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

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

JULIE: VOTERS IN THE DULUTH SCHOOL DISTRICT HAVE TWO REFERENDUM QUESTIONS ON THEIR BALLOT NEXT WEEK.

WE'LL FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THEM.

DENNIS: A STRIKE THAT CLOSED THE ST. LAWRENCE SEAWAY IS OVER, BUT RIPPLE EFFECTS COULD STILL BE FELT IN THE TWIN PORTS.

JULIE: AND MINNESOTA HUNTERS ARE GEARING UP FOR THE FIREARMS DEER SEASON OPENER ON SATURDAY.

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

♪ HELLO WAS AGAIN AND WELCOME TO -- HELLO ONCE AGAIN AND WELCOME TO "ALMANAC NORTH."

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

JULIE, THERE ARE A LOT OF HUNTERS EAGERLY ANTICIPATING FIRST LIGHT SATURDAY MORNING!

JULIE: YES, THERE ARE, AND THERE ARE A LOT OF DEER THAT WILL BE HIDING.

[LAUGHTER] DENNIS: LET'S GET STARTED WITH THE HEADLINES.

JULIE: THANKS, DENNY!

MORE THAN 400,000 DEER HUNTERS ARE PREPARING FOR THIS WEEKEND'S FIREARMS DEER SEASON OPENER IN MINNESOTA.

SOME AREAS OF NORTHERN MINNESOTA HAVE MANDATORY CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE TESTING OPENING WEEKEND, SO BE SURE YOU KNOW THE REGULATIONS WHERE YOU ARE HUNTING.

WE WILL HAVE MORE ON DEER SEASON OPENING WEEKEND LATER IN THE SHOW.

DENNIS: THE DULUTH BRANCH OF THE NAACP AND THE DULUTH POLICE DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY REVISIONS TO THE DEPARTMENTS VEHICLE AND PEDESTRIAN STOP POLICIES.

OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, THE NAACP AND OTHER GROUPS HAVE WORKED WITH THE DULUTH POLICE TO ELIMINATE STOPS BASED SOLELY ON RACE.

THE CITY HAS AGREED TO IMPLEMENT THE NEW STOP POLICY JANUARY 1ST.

JULIE: IN A SIGN OF THE SEASON, THE DULUTH SALVATION ARMY'S RED KETTLE CAMPAIGN KICKS OFF NEXT WEEK WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF THE ARMY'S "RED KETTLE QUEEN."

THE QUEEN WILL DEBUT AT THE RED KETTLE CARNIVAL AT BAYFRONT PARK NEXT WEDNESDAY FROM 5:00 TO 8:00 P.M.

THE RED KETTLES WILL BE OUT BEGINNING NOVEMBER 11TH, WITH THE ARMY SETTING A $225,000 KETTLE GOAL FOR THIS HOLIDAY SEASON.

DENNIS: AND SET A REMINDER ON YOUR PHONE TO ROLL BACK YOUR CLOCKS ONE HOUR THIS SATURDAY NIGHT.

THAT'S RIGHT, DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME OFFICIALLY ENDS THIS SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 5TH AT 2:00 A.M., WHEN CLOCKS FALL BACK TO STANDARD TIME.

OTHERWISE, YOU MIGHT SHOW UP FOR CHURCH AN HOUR EARLY ON SUNDAY MORNING!

JULIE: ELECTION DAY IS NEXT TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7TH, WITH THE DULUTH MAYOR'S RACE DOMINATING LOCAL NEWS COVERAGE.

BUT VOTERS WHO LIVE IN THE DULUTH SCHOOL DISTRICT WILL HAVE TWO REFERENDUM QUESTIONS ON THEIR BALLOT TO DECIDE ON.

HERE TO TELL US MORE ABOUT THE REFERENDUM IS JOHN MAGAS, SUPERINTENDENT OF DULUTH PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

WELCOME.

THANKS FOR BEING HERE!

SUPT.

MAGAS: THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

JULIE: CAN YOU GIVE KIND OF A BRIEF RECAP OF WHAT YOU ARE ASKING VOTERS TO CONSIDER?

SUPT.

MAGAS: SURE.

WE CAME OUT WITH OUR STRATEGIC PLAN THAT HAS THREE MAIN AREAS, SUPPORTING EVERY STUDENT, IT EQUITY, AND IMPROVING SYSTEMS.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE RESOURCES NEEDED.

WE DID HAVE TEMPORARY FUNDING FROM THE COVID PANDEMIC, AND THAT WAS ABOUT $30 MILLION, BUT ALL THAT MONEY WAS MEANT TO BE SPENT BY JEN 30TH OF 2024, SO WE ARE COMING AGAINST THAT DEADLINE.

-- JUNE 30 OF 2024, SO WE ARE COMING AGAINST THAT DEADLINE.

AS A SCHOOL DISTRICT, WE DID NOT HAVE DEVICES WE NEEDED, AND WE ALSO NEEDED MONEY FOR ACADEMIC SUPPORT AND MENTAL HEALTH, SO WE ARE ASKING THE VOTERS TO SUPPORT TWO QUESTIONS WANT TO CONSIDER TWO QUESTIONS, I SHOULD SAY, ON THE REFERENDUM.

THE FIRST ONE FOCUSES ON ACADEMIC SUPPORTS, MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORTS, AND NEUHEISEL SCHEDULE.

THE SECOND ONE FOCUSES ON THE TECHNOLOGY NEEDS OF THE DISTRICT.

DENNIS: JOHN, IS ONE REFERENDUM DEPENDENT ON THE OTHER.

SUPT.

MAGAS: NO.

IN SOME CASES THEY ARE, IN THIS CASE, YOU CAN VOTE YES, YES, NO, NO, OR YES, NO, SO YOU CAN VOTE EITHER WAY OUT EITHER QUESTION.

JULIE: YOU TALKED ABOUT THE COVID EMERGENCY FUNDING, WHICH WAS A ONE-TIME EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND.

YOU KIND OF WORK YOUR WAY THROUGH THE PANDEMIC, THAT WAS A SHORT-TERM HELP.

IS IT REASONABLE FOR VOTERS TO EXPECT THAT MAYBE AT THE END OF THE PANDEMIC, THINGS KIND OF ROLE BACK TO WHAT THE ORIGINAL BUDGET WAS?

SUPT.

MAGAS: YEAH, AND I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING TO CONSIDER, AND IT IS WHY IT IS AN IMPORTANT QUESTION FOR OUR VOTERS FOR WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS AND ACADEMIC NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS COME AND IF TO ANY FAMILY WHO HAS HAD KIDS GO THROUGH THE PANDEMIC OR IF YOU HAVE TO ANY EDUCATORS, YOU WILL FIND THAT THE RESULT OF THE PANDEMIC WERE MUCH MORE LONG-LASTING.

IN FACT, THE MONEY THAT WAS GIVEN FOR THIS WAS GIVEN, YOU KNOW, SUMMER, JUNE, BASICALLY, OF 2020.

SINCE THAT TIME, BASICALLY AT THAT TIME, WE THOUGHT THE PANDEMIC WAS GOING TO BE GONE COME OVER WITH BY FALL, AND IT LASTED ANOTHER YEAR AND A HALF.

SO THE EFFECTS ARE STILL THERE, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE SUPPORTS TO REALLY ELEVATE AND HELP OUR KIDS.

ALSO, WHAT THIS HAS DONE IS ALLOW FOR FOUNDATIONAL THINGS WE HAVE MADE AS A DISTRICT.

WE HAVE NEVER HAD ONE TO ONE DEVICES.

WE HAVE NOT HAD THE TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT.

AND WE HAVE NOT HAD THE MENTAL HEALTH AND ACADEMIC SUPPORT THAT WE NEED, SO IT IS A RELATIVELY SMALL ASKED PROPORTIONALLY, SO IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO CONSIDER.

WE KNOW THERE ARE TAX IMPLICATIONS, AND WE KNOW THAT TIMES ARE TIGHT, AND THAT IS AN IMPORTANT FACTOR AS WELL.

DENNIS: YOU BRING UP A GOOD POINT, JOHN.

WHAT KIND OF PROPERTY TAXES WOULD COME FROM VOTING ON THESE?

SUPT.

MAGAS: ONE THING PEOPLE DO NOT ALWAYS UNDERSTAND IS EVEN OF THE ASSESSED VALUES HAVE GONE UP AND HAVE VALUES OF GOING UP, THE MONEY THAT THE DULUTH PUBLIC SCHOOLS RECEIVES, IT IS BASED ON A SET PROPORTION RATHER THAN GOING UP PERCENTAGEWISE.

SO THE SLICE OF THE PIE THAT WE HAVE GOTTEN, EVEN THOUGH TAXES ARE HIGHER, IS NOT NECESSARILY LARGER THAN WHAT WE WOULD HAVE RECEIVED PREVIOUSLY.

BUT FOR THE AMOUNTS, THE MEDIAN HOME PRICE, THE ASSESSED VALUE, IS $289,000 IN DULUTH, SO QUESTION ONE WOULD COST ABOUT ONE DOLLAR, AND QUESTION TWO WOULD BE ABOUT $10 AND $.85 FOR THAT HOME.

WE HAVE A TAX CAP YOU LATER ON HER WEBSITE, SO PEOPLE CAN SEE EXACTLY HOW MUCH.

JULIE: PEOPLE ARE ASKING ABOUT THE PROCEEDS.

WEREN'T THOSE DESIGNED TO MAYBE GO TOWARD REDUCING THE DEBT, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE QUESTION DEALS WITH REFINANCING THE DEBT FOR THE DISTRICT.

SUPT.

MAGAS: SURE.

THAT COULD NOT GO TOWARD REDUCING DEBT.

I CAN ONLY BE USED ON CAPITAL PROJECTS, SO WE CAN BE USED ON BUILDINGS WERE BUYING THINGS.

SO IT COULD OFFSET SOME THINGS, AND WE ARE USING IT TO OFFSET SOME OF THE TECHNOLOGY NEEDS RIGHT NOW.

IF THE REFERENDUM DOES NOT PASS, WE WILL BE LOOKING AT, JUST FOR THIS NEXT YEAR, REDUCING OUR STAFF BY ABOUT 22 POSITIONS, AND THEN OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT FOUR TO FIVE YEARS, WE WILL BE REDUCING OUR $132 MILLION BUDGET BY ABOUT $20 MILLION.

THAT IS ABOUT 200 POSITIONS.

DENNIS: ARE OUR SCHOOLS ON SOUND FINANCIAL FOOTING OR ARE THEY IN TROUBLE?

SUPT.

MAGAS: WE'VE GONE FROM HAVING A FINE BALANCE OF $300,000 TO HAVING A FINE BALANCE OF -- FUN BALANCE OF NEARLY $8 MILLION.

WE WILL BEGIN SPENDING THAT DOWN IS THE -- IF THE REFERENDUM DOESN'T GO THROUGH.

MOODY'S DOES A BOND RATING, AND WE HAVE HAD A JUMP, BECAUSE WE ARE HANDLING THINGS IN A MUCH MORE FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE MANNER THAN WE HAVE IN THE BASKET PART IS BECAUSE OUR STUDENT FIBRILLATION HAS GONE UP, AND PARTED BECAUSE WE DID SELL PROPERTIES THAT MOODY'S DID NOT FEEL IT WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR US TO KEEP HANGING ONTO.

JULIE: WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THIS DOES NOT PASS.

WHAT IF IT DOES PASS?

WHAT IS THE VISION?

WHAT DOES IT BRING TO THE DISTRICT AND TO THE STUDENT?

SUPT.

MAGAS: THAT'S GREAT.

WE HAVE READING INTERVENTIONIST AND MATH INTERVENTIONISTS, WERE ABLE TO KEEP ADDITIONAL SOCIAL WORKERS AND COUNSELORS WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HIRE, AS WELL AS SUPPORT SPECIALISTS.

IT WILL ALSO GIVE US A BRAND-NEW HIGH SCHOOL SCHEDULE.

RIGHT NOW, OUR HIGH SCHOOL SCHEDULE IS ABOUT AN HOUR SHORTER THAN MOST OTHER DISTRICTS.

IT WILL GIVE US MORE TIME WITH OUR KIDS, TO ALLOW THEM TO HAVE GREATER ELECTIVE CHOICE AND REALLY ENGAGE MORE DEEPLY IN THEIR LEARNING.

IT ALSO, THE TECHNOLOGY PORTION IS NOT JUST ABOUT DEVICES, BUT WE DID NOT HAVE DEVICES DURING THE PANDEMIC.

WE WERE ACTUALLY DELIVERING PHOTOCOPIED PACKETS, BECAUSE WE DID NOT HAVE DEVICES, BECAUSE OF THE LAST REFERENDUM NOT GOING THROUGH.

BUT WE HAVE ONE-TO-ONE DEVICES NOW FOR OUR STUDENTS.

IT IS ALSO ABOUT CYBERSECURITY.

CYBERSECURITY IS A VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE FOR US.

WE HAVE HUNDREDS OF ATTEMPTS EACH YEAR OF TRYING TO INFILTRATE THE SYSTEM, AND LARGE SYSTEMS LIKE LOS ANGELES YOU KNOW MY OR SCHOOLS SOMETIMES HAD DECADES OF DATA, COPY, VERY SENSITIVE DATA.

RECORDS AND THINGS LIKE THAT ARE PUT OUT THERE.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THAT, THE FUNDING IS NOT JUST ABOUT THE DEVICES COMMITS ABOUT MAKING SURE WE HAVE WHAT OUR KIDS NEED.

DENNIS: JOHN, TAXPAYERS ARE PAYING OFF 100 -- $140 MILLION IN DEBT FROM WHAT WAS KNOWN AS THE RED PLANTED WIDE WE STILL HAVE FINANCIAL CHALLENGES?

SUPT.

MAGAS: PART OF THAT WAS TWICE MADE LONG AGO, RIGHT?

OR AT LEAST B FAR BEFORE I WAS HERE.

THERE WERE SITUATIONS THAT, BASICALLY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TOOK ON A LOT AT THAT THAT COMES RIGHT OUT OF OUR GENERAL FUND.

THE GENERAL FUND IS USUALLY MEANT TO PAY FOR ALL OF THE STUDENT NEEDS, ONGOING.

BECAUSE OF THE RED PLAN, WE'VE BEEN PAYING THAT OFF AS A GHOST, KINDA LIKE HAVING A LARGE CREDIT CARD DEBT OVER YEARS AND YEARS, IT TAKES A WHILE TO PREVENT AND TAKE CARE THAT.

BECAUSE OUR BOND RATING HAS IMPROVED, IT PUTS US IN A GREAT PLACE TO REFINANCE SOME OF THAT, TAKE THAT BURDEN OFF, AND WE WILL ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO PAY THAT DEBT OFF IN THE SAME AMOUNT OF TIME WE WOULD HAVE WITHOUT THIS VOTE.

SO BY ASKING THE QUESTIONS THE WAY WE DID COMMIT WE HAD GONE THROUGH A STRAIGHT TECHNOLOGY REFERENDUM AND OPERATIONAL LEVY FOR OTHER PIECES, THE COST WOULD HAVE BEEN ABOUT TWICE TO TAXPAYERS WHAT IT IS.

BUT KNOWING WHERE PEOPLE ARE AT WITH THE TAXES, WE KNEW WHAT THE DISTRICT NEEDED, BUT WE ALSO WANTED TO BE RESPONSIBLE PHYSICALLY TO OUR TAXPAYERS.

JULIE: ALONG THE WAY, WITH THE DEVELOPMENT ALONG THE LONG-RANGE PLAN, YOU INVITED THE PUBLIC TO BE INVOLVED IN THAT PROCESS.

WHAT ARE YOU HEARING AS YOU ARE COMING TOWARD THE FINISH LINE ON THIS?

SUPT.

MAGAS: I CERTAINLY DON'T WANT TO COUNT OUR CHICKENS OR JINX IT, BUT I'M HEARING POSITIVE THINGS FOR PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY.

OF COURSE WE ARE HEARING PEOPLE THAT HAVE CONCERNS.

SOME OF THE CONCERNS SEEM TO BE MORE BLANKETED, LIKE "WE DON'T TRUST THE DISTRICT," THINGS LIKE THAT.

I WOULD SAY, TAKE A LOOK AT US NOW.

TAKE A LOOK AT OUR WEBSITE, FUTUREFORWARD709.ORG, AND THAT HAS A LOT OF QUESTIONS ANSWERED THAT SHOULD GET TO THE BOTTOM OF WHAT PEOPLE ARE ASKING.

BUT, AGAIN, WE'RE NOT ASKING PEOPLE TO VOTE YES OR NO, WE ARE JUST TRYING TO GET INFORMATION OUT THERE SO PEOPLE CAN KNOW WHICH WAY THEY WANT TO GO WHEN THEY GET TO THE BALLOT BOX.

JULIE: THANK YOU SO MUCH.

GOOD LUCK SUPT.

MAGAS: SUPT.

MAGAS: GOING FORWARD.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

DENNIS: IT IS A HUGE PLEASURE.

SUPT.

MAGAS: THANK YOU.

♪ DENNIS: IT "VOICES OF THE IS TIME NOW FOR REGION", WHEN WE HEAR FROM AN AREA JOURNALIST ABOUT STORIES MAKING NEWS.

THIS WEEK, OUR GUEST IS MARSHALL HELMBERGER, PUBLISHER OF THE "TIMBERJAY NEWS" IN TOWER.

MARSHALL: WE WERE REPORTING ON THIS LAST WEEKEND'S DOUBLE HOMICIDE IN BABBITT, WHERE 54-YEAR-OLD ROGER ALLEN IS IN CUSTODY AT THE ST. LOUIS COUNTY JAIL FOR ALLEGEDLY BLUDGEONING AN ELDERLY COUPLE TO DEATH IN THEIR HOME ON A QUIET STREET.

CLIFFORD AND CHRISTINE GEORGIA -- JOHNSON WERE BOTH FOUND DECEASED TWO YEARS AGO.

BELDO HAD BEEN APPARENTLY RENTING A ROOM FROM A COUPLE USING A SECTION EIGHT VOUCHER.

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE COUPLE AND BELDO HAD APPARENTLY SOURED, AND HE HAD BEEN POSTING ON FACEBOOK, SEEKING A ROOM ELSEWHERE.

HIS LAST POST ON FACEBOOK WAS OCTOBER 26, TWO DAYS PRIOR TO THE MURDERS.

BABBITT POLICE WENT TO JOHNSON'S RESIDENCE AROUND OCTOBER 20 EIGHTH, AFTER BELDO SHOWED UP IN DULUTH AFTER HAVING CALLED 911 DISPATCH SEVERAL TIMES TO CONFESS THAT HE HAD DONE IT.

♪ WE ARE ALSO REPORTING ON THE APPROVAL BY THE DNR OF AN EXPLORATORY DRILLING PLANNED BY FRANCONIA MERRILL, A WHOLLY-OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF TWIN BILL'S -- TWIN MILLS, ALLOWING FRANCONIA TO EXPLORE UNDERNEATH BIRCH LAKE.

IT IS TWIN METALS' EFFORTS TO DEVELOP A COPPER NICKEL MINE ON A NEARBY DEPOSIT.

THIS COULD BE THE ONE CONTROLLED BY TWIN METALS, BUT THE COMPANY COULD EXPLORE AND POTENTIALLY MINE IN THE FUTURE, EVEN WITH THE MINERAL WELL IN PLACE.

IT HAS A LOAD THAT IS KNOWN TO BE QUITE DEEP, LOCATED MANY FEET DOWN.

IT IS LOCATED DEEP DOWN, AND IT IS NOT AS FULL AS THE OTHER DEPOSITS.

AT THIS POINT, MOST OF THE BIRCH LAKE DEPOSIT QUALIFIES AS AN INFERRED RESOURCE, WHICH IS THE LOWEST LEVEL OF CERTAINTY IN THE MINING INDUSTRY.

WHILE MANY APPROVE OF THE FRANCONIA DRILL PLAN, THE APPROVAL DOES NOT ALLOW FOR MINING, ACCORDING TO THE AGENCY, FRANCONIA HOLDS VALID MINERAL LEASES IN THE AREA AND HAS A RIGHT TO CONDUCT THE DRILLING PROPOSALS ON SUCCESSFUL SITES.

♪ FINALLY, WE ARE REPORTING ON THE OPENING OF THE REGULAR FIREARMS DEER SEASON ON SATURDAY.

THE PAST COUPLE OF WINTERS HAS LEFT THE DEER POPULATION BADLY DEPLETED IN OUR REGION, AND THAT MEANS HUNTERS WILL HAVE TO WORK HARDER AND PERHAPS STAY ON THERE STANDS A BIT LONGER THEY HOPE TO HAVE A SUCCESSFUL SEASON.

HUNTERS ARE DEALING WITH THE FACT THAT SOME OF THE PERMIT ZONES IN OUR AREA ARE LIMITED TO A RELATIVE NUMBER OF ANTLER PERMITS.

THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT THE FORECAST CALLS FOR SOMEWHAT WARMER TEMPERATURES THAN WE HAVE RECENTLY, WITH HIGHS IN THE MID TO UPPER 30'S, AND ONLY SLIGHT CHANCES FOR SOME MIXED PRECIPITATION, SO IT SHOULD BE GOOD CONDITIONS FOR HUNTERS OUT ON THE STANDS.

♪ DENNIS: ON MONDAY, A SETTLEMENT WAS REACHED IN A STRIKE OF CANADIAN WORKERS THAT SHUT DOWN THE ST. LAWRENCE SEAWAY SYSTEM FOR SEVERAL DAYS.

SHIPPING TRAFFIC IN AND OUT OF THE GREAT LAKES WAS BACKED UP DURING THAT STRIKE, CAUSING A RIPPLE REACTION THAT LED ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE TWIN PORTS.

HERE WITH THE LATEST SHIPPING NEWS IS DEB DELUCA, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE DULUTH SEAWAY PORT AUTHORITY.

WELCOME.

GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

DEB: THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME AGAIN.

DENNIS: WHAT ROLE DID THE LOCAL PORT PLAY IN RESOLVING THE STRENGTH, IF ANY?

DEB: WE PLAYED A SURPRISINGLY BIG ROLE.

WHEN THIS RIGHT HAPPENED, TRAFFIC SEIZED, BUT THERE WAS ALSO REAL IMPACT BETWEEN THE UNION REPRESENTATIVE OF LABORS THAT WORK FOR THE ST. LAWRENCE SEAWAY MANAGEMENT CORPORATION, A PRIVATE ENTITY THAT MANAGES THE SYSTEM ON THE CANADIAN SIDEKICK THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT HAD NOT GOTTEN INVOLVED TO RESOLVE THAT.

THEY WORK FOR SEVERAL DAYS TO WORK FOR AN AGREEMENT, HAD NOT GOTTEN THERE.

OUR COMMUNITY COUNTERPARTS ASKED THE U.S.

PORTS TO GET INVOLVED AND PUT PRESSURE ON, AND WE DID.

I WAS VERY PROUD THAT WE WERE THE FIRST PORT AUTHORITY TO GET A LETTER THROUGH THE LABOR MINISTER IN CANADA ASKING THEM TO TAKE ACTION AND HELP RESOLVE THE SITUATION IMMEDIATELY.

I GOT THE FIRST PRESS RELEASE OUT.

ALL THE OTHER PORTS WERE RIGHT ALONG WITH US, THE AMERICAN GATEWAY SOURCE ASSOCIATION.

THEY CALLED SEC.

BUTTIGIEG, WHO PUT PRESSURE ON AS WELL, AND ALSO CONTACTED THE LABOR MINISTER.

SO WE HEARD FROM OUR COUNTERPARTS THAT THAT PRESSURE WAS IMPORTANT TO RESOLVE, PUTTING PRESSURE TO BRING THEM TO THE TABLE.

THERE WERE FIVE DAYS THEY WERE NOT NEGOTIATING.

JULIE: AS FAR AS THE IMPACT IT WOULD HAVE HERE LOCALLY?

DEB: OF COURSE WE WERE CONCERNED.

THERE HAD NOT BEEN A SHUTDOWN OF THE SYSTEM SINCE 1968 FOR A LABOR IMPASSE.

THERE WERE 2 -- THE TIMING WAS KIND OF GOOD FOR US, FOR AS LONG AS THE STRIKE LASTED, THERE WERE TWO SHIPS IN PORT THAT WERE HEADED OUT, AND THEY WERE ABLE TO HEAD TOWARD THE ATLANTIC OCEAN, AND THEY GOT AS FAR AS LAKE ONTARIO BEFORE THEY GOT STUCK.

I SHOULD SAY LAKE ERIE.

THEY CANNOT GET TO LAKE ONTARIO.

THEY GOT STUCK AT THE CANAL.

BUT SEVERAL SHIPS WERE WORKING THEIR WAY TOWARD US.

WE WERE NOT SLOWED ALL THAT MUCH.

IT WAS A LUCK OF TIMING AND ALSO A MATTER OF WHERE WE ARE IN THE SYSTEM, SO WE HAD THAT LITTLE BIT OF SLOP IN BETWEEN THERE WERE 100 SHIPS STUCK AT DIFFERENT JUNCTURES WITHIN THE SYSTEM.

DENNIS: I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU WHAT IMPACT DID THIS RIGHT CALF, BUT APPARENTLY IT WAS SIGNIFICANT -- THE STRIKE HAVE COME BUT APPARENTLY WAS SIGNIFICANT.

DEB: THINK ABOUT IT, ALL THE TRADE CEASED AT THE PORTS COMMANDED ALSO MITT TRUCKERS DID NOT HAVE LOADS TO DELIVER EITHER TO THE PORT OR A WAVE FROM THE PORT.

-- AWAY FROM THE PORT.

PILOTS WERE NOT WORKING.

PEOPLE WHO WERE NOT PART OF THE STRIKE WHOSE JOBS WERE HALTED.

JULIE: HOW OFTEN DOES IT TAKE FOR THE BACKLOG TO KIND OF WORK ITS WAY THROUGH THE SYSTEM?

I HATE TO THINK ABOUT WINTER APPROACHING, BUT WINTER IS APPROACHING.

IS THIS GOING TO IMPACT THE REST OF THE SEASON IN TERMS OF HAVING TO GET ALL OF THE SHIPS AT A LATER DATE?

DEB: WELL, THE SHIPS STARTED MOVING AGAIN MONDAY MORNING.

THE TRAFFIC IS PRETTY MUCH BACK TO NORMAL NOW.

THE TWO SHIPS HERE IN PORT ARE ON THEIR WAY TO THE ATLANTIC OCEAN, SO, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A DELAY.

IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT EVERY DAY, WE ARE STILL LATE IN THE SEASON, EVERY DAY IS ABOUT 2% OF THE REMAINING TIME LEFT.

IT IS GREAT THAT THEY DID HAVE A PLAN TO GET IT MOVING QUICKLY, AND THEY DID A GOOD JOB.

BOTH THE U.S. AND THE CANADIAN SIDE OF THE ST. LAWRENCE SEAWAY.

JULIE: YOU REPORTED THAT THE REPUTATION OF THE ENTIRE GREAT LAKES SHIPPING SEASON, DO YOU THINK THERE COULD BE LONG-TERM RESIDUAL EFFECTS TO THIS?

DEB: YEAH.

WE ARE ALWAYS CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.

YOUR REPUTATION IS EVERYTHING.

RELIABILITY INTEREST STATION IS EVERYTHING.

SO IF THERE IS A STRIKE, AND THAT HALTS THE TRAFFIC, ESPECIALLY AT THIS TIME OF YEAR, WHEN HARVEST IS AT ITS PEAK AND GRAIN IS GOING OUT, WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.

ANOTHER INDUSTRY THAT WAS FRUSTRATED WAS THE CRUISE INDUSTRY.

OF COURSE WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.

DENNIS: WAS THERE AN UPTICK THIS YEAR IN FOREIGN VESSELS ENTERING THE PORT?

DEB: NO, IT WAS PRETTY MUCH CONSISTENT WITH WHAT WE HAVE BEEN SEEING.

JULIE: WHILE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT TRAFFIC MOVING, THERE WAS NEWS RECENTLY ABOUT THE TWIN PORTS INTERCHANGE BEING INDEFINITELY HALTED FOR A WHILE, BECAUSE THERE WERE SOME HISTORICAL FINDINGS ON THE SITE.

THE PORT HAS BEEN SUCH A STRONG ADVOCATE TO KEEP THIS PROJECT MOVING FORWARD, AND SO MUCH OF IT HAS BEEN DESIGNED FOR WHAT YOU DO, GETTING THINGS IN AND OUT.

DEB: THE HEART OF THE TWIN PORTS INTERCHANGE WAS DESIGNED AROUND THE TURNING RADIUS OF THE TRUCK TO CARRY THE HEAVY LOADS OUT OF THE PORT.

WE ARE VERY EAGER TO SEE THE SITUATION RESOLVED AND CONSTRUCTION STARTED AGAIN.

JULIE: WE HAVE NOT HAD YOU WANTS IS THE WAREHOUSE EXPANSION.

WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THAT?

DEB: 50,000 SQUARE FEET OF THE OPEN -- I LOSING TRACK OF MY MONTHS.

[LAUGHTER] END OF AUGUST, BEGINNING OF SEPTEMBER.

I WAS PART OF A FERTILE GRANT WE RECEIVED BACK IN 2020 -- OUR FEDERAL GRANT WE RECEIVED BACK IN 2020.

TODAY WE OPENED IT, IT WAS FILLED.

OPERATORS, MULTIMODAL LOGISTICS HUBS, WE SUPPORT TRUCK, RAIL, MARITIME, INTERMODAL CONTAINER TRAFFIC, A LOT ABOUT.

WE HAVE VERY COMPETITIVE REAL RATES.

-- RAIL RATES AT OUR TERMINAL.

OUR OPERATOR DOES A GREAT JOB OF MANAGING THAT WAREHOUSE SPACE.

DENNIS: ANY BIG PROJECTS NEXT YEAR?

DEB: WE JUST FOUND OUT TODAY WE DID NOT GET A FEDERAL GRANT WE APPLIED FOR, WE WERE HOPING TO DO ANOTHER 100,000 SQUARE FEET, AND WE'VE ALREADY LEASED MORE WAREHOUSE SPACE SINCE WE FINISHED THAT EXPANSION.

DENNIS: WE HAVE TO RUN WITH THAT.

DEB DELUCA, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE DULUTH SEAWAY PORT AUTHORITY.

ALWAYS NICE TO HAVE YOU HERE.

DEB: THANK YOU.

JULIE: AS WE MENTIONED EARLIER IN THE SHOW, MINNESOTA DEER HUNTERS WILL BE OUT THIS WEEKEND, HOPING FOR A SUCCESSFUL SEASON.

WHETHER YOU ARE A VETERAN DEER HUNTER OR A NEWCOMER, THE MINNESOTA DNR HAS SOME TIPS FOR A SAFE, LEGAL HUNT.

>> HUNTERS, THIS YEAR SHOULD MAKE A PLAN BEFORE THEY DEER HUNTER.

THEY SHOULD KNOW IF THERE ARE ANY TESTING REQUIREMENTS, AND IF SO, WHERE TO GET YOUR DEER TESTED.

IF THERE IS ANY CARCASS RESTRICTIONS, KNOW WHAT THE RULES AND REGULATIONS ARE FOR THAT.

ALSO, IF THERE ARE ANY FEEDING AND TRAPPING BANDS IN YOUR COUNTY, KNOW WHICH COUNTIES HAVE THOSE BANDS IN PLACE.

>> THE MOST COMMON INJURY WE SEE OUR FALLS FROM TREE STAND, SO MAKE SURE YOUR STANDARDS IN GOOD WORKING ORDER BEFORE GETTING OFF IN SEASON, AND WHERE IN THE STAND WILL USE A SAFETY HARNESS.

TO KEEP THEMSELVES FROM FALLING OUT.

.

FOLLOW THE BASICS OF.

FIREARM SAFETY.

BE VISIBLE TO HUNTERS.

THE MOST COMMON VIOLATION IS HUNTING OVER BAIT.

IT GENERATES THE MOST TO CALLS, BECAUSE IT AFFECTS ALL THE HUNTERS IN THE AREA, NOT JUST THE ONES USING THE BAIT.

.

WE TAKE HUNTING OVER BAIT VERY SERIOUSLY, IF THERE IS A CHANCE YOU USE HUNTING OVER BAIT, THE REGULATION WILL KNOW ABOUT IT.

THEY PUT OUR POPULATION AT RISK, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE PRESENT IN THE SAME OR BETTER OPPORTUNITY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS OF HUNTERS.

DENNIS: NOW REMEMBER, YOU CAN KEEP UP WITH "ALMANAC NORTH" BY FOLLOWING US ON FACEBOOK AND X.

LOOK TO THE PBS NORTH WEBSITE FOR PROGRAM UPDATES, NEWS ABOUT THE STATION, AND OUR UPCOMING EVENTS.

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

JULIE, THERE'S A BIT OF A WARM-UP FORECAST FOR THE WEEKEND, THAT SHOULD MAKE HUNTERS REASONABLY HAPPY.

JULIE: NOT JUST HUNTERS.

I THINK IT WILL MAKE EVERYBODY HAPPY.

I'M NOT A HUNTER, BUT I'M EAGER TO GET OUT.

DENNIS: ALL RIGHT.

WITH JULIE ZENNER I'M DENNIS ANDERSON.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

GOOD NIGHT, EVERYONE, AND BE KIND!

♪