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

>>THE START OF THE SCHOOL YEAR IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER, WE WILL TALK WITH DULUTH SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT JOHN MAGAS ABOUT THE RETURN TO THE CLASSROOM.

>>WE'LL HAVE A REPORT FROM SWEDEN TONIGHT ON HOW ITS POLITICAL SYSTEM DIFFERS FROM OURS HERE AT HOME.

>>AND THEN WDSE PRODUCER MEGAN MCGARVEY WILL JOIN US LIVE IN THE STUDIO TO TALK ABOUT HER SWEDISH JOURNEY, PART OF A DULUTH SISTER-CITY EXCHANGE.

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

>>HELLO AND WELCOME TO ALMANAC NORTH.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR WATCHING.

JULIE, HARD TO BELIEVE THIS IS THE LAST WEEKEND OF AUGUST, SUMMER HAS GONE TOO QUICKLY.

>> IT ALWAYS GOES QUICKLY BUT THIS YEAR IT SEEMS LIKE SO FAST.

IT STARTED LATE.

>> WE HAD BAD WEATHER EARLY ON LET'S BEGIN WITH THE HEADLINES.

>> AND Q, DENNY.

-- THANK YOU DENNY.

CIRRUS AIRCRAFT HAS A DEAL TO PURCHASE THE FORMER A-A-R AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE FACILITY FOR $1 FROM DULUTH'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, SUBJECT TO A VOTE BY THE CITY COUNCIL.

THE PROPERTY IS VALUED AT NEARLY $10 MILLION DOLLARS, BUT CIRRUS WILL INVEST AT LEAST $7 MILLION IN THE BASE AND HIRE AN ADDITIONAL 80 EMPLOYEES.

CIRRUS IS THE LARGEST MANUFACTURER IN THE CITY WITH MORE THAN 1200 EMPLOYEES.

THE VACANT MAINTENANCE FACILITY IS OWNED BY DEDA AND COSTS THE CITY $57,000 DOLLARS A MONTH TO MAINTAIN.

>>DULUTH'S LAKEWALK MAY BECOME A BIT MORE ENJOYABLE FOR PEDESTRIANS, FOLLOWING A VOTE OF THE CITY COUNCIL MONDAY.

YOU SEE, THE COUNCIL VOTED TO ESTABLISH A 10 MILES PER HOUR SPEED LIMIT ON THE LAKEWALK BETWEEN CANAL PARK AND THE ROSE GARDEN.

THAT SPEED LIMIT WILL APPLY TO BICYCLES, ELECTRIC BIKES AND SCOOTERS, WHICH HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS ALONG THE LAKEWALK THIS SUMMER.

>>THE LAKE SUPERIOR DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL RETURNS TO BARKER'S ISLAND IN SUPERIOR THIS WEEKEND AFTER A 2-YEAR HIATUS DUE TO THE COVID PANDEMIC.

THE OPENING CEREMONY IS TONIGHT, WITH DRAGON BOAT RACES BEGINNING AT 8:00 A.M. SATURDAY.

THE ROTARY CLUB OF SUPERIOR ORGANIZES THE EVENT, WHICH HAS RAISED MORE THAN $1.3 MILLION DOLLARS FOR CHARITY.

>>AND COLLEGE STUDENTS BEGAN RETURNING TO AREA CAMPUSES THIS WEEK.

UMD STUDENTS STARTED ARRIVING WEDNESDAY MORNING, WITH CLASSES BEGINNING ON MONDAY.

STUDENTS AT THE COLLEGE OF ST. SCHOLASTICA AND UW-SUPERIOR HAVE A BIT MORE SUMMER VACATION, CLASSES AT THOSE COLLEGES BEGIN AFTER LABOR DAY.

>>STUDENTS IN THE DULUTH PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT ALSO BEGIN CLASSES AFTER LABOR DAY, BUT A NEW SCHOOL DISTRICT EVENT IS SCHEDULED FOR THIS COMING MONDAY AT BAYFRONT PARK.

"UNITY IN THE COMMUNITY" WILL BRING TOGETHER STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES FROM ACROSS THE DISTRICT'S SCHOOL BUILDINGSS FOR BUILDINGS FOR A FUN DAY AT THE PARK.

HERE TO TELL US MORE ABOUT THAT EVENT AND THE UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR IS JOHN MAGAS, SUPERINTENDENT OF DULUTH PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

AND SUPERINTENDENT WELCOME.

>> THANK YOU.

IT IS A PLEASURE TO BE THERE.

NEXT LET'S START OUT BY TALKING ABOUT UNITY IN THE COMMUNITY EVENT.

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?

AND WHAT IS THE GOAL?

>> SURE, THIS IS WHAT WE HOPE WILL BE THE FIRST OF MANY UNITY IN THE COMMUNITY EVENTS AND IT IS FOR BACK TO SCHOOL AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE EDUCATION AS WELL AS THE UNITY AMONG ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS IN THE COMMUNITY.

DULUTH IS ONE CITY AT ONE COMMUNITY WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE BRING EVERYBODY TOGETHER TO CELEBRATE.

IT WILL BE FUN AT BAYFRONT.

WE WILL HAVE BANDS AND MUSIC I WILL BE IN A DOCKED CHAIN AND WE WILL HAVE A LOT OF BOOTHS WITH INFORMATION AND -- BE IN A DUMP TANK AND WE WILL HAVE A LOT OF AND INFORMATION IN HERE PUTS THAT SHARE CUTS THE STUDENTS.

-- IT WILL BE A LOT OF FUN.

>> IS THERE ANY INFORMATION THAT YOU HAVE FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR?

>> WE HOPE IT WILL BE AT NORMAL SCHOOL YEAR AS FAR AS COVID AND EVERYTHING GOES.

SO WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING THAT AND PRACTICING SAFE STANDARDS, BUT WE WILL BE RELATIVELY MASKED FREE.

BUT IT WILL ALSO BE A YEAR OF INTENSE FOCUS ON STUDENT LEARNING LAST YEAR WE HAD A ROBUST STRATEGIC OPERATIONAL PLAN FOR THE YEAR AND MUCH OF THE WORK WE WERE PLANNING TO DO WAS DELAYED BECAUSE OF THE STAFFING SHORTAGES AND OTHER ISSUES.

>> -- THE DEPARTMENT AT EDUCATION HAS IDENTIFIED DULUTH PUBLIC SCHOOLS STRUGGLING ACADEMICALLY THAT ABOUT 50% OF THE STUDENTS IN THE DISTRICT ARE NOT READING, NOT DOING MATH OR SCIENCE AT THEIR GRADE LEVEL.

OUT CONCERNING IS THAT FOR YOU?

>> IT IS ALWAYS CONCERNING.

IT CREATES URGENCY AROUND THE WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

I THINK SCHOOLS AND DISTRICTS THAT WERE IDENTIFIED ARE SCHOOLS THAT HAVE ALWAYS HAD RELATIONS THAT WERE HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED BY SCHOOLS.

IT IS UP TO US AS A STATE AND COUNTRY AND SCHOOL DISTRICT TO FOCUS ON THOSE SCHOOLS.

IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT THAT THE STATES CONSIDER WHAT THEY NEED TO DO RELATED TO FUNDING AND I KNOW THE LEGISLATOR WAS CONSIDERING SPECIAL -- IT WOULD BE GREAT IF THEY COULD COME BACK AND FINISH THE FUNDING SO WE CAN FOCUS ON THE LEARNING CAPS.

>> TELL US ABOUT THE NEW CONTRACT WITH THE TEACHERS UNION.

>> SURE.

THAT WAS APPROVED A WILD BACK BUT WE WORKED THROUGH A TWO-YEAR CONTRACT WITH OUR TEACHERS INVOLVING THE 2.25 INCREASE IN SALARY FOR TWO YEARS IN A ROW AS WELL AS LONGEVITY STIPENDS TO ENSURE WE ARE RETAINING PEOPLE AND MAKING SURE OUR STAFF LEVELS ARE REMAINING GOOD.

I THINK THE NEGOTIATION PROCESS WAS CHALLENGING FOR ANY DISTRICTS LAST YEAR.

IT'S BEEN A HARD TIME FOR TEACHERS AND EDUCATORS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND STRUGGLES THAT WE SAW WITH THE NEGOTIATIONS THERE WERE SIMILAR HERE.

THIS YEAR, WE ARE FOCUSING ON OUR LABOR-MANAGEMENT.

-- AGREEMENTS AND WORK WITH UNITS.

>> ARE YOU RETAINING PEOPLE?

>> WE ARE WORKING HARD ON THE RETAINING ISSUES WE ARE IN A BETTER SPOT THAT WE WERE LAST YEAR WITH RECRUITING AND RETAINING BUT WE COULD ALWAYS USE MORE.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS IMPORTANT OR THE PUBLIC TO KNOW.

YOU MIGHT WANT TO CONSIDER BEING A SUBSTITUTE BUS DRIVER OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT BUT IT CAN BE VIEWED AS CONTRIBUTING TO THE CIVIC VALUE OF THE COMMUNITY HELPING OUT THE SCHOOLS FOR A FEW MONTHS.

>> THE SCHOOL BOARD APPROVED THE SALE OF THE CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL WHICH WOULD BE A HUGE RELIEF FOR YOU.

>> YES IT INDICATES THE DIRECTION OF THE DISTRICT BOTH FINANCIALLY AND AS FAR AS BEING ABLE TO SUPPORT THE LEGITIMATE HE -- VILLAGE EBONY OF THE -- THE LONGEVITY OF THE SCHOOLS IN THE DISTRICT.

-- WE WILL HAVE THE BACK AREA OF THE PROPERTY THE LESS DESIRABLE NOT THE GREAT VIEWS OF LAKE SUPERIOR BUT WE WILL SUPPORT OUR SCHOOLS THERE AND THAT WILL BRING MORE RESOURCES TO OUR STUDENTS AND ALLOW US TO HAVE RATE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THERE FOR THE CITY AS WELL.

>> WITH COVID STILL ALIVE IN THE COMMUNITY, OUR EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES BACK TO NORMAL WAS SCHOOLS?

>> YES, THEY ARE PRIMARILY BACK.

SOME OF THE EXTRA ACTIVITIES THAT WE HAVE HAD FOR COMMUNITY ARE A LITTLE BIT STRUGGLING BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF CUSTODIAL SUPPORT.

ONCE AGAIN, STAFFING LIKE WE SEE IN RESTAURANTS AROUND TOWN AND THINGS LIKE THAT, IT IS HARD FOR US TO HAVE THE SAME LEVELS OF WORKERS THERE THAT ALLOWS US TO OPEN OUR SCHOOLS TO COMMUNITY'S ASIANS.

>> THANK YOU FOR COMING IN.

REMEMBER UNITY IN THE COMMUNITY ON MONDAY.

YOU ARE IN THE DUNK TANK ON WHAT TIME?

>> I AM ASSUMING AROUND 4:00.

>> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU MY PLEASURE.

>>WITH LOCAL ELECTION SEASON RAMPING UP IN THE REGION, DULUTH'S SISTER-CITY VAXJO SWEDEN IS PREPARING FOR ITS OWN ELECTIONS.

WHILE ON HER TRIP OVERSEAS, PRODUCER MEGAN MCGARVEY SPOKE WITH LOCAL POLITICIANS ON THE WORKINGS OF THEIR ELECTORAL PROCESS.

'>> MY NAME IS -- I AM A MEMBER OF THE LEFT PARTY.

>> MY NAME IS MELANOMA AND MY AND THE DEPUTY MAYOR AND I REPRESENT THE SOCIAL DEMOCRATS.

>> MY NAME IS ISAAC -- I WORK AS A SPOKESPERSON FOR OUR REGION.

>> WE HAVE REPORTERS IN THE CITY COUNCIL.

IN THE SAME AMOUNT OF POLITICIANS IN THE NATIONAL ARMAMENT.

SO TO MAKE IT VERY -- NATIONAL PARLIAMENT.

SO TO MAKE IT VERY EASY AT THE SAME LEVEL, ALL OF THOSE IN SWEDEN ARE WORKING WITH OPPORTUNITIES AND MORE OR LESS SOCIAL DEMOGRAPHICS.

>> THE ELECTION IS SEPTEMBER 11 AND FOR LOCAL PLATFORM HERE IN BACK ROUTE WE ARE FOCUSING ON A FEW DIFFERENT THINGS.

SCHOOL, WENT TO PUT MORE MONEY INTO SCHOOLS.

AND FIND A WAY TO REDISTRIBUTE THE TEACHERS AND THE MONEY ASSETS SO THAT THE SCHOOLS THAT HAPPENED WAS DIFFICULTIES CAN GET THE MOST HELP.

SO THE PEOPLE GET THE HELP THEY NEED TO MANAGE THROUGH THE SCHOOL YEAR.

>> WE STAND FOR JUSTICE AND WE MAKE A LOT OF EFFORTS TO MAKE EVERYTHING AS CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENTAL FRIENDLY AS WE CAN IN POLITICS.

AND WE STAND FOR VALUES -- WE WANT TO HELP PEOPLE.

WE EXTEND OUR INTERNATIONAL HEALTH INITIATIVES.

>> FOR US WE CANNOT -- WE CARE ABOUT THE ELDERS AND CHILDREN THUS IT WAS IMPORTANT THING.

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE CHILDREN CAN MANAGE SCHOOL AND HAVE A HOPE FOR THE FUTURE.

NEXT AND NEXT ELECTION, WE RUN FOR LOCAL PARLIAMENTS.

AND WE HAVE ABOUT THREE SEEDS IN OUR LOCAL PARLIAMENTS.

-- THREE SEATS IN OUR LOCAL PARLIAMENTS AND WE ARE RUNNING TO HOPE TO TAKE FOUR SEATS.

WE HOPE TO BECOME ONE OF THE LEADING PARTIES OF THE COALITION.

AND DO STUFF TOGETHER.

AND THAT WE GET TO MORE GREEN SUBJECTS ON THE AGENDA.

>> IN SWEDEN, YOU DO NOT VOTE FOR A CANDIDATE -- YOU VOTE FOR A PARTY.

SO THE PARTY SETS POLICE.

YOU CHECK YOUR BALLOT AND VOTE FOR A PARTY.

AND THIS ONE IS FOR THE COUNTY AT ONE IS FOR THE CITY, AND ONE IS FOR THE PARLIAMENTS.

YOU CAN CROSS ONE CANDIDATE, SO YOU CAN BE FLEXIBLE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHICH POLITICIANS SHOULD BE ELECTED.

SO THE SYSTEM DIFFERS A LOT.

YOU CANNOT BE ELECTED AS AN INDIVIDUAL MUST BELONG TO A POLITICAL PARTY NBM PARLIAMENT.

FOR THE MAIN REASONS NUMBER 1 -- IN MY PARTY, AND AS FORMER MAYOR ALLOWED -- >> IN SWEDEN WE HAVE OUR SYSTEM AND THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENCES HERE AND BACKWARD, IT IS GOOD THAT WE HAVE A GOOD COMBINATION BETWEEN THE CITIZENS OF THE MIDNIGHT WORDING -- THE MINORITY.

AND WE ALSO HAVE TO COMPENSATE THE MINORITY IT IS NOT THE BIGGEST PARTIES THAT ARE THE ONES THAT DECIDE BECAUSE WE NEED MINORITY.

SO THERE ARE SOMETIMES A LOT OF SMALL PARTIES THAT DO -- >> DURING THE PERIOD WE DO NOT HAVE AN ELECTION WE HAVE TO COMPROMISE AND WORK TOGETHER.

SOMETIMES WE EVEN DO A BUDGET TOGETHER WITH THE SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC ALREADY.

THAT IS TO THE RIGHT OF US.

BUT DURING THE ELECTION, WE STAND ALONE AS A PARTY WE TRY TO PUSH FORWARD OUR POLICIES AND IDEAS FOR THE COMMUNITY.

>> WE DO NOT HAVE AN AGE LIMIT OR AGE GAP OR WHEN YOU CAN BECOME AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE PARTY.

IN SUITE, YOU ARE ABLE TO VOTE WHEN YOU ARE 18.

THAT IS WHEN A LOT OF PEOPLE START PARTICIPATING.

AND YOU CAN ENGAGE IN POLITICS FROM WHEN YOU ARE 18 AND YOU CAN BE ELECTED TO LOCAL PARLIAMENTS FOR NATIONAL PARLIAMENTS AND REGIONAL PARLIAMENTS.

>> 1974 WHEN I WAS A PARLIAMENT -- AND I WAS ELECTED TO THE CITY COUNCIL SINCE 1974 AND I HOPE TO CONTINUE AT LEAST 25 OR 30 YEARS MORE.

>> MANY YOUNG PEOPLE ARE ENGAGED IN POLITICS AND KNOW A LOT OF POTHOLES BUT THEY DO NOT ENGAGE IN CONVENTIONAL PARTIES.

IT IS HARD GETTING YOUNG PEOPLE ENGAGED WITH POLITICS.

BUT THEY WANT TO AND HAVE A LOT BLOT OF PASSIONS.

AND WE POLITICIANS HAVE TO TAKE THOSE UP ON THE AGENDA AND TABLES.

>> IT IS EASY TO VOTE YOU CAN DO IT BEFOREHAND ALSO YOU CAN DO IT -- IF YOU ARE A RESIDENT IN SWEDEN OR YOU ARE A SWEDISH CITIZEN YOU CAN VOTE FROM FRANCE OR ARGENTINA SO IT IS SIMPLE TO TAKE PART IN THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS IN SWEDEN I WOULD SAY.

>> IT IS DIFFERENT FOR EUROPEAN COUNTRIES ALSO SWISS POLITICS ARE -- SWEDEN POLITICS ARE ALWAYS OPEN.

-- WE VOTE FOR OURSELVES WE DO NOT VOTE FOR CORPORATIONS OR SIDE VOTE WE LEARN ABOUT WHAT PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY INTERESTED IN.

>>AND JOINING US NOW IN THE STUDIO IS ALMANAC NORTH ASSOCIATE PRODUCER MEGAN MCGARVEY, FRESH FROM HER TRIP TO SWEDEN.

WELCOME MEGAN, ARE YOU STILL JET-LAGGED?

>> A LITTLE BIT.

>> TALK TO US ABOUT THE SISTER CITY RELATIONSHIP WITH BECKWITH HOW ACTIVE IS IT?

>> IT IS VERY ACTIVE.

THIS IS OUR FIRST TRIP SINCE THE PANDEMIC THEY HAD TO FREEZE IT FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS.

WE HAD THEM AS A SISTER CITY SINCE 1987.

THEY HAVE BEEN OUR SISTER CITY FOR A LONG TIME.

LET'S YOU ARE INVITED TO GO ALONG BY THE FOUNDATION WHAT WAS THE PURPOSE OF THIS TRIP AND YOUR ROLE GOING ALONG?

>> THE PURPOSE FOR THIS TRIP WAS TO FOCUS ON SUSTAINABILITY HERE.

IN 2018, OUR SISTER CITY WAS CALLED THE GREENEST CITY IN EUROPE.

THOUGH WE WANT TO INVESTIGATE WHAT WERE THEIR PRACTICES AND WHAT CAN WE TAKE HOME BACK FROM THAT.

THAT TRIP.

TO BRING TO DULUTH.

WELL ME PERSONALLY I'VE BROUGHT BACK A COUPLE TOURS AND I'VE BROUGHT A LOT OF FOOTAGE BACK FROM OUR TOURS AT THE SEWAGE WATER TREATMENT PARENT AND SEEING THE RECREATION OF HOW THEY WERE ABLE TO BRING BACK SOME OF THE BLADES THAT SURROUNDED THE CITY.

>> WERE THERE ANY ALL HALF --AH HA MOMENTS FOR YOU?

YES THE BIG MOMENT WAS THEY HAVE BIOFUEL IN THEIR CITY BUSES AND THEY HAVE PAPERBACKS THAT CITIZENS USED.

AND YOU PUT YOUR TRASH IN THE BAGS AND THE TRASH IS COMPOSTED AND MADE INTO BIOFUEL FOR THE BUSES TO RUN.

SO IT IS A WASTE BROUGHT BACK INTO THE CIRCULATION AND NOT USING FOSSIL HOLES.

-- FOSSIL FUELS.

>> WHEN WILL THEY BE GOING BACK?

>> THEY DO CITY EXCHANGES OVER YEARS.

-- EVERY TWO YEARS.

>> WHAT WAS YOUR IMPRESSION WHAT WAS IT LIKE?

>> IT FELT SIMILAR TO DULUTH.

IT IS VERY WALKABLE.

THEY HAD A LAKEWALK THAT I WAS ABLE TO RENT A BIKE AND WALK AROUND.

AND IT FELT VERY MUCH LIKE MINNESOTA AND DULUTH.

THE PEOPLE WERE IN LEAGUE KIND AND ANYTIME THEY WOULD TALK TO ME IN SWEDISH THEY WERE VERY NICE WHEN I WAS LIKE OH ENGLISH PLEASE?

AND THEN THEY WOULD SWITCH TO WISH WHICH WAS VERY KIND OF THEM AS WELL.

>> IS SWEDEN AHEAD OF US WHEN IT COMES TO GREEN ENERGY?

>> I BELIEVE ABSOLUTELY THERE ARE THINGS WE ARE IMPLEMENTING IN THE WEST, BUT I THINK THAT WAS SEATED -- THERE'S A LARGE BUY-IN FROM THE FELLOWS THEY ARE ON THE SAME PAGE AS HOW TO TAKE CARE OF THE COMMUNITY AND EVERY PERSON I SPOKE WITH BELIEVED IN CLIMATE CHANGE AND NOTED THAT THIS WAS REAL AND THEY WANTED TO WORK AGAINST IT AS A COMMUNITY.

>> WHAT WAS IT LIKE BEING A VIDEOGRAPHER THEY ARE OTHER ROLES DIFFERENT?

IS THERE ANYTHING YOU HAD TO LEARN ALONG THE WAY.

>> IT WAS DIFFERENT IN A POSITIVE WAY.

IN SWEDEN, THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOWLEDGE ACT WHERE JOURNALISTS HAVE ACTUALLY A LOT OF FREEDOM.

SO ANYTIME I URGED SOMEONE I INTERVIEWED FOR A SEGMENT I WOULD GIVE THEM A RELEASE FORM BECAUSE IN THE U.S. THAT IS WHAT YOU DO TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE YOUR REMISSION.

BUT EVERY TIME I WOULD ASK THEM TO SIGN IT THEY WERE LIKE WHAT IS THIS?

NECESSARY BECAUSE THEY TRUSTED AS THEY TRUST IN YOUR JOURNALISTS OVER THERE THEY WERE LIKE WE ARE FINE WITH YOU DOCUMENTING THIS.

THAT WAS SUPER UNIQUE.

>> WHAT WAS EXPECTED OF YOU AS A DELEGATE IN SWEDEN?

>> WHAT WAS EXPECTED IS TO MAINLY WATCH AND THIS IN AND TAKEN THE EXPERIENCE AND LEARN SOMETHING.

THE REASON WHY SISTER CITY RELATIONSHIPS HAPPEN IS TO LEARN FROM THE OTHER COMMUNITY AND TO GAIN THE AND UNDERSTANDING.

THE WHOLE REASON EISENHOWER BUILT IT WAS TO PROMOTE PEACE AND UNDERSTANDING ACROSS OCEANS.

SO THAT WAS THE MAIN PART, BUT ABOUT FIVE PART FOUR WDSE WAS TO FEEL EVERYTHING -- FILM EVERYTHING.

>> WE WILL SEE THAT DOCUMENTATION OVER TIME WE NOT?

>> YES.

NEXT WE BROUGHT A LOT.

>> YOU WILL SEE THE SEWAGE WATER TREATMENT PLANT AND WE WERE GIVEN A IN-DEPTH INSIGHT LOOK THERE AND WE HAVE THE OTHER CHANNELS INTERVIEWING PEOPLE FROM THE SOBBING NATION OVER THERE.

AND I GOT TO LEARN ABOUT THOSE PEOPLE.

>> FOR THAT WE HAVE TO WRAP IT UP.

EGGEN CAME BACK FROM SWEDEN ASSOCIATE USER HERE.

THANK YOU, MEGAN.

>> THANK YOU, MEGAN.

>>IT'S TIME NOW FOR "VOICES OF THE REGION".

EACH WEEK WE HEAR FROM AN AREA JOURNALIST ABOUT STORIES THEY ARE FOLLOWING.

THIS TIME OUR GUEST IS AARON BROWN, AUTHOR AND COLUMNIST FROM ITASCA COUNTY WHO SPOKE WITH US USING HIS PHONE DURING A POWER OUTAGE.

>> YES, WE HAD A VERY ACTIVE AND BUSY PRIMARY ELECTION -- THERE WERE TWO RACES THAT I THINK WERE INTERESTING TO FOLLOW.

THE FIRST WAS THE DFL PRIMARY IN THE SENATE DISTRICT SEVEN RACE.

THEN THE NEW CHIEF WAS THE DFL IN THE UNION ENDORSED CANDIDATE FACING CAN LOOK OFTEN.

IT IS STILL HERE IN NORTH COLLEGE WHERE I AM.

SO THERE WAS VERY CLOSE RACE THEY ARE.

IT WAS NOT PREDICTED TO BE SO.

KIMBO GLOBULIN JUMPED IN THE RACE LATE.

AND IT WAS NOT CLEAR WHAT HER OUTCOME WOULD BE, SO, IT ENDED UP BEING MUCH CLOSER THAN PEOPLE ADDICTED 41 VOTES BETWEEN DUTY AT HER.

TAGUCHI DIDN'T WIN THE ELECTION.

HE REALLY RELIED ON HIS SUPPORT IN ITASCA COUNTY AND KIM CARRIES PORTIONS OF THE DISTRICT IN BIG WINS GIVING.

SO IT SHOWS THERE IS A CLOSE RACE THERE.

AND THERE'S SORTING OUT FOR THE DFL TO DO AS THEY ARE IN A NEW ERA NOW BEEN THE NEW SHE WILL FACE ROB NONCE FOR -- THE REPUBLICAN -- THAT IS EXPECTED TO BE ONE OF THE CLOSEST RACES IN THE STATE SENATE.

ALSO AN INTERESTING RACE SENATE DISTRICT GREENWICH IS THE AIRHEAD DISTRICT INCLUDING PARTS OF ST. LOUIS -- CURRENTLY HELD BY SENATOR TOM BOCK JUST RETIRING THERE WAS A REPUBLICAN PRIMARY WHICH WE NOT OFTEN FOLLOW ON REPUBLICAN RANGE.

BUT THEY ARE COMPETITIVE HERE AND IT'S ABOUT 50-50 REGION AS FAR AS I CAN KILL -- AS FAR AS I CAN TELL.

-- LOBBYIST AND DIRECTOR KELSEY JOHNSON.

A STYLE CONTEST BETWEEN JOHNSON AND THE INSIDE MEDIA FRIENDLY TYPE OF CANDIDATE AND -- THE LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIAL.

HE IS KNOWN AS ONE OF THE MAYORS THAT ENDORSE DONALD TRUMP IN 1620.

-- PRESIDENTIAL RACE.

IT WAS NOT THAT CLOSE AND MAYBE THAT IS THE INTERESTING PART OF THE NEWS.

-- PRINT HOUSEHOLD IN THE DFL -- THAT WILL BE ONE OF THE OTHER CLOSE RACES FOR CONTROL OF THE STATE SENATE IN MINNESOTA.

SO TO VERY CLOSE CANDIDATES THERE.

THE LAST TIME WE TALKED U.S. STEEL ANNOUNCE 150 BILL -- 150 MILLION DOLLARS INVESTMENT ON THE RANGE IT WOULD BE IN MOUNTAIN IRON OR QUAY WALKER NOW WE KNOW IT WILL BE IN QUAY WALKER.

THEY ARE ALREADY HIRING AND PLANNING ON THE EXTENSION OF THE TECHNOMIC PLAN TO REDUCE A DIFFERENT TYPE OF PELLET THAT FEEDS INTO THE FURNACES THAT IS PART OF THE DIRECT REDUCED IRON PROCESS.

IT'S A STEP PROCESS.

THEY ARE MAKING HIGHER GRADE IRON PELLETS AS A FUTURISTIC NEWER FORMS OF MAKING DEAL.

GOOD NEWS FOR THE REGION IS THAT IT INVOLVES THERE BEING MORE VALUE-ADDED TO IRON PRODUCTION AND NEW AGE STUFF THAT WILL KEEP SOME OF THE FACILITIES OPEN.

IT IS ONLY THE BEGINNING.

THERE'S A LOT OF NEW INVESTMENT AND TECHNOLOGY IN THE REGION BRINGING THE INDUSTRY FURTHER ALONG AND WE WILL SEE HOW THOSE EFFORTS GO.

>> DOES STILL GET IS THE THREAT TO SOME OF THE SMALL TOWNS ON WEST SERVICE SOBBING.

AND ALL YOU HAVE TO KNOW IS IT'S A FORMER IRON MINE THAT FILLED UP WITH WATER AS THEY DO WHEN THEY ARE PUMPED OUT OF WATER AND WHEN THE WATER GOES BACK IN WHEN THE TOWN WAS BUILT WITH THE MIND THE TOWN MIND IS SELF NEAR THE WATER TABLE AND THAT HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH KANDISS TAYLOR.

AND THERE WAS MITIGATION EFFORTS -- BUT NOW 700 AND THOUSAND DOLLARS OF RESOURCES MONEY THAT IS IRON MINING TAXATION MONEY IS NOW GOING TO PUMPING OUT THE PIT AGAIN TO MAKE A PERMANENT SOLUTION.

THAT IS GOOD NEWS THAT STARTS OCTOBER 1.

IF YOU HAVE A BASEMENT IN THE CITY -- YOU ARE HAPPY ABOUT THAT.

BUT THE THING TO FOLLOW IS THAT THESE KINDS OF PITS ARE ALL OVER.

AND AS MINDS CLOSE, AS ONE DAY THEY ALL WILL, THE REGION HAS TO FACE THE FACT IT HAS TO DO A LOT OF PUMPING.

RIGHT NOW THE LINE IS PUMPING BUT AS WATER FILLS IN THERE WILL BE ROADS, TOWNS, PUBLIC EGGS THAT WILL BE THREATENED BY THE WATER.

-- PUBLIC THINGS THAT WILL BE THREATENED BY THE WATER.

WE NEED TO WATCH THIS AND SEE WHERE THE FUTURE GOES AND WHAT KIND OF INFRASTRUCTURE MIGHT NEED TO BE DONE.

>> THANKS AARON WE ARE 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.

JULIE, I HOPE EVERYONE CAN GET OUT AND ENJOY THIS LAST WEEKEND OF AUGUST, FALL IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER.

>> FALL IS ALWAYS BEAUTIFUL, BUT THESE LAST FEW WEEK AND DAYS OF SUMMER ARE SPECIAL.

>> THEY ARE SPECIAL ARE THEY?

THEY TRULY ARE.

THANKS TO OUR GUESTS AND OUR CREW IN THE STUDIO.

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