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

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

DENNIS: RESULTS OF MINNESOTA'S 2023 MOOSE SURVEY SHOW A RELATIVELY STABLE POPULATION, WE'LL TAKE A DEEPER LOOK.

JULIE: WE'LL TAKE YOU TO THE WELCOMING CEREMONY FOR THE FIRST SALTIE OF THE SEASON IN THE TWIN PORTS, WHICH SET AN EARLY ARRIVAL RECORD.

DENNIS: AND THE TENTH ANNUAL ZENITH DIGITAL MARKETING CONFERENCE WILL FEATURE SOME OF THE BRIGHTEST MARKETING MINDS IN THE WORLD.

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

♪ JULIE: HELLO, AND WELCOME TO ALMANAC NORTH.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

DENNY, IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME COMING, BUT SPRING-LIKE WEATHER IS FINALLY ARRIVING!

DENNIS: WE ARE STARTING TO SEE WARMER TEMPERATURES, A LOT OF SUNSHINE AGAIN TODAY, WHICH IS NICE TO SEE.

JULIE: AND WHERE I LIVE, A LITTLE BIT OF GRASS ON THE SIDES OF THE ROAD.

DENNIS: MY HOUSE TOO.

JULIE: LET'S BEGIN WITH THE HEADLINES.

DENNIS: THANKS, JULIE.

ALL EYES WERE ON WISCONSIN'S SPRING ELECTION THIS WEEK, AS THE STATE'S SUPREME COURT MAJORITY HUNG IN THE BALANCE.

DEMOCRAT JANET PROTASIEWICZ TOOK HOME THE VICTORY OVER REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE DAN KELLY.

THE DEMOCRATIC VICTORY MARKS THE FIRST TIME IN 15-YEARS THAT REPUBLICANS WON'T HOLD THE MAJORITY ON THE WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT.

JULIE: CONSTRUCTION WILL BEGIN MONDAY ON THE HIGHWAY 61 PIGEON RIVER BRIDGE AT THE UNITED STATES-CANADIAN BORDER.

TRAFFIC ACROSS THE BRIDGE WILL BE REDUCED TO A SINGLE LANE CONTROLLED BY TEMPORARY TRAFFIC SIGNALS.

THE BRIDGE DECK, LIGHTING, AND OTHER PARTS OF THE BRIDGE WILL BE REPLACED, WITH A FULL RE-OPENING SCHEDULED FOR OCTOBER.

DENNIS: A PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN HIGHLITING IMPROVEMENTS TO HOW SEXUAL ASSAULT CASES ARE HANDLED KICKED OFF THIS WEEK.

PAVSA, THE DULUTH POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND THE ST. LOUIS COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE ANNOUNCED REFORMS AND SAFEGUARDS TO THE SYSTEM THAT HANDLES THESE CASES.

THE A STEP FORWARD CAMPAIGN WILL HIGHLIGHT THE IMPROVEMENTS AND HELP FOR FOLKS WHO STEP UP AND REPORT SEXUAL VIOLENCE.

JULIE: AND THE ST. LOUIS COUNTY BOARD THIS WEEK PRESENTED ITS PUBLIC HEALTH ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS TO WORTHY RECIPIENTS.

AMONG THOSE HONORED WERE THE ELY COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER AND THE RURAL AIDS ACTION NETWORK.

THE COUNTY ALSO RECOGNIZED FIRST LADIES OF THE HILLSIDE, AND DULUTH CITY COUNCILOR TERESE TOMANEK FOR HER WORK DURING THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC.

DENNIS: THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES HAS RELEASED THE RESULTS OF THE 2023 AERIAL MOOSE STUDY, AND IT SHOWS A RELATIVELY STABLE POPULATION.

THE SURVEY IS DONE IN COOPERATION WITH CHIPPEWA TRIBES IN NORTHEASTERN MINNESOTA AND THE 1854 TREATY AUTHORITY.

HERE WITH MORE ON THE SURVEY IS MIKE SCHRAGE, WILDLIFE BIOLOGIST WITH THE FOND DU LAC BAND'S RESOURCE MANAGEMENT DIVISION.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.

I DO NOT KNOW OF A MORE MAJESTIC ANIMAL THAN THE MOOSE.

WHAT IS THAT POPULATION LIKE MINNESOTA?

>> IT HAS BEEN REALLY STABLE OVER THE LAST 8 TO 10 YEARS.

WE ESTIMATE 3002 4000 ANIMALS.

IF WE GO BACK TO LATE 1990'S, EARLY 2000'S, WE PROBABLY HAD TWICE AS MANY MOOSE AS WE HAVE NO, SO THE POPULATION HAS COME DOWN QUITE A BIT.

OUR FORESTS HAVE GOTTEN OLDER, HABITAT MAY BE NOT AS GOOD FOR MOOSE.

OTHER FACTORS, PREDATION, DISEASE, PARASITE HAVE PROBABLY CONTRIBUTED.

JULIE: TALK ABOUT HOW THE SURVEY IS CONDUCTED.

>> WE HAVE TWO CREWS OF THREE PEOPLE, A PILOT AND TWO OBSERVERS.

WE USE TWO HELICOPTERS.

WE ARE GENERALLY FLYING AT 250 TO 300 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND WHEN WE ARE ON OUR SURVEY TRANSITS.

50 TO 55 KNOTS.

WE ARE FLYING RECTANGULAR SURVEY PLOTS THAT ARE 13 MILES SQUARE IN SIZE AND WE ARE FLYING DOWN THE PLOT AND TURN AROUND AND COME BACK ON ANOTHER LINE.

THE LINES ARE ABOUT 1/3 OF A MILE APART, AND THAT ALLOWS US TO SEEK MOST OF THE DISTANCE IN BETWEEN THE LINE.

THE RECORDING DATA ON A LAPTOP COMPUTER WITH A GIS-BASED PROGRAM, SO WE HAVE REAL-TIME DATA ON THE MAP WHEN WE SEE THE MOOSE.

WHEN WE SEE A MOOSE OR MOOSES, MANY MOOSE, WE ARE EXPANDING CIRCLES AROUND THEM TO DETERMINE IF THEY ARE BULLS OR COWS.

AT SOME OF THE BULLS STILL HAVE ANTLERS.

ARE THERE CALVES WITH THEM?

WE ARE ALSO COLLECTING OTHER DATA THAT HELPS US ACCOUNT FOR MOOSE THAT ARE PROBABLY OUT THERE BUT THAT WE MISSED SEEING DURING OUR SURVEY.

DENNIS: CAN YOU DETERMINE HOW LONG THE MOOSE GENERALLY LIVES?

>> WE HAVE FROM OTHER STUDIES.

WE HAVE HAD COWS THAT I KNOW THAT HAVE BEEN AS OLD AS 20 YEARS OLD.

ONE BOWL WAS 16 YEARS OLD -- BULL WAS 16 YEARS OLD.

JULIE: YOU MENTIONED BEFORE WE WENT ON THE AIR THAT THE SURVEY WAS ONE OF YOUR FAVORITE TIMES OF THE YEAR.

TALK ABOUT THAT EXPERIENCE AND THE EXCITEMENT OF BEING OUT THERE AND SPOTTING ONE.

>> YOU ARE FLYING LOW AND FAST OVER THE TREES.

IT IS JUST AN ADRENALINE RUSH.

SEEING THINGS FROM THE AIR IS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE THAN SEEING THEM ON THE GROUND.

YOU FLY OVER IT LEGS AND SAY I REMEMBER CONDEMNING THERE THIS LAST SUMMER, AND NOW YOU ARE SEEING IT FROM THE AIR, AND YOU WERE SEEING MOOSE AND IN SOME PLACES A LOT OF MOOSE.

MOOSE ARE JUST A COOL ANIMAL.

WE SEE OTHER THINGS FROM TIME TO TIME, WOLVES, DEER, LYNX, OTTER, IT IS FUN.

DENNIS: WHERE IS THE MOST HEAVILY POPULATED MOOSE RANGE?

>> IT CAN VARY, AND OVER TIME THERE HAVE BEEN CHANGES.

CONSISTENTLY COOK COUNTY TENDS TO PRODUCE A LOT OF THEM OR THE HIGHEST DENSITY, BUT WE ALSO SEE MOOSE CONGREGATING IN AREAS SUCH AS SOME OF THESE BIG FIRES THAT HAVE HAPPENED.

MOOSE LIKE FIRE.

THEY LIKE THE YOUNG FOREST THAT COMES UP.

DENNIS: PLENTY TO EAT THERE.

>> PLENTY TO EAT THERE, AND MOOSE ARE 81 1000 POUND ANIMAL.

THEY NEED TO EAT A LOT.

SEE MOOSE IN AREAS THAT THAT IT BURNED INTO YEARS.

JULIE: CERTAINLY THEY ARE ICONIC ANIMALS IN MINNESOTA, BUT WHY ELSE WOULD THEY BE IMPORTANT TO REALLY HAVE A HEALTHY MOOSE POPULATION?

>> CERTAINLY ICONIC.

THEY ARE ALSO IMPORTANT FOR TRIBAL MEMBERS.

MOOSE AND MOOSE HUNTING ARE AN IMPORTANT PART OF TRIBAL CULTURE.

THEY ARE KIND OF AN INDICATOR SPECIES FOR OUR NORTHERN FORESTS.

IN MINNESOTA MOOSE ARE TOWARD THE SOUTH END OF THEIR RANGE.

THEY ARE MORE OF A NORTHERN ANIMAL, AND I THINK MOOSE ARE AN INDICATION OVER TIME OF HOW OUR NORTHERN FORESTS OR ECOSYSTEMS ARE DOING.

DENNIS: ON AVERAGE, AND HOW MANY CALVES ARE BORN A YEAR IN MINNESOTA?

>> MOST ADULT COW MOOSE GET PREGNANT AND HAVE ONE OR TWO CALVES.

PREDATION RATES ON CALVES ARE PRETTY HIGH.

WOLVES AND BEARS TAKE MOST OF THE MOOSE CALVES.

DISEASE, PARASITES GET A NUMBER OF THEM AS WELL.

THERE ARE ACCIDENTS, THINGS LIKE THAT.

YEAH, PREGNANCY RATES ARE GOOD, BUT PREDATION RATES ARE HIGH, AND THAT HAS SLOWED GROWTH OF THE HERD.

JULIE: HOW IS THE INFORMATION USED ONCE YOU GET ALL OF THIS DATA TOGETHER?

>> IT IS AN INDICATION TO WILDLIFE MANAGERS AS TO HOW THE MOOSE POPULATION ARE DOING.

NOT JUST HOW MANY ANIMALS ARE OUT THERE, BUT WHAT IS THE PERCENTAGE OF CALVES WE SEE IN MIDWINTER.

BULL-COW RATIOS AND OTHER METRICS WE CAN USE TO GAUGE THE HEALTH OF THE HERD.

DENNIS: THANKS, MIKE, FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.

GREAT CONVERSATION.

♪ JULIE: IT'S TIME NOW FOR VOICES OF THE REGION, WHEN AN AREA JOURNALIST SHARES STORIES IN THE NEWS.

OUR GUEST THIS WEEK IS MARSHALL HELMBERGER, PUBLISHER OF THE TIMBERJAY NEWS.

♪ >> WE ARE REPORTING THE LATEST ON A TRULY MAD THAT IN CASE WHERE A 20-YEAR-OLD MAN INTENTIONALLY RAN DOWN THREE DEAR -- DEER, LEAVING THEM PARTIALLY PARALYZED AND DINE ON THE ROAD.

THE INDIVIDUAL NAMED CASEY MEADOWS IS FROM SOUTH DAKOTA AND HAS BEEN LIVING IN ENID WHERE HE HAS BEEN ATTENDING A COMMUNITY COLLEGE MAJORING IN NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT.

HE WAS DRIVING BACK IN HIS PICKUP TRUCK WHEN HE SAW THE THREE DEER IN THE ROAD TRAPPED BEHIND HIGH SNOWBANKS ON EITHER SIDE AREA HE HAS SINCE ADMITTED TO LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT HE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE FUN TO RUN THE DEER OVER, WHICH HE MANAGED TO DO.

THE ST. LOUIS COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE HAS FILED THREE COUNTS OF USING A VEHICLE TO RUN DOWN WILDLIFE.

EACH COUNT IS A MISDEMEANOR THAT COMES WITH EIGHT MAXIMUM PENALTY OF 90 DAYS IN JAIL AND OR $1000 FINE.

WHILE MEADOWS MAY NOT FACE JAIL TIME, IT WILL BE EXPENSIVE NONETHELESS AND HE SHATTERED WHATEVER REPUTATION HE HAD IN TOWN.

NEWS SPREAD QUICKLY IN THE AREA AND ELSEWHERE ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

MANY PEOPLE HAVE CALLED FOR A MUCH STIFFER PENALTY THAN WHAT HE IS LIKELY TO FACE.

THE STORY GOT PICKED UP WIDELY IN NEWSPAPERS AND TELEVISION, AND IT IS LIKELY TO FOLLOW THIS YOUNG MAN FOR SOME TIME.

♪ WE ARE ALSO FOLLOWING THE STRUGGLES OF THE CITY COUNCIL IN REGULATING THE SALE OF CANNABINOID PRODUCTS SUCH AS EDIBLES AND BEVERAGES THAT CONTAIN TOC -- THC, THE PSYCHOACTIVE CHEMICAL IN MARIJUANA.

THE CHANGE IN STATE LAW WHICH OPENED THE DOOR TO LOW DOSE THC PRODUCTS IN MINNESOTA PROMPTED A NUMBER OF BUSINESSES TO BEGIN SELLING THE PRODUCTS.

WHEN A BUSINESS OWNER FROM NEARBY COOK INQUIRED ABOUT OPENING A SHOP, THE CITY COUNCIL ENACTED A MORATORIUM ON THE PERMITTING OF ANY NEW POINT-OF-SALE WHILE THEY DRAFTED A NEW ORDINANCE TO REGULATE THE ACTIVITY.

IT HAS TAKEN A LOT LONGER THAN THEY EXPECTED, AS THE COUNCIL MORE THAN ONCE HAS REJECTED DRAFTS PROPOSED BY A CITY COMMITTEE SET UP TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS, BUT LATE LAST MONTH THE COUNCIL FINALLY GAVE THE FIRST READING TO AN ORDINANCE AND MADE IT OFFICIAL THIS SECOND WEEKEND.

IT WILL GO INTO EFFECT APRIL 8 AND WILL ALLOW BOTH ON AND OFF SALE OF THC INFUSED PRODUCTS.

WHILE SOME ON THE COUNCIL WERE OPPOSED TO ALLOWING ON SALE, THE MAJORITY OF THE COUNCIL DECIDED TO LET THE MARKET DECIDE THAT ONE.

♪ FINALLY, WE ARE FOLLOWING A PROPOSAL FOR A 10TH CAMPGROUND ON A LARGE CHUNK OF UNDEVELOPED PROPERTY ON THE FAR NORTH TEST -- NORTHWEST END OF THE LAKE.

A TEXAS-BASED DEVELOPER WHO HAS FOUNDED A MINNESOTA NONPROFIT WANTS TO PURCHASE THIS SPECTACULAR POINT NEAR THE ENTRANCE TO BLACKBERRY FOR THE CREATION OF A FACILITY TO EXPERIENCE FOR DISABLED VETERANS AND OTHER GROUPS.

THE PLAN WOULD REQUIRE A CHANGE IN ZONING, AND THAT IS SET TO GOING TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION ON APRIL 13.

THE PROSPECTS FOR THE REQUEST ARE FAVORABLE, GIVEN COUNTY PLANNING STAFF HAS BEEN PRETTY CRITICAL OF THE PROPOSED ZONING CHANGE, WHICH WOULD PERMIT THE AREA CURRENTLY ZONED AS RESIDENTIAL WHICH WOULD ALLOW A CAMPGROUND FOR AN ADDITIONAL USE PERMIT.

THE COUNTY SAYS IT AMOUNTS TO SPOT ZONING AND THERE IS NO BENEFIT TO THE CHANGE.

NEIGHBORS IN THE AREA ARE ALO OPPOSED.

AT THEY HAVE HAD THE BENEFIT OF HAVING THIS LARGE TRACK OF LAND WITH CLIPS AND THOUSANDS OF FEET OF SHORELINE REMAIN UNDEVELOPED, EVEN AS OTHER PARTS OF THE LAKE I HAVE EXPERIENCED NEW DEVELOPMENT.

THEY SUBMITTED A PETITION REQUIRING AN ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT, WHICH THE DEVELOPER HAS OFFERED TO UNDERTAKE.

IT WILL NOT BE NEEDED IF THE ZONING CHANGE IS NOT APPROVED.

AT THE DEVELOPER SAYS SHE WILL TAKE THE QUESTION TO COURT IF SHE DOES NOT GET APPROVAL FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION.

♪ JULIE: LATER THIS MONTH, THE TENTH ANNUAL ZENITH DIGITAL MARKETING CONFERENCE WILL BE HELD IN DULUTH.

THE CONFERENCE WELCOMES NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY KNOWN EXPERTS IN DIGITAL MARKETING TO THE ZENITH CITY.

AMONG THE TOPICS WILL BE THE RISE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN DIGITAL MARKETING.

HERE WITH MORE IS MARTY WEINTRAUB, FOUNDER OF DULUTH'S AIMCLEAR, AN INTEGRATED MARKETING FIRM.

AND AUBREY HAGEN IS THE DULUTH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE'S DIRECTOR OF MEMBERSHIP DEVELOPMENT.

THE CHAMBER AND AIMCLEAR PARTNER TO PUT ON THE CONFERENCE.

THANKS TO BOTH OF YOU FOR BEING HERE.

REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

MARTY, OUR PRODUCER GREG GRELL WAS GOING TO USE CHAT GP TO WRITE THE INTRO TO THIS DISCUSSION, BUT DECIDED AGAINST IT.

HOW DO YOU THINK HE DID?

>> IF HE USED CHAT GPT 4, IT MIGHT BE SOMEWHAT RIGHT.

JULIE: TALK TO US ABOUT THE CONFERENCE AND WHO THIS CONFERENCE IS REALLY DESIGNED TO HELP?

>> THE CONFERENCE IS DESIGNED TO ANYONE WHO HAS MARKETING RESPONSIBILITY, STARTING WITH A PERSON WHO OWNS A SMALL BUSINESS OR SOMEONE WHO WORKS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF A LARGER OR MIDSIZE COMPANY WITH STAKEHOLDERS OR A PR OR ADVERTISING OR DIGITAL MARKETING AGENCY.

WE BRING IN THE SAME TOP SPEAKERS THAT YOU WILL SEE IN NEW YORK OR SAN FRANCISCO OR PORTLAND OR L.A. OR LONDON, AND IT IS THE SAME TOPICS.

THE PERKS OF THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE RIGHT HERE AT DOME.

THE CONTENT IS ACCESSIBLE FOR PEOPLE AT ALL LEVELS AND COMES IN AT ABOUT 1/10 OF THE COST.

DENNIS: WALK US THROUGH WHAT A MARKETING COMPANY DOES.

>> THAT IS MARTY'S EXPERIENCE.

WE PLAN THIS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH AIMCLEAR.

WE ARE PLANNING THE VENUES AND GETTING AUDIO VIDEO SET UP, WE SELL THE TICKETS AND AIMCLEAR DOES ALL OF THE CONTENT.

WE ARE SO GRATEFUL TO HAVE THEM AS MARKETING EXPERTS, ESPECIALLY DIGITAL MARKETING, BECAUSE THAT IS SEEN SUCH AN EVOLUTION.

I WROTE MY PAPER ON DIGITAL MARKETING AND THE PAPER IS ALREADY OLD-FASHIONED BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY NEW THINGS GOING ON, AND MARTY HAS HELPED LIGHT UP THOSE TOPICS.

CHAT GPT, THE RISE OF TIKTOK.

>> MARKETING IS ABOUT SELLING STUFF WHERE YOU MAKE MORE MONEY DID IT COST YOU TO SELL IT.

IT IS AS SIMPLE AS THAT.

IT IS ABOUT GETTING THE RIGHT MESSAGES OUT TO THE RIGHT AUDIENCE AND HELPING THEM FULFILL BY CONVERTING SO HOW.

EITHER TO BE AMONG A LEAD FOR YOUR COMPANY OR SELL THEM SOMETHING.

WHAT IS IMPORTANT ABOUT ZENITH IS IT IS THE PRIMARY FUNDING MECHANISM FOR FUSE, THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IS INSIDE ORGANIZATIONS THAT HELPS KEEP GRADUATING STUDENTS IN DULUTH.

>> FUSE IS NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART AS A YOUNG PROFESSIONAL.

THIS IS OUR BIGGEST FUNDRAISER OF THE YEAR AND HELP SUPPORT OUR PROGRAM AND MISSION, WHICH IS TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN YOUNG LOCAL TALENT IN THIS AREA, AND A LOT OF YOUNG PROFESSIONALS COME TO ZENITH.

WE HAVE A $99 RATE THAT STUDENTS CAN UTILIZE.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO OUR ORGANIZATION AS THE CHAMBER AND DIFFUSE INITIATIVE SO WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE PARTNERSHIP.

>> ALL OF THE TOP LINE REVENUE GOES DIFFUSE.

JULIE: YOU MENTIONED THIS IS SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE OF ALL KNOWLEDGE LEVELS CAN PARTICIPATE IN, BUSINESSES OF ALL SIZES CAN TAKE PART IN IT.

IS IT POSSIBLE TO DO A SUCCESSFUL DIGITAL MARKETING CAMPAIGN THESE DAYS OR DO A GOOD JOB WITH DIGITAL MARKETING WITHOUT SPENDING A BUNCH OF MONEY?

>> YES, IT IS.

IN FACT, WE LIKE TO BE JUDGED ON HOW LITTLE MONEY WE SPEND TO SELL THE MOST STUFF, SO WHAT IS COOL ABOUT ZENITH IS THEY DEMYSTIFY THE PROCESS AND BRINGS IT DOWN TO A LEVEL THAT MOST PEOPLE WILL UNDERSTAND.

IT IS A WORLD WHERE IT IS WROUGHT WITH BUZZWORDS AND HIGHLY TECHNICAL PHRASES AND A WORLD THAT HAS BEEN TURNED UPSIDE DOWN BY ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, WHICH IS AN OVERNIGHT THING JUST WAITING FOR A GOOD 15 YEARS OR SO.

WHAT IS NEAT ABOUT ZENITH IS WHILE A LOT OF MARKETERS -- NOT A LOT OF MARKETERS WILL LOSE THEIR JOBS TO AI, BUT A GOOD ABOUT OF MARKETERS WILL LOSE THEIR JOBS TO OTHER MARKETERS WHO USE AI, SO WHAT IS SPECIAL ABOUT THIS YEAR'S CONFERENCE IS WHATEVER YOUR LEVEL OF ACCOMPLISHMENT IS IN MARKETING, THE ACTIVES SELLING THINGS FOR LESS MONEY THAN YOU MAKE WILL BE A REALLY GREAT LEVEL SET FOR FOLKS WHO WERE WONDERING AROUND THE TREE WONDERING, OH MY GOODNESS, IN THIS AGE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO OUR PROFESSION?

QUITE A FEW OF THE ROLES ARE ON THAT LIST OF THE MILLIONS OF JOBS THREATENED BY EMERGENT AI.

JULIE: I WOULD'VE THOUGHT ABOUT PUTTING SOME INTERVIEWS AND AI AND SEE WHAT COMES OUT FOR ARTICLES.

>> IS SUPER GOOD TO DROP THE ENTIRE TRANSCRIPT OF YOUR SHOW AND ASK FOR SUMMARIES.

DENNIS: WHAT MARKETING CONCERNS WILL BE COVERED AT THE CONFERENCE?

>> I WAS READING THROUGH THE AGENDA AND THERE IS A TON ABOUT SEO, JACK - -CHAT GPT, TIKTOK.

>> PINTEREST, INSTAGRAM, TIKTOK.

DENNIS: THERE ARE A LOT OF WAYS TO MARKET PRODUCTS.

>> THERE ARE A LOT OF CHANNELS, SO WHAT WILL BE COVERED IS SOUP TO NUTS THE CHANNELS OF TECHNIQUES THAT IS STREET-LEVEL AND MARKETING LEADERS USE THESE DAYS WITH LOTS OF USE CASE STUDIES FOR HOW TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

JULIE: HOW DO PEOPLE REGISTER OR ARE THERE STILL OPENINGS?

>> YOU CAN REGISTER AT DULUTHCHAMBER.COM.

WE WILL HAVE VOLUNTEERS AT THE EVENT, SO IF IT IS YOUR FIRST TIME IT ZENITH WE WILL GUIDE YOU TO WHICH TRACK WOULD BE BEST FOR YOUR BUSINESS.

A TICKET IS $299, $99 DOLLARS FOR STUDENTS AND WE HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE.

DENNIS: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WITH SHIPPING SEASON FULLY UNDERWAY HERE IN THE TWIN PORTS, SALTIES FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD WILL BE ENTERING OUR HARBOR.

PRODUCER MEGAN MCGARVEY AND VIDEOGRAPHER OWEN ZAGRABELNEE CLIMBED ABOARD THE FEDERAL DART TO GIVE US THIS INSIDE LOOK AT THE SEASON'S FIRST INTERNATIONAL SHIP.

♪ >> A TRUE SIGN OF SPRING IN THE TWIN PORTS IS WHEN AN INTERNATIONAL SHIP COMES FROM THE ATLANTIC INTO LAKE SUPERIOR'S WATERS AND INTO OUR HARBOR.

OUR TEAM WAS ABLE TO COME ABOARD THE FEDERAL DART TO TALK ABOUT THEIR RECORD-BREAKING VOYAGE.

>> TRANSPORTING 23,000 TONS OF TURKISH CEMENT, IT ARRIVED UNDER THE BRANCH ON MARCH 28 AT 3:30 P.M.

THE IMMEDIATE WAS DIVIDED TO WELCOME THE FIRST SEAFARING SHIP AND TO CELEBRATE.

>> NOT ONLY DID WE GET TO CELEBRATE OPENING DAY OF THE MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL SCHEDULE.

WE GET TO CELEBRATE OUR FIRST SHIP, AND NOT JUST ANY FIRST SHIP, BUT THE RECORD BREAKER.

THE EARLIEST ARRIVING SALTIE IN THE SPORT EVER.

>> WE NEVER HAVE RECEIVED SHIP THIS EARLY SINCE WE OPENED.

THAT IS THE EVENT THAT OPENED THE SPORT TO INTERNATIONAL VESSELS -- PORT TO INTERNATIONAL VESSELS.

WE HAVE RECEIVED 20 VESSELS, 20 ARRIVALS SINCE THE LOCKS OPENED LAST SATURDAY.

IT IS WONDERFUL TO BE CELEBRATING HERE AT THIS FACILITY.

THIS FACILITY IS SPECIAL TO US.

IT WAS BUILT IN 1982 ON LAND OWNED AND LEASED BY THE PORT AUTHORITY.

IT WAS NAMED BY THE MINNESOTA SOCIETY OF ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS AS ONE OF THE SEVEN WONDERS OF ENGINEERING IN MINNESOTA, AND IT REMAINS A WONDER TO THIS DAY.

♪ >> THE INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANIZATION CREATED A CARBON INDEX IN 2020 32 RATE SHIP ENVIRONMENTAL EFFICIENCY ON A SCALE FROM A TO E. A BEING THE BEST OR MOST ENVIRONMENTALLY EFFICIENT.

WE SAT DOWN WITH THE CAPTAIN OF THE FEDERAL DART TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CONDITIONS THE SHIP WENT THROUGH TO GET TO DULUTH.

>> [INDISCERNIBLE] IT WAS QUITE A SMOOTH JOURNEY.

TO SEE LIGHTS AFTER A LONG TIME.

WE HAD A FEW ICE PATCHES.

IT WAS CLEAR, NO ICE AT ALL.

AS SOON AS WE GOT THE VOYAGE INSTRUCTIONS AND TO BE CALIBRATED THE DISTANCE AND TIME REQUIRED TO REACH IT, I KNEW WE WOULD BE ONE OF THE FIRST ONES.

WE WERE THERE ON THE 22ND IN THE EVENING.

WE KNEW WE WERE THE FIRST ONES COMING IN.

WE KNEW WE WERE THE FIRST ONES.

IT IS ONE OF THE LESS PORTS IN THE U.S., SO THAT MAKES IT REALLY SPECIAL.

[HORN SOUNDING] ♪ >> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS SO FUN ABOUT HAVING A PORT IS WATCHING THE HISTORY HAPPEN, AND THIS IS A SIGN OF SPRING.

HAVING AN INTERNATIONAL PORT IS A TREMENDOUS ECONOMIC DRIVER FOR OUR REGION, FOR THIS COMMUNITY, AND WHENEVER I TRAVEL.

I AM ACTUALLY A HOMEBODY, SO I DO NOT LIKE TO TRAVEL BUT WHEN I DO I GET TO TALK ABOUT DULUTH PEOPLE.

THEY KNOW THIS PORT, THIS REGION.

AT THEY UNDERSTAND HOW BLESSED WE ARE TO HAVE THIS ECONOMIC ENGINE FIRING ON ALL CYLINDERS.

>> NOW WITH ALL OF THE CEMENT OFFLOADING THE FEDERAL DART WILL DEPART THE SEAWAY SYSTEM, THIS TIME TRANSPORTING GRAIN.

♪ JULIE: WE'RE OUT OF TIME, BUT YOU CAN KEEP UP WITH ALMANAC NORTH BY FOLLOWING US ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.

POINT YOUR BROWSER 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 WHENEVER YOU WANT.

DENNY, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WARMER WEATHER THESE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS!

DENNIS: I LOVE SPRING.

I JUST HOPE IT REALLY HITS.

JULIE: I THINK IT IS GOING TO.

NO FALSE STARTS.

FOR DENNIS ANDERSON AND THE CREW AT ALMANAC NORTH, I'M JULIE ZENNER.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME!

♪