DENNIS: I'M DENNIS ANDERSON ALONG WITH JULIE ZENNER, HERE'S WHAT'S COMING UP ON ALMANAC NORTH.

JULIE: THE NATURAL RESOURCES RESEARCH INSTITUTE HAS REFINED ITS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES AS IT LOOKS TO THE FUTURE.

WE WILL TALK WITH THE INSTITUTE'S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.

DENNIS: THE CITY OF SUPERIOR IS USING GPS TECHNOLOGY TO HELP IMPROVE ITS WINTER PLOWING OPERATIONS, WE'LL HAVE A REPORT.

JULIE: AND WE'LL HAVE AN UPDATE ON CHUM'S SOCIAL SERVICE PROGRAMS WITH ITS CURRENT AND PAST LEADERS.

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

♪ DENNIS: HELLO AND WELCOME TO ALMANAC NORTH, THANKS FOR WATCHING.

JULIE, THIS IS OUR FINAL SHOW OF 2021, WHAT A YEAR IT HAS BEEN.

JULIE: IT JUST BEEN AN INCREDIBLE GEAR, LOTS OF THINGS TO THINK ABOUT AT -- THINK BACK AT BAIRD JULIE: A LOT -- THINK BACK AT.

DENNIS: MUST BEGIN WITH THE DEADLINES -- HEADLINES.

JULIE: THE ARMORY APPEARS TO BE BACK ON TRACK, THE ARMORY ARTS AND MISERY CENTER WILL HOLD A NEWS CONFERENCE MONDAY TO ANNOUNCE A PARTNERSHIP WITH SHERMAN ASSOCIATES TO BE HAVE THE BUILDING.

ORGANIZERS SAY THE RENOVATED ARMORY WILL SERVE AS AN ECONOMIC, CULTURAL, AND ENTERTAINMENT HUB.

DENNIS: THE WISCONSIN DNR ASKING FOR THE PUBLIC TO COMMENT ON A PLAN TO RELOCATE A PORTION OF LINE FIVE PIPELINE.

AMBRIDGE HAS APPLIED FOR PERMITS TO BUILD 41 MILES OF 30 INCH DIAMETER PIPE IN ASHLAND AND IRON COUNTY.

THE REROUTE TO BUILD MOVE THE PIPE OUTSIDE THE TRIBAL LANDS.

JULIE: A LONGTIME FORCE MANAGEMENT PROFESSIONAL HAS BEEN NAMED THE NEW LEADER OF MINNESOTA FOREST INDUSTRIES.

RICK HORTON WAS ANNOUNCED AS THE NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ASSOCIATION THAT REPRESENTS FOR US PRODUCTS KENNEDY -- FOREST PRODUCTS COMPANY.

DENNIS: WITH LESS THAN A WEEK LEFT IN THE RED KETTLE SEASON, THE SALVATION ARMY IS BEHIND IN ITS EFFORT TO RAISE $220,000.

AS OF THURSDAY, THE ARMY WAS ABOUT $90,000 SHORT OF ITS GOAL.

LOOK FOR THE RED KETTLES AS YOU SHOP THIS WEEKEND.

SO THE SALVATION ARMY CAN MEET ITS FOOD AND TOY-GIVING GOALS FOR THOSE WHO SIGNED UP FOR HELP IN NOVEMBER.

JULIE: THE NATURAL RESOURCES RESEARCH INSTITUTE IN DULUTH WAS FORMED IN THE 1980'S BY THE MINNESOTA LEGISLATURE.

ITS VISION WAS TO PROVIDE RESEARCH TO BETTER UNDERSTAND AND MANAGE OUR NATURAL RESOURCES.

AS 2021 COMES TO A CLOSE, THE NRRI HAS REFINED ITS AREAS OF STRATEGIC FOCUS.

HERE TO TELL US MORE ABOUT THOSE KEY INITIATIVES IS ROLF WEBERG, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE NATURAL RESOURCES RESEARCH INSTITUTE.

WELCOME BACK, IT HAS BEEN A FEW YEARS SINCE YOU HAVE BEEN HERE.

FOR THOSE WHO MAY NOT BE FAMILIAR, WHAT GOES ON IN THE BIG FORTRESS?

ROLF: WHAT GOES ON IN THE FORTRESS AND OUR SITE AS WELL.

WE ARE HERE AS AN APPLIED RESEARCH LABORATORY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA TO LOOK AT OUR NATURAL RESOURCES, HOW CAN WE USE THEM MORE EFFICIENTLY AND HOW DO WE DO THAT WITH MINIMIZING THE IMPACT OF THE ENVIRONMENT.

JULIE: WHAT ARE THE KEY FOCUS AREAS THAT YOU ARE ZEROING IN ON?

ROLF: BACK OFF A SECOND BECAUSE ONE OF THE QUESTIONS WE GOT IS HOW DO WE LIVE TOGETHER ON THIS BLUE BALL?

HOW DO WE MAKE GOOD DECISIONS?

SO WE HAVE COMMITTEES, AND ECONOMY, AND ENVIRONMENT.

WE TAKE THAT ENGINE BACK IN.

THE THINGS WE ARE GOING TO FOCUS ON, THE IMPACT ON THE STATE OF MINNESOTA, THE NATION, AND THE GLOBE.

WE ARE STANDING UP AND TAKING ON THIS CHALLENGE.

DENNIS: WHAT YOU DO WITH THE DATA YOU COLLECT?

ROLF: WE TRY TO DRIVE FOR SOLUTIONS.

WE INTEGRATE ACROSS THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA WITH OUR STAKEHOLDERS TO DRIVE SOLUTIONS THAT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND MOVE THINGS FORWARD IN THREE AREAS.

SHE DID TAKE INITIATIVES ARE THINGS THAT ARE BIG, THEY ARE GOING TO BE LONG TIME, SUSTAINED EFFORTS, SOMETHING LIKE THE MANHATTAN PROJECT.

WE ARE LOOKING AT THREE.

ECOSYSTEM RESILIENCE, HOW DO WE UNDERSTAND THE WORLD WE LIVE IN?

HOW DO WE UNDERSTAND THE CHANGES AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO ADAPT AND HOW DO WE REMEDIATE?

SECOND, MIDDLES OF THE FUTURE, HOW DO WE GET VALUE OUT OF OUR RESOURCES AND DRIVE THOSE INDUSTRIES FORWARD?

THIRD, FOREST INDUSTRIES OF THE FUTURE, WHAT ARE WE DOING?

WE KNOW HOW TO MAKE PAPER, WHAT'S NEXT?

JULIE: YOU MENTIONED IRON AND MINERALS.

DO YOU SEE THE NATION'S IRON AND STEEL INDUSTRIES CHANGING DRAMATICALLY OVER THE NEXT 15 YEARS?

IF SO, WHAT CAN NRRI DO TO MOVE THINGS FORWARD IN A POSITIVE DIRECTION?

ROLF: THERE IS A GLOBAL FOCUS ON THE IRON AND STEEL INDUSTRY.

IF YOU LOOK IN THE UNITED STATES, STEAL SMITH'S ACCOUNT FOR 80% OF THE CO2 COMING OUT OF THIS COUNTRY.

THERE IS AN EFFORT GLOBALLY TO TAKE STEEL ANDY CARBONIZED STEEL.

HOW DO YOU TAKE THE CO2 WE ARE ADMITTING WITH THE INDUSTRY WE HAVE TO HAVE AND REDUCE THAT IMPACT?

THAT IS A BIG EFFORT WE ARE WORKING WITH FINLAND, GERMANY LEADING THE WORLD AND WE ARE COUPLING WITH THEM.

DENNIS: IS THERE A LONG FUTURE THAT THE IRON RANGE CAN LOOK FORWARD TO?

ROLF: ABSOLUTELY.

THE IRON OF THE FUTURE IS WHAT WE ARE FOCUSING ON, WHAT ARE THOSE RESOURCES THAT ARE STILL HERE?

WHAT ARE WE BYPASSING TODAY IN FAVOR OF THE INDUSTRY?

HOW DO WE INSTALL OURSELVES PARTICIPATING IN THE ELECTRIC ARC INSTEAD OF JUST UP LAST RINSE?

WHAT ARE THOSE PRODUCTS WE ARE NOT MAKING TODAY THAT ARE HIGHER VALUE, NOT JUST IN THE STEEL, BUT THE OTHER PLACES IRON CAN BE USED IN THE ECONOMY INCLUDING ENERGY STORAGE ALL THE WAY TO DIET?

THERE ARE SOME INTERESTING APPLICATIONS.

JULIE: LET'S TALK ABOUT FUTURE FOREST INDUSTRIES.

ARE THERE SOME PROMISING TECHNOLOGIES THAT YOU THINK COULD REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE THAT YOUR RESEARCHERS ARE WORKING ON?

ROLF: YES, WE ARE HAVING GREAT COLLABORATIONS.

THE IDEA OF BIO REFUNDING.

WHEN WE LOOK AT THE PEACE AFFORD, YOU LOOK AT A PIECE OF POPLAR OR OAK, THOSE ARE DIFFERENT STOCKS, THEY ARE DIFFERENT CHEMICALLY.

WE ARE LEARNING HOW TO TAKE THOSE AND MAKE DIFFERENT THINGS, WHETHER IT MIGHT BE A FUEL OR A BYPRODUCT THAT WE CAN TURN INTO A MATERIAL THAT YOU MIGHT USE ANYWHERE FROM A WATERPROOFING COATING OR SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN TURN INTO A PLASTIC.

JULIE: WHAT HAPPENS TO THE THINGS THAT YOUR RESEARCHERS, WITH?

DO THEY GET INTO THE MARKET TO ROLF: -- MARKET?

ROLF: ONE OF OUR KEY LAUNCHING PAD POINTS IS THE FACT THAT WE ARE DRIVING COMMERCIALIZATION.

IF YOU ARE NOT GOING TO COMMERCIALIZE IT, WHY ARE YOU DOING IT?

WE WORK WITH OUR SCIENTISTS TO SPIN OFF THESE IDEAS.

WE HAVE SPUN OUT A COUPLE IDEAS INTO BUSINESSES THAT CREATE JOBS, USE OUR NATURAL RESOURCES, AS WELL AS WHICH PRODUCTS IN NEW WAYS.

DENNIS: YOU MENTIONED THAT ECOSYSTEM.

WHAT IMPACT IS CLIMATE CHANGE HAVING ON THE GREAT LAKES AREA?

ROLF: A NUMBER OF STORIES THAT CAME OUT IN THE PAST, SCIENTISTS LOOKING AT THE FACT THAT LIKE SUPERIOR IS WARMING UP QUICKLY.

INLAND LAKES, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS AND THE IMPACT THAT HAS ON ANYTHING FROM HARMFUL BLOOMS STARTING TO SHOW UP, WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT KICKS THIS OFF AND HOW TO CONTROL THOSE, INVASIVE SPECIES COME ALONG WITH THAT CHANGE.

JULIE: WHAT'S NEXT?

YOU SEE SOMETHING BIG ON THE HORIZON?

WE ONLY HAVE 15 SECONDS.

ROLF: WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO EXPANDING OUR INFLUENCE AND REACH THAT ONLY IN THE STATE BUT ACROSS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

JULIE: ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING BACK AND WE WILL INVITE YOU BACK ON AGAIN TO TALK ABOUT THE THINGS HAPPENING.

ROLF: THANK YOU.

DENNIS: WITH THE UNPREDICTABLE WINTER WEATHER IN THE TWIN PORTS -- ♪ DENNIS: WITH THE UNPREDICTABLE WINTER WEATHER IN THE TWIN PORTS, THE CITY OF SUPERIOR HAS ROLLED OUT A NEW TOOL FOR PEOPLE TO STAY SAFE.

THE CITY HAS INSTALLED GPS SYSTEMS IN ITS SNOW PLOWING FLEET.

ALMANAC NORTH PRODUCER MEGAN MCGARVEY SPOKE WITH MAYOR JIM PAINE AND A SNOWPLOW DRIVER ABOUT THE NEW SYSTEM.

♪ >> ANYBODY HAVE TO STOP TO USE THE BATHROOM?

>> IT IS IMPORTANT TO MAINTAIN A FLEET.

THIS IS A WINTER CITY AND IT ALWAYS HAS BEEN.

EVERY COUPLE YEARS, WE SHOULD BE LOOKING TO BE MORE EFFICIENT AND MAKE SURE THAT WINTER DOES NOT NEGATIVELY IMPACT PEOPLE'S DAY-TO-DAY LIVES AND AS TECHNOLOGY AND EQUIPMENT IMPROVES, WE NEED TO INVEST IN THAT.

>> OUR STANDARD FLEET IS THE FIRST OF THE TRUCKS THAT ARE GOING TO BE GETTING THESE GPS SYSTEMS.

EVENTUALLY, THE REST WILL HAVE THEM AS WELL.

THE BEST INFLUENCE IT HAS WHEN IT COMES TO HAVING THE GPS IS EVERYONE IS INFORMED.

WE CAN INCREASE OUR FLOW WHEN IT COMES TO GETTING AREAS DONE.

ONCE AN AREA IS COMPLETED, WE CAN SEE IF THERE ARE WAYS TO BETTER GO ABOUT AN AREA.

>> WHEN WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT IT, I THINK WE ALL HAD A BLIND SPOT THINKING THAT TECHNOLOGY WAS MORE COMPLICATED THAN IT IS.

IN REALITY, WE REALIZED WE ALREADY HAVE THESE DEVICES ON OUR POLICE VEHICLES, WE CHECKED THEM ALL THE TIME.

THEN BE UPGRADED FROM THERE AND IT ENDED UP BEING VERIZON THAT PROVIDED THE DEVICES AND SOFTWARE.

THE EXISTING SOFTWARE SHOWS YOU WHERE THE PLOWS ARE AND WHAT DIRECTION THEY ARE GOING.

WE ALSO KNOW WHERE THEY HAVE BEEN.

WHEN YOU ARE ABOUT TO LEAVE THE HOUSE, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO LOOK AT WHETHER YOUR STREET HAS BEEN PLOWED OR WHETHER A STREET TWO BLOCKS AWAY HAS BEEN PLOWED OR HOW MANY OF THE COLLECTOR BOUTS HAVE BEEN PLOWED.

OUR GOAL IS MORE OR LESS TOTAL TRANSPARENCY.

THE ONLY THING HOLDING IT UP IS MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN COLLECT AND DISPLAY THAT INFORMATION IN A TIMELY WAY THAT THE PUBLIC CAN EASILY UNDERSTAND.

SO AS WE IMPROVE OUR SOFTWARE AND ABILITY TO SHARE IT, IT IS GOING TO GO OUT.

>> BEING A DRIVER FOR THE THANKSGIVING STORM, THAT ONE WAS PROBABLY THE LONGEST STORM OF MY LIFE AND HOPEFULLY FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.

SUBSEQUENT BACK TO BACK 16 HOURS FOR TWO WEEKS JUST TO GET THE CITY CLEAR, THEN AFTER THAT, ANOTHER I BELIEVE IT WAS TWO MONTHS OF 12 HOUR SHIFTS TO GET THE CITY READY FOR THE NEXT STORM.

>> THE 2019 STORM LED TO SOME OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT CONVERSATIONS WE HAVE HAD ABOUT THE OPERATIONS OF OUR SNOW CLEARING AND REMOVAL WITHIN THE CITY.

THAT STORM RAGED LIKE ALMOST NO OTHER STORM I HAVE SEEN IN MY LIFE.

BECAUSE IT WAS SO MUCH SNOW AND SO WET AND HEAVY, IT CREATED A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE.

FIRST, WE COULD NOT KEEP UP WITH IT.

THE PLOWS RAN FROM THE FIRST FLURRIES AND STAYED OUT ALL NIGHT AT GREAT RISK TO THEIR OWN SAFETY, BUT TO THE PUBLIC, THEY THOUGHT THEY WERE NOT EVEN OUT.

AT ONE POINT, WE HAD TO PULL THOSE STANDARD TRUCKS, THEY WERE NOT HAVING ENOUGH TO PLOW THE SNOW ANYMORE, SO WE HAD TO REPLACE THEM WITH HEAVY TRACTORS.

THE MESSAGING WAS CONFUSED WITH WE PULLED THE PLOWS OFF THE ROAD , WHICH WAS NOT TRUE.

WE WERE PLOWING THE STREETS BUT IT SOUNDED LIKE WE WEREN'T.

IT LOOKED LIKE WE WEREN'T BECAUSE WE DID NOT GET TOO MUCH STREETS.

IT TOOK SO LONG AND THE SNOW FILLED UP EVERYTHING WE PLOWED.

>> I THINK THE GPS'S WILL HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOING ON IN A SITUATION LIKE THE NOVEMBER STORM OF 20.

THERE IS ONLY SO MUCH IT CAN DO, THOUGH.

IT WILL GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHERE THE PLOWS ARE, HOPEFULLY WHERE THEY HAVE BEEN, SO YOU KNOW WHAT AREAS ARE RELATIVELY CLEAR.

IN A STORM LIKE THAT, THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH YOU CAN DO TO KEEP UP.

>> CLIMATE CHANGE IS HAVING AN EFFECT.

WE ARE GETTING MORE PRECIPITATION, HEAVIER SNOW MORE OFTEN AND SUPERIOR, IN TERMS OF BEING A WINTER CITY, IT WAS A COLD CITY, WE DID NOT GET AS MUCH SNOW AS OTHER PARTS OF WISCONSIN OR MINNESOTA, NOW WE DO.

WE HAVE TO ADAPT.

FIGHTING CLIMATE CHANGE IS THE WORK OF NATIONS AND THE WHOLE WORLD.

PROTECTING OURSELVES AGAINST ITS EFFECTS, THAT IS THE WORK OF CITIES.

DENNIS: WITH THE NEW TECHNOLOGY , YOU CAN TRACK SUPERIOR'S SNOWPLOWS DURING WINTER STORMS.

JUST GO TO THE CITY WEBSITE AND SEARCH FOR "TRUCK TRACKER."

AND THANKS TO MEGAN MCGARVEY FOR THAT REPORT, WELCOME TO THE ALMANAC NORTH TEAM.

♪ DENNIS: CHUM IS A NON-PROFIT SOCIAL SERVICES AGENCY IN DULUTH STARTED BACK IN 1973 AND IS SPONSORED AND GOVERNED BY AN INTERFAITH COALITION OF 40 FAITH COMMUNITIES.

THE ORGANIZATION OFFERS EMERGENCY FOOD, SHELTER, ADVOCACY, SUPPORT, AND OUTREACH THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

RECENTLY, CHUM'S LONG-TIME LEADER RETIRED AND A NEW LEADER IS NOW AT THE ORGANIZATION'S HELM.

JOINING US NOW IS LEE STUART, THE FORMER LEADER AT CHUM, AND JOHN COLE IS THE NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ORGANIZATION.

THANK YOU FOR WITH -- THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE TIME YOU HAD AT CHUM DURING THIS LEADERSHIP, WHAT AREAS DO YOU THINK HAVE MOST SETTLED IN YOUR MIND?

WHAT DID CHUM DO THAT YOU FEEL LIKE YOU HELPED TO CONTRIBUTE?

LEE: A COUPLE THINGS COME TO MIND.

WHAT IS THE CREATION OF THE STEVE O'NEILL APARTMENTS.

ONE THAT WAS LESS VISIBLE TO THE PUBLIC WAS THAT WE LOWERED WHAT WE CALL THE BARRIERS TO GETTING INTO SHELTERS, SO MORE PEOPLE COULD COME IN.

WE ARE NOT PETS, WE PUT IT THROUGH A BEHAVIORAL LENS INSTEAD OF SOBRIETY LENS.

WE ARE WELCOMING TO PEOPLE.

THE THIRD IS THE WARMING CENTERS ARE NOW INSTITUTIONALIZED, NOT ONE OFFS.

AN ERAKOVIC RESPONSE.

-- AND OUR COVID RESPONSE.

THOSE ARE THE FOUR THINGS.

DENNIS: WONDERFUL.

JULIE: WINTER IS A PARTICULARLY HARD TIME FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE VULNERABLE.

ARE YOU SEEING MORE PEOPLE STARTING TO COME IN AND WANT TO USE CHUM SERVICES AS THE WEATHER GETS COLDER?

JOHN: ABSOLUTELY, WE HAVE BEEN SURPRISED AT THE TURNOUT.

WE OPERATE BOTH TIMES AT CAPACITY IN THE WARMING CENTERS THAT WE HAVE.

AND OUR DROP-IN CENTER HAS AN UNUSUALLY HIGH AMONG TO PERSONS COMING IN.

LEE: PLUS THE SHELTERS.

JULIE: IF YOU ARE AT CAPACITY, ARE THERE PLANS TO DO THINGS TO EASE SOME OF THAT DEMAND OR TO CREATE MORE SPACE FOR PEOPLE?

JOHN: THERE ACTUALLY IS A NEW CENTER BEING DEVELOPED.

THAT WILL GIVE US EXPANDED CAPACITY TO BE ABLE TO HAVE FOLKS COME IN FROM THE COLD.

THAT WARMING CENTER WOULD BECOME OPERATIONAL IN JANUARY.

DENNIS: ARE THERE POCKETS OF POVERTY AND IF SO, WHERE?

LEE: THERE ARE BUT THERE IS MORE THAN JUST POCKETS.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE DEMOGRAPHICS, SOME NEIGHBORHOODS ARE MORE CHALLENGED THAN OTHERS.

LINCOLN PARK, CENTRAL HILLSIDE, MORGAN PARK.

BUT THE DOWNTOWN AREA IS ONE WHERE THERE IS THE LOWEST INCOME AND MOST CHALLENGED.

BUT IN EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD, YOU WILL FIND PEOPLE WHO ARE STRUGGLING.

JULIE: YOU SPENT A NUMBER OF YEARS HERE AT CHUM IN OTHER CAPACITIES.

IS THERE COMMUNITY MAKING PROGRESS WHEN IT COMES TO ALLEVIATING THE PROBLEM OF HOMELESSNESS OR HUNGER?

LEE: WE ARE DOING A BETTER JOB FROM MY PERSPECTIVE ON HUNGER THAN HOMELESSNESS.

THE DRIVERS OF HOMELESSNESS ARE COMPLICATED.

WE HAVE NOT YET AS A SOCIETY, NOT JUST DULUTH, DEALT WITH THE LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR PEOPLE.

WE HAVE AN AVERAGE OF -- BY NOW, ALMOST A YEAR AND A HALF FOR PEOPLE BETWEEN THE TIME THEY START BEING SIGNED UP TO BE CONSIDERED FOR SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AND CAN ACTUALLY MOVE IN.

THAT IS A STATEWIDE ISSUE.

UNTIL WE LOOK AT THAT, IT IS GOING TO BE HARD.

TO CREATE A SUPPORTIVE HOUSING SPECIFICALLY FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED EXTRA HELP WITH MENTAL HEALTH AND CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY -- I'M NOT SAYING THAT IS THE REASON PEOPLE ARE HOMELESS BUT HOMELESSNESS EXACERBATES THAT.

DENNIS: YOU HAVE SAID THERE IS A WORLD OF UNSEEN INTO LIFT, A WORLD FULL OF NEED.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

JOHN: AS FOLKS MOVE AROUND, AN INVISIBLE PORTION OF THE POPULATION THAT IS EXPERIENCING HUNGER.

WE SERVE 750 HOUSEHOLDS IN THE COMMUNITY.

THAT IS BECAUSE OF THE ECONOMIC SITUATION THAT THESE PERSONS ARE NEEDING CHUM SERVICES JUST TO HAVE FOOD AND PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE FOR THEIR CHILDREN.

OVER 4000 POUNDS OF FOOD DISSIPATED EVERY MONTH.

-- DISTRIBUTED EVERY MONTH.

PERSONS WOULD NOT NECESSARILY SEE THAT BUT IT IS A STARK REALITY FOR LOTS OF PERSONS.

DENNIS: SO THERE'S MORE POVERTY THAN PERHAPS WE REALIZE.

JOHN: THAT IS CORRECT.

LEE: AN EDGE OF POVERTY, POVERTY IS A TECHNICAL THING.

PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO MEET THE BASIC NEEDS.

HOUSING IS EXPENSIVE, FOOD IS MORE EXPENSIVE, HEAT IS EXPENSIVE.

I WAS AT THE GROCERY STORE THE OTHER DAY AND SOMEONE PICKED UP A HAMBURGER AND SAID, I CAN'T DO IT.

SHE HAD KIDS WITH HER.

I THOUGHT, OH.

JULIE: HAS ANYTHING BEEN PARTICULARLY SURPRISING TO YOU OR HAVE YOU GAINED SOME REAL INSIGHTS AS YOU ARE STARTING TO GET TO KNOW THE POPULATION AND COMMUNITY?

JOHN: I WAS STRUCK BY THE HIGH INCIDENCE OF MENTAL ILLNESS AND CHEMICAL ADDICTION THAT EXIST IN THE HOMELESS POPULATION.

THE FACT THAT OUR SERVICES, THOUGH WE DO HAVE SERVICES, THERE IS A RESIDENTIAL COMPONENT SO THE FOLKS AND WORK TOWARDS OVERCOMING THE OBSTACLES.

SO WE ARE LEFT WITH LOTS OF FOLKS IN THE SHELTER AND SHELTER IS NOT A GOOD PLACE TO TRY TO OVERCOME LIFE CRISES.

JULIE: HOW CAN PEOPLE WHO ARE WATCHING TONIGHT HELP YOU OUT IN YOUR WORK?

JOHN: I THINK THEY CAN BE SUPPORTIVE.

WE ARE ADVANCING A FIVE-YEAR PLAN TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS IN THE COMMUNITY.

IT IS GOING TO COST $33 MILLION OVER FIVE YEARS, CREATING HOUSING AND PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONS WHO ARE NOT SHELTERED TO HAVE SAFE SPACES.

IT IS GOING TO NEED WELL FROM THE PEOPLE AND THE GOVERNMENT AND OTHER SECTORS COMBINED TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THAT.

DENNIS: THANK YOU VERY MUCH MY JOHN COLE, LEE STUART.

THANK YOU BOTH.

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

EACH WEEK, WE HEAR FROM AN AREA JOURNALIST ABOUT THE STORIES THEY ARE COVERING.

OUR GUEST TODAY IS DANIELLE KAEDING, A REPORTER WITH WISCONSIN PUBLIC RADIO.

♪ >> RIGHT NOW, HOSPITALS AND PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE STILL SEEING CASES AND HOSPITALIZATIONS RISE ACROSS THE STATE.

IT -- IT HAS PUT A STRAIN ON STAFFING, SOME PLACES HAVE HAD TO CLOSE URGENT CARE CENTERS DIG A SHORTAGE OF STAFF BECAUSE OF THE SURGE IN CASES.

HERE IN NORTHERN WISCONSIN, HEALTH OFFICIALS HAVE REPORTED MORE THAN 200 NEW CASES OF COVID-19 OVER THE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS.

MAYFIELD COUNTY SAID THAT 1/6 OF THE DEATHS DUE TO COVID-19 THEY HAVE SEEN HAVE OCCURRED IN THE LAST MONTH IN NOVEMBER.

ASHWIN COUNTY SAID THEY ARE SEEING CRITICALLY HIGH LEVELS OF CASES IN THEIR COUNTY AND THE HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION SAYS THERE IS ONLY ONE INTENSIVE CARE BEEN AVAILABLE ACROSS NORTHWESTERN WISCONSIN.

LAST WEEK, THE GOVERNOR SAID THAT ALMOST 300 HEALTH CARE FACILITIES HAVE ASKED FOR STAFFING ASSISTANCE AND THAT HAS PUNTED THE STAGE OF REQUEST 100 FEMA WORKERS TO HELP OUT.

IN THE SODA HASH IN MINNESOTA, THE GOVERNOR HAS CALLED IN HUNDREDS OF NATIONAL GUARD MEMBERS -- IN MINNESOTA, THE GOVERNOR HAS CALLED IN HUNDREDS OF NATIONAL GUARD NUMBERS.

BUT THE GOVERNOR SAYS THE NATIONAL GUARD HERE ARE ALREADY STRETCHED THIN BUT SOME MEMBERS ARE GOING TO BE TRAINED AS NURSES TO HELP IN STATE MENTAL HEALTH FACILITIES.

♪ A MIDDLE SCHOOL IN NORTHERN WISCONSIN HAS BEEN CLOSE FOR A MONTH AFTER A STRONG ODOR CAUSED AN EVACUATION AND PROMPTED 60 STUDENTS AND STAFF MEMBERS TO SEEK MEDICAL TREATMENT.

THE SCHOOL HAS BEEN WORKING WITH THREE COMPANIES TO CONDUCT ENVIRONMENTAL TESTING TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS THE SOURCE OF WHAT MADE PEOPLE SICK IN THE DISTRICT SAID EARLIER THAT TESTS FOR CARBON MONOXIDE LEVELS CAME BACK NORMAL AFTER STUDENTS AND FACULTY COMPLAINED OF HEADACHES AND NAUSEA AND OTHER SYMPTOMS WHEN THE BUILDING WAS EVACUATED.

NOW THE DISTRICT HAS RECEIVED THE RESULTS OF THAT TESTING BUT IT IS NOT SHARED THE FINDINGS.

SCHOOL OFFICIALS CLAIM THEIR INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING AND THEY CANNOT RELEASE THAT INFORMATION UNTIL IT IS COMPLETE.

THERE'S A LOT OF QUESTIONS THAT REMAIN ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED AND HOW THE DISTRICT IS HANDLING THIS.

THE SCHOOL HAS BEEN OPERATING REMOTELY AND THIS WEEK, THE DISTRICT BEGAN TO OFFER IN PERSON LEARNING TO STUDENTS TWO DAYS A WEEK FOR EACH GRADE LEVEL AT THE SPOONER CIVIC CENTER UNTIL THE HOLIDAY BREAK BEGINS.

NOT ALL PARENTS ARE HAPPY ABOUT THAT.

LAUREN MARLEY, A PARENT OF ONE OF THE STUDENTS WHO WAS HOSPITALIZED IN NOVEMBER, SHE SAYS HER DAUGHTER HAD A CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING AND IS NOT A TRUST AT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IS TELLING THE WHOLE STORY.

♪ CONSERVATION BIOLOGISTS ARE HOPING TO PREVENT FURTHER DECLINE OF AN AT-RISK SONGBIRD.

THE CONNECTICUT WARBLER LIKES TO STAY HIDDEN IN SWAMPS.

STATE REGULATORS AND VOLUNTEERS WENT LOOKING FOR THE BIRD BUT COULD NOT FIND ANY SIGN OF THEM AT A 60 SITES THAT THEY SURVEYED.

BEYOND WISCONSIN, THE BIRD HAS DECLINED MORE THAN 60% ACROSS ITS RANGE SINCE THE LATE 1960'S.

IT IS NOT THE ONLY SPECIES THAT HAS BEEN IN TROUBLE.

RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT NORTH AMERICA LOST 3 BILLION BIRDS OVER THE LAST 50 YEARS.

SCIENTISTS SAY THAT THE CONNECTICUT WARBLER IS FACING THREATS FROM DEVELOPMENT, HABITAT LOSS, AND CLIMATE CHANGE.

IT IS DEALING WITH HABITAT LOSS ACROSS THE STATE AND IN THE AMAZON WHERE DEFORESTATION HIT A 15 YEAR HIGH AND CLIMATE CHANGE IS PUTTING MORE PRESSURE ON THE BIRD BECAUSE IT IS SHIFTING THOSE FORESTS FOR THE NORTH THAT THEY PREFER, SO THAT DNR AND PARTNERS ARE WORKING TO IMPROVE AND BUILD ON REMAINING HABITAT FOR THE ONLY PLACE THAT HAS BEEN FOUND NESTING, WHICH IS IN PARTS OF DOUGLAS AND MAYFIELD COUNTIES.

♪ DENNIS: THAT'S OUR TIME FOR NOW, DENNIS: THAT'S OUR TIME FOR NOW, BUT YOU CAN KEEP UP WITH OUR LATEST UPDATES BY FOLLOWING ALMANAC NORTH ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER, OR VISIT THE WDSE WEBSITE FOR PROGRAM UPDATES AND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE STATION, AND DOWNLOAD THE PBS VIDEO APP FOR ON-DEMAND VIEWING OF ALMANAC NORTH AND YOUR FAVORITE PBS PROGRAMS.

JULIE, ALMANAC NORTH WILL BE OFF THE NEXT TWO WEEKS ON CHRISTMAS EVE AND NEW YEAR'S EVE, SO I GUESS THIS IS GOODBYE UNTIL NEXT YEAR.

JULIE: HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO YOU.

DENNIS: MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO YOUR FAMILY.

WE WISH ALL OF YOU A HEALTHY AND HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON.

WITH JULIE ZENNER, I'M DENNIS ANDERSON, GOOD NIGHT EVERYBODY, AND BE KIND!

♪