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

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

DENNIS: WE'LL MEET THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES WHO WON SEATS IN MINNESOTA HOUSE DISTRICT 3A AND 3B, BOTH IN CLOSE RACES THAT REQUIRED RECOUNTS.

JULIE: PRODUCER MEGAN MCGARVEY HAS A STORY ON THE HMONG NEW YEAR CELEBRATION IN DULUTH.

DENNIS: AND WE WILL FIND OUT MORE ABOUT A UNIQUE FUDRAISER PLANNED BY "THE EMBASSY," A GROUP OF LOCAL ARTISTS.

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

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

DENNY, LOOKS LIKE WE MIGHT HAVE SOME FREEZING RAIN AND SNOW THIS WEEKEND.

DENNIS: THIS TIME OF YEAR, YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

IT COULD COME.

JULIE: AS LONG AS FOLKS ARE CAREFUL THAT THERE.

DENNIS: THAT'S FOR SURE.

JULIE: LET'S BEGIN WITH THE HEADLINES.

DENNIS: THANKS, JULIE.

A NURSES' STRIKE AT TWIN PORTS AND TWIN CITIES HOSPITALS HAS BEEN AVERTED WITH A TENTATIVE CONTRACT AGREEMENT THIS WEEK.

NURSES AT ESSENTIA HEALTH AND ST. LUKES HOSPITAL HAVE AN AGREEMENT THAT WILL RAISE WAGES BY 17% OVER THREE YEARS AND CONTRACT LANGUAGE THAT ADDRESSES UNDER-STAFFING AT HOSPITALS.

ABOUT 1300 NURSES WHO PROVIDE CARE IN THE TWIN PORTS WILL VOTE TO RATIFY THE CONTRACT OVER THE WEEKEND.

JULIE: A FORECAST RELEASED BY THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET THIS WEEK SHOWS MINNESOTA HAS A MASSIVE $17.6 BILLION BUDGET SURPLUS.

THE NUMBER GREW TO DOUBLE FIGURES AFTER THE LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION FAILED TO FIND COMMON GROUND ON THE ISSUE.

REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS ARE CALLING FOR THE MONEY TO BE RETURNED TO TAX PAYERS, BUT WHETHER THAT IS IN THE FORM OF REBATE CHECKS OR PERMANENT TAX CUTS IS THE BIG QUESTION.

DENNIS: THE DULUTH CITY COUNCIL VOTED TO REDUCE DULUTH'S MAXIMUM TAX LEVY BY 1%, FOLLOWING A LENGTHY MEETING MONDAY.

COUNCILORS HEARD FROM MANY CITIZENS OPPOSED TO THE LEVY INCREASE AND VOTED TO CUT LEVY REQUESTS BY THE DULUTH TRANSIT AUTHORITY AND THE CITY ADMINISTRATION.

THE COUNCIL WILL VOTE TO FINALIZE THE LEVY AMOUNT LATER THIS MONTH.

JULIE: AND THE DULUTH SALVATION ARMY RECEIVED A WELCOME GIFT THIS MORNING FROM MID-STATE TRUCK SERVICE'S "TRUCKERS FOR TOTS."

A SEMI WITH MORE THAN $12,000 IN TOYS WAS DELIVERED TO THE SALVATION ARMY WITH ANOTHER $4000 IN TOYS TO BE DELIVERED SOON.

THE TOYS WERE PURCHASED AT FLEET FARM, WHICH OFFERED A 30% DISCOUNT AND A $500 GIFT CARD FOR THE TOYS.

WHAT A GREAT GIFT.

DENNIS: HISTORY WAS MADE THIS FALL IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA WHEN HOUSE RACES IN DISTRICTS 3A AND 3B BOTH WENT TO PUBLICALLY FUNDED RECOUNTS.

THEY ARE THE ONLY HOUSE RECOUNTS IN THE SAME SENATE DISTRICT GOING BACK MORE THAN 170 YEARS.

THE UNOFFICIAL RESULTS FROM THOSE RECOUNTS THIS WEEK CONFIRMED THE ORIGINAL VOTE TOTALS.

JOINING US NOW ARE THE TWO WINNERS, REPRESENTATIVE-ELECT NATALIE ZELEZNIKAR, A REPUBLICAN FROM HERMANTOWN.

AN REPRESENTATIVE ELECT ROGER SKRABA, REPUBLICAN FROM ELY.

THANKS FOR BEING HERE!

AS A STATE REP FROM DISTRICT 3A, WHY DID YOU WANT TO MAKE THE CHANGE?

>> I WANTED TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

WHEN I RAN FOR MAYOR LAST TIME, I SAID IF I WIN, I'M GOING TO RUN FOR STATE REP, AND I WON.

IT WAS A SIX PERSON RUNOFF THAT WENT DOWN TO TWO, IT WAS A SPECIAL ELECTION, AND I WON BY LIKE 14 VOTES, I BARELY WON.

I WENT, WOW, NOW I HAVE TO RUN FOR STATE REP.

I'VE DONE IT BEFORE, I'VE TRIED THREE OTHER TIMES, BUT IT WAS TIME.

DENNIS: YOU BEATS A LONGTIME LAWMAKER IN MARY MURPHY, WHY DO YOU THINK VOTERS WANTED A CHANGE IN 3B?

>> I THINK IT WAS JUST TIME FOR SOME FRESH IDEAS, NEW LEADERSHIP, AND JUST BEING ABLE TO BRING A FRESH PERSPECTIVE.

JULIE: NOW, BOTH RACES WERE WON BY RAZOR THIN MARGINS THAT REQUIRED RECOUNTS.

WERE YOU CONFIDENT OF ELECTION INTEGRITY GOING INTO THE RECOUNT PROCESS?

>> FOR ME, I WAS PURE BUT I FELT THE SYSTEM WAS GOING TO -- IT IS JUST A TIME TAKING SYSTEM, YOU HAVE TO COUNT THE VOTES, AND THE ELECTION JUDGES AND THE EMPLOYEES OF THE COUNTY AND THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE WERE FABULOUS AND THE RECOUNT PROCESS WENT REALLY SMOOTH, IT WAS A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE FOR THE VOLUNTEERS.

I WAS NOT AT THE RECOUNT, BUT EVERYBODY THAT VOLUNTEERED HAD A GREAT EXPERIENCE IN THE THINK IT ASSURES PEOPLE THAT THE PROCESS IS WORKING, SO IT WAS GREAT.

JULIE: WHAT ABOUT YOU, WERE YOU IMPRESSED BY THE OVERSIGHT INVOLVED IN THE RECOUNT PROCESS?

>> YES.

I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN TWO RECOUNTS AS THE MAYOR, AND BOTH TIMES THE BOAT MOVED BY ONE.

THE PEOPLE THAT RUN THE ELECTION, THE WAY MINNESOTA RUNS THE ELECTIONS, IT IS PRETTY FOOLPROOF.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE DOES THESE TESTS THROUGHOUT -- BEFORE OUR RECOUNT, THEY HAD DONE TESTS ARE ON THE STATE TO CHECK THE SYSTEM, AND IT ALWAYS COMES BACK PRETTY MUCH SPOT ON.

DENNIS: THIS IS A QUESTION YOU CAN BOTH ANSWER -- WHAT ARE THE MAJOR NEEDS IN DISTRICT 3B, NATALIE, WAS GOING TO BE HER FOCUS?

>> I SPENT THE LAST 40 YEARS CARING FOR SENIORS FROM A NURSE ASSISTANT TO A CEO.

-- TO A CO.

I'M CONCERNED ABOUT STAFFING AND NURSING HOMES, HOSPITALS, WE'VE SEEN WHAT'S HAPPENING IN HOSPITALS, MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, SERVING SENIORS AND MAKING SURE WE HAVE STAFF IN OUR SETTINGS TO BE ABLE TO CARE FOR PEOPLE FOR THAT.

THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO PEOPLE.

MAKING SURE THAT WE LOOK AT THIS MULTIBILLION-DOLLAR SURPLUS AND ASK, WHY?

THE TAXPAYERS, PEOPLE ARE STRUGGLING, GROCERIES COST MORE, OUT-OF-POCKET, WE ARE IN WINTER, WE ARE HEATING HOMES.

PEOPLE NEED MORE MONEY IN THEIR POCKETS.

WE WILL BE LOOKING AT WAYS TO HELP GIVE THEM RELIEF AS FAST AS WE CAN.

CHILDCARE IS A BIG ISSUE FOR PEOPLE, SO THOSE ARE THINGS I SAID I WAS GOING TO WORK ON AND I INTEND TO DO EVERYTHING I CAN.

DENNIS: ROGER, YOUR FOCUS IN 3A.

>> WHEN I WAS DOORKNOCKING COME OUT TALKING TO PEOPLE, THEY JUST KEPT SAYING, DO SOMETHING, JUST TO SOMETHING.

THEY ARE SO FRUSTRATED WITH GOVERNMENT.

FOR WHATEVER REASON, MENTAL HEALTH GOT ON MY -- GOT IN FRONT OF ME, AND I'M RUNNING WITH HER, I'M GOING TO TRY TO HELP AS MUCH AS I CAN.

I WANT TO GET ON A NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE, BECAUSE OF OUR MINING AND EVERYTHING IN MINNESOTA AND THE LEGACY COMMISSION, FOR TRAILS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

BUT ALSO I WANT TO GET INTO THE MENTAL HEALTH.

I WANT TO STAY FOCUSED, AND OBVIOUSLY THE BUDGET AND THE DAY-TO-DAY STUFF THAT HAPPENS IN THE LEGISLATURE.

JULIE: ARE THERE COMMITTEES YOU HAVE YOUR EYE ON?

>> I THINK HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES IS A FIT THAT IS ONE THAT I DEFINITELY COULD SEE MYSELF BEING ABLE TO HAVE AN IMPACT ON, HAVING BEEN IN THE NURSING HOME OPERATION.

IT'S VERY REGULATED.

LOOKING AT POLICIES THAT MOVE US FORWARD.

AND HEALTH CARE, INITIATIVES WITH BUSINESSES, MAKING SURE WE CAN PROSPER AND HAVING PEOPLE MAKE A GREAT LIVING IN MINNESOTA IS A PRIORITY.

DENNIS: THERE'S A WHOPPING SURPLUS IN THE STATE ALMOST UNHEARD OF, WHAT SHOULD BE DONE WITH THAT MONEY?

>> MYSELF -- [LAUGHS] YOU TAKE AWAY THE $12 BILLION, THAT IS ONE-TIME MONEY.

$8 MILLION IS WHAT WE ARE OVERTAXING PEOPLE, SO THE 12 BILLION-DOLLAR, YOU FIND WHAT YOU WANT TO DO WITH IT -- I WOULD LOVE TO SEE US DO LONG-TERM TAX REDUCTION, LIKE PAY FORWARD SO WE DON'T HAVE AS MANY TAXES IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS.

DENNIS: NATALIE, YOU ARE SHAKING YOUR HEAD.

ARE PEOPLE BEING OVERTAXED IN MINNESOTA?

>> I THINK SOCIAL SECURITY TAX IS A BIG ISSUE FOR PEOPLE.

I HEARD IT EVERY DAY I WAS DOORKNOCKING.

I AM COMMITTED TO THAT 100%.

THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HAS BEEN BRINGING THAT UP FOR A LONG TIME.

LET'S GET WOOD OF SOCIAL SECURITY TAX.

SENIORS ARE HURTING.

PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT PROPERTY TAXES AND BEING EVICTED FROM THEIR HOMES ESSENTIALLY.

BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD IT ANYMORE.

I THINK PROPERTY TAXES ARE ON PEOPLE'S MIND.

AND OBVIOUSLY WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE MENTAL HEALTH AND PROGRAMS AND THINGS.

BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO LOOK AT HAVING A SUSTAINABLE PROGRAM THAT, JUST LIKE WE DO AT HOME, WE HAVE TO HAVE OUR BUDGET IN OUR HOMES AND THE GOVERNMENT HAS TO HAVE ONE, TOO.

JULIE: THIS REGION HAS BEEN PRETTY DEPENDABLY DFL FOR A LOT OF YEARS, HERE WE HAVE TWO NEW REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS SITTING HERE.

WHAT'S CHANGED IN THE REGION, TO TIP THAT SCALE IN BOTH OF YOUR MINDS?

>> I HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY TO ME THAT IT'S JUST GOTTEN TOO EXTREME.

THERE'S JUST TOO MUCH TALKING ABOUT THINGS THAT ARE NOT THE TABLE TOPICS AT HOME, YOU KNOW?

HOW ARE WE GOING TO PAY FOR GROCERIES, PAY FOR CHILD CARE, HOW ARE WE GOING TO SAVE MONEY FOR OUR KIDS TO GO TO COLLEGE?

THINGS ARE COSTING A LOT OF MONEY.

AND YOU CAN JUST SEE IT IN INFLATION.

IT IS AFFECTING PEOPLE EVERY TIME THEY GO GET GAS OR PAY GROCERIES OR PAY PROPERTY TAXES.

AND I THINK THAT REALITY STARTED TO RESONATE WITH PEOPLE.

WE NEED TO HAVE JOBS.

IF WE DON'T HAVE A JOB, WE ARE ALL AT RISK.

WE HAVE SIX MONTHS OF WINTER IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA.

THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT IT, HOW IT IS GOING TO AFFECT THEM AND THEIR FAMILY.

I THINK THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS PEOPLE START SAYING, LOOK, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE COMMON SENSE.

WE NEED TO MAKE COMMON SENSE, AND AGAIN.

I HEARD IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

WE NEED TO GET TO BUSINESS FAST.

JULIE: WHAT ABOUT YOUR OPINION ON WHAT TIPPED THE SCALES THE REPUBLICAN IN YOUR DISTRICT?

>> IT IS THE FIRST TIME A REPUBLICAN HAS EVER BEEN ELECTED IN MY AREA EVER.

IT'S LIKE GROUNDBREAKING.

DENNIS: DFL STRONGHOLD.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND WHAT HAPPENED IS -- NATALIE EXPLAINED, THE EXTREMES, THE MINING ISSUE, THE UNION ISSUE, THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY ALWAYS SAYS, WE ARE THOSE PEOPLE, BUT THEY WERE NOT DELIVERING.

THEY DIDN'T HELP THOSE FOLKS.

NOW WE ARE GOING ABOUT DOING OUR DOOR AND CONVERSING, IT IS CLEAR AS DAY, THEY SAY THEY ARE GOING TO HELP US, BUT THEY ARE NOT THERE.

THERE MORE WORRIED ABOUT OTHER THINGS.

DENNIS: WE ARE TO HAVE TO WRAP IT UP WITH ROGER SKRABA AND NATALIE ZELEZNIKAR.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US.

MERRY CHRISTMAS.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

♪ JULIE: MEMBERS OF THE HMONG COMMUNITY IN THE TWIN PORTS GATHERED LAST WEEKEND TO CELEBRATE AND SHARE THE HMONG NEW YEAR AT FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH.

THE EVENT WAS FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC TO JOIN IN THE FESTIVITIES AND LEARN ABOUT HMONG CULTURE.

PRODUCER MEGAN MCGARVEY BRINGS US THIS REPORT.

♪ >> TODAY IS THE HMONG NEW YEAR FOR THIS YEAR, 2022.

HMONG NEW YEAR IS A CELEBRATION OF CULTURE, TRADITION, A SHARING OF IDEAS.

BACK IN LAOS, IT IS ABOUT ALL THE VILLAGES COMING TOGETHER.

IT IS FOR COURTSHIP, FOR YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN TO COME AND TRY TO COURT EACH OTHER.

EARLIER TODAY, WE HAD THE HMONG BAPA, A LINE OF YOUNG WOMEN, AND WHAT THEY DO IS THEY TAKE THIS SOFTBALL AND THEY WILL TOSS IT BACK AND FORTH.

BASICALLY YOU HAVE ONE MALE THE ONE FEMALE, THAT IS HOW YOU KNOW THEY ARE COURTING EACH OTHER, THEY ARE TOSSING THE BALL TO EACH OTHER.

THESE DAYS, WE HAVE TECHNOLOGY, I DON'T NEED TO COME TO THE NEW YEAR TO COURT ANOTHER GIRL, I CAN JUST TEXT HER OR FACETIME HER NOW, RIGHT?

SO HMONG NEW YEAR IS CELEBRATING THE TRADITION AND THE CULTURE, CELEBRATING THE UNITY OF WHAT BEING HMONG IS.

[APPLAUE] >> THE LAST TWO YEARS BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC, WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DO THE HMONG NEW YEAR.

TO BE ABLE TO SPARK THIS EVENT AGAIN MEANS A LOT.

AS THE HMONG COMMUNITY LOSES SOME OF ITS VETERANS AND AS WE BECOME MORE AND MORE ASSIMILATED INTO WESTERN CULTURE, THE IDEA OF THAT, I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO HOLD ONTO OUR PAST AND OUR ANCESTORS, EVEN THOUGH IT IS GREAT THAT WE ARE GETTING INVOLVED IN ALL THESE WESTERN ACTIVITIES AND IT'S GREAT WE ARE GETTING MORE INVOLVED WITH THE COMMUNITY AROUND US, BEING ABLE TO STICK TO OUR ROOTS AND HOLD ONTO THAT PART OF US IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

[APPLAUSE] >> ONE OF OUR BIGGEST PRIDES AND SKILL IS OUR HANDIWORK AND EMBROIDERY.

ESPECIALLY FOR WOMEN.

AND MANY OTHER CULTURES, THIS IS SO, TOO, EMBROIDERY AND FABRIC WORK IS A LOT OF WOMEN'S WORK.

FOR HMONG PEOPLE, IT IS A SIMILAR THING, WE DO A LOT OF FABRIC WORK AND EMBROIDERY, STUFF LIKE THIS.

BEING ABLE TO APPLY THAT TO AN ART FORM AND TOY STORY YOU WANT TO TELL IS -- TO A A STORY YOU WANT TO TELL IS REALLY NICE BUT IT'S ALSO REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE HMONG PEOPLE DO NOT HAVE OUR OWN WRITTEN LANGUAGE OR OUR OWN FORM OF WRITTEN LITERATURE SYSTEM.

AND PART OF THAT IS BECAUSE OF THE HISTORY WE HAD OF A LOT OF WARS AND GENOCIDE, SO BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE, WE SPEAK THROUGH STORIES AND ARE EMBROIDERY AND ART, FOR EXAMPLE.

THIS TAPESTRY HERE IS TELLING THE STORY ABOUT THE VIETNAM WAR AND HOW HMONG PEOPLE WENT FROM THEIR VILLAGES AND HOW THEY FOUGHT IN SECRET IN THE JUNGLES.

WE WERE ALSO FORCED INTO REFUGEE CAMPS, FORCED OUT OF OUR HOMES AND OUT OF OUR VILLAGES INTO REFUGEE CAMPS BECAUSE OF THE WAR.

WE CAN'T REALLY WRITE THAT DOWN IN OUR OWN LANGUAGE.

IT IS PASSED DOWN GENERATIONS.

PART OF THE REASON WE HAVE THIS TAPESTRY'S AND WHY WE EMBROIDER AND SING SONGS AND DO ALL THESE THINGS IS TO PASS ON THOSE STORIES.

WE ARE DISTINCT AND WE ARE OWN PEOPLE.

SO = HAVING PEOPLE KNOW THA -- SO HAVING PEOPLE KNOW THAT, HAVING THAT KIND OF REPRESENTATION, PEOPLE KNOWING THAT WE EXIST AS A WONDERFUL AND GREAT THING.

>> IT IS IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE YOUR CULTURE, RECOGNIZE YOUR TRADITION, TO CELEBRATE IT.

THE TWIN PORTS IS SUCH A SMALL POPULATION, THAT IT IS IMPORTANT THAT OTHER PEOPLE, OTHER COMMUNITIES SEE, TOO, WE ARE HMONG AND IS COMMITTED HE IS NOT JUST ABOUT THE CAUCASIANS, AFRICAN-AMERICANS, WE DO HAVE A SMALL POPULATION OF HMONG, BUT WE'RE STILL HERE, TOO, WE ARE LETTING THE COMMITTEE TO KNOW, COME JOIN US, BECAUSE WE ARE HERE AS WELL.

[APPLAUSE] ♪ DENNIS: A GROUP OF ARTISTS KNOWN AS "THE EMBASSY" IS HAVING A UNIQUE FUNDRAISER NEXT WEEK TO HELP RAISE MONEY TO PAY FOR UTILITY BILLS AT THEIR ARTS STUDIO.

THEY'RE CALLING IT AN IRREVERANT VERSION OF A HOLIDAY FESTIVAL.

HERE TO TELL US MORE IS EMILY KOCH, A PAINTER AND INSTILLATION ARTIST WITH THE EMBASSY.

ZANTA IS ALSO WITH THE EMBASSY, THINK OF HER BEING HERE TONIGHT.

I WONDER IF YOU CAN LET US KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT.

WHAT IS THE EMBASSY?

>> SO, THE EMBASSY IS A COLLECTIVE OF ARTISTS, WITH A FOCUS ON CREATING SPACE FOR NEW AND ESTABLISHED ARTISTS TO EXPERIMENT AND EXPLORE.

JULIE: ARE YOU ACTUALLY A NONPROFIT OR IS IT JUST A GROUP OF LIKE-MINDED ARTISTS WHO SHARE SPACE AND FEED OFF EACH OTHER'S CREATIVITY?

>> THE SECOND ONE IS WHAT WE ARE.

WE ARE A GROUP THAT ALL RENT THE SAME SPACE, AND IT IS A WIDE ARRAY OF LOTS OF DIFFERENT ARTISTS, WE HAVE A WOODWORKER, MYSELF, I AM A VISUAL ARTIST, WE HAVE SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE SOME REALLY AMAZING MUSICIANS, AND THE AMAZING THING ABOUT OUR GROUP IS THAT WE COLLABORATE .

SO WE CREATE THESE EVENTS AND PIECES OF ART THAT TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE THESE REALLY AMAZING EXPERIENCES HAPPEN BECAUSE WE HAVE SUCH A WIDE ARRAY OF SKILLS AT OUR DISPOSAL.

JULIE: WEARS A STUDIO SPACE LOCATED -- WHERE IS THE STUDIO SPACE LOCATED?

>> WE ARE ACTUALLY LOCATED OFF OF RAILROAD STREET.

THAT IS A SACRED.

[LAUGHTER] -- THAT IS A SECRET.

[LAUGHTER] DENNIS: YOU SAY THE EMBASSY IS FIGHTING FOR SURVIVAL, HOW SO?

>> RIGHT NOW WE ARE STRUGGLING TO PAY OUR UTILITY BILLS.

WE HAVE A VERY LARGE SPACE.

TO HEAT THAT SPACE, IT DOES COST A LOT OF MONEY.

WE ARE ALL SELF-EMPLOYED ARTISTS, AND SO, THAT'S BEEN A LITTLE BIT OF A STRUGGLE LATELY, TO PAY FOR THE SPACES.

THAT'S OUR BIGGEST ISSUE.

THE GROUP IS DOING WELL.

BUT THE MANNER OF FINDING WHERE WE CAN OPERATE OUT OF HAS BEEN THE STRUGGLE.

DENNIS: HOW CAN PEOPLE PARTICIPATE?

>> WE ARE GOING TO BE HAVING AN EVENT THIS DECEMBER.

IT IS THE 15TH, 16TH, AND 17TH OF DECEMBER, THREE DAYS.

IT IS GOING TO BE A LIGHT SCULPTURE EXPERIENCE, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE ART INSTALLATIONS, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE 13 DIFFERENT BANDS, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE DIFFERENT KINDS OF PERFORMERS, SO IT IS GOING TO KIND OF BE LIKE A WINTER LIKE VILLAGE.

IT IS GOING TO BE INSPIRED BY THE TRADITIONAL EXPERIENCE OF GOING THROUGH A LIGHT SHOW, BUT THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME REALLY CRAZY, UNEXPECTED TWISTS.

YEAH.

[LAUGHTER] YEAH, AND THAT IS LOCATED AT 311 WEST 4TH STREET, A BLOCK AWAY FROM SACRED HEART.

DENNIS: THAT IS NOT A SECRET.

>> NOT A SECRET NOW.

[LAUGHTER] JULIE: YOU ADVERTISE IS NOT BENTLEYVILLE, IT IS BOOMVILLE?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

TO EXPLAIN IT PROPERLY, I FEEL LIKE I MUST INTRODUCE ZANTA HERE.

JULIE: WHO DOESN'T SPEAK.

>> HE IS MUTE, HE IS FROM A PLANET VERY FAR AWAY.

IN THIS PLANET, IT IS CALLED BOOB, PLANET BOOB, AND THEY HAVE REALLY ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY.

WITH A TELESCOPE, THEY WERE ABLE TO SEE ACROSS THE GALAXY FROM SO FAR AWAY, THEY SAW THE BEAUTIFUL LIGHTS OF BENTLEYVILLE IN DULUTH.

ZANTA WAS SO INSPIRED BY THIS, THAT THEY CAME DOWN TO EARTH AND CONTACTED THE EMBASSY, AND NOW WE ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO CREATE A HOLIDAY EXPERIENCE FOR LOCALS.

JULIE: THIS HOLIDAY EXPERIENCE, TALK ABOUT WHAT IT'S LIKE A LITTLE BIT FOR ATTENDEES.

SOME OF THE ACTIVITIES ARE NOT REALLY WHAT YOU WOULD CONSIDER FAMILY-FRIENDLY -- YOU'VE GOT PHOTOS WITH DRUNK ZANTA?

YOU'VE GOT SPANKINGS BY DEMONIC CHRISTMAS DEVILS.

[LAUGHTER] WHO IS THIS FOR?

>> WE ARE REALLY ENCOURAGING FAMILIES TO COME OUT.

WE ARE DOING 4:00 TO 9:00 AS FAMILY HOUR, SO IF YOU'RE CONCERNED ABOUT ANYTHING INAPPROPRIATE, THAT IS GOING TO BE COMPLETELY, TOTALLY FAMILY-FRIENDLY.

THEN FROM 9:00 TO 11:00 P.M. IS WHEN WE ARE GOING TO GET A BIT MORE EXPERIMENTAL AND A BIT MORE WILD.

DENNIS: ON THAT NOTE, WE HAVE TO QUIT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

JULIE: IT'S TIME NOW FOR VOICES OF THE REGION, WHEN WE HEAR FROM AN AREA JOURNALIST ABOUT STORIES THEY ARE COVERING.

OUR GUEST THIS WEEK IS HEIDI HOLTAN, FROM KAXE NORTHERN COMMUNITY RADIO IN GRAND RAPIDS.

♪ >> NEXT WEEK, HONOR THE EARTH IS HOSTING A CONFERENCE AT NORTHERN LAKES CASINO IN WALKER.

ANDY HUMPHREY IS THE FOUNDER AND ORGANIZER OF THIS FIRST ANNUAL EVENT.

SHE'S AN AWARD WINNER SINGER-SONGWRITER WHO STOPPED BY HER STUDIO RECENTLY.

>> WHAT IS A GREEN JOB?

IT IS THE OBVIOUS GREEN STUFF, SOLAR INSTALLATION OR ORGANIC FARMING.

WHEN I GOT THE PROGRAM TOGETHER, THE SPEAKERS, I STARTED THINK ABOUT, WHAT IS CONNECTED TO A GREEN PATHWAY?

TO ME EARLY CHILDHOOD AND THE CURRICULUMS THEY ARE USING NOW ARE NOT LIKE THEY WERE FIVE YEARS AGO, THE CHILDREN ARE IN THE WOODS MORE AND GETTING MORE OF CONNECTED, SO I THINK THAT IS TEACHING CHILDREN ABOUT THE NATURAL WORLD AS A GREEN JOB OR EVEN A FINANCIAL PERSON WHO SECURES FUNDING AND TRIES TO BUILD SUSTAINABLE HOUSES, JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE A MONEYMAN DOESN'T MEAN THAT CAN BE A GREEN JOB.

GO TO ON EARTH DOT ORG TO REGISTER FOR THIS THREE EVENT -- FOR THIS FREE EVENT.

WE RECENTLY SPOKE TO DR. GREG KAREN, HE'S GOT A FUNNY INFORMATIVE NEW BOOK OUT CALLED MAN OVERBOARD, A MEDICAL LIFELINE FOR THE AGING MALE.

WE TALKED ABOUT HOW THE BODY CHANGES AS WE GET OLDER AND HOW HE PULLED SOMETHING WHILE GETTING A TOMATO CAGE OUT OF THE GARDEN.

>> HE REMEMBERED TRYING TO WALK THE RAIL ON THE TRAIN AS A KID?

WHEN ERGONOMICS ARE RIGHT, SOMETIMES YOU THINK, THIS IS EASY, THIS IS NOT HARD.

AND YOU START TO GET UP, AND YOU CAN FEEL THE LOAD BECOME DIFFICULT, THEN YOU FALL OFF.

SO THERE IS A WAY THAT WE ARE MEANT TO SIT, THERE'S A WAY THAT WE ARE MEANT TO STAND THAT REALLY OPTIMIZES -- FOR INSTANCE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT LOW BACK PAIN, A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK, I'M GOING TO DO EXERCISE TO STRENGTHEN THE MUSCLES OF MY BACK.

BUT THE OTHER PART OF THAT IS TO STRENGTHEN THE MUSCLES IN YOUR STOMACH, BECAUSE THE FRONT SIDE, STOMACH MUSCLES ARE JUST AS IMPORTANT IN MAINTAINING THAT SPINE LOAD AND LOCKING IN YOUR SPINE WHEN YOU ARE OUT LIFTING SOMETHING, LIFTING A HEAVY TOMATO CAGE.

[LAUGHTER] VERY HARD.

THAT THING WAS MADE OF HEAVY METAL.

>> YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION ON HIS WEBSITE.

HE SAYS LEARNING ABOUT YOUR HEALTH DOESN'T HAVE TO READ LIKE A COLONOSCOPY.

INFORMATIVE BUT DIFFICULT TO SIT THROUGH WITHOUT SEDATION.

HE SAYS STAYING HEALTHY IS SERIOUS BUSINESS BUT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE BORING.

♪ AND FINALLY, WE HAVE NEWS -- THANKS TO FUNDING FROM THE BLANDEN AND NORTHLAND FOUNDATIONS, WE ARE BUILDING THE NORTHERN COMMUNITY RADIO NEWS INITIATIVE.

KEXE WAS THE FIRST RURAL PUBLIC RURAL STATION IN THE NATION, FOUNDE IN 1976 WITH THE NEW PROJECT WE ARE GOING TO BE ADDING TO OUR SUCCESSFUL REPUTATION WITH MORE LOCAL NEWS.

WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO LISTEN TO THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY, AND REFLECT THE DIVERSITY OF LIFE IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA.

MANY SMALL TOWNS DON'T HAVE NEWSPAPERS OR LOCALLY OWNED NEWS SOURCES, WE KNOW LOCAL NEWS IS CRITICAL, NEWS ABOUT WHERE YOU LIVE CAN HELP BRIDGE DIVIDES, FOSTERED SOCIAL MEDIA AND NATIONAL PARTISAN NEWS.

LOCAL STORIES GET MISSED EVERY DAY THAT COULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE FUTURE.

THE CEO SAID, UNLIKE THE TRADITIONAL NEWS MODEL, COMMUNITY RADIO HAS THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT COULD BE SUSTAINED THROUGH GRANTS, INDIVIDUAL, AND BUSINESS CONTRIBUTIONS THAT DON'T INTERFERE WITH EDITORIAL CONTENT.

THE NEXT STEP IS TO FIND THE RIGHT PERSON TO BUILD THIS FOR US, A NEWS DIRECTOR, YOU CAN FIND THAT ANNOUNCEMENT AND JOB DESCRIPTION AT KAXE.ORG.

♪ JULIE: JULIE: -- JULIE: 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.

DENNY, I THINK THERE IS LITTLE DOUBT WE WILL BE HAVING A WHITE CHRISTMAS THIS YEAR.

DENNIS: IT'S GOING TO BE WHITE FOR THE NEXT THREE OR FOUR MONTHS, GET USED TO IT.

JULIE: IT WILL INDEED.

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

WITH DENNIS ANDERSON, I'M JULIE ZENNER, HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.

♪