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

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

DENNIS: WE'LL TELL YOU WHY A LACK OF SUCCESSION PLANNING FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES IS HURTING THE ECONOMY, AND WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT IT.

JULIE: IT WAS A FRIGID BUT FAST 2023 BEARGREASE SLED DOG MARATHON.

WE'LL HAVE A REPORT DIRECT FROM THE TRAIL.

DENNIS: AND THE CLOQUET PINE KNOT HAS BEEN NAMED MINNESOTA'S BEST WEEKLY NEWSPAPER FOR THE THIRD STREET YEAR, BUCKING A TREND OF NEWSPAPER CLOSINGS.

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

♪ HELLO AND WELCOME TO "ALMANAC NORTH."

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

DENNY, WE RECEIVED A BITTER REMINDER ABOUT WHAT WINTER IS ALL ABOUT THIS WEEK.

DENNIS: WE HAD COLD WEATHER, BUT ALSO DECENT TEMPERATURES.

JULIE: THE SUNSHINE MADE IT BEARABLE.

DENNIS: IT DID.

JULIE: LET'S BEGIN WITH THE HEADLINES.

DENNIS: THANKS JULIE.

MINNESOTA'S DEMOCRAT-CONTROLLED LEGISLATURE IS WASTING LITTLE TIME PASSING BILLS BACKED BY THE PARTY.

NOW ON TUESDAY, GOVERNOR WALZ SIGNED THE PRO ACT, WHICH PROTECTS ABORTION RIGHTS AND OTHER REPRODUCTIVE OPTIONS.

ON THURSDAY, THE SENATE PASSED A BILL THAT PUTS MINNESOTA ON A PATH TO CARBON-FREE ELECTRICITY BY THE YEAR 2040.

REPUBLICANS OPPOSED BOTH BILLS, WHICH PASSED ON PARTY-LINE VOTES.

JULIE: ON WEDNESDAY, MINNESOTA EIGHTH DISTRICT CONGRESSMAN PETE STAUBER WAS NAMED CHAIR OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND MINERAL RESOURCES.

IN A NEWS RELEASE, STAUBER SAID THE HOUSE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY IS COMMITTED TO RESTORING AMERICAN ENERGY AND MINERAL DOMINANCE.

FORMER UNITED STATES SENATOR -- DENNIS: FORMER UNITED STATES SENATOR DAVE DURENBERGER DIED TUESDAY AT THE AGE OF 88.

DURENBERGER WAS A PROGRESSIVE REPUBLICAN FROM MINNESOTA WHO SERVED 16 YEARS IN THE U.S. SENATE.

DURENBERGER HELPED PASS THE LANDMARK CLEAN AIR ACT, AND THE AMERICANS FOR DISABILITIES ACT, THE FIRST FEDERAL LAW PROTECTING THE DISABLED.

JULIE: AND, 265 SNOWMOBILE RIDERS ARE EXPECTED TO HIT THE TRAIL NEXT WEEK FOR THE BLACKWOODS BLIZZARD TOUR TO RAISE MONEY TO FIGHT ALS.

THE TOUR HOPES TO RAISE $1.75 MILLION, ADDING TO A TOTAL OF $15 MILLION DONATED TO COMBAT THE DISEASE.

RIDERS DEPART FROM BLACK BEAR CASINO THURSDAY MORNING AND RIDE TO FORTUNE BAY IN TOWER, TIMBERLAKE LODGE IN GRAND RAPIDS , AND BACK TO CLOQUET ON THE THREE-DAY RIDE.

DENNIS: RECENT SURVEYS OF BUSINESS OWNERS REVEAL THAT 75% HAVE NO EXIT PLAN FOR RETIREMENT.

AND NEARLY HALF HAVE NO PLAN IN PLACE IF THEY ARE FORCED TO LEAVE THE BUSINESS DUE TO ILLNESS OR DEATH.

THIS LACK OF SUCCESSION PLANNING CAN HAVE A REAL IMPACT ON THE ECONOMY.

HERE WITH MORE IS ZACK FILIPOVICH, CONSULTANT AND FINANCE MANAGER WITH THE NORTHSPAN GROUP IN DULUTH.

WELCOME.

THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

YOU ARE A CONSULTANT AND FINANCE MANAGER.

WHAT IS THE NORTH SPAM GROUP?

ZACH: A NONPROFIT CONSULTING ORGANIZATION.

WE RUN THREE PROGRAMS AND HAVE CONSULTING.

WE WORK WITH BUSINESSES.

THAT IS WHAT I DO.

DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES ACROSS OUR REGION.

WE HAVE BEEN HERE SINCE 1985 TO HELP BUSINESSES GROW AND EXPAND THEIR INFLUENCE IN THE REGION.

JULIE: WHAT HAVE YOU OBSERVED IN THE REGION THAT HAS YOU CONCERNED ABOUT BUSINESSES THINKING ABOUT SUCCESSION PLANS.

-- PLANS?

ZACH: YOU LAID OUT THE NUMBERS.

50% HAVE NO PLANNING AT ALL FOR SUCCESSION, BUT WE KNOW 100% WILL NEED THAT AT SOME POINT, THAT PLANNING DONE.

WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE LOCAL ECONOMY AND REGIONAL ECONOMY, IT IS IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WEALTH, THOSE JOBS STAY HERE, SO IF BUSINESS OWNERS HAVE A SUCCESSFUL SUCCESSION PLAN, THEY CAN TRANSITION THAT BUSINESS TO RETAIN THAT WEALTH AND JOBS IN OUR REGION.

DENNIS: SO MANY BABY BOOMERS ARE PREPARING TO RETIRE.

COULD THIS HAVE AN OUTSIZED IMPACT ON THE REGION?

ZACH: YES, IT CAN.

ALL BABY BOOMERS WILL REACH RETIREMENT AGE BY 2030.

OUR REGION IN PARTICULAR IS A BIT OLDER THAN A MAJORITY OF THE COUNTRY, SO WE KNOW THAT BABY BOOMERS HAVE CREATED MORE BUSINESSES THAN ANY OTHER GENERATION, SO THAT IS A PLOT -- A LOT OF THAT WEALTH AND ECONOMIC IMPACT THAT BABY BOOMERS HAVE HAD, PARTICULARLY ON OUR REGION, AND WE DO NOT WANT TO SEE THAT GO AWAY.

JULIE: WHEN SHOULD BUSINESS OWNERS START THINKING ABOUT SUCCESSION PLANS?

WE ALL PROCRASTINATE.

[LAUGHTER] ZACH: YES.

AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

YOU KNOW THAT SAYING, START WITH THE END IN MIND?

THAT APPLIES TO BUSINESS.

EVEN STARTING A BUSINESS, YOU SHOULD HAVE A CONCEPT ABOUT WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO TRANSITION OUT, TO SELL YOUR BUSINESS.

WE LIKE TO SAY HEY, IF YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT RETIREMENT FIVE YEARS OUT, START YOUR SUCCESSION PLANNING NOW.

THAT GIVES YOU SOME TIME, SOME OPTIONS.

IF YOU GET IN THE VALUATION DONE AT THAT TIME AND THE NUMBERS DO NOT COME BACK AS HIGH AS YOU EXPECT OR WHAT YOU WANT THEM TO BE TO ENJOY THE THIRD PHASE OF YOUR LIFE, THEN YOU HAVE SOME TIME TO RECOVER FROM THAT AND BUILD YOUR BUSINESS, SO IT DOES HAVE A VALUE FOR THE OWNER TO TRANSITION PROPERLY AND HAVE THAT WEALTH.

DENNIS: I READ THAT 27% OF TWIN CITIES BUSINESS OWNERS ARE LESS THAN CONFIDENT THEY ARE READY TO TRANSITION THEIR BUSINESS.

IS THAT SURPRISING TO YOU?

ZACH: UM.

DENNIS: THAT IS A LOT OF BUSINESSES.

ZACH: IT IS A LOT OF BUSINESSES.

IT'S NOT SURPRISING FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN, BUT WITH THE PLAN IN PLACE YOU CAN BE MORE CONFIDENT TRANSITIONING YOUR BUSINESS, MAKING SURE KEY EMPLOYEES ARE THERE AND READY FOR THE TRANSITION, MAKING SURE CUSTOMERS WILL NOT HAVE ANY STOPPAGES OF WORK OR SUPPLY SO THAT IS SOME OF THE BENEFITS THAT A BUSINESS SUCCESSION PLAN CAN PROVIDE.

JULIE: IS SUCCESSION PLANNING DIFFERENT FROM PLANNING YOUR RETIREMENT?

[LAUGHTER] ZACH: UM, IT CAN BE.

I THINK THAT SUCCESSION PLANNING AND MOST PEOPLE THINK OF SUCCESSION PLANNING AS ONE OWNER TRANSFERRING OWNERSHIP OF THEIR BUSINESS TO A NEW OWNER.

IT CAN BE PREPARING FOR THE EXIT OR RETIREMENT OF THE KEY EMPLOYEE LIKE A CEO OR TOP MANAGEMENT POSITION, BUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SUCCESSION PLANNING, IT IS ABOUT TRANSITIONING OR SELLING A BUSINESS TO AN OWNER.

JULIE: I DID NOT MEAN TO INTERRUPT YOU.

[LAUGHTER] ZACH: AS WE WERE TALKING ABOUT BEFORE, IT IS VITALLY IMPORTANT THAT OWNERSHIP HAPPEN SMOOTHLY SO THAT WEALTH CAN REMAIN IN OUR REGION AND THOSE JOBS CAN REMAIN -- DENNIS: SO CAN NORTH SPAN MOVE THESE CONVERSATIONS FORWARD?

ZACH: YES, WE HAVE A METHOD WE USE THAT HAS BEEN MODIFIED FROM THE CERTIFIED EXIT PLANNING INSTITUTE.

WE WILL WORK WITH A BUSINESS OWNER AND THEIR MANAGEMENT TEAM.

WE ALSO LIKE TO WORK WITH THE BUSINESS OWNERS FAMILY.

THERE ARE THREE LEGS TO THE STOOL, THE BUSINESS OWNER'S PERSONAL LIFE, WHAT THEY WANT TO DO AFTER THEY RETIRE AND TRANSITION OUT, THE FINANCIAL MEANS TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE THE LIFE THEY WANT, AND THE THIRD LEG OF THE STOOL, PLANNING FOR THE BUSINESS AND MAKING SURE THE BUSINESS IS READY FOR THE TRANSITION.

DENNIS: ZACH, THANK YOU.

ZACH: THANK YOU.

JULIE: THANK YOU.

WELL, FROM DULUTH TO GRAND PORTAGE, OUR TEAM AT PBS NORTH FOLLOWED THE BEARGREASE FROM CHECKPOINT TO CHECKPOINT THIS WEEK.

OUR GOAL WAS TO CAPTURE WHAT TRULY MAKES THIS RACE RUN, AND IT'S NOT JUST THE SLED DOGS.

PRODUCER MEGAN MCGARVEY BRINGS US THIS REPORT FROM THE TRAIL.

>> WELCOME TO THE 39TH ANNUAL SLED DOG MARATHON.

WE ARE BACK TO GIVE YOU THE SITES, SOUNDS, AND RESULTS OF THIS 300-MILE RACE.

♪ [DOG BARKING] >> [INDISCERNIBLE] ♪ MEGAN: CROWDS LINED UP TO CHEER ON THE RACERS AS THEY BEGAN THEIR JOURNEY.

TEAMS RAISE 40 MILES TO THE FIRST CHECKPOINT AT HIGHWAY TWO.

THEN, THEY ARE OFF AGAIN, JOURNEYING TO FINLAND, MINNESOTA.

WE ARE AT THE SECOND CHECKPOINT OF THE RACE, FINLAND, THE COMMUNITY CENTER.

THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT CHECKPOINT BECAUSE WE ARE NOW RUNNING AT NIGHT.

WE ARE NOT TAKING A BREAK AT NIGHT.

IT IS SUPERCOLD TO BEGIN WITH TODAY, AND NOW IT WILL BE COLDER AT NIGHT, MEANING DOGS WILL LIKELY MOVE FASTER AND ARE IN PRIME CONDITION FOR WHAT THEY LOVE DOING BEST, PULLING AND RUNNING.

THIS IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF A CHECKPOINT WHERE WE COME TO GATHER AS VOLUNTEERS AND JUST GIVE OUR BEST SUPPORT TO THE MUSHERS AND THE TEAMS.

THIS IS THEIR FIRST CHECKPOINT WITH THE MANDATORY REST OF FOUR HOURS.

ALL ARE REQUIRED TO REST FOR 24 HOURS BEFORE GETTING TO THE FINISH LINE.

♪ THE FOUR-RELATED ATHLETES ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES THAT MAKE THIS RACE RUN.

WE HAVE HUNDREDS OF VOLUNTEERS HERE AT THE BEARGREASE SLED DOG MARATHON HELPING WITH CHECKPOINTS, ROAD CROSSING, AND GETTING THE DOGS FROM THE CHUTE TO WHERE THEY NEED TO REST AND RECUPERATE.

TIMING IS EVERYTHING, SO WE SPOKE WITH A VOLUNTEER RESPONSIBLE FOR TIME TRACKING THE RACERS AND HOW THEY SHARE THAT INFORMATION FROM ACROSS THE TRAIL.

>> WE HAVE SYNCHRONIZED TIMING BETWEEN THE CHECKPOINTS.

WE USE ANATOMIC CLOCK TO MAKE SURE THE CHECKPOINTS ARE IN SYNC WITH THE DOGS LEAVING AND GOING AND USE IT AS A STOPWATCH, STARTING AND STOPPING IT AS SOON AS THEY CROSS THE DESIGNATED LINE.

WE MAKE SURE THERE IS AN ACCURATE TIME BECAUSE TIME COMES INTO PLAY, ESPECIALLY AT THE FINISH, AND THE MUSHERS NEED A REALLY ACCURATE TIME SO THEY KNOW HOW MUCH TIME THEY CAN REST AND HELP MUCH TIME IT IS TAKING THEM TO RUN.

THERE ARE LOCATIONS WHERE THERE IS NO WIRELESS INTERNET OR SIGNAL OF ANY KIND, SO THEN WE RELY ON THEM RADIOING TO SOMEBODY WHO HAS THE TIMING SHEETS PULLED UP ON A COMPUTER AND A LOCATION WHERE THERE IS WI-FI.

[BEEPING] >> 31814.

OVER?

>> GOOD COPY.

KINGS ROAD.

CLEAR.

WE ARE AT KINGS ROAD TURNAROUND.

THEY HAVE TO TURN AROUND AND GO BACK TO TRAIL CENTER AND CONTINUE ON TO THEIR NEXT STOP, SKYPORT LODGE.

IT IS COOL TO SEE THE DOGS COME UP OVER THE RISE, AND THE WORKING TO GET UP THE HILL IN THE MUSHER GETS OFF THE SLED AND STARTS RUNNING BEHIND TO GET LESS WEIGHT SO THE DOGS CAN MAKE IT UP THE HILL.

HE IS ENCOURAGING THE DOGS.

IT IS REALLY COOL TO SEE.

>> GOOD DOG.

>> COME ON, KEITH.

COME ON, KEITH.

GOOD JOB, GUYS.

GOOD JOB.

[INDISCERNIBLE] IT IS A WILDERNESS TRAIL FOR SURE.

THERE IS NOT A LOT OF BUILT UP ENVIRONMENT.

YOU'RE NOT GOING ACROSS A LOT OF ROADS SO YOU ARE ACTUALLY IN THE WOODS.

GOOD JOB.

GOOD JOB.

WHEW!

GOOD JOB.

MEGAN: AFTER THE KINGS ROAD TURN, THEY MAKE THEIR WAY TO SKYPORT, THE FIFTH CHECKPOINT.

HERE, THERE IS NO MANDATORY CHECK, SO MUSHERS CAN FEED THEIR TEAM AND CATCH SOME SLEEP BEFORE HEADING BACK OUT ON THE TRAIL TO THE FINAL CHECKPOINT.

MINERAL CENTER IS THE LAST CHECKPOINT WITH THE MANDATORY REST PERIOD OF FOUR HOURS.

IT IS SHORTER, BUT FILLED WITH TWISTS, TURNS, A FINAL CHALLENGE BEFORE THE FINISH LINE.

WE ARE AT THE FINISH LINE OF THE BEARGREASE SLED DOG MARATHON.

WHAT A RACE.

KEITH OVERTOOK THE FORMER WINNER , RYAN ANDERSON.

WE CAUGHT UP WITH KEITH TO GET HIS THOUGHTS.

KEITH: I'VE RAISED DOGS FOR THREE DECADES.

NORMALLY I GO TO RACE AND EXPECT TO WIN.

THIS ONE WAS A DIFFERENT APPROACH BECAUSE IT IT IS ALL YOUNG DOG TEAMS.

I WILL BE HONEST, IT IS HARD FOR SOMEONE LIKE ME WHO HAS WON MANY RACES TO APPROACH AT THAT DIFFERENTLY IN RACE DIFFERENT.

I'M NOT SAYING IT WAS THE EASIEST THING.

IT DID PAYOFF.

MEGAN: THE BEARGREASE SLED DOG MARATHON MARATHON HAS BEEN PART OF OUR COMMUNITY FOR 30 YEARS.

ED IS HARD TO BELIEVE IT OR MUST CEASE TO EXIST.

A NUMBER OF YEARS BACK, IT WAS NOT A THING ALMOST.

THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER SLED DOG RACES THAT HAVE GONE EXTINCT AND DO NOT EXIST ANYMORE, AND I AM REALLY PROUD TO BE A PART OF THIS COMMUNITY AND THIS TEAM TO KEEP THIS RACE OF LIFE AND KEEP THIS TRADITION OF MUSHING ALIVE AND KEEP IT GOING UP THE NORTH STORE -- OR TRAIL AND CELEBRATING MINNESOTA AS A WHOLE.

♪ ♪ JULIE: FOR THE THIRD STRAIGHT YEAR, THE PINE KNOT NEWS WAS NAMED THE TOP WEEKLY NEWSPAPER AT THE MINNESOTA NEWSPAPER ASSOCIATIONS ANNUAL CONVENTION.

THE LOCAL, INDEPENDENTLY OWNED NEWSPAPER IN CLOQUET IS A REMARKABLE STORY AT A TIME WHEN MANY COMMUNITIES BIG AND SMALL ARE LOSING THEIR NEWSPAPERS.

HERE WITH MORE ON THEIR STORY IS JANA PETERSON, EDITOR AND CO-OWNER OF THE PINE KNOT NEWS.

AND MIKE CREGER IS A REPORTER AND PAGE DESIGNER WITH THE PINE KNOT NEWS.

WELCOME, AND CONGRATULATIONS.

TALK ABOUT IT.

JANA: THE LOCAL PAPER HAD CLOSED IN OFFICE.

I LEFT MY JOB.

FIVE OF US CHIPPED IN MONEY.

WE WANTED A TRULY LOCAL PAPER WITH AN OFFICE WHERE PEOPLE COULD COME PAY THEIR BILL OR SHOW US THEIR PHOTO ALBUM OR TELL US THE LATEST SCOOP, SOMETIMES INADVERTENTLY.

[LAUGHTER] YEAH, AND WE HAVE SOME VERY EXPERIENCED STAFF AND THINGS HAVE GONE WELL.

DENNIS: MIKE, THE PAPER HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED AS THE BEST WEEKLY PAPER IN THE STATE FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS.

THAT IS PHENOMENAL.

TELL US ABOUT THAT.

MIKE: IT IS SOMETHING WE TALKED ABOUT WHEN WE WENT TO THE FIRST CONVENTION WE WERE ELIGIBLE TO WIN ANY AWARD.

DENNIS: SURE.

MIKE: WE GOT CLOSE WE THOUGHT THAT YEAR.

THE NEXT YEAR WE WON IT.

WE WERE SHOCKED.

WE CANNOT CELEBRATE.

JANA: WE WERE IN THE OFFICE.

MIKE: AND NOW WE WON IT AGAIN AND AGAIN.

THE ONE THING MENTIONED LAST WEEK, THEY SAID WE HATE YOU GUYS BECAUSE YOU KEEP WINNING, BUT THEY'D LIKE OUR STORY AND THE FACT WE ARE A STRONG, HYPER LOCAL, WEEKLY PAPER SURVIVING AND DOING WELL.

THE READERS LOVE US AND SO DO OUR PEERS ACROSS THE INDUSTRY, SO IT IS NICE.

JANA: THEY LIKE THE FACT WE ARE INDEPENDENT AND LOCALLY OWNED.

IN AN INDUSTRY DOMINATED BY CORPORATE NEWSPAPERS, IT IS GOOD WHEN YOU CAN SURVIVE AND THRIVE WITHOUT THOSE PROPS AND SUPPORTS.

JULIE: WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO KEEP THE SMALL INDEPENDENT COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS ALIVE?

JANA: THEY SAY HAVING A NEWSPAPER CAN HELP KEEP YOUR TAXES DOWN BECAUSE WE ARE WATCHING THE CITY COUNCIL, THE SCHOOL BOARD.

THEY HAVE TO EXPLAIN IF THEY HAVE STRANGE EXPENSES, BUT IT IS ALSO JUST THE CONNECTION.

I MEAN, ON FACEBOOK, SOMEBODY SEES AN ACCIDENT.

I WILL TELL.

FOUR SEE AN ACCIDENT AND EVERYONE SEES SOMETHING ELSE, AND THE FOURTH ONE WHO IS A REPORTER SAYS I WILL CALL THE POLICE STATION AND FIND OUT WHAT HAPPEN AND FOLLOW-UP AT THE HOSPITAL, SO IT IS PRODUCING THE TRUTH, TOO.

THERE IS A LOT OF NEWS AND SOCIAL MEDIA, BUT WE KNOW A FAIR AMOUNT OF IT IS NOT TRUE.

DENNIS: MIKE, MANY SMALL COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE LOSING THEIR SMALL NEWSPAPERS.

WHAT IS KEEPING YOUR NEWSPAPER ALIVE?

MIKE: THE STAFF.

THE LONGER YOU ARE IN THE INDUSTRY, THE EASIER IT GETS, KNOWING WHO TO TALK TO, AND WE KNOW HOW THE PAPERS SHOULD COME TOGETHER EACH WEEK, AND IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE DO NOT DO FOCUS GROUPS.

WE KNOW OUR READERS PRETTY WELL, AND THEY COME IN THE OFFICE AND THEY TELL US WHAT THEY LIKE AND WE TRIED TO DELIVER IT.

DENNIS: WHAT ARE THEY LOOKING FOR?

SOLID JOURNALISM?

MIKE: YES, SOLID JOURNALISM.

THEY ARE LOOKING TO BE ENTERTAINED TOO.

WE TRY TO KEEP THINGS A LITTLE LIGHTER BY HAVING GOOD FEATURE PHOTOGRAPHY AND FEATURES ON THE LIGHTER SIDE OF THINGS, BUT WE ARE THE WATCHDOG IN THE COMMUNITY.

JULIE: YOU MENTIONED IT IS AN EXPERIENCED STAFF.

FOLKS LIKE YOURSELF HAVE WORKED FOR LARGER NEWSPAPERS.

IS THIS A REAL LABOR OF LOVE AND SOMETHING THAT FEELS DIFFERENT AS A REPORTER?

JANA: DEFINITELY, YEAH.

I WORK MORE THAN I EVER HAVE IN MY LIFE, LONGER HOURS, AND I AM HAPPIER, LESS STRESSED.

IF THERE IS A MISTAKE, I DON'T IT OR WHO EVER MADE IT OWNS IT AND WE MOVE ON, BUT YEAH, IT, AND I LIVED THERE.

IT IS MY TOWN.

IT IS WHERE MY KIDS GREW UP.

SO YEAH, IT IS ABSOLUTELY A LABOR OF LOVE.

AND PEOPLE CALL ME ALL THE TIME.

JULIE:JULIE: IS IT HER STAYING RELEVANT WHEN YOU ARE A WEEKLY?

DO YOU FIND THAT YOU HAVE TO PUSH STORIES OUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA THROUGH THE WEEK SO PEOPLE ALWAYS GET THAT NEWS TURN -- CHURN?

MIKE: WE WORRY ABOUT THE QUALITY OF OUR JOURNALISM AND DO NOT TRY TO BE FIRST AND TO PUSH EVERYTHING OUT THERE RIGHT AWAY.

PEOPLE ARE GOING TO READ SOMETHING NEW IN THE STORY WE HAVE.

EVEN IF IT'S A SPORTS STORY THAT THEY WILL FIND SOMETHING NEW.

JANA: WE TRIED TO BE BETTER.

DENNIS: THERE IS AN OLD SAYING, I DON'T WANT TO BE FIRST, I WANT TO BE THE BEST.

MIKE: AND RIGHT.

DENNIS: CORRECT.

JULIE: THANK YOU FOR COMING IN.

CONGRATULATIONS.

JANA: THANK YOU.

DENNIS: THANK YOU.

IT IS TIME NOW FOR VOICES OF THE REGION, WHEN WE HEAR FROM AN AREA JOURNALIST ABOUT STORIES IN THE NEWS.

OUR GUEST THIS WEEK IS DANIELLE KAEDING, A REPORTER WITH WISCONSIN PUBLIC RADIO.

♪ DANIELLE: SO, BAYFIELD COUNTY AND EXCEL ENERGY ARE PARTNERING UNDER A NEW UTILITY PROGRAM TO BUILD ITS FIRST MICROGRID PROJECT IN THE COUNTY.

THERE ARE ONLY A HANDFUL OF THESE MICROGRIDS ACROSS WISCONSIN NOW AND THEY SUPPLY A NETWORK OF CUSTOMERS WITH ENERGY SEPARATE FROM A UTILITY SERVICE THAT CAN BE SWITCHED ON OR OFF, AS NEEDED.

SO, MICROGRIDS OFFER MORE RELIABILITY FOR CUSTOMERS WHEN POWER OUTAGES OCCUR ON THE MAIN GRID, AND THEY CAN ALSO MINIMIZE THE AMOUNT OF POWER DISRUPTIONS BY REDUCING DEMAND ON A UTILITY SYSTEM.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT BAYFIELD COUNTY HAS BEEN PURSUING TO TRIED TO ALLEVIATE SOME OF THE DISRUPTIONS THEY HAVE SEEN IN THE FACE OF EXTREME EVENTS LIKE SEVERE WINTER WEATHER, AND ALSO RECORD FLOODING THAT THE COUNTY HAS SEEN IN THE LAST DECADE.

BAYFIELD COUNTY HAS ALREADY BUILT A 116 KILOWATT SOLAR SYSTEM, PAIRING THAT WITH BATTERY STORAGE IN THE CITY'S BACKUP DIESEL GENERATOR, SO IF SOME SORT OF OUTAGE WERE TO OCCUR, THEY WOULD STILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE ESSENTIAL EMERGENCY SERVICES IN THE COUNTY AND ALSO SERVE AS A PLACE FOR THE COMMUNITY TO UTILIZE IF PEOPLE NEEDED POWER.

♪ THE PORT OF DULUTH'S APPEARS THAT THE LATEST DEPARTURE OF A CARGO-CARRYING FREIGHTER IN 50 YEARS AS ICE COVER ON THE GREAT LAKES HAS BEEN AT A NEAR RECORD LOW SINCE THE START OF THE SEASON.

THIS YEAR IS THE FIFTH LOWEST YEAR FOR AVERAGE ICE COVER ON THE LAKES SINCE THE START OF THE REASON.

RECENTLY, ON JANUARY 21, THE LAKE FREIGHTER SAGINAW LEFT SAPIR WITH A LOAD OF IRON ORE FOR A STEEL FACILITY IN MICHIGAN, AND THE DULUTH PORT AUTHORITY SITE THAT INDICATES THAT IS THE LATEST SHIPMENT SINCE JANUARY, 1975.

THE GREAT LAKES ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LAB HAS FOUND THAT ICE COVER ON LAKES IS DECREASING ABOUT 5% EACH DECADE, SO RESEARCHERS AT UW SUPERIOR WANTED TO STUDY HOW THAT COULD AFFECT SHIPPING ON THE LAKES, AND BASICALLY A COMBINATION OF ICE LOSS AND ANOTHER LOCK IN MICHIGAN COULD MEAN A LONGER SHIPPING SEASON.

♪ SO RECENTLY, AROUND 20 WILDLIFE AND ANIMAL PROTECTION GROUPS PETITIONED THE U.S. FOREST SERVICE TO BAN THE USE OF ANIMALS FOR HUNTING, AFTER A CONTROVERSIAL WOLF HUNT TWO YEARS AGO.

YOU WILL RECALL DURING THE 2021 WOLF HUNT IN FEBRUARY, HUNTERS KILLED 218 WOLVES IN LESS THAN THREE DAYS, AND THAT IS NEARLY 100 WOLVES MORE THAN STATE LICENSED HUNTERS WERE ALLOWED UNDER A QUOTED THEY SPLIT WITH TRIBES IN WISCONSIN, SO GROUPS LIKE THE CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY AND FRIENDS OF WILDLIFE FILE THIS PETITION TO ASK THE FEDERAL AGENCY TO BAR THE USE OF DOGS TO HUNT BLACK BEARS AND OTHER WILDLIFE, BECAUSE THEY REALLY FEEL LIKE THIS CREATES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR MORE CONFLICTS BETWEEN HOUNDS AND WOLVES IN THE NATIONAL FOREST.

HOUND HUNTERS OPPOSES EFFORT TO BAN THE USE OF HOUNDS IN THE NATIONAL FORESTS IN NORTHERN WISCONSIN.

THEY FEEL THIS IS AN ATTEMPT TO ELIMINATE ALL FORMS OF HUNTING.

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

THE WDSE WEBSITE IS THE PLACE TO FIND PROGRAM SCHEDULES, UPDATES AND OTHER STATION NEWS.

AND DOWNLOAD THE PBS VIDEO APP TO WATCH YOUR FAVORITE PBS PROGRAMS ON DEMAND.

WELL, DENNIS, IT LOOKS LIKE A MUCH MILDER WEEKEND AHEAD, WE WE CAN PUT AWAY THE INSULATED UDERWEAR.

DENNIS: I LIKE HEARING THAT.

[LAUGHTER] I'D LIKE MILD WINTERS.

JULIE: I'D LIKE WINTER UNDERWAY.

THAT IS A DIFFERENT TOPIC.

FOR DENNIS ANDERSON AND THE CREW AT ALMANAC NORTH, I'M JULIE ZENNER.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.

♪ ♪ ♪