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

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

JULIE: WE WILL HAVE DETAILS ON MONDAY'S MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY EVENTS AND LEARN WHY HONORING THE SLAIN HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST IS SO IMPORTANT.

DENNIS: WE WILL TAKE YOU TO FAR NORTHEASTERN MINNESOTA FOR LAST WEEKEND'S RUNNING OF THE GUNFLINT MALE -- MAIL SLED DOG RACE.

JULIE: AND WE WILL TALK WITH THE LEADERS OF THE LAKE SUPERIOR ZOO ABOUT GOALS FOR THE ZOO IN 2023.

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

♪ DENNIS: HELLO, AND WELCOME TO ALMANAC NORTH.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR WATCHING.

JULIE, A RELATIVELY MILD WEEK IN OUR REGION FOR MID-JANUARY.

JULIE: IT FEELS ABSOLUTELY MARVELOUS.

LOVE TO GET OUTSIDE.

DENNIS: JANUARY IS USUALLY A COLD MONTH.

LET'S BEGIN WITH THE WEEK'S HEADLINES.

JULIE: THANKS, DENNIS.

GOVERNOR TIM WALZ SIGNED THE FIRST BILL OF THE 2023 MINNESOTA LEGISLATIVE SESSION THURSDAY, PUTTING THE STATE IN CONFORMITY WITH FEDERAL TAX LAW.

THE BILL HAD TO BE PASSED THIS WEEK SO THE STATE'S 2022 TAX FORMS CAN BE ADJUSTED IN TIME FOR FILING.

THE MEASURE PASSED THROUGH THE HOUSE AND SENATE QUICKLY WITH OVERWHELMING BIPARTISAN SUPPORT, GOOD NEWS FOR MINNESOTA TAXPAYERS.

DENNIS: WISCONSIN GOVERNOR TONY EVERS THIS WEEK SIGNED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER BANNING TIK-TOK AND CERTAIN OTHER TECHNOLOGIES FROM STATE-ISSUED DEVICES.

THE BAN COMES AFTER RISING CONCERNS BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT TIK-TOK AND OTHER APPS POSE POTENTIAL CYBER SECURITY THREATS.

GOVERNOR EVERS SAID HE MADE THE DECISION ON THE BAN AFTER CONVERSATIONS WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND THE FBI.

JULIE: THE SOO LOCKS ARE SET TO SHUTDOWN ONE-MINUTE BEFORE MIDNIGHT SUNDAY, CLOSING INTERLAKE SHIPPING TRAFFIC ON LAKE SUPERIOR FOR THE SEASON.

THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS ANNUALLY CLOSES THE LOCKS TO CONDUCT CRITICAL MAINTENANCE.

THE LOCKS WILL REOPEN MARCH 25TH TO COMMENCE THE 2023 GREAT LAKES SHIPPING SEASON.

DENNIS: AND ESSENTIA HEALTH MADE A DONATION THIS WEEK TO THE SENATOR DAVID TOMASSONI "BRIDGE OF PEACE" MEMORIAL PROJECT TO BE BUILT IN CHISHOLM.

THE $20,000 GIFT PUSHED THE TOTAL DONATED TO NEARLY THREE-QUARTERS OF THE $400,000 PROJECT COST.

A MEMORIAL ARCH AND RECREATIONAL PLAZA ARE SCHEDULED TO BE BUILT ON THE LONGYEAR LAKE CAUSEWAY IN CHISHOLM THIS SUMMER.

JULIE: THIS MONDAY MARKS THE OBSERVANCE OF MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR DAY IN THE UNITED STATES.

THE TWIN PORTS HAS A FULL DAY OF ACTIVITIES PLANNED FOR THE MLK HOLIDAY TRIBUTE, INCLUDING A COMMUNITY BREAKFAST, A MARCH, AND RALLY.

HERE TO TELL US MORE IS CLASSIE DUDLEY, THE PRESIDENT OF THE DULUTH BRANCH OF THE NAACP.

AND JAMIE SHARP IS A MEMBER OF THE LOCAL NAACP EXECUTIVE BOARD.

WELCOME, THANKS FOR BOTH OF YOU COMING IN.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

JULIE: THE KING -- THE THEME IS KEEP MOVING FORWARD.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

>> WE HAVE GOT TO KEEP PUSHING FORWARD.

A LOT OF ARTICLES WERE 2022 WERE MET AT HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO.

WE NEED COMMUNITY SUPPORT, OUR ALLIES AND COMMUNITY TO COME TOGETHER SO WE CAN KEEP PUSHING OUR AGENDA AND MAKING SURE DULUTH IS EQUITABLE FOR ALL.

JULIE: WHAT IS SOME OF THE PROGRESS YOU HAVE SEEN HAPPENING?

>> I AM A LIFELONG DULU -- LIFE LONG DULUTHIAN.

SOME OF OUR GREAT ACHIEVEMENTS, DO YOU WANT TO JUMP IN?

>> MOST NOTABLY RECENTLY WE WERE ABLE TO SEE CORRECTIONAL CARE, A REALLY POOR RECORD CORRECTIONAL COMPANY THAT WAS PROVIDING CARE LOST THEIR CONTRACT WITH THE COUNTY AFTER WE FOUGHT TIRELESSLY TO SET UP A NEW CONTRACT WITH ST. LUKE'S AND MAJOR THE INMATES ARE GETTING THE HEALTH CARE THEY DESERVE.

WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CONTINUE CONVERSATIONS IN THE COMMUNITY ABOUT DISPARITIES THAT EXIST IN POLICING.

WE WERE ABLE TO FIGURE OUT ONE IN FIVE BLACK STUDENTS IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IN 2021 AND 2022.

TICKETS WHILE AT SCHOOL WHILE ONLY 140 -- ONE IN 140 WHITE STUDENTS GOT THOSE TICKETS.

WE ARE STARTING THAT NARRATIVE IN TOWN, FOR A LONG TIME IT WAS SOMETHING JUST FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY BEING AFFECTED WERE THE ONES TALKING ABOUT IT, BUT AS A WHOLE PEOPLE WERE DENYING THAT IT HAPPENED.

DENNIS: TALK TO US ABOUT THE COMMUNITY BREAKFAST BEING HELD ON MONDAY.

>> WE HAVE A PACKED WEEKEND.

MONDAY MORNING, 7:00 A.M. SHARP, NO REST FOR THE WEARY.

WE ARE AT THE FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, WE HAVE A GUEST SPEAKER, VALERIE, THE CEO OF THE BARACK OBAMA FOUNDATION.

DENNIS: WHAT ARE YOU EXPECTING TO HEAR?

>> THE WORDS OF MLK, AND WE KEEP PUSHING FORWARD, CHANGE FOR THE FUTURE AND TO CALL TO PEOPLE WHO SAY THEY ARE FOR EQUITY OR INSTITUTIONS OR ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE EQUITY, INCLUSION, AND DIVERSITY WITHIN THEIR MISSIONS, REALLY TO ACTIVATE THEM AND NOT JUST BE ONE DAY.

JULIE: ARE YOU SEEING THE COMMUNITY STARTED TO EMBRACE THE EVENTS FOR MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY IN RECENT YEARS?

ARE MORE PEOPLE COMING OUT, MORE DIVERSE PEOPLE COMING OUT TO PARTICIPATE?

NAACP HAVE ALWAYS HAD A REALLY GREAT TURNOUT, BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN OUR WHITE ALLY'S DAY TO SHOW UP AND SUPPORT AND DO VOLUNTEERISM AND WORK, AND WE ARE TRYING TO SHAVE THAT FOR TO BE NOT JUST ONE DAY BUT EVERY DAY.

WHILE WE ARE HAPPY AND WE WANT PEOPLE TO COME TO MLK AND THAT IS THE START OF IT, THAT ONE DAY MEANS LESS TO US NOW THAN IT DID BEFORE.

DENNIS: WHAT WILL THE RALLY IN DECK SYMPHONY HALL INCLUDE?

>> STARTING AT 10:00 PEOPLE WILL GATHER AT THE WASHINGTON CENTER AND MARCH TO THE DECK.

THERE WILL BE A KEYNOTE SPEAKER, PASTOR ANTHONY GALLOWAY, AND A GOSPEL CHOIR, COMMUNITY ART, AND THE EVENT I WILL BE SHOWING UP FOR IS TO HEAR PRESIDENT DUDLEY SPEAK.

JULIE: WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE?

>> TO ACTIVATE AND ADDRESS SOME OF THE ISSUES WE ARE SEEING IN OUR COMMUNITY.

JULIE: YOU MENTIONED THIS ONE DAY IS LESS AND LESS IMPORTANT TO YOU.

HOW CAN PEOPLE TAKE THAT A STEP FURTHER AND REALLY GO OUT AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT DOES HONOR TO MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. AND HIS MEMORY?

>> THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS WE COULD BE DOING.

WE COULD BE SHOWING UP TO EQUITY COMMUNITIES AND DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS PUSHING FORTH THAT AGENDA.

YOU COULD SUB AT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, COACH, GET ACTIVE IN THE COMMUNITY, AND ESPECIALLY WITH YOUTH AT RISK WHO NEEDED THE MOST.

SHOW UP TO CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS AND PUSH FOR AN EQUITABLE AGENDA.

THERE IS SO MUCH MORE TO DO WITH IMPORTANT RACES COMING UP IN OUR COMMUNITY, IT IS NO TIME LIKE TODAY TO GET INVOLVED AND MAKE SURE THE PEOPLE WE ARE VOTING FOR ARE NOT JUST SAYING IT.

AT THE ART LIVING AND BREATHING EQUITY.

>> WE ARE LOOKING TO OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS TO DOUBLE DOWN ESPECIALLY ON A LOT OF THINGS WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, WHETHER IT IS PROVIDING ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO THE COMMUNITY CRISIS RESPONSE SERVICE, AN ALTERNATIVE POLICE SERVICE THAT PROVIDES MENTAL HEALTH, SUBSTANCE ABUSE, HOUSING THAT WE WERE ABLE TO INCREASE FUNDING FOR.

DENNIS: LET ME FOLLOW UP ON THAT.

HAS THE STATE LEGISLATURE BEEN OPEN AT ALL TO RACE AND JUSTICE ISSUES?

>> OF COURSE, I DO NOT THINK I HAVE HEARD A SINGLE SENATOR SAY THAT THEY ARE NOT FOR THIS, BUT I COULD CARE LESS WHAT PEOPLE SAY.

I AM ENVISIONING WHAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO DO OR ARE CURRENTLY DOING, AND THAT IS WHAT WE NEED TO STOP FOCUSING ON ESPECIALLY IN OUR COMMUNITY.

THE NAACP, WE ARE NONPARTISAN, BUT WE NOTE DEMOCRATS HAVE THIS AGENDA.

LET'S SEE YOU DO THAT, IT LETS YOU PUSH FOR EQUITY IN OUR COMMUNITY.

DENNIS: OUR YOUNG ADULTS ARE STARTING TO BE DISCHARGED?

>> I THINK YOUNG ADULTS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN AT THE HEAD OF THIS CHARGE.

IT WAS STUDENTS GETTING THEIR FACES SPENT AT AND PUSHING FOR THE AGENDA.

YOU HAVE ALWAYS BEEN HERE, AND WE ARE SEEING THAT WITH THE NAACP NOW.

JULIE: WHAT ABOUT THE NUMBER OF WHITE ALLIES?

ARE MORE AND MORE PEOPLE FINDING IT IS AN IMPORTANT THING TO DO?

>> DULUTH IS A VERY WHITE CITY, SO WE NEED WHITE PEOPLE TO PUSH FOR AND NOT BE SHY ON THESE ISSUES AND NOT STRAY AWAY FROM THEM.

WE NEED THEM TO STAND UP AND SAY SOMETHING AT ALL TIMES, NOT JUST SOMETIMES.

>> IT IS IMPORTANT TO SHOW UP LIKE SHE IS SAYING BUT ALSO IN THOSE PLACES WE OCCUPY EVERY SINGLE DAY, POSITIONS OF POWER, MAKING SURE WE ARE CREATING SPACES AT THE TABLE FOR THE COMMUNITY, NOT JUST CREATING POSITIONS AT THAT CHECK THE BOX BUT HAVING PEOPLE THERE AND FOLLOWING THEIR LEAD, FOLLOWING THEIR VISION TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITY A BETTER PLACE FOR EVERYONE.

>> PEOPLE DO NOT REALIZE NAACP IS A VOLUNTEER LED ORGANIZATION.

WE ARE GETTING ALLIES WHO WERE BEING PAID AT THE TABLE TO DO THIS, WE NEED THEM TO WORK HARDER THAN WE ARE.

I HAVE TO GIVE A BIG SHOUT OUT TO MY BRANCH AND MY BOARD AND DOUG, WHO HAS PUT A LOT OF THIS TOGETHER FOR THE RALLY.

JULIE: ON THAT NOTE, IF PEOPLE WANT MORE INFORMATION THEY CAN GO TO YOUR WEBSITE.

DENNIS: THANK YOU, A WONDERFUL DISCUSSION.

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

THIS WEEK WE TALKED WITH AUTHOR AND COLUMNIST AARON BROWN IN NORTHERN ITASCA COUNTY.

♪ >> A NEW YEAR IS UPON US, AND THAT MEANS A NEW LEGISLATIVE SESSION IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA WHERE THEY ARE FORMED BY DIFFERENT LEGISLATURE FROM LAST YEAR.

IN EASTERN MINNESOTA, A LOT OF NEW MEMBERS WILL BE IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE THIS YEAR, INCLUDING A LOT MORE REPUBLICANS.

FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE BEFORE WORLD WAR II A MAJORITY OF THE RANGE DELEGATION IS NOW REPUBLICANS, AND THAT HAS MEANT A FEW THINGS.

IT MEANS MOST OF THE RANGE DELEGATION IS THE MINORITY WITH THE DIFFERENT PARTY, AND IT MEANS THERE IS ONLY ONE CHAIR OF A COMMITEE FROM THE IRON RANGE, THE STATE REPRESENTATIVE IS CHAIR OF THE PROPERTY TAX COMMITTEE, WHICH IS AN IMPORTANT COMMITTEE IN THE STATEHOUSE, BUT HE IS THE ONLY ONE BECAUSE OF ALL OF THOSE NEW MEMBERS AND LESS SECURITY AND CLOUD.

THIS HAS HIT WORLD MINNESOTA BIG THIS YEAR BECAUSE SO MANY OF OUR WORLD MINNESOTA'S DISTRICTS HAVE SWUNG TO THE REPUBLICANS.

WHEN DFL HOLDS A MAJORITY THEY FIND THEMSELVES ON THE OUTSIDE.

IT IS A PROBLEM BOTH REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS ARE THINKING ABOUT , HOW DO YOU REPRESENT WORLD MINNESOTA BETTER IN THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES.

IT COULD BE A DIFFICULT YEAR FOR SOME RURAL ISSUES AS A RESULT.

♪ THE IRON RANGE RESOURCES AGENCY, A STATE AGENCY THAT SERVES THE IRON RANGE TAX RELIEF AREA HAS A NEW COMMISSIONER.

SHE WAS THE RAMS RANGE ASSOCIATION MUNICIPALITY AND SCHOOL DIRECTOR.

NOW SHE IS A COMMISSIONER OVERSEEING AN AGENCY THAT DELIVERS ECONOMIC RELEVANT AND PUBLIC WORKS SPENDING USING TAXES, AND IT IS A BIG ROLE.

IT HAS BEEN HELD BY MARK PHILLIPS OVER THE LAST TWO TERMS.

IT IS ONE OF THOSE IMPORTANT ROLES, IT IS KIND OF THE PIVOT POINT FOR PUBLIC SPENDING THAT COMES THROUGH THE TAX, A UNIQUE LOCAL TAX AT THAT THEN GETS FILTERED THROUGH THE STATE GOVERNMENT.

IT IS THE ONLY AGENCY LIKE THIS IN THE WHOLE COUNTRY, AND THEY PLAY A BIG ROLE IN DEVELOPING NEW IDEAS FOR THE RANGE.

THE QUESTION, THE CRITICISM HAS BEEN ARE THEY DOING ENOUGH TO DIVERSIFY THE ECONOMY, ARE THEY ADDING A LOT OF NEW ACTIVITY TO THE RANGE ECONOMY?

SHE WILL BE A YOUNGER VOICE, ONE OF THE VERY FEW WOMEN TO SERVE IN THE ROLE, BRINGS A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE.

SHE HAS, OF COURSE, DAUGHTER OF THE LATE STATE REPRESENTATIVE.

THE FAMILY AS A STORY OF POLITICAL HISTORY IN MINNESOTA.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT SHE DOES WITH THIS NEW TITLE IN HER ROLE HERE AT THE IRON RANGE.

♪ CLEVELAND CLIPS HAS IDLED ITS NORTH SHORE MINE.

IT IS REALLY NOT CLEAR WHEN THE NORTH SHORE MINE, WHICH HAS A MINE IN THE AREA AND A PROCESSING PLANT, WHEN THEY WILL REOPEN.

THERE ARE ONE OF THE HIGHER COST MINES AMONG THE MINES IN EASTERN MINNESOTA.

THAT MEANS A LOT OF WORKERS, MORE THAN 400, ARE LAID OFF IN THIS PROCESS, AND THEY HAVE NOW HIT NINE MONTHS ON UNEMPLOYMENT, WHICH MEANS THEY ARE ABOUT TO LOSE THEIR UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS.

THERE IS A BILL IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE TO EXPAND OR EXTEND EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS, BUT THE MAKEUP HAS CHANGED, AND THE DELEGATION.

IT WILL BE SOMETHING TO SEE WHAT THE NEW DELEGATION DOES IN THE FACE OF THIS ONGOING ECONOMIC SITUATION, AND THAT IS NOT THE ONLY MINE ON THE BUBBLE.

ANOTHER HAS BEEN RUNNING NEAR ITS ACCESSIBLE ORE EXPENDITURE, RUNNING NEAR THE END OF ITS MINE PLAN.

THEY NEEDED MORE ORE.

THE CEO HAS SAYS THE FUTURE DEPENDS ON THE ORE IN ITASCA COUNTY.

WE ARE ALL WAITING TO SEE IF THE MINNESOTA SUPREME COURT WILL RULE ON THE APPEAL OF THE STATE MINING LEASES PULLED FROM IT WHEN IT FAILED TO DELIVER ITS FINANCIAL PROMISES.

♪ JULIE: THE LAKE SUPERIOR ZOO HELD ITS ANNUAL MEETING LAST NIGHT, AS THE ZOO'S BOARD REVIEWED THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE PAST YEAR.

THE ZOO HAS COME A LONG WAY SINCE THE DEVESTATING FLOOD OF 2012, AND IT HAS MORE GOALS AHEAD FOR 2023.

HERE TO TELL US MORE IS HALEY HEDSTROM, LAKE SUPERIOR ZOO'S CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER.

AND JOEY IS THE CHAIR OF THE LAKE SUPERIOR'S ZOO BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

THANK YOU FOR COMING IN.

THE ZOO IS LOVED IN THIS COMMUNITY.

YOU JUST HAD YOUR ANNUAL MEETING.

WHAT ARE THE HIGH POINTS COMING OFF OF 2022?

WHAT WAS ACCOMPLISHED?

>> AS WE GO INTO OUR 100TH YEAR, WE LOOKED BACK TO LAST YEAR AND IT WAS OUR ACCREDITATION.

THAT WAS OUR BIGGEST ACCOMPLISHMENT, AND IT WAS QUITE INTERESTING, A LONG JOURNEY, BUT AS WE LOOK AT BEING THE ONLY ACCREDITED FACILITY IN MINNESOTA WE HOLD THE GOLD STANDARD OF ANIMAL WELFARE AND HEALTH CARE, AND THAT GUIDES EVERY DECISION.

JULIE: WHAT GOES INTO THAT ACCREDITATION PROCESS?

>> TO KEEP IT SHORT AND THERE IS AN APPLICATION THAT IS ABOUT 30 PAGES AND 300 400 PAGES OF DOCUMENTS SUBMITTED AS WELL AS A HEARING WE GO TO AT THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE.

IT IS A COUPLE OF YEARS OF PREPARATION AND A LOT OF WORK AND INVESTING MONEY IN REVITALIZING AND KEEPING THE ZOO A GREAT PLACE FOR EVERYONE AND THE ANIMALS.

DENNIS: THE LAKE SUPERIOR ZOO IS THE 19TH OLDEST ZOO IN THE UNITED STATES.

TALK TO US ABOUT THE RICH HISTORY OF THE DULUTH ZOO.

>> IT IS THE 19TH OLDEST, AND WE ARE SO PROUD THAT IT IS BASED RIGHT HERE IN DULUTH AND AT THE TIP OF LAKE SUPERIOR.

THE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN SO GREAT IN COMING TO SUPPORT THE ZOO OVER OUR 99 LONG YEARS HERE, AND WE ARE EXCITED TO CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD.

JULIE: WHAT PEOPLE REALLY WANT TO HEAR ABOUT, RED PANDAS.

[LAUGHTER] >> WE FIND RAISED -- FUNDRAISED FOR THE EXHIBIT LAST YEAR ARE COMING WITH LOCAL VENDORS, AND WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO EXACTLY WILL BE JOINING US AND GETTING THE EXHIBIT OPEN THIS SPRING.

JULIE: WHAT WILL THAT EXHIBIT BE LIKE?

>> I CAN TAKE THAT.

AS WE LOOK AT IT WE WENT TO MAKE IT NATURAL.

A GREAT HABITAT FOR THESE TWO RED PANDAS, WHICH ARE CRITICALLY ENDANGERED.

WE NOT ONLY WANT TO PROVIDE A GREAT SPACE AT THE GREAT EXHIBIT FOR PEOPLE TO SEE BUT OF COURSE FOR THOSE RED PANDAS.

WE WILL HAVE SPACES FOR PEOPLE TO TAKE BEHIND THE SCENES TOURS.

DENNIS: A BIT OF SAID NEWS, THE POLAR BEAR BERLIN, WHO WAS A ZOO RESIDENT MANY YEARS AGO, JUST RECENTLY PASSED AWAY IN KANSAS CITY, AGE 33.

HOW POPULAR WAS BERLIN AT THE ZOO?

>> BERLIN AND BUBBA WERE SO POPULAR.

WE WENT TO THE ZOO ALL THE TIME AND THAT IS WHAT I PICTURE WHEN I THINK OF THE ZOO OF THE 1990'S, THE TWO BEARS AND THEIR BIG RED BALL AND THROWING THE BALL BACK AND FORTH AND THEN JUMPING OFF OF THE ROCK INTO THE WATER.

THOSE ARE MY FONDEST MEMORIES IN THE COMMUNITY SHARED PLAN TO GET THE MEMORIES ON FACEBOOK.

JULIE: WERE YOU SURPRISED AT THE OUTPOURING OF LOVE FOR BERLIN?

>> I WOULD NOT SAY SURPRISED.

I WOULD SAY HUMBLE AND THANKFUL THAT SO MANY PEOPLE CONNECTED WITH AN ANIMAL.

THAT IS WHAT ZEUS ARE HERE FOR --- ZOOS ARE HERE FOR.

WE ARE HERE TO FOSTER EMPATHY SO THEY CARE MORE ABOUT ANIMALS AROUND THE WORLD.

DENNIS: HOW MANY ANIMALS DO YOU HAVE THE ZOO?

>> 140 SPECIES.

OUR MOST FAMOUS RIGHT NOW ARE BROWN BEARS, THOSE ARE THE BIGGEST ONES.

JULIE: ARE THERE NEW THINGS COMING UP THIS YEAR?

>> WE HAVE OUR TRAIL PROJECT, WHICH WILL CONNEC THE AUSTRALIA SIDE OF THE ZOO, AND YOU WILL HAVE TO COME AND SEE FOR YOURSELF, RIGHT?

[LAUGHTER] JULIE: THAT IS A PERFECT 15 SECOND ANSWER.

DENNIS: THE NEW YEAR MEANS THE BEGINNING OF SLED DOG RACING IN OUR REGION.

THOSE FURRY FOUR-LEGGED ATHLETES AND THEIR MUSHERS HAVE ALREADY STARTED THEIR ROUNDS WITH THE FIRST RACE OF THE SEASON, THE GUNFLINT MAIL RUN.

PRODUCER MEGAN MCGARVEY AND OUR ALMANAC NORTH TEAM BROUGHT THIS REPORT BACK FROM THE TRAIL.

♪ >> WE ARE CELEBRATING CANINE ATHLETES AND THEIR HUMANS TODAY WITH THE 2023 GUNFLINT MAIL RUN TERESA -- RUN DAG -- DOG SLED RACE.

-- IT IS CALLED THE MAIL RUN BECAUSE IT CELEBRATES THE TRADITION OF MAIL BACK IN THE DAY PRE-CAR BEING TRANSPORTED BY DOG TEAMS IN THE WINTER.

IT TRIES TO CARRY ON THAT SPIRIT AND TRADITION.

I THINK THIS RACE MIGHT HAVE STARTED BEFORE THE BEAR GREASE AND HAD A SIMILAR THEME.

THE RACE HAS BEEN MANY DIFFERENT ITERATIONS OVER THE YEARS.

IT USED TO RUN FROM GRANDMA ARRAY -- GRAND MURRAY.

IT HAS BEEN EVERYWHERE.

IN THE LAST SEVEN OR EIGHT YEARS WE HAVE MORPHED INTO THE ACT WE ARE USING TODAY.

IT IS UP AND BACK TWICE, SO IT IS NOT REALLY A LOOP.

THEY RUN A SECTION OF SNOWMOBILE TRAIL TO A TURNAROUND POINT AND THEY COME BACK AND DO A MANDATORY LAYOVER AND THEN THEY DO THAT SAME BIG AGAIN.

THEY ARE DOING THE FIRST LEG DURING DAYLIGHT, AND TYPICALLY MOST RACERS TAKE OFF AS THE SECOND LEG KICKS OFF, AND THEY COME BACK IN THE DARK.

WE HAD 30 TEAMS THIS YEAR.

THERE ARE 17 TEAMS COMPETING IN THE EIGHT DOG RACE AND 13 DOGS IN THE 12 DOG -- 13 TEAMS IN THE 12 DOG RACE.

IT IS A REALLY GOOD TRAINING RACE IN SOME WAYS, BECAUSE IT IS AN EARLY-SEASON RACE, IT IS PRETTY MUCH THE FIRST RACE OF THE YEAR FOR MOST MUSHERS.

THERE IS ANOTHER RACE IN MICHIGAN AND THEY HAD TO CANCEL BECAUSE THEY HAD NO SNOW.

BECAUSE WE HAVE GOOD, SOLID SNOW, GOOD ICE ON POPLAR LAKE WE ARE RELIABLE TO PULL OFF THE RACE AT THE BEGINNING OF JANUARY.

WE OFTEN TALK ABOUT IT AS BEING A WILDERNESS RACE BECAUSE IT IS SO REMOTE, AND IT IS TAKING PLACE IN A PART OF THE STATE AND IN THE REGION THAT NOT MANY PEOPLE GET TO ACTUALLY.

I THINK IT IS THE MORE REMOTE NATURE OF IT THAT WE LIKE ABOUT IT.

IT DOES FOLLOW A SNOWMOBILE TRAIL, IT IS NOT HIGH TRAVELED ON THE SECTION THAT WE PUT THE RACE ON.

WE DO NOT USE SPOT TRACKING DEVICES, WE ARE KIND OF OLD SCHOOL, AND THAT IS A CONSCIOUS DECISION WE HAVE MADE.

WE USE RADIO OPERATORS TO CHECK IN AND REPORT WHERE TEAMS ARE AT , SO WE PROVIDE A SAFE RACE BUT IT IS KIND OF OLD SCHOOL.

WE HAVE RIGHT NOW I WOULD SAY BETWEEN 80 AND 90 VOLUNTEERS THAT HAVE WORKED EITHER FROM MORE OF AN ADMINISTRATIVE PERSPECTIVE TO ROAD CROSSINGS TO HANDLERS GETTING TEAMS INTO THE CHUTE TODAY.

THERE ARE PEOPLE DOING JOBS EVERYWHERE RIGHT NOW AND HAVE BEEN OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS, SO IT TAKES MANY HANDS TO PULL OFF A RACE LIKE THIS JUST BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF DISTANCE YOU ARE TRAVELING ON THE LENGTH OF TIME THAT IT TAKES.

IT IS A LOT OF PEOPLE.

♪ WE HAVE A CAP OF 30 MUSHERS TOTAL, AND THAT IS BASED PRIMARILY ON OUR PARKING AVAILABILITY.

IT IS THE NUMBER WE FEEL LIKE WE CAN SAFELY PULL OFF, WHICH IS ALWAYS WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT.

WHAT IS THE SAFETY OF THE TEAMS, THE PUBLIC, THE VOLUNTEERS, THE DOGS BEING PART OF THE TEAM.

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

HEAD TO THE WDSE WEBSITE FOR PROGRAM UPDATES, NEWS ABOUT THE STATION, AND ANY UPCOMING EVENTS.

AND DON'T FORGET TO DOWNLOAD THE PBS VIDEO APP TO WATCH YOUR FAVORITE PBS PROGRAMS ON DEMAND.

SOUNDS LIKE A VERY NICE JANUARY WEEKEND AHEAD.

HOPE FOLKS CAN GET OUT AND ENJOY IT!

JULIE: ME TOO.

I HAVE MY SNOWSHOES NEXT TO THE STAIRS.

DENNIS: GOOD FOR YOU.

WITH JULIE ZENNER, I'M DENNIS ANDERSON.

GOOD NIGHT, EVERYONE, AND BE KIND!

♪