SUNDAY MARKSTHE START OF OUR REGION'S PREMIER EVENT.

THE MARATHON IN THE LOWER 40 EIGHT STATES BEGINS SUNDAY MORNING AT 10:00 A.M. ON BILLY'S BAR AND FINISHES 300 MILES LATER IN GRAND PORTAGE.

THE FIELD IS PACKED WITH EXPERIENCED MUSHERS AND FEATURES SEVERAL PAST WINNERS.

JOINING US IS KIRK WEBER, PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF THE SLED DOG MARATHON AND JASON RICE IS A FORMER MUSTER, THANK YOU FOR -- THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE, EXCITING EVENT, I IMAGINE?

>> I'M GLAD I'M IN MY SHOES AND NOT HIS.

>> WHAT ARE THE TRAIL CONDITIONS HEADING TO THE RACE?

>> LAST REPORT I HEARD IS THE TRAIL IS SHAPING UP BEAUTIFULLY.

TEMPERATURES HAVE BEEN GREAT.

IT HAS REALLY BEEN FIRMING UP I ANTICIPATE WITH THE WEATHER CONDITION, WE WILL HAVE A FASTER ACE.

IT WILL BE AN EXCITING RACE WITH A STACKED FIELD, IT WILL BE A GOOD RACE.

>> HOW MANY TEAMS WILL BE COMPETING IN THE MAIN MARATHON?

>> IN THE MAIN MARATHON, 25 TEAMS REGISTERED.

>> WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER RACES?

IT SEEMS YOU HAVE A COUPLE OTHERS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN MUSHING, BUT MAY NOT WANT TO COMMIT TO THE FULL MARATHON.

>> WE HAVE OUR DISTANCE AND OUR 120.

THEY BOTH SERVE AS A STEPPINGSTONE UP TO THE MARATHON, OR FOR SOME OF THE SMALLER KENNELS.

RUNNING A RACE TAKES A LOT OF DOGS AND A LOT OF TIME.

AND FOR THOSE WHO MAY BE GETTING A NEW OR TRANSITIONING OUT OF THE SPORT, WE HAVE A 30 MILE RACE THAT RUNS.

>> YOU ARE A MUSHER YOURSELF AND YOU WILL BE COMMENTING ON THE RACE THIS YEAR.

AS YOU LOOK AT THE FIELD, HOW COMPETITIVE IS IT?

>> EXTREMELY.

OUT OF ALL THE YEARS I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN ONE FORM OR FASHION OR OTHER SINCE THE MID-1990'S, THIS YEAR IS ABOUT AS STACKED UP AS COMPETITION LEVEL GOES.

YOU'VE GOT RYAN REDINGTON, LAST YEAR'S CHAMPION.

ONLY SEVEN SECONDS APART.

THERE IS A WHOLE CAST OF CHARACTERS.

WADE MARS COMING DOWN FROM ALASKA HAVING MADE THE MOVE DOWN LAST FALL WITH HIS WIFE.

HE IS PROBABLY GOING TO DO SOMETHING WE HAVE NOT SEEN THE ALASKANS TYPICALLY DO.

USUALLY THEY COME DOWN AND ARE USED TO LONG RUNS, VERY FLAT, VERY BRUTAL WIND AND WEATHER CONDITIONS.

THEY ARE NOT USED TO THE REPETITION OF THE HILLS.

OVER AND OVER LIKE WE HAVE ON THE NORTH SHORE'S SAWTOOTH MOUNTAINS.

THE WAY I DESCRIBED IT WHEN I WAS IN HIS SHOES, IT IS LIKE GOING UP AND DOWN SPIRIT MOUNTAIN.

IMAGINE RUNNING DOWN SPIRIT MOUNTAIN 25 TIMES.

THAT IS ABOUT THE ELEVATION CHANGE.

SOMEWHERE AROUND 37,000 FEET OF ELEVATION CHANGE FROM START TO FINISH.

SO IT IS A CRAZY AMOUNT OF UP AND DOWN.

USUALLY ALASKANS ARE NOT QUITE READY FOR THAT TYPE OF CONSORT OF THE RACE COURSE.

BUT HAVING COME DOWN LAST FALL, TRAINING WITH RYAN REDINGTON AND GETTING USED TWO THIS TRAIL, I THINK HE WILL REALIZE IT IS NOT THE IDITAROD AND THEY WILL BE GETTING UP THE SLED, RUNNING UP THE HILL WITH DOGS, CATCH YOUR BREATH, AND IN ABOUT 60 SECONDS, YOU WILL DO IT AGAIN.

HE'S PROBABLY A LITTLE AHEAD OF THE CURVE ON HIS LEARNING.

WITH HIM FINISHING FOURTH LAST YEAR, THIS IS SOMEONE WHO, IF HE HAS ADJUSTED HIS GAME TO THIS TERRAIN, HE WILL BE RIGHT UP WITH THEM.

RIGHT OUTSIDE OF THAT, TWO TIME CHAMPION BLAKE STRIKING AND HIS WIFE JEN.

FOUR TIME CHAMPION NATHAN SCHROEDER.

TWO TIME CHAMPION BRIAN ANDERSON.

THIS IS REALLY STACKED UP.

THE NEW FACES COMING FROM CANADA WHO ARE HIGHLY COMPETITIVE MUSHERS.

IT WILL BE TOUGH TO TELL.

IT IS A DOG RACE.

>> WITH THIS KIND OF FIELD AND FAST CONDITIONS, DO YOU EXPECT IT WILL BE ANOTHER FINISH LIKE LAST YEAR, WHERE PEOPLE ARE COMING IN AT THE SAME TIME?

>> I THINK WE WILL HAVE A TIGHT FINISH.

TO BE SEVEN SECONDS OVER A 300 MILE RACE IS UNUSUAL.

BUT I THINK WE WILL HAVE A LOT OF TEAMS STACKED UP THERE.

IT ALL COMES DOWN TO HOW THEY RUN THEIR TEAM, RESTED THEIR TEAM, WHO CAN STAY HEALTHY.

IT IS EARLY IN THE SEASON.

WHO HAS THE MILES ON THEIR TEAM AT THIS POINT THAT THEY CAN STAY HEALTHY AND HAVE A GOOD TEAM OF EIGHT TO 10 DOGS TO MAKE THAT LAST HARD, FAST PUSH INTO THE FINISH?

>> LOOKING AT THE FIELD, ALMOST HALF OF THE MUSHERS ARE WOMEN.

IT SEEMS LIKE A SPORT WHERE MEN AND WOMEN CAN COMPETE HEAD TO HEAD.

>> ABSOLUTELY, THEY ARE ON EVEN FOOTING.

I WOULD SAY SINCE EVERY POUND COUNTS, AND TYPICALLY, A LOT OF OUR FEMALE MUSHERS ARE MORE PETITE.

I AM A SMALLER GUY, I THINK I HAVE AN ADVANTAGE OUT THERE.

I YOU'RE PULLING SOMEONE WHO IS 250 POUNDS VERSUS 150 POUNDS, OVER THE COURSE OF 300 MILES, IF IT SLOWS THE DOGS DOWN A QUARTER MILE AN HOUR, BUT IT DOES IT OVER 300 MILES, YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT A COUPLE MILE LEAD.

I THINK IN SOME CASES, WOMEN ARE SHOWING THAT THEY DO HAVE AN ADVANTAGE SOMETIMES.

>> WE MENTIONED IN THE HEADLINES COVID HAS BEEN IN THIS AREA.

ARE THERE ANY PRECAUTIONS BEING TAKEN PLACE OR PROTOCOLS INSTITUTED, THE HANDLERS?

>> WE WILL BE FOLLOWING THE GUIDELINES AND BEST PRACTICES OF THE CDC AND APARTMENT OF HEALTH.

WE WILL BE REQUIRING MASKING FOR EVERY EVENT INSIDE BY ALL PARTICIPANTS.

WE ENCOURAGE SOCIAL DISTANCING AND MASKING.

LAST YEAR, ONE OF THE FEW RACES IN THE LOWER 48 THAT WERE ABLE TO HAPPEN.

AND THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC WITH ZERO RECORDED TRANSITIONS.

SO WE TAKE IT VERY SERIOUSLY WITH MASKING, SOCIAL DISTANCING, AND PRECAUTIONS.

AND WE WILL MONITOR THE SITUATION.

>> WHAT ABOUT SPECTATORS?

WHERE ARE SOME OF THE BEST PLACES FOR PEOPLE TO KIND OF GET AN UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL LOOK AT THE MUSHERS, AT THE DOGS ALONG THE WAY?

>> IF YOU WANT TO COME AND SEE DOGS, AND INTERACT WITH SOME MUSHERS AND ASK QUESTIONS, SATURDAY AT THE COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS IN PROCTOR WE WILL HAVE OUR VET CHECKS.

I BELIEVE THE FIRST TIME IS 8:00 A.M. UP UNTIL 1:00.

TEAMS COMING IN WILL BE CHECKED BY VETS TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE HEALTHY AND READY TO RUN THE RACE.

AND SPECTATORS CAN SEE THEM.

PROBABLY THE BEST TIME.

YOU CAN WATCH TEAMS GET HOOKED UP AND READY TO GO.

THESE ARE ATHLETES, THEY ARE GETTING READY TO RACE.

SO THE DOGS AND MUSHERS MAYBE.

THEY MAY NOT BE AGREEABLE AT THAT POINT.

YOU CAN REALLY SEE HOW EXCITED THESE DOGS ARE TO DO WHAT THEY LOVE.

AND WATCHING DOWN THAT AT BILLY'S, AND FOLLOW THE TRACKERS ON THEIR WEBSITE.

YOU CAN GO TO DIFFERENT ROAD CROSSINGS ACROSS THE TRAIL.

>> AARON ACTUALLY MADE -- MY LOVELY WIFE HAD HER -- SHE HAD SECRETLY ARRANGED FOR HIM TO MAKE THESE SPECIAL MITTS FOR MY MARATHON RUN.

THIS WAS IN 2019.

WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE POLAR VORTEX.

IT WAS ABOUT 50 BELOW ROUGHLY WITH WINDCHILL.

THESE WERE MADE OUT OF FIRS SHE SOURCED IN ALASKA.

THEY'RE BIG ENOUGH YOU CAN WEAR ANOTHER PAIR OF MITTS UNDERNEATH.

THE WAY THE TEMPERATURE WAS, I WAS REALLY THANKFUL FOR THESE.

YOU DON'T WANT TO BRING THEM AROUND YOUR DOGS.

THEY ARE MADE FROM REAL FUR, AND THE DOGS DO WANT TO NIBBLE ON THEM.

>> AND THEY KEPT YOU WARM?

>> THEY DID.

54 BELOW.

I FELT SORRY FOR THE HANDLING CREWS, PEOPLE WAITING FOR US TO COME THROUGH.

THAT WAS A MUCH MORE BITTER, UNFORGIVING PLACE TO BE.

I'M WORKING UP BODY TEMPERATURE ON THE SLED RUNNING UPHILL WITH THE DOGS, THEN I WOULD COAST FOR A LITTLE BIT, THEN I HAVE ANOTHER HILL TO RUN UP.

I WAS BATTLING HAVING TO TAKE MY JACKET OFF, PUT IT BACK ON.

THE IDEA IS YOU DON'T WANT TO SWEAT.

IF YOU SWEAT, YOU WILL NOT DRY OFF UNTIL THE NEXT CHECKPOINT, IT CAN BE TWO OR THREE HOURS AWAY.

>> I WILL BREAK A SWEAT IF WE DON'T GET OUT OF HERE ON TIME.

GOOD LUCK TO BOTH OF YOU WITH THE RACE.

THANKS FOR SHARING INFORMATION.

REAL QUICK, THE TIME OF THE START?

>> 10:00 A.M. AT BILLY'S.

>> SOUNDS GOOD, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> IT ALL STARTED AS A WAY TO COMMEMORATE THE LEGENDARY MAIL CARRIER JOHN BEARGREASE.

SINCE THAT BEGINNING IN 1980, THE BEARGREASE HAS GROWN INTO THE PREMIERE SLED DOG RACE SERIES IN NORTH AMERICA, AND ITS RIGHT HERE IN OUR BACKYARD.

PRODUCER MEGAN MCGARVEY AND MEMBERS OF OUR PRODUCTION TEAM CAUGHT UP WITH MUSHERS RYAN REDDINGTON AND MORGAN MARTENS ON THEIR TRAIL TO THE BEARGREASE.

AS WE MENTIONED EARLIER, THE JOHN BEARGREASE SLED DOG -- ♪ >> WHEN I WAS GROWING UP, THE RACE WAS A BIG DEAL FOR MY FAMILY.

WAS REALLY EXCITED TO COME DOWN RACING.

I FELL IN LOVE WITH IT.

NOT ONLY THE RACERS, BUT THE VOLUNTEERS OF PEOPLE THAT WE NEED IS REALLY OUTSTANDING AND HOW EXCITED THEY ARE.

IT IS ONE OF MY MOST FUN RACES I ENJOYED.

NO PRESSURE FOR MY FAMILY, BUT I'M VERY GLAD TO BE MUSHING AND RACING AT THE SAME AS MY GRANDPA AND MY DAD.

>> IT HAS BEEN IN MY FAMILY OVER 20 YEARS.

MY MOM GOT INTO IT.

SHE GOT HER SISTER HOOKED, AND MY SISTER GOT ME HOOKED.

MY FIRST RACE WAS ABOUT EIGHT YEARS AGO.

IT WAS TWO EIGHT MILE RUNS.

I HAVE KNOWN RYAN FOR QUITE A LONG TIME.

I STARTED TO GET TO KNOW HIM REALLY WELL AROUND A YEAR AGO.

I'VE BEEN TRAINING WITH HIM EVER SINCE.

IT HAS BEEN REALLY FUN.

HE IS A GREAT MENTOR.

I REALLY ENJOY BEING AROUND HIM.

HE'S SUPER PATIENT AND A GREAT GUY TO LEARN FROM.

>> SO MUCH INVOLVEMENT WITH OTHER RACERS, I SEEK OUT ADVICE AND TRYING TO LEARN FROM AS MANY MUSHES AS I COULD.

I FEEL I SHOULD RETURN THE FAVOR.

PEOPLE LIKE MORGAN.

IT MAKES IT EASY.

IT IS VERY FUN AND REWARDING TO WATCH THEM BE SUCCESSFUL AND ENJOY IT.

>> DOING A LIVE FEED OF THE FINISH OF THE JUNIOR IDITAROD.

MORGAN CAME OUT OF THE WOODS AND IS HEADING UP TOWARD THE FINISH LINE.

WE ARE AT MARTIN BOOZER'S KENNEL, HAPPY TRAILS.

WE ARE VERY HAPPY ABOUT HIS TRAIL.

A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE.

>> I KNEW THAT I COULD WIN.

THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD TEAMS IN THE RACE, BUT MY DADS AND WHAT THEY WERE CAPABLE OF.

I TRIED TO FOCUS ON THE RACE AND DO WHAT WAS BEST FOR MY DOGS ENTIRELY.

THE LAST 10 MILES, I LET THEM GO AS FAST AS I COULD.

LIKE NO ONE IS CATCHING ME NOW.

>> WOW.

>> WE ARE GOING BACK TO JUNIOR IDITAROD.

A FEW DAYS BEFORE THE CEREMONIALS START, WHICH SINCE I WON LAST YEAR, I WAS INVITED TO START THE CEREMONY OF THE IDITAROD.

SO I'LL BE STARTING THAT.

♪ >> WE'VE GOT ABOUT 1100 MILES OF TRAINING DOGS THIS YEAR, 48 MILE RUNS AND DOING THAT AGAIN.

TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, 86 MILES EACH DAY.

IT TAKES A LOT OF WORK FROM FALL TRAINING AND INCREASING MILEAGE WHEN WE ARE READY.

RACE TIMES ARE GOING TO START TAPERING DOWN.

THE FIRST RACE OF THE SEASON FOR ME, GETTING BACK TO RACING AND TRYING TO PROVE MY DOGS AND WATCHING THEM HAVE SO MUCH FUN.

SO MANY BEAUTIFUL TRAILS.

ESPECIALLY THE MINNESOTA TRAILS, I ENJOY IT.

VARIOUS TRAILS EACH YEAR, BECAUSE THE SCENERY AND WILDLIFE IS NICE.

>> WE'VE BEEN DOING SOME TRAINING FOR THE JUNIOR BEARGREASE.

WE FIGURED OUT THE TEAMS PRETTY MUCH.

>> I HAVE NEW DOGS ON MY TEAM.

SEEING HOW THEY DID WHEN THEY WERE YOUNGER DOGS WITH MY RACING PARTNER LAST YEAR, THEY JOINED THE A TEAM, AND I'M EXCITED TO SEE HOW THEY DO RACING WITH ME FOR THE FIRST TIME.

I THINK IT WAS A GREAT RACE FOR TRAINING FOR THE IDITAROD.

A LOT OF CHECKPOINTS WHERE THE DOGS GET INTO A ROUTINE.

LIKE WE DID IN THE IDEA ROD -- IDITAROD.

IT IS GREAT PRACTICE.

BESIDES MY DOGS AND HOW THEY PERFORMED, IT WAS GREAT.

THAT WILL TELL ME WHAT DOGS I WILL BE TAKING THIS YEAR.

LAST YEAR, I LOST THE RACE BY SEVEN SECONDS.

I'M EXCITED TO GET BACK.

I THINK THERE ARE 26 TEAMS IN THE MARATHON THIS YEAR.

IT WILL BE ONE OF THE BEST COMPETITIVE RACES OF ALL TIME.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING IN THERE AND SEEING HOW MY DOGS DO, AND RACE WITH MY BEST FRIENDS.

NOT ONLY MY DOGS, BUT A LOT OF THE COMPETITORS.

>> THERE IS A 40 MILE BEAR GREASE, AND JUNIOR BEAR GREASE, WHICH IS 120.

MY SISTER AND I WOULD BE RUNNING A TEAM OF EIGHT DOGS.

SO IT SHOULD BE A FUN RACE.

>> IT IS REALLY A GREAT SPORT TO BE SPECTATORS, BECAUSE SPECTATORS CAN DRIVE TO EACH CHECKPOINT AND REALLY ENJOY THE RACE.

THE DOGS AND HOW WELL THEY ARE CARED FOR, HOW MUCH THEY ENJOY IT, AND HOW MUCH FUN THEY HAVE.

>> AS WE MENTIONED EARLIER, THE JOHN BEARGREASE SLED DOG MARATHON BEGINS THIS SUNDAY.

CHECK OUT WDSE'S SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES AND THE NORTH 103.3 FOR OUR ON THE TRAIL COVERAGE OF THIS YEAR'S RACE.

>> 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 DANIELLE KAEDING WITH WISCONSIN PUBLIC RADIO.

♪ >> THE U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO FINISH THE LONG-AWAITED NEW LOT TO HANDLE THE LARGEST FESTIVALS BETWEEN LAKE SUPERIOR AND THE LOWER GREAT LAKES.

THEY GOT AROUND $479 MILLION THROUGH THE INFRASTRUCTURE LAW TO HELP WITH FINISHING IT IN MICHIGAN.

AS YOU KNOW, THE ARMY CORPS HAS BEEN WORKING FOR A LONG TIME TO COMPLETE THIS PROJECT ON A NEW LOT THAT WOULD PROVIDE ANOTHER OPTION TO THE LOCK THAT IS ABLE TO HANDLE THESE SHIPS HAULING IRON ORE, LAKE SUPERIOR DOWN TO THE LOWER LAKES.

THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT, A VITAL PIECE OF INFRASTRUCTURE FOR ALL OF THOSE SHIPS MOVING BETWEEN THE LOWER LAKES AND LAKE SUPERIOR.

IN THE TWIN PORTS, HANDLING AROUND 35 MILLION TONS OF CARGO EACH YEAR.

IRON ORE MAKES UP MORE THAN HALF OF THAT.

THEY FOUND ALMOST ALL OF THE MANUFACTURING FOR AUTOMOBILES AND OTHER PROD -- PRODUCTS IS MADE THROUGH THAT.

♪ >> THERE WAS A NEW REPORT ISSUED BY NORTHLAND COLLEGE IN ASHLAND RECOMMENDING WAYS TO PROTECT OUR TEAMS IN THE COUNTY AFTER A CONTROVERSIAL PROPOSAL TO BOTTLE AND SELL WATER.

THAT IS NOW BEING FOUGHT IN COURT.

THE PAPER LEASED THIS WEEK LISTING FOUR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE COUNTY, FACING LITIGATION.

THE CIRCUIT COURT OVER ITS DENIAL OF SPECIAL LAND-USE PERMIT FOR THE DEDUCED BASED -- DULUTH-BASED WATER STARTED.

THE FOUNDER HAS BEEN WANTING TO CAPTURE AND SELL WATER FROM AN ARTESIAN WELL ON THE PROPERTY SHE AND HER FATHER OWNED.

THAT WATER WOULD BE TRUCKED TO SUPERIOR TO BE BOTTLED AND SOLD.

IT TAKES A BROADER PICTURE OF WHAT CAN BE DONE TO SEE WHAT KIND OF IMPACTS MIGHT BE HAD ON THE AQUIFER.

THEY REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT IMPACT CAN BE HAD WITH ANY WELLS TAPPING THAT RESOURCE.

IT AIMS TO BE PROVIDING A HISTORY OF ARTESIAN WATER RESOURCES STATEWIDE.

AS MANY AS 1000 SPRINGS HAVE DRIED UP IN WISCONSIN BECAUSE OF DEVELOPMENT AND OVERPUMPING.

SO THIS REPORT HOPES TO GIVE PERSPECTIVE ABOUT WHAT OVERSIGHT THE COUNTY CAN POSSIBLY HAVE TO PROTECT ITS ARTESIAN WELLS.

CENTURA HEALTH, WHICH SERVES PATIENTS ACROSS WISCONSIN, MINNESOTA, AND NORTH DAKOTA IS TAKING PART IN THE STUDY TO TEST THREE DRUGS WITH COVID-19 SYMPTOMS, INCLUDING THE CONTROVERSIAL DRUG IVERMECTIN.

THIS STUDY IS BY DOCTORS AT DUKE UNIVERSITY FUNDED BY THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH.

THEY WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHETHER THE DRUGS CAN BE USED TO HELP PEOPLE WITH MILD TO MODERATE CASES FEEL BETTER FASTER.

THERE'S EARLY RESEARCH INDICATING THERE MAY BE SOME BENEFITS TO THAT.

WHILE IT IS APPROVED FOR OTHER USES BY THE FDA, CURRENTLY THESE MEDICATIONS ARE NOT USED TO TREAT COVID-19.

DOCTORS TAKING PART IN THE STUDY AND HELPING ENROLL PEOPLE ASSURING PEOPLE IT IS SAFE TO TAKE THE MEDICATIONS PRESCRIBED BY A DOCTOR.

THEY DON'T ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO TAKE THESE DRUGS FOR THE TREATMENT OF COVID-19 OUTSIDE OF THESE SAFE CLINICAL TRIALS.

THE COVID-19 CASES HAVE BEEN SEARCHING IN WISCONSIN AND ACROSS THE NATION WITH THE OMICRON VARIANT.

SCHOOLS ARE SCRAMBLING TO FIND ENOUGH HELP AND SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS TO COVER, OR TEACHERS QUARANTINING WHEN THEY ARE SICK.

IN THE SUPERIOR SCHOOL DISTRICT, THE SUPERINTENDENT SAID RECENTLY THEIR ABILITY TO FIND THESE POSITIONS HAS BEEN GRADUALLY DECREASING OVER TIME, AND THE LAST TWO WEEKS HAS BEEN SOME OF THE WORST THEY HAVE SEEN IN TWO YEARS.

SO THE COVERAGE RATE FOR SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS WHEN TEACHERS ARE ABSENT IS AROUND 75% RIGHT NOW.

THAT IS DOWN FROM 80% SEVERAL YEARS AGO.

OTHER ADMINISTRATORS, THEY HAVE HAD TO JUMP IN AND FILL THESE POSITIONS.

IT IS CONTRIBUTING TO BURNOUT AMONG TEACHERS AND THOSE PITCHING IN BECAUSE A LOT OF THEM END UP MISSING PREP TIME TO GET READY FOR THEIR OWN CLASSES.

ONE BRIGHT SPOT IS THE SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS RECEIVED ABOUT 30 NEW SUBSTITUTE APPLICANTS SINCE ROLLING OUT A CAMPAIGN TO ATTRACT NEW SUBS.

>> WE'RE OUT OF TIME, 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.

AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO WANT TO KEEP UP WITH THE MINNESOTA LEGISLATURE, TUNE IN TO THE MINNESOTA CHANNEL FOR GAVEL-TO-GAVEL COVERAGE BEGINNING NEXT WEEK.

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

I'M JULIE ZENNER.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.

♪