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

>> Mary: WE'LL TALK EDUCATION, IN PERSON VERSUS ONLINE, AND WE'LL HAVE THE HISTORY OF A TRAIL BLAZING LAWMAKER.

>> JUST IN HIS SHEER PERSONALITY WAS SUCH THAT HE WAS LIKED BY EVERYBODY.

>> Mary: THAT'S COMING UP ON "ALMANAC: AT THE CAPITOL."

♪♪♪ >> "ALMANAC: AT THE CAPITOL" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY MEMBERS OF THIS PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION.

SUPPORT IS ALSO PROVIDED BY· GREAT RIVER ENERGY: PROVIDING WHOLESALE POWER TO 28 MINNESOTA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES.

MANITOBA HYDRO: PROVIDING CLEAN, RENEWABLE ENERGY TO MINNESOTA UTILITIES FOR NEARLY 50 YEARS.

MANITOBAHYDROPOWER.COM.

ENBRIDGE: CONNECTING MINNESOTANS WITH ENERGY FOR OVER 70 YEARS.

MORE AT ENBRIDGE.COM/LINETHREEUS.

LIUNA: MINNESOTA'S INFRASTRUCTURE UNION, REPRESENTING 12,000 SKILLED CONSTRUCTION LABORERS.

LIUNAMINNESOTA.ORG.

MINNESOTA LOTTERY.

PLAYING OUR PART BY GENERATING FUNDS FOR MINNESOTA.

IF YOU'RE GAME, JUST SAY I'M IN.

AND THE SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY: A TRIBAL NATION FOCUSED ON COMMUNITY AND COLLABORATION - ESPECIALLY IN TIMES LIKE TODAY.

>> MARY: WELCOME BACK TO "ALMANAC AT THE CAPITOL."

A LOT OF LEGISLATIVE AND OTHER ACTIVITY RELATED TO EDUCATION THIS WEEK, FROM MORE DISTRICTS RETURNING TO IN-PERSON LEARNING AT THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL TO PROPOSED CURRICULUM CHANGES.

I'LL TALK LIVE WITH THE HOUSE AND SENATE EDUCATION CHAIRS IN JUST A FEW MINUTES.

WE'LL MEET ANOTHER NEW MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATURE WHO RETURNED TO HER HOME STATE OF MINNESOTA AFTER LAW SCHOOL OUT EAST.

AND I'LL TAKE YOU BACK IN TIME TO INTRODUCE A PIONEERING STATE SENATOR IN THE 1970S.

>>> BUT, FIRST, TONIGHT, ECONOMIC CONCERNS DUE TO COVID SHUTDOWNS CONTINUE TO BE A BIG PART OF LEGISLATIVE ATTENTION, ESPECIALLY IN THE STRUGGLING HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY.

TOURISM, EVEN IN THE WINTER IS A $16 BILLION INDUSTRY IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

AND THE COVID PANDEMIC AND SUBSEQUENT BUSINESS CLOSURES HAVE BEEN INCREDIBLY HARD ON THE INDUSTRY.

DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS HAVE DIFFERENT PLANS IN REACTION.

>> WHEN THE ECONOMY OPENS BACK UP, WHEN PEOPLE FEEL SAFE AND SECURE GOING TO EVENTS AGAIN, WORKERS WHO HAVE BEEN THERE SMILING, TAKING CARE OF THEM, WORKING FOR THEM FOR YEARS NEED TO BE BACK ON THE JOB.

THIS BILL IS DESIGNED TO MAKE SURE THAT WORKERS COME FIRST.

AS THIS RECOVERY COMES AROUND THIS SPRING.

>> THE BILL WON'T CREATE ANY ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL COST TO BUSINESSES.

IT SIMPLY REQUIRES EMPLOYERS TO REHIRE THE WORKERS WHO THEY EMPLOYED PRIOR TO COVID-19, AS BUSINESS DEMANDS ALLOW FOR IT.

THE BILL WILL HELP MAINTAIN ESTABLISHED EMPLOYER/EMPLOYEE RELATIONSHIPS WHICH ARE CRITICAL TO THE SPEED OF THE OVERALL ECONOMIC RECOVERY.

>> Mary: HOTELS NO LONGER HOST BIG CROWDS LIKE THIS ELECTION-NIGHT PARTY OF THE PAST.

>> I ONCE STAYED THERE AS LONG AS I COULD STAND ON MY OWN TWO FEET.

WORKING AT THE HOTEL HAS BEEN A LIVELIHOOD.

I FEEL LIKE I GOT A KNIFE IN MY BACK IF THEY GAVE MY JOB TO SOMEONE ELSE.

>> Mary: HOSPITALITY LEADERS FROM ACROSS THE STATE ARE CALLING ON THE GOVERNOR BEGIN A PLAN.

>> MINNESOTA HAS A PLAN TO MOVE FORWARD SO THAT WE'RE OPEN FOR, THAT WE'RE NOT LOSING BUSINESS TO OTHER STATES, ESPECIALLY IN THE EVENT AND TOURISM BUSINESS THAT DRIVES SO MUCH OF OUR ECONOMIC ACTIVITY.

>> MINNESOTA IS ALL ABOUT BEING SAFE.

IN THE BRAINERD LAKES AREA, I'M UNAWARE OF A WORKER TO WORKER TRANSMISSION, A WORKER TO GUEST TRANSMISSION.

>> Mary: HILTON MINNEAPOLIS SAYS IT HAS LAID OFF 500 EMPLOYEES, REVENUE IS DOWN 70%, AND OVERALL DOWNTOWN HOTEL CAPACITY IS DOWN 89%.

WITHOUT A PLAN, HOTEL MANAGERS SAY THEY'RE LOSING FUTURE BUSINESS.

>> WE HAVE GROUPS CANCELLING AS FAR OUT AS OCTOBER, NOVEMBER OF THIS YEAR, AND TAKING THEIR BUSINESS ELSEWHERE BECAUSE OTHER STATES HAVE LOOSENED THEIR RESTRICTIONS AND THEY HAVE A NEXT PHASE PLAN WHERE THE STATE OF MINNESOTA DOES NOT.

>> Mary: HILTON JUST LOST A LARGE BOOKING FOR A VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT THAT TOOK ITS EVENT TO OMAHA INSTEAD OF MINNESOTA.

>> WE ARE HAPPY TO BE OPEN, BUT WITH THE RESTRICTIONS OF THE NUMBERS ALLOWED IN OUR FACILITY, THE MASK MANDATE, WE ARE DOWN 50% REVENUE ON WHAT TYPICALLY IS OUR BEST MONTH OF THE YEAR.

WE ARE LOSING MEMBERS BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO WEAR A MASK WHILE WORKING OUT.

>> THIS IS JUST SORT OF MINNESOTA'S PATHWAY TO WHAT IT MIGHT LOOK LIKE TO TRY TO HAVE US OPEN BY ABOUT MAY 1st, IF NOT BEFORE.

>> Mary: THE REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE WHO HAD BEEN LEADING ON BUSINESSES RE-OPENING HAS HURDLES AHEAD WITH A DFL GOVERNOR AND HOUSE.

>> OBVIOUSLY YOU'RE IN THE MINORITY IN YOUR CHAMBER, SO YOU NEED SOME PARTNERS ACROSS THE AISLE.

WHAT IS THE STATUS OF THAT?

>> MARY, THANKS FOR REMINDING ME THAT I'M IN THE MINORITY AGAIN.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

YOU KNOW WHAT?

NOTHING'S GOING HAPPEN.

THAT'S WHY NOTHING HAS HAPPENED.

AND WE'RE LACKING A PROCESS TO GET OUT MINNESOTA HOUSE.

SO I KNOW THERE'S A GOOD HANDFUL OF DFL MEMBERS THAT WANT TO GET THEIR BUSINESSES OPEN.

I HAVE SHARED THIS WITH SEVERAL OF THEM.

INITIALLY THEY LIKE WHAT THEY SEE, SO I WOULD BE SHOCKED IF WE DON'T GET A GOOD GROUP OF DFL MEMBERS THAT WANT TO SUPPORT THIS KIND OF AN IDEA.

♪♪♪ >> MARY: A NEW REPORT OUT SAYS HALF OF MINNESOTA'S LICENSED TEACHERS AREN'T IN CLASSROOMS, LEADING TO SHORTAGES AROUND THE STATE.

ELEMENTARY STUDENTS IN MINNEAPOLIS JOINED OTHER DISTRICTS AS THEY HEADED BACK TO IN-PERSON LEARNING THIS WEEK.

AND A PROPOSED CURRICULUM CHANGE IS CAUSING CONCERN AMONG SOME LAWMAKERS.

HERE TO TALK EDUCATION WITH US TONIGHT, SENATOR ROGER CHAMBERLAIN, REPUBLICAN CHAIR OF THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE, AND REPRESENTATIVE RUTH RICHARDSON, DFL CHAIR OF THE HOUSE EDUCATION POLICY COMMITTEE.

REPRESENTATIVE, LET'S START WITH YOU BECAUSE HOUSE REPUBLICANS ARE HAVING A PRESS CONFERENCE TOMORROW.

I HAVE IT ON GOOD AUTHORITY THAT THEY'RE CALLING FOR THE GOVERNOR TO LOSE HIS POWERS OVER SCHOOLS AND RE-OPEN SCHOOLS.

THIS IS WHAT THE SENATE'S ALREADY MOVING AND PASSING.

WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THIS?

>> WELL, I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT AS WE THINK ABOUT THE TRANSITION FROM DISTANCE LEARNING AND HYBRID LEARNING THAT WE HAVE PLANS IN PLACE THAT ALLOW TEACHERS AND ALL SCHOOL STAFF TO BE SAFE WITH THAT TRANSITION.

AND WE'VE SEEN THE TRANSITION BEGIN, AND THERE'S BEEN SOME BUMPS ALONG THE WAY.

I THINK THE STORY THAT JUST CAME OUT OF BLOOMINGTON WHERE THERE WAS AN OUTBREAK WITH A SCHOOL BUS DRIVER, REALLY SPEAKS TO THE NEED TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE DOING THIS IN A WAY THAT'S GOING TO KEEP EVERYONE SAFE.

>> Mary: AND SENATOR CHAMBERLAIN, TELL US ABOUT THE LEGISLATION THAT'S MOVING IN THE SENATE AND LOOKS LIKE IT WILL BE INTRODUCED IN THE HOUSE NOW.

>> I ASSUME YOU'RE REFERRING TO SENATE FILE 2, SENATOR NELSON'S CARRYING THAT FILE -- BILL.

OF COURSE, WE WANT EVERYBODY TO BE SAFE, BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS, THE CDC AND COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD, NUMEROUS OTHER STUDIES FROM OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, SCIENTIFIC BODIES TO THE LAST ONE HAVE SAID, NUMBER ONE, IT IS SAFE FOR THE KIDS TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL.

NUMBER TWO, IF THEY'RE NOT IN SCHOOL, THEY'VE SUFFERED GREATLY.

AND WE ALL KNOW THAT.

WE UNDERSTAND IT.

SO THE BILL -- WHAT WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO DO IN THE SENATE AND HOPEFULLY WORKING WITH OUR COLLEAGUES ACROSS THE AISLE, FIND A PATH TO DO THAT.

AND IT'S JUST FRUSTRATING FOR A LOT OF PARENTS AND A LOT OF STUDENTS, EVEN A LOT OF EDUCATORS THAT IN SPITE OF THE DATA, THE STUDIES AND EVEN CDC'S RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE'RE NOT ABLE TO GET ALL KIDS BACK IN SCHOOL AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

INCLUDING 6-12.

SO OUR GOAL IS SIMPLY TO FOLLOW THE DATA, FOLLOW THE SCIENCE, AND WORK WITH THE GOVERNOR, WHOMEVER WE HAVE TO TO GET THESE KIDS BACK IN SCHOOL SO THEY CAN GET BACK ON TRACK.

AND THAT'S JUST -- TRYING DIFFERENT METHODS TO DO THAT.

>> Mary: REPRESENTATIVE, IN THE PRESS CONFERENCE THAT'S HAPPENING TOMORROW, REPUBLICANS ARE QUOTING THE JOURNAL SAYING THIS HAS BEEN ESPECIALLY DEVASTATING FOR KIDS OF COLOR.

IS THERE AN EXTRA CONCERN KNOWING THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP THAT WE ALREADY HAVE IN THE STATE OF GETTING KIDS OF COLOR BACK IN THE CLASSROOM TO HELP THAT EQUITY ISSUE?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, IT'S AN INTERESTING QUESTION BECAUSE WE KNOW PRIOR TO THE COVID PANDEMIC THAT MINNESOTA RANKS TOWARDS THE BOTTOM OF THE NATION IN TERMS OF OUTCOMES RELATED TO THE OPPORTUNITY GAP, SCHOOL DISCIPLINE DISPARITIES, AS WELL.

AND, SO, THERE ARE CLEAR DISPARITIES THAT MINNESOTA NEEDS TO ADDRESS.

AND THE COVID PANDEMIC HAS SERVED TO WIDEN SOME OF THOSE, BUT I THINK IT'S ALSO REALLY INTERESTING, THERE'S SOME NEW DATA COMING OUT FROM SCHOOLS AND SUPERINTENDENTS LOOKING AT THE OUTCOMES CURRENTLY WITH BLACK AND INDIGENOUS AND OTHER STUDENTS OF COLOR THAT IS SHOWING THAT MANY OF THOSE STUDENTS ARE DOING BETTER ACADEMICALLY NOW THAN THEY WERE WHEN THEY WERE PART OF IN-PERSON LEARNING.

AND AS SOMEONE WHO HAS A SON MYSELF WHO IS IN DISTANCE LEARNING RIGHT NOW, IT WAS SORT OF A SHOCK TO ME TO SEE THAT HIS GRADES HAVE ACTUALLY INCREASED AND HAVE GOTTEN BETTER AS PART OF DISTANCE LEARNING.

SO I THINK THAT THERE IS -- THESE ARE REALLY COMPLEX ISSUES.

ALL KIDS ARE INDIVIDUALS AND WE HAVE TO MEET KIDS WHERE THEY ARE AT, BUT I THINK THERE'S SOME IMPORTANT QUESTIONS HERE RAISED RELATED TO SORT OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND WHAT WOULD BE TRIGGERING THESE BLACK AND INDIGENOUS AND OTHER STUDENTS OF COLOR, YOU KNOW, DOING BETTER ACADEMICALLY THAN THEY HAVE IN THE CLASSROOM.

SO SOME IMPORTANT, I THINK, CONVERSATIONS TO COME.

>> Mary: VERY INTERESTING.

YEAH, SENATOR, COULD YOU TALK ABOUT THAT?

BECAUSE I WONDER IF THERE ARE POSITIVES.

WE'VE HAD THE ANALOGY THAT COVID HAS TAUGHT US TELEMEDICINE, HAS BEEN A GOOD THING, LARGELY, AND INCREASES ACCESS.

ARE THERE SOME GOOD THINGS?

AND SHOULD MAYBE SOME ONLINE LEARNING STAY INDEED IF IT IS HELPING COMMUNITIES AND HELPING GET AT THIS OPPORTUNITY OR ACHIEVEMENT GAP THAT THE STATE HAS JUST NOT BEEN ABLE TO IMPROVE UPON?

>> WELL, I AGREE 100%.

AND THAT'S ONE OF OUR FOCUSES HERE IN THE SENATE AND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO LOOK AT.

KIDS, KIDS, KIDS, FIRST, LAST, AND ALWAYS.

AND KIDS BACK IN SCHOOL, MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, INCLUDING SOME REFORMS AND FLEXIBILITY.

WE PLAN ON DOING WHATEVER WE CAN TO CREATE FLEXIBILITY AND LET THE EDUCATORS KEEP SOME OF THE BENEFITS THAT THEY'VE FOUND WITH THE DISTANCE LEARNING, FINDING WAYS FOR THEM TO SERVE THE PARENTS AND THE KIDS IN AN ONLINE ENVIRONMENT.

SO WE'RE LOOKING AT WAYS TO -- WE HAVE A SLOUGH OF PROPOSALS -- SLEW OF PROPOSALS THAT WE WILL PRESENT THAT WILL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SOME OF THOSE THINGS, THINGS, AS YOU HAVE MENTIONED, MARY, THAT WE HAVE LEARNED FROM THE PANDEMIC WE CAN APPLY AND THAT SHOULD BE PERMANENT REFORMS.

NOT EVERY KID NEEDS TO BE IN SCHOOL, BUT MOST OF THEM DO.

I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT THERE'S SOME KIDS DOING BETTER.

THAT'S GREAT.

BUT ALL THE OTHER STUDIES I'VE SEEN HAVE SHOWN THAT THESE KIDS ARE FALLING FURTHER BEHIND, A LOT OF THEM NOT EVEN LOGGING ON.

SO IF WE CAN FIND THINGS FROM THIS DIFFICULT PERIOD OF TIME THAT WE CAN KEEP THAT BENEFIT THE KIDS, THAT'S IMPORTANT.

BUT IT'S GOT TO BENEFIT THE KIDS.

IT HAS TO BENEFIT THE KIDS.

I AM NOT INTERESTED IN BENEFITTING INSTITUTIONS, BUSINESSES, OR ANYBODY ELSE.

GOT TO BENEFIT THE KIDS.

PERIOD.

SO IF WE CAN DO THAT, I'M ALL FOR IT.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A SLEW OF IDEAS THAT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT FORWARD BY SUPERINTENDENTS AND OTHER EDUCATORS.

>> Mary: YOU MENTIONED THERE ARE KIDS WHO ARE NOT EVEN LOGGING ON.

REPRESENTATIVE, WHAT ABOUT THE KIDS LOST, WE KNOW FOR SURE, IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM BECAUSE THAT'S BEING TRACKED?

WE KNOW THAT NUMBER IS AT LEAST 10,000.

WE DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE GOING TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

THERE WAS A NATIONAL STUDY SHOWING ACTUALLY PRIVATE SCHOOLS, ESPECIALLY CATHOLIC SCHOOL ENROLLMENT, WAS DOWN DESPITE ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE AND PEOPLE SAYING THEY WERE LEAVING PUBLIC FOR PRIVATE.

ARE THEY HOME SCHOOLING OR HAVE THEY DROPPED COMPLETELY OFF THE RADAR?

WHAT ABOUT THE NUMBER, THE AT LEAST 10,000 KIDS WHO HAVE LEFT PUBLIC SCHOOLS?

>> YEAH, YOU KNOW, I THINK A NUMBER OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE'VE SEEN WITHIN THIS PANDEMIC, NOT EVERYONE IS APPROACHING AND AT THE SPACE WITHIN THE PANDEMIC FROM THE SAME SORT OF SITUATION.

AND, SO, WE KNOW FOR SOME PEOPLE THEY HAVE MADE DECISIONS TO, BOTH WITH RESOURCES, HAVE MADE DECISIONS TO MOVE THEIR KIDS TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE SOME FAMILIES WHO ARE CONTINUING TO STRUGGLE WITH WiFi ISSUES AND BROADBAND ISSUES THAT HAVE CREATED DIFFICULTIES.

WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES THAT ARE GOING ON.

SOME STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES THAT DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO REALLY HAVE THEIR NEEDS MET VIRTUALLY AS WELL.

AND, SO, KNOWING THAT THERE'S SORT OF NO ONE SIZE FITS ALL FOR STUDENTS, I THINK THAT WHAT THIS PANDEMIC HAS REALLY DONE IS IT'S GIVEN US AN OPPORTUNITY TO SAY THAT THE SORT OF IDEA THAT WE NEED TO DO THINGS THE SAME WAY THAT WE'VE ALWAYS DONE THEM ISN'T THE CASE.

AND WHEN WE THINK ABOUT HOW OUR SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN DESIGNED AND WHO SCHOOLS WERE DESIGNED FOR, YOU KNOW, SCHOOLS WERE NOT REALLY DESIGNED FOR PEOPLE THAT LOOK LIKE MYSELF OR THAT LOOK LIKE MY CHILDREN OR FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES.

AND, SO, WITH THIS, WE HAVE A REAL, I THINK, OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY THINK ABOUT HOW DO WE DESIGN THE SYSTEM THAT IS GOING TO GIVE EVERYONE AN OPPORTUNITY TO THRIVE.

>> Mary: I WANT TO GIVE QUICK LAST WORD TO SENATOR CHAMBERLAIN ON THIS, CHOICE IN WHAT YOU SEE FORWARD, QUICKLY?

>> WE GOT ANSWERS FOR YOU, CHAIRMAN RICHARDSON.

WE GOT SOLUTIONS.

AND WE'VE BEEN WAITING TO BRING THEM FORWARD.

A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR IT.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO ENGAGING.

THESE ARE PLACES WE CAN INTERSECT ON POLICIES AND IDEAS.

WE'VE GOT ANSWERS.

>> Mary: THANK YOU SO MUCH.

APPRECIATE BOTH YOUR TIMES, CHAIRS.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

♪♪♪ >> MARY: THIS WEEK'S FIRST-TERM LAWMAKER WAS RAISED IN MINNESOTA BUT LEFT TO HEAD EAST FOR HER SCHOOLING.

ONCE THAT WAS COMPLETE, THE CALL OF HOME BROUGHT HER BACK.

WHY DID YOU WANT TO RUN?

WHY DID YOU WANT TO BE A PART OF THE MINNESOTA LEGISLATURE?

>> FOR ME, YOU KNOW, IT WAS REALLY AN ISSUE OF HOW CAN WE MAKE SURE THAT OUR LAWS AND OUR SYSTEMS ARE WORKING BETTER FOR EVERYDAY PEOPLE.

SO I CAME AT IT FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF HOUSING.

WHEN I WAS A LAW STUDENT, I DEFENDED TENANTS WHO WERE FACING EVICTION.

SO FROM THERE, I SAW THAT, YES, THROUGH LEGAL AID, WHICH IS SUPER IMPORTANT, WE CAN HELP PEOPLE, ONE FAMILY AT A TIME, BUT HOW CAN WE CHANGE THE RULES AND THE SYSTEMS TO MAKE SURE THAT IS AN EASIER PROCESS FOR TENANTS TO NOT ONLY KNOW THEIR RIGHTS BUT ALSO KNOW HOW TO EXERCISE THEM?

>> Mary: YOU WERE EDUCATED OUT EAST, INCREDIBLE IVY LEAGUE EDUCATION OUT THERE.

WHAT BROUGHT YOU TO OR FROM MINNESOTA?

>> I WAS BORN AND RAISED HERE IN St. PAUL.

ME AND MY BROTHERS ALL WERE.

MY PARENTS DID IMMIGRATE HERE, THEY ATTENDED THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA, GO, GOPHERS.

BUT WE JUST HAD A REALLY GREAT TIME IN THE STATE.

MY DAD'S A -- [ Indiscernible ] SO THAT BROUGHT US TO PLACES LIKE BRAINERD, AND ALSO HIGH SCHOOL IN FARIBAULT, THAT BOTH ME AND MY BROTHERS ATTENDED.

WE HAVE EXTENDED FAMILY HERE.

MINNESOTA IS ALWAYS A PLACE WE CALL HOME.

AFTER FINISHING LAW SCHOOL, COMING TO START A SECOND CAREER, I SAID, I WANT TO GO BACK TO THE PLACE OF MY ROOTS.

I DECIDED TO MOVE TO MINNEAPOLIS AND START PRACTICING LAW.

>> Mary: YOU'RE REPRESENTING MINNEAPOLIS, BUT YOU HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE PERSONALLY THROUGHOUT THE STATE, AND THIS IS REALLY WHERE YOUR PARTY AND POLITICS IS STRUGGLING, TRYING TO BRIDGE THAT GAP BETWEEN URBAN AND RURAL.

AND IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE GOING TO BRING SOME UNIQUE EXPERIENCE TO THAT.

>> I HOPE I CAN.

I STILL KEEP IN CONTACT WITH FRIENDS FROM THE BRAINERD AREA, AND I STILL HAVE A STRONG CONNECTION TO MY SCHOOL IN FARIBAULT.

AND, SO, I'M HOPING THAT WITH THOSE EXPERIENCES AND THOSE CONNECTIONS THAT I STILL HAVE, AS WELL AS JUST, YOU KNOW, HAVING, YOU KNOW, EXPERIENCE AROUND THE COUNTRY AND AROUND THE WORLD OF JUST HOW TO CONNECT AND COMMUNICATE WITH PEOPLE, I HOPE THAT THAT'S AN EXPERIENCE THAT I CAN BRING TO THE STATE LEGISLATURE TO HELP BRIDGE ANY OF THOSE GAPS ACROSS, YOU KNOW, SUPPOSED URBAN/RURAL DIVIDE.

>> Mary: WE'RE DEALING WITH SUCH PRESSING ISSUES OF DEMOCRACY, SECURITY, HEALTH WITH COVID.

ARE YOU CONCERNED THAT THOSE ISSUES MAY JUST DOMINATE THE ENTIRE SESSION?

IT FEELS LIKE IT RIGHT NOW.

>> YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK SO.

ESPECIALLY WHEN WE THINK ABOUT COVID, THAT'S A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE.

SO THAT ACTUALLY GOES TO OUR SENSE OF WELLNESS FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

PART OF THAT IS HOUSING, IT IS THE ECONOMY.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE LIVING-WAGE JOBS FOR PEOPLE ACROSS MINNESOTA.

AND IT DOES ALSO GO BACK TO ISSUES OF EDUCATION AND EVEN JUST LIKE GENERAL HEALTHCARE OF MAKING SURE IT'S AFFORDABLE AND ACCESSIBLE FOR ALL PEOPLE.

SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK ALSO IF YOU LOOK AT THE HOUSE DFL PLAN THAT WAS RECENTLY RELEASED, IT IS FOCUSED ON COVID BUT IT'S ALSO FOCUSED ON HOW DO WE BUILD THAT BETTER, SO THEY DO HAVE HOUSING IN THERE, THEY DO HAVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THERE, THEY DO HAVE VERY COVID-SPECIFIC THINGS.

BUT I DON'T SEE HOUSING GOING AWAY ANY TIME SOON.

>> Mary: WHAT ABOUT ISSUES OF EQUITY, OBVIOUSLY THE WORLD WATCHING SINCE GEORGE FLOYD WAS KILLED IN MINNEAPOLIS, TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK THE STATE, THE NATION, THE WORLD NEED, BUT W THE STATE LEGISLATURE NEEDS TO ACCOMPLISH ON THIS?

>> WE NEED TO BE BETTER WITH CONFRONTING OUR HISTORY, RIGHT?

WE UNDERSTAND THAT, YOU KNOW, MINNESOTA IS ONE OF THE STATES WITH THE HIGHEST DISPARITIES IN ANY METRIC WHEN IT COMES TO WHITE OUTCOMES AND BLACK OUTCOMES.

AND, SO, I THINK WITH THAT, IT'S MORE THAN JUST ACKNOWLEDGING IT, BUT ALSO BEGINNING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT T. AND I'M EXCITED THIS YEAR BECAUSE WE HAVE A NUMBER OF LEGISLATORS THAT ARE LIKE-MINDED IN THAT SENSE, AND WE ALSO HAVE SOME OF THE HIGHEST NUMBERS OF PEOPLE OF COLOR IN THE LEGISLATURE THIS YEAR TOO.

SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO ALL OF THOSE VOICES CONTINUING TO BE AT THE FOREFRONT AND MAKING SURE THAT WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT POLICY, WE'RE NOT ADDING EQUITY AS, LIKE, AN ADD-ON, LIKE, OH, DID WE GET THE EQUITY PART RIGHT, BUT AS WE'RE BUILDING IT, WE'RE THINKING ABOUT, HOW DOES THIS AFFECT EVERYONE, REGARDLESS OF WHAT ZIP CODE YOU'RE IN, WHAT YOUR FAMILY STRUCTURE LOOKS LIKE AND WHAT YOUR ECONOMIC SITUATION LOOKS LIKE, WHAT YOUR RACIAL BACKGROUND IS, TOO, BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF HISTORY BUILT ON THAT SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING THAT AT THE FRONT END, AND IT'S ABOUT POLICY AND LEGISLATION CREATION.

♪♪♪ >> I'M A SOLDIER AND A VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER.

I SERVED ON THE SCHOOL BOARD.

SO FOR ME IT'S JUST ABOUT BEING IN SERVICE.

I KNOW THAT KIND OF SOUNDS CHEESY, IT'S WHAT I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT, IT'S WHAT I LOVE TO DO, ANY TIME I GET TO BE IN SERVICE ESPECIALLY TO THE COMMUNITY OR THE STATE, I'M GOING TAKE THAT OPPORTUNITY.

>> Mary: SO THIS RACE WAS UNDER A MICROSCOPE, WASN'T IT?

>> YEAH.

I'LL BE HONEST, I DON'T THINK I NECESSARILY KNEW EXACTLY THE KINDS OF SCRUTINY THAT MIGHT BE INVOLVED WITH THIS PARTICULAR RACE.

I CERTAINLY LEARNED THAT ALONG THE WAY.

BUT INITIALLY I WAS KIND OF NAIVE TO JUST HOW IN TUNE PEOPLE MIGHT BE TO THE RACE IN DISTRICT 58.

♪♪♪ >> MARY: IT'S BLACK HISTORY MONTH, AND ONE STATE SENATOR STOOD UP THIS WEEK TO SHARE SOME CAPITOL HISTORY THAT HASN'T BEEN TALKED ABOUT MUCH.

IT GOT US THINKING AND WORKING ON A BROADER STORY FOR FRIDAY NIGHT'S "ALMANAC" ON THE FIRST BLACK SENATOR WHO MAY SURPRISE YOU.

HERE'S SOME CONTEXT.

FASCINATING STORY OF THE STATE'S FIRST BLACK SENATOR, WHO WAS A VETERINARIAN FROM THE SUBURBS.

>> MOST PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN WHO CAME HERE TO THE MINNESOTA SENATE WAS A GUY BY THE NAME OF Dr. ROBERT LEWIS, WHO WAS, IN FACT, ELECTED FROM St. LOUIS PARK.

MOST PEOPLE WOULD THINK THAT PERSON WAS ELECTED FROM MINNEAPOLIS, BUT, NO, Dr. LEWIS WAS A VETERINARIAN, GRACED THIS BODY IN 1972.

>> JUST HIS SHEER PERSONALITY WAS SUCH THAT HE WAS LIKED BY EVERYBODY.

AND I MEAN THAT ACROSS THE CHAMBER.

REPUBLICAN, DEMOCRAT, DIDN'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE.

>> Mary: SO YOU HAD TO WORK TOGETHER FAIRLY CLOSELY, I'M GUESSING.

>> OH, YEAH, WE OFFICED TOGETHER.

WE OFFICED TOGETHER.

AND IT WAS AN ABSOLUTE DELIGHT.

HE WAS REALLY GOOD, EXCELLENT LEGISLATOR.

AND HAD A GREAT SENSE OF HUMOR.

>> Mary: THIS IS THE NICK COLEMAN ERA WHERE A GREAT SENSE OF HUMOR IS OF GREAT VALUE IN THE SENATE, ISN'T IT?

>> HE WAS GOOD.

I'LL JUST TELL YOU A STORY ABOUT ONE DAY.

HE AND I HAD DECIDED THAT WE WOULD HAVE AN OFFICE LUNCH.

WE'D ORDER PIZZA OUT AND WE'D JUST HAVE LUNCH WITH THE STAFF IN THE OFFICE.

WELL, -- SO WE DID THAT.

AND WE WERE ALL GATHERED IN THE OFFICE, BUT BOB WAS LATE.

AND, SO, HE COMES IN TO THE OFFICE A LITTLE BIT LATE.

HE OPENS THE DOOR, HE STICKS HIS HEAD IN, AND HE SAYS, GUESS WHO'S COMING TO DINNER?

>> HE WAS ALSO THE FIRST BLACK MEMBER ELECTED TO St. LOUIS PARK SCHOOL BOARD, I WAS AWARE OF, WAS WELL THOUGHT OF IN THE COMMUNITY, OBVIOUSLY, BECAUSE HE GOT ELECTED TO THE STATE SENATE FROM St. LOUIS PARK WHICH COMPRISED MOST OF THE SENATE DISTRICT.

BUT TRAGICALLY HE DIED VERY SUDDENLY AT AN EARLY AGE.

AND I THINK HE WAS A COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN UPON HIS PASSING.

BUT HE CERTAINLY WAS ON THE INNER CIRCLE.

>> Mary: CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE KIND OF LACK OF AWARENESS OF THE HISTORY OF REPRESENTATIVES OF COLOR IN BOTH THE HOUSE AND SENATE AND THAT LARGE GAP OF TIME BETWEEN THE HOUSE WHO HAD THE FIRST BLACK LAWMAKERS IN THE 1800s AND THEN IT TOOK UNTIL THE 1970s IN THE SENATE?

COULD YOU TALK ABOUT THAT HISTORIC DIFFERENCE?

>> ONE OF THE CHALLENGES IS SO FEW PEOPLE KNOW OF THE MANY CONTRIBUTIONS OF BLACK PEOPLE IN EVERY FACET OF LIFE.

THINK ABOUT WHEN FOLKS STARTED LEARNING ABOUT THE WOMEN WHO DID THE CODING IN THE MOVIE "HIDDEN FIGURES."

AND MOST PEOPLE WOULD THINK THAT THE FIRST BLACK SENATOR CAME FROM NORTH MINNEAPOLIS OR SOME OTHER PLACE, BUT IT WAS FROM St. LOUIS PARK.

RIGHT?

AND, SO, TO ME, THAT'S EXTRAORDINARY.

AND THE DISTANCE, I BELIEVE IT WAS 1899 OR SOMEWHERE IN THE LATE 1800s IS WHEN THE FIRST HOUSE MEMBER WAS ELECTED.

AND THAT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE THERE'S NO JUSTIFICATION AS TO WHY, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS THAT LAG IN TIME.

♪♪♪ >> MARY: THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

WE'LL BE BACK NEXT WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

UNTIL THEN YOU CAN HEAD TO OUR WEBSITE, TPT.ORG/AATC.

WATCH ANY OF OUR SHOWS, INCLUDING TONIGHT'S, YOU CAN STREAM US LIVE, FOLLOW US ALL WEEK ON FACEBOOK, LOOK FOR LEGISLATIVE UPDATES AND MORE FROM OUR TEAM ON TWITTER.

THAT'S ALL AT TPT.ORG/AATC.

>>> DON'T FORGET, WHEN THE LEGISLATURE IS IN SESSION, YOU CAN FOLLOW HOUSE AND SENATE FLOOR ACTION, COMMITTEE HEARINGS AND MORE, ALL DAY EVERY MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY ON THE PBS STATION YOU ARE WATCHING RIGHT NOW.

MAKE SURE TO TUNE IN TO "ALMANAC" FRIDAY NIGHT.

ERIC AND CATHY WILL TALK LIVE WITH ST. PAUL MAYOR MELVIN CARTER, J.D.STEELE WILL SHARE HIS NEW MINI DOCUMENTARY HIGHLIGHTING PERSONAL STORIES OF SYSTEMATIC RACISM, AND I'LL HAVE MORE ON THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF MINNESOTA'S FIRST BLACK STATE SENATOR.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

GOOD NIGHT.

Captioned by: Paradigm Reporting & Captioning www.paradigmreporting.com >> "ALMANAC: AT THE CAPITOL" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY MEMBERS OF THIS PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION.

SUPPORT IS ALSO PROVIDED BY·.

GREAT RIVER ENERGY: POWERING WHAT'S POSSIBLE.

MANITOBA HYDRO: PROVIDING CLEAN, RENEWABLE ENERGY TO MINNESOTA UTILITIES FOR NEARLY 50 YEARS.

MANITOBAHYDROPOWER.COM.

ENBRIDGE: CONNECTING MINNESOTANS WITH ENERGY FOR OVER 70 YEARS.

MORE AT ENBRIDGE.COM/LINETHREEUS.

LIUNA: MINNESOTA'S INFRASTRUCTURE UNION, REPRESENTING 12,000 SKILLED CONSTRUCTION LABORERS.

LIUNAMINNESOTA.ORG.

MINNESOTA LOTTERY.

PLAYING OUR PART BY GENERATING FUNDS FOR MINNESOTA.

IF YOU'RE GAME, JUST SAY I'M IN.

AND THE SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY: A TRIBAL NATION FOCUSED ON COMMUNITY AND COLLABORATION - ESPECIALLY IN TIMES LIKE TODAY.

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