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

>> WE'LL LEARN ABOUT COVID-19 RESEARCH CONDUCTED AT ST. LUKE'S HOSPITAL THAT WAS PART OF A NATIONAL PROJECT.

>> THERE COULD BE MAJOR CHANGES AT THE DOWNTOWN DULUTH PUBLIC LIBRARY, WE'LL FIND OUT WHAT THE FUTURE MAY BE FOR THE FACILITY.

>> AND WITH THE FOURTH OF JULY JUST DAYS AWAY, WE'LL HAVE SOME FIREWORKS SAFETY TIPS TO KEEP EVERYONE SAFE ON THE NATION'S BIRTHDAY.

>> THOSE STORIES AND VOICES OF THE REGION, UP NEXT ON ALMANAC NORTH!

HELLO AND WELCOME TO ALMANAC NORTH, THANKS FOR WATCHING.

JULIE, IT'S ONE OF THE BIGGEST WEEKENDS OF THE SUMMER AS WE CELEBRATE INDEPENDENCE DAY.

>> A LONG WEEKEND FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE, ALTHOUGH THE HOLIDAY FALLS ON AN ODD DAY.

>> IT'S TIME FOR THE WEEK'S HEADLINES: >> THANKS DENNY!

JULY FIRST IS THE START OF A NUMBER OF NEW LAWS PASSED BY THE MINNESOTA LEGISLATURE.

THE NEW LAWS INCLUDE ALLOWING MINNESOTANS CONVICTED OF A FELONY TO VOTE ONCE THEY HAVE SERVED THEIR TIME IN PRISON.

OTHER NEW LAWS INCLUDE FREE SCHOOL BREAKFAST AND LUNCHES FOR K THOUGH TWELVE STUDENTS, AND FREE COLLEGE TUITION FOR MINNESOTA FAMILIES THAT MEET FINANCIAL GUIDELINES.

>> SEN. GRANT HAUSCHILD OF HERMANTOWN IS URGING THE U-S COAST GUARD TO RE-OPEN ITS GRAND MARAIS STATION FOLLOWING THE DROWNING OF TWO TEENAGERS NEAR SILVER BAY.

THE CLOSURE LEAVES A GAP IN EMERGENCY COVERAGE IN THAT AREA OF THE NORTH SHORE.

THE COOK COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND GRAND PORTAGE BAND OF CHIPPEWA HAVE PARTNERED TO RESPOND TO EMERGENCIES WITH FUNDING PROVIDED BY THE LEGISLATURE.

>> THE MINNESOTA D-N-R IS URGING FOLKS TO PRACTICE SAFETY FIRST THIS JULY FOURTH HOLIDAY WEEKEND.

FIRE DANGER IS STILL HIGH IN THE REGION SO CAMPFIRES WILL ONLY BE ALLOWED IN FIRE RINGS, AND NO BURNING PERMITS ARE BEING ISSUED.

IN ADDITION, FIREWORKS ARE NOT ALLOWED ON PUBLIC OR PRIVATE LAND OUTSIDE OF CITY LIMITS.

WE WILL HAVE MORE ON FIREWORKS SAFETY LATER IN OUR SHOW.

>> AND LONG-TIME ST. LOUIS COUNY HISTORICAL SOCIETY DIRECTOR JOANNE COOMBE RETIRED TODAY WITH A SPECIAL RECEPTION IN HER HONOR AT THE DEPOT.

COOMBE SPENT 34-YEARS LEADING THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY, SECURING GRANTS THAT HELPED RESEARCH AND BUILD EXHIBITS ON THE COUNTY'S RICH HISTORY.

CONGRATULATIONS JOANNE ON A WELL-DESERVED RETIREMENT.

>> ST. LUKE'S HOSPITAL IN DULUTH WAS PART OF A NATIONAL STUDY ON COVID-19 LED BY THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION.

THE STUDY HAS HELPED ANSWER MANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PANDEMIC, SUCH AS HOW EFFECTIVE THE VACCINES WERE AGAINST THE VIRUS, AND HOW IT MOVED THROUGH THE POPULATION.

HERE TO TELL US MORE IS DR. HARMONY TYNER, ST. LUKE'S INFECTIOUS DISEASE SPECIALIST WHO MANAGED THE LOCAL STUDY.

WELCOME, THANKS FOR BEING HERE!

.

>> HOW DID ST. LUKE'S GET INVOLVED IN THE NATIONAL STUDY AND WHAT WAS THE PURPOSE?

>> IT ALL STARTED WHEN COVID STARTED.

WHEN THE WORLD WAS SHUTTING DOWN THREE YEARS AGO, WE WERE ALL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE COULD DO TO MAKE THINGS BETTER, HOW TO GET THROUGH IT.

ONE SATURDAY, I WROTE DOWN A STUDY PLAN AND SENT IT TO THE CDC TO SEE IF WE COULD STUDY COVID.

THEY SAID WE LIKE YOUR PLAN, YOU HAVE A GREAT PLAN FOR COLLECTING PEOPLE TO BE PARTICIPANTS BUT WE HAVE A BIGGER STUDY WE WOULD LIKE TO DO INSTEAD, HOW ABOUT YOU JOIN THAT ONE?

WE SAID WE WOULD LOVE TO JOIN.

WHERE ARE WE WITH COVID?

>> TECHNICALLY, IT HAS BEEN DECLARED OVER WITH.

THERE IS STILL COVID CIRCULATING.

PEOPLE ARE STILL DYING OF IT IN THE HOSPITALS.

THE VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE HAVE HAD AT LEAST ONCE.

>> WHAT WAS THE GOAL OF THE RESEARCH PROJECT.

>> TO UNDERSTAND HOW IT MOVED THROUGH A VULNERABLE POPULATION.

WE HAD A VERY CONTAGIOUS VIRUS THAT MOVED THROUGH PEOPLE WHO HAD NEVER HAD IT BEFORE AND HAD NO IMMUNITY.

IT WAS TO SAY HOW DOES IT MOVE THROUGH, HOW MANY TIMES CAN PEOPLE GET INFECTED?

HOW LONG DOES IMMUNITY LAST?

WILL THERE BE MORE STRAINS?

ANY QUESTIONS THAT AROSE, WE WANTED TO ANSWER AS WE COLLECTED DATA.

IT WAS WITH A PROSPECTIVE COHORT STUDY MEANING WE START ON THIS END, BUT WE ARE GOING TO FOLLOW PEOPLE OVER TIME AND COLLECT INFORMATION AS WE GO.

>> WHAT WERE THE MOST INTERESTING THINGS YOU LEARNED?

>> AT THE BEGINNING, WE DIDN'T KNOW WE WOULD HAVE A VACCINE SO WE PLANNED WATCHING FOR PEOPLE WHO WOULD GET INFECTED AND WE WATCHED FOR THEM TO GET REINFECTED.

THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN RIGHT AWAY.

THEN WE PIVOTED TO WATCHING HOW THE VACCINE PROTECTED PEOPLE.

IT TURNED OUT IT WORKED GREAT AGAINST THE ORIGINAL STRAIN.

THEN OMICRON CAME ALONG.

WE LEARNED NOT EVERYONE WHO HAD THE ORIGINAL STRAIN OF VIRUS DEVELOPED ANTIBODIES.

WE LEARNED THAT IF YOU HAD AN INFECTION, GETTING A DOSE OF VACCINE AFTER YOU HAD INFECTION GAVE YOU TREMENDOUS IMMUNITY.

TWO DOSES OF VACCINE WERE BETTER THAN INFECTION ALONE.

IF YOU HAD BEEN INFECTED WITH COVID, YOUR IMMUNITY WOULD WEAR OFF IN ABOUT ONE YEAR.

>> WHO ARE THE PEOPLE THAT ACTUALLY PARTICIPATED IN THE STUDY?

> IN THE BEGINNING WHEN WE DESIGNED THE STUDY, IT WAS PEOPLE WHO HAD TO BE OUT AND POPULATIONS FACING THE PUBLIC.

A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE ABLE TO WORK FROM HOME AND WE WANTED TO UNDERSTAND THOSE AT HIGHEST RISK SO IT WAS FRONT LINE WORKERS, HEALTH CARE WORKERS THEN FIREFIGHTERS AND POLICE OFFICERS AND OTHER FIRST RESPONDERS.

ALSO ESSENTIAL WORKERS LIKE GROCERY STORE WORKERS, TEACHERS, THOSE INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO KEEPING OUR SOCIETY FUNCTIONING.

>> DID YOU FIND ANYTHING RELATED TO THE SPECIFIC POPULATIONS?

>> IT TURNS OUT NOTHING AS BLACK-AND-WHITE.

A LOT OF WHAT WE LEARN HAD TO DO WITH WHAT WE CALL KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES, AND PRACTICES.

PEOPLE'S ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT THE WORLD INFLUENCED THEIR BEHAVIORS TO THE POINT WHERE THE PEOPLE THEY HUNG OUT WITH WOULD BE INFLUENCED BY THOSE.

SOME PEOPLE DID NOT LIKE TO WEAR MASKS AND WE FOUND THAT INCREASED THE RISK OF THOSE POPULATIONS.

FIREFIGHTERS IN ARIZONA WERE MORE LIKELY TO BECOME INFECTED BECAUSE THEY DID NOT LIKE TO WEAR MASKS IN THAT POPULATION.

WE DID NOT SAY ANYTHING WAS RIGHT OR WRONG, WE SIMPLY REPORTED NUMBERS.

IN TERMS OF ACTUAL POPULATIONS, FEATURES LIKE THAT CAME OUT.

>> HOW MANY DIFFERENT STRAINS OF THE COVID VIRUS ARE THERE?

>> A LOT.

THE ONES WE HEAR ABOUT A LOT ARE THE WILD TYPE, THE ORIGINAL STRAIN WHERE YOU LOST YOUR TENSE -- SENSE OF TASTE AND SMELL.

THEN DELTA THAT WAS MORE CONTAGIOUS.

THEN OMICRON AND THERE ARE SEVERAL SUBVARIANTS OF OMICRON.

JULIE: WHEN YOU LOOK AT HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS IT THE FIRST RESPONDERS AND FRONTLINE WORKERS IN THE POPULATION, ANY FUTURE PANDEMIC WOULD ALSO IMPACT THE SAME PEOPLE.

ARE THERE THINGS THAT WERE LEARNED IN THE STUDY THAT REALLY WOULD HELP FORTIFY THE FRONT LINE OF PEOPLE WHO ONCE AGAIN WOULD BE THE MOST VULNERABLE?

GUEST: THAT'S AN INTERESTING QUESTION.

I TRIED TO IMAGINE WHAT WE WOULD DO DIFFERENTLY AND I REALLY RESPECT WHAT THEY ATTEMPTED TO DO TO TRY TO CONTAIN THINGS AND TO SLOW THINGS DOWN TO BEGIN WITH TO GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP A VACCINE.

AT THE BEGINNING WE THOUGHT THERE WAS NO LIGHT THE VIRUS COULD COME SO SOON.

I WOULD HAVE A DIFFERENT DESIGN FOR COLLECTING DATA MORE IN REAL TIME AS OPPOSED TO WHAT WE DID.

THIS GAVE US A LOT OF INFORMATION TO KNOW WHAT DOES WORK AND MAYBE SOME THINGS THAT DON'T WORK.

DENNIS: HOW WILL THIS RESEARCH BE USED GOING FORWARD?

GUEST: WE JUST STOPPED COLLECTING DATA THE END OF MAY.

WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF DATA TO GO THROUGH.

I THINK THIS WILL INFORM OUR EXPERIENCE WITH COVID AND OTHER RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS TO SEE WHAT WAS EFFECTIVE AT KEEPING THE TRANSMISSION OF INFECTION UNDER CONTROL.

JULIE: YOU TALK A LOT ABOUT DATA COLLECTION AND HOW YOU WERE MONITORING THINGS LOCALLY.

WAS THAT YOUR ROLE JUST GATHERING THE INFORMATION AND FORWARDING IT TO THE CDC OR WAS THERE SOME ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF THOSE FINDINGS AS WELL ON THE LOCAL LEVEL?

GUEST: I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST GOING TO BE DANGER -- DATA COLLECTION BUT IT TURNS OUT THERE'S A LOT MORE IN DESIGN.

WE HAD TO BUILD THE STUDY.

IN REAL TIME, IT WAS CHANGING SO WHEN THE VACCINE CAME OUT, WE HAD TO REDESIGN WHAT WE WERE DOING TO SAY OK NOW WE WANT TO SEE ABOUT VACCINE EFFICACY THEN PIVOT TO WHAT ABOUT ANOTHER DOSE OR CHILDREN?

WE DID A LOT OF DATA COLLECTION BUT WE ALSO PARTICIPATED HEAVILY IN DESIGN AND THE ANALYSIS WAS DONE BY STATISTICIANS AND WE DIDN'T PARTICIPATE IN THE STATISTICS.

DENNIS: WHAT IS THE WHITESIDE INSTITUTE?

GUEST: THEY ARE THE GLUE THAT HELD THE STUDY TOGETHER.

THEY ARE TRUST THAT EXIST BECAUSE OF MURIEL WHITESIDE WHO ALLOWED FOR RESEARCHERS TO BE FUNDED THROUGH THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA DULUTH TO WORK WITH ST. LUKE'S HOSPITAL AND MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR US TO DO RESEARCH.

THEY PROVIDE PERSONNEL INCLUDING PEOPLE TO COLLECT THE DATA AND BUILD THE STUDY.

I COULD NOT DO THIS, MARILYN CODEINE WAS CRITICAL.

JULIE: WHAT ABOUT THE IMPACT ON ST. LUKE'S ITSELF?

PARTICIPATING IN A NATIONAL STUDY, DOES IT ADD PRESTIGE TO THE FACILITY?

DOES IT MAKE MORE LIKELY YOU WILL BE CALLED UPON FOR FUTURE STUDIES?

GUEST: YES, OUR DATA WAS SOME OF THE HIGHEST QUALITY DATA.

IT TERMS OUT THAT MINNESOTANS ARE VERY GOOD AT FOLLOWING DIRECTIONS.

THEY WERE THE HIGHEST RATE OF DRAWERS -- RESPONSES WITH SWABS, THEY ALWAYS ANSWERED SURVEYS AND THAT'S NOT TRUE OF OTHERS ELSEWHERE.

WE HAD THE HIGHEST QUALITY DATA COMING OUT OF OUR FACILITY.

HE DEFTLY WANT US TO PARTICIPATE BECAUSE WE ARE GOOD AT FOLLOWING THE RULES.

I DON'T KNOW ABOUT PRESTIGE.

IT'S NOT ABOUT THAT, BUT I AM PROUD OF BEING A PART OF THE STUDY AND MANY OTHERS WERE AS WELL.

IT MAKES ME PROUD TO KNOW THEY WERE PROUD.

JULIE: WE ARE PROUD TO HAVE YOU HERE TONIGHT.

♪ DENNIS: IT'S TIME NOW FOR "VOICES OF THE REGION", WHEN WE HEAR FROM AN AREA JOURNALIST ABOUT STORIES MAKING NEWS.

THIS WEEK OUR GUEST IS HEIDI HOLTAN FROM KAXE COMMUNITY RADIO IN GRAND RAPIDS.

>> THE SECRETARY OF STATE WAS IN MINNESOTA RECENTLY.

WE HAD A CHANCE TO TALK TO HIM ABOUT THE CHANGES WHICH HE DESCRIBED AS AN EXTRAORDINARY SESSION FOR DEMOCRACY WITH ONCE IN A GENERATION CHANGE.

NEW LAWS WERE ESTABLISHED TO ENHANCE VOTER REGISTRATION AND PREREGISTRATION FOR 15 AND 16-YEAR-OLDS AND THE RIGHT TO VOTE FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE LEFT PRISON BEHIND.

IT WAS ALSO A CHANGE FOR ELECTION ADMINISTRATION AND WORKERS.

I ASKED ABOUT CITIZENS INVOLVEMENT.

>> WE CALL OUR POLL WORKERS ELECTION JUDGES.

I LIKE THAT TITLE.

THEY ARE JUDGES IN MANY WAYS.

THEY ARE COMMITTED TO FAIRNESS NOT ON ANY PARTICULAR SIDE.

THEY TAKE AN OATH.

BEING AN ELECTION JUDGE IS A PAID OPPORTUNITY NOT A VOLUNTEER JOB.

OUR OFFICE THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE, WE DON'T COUNT A SINGLE VOTE EVER.

THAT HAPPENS IN TOWNSHIPS, CITIES, COUNTIES ACROSS MINNESOTA AND THAT TEAMWORK IS WHAT MAKES OUR SYSTEM PARTICULARLY GOOD.

WE NEED 30,000 PEOPLE EVERY GENERAL ELECTION TO DO THE IMPORTANT JOB.

>> A LOT OF THE COUNTRY HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING EXTREME HEAT AS WELL AS HAZINESS AND SMOKE THAT HAVE PUSHED OUR AIR QUALITY INDEXES INTO ALARMING LEVELS THAT CAN AFFECT SENSITIVE POPULATIONS AND PEOPLE WHO WORK OUTSIDE.

THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH FOUND THE PARTICLE POLLUTION IS LINKED TO LUNG DISEASE AND HEART DISEASE.

WE TALKED TO TORNADO BOB WHO WORKS IN THE WIND ENERGY FIELD AND HE HELPED US UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOING ON.

>> ONCE THE FIRES GET STARTED, THEY USUALLY KEEP GOING BECAUSE CANADA DOESN'T HAVE MUCH IN THE WAY OF RESOURCES, A LOT OF THE AREAS ARE PRETTY REMOTE WHERE THESE FIRES START SO IT'S NOT VERY EASY TO GET IN THERE AND PUT IT IN A LOT OF FIREFIGHTING RESOURCES AT LEAST GROUND-BASED RESOURCES.

CANADA WAS PRETTY DRY ESPECIALLY OVER ALBERTA AND SASKATCHEWAN.

THE WESTERN PART OF CANADA EARLIER IN THE SPRING.

THAT GOT THINGS STARTED.

DURING THE SUMMER, IT'S HARD TO GET COOL, HUMID CONDITIONS AND STEADY RAIN TO PUT THEM OUT.

YOU DO GET THUNDERSTORMS WHICH CAN HAVE HEAVY RAIN, BUT THE PROBLEM IS THEY ALSO HAVE LIGHTNING AND THEY CAN IGNITE NEW FIRES.

THAT'S WHAT WE BATTLE PRETTY MUCH ALL SUMMER LONG UNTIL THINGS START TO COOL DOWN LATE IN THE SUMMER.

ONCE THE FIRES GET GOING, THEY USUALLY STAY GOING FOR A WHILE.

>> OBSESSED TO KEEP WATCH ON THE AIR QUALITY INDEX.

-- BOB SAYS TO KEEP WATCH ON THE AIR QUALITY INDEX.

♪ DENNIS: THE DOWNTOWN DULUTH PUBLIC LIBRARY IS NOW 40-YEARS OLD AND NEEDS REPAIR OF SOME OF ITS CRITICAL INFRA-STRUCTURE.

EARLIER THIS YEAR, THE DULUTH LIBRARY FOUNDATION ENTERED INTO A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY, THE LIBRARY AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT TO EXPLORE A NEW VISION FOR THE FUTURE OF THE DOWNTOWN FACILITY.

JOINING US NOW WITH MORE IS ERIN KREEGER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE DULUTH LIBRARY FOUNDATION.

WELCOME ERIN!

WHY IS A REDESIGN OF THE LIBRARY NECESSARY?

GUEST: IT OPENED OVER 40 YEARS AGO.

THINGS HAVE AGED.

I TALKED TO A LOT OF FOLKS WHO REMEMBER WHEN IT OPENED.

UNLIKE AM SO GLAD YOU WERE THERE, IT HAS BEEN 43 YEARS.

THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS AGING.

THE ROOF IS LEAKING, THE MECHANICS ARE OLD AND FAILING.

THERE IS NO INSULATION.

ON TOP OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS OF AGING BUILDING, LIBRARY SERVICES HAVE CHANGED A LOT.

THE BUILDING OPENED BEFORE COMPUTERS.

JULIE: TALK ABOUT THAT BECAUSE THERE IS A REIMAGINING GOING ON AS FAR AS WHAT THE LIBRARY NOT ONLY SHOULD LOOK LIKE BUT WHAT SHOULD BE.

GUEST: LIBRARY SERVICES HAVE CHANGED A TON EVEN IN THE LAST DECADE.

IT'S NOT JUST A WAREHOUSE FOR BOOKS.

LIBRARIES ARE PLACES WHERE PEOPLE COME TOGETHER TO BEING COMMUNITY, TO USE COMPUTERS, TO PARTICIPATE IN STUDY PROGRAMS, CLUBS.

THE LIBRARY IS AT A CRITICAL POINT OF REIMAGINING HOW WE CAN BETTER SERVE THE PUBLIC AND WHAT THEY WANT TO SEE AND SET OURSELVES UP SO WE HAVE A LIBRARY IN 20 YEARS THAT MEETS THE SERVICES OF THE FUTURE.

DENNIS: CAN THE PUBLIC GET INVOLVED IN HELPING THE LIBRARY CHANGE?

GUEST: YES, WE HAVE AN ONLINE SURVEY UP FOR THE PUBLIC ASKING FOR FEEDBACK ON LIBRARY PROGRAMS AND SERVICES.

HOW DO YOU USE IT TODAY?

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE THAT YOU ARE NOT SEEING AND IF YOU ARE NOT A USER, WHAT WOULD DRAW YOU TO COME TO THE DOWNTOWN LIBRARY IF WE WERE TO UPDATE THE FACILITY?

JULIE: HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO SEE WHAT THE FEEDBACK IS ALREADY?

GUEST: WE HAVE RECEIVED GREAT FEEDBACK FROM THE ONLINE SURVEY THAT HAS BEEN OPEN SINCE THE END OF MAY AND THE OPEN HOUSE WE HELD IN JUNE.

PEOPLE WANT MEETING SPACES.

FOR 1-4 PEOPLE WHERE THEY CAN HAVE A CONCENTRATED MEETING OR MAYBE A SPOT TO WORK IF THEY ARE A REMOTE WORKER.

A NEED FOR MEETING SPACES FOR MAYBE SMALL GROUPS OR BOARDS TO MEET AND EVEN EVENT SPACES.

WE ARE ALSO HEARING THAT PEOPLE WANT BOOKS.

DON'T GET RID OF THE BOOKS.

PEOPLE WANT MORE STORY TIMES, MORE TIMES TO MEET MAKER SPACES.

WHERE THEY CAN COME DO CRAFTS OR LEARN NEW SKILLS.

DENNIS: HOW MANY PEOPLE VISIT THE DOWNTOWN LIBRARY ON A GIVEN DAY?

GUEST: I AM BLANKING.

WE HAVE THOUSANDS OF VISITORS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

AT LEAST 100 DAILY AVERAGE MAY BE MORE.

DON'T QUOTE ME ON THAT ALTHOUGH OUR ANNUAL REPORT JUST GOT PUT ON OUR WEBSITE AND IT HAS AVERAGE DAILY VISITORS AND THE NUMBER OF PHYSICAL AND DIGITAL ITEMS WE CHECK OUT ANNUALLY.

DENNIS: -- JULIE: ANOTHER THING ON YOUR WEBSITE IS THE IDEA OF A COMMUNITY JUSTICE VISION.

GUEST: THAT WAS ESTABLISHED BY THE CITY TEAM WHEN THEY WERE THINKING ABOUT CITY FACILITIES.

FROM THE LIBRARY FOUNDATION INKING ABOUT COMMUNITY JUSTICE, LIBRARIES ARE ONE OF THE ONLY PLACES IN A COMMUNITY THAT PEOPLE CAN VISIT NO MATTER THEIR BACKGROUND, NO MATTER THEIR AGE FOR FREE AND EXPERIENCE EVERYTHING FOR FREE.

THEY ARE REALLY A PLACE OF GATHERING TO SUPPORT THE MOST VULNERABLE IN THE COMMUNITY BUT ALSO TO PROVIDE ENRICHMENT FOR ALL MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.

HAVING A STRONG PUBLIC LIBRARY THAT HAS TELE-ACCESS, TO BREAK THE DIGITAL DIVIDE, TO HELP PEOPLE ACCESS RESOURCES TO HELP WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND CONTINUED EDUCATION IS IMPORTANT TO A THRIVING COMMUNITY PARTICULARLY DOWNSIDE -- DOWNTOWN.

DENNIS: HOW BIG IS THE SYSTEM?

>> IT SERVES MOST OF THE NORTH, IRON RANGE.

THE ARROWHEAD LIBRARY SYSTEM HELPS US TO GAIN ACCESS TO PROGRAMS LIKE LIBBY WHICH IS THE DIGITAL TOOL WHERE YOU CAN CHECK OUT E-BOOKS OR AUDIOBOOKS.

THEY HELP US GET THAT AT GREAT PRICES SO WE CAN SHARE IN THAT CONTRACT WITH OTHER LIBRARIES IN THE NORTHERN REGION AND INTERLIBRARY LOANS.

DENNIS: IF YOU BORROW A BOOK FROM THE VIRGINIA LIBRARY, MUST IT BE RETURNED IN VIRGINIA?

GUEST: I HOPE THAT YOU WOULD RETURN IT TO VIRGINIA, BUT IN A PINCH I'M SURE WE COULD DRIVE -- WE CAN HELP YOU OUT.

JULIE: YOU MENTIONED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND THE ROLE THE LIBRARY CAN PLAY IN THAT.

ONE ITEM WAS TO CO-LOCATE THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT CENTER IN THE LIBRARY.

HOW WOULD THAT WORK?

WOULD THEY MERGE INTO ONE ENTITY OR SHARE SPACE?

GUEST: THEY WOULD NOT MERGE INTO ONE ENTITY.

THINK ABOUT THE DOWNTOWN FACILITY BECOMING A COMMUNITY HUB LIKE A MALL THAT HAS MULTIPLE RETAIL SPACES.

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT WOULD HAVE A SPACE, THE LIBRARY WOULD HAVE A SPACE, AND POTENTIALLY OTHER PARTNERS WOULD HAVE SPACES.

THE NATURAL FIT OF THEM BOTH BEING IN SAME FACILITY IS THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE COME TO USE THE PUBLIC COMPUTERS IN THE LIBRARY FOR WORKFORCE NEEDS.

RESUME HELP, APPLYING FOR JOBS, CERTIFICATIONS, TRAINING, GOVERNMENT FORMS.

IF WE CAN HELP THEM AT THE LIBRARY, WE SEND THEM TO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

IT WOULD BE GREAT TO SEND THEM ACROSS THE HALL.

GUEST: WE NEED TO HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC.

THIS LIBRARY WILL NOT FIT YOU IF YOU DON'T GIVE FEEDBACK.

IF YOU GO TO OUR WEBSITE, THERE IS A SURVEY YOU CAN TAKE AND IT WILL BE OPEN FOR ANOTHER TWO WEEKS.

DENNIS: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

JULIE: THE FOURTH OF JULY IS A TIME FOR CELEBRATION, FAMILY, FRIENDS AND FUN.

BUT EVERY YEAR, SOME CELEBRATIONS ARE MARRED BY UNSAFE HANDLING OF FIREWORKS.

MORE THAN TEN-THOUSAND PEOPLE WERE INJURED BY FIREWORKS IN THE U-S LAST YEAR, AND ELEVEN PEOPLE DIED.

HERE ARE SOME TIPS TO HELP YOU STAY SAFE AROUND FIREWORKS: >> WE RECENTLY PUT OUT REPORT ON DEATHS AND INJURIES RELATED TO FIREWORKS.

WE HAD OVER 10,000 TRIPS TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM RELATED TO FIREWORKS.

THEY RANGE FROM 11-YEAR-OLD KIDS INJURIES CAUSED BY FIRECRACKERS, MORTARS, AND SPARKLERS.

SPARKLERS BURN AT 2000 DEGREES WHICH IS AS HOT AS A BLOWTORCH.

THEY ARE THE LEADING CAUSE OF INJURIES FOR KIDS UNDER FIVE.

NEVER GIVE KIDS FIREWORKS ESPECIALLY SPARKLERS.

>> MOST CHILDREN WHO ARE INJURED OR BYSTANDERS.

BYSTANDER EVENTS HAPPEN BY AND LARGE WITH PRIVATE FIREWORK DISPLAYS.

WHAT WE WANT TO AVOID IS THE IN-HOME IN THE BACKYARD DISPLACED.

THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS SPECIFICALLY RECOMMENDS AGAINST THE BACKYARD USE OF FIREWORKS.

THE REASON IS THEY ARE TOO DANGEROUS FOR USE BY OR AROUND CHILDREN.

EVEN IF YOU HAVE ADEQUATE PARENTAL SUPERVISION, THAT'S JUST NOT ENOUGH.

MORE THAN 50% OF FIREWORK INJURIES HAPPEN IN SPITE OF ADEQUATE PARENTAL SUPERVISION AT THE TIME.

>> THE BEST WAY TO ENJOY IS TO GO TO A PROFESSIONAL SHOW.

THEY ARE THE BEST LOOKING AND ALSO THE SAFEST.

AT HOME, WE HAVE A FEW SAFETY TIPS.

KEEP ALL FIREWORKS AWAY FROM CHILDREN INCLUDING SPARKLERS.

NEVER USE THEM IF YOU ARE UNDER THE INFLUENCE.

LIKE THEM ONE AT A TIME, GET AWAY QUICKLY, NEVER PUT A BODY PART OVER THE FIREWORK.

HAVE WATER CLOSE BY BECAUSE IF THERE IS A DEAD, YOU DON'T WANT TO RELIGHT IT.

THE FIREWORKS THAT HAVE GONE OFF, YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE SOAKED BEFORE YOU THROW THEM AWAY.

WHEN IT COMES TO ILLEGAL FIREWORKS, DON'T MAKE THEM DON'T BUY THEM DON'T USE THEM.

WE SEE LOTS OF INJURIES EACH YEAR.

WE WANT EVERYONE TO HAVE A HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY, BUT A SAFE ONE.

DENNIS: DEFINITELY SOME GOOD ADVICE!

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

LOOK TO THE PBS NORTH WEBSITE FOR PROGRAM UPDATES, NEWS ABOUT THE STATION AND OUR UPCOMING EVENTS.

AND DOWNLOAD THE PBS VIDEO APP TO WATCH YOUR FAVORITE PBS PROGRAMS ON DEMAND.

JULIE, I HOPE EVERYONE GETS OUT AND ENJOYS A BEAUTIFUL WEEKEND AND HAS A SAFE INDEPENDENCE DAY!

>> SAFETY IS IMPORTANT WHETHER YOU ARE WITH FIREWORKS OR ON THE WATER OR TRAVELING, LOTS OF PEOPLE TRAVEL.

DENNIS: WITH JULIE ZENNER I'M DENNIS ANDERSON, HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

GOOD NIGHT EVERYONE, AND BE KIND!