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

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

JULIE: ST. LOUIS COUNTY'S 2023 BUDGET THAT PASSED THIS WEEK INCLUDES A LEVY INCREASE, BUT THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN YOUR PROPERTY TAXES ARE GOING UP.

DENNIS: DULUTH SCHOOLS ARE LOOKING FOR TUTORS.

WE'LL HAVE A REPORT ON THE NEED AND HOW STUDENTS AND TUTORS BOTH GAIN FROM THE EXPERIENCE.

JULIE: AND WDSE IS INTRODUCING A NEW COOKING SHOW FOR KIDS, AND WE'RE LOOKING FOR YOUNG CHEFS TO BE PART OF THE SHOW.

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

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

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

JULIE, OUR REGION REALLY GOT WALLOPED WITH A WINTER STORM THIS WEEK.

JULIE: IT CERTAINLY DID.

REMINDS US ALL WHY WE LIVE HERE.

DENNIS: WE HAVE MORE ON THAT STORM IN THE HEADLINES.

JULIE: THANK YOU, DENNY.

BLIZZARD CONDITIONS NEARLY SHUT DOWN OUR ENTIRE REGION THIS WEEK, AS THE FIRST MAJOR WINTER STORM OF THE SEASON PUMMELED NORTHERN MINNESOTA AND WISCONSIN.

NEARLY 30 INCHES OF THE WHITE STUFF FELL ALONG THE NORTH SHORE, AND 20 PLUS INCHES CAME DOWN IN DULUTH AND VICINITY.

NEIGHBORHOODS CLOSE TO LAKE SUPERIOR AND THE CITY OF SUPERIOR RECEIVED SMALLER AMOUNTS, BUT TRAFFIC WAS SNARLED AND MANY BUSINESSES AND SCHOOLS CLOSED.

A LITTLE MORE SNOW IS EXPECTED THIS WEEKEND, BEFORE NIGHTTIME TEMPERATURES DROP BELOW ZERO NEXT WEEK.

DENNIS: 15,000 NURSES THIS WEEK RATIFIED A NEW CONTRACT, AVOIDING A STRIKE AT TWIN PORTS AND TWIN CITIES HOSPITALS.

THE THREE-YEAR CONTRACTS INCLUDE ANNUAL PAY RAISES AND WORDING THAT ADDRESSES SHORT STAFFING.

NURSES AT ST. LUKE'S LAKEVIEW HOSPITAL IN TWO HARBORS WITHDREW THEIR INTENT TO STRIKE NOTICE IN A SHOW OF GOOD FAITH AS CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS CONTINUE.

JULIE: STUDENTS WHOSE FAMILIES QUALIFY COULD RECEIVE FOUR YEARS OF TUITION FREE AT UW SUPERIOR AND OTHER UW SCHOOLS IN WISCONSIN.

THE "WISCONSIN TUITION PROMISE" PROVIDES TUITION AND FEE FUNDING FOR UP TO FOUR YEARS FOR STUDENTS FROM FAMILIES EARNING LESS THAN $62,000 ANNUALLY.

THE PROGRAM WILL BEGIN IN THE FALL OF 2023 FOR NEW STUDENTS WHO QUALIFY.

DENNIS: AND A YOUNG WOMAN FROM WAUSAU, WISCONSIN WON THE MISS AMERICA COMPETITION LAST NIGHT IN CONNECTICUT.

GRACE STANKE WAS CROWNED MISS AMERICA 2023 AND TOOK HOME A $50,000 SCHOLARSHIP.

STANKE IS A SENIOR STUDYING NUCLEAR ENGINEERING AT UW MADISON.

JULIE: THE ST. LOUIS COUNTY BOARD PASSED THE COUNTY'S 2023 BUDGET THIS WEEK AT $453 MILLION.

THE BUDGET INCLUDES A LEVY INCREASE OF A LITTLE OVER 4%, BUT SOME HOMEOWNERS WILL ACTUALLY SEE A DECREASE IN THE COUNTY PORTION OF THEIR TAX BILL.

HERE TO TELL US MORE IS COUNTY COMMISSIONER KEITH NELSON, CHAIR OF THE COUNTY'S FINANCE COMMITTEE, AND KEVIN GRAY IS THE ST. LOUIS COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.

WELCOME, THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

>> OUR PLEASURE.

JULIE: THE PROPERTY TAX LEVY IS HIGHER THAN IT WAS LAST YEAR, BUT SOME PEOPLE MIGHT NOT SEE AN INCREASE IN THEIR PROPERTY TAXES?

HOW DOES THAT WORK?

>> INFLATION CERTAINLY HAS TAKEN ITS TOLL HERE IN ST. LOUIS COUNTY, AS PRICES INCREASE ON ALL THE COMMODITIES THAT WE PURCHASED TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY -- PURCHASE TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY.

IF WE LOOK AT OUR COMPLEX TAX STRUCTURE, SOME PEOPLE WILL SEE INCREASES AND SOME WILL SEE DECREASES IN THEIR TAXES, DEPENDING ON WHERE THEY ARE AT IN THE COUNTY, DEPENDING WHAT TYPE OF HOME THEY HAVE, WHAT IT IS VALUED AT, A LOT OF FACTORS COME INTO THAT IN THIS STATE.

DENNIS: THE STATE OF MINNESOTA HAS TWO DIFFERENT TYPES OF PROPERTY TAX REFUNDS, CAN YOU EXPLAIN THOSE REVIEWERS?

>> YOU WOULD THROW THAT ONE AT ME.

[LAUGHTER] I HAVE FOUR LETTERS, M1PR, THAT IS THE STATE PROPERTY TAX REFORM FORM THAT AFFORDS ANY TAX PROPERTY TAXPAYER OPPORTUNITY IF THEIR TAXES GROW AT A CERTAIN RATE, OR IF THEY ARE INCOME QUALIFIED TO APPLY FOR TWO DIFFERENT TYPES OF REFUNDS.

THERE'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT SERIES OF REFUNDS AVAILABLE TOWARDS VETERANS, THEIR SURVIVING SPOUSES IN SOME CASES REGARDING TAXES, BUT M1PR IS A FORM THAT EVERY TAXPAYER SHOULD AT LEAST LOOK AT IF THEIR TAXES WENT UP IN A SIGNIFICANT WAY.

DENNIS: GOOD TO KNOW.

JULIE: $453 MILLION IS A BIG NUMBER.

FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE ST. LOUIS COUNTY BUDGET, CAN YOU BREAK DOWN THOSE BIG AREAS WHERE THE COUNTY NEEDS TO PROVIDE SERVICES?

>> SURE.

IT IS A BIG BUDGET, AND LOTS OF MOVING PARTS.

BUT IN BROAD CATEGORY TERMS, A COUPLE OF THE BIGGER INVESTMENT AREAS INCLUDE PUBLIC HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, OF COURSE WE WERE TALKING BEFORE THE SHOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT PUBLIC HEALTH, EVEN MY UNIQUE CIRCUMSTANCE WITH COVID, THEY'VE HAD A CONSIDERABLE IMPACT WILL THESE PAST FEW YEARS AND HUMAN SERVICES SUCH AS MANY LIVES.

AFTER THE BUDGET IS HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AND PUBLIC WORKS.

THIS YEAR WE HAD A 65 MILLION DOLLAR CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM AND WE ARE LOOKING AT A SIMILAR LEVEL OF INVESTMENT.

HALF OF THE BUDGET IS RELATED TO HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AND OUR PUBLIC WORKS.

THE REST IS A MIX OF PUBLIC SAFETY INVESTMENTS, THE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, THE JAIL, AND THEN OF COURSE GENERAL GOVERNMENT FUNCTIONS, LIKE VITAL RECORDS AND SERVICE CENTER AT THE MALL, IF YOU WANT TO GET YOUR TABBED FEES, THINGS LIKE THAT, AND OTHER GOVERNMENT FUNCTIONS AS WELL AS OTHER AREAS LIKE THE SUPPORT OF OUR INVESTMENTS, BUILDINGS AND ROADS.

DENNIS: YOU BELIEVE IT TO BE "A GOOD FINANCIAL POSITION," TALK TO US ABOUT THAT.

>> IS IMPORTANT IN GOVERNMENT THAT YOU HAVE RESERVES.

IT'S IMPORTANT GOVERNMENT THAT YOU MANAGE THOSE RESERVES PROPERLY SO THAT YOU CAN TAKE CARE OF THAT EBB AND FLOW THAT HAPPENS AND OCCURS ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.

IN ST. LOUIS COUNTY, I WOULD PUT ST. LOUIS COUNTY UP AGAINST ANY OF THE OTHER 87 COUNTIES IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA, IN TERMS OF FISCAL MANAGEMENT.

THAT'S A RESULT JULIE OF OUR ADMINISTRATION AND AUDITOR'S OFFICE AND THE STAFF THAT WE EMPLOY THROUGHOUT, KEEP AN EYE ON ALL THOSE INVESTMENTS -- KEEPING AN EYE ON ALL THOSE INVESTMENTS AND THE LITTLE THINGS THAT PEOPLE DON'T NOTICE WHAT THEY ARE OCCURRING ON A REGULAR BASIS.

JULIE: YOU MENTIONED BEFORE RISES AND COSTS IMPACTING THE COUNTY LIKE ANYONE ELSE WHO LIVES IN THE COUNTY.

THE PUBLIC WORKS AND CONSTRUCTION PROJECT, IS THAT STARTING TO IMPACT THE BUDGETS FOR THOSE THAT MAY HAVE BEEN APPROVED UNDER EARLIER BUDGETS?

NOW THE COSTS ARE HIGHER-THAN-EXPECTED?

>> WE HAVE SEEN SOME INCREASE -- WE JUST DID BIDS THIS PAST WEEK AND WE SAW SOME INCREASES.

OBVIOUSLY FUEL COSTS ARE GOING UP.

EVEN THE GENERAL MAINTENANCE ON ALL OF OUR ROADS IS BEING DRIVEN UP BY THE COST OF FUEL.

THE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS ARE GOING TO BE AFFECTED THIS COMING YEAR.

BUT WE ARE ALREADY BIDDING THE SUMMER PROJECTS IN DECEMBER OF THE YEAR BEFORE.

WE ARE TRYING TO DO THAT TO CAPTURE SOME OF THE GOODS OUT THERE RIGHT NOW, THE CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES WANT TO BOOK THEIR WORK EARLY.

DENNIS: KEVIN, HOW DOES A PERSON QUALIFY FOR HOMESTEAD QUALIFICATION AND WHAT IS DISABILITY LONG STAY?

>> THE HOMESTEAD QUALIFICATION, I'M GOING TO PUT IN A PLUG FOR REACHING OUT TO OUR ASSESSOR'S OFFICE, THAT NUMBER IS ON OUR WEBSITE, BUT TO QUALIFY FOR HOMESTEAD, THERE'S A SERIES OF TIMELINES, YOU NEED TO DO IT BEFORE THE END OF THE CALENDAR YEAR TO ENSURE YOU'VE GOT HOMESTEAD STATUS OF YOUR ENDED OCCUPYING YOUR HOME.

ON THE DISABILITY HOMESTEAD SIDE, THAT IS A UNIQUE QUALIFICATION THAT I CANDIDLY DON'T KNOW AS MUCH ABOUT AS I PROBABLY SHOULD, BUT I WOULD REACH OUT TO OUR WEBSITE, TO OUR ASSESSOR'S OFFICE FOR THAT.

WE REALLY ARE FOCUSED ON HELPING PEOPLE, NOT DRIVING UP THEIR VALUES.

BY THE WAY THE VALUES ARE UP BECAUSE OF THE HOT RESIDENTIAL MARKET.

CORRESPONDINGLY, OUR COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES ARE NOT GROWING AS FAST.

THAT'S PART OF A DIFFERENT MIX OF WHO WAS PAYING THE TAXES AND THINGS, TOO.

BUT OUR ASSESSOR'S OFFICE IS REALLY WORKING TO TRY TO GET A FAIR VALUATION FOR ALL TYPES OF PROPERTIES, WEATHER IS HOMESTEAD, DISABILITY HOMESTEAD, OR COMMERCIAL.

THEY ARE A GREAT RESOURCE.

JULIE: OF COURSE WE HAD THE BIG WINTER STORM THIS WEEK.

THERE'S A CHANCE THE COUNTY SNOWPLOW DRIVERS AND PUBLIC WORKS COULD POTENTIALLY AUTHORIZE A STRIKE NEXT WEEK.

WHERE DO THINGS STAND WITH THAT?

HOW CONCERNED ARE YOU?

>> I LOOK FORWARD TO CALMER VOICES TO PREVAIL.

I THINK WE HAVE -- I THINK WE ARE FORTUNATE IN ST. LOUIS COUNTY TO HAVE THE TEAMSTERS UNIT THAT DOES ALL OF OUR ROAD PLOWING.

THEY DO A GREAT, GREAT JOB.

I DO THINK CALMER VOICES ARE GOING TO PREVAIL.

AND I DON'T BELIEVE THAT WE ARE GOING TO SEE THAT UNIT GO OUT THIS YEAR.

IF THEY DO, WE DO HAVE CONTINGENCY PLANS IN PLACE, AND OUR BOARD IS VERY MUCH AWARE OF WHAT IS GOING ON.

JULIE: GENTLEMEN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING IN AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO YOU.

DENNIS: HAPPY HOLIDAYS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU.

♪ DENNIS: WITH THE NEW YEAR ONLY A FEW WEEKS AWAY, STUDENTS ARE GETTING READY FOR THEIR HOLIDAY BREAK.

AT THE SAME TIME, STAFF AT THE DULUTH SCHOOL DISTRICT IS ON THE LOOKOUT FOR NEW TUTORS TO HELP PUPILS STAY ON TRACK FOR GRADUATION.

PRODUCER MEGAN MCGARVEY SPOKE WITH THE FOLKS AT READING CORPS ON THE NEED FOR TUTORS AND THE IMPACT THEY HAVE ON THOSE THEY HELP.

♪ >> WHAT I WAS LIVING IN THE CITIES, I WAS LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES, AND I THINK FEBRUARY OF 2020, I APPLIED FOR READING CORPS, I WANTED TO TRY TUTORING FULL-TIME AND WORKING WITH A FULL CASELOAD OF STUDENTS.

I THOUGHT THAT WOULD BE A GOOD FIT FOR ME.

I WORK WITH ABOUT 16-18 STUDENTS PER DAY, THAT IS A PRETTY REGULAR FULL-TIME CASELOAD.

DEPENDING ON WHAT GRADE THEY ARE IN OR WHAT BLEEDING -- WHAT READING LEVEL THEY ARE AT, THAT DICTATES WHAT INTERVENTION WE USE.

FOR KINDERGARTNERS, WE PRACTICE A LOT OF LETTER SOUNDS, A LOT OF PHONICS, LISTENING TO WORDS BEING PUT TOGETHER AND HAVING THEM PUT SOUNDS TOGETHER.

THAT GOES ALL THE WAY UP TO THIRD GRADE, WHERE THEY ARE READING FULL PASSAGES, MAYBE WE WILL MIX IN A FUN BOOK EVERY ONCE A WEEK OR SO, TRYING TO HELP THEM TRANSITION TO READING TO LEARN INSTEAD OF LEARNING TO READ.

>> WE ARE A VERY STRATEGIC PROGRAM, SO WE USE EVIDENCE-BASED LITERACY AND MATH SCRIPTS, SO OUR TUTORS ARE USING THAT SPECIFIC TOOL THAT THEY ARE BEING TRAINED ON SO THAT THEY CAN BE SUCCESSFUL NO MATTER WHAT WALK OF LIFE THEY ARE COMING IN FROM.

SO WE'VE GOT TUTORS RIGHT OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL ALL THE WAY THROUGH RETIREMENT ALL PROVIDING THE SAME STRUCTURE ACROSS THE STATE OF MINNESOTA, PROVING THAT IT'S WORKING TIME AND TIME AGAIN TO HELP STUDENTS REACH AND EXCEED THAT GRADE LEVEL.

THE NEED IS GREAT HERE IN MINNESOTA AND HEREIN DULUTH SPECIFICALLY.

WE'VE GOT EIGHT TUTORING POSITIONS THAT ARE OPEN AND READY TO GO FOR JANUARY.

>> THIS IS MY THIRD YEAR OF READING CORPS.

OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, I HAVE HAD THE CHANCE TO WORK WITH A LOT OF -- I'VE HAD A LOT OF SUCCESS STORIES, ESPECIALLY HAVING SEEN SOME OF THE DARKEST DAYS OF THE PANDEMIC AND SING STUDENTS WHO ARE REALLY STRUGGLING, IN 2020, 2021, SEEING THEM COME OUT OF THE OTHER SIDE IN A GOOD PLACE, I HAVE A LOT OF CONFIDENCE IN THEIR ABILITY TO READ AT GRADE LEVEL FOR THE REST OF THEIR ACADEMIC CAREER.

ONE STUDENT IN PARTICULAR THAT I WORKED WITH THAT GRADUATED LAST FRIDAY, I WORKED WITH HIM EVERY SINGLE DAY SINCE HE WAS IN FIRST GRADE, WE HAD A LOT OF ISSUES WITH BEHAVIOR AND WITH MOTIVATION, HE WILL COME TO MY DESK AND SOME DAYS IT WAS JUST A MATTER OF GETTING HIM TO READ ONE OR TWO SENTENCES, NOW HE IS READING 140 WORDS A MINUTE.

HE IS SUPER MOTIVATED TO CONTINUE READING, HE'S VERY PROUD OF HIMSELF.

IS ABLE TO HANDLE HIS EMOTIONS, BETTER UNCHECKED.

BEING ABLE TO SEE HIM GROW HAS BEEN SUPER REWARDING FOR ME.

THAT MAKES ME FEEL LIKE THIS JOB IS REALLY IMPROVING PEOPLE'S LIVES.

>> THE BIGGEST THING THAT I'VE NOTICED, TALKING WITH OUR TUTORS AND SEEING OUR STUDENTS IN THE SCHOOL SETTING, IS THAT THEY ARE GROWING IN THEIR SKILLS, AND ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS I'VE HEARD FROM TUTORS IS THAT THEY ARE GETTING JUST AS MUCH FROM THIS EXPERIENCE AS THE STUDENTS ARE.

SO THEY ARE JUST GETTING TO SEE THESE STUDENTS, IT MAKES THEM APPRECIATE READING OR MATH OR A SUBJECT THAT THEY WERE NOT THRILLED ABOUT IN THE BEGINNING, AND THEY ARE REALLY ENJOYING THE SUBJECT NOW.

I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS SO IMPACTFUL AND EMPOWERING TO SEE.

>> THE THING THAT'S KEPT ME COMING BACK EVERY YEAR HAS BEEN HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THESE STUDENTS THAT IS ONE-ON-ONE, NOT AS RIGID AS BEING IN A CLASSROOM -- BEING A CLASSROOM TEACHER, SO YOU CAN KIND OF MEET THEM WHERE THEY ARE AT EVERYDAY AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO NECESSARILY TRY TO MANAGE A BUNCH OF STUDENTS ALL AT ONCE.

YOU CAN REALLY SORT OF GO SLOW OR ASSESSED AS A STUDENT NEEDS.

TO BUILD THESE REALLY DEEP RELATIONSHIPS WITH STUDENTS AND BUILD THEIR TRUST, THAT IS IMPORTANT FOR LEARNING A SUBJECT, TO HAVE A TRUSTING RELATIONSHIP WITH WHOEVER IS TRYING TO TEACH YOU.

>> IF YOU HAVE A LOVE FOR EDUCATION, SEEING STUDENTS SUCCEED, WANTING TO BE THAT DIFFERENCE IN SOMEONE'S LIFE, THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU.

♪ ♪ JULIE: DO YOU KNOW A YOUNGSTER WHO LOVES TO COOK?

WDSE IS LOOKING FOR KIDS FROM GRADE 3 THROUGH GRADE 8 FOR OUR NEW SERIES, "THE GREAT MINNESOTA RECIPE JUNIOR."

HERE TO TELL US MORE IS ISAAC QUICK, WDSE'S PRODUCER OF THIS NEW PROGRAM.

GOOD TO SEE YOU, ISAAC.

THANKS FOR COMING IN.

THIS SOUNDS LIKE AN AMAZING OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUNG FOODIES IN OUR AREA, TELL US ABOUT THE SHOW AND WHAT IS BEING PLANNED.

ISAAC: WE ARE DOING TWO SPECIALS, ONE IS A SUMMER THEMED SPECIAL WHERE STUDENTS WILL GET THE SHOW WAS THEIR FAVORITE PICNIC SNACKS, DESSERTS, SANDWICHES, THINGS LIKE THAT.

THE SECOND ONE IS A HOLIDAY SPECIAL, WHERE THEY WILL GET TO SHOW US TREATS, BAKING TREATS, THINGS LIKE THAT THAT THEY LOVE TO MAKE WITH THEIR FAMILIES.

DENNIS: YOU ARE LOOKING FOR SOME YOUNGSTERS TO TAKE PART IN THE PRODUCTION OF THE PROGRAM.

HOW CAN THEY APPLY, AND WHO CAN APPLY?

ISAAC: ANYONE FROM GRADES THREE TO EIGHT CAN APPLY, WE ARE LOOKING FOR STUDENTS THAT ARE EXCITED TO COOK ON TO BECOME A REALLY -- COOK ON TV, REALLY, AND ARE COMFORTABLE IN THE KITCHEN ALONE, ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS HAD TO WDSE.ORG.

DENNIS: SO IT'S GREAT TO HAVE KIDS WITH COOKING BACKGROUND.

ISAAC: ABSOLUTELY.

I DON'T THINK FIRST TIME COOKS ARE THE MARKET HERE, BUT WE ARE LOOKING FOR KIDS THAT HAVE SOME EXPERIENCE AND WANT TO SHOW OFF.

JULIE: I LOOKED AT THE APPLICATION PAGE ON THE WEBSITE, IT SAYS YOU ARE ASKING PEOPLE TO SUBMIT A VIDEO, IF POSSIBLE.

IF THEY CAN'T COME AS A CONTACT THE PRODUCER -- IF THEY CAN'T, TO CONTACT A PRODUCER.

ISAAC: WE WANT TO MAKE THIS AS ACCESSIBLE AS POSSIBLE, SO IF SOMEONE DOES NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO SEND IN A VIDEO, I WILL SET UP A PHONE CALL WITH THEM AND I CAN GO MEET THEM IN PERSON, OR WE CAN DO A ZOOM CALL TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE HAS ACCESS TO IT.

JULIE: WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR IN THE CONTESTANTS, BESIDES COOKING ABILITY?

DO THEY HAVE TO HAVE CHARISMA, DO THEY HAVE TO HAVE SOME OTHER EXPERIENCE?

LIFE EXPERIENCE?

ISAAC: ABSOLUTELY.

WE ARE LOOKING FOR PEOPLE THAT HAVE A ZEST FOR LIFE, KIDS THAT REALLY WANT TO TALK, YOU KNOW?

DO TELL US WHAT THEIR EXPERIENCES IN COOKING ARE, WHY THEY ARE EXCITED -- I KEEP SAYING COOKING, BUT WHY THEY ARE EXCITED TO BE IN THE KITCHEN, WHAT MAKES FOOD IMPORTANT TO THEM.

AND WE ARE LOOKING FOR KIDS THAT WILL BRING A LITTLE BIT OF ENERGY WHEN THEY ARE COOKING.

DENNIS: TELL US MORE ABOUT THE SPECIALS THAT ARE GOING TO BE TAPED, THE TWO OF THEM.

WHAT WILL THE SHOWS INCLUDE?

ISAAC: IT WILL BE A FRIENDLY COMPETITION, THERE'S GOING TO BE THREE STUDENTS EACH IN EACH SPECIAL, THEY WILL COMPETE AGAINST EACH OTHER, THEN WE WILL HAVE A JUDGE AND A HOST THAT WILL MAKE THE DECISION ON WHO HAS THE BEST FLAVOR PROFILE, WHO HAS THE MOST CREATIVE PRESENTATION, AND REALLY WHAT THE JUDGE IS LIKE BEST -- JUDGES LIKE BEST.

JULIE: I UNDERSTAND THE PARENTS, THE GUARDIANS, WHOEVER IS WITH THEM OVERSEEING WILL ALSO BE ABLE TO BE ON TV A LITTLE BIT.

ISAAC: ABSOLUTELY.

WE CALL THEM CONFESSIONALS.

THOSE TIMES -- [LAUGHTER] THOSE TIMES WHEN THE CONTESANTS GET TO TALK, THE COOKING SET, THEY GOT TO TELL US A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THEM, SO WE ARE GOING TO BE INCLUDING THE PARENTS IN THAT.

WE WANT TO SEE HOW THEY INTERACT WITH THEIR KIDS, PARENTS OR GUADIANS.

THEN WE WILL GET TO HEAR A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THEY THINK OF THEIR STUDENT AND WHY THEY ARE EXCITED TO HAVE THEM ON TV.

JULIE: IS IT SURPRISING TO YOU AT ALL HOW COMPETENT KIDS ARE IN THE KITCHEN?

I'VE WATCHED OTHER COOKING SHOWS, IT'S LIKE, WOW, HOW DO THESE KIDS KNOW SO MUCH?

ISAAC: I DON'T THINK IT IS SURPRISING REALLY, IT SPEAKS TO, ONE, A DESIRE TO LEARN AND BE CREATIVE, BUT IT IS ALSO SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE PEOPLE THAT ARE RAISING THEM, PARENTS OR GUARDIANS.

IT SHOWS THAT THERE IS A LOT TO BE LEARNED IN THE KITCHEN AND THAT KIDS CAN DO ABOUT.

DENNIS: DO YOU THINK THERE ARE LARGE NUMBERS OF CHILDREN WHO LOVE TO COOK?

ISAAC: FOR SURE.

I WAS NOT VERY GOOD AT IT, TO BE HONEST.

SO THEY -- SO DID I.

COOKING WAS FUN WITH MY PARENTS.

I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF THEM OUT THERE.

.

JULIE: THIS COMES ON THE HEELS OF A GREAT MINNESOTA RECIPE WHICH WAS A GREAT SUCCESS, WOULD YOU HAVE MORE OF THAT PROGRAM FOR ADULTS, TOO?

ISAAC: WE ARE CURRENTLY IN PRODUCTION FOR OUR SECOND SEASON OF THE GREAT MINNESOTA RECIPE AND WE ARE FILMING THE SPECIALS ON THE SAME SET.

SO THE KIDS WILL GET TO BE ON THE SAME SET THAT THE ADULTS ARE ON AND WE ARE FILMING AT THE SAME TIME.

DENNIS: WHEN WILL THEY APPEAR ON THE AIR?

ISAAC: "THE GREAT MINNESOTA RECIPE" IS COMING BACK IN JUNE, THAN A SPECIAL IN AUGUST AND A SPECIAL AROUND NOVEMBER OR DECEMBER, THE HOLIDAY TIME.

JULIE: THANK YOU SO MUCH, ISAAC.

DENNIS: THANKS, ISAAC, VERY MUCH.

IT'S TIME NOW FOR "VOICES OF THE REGION," FEATURING AREA JOURNALISTS AND THE STORIES THEY ARE COVERING.

THIS WEEK, WE TALKED WITH THE TIMBERJAY NEWS PUBLISHER MARSHALL HELMBERGER IN TOWER.

♪ >> A FEDERAL JUDGE THIS WEEK REJECTED A PLEA BY TWIN METALS TO HEAR THEIR CASE CHALLENGING THE BIDEN DECISION TO CANCEL THEIR MINERALS AS EARLIER THIS YEAR.

A CONSERVATIVE TRUMP APPOINTEE THAT RULED IN FLAVOR OF TWIN METALS BACK IN 2020, WHEN HE FOUND THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAD ACTED WITHIN ITS AUTHORITY WHEN IT RESTORED TWO FEDERAL MINERAL LEASES FOR THE BUILDING OF THE MIND, THAT CASE HAD BEEN FILED BY A COALITION OF AREA BUSINESSES AND ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS SEEKING TO REVERSE A DECISION.

THEY HAD A SYMPATHETIC EAR THEN, BUT ANY DECEMBER 9 RULING, THEY REJECTED THE COMPANY'S REQUEST, HEARING THE NEW CASE CHALLENGING THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION'S CANCELLATION OF THE LEASES AS A RELATED CASE.

AS MCFADDEN NOTED IN THE THREE PAGE ORDER, CASE IS FILED WITH THE COURTS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE ASSIGNED RANDOMLY TO JUDGES WITHIN THE DISTRICT IN WHICH THEY ARE FILED.

THE RULE GUARANTEES HE WROTE, EQUAL DISTRIBUTION OF ALL CASES AND AVOIDS PUBLIC PERCEPTION OR FAVORITISM IN ASSIGNMENTS AND REDUCES OPPORTUNITIES FOR JUDGE SHOPPING.

WHITE -- WHILE THE DECISION WILL NOT -- WHILE THE DECISION WAS NOT A SURPRISE, IT WAS A BLOW TO THE EFFORTS TO HAVE THE CASE HEARD BY A POTENTIALLY MORE SIMPLE THAT A JUDGE.

INSTEAD THE CASE HAS NOW BEEN ASSIGNED TO JUDGE CHRISTOPHER COOPER, AN OBAMA APPOINTEE WHO HAS SAT ON THE D.C.

CIRCUIT COURT SINCE 2014.

THE CLAIM, THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION ACTED IMPROPERLY WHEN IT CANCELED THE FEDERAL LEASES.

WERE ALSO REPORTING ON SOME WILDLIFE RESEARCH WE INITIALLY REPORTED ON BACK IN 2019.

THAT'S ONE BIOLOGISTS -- WHEN BIOLOGISTS INSTALLED OVER 100 NEST BOXES DESIGNED TO MIDST -- TO MEET THE WEASER, WITH A SOLUTION TO A SIGNIFICANT DECLINE OF THE POPULATION IN MINNESOTA.

NOW EFFORTS ARE BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD, AFTER THREE YEARS OF MONITORING THESE BOXES REVEALED WHILE FISHERS AND MANY OTHER FORCE TRIGGERS OCCASIONALLY SAT ON THEM AND CRAWLED INSIDE THEM, IT APPEARED KNOW FOR EVER USED ONE OF THE BOXES FOR NESTING PURPOSES.

REGARDLESS, YOU HAVE TO GIVE JOYCE AN A FOR EFFORT AS BASIC SCIENCE GOES, THIS WAS ANY HERCULEAN TASK, TO BUILD, HALL,, AND MONITOR ALL THE BOXES, EACH OF WHICH WEIGHED 55 POUNDS AND HAD TO BE HAULED A CONSIDERABLE DISTANCE INTO THE WOODS BEFORE BEING HUNG IN A TREE.

JOYCE WORKS FOR THE NATURAL RESOURCES INSTITUTE AND HE HAD HEP ALONG THE WAY -- HELP ALONG THE WAY FROM TECHNICIANS AND STUDENTS FROM THE COMMITTEE COLLEGE.

GIVEN THAT SCIENCE IS ABOUT EXPANDING KNOWLEDGE, EVEN A NEGATIVE RESULT ON THE EXPERIMENT IS STILL VALUABLE.

FINALLY WE ARE REPORTING ON CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNTS, SCHEDULED TO GET UNDERWAY ACROSS MINNESOTA IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS.

THE ANNUAL BIRD COUNT WAS ESTABLISHED BY THE AUDUBON SOCIETY WAY BACK IN 1900 AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO NEW YEAR'S DAY BIRD SHOOTS, WHICH WERE A POPULAR ACTIVITY AT THE TIME.

OVER THE PAST 122 YEARS, THE DATA GATHERED BY THE THOUSANDS OF PARTICIPANTS ACROSS NORTH AMERICA WHO TAKE PART IN THESE BIRD COUNTS EVERY YEAR HAVE PROVIDED EXTREMELY VALUABLE INSIGHT INTO BIRD POPULATION TRENDS AND CHANGES OVER TIME.

THE COUNTS TAKE PLACE IN ACCOUNT CIRCLE 15 MILES IN DIAMETER.

THEY HIT THE BACK WOODS AND BIRDFEEDERS TO TABULATE ALL THE BIRDS THEY FIND.

IT IS A CLASSIC EXAMPLE OF CITIZEN SCIENCE AND A GREAT WAY FOR NOVICE BIRDERS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE WINTER BIRDS IN THE AREA SINCE THEY ARE OFTEN PAIRED UP WITH MORE EXPERIENCED ONES.

ANYONE INTERESTED IN TAKING PART IN THE BIRD COUNT CAN GO ONLINE, JUST GOOGLE AUDUBON CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT, AND YOU WILL FIND AN INTERACTIVE MAP, SHOW AND OTHER PLACES WHERE THE COUNTS WILL BE HELD.

YOU CAN CLICK ON ANY OF THE LOCATIONS ON THE MAP.

IT WILL GIVE YOU CONTACT INFORMATION FOR EVERY -- FOR AREA COUNTS.

♪ DENNIS: WE'RE OUT OF TIME, BUT IT'S 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.

AND JULIE, A NOTE FOR OUR VIEWERS, THIS IS OUR LAST "ALMANAC NORTH" PROGRAM OF 2022.

WE WILL BE OFF THE NEXT TWO WEEKS, TO FRIDAYS FROM NOW.

OUR NEXT PROGRAM WILL BE FRIDAY, JANUARY 6.

SO, I GUESS IT IS "SEE YOU NEXT YEAR," JULIE!

JULIE: SEE YOU NEXT YEAR TO ALL OF THE FOLKS OUT THERE.

MERRY CHRISTMAS.

DENNIS: MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU AS WELL AND ALL OF OUR VIEWERS AS WELL.

WITH JULIE ZENNER, I'M DENNIS ANDERSON.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS, EVERYONE, AND BE KIND.

♪ ♪