DENNY: I'M DENNIS ANDERSON, HERE'S WHAT'S COMING UP ON ALMANAC NORTH!

MINNESOTA STATE SENATORS TRAVELED THE ARROWHEAD REGION THIS WEEK, LOOKING AT POTENTIAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS FOR THE NEXT STATE BONDING BILL.

WE'LL HAVE A REPORT.

A DULUTH NATIVE HAS A NEW SERIES AIRING ON PBS THIS FALL, WE WILL MEET IAN GRANT, PRODUCER AND HOST OF "CULTURE QUEST".

THIS WEEK'S "VOICES OF THE REGION" SEGMENT.

THESE STORIES AND MORE COMING UP RIGHT NOW ON ALMANAC NORTH!

♪ DENNY: HELLO AND WELCOME TO ALMANAC NORTH, THANKS FOR WATCHING!

JULIE ZENNER IS OFF TONIGHT.

TOPPING THE HEADLINES, A DULUTH NATIVE WHO WAS TAPPED BY PRESIDENT BIDEN TO BE THE U-S AMBASSADOR TO ISREAL HAD HIS NOMINATION HEARING THIS WEEK.

MINNESOTA SENATOR AMY KLOBUCHAR INTRODUCED TOM NIDES TO THE SENATE FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE, LET'S TAKE A LOOK: >> LET ME TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT TOM.

HE GREW UP IN DULUTH AS THE YOUNGEST OF EIGHT SIBLINGS.

HIS FATHER SERVED AS THE PRESIDENT OF TEMPLE ISRAEL AND THE DULUTH JEWISH FEDERATION AND HIS MOTHER WAS A TEACHER.

HIS SISTER TOLD THE DULUTH NEWS TRIBUNE THAT THEIR PARENTS WOULD BE GOING CRAZY WITH JOY IF THEY WERE ALIVE TO SEE THEIR SON NOMINATED TO SERVE AS AMBASSADOR TO ISRAEL.

I WAS AMUSED THE DAY THAT TOM WAS NOMINATED TO READ THE HEADLINE IN THE DULUTH NEWS THAT SAID THIS.

MAN WHO GREW UP IN DULUTH NOMINATED AMBASSADOR TO ISRAEL.

TOM WAS INNOVATIVE FROM A YOUNG AGE.

AS A SENIOR AT DULUTH EAST HIGH SCHOOL, HE WAS TASKED FINDING A SPEAKER FOR HIS HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION.

HE WANTED WALTER MONDALE WHO JUST HAPPEN TO BE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

HE LEARNED THAT THE BEST TIME AS A HIGHSCHOOLER TO CATCH THE CHIEF OF STAFF WAS AT 5:30 IN THE MORNING.

HE REACHED OUT AND WALTER MONDALE AGREED TO SPEAK AT HIS HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION.

HE WAS A TRUSTED ADVISOR TO A CONGRESSMAN AND A SPEAKER.

HE WORKED FOR SOMEONE IN THE OFFICE OF THE U.S. TRADE REPRESENTATIVE.

HE LATER SERVED AS DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE FOR MANAGEMENT AND RESOURCES WITH SECRETARY CLINTON UNDER PRESIDENT OBAMA.

DURING THAT TIME, HE DISTINGUISHED HIMSELF AS A KEY VOICE ON ISRAEL AND AN ADVOCATE FOR HUMANITARIAN SUPPORT FOR OUR U.S.

ALLIES.

FOR HIS OUTSTANDING SERVICE, HE WAS AWARDED THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD.

HIS PRIVATE SECTOR AND TRADE BACKGROUND AS WELL AS HIS STRONG BACKGROUND IN MIDDLE EASTERN POLICY MAKES HIM THE PERFECT CHOICE TO SERVE AS OUR AMBASSADOR TO ISRAEL.

DENNY: NIDES HAS PREVIOUS GOVERNMENT EXPERIENCE AND IS CURRENTLY THE MANAGING DIRECTOR OF MORGAN STANLEY.

DULUTH'S "COMPLETE COUNT" COMMITTEE HELD A NEWS CONFERENCE THIS WEEK TO ANNOUNCE A SLIGHT INCREASE IN THE CITY'S POPULATION.

THE CITY GREW BY A LITTLE OVER 400 PEOPLE, ACCORDING TO THE 2020 CENSUS RESULTS.

DULUTH IS ALSO BECOMING MORE DIVERSE, WITH RESIDENTS OF COLOR NOW MAKING UP 16-PERCENT OF THE POPULATION.

BUSINESSES IN ST. LOUIS COUNTY ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY FOR THE RELIEF GRANTS".

MORE THAN $64-MILLION DOLLARS ARE AVAILABLE TO BUSINESSES THAT CAN DEMONSTRATE FINANCIAL HARDSHIP DUE TO THE PANDEMIC.

BUSINESSES THAT DID NOT RECEIVE ASSISTANCE FROM PREVIOUS STATE RELIEF PROGRAMS WILL RECEIVE PRIORITY FOR THESE GRANTS.

AND MINNESOTA OFFICIALS ANNOUNCED TODAY THEY ARE RECOMMENDING PFIZER COVID-19 BOOSTER SHOTS TO STATE RESIDENTS AFTER FEDERAL GUIDANCE WAS ANNOUNCED.

MINNESOTANS WHO ARE 65 AND OLDER AND RECEIVED THE PFIZER VACCINE AT LEAST 6-MONTHS AGO SHOULD RECEIVE A BOOSTER.

YOUNGER FOLKS WITH UNDERLYING MEDICAL CONDITIONS SHOULD CONTACT THEIR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER TO SEE IF BOOSTERS ARE RECOMMENDED FOR THEM.

THE 2022 MINNESOTA LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS A FEW MONTHS AWAY, BUT STATE LAWMAKERS WERE OUT ON THE ROAD THIS WEEK FOR A TOUR OF PROJECTS ELIGIBLE FOR STATE BONDING.

MEMBERS OF THE SENATE CAPITAL INVESTMENT COMMITTEE TOURED THE ARROWHEAD REGION BY BUS TO SEE PROJECTS FIRSTHAND.

WDSE VIDEOGRAPHER STEVE ASH CAUGHT UP WITH THE LAWMAKERS DURING A STOP IN GRAND RAPIDS: >> I USED TO SERVE ON THE COMMITTEE.

YOU USED TO SEE A DESCRIPTION ON PAPER AND YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS.

A PREVIOUS YEAR HAD A PROJECT THAT WAS 12 MILLION TO REORIENT THE FRONT DOOR.

YOU SAY THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY TO REORIENT THE DOOR.

SEEING THE PROJECT IN PERSON HELPS YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT THE NEEDS ARE FOR EACH OF THESE INDIVIDUAL CAMPUSES AND WHY THE STATE SHOULD BE A PART OF FUNDING THOSE.

THE FIRST PROJECT WE ARE VISITING IS AT A COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

IT IS ASSET PRESERVATION.

TAKING CARE OF WHAT WE ALREADY OWN TO MAKE SURE THE CAMPUSES CAN CONTINUE SO WE DON'T HAVE TO TEAR THE PROPERTIES DOWN AND REBUILT.

>> THE LEGISLATURE IN EVEN-NUMBERED YEARS ALWAYS DOES A BILL WHERE WE SELL GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS THAT INVEST IN PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE AROUND THE STATE.

LEADING UP TO THE 2022 SESSION, THE BONDING COMMISSION HOUSE AND SENATE NORMALLY MAKE TOURS AROUND STATE AND LOOK AT PUBLIC PROJECTS THAT HAD SUBMITTED PROPOSALS TO THE ADMINISTRATION FOR FUNDING.

>> I DON'T THINK WE HAVE TIME TO GO LOOK AT THE OLDER EQUIPMENT.

IT IS REALLY OLD AND DECREPIT FROM 74.

IT IS REALLY INEFFICIENT AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.

>> SOME OF DETERMINING WHAT THE PRIORITIES ARE GOING TO BE IS JUST GETTING OUT ON THE GROUND AND LOOKING AT PROJECTS, SEEN WITH THE MOST URGENT NEEDS ARE.

THERE WERE ABOUT $5 BILLION WORTH OF REQUESTS TURNED IN TO THE ADMINISTRATION.

IN JUNE, THEY TABULATED ALL OF THAT AND SENT IT TO THE LEGISLATURE.

WE PICKED OFF A NUMBER OF PROJECTS TO TAKE A LOOK AT.

WE WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO SEE ALL OF THEM.

WE WILL GET BACK TO ST. PAUL AND GENERALLY, THE SPENDING IS PUT INTO CATEGORIES.

ABOUT HIGHER EDUCATION, THEY GET ABOUT ONE THIRD OF WHAT IS IN A CAPITAL INVESTMENT BILL.

THEN THERE WILL BE THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES.

HIGHWAYS, BRIDGES, OF COURSE THE PUBLIC FACILITIES AUTHORITY IS THE AGENCY THAT DOES WASTEWATER AND WATER INFRASTRUCTURE.

THE STATE ALWAYS HELPS THOSE KINDS OF INVESTMENT THAT'S A RELIEF ON HOMEOWNERS AND BUSINESSES THAT HAVE TO PAY THE COST OF WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE.

WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT THE GRAND RAPIDS WATER TREATMENT PLANT TODAY.

THEY HAVE A SIGNIFICANT PROJECT THEY NEED TO DO.

>> WELCOME TO GRAND RAPIDS.

I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE JULIE AS THE GENERAL MANAGER.

>> WE HAVE FIVE WELLS.

WE PULL WATER FROM TWO AQUIFERS.

I WOULD LOVE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS.

ANY OF US, OR WE HAVE TOURS INSIDE.

>> IF YOU GET SOMEONE FROM THE WATER TREATMENT FACILITY AND THE MAYOR AND A COUPLE OF MEMBERS FROM THE COMMUNITY TO SAY THIS IS A GOOD IDEA, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS HELP.

WE RELY ON PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN ANY INDIVIDUAL DISTRICT.

THEIR TESTIMONY TO HELP US GET THOSE PROJECTS ACROSS THE FINISH LINE.

IF YOU DON'T HAVE SOMEBODY SERIOUS ABOUT IT, AND MAKES IT HARDER PAST.

-- IT MAKES IT HARDER TO PASS.

>> MEMBERS WILL SUBMIT BILLS TO THE COMMITTEE FOR THE COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER.

THE GOVERNOR WILL COME OUT WITH HIS RECOMMENDATIONS IN JANUARY.

WE WILL THEN PRIDE AND DIGEST.

WE WILL GET INTO A BILL.

THE BUILD PAST IN 2020 WAS $1.8 BILLION.

IT'S A GOOD TIME TO INVEST IN PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE.

THERE AT HISTORIC LOWS.

THE MOST RECENT ISSUE THE STATE WENT OUT FOR IN AUGUST, WE SOLD BONDS TO INVEST IN PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE AND WE RECEIVED AN INTEREST RATE OF 1.7%.

IT'S PRETTY FAVORABLE LENDING TIME, SO IT'S A GOOD TIME TO GET CAUGHT UP ON THE DEFERRED MAINTENANCE AND ASSET PRESERVATION HAVE AROUND THE STATE.

>> THE BIGGEST GOAL IS BACK TO WHAT WE ALREADY HAD, SEEING THE PROJECTS IN PERSON.

BINGHAM TO LOOK WITH YOUR OWN EYES, TOUCH WITH YOUR OWN HANDS, UNDERSTAND WHAT THESE PROJECTS ARE SO WHEN THE COMMITTEE GOES BACK TO ST. PAUL, THEY ARE GOING TO TALK TO INDIVIDUALS WHO MIGHT BE LOOKING AT A PIECE OF PAPER THIS EIGHT REORIENT A FRONT DOOR FOR 12 MAYA DOLLARS.

-- FOR $12 MILLION.

THIS IS WHAT IT TAKES TO GET A BONDING BILL ACROSS THE FINISH LINE.

♪ DENNY: A NEW PROGRAM AIRING ON PBS STATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY THIS FALL IS PRODUCED AND HOSTED BY A DULUTH NATIVE.

"CULTURE QUEST" TAKES VIEWERS ON AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNEY, LOOKING AT LIFE THROUGH THE EYES OF THE WORLD'S ARTISTS, ARTISANS AND KEEPERS OF CULTURE.

KEEPERS OF CULTURE.

JOINING US NOW IS DULUTH NATIVE AND MINNEAPOLIS RESIDENT IAN GRANT TO TALK ABOUT HIS NEW SHOW.

IAN, THANKS FOR BEING HERE!

>> IT TOOK FIVE YEARS TO PUT IT TOGETHER.

I HAD A SHOW ON THE TRAVEL CHANNEL AGES AGO.

YOU COULD BE ONE OF HUNDRED PEOPLE THAT WATCHED IT.

IT WAS ON BEAR -- VERY BRIEFLY.

I TOOK WHAT WE DID AND WANTED TO TURN IT INTO SOMETHING MORE IN-DEPTH.

I CHASED AFTER IT FOR A WHILE.

IN EARNEST, MAYBE FIVE YEARS AGO WE TALKED PBS AND THEY SHOWED SOME INTEREST.

THEN THE WHEELS STARTED TURNING.

AS YOU KNOW, A BIG ASPECT IS CHASING AFTER IT.

AS A PRODUCER, YOU HAVE TO GET FUNDED.

ONCE THAT HAPPENED, WE WERE OFF AND RUNNING.

DENNY: WHAT IS CULTURE QUEST ALL ABOUT?

>> IT LOOKS AT LIFE THROUGH THE WINDOW OF ART AND PARTISANSHIP AND CULTURAL TRADITIONS.

WE VISIT WITH MODERN ARTISTS IN GHANA OR MONGOLIAN NOMADS WHO HUNT WITH GOLDEN EAGLES.

WE LOOK INTO THOSE UNUSUAL THINGS THAT THEY DO.

THEN WE USE THAT INTO A WINDOW INTO WHERE THEY ARE, WHERE THEY HAVE BEEN, WHERE THEY ARE GOING IN THE FUTURE.

IT'S TRYING TO LOOK AT THESE THINGS WITHOUT PLACING THE OBJECTS IN A GLASS CONTAINER AS SOMETHING IN THE PAST.

WE REALLY WANT TO TACKLE IT AS MOVING INTO THE FUTURE.

DENNY: LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT THE SHOW IS LIKE.

♪ [LAUGHTER] >> I SPENT THE LAST THREE DECADES USING MY BACKGROUND IN HISTORY AND ART HISTORY EXPLORING CULTURES ALL AROUND THE WORLD.

IN THIS SERIES, I WILL TAKE YOU TO PLACES I HAVE NEVER BEEN TO BEFORE.

EXPERIENCING LOCAL LIFE THROUGH THE LENS OF ARTISTS, ARTISANS, AND KEEPERS OF CULTURE.

THIS IS CULTURE QUEST.

WE ARE ON OUR WAY TO THE GOLDEN EAGLE FESTIVAL IN WESTERN MONGOLIA.

NOMADIC CULTURE IS STILL ALIVE AND WELL.

THINGS GET HEATED UP TODAY.

THEY HAVE BEEN TRAINING FOR A YEAR AND IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THIS.

IF THEY DON'T LAND IT, THEY ARE OUT.

[APPLAUSE] ♪ >> WE ARE IN A LITTLE GYPSY VILLAGE AND HOPEFULLY WE WILL GET OUT ON THE OCEAN WITH ONE OF THESE BOATS.

IT SHOULD BE PRETTY COOL.

GETTING A TASTE OF THE LOCAL HARD LIFESTYLE.

A LIFESTYLE THAT IS UNDER THREAT WITH OVERFISHING AND CLIMATE CHANGE.

I DIDN'T REALIZE I JUST SLICED OPEN MY FINGERS.

IN THE FACE OF DWINDLING FISH AND POLLUTION, THEY STILL COME OUT WITH HOPE TO CATCH A HANDFUL OF FISH.

THE PEOPLE THAT GOT KILLED RAN THIS WAY DIRECTLY INTO THE BULLETS.

YOU ESCAPED THROUGH THE CEMETERY.

>> WHEN THEY CAPTURED ME, THEY TORTURED ME.

AFTER THEY KILL PEOPLE, THEY STAMP IT DOWN.

>> WE ARE JUST PULLING INTO THIS ABORIGINAL COMMUNITY.

INCREDIBLE WORKS OF ART ARE GOING ON AROUND THE WORLD -- GOING OUT TO MUSEUMS AROUND THE WORLD.

>> HOW LONG DO YOU THINK THAT WILL TAKE?

>> ONE YEAR.

>> YOU FIND THEM WITH YOUR FEET.

>> TASTY MUSCLES.

>> SPECTACULAR.

>> WERE NOT SURE WHAT WERE GOING TO FIND DOWN THERE.

ANOTHER EARTHQUAKE HAS COME THROUGH SO THEY'RE STAYING WHERE THEY CAN STAY SAFE.

THIS ISLAND SEEMS TO GET BEATEN UP.

>> OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

>> LET'S GO SEE ANOTHER.

>> THE COMPETITION BEGINS.

NO ONE IS EXPECTING FLAWLESS JAPANESE TO COME OUT OF THIS REDHEAD BLUE-EYED GUY'S MOUTH.

I LIKE THE TOURIST WILL GET INTO THEIR NATIONAL DRESS AS THEY ARE TOURING ANOTHER CITY.

IMAGINE GOING TO GETTYSBURG AND COMING OUT IN A SOLDIER'S UNIFORM.

THAT JUST HAPPENED.

[LAUGHTER] WE HAVE GONE AROUND TO A LOT OF COUNTRIES.

A LOT OF PLACES WITH STRUGGLE.

A LOT OF IT REVOLVES AROUND IDENTITY AND PEOPLE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THEIR OWN IDENTITY INSTEAD OF THE ONE THAT HAS BEEN PRESENTED TO THEM BY US BY COLONIAL POWERS.

THIS IS YOU?

OH MY GOD.

IT WOULD BE COOL IF WE COULD USE THIS IN THE SHOW.

♪ HOLY COW.

LOOKING AROUND FOR THE FISH AND CROCODILES.

HOPEFULLY MORE OF ONE ON THE OTHER.

WE WILL HAVE TO BLUR A WHOLE LOT OF STUFF.

[LAUGHTER] DENNY: WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED ABOUT CULTURES AROUND THE WORLD?

ARE WE THE SAME GET DIFFERENT?

>> THAT'S A BIG PART OF WHAT I'M CHASING AFTER IN THE SHOW.

ON THE ONE HAND AS YOU SAW IN THE CLIPS, THERE ARE FANTASTIC AND UNUSUAL THINGS THAT YOU SEE.

I LIKE THAT ELEMENT, BECAUSE AT THE SAME MOMENT WHEN YOU'RE TALKING TO THOSE PEOPLE IN THE VARIOUS CORNERS OF THE GLOBE, THEY ALL HAVE SIMILAR GOALS.

THEY WANT TO PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE AND HAVE SUCCESS FOR THEIR CHILDREN.

THEY WANT TO STAY CONNECTED WITH THEIR PAST, BUT HAVE AN EXCITING FUTURE.

ALL OF THESE THINGS THAT SHOULD BE AND ARE FAMILIAR TO THING -- PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD.

I LIKE THE JUXTAPOSITION BETWEEN THE TWO.

I TOTALLY GET WHERE THEY ARE TRYING TO GO.

DENNY: YOU GRADUATED FROM DULUTH CATHEDRAL HIGH SCHOOL.

BACK IN THOSE DAYS, WERE YOU THINKING THIS IS THE KIND OF CAREER YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE TO EXPLORE AND HAVE DIFFERENT CULTURES?

>> IT NEVER OCCURRED TO ME.

I WAS EITHER THINKING OF GOING TO LAW SCHOOL OR BECOMING A PROFESSOR AND ENDED UP TAKING THE GRE AND AT THE MEANTIME, GOT A GOOD JOB AS A TWENTYSOMETHING AND WAS EXCITED COMING OUT OF COLLEGE FINALLY MAKING A LITTLE MONEY AND I FORGOT ABOUT GRAD SCHOOL.

THE DIRECTION I WENT AFTER WAS INTO ART HISTORY WHICH WAS ONE OF MY DEGREES.

I WAS GOING AFTER JOBS AND EVENTUALLY, MY OWN BUSINESS THAT PLAYED INTO THAT.

I STARTED, FOR A WHILE I WORKED FOR A PERSIAN RUG COMPANY.

THOSE GUYS LET ME DO A LOT OF THE BUYING AND WRITING AND ADVERTISING AND SELLING.

THEN, I TOOK THAT AND STARTED MY OWN COMPANY BASICALLY TRAVELING AROUND THE WORLD.

FINDING OBJECTS AND BRINGING THEM BACK TO THE UNITED STATES BUT OBJECTS THE STORY THE POINT TO THE CULTURE THAT THEY'RE COMING FROM.

SO WHENTHEY COME BACK TO THE OBJECTS AND THEY FIND THEIR WAY ON A SHELF DULUTH OR COLORADO OR DENVER, THOSE OBJECTS TELL THOSE PEOPLE IN THOSE LOCATIONS THE STORY OF SOMETHING IN SOUTHERN INDIA OR NORTHERN THAILAND.

DENNY: WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED ABOUT THE CULTURE IN OUR COME -- COUNTRY IF YOU COMPARE IT WITH OTHERS AROUND THE WORLD?

ARE WE AIMING FOR THE SAME GOALS?

>> YES, WE ARE.

I REALIZE AT TIMES, WE CAN SEEM FRACTURED.

ONCE YOU ELIMINATE ALL THE NOISE, EVERYONE AROUND THE WORLD IS TRYING TO FIND THE SIMPLE GOALS.

TO GET THEIR LIVES MOVING FORWARD AND THE NEXT GENERATION MOVING FORWARD.

THAT IS A COMMONALITY.

DENNY: IF YOU HADN'T BEEN BORN AND RAISED IN THE U.S., IS THERE ANOTHER COUNTRY THAT YOU COULD HAVE ENJOYED BEING BORN AND RAISED IN?

>> MY MOTHER IS FROM DUBLIN.

WE WOULD EVERY NOW AND THEN LIVE IN ENGLAND SO I FIND A LOT OF COMFORT IN ENGLAND.

DULUTH WAS ALWAYS HOME.

DENNY: THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

CULTURE QUEST IS THE NAME OF THE SHOW ON PBS.

THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

♪ DENNY: IT'S TIME FOR THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF "VOICES OF THE REGION".

EACH WEEK WE HEAR FROM A JOURNALIST IN THE AREA ABOUT THE STORIES THEY ARE COVERING.

THIS WEEK COLUMNIST AND AUTHOR AARON BROWN FROM NORTHERN ITASCA COUNTY IS OUR GUEST: ♪ >> THE GLOBAL ECONOMY HAS DRIVEN DOWN PRICES FOR A LOT OF GOODS THAT WE HAVE COME TO EXPECT.

CLOTHING AND FOOD ARE MUCH SMALLER PARTS OF THE BUDGET OF A FAMILY'S BUDGET THAN THEY WERE A HUNDRED YEARS AGO OR 80 YEARS AGO.

YOUR GRANDPARENTS AND GREAT-GRANDPARENTS PAID MORE OUT OF THEIR PAYCHECK FOR SHOES THAN WE DO.

THE DOWNSIDE, WE WATCHED AS A LOT OF JOBS HAVE GONE OVERSEAS.

THE FLIPSIDE IS WHENEVER THERE IS A DISRUPTION AND IT COULD BE A TYPHOON, IT COULD BE POLITICAL UNREST IN A CERTAIN PART OF A CERTAIN COUNTRY OR IT COULD EVEN BE SOMETHING THEY HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING WHICH IS A SHORTAGE OF SHIPPING CONTAINERS, THE BIG METAL BOXES THAT THEY PUT ON THE SHIPS TO GO FROM CHINA TO SAN FRANCISCO OR SEATTLE, THE SHORTAGE OF THOSE IS ENOUGH TO THROW OFF SUPPLIES OF PLASTIC COMPONENTS.

WHAT I WROTE ABOUT WAS THE NOTION OF MAYBE HAVING TO REBUILD SUPPLY LINES DOMESTICALLY INCLUDING MANUFACTURING LINES.

MAKING THINGS THAT MAYBE WE HAVEN'T MADE IS PROLIFICALLY IN A WHILE AND WITH THAT WILL COME NEW CHALLENGES FOR CONSUMERS IN THE FORM OF PRICES.

WE MIGHT HAVE TO PAY MORE FOR SOMETHING THAT IS PRODUCED CLOSER TO WHERE WE LIVE, BUT THERE ARE SIDE BENEFITS TO THAT INCLUDING JOBS AND THE ECONOMY.

I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW HIGH THE SPOT PRICE OF IRON ORE HIT THIS SUMMER.

AT TIMES, IT WAS OVER $200.

WHEN THE MINES HERE CLOSED, PRICES WERE OFTEN DOWN TO $40 OR $50.

THAT'S LOW AND THAT COULD CAUSE A DIP.

IMAGINE HOW MUCH HIGHER THOSE PRICES ARE NOW, MUCH HIGHER THAN THE COST OF PRODUCTION FOR IRON ORE. THAT'S THE GOOD NEWS.

THE BAD NEWS IS SOMETHING THAT I NOTICED HAPPENED JUST THIS LAST WEEK.

THERE WAS A DISRUPTION IN THE CHINESE FINANCIAL SECTOR.

THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT RUN BY THE CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY DECIDED TO REIN IN SOME OF THE PRIVATE CAPITAL FUNDS THAT EXIST IN CHINA.

THEY HAVE BEEN GOING THROUGH A COMPLEX PROCESS.

THEY ARE A COMMUNIST GOVERNMENT, BUT THEY ARE OPENING SOME OF THEIR MARKETS A LITTLE BIT TO BE COMPETITIVE IN A CAPITALIST WORLD.

THE GOVERNMENT BACKED OFF THAT A LITTLE BIT AND IT REALLY DISRUPTED MARKETS.

IT WAS PURELY A SUPPLY AND DEMAND ISSUE.

NOW, IT IS SUPPLY AND DEMAND AND ALSO ORCHID INFLUENCE OF FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS.

IT'S NOT ALL WITHIN THE CONTROL OF OUR OWN CONSUMERS ANYMORE.

THAT'S A CAUTIONARY REALIZATION.

ONCE YOU REALIZE THAT, YOU REALIZE THAT WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO NAVIGATE A WORLD THAT WE HAVE LESS CONTROL OVER.

THAT WILL BE A CHALLENGE AND IT HAS BEEN A CHALLENGE FOR OUR COUNTRY ON MANY LEVELS.

I TOOK ASIDE.

THIS IS BIASED, OF COURSE.

I TOOK THE SIDE OF A LONG SNOUT A CROCODILE FROM THE CRUSTACEANS PERIOD.

IT HAD THE NAME OF THE IRON RANGE IN IT BECAUSE WHEN IT WAS DISCOVERED AT THE MINE ON THE IRON RANGE BACK IN THE 40'S, QUITE SOME TIME AGO, IT WAS BELIEVED TO BE A NEW SPECIES.

IT WAS NAMED FOR THE IRON RANGE.

NOW THE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY EVALUATES THESE THINGS AND COMPARES THAT AND IT IS CURRENTLY BELIEVED THAT MAYBE IT WAS AN EXAMPLE OF THIS OTHER SPECIES.

ANYWAY, IT DOESN'T MATTER.

THIS CROCODILE LIVED ON THE RANGE.

GRANTED, IT WAS SEPARATED BY TENS OF MILLIONS OF YEARS.

THERE'S THIS COMPETITION WITH THE MINNESOTA SCIENCE MUSEUM.

THEY WANT TO NOMINATE A FOSSIL TO BE THE STATE FOSSIL.

THE LEGISLATURE WOULD HAVE TO GET INVOLVED AND THEY'RE HAVING AN ONLINE VOTE.

I THINK THEY ARE HAVING NINE FOSSILS FROM PARTS OF THE STATE.

OUR IRON RANGE CROCODILE I DON'T BELIEVE IT'S LEADING RIGHT NOW.

IT WAS LAGGING BEHIND OTHER FOSSILS.

YOU WANT TO CHECK IT OUT, BECAUSE THERE ARE COOL FOSSILS AND EVEN IF THE CROCODILE DOESN'T MAKE IT THROUGH, THERE ARE COOL FOSSILS THAT REALLY REFLECT THE PREHISTORIC ANCIENT HISTORY OF LIFE HERE IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA.

DENNY: THAT'S OUR TIME THIS WEEK, BUT YOU CAN KEEP UP WITH OUR LATEST POSTS BY FOLLOWING ALMANAC NORTH ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.

VISIT THE WDSE WEBSITE FOR UPDATES ON PROGRAMMING, NEWS ABOUT UPCOMING EVENTS AND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT OUR STATION.

AND DOWNLOAD THE PBS VIDEO APP FOR ON- DEMAND VIEWING OF YOUR FAVORITE PBS PROGRAMS.

JULIE WILL BE BACK NEXT WEEK.

THANKS TO OUR GUESTS AND THE CREW HERE IN THE STUDIO!

I'M DENNIS ANDERSON, HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND EVERYBODY, AND BE KIND.

♪