DENNIS: I AM DENNIS ANDERSON ALONG WITH JULIE ZENNER, HERE'S WHAT'S COMING UP ON ALMANAC NORTH.

JULIE: FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE PANDEMIC, THOUSANDS OF MINNESOTANS WILL BE REQUIRED TO RENEW THEIR MEDICAL ASSISTANCE TO RECEIVE CONTINUED COVERAGE.

DENNIS: WE'LL TAKE YOU TO A POLICE DEPARTMENT OPEN HOUSE DESIGNED TO INTEREST WOMEN IN LAW ENFORCEMENT CAREERS.

JULIE: AND AICHO IS HOLDING ITS FIRST-EVER CONCERT FUNDRAISER TO SUPPORT ITS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTER.

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

♪ HELLO AND WELCOME TO ALMANAC NORTH.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

JULIE, MORE SNOW IN THE WEEKEND FORECAST.

WINTER ISN'T OVER YET.

JULIE: I AM NOT LISTENING.

DENNIS: I REALIZE IT IS SPRING, BUT IT IS HANGING ON.

JULIE: I HAVE HAD ENOUGH.

DENNIS: A LOT OF FOLKS HAVE.

LET'S BEGIN WITH THE WEEK'S HEADLINES.

DENNIS: THANKS DENNY.

IT WAS A RECORD-SETTING START TO THE SHIPPING SEASON, WITH THE FIRST SALTWATER SHIP ARRIVING IN THE TWIN PORTS EARLIER THAN EVER BEFORE.

FEDNAV'S FEDERAL DART SAILED UNDER THE AERIAL BRIDGE TUESDAY AT 3:30 P.M., BREAKING THE OLD RECORD BY TWO FULL DAYS.

WE'LL HAVE MORE ON THE FEDERAL DART AND ITS RECORD-BREAKING JOURNEY ON NEXT WEEK'S SHOW.

DENNIS: IN ANOTHER SIGN THAT THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IS WANING, ESSENTIA HEALTH ANNOUNCED IT WOULD MOVE TO VOLUNTARY MASKING IN ITS FACILITIES BEGINNING MONDAY.

MASKING WILL CONTINUE TO BE ENCOURAGED FOR ANYONE SHOWING SYMPTOMS OF COVID.

VOLUNTARY MASKING DOES NOT APPLY TO LONG TERM CARE AND ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES, WHICH WILL EVALUATE MASKING PROTOCOLS SEPARATELY.

JULIE: THE LAKEVIEW HOSPITAL IN TWO HARBORS HAS RECEIVED A $250,000 GRANT TO PURCHASE CRITICAL ULTRASOUND EQUIPMENT.

THE HELMSLEY CHARITABLE TRUST GRANTED THE MONEY TO PURCHASE NEW ULTRASOUND EQUIPMENT FOR THE OPERATING ROOM AND A NEW ECHO-CARDIOGRAM ULTRASOUND.

THE HELMSLEY TRUST HAS A STATE-WIDE ULSTRASOUND INITIATIVE AND HAS GRANTED MORE THAN $18 MILLION AROUND THE STATE.

DENNIS: THE LAKE SUPERIOR RAILROAD MUSEUM AT THE ST. LOUIS COUNTY DEPOT IN DULUTH IS CELEBRATING ITS 15TH ANNIVERSARY THIS YEAR.

TO KICK-OFF ITS GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY, THE MUSEUM IS OFFERING A FAMILY FREE DAY ON SATURDAY, APRIL 1.

THE FAMILY FREE DAY RUNS FROM 10:00 A.M. TO 2:00 P.M. SATURDAY IN COOPERATION WITH THE DULUTH PUBLIC LIBRARIES FAMILY FEST DURING THOSE SAME HOURS AT THE DEPOT.

JULIE: FOLKS ON MEDICAL ASSISTANCE OR MINNESOTA CARE , LISTEN UP.

RENEWALS FOR THESE INSURANCE PROGRAMS BEGIN IN JULY.

THE RENEWALS WEREN'T NECESSARY DURING THE THREE YEARS OF THE PANDEMIC, AND HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE WORRIED PEOPLE WON'T REALIZE THEY NEED TO RENEW TO CONTINUE THEIR COVERAGE.

HERE WITH MORE IS MEGAN HALENA, PROGRAM DIRECTOR WITH GENERATIONS HEALTH CARE INITIATIVES AND A MNSURE NAVIGATOR.

AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY'S DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC SERVICES AND SUPPORTS.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING IN.

WHO REALLY NEEDS TO BE SITTING UP NOW AND PAYING ATTENTION TO THIS RENEWAL COMING DOWN THE PIKE?

>> GOOD QUESTION.

OUR STATES HEALTH INSURANCE EXCHANGE, THERE ARE THREE PROGRAMS IN THAT EXCHANGE, AND THE TWO IMPACTED OUR MEDICAL ASSISTANCE IN MINNESOTA CARE.

PEOPLE THAT, THIS MAY BE YOU IF YOU SAY, I HAVE IT.

THAT MIGHT BE YOU.

YOU COULD HAVE IT THROUGH THAT, OR ANOTHER PROGRAM LIKE HEALTH PARTNERS AND UNITED HEALTH CARE.

THAT IS WHERE PEOPLE DON'T ALWAYS KNOW WHAT PROGRAM THEY ARE ON, AND THAT IS WHY I TRIED TO RING SOME BELLS FOR PEOPLE.

IT MIGHT BE YOU.

IT IS ONE IN FORT MINNESOTANS STATEWIDE.

DENNIS: TALK TO US ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THE PROGRAM.

>> IN ST. LOUIS COUNTY, 55,000 INDIVIDUALS, SO ONE OUT OF FOUR ARE ON MEDICAL ASSISTANCE.

THIS IS A WELL-USED PROGRAM THAT A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS IN ST. LOUIS COUNTY DEPEND ON.

NOT ONLY THAT, BUT OVER $700 MILLION EACH YEAR IS SPENT ON MEDICAL ASSISTANCE FOR THESE INDIVIDUALS.

DENNIS: DO NEIGHBORING COUNTIES FARE LIKE THAT?

>> STATEWIDE ROUGHLY ONE IN FOUR INDIVIDUAL STATEWIDE AS WELL.

JULIE: I IMAGINE THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO JUMP INTO THE PROGRAM OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS AND HAVE NOT GONE THROUGH THE RENEWAL PROCESS.

CAN YOU WALK US THROUGH IT?

WHAT THEY NEED TO HAVE READY WHERE THEY SHOULD CALL SORT OF THING?

MEGAN: YEAH, IT IS DONE BY MAIL.

SO ONE REALLY IMPORTANT TAKE AWAY IS TO MAKE SURE TO HAVE THE ADDRESS UP-TO-DATE.

IF YOU HAVE MOVED IN THE LAST THREE YEARS, CALL, MAKE SURE THE ADDRESS IS UP-TO-DATE.

WATCH YOUR OPEN MAIL AND RESPOND BY COMING OUT THE FORM AND SENDING IT BACK TO THE COUNTY OR STATE THROUGH EMAIL, FACTS, OR -- FX, OR MAILING IT.

THERE IS FREE HELP FOR THESE FORMS ARE ANY QUESTIONS PEOPLE HAVE.

DENNIS: ARE THERE ANY CHALLENGES RESTARTING THE PROCESS AHEAD?

MEGAN: I THINK THE SHEER VOLUME WILL BE A CHALLENGE, AND PEOPLE MAY BE NOT RECOGNIZING THAT THIS IS IMPACTING THEM AND THAT YOU NEED TO RESPOND IN THE MONTH THAT COMES UP.

SO IT STARTS NOW THROUGH JUNE 2024 ON A ROLLING BASIS, AND YOU NEED TO WAIT FOR THE MONTH YOU ARE A. DENNIS: I -- YOU ARE UP.

DENNIS: I SEE.

MEGAN: STAYING READY IS PART OF THE CHALLENGE.

>> BEGINNING WITH THE PANDEMIC WAS RENEWALS DID NOT HAVE TO HAPPEN -- WHEN RENEWALS DID NOT HAVE TO HAPPEN BUT WE HAVE 25,000 INDIVIDUALS ADDED TO THE PROGRAM SINCE THE START OF THE PANDEMIC IN MARCH 2020.

JULIE: WHAT HAPPENS IF SOMEONE MISSES THE DEADLINE AND THEIR INSURANCE EXPIRES?

ARE THERE WAYS TO RECOVER THAT OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSE THEY HAD TO PUT OUT OR GET THE INSURANCE RETROACTIVELY?

WHAT HAPPENS?

DUSTIN: YEAH, SOMETIMES THEY MAY HAVE TO PAY UPFRONT DEPENDING ON THE PROVIDER, BUT WE CAN LOOK AT RETROACTIVE ELIGIBILITY IF THEY WERE TO LAPSE ON COVERAGE.

DENNIS: WHAT ARE NAVIGATORS?

WHAT DID THEY DO?

MEGAN:MEGAN: THEY PROVIDE FREE LOCAL ASSISTANCE TO ANYONE WITH COMPLETING THE RENEWAL, ENROLLMENT, ANSWERING QUESTIONS.

WE ARE LOCATED AT SEVERAL ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT THE DULUTH AREA.

YOU CAN FIND US ON LINE.

I WOULD ALSO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO CHECK OUT THE RENEW MY COVERAGE PAGE, A DHS PAGE YOU CAN BLINK TO.

-- LINK TO.

MAKE SURE YOU KNOW WHERE YOU GO TO UPDATE YOUR INFORMATION, AND IF YOU ARE STILL UNCLEAR, CONTACT US.

WE ARE AT LESS OF DIFFERENT LOCATIONS AROUND TOWN.

JULIE: ARE THERE DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES THAT COULD TAKE PLACE THAT WOULD CHANGE SOMEONE'S ELIGIBILITY FOR THESE PROGRAMS THAT THEY MIGHT THINK THEY ARE STILL EDIBLE AND GET A SURPRISE WHEN THEY COME IN?

DUSTIN: YEAH, SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC, THEY KEPT THEIR ELIGIBILITY AND DID NOT HAVE TO COMPLETE A RENEWAL.

NOW WHEN WE ARE REEVALUATING ELIGIBILITY WE ARE LOOKING FOR NEW INFORMATION, NEW INCOME, HOUSEHOLD COMPOSITIONS MAY HAVE CHANGED, MORE/LESS PEOPLE IN THE HOUSE, AND JOBS TOO.

DENNIS: WHAT HAPPENS TO PEOPLE WHO EXPENSE A LAPSE IN COVERAGE?

WHAT CAN THEY DO?

DUSTIN: IF THEY LOSE IT AND REMAIN ELIGIBLE WE CAN LOOK AT FOUR MONTHS ELIGIBLE RETROACTIVELY.

JULIE: THERE WILL BE SOME PUBLIC MEETINGS COMING UP?

DUSTIN: WE HELD TOWN HALL MEETINGS FOR COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND PROVIDERS.

TODAY, WE DID ONE IN DULUTH, BUT FOR THE INDIVIDUALS WE WILL HOST TWO TOWN HALL MEETINGS ON APRIL 24 AND APRIL 25, WHERE WE CAN HOST IN VIRGINIA, DULUTH, AND STREAMING LIVE ON FACEBOOK, SO INDIVIDUALS CAN ASK QUESTIONS LIVE ON THE FACEBOOK STREAM.

JULIE: INFORMATION WILL BE MAILED OUT, IF YOU HAVE THEIR ADDRESS, SO IF YOU KNOW ANYBODY OR FOLKS DON'T HAVE THEIR ADDRESS UP-TO-DATE, GET IT IN.

DUSTIN: WE ARE AWARE OF 1200S WE HAVE NO GOOD ADDRESS FOR NOW, SO WERE HOPING TO GET THE MESSAGE OUT.

JULIE: THANK YOU FOR COMING IN.

MEGAN: THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

♪ JULIE: -- DENNIS: POLICE WORK IS TRADITIONALLY A MALE-DOMINATED PROFESSION, BUT RECENTLY THE DULUTH POLICE DEPARTMENT WELCOMED YOUNG WOMEN TO LEARN MORE ABOUT CAREERS IN POLICING.

PRODUCER MEGAN MCGARVEY AND VIDEOGRAPHER AJ LARSON BRING US AN INSIDE LOOK INTO THE DULUTH POLICE DEPARTMENT WOMEN IN LAW ENFORCEMENT OPEN HOUSE.

♪ >> 18% OF DULUTH POLICE DEPARTMENT OFFICERS ARE WOMEN.

HERE AT THE WOMEN'S OPEN HOUSE WE SEE SOME COMMUNITY MEMBERS COME IN AND LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A WOMAN IN POLICING.

>> THIS EVENT IS ABOUT PROMOTING WOMEN IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND WHEN I SAY THAT I'M AT THE GREATER FAMILY OF LAW ENFORCEMENT, NOT JUST POLICE OFFICERS.

WE HAVE DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR CIVILIAN STAFF, RECORDS, ANIMAL CONTROL, PARKING, CSO'S, AS WELL AS SWORN OFFICERS.

TV IS A GREAT MEDIUM AND WE LOVE TO BE ENTERTAINED BY IT BUT IT IS ENTERTAINMENT.

WHAT IS ON TV IS NOT HOW POLICE WORK HAPPENS.

IF THEY COME INTO OUR DEPARTMENT AND EXPERIENCE IT THE WEIGHT WE ACTUALLY EXPENSE IT ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS, IT BECOMES DIFFERENT.

THAT IMAGE OUT THERE ABOUT WHAT POLICING IS ABOUT JUST FEELS UNOBTAINABLE, COLD, YOU KNOW, MECHANICAL.

WE ARE ACTUALLY A BIG FAMILY AND WE TREAT OUR COMMUNITY LIKE A BIG FAMILY AND WE WANT PEOPLE TO EXPERIENCE IT, TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS CAN BE A FIT FOR THEM.

>> THAT IS AWESOME.

GOOD JOB.

>> AWESOME.

>> BREAKING DOWN THOSE WALLS AND BEARS TAKES AN INDIVIDUAL, ONE ON ONE, KIND OF APPROACH, AND INVITING PEOPLE INTO OUR OFFICERS, FEMALE STAFF TO BE ABLE TO ONE ON ONE TALK TO PEOPLE HELPS TO MAKE THOSE CONNECTIONS AND BREAKDOWN THE FACT THAT POLICING IS NOT A MALE-PROFESSION.

IT IS A PROFESSION FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO SERVE AND HELP THEIR COMMUNITY.

YOU KNOW, I DID NOT NEED A BUNCH OF MUSCLES TO GET THROUGH MY CAREER IN LAW ENFORCEMENT.

WHAT I NEEDED WAS COMPASSION, INSIGHT, AND A WILLINGNESS TO HELP MY COMMUNITY FIGURE OUT THEIR PROBLEMS.

>> I THINK WE HAVE TO BE REALLY SPECIFIC WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT BUILDING OUR COMMUNITY.

I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO CITE NOT ONLY IS IT WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH AND WE WILL SHOW UP FOR WOMEN IN OUR COMMUNITY, BUT WERE CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ECONOMIC ADVANCEMENT FOR WOMEN IN OUR COMMUNITY.

WE SHOULD BE CLEAR IN OUR VALUES THAT HAVING 18% OF OUR FORCE BE WOMEN IS GOOD AND WE WANT THAT TO GROW, SO I AM VERY PROUD OF OUR DEPARTMENT FOR LEADERSHIP IN THIS AREA AND REALLY EXCITED TO SEE WHAT WILL COME OUT OF TODAY.

>> MOST OF OUR CARS ARE OUT ON THE STREET RIGHT NOW WORKING.

>> REALLY EXCITED THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS THINKING AHEAD, NOT JUST ABOUT YOU KNOW, TRYING TO MEET OUR OWN WORKFORCE NEEDS AND GETTING PEOPLE INTO THESE POSITIONS THAT ARE TRUSTED AND VALUED IN OUR COMMUNITY, BUT WHO IS COMING INTO THEM, SO JUST WALKING IN KNOWING THAT WE HAVE GIRL SCOUT TROOPS HERE, WE HAVE HAD 20 WOMEN SHOW UP WITH INTEREST -- THAT IS AMAZING.

ME SHOWING UP TO SUPPORT OUR STAFF IS THE LEAST I CAN DO BUT IT IS REALLY EXCITING TO SEE THE COMMUNITY EMBRACE THIS OPPORTUNITY.

>> I THINK THE FUTURE FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT REALLY IS TO TAP THAT MARKET.

ED HAS BEEN FOR A LONG TIME, BUT WE HAVE NOT -- IT HAS BEEN FOR A LONG TIME, BUT WE HAVE NOT FIGURED OUT HOW TO HAPPEN IN LARGER CHUNKS.

IT HAS SLOWLY BEEN MOVING THAT WAY, AND THESE EVENTS ARE A WAY OF MAKING A BIGGER IMPACT.

WE HAVE TO HIT OUR JUNIOR HIGH AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO THINK ABOUT IT SO IN A FEW YEARS IT'S LIKE, YEAH, IT IS POSSIBLE.

THAT'S POSSIBLE.

IT IS A PUSH ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO NOW AND INTO, THREE, FOUR YEARS TO PULL IN MORE WOMEN INTO OUR DEPARTMENT AND LAW-ENFORCEMENT.

♪ DENNIS: NEXT WEEK, THE --AICHO, THE AMERICAN INDIAN COMMUNITY HOUSING ORGANIZATION, WILL HOLD IT'S FIRST EVER CONCERT FUNDRAISER.

MONEY RAISED FROM THE CONCERT APRIL 6 AT THE NORSHOR THEATRE WILL SUPPORT AN EXPANSION OF AICHO'S EMERGENCY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTER.

HERE WITH MORE IS JENNIFER DAVEY, DIRECTOR OF THE EMERGENCY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTER.

AND LEANN LITTLEWOLF IS THE CO-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT AMERICAN INDIAN COMMUNITY HOUSING ORGANIZATION.

WELCOME.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU, INDEED.

SO HOW LONG CAN WOMEN AND CHILDREN STAY IN THE SHELTER AND WHAT SERVICES DO THEY RECEIVE?

>> WE ARE A 30-DAY SHELTER.

WE HAVE A PROGRAM FOR LEGAL ADVOCACY WHERE WOMEN CAN GET ORDERS FOR PROTECTION, RESTRAINING ORDERS, AND ASSISTANCE NAVIGATING CRIMINAL/CIVIL COURT SYSTEMS.

WE HAVE AN OUTREACH COORDINATOR THAT CAN HELP WITH HOUSING, JOB SEARCH, HOUSING APPLICATIONS, AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE A CHILDREN/FAMILIES ADVOCATE THAT WILL HELP FAMILIES THAT COME INTO SHELTER GET HOOKED UP WITH TRANSPORTATION TO SCHOOLS, GETTING INTO SCHOOLS, DOING THEM ACTIVITIES AND FIELD TRIPS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

JULIE: ON THE WEBSITE, IT IS LISTED AS A CULTURALLY-RESPONSIVE SHELTER.

IS THERE A SPECIFIC APPROACH OR SERVICES THAT MAKE IT FEEL MORE SAFE OR MORE WELCOMING FOR MEMBERS OF THE INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY?

>> SURE.

SIR, AICHO, WE ARE A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION.

THE COMMUNTY LOOKED AT WHAT THE HIGHEST NEEDS WERE AND SAFETY WAS IDENTIFIED AS ONE OF THEM.

THAT WAS ONE OF AICHO'S FIRST PROGRAMS, SO AS AN AMERICAN INDIAN ORGANIZATION, WE USED OUR INDIGENOUS APPROACH, SO WHEN PEOPLE COME INTO SHELTER WE OFFER CULTURALLY-RESPONSIVE SERVICES SO THAT MEANS CULTURAL PRACTICES ARE WELCOME AND THEY ARE ACTIVELY ENGAGED EVERY DAY.

JENNIFER CAN TALK ABOUT WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AN FEELS LIKE.

>>>> THE FIRST THING YOU RECOGNIZE WHEN YOU COME INTO THE SHELTER IS THAT WE HAVE INDIGENOUS ARTWORK IN OUR SPACE.

PEOPLE ARE WELCOME TO PRACTICE THEIR TRADITION EVERY MORNING.

THE OTHER MORNING I WALKED IN AND THE ADVOCATE HAD CEDAR BOILING ON THE STOVE TO MAKE CEDAR TEA, SO FROM THE MOMENT THEY COME INTO THE SHELTER AND SEE A DIVERSE STAFF, A DIVERSE ENVIRONMENT, SO EVERYTHING AROUND THEM FEELS COMFORTABLE AND WELCOMING AND THAT GIVES THE WOMEN WE SERVE JUST A HEALTHIER SPACE TO HEAL AND A HEALTHIER SPACE TO BE ABLE TO LET DOWN THEIR GUARD AND KNOW THAT WE ARE THEREFORE THEIR SAFETY AND TO PROTECT THEM AND GET THEM TO A BETTER PLACE.

DENNIS: HOW HARD HAS COVID-19 BEEN ON THE SHELTER?

HAS IT HAD AN EFFECT?

>> IT DID.

WHEN WE WERE OPERATING BEFORE COVID AND HAD A 10-BED SHELTER, WE HAD AN EVALUATION OF OUR SPACE, AND WE HAD TO REDUCE OUR BED SIZE, SO DOWN TO FIVE BEDS, SO THAT IMPACTED US BY REDUCING THE PEOPLE WE WERE ABLE TO SERVE.

WE ALSO HAD TO CLOSE OUR OTHERS SHELTER TEMPORARILY OR CLOSE THAT SHELTER AND TEMPORARILY HOUSE PEOPLE AT A HOTEL, SO THAT WAS DIFFICULT BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT HAVING THAT ONE ON ONE RESPONSE, BUT IN ORDER TO KEEP EVERYBODY SAFE AND SEPARATED IN THEIR OWN SPACES THAT IS WHAT WE HAD TO DO.

CURRENTLY WE ARE OPERATING OUT OF A TEMPERATE SHELTER UNTIL WE GET OUR EXPANSION DONE AND WE ARE BACK UP TO 10 BEDS, SO THAT IS A GOOD THING.

DENNIS: THINGS ARE STARTING TO GET BACK TO NORMAL?

>> YEAH, AND THE OTHER THING THAT AFFECTED DURING COVID IS THE ISOLATION AND THE THINGS THAT HAPPENED FOR PEOPLE AND THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO REACH OUT TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES AS MUCH WHICH HAD A HUGE IMPACT ON FOLKS.

WE SAW A REALLY HIGH INCREASE IN LETHALITY ISSUES AND THE SEVERITY OF THE ASSAULTS THAT WERE HAPPENING HAD A HUGE IMPACT ON FOLKS.

WE ARE JUST STARTING TO GET BACK INTO HAVING THAT GOOD CONNECTION WITH THE COMMUNITY AND GETTING THINGS SET UP AGAIN.

JULIE: MAYBE YOU COULD TALK ABOUT WHAT THE EXPANSION PLANS ARE AND WHY DOES FUNDRAISER COMING UP IS SO IMPORTANT?

>> SURE, SO WE ARE RENOVATING A SPACE AND IT WILL INCREASE THE BEDS TO 24 BEDS, SO WE GO FROM 10 TO 24, SO WE CAN SERVE MORE PEOPLE ON A YEARLY BASIS, AND WITH OUR 10 BEDS NOW, I SERVE 130 TO 160 INDIVIDUALS EVERY YEAR, AND EACH YEAR WE HAVE OVER 500 PEOPLE WHO ARE TURNED AWAY WHEN SEEKING SHELTER BECAUSE WE ARE FULL, SO THERE IS A HIGH NEED, AND ALSO IN OUR AREA WE HAVE A HIGH NEED FOR FAMILY SHELTER I'M SO RIGHT NOW THIS WILL HELP WITH OUR FUNDRAISING FOR THE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT, AND SO WE, I WILL BE REALLY QUICK WE STARTED WITH A BUDGET OF AROUND UNDER $1 MILLION AND WE HAD THAT SECURED AND WITH ALL THE CONSTRUCTION COSTS AND EQUIPMENT COSTS THAT HAVE GONE UP AS A RESULT THE PANDEMIC, THE BUDGET DOUBLED, SO.

JULIE: WE ONLY HAVE 20 SECONDS BUT WE WANT TO GET TO THE CONCERT FUNDRAISER.

TELL US ABOUT THAT.

>> NORTH SHORE THEATER, APRIL 6, NEXT THURSDAY, WE HAVE NOTABLE PEOPLE, AND SOMEONE BRINGING 10 YOUTH BOYS TO DO A DRUMMING CIRCLE, WHICH WILL BE AWESOME FOR THEM.

DOORS OPEN AT 6:30.

YOU CAN GET TICKETS THROUGH A LINK ON OUR WEBSITE AT AICHO.ORG OR GO TO THE NORTH SHORE THEATER CIPHER TICKETS.

DENNIS: WONDERFUL.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.

>> THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

JULIE: TIME NOW FOR VOICES OF THE REGION, WHERE WE HEAR FROM AREA JOURNALISTS ABOUT STORIES MAKING NEWS.

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

♪ DANIELLE: WHEN WE SAW THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, LOCKDOWNS, GATHERING RESTRICTIONS, A LOT OF PEOPLE IN WISCONSIN FLOCKED TO THE OUTDOORS TO ESCAPE AND CONFINED TO THEIR HOMES, AND THAT CONTRIBUTED ALMOST $8 BILLION TO WISCONSIN'S GDP IN 2020, AND IT IS CONTINUE TO GROW IN THE YEARS SINCE, BUT WHAT WE HAVE SEEN WITH STATE FINANCIAL SUPPORT IS THERE HAS BEEN A LONG DECLINE IN FUNDING FOR CONSERVATION AND PARKS AND PUBLIC LANDS, AND THAT IS ACCORDING TO A NEW REPORT FROM THE WISCONSIN POLICY FOR -- FOR UM, WHO WERE COMMISSIONED TO DO THIS REPORT BY A NUMBER OF GROUPS, CONSERVATION, REAL ESTATE, WILDLIFE GROUPS BUT THE GROUP MAINS INDEPENDENCE AND IMPARTIALITY WHEN PRODUCING ITS FINDINGS, BUT WHAT THEY DID IS THEY EXAMINED GENERAL-PURPOSE REVENUE THAT HAS BEEN ISSUED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES FOR THINGS LIKE CONSERVATION, PARKS, AND PUBLIC LANDS.

BUT THEY FOUND IS THAT FOR THE ENTIRE BUDGET, THAT THE DEPARTMENT HAS RECEIVED UM ABOUT 41% LESS IN FUNDING THROUGH STATE TAX FUNDING SINCE THE MID-1990'S, AND THAT IS BEFORE ADJUSTING FOR INFLATION.

BACK IN THE 1995-1997 BUDGET, THE DNR RECEIVED $340 MILLION.

UNDER THE MOST RECENT BUDGET, THAT DROPPED TO $197.5 BILLION -- MILLION.

SO THERE IS THIS CONCERNED ABOUT THE DECLINE IN GENERAL-PURPOSE REVENUE FOR THE AGENCY BECAUSE THIS IS A TIME WHEN WISCONSIN IS FACING A MYRIAD OF ENVIRONMENT THAT CHALLENGES, WHETHER RUNOFF FROM AGRICULTURAL AND LARGE FARMS TO EMERGING CONTAMINANTS LIKE PFAST, WHICH HAVE BEEN CALLED FOREVER CHEMICALS BECAUSE THEY DON'T WRITE DOWN EASY IN THE ENVIRONMENT.

♪ THE GREAT LAKES SHIPPING SEASON JUST GOT UNDERWAY.

WE SAW IT OPEN ON MARCH 25, AND WITHOUT COMING THIS WEEK -- WITH THAT, THIS WEEK, THE PORT WELCOMED THE ARRIVAL OF ITS FIRST SALTY.

AS THE SHIPPING SEASON IS GETTING UNDERWAY, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF DEVELOPMENTS AT GREAT LAKES PORTS, INCLUDING DILUTE SUPERIOR AND MILWAUKEE.

IN DILUTE SUPERIOR -- DULUTH-SUPERIOR, WE ARE SEEING INVESTMENT IN A NEW MONTHLY SERVICE WITH AN AMSTERDAM-BASED SHIPPING LINES, ONE OF THE LARGEST IN THE NETHERLANDS, AND THEY WILL PROVIDE MONTHLY CONTAINER SHIP SERVICE TO THE PORT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN DECADES, ACCORDING TO THE PORT AUTHORITY.

OFFICIALS SAY THEY WILL CARRY RAW MATERIALS, FINISHED GOODS, MACHINERY, AS WELL AS BULK CARGO.

THOSE GOODS WILL BE SHIPPED BACK AND FORTH TO EUROPE, AND I BELIEVE IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT MAY START AS EARLY AS MAY.

THEY ARE ALSO DOING OTHER PROJECTS AT THE PORT, INCLUDING AN $8.5 MILLION EXPANSION OF WAREHOUSE SPACE TO FACILITATE THE MOVEMENTS OF GOODS THROUGH THE PORT.

THEY ARE ADDING ABOUT 55,000 SQUARE FEET THERE.

AND THEY ARE ALSO EXPECTING IT TO BE A PRETTY GOOD YEAR FOR IRON ORE, WHICH EVERYONE KNOWS IS THE KING CARGO OUT OF THE TWIN PORTS.

♪ AND IT IS A GOOD START TO THE SEASON BECAUSE THERE HAS BEEN VERY LOW ICE ON THE GREAT LAKES THIS YEAR.

IF YOU REMEMBER THE SAME TIME LAST YEAR, THERE WAS A BIT OF A DELAY IN THE MOVEMENT OF GOODS.

THEY WERE SLOWED BECAUSE OF THICK ICE, PARTICULARLY LAKE SUPERIOR, OVER BY WHITEFISH BAY.

THIS YEAR, WE ARE NOT SEEING THAT BECAUSE IT IS THE THIRD LOWEST YEAR FOR AVERAGE ICE COVER ON THE GREAT LAKES.

THIS YEAR TIED 1998 AND 2020 FOR THIRD LOWEST AVERAGE ICE COVER ON THE GREAT LAKES SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE SEASON AT JUST UNDER 6%.

AND MOST OF THE REASON FOR THAT IS WE HAVE HAD WARMER THAN NORMAL TEMPERATURES IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY THIS YEAR, SO THE LAKES REALLY DID NOT HAVE THAT PERSISTENT COLD AIR IT NEEDS TO FREEZE, SO RESEARCHERS HAVE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT WHAT THAT COULD POSSIBLY MEAN GOING INTO THE REST OF THE YEAR, BECAUSE WE HAVE SEEN THAT THE LOSS OF LAKE ICE CAN RAISE SUMMER WATER TEMPERATURES ON THE GREAT LAKES, AND IN PARTICULAR, LAKE SUPERIOR.

WE HAVE SEEN THAT SINCE THE 1970'S, THAT TEMPERATURES HAVE GONE UP WITH THE LOSS OF ICE COVER, AND THAT RAISES CONCERNS ABOUT THE POTENTIAL FOR HARMFUL ALGAE BLOOMS TO FORM.

DENNIS: 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.

AND JULIE, MORE STORM TOMORROW, ON APRIL FOOL'S DAY SOMEHOW SEEMS APPROPRIATE.

JULIE: IT MAKES ME THINK WE MIGHT BE FOOLS FOR LIVING HERE.

DENNIS: I DON'T WANT ANYMORE SNOW EITHER.

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

GOOD NIGHT EVERYONE, AND BE KIND.

♪