ON ALMANAC NORTH.

THE MAYOR IS HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE KEY INITIATIVES THAT SHE OUTLINED IN HER STATE OF THE CITY SPEECH THIS WEEK.

AND A TIME WHEN AMERICA SEEMS MORE DIVIDED BY THE DAY, WE TELL YOU ABOUT AN EFFORT TO BRING CITIZENS TOGETHER FOR THE GOOD OF DEMOCRACY.

NOW'S YOUR CHANCE TO SHARE YOUR FAVORITE FAMILY MEALS IN THE GREAT MINNESOTA RECIPE, A NEW COOKING SHOW ON WDSE.

THESE STORIES COMING UP RIGHT NOW ON ALMANAC NORTH.

♪ HELLO ONCE AGAIN AND WELCOME TO ALMANAC NORTH.

JULIE IS OFF TONIGHT BUT SHE WILL RETURN NEXT WEEK.

HERE'S A LOOK AT THE HEADLINES.

THE SHIPPING SEASON IS OFFICIALLY UNDERWAY WITH THE FIRST SHIP ARRIVALS OF THE SEASON.

THE STORIED VESSEL ARTHUR M ANDERSON SAILED UNDER THE BRIDGE JUST AFTERNOON WEDNESDAY, MARKING THE FIRST ARRIVAL OF THE SEASON.

THE AMERICAN MARINER WAS THE FIRST SHIP THROUGH THE SUPERIOR ENTRY.

THE TWIN PORTS ALSO WELCOMED A NEW COAST GUARD CUTTER TO ITS HOME PORT THIS WEEK.

THE 225 FOOT BUOY TENDER HAD BEEN STATIONED IN ALASKA AND IT WILL NOW CALL DULUTH HOME.

SHE SAILED INTO PORT WEDNESDAY DURING THE MARCH SNOW FLURRY, READY TO KEEP THE SHIPPING CHANNELS OPEN AND ASSUME THE DUTIES OF KEEPING COMMERCE FLOWING ON LAKE SUPERIOR.

APRIL IS SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH AND DULUTH-BASED -- HAS A NUMBER OF EVENTS PLANNED TO RECOGNIZE VICTIMS OF ASSAULT.

THE TOWER WILL BE LIT TEAL BEGINNING SUNDAY THROUGH APRIL 10.

ON APRIL 5, ADVOCATES WILL BE WEARING TEAL AND POSTING SUPPORT FOR SURVIVORS ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

MORE EVENTS COULD BE FOUND ON THE PROGRAM FACEBOOK AND TWITTER FEEDS.

SPRING MAY BE SLOW IN ARRIVING IN THE REGION BUT JUST LIKE THE FIRST ROBBINS OF THE YEAR, ROAD CONSTRUCTION WILL SOON BE HERE.

THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION UNVEILED A LIST OF PROJECTS THIS WEEK.

MOST VISIBLE WILL BE CONTINUED WORK ON THE TWIN PORTS INTERCHANGE, NEW BRIDGES ON HIGHWAY 61, AND AROUND ABOUT THAT WILL BE CONSTRUCTED ON HIGHWAY 194.

DULUTH MAYOR EMILY LARSON DELIVERED HER STATE OF THE CITY SPEECH TO A LIVE AUDIENCE THIS WEEK, MARKING THE TRANSITION FROM A DIFFICULT TWO YEARS.

THE MAYOR OUTLINED SOME GOALS TO IMPROVE THE ECONOMY, BRING PEOPLE BACK TO THE DOWNTOWN AREA , AND PROVIDE HIGH-SPEED INTERNET SERVICE TO RESIDENTS OF THE CITY.

JOIN US -- JOINING US NOW IS ONLY LARSON, THE MAYOR OF THE TOWN.

WELCOME BACK.

GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

EMILY: I'M SORRY WHEN YOU -- I LAUGHED WHEN YOU TALKED ABOUT ROAD CONSTRUCTION.

IT'S ALWAYS TOO SOON.

DENNIS: ONE OF THE MAJOR EMPHASIS IS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

IN WHAT AREAS DO YOU BELIEVE DULUTH HAS GROWN PRETTY WELL IN YOUR TIME AS MAYOR?

WHAT DO YOU EXPECT THE FUTURE TO BRING COME ECONOMICALLY?

EMILY: REALLY, MORE THAN HALF OF MY SPEECH WAS FOCUSED ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

TALKING ABOUT THE ELEMENTS THAT WE HAVE DONE WELL WHICH IS REALLY PACKAGING THE FACTORS THAT BUSINESS AND COMMERCE NEED TO BE STABLE TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS.

HAVING HOUSING, INFRASTRUCTURE, CLEAN WATER, ALL THOSE PIECES THAT ARE REALLY CORE FUNCTIONS OF THE CITY.

LAID OUT OUR SUCCESS.

1500 NEW HOUSING UNITS.

14 MILES OF STREETS BEING DONE THIS SUMMER COMPARED TO TWO THE FIRST YEAR I TOOK OFFICE.

LEAD LINE WORK.

ALL SORTS OF REALLY IMPORTANT THINGS.

THEN I TALKED ABOUT THE NEW AREAS I WOULD LIKE THE CITY TO GO IN WHICH IS REALLY LOOKING AT OUR OVERALL ECONOMIC DEVELOPING STRATEGY, ASKING OURSELVES CORE QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER THE CITY CAN MOVE OUT OF THE WAY AND REDUCE POLICIES.

DENNIS: YOU USE THE TERM A HOLISTIC VIEW OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

EMILY: FOR ME AND MOST PEOPLE, IT RECOGNIZES THAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ISN'T JUST ONE FACTOR.

I CAN'T GO TO WORK AND BE ECONOMICALLY SUCCESSFUL.

I NEED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE AFFORDABLE CHILDCARE, A PLACE TO LIVE, A WAY TO GET TO WORK.

THE APPROACH THAT WE'VE WORKED ON UP UNTIL NOW HAS BEEN ABOUT HOW TO BROADEN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO ENSURE THAT WHEN YOU ARE GOING TO WORK, YOU HAVE A PLACE TO COME HOME TO, A WAY TO GET THERE, AND A WAY TO KEEP THE SERVICES GOING.

DENNIS: WHAT DO BUSINESSES LOOK FOR?

EMILY: SOMETIMES, THEY ARE LOOKING FOR DIRECT ECONOMIC INVESTMENT.

THAT IS SOMETHING WE CAN DO.

SOMETIMES THEY ARE LOOKING FOR LOCATION AND ADJACENCY THAT FITS WITH HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AND OTHER PHYSICAL ELEMENTS.

THAT WE CAN DO.

SOMETIMES THEY ARE LOOKING FOR CLARITY ON HOW THIS HAPPENS, IF WE COME IN AND GET A PERMIT, WHAT'S THE RELIABLE WAY?

HOW WILL YOU INTERACT AND SUPPORT THE BUSINESS?

ALL BUSINESSES ARE LOOKING FOR ENTHUSIASM.

THEY ARE LOOKING FOR AN UNDERSTANDING AND COMMITMENT FROM PEOPLE WHO WORK IN CITY HALL THAT WE ARE HUT -- HERE TO HELP YOU BE SUCCESSFUL.

DENNIS: YOU ANNOUNCED A DOWNTOWN TASK FORCE.

WHAT IS THAT ABOUT?

EMILY: DOWNTOWN IS INCREDIBLE AND BEAUTIFUL.

IN THE PAST TWO YEARS, WE'VE SEEN CHANGES.

MANY MORE PEOPLE ARE WORKING FROM HOME.

WE HAVE RETAIL STOREFRONTS THAT ARE OPEN THAT WEREN'T OPEN.

WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT NEED SUPPORTS THAT ARE LIVING OUTSIDE AND WE WANT TO HELP THEM FIND STABLE HOUSING.

WE HAVE ANNOUNCED A REALLY EXCITING TASK FORCE.

DENNIS: YOU WANT EVERY RESIDENT TO HAVE ACCESS TO HIGH-SPEED FIBER-OPTIC INTERNET WITHIN SIX YEARS.

HOW DO YOU PROPOSE TO GET THAT DONE?

EMILY: I'M SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS.

I FEEL SO STRONGLY.

THIS IS ALSO AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

IT'S A WORKFORCE COMPETITION.

IT'S AN ACCESS TO EDUCATION PIECE.

ALL OF THAT IS BUNDLED INTO IT.

AS WE'VE SEEN, THERE'S NOT MUCH YOU CAN DO IF YOU DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THAT.

WE WILL BE BRINGING FORWARD OUR FULL PROPOSAL TO THE COUNCIL TO ADOPT.

WE WILL START WITH A PILOT PROJECT THAT WILL CONNECT 2000 HOMES.

WE HAVE 35,000 HOMES ACROSS THE CITY OF DULUTH.

ONLY 6% OF THE LUCIAN'S HAVE ACCESS TO HIGH-SPEED FIBER.

THAT'S NOT ACCEPTABLE.

WE CAN DO MORE AND WE HAVE A PLAN.

DENNIS: YOU KEEP TALKING ABOUT THE NEED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE CITY.

HIS AFFORDABLE HOUSING OR LACK OF SUCH A STUMBLING BLOCK FOR THIS TOWN?

EMILY: YES.

IT IS.

AS WE'VE SEEN, WAGES ARE GOING UP BECAUSE THE MARKET IS REQUIRING THAT WITH A WORKFORCE SHORTAGE.

THE COST OF LIVING IS GOING UP.

AND EVERY SINGLE AGE BRACKET, WE ARE SEEING PEOPLE REALLY STRUGGLE TO HAVE A PLACE THAT THEY CAN AFFORD THAT FEEL SAFE, THAT IS RELIABLE AND HEALTHY.

SO YES, AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS HOLDING US BACK.

WE ARE DOING SOME PACKAGING AROUND LAND PARCELS THAT CAN BE BUILT OUT FOR ADDITIONAL SINGLE-FAMILY HOME DEVELOPMENT.

WE NEED TOWNHOMES, SINGLE FAMILY HOMES.

WE ALSO NEED STRAIGHT UP AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A SAFE PLACE TO LAY THEIR HEAD AT NIGHT.

DENNIS: TIME FOR ONE QUESTION.

STREET RECONSTRUCTION IS ONE OF YOUR PRIORITIES.

WHAT'S NEW ON THAT?

EMILY: WE WILL RENEW PUBLIC MEETINGS NEXT WEEK.

WE HAVE A FIVE-YEAR PLAN THAT WE KEEP UPDATING AND GETTING GREAT PROGRESS.

WE'VE DONE 31 MILES OF ROAD.

WE WILL DO 14 THIS YEAR.

THE NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS WILL START SO WE CAN START ENGAGING THE PUBLIC IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS.

DENNIS: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

APPRECIATE IT.

THINK YOU FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.

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

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

THIS WEEK, A REPORTER IS HEIDI HOLTON IN GRAND RAPIDS.

♪ EMILY: ONE OF THE STORIES WE'VE BEEN COVERING RECENTLY IS THE ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE GRAND RAPIDS SCHOOL DISTRICT, NEEDING TO MAKE CUTS TO FACULTY DUE TO THE BUDGET.

WE HEARD FROM A STUDENT WHO ORGANIZED A WALKOUT TO SUPPORT THE TEACHERS LAST FRIDAY, MARCH 25.

>> IT'S IMPORTANT TO US.

BEING ABLE TO RELATE TO THE TEACHERS AND THE ACTUAL STUFF THAT'S BEING TAUGHT IS THE NUMBER ONE JOB.

EMILY: THE SUPERINTENDENT JOINED US AS WELL TO HELP US UNDERSTAND WHY THE CUTS ARE HAPPENING.

IT TURNS OUT HE WAS PROUD OF THE STUDENTS WHO WALKED OUT.

>> AS A SOCIETY, WE'VE SEEN THINGS GO THE OTHER WAY WHEN PEOPLE AREN'T HAPPY OR QUESTIONING DECISIONS.

WE'VE SEEN ADULTS NOT ALWAYS CARRY THAT OUT IN THE BEST WAY.

I THINK STUDENTS DID A GOOD JOB OF CARRYING THEMSELVES.

IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THEIR VOICES ARE HEARD.

STUDENT AGENCY IS IMPORTANT.

DOING THAT IN A RESPECTFUL WAY, IN A WAY THAT IS SAFE IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

I THINK OUR STUDENTS DID THAT.

EMILY: ONE OF THE REASONS -- HEIDI: THE STUDENTS WERE ORGANIZING A WALKOUT BECAUSE SOME OF THEIR FAVORITE TEACHERS ARE ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK.

HE EXPLAINED THAT STATE STATUTES IN TEACHER CONTRACTS GOVERN WHO GETS CUT.

SUPERINTENDENT GROSE TOLD US ABOUT HOW THE SYSTEM OF SCHOOL FUNDING WORKS IN GRAND RAPIDS.

>> IT'S FAIR AND ACCURATE TO SAY THAT SCHOOLS IN MINNESOTA ARE UNDERFUNDED.

ONE OF THE METRICS FOR THAT, ONE OF THE REASONS THAT I FEEL CONFIDENT SAYING THAT IS THAT 70% OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA DEPEND ON THEIR COMMUNITIES TO SUPPLEMENT STATE REVENUE.

THE AVERAGE OPERATING REVENUE IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA IS OVER $800 PER STUDENT.

IF WE HAVE THE AVERAGE OPERATING REVENUE, IF WE WERE IN AVERAGE SCHOOL DISTRICT, WE WOULDN'T BE MAKING REDUCTIONS THIS SPRING.

WE WOULDN'T NEED TO MAKE REDUCTIONS IN THE FUTURE.

HEIDI: THE SCHOOL BOARD AND DISTRICT ADMINISTRATORS ARE WORKING ON HOW TO GET LOCAL SUPPORT FOR A REFERENDUM TO BETTER SERVE THE STUDENTS OF GRAND RAPIDS AND BIGFORK MUNICIPAL.

♪ BIG NEWS IN OUR REGION WAS THE FINDING OF A WILD DEAR WITHIN GRAND RAPIDS CITY LIMITS WITH CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE.

THEY ARE NOW TAKING STEPS TO REDUCE THE POTENTIAL SPREAD BY SELECTIVELY COOLING DEAR IN SOUTHWEST QUADRANTS.

LINDY SARTELL IS THE ACTING NORTHEAST REGION WILDLIFE MANAGER IN THE DIVISION OF FISH AND WILDLIFE.

>> WE NEED TO GET ON THE GROUND AND SEE WHAT THE DEER POPULATION IS LIKE AND WHAT THEIR MOVEMENTS ARE SO THAT WE CAN TARGET ANY DEAR THAT MIGHT HAVE COME INTO CONTACT WITH THIS POSITIVE DOUGH.

IT CAN CAUSE POPULATION DECLINES WHERE THE DISEASE BECOMES ENDEMIC.

RESEARCH OUT OF WISCONSIN HAS SHOWN THAT DEAR DYAD THREE TIMES THE RATE OF UNINFECTED ANIMALS.

THEY CAN CONTINUE TO SPREAD FREON'S IN THE ENVIRONMENT WHICH ARE VERY DIFFICULT TO DESTROY.

WE WILL HAVE USDA WILDLIFE SERVICES OUT SHARPSHOOTING AND TRAPPING DEAR IN THE SOUTHWEST PART OF GRAND RAPIDS.

DENNIS: THE -- HEIDI: THE DEER WILL BE SAMPLED AND SENT TO A LOCAL PROCESSOR WHO WILL DISTRIBUTE THE VENISON THAT ISN'T INFECTED TO THE COMMUNITY.

THEY WILL BE SAMPLING ROADKILL DEAR WITHIN A 10 MILE RADIUS.

♪ WITH COLDER TEMPERATURES AND GROUND FROST, OUR EARLYBIRD FISHING GUY THINGS THIS MEANS THAT WE HAVE AMPLE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE TO ICE FISH.

THE DEEP SNOW THIS WINTER AND WARM UPS BUT MORE SNOW HAVE LED TO SOME FAVORABLE CONDITIONS FOR ICE FISHING.

APRIL WILL SEE GOOD ICE FISHING STILL AHEAD THOUGH HE HAS PREDICTED APRIL 28 AS A POSSIBLE ICE OUT FOR AREA LAKES IN THE COUNTY.

>> IT WASN'T TOO HARD TO FIND A PLACE TO FISH.

ALL THE HOLES THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY OPEN WERE STILL OPEN.

THEY JUST LOOKED LIKE LITTLE HOLES IN THE SNOW, THREE OR FOUR INCH DIAMETER DARK SPOTS THAT YOU CAN SEE IF YOU WENT OVER TO THOSE AND KICKED AT THEM.

YOU COULD FIND THE LOCATION.

I JUST WALKED AROUND LOOKING FOR OTHER PEOPLE'S HOLES.

WHOEVER DRILLED THEM, THANK YOU.

IT WAS A LOT EASIER.

♪ ♪ HEIDI: ANON -- DENNIS: A NONPARTISAN EFFORT TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS BEGINS AT THE END OF APRIL.

UNITING FOR DEMOCRACY IN THE NORTHLAND WILL BE IMPLEMENT IT LOCALLY BY NORTH SPAN IN COLLABORATION WITH TWO NATIONAL GROUPS.

HERE TO TELL US MORE AND HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED IS AMBER LEWIS, SERVING NORTH SPAN FOR THIS PROJECT.

AMBER, WELCOME AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.

WHAT IS THIS ALL ABOUT?

AMBER: IT'S A STATE AFFILIATE OF THE NATIONAL NONPROFIT LEAD FOR AMERICA WHICH PLACES YOUNG INDIVIDUALS IN LEADERSHIP POSITIONS WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS.

I'VE BEEN PLACED WITH THE NONPROFIT NORTH SPAN.

DENNIS: WHAT ARE THE GOALS?

AMBER: THE GOALS ARE REALLY TO BRING YOUNG PEOPLE INTO COMMUNITIES THAT THEY HAVE SOME CONNECTION WITH AND FIND WAYS TO STRENGTHEN AND BUILD UP THOSE COMMUNITIES.

LOOK AT THE CHALLENGES THAT EXIST IN THE COMMUNITIES AND HOW WE BEGIN TO ADDRESS THOSE.

DENNIS: DO YOU LOOK AT WAYS THAT PEOPLE CAN GET ALONG BETTER?

IS THAT WHAT YOU ARE STRIVING FOR?

AMBER: FELLOWS IN THE PROGRAM CAN DEFINITELY ADDRESS A LOT OF DIFFERENT ISSUES.

THEY ARE ADDRESSING ISSUES FROM HEALTH EQUITY TO ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES.

MY PROGRAM SPECIFICALLY AS A WELCOMING COMMUNITY PROGRAM.

I'M THE COORDINATOR WITH NORTH SPAN.

WE ARE LOOKING AT HOW WE CAN MAKE THIS REGION MORE WELCOMING FOR EVERYBODY HERE, PEOPLE FROM DIVERSE GROUPS, DIFFERENT LIVED EXPERIENCES.

DENNIS: HOW DO YOU ACCOMPLISH THAT?

AMBER: THAT'S ONE PART WHERE WE ARE LOOKING AT BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER ACROSS DIVIDES.

WE HAVE SO MUCH DIVISIVENESS IN OUR NATION AND EVEN ON A LOCAL LEVEL.

HOW DO WE BEGIN TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER TO SOLVE THESE CHALLENGES?

DENNIS: HOW DO INTERESTED PEOPLE APPLY TO PARTICIPATE?

AMBER: WE HAVE AN APPLICATION THAT'S OPEN RIGHT NOW ON OUR WEBSITE.

YOU WILL SEE COMING UNITING FOR DEMOCRACY IN THE NORTHLAND.

THIS IS A REGIONAL INITIATIVE.

WE ARE LOOKING AT THE SEVEN COUNTY AREA OF THE ARROWHEAD AND ALSO INTO SUPERIOR.

DENNIS: IT SAYS YOU HAVE TO HAVE A STRONG CONNECTION TO MINNESOTA.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

AMBER: FOR THE UNITING FOR DEMOCRACY PROGRAM, WE WANT INDIVIDUALS TO LIVE IN THAT AREA.

WE BELIEVE LOCAL PEOPLE NEED TO BE SOLVING SOME OF THESE LOCAL CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE.

HAVING THAT STRONG CONNECTION TO OUR LOCAL REGION AND UNDERSTANDING THE CHALLENGES IS IMPORTANT.

DENNIS: WHAT PROBLEMS NEED TO BE SOLVED THAT SHOULD BE TACKLED?

AMBER: WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE SPECIFIC PROBLEM IS YET.

SOME EXAMPLES ARE MISINFORMATION, TOXIC POLARIZATION, ANYTHING THAT REALLY DIVIDES US THAT WE'VE SEEN IN OUR COMMUNITIES NOWADAYS WILL BE FAIR GAME FOR THAT GROUP .

DENNIS: YOU SAY THAT THEY CAN APPLY TO PARTICIPATE.

IT SAYS YOU HAVE TO HAVE A STRONG CONNECTION WITH BEING ABLE TO SHARE FEELINGS AND SHARE STORIES AND SHARE A METHODOLOGY, I GUESS, IN TRYING TO COME TO SOME KIND OF CONCLUSION.

CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW YOU DEBATE OR GO ABOUT THAT?

AMBER: WE WILL BE HAVING A WORKSHOP ON APRIL 30.

WE HAVE PEOPLE FROM UNITING FOR DEMOCRACY THAT WILL BE COMING TO MINNESOTA BECAUSE THEY ARE A NATIONAL ORGANIZATION AND THEY WILL BE HORSE TO -- HOSTING A WORKSHOP.

WE DO THE ABCS OF DIALOGUE AND LEARN TO REALLY HAVE DIALOGUE ACROSS DIFFERENCE, HOW TO LISTEN AND EXPLAIN YOUR POSITION ON SOMETHING.

AND THEN PROBLEM-SOLVING.

WE WILL LOOK AT A PROBLEM TREE ANALYSIS WHERE WE LOOK AT THE CAUSES AND EFFECTS OF ANY PROBLEM WE'VE DECIDED TO ADDRESS AND REALLY GO IN DEPTH.

OUT OF THAT WILL COME THIS COMMUNITY VENTURE, THIS PROJECT WE WERE ADDRESSING AS A CORE GROUP THIS ONE BECAUSE OF THIS BIGGER PROBLEM.

WE WILL HAVE OUR SMALL EFFECT IN SOME WAY ON THAT BIG PROBLEM.

DENNIS: CAN PEOPLE COME ARMED WITH INFORMATION ABOUT PROBLEMS THEY SEE IN NORTHEASTERN MINNESOTA?

AMBER: DEFINITELY.

ANYBODY WHO APPLIES FOR THE PROGRAM, WE WILL ASK FOR THEIR INPUT ON PROBLEMS THAT YOU MIGHT CONSIDER THAT YOU WANT TO ADDRESS.

DENNIS: POLITICS AND OUR COUNTRY DOESN'T ALWAYS ALLOW FOR COMPROMISE.

HOW CAN DIALOGUE CHANGE THAT?

AMBER: TO BE CLEAR, THIS IS NOT A POLITICAL VENTURE.

DENNIS: I UNDERSTAND.

AMBER: IT'S NONPARTISAN.

DIALOGUE CAN HELP US FIND THAT COMMON GROUND.

WE SPEND SO MUCH TIME LOOKING AT THE THINGS THAT DIVIDE US.

HOW CAN WE FIND COMMON AREAS WHERE WE CAN WORK TOGETHER ON A PROJECT IN BRING SOLUTIONS?

DENNIS: DO YOU TEACH PEOPLE HOW TO DIALOGUE?

AMBER: IN THE WORKSHOP ON APRIL 30, WE WILL HAVE A TRAINING SESSION ON HOW TO DO THAT CONSTRUCTIVE DIALOGUE.

HOW TO DIALOGUE BE ON THE DIVISIVENESS THAT USUALLY HAPPENS AROUND CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES.

DENNIS: WHAT'S THE GOAL?

AMBER: THE OVERALL GOAL IS BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER IN THE COMMUNITY, ACROSS NORTHEASTERN MINNESOTA, TO TALK ABOUT THESE DIFFERENCES THAT DIVIDE US BUT THEN FIND COMMON AREAS THAT WE CAN WORK ON.

WHAT'S A PROJECT WE CAN COME TOGETHER ON AND SAY, THIS IS SOMETHING WE CAN WORK TOGETHER ON?

DENNIS: IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE READY.

[LAUGHTER] THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

APPRECIATE IT.

OUR VIEWERS HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR IT AND DUBYA DSE WILL PRODUCE A NEW LOCAL COOKING SHOW.

THE GREAT MINNESOTA RECIPE WILL FEATURE A LOCAL COOK WITH THEIR OWN SPECIAL TAKE ON NORTHLAND CUISINE.

THE PRODUCER SPOKE WITH FELLOW PRODUCERS AT THE STATION TO DISCUSS WHY THIS PROJECT NEEDS YOUR HELP TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

♪ >> COOKING REALLY SHOWS WHO A PERSON IS IN A WAY THAT THEY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO TELL YOU.

I THINK BEING ABLE TO SEE INSIDE SOMEONE'S KITCHEN GIVES YOU A NEW PERSPECTIVE ON FOOD OR ON LIFE, REALLY.

WHETHER YOU ARE FROM NORWAY OR CHINA OR IF YOU'RE PART OF THE FIRST PEOPLES OF THIS LAND, THERE IS A LOT OF CULTURAL DIVERSITY AND FOOD >>.

>>>> FOOD IS AN INCREDIBLY POWERFUL TOOL TO LEARN ABOUT DIFFERENT CULTURES.

SO MANY OF US LOVE SO MANY DIFFERENT OPTIONS OF CUISINE AND I DON'T THINK I KNOW ANYONE WHO STAYS IN ONE LANE OF CUISINE.

IT'S A REALLY EASY STEPPINGSTONE.

IF YOU ALREADY LOVE ALL THESE DIFFERENT TYPES OF FOODS, IT'S A GREAT WAY TO CONNECT TO TEACHING ABOUT THE CULTURE.

WDSE WAS SELECTED OUT OF MANY OTHER PBS STATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, APPLYING FOR A NATIONAL GRANT FOR THE GREAT MINNESOTA RECIPE.

THIS IS ALL STEMMING FROM NATIONAL PBS'S THE GREAT AMERICAN RECIPE.

♪ >> THIS IS THE MOMENT THAT WE'VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR.

THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE MY STORY.

>> WE WANT TO FALL IN LOVE WITH YOUR RECIPES.

>> I'M READY, EXCITED.

I'M GOING TO DO IT.

>> I'M SO EXCITED TO BE COMPETING FOR ONE OF MY RECIPES TO BECOME A TRADITION FOR OTHER PEOPLE.

>> THIS IS MY DISH THAT MY DAD TAUGHT ME.

>> IT'S THE FLAVORS OF HOME.

>> WELCOME TO THE GREAT AMERICAN RECIPE.

A NEW COOKING COMPETITION THIS JUNE COMING TO PBS.

>> THIS IS A MINNESOTA SPAN ON A NATIONWIDE PROGRAM THAT IS CELEBRATING CULTURAL CULINARY DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS.

THE GREAT MINNESOTA RECIPE IS A FOUR-PART SERIES THAT WILL PREMIERE ON PBS NORTH ON JUNE 2.

THE FIRST THREE EPISODES WILL BE DOCUMENTARY STYLE AND WILL TAKE A DEEP DIVE INTO OUR THREE COOKS WE WILL BE FEATURING ON THE SHOW.

EACH OF THOSE EPISODES WILL EXPLORE THEIR CULTURE, HERITAGE, FAMILY, RECIPES, AND WHY THEY LOVE TO COOK.

IN OUR FOURTH EPISODE, WE WILL BRING ALL THREE COOKS BACK FOR A COMPETITION WHERE THEY WILL CREATE A TYPICAL MINNESOTA MEAL WITH THEIR UNIQUE CULTURAL FLARE.

THINK HOT DISH.

>> A LOT OF TIMES, PEOPLE SAY THAT FOOD IS VERY REFLECT AND OF CULTURAL VALUES, CULTURAL WAYS, OF PEOPLE.

IT BRINGS US TOGETHER.

FOR NATIVE COMMUNITIES, FEASTS ARE IMPORTANT TO US.

THE GREAT MINNESOTA REP AS HE -- RECIPE IS A FUN FOCUS ON FOOD AND IT'S ALSO REALLY IMPORTANT TO US TO DIVE DEEP INTO THESE DIFFERENT DIVERSITIES OF MINNESOTA AND FIND OUT TRULY WHAT MAKES US SPECIAL.

BECAUSE WE ARE ALL SPECIAL.

WHEN WE HIGHLIGHT AND ILLUMINATE DIFFERENT DIVERSE CULTURES, I FEEL LIKE IT BRINGS US ALL CLOSER AS A COMMUNITY.

>> WE ARE CURRENTLY CASTING FOR OUR COOKS FOR THE GREAT MINNESOTA RECIPE.

>> I WANT THE COOKS AT HOME TO KNOW THAT, WHETHER YOU ARE A FIRST-TIME COOK, WHETHER YOU'VE BEEN COOKING FOR 30 YEARS, YOU CAN BE PART OF THE SHOW.

I DON'T THINK YOU SHOULD BE SCARED TO APPLY.

JUST BECAUSE YOU HAVEN'T BEEN COOKING FOR YOUR WHOLE LIFE OR IF YOU HAVE BEEN AND YOU ARE SCARED OF THE CAMERA, DON'T BE.

LET US WORRY ABOUT THAT.

WE WILL MAKE IT COMFORTABLE FOR YOU AND WE WILL MAKE THE EXPERIENCE SO INCREDIBLY ENJOYABLE THAT IF YOU HAVE JUST ANY PART OF YOU THAT WANTS TO APPLY, I THINK YOU SHOULD.

I THINK IT WOULD BE REALLY SPECIAL FOR YOU TO BE PART OF IT AND WE WOULD LOVE TO MEET YOU.

AMBER: IF YOUR -- DENNIS: IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN BEING ONE OF THE COOKS, GO TO OUR WEBSITE.

THAT'S OUR TIME THIS WEEK.

HE CAN KEEP UP WITH THE LATEST UPDATES BY FOLLOWING ALMANAC NORTH ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.

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

DOWNLOAD THE PBS VIDEO APP TO WATCH YOUR FAVORITE PBS PROGRAMS ANYTIME YOU'D LIKE.

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

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

WATCH MINNESOTA LEGISLATIVE REPORT THIS SUNDAY AT 5:00 WITH OUR HOST 20 CERTAIN.

THANKS TO OUR GUESTS AND CREW IN THE STUDIO.

GOOD NIGHT EVERYBODY.

BE KIND.

♪