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

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

DENNIS: SIX OF NORTHERN MINNESOTA'S COMMUNITY COLLE CAMPUSES ARE NOW UNITED UNR ONE NAME.

WE'LL TALK WITH THE PRESIDF MINNESOTA NORTH COLLEGE.

JULIE: IT WAS A HISTORIC WK FOR THE FOND DU LAC BAND, E TRIBAL BURIAL GROUND ON WISCONSIN POINT WAS OFFICIY RETURNED TO THE TRIBE.

DENNIS: AND WE WILL REMEMBE LIFE AND LEGACY OF SENATORD TOMASSONI OF CHISHOLM.

JULIE: THESE STORIES AND VS OF THE REGION UP NEXT ON "ALMANAC NORTH."

♪ ♪ JULIE: HELLO AND WELCOME TO "ALMANAC NORTH."

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

DENNY, IT'S GOOD TO BE BACK AFTER A WEEK AWAY FOR THE E MEMBERSHIP DRIVE.

DENNIS: THAT IS FOR SURE.

IT IS ALWAYS GREAT TO HAVE PEOPLE DONATE TO THE STATIN BECAUSE THIS IS HOW WE OPEE HERE.

WE ARE VERY THANKFUL FOR WT THEY DO.

JULIE: WE WILL TALK MORE AT THAT LATER IN THE SHOW BU'S BEGIN RIGHT NOW WITH THE HEADLINES.

DENNIS: THANKS, JULIE.

15,000 NURSES IN THE TWIN S AND THE TWIN CITIES AUTHORA STRIKE TS WE AFTER FAILING TO REACH AGREEMENT ON NEW CONTRACTS.

NURSES AT ST. LUKES AND ESA HEALTH ARE AMONG THOSE WORG WITHOUT A CONTRACT.

NURSES CAN NOW CALL A STRIE AFTER GIVING A 10-DAY NOTIO THEIR EMPLOYERS.

JULIE: A $9.5 MILLION FEDEL GRANT WILL HELP THE BOIS FE BAND OF CHIPPEWA BUILD A NW TRANSIT CENTER ON ITS NORTN MINNESOTA RESERVATION.

MINNESOTA SENATORS TINA SMH AND AMY KLOBUCHAR ANNOUNCEE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION GRANT THIS .

THE BOIS FORTE BAND ALSO RECEED OR $700,000 TO PURCHASE SIX PROPANE-POWERD BUSES AND BUILD A PROPANE FUELING STATION.

DENNIS: A COMMUNITY PARTNEP WILL SAVE A LONG-TROUBLED K ON EAST FOURTH STREET IN DH AND CREATE SOME MUCH-NEEDED AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

THE BROWNSTONE BUILDING AT 621-633 EAST FOURTH STREETL BE NAMED BREWERY CREEK TERE AND WILL INCLUDE 16 UNITS F AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

ONE ROOF COMMUNITY HOUSING, SUPERIOR CREDIT UNION AND ESSENTIA HEALTH ARE FINANCG THE PROJECT, WHICH WILL BET BY DEVELOPER HEIRLOOM PROPY MANAGEMENT.

JULIE: AND AT ITS ANNUAL MG THIS WEEK, THE GREATER DOWN COUNCIL ANNOUNCED A NAME C. THE COUNCIL'S NEW NAME IS Y "DOWNTOWN DULUTH" TO REDUCE CONFUSION THAT THE ORGANIZN MIGHT HAVE BEEN PART OF THY COUNCIL.

THE ORGANIZATION MANAGES ME THAN 90 BLOCKS OF THE CIT'S COMMERCIAL DISTRICT, FROM L PARK TO SECOND STREET.

DENNIS: SIX CAMPUSES OF NORTHEASTERN MINNESOTA'S COMMUNITY COLLEGES HAVE BEN UNITED UNDER ONE NAME AND E VISION.

MINNESOTA NORTH COLLEGE WIL OFFER A SEAMLESS EXPERIENCO STUDENTS, WHO CAN TAKE CLAS OFFERED ON ANY OF THE CAMPS WHILE RECEIVING A SINGLE TRANSCRIPT AND BILL.

JOINING US TO EXPLAIN MORET THE COLLEGE MERGER IS MIKE RAICH, THE PRESIDENT OF MINNESOTA NORTH COLLEGE.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

WELCOME.

WHAT ARE THE REASONS FOR TE MERGER?

MIKE: WE PUT THE REASONS IO TWO BUCKETS.

ONE IS THE STATE OF HIGHER EDUCATION ACROSS THE COUNT.

THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF OUR REN AND THE STATE ARE A LITTLET TROUBLING FOR HIGHER ED.

SO, ENROLLMENT TENDS TO SUA BIT.

WE ARE SEEING A DECLINING ENROLLMENT WHICH MEANS LESS RESOURCES FOR THE COLLEGESE NEED TO WORK SMARTER, EFFICIENTLY AND TOGETHER.

THE REAL REASON IS BY WORKG TOGETHER AND LEVERAGING THE POWER OF A LARGER ORGANIZA, WE CAN DEFINITELY SERVE STS BETTER.

YOU MENTIONED THE SEAMLESS EXPERIENCE FOR STUDENTS ANT IS A BIG PART OF IT.

STUDENTS CAN TAKE COURSES M DIFFERENT CAMPUSES UNDER OE TRANSCRIPT.

THERE ARE MANY MORE OFFERIS THAT USED TO BE SIDELOAD AA SINGLE CAMPUS AND OFFERED S MULTIPLE CAMPUSES.

IT IS REALLY ABOUT A BETTER EXPERIENCE FOR THE STUDENTD THE COMMUNITY PARTNERS WHON NOW LOOK AT US LIKE ONE ORGANIZATION INSTEAD OF FIE SEPARATE ONES.

JULIE: THIS HAS BEEN A LONG PROCESS IN THIS DIRECTION D YOU HAVE BEEN PART OF IT FA LONG TIME.

FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT REY FAMILIAR WITH WHAT THE GOA, TALK ABOUT THE CAMPUSES THE ACTUALLY NOT PART OF MINNEA NORTH.

>> WE USED TO BE FIVE INDEPENDENTLY ACCREDITED COLLEGES WITH SIX CAMPUSES.

WHAT WE HAVE DONE IS TAKENT ALTOGETHER AS A SINGLE HE ACCREDITED COLLEGES BUT KEL OF OUR CAMPUSES OPEN.

THOSE CAMPUSES, INTERNATIOL FALLS, ELY IS THE VERMILLIN CAMPUS.

WE HAVE THE VIRGINIA CAMPU.

WE HAVE HIBBING AND ITASCA.

A BROAD SWATH OF BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY.

WE COVER AN AREA ABOUT THEE OF MARYLAND WITH WHAT WE D. DENNIS: DOES THE MERGER AFT THE MARKETABILITY OF THE S?

MIKE: WE THINK IT IMPROVEST BECAUSE WE CAN MARKET THE E REGION NOW.

WE CAME UP WITH A TAGLINE F HEAD NORTH.

A CEREBRAL THING FOR THE COLLEGE.

WE THOUGHT THAT WOULD BE INAPPROPRIATE TAGLINE.

-- AN APPROPRIATE TAGLINE.

JULIE: EACH ONE OF THESE CAMPUSES HAS A LONG TRADITS AN INDIVIDUAL COLLEGE.

WHAT IS BEING DONE TO PRESE THOSE COMMUNITY IDENTITIES?

BECAUSE PEOPLE FEEL STRONGY ABOUT THE SCHOOLS AND THE .

MIKE: YOU HIT IT ON THE HE.

WHAT WE KEPT IS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS WHAT WE CHANG.

ONE OF THE ORIGINAL TENANTF MERGER WAS WE KEEP COMMUNIY CONNECTIONS ALIVE, CAMPUS IDENTITIES ALIVE THROUGH NE PROGRAMMING, KEEPING OUR FOUNDATIONS AT THE COMMUNIY LEVEL, AND BY KEEPING OUR ATHLETIC PROGRAMS.

WE WERE ABLE TO KEEP FIVE SEPARATE ATHLETIC PROGRAMSD COMPETING AMONGST ONE ANOT.

IT WAS A KEY TO THE MERGERO RECOGNIZE THESE PLACES ARE IMPORTANT TO THE COMMUNITYD WE PRESERVE AS MUCH AS WE .

DENNIS: HOW MIGHT THESE CAS DIFFER FROM ONE ANOTHER?

MIKE: THEY DIFFER BY PROGRAMMING.

WE DID A GOOD JOB OF NOT DUPLICATING A LOT OF PROGRG BECAUSE WE CANNOT AFFORD T. THEY DIFFER MAINLY BY PROGRAMMING BUT WHAT THEY'T DIFFER IN IS THEIR COMMITMO STUDENTS.

I JUST TRAVELED TO ALL THE CAMPUSES AND SPOKE AT THEMS WEEK.

JUST OPTIMISM AND CARE FOR PEOPLE AND KINDNESS.

WE STRESS KINDNESS.

YOU KNOW THAT.

BE KIND.

THAT IS WHAT THEY HAVE IN COMMON.

JULIE: BUSINESSES AND INDUS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE LOOG FOR WORKERS RIGHT NOW.

IS THERE AN ADVANTAGE BEINA SCHOOL THAT REALLY FOCUSESN TWO-YEAR CAREER PROGRAMS?

MIKE: THERE IS AN ADVANTAG.

THERE IS A DESPERATE NEED R SKILLED WORKERS, ALL ACROSS EVERY PART OF THE ECONOMY.

SO, THAT IS WHERE WE COME .

THE DISADVANTAGE OF THAT IE ECONOMY IS SO STRONG, PEOPE SOMETIMES TEND TO GO STRAIO WORK AND NOT SEEK HIGHER EDUCATION BECAUSE THEY CAN.

WE ALWAYS SEE THE PROBLEM H THAT IS IF THE ECONOMY DOEN DOWN, WE HAVE FOLKS THAT WL COME BACK.

DENNIS: SPEAKING OF THE EC, WHAT KIND OF FINANCIAL AIDT BE AVAILABLE FOR STUDENTS?

MIKE: TWO-YEAR COLLEGES ARE AFFORDABLE AND FINANCIAL A, BETWEEN THE FEDERAL PELL G, STATE PELL GRANT, LOANS, AE SCHOLARSHIPS.

WE HAVE FIVE FOUNDATION SUPPORTING STUDENTS.

WE DON'T LIKE TO GET LUMPEO THE BIGGER SCHOOLS.

STUDENTS CAN AFFORD TO COMA TWO-YEAR COLLEGE.

JULIE: WILL THE FACULTY BE STAYING THE SAME?

MIKE: FOR THE MOST PART.

WE ARE SO FAR APART, IT ISD TO HAVE THEM TRAVEL BUT WHE HIRE NEW FACULTY, WE DO HAE THEM UNDERSTAND THERE MAY E SOME TRAVEL AMONG THE CLOSR CAMPUSES.

JULIE: HOWEVER LOCAL BUSINS INVOLVED IN GETTING THOSE E PROGRAMS YOU TALKED ABOUT T UP?

MIKE: YEAH, IT'S BASED ON GEOGRAPHY SO OUR MINING PRS TEND TO BE HIBBING.

THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMSD TO BE IN ELY.

OUR BUSINESSES ARE LOCATEDN THE REGION AND THEY HELP TE COLLEGES BY SERVING ON THE ADVISORY BOARDS.

DENNIS: IS THERE ANY INDICN ENROLLMENT MIGHT BE UP?

MIKE: NOT THIS YEAR.

WE ARE STILL A LITTLE POSTD LAGGING.

DENNIS: I UNDERSTAND.

MIKE: WITH THE ECONOMY STR, WE ARE TAKING A WHOLE NEW APPROACH TO ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT AND RECRUITING D MARKETING.

WE'RE ARE LOOKING FORWARD O NEXT YEAR.

DENNIS: MYKIKE RAICH, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

JULIE: THANK YOU.

♪ JULIE: THE FOND DU LAC BANF LAKE SUPERIOR CHIPPEWA CELEBRATED THE RETURN OF SD LAND TO THE BAND THURSDAY.

PARCELS OF HISTORIC BURIAL GROUND ON WISCONSIN POINT D ALONG THE NEMADJI RIVER WEE FORMALLY RETURNED TO THE BT A CEREMONY AT THE BLACK BER CASINO COMPLEX.

VIDEOGRAPHER AND PRODUCER S SODERBERG BRINGS US THIS RT FROM THE CEREMONY.

>> WE UNDERSTAND THAT WE ST OURSELVES ON THIS COSMOS.

[BANGING OF DRUM] >> NO MATTER WHAT ETHNICIT, THEY ARE GOING TO PROTECT R LOVED ONES, THEIR ANCESTOR.

THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO.

>> MY GRANDMOTHER ACTUALLYD ME THIS STORY, THAT IF WE R GOT THE PROPERTY ON WISCONN POINT BACK, SHE WOULD BE TE FIRST TO BUILD A HOME AND E THERE.

AGAIN, BECAUSE SHE HAS MIST SO MUCH.

SHE MAY NOT BE HERE TO ENJ, BUT I TAKE MY KIDS, MY GRAS DOWN THERE AND THEY ENJOY R HER.

WE KNOW SHE'S THERE.

SHE'S ALWAYS WITH US.

>> IT IS ALWAYS ALLY MEANINGFUL TO SEE TRIBES BE TO RECLAIM THEIR SACRED PL.

THERE ARE FEW PLACES MORE D THAN WHERE WE CHOOSE TO BUR ANCESTORS.

FOR ME, THIS IS ALSO MEANIL BECAUSE WE WANT TO SEE THIE OF COLLABORATION BETWEEN LL COMMUNITIES AND TRIBES, TOK TOGETHER.

LAND MANAGEMENT.

TO RESPECT THE RIGHTS OF IN PEOPLE AND TRIBES, AND ALSO BRING HEALING FOR HISTORIC INJUSTICES.

SO, IT IS REALLY MEANINGFUO BE HERE AND HELP CELEBRATE.

[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE] >> THIS IS A TRULY HISTORIC >> THIS IS A TRULY HISTORIC EVENT.

WE HAVE TAKEN THE WISCONSIN WE HAVE TAKEN THE WISCONSIN POINT BURIAL GROUND, AS WES POINT BURIAL GROUND, AS WES THE CEMETERY MASS GRAVE AND THE CEMETERY MASS GRAVE AND TRANSFERRED BOTH SACRED SIS BACK TO THE CONTROL AND OWNERSP OF THE FOND DU LAC BAND.

THIS FOLLOWS A 100 YEAR HIY AFTER THAT SITE WAS SEIZEDY THE ORIGINAL INHABITANTS VY UNJUSTLY.

>> THE PEOPLE OF SUPERIOR,K YOU FOR LEADING.

THANK YOU FOR STANDING UP N THIS MOMENT.

THANK YOU FOR SHOWING THE COURAGE TO TELL THE TRUE HY AND TO MAKE THE ACCOUNT.

A QUOTE WHERE SHE SAID THIS NOT MAKE IT RIGHT BUT IT IE RIGHT THING TO DO.

>> THIS WAS ALWAYS YOUR LA.

WE ARE HAPPY TO SEE THIS JE MOVE FORWARD.

>> THE CITY OF SUPERIOR TAS THE STEP IN WORKING TO REPR THE GOVERNMENT TO GOVERNMET RELATIONSHIP WITH THE NATI, AND THEIR SUPPORT FOR THE TRANSFER OF WISCONSIN POINK TO THE TRIBE.

>> EVERY ELECTED LEADER, EY COMMUNITY ORGANIZER HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO REBUILD ANDW THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH SOVEREIGN NATIONS.

YOU JUST HAVE TO START.

[APPLAUSE] ♪ ♪ DENNIS: NORTHERN MINNESOA LOST A LEGEND LAST WEEK WHN SENATOR DAVID TOMASSONI DID FROM ALS.

HIS FUNERAL WAS HELD THIS MORNING IN HIS HOMETOWN OF CHISHOLM.

SENATOR TOMASSONI WAS A STH ADVOCATE FOR THE IRON RANGD ONE OF THE MOST WELL-LIKED SENATORS AT THE STATE CAPI.

HERE'S AN EXCERPT FROM HIS FAREWELL SPEECH AT THE CAPL THIS SPRING.

>> I GUESS THE ULTIMATE CULMINATION CAME WITH THE PASSAGE OF THE ALS BILL EAR THIS SESSION.

ALL OF YOU HAVE BEEN PART F THAT AND WOULD NOT HAVE GON DONE WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.

I HAVE TO GIVE A GREAT BIGT OUT TO MY KIDS FOR TAKING E OF ME IN THIS LAST YEAR OR, AS THEY HAVE GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND TAKING CARE OF ME.

MY SISTER, MARY AND HER HUD RICHARD, DESERVE THE SAME THANKS.

SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE STEPPEP TO HELP AND I AM ETERNALLY GRATEFUL.

SO, MR. PRESIDENT, MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR ACCOMMODATINE TODAY AS WELL AS ALL SESSIN LONG.

30 YEARS WENT BY FAST, ANDI WISH MY SUCCESSOR ALL THE .

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

[APPLAUSE] DENNIS: JOINING US NOW TO K ABOUT THE LIFE AND LEGACY F DAVID TOMASSONI IS FORMER E LAWMAKER JASON METSA, A GOD FRIEND OF THE SENATOR.

THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

YOU ARE A GOOD FRIEND, YOUE AT THE FUNERAL TODAY.

BIG CROWD.

JASON: IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL , LOTS OF PEOPLE, ALL WALKS F LIFE.

WE COULD HAVE PRACTICALLY, PROBABLY LITERALLY DONE A SPECIAL SESSION WHILE WE WE THERE.

ONE OF THE MESSAGES FROM TE SENATOR WAS TO PASS THE BOG BILL.

BEAUTIFUL EVENT.

DENNIS: HE PUT 30 YEARS INE STATE LEGISLATURE.

WHAT LEGACY DOES HE LEAVE MINNESOTA?

JASON: WHAT I CAN SPEAK TOM MY PERSPECTIVE OF SOMEONE O WAS SO FORTUNATE TO SERVE H HIM -- WE HAD PRESIDENT RAH HERE TONIGHT.

I THINK EDUCATION WOULD BET AND FOREMOST ON MY MIND.

THEY PASSED IRON RANGE ENGINEERING.

TWO NAMES THAT GO SYNONYMOS WITH IRON RANGE POLITICS.

IT HAS MADE A HUGE DIFFERE.

IT IS AN ACCREDITED COLLEGR A REASON.

DAVID DID A LOT OF BEHIND E SCENES WORK.

EVERY SESSION, HE HAD A LIE CARD.

I BROUGHT THIS TODAY AS A .

I WILL KEEP IT A LITTLE MOE FULL THAN I HAVE IT TONIGH.

EVERY DAY, THERE WOULD BE A PRIORITY LIST OF WHAT HE WS WORKING ON AND IT WAS ALWAR MAKING PEOPLE'S LIS BETTER.

AND TRYING TO BRING THINGST MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN REALIS.

HE MIGHT HAVE OVER PROMISEA FEW TIMES.

WE FIGURED OUT A WAY TO WON THOSE ISSUES AND DELIVER FS CONSTITUENTS AND THAT IS WE WAS ALL ABOUT.

JULIE: YOU YOURSELF SPENT E IN THE LEGISLATURE.

HOW DID SENATOR TOMASSONI INFLUENCE YOU AS A LAWMAKED AS A FRIEND?

JASON: FRIENDSHIP IS THE FT YOU GO DOWN THERE, IT IS A LONELY PLACE AS A YOUNG PE.

HE TOOK ME UNDER HIS WING I COULD NOT BE MORE GRATEFULR THE TIME WE SPENT TOGETHERN THAT REGARD AND THE GENTLE NUDGING.

WE WERE HUGGING THIS MORNID REMEMBERING JUST THE WONDEL TIMES WE WERE THINKING WE W WHAT WAS RIGHT AND DAVID WS KIND OF LIKE NUDGING US INE RIGHT DIRECTION TO GET TO A POSITION WHERE WE COULD ACY STRIKE A DEAL ON SOMETHINGR OUR REGION.

HE WAS ALWAYS A TEACHER.

LED BY EXAMPLE.

WHEN I THINK OF SERVITUDE LEADERSHIP AND SOMEONE WHOS JUST SELFLESS AND PUTTING THEMSELVES OUT THERE FOR OR PEOPLE, IT IS DAVE.

DENNIS: WHAT WAS IT ABOUT M THAT CAUSED OTHERS TO GIVEM SUCH GREAT RESPECT?

JASON: YOU COULD SIT AND AE WITH THE GUY ABOUT ANYTHINN THE WORLD YOU WANTED TO AND WHETHER IT WAS ON THE TELEN PROGRAM LIKE THIS, ON THE E FLOOR, THE LIVING ROOM, ORE BAR BACK HOME, CASUAL CONVERSATIONS, DAVID WAS GG TO BE THE GUY TO PUT ASIDEE DISAGREEMENT AT THE END.

HE STOOD UP FOR WHAT HE BELIEVED IN A LOT OF TIME D THAT IS SOMETHING A LOT OF PEOPLE FORGET.

HE NEVER LOST THOSE VALUES.

HE COULD ALWAYS HAVE A LAUH WITH YOU AFTERWARD.

THAT LAUGH WAS JUST INFECT.

I WAS TALKING WITH HIS SOND THEY SAID IF WE EVER LOST D AND DIDN'T KNOW WHERE HE W, QUIET DOWN, LISTEN.

YOU WILL HEAR.

JULIE: THAT RESPECT WENT AS THE AISLE.

I READ A QUOTE FROM ONE REPUBLICAN SENATOR WHO DESD HIM AS SOMEONE WHO HAD NO ENEMIES, ONLY FRIENDS.

JASON: YEAH.

DAVE WAS THE GUY THAT YOU'T BUILD A BAD RELATIONSHIP W. IF YOU WERE IN THE ROOM WIH HIM, YOU ARE LAUGHING OR HG FUN.

HIS POSITIVITY WAS INFECTI.

JULIE: THERE WAS A GREAT FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN HIM AND.

TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE B.

COLORFUL CHARACTERS.

JASON: I THINK A GOOD STOR, WHICH I DIDN'T KNOW IF I SD TELL OR NOT BEING ON TELEV, WAS KIND OF MY ENTRANCE INO POLITICS AND THE WAY THE TF THEM OPERATED.

WE HAD A LARGE EVENT AT THE FOR PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE HILLARY CLINTON.

WE CHANGED THE LOCATION OFE EVENT THE NIGHT BEFORE BECE THEY THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD.

I ENDED UP LETTING THE PRES KNOW.

WE JUST DIDN'T LET THE CAMPAIGNS KNOW.

WE GET A CALL FROM WASHING.

BOTH THE GUYS HOVERED IN AD SAID IT WAS THE RIGHT THINO DO.

WE HAVE TO GET OUR PEOPLE , GET THEM EXCITED.

EVERY ELECTION TO THOSE TWS THE MOST IMPORTANT ELEION.

BOTH GUYS BELIEVED SO MUCHN THE POWER OF GETTING OUT AD VOTING.

IT WAS JUST REALLY TOUCHINO WATCH HIM AND GET TO WORK H THEM.

DENNIS: A SHORT ANSWER.

HE GAVE CREDIT TO A LOT OF OTHERS.

WHAT DOES THAT SAY ABOUT H?

JASON: HE WAS SELFLESS.

THERE ARE SO MANY TRAILS.

WHEN YOU THINK OF AVA TOMA, YOU MIGHT THINK HOCKEY, MI, IRON RANGE POLITICS.

ANY TRAIL SYSTEM HAD HIS THINKER PRINTS ON IT.

HE WAS A GUY AT THE END OFY YEAR REALLY LIKE TO PULL OT THAT THING AND SHOW ME, HEI GOT SOMETHING IN EVERY SINE BILL THIS SESSION.

DENNIS: WITH THAT, WE HAVEO SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH, JN METSA, GOOD FRIEND OF SENAR TOMASSONI.

JASON: THANKS FOR HAVING M. JULIE: THANK YOU.

IT'S TIME NOW FOR OUR WEEKY SEGMENT VOICES OF THE REGI.

IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEAN ABOUT SOME OF THE STORIES G COVERED BY JOURNALISTS IN R REGION.

THIS WEEK,UR GST IS DANIELE KAEDING FROM WISCONSIN PUBC RADIO.

♪ DANIELLE: SOME WISCONSIN SL DISTRICTS ARE FACING BACKLH OVER THE PLANS TO TEACH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL KIDS ABOT GENDER IDENTITY.

A GROUP OF PARENTS ARE APPG A DECISION BY THE SUPERIOR SCHOOL DISTRICT WHICH REJES THEIR COMPLAINT ABOUT GENDR IDENTITY TO FIFTH-GRADERS.

30 PARENTS ARE ARGUING THAA LESSON PLAN ABOUT GENDER IDENTITY IS NOT APPROPRIATR FIFTH-GRADE STUDENTS.

AND THEY WANT THE SUPERIOR SCHOOL BOARD TO SUSPEND THT PART OF THE DISTRICT'S HUMN GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT CURRICULUM.

AT THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETING RECENTLY, THERE WERE DOZENF PARENTS, EDUCATORS, AND SCL ADMINISTRATORS WHO SPOKE AE MEETING.

AND ONE OF THEM WAS A SUPER HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT.

SHE TOLD THE BOARD THAT SHS NEARLY PUNISHED BY A TEACHO REFUSED TO ACCEPT TT SHIS FEMALE AND NOT MALE.

SHE AND OTHER PARENTS AND R EDUCATORS URGED THE BOARD O KEEP THE CURRICULUM IN PLA.

AND STUDENTS QUESTIONED WHE BOARD WOULD REMOVE A SAFE E FOR LGBTQ YOUTH.

SOME CITED HIGHER RATES OF SUICIDE AMONG TRANSGENDER .

SOME COMMUNITY MEMBERS CALD THE TEACHINGS PART OF A POLITICAL AGENDA.

THEY SAY THE CURRICULUM PLS SOME STUDENTS AND EDUCATORA POSITION WHERE THEY WOULD E TO ABANDON THEIR OWN BELIE.

AND ONE COLLEGE PROFESSOR D THE DISTRICT IS IMPEDING FREE PRACTICE OF ONE'S RELN BY TEACHING OF GENDER IDEN.

THE WISCONSIN PRESIDENT OFE NATIONAL CONSERVATIVE GROUO LEFT TURN IN EDUCATION CALA PARENTS RIGHTS ISSUE ON WHE STUDENTS ARE TAUGHT.

THE SCHOOL BOARD IS SET TOE UP THE APPEAL IN A FUTURE MEETING.

♪ BAYFIELD COUNTY, THEIR BOAD RECENTLY APPROVED A RESOLUN SUPPORTING DEVELOPMENT OF O 60 HOUSING UNITS IN WASHBU.

IT IS PART OF A PLAN TO ADS A HOUSING SHORTAGE AS THEYE HIGH DEMAND FOR SENIORS AND WORKERS.

A SURVEY IN HOUSING REPORT- AND HOUSING REPORT RELEASET YEAR FOUND THAT MORE THAN F OF THE COUNTY'S HOMEOWNERSE MORE THAN 60 AND OLDER.

MORE THAN 22,000 HOUSEHOLDE OWNED BY SENIORS OVER THE F 65.

KELLY PETERSON WITH UW MEDE SAYS -- MADISON SAYS THE CY IS ON TRACK TO HAVE THE LAT SHARE OF SENIORS IN THE STY 2040.

OTHER NEEDS THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED ARE FOR HOUSING EMPLOYEES, AS MANY PLACES E ACROSS THE REST OF THE NATN AND STATE ARE SEEING A WORR SHORTAGE RIGHT NOW.

IN BAYFIELD, ONE EMPLOYER I SPOKE WITH SAID THEY HAD ACTUALLY BOUGHT A HOME SO Y COULD HOUSE THEIR WORKERS E BECAUSE THEY WERE HAVING SA DIFFICULT TIME RETAINING EMPLOYEES OR EVEN RECRUITIG EMPLOYEES FROM OUTSIDE THEA BECAUSE THERE WAS NOT ENOUH HOUSING AVAILABLE.

SO, THE COUNTY AND OTHER RL WISCONSIN COMMUNITIES HAVE REALLY STRUGGLED TO TRACK DEVELOPERS BECAUSE BUILDING COSTS TYPICALLY REQUIRE HIR RENTS THAN MOST PEOPLE CAN AFFORD.

THE COUNTY IS SEEKING PROPS BY DEVELOPERS THROUGH MID-SEPTEMBER.

♪ THE U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY SAYS A SUPPLEMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW FOR THE PROPOSED $70 MILLION GAS PLANT IN SUPERR FAILED TO FULLY REVIEW CLIE CHANGE IMPACTS AND GREENHOE GAS EMISSIONS.

IF BUILT, THE EPA SAYS THEL ENERGY CENTER COULD CAUSE 2 BILLION IN CLIMATE DAMAGESM GREENHOUSE EMISSIONS.

THE PLANT WOULD BE BUILT BY THREE UTILITIES.

LINDA WYNN WITH THE RED CLF BAND OF LAKE SUPERIOR CHIPA SAYS, THEY LIKEHE EPA, ONEA MORE THOROUGH REVIEW OF THE DIRECT AND INDIRECT EFFECTS RELATED TO UPSTREAM AND DOWNSTREAM EMISSIONS RELATO EXTRACTION OF NATURAL GAS D THE TRANSPORTATION OF IT.

THE PROJECT'S OWNERS ARE SL REVIEWING THE EPA'S COMMEND NEXT STEPS ON THIS PROJECT.

THEY MAINTAINED THAT THE PT IS NEEDED TO MAINTAIN RELIE POWER AS THEY TRANSITION TO RENEWABLE ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS SAY IS UNWISE TO BUILD MORE FOSSIL PLANTS IN THE MIDST OF A CE CRISIS.

♪ JULIE: WE'RE ALMOST OUT OF, BUT YOU CAN KEEP UP WITH OR SHOW BY FOLLOWING "ALMANAC NORTH" ON FACEBOOK AND TWI.

VISIT THE WDSE WEBSITE FOR PROGRAM UPDATES, NEWS ABOUE STATION, AND UPCOMING EVEN.

AND DOWNLOAD THE PBS VIDEOP TO WATCH YOUR FAVORITE PBS PROGRAMS ON DEMAND.

DENNIS: BEFORE WE GO, I WAO REMIND YOU THAT WE ARE IN R SUMMER MEMBERSHIP DRIVE WHE YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO SUPPOT WHAT HAPPENS HERE AT WDSE.

PUBLIC MEDIA PROVIDES A PLM FOR US TO CREATE PROGRAMS T ARE EDUCATIONAL, ENTERTAIN, AND ENGAGING.

WHEN YOU TUNE IN TO WDSE,'E WATCHING SHOWS THAT ARE SED WITH THIS COMMUNITY IN MIND THESE SHOWS ARE MADE POSSIE THROUGH SUPPORT BY YOU.

SO, I'M ASKING YOU RIGHT NO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR LOCAL PROGRAMMING ON WDSE.

JULIE: THAT'S RIGHT.

IF YOU'RE NOT YET A MEMBERW IS THE TIME.

THINK ABOUT ALL THE LOCAL PROGRAMMING WDSE PROVIDES O YOU.

FROM DOCTORS ON CALL TO GRT GARDENING TO THIS SHOW RIGT NOW, THE PROGRAMMING ON WDSE-WRPT IS YOUR PROGRAMM, IT IS COMMUNITY PROGRAMMIN.

SO, SHOW THAT LOCAL PROGRAS MATTER TO YOU.

CALL 218-788-2844 OR VISIT WDSE.ORG AND MAKE YOUR DONN TO KEEP LOCAL PROGRAMMING STRONG.

AND IF YOU MAKE YOUR DONATN TODAY, WE HAVE SOME GREAT S TO SAY THANK YOU.

DENNIS: WHEN YOU MAKE YOUR CONTRIBUTION OF $10 PER MOR $120 ALL AT ONCE, WE WILL K YOU WITH A ROKU EXPRESS STREAMING DEVICE.

THIS DEVICE GIVES YOU ACCEO HUNDREDS OF FREE CHANNELS,D ALL OF YOUR FAVORITE APPS INCLUDING THE PBS AND THE S KIDS APP.

JULIE: OR MAKE A SUSTAINING CONTRIBUTION OF $15 PER MOR A SINGLE GIFT OF $180 AND'L THANK YOU WITH A ONE-YEAR DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTION TO "TW YORK TIMES," WITH ACCESS TL "NEW YORK TIMES" CONTENT INCLUDING BREAKING NEWS, POLITICS, TRAVEL, AND MORE.

DENNIS: AND IF YOU CAN'T C, MAKE A GIFT OF $20 PER MONR $240 AT ONCE AND WE'LL THAU WITH BOTH THE ROKU EXPRESSD WITH BOTH THE ROKU EXPRESSD "THE NEW YORK TIMES" DIGITL SUBSCRIPTION.

JULIE: THE MOST IMPORTANT T IS THAT YOU MAKE YOUR CONTRIBUTION TO ENSURE THAE AND PBS CAN REMAIN STRONG E DAYS AND MONTHS AHEAD.

PLEASE CALL 218-788-2844 OE ONLINE AT WDSE.ORG.

THANK YOU.

AND THANKS TO OUR GUES ANDE CREW HERE IN THE STUDIO.

WITH DENNIS ANDERSON, I'M E ZENNER.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.