JULIE: I'M JULIE ZENNER.

HERE'S WHAT YOU'LL SEE NEXT ON "ALMANAC NORTH."

STARRY SKIES NORTH IS WORKING TO DOUSE LIGHT POLLUTION AND BRING DARKER SKIES TO THE REGION.

WE'LL LEARN MORE ABOUT THE GROUP'S EFFORTS.

A TEAM OF SWIMMERS SWAM FROM SPLIT ROCK LIGHTHOUSE TO DULUTH THIS WEEK TO HIGHLIGHT WARMING WATERS ON LAKE SUPERIOR.

AND THE UNITED STATES ENERGY SECRETARY VISITED MOUNTAIN IRON AND DULUTH THIS WEEK TO SEE HOW FEDERAL INVESTMENTS IN GREEN ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES ARE PAYING OFF.

THOSE STORIES AND “VOICES OF THE REGION ” UP NEXT ON ALMANAC NORTH.

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

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

DENNY IS OFF THIS WEEK.

BUT LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THE WEEK'S STORIES.

THE ANNUAL DULUTH SUPERIOR PRIDE CELEBRATION BEGAN THURSDAY WITH THE MAYORS' RECEPTION AT THE ST. LOUIS COUNTY DEPOT IN DULUTH.

THE RECEPTION KICKED OFF THE 37TH YEAR OF PRIDE IN THE TWIN PORTS.

ACTIVITIES INCLUDE THE PRIDE FESTIVAL AT BAYFRONT PARK ON SATURDAY AND THE PRIDE PARADE BEGINNING AT NOON SUNDAY ON TOWER AVENUE IN SUPERIOR.

DULUTH'S SALVATION ARMY RECEIVED A GENEROUS DONATION THIS WEEK THAT WILL HELP KEEP THE ARMY'S HOUSING PROGRAM SOLVENT.

A $200,000 CHECK WAS PRESENTED TO THE ARMY THURSDAY FROM THE ESTATE OF KAREN HALLBACK MAIN, WHO PASSED AWAY IN 2022.

THE GIFT CAME AT THE PERFECT TIME TO FILL A $130,000 DEFICIT IN THE SALVATION ARMY'S HOUSING PROGRAM BUDGET.

LEGISLATORS ON THE CAPITAL INVESTMENT COMMITTEE WILL VISIT NORTHEAST MINNESOTA NEXT WEEK ON A BONDING TOUR.

LAWMAKERS WILL VISIT SITES HOPING TO BE INCLUDED IN NEXT YEAR'S CAPITAL INVESTMENT BILL.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS WILL VISIT MOOSE LAKE, PROCTOR, DULUTH, TWO HARBORS AND MANY OTHER SITES APPLYING FOR STATE INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING.

AND THE DULUTH LIONS CLUB WILL HOLD ITS SECOND ANNUAL "STRIDES FOR DIABETES" RALLY ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 9.

THE EVENT RUNS FROM 8:00 A.M. TO NOON AT THE COLLEGE OF ST. SCHOLASTICA'S SOMERS LOUNGE.

THE EVENT WILL INCLUDE A STRIDES WALK, DIABETES INFORMATION AND FREE DIABETES TESTING, ALL TO RAISE AWARENESS AND FUNDING TO PREVENT DIABETES.

THIS WEEK'S BLUE SUPER MOON WAS EASY TO SEE IN THE NIGHT SKY, BUT MANY OTHER CELESTIAL SIGHTS ARE OBSCURED BY LIGHT POLLUTION.

THE ORGANIZATION STARRY SKIES NORTH WORKS TO CURTAIL STRAY OUTDOOR LIGHTING AND MAKE THE NIGHT SKIES VISIBLE FOR ALL.

HERE TO TELL US MORE ABOUT “CELEBRATE THE NIGHT SKY ” WEEK IS BOB FOUCAULT, VICE PRESIDENT OF STARRY SKIES NORTH, AND ANDREW PAPKE-LARSON IS A BOARD MEMBER WITH STARRY SKIES NORTH.

AND WELCOME.

THANKS FOR BEING HERE!

THAT SUPER BLUE MOON WAS PHENOMENAL.

YOU TWO ARE INTERESTED IN THE NIGHT SKIES ALL OF THE TIME.

TALK ABOUT WHAT LIGHT POLLUTION IS AND HOW IT INHIBITS BEING ABLE TO SEE THINGS IN THE NIGHT SKY.

BOB: SURE.

WELL, IT CREATES A LIGHT DOME, WHICH REACHES FAR OUT FROM THE SOURCES, ESPECIALLY WITH THE BLUER AND WHITER LIGHTS, BUT BESIDES OBSCURING THE NIGHT SKY, IT HAS NEGATIVE HEALTH EFFECTS, NEGATIVE EFFECTS ON THE ENVIRONMENT.

BIRDS NEED DARKNESS FOR MIGRATION.

THAT IS IMPORTANT IN DULUTH, SO IT HAS A WIDE RANGE OF NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES.

JULIE: ANDREW, IS THERE A WAY TO MEASURE LIGHT POLLUTION?

ANDREW: THERE IS.

A WELL-KNOWN MEASUREMENT IS A SCALE WHICH IS A MEASUREMENT OF HOW WE CAN SEE THE NIGHT SKY, AND THAT RANGES FROM ONE TO NINE, BRIGHTER, HIGHER NUMBERS IN URBAN AREAS, SO IF YOU ARE IN DULUTH, YOU WILL HAVE A HIGHER NUMBER THAN IF YOU WERE IN BOUNDARY WATERS.

JULIE: BOB, YOU MENTIONED LIGHT POLLUTION IMPACTS HEALTH.

SPEAK TO IT THAT A LITTLE BIT IN TERMS OF HOW THAT -- BOB: SURE.

ALL LIFE ON EARTH HAS EVOLVED WITH DATE AND NOT COME IN NOW THE NIGHTS -- DAY AND NIGHT, AND NOW NIGHTS ARE GETTING BRIGHTER, SO WE NEED THAT CIRCADIAN RHYTHM THAT HAVE MELATONIN PRODUCED WHEN IT IS DARK SO IT'S THROWING OFF SLEEP CYCLES FOR HUMANS AND WILDLIFE.

JULIE: IS THERE EVIDENCE IT LEADS TO BIODIVERSITY LOSS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT?

ANDREW: JUST TO JUMP BACK TO MELATONIN, THERE IS A CONNECTION WITH LIGHT POLLUTION, CANCER, OTHER DISEASES SUCH AS HEART DISEASE, DIABETES, AND EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT LIGHT POLLUTION HAVING HARMFUL EFFECTS ON DIFFERENT ANIMALS, AND THAT GOES BACK TO THE FACT THAT FOR MILLIONS OF YEARS IT WAS DAY AND NIGHT AND THERE WAS NO LIGHT AT NIGHT.

JULIE: HOW ABOUT THE SAFETY ASPECT OF LIGHT AT NIGHT TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE CAN SEE WHERE THEY ARE GOING AND -- BOB: SECURITY.

YEAH, THAT IS AN IMPORTANT CONSIDERATION, AND BRIGHTER AND MORE LIGHTS DO NOT NECESSARILY EQUATE TO SAFETY.

UM, MANY STUDIES HAVE SHOWN CITIES THAT HAVE PUT IN BETTER ORDINANCES FOR INVITING HAVE NOT SEEN AN INCREASE IN CRIME.

THE GLARE FROM BRIGHT LIGHTS CAN ACTUALLY CAUSE YOU NOT TO SEE IN THE SHADOWS AND TO BE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS, SO IT IS A MATTER OF DIRECTING THE LIGHT WHERE IT IS NEEDED, THE COLOR OF THE LIGHT IS IMPORTANT ALSO, BUT YOU CAN HAVE GOOD DARK SKY-FRIENDLY LIGHTING AND PERFECT SAFETY ALSO.

WE ARE INTERESTED IN HAVING DARK SKIES, NOT DARKER GROUND.

JULIE: RIGHT.

[LAUGHTER] ANDREW, I UNDERSTAND YOUR LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT?

ANDREW: YES.

JULIE: DO A LOT OF BUSINESSES, ORGANIZATIONS, HOMEOWNERS THINK ABOUT LIGHT POLLUTION WHEN DESIGNING PROJECTS?

ANDREW: YEAH.

YEAH.

IT HAS BEEN IN THE BACKGROUND BUT IT IS COMING UP MORE AND MORE.

THE STANDARD IN THE PAST HAS BEEN PUT IN MORE LIGHTING BECAUSE WE CAN AND IT IS NOT EXPENSIVE AND WE THINK IT IS SAFER, SO LIKE BOB SAID, WE CAN DO THIS SMARTER.

MORE LIGHT DOES NOT MEAN SAFER.

WE CAN THINK ABOUT THE RIGHT LIGHTING AND LIGHTING CHOICES, SO IT IS SOMETHING OUT THERE BECOMING MORE OF AN ISSUE ALL THE TIME, SO.

JULIE: DID YOU WANT TO -- BOB: USING CONTROLS LIKE MOTION DETECTORS AND THINGS, IT IMPROVES THE SAFETY, YOU KNOW.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE THE LIGHTS ON CONTINUOUSLY.

WHEN THERE IS MOTION AND THE LIGHTS COME ON THAT IS WHEN YOU NOTED SOMETHING HAPPEN.

JULIE: HOW IS DULUTH OR THE TWIN PORTS OVERALL DOING IN TERMS OF TRYING TO BEFRIEND ME TWO DARK SKIES?

BOB: WELL, DULUTH HAS GOOD LIGHTING.

WE ARE TALKING WITH THEM TO IMPROVE IT, BUT STARRY SKIES NORTH STARTED AROUND 2015 WITH A GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT WERE INTERESTED IN TALKING WITH THE CITY ABOUT THE 4000K LIGHTS THEY WERE STARTING TO PUT UP, SO IT HAS MADE A DIFFERENCE AND NOW IT IS AN IMPROVEMENT FROM BACK THEN, DEFINITELY AN IMPROVEMENT.

JULIE: MORE PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF DARK SKIES THESE DAYS?

I UNDERSTAND THERE IS AN EMMY NOMINATION FOR BIDDY YOU PRODUCE.

BOB: I WAS DIRECTOR AND EDITOR.

STARRY SKIES NORTH PRODUCED BY PBS NORTH, JUST NOMINATED FOR REGIONAL EMMY, SO THAT AWARENESS IS INCREASING AND THAT IS OUR MAIN MISSION TO INCREASE PUBLIC AWARENESS AND GET THIS DISCUSSION OUT IN THE PUBLIC VOCABULARY.

JULIE: LET'S TALK ABOUT CELEBRATE THE NIGHT SKY WEEK COMING UP ABOUT A WEEK FOR NOW.

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF HAVING A WEEK DESIGNATED FOR THIS?

ANDREW: TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THE VALUE OF DARK SKIES AND LIGHT POLLUTION, AS WELL AS TO CELEBRATE THE BEAUTIFUL NIGHT SKIES IN DULUTH AND THE AREA.

WE HAVE A LOT OF GREAT EVENTS THAT DO THAT THROUGHOUT THE WEEK.

I THINK WE KICKOFF THE WEEK LOOKING AT SOME BIRDS AND TALKING ABOUT IMPACTS AND HOW THEY IMPACT MIGRATION WITH THE NIGHT SKIES AND LIGHT POLLUTION, AND THROUGHOUT THE WEEK WE DO DIFFERENT THINGS, TRIVIA, A PLANETARIUM SHOW, AS WELL AS A KEY EVENT ON THURSDAY THEN FINISH UP THE WEEK SATURDAY AT THE AQUARIUM.

JULIE: TALK ABOUT THAT EVENT.

BOB: IT WILL START WITH A HAPPY HOUR AT 6:00 P.M. WE HAVE RAFFLE PRIZES, A SILENT AUCTION, AND MICHAEL MONROE, THE MINNESOTA EXTRAORDINARY GUITARIST AND SINGER, SO A CONCERT WITH MICHAEL MONROE, THEN PHOTOGRAPHS FROM A PERSON'S UPCOMING BOOK, SPIRITS DANCING.

HE IS A GREAT PHOTOGRAPHER FEATURED IN THE DOCUMENTARY, AND BOB KING, ASTRAL BOB WOULD TAKE US ON THE TOUR OF THE NIGHT SKIES AND TELL US WHY WE SHOULD BE LOOKING UP.

JULIE: AND A CERTIFICATE RECOGNIZING IT?

BOB: YES, WE HAVE A NEW INITIATIVE RECOGNIZING BUSINESSES THAT ARE DARK SKY FRIENDLY, SO WE WILL PRESENT THAT AT THE EVENT.

JULIE: WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THEY HAVE DONE?

BOB: WELL, ALL OF THE LIGHTING INSIDE AND OUTSIDE IT IS NO BRIGHTER OR HOTTER THAN 2700 KELVIN, LIKE INCANDESCENT LIGHTS USED TO BE, SO WARM LIGHT, A HEALTHIER LIGHT.

ALL OF THE LIGHTING ON THE EXTERIOR IS LOWER CALVIN, SO MORE -- KELVIN, SO MORE LIGHT FRIENDLY.

SCOTT HAS BEEN A LEADER IN THE MOVEMENT WITH BUSINESS FRIENDLY LIGHTING.

ANDREW: IT IS FULLY SHIELDED SO YOU WOULD NOT GET BACK GLARE COMING INTO YOUR EYES.

BOB: YEAH.

ANDREW: GO AND CHECK IT OUT BECAUSE IT HAS A NICE WARM FEELING, SAID THE THIEVING BETWEEN THAT AND A BRIGHT LIGHT IS DIFFERENT, SO THE EXPERIENCE IN THOSE SPACES IS REALLY NICE.

JULIE: BECKY STONE EVENT WILL BE SEPTEMBER 14?

-- THAT KEYSTONE EVENT WILL BE SEPTEMBER 14.

BOB: SEPTEMBER 14.

JULIE: DO PEOPLE NEED TICKETS?

BOB: ALL THE EVENTS ARE FREE BUT REGISTRATION ON A WEBSITE, SO FOR THAT ONE, WE ARE ASKING PEOPLE TO REGISTER, STARRY SKIES NORTH.ORG, JULIE: THAT IS ALL THE TIME WE HAVE.

GOOD LUCK.

ANDREW: COME ON DOWN.

JULIE: THANK YOU.

BOB: THANK YOU.

♪ JULIE: THIS WEEK, SIX EXPERIENCED LONG-DISTANCE SWIMMERS TEAMED UP TO SWIM FROM SPLIT ROCK LIGHTHOUSE TO DULUTH, A DISTANCE OF 48 MILES.

IT WAS THE LONGEST DOCUMENTED SWIM IN LAKE SUPERIOR WITHOUT WETSUITS.

PBS NORTH VIDEOGRAPHER STEVE ASH PRODUCED THIS VIDEO OF THE HISTORIC RELAY SWIM.

♪ >> WHEN THEY SOUND THE FOGHORN, I WILL ENTER THE WATER AND SWIM WITH THE KAYAKER AND THE SAILBOAT, WHICH IS OUR MAIN ESCORT VESSEL WAS THAT THE SAILBOAT WILL SET THE DIRECTION -- VESSEL, SO THE SAILBOAT WAS SET THE DIRECTION AND THE SPEED.

>> [INDISCERNIBLE] >> I AM READY.

ANYTIME.

THEY MUST BE HAVING BREAKFAST.

>> [INDISCERNIBLE] [APPLAUSE] >> GO, KAREN, GO!

♪ >> THERE ARE SIX SWIMMERS, A KAYAKER, TWO BOAT CAPTAINS ON THE DIVE BOAT, TWO CAPTAINS ON THE SAILBOAT.

THERE ARE A LOT OF OUT THERE.

♪ >> ALL RIGHT.

>> WELCOME.

GOOD.

[LAUGHTER] >> I WILL GET YOU A TOWEL.

DO YOU NEED HELP STEPPING OVER?

>> GOT IT.

ALL RIGHT.

-- YOU GUYS.

♪ >> YOU HAVE TO GET THE BUTTERFLIES OUT IN THE FIRST LEG.

[HORN] ♪ >> WE HAVE THREE-FOOT SWELLS WITH WHITE CAPS LATER IN THE DAY.

I FOUND THOSE WERE EXCITING.

THOSE WERE THE SWIMS WHERE I LOST TRACK OF TIME AND KEPT GOING BECAUSE I WAS SO INVOLVED IN WHAT I NEEDED TO DO TO SWIM THROUGH THAT.

♪ [HORN] >> YOU ARE GOOD TO GO.

♪ >> OH, I LOVE SWIMMING IN THE DARK.

>> WHY?

>> IT IS DIFFERENT.

YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU WILL GET.

>> SWIMMER ON DECK.

>> THAT WAS A LULL IN OUR.

-- LONG HOUR.

THE 15 KIDS SETTLING IN.

>> IT IS A -- THE FATIGUE IS SETTLING IN.

[HORN] >> NEUTRAL.

NEUTRAL.

>> YOU GET TO FINISH THIS OUT.

ARE YOU EXCITED?

>> YES, LUCKY FOR THIS ONE.

IT IS SO CLOSE.

IT IS A MILE.

>> WE HAVE SIX PEOPLE IN OUR RELAY THAT SWAM IN OUR ROTATION SO WE EACH HAVE FOUR TURNS IN THE WATER.

WE WERE FINISHING THE FINAL ROTATION AT -- BEACH.

>> [INDISCERNIBLE] >> THE REASON THIS IS BEING ORGANIZED IS TO DRAW ATTENTION TO THE FACT THE LAKE IS WARMING AT A REALLY RAPID RATE, AND OF COURSE THAT IS ATTACHED TO FIGURE -- BIGGER, HUGE ISSUES.

>> THE DOCUMENTARY ON LAKE SUPERIOR LOOKS UP AT ISSUE.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN THAT THE SURFACE WATERS OF LAKE SUPERIOR ARE 4° TO 5 FAHRENHEIT WARMER THAN THEY WERE 30 YEARS AGO?

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR THE LEGACY OF THIS INCREDIBLE COLD WATER LAKE, THE LARGEST FRESHWATER LAKE IN THE WORLD THAT HAS 10% OF THE WORLDS SURFACE FRESHWATER?

IT IS WARMING UP.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR THE LAKE'S NATURAL SYSTEM, FOR COMMUNITIES OF PEOPLE WHO LIVE ALONG THE SHORES, COMMERCIAL FISHERMEN, PEOPLE WHO LOVE TO SWIM IN THE LAKE?

SO WE ARE REALLY EXAMINING THOSE QUESTIONS, THAT THE SWIM HELPS TO BRING AWARENESS TO THAT.

YOU KNOW, IT SEEMS TO HAVE TOUCHED A CHORD AND PEOPLE ARE EXCITED TO KNOW ABOUT THIS GROUP OF SWIMMERS OUT THERE DOING THIS, SO IT REALLY IS A WAY OF HELPING TO COMMUNICATE THAT MESSAGE.

♪ >> WE FEEL LIKE THIS IS A NATIONAL STORY YOU KNOW?

LAKE SUPERIOR IS AN EXTRAORDINARY RESOURCE.

WATER HAS BECOME SUCH AN IMPORTANT ISSUE FOR EVERYBODY IN THE AMOUNT OF CLEAN, CLEAR, COLD FRESHWATER HERE IS OF INCREASING IMPORTANCE.

JULIE: AND OUR COVERAGE OF THE EVENT IS PART OF A PBS NORTH DOCUMENTARY COPRODUCED WITH HAMLINE UNIVERSITY'S CENTER FOR GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION.

A SEACHANGE FOR LAKE SUPERIOR EXAMINES WHAT THE LAKE'S WARMING WATERS MAY MEAN FOR PEOPLE IN THE LAKE ITSELF.

THE DOCUMENTARY WILL DEBUT LATER THIS YEAR ON PBS NORTH.

♪ JULIE: UNITED STATES ENERGY SECRETARY JENNIFER GRANHOLM VISITED NORTHERN MINNESOTA THIS WEEK.

THE FEDERAL ENERGY CZAR TOURED A MOUNTAIN IRON SOLAR MANUFACTURING PLANT, WHICH IS BENEFITING FROM FEDERAL INVESTMENTS IN GREEN ENERGY.

LATER, SHE VISITED THE SOLAR GARDEN IN LINCOLN PARK, WHERE PBS NORTH VIDEOGRAPHER AJ LARSON CAUGHT UP WITH HER.

♪ JENNIFER: THE GREAT THING ABOUT WHAT THE PRESIDENT WANTS TO SEE IS THAT EVERY POCKET OF AMERICA CAN BENEFIT FROM THE INVEST IN AMERICA AGENDA, MEANING ALL THESE TAX CREDITS AVAILABLE MAKE SMALL COMMUNITIES, BIG COMMUNITIES, IRRESISTIBLE TO THOSE WHO WANT TO INVEST.

ONE ANNOUNCEMENT TODAY IS THE NATION'S LARGEST COMMUNITY SOLAR PROGRAM WAS ANNOUNCED IN MOUNTAIN IRON, MEANING 400 COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHO DO NOT HAVE ROOFTOPS PERHAPS BECAUSE THEY ARE RENTERS OR WHOSE ROOFS CANNOT SUPPORT IT IN FAMILIES CANNOT AFFORD THE UPFRONT COST OF SOLAR.

THEY CAN ACCESS SOLAR POWER AND SOLAR POWER IS NOW IN MANY PLACES THE CHEAPEST FORM OF POWER.

NOW FOR THOSE WHO CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE TO INSTALL SOLAR PANELS, THE AGENDA IS GOOD FOR HIM TOO BECAUSE IT ALLOWS FOR A 30% TAX CREDIT IF YOU WANT TO INSTALL SOLAR PANELS.

THOSE WHO WANT TO MANUFACTURE SOLAR PANELS, THERE ARE TAX CREDITS FOR ALL THE SUPPLY CHAINS, SO FROM CONSUMERS TO MANUFACTURERS TO COMMUNITIES, IT IS A WRAPAROUND STRATEGY THAT PUSHES FORWARD THIS CLEAN ENERGY AGENDA.

♪ WE WANT TO SEE COMMUNITY SOLAR SPREAD ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND THE COST OF THE SOLAR PANELS CONTINUES TO DRIVE DOWN COSTS FOR PEOPLE, SO THIS EXAMPLE TELLS FOLKS THAT ANYWHERE YOU LIVE, YOU CAN HAVE ACCESS TO SOLAR PANEL AND BE PART OF THIS SOLUTION.

>> THE VAST MAJORITY OF CITIES ARE UNDER 200,000, AND I WOULD ARGUE COMMUNITIES OF SCALE LIKE OURS CAN CREATE IMPACT EASILY, SUCCESSFULLY AND WITH MORE INNOVATION BECAUSE WE KNOW EACH OTHER.

>> MINNESOTA WAS A LEADER IN REQUIRING UTILITIES TO ALLOW COMMUNITY SOLAR INTO THE GRID, SO THE FOUNDATION FOR THIS KIND OF INNOVATIVE COMMUNITY SOLAR PROJECT IS HERE IN MINNESOTA, AND NOW THANKS TO THE WORK OF PRESIDENT BIDEN AND THE ADMINISTRATION, WE HAVE A FEDERAL PARTNER READY TO MAKE SURE PROJECTS PAY OFF QUICKER AND CAN GENERATE BENEFITS FASTER FOR LOW INCOME RESIDENTS WHO FRANKLY HAVE BEEN THE ONES WHO HAVE OFTEN PAID THE BIGGEST PRICE OF POLLUTION OF FOSSIL FUELS.

WE ARE HERE TO TRANSFORM COMMUNITIES AND THAT'S WHAT PROGRAMS LIKE THIS DO, IT REALLY CHANGES PEOPLE'S LIVES.

JULIE: IT IS TIME NOW FOR “VOICES OF THE REGION ”, WHEN WE HEAR FROM AN AREA JOURNALIST ABOUT STORIES MAKING NEWS.

THIS WEEK OUR GUEST IS MARSHALL HEMLBERGER, PUBLISHER OF THE TIMBERJAY NEWS IN TOWER.

♪ MARSHALL: OFFICIALS AT A HOSPITAL HAVE ANNOUNCED THEY HAVE COMMISSIONED A STUDY TO EXAMINE HOW TO ADDRESS THE FINANCIAL PROBLEMS THAT HAVE BEEN PLAGUING THE AMBULANCE SERVICE FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

THE SERVICE WHICH USED TO BE RIGHT OUT OF THE HOSPITAL WAS SPUN OFF AS A NONPROFIT ENTITY OR THAN 10 YEARS AGO AND HAS STRUGGLED FINANCIALLY IN THE PAST FEW YEARS.

MULTIPLE CITIES AND SURROUNDING TOWNSHIPS HAVE BEEN HEAVILY SUBSIDIZING THE AMBULANCE SERVICE FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS AS IT HAS BEEN LOSING MORE THAN $200,000 ANNUALLY.

IT IS NOT ALONE.

OTHER AND EVEN SERVICES IN OUR AREA ARE STRUGGLING FINANCIALLY AS WELL.

MOST HAVE SWITCHED TO A PAID ON-CALL MODEL IN RECENT YEARS AS THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO ATTRACT VOLUNTEERS AS IN THE PAST AND MUST STAFF THEIR AMBULANCE SERVICES 24 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, AT LEAST ON AN OFF CALL BASES AND STAFFING COSTS HAVE JUMPED REMARKABLY FOR MANY SERVICES OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, AND LEAVING MOST IN THE RED.

THE HOSPITAL IS HOPING THE STUDY CAN ILLUMINATE THAT ARE APPROACHES AND THEY PLAN TO TALK TO NEIGHBORING AMBULANCE SERVICES TO SEE IF THERE MIGHT BE A REGIONAL SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM.

AND DYLAN SERVICES ARE CAUGHT BETWEEN THE NEED TO PAY ON-CALL STAFF AND THE FACT THE REVENUE SERVICES ARE LARGELY FIXED.

MOST REVENUE COMES FROM 911 EMERGENCY CALLS, BUT THOSE CALLS ARE NOT PROFITABLE REALLY SINCE MOST ARE PAID FOR THROUGH MEDICARE AND MEDICAL ASSISTANCE, AND REIMBURSEMENT RATES ARE USUALLY WELL BELOW THE ACTUAL COST OF PROVIDING THE SERVICE.

MOST SERVICES CAN'T MAKE A PROFIT ON NON-EMERGENCY INTER-HOSPITAL TRANSFERS THAT MOST CAN'T DO ENOUGH TO CLOSE THE GAPS BETWEEN REVENUE AND EXPENSES.

♪ WE ARE ALSO REPORTING ON THE DEPTH OF THE RECENTLY RETIRED COMMISSIONER OF THE IRON RANGE RESOURCES AND REHABILITATION BOARD OR AGENCY.

HE LIVED ON A LAKE WITH HIS WIFE PATTY AND PREVIOUSLY SERVED AS A COMMISSIONER WAY BACK DURING ANOTHER ADMINISTRATION, BUT SPENT EIGHT YEARS AT THE HELM OF IT AND BROUGHT A MAJOR CHANGE IN DIRECTION FOR THE AGENCY.

WHILE THE AGENCY HAD PREVIOUSLY CREATION AT ALL COSTS, HE THOUGHT IT MADE MORE SENSE TO FOCUS ON THE QUALITY OF EMPLOYMENT OVER QUANTITY ESPECIALLY SINCE THERE WAS A SHORTAGE IN THE AREA.

HE ALSO BELIEVED IT WAS TIME TO QUIT CHASING SMOKESTACKS, AS HE PUT IT, REFERRING TO THE AGENCY'S LONGTIME INTEREST IN BRINGING MANUFACTURING JOBS TO THE REGION.

INSTEAD, HE PUSHED FOR FOCUS ON THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE IRON RANGE COMMUNITIES, INCREASING THE AGENCY'S INVESTMENTS IN COMMUNITY AMENITIES AND OUTDOOR RECREATION.

THE AGENCY SPENT MILLIONS UNDER HIS WATCH ON THINGS LIKE HIKING TRAILS AND BICYCLING TRAILS, USING THE SUCCESS AND CROSBY WITH MOUNTAIN BIKING TRAILS.

IT IS A TRIED AND TRUE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT APPROACH THAT FOCUSES ON BUILDING COMMUNITIES WHERE PEOPLE WANT TO LIVE AND ATTRACTS CREATIVE PEOPLE AND ENTREPRENEURS AND OVER TIME CREATES A MORE DIVERSE AND SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY.

PHILLIPS HAD BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH BLADDER CANCER IN 2017 BUT HAD CONTINUED TO WORK THROUGH LAST YEAR, EVEN AS HE UNDERWENT A SERIES OF DEBILITATING TREATMENTS FOR THE DISEASE.

THE TREATMENTS EXTENDED HIS LIFE, BUT ONLY FOR A TIME.

HE DIED ON AUGUST 23 AT HOME AT 73.

♪ AND FINALLY, WE ARE REPORTING ON THE BEAR SEASON WHICH GOT UNDERWAY TODAY AND RUNS THROUGH OCTOBER 15.

DESPITE THE DRY WEATHER THIS SUMMER, THE NATURAL FOODS ARE ABUNDANT IN THE WOODS.

WE HAD THE BEST JUNE BARRY CROFT IN MEMORY AND THE RASPBERRIES, PLUMS, AND CHERRIES ARE EXCEPTIONAL AS WELL.

THAT HAS A BIG IMPACT ON HUNTER SUCCESS SINCE BEARS ARE LESS ATTRACTED WHEN THEY HAVE NATURAL ALTERNATIVES, SO WE ARE EXPECTING A LOWER THAN USUAL TAKE THIS FALL.

THAT WOULD BE GOOD NEWS FOR BEARS, PARTICULARLY IN FAR NORTHERN MINNESOTA WHERE NUMBERS HAVE BEEN SLOW TO RECOVER FROM THE AGGRESSIVE HARVEST A DECADE AGO THAT CUT THE BEAR POPULATION IN HALF.

♪ JULIE: YOU CAN KEEP UP WITH ALMANAC NORTH BY FOLLOWING THE SHOW ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.

GO TO THE PBS NORTH WEBSITE FOR PROGRAM UPDATES, NEWS ABOUT THE STATION, AND UPCOMING EVENTS.

AND DON'T FORGET TO DOWNLOAD THE PBS VIDEO APP TO WATCH YOUR FAVORITE PBS PROGRAMS ANY TIME YOU WOULD LIKE.

AND FINALLY THIS WEEK, A PROGRAMMING NOTE.

NEXT WEEK WE WILL BROADCAST A SPECIAL HOUR-LONG ALMANAC NORTH “CORE CONVERSATION ” ON LEGALIZED MARIJUANA IN MINNESOTA.

WATCH FOR THAT SHOW HOSTED BY MAARJA HEWITT ON FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 8.

FROM ALL OF US HERE AT PBS NORTH HAVE A GREAT LABOR DAY WEEKEND.

I'M JULIE ZENNER.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

GOOD NIGHT!

♪