OF TWIN CITIES PBS FOR THE STATIONS OF MINNESOTA PUBLIC TELEVISION ASSOCIATION.

>> CATHY: HAPPY NEW YEAR.

I THINK I CAN STILL SAY THAT.

WE HAVE A BIG SHOW FOR YOU TO KICK OFF 2024.

DR. MIKE OSTERHOLM HAS A HOLIDAY SEASON COVID UPDATE, MINNESOTA'S NEWEST CHIEF JUSTICE NATALIE HUDSON JOINS US, AND KAOMI LEE HEADED TO GRAND RAPIDS TO CHECK OUT SELF-DRIVING VEHICLES.

ALL THAT AND MORE, COMING UP ON "ALMANAC."

♪ INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC ♪ >> "ALMANAC" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY MEMBERS OF THIS PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION.

>> SUPPORT IS ALSO PROVIDED BY.• GREAT RIVER ENERGY: PROVIDING WHOLESALE POWER TO 27 MINNESOTA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES.

DELTA DENTAL OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION: IMPROVING ORAL HEALTH WHILE ADVANCING SOCIAL EQUITIES.

DELTADENTALMN.ORG/TPT.

EDUCATION MINNESOTA: THE VOICE FOR PROFESSIONAL EDUCATORS AND STUDENTS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

MORE AT EDUCATIONMINNESOTA.ORG.

AND PAINTCARE: HELPING MINNESOTANS RECYCLE LEFTOVER PAINT.

MORE AT PAINTCARE.ORG.

"ONE GREATER MINNESOTA" REPORTING ON "ALMANAC" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE OTTO BREMER TRUST, WHOSE MISSION IS INVESTING IN PEOPLE, PLACES AND OPPORTUNITIES IN OUR REGION.

>> Cathy: WE'VE A GOT A FULL SHOW FOR YOU TO START OUT THE NEW YEAR.

IN THE NEXT HOUR, WE'LL VISIT WITH THE NEW MINNESOTA SUPREME COURT JUSTICE, KEVIN KLING HAS AN ESSAY FOR US, MARY LAHAMMER LOOKS BACK AT SOME OF 2023'S BIGGEST OLITICAL STORIES.

>> Eric: BUT WE START TONIGHT WITH THE BIG STORY THAT NEVER QUITE SEEMS TO GO AWAY.

COVID-19, CASE NUMBERS AND HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE ON THE RISE AGAIN.

THERE ARE NEW VARIANTS TO CONTEND WITH, ADD IN FLU AND RSV SEASON, AND A CDC REPORT EARLIER TODAY THAT 38 STATES HAD HIGH OR VERY HIGH LEVELS OF RESPIRATORY DISEASE LAST WEEK, THAT'S UP FROM 31 THE PREVIOUS WEEK.

NEARLY FOUR YEARS NOW, MIKE OSTERHOLM HAS JOINED US WITH REGULAR COVID UPDATES.

OSTERHOLM, WORLD RENOWNED EPIDEMIOLOGIST, HE HEADS THE U OF M CENTER FOR INFECTIOUS DISEASE, RESEARCH AND POLICY.

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THE CDC REPORT?

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, LET ME JUST SAY, I THOUGHT ABOUT THIS APPEARANCE TONIGHT, BECAUSE YOU USUALLY START OUT ASKING ME, WHAT INNING IS IT, AND I'VE SAID TO YOU BEFORE, IF WE'RE INTO INNINGS, QUARTERS, PERIODS, ANYTHING ANYMORE.

SO IN TERMS OF WHAT WE SEE WITH THIS REPORT, IT'S REALLY A COMBINATION OF WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH COVID, WHICH IS WIDESPREAD RIGHT NOW.

FORTUNATELY, NOT NEARLY AS SEVERE OF CASES AS BEFORE.

WE'RE SEEING SOME FLU, BUT, ACTUALLY, THE UPPER MIDWEST SO FAR HAS BEEN PRETTY WELL SPARED, A LOT OF THE FLU HAS BEEN MOSTLY IN THE SOUTH.

THIS RSV VIRUS, WHICH CAN BE ALSO VERY NASTY, HAS ACTUALLY PEAKED AND STARTING TO COME DOWN.

WHAT'S CARRYING THE DAY IS COVID.

>> Cathy: I HERE THE LATEST VARIANT IS VERY GOOD AT INFECTING PEOPLE.

>> IT'S VERY VERY GOOD.

AND, UNFORTUNATELY, WE'RE ACTUALLY SEEING PEOPLE WHO HAVE CONSIDERED THEMSELVES NOT AT RISK ANYMORE BECAUSE THEY WENT FOR FOUR YEARS WITHOUT GETTING INFECTED, WHO ARE NOW GETTING INFECTED FOR THE FIRST TIME.

AND, SO, THIS HAS BEEN A CHALLENGE.

AND MANY OF THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN VACCINATED, WHO HAVE ACTUALLY HAD, YOU KNOW, ALL THEIR DOSES THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO GET, BUT STILL ARE DOWN FOR EIGHT OR TEN DAYS AT A TIME.

NOW, YOU SAY, WELL, YOU SAID THEY WERE VACCINATED.

THESE PEOPLE ARE STILL HAVING MILDER ILLNESS COMPARED TO IF THEY HADN'T BEEN VACCINATED, THE DATA SHOWS THAT'S THE SITUATION.

>> Eric: WHAT ARE HE BARRIERS TO GETTING MORE PEOPLE VACCINATED WITH THE LATEST ROUND?

>> YOU KNOW, WE IN PUBLIC HEALTH RIGHT NOW ARE IN A VERY BAD WAY.

WE DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THERE'S SUCH RESISTANCE TO VACCINES.

RESEARCH, YOU KNOW, OR THE PAST 20 YEARS SAID, IT WAS ALL ABOUT SAFETY, PEOPLE WERE CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE VACCINES.

BUT WE'RE SEEING REALLY OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS HAS BEEN A WHOLE NEW RESISTANCE ABOUT, DON'T TELL ME WHAT TO DO.

AND IRTS ACTUALLY NOT ONLY SPILLING OVER TO HUMANS BUT TALK TO VETERINARIANS WHO WILL TELL YOU, THEY CAN'T GET DOGS AND CATS VACCINATED RIGHT NOW BECAUSE PEOPLE SAY, I DON'T WANT TO GET THEM VACCINATED, IF YOU TELL ME I HAVE TO, I'M NOT GOING TO.

THIS IS A REAL CHALLENGE.

RIGHT NOW IN THE UNITED STATES, ONLY ABOUT 18% OF THE OVERALL POPULATION HAS BEEN VACCINATED WITH THIS DOSE, WHICH CAN, AGAIN, REALLY REDUCE SERIOUS ILLNESS, AND IF YOU EVEN LOOK AT INDIVIDUALS IN NURSING HOMES RIGHT NOW, ONLY 37% OF NURSING HOME RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN VACCINATED.

SO WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO THAT WAY, JUST TO TRY TO KEEP PEOPLE OUT OF THE HOSPITAL AND KEEP THEM FROM HAVING SERIOUS ILLNESS.

>> Cathy: SO WHAT ARE THE NEW CHALLENGES WITH THIS VARIANT?

JN1.

ARE THERE ANY NEW CHALLENGES TO IT?

>> YOU KNOW, CATHY, I REMEMBER, I WENT BACK AND LOOKED AT THIS, WHEN I WAS ON THIS SHOW BACK IN THE END OF 2020, WE SAW A NEW VARIANT DEVELOPING CALLED ALPHA, AND IT WAS A GAME CHANGER, BECAUSE IT WAS SO MUCH MORE INFECTIOUS, AND I SAID ON THE SHOW THAT NIGHT, THAT I THOUGHT THE VARIANTS WERE WHAT WERE GOING TO DETERMINE THE LENGTH AND THE SEVERITY F THE PANDEMIC.

AND SURE ENOUGH, THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENED.

WE'VE HAD NINE PEAKS OF CASES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS OUTBREAK SINCE 2020.

AND EVERY ONE OF THEM WERE ALL RELATED TO THE EVOLUTION OF A NEW VARIANT.

WHERE NOW IT HAS NEW CHANGES THAT CAN AVOID THE MMUNE PROTECTION THAT WE'VE HAD FROM PREVIOUS INFECTIONS.

SO I ON'T KNOW HOW MANY MORE VARIANTS ARE COMING.

BUT THAT'S WHAT'S GOING TO DETERMINE WHERE IT'S AT.

>> Eric: YOU'VE STRESSED THAT THIS IS NOT SEASONAL.

AND, YET, I WONDER IF THE HOLIDAY-STYLE GATHERINGS DO GIVE IT A BOOST.

>> WELL, I'M SURE THAT THAT'S THE CASE.

BUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SEASONAL, REMEMBER I JUST MENTIONED THERE WERE NINE DIFFERENT PEAKS, THEY'RE EQUALLY DISTRIBUTED THROUGH THE FOUR QUARTERS, RIGHT NOW SOME OF THE WORST ACTIVITY IN THE WORLD FOR COVID IS IN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE.

AUSTRALIA HAS THE FIFTH HIGHEST DEATH RATE RIGHT NOW.

IT'S SUMMERTIME THERE.

SO WE SEE THAT SAME IN SOUTH AMERICA, AFRICA.

SO, AGAIN, THIS VIRUS HASN'T ADAPTED INTO A SEASONAL PATTERN YET, IT'S JUST WHEN THE NEW VARIANTS EMERGE.

SO, YOU KNOW, I'LL TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, I DON'T KNOW A QUARTER, PERIOD, OR INNING WE'RE IN UNTIL WE KNOW HOW THE VARIANTS ARE OING TO CONTINUE TO EMERGE, HOW DOES OUR I AM -- IMMUNE RESPONSE RELATE TO THAT?

>> Cathy: DO WE STILL NEED TO WORRY ABOUT LONG COVID?

>> AS YOU KNOW, I HAD A PRETTY MARKED CASE OF IT MYSELF FOR FOUR MONTHS.

YEAH, I DO WORRY ABOUT THAT.

I THINK THIS IS A SITUATION, LONG TAILS OF COVID, COSTWISE, HEALTHCAREWISE, ILLNESSWISE IS REALLY VERY IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER.

>> Eric: AND EPIDEMIOLOGIST FROM JOHNS HOPKINS, KAITLIN RIVERS, SAYS, QUOTE, THERE'S NO SIGN OF ANOTHER SEVERE WAVE.

>> WELL, I THINK THE ISSUE ABOUT A SEVERE WAVE AS I POINTED OUT BEFORE, YOU MAY RECALL, I SAID, WE'RE NOT GOING TO GO BACK TO THOSE FIRST THREE YEARS.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO SEE THE BIG BIG INCREASES.

RIGHT NOW WE'RE TALKING ROUGHLY ABOUT 38,000 HOSPITALIZATIONS A WEEK IN THIS COUNTRY.

ALMOST WHERE WE WERE A YEAR AGO RIGHT NOW.

BUT THAT'S BELOW 60,000 WHERE WE WERE AT TWO YEARS AGO.

SO THE NUMBERS OF HOSPITALIZATIONS AND SERIOUS ILLNESSES ARE COMING DOWN.

BUT WE'RE STILL OSING OVER 200 PEOPLE A DAY IN THIS COUNTRY.

>> Cathy: MOSTLY OLDER PEOPLE.

>> AND MOST OF IT'S N OLDER PEOPLE, RIGHT.

>> Cathy: I WONDER, THEN, MIKE, WHAT SHOULD PEOPLE THINK ABOUT THIS?

I MEAN, IS IT STILL SAFE TO GO OUT AND EAT OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, OR DO YOU GO BACK TO MAYBE SOME COVID, SOME PANDEMIC PRECAUTIONS, LIKE WEARING MASKS?

>> WELL, I THINK THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, WE KNOW SOCIETY IS PRETTY WELL GIVEN UP ON WEARING MASKS.

OKAY.

AND THAT IS UNFORTUNATE IF YOU'RE SOMEONE WHO IS AT HIGH RISK FOR SERIOUS ILLNESS.

STILL YOU CAN PROTECT YOURSELF BY BEING OUT THERE.

BUT FAMILY GATHERINGS, SUCH ARE THE PRESSURES THERE.

MY MESSAGE IS TEST.

TEST YOURSELF BEFORE YOU GO SOMEWHERE.

IF YOU MIGHT EXPOSE OTHERS.

ASK THEM TO TEST.

SO IF YOU GO HOME TO SEE GRANDMA AND GRANDPA, YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T ANT TO BRING COVID TO THEM.

AND TESTING CAN BE HELPFUL WITH THAT.

THE SECOND THING IS JUST GETTING EVERYONE VACCINATED.

SO EVEN SOME FINANCE DOES GET COVID IT'S GOING TO BE A MUCH LESS SEVERE ILLNESS AND THAT I CAN'T OVEREMPHASIZE.

>> Eric: APPRECIATE THE EXPERTISE.

THANKS FOR COMING VER.

>> Cathy: GOOD TO SEE YOU.

THANKS.

>> CATHY: BETTY WILSON, FORMER "STAR TRIBUNE" POLITICAL REPORTER EXTRAORDINAIRE, DIED LATE LAST MONTH AT THE AGE OF 99.

BETTY WAS A PIONEER.

ONE OF THE FIRST FEMALE REPORTERS IN A MALE-DOMINATED SPACE AT THE STATE'S CAPITOL.

THE PIONEERING WILSON IS LEGENDARY FOR HER TENACIOUS COVERAGE OF POLITICIANS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS.

AFTER SHE RETIRED, SHE WROTE A BOOK ABOUT FORMER GOVERNOR RUDY PERPICH, WHOM SHE COVERED FOR MORE THAN A DECADE.

SHE WAS A FREQUENT GUEST ON "ALMANAC," BOTH BEFORE AND AFTER SHE STOPPED COVERING THE CAPITOL FULL TIME.

SHE SAT DOWN WITH ERIC AND FORMER "ALMANAC" HOST JAN SMABY THE DAY AFTER HER RETIREMENT IN MARCH OF 1991.

HERE'S PART OF THAT CONVERSATION.

>> Eric: WELL, WAS YESTERDAY A DAY OF MIXED EMOTIONS AT THE CAPITOL, NOT BECAUSE ANYTHING GOT ACCOMPLISHED BUT BECAUSE IT WAS A DAY TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE RETIREMENT OF ONE OF THE GREAT TREASURES OF MINNESOTA POLITICAL REPORTING.

IT WAS BETTY WILSON DAY AT THE CAPITOL.

"STAR TRIBUNE" REPORTER BETTY WILSON GOT A NICE CITATION, PLAQUE FROM THE GOVERNOR, PROBABLY BECAUSE POLITICIANS AND OTHERS IN THE STATE WILL MISS HER WRITING ABOUT POLITICIANS.

I DON'T THINK THEY'LL MISS HER PHONE CALLS THAT UCH.

SHE HAS SPENT MORE THAN 20 YEARS AT THE STATE CAPITOL.

I SUPPOSE TO YOU IT SEEMS LIKE 50.

BUT IT'S BEEN 20.

ARE YOU A REPUBLICAN OR A DEMOCRAT?

>> ERIC, HOW CAN YOU ASK THAT?

[ Laughter ] >> Eric: YOU CAN TELL US NOW.

WHAT ARE YOU?

>> I'M JUST A HARDWORKING REPORTER.

>> Eric: YOU DON'T VOTE, RIGHT?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> Eric: WHY NOT?

>> BECAUSE WHEN YOU VOTE, YOU HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION, YOU HAVE TO MAKE A CHOICE, AND I JUST ALWAYS FELT LIKE I WAS A LITTLE LESS OBJECTIVE IF I DID THAT.

>> ARE YOU GOING TO RESUME VOTING NOW THAT YOU ARE A QUOTE, UNQUOTE, RETIRED JOURNALIST?

>> I HAVEN'T THOUGHT ABOUT IT.

>> BETTY WILSON, OF THE THREE OF US AT THIS TABLE, I AM THE ONLY ONE WHO AN CLAIM THAT I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO WATCH YOU ON BOTH SIDES OF YOUR REPORTING PEN.

I HAVE SEEN YOU AT WORK, AND I'VE ALSO TRIED TO DODGE YOUR PHONE CALLS, EVEN HIDING UNDER THE DESK, BUT SOMEHOW YOU HAD X-RAY EYES THAT I WAS STILL THERE.

YOU HAVE GAINED THROUGH THE YEARS A REPUTATION AS BEING ONE OF THE MOST DOGGED AND COMPETITIVE JOURNALISTS IN THE BUSINESS.

>> WELL, THANK YOU.

>> AND YOU SAY THANK YOU.

BUT WHY SO COMPETITIVE?

WHY SO COMPETITIVE?

>> BECAUSE IT'S A COMPETITIVE BUSINESS.

IF YOU DON'T COMPETE, YOU DON'T SURVIVE.

AND ERIC, HE'S A TOUGH COMPETITOR.

YOU KNOW, HE SAYS THESE NICE THINGS ABOUT ME, YOU KNOW.

>> Eric: OH, SHUCKS AND STAB YOU IN THE BACK AT THE AME TIME.

WELL, DID YOU FEEL YOU HAD TO START THAT WAY BECAUSE, I MEAN, BACK WHEN YOU STARTED, WAS GENDER AN ISSUE?

>> OH, SURE.

>> Eric: DID YOU HAVE TO BE TOUGHER?

>> THAT'S A BIG PART OF IT.

JAN, YOU PROBABLY KNOW THIS YOURSELF, EVEN HOUGH YOU'RE MUCH YOUNGER, WOMEN HAVE TO WORK HARDER.

>> THANK YOU, BETTY.

[ Laughter ] >> ERIC: THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN TO LEAD THE SUPREME COURT WAS SWORN IN LATE LAST OCTOBER IN A PRIVATE CEREMONY.

GOVERNOR TIM WALZ ELEVATED ASSOCIATE JUSTICE NATALIE HUDSON TO CHIEF JUSTICE AFTER LORIE GILDEA STEPPED DOWN IN THE FALL.

JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT HER FIRST COUPLE OF MONTHS LEADING THE COURT AND WHAT HER HISTORIC APPOINTMENT MEANS, CHIEF JUSTICE NATALIE HUDSON.

WELCOME BACK, YOUR HONOR.

>> THANK YOU.

WHEZ YOU'RE A FIRST, AND YOU'VE BEEN A FIRST QUITE A BIT -- >> I HAVE.

>> Eric: -- IS THERE A CERTAIN BURDEN, RESPONSIBILITY YOU FEEL?

>> I THINK THERE'S ALWAYS IS WHEN YOU'RE THE FIRST PERSON.

THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF EXPECTATIONS, AND I THINK THAT'S FAIR.

>> Eric: DOES IT WEIGH ON YOU?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK I WOULD BE LESS THAN HONEST TO SAY IT DOESN'T WEIGH ON YOU.

BUT IT'S ALSO SUCH AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE.

AND THAT'S HOW I HAVE LOOKED AT THIS PARTICULAR APPOINTMENT.

AND I HAVE A LOT OF SUPPORT, BOTH WITHIN THE JUDICIAL BRANCH, FROM MY COLLEAGUES ON THE COURT, OBVIOUSLY FROM FRIENDS AND FAMILY, AND, SO, I'M NOT BEARING THAT WEIGHT CERTAINLY BY MYSELF.

BUT IT'S CERTAINLY AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE.

>> Cathy: YOU'RE A TRAILBLAZER.

BUT I'M WONDERING, WHO WERE SOME OF YOUR MENTORS THAT HAVE BEEN HELPING YOU ALONG?

>> OH, GOSH, THERE'S SO MANY.

JUSTICE ALAN PAGE, FOR ONE, WHOSE POSITION I TOOK ON THE SUPREME COURT.

JUST WATCHING HIS REMARKABLE CAREER, BUT ALONG THE WAY, YOU KNOW, SOME OF MY EARLY MENTORS, MY FIRST BOSS, BRUCE BENEKE AT LEGAL SERVICES, MARVIN ANDERSON, WHO WAS A PIONEER IN HIS OWN RIGHT, THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN LAW LIBRARIAN AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA LAW CHOOL AND AS THE STATE LAW LIBRARIAN.

SO THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN SO SUPPORTIVE OF ME ALONG THE WAY.

BOB STANOCH, ONE OF MY MENTORS WHEN I WAS AT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE TAUGHT ME REALLY TO BE AN PAULATE LAWYER, WHICH HAS HELPED ME IN MY CAREER AS IT HAS GONE FORWARD.

>> Eric: JUSTICE PAGE WROTE A LANDMARK STUDY ON BIAS IN THE COURT.

AND I WONDER HOW YOU FEEL THE COURT SYSTEM IS DOING IN THAT REGARD.

>> I THINK WE'RE DOING WELL.

THERE'S CERTAINLY MORE WORK TO DO.

IT'S ALWAYS A WORK IN PROGRESS.

THERE ARE SO MANY WAYS IN WHICH IMPLICIT BIASES PLAY A ROLE IN -- FOR ALL OF US IN HOW WE VIEW WHAT WE DO AND DO WHAT WE DO, AND, SO, IT'S SOMETHING WE HAVE TO ALWAYS KEEP OUR EYE ON AND CONTINUE TO WORK ON.

THE COURT SYSTEM, OBVIOUSLY, CONTINUES TO DO THAT.

>> Eric: WHEN YOU WERE HERE IN 2015, YOU TALKED ABOUT KEEPING A PERSONAL REPORT CARD.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU REMEMBER THAT OR NOT.

>> I DON'T REMEMBER THAT.

OKAY.

>> Cathy: THAT'S OKAY.

>> THAT WAS 2015.

>> Eric: BUT I WONDER, ARE YOU A TOUGH GRADER ON YOURSELF?

>> I THINK I AM.

I THINK I AM.

I'M FAIRLY INTROSPECTIVE ABOUT WHAT I'M DOING, AND I THINK WE ALL HAVE TO PERIODICALLY TAKE STOCK, AM I DOING THE BEST THAT I CAN DO, SPEAKING OF BIASES, AM I TREATING PEOPLE IN THE WAY THAT THEY SHOULD BE TREATED OR WOULD I TREAT THIS PERSON DIFFERENTLY IF I KNEW THIS ABOUT THEM OR DIDN'T KNOW THAT ABOUT THEM.

BUT I THINK IT'S GOOD TO TAKE STOCK PERIODICALLY OF WHERE YOU ARE IN YOUR LIFE, WHERE YOU ARE IN YOUR CAREER.

ARE YOU DOING THE THINGS THAT ADD VALUE TO YOUR WORK.

AND I TRY TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT.

>> Cathy: LET ME SEE.

I BELIEVE THAT MANDATORY RETIREMENT ON THE BENCH IS 66.

>> Eric: 70.

>> Cathy: EXCUSE ME.

>> I'D HAVE O LEAVE.

>> Cathy: EXACTLY.

SO YOU'RE GOING TO BE HERE FOR A LITTLE WHILE YET.

>> YES.

>> Cathy: WHAT WILL BE THE HALLMARKS OF A HUDSON ADMINISTRATION ON THE BENCH?

>> WELL, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT INHERITED AND CAME INTO FROM CHIEF JUSTICE GILDEA WAS THE COURT GOING TO REMOTE HEARINGS.

WE HAD TO MAKE THAT PIVOT DURING THE PANDEMIC IN ORDER TO KEEP THE JUSTICE SYSTEM OPEN AND ACCESSIBLE BECAUSE WE COULDN'T GATHER AS WE DID PREPANDEMIC.

AND, SO, WE STARTED USING REMOTE ABILITIES FOR COURT HEARINGS, BUT WE DIDN'T FINISH THAT.

AND, SO, WE STILL HAVE A WAYS TO GO TO DETERMINE WHAT'S GOING TO CONTINUE, WHAT HEARINGS ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE REMOTE, WHICH ARE NOT, HOW WE PRIORITIZE THOSE.

AND I THINK THAT WILL BE A VERY SIGNIFICANT PIECE OF THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS AS WE CEMENT HOW WE MOVE FORWARD WITH REMOTE HEARINGS.

>> Cathy: YOU'RE ALSO MOVING FORWARD, JANUARY 1st WAS THE BEGINNING OF BROADER USE OF CAMERAS IN THE COURTROOMS.

>> YES.

>> Cathy: NOW, DO ALL PARTIES HAVE TO SIGN OFF, THE JUDGE AND BOTH HE ATTORNEYS?

>> THERE'S STILL A LOT OF DISCRETION FOR THE DISTRICT COURT JUDGES IN TERMS OF WHICH HEARINGS CAN BE TELEVISED AND WHAT CANNOT BE TELEVISED.

BUT WE HAVE LOOSENED SOME OF THE REQUIREMENTS.

AND, SO, YOU WILL SEE MORE CAMERAS IN THE COURTROOM.

>> Cathy: ARE YOU COMFORTABLE WITH THIS ON A PERSONAL LEVEL?

>> I AM.

I AM.

YOU KNOW, I HAD SOME MISGIVINGS INITIALLY, YOU KNOW, THERE WERE SOME CONCERNS BY MANY THAT CAMERAS WOULD LEAD TO SOME GRANDSTANDING IN THE COURTROOMS.

WE HAVEN'T SEEN THAT ON THE TRIALS THAT HAVE BEEN PUBLICIZED, WE HAVEN'T SEEN THAT.

AND I THINK THERE'S ALWAYS SOME CONCERN THAT OF THE EFFECT THAT CAMERAS MIGHT HAVE ON COMMUNITIES OF COLOR TO THE EXTENT THAT PERSONS OF COLOR ARE OVERREPRESENTED IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, IN PARTICULAR, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK CAMERAS HAVE DONE IS THEY'VE ALLOWED PEOPLE AN INSIGHT, A VIEW INTO OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, AND I THINK THAT FOSTERS A SENSE OF FAIRNESS, PEOPLE GET TO SEE WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENS.

AND I THINK THAT'S A GOOD THING.

AND, SO, ON BALANCE, I THINK CAMERAS HAVE PROVED TO BE A POSITIVE THING.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE MOTHER RECENT HIGH-PROFILE CRIMINAL -- MORE RECENT HIGH-PROFILE CRIMINAL TRIALS HAVE SHOWN IT CAN WORK IF HANDLED PROPERLY AND WE CAN DO THAT.

>> Eric: WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING DOWN TONIGHT.

BEST OF LUCK.

HAPPY NEW YEAR.

>> Cathy: HAPPY NEW YEAR.

>> Eric: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU.

♪♪ >> CATHY: THE 2023 LEGISLATIVE SESSION WAS HISTORIC IN SO MANY WAYS, NOT JUST FOR WHO CAME TO THE CAPITOL, BUT FOR ALL THEY DID.

IT'S A WHIRLWIND WE'RE STILL ABSORBING, AND MARY LAHAMMER HAS THIS ROUNDUP OF ALL LAST SESSION'S ACTION.

>> Mary: DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS STOOD SIDE BY SIDE FOR AN EARLY VICTORY IN THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION FOR FEDERAL TAX CONFORMITY.

>> FOR THE NAYSAYERS OR THE PESSIMISTS, YES, WORK CAN GET DONE.

>> IT IS LAW!

[ Cheers and applause ] >> Mary: WEEKS LATER, AN EMOTIONAL AND FAR MORE PARTISAN ACTION MADE MINNESOTA ONE OF THE MOST LIBERAL STATES WHEN IT COMES TO ABORTION ACCESS UNDER ONE-PARTY CONTROL.

>> MINNESOTANS WANTED US TO ACT.

THEY VOTED US INTO THE SENATE MAJORITY, IN PART, BECAUSE WE TOLD THEM WE WOULD PRESERVE RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS, NOT TAKE THEM AWAY.

MISSISSIPPI TRANSGENDER RIGHTS WERE ALSO ENSHRINED IN LAW WITH THE FIRST TRANS LAWMAKER.

>> I FEEL VERY INSPIRED BY THE SUPPORT THAT WE'VE GOTTEN.

I FEEL VERY HONORED TO BE IN A POSITION TO REPRESENT MY COMMUNITY.

AND I FEEL LIKE I'M HEADING INTO AN UNKNOWN SPACE.

>> Mary: UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS NOW HAVE THE ABILITY TO GET A DRIVER'S LICENSE IN THE STATE, AFTER DECADES OF EFFORTS.

>> THE BILL IS PASSED AND ITS TITLE AGREED TO.

[ Cheers ] >> JUST FELT THE OMENTUM OF TWO DECADES OF OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY FIGHTING FOR A HUMAN RIGHT AND FOR OUR COMMUNITY FIGHTING FOR PUBLIC SAFETY ON OUR ROADS.

AND THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND THE JOY THAT CAME FROM THAT CROWD, THE IMPACT SHOWED WHY I RAN AND WHY I'M IN THIS SEAT.

>> WE UNDERSTAND THE PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE, WE UNDERSTAND WE NEED TO GET WORKERS TO OUR JOBS.

WE KNOW THERE ARE SO MANY HARDWORKING PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE ILLEGALLY AND LEGALLY THAT DO DO A LOT OF JOBS.

BUT THIS BILL IS NOT THAT BILL.

>> Mary: THE ONLY BILL THAT NEEDED BIPARTISAN SUPPORT WAS THE BONDING BILL TO BORROW FOR STATE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS THAT WAS THE LARGEST IN HISTORY, SURPASSING A BILLION DOLLARS.

>> LET'S START BUILDING.

[ Cheers ] >> FIRST TIME I'VE SPOKEN AT THE REQUEST OF A GOVERNOR.

[ Laughter ] THIS IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF WHAT CAN HAPPEN IN STATE GOVERNMENT WHEN PEOPLE DECIDE THAT REGARDLESS OF PARTY OR WHERE YOU LIVE IN THE STATE THAT YOU SHOULD GET TOGETHER AND TRY TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT FOR THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

[ Applause ] >> Mary: RURAL MINNESOTA SAW THE RESURGENCE OF REPUBLICANS WITH A NEW LEGISLATIVE CHAIR OF THE IRRRB.

>> I WAS ELECTED THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD, HICH MAKES ME THE FIRST REPUBLICAN IN STATE HISTORY TO CHAIR THAT BOARD.

>> Mary: AND LONG HISTORY.

82 YEARS, YOU'RE THE FIRST REPUBLICAN.

>> YES.

IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME.

AND, YOU KNOW, JUST DYNAMICS ARE CHANGING.

>> Mary: DYNAMICS DEFINITELY CHANGED WHEN NEW LAWMAKERS AT THE CAPITOL BROUGHT A RECORD AMOUNT OF DIVERSITY FROM RANK-AND-FILE MEMBERS TO NEW LEGISLATIVE LEADERS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE.

>> LET ME UST SAY THAT IT'S SURREAL.

>> Mary: YEAH.

>> IT'S EXCITING.

AND I SEE IT AS AN HONOR.

>> IT ALWAYS IS A PLACE THAT TAKES MY BREATH AWAY.

>> Mary: YOU'VE BECOME THE FIRST PERSON OF COLOR TO PRESIDE OVER ANY LEGISLATIVE BODY IN THIS ENTIRE BUILDING.

HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT THAT EXTRA HEAVY LAYER?

>> YOU KNOW, I THOUGHT ABOUT IT, BUT I WAS CONCENTRATING SO MUCH ON THE SENATE THAT YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT, BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE AND NEVER HAD A PERSON OF COLOR PRESIDE OVER A LEGISLATIVE BODY IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA UNTIL THIS MOMENT.

AND I HOPE THAT WE ALL CELEBRATE THAT.

>> Mary: YOU ARE HE FIRST WOMAN TO LEAD THIS CAUCUS.

THAT'S REMARKABLE IN 2022, ISN'T IT?

>> IT IS.

>> Mary: WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT AND WHY GENDER MIGHT MATTER?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S TIME FOR WOMEN TO HAVE THEIR VOICE AND WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO BE ASKED.

WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO STEP UP.

BUT IF WE HAVEN'T ALREADY DONE IT, LET ME BE THAT PERSON.

YOU KNOW, I HAVE NEVER LED WITH BEING A BLACK WOMAN.

>> IT'S A LAW!

>> Mary: IN THE END, ON THE CAPITOL STEPS, DEMOCRATS WHO CONTROL ALL OF STATE GOVERNMENT, GATHERED TO CELEBRATE ALL THE BUDGET BILLS BUNDLED TOGETHER IN A DRAMATIC CEREMONY.

>> IT'S NOT ABOUT BANKING POLITICAL CAPITAL FOR THE NEXT ELECTION!

IT'S ABOUT BURNING POLITICAL CAPITAL TO IMPROVE LIVES.

THAT'S WHAT THEY DID.

>> THIS WAS A TEAM EFFORT THIS YEAR.

>> WE MADE MASSIVE INVESTMENTS IN PUBLIC EDUCATION, OF THE KIND WE HAVE NOT SEEN IN THIS STATE SINCE THE FIRST MINNESOTA MIRACLE.

>> THIS HAS BEEN THE MOST PARTISAN SESSION, NOT IN MY MEMORY, BUT IN THE HISTORY OF THIS STATE.

>> PERSONALLY IT'S JUST NICE TO SEE SOMETHING THAT WAS YOUR IDEA 20 YEARS AGO AND IT TOOK 20 YEARS FOR IT TO HAPPEN.

>> Mary: MAYBE THE MOST MEMORABLE BILL SIGNING OF THE YEAR SAW FORMER GOVERNOR JESSE VENTURA RETURN TO THE CAPITOL FOR AN ISSUE HE'S ADVOCATED FOR FOR DECADES.

LEGALIZATION OF MARIJUANA.

>> CANNABIS SAVED MY LIFE.

NOT ME PERSONALLY, BUT THE 38th FIRST LADY OF MINNESOTA.

>> THANK YOU AND THE FIRST LADY FOR SHARING YOUR STORIES.

I THINK IT MADE A BIG DIFFERENCE.

>> IT'S LEGAL.

THERE YOU GO.

[ Cheers and applause ] >> Mary: ULTIMATELY, THE LEGISLATION THAT GOT THE MOST PUBLIC INPUT REATED A COMMISSION FOR A NEW STATE SEAL AND FLAG, WHICH THE LEGISLATURE CAN STILL REJECT.

>> SOME OF US IN THE LEGISLATURE ARE GOING TO WANT THE PEOPLE OF MINNESOTA TO GET A HANCE TO WEIGH IN ON THIS.

>> I CAN'T PREDICT WHAT'S GOING TO APPEN IN THAT SETTING.

I'M OPTIMISTIC THERE WON'T BE CHANGES BUT IT'S AN INVOLVED PROCESS WITH 201 DIFFERENT LEGISLATORS, THERE'S LOTS OF OPINIONS, THE GOVERNOR HAS A ROLE TO PLAY IN IT AS WELL.

♪ INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC ♪ >> ERIC: ONLY HALF OF MINNESOTA STUDENTS CURRENTLY MEET THEIR GRADE LEVEL IN LITERACY AND MATH PROFICIENCY, A DOWNWARD TREND THAT DROPPED SHARPLY DURING THE PANDEMIC.

LAST SPRING'S EDUCATION BILL SIGNED INTO LAW BY GOVERNOR WALZ INCLUDED WAYS TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE, INCLUDING THE CREATION OF A STATE LITERACY DIRECTOR.

JULIE NOVAK IS THE FIRST PERSON TO HOLD THAT TITLE.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

NOW WE'RE BACK TO PHONICS, WHICH ALONG WITH THE McGUFF IF I READER AND DICK AND JANE, FOLKS MY AGE, WHY ARE WE BACK TO THE FUTURE HERE?

>> YOU KNOW, THE BODY OF RESEARCH THAT HAS REALLY COME TO SURFACE IN THE LAST COUPLE DECADES REINFORCES THAT WE KNOW HOW THE BRAIN LEARNS HOW TO READ, AND BY THAT WE CAN PROVIDE EVIDENCE-BASED INSTRUCTION THAT HELPS EACH AND EVERY STUDENT READ AT OR ABOVE GRADE LEVEL PROFICIENCY.

AND, SO, THIS WORK THAT WE ARE INVESTED IN RIGHT NOW, THANK YOU TO THE GOVERNOR, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, AND LEGISLATURE, IS PIVOTAL IN REALLY EMBRACING THE WAY THAT WE CAN TEACH ALL STUDENTS TO READ.

>> Cathy: OKAY, SO HOW DIFFERENT IS WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, BECAUSE THE LEGISLATURE PASSED THIS NEW READING CURRICULUM, RIGHT, SO, HOW DIFFERENT IS THAT FROM WHAT KIDS -- HOW THEY WERE LEARNING, SAY, TEN YEARS AGO?

>> SO THE LEGISLATURE DID NOT PASS A CURRICULUM.

IT DID SAY, WE WILL GIVE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CURRICULUM THAT IS EVIDENCE BASED.

AND, SO, THAT STILL GIVES OUR DISTRICTS SOME SUPPORT IN HOW YOU NAVIGATE THIS CURRENT LANDSCAPE OF SO MANY OPTIONS THAT ARE OUT THERE.

RIGHT?

WE HAVE REALLY LEANED INTO OUR PARTNERS WITH THIS WORK AND HELPING OUR DISTRICTS AND OUR SERVICE CO-OPS, WE'RE ALL COLLABORATING TOGETHER N BRINGING THIS FORWARD SO THAT AS OUR EDUCATORS ARE MAKING THESE KEY DECISIONS ABOUT INSTRUCTION, THERE'S SOME SUPPORT IN MAKING THOSE DECISIONS.

>> Eric: IS IT A UNIVERSAL SITUATION STATEWIDE?

IN OTHER WORDS, IS IT UNIFORM CURRICULUM FOR EVERY SCHOOL?

>> NO.

THERE'S CHOICE.

>> Eric: OKAY.

>> THERE IS CHOICE FOR OUR LOCAL DISTRICTS.

THERE WILL BE RECOMMENDATIONS COMING OUT WITH THESE RESOURCES HAVE BEEN REVIEWED, AND HERE ARE ONES THAT HAVE QUALITY EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES WITHIN THEM.

BUT THERE'S STILL LOCAL CHOICE.

>> Cathy: I WONDER, YOU KNOW, WHAT IMPACT MIGHT THIS HAVE?

IS THERE ANY WAY TO MEASURE THIS?

WHAT WOULD BE THE GOAL, SAY, IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS?

>> THE GOAL IS REALLY TO ADVANCE OUR EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES WITH SCREENING, MEASURING HOW ARE STUDENTS DOING, AND WE'RE ALREADY SEEING SOME PRETTY IMPRESSIVE GROWTH IN STUDENTS AS OUR EDUCATORS HAVE BEGUN IMPLEMENTING THIS RESEARCH INTO LESSON DESIGN.

>> Eric: DO YOU HAVE ANY POWER OR ABILITY TO PERSUADE THE COLLEGES THAT TEACH TEACHERS TO ADOPT THIS?

>> THEY ARE ALSO VALUABLE PARTNERS.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THAT WE HAVE HAD SOME HIGHER ED REALLY INVESTED IN HOW CAN WE SUPPORT OUR TEACHER REP PROGRAMS SO THAT WHEN TEACHERS ARE LEAVING COLLEGE, THEY HAVE THE EXPERIENCE THEY NEED TO HELP EACH AND EVERY STUDENT ACQUIRE THE NECESSARY SKILL SET FOR READING AND WRITING.

>> Cathy: WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TEACHERS, BUT I'M WONDERING ABOUT JUST ADULTS.

HOW CAN ADULTS HELP KIDS LEARN HOW TO READ BETTER?

>> YOU KNOW, I LOVE THIS QUESTION.

IT TAKES ALL OF US.

I HAVE A 2 1/2-YEAR-OLD GRANDDAUGHTER AND I'M THINKING ABOUT THIS ALL THE TIME, HOW DO WE HELP.

CONVERSATION AROUND THE HOME, WE HEAR THESE THINGS AND THAT EXPOSURE TO WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT, WHAT IS THE WORLD AROUND OU.

WE NEED THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND THOSE EXPERIENCES AND THEY'RE ALL VALUABLE.

AND, SO, REALLY ENGAGING OUR STUDENTS IN SPEAKING AND LISTENING AND SETTING HAT FOUNDATION FOR WHEN THEY ENTER OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM AT PRE-K AND K, AND WE START LAYERING ON, OH, HERE'S THE CODE, RIGHT?

HERE'S HOW SENTENCES ARE CONSTRUCTED.

HERE'S HOW YOU UNDERSTAND A NOVEL.

HERE'S HOW YOU UNDERSTAND A PERIODIC TABLE.

RIGHT?

ALL OF THOSE PIECES ARE CONNECTED TO LITERACY.

AND, SO, I THINK THAT AS WE LEAN IN AND WE ALL KNOW THAT OUR COMMUNITIES ARE INVESTED, WE ALL WANT STUDENTS TO BE ABLE TO HAVE ACCESS.

OPPORTUNITIES.

>> Eric: HOPE WE CAN KEEP TRACK OF THIS AS YOU GO THROUGH THE SESSION AND INTO THE SUMMER.

>> YES.

>> Eric: APPRECIATE YOU COMING OVER.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Cathy: THANK YOU.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU.

>> KEVIN: AS WE ENTER THIS WEEK, THE OLD YEAR CLOSES WITH CELEBRATIONS, TRADITIONS AND MEMORIES OF ANCESTORS, AND WE BEGIN AGAIN.

WE REINVENT OURSELVES.

LIKE ANY THRESHOLD IT'’S A TIME TO SHED UNWANTED ITEMS AND EMBRACE THE NEW.

TO ASCERTAIN WHAT PAST ATTRIBUTES WILL SERVE US MOVING FORWARD, AND WHICH ONES TO PUT WHERE WE CAN COME BACK FOR THEM LATER.

SOME FOLKS HOLD TIGHT ON TO THE OLD RITUALS LIKE DIGGING INTO UNOPENED DAYS ON THE ADVENT CALENDARS FOR CHOCOLATE.

OR LEAVING THE CHRISTMAS TREE UP UNTIL THE FIRST SIGHTING OF A LEPRECHAUN.

PAST NEW YEAR CASUALTIES INCLUDE THE LOSS OF MIMEOGRAPH MACHINES, CASSETTE TAPES, BETA MAX, AND WONDER BREAD BAGS IN BOOTS, ALTHOUGH IF I DIG DOWN DEEP, I CAN STILL SMELL MIMEOGRAPH, THAT FRESH AMBROSIA OF PURPLE INK HANDED BACK FROM THE KID IN FRONT OF ME IN THE FOURTH GRADE.

AND, OH, YEAH, MAN, IT IS STILL SO SWEET.

AS A STATE WE ENTER THIS YEAR WITH A NEW FLAG AND SEAL.

I HEARD SOME GRUMBLING ABOUT THERE BEING THE IMAGE OF A LOON ON THE SEAL.

AFTER ALL, IT'’S A BIRD THAT SPENDS HALF ITS LIFE IN FLORIDA.

BUT, HEY, HOW MUCH MORE MINNESOTAN CAN YOU GET THAN THAT?

MOVING FORWARD WE HAVE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

MY VOTE IS STILL OUT ON AI BUT I HAVE HIGH HOPES.

I THINK IF AI DOES FOR INTELLIGENCE WHAT VELVEETA DID FOR CHEESE, THEN I'’M ALL IN.

AS MUCH AS WE STAGNATE OR MOVE FORWARD THE PROCESS SEEMS THE SAME, THE MYSTERIES ARE THERE WAITING TO BE REVEALED, SCIENCE AND ART ARE LIMITED ONLY BY OUR IMAGINATIONS, MOST UNKNOWNS ARE A MATTER OF ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS AND, ULTIMATELY, WE DON'’T DISCOVER AS MUCH AS WE UNCOVER.

FOR ME EACH YEAR IS ANOTHER MILESTONE, FROM EARLY DAYS WHEN MY SHADOW REACHED BEFORE ME, THEN TO MIDLIFE WHEN IT MOVED DIRECTLY UNDERNEATH AND NOW STRETCHES BEHIND UNTIL THE DAY I TAKE A STEP AND WE PART OUR WAYS.

I STILL CRY FOR LOST DOGS BUT SOMETIMES I HEAR THEM UP AHEAD, BARKING, COME ON, WE'’VE FOUND SOMETHING.

PRAWS APPLAUSE.

[ Applause ] >> CATHY: THIS WEEK THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS BEGAN CLEARING CAMP NENOOKAASI, A HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT IN SOUTH MINNEAPOLIS.

THIS PAST WEDNESDAY, A U.S. DISTRICT JUDGE DECLINED TO STOP THE EVICTION AFTER TWO RESIDENTS OF THE CAMP FILED A FEDERAL LAWSUIT AGAINST MAYOR JACOB FREY.

HERE WITH US NOW IS HOUSING REPORTER KATELYN VUE FROM THE SAHAN JOURNAL.

WELCOME BACK.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> Cathy: THE LAST TIME YOU WERE HERE, THERE WAS THIS KENNEDY LINE.

THE DEADLINE WAS -- DEADLINE.

THE DEADLINE WAS A MOVING TARGET, IN A SENSE.

AND THERE WAS THIS LEGAL PUSHBACK.

WHAT WERE SOME OF THE LEGAL ARGUMENTS THAT THE RESIDENTS WERE USING?

>> SO THEIR MAIN ARGUMENT WAS THAT IT WAS A DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY.

FOLKS THAT LIVE AT THE CAMP LIVED THERE FOR A FEW MONTHS NOW, SO THEY CLAIM THAT AREA AS, YOU KNOW, WHERE THEIR BELONGINGS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE, SO CLEARING THAT ACTUALLY WAS A VIOLATION OF THEIR FOURTH AND 14TH AMENDMENT.

SO, THAT WAS SORT OF WHAT THEY WERE PUSHING FOR WAS THAT THEY WANTED HE JUDGE TO TEMPORARILY PAUSE THIS WHILE THEY RESOLVED THOSE ISSUES.

>> Eric: WHY DID THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS GO AHEAD WITH TEARING DOWN THE ENCAMP.

>> YEAH, THAT'S BEEN SORT OF THE MESSAGE THAT THEY HAD WAS THE MAIN REASON WAS BECAUSE OF THE ONGOING PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY CONCERNS THERE.

>> Eric: YOU REPORTED ON THAT.

>> YEAH.

THAT WAS SORT OF THE CONSISTENT MESSAGE.

EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE PUSHING BACK THE DEADLINE, IT WAS STILL PRETTY, YOU KNOW, CONCRETE THAT THIS WAS A DECISION THAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN FOR SURE.

>> Cathy: IT LOOKS LIKE THIS WAS A LITTLE DIFFERENT, THOUGH, IN THAT THE CITY WAS WORKING WITH THE ORGANIZERS VERSUS JUST BULLDOZING IT AS THEY'VE DONE IN THE PAST.

>> YEAH, THAT WAS REALLY INTERESTING.

I WAS ACTUALLY AT THE CAMP YESTERDAY FROM 6:00 A.M. AND I SAW THAT GRADUALLY FOLKS WERE KIND OF, YOU KNOW, MOVING THINGS AROUND, MOVING THINGS TO THEIR NEXT OCATION.

AND HEN THE POLICE ARRIVED AT 11:00, THEY BASICALLY KIND OF STRUCK A NEGOTIATION THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY WERE GOING TO TAKE AS MUCH TIME AS POSSIBLE AS THEY NEEDED TO BE ABLE TO MOVE.

SO THERE WASN'T, YOU KNOW, PUSHBACK FROM CAMP ORGANIZERS ABOUT THAT.

>> Cathy: BUT WHAT WAS ODD, THOUGH, WAS THAT, YES, THESE FOLKS MOVED BUT ONLY THREE BLOCKS AWAY.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH SENSE THAT MAKES.

>> YEAH, THAT DID NOT MAKE A LOT OF SENSE.

I SAW IT MYSELF, FOLKS JUST MOVING THINGS THREE BLOCKS DOWN.

AND WHEN I WAS AT THE NEW SITE, WHICH IS EAST 26th AND 14th AVENUE, I COULD STILL SEE THE CAMP, LIKE, DOWN THE STREET, LIKE IT LOOKED LIKE IT JUST MOVED.

>> Eric: WHEN YOU TALKED TO OFFICIALS IN THE CITY, DO THEY DEFEND THIS AS SOME PERMANENT SOLUTION TO HOMELESSNESS OR IS THIS A STOP GAP OR THEY HAVE NO BETTER IDEAS?

WHAT'S THE POLICY GOING FORWARD FOR MINNEAPOLIS AND HOMELESS?

>> YEAH, I THINK, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT THAT THERE ISN'T ANY IDEAS.

IT'S THAT THERE'S SO MANY IDEAS ON HOW TO SOLVE THIS.

YESTERDAY AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE THAT THEY HAD AT THE CAMP BEFORE THE ACTUAL CLEANUP AND MOVING HAPPENED, THEY WANTED A CULTURAL HEALING CENTER.

AND THAT LAND THAT THE CAMP WAS AT, THAT'S ACTUALLY PLANNED FOR DEVELOPMENT ON CULTURAL WELLNESS AND ART CENTER.

SO THERE ARE IDEAS BUT I THINK THAT THE CITY IS SORT OF STRUGGLING WITH, YOU KNOW, WANTING TO SOLVE THE SOLUTION BUT THEN GETTING THAT PUSHBACK ON, YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T HAVE ENCAMPMENTS STILL HAPPEN IN OUR CITY.

>> Cathy: SO WE NOW HAVE ANOTHER ENCAMPMENT, THOUGH.

SO WHAT ARE CITY OFFICIALS SAYING ABOUT THAT?

>> YEAH.

I MEAN, THE WHOLE POINT OF CLOSING THIS ENCAMPMENT WAS TO KIND OF RESOLVE THOSE ISSUES, BUT, YOU KNOW, SEEING THAT IT'S MOVED THREE BLOCKS DOWN, YOU KNOW, THE ISSUE, I THINK, STILL SEEMS THAT IT'S THERE.

AND I DON'T KNOW IF THE CITY HAS A CLEAR ANSWER ON HOW THEY'RE PLANNING TO SOLVE THIS ISSUE BESIDES JUST DOING WHAT THEY'VE BEEN DOING.

>> Eric: AND IT'S A NEW COUNCIL, SO THEY'LL TAKE SOME TIME TO GET UP TO SPEED, I SUPPOSE.

>> EXACTLY.

I SAW A COUPLE -- I SAW, ACTUALLY, LIKE FOUR COUNCIL MEMBERS THERE YESTERDAY.

AND THEY MET TODAY, I THINK, WITH THE RED LAKE NATION TRIBE AND CAMP ORGANIZERS AND SOME CITY OFFICIALS TO KIND OF BEGIN THAT PROCESS OF WORKING TOGETHER MORE.

>> Eric: APPRECIATE YOU BEING ON THE CASE FOR US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> Cathy: THANK YOU.

IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> Eric: THANKS.

♪♪ >> ERIC: AN AUTONOMOUS, OR SELF-DRIVING, VEHICLE PROGRAM IN GRAND RAPIDS IS SOON EXPANDING BEYOND ITS INITIAL 18-MONTH PILOT.

EARLIER THIS YEAR, THE GOMARTI ON-DEMAND SHUTTLE SERVICE RECEIVED A $9.3 MILLION FEDERAL GRANT TO CONTINUE FOR ANOTHER THREE YEARS.

MNDOT AND OTHERS ARE STUDYING THE NEW TECHNOLOGY, INCLUDING FOR SAFETY.

REPORTER KAOMI LEE WENT TO ITASCA COUNTY RECENTLY TO FIND OUT HOW THINGS ARE GOING.

♪♪ >> Kaomi: RETIRED TEACHER HARVEY HITELA HAS LIVED AT AN ASSISTED LIVING RESIDENCE IN GRAND RAPIDS FOR FOUR AND A HALF YEARS.

HE USED TO LIVE IN A BIG HOUSE WITH A SAUNA AND A FOUR-CAR GARAGE.

>> POLIO IS A KIND F STRANGE THING ALSO.

POST-POLIO SYNDROME HAPPENS AT ROUGHLY MIDDLE AGE.

>> Kaomi: THESE DAYS HE GETS AROUND ON HIS WHEELCHAIR AND BY CALLING A SELF-DRIVING, OR AUTONOMOUS, VEHICLE CALLED GOMARTI.

>> THIS IS HARVEY, I'M CALLING FOR A GOMARTI RIDE, THE AREA CODE IS 55744.

>> Kaomi: BY CALLING OR USING AN APP, HE CAN SCHEDULE A PICKUP RIGHT TO HIS FRONT DOOR.

>> IT WILL PICK YOU UP ON DEMAND WITHIN BOUT TEN MINUTES.

IT IS ACTUALLY DRIVERLESS CARS EXCEPT THERE IS AN ATTENDANT AND THE ATTENDANT CAN TAKE OVER THE DRIVING AND DOES DO THAT AT TIMES.

>> Kaomi: 86 YEARS OLD, HARVEY.

DID YOU EVER THINK YOU'D BE IN A SELF-DRIVING CAR?

>> NO.

I NEVER THOUGHT I'D BE 86 YEARS OLD.

>> THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT NEED SUPPORT TO BE ABLE TO GET TO THE PLACES THEY NEED TO GO.

AND AT MAY MOBILITY, WE BELIEVE THAT AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES WILL BE A LONG-TERM SOLUTION.

>> Kaomi: JOHN IS THE SIGHT MANAGER FOR MAY MOBILE, THE COMPANY BEHIND GOMARTI, IT HAS A FLEET OF FIVE TOYOTA ARS THAT HAVE BEEN ON THE ROADS IN GRAND RAPIDS FOR MULTIPLE YEARS.

THERE'S ROOM FOR MULTIPLE PASSENGERS AND WHEELCHAIRS.

WHILE IN SELF-DRIVING MODE, THE CARS CAN DETECT OTHER VEHICLES AROUND THEM.

>> THE TECHNOLOGY WE'VE GOT IN THE VANS, WE'VE GOT LASER VIEW, VISUAL CAMERAS AND RADAR.

WE'RE DEVELOPING THESE AS SAFETY FEATURES THAT CAN BE EVEN SAFER THAN HUMAN DRIVERS.

ALSO WITH THE TECHNOLOGY THAT'S CALLED MULTIPOLICY DECISION MAKING IN THE VEHICLES, WE'RE ABLE TO RUN A SIMULATION MANY TIMES EVERY SECOND THAT CAN PREDICT THE POSSIBLE OUTCOMES OF THINGS THAT COULD HAPPEN AND HOPEFULLY MAKE DECISIONS THAT ARE EVEN SAFER THAN HUMAN DRIVERS.

>> Kaomi: SAFER THAN HUMANS.

IT'S A BOLD STATEMENT, BUT HE SAYS HUMANS MAKE MISTAKES.

SPEED AND SOMETIMES GET DISTRACTED.

HE SAYS CARS WITH DRIVER-ASSIST FEATURES ARE ALREADY USING SOME OF THE SAME TECHNOLOGY.

THE GOMARTI IS THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS.

AUTONOMOUS DRIVING AND AN OPERATOR WHO CAN TAKE OVER WHEN NEEDED.

THIS YEAR ALONE YOU SAID 6,000 RIDES.

>> YEAH.

>> Kaomi: WHAT HAS BEEN THE ACCIDENT RATE?

>> WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY ACCIDENTS IN AUTONOMY.

SO WE'VE SAFELY OPERATED THROUGH THE SNOWIEST WINTER ON RECORD IN MINNESOTA WITHOUT HAVING ACCIDENTS.

WE'VE BEEN REAR-ENDED A COUPLE OF TIMES.

IT WAS DETERMINED TO HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE SELF-DRIVING PART OF THE CAR.

>> Kaomi: HE TOOK US FOR A TEST RIDE.

>> O WE'RE IN SELF-DRIVING MODE NOW.

>> Kaomi: NOW THIS JUST HAPPENED RIGHT HERE.

SO IF YOU TOOK CONTROL TO GO AROUND?

>> YES.

THERE'S A GARBAGE TRUCK IN OUR WAY.

THE CENTER OF THE ROAD, WE ACTUALLY NEED TO GO OVER THAT CENTER IN ORDER TO GO AROUND HIM.

>> Kaomi: IN OTHER WORDS, SWERVE AROUND IT.

SOMETHING THE GOMARTI WOULD NOT DO ON THEIR OWN.

STATE LEADERS SAY THIS CAR IS THE FUTURE.

ABOUT HALF OF THE FUNDING CAME FROM DONORS, THE BLANDIN, IRRRB KICKED BE IN THE REST.

IT'S A CHANCE TO TEST THE TECHNOLOGY.

>> WE'RE LOOKING AT POLICY CHANGES AND OTHER FACTORS THAT MAY IMPACT WHAT THE COMMUNITY THINKS ABOUT T. SO WE'RE TRYING TO LEARN FROM THE COMMUNITIES ON WHAT THEY THINK THIS TECHNOLOGY COULD BE USED FOR.

>> Kaomi: SOME SAY THE PILOT IS A PRECURSOR TO FULLY DRIVERLESS CARS IN THE STATE ONE DAY.

>> THE CURRENT MINNESOTA LAW IS UNCLEAR, SO THE CURRENT INTERPRETATION OF THE LAW FOR MINNESOTA REQUIRES A DRIVER BEHIND THE WHEEL.

>> Kaomi: SOME HIGH-PROFILE EXAMPLES, LIKE THE GM CRUISE, ARE CAUTIONARY.

IN OCTOBER, A DRIVERLESS CAR RAN OVER AND CRITICALLY INJURED A PEDESTRIAN IN SAN FRANCISCO.

THE AUTO MAKER HAS PULLED ITS FLEET AND IS NOW FACING GOVERNMENT PROBES.

HOWEVER, THE GOMARTI IS A RESEARCH PILOT.

SHELTON HAS BEEN PART OF A TEAM EVALUATING IT.

>> I THINK IT'S PROBABLY TOO EARLY TO TELL IN MOST CASES OR TO SAY DEFINITIVELY THAT THESE THINGS ARE -- THESE VEHICLES ARE SAFER ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.

BUT I THINK WE'RE STARTING TO SEE DIFFERENT USE CASES AND DIFFERENT ELEMENTS OF THE TECHNOLOGY THAT ULTIMATELY ARE REALLY BENEFICIAL.

>> Kaomi: MAY MOBILITY CURRENTLY OPERATES SEVERAL OF THESE PILOTS NATIONWIDE.

IN ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN, "ALMANAC" FOUND ONE POLICE INCIDENT REPORT FROM A YEAR AGO.

A RIDER WAS ALLEGEDLY INJURED AFTER THE VEHICLE MADE AN ABRUPT STOP.

HE WAS NOT WEARING A SEAT BELT.

MANY LOCALS IN GRAND RAPIDS, HOWEVER, ARE ALREADY WON OVER.

MYRNA PETERSON USES THE GOMARTI SEVERAL TIMES DAILY.

RIDES ARE FREE AND SHE CAN NOW GET AROUND DURING THE EVENING.

>> PEOPLE THAT ARE MOBILITY CHALLENGED, WE HAVE A GREAT TRANSIT SYSTEM DURING THE DAY, BUT IT'S NOT AS AVAILABLE WHERE, YOU KNOW, UNLESS YOU'RE RIGHT DOWNTOWN, AFTER 5:00 P.M., AND LIMITED ON THE WEEKEND.

>> Kaomi: BUT NOT EVERYONE'S HAPPY.

THE LOCAL TAXI COMPANY WAS ALREADY JUST BREAKING EVEN.

ITS OWNER SAYS WITH GOVERNMENT-FUNDED COMPETITION, IT MAY GO OUT OF BUSINESS.

>> WITH GOMARTI, THERE'S REALLY NO WAY TO COMPETE AGAINST THAT.

WE CAN'T COMPETE AGAINST FREE.

♪ INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC ♪ >> CATHY: ONE YEAR AGO TWIN CITIES RESIDENTS WERE DIGGING OUT FROM A TWO-DAY WINTER STORM THAT DROPPED MORE THAN A FOOT OF SNOW AROUND THE REGION.

2023 MAY HAVE STARTED WITH HUGE SNOWFALL TOTALS, BUT THE YEAR ENDED WITH A WHIMPER AS MOST OF THE STATE EXPERIENCED A BROWN OR EVEN SLIGHTLY GREEN CHRISTMAS LAST MONTH.

GREEN CHRISTMAS.

MINNESOTANS ARE NEVER HAPPIER THAN WHEN WE ARE MAKING SUCH WILD WEATHER COMPARISONS.

HERE TO HELP US CONTINUE THIS CONVERSATION FOR ABOUT THE NEXT TEN MINUTES, OUR DYNAMIC WEATHER DUO.

MARK SEELEY, LONGTIME METEOROLOGIST AND CLIMATOLOGIST AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA, AND PAUL DOUGLAS.

WHEN HE'S NOT MAKING HIS MONTHLY "ALMANAC" VISITS, PAUL HEADS UP HIS OWN WEATHER COMPANY, PREDICT-IX, AND HIS WEATHER MUSINGS CAN BE FOUND IN THE "STAR TRIBUNE" AND ON WCCO RADIO.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO BOTH OF YOU.

>> HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU.

>> HAPPY NEW YEAR, CATHY.

>> Cathy: NICE TO HAVE YOU GUYS HERE.

WELL, I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE TO BEGIN.

THE WEATHER'S FF THE CHARTS, PAUL DOUGLAS.

I MEAN, ISN'T IT JUST KIND OF -- WHAT CAN YOU SAY?

>> I ENJOYED MOWING MY LAWN IN DECEMBER, JUST TO SAY I DID.

I WAS ACTUALLY MULCHING LEAVES ON MY LAWN BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS AN OUT-OF-BODY EXPERIENCE, AND JUST TWO DAYS AGO -- THREE DAYS AGO, ON THE nd DAY OF JANUARY, A DEAR FRIEND OF MINE WAS SAILING ON LAKE MINNETONKA.

>> Cathy: NO.

>> GEE.

>> YES.

AND, SO, IT'S A LITTLE BIT SURREAL FROM A METEOROLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE, AND A LITTLE UNSETTLING.

I MEAN, WE'VE HAD MILD FIRST HALVES OF WINTER BEFORE, BUT THIS IS TRULY OFF THE SCALE.

>> Eric: DID THE NOVEMBER/DECEMBER PERIOD SET A LOT OF RECORDS?

>> IT WASN'T RECORD-SETTING.

IT WAS THE SECOND WARMEST, THOUGH, IN STATE HISTORY, ERIC, SO THAT'S 129 YEARS OF DATA, THAT'S SECOND WARMEST NOVEMBER/DECEMBER.

WHAT WAS STRIKING TO ME, BY THE WAY, I APPRECIATED BEING REFERRED TO AS DYNAMIC, YOU HAVE 85 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE BETWEEN THE TWO.

>> 40 YEARS.

>> Cathy: DYNAMIC.

>> DECEMBER WAS SO OFF THE CHARTS, IN FACT, I THINK WE HAVE A GRAPHIC FOR YOUR AUDIENCE.

BUT DECEMBER WAS -- >> Eric: TELL US WHAT THIS IS.

>> YEAH.

THIS IS A GRAPH OF ALL 129 YEARS OF DECEMBER MEAN TEMPERATURE STATEWIDE.

SO IT'S NOT ONE POINT, IT'S AVERAGE FOR THE STATE.

AS WELL AS STATEWIDE PRECIPITATION FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER.

ALL THOSE DATA POINTS REPRESENT EVERY YEAR SINCE 1895.

WE CAN'T PLOT DECEMBER OF 2023 ON THAT GRAPH.

>> Eric: IT'S OFF THE CHART.

>> IT'S OFF.

>> Eric: OFF THE CHART.

>> IT'S LIKE YOU'RE LOOKING AT A DIFFERENT PLANET.

WE BROKE THE STATE RECORD FOR DECEMBER'S MEAN STATEWIDE TEMPERATURE BY 5 DEGREES.

THAT'S RIDICULOUS.

>> Eric: TOP THAT CHART, PAUL DOUGLAS.

>> YEAH.

I DON'T THINK I CAN.

I DON'T THINK I WANT O.

BUT PEOPLE ARE ASKING ME, AND I'M ASKING MARK, HOW MUCH OF THIS IS NATURAL?

HOW MUCH OF THIS IS EL NINO?

WHICH IS A NATURAL PHENOMENON, EVERY FOUR OR FIVE YEARS, HOW MUCH OF THIS IS BACKGROUND WARMING?

THE PLANET IS WARMING.

THE OCEANS ARE WARMING.

IT'S A FACT.

AND I DO HAVE A GRAPHIC.

I DON'T THINK I CAN TOP WHAT MARK JUST SHOWED.

BUT I SHOW THIS IN TERMS OF OFF THE SCALE.

LAST YEAR, 2023, THE WARMEST YEAR GLOBALLY ON RECORD, SOME CLIMATE SCIENTISTS ARE SAYING IT MAY HAVE BEEN THE WARMEST YEAR IN TENS OF THOUSANDS OF YEARS.

PERHAPS AS LONG AS 125,000 YEARS.

THE TEN WARMEST YEARS ON RECORD HAVE BEEN THE LAST TEN YEARS.

THAT TOP RED LINE IS 2023.

YOU SEE THE BLUE LINES DOWN BELOW, THAT WAS THE '40s AND '50s, BUT YOU CAN SEE STEADY WARMING.

AND IT'S NOT JUST THE ATMOSPHERE, IT'S THE OCEANS.

AND THAT'S WHAT STRIKES ME ABOUT THE SYSTEM THAT WE ARE TRACKING RIGHT NOW.

IT'S NOT JUST THE EQUATORIAL PACIFIC WITH EL NINO.

EVERY SINGLE OCEAN ON THE PLANET IS OFF THE SCALE.

92% OF THE GREENHOUSE GAS WARMING, THAT ADDITIONAL MAN-MADE WARMING FROM BURNINGS FOR I WILL FUELS -- OSSIL FUELS, 92% IS GOING INTO THE OCEANS.

ONCE IT'S IN THE OCEANS, IT DOESN'T STAY IN THE OCEANS.

IT BLEEDS T LEAKS OUT.

SO I THINK THAT IS COMPOUNDING AND AMPLIFYING TURBO CHARGING, IF YOU WILL, THE EL NINO THAT'S UNDERWAY.

AND I ASKED MARK, HOW MUCH OF THIS DO YOU THINK IS EL NINO, HOW MUCH OF IT IS BACKGROUND WARMING?

>> YEAH, I THINK FORENSICALLY DIAGNOSING WHAT HAPPENED IN DECEMBER, AND 'M SURE WE'LL HAVE THE AMERICAN METEOROLOGICAL SOCIETY COME OUT WITH WHOLE PAPER ON THIS, YOU AND I KNOW THAT.

>> YEAH.

>> BUT OFF THE CUFF, I'M THINKING BECAUSE EIGHT OF THE LAST TEN DECEMBERS HAVE BEEN WARMER THAN NORMAL, IF YOU JUST LOOK AT THE DECEMBER TEMPERATURE PATTERN SINCE 1990, THE MEAN TEMPERATURE IN MINNESOTA IN DECEMBER HAS INCREASED BY ALMOST DEGREES.

IN DECEMBER.

SINCE 1990.

YOU MIGHT SEE THAT HISTORICALLY IF YOU GO BACK IN THE GEOLOGIC RECORD, BUT IN THE INSTRUMENTAL RECORD, TO LOOK AT 30 YEARS AND SEE A 7-DEGREE TEMPERATURE CHANGE.

SO I'M THINKING, PAUL, IT'S PROBABLY SOMETHING LIKE 70% CLIMATE CHANGE, AND MAYBE 30% EL NINO.

>> REALLY?

>> SOMEWHERE IN THAT CATEGORY.

IT IS COMBINATION OF BOTH.

BUT CLIMATE CHANGE IS DEFINITELY A SIGNAL IN THERE.

>> Cathy: SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TEMPERATURE.

SO, AS WE'RE SEEING THE TEMPERATURES GO OFF THE CHARTS, WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT -- IT'S BEEN WET, THOUGH, BUT IN THE FORM OF RAIN.

>> RAIN.

>> Cathy: WHICH IS SO ODD, TOO.

>> RIGHT.

>> Cathy: WHAT DOES THAT DO, WE'RE STILL IN A DROUGHT SITUATION.

>> MUCH OF THE STATE, STILL, RIGHT.

I DON'T THINK THE IMMEDIATE METRO IS IN DROUGHT NOW.

WE'RE STILL TOO DRY.

>> RIGHT.

THERE'S STILL OVER 40% OF THE LANDSCAPE, CATHY, IN MODERATE DROUGHT, ACCORDING TO HE NOAA DROUGHT CENTER.

BUT I THINK THOSE RANGE YOU REFERRED TO, I HEARD FROM A LOT OF OBSERVERS, THEY WENT INTO THE SOIL BECAUSE WE WERE WARM ENOUGH THAT THE SOIL HADN'T FROZEN DEEPLY, SO IT WAS ABLE TO TAKE IN, BECAUSE IT DIDN'T INCREASE OUR STREAM FLOW OR OUR VOLUME THROUGH THE RIVER MUCH.

IT WENT INTO THE SOIL.

SO, I THINK IN THE END, IT PROBABLY DID HELP THE DROUGHT, BUT WE WON'T KNOW THAT UNTIL WE GET OUT OF WINTER AND TART MEASURING THINGS AND SEE WHAT THE SOIL MOISTURE QUANTITIES ARE LIKE.

>> Eric: DOES THE LACK OF SNOW HELP BOOST THE TEMPERATURE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THE SUN'S ENERGY CAN GO INTO HEATING UP THE AIR INSTEAD OF MELTING SNOW.

SO, DECEMBER, WITH NO SNOW ON THE GROUND, THE TEMPERATURES WERE 10 TO 15 DEGREES WARMER THAN THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN IF WE HAD HAD ANY SNOW ON THE GROUND.

THIS IS NOT WHAT I HAD IN MIND WITH A DRY JANUARY, WE'RE GETTING OFF TO A DRY START.

SOME SIGNS WE MAY BE HEADING INTO A SNOWIER PATTERN AND OLD MAN WINTER IS ABOUT TO HAVE A HOLD MY BEER MOMENT BECAUSE HERE WE ARE, THIS IS THE NEW NORMAL, IT'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE IN THE 30s AND 40s AND 50s, NO.

IT'S GOING TO GET COLD.

>> Eric: WELL, MY MOM KEEPS TELLING ME THAT IN DULUTH, ALL OF HER FRIENDS ARE SAYING, WE'RE GOING TO PAY FOR THIS DOWN THE LINE.

IT'S BEEN TOO NICE.

WE'RE GOING TO GET HIT BEFORE WINTER'S OVER.

>> OUR WHOLE HISTORY IS ABOUT WHEN THE OTHER SHOE DROPS.

WE KNOW THAT.

OUR WHOLE MINNESOTA HISTORY.

>> Eric: YEAH.

>> IS BASED ON THAT.

ALTHOUGH I WAS TALKING TO PAUL ABOUT THIS.

THE NORTH AMERICAN ENSEMBLE MODELS, AS WELL AS THE EUROPEAN MODELS THAT LOOK AT NORTH AMERICA ARE ALL SUGGESTING WE'RE NOT GOING TO SEE THE EL NINO SIGNAL GO AWAY THIS WINTER.

WE'RE GOING TO REVERT, MAYBE HAVE SOME COLD SNOW IN JANUARY, BUT THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE MODEL PROJECTIONS SAY WE'RE GOING TO GO WARM AGAIN IN FEBRUARY, WE'RE GOING TO GO EVEN WARMER IN MARCH, AND EVEN WARMER IN APRIL.

>> Cathy: WOW.

>> SO WE TALKED ABOUT THAT THIS MORNING.

>> Cathy: EARLY SPRING THEN.

>> SO I THINK MASTER GARDENERS, ALL THOSE WONDERFUL PEOPLE THAT HANG ON FOR THE GARDENING SEASON, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE MAYBE AN EARLY START IN 2024.

>> Eric: WHEN DOES LA NIÑA SHOW UP?

>> BOY, WHO KNOWS.

LOOK, I FEEL AD FOR PEOPLE WHO LOVE SNOW.

AND YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE.

THEY'RE VERY VOCAL.

THEY'RE NOT SHY.

>> YES, YES, INDEED.

>> AND WE WANT ICE FOR THE U.S. POND HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIPS LATER THIS MONTH.

I THINK THERE WILL BE ICE, BUT IT MAY BE SKETCHY.

BUT I THINK THE LATTER HALF OF JANUARY, THE LAST TWO WEEKS OF JANUARY, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE DAYTIME HIGHS IN THE SINGLE DIGITS AND NIGHTTIME LOWS DIPPING JUST BELOW ZERO.

TWO-WEEK CONCENTRATED VERSION OF WINTER AND THEN HOPEFULLY, I MEAN, I'M KIND OF ROOTING FOR AN EARLY SPRING, AND THAT'S ONE THING THAT STILL CONFUSES ME, MARK, IS APRIL, WHAT'S GOING ON WITH APRIL AND SLUSH?

WHEN'S THE LAST TIME WE HAD A REAL SPRING WITH FLOWERS GROWING IN LATE MARCH, EARLY APRIL?

>> Eric: THAT'S WHAT WE CALL A CLIFFHANGER BECAUSE WE'RE OUT OF TIME.

>> OH, OKAY.

WE END ON A CLIFFHANGER.

>> Eric: THAT'S RIGHT.

COME BACK AND SEE US SOMETIME.

>> Cathy: THEY WILL.

>> Eric: THANKS, GANG.

>> THANK YOU.

>> IT'S AN AMAZING VOICE TALENT THAT THEY HAVE FOR THAT MOVIE.

>> Cathy: WHO'S YOUR FAVORITE?

>> MY FAVORITE?

MY FAVORITE VOICE TALENT?

>> Cathy: YES.

>> I LOVE WHAT DUSTIN HOFFMAN DID WITH HIS ROLE IN THERE.

BUT I HATE TO PLAY FAVORITES, IT GETS YOU IN TROUBLE.

FOR INSTANCE, I LIKE ERIC BETTER THAN YOU AND THAT WOULD BE BAD, RIGHT?

>> Cathy: I WOULD FEEL HURT.

>> Eric: THAT WOULD NOT BE GOOD.

>> THAT'S NOT WHAT YOU WANT TO DO.

>> Cathy: I LOVE KATE.

IT'S ALWAYS SO MUCH FUN WHEN SHE COMES TO VISIT.

SHE'LL BE BACK AGAIN THIS SPRING.

TIME FOR THE INDEX FILE SECTION OF THE SHOW.

IT'S BEEN A COUPLE OF WEEKS SINCE OUR MOST RECENT MINNESOTA HISTORY QUESTION SO LET'S REVIEW THE DETAILS.

WE ASKED YOU ABOUT A ONE-TIME MINNESOTAN, NOT SEEN HERE, HE OR SHE MADE THEIR FAME AND FORTUNE AFTER LEAVING MINNEAPOLIS AND HEADING TO THE WEST COAST.

THIS WASHBURN HIGH SCHOOL GRAD CREDITS A GRANDPARENT FOR TEACHING THEM BASICS OF THEIR PROFESSION AT A YOUNG AGE.

ERIC THEN TOLD YOU THAT THIS PERSON SPENT 35 YEARS CREATING SOMETHING THAT WAS UBIQUITOUS IN CHILDHOOD HOMES ACROSS AMERICA, BECOMING A COLLECTOR'’S ITEM FOR MANY.

OUR QUESTION, WHO IS THIS FAMOUS "CREATOR" WITH MINNESOTA ROOTS?

THE CLOTHING HINTS ERIC GAVE DIDN'’T HELP THESE NEXT CALLERS.

>> Cathy: KOOTTYS, OH, I HATED KOOTTYS, MOST OF THOSE WRONG ANSWERS COMPLETELY MISS THE MARK.

BUT THE PRODUCERS ENJOYED HE VARIETY OF ANSWERS.

FOR THIS WEEK'S RIGHT ANSWER, WE TURN TO DAVID, PROUD WASHBURN HIGH SCHOOL GRAD.

>> CATHY: YES, DAVID, YOU ARE CORRECT.

CAROL SPENCER IS THE FORMER MINNESOTAN WE SOUGHT.

HERE'S A NICE PHOTO OF SPENCER WITH PART OF HER DOLL AND DESIGN COLLECTION AT HOME IN CALIFORNIA.

WITH THE RENEWED INTEREST IN THE WORLD OF BARBIE, I WONDER IF SOME OF HER DESIGNS HAVE SURFACED IN HOMES AROUND THE COUNTRY?

WE HAVE JUST ENOUGH TIME BEFORE WE GO FOR A LITTLE SHOW-ENDING MUSIC.

THIS WEEK THE PRODUCERS DUG IN THE ARCHIVES AND FOUND THIS GEM FROM 20 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK.

PAPA JOHN KOLSTAD AND THE HOT CLUB OF EAST LAKE JOINED US IN STUDIO B.

TAKE A LISTEN.

AND WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

♪♪ ♪ ALL WARMED UP HERE ♪ >> OH, YEAH.

♪ INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC ♪ ♪ I WAS ALWAYS A PAPA ♪ ♪ YEAH, REAL COOL PAPA ♪ ♪ EVER SINCE I WAS A LAD, I ALWAYS WAS A PAPA ♪ I WAS ALWAYS A PAPA ♪ ♪ A HIP, MEAN OLD PAPA, EVER SINCE I WAS A LAD, I ALWAYS WAS A PAPA ♪ ♪ LATE-NIGHT PARTIES, MY FRIENDS ARE ALL AROUND ♪ PEOPLE COME FLOCKIN' IN, COPS COME KNOCKIN' ♪ ♪ BUT I WAS ALWAYS A PAPA, IT'S TRUE, I WAS ALWAYS A PAPA ♪ EVER SINCE I WAS A LAD I ALWAYS WAS A PAPA ♪ >> PLAY IT, SAM.

♪ INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC ♪ >> ALL RIGHT.

I LOVE IT!

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YEAH!

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>> "ALMANAC" IS A PRODUCTION OF TWIN CITIES PBS FOR THE STATIONS OF MINNESOTA PUBLIC TELEVISION ASSOCIATION.