JULIE: I'M JULIE ZENNER ALONG WITH DENNIS ANDERSON, HERE'S WHAT'S COMING UP ON ALMANAC NORTH.

DENNY: FOR THE FIRST TIME IN YEARS, A CRUISE SHIP WILL DISEMBARK PASSENGERS IN DULUTH AND TAKE ON NEW PASSENGERS, GIVING A NICE BOOST TO THE LOCAL ECONOMY.

JULIE: WE'LL FIND OUT WHAT IT'S LIKE TO LIVE IN POVERTY THROUGH AN IMMERSIVE POVERTY SIMULATION VIDEO REPORT.

DENNY: AND WE'LL FIND OUT MORE ABOUT NEXT WEEK'S GREAT DULUTH RACE, A TEAM-BUILDING EVENT SPONSORED BY THE DULUTH CHAMBER.

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, RAIN EXPECTED THIS WEEKEND IS REALLY NEEDED ACROSS THE REGION.

DENNY: THIS COULD BE A WEEKEND WHERE WE ARE NOT GOING TO SUFFICE WITH ALL OF THAT.

BUT WE NEED RAIN.

JULIE: LET'S HOPE FOR A GOOD SOAKING.

LET'S START NOW WITH THE HEADLINES: DENNY: THANKS JULIE.

ROAD CONSTRUCTION CONTINUES TO RAMP UP IN THE REGION WITH MORE PROJECTS.

PAVEMENT MILLING AND CHIP SEALING ON 15-MILES OF HIGHWAY 53 BEGINS MONDAY, WITH NORTH AND SOUTH BOUND LANE CLOSURES NEAR INDEPENDENCE.

AND MILLING AND PAVING WORK BEGAN TODAY ON HIGHWAY TWO AT THE JUNCTION OF HIGHWAY 33 WITH LANE CLOSURES AND FLAGGING OPERATIONS.

MOTORISTS ARE REMINDED TO USE CAUTION AND SLOW DOWN IN WORK ZONES.

JULIE: ALSO BEGINNING MONDAY, THE 27TH AVENUE WEST RAMP ONTO SOUTHBOUND I-35 IN DULUTH WILL ALL BE CLOSED FOR REMOVAL AND RECONSTRUCTION OF THE RAMP.

A DETOUR WILL FOLLOW MICHIGAN STREET TO FORTIETH AVENUE WEST.

THE CLOSURE IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN IN PLACE THROUGH MID-JULY.

DENNY: THE MINNESOTA DNR RECEIVED A PROPOSAL FOR A NICKEL MINING PROJECT IN AITKIN COUNTY THIS WEEK.

THE TALON METALS NICKEL PROJECT WOULD CONSTRUCT AN UNDERGROUND MINE AND SUPPORT FACILITIES JUST NORTH OF TAMARACK.

THE DNR WILL BEGIN REVIEW OF THE PROJECT AND DETERMINE WHETHER ENOUGH INFORMATION HAS BEEN PROVIDED TO BEGIN THE SCOPING PROCESS.

JULIE: AND WISCONSIN GOVERNOR TONY EVERS SIGNED A NEW REVENUE SHARING BILL INTO LAW THIS WEEK, PROVIDING A LARGE BOOST TO LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES.

WISCONSIN ACT 12 WILL PROVIDE A 20% INCREASE IN SHARED REVENUE TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACROSS THE STATE.

THE HISTORIC BOOST WAS AGREED TO BY THE GOVERNOR AND REPUBLICAN LEGISLATIVE LEADERS EARLIER THIS MONTH.

DENNY: THE VIKING CRUISE LINE SHIP POLARIS WILL ARRIVE IN DULUTH SATURDAY WITH MORE THAN 300 PASSENGERS.

BUT RATHER THAN JUST SPENDING A DAY TOURING THE AREA, THOSE PASSENGERS WILL BE DISEMBARKING THE SHIP AT THE END OF THEIR JOURNEY.

LATER, ANOTHER 300 PLUS PEOPLE WILL BOARD THE VESSEL TO BEGIN THEIR CRUISE.

THIS CRUISE SHIP TURNAROUND WILL PROVIDE A NICE BOOST TO THE ECONOMY.

HERE WITH MORE IS DAN HARTMAN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF DULUTH'S DECC AND A MEMBER OF THE EXPLORE MINNESOTA TOURISM COUNCIL.

WELCOME DAN.

WELCOME, GOOD TO SEE YOU.

WHAT DOES THE CRUISE INDUSTRY DO FOR THE CITY OF DULUTH IN TERMS OF THE LOCAL ECONOMY?

DAN: THERE IS THE OBVIOUS THING WERE FOLKS COME IN, BUT NOW THE TURNAROUND IS A MUCH BIGGER DEAL THAN THE STOP.

WHEN THE SHIP COMES AND THEY GET ON THE BOOK, THERE IS A WHOLE NEW GROUP THAT GETS OFF THE BOAT, AND THEY WILL STAY IN A HOTEL.

THEY ARE A LITTLE BIT MORE FREE, A LOT OF TIMES THEY DO THEIR OWN SCHEDULING.

THE STOPS ARE HIGHLY SCHEDULED, YOU HAVE A WHOLE LIST OF STUFF.

BUT THE STUFF THAT PEOPLE DO NOT THINK ABOUT, THEY HAVE TO BUY MEALS, FOOD, GAS.

THE COST OF THE PRIME RIB THEY BOUGHT FROM A LOCAL TOWN WAS IN THE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.

THERE ARE ALWAYS ECONOMIC BENEFITS THAT YOU DO NOT THINK ABOUT THAT THE CRUISE SHIPS NEED.

JULIE: ARE YOU SURPRISED AT HOW QUICKLY DULUTH TURNED INTO OUR TURNAROUND SPOT?

PEOPLE WERE LOOKING AT IT AS MAY BE ON THE FIVE-YEAR HORIZON.

DAN: THIS WAS A SHOCK TO LOCAL LEADERS WHEN VIKING CAME BACK AND SAID, WE ARE BOOKING TURNAROUNDS AND THEY ARE SELLING.

JULIE: WHAT IS IT ABOUT DULUTH?

DAN: IT IS THE GREAT LAKES.

TO THE CUSTOMER IT FEELS LIKE A FAMILIAR PLACE.

TO A LOT OF FOLKS ON THE EAST OR WEST COAST, THEY HAVE HEARD ABOUT THE MIDWEST, SO IT IS AN EXCITING AND MYSTERIOUS PLACE.

DENNY: WHAT ROLE DOES THE DECC HAVE?

DAN: WE HAD A STAFF MEMBER WHO CAME BACK FROM QUEBEC CITY, WORKING WITH OTHER MIDWEST FOLKS.

THE DECKS ROLES, WE KEEP OUR USUAL HOSPITALITY.

WE WILL BE HELPING THE BORDER PATROL COMPLETE THEIR REPORT, WE ARE WORKING WITH THE COAST GUARD, AND FOR THE LOCAL PORT AUTHORITY HAS BEEN ABSOLUTELY PIVOTAL IN HELPING US GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS.

JULIE: HAS DULUTH HAD TO INVEST IN SPECIAL INFRASTRUCTURE?

DAN: THE CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR'S OFFICE APPROVED MONEY TO BUILD A CUSTOMS FACILITY.

WITH ALL OF THE CUSTOMS FACILITY, THE ENTIRE GREAT LAKES TOUR WOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED.

YOU NEED THAT TO GO FROM THUNDER BAY DOWN TO DULUTH.

WITHOUT THAT THIS THING WOULD HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT.

DENNY: WHAT IS THE LONG-TERM FUTURE?

DAN: I WAS AT A CONFERENCE, AND I WAS SURPRISED TO SEE THERE ARE SO MANY CRUISE LINES THAT ARE SO EXCITED FOR THE SEAWALL PROJECT TO GET DONE.

IT WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED TO GO FROM 10 CRUISES PER YEAR TO 50.

THESE ARE NOT THE GIANT OCEAN LINERS.

IT WILL BE GOOD FOR THE ECONOMY AND A NICE BOOST.

DENNY: ARE THERE A NUMBER OF COMPANIES THAT WOULD ENTER THE GREAT LAKES?

DAN: FROM THE CONVERSATION I HAD WITH A STAFF MEMBER, WE ARE LOOKING AT FIVE IN THE NEXT YEAR OR TWO.

JULIE: YOU MENTIONED THEY ARE NOT THE LARGE CRUISE VESSELS, BUT THEY ARE STILL PRETTY IMPRESSIVE.

DAN: THEY ARE 700 FEET LONG.

JULIE: PEOPLE COME TO TOWN JUST TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT.

WHAT IS IT LIKE ON BOARD?

DAN: IT IS WAY MORE BEAUTIFUL THAN YOU WOULD GUESS.

AS SOMEONE WHO IS -- IT IS TOP-OF-THE-LINE, THE SHIP IS ONLY TWO YEARS OLD.

IMAGINE GOING INTO THE FANCIEST HOTEL YOU HAVE EVER SEEN, THAT HAS BEEN RECENTLY BUILT.

THE MOVIE THEATER IS SPECTACULAR, THE DECKS, THE HOT TUB, THE SAUNA.

I LOVE IT THAT THEY HAVE A GIANT PUZZLE TABLE SET UP, AND RIGHT BEHIND IT WAS A BAR.

FIRST TIME TRAVELERS ARE SURPRISED BY THE BEAUTY OF THE CITY.

HERE THEY ARE FROM NEW YORK, THEY ARE IN DULUTH, THEY DID NOT ASK BACK TO THE YOU TO FULFILL SIDE IN THE MIDWEST.

JULIE: WHAT IS THE MAJOR MARKET FOR FOLKS WHO ARE TOURING ON THE GREAT LAKES?

IS IT DOMESTIC?

DAN: IT IS ALMOST PRIMARILY IN THE UNITED STATES, EAST COAST, WEST COAST AND THE SOUTH.

DENNY: WHAT EFFECT HAS COVID-19 HAD ON CRUISING?

DAN: IT IS AFFECTED IN THE NEGATIVE.

IT HAS COME BACK, BUT IT MIGHT BE PART OF OUR EXPLOSION, WE FEEL SAFER THAN THE FURTHER EXCURSIONS.

THESE SMALLER EXCURSIONS ARE BLOWING UP.

JULIE: HAS THE CRUISE INDUSTRY CREATED NEW JOBS LOCALLY THAT YOU CAN PINPOINT?

DAN: ESPECIALLY FOR THE STOPS AND TURNAROUNDS, THERE ARE ALL OF THESE EXCURSIONS.

NOW THERE ARE TOUR GUIDES, FOLKS IN TOWN WHO HAVE TO WORK DIRECTLY TO THE SHIP, A WIDE RANGE OF DIFFERENT THINGS.

DENNY: DO YOU HAVE AN IDEA OF HOW MUCH A PASSENGER SPENDS IN DULUTH?

DAN: WE ARE YET TO KNOW THAT FOR THE TURNAROUNDS.

FOR THE STOP YOU ARE LOOKING AT EASILY A COUPLE HUNDRED BUCKS.

JULIE: HOW TOUGH IS IT TO SCHEDULE THESE CRUISES?

THE WATERFRONT IN DULUTH IS A PRETTY BUSY PLACE.

DAN: THAT IS PART OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN US ON THE PORT AUTHORITY.

WE ARE LUCKY THAT, ON OUR SIDE, WE HAVE -- OUR PEER IS EMPTY.

THAT IS PRETTY EASY.

JULIE: DO YOU KNOW THE FOLKS WHO ARE COMING IN THIS WEEKEND, WHERE DID THEIR CRUISE ORIGINATE, AND THE FOLKS WHO ARE GETTING ON HERE, WHERE THEY GETTING OFF?

DAN: TODAY WE HAD A DIFFERENT CRUISESHIP FOR ANOTHER ONE OF THE STOPS.

IT SHOWS THE GENERAL LEVEL OF ACTIVITY.

THE OCEAN NAVIGATOR CAME AROUND TODAY, TOMORROW WILL BE THE TURNAROUND.

DENNY: WHAT KIND OF EXPENDITURES DOES THE CRUISE COMPANY HAVE IN DULUTH?

DAN: THEY HAVE FUEL, WASTE REMOVAL AT SOME POINT, WHICH IS A HUGE COST.

HONESTLY, FOOD IS A HUGE ONE.

THEY BUY A LOT OF FOOD FOR THEIR CRUISE.

MEDICAL SUPPLIES, THE AVERAGE AGE OF A PASSENGER -- THERE IS A LOT OF MEDICAL SUPPORT THAT GOES INTO THE CRUISESHIP.

THE GROUP THAT HAS DONE THE BEST WITH THIS HAS BEEN THE DEPOT, WHERE THEY HAVE THE TOUR SET UP.

DENNY: WE HAVE TO CALL IT QUITS.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU.

♪ JULIE: COMMUNITY ACTION DULUTH HOSTED A POVERTY SIMULATION EVENT RECENTLY AT MYERS WILKINS SCHOOL IN WEST DULUTH.

THE IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE EXPOSES PARTICIPANTS TO THE REALITIES OF POVERTY.

PBS NORTH VIDEOGRAPHER OWEN TAKES US ON A FIRST-PERSON TOUR OF THE SIMULATION.

>> THEIR GYMNASIUM, A POVERTY SIMULATION, IT IS EXACTLY WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE.

IT IS TO SIMULATE WHAT OUR COMMUNITY EXPERIENCES HERE IN POVERTY, AND SHOW OUR STAKEHOLDERS AND PEOPLE WHO ARE IN POWER WHAT IT IS LIKE.

NOT THE STEREOTYPES, BUT WHAT IT IS ACTUALLY IS.

THE STORIES HERE THAT THEY WILL BE GIVEN TO PORTRAY ARC REAL-LIFE PARTICIPANTS FROM COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAMS FROM ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

WE ARE EXCITED TO SHOW PEOPLE A PART OF OUR WORLD, HOW IMPORTANT IT IS, AND WHAT PEOPLE ARE CURRENTLY STRUGGLING WITH.

>> IS IT JUST US?

>> I THINK SO.

>> A SINGLE MOTHER LIVING WITH A BOYFRIEND.

DROP OUT NOT CURRENTLY EMPLOYED.

WOULD LIKE TO GO TO SCHOOL AND GRADUATE.

♪ >> WHERE SHOULD WE GO FIRST?

>> WE HAVE TO GO TO WORK.

>> WHAT DOES THE UTILITY COMPANY DO?

>> YOU WILL PAY YOUR GAS, YOUR TELEPHONE.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THAT OUT OF MY CASH.

>> AND INCREDIBLY EYE-OPENING EXPERIENCE, I WAS A FAMILY OF THREE PEOPLE WHERE THEIR DAD HAD DISAPPEARED SUDDENLY, MOM DID NOT HAVE A JOB THAT, SHE HAD TO GET SOCIAL SERVICES AND WE HAVE TO FEED THE FAMILY.

THERE IS A RENT COLLECTOR COMING TO COLLECT THE RENT TRACK.

-- RENT CHECK.

MOM WAS AWAY, ME AND MY BROTHER WERE SITTING AT HOME, THINKING, WHERE IS SHE GOING TO GET BACK?

JUST TO SURVIVE, JUST MAKE IT THROUGH THE WEEK.

IT WAS CHALLENGING.

>> DO YOU KNOW WHERE I CAN GET MORE TRANSPORTATION PASSES?

>> YOU CAN GET IT FROM SOCIAL SERVICES, THE CHURCH.

>> CAN I BUY TRANSPORTATION PASSES HERE?

I WOULD LIKE TO PURCHASE MORE TRANSPORTATION PASSES.

I'VE GOT THIS EPT.

>> WE DO NOT ACCEPT THAT.

>> THANK YOU.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME.

>> WE TELL PEOPLE IT IS NOT A GAME, IT IS REAL LIFE, IT IS NOT MEANT TO BE TAKEN LIGHTLY.

IT IS SUPPOSED TO OPEN UP THEIR EYES TO CHANGE THIS IN THE FUTURE, AND SUPPORT WHAT THE COMMUNITY AGENCIES DO.

>> HELLO, I AM A SINGLE MOTHER WITH A CHILD, I WOULD LIKE TO TRADE A REFRIGERATOR FOR TRANSPORTATION PASSES.

WE ARE COMPLETELY OUT OF TRANSPORTATION PASSES.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>> I WOULD STRONGLY RECOMMEND, IT GIVES US A SENSE OF PERSPECTIVE.

WHEN WE THINK OF POVERTY, THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT ANYBODY CHOOSES.

THEY GO OFF ON THE RHETORIC, THAT POOR PEOPLE SHOULD GET A JOB.

GETTING A JOB IS NOT THAT EASY.

GETTING SUPPORT FOR THE FAMILY, HOW DO YOU DECIDE IF YOU SHOULD GO TO WORK OR GET YOUR EBT CARD?

EVERYTHING IS MAKING TRADE-OFFS.

>> I WANT TO PEOPLE TO GO HOME WITH A DIFFERENT NARRATIVE ABOUT WHAT IT IS LIKE TO BE IN POVERTY.

I WANT PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT ELIMINATING BARRIERS AND EMPOWERING PEOPLE, INSTEAD OF THROWING MORE PUNITIVE ON PEOPLE WHO ARE FACING POVERTY AND THE STRUGGLES THAT COME WITH POVERTY, HOPEFULLY THIS WILL SPUR PEOPLE TO GET INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY WORK THAT WE ARE DOING.

♪ JULIE: LOCAL BUSINESSES ARE GEARING UP TO PATICIPATE IN THE GREAT DULUTH RACE NEXT WEEK.

THE TEAM-BUILDING COMMUNITY SCAVENGER HUNT IS SPONSORED BY THE DULUTH CHAMBER AND ITS YOUNG PROFESSIONALS GROUP FUSE DULUTH.

HERE TO TELL US ALL ABOUT IT IS ANDREW WEISZ, THE FUSE DULUTH LEADERSHIP COUNCIL CHAIR-ELECT.

THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE NEVER HEARD OF IT, WHAT IS THE GREAT DULUTH RACE?

ANDREW: IT IS LIKE THE AMAZING RACE, THERE ARE CHALLENGES THAT SCATTER YOU ACROSS DOWNTOWN PARKS, WHERE YOU DO EVERYTHING FROM JUMPING INTO THE LAKE TO TEAMBUILDING EXERCISES, TO FINDING RANDOM PARTS OF DULUTH.

EACH THING IS CATEGORY WITH POINTS, THE TEAM WITH THE MOST POINTS WINS.

DENNY: THIS IS A SCAVENGER HUNT?

ANDREW: IT IS A SCAVENGER HUNT, A TEAMBUILDING PROGRAM.

THERE ARE ABOUT 100 DIFFERENT MISSIONS.

WHERE YOU CAN DO THESE DIFFERENT MISSIONS, EACH IS WORTH A DIFFERENT POINT.

AND THEN EACH TEAM TRIES TO GET AS MANY POINTS AS POSSIBLE.

JULIE: ON ALL OF THESE TOP-SECRET?

ANDREW: WE DO HAVE PARTNERED COMPANIES THAT WE WORK WITH THAT HAVE -- THEY BOUGHT THEIR OWN MISSION.

THEY GET TO BE THE MISSION TITLE.

OTHER THAN THAT, EVERYTHING IS DIFFERENT EVERY YEAR.

THEY ARE ALL TOP-SECRET MADE BY OUR TEAM.

DENNY: TELL US ABOUT THE PRIZE PACKAGE.

ANDREW: THE PRIZE PACK IS WORTH OVER $3000.

THE FIRST ITEM IS THIS TROPHY.

IT IS MADE BY POP N' DOT.

NOTHING SHOWCASES DULUTH BETTER.

THEN WE HAVE A COVER FEATURE OF THE WINNING TEAM ON THE DULUTHIAN.

WITHIN THAT WE ARE GIVING AWAY AD TIME ON PBS NORTH AND MIDWEST COMMUNICATIONS.

A LOT OF GREAT OPTIONS.

TO HELP GROW LOCAL BUSINESS.

JULIE: IN ADDITION TO TEAMBUILDING, IS PART OF THE GOAL WITH THIS TO GET PEOPLE OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY AND SEE WHAT THERE IS OUT THERE?

ANDREW: EXACTLY.

LUCKILY WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH OTHER LOCAL BUSINESSES THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY.

WE DO HAVE DIFFERENT FOCAL POINTS AND DIFFERENT SPOTLIGHTS OF GREAT BUSINESSES AROUND THE AREA.

ALONGSIDE REALLY UNIQUE THINGS THAT YOU HAVE TO FIND OR KNOW WHERE THEY ARE.

IT IS A LITTLE SCAVENGER-Y FEEL, WHAT YOU ARE GOING ACROSS THE CITY LOOKING FOR A CERTAIN ITEM.

DENNY: TRYING TO UNCOVER THE HIDDEN TREASURES OF DULUTH.

WHAT ARE THESE HIDDEN TREASURES?

ANDREW: THERE ARE TOO MANY TO COUNT.

JULIE: ARE THERE A LOT OF YOUNG ADULTS IN THE COMMUNITY THAT GET ON BOARD WITH SOMETHING LIKE THIS AND ARE INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING IN FUSE DULUTH AND THE CHAMBER?

ANDREW: WE HAVE HAD GREAT MEMBERSHIP RATES, EVERYTHING IS GOING UP.

ESPECIALLY ON OUR FUSE SITE.

WE DECIDED TO GROW THE RACE THIS YEAR.

LAST YEAR WAS 20 TEAMS, THIS YEAR WE ARE GOING FOR 50.

WE STILL HAVE A FEW SPOTS OPEN, BUT THEY ARE CLOSING UP FAST.

WE ARE SEEING GOOD INTERACTION WITH YOUNG ADULTS.

AND YOUNG PROFESSIONALS WHO WANT TO GET OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY.

SEEING A LOT OF PEOPLE VOLUNTEERING.

DENNY: I AM INTERESTED IN THIS TROPHY.

WHOEVER WINS IT, THEY KEEP IT FOR A YEAR?

ANDREW: IT IS LIKE THE STANLEY CUP, IT IS A TRAVELING TROPHY, YOU CAN SHOW IT OFF IN YOUR OFFICE SPACE.

WE ENGRAVE YOUR NAME ON IT, YOU GET TO FOREVER BE THE 2023 WHERE.

BUT AT THE END OF THE YEAR, WE WILL TAKE IT BACK, AND TO BRING IT TO THE NEXT WINNING TEAM.

DENNY: PBS HAS A CHANCE TO GET THIS.

I HAVE A BEAUTIFUL SHELF WHERE IT WILL LOOK NICE.

JULIE: IS IT HARDER FOR YOUNG PROFESSIONALS THESE DAYS TO CONNECT WITH OTHERS BECAUSE SO MANY PEOPLE ARE WORKING FROM HOME?

ANDREW: IT DEFINITELY IS, AND THAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF PROGRAMS LIKE FUSE DULUTH, IT OFFERS THE OPPORTUNITY THAT IS MORE THAN A BAR TO MEET NEW PEOPLE.

THROUGH MUTUAL CONNECTIONS AND MUTUAL INTERESTS.

THE HOST PROBABLY 10-20 EVENTS EVERY YEAR TO GET PEOPLE TO MEET EACH OTHER.

RANGING FROM CURLING EVENTS, TO SCAVENGER HUNTS, TO YOUR EVERY DAY TOURING A NEW BUSINESS.

WE OFFER REALLY COOL -- JULIE: YOU HAVE A COUPLE OF SPOTS, IF PEOPLE WANT TO PUT A TEAM TOGETHER.

ANDREW: IT IS FIVE MEMBERS PER TEAM, AND $150.

YOU CAN WIN THREE GRAND WORTH OF PRICES.

YOU CAN GO ON THE DULUTH CHAMBER WEBSITE TO SIGN UP.

JULIE: GOOD LUCK WITH THE RACE.

DENNY: IT'S TIME NOW FOR VOICES OF THE REGION, WHEN WE HEAR FROM AN AREA JOURNALIST ABOUT TOPICS IN THE NEWS.

OUR GUEST THIS WEEK IS IRON RANGE COLUMNIST AND AUTHOR AARON BROWN.

♪ AARON: LAST MONTH I RECORDED -- REPORTED ON THE HOUSING CRISIS, WHICH IS THE TERM YOU OFTEN HEAR ASSOCIATED WITH BIG CITIES.

BUT IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA, AND THE RURAL PORTS -- RELOOK PARTS, THERE IS JUST AS BIG OF A CAROUSING -- HOUSING CRISIS.

THE PRICES FOR HOUSES, ESPECIALLY FOR FAMILIES, WHERE THE ENTRY LEVEL HOME, HAVE REALLY SKYROCKETED IN THE PAST 10 YEARS.

IT IS ACTUALLY FINALLY ON THE RADAR, IT HAS BEEN OVER THE PAST YEAR OF THE STATE TO POLITICAL LEADERS AND LOCAL LEADERS.

AND TO THE IRON RANGE RESOURCES BOARD IS SLATED TO INVEST $5 MILLION IN A HOUSING PROGRAM TO SPUR NEW HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AND UPGRADE HOUSING STOCK.

ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH THE PLACE LIKE THE IRON RANGE IS THE THE HOUSES WERE BUILT AROUND THE SAME TIME.

THEY WERE ALL BUILT ON 25 FOOT LOTS AND HAVE BATHROOMS UPSTAIRS, NOT DOWNSTAIRS.

THAT PRBLEM IS A CHALLENGE, ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE MOBILITY ISSUES, OLDER PEOPLE HAVE A HARD TIME WITH THOSE HOUSES.

THEY ARE RATHER SMALL BY MODERN STANDARDS FOR WHAT FAMILIES WANT.

♪ LAST WEEK IT WAS ANNOUNCED THAT A MAJOR MANUFACTURER OF RADIATORS AND PARTS WOULD BE SOLD TO A COMPANY IN PITTSBURGH FOR $230 MILLION.

THE RADIATOR COMPANY IS NOT A HOUSEHOLD NAME OUTSIDE OF THE RANGE, BUT IT IS OF COMPANY THAT WAS STARTED BY A FAMILY AND GREW INTO A LARGER BUSINESS, WITH FACILITIES OVERSEAS.

THEY'VE GOT PLACES HERE IN AMERICA, AND A LOCATION IN PERTH, AUSTRALIA.

THE NEXT GENERATION FINDS THAT IT IS A BIG OPERATION TO RUN AS A FAMILY BUSINESS.

THE GOOD NEWS IS IT IS STILL BUSINESS AS USUAL, MAKING THEIR PRODUCTS, WHICH ARE HUGE RADIATORS, THE SIZE OF A ROOM THAT GO INTO THE TRUCKS IN MINING EQUIPMENTS.

THEY ARE GOING TO MAKE OF THOSE, THEY ARE GOING TO EMPLOY THE SAME PEOPLE.

THE BIGGER QUESTION IS, FOR A LOT OF THESE VENDORS, PEOPLE THINK ABOUT MINING EMPLOYMENT BEING IMPORTANT, BUT ASSOCIATED WITH THE INDUSTRY IS VENDORS THAT MAKE THESE PRODUCTS.

AND AS A LOT OF THOSE HAVE BEEN NORTHERN MINNESOTA BASED COMPANIES, THEY HAVE BEEN SELLING TO BIGGER COMPANIES.

♪ THE SPORT OF WANTON BIKING HAS BEEN EXPLODING IN RECENT YEARS, MORE PEOPLE ARE DOING IT, OR TRAILS ARE BEING EXPANDED.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST NEW TRAILS IS THIS REDHEAD TRAIL NEXT TO THE MINNESOTA DISCOVERY CENTER IN CHISHOLM.

IT IS BUILT AROUND AN OLD MINE PIT.

NEAR THE FORMER IRON WORLD FACILITY IN CHISHOLM.

IT IS A UNIQUE, INTERESTING TRAIL SYSTEM BECAUSE YOU ARE RIDING UP AND DOWN AND IRON TINTED LAND THAT HAD BEEN PUT THERE BY MINORS.

IT IS A CHALLENGING BUT FUN TRAIL WITH DIFFERENT OPTIONS FOR DIFFERENT SKILL LEVELS.

THEY ARE ENTERING A PHASE TWO OF THEIR DEVELOPMENT.

THERE WAS AN ANNOUNCEMENT THIS WEEK WITH MORE THAN $2 MILLION FROM DIFFERENT SOURCES, OCCLUDING $1.6 MILLION FROM THE LEGISLATURE, GOING INTO EXPANDING THE TRAIL SYSTEM.

12 MILES OF NEW TRAILS, NEW REST STATIONS, PAVEMENT IN SOME AREAS, PEOPLE WITH MOBILITY ISSUES CAN ACCESS SOME OF THE TRAILS.

IT IS MORE INVESTMENT IN SOMETHING THAT IS A GROWING PART OF HER THAN IN A SODAS TOURISM INDUSTRY.

♪ -- JULIE: WE'RE OUT OF TIME, BUT 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 SPEAKING OF EVENTS, WE'VE GOT A FUN EVENT COMING UP FOR PBS NORTH MEMBERS DENNY!

DENNY: THAT'S RIGHT!

NEXT TUESDAY, JUNE 27TH, WE WILL HAVE A PUBLIC FINAL EPISODE SCREENING OF THE GREAT MINNESOTA RECIPE AT THE CLYDE EVENT CENTER IN DULUTH.

THE DOORS OPEN AT 5:30 PM AND THERE WILL BE FOOD, MUSIC FROM THE NORTH AND OF COURSE THE FINAL EPISODE OF SEASON 2.

IT'S FREE TO GET IN BUT YOU MUST RSVP FOR THE EVENT AT PBSNORTH.ORG WHERE YOU WILL ALSO FIND MORE DETAILS.

JULIE: SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD TIME, AND YOU'LL GET TO SEE THE FINAL EPISODE BEFORE ANYONE ELSE AND TASTE SOME OF THE RECIPES FROM THIS SEASON'S COOKS.

WE HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE.

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

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND, WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME!

♪