BRING UPAT ALMANAC NORTH -- >> >> HERE IS WHAT IS COMING UP ON ALMANAC NORTH.

>> THE CONVERTED SCHOOL BUS TURNED MUSEUM IS POSES DARK CHAPTERS OF OUR NATIONS HISTORY.

>> ALL THIS, NEXT ON "ALMANAC NORTH."

♪ >> HELLO AGAIN, AND WELCOME.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

JULIE, SUMMER IS SPEEDING BY A LITTLE TOO QUICKLY.

>> IT'S GOING FAST, I CAN HARDLY BELIEVE AUGUST IS COMING THIS WEEKEND.

DENNIS: JUST KNOCKING ON THE DOOR, ISN'T IT?

JULIE: IT IS INDEED.

[LAUGHTER] RIGHT NOW IT'S FIRE SEASON.

FIRES ARE BURNING IN CANADA AND NORTHERLY WINDS CREATED SOME OF THE WORST AIR QUALITY IN MINNESOTA HISTORY THIS WEEK.

THE POOR AIR QUALITY CAN BE ESPECIALLY UNHEALTHY WITH FOLKS WITH ASTHMA, COPD, AND OTHER AILMENTS.

FRIDAY AFTERNOON, THE POLLUTION CONTROL AGENCY EXTENDED AIR QUALITY ALERT THROUGH NEXT TUESDAY.

DENNIS: THE DULUTH TRANSIT AUTHORITY NAMED ROD FOR NEAR ITS NOON -- NEW GENERAL MANAGER THIS WEEK.

LATER IN THE WEEK, THE DTN ANNOUNCED A TEMPORARILY SUSPENSION DUE TO STAFFING AND PARTS SHORTAGES.

THE TRANSIT AUTHORITY IS HIRING NEW BUS OPERATORS AND WORKING WITH SUPPLY CHAIN PARTNERS TO RESOLVE THE PARTS DELAY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

JULIE: EXPECT MORE CLOSURES AND DETOURS AROUND THE INTERCHANGE PROJECT BEGINNING MONDAY.

THE RAMPS TO NORTHBOUND HIGHWAY 53 AND I-535 FROM SUPERIOR TO NORTHBOUND 53 WILL BE CLOSED.

WATCH FOR THE SIGNS MARKING DETOURS IF YOU ARE TRAVELING THROUGH THAT BUSY CORRIDOR.

DENNIS: THE WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES WILL LAUNCH OPERATION BEER WATCH ON SUNDAY, ASKING CITIZENS AROUND THE STATE TO REPORT DEER SIGHTINGS.

REGISTERING DEER SIGHTINGS PROVIDES CRUCIAL DATA FOR DEER MANAGEMENT.

CITIZENS CAN REPORT DEER THEY OBSERVED THROUGH A SIMPLE ONLINE FORM.

YOU CAN FIND THE LINK ON THE WISCONSIN DNR WEBSITE.

JULIE: THURSDAY, MINNESOTA GOVERNOR KIM WALL ANNOUNCED THE STATE WILL JOIN INITIATIVE TO SLOW COVID-19 CASES.

ANY MINNESOTAN WHO GETS THEIR COVID-19 SHUT BEGINNING TODAY THROUGH AUGUST 15 WILL RECEIVE A $100 REWARD.

IT IS AN EFFORT TO GET INFECTIONS UNDER CONTROL WITH THE DELTA VARIANT OF COVID RACING THROUGH THE COUNTRY.

HERE TO TELL US WHAT WE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THE VARIANT IS AN INFECTIOUS DISEASE DOCTOR WITH ESSENTIA HEALTH.

THANK YOU FOR COMING AND SHARING SOME OF YOUR INSIGHTS WITH US TONIGHT.

ARE YOU SEEING A LOT MORE CASES OF COVID-19 STARTING TO COME THROUGH THE HOSPITAL?

>> I DON'T THINK IT'S PICKED UP TREMENDOUSLY AS OF YET.

I THINK THESE RISES OF CASES ARE POCKETS OF THE COUNTRY WHERE YOU SEE THE LOWEST VACCINATION RATE, WHERE PEOPLE HAVE NOT HAD COVID BEFORE.

THIS AREA HAS A DECENT NATION LEVEL.

DENNIS: HOW DOES THE DELTA VARIANT DIFFER FROM OTHER VARIANTS?

>> IT IS MORE CONTAGIOUS.

IT IS MORE CRITICAL FOR OTHER PEOPLE.

IF YOU HAVE A DELTA VARIANT COVID, YOUR CHANCE OF IT TRANSMITTED TO OTHER PEOPLE ARE MORE THAN THE PREVIOUS VERSIONS OF DELTA.

THAT IS WHY YOU ARE SEEING CASES RIGHT THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.

JULIE: ARE YOU SEEING DELTA SHOW UP IN THIS AREA?

WHEN PEOPLE GET THEIR COVID-19 RESULTS BACK, DOES IT TELL WHAT KIND OF VARIANT IT IS?

>> THE MAJORITY, WELL OVER 90%, ARE ALL DELL.

THAT IS THE ISSUE.

EVERY VERSION OF THE VARIANT IN THE U.S., DELTA IS MANY CORONAVIRUS -- THE NEW CORONAVIRUS SUCKER RELATING.

DENNIS: THE CDC IS RECOMMEND PEOPLE GO BACK TO WEARING MASKS PRETTY MUCH ACROSS THE BOARD, ALL AGE GROUPS.

WHAT KIND OF RESPONSE DO YOU THINK THE COUNTRY IS GIVING IN RETURN FOR THAT REQUEST?

>> I THINK IT IS A REASONABLE REQUEST.

THIS IS A REASON.

AS MORE CONTAGIOUS.

-- IT'S MORE CONTAGIOUS.

EVEN VACCINATED PEOPLE CAN GET COVID-19.

BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS THE VACCINE PREVENTS SERIOUS VERSIONS OF COVID, MEANING SO SICK THAT YOU LAND IN THE HOSPITAL.

YOU MAY CATCH COVID BUT YOUR CHANCES OF HAVING A POOR OUTCOME ARE VERY MINIMAL.

JULIE: ARE THERE ANY LEGITIMATE CONCERNS IN YOUR MIND, IN TERMS OF WHY PEOPLE ARE HESITATING TO GET THE VACCINE?

>> I HAVEN'T HEARD PERSONALLY FROM PATIENTS REGARDING THAT.

I THINK IT IS MORE UNDERSTANDING HOW SERIOUS COVID-19 CAN BE.

IN THE U.S., THIS REGION WENT TO A PERIOD WITH A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF HOSPITALS FULL.

WE EVEN DEDICATED WARDS TO COVID.

I'VE MET PATIENTS IN THE HOSPITAL WHO HAVE GOTTEN COVID AND DIDN'T REALIZE HOW SERIOUS IT COULD BE.

NOW THAT WE HAVE A VACCINE THAT'S VERY EFFECTIVE, IT COULD REALLY PREVENT THOSE CHANGES OF GETTING A SEVERE CASE.

DENNIS: SHOULD VACCINATED PEOPLE STILL BE CONCERNED ABOUT GETTING COVID?

>> CERTAINLY.

ESPECIALLY WITH THE DELTA VARIANT.

IT'S BEEN SHOWN THAT YOU CAN STILL GET COVID EVEN IF VACCINATED, BUT THE POINT BEING IS, THE ODDS ARE YOU WOULD NOT GET A SEVERE CASE.

MEANING IT'S 93-100% EFFECTIVE FROM PREVENTING YOU FROM BEING HOSPITALIZED FROM COVID.

JULIE: IS IT FRUSTRATING TO YOU AS A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL TO SEE HOW COVID-19 AND VACCINES HAVE REALLY KIND OF GOTTEN WRAPPED UP IN POLITICS IN THE COUNTRY?

AND PEOPLE ARE TAKING STANDS NOT NECESSARILY BASED ON SCIENCE, BUT BASED ON POLITICAL VIEWS?

>> I DON'T QUITE UNDERSTAND WHY IT IS SO POLITICIZED.

I THINK YOU CAN PRESENT THE EVIDENCE OF WHY WE THINK CERTAIN THINGS.

USUALLY, THEY COME TO THE SAME SIMILAR CONCLUSION WITH THE MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS.

DENNIS: WHAT IS THE CONCERN WITH CHILDREN?

AT WHAT AGE SHOULD KIDS START GETTING THE VACCINE?

>> IT IS CURRENTLY APPROVED FROM 12 YEARS AND A.

THEY'RE STUDYING FOR YOUNGER AGE GROUPS AT THIS TIME.

AT THE MOMENT, THEY RECOMMEND EVERYONE 12 YEARS AGE AND OLDER GET THE VACCINE.

DENNIS: IS THERE ANY REASON YET WHY MAY BE YOUNGER THAN THAT WOULD NOT GET IT, OR WE ARE NOT SURE YET?

>> BEFORE THEY APPROVE IT FOR ANY AGE GROUP, THEY DO TRY TO STUDY THAT.

ONCE THEY HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION WITH THE SAFETY AND EFFICACY, THEY WILL GO AHEAD WITH PROBABLY THE EMERGENCY USE AUTHORIZATION.

JULIE: GIVEN THAT AUTHORIZATION HASN'T BEEN PROVIDED AT THIS POINT, ANY CONCERNS FOR MAYBE FOLKS WHO ARE PREGNANT?

WHO HAVE A BABY THAT THEY ARE WORRIED ABOUT?

>> I THINK PREGNANCY, WITH INFLUENZA, WITH COVID, YOU CAN HAVE A MORE SEVERE CASE.

IT WASN'T APPROVED FOR PREGNANCY BUT IT IS CERTAINLY RECOMMENDED TO GET IT BECAUSE IT GIVES THAT RISK-BENEFIT.

DENNIS: IN THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY, WHAT'S THE GENERAL OUTLOOK ABOUT COVID?

WE STARTED TO GET THE UPPER HAND?

DO YOU FEEL LIKE?

>>>> WE ARE GETTING THERE WITHOUT WE HAD THE UPPER HAND A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO.

-- >> WE THOUGHT WE HAD THE UPPER HAND A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO.

YOU HAVE TO GET TO THIS LEVEL OF HERD IMMUNITY.

YOU'VE HEARD THAT TERM, BUT HERD IMMUNITY IS LOCAL.

IF YOU HAVE POCKETS IN THE COMMUNITY OR WHO YOU ASSOCIATE WITH HAS NOT HAD COVID OR THE VACCINE, YOU ARE AT RISK FOR GETTING COVID.

JULIE: DO YOU THINK ONCE THE NON-EMERGENCY APPROVAL COMES THROUGH, THE HESITANCY WILL GO AWAY AND MORE PEOPLE WILL LINE UP TO GET THE VACCINE?

>> I THINK PROBABLY FOR A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE, BUT I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY.

DENNIS: THERE CONTINUES TO BE TALK ABOUT BOOSTER SHOTS.

DOES IT SOUND LIKE WE ARE GOING TO HAVE BOOSTER SHOTS IN THE FUTURE?

>> I THINK THEY CONTINUOUSLY REASSESS THAT.

PRIOR TO DELTA, THE THOUGHT WAS, A HEALTHY INDIVIDUAL WOULD NOT NEED A BOOSTER, BECAUSE AT THAT POINT IN TIME, IT SEEMED TO PROVIDE GOOD PROTECTION.

I KNOW THEY ARE DISCUSSING FOR PEOPLE THAT HAVE HEALTH CONDITIONS, IMMUNOCOMPROMISED HEALTH CONDITIONS OR A PARTICULAR AGE, THEY MAY RECOMMEND BOOSTERS.

JULIE: ONE OF THE THINGS I HEAR FROM PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD COVID IS THAT THEY HAVE NOT HAD -- THAT THEY HAVE A NATURAL IMMUNITY AND DO NOT NEED A VACCINE.

ARE THE VACCINES MORE AND I ABLE -- ARE THE VACCINES MORE RELIABLE THAN A NATURAL IMMUNITY WOULD GIVE A PERSON?

>> THERE'S TWO POINTS TO THAT.

IN TERMS OF, AT THIS POINT, WE KNOW THAT NATURAL IMMUNITY IS 6-8 MONTHS PROTECTION.

THE POINT IS FOR THE VACCINATION, THE THOUGHT IS THAT IT BOOSTS YOUR IMMUNITY LEVEL, SO MAYBE IT REDUCES YOUR CHANCES OF GETTING A SECOND EPISODE.

DENNIS: MANY OF US GET ANNUAL FLU SHOTS.

COULD THAT HAPPEN WHERE WE GET AN ANNUAL KLOBUCHAR -- ANNUAL COBIT SHUT -- COVID SHOT?

>> IT'S TO BE DETERMINED.

IT DEPENDS WHAT IS THE PREDOMINANT STRAIN OUT THERE, IS IT GOING TO CONTINUOUSLY EVOLVE?

JULIE: NOW THAT COVID HAS GONE GLOBAL, CAN WE EVER REACH A ZERO POINT?

OR IS IT JUST SOMETHING WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO FIND AN ACCEPTABLE LEVEL OF THE VIRUS AND MAYBE EVEN AN ACCEPTABLE LEVEL OF DEATHS THAT WE JUST HAVE TO LIVE WITH?

>> AT SOME POINT WHEN IT TRAVELS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, YOU WILL GET THIS SORT OF HOMEOSTASIS BALANCE.

WHERE IT STILL CIRCULATES BUT MAY NOT BE AS LETHAL OR A LOWER PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE GET INFECTED EACH YEAR.

JULIE: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING IN AND SHARING SOME INFORMATION.

DENNIS: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

♪ FOR THIS WEEK'S ADDITIONS OF VOICES OF THE REGION.

WE HEAR FROM A JOURNALIST IN THE AREA ON THE STORIES THEY ARE COVERING.

THIS WEEK, AUTHOR AND COLUMNIST AARON BROWN FROM RURAL ITASCA COUNTY IS OUR GUEST.

♪ >> YOU HAVE TO KEEP UP WITH WHAT THE MINES ARE DOING.

REALLY IT'S A SUMMER WHERE THE MINES ARE RUNNING VERY HEAVILY.

GENERALLY HIGH DEMAND FOR STEEL AND IRON ORE PRODUCTS.

THAT IS THE UNDERCURRENT.

OF COURSE, WE ARE STILL WONDERING ABOUT A FEW OF THESE PROJECTS, THAT ARE PROPOSED, HOPEFUL PROJECTS WITH THE LOCAL PEOPLE WHO WANT TO SEE THEM HAPPEN.

AND ONE OF THE ONES THAT'S BEEN MOST VEXING IS THIS FORMERLY CALLED SR STEEL MINE, THE METALLICS PROJECT NEAR NASHWAUK, MINNESOTA.

WE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF AN UPDATE ON THAT THIS PAST WEEK.

MASABI METALLICS, THE CURRENT COMPANY OF RECORD ON THIS SITE, THEY BASICALLY -- BASICALLY MADE UP OF FORMER SR PEOPLE AND THEIR MONEY, BACKING THIS NOW INDEPENDENT MENTOR TRYING TO BUILD IRON NUGGET -- AN IRON NUGGET PLANT IN MINNESOTA.

THEY HAVE HAD FINANCIAL PROBLEMS IN RECENT YEARS.

NEVERTHELESS, THEY NOW HAVE A NEW CEO, A FORMER U.S. STEEL EXECUTIVE, WHO IS I GUESS -- THEY ARE TRYING TO COME BACK ON THE STAGE TO GET THEIR PROJECT BACK ON TRACK.

ONE OF THE THINGS THEY DID LAST WEEK WAS ANNOUNCED THAT THEY WOULD PURCHASE A SECTION OF MORE THAN 3000 ACRES OF LAND ADJACENT TO THE PROJECT, AND THEY MADE A BIG ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT THIS.

THE IDEA WAS THAT THAT SHOWS THAT THEY ARE EXPANDING, TRYING TO GET A HOLD OF THIS PROPERTY, AND GET THEIR PROJECT FINANCED, WHICH IS REALLY THE QUESTION, WHETHER THAT PROJECT WOULD BE FINANCED OR NOT.

WELL, THERE'S A COUNTERPOINT TO THAT THAT CAME FROM CLIFF'S, CLEVELAND CLIFF'S, THE COMPANY ON RECORD ON THE WHOLE RANGE, THE LARGEST DEALMAKER IN THE U.S. NOW, AND THE LARGEST PRODUCER OF IRON ORE IN MINNESOTA.

THEY HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET A HOLD OF THIS SAME PROPERTY, BECAUSE THEY NEED IRON OR FOR NOT RUNNING OUT OF ORE IN THEIR CURRENT LOCATION.

47% OF THE LAND -- I THINK THAT WAS A NUMBER -- STILL HAS MINERAL RIGHTS HELD BY CLIFF'S.

SO EVEN THOUGH YOU SEE SOMETHING BREAK LOOSE AND IT LOOKS LIKE THERE MIGHT BE A BIG UPDATE, THESE COMPANIES ARE PLAYING A GAME OF CHESS.

U.S. STEEL IS HANGING AROUND AS WELL, THEY HAVE PROPERTY NEAR THERE.

WE ARE SEEING THIS STILL PLAY OUT.

♪ WE HAVE BEEN IN A MAYBE NOT HISTORICALLY WORST EVER DROUGHT, BUT I WANT TO SAY SOME OF WHAT I'VE BEEN READING HERE IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA, WE ARE IN AT LEAST A 30 YEAR DROUGHT, IN OTHER WORDS, IT'S BEEN AT LEAST 30 YEARS SINCE A DROUGHT OF THIS MAGNITUDE, AND WE ARE NOT OUT OF THE SEASON YET.

FALL CAN GET EVEN DRIER SOMETIMES DEPENDING ON HOW IT GOES.

SO WE ARE AT A VERY DEEP DROUGHT.

OF COURSE, IF YOU'VE BEEN FOLLOWING THE NEWS OF THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, THE ONLY MOISTURE WE GET COMES IN THE FORM OF STORMS.

SO WE HAD SEVERAL BAD STORMS OVER THE LAST 10-12 DAYS.

EVEN THOUGH WE DID GET SUBSTANTIAL RAINFALL OUT OF THE STORM, IT'S NOT AS MUCH AS YOU'D THINK, AND WE ARE SO FAR BEHIND ON THE RAINFALL, WE WILL NEED SEVERAL INCHES OF WATER TO REALLY MAKE UP FOR WHAT'S BEEN LOST.

PEOPLE ARE WONDERING, HOW ARE YOU GOING TO GET OUR BOATS ON THE LAKE THIS FALL?

WE WILL SEE HOW IT GOES.

OBVIOUSLY WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME MORE RAIN AND SOME GENTLE, FRIENDLY, HAPPY SUMMER RAIN IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

♪ ANYBODY WHO DRIVES -- I'M FROM ITASCA COUNTY.

YOU DRIVE DOWN CENTRAL ITASCA COUNTY, AND YOU SEE THIS CHIPMUNK THAT COMES OUT EVERY SUMMER, IT IS A RESORT THERE.

IT'S A CUTE LITTLE CHIPMUNK -- I SHOULDN'T SAY LITTLE, IT IS BIG, A BIG WOODEN CHIPMUNK.

IT IS A LITTLE LANDMARK.

A LITTLE LOCAL COLOR.

IT OFTEN HAS A FOURTH OF JULY OUTFIT.

IT GETS DECORATED IN PATRIOTIC GEAR.

IT'S ONLY THE MOST RECENT CHIPMUNKS THAT HAVE SPOKEN TO OUR BROADER WORLD, WHICH IS COVID-19 LAST YEAR -- AND THIS YEAR, THE FIRE DANGER HERE IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA.

♪ JULIE: THE DULUTH SCHOOL DISTRICT UNVEILED ITS SAFE LEARNING PLAN LAST WEEK.

THE DISTRICT INTENDS TO RETURN ALL STUDENTS' GRADES K-12 FULL-TIME TO THE CLASSROOM THIS FALL.& RETURN TO SCHOOL PLANS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE AND WILL ADHERE TO STATE AND CBC GUIDELINES.

HERE TO TELL US ABOUT THE PLAN IS JOHN VEGAS, SUPERINTENDENT OF DULUTH PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

APPRECIATE YOU COMING IN.

AS WE MENTIONED, YOU RELEASED THE SAFE LEARNING PLAN LAST WEEK.

THIS WEEK, THE CDC WARNING, DOES IT CHANGE ANYTHING FOR YOU?

>> AS WE SAID IN THE PLAN THE WEEK BEFORE, WE NEEDED TO BE READY FOR POTENTIAL CHANGE.

WE NEEDED TO BE NIMBLE.

AND WE CONTINUE TO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE FLEXIBLE.

WE KNOW THERE ARE SEVERAL WEEKS BEFORE SCHOOL STARTS.

SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE WATCHING THE SITUATION EVOLVE AND ALSO LOOKING AT HOW THE STATE AND REGIONAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS ARE RECOMMENDING TO US AND OTHER DISTRICTS AS FAR AS WHAT WE DO MOVING FORWARD.

DENNIS: WHAT ARE THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SAFE LEARNING PLAN?

>> BASICALLY, WE ARE REQUIRING MASKS FOR ELEMENTARY STUDENTS AS WELL AS THE STAFF THAT ARE WORKING WITH ELEMENTARY STUDENTS, BECAUSE THAT IS A MAJORITY OF OUR STUDENTS WHO ARE UNDER 12.

SOME MIGHT ASK, WHY WOULD YOU WANT THE STAFF TO WEAR MASKS, IF THEY ARE VACCINATED?

THE RATIONALE BEHIND THAT IS THAT THEY CAN STILL BE CARRIERS AND SPREAD IT TO THE CHILDREN AND ALSO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS GOOD MODELING.

WE WILL CONSIDER THOUGH WITH THE NEW STATE GUIDANCE, THERE'S A STRONG RECOMMENDATION FOR MASKS FOR SECONDARY.

SO WOULD YOU HAVE TO CONSIDER HOW THAT PLAYS OUT WITH OUR NEEDS IN THE COMMUNITY.

JULIE: WHAT ABOUT VACCINATIONS, AS YOU LOOK AT THE DISTRICT?

ARE YOU REQUIRING VACCINATIONS OF STUDENTS?

ASKING THAT THEY TELL YOU WHETHER THEY ARE VACCINATED OR NOT?

>> NOT AT THIS POINT.

WE ARE WATCHING HOW THIS IS EVOLVING.

MOST DISTRICTS ARE NOT REQUIRING THAT AT THIS POINT BUT WE ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGING AND PARTNERING WITH OUR MEDICAL PROVIDERS TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE ADDITIONAL VACCINE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE STUDENTS, VACCINE CAMPS AND SUCH, SO THAT WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS TO GET VACCINATED.

ALSO IF THE VACCINE IS RELEASED TO YOUNGER STUDENTS, WE WANT TO BE PREPARED TO HAVE THEM VACCINATED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

ALSO THE GOVERNOR RELEASED A NEW PLAN THIS WEEK, VAX TO SCHOOL, ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO GET VACCINES NOW SO THAT THEY CAN BE FULLY VACCINATED WHEN SCHOOL STARTS.

SO IF THERE ARE STUDENTS 12 OR OVER, IT IS IMPORTANT TO GET THOSE VACCINES IF THEY HAVEN'T HAD THEM YET.

DENNIS: IS THERE A PLAN B IF YOUR CURRENT PLAN DOES NOT LIVE UP TO WHAT YOU EXPECTED TO DO?

>> WE ALWAYS HAVE A PLAN B AND A PLAN C. WE MAKE SURE WE ARE FLEXIBLE.

THIS YEAR HAS REALLY TAUGHT US, THERE USED TO BE A SAYING THAT IT TOOK 5-7 YEARS TO HAVE TO CHANGE IN EDUCATION.

I THINK THIS YEAR PUT THAT THEORY ON ITS HEAD BECAUSE I THINK WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BE VERY FLEXIBLE IN A MATTER OF DAYS OR WEEKS, DEPENDING ON WHAT OCCURS.

DENNIS: JUST PART OF THAT LOOKS ABILITY INCLUDE IF A PARENT IS REALLY CONVINCED THAT IT'S SAFE THEIR CHILD TO GO TO SCHOOL?

AND THEY STILL LEARN AT HOME -- CAN THEY STILL LEARN AT HOME?

>> WE DO HAVE ONLINE INSTRUCTION FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.

THAT IS STILL AN OPTION FOR OUR OLDER STUDENTS.

BUT AT THIS POINT, WE ARE OFFERING FULL IN PERSON FOR YOUNG STUDENTS.

JULIE: WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO GET STUDENTS BACK IN THE CLASSROOM FULL-TIME, IN YOUR OPINION?

>> WELL, FOR MOST STUDENTS, RESEARCH SAYS THAT STUDENTS LEARN BETTER WHEN THEY HAVE THAT FACE-TO-FACE OPPORTUNITY.

AND I THINK THAT IT HELPS US WITH ENGAGEMENT, MAKING SURE STUDENTS ARE ENGAGED, STAFF IS ENGAGED, WORKING WITH STUDENTS.

AND ALSO I THINK THOSE SOCIAL/ EMOTIONAL HEALTH CONNECTIONS IS IMPORTANT FOR STUDENTS, TOO, EVEN THE CONNECTIONS AND HAVING FRIENDS, SEEING OTHER PEERS.

I THINK THAT IS REALLY PART OF THE SCHOOL EXPERIENCE.

JULIE: HAS THERE BEEN ANY ASSESSMENT OF HOW WELL DISTANCED LEARNING SERVED STUDENTS LAST YEAR IN TERMS OF ANYTHING YOU CAN MEASURE IN SIGNIFICANT CHANGES OR PERFORMANCE OR OUTCOMES?

>> NATIONALLY, THERE HAVE BEEN STUDIES THAT HAVE SHOWN THERE HAS BEEN SOME GAPS IN LEARNING AND THOSE OPPORTUNITY GAPS, OR HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS, THOSE STUDENTS HAVE WIDENED EVEN FURTHER.

IT IS REALLY IMPERATIVE THAT OUR SCHOOLS FURTHER FOCUS ON MAKING SURE INSTRUCTION IS AS HIGH-QUALITY AS POSSIBLE AND WE ARE THINKING ABOUT, HOW DO WE TAKE CARE OF THE WHOLE STUDENTS, BUT THEN THINKING ABOUT REMEDIATION?

ALSO, HOW DO WE IMPROVE LEARNING FOR STUDENTS SO THEIR TRAJECTORY OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT FEW YEARS IS AN OPPORTUNITY WHERE THEY CAN BE EVEN FURTHER AHEAD THEN THEY MIGHT'VE BEEN OTHERWISE?

DENNIS: SOME PARENTS MIGHT BE WONDERING, HOW OFTEN WILL THE DULUTH SCHOOL BUILDINGS GET A THOROUGH CLEANING?

>> WE ARE FOLLOWING THE SAME CLEANING GUIDELINES WE DID DURING THE PANDEMIC LAST YEAR.

SO WE ARE HAVING DAILY CLEANINGS.

WE ALSO HAVE VERY HIGH QUALITY AIR FILTRATION SYSTEMS.

THOSE ARE REALLY IMPORTANT TO US.

ALL THE SAME STANDARDS THAT WE HAD LAST YEAR, WE HAVE IN PLACE FOR THIS YEAR.

JULIE: SO PART OF THE UPGRADE OF SCHOOLS A FEW YEARS BACK, NEW SCHOOLS WERE BUILT, SCHOOLS WERE REVAMPED, THEY INCLUDED SOME AIR FILTRATION MEASURES.

>> WE ARE ACTUALLY ABOVE THE STATE STANDARDS FOR WHAT WE NEED FOR OUR AIR FILTRATION.

BUT WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR WAYS TO IMPROVE AND WE WILL CONTINUE THAT AS WELL, WHETHER IT'S FOR LEARNING OR WHETHER IT'S FOR SAFETY.

DENNIS: WHAT KIND OF EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES WILL OR WILL NOT BE PERMITTED?

>> AT THIS POINT, WE ARE PLANNING FOR A FULL RETURN OF EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES.

DENNIS: PAUL SPORTS.

-- ALL SPORTS.

>> WE ARE WAITING FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL LEAGUE GUIDANCE FOR ATHLETICS.

WE HAVE TO LOOK AT, WHAT WOULD IT LOOK LOOK FOR SPECTATORS, FOR A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO CAN BE IN THE BUILDING?

ALSO, WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?

WE ALSO FOUND A LOT OF TIMES WHEN WE HAVE TEAMS TRAVELING, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE COMPLYING AND WEARING MASKS AND TAKING CARE OF THOSE SAFETY NEEDS.

BECAUSE SOMETIMES THAT CAN BE A PLACE OF SPREAD, TOO.

JULIE: I IMAGINE PARENTS ARE WATCHING WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE VARIANT, WATCHING WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH NEW MASKING MANDATES.

WHERE DO THEY GET COMMUNICATION?

IT'S GOT TO BE REALLY IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO BE HAVING A FREE FLOW OF COMMUNICATION RIGHT NOW WITH FAMILIES AND STAFF.

>> BOTH THROUGH OUR SOCIAL MEDIA AND THROUGH OUR WEBSITE, THOSE ARE TWO MAIN CONDUITS OF INFORMATION.

WE ALSO COME OUT WITH REGULAR UPDATES FOR THE SCHOOL AND THE COMMUNITY FOR PARENTS, OUR NEWSLETTERS, THOSE ARE A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT WAYS THAT WE SHARE THE INFORMATION.

ALSO THROUGH OUR BOARD MEETING UPDATES AND THE PLANS THAT WE HAVE ON THE WEBSITE.

WE DO HAVE LINKS TO ALL OF OUR PLANNING RIGHT ON THE WEBSITE.

JULIE: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING IN.

GOOD LUCK AS YOU HAD TOWARD THE SCHOOL YEAR.

DENNIS: THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

IT'S NOT OFTEN YOU SEE A MUSEUM ON WHEELS, BUT THIS WEEK, A RETROFITTED SCHOOL BUS WAS PARKED NEXT TO THE CLAYTON-JACKSON MCGHIE MEMORIAL IN DULUTH.

THE EXHIBIT FEATURES AN EXHIBIT EXPLORING THE CONTENT OF LYNCHINGS AND RELATED SOCIAL ISSUES OF THE 1920'S.

VIDEOGRAPHER STEVE ASH VISITED THE BUS ON TUESDAY AND PUT TOGETHER THE STORY.

-- THIS STORY.

♪ >> WE INVITE PEOPLE IN, THEY LOOK AT THE PANELS.

THEY WATCH A VIDEO THEY OTHERWISE WOULDN'T HAVE SEEN.

AND THEN WE GO TO THE NEXT TOWN, WE HAVE BEEN TO NORTHERN MINNESOTA LOGGING CAMPS, INTERCITY CHICAGO GHETTOS, WESTERN NEBRASKA COW TOWNS.

WE TAKE HISTORY TO WHERE THE PEOPLE ARE.

WE GO ALL OVER THE MIDWEST.

WE TAKE STORIES THAT OTHERWISE WOULD IT BE KNOWN.

THAT IS WHY THIS EXHIBIT IS CALLED HIDDEN OR FORBIDDEN OR MORE, STORIES OF PEOPLE WHO DON'T KNOW ABOUT THINGS OR DO NOT WANT TO TALK ABOUT THEM.

WE TALK ABOUT THE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF MEMBERS IN THE MIDWEST IN THE 20'S.

I ONLY FOUND OUT LATE IN MY LIFE THAT MY GRANDFATHER WAS AN IOWA CLAN.

THEY ARE EVERYWHERE.

THIS TRAGIC GHASTLY LYNCHING STORY IS PART OF A LARGER STORY OF THE SOCIAL AND POLITICAL AND STABILITY OF THE 20'S, RIGHT AFTER WORLD WAR I AFTER ALL THAT GERMINATE AND -- GERMAN HATE AND HYSTERIA OF THE WAR.

PEOPLE WERE GETTING ANXIOUS AND UPSET, YOU HAD THE FLU PANDEMIC THAT JUST HAPPENED.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE TELL HERE IN THIS EXHIBIT, REALLY IT IS BY IMPLICATION, THIS IS A MORAL TALE.

WHEN A SOCIETY BECOMES SO DIVIDED AND UNSTABLE, HORRIBLE THINGS CAN HAPPEN.

OUR FIVE SUBTOPICS ALL HAVE CONCURRENT PARALLELS IN MODERN-DAY.

ALSO THE COW WAR, WE TALK ABOUT SOCIAL UNREST IN THE GREAT DEPRESSION.

EACH ONE OF OUR STORIES, THERE WAS A SERIOUS PROPOSALS TO PUT A WALL AROUND WISCONSIN.

WE ARE STILL TALKING ABOUT WANTING PEOPLE IN OR OUT.

THAT IS WHAT WE ARE WORKING ON.

WHAT IS MY OBLIGATION?

WHEN I FOUND OUT MY GREAT GRANDFATHER WAS PART OF THIS FRANCHISE, I'M NOT GUILTY, BUT I HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO MAKE A BETTER WORLD.

I CAN'T CHANGE EVERYBODY AND EVERYTHING, BUT I CAN DO THIS.

JULIE: BEFORE WE GO, WE WOULD LIKE TO WISH THE BEST TO LONG TIME WDSE EMPLOYER JULIE JEN OYER WHO RETIRED AFTER 40 YEAR CAREER HERE AT THE STATION.

IF YOU ARE A SUPPORTER OF WDSE WHEREVER CALLED THE STATION WONDERING ABOUT A THANK YOU GIFT, CHANCES ARE, YOU SPOKE WITH JULIE IN THE MEMBERSHIP DEPARTMENT.

SHE PUT TOGETHER HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF MAILINGS OVER THE YEARS.

IT IS SAD THAT SHE KNOWS THE ZIP CODE OF EVERY SMALL TOWN IN THE REGION.

SHE DID IT ALL WITH A SMILE ON HER FACE AND AN INCREDIBLE WORK ETHIC.

JULIE, WE WILL MISS YOU.

DENNIS: WE ARE OUT OF TIME, BUT YOU CAN KEEP UP WITH OUR LATEST POST BY FOLLOWING "ALMANAC NORTH" ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.

VISIT THE WDSE WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE STATION AND DOWNLOAD THE VIDEO LEFT FOR ON-DEMAND VIEWING OF YOUR FAVORITE PBS PROGRAMS AND PAST EPISODES OF ALMANAC NORTH.

WE WANT TO WISH ALL THE BEST TO MEYER CORBIN, WHO HAS BEEN A STELLAR MEMBER OF OUR CREW THE PAST TWO YEARS.

SHE GRADUATED FROM UMD THIS YEAR AND IS MOVING ONTO A FULL-TIME JOB IN THE TWIN CITIES.

MAYA, WE WILL MISS YOU.

SHE IS BEHIND THE CAMERA RIGHT NOW.

[LAUGHTER] JULIE: AS SHE HAS BEEN FAITHFULLY FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS.

BEST OF LUCK AS YOU HEAD INTO YOUR NEW JOB.

DENNIS: ABSOLUTELY.

THANKS TO YOU AND TO ALL THE CREW AND TO ALL OUR GUESTS.

WITH JULIE ZENNER, I DENNIS ANDERSON.

AM-- I AM DENNIS ANDERSON.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND AND BE KIND.

♪