DENNIS: I'M DENNIS ANDERSON, ALONG WITH JULIE ZENNER.

HERE'S WHAT'S COMING UP ON "ALMANAC NORTH."

JULIE: GREAT LAKES CRUISE SHIPS ARE SLATED TO RETURN TO THE TWIN PORTS NEXT SUMMER.

A UMD STUDY SHINES SOME LIGHT ON THE POTENTIAL ECONOMIC IMPACT OF CRUISE SHIP PASSENGERS ON THE REGION.

DENNIS: EVERY THREE YEARS, "BRIDGING HEALTH DULUTH" SURVEYS CITIZENS TO PRIORITIZE LOCAL HEALTH NEEDS.

FIND OUT HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED AND WHY THIS SURVEY IS IMPORTANT.

JULIE: AND WE HAVE A STORY FROM HIBBING, WHERE A MONUMENT TO BOB DYLAN WAS DEDICATED OUTSIDE OF HIS HISTORIC HIGH SCHOOL.

DENNIS: THESE STORIES AND "VOICES OF THE REGION," COMING UP NEXT, ON "ALMANAC NORTH."

♪ DENNIS: HELLO, AND WELCOME TO "ALMANAC NORTH."

THANKS AGAIN FOR WATCHING.

HEAVY FROST AROUND THE REGION THIS MORNING, JULIE.

JULIE: IT CERTAINLY WAS.

I HAD TO PUT THE PUMPKINS INDOORS.

DENNIS: AND SOME SNOW FLURRIES TODAY, TOO.

JULIE: A COUPLE.

DENNIS: LET'S START WITH THE HEADLINES.

JULIE: THANK YOU, DENNY.

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION THIS WEEK MOVED TO COMPLETE A STUDY OF THE BOUNDARY WATERS AREA WATERSHED, INITIATED DURING THE OBAMA PRESIDENCY.

THE STUDY PUTS A TWO-YEAR MORATORIUM ON ANY NEW MINING OR LEASES FOR MINING ACTIVITY IN THE WATERSHED, WHICH INCLUDES THE TWIN METALS PROJECT NEAR ELY.

NORTHERN MINNESOTA LAWMAKERS CRITICIZED THE MOVE, SAYING IT WOULD HURT THE REGION'S ECONOMY.

DENNIS: MINNESOTA GOVERNOR TIM WALZ ANOUNCED A PROGRAM THIS WEEK THAT WOULD REWARD 12 TO 17-YEAR OLDS FOR GETTING VACCINATED.

THE "KIDS DESERVE A SHOT" VACCINE INCENTIVE PROGRAM WILL GIVE $200 VISA GIFT CARDS TO YOUNG PEOPLE WHO COMPLETE THEIR VACCINE SERIES BETWEEN NOW AND NOVEMBER 30.

IN ADDITION, THEY WILL BE ENTERED IN FIVE DRAWINGS OF $100,000 COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS TO ATTEND A MINNESOTA COLLEGE.

JULIE: AS COLD WEATHER BEGINS TO SETTLE IN OVER THE REGION, THE CITY OF DULUTH IS PREPARING TO ISSUE ITS FIRST-EVER SNOW EMERGENCY.

THIS SUMMER THE CITY INSTALLED OVER 2300 SNOW EMERGENCY SIGNS, CREATING SNOW EMERGENCY ROUTES WITHIN THE CITY.

RESIDENTS CAN SIGN UP TO BE NOTIFIED OF A SNOW EMERGENCY BY REGISTERING WITH THE NORTHLAND ALERTS SYSTEM.

DENNIS: THE SUPERIOR-DOUGLAS COUNTY CHAMBER CELEBRATED ITS BUSINESSES OF THE YEAR AT ITS ANNUAL MEETING THURSDAY.

SUPERIOR CHOICE CREDIT UNION WAS HONORED WITH THE "COMMUNITY CORNERSTONE" AWARD.

CORE LANDSCAPING WAS PICKED AS THE "OUTSTANDING YOUNG BUSINESS" AND HOG WILD BBQ AND SMOKEHOUSE WAS NAMED "NEW BUSINESS OF THE YEAR".

-- "NEW BUSINESS OF THE YEAR."

KIRSTEN LILYA WAS HONORED AS THE "YOUNG PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR" BY THE CHAMBER.

JULIE: TOURISM IS A PRIMARY DRIVER OF THE TWIN PORTS ECONOMY, AND THAT INDUSTRY WAS HIT HARD BY THE PANDEMIC.

BUT NOW, AS PEOPLE BEGIN TO TRAVEL AGAIN, TOURISM IS ON THE REBOUND.

NEXT SUMMER, THE TWIN PORTS WILL ONCE AGAIN WELCOME TOURISTS ARRIVING BY CRUISE SHIP.

UMD RECENTLY RELEASED A STUDY ON THE POTENTIAL ECONOMIC IMPACT OF CRUISING ON OUR REGION.

JOINING US WITH MORE ON THAT IS MONICA HAYNES, DIRECTOR OF UMD'S BUREAU OF BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC IMPACT.

AND ANNA TANSKI, THE PRESIDENT OF VISIT DULUTH, THE CITY'S TOURISM MARKETING AGENCY.

WELCOME, THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

MONICA, MAY BE START -- MAYBE WE WILL START WITH YOU, WHAT DID YOU SET OUT TO LEARN IN THIS STUDY?

MONICA: WE WERE CURIOUS TO KNOW WHAT THIS INITIAL IMPACT WOULD BE, FROM THE SEVEN CRUISE SHIPS THAT ARE COMING NEXT SUMMER.

WE ALSO WANTED TO LOOK AT WHAT COULD BE THE POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF GROWTH IN THAT INDUSTRY, IF DULUTH WERE TO START SEEING LARGER NUMBERS OF SHIPS COMING, OR MULTIPLE COMPANIES THAT MAYBE WOULD WANT TO EXPAND TO DULUTH AS A PORT OF CALL.

ALSO EVEN MORE LONG-TERM, IF DULUTH OR TO EVENTUALLY BECOME ABORTIVE EMBARKATION OR DIS--- BECOME A PORT OF EMBARKATION OR DIS-EMBARKATION.

WE HAD THOSE SCENARIOS INCLUDED IN THE STORY.

DENNIS: WHAT WOULD THE CRUISE INDUSTRY MEAN FURTHER ECONOMICS OF DULUTH?

ANNA: IT REALLY IS SOMETHING WE HAVE SEEN IN THE LOWER FOR GREAT LAKES, GREAT SUPERIOR HAS BEEN WE ARE REALLY FORTUNATE TO HAVE A GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF THE BASE OF BUSINESS THAT IS OCCURRING ON THOSE GREAT LAKES.

THIS STUDY REALLY REINFORCES THE POTENTIAL THAT WE SEE, BECAUSE THESE VISITORS ARE HERE TO EXPERIENCE DULUTH, AND IMMERSE THEMSELVES IN DULUTH AS MUCH AS THEY CAN IN THERE VISIT HERE.

DENNIS: THERE'S MONEY TO BE MADE HERE.

[LAUGHTER] ABSOLUTELY.

JULIE: HOW WELL DID DULUTH BOAT IN TERMS OF ITS POTENTIAL TO REALLY BECOME A LONG-TERM STOP, OR EMBARKATION SITE?

>> SO, WE THINK DULUTH HAS A LOT OF POTENTIAL.

WE SPOKE WITH REPRESENTATIVES AT VIKING.

ONE OF THE EXAMPLES THEY GAVE WAS A VERY SMALL COMMUNIT -- WE WERE TRY TO FIND OTHER SIMILAR PORTS THAT MAY BE MODELS FOR DULUTH.

ONE EXAMPLE THAT THEY GAVE WAS A SMALL PORT, I BELIEVE IT WAS DENMARK, THAT BEGAN WITH JUST SEVEN SHIPS A YEAR, LIKE WE HAVE COMING NEXT SUMMER -- AND VIKING WAS THE FIRST COMPANY TO MAKE IT A DESTINATION.

WITHIN 5-10 YEARS, THEY WERE SEEING 40-50 SHIPS A YEAR, THROUGH A COMBINATION OF VIKING AND OTHER COMPANIES THAT, YOU KNOW, DECIDED TO MAKE IT A STOP AS WELL.

DENNIS: WHAT KIND OF INVESTMENT WOULD DULUTH HAVE TO MAKE IN ORDER TO SUPPORT THE CRUISE INDUSTRY?

ANNA: IT IS A BIG LEAP OF FAITH AND A GREAT INVESTMENT UP FRONT.

WE ARE GREAT FOR THE CITY HAS BEEN VERY WILLING TO BE A PARTNER IN THIS ENDEAVOR WITH THE PORT AUTHORITY.

THE CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION FACILITY IS REQUIRED.

THAT IS CERTAINLY NOT A LARGE CRUISING TERMINAL.

BUT IT IS A NECESSARY VENUE FOR US TO CLEAR PASSENGERS, BECAUSE THIS ITINERARY THAT WE START WITH WITH VIKING MEANS WE ARE THE FIRST PORT OF CALL IN THE U.S., WHEN THEY COME FROM THEIR ORIGINATING PORT IN THUNDER BAY.

AND WE WILL HAVE TO CLEAR THOSE PASSENGERS WHEN THEY ARE INBOUND, WHEN THEY ARE COMING FROM MILWAUKEE AND HEADED TOWARD THUNDER BAY, SO CUSTOMS IS NOT AN ISSUE.

SO AS WE WORK WITH OTHER VESSELS WHO HAVE INDICATED INTEREST, THEY ARE PLANNING TO CARRY INTERNATIONAL PASSENGERS.

AND SO, WE DEFINITELY NEED TO HAVE THAT INVESTMENT.

ALL OF THOSE NUMBERS ARE BEING CRUNCHED.

INITIALLY, IT IS TYING IN ALSO THE SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT OF INFRASTRUCTURE ALONG THE SEAWALL.

AND THE CITY IS ALREADY TAKING ON THAT PROJECT, SO IT IS PUTTING ALL OF THESE PIECES TOGETHER, AS AN UPFRONT EXPENSE.

BUT WE KNOW THE REWARDS WILL BE THERE, WHEN THE VESSELS START COMING.

JULIE: YOU KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE TOURISM INDUSTRY, WHICH HAS BEEN PRETTY HARD-HIT BY THE PANDEMIC.

THE CRUISE INDUSTRY HAS BEEN ESPECIALLY HARD-HIT.

ANY CONCERNS THAT PUTTING THAT UPFRONT INVESTMENT MIGHT NOT PAY OFF, IF THE TOURISM INDUSTRY NEVER REBOUND TO THE LEVELS IT WAS BEFORE?

>> WE ARE VERY FORTUNATE HERE THAT DULUTH HAS SEEN A SIGNIFICANT RECOVERY.

WE ARE DEFINITELY NOT THERE YET.

BUT THE CRUISE LINES ON THE GREAT LAKES HAVE ALSO SEEN A FAIRLY STRONG RECOVERY.

PRIMARILY BECAUSE THEY ARE SMALLER VESSELS, THEY ARE NOT THE 4-7 THOUSAND PASSENGER MAKE A SHIP.

-- PASSENGER MEGA SHIPS.

IT IS AN -- IT IS A MANAGEABLE AMOUNT OF PASSENGERS.

THEY CAN MANAGE TO KEEP PEOPLE WITHIN THE REQUIREMENTS.

THEY DO HAVE PRETTY STRICT REQUIREMENTS ON THESE SMALLER VESSELS.

IT IS ALSO A DEMOGRAPHIC THAT TENDS TO SKEW 60 PLUS, SO MANY OF THOSE PASSENGERS ARE ALREADY VACCINATED AND WILL BE REQUIRED TO BE VACCINATED AS WELL, AS PART OF THIS.

DENNIS: IS THERE ANY CHANCE DULUTH COULD BECOME A HOMEPORT FOR VIKING, OR COULD THAT BE A LONG SHOT?

MONICA: IT SOUNDS LIKE AT THIS TIME, THEY ARE NOT CONSIDERING DULUTH AS A HOMEPORT, BUT IT WOULD BE A POSSIBILITY -- ESPECIALLY, THEY MENTIONED IF OUR AIRPORT HAD DIRECT FLIGHTS TO WERE FROM NEW YORK OR L.A. THAT WOULD BE A DRAW FOR THEM, HAVING EASY ACCESS TO ONE FROM DULUTH FROM SOME OF THE MAJOR INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT HUBS IN THE U.S. JULIE: WHERE'S THE MAJOR MARKET THESE CRUISE COMPANIES LOOK TO FOR THE GREAT LAKES?

THESE ARE PRETTY EXPENSIVE CRUISES.

THEY STARTED CLOSE TO $7,000 -- PRETTY LUXURIOUS, THEN THEY GO UP TO ALMOST $1000 PER PERSON -- $20,000 PER PERSON.

>> VIKING HAS A BUILT-IN AUDIENCE.

THEY KNOW WHO THEIR TRAVELER IS, THEY ARE EXCITED TO HAVE A FRESH, NEW ITINERARY TO OFFER THE TRAVELERS, WHO ARE TREMENDOUSLY LOYAL TO VIKING.

THEY ALSO THEN LOOK BEYOND THAT SCOPE AND IT WILL BE FROM MERELY DOMESTIC, ENGLISH-SPEAKING AT THIS POINT -- PRIMARILY DOMESTIC, ENGLISH-SPEAKING AT THIS POINT THAT THEY ARE TARGETING FOR THESE CRUISES.

THEY DO THAT SO THEY ARE ABLE TO WORK WITHIN LANGUAGES, AND THAT IS WHO THEY TEND TO TARGET INITIALLY FOR GREAT LAKES CRUISING.

THERE IS DEFINITELY AN INTERNATIONAL BASE THAT THEY TEND TO EXPAND INTO IN THE FUTURE.

-- INTEND TO EXPAND INTO IN THE FUTURE.

JULIE: THANK YOU.

GOOD LUCK MOVING FORWARD, AS YOU DEVELOP THE IDEA LITTLE MORE.

DENNIS: THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

♪ DENNIS: IT'S TIME FOR THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF "VOICES OF THE REGION."

EACH WEEK, WE HEAR FROM A JOURNALIST IN THE AREA ABOUT THE STORIES THEY ARE COVERING.

THIS WEEK, AUTHOR AND COLUMNIST AARON BROWN FROM ITASCA COUNTY IS OUR GUEST.

♪ >> QUINDLEN CLIFFS IS THE LARGEST STEEL MAKER AND IRON MINING COMPANY NORTH AMERICA NOW AND THEY HAVE JUST GOTTEN INTO THE JUNKYARD BUSINESS ESSENTIALLY, WHERE I GREW UP, ON THE JUNKYARD.

THEY PURCHASED FAIREST PROCESSING AND TRADING COMPANY, A LARGE SCRAP METAL DEALER -- I GUESS YOU COULD SAY.

$750 MILLION, THEREABOUTS.

QUITE A LOT OF MONEY.

IT ACTUALLY IS INTEGRATED WITH THIS WHOLE PLAN THAT THEY HAVE TO CREATE A NEW KIND OF 21ST CENTURY STEELMAKER.

THEY CAN MAKE IT THE OLD-FASHIONED, TRADITIONAL WAY, OR IN 20TH CENTURY TERMS, BUT THEY HAVE ALSO SPEND INTO ELECTRIC FURNACES AND IRON NUGGET PRODUCTION -- THAT ALL FEEDS INTO THESE NEWER FURNACES.

THAT IS WHERE THE SCRAP COMES IN.

THESE NEW FURNACES, IN ADDITION TO USING PURE IRON FROM HERE IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA, CAN ACTUALLY MELT DOWN SCRAP, AND REPURPOSE IT.

IT IS AN EFFICIENT WAY TO DO THAT.

THEY LIKE TO USE ORIGINAL MINED ORE AS A SWEETENER TO HELP PURIFY THE END PRODUCT.

IT IS A SIGN, IF YOU WANT TO TAKE ANY SIGNALS FROM THIS, THAT THIS NEW FORM OF STEELMAKING IS -- MAYBE NEEDS A LITTLE LESS ORE THAN THE OLD WAY DID, AND AS A RESULT, YOU MIGHT SEE SOME CHANGES OVER TIME IN HOW -- WE'RE STILL GOING TO BE MINING IRON ORE, BUT THE WAY STEEL IS MADE IS NOT AS DIRECT, BASED ON THAT MINING, AS IT USED TO BE.

♪ >> THE STATE ANNOUNCED A SERIES OF GRANTS FOR DOWNTOWN BUSINESS DISTRICTS TO "REVITALIZE THEMSELVES."

ANY SMALL TOWN IN MINNESOTA KNOWS DOWNTOWN WAS ONCE THE VIBRANT CENTER OF TOWN.

IN MOST CASES, YOUR DOWNTOWNS HAVE STRUGGLED OVER THE LAST SEVERAL DECADES, STORES HAVE CLOSED, BUILDINGS HAVE BEEN BOARDED UP, TORN DOWN, FIRES -- DAMAGE, DECAY.

VIRGINIA IS NO DIFFERENT.

THE HISTORIC DOWNTOWN DISTRICT, CHESTNUT STREET HAS BEEN ON THE DOWNSWING, I GUESS YOU COULD SAY.

A GROUP OF LOCAL CITIZENS, COUPLED WITH THE CITY AND OTHER PARTNERS, ARE TRYING TO MAKE THINGS HAPPEN.

THERE'S A GROUP CALLED "REVIVE VIRGINIA," AFFILIATED WITH THE VIRGINIA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION.

THAT FOUNDATION WAS SUCCESSFUL IN A RECENT EFFORT TO WIN A GRANT FROM THE STATE OF MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

IT IS A $1.8 MILLION GRANT.

A DOOZY OF AN AMOUNT OF MONEY.

IT IS HARD TO GET GRANTS LIKE THAT.

IT COVERS THREE INITIATIVES THEY WANTED TO DO.

TO RELATE TO THE CONSTRUCTION -- TWO RELATE TO THE CONSTRUCTION OR REPAIRING OF DOWNTOWN BUILDINGS IN DOWNTOWN.

THE THIRD IS SUPPORT FOR ANY HOTEL NEXT TO THE IRON TRAIL MOTORS EVENT CENTER, WHICH IS THE NEW ARENA IN VIRGINIA, WHERE THE MINERS' MEMORIAL BUILDING USED TO BE.

THEY WILL PUT A HOTEL NEXT TO THE NEW ARENA.

THIS HOTEL IS NEEDED, THEY SAY, BECAUSE THERE'S A SHORTAGE OF HOTEL ROOMS AND THEY WANT TO USE THE SPACE HAS A PLACE FOR CONVENTIONS AND EVENTS.

NACHOS HOCKEY AND BASKETBALL, WHICH IS WHAT A LOT OF US -- NOT JUST HOCKEY AND BASKETBALL, WHICH IS WHAT A LOT OF US GREW UP ON.

THEY WANT TO HAVE MORE BIG EVENTS.

THEY WILL NEED HOTEL SPACE FOR THAT.

♪ GROWING UP AS I DID AND CHERRY, MINNESOTA, JUST EAST OF HIBBING, SOUTHWEST OF MOUNTAIN IRON, CHERRY IS THIS HAYFIELD OUT IN THE WOODS.

IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT, IT IS POPULATED BY A LOT OF FINISH AMERICAN IMMIGRANT'S -- BLACKLISTED FROM THE MINDS BACK IN THE EARLY 1900S.

-- MINES IN THE EARLY 1900S.

A BLACKLISTED STRIKER FROM 1907, HIS SON, GUS, WAS THE GUY WHO WOULD CHANGE HIS NAME LATER TOOK -- TO GUS HALL AND WOULD BECOME ONE OF THE MOST PROMINENT COMMUNISTS DURING THE COLD WAR IN THE U.S., ONE BEING A COMMUNIST WAS NOT SEEN AS A GOOD THING.

HE RAN FOR PRESIDENT FOUR TIMES.

ALL THIS TIME, HE WAS FROM THIS PART OF OUR WORLD HERE IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA.

HE MAINTAINED A LOT OF FAMILY CONNECTIONS AND SOVIET ARABIAN HORSES WERE HOUSED IN CHERRY DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE COLD WAR.

HE'S KNOWN AS BEING A COMMUNIST.

HE WAS ONE OF THE FINDING ORGANIZERS OF THE UNITED STEELWORKERS OF AMERICA, ONE OF THE LARGEST INDUSTRIAL UNIONS IN MINNESOTA, REPRESENTING OTHER MINES -- ALL THE MINES HERE.

AN INTERESTING HISTORICAL FIGURE BROUGHT BACK TO LATE.

THERE'S A BOOK OUT ABOUT HIM.

-- BACK TO LATE.

THERE'S A BOOK OUT ABOUT HIM, "MOSCOW MANHATTAN."

ABOUT HIS RISE TO PROMINENCE IN THE 20TH CENTURY.

♪ JULIE: EVERY THREE YEARS, "BRIDGING HEALTH DULUTH" CONDUCTS A COMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS ASSESMENT TO IDENTIFY LOCAL HEALTH ISSUES.

BRIDGING HEALTH ORGANIZERS SAY GETTING WIDESPREAD COMMUNITY INPUT FROM THOSE EXPERIENCING HEALTH DISPARITIES IS CRITICAL.

HERE WITH MORE IS EMILY KUENSTLER, COMMUNITY HEALTH DIRECTOR AT ESSENTIA HEALTH, ONE OF THE MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS OF "BRIDGING HEALTH DULUTH."

THANKS FOR COMING IN TONIGHT.

SO, WE ARE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE RIGHT NOW OF AN ONLINE SURVEY, WHERE YOU ARE TRYING TO ASSESS COMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS.

AND TRYING TO DRIVE PEOPLE TO THIS WEBSITE, TO PARTICIPATE.

WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE OUT THERE?

THOSE WHO ARE WATCHING TONIGHT, TO GET ONLINE AND TAKE PART IN THIS?

>> THERE ARE JUST SO MANY DIFFERENT HEALTH ISSUES IN THE COMMUNITY, THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE PERSONAL EXPERIENCES WITH, AND THERE'S JUST SO MANY DIFFERENT POSSIBILITIES OF THINGS WE COULD DO.

SO WE JUST REALLY WANT TO HEAR FROM THE COMMUNITY ON WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT TO THEM.

IF THERE IS ANYTHING, FROM DIABETES, MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, SUBSTANCE USE, HOUSING, FOOD AND SECURITY -- THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS, SO THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS AND ALL OF THE PARTNERS OF "BRIDGING HEALTH DULUTH" WANT TO HEAR FROM A WIDE GROUP OF PEOPLE ON WHAT YOU WANT US TO FOCUS ON.

DENNIS: EVERY THEORY YEARS -- THREE YEARS YOU'VE BEEN DOING THIS, HOW IS THE OVERALL HEALTH OF THE NORTHLAND DOING, FROM WHAT YOU'VE LEARNED IN THE PAST?

>> WE ARE GOING TO BE GOING OVER A LOT OF DIFFERENT TRENDS AND REVIEWING THE RESULTS OF THE BRIDGE TO HEALTH SURVEY WHICH PEOPLE MAY HAVE PARTICIPATED IN -- A SURVEY THAT GOES OUT IN THE MAIL WHERE WE ASK A LOT OF DIFFERENT QUESTIONS, FROM, HOW MANY FRUITS AND VEGETABLES ARE YOU EATING?

TO HOW MUCH SLEEP ARE YOU GETTING?

ANY OF THOSE THINGS.

THAT IS WHAT WE WILL BE LOOKING AT NEXT WEEK.

ALL THOSE INDIVIDUAL TRENDS.

OBVIOUSLY THINKING ABOUT HOW COVID HAS HAD AN IMPACT ON A LOT OF OUR DAILY BEHAVIORS.

IT'S HAD AN IMPACT ON HEALTH AND CHRONIC HEALTH DISEASES.

DENNIS: PARTICULARLY MENTAL HEALTH.

>> YEAH.

THAT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO LOOK AT.

AND REALLY DIVE INTO THE DETAILS THERE, ON HOW IT'S CHANGED OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS, SINCE WE DID THE LAST SURVEY.

JULIE: HAS THE PANDEMIC IMPACTED YOUR ABILITY TO ACTUALLY REACH PEOPLE, GET PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE?

ARE YOU SEEING NUMBERS DOWN?

WHAT'S THE STATUS?

>> THE BRIDGING HEALTH SURVEY SHOWED SIMILAR PER DISSIPATION TO PREVIOUS YEARS.

-- SIMILAR PARTICIPATION TO PREVIOUS YEARS.

IT'S DEFINITELY A DIFFERENT WAY OF GETTING COMMITTEE INPUT THAN WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST, VIRTUAL INPUT.

DENNIS: HAS PARTICIPATION GROWN OVER THE YEARS WITH YOUNG PEOPLE?

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DID SEE AN INCREASE WAS WITH E-CIGARETTES AND VAPING WITH YOUNG PEOPLE.

THAT IS ONE OF THE AREAS WE WOULD LIKE FEEDBACK ON FROM THE COMMITTEE, HELPING US, TOGETHER, TO FIGURE OUT STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS THAT WITH YOUTH.

JULIE: AS YOU LOOK AT PATTERNS, DO YOU SEE THE HEALTH NEEDS IN OUR REGION REALLY CHANGE FROM THREE YEAR PERIOD TO THREE YEAR PERIOD?

DO YOU SEE YOURSELF GOING BACK TO FIX THE SAME ISSUES AGAIN AND AGAIN?

>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

IT'S UNLIKELY THAT WE ARE GOING TO SAY, CHECK, DONE, WE FIXED MENTAL HEALTH COME ONTO THE NEXT THREE YEARS SURVEY -- I THINK THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO REALLY JUST GET MORE SPECIFIC, LEARN MORE, FIGURING OUT WAYS WE CAN REALLY WORK TOGETHER AND DEVELOP STRATEGIES TOGETHER.

HEALTH NEEDS STAY SIMILAR YEAR-TO-YEAR.

IT WOULD BE GREAT IF WE COULD SEE IMPROVEMENT AND BE ABLE TO MOVE ON TO OTHER ISSUES AS WELL.

DENNIS: IS HOMELESSNESS ADDRESSED IN THIS SURVEY?

>> YES.

ON THE COMMITTEE INPUT WE HAVE RECEIVED ON THIS LATEST SURVEY THAT IS OUT NOW, THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS OUR COMMUNITY IS MOST CONCERNED ABOUT ACTUALLY, UNTIL HIS.

-- IN DULUTH.

JULIE: IS THERE VALUE IN TERMS OF FUNDING AVAILABLE TO THE REGION AS WELL?

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S REALLY POWERFUL ABOUT THIS IS THAT IT IS NOT JUST EACH -- ONE INDIVIDUAL AGENCY TRIED TO DO THIS, BUT REALLY ALL OF THE HEALTH CARE STAKEHOLDERS COMING TOGETHER TO SAY, LET'S WORK TOGETHER AND IDENTIFY WITH THINGS WE CAN DO TOGETHER, SO WE CAN REALLY MAKE COLLECTIVE ACTION THAT WOULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

I THINK THAT'S POWERFUL FOR LOOKING AT OTHER FEDERAL OR STATE GRANTS AND THANKS TO REALLY SAY, THIS ISN'T JUST ONE ORGANIZATION TRYING TO MAKE AN IMPACT.

WE ARE COMING TOGETHER ALL ON THIS TOPIC.

I THINK IT DOES MATTER.

WHAT COMES OUT AS A PRIORITIES FROM THIS ASSESSMENT.

-- THE PRIORITIES FROM THIS ASSESSMENT.

JULIE: IF PEOPLE WANT TO JUMP ON THE VIRTUAL ANNUAL MEETING, HOW DO THEY DO SO?

>> VISITING OUR WEBSITE, BRIDGING HEALTH DULUTH DOT ORG.

YOU CAN WEIGH IN ABOUT THE HEALTH NEEDS OF YOUR COMMUNITY AS WELL AS HOW TO JOIN OUR MEETING NEXT WEEK TO LEARN A LOT MORE DETAILS ON THE HEALTH TRENDS.

JULIE: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING IN.

APPRECIATE THE INFORMATION.

DENNIS: THANK YOU.

LAST WEEKEND, HIBBING'S NATIVE SON, BOB DYLAN, WAS HONORED WITH THE DEDICATION OF A MONUMENT TO HIS TIMELESS LYRICS OUTSIDE OF THE HIBBING HIGH SCHOOL.

THE HIBBING DYLAN PROJECT COMMITTEE HOSTED THE EVENT, FEATURING SOME OF THE FOLKS WHO MADE THE PROJECT A REALITY.

HERE'S MORE FROM THE DEDICATION.

♪ >> I GRADUATED IN 1977.

IN THE EARLY 1990'S, I STARTED DOING TOURS OF THE HIGH SCHOOL.

IT DIDN'T TAKE ME LONG TO REALIZE THAT WE WERE NOT DOING ANYTHING ENOUGH TO COVER BOB DYLAN IN HIBBING.

I MIGHT'VE BEEN THE EARLIEST PROPONENT OF SOMETHING, GREATER THAN JUST -- I DON'T MEAN TO BELITTLE THE BOB DYLAN DAYS AT ALL, BUT I THOUGHT THERE NEEDED TO BE SOMETHING MORE PERMANENT.

>> WE BUILT THIS FOR THE STUDENTS, WHO PLAY SPORTS, AND FOR THE STUDENTS WHO PLAY MUSIC, AND FOR THE STUDENTS THAT DON'T REALLY KNOW WHERE THEY ARE GOING TO GO AFTER GRADUATION.

AS A TESTAMENT TO BEING ABLE TO FIGURE THAT OUT.

>> BOB IS THE MOST FAMOUS PERSON IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA.

EVERYWHERE YOU GO, I TELL PEOPLE I'M FROM HIBBING -- THEY ASK IF I'VE EVER MET BOB DYLAN.

I'VE NEVER MET BOB DYLAN.

>> WE WILL GO AHEAD AND SHOW YOU WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.

>> TENS OF THOUSANDS OF VOLUNTEER HOURS HAVE BEEN PUT INTO PUTTING THIS TOGETHER FOR US TODAY.

>> I CHALLENGE YOU ALL TO, WHETHER YOU ARE EIGHT OR 80, TO DREAM.

BOB, I THINK, WOULD WANT YOU TO -- THE ENDS OF THE ENVELOPE OF YOUR LIFE.

TO SEE WHAT IS YOURS TO DO.

WHAT ARE YOUR LYRICS?

WHAT IS THE POETRY, WHAT IS THE MUSIC OF YOUR LIFE?

SO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

[APPLAUSE] >> WE HAD TO WORK WITH TE HIGH SCHOOL AND THE MINNESOTA STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE CITY OF HIBBING.

WE HAD TO WORK WITH THE NOBEL PRIZE COMMITTEE AND BOB DYLAN'S MUSIC COMPANY, WITH THE UNIVERSAL PUBLISHING GROUP.

WHEN I SAY THIS WAS A GLOBAL EFFORT, I'M NOT EXAGGERATING A BIT.

>> THIS BEING ABOUT HIS WORDS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU CAN HAVE.

BECAUSE BOB WILL BE GONE ONE DAY, SAID TO SAY, AND HIS WORDS ARE GOING TO KEEP GOING ON.

>> STUDENTS, I CAN'T STRESS ENOUGH, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHERE YOU'RE FROM, YOU CAN BE FROM HIBBING, MINNESOTA AND GO OUT INTO THE THING THAT YOU ALWAYS DREAMED OF DOING.

GIVE YOURSELF THE TIME TO GET IT DONE AND YOU CAN DO GREAT THINGS AS WELL.

THANK YOU.

THANKS, EVERYBODY, FOR BEING HERE.

[APPLAUSE] DENNIS: LOOKS FANTASTIC.

WE'RE OUT OF TIME THIS WEEK, BUT YOU CAN KEEP UP WITH OUR LATEST POSTS BY FOLLOWING "ALMANAC NORTH" ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.

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

AND DOWNLOAD THE PBS VIDEO APP FOR ON-DEMAND VIEWING OF YOUR FAVORITE PBS PROGRAMS.

JULIE, THE GOOD NEWS IS, WE ARE PROBABLY DONE MOWING GRASS THIS YEAR.

JULIE: THE BAD NEWS IS THE SNOWBLOWER HAS MOVED TO THE FRONT OF THE SHED.

DENNIS: THANKS TO OUR GUESTS AND THE CREW HERE IN THE STUDIO.

WITH JULIE ZENNER, I'M DENNIS ANDERSON.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

GOOD NIGHT, AND BE KIND.

♪