JULIE: HERE'S WHAT'S COMING UP ON ALMANAC NORTH.

DENNIS: ST. LOUIS COUNTY REJECTED A PROPOSAL TO STAY IN THE DEPOT.

JULIE: A MERGER IS MOVING FORWARD WHILE A PLANNED MERGER BETWEEN TWO MAJOR HEALTH SYSTEMS IS OFF THE TABLE.

DENNIS: FINN FAST UNDERWAY THIS WEEK.

JULIE: THOSE STORIES COMING UP NEXT ON ALMANAC NORTH.

♪ HELLO AND WELCOME TO ALMANAC NORTH.

I KNOW YOU LIKE THE HEAT.

DENNIS: IT GOT WARM IN THERE BUT I LIKE SUMMER.

JULIE: WE ALSO HAD SOME MUCH-NEEDED RAIN TO GO ALONG WITH IT.

COOL THINGS UP A LITTLE BIT.

LET'S BEGIN WITH OUR HEADLINES.

DENNIS: ESSENTIA HEALTH AND MARSHFIELD CLINIC ANNOUNCED THE LATEST STEP IN MERGING THE TWO SYSTEMS.

THE ORGANIZATIONS HAVE ENTERED INTO AN AGREEMENT TO FORM AN INTEGRATED REGIONAL HEALTH SYSTEM SERVING MINNESOTA, WISCONSIN, MICHIGAN, AND NORTH DAKOTA.

REGULATORS MUST APPROVE THE MEASURE.

JULIE: ONE HOSPITAL SYSTEM MERGER MOVES FORWARD AND ANOTHER UNION WAS CALLED OFF THIS WEEK.

STANFORD HEALTH DROPPING PLANS TO MERGE INTO ONE GIANT ORGANIZATION.

THE MERGER WAS OPPOSED BY MINNESOTA NURSES AND BY THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA WHO IS TEACHING HOSPITAL IS RUN BY FAIRVIEW.

WE HAVE MORE ON HOW HOSPITAL MERGERS COULD IMPACT HEALTH CARE LATER IN OUR SHOW.

DENNIS: THE PORT OF ENTRY ON THE MINNESOTA CANADA BORDER WILL BE MODERNIZED THANKS TO A MAJOR FEDERAL GRANT.

THE GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION AWARDED THE TOTAL OF $28 MILLION FOR DESIGN OF THE NEW FACILITY.

THE PROJECT WILL REPLACE AND EXPAND THE OBSOLETE PORT OF ENTRY, RESULTING IN BETTER TRAFFIC FLOW.

JULIE: MOTORISTS SHOULD EXPECT LANE CLOSURES ON THE BOND BRIDGE .

IT'S DUE TO ROUTINE INSPECTION OF THE BRIDGE WHICH IS CARRYING A LOT OF EXTRA TRAFFIC DUE TO THE TWIN PORTS IN HER STRANGE -- INTERCHANGE PROJECT.

DENNIS: THE DULUTH ART INSTITUTE IS LOOKING FOR NEW EXHIBIT SPACE AFTER A COMMITTEE REJECTED ITS PROPOSAL FOR USE OF THE DEPOT.

THE ART INSTITUTE HAS BEEN A TENANT AT THE ST. LOUIS COUNTY HERITAGE AND ART CENTER SINCE IT OPENED 50 YEARS AGO.

HERE TO TELL US MORE IS ROBIN WASHINGTON, PRESIDENT OF THE ARTIST OR TO BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND CHRISTINA WOODS, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE DULUTH ART INSTITUTE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO BOTH OF YOU FOR BEING HERE.

THE DULUTH ART INSTITUTE IS REALLY BEING FORCED TO FIND A NEW HOME.

CAN YOU TO LESS MORE ABOUT THAT.

-- THAT?

>> THE COUNTY STARTED THE PROCESS LAST YEAR FOR ALL ORGANIZATIONS IN THE BUILDING.

SO IT WAS, SUBMIT YOUR BID, SUBMIT WHAT YOU WANT TO PAY, AND THEY LOOK AT IT AND LET YOU KNOW IF YOU CAN REMAIN IN THE BUILDING.

SO WE WENT INTO THAT PROCESS AGAIN THIS YEAR AROUND APRIL OR MAY.

WE WERE INVITED SO WE WANT OUR SPACE.

WE FIND THAT IT'S A VERY GOOD USE OF SPACE TO HAVE THE GALLERIES UP ON THE FOURTH FLOOR.

JULIE: IT COULD NOT HAVE BEEN A BIG SURPRISE THAT THE COMMITTEE REJECTED THE OFFER SINCE THE PROPOSAL THAT YOU SUBMITTED DIDN'T TECHNICALLY MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE RFP.

IT'S DESIGNED WE PEOPLE OUT RATHER THAN WELCOME THEM IN.

PROPOSED RENT WAS WELL BELOW THE NUMBER FOR NONPROFITS THAT THE COUNTY IS WANTING.

WAS IT A HAIL MARY PASS?

>> WE HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE IMPOSITION OF THE RFP PROCESS IN THE FIRST PLACE.

WE'VE BEEN THERE FOR NEARLY HALF A CENTURY.

WE DIDN'T HAVE THIS PROCESS.

SOMEBODY AT THE COUNTY COME YOU CAN TALK TO THE ATTORNEY, FOUND A STATE LAW THAT HAD NOT BEEN ENFORCED BY COUNTY ATTORNEY MITCHELL, FORD, OR RUBEN.

IT SAID THAT FOR COUNTY PROPERTIES, THEY HAD TO ENGAGE IN AN RFP PROCESS OR AT LEAST ADVERTISE ONE AND THEY MAY OR MAY NOT EVEN ACCEPT ANYONE AT THE PROMPT -- END OF THE PROCESS.

WITH AN EXCEPTION, VERY CLEARLY STATED, FOR ORGANIZATIONS THAT PAID LESS THAN $15,000 A YEAR IN RENT.

THAT'S EXACTLY WHERE WE WERE.

WE WERE UNDERNEATH THAT THRESHOLD.

WE SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN IN THAT PROCESS IN THE FIRST PLACE.

WE HAVE NO IDEA WHY THIS IS SUDDENLY BEING IMPLEMENTED.

NOT TO BELABOR IT, BUT WE ONLY KNOW OF ONE ORGANIZATION IN THE STATE WHERE IT IS BEING ENFORCED.

A BEAUTIFUL PLACE IN ST. PAUL.

JUSTICE BLACKMUN'S FAMILY IS NOT PAYING NICKELS AND DIMES FOR IT.

IS NOT A SELF-SUPPORTING BILLING I LOVE GOING THERE.

INVEST.

PEOPLE COME OF THE ENTITIES THAT ARE THERE, IT'S A WOODWORKERS GUILD, NOT MAJOR ORGANIZATIONS.

THEY DON'T ENGAGE IN BIDDING EVERY YEAR IS WHAT I UNDERSTAND.

IT SEEMS LIKE AN ARBITRARY DECISION TO DO THIS.

WE'VE ASKED SEVERAL TIMES WHY AND WE'VE NEVER GOTTEN AN ANSWER , WHY THE PART ABOUT ORGANIZATIONS BEING LESS THAN $15,000 IS NOT BEING ADHERED TO.

DENNIS: WHEN YOU CONSIDER YOUR BUDGET, HOW MUCH CAN THE DULUTH ART INSTITUTE COMMIT TO PAYING?

>> WE'VE OFFERED $3.61 PER SQUARE FOOT.

THAT'S WHERE I FEEL STRONGLY THAT WE CAN COMMIT TO THAT.

JULIE: DON'T YOU HAVE TO RESPECT THE COUNTY'S BUDGET?

THEY SAY THAT EVEN AT THE $4.97, THEY ARE LOSING MONEY WITH NONPROFITS.

>> GOOD BUSINESS PRACTICE.

WE WERE PAYING A VERY LOW RATE.

THAT'S WHAT THE ORGANIZERS AND FOUNDERS OF THE DEPOT ARCHED INSTITUTE CREATED.

50 YEARS AGO.

IT WAS ALWAYS MEANT TO BE PUBLICLY SUPPORTED.

THE MONEY THAT WE SAY FROM THAT IF YOU WILL GOTO START -- GOES TO ART AND ARTISTS.

BRINGS ART TO THE COMMUNITY.

EVEN IF YOU SAID, WE HAVE TO BRING UP THE RENT, TALK TO US IN THE FIRST PLACE AND SAY, HERE'S WHERE WE ARE NOW AND HERE'S WHERE WE WANT TO BE.

WOULD YOU PAY THAT KIND OF RENT INCREASE?

DENNIS: HAS THE DEPOT THEN TOLD YOU IN STRONG TERMS THAT THEIR INCREASED RATE IS NONNEGOTIABLE?

>> THIS DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE.

THEY SAID, HERE'S THE REQUIRED AMOUNT.

PUT IT IN YOUR RFP.

COMMIT TO PAYING FOR IT.

$4.97 PER SQUARE FOOT.

IF ACCEPTED, WE NEGOTIATE.

I NEVER HEARD OF -- I'VE RUN BUSINESSES AND BEEN IN MAJOR POSITIONS AND I'VE HANDLED LARGE BUDGETS.

I NEVER HEARD OF NEGOTIATION AFTER YOUR YOU AGREE TO AN AMOUNT.

JULIE: WE DID INVITE ST. LOUIS COUNTY TO BE ON THE PROGRAM AND TALK ABOUT THIS BUT THEY DECLINED THAT INVITATION.

FOR THE RECORD, THEY DID HAVE AN INVITATION.

THE COUNTY RAISED CONCERNS OVER THE CURRENT SPACE BEING INCOMPATIBLE WITH WHAT YOU DO BECAUSE THERE ARE PLACES THAT PEOPLE WALK IN, OUT, THROUGH.

THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT SECURITY OF THE ART.

HAVE THERE BEEN ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH THAT?

>> YEAH.

WHEN THE DEPOT MANAGEMENT STARTED BRINGING IN MORE EVENTS IN THE GREAT HALL, WE DID HAVE SOME PROBLEM SOLVING TO DO.

WE BROUGHT UP OUR CONCERNS AND WE WORKED ON OUR CONCERNS AND WE RESOLVED ALL THE CONCERNS.

NOW WHAT I UNDERSTAND IS THAT IT'S MORE ABOUT THE FIRE ESCAPE THAT PEOPLE NEED TO WALK THROUGH.

WE KNOW THAT THE SPACE WE ARE BIDDING ON IS NOT SECURED IN THE SAME WAY THAT OTHER SPACES ARE BECAUSE PEOPLE NEED TO BE ABLE TO EXIT THE FOURTH FLOOR IN CASE THERE'S A FIRE.

EVERY MUSEUM HAS A FIRE EGRESS.

EVERYBODY WALKS THROUGH A GALLERY.

WE'VE NEVER BEEN CONCERNED ABOUT THE ARTWORKS SAFETY BECAUSE IT'S OUR BUSINESS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO A REALLY GOOD JOB OF SECURING ARTWORK TO A WALL OR ON A PEDESTAL.

SO IT'S A BIT ARBITRARY AND A LITTLE CONFUSING ABOUT WHY THEY WOULD USE THAT AS A POINT OF CONCERN.

>> IT'S AN ART MUSEUM.

PEOPLE VISIT.

THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS.

DENNIS: WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.

APPRECIATE IT.

JULIE: THANKS.

♪ DENNIS: VOICES OF THE REGION, WHEN WE HEAR FROM AN AREA JOURNALIST ABOUT STORIES THEY ARE COVERING.

OUR GUEST IS HEIDI HOLDEN FROM KA ATCHLEY RADIOS WHERE THE BLANDON STRIKE IS DOMINATING THE NEWS.

♪ REPORTER: THE BIG STORY OF OUR REGION IS THE UPM PAPER COMPANY STRIKE.

THE TEAMSTERS LOCAL 346 WENT ON STRIKE ON SATURDAY, JULY 15.

THIS IS THE FIRST STRIKE EVER AUTHORIZED IN THEIR HISTORY.

THEY'VE BEEN A MAJOR EMPLOYER IN GRAND RAPIDS SINCE 1901.

THE 166 EMPLOYEES ON STRIKE ARE ASKING FOR A NUMBER OF THINGS IN THEIR NEGOTIATIONS.

BETTER WAGES, ELIMINATION OF A TWO-TIER SYSTEM THAT MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO RETAIN NEW EMPLOYEES AND CHANGES TO STAFFING LEVELS.

OVERTIME HOURS HAVE SPIKED ACCORDING TO THE UNION PRESIDENT .

HE THINKS THIS IS LEADING TO A DANGEROUS WORKING CONDITION FOR OVERTIRED PRODUCTION WORKERS.

ON JULY 21, THERE WAS A RALLY FOR THE STRIKE AND HEART OF GRAND RAPIDS.

CURRENT AND RETIRED PAPER MILL WORKERS, TEAMSTER UNION REPS, AND PEOPLE FROM OTHER UNIONS LIKE LOAD -- LOCAL TEACHERS AND COUNTY EMPLOYEES WERE THERE IN SOLIDARITY.

ALSO THERE WERE DFL LEGISLATORS.

THE SECRETARY-TREASURER OF THE TEAMSTERS WAS THERE.

>> IF YOU'VE EVER HEARD ME TALK, YOU KNOW I DON'T GET INTO POLITICS.

BUT I SWEAR I SAW THE MOST AMERICAN THING I'VE SEEN IN THE PAST 10 YEARS HAPPENED TODAY.

A MAN WALKING ACROSS THE STREET WITH A PICKET SIGN ON HIS SHOULDER AND THAT'S AMERICA.

THAT'S WHAT THIS COUNTRY WAS FOUNDED ON.

IF WE DON'T START FIGHTING FOR OUR MIDDLE CLASS FRIENDS AND FAMILY, WE WILL LOSE IT.

WHERE ON A FAST TRACK IN A DOWNWARD SPIRAL IN THIS COUNTRY FOR THE PAST 30 YEARS, TAKING WAGES FROM OUR POCKETS AND PUTTING THEM IN CORPORATIONS.

THAT'S OVER.

WE ARE DONE FOR IT.

YOU BETTER HERE.

HUBER -- YOU BETTER BRING THE MONEY BACK TO GRAND RAPIDS.

♪ REPORTER: THE DFL LEGISLATORS AT THE RALLY GAVE FIERY SPEECHES TO LIFT UP THE CROWD.

HERE IS THE SENATOR.

>> WE ARE IN A MOMENT RIGHT NOW IN AMERICA, IN PARTICULAR IN MINNESOTA.

WHETHER IT'S UPF, HOSPITALS, MINDS.

UNIONIZING FOR THE FIRST TIME AFTER SEVEN ATTEMPTS OF UNIONIZING.

WE ARE HAVING A UNION MOMENT IN THE STATE AND IN THE COUNTRY.

YOU GUYS ARE PART OF IT.

WHAT WE NEED THESE FOLKS TO UNDERSTAND, THE FURTHER THESE CORPORATIONS GROW, THE BIGGER THESE ORGANIZATIONS GROW, THE MORE DISCONNECTED THEY GET FROM THE REALITY OF WHAT'S GOING ON AT THE GROUND LEVEL.

IT DOESN'T MOVE WITHOUT THE TEAMSTERS.

PAPER DOESN'T MOVE, TRUCKS DON'T MOVE.

YOU GUYS MOVE IT.

♪ REPORTER: UPM BLANDON PAPER COMPANY HAS ISSUED A STATEMENT SAYING, WE ARE NOW GOING TO TAKE THE TIME TO REVIEW BOTH PROPOSALS AND CONSIDER POTENTIAL PATHS TO FINDING AN AGREEMENT.

>> I'M GOING TO TELL YOU, SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO DROP THE PLOW.

THAT'S WHAT YOU ARE DOING RIGHT NOW.

THAT'S THE TRUTH.

YOUR MOMENT IS RIGHT NOW.

I'VE NEVER BEEN ON A STRIKE.

I'VE STOOD WITH YOU, I'VE STOOD WITH MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS ON THE STRIKE LINE BUT I'VE NEVER DONE IT MYSELF.

WHAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING RIGHT NOW IS PART OF THE MOTION.

THE MOTION THAT IS CROSSING THE UNITED STATES.

WHAT GRANT SAID IS 100% SUPERIOR -- TRUE.

CORPORATIONS ARE MAKING MONEY.

THEY ARE TAKING HEALTH CARE AWAY FROM YOU.

THEY ARE TAKING YOUR HEALTH CARE FROM YOU.

THEY DIVIDE AND THEY CONQUER.

I DON'T CARE IF YOU ARE DEMOCRAT, REPUBLICAN, YOU VOTED FOR TRUMP OR BIDEN.

YOU ARE STANDING RIGHT HERE IN SOLIDARITY.

♪ JULIE: THE TWIN PORTS TO MAJOR HEALTH SYSTEM HAVE ANNOUNCED PLANS TO MERGE WITH OTHER HEALTH CARE ORGANIZATIONS.

IT'S PART OF A NATIONAL TREND OF CONSOLIDATION AND BIGGER HEALTH COMPANIES.

THE COMPANIES TYPICALLY TOUT IMPROVED CARE AND ACCESS FOR PATIENTS.

HERE WITH THOUGHTS ON MERGER MEDIA IS THE ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF HEALTH CARE MANAGEMENT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

JULIE: WHY IS IT THAT TALK OF HEALTH CARE MERGERS IS ON THE RISE RIGHT NOW?

>> IT'S BEEN A TREND THAT WE'VE BEEN SEEING FOR THE PAST TWO I THINK WITH COVID REALLY HAVING FINANCIAL DISTRESS ON HOSPITAL SYSTEMS, MORE AND MORE THEY ARE LOOKING FOR OPTIONS TO BOLSTER THEIR REVENUES AND PROFITS.

JULIE: IS IT MORE THE HEALTH OF THE BOTTOM LINE OR IS IT THE HEALTH OF THE PATIENTS DRIVING THESE KINDS OF DISCUSSIONS?

>> THERE'S REALLY TWO STORIES GOING ON.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, WITHOUT PROFIT, THERE IS NO MISSION.

WITHOUT MARGIN, THERE IS NO MISSION.

HOSPITALS LIKE TO SAY, WE ARE HERE FOR THE PATIENTS.

WE WANT TO HAVE BETTER QUALITY.

BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE FACT, NOT A LOT OF ATTENTION GETS SHOWCASED ON WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THESE BIG MERGERS GO FORWARD.

REALLY WHAT HAPPENS IS, PATIENT ACCESS SUFFERS BY WAY OF HIGHER PRICES.

DENNIS: THE OFFICE OF KEITH ELLISON WILL NEED TO REVIEW ANY MERGER.

HOW SOON WILL THAT TAKE PLACE IF THERE IS ONE?

>> IF WE LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED WITH THIS LAST MERGER BETWEEN STANFORD AND FAIRVIEW, KEITH ELLISON'S OFFICE REALLY WANTED THEM TO TAKE A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME TO DO THE ANALYSIS THAT NEEDED TO BE DONE.

WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THESE MERGERS IS THAT THEY WANT IT TO HAPPEN FAST.

WE ARE NOT SURE WITH THIS PROPOSED MERGER BETWEEN SUNSHINE MARSHFIELD, HOW WISCONSIN MIGHT PLAY A ROLE IN THAT REGULATORY SIDE OF MOVING THINGS FASTER OR SLOWER.

I WOULD SAY IT'S A BIT DIFFERENT BECAUSE MEDICAL SCHOOL PLAYED A VERY BIG ROLE IN STOPPING THAT MERGER BETWEEN FAIRVIEW AND STANFORD.

IF WE LOOK TO WISCONSIN, THEY'VE HAD A LOT OF BIG MERGERS HAPPENING IN THE LAST YEAR OR SO.

THAT MIGHT BE A SIGN THAT IT MIGHT GO THROUGH A LITTLE BIT FASTER.

DENNIS: DO MERGERS LEAD TO PRICE INCREASES?

>> YES.

JULIE: YOU'VE MENTIONED THAT THAT'S A WAY THAT ACCESS BECOMES MORE LIMITED BECAUSE PRICES GO UP.

ONE OF THE ARGUMENTS IS THAT IT REALLY BROADENS THE TYPE OF SPECIALISTS AND SERVICES THAT HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE.

NOT JUST IN THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES BUT BROADLY OUT INTO MORE RURAL AREAS.

>> FOR SURE.

IF YOU LOOK AT SOME OF THE MAPS OF THE PROPOSED MERGERS, YOU MIGHT SEE, WE HAVE ACCESS TO MORE HOSPITALS, A BIGGER NUMBER OF HOSPITALS AND CLINICS.

BUT AN ALARMING THING IS ALSO HAPPENING.

IN THESE RURAL HOSPITALS, BECAUSE OF PROFITS AND FINANCIAL VIABILITY, THEY ARE DECIDING TO LET GO OF SERVICES THAT MIGHT NOT BRING AS MUCH REVENUE.

THAT'S MATERNITY SERVICES, THAT'S MORE SERVICES WITH SPECIALIZED TECHNOLOGY THAT RURAL HOSPITALS, THE PATIENTS THAT LIVE IN THOSE AREAS MIGHT NOT HAVE ACCESS TO.

THEY MIGHT HAVE TO TRAVEL A REALLY LONG WELL -- WAY.

>> THE MINNESOTA NURSES ASSOCIATION WOULD REVIEW THE IMPACT OF ANY MERGER.

HOW IMPORTANT WOULD THAT REVIEW BE?

>> IT WOULD BE REALLY ESSENTIAL.

NURSES FOUGHT REALLY HARD FOR THAT LAST CONTRACT.

WE PROBABLY ALL FOLLOWED IT.

WITH THIS PROPOSED MERGER, WHAT HAPPENS IS YOU HAVE LESS EMPLOYMENT OPTIONS.

YOU HAVE LESS PLACES THAT YOU COULD MAYBE GO SEEK AN OUTSIDE OPTION.

WELL, IF YOU HAVE ONE MEGA MERGER, YOU HAVE NURSES REALLY JUST STUCK WITH ONE EMPLOYER.

IT COULD LEAD TO VERY DRAWNOUT NEGOTIATIONS AGAIN.

JULIE: ARE THE DATES OF SMALL COMMUNITY HOSPITALS AND CLINICS ESSENTIALLY OVER AT THIS POINT?

>> I WOULDN'T SAY OVER.

BUT THEY REALLY ARE STRUGGLING FINANCIALLY.

I THINK A LOT OF THE TALK WITH THESE ALTERNATIVE PAYMENT MODELS IS, WE NEED MORE VOLUME.

WELL THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, RURAL KEENE -- COMMUNITIES ARE NOT GETTING MORE POPULATION THERE.

WE HAVE TO THINK MORE CREATIVELY ABOUT HOW TO SUPPORT THESE COMMUNITIES.

BUT IF YOU LOOK IN MINNESOTA, REALLY THE TREND IS THAT THESE RURAL HOSPITALS ARE AFFILIATING, JOINING SYSTEMS TO STAY AFLOAT.

JULIE: WHAT ROLE DOES TELEMEDICINE HAVE IN TERMS OF BEING ABLE TO REACH OUT INTO THOSE RURAL AREAS?

>> SHARP YOU GET TELEMEDICINE IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR GAINING ACCESS TO THOSE SPECIALTIES FOR RURAL COMMUNITIES.

WE ALSO NEED TO THINK ABOUT, WE HAVE A BROADBAND ACCESS ISSUE.

A LOT OF RURAL COMMUNITIES IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA, THEIR ACCESS TO VIDEO CHAT OR GETTING ON THE PATIENT PORTAL IS NOT LIKE IT IS HERE IN DULUTH.

SO WE CAN TOUT TELEMEDICINE AS AN ACCESS TO MORE INCREASED SPECIALTIES BUT THE REALIZED ACCESS MIGHT ACTUALLY BE INEQUITABLE FOR RURAL FOLKS.

DENNIS: THANK YOU.

JULIE: AN EXCITING TEAM TO BE HEALTH CARE MANAGEMENT.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

DENNIS: THE TWIN PORTS IS HOSTING A FESTIVAL THIS WEEK.

THE FESTIVAL AIMS TO SHOWCASE THE BEST OF FINLAND.

MEGAN MCGARVEY JOINED IN ON THE FESTIVITIES TO BRING US THE STORY.

♪ REPORTER: FINNISH ARTISTS, SPEAKERS, VENDORS, AND FESTIVALGOERS FLOCKED TO THE SHORES OF LAKE SUPERIOR THE LONG-AWAITED RETURN.

>> IT'S NOW CELEBRATING ITS 40TH ANNIVERSARY, 40TH BIRTHDAY.

IT'S RETURNING TO DULUTH.

IT WAS LAST YEAR IN 2008.

THROUGHOUT ITS 40 YEARS OF TRADITIONS A CROWN -- AROUND THE UNITED STATES.

IT'S BEEN INITIATED AS A GATHERING FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE COMING FROM FINLAND OR WHOSE ANCESTRY IS THERE AND THEY FEEL THAT THEY HAVE A DEEP CONNECTION TO ALL THINGS CULTURAL FROM FINLAND AND THEY WANT TO KEEP THAT BOND STRONG.

>> ANY CULTURAL HISTORY, YOU NEED TO KEEP ALIVE.

YOU NEED THE LANGUAGE TO BE SPOKEN.

YOU NEED THE FOOD AND CULTURAL TRADITIONS TO BE ENJOYED.

I ALSO THINK WE LEARN FROM THAT.

WE LEARN FROM THOSE TRADITIONS.

100 YEARS AGO, DULUTH WAS KNOWN AS LITTLE HELSINKI.

THERE WERE SO MANY IMMIGRANTS WHO CAME HERE FROM ABROAD.

THEY SHOWED UP IN THE PARK.

THE PARK AT THAT TIME WAS CALLED FOR IN TOWN.

IT WASN'T THE TOURIST SECTOR.

IT WAS THE IMMIGRANT SECTOR.

YOU GOT A JOB IN THE MINDS AND DOCKS.

IN MANY WAYS, THOSE IMMIGRANTS HELPED BUILD THE CITY.

NOW WHEN I LOOK AT THAT HISTORY AROUND DULUTH, IT'S IN THE FABRIC.

IT'S IN THE WATER HERE OF FINNISH CULTURE AND NORDIC CULTURE HERE.

WE SEE IT IN SOME KEY PLACES.

>> 20% OF PEOPLE IN THIS AREA ORIGINATE FROM FINLAND WHICH IS UNBELIEVABLE.

NOWHERE ELSE IN THE UNITED STATES CAN SAY THAT.

BRINGING IN ALL THE NORDIC BRETHREN'S.

I THINK THAT IT'S A HOMECOMING.

BECAUSE OF THAT ORIGIN BUT ALSO THE KIND OF STRONG APPRECIATION THAT FINLAND HAS WITH THE STATE OF MINNESOTA AND VICE VERSA, I THINK IT'S A SPECTACULAR OPPORTUNITY FOR GROWTH AND COLLABORATION WITH THE CITY OF DULUTH.

REPORTER: ALONG WITH CULTURAL VENDORS, FESTIVALGOERS HAVE UNIQUE EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES SUCH AS TAKING A TOUR ON THE GREAT LAKES RESEARCH VESSEL.

>> HERE WE ARE ON THE BACK DECK.

THIS IS THE SHIPS ADVANTAGE IS.

THIS LARGE BACK DECK WHERE WE CAN FILL THIS UP WITH EQUIPMENT THAT'S GOING TO BE DEPLOYED OR THAT WE'VE RECOVERED FROM THE LAKE.

SO IT GIVES US FLEXIBILITY THAT WE WOULDN'T HAVE IF WE HAD A SMALL ROOKIE.

IT'S OUR WATER SAMPLER.

WE CAN USE THIS TO NOT ONLY TAKE WATER SAMPLES BUT TO GET WATER CHARACTERISTICS FROM THIS ELECTRONIC PACKAGE ON THE BOTTOM.

WE WILL USE THIS ON EVERY CRUISE.

LET'S GO ON INSIDE.

PARTICULARLY FOR THE FESTIVAL, HAVING PEOPLE UNDERSTAND FINNISH CULTURE AND FINISH HISTORY AND ITS IMPACT ON THE NORTH LAND.

THAT'S IMPORTANT.

THE SAME THING APPLIES FOR US.

WE ARE AT A UNIVERSITY OBVIOUSLY.

A GOOD PORTION OF OUR CRUISES ARE TAKING CLASSES OUT SO THAT THEY CAN UNDERSTAND THEIR SURROUNDINGS.

>> WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE DNA, THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN THIS INTO LEARNING.

REALLY SCHOLARSHIP HAPPENING HERE.

WE HAVE EXPERTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD TALKING ABOUT AND TEACHING ON THESE TOPICS.

SO IT ISN'T SIMPLY FOLK DANCING AND GOOD FOOD AND MUSIC.

IT'S MUCH MORE OF THIS EXPERIENCE TO COME IN AND LEARN TOGETHER AND PLAY TOGETHER.

REALLY COMMITTED TO BRINGING IT BACK AND MAKING SURE IT IS SUCH A GREAT EXPRESSION OF THE CULTURE THAT'S HERE AND LEARNING FROM FINLAND FROM AFAR.

WHAT IS MODERN DAY FINLAND AND HOW DO WE LEARN FROM THAT HERE?

WHY IT'S THE HAPPIEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN.

ALL THESE OTHER WAYS THAT WE CAN DRAW ON FINNISH CULTURE.

>> THERE IS SUCH A GOOD TERRAIN HERE.

IT'S QUITE MOTIVATING TO WANT TO LOOK FORWARD FROM THIS SPOT WHERE WE ARE NOW WITH THE CITY OF DULUTH AND THE FESTIVAL, THE LONG HISTORY THAT THE FESTIVAL WAS HERE IN 2008.

EVERYBODY HAS A GOOD MEMORY OF THE FESTIVAL.

WHY NOT SEE WHERE IT CAN BE TAKEN FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS?

DENNIS: THE FUN CONTINUES INTO THE WEEKEND WITH A SPECIAL PERFORMANCE FROM FINLAND'S BEST-SELLING MUTED -- MUSICAL ARTIST.

JULIE: IS THE LAST WEEKEND OF JULY.

MAKE SURE YOU GET OUT AND ENJOY SOME SUMMER WEATHER.

DENNIS: STARTING TO GO VERY FAST NOW.

ONE MORE MONTH TO GO.

JULIE: AND THEN A REALLY NICE FALL.

DENNIS: HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

WE WILL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.

♪