHAT'S RIGHT FOR OUR FAMILIES, OUR VETERANS.

>> THIS IS WHAT SHOULD BE IN THE BUDGET BECAUSE THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT WILL SERVE OUR VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES.

THAT'S A PRETTY CLEAR MESSAGE.

THAT IS A PRETTY CLEAR MESSAGE.

AND THIS IS THE WAY DEMOCRACY IS SUPPOSED TO WORK.

YOU DON'T COME THROUGH THAT DOOR ALL HAVING THE SAME LIFE EXPERIENCES BUT WE SHARE THE SAME VALUES, THAT IF YOU'RE WILLING TO PUT YOURSELF ON THE LINE AND YOU'RE WILLING TO SERVE, THERE S AN EXPECTATION THAT WE WILL FOLLOW THROUGH WITH THE PROMISES.

>> WHEN IS IT TIME TO FIND THE PUSH THAT CAN LEAD TO THE END OF VETERANS' HOMELESSNESS IN MINNESOTA?

>> NOW!!

>> Mary: AS PEOPLE GATHERED INSIDE TO TRY AND MAKE MINNESOTA JUST THE FIFTH STATE TO END VETERANS' HOMELESSNESS, CROWDS RETURNED OUTSIDE THE CAPITOL TO URGE ACTION ON THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS.

>> I BELIEVE THAT WE WILL WIN.

I BELIEVE THAT WE WILL WIN.

>> Mary: THIS GROUP CALLED ON THE GOVERNOR TO SUPPORTS BRING IT HOME, A BOLD COST-EFFECTIVE SOLUTIONS FOR MINNESOTA'S HOUSING CRISIS.

>> HOUSING IS A HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUE.

IT IS NOT A REPUBLICAN-DEMOCRAT OR INDEPENDENT PARTY ISSUE.

AND IT IS CERTAINLY NOT JUST AN ISSUE PERTAINING TO THE RICH OR THE POOR.

>> Mary: ORGANIZER POINT OUT THE STATE HAS MORE THAN $9 BILLION OF SURPLUS MONEY.

>> WE HAVE ENOUGH RIGHT HERE TO END THE DEVASTATION OF HOUSING INSECURITY AND HOMELESSNESS.

CAN I GET AN AMEN?

I BELIEVE THAT HOPE IS -- MY HEART IS FILLED WITH HOPE.

[SINGING IN NATIVE LANGUAGE] >> ASIAN PACIFIC ISLANDER DAY AT THE CAPITOL HIGHLIGHTED ANTI-ASH AGE VIOLENCE DURING THE COVID PANDEMIC AND HIGH YETING A RECORD NUMBER OF ASIAN LAWMAKERS.

>> I WANT TO THANK AND RECOGNIZE THE MEMBERS OF THE MINNESOTA ASIAN PACIFIC CAUCUS CAUCUS, REPRESENTATIVES KAOLY LEE, SAMANTHA VANG, XU TUNINGS, DAVID XIONG, AND SENATOR HAWJ.

>> THE NEED FOR LEGISLATIVE ACTION IS JUST AS GREAT.

OUR COMMUNITY NEED MORE DISAGGREGATED ATA AND ACTIONABLE DATA TO BE ABLE TO DIVE DEEPER INTO OUR EDUCATION, ECONOMIC AND HEALTH DISPARITIES.

>> WE DON'T EVEN ONLY HAVE TO -- TO HAVE THE CORONAVIRUS PAN DID HE MEAN I, WITH HE ALSO HAVE THE RACIAL RECKONING PANDEMIC THAT HAS BEEN KIND OF REFERENCED IN TERMS OASIAN HATE, IN TERMS OF THE GEORGE FLOYD KILLING AND OTHERS.

>> Mary: ASIAN PACIFIC ISLANDERS ARE THE FASTER GROWING GROUP IN STATE DEMOGRAPHICS AND IT'S EASY TO SEE THEIR INFLUENCE IS INCREASING AT THE CAPITOL AS CROWDS COME BACK TO THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE.

>> IT'S BEEN INSPIRING TO HEAR THE WORDS AND THE HANTS AND HIGHLIGHTING THE IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTIONS THAT ASIAN PACIFIC LINEDDERS MAKE TO MINNESOTA EVERY SINGLE DAY.

>> CATHY: BARELY A MONTH REMAINS FOR LAWMAKERS TO DO THEIR WORK AT THE STATE CAPITOL.

LAWMAKERS PASSED THEIR TWO-YEAR BUDGET LAST YEAR SO THEY TRULY DON'T HAVE TO ACCOMPLISH MUCH THIS YEAR.

BUT THE OPTICS OF WHAT GETS DONE, AND WHAT DOESN'T, REMAINS IMPORTANT IN THE FALL ELECTIONS.

LET'S TALK CAPITOL POLITICS FOR THE NEXT FEW MINUTES WITH OUR NEXT GUESTS.

AMY KOCH IS A REPUBLICAN AND FORMER SENATE MAJORITY LEADER.

JAVIER MORILO IS A DFLER AND ONE-TIME DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE MEMBER.

LET'S ALSO PUT IN A SHAMELESS PLUG FOR THE WORK THEY DO ON THE PODCAST "WRONG ABOUT EVERYTHING."

WHEREVER YOU GET YOUR PODCASTS.

IT IS FUN, BY THE WAY.

OKAY, SENATOR, STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS IS SUNDAY.

IT WILL BE HELD AT THE CAPITOL.

EVIDENTLY THE GOVERNOR'S GOING TO REVEAL SOME KIND OF A DEAL THAT WILL LINK, WHAT, U.I.

OR THE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE FUND AND HERO PAY GRANTS.

>> WELL, AND THERE WAS A DEAL SO, YOU KNOW, AT THE END OF LAST SESSION, THERE WAS A DEAL BASICALLY CUT ON UNEMPLOYMENT AND DOING SOME REPAYMENT ALONG WITH LINKED TO THE HERO PAY, $250 MILLION IN HERO PAY.

WHAT APPENED IS, THERE BECAME AN ARGUMENT OVER WHO WAS IN THE POOL OF THE 250 MILLION AND THE MORE PEOPLE YOU ADDED TO THE POOL, THE LOWER THE PAYMENTS GOT.

AND SO NOW THERE'S BEEN DISAGREEMENT ON HOW MUCH NOW SHOULD THE POOL BE MADE LARGER BECAUSE WE HAVE A LARGER SURPLUS, THAT'S THE D.F.L.

HAVE CONTENDED AND THE REPUBLICAN SENATORS SAID WE HAVE A DEAL FOR 250, LET'S CUT THAT DEAL AND THEN, YOU KNOW, THERE'S MORE MONEY, THEY COULD OSTENSIBLY INCLUDE -- EXPAND THE POOL BUT THEY WANT TO -- THEY'RE LOOKING TO HONOR THE DEAL THAT WAS MADE AT THE END OF SESSION.

>> Eric: THE GOVERNOR IS OFFERING ANOTHER COMPROMISE, I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE IS A DEAL YET BUT -- >> I'M SAYING THERE WAS A DEAL.

WE HAD A DEAL MONTHS AGO IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE DONE.

SO WE'LL SEE.

>> Eric: HOW ABOUT BONDING, TAX CUT, K-12, GO HOME?

>> WELL, I MEAN, THAT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE -- FOR THEM TO GO HOME TO BE DONE.

YOU KNOW, I THINK WE WERE -- IT FEELS -- WE WERE TALKING - EARLIER ABOUT HOW FRUSTRATING IT IS TO FEEL THIS DÉJÀ VU, WILL THEY GET THE WORK DONE, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE TALKING BE ABOUT A SURPLUS, THAT WE WOULD BE COMTEMPLATING ANY KIND OF SPECIAL SESSION BUT I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF PROBLEMS INCLUDING THE SENATE MAJORITY LEADER IS NOT REALLY LEADING HIS CAUCUS MUCH.

HE'S -- IT WAS A VERY CLOSE ELECTION AND HE'S VERY BUSY AT HOME AND DOESN'T TAKE MEETINGS AND SO, LIKE, IT'S HARD TO GET A DEAL DONE IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE PEOPLE IN THE ROOM.

>> Eric: RUDY PERP SAID I HATE NEGOTIATING WITH REPUBLICANS BECAUSE THEY NEVER WANT ANYTHING.

>> THAT'S THE TRUE, THE REPUBLICANS WOULD LIKE TO GIVE THE MONEY BACK TO THE TAXPAYERS, THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT HAPPEN WITH THE SURPLUS.

THEY WOULD LIKE TO REPLENISH THE U.I.

FUND BECAUSE THEY'RE CONCERNED WITH THE BIG INCREASES FOR EVERY BUSINESS ACROSS THE STATE, THEY'RE SEEING AN INCREASE BASED ON THE COVID HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT PAYMENTS THAT WENT OUT.

AND SO THAT'S KIND OF WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE.

YOU KNOW, MAYBE A BONDING BILL, THEY'VE EXPRESSED WE WILL OPENNESS TO THAT.

AND THAT'S IT.

AND HONESTLY, YOU KNOW, THAT'S QUITE BIT.

I THINK THAT IN THAT, THERE IS A DEAL, THOUGH, AND I'VE ALWAYS SAID THAT, THAT EVERYONE RECOGNIZES THAT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GET EVERYTHING THEY WANT AND NOTHING THAT THE OTHER PERSON WANTS, SO IT'S ALWAYS A DEAL TO BE CUT.

YOU JUST HAVE TO BE WILLING TO ACTUALLY MAKE THOSE OFFERS, YOU HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT FOR THE TAX -- FOR THE TAX BILL OR TO GIVE THEM THE TAX BILL, THEN, YOU KNOW, THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME SPENDING ON THE OTHER SIDE.

YOU HAVE TO ASSUME, HAT'S WHAT THE D.F.L.

WOULD LIKE.

>> Cathy: SO WHAT DO YOU THINK THE PARAMETERS OF A DEAL MIGHT BE, JUST GENERALLY -- >> I THINK EDUCATION IS A BIG PIECE OF IT, CORRECT.

THAT'S A BIG PIECE OF HE D.F.L.

HOUSE BUDGET, OR AT LEAST THEIR PROPOSED BUDGET AND OF COURSE THE GOVERNOR'S ALWAYS BEEN THAT, ALTHOUGH THE GOVERNOR HAD A REALLY LARGE SECTION OF HIS BUDGETS FOR EARLY LEARNING AND EARLY CHILDHOOD.

SO THAT IS PROBABLY COULD BE A PART OF A DEAL.

AND THEN THERE IS ALREADY SOME AGREEMENT IN H.H.S., YOU SEE THAT SENATOR ABELER ACTUALLY HAS A FAIRLY LARGE, $1.2 BILLION THAT HE'S GOT IN HIS FUNDING BILL, THAT'S GOING THROUGH SENATE FINANCE, SO THERE ARE SOME THINGS FOR EVERYONE THERE.

>> BUT IF EDUCATION IS A PART -- LIKE THE SENATE OFFER RIGHT NOW ON EDUCATION IS WORLDS APART, AND EMBARRASSINGLY BAD IN TERMS HAVE OH, LIKE, MEETING THE NEEDS OF KIDS AND MEETING THE NEEDS OF SCHOOLS SO IF THAT -- I AGREE, A DEAL SHOULD AND MUST INCLUDE EDUCATION, ESPECIALLY WITH VERYTHING THAT SCHOOLS AND PARENTS AND TEACHERS EVER GONE THROUGH IN THE LAST FEW YEARS, BUT THE DEAL THEY'RE HOLDING UP BECAUSE THEY WANT THE MONEY TO GO TO TAX CUTS FOR RICH PEOPLE.

>> BUT LESS THAN 10 MONTHS AGO, A DEAL WAS PASSED THAT GAVE TWO AND TWO AND A HALF PERCENT TO THE SCHOOLS.

THE 1.6 BILLION SURPLUS THAT WAS PROJECTED LAST SESSION, JUST LESS THAN A YEAR AGO, THEY GAVE THE LARGE -- THE LION'S SHARE OF THE SURPLUS TO THE SCHOOLS IN THE FORM OF A 2, 2 AND A HALF PERCENT INCREASE.

>> Eric: WHAT KIND OF SHAPE IS GOVERNOR WALZ IN GOING INTO THE CAMPAIGN?

>> I THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE A HALLENGING YEAR FOR DEMOCRATS ALTHOUGH I DON'T THINK THAT NECESSARILY THINGS WILL BE AS BAD AS FOLKS ARE THINKING BECAUSE THE REPUBLICANS ARE OING THEIR BEST TO BE AS EXTREME AS POSSIBLE AND MAKE THE CASE FOR US.

BUT THE GOVERNOR IS, IF YOU LOOK AT THE FUNDRAISING NUMBERS, NONE OF THE REPUBLICAN CHALLENGERS HAVE ANYTHING, YOU KNOW, THAT -- BEYOND -- IT'S ALMOST EMBARRASSING HOW LITTLE MONEY THEY'VE RAISED AND THEY'RE VERY, VERY FAR RIGHT.

SO I THINK THE GOVERNOR IS RIGHT WHERE MINNESOTANS WANT HIM TO BE.

>> Cathy: YOU KNOW, BUT KURT DAUDT, THE HOUSE MINORITY LEADER THINKS THE GOVERNOR SHOULD BE MORE ENGAGED.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> WELL, HE SHOULD CALL SENATOR MILLER WHO CAN'T EVEN TAKE A MEETING, LIKE I THINK THE GOVERNOR IS VERY ENGAGED AND, LIKE, YOU KNOW, HE'S SPEAKING -- THIS WEEK, HE EXPRESSED FRUSTRATION ABOUT THE U.I.

IS NOT GETTING DONE.

LIKE, THE LEGISLATURE NEEDS TO PASS THINGS.

>> Eric: REPUBLICAN WIDE OPEN ON THE REPUBLICAN GUBERNATORIAL SIDE?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S STILL OPEN.

I'M NOT READY O PICK A INNER YET.

THERE'S CERTAINLY SOME FRONT-RUNNERS BUT I THINK THAT THE RACE IS STILL -- MAYBE AT THE END OF MAY, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE OUR CONVENTION AND THE ENDORSEMENT FOR THE REPUBLICS REALLY DOES MATTER BUT WE'VE GOT FOUR OR FIVE IN THE RACE FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL, WE'VE GOT A SECRETARY OF STATE RACE, WE ACTUALLY FOREALL THE STATEWIDE RACES HAVE FOLKS, I THINK THAT'S INDICATIVE OF AN EXPECTED GOOD YEAR FOR REPUBLICANS BOTH ON A STATEWIDE LEVEL WHICH WOULD BE THE FIRST SINCE 2006, BY THE WAY, AND, OF COURSE THE STATE SENATE IS LIKELY THAT WE WILL HOLD AND I JUST RIGHT NOW I WILL SAY I BELIEVE THAT THE REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO PICK UP THE STATE HOUSE.

>> Eric: PRESIDENT TRUMP ENDORSED IN MINNESOTA?

>> I DON'T KNOW THAT HE'S ENDORSE IN MINNESOTA.

I THINK SOME FOLKS MAY WANT THAT BUT ALSO IN MINNESOTA, REMEMBER, PRESIDENT TRUMP EVEN AMONGST THE PRECINCTS CAUCUSES IN 2016 CAME IN THIRD, AND SO I'M NOT SURE THAT IN MINNESOTA, CERTAINLY HE HAS HIS SUPPORTERS BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S AS STRONG.

>> Cathy: ANOTHER BIG RETIREMENT, SENATOR SENJEM SAYS HE'S NOT GOING TO COME BACK, WHICH S A BIG LOSS.

>> A HUGE LOSS.

THERE IS A LOT OF PEOPLE LEAVING AND THERE'S SOME FOLKS THAT HAVE BEEN -- LIKE THERE'S BEEN PRIMARIES THAT EVER TAKEN REPUBLICANS OUT.

THERE ARE SOME LONG-TIME REPUBLICAN SENATORS THAT DID NOT RECEIVE THE ENDORSEMENT SO WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS THERE.

BUT SENATOR SENJEM IS JUST ONE OF THOSE FOLKS YOU WANT, HE'S KIND, HE'S GOOD, HE WORKS HARD, HE LISTENS TO EVERYONE.

YOU KNOW, HE DOESN'T DECIDE ON THINGS ON A PARTISAN BASIS, HE LISTENS TO PEOPLE AND DECIDES WHAT HE THINKS WOULD BE BEST AND IT'S REALLY A LOSE.

>> IT'S ALSO A SEAT THAT HE WAS REDISTRICTED INTO A SEAT THAT THERE'S MUCH HIGHER DEMOCRATIC VOTES THAN HIS FORMER DISTRICT.

>> Eric: 23 OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

>> YEAH, AND SENJEM AS -- SENATOR SENJEM WAS THEIR BEST HOPE AT KEEPING THAT SEAT BECAUSE HE HAD THE NAME I.D.

AND SO THAT ESSENTIALLY IS A PICK-UP FOR DEMOCRATS, AND IN A VERY THIN, YOU KNOW, IT'S GOING TO BE THIN MARRIAGE GO INCHES EITHER WAY.

>> I WOULD AGREE.

>> Eric: WOULD THE REPUBLICANS GO ALONG WITH THE DEMOCRATS IN MINNESOTA AND AGREE TO MOVE THE PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY DATE SO WE CAN BE LIKE IOWA -- >> I SURE HOPE SO.

>> IOWA JUNIOR.

>> CAN WE AGREE ON THAT?

LET'S MOVE THAT -- >> ABSOLUTELY, YES.

>> WE HAVE UCH A LATE PRIMARY IN AUGUST, LET'S MOVE IT UP.

>> THE DFL CHAIR IS ON THAT COMMITTEE ON THE DNC, YOU'RE Mr. DNC, WHAT'S THE CHANCE?

>> THE FORMER.

[Laughter] >> WELL, BUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S -- RIGHT, WE'RE IN THE MIX FOR ONE OF THE MIDWESTERN STATES, YOU KNOW, TO TAKE THE PLACE OF IOWA.

AND I THINK IT WOULD BE FANTASTIC.

MINNESOTANS TO GET A SAY FINALLY.

>> Eric: ARE THEY GOING TO HAVE FOUR STATES INSTEAD OF JUST IOWA?

>> I THINK THAT IS THE IDEA AND TO DO IT KIND OF REGIONALLY WHICH I THINK IS VERY SMART, BECAUSE OPT DEMOCRATIC SIDE ESPECIALLY THE FIRST TWO STATES, IOWA AND NEW HAMPSHIRE ARE THE LEAST REPRESENTATIVE STATES OF THE DEMOCRATIC BASE, IT WAS RIDICULOUS.

>> Eric: AND THE REPUBLICANS WANT TO STICK WITH IOWA ALTHOUGH THE -- IOWA HAS TO REAPPLY LIKE EVERYBODY EGGS.

>> I THINK THE REPUBLICANS SHOULD BE LOOKING AT THAT, AS WELL, EVEN THOUGH YOU MAY SAY NEW HAMPSHIRE AND IOWA ARE A LITTLE MORE REPRESENTATIVE, THEY'RE STILL A REAL IS SMALL POPULATION.

THE CAUCUS SITUATION IN IOWA -- WE SAW WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE DEMOCRATS LAST NAME, WHAT A DISASTER AND IT JUST HAPPENED THE REPUBLICANS DIDN'T HAVE ANYONE CHALLENGING PRESIDENT TRUMP BUT I WISH THAT BOTH PARTIES WOULD LOOK AT THAT.

>> Eric: GOT TO RUN.

THANKS, GUYS.

>> Cathy: NICE WORK.

THANK YOU, HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.

♪♪ >> CATHY: IT'S MINNESOTA HISTORY TIME.

THIS WEEK'S INDEX FILE QUESTION MAY STUMP YOU.

SO LISTEN CLOSELY TO THE DETAILS.

WE ARE ASKING ABOUT A TRULY NOTABLE AMERICAN JOURNALIST, NOT SEEN HERE.

THE PERSON WE SEEK IS THE WINNER OF MANY AWARDS, INCLUDING EMMYS AND A PEABODY.

AT ONE POINT, THIS PERSON WAS ONE OF THE MOST RECOGNIZABLE FACES ON AMERICAN TELEVISION AND APPEARED ON THE COVER OF "PEOPLE" MAGAZINE AND "TV GUIDE."

THIS PERSON WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL IN THE TWIN CITIES AND THEN GRADUATED FROM THE U OF M WITH A DEGREE IN JOURNALISM IN 1989.

THOSE ARE THE FACTS.

NOW SEE IF YOU CAN COME UP WITH THE ANSWER.

WHO IS THIS NOTABLE 1989 U OF M GRADUATE?

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU WHETHER YOU ARE CALLING IN FROM SPRING PARK, SPRING GROVE, SPRING HILL OR SPRING VALLEY, ALL GOOD PLACES TO BE FROM.

651-229-1430 IS OUR VOICEMAIL.

GIVE IT A TRY.

DON'T EVEN WAIT UNTIL YOU DO SOME RESEARCH.

WE LIKE QUICK ANSWERS.

651-229-1430.

GIVE EMAIL A TRY TOO.

ALMANAC@TPT.ORG.

WITH ONLY ONE MONTH TO GO BEFORE LAWMAKERS HEAD HOME FOR GOOD, REMEMBER, YOU CAN WATCH LEGISLATIVE FLOOR ACTION, COMMITTEE HEARINGS, NEWS CONFERENCES, THE WHOLE CAPITOL KIT AND KABOODLE, BY WATCHING YOUR LOCAL PBS STATION.

THIS SUNDAY, YOU CAN WATCH GOVERNOR TIM WALZ DELIVER HIS STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.

COVERAGE BEGINS AT 5:00, WITH THE SPEECH STARTING AT 6:00.

CHECK YOUR LOCAL LISTINGS ON WHERE TO FIND THE MINNESOTA CHANNEL.

WE HAVE ENOUGH TIME FOR A SHOW-ENDING TUNE FROM THE DEEP ARCHIVES.

THIS WEEK, BACK IN 1981 LEGENDARY BLUES GUITARIST CLARENCE GATEMOUTH BROWN PERFORMED ON KTCA'S NIGHTTIMES VARIETY PROGRAM.

LET'S LISTEN TO A BIT OF GATEMOUTH AND HIS BAND AS WE ROLL THE CREDITS.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

SEE OU GAIN NEXT WEEK.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ JOHNNY GOT THE BLUES, GOT THEM EVERY DAY ♪♪ GOT, GOT THE BLUES, OT THEM LOWER EVERY DAY ♪ I WOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT IF I ONLY HAD MY WAY ♪ ♪ IF YOU CAN BE TWO FOR ONE, NOW IT'S ONE FOR TWO ♪ ♪ YOU SHOULD BE TWO FOR ONE, NOW IT'S ONE FOR TWO ♪ ♪ WHAT IN THE ORLD ARE WE PEOPLE GOING TO DO] OH, I WISH I KNEW ♪♪ CAPTIONED BY: PARADIGM REPORTING/CAPTIONING WWW.PARADIGMREPORTING.COM "A LMANAC" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY MEMBERS OF THIS PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION.

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