WITH DENNIS ANDERSON, HERE'S WHAT'S COMING UP ON ALMANAC NORTH.

DENNIS: WE'LL PUT A SPOTLIGHT ON ROTARY INTERNATIONAL, A SERVICE ORGANIZATION WITH LOCAL CHAPTERS IN THE REGION AND AN IMPORTANT MISSION.

JULIE: WE'LL LEARN MORE ABOUT THE RUTH HOUSE IN SUPERIOR, WHICH OPENED ITS SHELTER DOORS EARLIER THAN USUAL DUE TO UNSEASONABLY COOL WEATHER.

DENNIS: AND WE'LL MEET THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE RUNNING TO BE THE NEXT SENATOR IN WISCONSIN'S TWENTY-FIFTH SENATE DISTRICT.

JULIE: THOSE STORIES AND VOICES OF THE REGION UP NEXT ON ALMANAC NORTH!

♪ JULIE: HELLO, AND WELCOME TO ALMANAC NORTH, THANKS FOR WATCHING!

DENNY, A COLD START TO THE WEEK, BUT THIS WEEKEND LOOKS LIKE A GOOD ONE!

I THINK EVERYONE WILL BE OUTSIDE THIS WEEKEND THAT WILL BE IN THE 60'S.

>> LET'S GET TO THE HEADLINES.

DENNIS: THANKS JULIE!

THE PRICE OF THAT TURKEY DINNER YOU'RE PLANNING FOR THANKSGIVING IS GOING WAY UP, DUE TO NEAR RECORD POULTRY DEATHS FROM BIRD FLU.

THE US DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE SAYS MORE THAN 47-MILLION CHICKENS AND TURKEYS HAVE DIED FROM A NEW AVIAN FLU VIRUS, PUSHING RETAIL PRICES WAY UP.

MINNESOTA IS THE TOP TURKEY-PRODUCING STATE IN THE COUNTRY, WITH HORMEL FOODS AND JENNIE-O BASED IN THE STATE.

BOTH EXPECT REDUCED TURKEY PRODUCTION THROUGH NEXT MARCH.

JULIE: POLICE OFFICERS WILL BE BACK IN DULUTH PUBLIC SCHOOLS THIS FALL AFTER THE SCHOOL BOARD APPROVED A ONE-YEAR CONTRACT WITH POLICE.

“SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS ” WILL BE LOATED AT DENFELD AND EAST HIGH SCHOOLS, AND IN MIDDLE SCHOOLS AT ORDEAN AND LINCOLN.

A SCHOOL ADVISORY COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED CHANGES TO THE CONTRACT THAT WERE AGREED TO BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

DENNIS: MESABI METALLICS SAID THIS WEEK IT HAS PAID OFF MORE THAN $2 MILLION IN BACK TAXES IT OWED TO ITASCA COUNTY AND OTHER COMMUNITIES NEAR ITS UNFINISHED PLANT.

MESABI IS TRYING TO COMPLETE A PROJECT STARTED BY ESSAR STEEL YEARS AGO, BUT THE STATE TERMINATED ITS MINERAL RIGHTS WHEN IT FAILED TO MEET THE TERMS OF A LEASE AGREEMENT.

MESABI METTALICS HAS APPEALED THAT DECISION, BUT SO FAR COURTS HAVE SIDED WITH THE STATE.

JULIE: AND MINNESOTA SEA GRANT HAS RECEIVED $425,000 IN FUNDING TO ADVANCE AQUACULTURE IN THE REGION.

THE GRANT WILL HELP FOSTER LAND-BASED AQUACULTURE THAT IS ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE AND DOESN'T IMPACT LOCAL WATERS.

OFFICIALS SAY GREAT LAKES STATES ARE NOT KEEPING UP WITH DEMAND FOR SEA FOOD, CONTRIBUTING TO A $17-BILLION DOLLAR NATIONAL SEA FOOD TRADE DEFICIT.

DENNIS: HAVE YOU EVER CONSIDERED JOINING A SERVICE ORGANIZATION?

THERE ARE A LOT OF MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT WHAT IT COSTS, WHAT KIND OF COMMITENT IS REQIRED, AND THE TYPES OF PROJECTS INVOLVED.

HERE TO ANSWER SOME OF THOSE QUESTIONS IS KAY BIGA, THE DISTRICT 5580 GOVERNOR FOR ROTARY INTERNATIONAL.

AND KARA PROCTOR IS PRESIDENT OF THE DULUTH SUPERIOR ECO ROTARY CLUB.

WELCOME, THANKS FOR BEING HERE!

I APPRECIATE YOU BEING ON THE AIR.

WHAT IS ROTARY?

>> ROTARY IS AN INTERNATIONAL SERVICE ORGANIZATION WHICH HAS 1.2 MILLION PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.

AND THERE ARE EITHER UNIVERSITY OR COMMUNITY-BASED, PEOPLE BETWEEN 18 AND 30 YEARS OF AGE, HERE IN OUR AREA WE HAVE ONE THE RICHEST TRADITIONS.

ROTARY ORIGINALLY STARTED IN CHICAGO AND IT WENT OUT FROM THERE.

WE HAVE MANY CLUBS.

>> WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CAUSES OR ACTIVITIES THAT ROTARY SUPPORTS HERE IN TOWN?

>> I'LL LET CARA ANSWER THAT QUESTION.

>> OUR ECO-CLUB.

-- OUR ECO-CLUB FOCUSES ON THE ENVIRONMENT.

WE DO THINGS TO HELP THE AREA OF FLOURISH AND DO PROJECTS WITH DIFFERENT GROUPS.

WE FOCUS ON THAT.

>> SOME OF OUR VIEWERS MAY BE ASKING, WHY JOIN A SERVICE ORGANIZATION?

>> IT'S A WAY TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY.

A LOT OF TIMES WHEN WE DO OUR WORK AT OUR JOBS OR ARE WITH OUR FAMILIES, WE WANT TO HAVE SOME IMPACT.

WHEN YOU JOIN WITH OTHER PEOPLE AND YOU KNOW BETTER THAN ANYONE, DENNY, BECAUSE OF YOUR LONG ASSOCIATION WITH CLIENTS WHO WE RESPECT.

BUT THERE ARE OTHER SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS BEYOND ROTARY THAT PEOPLE CAN BE INVOLVED WITH.

>> YOU'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN ROTARY FOR MANY YEARS, HAVE YOU SEEN A CHANGE?

>> YES.

THERE HAS BEEN A CHANGE.

I WOULD LIKE TO INCREASE THE PERCENTAGE OF WOMEN IN ROTARY BECAUSE HISTORICALLY LESS THAN ONE THIRD HAS BEEN WOMEN.

I'M PLEASED TO SAY THAT OUR DISTRICT IS ABOVE AVERAGE IN THE COUNTRY AND WORLD.

WE HAVE MISCONCEPTIONS OUT THERE.

OUR CLUB, ECO-ROTARY HAS A LATE AFTERNOON TIME WHICH MAKES IT EASIER FOR PEOPLE WITH FAMILIES.

NOT EVERYONE WANTS TO BE ABLE TO GO TO AN EARLY MEETING BECAUSE THEY NEED TO GET THEIR KIDS ON THE SCHOOL BUS.

THEY ARE ALSO LOOKING AT COST, BECAUSE COST CAN BE AN MAIN OBJECTION AS TO WHETHER GET INVOLVED OR NOT.

>> THE SAME PROJECTS THAT EVERYBODY TACKLES, BUT WE DO A LOT OF PARTNERING WITH THE AQUARIUM, WE PARTNERED WITH THE YMCA IN SUPERIOR AND WORKED AT THE CAMP OUT AT THE LAKE.

AND WE'VE DONE MORE STANDARD STUFF LIKE CLEANING UP ROADS, BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF WOMEN WHO -- WHO HAVE BEEN GENERATING THE IDEAS OF WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

THE BEST WAY TO GET WOMEN TO PARTICIPATE IN THESE ACTIVITIES IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE FAMILY FRIENDLY.

I HAVE TO SPEAK TO 62 CLUBS, AND MY MAIN MESSAGE IS IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO GET MORE WOMEN IN THE CLUB YOU NEED TO SET THE TABLE FOR IT MEET -- SO IT TO ME -- SO IT CAN MEET THEIR TIME AND FAMILY REQUIREMENTS.

>> HOW DO YOU WORK WITH ALL OF THESE CLUBS OVER A LARGE GEOGRAPHIC AREA TO GET THEM MOVING IN THE SAME DIRECTION?

DO THEY NEED TO MOVE IN THE SAME DIRECTION?

>> IT'S BEEN A SURPRISE, WITH THESE CLUBS, SOME OF THE LONGTIME ROTARIANS, I THOUGHT THAT THEY WOULD LIKE MY MESSAGE OF DIVERSITY AND EQUITY AND INCLUSION.

BUT I WAS SURPRISED, EVERY SINGLE MEETING, A GUIDE THAT HAS BEEN ROTARY IN -- HAS BEEN A ROTARIAN FOR 50 YEARS, HE SAID YOU ARE RIGHT ON.

I THOUGHT HE WOULD BE RESISTANT.

PEOPLE LOVE THEIR ORGANIZATION, AND THEY ARE NOT SURE WHY PARTNERSHIP IN SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS HAS DROPPED.

>> THEY SOUND LIKE CAUSED BASED -- CAUSE BASED CLUBS.

WHAT SORT OF CAUSES GU TAKE ON THAT COULD BE HIGHLIGHTED?

>> A CLUB THAT STARTED RECENTLY, FOCUSES ON VETERANS, THERE'S OF CLUB TO END HUMAN TRAFFICKING, THERE IS A NEW PRIDE CLUB IN MINNEAPOLIS.

THERE IS SOMETHING FOR EVERYBODY.

THEY HAVE A THEME OR CAUSE.

ECO-IS A GREAT ONE BECAUSE YOUNGER PEOPLE ARE ATTRACTED TO THAT TOPIC.

>> SPEAKING OF YOUNGER PEOPLE, THERE MAY BE A PERCEPTION THAT SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS ARE STODGY ORGANIZATIONS FOR OLDER FOLKS, ARE THERE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE INTERESTED KNOCKING OUT THE DOOR WANTING PEOPLE TO GET INVOLVED MAY BE BECAUSE PEOPLE LIKE YOURSELF ARE INVOLVED?

>> I DO BELIEVE THERE'S A PERCEPTION THAT MAY PROHIBIT SOMEONE FROM CHECKING IT OUT BUT WHEN THEY DO THEY WILL BE PLEASANT LEASE SURPRISED.

THEY WILL SAY IT'S NOT WHAT I HAD ENVISIONED AND NOT WHAT I THOUGHT IT WAS.

I THINK THAT THE MORE THAT WE GET YOUNGER PEOPLE IN AND THE MESSAGE STARTS TO SPREAD, THAT THESE CLUBS ARE EVOLVING AND CHANGING, AND BECOMING A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE WANT TO -- >> HOW CAN PEOPLE GET INVOLVED IF THEY ARE INTERESTED IN BECOMING A ROTARIAN?

>> COMING TO ANY OF OUR MEETINGS OR REACHING OUT TO US IS GOING TO BE THE EASIEST WAY TO GET THE PROCESS STARTED.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO JOIN.

COME AND BE AGHAST AND HAVE FUN.

>> OCTOBER -- EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT POLIO IS OUT THERE AND IT HAD BEEN CONTAINED IN JUST AFGHANISTAN AND PAKISTAN.

PEOPLE ARE VERY UPSET ABOUT THE CASE IN NEW YORK.

WE NEED TO REDOUBLE OUR EFFORTS BECAUSE WE NEED TO GET PEOPLE ON BOARD.

ROTARY JUST COMMITTED TO -- FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS THEY WILL GIVE $50 MILLION AND THE BILL AND MELINDA GATES FOUNDATION WILL GIVE $100 MILLION.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

♪ JULIE: WITH DROPPING TEMPERATURES CREEPING IN, WARMING CENTERS ARE OPENING FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN NEED.

PRODUCER MEGAN MCGARVEY VISITED WITH THE FOLKS AT RUTH'S HOUSE IN SUPERIOR TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CRITICAL ROLE THEY PLAY IN DOUGLAS COUNTY.

>> BACK IN 2019, RUTH HOUSE WAS OPENED AS A WARMING CENTER TO FILL A CRUCIAL NEED IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> WE ARE THE ONLY WARMING CENTER IN DOUGLAS COUNTY.

ON AVERAGE WE GET BETWEEN 12 AND 20 PEOPLE THAT COME IN EACH NIGHT.

WE SERVE A FREE MEAL AT LUNCH AND DINNER ALSO.

IT'S FILLING A BIG VOID IN THIS TOWN THAT WE'VE HAD FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

LAST YEAR WE WERE OPEN FOR SEVEN OR EIGHT MONTH.

WE FORMALLY OPENED ON MONDAY, WE HAD A WEATHER PATTERN OF 30 DEGREES OR COLDER, WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE DOORS WERE OPEN.

THIS WEEKEND IS SUPPOSED TO BE WARMER BUT WE WILL STAY OPEN UNTIL NEXT SPRING WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS ON AVERAGE BELOW 30 DEGREES.

WE NEED VOLUNTEERS.

PEOPLE NEED CLOTHING.

WE ALSO HAVE STUFF FOR HOMELESS PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT IN A WARMING CENTER AND CHOOSE TO STAY IN THE ELEMENT, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE BAGS, HAND WARMERS, THINGS THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS DONATED TO FIT THAT SPECIFIC NEED.

CURRENTLY WE HAVE BETWEEN 60-90 MEALS PER WEEK.

WE SERVE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN EVERY WALK OF LIFE.

WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO STAY IN THEIR CAR BECAUSE THAT'S ALL THAT THEY HAVE AND THEY DON'T WANT TO BE TOO FAR FROM THEIR POSSESSIONS.

THEY WILL STAY IN THEIR CAR NIGHTLY.

IF THAT'S TOO COLD, THEY WILL COME IN.

YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO FOR WHATEVER REASON NEED SHELTER FOR A NIGHT OR TWO.

WE HAVE HELPED OTHER MINISTRIES HELP SOMEONE GET INTO A TREATMENT PROGRAM.

THIS FACILITY IS OPEN SO THAT THEY DON'T NEED TO BE IN THE ELEMENTS UNTIL THEY ARE ABLE TO LEAVE TO WHATEVER IS NEXT.

WE -- IT IS AMAZING HOW IT WORKS.

IF WE EVER HAVE TO ASK SOMEONE TO LEAVE, FOR THE MOST PART PEOPLE ARE HERE TO GET REST AND THAT'S WHAT THEY DO.

THEY NEED TO SAY THAT THEY ARE COMING TO THE RUTH HOUSE, THOSE THAT STAY HERE AT NIGHT AND WANT TO GO BACK TO DILUTE, -- DULUTH, THEY CAN RIDE THE BUS BACK FOR FREE.

WE THANK ETA -- DTA FOR DOING THAT.

IT'S GENEROUS.

WE ARE OPEN 20 47 FOUR PEOPLE COMING OUT OF DETOX, INCARCERATION OR A TREATMENT PROGRAM.

FOR THOSE PEOPLE, WE ARE OPEN 12 MONTHS OUT OF THE YEAR.

>> RUTH HOUSE IS NOT ONLY A WARMING CENTER FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO AVOID THE COLD FRIGID NIGHTS, BUT IT IS ALSO A PLACE FOR INDIVIDUALS TO HAVE A HOT SHOWER, AT A HOT SHOWER, I.E.

HOTMAIL AND ADVICE AND GUIDANCE WHEN IT COMES TO FUTURE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES.

>> WE INVITE PEOPLE TO JOIN OUR HOUSING PROGRAM.

WE WILL HELP THEM GET A JOB AND GET INTO HOUSING.

WE HAVE MULTIPLE APARTMENTS AND DUPLEXES, AND PEOPLE GO WANT TO PUT THINGS BACK TOGETHER.

I'VE MET A LOT OF PEOPLE ALONG THE WAY AND I CONTINUE TO MEET PEOPLE.

THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS SEEM TO LIKE US.

THEY DON'T INTERFERE AND WE DON'T INTERFERE WITH THEM.

WE'VE FILLED SOME VERY GOOD RELATIONSHIPS.

>> RUTH HOUSE IS DEPENDENT ON DONATIONS AND VOLUNTEERS TO PREPARE MEALS AND RUN THE CENTER.

>> WE HAVE A LOT OF COOL PEOPLE COMING INTO THE MINISTRY, THEY VOLUNTEER, AND WHO DOESN'T LOVE GRANDMA WHEN SHE BRINGS A KATE AND BRINGS IT OFF -- EIGHT CAKE AND BRING -- AND DROPS IT OFF.

JUST GET TO KNOW SOME PEOPLE.

♪ DENNIS: VOTERS IN NORTHWESTERN WISCONSIN HAVE AN ENTIRELY NEW SLATE OF CANDIDATES RUNNING IN ASSEMBLY DISTRICTS 73 AND 74, AND SENATE DISTRICT 25.

RECENTLY, WE INTERVIEWED DEMOCRATIC SENATE DISTRICT 25 CANDIDATE KELLY WESTLUND.

TONIGHT, WE WELCOME ROMAINE QUINN, REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE IN SENATE DISTRICT 25, A FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE FROM CAMERON.

WELCOME, THANKS FOR BEING HERE!

>> IT'S A PLEASURE.

>> WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR PRIORITIES AS YOU TAKE A JUMP INTO THIS NEXT JOB?

>> I WAS PREVIOUSLY IN THE LEGISLATOR, I GOT STARTED IN POLITICS YOUNG, I WAS INTERESTED WHEN I WAS PART OF SUPERIOR DAYS IN HIGH SCHOOL.

I RAN FO MAYOR WHEN I WAS 19, AND I PREVIOUSLY SERVED IN THE LEGISLATURE FROM 2004 UNTIL 2020.

I TRIED TO FOCUS ON RURAL ISSUES, IT WAS RURAL AREAS BEING FORGOTTEN BY URBAN AND SUBURBAN COUNTERPART.

I TRIED TO BRING RELIGIOUS LEADERS TO WORK TOGETHER TO HELP WITH RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE, SCHOOL FUNDING, ALL OF THOSE THINGS THAT WE TAKE FOR GRANTED ARE UNIQUELY CHALLENGING FOR OUR DISTRICT.

>> THERE ARE GOOD PEOPLE ON BOTH SIDES, IT DOESN'T MAKE NEWS, BUT MOST OF THE BILLS THAT I PASSED WERE BIPARTISAN.

>> MANY RESIDENTS ARE STRUGGLING TO PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE AND MAKE ENDS MEET.

WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE FOR THEM?

>> I FEEL IT TOO.

WE WILL KNOCK ON MANY DOORS BEFORE -- MOST PEOPLE IN MADISON DON'T REALIZE THAT YOU NEED TO HEAT YOUR HOUSE WITH PROPANE.

EVEN NATURAL GAS HAS GONE UP IN 40% OF THE STATE.

IT'S TIME TO TRY TO ALLEVIATE THAT PROBLEM.

>> ON YOUR WEBSITE YOU SAY IT'S TIME TO LET MADISON KNOW THAT WE EXIST.

WHAT WOULD YOU DO DIFFERENT?

>> WE NEED TO COME TOGETHER AND SAY THAT LIFE IS DIFFERENT HERE, OUR KIDS, SENIORS AND FAMILIES THAT ARE JUST AS MUCH AS ANYONE ELSE IN MADISON OR MILWAUKEE.

WE MAKE THOSE RELATIONSHIPS AND WE ARE EFFECTIVE BUT A LOT OF BILLS THAT WAY PAST WOULD DIE IN THE SENATE.

IT WOULD DIE ON THAT HUMP, SO I'M GOING TO THE SENATE TO GET THE JOB DONE.

HOW DO YOU FEEL THAT WE ARE DOING AS FAR AS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT RIGHT NOW?

>> WE COULD ALWAYS DO BETTER, RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A WORKER SHORTAGE MORE THAN OPPORTUNITIES RIGHT NOW.

WE KNOW WE ARE DECLINING, WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB AT CREATING OPPORTUNITIES THAT KIDS WANT TO STAY IN OUR COMMUNITIES, WE LOSE 50% OF OUR GRADUATES THAT NEVER COME BACK TO RURAL WISCONSIN, THAT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH.

WE NEED TO CONNECT THE DOTS BETWEEN OUR K-12 SYSTEM, TO MAKE SURE THAT KIDS ARE STAYING AND THRIVING HERE.

WE MIGHT CARE ABOUT CERTAIN CULTURAL DIVISIVE ISSUES, BUT WHEN I CAN'T GET TO WORK BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD GAS, THAT'S REAL STUFF THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS FIRST.

>> THE SUPREME COURT HAS MOVED THE ISSUE ON ABORTION TO THE STATE LEVEL, YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF AS PRO-LIFE WHAT CHANGES WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE IN THAT AREA?

>> BIG ALWAYS BEEN A STAUNCH SUPPORTER, AND I TAKE MY CATHOLIC FAITH VERY SERIOUSLY.

I UNDERSTAND THERE ARE GRAY SITUATIONS, THIS IS A VERY PERSONAL DISCUSSION.

I THINK THE STATE CAN DO A BETTER JOB AT SUPPORTING YOUNG WOMEN AND FAMILIES WITH UNEXPECTED PREGNANCIES THAN WE DO RIGHT NOW.

I THINK WE SHOULD CREATE MORE RESOURCES FOR FAMILY SO THAT THEY CAN UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE OTHER OPTIONS OUT THERE WHEN THEY MAY FEEL THAT ABORTION MAY BE THEIR ONLY OPTION AT THIS POINT.

>> WHAT ARE SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT MAY BE DIFFERENT AND NOT NECESSARILY PARTISAN THAT YOU'RE WORKING ON?

>> I LOOK AT LINE FIVE, I SEE SIGNS COMING IN IN MINNESOTA ABOUT LINE THREE.

LINE FIVE IS A PROJECT TO RECONSTRUCT PART OF THE PIPELINE THAT TRANSFERS 500 45,000 BARRELS OF PETROLEUM PRODUCTS EVERY DAY.

WE NEED TO GET THAT REBUILT BECAUSE WE ARE HAVING A GLOBAL ENERGY CRUNCH AND I'VE JUST TALKED ABOUT THE COST OF GAS, DIESEL AND PROPANE AND HOW THAT RIPPLES THROUGH THE ENTIRE ECONOMY, WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY IN OUR BACKYARD TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A SEAT OF THE ART INFRASTRUCTURE AND THAT WE HAVE RELIABLE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR FUEL.

AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE WHAT WE NEED TO RECEIVE THE FEEL THAT WE NEED EVERY DAY IN OUR LIVES.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> THANK YOU.

JULIE: IT'S TIME NOW FOR “VOICES OF THE REGION ”.

IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN ABOUT STORIES BEING COVERED BY AREA JOURNALISTS.

THIS WEEK OUR GUEST IS DANIELLE KAEDING WITH WISCONSIN PUBLIC RADIO.

♪ >> THE FATHER OF A FIVE-YEAR-OLD GIRL DIED IN A CAR CRASH THAT INVOLVES DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY LEADER, AND HER FAMILY HAS FILED A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKER.

IT WAS FILED BY BRANDON WHO IS THE FATHER OF THE GIRL THAT DIED IN JULY.

THE REPRESENTATIVE AND FIVE OTHERS ARE NAMED AS DEFENDANTS.

THE OFFICE IS STILL REVIEWING THE CASE, AND THEY ARE STILL UNDECIDED AS TO WHETHER OR NOT TO FILE CHARGES REGARDING THE CRASH BACK IN JULY.

>> THERE ARE FRESH FACES VYING FOR LEGISLATIVE SEATS IN WISCONSIN THIS FALL THAT HAVE LAST -- THAT HAVE LONG BEEN FILLED BY DEMOCRATS.

REPUBLICANS ARE HOPING TO FLIP THOSE SEATS.

SENATE MINORITY LEADER, ALL ANNOUNCED EARLIER THIS YEAR THAT THEY WILL NOT RUN AGAIN FOR SEATS IN THEIR DISTRICTS, AND THOSE THREE DISTRICTS WHICH COMPRISE THE 73RD, 74TH ASSEMBLY AND -- THEY HAVE BEEN DEMOCRATIC STRONGHOLDS FOR DECADES.

EVEN SO, THE LAWMAKERS HAVE FACE MORE COMPETITIVE RACES IN RECENT YEARS.

JIM MILLER, THE CHAIR FOR THE SEVENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT SAYS THAT THEY ARE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE OPEN SEATS IN NOVEMBER.

SOME DEMOCRATIC VOTERS ARE WORRIED THAT DEMOCRATIC -- THAT REPUBLICAN CHALLENGERS COULD GET THOSE SEATS BECAUSE OF MORE ENGAGEMENT WITH VOTERS WHO HAVE RELIGIOUSLY FELT WITHDRAWN.

POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR LISA VON HAGEL SAID, DISTRICTS MAY FLIP IN NOVEMBER BECAUSE REPUBLICANS TEND TO HAVE BETTER TURNOUT IN MIDTERM ELECTIONS.

ON THE OTHER HAND, DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET VOTERS TO THE POLLS OVER ABORTION RIGHT.

THE FUNDRAISING ARM OF THE -- IS LAUNCHING A CAMPAIGN TO INCLUDE PEOPLE LIVING WITH DISABILITIES.

IT IS A POPULAR SPOT TO LAUNCH FROM TWO ADVENTURE IN THE SEA CAVES.

JEFF WHERE NIKKI -- JEFF WARNKE SAYS THAT THEY ARE LAUNCHING AND ACCESS FOR ALL CAMPAIGN TO RAISE MONEY TO CREATE A RAMP THAT WOULD SLOPE DOWN TO THE BEACH TO MAKE IT MORE ACCESSIBLE TO THOSE WITH MOBILITY ISSUES.

IT MAKES SENSE THAT THEY WOULD HAVE PROJECTS TO IMPROVE ACCESS ALONG THOSE AREAS.

THE GROUP AIMS TO RAISE 320 $5,000 TO FUND THE RAMP WITHIN THE PARK.

AND THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE IS EXPECTED TO MATCH THAT AMOUNT.

JULIE: WE'RE OUT OF TIME, BUT YOU CAN KEEP UP WITH OUR SHOW BY FOLLOWING ALMANAC NORTH ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.

VISIT THE WDSE WEBSITE FOR PROGRAM UPDATES, NEWS ABOUT THE STATION AND UPCOMING EVENTS.

AND DOWNLOAD THE PBS VIDEO APP TO WATCH YOUR FAVORITE PBS PROGRAMS ON DEMAND.

DENNY, THIS MAY BE OUR LAST WARM WEEKEND TO GET OUT AND ENJOY THE WEATHER FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

GET OUT THERE.

THANKS TO OUR GUESTS AND THE CREW HERE IN THE STUDIO!

WITH DENNIS ANDERSON, I'M JULIE ZENNER, HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND, WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME!

♪ ♪