DENNIS: I'M DENNIS ANDERSON, HERE'S WHAT'S COMING UP ON ALMANAC NORTH!

OUR SERIES LESSONS FROM COVID-19 CONTINUES WITH A LOOK AT HOW LOCAL GOVERNMENT RESPONDED TO THE PANDEMIC, WITH A SPOTLIGHT ON ELY.

NEXT WEEK, PBS' NATIONAL NOVA SERIES FOCUSES ON RISING INFERTILITY RATES IN AMERICA.

WE'LL TALK WITH THE PROGRAM'S MINNESOTA-BASED PRODUCER.

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AND COMMUNITY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL IN CLOQUET WILL SOON PROVIDE CRITICAL CHILDBIRTH TRAINNG FOR RURAL HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS.

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

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

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

MINNESOTA GOVERNOR TIM WALZ REVEALED A TIMELINE THIS WEEK TO END THE STATE'S PANDEMIC RESTRICTIONS.

BEGINNING TODAY, CAPACITY LIMITS ON OUTDOOR DINING AND OTHER EVENTS ARE REMOVED, AND BAR AND RESTAURANT MANDATORY CLOSING TIMES HAVE BEEN REMOVED.

ON MAY 28TH, CAPACITY AND DISTANCING LIMITS WILL END FOR INDOOR EVENTS AND GATHERINGS.

FINALLY, MINNESOTA'S MASK MANDATE WILL END NO LATER THAN JULY FIRST.

DULUTH MAYOR EMILY LARSON ANNOUNCED AN AMBITIOUS PLAN THURSDAY TO SUPPORT THE SPIRIT MOUNTAIN RECREATION AREA.

THE MAYOR OUTLINED A PLAN TO LAUNCH A $24-MILLION DOLLAR CAPITAL REINVESTMENT PROGRAM AT THE SKI FACILITY.

IF APPROVED BY COUNCILORS, THE MONEY WOULD COME FROM STATE BONDING, CITY TOURISM TAXES AND SPIRIT MOUNTAIN.

THE MINNESOTA D-N-R HAS BEGUN THE PROCESS OF TERMINATING MINING LEASES FOR MESABI METALLICS IN NASHWAUK.

THE COMPANY HAS BEEN TRYING TO RAISE MONEY TO FINISH THE HALF-BUILT IRON RANGE PLANT, BUT HAS FAILED TO MEET CONDITIONS SET BY THE D-N-R.

THE TERMINATION WILL BE FINAL ON MAY 25TH IF THE COMPANY DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE TERMS OF ITS LEASE AGREEMENT WITH THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

AND LOCAL AND NATIONAL OBERVANCES WERE HELD WEDNESDAY FOR MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS PERSONS DAY.

A WHITE HOUSE PROCLAMATION CALLED ATTENTION TO THE THOUSANDS OF UNSOLVED CASES OF NATIVE WOMEN AND GIRLS.

UNDER THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, A MISSING AND MURDERED UNIT HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED WITHIN THE BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS OFFICE.

OUR SPECIAL SERIES LESSONS FROM COVID-19 CONTINUES THIS WEEK AS WE EXPLORE LOCAL GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO THE PANDEMIC.

HOW DID CITY LEADERS COMMUNICATE PANDEMIC PROTOCOLS TO THEIR RESIDENTS?

WE SAT DOWN WITH ELY MAYOR CHUCK NOVAK TO FIND OUT HOW HIS TOWN NAVIGATED THE PANDEMIC: >> THE CITY HAS BEEN WIDE OPEN WITH OUR RESORTS AND LODGING FACILITIES HAVE BEEN HERE.

YOU CAN STILL SEE ALL OF THE GOOD THINGS TO SEE HERE.

THE BEAUTY OF THE COUNTRY WITH THE TREES AND THE RIVERS AND THE LAKES AND EVERYTHING.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO DRILL A HOLE ON THE ICE TO CATCH FISH.

EVERYTHING IS OPENING UP.

FOOD IS AVAILABLE, LODGING IS AVAILABLE.

ALMOST NORMAL.

I FIRST HEARD ABOUT THIS DONE OF THE CAPITAL, ON LEGISLATIVE ACTION DAY WITH THE COALITION OF MINNESOTA CITIES.

WE WERE INFORMED IN THE AFTERNOON TO VACATE THE CAPITAL, THE GOVERNOR PUT OUT HIS EMERGENCY ORDER.

WE ALL LEFT WITH FIST BUMPS AND ELBOW BUMPS SAYING GOODBYE TO LEGISLATORS AND OTHER MAYORS AND COUNCILMEMBERS, PARTICIPANTS.

WE ALL WENT TO THE HOTEL AND CHECKED OUT EARLY.

WE HAD PLANNED THEIR -- TO BE THERE ANOTHER COUPLE OF DAYS.

WE WENT HOME.

I PUT IN PLACE A PLAN OF EMERGENCY FOR THE CITY OF ELY.

WE DID THAT FOR A COUPLE OF REASONS.

IT BRINGS IT UP TO A HIGHER LEVEL OF UNDERSTANDING.

SECONDLY, WE HAVE TO HAVE AN EMERGENCY ORDER IN PLACE IN THE CITY TO BE ABLE TO TAKE IT MANAGE OF SUPPORT FROM THE FEDERAL, STATE, AND COUNTY GOVERNMENTS.

ESPECIALLY WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE PPP FUNDS.

WE DID THAT, IT IS STILL IN PLACE AND IT WILL STAY IN PLACE UNTIL THE GOVERNOR NO LONGER HAS IT.

I THINK IT WILL START COMING TO A HEAD SHORTLY.

WE HAVE THE VACCINATIONS GOING STRONG STARTING FROM LAST YEAR ALREADY.

A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF OUR LOCAL POPULATION IS VACCINATED.

IT WAS WORRISOME HOW THE CITY WOULD FARE THROUGH IT.

THE BIG CONCERN CAME ON FINANCES .

RESTAURANTS WERE CLOSED, BARS WERE CLOSED, A LOT OF THE BUSINESSES WERE CLOSED.

UNTIL LATER ON, WHICH MEANS WOULD THEY BE ABLE TO PAY THE PROPERTY TAXES?

WITH THE PROPERTY TAX REVENUES THAT THE CITY RELIES ON, WITH A BASIS -- A -- WOULD THEY BE SUBSTANTIAL ENOUGH?

IT TURNS OUT IT DID NOT TURN INTO A PROBLEM.

THE PROPERTY TAX RECEIPTS WERE IN, PEOPLE WERE HONORABLE AND THEY PAY THE PROPERTY TAXES.

THAT WAS A GOOD SIGN.

THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AID FROM ST. PAUL WAS IN TOUCH, SO OUR BUDGET WAS INTACT.

ALSO WE MADE THE STATEMENT THAT NO CITY EMPLOYEE WOULD BE FINANCIALLY DISADVANTAGED DURING THIS.

WE STILL HAVE TO PROVIDE SERVICES.

THAT WAS IMPORTANT.

IF WE NEEDED TO CUT ON THE BUDGET, WE HAD TO FIND OTHER WAYS TO DO IT.

THE CITY GOVERNMENT DOES A LOT.

IT JUST DOESN'T SIT AROUND WAITING FOR SOMETHING AND THROW MONEY AROUND.

WE CAN'T SOLVE A PROBLEM THE CITY IS NOT MADE AWARE OF DIRECTLY.

WE SUPPORTED THINGS LIKE ELITE COMMUNITY RESOURCE.

THAT'S AN EXCELLENT RESOURCE.

THE LIBRARY HAS BEEN CLOSED TO INDOOR ACCESS, BUT WE HAVE PICKUP SERVICE.

THERE WERE SOME PEOPLE CONCERNED ABOUT THE LEVEL OF VISITORS THAT COME HERE.

THEY ACCOMMODATED.

DURING THE SUMMER, WE HAD A PARTIAL OPENING WITH 25% CAPACITY IN OUR RESTAURANTS.

WE DON'T HAVE THAT MANY RESTAURANTS OF CONCERN.

MOSTLY, TAKE OUT WAS THE VENUE.

THE CULTURE HAS CHANGED.

YOU WAVE AT PEOPLE, THEY TURN AWAY BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO ENGAGE ANYMORE.

THERE HAS BEEN AN ATTITUDE SHIFT ON HOW PEOPLE RELATE TO EACH OTHER.

TO BE FRIENDLY PEOPLE, NOT EVERYBODY ANYMORE.

WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN THAT CULTURE APPEAR YET.

-- UP HERE YET.

WE ARE AN OPEN AND FRIENDLY SOCIETY.

THE LESSONS FROM COVID IS DOCUMENT THE HISTORY OF THIS EVENT.

BIND IT, SO IT IS AVAILABLE, THEN EVERY SO OFTEN, GO THROUGH THE LESSONS LEARNED.

AS A REFRESHER WITH OUR DEPARTMENTS OF HEALTH IN THE STATE AND HEALTH DEPARTMENTS IN THE COUNTIES AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

ALWAYS PLAN FOR ANOTHER EVENT TO HAPPEN.

DON'T EVER GET SO COMFORTABLE THAT YOU THINK IT CAN'T HAPPEN AGAIN.

♪ DENNIS: NEXT WEEK OUR SPECIAL SERIES CONTINUES AS WE LOOK AT THE MAJOR IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM.

WE'LL TALK WITH THE HIBBING SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT ABOUT THE STRUGGLE SCHOOLS FACED AND THE LESSONS THEY LEARNED: >> A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL REMEMBER THE DAY THAT PEARL HARBOR WAS ATTACKED OR D-DAY FOR 9/11.

I'M GOING TO REMEMBER MARCH 18 FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.

THAT WAS THE DAY THAT THE GOVERNOR ANNOUNCED THAT WE WERE ALL IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA WE WERE ALL GOING TO DISTANCE LEARNING.

THERE WAS AND STILL IS FRUSTRATION.

THINGS ARE NOT PERFECT BY ANY MEANS.

WE HEARD MANY STORIES OF FAMILIES PARKED OUTSIDE A MCDONALD'S DOING THEIR HOMEWORK.

ON THEIR IPAD, BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T GET ANYWHERE ELSE TO GET WI-FI.

THAT WAS OUR FOCUS FOR A LARGE CHUNK OF THIS PANDEMIC WAS HOW DO WE GET KIDS FED AND WHAT DO WE DO ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH?

EDUCATION IS ALWAYS IN THE BACKGROUND.

IT IS ALWAYS IMPORTANT.

IT REALLY TOOK A BACKSEAT FOR A LOT OF THE PANDEMIC.

IT WAS ABOUT BASIC NEEDS OF STUDENTS, NOT ABOUT YOUR AND CURRICULUM.

DENNIS: THE SUPERINTENDENT BELIEVES ONE OF THE BIGGEST MISTAKES SCHOOLS AND THE STATE MADE WAS ASSUMING EVERYONE HAD INTERNET CONNECTIVITY.

STUDENTS ESPECIALLY STRUGGLED WITH THIS IN MANY RURAL AREAS OF NORTHEASTERN MINNESOTA.

HOW SCHOOL STAFF CAME TOGETHER TO RESPOND TO STUDENT NEEDS AS BEST THEY COULD, NEXT WEEK ON ALMANAC NORTH.

♪ DENNIS: ACCORDING TO A RECENT REPORT, THE U.S. COULD SEE A SHORTAGE OF 22-THOUSAND OB-GYNS AND OBSTETRICIANS BY 2050.

THE SHORTAGE IS MORE SEVERE IN RURAL AREAS, WHERE MANY COUNTIES DO NOT HAVE A PRACTICING OB-GYN.

ST. LUKE'S ANNOUNCED LAST MONTH THEIR LAURENTIAN MEDICAL CLINIC IN MOUNTAIN IRON NOW HAS A BOARD-CERTIFIED OB-GYN OFFERING A FULL RANGE OF SERVICES, INCLUDING FERTILITY CONSULTS.

AS FERTILITY CARE OPTIONS EXPAND ON THE IRON RANGE, THERE'S A NATIONAL DISCUSSION EVOLVING ON ASSISTED REPRODUCTIVE TECHNOLOGIES.

THE CAUSES OF INFERTILITY, AND THE STRUCTURAL INEQUALITIES FACED BY THOSE EXPERIENCING FERTILITY CHALLENGES IS THE FOCUS OF NEXT WEEK'S NOVA SCIENCE SERIES FROM MINNEAPOLIS PRODUCER LARKIN MCPHEE: >> WRITER-DIRECTOR OF DOCUMENTARY FILMS.

I HAVE CURRENTLY BEEN WORKING WITH NOVA ON A FILM ABOUT WITH NOVA ON A FILM ABOUT FERTILITY WHICH WILL BE AIRING THIS MAY ON ABS.

WE ACTUALLY WENT AROUND THE COUNTRY TO TELL STORIES.

WE BEGAN IN MY BACKYARD HERE IN MINNEAPOLIS.

IT IS A VERY EXPERIMENTAL TIME RIGHT NOW.

>> INFERTILITY FEELS LIKE A SPECIAL CORNER OF HELP.

>> I THINK THERE'S AN INFERTILITY PANDEMIC AND IT'S GETTING WORSE.

>> BLACK WOMEN STRUGGLING WITH INFERTILITY AT ALMOST TWICE THE RATE OF OUR CAUCASIAN BROTHERS INSIST HE'S -- AND SISTERS.

>> FIGHTING FOR FERTILITY ON NOVA.

>> THE STORY OF THE TRANS-MALE WE COVER IN THE FILM IS THE STORY OF A PERSON WHO HAS BEEN VERY STIGMATIZED FOR MOST OF HIS LIFE.

HE FINALLY FIGURED OUT THAT HE WAS TRANS-AND HE SAID I WANT TO TRANSITION.

NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT FERTILITY NOR DID ANYONE COUNSEL HIM.

WHEN HE MET HIS PARTNER AND FELL IN LOVE, HE FELT SUDDENLY I THINK THIS COULD BE A BEAUTIFUL THING TO HAVE A CHILD WITH THIS MAN.

THESE TWO MEN HAD A BABY AND I WOULD LIKE YOU TO WATCH THE SHOW IT'S A REALLY GOOD STORY.

I THINK THE NUMBER ONE MESSAGE IS THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO BUILD A FAMILY.

THE TECHNOLOGY IS ALLOWING THAT.

AT THE SAME TIME, INFERTILITY IS EXTRAORDINARILY CHALLENGING FOR PEOPLE.

THE FILM IS FEATURING SEVERAL DIFFERENT COUPLES FACING HURDLES THAT ABOUND IN THE WORLD OF FERTILITY.

MALE FACTOR INFERTILITY WHICH IS -- IT COULD BE FALLING'S FIRM COUNT, IT COULD BE PROBLEMS WITH THE SHAPE OF THIS FIRM AND SO FORTH.

WE ARE LOOKING AT MOSAIC EMBRYOS WHICH IS A CONTROVERSIAL EMBRYO, BUT AS SCIENTIST CATCHING UP TO WHAT THIS REPRESENTS, IT MAY BE AN EMBRYO THAT MORE PEOPLE CAN CONSIDER TRANSFERRING AND USING.

WE ARE TRANSFERRING CUTTING EDGE TECHNOLOGY IN THIS FILM.

WE ARE ALSO LOOKING AT THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY AND THE HURDLES THEY FACE.

IMPORTANTLY, WHERE LOOKING AT THE STRUCTURAL INEQUALITIES IN THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY.

AFRICAN-AMERICANS SUFFER INFERTILITY AT RATES TWICE AS HIGH AS WHITE WOMEN.

WHY IS THAT?

AS WE HAVE SEEN WITH COVID, THEIR HEALTH IS MORE COMPROMISED.

PART OF THAT IS A PHENOMENON CALLED WEATHERING, WHICH IS GENERATIONAL OPPRESSION RACISM THAT LITERALLY HAS CAUSED THEIR BODIES TO PREMATURELY AGE.

THIS IS IMPACTING INFANT MORTALITY RATES, FERTILITY RATES, ALL SORTS OF THINGS.

ADDED TO THAT PERMITS IN THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY THAT THEY ARE HYPER FERTILE WHICH IS NOT TRUE.

THEY DON'T NECESSARILY SEEK OUT HELP OR NOT AS READILY AS OTHERS.

THAT IS BECAUSE THERE HAS BEEN THE HISTORY OF REPRODUCTIVE COERCION IN THEIR PAST.

THERE'S ALSO BEEN A MISTRUST BECAUSE THEY FEEL THAT SOMETIMES IN DOCTORS OFFICES, THEIR CONCERNS ARE DISMISSED.

THESE THINGS ALL GATHER TOGETHER AND CONTRIBUTE TO SOME OF THESE HIGHER RATES OF INFERTILITY.

ONE AREA THAT IS VERY CHALLENGING IN THE WORLD OF FERTILITY IN THE UNITED STATES IS THE RURAL AREAS BECAUSE IT IS AN ISSUE OF ACCESS.

WE HAVE SEEN THAT PLAY OUT IN THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY.

IT IS TRUE FOR EVERYBODY.

IF WE ARE IN A SOCIETY NOW WHERE WE ARE DELAYING CHILDBEARING TIME, YOU WILL RUN TO MORE PROBLEMS BECAUSE OF THE AGING BIG AND OTHER ISSUES AROUND THEM, WHATEVER IT IS.

YOU GOING TO WANT TO HAVE CLINICS AVAILABLE TO YOU.

THIS IS A CHALLENGE.

THIS FILM IS ABOUT THE INFINITE POSSIBILITIES THAT TECHNOLOGY IS AFFORDING US TODAY TO HAVE CHOICES.

THAT EVERYBODY WANTS TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD A FAMILY.

THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE REPORTING ON IN THIS FILM IS UPDATING PEOPLE ON HOW THAT IS HAPPENING.

DENNIS: YOU CAN WATCH FIGHTING FOR FERTILITY ON NOVA NEXT WEDNESDAY, MAY 12TH AT 8 P.M. ON PBS NORTH.

AND VISIT THE WDSE FACEBOOK PAGE FOR A DIGITAL EXTRA STORY ON THE IMPORTANCE OF OB-GYN SERVICES IN RURAL MINNESOTA.

RURAL DOCTORS AND HOSPITALS TEND TO HAVE LESS EXPERIENCE DELIVERING BABIES, ESPECIALLY IN COMPLICATED OR HIGH-RISK PREGNANCIES.

BUT SOON, COMMUNITY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL IN CLOQUET WILL BE ABLE TO TRAIN DOCTORS AND NURSES IN GREATER MINNESOTA, GIVING THEM MORE EXPERIENCE DELIVERING BABIES.

HOW WILL THEY DO IT?

RICK BREUER, THE CEO AND ADMINISTRATOR AT COMMUNITY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL IS HERE TO EXPLAIN.

WELCOME RICK!

>> THIS IS LIVE BIRTH SIMULATING EQUIPMENT.

WHAT DOES THAT INCLUDE?

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME WE ARE SO EXCITED.

THIS SIMULATION EQUIPMENT REALLY CAN'T REPLICATE MOST EVERY CONCEIVABLE NORMAL OBSTETRICAL MEDICAL AND SURGICAL CIRCUMSTANCE YOU CAN ENVISION.

FROM THE STRAIGHT UP DELIVERY FROM VARIOUS PRESENTATIONS TO CHORD PROBLEMS TO C-SECTION SCENARIOS, LOOKING AT FETAL EXTRACTION, VACUUM SCENARIOS, ALL THE WAY TO HEMORRHAGES, BLEEDING SITUATIONS AND EMERGENCY HYSTERECTOMIES.

YOU CAN COVER A FULL GAMUT OF THINGS THAT BOTH PHYSICIANS AND NURSES AND OTHER PROVIDERS CAN ALL WORK THROUGH.

>> I IMAGINE THIS KIND OF TRAINING CAN DO NOTHING BUT ASSIST MOTHERS AND BABIES INTO A SUCCESSFUL LIVE BIRTH.

>> THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.

WHAT WE FIND AND HOW YOU WOULD INTRODUCE THIS IS EXACTLY RIGHT.

THERE AREN'T AS MANY BABIES BEING BORN IN THESE RURAL AREAS.

RURAL COMMUNITIES WANT TO BE ABLE TO OFFER OBSTETRIC SERVICES AND THE ONES THAT STILL ARE, IT'S IMPORTANT TO THEM.

IT'S NOT A FINANCIAL CONSIDERATION.

OB DOESN'T PAY FOR ITSELF.

WE DO IT BECAUSE WE KNOW IT'S IMPORTANT.

ALL ELSE BEING EQUAL, THE FURTHER A MOM HAS TO TRAVEL, THE WORST OUTCOMES ARE FOR MOMS AND BABIES.

DENNIS: HOW WAS YOUR FACILITY CHOSEN TO DO THIS?

>> WE PURSUED THIS.

THIS HAS BEEN A MISSION OF MINE FOR ALMOST FIVE YEARS.

WE CAN GO BACK TO A DOCTOR THAT WE HIRED WHO NEEDED SOME PROCTORING, NEEDED SOME EXTRA DELIVERIES UNDER HER BELT AND WE STRUGGLED TO FIND PLACES WE COULD SEND HER TO BE IMMERSED.

SMALL PLACES WERE MORE WILLING TO HELP THAN LARGE PLACES BUT THEY DIDN'T HAVE A LOT OF BABIES EITHER.

WE PIVOTED SIMULATION EQUIPMENT.

WE FOUND THAT THE WORLD HAS DRAMATICALLY CHANGED SINCE THE DUMMY IN 1960 CAME OUT.

NOW, YOU REALLY CAN GET A TRUE LIFELIKE EXPERIENCE IN OBSTETRICS.

STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT MEDICAL STUDENTS COMING THROUGH WITH THIS KIND OF TRAINING OUTPERFORM THEIR CLASSMATES IF THE TRADITIONAL TRAINING IS BACKED UP AND COMPLEMENTED BY THE SIMULATION TRAINING.

WE WANT TO TAKE PROVIDERS ALREADY IN THE FIELD, THESE VISIONS, THESE NURSES, OTHER FOLKS AT HOSPITAL DELIVERED BABIES AND NON-BIRTHING HOSPITALS AND GIVE THEM OPPORTUNITIES ALL ACROSS MINNESOTA TO COME IN AND GET HIGH-VALUE, LOW-COST TRAINING.

WE CHASED THIS DOWN.

WE REVIEWED PRODUCTS, WE CHASED FUNDING.

THIS IS OUTSIDE THE REACH OF A RURAL HOSPITAL ON ITS OWN.

DENNIS: WILL ALL THE TRAINING BE DONE AT YOUR FACILITY TO BE TRAINED?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

WE HAVE LINED UP SO DOCTORS AND NURSES CAN GET CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION.

WE HAVE RECEIVED GRANTS TO FUND ALL OF THE EQUIPMENT UP FRONT.

BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF MINNESOTA HAS PAID FOR THAT.

THE OFFICE OF RURAL HEALTH THROUGH THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH IS HELPING US WITH ONGOING EXPENSES.

DENNIS: ONE MORE QUICK QUESTION, WHO DOES THE TRAINING?

>> WE WILL HAVE PHYSICIANS AND NURSES AND OB NURSES WHO WILL BE TRAINED AS TRAINERS TO RUN THE SIMULATIONS.

THEY WILL BE TRAINING ALL OF THESE DOCTORS AND NURSES AND EMS PROVIDERS ALL ACROSS THE STATE.

DENNIS: THIS MUST BE TERRIBLY EXCITING FOR YOU AND YOUR HOSPITAL.

>> I AM A RURAL KID.

I GREW UP IN ROME MINNESOTA.

THIS IS GOING TO HELP A LOT OF PEOPLE IN RURAL MINNESOTA.

DENNIS: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.

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

EACH WEEK WE HEAR FROM AN AREA JOURNALIST WITH MORE ON THE STORIES THEY ARE COVERING.

THIS WEEK NORTHERN MINNESOTA AUTHOR AND COLUMNIST AARON BROWN IS OUR GUEST: ♪ >> ONE OF THE BIG CHALLENGES HERE IS THAT IT'S A JUNIOR MINOR.

THEY ARE A NEW COMPANY THAT WANTS TO ESSENTIALLY SELL A VIABLE PROJECT TO A LARGER MINOR AND THEY HAVE ALREADY DONE THAT IN THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE MAJORITY OWNER OF IT.

THEY ARE PACKAGING A PROPOSAL THAT WILL BECOME A MINE OPERATED BY A LARGER COMPANY.

THE RULING HIGHLIGHTS THAT THEY HAVE TRIED THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS TO KEEP THEIR COSTS AND LEGACY COSTS LOW TO ATTRACT INVESTMENT IN THE MIND WHICH IS A BILLION-DOLLAR MINE.

MOST OF US DON'T HAVE A BILLION DOLLARS OR CAN EVEN FATHOM A BILLION DOLLARS.

TO GET A BILLION DOLLARS INVESTED BY GLENCORE AND OTHER INVESTORS INTO THIS PROJECT, THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY DON'T COMMIT TO LONG-TERM COSTS.

THE WHOLE ENVIRONMENTAL CRITICISM OF THE PROJECT IS REALLY IS LONG-TERM POST MINE COST.

THE RULING HIGHLIGHTS THAT.

TO GET A BREAKTHROUGH, YOU NOT ONLY HAVE TO HAVE THE MONEY, WHICH IS A CHALLENGE IN ANY ECONOMY EVEN A GOOD ONE, ALSO AN ANSWER ON THOSE LONG-TERM COSTS, MITIGATION COSTS FOR AFTER THE MINE IS DONE WITH HIS OPERATION.

STEEL PRICES ARE REALLY HIGH AND THE MINES ON THE RANGE ARE RUNNING HOT.

THEY ARE PRODUCING LOTS.

THE INTERESTING QUESTION WILL BE HOW THIS INFLUX OF BIG PROFIT COMING IN OVER THIS NEXT YEAR, HOW COMPANIES WILL ADDRESS THAT.

YOU'VE SEEN SOME DIFFERENT STRATEGIES.

CLIFFS HAS BUILT UP THE BIGGEST STEEL COMPANY IN AMERICA WITH ITS RECENT ACQUISITIONS.

IT IS TRYING TO PAY DOWN SOME OF ITS DEBT, BUT IT WILL CONTINUE INVESTING IN WATER AND ICING ITS PLANTS.

U.S. STEEL, WHICH HAS HAD MORE MONEY PROBLEMS OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS IS TRYING TO PAY BACK, ALMOST TRYING TO EXCLUSIVELY PAY BACK THE DEBT.

THERE IS SOME FEELING I WOULD SENSE THE IDEA THAT THE NEXT BOOM WOULD BE MAY BE A BIG ONE.

BECAUSE NOW WITH CLIFFS HAVING CONSOLIDATED A COUPLE OF THE BIG COMPANIES, WE CAN LOOK AT A PLANT CLOSING OR BEING CONSOLIDATED IN OPERATIONS WITH ANOTHER PLANT SOMEHOW IN THE NEXT BUST.

MAYBE IT'S JUST LIVING AND GROWING UP ON THE IRON RANGE, YOU CAN'T HEAL A BOOM WITHOUT ANTICIPATING A BUST.

THESE COMPANIES ARE BEING VERY STRATEGIC AND IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THEIR DECISIONS PLAY OUT IN TWO OR THREE YEARS WHEN THE STEEL PRICES ARE QUITE SO HOT.

I DON'T KNOW ANYONE THAT IS AT LEAST PARTIAL LIES -- PARTIALLY SURPRISED THAT MINNESOTA KEPT ITS EIGHT DISTRICTS.

WE KNEW THE POPULATION WAS GOING UP FASTER THAN ALL OF OUR NEIGHBORS AND THAT IT WAS ACTUALLY KEEPING PACE WITH NATIONAL POPULATION GROWTH.

IN OTHER WORDS, MINNESOTA EXCEEDED EXPECTATIONS ACROSS THE BOARD IN OUR CENSUS RESPONSE.

PART OF THAT IS THAT WE ARE GOOD AT TO PAPERWORK.

I THINK IT'S A STATEWIDE SKILL.

THEREFORE, WE THRIVED IN THE PANDEMIC CENSUS ENVIRONMENT AND WE GOT ALL OF OUR PAPERWORK DONE.

THE OTHER STATE THAT IS GETTING A LOT OF ATTENTION, NEW YORK HAD A HARDER TIME AND PROBABLY UNDERCOUNTED ITS PEOPLE A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE OF THE COVID SITUATION WHEN THE CENSUS WAS BEING TAKEN.

WE ARE THE BENEFICIARIES BECAUSE WE KEEP OUR NUMBER BUT NEW YORK LOSES A SEAT IN THE NEW APPORTIONMENT AFTER THE CENSUS.

WE KEEP OUR EIGHT DISTRICTS IN MINNESOTA.

OUR EIGHT DISTRICT WILL STAY IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA.

IT WILL STAY MOSTLY THE SAME.

IT IS ONE OF THE SLOWEST GROWING DISTRICTS IN THE STATE, BUT I HAVE SEEN SOME ESTIMATED MAPS THAT SHOW THAT WE COULD DO IT RELATIVELY EASILY PICKING UP SOME GROUND IN THE NORTHWEST PART OF THE STATE.

ANY FURTHER SOUTH AND YOU'RE GETTING INTO THE SEVEN COUNTY METRO AREA.

IT'S UNLIKELY THAT THE JUDGES WHO WILL ACTUALLY DECIDE REDISTRICTING WOULD DO THAT.

THEY TRY TO CHANGE AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE.

I SAY JUDGES BECAUSE NORMALLY, THE LEGISLATURE WOULD SET THE DISTRICTS BUT BECAUSE WE HAVE A DIVIDED GOVERNMENT WITH REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS, THERE IS NO CHANCE THEY WILL AGREE ON A MAP.

I WOULD JUST SAY IT RIGHT OUT OF THE GATE, THERE IS NO CHANCE.

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

YOU WILL FIND US ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.

OR VISIT THE WDSE WEBSITE FOR THE LATEST PROGRAM UPDATES, NEWS ABOUT THE STATION AND OUR UPCOMING EVENTS.

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

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

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

♪