DENNIS: YOU WILL HAVE A REPORT ON PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN'S VISIT.

DID THE PRESIDENT STATE OF THE UNION MAKE INROADS ON THE POLITICAL DIVIDES IN CONGRESS AND ACROSS THE NATION?

WE WILL EXPLORE THE TOPIC WITH OUR STUDIO DESK -- GUESS.

WE WILL BUILD BACK THE CURTAINS ON A BEHIND THE SCENE LOOK OF WHAT IT TAKES TO SHOOT THIS PROGRAM.

THESE STORIES AND VOICES OF THE REGION COMING UP NOW ON ALMANAC NORTH.

DENNY: HELLO AND WELCOME TO ALMANAC NORTH, THANKS FOR WATCHING!

JULIE IS OFF TONIGHT, AND WE HAVE A LOT OF POLITICAL NEWS TO COVER.

HERE'S A LOOK AT SOME OF THE WEEK'S HEADLINES: STATE REP. JENNIFER SCHULTZ, A DEMOCRAT FROM DULUTH ANNOUNCED THURSDAY SHE WILL NOT RUN FOR RE-ELECTION THIS FALL.

SCHULTZ IS SERVING HER FOURTH TERM IN THE LEGISLATURE, AND WAS FIRST ELECTED IN 2014.

HER DECISION OPENS UP THE HOUSE SEAT IN DULUTH'S DISTRICT 7:00 TESH 78, -- 78, WHICH HAS GONE RELIABLY TO THE D-F-L PARTY FOR MANY YEARS.

THE ANNUAL DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY DAYS AT THE CAPITOL LOBBYING TRIP IS NEXT WEEK.

DOZENS OF CITIZENS AND LOCAL OFFICIALS WILL MEET WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY IN ST. PAUL TO ADVOCATE FOR NORTHERN ISSUES.

MINNESOTA GOVERNOR TIM WALZ IS SET TO GIVE THE KEYNOTE ADDRESS TO THE NORTHERN DELEGATION AT A LEGISLATIVE GATHERING THURSDAY.

CASES OF COVID ACROSS THE REGION CONTINUE A DRAMATIC DECLINE THIS WEEK, SPURRING HOPES FOR BRIGHTER DAYS AHEAD.

MINNESOTA'S PANDEMIC CASES WERE THE LOWEST THEY HAVE BEEN SINCE LAST AUGUST, AND THE C-D-C ISSUED RELAXED MASK GUIDANCE.

CLOSER TO HOME, ITASCA COUNTY REPORTED TODAY ITS 14-DAY CASE RATE PER 10-THOUSAND PEOPLE IS DOWN TO 25.9 POSITIVE CASES.

AND THE WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT THIS WEEK ADOPTED LEGISLATIVE AND CONGRESSIONAL REDISTRICTING MAPS SUBMITTED BY GOV.

TONY EVERS.

UNDER THE LEAST CHANGE MODEL, THE MAPS LARGELY RETAIN THE CURRENT DISTRICT LINES THAT HAVE LED TO REPUBLICAN MAJORITIES.

BUT GOVERNOR EVERS AND OTHER WISCONSIN DEMOCRATS SAY THE NEW MAPS ARE AN IMPROVEMENT OVER THE GERRYMANDERED MAPS OF THE PREVIOUS DECADE.

SUPERIOR WAS IN THE SPOTLIGHT ON WEDNESDAY AS PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN TRAVELED TO THE TWIN PORTS THE DAY AFTER GIVING HIS ANNUAL STATE OF THE UNION SPEECH.

THE PRESIDENT SPOKE AT AN INVITATION-ONLY EVENT ON THE U-W SUPERIOR CAMPUS, TOUTING BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS PASSED LAST YEAR.

PRODUCERS MEGAN MCGARVEY AND ISAAC QUICK COVERED THE PRESIDENT'S VISIT.

PRESIDENT BIDEN: HELLO, WISCONSIN.

[APPLAUSE] PRESIDENT BIDEN: IF YOU CAN HEAR ME ACROSS THE RIVER, HELLO MINNESOTA.

[APPLAUSE] ♪ >> IT HAS BEEN AN EXTRAORDINARY MORNING TO SPEND TIME WITH A NATIONAL DELEGATION WITH PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN, WITH FIRST LADY DR. JILL BIDEN TO TALK ABOUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS THAT WE HAVE HERE IN THE TWIN PORTS, BUT ALSO TO REALLY SHOWCASE THAT TOGETHER, DULUTH AND SUPERIOR, WE ARE AN ABSOLUTE MODEL OF WHAT THIS BILL IS CAPABLE, WHAT THESE DOLLARS ARE CAPABLE OF DOING.

>> AFTER DECADES OF DECLINE, WE ARE REAL BUILDING -- REBUILDING THE CITY.

WE ARE REBUILDING ROADS AND BRIDGES AND BUILDING THE MOST INNOVATIVE BROADBAND NETWORK AND WE ARE CLEANING THE GREAT LAKES WITH THE BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE BILL THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN AND THIS CONGRESS MANAGED TO DELIVER TO CITIES LIKE SUPERIOR ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

WE WILL BUILD THE FUTURE BY CLOSING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE BY BUILDING A GREEN AND RENEWABLE FUTURE AND WE WILL DO IT ALL WITH STRONG UNION LABOR.

>> WE HAVE INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING, TRANSPORTATION, ALL OF THE ELEMENTS THAT ARE NEEDED TO MOVE PEOPLE, TO MOVE FREIGHT, TO MOVE COMMERCE AND KEEP THE ECONOMY GOING.

WE ARE THRILLED TO BE THE FIRST HOME OF THE FIRST VISIT AFTER THE FIRST STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS BY PRESIDENT BIDEN.

>> BY INVESTING IN INFRASTRUCTURE WE ARE NOT JUST INVESTING IN SAFER AND -- IN SAFER AND MORE SUSTAINABLE ROADS AND BRIDGES.

WE ARE A RESILIENT ECONOMY AND JOBS IN SMALL BUSINESSES AND COMMUNITIES.

IT'S THE CONNECTING DOG.

PRESIDENT BIDEN: THIS YEAR, WE WILL START FIXING 65,000 MILES OF HIGHWAY IN 1500 BRIDGES IN DISREPAIR.

YOUR GOVERNOR WILL USE SOME OF THAT FUNDING TO MODERNIZE ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT BRIDGES IN THE REGION.

THE ONE YOU LOOK OUT THE WINDOW AND SEE HERE.

LOOK, YOU ALL KNOW THIS BRIDGE WELL, IT'S A BRIDGE THAT CONNECTS YOUR CITIES AND STATE.

A BRIDGE THAT CARRIES PEOPLE TO WORK AND CARRIES GOODS OUT OF PORT.

ONE HUSKY OIL REFINERY EXPLODED AND SUPERIOR IN 2018, THIS BRIDGE WAS ONE OF MANY YOU TOOK TO GET YOUR FAMILIES TO SAFETY.

SO YOU KNOW IT MATTERS.

WHAT YOU MAY NOT KNOW, AS IS MENTIONED EARLIER, THE BRIDGE IS 61 YEARS OLD.

THE CORROSION OVER THE YEARS HAS LOWERED THE WAY IT CAN SUSTAIN THE HANDLE -- THE WEIGHT IT CAN SUSTAIN THE HANDLE.

YOUR GOVERNOR WILL PUT IT TOGETHER TO FINALLY GET THIS DONE.

PUTTING HARD WORK IN AMERICA.

REBUILDING THIS JOB WITH U.S. STEEL.

KEEPING COMMERCE FLOWING FREELY.

IN KEEPING FAMILIES IN DULUTH SAFER AND BETTER CONNECTED.

BUT THIS IS ABOUT MUCH MORE THAN THE BRIDGE OR THE BRIDGES.

IT'S ABOUT OPPORTUNITY.

OPPORTUNITY ACROSS THE REGION AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

INVESTING IN YOUR AIRPORTS AND MORE.

THIS ISN'T JUST ABOUT BRIDGES AND HIGHWAYS, GOES MUCH BEYOND THAT.

IT'S ALSO ABOUT THE HISTORIC INVESTMENTS WE ARE MAKING IN THE GREAT LAKES.

I DON'T HAVE TO TELL ANYBODY HERE.

GREAT LAKES PROVIDE DRINKING WATER FOR 41 MILLION PEOPLE.

THEY SUPPORT MORE THAN 1.3 MILLION JOBS.

>> WITH A MAJOR INVESTMENT FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO BE A PARTNER WITH OUR STATE, HELPING LOCAL COMMUNITIES REPLACE DANGEROUS LEAD SERVICE LINES AND ADDRESS TOXIC CHEMICALS SO THAT WE CAN PROVIDE SAFE DRINKING AND CLEAN WATER TO PEOPLE ACROSS OUR STATE AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

PRESIDENT BIDEN: I HAVE ANNOUNCED ONE BILLION DOLLARS FROM THE BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE LAW, ACCELERATING CLEANUP OF SITES FOR POLLUTED WATERS AND WASTEWATER TREATMENT THAT HAVE GIVEN THE GREAT LAKES, PUT THEM AT GREAT RISK, INCLUDING THE ST. LOUIS RIVER, WHICH SLOWS BETWEEN YOUR STATES.

ONE STUDY FOUND THAT FOR EVERY DOLLAR SPENT CLEANING UP THE GREAT LAKES, WE GENERATE THREE TO FOUR DOLLARS IN ECONOMIC AND IF IT.

IT'S A GOOD INVESTMENT.

7000 VESSELS IN 90% OF AMERICA'S IRON ORE MOVE THROUGH THOSE EVERY YEAR.

IT MAKES ALL THE STEEL THAT GOES INTO AMERICAN-MADE CARS AND APPLIANCES.

IN JANUARY, I ANNOUNCED NEARLY $500 MILLION TO UPGRADE THE SIOUX LOCKS.

MOVING GOES FASTER WHILE REDUCING CARS.

CREATING A LOT OF JOBS AND MAINTAINING THEM.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SPENT $600 BILLION A YEAR TO KEEP THIS COUNTRY SAFE AND SECURE.

AND THAT LAW HAS BEEN ON THE BOOKS ALMOST A CENTURY.

TAXPAYERS DOLLARS.

BUT GUESS WHAT?

IN MY ADMINISTRATION THE ENTIRETY OF IT FROM BEGINNING TO END HAS TO BE BUILT AND MADE AN AMERICAN USED.

♪ DENNIS: IT WAS QUITE A HISTORIC DAY FOR THE CITY OF SUPERIOR.

JOINING US TO ANALYZE WHAT THE PRESIDENT HAD TO SAY IS THE ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR AND DEPARTMENT HEAD OF POLITICAL SCIENCE AT UMD.

WELCOME, THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

CINDY: GOOD TO SEE YOU.

DENNIS: WHAT IMPACT HAS THE VISIT OF A SITTING PRESIDENT HAVE ON A CITY?

CINDY: IT'S MORALE, BUT PEOPLE GET TO SEE THE PRESIDENT AND IT MAKES YOU FEEL GOOD.

POLITICALLY, THAT'S JUST TO BE DETERMINED.

HE MAY BE FIRED UP FOLKS THAT HE HAD BEEN SUPPORTING BEFORE AND WERE A LITTLE BIT DOUBTFUL NOW.

THE GOVERNOR'S RACE IS COMING UP, THE SENATE RACE IN WISCONSIN AND HOUSE AND SENATE MEMBERS.

IT'S PROBABLY A GOOD THING FOR HIM TO TRY TO GET THE CHARM FLOWING.

DENNIS: DID HIS SUPERIOR SPEECH TOUTING THE TRILLION DOLLAR INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGE HERE AT HOME?

CINDY: I THINK IT DID.

HE DID SOME THINGS WHERE THE WAY HE CAST WAS NOT JUST BRICK-AND-MORTAR.

HE TALKED ABOUT LEADING TO JOBS, LEADING TO INVESTMENTS, NEEDING TO ECONOMIC BENEFIT FOR THE AREA.

IT WAS A GOOD APPROACH.

HE TALKED ABOUT LABOR UNION.

HE WAS INTRODUCED BY A LOCAL LABOR UNION PERSON.

ONE OF THE THINGS I FIND INTERESTING IS THAT THE DEMOCRATS HAVE TRADITIONALLY OWNED MADE IN AMERICA AND TRUMP TOOK THAT AWAY FROM HIM.

SO IT LOOKS LIKE HE IS TRYING TO TAKE IT BACK.

DENNIS: HE DID NOT TOUCH ONLY ON WORK ISSUES.

THE PRESIDENT ALSO SAID, DO NOT DEFEND -- DEFUND THE POLICE BUT FUND THE POLICE.

CINDY: IT PROBABLY HIT HOME PRETTY WELL.

A LOT OF THE MORE MODERATE -- IT WAS A BAD MESSAGE TO BEGIN WITH.

IF YOU HAVE TO GO AND WRITE 500 WORD OP-ED'S TO EXPLAIN WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, YOU PROBABLY NEED TO EXPLAIN WHERE YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT.

BUT A LOT OF DEMOCRATS, PARTICULARLY MODERATE ONES LIKE PRESIDENT BIDEN IS, DIDN'T LIKE HAVING TO RUN ON THAT OR ANSWER TO IT.

I THINK IT WAS IN HIS BENEFIT TO SAY WE ARE FUNDING THE POLICE.

AND IN MORE COMPETITIVE DISTRICTS A LOT OF REPUBLICANS VOTED AGAINST THOSE THAT INCLUDED FUNDING POLICE AND THERE, SO IT DOES GIVE HIM A WAY TO USE IT IN COMPETITIVE DISTRICTS.

DENNIS: PROFESSOR, PEOPLE LIKE TO SEE THEIR PRESIDENTS.

PRESIDENT BIDEN DID NOT HOLD A MAJOR PUBLIC EVENT IN THE CITY OF SUPERIOR OR DULUTH, BUT THIS WAS AN INVITATION ONLY EVENT, SO IT WAS ONLINE JOHN KENNEDY, BILL CLINTON WAS HERE AND SPOKE TO A BIG CROWD.

JIMMY CARTER ONCE OR TWICE.

GEORGE W. BUSH WAS HERE SPEAKING TO BIG CROWDS.

WAS THAT A MISTAKE?

DENNIS: I THINK YOU WOULD GET MORE LEVERAGE IF HE DID LET PEOPLE IN AND SPEAK TO HIM AND HAVE THE BIG CROWDS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

IT'S NOT HIS STYLE ANYMORE.

HE USED TO BE THAT WAY.

I DON'T KNOW WHY HE LIMITS IT, BUT I THINK IT WAS A MISTAKE.

HAVING PEOPLE YELLING AND CLAPPING FOR YOU ADDS ENTHUSIASM.

SO, I THINK SO.

DENNIS: THEY BECOME QUITE LARGER ALLEYS IF HE SPEAKING TO A DECK FULL OF PEOPLE.

-- ALLIES IF HE'S SPEAKING TO A DECK FULL OF PEOPLE.

CINDY: RIGHT.

PREVIOUS PRESIDENTS HAVE DONE THAT.

I THINK HE TRIES TO COME DOWN HERE.

THE REASON HE DOES THESE THINGS IS BECAUSE HE TALKS TO THE LOCAL MEDIA.

HE GETS YOU AND I TALKING ABOUT IT TONIGHT.

SO, YOU WON'T CUT THROUGH SOMETHING LIKE THAT TO SAY, -- THE MEDIA WON'T SAY, BY THE WAY AND DULUTH, MINNESOTA THEY WILL FIX A BRIDGE.

THAT'S THE REASON HE DOES A, TO GET THE TELEVISION ATTENTION AND THINGS.

IT'S NOT HIS STYLE, I THINK HE WOULD BE MORE SUCCESSFUL IF IT WAS.

DENNIS: WHAT DID YOU THINK OF THE PRESIDENT'S STATE OF THE UNION MESSAGE?

CINDY: IT WAS INTERESTING.

I'VE ALWAYS THOUGHT THE STATE OF THE UNION WAS A TRY TO CRAM TOO MUCH IN A THREE POUND BAG.

HE TRIED TO ESTABLISH BIPARTISANSHIP AND THAT WAS THE START OF HIS SPEECH, TALKING ABOUT UKRAINE AND UNITING THE COUNTRY AND WENT INTO A LITTLE BIT OF THE TAX SCAM, AS HE CALLS IT, WHICH MOST CERTAINLY WAS NOT A BIPARTISAN MESSAGE.

BUT AGAIN, I THOUGHT HE HAD ON GOOD POINTS.

A LOT OF IT GETS LOST BECAUSE THERE IS SO MUCH, BUT $35 STOOD OUT, HAVING A UKRAINIAN PERSON THERE, THAT HAS BECOME A TRADITION WITH PRESIDENTS TO HAVE THEIR GUEST AND INTRODUCE THEM NOW FOR MESSAGES THEY ARE MAKING.

DOESN'T DO MUCH TO SAY ALL OF A SUDDEN THE REPUBLICANS WILL SAY YES, PROBABLY NOT.

THERE ARE FUNDAMENTAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE PARTIES ON SOME OF THESE ISSUES.

THERE ARE SOME, AND I THINK MAYBE TOO MUCH ON BOTH SIDES OF JUST VOTING AGAINST BECAUSE THE OTHER GUY PROPOSED IT, BUT THERE ARE FUNDAMENTAL DIFFERENCES IN IT GETS LOST.

>> HOW WAS HIS APPROACH TO THE RUSSIAN INVASION OF UKRAINE?

CINDY: I THINK, WELL.

I THINK THAT PROBABLY, A LOT OF TIMES IT HAPPENS AND THEY ADDRESS A NICE LITTLE BUMP.

I SUSPECT HE WILL GET ONE.

I THINK HERE IS PLAYING WELL.

JUST LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED WHEN THEY DIDN'T WANT TO LIGHT UP THE BRIDGE.

I THINK PEOPLE ARE VERY MUCH BEHIND THE COUNTRY STANDING BEHIND UKRAINE.

I THINK THEY ARE PRETTY MUCH AWARE WHAT PUTIN IS DOING IS PRETTY DANGEROUS.

DENNIS: THE PRESIDENT'S NATIONAL APPROVAL RATING HAS BEEN A LITTLE BIT ON THE LOW SIDE.

DOES THE STATE OF THE UNION SPEECH HELP HIM?

CINDY: I THINK IT DID.

HOW LONG IT WILL HELP HIM, IT'S NOT UNUSUAL FOR PRESIDENTS TO GO PUBLIC TOGETHER SUPPORT.

IT'S NOT UNUSUAL AFTER A SPEECH LIKE THAT, FOR THEM TO GET A BUMP.

IN HIS CASE, I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE LIKE THE FACT THAT HE WANTS TO BE A DECENT GUY.

THAT HE'S A NICE FELLOW.

I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE LIKE THAT.

THAT HELPS.

COMBINED WITH WHAT IS PROBABLY A NATURAL RALLY AROUND AFFECT BECAUSE OF UKRAINE, I THINK IT'S HELPING.

IS IT LONG-TERM?

GENERALLY, PRESIDENTS APPROVALS RATINGS GO UP AND THEY GO DOWN.

BUT HIM HITTING 39% WAS PRETTY BAD.

AND I THINK A LOT OF THAT STEMMED FROM COVID FATIGUE.

DENNIS: DO YOU THINK HIS SPEECH HAS PLAYED WELL INTERNATIONALLY?

CINDY: I DO.

IT PROBABLY DEPENDS ON WHERE YOU ARE.

IT'S PROBABLY NOT A BIG HIT IN RUSSIA.

I THINK THAT AMONG OUR ALLIES IN NATO, PARTICULARLY WITH THE FORMER ADMINISTRATION PRETTY MUCH SAYING, CASTING SHADOW, CASTING SHADE ON NATO, I THINK HIS STANDING WITH THEM, BEING A LEADER, HAS REALLY HELPED.

DENNIS: WHAT DO YOU THINK CATAPULTED JOE BIDEN INTO OFFICE?

CINDY: I HAVE ALWAYS MAINTAINED THAT THERE WAS ONLY ONE CANDIDATE IN 2020, AND THAT WAS DONALD TRUMP.

YOU EITHER VOTED LARGELY FOR HIM OR LARGELY AGAINST HIM.

DENNIS: IT WAS HIS OPPONENT THAT GOT HIM INTO OFFICE?

CINDY: I THINK SO.

I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE KNOWN HIM FOR A LONG TIME AND THEY TRUST HIM, AND HE WAS THE POLAR OPPOSITE OF TRUMP.

HE'S NOT A DIVISIVE PERSON.

AND I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE LIKE THE FACT THAT HE IS A NICE GUY.

I THINK HIS POSITIVE MESSAGE, AND I THINK, HONESTLY, COVID AND THE FACT THAT TRUMP DID NOT HAVE MUCH EMPATHY OR SHOW MUCH EMPATHY PLAYED A BIG DIFFERENCE.

AS A LOT OF REASONS WHY YOU COULD SAY TRUMP LAWS, BUT I THINK THAT -- LOST, BUT I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE WANTED HIM TO BRING SOME STABILITY AND END COVID.

I THINK THAT, MAYBE HE NEEDS TO TAKE THE WIN NOW.

DENNIS: OUR COUNTRY IS STRONGLY DIVIDED ALONG PARTY LINES, DOES PRESIDENT BIDEN HAVE ANY CHANCE OF HEALING THAT DIVISION?

CINDY: I THINK GEORGE W. BUSH WENT INTO OFFICE THINKING HE COULD DO THAT AND HE COULD DO IT.

BARACK OBAMA THOUGHT HE COULD DO IT.

I THINK IT'S REALLY HARD.

I THINK SOME OF THE LOUDMOUTHS ON BOTH SIDE GET FAR MORE ATTENTION THAN THEIR ROLE CONGRESS DESERVES.

BUT I THINK IT'S PRETTY SET NOW.

I THINK IT'S TOUGH.

I THICK IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT.

HE IS DOING BETTER THAN SOME OTHERS HAVE DONE, SO I THINK THAT -- I THINK HE HAS FRIENDSHIPS IN THE SENATE, BUT THOSE DON'T OVERCOME PARTISAN DESIRES.

DENNY: WE DON'T SEE MUCH OF VICE PRESIDENT, KAMALA HARRIS.

IS SHE PRESIDENTIAL MATERIAL?

CINDY: SHE HAS DONE A LOT.

YOU DIDN'T SEE MUCH OF MIKE PENCE WHEN HE WAS IN EITHER.

SHE HAS HAD SOME IMPORTANT ROLES.

IS SHE, I DON'T KNOW.

PEOPLE SAY VICE PRESIDENTS ARE -- BUT IT HAS BEEN A WHILE.

BUSH WAS ELECTED WHEN HE WAS SERVING AS VICE PRESIDENT.

THE REST, NOT SO MUCH.

DENNY: WITH THAT, WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH DR. CINDY RUGELEY, UMD POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR.

I KNOW YOU WATCHED THAT SPEECH, AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR POINTS.

CINDY: IT WAS GREAT TO SEE YOU GUYS AGAIN.

DENNY: THANK YOU, NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

♪ DENNY: S TIME FOR VOICES OF THE REGION.

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

THIS WEEK OUR REPORTER IS HEIDI HOLTAN FROM KAXE COMMUNITY RADIO IN GRAND RAPIDS.

HEIDI: WE'VE REPORTED ON THE LONG TIME STATE MINNESOTA SENATOR.

NOW AN INDEPENDENT.

THE LONGTIME CHISHOLM LETTERS -- LEGISLATOR IS HELPING TO LEAD TO BILLS TO PUT TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TOWARDS RESEARCH INTO ALS, A DISEASE HE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH LAST JUNE.

THAT PROPOSAL WOULD SUPPORT RESEARCH TO FUND A CURE FOR THE NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASE, WHILE ALSO AIDING CAREGIVERS.

HE WAS FORMED BY FORMER PRO FLEETS AT A BIPARTISAN GROUP OF COLLEAGUES FROM THE HOUSE AND SENATE.

SOME OF WHOM SHARED THEIR OWN CONNECTION TO THE DISEASE.

ALS IS ALSO ON OUR MINDS AS TO OF OUR LONG-TIME CONTRIBUTORS AND HOSTS HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH IT.

HE RECENTLY TALKED WITH JACK SHELTON AND HIS WIFE CINDY ABOUT HOW HE FOUND OUT HE HAD ALS.

JACK: FUNNY THING, MY SNACK IS PEANUTS, AND I GOT TO THE POINT WHERE I GOT COUGHING FITS, AND THERE WOULD BE THINGS THAT WOULD STICK IN THE BACK OF MY THROAT.

ANYHOW, IT WAS KIND OF ANNOYING, BUT I WORKED MY WAY AROUND IT.

THE NEXT THING YOU KNEW, CINDY NOTICES ME SLURRING, AND IT WAS JUST SOME WORDS.

SOME POLYSYLLABIC WORDS ARE THE WORST.

SO SHE WAS WORRIED, IT'S NOT LIKE I'M 40.

I'M CLOSE TO MY 79TH BIRTHDAY.

THAT'S WAY PAST LIFE EXPECTATIONS.

HEIDI: JACK AND CINDY ARE EXCITED THEY WILL BE ADOPTING A SERVICE DOG FOR JACK NAMED IZZY THAT WILL HELP WITH HIS PROGRESSIVE DISEASE IT WILL AFFECT JACK'S ABILITY TO INITIATE AND CONTROL MUSCLE MOVEMENTS.

THOSE WITH ALS WILL EVENTUALLY LOSE THE ABILITY TO SPEAK, EAT, MOVE AND BREATHE.

WE WERE GLAD THEY TOLD US THEIR STORY.

WE ALSO TOOK TIME THIS WEEK TO REMEMBER ARTIST JIM.

HE PASSED AWAY.

HIS RIGHT COLORFUL IMAGES AND TOTEMS, PAINTINGS AND MURALS ARE KNOWN FOR THEIR SOCIAL COMMENTARY, DARK HUMOR AND SYMBOLISM.

HE DIED OF CANCER EARLY TUESDAY AT HOME WITH HIS WIFE AND DAUGHTERS.

OUR ARTS REPORTER TALKED WITH HIM AND 2016 ABOUT HOW HE FOUND ALREADY.

HE STARTED AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA, THINKING HE WOULD STUDY HEALTH SCIENCES.

>> I ENDED UP TAKING SOME ART CLASSES THAT INSPIRED MY ARTISTIC SPIRIT AGAIN, WHICH WAS DORMANT FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS DURING MY ADDICTED YEARS.

I MET A GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO WERE SIMILAR TO ME.

THEY HAD GROWN UP DISCONNECTED FROM THEIR CULTURE, THEIR HERITAGE.

EVERYBODY HUNGRY TO GO BACK AND LEARN MORE.

A PICKUP FROM THE PIECES LEFT BEHIND.

LANGUAGE, GOING TO CEREMONIES, POWWOWS, WHILE RICE GATHERINGS.

ONCE I LEARNED MORE OF THOSE THINGS, I LEARNED MORE OF WHO I WAS.

MY IDENTITY IN MY HISTORY BECAME MY SUBJECT AT HER FOR MY PAINTINGS, WHICH WERE A FORM OF STORYTELLING, WHICH ALSO COMES OUT OF MY HERITAGE, AND MY CLAN SIGN, WHICH IS THE CRANE.

WE ARE ORATORS OF OUR TRIBE.

HEIDI: WE CONTINUE OUR PROGRAMMING ABOUT NATURE AND COLLABORATE WITH STUDENTS FROM ACROSS THE STATE OF MINNESOTA THANKS TO A GRANT FROM THE LEGISLATIVE CITIZEN COMMITTEE, WE WERE ABLE TO OFFER FREE TEACHER TRAININGS FOR NATURALISTS FOR EACH LEADERS.

THERE IS AN UPCOMING TRAINING NEAR DULUTH COMING UP MARCH 12 ON A SATURDAY.

IT'S LED BY JOHN, OUR RESIDENT THE KNOWLEDGE JUST.

HE HAS BEEN PRODUCING THE PROGRAM FOR OVER 38 YEARS.

THIS WEEK HE TOLD US TO BE LISTENING FOR THE GREAT HORNED OWL.

THEY'RE CALLING RIGHT NOW, THEY ARE SITTING ON EGGS IN PREPARING FOR HATCHING IN THE NEXT FOUR TO FIVE WEEKS.

BECAUSE EGGS ARE LAID TWO TO THREE DAYS APART, THE OFFSPRING BE A FEW DAYS OLDER OR YOUNGER THAN THEIR SIBLINGS.

HE ALSO SAID TO BE LISTENING FOR THE NORTHERN CARDINAL.

SOME DESCRIBE THAT SOUND AS BERTIE, BERTIE, BERTIE.

THEIR SONGS SERVE A VARIETY OF PURPOSES TO FIND A MATE OR STAKE THEIR TERRITORY.

ALL OF THE SIGNS THAT SPRING IS FINALLY GOING TO COME.

♪ ♪[SMOOTH JAZZ PLAYING] DENNY: IF YOU ARE A REGULAR VIEWER OF PUBLIC TV, YOU KNOW THAT WDSE IS CURRENTLY IN THE MIDDLE OF ITS MARCH MEMBERSHIP DRIVE.

YOUR SUPPORT HELPS KEEP ALMANAC NORTH AND OTHER LOCAL PROGRAMS ON THE AIR.

SO, WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BROADCAST A LOCAL SHOW LIKE THIS?

WDSE SLICE PRODUCER ISAAC QUICK GIVES VIEWERS A PEAK BEHIND THE CURTAIN.

>> 3, 2, 1 AND GO.

JULIE: HERE IS WHAT'S COMING UP ON ALMANAC NORTH.

♪ DENNY: HERE TO TALK ABOUT OTHER NEWS IS TONY BARRETT, ECONOMICS PROFESSOR.

♪ DENNY: WELCOME, ROBIN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

♪ JULIE: THANKS FOR OUR GUESTS IN THE STUDIO.

STAY WARM, WE WILL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.

DENNY: THAT'S HOW WE DO IT.

JULIE MAKES IT LOOK EASY.

THAT'S OUR TIME, BUT YOU CAN KEEP UP WITH THE LATEST UPDATES BY FOLLOWING ALMANAC NORTH ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER!

BOOKMARK THE WDSE WEBSITE FOR PROGRAM SCHEDULES, NEWS ABOUT THE STATION AND UPCOMING EVENTS.

AND DOWNLOAD THE PBS VIDEO APP TO WATCH YOUR FAVORITE PBS PROGRAMS ANY TIME YOU'D LIKE.

AND FOR NEWS FROM THE MINNESOTA LEGISLATURE, TUNE IN TO THE MINNESOTA CHANNEL, ONE OF OUR FIVE DIGITAL CHANNELS.

YOU WILL FIND GAVEL-TO-GAVEL COVERAGE OF EVENTS AT THE STATE CAPITOL EVERY DAY THE LEGISLATURE IS IN SESSION.

THANKS TO OUR GUEST AND THE CREW HERE IN THE STUDIO!

I'M DENNIS ANDERSON, GOOD NIGHT EVERYBODY, AND BE KIND!

♪