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

JULIE: THE ST. LOUIS COUNTY DB -- DB COURT HAS BEEN PUT AS ONE OF THE TOP COURTS IN THE COUNTRY.

DENNIS: TRANSGENDER ISSUES TAKING CENTER STAGE.

WE HAVE A REPORT.

JULIE: THE 2023 ROAD CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS.

WHAT TO EXPECT IN OUR REGION.

DENNIS: THOSE STORIES UP NEXT ON ALMANAC NORTH.

♪ HELLO ONCE AGAIN.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A WEEK CAN MAKE.

SPRING CAME SEEMINGLY OVERNIGHT.

JULIE: LAST WEEK, THERE WERE MOUNDS OF SNOW EVERYWHERE.

NOW YOU CAN HARDLY EVER FIND ANY.

DENNIS: IT CAME QUICKLY BUT I'M OK WITH THAT.

LET'S BEGIN WITH THE WEEK'S HEADLINES.

JULIE: SPEAKING OF SPRING, RAPID SNOWMELT HAS CAUSED LOCALIZED FLOODING FOR SOME ROAD CLOSURES IN THE REGION.

IN DULUTH, THE INTERSECTION OF MULL DRIVE AND MAPLE GROVE ROAD WAS CLOSED DUE TO HIGH WATER.

A PORTION OF NORTON ROAD WAS CLOSED DUE TO FLOOD DAMAGE.

IN BAYFIELD COUNTY, HIGHWAY 169 WAS CLOSED BETWEEN U.S. HIGHWAY TWO AND HIGHWAY 13 DUE TO FLOODING.

DENNIS: ROAD CONSTRUCTION KENT BE FAR BEHIND.

NEXT WEEK IS NATIONAL WORKS ON AWARENESS WEEK.

PROMOTING ROAD SAFETY AND URGING MOTORISTS CAUTION AND HIGHWAY WORKS OWNS.

WE WILL HAVE MORE ON THIS YEAR'S ROAD CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS LATER IN OUR SHOW.

JULIE: THE MINNESOTA SPRING TURKEY HUNTING SEASON BEGAN THIS WEEK.

GUN HUNTERS MUST PICK FROM ONE OF SIX ONE WEEK HUNTING PERIODS BETWEEN NOW AND MAY 31.

ARCHERY HUNTERS CAN HUNT ANY TIME NOW BETWEEN THE END OF MAY.

DENNIS: A NUMBER OF EARTH WEEK EVENTS SCHEDULED NEXT WEEK LEADING UP TO EARTH DAY ON APRIL 22.

THE FIRST EARTH DAY WAS HELD IN 1970 AND IS NOW RECOGNIZED GLOBALLY BY PEOPLE AND 193 COUNTRIES.

THE UWS CLUB WILL HOLD A NUMBER OF EVENTS ON CAMPUS INCLUDING A SUCCULENT GIVEAWAY AND A NATURE WALK.

JULIE: THE SAINT MY LIST COUNTY DWI COURT WAS HONORED AS ONE OF THE TOP TREATMENT COURTS IN OUR COUNTRY.

THE LOCAL COURT RECEIVED THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR DWI COURTS ACADEMY COURT AWARD.

ONE OF ONLY SIX GIVEN OUT OF 700.

IT'S -- HERE WITH MORE IS CHIEF JUDGE LESLIE BYERS WHO PRESIDES OVER THE SOUTH ST. LOUIS COUNTY DWI COURT AND THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF RECOVERY ALLIANCE DULUTH AND SERVES ON THE DWI COURT TEAM.

WELCOME.

THANKS TO BOTH OF YOU FOR BEING HERE.

WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING IN.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

JULIE: FOR VIEWERS WHO MAY BE UNFAMILIAR WITH THE DWI TREATMENT COURTS, HOW IT IS THIS JUDICIAL APPROACH DIFFERENT FROM MAYBE WHAT A TRADITIONAL APPROACH TO DWIS HAS BEEN?

>> WHEN YOU ARE LOOKING AT A STANDARD DWI OUTSIDE OF TREATMENT COURT, SOMEBODY WOULD COME IN AND PLEAD GUILTY OR BE FOUND GUILTY AFTER A JURY TRIAL, COME BACK BEFORE THE JUDGE FOR SENTENCING.

THEY WILL READ A REPORT FROM THE PROBATION OFFICERS AND THEY WILL GO ON TO A STANDARD AGENT CASELOAD.

FOR A TREATMENT COURT, IT'S A MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM APPROACH SO THEY COME INTO OUR COURT.

WE HAVE A TEAM OF PROFESSIONALS.

WE HAVE NOT ONLY THE JUDGE BUT WE HAVE TREATMENT PROVIDERS, LAW ENFORCEMENT PROSECUTORS, DEFENSE ATTORNEYS.

WE HAVE A PSYCHOLOGIST.

SO IT'S A TEAM THAT'S LOOKING OUT ONLY TO HOLD THE PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE, BECAUSE PROBATION IS THE HEART OF THE TEAM.

HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE THAT ALSO GET TO THE PROBLEMS AND ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS THAT BROUGHT THEM INTO THE SYSTEM IN THE FIRST PLACE.

SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS AND MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS.

DENNIS: MAYBE YOU CAN UNPACK THAT MORE.

WHAT KIND OF PRINT -- TREATMENT PRACTICES ARE IMPLEMENTED FOR HARD-CORE IMPAIRED DRIVERS?

>> I'M A PERSON IN RECOVERY.

SO MY PERSPECTIVE IS COMING FROM THE RECOVERY COMMUNITY.

OUR ORGANIZATION SERVES AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE RECOVERY COMMUNITY.

SO WE PROVIDE A NONCLINICAL SERVICE.

OUR LENS IS TO SUPPORT THE INDIVIDUAL THROUGH THE RECOVERY.

TREATMENT PROVIDERS WILL DO AN ASSESSMENT AND THEN PROVIDE A TREATMENT RECOMMENDATION TO THE INDIVIDUAL.

THE THING THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT AND DIFFERENT IS THE VOICE THAT THE PARTICIPANT HAS THEY HAVE AN ACTIVE ROLE IN THEIR TREATMENT PLAN WHICH MAKES IT MORE EFFECTIVE.

THE SAME GOALS FOR RECOVERY ALLIANCE DULUTH.

WE HEAR FROM WHAT'S WORKING FROM THEM AND WE WALK WITH THEM ALONGSIDE THE RECOVERY JOURNEY.

WE MEET THEM WHERE THEY ARE AT.

SO HARD-CORE IMPAIRED DRIVERS, I WOULD SAY SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER IS A CHRONIC HEALTH ISSUE.

WE REALLY LOOK AT IT LIKE THAT.

WE LOOK AT THE INDIVIDUAL AND THEIR BEHAVIOR DIFFERENTLY THAN THEIR SUBSTANCE USE.

THAT'S WHAT MAKES THIS COURT SO SPECIAL.

JULIE: IS THIS APPROACH SOMETHING THAT IS DESIGNED MORE FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE THAT CHRONIC SUBSTANCE ABUSE CHALLENGE OR IS IT DESIGNED FOR THE FIRST TIME DWI OFFENDER WHO COMES THROUGH THE DOOR?

>> IT'S NOT DESIGNED FOR A FIRST TIME DWI OFFENDER.

IT'S DESIGNED FOR HIGH RISK, HIGH NEEDS INDIVIDUALS.

WE USE A VALIDATED TOOL TO SCREEN PEOPLE FOR OUR PROGRAMS.

WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE TAKING THE RIGHT PEOPLE.

THESE COURTS ARE EVIDENCE-BASED.

THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF RESEARCH.

THE CONSENSUS IS THAT WE CAN'T LOCK PEOPLE UP AND LOCK OUR WAY OUT OF THIS PROBLEM.

DENNIS: HOW DO YOU DETERMINE THAT YOU HAVE THE RIGHT PEOPLE?

>> WE USE A VALIDATED RISK ASSESSMENT TOOL.

IF THEY SCORE HIGH RISK, WE TAKE THEM INTO OUR PROGRAM.

WHEN YOU HEAR THE WORD TREATMENT COURT, YOU THINK THEY ARE GETTING A PASS.

WE PROVIDE THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF SUPERVISION AND ACCOUNTABILITY OF ANY OF OUR PROBATION DEPARTMENTS.

SO THAT'S THE PIECE THAT'S COUPLED WITH TREATMENTS.

IT'S TREATMENTS AND ACCOUNTABILITY.

JULIE: CAN YOU MAYBE GIVE SOME INSIGHTS INTO HOW YOU HAVE SEEN THE DWI TREATMENT COURTS REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN PEOPLE'S LIVES?

>> I CAN SPEAK FROM A PERSONAL LEVEL.

MY OLDEST SON WENT THROUGH THE TREATMENT COURT.

SEVERAL YEARS AGO.

AND I'M GOING TO PREFACE IT.

WE'VE LOST HIM.

HOWEVER IN THE BIG TREATMENT COURTS, HE WAS A SUCCESSFUL GRADUATE.

TURN HIS LIFE AROUND.

WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE WITH OUR FAMILY MEMBER WHILE THEY WERE IN RECOVERY AND BEING PRODUCTIVE AND LAW-ABIDING.

SO WHAT I EXPERIENCED WAS A COMPASSIONATE RESPONSE TO AN INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS A LOT OF INVOLVEMENT WITH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

IT'S A VERY DIFFERENT RESPONSE THAN YOU GET WHEN YOU ARE IN FRONT OF A REGULAR DWI JUDGE OR NOT A TREATMENT COURT.

THEY LISTEN TO THE INDIVIDUAL AND WRAP AROUND THE SERVICES AND COMMUNICATION IN NO WAY THAT SETS THE PERSON UP FOR SUCCESS.

TRULY VALUES THAT INDIVIDUALS VOICE IN THEIR JOURNEY AND REALLY REDUCES AND ELIMINATES THE SHAME THAT IS SURROUNDING THEIR SUBSTANCE USE.

IT ALLOWS THEM SPACE TO HEAL AND ADDRESS THEIR TRAUMA.

IN OUR CASE, WE HAVE MY SON WHO WAS IN RECOVERY NEARLY TWO YEARS WHEN WE LOST HIM.

SO THE ENDING IS NOT THE ENDING WE HOPED FOR.

BUT THE COURT EXPERIENCE DID EVERYTHING THAT IT WAS SUPPOSED TO DO.

WE GOT TO ENJOY HIM IN HIS RECOVERY.

DENNIS: NICE TO HEAR.

JULIE: SOUND ST. LOUIS COUNTY HAS GOTTEN OUT COLLATES FOR THE PROGRAM.

ONE OF THE BEST IN THE COUNTRY.

ARE THERE UNIQUE THINGS HAPPENING HERE THAT CAN MAYBE BE SCALED AND REPLICATED IN OTHER COMMUNITIES?

>> WHEN YOU HAVE A TREATMENT COURT, THEY ARE EVIDENCE-BASED.

SUCCESSFUL COURTS HAVE TO HAVE FIDELITY TO THESE PRACTICES.

THERE'S A NUMBER OF THINGS.

FOR EXAMPLE, YOUR TEAM MEMBERS.

YOU WANT TO HAVE A GOOD REPRESENTATION OF TEAM MEMBERS.

YOU NEED TO HAVE ALL THOSE TEAM MEMBERS ON YOUR TREATMENT COURT TEAM.

WHERE GILLER CHECK INS WITH THE JUDGE.

REGULAR UAS.

THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT ALL TREATMENT COURTS STRIVE FOR.

JULIE: THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR STORY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TELLING US MORE ABOUT THIS IMPORTANT WORK THAT YOU ARE DOING.

APPRECIATE WHAT YOU ARE DOING IN THE COMMUNITY.

♪ DENNIS: SINCE THE START OF 2023, OVER 400 BILLS HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED IN STATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY IMPACTING THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY.

IT TURNS OUT MINNESOTA ISN'T IMMUNE FROM THE UPTICK OF THIS LEGISLATION.

MEGAN MCGARVEY HAS MORE ON THE TOPIC.

REPORTER: MANY PEOPLE MAY HAVE HEARD ABOUT TEXAS AND KENTUCKY'S RECENT LOSS RESTRICTING DRAG PERFORMANCES AND GENDER AFFIRMING CARE TO CITIZENS.

CURRENTLY, SIX BILLS IN THE MINNESOTA STATE LEGISLATURE WITH LANGUAGE THAT WOULD IMPACT LGBTQ COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

IN BILL 1903 LEGISLATORS PROPOSED RESTRICTIONS ON WHERE DRAG MAY BE PERFORMED IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

CLASSIFYING DRAG PERFORMANCES AS ADULT ENTERTAINMENT WHICH MEANS THAT DRAG PERFORMANCES CAN ONLY HAPPEN IN A PLACE THAT'S CONSIDERED AN ADULT ENTERTAINMENT ESTABLISHMENT.

I SPOKE WITH ALICE ROEDER, DRAG QUEEN AND CEO, ABOUT HOW THIS WOULD IMPACT HER AS WELL AS THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY.

>> A LOT.

THEY LUMP DRAG ARTISTS WITH THE TRANS COMMUNITY WHICH IS A HUGE OVERSIGHT.

IN THE EARLY YEARS OF DRAG, THAT WAS THE ONLY OPTION FOR TRANS PEOPLE TO EXIST AS THEIR TRUE IDENTITY.

AS TIME HAS EVOLVE, SO HAS THE ART OF DRAG.

WE'VE NEEDED TO HAVE SECURITY ESCORTS FOR OUR PERFORMERS IN THE COMMUNITY.

POLICE ARE OFTEN INFORMED BEFORE HANDS WHEN OUR EVENTS ARE TAKING PLACE SO THEY ARE ON STANDBY.

CARS WILL OFTEN DRIVE BY DURING OUR SHOW SHOUTING HATE SPEECH OR SLURS.

SECURITY PROTOCOLS HAVE BEEN UPGRADED IMMENSELY.

DRAG, JUST LIKE ANY OTHER TYPE OF ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY, THERE'S ALL DIFFERENT TYPES OF LEVELS.

THERE IS DRAG THAT'S NOT APPROPRIATE FOR CHILDREN.

BUT THERE'S DRAG THAT IS ALSO APPROPRIATE FOR CHILDREN.

VISIBILITY OF TRANS PEOPLE IS ALSO SAFETY FOR CHILDREN.

TRANS YOUTH, TO BE ABLE TO SEE THAT THEY AREN'T ALONE IN THE WORLD.

SO BEING ABLE TO DO CHILDREN'S READINGS, CHILDREN'S SHOWS OFFERS PARENTS A WAY TO INTRODUCE THIS TYPE OF CULTURE, INTRODUCE THIS LIFE TO THEIR KIDS.

>> THIS DEBATE DOESN'T STOP IN ST. PAUL BUT REACHES ACROSS THE BRIDGE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-SUPERIOR WHERE THE YOUNG AMERICANS FOR FREEDOM ORGANIZATION HOSTED MICHAEL KNOWLES.

HE ROSE TO PROMINENCE AFTER SPEAKING WITH THESE COMMENTS.

>> TRANSGENDER IS HIM MUST BE ERADICATED FROM PUBLIC LIFE ENTIRELY.

>> I THINK MICHAEL KNOWLES IS A RISING STAR IN THE NEWS COMMENTARY, CONSERVATIVE ATMOSPHERE.

WE WANT TO BRING HIM IN AND GET A DIFFERENT TAKE ON THE SORT OF THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITY.

YOU HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE SUPER EXCITED TO SEE MICHAEL KNOWLES.

YOU HAVE SOME PEOPLE THAT ARE MAD THAT HE'S COMING AND SPEAKING.

WE ARE VERY MUCH IN FAVOR OF FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND WANT TO ALLOW AS MANY PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET TO HEAR HIM AS POSSIBLE.

>> TRANS LIFE'S -- LIVES MATTER/>> PEOPLE ARE WELCOME TO RESPECTFULLY ENGAGE IN DISCOURSE WITH MICHAEL KNOWLES.

PERSONALLY, I'M HERE TO SAY MY BET AND I THINK THAT'S OK ENOUGH FOR ME.

>> IT IS MORE DIFFICULT TO TALK ABOUT THINGS AT THIS POINT.

EVERYBODY FEELS LIKE EVERYBODY ON THE OTHER CITED AN ENEMY.

REPORTER: WE REACHED OUT TO THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-SUPERIOR AND THEY STATE UNIVERSITIES ARE LEGALLY BOUND BY THE FIRST AMENDMENT AND MUST WELCOME FREE SPEECH AND THE EXPRESSION OF OPPOSING VIEWS.

>> THIS IS A BILL DESIGNED TO PROTECT TRANS AND GENDER EXPANSIVE PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES.

IT'S THE FIRST SUCH BILL EFFORT TO BE VOTED ON IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

>> WHAT THE TRANS REFUGE BILL DOES IS CHANGES THE STATE CUSTODY STATUTE TO JUST INCLUDE AND ENSURE THAT GENDER AFFIRMING CARE IS ONE OF THE REASONS THAT CAN BE CONSIDERED IN CUSTODY HEARINGS FOR PARENTS WHO ARE COMING TO MINNESOTA TO ACCESS GENDER AFFIRMING CARE, THAT THEY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO BE PROSECUTED IN THEIR STATE OF RESIDENCE.

>> THE BILL JUST SEEMS TO ME TO GO AGAINST ALL BOUNDARIES OF RESPECT THAT WE WOULD HAVE, TO HAVE THE BACKS OF OUR NEIGHBORS, OUR STATES, WHETHER OR NOT THEY PRACTICE THE SAME WAY AS MINNESOTA.

WE WOULD EXPECT THE SAME RESPECT.

WE ARE OPERATING OUTSIDE OF OUR JURISDICTION.

I THINK MINNESOTANS HAVE TO ASK, IS THIS WHAT WE WANT TO DO?

>> THE ANTIDOTE TO THE ONSLAUGHT OF NEGATIVE, ANTI-LGBTQ, ANTI-TRANS BILLS IS EVERYTHING WE ARE DOING RIGHT NOW.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, TRANS YOUTH SHOULD BECOME TRANS ADULTS.

THAT'S WHAT WE ARE DOING.

>> TONIGHT, WHAT WE HAVE IN FRONT OF US IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO HELP PEOPLE WHO NEED IT AND WHO NEED IT RIGHT NOW.

REPORTER: THE TRANS REFUGEE BILL NOW MOVES TO THE MINNESOTA A VOTE.

♪ DENNIS: THE RETURN OF SPRING IN OUR REGION CAN BE A BIT UNPREDICTABLE.

IF THERE'S ONE THING CERTAIN, IT'S THE RETURN OF THE ROAD CONSTRUCTION SEASON.

THIS WEEK, THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION RELEASED ITS LIST OF HIGHWAY PROJECTS IN THE STATE.

HERE WITH MORE ON PROJECTS THAT WILL BE HAPPENING IN NORTHEASTERN MINNESOTA IS DUANE HILL.

WE'VE HAD A LOT OF SNOW.

A QUICK INCREASE IN TEMPERATURES.

A LOT OF SNOW MELT.

THAT MEANS WATER.

THAT WATER MEANS FLOODING.

WHAT EFFECT HAS FLOODING HAD ON AREA ROADS?

>> ON THE STATE HIGHWAY SYSTEM, WE'VE HAD WATER OVER THE ROAD IN JUST A FEW PLACES.

NOTHING HAS CAUSED ROAD CLOSURES.

WE'VE BEEN REALLY LUCKY SO FAR.

DENNIS: WE HAVE.

JULIE: THE BIG PROJECT IN THE TWIN PORTS COMING UP THIS YEAR, HAVING LIVED THROUGH PART OF IT LAST YEAR, IS THE INTERCHANGE.

WHAT IS ON BOARD FOR THIS SUMMER?

>> THAT PROJECT IS A $535 MLLION PROJECT TO REPLACE I-35 BETWEEN GARFIELD AND 20 7TH AVENUE WEST AND THE INTERCHANGE THAT USED TO BE CALLED THE CAN OF WORMS BRIDGE, CONNECTING HIGHWAY 53 TO THAT INTERSECTION AND GARFIELD AVENUE INTERCHANGE.

SO THIS SUMMER, WE ARE WORKING FEVERISHLY TO FINISH THE WORK ON 535 WITH THE GOAL OF BEING OPEN THIS FALL FOR MOVEMENTS AT THE BRIDGE.

THEY ARE STARTING TO WORK ON THE BRIDGE, CONNECTING HIGHWAY 53 TO THE INTERCHANGE ALSO.

THAT WILL TAKE ONE MORE YEAR.

DENNIS: YOU MENTION THE BLOTTING BRIDGE.

HOW FAR AWAY FROM EVE -- ARE WE FROM THE START OF CONSTRUCTION?

>> WE ARE IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL STAGE OF PLANNING.

WE ARE DEVELOPING AN ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT DOCUMENT THAT'S GOING TO BE OUT FOR REVIEW THIS FALL.

RIGHT NOW, THE ASSESSMENT IS CONSIDERING A COUPLE OF POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVES FOR THE LOCATION OF THE BRIDGE.

ONE RIGHT IN THE EXISTING LOCATION.

THE OTHER CROSSES THE SHIPPING CHANNEL JUST A LITTLE BIT UPSTREAM BUT THEN IT GOES BACK ON THE EXISTING LAND.

DENNIS: HOW LONG WILL THAT TAKE?

>> ABOUT FIVE YEARS.

JULIE: FUNDING IN PLACE YET?

>> WE ARE APPLYING FOR A GRANT LAST YEAR.

WE FOUND OUT THAT WE WERE SUCCESSFUL.

DENNIS: DOES WISCONSIN HAVE TO HELP PAY FOR IT?

>> WE SPIT THE -- SPLIT THE COST 5050.

WISCONSIN WILL PAY FOR HALF OF IT.

JULIE: LET'S TALK ABOUT THE OTHER PROJECTS THAT WILL BE HAPPENING AROUND THE REGION SO VIEWERS ARE AWARE OF THEM.

A COUPLE OF BRIDGE PROJECTS ON HIGHWAY 51.

WHAT CAN PEOPLE EXPECT?

>> WE'VE BEEN WORKING TO REPLACE THE BRIDGE AT SILVER CREEK AND THE BRIDGE AT STEWART RIVER.

THIS YEAR, YOU WILL SEE A WORK SO -- SO THAT WILL WIGGLE AROUND THE CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY AT BOTH LOCATIONS WHILE THEY FINISH THE BRIDGE AT SILVER CREEK AND STEWART RIVER.

WE BUILT ONE BRIDGE LAST YEAR.

THIS YEAR, WE WILL START REHABBING THE OLD BRIDGE THAT'S A HISTORIC BRIDGE THAT WE NEED TO PRESERVE.

WHEN WE WERE ARE DONE WITH THAT, WE WILL HAVE ONE LANE OF TRAFFIC.

NORTHBOUND TRAFFIC ON THE BRIDGE THAT HAD BEEN THERE HISTORICALLY AND SOUTHBOUND TRAFFIC ON THE NEW BRIDGE.

DENNIS: BRIDGES ARE GOING TO BE RELEASED IN PINE COUNTY.

WILL THAT BE A BIG PROJECT?

>> THAT'S NEXT YEAR.

IT'S A HUGE PROJECT.

DENNIS: TWO BRIDGES?

>> FOR BRIDGES.

TWO BRIDGES OVER RAILROADS AND TWO MORE BRIDGES OVER THE RIVER.

THAT WILL BE A TWO-YEAR PROJECT.

WE ARE STARTING THIS YEAR ON BUILDING CROSSOVERS AND THE BULK OF THE WORK WILL HAPPEN NEXT SPRING.

JULIE: WE ONLY HAVE A MINUTE LEFT.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE OTHER HIGHLIGHTS AROUND THE REGION THAT PEOPLE SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR?

>> ON HIGHWAY TWO, WE HAVE TWO PROJECTS THAT ARE SAFETY PROJECTS TO INSTALL ROUNDABOUTS.

ONE AT 194 AND HIGHWAY TWO.

ONE AT HIGHWAY 65 IN SWAN RIVER.

THERE'S ALSO A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT RESURFACING IN THE RIVER AREA ON HIGHWAY TWO.

THERE'S WORK ON HIGHWAY 23.

THERE'S TWO BRIDGE REPLACEMENTS, PLUS RESURFACING.

JULIE: LOTS OF STUFF.

IT IS ALL OF THIS ON THE WEBSITE IF PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED?

>> IT IS, YES.

DENNIS: A LOT ON THE PLATE COMING UP.

DUANE HILL, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.

JULIE: IT'S TIME NOW FOR VOICES OF THE REGION WHEN WE HEAR FROM AN AREA JOURNALIST ABOUT STORIES MAKING NEWS.

OUR GUEST IS AARON BROWN, AN AUTHOR AND COLUMNIST LIVING IN RURAL ITASCA COUNTY.

♪ >> ONE OF THE BIG STORIES THIS MONTH HAS BEEN THE ACQUISITION OF MORE OF THE POLY NET PROJECT BY THE GLOBAL MINING COMPANY.

IT'S A JUNIOR MINING COMPANY WHICH MEANS THEY AREN'T ACTUALLY MINING.

THEY'VE BEEN PROPOSING A MINE AND TRYING TO BUILD INVESTMENT IN IT FOR THESE PAST 20 YEARS.

THEY HAD A RECENT STOCK OFFERING WHICH EXPANDED GLENCORE'S CONTROL OF THE COMPANY FROM THE 70% RANGE TO 83%.

ESSENTIALLY LEAVING GLENCORE AS ALMOST THE WHOLE OWNER OF THE POLY NET PROJECT.

IT'S INTERESTING FOR A COUPLE REASONS.

RECENTLY, POLY NET WENT INTO A JOINT VENTURE WITH TECH RESOURCES, AT COMPANY THAT HAS INTEREST IN THE DULUTH COMPLEX.

THESE INCLUDE COPPER, NICKEL, PALLADIUM.

OTHER PRECIOUS METALS THAT PLAY A BIG ROLE IN ELECTRONICS AND ENERGY TECHNOLOGY.

GLENCORE IS RUMORED TO BE INTERESTED IN BUYING TECH RESOURCES WHICH MEANS THAT THAT HASN'T HAPPENED YET.

IF THAT HAPPENS, COUPLED WITH THEIR INTEREST IN POLY NET MINDS , IF THAT ALL COMES TO FRUITION GLENCORE WOULD BE THE DOMINANT COMPANY IN NON-FERROUS MINING PROPOSALS IN NORTHEASTERN MINNESOTA.

♪ GOVERNOR TIM WALZ WAS IN ELY RECENTLY TALKING ABOUT HIS ADMINISTRATION'S PROPOSAL TO HAVE A CHILD CARE CREDIT CENTRALLY HELP PEOPLE IN NEED AFFORD THE HIGH COST OF CHILDCARE.

ANY PARENT ANYWHERE, NOT JUST IN MINNESOTA BUT CERTAINLY JUST ABOUT EVERYWHERE, KNOWS THE CHALLENGE IS ASSOCIATED WITH A CHILDCARE WHEN PARENTS WORK.

IT'S PROBABLY ONE OF THE GREAT CHALLENGES.

I'M CLOSE TO THE ISSUE.

MY MOTHER WORKED IN DAYCARE FOR HER WHOLE CAREER.

IT'S A TOUGH SITUATION.

THE CHILDCARE PROVIDERS DON'T MAKE MUCH.

EVEN IF THEY OWN THE COMPANY, THEY DON'T MAKE THAT MUCH.

THERE'S NOT MUCH MONEY TO BE MADE.

IT'S VERY EXPENSIVE BECAUSE IT'S A LOT OF MONEY GOING INTO TAKING CARE OF KIDS.

THERE'S A LOT OF REGULATIONS TO ENSURE CHILDREN SAFETY AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

IT'S A DIFFICULT CHALLENGE.

GOVERNOR WALZ AND OTHERS BELIEVE THAT THE STATE NEEDS TO GET MORE INVOLVED, HELP PEOPLE WHO NEED IT.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO THE ECONOMY.

IT OPENS THE BIG QUESTION OF, HOW DO WE CARE FOR OUR YOUNG CHILDREN IN OUR ECONOMY?

IN THE KIND OF ECONOMY THAT WE HAVE.

THE STATE LEGISLATURE IS WRESTLING WITH THIS.

THE STATUS OF THAT $10,500 UP -- A YEAR FOR A CREDIT WHICH WOULD BE A BIG BOON FOR PEOPLE IN NEED.

BUT THE STATUS AND A VERY COMPLEX BUDGET CYCLE THIS TIME AROUND, THERE'S DIFFERENT POINTS OF VIEW ON EXACTLY HOW TO ADMINISTER CHILDCARE.

♪ SPRING HAS FINALLY ARRIVED IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA.

THAT'S MOSTLY GOOD NEWS.

WE'VE HAD A LONG AND DIFFICULT WINTER.

VERY SNOWY.

ONE OF THOSE WORSE THAN AVERAGE WINTERS, PARTICULARLY IN CHARGE OF SNOWFALL.

WE'VE HAD A SLOW MELT OVER THE LAST MONTH OF MARCH AND APRIL.

JUST A FEW DAYS AGO, WE SAW SUSTAINED WARM STRETCH OR GET AN HONEST AMOUNT OF SUSTAINED MELTING.

OF COURSE, THAT CLEARED A LOT OF SNOW OUT OF OUR FIELDS ESPECIALLY IN SUNNY AREAS.

IT HAS PUT A LOT OF WATER INTO OUR STREETS AND ROADS.

THE RIVERS HAVE RIVEN -- RISEN ALMOST OVERNIGHT.

THE FROST WAS VERY LIGHT THIS YEAR.

A LOT OF THE GROUND HAS ABSORBED THE WATER.

FLOODING IS GOING TO BE A BIG CONCERN OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.

SO WE WILL KEEP AN EYE ON THAT.

ANY BIG RAINSTORM COULD COMPLICATE MATTERS.

AT LEAST WE HAVE SOME SUNLIGHT AND SUNSHINE AND WARMTH.

I EVEN SAW PEOPLE WEARING SHORTS.

♪ DENNIS: TRULY, IT WON'T BE LONG NOW UNTIL WE DO YARD WORK.

JULIE: I CAN'T WAIT.

I HAVE A BIG MOWER.

DENNIS: I WOULD RATHER DO THAT THAN SHOVEL SNOW.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

GOOD NIGHT EVERYBODY AND BE KIND.

♪