>> ALMANAC IS A PRODUCTION OF TWIN CITIES PBS FOR THE STATIONS OF MINNESOTA PUBLIC STATION.

>> KAOMI LEE WILL HAVE THE STORY.

COVID APPEARS TO BE ON THE DECLINE AGAIN.

MICHAEL OSTERHOLM WILL EXPLAIN WHY THAT'S HAPPENING AND MARY LAHAMMER GETS A TOUR OF BIG CHANGES AT FORT SNELLING.

>> THANKS TO A NEW VISITOR CENTER AND MORE INCLUSIVE APPROACH AT MINNESOTA'S OLDEST HISTORIC SITE.

>> FOR ME AS A NATIVE PERSON WHEN I COME HERE I FEEL HOPE.

>> THAT'S COMING UP ON ALMANAC.

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

SUPPORT IS ALSO PROVIDED BY... GREAT RIVER ENERGY: PROVIDING 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/LINETHREEUS.

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 STRENGTHEN RURAL MINNESOTA.

>> Cathy: IN A FEW MINUTES WE'LL LEARN ABOUT THE CHALLENGES FARMERS FACE DURING THIS WET SPRING AND WE'LL TOUR IS A RENOVATED AND REIMAGINED FORT SNELLING.

WE'RE GOING TO TALK IT TO A PAIR OF RETIRING LAWMAKERS TOO.

FIRST UP IN THE HOUR WANING COVID.

>> THE CDC NOW RECOMMENDS A THIRD BOOSTER SHOT FOR CHILDREN 5 TO 11 AND SA APPROVAL FOR SHOTS FOR CHILDREN YOUNGER THAN FIVE MAY BE WEEKS AWAY.

AS ALWAYS THERE'S MORE TO THE STORY.

MICHAEL OSTERHOLM IS ACK FOR HIS MONTHLY VISIT.

HE HEADS THE U OF M'S CENTER FOR INFECTIOUS DISEASE RESEARCH AND POLICY.

DOCTOR, WELCOME BACK.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Eric: HOW IMPORTANT ARE THESE NEW DEVELOPMENTS FOR THE YOUNGER FOLKS' VACCINE?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT THE LICENSURE OR AT LEAST APPROVAL FOR EMERGENCY USE AUTHORIZATION AS WE CALL IT, FOR THE UNDER FIVE YEARS AGE KIDS WILL OCCUR IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS.

BUT I'M NOT THAT OPTIMISTIC IT'S GOING TO HAVE A BIG IMPACT AND I SAY THAT BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT THE FIVE TO 11-YEAR-OLDS SO AR ONLY 29% OF THAT POPULATION HAS BEEN FULLY VACCINATED AND THEY'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY FOR MONTHS TO HAVE THAT HAPPEN.

IN SURVEY DATA FROM THE KAISER FAMILY HEALTH FOUNDATION FOUND THAT ONLY 18% OF PARENTS OF THOSE YOUNGER THAN FIVE INDICATE THEY'RE GOING TO GET THEIR CHILDREN VACCINATED WITH 38% SAYING, WELL, WE'LL WAIT AND SEE.

AS WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS FOR SEVERAL YEARS THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN VACCINE AND VACCINATION AND I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE A CHALLENGE GETTING YOUNGER KIDS VACCINATED.

>> Cathy: I'M CURIOUS ABOUT MINNESOTA HERE.

WE SEEM TO BE STABILIZING IN TERMS OF NUMBERS.

IT JUST SEEMS TO BE LEVELING OFF.

HOW WOULD YOU CHARACTERIZE WHERE WE ARE?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I THINK SOMETIMES, CATHY, I FEEL LIKE A BIOLOGICAL METEOROLOGIST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM THAT'S TWO DAYS AWAY IS GOING TO DO TWO DAYS FROM NOW.

AND IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW IN MINNESOTA, AS YOU POINTED OUT, THE CASES ARE LEVELING OFF, CLEARLY.

INCLUDING HOSPITALIZATIONS.

BUT HE PROBLEM IS IS THAT ONE OF THE SUBVARIANTS, BA.2.1.2.1 HAS BASICALLY STARTED TO DECREASE AND VARIANTS BA4 AND BA5 HAVE BEEN SSOCIATED WITH INCREASED TRANSMISSION AND IMMUNE EVASION F PREVIOUSLY VACCINATED AND PREVIOUSLY INFECTED.

AS THAT TAKES OFF AND IT'S STARTING TO DO AND REALLY GROWS, WE COULD SEE ANOTHER SURGE IN THE NEXT THREE TO FOUR WEEKS.

IF IT DOESN'T WE MAY WELL SEE CASE NUMBERS COME DOWN.

AND I THINK THAT THE MESSAGE CONTINUES TO BE JUST EXPECT THIS VIRUS TO THROW 210-MILE AN HOUR CURVEBALLS AT ALL UALL THE TIME AND THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING.

>> Eric: ARE SUPPLIES AVAILABLE, OR WHAT'S THE SITUATION THERE?

>> WE DO HAVE ADEQUATE DRUGS HERE IN MINNESOTA AND I ENCOURAGE THOSE AT INCREASED RISK OF ILLNESS, HOSPITALIZATIONS OR DEATH TO GET TREATED.

WE ARE LOOKING CAREFULLY AT WHAT IS AN INCREASING NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO APPEAR TO HAVE REBOUND ILLNESS.

THEY GET TREATED, THEY GET BETTER, MAY TEST ANYONE NEGATIVE AND SEVERAL DAYS LATER HAVE A REBOUND ILLNESS INCLUDING TESTING POSITIVE AGAIN.

IT'S A QUESTION IS THIS A FACT THAT WE'RE NOT TREATING LONG ENOUGH, PARTICULARLY WITH VERY HIGHLY INFECTIOUS VARIANTS LIKE BA2.1.2.1 AND BA4 AND 5 WHICH I JUST MENTIONED.

AND SO STAY TUNED.

WE MAY SEE I THINK IN NOT-TOO-DISTANT FUTURE RECOMMENDATIONS TO POTENTIALLY TREAT LONGER THAN WE'RE TRITING RIGHT NOW.

>> Cathy: I'M CURIOUS ABOUT THE BOOSTERS.

NOW, WE'RE HEADING INTO SUMMER AND THERE'S THIS QUESTION, SHOULD I BOOSTED NOW, SHOULD I WAIT 'TIL FALL?

WHAT'S YOUR BEST GUESS ON THAT?

WHAT'S YOUR BEST INFORMATION?

>> I'D GET BOOSTED NOW BUT KNOWING THE FOLLOWING.

AS WE OFTEN THINK OF BOOSTING YOU THINK OF IT AS BUILDING YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM TO EVEN A BETTER PLACE SO THAT IT WILL LAST FOR MANY MANY MONTHS TO YEARS LATER.

THE DATA THAT WE'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW ON VACCINE IS THAT YOU GET A BOOST IN PROTECTION THOSE FIRST FOUR TO SIX WEEKS AFTER YOU'VE BEEN VACCINATED WITH A BOOSTER, PREVENTING EVEN INFECTION ITSELF FROM OCCURRING.

BUT THEN THAT WANES AND YOU'RE VULNERABLE TO GETTING INFECTED.

THEN ON TOP OF THAT OVER TIME THE PROTECTION AGAINST SERIOUS ILLNESS, HOSPITALIZATIONS AND DEATHS BEGINS TO WANE A BIT.

AND THAT MEANS POTENTIALLY THAT YOU'D NEED TO KEEP GETTING BOOSTED EVERY FOUR, FIVE MONTHS AT THE MINIMUM.

AND, WELL, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO DO THAT.

WE'RE ALREADY HAVING A CHALLENGE RIGHT NOW IF YOU LOOK IN THIS COUNTRY, YOU KNOW, ONLY ABOUT 29% OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD TWO DOSES OF VACCINE HAVE GOTTEN THE THIRD DOSE WHICH WE RECOMMEND.

SO AGAIN THE CHANGING OF VACCINE INTO VACCINATION IS BIG ISSUE.

SO I THINK THAT WE HAVE TO LOOK CAREFULLY AT IS IT JUST HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN SINCE YOU'VE BEEN VACCINATED THAT IS REALLY A KEY DETERMINANT, NOT JUST HOW MANY DOSES YOU'VE HAD.

>> Cathy: HOW IMPORTANT BY THE WAY WILL THE VARIANT FOCUSED VACCINE BE?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, THIS IS, AGAIN, AN UNKNOWN AND IT COULD ACTUALLY BACKFIRE ON US.

AND I SAY THAT IN THE SENSE THAT IF YOU LOOK RIGHT NOW WITH OMICRON.

REMEMBER OMICRON HIT US HARD WITH WHAT WAS CALLED BA1, ORIGINAL OMICRON STRAND.

THEN THAT MORPHED INTO BA2 AND BA2.1.2.1 AND BA4 AND BA5.

SO THIS IS ALL ONE VARIANT, JUST SUBVARIANTS.

BA4 AND BA5 IS RIGHT NOW SHOWING US PREVIOUS INFECTION WITH BA1 DOESN'T OFFER MUCH PROTECTION.

MEANING THAT WAS NOT A VACCINATING LIKE MOMENT GETTING BA1.

WELL, IF THAT'S HAPPENING WITHIN ONE SUBVARIANT PICTURE MEANING ONE VARIANT, HAVING DIFFERENT SUBVARIANT VACCINES MAY GIVE US NOT A LOT OF ADDITIONAL PROTECTION.

AND IN FACT MY CONCERN IS IS THAT AS I'VE SAID FOR SOME TIME ON THIS SHOW IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE A NEW VARIANT SHOWS UP, PI OR IGMA.

AND WHEN THAT HAPPENS IT COULD BE THAT IF YOU HAD A VERY SPECIFIC VACCINE TO ONE OF THE PREVIOUS SUBVARIANTS THERE MAY BE VERY LITTLE PROTECTION AGAINST THAT.

THERE'S A LOT OF DEBATE GOING ON RIGHT NOW IN THE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY ABOUT WHAT SHOULD WE DO, WHAT KIND OF VACCINE SHOULD WE HAVE.

AND SO MY ADVICE RIGHT NOW AND I PERSONALLY HAVE GOTTEN MY FOURTH DOSE, I'D RECOMMEND EVERYONE GET THEIR THIRD DOSE AND FOURTH DOSE WHERE IT'S RECOMMENDED, PARTICULARLY IF YOU'RE AT RISK FOR SERIOUS ILLNESS, HOSPITALIZATIONS AND DEATHS.

YOU NEED THAT FOURTH DOSE.

>> Eric: WHAT SHOULD WE KNOW ABOUT MONKEY POX IF ANYTHING?

>> WELL, FAR FROM DONE.

WE NOW HAVE 790 CASES ACROSS OVER 20 COUNTRIES.

HERE IN THE UNITED STATES WE'RE NOW UP TO 25 CASES N 11 STATES.

THIS IS A SITUATION THAT ACTUALLY I WROTE ABOUT YEARS AGO SAYING THAT ONCE WE STOPPED VACCINATING FOR SMALLPOX AS WE DID IN 1980 IT WOULD JUST BE A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THE POPULATION THAT DIDN'T HAVE PROTECTION AGAINST MONKEY POX FROM HAVING THAT CROSS PROTECTION FROM SMALLPOX VACCINE IN AFRICA WOULD TAKE OFF.

WE HAVE 10 COUNTRIES TODAY WHERE MONKEY POX IS ENDEMIC OR OCCURS REGULARLY IN ANIMALS AND TODAY LITERALLY FOR THE LAST 40 YEARS NO ONE'S BE BEEN VACCINATED AGAINST SMALLPOX, EVIDENCE EVIDENCE NO PROTECTION AGAINST MONKEY POX.

WE'RE SEEING LOTS OF TRANSMISSION IN AFRICA AND NOW IT'S SPILLING OVER AND IT'S REMINISCENT TO ME OF THE EARLY 1980S AND HIV/AIDS BECAUSE WE'RE SEEING BIG INCREASE IN CASES IN MEN WHO HAVE SEX WITH MEN AND WHO HAVE MULTIPLE PARTNERS.

THERE'S MANY GAY MEN WHO DO NOT PARTICIPATE IN THAT, JUST LIKE HETEROSEXUAL WINGERS ORGANIZATIONS, VERY DIFFERENT THAN THE EVERYDAY HETEROSEXUAL PICTURE.

I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE A LOT OF TRANSMISSION AROUND THE WORLD AND MY BIGGEST FEAR IS THAT THIS COULD UNDERUP BACK INTO ANIMAL POPULATIONS IN OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD.

IF CASES HAVE EXPOSURE TO RODENTS AT HOME, TALKED ABOUT PET RATS, HAMSTERS, GERBILS AND THEY GET OUT AND GET INTO THE WILD WE CAN SEE A WHOLE NEW FOCI START IN OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD SO THIS IS A REALLY SIGNIFICANT ISSUE.

>> Cathy: YOU ALSO ORRIED WHEN YOU AND TALKED AWHILE BACK ABOUT COVID ALSO GETTING IN ANIMALS AND REINFECTING IN A DIFFERENT WAY HUMANS TOO.

>> EXACTLY.

COVID RIGHT NOW IS JUST FOR LACK OF A BETTER WAY TO SAY IT, JUST BOGGLES MY MIND WHEN YOU SEE HOW MANY DIFFERENT ANIMALS SPECIES NOW GET READILY INFECTED FROM HUMAN COVID VIRUSES FROM WHAT'S THE POTENTIAL FOR THEM TO COME BACK AFTER THEY'VE CHANGED GENETICALLY AND AY AGAIN POSE REAL CHALLENGES.

I WISH I COULD SAY THE PICTURE IS GETTING BETTER.

IT'S GETTING MORE CHALLENGING.

>> Cathy: IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> Eric: THANKS, DOCTOR.

A RUSSIAN BLOCKADE ON UKRAINE'S PORTS MEANS THE FORMER SOVIET REPUBLIC CAN'T EASILY EXPORT ITS NORMALLY BOUNTEOUS WHEAT HARVEST.

MEANWHILE, A COLD, RAINY SPRING MIGHT CUT INTO MINNESOTA'S WHEAT CROP.

AND WHILE PRICES FOR WHEAT ARE SOARING, IT'S FAR FROM PURE PROFIT FOR FARMERS.

ONE GREATER MINNESOTA REPORTER KAOMI LEE WENT TO WARREN IN NORTHWESTERN MINNESOTA TO FIND OUT MORE.

>> ON A TYPICAL DAY IN MAY 83-YEAR-OLD FARMER DON LESLIE IS OUT IN HIS FIELDS PLANTING WHEAT.

THIS YEAR HE AND HIS BIG TOYS WERE PARKED AT HOME.

>> HOW DOES THIS THING OPERATE?

THESE KIND OF WINGS GO DOWN?

>> THERE'S A HYDRAULIC SYSTEM THERE AND THOSE WINGS GO OVER AND FLOP ON THE GROUND.

>> ATTACHED TO HIS TRACTOR IS A CULTIVATOR.

WE WERE HOPING TO SEE THIS FOURTH GENERATION FARMER IN ACTION.

LIKE HE WAS WHEN WE VISITED HIM IN 2020.

BUT A LONG WINTER AND RAINY SPRING FOILED OUR PLANS.

THAT'S BECAUSE THE SOIL IS STILL A LITTLE TOO WET TO GET THE PLANTERS IN FOR THE SEASON, IN FACT, ALL THE FARMERS HERE IN THE RED RIVER VALLEY ARE FACING THE SAME SITUATION.

IT'S A LATE START TO THE SEASON AND, AS DON LESLIE HIMSELF SAYS, IT'S ALL UP TO MOTHER NATURE.

>> WELL, THE GOING RATE WOULD PROBABLY IN THAT 70-80-BUSHEL RANGE, YOU KNOW, AND THAT REMAINS TO BE SEEN.

IT DEPENDS ON WHEN THE MEET FLOWERS, IF IT GETS HOT AND DRY AND WINDY, OR IF IT'S COOL AND DAMP AND MOTHER NATURE'S BOSS AND, YOU KNOW, WE TAKE WHAT WE GET.

>> THE LONGER THE GROWING SEASON, THE HIGHER THE YIELD.

THIS TIME LAST YEAR, FARMERS HAD 100% OF THE CROP IN THE GROUND.

THIS YEAR ONLY ABOUT HALF IS IN, AND DEMAND FOR IT IS SOARING.

>> YOU CAN HAVE A BIG PRICE AND CERTAINLY THERE'S SOME BIG PRICES OUT THERE, BUT THEN WHAT ABOUT THE COST OF YOUR FERTILIZER THAT MAYBE YOU CAN'T GET.

FERTILIZER WENT FROM 5 $10 TO 720 IN ONE DAY.

AND NOW PEOPLE ARE AYING IT'S UP AS FAR AS $2,000.

SO, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN GET MORE MONEY IN ONE SENSE AND YET LOSE MONEY BECAUSE YOUR EXPENSES ARE SO EXPENSIVE.

>> BAD WEATHER IN AMERICA'S BREAD BASKET AND A WAR IN EUROPE'S BREAD BASKET IS THREATENING GLOBAL SUPPLY.

>> IT MEANS REALLY VOLATILE MARKETS.

ANYTHING WHO'S FOLLOWED THE COMMODITY PRICES A YEAR AGO, SIX DOLLARS WHEAT WAS SOMEWHAT OF A DRAIN, WE'RE OVER $13 NOW.

THERE'S JUST SO MUCH VOLATILITY, RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAS RESPONSIBLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF 35% OF THE WORLD'S EXPERTS.

YOU TAKE HAT OFF THE MARKET AND THAT'S A SHORTAGE.

>> I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY THE PORT OF DULUTH HAS TO OFFER.

IT'S A DIRECT NETWORK TO NORTHERN EUROPE, THE SHIP SIZE THAT FITS IN THE PORT OF DULUTH FITS IN THOSE PORTS WELL.

IT'S JUST A NATURAL FIT FOR THE EUROPEAN MARKET.

SO HOPEFULLY, YEAH, WE CAN START FILLING THAT AND DEVELOP RELATIONSHIPS THAT ARE BENEFICIAL TO NOT ONLY THE MINNESOTA FARMERS, BUT THOSE COUNTRIES IN NEED AS WELL.

>> A RUSSIAN BLOCKADE OF UKRAINE'S PORTS MEANS ITS WHEAT EXPERTS ARE STUCK FOR THE TIME BEING.

GRAIN ECONOMIST OLSON SAYS THIS WILL BENEFIT U.S.

FARMERS INDIRECTLY.

>> WE DON'T NECESSARILY COMPETE HEAD TO HEAD WITH A LOT OF THE COUNTRIES THAT BUY FOR EXAMPLE WHEAT AND FEED GRAINS FROM RUSSIA AND UKRAINE.

WE DON'T USUALLY SELL INTO THOSE REGIONS OF THE WORLD BUT BECAUSE THAT SUPPLY IS LIMITED THE PRICE OF EVERYBODY ELSE'S INVENTORY HAS GONE UP.

>> HIGH WHEAT PRICES HAVE A DOWN SIDE TOO.

OLSON SAYS FARMERS WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE CEILING IS.

>> THE BIG CHALLENGE WE'RE FACING WITH U.S. IS E EXPORT A LOT OF THE INTERNATIONAL MARKETS.

WHEN PRICES GO HIGH THE WHOLE IDEA BEHIND HIGH PRICES IS TO RATION USE.

SOME OF THE COUNTRIES THAT EVEN WE NORMALLY SELL TO ARE LOOKING AT THE PRICE AND SAYING, LOOK, THIS COST IS TOO HIGH.

I CAN'T AFFORD TO BUY THE VOLUMES THAT I HAVE HISTORICALLY.

>> BEAUTIFUL WHEAT SEED.

>> YEAH, IT IS BEAUTIFUL.

>> LESLIE CAN BETTER WEATHER THE ECONOMIC TURBULENCE THAN MOST.

HE HAS HELP FROM HIS SON AND GRANDSON.

THEY HAVE FEWER DEBTS AND A STABLE OPERATION.

HE SAYS RIGHT NOW IT'S ALL A GUESSING GAME.

>> BUT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA MAKE IT.

WE'RE GONNA PRODUCE A CROP AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S IN OUR DNA AND IT'S IN OUR FAITH.

THAT'S WHAT FARMERS DO.

♪♪ >> Cathy: WHEN LAWMAKERS WENT HOME WITHOUT FINISHING THEIR WORK TWO WEEKS AGO, MANY THINGS WERE LEFT UNDONE.

WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT ONE OF THOSE TWO THINGS, THE STATE TAX CREDIT FOR RENOVATING HISTORIC STRUCTURES.

FOR THE PAST DECADE, MINNESOTA HAS GIVEN A 20% TAX CREDIT TO DEVELOPERS OF HISTORIC STRUCTURES, THINK THE DAYTON'S PROJECT IN DOWNTOWN MINNEAPOLIS.

BUT THERE HAVE BEEN PROJECTS ALL OVER THE STATE TOO.

HERE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THE LACK OF LEGISLATIVE ACTION MAY MEAN, MEGHAN ELLIOT.

SHE HEADS UP "NEW HISTORY," A CONSULTING FIRM THAT WORKS ON HISTORIC BUILDING PROJECTS.

WELCOME.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> Cathy: HOW IMPORTANT IS THIS TAX CREDIT?

HOW IMPORTANT HAS IT BEEN?

>> OH, GOODNESS.

WHERE TO START ON THAT ONE.

THAT'S A GREAT LEAD-IN QUESTION.

THIS TAX CREDIT WHICH WE ENACTED IN 2010 IN MINNESOTA .

SINCE THEN, OR I SHOULD SAY PRIOR TO THAT CREDIT WE WOULD SAY ONE MAYBE TWO HISTORIC BUILDINGS RENOVATED PER YEAR.

SINCE THAT CREDIT CAME INTO PLACE WE'VE SEEN UPWARDS OF TEN PER YEAR.

THAT GIVES US A TOTAL OF ABOUT 180 SINCE THIS PROGRAM STARTED.

IT'S BEEN AN INCREDIBLY POWERFUL PROGRAM AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT PROJECTS ALL OVER THE STATE OF MINNESOTA THAT HAVE ACCESSED THIS PROGRAM.

>> Eric: WHAT ARE THE CRITERIA TO QUALIFY AND THEN WHO DECIDES?

>> GOOD QUESTION.

SO WE ARE TALKING ABOUT HISTORIC BUILDINGS, CAPITAL "H" HISTORIC BUILDINGS.

THESE ARE CERTIFIED HISTORIC STRUCTURES MEANING THEY ARE LISTED IN THE REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES OR ELIGIBLE FOR LISTING IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

YOU MIGHT ASK ME, HOW CAN YOU BE LISTED IN THE NATIONAL RENTAL REGISTER?

YOU HAVE TO BE 50 YEARS OR OLDER, IMPORTANCE TO AMERICAN HISTORY AND HISTORICAL INTEGRITY, YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO DEMONSTRATE THAT SIGNIFICANCE THROUGH THE CHARACTER OF THE BUILDING.

IN MINNESOTA WE HAVE ANY NUMBER OF HISTORIC DISTRICTS AS WELL AS DESIGNATED BUILDINGS, CATHY, YOU MENTIONED THE DAYTON'S PROJECT, THAT'S A GOOD EXAMPLE OF A NATIONALLY REGISTERED BUILDING.

TO USE THIS PROGRAM THEY HAVE BE TO BE A SIGNIFICANT PROJECT, MEANING IT'S A BIG RENOVATION, RIGHT?

THIS PROGRAM WAS CREATED ACTUALLY ORIGINALLY BACK IN THE '70S FOR PLACING BUILDINGS BACK IN SERVICE.

LOOKING AT BUILDINGS THAT ARE VACANT, GROSSLY UNDERUTILIZED, DISTRESSED AND PUTTING THOSE BUILDINGS IN SERVICE.

>> Eric: WE'VE OT SOME PICTURES.

WHY DON'T WE TAKE A LOOK.

>> Cathy: THIS IS A GOOD EXAMPLE.

IT'S THE ST. LOUIS COUNTY JAIL.

WHICH HAS BEEN NOT USED FOR YEARS I THINK, IT'S BEEN EMPTY.

>> Eric: 20 YEARS.

>> Cathy: THEY WANT TO MAKE HOUSING OUT OF THIS, IS THAT RIGHT?

>> THAT IS, KATHY.

THIS IS A PROJECT I'M DOING BOTH AS CONSULTANT AND OWNER.

IT'S GOING TO BECOME 33 UNITS OF HOUSING.

>> Cathy: WOW, THAT LOOKS LIKE A TOUGH RENOVATION.

>> Eric: DID THE COUNTY BOARD GET INVOLVED OR STATE REVENUE DEPARTMENT OR WHO PUTS THE SAY THIS IS GOING TO WORK, THIS IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE CREDIT?

>> WELL, THIS IS AN EXTREMELY COMPLEX PROJECT, BUT LIKE YOU ASKED EARLIER, YOU KNOW, WHAT MAKES A BUILDING ELIGIBLE FOR THIS PROGRAM, THIS IS THE ST. LOUIS COUNTY JAIL IS A HISTORIC BUILDING.

IT WAS BUILT IN 1924.

IT'S PART OF IF YOU KNOW DULUTH IT'S PART OF THAT HISTORIC CIVIC DISTRICT IN DULUTH NEXT TO CITY HALL AND OST OFFICE AND THE COURTHOUSE AND ALL OF THOSE BUILDINGS COMPRISE A HISTORIC DISTRICT, THAT WAS HOW THIS PROJECT WAS ABLE TO ACCESS HISTORIC TAX CREDITS.

>> Cathy: NEXT PICTURE WE HAVE IS FROM WINONA.

THIS WAS AN OLD SCHOOL?

>> YES, THIS IS THE WINONA CENTRAL GRADE SCHOOL.

>> Cathy: OKAY.

SO I UNDERSTAND THIS IS ANOTHER PROJECT IT WAS MADE INTO HOUSING.

I LOVE THE FEATURES.

I DON'T KNOW HOW OLD THIS SCHOOL WAS, IS.

>> THOSE ARE GREAT DETAILS.

>> Cathy: YEAH, EXACTLY.

THAT'S AN EXAMPLE OF AN APARTMENT?

>> THIS AS I UNDERSTAND WILL BE 15 UNITS, OR ACTUALLY IT'S OPEN FOR LEASING NOW, SO YOU CAN CERTAINLY RENT AN APARTMENT HERE.

IT IS A SCHOOL THAT WILL BE 15 UNITS OF HOUSING IN WINONA.

>> Cathy: IT'S GORGEOUS WITH TALL CEILINGS AND THE WOOD FLOOR.

I GOT TO ASK YOU THIS.

BEFORE WE STARTED I ADMITTED THAT I LOVE HISTORIC BUILDINGS, I LOVE OLD BUILDINGS.

ARE ALL -- AND I CAN HEAR SOME PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE SAYING, WOW, NOT ALL OLD BUILDINGS SHOULD BE SAVED.

WHAT'S YOUR REJOINDER TO THAT?

>> GOSH, WELL, YOU'RE ASKING SOMEONE WHO IS COMPLETELY BIASED ON THIS TOPIC.

I HAVE DEDICATED LITERALLY MY ENTIRE CAREER TO SEEING THESE BUILDINGS REVITALIZED AND REACTIVATED.

I WILL TELL YOU THAT I PERSONALLY BELIEVE THAT WE BUILD OURSELVES INTO THE WORLD AROUND US AND THE MORE THAT WE CAN RETAIN OF THAT BUILT ENVIRONMENT THE BETTERWE ARE TO UNDERSTAND WHO WE ARE, UNDERSTAND WHO OUR NEIGHBORS ARE AND MAKE DECISIONS GOING FORWARD.

AND THERE ARE SO MANY BENEFITS OF REUSING BUILDINGS FROM ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS, ALL OF THOSE MATERIALS THAT HAVE BEEN USED TO BUILD THAT BUILDING.

YOU MENTIONED SEVERAL HOUSING PROJECTS ALL RIGHT.

COMMUNITY BENEFITS, A LOT OF TIMES THERE'S COMMUNITY MEMORY ASSOCIATED WITH THESE BUILDINGS OR COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE A STORY WITH THOSE BUILDINGS AND KEEPING THEM IN PLACE ALLOWS US TO CONTINUE CREATING STORIES IN THESE BUILDINGS.

SO IF YOU ASK ME THERE'S VALUE FAR BEYOND JUST THE PHYSICAL BUILDING IN THESE REUSE PROJECTS.

>> Eric: WHEN DOES THIS LAPSE IF THERE'S NO SPECIAL SESSION TO RE-UP IT?

>> AS YOU KNOW IT'S JUNE 3RD TODAY.

>> Cathy: YES.

>> THIS PROGRAM EXPIRES IN 27 DAYS.

>> Eric: HOW MANY PROJECTS ARE IN THE PIPELINE, DO YOU KNOW?

>> >> SO THERE ARE, THE PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE IN THE PIPELINE NOW HAVE BEEN APPROVED, RIGHT.

THE RISK WE HAVE RIGHT NOW IS THAT NO FUTURE PROJECTS WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR THIS PROGRAM.

SO ANY OF THOSE POTENTIAL PROGRAMS, ANY OF THOSE POTENTIAL PROJECTS, THOSE HISTORIC BUILDINGS, HISTORIC DISTRICTS, NONE OF THOSE, FRANKLY, NONE OF THOSE WILL HAPPEN IS THE REALITY OF IT.

BECAUSE ALL THOSE PROJECTS THAT WE JUST RAN THROUGH, CATHY, WOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED WITHOUT THE CREDIT.

>> Cathy: SO THEN THE BUILDINGS ARE IN DANGER OF MAYBE BEING LOST TO TIME PERHAPS?

>> YOU KNOW, THIS IS, WE WERE TALKING EARLIER THAT I MOVED HERE FROM WARMER CLIMATES.

MINNESOTA IS A REALLY HARD CLIMATE FOR BUILDINGS AND A BUILDING THAT'S NOT USED, A VACANT BUILDING IS A LOST BUILDING, PERIOD.

>> Eric: WELL, YOU'RE ONE AMONG MANY AITING TO SEE IF THERE WILL BE A SPECIAL SESSION SO WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS DOWN THE TRAIL.

THANKS FOR COMING OVER.

LAST WEEK THE FINAL EPISODE OF TPT'S DIGITAL OUTDOOR SERIES WAS PUBLISHED.

"OUTSIDE CHANCE" EXPLORES WHAT TO DO IN OUR STATE'S GREAT OUTDOORS.

IT'S PART OF A TWIN CITIES PBS INITIATIVE FOCUSED ON PARKS AND TRAILS AND EXPLORING THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT.

THIS JULY TPT PRESENTS A NATIONAL SERIES CALLED "AMERICA OUTDOORS."

MORE ON THAT IN UPCOMING WEEKS.

BUT FIRST, ANOTHER CLIP FROM "OUTSIDE CHANCE" IN WHICH HOST CHANCE YORK MEETS UP WITH A WORLD-CLASS LOG ROLLER.

♪♪ >> WHEN IT STARTS GOIN', THEN I'M LIKE, AH, AH!

[ LAUGHTER ] [ EXCLAIMING ] >> LITTLE STEP, LITTLE STEP.

OH, YEAH.

HERE WE GO.

>> NICE, THERE YOU GO!

THAT WILL GET YOUR FEET GOING.

>> I WAS JUST ABOUT TO START TALKIN' SMACK.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> SIT BECOME INTO IT AND THEN YOU CAN KEEP YOUR CORE.

EVERYTHING IS KIND OF FROM THE WAIST-DOWN.

UP, UP, UP, UP.

THERE YOU GO.

NICE.

>> I AS GOING TO TRY TO KICK.

SHOULD WE TAKE ONE OFF?

I GOT THIS, I GOT THIS!

WHOA!

WHOA!

[ LAUGHTER ] >> OH, LOOK AT THIS.

OH, YES, GO!

NOT EVERY DAY YOU GET TO GET ON A LOG WITH A REAL CHAMPION.

NO MORE FINN IN AROUND.

WE'RE GOING FOR NO HOLDS BARRED COMPETITION.

BEST OF THREE.

BEST OF FIVE.

BEST OF SEVEN!

[ LAUGHTER ] ♪♪ >> Eric: MINNESOTA'S MANY HISTORICAL SITES WILL BE BUSY PLACES AS THE SUMMER TOURISM SEASON GETS UNDERWAY.

THERE'S A NEW REASON TO VISIT THE OLDEST SITE IN THE STATE AT FORT SNELLING.

AFTER YEARS OF PLANNING AND PUBLIC AND PRIVATE FUND-RAISING THE SITE HAS BEEN REVITALIZED AND ITS COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT PAST HAS BEEN REINTERPRETED.

MARY LAHAMMER WENT TO THE FOR THE THIS YOLK AND WAS GIVEN A TOUR BY THE HEAD OF THE NATIVE AMERICAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY'S AMBER ANNIS.

>> WE ARE AT HISTORIC FORT SNELLING AND THIS RIGHT HERE IS THE BEAUTIFUL CENTERPIECE.

THE TWO RIVERS, THE INNESOTA AND MISSISSIPPI RIVERS.

THERE'S A REALLY BIG CHANGE.

SOMETHING IS MISSING THAT YOU SUEDES TO SEE WHEN YOU WALKED IN AND MAYBE THIS IS A GOOD THING, RIGHT?

[ LAUGHTER ] >> THE PREVIOUS VISITOR CENTER WAS ACTUALLY RIGHT THERE AND IT WAS A SPACE WHERE YOU WOULD COME UP TO IT AND WALK DOWN AND THIS RIGHT NOW IS SUCH AN INVITING EXPERIENCE.

OUR GOAL WITH THE REVITALIZATION AND REOPENING IS HOW DO WE BRING PEOPLE INTO THIS SPACE THAT'S GOT A COMPLICATED HISTORY.

FOR ME AS A NATIVE PERSON WHEN I COME HERE NOW I FEEL HOPE, I FEEL LIKE THIS IS A SPACE WHERE I WANT TO RETURN TO.

PART OF THE REVITALIZATION WAS NEW INTERPRETIVE SIGNAGE, WALKWAYS O MAKE THE LAND ACCESSIBLE TO PEOPLE.

IT REALLY WASN'T BEFORE.

WE WERE ABLE TO BRING BACK NATIVE PLANTINGS TO INCORPORATE MORE INDIGENOUS UNDERSTANDINGS OF THESE PLANTINGS.

ONE OF THE THINGS I'VE COMMENTED A LOT, OFTENTIMES I'LL BEND OWN AND PICK A LITTLE SAGE UP, IT'S A REMINDER THAT THIS SITE DOES HAVE THAT HARD HISTORY.

WE WANT TO BE HERE, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE TELLING THOSE STORIES BUT T STILL DOES COME WITH A LITTLE BIT OF TRAUMA.

THIS ALL RIGHT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE VISITOR CENTER.

>> THE UNDERGROUND BUNKER VISITOR CENTER.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> THE UNDERGROUND BUNKER, RIGHT.

BEFORE YOU GET DOWN TO THE VISITOR CENTER, BEFORE YOU GET DOWN TO THE FORT, THESE ARE SNIPPETS OF SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU'LL BE LEARNING.

SOME OF THE, AS WE SAID THIS IS 10,000 YEARS OF HISTORY.

FOR EXAMPLE, SLAVERY AT FORT SNELLING, THIS IS A VERY HANDSOME PICTURE OF DRED SCOTTT.

FURTHER IN WE TELL MORE OF THAT STORY OF HOW DO WE RECONCILE, RIGHT WITH, THAT THIS WAS A SITE OF DIPLOMACY AND A SITE OF MILITARY BUT AT THE SAME TIME THEY WERE SLAVE HOLDERS, DREAD AND HARRIET SCOTT, PREEMPTIVE TO THE MAJOR CASE STARTED HERE.

THIS RIGHT HERE IS THE 1805 TREATY INTERPRETIVE ASPACE FOR US.

ONE OF THE IMPORTANT PARTS OF THE STORY IS TALKING ABOUT FIRST, DAKOTA HOMELAND, NATIVE HOMELAND BUT ALSO UNDERSTANDING THAT TREATIES AND SOVEREIGNTY WERE REALLY IMPORTANT PART OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

WITH THE BREAKAGE, WHAT WE'RE DOING IS REMINDING PEOPLE THAT TREATIES WERE OFTEN NEGOTIATED IN UNFAIR TERMS.

TREATIES ARE IMPORTANT, VERY IMPORTANT BUT THEY COME WITH THAT REALLY, YOU KNOW, DIFFICULT BREAKS OF GAPS OF UNDERSTANDING.

ANCESTORS ARE BURIED OVER THERE.

OVER THERE IS BDOTE, WHICH IS A SITE OF CREATION.

IT'S A SITE OF JOY AND BEAUTY AND RESILIENCE.

WELL, HERE WE GO.

>> OH, WOW.

>> WELCOME.

>> IT ISN'T RECOGNIZABLE FROM ITS PAST, OH, MY GOODNESS.

>> NO, ABSOLUTELY.

>> IT'S SO OPEN.

IT WAS REALLY CARVED UP AND FALLING APART BEFORE.

>> OH, YEAH.

SEEMS LIKE THE ORIGINAL FLOORS JUST RESTORED AND PATCHED.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SOME OF THE UNIQUE THINGS TOO, I LOVE THIS PART BECAUSE IT REFLECTS A LITTLE BIT, IF YOU LOOK, ABOUT A CHRISTMAS DINNER HERE AT FORT SNELLING WITH THE SOLDIERS AND I LOVE IT WAS THE ACTUAL MENU, WHAT THEY HAD, WHAT IT WAS LIKE.

PART OF WHAT WE DO NOT WANT TO LOSE AND WHAT'S NOT GOING TO GO AWAY WALT MILITARY STORY.

IT'S SO PROFOUND HERE, THE MILITARY HISTORY OF FORT SNELLING AFFECTS THE WHOLE UNITED STATES.

SO BACK OUT AND ONE OF, AND YOU'LL SEE AS WE'RE WALKING DOWN THE PANEL WE'LL DO A CONTINUATION OF A SERIES OF PANELS WE HAVE CALLED COLLECTIVE VOICES.

ONE OF THE THINGS I KNOW IS SO BEAUTIFUL ABOUT THESE COLLECTIVE VOICES IS THAT INHERENT BELIEF IN THE COUNTRY.

THAT INHERENT BELIEF IN THIS IS OUR LAND AND OUR AS IN THIS IS MY HOME, I HAVE A PROFOUND COMMITMENT TO IT.

AND AS WE KNOW A LOT OF COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, NATIVE COMMUNITIES HAVE SOME OF THE HIGHEST NUMBERS OF SERVING IN THE MILITARY.

HERE, INDIVIDUAL STORIES.

THIS IS A GREAT STORY HERE, FELIX BATTLES WAS 20 YEARS LD WHEN HE ENLISTED, BORN INTO SLAVERY.

BORN INTO SLAVERY, AND IMAGINING THAT AND WHAT HE BECAME AND SERVING DURING THE CIVIL WAR.

SO THEME OF PERSEVERANCE.

THAT CHOS, YOU KNOW, THROUGHOUT A LOT OF THE STORIES THAT WE TELL.

>> AND IT LOOKS LIKE HE ENLISTED HERE DURING THE CIVIL WAR.

>> YES, ABSOLUTELY.

>> WOW.

>> THAT RIGHT OVER THERE IS CALLED A PLACE TO REMEMBER.

BECAUSE OF AS WE KNOW THE SITE OF THIS IS THE SITE OF TRAUMA, OF PAIN, IT'S A SITE OF SACRIFICE AND SO MANY DIFFERENT NARRATIVES SHARED HERE WE REALLY WANTED TO HAVE A PLACE THAT WAS REFLECTIVE FOR VISITORS TO COME TO THINK ABOUT THE STORIES THEY'VE HEARD RETURNING TO THE LAND, RETURNING TO THE ENVIRONMENT SO THE PLACE IN HERE, A PLACE TO REMEMBER IS EMBEDDED WITHIN THAT.

SO THERE'S STONE SEATINGS AROUND AND THEN WE'RE JUST SURROUNDED BY NATIVE PLANTS.

TELLING A DIFFERENT MORE NUANCED STORY ABOUT THE U.S.-DAKOTA WAR, ABOUT THE CONCENTRATION CAMP, ABOUT THE HANGING OF TWO MEN HERE.

SOME OF MY FAMILY'S HISTORY STARTS HERE AND IT STARTS WITH THAT DAKOTA EXILE.

>> YEAH.

>> AND MOVEMENT OF DAKOTA PEOPLE BACK TO SOUTH DAKOTA, THE FORCED REMOVAL.

I'M ORIGINALLY FROM EAGLE BUTTE, SOUTH DAKOTA, I'M ALSO ENGLISH, AND A CITIZEN OF THE CHEYENNE RIVER SIOUX TRIBE.

♪♪ >> A LOT OF FOLKS ARE WORRIED ABOUT THINGS ROM THE 1970S COMING BACK.

INFLATION.

RUSSIAN AGGRESSION.

BUT YOU KNOW ONE THING THAT'S COMING THAT'S GREAT?

MEN ARE WEARING SHORT SHORTS AGAIN!

FOR MUCH OF THE 20TH CENTURY GUYS WERE WEARING SHORT SHORTS EVERYWHERE!

THEY WERE WEARING THEM HANGIN' OUT.

THEY WERE WEARING THEM AT THE BEACH.

THEY WERE WEARING THEM WHILE BEING PRESIDENT.

WHILE BEING A FORMER PRESIDENT VERY ATTRACTIVE SON.

YOU KNOW WHEN THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM WAS AWESOME?

WHEN THEY WERE WEARING SHORT SHORTS!

YOU MIGHT HAVE WORN SHORT SHORTS YOURSELF!

YOUR DAD ALMOST DEFINITELY WORE SHORT SHORTS.

THEN AROUND THE TIME I WAS BORN, SOMETHING HAPPENED.

MEN'S SHORTS GOT LONG AND ADDED A BUNCH OF UNNECESSARY POCKETS.

BUT NOW SHORT SHORTS ARE BACK FOR THE FIRST TIME IN DECADES, MEN ARE SHOWING THEIR THIGHS AGAIN.

THEY'RE WEARING ONE-IN RUNNING SHORTS, SQUARE CUT SWIMSUITS, CUT AND UNCUT JEAN SHORTS.

AND I THINK THAT IS A GREAT THING.

SO, MEN OF ANY AGE, ANY SHAPE, ANY LENGTH, FREE YOUR KNEES!

SHOW SOME SKIN, AND WEAR YOUR SHORT SHORTS WITH PRIDE ALL MONTH AND SUMMER LONG!

♪♪ >> LYRICS: WHO EARS SHORT SHORTS WE WEAR SHORT SHORTS WE LIKE SHORT SHORTS WHO WEARS SHORT SHORTS ... >> Cathy: I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY ABOUT THAT.

IN THE LAST FEW YEARS MANY CHARITABLE FOUNDATIONS HAVE CHALLENGED THEMSELVES TO THINK DIFFERENTLY ABOUT THEIR WORK, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO EQUITY AND ACTION.

THIS SPRING A GROUP OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION AND COMMUNITY LEADERS ANNOUNCED AN EFFORT CALLED THE GROUNDBREAK COALITION.

THE MISSION OF HE GROUP IN ITS OWN WORDS IS LEAD THE NATION IN COMMITTING RESOURCES NECESSARY TO ACHIEVE RACIAL AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE.

TONYA ALLEN HEADS THE MCKNIGHT FOUNDATION AND WAS A LEADING FORCE IN ESTABLISHING THE GROUNDBREAK COALITION.

IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

SO HAPPY TO BE HERE.

>> Cathy: IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU TOO.

HOW, WHEN YOU'RE IN AN ELEVATOR, WHAT'S YOUR PITCH TO SOMEONE ABOUT THIS COALITION, HOW DO YOU DESCRIBE IT?

>> THAT WE'RE ESSENTIALLY TRYING TO MOVE CAPITAL FASTER AND MORE EQUITABLY.

SO THAT'S REALLY THE BASIC PREMISE F THIS.

SO IT IS ABOUT PHILANTHROPY BUT IT'S ALSO ABOUT HOW TO CHANGE OUR ECONOMIC SYSTEM.

SO PART OF THE LARGEST MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS OF THIS COALITION ARE ACTUALLY FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS.

>> Eric: WHAT'S IN IT FOR THEM?

>> WHAT'S IN IT FOR THEM IS THAT THEY ALL HAVE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLANS THAT THEY HAVE TO PUT RESOURCES IN.

SO THEY NEED TO MOVE CAPITAL.

AND WE ALSO SEE NEWS HEADLINES THAT TELL US HOW THEY HAVEN'T FIXED THEIR SYSTEMS WHERE THEY HAVE INEQUITABLE PRACTICES WHERE BLACK HOMEOWNERS ARE THREE OR FOUR TIMES LESS LIKELY TO GET EVEN IF THEY HAVE THE SAME CRITERIA, THEY MEET ALL OF THE CRITERIA AS WHITE HOMEOWNERS, THEY'RE NOT MAKING LOANS TO THEM.

SO THEY ARE TRYING TO FIX THEIR SYSTEMS AND FIX THEIR PRACTICES.

AND THIS CREATES A PLATFORM FOR THEM THAT ACTUALLY ALLOWS THEM TO DO DEAL MAKING AND TO DO IT WITH BE EQUITABLE LENS THAT'S GOING TO CHANGE THEIR PRACTICES NOT JUST DISTRIBUTE THEIR MONEY.

>> Cathy: SO THEY'RE USING RESOURCES DIFFERENTLY AND MORE EQUITABLY.

>> YEAH.

YES.

AND WE WANT IT TO BE MORE EQUITABLE, WE WANT IT TO BE -- THESE RESOURCES TO PROMOTE A CLIMATE FRIENDLY AND CLIMATE NEUTRAL ECONOMY BECAUSE WE KNOW IF WE DON'T START MAKING THOSE TYPE OF INVESTMENTS IN OUR BUILT ENVIRONMENT THEN WE WILL CONTINUE TO SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES THAT WE'RE SEEING.

>> Eric: WHY AREN'T THEY DOING THIS ON THEIR OWN?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT IT IS VERY EASY, IF YOU GO ALONE -- WELL, LET ME JUST SAY THIS.

THERE'S THIS AFRICAN PROVERB THAT I LOVE THAT SAYS BASICALLY IF YOU WANT TO GO FAST, GO ALONE, IF YOU WANT TO GO FAR, GO TOGETHER.

AND WHAT GROUNDBREAK COALITION IS ABOUT IS LIKE THIS IS AN AM AMBITION THAT IS BIGGER THAN ANY INDIVIDUAL INSTITUTION.

SO BY CREATING THESE REALLY AMBITIOUS GOALS ND A BIG FINANCIAL TARGET THAT'S RELATED TO THIS AND WE ARE ALL HOLDING EACH OTHER ACCOUNTABLE TO CHANGE THE WAY THAT WE DEPLOY CAPITAL, INCLUDING FOUNDATIONS.

WE HAVE TO SHOW P DIFFERENTLY, MAKING SURE OUR CAPITAL, BE IT THROUGH GRANTS OR INVESTMENTS, ARE SHOWING UP IN AN EQUITABLE WAY.

>> Eric: YOU'RE COMPETITORS, THOUGH.

AMONG EACH OTHER.

>> HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF THE CONCEPT OF COOPPORTITION?

AND THAT'S WHAT I THINK THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS SEE AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM THEMSELVES.

I WOULD SAY IN OUR REGION WE'VE SEEN OUR FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS BEGUN BEGIN TO COLLABORATE AROUND THINGS LIKE FIRST INDEPENDENCE BANK BECAUSE THEY KNOW F THEY CONTINUE THEIR CURRENT PRACTICES AND THE WAY THAT THEY EXIST TODAY THEN THEY WILL NOT RESOLVE THE CHALLENGES AND THEY WILL CONTINUE TO FACE ISSUES THAT ARE NOT ADVANTAGEOUS FOR THEM OR FOR OUR REGION.

WE KNOW IF WE TART TO EAL WITH THESE RACIAL EQUITY CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE IN OUR REGION, WE INCREASE THE GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT OF MINNESOTA.

THIS IS LIKE A WIN-WIN FOR EVERYONE.

>> Cathy: NOW YOU HAVE FOUR AREAS OF FOCUS, RIGHT?

HOMEOWNERSHIP, YOU KIND OF ADDRESSED THAT A LITTLE BIT.

RENT STABILITY, COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND BIPOC ENTREPRENEURSHIP.

SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THOSE AREAS OF FOCUS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT INVESTING IN MORE EQUITABLE WAY IN ALL OF THOSE.

>> RIGHT.

THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.

SO RIGHT NOW WHAT WE HAVE GOING ON AS A PART OF THIS COALITION IS THAT WE HAVE LEADERS WHO ARE THE SMARTEST IN OUR REGION AND LEADERS WHO ARE THE SMARTEST ACROSS THE COUNTRY REPRESENTED BY SOME OF THESE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, REPRESENTED BY FOUNDATIONS, REPRESENTED BY GOVERNMENT, THE PUBLIC SECTOR FROM VARIOUS FORMS OR DIFFERENT JURISDICTIONS AS WELL AS PEOPLE WHO ARE IN COMMUNITY WHO ARE WORKING ON WHAT WOULD IT TAKE, HOW DO WE ESTABLISH THIS SO THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY MOVE THE CAPITAL, AND NOT JUST IDEALISTICALLY, WE WANT THEM TO DO IT PRAGMATICALLY.

WHAT WOULD IT ACTUALLY TAKE FOR YOU TO BE ABLE TO MOVE SIGNIFICANT CAPITAL OVER A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, WHAT ARE THOSE PROJECTS, WHAT WOULD YOU FUND, WHAT WOULD YOU INVEST IN, AND MAKING SURE THAT THOSE PROJECTS ARE ALIGNED WITH WHAT WE ARE HEARING FROM COMMUNITIES.

>> Eric: SO LOAN OFFICERS WOULD BE COLORBLIND, OR?

>> WELL, THEY OUGHT TO BE COLORBLIND RIGHT NOW, BUT THEY'RE NOT.

>> Eric: WELL, THEY ARE, BUT THEY'RE NOT.

SO HOW IS THIS GOING TO MAKE THEM LESS COLORBLIND?

>> THIS ISN'T ABOUT THE -- WELL, THIS IS ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE PUT THE CAPITAL THERE AND THAT THESE INSTITUTIONS CHANGE THEIR POLICIES AND THEIR PRACTICES.

SO IF THAT MEANS BEING COLORBLIND TO YOU, THEN THAT'S FINE.

WHATEVER THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS NEED TO DO IN ORDER TO MOVE THAT CAPITAL, BUT MANY TIMES THEY'RE NOT EVEN SOURCING DEALS IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE THERE ARE REAL OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE INVESTMENTS.

THEY DON'T KNOW HOW PEOPLE OF COLOR ARE TRIPPING OVER SOME OF THE PRACTICES THAT THEY PUT IN PLACE.

AND THIS ACTUALLY GIVES THEM CLEAR, PINPOINT OPPORTUNITIES TO FIX CHALLENGES NSTEAD OF JUST TALKING ABOUT THIS EFFORT IN LATITUDES.

SO THIS IS REALLY ABOUT PRAGMATICISM.

>> Cathy: AND YOU WANT FASTER ACTION.

INCREMENTAL CHANGE IS -- YOU WANT TO GO FAST.

FASTER.

>> WE WANT TO GO FASTER AND WE WANT TO GO TOGETHER, RIGHT?

LIKE AND THAT'S THE GOAL.

>> Cathy: YES, EXACTLY.

>> SO RIGHT NOW I THINK ONE OF OUR BIGGEST CHALLENGES IN OUR REGION IS THAT WE ALL HAVE BEEN TRAUMATIZED AND SOMETIMES IN THAT TRAUMATIZED, YOU GET A LITTLE AFRAID O MOVE, RIGHT?

AND SO YOU GET HESITANT ABOUT LIKE WHAT DOES IT TAKE AND WHAT I'VE SEEN IS THAT WHAT WE TEND TO DO IS VERY INCREMENTAL CHALLENGES -- OR SOLUTIONS.

AND HERE'S THE CHALLENGE WITH THAT.

IF YOU DO NOT SCOPE THE SIZE OF YOUR SOLUTION TO THE SIZE OF THE PROBLEM YOU NEVER WILL RESOLVE IT.

AND $2 BILLION HONESTLY IS NOT SCOPING TO THE SIZE OF THE PROBLEM.

WHAT IT IS IS IT WILL BE CATALYTIC IN HELPING US MOVE CAPITAL IN A DIFFERENT WAY, WHICH I BELIEVE WILL HELP PEOPLE OWN BUSINESSES, FAMILIES BUY HOMES, AND FOR HESE CULTURAL DISTRICTS TO THRIVE.

LIKE WE HAVE TO MAKE THOSE INVESTMENTS THERE.

>> Eric: IT'S GOING TO BE VERY INTERESTING TO SEE HOW YOU PUT THIS ALL TOGETHER.

WE'LL BE WATCHING.

>> WELL, PLEASE WATCH AND CHEER.

CHEER US ON.

>> Eric: APPRECIATE YOU COMING OVER.

>> Cathy: GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

♪♪ >> THE MAKE-UP OF THE NEW DISTRICT IS PREDOMINANTLY ALICE HAUSMAN'S DISTRICT.

MY LITTLE CITY OF FALCON HEIGHTS IS DRAWN INTO THE ST. PAUL DISTRICT.

I RESPECT HER AS A LEGISLATOR, I LOVE HER AS A FRIEND.

>> MARY JOE AND I ARE FRIENDS.

WE ARE SOMETIMES RAVELING COMPANIONS, WE SIT NEXT TO ONE ANOTHER ON THE HOUSE FLOOR AND OUR CARS ARE EVEN PARKED TOGETHER IN THE PARKING LOT.

[ LAUGHTER ] ♪♪ >> Eric: FROM TIME TO TIME THIS SUMMER WE WILL CHECK IN WITH PAIRS OF RETIRING LAWMAKERS TO GET THEIR SENSE OF A POSSIBLE SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND COMMENT ON THE BIG ISSUES OF THE DAY.

JUST SAW ALICE HAUSMAN IN AN OLD CLIP OF VIEW.

FALCON EIGHTS D.F.L.ER HAS SERVED SINCE 1990.

REPUBLICAN TONY ALBRIGHT, FINISHING HIS TENTH AND FINAL YEAR AT THE CAPITOL.

WELCOME TO BOTH OF YOU.

MADAM CHAIR, WHY DIDN'T HIS COME TOGETHER AT THE END?

THAT WAS A 4-4 WILL, 4 DEAL, WHAT HAPPENED?

>> WE BOXED EVERYTHING TOGETHER.

WE PACKAGED EVERYTHING TOGETHER SO NOTHING WAS CLEANLY NEGOTIATED AND MOVED FORWARD.

THEY PUT MULTIPLE BILLS, FOR EXAMPLE, HOUSING SUDDENLY GOT FOLDED WITH AG ND BROADBAND.

>> Eric: HOUSING IS YOUR COMMITTEE.

>> HOUSING IS MY COMMITTEE.

SO IT WAS AG, HOUSING AND BROADBAND AND SO THAT MEANT THERE WERE CONFEREES WHO WOULD HAVE NEVER SEEN ANY OF MY BILLS.

IT WAS IN MY OPINION A BAD PLAN.

THOSE BILLS THAT COMPANY MOVE WERE THOSE THAT BROKE AWAY.

THE VETERANS BILL BROKE AWAY AND PASSED.

THE AG BILL BROKE AWAY AND PASSED.

AG AND BROADBAND.

AND BUT IT LEFT SOME AT A TERRIBLE DISADVANTAGE.

>> Cathy: ARE YOU SURPRISED?

I MEAN THAT TAX BILL WAS A PRETTY GOOD BILL AND THAT'S JUST KIND OF LAYING ON THE TABLE RIGHT NOW.

>> WELL, DEPENDS UPON WHAT SIDE OF THE AISLE YOU'RE ON, RIGHT?

>> Cathy: RIGHT.

>> GOT A SURPLUS OF $9 BILLION, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR A LOT OF THAT BACK IN THE FORM OF TAX REFORM.

BUT THERE'S ALSO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE EQUATION THAT SAID, WELL, WE'VE GOT A LEADS, WHETHER THAT BE IN HEALTH CARE OR BONDING OR WHAT OTHER, YOU KNOW, COMMITTEE STRUCTURES HAVE ASKED FOR IT.

THERE'S A LOT OF ASKS OUT THERE, BUT THERE'S NOT THAT MUCH MONEY TO GO AROUND WHEN YOU REALLY THINK ABOUT IT.

>> Eric: WHAT ARE THE CHANCES OF COMING TOGETHER WITH MAYBE A SKINNIER AGENDA FOR A SPECIAL SESSION?

>> WELL, I WOULD BE OPEN TO A SKINNIER AGENDA BECAUSE FRANKLY WE HAVE TO MOVE FORWARD IN SOME WAY.

I'LL USE MY EXAMPLE WHICH IS HOUSING.

WE PASSED THIS WONDERFUL BILL, BEST EVER OUT OF THE HOUSING COMMITTEE TO WAYS AND MEANS AND THAT'S WHEN IT GOT FOLDED IN WITH AG AND BROADBAND IS.

BUT WHEN WE -- AND THEN WE PASSED THAT ON HE FLOOR AND THAT'S WHEN WHEN IT MOVED TO CONFERENCE COMMITTEE, I SAID TO HOUSING ADVOCATES THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF HOUSING ADVOCATES ALL OVER THE STATE WHO HELPED WITH THIS PRODUCT AND I SAID NOW TO TRACK WHAT WE DO IN HOUSING, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FOLLOW FOUR BILLS BECAUSE THERE'S SOMETHING FOR HOUSING IN THE BONDING BILL, IN THE TAX BILL, IN THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES BILL AND IN MY HOUSING FINANCE BILL.

NONE OF THOSE FOUR MADE IT THROUGH WHICH MEANS AT THIS TIME OF A GREAT CRISIS IN HOUSING FOR PEOPLE ALL OVER THE STATE WE HAVE DONE NOTHING TO ADVANCE THAT CAUSE.

>> Eric: FOR REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE THE BONDING BILL PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO PARTICIPATE AND BE CRUCIAL IN GETTING A BONDING BILL PASSED BECAUSE YOU NEED THE SUPERMAJORITY.

HOW BIG A BONDING BILL IS THE HOUSE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS WILLING TO TAKE ON AND COULD IT STILL HAPPEN IN A SPECIAL SESSION?

>> BONDING BILLS ARE MUCH LIKE PORRIDGE.

THEY CAN NEITHER BE TOO SMALL, TOO BIG, THEY GOTTA BE JUST RIGHT.

AND THEY'VE GOT TO INCLUDE THE RIGHT MIX OF BOTH LOCAL PROJECTS AS WELL AS AGENCY PROJECTS.

I THINK OUR CAUCUS HAS PUT SOMETHING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF 1.4 AND SOME CASH AS A STARTING POINT IN TERMS OF WHAT WE'D BE AGREEABLE TO.

BUT HERE AGAIN, YOU KNOW, THAT IS BASED UPON THE MAKE-UP AND THE SUPERMAJORITY.

THE MINORITY RITES THE BILL AND EVERYONE KNOWS THAT BECAUSE THEY NEED THE VOTES.

SO THAT'S WHERE REPRESENTATIVE URDAHL AND REPRESENTATIVE FOU LEE HAVE GOT TO GET TOGETHER WITH THEIR COUNTERPARTS IN THE SENATE AND COME UP WITH THAT RIGHT RECIPE.

>> Cathy: YOU KNOW, BACK IN THE OLD DAYS WHEN ERIC AND I WERE ACTUALLY COVERING THE LEGISLATURE THINGS WOULD GET DONE ON TIME, RIGHT?

BUT IN THE PAST, WHAT, HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN?

>> THIS PROCESS DOES GET WORSE EVERY YEAR.

I CAN TELL YOU IN MY CAREER I'VE HAD WONDERFUL SUCCESS WORKING WHETHER I'VE BEEN IN THE MAJORITY OR THE MINORITY, WORKING WITH MY COUNTERPART, AND WE SIT DOWN TOGETHER EARLY AND OFTEN.

I CAN REMEMBER ONE TIME IN A SPECIAL SESSION SITTING IN A ROOM WITH HOUSE AND SENATE REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS IN THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, WE STARTED AT 9:00 IN THE MORNING, FINISHED AT 11 AT NIGHT, WE WROTE THE BILL TOGETHER.

BUT THAT MEANT WHEN WE FINISHED WE KNEW WE WERE ALL GOING TO TAKE THAT BILL TO THE FLOOR AND PASS IT.

IF WE WORK TOGETHER EARLY AND OFTEN, AND I LEARNED THAT EARLY ON FROM DAVE BISHOP THAT WHEN YOU WORK TOGETHER YOU CAN ACCOMPLISH GREAT THINGS WHETHER YOU ARE IN THE MAJORITY OR THE MINORITY.

>> Cathy: DAVE BISHOP FROM ROCHESTER.

REPUBLICAN FROM ROCHESTER.

>> Eric: ARE YOU SATISFIED WITH THE PROCESS AT THE END OF THESE THINGS, OR?

>> NO.

YOU KNOW, THE PROCESS, AND I'VE BEEN THERE FOR TEN YEARS, MUCH LIKE IN THE OCCASION THAT REPRESENTATIVE HAUSMAN HAS SAID, IT GETS WORSE.

WE PLAY BRINKSMANSHIP WITH EVERYTHING AND AS HAS BEEN SAID, WE'RE BECOMING MORE ND MORE LIKE WHAT HAPPENS IN WASHINGTON WHERE WE THROW EVERYTHING INTO A MEGA BILL.

AND THEN TELL EVERYONE THIS IS FOR EVERYONE TO VOTE YES OR NO, AND WE BECOME TRIBAL.

ONE SIDE OPPOSES IT, ONE SIDE IS FOR IT, BASED UPON WHO'S IN THE MAJORITY AND WHEN YOU'VE GOT MAJORITY MIXED IN BOTH THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE, NOTHING WILL GET DONE.

>> Eric: IS THIS BECAUSE OF THE CAUCUS CONVENTION SYSTEM OF ENDORSING CANDIDATES?

>> THIS IS A DELIBERATE LEADERSHIP STYLE, DELIBERATE LEADERSHIP DECISION.

THEY BELIEVE IF THEY HOLD EVERYTHING TO THE END THEY'LL HAVE MORE POWER IN THE FINAL DEAL.

I CAN TRADE THIS WITH THIS.

AND IT'S NOT WORKING.

>> Cathy: ALWAYS HAS BEEN HORSE TRADING THOUGH.

>> RIGHT, RIGHT.

BUT THAT DELIBERATE IDEA OF HOLDING EVERYTHING TO THE LAST MINUTE, BELIEVING THAT GIVES YOU MORE POWER, IT'S NOT WORKING.

IT'S NOT WORKING IN WASHINGTON, AND IT'S NOT WORKING HERE AND IT'S HURTING US.

>> Eric: COUPLE OF D.F.L.

HOUSE EMBERS HAVE COME FORWARD WITH A PROPOSAL TO HAVE A FULL TIME LEGISLATURE.

AS RETIRING MEMBERS, I WONDER WHAT YOU THINK OF THAT.

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE IS SOMETHING TO BE SAID FOR SACRIFICE FOR SERVING THE CONSTITUENTS OF THE STATE.

I WOULD NOT BE IN FAVOR OF A FULL TIME LEGISLATURE BECAUSE WHAT IT DOES IS YOU BECOME ENTRENCHED AND THEN COMMENSURATE WITH THAT YOU'RE GOING TO SAY, WELL, WE CAN'T WORK FOR $45,000 A YEAR.

YOU HAVE TO GIVE UP SOMETHING, AND I THINK YOU LOSE SOMETHING IN TERMS OF THE ATTACHMENT AND YOUR PRESENCE IN YOUR COMMUNITY IF YOU'RE ALWAYS IN ST. PAUL.

AND YOU DON'T COME BACK TO YOUR DISTRICT AND FIND OUT WHAT REAL PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT.

SO I WOULD NOT BE IN FAVOR OF THAT.

>> I'VE NOT GOT INVOLVED IN THAT DISCUSSION EITHER.

IT'S JUST NOT ONE OF THOSE ISSUES THAT ENGAGES ME.

>> Cathy: YOU TWO HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR A WHILE AND OF COURSE THERE ARE SO MANY LAWMAKERS WHO ARE LEAVING AT THE END OF SESSION FOR VARIOUS REASONS.

WHEN WE HAD SENATOR TORRES RAY ON LAST WEEK WE TALKED ABOUT DEAL MAKING AND THERE WERE A NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE REALLY GOOD DEAL MAKERS AND THEY'RE LEAVING.

AND SHE SAID DEAL MAKING DOESN'T MATTER.

DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT?

>> Eric: SHE WASN'T A FAN OF IT.

>> Cathy: SHE WASN'T A FAN OF IT.

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I WOULD ONLY SAY THIS.

DEAL MAKING IS LESS IMPORTANT THAN WORKING WITH THE OTHER SIDE EITHER IN COMMITTEE OR ON A BILL, PARTICULARLY.

AND I WILL SAY THAT IN MY TENURE OF THE SERVICE IN LEGISLATURE, THAT HAS BECOME MORE AND MORE STRAINED IN TERMS OF THE ABILITY TO DO SO BECAUSE YOU ARE FORCED TO WORK THE PARTY LINE BASED UPON HAT SIDE OF THE AISLE YOU'RE AT.

WE DID GET SOME VERY, VERY IMPORTANT WORK DONE FOR COMPETENCY REFORM FOR THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM WITH, AND I WORKED REALLY, REALLY CLOSELY WITH REPRESENTATIVE HEATHER EDELSON.

IT CAN BE DONE, BUT IT DOES TAKE A GREAT DEAL OF EFFORT TO GET IT DONE THAT WAY.

>> AND I WOULD SAY MORE THAN DEAL MAKING, I WOULD SAY IT'S ABOUT RELATIONSHIP BUILDING AND BUILDING TRUST.

AND AN EXAMPLE I HAVE IS WITH DEAN URDAHL WHERE HE AND WORKED OGETHER ON CAPITAL INVESTMENT.

>> GROVE CITY REPUBLICAN HOUSE MEMBER.

>> CORRECT.

AND THAT IDEA OF BUILDING A RELATIONSHIP, BUILDING TRUST MEANT WE WORKED REALLY VERY WELL TOGETHER.

IT CAN HAPPEN.

BUT I THINK RELATIONSHIP AND TRUST BECOME KEY.

>> Eric: WOULD I BE OUT OF LINE TO SAY THAT ON A TYPICAL MID-YEAR, MIDTERM ELECTION EVEN-YEAR SESSION, THE WORK PRODUCT THAT YOU CAME UP WITH WASN'T BAD.

I MEAN, QUITE A BIT OF STUFF GOT DONE AND YOU DID BONDING BILL OF A BILLION-PLUS LAST YEAR OR AM I JUST WRONG THERE?

I THINK THE WORK PRODUCT WASN'T BAD.

>> HERE'S THE ONE THING THAT IS IN MY OPINION A CRISIS.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAD AVAILABLE TO MINNESOTA BILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR TRANSPORTATION, BUT IT REQUIRES A STATE MATCH.

THAT WAS IN THE TRANSPORTATION WHICH GOT CONNECTED TO STATE GOVERNMENT BILL AND PENSIONS BILL.

THAT GOT ALL -- AND IN THERE IS THAT FEDERAL MATCH FOR BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF TRANSPORTATION MONEY.

THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN.

IN MY OPINION THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A STANDALONE BILL EARLY, AS SOON AS WE KNEW THAT.

AND WHAT I'VE SAID THIS WEEK IS NOW IT SHOULD BE A NEGOTIATION STANDALONE.

EVEN IF WE DO NOTHING BUT BRING THAT BILL, THE GOVERNOR CAN CALL US IN FOR ONE HOUR, LET US PASS THAT PORTION, JUST THE PORTION WHERE WE MATCH THAT FEDERAL MONEY SO THAT WE SECURE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF FEDERAL MONEY FOR TRANSPORTATION.

>> Eric: ARE YOU GETTING BEATEN UP AT HOME FOR NOT GETTING YOUR WORK DONE, QUOTE, UNQUOTE?

>> NO.

NO, I MEAN, I THINK THE ELECTORATE IS 40% FOR ONE SIDE OR 40% FOR ANOTHER AND THE 20% OF THE PEOPLE IN THE MIDDLE ARE JUST EXHAUSTED.

THEY'RE TIRED OF THE RHETORIC THAT'S COMING OUT OF EITHER ST. PAUL OR WASHINGTON.

THEY WANT TO BE LEFT ALONE.

AND THEY'LL MAKE THE DECISIONS BUT RIGHT NOW THEY'RE JUST TIRED OF ALL THE FIGHTING.

>> Eric: WHAT'S YOUR -- >> Cathy: WHAT'S YOUR GUT FEEL ON THAT?

>> THERE IS -- I'M GETTING A LOT OF NEGATIVE AND ANGRY, MAYBE I JUST HAVE MORE -- BUT IT'S BECAUSE OF THE HOUSING.

>> Eric: IT'S THE INTEREST GROUPS THAT ARE ON YOUR CASE, RIGHT?

>> YES, CORRECT.

THEY'RE FOCUSING ON A PARTICULAR THING THAT DID NOT GET DONE AND SO WE'RE HEARING A GOOD BIT ABOUT THAT.

I LIVE IN HOPE AND I'M HOPING THAT MAYBE SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THE NEED TO MATCH THOSE TRANSPORTATION DOLLARS MIGHT BRING US THERE.

BUT WE DO NEED TO BREAK SOME OF THESE REE ND BE WILLING.

>> Eric: GOVERNOR SAID TODAY HE'S GOING TO MEET LEADERS NEXT FRIDAY.

HE MET TODAY BY ZOOM.

BUT IS TIME WASTING OR WHEN'S THE END THAT YOU THINK IT'S POSSIBLE TO GET BACK TOGETHER?

>> Cathy: ACTUALLY I THINK WE NEED TO GO.

>> Eric: CLIFFHANGER, CLIFFHANGER!

>> WAIT.

THERE WILL BE MORE.

♪♪ CONSIDER >> ONE FACT THAT HASN'T BEEN REPORTED YET IS THAT I HAD PLANNED TO LEAVE MY POSITION AND PURSUE ACADEMIC LEAVE AND RETURN TO MY FACULTY ROOTS IN THE FALL OF 2003.

>> WELL, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE AN AGONIZING REAPPRAISAL OF VALUES.

>> WE'LL HAVE TO JUST SEE.

THIS IS AN ISSUE FOR THE REGENTS TO DISCUSS.

>> THEY MAY BE WATCHING.

>> THEY MAY BE WATCHING.

>> I'M SURE THEY ARE.

>> I SUSPECT THEY ARE WITH SOME INTEREST.

>> Cathy: YOU MAY REMEMBER THAT BOB BRUININKS ENDED UP BEING NAMED THE PRETTY UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA LATER THAT YEAR.

IT DID GOOD TO SEE HIM.

IT'S MINNESOTA TRIVIA TIME.

AND WE HAVE A FUN QUESTION FOR YOU COURTESY OF THE WHITE BEAR LAKE HISTORICAL SOCIETY, HEY TO MY FRIENDS THERE, YOU ARE FANTASTIC.

HERE ARE THE FACTS: MAY 19TH, 1965, WAS A WEDNESDAY.

THAT DAY A MAN NAMED LIN LINDBECK, NOT SEEN HERE, CLIMBED A 40-FOOT TOWER AND SAID HE WOULD REMAIN THERE UNTIL SOMETHING HAPPENED.

THAT "“SOMETHING"” EVENTUALLY DID TAKE PLACE.

BUT NOT BEFORE LIN SAT ATOP THAT TOWER FOR MORE THAN 9 DAYS.

YOUR TASK IS SIMPLE.

ANSWER THIS QUESTION: WHY DID LIN LINDBECK SIT ATOP A 40-FOOT TOWER IN MAY 1965?

EXTRA CREDIT GOES TO PEOPLE WHO DON'T LOOK UP THE ANSWER ONLINE.

AND REMEMBER WE ALWAYS APPRECIATE WRONG, WILD GUESSES.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU WHETHER YOU'RE DIALING IN FROM WHITE BEAR, WHITE ROCK, WHITE EARTH OR WHITE IRON.

651-229-1430 REACHES OUR VOICEMAIL.

OR YOU CAN LEAVE YOUR BRILLIANT THOUGHTS BY EMAIL.

ALMANAC@TPT.ORG IS OUR ADDRESS.

SPEAKING OF LEAVING YOUR THOUGHTS, THIS WEEK IS YOUR FINAL CHANCE TO FILL OUT THE ANNUAL ALMANAC VIEWER SURVEY.

MORE THAN 1,000 OF YOU HAVE ALREADY WEIGHED IN.

WE'’RE THANKFUL FOR THE PRAISE, AND FOR THE CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM TOO.

WE WELCOME ALL SENTIMENTS.

JUST GO TO TPT.ORG/ALMANACSURVEY.

IT JUST TAKES ABOUT 10 MINUTES.

NOW, TWO TUNE-IN NOTES BEFORE WE GO.

IN UST ABOUT FOUR MINUTES FROM NOW TWIN CITIES VIEWERS CAN WATCH ONE OF OSMO VANSKA'S FAREWELL CONCERTS.

"THIS IS MINNESOTA ORCHESTRA" AIRS AT 8 P.M. ON TPT FRIDAY NIGHT, RIGHT AFTER OUR LIVE SHOW.

YOU CAN ALSO WATCH THE LIVESTREAM FOR FREE FROM ANYWHERE AS WELL ONE MORE PROGRAMMING NOTE.

KSMQ TV, PUBLIC TV IN AUSTIN, MINNESOTA, HAS CREATED A SHOW ABOUT SCHOOL SAFETY THAT WILL AIR ON THE STATEWIDE MINNESOTA CHANNEL THIS SUNDAY.

"RESPONDING TO SCHOOL THREATS: STRATEGIES FOR SCHOOLS" CAN BE SEEN ON THE STATEWIDE MINNESOTA CHANNEL SUNDAY NIGHT AT 7.

TUNE IN IF YOU HAVE THE CHANCE.

FOR SHOW CLOSING MUSIC, THIS WEEK IN 2018 WE FEATURED SWEDISH FOLK MUSIC ON ALMANAC COURTESY OF ANDERS AND MARIA LARSSON.

WE'RE GOING TO LISTEN TO THEM AS WE ROLL OUR PRODUCTION CREDITS.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

WE HOPE YOU MAKE A HABIT OF WATCHING "ALMANAC."

SEE YOU LATER.

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

SUPPORT IS ALSO PROVIDED BY... GREAT RIVER ENERGY: PROVIDING 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/LINETHREEUS.

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 STRENGTHEN RURAL MINNESOTA.

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