ALONG WITH JULIE ZENNER, HERE'S WHAT'S COMING UP ON ALMANAC NORTH.

JULIE: MINNESOTA CONGRESSMAN PETE STAUBER JOINS US WITH REACTION TO THE STATE OF THE UNION SPEECH AND MORE.

DENNIS: HUBER ENGINEERED WOOD WILL NOT BUILD A PROPOSED COHASSET PLANT, WE WILL HAVE REACTION FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE ITASCA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.

JULIE: AND WE'LL MEET SOME LOCAL HAM RADIO ENTHUSIASTS WHOSE HOBBY REACHES PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD.

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

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

JULIE, IT'S BEEN NICE TO HAVE A MILD WEEK AFTER THE ICY GRIP WE WERE IN.

JULIE: IT HAS BEEN BEAUTIFUL THIS WEEK THE SNOW HAS SETTLED DOWN AND IT HAS BEEN LOOKING GOOD AND FEELING BETTER.

DENNIS: LET'S BEGIN WITH THE WEEK'S HEADLINES: JULIE: THANKS DENNY!

MINNESOTA GOV.

TIM WALZ THIS WEEK SIGNED A “CLEAN ENERGY ” BILL THAT PUTS THE STATE ON A PATH TOWARD CARBON-FREE ELECTRICITY BY THE YEAR 2040.

SUPPORTERS SAY THE MEASURE WILL LOWER GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS AND CREATE CLEAN ENERGY JOBS.

MINNESOTA POWER RELEASED A STATEMENT OF SUPPORT FOR A CARBON FREE FUTURE, BUT SAID RELIABILITY AND AFFORDABILITY ARE KEY FOR ITS CUSTOMERS.

DENNIS: MINNESOTA NORTH COLLEGE RECEIVED A $3 MILLION GRANT THIS WEEK FROM THE BLANDIN FOUNDATION TO HELP PREPARE STUDENTS FOR THE REGION'S EMPLOYMENT CHALLENGES.

THE MONEY WILL SUPPORT “ASPIRE NORTH," A MULTI-YEAR INITIATIVE TO BUILD THE CAAPCITY OF ALL FIVE INSTITUTIONS OF MINNESOTA NORTH COLLEGE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF STUDENTS.

WE'LL HAVE MORE ON THIS INITIATIVE NEXT WEEK ON OUR SHOW.

JULIE: THE HERMANTOWN CITY COUNCIL THIS WEEK FILLED A VACANT SEAT CREATED WHEN FORMER COUNCILOR GRANT HAUSCHILD WAS ELECTED TO THE MINNESOTA SENATE.

ELLIE JONES WAS SWORN IN AS HERMANTOWN'S FIFTH COUNCILOR AT MONDAY'S MEETNG.

JONES WAS SELECTED FROM A POOL OF SIX CANDIDATES TO SERVE THE REMAINDER OF HAUSCHILD'S TERM, WHICH GOES THROUGH THE END OF 2024.

DENNIS: AND THE COLLEGE OF ST. SCHOLASTICA ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK IT HAS REACHED A $62 MILLION FUNDRAISING GOAL FIVE MONTHS AHEAD OF SCHEDULE.

THE MONEY RAISED WILL BUILD A NEW STUDENT CENTER, ADD ADDITIONAL STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS, AND STRENGTHEN THE PRIVATE COLLEGE.

DESPITE REACHING ITS GOAL, THE CAMPAIGN WILL CONTINUE TO RAISE AN ADDITIONAL ONE MILLION DOLLARS TO FULLY FUND THE STUDENT CENTER.

JULIE: IT'S BEEN A BUSY MONTH FOR MINNESOTA CONGRESSMAN PETE STAUBER.

LAST WEEK, HE WAS NAMED CHAIR OF THE HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND MINERAL RESOURCES.

THIS WEEK, HE ATTENDED THE STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS BY PRESIDENT BIDEN.

AND TODAY, CONGRESSMAN PETE STAUBER, A REPUBLICAN REPRESENTING MINNESOTA'S EIGHTH DISTRICT, JOINS US IN THE STUDIO.

WELCOME CONGRESSMAN STAUBER, I IMAGINE THIS IS AT THE TOP OF THE LIST.

REP. STAUBER: I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY.

DENNIS: IT'S GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

JULIE: WHAT WERE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE STATE OF THE UNION.

REP. STAUBER: TO BE AT THE STATE OF THE UNION NO MATTER THE PARTY IS A PRIVILEGE.

PRESIDENT BIDEN'S STATE OF THE UNION, I AGREED WITH SOME OF THE THINGS HE TALKED ABOUT LIKE MADE IN AMERICA AND MAKING SURE TO SECURE OUR SOUTHERN BORDER.

BUT WE NEED TO WATCH HIS ACTIONS AND MAKE SURE HIS MADE IN AMERICA ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO CRITICAL MINERALS, WE NEED TO SECURE OUR ORDER.

HE DIDN'T TOUCH ON SECURING OUR BORDER VERY MUCH -- OUR BOARDS ARE VERY MUCH, HE DIDN'T SPEAK ON THE FENTANYL THAT IS KILLING MANY IN OUR NATION TODAY.

THOSE ARE THINGS I WOULD LIKE TO SEE STEPS ON.

DENNIS: HUBER ENGINEERED WOOD ANNOUNCED IT WOULD NO LONGER BUILD A PLANT BECAUSE OF PERMITTING ISSUES, WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO THAT?

REP. STAUBER: IT'S A SAD DAY WHEN A COMPANY BELIEVES NORTHERN MINNESOTA, IT'S A GOOD COMPANY WITH GOOD JOBS, RIGHT IN THE HEART OF THE WOOD BASKET.

WHAT IT SHOULD TELL THE STATE OF MINNESOTA AND THE LEADERSHIP IN OUR STATE THAT OUR PERMITTING NEEDS TO BE REFORMED.

JUST LIKE I AM REFORMING THE MINERAL EXTRACTION NOT JUST IN MINNESOTA BUT AROUND THE NATION WE NEED TO DO THAT TO STAY COMPETITIVE.

JULIE: THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION PUT A 20 YEAR MORATORIUM ON 25,000 -- MINING IN MINNESOTA WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THAT?

REP. STAUBER: WE NEED TO HAVE THE POLITICAL WILL TO ALLOW MINING AND NORTHERN MINNESOTA.

KEEP IN MIND, WILL YOU WILL -- WILL YOU THAT THE BAN INCLUDE HOW CAN I -- TALCANITE.

IF IT'S A MINING BAND IT -- MINING BAN IT IN -- IT BAN EVERYTHING INCLUDING TALCANITE.

WE NEED TO DEVELOP MINERALS HERE, NOT USE CHILD LABOR, FOR THE COBALT THAT WE PUT IN IPHONES AND LAPTOPS, ETC.. JULIE: DON'T WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY AS STEWARDS OF THE NATURAL WILDERNESS TO PROTECT THE RESOURCES AND MAKE SURE THAT NO DAMAGE COMES TO THEM.

REP. STAUBER: ABSOLUTELY THERE WILL BE NO MINING IN THE BOUNDARY WATERS OR THE UNIQUE BUFFER ZONE AROUND IT.

IF YOU ARE GOING TO MAKE THIS WILDERNESS, DO NOT TAKE OUR LIVELY -- OUR LIVELIHOODS OUTSIDE OF THAT ZONE.

THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE.

JULIE, LET US FOLLOW THE PROCESS.

THIS ADMINISTRATION DID NOT FOLLOW THE PROCESS.

THEY DIDN'T PUT FORTH AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT WHICH IS THE HIGHEST SCRUTINY THAT THE GOVERNMENT CAN GIVE ANY PROJECT.

JUST FOR POLITICAL REASONS THEY DIDN'T BAN MINING, WHICH IS TROUBLING BECAUSE WE'VE A CRITICAL WORKFORCE.

DENNIS: UNPACKED THE NEW SUBMIT -- THE NEW SUBCOMMITTEE YOU ARE ON.

REP. STAUBER: WE HAVE -- OVER MINING, AND CRITICAL MINING IN AMERICA.

I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ENTIRE NATION, AND THE MINING OF CRITICAL MINERALS AND RARE EARTHS THAT WE HAVE INCLUDING OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION.

JULIE: SPEAKING OF THE CRITICAL MINERALS, MINNESOTA GOVERNOR SOUND -- SIGNED A LOT INTO EFFECT THAT UTILITIES WOULD NEED TO BE ALL RENEWABLE ENERGY BY 2040.

WHAT DOES THAT DO?

AND HOW DOES THAT RELATE TO THE MINING SITUATION IN MINNESOTA?

REP. STAUBER: WE HAVE TO MIND THE DULUTH COMPLEX WE WILL NOT MEET OUR GOALS IF WE DO NOT.

EVEN THE INFLATION ACT THAT OUR PRESIDENT TOUTS WILL BRING ALTERNATIVE SOURCES OF ENERGY TO THE UNITED STATES, YOU CANNOT MEET THE GOALS IF YOU DO NOT MIND IN OUR COUNTRY.

A CERTAIN PERCENT OF THOSE MINERALS NEED TO BE MINED IN AMERICA.

THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT, AS FAR AS CRITICAL MINERALS, YOU WILL NOT NEED IT WHEN YOU HAVE OBSTACLES SUCH AS A MINING IN DATA MINING BAN -- MINING BAN.

DENNIS: YOUR THOUGHTS ON ELECTRIC BUSES?

REP. STAUBER: THE TRANSITION AND THE TIME TO TRANSITION, THAT'S IN QUESTION RIGHT NOW.

YOU CANNOT FORCE THE TRANSITION.

THIS ADMINISTRATION IS FORCING THE TRANSITION.

LOOK AT ELECTRIC BUSES IN THE CITY OF DULUTH.

WHEN THEY WERE BROUGHT FORWARD, THEY NEEDED TO HAVE DIESEL HEATERS PLACED IN THEM BECAUSE THE BATTERIES WOULD RUN OUT SOONER THAN THEY THOUGHT.

THE TECHNOLOGY IS GETTING BETTER EVERY YEAR.

AND I BELIEVE THAT THE UNITED STATES CAN LEAD IN TECHNOLOGY, REFERENCE ELECTRIFICATION OF OUR BUSES AND SYSTEM.

BUT THERE WILL BE A TIMEFRAME.

WE CALL IT THE JUST TIMEFRAME.

MINUTE -- WHEN YOU TRY AND FORCE IT, AND AS THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS GONE WORRIED WITH MEMORANDUMS WITH UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY WILL MINE CRITICAL MINERALS USING CHILD LABOR.

-- THERE ARE STILL A LOT OF QUESTIONS.

THERE ARE MORE QUESTIONS ON THAT.

IT CAME, WE KNEW IT WAS COMING, OVER THE PACIFIC OCEAN IT CAME THROUGH ALASKA DOWN THE MIDWESTERN PART OF OUR COUNTRY OVER TO THE CAROLINAS AND IT WAS SHOT DOWN IN THE ATLANTIC OCEAN.

THE QUESTION IS, WHAT TYPE OF DATA WAS BEING TRANSMITTED OR TAKEN BY THE CHINESE SPY BALLOON AND IT CAME OVER THE MILITARY BASES.

THOSE ARE STRATEGIC SITES FOR OUR NATION.

I THINK ONE WAS ACTUALLY SHOT DOWN TODAY.

DENNIS: YES.

IN ALASKA I BELIEVE.

REP. STAUBER: SO THERE WILL BE A LOT OF QUESTIONS, JULIE, TO BE ANSWERED.

CERTAINLY THE BIGGEST ENEMY TO THE UNITED STATES RIGHT NOW IS THE COMMUNIST COUNTRY OF CHINA.

JULIE: CONGRESSMAN THANK YOU FOR COMING.

DENNIS: THANK YOU FOR COMING.

REP. STAUBER: TAKE CARE.

♪ ♪ DENNIS: IT'S TIME NOW FOR “VOICES OF THE REGION," WHEN WE HEAR FROM AN AREA JOURNALIST ABOUT STORIES MAKING NEWS.

THIS WEEK OUR GUEST IS AARON BROWN, AN AUTHOR, COLUMNIST, AND COLLEGE INSTRUCTOR IN NORTHERN ITASCA COUNTY.

♪ AARON: IN MINING NEWS WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE BILL AND EFFORTS TO EXPAND OR EXTEND UNEMPLOYMENT FOR THE LAYOFFS OF NORTH SHORE MINING IN SILVER BAY.

THE PROCESSING BETAS ON THE SHORE OF LAKE SUPERIOR AND SILVER BAY.

-- THE GOVERNOR HAS NOW SIGNED THAT BILL THAT EXTENDS THOSE UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS, AND ALLOWS WORKERS TO CONTINUE TO RECEIVE THEIR BENEFITS WHILE THEY WAIT TO FIND OUT IF THEY WILL BE CALLED BACK LATER THIS YEAR TO REOPEN THE MINE.

THAT, AS WE TALKED ABOUT IS ONE OF THE BIG QUESTIONS FOR CLIFF RESOURCES.

IF CLIFF WILL REOPEN THAT PLANT OR NOT.

THE CEO HAS SAID, THAT HE ANTICIPATES USING THAT PLANT AS KIND OF A PEAKING PLANS, WHEN THEY HAVE DEMAND FOR IRON ORE. AN INTERESTING TWIST ON THE STORY, IS THAT THE TWIN CITIES DID A STORY ON THEIR EXPANSION TO THE TAIL ENDS BASIN.

YOU CAN SAY THAT THAT'S A FAMOUS ONE BECAUSE IT WAS THE SUBJECT OF A BIG LAWSUIT IN THE 1970'S THAT LED TO THE END OF DUMPING TACANITE TAILINGS INTO LAKE SUPERIOR WHICH WAS EFFECTING THE LOOSE DRINKING WATER.

A COMPROMISE WAS REACHED AS PART OF THAT LAWSUIT THAT KEEPS THE MINING WASTE INLAND AWAY FROM LAKE SUPERIOR.

THE COMPANY IS TALKING ABOUT EXPANDING THE TAIL END SPACE.

BUT THE PLANT ITSELF IS NOT RUNNING.

IT BEGS THE QUESTION WHERE THAT WILL GO.

HOPEFULLY IT IS TAKEN AS A SIGN FOR WORKERS THAT THEY MIGHT BE CALLED BACK THIS YEAR.

♪ AARON: TWO STORIED IRON RANGE OF SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN IN THE PROCESS OF MERGING THESE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

GILBERT DISTRICT AND THE VIRGINIA STREET HAVE JOINED TO FILL -- TO FORM ROCK RIDGE DISTRICT.

AND THEY WILL FORM A NEW ROCKRIDGE SCHOOL BETWEEN L WITH AN VIRGINIA -- L WITH AN VIRGINIA.

THE PRINCIPAL CONSTRUCTION IS NOW COMPLETE THIS WEEK.

THAT SCHOOL WILL OPEN ITS DOORS, ALL OF ITS FACILITIES WILL OPEN ITS DOORS TO STUDENTS NEXT YEAR, THAT INCLUDES A NEW GYM.

AND A LOT OF NEW AMENITIES, ONE OF THE INTERESTING ASPECTS OF THE SCHOOL IS THAT IT IS USING WHAT THEY CALLED THE ACADEMY'S APPROACH TO K-12 EDUCATION.

THAT IS TO SAY THAT THEY ARE ALLOWING STUDENTS TO CHOOSE DIFFERENT TRACKS, TRACKS TOWARD HEALTH CARE CAREERS, TRADE CAREERS, STEM CAREERS OR A TRADITIONAL COLLEGE TRACK.

ALL OF THESE WILL BE IN MOVABLE, REORGANIZE BOTH SEGMENTS OF THE SCHOOL.

SO CLASSROOMS ARE DIFFERENT SIZES AND DIFFERENT USES DEPENDING ON WHAT'S BEING TAUGHT AT THAT PARTICULAR TIME.

♪ ♪ DENNIS: HUBER ENGINEERED WOOD ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK IT WILL NOT BUILD A WOOD PRODUCTS PLANT IN COHASSET.

A COURT RULING THAT MORE ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW WAS NEEDED FOR THE PLANT PUSHED THE COMPANY TO SEARCH FOR A NEW LOCATION.

THE LOSS IS A BLOW TO NORTHERN MINNESOTA, AND ITASCA COUNTY IN PARTICULAR.

JOINING US NOW WITH MORE IS TAMARA LOWNEY, PRESIDENT OF THE ITASCA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.

THANKS FOR BEING WITH US TONIGHT, AS YOU PROBABLY HEARD WHEN WE WERE TALKING TO THE CONGRESSMAN, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT HOW WE WERE NOT GOING TO BUILD THIS PLANT IN COHASSET.

YOUR REACTION TO THAT.

TAMARA: THANK YOU FOR HAVING US, I BEEN ASKED THAT QUESTION A LOT THE PAST FEW DAYS AND WHAT COMES TO MIND IN OUR OFFICE IS A FUNERAL.

TO SAY GOODBYE TO DECADES, AND HUNDREDS OF JOBS THAT GO WELL BEYOND THE JOBS.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE LOGGING INDUSTRY STRUGGLING AS MARKETS DECLINE.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT AN IMPORTANT COMMUNITY TRANSITION TAKING PLACE IN THE NEXT 10 YEARS.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A COAL-FIRED POWER PLANTS THAT IS MEANT TO TRANSITION AND THE HUGE IMPACT ON THOSE COMMUNITIES.

HERE WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BRING IN PART OF OUR FUTURE, A WAY TO TRANSITION AND AWAY AWAY FROM THE COAL-FIRED POWER PLANT AND WE JUST COULD NOT GET PAST THE HURDLES.

JULIE: IS THIS YOU COULD -- IS THIS SOMETHING YOU COULD SEE DEVELOPING AS THE PERMITTING ISSUES BECAME MORE SEVERE?

TAMARA: YES, UNFORTUNATELY, WE WERE HOPEFUL AND THERE WERE MANY PEOPLE ACROSS THE RANGE AND STATE THAT WERE TRYING TO PUSH THIS ALONG.

OUR PARTNERS ABANDONED TOGETHER, WE HAVE -- OUR PARTNERS GOT TOGETHER, WE HAVE BEEN ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO INVEST.

WE HAVE BEEN DOWN TO THE CAPITAL TO MEET IN THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR TO BEG FOR SUPPORT AND TO REACH OUT TO OUR TRIBAL NEIGHBORS AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO COME TO THE TABLE AND TALK ABOUT HOW WE CAN MAKE THIS PROJECT WORK.

IT IS AN INCREDIBLE NUMBER -- IT IS AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF WORK, THE ISSUE IS COMPLEX.

I AM NOT WILLING TO POINT MY FINGER AT ONE SPECIFIC AREA, THERE'S A MYRIAD OF ISSUES.

WE HAVE A JOB, WE MUST LOOK AT THESE CHALLENGES AND FORGE AHEAD.

WE MUST ADDRESS THESE CHALLENGES OR ELSE MINNESOTA WILL BE A STATE THAT NO ONE COMES TO DO BUSINESS.

ITASCA COUNTY SMALL BUSINESSES HAVE BEEN FLOURISHING SINCE COVID.

WE AND OUR OFFICE IS A WORK EVERY DAY, AND WE HAVE BETWEEN FOUR AND FIVE CLIENTS THAT WE HAVE HAD IN THE PAST.

AS A COMMUNITY WE WERE GEARING UP FOR HUBER.

YOU DON'T GET READY FOR HUNDREDS OF NEW JOBS OVERNIGHT.

WE HAVE BEEN BUILDING A LOCATION CALLED THE FORGE, WHERE WE CAN TAKE EDUCATION IN TECHNICAL ILLS AND UPSCALE OUR WORKFORCE TO BE READY FOR THESE JOBS COMING FROM HUBER AND OTHER MANUFACTURERS.

WE HAVE BEEN LIFTING OUR COMMUNITY UP AND TRYING TO ADDRESS THESE CONCERNS AHEAD OF TIME SO WE ARE READY FOR THIS REALLY AMAZING COMPANY TO COME INTO OUR COMMUNITY.

JULIE: WAS THE GROUND WORK DONE ON THE HUBER PROJECT, DOES THAT LAY THE GROUNDWORK FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT IN THE FOREST PRODUCTS INDUSTRY, BECAUSE SO MUCH RESEARCH WAS DONE AHEAD OF TIME?

TAMARA: IT'S HARD FOR ME.

I WORK IN TIMBER, WE LIVE IN THE WOOD BASKET.

WE KNOW OUR WOOD BASKET.

THERE IS NO QUESTION ABOUT THE AVAILABILITY OF WOOD.

THERE SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN QUESTION ABOUT THE WOOD AVAILABILITY AND CONCEPT.

IS THERE CHALLENGES TO GET THE WOOD TO BUSINESSES, GAS.

IT BECOMES BIGGER AND BIGGER EVERY DAY AS LARGE PLOTS OF LAND GET DIVIDED BETWEEN OTHER OWNERS.

MINNESOTA IS KNOWN FOR KNOWING OUR WOOD SUPPLY.

WE HAVE EXPERTS WITHIN THE MINNESOTA DNR, WITHIN OUR COUNTIES AND CITIES THAT UNDERSTAND OUR WOOD SUPPLY.

WE ARE MORE THAN CAPABLE IN THIS INDUSTRY.

WE WERE BEFORE THEY CAME AND WE KNOW WE WILL BE AFTER.

OUR GOAL IS TO HELP LIFT UP OVERALL -- THE OVERALL WEALTH OF OUR COMMUNITY FROM THE REGULAR TAXPAYER ALL THE WAY TO THE BUSINESS OWNER.

OUR TASK WAS BEYOND RECRUITING AND ATTRACTING BUSINESSES WE ARE TRYING TO HELP OUR WORKFORCE BE READY.

WE ARE TRYING TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO MOVE TO OUR AREA.

WE ARE WORKING ON PARTNERSHIPS THAT WORK WITH IS THIS IS FROM THE VERY SMALLEST, MOM-AND-POP SHOP.

ALL THE WAY UP TO THE UNIONS THAT ARE EMPLOYING HUNDREDS OF WORKERS.

WE SUPPORT ALL SMALL BUSINESSES.

BUT WE ALSO REALLY STAND UP FOR RURAL MINNESOTA.

I HOPE THAT AT PEACE THAT COMES OUT OF THIS IS THAT AS RURAL MINNESOTA, CONTINUED TO SEE HURDLES TO OUR DEVELOPMENT, THAT PEOPLE WILL LISTEN.

WE ARE NOT A VACATION DESTINATION.

VACATION JOBS ARE NOT SUSTAINING LIFE, FAMILIES SUSTAINING JOBS.

WE NEED MANUFACTURERS, AND JOBS IN INDUSTRY TO SUSTAIN FAMILIES.

JULIE: YOU MENTIONED THERE ARE ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE LOOKED AT AND ADDRESSED, WHAT DO YOU DO NOW AS YOU PICK UP THE PIECES AND GET SOME MOVEMENT ON THOSE ISSUES THAT YOU FEEL STRONGLY ABOUT?

TAMARA: AS YOU CAN TELL, I AM VERY PASSIONATE, THIS IS IMPORTANT TO OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR STATE.

I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN ENERGY TRANSITION IN THE LAST SIX MONTH AND I INTEND TO REACH OUT TO OUR PARTNERS AT THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND TALK ABOUT HOW WE MAKE REAL INSTITUTIONAL CHANGE.

WE CANNOT KEEP TALKING ABOUT OUR CHALLENGES OF PERMITTING, WE NEED TO TAKE ACTION.

DENNIS: WE NEED TO CALL IT SHORT, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

TAMARA: THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

JULIE: IN AN ERA OF CELL PHONES, TEXT MESSAGING AND SATELLITE RADIO, HAM RADIO OPERATORS CONTINUE TO THRIVE IN THEIR NICHE.

HAM OPERATORS PURSUE THEIR HOBBY FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS, FROM TALKING WITH PEOPLE HALFWAY AROUND THE WORLD TO PROVIDING ESSENTIAL COMMUNICATION DURING EMERGENCIES.

VIDEOGRAPHER A. J. LARSON JOINED A GROUP OF HAM ENTHUSIASTS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THEIR PASSION.

>> MY NAME IS JEAN, I'M A HAND -- HAM RADIO OPERATOR.

WE ARE TRYING TO GET OPERATORS OUT IN THE FIELD TO OPERATE IN CONDITIONS LIKE EMERGENCY POWER AND STUFF, TO ENHANCE OUR COMMUNICATIONS SKILLS IN THE EVENT THAT THERE SHOULD BE SOME KIND OF EMERGENCY WHERE WE ARE NEEDED.

I CALL SIGN AND THE CRO BRM.

ECHO OSCAR.

I HAVE BEEN IN THE HOBBY 12 YEARS.

MY DAD WAS A HAM.

HE HAD ALL OF THIS EQUIPMENT, WHEN HE PASSED AWAY, AND I KNEW THESE PEOPLE FROM EVENTS LIKE BREAKFAST AND STUFF.

BECAUSE OF MY DADS CONNECTION I MEANT A LOT OF THESE PEOPLE AND NEW THEM.

THEY TALK TO ME -- I MET A LOT OF THESE PEOPLE AND NEW THEM, THEY TALKED ME INTO GETTING INTO THE HOBBY.

THE RADIO WAS A GOOD FIT.

ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, PEOPLE ARE IN THE FIELD WORKING ON BATTERY POWER, GENERATORS, WE USED TO DO THIS IN A GARDEN SHED.

WE WOULD BE OUT IN THE SHED, 200 FEET FROM THE HOUSE, WITH A PROPANE HEATER AND GENERATOR POWER FOR THE RADIO.

I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE KIND OF THINK THAT HAM RADIO INTERFERING WITH THEIR TV'S AND WHATNOT, THAT WAS THE OLD TYPE OF RADIOS WITH THE NEW SOLID-STATE TOUT -- THIS SOLID-STATE STAFF, -- STUFF YOU DON'T HAVE INTERFERENCE FROM THE NEIGHBORS.

THE QUALITY IS SO MUCH BETTER.

SMALLER.

FOR THESE EVENTS YOU CAN TAKE A RADIO SIX INCHES BY SIX INCHES AND COMMUNICATE WITH THE WORLD.

ALL OVER THE COUNTRY THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE DOING IT.

THEY MAY BE A LITTLE BIT COLD, IT'S FUN TO WATCH, WE ARE OUT THERE IN -- THEY GET COLD AND 40 DEGREES BUT SOMETIMES WE ARE OUT THERE IN THE MINUS IS LIKE TODAY.

WE COVER UP BROAD RANGE.

MOST OF OUR HAMS HERE, I HAVE A LITTLE RADIO BIT IS HANDHELD AND YOU CAN BUY IT FOR ABOUT $30.

SAINT LOUIS COUNTY, DULUTH COUNTY DOWN INTO WISCONSIN AND WE HAVE ANOTHER REPEATER THAT EXTENDS THE RANGE ALL THE WAY UP OVER TO AIKEN.

A LOT OF NEW HAMS START WITH A HANDHELD.

I COMPARE TO FISHING, YOU CAN START WITH THE ROD AND REEL AND THEN YOU MOVE ON TO A FISHING BOAT, THEN YOU BY THE BIGGER EQUIPMENT.

HAM RADIO IS THE SAME.

PEOPLE START OUT WITH THE $30 HANDHELD.

AND THEN YOU MOVE UP INTO BETTER RADIOS WITH MORE CAPABILITY.

THERE IS AN ORGANIZATION CALLED THE AMERICAN RADIO RELAY LEAGUE, IT'S LIKE THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE OR MAJOR-LEAGUE BASEBALL.

THEY HAVE A LISTING YOU CAN GO IN THERE AND CONTACT YOUR LOCAL CLUB.

YOUR CALL IS USUALLY SOMETHING GIVEN TO YOU FROM THE FCC.

BUT MY CALL ALONG TO MY DAD.

THEY HAVE A PROGRAM CALLED VANITY CALLS.

YOU CAN REQUEST CERTAIN CALL LETTERS IF IT'S AVAILABLE.

PEOPLE GET THEIR INITIALS.

AND IN THE CASE OF OUR FRIEND DENNY ANDERSON, HE WORKS THERE MANY YEARS AND GOT THE CALL LETTERS HE WANTED.

EVENTS LIKE THIS, WE PUT OUT -- WE INVITE ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE TO COME IN AND WE WILL HELP THEM ALL.

DENNIS: IT'S A GREAT HOBBY.

THAT'S FOR SURE.

YOU CAN KEEP UP WITH ALMANAC NORTH BY FOLLOWING US ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.

HEAD TO THE PBS NORTH WEBSITE FOR PROGRAM UPDATES AND UPCOMING EVENTS.

AND DON'T FORGET TO DOWNLOAD THE PBS VIDEO APP TO WATCH YOUR FAVORITE PBS PROGRAMS ON DEMAND.

JULIE, IF YOU WANT TO LEAR MORE ABOUT HAM RADIO, I KNOW A GUY.

JULIE: I SAW YOU SKULKING AROUND BEHIND THE SCENES.

DENNIS: IT'S OF FUN HOBBY.

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

GOOD NIGHT EVERYONE, AND BE KIND.

♪ ♪