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

>> A RECENT SURVEY OF ST. LOUIS COUNTY RESIDENTS OUTLINED WHAT THE COUNTY IS DOING WELL, AND WHAT NEEDS IMPROVEMENT.

>> WE'LL TALK WITH A COUNTY OFFICIAL ABOUT THAT SURVEY.

WE'LL HAVE A REPORT FROM LAST WEEKEND'S DULUTH AIRSHOW, WHERE FEMALE PILOTS RULED THE SKY.

>> AND THE MINNESOTA POLLUTION CONTROLL AGENCY HAS ISSUED GRANTS TO LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO HELP PREPARE FOR EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS.

>> THOSE STORIES AND VOICES OF THE REGION, COMING UP ON ALMANAC NORTH.

♪ >>HELLO AND WELCOME TO ALMANAC NORTH, THINK YOU VERY MUCH FOR WATCHING TONIGHT.

JULIE, IT'S GOOD TO BE BACK ON THE SHOW AFTER A COUPLE OF WEEKS AWAY.

>> IT IS GREAT TO BE BACK.

>> YOU ARE NOT HERE IT IS MYSELF AND THE BIG AUDIENCE.

IT IS GREAT TO HAVE YOU BACK.

LET'S BEGIN WITH THE HEADLINES.

>> THANKS DENNY.

A NEW STUDY COMMISSIONED BY THE AREA PARTNERSHIP FOR ECONOMIC EXPANSION SHOWS THAT ENBRIDGE'S RECENT LINE 3 REPLACEMENT PROJECT GENERATED BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN ECONOMIC IMPACT.

THE STUDY WAS COMPLETED BY UMD'S BUREAU OF BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC IMPACT.

OVER THE COURSE OF THE PROJECT, ABOUT $1.7 BILLION WAS PAID IN WAGES AND BENEFITS, AND BILLIONS MORE WERE SPENT IN THE 16 COUNTIES THE LINE CROSSES.

>> WISCONSIN GOVERNOR TONY EVERS VISITED SUPERIOR THIS WEEK, CHECKING TO SEE HOW LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES FARED DURING THE PANDEMIC.

THE GOVERNOR ATE AT SUPERIOR WAFFLES, WHICH RECEIVED A MAIN STREET BOUNCEBACK GRANT FROM THE STATE.

AND HE SPENT TIME AT SWEDEN SWEETS, WHICH GOT FUNDING FROM THE 'WE'RE ALL IN' PROGRAM.

BOTH PROGRAMS WERE DESIGNED TO HELP SMALL BUSINESSES SURVIVE THE PANDEMIC.

>> ROAD CONSTRUCTION CONTINUES TO IMPACT TRAFFIC IN THE REGION.

TRAVELERS ON NORTHBOUND I-35 IN DULUTH SHOULD BE AWARE THAT THE ON AND OFF RAMPS TO 27TH AVENUE WEST WILL BE CLOSED BEGINNING NEXT WEDNESDAY FOR ABOUT 30 DAYS.

AND A PORTION OF ARROWHEAD ROAD FROM THE KENWOOD SHOPPING CENTER TO WOODLAND AVENUE IS CLOSED FOR 3 WEEKS FOR PAVEMENT REFURBISHING.

>> MENTOR NORTH HAS HIRED A NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO SERVE THE AGENCY'S MENTOR DULUTH, MENTOR SUPERIOR, AND MUTUAL MENTORING INITIATIVES.

JILL HINNER, WHO SPENT THE LAST 10 YEARS AT SUPERIOR'S CENTER AGAINST SEXUAL AND DOMESTIC ABUSE, IS THE NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF MENTOR NORTH.

THE ORGANIZATION SERVED 341 YOUTH IN 2021, WITH MENTORS AND MENTEES SPENDING MORE THAN 3800 HOURS OF TIME TOGETHER.

>> BY AREA, ST. LOUIS COUNTY IS THE LARGEST COUNTY EAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER, WITH ABOUT 200,000 RESIDENTS.

WITH SUCH A LARGE AREA FEATURING BOTH RURAL AND URBAN SETTINGS, IT'S NO SURPRISE THAT A SURVEY OF THOSE RESIDENTS WOULD HAVE SOME DIVERGING OPINIONS.

TODAY WE WILL TAKE A DEEPER DIVE INTO THE 2022 ST. LOUIS COUNTY RESIDENT SURVEY.

HERE TO HELP US DO THAT IS FREE -- BREE GRABER, ST. LOUIS COUNTY'S BUDGET AND BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT MANAGER.

WELCOME, THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

WHAT IS THE SURVEY AND HOW IS IT CONDUCTED?

>> -- WE CONDUCTED EVERY FEW YEARS WE USED COAL RESEARCH CENTER TO CONDUCT THE SURVEY.

ABOUT 2600 HOUSES -- HOUSEHOLDS ARE SURVEYED.

THIS WAS IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY TIMEFRAME.

>> WHAT IS THE SERVICE RATE?

>> WE ASK -- WE GET FEEDBACK ON SERVICES THAT WE HAVE.

AND IT HELPS US GUIDE BUDGET DECISIONS, INVESTMENTS, AND STRATEGIC LANDING.

IT GIVES GUIDANCE TO OUR DEPARTMENT HEAD.

>> DO YOU GET ENOUGH PEOPLE RESPONDING THAT IT'S A REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLE DO PEOPLE WANT TO COME?

>> WE FEEL LIKE WE HAD A GOOD RESPONSE RATE AND GOOD RESPONSE RATES ARE AROUND $.12 AND $.13.

WE HAD A 30% RESPONSE RATE.

AND ARE SOME -- REPLIES ARE WEIGHTED SO IT'S MORE REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT SO EACH DISTRICT HAD OR HUNDRED OR SO SURVEYED.

>> WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST ISSUES FACING COMMUNITIES AND PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE?

>> SURE.

ACCORDING TO OUR SURVEY, FOR POTENTIAL PROBLEMS OR CONCERNS, REALLY THE OLD -- OPIOID EPIDEMIC ROSE TO THE TOP YET AGAIN.

IT IS CONSISTENT WITH OUR PREVIOUS SURVEYS WITH HOMELESSNESS AND POVERTY.

ONE NOTABLE LESS CONCERN IS OUR MAINTENANCE OF COUNTY ROADS WHICH IS DEFINITELY A HIGH POINT WITH SAFETY CONCERNS THAT IS LESSENED.

>> WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE CONCERNS THAT A RAISE, WHAT IS THE COUNTY DO TO TRY TO MAYBE ALLEVIATE THOSE CONCERNS?

>> SURE.

I THINK IT HELPS WITH WHERE WE WANT TO INVEST OUR TAX DOLLARS.

AND ON THE HEALTH SIDE, IT WAS CONSISTENT WITH OPIOID EPIDEMIC.

ILLEGAL DRUG USE WAS ALSO HIGH ALONG WITH THEIR OPPRESSION AND AVAILABILITY OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.

SO AS COMMISSIONERS AND STAFF WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE HITTING ON AND FOCUSING THOSE AREAS.

>> YOU LOOK AT THE ISSUES THAT ARE RAISED, DO YOU SEE ANY ISSUES THAT ARE BEING DEALT WITH AND OFF THE LIST AND NEW ONES THAT ARE COMING UP THAT THEY BE HAVE NOT REGISTERED AS MUCH IN THE PAST?

>> YEAH.

SO FAR, IT SEEMS, THAT MOST HAVE CONTINUED ON BEING A CONCERN.

THERE'S SOMETHING THAT HAVE FALLEN OFF THE WAYSIDE AS FAR AS PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE SAFETY AND USE -- SAFE USE OF ALCOHOL AMONG ADULT SOME OF THOSE HAVE DECREASED TO US -- AN EXTENT.

AND OTHERS ARE SHOWING THEY MIGHT HAVE BEEN REDUCED BUT ARE STILL A SIGNIFICANT CONCERN.

SO SHOWS THAT OUR INVESTMENTS ARE PAYING OFF OF THE WORK IS NOT DONE YET.

>> HOW HAS COVID FIGURED INTO THIS IF IT HAS?

>> I WOULD SAY OUR SERVICE DELIVERY HAS CHANGED DRAMATICALLY.

EIGHT EVEN AS RESIDENTS WHAT THEY RELY ON FOUR SOURCES, AND RATHER THE NEWSPAPER, THEY AB THEY USED OUR WEBSITE INSTEAD OR THEY WOULD RATHER BE SERVED ONLINE THAN IN PERSON.

SO I THINK THAT IS CHANGING THE DYNAMIC OF HOW WE DELIVER OUR SERVICES RATHER THAN IN PERSON, DELIVER IT TO WHERE THEY ARE AT.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS I NOTICED, THERE SEEMS TO BE A DROP IN OPTIMISM.

THAT PEOPLE FELT THAT -- FEWER PEOPLE FELT THAT THEY WERE GOING TO BE BETTER OFF A YEAR FROM NOW AND MORE PEOPLE FELT THEY WERE NOT GOING TO BE BETTER OFF A YEAR FROM NOW.

WHAT IS THAT TELL YOU ABOUT HOW THE COUNTY SHOULD RESPOND?

>> I THINK BUILDING TRUST AND TRANSPARENCY AND WHAT SERVICES WE HAVE TO OFFER AND MAKING SURE WE COMMUNICATE WHAT AVAILABLE -- WHAT IS AVAILABLE TO THEM.

IF WE ARE STRUCK -- IF THEY ARE STRUGGLING FINANCIALLY OR NEEDING A TAX BREAK THERE'S A LOT OF PROGRAMS OUT THERE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE STRUGGLING.

AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE COMMUNICATE THAT PROPERLY TO THOSE RESIDENTS.

>> IS THERE A SUBSTANTIAL CRIME RATE IN THIS COUNTY THAT PEOPLE HAVE ENGINE IN THE SURVEY AND THEY PERHAPS FEAR?

>> TO BE HONEST PEOPLE HAVE FELT RELATIVELY SAFE IN ST. LOUIS COUNTY AND IT HAS NOT CHANGED OVER THE PAST SURVEYS.

VERY MUCH AT ALL.

SO, THAT IS A GOOD THING FOR THE STATE OF -- ST. LOUIS COUNTY.

>> YOU MENTIONED THE EVALUATION OF GOVERNMENT SERVICES AND OVERALL SECTION OF GOVERNMENT IS CONSISTENT FROM YEAR-TO-YEAR BUT IT DOES NOT SEEM TO BE GREAT.

ON A SCALE OF ONE TO 100 TO GET IN THE LOW AND MID 40'S IS NOT TERRIFIC.

IS THAT A WAKE-UP CALL?

>> I DEFINITELY THINK WE SHOULD TAKE IT TO HEART.

IT MIGHT BE ONE OF THE THINGS -- THE COUNTY IS THE DELIVERY ON THE STATE.

A LOT OF THE SERVICES WE SUPPLY ARE MANDATED BY THE STATE TO DO SO THERE MIGHT BE A DIFFERENCE IN PRIORITY THE STATE VERSUS OUR LOCAL COUNTY RESIDENT AND WHAT THEY FEEL SHOULD BE PRIORITIES.

BUT WE CAN DEFINITELY TAKE THAT INTO ACCOUNT AND WORK ON THAT TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE PROVIDING WHAT THEY WANT.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT GOT THE LOWEST MARKS LISTED -- LISTENING THEY DIDN'T FEEL THAT THE COUNTY WAS LISTENING TO THEM WOULD HE HAVE TO SAY TO BACK?

>> I THINK CONTINUED INVESTMENTS AND ENGAGING THE PUBLIC WHENEVER WE CAN, WE HAVE HAD WORD MEETINGS, THROUGHOUT ST. LOUIS COUNTY, VISITING ALL HER TOWNSHIPS AND I THINK THAT HELPED.

ALONG WITH VIRTUAL OPTIONS.

YOU DO LIVESTREAM ON FACEBOOK, I THINK THE MORE WE CAN DO THAT, MAYBE HAVE WORK LISTENING OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR RESIDENTS AND PUBLIC HEARINGS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

I THINK THAT WILL HELP THE SITUATION.

>> WHAT ARE THE RIGHT THOUGHTS THAT PEOPLE THINK ABOUT THEIR COUNTY GOVERNMENT?

>> SURE.

THEY ARE PRETTY SATISFIED WHICH I AM HAPPY TO SAY ON THE STAFF THAT HAVE BEEN SUPPORTING THEM.

SO OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE HAS NOT FALLEN TO -- TO THE WAYSIDE EVEN IN THE PANDEMIC WE HAD TO SERVE PEOPLE DIFFERENTLY.

AND I WANT TO BRING UP AGAIN THE MAINTENANCE OF COUNTY ROADS.

I KNOW THAT SOUNDS FUNNY BUT THERE'S DEFINITELY A SAFETY ELEMENT THEY ARE AND WE ARE DOING THAT ARE, -- THERE MAKING SURE WE ARE INVESTING AND TAKING CARE OF A ROAD TO MAKING SURE PEOPLE ARE SAFE.

>> I HATE TO ALWAYS BE THE NEGATIVE PERSON, [LAUGHTER] -- THE OTHER AREA THAT WAS LOW WAS INVESTING IN TAX DOLLARS.

-- DOES THAT GO AGAINST THE PRIORITIES OF THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT AND WHERE YOU'RE PUTTING THE MONEY?

>> YEAH ONE OF THE MOST IMPROVED -- IMPORTANT SERVICES THAT THE COUNTY PROVIDES ACCORDING TO RESIDENTS IS PROTECTING CHILDREN AND ELDER ADULT FROM ABUSE AND NEGLECT AND SECURING CRIMINALS AND INVESTING IN ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE.

OUR BUDGET IN -- REFLECTS HUGE INVESTMENTS IN THOSE THREE AREAS SO I THINK THERE IS ALIGNMENT WITHIN THAT BUT MAY BE WITHIN EACH CATEGORY, WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB OF DETERMINING WHAT EXACTLY WE NEED TO BE FOCUSING ON THIS AND THAT EACH CATEGORY.

>> AND COMMUNICATION AS WELL.

YOU SAID THAT THEY HAVE BEEN TRYING TO WAYS TO COMMUNICATE WITH PEOPLE.

AND AS FAR AS GIVING THEM ACCESS ONLINE TO THE MEETINGS, ARE PEOPLE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF IT?

>> I THINK MORE PEOPLE SHOULD, RIGHT?

IT'S FUNNY YOU SAY THAT BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS WE ASK OUR PEOPLE INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE?

ONLY A FEW SURVEYS SHOWED -- IN PREVIOUS SURVEYS SHOWED 40% AND NOW HAVE 70% OF PEOPLE SAYING YES I WANT TO KNOW MORE.

AND THAT IS TELLING THAT WE ARE MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE DESCRIBE TO OUR S RELEASES.

ENGAGE ON SOCIAL MEDIA, WHETHER IT BE FACEBOOK, THE COUNTY DEPOT HAS IT INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT, I THINK THE MORE WE DO THAT WITH YOUTUBE THE O'S AND HIGHLIGHT THE OPPORTUNITIES, THE BETTER.

>> WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST BIG ISSUES THAT ARE EMERGING IN THE COUNTY THAT PERHAPS IN THE NEXT SURVEY OR SURVEY AFTER THAT ARE GOING TO START REGISTERED?

>> ONE THING THAT WAS NEW THIS YEAR WAS DISCRIMINATION.

WE ARE TRYING TO TAKE DIVERSITY EQUITY INCLUSION SERIOUSLY.

THOUGH I THINK THAT WILL BE AN INTERESTING MEASURE TO SEE WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN YOUR YEARS.

BUT REALLY, THOUGH YOUR EPIDEMIC AND ILLEGAL DRUG USE, THOSE ARE OUR TWO PAGER -- TWO MAJOR THINGS THAT CAME UP WITH THE SURVEY.

AND WE ARE MAKING A LOT OF INVESTMENTS WITH REGARD TO THAT SO WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT THE NEW SURVEYS DOWN THE ROAD WILL SAY.

>> AND THIS COUNTY IS NOT THE ONLY COUNTY DOING THIS YOU DO THIS FOR OTHER COUNTIES.

AND SURVEYS LIKE THIS ARE DONE ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

READ IS ST. LOUIS COUNTY, HOW DOES IT STACK UP AGAINST WHAT OTHER COUNTIES ARE HEARING?

IS THERE A GENERAL DISSATISFACTION WITH THE GOVERNMENT?

>> I THINK THERE IS TO BE HONEST, BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH WE WERE NOT -- WE DID NOT RATE SUPER HIGHLY BUT THE OVERALL PERSPECTIVE WE ARE DOING WELL.

WE WERE FIFTH I THINK COMPARED TO CERTAIN COMMUNITIES OR JURISDICTIONS.

AND EVEN WITH OUR MAINTENANCE OF COUNTY ROADS AGAIN WE WERE RANKED FOURTH.

EVEN THOUGH THE NUMBER IS LOW, COMPARED TO OTHER JURISDICTIONS, WE ARE DOING RIGHT WELL.

>> ARE YOU CONTINUING TO MAIL THE SURVEYS TO THE SAME PEOPLE EAT TIME OR DIFFERENT PEOPLE GET THE SURVEYS?

>> DIFFERENT PEOPLE GET THE SURVEYS.

IT IS RANDOM AND WE DO TRY TO HAVE HER HUNDRED PER DISTRICT.

AND DIFFERENT FROM PREVIOUS YEARS.

WE OFFER ONLINE SURVEY TO SOME PEOPLE AND OTHERS HAVE AN OPTION OF PAPER AND ONLINE.

SURPRISINGLY, FOR US, MOST PEOPLE ELECTED TO DO THE ONLINE SURVEY.

AGAIN, A SIGN OF THE TIMES.

>> I IMAGINE THERE'S A LOT OF WORK AT THE COUNTY LEVEL TAKING THE SURVEY, LOOKING AT IT, AND STUDYING IT AND FIGURING OUT WHERE YOU WILL GO WITH IT.

>> YES WE HAVE INDIVIDUAL DEPARTMENT HEAD MEETINGS OR WE DISCUSSED AS A GROUP WHERE INVESTMENT SHOULD BE MADE BASED ON THIS.

SEE IF OUR BUDGET ALIGNS WITH IT.

>> THINK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING IN.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU VERY INTERESTING.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

♪ IT'S TIME NOW FOR VOICES OF THE REGION.

EVERY WEEK WE HEAR FROM AN AREA JOURNALIST ABOUT THE STORIES THEY ARE COVERING.

THIS TIME OUR GUEST AARON BROWN FROM ITASCA COUNTY JOINED US MID-WEEK AT THE WDSE STUDIO TO FILE HIS UPDATE.

♪ >> THIS WEEK, WE HAD BIG NEWS, THE POLY MET COMPANY ANNOUNCED THAT IT IS WORKING WITH TECH RESOURCES, NOW THAT IS A DEVELOPMENT COMPANY TRYING TO DEVELOP OVER SITE -- INTO A COPPER NICKEL LINE AND TECH RESOURCES -- IS A VERY OLD CANADIAN MINING COMPANY WITH A LOT OF DIFFERENT COMMODITIES.

THESE TWO COMPANIES ANNOUNCED A JOINT INSURER, THEY ARE GOING TO COMBINE THEIR MINERAL ACCESS IN THE LOOP COMPLEX JUST THE LARGE SWATH OF NONFERROUS AND NON-IRON MINERALS ACROSS SENIOR -- EASTERN MINNESOTA.

AND THEY WILL BE WORKING TOGETHER ON EXPLORING THESE RESOURCES.

IT PORTENDS SOME SORT OF PARTNERSHIP IN THE FUTURE PERHAPS WITH MINES OR PROCESSING FACILITIES THAT ARE BUILT THERE.

SO THAT IS SNEAK BIG NEWS.

WE DO NOT KNOW EXACT WHAT IT MEANS, BUT I LIKE POINT OUT, WITH MINING, YOU DO NOT NECESSARILY WANT -- WANT TO FOLLOW THE POLITICS TO KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING, YOU WANT TO FOLLOW THE MONEY AND THE COMPANIES BEHIND THE SCENE ACTIVITY.

THAT TELLS YOU WHAT IS HAPPENING.

♪ >> ANOTHER MINING STORY THAT I WAS VERY INTERESTED TO SEE WAS THE UNITED DATE STILL CORPORATION, WHICH OWNS TWO OF THE IRON MINES IN EASTERN MINNESOTA, THAT WOULD BE MINT AT, IT IS THE LARGEST IRON MINING IN MINNESOTA.

AND -- WHICH IS IN ITASCA COUNTY.

U.S. STEEL ANNOUNCED THEY WILL PUT $150 MILLION IN A FACILITY ON THE IRON RANGE TO CREATE A IRON PELLET WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT FEEDS INTO THE PROCESS FOR ELECTRIC ART FOR MAKING PIG IRON, THAT GOES INTO THESE NEWER MORE EFFICIENT AND SMALLER ELECTRIC FURNACES.

THAT IS A VALUE ADDED PRODUCTS THAT ADD SOMETHING TO THAT IRON THAT IS BEING MINED IN NORTHEASTERN MINNESOTA.

AND THAT IS IMPORTANT, BECAUSE THE NEXT PHASE OF MINING IN MINNESOTA WILL NEED TO HAVE VALUE ADDED BECAUSE IT IS NOT AS RICH AS IT ONCE WAS.

MINING THE WAY MOST OF THE RICH IRON ORE SO WHAT REMAINS IS THE LOWER GRADE ORES.

THAT IS OK IF YOU KNOW HOW TO PROCESS THEM AND CAN PROCESS THEM ON SITE IN A WAY THAT SAVES MONEY FOR PRODUCTION OF STEEL.

SO WE ARE SEEING A MOTION THERE IN U.S. STEEL, PERHAPS -- NEVERTHELESS AN IMPORTANT SIGN FOR THOSE THAT WORK WITH U.S. STEEL.

THAT THE COMPANY CONTINUES TO -- U.S. STEEL THE COMPANY CONTINUES TO INVEST IN THOSE PROJECTS.

♪ AND FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT AND IRON ORE AND STEEL MAKING SILLY -- OVER THE MANY YEARS THIS IS DWINDLED DOWN TO ANOTHER IRON OR PROCESSING PLANT.

THEY WERE GOING TO MAKE DRI THERE BUT THIS NEW COMPANY RAN OUT OF MONEY.

WE LEARNED THIS WEEK, IN FACT, THE CITY OF ASHLOCK, WHICH IS THE MAJOR LOCAL PLAYER IN THAT PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE STATE OF -- MINNESOTA AND THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND THIS NEW COMPANY, THAT THEY WERE DEALING QUIT -- THE COMPANY WAS DOUBLY WENT ON MORE THAN A MILLION DOLLARS IN LOCAL TAX PAYING -- FOR A LITTLE TOWN LIKE NASHWAUK IS A LOT OF MONEY, SO, WE JUST FOUND OUT IN A STORY THAT A COMPANY HAS CUT A CHECK FOR HALF OF THAT AMOUNT, THAT THE COUNTY HAS RECEIVED.

BUT THE REMAINING HALF IS LEFT UNPAID AND THE COMPANY DID NOT COMMENT ON WIN OR IF THE MONEY WOULD COME.

THE ORE ON THE WISTER WAS OBVIOUS RUNNING OUT.

AND THE PITS THEY ARE ACCESSING RIGHT NOW ARE GETTING HIT AND AS YOU OPPOSE THE TASK -- COUNTY LINE.

AS THEY ARE -- THEY HAVE TO LOOK AT WHAT IS NEXT.

THERE'S VARIOUS PROBLEMS WITH LEASES TRYING TO GET ACCESS AND THERE'S HIGHWAYS IN THE WAYS OF THESE WERE RESERVES.

SO, ONE OF THE BIGGEST AND MOST AVAILABLE RESOURCES IS ACTUALLY THIS BUTLER LAND FIGHT NASHWAUK WHICH HAS BEEN TIED UP BY A FAILED COMPANY ON THE WESTERN WAS SOBBING.

-- SO WE ARE WATCHING THE CHESS PIECES CONTINUING TO MOVE ON THE BOARD.

I GUESS AT, WATCH WHAT IS HAPPENING FIND THE SCENES IF YOU WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH MINING IN MINNESOTA.

THAT IS WHERE YOU SEE THE REAL BATTLE SHAPE UP.

IT LOOKS LIKE WE ARE SHAPING UP OR A BATTLE FOR THE FUTURE OF THE IRON RANGE IN TERMS OF THE MINING INDUSTRY FOR THE FUTURE.

♪ >> THIS PAST WEEKEND IN DULUTH, THOUSANDS OF FOLKS LOOKED TO THE SKY AT THE ANNUAL DULUTH AIRSHOW A HIGHLIGHT THIS YEAR WAS NOT 1 BUT 3 FEMALE PILOTS, WHO STOLE THE SHOW.

PRODUCER MEGAN MCGARVEY TALKED WITH THESE PILOTS ABOUT WHY EXHIBITIONS LIKE THIS ARE SO IMPORTANT TO THE FUTURE OF AVIATION.

-- AVIATION.

♪ >> YEAH WE ARE THAT -- DEMONSTRATION TEAM.

FLYING A LIGHT INTO TODAY.

WE WILL FLY IN ABOUT 15 MINUTES A DEMONSTRATION OF AERONAUTICS.

HIGH SPEED LOW-SPEED PASSES.

BARREL ROLLS FLUKES AND ALL THAT STUFF.

-- I MOVED AROUND THE COUNTRY AND MY DAD WAS A FIGHTER PILOT AS WELL.

I TOOK MY DAD'S JOB AND GOT INTO AVIATION IN COLLEGE.

GOT INTO ROTC AND THEN 11 YEARS LATER I -- PUREE M. -- HERE I AM.

-- THE MAX SPEED IS 1.6 MILES THE 1.6 TIMES THE SPEED OF SOUND SO IT CAN WILL 90'S AND IT HAS THE FORCE OF GRAVITY.

IT IS VERY POWERFUL AND ABOUT 50 MINUTES REGION YOUR FACE AIRSHOW IT IS AWESOME.

♪ >> MY ROLE AT THE DULUTH AIRSHOW IS I AM A SOLAR HIGH-PERFORMANCE AERONAUTIC FORMER.

MY FAVORITE NEW FOR IS THE TORQUE ROLE.

WHAT I DO IS I PULL --YOU RUN OUT OF AIR SO THERE'S NO AIRFLOW OVER YOUR WINGS OR TAIL, LIKE PROPELLER TURN IN MY PERSPECTIVE TO THE RIGHT, SO THE AIRPLANE ONLY HAS A CHOICE TO TURN TO THE LEFT OF THAT OINTMENT ON VERTICAL AND OUT OF AIRSPEED BECAUSE I HAVE NO FLIGHT CONTROLS AND I END UP FLYING BACKWARDS AND ROTATING AROUND THE TORQUE OF THE ENGINE AND FLYING BACKWARDS.

AND WITH A LITTLE BIT OF CONTROL, I HAVE OVER MY TAIL, I TRY TO KEEP IT STRAIGHT TO BACK IT UP AS LONG AS I POSSIBLY CAN.

I CALL IT, IT'S KIND OF LIKE ALAN SINGH ON YOUR HEAD ON A BOWLING BALL.

-- IT'S KIND OF LIKE BALANCING ON YOUR HEAD ON A BOWLING.

[LAUGHTER] IT WAS SUPER FUN.

THAT -- MY DAD WAS ACTUALLY PILOT BUT HE PASSED AWAY IN A FLIGHT ACCIDENT WHEN I WAS SEVEN YEARS OLD.

I WAS AFRAID TO FLY FOR A WHILE HOWEVER, EVERYONE TOLD ME HOW MUCH HE LOVED IT AND I STARTED TO GET REALLY INTERESTED IN WHAT YOU LOVE SO MUCH ABOUT IT.

AND THEN ALSO, I WAS CURIOUS ABOUT HOW IT ALL WORKS AND HOW THE LINE WORKS.

SO I WENT TO COLLEGE, AFTER THAT, SO REALLY IT WAS MY DAD WHO INSPIRED ME EVEN THOUGH HE PASSED AWAY IN AN AIRCRAFT.

I WAS LUCKILY ABLE TO USE THIS INTEREST AND CONNECTION WITH HIS LOVE FOR IT TO REALLY OVERCOME THE FEAR AND GO OUT AND DO IT.

>IF YOU LIKE IS WHERE I MEANT TO BE WHEN I'M OUT THERE FLYING I FEEL LIKE THE AIRPLANE IS ANNEXED INTO THE HE AND -- AIRPLANE IS AN EXTENSION TO ME AND IT PUTS EVERYTHING IN PERSPECTIVE.

♪ >> I'M FROM MINNESOTA OBVIOUSLY WE DO NOT HAVE A HUGE MILITARY PRESENCE.

AND I'M FROM STILLWATER, MILLIS -- MINNESOTA SO IT EVEN SMALLER MILITARY PRESENCE.

THEY CAME TO MY SCHOOL WHEN I WAS IN SECOND GRADE -- EIGHT-YEAR-OLD ME -- WENT, AND TOLD MY MOM I WANT TO BE A FIGHTER PILOT.

AFTER HIGH SCHOOL AND WENT TO -- I DID ROTC THROUGH THE DETACHMENT FOR 10.

I COMMISSION OUT OF ROTC AND THEN I WAS A PIPELINE PILOT.

IT WAS MY FIRST AIRSHOW.

IN DULUTH.

THIS IS MY FIRST TIME FLYING IN MINNESOTA SO THIS IS NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART SO SOMEONE WOULD HAVE IN A FIGHTER PILOT AND INSPIRED ME AT EIGHT YEARS OLD I DID NOT KNOW WHERE I WRITE NOW.

-- RIGHT NOW.

AND THIS IS MY DREAM AND IF I CAN INSPIRE SOMEONE OR RECRUIT OR INSPIRE ANYONE AT AN AIRSHOW, AND WE ARE DEFINITELY DOING OUR JOB AND WE ARE RECRUITING FOR NEXT GENERATION.

>> IF YOU ASK ALL THE FIRE -- FIGHTER PILOTS AND AVIATION THEY WILL SAY THEY GOT INSPIRE BECAUSE THEY WENT TO AN AIRSHOW.

A KID I BROUGHT -- MET OVER IN DULUTH HE WENT TO THIS AIRSHOW AND THAT IS WHY HE WANTED TO BE A FIGHTER PILOT.

>>'S EVENTS OR SO AND ESPECIALLY AFTER COVID.

AND THE THINGS WE ARE GOING THROUGH THESE DAYS, WE NEED MORE EVENTS THAT INSPIRE US AND KEEP OUR INNER FIRE GOING AND LET US KNOW THERE ARE BETTER DAYS AHEAD AND THERE ARE STILL RATE THINGS -- GREAT THINGS THAT ARE IN THIS WORLD AND THAT WE CAN DO.

♪ >> LOOKS LIKE A LOT OF FUN.

THE MINNESOTA POLLUTION CONTROL AGENCY THIS WEEK ANNOUNCED A $106,000 GRANT TO THE CITY OF CLOQUET TO HELP PLAN FOR EXTREME WEATHER DUE TO CLIMATE CHANGE.

FLOODING IN FAR NORTHERN MINNESOTA'S BORDER COUNTRY IS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW MOTHER NATURE CAN WREAK HAVOC ON A COMMUNITY.

CLOQUET WILL MATCH THE MPCA FUNDING WITH $26,000 TO UPDATE ITS STORM WATER MASTER PLAN.

THAT WILL HELP FIND INADEQUATE INFRASTRUCTURE, PINPOINT PROJECTS TO ADDRESS LOCALIZED FLOODING, AND IDENTIFY FUNDING NEEDED TO UPGRADE THAT INFRASTRUCTURE.

THE MPCA ALSO ANNOUNCED A $100,000 GRANT TO THE CITY OF DULUTH TO CREATE A STORMWATER -- STORM WATER RESILIENCY PLAN.

THE PLAN INCLUDES AN IN-DEPTH STUDY OF THE 30 SECOND AVENUE WEST CREEK WATERSHED DISTRICT AND AN ASSESSMENT OF INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS CITY-WIDE.

THE CITY OF DULUTH IS CONTRIBUTING $14,000 FOR THE PLAN AND ASSESSMENT.

-- AND THE ASSESSMENT.

WE'RE OUT OF TIME, BUT YOU CAN KEEP UP WITH OUR LATEST UPDATES BY FOLLOWING ALMANAC NORTH ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.

VISIT THE WDSE WEBSITE FOR PROGRAM UPDATES AND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE STATION.

AND DOWNLOAD THE PBS VIDEO APP FOR ON DEMAND VIEWING OF ALMANAC NORTH AND YOUR FAVORITE PBS PROGRAMS.

AND JULIE, THIS IS OBVIOUSLY THE PART OF SUMMER, PLENTY OF REASONS TO GET OUTSIDE AND ENJOY THE WEEKEND.

>> IT TOOK US A WHILE TO GET HERE, BUT WE DEFINITELY NEED TO ENJOY IT.

>> THANKS TO OUR GUESTS AND OUR CREW IN THE STUDIO.

WITH JULIE ZENNER I'M DENNIS ANDERSON, GOOD NIGHT EVERYONE, -- NIGHT EVERYBODY AND BE KIND.

♪