>> YEARS WITH COMING UP ON "ALMANAC NORTH" -- >> WE WILL TALK WITH EIGHTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT REGENT HAD JOHNSON.

>> WE WILL HAVE THE STORY OF A GROUP OF MUSICIANS PLAYING HOMEGROWN TO HONOR A LOST BEEN MEMBER.

>> AND PBS HISTORY SERIES "MINNESOTA HISTORIA" RETURNS FOR SEASON TWO.

>> THOSE STORIES AND MORE FROM AROUND THE REGION COMING UP NEXT ON "ALMANAC NORTH."

♪ HELLO AND WELCOME TO "ALMANAC NORTH."

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

IT HAS BEEN A BIG WEEK OF LIVE MUSIC WITH A HOMEGROWN MUSIC FESTIVAL.

>> IT HAS BEEN A STEADY WEEK OF MUSIC AND I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE ENJOYED THE ENTERTAINMENT.

>> AND MORE TO COME THIS WEEKEND.

>> THEY STILL CAN.

THAT'S RIGHT.

>> THE MINNESOTA DNR HAS RECOMMENDED CLEVELAND CLIFFS BE AWARDED THE STATE IRON FOR LEASES AT A NATIONAL MINE SITE.

THE MINNESOTA EXECUTIVE COUNCIL WILL MAKE THE FINAL DECISION AT ITS MAY 25 MEETING.

APPROVAL OF THE LEASES WILL EXTEND THE LIFE OF CLIFFS HITTING TACONITE, WHICH IS RUNNING OUT OF OR IN ITS MINE PITS.

>> THE SUPERIOR NATIONAL FOREST AND THREE CHIPPEWA TRIBES HAVE SIGNED A HISTORIC AGREEMENT.

THE FOREST SERVICE ADDING GRAND PORTAGE FOND DU LAC TRIBES, THE MEMORANDUM RECOGNIZES THE TRIBES AS ORIGINAL STEWARDS AND ASSURES TRIBAL INPUT IS INCORPORATED INTO FOREST MANAGEMENT DECISIONS.

>> ST. LUKE'S CELEBRATED A GROUNDBREAKING THIS WEEKEND FOR A MAJOR EXPANSION OF ITS DULUTH CAMPUS.

PHASE TWO OF ITS HEALTH FORWARD INITIATIVE INCLUDES MILLIONS OF SPENDING.

ST. LUKE'S IS EXPANDING BUILDING A UPDATING ALL HOSPITAL ROOMS INTO PRIVATE ROOMS AND REBUILDING THE OLD PARKING RAMP.

>> THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA DULUTH WILL CELEBRATE ABOUT 2000 GRADUATES.

GRADUATES WILL GET THEIR DIPLOMAS DURING CEREMONIES AT 2:00 AND 3:00 P.M. >> PART OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA SOUGHT NEW REGIONS ELECTED THIS WEEK BY THE MINNESOTA LEGISLATURE.

THE 12-MEMBER BOARD OF REGENTS IS THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE UNIVERSITY MAKING MAJOR DECISIONS ON ITS MISSION AND GOALS.

JOINING US NOW IS REGENT THAD JOHNSON, THE EIGHTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE ON THE BOARD WHO WAS REELECTED THIS WEEK.

WELCOME.

THANKS FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.

WHAT IS THE WORK OF THE BOARD OF REGENTS?

>> THE BOARD OF REGENTS IS ESSENTIALLY -- FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU WERE TO SUE THE MINNESOTA, I FOUND OUT YOU ARE SUING ME.

>> I SEE.

>> WHEN I WAS A PROFESSOR, WE WOULD APPLY FOR FUNDS UNDER A GRANT, BUT IT WOULD ALWAYS HAVE THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA REGENCY AS APPLYING FOR THE GRANT TO WHATEVER FOUNDATION.

IT IS A 12-MEMBER BOARD.

THERE'S NO PAY, BUT WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR AND NUMBER OF THINGS, INCLUDING HIRING A NEW PRESIDENT.

>> YOU'RE WORKING ON NOW.

THAT'S THE BIG ONE.

>> THIS WILL BE YOUR FIRST FULL TERM BECAUSE YOU WERE APPOINTED ABOUT A YEAR AGO TO FILL IN WHEN DAVE MCMILLAN TRANSFERRED TO UMD.

WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO CONTINUE THAT WORK?

>> IT IS KIND OF LIKE -- IT IS NO LITTLE BOY'S DREAM TO BECOME A REGENT FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA, BUT HAVING WORKED IN THE SYSTEM AND SEEN THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CHANGES THAT REGENTS CAN MAKE, AND ALL THESE FOLKS WERE URGING ME TO DO IT, AND THEY HAD BEEN REGENTS IN THE PAST, AND THEY SAID, YOU WILL BE SURPRISE HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT IT AFTER SIX YEARS, SO WE DO GET TO MAKE RATHER LARGE DECISIONS THAT LAST FOR A HUNDRED YEARS AND BE OF GREAT IMPORTANCE TO THE THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS WHO ATTEND THE UNIVERSITY.

WE PASS ON POLICIES, WE PASS ON WHO GETS TENURE, WHO DOESN'T, AND SO ON.

WE ARE THE LAST STOP.

THE PRESIDENT REPORTS TO US, WHICH IS KIND OF IRONIC BECAUSE I WAS REPORTING TO THE PRESIDENT IN THE JOB I HAD RIGHT BEFORE THIS AND WE SWITCHED CHAIRS.

>> OTHER THAN SELECTING A NEW PRESIDENT, WHAT NEEDS IMMEDIATE ATTENTION FROM THE BOARD OF REGENTS?

>> ONE OF OUR SHORTCOMINGS IN RECENT YEARS HAS BEEN OUR LACK OF COMMUNICATION WITH THE MEDIA AND THE LEGISLATURE ESPECIALLY.

GOVERNOR WALZ, AS JULIE WAS SAYING, APPOINTED ME BECAUSE THE LEGISLATURE WAS OUT OF SESSION IN JULY, SO I GOT APPOINTED TO SERVE THE EIGHTH DISTRICT SEAT, AND ORDER TO BECOME -- BEGIN THE TERM, THERE'S ONLY TWO TIMES WITH THE STATE REGION GETS TOGETHER, ONE IS FOR THE STATE ADDRESS AND THE OTHER IS JUDY -- CHOOSING A REGENT.

200 PEOPLE VOTED.

I DID A LOT.

I WAS POUNDING THE STEPS OF THE CAPITAL MEETING WITH EVERYBODY ON THE HIGHER ED COMMITTEE.

IT IS A TOUGH PROCESS.

I'VE MANAGED TO SQUEEZE THROUGH THAT.

THREE OTHER FOLKS WERE REALLY EXCELLENT.

ONE IS A NURSE AHEAD OF THE NURSES UNION.

THE OTHER RAN THE ALINA HEALTH SYSTEM.

WE HAVE AN EXCELLENT BOARD AND THEY ARE FILLING IN SOME SPOTS.

I'M STILL TRYING TO FILL IN DAVE MCMILLAN'S SHOES.

I STILL HAVE TO WORK AT THAT.

>> FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY, A MAJORITY OF REGENTS ARE WOMEN.

>> INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, THE MAJORITY OF STUDENTS AT THE UNIVERSITY ARE NOW WOMEN.

THAT IS TRUE OF UNIVERSITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY.

WE HAVE NO FOUR REFERRED TO AS THE BIPOC GROUP AND SEVEN WOMEN, SO I THINK THE BOARD IS CHANGING TO LOOK A LITTLE MORE LIKE MINNESOTA.

I WAS THE FIRST NATIVE AMERICAN TO SERVE ON THE BOARD OF REGENTS IN 171 YEARS.

ANYWAY, IT IS A REALLY TOUGH PROCESS TO GET TO, BUT WHEN YOU GET THERE, YOU HAVE TO MAKE SOME VERY IMPORTANT DECISIONS, AND YOU GET A LOT OF PRATEEK FROM THE MEDIA.

>> YOU OPEN DIALOGUE ON THE TRUTH PROJECT.

WHAT IS THAT ALL ABOUT?

>> MY JOB BEFORE BECOMING A REGENT WAS SENIOR AMERICAN OF AMERICAN INDIAN TRIBAL NATION RELATIONS.

I HAD READ INTERNS FROM THE HUMPHREY SCHOOL.

THEY CAME TO ME.

THEY'LL HAVE TO DO AN INTERNSHIP, AND I SAID, I DON'T HAVE A BUDGET, I DON'T HAVE MONEY, YOU GUYS.

AND THEY SAID, WE WANT TO WORK WITH YOU, SO I SAID, HERE'S WHAT I'M THINKING HAS NOT BEEN WRITTEN.

IT WAS A REPORT ON THE UNIVERSITY'S RELATIONSHIP WITH THE 11 TRIBES OF MINNESOTA.

THEY THEN MANAGED TO APPLY FOR A GRANT WITH THE MELLON FOUNDATION TO GET FUNDING, SO THEY MANAGE TO THEN PAY THEMSELVES.

BUT ALSO WE GAVE THE MONEY OVER TO MINNESTA INDIAN AFFAIRS COUNCIL EACH OF THE TRIBES HAD A PERSON WE TRAINED TO DO RESEARCH IN OUR CAUSE.

>> WITH THAT, WE HAVE TO LEAVE THAT STORY.

THAAD JOHNSON, U OF M BOARD OF REGENTS.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

♪ >> IT IS TIME FOR VOICES OF THE REGION FEATURING AREA JOURNALISTS AND THE STORIES THEY HAVE BEEN COVERING.

>> AFTER AN EXPLOSION FIVE YEARS AGO, WISCONSIN'S ONLY OIL REFINERY IS STARTING UP AFTER A $1.2 BILLION REBUILD EFFORT.

THE EXPLOSION HAPPENED ON APRIL 26, 2018.

IT IS HARD FOR MOST PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE TO FORGET THAT DAY.

AFTER 17,000 BARRELS OF OIL SPILLED AFTER -- OUT OF AN ASPHALT TANK DUE TO THE EXPLOSION WHEN DEBRIS HIT THE TANK, AND LUCKILY, A NEARBY TANK HOLDING A TOXIC CHEMICAL CONTAINING HCL DID NOT SPELL, BUT IT DID PROMPT AN EVACUATION TEMPORARILY OF ABOUT 2500 PEOPLE IN THE CITY OF 27,000 OVER FEARS OF A POTENTIAL RELEASE.

NOW AFTER ALL THIS TIME, WE ARE SEEING THE REFINERY BEGIN TO RESUME OPERATIONS.

THEY ARE BEGINNING TO START UP AND RAMP UP.

THEY RECEIVED I BELIEVE CRUDE OIL IN MARCH AT THE REFINERY, AND NOW THEY ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK TO BUSINESS.

THE COST OF THIS REBUILD TRIPLED FROM INITIAL PROJECTIONS.

ORIGINALLY, WE THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO COST AROUND $400 MILLION.

NOW IT IS $1.2 BILLION AT LEAST, AND IT TOOK YEARS LONGER THAN EXPECTED BECAUSE OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, WHICH SHUT DOWN WORK AT THE REFINERY FOR A PORTION OF TIME.

AS THE REFINERY IS STARTING UP, THEY WILL SEE MORE WORKERS THERE ON SITE.

I BELIEVE IT IS AROUND 350 WORKERS WHO WILL BE THERE NOW AT THE REFINERY COMPARED TO THE 200 WORKERS WHO WERE WORKING THERE YEAR-ROUND PREVIOUSLY, AND THAT IS BECAUSE THEY HAVE ADDITIONAL PROTOCOLS AND PROCEDURES TO ENSURE SAFETY AT THE PLANT IN THE WAKE OF THE EXPLOSION.

IN NORTHERN WISCONSIN, EVERYBODY KNOWS WE HAVE SEEN A RAPID LOSS OF SNOW AND A LOT OF RAIN RECENTLY WITH THE SPRING.

WE WERE ALL ENJOYING WARM OR TO PURCHASE, WE HAVE SEEN FLOODING AS A RESULT, AND SPRING FLOODING HAS WORSENED RIVERBANK EROSION.

THAT HAS HEIGHTENED FEARS FOR SOME THAT THERE MAY BE AN EXPOSURE OF THE LINE FIVE PIPELINE.

THEY FILED A JOINT BRIEF AND INFORMED THE COURT THAT BASICALLY ABOUT 10 FEET OR UP TO 10 FEET OF RIVERBANK HAS BEEN LOST IN SOME SPOTS ALONG THE RIVER, DRAWING IT CLOSER TO THE PIPELINE.

RIGHT NOW, THE SHORTEST DISTANCE BETWEEN THE PIPELINE AND THE RIVER IS ROUGHLY 17 TO 18 FEET.

FOR SOME ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS AND INDIGENOUS-LED GROUPS LIKE THE SIERRA CLUB WISCONSIN AND HONOR THE EARTH, THEY ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT THAT MIGHT MEAN FOR THE POTENTIAL OF IT BECOMING EXPOSED, AND THE SPILL.

CAMBRIDGE HAS SAID THAT THEIR PIPELINE CONTINUES TO OPERATE SAFELY, THAT THEY ARE MONITORING THE CONDITIONS AT THE SITE, WHICH IS CALLED THE MEANDER ON THE RED RIVER RESERVATION, BUT THE TRIBE CONTENDS THE PIPELINE POSES AN UNREASONABLE RISK TO HEALTH AND SAFETY, AND IN 2019, THEY SUED AMBRIDGE TO SHUT DOWN AND REMOVE THE PIPELINE FROM THEIR RESERVATION.

THAT LAWSUIT IS STILL ONGOING.

♪ SO MORE THAN 4000 PEOPLE COULD RECEIVE ACCESS TO TREATMENT FOR OPIOID ADDICTION THROUGH $8 MILLION IN GRANTS THAT WERE AWARDED TO THE WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES AS OPIOID-RELATED DEATHS HAVE CLIMBED TO RECORD HIGHS.

THE WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES ANNOUNCED THE GRANTS LAST WEEK, AND THIS MONEY COMES FROM ABOUT $13 MILLION THAT HAS BEEN AWARDED TO THE STATE TO ADDRESS THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC.

HERE IN WISCONSIN, ACCORDING TO MOST RECENT DATA, WHICH IS 2021, THERE WERE 1400 DEATHS OR JUST ABOUT 1400 OPIOID OVERDOSE DEATHS IN WISCONSIN, AND THAT HAS BEEN INCREASING YEAR AFTER YEAR HERE IN THE STATE, SO THESE GRANTS ARE INTENDED TO SUPPORT COUNTIES AND TRIBES WHO RECEIVE THAT FUNDING TO HELP PEOPLE ACCESS TREATMENT, AND THAT WOULD INCLUDE MEDICATION-ASSISTED TREATMENT LIKE METHADONE AND OTHERS.

IT WOULD ALSO SUPPORT BEHAVIORAL THERAPIES AND OTHER RECOVERY SUPPORTS FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED IT.

HERE IN THE CITY OF SUPERIOR, THE SUPERIOR POLICE DEPARTMENT SAID THEY SAW 69 OVERDOSES LAST YEAR, WHICH INCREASED BY ABOUT 21% FROM 2021, AND THAT INCLUDES INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE DIED OR OVERDOSES THAT WERE REVERSED WITH OPIOID OVERDOSE REVERSAL MEDICATION KNOWN AS NARCAN.

♪ >> FANS OF NORTH LAND HISTORY WILL BE HAPPY TO HEAR THAT PBS NORTH'S MINNESOTA HISTORIANS SERIES IS BACK FOR SEASON TWO.

THE QUIRKY SERIES RELEASES A NEW EPISODE EVERY WEDNESDAY ON YOUTUBE FOR THE NEXT SIX WEEKS.

HERE WITH MORE ABOUT THE NEW SEASON IS THE HOST OF MINNESOTA HISTORIA AND THE PRODUCER.

WELCOME, BOTH OF YOU, AND CONGRATULATIONS ON THE START OF SEASON TWO.

IT IS REALLY EXCITING.

HARD TO BELIEVE, BUT THERE MIGHT BE ONE OR TWO ALMANAC NORTH VIEWERS WHO DON'T REGULARLY GO TO YOUTUBE, SO MIGHT NOT BE RIGHT -- MIGHT NOT BE REALLY FAMILIAR WITH WHAT THE SHOW IS ABOUT.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE IT?

>> I DESCRIBE IT AS QUIRKY, OFFBEAT HISTORY, FUN FACT MADE LONG IN VIDEO FORM.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY?

>> PEOPLE GO TO COCKTAIL PARTY STILL, THESE ARE THE KIND OF FACTS YOU CAN SHARE AT A COCTEAU PARTY.

THIS YEAR, WE ARE DOING EPISODES ON THE TOURIST TRAPS OF MINNESOTA, THE HISTORY OF THE SMELT POPULATION AND THE SMELT PARADE, HOW THAT HONORS THAT.

WE HAVE A GREAT EPISODE CALLED ANIMALS IN WRONG PLACES THAT I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT.

>> GIVE ME AN EXAMPLE.

>> HAVE YOU HEARD OF MR. MCGOUGH THE MONGERS?

>> I WAS A SENIOR IN 1962.

>> HE WAS BROUGHT HERE BY A SAILOR, THE ZOO TAKES HIM, AND THEY TELL THEM THEY'VE GOT TO MURDER HIM.

I DON'T WANT TO SPOIL THE ENDING, BUT HE'S PARDONED BY JFK.

IT IS FUN BECAUSE WE CONNECT STORIES LIKE THAT WITH ALL THESE OTHER THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING.

THAT HAPPENED DURING THE CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS.

>> YEAH, THAT'S A GREAT STORY.

>> DURING THAT TIME, A BEAR TRIP SOME ALARMS AT THE DULUTH AIR FORCE BASE.

YOU GOT ALL THESE ANIMALS JUST GOING CHAOTIC.

MISBEHAVING, THAT'S A NICE WAY TO SAY IT.

>> WE HAVE A LITTLE PREVIEW OF SEASON TWO SO THE PEOPLE CAN GET A LITTLE BIT OF A FLAVOR.

>> COMING SOON, SEASON TWO OF "MINNESOTA HISTORIA."

THIS TIME, WE ARE GOING FURTHER AND DEEPER INTO THE QUIRKY, SOFT UNDERBELLY OF MINNESOTA HISTORY, REVISITING TOURIST TRAPS AND SMELL PARADES AND MORE BEARS.

THIS IS MINNESOTA, AFTER ALL.

THERE WILL ALWAYS BE MORE BEARS.

IT IS "MINNESOTA HISTORIA" ON YOUTUBE FROM PBS NORTH.

ARE YOU -- >> ARE YOU HAVING ANY TROUBLE FINDING QUIRKY MINNESOTA STORIES OR IS THERE JUST SUCH A PLETHORA?

>> DEFINITELY MORE OF THE SECOND.

I HAVE BEEN AT LIFELONG COLLECTOR OF WEIRD STORIES.

STARTING TO GET INTO THIS, I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HOLD IT DOWN TO MINNESOTA, BUT WHENEVER I FIND SOMETHING, I'M IMMEDIATELY TEXTING MIKE AND ADDING IT TO THE FILE.

>> WHY RELEASE IT ONLINE RATHER THAN BROADCAST?

>> THAT'S WHERE PEOPLE ARE WATCHING THESE -- WATCHING THINGS THESE DAYS.

THIS IS KIND OF A FUN INITIATIVE BY PBS NORTH TO START A SERIES ONLINE, AND THAT'S WHERE THEY PREMIERE.

ALL THE EPISODES WILL EVENTUALLY BE COMPILED, AND IT WILL BE BROADCAST IN JUNE CLEVERLY DURING THE PLEDGE DRIVE, SO PEOPLE CAN SEE IT.

IF THEY DON'T KNOW WHERE YOUTUBE IS, IT WILL BE ON TV EVENTUALLY, BUT RIGHT NOW THE HISTORY ON -- THE EPISODE ON THE HISTORY OF JOHN GREECE IS ON YOUTUBE.

>> TWO PEOPLE GIVE YOU ALSO IT'S OF IDEAS AS TO WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE?

>> WHEN THEY WERE -- WHEN WE WERE WALKING IN THE BUILDING TONIGHT, YOUR PRODUCER GREG JUST GREAT IDEA ABOUT MINNESOTA CIVIL WAR HISTORY.

>> REALLY?

>> THERE IS A LOT HERE.

>> YOU ARE THE FACE.

DO YOU GET RECOGNIZED OUT IN THE COMMUNITY AS HISTORY HALEY THESE DAYS?

>> IT HAPPENS OCCASIONALLY.

I GOT RECOGNIZED BY A RECEIPT CHECKER AT COSCO.

I THINK I WAS WEARING BIG MASK, ALSO, WHICH WAS KIND OF WILD.

IT HAPPENS JUST FREQUENTLY ENOUGH THAT I FORGET IT IS I THING THAT MIGHT HAPPEN TO ME.

IT IS WEIRD, BUT I LIKE IT.

IT IS EXCITING.

I'M JUST NOT USED TO BEING A VOCAL CELEB -- A LOCAL CELEBRITY, I GUESS.

>> WHAT KIND OF FEEDBACK DO YOU GET?

>> I HEAR OFTENTIMES THAT IT IS A LOT OF FUN AND PEOPLE ARE JEALOUS.

I WISHED I COULD DO IT UP UNTIL BASICALLY THIS POINT, AND NOW I CANNOT BELIEVE I GET TO DO IT.

>> HOW MANY TOPICS ARE THERE IN A SEASON?

>> WE HAVE DONE SIX TOPICS PER SEASON, BUT WE SNEAK OTHER TANGENTIAL STORIES INTO EACH EPISODE, ESPECIALLY FOR PEOPLE WITH SHORT ATTENTION SPANS.

IT IS GOOD TO KIND OF GO OFF ONTO THESE TANGENTS AND TELL OTHER RELATED STORIES.

>> BEAUTIFUL.

>> IF WE WANT TO DRIVE FOLKS TO SEE THEM, IT IS AVAILABLE ON YOUTUBE AT THE PBS NORTH CHANNEL.

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU HAVE TO DO TO GET THERE?

>> NO, I THINK GOOGLE IS SO GOOD NOW.

IF YOU JUST TYPE IN THE WORK "BEARS," I THINK IT WILL TAKE YOU THERE.

>> MIKE AND HALEY, THANK YOU SO MUCH AGAIN.

CONGRATULATIONS AND GOOD LUCK WITH SEASON TWO.

>> THANK YOU BOTH.

LAST MONTH, LOCAL MUSICIAN PASSED AWAY SUDDENLY AT THE AGE OF 35.

SHE WAS A THERAPIST, ACTIVIST, AND PILLAR OF THE MUSIC SCENE IN TO LOSE.

STILL REELING FROM HER LOSS, HER BANDMATES, KNOWN AS THE GEMSTONES, CAME TOGETHER THIS WEEK TO PERFORM A TRIBUTE TO HER AT THE 25TH ANNUAL HOMEGROWN MUSIC FESTIVAL.

>> HI, EVERYONE.

WE ARE AFRO GEODE AND THE GEMSTONES.

>> WE FIRST GOT TOGETHER IS JUST A ONE-OFF GIG IN 2021.

THEN WE JUST DECIDED TO STAY TOGETHER BECAUSE WE ALL LIKED WORKING TOGETHER AND THERE WAS KIND OF SOMETHING BETWEEN ALL OF US THAT WAS -- I CANNOT REALLY PUT MY FINGER ON IT AT THE TIME, BUT WE ALL SEEMED TO JELL REALLY WELL RIGHT AWAY.

I REMEMBER WE WERE PRACTICING BEFORE D ARRIVED AT OUR FIRST REHEARSAL, AND SHE SAW US ALL TOGETHER AND HAVE THIS BIG SMILE FROM ACROSS HER FACE.

IT WAS JUST A REALLY COOL MOMENT.

♪ >> IT'S BEEN REALLY PERSONAL, I THINK.

IT HAS BEEN THE MOST PERSONAL BAND I HAVE BEEN PART OF.

ALL OF THOSE SONGS HAVE MEANING.

WE WERE ALL CLOSE WITH EACH OTHER.

SONGS THAT WE WROTE, THEY WERE VERY PERSONAL TO DIANA OR VERY PERSONAL TO ANOTHER PERSON WHO WROTE THEM.

>> SHE IS A THERAPIST, SO SHE HAD ALL THESE GOOD SORT OF TEAM BUILDER IDEAS.

WE WOULD GO THROUGH ONE TWICE A YEAR.

YOU THINK WE ARE A BAND, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE FUN AND DRINK AND HANG OUT WITH EACH OTHER.

NO, WE ARE GOING TO SIT AT HER HOUSE, GO THROUGH THIS QUESTIONNAIRE ABOUT YOUR HOPES, ASPIRATIONS, WHAT WE WANT TO DO, WHERE WE SEE OURSELVES IN ONE YEAR, SET ROLES, AIM FOR THOSE.

VERY QUICK BUILDING A FAMILY MEMBER IN TWO YEARS.

WE WENT FROM NOT KNOWING EACH OTHER TO BEING A BAND TO FIGHTING A LOT.

♪ >> I WOKE UP ONE MORNING.

I SAW THERE WAS A TEXT MESSAGE TO OUR GROUP CHAT THAT SAID DEANNA PASSED AWAY, AND I WAS LIKE, I MUST BE DREAMING.

>> YOU ARE CONFRONTED WITH SUCH A LOSS OF LIFE, YOUR BRAIN CANNOT REALLY COMPUTE IT.

FOR ME PERSONALLY, I GUESS I HAVE NOT GLEEFULLY BELIEVED IT YET.

>> SHE WAS ONE OF MY CLOSEST FRIENDS AS WELL.

LIKE MY BANDMATE OR BANDLEADER.

WE HAD, LIKE, A VERY SPECIAL, UNIQUE CONNECTION THAT WAS SO INTUITIVE, AND THERE WAS SO MUCH UNDERSTANDING OF EACH OTHER, AND SHE SAW ME AND MADE SPACE FOR ME, AND I FELT SO VISIBLE AND SO LOVED FOR ALL OF THE YEARS THAT I'VE KNOWN HER.

>> D PUT HER ROOTS IN A LOT OF PLACES, INCLUDING I THINK IN OUR HEARTS, AND SHE DID NOT JUST, LIKE, FIND HER ROOTS IN US AND TEAR THEM OUT WHEN SHE DIED.

SHE LEFT SOMETHING THAT HAD GROWN, SO WE EACH HAVE A PIECE OF D CONTINUING TO CARRY ON AS WE LIVE.

I THINK THAT IS HOW WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO TRY TO MOVE FORWARD, I GUESS.

>> EVEN WITH HER GONE, THERE'S STILL -- WE STILL HAVE HER, YOU KNOW?

AND US.

AND WE STILL HAVE THIS FAMILY THAT NEEDS EACH OTHER, NOT JUST BECAUSE OF HER BEING GONE, BUT BECAUSE WE HAVE ALL GROWN WITH EACH OTHER.

>> THANK YOU FOR COMING TONIGHT.

HELPING US HONOR AFRO GEODE.

>> HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE LISTENING AND REACHING OUT, LISTENING TO THE MUSIC SHE CREATED IN US AND KEEPING THAT VISION MOVING FORWARD IS REALLY COOL.

>> I KNOW THIS IS TECHNICALLY THE FIRST SHOW WE HAVE HAD SINCE SHE PASSED, SO IT IS DEFINITELY, LIKE, A PIVOTAL MOMENT FOR ALL OF US TO KIND OF HELP MOURN AND GRIEVE AND HONOR HER.

♪ >> WE ARE STILL DOING WHAT WE DO , STILL HOLDING ONTO THAT PIECE OF, LIKE, SHE'S NOT HERE, BUT SHE'S HERE.

THE UNIVERSE NEEDED HER MORE, BUT SHE LEFT US WITH A GOOD MINDSET AND HOPEFULLY A LONG RUN OF PLAYING AND STUFF.

♪ >> WERE OUT OF TIME, BUT YOU CAN KEEP UP WITH "MINETTE NORTH" BY FOLLOWING US ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.

KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR PROGRAM UPDATES, NEWS ABOUT THE STATION AND OUR UPCOMING EVENTS AND DON'T FORGET TO DOWNLOAD THE PBS VIDEO APP TO WATCH YOUR FAVORITE PBS PROGRAMS ANY TIME YOU LIKE.

AND GOOD LUCK TO ALL OF THE ANGLERS GETTING READY FOR THE WISCONSIN FISHING OPENER THIS WEEKEND.

>> I LOVE THIS TIME OF YEAR.

>> HOPEFULLY, MOST OF THE AREA LAKES WILL BE OPEN.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

WE WILL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.

♪