JULIE: HERE IS WHAT IS COMING UP ON "ALMANAC NORTH," DENNIS: THE PAST YEAR HAS BEEN GOOD FOR THE MINING INDUSTRY, NORTH SHORE MINING BRINGS UP LONG-TERM CONCERNS.

JULIE: WE WILL HAVE A VIDEO REPORT ON A YOUNG SWIMMER THAT WORE A BLACK LIVES MATTER'S SWIMSUIT AND WAS NEARLY BARRED FROM A COMPETITION.

DENNIS: AND WE HAVE A GUEST ON VOICES IN THE REGION.

JULIE: THESE STORIES AND MORE COMING UP ON "ALMANAC NORTH."

♪ HELLO AND WELCOME TO "ALMANAC NORTH," IT IS GOOD TO BE BACK IN THE STUDIO TOGETHER AFTER SOME WEEKS OFF BECAUSE OF COVERT RESTRICTIONS.

DENNIS: HOPEFULLY THE PANDEMIC IS WANING.

JULIE: GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

LET'S BEGIN WITH THE HEADLINES.

DENNIS: AFTER THE LEGISLATOR FAILED TO ACT ON TIME, NEW FEDERAL AND STATE LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS WERE RELEASED THIS WEEK BY A SPECIAL COURT PANEL.

THE DISTRICTING IS REQUIRED BY LAW EVERY 10 YEARS TO ENSURE EQUAL REPRESENTATION OF VOTERS BASED ON THE 10 YEAR CENSUS.

THE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT GREW FURTHER WEST WITH REDISTRICTING AND NOW INCLUDES ALL OF MINNESOTA'S TRIBAL RESERVATIONS.

JULIE: A MINNESOTA CONGRESSMAN, A REPUBLICAN REPRESENTING THE FIRST DISTRICT IN SOUTHERN MINNESOTA, HAS PASSED AWAY.

THE 59-YEAR-OLD DIED AFTER A LENGTHY BATTLE WITH KIDNEY CANCER, HIS WIFE ANNOUNCED FRIDAY ON FACEBOOK.

HIS REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES LAUDED HIM REPRESENTED THE FIRST DISTRICT WITH UNWAVERING PASSION.

DENNIS: THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCED ON THURSDAY THAT $1 BILLION FROM THE BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE LAW WILL GO TOWARD GREAT LAKES RESTORATION PROJECTS.

THE MONEY WILL HELP ADDRESS AREAS OF CONCERN AROUND THE GREAT LAKES, INCLUDING THE ST. LOUIS RIVER ALONG THE MINNESOTA/WISCONSIN BORDER.

THE ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION AGENCY EXPECTS THE RIVER PROJECT WILL BE COMPLETED BY 2030.

JULIE: NO OLYMPIC MEDAL THIS YEAR IN CURLING FOR THE JOHN SHUSTER RINK IN DULUTH.

THEY LOST IN THE BRONZE MEDAL THE CANDLE -- TO CANADA.

SCHUSTER BROUGHT HOME THE GOLD IN 2018.

DENNIS: MINNESOTA'S MINING INDUSTRY HAS FARED WELL IN RECENT YEARS DESPITE THE PANDEMIC.

THAT WILL CHANGE THIS SPRING WHEN NORTH SHORE MINING IN BABBITT AND SILVER BAY IS IDLED.

MAKING THAT ANNOUNCEMENT, THE CEO SAID IT IS MAINLY DUE TO RIDICULOUSLY HIGH ROYALTY RATES.

HERE TO TALK ABOUT THAT AND OTHER NEWS IS TONY DATE -- TONY BARRETT, EFFEXOR EMERITUS FROM THE COLLEGE OF SAINT SCHOLASTICA.

AS WE MENTIONED, THEY ARE GOING TO IDLE NORTH SHORE MINING AND ITS NEARLY 600 WORKERS THIS SPRING.

WHAT IMPACT WILL IT HAVE ON THE LOCAL ECONOMY?

TONY: NOTHING GOOD.

THESE MINING JOBS ARE SO GOOD.

THESE ARE REALLY NICE PAYING JOBS IN RURAL MINNESOTA.

ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU ARE WIPING OUT 300, 400 OF THOSE JOBS?

IT WILL HAVE SIGNIFICANT IMPACT.

DENNIS: THE MINING INDUSTRY DID WELL DURING THE PANDEMIC.

IS THERE A FLIP-FLOP ON THE HORIZON FOR ALL MINING AREAS?

TONY: LET'S WORK BACKWARDS.

THE ECONOMY IS GOING TO DO WELL THIS YEAR.

THE STEEL COMPANIES WILL BE DOING WELL THIS YEAR.

THEN YOU GET DOWN TO THE PEOPLE WHO NEED THE ORE.

EVEN WITH CLIFFS, THEY HAVE EXPANDED AND ARE THE BIGGEST FLAT ROLLED STEEL COMPANY IN AMERICA, BUT ALSO ONE OF THE BIGGEST PROCESSORS OF SCRAP.

WE ARE STARTING TO SEE A MOVEMENT, LESS RELIANCE ON ORE.

NOTHING EARTH SHATTERING OR THAT WILL HAPPEN IN A GENERATION, BUT WITH CLIFFS, WHAT YOU ARE SEEING WITH THE NORTH SHORE SITUATION, I SEE MORE A QUESTION OF A CORPORATE REALLOCATION OF RESOURCES SINCE THEY TOOK OVER THE MALLORCA MINE.

I THINK THEY ARE SENSING THEY MIGHT HAVE EXCESS CAPACITY AND THIS IS AN OUT.

JULIE: CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE DISPUTE OVER ROYALTIES WE MENTIONED IN THE INTRODUCTION?

I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT IS AND WHAT IT COMPANY.

TONY: FOR SOME REASON, I CAN 1961, OWNERSHIP OF THE MINE WAS TRANSFERRED TO A TRUST.

IT WILL LAST FOR 21 YEARS AFTER THE DEATH OF 25 PEOPLE THIS DID IN THE DOCUMENT.

I'M NOT QUITE SURE WHAT THE RELATIONSHIP WAS BECAUSE MOST OF THEM ARE YOUNGER THAN ME, THERE ARE A COUPLE OLDER THAN ME AND I AM 70.

IT WILL LAST A WHILE.

ALL THIS IS IS IT TAKES A ROYALTY PAYMENT AND TRANSFERS IT TO OWNERS OF THE TRUST, WHICH IS NOT NECESSARILY THOSE 25 PEOPLE.

YOU AND I CAN BUY SHARES IN THE TRUST.

THEY WERE $30 A SHARE AND AFTER THE ANNOUNCEMENT THEY DROPPED TO $21 A SHARE.

ALL THAT COMPANY DOES IS TAKE THE ROYALTIES FROM CLEVELAND CLIFFS AND TRANSFERS IT TO STOCKHOLDERS.

AS FOR THEM BEING RIDICULOUSLY HIGH, THE FORMULA HASN'T REALLY CHANGED.

WHAT HAS HAPPENED IS IRON ORE PRICES, THE BIGGEST DETERMINANT OF ROYALTIES, HAVE REALLY GONE UP THIS YEAR, WITH THE OTHER COMMODITY PRICES.

JULIE: DOES IT MAKE SENSE FROM A BUSINESS STANDPOINT OF FORKLIFTS -- FOR CLIFFS TO MOVE TO MALLORCA, WHERE THEY DON'T HAVE TO PAY ROYALTIES?

I READ IT WAS AROUND $20 MILLION IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 2021.

TONY: IT MAKES BUSINESS SENSE AND I DON'T WANT TO TAKE SIDES, BUT CLEVELAND CLIFFS HAS IN A HUGE SUCCESS STORY BECAUSE OF THEIR CEO, WHO PLAYS HARDBALL.

THIS IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF IT.

30 YEARS AGO, VERY FEW PEOPLE WOULD HAVE HEARD OF CLEVELAND CLIFFS, AND NOW THEY ARE THE NUMBER ONE FLAT ROLLED STEEL COMPANY.

DENNIS: I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT THAT UP BECAUSE THEY HAD A RECORD PROFIT OF $3 BILLION IN 2021 AND RECORD REVENUE OF $20.5 BILLION.

ARE THEY GOING TO CONTINUE TO GROW?

TONY: YES, FOR A WHILE.

[LAUGHS] OUR ECONOMY DID GREAT IN 2021, MEANING DEMAND FOR STEEL.

WHAT IS HAPPENING IS THE STEEL COMPANIES SEEM TO BE REPEATING THEIR PAST PROCESS OF ADDING CAPACITY.

THREE COMPANIES ARE ADDING NEW STEEL MILLS THIS YEAR.

AND YOU DON'T ADD JUST A LITTLE BIT OF CAPACITY, YOU BUILD ONE OF THESE MILLS AND YOU HAVE A LOT OF CAPACITY.

I WOULD SUSPECT TOWARD THE END OF THE YEAR AS OUR ECONOMY SLOWS DOWN A BIT FROM LAST YEAR'S RAPID PACE, AND WITH THIS NEW CAPACITY, THAT MIGHT NOT BE SO GREAT IN 2023.

JULIE: WE HAVE LESS THAN A MINUTE BUT LET'S GET TO SOMETHING ELSE.

AN ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW WAS STOPPED AFTER THE MINERAL RELEASES WERE PULLED BY THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.

TONY: THE NICKEL WILL BE IN THE GROUND FOR YEARS.

SOMEDAY -- THE PRICE WILL KEEP GOING UP.

THAT IS LIKE POLLY MET.

THAT COPPER AND NICKEL IS BECOMING WORTH MORE AND MORE.

I DON'T SAY IT IS INEVITABLE THAT WE WILL MIND THOSE SOMEDAY BUT THAT IS THE PROCESS.

THERE IS A REAL INCENTIVE TO EXPLOIT THESE RESOURCES AND THE ENVIRONMENTALISTS WILL FIGHT IT.

DENNIS: WITH THAT WE HAVE TO CUT IT SHORT.

TONY BARRETT, THANK YOU.

TONY: MY PLEASURE.

JULIE: GOOD TO HAVE YOU.

♪ ONE YOUNG SWIMMER A MORE THAN A SPLASH AT A LOCAL SWIM MEET WHEN SHE WAS NEARLY DISQUALIFIED FOR WEARING A SUIT THAT READ "BLACK LIVES THMATTER."

SOME OF HER SUPPORTERS ARE LEBRON JANE'S -- JAMES.

WE DOVE INTO THE STORY THIS WEEK.

♪ >> THIS YEAR I DECIDED TO GO WITH SWIMMING BECAUSE I WANTED TO LEARN SOMETHING NEW.

I WANTED THE SOCIAL PART, THAT I MATTER AND WE MATTER.

I THOUGHT IT WAS A GREAT IDEA TO WEAR THE SWIMSUIT AND I WAS SUPER EXCITED.

I GET MY STUFF READY, WE WARM UP AND I WORE THE SUIT ON MY FIRST EVENT AND EVERYTHING WENT WELL.

THEN I WENT TO MY COACH BECAUSE THEY CAME TO ME SO I COULD GET READY FOR MY NEXT EVENT, AND THEY TOLD ME I CANNOT WEAR THE SWIMSUIT.

I HAD A SPARE SUIT BUT I WAS NOT GOING TO CHANGE.

I TOLD MY MOM, SHE WENT TO MY COACH AND MY COACH WAS LIKE MY IT WAS THE OFFICIALS.

MY MOM WENT TO TALK TO THE OFFICIAL AND THE OFFICIAL WAS LIKE, IT IS POLITICAL, YOU HAVE TO TAKE IT OFF.

I WAS LIKE, A BIG FAT NO.

>> I GOT A CALL, AND IN MINUTES I WAS LIKE, DON'T LEAVE.

BECAUSE THEY WERE ABOUT TO LEAVE THEY WERE SO EXCEPT -- SO UPSET.

I SAID I WILL BE THERE IN 15 MINUTES.

THERE IS NO WAY I AM MISSING THIS OPPORTUNITY TO DEFEND THIS BLACK GIRL IN THIS SCHOOL.

I GOT ON THE PHONE WITH MY TEAM AND I SAID I KNOW THIS IS LAST AND IT, WE NEED TO BE HERE, CALL EVERYONE.

>> I FELT GREAT, I FELT LOVED AND RESPECTED AND HONORED, AND I WAS SUPER HAPPY THEY SHOWED SUPPORT FOR ME.

>> WHEN I GOT TO THE MEET, THEY DID NOT STOP THE MEAT.

THEY DID NOT SAY WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS GOING ON BEFORE WE CONTINUE.

SHE WAS MISSING RACES.

>> I FELT LIKE OTHER KIDS THIS CHANCE OF GOING TO STATE BUT IT IS UNFAIR I WON'T BE ABLE TO GO TO STATE BECAUSE THEY DISQUALIFIED ME FROM EVERYTHING.

>> AS SOON AS WE SAW THE DISQUALIFICATION SLIP, WE WERE ON THE PHONE WITH THE STATE, HOW CAN WE OVERTURN THIS?

THEY DID THE RIGHT THING IMMEDIATELY.

IT JUST TAKES A LITTLE BIT OF TIME, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, TO SORT THROUGH AND MAKE SURE, WE ARE AGAIN GOING TO ARGUE WITH THE OFFICIAL'S ATTEMPTED RULING AND MAKE SURE THE STUDENT CAN SWIM.

IT WOULD NOT BE VISIBLE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC BECAUSE A LOT OF IT PEOPLE ARE IMMEDIATELY GETTING ON THE PHONE.

>> I WALKED INTO THE SWIM ROOM AND I CONFRONTED THE OFFICIAL.

ORIGINALLY I TALKED TO BOTH OF THE OFFICIALS, THE ONE OFFICIAL THAT DISQUALIFIED HER, AND ANOTHER, BECAUSE THEY DID NOT WANT TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS.

I JUST WANTED THEM TO KNOW HOW SERIOUS I WAS, THAT WE HAD BACKUP COMING.

I GOT THERE IN 10 TO 15 MINUTES.

I WANTED HER TO KNOW NOT ONLY DID I HAVE BACKUP COMING, BUT WE WERE READY TO STOP THE MEAT UNTIL THE RIGHT THING WOULD BE DONE.

>> THE DIRECTOR FROM THE NAACP MADE A DECISION AND I WAS ABLE TO SWIM.

>> THE OFFICIALS ARE ALL VOLUNTEERS OF THE Y.

THEIR ACTIONS DID NOT REFLECT WHAT YMCA STANDS FOR AND STOOD FOR THAT DAY.

>> AFTER EVERYTHING HAPPENED, I MENTALLY PREPARED MYSELF BY WARMING UP AND SEEING THAT EVERYTHING IS SOLVED, EVERYTHING WILL GO GOOD, AND I WILL FOCUS ON SWIMMING.

>> THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT OF RACISM AND SWIMMING STEMS BACK TO THE 1950'S AND 1960'S, WHEN WE WERE FIGHTING FOR OUR CIVIL LIBERTIES.

WE CAN GO BACK TO SAINT AUGUSTINE, WHEN WE WERE PROTESTING HOW WE WERE NOT ALLOWED TO SWIM IN THE SAME SWIMMING POOL.

A GROUP OF PEOPLE, BLACK ACTIVISTS, AND 16 RABBIS, JUMPED INTO THE POOL AT THE MOTEL, AND THE MOTEL OWNER THROUGH ACID IN THE POOL DURING THAT TIME.

SEEING THAT DISRUPTED THE COUNTRY.

IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN OUTRAGEOUS ACTS OF RACISM AND HATE THAT HAVE PUSHED PEOPLE TO DO SOMETHING, AND WHILE IT IS HELPFUL, NOBODY SHOULD HAVE TO EXPERIENCE THAT.

>> NOT ALL COMMUNITIES HAVE HAD EQUAL AND EQUITABLE ACCESS TO POOLS, TO SWIM LESSON INSTRUCTION, WE ARE COMMITTED TO WORKING HAND-IN-HAND WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO ENSURE THAT EVERY CHILD IN EVERY INDIVIDUAL HAS ACCESS TO KNOWING HOW TO SWIM AND FEELS SAFE AROUND WATER, ESPECIALLY IN DULUTH, WHERE WE ARE ON THE SHORES OF LAKE SUPERIOR.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK WITH AND LEARNING FROM OUR COMMUNITY TO MAKE SURE WE ARE ERADICATING ANY POSSIBLE BARRIERS TO ACCESS, INCLUDING EVERYTHING FROM MAKING SURE FOLKS HAVE SWIM CAPS THAT WORK FOR THEM TO MAKING SURE FOLKS KNOW HOW TO ACCESS YMCA SWIM LESSON AND LIFESAVING SKILLS AS WELL.

>> WE LIKE TO MEMORIALIZE THESE REALLY GOOD WINS.

THIS WAS FEEL-GOOD, SHE GOT THE SUPPORT SHE NEEDED, BUT WE NEED TO DO THE WRAPAROUND SERVICES OF FIGHTING RACISM.

BEING ACTIVE, BEING VOCAL.

>> ALL THE WORK WE DO CENTERS AROUND INCLUSION, JUSTICE, EQUITY AND DIVERSITY, AND WE ARE SO PROUD TO DO THIS IN A NUMBER OF WAYS, WHETHER IT IS TEAM CREEDS, PARTNERING IN THE COMMUNITY WITH A VARIETY OF ORGANIZATIONS, WHETHER IT IS OUR OWN WORK TO EDUCATE OURSELVES AND WORK TO EDUCATE OUR MEMBERS ABOUT JUSTICE AND EQUITY, IT IS CENTRAL TO WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO IN WE WILL CONTINUE LISTENING AND CONTINUE LEARNING AND WE WILL CONTINUE ADVOCATING.

>> A LOT OF THESE GROUPS, I'M NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT THE YMCA, I'M TALKING ABOUT ENTITIES IN DULUTH WHERE THEY ARE LIKE WE ARE STILL FOCUSED ON EDUCATION, WE ARE FOCUS ON HEALTH AND WELL-BEING, WE ARE FOCUSED ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE -- THEY DON'T REALIZE THEY ARE ALL INTERSECTIONAL.

WE HAVE TO BE ON THE FOREFRONT OF FIGHTING RACISM IN EVERY ASPECT OF OUR LIFE.

>> THE DEDICATION TO THE ONGOING WORK AND ONGOING LEARNING AND ADVOCACY IS WHAT TRULY CHANGES SYSTEMS AND THE WORLD.

>> THE SITUATION HAS MADE ME STRONGER, IT HAS MADE ME HAPPY PEOPLE ARE REALIZING WE MATTER.

I FEEL EMPOWERED, REALLY EMPOWERED.

JULIE: AFTER THE DISQUALIFICATION WAS OVERTURNED, SHE WAS ABLE TO SWIM IN THE REST OF THE MEETING AND ULTIMATELY QUALIFIED FOR STATE.

SHE WILL BE SWIMMING THIS WEEKEND IN THE TWIN CITIES.

DENNIS: JOINING US WITH HISTORICAL CONTEXT ON THE STORY IS ROBIN WASHINGTON, A CIVIL-RIGHTS DOCUMENTARIAN WHO PRODUCED THE ACCLAIMED DOCUMENTARY "YOU DON'T HAVE TO RIDE JIM GROBE."

NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

WHAT YOU THINK THE STORY GARNERED SO MUCH NATIONAL ATTENTION?

ROBIN: PEOPLE THINK IT DOESN'T HAPPEN.

IT GOES BACK UNFORTUNATELY TO GEORGE FLOYD.

CERTAIN THINGS ARE A WAKE-UP CALL.

IT DID HAPPEN.

WHAT COULD BE MORE DEMONSTRATIVE?

YOU SAW THE SHIRT, THE OUTFIT, YOU SEE THE YOUNG LADY, AND TO COMMAND HER.

WE ARE STARTING WITH A HAPPY ENDING, HE SAID SHE HAS MADE IT TO STATE, WE SHOULD STOP RIGHT HERE.

[LAUGHTER] DENNIS: WHY DO YOU THINK IT GOT THE ATTENTION?

ROBIN: THE NAACP AND OTHERS STEPPED UP.

THEY BROUGHT THE ATTENTION.

IT WOULD NOT HAVE JUST HAPPENED IF PEOPLE DID NOT HELP MIDWIFE IT.

THE HISTORY OF SWIMMING POOLS AS BATTLEGROUNDS FOR CIVIL RIGHTS.

DENNIS: A BATTLEGROUND.

-- ROBIN: A BATTLEGROUND.

JULIE: ONE OF THE BATTLEGROUNDS.

ROBIN: SAINT AUGUSTINE WAS MENTIONED, BUT YOU CAN GO BACK BEFORE THAT, TO EMANCIPATION AND RECONSTRUCTION.

I DON'T KNOW HOW FAR BACK SWIMMING POOLS GO, BUT I KNOW WE HAD HOT SPRINGS.

THERE IS NO END.

IF YOU WANT TO GOOGLE, GO TO GOOGLE BOOKS AND PUT IN "STATUTE " AND "NEGRO" AND "SWIMMING" AND YOU WILL FIND TONS OF STATE LAWS.

NOT JUST IN THE SOUTH.

THERE ARE OTHER STATE LAWS THAT EVEN IF THEY DIDN'T COVER SWIMMING POOLS SPECIFICALLY, THERE WERE PROHIBITED GATHERINGS OF ANY NUMBER OF BLACKS AND WHITES TOGETHER.

YOU COULD NOT PLAY BASEBALL TOGETHER.

I DID A STORY ON BASEBALL.

DENNIS: HISTORICALLY THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT NEEDS BACK INTO THE 1950'S, 1960'S.

IN REALITY, IT IS STILL UNDERWAY, ISN'T IT?

ROBIN: YES, THAT IS THE POINT, WE ARE STILL DOING THIS.

WHAT I WAS GOING TO QUICKLY SAY IS IT IS NOT JUST THE SOUTH, IT IS NORTH.

IN 1949 IN ST. LOUIS, THE LARGEST POOL IN THE COUNTRY INTEGRATED.

IT ENDED UP WITH AN ATTACK OF 300 WHITES ON BLACK SWIMMERS.

THEY ENDED UP CLOSING THE POOL.

THIS HAS GONE ON A LONG TIME.

A LITTLE PERSONAL HISTORY, IT IS NOT JUST POOLS, IT IS LAKES LIKE LAKE SUPERIOR AND LAKE MICHIGAN.

IN CHICAGO IN 1919, THE TERRIBLE RACE RIOT STARTED WHEN A YOUNG BLACK MAN SWIM INTO A WHITES ONLY BEACH.

THERE WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE SUCH A THING IN CHICAGO, BUT IT WAS, AND THERE WAS GREAT DEATH AND DESTRUCTION.

40 YEARS LATER, I PARTICIPATED AS A THREE-YEAR-OLD IN A WADE-IN AT RAINBOW BEACH FIGHTING THE SAME BATTLE.

DO THESE THINGS CHANGE?

UNFORTUNATELY IT TAKES A LONG TIME.

JULIE: DO YOU THINK THAT TERRIBLE HISTORY OF KEEPING PEOPLE OF COLOR OUT OF PUBLIC SWIMMING POOLS, IS THAT A FAIR COMPARISON TO WHAT RECENTLY HAPPENED IN SUPERIOR?

ROBIN: WELL, HOW FAIR DO YOU WANT?

PEOPLE INTERVIEW ME ALL THE TIME AND SAY WHAT IS IT LIKE GROWING UP LACKING ANTI-JEWISH -- GROWING UP BLACK AND JEWISH?

I ONLY HAVE ONE REALITY.

IF I COULD EXPERIENCE SOMETHING ELSE, I COULD SAY I HAVE THE CONTROL GROUP.

YES, I HAVE BEEN DISCRIMINATED AGAINST.

THIS YOUNG LADY WAS JUST TRYING TO SWIM.

JULIE: YOU THINK IT WAS ABOUT THE BLM MESSAGE OR HER BEING A PERSON OF COLOR?

IF SHE HAD BEEN THE SAME PERSON, ASKED TO CHANGE OUT OF A BLUE LIVES MATTER SWIMSUIT, WOULD THE SAME RESPONSE HAVE COME ABOUT?

ROBIN: I DON'T THINK YOU WANT TO GET INTO WHAT IF'S, THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED.

I CANNOT GET INTO THE MINDS OF THE PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE.

I WILL SAY, HOWEVER, FOR THE WOMAN WHO ENFORCED THIS OR CAME UP WITH THIS DECISION OR WHATEVER, I HOPE THERE IS SOME OUTREACH TO HER TO TURN HER INTO AN ALLY.

NOT JUST TO RAKE HER OVER THE COALS.

SHE DID DO SOMETHING NOT REALLY APPROPRIATE.

FORGET ABOUT WHETHER IT IS BLACK OR BLUE, YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT A CHILD.

THERE ARE WAYS -- IF THERE IS AN ISSUE, DISCUSS IT WITH THE CHILD OR DO SOMETHING WITHOUT BEING DRACONIAN.

DENNIS: WITH THAT, WE HAVE TO HANG IT UP, TIME GOES QUICKLY.

THINK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

JULIE: THANK YOU.

♪ IT IS TIME NOW FOR VOICES OF THE REGION.

EACH WEEK WE HEAR FROM A JOURNALIST COVERING STORIES OF INTEREST IN THE NORTH LAND.

THIS WEEK OUR REPORTERS IS FROM WISCONSIN PUBLIC RADIO.

-- OUR REPORTER IS FROM WISCONSIN PUBLIC RADIO.

♪ >> JUST LAST WEEK, A FEDERAL JUDGE IN CALIFORNIA STRUCK DOWN THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S DECISION IN LATE 2022 D LIST -- DELIST THE WOLF FROM ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS, THROUGHOUT MOST OF THE COUNTRY.

THEY WERE ABLE TO BE HUNTED AS OF JANUARY 4 LAST YEAR.

NOW WITH THIS RULING, A SICKLY MOST GRAY WOLVES ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE PLACED BACK ON THE ENDANGERED SPECIES LIST.

WHAT THAT MEANS IN WISCONSIN AND ALSO MINNESOTA AND MICHIGAN IS, YOU KNOW, THEY CAN NO LONGER HAVE WOLF HUNTS OR ISSUE PERMITS FOR LANDOWNERS TO HARVEST PROBLEM WOLVES OR TAKE CARE OF PROBLEM WOLVES.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN HAPPENING IN THE LAST YEAR.

MINNESOTA AND MICHIGAN DID NOT HOLD WILL FUNDS, BUT WISCONSIN DID AFTER A COURT ORDERED DECISION LAST WINTER.

IT STIRRED UP A LOT OF CONTROVERSY IN WISCONSIN SURROUNDING THE MANAGEMENT.

ONE MANAGER KILLED 118 WOLVES IN LESS THAN 72 HOURS.

PEOPLE AGAINST THE WOLF HUNT OUR CELEBRATE AND REMOVE AND SAY IT ALLOWS STATE AND NATURAL RESOURCE OFFICIALS THE TIME THEY NEED TO DEVELOP A PLAN TO PROPERLY MANAGE WOLVES AND WE ARE NOT MAKING ANY HASTY DECISIONS REGARDING ANY KIND OF HUNTS THAT MIGHT BE HELD.

WHEREAS HUNTERS AND FARMERS ARE FRUSTRATED BECAUSE, ESPECIALLY IN NORTHERN WISCONSIN, THEY ARE ENCOUNTERING CONFLICTS WOLVES, THEY ARE ATTACKING CATTLE OR PETS.

IT REMOVES ANOTHER TOOL FOR THEM TO MANAGE THAT POPULATION WHERE PROBLEMS ARE OCCURRING.

♪ ON AMBRIDGE'S LINE FIVE OIL AND GAS PIPELINE, THERE WAS A PUBLIC HEARING AT THE BEGINNING OF FEBRUARY WHERE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ATTENDED A 10 HOUR LONG VIRTUAL PUBLIC HEARING TO VOICE OPINIONS ON THE STATE'S DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW, THE $450 MILLION PLAN TO REROUTE LINE FIVE ACROSS NORTHERN WISCONSIN, SOUTH OF THE BAD RIVER RESERVATION.

THAT IS HAPPENING BECAUSE THEY WANT TO MOVE THE PIPELINE AFTER THE BAD RIVER TRIED TO SUE THE COMPANY IN 2019 TO SHUT DOWN AND REMOVE THE PIPELINE FROM TRIBAL LANDS.

NOW EMBRAGE IS PROPOSING A 30 INCH PIPELINE EXPECTED TO PASS NEARLY 20 WATER BODIES AND 135 ACRES OF WETLANDS.

THERE WERE SOME REALLY STRONG OPINIONS RELATED TO THIS PROJECT.

MOST PEOPLE WHO SPOKE DURING THE HEARING SPOKE IN OPPOSITION TO THE REROUTE.

THERE WERE ALSO PEOPLE WHO SPOKE IN FAVOR OF THE PROJECT, BASICALLY TOUTING THINGS THE COMPANY HAD SAID, THIS IS A VITAL ENERGY LINK FOR THE REGION, THAT WE DEPEND ON OIL AND GAS AND THIS PIPELINE TO HEAT OUR HOMES.

THAT IT WILL CREATE 700 CONSTRUCTION JOBS, AND WHAT HAVE A $135 MILLION ECONOMIC IMPACT FOR THE STATE AS WELL AS GENERATE MORE THAN $36 BILLION IN PROPERTY TAX REVENUES.

♪ RECENTLY, THE SUPERIOR CITY COUNCIL APPROVED A PLAN FOR HOW TO SPEND $17 MILLION IN STATE AND LOCAL FEDERAL RECOVERY FUNDS MADE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT.

WHAT THEY HAVE DONE IS THEY HAVE BASICALLY SET OUT A LIST OF PRIORITIES THEY ARE GOING TO FUND.

SOME OF THE BIGGER TICKET ITEMS WERE RELATED TO HISTORIC REHABILITATION.

SOMEWHERE AROUND $3.5 MILLION I THINK NOW FOR HISTORIC REHABILITATION IN SUPERIOR.

THE BIGGEST TICKET ITEM WAS $5 MILLION FOR CONNECT SUPERIOR, THE CITY'S BROADBAND INITIATIVE.

THEY'RE PUTTING AROUND $2 MILLION TOWARD LAW ENFORCEMENT -- POLICE VEHICLES, CAMERAS, STUN GUNS.

ALSO A NEW PROPOSAL TO EXPAND ACCESS TO INFANT CARE OR ADDITIONAL CHILDCARE FACILITIES OR OPERATORS IN THE CITY AFTER THERE WAS AN INSTANCE THAT CAME UP WHERE ONE CHILDCARE PROVIDER IS AT RISK OF CLOSING DOWN OR BEING EVICTED, PUTTING I BELIEVE IT IS 11 FAMILIES AT RISK OF LOSING THEIR CHILDCARE.

♪ JULIE: WE ARE OUT OF TIME, BUT JULIE: WE ARE OUT OF TIME, BUT YOU CAN KEEP UP WITH OUR SHOW I FOLLOWING "ALMANAC NORTH" ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.

OR VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR NEWS ABOUT THE STATION AND UPCOMING EVENTS, AND TO DOWNLOAD THE PBS VIDEO APP TO WATCH YOUR FAVORITE PROGRAMS ANYTIME YOU WOULD LIKE.

FEBRUARY IS WINDING DOWN, BUT THE WINTER WEATHER DOESN'T SEEM TO BE GOING AWAY ANYTIME SOON.

DENNIS: NOT YET.

PLENTY OF WIND.

IF YOU LIKE WIND, THIS IS FOR YOU.

JULIE: I DON'T LIKE IT WHEN I HAVE TO GO ACROSS THE BRIDGE, WHICH I DO TONIGHT.

THANK YOU.

THANKS TO OUR GUESTS AND THE CREW.

STAY WARM, EVERYONE.

WE WILL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.

♪