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

AND HERE'S WHAT'S COMING UP ON "ALMANAC NORTH"!

JULIE: AS MORE PEOPLE RETURN TO WORK AND IN-PERSON GATHERINGS, MEDICAL OFFICIALS ARE CONCERNED THAT THIS COULD BE A BIG FLU SEASON.

MORE ON THAT AND THE LATEST ON THE COVID DELTA VARIANT TONIGHT.

DENNY: U.M.D.

THEATRE HOSTS THE WORLD PREMIERES OF "MAXA, THE MADDEST WOMAN IN THE WORLD" NEXT WEEK.

WE WILL TALK WITH THE CREATORS OF THE HORROR MUSICAL.

JULIE: AND WE'LL HEAR FROM KAXE RADIO NEWS DIRECTOR HEIDI HOLTAN FROM GRAND RAPIDS THIS WEEK IN "VOICES OF THE REGION."

DENNY: THESE STORIES AND MORE COMING UP RIGHT NOW ON "ALMANAC NORTH"!

♪ ♪ DENNY: HELLO AND WELCOME TO "ALMANAC NORTH," THANKS FOR WATCHING.

JULIE, DESPITE THE SHORTER DAYS, WE ARE STILL ENJOYING SOME ABOVE-AVERAGE TEMPERATURES.

JULIE:ABOVE-AVERAGE TEMPERATURES, A LITTLE BIT DREARY BUT STILL FEELING PRETTY GOOD.

DENNY: I THINK SO, TOO.

LET'S START WITH THE HEADLINES.

JULIE:THANK YOU, DENNIS.

DULUTH MAYOR EMILY LARSON ANNOUNCED PLANS TO IMPLEMENT A HOUSING TRUST FUND TO PROVIDE MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE CITY.

THE MAYOR SAID THE CITY WOULD PROVIDE $4 MILLION DOLLARS TO THE FUND AND LOCAL INITIATIVE SUPPORT CORPORATION, "LISC," WOULD CONTRIBUTE $2 MILLION DOLLARS.

THE CREATION OF THE HOUSING TRUST FUND WILL BE BROUGHT TO THE CITY COUNCIL AS AN ORDINANCE AT ITS NEXT MEETING.

DENNY: WISCONSIN'S PEOPLE'S MAPS COMMISSION HAS RELEASED ITS PROPOSALS FOR RE-DRAWING THE BADGER STATE'S ELECTION DISTRICTS.

THE NON-PARTISAN COMMISSION WAS CREATED BY GOVERNOR TONY EVERS TO DRAW FAIR BOUNDARIES FOLLOWING THE 2020 CENSUS.

WISCONSIN'S REPUBLICAN-CONTROLLED LEGISLATURE HAS INDICATED THEY PREFER TO KEEP THE DISTRICTS MOSTLY AS THEY ARE, WITH JUST SOME MINOR CHANGES.

JULIE: VISIT DULUTH PRESIDENT AND C.E.O.

ANNA TANSKI HAS BEEN HONORED FOR HER CONTRIBUTIONS TO MINNESOTA'S TOURISM INDUSTRY.

TANSKI RECEIVED THE ROGER TOUSSAINT AWARD AT THE MINNESOTA ASSOCIATION OF CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU ANNUAL MEETING THIS WEEK.

THE ASSOCIATION PRAISED TANSKI FOR HER 30-YEAR CAREER AND LEADING A TEAM THAT HAS MADE DULUTH A TOP TOURISM DESTINATION, WELCOMING NEARLY SEVEN MILLION VISITORS A YEAR WITH AN ECONOMIC IMPACT OF $1 BILLION DOLLARS.

DENNY: WITH COVID CASES SURGING IN THE REGION, ADDITIONAL FREE SALIVA TESTING SITES ARE OPENING TO THE PUBLIC.

ST. LOUIS COUNTY HAS ADDED SITES IN EVELETH IN VIRGINIA, AND THE TEST SITE AT THE DECC IN DULUTH HAS EXPANDED TO ACCOMMODATE UP TO ONE THOUSAND PEOPLE PER DAY.

IN WISCONSIN, THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK IT IS RE-LAUNCHING ITS PILOT PROGRAM TO INCREASE COVID TESTING CAPACITY.

JULIE: DESPITE THE RECENT WAVE OF COVID CASES SPURRED BY THE DELTA VARIANT, PEOPLE ARE ONCE AGAIN GATHERING FOR EVENTS AND STUDENTS ARE BACK IN CLASSROOMS.

MEDICAL OFFICIALS SAY THAT WHILE FOLKS HAVE PROTECTION AGAINST COVID ON THEIR MINDS, THEY SHOULD ALSO GET THEIR ANNUAL FLU SHOT.

JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT THESE ISSUES IS DR. ANDREW THOMPSON WITH ST. LUKE'S INFECTIOUS DISEASE ASSOCIATES.

DOCTOR, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU'VE BEEN A GREAT GUEST THROUGHOUT THE COVID PANDEMIC AND LET'S TALK ABOUT THE FLU, THOUGH.

BECAUSE IT SEEMED LAST YEAR, THE SEASONAL FLU ALL BUT DISAPPEARED.

BUT NOW YOU'RE EXPECTING PERHAPS A RESURGENCE.

DR. THOMPSON: LAST YEAR WAS REMARKABLE IN THAT WE SAW ALMOST NO INFLUENZA GLOBALLY BUT I WOULD NEVER UNDERESTIMATE FLU AND WE HAVE TO ANTICIPATE WE WILL SEE INCREASED FLU ACTIVITY THIS YEAR, IN PART, BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE GATHERING MORE, AS YOU MENTIONED.

WE'RE NOT MASKING CONTINUALLY.

AND THERE'S JUST MORE CONTACT, MORE OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT VIRUS TO SPREAD.

DENNY: IS THERE ANY INDICATION WHAT THE FLU SEASON WILL BE LIKE?

WILL THIS BE AN EXCEPTIONALLY SEVERE CASE?

DR. THOMPSON: WE NEVER KNOW.

THE PAST YEAR OR TWO HAS BEEN SO UNUSUAL, IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO PREDICT.

JULIE: WHAT ABOUT CHILDREN AND THE FLU SHOT?

A LOT OF CHILDREN ARE NOT YET ELIGIBLE TO GET THE COVID VACCINE.

SHOULD FLU BE TOP OF MIND FOR THOSE FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN?

DR. THOMPSON: YES, IT SHOULD, BECAUSE FLU CAN BE SEVERE WEATHER -- SEVERE IN YOUNG CHILDREN, ESPECIALLY UNDER 5 SO EVERYONE OVER SIX MONTHS OF AGE, IT'S APPROPRIATE TO GET A FLU SHOT.

DENNY: DO FLU SHOTS INTERACT WITH THE COVID VACCINES?

DR. THOMPSON: NO, THERE'S NO INTERACTION BETWEEN THE TWO.

YOU CAN GET THEM TOGETHER ON THE SAME DAY.

JULIE: FLU SHOTS ARE REFORMULATED EVERY YEAR BASED ON THE DOMINANT STRAIN.

IS THERE ANY POTENTIAL TO MAYBE AT SOME POINT WRAP THE COVID-19 VACCINE IN WITH THE FLU SHOT, BECAUSE IT'S SIMILAR TO A FLU?

DR. THOMPSON: THEY'RE VERY DIFFERENT VIRUSES, ALTHOUGH THEY ARE RESPIRATORY VIRUSES.

AND I THINK SOME THOUGHT HAS GONE INTO THAT, A COMBO VACCINE, LIKE WE HAVE FOR A LOT OF PEDIATRIC VACCINES.

THAT MAY BE A POSSIBILITY SOON.

DENNY: IS THERE STILL A COVID SURGE IN THE NORTHLAND?

WHAT'S THAT ALL ABOUT?

DR. THOMPSON: ABSOLUTELY THERE IS.

OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS, IN MINNESOTA, WISCONSIN, NORTH DAKOTA, WE'VE SEEN A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN CASES AND IN HOSPITALIZATIONS.

SO THOUGH NATIONWIDE THE NUMBERS MIGHT BE FALLING, WE'VE SEEN THEM INCREASING SIGNIFICANTLY IN RECENT WEEKS.

DENNY: ARE WE STARTING TO GET A HANDLE ON IT NOW?

DR. THOMPSON: I THINK IT'S TOO EARLY TO SAY THAT.

I'M HOPING WE'VE PLATEAUED BUT I WOULD EXPECT OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS TO SEE MORE CASES.

JULIE: GENERALLY SPEAKING ARE THE FOLKS WHO ARE WINDING UP IN THE HOSPITAL WITH COVID, ARE THEY STILL THAT POPULATION WITH UNDERLYING CONDITIONS?

DR. THOMPSON: SOME, BUT NOT ALL.

THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WITH NO UNDERLYING HEALTH CONDITIONS WHO GET SEVERELY ILL AND END UP ON VENTILATORS.

JULIE: DO YOU HAVE ANY THERAPEUTICS YOU'RE USING?

DR. THOMPSON: WE HAVE ANTIVIRALS, ANTI-INFLAMMATORIES THAT WE USE AND WE HAVE MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES.

DENNY: ONE IN FIVE AMERICANS HAVE DIED OF COVID.

WHY IS THERE SO MUCH ANGST AMONGST THOSE WHO WILL NOT GET THE COVID VACCINE?

DR. THOMPSON: I WISH I KNEW THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION.

UNFORTUNATELY I THINK IN SOME WAYS IT'S BEEN POLITICIZED.

IT REALLY IS AN INCREDIBLY EFFECTIVE PUBLIC HEALTH INTERVENTION AND I THINK WE SHOULD ALL VIEW IT THAT WAY AS A WAY TO PROTECT OURSELVES, OUR NEIGHBORS AND OUR FAMILY.

HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET THERE.

JULIE: THERE WERE MORE THAN TWO DOZEN SAINT LUKE'S EMPLOYEES WHO RESIGNED OVER THE MANDATE THAT EMPLOYEES GET THE VACCINE.

WERE THEY FOLKS IN FRONT LINE CARE?

DR. THOMPSON: I DON'T KNOW DETAILS BUT I KNOW THERE WERE A FEW PEOPLE IN VARIOUS ROLES, SOME NOT IN CLINICAL ROLES, WHO MAY HAVE RESIGNED DUE TO THAT.

JULIE: HAS IT RESULTED IN ANY SORT OF STAFFING SHORTAGE?

DR. THOMPSON: WE'VE HAD STAFFING SHORTAGES FOR MONTHS.

IT HAS SLIGHTLY BUT I THINK THAT'S NOT THE CAUSES OF OUR CURRENT STAFFING SHORTAGE AND NATIONWIDE WE ARE SEEING SIGNIFICANT HEALTHCARE STAFFING SHORTAGES.

DENNY: IT SOUNDS LIKE PFIZER MAY SOON GET THE GREEN LIGHT TO GO AHEAD AND VACCINATE YOUNGER PEOPLE.

CAN YOU ADDRESS THAT?

DR. THOMPSON: THE F.D.A.

WILL BE MEETING AT THE END OF THE MONTH AND THE C.D.C.

GROUP MEETS IN EARLY NOVEMBER TO REVIEW THE PEDIATRIC DATA FOR THOSE AGES 5 TO 11 AND SOME OF THAT DATA ISN'T AVAILABLE YET BUT BASED ON THEIR APPLICATION, IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY HAVE GOOD DATA FOR SAFETY AND EFFECTIVENESS AND SO I'M HOPEFUL THAT A THOROUGH REVIEW OF THE DATA SHOWS THAT'S TRUE AND THEY APPROVE IT.

DENNY: COULD THE INOCULATION OF CHILDREN AS YOUNG AS THAT MAYBE BRING AN END TO THE COVID PROBLEM, EARLIER THAN WE ANTICIPATED?

DR. THOMPSON: IN RECENT WEEKS YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DRIVING A LOT OF THE NEW CASES SO IF WE COULD PREVENT THAT TRANSMISSION AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE AND PREVENT THEM FROM GETTING SICK AND ENDING UP IN THE HOSPITAL, THAT WOULD BE IMPORTANT.

JULIE: DO YOU THINK WE'LL REACH A POINT -- NOW THAT THIS IS OUT OF THE BOX, IT'S NOT JUST IN THE UNITED STATES, IT'S GLOBAL -- IS THERE EVER REALLY GOING TO BE A TIME WHEN WE CAN COMPLETELY GET RID OF COVID?

OR DO WE HAVE TO ACCEPT IT'S HERE TO STAY?

DR. THOMPSON: WE'LL PROBABLY NOT BE RID OF IT.

I WOULD CONSIDER IT ENDEMIC, SOMETHING THAT WILL BE AROUND.

THERE ARE OTHER CORONAVIRUS THAT CAUSE COLDS EVERY YEAR SO THE HOPE IS THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH POPULATION IMMUNITY THAT IT'S MORE OF A NUISANCE THAN THREAT.

DENNY: DO MASKS WORK?

ARE IN A HELPING?

DR. THOMPSON: THEY HELP.

WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING THAT'S PERFECT BUT IF MASKS WORK TO REDUCE 40% OF TRANSMISSION, THAT'S FAR BETTER THAN NOTHING SO ADDING THESE THINGS TOGETHER IS WHAT WILL STOP THE PANDEMIC.

JULIE: DR. THOMPSON, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING IN AND VISITING WITH US, SHARING INSIGHTS.

GOOD LUCK GOING FORWARD.

DENNY: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

♪ DENNY: THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA DULUTH THEATRE DEPARTMENT HOSTS THE WORLD PREMIERE OF "MAXA, THE MADDEST WOMAN IN THE WORLD" NEXT WEEK.

DESCRIBED AS A HORROR MUSICAL, THE PRODUCTION RELATES THE STORY OF PAULA MAXA, A FAMED FRENCH ACTRESS WHO DIED ONSTAGE THOUSANDS OF TIMES DURING HER CAREER.

HERE'S MORE ON THE PRODUCTION -- >> THE MUSICAL IS "MAXA, THE MADDEST WOMAN IN THE WORLD," A HORROR MUSICAL, WRITTEN BY OUR WONDERFUL FACULTY MEMBER, THOMAS JACOBSEN, AND MIKA KAUFFMAN.

IT'S ABOUT PAULA MAXA, A FRENCH ACTRESS IN THE EARLY 1800'S.

SHE WORKED IN A THEATER OF HORROR AND TORTURE AND SHE'S THE ACTRESS WHO HAS DIED THE MOST TIMES ON STAGE.

>> THEY COME HERE FOR A SHOW SO THEY CAN FEEL SOMETHING.

NIGHT AFTER NIGHT AFTER NIGHT THEY WATCH ME DIE.

>> I PLAY YOUNG PAULA.

I'M A STUDENT HERE, A SENIOR, BFA ACTING MAJOR.

HER LIFE LITERALLY LED HER TO THE STAGE AND SHE USED EVERY TRAUMATIC EVENT, EVERY EXPERIENCE IN HER LIFE TO MOLD HER AS THAT AMAZING ACTRESS.

A LOT OF THE THEMES IS SURVIVING, FORGIVENESS, TRUSTING IN YOURSELF AND NOT LETTING THAT ANGER POSSIBLY EVEN SELF-HATRED STOP YOU FROM GROWING AS A PERSON.

I AM THE STAGE MANAGER FOR "MAXA," MY FIRST STAGE MANAGEMENT ROLE.

IT'S NEW AND UNIQUE ESPECIALLY GIVEN THAT IT WAS WRITTEN BY ONE OF OUR FACULTY MEMBERS AND THAT WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO FULLY PRODUCE IT BEFORE IT VENTURES ELSEWHERE.

WE ARE FOLLOWING COVID PROTOCOLS ON CAMPUS WITH MASK MANDATES BUT WHEN WE TRANSITION TO REHEARSING ON THE STAGE AND DURING PERFORMANCES, WE WILL BE UNMASKED.

AUDIENCE MEMBERS WILL HAVE TO WEAR MASKS.

>> THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT WE'RE DOING SOMETHING INSIDE THE THEATER POST-COVID.

AND NOW WE'RE TAKING THAT NEXT STEP TO GET BACK TO WHERE WE WERE BY GETTING THE AUDIENCE INTO THE SEATS BEHIND ME AND THE ACTORS ON THE STAGE THAT WE'RE ON RIGHT NOW.

SOME OF THE THEMES THAT "MAXA" INCLUDES IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO BE ON THE STAGE IS HOW IT HANDLES SURVIVORSHIP AND HOW WE GET THROUGH AND PROCESS OUR TRAUMA AND LEARN TO BECOME FRIENDS WITH IT AND MOVE ON IN OUR LIVES WITH IT.

>> ESPECIALLY IN 2021, A LOT OF THESE THINGS ARE COMING UP OF THE ME TOO MOVEMENT AND BEING ABLE TO SPEAK ABOUT THESE EVENTS THAT GO ON SUCH AS SEXUAL ASSAULT AND ABUSE.

>> IT'S ULTIMATELY A SHOW ABOUT SURVIVING AND PERSEVERING AND STILL BEING HERE.

>> EVERYONE WHO'S ACTING IN IT IS A STUDENT AT U.M.D.

THERE ARE STUDENT DESIGNERS.

PERSONALLY, JUST BEING IN THE ROOM, IN A REHEARSAL ROOM, MY FAVORITE PART OF BEING A DIRECTOR IS TO BE IN THE SPACE WHERE OTHER PEOPLE ARE DOING WHAT THEY'RE MOST GIFTED AT SO WHEN WE INVITE AUDIENCES TO LISTEN TO A STORY, TO WATCH A STORY FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A LONG TIME WITH OTHER PEOPLE, I THINK IT WILL MEAN A LOT.

DENNY: JOINING US NOW ARE THE CREATORS OF THE MUSICAL.

MIKA KAUFFMAN WROTE THE BOOK AND LYRICS OF "MAXA".

AND THOMAS JACOBSEN IS THE COMPOSER OF THE MUSIC.

WELCOME TO BOTH OF YOU, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

MIKA, WHAT WAS YOUR INSPIRATION FOR THE PRODUCTION?

HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH THE IDEA?

MIKA: THIS ONE CAME UP WITH THE IDEA.

THOMAS PRESENTED IT TO ME.

THOMAS: I WAS GOING DOWN A RABBIT HOLE OF RESEARCH ON THEATER.

I WATCHED A TV SHOW CALLED PENNY DREADFUL AND A SEGMENT OF THAT SHOW TAKES PLACE IN THE THEATER AND BEING A HUGE LOVER OF HORROR, I WAS DRAWN TO THIS AND INTO THE FACT THAT THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME HORROR WAS PERFORMED AND STARTED RESEARCHING THE THEATER AND YOU CAN'T GET FAR UNTIL YOU COME ACROSS THE NAME PAULA MAXA AND WHEN I LEARNED ABOUT HER STORY, I JUST ASKED MYSELF, DO WE HAVE A MUSICAL HERE?

SO I PITCHED IT TO TO MIKA.

MIKA: AND I SAID YES!

JULIE: GIVE US THE SHORT COURSE ON HER STORY.

MIKA: THIS IS A STORY OF SURVIVORSHIP.

IT'S ABOUT PAULA MAXA, SHE WAS A FAMOUS FRENCH TRAJIDIAN.

HER SCREAM WAS KNOWN THROUGHOUT PARIS.

IT'S A MUSICAL WITH A LOT OF SCREAMING.

[LAUGHTER] TODD: A LOTL THOMAS: A LOT OF SCREAMING.

MIKA: HER STORY DIVES INTO THE INTERSECTION BETWEEN SURVIVING AND HEALING AND WE DO A DEEP DIVE INTO SURVIVORSHIP.

DENNY: HOW HAVE THE STUDENTS AND CREW BEEN TO WORK ON THIS?

THOMAS: IT IS AN INSANELY TALENTED GROUP OF STUDENTS.

JULIE: THERE IS A CONTENT ADVISORY FOR GRAPHIC DEPICTIONS OF VIOLENCE, MURDER, GORE.

SOME TOUGH CONVERSATIONS.

IT'S CLEARLY NOT FOR EVERYONE.

BUT WHO DO YOU SEE AS THE PRIMARY AUDIENCE AND WHAT DO YOU WANT THEM TO TAKE AWAY FROM IT?

MIKA: I PERSONALLY SEE WHOEVER IS ABLE TO COME AND SEE OUR SHOW AS THE AUDIENCE.

WE DEDICATE OUR SHOW TO SURVIVORS AND AS A SURVIVOR MYSELF, IT'S ALWAYS BEEN EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT OUR SHOW IS AS ACCESSIBLE AS POSSIBLE TO OTHER SURVIVORS.

UNFORTUNATELY IT'S JUST NOT GOING TO BE ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE BECAUSE IT IS SEEN THROUGH A HORROR LENS, AS WELL.

IT'S SCARY AND ON TOP OF THAT WE TOUCH ON VERY TRAUMATIC TOPICS BASED ON EVENTS THAT HAPPENED IN PAULA MAXA'S LIFE.

AND I LIKE -- I LOVE USING THE TERM CONTENT ADVISORY INSTEAD OF WARNING.

CONTENT WARNING IS OFTEN USED BUT WITH AN ADVISORY, IT REALLY IS LETTING OUR AUDIENCE KNOW, TRAUMA IS NOT SOMETHING THAT IS UGLY.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WANT TO NORMALIZE AND WE REALLY WANT TO TALK ABOUT AND WANT TO USE AS A GESTURE IN A THEATRICAL FORM SO IT CAN BE GIVEN TO OUR AUDIENCES.

JULIE: IS THERE ANY DANGER OF HAVING VIOLENCE PORTRAYED THIS WAY GLORIFIES BRUTALITY?

THOMAS: IT DEPENDS ON HOW IT'S PRESENTED.

FOR EXAMPLE, IN OUR SHOW, THE MOMENTS THAT ARE VERY BLOODY ARE COMICAL AND OVER THE TOP.

HIGHLY MELODRAMATIC.

THE MOMENTS THAT DEAL WITH THESE ISSUES ARE -- WE TREAT AS RESPECTFULLY AS POSSIBLE AND THEY ARE NOT SHOWN, THEY ARE NOT GRATUITOUS.

MIKA: WE USE A LOT OF SHADOW PLAY BECAUSE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT TO ME, AS A SURVIVOR, IS WAY MORE ACCESSIBLE IN THAT WAY.

DENNY: WHAT IS THE CREATIVE PROCESS FOR THE TWO OF YOU?

HOW DO YOU PUT THIS TOGETHER?

[LAUGHTER] MIKA: WE LOVE WORKING WITH EACH OTHER SO MUCH.

THOMAS: I WOULD SAY THE SHOW IS PROBABLY 80% LYRIC FIRST AND 20% MUSIC FIRST.

GENERALLY WHAT HAPPENS IS MIKA WILL SEND ME A LYRIC AND I WILL TAKE IT AND JUST SET IT TO MUSIC AND THEN THERE ARE TIMES WHEN WE KNOW THE SITUATION WE WANT TO TACKLE BUT WE AREN'T QUITE SURE HOW.

SOMETIMES MIKA WILL ASK ME, COULD YOU THROW ME 16 BARS OF SOMETHING.

THIS IS THE VIBE, THIS IS THE MOOD.

AND, YEAH, I'LL THROW 16 BARS THEIR WAY AND IT SPARKS A LYRIC AND IT ROLLS FROM THERE.

MIKA: WE REALLY WORK OFF OF EACH OTHER'S ENERGY, AS WELL.

WE KNOW WE HAVE SOMETHING GOOD GOING WHEN WE'RE LIKE, YES, YES.

THOMAS: WE HAVE SIMILAR BACKGROUNDS AS DIRECTORS, PERFORMERS AND SINGERS OURSELVES SO THAT HELPS THE PROCESS.

DENNY: I CAN SEE YOU BRING ENERGY TO THE PRODUCTION.

MIKA: WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

DENNY: ARE YOU FINDING THE ACTORS AND CREW ARE ALSO ABSORBING THAT ENERGY?

THOMAS: WE HOPE SO.

MIKA: I CAN SEE IT.

I CAN REALLY SEE IT.

OUR ROOM IS VERY SPECIAL.

IT IS VERY, VERY SPECIAL.

ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE CONTENT THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT WITH THESE STUDENTS AND THEY'RE THE ONES PERFORMING AND THEY ARE HANDLING IT SO WELL BECAUSE WE NORMALIZE THE CONVERSATIONS AROUND MENTAL HEALTH AND TRAUMA.

THOMAS: THEY KNOW THEY HAVE THE AUTONOMY TO COME TO US WITH QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS AND IDEAS AND THEY'RE TRULY COLLABORATORS.

DENNY: WHEN AND WHERE ARE TICKETS AVAILABLE?

THOMAS: THEY ARE AVAILABLE AT THE U.M.D.

BOX OFFICE, IT OPENS NEXT THURSDAY, THE 14TH, RUNS TO THE 23RD.

DENNY: THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH.

♪ JULIE: 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 KAXE RADIO NEWS DIRECTOR HEIDI HOLTAN FROM GRAND RAPIDS IS OUR GUEST.

♪ HEIDI: WE ARE CONTINUING TO LISTEN TO OUR COMMUNITIES WHEN IT COMES TO COVID AND THE IMPACT IT'S HAVING ON HEALTHCARE, THE VARIANT, ALSO ON SCHOOLS.

WE'RE LEARNING ABOUT PLACES LIKE BRAINARD.

THEIR YOUTH CASES HAVE SPIKED IN THE LAST WEEK 40%.

ITASCA COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH IS REPORTING A 14-DAY CASE RATE OF 74.3 NEW INFECTIONS PER 10,000 PEOPLE.

VOL TERMY COUNTY REPORTING 470 NEW CASES.

WE TALKED TO DOCTORS DAN SULAR AND SIMON LIQ.

>> OUR NUMBERS ARE MATCHING WHERE WE WERE LAST NOVEMBER DURING OUR LARGEST SURGE.

A COMMON QUESTION I GET IN THE CLINIC OFTEN IS ABOUT THE DELTA VARIANT.

THE LATEST STATISTIC I SAW FROM THE STATE IS 99% OF ALL POSITIVE COVID CASES ARE FROM THE DELTA VARIANT SO ESSENTIALLY THAT IS THE COVID STRAIN CIRCULATING WIDELY THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY.

IT IS VERY TRANSMISSIBLE WHICH IS DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE SAW LAST YEAR AND ALSO WHY WE'RE SEEING SO MANY MORE CASES THIS TIME AROUND.

>> SIMON LIQ IS A HOSPITALIST AT GRAND ITASCA.

WE ASKED HIM HOW THE STAFF IS HOLDING UP.

>> BECAUSE OF THE VOLUMES AND BECAUSE OF THE WORK LOAD AND BECAUSE OF THE HISTORY THAT'S LED UP TO THIS AND THE PROLONGED NATURE OF THE PANDEMIC, IT'S FEELING VERY UNSUSTAINABLE.

WE'VE HAD A LOT OF DIFFICULTY WITH STAFFING IN HOSPITALS, BOTH HERE AND NATIONWIDE.

AND A LOT OF IT COMES DOWN TO THE NURSES WHO HAVE JUST CONTINUED TO SHOW UP AND CONTINUED TO WORK HARD AND CONTINUED TO WORK NIGHTS, WEEKENDS AND HOLIDAYS IN ORDER TO DELIVER THE BEST CARE THEY CAN AND THERE IS JUST ONLY SO MUCH THAT PEOPLE ARE CAPABLE.

GOING FORWARD, THE NEED TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER AND THE NEED TO KEEP SHOWING UP CONTINUES BUT THE NEED FOR A LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL IS MORE URGENT.

HEIDI: COVID CONTINUES TO AFFECT COMMUNITIES, BUSINESSES, NON-PROFITS AND EVENTS.

THIS YEAR THE IRON RANGE FESTIVAL PUT ON BY THE PARTNERSHIP FOR SUSTAINABILITY HAD TO CHANGE THEIR PLANS FOR THIS SATURDAY, OCTOBER 9.

>> WE STRUGGLE WITH PEOPLE SAYING ARE YOU FOR THIS OR AGAINST THAT OR WANTING US TO TAKE POLITICAL POSITIONS AND WE REALLY DON'T WANT TO DO THAT.

WE DECIDED WE WANTED TO DO SOMETHING THAT BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER AND FOOD BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER AND THEN WE COULD HONOR THE TRADITION OF THE CORNISH CASTE AND THE ROLE IT PLAYS FOR MINERS WITHOUT STEPPING INTO POLITICAL STUFF AND JUST HAVE FUN WITH IT.

WHAT MAKES IT DIFFERENT IS THAT WE MAKE IT FROM ALL LOCAL INGREDIENTS SO WE HAVE GRASS FED BEEF AND PASTURED PORK FROM THE FARMS IN PALISADE.

WE HAVE POTATOES AND ONIONS AND CARROTS AND RUTABAGAS FROM STUNT CREEK FARMS AND THE MASAVE EAST ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION STUDENTS GROW OUR FRESH THYME SO WE FEEL THIS IS A UNIQUE DISH BECAUSE IT'S ALL LOCAL AND YOU CAN'T GET THAT ANYWHERE ELSE.

HEIDI: THE THIRD ANNUAL IRON RANGE FESTIVAL WILL BE VIRTUAL SATURDAY OCTOBER 9 BUT THERE WILL BE SOME OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES.

DRIVE-THROUGH, PICK UP YOUR PRE-ORDERED PACKAGES AND FRIENDS WILL BE PERFORMING MUSIC AND THERE WILL BE RUTABAGA BOWLING.

WILLIAM KENT KRUGER IS THE BEST SELLING MINNESOTA MYSTERY WRITER.

HIS LATEST IS CALLED "LIGHTNING STRIKE" WHICH IS A PREQUEL.

WE GET TO MEET CORK O'CONNOR WHEN HE IS 12 YEARS OLD.

MOST OF KRUGER'S BOOKS EXPLORED THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN WHITE AND GIBWAY CULTURE.

I ASKED HIM ABOUT WRITING ABOUT THAT CULTURE.

>> WHEN I MADE THAT DECISION, I KNEW NOTHING.

BUT I WAS A CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY MAJOR IN COLLEGE SO THE IDEA OF LEARNING ABOUT THIS CULTURE WAS PRETTY EXCITING AND I BEGAN BY READING EVERYTHING I COULD GET MY HANDS ON ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE CULTURE AND MEETING FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY AND FORMING RELATIONSHIPS THAT HAVE BECOME FRIENDSHIPS OVER THESE YEARS SO AS I GO FORWARD IN THE SERIES, I CONTINUE TO DO MY RESEARCH.

I TRY TO STAY IN TOUCH WITH WHAT'S GOING ON IN INDIAN COUNTRY TO FIND OUT IF THERE ARE ISSUES THAT I NEED TO TALK ABOUT IN MY WORK AND I STAY IN TOUCH WITH MY FRIENDS IN THE COMMUNITY AND THEY ARE SO HELPFUL.

BEFORE DEADLINES, I'LL HAVE AT LEAST ONE OF MY INDIAN FRIENDS, USUALLY TWO, READ MY MANUSCRIPTS TO MAKE SURE I HAVEN'T SAID ANYTHING TOO STUPID OR EVEN WORSE, OFFENSIVE.

♪ JULIE: 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.

DENNY, WDSE IS RECEIVING THE GOVERNOR'S AWARD AT THE MIDWEST EMMY'S IN THE TWIN CITIES THIS WEEKEND FOR THE COVID SPECIAL THAT YOU HOSTED LAST WINTER.

CONGRATULATIONS.

DENNY: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

GREG GURELE WHO PRODUCED THAT PROGRAM IS ALSO COMING ALONG AS WELL AS A NUMBER OF OTHERS FROM THE TV STATION.

IT'S A GREAT HONOR.

WE'RE THRILLED ABOUT IT.

JULIE: IT IS.

CONGRATULATIONS.

THANKS TO OUR GUESTS AND OUR CREW IN THE STUDIO.

WITH DENNIS ANDERSON, I'M JULIE ZENNER, HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!

♪