JULIE: I AM JULIE ZENNER ALONG WITH DENNIS ANDERSON.

HERE IS WHAT IS COMING UP ON "ALMANAC NORTH."

DENNIS: THE CITY OF DULUTH'S "1200 FUND" IS PROVIDING SUPPORT FOR A REGIONAL CHILD CARE SOLUTIONS PILOT PROJECT.

JULIE: THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION HELD A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE POTENTIAL FUTURE OF INTERSTATE 35 THROUGH DULUTH.

DENNIS: AND CHUM IN DULUTH IS GIVING AWAY HUNDREDS OF TURKEY DINNER KITS NEXT WEEK.

WE WILL FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE NEEDS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON.

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

♪ HELLO AND WELCOME TO ALMANAC NORTH."

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

DENNY, WINTER RETURNED WITH A VENGEANCE THIS WEEK.

A LOT OF SNOW IN A LOT OF PLACES AROUND THE REGION.

DENNIS: YES, THAT IS FOR SURE.

THE SNOW CAME, FOLLOWED BY THE COLD.

WE SHOULD BE USED TO THAT BY NOW, BUT IT WAS A BONE CHILLER.

[LAUGHTER] JULIE: LET'S BEGIN WITH THE HEADLINES.

DENNIS: ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, JULIE.

PRELIMINARY PROPERTY TAX LEVIES COMPILED BY THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE SHOW THAT THE OVERALL AVERAGE LEVY WILL INCREASE BY 6% IN 2023.

CITY LEVIES ARE SHOWING THE LARGEST INCREASE AT JUST OVER 9%, WHILE TOWNSHIPS ARE AVERAGING AN INCREASE JUST UNDER 4%.

THE FINAL LEVIES CAN ONLY BE SET LOWER, BUT NOT HIGHER, THAN THE PRELIMINARY LEVIES.

JULIE: ST. LUKE'S IN DULUTH CELEBRATED A MAJOR REMODELING OF ITS INPATIENT HOSPITAL AND ONCOLOGY UNIT THIS WEEK.

THE $1.1 MILLION PROJECT MODERNIZED THE SPACE, ADDED TWO PATIENT ROOMS, AND INCREASED INFUSION THERAPY SEATS TO FIVE.

THE PROJECT IS PART OF ST. LUKE'S "FORWARD INITIATIVE," WHICH INCLUDES TRANSITIONING TO ALL-PRIVATE INPATIENT ROOMS THROUGHOUT THE HOSPITAL.

DENNIS: FOND DU LAC TRIBAL AND COMMUNITY COLLEGE PRESIDENT STEPHANIE HAMMITT PASSED AWAY MONDAY AT THE AGE OF 60.

HAMMITT SERVED THE TRIBAL COLLEGE IN VARIOUS CAPACITIES FOR 30 YEARS AND BECAME INTERIM PRESIDENT OF THE COLLEGE IN 2018.

HAMMITT WAS THE FIRST FEMALE PRESIDENT OF THE COLLEGE.

JULIE: AND THE REGION'S LARGEST HOLIDAY LIGHT DISPLAY IS SET TO OPEN SATURDAY AT BAYFRONT PARK IN DULUTH.

THE 2022 BENTLEYVILLE TOUR OF LIGHTS IS BIGGER AND BETTER THIS YEAR, WITH OVER 5 MILLION LIGHTS.

THE CAN'T-MISS SPECTACLE OF GLOWING LIGHTS AND HOLIDAY SPIRIT RUNS EVERY NIGHT FROM SATURDAY THROUGH DECEMBER 26TH.

DENNIS: OUR REGION'S ECONOMY HAS BEEN HANDICAPPED IN RECENT YEARS BY A LACK OF AFFORDABLE CHILDCARE.

OVER THE PAST YEARS, MANY ORGANIZATIONS HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THE PROBLEM.

THE LATEST EFFORT ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK BY THE NORTHLAND FOUNDATION IS THE "CHILDCARE WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS PILOT PROJECT."

CONTRIBUTING $300,000 TO THE EFFORT.

HERE WITH MORE IS ADAM FULTON, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF PLANNING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WITH THE CITY.

WELL, ADAM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU ON THE SHOW TONIGHT.

SO WHAT IS THE CHILDCARE UP RILEY PROJECT?

--PILOT PROJECT?

ADAM: WE ARE TRYING TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO CHILDCARE.

IT HAS BEEN A CHALLENGE.

THE 1200 FUND TRY TO ESTABLISH WHAT IS THE BEST OPTION FOR CHILD CARE SYSTEM?

THE INITIAL APPROACH WAS TO PROVIDE THAT FUNDING FOR CAPITAL EXPENDITURES, CREATION OF FACILITIES, AND IT WAS QUICKLY REALIZED THAT THERE IS A LACK OF WORKFORCE.

DENNIS: REALLY?

ADAM: THIS PROGRAM IS REALLY TARGETED TOWARD WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS, TRYING TO GIVE DIFFERENT PROVIDERS OPTIONS FOR EXPANDING ACCESS TO CHILDCARE THROUGH HIRING.

JULIE: IS DULUTH ALONE IN HAVING PROBLEMS, WITH RECRUITING CHILDCARE WORKERS, OR IS THERE SOMETHING ELSE?

ADAM: THERE IS A CHALLENGE IN THE CHILDCARE INDUSTRY IN THAT THE WAGES ARE NOT SUFFICIENT TO ATTRACT NEW CHILDCARE EMPLOYEES.

THE GOAL OF THIS PROGRAM WILL BE TO PROVIDE THINGS LIKE WAGE, BONUSES, HIRING BONUSES, RETENTION BONUSES, OTHER WAGE SUPPORTS, THAT WILL PROVIDE GRANTS TO CHILDCARE PROVIDERS FOR, TO EXPAND OPPORTUNITIES TO ACCESS AND STAFFING.

DENNIS: CHILDCARE PROVIDERS ARE LICENSED, ARE THEY NOT?

ADAM: THAT IS CORRECT.

DENNIS: OK. HOW DO THEY DETERMINE HOW MANY CHILDREN EACH CHILDCARE AGENCY IS ALLOWED ADAM: TO TAKE CARE OF?

ADAM:SO THERE IS A STATE RATIO, AND IT DEPENDS ON THE AGES OF THE CHILDREN.

WITH YOUNGER CHILDREN, THE GREATER LEVEL OF STAFFING REQUIRED.

AS WE LOOK AT THIS, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE CHILDCARE ABILITY FOR CHILDREN OF ALL AGES, YOUNGER, WHICH IS A HIGHER STAFFING RATIO, OR A HIGHER RATIO, WHICH IS FOR OLDER CHILDREN.

THESE GRANTS WOULD BE PROVIDED WILL THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR ALL CHILDCARE TYPES.

WE HAVE A NUMBER OF THOSE WITHIN THE CITY, AND THE GOAL OF THE CITY'S PROGRAM IS TO EXPAND ACCESS WITH IN DULUTH, BUT THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THIS PROGRAM WITHIN THE REGION, AND THAT IS WHY THE FOUNDATION IS THE RIGHT AGENCY.

JULIE: THE FOUNDATION IS ACTUALLY ADMINISTERING THE GRANTS OUT OF THE POOL OF MONEY YOU ARE PROVIDING, IS THAT CORRECT?

ADAM: THAT IS CORRECT.

THE 300 THOUSAND DOLLARS PROVIDED BY THE 1200 FUND IS AVAILABLE IN THE CITY OF DULUTH, AND THE GRANTOR AVAILABLE, BETWEEN $1500 TO 12,000 DOLLARS.

JULIE: HOW IS THE LACK OF CHILDCARE IMPACTING THE ECONOMY?

ADAM: BROADER WORLD FOR -- WORKFORCE ISSUES HAVE COME UP SINCE COVID, AND ONE OF THOSE ISSUES AS WE HAVE HAD FEWER PEOPLE IN THE CHILDCARE INDUSTRY.

THERE WAS A LEVEL OF UNCERTAINTY IN THE CHILDCARE INDUSTRY, CHILDREN AND COMMUNICABLE DISEASES.

THAT IMPACTED THE INDUSTRY, AND WE SAW PEOPLE CHANGE CAREERS.

AT THAT HAS CHANGED, AND DISSENTERS AND CHILDCARE PROVIDERS HAVE THOUGHT TO INCREASE STAFFING, THERE HAS BEEN A DEARTH OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE LEFT THE FIELD, BECAUSE THE WAGES ARE INSUFFICIENT.

THIS IS TO HOPEFULLY INCREASE WAGES AND INCREASE ABILITY -- AVAILABILITY OF CHILDCARE.

WE KNOW OTHER PEOPLE ARE STAYING OUT OF THE WORKFORCE MORE BROADLY IN OTHER BUSINESSES BECAUSE THEY DO NOT HAVE SUSTAINABLE CHILDCARE.

DENNIS: HOW IS THIS WORKING?

ADAM: THE FOUNDATION IS THE AGENT, AND THIS IS THEIR PROGRAM.

THE FUNDS HAVE ALREADY GONE FOR THE NORTHLAND FOUNDATION.

THE PROGRAM IS OPEN FOR CHILD CARE FACILITIES TO APPLY NOW.

IT OPENED ON THE 16TH AND IS OPEN THROUGH DECEMBER 13.

IT IS AVAILABLE ON THE NORTHLAND FOUNDATION WEBSITE.

JULIE: IN ADDITION TO FUNDING, THE SELECTIVE PROJECTS ALSO HAVE SOME OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEER LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES AND SOME TRAINING.

CAN YOU GIVE SOME EXAMPLES OF THINGS THAT CAN HELP BOLSTER THE PROGRAMS THEY ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE, AS WELL AS BODIES IN THE SEATS?

ADAM: CHILDCARE IS A BUSINESS, SO THE BUSINESS, YOU KNOW, THERE'S LEARNING REQUIRED RELATED TO HUMAN RESOURCES ISSUES, BUT ALSO THEY HAVE TO DO REGULAR TRAININGS LIKE, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO DO THINGS LIKE RESCUE AND MAKING SURE YOU HAVE GOT BASIC FIRST AID SKILLS.

ANY KIND OF CERTIFICATION THAT REQUIRES THAT, SO THIS TRAINING WILL SUPPLEMENT THAT.

IT IS A COST TO THE ORGANIZATION, THAT THEY DON'T HAVE THE AVAILABILITY TO DO THAT, SO STAFF CAN GET THAT TRAINING ACROSS.

DENNIS: YOU MENTIONED THE 1200 FUND.

WHAT IS THE 1200 FUND?

ADAM: THE 1200 FUND HAS TRADITIONALLY FOCUSED ON THE CREATION OF NEW JOBS IN THE CITY, HISTORICALLY MANUFACTURING TYPES OF OPPORTUNITIES.

BUT DUE TO, YOU KNOW, THINGS THAT HAVE CHANGE IN THE ECONOMY, IT HAS BROADENED ITS FOCUS, AND THAT IS WHY CHILDCARE HAS BECOME A FOCUS MORE RECENTLY, TO MAKE SURE OUR BUSINESSES CAN GROW AND EXPAND IN THE CITY OF DULUTH, BUT MAKING SURE THEY HAVE ACCESS TO EMPLOYEES, AND THE EMPLOYEES REQUIRE THE CHILDCARE, SO THAT IS ALL PART OF THE PROCESS, TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A VIBRANT ECONOMY.

JULIE: HOW ARE THE GRANTS AVAILABLE, AND WHAT IS THE BEST WAY FOR PEOPLE TO ACCESS THEM?

BECAUSE IT IS A PRETTY SHORT WINDOW WHERE THEY CAN APPLY FOR THESE.

SCOTT: THE BEST WAY TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS IS THAT THE NORTHLAND FOUNDATION'S WEBSITE.

YOU CAN CLICK ON THE CHILDCARE TO HAVE, AND NUMBER OF DIFFERENT CHILDCARE OPTIONS ON THE NORTHLAND FOUNDATION, BUT THIS IS THE CHILDCARE WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS GRANT.

GRANTS ARE BASED ON THE SIZE OF THE FACILITY, SO SMALL GRANTS $1500 LEVEL, ALL THE WAY UP TO $12,000 FOR LARGER, CENTER-BASED CHILDCARE FACILITIES.

DENNIS: ALL RIGHT, ADAM FULTON, WE HAVE TO RUN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING WITH US, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF PLANNING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR THE CITY OF DULUTH.

ADAM: THANK YOU.

JULIE: THANK YOU.

♪ MNDOT AND THE METROPOLITAN INTERSECTION -- INTERSTATE COUNSEL HELD A MEETING ON PLANS FOR INTERSTATE 35 IN DULUTH.

COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAD UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN ON A NEW VISION FOR THE FREEWAY.

PRODUCER MEGAN MCGARVEY STOPPED BY THE MEETING TO HEAR FROM EXPERTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT.

♪ MEGAN: THIS NIGHT IS OUR FIRST ENGAGEMENT EVENT FOR OUR I-35 CORRIDOR CLAN, AND IT IS BASICALLY A STUDY LOOKING AT 14 MILES OF INTERSTATE FROM MIDWAY TOWNSHIP, SOUTH OF THE PROCTOR AREA ALL THE WAY THROUGH 20 6TH AVENUE.

NORTH OF THE DOWNTOWN AREA.

AND WE ARE LOOKING AT A LONG-TERM VISION FOR I-35, SO WE ARE JUST STARTING, AND WE ARE REALLY AT THE STAGE WHERE WE ARE JUST COLLECTING INFORMATION ON EXISTING CONDITIONS AND NEEDS AND EVEN OPPORTUNITIES.

THEN WE WILL MOVE INTO A PHASE OF LOOKING AT ALTERNATIVES AND KIND OF TESTING AND COMPARING THOSE AND END WITH RECOMMENDATIONS AND AN IMPLEMENTATION PLAN NEXT FALL.

WE WERE HIRED BY MNDOT AND THE DULUTH SUPERIOR METROPOLITAN INTERSTATE COUNCIL, SO THEY FUNDED THE STUDY, AND WE WERE HIRED THROUGH A COMPETITIVE PROCESS TO LEAD IT.

OUR FIRM AND OUR PARTNERS, WE DO THIS ALL ACROSS THE STATE.

WE MAKE CORRIDOR STUDIES, PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS.

>> REALLY LOOKING AT LONG-TERM PROJECTS, AS FAR AS, WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK OVER THE NEXT 20 YEARS NEEDED ON THE INTERSTATE.

A LOT OF IT IS JUST PRESERVATION RELATED, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES, WHEN YOU DO A PRESERVATION PROJECT, TO INCORPORATE SAFETY, BICYCLE FACILITIES OVER OR UNDER THE INTERSTATE, SO WE ARE REALLY FOCUSED ON PRESERVATION.

>> SO WE CAN DO ALL THE TECHNICAL DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS, BUT WE REALLY DON'T HAVE THAT EXPERIENCE OF LIVING HERE, OWNING A BUSINESS HERE, DRIVING TRUCKS, WALKING, BIKING.

IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO GET THE COMMUNITY INPUT ON WHAT ARE THE NEEDS AND KIND OF TRUTH OUR WORK AND TELL US WHAT ARE THE NEEDS AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT THE COMMUNITY WOULD LIKE TO SEE.

>> WE HAVE HAD A GREAT TURNOUT TONIGHT.

IT IS GREAT TO SEE THE DIFFERENT MODES, PEOPLE FROM THE FREIGHT INDUSTRY ARE HERE, WE HAVE BIPEDS, NORMAL TRAVELING PUBLIC HERE.

IT IS GREAT TO LEARN ABOUT ALL THEIR DIFFERENT NEEDS ALONG THIS CORRIDOR.

>> I THINK THAT BEING OUT OF YOUR CAR OR CONNECT YOU TO THE COMMUNITY.

WHEN I AM BIKING AND WHEN I AM WALKING AT OTHER PEOPLE ARE BIKING AND WALKING, I SAY HI TO THEM, I TALKED TO THEM,, WE ARE PART OF THE COMMUNITY, I GET OFF MY BIKE AND GOING TO A COFFEE SHOP.

I JUST THINK THAT THAT IS THE SECRET TO JUST THAT SENSE OF COMMUNITY THAT YOU DON'T GET WHEN YOU ARE JUST ALL BY YOURSELF IN YOUR CAR, IN A LITTLE BUBBLE, GOING FROM ONE SPOT TO ANOTHER SPOT.

I THINK IT IS THE WAY TO GO, THE WAY OF THE FUTURE, AND ALSO THE WAY OF THE PAST.

I KNOW WE STOPPED DOING IT, BUT NOW I THINK WE ARE GOING TO TRY TO DO IT AGAIN.

[LAUGHS] >> IF YOU'RE DRIVING YOUR CAR, WRITING -- RIDING TRANSIT, WALKING, BIKING, THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT NEEDS FOR HOW TRANSPORTATION SERVICE PEOPLE COME ALONG AND ADJACENT TO I-35.

SO WE ENCOURAGE ALL VOICES.

>> RIGHT NOW, I AM JUST HAPPY TO GIVE INFORMATION TO IT I AM NOT A STUDY PLANNER OR PUBLIC PLANNER, SO I JUST AM REALLY FASCINATED BY THE DETAIL OF THE DATA THAT THEY HAVE HERE.

>> WE ARE REALLY TRYING TO PROVIDE SOME FACTS AND STATISTICS.

WE DO HAVE COUNT ON HOW MANY BIKE-PED USERS ACROSS THE INTERSTATE, SOME OF THE BIKE-RED BRIDGES, WHERE THE TRAVELING PUBLIC IS TRAVELING TO AND GOING FROM ALONG THE CORRIDOR, HOW MANY PEOPLE ACTUALLY TRAVEL TO THE END OF THE INTERSTATE AND HOW MANY GO OFF THE WISCONSIN AREA TO THE DOWNTOWN AREA.

IT IS REALLY HELPFUL TO SEE WHERE THE TRAVELING PUBLIC STARTS AND WHERE THEY GO TO.

SO TONIGHT, WE ARE REALLY GETTING THE INFORMATION FROM THE PUBLIC, AS FAR AS WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE.

WE ARE ABOUT 1/4 OF THE WAY THROUGH THE PLANNING PROCESS.

IT TYPICALLY GOES FOR ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF.

WE LIKE TO ENGAGE WITH MANY DIFFERENT GROUPS ALONG THE CORRIDOR, GET THEIR THOUGHTS, THEIR VISION, THEIR IDEAS, WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE FUTURE OF I-35 LOOK LIKE.

WE ARE REALLY FOCUSING AND FROM ABOUT 20 SIX AVE EAST OUT TO THE MIDWAY ROAD AREA.

SO PROCTOR AND MIDWAY TOWNSHIP AS WELL.

>> I'M JUST REALLY GLAD THIS IS HAPPENING AND THAT PEOPLE ARE REALLY INTERESTED.

IT IS REALLY UPLIFTED TO SEE PEOPLE INTERESTED IN MAKING THEIR COMMUNITY BETTER.

♪ JULIE: MANY OF US WILL BE GATHERING WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS NEXT WEEK FOR A DELICIOUS THANKGSIVING MEAL.

BUT FOR OTHERS WHO ARE HAVING A HARD TIME MAKING ENDS MEET, A TURKEY DINNER MAY BE OUT OF REACH.

WELL, ENTER DULUTH'S CHUM, WHICH IS HANDING OUT HUNDREDS OF FREE THANKSGIVING DINNER BOXES NEXT WEEK.

HERE TO TELL US MORE IS SCOTT VAN DAELE, DIRECTOR OF DISTRIBUTIVE SERVICES AT CHUM.

THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

SCOTT: THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

JULIE: IT IS GOOD TO HAVE YOU.

THIS IS SOMETHING CHUM HAS BEEN DOING FOR QUITE A WHILE, BUT THIS YEAR, THE NEED HAS JUST EXPLODED.

SCOTT: THE NEED HAS JUST EXPLODED FOR EVERYTHING, TURKEYS, JUST YOUR NORMAL FOOD HAS EXPLODED.

SO WE HAVE REALLY TRIED TO STEP UP, AND THAT IS WHY WE ARE TRYING TO CONTRIBUTE 300 TURKEYS AND COMPLETE THANKSGIVING MEAL BOXES TO HIS MANY PEOPLE AS WE CAN.

JULIE: WHERE'D DO YOU GET ALL THE TURKEYS?

[LAUGHTER] SCOTT: THIS IS A PROCESS THAT STARTS A REALLY LONG TIME AGO.

IT STARTS IN JULY.

WE ORDERED 300 TURKEYS.

WE DID NOT KNOW IF WE WOULD HAVE TURKEYS TODAY, TURKEYS TOMORROW, WHO KNOWS WHAT WE WOULD HAVE?

WE START THE ORDERING PROCESS IN JULY, AND CHUM BANKROLLS THAT FOR A WHILE, THEN WE START A MASSIVE FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN FOR PEOPLE TO THEN CONTRIBUTE AND PAY FOR THE BIRDS IN THE LONG RUN.

DENNIS: SCOTT, WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THOSE TURKEY DINNERS?

SCOTT: PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING YOU'D EXPECT, TURKEY, STUFFING, FRESH POTATOES, MACARONI AND CHEESE, APPLESAUCE, CRANBERRY SAUCE, FRESH PUMPKIN PIE, PRETTY MUCH YOU NAME IT, IT IS IN A BOX AND READY TO GO.

DENNIS: ARE THERE ANY ITEMS YOU ARE HAVING A TOUGH TIME GETTING?

SCOTT: NOT FOR THE BOXES.

THE BOXES ARE DONE AND COMPLETED.

IN GENERAL, THE FOOD SHELF IS STRUGGLING JUST FOR THE EVERYDAY NORMAL THINGS WE RELY ON, PEANUT BUTTER, WE HAVE NOT SEEN PEANUT BUTTER INTO WEEKS.

IT JUST IS NOT AVAILABLE.

AND IF IT IS AVAILABLE, IT IS SO EXPENSIVE THAT IT DOES NOT MAKE FINANCIAL SENSE FOR ME TO BUY IT.

DENNIS: WHOA.

SCOTT: PEANUT BUTTER, TUNAFISH, MACARONI AND CHEESE, CHICKEN LITTLE SOUP, STUFF LIKE THAT THAT WE TAKE FOR GRANTED, THE DRY PASTAS THAT WE ARE SO USED TO GOING TO THE STORE AND PICKING UP A FEW BAGS AT A TIME, IS A LOT HARDER FOR US TO KEEP IN STOCK.

JULIE: IS IT BECAUSE DONATIONS ARE DOWN ON THESE ITEMS, OR YOU CAN'T GET THEM THROUGH THE FOOD BANK?

WHAT IS THE SUPPLY ISSUE?

SCOTT: IT IS A LITTLE OF EVERYTHING, RIGHT?

EVERYTHING WENT UP IN PRICE, SO DONATIONS ARE DOWN.

WHEN PEOPLE SAY, I WILL PICK UP A FEW EXTRA BOXES OF SPAGHETTI OR MACARONI CHEESE AT A DOLLAR OR TWO A BOX, IT WAS NOT THAT BIG OF A DEAL IN OUR BOTTOM LINE AS BUILDERS.

NOW, HAVING DROPPED 20%, 30%, 40%, THINGS LIKE THAT, IT BECOMES A LARGER DECISION OF, DO I REALLY WANT TO BUY THAT EXTRA PROJECT TO THEN -- PRODUCT TO THEN JUST GIVE IT AWAY?

DONATIONS ARE DOWN.

SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES ARE EVERYDAY, THEY TUMBLE AND RUMBLE ALL AROUND.

ONE DAY, THERE MIGHT BE A SHORTAGE OF PEANUT BUTTER.

ONE DAY THERE MIGHT BE A SHORTAGE OF MAC & CHEESE.

ONE DAY, TUNAFISH.

IT IS JUST ONE OF THOSE THINGS, RANDOM THINGS THEY POP UP, AND IT HAPPENS.

THE FOOD BANK DOES THE BEST THAT THEY CAN, BUT THEY ARE HAVING A HARD TIME FINDING THE SUPPLY THAT THEY NEED TO SUPPLY THE FOOD SHELF.

DENNIS: CHUM IS NOT JUST ABOUT FOOD.

WHAT OTHER SERVICES ARE PROVIDED BY CHUM?

SCOTT: EVERYTHING, PRETTY MUCH, SHELTER, OUTREACH SERVICES, DROP IN SERVICES, WE OPERATE THE WOMAN CENTER, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE CITY OF DULUTH.

WE HAVE HOUSING AT STEVE O'NEILL AND AT THE ST. FRANCIS APARTMENT.

WE WILL PRETTY MUCH TAKE SOMEONE WHO IS ON THE STREET, LIVING IN A TENT, HANGING AT THE CENTER COME ANYTHING LIKE THAT, WE WILL GRAB THEM FROM THEIR, AND TRY TO WORK THE WAY THROUGH THE SERVICES THAT CHUM PROVIDES, HOPEFULLY TO GET THEM SELF-SUFFICIENT.

DENNIS: TELL US ABOUT THE ST. FRANCIS HOUSING.

YOU DON'T USUALLY HEAR ABOUT THAT.

SCOTT: ST. LUKE'S PURCHASED IT FOR US.

WE USED IT AS A COVERT SHELTER FOR THOSE MOST VULNERABLE DURING THE PANDEMIC.

IT IS MAINLY PEOPLE WHO ARE OLDER AND MORE VULNERABLE IN GENERAL.

THAT IS WHO WE ARE TARGETING IN THAT SECTION RIGHT THERE.

JULIE: YOU MENTIONED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SHOW THAT WINTER WEATHER IS HERE.

IS THIS A PARTICULARLY HARD TIME FOR PEOPLE LIVING ON THE EDGE IN DULUTH, A TIME WHEN SERVICES THAT AGENCIES AND ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS YOURS ARE REALLY STRESSED?

SCOTT: IT IS.

AND NORMALLY -- THIS YEAR WILL BE DIFFERENT, I THINK IT WILL BE DIFFERENT, ONLY IN THE FACT THAT PEOPLE DO NOT HAVE THAT MUCH MONEY NORMALLY THAT THEY WOULD GIVE AT THE END OF THE YEAR.

THIS IS NORMALLY WHEN WE WOULD SEE BIG DONATION DRIVES AND FUNDRAISING DRIVES.

I'M NOT REALLY SURE IF THOSE THINGS WILL EXIST THIS YEAR, JUST BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE STRAPPED FOR THAT MUCH CASH.

THE PEOPLE WE ARE SEEING COMING INTO THE FOOD SHELF HAVE CHANGED DRAMATICALLY, JUST IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS OF WHO WE ARE SEEING AND WHAT THEY DO.

THEY ARE FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES THAT JUST DON'T HAVE, YOU KNOW, ENOUGH MONEY TO COVER.

YOU TALKED EARLIER ABOUT THE CHILD CARE FOLKS.

WE SAW POLICE EARLIER IN DAY CARE CENTERS -- WE SAW PEOPLE EARLIER IN DAY CARE CENTERS, TEACHERS WHO ARE NOT MAKING ENOUGH.

DENNIS: ARE YOU STILL LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS?

SCOTT: VOLUNTEERS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME.

THE EASIEST WAYS TO CALL US AT CHUM WE OFFER VOLUNTEER OPTIONS ON MONDAYS, TUESDAYS, AND THURSDAYS ARE THE BIG DAYS PEOPLE COME IN, AND WE CAN PACK AS MUCH FOOD INTO BOXES AS WE CAN, SO WE CAN JUST GET AWAY.

JULIE: DO YOU THINK THAT THE COMMUNITY IS MAKING PROGRESS WHEN IT COMES TO BATTLING HUNGER AND HOMELESSNESS?

SCOTT: I THINK IN SOME WAYS IT IS.

I THINK THE COST OF THESE ITEMS TO SOLVE SOME OF THESE PROBLEMS ARE BECOMING SO OUT OF REACH THAT EVEN MUNICIPALITIES AND NOT FIND A SOLUTION.

BUT I THINK WE ARE MAKING HEADWAYS.

I MEAN, I THINK WE ARE MOVING TOWARD, AT LEAST IN THE FOOD WORLD, WE ARE MOVING TOWARD A MORE HEALTHY OPTION FOR PEOPLE.

YOU ARE NOT SO STUCK INTO THE BOXES AND THE CANS SPEWED WE ARE GOING MORE TOWARD FRESH AND THINGS THAT ARE KEEPING PEOPLE HEALTHY, AND THAT, IN TURN, KEEPS THEM HEALTHY AND OUT OF HOSPITALS AND DOING ACTIVITIES AND DOING THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE ARE MAKING PROGRESS.

I DO NOT KNOW IF WE ARE MAKING GIANT HEADWAYS.

LATER ON COME AT THE END OF THE YEAR, WE WILL SEE NUMBERS, RIGHT NOW, WE ARE 1.5 MILLION MORE FOOD SHELF VISITS ACROSS THE STATE OF MINNESOTA THAN WE WERE AT THIS TIME LAST YEAR.

DENNIS: REALLY?

SCOTT: SO THAT IS A HUGE NUMBER WE WILL HAVE TO TRY TO TACKLE.

JULIE: WE ARE ALMOST OUT OF TIME, BUT HOW DO PEOPLE GET THE BOXES?

SCOTT: WE GIVE THEM AWAY MONDAY, NEXT WEEK, STARTING AWAY AT 10:00 A.M., AND THEN WE WILL GIVE THEM AWAY AT THE DOWNTOWN CHUM FOOD SHELF STARTING AT 10:00 AS WELL.

JULIE: SCOTT, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

GOOD LUCK WITH THE HOLIDAYS.

SCOTT: THANK YOU.

DENNIS: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

IT IS TIME NOW FOR VOICES OF THE REGION, WHEN WE HERE FROM AN AREA JOURNALIST ABOUT STORIES THEY ARE COVERING.

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

♪ DANIELLE: AFTER AN EXPLOSION FOUR YEARS AGO, WISCONSIN'S ONLY OIL REFINERY IN SUPERIOR IS ENTRAPPED TO START A EARLY NEXT YEAR, AND THE FACILITY IS SET TO RESUME OPERATIONS IN THE FIRST FEW MONTHS OF 2023.

ENERGY, HUSKY ENERGY -- MEDIUM ENERGY, WHICH ACQUIRED HUSKY ENERGY LAST YEAR, IS ROCKING UP A $1.2 BILLION REBUILD OF THE FACILITY, AND THE REFINERY HAS BROUGHT CRUDE OIL INTO THE TANKS AND ARE FILLING UP THEIR FACILITY TO PREPARE FOR RESUMING OPERATIONS NEXT YEAR.

THE EXPLOSION IN 2018 INJURED AND THREE DOZEN PEOPLE AND PROMPTED AN EVACUATION, AND LABOR REGULATORS SAY THIS COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED IF THE REFINERS HAD MAINTAINED CRITICAL EQUIPMENT.

CENOVUS SAYS IT HAS ADDRESSED ALL FEDERAL WORKERS SAFETY RECOMMENDATIONS, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THE FEDERAL CHEMICAL SAFETY BOARD HAS YET TO RELEASE A FINAL REPORT ON THE FINDINGS OF THEIR INVESTIGATION OF WHAT CAUSED THE EXPLOSION, AND THEY HAVE PREVIOUSLY SAID A VALVE LIKELY LEAD TO THE INCIDENT, AND IT IS POSSIBLE SUPERIOR RESIDENTS CAN FINALLY GET ANSWERS ON THAT.

THE BOARD UPDATED THEIR TIMELINE AND PLAN TO ISSUE A REPORT BY THE END OF THE YEAR.

THAT REPORT HAS BEEN DELAYED MULTIPLE TIMES DUE TO STAFFING ISSUES AND A BACKLOG IN THE INVESTIGATION.

♪ AS HEATING COSTS ARE SET TO SPIKE THIS WINTER, COUNTY AGENCIES ARE SEEING MORE DEMAND FOR ENERGY ASSISTANCE TO KEEP IT DOWN, AND HIGHER FUEL PRICES ARE EXPECTED TO DRIVE UP THOSE COSTS.

FEDERAL DATA SHOWS THE AVERAGE HOME THAT HEATS WITH NATURAL GAS IN THE MIDWEST IS ROUGHLY ABOUT TO SPEND $1000 THIS WINTER, AND THAT IS ABOUT 1/3 HIGHER THAN LAST WINTER.

IN NORTHERN WISCONSIN, BAYFIELD COUNTY HAS ALREADY PAID OUT BENEFIT TO 378 HOUSEHOLDS.

THE COUNTY'S ENERGY ASSISTANCE WORKERS, 39% FROM THE SAME TIME LAST YEAR.

THE COUNTY HAS THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN A LITTLE MORE PANICKED THIS YEAR BECAUSE OF THE NEWS OF HIGHER ENERGY COSTS, AND PEOPLE WERE RUSHING TO GET IN AND FILL OUT THOSE APPLICATIONS RIGHT AWAY.

THE STATE, WISCONSIN HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, PROVIDES A ONE-TIME PAYMENT FOR PEOPLE TO HELP KEEP THEIR HEATING COSTS DOWN, FOR THOSE WHO QUALIFY, AND THE AVERAGE BENEFIT THIS YEAR'S EXPECT IT TO BE ABOUT $372.

PEOPLE WHO MAKE 60% OR LESS OF THE STAPLES THE MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME ARE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY.

♪ THE NINE DAY GUN DEER SEASON IS KICKING OFF THIS WEEKEND, AND THE WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT NATURAL RESOURCES EXPECTS TO SELL ABOUT 550,000 LICENSES THIS YEAR.

LAST YEAR, THE AGENCY SOLD AROUND 564,000 GUN DEER LICENSES FOR THE SEASON, AND THAT WAS A DROP FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR, BECAUSE THEY SAW INCREASED SALES DUE TO THE COVID-19 PLANDEMIC, WHEN MORE PEOPLE WERE GETTING OUTDOORS -- COVID-19 PANDEMIC, WHEN MORE PEOPLE WERE GETTING OUTDOORS.

LAST YEAR WAS DOWN ABOUT 7% FROM 2020.

THIS YEAR'S SEASON IS EXPECTED TO BE SIMILAR TO THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, WITH ONLY MINOR CHANGES TO BAITING AND FEEDING IN NORTHERN WISCONSIN.

THE PRACTICE IS STILL PROHIBITED IN MOST COUNTIES ACROSS THE STATE, WITH ONLY 17 COUNTIES THAT ALLOW BAITING AND FEEDING, PRIMARILY HERE IN NORTHWESTERN WISCONSIN.

COLD WEATHER AND SNOW IS EXPECTED TO DRIVE MORE FOR HUNTERS THIS YEAR, BUT THE ONE OUTLYING FACTOR COULD BE WINDSPEED.

SO THE DNR SAYS IF IT IS WINDY, THAT COULD AFFECT YOUR MOVEMENT AND THE HUNTERS SUCCESS.

♪ JULIE: WE ARE OUT OF TIME, BUT IT IS EASY TO 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.

WELL, DENNY, "ALMANAC NORTH" IS OFF NEXT WEEK DUE TO THANKSGIVING, SO OUR NEXT SHOW IS GOING TO BE DECEMBER 2ND.

DENNIS: HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO YOU, JULIE, AND WE CERTAINLY HOPE ALL OF YOU HAVE A GREAT THANKSGIVING AS WELL.

JULIE: YES, INDEED.

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

WITH DENNIS ANDERSON, I AM JULIE ZENNER.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

WE WILL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.

♪