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

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

JULIE: RECREATIONAL USE OF MARIJUANA WILL BE LEGAL IN MINNESOTA ON AUGUST 1, BUT SOME DULUTH CITY COUNCILORS WANT TO KEEP IT AWAY FROM CITY PARKS.

DENNIS: ESSENTIA HEALTH HAD THE GRAND OPENING FOR ITS NEW DULUTH HOSPITAL THIS WEEK.

WE WILL TAKE YOU INSIDE.

JULIE: AND ARE YOU TAKING ADVANTAGE OF EVERYTHING SUMMER HAS TO OFFER?

WE WILL HAVE SOME WARM WEATHER INSPIRATION FOR YOU TONIGHT.

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

♪ HELLO AND WELCOME TO "ALMANAC NORTH."

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

JULIE, IT LOOKS LIKE A HEAT WAVE IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER, 90 DEGREES PREDICTED FOR NEXT WEEK.

JULIE: WE COULDN'T GET BY WITHOUT HAVING SOME 90 DEGREE WEATHER IN THE SUMMER.

DENNIS: IT IS THE SUMMER.

JULIE: IT'S BEEN A LITTLE COLD FOR ME SO I AM HAPPY.

DENNIS: LET'S GET STARTED WITH THE HEADLINES.

JULIE: THANKS, DENNY.

MINNESOTA GOVERNOR TIM WALZ DID A RIDE-ALONG WITH A DULUTH POLICE OFFICER THURSDAY DURING A VISIT TO DULUTH.

THE RIDE-ALONG WAS PART OF THE GOVERNOR'S STATE-WIDE WORKFORCE TOUR FOCUSING ON CAREER FIELDS FACING A LABOR SHORTAGE.

THE GOVERNOR EMPHASIZED THE NEED FOR MORE PUBLIC SAFETY WORKERS, INCLUDING POLICE, FIRE FIGHTERS AND EMT'S.

DENNIS: MEANWHILE, EVAN ARE -- GOVERNOR WALZ THIS WEEK APPOINTED A NEW JUDGE TO FILL THE SEAT OF JUDGE SALLY TARNOWSKI, WHO DIED IN A TRAGIC ACCIDENT IN MARCH.

NICOLE HOPPS, MANAGING ATTORNEY IN THE SIXTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT PUBLIC DEFENDERS' OFFICE WAS APPOINTED TO THE JUDGESHIP.

SHE WILL BE CHAMBERED IN THE SIXTH DISTRICT'S DULUTH COURTHOUSE.

JULIE: SUPERIOR-BASED AMSOIL IS CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF PARTNERSHIP WITH ITS INDEPENDENT DEALERS IN THE TWIN PORTS THIS WEEKEND.

AMSOIL, WHICH PIONEERED SYNTHETIC MOTOR OIL, TOOK OFF IN 1973 WHEN IT FORMED A DEALER NETWORK TO MARKET ITS PRODUCTS.

HUNDREDS OF THOSE INDEPENDENT DEALERS ARE IN TOWN FOR SPECIAL EVENTS AND TO TOUR AMSOILS' SUPERIOR FACILITY.

DENNIS: THE ICONIC SPLIT ROCK LIGHTHOUSE ON LAKE SUPERIOR'S NORTH SHORE WILL CELEBRATE ITS BIRTHDAY NEXT FRIDAY WITH A PUBLIC EVENT.

THE KEEPER'S VIEW ANNIVERSARY EVENT WILL RUN FROM 6:00 UNTIL 10:00 P.M. JULY 28TH AT THE LIGHTHOUSE.

THERE WILL BE GUIDED TOURS, FOOD AND A RARE LIGHTING OF THE LIGHTHOUSE BEACON.

JULIE: ON AUGUST 1, RECREATIONAL USE OF MARIJUANA WILL BECOME LEGAL IN MINNESOTA.

THE NEW LAW WOULD ALLOW MARIJUANA SMOKING ON PUBLIC SIDEWALKS AND OTHER PUBLIC SPACES.

THAT HAS SPURRED SOME CITY COUNCILORS TO PROPOSE AN ORDINANCE TO LIMIT THOSE LOCATIONS IN DULUTH.

HERE TO TELL US ABOUT THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE IS ARIK FORSMAN, AN AT-LARGE DULUTH CITY COUNCILOR.

AND ROZ RANDORF IS A DULUTH COUNCILOR REPRESENTING THE CITY'S THIRD DISTRICT.

WELCOME, THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

ARIK: THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

JULIE: WE MENTIONED A FEW OF THE PLACES WHERE THERE ARE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT MARIJUANA SMOKING BEING ALLOWED.

THE ORDINANCE YOU ARE PROPOSING, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE SPECIFIC AREAS WHERE YOU WOULD LIKE TO LIMIT THE USE OF RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA?

ARIK: I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT FIRST OF ALL, IT'S NOT LEGAL TO USE MARIJUANA ANYWAY -- ANYWHERE IN THE CITY TODAY, SO I THINK WE LOOK AT THIS AS PROTECTING SOME OF THE SPACE WE HAVE IN PUBLIC ALREADY, RECOGNIZING THAT THE STATE LAW IS CHANGING THE GAME A LITTLE BIT ON AUGUST 1.

WHAT WE DID IS TAKE THE LIST OF THE PLACES WHERE TOBACCO IS ALREADY REGULATED IN DULUTH AND ADDING MARIJUANA TO IT IN MOST INSTANCES BID WE DID NOT CONTEMPLATE A WORLD WHERE MARIJUANA WOULD BE LEGAL IN MINNESOTA.

THE ONE DIFFERENCE IS WE ARE LOOKING AT ADDING ALL PARKS FOR MARIJUANA SMOKING ONLY AS PART OF THE ORDINANCE.

DENNIS: WILL THE CITY AND STATE BE ABLE TO MAKE THEIR OWN DECISION ON PUBLIC POT SMOKING?

MEGAN: ST.

CLOUD -- ROZ: ST.

CLOUD DID IT A FEW WEEKS AGO AND DID NOT HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT AT ALL.

WE THOUGHT WE WERE FOUR RUNNERS BUT THEY BEAT US.

JULIE: WHAT ARE SOME OF THE SPECIFIC PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUES THAT YOU THINK ABOUT THAT MAKE YOU WANT TO LIMIT WHEN AND HOW MARIJUANA IS USED?

ROZ: THANKS FOR THE QUESTION.

IN 1975 WHEN THE MINNESOTA CLEAN AIR ACT HAPPENED, I WAS ONLY 10 YEARS OLD, AND THOSE LEGISLATORS WERE HELPING TO PROTECT US IN COMMON SPACES.

WE ARE THINKING BACK TO ALL THE WORK THEY DID.

SOME OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE NOW, EVEN MY SON DOESN'T REALIZE THAT SMOKING CIGARETTES IS NOT LEGAL IN SOME PLACES.

IT'S KIND OF A GENERATIONAL THING.

I GREW UP UNDERSTANDING HOW IMPORTANT IT WAS TO PROTECT PUBLIC SPACES FOR FOLKS THAT ARE NOT SMOKERS, FOR CHILDREN, PEOPLE WHO HAVE UNDERLYING HEALTH CONDITIONS LIKE COPD OR ASTHMA.

IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO PROTECT THOSE FOLKS BECAUSE MARIJUANA IS NO LEGAL, BUT THEIR RIGHTS ARE WHERE OTHER PEOPLE'S LUNGS BEGIN.

WE ARE MAKING SURE WE HAVE THE RIGHT BOUNDARIES TO SAY IN SOME PUBLIC SPACES IT IS NOT OK.

THERE ARE A LOT OF PLACES YOU COULD DO IT, ON PUBLIC STREETS, EASEMENTS, IN AN ALLEY, THERE ARE LOTS OF PLACES, BUT THERE ARE SOME WE ARE ASKING YOU CAN.

DENNIS: CAN OR WILL MINNESOTANS BE ABLE TO GROW AND USE THEIR OWN MARIJUANA ON PRIVATE PROPERTY?

ARIK: MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE STATE LAW CALLS OUT SPECIFIC PLACES WHERE YOU ARE ALLOWED TO SMOKE IT, INCLUDING YOUR OWN YARD AND YOUR OWN HOME, BUT THEY LEFT EVERYTHING ELSE OPEN.

THAT WAS THE A-HA MOMENT FOR A LOT OF CITIES THE DID NOT REALIZE IT WAS AS BROAD AS IT IS AND THAT'S WHY YOU WILL SEE DULUTH, ST.

CLOUD, LAKEVILLE REACHED OUT YESTERDAY.

THERE WILL BE A HOST OF CITIES THAT WILL PASS LOCAL ORDINANCES THAT ARE RIGHT FOR THE COMMUNITY.

DENNIS: SO TOWNS ARE NOW WATCHING WHAT DULUTH IS DOING.

ARIK: DULUTH, ALEXANDRIA.

MANY OTHERS WILL TAKE MEASURES LIKE THIS.

JULIE: BOTH OF YOU WERE ON THE MAYOR'S DOWNTOWN TASK FORCE THAT IDENTIFIED CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY AND MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AS CONTRIVING FACTORS TO SOME OF THE ONGOING, TROUBLING ISSUES HAPPENING IN DOWNTOWN DULUTH.

AS YOU LOOK AT MARIJUANA BEING LEGALIZED IN THE STATE, DO YOU SEE THAT HAVING ANY IMPACT, POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE, ON DOWNTOWN?

ARIK: THIS IS YOUR DISTRICT SO I WANT TO DEFER TO YOU ON PART OF THIS BUT I WANT TO SAY ONE THING, WE'VE HAD SOME FEEDBACK THAT WHY ARE YOU TAKING THIS UP, MARIJUANA ISN'T YOUR BIGGEST ISSUE WITH DRUG USE IN THE CITY?

WE'VE GOT NEEDLES, HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS AND I AGREE, THAT'S A BIGGER PRIORITY THAT DOESN'T MATTER WE SHOULDN'T DO THIS, THIS IS COMMON SENSE, IT IS COMING ON AUGUST 1.

BUT A LOT OF FOLKS DON'T KNOW WE ARE ACTIVELY WORKING ON THINGS LIKE THIS, AND CANCELER RANDOLPH ESPECIALLY ARE CONSTANTLY ANSWERING QUESTIONS FROM CONSTITUENTS.

ROZ: THERE ARE A LOT OF GATEWAY DRUGS, LIKE ALCOHOL EVEN.

A LOT OF FOLKS SUFFER FROM ADDICTION, ALCOHOL ADDICTION AND DRUG ADDICTION AND MENTAL ILLNESS.

WE NEED FOCUSED SUPPORTS TO PROVIDE HIGHLY SUPPORTIVE HOUSING FOR FOLKS THAT STRUGGLE WITH MANY DIFFERENT HEALTH CONDITIONS LIKE THAT.

DENNIS: IF AN ORDINANCE BANS SMOKING, WOULD IT AUTOMATICALLY BANNED MARIJUANA?

ARIK: NO.

THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT SECTIONS IN THE CODE, ONE THAT DEALS WITH SMOKING AND ONE THAT DEALS WITH INGESTION.

THERE IS A DIFFERENT TOPIC WITH INGESTION, BECAUSE LAST YEAR MAYBE ACCIDENTALLY THE STATE LEGISLATURE LEGALIZED THC FROM HIM, PRIMARILY IN EDIBLE PRODUCTS.

THIS ORDINANCE IS ONLY FOR THE SMOKING ASPECT OF TOBACCO OR MARIJUANA.

JULIE: LET'S TALK ABOUT THE EDIBLES.

THE CITY IN THE PAST HAS TAKEN SOME STRONG STANCES ON THINGS LIKE FLAVORED TOBACCOS AND VAPING PRODUCTS THAT MIGHT APPEAL TO CHILDREN.

DO YOU ANTICIPATE THERE MIGHT BE SIMILAR CONCERNS WITH THINGS LIKE MEANS -- LIKE GUMMIES AND CANDY BARS THAT WOULD FALL INTO LEGALIZED MARIJUANA?

ROZ: I WOULD SAY YES.

I THINK MAKING SURE -- THERE ARE TWO THINGS I THINK THIS ORDINANCE DOES.

IT HELPS NON-SMOKERS AND FOLKS WITH HEALTH CONDITIONS, ALSO WE DON'T WANT OUR CHILDREN IN PLAYGROUNDS AND PARKS TO BE EXPOSED TO DRUGS AND POT SMOKING AND TOBACCO SMOKING, OR EVEN LIQUOR.

ANYTIME WE CAN LOOK AT THE POPULATION AND SAY HOW CAN WE PUT MORE GUARDRAILS ON THIS TO PROTECT OUR YOUTH.

ARIK: IT'S IMPORTANT TO REALIZE THAT AS THE STATE LAWS ARE EVOLVING SO TOO WILL THE CITY.

WE REALIZE IT MIGHT LOOK DIFFERENT IN TWO OR THREE YEARS EVEN FROM WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT HERE.

JULIE: ARE THERE SOME POSITIVES TO MARIJUANA BEING LEGALIZED FOR DULUTH?

ARIK: I THINK THERE ARE.

YOU LOOKS LIKE YOU WERE GOING TO JUMP IN.

ROZ: GO AHEAD.

ARIK: WE LOOK AT JOB CREATION, YOU TAKE AN INDUSTRY THAT IS UNDERGROUND AND YOU MAKE IT SO THEY HAVE TO USE THE SAME LABOR STANDARDS, THE SAME LAWS EVERYBODY ELSE HAS TO FOLLOW.

YOU LOOK AT THE INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION, THAT COULD BE THE MANUFACTURING OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CITY COULD THERE ARE SOME BENEFITS.

ROZ: AND THERE ARE MEDICAL BENEFITS.

MEDICAL MARIJUANA HAS BEEN LEGAL IN MANY CITIES AND STATES AND I THINK ABSOLUTELY THERE ARE POSITIVES.

WHEN I CO-AUTHORED THIS, I'M NOT ANTI-MARIJUANA, BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO LOOK AT PUTTING GUARDRAILS ON ANYTHING TO PROTECT THE VULNERABLE AND CHILDREN.

JULIE: GOOD DISCUSSION, THANK YOU.

♪ ♪ AFTER FOUR YEARS OF PLANNING AND CONSTRUCTION, ESSENTIA HEALTH'S VISION NORTHLAND HOSPITAL BUILDING IS READY FOR PATIENTS.

A GRAND OPENING WAS HELD THURSDAY, AND THE PUBLIC GOT A LOOK INSIDE TODAY.

PRODUCER MEGAN MCGARVEY HAS A REPORT FROM THE NEW FACILITY.

MEGAN: IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME COMING FOR THE FOLKS AT ESSENTIA HEALTH.

AFTER RELEASING PLANS IN 2018 BREAKING GROUND IN 2019 AND WORKING THROUGH A PANDEMIC, THE OVER $900 MILLION HOSPITAL IS FINALLY COMPLETE.

THE NEW FACILITY INCLUDES 16 OPERATING ROOMS, 300 44 PATIENT ROOMS AND 346 BEDS.

>> ALL OF THESE ROOMS ARE ARRANGED SO THE FAMILY HAS A SPACE ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE AND ARE COMFORTABLE.

WE WANT YOU TO BE ABLE TO VISIT ANYTIME AND YOUR FAMILY CAN STAY WITH YOU AS APPROPRIATE.

YOU CAN HAVE YOUR BABY IN THIS ROOM, STAY WITH YOUR BABY IN THIS ROOM UNTIL YOU ARE DISCHARGED.

AND YOU HAVE ONE OF THE BEST VIEWS IN DULUTH.

>> [INDISCERNIBLE] HAVING THE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT BEHIND THE WALLS, READY.

MEGAN: HISTORICALLY MEDICINE HAS BEEN AN INDUSTRY OF CONSTANT, EARNEST INNOVATION, WORKING TOWARD NEWER METHODS, PRACTICES AND SOLUTIONS TO HELP HEAL, CARE AND UNDERSTAND WHAT MAKES HUMANS TICK.

WITH THAT IN MIND, ESSENTIA'S AND PLUMMETING A UNIQUE TOOL, -- IMPLEMENTING A UNIQUE TOOL, ROBOTS >> THEY CAN DELIVER FOOD, PATIENT TRAYS, THEY CAN TAKE OUT THE TRASH.

THEY CAN DELIVER CARDS OF CLEAN LINEN.

THOSE WILL TRAVEL THROUGHOUT OUR HOSPITAL HERE AND OUR OTHER BUILDINGS.

>> IT IS EMPTY BUT IT WILL GO THROUGH AND PICK UP THE FOOD CART.

THEY WILL PICK UP THE CARD AND BRING THEM UP.

>> YOU NOTICE THERE'S NO BUTTONS ON THE ELEVATOR.

YOU SELECT YOUR FLOOR FROM HERE, TELLS YOU WHAT ELEVATOR TO JUMP ON, AND IT TAKES YOU TO THAT LOCATION.

WE WILL TRANSPORT PATIENTS HERE, AS WILL AS ALL OF OUR STAFF WILL BE USING THESE ELEVATORS.

WE HAVE PUBLIC ELEVATORS.

>> YOU WOULD THINK ELEVATORS WOULD NOT BE INTERESTING, BUT THE DESIGN ELEMENT, VERTICAL TRANSPORT IS MORE EFFICIENT THAN HORIZONTAL.

ELEVATORS ARE FAST AND VERY EFFICIENT.

WE HAVE AN ELEMENT, YOU SEPARATE THE PUBLIC FROM THE STAFF ELEVATORS AND EQUIPMENT SO THOSE ARE NO LONGER MIXED.

MEGAN: DESIGNED WITH FLEXIBILITY IN MIND, THE HOSPITAL ALSO HAS FIVE FLOORS AVAILABLE FOR THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF AN OUTPATIENT CLINIC ALONG SUPERIOR STREET.

>> LEVELS FIVE THROUGH ONE ARE ESSENTIALLY READY.

[INDISCERNIBLE] >> WHATEVER YOU MAY NEED IN THE FUTURE.

MEGAN: WITH A TOTAL OF 18 FLOORS, THIS ENERGY-EFFICIENT ADDITION TO DULUTH'S DOWNTOWN WILL BEGIN TO ASSIST PATIENTS ON JULY 30.

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

THIS WEEK OUR GUEST IS DANIELLE KAEDING FROM WISCONSIN PUBLIC RADIO.

♪ DANIELLE: A NEARLY $2 BILLION PLAN TO REPLACE A BRIDGE CONNECTING SEVERE AND DULUTH WILL GET A $400 MILLION BOOST THROUGH THE WISCONSIN STATE CHIP.

THE FINANCE COMMITTEE INCLUDED FINANCING FOR THE BRIDGE.

THE 61-YEAR-OLD BRIDGE IS IN POOR CONDITION.

LEADERS HAVE TOUTED FUNDING FOR ITS REPLACEMENT BECAUSE IT HAS GOT ISSUES WITH AGING AND CORROSION.

ALTHOUGH TRANSPORTATION OFFICIALS SAY IT REMAINS SAFE THROUGH MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTIONS.

U.S.

SENATOR TAMMY BALDWIN SAID TRUCKS CARRY NEARLY $4 BILLION WORTH OF GOODS ACROSS THE SPAN EVERY YEAR.

AND THAT REPLACING THE BRIDGE WILL HELP ENSURE THAT BILLIONS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF PRODUCTS GET TO THE MARKET MORE EFFICIENTLY, THE FAMILIES CAN GET TO WORK AND MILLIONS OF TRAVELERS CAN GET TO THEIR DESTINATION SAFELY.

THIS SETS THE STAGE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE BRIDGE REPLACEMENT.

BOTH WISCONSIN AND MINNESOTA HAVE CONTRIBUTED FUNDING THROUGH THEIR BUDGETS.

BUT THEY ARE HOPING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL PAY FOR THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE PROJECT.

♪ WISCONSIN ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATORS ARE OFFERING TO TEST SEWAGE SLUDGE FOR HARMFUL PFAS CHEMICALS AT WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS.

THIS IS A NUTRIENT RICH TERRIO THAT IS OFTEN SPREAD ON FARM FIELDS AND IT'S ALSO KNOWN AS BIOSOLIDS.

THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES IS IN THE PROCESS OF REQUIRING PFAS SAMPLING OF SEWAGE SLUDGE UNDER WASTEWATER PERMITS FOR TREATMENT PLANTS AND INDUSTRIAL WASTEWATER FACILITIES.

THOSE REQUIREMENTS ARE SET TO TAKE EFFECT EARLY NEXT YEAR FOR FACILITIES FOR THIS IS -- FACILITIES.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT DOUGLAS COUNTY AND MAYFIELD COUNTY HAVE BEEN PUSHING FOR.

THEY PASSED RESOLUTIONS THIS SPRING ASKING THE DNR TO REQUIRE PFAS SAMPLING OF SEWAGE SLUDGE BEFORE ANY IS LAND APPLIED IN WISCONSIN.

THEIR CONCERNS ARE IF THERE WERE ANY HARMFUL CHEMICALS CONTAINED IN THE SEWAGE SLUDGE, THERE IS POTENTIAL THAT COULD SEEP THROUGH THE SOIL INTO THE GROUNDWATER, OR ALSO POSSIBLY RUN OFF THROUGH A RAINSTORM INTO SURROUNDING WATERWAYS AND EVENTUALLY MAKE ITS WAY INTO LAKE SUPERIOR.

♪ UNDER WISCONSIN'S NEXT TWO-YEAR STATE BUDGET, LAWMAKERS INCLUDED $3.6 MILLION IN AID TO NORTHERN WISCONSIN COUNTIES THAT LOST REVENUE AFTER A COURT RULING LAST SUMMER.

ESSENTIALLY THAT DECISION MEANT TO THE STATE COULD NO LONGER TAX PROPERTIES, TRAVEL PROPERTIES, ON SOME RESERVATIONS.

THE RULING WAS A WIN FOR TRIBAL SOVEREIGNTY IT AND MILLIONS IN LOST TAX REVENUE FOR FIVE WISCONSIN COUNTIES, INCLUDING ASHLAND AND BAYFIELD COUNTIES.

IT ALSO MEANT REMOVING TRIBAL MEMBERS FROM THE TAX ROLLS.

THAT MORE THAN DOUBLE TO FOR REMAINING RESIDENTS IN SANBORN.

GOVERNOR EVE OR'S APPROVED THE EIGHT PAYMENTS BUT ALSO LIMITED GOP RESTRICTIONS ON THE FUNDS.

THE LATEST IS THE TOWN OF SANBORN IN ASHLAND COUNTY SEEKING A $610,000 LOAN TO HELP REFUND TRIBAL RESIDENTS WHO PAID TAXES UNDER PROTEST BEFORE THE COURT RULING WAS ISSUED.

NOW THERE IS A STATE BOARD THAT HAS MET THIS WEEK, AND THEY VOICED CONCERNS ABOUT ISSUING A LOAN TO THE TOWN.

THE WISCONSIN ATTORNEY GENERAL ESSENTIALLY SAID IT APPEARS TO RISK IT, THE RISK IS TOO HIGH TO LOAN MONEY TO SANBORN AT THIS POINT IN TIME BECAUSE OF THE MASSIVE TAX HIKES THEY'VE SEEN AS A RESULT OF THE COURT DECISION.

♪ JULIE: SUMMERS CAN GO BY PRETTY QUICKLY HERE IN THE NORTH COUNTRY.

BUT EVERY WEEK, PBS NORTH'S SLICE FEATURE TAKES TIME TO REMIND US OF ALL THE GREAT ACTIVITIES WE HAVE IN THE REGION.

WE'VE PUT TOGETHER SOME OF OUR FAVORITE SEGMENTS FROM THE PAST FEW WEEKS WE THINK YOU WILL ENJOY.

♪ ♪ >> LET'S GO.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> WE ARE AT THE 27TH LEVEL UNDERGROUND AND WE HAD TO COME DOWN THROUGH THE MINESHAFT.

THE MINESHAFT IS IN PART OVER 100 YEARS OLD.

WE ARE GOING THROUGH A RENOVATION OF THAT SHAFT.

♪ BACK IN 2011 WE HAD A FIRE AT THIS LEVEL DUE TO SOME MAINTENANCE WORK GOING ON.

SHORTLY AFTER THAT WE HAD SOME EMERGENCY FUNDING TO REPAIR ABOUT 300 FEET OF THE SHAFT.

WHEN THAT PROJECT WAS COMPLETED, WE REALIZED THE NEXT 500 FEET ALSO NEEDED WORK.

THE PLANNING PROCESS STARTED THEN.

ON THIS LAST ROW, YOU WILL SEE THE BIG BEAMS, OVER 2000 POUNDS APIECE AND THEY WILL BE PUT IN TO BE THE MAIN SUPPORT STRUCTURE FOR THE SKELETAL PIECE OF THE MINESHAFT.

WE JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THE MODE TO GET TO THIS LEVEL FOR THE TOUR WAS IN SOLID, SAFE CONDITION FOR VISITORS.

NEXT YEAR IS THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE HOIST THAT BRINGS US DOWN HERE.

WE ARE HOPING TO CELEBRATE THE LONGEVITY OF THAT PIECE OF MACHINERY AS WELL AS THE REOPENING OF THE SHAFT THAT HAS BEEN CLOSED FOR BASICALLY 2.5 YEARS.

♪ >> WE ARE JUST ABOUT TO START THE EVENT THAT KICKS OFF THE WEEKEND.

THIS IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT COME YOU TAKE THE CHAIN OFF YOUR BIKE AND YOU JUST RELY ON MOMENTUM.

WE ARE STARTING CLOSE TO THE TOP , WE CALL IT THE CHEESE GRATER.

WE MADE IT A LITTLE MORE INTERESTING THIS YEAR.

THEN WE GO INTO THE SMORGASBORD.

IT'S NOT THE GNARLIEST TRAIL NECESSARILY BUT IT IS FUN FOR THE EVENT.

I'VE BEEN WRITING MY WHOLE LIFE -- RIDING MY WHOLE LIFE.

THERE ARE SOME KEY MAKE OR BREAK SESSIONS -- SECTIONS.

INSTEAD OF RELYING ON PEDDLING, CARRYING MY SPEED NICE AND SMOOTH.

I ENJOY THIS EVENT BECAUSE IT'S REALLY FUN.

IT'S NOT AS SERIOUS AS SOME OF OUR OTHER EVENTS.

IT'S JUST A WAY TO HAVE FUN WITH BUDDIES.

♪ >> IT IS OUR HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO BE FLYING THIS 78-YEAR-OLD AIRPLANE.

IT WAS BUILT IN LONG BEACH BY DOUGLAS AIRCRAFT DURING WORLD WAR II.

ALMOST 11,000 OF THESE AIRPLANES WERE MADE FOR THE UNITED STATES.

IT SUPPORTED THE TROOPS THROUGH EVERY MAJOR AIRPORT OPERATION IN WORLD WAR II.

THIS IS A REAL SURVIVOR AND IT'S BEEN A REAL HONOR TO FLY THIS AIRPLANE.

>> IT HAS THE CAPABILITY TO CARRY QUITE A LOAD.

WE CAN ALSO CARRY PEOPLE AND COMFORT.

ONCE WE GET IN THE AIR, AND YOU CAN GET UP AND LOOK AT THE WINDOWS AND COME UP TO THE COCKPIT AND SEE WHAT IT IS LIKE IN FLIGHT.

FOR THE REST OF THE AIR SHOW WE WILL BE A STATIC DISPLAY AND THE IMPORTANT PART OF THAT IS THE HERITAGE.

>> GOSH WE HAVE FUN IN THIS AIRPLANE.

WE LOVE FLYING IT.

THIS IS THE WAY AIRPLANES STARTED OUT, WHERE YOU FEEL THE SPEED CHANGE, AND YOU DEFINITELY FEEL THE DIFFERENT WEIGHT OF THE AIRPLANE.

IT IS FANTASTIC TO FLY, A PLEASURE.

DENNIS: I HOPE EVERYONE HAS A CHANCE TO ENJOY THEIR FAVORITE SUMMER ACTIVITY THIS WEEKEND.

JULIE: HOPING TO MAYBE DO A LITTLE KAYAKING.

DENNIS: THAT WOULD BE A LOT OF FUN.

WITH JULIE ZENNER, I'M DENNIS ANDERSON.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

GOOD NIGHT EVERYONE, AND BE KIND.

♪ ♪