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

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

JULIE: WE'LL BRING YOU THE STORY OF A YOUNG MAN WHO WAS HOMELESS AND IS NOW WORKING TOWARD A BRIGHTER FUTURE.

DENNIS: THEN WE'LL TALK WITH THE YOUTH AND FAMILY SERVICES DIRECTOR AT LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES ABOUT THEIR EFFORTS TO HELP THE HOMELESS.

JULIE: AND WE'LL LEARN ABOUT THE DNR'S EFFORTS TO INCREASE STURGEON POPULATIONS IN MINNESOTA'S RED RIVER BASIN.

DENNIS: THOSE STORIES AND VOICES OF THE REGION, UP NEXT ON "ALMANAC NORTH."

♪ DENNIS: WELL, HELLO AND WELCOME TO "ALMANAC NORTH."

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

JULIE, AFTER A LATE SPRING, THE PAST FEW WEEKS OF NICE WEATHER IS REALLY MAKING UP FOR IT.

JULIE: WE ARE ALSO GETTING MOSQUITOES AND TECHS -- TICKS.

DENNIS: THERE IS ALWAYS A PROBLEM.

JULIE: BASICALLY I AM NEVER HAPPY.

[LAUGHTER] DENNIS: IT'S TIME FOR THE WEEK'S HEADLINES.

JULIE: THANKS, DENNY.

CONGRESS AVOIDED A FEDERAL DEFAULT AS THE HOUSE AND SENATE BOTH PASSED A BILL THAT RAISES THE COUNTRY'S DEBT CEILING THIS WEEK.

EIGHTH DISTRICT REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN PETE STAUBER VOTED IN FAVOR ALONG WITH ALL OF MINNESOTA'S DEMOCRATS IN CONGRESS.

WISCONSIN SENATOR TAMMY BALDWIN VOTED IN FAVOR OF THE BILL, WHILE SENATOR RON JOHNSON VOTED AGAINST.

DENNIS: MINNESOTA GOVERNOR TIM WALZ THIS WEEK SIGNED A BILL LEGALIZING CANNABIS IN THE STATE, AND IMPOSING A 10% TAX ON ITS SALE.

NOW, UNDER THE MEASURE, PEOPLE AGED 21 AND OVER CAN POSSESS AND TRANSPORT SMALL AMOUNTS OF CANNABIS, AND THEY CAN HAVE UP TWO POUNDS IN THEIR HOME.

THE NEW LAWS ON MARIJUANA BEGIN ON AUGUST 1.

MARIJUANA IS STILL ILLEGAL UNDER FEDERAL LAW, WHERE IT IS CLASSIFIED AS A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE.

JULIE: MEMORIAL DAY EVENTS WERE HELD ACROSS THE REGION ON MONDAY, INCLUDING THIS CEREMONY AT VETERAN MEMORIAL PARK IN GARY NEW DULUTH.

THE GATHERING HONORED VETERANS IN THE FAR WESTERN NEIGHBORHOODS OF DULUTH WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES WHILE SERVING IN THE MILITARY.

SPEAKERS INCLUDED DULUTH MAYOR EMILY LARSON AND VETERANS WHO HAVE SERVED TO HELP KEEP OUR COUNTRY FREE.

DENNIS: A $5 MILLION RESURFACING PROJECT ON HIGHWAY 2 IN ASHLAND COUNTY BEGINS MONDAY.

THE RE-PAVING PROJECT WILL STRETCH FROM GOVERNMENT ROAD IN NEW ODANAH TO THE ASHLAND-IRON COUNTY LINE.

LEFT TURN LANES WILL BE ADDED AT THE BAD RIVER CASINO, AND CULVERTS WILL BE REPAIRED OR REPLACED ALONG THE ROUTE.

THE ROAD WILL REMAIN OPEN, BUT MOTORISTS WILL ENCOUNTER LANE CLOSURES CONTROLLED BY FLAGGERS.

JULIE: WE BEGIN WITH A STORY FROM PBS NORTH'S INTERSECTIONS SERIES, WHICH FOCUSES ON LOCAL FOLKS WHO INSPIRE US AS THEY OVERCOME ADVERSITY.

ACCORDING TO RECENT STUDIES, MORE THAN 13,000 YOUNG PEOPLE EXPERIENCE HOMELESSNESS IN MINNESOTA OVER THE COURSE OF A YEAR.

BUT THERE IS HOPE FOR HOMELESS YOUTH, WITH ORGANIZATIONS LIKE LIFEHOUSE AND THE CENTER FOR CHANGING LIVES AVAILABLE TO HELP.

PBS NORTH VIDEOGRAPHER TOMAS SODERBERG BRINGS US OMAR'S STORY OF SUCCESS.

>> THE VERY FIRST DAY I MOVED INTO MY APARTMENT, I FELT LIKE A WEIGHT WAS LIFTED OFF MY SHOULDERS, A VERY BIG WEIGHT.

I AND 26 RESULT, AND I HAVE BEEN THROUGH A LOT SO.

♪ IT STARTED WHEN I LOST MY JOB, LOST MY GIRLFRIEND AT THE TIME.

LOST A LOT OF THINGS, AND PEOPLE, FRIENDS.

I, I WENT THROUGH A DRY SPELL WHERE I WAS DOING ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO FIX IT.

I DID NOT KNOW WHO TO TURN TO.

IT WAS -- I WAS ABOUT 22 WHEN I BECAME HOMELESS.

AND I WAS HOMELESS FOR TWO YEARS BEFORE I GOT SOME HELP.

A COUPLE OF NIGHTS ON THE STREETS, SKY WALKS.

THERE WERE A COUPLE OF TIMES I WAS STAYING AT THE CASINO IN DOWNTOWN DULUTH, TRYING TO FIND A DOLLAR HERE, GET A COUPLE -- THERE, BECAUSE AT THE TIME THEY WERE OPEN 24 HOURS A DAY.

IT IS JUST FINDING ANYWHERE TO STAY.

THE COLD DOES NOT REALLY BOTHER ME, BUT THERE ARE TIMES WHEN EVEN I HAVE TO WEAR A HEAVY DUTY JACKET.

SOMETIMES SOMEONE WILL BE HOMELESS AND IT IS HARD TO BE ABLE TO KNOW BECAUSE THEY ARE DOING THEIR UTMOST BEST TO APPEAR LIKE THEY ARE NOT, WHEN THEY REALLY ARE.

AND I THINK THAT WAS ME.

I WAS DOING MY BEST, LOOKING MY BEST, BEING MY BEST TO NOT SHUT THAT I WAS HOMELESS.

I HAD -- NOT SHOW THAT I WAS HOMELESS.

I HAD A FRIEND WHO HELPED ME OUT A LOT.

HE IS THE ONE WHO HAS PUSHED ME FORWARD.

BEING ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH SOMEBODY REALLY HELPED ME OUT JUST TO GET A ROOF OVER MY HEAD.

I AM A TALKER.

I'D LIKE TO TALK TO PEOPLE, GET TO KNOW PEOPLE, AND THE FACT THAT I KNEW PEOPLE WAS VERY HELPFUL WHEN TRYING TO FIND A PLACE.

I REACHED OUT TO ONE OF THEM AND THEY REACHED OUT TO SOMEONE ELSE AND PRETTY SOON I STARTED GETTING HELP.

LEFT AND RIGHT.

HELP THAT I NEVER ACTUALLY THOUGHT WAS THERE.

♪ I WAS ABLE TO CONNECT WITH PEOPLE WHO KNEW -- FROM ANOTHER [INDISCERNIBLE] CONTACT 2-1-1, ALL THESE OTHER COMPANIES THAT PUSH ME TOWARDS GETTING TO MY PLACE.

LIFE HOUSE, LLS, ANOTHER DOOR, STREET OUTREACH, ALL THESE PLACES WERE HELPING ME GET CLOSER AND CLOSER TO MY GOAL OF GETTING MY OWN PLACE.

THEY TAUGHT ME A LOT, AND BIT -- THAT IS WHY A BEEN ABLE TO KEEP MY APARTMENT, FROM WHAT THEY TAUGHT ME, BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN HOMELESS TWICE.

UH, AND I DID NOT KNOW WHO TO TURN TO THE FIRST TIME AROUND, SO.

AND IT WAS NOT UNTIL THE SECOND TIME AROUND THAT I WAS ABLE TO CONTACT A FEW PEOPLE GET EVERYTHING RIGHT THIS TIME.

♪ LIKE EVERYTHING STARTS FROM JUST BEING HOUSED, IS WHAT I'VE NOTICED, BECAUSE WHEN I GOT MY PLACE, THINGS STARTED JUST LINING UP FOR ME, AND EVEN WHEN I FALTERED, I NEVER HAD TO GO ALL THE WAY BACK DOWN.

I STARTED FROM THE LAST POINT, BASICALLY, SO BEING HOUSED REALLY DOES HELP WITH THE JOB FIELD AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

WORK WISE, I JUST GOT AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH THE COMPANY MAKING $30 AN HOUR.

ONE OF THESE DAYS UH I AM GOING TO START MY IN BUSINESS.

NOW I AM OFF THE STREETS I AM ABLE TO MAKE IT AND I HAVE THE WILL TO WANT TO MAKE IT.

SO.

IT HAS BEEN AN IDEA, BUILDING MY OWN BUSINESS, FOR THE LONGEST TIME, BUT I HAD TO BACKTRACK WHEN I WAS HOMELESS.

I HAD TO FOCUS MORE ON GETTING A ROOF OVER MY HEAD BUT THE FUTURE -- HEAD, THE FUTURE, EVERYTHING THE FUTURE HOLDS, AND EVERYTHING I DID TO GET TO THIS POINT, AND EVERYTHING I WOULD DO TO GET TO THE NEXT POINT IN MY LIFE.

I AM OMAR.

I AM 26.

NOW YOU KNOW MY STORY OF HOW I GOT TO WHERE I AM AT.

DENNIS: AND CERTAINLY GLAD TO SEE SUCH A BRIGHT FUTURE AHEAD FOR OMAR.

AS THE SAYING GOES, IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO RAISE A CHILD, AND IN OUR REGION, THERE ARE AGENCIES SUCH AS LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES TO HELP PEOPLE LIKE OMAR GET BACK ON THEIR FEET.

HERE TO TELL US MORE ABOUT THAT IS DAWN SHYKES, SENIOR DIRECTOR OF YOUTH AND FAMILY SERVICES AT THE CENTER FOR CHANGING LIVES IN DULUTH.

WELCOME.

THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU.

HOW COMMON IS IT TO FIND YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE HOMELESS?

DAWN: YOU KNOW, UNFORTUNATELY, IT IS MORE COMMON THAN WE WOULD LIKE TO THINK.

ON ANY GIVEN NIGHT IN MINNESOTA YOU CAN FIND 1300 YOUTH EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.

IN LOCALLY, WHEN WE HAVE -- AND LOCALLY, WHEN WE HAD POINT IN TIME COUNT, WE FOUND 180 YOUTH EXPENSING HOMELESSNESS.

DENNIS: EVERY NIGHT?

>> EVERY NIGHT.

DENNIS: WOW.

JULIE: WHAT IS THE DEFINITION FOR YOUTH HOMELESSNESS, PEOPLE ON THE STREET, PEOPLE COUCH SURFING?

HOW DO YOU DEFINE THAT?

DAWN: WE DEFINE IT AS ANY PERSON UNDER 24 WHO DOES NOT HAVE A STABLE LIVING SITUATION, SO THAT CAN INCLUDE YOUTH WHO ARE COUCH HOPPING, MAYBE YOUTH STAYING WITH A FRIEND FOR A PERIOD OF TIME UNTIL THEY ARE UNWELCOME AND HAVE TO STAY WITH SOMEBODY ELSE.

IT COULD BE SOMEBODY ACTUALLY LIVING ON THE STREETS, SLEEPING IN THE SKYWALKS, SLEEPING OUTSIDE, OR EVEN SLEEPING VEHICLES.

DENNIS: DAWN, WHY ARE YOU HOMELESS?

DO THEY CHOOSE TO BE HOMELESS?

WHAT HAPPENS?

DAWN: I DON'T THINK ANYBODY CHOOSES TO BE HOMELESS.

A LOT OF OUR TROOP F EXPENSE TRAUMA IN THEIR LIVES.

DENNIS: RIGHT.

DAWN: DIFFICULTY IN FAMILY SITUATIONS AND OFTEN GENERATIONAL POVERTY AND ABUSE IN CIRCUMSTANCES THAT HAVE MADE IT UNSTABLE OR UNSAFE TO REMAIN IN THEIR HOMES.

JULIE: ARE THERE CERTAIN POPULATIONS THAT SEEM TO BE MORE VULNERABLE, UM, THAT FIND THEMSELVES IN THE SITUATION MORE OFTEN THAN OTHERS?

DAWN: YES, DEFINITELY.

THE WILDER FOUNDATION DID SOME RESEARCH AND UM FOUND THAT YOUTH WHO ARE HOMELESS TENDED TO SCORE HIGHER ON WHAT IS CALLED THE ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES SCALE, AND THAT IS YOUTH WHO HAVE HAD AT LEAST THREE INSTANCES OF THINGS LIKE UH WITNESSING ABUSE IN THEIR HOUSEHOLD, UM A FAMILY MEMBER WHO HAS UNTREATED MENTAL ILLNESS, A FAMILY MEMBER WHO HAS BEEN A SUBSTANCE ABUSE USER.

THOSE TEND TO BE SITUATIONS THAT LEAD, CAN LEAD TO HOMELESSNESS, BUT WE ARE ALSO SEEING A LOT OF USE FROM POPULATIONS, YOU KNOW, AFRICAN-AMERICAN POPULATIONS, AMERICAN INDIAN POPULATIONS, AND THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITIES WHO ARE AT FAR HIGHER RISK OF BECOMING HOMELESS AND OVERREPRESENTED IN THE POPULATION OF HOMELESSNESS.

DENNIS: DAWN, WHAT SERVICES ARE PROVIDED?

DAWN: WE HAVE A CONTINUUM OF SERVICES RANGING FROM PREVENTION SERVICES, FAMILY SERVICES, ALL THE WAY TO INTENSIVE SERVICES FOR HOUSING FOR YOUTH.

ONE OF OUR PROGRAMS WE ARE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT ADDRESSES YOUTH HOMELESSNESS SPECIFICALLY IS OUR ANOTHER DOOR EMERGENCY SHELTER WHICH IS A SHELTER FOR YOUTH EXPENSING HOMELESSNESS BETWEEN AGES 18 TO 24, AND AS A PART OF THAT THEY RECEIVE CASE MANAGEMENT.

WE HELP WITH AN ACTUAL PLACE FOR THEM TO STAY IN DURING THAT TIME WE ARE HELPING THEM ACCESS RESOURCES AND HELPING WITH EDUCATION AND HOUSING AND EMPLOYMENT, AND REALLY HELPING THEM SET IN ATTAIN GOALS FOR THEMSELVES.

JULIE: I WAS GOING TO ASK ABOUT EDUCATION AND THE IMPACT THAT HOMELESSNESS CAN HAVE ON THE EDUCATIONAL TRACK FOR A PERSON, AND FOR THEIR PROSPECTS FOR THE FUTURE.

SPEAK TO ABOUT A LITTLE BIT.

DAWN: YEAH, I THINK THAT ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE SEEING, ESPECIALLY IN THE 18 TO 24 POPULATION, IS WE DO HAVE STUDENTS WHO ARE EXPENSING HOMELESSNESS THAT ARE IN HIGH SCHOOL, AND YOU WOULD NOT NECESSARILY KNOW IT.

LIKE OMAR SAID IN HIS VIDEO, THEY WORK REALLY HARD DID NOT HAVE PEOPLE KNOW THEY ARE HOMELESS, AND WE SEE THAT IF THEY CAN STICK WITH IT AND STICK WITH THE EDUCATION UM THEIR LIKELIHOOD OF BEING ABLE TO WORK THROUGH THINGS AND FIND EMPLOYMENT AND FIND STABLE HOUSING SIGNIFICANT INCREASES.

JULIE: DO YOU WORK DIRECTLY OR DOES YOUR ORGANIZATION WORK DIRECTLY BEEN -- THEN WITH THE DULUTH SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR INSTANCE, TO GET THE STUDENTS WHO ARE SENIORS IN HIGH SCHOOL, MAY BE 18 YEARS OLD, 17 YEARS OLD, GET THEM BACK IN SCHOOL AND GET THEM TO GRADUATE?

DAWN: WE DO WORK CLOSELY WITH THE DULUTH PUBLIC SCHOOLS ON THE FAMILIES IN TRANSITION PROGRAM THAT WORKS WITH HOMELESS STUDENTS.

SOME OF WHO ARE EXPERIENCING SOME -- HOMELESSNESS ARE WITHIN FAMILY SYSTEMS THAT ARE HOMELESS , AND SOME YOUTH ARE UNACCOMPANIED, AND SO WE WORK WITH THE WHOLE GAMUT OF SERVICES AND TYPES OF HOMELESSNESS TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF THEIR NEEDS ARE BEING MET.

DENNIS: SO DAWN, HOW CAN THE GREATER COMMUNITY PLAY A ROLE?

DAWN: I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO BE A SUPPORT IN YOUR COMMUNITY AND TALK TO YOUTH AND BE INVOLVED IN THE EXTENDED FAMILIES THAT YOU HAVE, BE INVOLVED IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOODS, AND UM, MAKE SURE PEOPLE'S NEEDS ARE BEING MET.

UM, IT IS GREAT TO TALK TO LEGISLATORS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND SERVICES FOR YOU TO SUPPORT THEM AND ALSO ANY TIME YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE TO AN ORGANIZATION UM THAT IS SUPPORTING YOUTH WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS THAT IS GREAT.

IT CAN BE ANYTHING FROM DONATIONS OF SOCKS, HYGIENE SUPPLIES, TO GIFT CARDS FOR GROCERY STORES, OR PLACES WHERE THEY CAN PURCHASE CLOTHING ITEMS THEY CAN PICK FOR THEMSELVES.

DENNIS: TELL US ABOUT THE CENTER FOR CHANGING LIVES.

WHAT DO YOU DO THERE?

DAWN: IT IS A ONE-STOP SHOP THAT LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES OFFERS PROGRAMMING THROUGH, SO WE OFFER SERVICES RANGING FROM UM SUPPORTIVE PARENTING TIME WHERE WE HELP FAMILIES MAINTAIN CONNECTION WITH THEIR CHILDREN, WHILE THEY ARE WORKING ON SKILLS TO BE REUNIFIED WITH THEM.

WE OFFER A CRISIS NURTURING WHICH IS UM A SERVICE THAT WILL PROVIDE DIAPERS AND CLOTHING AND EMERGENCY CHILDCARE FOR FAMILIES.

IT IS TOTALLY VOLUNTARY AND FAMILY-DRIVEN.

AND WE ALSO HAVE HOUSING SERVICES FOR YOUTH, UM, SO WE HAVE 10 UNITS OF PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING FOR YOUTH AGES 18 TO 25.

IF THEY ARE HOMELESS AND MOVE INTO OUR FACILITY BY THE TIME THEY ARE 25, THEY CAN STAY FOREVER, AND THEN UM, WE HAVE SOME TRADITIONAL -- TRANSITIONAL LIVING SERVICES, ANOTHER 10 UNITS FOR YOUTH 16 TO 21.

UM, AND BOTH OF THOSE TYPES OF PROGRAMS FOR HOUSING UM FOCUS ON CASE MANAGEMENT AND INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS.

WE ALSO HAVE SOME MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES EMBEDDED, UM, AND A DUALLY LICENSED THERAPIST WITH CHEMICAL HEALTH AND MENTAL HEALTH, AND THEN WE HAVE ALL KINDS OF OTHER THINGS WE DO WITH YOUTH.

UM, SUPPORTIVE GROUPS FOR THE LGBTQ POPULATION, WHICH IS ARE TOGETHER FOR YOUTH GROUP, WHICH WE ARE SUPER EXCITED ABOUT AND WILL BE DOING SOME FUN THINGS FOR PRIDE MONTH HERE, AND SOME INDEPENDENT LIVING SCHOOL'S GROUP FOR YOUTH WHO ARE AGING OUT OF FOSTER CARE BUT ALSO FOR YOUTH WHO HAVE NOT BEEN INVOLVED IN THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM, BUT JUST REALLY NEED SOME SUPPORT IN BUILDING SKILLS.

JULIE: WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE ADULT POPULATION OF HOMELESS FOLKS IN OUR COMMUNITY, OFTEN MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE ARE PART OF THE EQUATION.

YOU FIND THAT IS ALSO OFTEN THE CASE WITH HOMELESS YOUTH, THAT THEY ARE EXPENSING THESE CHALLENGES AS WELL AND NEED CARE?

DAWN: THEY DEFINITELY ARE, AND THAT IS PART OF WHY WE HAVE EMBEDDED THOSE SERVICES INTO OUR HOMELESS YOUTH PROGRAM.

WE SEE YOUTH YOU KNOW, THAT HAVE NOT HAD ACCESS TO RESOURCES TO ADDRESS CHEMICAL MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH NEEDS, SO PROVIDING THOSE SKILLS FOR HIM RIGHT WHERE THEY ARE IN THAT MOMENT, IT REALLY HELPS THEM TO UNDERSTAND THAT EVERYONE HAS METAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS NEEDS.

EVERYONE HAS YOU KNOW, PHYSICAL HEALTH NEEDS, AND HELPING THEM BE ABLE TO ACCESS THOSE AND ADDRESS THOSE.

DENNIS: DAWN, HOW CAN THE PUBLIC GET INVOLVED?

DAWN: THEY CAN CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE.

WE HAVE ALL KINDS OF VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES.

UM, THEY CAN GET INVOLVED WITH OTHER LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS AND PLEASE, YOU KNOW, SHARE YOUR SUPPORT AND FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS GO A LONG WAY TO HELPING OUR HOMELESS YOUTH POPULATIONS.

DENNIS: ALL RIGHT.

JULIE: IF THERE IS ONE THING -- WE HAVE 15 SECONDS LEFT.

IF THERE IS ONE THING HOMELESS YOUTH NEED THE MOST, WHAT IS IT?

>> KINDNESS, SUPPORT, GUIDANCE FROM A CARING TRUSTED ADULT AND THE LIKE.

DENNIS: ALL RIGHT.

LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES.

THANK YOU.

DAWN: THANK YOU.

JULIE: THANK YOU.

♪ [JAZZ MUSIC PLAYS] DENNIS: IT IS TIME NOW FOR VOICES OF THE REGION, WHEN WE HEAR FROM AN AREA JOURNALIST ABOUT STORIES MAKING NEWS.

THIS WEEK OUR GUEST IS MARSHALL HEMLBERGER, PUBLISHER OF THE TIMBERJAY NEWS IN TOWER.

♪ MARSHALL: SO THIS WEEK, WE ARE CHECKING IN ON WEST JOHNSON, WHO OPERATES A 1500 ACRE CATTLE RANCH.

FOR YEARS, JOHNSON HAS LOST SEVERAL HEAD OF CATTLE EVERY YEAR TO WOLVES, TYPICALLY HIS CALVES BORN IN MAY.

HE RUNS A BIG RANCH BY THE STANDARDS OF NORTHERN ST. LOUIS COUNTY WITH OPEN RANGE LARGER THAN 100 ACRES IS A RARITY, AND THE RANCH IS UNIQUELY LOCATED IN THE HEART OF THE DENSEST POPULATION OF GRAY WOLVES IN NORTH AMERICA.

NOT SURPRISINGLY, IT HAS BEEN GROUND ZERO IN THIS LONG-STANDING BATTLE BETWEEN RANCHERS AND WOLVES, BUT THAT IS UH NOT, THAT HAS ALL CHANGED THIS YEAR THANKS TO EXPERIMENT ON TO STUDY THE IMPACT OF A WOLF -PROOF FENCE ON THE OPERATION.

WE SPOKE WITH JOHNSON BAIT LAST WEEK AND HE'S -- BITE LAST WEEK AND HE HAS SAID HE HAS NO ISSUES THIS SEASON IN HIS COWS ARE CALMER THAN THEY USED TO BE.

THE FENCE IS A JOINT EXPERIMENT STARTED TWO YEARS AGO BY THE STAKEHOLDERS WHO HAD SOMETHING TO GAIN FROM A SOLUTION TO JOHNSON'S WEALTH PROBLEM.

STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES INCLUDING THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE IN THE U.S. WILDLIFE SERVICES WERE EXPENDING TAXPAYER RESOURCES EACH YEAR.

STATE DOLLARS WENT TO THE REIMBURSEMENT FOR LOST CATTLE, AND SINCE 2005, THE REIMBURSEMENT FUND PAID OUT $150,000 FOR LOSSES AT JOHNSON'S RANCH.

MEANWHILE, WHILE -- WILDLIFE SERVICES PAID FOR TRAPPERS TO TRAP AND KILL WOLVES ON THE RANCH AND SOMETIMES FOR WEEKS AT A TIME.

SINCE 2005, FEDERAL TRAPPERS HAVE TRAPPED AND KILLED AT LEAST 80 WOLVES FROM JOHNSON'S RANCH THAT NOT ONLY COST MONEY BUT HAS -- HAD AN IMPACT ON THE WILDLIFE RESEARCH THAT WAS BEING DONE BY THE VOYAGERS WOLF PROJECT.

♪ WE ARE ALSO REPORTING ON THE CONTINUING FIRE DANGER ACROSS NORTHERN ST. LOUIS COUNTY.

WE DID GET SOME RELIEF EARLIER THIS WEEK IN THE FORM OF THUNDERSTORMS, BUT WITH CONTINUED HOT TEMPERATURES IN AN EXTENDED FORECAST OF BELOW NORMAL PRECIPITATION CONTINUING THROUGH THE FIRST HALF OF JUNE, IT IS LOOKING LIKE FIRE DANGER WILL CONTINUE TO HANG ON.

FIRE OFFICIALS SAY IT'S STARTING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE SUMMER 2021, WHEN DROUGHT HELPED TO SPARK WILDFIRES ACROSS NORTHERN MINNESOTA AND NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO.

WE HAVE ALREADY HAD A 20-ACRE FIRED THIS PAST FRIDAY AT WEST, BUT FIREFIGHTERS JUMPED ON IT QUICKLY AND WERE ABLE TO GET IT UNDER CONTROL, DESPITE A RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT AT THE TIME.

WE HAD EXTREME FIRE DANGER THROUGHOUT THE MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND, WHICH WAS THE HOTTEST AND DRIEST IN MANY YEARS IN THE REGION.

WE WILL WATCH FIRE CONDITIONS THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER.

♪ WE HAD A CHANCE TO TALK WITH NURSING HOMES WITH THE DIRECTOR OF ONE CARE CENTER AND TWO LOCAL LAWMAKERS WHO STOP BY THE NURSING HOME FACILITY HERE THIS PAST WEEK TO DISCUSS PROGRESS MADE IN THE LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

AS WE HAVE DISCUSSED BEFORE, THE NURSING HOME HAD FACED A CRITICAL CASH CRUNCH EARLIER THIS YEAR AND IT INDICATED THEY WOULD HAVE TO CLOSE IF THE SITUATION WAS NOT RESOLVED.

THEY RECEIVED SOME TEMPORARY FINANCIAL HELP FROM LOCAL DONATIONS COME FROM THE PUBLIC AS WELL AS FROM THE COMMUNITY HOSPITAL, AND THAT HELPED TO TIDE HIM OVER, BUT NOW THE LEGISLATURE HAS APPROVED FUNDING INCREASES THAT SHOULD HELP THEM SURVIVE AT LEAST UNTIL THE LONGER-TERM CHANGE FOR FUNDING FOR NURSING HOMES CAN BE ADJUSTED.

DOES FUNDING INCREASES INCLUDED A $12.35 INCREASE IN THE DAILY RATE PAID TO NURSING HOMES FOR EACH PATIENT AND RESIDENT.

ONE CARE CENTER WILL ALSO SEE SOME ADDITIONAL MONEY AS A DESIGNATED CRITICAL CARE NURSING HOME BASED ON ITS DISTANCE FROM THE NEXT CLOSEST NURSING HOME, WHICH IS NEARLY 50 MILES AWAY.

ONE SENATOR WAS ABLE TO OBTAIN $750,000 IN FUNDING THROUGH THE TAX BILL THAT WILL ALLOW BOUNDARY WATERS TO KEEP UP ON NEEDED BUILDING NEEDS THAT SHOULD FREE UP OPERATING DOLLARS AS WELL WHICH HAD BEEN SPENT ON MAINTENANCE IN RECENT YEARS.

BUT THE DIRECTOR SAID THE LEGISLATURE STILL NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING TO ADDRESS STAFF WAGES WHICH REMAIN TOO LOW TO ALLOW THEM TO COMPETE FOR QUALIFIED NURSES AND OTHER STAFF.

♪ ♪ [JAZZ MUSIC PLAYS] JULIE: THE MINNESOTA DNR IS PARTNERING WITH THE U.S.

FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE TO RESTORE LAKE STURGEON IN THE RED RIVER BASIN.

THE AGENCIES RECENTLY COMPLETED AN EGG-TAKE OPERATION ALONG THE RAINY RIVER NEAR INTERNATIONAL FALLS.

THOSE EGGS ARE NOW AT NATIONAL FISH HATCHERIES IN THE MIDWEST, WHERE THEY WILL BE REARED TO FINGERLING SIZE.

HERE'S MORE ON THIS CONSERVATION EFFORT.

>> WELL, TODAY IS THE FIRST TIME WE'VE CONDUCTED IT WITH OUR PARTNERS WITH THE U.S.

FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE IS ON THE MINNESOTA SIDE, SO IT TOOK A LOT OF PLANNING FROM STAFF IN THE OFFICE TO IDENTIFY A LOCATION, CAPTURE THE FISH, AND FROM THAT POINT ON, THE U.S.

FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE TOOK OVER AND CONDUCTED THE OPERATIONS.

>> WE LIKE TO CALL LAKE STURGEON OUR LEGACY FISH BECAUSE WERE PASSING SOMETHING ALONG TO THE NEXT GENERATION THAT IS HOPEFULLY NOT JUST THE FOLLOWING GENERATION BUT FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.

UH, IT IS A VERY LONG-DID FISH, VERY SPECIAL -- LONG-LIVED FISH, VERY SPECIAL AND ITS HABITAT REQUIREMENTS, AND IT IS A SPECIAL THING TO STOCK A FISH THAT WILL OUTLIVE YOU BY MANY DECADES.

>> LAKE STURGEON RECOVERY TAKES A LONG TIME AND THEY ARE A LONG-LIVED FISH AND THEY WERE BASICALLY EXTIRPATED FROM THE RED RIVER, SO WE ARE STARTING TO GET TO THE POINT WHERE WE ARE SEEING THE RESULTS OF THE LABOR OF ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE WORKED ON THIS PROJECT.

>> SO THE LONG-TERM GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS ACTUALLY TO HAVE A SUSTAINABLE AND NATURALLY REPRODUCING POPULATION, AND WE HAVE DOCUMENTED LAST YEAR IN 2022 WE ACTUALLY ON VIDEO CAPTURED LAKE STURGEON SPAWNING IN ONE OF THE TRIBUTARIES TO THE RED RIVER, SO WE ARE STARTING TO SEE SOME SUCCESSES FROM THIS LONG-TERM PROJECT.

>> [INDISCERNIBLE] -- A GALLON.

>> THEY ARE RELEASED UNHARMED, AND GENERALLY RELEASED WITH A PORTION OF THEIR OVARIES STILL INSIDE THE FISH AND THEY WILL GO AND BUY EGGS -- LAY EGGS BEYOND THE EGGS WE TAKE SO WE ARE RETURNING THEM TO THE POPULATION SO IT CAN LAY THE REST OF THEIR EGGS WITHIN THE POPULATION.

JULIE: WELL, BESIDES THE DNR AND U.S.

FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, THE RED LAKE AND WHITE EARTH NATION'S ARE ALSO PARTNERS IN THE PROJECT.

SINCE THE EARLY 2000'S, MORE THAN A HALF MILLION LAKE STURGEON FINGERLINGS HAVE BEEN STOCKED IN RED RIVER BASIN WATERS.

IS APPRECIATED.

THANK YOU.

AND REMEMBER, YOU CAN KEEP UP WITH ALMANAC NORTH BY FOLLOWING US ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.

KEEP AN EYE ON THE PBS NORTH WEBSITE 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 JULIE, IT LOOKS LIKE A PRETTY GOOD WEEKEND FOR OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, GRAD PARTIES, YARD WORK, PLENTY OF OPTIONS.

JULIE: THAT IS TRUE.

AND WINTER IS SO LONG AROUND HERE.

DENNIS: IT IS.

JULIE: IT FEELS TERRIFIC TO GET OUTSIDE AND FEEL THE SUN AND THE WIND AND WARM BREEZE IN YOUR SKIN.

DENNIS: ISN'T THAT NICE?

JULIE: YEP.

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

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!

GOOD NIGHT EVERYONE, AND BE KIND.

♪