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

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

DENNIS: DULUTH'S 2021 HOUSING INDICATOR REPORT SHOWS THE COST OF OWNING OR RENTING A HOME SKYROCKETED OVER THE LAST YEAR.

WE WILL HAVE MORE ON THAT REPORT.

JULIE: DURING WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH, WE HAVE A STORY ON THE "WHAT SHE SAID" FESTIVAL FEATURING FEMALE PLAYWRIGHTS AND DIRECTORS AT THE DULUTH PLAYHOUSE.

DENNIS: AND WE WILL MEET THE NEW PRESIDENT OF SALES AND OPERATIONS OF VISIT DULUTH.

JULIE: THESE STORIES AND "VOICES OF THE REGION" COMING UP ON ALMANAC NORTH.

♪ JULIE: HELLO AND WELCOME TO ALMANAC NORTH.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

DENNY, MARCH IS LIVING UP TO IT'S REPUTATION.

WHAT AN UP AND DOWN WEATHER WEEK THAT MONTH FOR US.

DENNIS: WE HAVE HAD A BEAUTIFUL SPRING-LIKE WEATHER AND BACK TO WINTER AGAIN.

JULIE: BRR.

LET'S WARM UP AND BEGIN WITH THE HEADLINES.

DENNIS: THANKS, JULIE.

WISCONSIN'S NEWLY DRAWN STATE LEGISLATIVE MAPS WERE REJECTED BY THE U.S. SUPREME COURT THIS WEEK, SENDING THEM BACK TO THE WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT FOR FURTHER PROCEEDINGS.

THE COURT DID KEEP IN PLACE THE NEW CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT MAPS, WHICH WERE ALSO DRAWN BY THE WISCONSIN COURT.

THE SUPREME COURT RULING MEANS IT IS UNCERTAIN WHICH MAPS WILL BE USED FOR THE FALL ELECTIONS FOR THE STATE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY.

JULIE: THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IN MINNESOTA AND WISCONSIN HAVE REACHED RECORD LOWS, ACCORDING TO THE FEBRUARY LABOR REPORT.

WISCONSIN'S UNEMPLOYMENT RATE OF 2.9% TIED THE STATE'S ALL-TIME RECORD LOW.

MINNESOTA'S FEBRUARY JOBLESS RATE WAS 2.7%, THE LOWEST NUMBER RECORDED SINCE 1999.

THE U.S. UNEMPLOYMENT RATE OVERALL WAS 3.8%.

DENNIS: A DEAD DEER IN THE CITY OF GRAND RAPIDS WAS FOUND TO HAVE CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE, A FIRST FOR THAT DEER PERMIT AREA.

THE MINNESOTA DNR SAYS IT WILL UPDATE ITS CWD RESPONSE PLAN IN THE AREA THIS SPRING.

CWD HAS BEEN MOSTLY FOUND IN THE DEER POPULATION OF SOUTHEASTERN MINNESOTA.

JULIE: AND FORMER DULUTH POLICE CHIEF ELI MILETICH DIED THIS WEEK AT THE AGE OF 86.

MILETICH SPENT 33-YEARS ON THE DULUTH POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND WAS APPOINTED CHIEF BY MAYOR JOHN FEDO IN 1982.

HE IS SURVIVED BY HIS WIFE OF 61-YEARS CAROL, THREE CHILDREN AND MANY OTHER RELATIVES.

DENNIS: THE CITY OF DULUTH'S 2021 HOUSING INDICATOR REPORT RELEASED THIS WEEK HAS SOME RATHER EYE-OPENING NUMBERS.

THAT REPORT SHOWS A 17% INCREASE IN THE COST OF OWNING A SINGLE-FAMILY HOME.

AND THE AVERAGE PRICE OF A RENTAL IN DULUTH WENT UP ABOUT $221 DOLLARS LAST YEAR.

THOSE HIGH COSTS ARE MAKING AN ALREADY TIGHT HOUSING MARKET A GROWING PROBLEM FOR THE CITY.

JOINING US NOW WITH MORE IS THERESA BAJDA, A PLANNER WITH THE CITY'S PLANNING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT AND THE AUTHOR OF THE HOUSING REPORT.

AND JEFF COREY IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ONE ROOF COMMUNITY HOUSING, A NONPROFIT THAT PROVIDES HOUSING SERVICES.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.

YOU WROTE THE HOUSING INDICATOR REPORT FOR THE CITY OF DULUTH.

DOES IT REVEAL ANY SURPRISES?

>> LAST YEAR WAS EIGHT STRANGE BULLET WHEN WE SOUGHT HOUSING VACANCY RATES JUMPED TO 5% BUT DURING THE PANDEMIC WE WERE SEEING COLLEGE STUDENTS MOVING HOME, FOLKS MOVING IN WITH FRIENDS OR FAMILY SO SEEING IT DROP BACK DOWN TO 2% FRIENDS WITH WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IN THE COMMUNITY.

IT IS DIFFICULT TO FIND A HOUSING, RENTAL HOUSING AND DIFFICULT ACROSS ALL INCOME LEVELS.

JULIE: JEFF, AS YOU LOOK AT THE KEY TAKEAWAYS OF THIS REPORT WHAT DO YOU THINK SHOULD PEOPLE BE PAYING ATTENTION TO?

>> THERE ARE CHALLENGES, SO IT IS ACROSS ALL INCOME LEVELS AND HOUSING TYPES.

THAT SPEAKS TO CRISIS IN SOME REGARD.

AND THEN I THINK ON TOP OF THAT, WHEN THERE ARE THINGS THAT ARE HARD THAT HAPPENED IN A COMMUNITY, THE FOLKS WITH THE LEAST ARC AT THE MOST.

FOLKS THAT ARE WORKING PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK, SUPER CHALLENGING TO UPGRADE THEIR HOUSING OR TO FIND HOUSING, AND MORE FOLKS WITH LESS RESOURCES THAN THAT, FOLKS WHO ARE PRECARIOUSLY HOUSED OR HOMELESS, THERE JUST IS NOT MUCH TO HOPE FOR OR TO SEE THAT ONE COULD BETTER THEIR HOUSING SITUATION.

DENNIS: WHAT IS ONE ROOF HOUSING DOING TO TACKLE THE PROBLEM HERE?

>> WE DO A LOT OF THINGS ACROSS THE SPECTRUM OF HOUSING.

WE ARE DEVELOPING NEW UNITS.

WE FINISHED 42 UNITS LAST YEAR.

WE HAVE 52 MORE PLANNED THIS YEAR.

I THINK WE HELP 20 FAMILIES LAST YEAR TO PURCHASE HOMES THAT WAY.

WE HELP WITH HOME RENOVATIONS.

MAKE LOANS BANKS ARE NOT ABLE TO MAKE.

WE PREPARE FOLKS TO BE READY TO BUY A HOUSE WITH FINANCIAL COUNSELING AND EDUCATION AT WE WORK WITH TENANTS AND LANDLORDS TO PROVIDE EDUCATION AND MEDIATION TO HELP PEOPLE STAY HOUSED.

LOTS OF THINGS.

JULIE: THERESA, HOW DOES THE INFORMATION THAT IS COMPILED IN THIS REPORT HELP THE CITY WORK WITH FOLKS LIKE JEFF AND OTHER DEVELOPERS TO MAKE THE SITUATION BETTER IN THE HOUSING ARENA.

TERESA: IT DEFINITELY INFORMS OUR DECISION-MAKING AND UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE TRUE DEMAND OUT THERE AND THE MARKET LOOKS LIKE.

I THINK THE CITY AS REALLY COME TOGETHER WITH FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL PARTNERS TO SAY HOW CAN WE CLOSE THESE GAPS.

IT IS EXPENSIVE TO BUILD AND DULUTH, SO FINDING OPPORTUNITIES LIKE TAX INCREMENT FINANCING OR FEDERAL FUNDS THAT JUST CAME TO THE CITY, PROVIDING 19.2 MILLION DOLLARS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS TO GET MORE UNITS ONLINE.

DENNIS: THE MEDIAN INCOME FOR THOSE LIVING IN DULUTH IS $52,000.

WHAT IS THE AVERAGE RENT.

THERESA: WE ARE TAKING THE AVERAGE RENT OF STUDIOS AND PUTTING IT INTO AN AVERAGE, WE ARE LOOKING AT $1,320.

THAT IS A LOT.

THAT TELLS US A GREAT DEAL OF OUR RESIDENTS ARE COST BURDENED.

JULIE: COVID HAD AN IMPACT ON EVERYONE'S POCKETBOOK.

OTHER BRIGHT SPOTS COMING OUT OF IT PERHAPS?

BUSINESS HAS CHANGED, L PEOPLE WORK AS CHANGED, SO A LOT OF COMPANIES DO NOT NEED THE REAL ESTATE THAT THEY DID.

COULD THERE BE OPPORTUNITIES FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE NOT BEING USED RIGHT NOW?

JEFF: THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES IN THAT SPACE AND IT COSTS MORE THAN ONE MIGHT THINK YOU CONVERTED.

IT IS NOT THE SLAMDUNK YOU MIGHT THINK BUT THERE ARE SILVER LININGS.

THE AMERICAN RESCUE ACT IS GOING TO DO A TON TO SPUR NEW HOUSING DEVELOPMENT.

DENNIS: IS THERE A WAITING LIST FOR SUBSIDIZED HOUSING?

JEFF: ALONG ONE.

IT TAKES SEVERAL MONTHS FOR SOMEONE TO GET INTO PUBLIC HOUSING OR TO GET A SECTION EIGHT VOUCHER.

IF ONE IS LUCKY ENOUGH TO GET A VOUCHER, MAKING IT USEFUL IS A CHALLENGE BECAUSE FAIR MARKET RENTS ARE SO LOW, THAT IS THE AMOUNT YOU CAN USE A VOUCHER IN.

MOST RENTS ARE HIGHER THAN THAT.

IT IS CHALLENGING TO USE THOSE RESOURCES NOW FOR POOR FOLKS.

JULIE: BECAUSE OF AGING HOUSING STOCK, A LOT OF THOSE OLDER HOMES IN CONDITIONS THAT THEY CAN ACTUALLY BE FIXED UP FOR FUTURE HOUSING?

OR DO YOU SEE THE NEED FOR A LOT OF TEAR DOWN AND REBUILD?

THERESA: I THINK OUR APPROACH IS ALWAYS TO SAY IF THE NUMBERS WORK AND WE CAN REHAB THEN CERTAINLY.

THAT IS ONE OF OUR APPROACHES.

WE RUN INTO SITUATIONS WHERE A BUILDING CAN BE CONDEMNED FOR HUMAN HABITATION.

WHAT RESOURCES CAN WE USE TO RAISE IT AND DO THOUGHTFUL REFILL.

PUTTING MAY BE A SINGLE FAMILY WITH A DETACHED ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT.

DENNIS: THANK YOU BOTH FOR ENLIGHTENING US.

WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE, THERESA AND JEFF.

THANK YOU BOTH.

♪ JULIE: THIS WEEK MARKED THE RETURN OF "WHAT SHE SAID," AN ANNUAL PLAY FESTIVAL CELEBRATING FEMALE PLAYWRIGHTS AND DIRECTORS.

SUBMISSIONS WERE ACCEPTED FROM PLAYWRIGHTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

PRODUCERS MEGAN MCGARVEY AND ISAAC QUICK SAT DOWN WITH A LOCAL PLAYWRIGHT AND THE DIRECTOR THAT IS BRINGING HER VISION FROM THE PAGE TO THE STAGE.

>> HERE IN DULUTH WE HAVE A VERY POWERFUL THEATRICAL FEMININE PRESENC AND WE HAVE A LOT TO SAY.

♪ >> MY SON GREW UP AROUND THE PLAY ALSO I VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE DULUTH THEATER FAMILY SO TO SPEAK.

TWO YEARS AGO IN NOVEMBER 2019 MY HUSBAND DIED SUDDENLY.

AS A FORM OF GRIEVING I TOOK TO WRITING.

SERENDIPITOUSLY AT THE SAME TIME THE PLAYHOUSE PUT OUT A REQUEST FOR A FEMALE WRITING TO BE SUBMITTED FOR THEIR "WHAT SHE SAID" FESTIVAL.

I NEVER IN ONE MILLION YEARS THOUGHT THEY WOULD LOOK AT WHAT I WAS WRITING.

WHAT I WAS WRITING WAS MORE THERAPEUTIC THAN ANYTHING ELSE, BUT I SENT IT IN ANY GOT CHOSEN.

>> IT IS A MONOLOGUE THAT TAKES YOU THROUGH ALL OF THE EMOTIONS.

IT IS ABOUT A WOMAN CONTEMPLATING A RELATIONSHIP WITH HER DAUGHTER.

MOTHER-DAUGHTER RELATIONSHIPS GET TO BE VERY EMOTIONAL, AND I THINK THE PIECE ITSELF SENDS A MESSAGE TO THE GREATER AUDIENCE OF MAKING SURE THAT YOU SAY THE THINGS THAT YOU WANT TO SAY AND INDICATE HOW MUCH YOU LOVE AND CARE ABOUT THEM AND HELP PROUD OF THEM THAT YOU ARE.

>> I THINK IT IS RATHER A DARK PIECE, AND IT IS VERY PERSONAL AND VERY EMOTIONAL, BUT THERE IS ALSO I THINK REALLY IMPORTANT MESSAGE IN IT FOR YOUNG WOMEN AND YOUNG BOYS AS WELL ABOUT SELF-ESTEEM, SELF VALUE, SELF WORTH.

AND THAT IS THE MESSAGE I AM HOPING IT PORTRAYS.

>> THIS PARTICULAR STORY ESPECIALLY BEING PART OF AN ALL WOMEN DIRECTORIAL, A LOT OF THE ACTORS ARE WOMEN.

THE FESTIVAL IS ABOUT WOMEN.

I FEEL LIKE THIS PIECE IN PARTICULAR IS SO POWERFUL BECAUSE THIS RELATIONSHIP OUT OF THE SCRIPT AND CONNECTED TO OUR OWN RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR OWN MOTHERS OR OUR OWN PARENTS, AND I THINK THAT IS WHY THIS PIECE IN PARTICULAR AND ALL OF THE OTHER PIECES CAN BE SO POWERFUL.

>> IT IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE WOMEN IN ROLES, STAGE ACTING AND DIRECTING, BECAUSE MOST OF THE MOVIES YOU SEE, A LOT OF THE PLACE THAT YOU SEE, A LOT OF THE MUSICALS THAT YOU SEE, THEY ARE ALL WRITTEN AND DIRECTED IN THE LYRICS AND MUSIC IS COMPOSED BY MEN.

WOMEN HAVE A LOT TO SAY TOO.

WOMEN HAVE A DIFFERENT CREATIVE TONE AND THEY CAN BRING A LOT OF DEPTH AND BEAUTY AND GRIT TO A PIECE.

>> WE ALL KNOW THAT IN THEATER, SMALL TOWN TO HOLLYWOOD AND EVERYWHERE IN BETWEEN FEMALE VOICES HAVE NOT BEEN CENTERSTAGE , AND SO TO SEE THE DULUTH COMMUNITY OFF OR SOMETHING LIKE THIS ON A NATIONAL SCOPE AND REACH OUT NATIONALLY IS SUCH A GOOD FEELING.

I LOVE TELLING PEOPLE IN ALL OF THE BIG CITIES AND ON FACEBOOK THAT I LIVE IN WHAT I THINK IS ONE OF THE STRONGEST THEATER COMMUNITIES I HAVE EVER SEEN OR EVER LIVED IN, AND THE FACT THAT THEY WOULD BRING ABOUT A WOMEN'S VOICES FESTIVAL JUST AMPLIFIES WHAT WE HAVE TO OFFER HERE.

WE KNOW THAT WOMEN'S VOICES HAVE BEEN SQUELCHED.

SO THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THOSE OF US WHO THINK WE HAVE SOMETHING WORTH LISTENING TO TO SAY, HEY, WHAT ABOUT ME?

AND IF THIS STORY CAN RESUME -- RESONATE WITH ME, IF THIS CAN BRING ME TEARS OR BRING ME JOY OR LAUGHTER OR HEARTACHE, I HAVE TO BELIEVE IT WILL TOUCH SOMEBODY ELSE.

I CANNOT WAIT TO SEE THE OTHER FOUR PIECES.

I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THEY ARE ABOUT, BUT I KNOW IF THOSE FOUR WOMEN WROTE FROM THE PLACE IN THEIR HEART THAT I DID THAT WE ARE GOING TO SEE SOME INCREDIBLE, INCREDIBLE WORK.

♪ JULIE: IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN CATCHING THE "WHAT SHE SAID" FESTIVAL IT'S NOT TOO LATE.

VISIT THE DULUTHPLAYHOUSE.ORG FOR MORE INFORMATION.

DENNIS: "VISIT DULUTH," THE LOCAL ORGANIZATION THAT MARKETS DULUTH AS A TOURISM, EVENT AND TRADE SHOW DESTINATION HAS GONE THROUGH SOME BIG CHANGES OVER THE PAST YEAR.

THIS MONTH, VISIT DULUTH'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS NAMED A NEW LEADER FOR THE RE-VAMPED ORGANIZATION.

JOINING US NOW IS DANIELE VILLA, PRESIDENT OF SALES AND OPERATIONS OF VISIT DULUTH.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.

I WANT TO START OFF BY ASKING WHAT FOCUS ARE YOU BRINGING SPECIFICALLY TO VISIT DULUTH AND MAYBE THAT ORGANIZATION DID NOT HAVE IT BEFORE.

DANIELE: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME HERE.

ONE OF THE PERSPECTIVES OF WHAT I CAN BRING TO THE ORGANIZATION, PROBABLY A BIT OF EXPERIENCE THAT I HAVE OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS WORKING IN ITALY, WORKING IN EUROPE, DUBAI WORKING IN EXPEDITION -- EXHIBITION.

THAT IS A LITTLE BIT OF PERSPECTIVE OF WHAT IS OUT THERE, WHAT CAN WE DO DIFFERENTLY, WHAT CAN WE DO BETTER?

JULIE: WHAT ATTRACTED YOU TO THIS POSITION?

DANIELE: IT IS WHAT I HAVE DONE FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS.

I LIKE THE INDUSTRY, I LIKE LEISURE, HOSPITALITY.

I WORKED AT A FIELD PARK, A MARINA, EXHIBITIONS IN DUBAI.

I FEEL LIKE IT CHANGES ALL THE TIME, IT IS NEVER THE SAME.

YOU MEET SO MANY DIFFERENT PEOPLE, IT IS REALLY ENGAGING.

DENNIS: DULUTH AS BECOME WHITE THE CONVENTION SITE FOR MANY ORGANIZATIONS.

WHAT IS IT THAT MAKES DULUTH A PREMIER DESTINATION?

DANIELE: BECAUSE DULUTH IS A UNIQUE AREA, IT IS A NICE, SMALL CITY FOR SO MANY THINGS FOR BUSINESSES AND VISITORS.

UF DELEGATES COMING TO A JOB FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS, THEY CAN COME HERE WITH A SIGNIFICANT OTHER, WHETHER IT IS WINTER OR SUMMER, THERE IS SO MUCH TO DO.

YOU CAN ACTUALLY ENJOY ICEFISHING.

JULIE: YOU ARE NEW TO THE COMMUNITY AND THE JOB, DO YOU HAVE A SENSE YET OF WHERE YOU WOULD LIKE TO REALLY FOCUS SOME OF YOUR ENERGY, THE TYPES OF EVENTS OR THE TYPES OF CONFERENCES THAT YOU THINK WOULD BE A REALLY GOOD FIT FOR THIS COMMUNITY?

DANIELE: THE WAY THAT WE ARE WORKING WITH ALL OF THE CHANGES, WE ARE GOING TO BE MOVING FORWARD.

IT IS GOING TO BE THE CITY OF DULUTH AND MARKETING AGENTS.

THEY ARE GOING TO BE FOCUSING MORE ON THE LEISURE SIDE.

WE WILL BE FOCUSING ON THE B@B -- B2B SIDE.

WE WILL BE TACKLING THOSE KINDS OF BUSINESSES, THOSE KINDS OF MARKETS.

WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO HOST 10,000 DELEGATES BECAUSE OF TRANSPORTATION, RESIDENTS.

WE ARE FOCUSING ON THE MEETINGS AND EVENTS WE CAN BRING TO DULUTH.

MAYBE INTERNATIONAL, WHY NOT?

DENNIS: WHEN YOU ARE DOING YOUR MARKETING, WHAT ARE YOU TELLING TO FOLKS IN THOSE MARKETS ABOUT THE CITY OF DULUTH?

DANIELE: DULUTH IS GREAT IN TERMS OF HOSPITALITY, RECEPTION.

WE HAVE AN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, LOGISTIC TRANSPORTATION IS EASY TO REACH.

THERE IS SO MUCH TO DO IN TERMS OF ACTIVITIES ONCE YOU ARE DONE WITH YOUR WORK.

THOSE KINDS OF ATTRACTIONS -- THEY DO NOT TAKE THEM FOR GRANTED IN THE MAJORITY OF OTHER CITIES.

JULIE: YOU MENTIONED INTERNATIONAL.

ARE THERE INTERNATIONAL CONNECTIONS YOU HAVE THAT MIGHT LURE SOME PEOPLE TO BRING A CONVENTION?

DANIELE: I FOR SURE IT WILL BE KNOCKING ON ALL OF THE DOORS OF PEOPLE I KNOW, THE ORGANIZATION, INTERNATIONAL.

I FOR SURE WILL BE KNOCKING ON THOSE DOORS.

JULIE: WE ONLY HAVE ABOUT 30 SECONDS BUT ARE THERE PLANS FOR NEW VISITOR CENTER?

DANIELE: ABSOLUTELY, WE WILL BE OPENING THE VISITOR CENTER IN A MONTH OR SO AND THIS WILL BE A FANTASTIC LOCATION, GOOD DESIGN, GOOD VIBES.

DENNIS: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

♪ JULIE: IT'S TIME NOW FOR "VOICES OF THE REGION."

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

THIS WEEK OUR REPORTER IS AARON BROWN, AN AUTHOR, COLUMNIST, AND INSTRUCTOR AT HIBBING COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

♪ >> WE ARE GOING TO SEE A SERIES OF VERY COMPETITIVE ELECTIONS.

I WOULD NOT BE UNDERSELLING IT TO SAY THAT THE CONTROL OF THE MINNESOTA HOUSE AND SENATE MIGHT REST ON THE OUTCOME OF SENATE RACES AND HOUSE RACES IN THE REGION OF NORTHEASTERN MINNESOTA .

THAT IS THAT EXCITING DETAIL FOR POLITICAL WATCHERS.

THERE ARE A LOT OF POLICY IMPLICATIONS, BIG PICTURE POLICY IMPLICATIONS AND KIND OF A CULTURAL VIBE I THINK ON THE LINE HERE, THERE IS A LOT AT STAKE ONE OF THE BIG DOMINOES TO FALL WAS STATE SENATOR TOM BACH, NOW AN INDEPENDENT CAUCUSING WITH THE REPUBLICANS.

HE ANNOUNCED PERHAPS SURPRISINGLY TO SOME HE WAS GOING TO RETIRE AND LEAVE HIS NEW DISTRICT SEAT OPEN.

THAT IS SIGNIFICANT FOR A LOT OF REASONS.

SENATOR BACH HAD AMONG THE HIGHEST AMOUNTS OF SENIORITY IN THE RANGE DELEGATION.

HE HAD BEEN A CHAIR OR CAUCUS LEADER, A HIGH-RANKING POSITION IN STATE POLITICS FOR A LONG TIME.

AND NOW HE WILL BE REPLACED BY A NEW CENTER OF ONE PARTY OR THE OTHER ALSO REFLECTIVE OF THE DISTRICT BEING SPLIT BETWEEN A BIG GEOGRAPHIC AREA, STRETCHING FROM THE COUNTY ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE LAKE OF THE WOODS.

THAT IS THE 3A SIDE AND THE 3B SIDE IS WHAT YOU MIGHT CALL THE DULUTH EXBURBS.

THOSE ARE MERGED INTO ONE SENATE DISTRICT THAT WILL BE ONE OF THE PIVOTAL PLACES OF THE WHOLE STATE.

THIS IS TRUE OF A LOT OF PEOPLE, PEOPLE GREW UP ON THE RANGE AND IN RURAL PLACES, YOUR MOM MADE YOU CLOSE.

MY MOM MADE MY SCHOOL CLOSE ONE I WAS A KID, AND THAT WAS NOT TERRIBLY UNCOMMON.

BUT ANALYSIS OF PRODUCT COSTS AND PRICES, WE TALK A LOT ABOUT INFLATION SHOWS THAT IT IS ACTUALLY NOT CHEAPER TO MAKE YOUR OWN CLOTHING FROM SCRATCH THAN IT IS TO BUY THE CHEAP CLOTHING THAT COMES USUALLY FROM OVERSEAS AND THOSE ARE PEOPLE WHO DO NOT MAKE A LOT OF MONEY, WHO MAKE LESS THAN POVERTY WAGES HERE.

THIS IS A QUESTION WE HAVE READ WE TALK ABOUT PRICES OR LOT BECAUSE WE NOTICE THAT WE ARE PAYING MORE FOR THE PRODUCTS THAT WE USE EVERY DAY BUT I DO NOT KNOW IF WE HAVE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP AS SOCIETY WITH THE VALUE OF GOODS, THE COST IT TAKES TO MAKE IN THE WORK THAT GOES INTO MAKING THEM.

ONE OF THE CHALLENGES ESPECIALLY IN AN ADVANCED DEMOCRACY, ADVANCED CAPITALIST INDUSTRY LIKE THE UNITED STATES, WE WANT TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE ARE GOING TO BE SELF-SUSTAINING INTO THE FUTURE, AND RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A POPULATION WHERE NOT ONLY DO A LOT OF PEOPLE NOT KNOW HOW TO SEW, BUT EVEN IF WE WANTED TO LEARN, THE FACT THAT IT IS MORE EXPENSIVE AS A DETERRENT TO LEARNING HOW TO FIX YOUR OWN CARS, OUT TO MAKE YOUR OWN CLOTHING, SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT.

NOT ONLY THE COST OF THINGS LIKE WHAT WE ARE PAYING FOR GAS AT THE GROCERY STORE, BUT ALSO THE VALUE AND THE CULTURAL VALUE OF BEING ABLE TO PRODUCE OUR OWN THINGS.

♪ I AM HERE AT HIBBING COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND I WILL BE AT THE CAMPUS OF MINNESOTA NORTH COLLEGE.

FIVE COLLEGES ARE ALL MERGING, AND WAS HOBBY RANCH -- WASSABY RANGE AS CAMPUSES SPREAD THROUGHOUT MINNESOTA.

THE SHORT REASSURANCE WE CAN GIVE EVERYBODY IS THAT ALL OF THE CAMPUSES WILL REMAIN OPEN AND WILL FUNCTION AS MUCH AS THEY HAVE BEFORE, AND THE PROGRAMS AND COURSES AND INSTRUCTORS AND SUPPORT STAFF WILL REMAIN AVAILABLE, BUT THE MERGER DOES OPEN UP NEW OPPORTUNITIES, AND OBVIOUSLY IT PRODUCES A SITUATION WHERE WE ARE MORE FINANCIALLY RESILIENT.

IT IS ONE OF THE REASONS IT HAPPENED, BUT ALSO IT IS GOING TO ALLOW STUDENTS TO REGISTER ON MULTIPLE CAMPUSES IF THEY SO CHOOSE, ALLOW STUDENTS TO CHANGE DIRECTIONS WITHOUT HAVING TO TRANSFER WILL GO THROUGH COMPLEX DEMOCRACY.

THEY CAN SWITCH FROM ONE CAMPUS TO ANOTHER IF THEY WANT TO TRY A DIFFERENT PROGRAM.

IT HAS A LOT OF FLEXIBILITY FOR THE STUDENTS.

♪ JULIE: THAT'S OUR TIME THIS WEEK, BUT YOU CAN STAY UP TO DATE 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'M STILL WAITING FOR MARCH TO GO "OUT LIKE A LAMB."

DENNIS: YOU AND A LOT OF OTHER FOLKS.

I THINK EVERYBODY IS READY TO SAY GOODBYE TO THE MONTH.

JULIE: HOPEFULLY IT WILL NOT BE TOO BAD.

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.