>> I'M JULIE ZENNER ALONG WITH DENNIS ANDERSON, HERE'S WHAT'S COMING UP ON ALMANAC NORTH.

>> WE'LL HAVE A REPORT ON THE "CLARITY PROJECT", AN INNOVATIVE APPROACH TO HELPING PEOPLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROBLEMS.

>> WE'LL ALSO TALK ABOUT A NEW "COMPASSIONATE COMMUNITY RESPONSE TEAM" WORKING WITH POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS DURING BEHAVIORAL HEALTH RELATED 9-1-1 CALLS.

>> AND WE CONTINUE OUR SERIES "LESSONS FROM COVID 19" WITH A STORY ABOUT THE MENTAL HEALTH TOLL OF THE PANDEMIC ON MANY US.

>> THESE STORIES AND "VOICES OF THE REGION", NEXT ON ALMANAC NORTH.

JULIE: HELLO AND WELCOME TO ALMANAC NORTH, THANKS FOR WATCHING.

DENNY AND I ARE BACK TOGETHER IN THE STUDIO FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 2021, AND IT FEELS GOOD, DOESN'T IT?

DENNY: IT DOES IT IS BEEN TEEN MONTHS SINCE WE WERE ALLOWED TO COANCHOR.

WE HOPE THE FOLKS WILL BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO TUNE IN.

MINNESOTA LEGISLATIVE LEADERS ARE WORKING WITH GOVERNOR TIM WALZ TO TRY TO END A LOG JAM BEFORE MONDAY'S PROPOSED SPECIAL SESSION OF THE LEGISLATURE.

MINNESOTA'S LEGISLATIVE SESSION ADJOURNED IN MAY AS THE DFL-CONTROLLED HOUSE AND REPUBLICAN CONTROLLED SENATE COULD NOT COME TO AN AGREEMENT ON MAJOR BUDGET BILLS.

IF A BUDGET CAN'T BE REACHED BY JUNE 30TH, MINNESOTA WOULD BE FACING A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN.

>> TODAY MARK'S A MAJOR MILESTONE FOR SAXON HARBOR IN IRON COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

THE HARBOR OPENED FOR THE SUMMER SEASON TODAY IN A GRAND RE-OPENING AND DEDICATION THAT PUNCTUATES A LONG ROAD TO RECOVERY.

THE MARINA AND ADJACENT CAMPGROUND AT SAXON HARBOR WAS DESTROYED IN A MAJOR SUMMER STORM IN JULY OF 2016.

>> SPEAKING OF STORM DAMAGE, DULUTH'S CELEBRATED LAKEWALK RE-OPENED TO THE PUBLIC THIS WEEK IN CANAL PARK.

A MULTI-YEAR, $22-MILLION DOLLAR REBUILD OF THE POPULAR WATERFRONT PROMENADE IS COMPLETE SAVE FOR SOME FINAL LANDSCAPING.

A SERIES OF STORMS IN 2017 AND 2018 CAUSED MAJOR DAMAGE TO PORTIONS OF THE LAKEWALK, WHICH HAVE NOW BEEN RAISED AND GUARDED WITH HUGE BOULDERS TO WITHSTAND FUTURE STORMS.

JULIE: AND THERE IS SOME NEW MONKEY BUSINESS AT THE LAKE SUPERIOR ZOO.

A BLACK-CRESTED MANGABEY MONKEY BORN AT THE ZOO IN MAY WAS OFFICIALLY INTRODUCED TO THE PUBLIC THIS WEEK.

NAMED "TOMMY" BY ZOO STAFF, THE CUTE LITTLE GUY IS ONE OF JUST 28 BLACK-CRESTED MANGABEYS IN THE UNITED STATES, AND FOUR OF THEM LIVE AT THE LOCAL ZOO.

JULDENNY: TURNING NOW TO OUR FIT STORY, AN IMPORTANT EXPANSION OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IS MOVING FORWARD IN ST. LOUIS COUNTY.

NUMEROUS PARTNERS ARE INVOLVED IN THE "CLARITY PROJECT" IN RESPONSE TO THE GROWING NEED FOR MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE SERVICES.

THE COUNTY RECEIVED A $5-MILLION DOLLAR GRANT TO BUILD THE "CLARITY CENTER FOR WELL BEING", AND CONTINUES TO WORK WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO SOLIDIFY PLANS FOR THE SPACE: ♪ >> MY NAME IS PATRICK I AM THE ST. LOUIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER.

I REPRESENT THE EAST SIDE OF DULUTH.

ONE OF MY GOALS WITH THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN SINCE ITS CREATION SIX YEARS AGO, TO GUIDE THE COUNTY WORKING WITH THE STATE ON OPTIONS OF FUNDING AND PROGRAMMING.

>> MY NAME IS GINA I AM THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH DIRECTOR AT ST. LOUIS COUNTY AND MICHAEL IS TO WORK WITH PROVIDERS AND BRING THE PROJECT THROUGH TO THE OPERATION OF THE BUILDING.

>> I AM A CONSULTANT ON THIS INITIATIVE.

MY ROLE IS TO PARTNER WITH GINA AND OTHERS ON THE CLINICAL DESIGN AND THE FINANCIAL PERFORMA FOR THIS PROJECT AS WE BRING IT TO OPERATIONAL LEVELS.

>> I'M THE CHIEF CLINICAL OFFICER.

MY ROLE IN THE CLARITY PROJECT IS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CLINICAL SERVICES PLANNING AS WE WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY PARTNERS.

>> THE PROJECT STARTED ABOUT SIX YEARS AGO.

BASICALLY THE FOLKS THAT FORMED IT WERE HOSPITALS LIKE ST. LUKE'S.

AT THE TIME, THEY WERE REALLY HAVING ISSUES WITH ADDING INUNDATED WITH FOLKS GOING THROUGH MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS THROUGH THEIR EMERGENCY ROOMS.

REALLY FORMING A BOTTLENECK OF CARE.

ALONG WITH THAT WITH HAVING CHRONIC FOLKS, THE TOP 30 USERS WE CALL THEM THAT CONTINUE TO GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM'S OR THROUGH OUR JAIL SYSTEM, HOW CAN WE DO A BETTER JOB OF HELPING THESE INDIVIDUALS?

>> MENTAL HEALTH AND EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT UTILIZATION FOR MENTAL HEALTH IS A NATIONAL ISSUE.

I DO FEEL AS THOUGH WE ARE ON THE INNOVATIVE COST OF CHANGING SOME OF THE CARE PATHWAYS FOR INDIVIDUALS WHERE IT'S NOT AN EMERGENT NEED FROM A MEDICAL PERSPECTIVE.

THERE IS AN URGENT NEED FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE SUPPORT.

EMERGENCY IS NOT THE APPROPRIATE OR NECESSARY LEVEL OF CARE.

WE ARE CREATING A NEW LEVEL IN OUR COMMUNITY FOR NOT JUST OUR COMMUNITY, BUT FOR THE REGION.

I HOPE WE CAN LEAD THE NATION AT SOME LEVEL.

>> WE WERE ONE OF THE FIRST TO BRING IN A SOCIAL WORKER WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA ALONG WITH HAVING A NURSE WORKING WITH THEM.

WE TALK ABOUT HOW CAN WE HELP LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT DOESN'T ALWAYS HAVE THE BACKGROUND FOR MENTAL HEALTH TO HELP DEFERRED THEM FROM HAVING TO GO TO THE JAIL SETTING, HIS BEEN A SIGNIFICANT HELP.

ALONG WITH THAT, THE JAILS, WE HAVE WORKED WITH THEM WITH MEDICAL ASSISTANT TREATMENT.

TO GET THEM THE HELP THEY NEED.

AND TO DO A HANDOFF ONCE THEY GET OUT OF CORRECTIONS.

>> THE CLARITY CENTER WILL BE THE HUB IN DULUTH THAT WILL HAVE ORIGINAL SERVICE DELIVERY MODEL.

IN OUR DULUTH-BASED HUB, THE CURRENT PLAN IS TO HAVE THE HUME AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER -- HUMAN DEVELOPMENT CENTER ALONG WITH THE CENTER FOR ALCOHOL AND DRUG TREATMENT THAT WILL ASSIST THOSE INDIVIDUALS IN SUBSTANCE USE NEED.

WE ARE ALSO PLANNING A PRIMARY CARE PROVIDER, A PHARMACY RELATIONSHIP, AND HOPEFULLY A DENTAL PROVIDER.

WE ARE PROJECTING 5400 VISITS PER YEAR OF INDIVIDUALS PRESENTING AND THAT IS LOOKING AT THE HISTORIC USE OF EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS ALONG WITH INFORMATION PROVIDED FROM LOCAL CRISIS TEAMS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT TEAM MEMBERS.

THAT IS CONSIDERED A CONSERVATIVE PROJECTION.

WE ARE ALSO LOOKING AT THE NUMBER OF VISITS PER YEAR BEING WELL OVER 12,000.

JULIE: IN THE IRON RANGE COMMUNITY OF VIRGINIA, A "COMPASSIONATE COMMUNITY RESPONSE TEAM" NOW WORKS WITH POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS ON BEHAVIORAL HEALTH-RELATED EMERGENCY CALLS.

IT'S A NEW MODEL IN THE COUNTY THAT COULD HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY.

HERE TO TELL US MORE IS JANIS ALLEN, CEO OF THE RANGE MENTAL HEALTH CENTER.

AND GABRIELLA "GABBY" SUIHKONEN IS AN EMBEDDED MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL WITH THE VIRGINIA FIRE DEPARTMENT EMS.

THANKS TO BOTH OF YOU FOR BEING HERE.

IS LIKE AN INTERESTING MODEL YOU ARE WORKING WITH.

IS THERE A GROWING NUMBER OF 911 CALLS IN THE REGION THAT INVOLVED SOMEONE WHO COULD USE SOME MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ON-SITE DURING THAT CALL?

>> YES.

WITH CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR POLICE AND EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS, WE FOUND THAT THEY COULD USE SOME HELP DURING THOSE CALLS.

THAT'S WHERE THE RELATIONSHIP STARTED.

WE HAD TRAINING WITH THE POLICE OFFICERS IN FEBRUARY AND THAT IDENTIFIED NEEDS GOING FORWARD TO MAKE THE SUSTAINABLE IN THE COMMUNITIES.

>> WHAT IS THE VALUE OF HAVING THIS KIND OF TEAM APPROACH WHEN THERE IS AN EMERGENCY CALL?

>> IT'S HELPFUL FOR THAT TO BE TRIAGED BY SOMEONE WITH EXPERTISE IN MENTAL HEALTH.

VERSUS TRANSPORTING THEM TO BE EVALUATED IN AN EMERGENCY ROOM.

>> YOU ARE OUT ON THE FRONT LINES AS AN EMBEDDED PROFESSIONAL.

IS THAT EXPERIENCE LIKE FOR YOU?

>> IT GIVES ME THE ABILITY TO BE OUT THERE WITH THEM IN THAT MOMENT.

IT GIVES YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT THEM TO RESOURCES RIGHT THERE WITHOUT THEM HAVING TO GO TO THE ER AND SENT HOME FOR THEY ARE CONNECTED TO OTHER OUTSIDE RESOURCES IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> AS A MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL, I IMAGINE IT IS DIFFERENT BEING OUT THERE IN THE FIELD.

THE STRESS, TENSION, ADRENALINE FLOWING AS YOU ARE OUT THERE IN A CRISIS SITUATION.

HOW IS THAT DIFFERENT FROM SEEING SOMEBODY WHO COMES TO YOUR OFFICE AND NEED YOUR SERVICES?

>> ONE BIG DIFFERENCE IS IT YOU ARE SEEING THEM IN THEIR ENVIRONMENT.

WHEN THEY CAME INTO MY OFFICE, THEY WOULD COME TO ME AND I WASN'T SAYING THE OTHER ASPECTS THAT HAPPEN WHEN THEY'RE IN THE HOME.

WHETHER IT'S STRESSORS RELATED TO THEIR HOME CONDITIONS OR THEIR FAMILY, THEIR FRIENDS OR WHOEVER IS WITH THE TIME.

THERE ARE STRESSORS THAT YOU DON'T SEE WHEN THEY COME INTO YOUR OFFICE.

>> YOU MENTIONED THERE WERE SOME TRAINING THAT YOU DID TOGETHER.

WHAT WERE SOME OF THE PARTS OF THAT TRAINING THAT HELPED THOSE PARTNERS UNDERSTAND THE OTHERS ROLE AND WHAT THEIR ROLE IS WHEN THEY ARE OUT THERE IN THE FIELD?

>> IT WAS MEANT TO BE A COMBINED RESPONSE.

WE DID HAVE SOME ROLE-PLAYING THAT WENT ON AND WE SAW THE LAW-ENFORCEMENT SIDE AND HOW THEY APPROACH THINGS THAN A MENTAL HEALTH WORKER WOULD DO THINGS IN A DIFFERENT WAY.

WE SAW THE VALUE OF THOSE OF THOSE THINGS BEING PRESENT.

ONE FOR SAFETY AND THE OTHER FOR FINDING AN ACTION TO THE RESOURCES.

AND ALSO TAKING CARE OF THE IMMEDIATE CRISIS IN THE MOMENT.

>> HOW WIDESPREAD IS THIS APPROACH IN THE STATE AND AROUND THE COUNTRY?

IS THAT A MODEL THAT IS GROWING?

>> IT IS GROWING.

WE BASE WHAT WE DO OFF OF A MODEL FROM OREGON.

WE TOOK IT AND MADE IT FIT INTO WHAT WE DO OUR ENVIRONMENT.

WE WANTED TO RENAME IT SO IT WAS VALUABLE TO THE PEOPLE WE SERVE IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

THAT'S WHERE WE CAME UP WITH THE COMPASSIONATE COMMUNITY RESPONSE TEAM.

>> ARE YOU FEELING THAT THERE ARE BETTER OUTCOMES WITH THIS COMBINED MODEL THAN THERE MIGHT BE OTHERWISE WHERE THE SITUATION MIGHT ESCALATE IN WAYS THAT MAYBE IT SHOULDN'T?

>> WE HAVE DEFINITELY SEEN SOME OF THE SUCCESSES EVEN THINKING ABOUT PEOPLE WHO WERE TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL, ONE THAT WAS THE ONLY OPTION.

WE WERE ABLE TO GET ONE MAN TO A CRISIS CENTER BEFORE HE WAS AT A LEVEL WHERE HOSPITAL COULD HAVE HELPED HIM.

THAT WAS A COOL SUCCESS THAT WE HAD EARLY ON BEING ABLE TO CONNECT HIM TO THAT RESOURCE WITHOUT HAVING TO GO THROUGH A WHOLE LOOP THAT DIDN'T NEED TO HAPPEN.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING IN AND SHARING INFORMATION ABOUT THIS.

♪ DENNY: OUR "LESSONS FROM COVID 19" SERIES CONTINUES WITH A LOOK AT MENTAL HEALTH DURING THE PANDEMIC.

MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS SAY MUCH OF SOCIETY EXPERIENCED TRAUMA DURING THIS UNUSUAL TIME, AS OUR WAY OF LIFE CHANGED DRAMATICALLY.

IT'S A STORY THAT HAS PLAYED OUT IN THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES DEALING WITH GRIEF DURING THE PANDEMIC: >> MY GRANDMOTHER DIED RIGHT BEFORE COVID.

I AM DEFINITELY CONNECTING THE DEATH OF MY GRANDMA.

SHE DIED OF ALZHEIMER'S.

I AM DEFINITELY CONNECTING HER DEATH WITH PRE-COVID BECAUSE I AM LOOKING AT A COUPLE OF THINGS.

HOW DIFFERENT THAT EXPERIENCE WOULD HAVE BEEN FOR MYSELF AND MY FAMILY HAD IT HAPPENED A MONTH LATER AND WE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BE WITH HER.

WE DIDN'T HAVE A SERVICE FOR HER LIKE MANY FAMILIES TODAY.

HOPEFULLY, WE WILL STILL GET TO DO THAT AT SOME POINT.

FOR ME, THAT IS ONE OF THE WAYS THAT I AM CONSIDERING PRE-COVID WHEN I THINK OF MEMORIES.

♪ >> I AM A PSYCHOTHERAPIST AND I HAVE BEEN WORKING IN COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH FOR SIX TO EIGHT YEARS.

>> JUST BEFORE THE PANDEMIC HIT, I HAD SCHEDULED MY FIRST THERAPY APPOINTMENT WITH A GRIEF THERAPIST.

FOR A LITTLE OVER A YEAR, I HAVE BEEN IN THERAPY AND IT HAS BEEN AMAZING.

I CAN'T EXPRESS ENOUGH THAT PEOPLE SHOULD TAKE THE STEP FORWARD.

IT CAN BE AS SIMPLE AS A PHONE CALL OR ASKING A FRIEND.

I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN DULUTH, MINNESOTA.

WE ARE CURRENTLY IN CORI PARK WHICH IS JUST ABOUT A BLOCK FROM MY HOUSE.

>> IT HAS BEEN A YEAR.

THAT DATE IS IMPECCABLE.

THAT WILL CONTINUE -- IT IS IMPACTFUL.

THAT IS ONE OF THE ANNIVERSARY DATES THAT WILL COME OUT OF THE PANDEMIC.

TO BE AWARE OF THAT, IT'S OK IT'S NORMAL.

TO BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT IT AND MEMORIALIZE AND SO ON IS IN ITSELF A COPING STRATEGY.

>> FOR ME, ANNIVERSARY EFFECT HAS TRIPLED THE IMPACT.

I LOST MY FATHER INTO THOUSAND SIX, MY BROTHER IN 2009, MY OTHER BROTHER IN 2018.

THAT IS THREE BIRTHDATES, THREE DEATH DATES, THREE TIMES THE IMPACT ON EVERY HOLIDAY.

THEN EVERY SPECIAL DATE IN BETWEEN.

MY CHILDREN'S BIRTHDAYS, I DON'T HAVE MY DAD AND MY BROTHERS WITH ME.

ANNIVERSARY EFFECT FOR ME IT'S A BLACK DOT ON THE CALENDAR.

I COULD FILL THE CALENDAR WITH BLACK DOTS.

THAT DATE, THAT DAY, MARK THEM ALL DOWN.

WHEN I'M NOT PAYING ATTENTION TO THE DATES, I FEEL THAT TRAUMA.

MY BODY KNOWS THAT JUNE 8 IS COMING UP AND THAT'S THE DATE MY DAD DIED.

I FEEL AWFUL OR UNUSUALLY SAD OR IRRITATED.

WHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT, I KNEW A YEAR LATER WE WERE ALL GOING TO BE EXPERIENCING A COLLECTIVE ANNIVERSARY EFFECT.

IT'S BECAUSE WHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT, I KNEW WE WERE EXPERIENCING COLLECTIVE GRIEF.

FOR ME, THAT'S THE FIRST TIME I HAD A REAL, NO ONE WAS SPARED FROM COVID.

FOR ME, THAT IS NEW.

GRIEF WASN'T NEW.

AS WE COME UP ON THAT ANNIVERSARY, I KNEW WHY WE WERE COLLECTIVELY FEELING A CERTAIN WAY.

>> WHILE BEING FORCED TO LIVE IN A BUBBLE, WE HAVE BEEN FORCED TO LIVE OUTSIDE THE BUBBLE.

>> IT'S LIKE WHAT YOU WOULD SEE IN THE MOVIES.

>> I'M STILL PROCESSING THIS COLLECTIVE TRAUMA EXPERIENCE BECAUSE IN THE WORLD OF GRIEF AND THE PROCESS OF GRIEF, THERE'S A POINT WHERE YOU MEMORIALIZED.

THE PERSON WHO DIED OR THE EVENT THAT OCCURRED.

LIKE WITH 9/11 HAVING THE MEMORIAL AT GROUND ZERO WHICH I VISITED MYSELF.

BEING ABLE TO WITNESS THE DEATH AND LOSS AND IMMENSE TRAUMA OF IT ALL IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE GRIEF PROCESS.

I WILL CONTINUE TO PROCESS HOW THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH COVID AND THE PANDEMIC.

DON'T KNOW HOW WERE GOING TO DO THAT.

CERTAINLY, PEOPLE WOULD BE DOING THAT INDIVIDUALLY AS TIME MOVES ON.

HOW DO WE DO THAT AS A SOCIETY WILL BE IMPORTANT.

>> WE TALK ABOUT TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCES IN THE PAST.

PEOPLE WILL SAY THINGS LIKE WHERE WERE YOU WHEN JFK WAS KILLED OR WERE REVIEWED 9/11?

THE PANDEMIC DIDN'T HAPPEN ONE DAY.

THERE WERE MAJOR MILESTONES.

ONE WAS WHEN THE GOVERNOR SAID THAT WE NEEDED TO SHELTER-IN-PLACE.

THAT WAS SO FINAL FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.

I HAD A LOT OF PLANS WITH MY MUSIC, MY KIDS, MY WORK.

ALL OF THE SUDDEN, NOBODY COULD DO ANYTHING.

YOU HAD TO SHELTER-IN-PLACE AND THAT SCARY.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE SOME KIND OF RITUAL THE BRINGS YOU CLOSER TO THE PEOPLE YOU HAVE LOST.

THAT GIVES SPACE AND TIME FOR THEM IN YOUR THOUGHTS OF THEM.

IT'S LIKE MY SONG TOO TIRED TO CRY.

I DROVE 150 MILES TO GO BACK IN TIME OR I WOKE UP AND THOUGHT OF YOU TO KEEP YOU ALIVE.

♪ >> WE ARE STILL IN THIS PANDEMIC AND THE UNKNOWNS.

I THINK THEY HAVE CREATED AN EXISTENTIAL CRISIS.

IT CONNECTS US WHEN WE SEE SO MUCH DEATH IT CAN ACCESS WITH OUR OWN MORTALITY AND PENDING ON WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU BELIEVE, FROM MY EXPERIENCE THIS IS MY LIFE AND HOW AM I LIVING IT AND SHOULD I BE SHIFTING SOMETHING?

IT IS A COLLECTIVE EXPERIENCE.

I DON'T KNOW THAT ANYBODY IN THE WORLD ISN'T IMPACTED IN SOME WAY.

THE WAYS WE ARE FINDING THE WAYS PEOPLE ARE IMPACTED ARE SO DIVERSE.

SOME PEOPLE HAVE LOST THEIR JOBS.

SOME PLACES THE SERVICES AND DEMAND HAVE INCREASED.

CERTAINLY IN THE WORLD OF MENTAL WELLNESS.

I NEED TO NOT BE ABLE TO HOLD A MEMORIAL SERVICE, TO NOT BE ABLE TO SAY GOODBYE TO A LOVED ONE WHO IS DYING HAS FORCED US INTO A REALM OF CRISIS.

ACKNOWLEDGING THE REALITY THAT THIS IS A MOMENT OF SUFFERING.

THIS IS A MOMENT OF SUFFERING.

EVERYONE SUFFERS.

DURING THE PANDEMIC, EVERYONE IS SUFFERING IN SOME WAY RIGHT NOW.

THIS IS A COLLECTIVE EXPERIENCE.

JULIE: NEXT WEEK OUR SPECIAL SERIES COMES TO AN END.

IN THE FINAL SEGMENT, WE'LL VISIT A HOMELESS SHELTER ON THE IRON RANGE AND TALK WITH A FORMER RESIDENT.

SHE SHARED HER EXPERIENCE WITHOUT A ROOF OVER HER HEAD AT A TIME WHEN FOLKS WERE BEING ASKED TO SHELTER IN THEIR HOMES TO TRY AND STOP THE PANDEMIC: >> SOME PEOPLE ASSOCIATE HOMELESSNESS WITH THE DRUG ADDICTION AND THAT'S NOT THE THING ALL THE TIME.

PEOPLE LIKE ME WHO HAVE HAD A ROUGH PATCH IN LIFE, WHAT DO WE DO?

WHO CARES ABOUT US?

WHO LOVES US?

THIS PLACE SHOWED ME EVERYTHING I WAS MISSING, EVERYTHING I WAS NEEDING AND WANTING.

WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO VOICE THAT UNTIL PEOPLE THIS IS WHAT I NEED.

THEY UNDERSTOOD ME.

THEN IT WENT ON FROM THERE.

THEN EVERYBODY ELSE WHO WENT UP ON A ROUGH LIFE PATCH AND DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO, THEY SHY AWAY FROM PLACES LIKE THE SHELTER.

IF YOU NEED HELP, COME GET IT.

DO YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING?

DON'T LET THE STIGMATISM OR THE STEREOTYPES OF HOMELESSNESS FOLLOW YOU.

I WOULD HAVE BEEN DEAD.

JULIE: JOIN US AS WE WRAP UP OUR SPECIAL SERIES NEXT WEEK ON ALMANAC NORTH.

♪ DENNY: IT'S TIME NOW FOR "VOICES OF THE REGION."

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

THIS WEEK MARSHALL HELMBERGER FROM THE TIMBERJAY NEWS IN TOWER IS OUR GUEST: ♪ >> THE RECENT NOTIFICATION SENT BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY TO THE STATE OF WISCONSIN ALERTING THEM THAT THE PROPOSED COPPER NICKEL MINE MAY AFFECT THEIR DOWNSTREAM WATER QUALITY.

THIS MAY AFFECT NOTICE WHICH IS SPELLED OUT IN FEDERAL LAW IS THE FIRST STEP IN A PROCESS THAT COULD EVENTUALLY LEAD TO MODIFICATION OR INVALIDATION OF THE FEDERAL WETLANDS PERMIT WITHOUT WHICH THE MIND COULD NOT GO FORWARD.

IT IS CURRENTLY SUSPENDED PENDING THE RESULTS OF AN UPCOMING PUBLIC PROCEEDING WHICH WILL INCLUDE A PUBLIC HEARING REQUIRED BY LAW ONCE THE EPA DETERMINES THAT A PROJECT MAY AFFECT DOWNSTREAM WATERS.

FOND DU LAC OFFICIALS URGED THE EPA UNDER THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION THREE TIMES IN WRITING TO ISSUE THIS FINDING, BUT THE EPA DECLINED TO DO SO.

FOND DU LAC EVENTUALLY SUED OVER THE MATTER AND THE COURT FOUND THE EPA HAD FAILED IN ITS OBLIGATIONS.

THE EPA WITH THE NEW ADMINISTRATION REVERSED COURSE AND MADE THE DETERMINATION AND GO THROUGH THE PROCEEDINGS WHICH IS LIKELY GOING TO TAKE SEVERAL MONTHS.

FOND DU LAC OFFICIALS CONTEND THAT THE WETLANDS PERMIT AND OTHER RELATED PERMITS ARE NOT PROTECTIVE ENOUGH.

THAT'S AN ASSERTION THEY HAVE MADE FOR YEARS.

THEY ARE MORE OPTIMISTIC UNDER THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION WHICH IS SHOWN THE WILLINGNESS.

WE HAVE BEEN REPORTING ON THE FOLLOW-UP LOCALLY FROM A HUGE CHANGE IN CONSTRUCTION COST STEMMING FROM MATERIAL SHORTAGES.

IT AFFECTS A SCHOOL RENOVATION AS WELL AS A VISITOR CENTER AND AT HIS LEFT OFFICIALS SCRAMBLING TO FIND MORE FUNDING.

THE BID FOR THE VISITOR CENTER A MINUTE TWICE THE ESTIMATES WHICH WERE ALREADY QUITE HIGH AT $300 PER SWEAR FOOT.

THE BIDS CAME IN AT THE EQUIVALENT OF $750 PER SQUARE FOOT WHICH IS PUT THE PROJECT ON HOLD FOR NOW.

CITY OFFICIALS WERE EXCITED AFTER THEY HAD BEEN AWARDED $1.5 MILLION IN STATE BONDING MONEY EARLIER THIS YEAR WITH THOSE DOLLARS ARE GOING TO FOLLOW SHORT OF WHAT IS NEEDED TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT.

THE SCHOOL BOARD VOTED TO REJECT ALL THE BIDS IT RECEIVED FOR A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF ITS SCHOOL PROJECT ALSO DUE TO THE HIGHEST -- HIGH-PRICED TECH.

IT'S A SIGN OF THE TIMES.

IT IS AFFECTING THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY IN THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS.

THIS WEEK WE ARE REPORTING ON THE DISAPPEARANCE OF SMALL-TOWN NEWSPAPERS.

IT'S INTERNATIONAL FALLS JOURNAL THAT ANNOUNCED IT WOULD BE SHUTTING DOWN OPERATIONS EFFECTIVE JUNE 21.

THE NEWSPAPER HAS BEEN IN OPERATION FOR 110 YEARS.

IT INDICATES THAT THE IMPACT OF THE PANDEMIC AND OTHER FACTORS HAVE LED IT TO CEASE OPERATIONS.

THE NEWSPAPER WAS ACQUIRED LAST YEAR BY ALBANY GLOBAL CAPITAL, A HEDGE FUND IN MANHATTAN WHICH IS BEEN BUYING NEWSPAPERS INTO SLASHING NEWSROOMS AND SELLING OFF COMPANY ASSETS IN A BID FOR SHORT-TERM PROFITS OFTEN AT THE EXPENSE OF THE VIABILITY OF THE NEWSPAPERS.

TOP MANAGEMENT ISN'T SAYING MUCH ABOUT THE DECISION TO CLOSE THE JOURNAL ALTHOUGH IT APPEARS THE DECISION WAS NOT MADE LOCALLY.

AS MORE AND MORE NEWSPAPERS ARE BEING PUBLISHED -- PURCHASED, THE RECOGNITION OF THE COMMUNITY MISSION THAT COMES WITH SMALL-TOWN PUBLISHING HAS ALL BUT VANISHED.

JULIE: THAT'S OUR TIME THIS WEEK, BUT DON'T FORGET TO FOLLOW ALMANAC NORTH ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.

YOU CAN ALSO VISIT THE WDSE WEBSITE FOR PROGRAM UPDATES, UPCOMING EVENTS AND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE STATION.

AND IF YOU HAVEN'T DONE IT ALREADY, DOWNLOAD THE PBS VIDEO APP FOR ON-DEMAND VIEWING OF YOUR FAVORITE PBS PROGRAMS AND PAST EPISODES OF ALMANAC NORTH.

DENNY, IT WAS GOOD TO BE TOGETHER WITH YOU IN THE STUDIO, LOOKING FORWARD TO FUTURE SHOWS TOGETHER.

DENNY: IT'S WONDERFUL TO BE BACK .

WE WANT THE AUDIENCE TO STAY.

JULIE: THANKS TO OUR GUESTS AND THE CREW HERE IN THE STUDIO.

WITH DENNIS ANDERSON, I'M JULIE ZENNER, WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.

♪