JULIE: THE FIRST ON MANATT NORTH SHOW OF 2023.

DENNIS: THE MAYOR IS HERE TO TALK ABOUT HER DECISION TO RUN FOR A THIRD TERM.

HER OUTLOOK FOR THE CITY AND THE NEW YEAR.

JULIE: THOUGHTS ON THE ECONOMY IN 2023.

THOSE STORIES AND VOICES OF THE REGION COMING UP NEXT ON ALMANAC NORTH.

♪ HELLO AND WELCOME TO ALMANAC NORTH.

WE ARE BACK OFF OF THE -- AFTER THE HOLIDAY SEASON.

DENNIS: I TRUST YOU?

HAD A NICE CHRISTMAS?

JULIE: I DID INDEED.

DENNIS: GOOD TO BE BACK TO WORK.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE.

THE MINNESOTA DNR IS WARNING PEOPLE TO STAY OFF THE ICE AT THE MINE PIT.

THE LEGACY MINE PIT ON THE IRON RANGE HAS BEEN PUMPED TO KEEP WATER FROM OVERFLOWING, CREATING UNSAFE ICE CONDITIONS.

PUMPING AS A TEMPORARY SOLUTION TO PREVENT DAMAGE TO INFRASTRUCTURE.

THE DNR IS WORKING WITH STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO FIND A PERMANENT SOLUTION WHICH WILL REQUIRE LEGISLATIVE FUNDING.

JULIE: A ST. LOUIS COUNTY BOARD SELECTED TO LOSE COMMISSIONER PATRICK BOYLE AS CHAIR OF THE BOARD THIS WEEK.

HE SUCCEEDS PAUL MCDONALD.

KEITH NELSON OF VIRGINIA WAS SELECTED AS VICE CHAIR OF THE BOARD FOR 2023.

DENNIS: THE NEW YEAR MEANS NEW LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS.

NEWLY ELECTED LAWMAKERS THIS WEEK.

THEY GAVELED THE LEGISLATURES INTO SESSION.

TIM WALZ AND TONY E VERSE WERE SWORN IN THIS WEEK TO BEGIN THEIR SECOND TERMS IN OFFICE.

JULIE: DULUTH WILL HOST A FREE COMMUNITY DAY THIS SUNDAY FROM 9:00 TO 5:00, A WAY OF SAYING THANK YOU FOR THE COMMUNITY'S SUPPORT.

EVERYONE WHO ARRIVES BY 5:00 WILL GET A FREE TOUR AND CAN EXPLORE THE OUTDOOR SPIRIT OF LIGHTS DISPLAY.

DENNIS: THE DULUTH MAYOR ANNOUNCED LAST MONTH THAT SHE WILL BE RUNNING FOR A THIRD TERM IN OFFICE.

THE MAYOR WAS FIRST ELECTED IN THE FALL OF 2015 AND REELECTED IN LATE 2019 FOR HER SECOND FOUR-YEAR TERM.

SHE'S THE FIRST TO ANNOUNCE FOR THE CITY'S TOP JOB.

OTHER CANDIDATES ARE EXPECTED.

JOINING US NOW IS EMILY LARSON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF DULUTH.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU.

>> HAPPY TO BE HERE.

DENNIS: THE BIG QUESTION IS, WHY DO YOU WANT TO ONE -- RUN FOR MAYOR?

>> I'M SO EXCITED ABOUT THE DIRECTION OF OUR COMMUNITY, THE HARD WORK WE'VE DONE, THE RECONSTRUCTION PLAN WE HAVE IN PLACE.

$36 MILLION WE ARE INVESTING IN HOUSING, PROGRESS ON CLIMATE, EXPANSION OF JOBS, THREE YEARS IN A ROW OF SKYHIGH PERMITS.

EXCITED ABOUT ALL OF THAT.

MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS INCLUSIVE VISION OF EXPANDING OUR ECONOMY, GROWING JOBS, CONTINUING TO DO THE GOOD WORK.

JULIE: YOU ANSWERED ALL OF OUR QUESTIONS.

[LAUGHTER] LET'S TALK ABOUT SAFETY.

THERE WAS A JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE THIS WEEK WITH THE DULUTH POLICE.

WHAT WERE THE KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THAT SAFETY REPORT?

>> THANK YOU.

IT'S A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH THE CHIEF.

HE'S WONDERFUL.

SEEMS WELL-LIKED BY THE DEPARTMENT.

THE COMMUNITY IS ENJOYING HIS LEADERSHIP.

I WANTED TO GIVE HIM A CHANCE TO SHARE WITH THE COMMUNITY WHERE THINGS ARE AT.

HE'S BEEN THERE ABOUT A QUARTER.

THIS IS WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT.

VIOLENT CRIMES ARE DOWN.

THERE'S BEEN AN INCREASE IN SOME SHOOTINGS, MANY OF WHICH IS ATTRIBUTED TO SUICIDE AND SELF-INFLICTED.

PROACTIVE PATROLLING IS WAY UP.

CALLS IN RESPONSE ARE DOWN.

WE ARE EXPERIENCING WORKFORCE SHORTAGES.

WE WANTED TO TALK ABOUT HOW THE STATISTICS OF CRIME AND WHAT WE ARE SEEING FOR PUBLIC SAFETY ARE VERY GOOD AND WANTING TO MEASURE THAT AGAINST AND MEASURE HOW PEOPLE ARE FEELING AND TALK ABOUT THE PERCEPTION OF CRIME.

DENNIS: THE DEPARTMENT IS DOWN 22 OFFICERS.

WHY IS THERE SUCH A SHORTAGE?

>> THIS IS TRUE ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

WHAT WE'VE SEEN THE LAST FEW YEARS, PUBLIC SAFETY IS AN INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT JOB.

IN THE AFTERMATH OF GEORGE FLOYD'S MURDER AND PUBLIC SENTIMENT SHIFTING IN SOME AREAS OF THE COUNTRY, IT'S A MUCH MORE STRESSFUL JOB.

WE AREN'T DOWN LIKE MANY DEPARTMENTS.

WE JUST HIRED EIGHT NEW OFFICERS.

WE HAVE 12 MORE IN THE QUEUE.

WE ARE DOWN 22 OFFICERS BUT WE HAVE A PLAN TO CATCH UP AND I APPRECIATE THE CHIEF'S EMPHASIS ON RETENTION AND WORKPLACE SATISFACTION.

JULIE: LAST TIME YOU WERE HERE WAS A COUPLE MONTHS AGO.

WE TALKED ABOUT THE DOWNTOWN TASK FORCE.

MAYBE YOU CAN GET US UP-TO-DATE ON HOW THINGS ARE GOING AS YOU START TO IMPLEMENT THOSE.

>> THAT DOVETAILS WELL WITH THE VISION OF MOVING FORWARD AS MAYOR AND ADDRESSING CONCERNS THROUGH THE PANDEMIC AND PUBLIC SAFETY.

CONVENED A TAX FORCE OF 14 DIFFERENT COMMUNITY LEADERS, CAME UP WITH 27 RECOMMENDATIONS.

15 OF THEM UNDERWAY.

WE JUST MET TODAY INTERNALLY TO LOOK AT WHAT WERE DOING.

WE ARE ADDRESSING SAFETY, ACTIVATION, VISION, INVESTMENT IN OUR DOWNTOWN.

OUR DOWNTOWN HAS BEEN IMPACTED BY THE PANDEMIC BY PEOPLES WORKING FROM HOME CHANGING, HOW OFFICES FEEL.

WE ARE NOW SEEING MANY CITIES DOING WHAT WE DID LAST YEAR, CONVENING A STRATEGY ABOUT HOW TO ENSURE THAT DOWNTOWNS CONTINUE TO BE VIBRANT.

WE WILL COMMISSION A BRAND-NEW DOWNTOWN HOUSING STUDY.

WE ARE INCREASING PUBLIC SAFETY ELEMENTS.

ADDRESSING BLIGHT, GRAFFITI.

IT'S AN EXCITING WORK PLAN.

I'M HAPPY FOR THE COMMUNITY.

DENNIS: YOU'VE OUTLINED FOUR AREAS OF PRIORITIES FOR THE CITY.

AT THE TOP OF THE LIST IS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

>> FIRST OF ALL, I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING WITH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUDIT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR POLICIES AND PRACTICES ARE VERY FORWARD THINKING.

WE ARE WORKING WITH OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS IN THE COMMUNITY TO DO THAT.

WE ARE PRIORITIZING GOOD JOBS AND LIVING WAGE JOBS.

WE ARE INVESTING PUBLIC FUNDS INTO PRIVATE PROJECTS.

WE ARE LOOKING TO GROW THE PROJECTS THAT ARE ALREADY HERE.

ENSURING THAT THERE'S A RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER.

WE ARE PROUD OF SAVING THE PAPER PLANT.

LOTS OF THINGS THAT WE ARE BUILDING ON AND GROWING ONTO CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE REMAIN VERY COMPETITIVE.

JULIE: IT'S BEEN A RECORD SNOW YEAR.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT IT.

JULIE: LOTS OF RESIDENTS STRUGGLING TO KEEP UP WITH CLEARING THE SIDEWALK.

WHAT IS THE SOLUTION FOR THE CITY?

WHY DOESN'T THE CITY DO IT ALL?

>> WE DON'T KNOW ANY OTHER CITY THAT ACTUALLY ADDRESSES SIDEWALKS, FULL CLEARING OF SIDEWALKS.

IT JUST ISN'T DONE.

CITIES CAN'T HANDLE THAT FINANCIALLY.

WE ARE ASKING RESIDENTS TO MAKE A BEST EFFORT.

I HAVE THE SAME EXPERIENCES.

I DO UNDERSTAND THE FRUSTRATION.

THIS IS A LOT OF SNOW.

WE ARE ASKING RESIDENTS TO MAKE THEIR BEST EFFORT TO CLEAR SNOW.

WE KNOW THAT IS AND ALWAYS EASY AND IT WILL BE A LONG WINTER.

WE WILL NEED EACH OTHER'S HELP.

JULIE: WILL THERE BE ENFORCEMENT?

>> YES.

THERE'S A MECHANISM FOR ENFORCEMENT.

IT'S A TWO TO THREE WEEK LAG TIME BECAUSE OF MAIL TIME AND NOTIFICATION AND WANTING TO GIVE YOU A CHANCE.

IT'S NOT AS IF SOMETHING GOES INTO PLACE IMMEDIATELY.

DENNIS: THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.

HAPPY NEW YEAR.

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

♪ REPORTER: AFTER MORE THAN FOUR YEARS NOW, FEDERAL AGENCY HAS FOUND A SUPERIOR BINARY'S LACK OF SAFEGUARDS DURING A SHUTDOWN FOR MAINTENANCE LED TO THE 2018 EXPLOSION THAT CAUSED THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS IN SUPERIOR TO EVACUATE AND INJURED THREE DOZEN WORKERS.

THE U.S. CHEMICAL SAFETY BOARD CAME OUT WITH THEIR FINAL REPORT IN THE VERY LAST WEEK OF DECEMBER.

NOW THE U.S. CHEMICAL SAFETY BOARD IS RECOMMENDING 16 SAFETY RECOMMENDATIONS THAT COULD BE ADDRESSED BY NOT JUST THE REFINERY BUT ALSO THE NEW OWNER AND ALSO FEDERAL LABOR REGULATORS AND THE U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY.

IN PARTICULAR, THEY ARE SUGGESTING THAT THE EPA COULD CREATE A PROGRAM THAT PRIORITIZES AND EMPHASIZES INSPECTIONS OF THESE TYPES OF UNITS, THESE FLUID CATALYTIC CRACKING UNITS THAT OPERATE USING HCL.

IF YOU RECALL, IT WAS THE PRESENCE OF THAT CHEMICAL AND ITS USE AT THE REFINERY THAT PROMPTED THE EVACUATION OVER FEARS THAT HOLDING THAT CHEMICAL COULD BE COMPROMISED.

WHEN IT'S RELEASED IN HIGH AMOUNTS, IT COULD CAUSE SEVERE BURNS OR LUNG DAMAGE IN HIGH LEVELS.

SO THE TANK NEVER DID SPILL.

ALTHOUGH THE SAFETY MEASURES WORKED.

BUT THEY ARE SAYING THAT REFINERIES NATIONWIDE SHOULD BE EXAMINED IF THEY ARE USING THIS TYPE OF EQUIPMENT BECAUSE OF THE THREAT AND RISK THAT IT POSES TO THE COMMUNITY.

♪ AN INTERESTING THING THAT THE WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES IS UNDERTAKING IS THIS BLACK BEAR LITTER AND DIET SURVEY.

THEY JUST STARTED THAT LAST YEAR IN 2022.

NOW THEY ARE CONTINUING THIS WORK AND THIS PARTNERSHIP.

THEY ARE ASKING THE PUBLIC FOR HELP IDENTIFYING BEAR DENS THROUGHOUT WISCONSIN, IN PARTICULAR BLACK BEARS ARE FOUND MORE HEAVILY IN NORTHWESTERN WISCONSIN.

SO WHAT THEY ARE DOING IS COLLECTING THIS DATA THAT WOULD BE USED TO ASSESS THE REPRODUCTIVE RATES OF FEMALE BLACK BEARS, KNOWN AS SALADS.

THAT WOULD HELP IMPROVE THEIR MODELING THAT THEY USE FOR THESE POPULATIONS.

WHICH DECIDES THE HUNTING QUOTAS OR HOW MANY BEARS CAN BE HARVESTED DURING A BEAR HUNT.

THAT'S HELD EACH YEAR.

TYPICALLY, AROUND 4000 BEARS ARE HARVESTED ACROSS THE STATE EACH YEAR.

SO THEY WILL GO OUT SOMETIME THIS WINTER AND START EXAMINING THESE BEAR DENS THAT THEY'VE FOUND.

AND THAT INVOLVES SOMEONE KNOWN AS A DEN DIVER WHO HAS TO CRAWL INTO A BEAR DEN AND ADMINISTER AN IMMOBILIZATION DRUG TO THESE HIBERNATING BLACK BEARS SO THAT THEY ARE A LITTLE BIT MORE CALM TO DEAL WITH WHEN THEY ARE COLLECTING THIS DATA.

♪ WILD RICE IS CONSIDERED VITAL TO WISCONSIN, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA TRIBES WHO SAY THEY WERE GUIDED BY PROPHECIES TO FIND THEIR HOME WHERE FOOD GROWS ON WATER.

THESE TRIBES JOURNEYED FROM THE NORTHEASTERN U.S. UNTIL THEY FOUND WILD RICE OR WHAT THEY CALL -- IN THE WESTERN GREAT BASIN REGION.

TRIBES LIKE THE RED CLIFF BAND OF LAKE SUPERIOR MADE THEIR HOME NEAR MADELINE I -- ISLAND IN LAKE SUPERIOR.

THE BATTLE RIVER TRIBE HAS A LARGE EXPANSE OF WILD RICE BEDS, ONE THAT IS CONSIDERED THE LARGEST WILD RICE BED ON THE GREAT LAKE.

THERE'S BEEN SOME RESEARCH GOING ON TO DETERMINE WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH WILD RICE.

THERE HAVE BEEN PRESSURES ON THAT PLANT RELATED TO CLIMATE CHANGE AND WATER LEVELS AS WE'VE SEEN FLOODING IN RECENT YEARS AND ALSO WARMER TEMPERATURES OVER THE DECADES.

THE WILD RICE ACREAGE ACROSS NORTHERN WISCONSIN HAS BEEN CUT IN HALF ACCORDING TO THE GREAT LAKES CITY OF FISH AND WILDLIFE COMMISSION.

AS A RESULT OF ALL THIS RESEARCH GOING ON, NOW THERE'S A RESEARCH COLLABORATIVE THAT HAS BEEN FORMED BETWEEN RESEARCHERS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA AND TRIBES IN WISCONSIN AND MINNESOTA AND MICHIGAN.

TO BETTER UNDERSTAND AND PROTECT WILD RICE BY PRIORITIZING INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE AND VIEWS WHILE THEY ARE CONDUCTING THOSE STUDIES.

♪ ♪ DENNIS: THIS IS A GOOD TIME TO CALL IN A COUPLE OF OUR LOCAL LONGTIME ECONOMIC OBSERVERS FOR AN UPDATE.

2022 WAS A ROUGH YEAR FOR THE ECONOMY WITH INFLATION AT NEAR RECORD LEVELS AND HIGH PRICES.

AS 2023 BEGINS, THERE ARE SIGNS OF IMPROVEMENT AHEAD.

WE ASK OUR ECONOMICS PROFESSOR EMERITUS FROM THE COLLEGE OF SAINTS ALASKA AND EDITOR AND PUBLISHER OF BUSINESS NORTH.

WELCOME BACK.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE AGAIN.

>> HAPPY NEW YEAR.

DENNIS: IF YOU COULD BOTH GIVE US A FEW SECONDS AS TO WHAT YOU SEE COMING UP FOR 2023 AND THE ECONOMY.

>> I'M AN OPTIMIST.

I DON'T NECESSARILY SEE A RECESSION.

MOST ECONOMISTS ARE CALLING FOR A RECESSION.

RAISING INTEREST RATES.

ECONOMIC SLOWDOWN.

I THINK IT'S POSSIBLE WE DODGE IT.

IF WE HAVE IT, IT WILL BE MILD.

FOR THE REGIONAL ECONOMY.

DENNIS: RON?

>> I'M GOING TO GO THE OTHER DIRECTION.

[LAUGHTER] THERE ARE JUST A LOT OF PREDICTIONS THAT THE INFLATION WILL RESUME AS BAD OR HIGHER AND THAT THERE WILL BE A RECESSION.

I THINK THERE IS SOME INTERNATIONAL FACTORS THAT COULD REALLY CREATE HAVOC, ESPECIALLY IF THE U.S. DOLLAR DOESN'T REMAIN THE REMAINING -- RESERVE CURRENCY.

THAT MIGHT TAKE A WHALE SUPPLY OUT -- WHILE TO PLAY OUT.

IF THE DOLLAR USE -- LOSES ITS STRENGTH, WE HAVE MAJOR PROBLEMS.

JULIE: FOR YEARS, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT CHALLENGES WITH THE WORKFORCE HERE IN OUR AREA.

A LOT OF TIMES, THAT CHALLENGE WAS THAT THERE WEREN'T ENOUGH JOBS.

HAS THAT FLIPPED ENOUGH -- AROUND NOW?

>> YES.

THIS IS SOMETHING I WAS TALKING ABOUT BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

BUSINESSES WERE SAYING THEY COULDN'T FIND QUALIFIED WORKERS.

NOW THEY SAY THEY CAN'T FIND WORK WHETHER THEY QUALIFY OR NOT.

WE HAVE A PROBLEM IN THIS COUNTRY AND IT'S NOT GOING AWAY.

WE ARE NOT HAVING CHILDREN LIKE WE USED TO.

WE AREN'T ALLOWING IMMIGRATION LIKE WE USED TO.

THE IMMIGRATION CONTROLS THAT STARTED 10 YEARS AGO DURING THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION HAVE REDUCED OUR WORKFORCE BY 2.3 MILLION WORKERS.

IF WE DON'T WANT IMMIGRATION AND WE ARE NOT HAVING A BUNCH OF CHILDREN, EITHER THE EXISTING WORKERS GET PAID A LOT MORE AND HOPEFULLY THEY WILL BE MORE PRODUCTIVE.

IT'S A LONG RUN PROBLEM.

IT'S NOT JUST 2023.

DENNIS: TALK TO US ABOUT CONSUMER CONFIDENCE.

>> WHILE THERE'S AN ISSUE WITH BIG-TICKET ITEMS.

THAT'S PROBABLY GOING TO SHOW UP FIRST IN REAL ESTATE AND AUTOMOBILES AND APPLIANCES.

IT MAY DEPEND ON WHAT HAPPENS THE NEXT FEW MONTHS IN TERMS OF INFLATION MORE THAN ANYTHING.

>> THAT'S THE WILDCARD.

JULIE: HOW IS INFLATION IMPACTING THIS REGION RIGHT NOW?

>> UNTIL RECENTLY, EVERYONE HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT WAGE INCREASES.

THE WAGE INCREASES HAVE BEEN LESS THAN INFLATION.

OUR PURCHASING POWER HAS BEEN ERODED AWAY.

IF YOU ARE IN THE MIDDLE TIER OF INCOME, YOU'VE HAD THE BIGGEST IMPACT.

IT'S BEEN A 16% INCREASE IN YOUR COST OF LIVING OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS.

THAT REDUCES CONSUMPTION.

THAT'S A CONCERN.

THAT'S WHY YOU WANT TO SEE INFLATION DRAWN DOWN.

THE FED IS TRYING TO DO IT.

THAT'S BEING EUPHEMISTICALLY CALLED DEMAND DESTRUCTION.

A RECESSION.

THAT'S THE CONCERN.

HOPEFULLY THERE'S ENOUGH BUILT-IN SAVINGS THAT WE CAN KEEP SPENDING MONEY, CONSTRUCTION, GOVERNMENT SPENDING WILL KEEP THE RECESSION FROM OCCURRING.

IF IT OCCURS, IT WILL BE SHORT AND MILD.

DENNIS: OUR HOUSING STARTS UP AND DOWN?

>> THEY ARE DOWN.

HOUSING IS THE FIRST SIGN, THE CANARY IN THE COAL MINE OF A RECESSION.

YOU RAISE INTEREST RATES, HOUSING IS CRUSHED.

IT WAS A MISERABLE YEAR.

WHETHER THAT BOUNDS BUT -- BOUNCES BACK, IT HAS DECLINED A LITTLE BIT RECENTLY.

THAT IS SOMETHING I WILL TALK ABOUT.

IT'S CRITICAL FOR DULUTH AND THIS REGION TO GET MORE HOUSING.

JULIE: THE MINING INDUSTRY.

WHERE DO YOU SEE THE BRIGHT SPOTS AND THE CHALLENGES RIGHT NOW?

>> WELL, IN SOME SECTORS OF THE STEEL INDUSTRY, THERE IS STILL STRENGTH.

IN OTHERS, THERE IS NOT.

AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURING IS DOWN.

THAT IS AFFECTED A LOT BY INFLATION AND INTEREST RATES.

BUT YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF INTEREST IN MINING ON THE RANGE.

THERE ARE NEW DEVELOPMENTS.

METALLICS MADE AN ANNOUNCEMENT THIS WEEK.

YOU KNOW, IT IS POSED TO DO WELL IF THE OTHER PARTS OF THE ECONOMY DO WELL.

IT'S GREATLY IMPACTED BY THINGS LIKE CONSTRUCTION, WITH PIPING AND BEAMS.

DENNIS: I NEED A SHORT ANSWER.

JULIE: BEFORE YOU DO THAT.

WE HAVE 30 SECONDS AND I HAVE TO GET PREDICTIONS IN.

>> I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A TOUGH YEAR BASICALLY BECAUSE OF THE UNCERTAINTY.

BUSINESS OWNERS DON'T KNOW WHICH WAY TO JUMP.

CONSUMERS DON'T KNOW WHICH WAY TO JUMP.

I THINK IT'S JUST GOING TO BE A VERY DIFFICULT, UNCERTAIN SORT OF YEAR.

>> I AM MORE OPTIMISTIC REGIONALLY.

THE STEEL INDUSTRY WILL HOLD UP.

WE'VE BENEFITED FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS WITH THE CONSTRUCTION ON THE INTERSTATE AND THE HOSPITAL CONSTRUCTION.

WE HAVE SO MUCH MORE EMPHASIS ON HOUSING AND MULTIFAMILY HOUSING IN PARTICULAR.

I SEE THAT AS A NICE LITTLE OFFSET.

WE CAN SPEND LESS AS CONSUMERS BUT WE WILL GET THE INVESTMENT.

JULIE: I'M SORRY FOR INTERRUPTING YOU ON THAT ONE BUT WE HAVE TO HOLD THESE FOLKS FEET TO THE FIRE NEXT YEAR AND SEE HOW THEY DID ON THEIR PREDICTIONS.

DENNIS: THANK YOU BOTH.

JULIE: WE ARE ALMOST OUT OF TIME BUT IT'S EASY TO KEEP UP WITH THE SHOW BY FOLLOWING US ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.

THE WDSE WEBSITE IS THE PLACE FOR PROGRAM UPDATES AND STATION NEWS.

WATCH YOUR FAVORITE PBS PROGRAMS ON DEMAND.

WE LEAVE YOU THIS WEEK ON A BITTERSWEET NOTE AS WE SAY GOODBYE TO OUR FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE JOAN MAN.

DENNIS: HE WAS LAID TO REST YESTERDAY IN HIS HOMETOWN AFTER HIS UNEXPECTED DEATH AT THE AGE OF 49.

JULIE: OUR SHOCK AND SADNESS OF HIS PASSING IS STILL FRESH AND WE HONOR HIM THIS WEEK WITH A VIDEO TRIBUTE IN HIS MEMORY.

THINGS WON'T BE THE SAME HERE WITHOUT YOU.

♪ >> JOE WAS A CONSTANT HERE AT WDSE.

FOR MORE THAN 25 YEARS, JOE WAS PART OF NEARLY EVERY LIVE PRODUCTION AND MEMBERSHIP DRIVE HERE AT THE STUDIO AND MANY OTHER PROGRAMS AS WELL.

WHETHER IT WAS FLOOR DIRECTING ALMANAC NORTH OR DOCTORS ON CALL OR RUNNING CAMERAS FOR GREAT GARDENING, HE WAS A RELIABLE AND ENTHUSIASTIC MEMBER OF OUR TEAM.

HE TREATED EVERYONE AS IF THEY WERE LONGTIME FRIENDS AND HE ENJOYED CHATTING WITH GUESTS AND HOSTS OF OUR SHOWS.

VIEWERS AND MEMBERS MAY NOT HAVE SEEN HIM ON SCREEN BUT HIS STUDY PRESENCE BEHIND THE CAMERA WERE VITAL TO THIS PROGRAMS.

>> I STILL HAVE HANDWRITTEN NOTES BY JOE.

IT WAS USUALLY A TIP ON WHAT WAS HAPPENING AT THE MANSION, WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE ARMORY, THE MANUSCRIPT MUSEUM, OR THE DOUGLAS COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

HE WAS A MAN ABOUT TOWN.

>> HE COULD SIT DOWN AT THE NEWSPAPER MACHINE IN THE LIBRARY AND PRINT OFF ARTICLES THAT HE WOULD FIND FOR THE EXHIBITS.

SO KIND TO THE GUESTS.

THEY LOVED HIM.

HE ALWAYS HAD A STORY TO TELL ABOUT ANYTHING.

JUST LOVE TO THE QUESTIONS.

HE WILL BE SORELY MISSED.

THERE'S GOING TO BE A PIECE OF HIM HERE.

>> JOE ALWAYS HAD AN IDEA OR AN ANECDOTE OR A THOUGHT ABOUT EVERYTHING WE WERE WORKING ON.

AND THEN JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO, I REALIZED, I DON'T KNOW THAT MUCH ABOUT SUPERIOR HISTORY.

OF COURSE, JOE WAS THE PERSON YOU HAPPEN TO BE THERE.

WE SAT FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS AND JUST TALKED ABOUT ALL THE FUNNIEST SUPERIOR HISTORICAL STORIES HE COULD REMEMBER.

AND HE, I THINK -- AFTER A WHILE, I CAME TO REALIZE THE REASON JOE KNOWS SO MUCH ABOUT SO MANY THINGS AND THE REASON HE KNOWS EVERYONE IS BECAUSE HE IS SUCH A CURIOUS PERSON.

HE IS SO KIND AND GENEROUS.

HE JUST ASKS PEOPLE TO TELL HIM STORIES.

THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS I WILL REMEMBER ABOUT JOE.

>> HE HAD A NEARLY ENCYCLOPEDIC KNOWLEDGE OF BROADCASTING HISTORY.

>> YOU COULDN'T COME TO THE SHOW WITHOUT HEARING JOE GIGGLE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE REMEMBERED THAT HE WORKED SO HARD.

HE WAS INCREDIBLY PASSIONATE ABOUT WHAT HE DID IN MANY OF THE DIFFERENT JOBS THAT HE HAD IN THE TWIN PORTS.

HIS LEGACIES FOR ME ARE GOING TO BE THAT GIGGLE AND THAT CARE AND THAT MENTORSHIP.

HE DIDN'T JUST GIVE TO ME BUT TO ALL OF THE FELLOW FLOOR CREWMEMBERS.

TO ALL OF THE FOLKS HERE AT WDSE YOU.

>> HIS BIG GIGGLE HE WOULD DO OR THAT OVERLY CONFIDENT GRIN ON HIS FACE WHEN HE NEW INFORMATION ABOUT THE MARKET OR THE HISTORY.

WE HAD NO IDEA ABOUT IT YET.

HE LOVED THAT.

>> HE WAS INDUCTED INTO THE SILVER CIRCLE CLASS OF 2020, RECOGNIZING HIM FOR HIS 25 YEARS IN THE TELEVISION INDUSTRY.

HE WAS VERY PROUD OF THAT RECOGNITION AND HE LOVED BEING PART OF THE WDSE CREW.

>> I'M COMING TO YOU FROM THE STUDIO HERE IN DULUTH.

I WISH WE COULD BE TOGETHER TONIGHT BUT DUE TO COVID, THAT'S NOT POSSIBLE.

I HOPE YOU STAY SAFE AND HEALTHY AND CONTINUE TO WEAR MY MASK AND GLOVES HERE AT THE STATION.

I'M HONORED TO RECEIVE THIS OVER CIRCLE IN THANK YOU YOU TO THOSE WHO NOMINATED ME, THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS, AND MY COWORKERS PAST AND PRESENT.

TO THOSE FANS WHO I LEARNED FROM AND LOVED, THANK YOU FOR BEING PART OF MY TEAM.

>> A FRIEND OF MINE HAD AN EXPRESSION THAT HE USED WHEN WE PARTED FROM EACH OTHER.

HE WOULD SAY, SEE YOU ALL OF A SUDDEN.

WHEN I THINK OF THAT EXPRESSION, I THINK OF JOE MADDON.

SO MANY TIMES, HE WOULD SUDDENLY APPEAR NEXT TO ME.

AS RANDOMLY AS HE APPEARED, HE ALWAYS HAD AN INTENTION.

HE HAD INFORMATION TO SHARE AND HE SHARED IT ENTHUSIASTICALLY.

HE SHARED IT WITH ADMIRATION AND PRIDE.

IT WASN'T ABOUT BRINGING ATTENTION TO HIMSELF.

BUT ABOUT BRINGING ATTENTION TO WHATEVER THE SUBJECT WAS.

HE WAS INTENTIONAL AND ENTHUSIASTIC.

HE WAS JOYFUL.

HE LEFT US ON DECEMBER 21, THE WINTER SOLSTICE, THE SHORTEST DAY OF THE YEAR.

HE WILL ALWAYS REMAIN A BRIGHT LIGHT IN OUR MEMORIES AND IN THE HISTORY OF THE STATION.

>> REST EASY JOE.

WE WON'T FORGET YOU.