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

>> Cathy: COMING UP ON "ALMANAC," THE BIG MPR NEWS INVESTIGATION INTO GROUP HOME FRAUD, THE EXECUTIVE ORDER BANNING MINING NEAR THE BOUNDARY WATERS, KAOMI LEE HIGHLIGHTS ELY'S HISTORIC THEATER, AND MARY LAHAMMER WAS IN OLMSTED COUNTY THIS WEEK.

>> OUR NEXT RACE TO WATCH TAKES US TO ROCHESTER THAT HAD A POPULAR INCUMBENT BUT NOW THAT IT'S AN OPEN SEAT IT COULD BE UP FOR GRABS.

>> THERE ARE PEOPLE MEETING THEM AT THEIR DOORS AND THEY'RE SAYING I'VE ALWAYS VOTED REPUBLICAN, I'M WILLING TO LISTEN NOW.

>> THE COMMUNITY HAS A LOT OF INDEPENDENT VOTERS.

>> 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 1.7 MILLION PEOPLE THROUGH ITS MEMBER OWNER COOPERATIVES AND CUSTOMERS.

DELTADENTAL OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION, IMPROVING ORAL HEALTH AND HELPING COMMUNITIES THRIVE.

DELTADENTALMN.ORG/TPT.

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

MORE AT EDUCATIONMINNESOTA.ORG.

AND VANESSA DAYTON, THROUGH THE HEALTHCARE FOR ALL MINNESOTANS FUND, SUPPORTING ACCESSIBLE HEALTHCARE STATEWIDE.

FUNDING FOR VOICES RISING TWIN CITIES PBS STORIES FOR AMERICA'S 250TH REPORTING ON "ALMANAC" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY MINNESOTA'S ARTS AND CULTURAL HERITAGE FUND.

>> Cathy: WELCOME TO "ALMANAC."

WE HAVE A FULL HOUR AHEAD FOR YOU, READY TO TACKLE THE CONTROVERSIES SURROUNDING MINING NEAR THE BOUNDARY WATERS, TALK WITH A MEMBER OF THE MPR NEWS TEAM WHO FOUND FRAUD N TWO DOZEN GROUP HOMES OWNED AND OPERATED BY A SINGLE INDIVIDUAL.

AND DAVID GILLETTE HAS A VIDEO ESSAY FOR US.

>> Eric: WE START TONIGHT WITH A SOMBER ANNIVERSARY.

NEXT WEEK MARKS ONE YEAR SINCE THE DEADLY ANNUNCIATION SCHOOL SHOOTINGS IN MINNEAPOLIS.

THIS WEEK THE "STAR TRIBUNE" IS LAUNCHING A MULTI-MEDIA EXPERIENCE CALLED "THE ANNUNCIATION DIARIES."

THE PROJECT INCLUDES A VIDEO DOCUMENTARY, A PODCAST, AND VIDEO DIARIES KEPT BY SURVIVORS DURING THE PAST YEAR.

HERE'S A SHORT EXCERPT FROM THE DOCUMENTARY.

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK SO FTEN WE THINK LIKE, OH, WELL, WITH TIME IT'S GETTING EASIER, IT'S GETTING BETTER.

AND THAT'S ACTUALLY NOT ENTIRELY TRUE.

IT'S REALLY HARD.

LAST WEEK WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE HARDEST WEEKS I'VE HAD IN A LONG TIME.

>> AND IT'S NOT CONTAGIOUSUM SADIOS YOO.

>> WHAT'S THAT >> >> WHEN ONE PERSON IS LIKE I'M SAD, AND ANOTHER PERSON'S LIKE, WELL, I'M SAD, AND ANOTHER PERSON'S LIKE I'M SAD TOO.

WE CAN SIT ON OUR OWN AND BE SAD AND MISERABLE, OR WE CAN BE WITH FRIENDS AND SEE IF WE FIND A LITTLE JOY IN THAT.

OKAY?

AND HERE'S THE DEAL, IF ANYBODY KNOWS, IT'S ME, RIGHT?

WE'RE IN THIS TOGETHER.

OKAY?

BUT WE'RE GOING TO MAKE THE BEST OF THIS DAY.

>> Eric: HERE WITH MORE ABOUT THIS YEAR-LONG PROJECT, REPORTER REID FORGRAVE WHOSE EXTENSIVE COVERAGE OF THE ANNUNCIATION COMMUNITY BEGAN THE MORNING OF THE SHOOTING, AND STAR TRIBUNE AUDIO PRODUCER AND ESSENTIAL MINNESOTA PODCAST HOST MELISSA TOWNSEND.

HOW DID YOU GO ABOUT UILDING TRUST WITH THE FAMILIES?

>> YOU KNOW, I LIVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

I IVE FIVE BLOCKS FROM ANNUNCIATION.

AND REPORTING ON THIS TYPE OF TRAGEDY IS JARRING FOR ANYBODY, IT'S SPECIALLY JARRING WHEN YOU'RE WRITING ABOUT YOUR NEIGHBORS AND YOUR FRIENDS.

AND I THINK FROM THE JUMP IT WAS ME CALLING PEOPLE WHO WERE, I ALREADY HAVE THEIR PHONE NUMBERS.

SO I THINK THAT GOES A LONG WAY.

IN GAINING THAT TRUST FROM THE BEGINNING.

BUT I THINK WHAT I ALWAYS TRY TO DO IS TO BE A HUMAN FIRST AND TO SAY, LOOK, IF YOU WANT TO TALK WITH ME OFF THE RECORD FIRST, FEEL ME OUT, SEE WHAT YOU THINK, AND IF YOU WANT TO JUST SAY NO, THANKS, THAT'S COMPLETELY UP TO YOU.

SO I THINK WHAT THIS PROJECT DID IS WE VERY MUCH EMPOWERED THESE PEOPLE FROM ANNUNCIATION TO TELL THEIR OWN STORY.

>> Cathy: I WANT TO GET MELISSA IN HERE TOO BECAUSE YOU'VE DONE A LOT OF WORK IN THE PAST TRYING TO GET PEOPLE TO TALK, AND IT'S HARD, RIGHT?

BUT I'M WONDERING, WERE THERE FOLKS WHO MAYBE LOOKED AT THIS AND SAID THIS IS JUST NOT FOR ME, I DON'T WANT TO PARTICIPATE, IT'S JUST TOO HARD.

>> WELL, WE HAD A MEETING AT THE SCHOOL WITH A GROUP OF PARENTS AFTER WE GOT PERMISSION FROM THE ADMINISTRATION AND SOME OTHER PEOPLE, AND THEY WERE LIKE I DON'T WANT TO EXPOSE MY CHILD TO THIS, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE WORRIED THAT IF THIS IS UT THERE, IT WILL BE OUT THERE FOREVER.

AND THIS WILL BE WHAT MY CHILD IS KNOWN FOR.

AND PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO COMMIT TO THAT FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.

>> Cathy: YEAH, I CAN UNDERSTAND THAT.

I WONDER WHAT WAS THE PITCH THAT YOU MADE AS THE REPORTER?

>> I THINK IT WAS -- >> Cathy: WHY THIS WAS IMPORTANT.

>> YEAH, I THINK IT IS, LOOK, THIS THING HAPPENED TO YOU, BUT THIS IS ONE CHANCE FOR YOU TO RECLAIM YOUR NARRATIVE.

AND I THINK, LOOK, THIS IS -- IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE A WORSE THING THAN WHAT HAPPENED AT ANNUNCIATION CHURCH ON AUGUST 27TH LAST YEAR.

BUT ONE THING THIS COMMUNITY HAS DONE HAS BEEN RECLAIM THEIR NARRATIVE.

IT'S A NARRATIVE OF RESILIENCE, IT'S A NARRATIVE OF GRACE, AND OF A COMMUNITY REALLY HANGING TOGETHER.

AND I THINK THAT IS WHAT REALLY CAME OUT IN THESE I THINK REALLY POWERFUL, VULNERABLE VIDEO DIRERIES.

>> Eric: YOU KNOW, THE JOURNALISTS' CHALLENGE ALWAYS IS DON'T GET TOO CLOSE, YOU HEAR THAT IN JOURNALISM SCHOOL.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT APPLIES HERE.

>> I'M TOO CLOSE.

I WILL FREELY ADMIT I'M TOO CLOSE AND THERE ARE TIMES I HAVE TO IND OF STEP BACK FROM IT.

BUT I THINK THERE IS WITH A STORY LIKE THIS AND WHEN YOU'RE WRITING IT IN A AY THAT IS TRYING TO BE DEEPLY EMPATHETIC, I THINK THERE'S ALSO A VALUE OF BEING TOO CLOSE TO IT, FEELING IT DEEPLY.

I MADE A QUICK COSTCO STOP ON MY WAY HERE AND I WAS LISTENING TO THE ANNUNCIATION DIARIES WHEN I WAS WALKING AROUND COSTCO AND I JUST STARTED BURST INTO TEARS AT COSTCO.

AND IT'S NOTHING OMPARED TO WHAT THESE FAMILIES ARE GOING THROUGH BUT FEELING 1% OF THAT SORT OF GRIEF I THINK ADDS TO THE EMPATHY THAT WE CAN BRING TO THIS TRAGIC STORY.

>> Cathy: YOU ARE A VERY EMPATHETIC PERSON.

YOU AND I GOT TO WORK TOGETHER AT MPR AND I'M WONDERING HOW DID IT AFFECT YOU PERSONALLY TO GO THROUGH ALL OF THIS AUDIO AND VIDEO?

>> I MEAN, YOU JUST HAVE TO BE OKAY WITH CRYING, REALLY.

I MEAN, JUST CHOKING UP, AND WHEN YOU'RE EDITING SOMETHING LIKE THIS YOU LISTEN TO IT 20, 50, 100 TIMES WHY I'M LISTENING TO IT WITHOUT HEADPHONES, MY FAMILY LISTENS TO IT A HUNDRED TIMES AND YOU JUST BURST INTO TEARS EVERY SINGLE TIME.

AND THEN YOU STOP AND YOU GET BACK TO WORK AND YOU TRY AND MAKE THE BEST STORY YOU CAN THAT FEELS TRUE AND HONEST AND INTERESTING.

AND I WOULD SAY THAT AMANDA ANDERSON WAS THE VIDEO PRODUCER ON THIS, SHE'S INCREDIBLE.

SHE'S ON THE GUNFLINT TRAIL RIGHT NOW, THAT'S WHY SHE'S NOT HERE.

BUT SHE WAS THE ONE COLLECTING THE DIARIES AND REALLY SETTING THE TONE WITH PEOPLE WHO DID THIS.

AND SHE JUST CREATED A LOT OF TRUST AND OPENNESS, TELL ME WHATEVER YOU WANT, TELL ME WHATEVER YOU WANT, HERE'S NO SHOULDS, THERE'S NO COULDS AND WE'LL JUST TAKE IT AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO WITH IT.

IT WAS AN INCREDIBLE ACT OF TRUST, REALLY, BETWEEN BOTH OF THEM.

>> Eric: THIRD GRADERS AND FOURTH GRADERS APPEAR IN THIS THING, I MEAN, AND THEY'RE SO DARLING YOU WANT TO WRAP YOUR ARMS AROUND THEM.

>> YEAH.

IT'S -- WHEN YOU SEE THE WAY THESE KIDS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FIND JOY IN SPITE OF ALL THIS, IT IT'S -- OTHING ABOUT THIS IS HOPEFUL OR INSPIRING UNTIL YOU LOOK AT THE AFTERMATH.

AND I DO THINK THESE KIDS AND THESE TEACHERS HAVE REALLY HELPED SHOW US THE WAY.

THAT, LOOK, THIS IS THE WORST THING EVER, AND THIS COMMUNITY HAS FOUND SO MUCH JOY IN THE AFTERMATH.

IT CAN BE BOTH.

>> Cathy: NOTHING IS EVER PERFECT, AND I'M WONDERING WAS THERE A PERSON OR SOME KIND OF AN ELEMENT THAT YOU WERE HOPE TO GO GET INTO THIS THAT YOU JUST COULDN'T?

OR JUST DIDN'T WORK?

ANYTHING THAT YOU CAN SHARE AROUND THOSE LINES.

>> MEAN, ONE THOUGHT I HAVE IS THAT WE HAD THIS IDEA THE DAY AFTER THE SHOOTING, AND WE WANTED TO START TO TALK TO PEOPLE AND YOU HAD TO WAIT.

IT WAS NOT TIME.

I MEAN, THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN TERRIBLE, AND SO WE KNEW SO MANY PEOPLE AND WE JUST HAD O TAKE OUR TIME.

SO WE WERE HOPING TO FOLLOW THEM THROUGH THE WHOLE YEAR BUT REALLY WE STARTED LATER IN THE YEAR THAN WE WANTED.

THAT WAS IT, BUT WHAT YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THOSE FIRST FEW MONTHS NOBODY WAS READY.

>> Eric: HOW DO WE ACCESS THIS ON THE WEBSITE?

IS IS >> IT'S ON OUR WEBSITE, IT WILL BE PUBLISHED ON SUNDAY.

THERE WAS A PODCAST ABOUT IT RELEASED ON CENTRAL MINNESOTA PODCAST TODAY AND THERE WAS A DOCUMENTARY THAT WAS POSTED ON YOUTUBE YESTERDAY, ABOUT AN HOUR-LONG DOCUMENTARY AND REALLY I THINK IT'S NUANCED AND VULNERABLE AND DEEPLY HUMAN.

>> Eric: WE'RE LOOKING AT THE CHANGE, NEW DIRECTION FOR THE NEWSPAPER BUSINESS SOUNDS LIKE.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> THAT'S RIGHT!

>> Cathy: THIS IS A MULTIMEDIA PROJECT, A LOT OF DIFFERENT PIECES TO THIS PUZZLE, RIGHT?

I MEAN, IT'S, AND IT'S UNUSUAL TO GET INVOLVED IN SOMETHING THIS DEEP.

>> YEAH.

RIGHT, YES.

>> I THINK THE POWER IN THIS IS, IT'S KIDS AND PARENTS AND TEACHERS TALKING TO THEIR PHONE, AND WE'VE GOTTEN USED TO TALKING TO OUR PHONE LATELY, BUT THE VULNERABILITY COMES OUT, THERE'S ONE PART WHERE FIRST GRADE TEACHERS, CENTRAL PART OF THE PROJECT, SARAH SLACK, WHO WE SAW IN THE OPENER IS TAKING A VIDEO OF HERSELF WHILE SHE'S DRIVING AND SHE PUTS HER CAMERA RIGHT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND YOU SEE THE STEERING WHEEL GOING AND IN MY HEAD I'M LIKE THAT SOUNDS LIKE THAT WOULD ABE TERRIBLE CAMERA SHOT.

NO, IT WAS KIND OF BEAUTIFUL BECAUSE IT WAS VERY REAL AND AUTHENTIC AND I THINK YOU GET THESE MOMENT WHEN'S PEOPLE GET TO, WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE A JOURNALIST RIGHT NEXT TO YOU ASKING YOU QUESTIONS AND INSTEAD OF YOU KIND OF ARE TALKING TO YOUR PHONE THERE'S SO MUCH VULNERABILITY AND JUST RAW AUTHENTICITY THAT COMES OUT.

>> Eric: A TRIUMPH, CONGRATULATIONS.

THANKS FOR COMING OVER.

>> THANK YOU.

♪ >> Cathy: ALL 201 LEGISLATIVE SEATS ARE UP FOR ELECTION THIS NOVEMBER AND OUR POLITICAL REPORTER MARY LAHAMMER HAS BEEN TRACKING THE MOST COMPETITIVE AND INTERESTING RACES TO WATCH.

THIS TIME OUR CREW WENT ON THE ROAD AFTER THE RETIREMENT OF A HIGH-PROFILE SENATOR IN ROCHESTER.

>> ROCHESTER, SENATE DISTRICT 24, IS AN OPEN SEAT THAT HAD BEEN HELD BY POPULAR INCUMBENT REPUBLICAN KARLA NELSON.

HER RETIREMENT MAKES THIS A RACE TO WATCH AND AN OPPORTUNITY FOR DEMOCRATS TO PICK UP A SEAT.

>> MY NAME IS SIMON GLASER, RUNNING FOR MINNESOTA STATE SENATE.

>> SIMON GLASER IS A HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER AND HAS BEEN A UNION REPRESENTATIVE WHO'S BEEN A STRONG FUNDRAISER, GETTING IN EARLY IN THIS RACE.

>> I MENTOR A LOT OF THE YOUNGER TEACHERS AND I'M STARTING TO NOTICE THEIR LIFE IS VERY DIFFERENT FROM MINE WAS 30 YEARS AGO WHEN I STARTED.

THEY'RE MAKING ALL KINDS OF DECISIONS I NEVER HAD TO MAKE.

THEY'RE THINKING SHOULD THEY'RE THINKING SH THINKING EVA FAMILY, SHOULD I BUY A HOUSE.

I'M NOT A COMMUNIST, I'M NOT ANYTHING RADICAL.

>> I'D LIKE TO LOWER OUR TAXES.

>> TAXES DEFINITELY SHOULD AND THERE SHOULD BE MORE ACCOUNTABILITY.

>> MY NAME IS ELS PIERSON, I'VE MADE A HABIT OF RUNNING FOR OFFICE IN OLMSTED COUNTY, WE'RE EXCITED TO BE UP AND RUNNING FOR THE MINNESOTA STATE SENATE.

>> REPUBLICAN NELS PIERSON REPRESENTED ROCHESTER IN THE MINNESOTA HOUSE BEFORE, NOW AS A BUSINESS OWNER HE'S READY TO RETURN TO THE CAPITOL.

>> SOMETHING I'VE ALWAYS BEEN CALLED TO AS FAR AS UBLIC SERVICE AND THIS SPECIFIC RACE, THIS SPECIFIC SEAT IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK I'M WELL SUITED TO REPRESENT BECAUSE OF MY HISTORY AND MY BACKGROUND.

>> HOW MUCH OF THIS IS YOUR OLD HOUSE DISTRICT?

>> ABOUT 38% OF THE VOTERS FROM MY OLD HOUSE DISTRICT ARE ACTUALLY IN THIS SENATE DISTRICT.

>> CARING ENOUGH ABOUT YOUR NEIGHBORS TO KNOW WHETHER OR NOT YOU'RE IN GOOD STANDING WITH THEM.

>> LAST TIME THE STATE SENATE SEAT WAS UP POPULAR INCUMBENT KARLA NELSON WON BY 15 PERCENTAGE POINTS.

BUT TWO YEARS AGO THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE WAS JUST A FEW PERCENTAGE POINTS APART.

AND NOW THAT IT'S AN OPEN SEAT IT COULD BE VERY COMPETITIVE.

>> IT WASN'T OPEN WHEN I GOT INTO IT.

I FULLY INTENDED TO RUN AGAINST THE INCUMBENT.

SHE'S A WOMAN I WORKED WITH MANY TIMES AGAIN THROUGH THE TEACHERS' UNION AND SHE WAS ALWAYS VERY NICE TO US AND ASKED REALLY GOOD QUESTIONS AND THEN VOTED AGAINST US EVERY SINGLE TIME.

AND THAT WAS PART F THE REASON I DECIDED TO RUN.

>> BUT EVERYTHING CHANGES WHEN SHE RETIRES DOESN'T IT?

>> IT DID, YEAH, ALTHOUGH I GOT TO SAY I WAS PLANNING ON WINNING THE SEAT FROM THE BEGINNING.

I KNEW THIS WAS THE YEAR TO DO IT, I KNOW THAT THIS AREA IS CHANGING IN IN WAYS, I KNOW THE ISSUES ARE CHANGING, NATIONAL POLITICS CAST A LONG SHADOW.

PEOPLE ARE REALLY STRUGGLING, THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT HAVE ALWAYS VOTED REPUBLICAN THAT I'M MEETING THEM AT THEIR DOORS THAT ARE SAYING I'VE ALWAYS VOTED REPUBLICAN, I'M WILLING TO LISTEN NOW.

>> I RAN 10 POINTS BEHIND, WE'RE VERY FOCUSED ON GETTING TO THE DOORS, WE'VE HAD A SHORTER WINDOW, FLIGHT PATTERN BUT IT'S KIND OF LIKE RIDING A BIKE.

I'VE GOT THE SAME SIGNS ON 16TH STREET I HAD IN 2016, I ALREADY OWN THE DOMAIN NELS.COM, THAT'S A REALLY NICE ADDED BONUS, I DIDN'T HAVE TO CHANGE SOMETHING FROM NELS FOR HOUSE OR TO SENATE.

THE COMMUNITY HAS A LOT OF INDEPENDENT VOTERS.

>> THE TOP ISSUES OF AFFORDABILITY AND HEALTH CARE HIT DIFFERENTLY IN A PLACE THAT INCLUDES A PORTION OF ROCHESTER AND THE WORLD FAMOUS MAYO CLINIC, BUT MUCH OF THE DISTRICT IS RURAL.

>> WE LIVE IN THE WEALTHIEST COUNTRY IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD IN A CITY THAT IS NUMBER ONE IN HEALTH CARE AND WE CAN'T SEEM TO FIGURE HEALTH CARE OUT.

RIGHT NOW IT'S FARMERS IN DODGE COUNTY STRUGGLING THE MOST.

SO MANY WERE ON THE OPEN MARKET WHEN THOSE PREMIUMS SHOT THROUGH THE ROOF A COUPLE MONTHS AGO THEY'RE GOING WITHOUT INSURANCE.

HEALTH CARE I THINK IS THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE WHEN IT COMES TO AFFORDABILITY.

IT'S ALSO HOUSING IN ROCHESTER AND WE HAVE A OUSING SHORTAGE.

>> I WAS THERE WHEN WE WERE STILL WORKING ON DMC, KNOWING THE DYNAMIC BETWEEN THE STATE INVOLVEMENT AND OUR PARTICIPATION AND WHAT TYPE OF INVOLVEMENT WE HAVE DOWN HERE IN ROCHESTER WITH THE DMC BOARD EVERYTHING ELSE.

REMARKABLE GROWTH AND GREAT PARTNERSHIP, WE'RE A SHINING BEACON NOT ONLY IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA BUT IN THE COUNTRY AS FAR AS HEALTH CARE GOES BUT WITH THAT COMES, YOU KNOW, HIGH DEMAND FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

I'VE BEEN A REALTOR HERE IN ROCHESTER FOR 17 YEARS SO I HAVE THAT IN MY BACKGROUND, I CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND SOME OF OUR CHALLENGES.

>> I THINK THAT WE HAVE TO DEFEND OUR DEMOCRACY, NUMBER ONE.

>> YEAH.

WELL, WE'RE GOING TO TRY AND DO THAT TOO.

>> TAKE CARE OF OUR FELLOW MAN, NUMBER TWO, AND WOMAN.

>> IMMIGRATION ALSO HAS AN IMPACT HERE WITH AN INCREASINGLY DIVERSE POPULATION IN A REGION THAT'S CONSISTENTLY GROWING.

>> WHAT DO WE WANT?

ICE OUT!

>> WE DID SEE IN SCHOOLS INCREDIBLE DROP IN ATTENDANCE.

WE HAVE 500 STUDENTS IN OUR DISTRICT THAT STOPPED SHOWING UP, SOME OF THEM NEVER CAME BACK.

IT WAS HARD.

IT WAS DIFFICULT AND LISTEN, WE AS A COUNTRY WE OBVIOUSLY NEED TO ENFORCE IMMIGRATION LAWS BUT I JUST THINK THERE'S A WAY TO DO T WITHOUT A MILITARY FORCE.

THERE'S A WAY TO DO IT WITHOUT TERRORIZING PEOPLE AND PUNISHING CITIZENS AND NONCITIZENS ALIKE.

>> MYSELF I'VE ADOPTED TWO SONS FROM THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLICAN OF CONGO, SO KNOWING HOW DIFFICULT THE LEGAL IMMIGRATION PROCESS IS AND KNOWING WHAT PEOPLE HAVE DONE TO WAIT IN LINE TO BECOME CITIZENS IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THEN JUST LETTING PEOPLE CROSS THE BORDER FOR DECADE OR MORE.

I DON'T BLAME PEOPLE FOR TRYING TO FIND A BETTER WAY OF LIFE, IN FACT, IF I WERE SIMILAR SITUATED I'D PROBABLY TRY TO DO THE SAME THING.

THE FRAUD AND SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT WE'VE HAD WITH THE TRIFECTA GOVERNMENT THAT WE WERE DEALING WITH HISTORICALLY IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA, SOME OF THOSE THINGS, THOSE THINGS GOING UNCHECKED FOR SO LONG THAT'S WHAT I'M HEARING AT THE DOOR.

APPRECIATE ALL THE SERVICE THAT YOU PROVIDE AND THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO.

♪ >> Cathy: THE LATEST FRAUD CASE IN MINNESOTA CENTERS ON A AN OWNER OF MORE THAN TWO DOZEN GROUP HOMES WHO COLLECTED TAXPAYER MONEY WHILE RUNNING THE HOMES FROM OVERSEAS.

AN INVESTIGATION BY MPR NEWS AND APM, A NATIONAL INVESTIGATIVE UNIT, UNCOVERED THE FRAUD.

JOINING US WITH MORE ON THIS EXTENSIVE STORY, ELLIE ROTH, PART OF THE REPORTING TEAM.

THIS IS QUITE A STORY.

NOW, THE PERSON THAT YOU FOCUSED ON IS LIBERIAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL.

HOW THE HECK DOES A LIBERIAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL AMASS A NUMBER OF GROUP HOMES IN MINNESOTA?

>> WELL, THAT'S A REALLY INTERESTING QUESTION AND THAT'S WHAT WE SPENT A YEAR TRYING TO FIGURE OUT.

SO HE GOT TO HIS START IN GROUP HOMES TWO DECADES AGO OR A DECADE OR SO AGO, AND JUST SLOWLY STARTED OPENING THEM UP WITH A BUSINESS PARTNER, AND YOU KNOW, ALL THESE GROUP HOMES WERE LICENSED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.

AND SO HOW WE GOT STARTED LOOKING INTO THIS WAS I HAD A BROOKLYN PARK POLICE OFFICER PROVIDE ME WITH A LIST OF THE GROUP HOMES THAT HAD THE HIGHEST CALLS TO SERVICE IN BROOKLYN PARK WHICH HAS THE MOST GROUP HOMES OF ANY CITY IN MINNESOTA.

AND WE JUST WENT DOWN THE LIST AND STARTED IDENTIFYING WHO THE OWNERS OF THESE FACILITIES WERE, WHO'S AFFILIATED WITH THE OWNERS AND EVENTUALLY WE CAME ACROSS THIS INDIVIDUAL SAKU DUKELY.

>> AND THERE'S A LAUNDRY LIST OF COMPLAINTS AGAINST THESE GROUP HOMES.

I HAD OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO THE MAYOR OF NEW HOPE WHO WAS ON THE CITY COUNCIL AT THE TIME, THEY TRIED TO SHUT THIS DOWN AND TRY AND DO SOMETHING AND IT WAS NOT SUCCESSFUL REALLY.

>> IT WAS REALLY UNSUCCESSFUL ACTUALLY.

SO THIS WHOLE DISPUTE IN NEW HOPE WHERE THE CITY TRIED TO SHUT DOWN GROUP HOMES AFFILIATED TO THIS INDIVIDUAL, SEKU DUKELY, REALLY BACKFIRED.

STATE LEGISLATORS HOW THIS AS AN EXAMPLE OF CITIES POTENTIALLY BARRING PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES FROM LIVING WITHIN A CITY LIMIT.

AND WHAT WE, WHAT THEY ENDED UP DOING WAS PASSING A LAW THAT STRIPPED CITIES OF HAVING ANY POWER TO REVOKE GROUP HOME LICENSES.

SO IT WAS PRETTY -- PRETTY BAD -- -- >> Cathy: O HE KEPT OPERATING.

>> YES, HE DID.

>> Eric: DID YOU GET A HO-HUM FROM THE DEPARTMENTS OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES?

>> YEAH, SO ORIGINALLY THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT TOLD US THERE'S NOTHING IN STATE LAW THAT REQUIRES SOMEONE TO BE LIVING IN MINNESOTA, LET ALONE LIVING IN THE COUNTRY.

BUT EVENTUALLY WHAT WE LEARNED YESTERDAY, THURSDAY -- I THINK IT'S FRIDAY -- WE LEARNED THAT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS SHUTTING DOWN THREE GROUP HOMES WHERE HE OWNED AND OPERATED AS THE LICENSED ASSISTED LIVING DIRECTOR.

AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES IS WITHHOLDING PAYMENTS WHILE THEY INVESTIGATE CREDIBLE ALLEGATIONS OF FRAUD.

>> Cathy: WHAT DOES HE HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THIS?

>> WELL, WHAT'S REALLY INTERESTING, HE JUST PUT OUT HIS FIRST STATEMENT ON HIS FACEBOOK PAGE 30 MINUTES BEFORE I SHOWED UP HERE.

HE BASICALLY SAID THE REPORT WAS WHOLLY INACCURATE.

BUT WHEN I TRIED TO CALL HIM HE WOULD NOT COMMENT, YOU KNOW, WE SENT HIM QUESTIONS AND HE DID NOT RESPOND.

>> Cathy: STATE OFFICIALS, POLITICIANS HAVE BEEN RESPONDING IN GREAT NUMBER.

LOT OF REPUBLICANS AND SOME DEMOCRATS, TALK ABOUT THAT.

>> YEAH.

UNDERSTANDABLY REPUBLICANS ARE REALLY USING THIS AS A TALKING POINT WHEN IT COMES TO FRAUD, THIS IS A PRETTY BIG DEAL.

BUT WHAT WAS REALLY INTERESTING WAS AMY KLOBUCHAR CAME ON AND TALKED WITH YOU, CATHY, AND TALKED ABOUT HOW ON MPR THEY WILLED TO REALLY LOOK AT HOW THE SYSTEM IS REGULATED.

SO REGARDLESS, BOTH CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR THINK THIS IS A REALLY BIG PROBLEM, SOMETHING THEY CAN AGREE ON.

>> Cathy: THERE'S BEEN SOME INTERESTING REACTION FROM THE LIBERIAN MEDIA TO THIS TORY.

>> YES, THAT'S CORRECT.

THAT'S CORRECT.

I WAS REALLY SURPRISED THIS WENT VIRAL IN LIBERIA.

SO THIS INDIVIDUAL SEKU DUKELY IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF WHAT'S CALLED THE NATIONAL PORT AUTHORITY.

SO HE RUNS LIBERIA'S GOVERNMENT OWNED PORTS, AND SINCE HE BECAME APPOINTED BY THE PRESIDENT IN 2024, HE HAS REALLY AMASSED A LOT OF POWER.

AND AS ANYONE WHO AMASSES POWER DOES, ALSO HAS SOME POLITICAL OPPONENTS.

THIS WENT VIRAL ON LIBERIA, I WAS TOLD EVERYONE IN THE LIBERIAN DIASPORA IS TALKING ABOUT THIS STORY WHICH I WAS NOT EXPECTING.

AND, YEAH, WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS BUT IT WAS PRETTY SURPRISING TO OPEN MY PHONE AND SEE A VIDEO OF SOMEONE REACTING TO OUR STORY.

>> Eric: EXTRADITION IS NOT A LIKELY OUTCOME HERE?

>> I'M NOT SURE.

WE'LL SEE.

I'LL LEAVE THAT TO THE GOVERNMENT.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> Cathy: WELL, GO HOME, GET SOME REST.

YOU DID A GREAT JOB.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Cathy: THANK YOU, ELLIE.

♪ >> Dominic: PERHAPS YOU ARE OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER -- OR PERHAPS SOMEONE HAS TOLD YOU ABOUT -- THE DARK AGES DURING WHICH PEOPLE HAD TO WAIT TO WATCH THEIR FAVORITE TELEVISION SHOWS.

WHETHER IT WAS SATURDAY MORNING WITH BUGS BUNNY OR THURSDAY’S MUST-SEE-TV TRIFECTA OF “FRIENDS,” “MAD ABOUT YOU” AND “SEINFELD,” THE NETWORK OVERLORDS HELD US AND OUR CALENDARS HOSTAGE.

NOW WE CAN BINGE-WATCH AT OUR LEISURE, AND, AT LEAST FOR ME, THIS SUDDEN BOUNTY HAS CREATED A DIFFERENT PROBLEM.

LET’S TAKE THE MUCH-ANTICIPATED FOURTH SEASON OF “TED LASSO.” THE FIRST EPISODE DROPPED ON AUGUST 5TH, BUT, THOUGH I LOVE THE SHOW, I HAVE YET TO PARTAKE.

IT’S LIKE GETTING A REALLY GOOD BOTTLE OF WINE AS A GIFT.

YOU KIND OF WANT TO SAVE IT FOR A SPECIAL OCCASION.

IF YOU BLOW IT ON SOME RANDOM TUESDAY AFTER A LONG DAY OF WORK, YOU MIGHT NOT REALLY ENJOY IT THE WAY YOU SHOULD.

BUT YOU DON’T WANT TO WAIT TOO LONG, EITHER, LEST TIME AND ENDLESS SOCIAL MEDIA COGITATION TURN THAT FINE VINTAGE INTO VINEGAR.

WHAT TO DO?

I DON’T HAVE A SOLUTION, BUT I DO HAVE A COUPLE OBSERVATIONS: ONE: TOO MUCH CHOICE IS NOT ALWAYS A GOOD THING.

TWO: THERE’S NO SUCH THING AS THE PERFECT TIME... TO GET MARRIED, TO HAVE KIDS, TO CHANGE JOBS... EVEN TO WATCH TV.

AND THREE: WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR?

WE HAVE THIS IDEA THAT DELAYED PLEASURE IS SWEETER BUT MAYBE SUSTAINED MEMORIES OF THAT PLEASURE ARE JUST AS VALUABLE, OR EVEN MORE SO.

SO GATHER YE ROSEBUDS WHILE YE MAY.

AND BY “ROSEBUDS,” I MEAN BOTTLES OF WINE.

OR “TED LASSO.” OR WHATEVER IT IS THAT GIVES YOU JOY.

♪ >> Eric: ELY’S HISTORIC STATE THEATER IS CELEBRATING ITS 90TH ANNIVERSARY.

REPORTER KAOMI LEE VISITED THE RESTORED THEATER TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ITS PAST AND WHERE IT’S GOING.

[ POPCORN POPPING ] >> IT'S SUMMERTIME AND THAT MEANS IT'S BLOCKBUSTER MOVIE TIME.

MOVIEGOERS IN ELY DIDN'T HAVE TO GO FAR TO SEE THIS SUMMER'S BILLION-DOLLAR GLOBAL HIT, THE ODYSSEY.

>> IT'S BEEN ONE OF OUR BIGGEST DRAWS, WE'VE HAD NEARLY A THOUSAND PEOPLE SEE IT ALREADY.

>> THAT'S NEARLY A THIRD OF ELY'S POPULATION JUST TWO WEEKS.

>> JAMES SCARBOROUGH SAYS PEOPLE COMING UP TO THE CABIN OR CANOE TRIP DON'T HAVE TO MISS OUT.

>> PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS SURPRISED WHEN PEOPLE COME UP TO THE BOUNDARY WATERS TO GO CAMPING OR CANOEING AND DRIVE BY AND SEAT NEWEST BLOCKBUSTER RELEASE AVAILABLE IN ELY.

>> THE THEATER OPENED IN 1936 TO MUCH FANFARE WITH A 36-FOOT NEON MARQUEE, THE RIO WAS COMMISSIONED BY THE SWANSON FAMILY, AND DESIGNED BY PROLIFIC MINNEAPOLIS ARCHITECTS JACK LIEBENBERG AND SIEMEN KAPLAN.

THEY DESIGNED MORE THAN 200 THEATERS OVER 50 YEARS, INCLUDING THE UPTOWN THEATER IN MINNEAPOLIS.

THE NAME CHANGED TO THE STATE THEATER WHEN IT OPENED.

BUT OVER THE YEARS, IT FELL INTO DISREPAIR AS TELEVISION AND VIDEO BECAME POPULAR.

>> SO MANY SMALL COMMUNITIES YOU'LL DRIVE IN AND YOU'LL SEE THE THEATERS SHUT DOWN AND YOU'RE SITTING THERE.

THAT WAS US, THIS LOOKED HORRIBLE, IT WASN'T LIT FOR ALMOST EIGHT YEARS I THINK IT WAS.

IT WAS DARK, THE BUILDING WAS FALLING APART.

>> HISTORIC THEATER LIKE ELY'S HISTORIC STATE THEATER ARE INCREASINGLY RARE THESE DAYS IN MINNESOTA AND NATIONWIDE.

THIS THEATER ALMOST BECAME A PARKING LOT.

BUT THE COMMUNITY RALLIED TO BRING IT BACK FOR THE EXPERIENCE OF WATCHING MOVIES SURROUNDED BY HISTORY.

>> IN 2015 THE OTT FAMILY BOUGHT THE BUILDING AND STARTED RESTORING IT.

A COMMUNITY NON-PROFIT WAS ESTABLISHED TO RAISE MONEY AND MANAGE THE THEATER.

IT'S ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES.

THE LEAGUE OF HISTORIC AMERICAN THEATERS LISTS DOZENS OF SUCH THEATERS AROUND MINNESOTA.

>> AND IN THIS CASE, THIS IS IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN AND IT IS TRULY AN ECONOMIC DRIVER FOR THIS COMMUNITY, FOR THIS IMMEDIATE VICINITY AND BRINGS PEOPLE TO TOWN FOR ALL OF THE EVENTS THAT WE HAVE.

>> WALK INSIDE AND IT'S LIKE GOING BACK IN TIME, A LONG WAY BACK.

>> WE'VE SAVED THE ORIGINAL PROJECTORS, THERE WERE TWO OF THESE, WE HAVE THE OTHER ONE INSIDE YOU'LL SEE.

THESE WERE USED FOR THE FIRST 06 YEARS OF THE THAT'S TRUE THEATER.

AND IT WAS THE OLD REEL TO REEL, 16-MILLIMETER.

BUT WHAT I LIKE ABOUT THIS PROJECTOR PARTICULARLY IS THE BAKELITE HANDLES ON EVERYTHING.

>> ORIGINAL DETAILS POP LIKE TREASURE HUNT.

>> OH, LOOK AT THE ORIGINAL LIGHT JUSTICE >> IT'S WONDERFUL, ISN'T IT?

THE ART DECO LIGHTS HICH WE'VE ADDED COLOR TO.

>> ORIGINAL ROW ENDS WERE REPAINTED.

>> DAVID, I'VE HEARD A FEW STORIES ABOUT THE OOF HERE.

>> YES.

IN FACT, I CAN TELL YOU HOSE STORIES PERSONALLY.

AT THE END OF ITS RUN WHEN IT WAS ABOUT 2005, 2006, JUST BEFORE IT CLOSED, THE ROOF LEAKED HORRIBLY AND YOU WILLED COME IN, YOU'D HAVE TO BE CAREFUL WHERE YOU SAT SO THAT CEILING TILE WOULDN'T DROP ON YOU, OR IF IT WAS RAINING YOU'D ACTUALLY GET RAINED ON.

>> BUT A MUSEUM, IT'S NOT.

FOR JUST SEVEN DOLLARS A TICKET VISITORS CAN WATCH A MOVIE IN ONE OF TWO STATE OF THE ART SURROUND SOUND SCREENING ROOMS.

SPECIALTY DRINKS AND FOOD ARE AVAILABLE.

>> LIKE MOST STAIRCASES IN ELY, IT'S VERY NARROW.

>> EVEN A TRIP TO THE OLD FIREPROOF PROJECTOR ROOM SHOWS TIMES HAVE CHANGED.

>> THIS IS OUR DIGITAL PROJECTOR.

>> IT CAN PLAY 2K OR 4K MOVIES AND IS PROGRAMMABLE.

GONE ARE THE DOUBLE PROJECTORS, AND ALSO THE HUMANS WHO USED TO HAVE TO CHECK HOW WELL THE MOVIE WAS PLAYING THROUGH PEEPHOLES.

>> I LOVE IT WHEN THE OLD GUYS COME IN AND TELL ME, OH, MY FIRST JOB WAS RUNNING THE PROJECTOR WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL.

>> THE THEATER BOARD HAS BIG PLANS.

IT'S HOLDING AN ANNIVERSARY GALA TO RAISE ANOTHER $200,000.

BOARD CHAIR JUSTIN BERHAM SAYS THEY WANT TO FINISH A COMMUNITY EVENT SPACE.

IT WILL BE USED AS A CINEMA MAKING CLASSROOM, HOST FILM FESTIVAL ATTENDEES AND BE A HUM FOR WHATEVER THE COMMUNITY NEEDS.

>> YES, WE DO MOVIES, YES, WE DO SOME FUN LOCAL SORT OF, YOU KNOW, EVENTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT WE ALSO ARE A 501(C)(3) AND WE WANT TO BE DOING PROGRAMMING AS WELL.

♪ ♪ ♪ >> Cathy: THIS WEEKEND THE INAUGURAL MIDWEST BLACK BOOK FAIR DEBUTS JUST ACROSS THE RIVER IN NORTH MINNEAPOLIS.

HOSTED AT THE U OF M'S URBAN RESEARCH AND OUTREACH-ENGAGEMENT CENTER, THE FREE EVENT CELEBRATES BLACK AUTHORS, READERS AND PUBLISHERS, AND WILL FEATURE VENDORS, BOOK SIGNINGS AND WORKSHOPS FOR ATTENDEES.

LOCAL ACADEMIC AND ENTREPRENEUR TERRESA HARDAWAY SPEARHEADED THE CREATION OF THE FAIR SHE'S TAKING JUST A LITTLE BIT OF TIME TO TALK WITH US, IT'S BEEN REALLY BUSY FOR YOU.

>> YEAH, JUST A LITTLE BIT.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> Cathy: WE WERE TALKING OFF AIR HERE ABOUT OTHER CITIES HAVE SIMILAR FESTIVALS AND THAT IS TRUES FIRST ONE FOR MINNEAPOLIS >> YEAH, I THINK I GOT MY INSPIRATION FROM A LOT OF THE FOLKS I MEET WITH.

WE HAVE A BLACK BOOK STORE NATIONAL COALITION AND WE MEET MONTHLY.

FOLKS WERE TALKING ABOUT HOW THEY HAVE ALL THESE CELEBRATIONS AND I WAS LIKE WHY DON'T WE HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THAT HERE?

AND I HAPPENED TO BE IN AN EVENT WITH OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAD BOOK STORES AND PUBLISHING COMPANIES AND HAD A CONVERSATION AND I THINK WE SHOULD DO SOMETHING, AND THEY WERE DOWN.

>> Eric: NOW, YOU STARTED THIS FROM SCRATCH, IN READING ABOUT YOU THIS WEEK YOU CALL YOURSELF A CONNECTOR, AND I BET THAT REALLY CAME IN HANDY.

>> YEAH, DEFINITELY, I HAD PEOPLE I ALREADY KNEW TO CALL AND LIKE HELP ME ORGANIZE THIS THING AND THEY'RE LIKE, WE'RE DOWN.

AND A TON OF OTHER FOLKS I MET FROM THAT INITIAL JUST CHATTING ABOUT IT, THEY REACHED OUT AND TOLD ME WHO DOTO CONNECT WITH AND I CONNECTED WITH THEM AND NOW WE'RE HERE.

>> Cathy: CAN YOU GIVE US A SENSE OF THE CHALLENGES IN THE PUBLISHING INDUSTRY THAT BLACK WRITERS ARE ACED WITH THAT NECESSITATES A FESTIVAL LIKE THIS?

>> YEAH, I'M A WRITER MYSELF, I HAVE A COUPLE OF PUBLISHED BOOKS AND I THINK ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES THAT WE SEE ARE PEOPLE TAKING LIKE THE STORIES THAT WE HAVE SERIOUSLY AS AN ACADEMIC, I THINK THAT LIKE RESEARCH AND PERSONAL EXPERIENCE REALLY SPEAK A LOT TO LIKE SORT OF THE NARRATIVE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO BE TELLING, AND OFTENTIMES I THINK THAT PUBLISHERS DON'T NECESSARILY TAKE THOSE THINGS SERIOUSLY.

SO I WOULD, I'M REALLY EXCITED FOR SOME OF THE WORKSHOPS WE HAVE ECAUSE SOME OF THE BLACK AUTHORS THAT ARE GOING TO BE THERE WHO HAVE BEEN WRITING AND SELF-PUBLISHED MIGHT BE ABLE TO LIKE GET IN WITH SOME OF THEE FOLKS.

SO WE AVE A LOT OF REALLY GREAT RESOURCES FOR FOLKS AT THE FAIR TOMORROW.

>> Eric: ONE F THE QUOTES I WROTE DOWN, IT TAKES A LOOK AT THE BOOK INDUSTRY FROM THE BLACK LITERARY PERSPECTIVE.

WHAT IS IS THAT PERSPECTIVE?

>> YEAH, THAT PERSPECTIVE, I CAN'T REALLY DEFINE IT, IT'S REALLY HUGE, THERE'S A LOT OF NUANCE AND COMPLEXITY AROUND IT.

I THINK FOLKS PROBABLY SILO BLACK NARRATIVES INTO LIKE ONE BUCKET AND I THINK THAT BLACK FOLKS HAVE A RANGE OF STORIES TO TELL AND I THINK THAT I'M REALLY ENCOURAGING FOLKS TO ENGAGE WITH ALL OF THOSE STORIES AT THE FAIR TOMORROW.

>> Cathy: THERE IS THIS BELIEF, THOUGH, AND BET YOU'VE RUN INTO THIS THAT MAINSTREAM READERS AREN'T INTERESTED IN LEARNING ABOUT THE BLACK EXPERIENCE.

BUT I DON'T THINK THAT'S TRUE.

>> YEAH, I DON'T THINK IT'S TRUE.

I THINK THERE'S A TON OF OTHER STORIES THAT PEOPLE ARE CONNECTING WITH.

I DO THINK THAT, AGAIN, I THINK IT'S LIKE STEREOTYPE AND EXCLUSIVITY THAT KIND OF GETS FOLKS INTO THINKING THAT BLACK STORIES ARE ONLY A CERTAIN WAY, BUT BLACK STORIES INCLUDE A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS.

I WAS TALKING ABOUT FUTURE-ITY THIS WEEK AND HOW BLACK STORIES HAVE A LOT OF CREATIVITY AND IMAGINATION SO I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE AUTHORS WHO ARE GOING TO BE AT THE FAIR.

, WHAT KIND OF REACTIONS HAVE YOU HAD?

COUPLE THOUSAND PEOPLE ARE GOING TO SHOW UP.

WHAT'S BEEN THE REACTION?

>> YEAH, FOLKS ARE VERY EXCITED.

I THINK A LOT OF BLACK FOLKS SPECIFICALLY ARE JUST SAYING WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO SEE LIKE OUR STORIES BEING TOLD AND BEING REFLECTED BACK TO THEM.

I THINK THAT OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS DON'T, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING LIKE THIS IN OUR CITY, AND SO LIKE PEOPLE ARE REALLY EXCITED TO JUST SEE OTHER AUTHORS, SEE THESE VENDORS, ATTEND THE WORKSHOPS, THERE'S JUST A LOT OF EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES BUT THEN ALSO CONNECTING AND COMMUNITY OPPORTUNITIES.

>> Cathy: GIVE US AN IDEA OF WHAT ARE THE WORKSHOPS THAT YOU MOST ARE EXCITED ABOUT?

>> OH, MY GOODNESS!

THERE'S ONLY SIX THIS FIRST TIME BUT I'M REALLY EXCITED FOR THE PUBLISHING PANEL, I'M EXCITED FOR THE HISTORY OF MINNESOTA PANEL, I'M EXCITED FOR THERE'S A POETRY WORKSHOP HAPPENING, WORKSHOP BY MORE THAN A SINGLE STORY HAPPENING.

THERE'S A TON OF FOLKS WHO ARE AUTHORS THEMSELVES OR ARE GOING TO BE TEACH FOLKS WRITING AND OTHER EXPERIMENTAL PRACTICE.

>> Eric: WHERE AND WHEN DO FOLKS JOIN?

>> IT IS NOT SOLD OUT, I KEEP OPENING UP MORE TICKETS BUT IT IS 12 TO 5:00, TOMORROW 2001 PLYMOUTH AVENUE IN NORTH MINNEAPOLIS.

>> Eric: ALREADY A SUCCESS.

>> Cathy: HAVE A WONDERFUL TIME.

>> THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

♪ >> I TRY NOT TO MAKE VIDEOS ABOUT THE SAME TOPIC TWICE, BUT TODAY, I'M GOING TO BREAK MY OWN RULE.

BECAUSE I'M GOING TO AKE A SECOND VIDEO ABOUT MY FRONT STEPS, WHICH INCLUDE THE CONCRETE SLAB STRETCHING OVER TO THE DRIVEWAY.

I'M DOING THIS BECAUSE I PEND A LOT OF TIME HERE, TALKING WITH MY CHILDREN, EATING POPSICLES, DRAWING WITH CHALK.

I ESPECIALLY ENJOY WATCHING THE INSECTS THAT HOP OUT OF OUR YARD.

AND IT'S NOT ONLY DURING HE SUMMER.

HERE ARE SOME FROZEN BUBBLES WE CREATED LAST WINTER WHEN IT WAS 30 BELOW.

IT'S AMAZING.

I WATCHED THESE THINGS ROLL AROUND UNTIL MY FINGERS FROZE.

ONE OF THE DETAILS I LOVED ABOUT SESAME STREET IS HOW THE HUMAN CHARACTERS WOULD SPEND SIGNIFICANT TIME ON THEIR FRONT STEPS.

HOW THEY'D JUST BE THERE WITHOUT STRESS OR OBLIGATION.

THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT THE PACE OF THIS LIFESTYLE I ALWAYS CONSIDERED RIGHT.

AND I'M NOT SURPRISED I'VE ADOPT IT DID IN MY ADULTHOOD.

AND I WILL ADMIT, IT'S SURPRISING TO ME THAT HERE IN AMERICA I DON'T SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE ON THEIR FRONT STEPS.

BUT ADO SEE IT WHEN I TRAVEL ABROAD.

IN MANY PARTS OF HE WORLD THE FRONTSTEPS JUST MATTER.

THEY'RE CLOSE ENOUGH TO HOME TO KEEP AN EYE ON THE CHORES BUT FAR ENOUGH FROM HOME TO INVITE A SPONTANEOUS CONVERSATION.

AND FOR ME THIS IS A HUMAN SWEET SPOT.

IT REMINDS ME WHY A FEW GENERATIONS AGO EVERYONE PRIORITIZED THE WRAPAROUND PORCH.

I GUESS WHAT I'M SAYING IS THAT I DON'T KNOW HOW TO FIX EVERYTHING THAT'S WRONG WITH THE WORLD, BUT IF YOU LISTEN TO THE QUIETER PARTS OF YOUR BRAIN, THE PARTS THAT ENJOY EATING POPSICLES AND WATCHING INSECTS, YOU CAN UNCOVER SOME HINTS.

AND THE FRONT STEPS, THE MINDSET THEY REPRESENT, I'M CONVINCED THEY'RE A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

>> Eric: THE "SKETCHES OF MINNESOTA TOUR" CONTINUES.

DANGER BOAT PRODUCTIONS AND THE MINNESOTA HUMANITIES CENTER HAVE BEEN ALL OVER THE STATE GETTING PEOPLE TO TALK TO EACH OTHER AND THEN TURNING THOSE CONVERSATIONS INTO LIVE IMPROV THEATER.

AN "ALMANAC" CREW FOLLOWED ALONG TO BIGFORK FOR SKETCHES OF MINNESOTA: EDGE OF THE WILDERNESS.

PART OF OUR VOICES RISING: STORIES FOR AMERICA’S 250TH INITIATIVE.

TAKE A LOOK.

>> THE EDGE OF THE WILDERNESS SCENIC BYWAY CUTS THROUGH 46 PICTURESQUE MILES OF TIMBER FOREST IN ITASCA COUNTY.

MANY COMMUNITIES IN THIS PART OF THE STATE DEVELOPED ALONG WITH THE LOGGING INDUSTRY.

[ SAW BUZZING ] >> YOU KNOW, WE'RE SURROUNDED BY WOODS AND LIGHT PINE IS WHAT WE LIKE TO USE MOST OF AND IT'S PLENTIFUL AROUND THIS AREA.

>> YEAH, AND WHEN WE DON'T FEEL LIKE CARVING WE'LL GO OUT IN THE WOODS, SO THAT KINDA HELPS.

KIND OF GROUND YOURSELF, YOU KNOW >> GRAND RAPIDS ANNUAL TALL TIMBER DAYS FESTIVAL THAT CONNECTION TO LOGGING IT FRONT AND CENTER.

JUAN LAZZO IS THE FORMER MAYOR OF GRAND RAPIDS AND ONE OF THE DIRECTORS OF TALL TIMBER DAYS.

HE'S LIVED IN AREA FOR DECADES AFTER IMMIGRATING FROM PERU.

>> I LEFT A COUNTRY WHERE THE MILITARY DICTATORS TOLD US WHAT TO DO AND I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME TO THE UNITED STATES AND LEARN ABOUT DEMOCRACY AND LEARN ABOUT COMMUNITY, AND I HAVEN'T LEFT YET.

IT'S BEEN 48 YEARS, SO, AND THIS COMMUNITY EMBRACED ME FROM DAY ONE.

>> A VOCAL SUPPORTER OF PRESIDENT TRUMP JUAN FEELS THAT DEMOCRACY IS STRONG THROUGHOUT THE EDGE OF THE WILDERNESS AND HE WELCOMES PEOPLE WITH OPPOSING VIEWPOINTS TO COME TO HIS PRINT SHOP FOR OPEN AND HONEST DISCUSSION ABOUT THEIR DIFFERENCES.

>> SO FAR WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO MAINTAIN A FAIRLY HEALTHY DIALOGUE.

I THINK THAT E UNDERSTAND HAT WE CAN DISAGREE IN POLITICS AND STILL SHAKE HANDS AND STILL COME TO FESTIVAL LIKE THIS AND HAVE SOME GOOD BARBECUE HOT DOGS OR PULLED PORK OR WHATEVER YOU HAVE.

I THINK WE'RE A PRETTY DIVIDED COUNTRY AND WE NEED TO ORK AT, AGAIN, REMINDING OURSELVES WHAT WE CAN DISAGREE, WE CAN STILL SHAKE HANDS, WE CAN STILL BE INVITED TO THANKSGIVING DINNER.

>> DINNER WAS SERVED IN NEARBY BIGFORK OO, WHERE THE SKETCHES OF MINNESOTA IMPROV EVENT BROUGHT TOGETHER MORE THAN 100 COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

>> SO WE ARE GOING TO ASK YOU TO HAVE A DISCUSSION AT YOUR TABLE WITH YOUR NEIGHBORS.

>> MANY ITASCA COUNTY COMMUNITIES HAVE A MIX OF LONGTIME RESIDENTS AND RECENT TRANSPLANTS WHO MOVED NORTH DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

IT'S CREATED SOME INTERESTING CULTURAL DIFFERENCES.

>> I MEAN, I LIVE IN HIBBING NOW, USED TO LIVE IN MINNEAPOLIS.

>> BEEN HERE SINCE '57.

>> WE'RE NEW TO THE AREA.

>> THE CENTER FOR THE ARTS HOSTED THE EVENT AND HAS BECOME A PLACE KNOWN IN PART FOR STAGING WORK TO GET PEOPLE THINKING AND TALKING.

>> OUR COUNTRY HAS BEEN AN ONGOING EXPERIMENT FOR 250 YEARS.

WHAT ARE THE BEST THINGS ABOUT AMERICA THAT YOU SEE IN THE EDGE OF THE WILDERNESS?

>> THE EDGE CENTER IS A GEM IN THE WILDERNESS.

>> BUILT A THEATER WITH A LOT OF HELP, A LOT OF TALENTED PEOPLE HERE WHO HELPED WITH THAT.

>> EVERYBODY S ALWAYS AMAZED AT THE TALENT THAT COMES OUT OF THE WOODS!

WHO KNEW?

>> BARRY FELD AND HIS WIFE PATTY HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE EDGE CENTER FOR THE ARTS FOR DECADES.

>> SO THERE'S A LOT OF ART THAT ALSO RAISES REALLY DEEP, PROVOCATIVE QUESTIONS.

THE ARTS ARE REALLY TELLING STORIES ABOUT WHO WE ARE AND WHO WE COULD BECOME.

AND SO IT'S REALLY INTEGRAL TO A THRIVING DEMOCRACY.

>> I THINK A HEALTHY DEMOCRACY REALLY ENABLES PEOPLE TO HAVE INDIVIDUAL CREATIVITY AND SELF-EXPRESSION, AND TO ME THAT'S WHAT THE ARTS REALLY IS.

AND I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO HAVE A PLACE IN A TOWN LIKE THIS THAT'S SO REMOTE AND INDEPENDENT, THAT THEN STILL HAS A THEATER WHERE YOU CAN GO AND SEE OTHER PEOPLE'S PERSPECTIVES.

>> AFTER SOME SPIRITED DISCUSSIONS, THE IMPROV CAST BROUGHT PIECES OF THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS TO THE EDGE CENTER FOR THE ARTS STAGE.

INCLUDING SOME OF THE CULTURAL CLASHES.

♪ ♪ >> THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING ME ON MY KAYAK.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME.

>> HEY, YOU THREE!

>> HEY!

>> WHAT?

>> THAT LAKE ISN'T AS COOL AS YOU THINK IT IS, YOU SHOULD COME TO MY LAKE INSTEAD!

>> HEY, GUY JUSTICE I GOT A NEW OUTBOARD MOTOR, YOU WANNA SEE?

[ APPLAUSE ] AND A REMINDER, WE'RE ALL IN THE SAME LAKE, IF NOT THE SAME BOAT.

>> I LOVE EDGE OF THE WILDERNESS?

YOU CAN BE A WATER SKIER!

AND THE TWO OF US CAN SHARE THIS WATER AND FIND A WAY TO MAKE PEACE BETWEEN THESE LOUD GUYS AND THAT QUIET KAYAK!

WE'RE ALL IN THIS ... [ SINGING ] WATER TOGETHER ♪ ♪ >> IT'S THE SAME LAKE, IT'S THE SAME ... >> THE COMMUNITY HAD A CHANCE TO REPORT BACK ON WHAT THE IMPROVERS GOT RIGHT AND WHAT THEY MAY HAVE MISSED.

>> I AGREE THAT THE JET SKI AND CANOEISTS GETTING ALONG TOGETHER IS ABSOLUTELY UNREASONABLE.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> AUDREY JOHNSON IS ANOTHER TRANSPLANT TO THE AREA.

A FORMER MINNEAPOLIS SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER SHE SPOKE UP ABOUT SOME OF THE SERIOUS CHALLENGES SHE SEES.

>> AND ONE OF THEM IS THE POLITICAL DIVIDE THAT WE HAVE HERE.

AND IT'S SCARY.

AND I THINK THAT'S A SERIOUS PROBLEM BECAUSE 250 YEARS WE SHOULDN'T BE AT THAT SPOT.

>> AND ALTHOUGH SHE'S ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE AISLE SHE AGREES WITH JUAN LAZO THAT TALKING THROUGH DIFFERENCE IS CORE TO A THRIVING DEMOCRACY.

>> WHAT UNITES US IS MUCH MORE THAN WHAT DIVIDES US.

♪ >> Eric: ON TUESDAY, GOVERNOR TIM WALZ WADED INTO THE DECADE-LONG FIGHT OVER THE PROPOSED TWIN METALS COPPER-NICKEL MINE NEAR THE BOUNDARY WATERS WITH AN EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT HALTS COPPER-NICKEL MINING IN THE FEDERAL WILDERNESS AREA'S WATERSHED.

THE MOVE IMMEDIATELY DREW STRONG REACTIONS FROM POLITICIANS AND STAKEHOLDERS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ISSUE.

JULIE LUCAS IS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF MINING MINNESOTA, AN INDUSTRY GROUP THAT ADVOCATES FOR SAFE MINING.

JOINING LUCAS IN OPPOSITION TO THE EXECUTIVE ORDER, REPUBLICAN STATE REPRESENTATIVE CAL WARWAS.

ALISON FLINT IS ACTING V.P.

OF FEDERAL POLICY AT THE WILDERNESS SOCIETY, WHO WORKS WITH THE CAMPAIGN TO SAVE THE BOUNDARY WATERS.

JOINING FLINT IN SUPPORTING THE GOVERNOR'S EXECUTIVE ORDER, DFL STATE REPRESENTATIVE ALEX FALCONER.

ALSO WITH US BY ZOOM.

GOT US THERE?

YES, I SEE YOU.

>> YEP.

>> Eric: WELCOME, ONE AND ALL.

REPRESENTATIVE, WERE YOU SURPRISED BY THE TIMING OF THIS?

I MEAN, HE'S GONE IN FOUR MONTHS.

>> YEAH, I WAS REALLY SURPRISED BY THE TIMING OF THIS AND I MEAN, LET'S BE CLEAR, NO MATTER WHO'S COMING INTO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, WHETHER IT BE SPEAKER LISA DEMUTH OR SENATOR KLOBUCHAR THERE'S NO WAY ANYONE'S GOING TO EXTEND THIS, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY BELIEVES THAT.

>> Cathy: I'M WONDERING, REPRESENTATIVE FALCONER, DO YOU THINK THIS IS THE BEST WAY TO DEAL WITH THIS PROBLEM ON THE STATE LEVEL, EXECUTIVE ORDER LIKE THIS?

>> WELL, SINCE WE'RE A PART-TIME LEGISLATURE AND WE CAN'T ADDRESS ANYTHING VIA LEGISLATION AFTER MAY, WHATEVER, WHEN WE GAVEL OUT THE STATE GOVERNMENT IS SEATED TO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND HE SAW THIS MOMENT THAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS DOING EVERYTHING IT CAN TO RAMROD THIS MINE THROUGH AGAINST THE VAST MAJORITY OF MINNESOTANS, AND THIS IS THE ACTION THAT HE'S ABLE TO TAKE GIVEN THE LIMITED AMOUNT OF TIME THAT HE HAS N OFFICE.

>> Cathy: JULIE, GOVERNOR CIRCUMVENTING THE MINNESOTA LEGISLATURE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU THINK OF THAT.

>> AND IT'S CIRCUMVENTING MINNESOTA POLICY FOR DEVELOPING OUR MINERALS AND IT'S REALLY HARD FOR ME AS A SCIENTIST TO SEE THE TRUMP-WALZ ASPECT BEING THE IMPORTANT DISCUSSION, VERSUS WHAT IS THE GEOLOGY, WHAT IS THE GEOCHEMISTRY, WHAT IS THE WATER.

SO THAT'S WHERE MY STRUGGLE AND MY MEMBERS' STRUGGLE IS, WHY IS THIS A POLITICAL ISSUE WHEN IT SHOULD BE A SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING QUESTION.

>> Cathy: IT'S A LITTLE BIT BOTH, THOUGH, RIGHT, ALLISON?

>> YEAH, I WAS GOING TO SAY JUST THAT.

I THINK IT'S ACTUALLY QUITE A CONSERVATIVE ACTION, RIGHT, THAT IS IN RESPONSE TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SEVERAL MONTHS AGO STRIPPING PROTECTIONS THAT WERE BASED ON SIGNIFICANT SCIENTIFIC STUDY, PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, CONSULTATION WITH TRIBAL NATIONS AND REALLY RECOGNIZES THAT THE RULES IN MINNESOTA ARE IN FLUX, THE MINNESOTA D.N.R.

HAS MADE A DETERMINATION THAT THE RULES ARE INADEQUATE RIGHT NOW TO PROTECT THE WATERSHED OF THE BOUNDARY WATERS AND IS GOING THROUGH A PROCESS TO UPDATE THOSE.

>> Cathy: WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT ON THAT, JULIE?

>> DO YOU WANT TO EXPOUND ON THAT, HOUGH?

THEY FOUND THEY NEED NOISE AND LIGHT RULES, THEY FOUND IT WAS ADEQUATE TO PROTECT WATER AND AIR.

IT ONLY CALLED OUT AIR AND LIGHT.

THE MIR A CASE SOUNDED LIKE THE WATER WOULD BE PROTECTED.

THERE'S A DIVIDE IN THIS -- DECISION.

>> Eric: THIS IS NOT AN ISSUE WHERE THERE'S REALLY COMPROMISE, IS THERE?

I MEAN, YOU'RE EITHER FOR MINING OR AGAINST IT, AND I WONDER HOW YOU -- AT THE LEGISLATURE, FOR INSTANCE.

>> I THINK THAT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE EVERYONE SUPPORTS MINING WHETHER THEY KNOW IT OR NOT, BECAUSE IF WE DON'T MINE NEAR BWCA OR NORTHEASTERN MINNESOTA WE CONTINUE TO USE THESE MINERALS EVERY DAY, USING THEM ON THIS SET, I USED THEM IN MY CAR TO GET HERE.

THE NEED FOR THESE MINERALS DOES NOT GO AWAY, JUST WHERE WE SOURCE THEM.

>> Eric: REPRESENTATIVE FALCONER, WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THAT?

WHAT CAN THE LEGISLATURE DO BESIDES EITHER WILL, OR?

>> THERE ARE OTHER PROJECTS IN MINNESOTA UNDER REVIEW.

NORTHMET SUBMITTED THEIR PLANS, THOSE ARE JUST THE COPPER NICKEL AND THERE'S BEEN IRON MINING IN MINNESOTA FOR MORE THAN A CENTURY.

THERE'S A LOT OF MINING POTENTIAL.

THERE'S JUST THE ONE SPOT NEAR THE BOUNDARY WATERS WHERE, YOU KNOW, I DISAGREE WITH HE MIR A LAWSUIT'S FINDING OF ADEQUATE WATER PROTECTION RULES, I MEAN, MINNESOTA ALLOWS POLLUTION UP TO A CERTAIN LIMIT BUT THE BOUNDARY WATERS BY STATUTE, STATE AND FEDERAL, HAS A ZERO DEGRADATION LIMIT AND WATER POLLUTION DOESN'T CARE ABOUT A LINE ON A MAP.

IT WILL FLOW INTO THE RIVER WATER SYSTEM, LAKES A SERIES OF LAKES AND RIVERS THAT WILL FLOW THROUGH THE HEART OF THE WILDERNESS.

SO IT'S JUST -- IT'S NOT -- IT'S NOT A PROJECT THAT IS READY FOR MINNESOTA.

IT'S NOT -- EVERY MINE OF THIS SORT HAS POLLUTED, 100% TRACK RECORD, WATER QUALITY.

>> Eric: JULIE, YOU CALLED THIS A POLITICAL DECISION, KIND OF PRESENTED AS SOMETHING ELSE?

>> YEP.

, CAN YOU EXPAND ON THAT?

>> THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECT OF IT HASN'T BEEN STUDIED.

WHEN TWIN METALS INITIALLY PUT FORWARD THEIR 2019MPO, MINE PLAN OF OPERATIONS THEY HAD CREATED AN EXTENSIVE BASELINE PACKAGE OF SURFACE WATER, GROUND WATER, THE DARK SKIES AND THE NOISE AND THE WHOLE BIG PACKAGE AND IT NEVER MADE IT THROUGH WHAT'S CALLED THE SCOPING EAW.

SO THEIR DATA HAS NEVER BEEN GONE THROUGH.

THEIR PLAN HAS NEVER BEEN GONE THROUGH.

AND SO WHEN FOLKS ASSUME THERE WILL BE HARM DONE, YOU CAN'T MAKE THAT ASSUMPTION WITHOUT ACTUALLY LOOKING AT WHAT THE DATA IS TO UNDERSTAND WHERE THE WATER IS, HOW IS IT MOVING, WHAT'S THE GEOCHEMISTRY, THE STATE DOES MATERIAL CHARACTERIZATION WHICH EXAMINES HOW THIS ROCK ACTS WHEN EXPOSED TO AIR AND WATER, AND NONE OF THAT WORK WAS DONE.

SO FOR ME WHEN I LOOK AT IT IS HOW CAN YOU ASSUME HARM IF YOU HAVEN'T ACTUALLY LOOKED AT WHAT IS PHYSICALLY THERE AND, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE MINES THAT OPERATE WELL AND, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE EAGLE MINE, RAINY RELIGIONER GOLD UP IN CANADA, AND SO ASSUMING HARM WITHOUT LOOKING AT THINGS IS LIKE ASSUMING UILT WITHOUT A CHANCE TO PROVE INNOCENCE.

>> Cathy: ALISON?

>> YEAH, I DISAGREE ITH THAT CHARACTERIZATION.

ONCE YOU GET TO THE MINE PLAN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT HOW YOU DO THE MINE, NOT THE BIGGER PICTURE OF WHAT TYPE OF ACTIVITY, DO WE HAVE REGULATIONS WHAT, DOES THE LAW SAY AND THAT HAS BEEN UNDER CAREFUL EXAMINATION FOR 12 YEARS NOW BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND STATE GOVERNMENT.

AND TIME AND TIME AGAIN WE'VE SEEN THE ANSWER COME OUT BASED ON SCIENCE, BASED ON STUDYING, BASED ON WATER MODELING THAT THIS TYPE OF INDUSTRY, SULFIDE ORE MINING IN PARTICULAR DOES NOT BELONG IN THE HEADWATERS OF THE WATERSHED.

I WANT TO REMEMBER ABOUT THE LEGACY OF WHAT WE HAND TO OUR KIDS.

BOUNDARY WATERS IS PART OF WHAT MAKES MINNESOTA, MINNESOTA, RIGHT?

GENERATIONS HAVE HAD SUCH A PROFOUND IMPACT FROM VISITING THIS PLACE AND WE SIMPLY CAN'T RISK WHAT REPRESENTATIVE FALCONER WAS SAYING WILL HAPPEN.

WE WOULD HAVE TO ANSWER TO OUR KIDS AND GRANDKIDS.

>> I WOULD LOVE TO RESPOND TO THAT.

I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT WE CAN'T HAVE MINING AND CLEAN WATER IS A FALSE CHOICE.

I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT YOU JUST MENTIONED THE 12 YEARS TIME SPAN BECAUSE LIKE FOR INSTANCE IN NEAR MARQUETTE, MICHIGAN THE EAGLE MINE HAS BEEN OPERATING FOR 12 YEARS, THAT IS THE ONLY OPERATING NICKEL MINE IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

WE RECENTLY TOURED THERE, NOT JULIE AND I BUT MYSELF AND OTHER COLLEAGUES FROM THE LEGISLATURE AND MANY OTHERS, WE'RE ACTUALLY PLANNING TO GO BACK THIS FALL.

AND THEY'VE BEEN OPERATING FOR 12 YEARS AND THEY ARE ONLY 7 MILES FROM LAKE SUPERIOR WHICH IS ALSO VERY PRECIOUS BODY OF WATER.

AND THEY'RE PROVING THAT OUT RIGHT NOW AND IT'S A VERY CLEAN OPERATION AND THEY'RE HOLDING UP TO THE STANDARDS.

>> CAN I COMMENT ON THE STANDARDS?

>> Cathy: SURE.

>> SO, YEAH, THE STATE F MICHIGAN DOESN'T ACTUALLY HAVE STATE WATER QUALITY STANDARDS REGARDS TO MINING, THEY RELY ON EPA REGULATION.

TO SAY THAT EAGLE IS DOING IT RIGHT, SURE, THEY'RE NOT VIOLATING STATE STATUTE BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE ANY.

THEIR TAILINGS PROCESSING FACILITY FOR EXAMPLE DOES NOT HAVE SULFATE LIMITS AS PART OF ITS PERMIT TO OPERATE.

YET THE WATER DISCHARGE FROM THAT SITE IS AT 20 -- INCREASES FROM 3.5 TO 27.6, THAT MIGHT BE OFF BY A POINT OR SOMETHING THERE, DOWNSTREAM FROM THE THAT SITE.

AND MINNESOTA'S REGULATIONS ARE, FOR DRINKING WATER ARE 10 MILLIGRAMS PER LITER SO EAGLE IS THREE TIMES MORE.

SO YOU GOT TO WONDER IF DOING IT RIGHT, WHICH I HEAR A LOT, EAGLE DOES IS RIGHT, IS RESULTING IN WATER DEGRADATION THREE TIMES THE LIMIT OF MINNESOTA'S SULFATE WATER STANDARD, I GOT TO ASK WHAT RIGHT IS.

>> Eric: IS THIS GOING TO DELAY FURTHER A FINAL DECISION ON THIS?

OR IS THERE SUCH THING AS A FINAL DECISION?

>> THE ORE HAS BEEN THERE FOR 1.1 BILLION YEARS.

I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO GO AWAY AS WE CONTINUE TO BUILD OUT SOCIETY AND OTHER COUNTRIES CONTINUE TO BUILD OUT KNOWING THAT RESOURCE IS THERE PROBABLY MEANS WE WILL CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT IT.

AND, YOU KNOW, I UST, FOR YOUR AUDIENCE I JUST WANT TO MAKE CLEAR LIKE WE ALL AGREE ON THE VALUE OF THIS WATER AND I THINK WE ALL AGREE ON THAT MINING BUILDS, AND POWERS THINGS AND SO, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES THERE'S THIS, PEOPLE SEE THIS AS A CONFLICT AND IT'S REALLY JUST ALL OF US HAVING TO WRESTLE WITH WHERE DO WE GET STUFF FROM AND HOW IS IT MINED.

BUT I WANT TO, THAT SHARED VALUE I THINK IS IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE AMONGST THE PEOPLE THAT ARE SITTING HERE TODAY.

>> Cathy: ARE THERE SHARED VALUES?

>> WELL, SURE.

I THINK WE ALL AGREE THAT WE CARE ABOUT CLEAN WATER, RIGHT?

WE ALL AGREE THAT WE CARE ABOUT THE BOUNDARY WATERS.

BUT I THINK WE'VE SEEN MINNESOTANS TIME AND AGAIN, HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF THEM OVER THE LAST 12 YEARS, ACROSS 450 DAYS OF PUBLIC COMMENTS, UNIFORMLY, SIGNIFICANT MAJORITY SAY THIS ACTIVITY DOESN'T BELONG HERE.

JUST BECAUSE THE MINERALS ARE IN THE GROUND DOESN'T MEAN WE HAVE TO MINE THEM, RIGHT?

YES, WE NEED THOSE MINERALS, WE CAN ALSO AGREE ON THAT.

IT DOESN'T MEAN WE NEED TO MINE THEM EVERYWHERE AND ESPECIALLY WHEN THE FREEDOM OF MY KIDS AND MY GRANDKIDS TO FISH IN THOSE LAKES, TO EAT FISH WITHOUT BEING CONCERNED ABOUT POLLUTION, FOR THE TRIBAL NATIONS TO CONTINUE TO EXERCISE THEIR TREATY RIGHTS, TO GATHER WILD RICE, ARE AT STAKE.

IT'S JUST NOT A TRADEOFF WE SHOULD MAKE.

>> Eric: HOW ABOUT THE ECONOMIC IMPACT?

>> THE ECONOMIC IMPACT IS HUGE.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SCHOOL TRUST LANDS THAT WE MINE RIGHT NOW, I DON'T THINK MOST PEOPLE KNOW, THAT THE SCHOOL TRUST LANDS, EVERY STUDENT IN MINNESOTA IS SUPPORTED, LIKE ABOUT $65 PER HEAD, PER CAPTA IN MINNESOTA, ALL PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS AND CHARTER SCHOOL STUDENTS, RIGHT, AND ABOUT 90%, ROUGHLY 90% OF THE MONEY IN THE SCHOOL TRUST COMES FROM MINING G AND ABOUT 90% OF THAT COMES FROM THE MINE THAT I WORK AT, I'M A CAREER MINER AT U.S.

STEEL.

SO THE IMPACT OF A TWIN METALS-TYPE OPERATION WOULD BE MANY MANY TIMES THAT.

>> Cathy: REPRESENTATIVE FALCONER WITH ABOUT 20 SECONDS LEFT, WILL THIS BE A BIG ISSUE IN THE FALL CAMPAIGN?

>> YEAH, I MEAN, IT ALREADY IS.

ALSO JUST CLARIFICATION ON THE SCHOOL TRUST TOO.

THE MAJORITY OF THE TWIN METALS SITE IS FEDERAL LANDS THAT WOULDN'T PAY INTO THE STATE COFFERS.

>> Cathy: OKAY, SO -- >> YEAH, THIS WILL BE AN ISSUE IN THE CAMPAIGN, I'M SURE IT WILL BE A BIG ISSUE THAT WILL GO INTO THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION AS WELL.

>> Cathy: ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU, ONE AND ALL.

>> Eric: GOOD DISCUSSION.

>> TAKE CARE, ALEX.

>> Cathy: CLEARLY WE'VE RUN LONG HERE SO THE INDEX FILE SECTION ILL WAIT FOR ANOTHER WEEK.

QUICK NOTE BEFORE WE GO TONIGHT.

GREAT MINNESOTA GET-TOGETHER STARTS NEXT THURSDAY AT THE STATE FAIR.

THAT MEANS ONE WEEK FROM TODAY WE CONTINUE OUR STATE FAIR SHOW TRADITION.

FOR NEARLY 15 YEARS TWIN CITIES PBS AND MPR NEWS HAVE TEAMED UP TO CREATE A SPECIAL EDITION OF "ALMANAC," WE EVEN BRING THE COUCH OUT THERE!

CIRCLE THE DATE ON YOUR CALENDAR.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 28TH, 11:00 IN THE MORNING, ERIC AND I WILL BE AT THE MPR BOOTH, JUDSON AND NELSON, KIDDY CORNER FROM THE DAIRY BUILDING.

WE'LL BE RECORDING THE SHOW THAT EVENING ACROSS THE STATE.

CHECK IT OUT, IT'S A TON OF FUN.

WE'VE GOT A GREAT SHOW LINED UP.

WE HAVE JUST ENOUGH TIME LEFT FOR SHOW-ENDING MUSIC.

ONE OF OUR FAVORITE STATE FAIR PERFORMANCES.

THIS WEEK BACK IN 2013 COUNTRY MUSIC SINGER DALE WATSON JOINED US.

KIND OF JOHNNY CASH-LOOKING GUY.

TAKE A LISTEN.

WE'LL SEE YOU AT THE FAIR NEXT WEEK.

♪ ♪ SHE KNOWS HOW TO MAKE A HAPPY MAN, ♪ MY BABY MAKES ME GRAVY ♪ ♪• A LITTLE GREASE AND LITTLE FLOUR GIVES THE WOMAN A LOT OF POWER ♪ ♪ SHE ALWAYS SEEMS TO KNOW JUST WHAT I'M CRAVING ♪ ♪ AND SHE KEEPS IT BUTTERED UP WITH A WHOLE LOT OF LOVE ♪ ♪ MY BABY MAKES ME GRAVY ♪ ♪ • NOW THE WHISTLE BLOWS AND LUNCH I GET HOME IN A RUSH ♪ ♪ I CAN SMELL THEM BISCUIT BAKING MILES AWAY ♪ ♪ MMM, SHE GREETS ME WITH A SMILE AND THOSE BISCUITS IN A PILE ♪ ♪ A LITTLE KISS AND THERE'S NOTHING LEFT TO SAY ♪ MY BABY MAKES ME GRAVY ♪ >> "ALMANAC" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY MEMBERS OF THIS PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION.

SUPPORT IS ALSO PROVIDED BY GREAT RIVER ENERGY, PROVIDING WHOLESALE POWER TO 1.7 MILLION PEOPLE THROUGH ITS MEMBER OWNER COOPERATIVES AND CUSTOMERS.

DELTADENTAL OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION, IMPROVING ORAL HEALTH AND HELPING COMMUNITIES THRIVE.

DELTADENTALMN.ORG/TPT.

EDUCATION MINNESOTA, THE VOICE FOR PROFESSIONAL EDUCATORS AND STUDENTS THROUGHOUT THE STATE, MORE AT EDUCATIONMINNESOTA.ORG.

AND VANESSA DAYTON, THROUGH THE HEALTHCARE FOR ALL MINNESOTANS FUND, SUPPORTING ACCESSIBLE HEALTHCARE STATEWIDE.

FUNDING FOR VOICES RISING TWIN CITIES PBS STORIES FOR AMERICA'S 250TH REPORTING ON ALMANAC IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY MINNESOTA'S ARTS AND CULTURAL HERITAGE FUND.

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