JULIE: I'M JULIE ZENNER AND HERE'S WHAT YOU WILL SEE NEXT ON "ALMANAC NORTH."

THE PROPOSAL TO REPLACE A PUBLIC LIBRARY WITH A NEW.

AN UPDATE TONIGHT.

A REPORT ON A MEDAL MINE TO BUILD A NICKEL MINE IN NORTH-CENTRAL MINNESOTA, AND DULUTH FESTIVAL HEADLINES A CREATIVE GATHERING IN THE TWIN PORTS PART OF THE NEW NORTHSTAR STORY STOMACH.

CLOSE -- STORY SUMMIT.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE COMING UP NEXT ON "ALMANAC NORTH."

♪ JULIE: WELCOME TO "ALMANAC NORTH ."

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

DENNIS ANDERSON IS OFF THIS WEEK.

HERE ARE THINGS TO BE AWARE OF IN THE NEXT WEEK.

DRIVERS ON HIGHWAY 61 BETWEEN BEAVER BAY AND SILVER BAY CAN EXPECT DELAYS AND DETOURS BEGINNING MONDAY.

THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION IS REPLACING CULVERTS ALONG THE ROUTE, WHICH WILL REQUIRE A DETOUR.

WORK IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED OCTOBER 15.

MINNESOTA'S COLD WEATHER RULE GOES INTO EFFECT SUNDAY, FOR FOLKS WHO HAVE TROUBLE PAYING THEIR HEATING BILL THIS WINTER.

ELIGIBLE RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS ARE PROTECTED FROM SERVICE DISCONNECTION UNDER THE STATE LAW, THAT WOULD AFFECT THE PRIMARY HEAT SOURCE.

CONTACT YOUR COMPANY IF YOU ARE WORRIED ABOUT PAYING YOUR BILL THIS WINTER.

DULUTH HAS PROPOSED REPLACING ITS EXISTING DOWNTOWN LIBRARY WITH A NEW MULTIPURPOSE FACILITY THAT COULD COST UPWARDS OF $70 MILLION.

A HEFTY PRICE TAG TO REPLACE AN AGING FACILITY.

OUR DULUTH RESIDENT -- ARE DULUTH RESIDENTS ON BOARD WITH THE PLAN?

THE LIBRARY FOUNDATION IS GETTING INPUT, AND HERE TO TELL US MORE AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE DULUTH LIBRARY FOUNDATION.

WELCOME BACK.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

JULIE: WE HAD YOU HERE ABOUT THREE OR FOUR MONTHS AGO AS YOU WERE JUST STARTING THE PUBLIC INFORMATION GATHERING PIECE OF THE PICTURE.

WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN HEARING FROM RESIDENTS IN TERMS OF THE SURVEY AND MEETINGS AND WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE?

GUEST: WE HAVE BEEN HOSTING PUBLIC COMMUNITY OPEN HOUSES AND FOCUS GROUPS, AND WE HAD A SURVEY IN JUNE AND JULY.

WE ASKED FOLKS FIRST AND FOREMOST TO REMIND IS HOW YOU LIKE TO USE THE LIBRARY AND WHAT OUR STEADFAST THINGS YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN THE SERVICES.

IF WE WERE UP TO THE FACILITY, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE THERE?

WE HEARD THAT THEY LOVE THE CORE SERVICE OF LIBRARIES.

THEY LOVE ACCESS TO MATERIALS AND BOOKS.

THEY LOVE THE PROGRAMMING OFFERED FROM STORY TIMES TO BOOK CLUBS, AND WHAT THE STAFF HAS TO OFFER THE COMMUNITY CURRENTLY.

WHEN IT COMES TO A NEW FACILITY, WE HEARD A LOT OF INTERESTING AND CREATIVE THINGS.

AT THE BASE LEVEL, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE HOPING THERE WOULD BE MORE MEETING SPACES, RANGING IN SIZE FROM INDIVIDUAL STUDY ROOMS TO SMALL GROUP WORK AREAS TO LARGER BOARDROOMS THAT COULD HOST MAY BE NONPROFIT BOARD MEETINGS OR CLASSES OR COMMUNITY BUT CLUBS, AND THE LARGER EVENT SPACES -- OR COMMUNITY CLUBS AND LARGER EVENT SPACES.

WE HAVE HEARD THAT PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO ACCESS 3D PRINTERS OR COMPUTERS FOR PRINTING.

WE HAVE HEARD THAT PEOPLE WOULD LIKE LOUNGE AREAS OR PLACES TO JUST BE WHERE THEY CAN CONNECT WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS, CLASSMATES, FRIENDS, AND WE HAVE ALSO HEARD EVEN WILD THINGS LIKE A PODCAST RECORDING STUDIO.

OR A MUSIC RECORDING ROOM.

OR 15 ADVISORY BOARD -- OR THE TEENAGER ADVISORY BOARD.

SO THEY PROBABLY UNDERSTAND THE PRACTICALITY OF THAT NOT BEEN POSSIBLE.

WE HAVE ALSO HEARD ABOUT GREAT ENGAGING AREAS FOR ALL AGES, WHETHER IT IS PLAY SPACES FOR YOUNG CHILDREN FIVE AND UNDER OR A GATHERING SPACE FOR TEENAGERS FOR CREATIVE OUTPUT.

WE HAVE ALSO HEARD INTEREST IN WHAT A LOT OF COMMUNITIES CALL A LIBRARY OF THINGS, WHERE YOU CAN CHECK OUT THINGS OTHER THAN BOOKS.

MAYBE TOOLS.

SEWING MACHINES.

GOSH, BUNDT PANS.

JULIE: THE CURRENT LIBRARY BUILDING IS 43 YEARS OLD AND OPENED IN 1980.

THAT IS IN RECENT MEMORY FOR SOME OF US.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE WONDERING, WHY DOES THE BUILDING HAVE TO BE REPLACED VERSUS JUST UPDATED IN THE EXISTING BUILDING?

GUEST: GOOD QUESTION.

WE WENT INTO THIS PROCESS NOT PREDETERMINED TO REBUILD, SO FOR THE FIRST PART OF THE YEAR, EXPERTS ACROSS DISCIPLINES STUDY THE BUILDING, WHAT IT WOULD COST TO BRING IT UP TO MODERN CODE STANDARDS, MEET THE MODERN NEEDS OF TODAY'S LIBRARY, AND TO FLEXIBLE FOR FUTURE USES, AND THEN JUST UNDERSTANDING THAT A LOT OF VAST X OF THE LIBRARY ARE AT THEIR END OF LIFECYCLE OR -- VAST NEEDS OF THE LIBRARY ARE AT THEIR END OF LIFECYCLE, AND WHEN WE LOOKED AT THE COST OF RENOVATING, THE COST WAS NEARLY THE SAME AS STARTING OVER.

THE PLUS ABOUT STARTING OVER NEW IS THAT WE WOULD GET A LARGER FACILITY.

IT WOULD BE MORE ENERGY-EFFICIENT, AND IT WOULD OFFER MORE FLEXIBILITY FOR THE FUTURE LIBRARY WE DO NOT KNOW WE WILL NEED IN 40 YEARS.

JULIE: WOULD THIS BE IN THE SAME SPACE AS THE EXISTING LIBRARY?

IF SO, WOULD THINGS BE CLOSED DOWN FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS DURING CONSTRUCTION?

GUEST: YES, SO RIGHT NOW THE CITY IS COMMITTED TO MAINTAINING THAT CITY BLOCK THAT WE ALL KNOW AND LOVE ACROSS FROM THE DEPOT AS THE FACILITY FOR THIS MULTIPURPOSE FACILITY THAT WOULD HAVE THE LIBRARY.

IF THAT WERE TO HAPPEN, THEN WE COULD SECURE STATE AND FEDERAL FUNDING TO MAKE THE PROJECT MOVE FORWARD, THEY WOULD HAVE TO CLOSE DOWN THE DOWNTOWN LIBRARY.

BUT INCLUDED IN THE PLAN OF PROPOSED BUDGET IS OPENING UP A TEMPORARY LOCATION SOMEWHERE DOWNTOWN TO CONTINUE LIBRARY SERVICES.

THEY WOULD BE MODIFIED BECAUSE WE MAYBE WOULD NOT HAVE AS LARGE OF A FACILITY AS NOW, BUT WE WOULD KEEP OPERATIONS OPEN DOWNTOWN.

JULIE:JULIE: THERE IS A LOT OF MEETING SPACE DOWNTOWN.

DO PEOPLE LOOK AT PERHAPS MOVING THE LIBRARY AND THE CENTER INTO SOME OF THAT EXISTING SPACE THAT MIGHT ALREADY BE SET UP FOR MODERN TECHNOLOGY?

GUEST: I THINK THERE IS A LOT OF EMPTY SPACE DOWNTOWN, BUT I THINK SOME OF THE NEEDS OF WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR IN THIS MULTIPURPOSE FACILITY, WHICH IS INCLUDING POTENTIALLY LARGE EVENT SPACE FOR THE COMMUNITY, I DO NOT KNOW THAT THERE WERE FACILITIES IDENTIFIED DOWNTOWN THAT COULD BE REPURPOSED FOR THIS MULTIPURPOSE FACILITY, BUT AT LEAST WE KNOW WE WILL HAVE A MODERN AMOUNT -- MODERATE AMOUNT OF SPACE DOWNTOWN TO RELOCATE LIBRARY SERVICES DURING THE CONSTRUCTION TIME, SO WE WOULD NOT LEAVE DOWNTOWN EMPTY OF LIBRARY SERVICES FOR THE FEW YEARS IT TAKES TO REBUILD.

JULIE: WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS NOW TO KEEP THIS MOVING FORWARD?

GUEST: WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THE REST OF THE YEAR, SO WE HOPE TO SEE YOU AT FUTURE OPEN HOUSES, PUBLIC FORUMS, AND YOU CAN VISIT OUR CITY WEBSITE TO SEND COMMENTS AND FEEDBACK RIGHT NOW.

WE WOULD LIKE TO HEAR WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN ANY FACILITY.

JULIE: AND LOTS OF LOBBYING FOR MONEY AND FUNDRAISING.

GUEST: YES.

WE WOULD LOVE YOU TO JOIN US TO ASK THE STATE TO SUPPORT US NEXT YEAR.

JULIE: GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR EFFORTS.

APPRECIATE IT.

GUEST: THANK YOU.

♪ JULIE: THINGS CONTINUE TO MOVE TOWARDS A GREEN ENERGY FUTURE ELECTRIC VEHICLES MAY BE THE FUTURE OF TRANSPORTATION BUT THEIR BATTERIES REQUIRE A LARGE AMOUNT OF MINERALS.

IN MINNESOTA, A MIDDLE COMPANY IS PROPOSING AN UNDERGROUND NICKEL MINE, WHICH WOULD PROVIDE THE VALUABLE ELEMENTS FOR BATTERIES.

PBS NEWS, OUR CORRESPONDENT, HAS THE REPORT ON THE TALON METALS PROJECT.

REPORTER: PEOPLE IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA POST IT WAS IRON ORE FROM THE GROUND HERE THAT BUILT THE COUNTRY AND HELPED IT TWIN TWO WORLD WARS.

THE QUESTION TODAY IS WHETHER THIS REGION CAN PLAY A SIMILAR ROLE IN THE TRANSITION TO A POST-FOSSIL FUEL AGE.

>> THIS IS ONE OF THE HIGHEST SAMPLES I HAVE EVER SEEN AND ONE OF THE HIGHEST I HAVE EVER HELD.

REPORTER: THE GEOLOGIST FOR THE MINING COMPANY THAT HAS UNEARTHED SAMPLES OF HIGH-GRADE GOLD FROM DEEP LOW LAND, JUST NORTH OF TAMARACK.

>> THESE EXAMPLES RUN ABOUT 9% NICKEL.

TO PUT THAT INTO PERSPECTIVE, HIGH-GRADE NICKEL IS CONSIDERED ESSENTIALLY 1% AND ABOVE, SO THIS IS A BIG DEAL.

REPORTER: TALON METALS SAYS IT HAS AN AGREEMENT TO SUPPLY TESLA WITH THE NICKEL FROM HERE.

>> WE NEED A LOT MORE NICKEL FOR THE TRANSITION FROM A FOSSIL FUEL CENTERED ENERGY SYSTEM TO A MINERAL CENTERED ENERGY SYSTEM.

REPORTER: THE SPOKESMAN SAYS THE 60 ACRE MIND TO BE BUILT UNDER THE GROUND WHERE WE ARE STANDING WOULD CREATE OR THAN 400 UNION JOBS.

THAT IS WELCOME NEWS FOR A FORMER SCIENCE TEACHER AND LIFELONG RESIDENT OF AN AREA WHERE THE IRON ORE BASED ECONOMY HAS DECLINED IN RECENT DECADES, ALONG WITH THE DOMESTIC STEEL INDUSTRY AND SUPPLIES.

>> THE POTENTIAL I AM ARE NEW ROOFS, SIDEWALKS, AND NEW SCHOOLS, AND VIBRANT ARTS OPPORTUNITIES, AND VIBRANT COMMUNITIES, HAPPY AND HEALTHY PEOPLE.

REPORTER: JUST HOW HEALTHY IS THE KEY QUESTION.

UNLIKE IRON MINING, EXTRACTING NICKEL ORDERS, WHICH CONTAIN COPPER, COBALT AND PLATINUM, REDUCES ACID BYPRODUCTS.

THIS SULFIDE MINING HAS A TOXIC LEGACY ACROSS THE WORLD, INCLUDING MINES OWNED BY THE ANGLO AUSTRALIAN COMPANY AND JOINT VENTURE PARTNER HERE WITH TALON METALS.

>> THERE IS THAT LEGACY AND HISTORY THAT WE ARE CARRYING AS A BURDEN.

REPORTER: BUT THEY INSIST THINGS WILL BE DIFFERENT TO HEAR, AN AREA DOTTED WITH ITS SHARE OF MINNESOTA'S NEARLY 12,000 LAKES.

>> WE CAN TAKE DIFFERENT APPROACHES, USE INNOVATIVE APPROACHES, DESIGN THINGS DIFFERENTLY.

REPORTER: FOR EXAMPLE, HE SAYS A TUNNEL BORING MACHINE WILL LAY A PIPE TO PROTECT THE GROUNDWATER TABLE AS IT DRILLS FURTHER DOWN TO REACH THE BURIED METALS AND WATER PUMPED OUT OF THE DEEPER LEVEL WOULD BE CONTAINED IN STEEL TANKERS AND TREATED BEFORE BEING RELEASED TO THE GROUND INTO NEARBY WATERWAYS.

THE ORES WOULD BE LOADED ONTO COVERED RAIL CARDS AND TRANSPORTED TO A PROCESSING SITE IN NORTH DAKOTA, FAR FROM THE FRESHWATER RICH AREA.

>>>> IT IS NOT THAT WE HAVE ZERO IMPACT, IT IS THAT WE HAVE WAYS TO MITIGATE THOSE IMPACTS AND PROTECT THE THINGS THAT ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT, WHICH IN THIS REGION, IS WATER AND FLORA AND FAUNA THAT DEPENDS ON THE WATER.

>> IT IS ALL JUST PIE-IN-THE-SKY TYPES OF STATEMENTS BEING MADE.

YOU CAN TELL ME THIS IS SAFE, BUT I DON'T BELIEVE IT AT THIS POINT.

I LOVE IT HERE.

REPORTER: MELANIE BENJAMIN'S CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THE BAND.

SHE SAYS THE PROPOSED MINE WOULD BE ONE MORE EXAMPLE OF AN INDUSTRY THAT DEVASTATES TRIBAL LANDS.

THERE ARE SOME 160 ABANDONED MINES ON OR NEAR NATIVE LANDS IN THE WESTERN U.S. ALONE.

MINNESOTA MINE WOULD BE CLOSE TO THE TRIBES WATER SOURCE AND BENJAMIN SAID IT WOULD ALSO THREATEN THE SACRED HARVEST OF WILD RICE THAT GROWS AND LAKES HERE.

>> WE ARE TALKING ABOUT OUR PEOPLE, OUR PLANTS, ANIMALS, THE WATER THAT FLOWS THROUGHOUT.

WE DO KNOW FROM ALL THE DATA THAT THIS MINING IS PROBABLY THE MOST TOXIC THAT THERE IS.

>> I REMEMBER AS A KID WALKING THROUGH HERE.

REPORTER: AMONG THE TRIBES' ALLIES ARE, AND LYNN ANDERSON WHO -- ARE TOM AND LYNN ANDERSON, WHO LIVE A FEW MILES FROM THE PROPOSED SITE.

>> TALON ADMITS THEY ARE PULLING UP TO 3.2 MILLION GALLONS, LIKELY MORE COME OUT OF THE MINE.

AND THAT IS GOING TO HAVE AN EFFECT ON THE AQUIFERS, WELL THE LEVELS, LAKE LEVELS.

REPORTER: THEY FOUNDED A GROUP CALLED THE TAMARACK WATER ALLIANCE AND SAY EVEN THE EXPLORATORY DRILLING HAS SHOWN DAMAGING ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT.

>> WE HAVE A LOSS OF LESS THAN 30 ACRES OF WETLANDS.

REPORTER: TOM SAYS HIS COMPANY IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH MINNESOTA REGULATIONS AND IS CURRENTLY COMPILING DATA DEMANDED, WHICH HE SAYS WILL BE DISCLOSED AS THE PERMITTING PROCESS.

>> IT IS FRUSTRATING SOMETIMES TO HAVE PEOPLE NOT LIKE THE LEGACY APPROACHES AND WHO DO NOT LIKE THE INNOVATIVE APPROACHES EITHER.

>> AMERICA HAS GOT A GREAT DILEMMA.

REPORTER: A FORMER EDITOR OF THE NORTHERN MINNESOTA NEWSPAPER.

>> WE NEED THE MATERIALS BUT WE DO NOT WANT TO MINE THEM, SO DO WE EXPORT OUR NEEDS TO OTHER COUNTRIES WHERE THEY WILL NOT HAVE GOOD ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS?

IS THAT A GOOD IDEA?

IS THAT WHAT AMERICA DOES?

REPORTER: INDONESIA, THE PHILIPPINES AND PRESSURE ARE THE WORLDS TOP PRODUCERS OF NICKEL, ALTHOUGH, THE U.S.

CURRENTLY IMPORTS MOST OF THEIR NEEDS FROM CANADA, NORWAY, AND AUSTRALIA.

IF DEVELOPS, THE TAMARACK MINE WOULD CONTRIBUTE A FRACTION OF CURRENT U.S.

NEEDS.

JUST WHAT THEY NEED WILL BE IN THE FUTURE IS ANOTHER POINT OF CONTENTION BACK IN TAMARACK, IN THE TALE OF THE TWO TESLAS.

WHILE MANY EV'S LIKE THE ONES OWNED BY TALON, USE BATTERIES WITH NICKEL, OTHER COMPANIES NOW USE LITHIUM-ION PHOSPHATE BATTERIES WHICH CONTAIN NO NICKEL.

>> BY THE TIME THIS MINE GETS ITS PERMITS, WHICH COULD BE 10 YEARS, THE WHOLE BATTERY INDUSTRY WILL BE MOVING ON.

REPORTER: TALON METALS SAYS NICKEL WILL SEE SUSTAINED DEMAND, CITING HIGH PRICES FOR IT AND TWO FEDERAL GRANTS, TOTALING $134 MILLION IT HAS RECEIVED TO HELP INCREASE MYSTIC PRODUCTION HERE AND IN NEARBY UPPER MICHIGAN, WHERE THE ONLY OPERATING NICKEL MINE ON U.S.

SOIL IS EXPECTED TO BE EXHAUSTED BY 2027.

FOR THE PBS NEWSHOUR, I'M FRED IN TAMARACK, MINNESOTA.

♪ JULIE: THE DULUTH SUPERIOR FILM FEST RETURNS NEXT WEEK.

THIS TIME AS PART OF AN UMBRELLA EVENT CALLED THE NORTH STAR STORY SUMMIT.

FILMMAKERS AND OTHER CREATIVE TYPES WILL BE IN TOWN TO CELEBRATE AND ENJOY THE GROWING CREATIVE SCENE IN THE REGION HERE TO TELL A SMORES RICHARD HANSEN, THE FOUNDING DIRECTOR OF THE DULUTH SUPERIOR FILM FESTIVAL.

WELCOME.

THANK YOU FOR COMING IN AND WELCOME BACK.

RICHARD: THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME, A PLEASURE.

JULIE: THIS YEAR, COMBINING MULTIPLE FESTIVALS INTO THIS ONE UMBRELLA, NORTH STAR STORY SUMMIT.

WHAT IS THAT ALL ABOUT?

RICHARD: IN THE LAST YEAR, BEFORE LAST YEAR'S FESTIVAL, WE HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH OTHER FESTIVALS IN THE MINNESOTA WEB FAST TO TRY TO BRING ALL OF THESE THESE TOGETHER, ALL CONTENT CREATION FESTIVALS.

OBVIOUSLY, THE DULUTH SUPERIOR FILM FESTIVAL IS SHORT AND FEATURE-LENGTH FILMS AND THE MINNESOTA WEB FEST IS EPISODIC CONTENT, MORE BASED TOWARDS THE WEB, YOUTUBE TYPES OF PRODUCTIONS, AND, OF COURSE, CATALYST IS EPISODIC TELEVISION FOCUSED AND IRRELEVANT AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO ALL OF THOSE THINGS FIT PRETTY NICELY UNDER THIS ARCH OF, YOU KNOW, STORYTELLERS THAT WE ARE TRYING TO REALLY PROFILE.

SO THE ABILITY TO DO THAT REALLY BECAME CLEAR WHEN WE ALL SORT OF PUT OUR HEADS TOGETHER AND SAID, MAYBE WE SHOULD TRY TO PUT THEM ALL UNDER THE SAME UMBRELLA AT THE MOSTAR STORY SUMMIT, AND IT IS REALLY A RESULT OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS -- AND THE NORTH STAR STORY SUMMIT IS REALLY RESULT OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS.

JULIE: IS THERE A CONCERN THAT IT WILL GET OVERSHADOWED WITH THE UMBRELLA?

RICHARD: YOU KNOW, YES AND NO, BUT, ALSO, CHANGE IS INEVITABLE IN ALL THINGS.

AND THE VOLUME OF WORK THAT IS BEING CREATED OUT OF THE REGION HAS EXPLODED THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS IN THE PAST FIVE OR 10 YEARS EVEN MORE THAN BEFORE, SO THIS DEVELOPMENT OF ACTIVITIES, IT IS A GROWTH PATTERN IS REALLY WHAT WE THINK THAT WE HAVE ON OUR HANDS HERE, AND THE ABILITY OF EACH ONE OF THE INDIVIDUAL FESTIVALS ARE STILL THERE AND IT IS OVERARCHING AS AN UMBRELLA TO THESE EVENTS AND PUTTING THEM ALL UNDER ONE ROOF HAS REALLY MADE A LOT OF SENSE TO US.

AND SHARING VENUES, PUBLISHED CITY AND ALL THE THINGS THAT GO ALONG WITH REDUCING SOMETHING, AN EVENT OF THIS SIZE, REALLY IT JUST MADE A LOT OF SENSE TO PUT THEM ALL TOGETHER AT ONE TIME.

JULIE: YOU WERE IN ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF THE DULUTH SUPERIOR FILM FESTIVAL.

WHAT IS IT GOING TO BE THIS YEAR?

RICHARD: IT IS SIMILAR TO WHAT HAS BEEN OVER THE PAST -- SINCE 2010, 14 FESTIVALS, BUT WE HAVE GOT SOME REALLY OUTSTANDING LARGER TITLES THIS YEAR, AND A LOT MORE, SOME REALLY GREAT REGIONAL STUFF.

JULIE: TALK ABOUT SOME OF THOSE.

RICHARD: 40 BELOW IS THE TOUGHEST RACE IN THE WORLD, AND "40 BELOW: THE TOUGHEST RACE IN THE WORLD" IS A HIGH-PROFILE EVENT WE HAVE.

THIS IS A REGIONAL FILMMAKER, AND HE LIVES HERE IN DULUTH, BUT HE HAS BEEN PRODUCING FILMS FOR MANY YEARS, AND HE HAD CREATED THIS DOCUMENTARY FILM ABOUT THE ARROWHEAD 135, WHICH IS LITERALLY THE TOUGHEST RACE IN THE WORLD THAT TAKES PLACE IN INTERNATIONAL FALLS, MINNESOTA, AND THEY BIKE, HIKE, OR SKI ON THE COLDEST DAY OF THE YEAR, WHICH IS IN JANUARY, AND IN THE COLDEST PART OF THE COUNTRY.

SO THE IDEA TO GO OUT THERE, A LOW PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE ACTUALLY FINISH, SO THERE IS A LOT OF WHAT THEY CALL DNF'S, DID NOT FINISH, BECAUSE IT IS THE MOST CHALLENGING RACE.

AND THE ABILITY FOR HIM TO FILM THIS EVENT IS SPECTACULAR AND QUITE AN ACCOMPLISHMENT AND IN DOCUMENTARY FILM MAKING, AND IT IS DONE EXCEPTIONALLY WELL.

IT IS PERFECTLY PRODUCED.

AND EVERY PLACE IT HAS PLAYED, IT HAS SOLD OUT.

JULIE: WHERE CAN PEOPLE SEE IT HERE?

HOW CAN I GET INVOLVED IN YOUR FESTIVAL AND THE OTHERS ARE GOING ON?

RICHARD: SO "40 BELOW: TAPESTRY CINEWORLD" IS THAT THE NORTH SHORE'S -- "40 BELOW: TAPESTRY CINEWORLD" IS AT THE NORTH SHORE THEATER.

THAT WILL BE OUR FRIDAY NIGHT FILM.

AND WE HAVE VENUES ALL AROUND, BUT MOSTLY IN THE DOWNTOWN REGION AT ZEITGEIST AND SPIRIT OF THE NORTH, THE DEPOT THIS YEAR, AS WELL.

WE HAVE A FILM CALLED "CUTEST RINGS," ANOTHER REGIONAL INTEREST FILM.

THE DIRECTOR HAS BEEN A FRIEND OF THE FESTIVAL FOR MANY YEARS AND HE WILL BE IN ATTENDANCE.

WE HAVE TONS OF GREAT FILMS, REGIONAL INTEREST, AND THE VENUES ARE MOSTLY DOWNTOWN, BUT YOU CAN CHECK IN WITH CATALYST CONTENT FESTIVAL WITH ALL KINDS OF GREAT WORK JOBS.

JULIE:JULIE: IS THERE ONE CENTRAL PLACE PEOPLE CAN GOFOR INFORMATION?

WE ARE OUT OF TIME.

[LAUGHTER] RICHARD: THIS WENT BY FAST.

GO CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE, JUST GOOGLE MOSTAR STORY SUMMIT AND YOU WILL BE ABLE TO FIND US -- NORTH STORE STORY SUMMIT AND YOU WILL BE ABLE TO FIND US.

JULIE: GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

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

OUR GUEST IS THE DIRECTOR OF CONTENT AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS AT KAXEKBE RADIO IN GRAND RAPIDS.

♪ >> OPIOIDS ARE A CONTINUING EPIDEMIC IN THE COUNTRY, MINNESOTA, AND IN RURAL PLACES IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA.

IN AIKEN COUNTY, THEY ARE HOSTING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING ABOUT OPIOIDS IN MCGREGOR, LINCOLN AND HILL CITY NEXT WEEK.

SPEAKING AT THE EVENTS WILL BE THE MINNESOTA STATE REPRESENTED DEVE BAKER, -- DAVE BAKER, A REPUBLICAN.

REPRESENTATIVE BAKER SON DIED OF AN OPIOID OVERDOSE IN 2011.

HIS SON WAS PRESCRIBED OPIOIDS BECAUSE OF OPIOIDS AND HE BECAME ADDICTED.

AS A REPRESENTATIVE BAKER EXPLAINS, THE EPIDEMIC HAS CHANGED.

>> THEY MAKE IT LOOK JUST LIKE A PILL YOU MIGHT SEE AS XANAX OR SOMETHING THAT MAYBE SOMEONE WAS USING IN THEIR HOME FOR ANXIETY, BUT THEY DO THAT TO A LOT OF PEOPLE BECAUSE IT IS CHEAP, AND THEY ARE MAKING TONS OF MONEY, BUT THEY ARE ALSO KILLING PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT MIXING IT CAREFULLY, THEY DO NOT CARE IF PEOPLE DIE, AND FENTANYL IS GETTING INTO EVERYTHING, SO THAT IS NOW THE NEW FORM OF THE OH.

CRISIS.

IT IS NOT OVER IT -- OF THE OPIOID CRISIS.

IT IS PEOPLE WHO GOT A TASTE OF IT, AND THEY CANNOT GET RID OF IT, THEY CAN EASILY FIND IT ON THE STREETS, FROM DRUG LORDS, AND IT IS BECOMING THE NEW POISONING, IN MY OPINION, SO IT HAS TRANSFORMED TO THAT.

WE STILL NEED TO TALK ABOUT IT BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THAT JUST TAKING THE PILL IS NOT LIKE PUTTING A NEEDLE IN YOUR ARM.

A PILL IS NOT AS SCARY.

♪ >> WHEN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW ITASCA COUNTY JUSTICE CENTER CAUSED THE REMOVAL OF SEVERAL DOWNTOWN BUILDINGS IN GRAND RAPIDS, ONE VIETNAM VETERAN WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT ONE SPECIFIC DOOR WAS SAVED FROM THE RUBBLE.

THAT DOOR WAS ONCE THE PORTAL TO THE READING BUS DEPOT.

ACCORDING TO THE VFW NUMBER 27 AUXILIARY, MANY WHO WALKED THROUGH THE DOOR WERE BOUND FOR MILITARY SERVICE, ESPECIALLY IN THE 1960'S AND 1970'S DURING AMERICA'S INVOLVEMENT IN THE VIETNAM WAR.

EIGHT ITASCA COUNTY VIETNAM VETERANS WHO WERE KILLED OR MISSING IN ACTION WERE HONORED AT AN EVENT LAST WEEK AT THE HODGINS ARENA IN COLERAINE.

THE LOCAL BE NONVETERAN DENNIS, KNOWN AS DJ THE DJ, TALKED ABOUT HIS EXPERIENCE AND WITH A TORMENT TO HIM.

>> THE PASSAGE THROUGH THE DOOR, HE RETURNED NOT THE SAME PERSON WHEN YOU RETURNED.

I WAS AN INNOCENT WIDE-EYED BOY FROM THE MIDWEST, AND BOY, I LOST MY INNOCENCE WHEN I SERVED A YEAR IN VIETNAM.

HATS OFF TO KENNY CLAPTON FOR THE VISION THAT HE HAD FOR THIS AND UNDERSTANDING THE SIGNIFICANCE OF IT.

>> THAT DOOR FROM THE READING BUS DEPOT IS NOW ON DISPLAY AT THE VFW NUMBER 1720 IN GRAND RAPIDS.

♪ >> NEARLY TWO YEARS AFTER A 15-YEAR-OLD GIRL DISAPPEARED, A MASSIVE SEARCH WAS CONDUCTED THIS WEEK WITH NUMEROUS AGENCIES.

IT HAS BEEN UNDERWAY BECAUSE OF FRESH CLUES.

SHE WAS LAST SEEN IN THE SOUTH SIDE OF OCTOBER 2021.

HER MOTHER SAID SHE IS HOLDING ONTO HOPE FOR FINDING ANSWERS.

THE POLICE CHIEF, WHO LED THE INVESTIGATION, SAID THAT THIS WAS THE 13TH SEARCH FOR HER.

THE COLLABORATION ON THE RECENT EFFORT BETWEEN NUMEROUS LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES GIVES HIM HOPE IN GIVING FAMILIES CLOSURE.

INVESTIGATORS ARE ALSO SEEKING INFORMATION ON 17-YEAR-OLD JEREMY JORDANIAN AREA HE DISAPPEARED -- JEREMY JORDANIAN.

HE DISAPPEARED.

AND ANOTHER BOY WENT MISSING FROM GRAND FORKS, AND WAS BELIEVED TO BE HEADING TO BEMIDJI.

THIS IS THE FIRST FOR THE STATE'S TASK FORCE FORMED.

THEY ARE WORKING WITH INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES, FAMILIES, AND PRIVATE PARTNERS TO CONDUCT THE SEARCH.

THE GOAL IS A COLLABORATION OF PARTNERS THAT WILL LEAD TO SYSTEMIC CHANGES THAT WILL FOSTER SAFETY, EQUITY, HEALING, CIVIL AND HUMAN RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES AND COMMUNITIES IN MINNESOTA.

♪ JULIE: WELL, WE ARE OUT OF TIME, BUT FOR THE CREW HERE AT PBS NORTH, I'M JULIE ZENNER.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

WE WILL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.

♪