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

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

DENNIS: LEANDULUTH WAS FORMED ONE YEAR AGO THIS MONTH.

WE WILL TALK ABOUT ITS EFFORTS TO MONITOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND RACE IN THE CITY.

JULIE: AND DULUTH POLICE CHIEF MIKE TUSKEN WILL JOIN US WITH THE DEPARTMENT'S RESPONSE, AND A CITIZEN SURVEY GOING OUT THIS MONTH.

DENNIS: ALSO TONIGHT, A REPORT ON THE DULUTH CHAPTER OF THE NAACP LAUNCHING A NATIONAL PROGRAM FOR YOUTH IN THE TWIN PORTS.

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

♪ JULIE: HELLO AND WELCOME TO "ALMANAC NORTH."

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

DENNY AND I ARE SITTING A LITTLE FARTHER APART THIS WEEK, AS WE COMPLY WITH THE LATEST COVID MANDATES HERE IN THE STUDIO.

DENNY, LET'S BEGIN WITH THE HEADLINES.

DENNIS: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, JULIE.

SEVERAL NORTHERN MINNESOTA PROJECTS WERE INCLUDED IN GOVERNOR TIM WALZ'S PROPOSED BONDING BILL REVEALED THIS WEEK.

THE $2.7 BILLION PROPOSAL INCLUDES MONEY FOR SPIRIT MOUNTAIN AND THE DULUTH DEPOT.

BUT, A $7.5 MILLION REQUEST FOR FUNDING FOR THE DULUTH ARMORY WAS NOT INCLUDED IN HIS RECOMMENDATIONS.

THE STATE LEGISLATURE WILL ULTIMATELY DECIDE WHICH PROJECTS RECEIVE FUNDING.

JULIE: THE U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS IS GETTING A BIG BOOST OF FEDERAL FUNDING TO HELP COMPLETE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW LOCK AT SAULT STE.

MARIE, MICHIGAN.

NEARLY A HALF-BILLION DOLLARS HAS BEEN EARMARKED FOR THE PROJECT FROM THE INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT AND JOBS ACT.

THE NEW LOCK WILL BE THE SECOND AT THE SOO LARGE ENOUGH TO HANDLE THOUSAND-FOOT LAKERS, PROVIDING A BACK-UP FOR THE POE LOCK.

DENNIS: THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-SUPERIOR REACHED A FIVE-YEAR ENROLLMENT HIGH FOR SPRING SEMESTER, THE SCHOOL ANNOUNCED TODAY.

UW-SUPERIOR SAW AN 8% INCREASE OVER THE PAST YEAR.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ENROLLMENT IS ALSO UP, WITH 70 NEW INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS ENROLLED, FAR EXCEEDING PAST SPRING ADDITIONS.

JULIE: AND CONSIDER VENTURING OUT DESPITE THE COLD THIS WEEKEND AND EMBRACE THE NORTHERN WINTER.

THE LAKE SUPERIOR ZOO IN DULUTH IS HOSTING ITS WILD WINTER WONDERLAND EVENT SATURDAY FROM 10:00 A.M. TO 4:00 P.M.

KIDS CAN ENJOY A SCAVENGER HUNT AND SNOW SCULPTURES, AND THERE WILL BE HOT COFFEE AND CHOCOLATE FOR THOSE BRAVE ENOUGH TO CRAWL OUT OF WINTER HIBERNATION.

DENNIS: ONE YEAR AGO THIS MONTH, THE ORGANIZATION LEANDULUTH LAUNCHED A WEBSITE FEATURING DATA ON LAW ENFORCEMENT AND RACE IN DULUTH.

SINCE THEN, IT HAS PUBLISHED A MONTHLY NEWSLETTER KEEPING TABS ON POLICY REFORM EFFORTS AND UPDATING POLICE ARREST AND COURT DATA.

JOINING US NOW WITH MORE IS JAMEY SHARP, ONE OF THE ORGANIZERS OF LEANDULUTH.

WELCOME.

THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN LEANDULUTH, WHAT IS THE MISSION?

JAMEY: THE SPARK FOR LEAN CAME ABOUT A YEAR AGO NOW.

THERE ARE PLENTY OF GREAT ORGANIZERS AND ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT THE TWIN PORTS THAT WERE TALKING ABOUT POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY, POLICE REFORM.

THIS WAS IN THE WAKE OF THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD.

PEOPLE WERE DOING GREAT WORK BUT THERE WAS THIS COMMON THEME THAT IT WAS VERY HARD TO COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER AND TO MAINTAIN COLLABORATION BETWEEN ORGANIZATIONS BECAUSE THERE WAS NOT A CENTRAL PLACE FOR ORGANIZERS TO MEET AND HAVE SHARED COMMUNICATION AND DATA.

AT THE SAME TIME THAT WAS GOING ON, A FEW OF US THAT LATER BECAME THE LEAN TEAM WERE RUNNING SOME DATA AND LOOKING AT WHAT PEOPLE OF COLOR IN DULUTH HAVE BEEN SAYING FOR A LONG TIME.

THAT THERE IS SYSTEMIC RACISM IN LOCAL POLICING IN THE NORTH LAND.

WE WERE LOOKING AT DATA, RUNNING THOSE NUMBERS TO SEE WHAT IS REALLY GOING ON.

SEE IF THE NUMBERS CAN SUPPORT THESE STORIES.

EVENTUALLY WHAT HAPPENED IS BETWEEN THE DATA THAT WAS COMING OUT, THE PEOPLE COMING TOGETHER, THE CONVERSATIONS BEING HAD, THIS ORGANIZATION FORMED AS A COLLABORATION AMONGST SO MANY DIFFERENT GREAT ORGANIZATIONS WORKING ON THESE ISSUES.

IT REALLY KIND OF BECAME AROUND THE DATA AS WELL, ESPECIALLY WITH SOME OF THE DATA THAT CAME OUT THAT WE WILL TALK ABOUT LATER.

THIS WAS KIND OF SOMETHING TO RALLY AROUND AND A PLACE TO START THE CONVERSATION.

JULIE: LET'S TALK ABOUT THE DATA YOU HAVE COLLECTED AND WHAT IT TELLS YOU.

JAMEY: SO, THE FIRST PIECE OF DATA -- I HAVE IT HERE BECAUSE I WANT TO MAKE SURE I DON'T MISQUOTE ANYTHING.

TALKING ABOUT USE OF FORCE INCIDENTS.

WE STRATIFIED THAT WITH RACE AND JUXTAPOSED IT WITH CITY DEMOGRAPHICS.

IN 2019, WE FOUND THAT USE OF FORCE AGAINST AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND NATIVE AMERICAN RESIDENTS AT DISPROPORTIONATELY HIGH RATES OF 34.6% AND 13.3%.

WHILE THOSE TWO GROUPS ONLY MADE UP 4% AND 2.3% OF THE DULUTH POPULATION RESPECTIVELY.

THAT WAS THE FIRST DATA THAT CAME OUT.

WE THEN FOUND SIMILAR DISPARITIES WHEN WE LOOKED AT ARREST RATES, TRAFFIC STOPS.

IN ADDITION TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, WE WERE GETTING A LOT OF FEEDBACK THAT THE STATE IS NOT WHAT IS GOING ON ON THE STREETS, BUT CONTINUING THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

THAT IS ACTUALLY WHEN WE STARTED LOOKING AT COURT SENTENCING.

WE FOUND DISPARITIES IN THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT BLACK AND WHITE PEOPLE ARE BEING GIVEN FOR THE SAME CRIMES IN ST. LOUIS COUNTY.

DENNIS: WHAT POLICE REFORMS THAT YOU WISH TO SEE ACCOMPLISHED AND ARE THOSE BEING ACCOMPLISHED NOW?

JAMEY: WE ARE NOT A POLITICAL ORGANIZATION.

WE ARE THE DATA GROUP THAT IS SUPPORTING THESE GROUPS LIKE THE NAACP, LIKE THE DULUTH COMMUNITY SAFETY INITIATIVE.

AS YOU CAN SEE ON OUR WEBSITE, WE HAVE A PORTAL WHERE GROUPS CAN POST THEIR OWN, I GUESS, REFORM INITIATIVES.

SOME BIG THINGS WE HAVE SEEN IS ENDING PRETEXTUAL STOPS.

WHEN OFFICERS PULL PEOPLE OVER FOR NONDANGEROUS THINGS, LIKE THINGS HANGING FROM MIRRORS.

WE HAVE SEEN INCIDENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHERE IT CAN LEAD TO IA VIOLENT ENCOUNTER.

DULUTH NAACP HAS BEEN ASKING TO END PRETEXTUAL STOPS.

A NUMBER OF ORGANIZATIONS HAVE BEEN WORKING TOGETHER TO TOTALLY TRANSFORM IN DULUTH, TO MAKE IT NONPUNITIVE ORGANIZATION WILL RESPOND TO PEOPLE IN MENTAL HEALTH, HOUSING AND DRUG RELATED CRISES.

THERE IS BEEN INITIATIVES WITH A RACIAL BIAS FOR A POLICE DEPARTMENT.

YOU CAN GO TO OUR WEBSITE AND SEE ALL THESE DIFFERENT INITIATIVES.

WHAT IS COOL IS I THINK OUR ONLY RULE IS THAT HAS TO BE ABOUT LAW ENFORCEMENT ACCOUNTABILITY.

WE ARE NOT THERE TO SAY THIS IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO, THE WRONG THING TO DO.

BUT BY GIVING PEOPLE A PLATFORM, THESE ORGANIZATIONS IN ONE SHARED SPACE, FOLKS ARE ABLE TO WORK TOGETHER AND SEE IT NEXT TO THE DATA.

JULIE: THE IMPLICATION IS THAT THE DATA POINTS TO SYSTEMIC RACISM.

IS IT POSSIBLE THAT ARREST RATES AND USE OF FORCE ARE AT LEAST PARTIALLY CONNECTED TO A DISPARITY IN THE NUMBER OF CRIMES THAT ARE BEING COMMITTED BY THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND AMERICAN INDIANS IN THE COMMUNITY?

JAMEY: I AM GLAD YOU BROUGHT THAT UP BECAUSE THAT IS A COMMON MISCONCEPTION.

WHAT WE ARE TRAINED TO SEE IS TO TRUST THE NUMBERS WE SEE THE WAY LAW ENFORCEMENT IS ENGRAVED WITH OUR SOCIETY.

IF SOMEBODY IS BEING ARRESTED, IT IS BECAUSE THEY HAVE DONE SOMETHING WRONG.

WE HAVE BEEN TRAINED TO THINK THAT WAY.

IT LEADS TO A LOT OF CRIMINALIZING BLACK AND BROWN BODIES OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

THERE HAVE BEEN STUDIES THAT SHOW, FOR EXAMPLE, ONE THAT COMES TO MIND IS THAT PEOPLE -- BLACK PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY LESS LIKELY TO USE DRUGS THAN WHITE PEOPLE.

I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS VERY EYE-OPENING TO A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS.

DENNIS: DO YOU FEEL THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS LISTENING?

JAMEY: WITH LEANDULUTH, THEY HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY COLLABORATIVE IN TERMS OF RELEASING DATA.

WE'VE GOTTEN DATA FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

WHAT I LOVE ABOUT HOW WE POST OUR DATA IS YOU COULD GO TO OUR WEBSITE AND SEE THE RAW DATA THEY SENT US.

IF YOU WANT TO CHECK OUR NUMBERS AND YOU GET SOMETHING DIFFERENT, WE ENCOURAGE PEOPLE DISSENTED IN.

-- TO SEND IT IN.

OTHER THAN THAT, I CANNOT NECESSARILY SPEAK FOR OTHER ORGANIZATIONS AND HOW POLICE DEPARTMENTS HAVE BEEN WORKING FOR THEM.

JULIE: WHAT WHAT A SUCCESSFUL PUBLIC SAFETY SAFETY STRATEGY LOOK LIKE TO YOU?

JAMEY: I THINK THE DULUTH POLICE DEPARTMENT, THEY HAVE A NUMBER OF REALLY AWESOME INITIATIVES BETWEEN THE MENTAL HEALTH TEAM.

THEY HAVE THE DULUTH MODEL, THEIR SUBSTANCE ABUSE RESPONSE TEAM.

HOWEVER WHAT I THINK, BECAUSE OF OUR FOCUS ON RACIAL DISPARITIES, WE ARE CURIOUS TO SEE HOW IS THE DULUTH POLICE DEPARTMENT GOING TO RESPOND IN A WAY THAT WILL ACTUALLY ADDRESS THESE RACIAL DISPARITIES?

ADDRESS THE FACT THAT CITY PAID EMPLOYEES ARE OVERLY THEM POLICING AND CRIMINALIZING A SOUL -- CERTAIN POPULATION.

I THINK SEEING PROGRAMS THAT ARE SPECIFICALLY TARGETED AND NOT NECESSARILY JUST MENDING RELATIONSHIPS -- BECAUSE YOU CANNOT REALLY MEND RELATIONSHIPS UNTIL THE VIOLENCE THAT IS BEING PERFORMED HAS CEASED.

DENNIS: WITH T WETHAT, WE HAVE TO END IT.

JAMEY SHARP, THANK YOU.

JULIE: THANK YOU.

♪ ♪ ♪ JULIE: THE DULUTH POLICE DEPARTMENT IS LOOKING FOR INPUT FROM CITIZENS ON THEIR INTERACTIONS WITH POLICE AND HOW SAFE THEY FEEL LIVING IN THE CITY.

THE SURVEY IS A REQUIREMENT FOR THE DEPARTMENT TO BE NATIONALLY CERTIFIED, AND A GOOD BAROMETER OF HOW THE PUBLIC FEELS ABOUT LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT.

HERE WITH MORE ON THAT AND ON THE LEANDULUTH FINDINGS IS MIKE TUSKEN, CHIEF OF THE DULUTH POLICE DEPARTMENT.

CHIEF TUSKEN, THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

CHIEF TUSKEN: PLEASURE BEING HERE.

JULIE: YOU HAVE SEEN THE DATA THAT HAS BEEN GATHERED BY LEANDULUTH WHO PROVIDED THE DATA.

HOW DO YOU INTERPRET THE RACIAL DISPARITIES THAT APPEAR ON PAPER IN ARREST RATES AND USE OF FORCE?

CHIEF TUSKEN: THERE IS DEFINITELY DISPARITIES IN THE CITY OF DULUTH.

CERTAINLY DISPARITIES ACROSS THE NATION IN CITIES.

ONE OF THE GREATEST DISPARITIES THAT WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT AS MUCH IS THE DISPROPORTIONATE AND DISPARATE NUMBER OF VICTIMS OF CRIMES OF PEOPLE OF COLOR.

IT OFTEN TIMES IS A DRIVER FOR WHERE OUR RESPONSES GO, AS OUR VICTIMS ARE DIRECTING US TO A SPECIFIC SUSPECT.

THAT IS CERTAINLY A DRIVER OF OUR RESPONSES.

DENNIS: WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO THE FINDINGS OF LEANDULUTH?

ARE YOU PLEASED WITH WHAT THEY HAVE COME UP WITH?

YOU HAVE ANSWERED THEM A LOT.

CHIEF TUSKEN: GREATER POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY IS SO IMPORTANT.

WE ENCOURAGE IT.

PART OF THE REASON THAT JAMEY, HE HAS ACCESS TO ME AND MY DEPUTY CHIEFS.

WE WANT TO HELP.

ONE OF THE CORE BELIEFS OF OUR ORGANIZATION IS TO HAVE TRANSPARENCY.

GET THAT INFORMATION, GIVE THAT INFORMATION, HAVE THOSE DISCUSSIONS.

JAMEY AND I WILL TALK, TEXT.

WE DON'T ALWAYS AGREE BUT WE BELIEVE IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO HAVE CITIZENS THAT ENGAGE AND IMPROVE THIS POLICE DEPARTMENT.

JULIE: HAS THIS PUBLIC CONVERSATION ACTUALLY CHANGED POLICIES IN THE DEPARTMENT AND/OR BEHAVIORS OUT ON THE FIELD?

CHIEF TUSKEN: WITHOUT QUESTION.

ONE OF THE MEETINGS WE HAD WITH THE NAACP ABOUT PRETEXTUAL STOPS.

RIGHT NOW, WE ARE DRAWING UP A NEW POLICY ON TRAFFIC STOPS INTERNALLY TO ADDRESS REALLY THE SAFETY ISSUES, MORE SO FOCUS ON SAFETY, MORE SO THAN SOME OF THE MORE MINOR INFRACTIONS.

DENNIS: WOULD YOU AGREE MORE PEOPLE OF COLOR ARE STOPPED BY THE POLICE THAN PEOPLE WHO ARE WHITE?

CHIEF TUSKEN: ABSOLUTELY, THE DATA DOES SHOW THAT.

DENNIS: WHY DO YOU THINK THAT IS?

CHIEF TUSKEN: WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME IN THIS SHOFAR THAT, BUT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF DRIVERS.

EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE STOPS IS AN INCIDENT.

IT IS EVEN DRIVEN BY A 911 CALL OR AN OFFICER'S OBSERVATIONS.

THERE HAS TO BE AN OBSERVED CONDUCT OR ILLEGAL EVENT BEFORE WE CAN ISSUE A STOP, OR THERE HAS TO BE A REASON OF SUSPICION.

THOSE ARE THE DRIVERS OF US DOING THAT.

JULIE: AS WE MENTIONED, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS CONDUCTING ITS OWN CITIZENS SURVEY.

WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO GET FROM THAT?

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE QUESTIONS AND HOW ARE PEOPLE RESPONDING?

CHIEF TUSKEN: PART OF OUR PROCESS IS TO BECOME ACCREDITED.

IT IS A THREE YEAR PROCESS.

A THIRD PARTY COMES IN AND DOES AN EVALUATION TO SEE IF WE ARE FOLLOWING BEST PRACTICES.

IT IS VERY RIGOROUS.

IT IS IMPORTANT WE HAVE THE BEST POLICE DEPARTMENT WE CAN.

WHEN THIS IS COMPLETED, WE WILL BE THE FIRST MUNICIPAL POLICE DEPARTMENT TO BE NATIONALLY ACCREDITED.

DENNIS: DO PEOPLE FEEL SAFE IN THIS COMMUNITY?

CHIEF TUSKEN: I THINK THEY DO, ABSOLUTELY.

JULIE: WHAT ABOUT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT?

DOES THE POLICE FEEL SUPPORTED IN THIS COMMUNITY?

THAT HAS BEEN A DISCUSSION NATIONWIDE, THAT A LOT OF FORCES HAVE DEALT WITH OFFICERS LEAVING, RETIRING EARLY BECAUSE THEY DON'T FEEL SUPPORTED BY THE COMMUNITY AND THEIR ELECTED OFFICIALS.

CHIEF TUSKEN: THERE WAS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF NATIONAL OUTRAGE AFTER THE DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD.

THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER INCIDENTS, HIGH-PROFILE INCIDENTS OF POLICE OFFICERS THAT DO NOT REPRESENT THE HONORABLE PROFESSION WE SEE THIS AS.

NO QUESTION THOSE HAVE IMPACTED TREMENDOUSLY.

THERE HAS BEEN A PUSHBACK.

THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF OUTRAGE DIRECTED TOWARD LAW ENFORCEMENT.

WHAT IS PROBABLY MOST FRUSTRATING FOR US IN LAW ENFORCEMENT IS THE NARRATIVE OFTEN TIMES IS DEFINED BY THE LOWEST COMMON DENOMINATOR BY COPS DOING THIS WORK.

BY THE WAY, A GOOD COP NEVER WANTS TO WORK WITH A BAD COP.

WE DON'T WANT PEOPLE IN THIS PROFESSION EITHER.

JULIE: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING IN AND VISITING WITH US.

GOOD LUCK GOING FORWARD WITH YOUR SURVEY.

ALL OF THESE CHALLENGING RELATIONSHIPS YOU ARE TRYING TO BALANCE.

DENNIS: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CHIEF.

♪ DENNIS: THIS MONTH, THE DULUTH CHAPTER OF THE NAACP LAUNCHED A NATIONAL PROGRAM FOR YOUTH IN THE TWIN PORTS CALLED ACT-SO.

PRODUCERS MEGAN MCGARVEY AND ISAAC QUICK SAT DOWN WITH MEMBERS OF THE DULUTH NAACP TO DISCUSS HOW THE PROGRAM WORKS, AND HOW IT WILL HELP INSPIRE CHILDREN.

♪ >> ACT-SO, IT STANDS FOR THE AFRO CONNECTED, TECHNOLOGICAL, SCIENTIFIC OLYMPICS.

IT STARTED SPECIFICALLY FOR BLACK OR AFRICAN HERITAGE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, BECAUSE FOLKS NOTICED THE LACK OF RESOURCES BEING INVESTED INTO THE BLACK COMMUNITY.

>> ANYTHING THE STUDENTS ARE INTERESTED IN, THEY CHOOSE.

IT IS STUDENT LED.

THEY CAN DO IT AS A GROUP OR INDIVIDUALLY.

WE SIGNED THEM UP WITH MENTORS TO TEACH THEM AND PROPEL THEM.

THEY CAN SEE REGIONALLY AND NATIONALLY.

>> IF YOU ARE A GOOD SINGER, IT CAN OPEN YOU UP TO PURSUE YOUR SINGING SO YOU ARE NOT THINKING THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS FAR.

WE ALSO HAVE A STEM PROGRAM.

PEOPLE THAT DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT STEM, BUT THEY WILL TAKE A TRY AT IT.

IT IS SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN LEARN POSSIBLY.

OR IF YOU HAVE LOVE FOR IT, YOU CAN EXPAND ON IT.

>> WITHIN OUR OWN COMMUNITY HERE, THERE'S IS A LACK OF PROGRAMMING, A LACK OF INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE BLACK COMMUNITY, PARTICULARLY THE YOUTH.

>> IF YOU ARE A STUDENT OF COLOR, YOU ARE MORE LIKELY TO FAIL OR BE EXPELLED THEN YOU ARE TO GRADUATE.

THIS IS OUR PART IN HELPING NOT ONLY THE SCHOOLS INSTEAD OF BEING CUMULATIVE IN PUNISHMENT BUT UPLIFTING OUR KIDS AND EMPOWERING OUR KIDS TO DO WELL.

AND SHOW THEM THEY ARE MORE THAN JUST WHAT THE SYSTEM PROVIDES.

>> THE BIGGEST THING IS MAKING SURE STUDENTS ARE NOT BEING LEFT BEHIND.

MAKING SURE YOU ACTUALLY HAVE SOMEBODY THAT MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO CHECK INS.

>> DULUTH IS EXPANDING A LOT MORE.

IT IS SOMETHING SO THEY HAVE AN OUTLOOK SO THEY ARE NOT JUST THINKING ONLY THEIR COUNTERPARTS CAN DO IT.

IT IS SOMETHING THEY ARE ACCESSIBLE TO.

THERE IS PEOPLE THERE TO SUPPORT THEM AND NOT JUST THEIR COUNTERPARTS.

>> AFTER YOU LEAVE HIGH SCHOOL, YOU DON'T REALLY REALIZE HOW MUCH OF A COMMUNITY IT IS IN SCHOOL WHEN YOU ARE IN SCHOOL.

WHEN YOU LEAVE HIGH SCHOOL AND GO TO COLLEGE OR ELSEWHERE, YOUR COMMUNITY REALLY STARTS DRINKING MORE AND MORE.

ESPECIALLY A PROGRAM LIKE THIS IS SO IMPORTANT TO BUILD THAT SENSE OF COMMUNITY AND CONNECTIONS AT BOTH LOCAL, NATIONAL LEVEL.

AND HAVING THE CONNECTIONS EXPAND ALL THE WAY FORWARD.

>> WHEN IT COMES TO MENTORS, THE GOAL IS REALLY TO PAIR YOUTH WITH ADULTS IN THE COMMUNITY THAT HAVE THIS SKILL SET AND THE CONNECTIONS THEY NEED TO PURSUE WHATEVER PASSION THEY ARE INTERESTED IN OR A CAREER PATH.

IT IS NOT EXCLUSIVE TO THOSE MENTORS, ALTHOUGH WE DO ENCOURAGE THAT TO GIVE KIDS SOME SORT OF HOPE FOR THE FUTURE TO SEE THEMSELVES.

>> WE'VE NEVER HAD IT BEFORE.

LET'S TRY TO GET SOME MOMENTUM GOING AND SEE WHERE WE GO FROM THERE.

THE FIRST THING THAT WE DO IS AT LEAST SAY WE STARTED IT.

IT'S TOUGH IF YOU DON'T START IT OR MAKE THAT EFFORT, BUT IT'S HERE.

PLAN ON GROWING.

>> IT IS ALL FREE TOO.

AT NO COST TO THE PARENT, TO THE STUDENT.

THAT IS WHERE WE DEFINITELY NEED COMMUNITY COLLABORATION AS WELL.

I SAID IT WAS A HUGE PART OF HELPING US UP START THIS PROGRAM, BUT WE WILL NEED CONTINUAL FUNDS AND SUPPORT FROM THE COMMUNITY IN ORDER TO KEEP THESE PROGRAMS OPERATIONAL.

DENNIS: SO, IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN BECOMING A MENTOR FOR ACT-SO, OR IF YOU HAVE A CHILD INTERESTED IN SIGNING UP FOR THE PROGRAM, EMAIL ABIGAIL DELISLE AT VICEPRESIDENT@DULUTHNAACP.ORG.

JULIE: IT'S TIME NOW FOR VOICES OF THE REGION.

EACH WEEK, WE HEAR FROM A JOURNALIST COVERING STORIES OF INTEREST IN THE NORTHLAND.

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

♪ AARON: THE TAMARACK PROJECT -- YOU MAY NOT HAVE HEARD OF THEM.

THEY HAVE NOT OPENED THE MINE, BUT YOU PROBABLY HEARD OF THE COMPANY AND THIS AGREEMENT WHICH IS TESLA, THE ELECTRIC AUTOMAKER.

BIGGEST ELECTRIC AUTOMAKER IN THE WORLD RIGHT NOW, BASED IN THE UNITED STATES.

THEY SIGNED WHAT THEY WOULD CALL AN OFF-TAKE AGREEMENT.

TESLA AGREED TO TAKE 75,000 TONS OF NICKEL, THE METAL, OFF THE HANDS OF THE MINERALS THEY WANT TO MINE.

THE AGREEMENT COMES INTO EFFECT IN 2026, WHICH IS THREE, FOUR YEARS FROM NOW.

MAYBE THREE AS WE SPEAK PRACTICALLY.

THIS IS A REMARKABLE THING.

IT WOULD BE VERY EXCITED, EXCEPT WITH THE CAVEAT THAT IT IS NOT PERMANENT YET.

YOU HAVE HEARD OF COPPER NICKEL MINING PROPOSALS AND MINNESOTA -- IN MINNESOTA.

ONE FAR ALONG.

TWIN METALS HAS BEGUN TO MOVE THROUGH THE PROCESS IN GETTING PERMITS.

BOTH OF THEM CONTROVERSIAL IN THEIR OWN WAYS.

TALON IS COMING UP WITH DIFFERENT PATH.

THEY WANT TO START WITH THE CUSTOMER FIRST, I THINK THAT IS THE MESSAGE BEHIND THIS ANNOUNCEMENT.

AND DEMONSTRATE THAT THE MINERALS TO HAVE A MARKET, AND THAT MIGHT HELP WITH THE PERMIT PROCESS.

THIS IS ACTUALLY BIG NEWS, BUT IT IS HARD TO SAY EXACTLY HOW IT AFFECTS NORTHERN MINNESOTA YET.

U.S. STEEL, AT ONE TIME THE LARGEST CORPORATION ON EARTH, THE DEVELOPER OF A LOT OF THE IRON MINING IN MINNESOTA IS KNOWN FOR ITS BIG BLASTS IN CITIES LIKE PITTSBURGH AND PLACES LIKE THAT.

AND NOW, U.S. STEEL HAS ANNOUNCED PLANS TO BUILD A $3 BILLION ELECTRIC PLANT.

SMALL PATCHES OF STEEL PRODUCED IN QUANTITY AIMED TO SPECIFICATIONS FROM CUSTOMERS IN ARKANSAS.

WHAT THAT MEANS IS A COUPLE THINGS.

ONE, IT MEANS ANOTHER STEEL MILL MOVING AWAY FROM THE RUST BELT, ADJOINING THE OZARKS REALLY.

IT IS ALSO AN ELECTRIC ARC FURNACE FOR U.S. STEEL, SHOWING SIGNS PERHAPS THEIR AGING BLAST FURNACE INFRASTRUCTURE WILL BE FILLED OUT.

LITTLE HELP FILL DEMAND FOR STEEL, BUT WILL HELP THE COMPANY BECOME MORE NIMBLE AND HOW IT FILLS ORDERS WHICH MIGHT KNOCKED DOWN DEMAND FOR RUNNING THOSE BLAST FURNACES ALL OF THE TIME.

A LOT OF THE MINES NOW FEED BLAST FURNACES.

THE QUESTION IS WILL THERE BE OTHER INVESTMENTS TO CHANGE THE COMPOSITION OF THE IRON PRODUCTS THAT ARE MADE IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA?

THAT IS ONE OF THE UNANSWERED QUESTIONS.

ANYTHING THAT AFFECTS THIS DEAL INDUSTRY ON THIS SCOPE WILL AFFECT THE IRON RATE.

THE MONTH THAT UNDERSTANDS ITSELF.

IT'S COLD, DRY, AND IT IS, LIKE YOU SAY, BRUTAL SOMETIMES.

BUT IN THAT, I HAVE FOUND A FEW THINGS THAT REALLY HAVEN'T DANCED MY ENJOY -- HAVE ENHANCED MY ENJOYMENT OF THE MONTH OF JANUARY.

ONE OF MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITES -- MY FAMILY MOCKS ME FOR THIS -- BUT I HAVE BECOME A WINTER BIRD PERSON.

I LOVE PUTTING OUT BIRDSEED, BIRDFEEDERS AND ALL THAT STUFF, AND WATCHING ALL THE LITTLE BIRDS COME.

ONE THING ABOUT WATCHING BIRDS IN JANUARY, WATCHING THEIR TINY LITTLE LEGS AND TINY LITTLE WINGS IN -20 WEATHER, YOU REALLY REALIZE HOW SMALL YOUR PROBLEMS ARE IN COMPARISON TO A BIRD THAT HAS TO EAT ITS WEIGHT IN SEED EVERY DAY JUST TO STAY ALIVE.

SEEING THAT AND WATCHING THOSE BIRDS HAPPILY CHOW AWAY AT THE SEED HAS REALLY ENHANCED MY ENJOYMENT OF THE MONTH OF JANUARY.

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

BOOKMARK 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 ANY TIME YOU'D LIKE.

DENNIS, IT CERTAINLY FEELS LIKE THE HEART OF WINTER RIGHT NOW.

THE DAYS ARE GETTING LONGER.

DENNIS: JANUARY IS COLD.

JULIE: IT IS INDEED CREATED -- INDEED.

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

WITH DENNIS ANDERSON, I'M JULIE ZENNER, STAY WARM EVERYONE.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.

♪ ♪