HERE'S WHAT IS COMING UP ON "ALMANAC NORTH!"

TACKLING RACISM, A UMD SUMMIT ADDRESSES ANTIRACISM AND THOSE INVOLVED SHARE HOW WE CAN ALL IMPLEMENT ANTIRACIST PRACTICES IN OUR EVERYDAY LIVES.

HOW SOME NORTHLAND WOMEN ARE FARING DURING THE PANDEMIC WITH ENDLESS TO-DO LISTS, AS HEADLINES POP UP ACROSS THE COUNTRY ABOUT THE PANDEMIC FORCING WOMEN TO LEAVE THE WORKFORCE.

AND WE'LL HAVE AN UPDATE ON THE WISCONSIN WOLF HUNT AND THE FUTURE OF GOLF IN DULUTH.

THESE STORIES COMING UP ON "ALMANAC NORTH!"

DENNIS: HELLO AND WELCOME TO "ALMANAC NORTH," THANKS FOR WATCHING, I'M DENNIS ANDERSON.

JULIE IS OFF THIS WEEK AS WE ROTATE HOSTING DURING THE PANDEMIC.

ENBRIDGE SAYS TWO OF THEIR LINE THREE WORKERS WERE IMMEDIETLY DISMISSED ONCE THE COMPANY LEARNED THEY WERE ARRESTED IN A SEX TRAFFICKING STING IN ITASCA COUNTY.

IN THE THREE-DAY OPERATION MADE PUBLIC LAST WEEK, SEVEN WERE ARRESTED.

AUTHORITIES SAY THEY WILL NOT STAND FOR PEOPLE BUYING PEOPLE FOR SEX.

CONGRESSMAN PETE STAUBER HAS ANNOUNCED HOUSING GRANTS FOR ALL FIVE TRIBES IN MINNESOTA'S EIGHTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

$10 MILLION IN DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT FUNDING WILL GO TOWARDS DEVELOPMENT AND OPERATION OF LOW-INCOME HOUSING.

THIS WEEK, MINNESOTA GOVERNOR TIM WALZ ANNOUNCED HIS LOCAL JOBS AND PROJECTS PLAN.

THE PLAN INVESTS OVER $518 MILLION IN PROJECTS ACROSS THE STATE BY MAINTAINING EXISTING ASSETS, INVESTING IN COMMUNITIES, AND ENSURING FEDERAL FUNDS COME TO THE LAND OF 10,000 LAKES.

INCLUDED IN THE PLAN ARE STATE AGENCY, HIGHER EDUCATION AND HOUSING PROJECTS.

THE CITY OF SUPERIOR IS UPDATING ITS COMPREHENSIVE PLAN WHICH CREATES A 20 YEAR VISION FOR FUTURE PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DECISIONS.

RIGHT NOW, THEY'RE PLANNING AND IN THE PROCESS OF GATHERING FEEDBACK FROM AND INFORMATION ABOUT THE COMMUNITY.

FUTURE PHASES INVOLVE THE PLAN BEING DEVLOPED AND ADOPTED.

COMMUNITY ACTION DULUTH SAYS IT'S OPENING A MOBILE MARKET TO ADDRESS FOOD INSECURITY IN DULUTH.

A REFRIGERATED TRUCK STOCKED WITH FRESH PRODUCE, STAPLES SUCH AS GRAINS, DAIRY, CANNED GOODS AND MORE WILL COME TO THREE CITY LOCATIONS EACH MONTH.

COMMUNITY ACTION HOPES ELECTRONIC BENEFIT TRANSFER WILL BE ACCEPTED AS PAY, THOUGH THAT'S PENDING APPROVAL.

TURNING NOW TO OUR TOP STORY, ADDRESSING ANTIRACISM, A UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA DULUTH VIRTUAL SUMMIT WILL DISCUSS BEING ANTIRACIST.

THE THREE-DAY SUMMIT RUNS NEXT TUESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY.

HOW CAN WE ALL BE COGNIZANT OF PRACTICING BEING ANTIRACIST IN OUR EVERYDAY LIVES, AND WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT?

JOINING US NOW IS SEAN BEDARD-PARKER, SUMMIT ORGANIZER AND UMD ACCREDITATION DIRECTOR.

AND SUSANA PELAYO-WOODWARD IS THE DIRECTOR OF UMD'S OFFICE OF DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION.

THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

I KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE A BUSY WEEK FOR YOU.

WHERE DOES THE UPCOMING SUMMIT ALL ABOUT?

WHAT CAN PEOPLE EXPECT?

SEAN: THE COMMISSION ON EQUITY, RACE, ETHNICITY HAS THIS ANNUAL SUMMIT.

OUR LARGER COMMUNITY AS WELL AS OUR UMD STUDENT STAFF AND FACULTY.

THE THEME OF THE SUMMIT IS BEING ANTIRACIST, DOING ANTIRACISM.

WHAT OUR TEAM CAME UP WITH, THE COMMISSION, DECIDED TO TARGET NOT ONLY THE IDEA OF NOT BEING ANTIRACIST, BUT HOW WE GO ABOUT BEING BETTER COMMUNITY MEMBERS ESSENTIALLY, ADOPTING A POSTURE THAT EVERYONE IS WELCOME TO THE COMMUNITY.

DENNIS: YOU SAID DOING ANTIRACISM.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

SEAN: NOT SIMPLY TAKING A STATED POSITION QUIETLY AND SAYING, THIS MAY EXIST BUT I DON'T NEED TO BE A PART.

TO BEGIN ANTIRACIST IS NOT NECESSARILY TO DO IT.

DOING IT MEANS THAT YOU REFUSE TO ACCEPT THE STATUS QUO.

YOU ACTIVELY ENGAGE IN PRACTICES THAT ENCOURAGE THAT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT FOR ALL OF US.

DENNIS: CAN YOU DEFINE FOR US ANTIRACISM?

WHAT DOES BOIL DOWN TO?

SUSANA: I MEAN, WHAT WE ARE HOPING IS THAT IT WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO ENGAGE .

TO ASK THAT QUESTION.

WHAT IS THE ROOT CAUSE OF RACISM?

AND THE IMPACT ON PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

BEING ANTIRACIST IS ASKING THAT QUESTION.

IT'S PERSONAL.

WHAT IS MY PREJUDICE?

WHAT ARE MY RACIST THOUGHTS THAT I HAVE?

WE ARE ALL A PRODUCT OF THE SOCIETY AND CULTURE.

ASKING THAT QUESTION AND QUESTIONING INSTITUTIONAL RACISM , RACISM THAT WE SEE THAT HAPPENS IN THE ACTIONS THAT PEOPLE HAVE, ASKING THOSE QUESTIONS TO MOVE FORWARD.

WHAT IS MY ROLE AS A COMMUNITY MEMBER OF THE DULUTH COMMUNITY, THE UNIVERSITY, TO CREATE CHANGE?

BEING ABLE TO STOP THAT.

DENNIS: THE SUMMIT WILL BE VIRTUAL.

CAN THOSE WHO ARE ATTENDING VIRTUALLY THEN PLUG INTO TALKING TO THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE IN CHARGE OF THE SUMMIT?

CAN THEY ASK QUESTIONS AND MAKE STATEMENTS?

SUSANA: YES.

EVERY DAY, WE WILL HAVE A KEYNOTE SPEAKER AS WELL AS WEDNESDAY.

PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO ASK QUESTIONS.

WE WILL HAVE OTHER WORKSHOPS WHERE PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO ENGAGE IN CONVERSATION.

AFTER EACH KEYNOTE SPEAKER, WE WILL HAVE A SESSION WHERE THOSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO ENGAGE IN CONVERSATION TO TALK MORE ABOUT WHAT THEY LEARNED.

DENNIS: CAN A PERSON BE RACIST WITHOUT EVEN REALIZING IT?

SEAN: I THINK SO.

THE COMMISSION TAKES THE STANCE THAT RACIST PRACTICES ARE NOT SOMETHING THAT ARE OUTSIDE OF US.

WE LIVE IN A SOCIETY THAT IN ITS OWN WAY HAS ALLOWED SOME THINGS TO BE.

WE HAVE INSTITUTIONS THAT WERE BUILT BY CERTAIN PEOPLE WITH CERTAIN AGENDAS, HISTORICALLY.

UNWITTINGLY SOMETIMES, WE'VE ALL BECOME PART OF THIS MACHINERY THAT KEEPS IT GOING.

DENNIS: WE WEREN'T BORN RACIST.

WHAT HAPPENED TO US?

IS IT A LEARNED EXPERIENCE?

SEAN: IT IS A BELIEF THAT WE HAVE THAT IT'S A LEARNED BEHAVIOR.

BECAUSE IT IS LEARNED, IT CAN BE UNLEARNED.

IT HAS TO BE RECOGNIZED TO BE UNLEARNED.

DENNIS: THAT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE.

CAN YOU GIVE US AN EXAMPLE OF HOW PEOPLE MIGHT BE RACIST WITHOUT EVEN KNOW THEY -- KNOWING THAT THEY ARE?

SUSANA: IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE LEARN.

WE CALL THIS SOCIALIZATION THAT HAPPENS.

SOMETIMES, WE LET THOSE BEHAVIORS COME FROM EVEN PEOPLE WE LOVE US -- THAT LOVE US THE MOST.

PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS, CHURCHES, SCHOOLS.

SOMETIMES YOU LEARN THIS BEHAVIOR.

NOT LEARNING THE HISTORY OF THIS COUNTRY.

I HAVE TAUGHT MANY YEARS AT THE UNIVERSITY.

IT SADDENED ME WHEN I FIND STUDENTS WHO SAID, WHY IS THIS THE FIRST TIME THAT I'M LEARNING ABOUT THE HISTORY OF SLAVERY?

I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THAT.

HOW COME I NEVER LEARNED ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF THIS COMMUNITY?

DENNIS: HOW DO YOU PRACTICE BEING ANTIRACIST YOURSELF?

SUSANA: IT'S EVERYDAY WORK.

EVERY DAY.

DENNIS: IT TAKES CONCENTRATION?

SUSANA: ASKING QUESTIONS.

TO BE ABLE TO BE ALWAYS THINKING ABOUT, WHAT IS THE REASON WHY THIS IS HAPPENING?

SOMETHING THAT I'M ALWAYS TEACHING MY CHILDREN.

MAKING SURE THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THAT OUR DIFFERENCES ARE IMPORTANT.

THERE'S A LOT OF VALUE IN IT.

MAKING SURE THAT WE ACKNOWLEDGE AND BE RESPECTFUL AND ASKING THOSE QUESTIONS.

WHEN WE SEE RACIST BEHAVIOR, TO ASK AND INTERVENE.

DENNIS: WHAT DO YOU HOPE THE SUMMIT ACCOMPLISHES?

SEAN: I HOPE THAT THE PEOPLE WHO ATTEND ARE NOT NECESSARILY PEOPLE WHO JUST AGREE WITH US.

WE WANT PEOPLE TO ATTEND TO WANT TO ENGAGE IN QUESTIONS THAT ARE UNCOMFORTABLE.

WE WANT PEOPLE TO ASK HARD QUESTIONS OF THEMSELVES AND OF THE SPEAKERS.

THAT'S HOW WE LEARN.

YOU CAN'T GROW IF EVERYTHING IS COMFORTABLE AND HE WAS SO MU KNOW IT ALL.

THAT'S WHAT I'M HOPING TAKES PLACE.

DENNIS: YOU'VE BEEN HERE FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

WHAT KIND OF PROGRESS HAVE YOU SEEN IN THE NORTHLAND?

MAYBE THERE IS CHANGE THAT IS RECOGNIZABLE.

SUSANA: THERE'S MANY.

AT THE UNIVERSITY, STUDENTS SAY, THERE IS NO PROGRESS.

I SAY, I COULD TELL YOU STORIES OF THE CHANGES.

DENNIS: YOU'VE SEEN PROGRESS?

SUSANA: THE DIVERSIFICATION OF STUDENTS, FACULTY AND STAFF.

THE COURSES AND MAJORS THAT STUDENTS CAN MAJOR.

WE HAVE SEVERAL COMMISSIONS.

BEFORE, IT WAS ONLY THE NAACP THAT WE WERE ABLE TO GO TO.

NOW WE HAVE A COMMISSION OF HUMAN RIGHTS.

WE HAVE AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN HERITAGE COMMISSION.

I HAVE SEEN MANY CHANGES.

WE STILL HAVE LONG WAYS TO GO.

DENNIS: I'M SURE WE DO.

CAN YOU GIVE US A RUNDOWN OF WHAT WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE SUMMIT, WIND, AND WHERE.

SEAN: IT IS VIRTUAL.

WE ARE ASKING PEOPLE TO REGISTER ON OUR WEBSITE.

TIM WEISS WILL SPEAK ON TUESDAY, AN OPENING SPEAKER.

WEDNESDAY, DR. ABRAM CANDY WHO WILL HAVE A VERY GOOD GUESS SPEAKER STATEMENT.

A NUMBER OF WORKSHOPS THAT WILL HAPPEN, TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY.

A NUMBER OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT PEOPLE CAN TALK TO THAT ARE COMMITTED TO THE SAME PROMPT.

DENNIS: SOUNDS LIKE YOU ARE WELL PREPARED.

SEAN: WE HOPE WE ARE.

DENNIS: THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE.

ALL THE BEST WITH THE UPCOMING SUMMIT.

THANK YOU.

SEAN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

DENNIS: IT'S TIME NOW FOR FOR VOICES OF THE REGION.

EACH WEEK WE HEAR FROM A JOURNALIST IN OUR BROADCAST AREA AND THE STORIES THEY ARE REPORTING.

THIS WEEK, HEIDI HOLTAN FROM KAXE RADIO IS OUR GUEST.

HEIDI: ONE OF THE MOST RECENT STORIES WE COVERED IS OUR STRONG WOMEN SERIES.

WE HAVE BEEN HEARING THROUGHOUT MEDIA ABOUT WOMEN'S ROLES SPECIFICALLY DURING THE PANDEMIC.

SO WE WERE REALLY CURIOUS AND EXCITED TO TALK TO WOMEN ABOUT HOW THEY FARED AFTER 2020.

WE JUST RECENTLY HELD ANOTHER OF OUR FOCUS GROUPS.

WE INVITE ANYONE TO JOIN US.

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE'VE HAD AN OPEN CALL AND THE RESPONSE WAS OVERWHELMING.

AS THE PANDEMIC HAS BEEN CONTINUING ON, WE THOUGHT THIS WAS A GREAT TIME TO WORK -- LOOK BACK.

MEDIA HAS BEEN REPORTING ABOUT HOW WOMEN ARE LEAVING THE WORKFORCE.

THEY HAVE BEEN FORCED TO DO THAT BECAUSE OF ALL THE STRUGGLES THAT ARE GOING ON.

A LOT OF THE BURDENS HAVE FALLEN SQUARELY ON WOMEN'S SHOULDERS.

WHETHER IT IS HEALTH AND SAFETY DUE TO THE COVID PANDEMIC, OR IF IT IS THE BURDEN OF POLITICS AND RACISM, TAKING CARE OF CHILDREN.

WOMEN HAVE FELT A LOT OF THAT.

HERE'S WHAT WE HEARD FROM ONE OF OUR WOMEN IN OUR RECENT FOCUS GROUP.

>> MY HUSBAND RAN A NURSING HOME DURING THIS LAST YEAR WHICH MEANT THAT I BASICALLY TOOK OVER EVERYTHING RELATED TO OUR HOUSEHOLD.

EVERYTHING RELATED TO OUR CHILDREN.

HOMESCHOOLING.

NO TIME FOR MYSELF.

NO PARTNER.

WHEN HE WAS HOME, HE WAS JUST NOT MENTALLY ABLE TO BE PRESENT.

THAT WAS PROBABLY -- SO MANY HARD THINGS IN THE LAST YEAR.

THE WEIGHT OF HOLDING EVERYTHING TOGETHER.

IT WAS REALLY HARD.

HEIDI: THE FEAR THAT STRIVING FOR EQUAL PAY IS GOING TO TAKE EVEN LONGER BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.

WOMEN ARE HAVING TO LEAVE THE WORKFORCE.

WE ARE SEEING A LOT OF THINGS NATIONALLY.

THE NEW YORK TIMES HAS BEEN REPORTING ON THIS A LOT.

YOU WILL SEE THE HEADLINES.

WOMEN ARE LEAVING THE WORKFORCE.

YOU DON'T SEE A HEADLINE THAT SAYS THAT MEN ARE NOT LEAVING THE WORKFORCE AND MAKING THEIR WIVES DO THAT WORK.

YOU KNOW?

IT'S REALLY AN INTERESTING SORT OF DYNAMIC, HOW MEDIA REPORTS ON THIS.

WE REALLY LIKE TO USE THE AUTHENTIC VOICES AND LIVED EXPERIENCE OF WOMEN INSTEAD OF RELYING ON EXPERTS.

SO WE HAVE CONTINUED TO COVER DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF THE LINE THREE REPLACEMENT PROJECT.

WE'VE BEEN LEARNING ABOUT SAFETY AND EMPLOYMENT AND OUTREACH FROM THE COMPANY ITSELF.

WE'VE BEEN TALKING TO LOTS OF WATER PROTECTORS AT CAMP AND PALISADE.

MOST RECENTLY, WE TALKED TO AIKEN COUNTY SHERIFF DAN QAEDA.

IT WAS A REALLY INFORMATIVE INTERVIEW.

ONE OF THE THINGS HE EXPLAINED WAS SOMETHING THAT CAME UP IN OUR CONVERSATION WITH WATER PROTECTORS.

WIDER MEMBER WINONA TESTIFIED AT A HEALTH HEARING THAT POLICE WERE BEING PAID BY AMBRIDGE ENERGY.

SHE QUESTIONED WHAT LAWS THAT THEY WERE ENFORCING IF THEY WERE BEING PAID FOR BY A PRIVATE CORPORATION OF A 2 BILLION-DOLLAR PROJECT.

THE SHERIFF EXPLAINED TO US THAT THE PUBLICLY TO LIBBY'S COMMISSION REQUIRED AMBRIDGE PUT MONEY INTO AN ESCROW ACCOUNT TO PAY FOR ADDITIONAL COSTS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT DURING THE PROJECT.

THAT MONEY GOES TO THE STATE.

IT IS MANAGED BY THE STATE.

AMBRIDGE DOES NOT HAVE CONTROL OVER HOW IT IS USED OR CONTROL OVER ANY OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT.

LIKE I SAID, THIS IS NOT JUST TWO SIDES OF THIS.

THERE ARE REALLY HUGE ISSUES GOING ON HERE IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA.

FOSSIL FUEL INDUSTRY, CLIMATE CHANGE, JOBS IN RURAL AREAS, SEX TRAFFICKING.

ANOTHER STORY WE COVERED HAD TO DO WITH CONSERVATION, ESPECIALLY AS IT PERTAINS TO THE COLD DEEP LAKES OF NORTH-CENTRAL MINNESOTA.

CLIMATE CHANGE HAS HAD AN EFFECT THERE.

THE TEMPERATURES ARE RISING.

THERE'S BEEN NOR -- MORE DEVELOPMENT AND THAT AFFECTS THE HEALTH OF A LAKE.

THEY ARE FINDING MORE OF AN INCREASE OF THIS BLUE-GREEN ALGAE THAT IS AFFECTING THE TWO LIBBY.

THOSE ARE THE LITTLE FISH.

IT'S THE FIRST INDICATOR THAT SOMETHING IS CHANGING THEIR.

THIS GROUP WE TALKED TO OUR WORKING, NORTHER WATERS LAND TRUST.

THEY ARE BRINGING IN BIOLOGISTS AND CONSERVATIONISTS.

THEY ARE WORKING WITH LANDOWNERS AND BUSINESS OWNERS ABOUT DOING THINGS LIKE CONSERVATION EASEMENTS.

THE MORE PEOPLE LIVE ON LAKES AND MOW THEIR LAWNS COMPLETELY DOWN TO A LAKE AND DON'T LEAVE A LOT OF THE NATURAL SURROUNDINGS, IT CAN REALLY AFFECT WHETHER WE WILL BE ABLE TO EAT THE FISH OUT OF OUR LAKES IN 20 YEARS, WHETHER WE WILL BE ABLE TO SWIM IN OUR LAKES.

IT'S -- DENNIS: THE CITY OF DULUTH HAS DECIDED TO PERMANENTLY CLOSE THE LESTER PARK GOLF COURSE.

THE LESTER PARK COURSE WAS CLOSED LAST YEAR AS CITY OFFICIALS DECIDED ITS FUTURE.

UNDER THE CITY PROPOSAL, ENGER PARK GOLF COURSE WILL BE RENOVATED IN 2023, AND LESTER PARK WILL OPEN FOR ONE FINAL SEASON BEFORE ITS PERMANENT CLOSURE.

JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT THE FUTURE OF GOLF IN DULUTH IS JIM FILBY WILLIAMS, THE CITY'S DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION.

THANKS FOR BEING HERE!

I KNOW THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE INTERESTED IN GOLF LOCALLY AND REGIONALLY.

WHAT WENT INTO THE CITY'S DECISION TO CLOSE LESTER PARK?

JIM: PUBLIC GOLF IS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF THE FEELING THE CITY OF DULUTH.. FOR SO MANY PEOPLE, IT'S THE WAY THEY CONNECT WITH FRIENDS, THEY GET ACTIVE OUTSIDE, THEY CONNECT WITH THE NATURAL WORLD.

SHOULD WE WERE TO -- WE WERE DETERMINED TO SAVE BOTH COURT -- COURSES.

WE FOUND THAT THAT WAS INFEASIBLE.

DENNIS: IS THERE A GLUT OF GOLF COURSES IN OUR REASON -- REGION?

JIM: THE NO LESS A CHAMPION OF A GOLF THAN THE NATIONAL GOLF FOUNDATION HAS SAID THAT THE NATION OVERBUILT GOLF COURSES SO MUCH A DECADE AGO THAT IT ORDER FOR THE MAJORITY OF GOLF COURSES TO THRIVE, A MINORITY MUST CLOSE.

THAT'S THE SITUATION WE FACE LOCALLY AS WELL.

DENNIS: DID THE PANDEMIC PLAY ANY ROLE IN THE DECISION TO CLOSE?

JIM: OUR PLAN WAS TO SAVE ANGER FIRST AND THEN PIVOT TO SAVE LESTER IF FEASIBLE.

BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, THAT WAS A HIGHLY UNCERTAIN PROPOSITION.

JUST SHORT OF A HERO MARY.

THE ARRIVAL OF THE PANDEMIC, THE ECONOMIC COLLAPSE, AND THE FAILURE THUS FAR TO SELL REAL ESTATE AT LESTER GOLF COURSE TO PAY FOR RENOVATIONS, THOSE WERE THE FINAL NAILS IN THE COFFIN.

DENNIS: IS THAT STILL THE PLAN, TO SELL A PART OF THE GOLF COURSE ONCE IT CLOSES?

JIM: THE RENOVATION WILL LIKELY BE FUNDED BY GOLF REVENUES.

BY SALE OF TARGETED GOLF REAL ESTATE THAT THE COUNCIL HAS PREVIOUSLY IDENTIFIED AS PRIORITY FOR HOUSING DEVELOPMENT.

I THINK WE ARE ON TRACK TO SELL A SMALL PARCEL THERE.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO LOOK AT SELLING A 20 ACRE PORTION OF LOWER LESTER GOLF COURSE FOR HOUSING.

DENNIS: WHAT DOES IT COST ANNUALLY TO RUN THE GOLF COURSES HERE IN THE CITY?

BOTH CITY-OWNED.

JIM: IT DEPENDS ON THE YEAR.

ROUGHLY 1.5 MILLION PER YEAR.

DENNIS: ARE WE ABLE TO LIVE UP TO THAT OR NOT NECESSARILY?

JIM: NO.

THE CITY HAS RUN CONSISTENT DEFICITS RANGING FROM 100,000 TO $300,000 PER YEAR FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS AND ACCUMULATED A $2.8 MILLION DEFICIT THAT IS THE GENERAL FUND.

IT HAS LOANED TO THE GOLF FUND.

WE CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE OUR GENERAL FUND CONTINUING TO SUBSIDIZE THIS COURSE ON SUCH A BIG SCALE.

DENNIS: I'M SURE SOME GOLFERS HAVE ASKED, WHY CLOSE LESTER PARK?

YOUR RESPONSE WOULD BE?

JIM: WE WANT TO GOLF PROGRAM THAT SERVES ALL OF OUR CITIZENS AS WELL AND AS FAIRLY AS POSSIBLE.

IN THE COMMUNITY, THAT IS 27 MILES AND SKINNY.

LOCATING OUR COURSE IN THE CENTER OF THE COMMUNITY JUST AS FAIRER THAN LOCATING IT AT ONE FAR END.

DENNIS: LESTER PARK WILL REOPEN IN 2023 FOR ONE MORE SEASON OF GOLF.

IS THAT THE YEAR THAT IT WILL BE RENOVATED AND YOU WILL CLOSE AT THAT YEAR?

JIM: IF ALL GOES WELL, WE WILL DEVELOP A RENOVATION PLAN WITH OUR GOLF COMMITTEE.

A FINANCING PLAN AND RENOVATE THAT IN 2023.

FOR THAT YEAR, WE WILL REOPEN YOU LESTER SO THERE WILL BE A PLACE FOR FOLKS TO PLAY.

DENNIS: WHERE'S THE MONEY COMING FROM FOR THE RENOVATION?

JIM: IT NEEDS TO COME FROM GOLF REVENUE FIRST AND FOREMOST.

TO SOME EXTENT, OUR GOLF MANAGEMENT FIRM MAY COMMIT THEIR OWN CAPITAL INVESTMENT.

PERHAPS THERE WILL BE CONTRIBUTIONS FROM LOCAL GOLFERS .

AND THEN PROCEEDS FROM THE SALES OF THESE SMALL GOLF REAL ESTATE PARCELS.

DENNIS: CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE HISTORY OF PUBLICLY OWNED GOLF COURSES IN THE CITY OF DULUTH?

ARE THEY AROUND THE SAME AGE?

JIM: ENGER IS OLDER BUT THEY ARE BOTH FROM THE 30'S.

THE HISTORY OF PUBLIC GOLF DULUTH IS TREMENDOUSLY PROUD.

AT ONE POINT, GOLF MAGAZINE IDENTIFIED ARE TWO COURSES AS AMONG THE BEST PUBLICLY OWNED GOLF COURSES IN THE NATION.

DENNIS: WHAT DOES THE FUTURE OF GOLF LOOK LIKE AN DULUTH?

ONCE LESTER IS CLOSED AND THE OTHER IN BETTER CONDITION THAN IT IS RIGHT NOW.

JIM: WE ARE OPTIMISTIC.

GOLF STILL HAS A NORMA'S POPULARITY.

IT'S A NORMA'S LEAGUE GOOD FOR PEOPLE'S WELL-BEING IN OUR COMMUNITY.

WE JUST NEED TO RIGHT SIZE THE SUPPLY OF PUBLIC GOLF FOR A BUT STILL VERY SIGNIFICANT GROUP OF GOLF SIRS.

- - GOLFERS.

DENNIS: MANY SMALL TOWNS HAVE GOLF COURSES.

WHY IS GOLF SO IMPORTANT?

IT'S A BELOVED SPORT.

JIM: YOU KNOW, I THINK FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE, FOR DECADES, ONE OR BOTH OF THESE GOLF COURSES HAS BEEN THEIR PRIMARY SOURCE OF EXERCISE, OF CONNECTION TO THE NATURAL WORLD, CONNECTION TO EACH OTHER.

IT'S A CORE PART OF THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE.

WE REALLY RESPECTED DAUGHTER THAT AND WANT TO DO OUR BEST TO SAVE DULUTH PUBLIC GOLF.

DENNIS: WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

THANK YOU.

APPRECIATE YOU BEING ON THE PROGRAM.

WISCONSIN'S COURT-ORDERED WOLF HUNTING SEASON WRAPPED UP IN JUST THREE DAYS THIS WEEK.

HUNTERS AND TRAPPERS QUICKLY SURPASSED THE 119-WOLF QUOTA SET BY THE WISCONSIN DNR AND THE SEASON WAS CLOSED JUST 72-HOURS AFTER IT OPENED.

DNR OFFICIALS HELD A VIRTUAL NEWS CONFERENCE THURSDAY TO ASSESS THE SEASON.

>> GOING INTO THE SEASON, THIS LATE IN FEBRUARY, IT WAS UNPRECEDENTED.

WE PLAYED OUT A LOT OF DIFFERENT SCENARIOS AND WAYS IT COULD'VE GONE.

CERTAINLY, THIS IS ONE WE CONSIDERED.

THE USE OF DOGS IS A VERY EFFICIENT METHOD OF HARVEST.

IT HAS ALLOWED THIS FALL SEASON.

IN MY NECK OF THE WOODS IN NORTHERN WISCONSIN, WE HAD FRESH SNOW MONDAY MORNING AND TUESDAY MORNING.

THAT IS IDEAL CONDITION FOR TRACKING WOLVES, BOTH WITH THE USE OF DOGS OR ANY METHOD.

>> WHEN WE STARTED MONITORING THE SEASON, ON MONDAY, BY THE END OF THE DAY WE WERE AT NINE ANIMALS HARVESTED.

WHEN WE CAME INTO WORK THE NEXT DAY, LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS, WE WERE UP TO 48.

WE IMMEDIATELY STARTED MONITORING THE POPULATION CONSTANTLY.

IMMEDIATELY, WE TOOK THAT INITIATIVE TO CLOSE THE FIRST THREE ZONES.

CERTAINLY, IT DID NOT TAKE LONG, BY THE TIME WE LOOKED AT THAT AND WORK THROUGH THAT CLOSURE, YOU WERE ALREADY TALKING ABOUT PROCESSES NECESSARY TO CLOSE THE REMAINING THREE ZONES.

>> WILL POPULATIONS ARE RESILIENT.

THEY CAN SUSTAIN A FAIRLY HIGH LEVEL OF MORTALITY OR HARVEST.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO KEEP IN MIND, SPECIFICALLY WITH WISCONSIN, OUR POPULATION IS NEIGHBORED.

WE HAVE WOLVES IN MINNESOTA, ONTARIO.

THERE'S A LOT OF MOVEMENT BETWEEN ALL THREE.

THIS IS A SEGMENT OF A MUCH LARGER AND WELL-CONNECTED, HEALTHY WOLF POPULATION.

DENNIS: FEDERAL PROTECTION OF THE WOLF WAS REMOVED BY THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION LATE LAST YEAR, LEADING TO THIS WEEK'S HUNT.

KEEP UP WITH THE LATEST FROM ALMANAC NORTH BY FOLLOWING US ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

WE'RE ON FACEBOOK, YOUTUBE AND TWITTER.

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

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

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

I'M DENNIS ANDERSON, STAY HEALTHY EVERYONE, AND BE KIND!