DENNIS: HELLO.

I'M DENNIS ANDERSON, ALONG WITH JULIE ZENNER, AND HERE IS WHAT IS COMING UP.

JULIE: IT IS PRIDE MONTH, SO WE WILL CHAT WITH ALICE TRADER, AN ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, ABOUT FESTIVITIES.

DENNIS: AND WITH SUMMER SETTLING IN, WE WILL LEARN HOW ALPACAS KEEP COOL ON THE HOT DAYS WITH A SPECIAL REPORT.

JULIE: AND BOOK BANNING IS ON THE RISE, LEARN HOW RESIDENTS OF NORTHERN WISCONSIN HAVE TAKEN A STAND AGAINST LITERATURE CENSORSHIP BY HOLDING A BANNED BOOK BASH.

DENNIS: ALL OF THAT, COMING UP RIGHT NOW ON "ALMANAC NORTH."

♪ DENNIS: HELLO ONCE AGAIN AND WELCOME.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

WHAT A NICE STRETCH OF WEATHER WE HAVE HAD THIS WEEK.

JULIE: IT HAS BEEN BEAUTIFUL, WE HAVE BEEN IN THE 70'S.

BUT WE HAVE HAD SO MANY BUGS.

HOPEFULLY THEY GET OUT OF HERE AND DENNIS: WE CAN ENJOY THINGS AGAIN.

DENNIS:GET OUT FOR THE REST OF THE SUMMER.

LET'S START WITH THE HEADLINES.

JULIE: RENE VAN NET PASSED AWAY LAST FRIDAY FROM COMPLICATIONS WITH CANCER.

SHE WAS THE FIRST AND ECONOMICALLY ELECTED TO THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE FIRST INDIGENOUS PERSON TO SERVE AS PRESIDENT.

TUESDAY,, JUNE 7 HAS BEEN PROCLAIMED HER DAY AND A GOFUNDME CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN SET UP BY HER FRIENDS AND FORMER FELLOW COUNSELORS.

ALL DONATIONS WILL GO TOWARDS FINAL EXPENSES AND CARE FOR HER TWO DAUGHTERS.

DENNIS: THE RIGHT-CLICK BAND OF TRIPLE HAS BEEN AWARDED $7,000, A BLOCK GRANT, THE CLEANUP AND REMEDIATE 33 ABANDONED HOMESITES ON TRUST LAND.

THE PROJECT WILL HELP TO CREATE NEW HOUSING.

AS IT WORKS TOWARDS INCREASING HOMEOWNER, RENTAL AND SHOVEL READY LEASE SITES.

JULIE: DULUTH POLICE CHIEF MIKE TOSCANO ANNOUNCED HIS RETIREMENT FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IN A PRESS CONFERENCE ON WEDNESDAY AFTER A CAREER SPANNING 30 YEARS.

IN HIS SPEECH, HE SAID EVERY INTERACTION CITIZENS HAVE WITH POLICE LEAVES A LASTING IMPRESSION.

HE APPLAUDED THE DEPARTMENT FOR STRIVING TO ENSURE THAT EVERY ENCOUNTER IS A GOOD ONE.

HE NOTED HE IS LEAVING THE DEPARTMENT IN A GOOD PLACE FOR HIS SUCCESSOR, HE WILL STEP DOWN ON AUGUST 1 AND TAKE ON A NEW ROLE AS LAW ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM COORDINATOR AT FOND DU LAC TRIBAL AND COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

DENNIS: THE LAST DAY OF THE FEED A FAMILY FOOD DRIVE IS TOMORROW.

IT IS ORGANIZED BY THE DULUTH SUPERIOR TRANSPORTATION ASSOCIATION, WITH DONATIONS BEING COLLECTED AT PARTNERING SUPER LOT LOCATIONS.

100% OF THE PROCEEDS WILL GO TO THE FOOD BANK.

JULIE: NOW ONTO OUR FIRST DISCUSSION.

THE MONTH OF JUNE IS DEDICATED TO HIGHLIGHTING AND LIFTING UP THOSE IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO IDENTIFY AS LGBTQ CLASS.

HERE TO TELL US MORE ABOUT PRIDE EVENTS HAPPENING IS ALICE TRADER THEY ARTISTIC DIRECTOR AT ZENITH CITY.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

ALICE, MAYBE YOU CAN BEGIN BY TALKING ABOUT THE SIGNIFICANCE OF PRIDE MONTH.

ALICE: THE STONEWALL RIOTS WERE A SERIES OF PROTESTS BY MEMBERS OF THE QUEER COMMUNITY, LED BY TRANS WOMEN OF COLOR IN THE EARLY HOURS OF JUNE 28, 1969 AT THE STONEWALL INN IN MANHATTAN.

AND THAT WAS KIND OF A MOMENT IN OUR HISTORY WHICH PROPELLED THE SOCIAL JUSTICE MOVEMENT FOR QUEER PEOPLE, TO GIVE US THE RIGHTS WE HAVE TODAY.

AND IT IS STILL NOT WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE, WHICH IS WHY WE COME TOGETHER EVERY PRIDE MONTH TO HONOR THAT TIME AND REMIND ONE ANOTHER THAT TOGETHER WE CAN UNITE AGAINST THE HATE AND BIGOTRY THAT STILL EXISTS.

DENNIS: WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT TO CELEBRATE PRIDE IN THE TWIN PORTS AND THROUGHOUT THE NORTH LAND?

ALICE: QUEER PEOPLE ARE EVERYWHERE.

THEY ARE ALL AROUND.

AND THE QUEER COMMUNITY HERE MAY BE SMALLER THAN IN METRO AREAS, BUT WE ARE STILL STRONG AND UNITED, SO IT IS IMPORTANT WE ALL COME TOGETHER AND BE SEEN BY THOSE WHO MAY BE UNABLE TO LIVE THEIR LIFE TRUTHFULLY, JUST SO THEY ARE NOT ALONE.

JULIE: PEOPLE WILL SEE A LOT OF RAINBOW FLAGS FLYING IN THIS MONTH.

WHEN YOU SEE THE RAINBOW FLAG, WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU?

ALICE: LIKE ALL THE COLORS OF THE RAINBOW, THERE ARE SO MANY IDENTITIES, GENDERS AND PEOPLE WE NEED TO CELEBRATE AND APPRECIATE THIS END OF AGAINST OF THEM INTO OUR WORLD.

DENNIS: WHAT PRIDE EVENTS ARE HAPPENING THIS MONTH?

ALICE: THERE ARE SO MANY.

ON JUNE 12, FROM 3:00 P.M. UNTIL 5:00 P.M., WE ARE JOINING FORCES WITH LIFE HELP SHELTER AND PUTTING ON AN EVENT OPEN TO YOUTH, 14-24 YEARS OLD, EXCLUSIVELY.

WE WILL HAVE PERFORMERS ALONG THE GENDER SPECTRUM, DISCUSSING AND LISTENING TO STORIES OF GENDER EXPLORATION AND HOW IT HAS CHANGED THEIR LIVES, WITH A DRUNK SHOW PERFORMANCE.

AND ON SUNDAY, JUNE 19, FROM 5:00 UNTIL 7:00 P.M. AT THE MAIN CLUB IN SUPERIOR, WHICH IS OUR MAIN SPONSOR, WE WILL DO A PRIVATE EIGHT EDITION OF DRAG QUEEN BINGO, WHERE MYSELF AND MY PERFORMANCE PARTNER, PRINCESS BUTTERCREAM, WILL HOST BINGO AND OTHER FUN PRIZES.

ALL THE PROCEEDS WILL GO TO DULUTH PRIDE WHICH, WILL BE LABOR DAY WEEKEND.

ON SATURDAY, JUNE 25 FROM 11:00 A.M. UNTIL 5:00 P.M., THE PARK RIGHT ABOVE THE LAKEWALK, WE WILL HAVE TRANS JOY FEST.

NOW MORE THAN EVER THE TRANS COMMUNITY HAS BEEN DEALING WITH SO MUCH HATE, SO TRANS NORTH LAND AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, WE THOUGHT WE WOULD CREATE A FAMILY FRIENDLY EVENT TO CONFUSE LOVE, HOPE AND JOY WITHIN THE TRANS COMMUNITY.S O, THERE WILL BE FAMILY FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES AND VENDORS, TRANS CENTERED PERFORMANCES ALL DAY.

WE WILL HAVE A DRAG SHOW.

WE WILL DO A STORY HOUR, SO COME OUT AND SUPPORT THAT.

ON SUNDAY, JUNE 26, WE WILL BE WORKING WITH THE BORDER TOWN BUDDIES, A LOCAL SOCIAL CLUB THAT DOES AMAZING CHARITABLE WORK, WILL PARTNER WITH THE SPIRIT ROOM TO PUT ON A SPECIAL PRIDE DINNER ALL CELEBRATING THE MUSIC OF CHER.

TICKET INFORMATION IS ON OUR FACEBOOK SITE.

JULIE: IS EVERYONE WELCOME AT THE EVENTS?

ALICE: YES.

WE ARE A SMALL ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY AND WE PRIDE OURSELVES ON CREATING A SAFE SPACE FOR ALL AUDIENCE MEMBERS AND PERFORMERS, REGARDLESS OF SEXUALITY, RACE, GENDER, AGE, EXPERIENCE LEVEL AND PERFORMANCE ART.

DENNIS: HOW CAN COMMUNITY MEMBERS BE GOOD ALLIES?

ALICE: I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THOSE WHO HAVE THAT CISGENDER AND HETEROSEXUAL PRIVILEGE TO UNDERSTAND THE POWER THEY HAVE.

SO, SPEAK UP.

IF YOU SEE INJUSTICE HAPPENING, HOMOPHOBIA, TRANSPHOBIA, STAND UP.

IF ONE PERSON STANDS UP FOR LOVE AND WHAT IS RIGHT, THAT ENCOURAGES OTHERS TO FOLLOW SUIT.

6 JULIE: WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU SHARING YOUR INSIGHTS.

AND I HOPE THAT PRIDE MONTH IS GOOD FOR YOU AND FOR ALL OF YOUR COLLEAGUES.

ALICE: YOU AS WELL.

HAPPY PRIDE.

♪ DENNIS: AS WE PUT AWAY OUR WINTER COATS AND BREAK OUT THE SHORTS, ALPACAS AT FROSTY RIDGE ALPACA FARM ARE ALSO GETTING READY FOR WARMER TEMPERATURES.

THE PRODUCER, ISAAC, HAS A REPORT.

>> MY NAME IS LONEY.

WE ARE AT FROSTY RIDGE ALPACAS IN DULUTH, MINNESOTA.

MY HUSBAND AND I ARE OWNERS AND OPERATORS OF THE ALPACA FARM.

WE ARE OPEN YEAR-ROUND BECAUSE WE ARE CARING FOR THE ALPACAS EVERY DAY.

WE LIKE TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC AS TO WHAT ALPACAS ARE.

♪ >> SHEARING HAS TO BE DONE ONCE A YEAR.

AND WE SHARE -- SHEAR AT THE END OF MAY.

IT IS THE PERFECT TEMPERATURE.

THE COATS HAVE TO COME OFF OF THEM BEFORE SUMMER TIME.

THEIR NATIVE ATMOSPHERE IS THE ANDES MOUNTAINS, WHERE THEY HAVE 0% HUMIDITY.

HERE, WE HAVE 80 DEGREES WITH 80% HUMIDITY.

AND IT IS WAY TOO HOT FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE.

SO, COATS COME OFF.

AND WE DO HAVE TO RESTRAIN THEM BECAUSE ALPACAS DO NOT LIKE TO BE TOLD WHAT TO DO.

SO, WE RESTRAIN THEM HUMANELY.

WE DO NOT HURT THEM.

AND THEY ARE THEN SHORN AND OUR SHEARER TAKES MAXIMUM -- ABOUT 15 MINUTES TO SHEAR ONE ANIMAL.

THEY ARE DOWN AND UP VERY QUICKLY.

AND THEY ABSOLUTELY LOVE WHEN THEIR COATS COME OFF.

WHY DO WE LOVE ALPACAS?

WE LOVE THEM FURTHER FIBER.

THEY ARE RAISED AND SHORN ONCE A YEAR, AND THEIR FIBER IS OUR HARVEST.

IT IS SPUN INTO YARN, WE SELL THE YARN, AND THERE IS ALSO A QUALITY OF FIBER THAT IS NOT NICE ENOUGH FOR YARN THAT CAN BE USED FOR FELTING OR FOR PEOPLE WHO PREFER TO HAND SPIN.

THERE IS ARTWORK, DRYER BALLS, ALL OF THE FIBER CAN BE USED.

FOR FIBE THAT IS NOT QUITER AS SOFT AS ALPACA FIBER, YOU CAN STILL KNIT AND GET A BEAUTIFUL SOFT PRODUCT.

I LOVE THE ALPACA PERSONALITY.

EACH ANIMAL IS AS DIFFERENT FROM ONE TO THE ANOTHER -- THE OTHER AS HUMAN BEINGS ARE.

WE HAVE SOME THAT ARE HIGH STRONG, WE HAVE OTHERS THAT ARE LAID-BACK AND GENTLE.

AND I THINK THAT IS THE BEST THING.

I COME OUT AND I SPENT TIME WITH THEM AND I WATCHED THEM INTERACT.

ALPACAS AVERAGE BETWEEN 150 POUNDS AND 170 POUNDS.

LLAMAS WEIGH UP TO 450 POUNDS.

LLAMAS ARE MUCH BIGGER, FIRST OF ALL.

AND A GOOD IDENTIFYING MARK, LLAMAS HAVE BANANA SHAPED EARS AND ALPACA EARS ARE STRAIGHT.

THE MENTALITY OF THE LLAMA IS SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT FROM AN ALPACA.

AN ALPACA, THEY BASICALLY STICK TO THEMSELVES AND IF THEY ARE VERY CHOOSY ABOUT THEIR PERSONAL SPACE AND WHAT THEY ALLOW.

LLAMAS ON THE OTHER HAND WILL SPIT AT A PERSON JUST BECAUSE THEY ARE STANDING THERE.

ALPACAS DO NOT SPIT AT PEOPLE, BUT THEY WILL SPIT AT EACH OTHER.

ALPACAS ARE IN THE CAMEL FAMILY.

THEY ARE COUSINS TO CAMELS, LLAMAS, ALPACAS -- THOSE ARE ALL DOMESTICATED.

AND THEN THEY ARE COUSINS TO OTHERS WHO STILL RUN WILD IN THE ANDES MOUNTAINS IN SOUTH AMERICA.

THEY ACT LIKE CAMELS.

THEY HAVE A MOUTH LIKE A CAMEL.

THEY HAVE FEET LIKE A CAMEL.

AND IT IS PRETTY INTERESTING, CAMELS IN NORTH AMERICA.

♪ JULIE: BAYFIELD, WISCONSIN HELD ITS INAUGURAL BANNED BOOK BASH THIS PAST SATURDAY.

THE GOAL WAS TO RAISE AWARENESS OF CENSORSHIP OCCURRING IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE U.S., AND TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO BANNED OR CHALLENGED BOOKS.

SOME FAMILIAR TITLES INCLUDE THE COLOR PURPLE, OF MICE AND MEN, THE CATCHER IN THE RIGHT AND MOUSE.

HERE TO TALK WITH US IS JULIE BUCKLES, THE EVENT ORGANIZER AND OWNER OF HONEST DOG BOOKS.

WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING ALL THIS WAY.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

JULIE: HOW DID THIS FIRST COME ABOUT?

>> THE THING ABOUT A BOOKSTORE IS THAT, IT'S VERY MUCH ALIVE AND CUSTOMERS ARE OFTEN DRIVING THE BUS.

AND, SO IN JANUARY IN TENNESSEE, A SCHOOL BOARD DECIDED TO TAKE THE BOOK MOUSE OFF OF THE EIGHTH GRADE CURRICULUM.

AND MY ONLINE CUSTOMERS HEARD THAT AND RESPONDED BY SAYING, I'LL BUY FIVE COPIES AND GIVE THEM OUT.

OTHER PEOPLE JOINED IN, AND OTHERS JOINED IN, AND SUDDENLY WE HAD A SHELF WE WERE SAVING THEM ON, DECIDING WHAT TO DO.

WE HAD A SHELF FULL OF BANNED BOOKS AND WE THOUGHT, WHY NOT HAVE A PARTY BECAUSE WITH BOOKS THERE IS NEVER A REASON NOT TO HAVE A PARTY.

DENNIS: ARE THERE QUITE A FEW BOOKS THAT HAVE BEEN BANNED?

JULIE: YES, AND SOMETIMES IT IS THE SILLIEST THINGS.

BUT WHAT I HAVE LEARNED IS IT HAPPENS AT ALL LEVELS AND IN SMALL WAYS.

IT BECOMES LIKE ONE CLASSROOM BEING TOLD THAT THEY SHOULD NOT PLAY A VIDEO BECAUSE THERE IS A GAY CHARACTER IN IT.

SO I THINK IT HAPPENS AT ALL LEVELS.

THERE ARE SOME HIGHER PROFILE BOOKS THAT ARE BANNED, BUT IT IS HAPPENING ALL OVER.

JULIE: GIVE EXAMPLES OF SOME BOOKS THAT HAVE BEEN CHALLENGING -- CHALLENGED OR BANNED FOR SOME SURPRISING REASONS.

JULIE: HARRY POTTER WAS A SURPRISE FOR ME.

OF COURSE, IT WAS BANNED FOR WITCHCRAFT AND FOR RELIGIOUS REASONS.

WELL, ACTUALLY -- I HAVE A LIST OF THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION'S CHALLENGED LIST THAT THEY PUT OUT EVERY YEAR.

WE HAVE A BOOK THAT IS POPULAR, IT HAS BEEN OUT FOR 20 YEARS, IT IS CALLED THE HATE YOU GIVE.

AND IT IS CONSIDERED ANTI-POLICE, SO THAT ONE HAS BEEN AT THE TOP OF THE CHALLENGED LIST.

WHAT YOU FIND WITH THESE, IF YOU LOOK AT THE TOP 10, SIX OF THEM ARE AROUND LGBTQ ISSUES, OR JUST HAVING GAY CHARACTERS.

THE REMAINING ARE USUALLY AROUND RACE.

AS WE DECIDE WHO WE WILL BE AS A NATION, OR AS WE ARE GRAPPLING WITH WHAT STORY ARE WE GOING TO TELL ABOUT OUR OWN FOUNDING, THESE BOOKS REALLY COME TO THE FRONT AS BOTHERING US FOR SOME REASON, BECAUSE THEY NEEDED DEEPER DISCUSSION.

DENNIS: IS IT COMMON FOR PARENTS TO COMPLAIN IF BOOKS ARE BANNED?

JULIE: IT SEEMS LIKE IT STARTS WITH PARENTS, WHEN A BOOK IS CHALLENGED OR BANNED.

A GROUP OF PARENTS MIGHT WRITE A LETTER TO A PRINCIPAL OF A SCHOOL, THEN THEY TAKE IT TO THE SCHOOL BOARD.

AND A LOT OF TIMES, I THINK, IT IS DONE WITHOUT A TERRIBLE AMOUNT OF SHOT.

LIKE, THAT BOOK DOES NOT SEEM LIKE A GOOD FIT.

BUT ON THE OTHER, YES, PARENTS WILL FIGHT FOR BOOKS.

JULIE: ARE THERE SOME BOOKS OR WORKS THAT SHOULD BE BANNED, MAYBE NOT IN YOUR BOOKSTORE BUT IN A PUBLIC SCHOOL?

JULIE: WITH ALL BOOKS THERE IS AGE APPROPRIATENESS.

AND I WAS THINKING ABOUT THE BOOK, MOUSE BECAUSE IT TAKES THE FIGURE OF 6 MILLION JEWS IN THE HOLOCAUST AND BRINGS IT DOWN TO A PERSONAL STORY.

AND BECAUSE IT IS TOLD IN A GRAPHIC NOVEL, IT BECOMES ACCESSIBLE TO AN EIGHTH-GRADE AUDIENCE.

DO I THINK THAT -- OR WHAT I WANT THEM READING THAT ALONE?

NO, BUT I WOULD LOVE FOR THEM TO READ IT IN A CLASSROOM WHERE THERE IS DISCUSSION, TEACHERS CAN PROVIDE CONTEXT.

THE IRONY IS WE HANDED STUDENTS PHONES AND THEY HAVE THE WHOLE WORLD TO READ ABOUT, THEN WE GET BOTHERED BY A BOAT THAT CAN BRING ABOUT -- BOOK THAT CAN BRING ABOUT DISCUSSION.

DENNIS: HOW OFTEN ARE THERE COMPLAINTS ABOUT BANNED BOOKS IN SCHOOLS?

JULIE: I DO NOT KNOW THAT FIGURE.

DENNIS: DO YOU HEAR IT A FEW TIMES A YEAR?

JULIE: AT EIGHT THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION COULD ANSWER THAT BETTER, BUT I THINK THEY HEAR IT OFTEN.

I WAS SURPRISED TO HEAR ABOUT AT THE DIFFERENT LEVELS IT IS HAPPENING, BUT I WANT TO SAY THAT THE OTHER THING THAT STARTED THIS WAS A POSITIVE EXPERIENCE.

A TEACHER BROUGHT STUDENTS TO OUR BOOKSTORE AND IT SAID, PICK OUT ANYTHING YOU WANT, AND DID NOT PUSH THE KIDS TO NOT TAKE A BOOK OR PUT A BOOK BACK.

AND I WAS JUST SO HEARTENED BY THAT, BECAUSE YOU WANT CHILDREN TO BUMP INTO BOOKS.

IF THEY DO NOT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUMP INTO IT -- LIKE A LOCAL LIBRARIAN SAID, DEAR GOD, IT IS ME MARGARET IS A BOOK THAT MEANT A LOT TO HER AS A KID.

AND SHE SAID, HOW DARE SOMEBODY DENY A LITTLE GIRL THAT EXPERIENCE.

JULIE: JULIE, THANK YOU -- JULIE: JULIE, THANK YOU.

THAT WAS AN INTERESTING TOPIC.

DENNIS: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

IT IS TIME FOR VOICES OF THE REGION.

EACH WEEKLY TALK WITH AN AREA JOURNALIST ABOUT THE STORIES THEY ARE COVERING.

OUR GUEST IS MARSHALL HELLO BERGER -- MARSHALL HELP BERGER OF THE TIMBER JANE.

♪ >> WE ARE REPORTING THIS WEEK ON THE LARGEST RECOVERY OF ANCESTRAL NATIVE AMERICAN LAND IN RECENT U.S. HISTORY.

THEY CELEBRATED THEIR ACQUISITION OF 20,000 ACRES OF LAND WITHIN THEIR DEER CREEK RESERVATIONS IN NORTHERN ST. LOUIS AND OTHER COUNTIES.

WHEN THEY CEDED LAND TO THE U.S. GOVERNMENT IN A TREATY IN 1886, THEY HAD 1000 ACRES AT THE LAKE AND 23 ACRES AT DEER CREEK.

WHAT HAS HAPPENED ACROSS THE COUNTRY IS THE U.S. GOVERNMENT SOON BEGAN DIVIDING THE LAND FOR SALE TO TIMBER COMPANIES AND HOMESTEADERS.

IT EVENTUALLY ENDED UP IN THE HANDS OF A CORPORATION, MUCH OF IT DID.

IT USED TO BE THE LARGEST PRIVATE LANDOWNER IN MINNESOTA.

AND WHEN THEY BEGAN SELLING OFF THEIR HOLDINGS IN RECENT YEARS, THE GROUP EXPRESSED INTEREST IN RECOVERING LANDS WITHIN THE RESERVATION BOUNDARIES.

WHILE OFFICIALS WERE WILLING TO SELL THE LAND BACK, THE PRICE TAG WAS MUCH STEEPER THAN HAVE BEEN PUT FORWARD.

SO THINGS CHANGED DRAMATICALLY, HOWEVER, IN 2020 WHEN THE COMPANY SOLD ITS REMAINING 72,000 ACRES, INCLUDING LAND WITHIN THE RESERVATION BOUNDARIES, TO THE CONSERVATION FUND, A NATIONAL NONPROFIT WITH A MISSION TO ACQUIRE AND PROTECT WORKING FORESTS.

THE DIRECTOR BELIEVED IN A LARGE PORTION OF THE LAND SHOULD BE RETURNED.

WITH HELP FROM OTHER ENTITIES, INCLUDING THE INDIAN LAND, AND THE SIOUX TRIBE, THEY WORKED OUT A WAY TO MAKE IT HAPPEN BY ENROLLING THE LAND IN THE STATE'S SUSTAINABLE FOREST PROGRAM, WHICH PROVIDES PAYMENTS OF ABOUT $21 AN ACRE TO MAINTAIN THE FOREST LANDS IN THE STATE FOR SUSTAINABLE USE.

THEN THEY AGREED TO FINANCE THE $500,000 IN RELATED CLOSING COSTS, CLEARING THE WAY FOR THE HISTORICALLY RECOVERY.

IN THE END, THEY WERE ABLE TO ACQUIRE THIS ENORMOUS LEGACY FROM THE CONSERVATION FUND WITHOUT HAVING TO EXPAND ANY OF THEIR OWN MONEY.

THEY PUT ON A CELEBRATION TO MARK THE OCCASION.

THIS WAS AN ACHIEVEMENT THAT TRIBAL OFFICIALS NEVER THOUGHT WOULD BE POSSIBLE, AND THEY ARE HOPING IT COULD PROVE TO BE A MODEL THAT OTHER TRIBES CAN FOLLOW IN THE FUTURE.

♪ WE ARE ALSO REPORTING ON GOOD NEWS FROM THE BORDER LAKES, WHERE THE WATERS HAVE BEGUN TO RECEDE, INCLUDING ON CRANE LAKE, FROM THE RECENT FLOODING.

THE HIGH WATERMARK THIS YEAR BLEW PAST THE RECORD OF 2014 BY ALMOST TWO FEET, ALTHOUGH IT FELL SHORT OF THE ALL-TIME HIGH SET IN 1916, ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

THE LAKE LEVELS COULD FALL ANYWHERE FROM 6-12 INCHES NOW BY MONDAY.

AT THE SAME TIME, THE WATER IS CONTINUING TO RISE FURTHER DOWNSTREAM.

AT RAINY LAKE, WATERS WILL CONTINUE RISING THROUGH THE MOTHER AND HAVE ALREADY TOPPED A RECORD THERE THAT WAS SET IN 1950.

AND IT IS ONE OF THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE.

EVEN IN THOSE PLACES WHERE THE WATER IS DROPPING, FORECASTERS SAY IT COULD STILL BE WEEKS BEFORE WATER LEVELS RETURNED TO MORE TYPICAL SUMMER LEVELS, AND RESORTS AND CABIN OWNERS IN THOSE AREAS WILL CONTINUE TO FACE HIGH WATER PROBLEMS.

SO FAR, THE AREA HAS BEEN FORTUNATE WITH MINIMAL RAINFALL, AND THE FORECAST IS LOOKING DRIVER THE NEXT 10 DAYS.

PROPERTY OWNERS HAVE BEEN CONCERNED THAT ANY STORMS COULD CREATE WAVE ACTION THAT COULD TOPPLE SANDBAGS AND CREATE EROSION AT THE SHORE.

BUT THEY ARE AVOIDING THAT FOR THE MOST PART.

PROPERTY OWNERS SAY THAT BOATER HAVE BEENS COMPLIANT WITH A NO WAKE ZONE SET UP WITHIN 300 FEET OF THE SHORE.

THAT'S BEEN HELPING AS WELL.

MEANWHILE, THEY ARE ESTIMATING THE DAMAGE FROM THE VARIOUS WEATHER EVENTS AND FLOODING IN THE AREA, IN ORDER TO POSSIBLY APPLY FOR FEDERAL EMERGENCY DISASTER ASSISTANCE.

PRELIMINARY ESTIMATES ARE ABOUT $27 MILLION STATEWIDE, FAR MORE THAN THE THRESHOLD TO QUALIFY FOR FEDERAL ASSISTANCE.

♪ FINALLY, WE ARE REPORTING ON THE SITUATION WITH THE LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT, IN THE MIDST OF A MAJOR SCHOOL RENOVATION PROJECT, BUT IS FACING COST OVERRUNS THAT COULD FORCE THE DISTRICT TO JETTISON PARTS OF THE PROJECT UNLESS A SOLUTION CAN BE FOUND.

THEY HOPED TO HAVE MORE FUNDING APPROVED ON TUESDAY, WHEN THE IRON RANGE RESOURCES BOARD MET.

THAT DID NOT HAPPEN, IN PART BECAUSE OF THE UNCERTAINTY AROUND THE FUTURE OF MINING, WHICH PROVIDES FUNDING FOR THE SCHOOL COLLABORATION AND COOPERATION ACCOUNT, AND THAT IS FUNDED THROUGH A NICKEL PER TON TAX.

MINING PRODUCTION DIPPED THIS YEAR FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS.

AND THE IRON RANGE RESOURCES COMMISSIONER NOTED THAT THERE IS ADDITIONAL UNCERTAINTY GOING FORWARD.

WE HAVE AN ISSUE WITH NORTH SHORE MINING, WHICH IS CURRENTLY CLOSED OVER A DISPUTE OVER MINING ROYALTIES, AS WELL AS -- WHICH IS GOING TO RUN OUT OF ORE BY 2024.

IRRR OFFICIALS ARE CONCERNED THAT PRODUCTION COULD RESULT IN NEGATIVE CASH FLOW FOR THE SCHOOL ACCOUNT BY 2028, SO THEY ARE BEING CAREFUL ABOUT COMMITTING TO OBLIGATIONS.

AT THE SAME TIME, UNDER CURRENT LAW, THE NICKEL PER TON TAX IS SET TO BLINKER OFF IN 2024, A PROBLEM THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE SOLVED BY THE TAX BILL THIS YEAR, WHICH MAKES THE NICKEL PER TON TAX PERMANENT, AND IT WOULD GUARANTEE ABOUT $1.5 MILLION ANNUALLY, ACCORDING TO THE SENATOR.

SENATOR BOCK SAID THE HOUSE AND SENATE AGREE ON THE SPECIFICS OF THE TAX BILL, BUT THE MEASURE IS TIED TO OTHER SPENDING MEASURES ON WHICH TWO SIDES DO NOT AGREE.

AND IT IS UNLIKELY A SPECIAL SESSION WILL BE HELD UNTIL THE TWO SIDES CAN WORK OUT THEIR DIFFERENCES.

IF THAT DOES NOT HAPPEN, SENATOR BOCK SAID IT WILL FORCE CHANGES IN THE ONGOING CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS AT DAILY AND ROCKRIDGE, WHICH WAS FORMED BY THE CONSOLIDATION OF VIRGINIA AND GILBERT.

AS HE NOTED, HE SAID THE EALY VOTERS VOTED FOR A PROJECT, AND WHEN THE APPROVED BONDING -- HE SAID THEY WILL NOT END UP WITH A PROJECT DEVOTED FOR IF THEY HAVE TO CUT $4 MILLION WORTH OF WORK.

SO, THERE WERE OTHER PROVISIONS IN THE TAX BILL THAT WOULD'VE HELPED WITH THE PROJECT, AS WELL AS THE LARGER CONSTRUCTION PROJECT UNDERWAY AT ROCKRIDGE.

BUT WITHOUT A SPECIAL SESSION, BOTH DISTRICTS WILL BE FORCED TO MAKE TOUGH DECISIONS.

♪ DENNIS: THAT IS OUR TIME THIS WEEK, BUT YOU CAN KEEP UP WITH OUR LATEST EPISODES BY FOLLOWING "ALMANAC NORTH" ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.

YOU CAN VISIT THE WDSE WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE STATION, AND DOWNLOAD THE VIDEO APP FOR ON-DEMAND VIEWING OF "ALMANAC NORTH" AND YOUR OTHER FAVORITE PBS PROGRAMS.

A LOT OF GRADUATIONS IN THE LAST WEEK.

JULIE: INCLUDING IN YOUR FAMILY.

DENNIS: MY TWIN GRANDSONS GRADUATED LAST NIGHT.

IT WAS FUN.

JULIE: CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF THE GRADUATES.

DENNIS: THANK YOU TO THE CREW AND OUR GUESTS.

GOOD NIGHT, EVERYBODY.

AND BE KIND.

♪