DENNIS: I'M DENNIS ANDERSON.

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

IT HAS BEEN A MOMENTOUS WEEK IN OUR NATION'S HISTORY, CONGRESSMAN PETE STAUBER JOINS US LIVE TO TALK ABOUT EVENTS THIS WEEK AT THE U-S CAPITOL U.M.D.

CHANCELLOR LENDLEY BLACK IS HERE, TOO, WITH AN UPDATE ON HOW COVID WILL AFFECT THE START OF THE SPRING SEMESTER NEXT WEEK.

AND LOCAL ECONOMIC EXPERTS TALK ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THE PANDEMIC AND SHARE THEIR OUTLOOK FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES.

THESE STORIES AND "VOICES OF THE REGION" COMING UP ON "ALMANAC NORTH"!

♪ ♪ DENNIS: HELLO AND WELCOME TO "ALMANAC NORTH."

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR WATCHING.

I'M DENNIS ANDERSON.

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

OUR SHOW WAS BROADCAST LIVE FRIDAY AT 5:30 P.M. MUCH OF THE NATION WATCHED IN SHOCK ON WEDNESDAY AS THE CAPITOL IN WASHINGTON D.C. WAS STORMED BY A CROWD THAT HAD BEEN RALLYING IN SUPPORT OF PRESIDENT TRUMP.

THE DEMONSTRATORS HAD GATHERED IN PROTEST OF CONGRESS CERTIFYING THE VICTORY OF PRESIDENT-ELECT JOE BIDEN.

THE CROWD MARCHED TO THE CAPITOL BUILDING AND MANY BREACHED CAPITOL SECURITY, SMASHING WINDOWS AND RUSHING INTO THE BUILDING.

IT WAS A CHAOTIC SCENE, AS MEMBERS OF CONGRESS WERE RUSHED FROM THE HOUSE AND SENATE CHAMBERS TO SAFETY.

MINNESOTA EIGHTH DISTRICT REP. PETE STAUBER IS HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE RIOT IN THE CAPITOL BUILDING AND ITS AFTERMATH.

WELCOME, GLAD YOU ARE SAFE REP. STAUBER:IT'S GREAT TO BE WITH YOU TONIGHT.

DENNIS: WHAT DID YOU FIRST SEE WHEN YOU FIRST REALIZED THERE WAS A PROBLEM, A BREACH OF SECURITY?

REP. STAUBER: I WENT TO THE HOUSE FLOOR TO WATCH THE HISTORIC COUNTING OF THE ELECTORAL VOTES AND THE THIRD STATE, ARIZONA, WAS CHALLENGED.

A MEMBER OF THE HOUSE AND MEMBER OF THE SENATE CHALLENGED IT.

SO THAT MEANS THERE'S A DEBATE, ONE HOUR IN THE SENATE AND ONE HOUR IN THE HOUSE.

AND I HAD SOME LEGISLATIVE STUFF TO DO WITH MY CHIEF OF STAFF IN THE OFFICE SO I ACTUALLY LEFT THE HOUSE FLOOR AND WAS WALKING BACK THROUGH THE TUNNELS AND IT WAS AT THAT TIME WHERE MY PAGERS WENT OFF AND PHONES WENT OFF AND MY CHIEF OF STAFF SAID THERE'S ISSUES WITH THE CAPITOL BEING BREACHED AND ALSO OFFICE BUILDINGS.

SO WE'RE TRAINED TO GO TO CERTAIN SPOTS AND I WENT TO A LOCATION THAT WAS SECURE AND SAFE.

DENNIS: YOUR REACTION TO WHAT HAPPENED ON WEDNESDAY?

REP. STAUBER: YOU KNOW, WATCHING WHAT HAPPENED IN OUR NATION'S CAPITOL WAS JUST -- WAS HORRIFIC TO SEE THE BEACON OF FREEDOM WITH THE PROTESTORS COMING THROUGH, STORMING THE CAPITOL.

AND I'VE SAID THIS, MOB RULE IS NOT WHAT THIS COUNTRY'S ABOUT.

MOB DOESN'T RULE A CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS OR ST. PAUL OR KENOSHA, WISCONSIN, OR NEW YORK CITY, OR OUR NATION'S CAPITAL.

SIMPLY UNACCEPTABLE.

DENNIS: YOU'VE BEEN A STAUNCH SUPPORTER OF PRESIDENT TRUMP BUT THINGS CHANGED THIS WEEK AND WHY?

REP. STAUBER: ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CONCERNED ME -- I'M DISAPPOINTED IN SOME OF THE THINGS HE SAID AND I'M DISAPPOINTED THAT THERE WERE SOME CHALLENGES ON VICE PRESIDENT PENCE'S CHARACTER.

VICE PRESIDENT PENCE THIS WEEK ROSE TO THE MOMENT AND POLITICAL PROMINENCE BY ACCEPTING THE ELECTORAL VOTES THAT WERE SENT HE FOLLOWED THE CONSTITUTION AND I'M VERY, VERY HAPPY AND WE SHOULD ALL BE VERY HAPPY THAT VICE PRESIDENT PENCE FOLLOWED THE CONSTITUTION AS HE SWORE THE OATH TO.

DENNIS: MANY OF YOUR DEMOCRATIC COLLEAGUES ARE CALLING FOR IMPEACHMENT OR USE OF THE 25TH AMENDMENT.

WOULD YOU SUPPORT IMPEACHMENT?

OR USE OF THE 25TH?

REP. STAUBER: I THINK THE 25TH AMENDMENT HAS TO DO WITH WORKING WITH THE CABINET SIDE AND I THINK THAT IMPEACHMENT AT THIS MOMENT WILL DIVIDE AN ALREADY DIVIDED NATION AND I WANT TO BE, DENNIS, PART OF THE HEALING, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING IN THE 117TH CONGRESS AND I WILL BE IN ATTENDANCE AT THE INAUGURATION ON JANUARY 20.

DENNIS: THE PRESIDENT SAYS HE WON'T BE AT THE INAUGURATION.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THAT?

REP. STAUBER: I JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT THAT LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND IT'S HIS CHOICE AND THERE HAVE BEEN A COUPLE OF OTHER PRESIDENTS THAT HAVEN'T ATTENDED FOR OTHER REASONS.

I JUST THINK THAT THE PEACEFUL TRANSFER OF POWER IS WHAT SETS OUR NATION APART FROM ANY OTHER NATION IN THE WORLD.

AND I WAS AT THE INAUGURATION FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP WHEN PRESIDENT OBAMA AND MICHELLE OBAMA WERE THERE TO WATCH THAT PEACEFUL TRANSFER OF POWER.

THAT IS PART OF THE BEACON OF FREEDOM AND THAT'S PART OF OUR CONSTITUTION AND IT'S VERY CONCERNING BECAUSE WE WANT TO BE THE LEADER OF THE FREE WORLD AND I THINK THAT TRANSFER OF POWER IS SO, SO CRUCIAL AND SO CRITICAL ON WHO WE ARE, PEACEFULLY.

DENNIS: DO YOU THINK THE PRESIDENT DID ENOUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT TO STOP THE ATTACK?

REP. STAUBER: I THINK THE RHETORIC AND SOME OF THE WORDS USED, DISAPPOINTING, AND I JUST THINK THAT WE CAN DO BETTER AS A NATION AND I WANT TO DO MY PART AS BEING BETTER.

WE HAVE TO WATCH OUR WORDS, WATCH OUR RHETORIC.

WHAT DO WE SAY ON OUR FACEBOOK AND OUR TWITTER AND IT SEEMS LIKE THIS TIME, PLACE, THE INTENSITY, SOMEBODY TRIES TO GET A POLITICAL ADVANTAGE, BY POSTING SOMETHING ON FACEBOOK OR SAYING SOMETHING AND I WANT TO JUST DO THE PEOPLE'S BUSINESS AND IN THE 117TH CONGRESS, WE HAVE SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP NOT ONLY OUR CONSTITUENTS, DENNIS, BUT THE NATION MOVE FORWARD.

DENNIS: YOU ANNOUNCED PRIOR TO THE CAPITOL ATTACK THAT YOU ARE GOING TO VOTE TO CERTIFY THE ELECTORAL VOTES, EVEN THOUGH YOU HAD PREVIOUSLY SUPPORTED A TEXAS LAWSUIT CALLING SOME STATES' ELECTION RESULTS INTO QUESTION.

HOW DID YOU COME TO THAT DECISION?

REP. STAUBER: LET'S GO BACK TO THE AMICUS BRIEF WHICH WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

IF YOU READ THE AMICUS BRIEF, IT WAS TO SAY FOLLOW THE CONSTITUTION AND MAKE SURE ALL STATES, FEDERAL ELECTION LAW, FOLLOWED THE CONSTITUTION.

THAT'S WHAT THE AMICUS BRIEF WAS.

SO WHEN I VOTED TO ACCEPT THE ELECTORAL VOTES, THAT'S WHAT THE CONSTITUTION DEMANDS OF US.

CONGRESS IS NOT THE DECIDER OF THE ELECTION.

WE STILL HAVE THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE AND THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE HAS BEEN GOOD FOR THIS COUNTRY FOR A LONG TIME BECAUSE IT HELPS RURAL AMERICA HAVE A VOICE.

WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE CALIFORNIA, TEXAS, FLORIDA, MICHIGAN AND NEW YORK DECIDING OUR ELECTIONS.

OUR 10 ELECTORAL VOTES SHOULD MATTER, DENNIS.

DENNIS: THE PRESIDENT ON THURSDAY SAID AFTER THE RIOT THERE WILL BE A PEACEFUL TRANSFER OF POWER TO THE NEW PRESIDENT.

YOUR THOUGHTS?

REP. STAUBER: THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN, A PEACEFUL TRANSFER OF POWER AND THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN ON JANUARY 20.

DENNIS: DO YOU THINK THOSE WORDS RING HOLLOW?

REP. STAUBER: I THINK SOME PEOPLE MIGHT SAY THEY RING HOLLOW BUT I WILL SAY I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WORK IN THE 117TH CONGRESS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE AND NEVER SHOULD WE ALLOW A MOB TO RULE OR RIOTS OR LOOTING ANY MORE IN THIS NATION.

OUR POLICE OFFICERS DESERVE THE RESPECT, THE CONSTITUTION MATTERS.

AND CITIZEN SAFETY IS OF PRIMARY IMPORTANCE.

DENNIS: CONGRESSMAN PETE STAUBER, I WISH WE HAD MORE TIME.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

REP. STAUBER: HAPPY NEW YEAR, DENNIS.

DENNIS: THANK YOU.

♪ ♪ DENNIS: WE INVITED THE MINNESOTA SENATORS TO JOIN US BUT DID NOT HEAR BACK FROM THEM BY SHOW TIME.

TURNING TO OTHER NEWS OF THE WEEK, GOVERNOR TIM WALZ HAS LOOSENED RESTRICTIONS ON BARS, RESTAURANTS AND OTHER ENTERTAINMENT VENUES IN MINNESOTA AS COVID CASES IN THE STATE TREND DOWN.

STARTING MONDAY, BARS AND RESTAURANTS CAN RESUME INDOOR SERVICE AT 50% CAPACITY, WITH A CAP OF 150 PEOPLE.

OTHER INDOOR FACILITIES LIKE MOVIE THEATERS, BOWLING ALLEYS AND MUSEUMS CAN OPEN AT 25% CAPACITY.

THE ST. LOUIS COUNTY BOARD THIS WEEK SELECTED IRON RANGE COMMISSIONER MIKE JUGOVICH TO SERVE AS CHAIR FOR A SECOND CONSECUTIVE YEAR.

IT'S THE FIRST TIME IN NEARLY A HUNDRED YEARS THAT THE SAME COMMISSIONER WAS ELECTED CHAIR OF THE BOARD.

TYPICALLY THE CHAIR ROTATES BETWEEN NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS, BUT JUGOVICH SAID NOTHING HAS BEEN ORDINARY DURING THE PANDEMIC.

THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-SUPERIOR HAS RECEIVED A $100-THOUSAND DOLLAR GIFT TO HELP PURCHASE A NEW "FLOATING CLASSROOM".

THE CHALLENGE GIFT FROM U.W.S.

ALUMNI BILL AND LYNNE ROGERS WILL HELP THE UNIVERSITY REPLACE THE L.L.

SMITH RESEARCH VESSEL.

THE LAKE SUPERIOR RESEARCH INSTITUTE WILL OPERATE THE VESSEL AND IS IN A TWO-YEAR PLANNING PHASE FOR THE NEW FLOATING CLASSROOM.

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA DULUTH STUDENTS RETURN TO CAMPUS NEXT WEEK FOR THE START OF THE SPRING SEMESTER.

BUT IT WON'T BE BUSINESS AS USUAL, AS THE COVID PANDEMIC CONTINUES TO ALTER THE ROUTINE FOR STUDENTS AND STAFF.

JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT THE SPRING PLAN IS LENDLEY BLACK, HE'S THE CHANCELLOR OF U.M.D.

DR. BLACK, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

I KNOW WE'VE RECENTLY RECEIVED A STATEMENT YOU ISSUED ON THE ATTACK OF THE CAPITOL.

WHY DID YOU WRITE THE STATEMENT?

LENDLEY: DENNIS, LIKE MANY OTHER PEOPLE, I WAS SHOCKED, DISAPPOINTED AND REALLY FRIGHTENED, TO A CERTAIN EXTENT, AS I WATCHED WHAT WAS UNFOLDING AT OUR NATION'S CAPITOL AND I JUST FELT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO MAKE MY FEELINGS KNOWN AND TO REINFORCE TO OUR CAMPUS COMMUNITY OUR CORE VALUES AT U.M.D., FOCUSING ON INTEGRITY, FOCUSING ON RESPECTING DIVERSE OPINIONS AND DIVERSE PEOPLE AND DISAGREEING IN PRODUCTIVE WAYS.

DENNIS: HOW DOES THAT STATEMENT, THEN, FIT INTO U.M.D.

'S OVERALL STATEMENT OF EXCELLENCE?

LENDLEY: AS I MENTIONED -- DENNIS: MISSION STATEMENT.

LENDLEY: YES.

IT'S ALSO REFLECTED IN OUR MISSION STATEMENT THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE BEING EDUCATED AND PREPARED TO BE ENGAGED CITIZENS, GLOBAL CITIZENS, CITIZENS OF THE WORLD.

SO I WANTED TO REINFORCE THAT NOTION THAT WE STILL NEED TO BE FOCUSED ON HELPING PEOPLE BECOME ENGAGED, INVOLVED IN CIVIC ACTIVITIES BUT DOING IT IN A WAY THAT'S PRODUCTIVE, THAT'S SAFE, THAT CHALLENGES, BUT IN A WAY THAT IS LAWFUL AND RESPECTS DIVERSITY OF OPINION.

LENDLEY: WE ARE 10 MONTHS INTO THE PANDEMIC, DR. BLACK.

HOW HAS THE PANDEMIC AFFECTED U.M.D.

STUDENTS AND STAFF?

LENDLEY: IT'S BEEN A CHALLENGING 10 MONTHS.

THERE'S NO WAY TO SUGAR COAT IT OR DOUBT THAT AT ALL.

BUT I'M EXTREMELY PLEASED AT THE WAY OUR FACULTY, STAFF AND STUDENTS HAVE RISEN TO THE OCCASION.

WE HAD, OVERALL, A VERY SUCCESSFUL FALL SEMESTER.

WE NEVER HAD A BIG SURGE IN COVID CASES.

WE ENDED UP WITH ABOUT 81 STUDENTS WHO TESTED POSITIVE THROUGH OUR HEALTH SERVICES ON KAM CAMPUS HERE AND 600 TOTAL FACULTY, STAFF AND STUDENTS WHO WERE POSITIVE SO THOSE NUMBERS WERE VERY MUCH WITHIN WHAT WE WOULD HAVE EXPECTED.

OUR PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ABIDING WELL BY THE REQUIREMENTS, WEARING MASKS, KEEPING PHYSICAL DISTANCING, USING HOT HAND SANITIZER.

DENNIS: THE SPRING SEMESTER BEGINS WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13.

ARE YOU MAKING CHANGES FROM THE FALL SESSION?

LENDLEY: NOT MANY AT ALL.

WE WERE SUCCESSFUL, WE DID GET THROUGH THANKSGIVING WITHOUT SENDING STUDENTS HOME, WHICH WAS OUR PRIMARY GOAL.

SO IN THE SPRING WE'LL CONTINUE WITH A VARIETY OF COURSE MODALITIES.

ABOUT 53% OF OUR STUDENTS WILL HAVE EITHER TOTAL FACE-TO-FACE CLASSES OR BLENDED CLASSES THAT ARE FACE-TO-FACE AND PARTLY ONLINE AND THE REST WILL BE TOTALLY ONLINE.

DENNIS: IS STUDENT REGISTRATION DOWN?

LENDLEY: WE'RE NOT SURE ABOUT WHAT IT IS FOR THE SPRING.

WE TYPICALLY HAVE A SMALL DECREASE EVERY YEAR BETWEE FALL AND SPRING BUT IT'S TOO EARLY TO TELL WHERE WE'RE GOING TO END UP THIS SPRING.

DENNIS: HOW ARE YOU PROTECTING STUDENTS ON CAMPUS?

LENDLEY: WE ARE BEING VERY DILIGENT IN KEEPING THE CAMPUS SANITIZED.

WE HAVE ADDED HAND SANITIZER STATIONS THROUGHOUT THE CAMPUS.

WE CLEAN CAMPUSES IN BETWEEN CLASS PERIODS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE WHAT THEY SHOULD BE IN TERMS OF FREE OF GERMS OR COVID.

WE ARE ALSO REQUIRING MASKS STILL ON CAMPUS AND OUR CAMPUS COMMUNITY HAS BEEN INCREDIBLY GOOD ABOUT ABIDING BY THAT AND WE JUST HAVE AN OVERALL APPROACH.

DENNIS: DR. LENDLEY BLACK, TIME GOES QUICKLY.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

LENDLEY: THANK YOU, DENNIS.

DENNIS: THE BEGINNING OF THE MINNESOTA LEGISLATIVE SESSION HEADLINES THIS WEEK "VOICES OF THE REGION."

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

NORTHERN MINNESOTA AUTHOR AND COLUMNIST AARON BROWN BEGINS WITH THE NEW DYNAMIC FOR NORTHERN MINNESOTA LAWMAKERS AT THE STATE CAPITOL.

♪ AARON: WE HAVE BEEN TALKING FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS ABOUT THE CHANGES IN POLITICAL LEANINGS OF NORTHEASTERN MINNESOTA, A MORE CONSERVATIVE IRON RANGE, A MUCH REDDER, RURAL PART OF THE NORTHEAST, AND THEN, OF COURSE, THE LIBERAL BLUE CITY OF DULUTH.

AND ALL OF THESE STATEMENTS ARE KIND OF MANIFEST HERE IN THE OPENING WEEK OF THE SESSION.

FIRST OF ALL, IN THE STATE SENATE, CONTROLLED BY REPUBLICANS, YOU HAVE AN IRON RANGE STATE SENATOR, DAVID TOMMASONEY, AS THE PRESIDENT PRO TEM, THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, WHO IS -- WAS ELECTED JUST LAST NOVEMBER AS A DEMOCRAT BUT HAS BECOME, I GUESS, AN INDEPENDENT, YOU'D CALL IT, SINCE, AND THEN JOINED WITH SENATOR BACH OF COOK, THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS.

AND HE, THOMASONY AND BACH BOTH GOT COMMITTEE CHAIRS IN THE REPUBLICAN SENATE AND THOMASONY HAS A HIGH PROFILE ROLE IN THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE SENATE SO THAT'S A VERY DIFFERENT PLACE FOR IRON RANGE SENATORS TO BE IN.

ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOW GETTING REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS IN NORTHEASTERN MINNESOTA WHO HAVE BEEN IN OFFICE LONG ENOUGH TO GET SENIORITY AND YOU SEE SENATOR JUSTIN EICHHORN IN HIS SECOND TERM GETTING THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE MINING, NATIONAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE IN THE SENATE.

SO FOR LOSING CLOUT, AS NORTHEASTERN MINNESOTA HAS DONE IN BOTH ECONOMIC AND POPULATION TERMS, EVEN THOUGH THE MIX IS MORE OF A SWING REGION WITH LESS ONE PARTY AS IT USED TO BE, YOU'RE SEEING LOCAL LAWMAKERS ENJOYING MAYBE THE LAST TIME WE SEE SOMETHING LIKE THIS WHERE THE LOCAL LAWMAKERS ARE ALL IN HIGH POSITIONS OF LEADERSHIP WITHIN THEIR OWN PARTIES.

♪ AARON: CLIFFS HAS ALWAYS BEEN AN IMPORTANT COMPANY IN THE REGION FOR A LONG TIME.

BUT IT'S LIKE CHECKERS, WHEN YOU REACH THE END AND YOU KING YOURSELF.

THEY KINGED THEMSELVES THIS LAST YEAR BY ACQUIRING THE ASSETS OF ARSLORE MIDDLE U.S.A., THE AMERICAN WING OF THE LARGEST STEELMAKER ON EARTH.

THEY ACQUIRED THE AMERICAN ASSETS WHICH INCLUDE A LOT OF STEEL MILLS AND IRON MINING PROPERTIES, AS WELL.

AND THAT MAKES CLEVELAND CLIFFS COMBINED WITH THE ASSETS THEY ALREADY HAD, THE LARGEST PRODUCER OF IRON AND STEEL IN NORTH AMERICA.

IN OTHER WORDS, THE POSITION THAT U.S. STEEL HAD WHEN IT WAS THE BIGGEST CORPORATION ON EARTH 100 YEARS AGO, CLEVELAND CLIFFS HAS NOW ATTAINED HERE IN THE 21ST CENTURY.

♪ AARON: THERE'S AN ONGOING INVESTIGATION OVER WHAT HAPPENED.

A SHOPLIFTING SUSPECT FLED INTO THE WOODS, WAS FOLLOWED BY A POLICE DOG AND POLICE OFFICERS, AND OUTSIDE THE VIEW OF ANYONE ELSE, A SCUFFLE ENSUED AND TASERS WERE USED ON THE SUSPECT, ESTEVAN ELYOV, AND THEN GUNS WERE DRAWN AND FIRED AND HE WAS KILLED.

NOW, THERE'S A LOT MORE TO THAT STORY, OBVIOUSLY.

WE DON'T KNOW ALL THE DETAILS YET.

AND SO I DON'T MEAN TO HAVE, LIKE, DEVINE KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT'S HAPPENED IN THIS INCIDENT.

BUT NEVERTHELESS, THE FACT REMAINS THAT IT WAS A SHOPLIFTING SUSPECT WHO FLED ON FOOT, WHICH IS NOT TERRIBLY UNHEARD OF, WHO ENDED UP DEAD.

AND THAT'S, I THINK, GETS AT THIS QUESTION OF FORCE IN POLICING THAT DESERVES OUR ATTENTION EVEN HERE IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA.

IT IS SO OFTEN CONFLATED AS JUST A METRO ISSUE BECAUSE METROPOLITAN AREAS ARE BIGGER AND THE PERCEPTION IS THAT THEIR CRIME RATES ARE HIGHER AND THERE'S A LOT OF CULTURAL ASPECTS OF THAT QUESTION BECAUSE OF HIGHER POPULATION OF MINORITY PEOPLE OF COLOR AND THE DIFFERENT HISTORY WITH POLICING THAT THOSE COMMUNITIES HAVE.

BUT I THINK THE STORY I WANTED TO RAISE IS THE FACT THAT THIS JUST HIGHLIGHTS THAT THERE'S SOMETHING BIGGER HERE INVOLVING THE INTERFACE BETWEEN POLICE AND THE COMMUNITY THAT'S CHANGED.

IT'S CHANGED WITH SOCIETY, WITH CHANGES IN SOCIETY, BUT IT'S CHANGED IN WAYS THAT MAY BE GETTING OUT AHEAD OF US AND REALLY FOR THE BENEFIT OF POLICE COMMUNITIES AND ALL PEOPLE, WE'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT A WAY FOR SITUATIONS LIKE THIS NOT TO END IN DEATH.

♪ ♪ DENNIS: IT'S BEEN AN "ALMANAC NORTH" TRADITION FOR MORE THAN 25 YEARS TO START THE FIRST SHOW OF A NEW YEAR WITH A REVIEW OF THE PAST YEAR'S ECONOMY.

WE NORMALLY INVITE THREE ECONOMIC EXPERTS TO THE STUDIO FOR A DISCUSSION OF THE BUSINESS YEAR.

BUT LIKE SO MANY THINGS, COVID AND THE NEED TO PHYSICAL DISTANCE IN THE STUDIO HAS FORCED US TO ALTER THOSE PLANS.

SO JOINING US NOW IN THE STUDIO IS THE LONGEST-TENURED MEMBER OF OUR ECONOMIC PANEL, TONY BARRETT, ST. SCHOLASTICA PROFESSOR-EMERITUS.

WELCOME BACK, TONY!

WHILE YOUR COLLEAGUES AREN'T PHYSICALLY HERE, WE SPOKE WITH THEM EARLIER THIS WEEK.

HERE'S WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY ABOUT 2020 AND 2021 AND THE YEAR AHEAD.

>> IT CAME OUT OF THE BLUE AND AFFECTED EVERYBODY AND WISCONSIN NORTHWEST, WISCONSIN IS NO DIFFERENT.

AND I CAN ALSO SAY NORTHWEST MINNESOTA, AS WELL.

ONE THING NAGGING, ESPECIALLY THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY, HOSPITALITY SECTOR, LEISURE, ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY, THEY TOOK THE LARGEST HIT, YOU CAN SAY THAT, BECAUSE OF THE KIND OF SERVICES THAT PROVIDE.

AND ALSO THE SERVICE SECTOR, YOU CAN IMAGINE, BECAUSE THAT INTERACTION IS NOT HAPPENING FACE-TO-FACE INTERACTION.

>> IT LOOKS LIKE A GOOD YEAR FOR STEEL COMING UP.

THERE'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE PENT-UP DEMAND AND A LOT OF PEOPLE JUST ANXIOUS TO GO BACKING TO -- BACK TO SPENDING MONEY AND REPLACING THINGS THAT ARE BROKEN AND GETTING ON WITH LIFE.

I THINK ONE THING THAT WASN'T EXPECTED IS KEY TECH BOUNCING BACK SO QUICKLY.

IT'S A SMALLER PLANT AND I THINK THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN SOME DOUBT ABOUT ITS FUTURE BUT HAVING THAT BACK UP AND RUNNING IS A GREAT THING AND THE REST OF THE MINES, TOO.

>> I THINK THERE ARE POSSIBILITIES.

I ALREADY SEE WITH THE VACCINATION, SOME INDUSTRY, ESPECIALLY RESTAURANT INDUSTRY, HOSPITALITY, THEY'RE ALREADY MAKING PLANS.

IF THIS HAPPENS, WHAT SHOULD WE DO?

WHAT BACK EDGE SHOULD WE OFFER TO OUR CUSTOMERS, NOT JUST LOCALS BUT COME WHO VISIT ESPECIALLY DURING SUMMER.

>> I THINK IT WILL RECOVER MORE IN 2022 THAN 2021.

THE VACCINE ROLLOUT HASN'T MOVED QUICKLY AND THERE'S STILL A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY.

ONE THING WE LEARNED THIS YEAR FROM PEOPLE WE SPOKE TO ON THE PHONE IS THAT AS SOON AS A LOT OF PEOPLE GOT THEIR STIMULUS CHECK, THEY HIT THE ROAD AND THEY STARTED SPENDING IN THE TOURIST SECTOR.

BUT ALL THAT IS GOING TO DEPEND ON GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS AND WHAT'S REQUIRED TO KEEP COVID UNDER CONTROL.

DENNIS: SO TONY BARRETT, RETIRED ECONOMICS PROFESSOR AT ST. SCHOLASTICA JOINS US NOW.

MY FIRST QUESTION IS WHAT POTENTIAL IMPACT COULD THE TROUBLE AT THE U.S. CAPITOL ON WEDNESDAY HAVE ON THE NATION'S ECONOMY?

COULD THERE BE AN EFFECT?

TONY: THERE COULD BE AND IT DEPENDS ON WHETHER THE POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT CHANGES IN WASHINGTON.

WE NEED MORE STIMULUS.

ON THE OTHER HAND, WE HAVE A LOT OF DEBT.

SO THE ISSUE TO ME IS, WHAT STRATEGY WILL REPUBLICANS FOLLOW.

THE DEMOCRATS ARE GOING TO TRY TO PROVIDE $2 TRILLION, PROBABLY MORE, OF SPENDING.

BUT DO THE REPUBLICANS REVERT BACK TO DEBT IS BAD, WE HAVE TO REDUCE OUR DEBT, CONTROL OUR SPENDING?

SO THE SIZE OF THE STIMULUS -- THERE WILL BE STIMULUS -- BUT WHETHER IT'S GOING TO BE A TRILLION, HALF A TRILLION OR TWO TRILLION -- DENNIS: WE ALSO HAVE A SEVERE POLITICAL DIVIDE IN THIS COUNTRY.

COULD THAT AFFECT THE ECONOMY?

TONY: YES.

RIGHT OFF THE BAT, WE HAVE THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION WANTING TO GET OUT, WHAT IS IT, 100 MILLION VACCINES IN THE FIRST 100 DAYS.

WHATEVER.

DOES THAT BECOME POLITICIZED?

WILL THERE BE PEOPLE WHO ACTIVELY TRY TO DISRUPT THAT PROCESS?

THIS WHOLE PANDEMC BECAME POLITICIZED TO A DEGREE I NEVER WOULD HAVE EXPECTED.

WILL THAT CHANGE?

WILL PEOPLE NOW, GO ENOUGH'S ENOUGH, NOW LET'S TRY AND SAVE A FEW HUNDRED THOUSAND LIVES?

ROUGHLY 400,000 AMERICANS WILL BE DEAD FROM THIS VIRUS.

DENNIS: DID THE JOBS REPORT CAME OUT TODAY?

TONY: 140,000 FEWER JOBS IN DECEMBER THAN IN NOVEMBER.

IT WAS DEFINITELY NEGATIVE.

WE'RE 10 MILLION FEWER PEOPLE WORKING NOW THAN IN FEBRUARY.

THAT'S 10 MILLION WAGE EARNERS NOT EARNING MONEY, NOT SPENDING MONEY.

IT WAS VERY DISAPPOINTING.

WE BUILT THIS BRIDGE, REMEMBER THE BRIDGE IN APRIL AND MAY, A GREAT STIMULUS CARE PACKAGE, BUT IT TURNED OUT THE BRIDGE DIDN'T GET TO THE OTHER SIDE.

THE BRIDGE GOT US OUT THERE AND NOW WE'RE FALLING OFF AND THERE HASN'T BEEN ADDITIONAL STIMULUS.

WE NEED SOMETHING TO GET US TO THE SUMMERTIME.

DENNIS: 10 MONTHS INTO THE PANDEMIC, HOW HAS THE PANDEMIC AFFECTED THE LOCAL ECONOMY, TONY?

TONY: YOU KNOW, RIGHT OFF THE BAT, WE SAW THAT WITH A.A.R.

PEOPLE WEREN'T FLYING, AIRLINES DIDN'T NEED MAINTENANCE AND WE LOST A LOT OF JOBS.

AND THEN TOURISM.

IT DEPENDED WHERE YOU WERE HOW SEVERELY YOU WERE HIT BUT IF YOU'RE IN THE HOSPITALITY BUSINESS, YOU CAN'T OPERATE AT 25%.

DENNIS: CAN LOCAL BUSINESSES SURVIVE ANOTHER SHUTDOWN?

TONY: I THINK SO -- NOT ANOTHER SHUTDOWN.

HOPEFULLY NO ONE'S TALKING ABOUT ANOTHER COMPLETE SHUTDOWN.

I THINK THAT WAS A BAD STRATEGY.

WE JUST NEED TO MAKE IT TO APRIL OR MAY WHERE THE WEATHER GETS BETTER, PEOPLE START COMING TO VISIT US.

DENNIS: THE LOCAL MINING INDUSTRY DID SPRING BACK TO LIFE AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS OF DOWNTIME.

WHAT'S THE ISSUE THERE NOW?

DO YOU EXPECT TO SEE THAT AGAIN THIS YEAR?

TONY: I EXPECT IT TO BE A VERY GOOD YEAR.

CAR MANUFACTURING'S BEEN STRONG.

CONSTRUCTION'S BEEN STRONG.

THOSE ARE THE INDUSTRIES THAT NEED NEW STEEL AND THAT'S OUR TACK.

DENNIS: WHAT'S YOUR PREDICTION FOR 2021?

TONY: I THINK THIS TIME NEXT YEAR THE PANDEMIC WILL BE A DISTANT MEMORY AND I THINK IT WON'T HAVE AS MUCH IMPACT ON BUSINESSES AND BEHAVIOR AS PUNDITS ARE SUGGESTING.

I ALSO THINK WE'LL START SEEING THE BEGINNINGS OF HIGHER INTEREST RATES.

I EXPECT THE 10-YEAR TREASURY BILL TO BE 10% AND INFLATION, I EXPECT TO BE 1.5%, 2%.

DENNIS: A YEAR AGO WE TALKED ABOUT CONSUMER CONFIDENCE.

ARE CONSUMERS STILL CONFIDENT?

TONY: PEOPLE WHO HAVE JOBS ARE DOING GREAT, PEOPLE WHO DON'T, DON'T.

IT'S A HAVE, HAVE-NOT ECONOMY.

DENNIS: TONY BARRETT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THAT'S OUR TIME FOR THIS WEEK.

DON'T FORGOT FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

WE'RE ON FACEBOOK, YOUTUBE AND TWITTER.

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 CREW IN THE STUDIO, I'M DENNIS ANDERSON.

STAY HEALTHY AND BE KIND.

♪ ♪