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

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

JULIE: CIRRUS AIRCRAFT PLANS TO TRANSFORM THE FORMER AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE FACILITY IN DULUTH INTO ITS NEW INNOVATION CENTER TO DEVELOP NEXT-GEN AIRCRAFT.

DENNIS: ALSO WE'LL HAVE A REPORT ABOUT THE PLAY "KUMBAYA, A JUNETEENTH STORY" PERFORMED RECENTLY AT DULUTH DENFELD.

JULIE: AND THE DULUTH SUPERIOR SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA KICKS OFF ITS NEW SEASON SATURDAY, WE'LL FIND OUT WHAT'S IN STORE FOR SYMPHONY GOERS.

DENNIS: THOSE STORIES AND VOICES OF THE REGION, COMING UP NEXT ON ALMANAC NORTH.

♪ HELLO, AND WELCOME TO ALMANAC NORTH, THANKS FOR WATCHING.

JULIE, FALL IS OFFICIALLY HERE, AND IT SURE FELT LIKE IT THESE PAST COUPLE OF MORNINGS.

JULIE: I HAVE BEEN TURNING MY HEAT ON.

DENNIS: NORTH OF DULUTH FROST THIS MORNING.

LET'S BEGIN NOW WITH THE HEADLINES.

JULIE: THANKS, DENNY.

EARLY VOTING BEGAN TODAY IN MINNESOTA, 46 DAYS BEFORE THE GENERAL ELECTION ON NOVEMBER 8.

MINNESOTANS CAN VOTE EARLY BY MAIL OR IN PERSON AT A LOCAL ELECTION OFFICE.

IF YOU VOTE BY MAIL, YOU MUST HAVE A WITNESS' SIGNATURE AND MAKE SURE YOUR BALLOT ARRIVES BY ELECTION DAY.

BALLOTS THAT ARRIVE LATE WILL NOT BE COUNTED.

DENNIS: IT'S BEEN A GOOD WEEK FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-SUPERIOR.

UWS REPORTED ENROLLMENT GROWTH FOR A SECOND STRAIGHT YEAR, ONE OF ONLY THREE UW SYSTEM SCHOOLS WITH AN INCREASE OF STUDENTS.

AND THE UW SUPERIOR FOUNDATION ANNOUNCED IT HAD SURPASSED ITS FUND-RAISING GOAL OF $20-MILLION DOLLARS, WITH OVER $25 MILLION RAISED TO SUPPORT THE UNIVERSITY.

JULIE: FOND DU LAC TRIBAL AND COMMUNITY COLLEGE ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK IT IS THE FIRST 2-YEAR COLLEGE IN MINNESOTA TO OFFER A BACHELOR'S DEGREE.

FOND DU LAC WILL OFFER A 4-YEAR BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN ELEMENTARY EDUCATION, WITH THE FIRST COHORT OF STUDENTS TAKING CLASSES BEGINNING IN JANUARY.

THE NEW DEGREE WILL LEAD TO A MINNESOTA TEACHER KINDERGARTEN TO SIXTH GRADE LICENSE.

DENNIS: AND DULUTH LANDMARKS WILL BE LIT IN TEAL COLORS THIS WEEKEND TO RAISE AWARENESS OF OVARIAN CANCER.

THE ANNUAL "LIGHT DULUTH TEAL" GALA WILL BE HELD SATURDAY AT THE DECC.

THE MINNESOTA OVARIAN CANCER ALLIANCE HOLDS THE ANNUAL EVENT, AND IT HAS RAISED MORE THAN $10-MILLION DOLLARS TOWARDS OVARIAN CANCER RESEARCH.

JULIE: CIRRUS AIRCRAFT RECENTLY ACQUIRED THE FORMER NORTHWEST AIRLINES MAINTENANCE FACILITY FROM THE CITY OF DULUTH.

THE MASSIVE BUILDING WAS SOLD FOR JUST $1 WITH CIRRUS COMMITTING TO A MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR RENOVATION OF THE FACILITY, AND PLEDGING TO BRING MORE JOBS TO DULUTH.

ALMANAC NORTH PRODUCER GREG GRELL SAT DOWN FOR AN INTERVIEW WITH CIRRUS' PRESIDENT OF INNOVATION AND OPERATIONS PAT WADDICK TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE COMPANY'S PLANS FOR THE BUILDING.

JEFF: CIRRUS HAS A LONG -- >> CIRRUS HAS A LONG HISTORY OF INNOVATION SAYS WITH PERMISSION, WHICH IS TO DELIVER A PINNACLE PERSONAL AVIATION EXPERIENCE ROOTED IN INNOVATION SAFETY AND QUALITY.

INNOVATION IS NEAR AND DEAR TO US.

AS WE HAVE BEEN GROWING AS A COMPANY NOT ONLY DO WE NEED TO KEEP EXPANDING IN FACTORING SPACE, BUT WE ARE ALSO EXPANDING OUR INVESTMENTS IN MULTIPLE PLATFORMS IN INNOVATION AND PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT.

SO WE REALLY HAVE BOTH OF THESE ARE PLAY AT THE SAME TIME.

WE WENT TO BOTH EXPAND OUR MANUFACTURING, BUT ALSO KEEP MAKING INVESTMENTS IN INNOVATION.

IT WORKS OUT WELL FOR BOTH.

AS WE MOVE OUR TEAMS INTO THIS NEW CENTER IT ALLOWS US TO EXPAND OUR MANUFACTURING OPERATION.

>> THIS WAS FORMERLY OWNED BY THE CITY OF DULUTH AND TO GIVE YOU A GOOD DEAL.

WHAT KIND OF COMMITMENTS HAVE YOU MADE TO THE CITY TO OBTAIN THIS FACILITY?

>> THIS IS ONE OF THOSE WIN-WIN SITUATIONS.

THE CITY DID NOT HAVE PEOPLE BEATING ON THEIR DOOR TO GET INTO THE FACILITY.

WE, AS I MENTIONED, ARE GROWING, EXPANDING.

WE NEEDED SOLUTIONS OR THAT THAT WERE PRETTY MUCH IMMEDIATE AND ACCESSIBLE, SO IT WORKS PERFECTLY.

I ALWAYS LIKE IT WHEN, MAYBE IT IS TRY TO TALK ABOUT PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS, BUT IT REALLY DOES TAKE A LOT OF COLLABORATION AND SIMILAR INTERESTS THAT DO RESULT IN WIN-WINS TO MAKE THINGS HAPPEN EFFICIENTLY AND WITH THE RIGHT OUTCOMES.

WE ARE GOING TO BE INVESTIGATING QUITE A BIT, IT IS A GREAT BUILDING, BUT IT IS RELATIVELY OLD.

WE WILL MAKE A WORLD-CLASS INNOVATION SPACE BOTH IN OUR OFFICE AND ENGINEERING AREAS AS WELL AS OUR SHOP AREAS.

AND OF COURSE THAT IS GOING TO BRING JOBS.

OF COURSE THAT IS ALWAYS OF INTEREST BOTH TO CIRRUS AND THE CITY, AND WE EXPECT TO ADD ANOTHER 80 JOBS IN THE NEXT TWO OR THREE YEARS JUST IN THE INNOVATION SPACE.

AND AT THE SAME TIME IT FREES UP SPACE HERE, AND WE WILL BE ADDING MORE JOBS WERE MANUFACTURING.

SO IT IS A WONDERFUL SITUATION BOTH FOR THE LOCAL AREA AS WELL AS CIRRUS.

>> WHICH DEPARTMENTS WILL BE OPERATING OUT OF THE AREA?

>> IT WILL BE ALL OF OUR AREA.

AT THE VERY BEGINNING OUR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROCESSES, OUR ADVANCED DESIGN GROUP.

WE WILL HAVE THE PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT AREA, WHICH IS DESIGNED ENGINEERING AND AIRWORTHINESS, BUT THERE ARE ALL SORTS OF OTHER FUNCTIONS THAT MAKE IT ALL WORK, RIGHT?

THE EXPERIMENTAL DEPARTMENT, WHICH BUILDS PROTOTYPES AND MODIFIES AIRCRAFT FOR TESTING AND EVALUATION, OUR ENGINEERING FLIGHT TEST ORGANIZATION AND THE NUMBER OF OTHER SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING PROGRAM MANAGEMENT AND OTHERS.

IT IS A PRETTY SIZABLE GROUP RIGHT NOW WE HAVE.

OVER 300 PEOPLE IN THESE AREAS AND WE WILL BE GROWING MORE, SO IT REALLY IS GOING TO BE A VIBRANT PLACE, A COOL PLACE TO BE.

>> IT HAS BEEN A DIFFICULT YEAR AND I AM WONDERING HOW CIRRUS HAS FARED THROUGH THE ECONOMIC DOWNTURN?

>> IT HAS BEEN EXCITING, BUT AS YOU ALLUDED TO THEREOF BEEN CHALLENGES.

SO MANY OTHER INDUSTRIES AND COMPANIES FACE, AUTOMOTIVE, AEROSPACE, OTHER INDUSTRIES, AND SUPPLY CHAIN IS USUALLY ONE OF THE HEADLINES, BUT ALSO WE ARE SEEING RECORD UNEMPLOYMENT RATES.

AS WE ARE GROWING AND WE LOOK FOR TALENTED, SKILLED PEOPLE, THAT DOES MAKE IT A LITTLE MORE CHALLENGING FROM A RECRUITING STANDPOINT, BUT WE HAVE A LOT TO OFFER.

WE HAVE A WONDERFUL CULTURE.

JUST RECENTLY WE WERE VOTED ONE OF THE BEST LARGE COMPANIES TO WORK FOR IN DULUTH.

WE THINK THIS IS A GREAT PLACE TO BE, BUT THAT MEANS WE HAVE TO KEEP GETTING OUR MESSAGE OUT IN A NEW AND DIFFERENT WAYS AND KEEP GROWING BY TALKING TO DIFFERENT PEOPLE IN THIS REGION.

>> I DO NOT EXPECT YOU TO REVEAL ANY SECRETS BUT DO YOU ENVISION CIRRUS DEVELOPING NEW TYPES OF AIRCRAFT?

>> THAT IS WHAT WE DO.

I AM OFTEN ASKED BY CUSTOMERS WHAT IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER?

WELL, YOU ARE RIGHT, THERE ARE LOTS OF TOP-SECRET THINGS GOING ON AREA ALTHOUGH I CANNOT TELL YOU, I WILL TELL YOU ONE THINK YOU CAN ALWAYS COUNT ON IS CHANGE.

WE ARE CONSTANTLY CHANGING, WE HAVE A CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT MINDSET, AND THERE ARE REALLY, REALLY EXCITING THINGS WAITING FOR US -- MAYBE NOT WAITING FOR US, BUT IN THE FUTURE NEW TECHNOLOGIES, NEW WAYS OF BUILDING AIRCRAFT, SO IT WILL BE EXCITING IN THE COMING YEARS WHAT EVERYONE IS GOING TO SEE.

>> PAT, THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING WITH US.

♪ DENNIS: A PRODUCTION OF "KUMBAYAH, A JUNETEENTH STORY" TOOK TO DENFELD HIGH SCHOOLS' STAGE FOR A ONE NIGHT ONLY PERFORMANCE.

FROM SET UP TO SHOW TIME THE TROUPE HAD ONE GOAL, TO EDUCATE STUDENTS AND THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THE MEANING OF OUR NEWEST FEDERAL HOLIDAY.

PRODUCER MEGAN MCGARVEY TALKED WITH STUDENTS AND MEMBERS OF THE PRODUCTION TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS PLAY.

♪ >> I THINK WE HAVE GOTTEN THE WORD OUT ABOUT JUNETEENTH.

UNFORTUNATELY, WHEN WE ENGAGE WITH THE AUDIENCE SO MANY PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF THE BLACK COMMUNITY ARE UNAWARE OF WHAT JUNETEENTH IS OR THE CONTEXT OR THE DEEPER KNOWLEDGE AND ANY KEY FACTS NOT ONLY AROUND SLAVERY BUT THE EMANCIPATION OF BLACK PEOPLE.

KUMBAYA CAME TO DEN FIELD BECAUSE WE WERE APPROACHED WITH AN OPPORTUNITY, AND THEN FELT -- DENFIELD IS A PLACE THAT IS RECEPTIVE TO THAT.

THEY APPROACHED ME EARLIER IN THE SUMMER.

MY IMMEDIATE REACTION WAS OF COURSE WE ARE GOING TO DO IT.

HOW OFTEN DO YOU GET A LIVE THEATER PRODUCTION THAT IS ENTERTAINING AS WELL AS INFORMATIVE TYPICALLY ON TOPICS WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT AS MUCH AS WE SHOULD.

>> THIS PLACE -- PLAY WAS WRITTEN YEARS AGO TO EDUCATE PEOPLE ON WHAT JUNETEENTH MEANT, MANY COMMUNITIES CELEBRATE JUNETEENTH, I BEEN, BUT IT IS GENERALLY WITH A PARADE, OR A LOT OF EATING, BUT TYPICALLY PEOPLE DO NOT KNOW WHAT IT IS ABOUT.

>> I GREW UP IN THIS PLAY WHEN IT WAS BACK IN THE TWIN CITIES.

I WAS A GRADUATE OF A HIGH SCHOOL IN ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA WHERE I WAS A MEMBER OF THE FESTIVAL STORYTELLERS, MUCH OF THE CAST OF THE PLAY BACK WHEN THE PLAY WAS BEING DONE.

ROSE MCGEE WAS ONE OF MY STORYTELLING TEACHERS, AND I GREW UP PLAYING ONE OF THE LEADING CHARACTERS IN THE PLAY AND NOW I HAVE GROWN AND AGED WITH THE PLAY.

I PLAY OPPOSITE MY WIFE, SO WE LITERALLY WOULD NOT BE MARRIED AND TOGETHER LIKE THIS WERE IT NOT FOR THIS PLAY.

AFTER WE DID THE PLAY IN THE TWIN CITIES SAID IT WOULD BE COOL IF IT CAME TO DULUTH.

THE STARS ALIGNED AND WE SAID WE LIKE THAT IDEA.

>> PEOPLE DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW DIVERSE DENFIELD IS IN A LOT OF WAYS.

ANYTIME YOU CAN BRING A STORY THAT BROADENS STUDENT PERSPECTIVE, WHEN TEXTBOOKS ARE WRITTEN, THEY ARE WRITTEN FROM A NARROW PERSPECTIVE.

ANY THINK YOU CAN DO TO CONTINUALLY BRINGING CONTENT AND PERSPECTIVE INTO EDUCATION SYSTEM, LET'S FACE IT.

A BOOK IS A BOOK.

THIS WAS A LIFE EXPERIENCE FOR OUR KIDS TO SIT WILL LIVE THEATER, SO WE IS ABOUT BROADENING PERSPECTIVE.

>> DOES YOUR BACK HURT FROM THE SHARP KNIVES SOCIETY HOLDS TO YOUR SPINE?

[INDISCERNIBLE] DOES YOUR BACK HURT FROM CARRYING AROUND THE WEIGHT OF GENERATIONAL TRAUMA?

>> WHEN I WAS WRITING THE POEM I WAS SITTING IN MY BED SATURDAY, BECAUSE I HAD EXPERIENCED SOMETHING I AM NOT GOING TO SHARE, AND IT MADE ME TAKE A LONGER LOOK AT ALL OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED TO PEOPLE OF COLOR IN THIS COUNTRY.

WHEN I WAS WRITING THIS, ME PERSONALLY, I FELT LIKE HELL -- HOW TIRED AND WORN OUT I AM ABOUT HOW PEOPLE OF COLOR ARE BEING TREATED.

>> [INDISCERNIBLE] >> THE WAY SHE CREATED IT AND DELIVERED IT WAS COMPLETELY PROFESSIONAL.

IT WAS MESMERIZING TO HEAR HER DOING THAT.

ESPECIALLY YOUR PEERS, THERE IS NOT A TOUGHER AUDIENCE ON THE PLANET THAN YOUR PEERS WHEN YOU ARE A TEENAGER.

SHE DELIVERED IT WITH CONFIDENCE AND CONVICTION.

IT WAS ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT GIVE YOU THE GOOSEBUMPS.

>> STUDENTS NO TJUST IN DENFIELD BUT ALL OVER THE DULUTH AREA NEED TO LEARN ABOUT HOW THESE EXPERIENCES THAT PEOPLE HAVE HAD AND ARE HAVING AFFECT THE REAL WORLD TODAY.

WANTING TO KNOW MORE, WANTING TO LEARN MORE ABOUT JUNETEENTH AND MORE ABOUT THE HISTORY THAT COMES WITH BLACK PEOPLE AND AMERICA AND WANTING TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ALL OF THE MISTREATMENT THAT PEOPLE OF COLOR GET IN THIS COUNTRY, AND RECOGNIZING IT, BECOMING AWARE OF IT AND WANTING TO ACTUALLY CREATE CHANGE THEMSELVES.

>> WE DO NOT WANT TO STAY THERE WITH THE HISTORY.

HE WENT TALK ABOUT MOVING FORWARD.

AND THAT IS KEY SO THAT YOUNG PEOPLE WILL UNDERSTAND THAT IT TAKES ALL OF US TO WORK TOGETHER IN POSITIVE WAYS NO MATTER HOW UGLY THE PAST MIGHT HAVE BEEN.

>> LET'S FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN MOVE THIS THING BY WORKING TOGETHER.

♪ DENNIS: NOW IF YOU MISSED THE PRODUCTION OF "KUMBAYAH A JUNETEENTH STORY," YOU CAN FIND CLIPS OF IT ON THE MINNESOTA HUMANITIES CENTER WEBSITE AT WWW.MNHUM.ORG JULIE: CLASSICAL MUSIC LOVERS REJOICE, THE DULUTH SUPERIOR SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA OPENS ITS NEW SEASON THIS WEEKEND AT THE DECC'S SYMPHONY HALL.

THE FIRST CONCERT OF THE SEASON FEATURES DSSO CONCERTMASTER ERIN ALDRIDGE ON KORNGOLD'S "VIOLIN CONCERTO" AND THE MUSIC OF BRAHMS.

HERE TO TELL US MORE IS DIRK MEYER, THE DSSO'S MUSIC DIRECTOR.

AND BRANDON VANWAEYENBERGHE IS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE SYMPHONY.

WELCOME, THANKS TO BOTH OF YOU FOR BEING HERE.

SO YOU ARE ENTERING THE 91ST SEASON OF DSS SO, WHICH IS VERY IMPRESSIVE.

HOW UNIQUE IS THAT FOR A COMMUNITY THE SIZE OF DULUTH SUPERIOR TO HAVE THAT LONG A HISTORY?

ARE IT IS QUITE UNIQUE NOT JUST FOR A SMALLER COMMUNITY BUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

DSSO IS DEFINITELY ONE OF THE OLDER CONTINUOUSLY PERFORMING ORCHESTRAS IN THE UNITED STATES.

WE CAN BE PROUD OF THAT FOR SURE.

DENNIS: CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE FIRST CONCERT OF THE SEASON.

WHAT IS IT ABOUT?

>> WHAT IS ALL OF THAT ABOUT?

I WONDER MYSELF.

WE OPENED THIS SEASON WITH A PIECE BY A COMPOSER FROM MICHIGAN, ACTUALLY, AND HE WROTE A PIECE SEVERAL YEARS AGO CALLED AMERICAN PORT OF CALL, AND IT IS A MUSICAL DEPICTION OF A VERY BUSY AMERICAN PORT OF CALL.

WE HAVE ONE AT OUR DOORSTEPS.

WE THOUGHT THAT WOULD BE AN APPROPRIATE OPENING TO THE SEASON.

THAT IS FOLLOWED BY A WONDERFUL VIOLENT CONCERTO PLAYED BY OUR CONCERTMASTER.

SHE WILL BE PERFORMING THE VIOLIN CONCERTO.

KORNGOLD MOST PEOPLE WILL KNOW FROM THOSE OLD MOVIES FROM THE GOLDEN AGE OF HOLLYWOOD.

HE WROTE MUSIC TO ROBIN HOOD AND THINGS LIKE THIS.

IT IS BASED ON THEMES HE WROTE FOR DIFFERENT MOVIES, AND IN THE SECOND HALF WE HAVE ONE OF MY FAVORITES, THE BRAHM SYMPHONY NUMBER ONE, AND WE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR MANY YEARS AND I AM SO EXCITED WE WILL AUDIT ON THE SATURDAY.

JULIE: BRANDON, WE HAD YOU HERE WHEN YOU ARE WHEN DSSO WAS ONE OF THE FIRST ORGANIZATIONS TO GO BACK TO LIVE PERFORMANCES.

DOESN'T LOOK DIFFERENT THIS YEAR?

ARE IT DOES -- >> ACTUALLY IT DOES.-REVERSE TH.

THE NEW YORK TIMES HAD A REPORT THAT SYMPHONY AUDIENCES ARE SHRINKING.

WE HAVE ADDED MORE SUBSCRIBERS, SO WE WILL HAVE MORE PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE THAT WE HAVE HAD IN THREE YEARS BE AT ONE OF OUR CONCERTS.

DENNIS: HOW DOES THE SYMPHONY IN THE CITY?

>> IT HELPS BIND PEOPLE TOGETHER, BEING PROUD OF YOUR CULTURAL ELEMENTS.

BE PART OF HOCKEY AND OTHER ELEMENTS OF THE COMMUNITY, CIRRUS WAS ON EARLIER, WE ARE A PILLAR OF THE COMMUNITY ADDING CULTURAL EXPERIENCES.

>> IT IS IMPORTANT TO THE CULTURAL FABRIC OF THE CITY, AND EVEN FOR FOLKS WHO MAY NOT TO ATTEND A SYMPHONY CONCERT, THEY STILL WANT TO LIVE IN A CITY WHERE THINGS ARE HAPPENING, THERE IS A CULTURAL LIFE.

IT DOES NOT MATTER IF THIS IS UP YOUR ALLEY OR NOT.

IT IS A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF THE CULTURAL LIFE OF THE CITY.

JULIE: I UNDERSTAND THE THEME FOR THIS YEAR.

HOW DO YOU DEVELOP A PROGRAM AROUND A THING LIKE THAT.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CONSIDERATIONS AS YOU LOOK TO PUT TOGETHER THESE CONCERTS TO MAKE SURE IT IS APPEALING TO THE AUDIENCE AND FITS THE THEME?

>> WE ACTUALLY JUST HAD A MEETING ABOUT NEXT SEASON TODAY.

THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT ELEMENTS THAT GO INTO PROGRAMMING AND ENTIRE SEASON.

WHAT DO WE THINK OUR MUSICIANS SHOULD PLAY?

WHAT HAS A RELATIONSHIP TO OUR COMMUNITY?

FOR EXAMPLE, AMERICAN PORT OF CALL IS SOMETHING WE CAN RELATE TO.

THIS YEAR AND OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS WE ARE MAKING A CONSCIENTIOUS EFFORT TO INCLUDE A BIT MORE MUSIC BY UNDERREPRESENTED VOICES, MUSIC BY BLACK COMPOSERS, NEMO COMPOSERS, ETC.

DENNIS: WHERE DO YOU FIND YOUR TALENT?

>> THE MAJORITY OF OUR MUSICIANS LIVE AND WORK HERE LOCALLY.

SOME OF THEM TEACH MUSIC AT THE LOCAL UNIVERSITY AND HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL.

SEVERAL OF THEM ALSO HAVE OTHER JOBS.

ONE IS A RETIRED ACCOUNTANT WHO PERFORMS WITH US.

WE BRING IN SOME MUSICIANS WHEN THE CITY WHEN WE NEED TO, BUT WE LOVE THAT WE HAVE LOCAL TALENT AND CONTINUED TO DEVELOP IT THROUGH OUR YOUTH ORCHESTRA PROGRAM.

WE HAVE SEVERAL GRADUATES THAT CONTINUE TO PERFORM WITH US.

JULIE: ARE THERE SEATS AVAILABLE?

>> THERE ARE TICKETS AVAILABLE.

TICKETS ARE $20.

WE HAVE ADDED 08, IT 409 BY THE TIME THIS PROGRAM IS OVER.

DENNIS: THANK YOU BOTH VERY MUCH.

♪ IT'S TIME NOW FOR OUR WEEKLY SEGMENT "VOICES OF THE REGION," WHEN WE HEAR FROM AN AREA JOURNALIST ABOUT THE STORIES THEY ARE COVERING.

TONIGHT, OUR GUEST IS NORTHERN MINNESOTA AUTHOR AND COLUMNIST AARON BROWN.

♪ >> ONE OF THE INTERESTING RACES HERE IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA ON THE IRON RANGE IS SENATE DISTRICT SEVEN RACE, A NEW DISTRICT SEVEN.

THE LATE SENATOR, THE AREA THAT WAS PART OF HIS DISTRICT.

AND IT FEATURES A REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE, AND ALSO AS OF RECENTLY A WRITE IN CANDIDATE.

THE DFL PRIMARY IT WAS VERY CLOSELY CONTESTED.

THE FORMER ANTI-COMMISSIONER AGAINST KEN MCLAUGHLIN WHO WORKS AT MINNESOTA NORTH.

IN THAT CLOSE RACE DENUCCI WON THAT RACE.

THEY TALKED ABOUT A RECOUNT, AFTERWARDS IT WAS NOT CLOSE ENOUGH TO TRIGGER AN AUTOMATIC RECOUNT.

KIM MCLAUGHLIN ANNOUNCED SHE WOULD PURSUE A WRITING CAMPAIGN.

IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WAS EXPECTED I THINK, PERHAPS RELATING TO THE POOR RELATIONS BETWEEN THOSE TWO CAMPS AFTER THE PRIMARY.

BUT IT IS AN IMPORTANT THING.

RIGHT IN -- WRITE IN CAMPAIGNS ARE HISTORICALLY UNSUCCESSFUL IN THEIR OUTCOME.

IT COULD BE A FACTOR IN THIS RACE.

IT IS ALREADY EXPECTED TO BE A CLOSE, COMPETITIVE RACE.

SO IF DENUCCI CANNOT COUNT ON SOME DEMOCRATS WHO MIGHT VOTE WRITE IN FOR MCLAUGHLIN THAT WOULD BE A VERY IMPACTFUL THING IN SUCH A CLOSE RACE.

I JUST TALKED TO WILL PETERSON FROM POC LAST WEEK.

THE SNEAK PEAK IS THAT THIS FAULT THEY ARE GOING TO RENAME THE PLANT, WHICH HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE FOR 100 YEARS, ACTUALLY THIS YEAR.

IT IS BEING NAMED THE HIBBING RENEWABLE ENERGY CENTER.

THIS WAS A COAL PLANT, AND IN MORE RECENT DECADES THEY DID WORK WITH BIOMASS, BURNING WOOD.

A WOOD BURNER IN AGREEMENT WITH MINNESOTA POWER.

THAT TECHNOLOGY COUPLED WITH THE CONTRACT THAT THEY HAD WITH THE CITY OF HIBBING WHO NOT ESPECIALLY SUCCESSFUL, THEY STILL HAVE THIS WOULD BOILING WOOD BOILER CAPACITY.

AFTER AN AGREEMENT WITH MINNESOTA POWER THERE OPERATING A WOOD BOILER USING WASTE FROM PALLET FACTORIES AND OTHER SOURCES IN THE REGION.

THEY ARE TRACKING IN WOOD WASTE EVERY DAY AND TURNING IT INTO ELECTRICITY FOR HIBBING.

THEY BELIEVE THIS WILL REDUCE RATES WERE PEOPLE IN TOWN AND INDEPENDENT MUNICIPAL POWER IS AN OPTION IN OUR VERY EXPENSIVE ENERGY MARKET RIGHT NOW.

SO THE FUTURE MIGHT BE WOOD.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT WOOD PRODUCTS, THERE IS WOOD WASTE BEING USED TO MAKE ENERGY BECAUSE THERE WERE ARE A LOT OF COMPANIES MAKING WOOD PRODUCTS.

THIS HAS GOING ON FOR MORE THAN A CENTURY, BUT NOW WE ARE SEEING COMPANIES LIKE HUBER AND NOW ARBOR WOOD COMING OVER TO DEVELOP THESE HIGHLY REFINED WOOD PRODUCTS, OSB BOARDS, CITING AND OTHER PRODUCTS -- S IDING AND OTHER PRODUCTS TURNED INTO A LONG-LASTING DURABLE GOOD.

HUBER IS GOING TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW PROCESS, IT HAS HAD A FEW CHALLENGES BUT THE ARBOR WOOD PROJECT ORIGINALLY PROPOSED FOR A FACTORY IN GRAND RAPIDS AND MOVED ITS FOCUS OVER TO ANOTHER BUILDING AS ANNOUNCED THEY ARE COMING BACK TO THE ORIGINAL SITE NEAR GRAND RAPIDS TO MAKE THEIR PLANT HERE.

I POINT THAT OUT COUPLED WITH HUBER AND OTHER PRODUCTS FOR R WOOD MARKETS WERE SEEING A MARKET WHERE LOGGING WOOD PRODUCTS DO WELL IN THE FUTURE.

DENNIS: STILL PLENTY OF TIME TO GET UP AND ENJOY THE FALL COLORS.

JULIE: THERE ARE STILL STARTING TO SHINE.

DENNIS: THANKS TO OUR GUESTS AND OUR CREW IN THE STUDIO.

WITH JULIE ZENNER, I'M DENNIS ANDERSON.

GOOD NIGHT, EVERYONE, AND BE KIND!

♪