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

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

DENNIS: A MAJOR SUMMER FESTIVAL HAS ANNOUNCED DULUTH WILL BECOME ITS PERMANENT HOME.

WE'LL HAVE MORE ON FINNFEST 2023.

JULIE: THE LARGEST FRESHWATER LAKE IN THE WORLD IS RIGHT ON OUR DOORSTEP.

FIND OUT WHY LAKE SUPERIOR IS WORTH CELEBRATING.

DENNIS: AND WE'LL TAKE YOU OUT TO THE OLD BALLPARK FOR A THROWBACK FUNDRAISER FOR SUPERIOR'S BONG VETERAN'S HISTORICAL CENTER.

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, IT'S MID-JULY, AND LOTS OF EVENTS AROUND THE REGION RIGHT NOW.

DENNIS: WE ARE ALREADY INTO MIDSUMMER, AND THERE IS PLENTY GOING ON.

I DON'T CARE WHAT TOWN YOU LIVE IN, SOMETHING IS HAPPENING.

JULIE: LET'S BEGIN WITH THE HEADLINES.

DENNIS: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ST. LUKE'S HOSPITAL IN DULUTH ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK IT'S SIGNED A LETTER OF INTENT TO AFFILIATE WITH WAUSAU-BASED ASPIRUS HEALTH.

THAT MOVE CONTINUES A TREND OF MAJOR HOSPITAL CONSOLIDATIONS.

THE TWO SYSTEMS PLAN TO COMPLETE THE AFFILIATION BY EARLY NEXT YEAR, AT WHICH TIME ASPIRUS WILL CONSIST OF 19 HOSPITALS, 130 OUTPATENT LOCATIONS, AND 14,000 EMPLOYEES.

JULIE: NURSES AT ST. LUKE'S ISSUED A STATEMENT FOLLOWING THE AFFILIATION NEWS, SAYING THEY WERE PLEASED THAT ASPIRUS PLANS TO RECOGNIZE THEIR UNION CONTRACT.

THE MERGER FOLLOWS ESSENTIA'S RECENT PLAN TO JOIN WITH WISCONSIN'S MARSHFIELD CLINIC SYSTEM.

ANOTHER MERGER BETWEEN TWIN CITIES-BASED M-HEALTH FAIRVIEW AND SOUTH DAKOTA-BASED SANFORD HEALTH IS CURRENTLY UNDER STATE SCRUTINY.

DENNIS: INTERSTATE 35 IN DULUTH WILL BE CLOSED IN BOTH DIRECTIONS OVERNIGHT BETWEEN 9:00 P.M. NEXT THURSDAY AND 5:00 A.M. FRIDAY MORNING.

DETOURS WILL TAKE NORTHBOUND TRAFFIC OVER THE BONG BRIDGE AND BACK TO DULUTH VIA THE HIGH BRIDGE, WHILE SOUTHBOUND TRAFFIC WILL DETOUR AT 5TH AVENUE WEST THROUGH DULUTH CITY STREETS.

THE OVERNIGHT CLOSURE IS NEEDED SO CREWS CAN POUR BRIDGE DECK OVER I-35 FOR THE TWIN PORTS INTERCHANGE PROJECT.

JULIE: AND THE DULUTH AIR SHOW FILLS THE SKY THIS WEEKEND AT THE DULUTH AIRPORT.

THE STATE'S BIGGEST AIRSHOW FEATURES THE U.S. NAVY BLUE ANGELS, U.S. AIR FORCE DEMONSTRATION TEAMS, AND MANY OTHER AVIATION ACTS.

AIR SHOW PROMOTERS SAY THE EVENT GENERATES $20 MILLION IN ECONOMIC IMPACT, WITH 75% OF ATTENDEES COMING FROM OUTSIDE DULUTH.

DENNIS: ANOTHER BIG SUMMER EVENT IS LESS THAN TWO WEEKS AWAY IN THE TWIN PORTS.

FINNFEST 2023 WILL START JULY 26 AT THE DECC AND RUN THROUGH SUNDAY, JULY 30.

AND ORGANIZERS HAVE ANNOUNCED THAT DULUTH WILL BE THE PERMANENT HOME OF THE FESTIVAL MOVING FORWARD.

HERE WITH MORE IS JUSTIN JUNTUNEN, A BOARD MEMBER OF FINNFEST USA, WHICH ORGANIZES THE ANNUAL FESTIVAL.

AND CRAIG RANDAL JOHNSON IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE FINNFEST SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE.

APPRECIATE HAVING YOU ON THE PROGRAM TONIGHT.

JUSTIN, TALK TO US A BIT ABOUT FINNFEST.

WHAT IS IT, AND HOW DOES IT PLAY A ROLE HERE?

JUSTIN: DENNY, WE BELIEVE FINNFEST AND THIS LITTLE COUNTRY IN THE NORTH HAS SOMETHING TO SAY TO THE WORLD.

FINLAND IS THIS COUNTRY THAT WE NOW KNOW MAYBE FOR SAUNAS, MAYBE FOR DESIGN AND CULTURE, MAYBE FOR GREAT ORCHESTRA.

OVER THE YEARS, DULUTH AND THE UPPER MIDWEST HAS BEEN A HOTBED OF THIS IS WHERE THE CULTURE HAS BEEN IN THE WATER.

DENNIS: A LOT OF FINNISH PEOPLE HAVE SETTLED HERE.

JUSTIN: MY LAST NAME WITH TOO MANY BELLS IS A FINNISH ONE.

WE WILL BE LOOKING NOT ONLY AT THE IMMIGRANT FUTURE OF THE PAST, BUT ALSO THE FUTURE.

WHY IS FINLAND THE HAPPIEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD SIX YEARS RUNNING?

DENNIS: I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU THAT.

[LAUGHTER] JUSTIN: LOTS OF REASONS.

YOU WILL HAVE TO COME TO FINNFEST TO FIND OUT AND MORE.

FOLKS ARE WONDERING, WHAT DO I DO THERE AND WHAT CAN I BE A PART OF?

IT IS FULL IN TERMS OF THE CULTURAL IMPACT.

IT IS DESIGN PANELS, HOW WE STUDY SUSTAINABILITY, HOW WE THINK ABOUT OUR OWN HAPPINESS, AND GOOD FOOD AND MUSIC, AND IN TRUE FINNISH FASHION, ACCESS TO ONE OF THE BEST FINNISH EXPORTS.

JULIE: IT SEEMS THEY HAVE SUCH A STRONG SENSE OF PRIDE IN THEIR HERITAGE.

WHAT IS IT THAT MAKES PEOPLE FEEL SO CONNECTED AS F FINLANDERS?

CRAIG: WE CAN START WITH SAUNA AS ONE.

I THINK IT IS A CONNECTION TO THE FOREST, TO THE ECOLOGY, AND TO THE ENVIRONMENT IN GENERAL.

AND THE RELATIONSHIP WITH THEIR NEIGHBOR THAT KEEPS THE CULTURE COMING TOGETHER.

BUT I WOULD SAY THIS, I WENT UP TO THE SIXTH FLOOR OF THE ACADEMY TO LOOK AT THE CONDUCTING STUDIO BECAUSE I AM INTERESTED IN THAT SORT OF THING, AND I LOOKED AT THE BULLETIN BOARD.

THE REVIEWS ARE FROM NEW YORK, PARIS, THINGS LIKE THAT.

THAT IS THE FIELD THEY ARE OPERATING IN.

THAT IS THE LEVEL THEY ARE.

THEY TAKE PRIDE IN QUALITY AND IN DOING THE JOB WELL.

WHICH LEADS BACK TO THE HAPPINESS.

THEY ARE ABLE TO CREATE A SOCIETY IN WHICH PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO FUNCTION AND ACT OUT WHAT THEY WANT TO DO WITH THEIR LIVES.

JULIE: TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE WILL EXPERIENCE AT THE FESTIVAL.

THERE IS A LOT OF FOOD, A LOT OF FUN, THEN SOME SERIOUS THINGS AS WELL.

JUSTIN: THERE IS SOMETHING FOR EVERYBODY, WHETHER THEY SOMEBODY WHO WANTS TO COME AND ENJOY THE MARKETPLACE AND GOOD NORDIC WARES BEING SOLD, FOR YOU ARE INTERESTED IN LEARNING SOMETHING THERE.

WE HAVE FOLKS FROM SOME OF THE BEST FROM FINLAND AND SOME OF THE WORLD LEADERS AROUND WHAT IS HAPPENING AROUND NATO AND FINLAND.

THESE BIG TECTONIC SHIFTS IN OUR MODERN POLITICAL WORLD.

FOLKS WHO WANT TO LEARN ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY AND DESIGN.

WE WANT TO LEARN FROM THESE EXPERTS IN THE FIELD.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN BEING IN A PLACE LIKE DULUTH, BEING A SHIPPING PORT?

AND LEARNING FROM EXPERTS FROM FINLAND WHO SAY, WE CAN DO SHIPPING IN A MORE SUSTAINABLE WAY.

I WOULD SAY THERE IS SOMETHING FOR EVERYBODY, WHETHER IT IS ME WITH YOUNG KIDS, BRINGING THE FAMILY.

WE WILL HAVE FUN AND THERE WILL BE THINGS TO DO THERE.

OR YOU ARE REALLY INTERESTED IN GREAT MUSIC AND CLASSICAL MUSIC.

EVERYTHING IS ON THE WEBSITE, TOO.

IT IS HARD TO TELL EVERYTHING.

GO TO THE WEBSITE, CHECK OUT THE FULL SCHEDULE.

DENNIS: MANY PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE, BUT DOUGLAS AND BAYFIELD COUNTIES AND WISCONSIN HAVE SOME OF THE OLDISH FINNISH FARMING COMMUNITIES IN THE UNITED STATES.

WHAT BROUGHT THEM THERE?

JUSTIN: CAN I TACKLE ONE PIECE OF THIS?

DENNIS: SURE.

JUSTIN: OPPORTUNITY AT THAT TIME.

I THINK SO OFTEN WE LOOK AT THE FORESTS AND WE SAY, THEY LOOK A LOT LIKE FINLAND UP HERE.

BUT THE JOBS WERE AVAILABLE AT THE TIME.

WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE PERILLA AREA.

THESE WERE THE SPOTS THROUGH THE IRON RANGE AND PAST, WHERE THERE WAS OPPORTUNITIES ON THE MINES AND MILLS AND DOCS.

CRAIG: MY GRANDFATHER FIRST WORKED ON THE COPPER MINES, THEN HAD A CAREER IN THE IRON MINES IN MINNESOTA.

HE KNEW MANY PEOPLE WHO WEE BLACKLISTED FROM THE MINES.

THEY ENDED UP WORKING -- THEY DID FARMING AND FOUND OTHER OCCUPATIONS.

THIS WAS ANOTHER WAY THAT THE FINNS SETTLED HERE.

I THINK IT IS BECAUSE THE AREA IS MUCH LIKE FINLAND IN MANY WAYS, SO THIS WAS A NATURAL PLACE TO COME.

WHY GO TO ILLINOIS AND MISSOURI?

GO SOMEWHERE YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE AND ARE AT HOME AND YOU KNOW HOW TO WORK WITH THE ENVIRONMENT.

JULIE: WE WANT TO HEAR ABOUT THE FINN FEST SYMPHONY.

CRAIG: THE CONCERT WILL BE FRIDAY NIGHT, JULY 21, THE AUDITORIUM AT THE DECC.

YOU CAN GET TICKETS THROUGH TICKETMASTER.

OR FROM THE DECC TICKET OFFICE, WHICH IS MOVED TO IRVINE FOR THE SUMMER.

THE CONCERT CONTAINS PIECES BY SEBELIUS, AND FINLANDIA AT THE END WITH THE CHORUS.

SECONDLY IS THE U.S.

PREMIERE, THE FIRST PERFORMANCE EVER IN THIS COUNTRY OF A PIANO CONCERTO.

THE COMPOSER RECENTLY PASSED AWAY OF A BRAIN TUMOR RECENTLY.

IT IS PLAYED BY AN AMERICAN PIANIST, NOW LIVING IN HELSINKI.

THE GUY IS A SUPER PLAYER.

PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA, HELSINKI SYMPHONY.

THIS IS A NEW PIECE TO HEAR.

THEN, A SUITE FROM AN OPERA, WHICH WAS THE FIRST INTERNATIONALLY IMPORTANT OPERA.

DENNIS: IT SOUNDS LIKE IT IS GOING TO BE A WONDERFUL TIME.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY.

CRAIG: THANK YOU, APPRECIATE IT.

♪ DENNIS: THIS WEEK, THE DULUTH HUSKIES PARTNERED WITH A LOCAL GROUP TO BRING BASEBALL HISTORY TO LIFE, AND RAISE MONEY FOR SUPERIOR'S RICHARD I. BONG VETERANS HISTORICAL CENTER.

PRODUCER MEGAN MCGARVEY BRINGS US THE STORY FROM THE OLD BALLFIELD.

♪ MEGAN: THIS WEEKEND, THE DULUTH HUSKIES GOT TO REVISIT A PIECE OF BASEBALL'S HISTORIC PAST.

♪ ♪ MEGAN: DURING WORLD WAR II, WHEN EVERYONE WAS OFF AT WAR, THERE WAS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR WOMEN TO FORM A PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL LEAGUE, WHICH IS WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO REPLICATE TODAY WHILE HAVING A BASEBALL EVENT WITH THE HUSKIES.

>> WE ARE ALWAYS HAPPY TO PARTNER.

THEY DO A GREAT JOB KEEPING THE ERA ALIVE AND ON THE FOREFRONT OF PEOPLE'S MINDS.

DURING WORLD WAR II, TODAY THEY ARE HONORING THE ROCKFORD PEACHES, WHO DURING WORLD WAR II WERE TRAIL BLAZERS AS MUCH AS ANY ROSIE THE RIVETER.

WHAT THEY DID PROBABLY GAVE MORE WOMEN THE COURAGE TO GO OFF AND WORK IN THE WORKPLACE AND MAYBE TAKE OVER A MAN'S ROLL WHERE BASEBALL WAS TRADITIONALLY A MAN'S GAME, AND THEY PROVED THEY COULD DO IT.

IT GAVE A LOT OF GIRLS A LOT OF CONFIDENCE TO GO FORWARD AND HELP THE WAR EFFORT.

THAT IS WHAT THE COUNTRY NEEDED AT THE TIME.

YOU MIGHT THINK IT IS TRIVIAL JUST TO PLAY BASEBALL, BUT IT MEANT SO MUCH ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO GIRLS AT THAT AGE.

IT LET THEM KNOW THAT, MAYBE WE CAN DO ANYTHING.

>> THE BETTIES WERE FORMED AS A WOMEN'S SOCIAL CLUB AS A WAY TO EMPOWER WOMEN THROUGH CHARITY WORK IN THE TWIN PORTS.

WE HAVE DONE ALL SORTS OF THINGS COME FROM RAISING MONEY, WE DO A LOT WITH THE BUBONG SEND CENTER.

WE REALLY TRY TO FOCUS ON VINTAGE STYLE AND FASHION MY END OF THE POSITIVE PARTS OF THE 1940'S AND 1950'S, WHILE NOT HAVING THE VINTAGE VALUES.

WE ARE FOCUSED ON HELPING OUT IN THE COMMUNITY AND GREAT PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE LGBTQIA COMMUNITY AND WOMEN EMPOWERMENT, AND WE REALLY DO NOT CARRY THE VINTAGE VIBE FORWARD WITH OUR MORALS.

WE LOVE TO UPLIFT AND HELP EVERYBODY IN THE COMMUNITY, AND THAT IS WHAT WE HOPE TO SHOW EVERYBODY TODAY.

MEGAN: ALONG WITH THE FUN BASEBALL ANTICS, THE BETTIES ALSO TOOK PHOTOS AND SOLD AMERICAN FLAGS TO SUPPORT THE BONG HISTORICAL CENTER.

>> IT IS A MUSEUM THAT HONORS THE HISTORY OF AMERICA'S ACES OF H'S.

WE ALSO TOLD THE STORY OF ALL CONFLICTS, FROM WORLD WAR II GOING FORWARD.

RICHARD VUONG WAS A LOCAL -- RICHARD BONG WAS A LOCAL BOY MADE GOOD.

HE BECAME AS FAMOUS AS ANYBODY IN THE NATION.

HE GREW UP AROUND SUPERIOR AND WENT TO POPLAR HIGH SCHOOL.

WHEN HE ENLISTED IN THE ARMY AIR CORPS, HE QUICKLY EMERGED AS ONE OF THE TOP PILOTS IN THE NATION.

BY THE END OF THE WAR, HE HAD SHOT DOWN MORE AIRCRAFT THAN ANYBODY HAD DONE BEFORE.

SINCE HE BROKE THE EXISTING RECORD OF VICTORIES, AND NOBODY HAS CROSSED THEM SINCE.

HE IS A LOCAL BOY FROM RIGHT HERE.

HE HAD A PROFOUND EFFECT ON ONE OF THE MAJOR EVENTS IN OUR NATION'S HISTORY.

THE MAIN IMPORTANCE OF TELLING THESE STORIES IS TO REMEMBER WHAT THEY SACRIFICED FOR US, WHAT THEY DID FOR US.

MANY TIMES, PEOPLE LEFT THEIR LIVES BEHIND AT A VERY YOUNG AGE AND WENT OUT AND FOUGHT FOR A CAUSE THEY BELIEVED IN.

WE NEED TO HONOR THOSE STORIES AND ALWAYS REMEMBER.

SOME EVEN GAVE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE.

THOSE WHO SERVED AT ANY TIME HAS SACRIFICED FOR THEIR COUNTRY AND IT IS IMPORTANT WE HONOR THEM AND TELL THEIR STORY.

WE WANT VETERANS TO COME OUT TONIGHT AND TAKE IN A BALLGAME.

IT IS AMERICA'S PASTIME.

WE HAVE TO CELEBRATE OUR GREAT LIFE OF FREEDOM WE HAVE HERE.

>> ♪ TAKE ME OUT TO THE CROWD BUY ME SOME PEANUTS AND CRACKER JACK I DON'T CARE IF I EVER GET BACK SO LET'S ROOT, ROOT, ROOT FOR THE HUSKIES IF THEY DON'T WIN, IT'S A SHAME FOR IT'S ONE, TWO, THREE STRIKES THEY'RE OUT AAT THE OLD BALLGAME ♪ [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] ♪ ♪ JULIE: IT'S TIME TO HONOR THE LARGEST FRESHWATER LAKE IN THE WORLD AT LAKE SUPERIOR DAY THIS SUNDAY.

EVENTS AT BARKERS ISLAND IN SUPERIOR WILL BOTH CELEBRATE AND EDUCATE ABOUT THE GREATEST OF THE GREAT LAKES.

JOINING US WITH MORE IS LUCIANA RANELLI, EDUCATION COORDINATOR WITH THE LAKE SUPERIOR NATIONAL ESTUARINE RESEARCH RESERVE IN SUPERIOR.

WELCOME AND THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

LUCIANA: YOU BET.

THANK YOU.

JULIE: WHY SET ASIDE A DAY TO CELEBRATE LAKE SUPERIOR?

LUCIANA: LAKE SUPERIOR MEANS A LOT TO THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN DULUTH AND SUPERIOR AND THE LAKE SUPERIOR BASIN.

IT IS A LOT OF PEOPLE'S DRINKING WATER, THERE'S A LOT OF JOBS CONNECTED WITH THE LAKE.

IT GIVES US FOOD AND MODERATES OUR CLIMATE, AND IT IS A CENTERPIECE OF LIVING HERE.

DENNIS: WHAT IS LAKE SUPERIOR DAY?

WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN?

LUCIANA: LAKE SUPERIOR DAY IS CELEBRATED IN THE LAKE ADJACENT COMMUNITIES ALL THE WAY AROUND THE LAKE, IN CANADA AND THE UNITED STATES, THE THIRD SUNDAY IN JULY EVERY YEAR.

SUPERIOR HOSTS A LAKE SUPERIOR DAY CELEBRATION HOSTED BY LAKE SUPERIOR RESERVE, AND PEOPLE CAN EXPECT TO COME DOWN FOR A PARTY AND LEARNING AND COMMUNITY WITH SOME LIVE MUSIC.

LAKE SUPERIOR LEARNING BOOTHS FROM PEOPLE DOING RESEARCH OR RESTORATION WORK, OR WHO ARE SHARING ABOUT RESEARCH ON TRIBAL LANDS.

DENNIS: WHERE DOES ALL OF THIS TAKE PLACE?

LUCIANA: THIS IS ON BARKERS ISLAND AND SUPERIOR.

JULIE: I ALSO READ THERE WILL BE A SPOTTED NAP WE PULL?

LUCIANA: YES, THAT IS EARLIER IN THE MORNING.

WITH THE CELEBRATION FROM 11:00 A.M. TO 3:00 P.M. ON BARKERS ISLAND, ONE WAY TO ALSO TAKE CARE OF THE LAKE IS TO -- SPOTTED NAPWEED IS A PLANT NOT LOCAL TO THE AREA AND IS GROWING A LOT ON W WISCONSIN POINT.

PEOPLE CAN JOIN AT A PARKING LOT TO HELP PULL SPOTTED NAPWEED AND GIVE OTHER PLANTS A CHANCE TO GROW.

DENNIS: WHAT IS THE COST TO ATTEND?

LUCIANA: ZERO.

[LAUGHTER] DENNIS: EVEN BETTER.

LUCIANA: PEOPLE DO HAVE TO BRING MONEY TO PURCHASE FOOD, BUT OTHERWISE EVERYTHING IS FREE.

JULIE: WHAT MAKES THE ST. LOUIS RIVER ESTUARY AND THIS PART SO SPECIAL?

YOUR ORGANIZATION DOES A LOT OF MONITORING AND RESEARCHING AND PARTNERING WITH PEOPLE TO REALLY ADVANCE IT.

LUCIANA: ESTUARIES ARE HUBS OF ABUNDANCE OF FOOD AND LIFE FOR PEOPLE AND OTHER PLANTS AND ORGANISMS IN THE ENVIRONMENT.

THE ST. LOUIS RIVER IS THE LARGEST TRIBUTARY IN THE UNITED STATES INTO LAKE SUPERIOR.

AND LAKE SUPERIOR IS THE LARGEST BITE SURFACE AREA BODY OF FRESHWATER IN THE WORLD.

THERE IS ABOUT 600,000 PEOPLE WHO LIVE AROUND LAKE SUPERIOR EVEN DIRECTLY.

THE ST. LOUIS RIVER, AS IT SLOWS DOWN AND WIDENS AND FLOWS INTO LAKE SUPERIOR, IT MEANS A LOT HERE AND IT MEANS A LOT FOR PEOPLE ELSEWHERE IN THE LAKE.

DENNIS: WHAT KIND OF KIDS ACTIVITIES WILL BE AVAILABLE?

LUCIANA: THERE ARE STANDUP PADDLEBOARD DEMONSTRATIONS.

THAT IS FOR ALL AGES.

THERE WILL BE PAPERBACK PUPPET CRAFTING OF SOME OF THE PLANTS OR ANIMALS OR WOULD ANYBODY WANT TO CREATE THAT LIVE IN THE ESTUARY.

JULIE: IF THERE IS ONE THING YOU WANT PEOPLE TO WALK AWAY FROM LAKE SUPERIOR DAY THINKING ABOUT OR KNOWING, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

LUCIANA: OH MY.

I THINK THE DIVERSE WAYS THAT PEOPLE JUST LOVE AND APPRECIATE AND LEARN ABOUT THE LAKE IS WHAT I WANT PEOPLE TO WALK AWAY FROM.

I THINK THEY WILL HAVE THEIR OWN PERSONAL CONNECTION WITH THE WATER AROUND HERE PROBABLY VALIDATED.

IF THEY MEET ONE NEW PERSON OR HEAR ABOUT ONE OTHER CONNECTION THAT IS DIFFERENT FROM THEIRS, THAT IS WHAT I HOPE THEY TAKE AWAY.

JULIE: VERY QUICKLY, WHAT ARE YOU SEEING IN TERMS OF THE LAKE?

OUR CHANGES OCCURRING IN IT?

LUCIANA: YOU CAN COME TO LAKE SUPERIOR DAY TO FIND OUT, JULIE.

[LAUGHTER] JULIE: THAT WAS ABOUT THE PERFECT LENGTH ANSWER.

[LAUGHTER] THANK YOU SO MUCH.

GOOD LUCK WITH LAKE SUPERIOR DAY.

WE HELPED LOTS OF FOLKS COME OUT.

DENNIS: THANK YOU VERY KINDLY.

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: IT HAS BEEN A BUSY SUMMER OF NEWS ON THE IRON RANGE.

ONE OF THE BIGGER UNDER THE RADAR STORIES IS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED WITH THE NEW RANGE MINERALS, PARTICULARLY THE POLY MET PROJECT.

IT IS THE NEW INITIATIVE THAT INCLUDES TECH RESOURCES AND OTHER MINING INTERESTS IN DEVELOPING COPPER, NICKEL, AND OTHER MINERALS IN NORTHEASTERN MINNESOTA.

WE HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THAT STORY FOR A LONG TIME.

LESS UNDERSTOOD IS THE FACT THAT GLENCORE, THE WORLD'S LARGEST MINING COMPANY, IS THE MONEY BEHIND THAT PROJECT.

AND NOW WITH THE NEW DEVELOPMENT, GLENCORE WILL BE MAKING A BID AND IT WILL LIKELY BE APPROVED BECAUSE GLENCORE ALREADY OWNS A MAJORITY OF POLY MET.

GLENCORE WILL BECOME THE PRIVATE OWNER OF WHAT WAS SOON TO BE PREVIOUSLY KNOWN AS POLY MET.

THIS SOLIDIFIES THIS LARGE MINING COMPANY AS THE MORE DOMINANT ELEMENT IN THE STORY.

WE COULD HAVE A FEW MEANINGS.

WE KNOW FROM LAST MONTH THAT A BIG SETBACK WAS INCURRED BY THE PROJECT WHEN THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS PULLED PERMITS FOR THE NEW RANGE PROJECT.

GLENCORE BEING THE SOLE OWNER COULD COME IN WITH A MORE AGGRESSIVE APPROACH TO THE PERMITTING PROCESS, OR THEY MIGHT REORGANIZE AND REORIENT WHAT THIS PROJECT MIGHT BECOME.

IT ALSO ALLOWS THEM TO HOLD ONTO THE SITE AND THE ASSETS OF THE PROJECT FOR A LITTLE BIT LONGER AND SEE WHAT TRANSPIRES IN THE FUTURE.

♪ AARON: FOR THE LAST ALMOST 20 YEARS, A PROJECT HAS BEEN BREWING NEAR NASHUA TO BUILD AN IRON OR OR IRON PRODUCTION STEEL FACILITY.

IT HAS TRANSFORMED INTO A PROJECT WHICH RECENTLY LOST ITS MINERAL LEASES AT A STATE MEETING LAST MONTH, AND THOSE LEASES WERE AWARDED TO CLEVELAND CLIFFS, A MAJOR IRON ORE PRODUCER.

THAT IS NOT THE END OF THE STORY BECAUSE MASABI METALLICS HAS SUED THE STATE TO GET THOSE LEASES BACK.

THIS WEEK, THE COUNTY BOARD AND THE CITY OF NASHWAUK HAVE ANNOUNCED THEY WILL TRY TO ADD ON TO THE LAWSUIT.

THAT IS SIGNIFICANT IN THAT IT IS SURPRISING.

THE COMPANY HAS BEEN DEALT A BLOW AFTER BLOW, AND THE STATE FRANKLY REFUSES TO WORK WITH THE COMPANY.

THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS NONETHELESS ARE TRYING TO STICK WITH THAT COMPANY, PERHAPS IN A BID TO SUNK COST, RECOVER WHAT THEY HAVE INVESTED PERSONALLY INTO THE SUCCESS OF THAT POTENTIAL MINE PROJECT.

IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN HOW THAT WILL TURN OUT, BUT IT DOES INDICATE IT WILL BE A BIT MORE WRITHING ON THIS STORY FOR MONTHS AND MAYBE EVEN YEARS TO COME.

NEVERTHELESS, THE LEASES ARE IN THEIR POSSESSION, AND IT WILL BE UP TO THEM TO DETERMINE HOW THEY WANT TO USE THAT PROPERTY GOING FORWARD.

♪ AARON: THIS SUMMER, FROM ANY OF US IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA, IT HAS BEEN THE SUMMER OF SMOKE.

YOU MIGHT RECALL THE HEAVY SMOKE FROM CANADIAN WILDFIRES THAT SETTLED DOWN ON OUR REGION ON A FEW DIFFERENT OCCASIONS THIS SUMMER.

SO, WILDFIRE MIGHT BE ON YOUR MIND.

IT IS AN INCREASING PROBLEM IN NORTH AMERICA.

MORE DRY WEATHER, MORE HOT WEATHER, AND THAT HAS PRODUCED MORE FUEL AND MORE CONDITIONS THAT PRODUCE WILDFIRE OUT WEST.

WE HAVE WILDFIRES ENCROACHING AT TIMES IN OUR REGION AS WELL.

YOU MAY NOT REALIZE WE ARE MAJOR STAGING AREA FOR THE SUPPRESSION OF WILDFIRES IN ONTARIO, WISCONSIN, MINNESOTA, OUR WHOLE REGION.

PART OF THE STATE BONDING BILL THIS YEAR FUNDED A LARGE PROJECT .

THERE IS AN INTERAGENCY FIRE AIRBASE.

THOSE PLANES HAD BEEN NOT HOUSED HERE FOR THE LAST SEASON BECAUSE OF INFRASTRUCTURE PROBLEMS AT THE BASE.

THOSE WILL GET FIXED.

IT WILL BE MOVING BACK UP TO HIB IT.

THAT WILL PUT THE PLANES CLOSER TO ACTION WHERE WILDFIRES HAVE -- WILDFIRES HAPPEN.

THE AGENCIES WILL BE ABLE TO FIGHT THE FIRE WITH A LITTLE BIT MORE PROXIMITY TO THE ACTION.

♪ 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.

DENNY, THERE'S NO SHORTAGE OF EVENTS AROUND THE REGION THIS WEEKEND, AND IT LOOKS LIKE PRETTY GOOD WEATHER AS WELL.

DENNIS: I THINK IT IS GOING TO BE.

NO MATTER WHERE YOU LOOK THIS WEEK, AND YOU WILL FIND SOMETHING GOING ON SOME PLACE, THE WEATHER IS SUPPOSED TO BE DESCENT.

MAYBE SOME SHOWERS ON SUNDAY, BUT SATURDAY IS LOOKING GOOD.

JULIE: IT WAS FUN DRIVING OVER TONIGHT.

I COULD ALREADY SEE SOME ACTS FROM THE AIR WARMING UP.

THAT IS AN EXCITING TIME.

DENNIS: IT IS INDEED.

JULIE: CAN THE WEATHER WILL COOPERATE WITH THAT.

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

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.

♪ ♪