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

>> Cathy: COMING UP ON "ALMANAC" PAUL DOUGLAS HERE WITH A LOOK AT OUR SPRING WEATHER.

ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS REPORTER FRED MELO TAKES US THROUGH MELVIN CARTER'S STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS, TANE DANGER HAS FISH FRY FUN AND MARY LAHAMMER HAS UPDATES ON ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES AT THE CAPITOL THIS YEAR.

>> LAWMAKERS REACHED A FINAL COMPROMISE ON THE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER BILL.

WE'LL TALK TO THE ONLY MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATURE WHO ACTUALLY DID THE JOB OF AN RO AND WORKED ON THE DEAL.

>> I APPRECIATE MY COLLEAGUES ACROSS THE AISLE.

I HAD MY HAND EXTENDED THE WHOLE TIME.

>> HAT'S COMING UP ON "ALMANAC."

♪♪ >> "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 PAINT CARE, HELPING MINNESOTANS RECYCLE LEFTOVER PAINT.

MORE AT PAINTCARE.ORG.

>> Cathy: COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR WE'LL TALK WITH PAUL DOUGLAS ABOUT OUR WARM DRY WINTER.

KAOMI LEE LOOKS AT THE LABOR SHORTAGE THROUGH THE EYES OF A FAMILY IN THE APPLE ORCHARD BUSINESS.

>> WE'LL START WITH THURSDAY'S GRAND JURY INDICTMENT IN THE DEATHS OF THREE BURNSVILLE FIRST RESPONDERS LAST MONTH.

SHANNON GOODEN WHO FATALELY SHOT THE OFFICERS AND A FIREFIGHTER WAS PROHIBITED FROM OWNING GUNS.

HIS GIRLFRIEND NOW FACES 11 FEDERAL CHARGES INCLUDING PROVIDING GOODEN WITH FIREARMS THROUGH WHAT IS CALLED A STRAW PURCHASE.

HERE TO SORT THROUGH THE CHARGES WITH US IS A FORMER U.S. ATTORNEY FROM MINNESOTA, RACHEL PAULOSE.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> WHAT IS STRAW PURCHASING?

IS >> WELL, LAW ENFORCEMENT REFERS TO STRAW PURCHASING AS LENDING AND LYING, OR BUYING AND LYING.

SO BASICALLY IT'S WHERE A PERSON STEPS IN THE SHOES OF SOMEONE ELSE AS A STRAWMAN THEY USUALLY SAY BUT IN THIS CASE A STRAWWOMAN AND FILLED OUT FORMS CLAIMING THAT HE OR SHE WANTS TO PURCHASE A GUN FOR HIS OR HER OWN USE AND THEN INSTEAD TRANSFERS IT TO ANOTHER PERSON TYPICALLY A PROHIBITED PERSON TO USE.

WHAT WE SAW IN THIS CASE WHAT Ms. DIERDAHL FILLED OUT AN ATF ORM AND I RECENTLY REACQUAINTED MYSELF WITH THAT FORM 4473 THAT ASKS IF MULTIPLE PLACES, ARE YOU BUYING THIS GUN FOR YOURSELF, DO YOU INTEND TO TRANSFER IT TO SOMEONE ELSE, DO YOU INTEND TO TRANSFER IT TO SOMEONE WHO IS A PROHIBITED PERSON?

AND SHE ANSWERED ALL OF THOSE QUESTIONS INDICATING THAT SHE WAS BUYING THE WEAPON FOR HERSELF AND THAT SHE DID NOT INTEND TO TRANSFER TO SOMEONE ELSE.

>> Cathy: I SUPPOSE A GUN SHOP OWNER NO MATTER WHO THEY ARE THAT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO VERIFY THOSE ANSWERS.

>> THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS THIS CASE IS SO DIFFICULT, CATHY IS BECAUSE THE OWNER OF THE GUN SHOP EALLY IN LARGE PART HAS TO RELY ON THE PEOPLE FILLING OUT THE FORM TO GIVE TRUTHFUL ANSWERS.

>> Eric: WHY FEDERAL CHARGES INSTEAD OF STATE?

AND HOW -- WHY WAS THIS DONE SO QUICKLY?

IT SEEMS FAST.

>> I'M SURE THAT THE PUBLIC OUTCRY OVER THE MURDER OF THREE FIRST RESPONDERS LED IN PART TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TAKING THIS CASE AND TAKING IT SERIOUSLY AND MOVING ERY QUICKLY.

AND YOU CAN SEE EVEN FROM THE STRUCTURE OF THE DIME, IT'S A NARRATIVE WHICH -- OF THE INDICTMENT IT'S A NARRATIVE WHICH YOU DON'T TYPICALLY SEE IN THESE FELON IN POSSESSION OR STRAW PURCHASING CRIMES.

BUT I DON'T THINK THAT'S A BAD THING.

WE'RE DESIGNED TO BE A REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY.

GOVERNMENT IS DESIGNED TO BE RESPONSIVE TO PEOPLE, THE FIRST THREE WORDS OF OUR CONSTITUTION ARE "WE THE PEOPLE," AND SO THE FACT THAT PEOPLE ARE TROUBLED AND OUTRAGED BY THIS CRIME, I THINK LED TO A RESULT THAT HOPEFULLY EDUCATES PEOPLE ABOUT THE DANGERS OF STRAW PURCHASING.

>> Cathy: I'M GOING TO SSUME -- >> IN ADDITION TO BRINGING SOME MEASURE OF JUSTICE TO THE FAMILIES.

>> Cathy: I'M GOING TO ASSUME THAT IF FEDERAL CHARGES ARE OBVIOUSLY MUCH HARSHER THAN ANY STATE PENALTY WOULD BE, AND I'M ASSUMING THAT'S WHY THE U.S. ATTORNEY WENT IN THAT DIRECTION.

>> THERE'S A 15-YEAR TERM, PRISON TERM AND TWO YEARS AGO PRESIDENT BIDEN SIGNED A BIPARTISAN BILL ACTUALLY BUMPING UP THE PENALTIES FOR THIS KIND OF CRIME, AND SEGREGATING ITS A STANDALONE CRIME.

BUT SHE'S INDICTED ON THREE DIFFERENT TYPES OF CHARGES AND I'M HAPPY TOE TALK THROUGH THAT WITH YOU, ONE OF IS A STRAW PURCHASE.

>> Eric: WELL, SHE COULD SAY AND I DON'T KNOW IF SHE WOULD BUT MAYBE SHE COULD SAY I WAS COERCED TO DO THIS, I WAS AFRAID FOR MY CHILDREN, HE HAD SUPERIOR FIRE POWER OVER ME.

>> THAT'S A TYPICAL DEFENSE IN THESE KINDS OF CASES, ERIC.

I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE CHALLENGING IN THIS CASE WHERE THE GOVERNMENT HAS LAID OUT EVEN IN THE INDICTMENT THE TEXTS HAT SHE WAS SENDING TO HIM SAYING DO YOU LIKE YOUR NEW WEAPON AND HE TELLS HER TO SHUSH AND HE SAYS SHE'S HAPPY TO GET IT FOR HIM.

I MEAN, THAT DOESN'T INDICATE COERCE.

BUT CERTAINLY THAT COULD BE SOMETHING SHE RAISES, IT'S CERTAINLY YPICAL IN THESE KINDS OF CASES.

>> Cathy: SHE DOES FACE OTHER CHARGES SO YOU MENTIONED THERE'S THE STRAW PURCHASE CHARGE.

WHAT OTHER CHARGES IS SHE LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW?

>> SHE'S ALSO CHARGED WITH MAKING A FALSE STATEMENT ON A FEDERAL FORM, OF COURSE, AND THAT WAS SORT OF THE HISTORIC STATUTE THAT PROSECUTORS USED.

AND THEN IN A NOVEL APPROACH, CREATED ACTUALLY BY MY FORMER COLLEAGUE J JEFF PAULSON WHO I THINK IS ONE OF THE GREATEST PROSECUTORS HE DEVELOPED THIS CONDUCT WHERE YOU CAN BE CHARGED WITH CONSPIRACY TO VIOLATE THE FELON IN POSSESSION STATUTE.

SO SHE AND GOODEN CONSPIRED TO PLACE THOSE GUNS IN HIS HANDS, FIVE GUNS IN ALL.

>> Eric: WHEN MIGHT THIS GO TO TRIAL?

>> IT COULD BE MONTHS OR A YEAR FROM NOW.

THERE IS SUCH A THING CALLED THE SPEEDY TRIAL ACT THAT DOES SET A TIME LIMIT ON HOW LONG PRETRIAL MOTIONS AND PROCEEDINGS CAN DRAG ON BUT THE DEFENDANT CAN VOLUNTARILY AGREE TO LENGTHEN THE TIME.

THERE'S ALSO A QUESTION OF WILL THIS GO TO TRIAL.

>> Eric: SURE.

>> AND IF SHE DECIDES TO PLEAD GUILTY WHICH I THINK THIS INDICTMENT IS DESIGNED TO PUT PRESSURE ON HER TO DO THAT, GIVEN THE DIFFERENT CONSTRUCT OF THIS INDICTMENT.

WE'LL SEE.

>> Eric: THANKS FOR COMING OVER AND SHARING YOUR EXPERTISE.

APPRECIATE IT.

>> Cathy: THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> Eric: YOU BET.

THANKS.

♪♪ >> WAS SESSION ULTIMATELY FRUSTRATING OR HARD FOR YOU.

>> VERY FRUSTRATING, I SPOKE ABOUT IT ON ONE OF THE FIRST FLOOR SPEECHES I GAVE.

I SPOKE ABOUT THIS ROMANTIC VIEW OF WHAT WOULD HAPPEN ON THE FLOOR.

WE COMMUNICATE BACK AND FORTH IN.

ACTUALITY IT'S MUCH DIFFERENT.

YOU KNOW THOSE PARTY LINES ARE DRAWN AND YOU COULD PRETTY ACCURATELY PREDICT THE WAY THE VOTE WAS GOING TO GO ON ALMOST EVERY SINGLE BILL.

WE GO THROUGH A TRAINING, A FRESHMAN TRAINING.

AND WHEN WE DID THAT WE WERE SET AT THE TABLES, DEMOCRAT, REPUBLICAN, DEMOCRAT, REPUBLICAN, AND I SAID AT THAT TIME THAT WHETHER WE WERE IN THE MINORITY OR MAJORITY I WOULD TREAT PEOPLE THE SAME.

BUT ONCE YOU GET DOWN TO THE CAPITAL THE ENVIRONMENT IS DIFFERENT AND THAT'S REALLY SAD BECAUSE PEOPLE YOU HAD A NICE CONVERSATION WITH WEEKS BEFORE NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE'S THIS ANIMOSITY, THERE'S THIS TENSION.

♪♪ >> Cathy: ST. PAUL MAYOR MELVIN CARTER DELIVERED HIS ANNUAL "STATE OF THE CITY" ADDRESS EARLIER THIS WEEK.

THE MAYOR COVERED A WIDE RANGE OF TOPICS INCLUDING TAXES AND A DESIRE TO RENOVATE THE AGING XCEL ENERGY CENTER.

FRED MELO IS BACK.

HE COVERS ST. PAUL CITY HALL FOR THE "PIONEER PRESS."

I HAVE TO SAY HE DID PACK A LOT INTO THIS SPEECH.

HOUSING, JOB CREATION, PLOWING, SALES TAX, REVENUE, WHAT HE WANTS TO DO WITH THAT.

THE EMERALD ASH BORER SITUATION.

>> STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESSES ARE USUALLY THE BORING SPEECH AND THEN THE BUDGET ADDRESS IN AUGUST IS WHERE YOU ACTUALLY HAVE MONEY FOR PROJECTS SO THAT'S WHERE YOU KIND OF GIVE THE DETAILS.

HE KIND OF FLIPPED IT THIS YEAR AND HIT US WITH A WHOLE BUNCH OF CONCRETE AND SOME MORE ABSTRACT IDEAS.

, WHY DID HOUSING RISE TO THE TOP?

>> I THINK THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT HOUSING FROM RENT CONTROL TO HOME BUYER PROGRAM THAT THE MAYOR'S OFFICE REALLY PUT ENERGY INTO LAST YEAR.

THERE WAS ALSO A REGIONAL SALES TAX THAT THE STATE LEGISLATURE APPROVED AND THAT'S GOING TO BRING 5 TO $6 MILLION A YEAR TO ST. PAUL.

SO WE ACTUALLY HAVE SOME MONEY THAT'S COMING IN THAT CAN BE ALLOTTED SO THE MAYOR SAYS IT'S TIME FOR A HOLISTIC CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT DO WE DO INSTEAD OF FUNDING A COUPLE PROGRAMS WE ALREADY HAVE GOING.

>> Eric: SNOW PLOWING.

>> THAT'S AN INTERESTING ONE.

IT'S EXPERIMENTAL, IT MAY NOT BE READY FOR NEXT WINTER, WE'LL SEE.

BUT THE IDEA IS TO MAYBE DITCH SNOW EMERGENCIES NTIRELY.

>> Cathy: WHAT!

>> TO TEST IT OUT ON A FEW STREETS, AND DULUTH DOES THIS, ROCHESTER, WHERE MAYBE YOU HAVE EVEN SIDE PARKING ONE WEEK AND ODD SIDE PARKING THE OTHER SO THERE'S ALWAYS A LANE FREE FOR A PLOW TO O THROUGH.

IN THEORY YOU WOULD NEVER NEED TO CALL A SNOW EMERGENCY BECAUSE YOU COULD ALWAYS PLOW.

HOW THAT WORKS ON A STREET THAT'S MORE DENSELY POPULATED THAN ANYTHING DULUTH HAS WITH A LOT OF APARTMENT BUILDINGS, I DON'T KNOW, BUT HE WANTS TO TEST IT ON A FEW STREETS, MAYBE IT WILL BE READY FOR NEXT WINTER, MAYBE NOT.

WE DIDN'T GET MUCH SNOW THIS WINTER SO THIS WOULDN'T BE A GOOD WINTER TO TEST THAT.

>> Cathy: SAY, I WANTED TO ASK YOU, I WAS TALK TO REPRESENTATIVE ATHENA HOLLINS, SHE'S REPRESENTING ST. PAUL AND SHE'S CARRYING A BILL FOR STATE BASIC INCOME MEASURE IN THE STATE HOUSE WHICH IS KIND OF WORKING OFF THE ST. PAUL EXPERIMENT.

DID HE MENTION THAT AT ALL IN THE STATE OF THE CITY?

DOES HE PLAN TO GO BACK TO THAT?

>> SO HE'S KIND OF IN A SECOND PHASE RIGHT NOW OF A GUARANTEED INCOME PROJECT WHERE THERE'S MAYBE -- I'M GOING TO MESS UP THE NUMBERS HERE BUT A COUPLE HUNDRED FAMILIES THAT ARE RECEIVING, YOU KNOW, $500, A THOUSAND DOLLARS ON A REGULAR BASIS, AND THEN THERE'S OTHERS THAT ARE RECEIVING THAT PLUS A LITTLE EXTRA TOWARDS COLLEGE SAVINGS.

AND SOME ARE JUST GETTING THE COLLEGE SAVINGS SO THEY'RE KIND OF COMPARING THESE THREE DIFFERENT TIERS AND THAT'S GOING TO BE PART OF AN ACADEMIC STUDY.

>> Eric: XCEL AND DOWNTOWN ST. PAUL.

>> YEAH, THIS IS A GIG BUN BIG ONE.

XCEL ENERGY CENTER IT IS 24 YEARS OLD.

IT LOOKS GOOD.

I THINK MOST PEOPLE ENJOY IT, ALWAYS RATED HIGHLY FOR CONCERTS, HOCKEY, YOU NAME IT.

BUT 25 YEARS IS ABOUT THE LIFE OF A COMPETITIVE HOCKEY ARENA AS THE MAYOR WOULD SAY.

HE DOESN'T JUST WANT ONE THAT'S FUNCTIONAL HE WANT DOLLARS ONE THAT BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN OR WHATEVER BIG NAME ACT WANTS TO GO TO.

KEEPING IT COMPETITIVE, MAKING LOOKING OUTWARD FOCUSED, HAVING RESTAURANTS ON THE OUTSIDE, A NIGHT CLUB, SOME KIND OF GATHERING SPOTS, THAT WOULD BE 300 MILLION, 400 MILLION, I'VE HEARD DIFFERENT NUMBERS.

HE'S ASKING RIGHT NOW -- WELL, HE JUST RECEIVED -- WHAT'S IN THE PIPELINE IS 2 MILLION.

>> Cathy: BONDING MONEY?

>> THAT'S WHAT'S BEING REQUESTED FROM THE STATE LEGISLATURE TO JUST KIND OF START THE DESIGN.

GET THAT CONVERSATION GOING.

>> Cathy: SAY, HOW'S HIS RELATIONSHIP ITH THE MORE PROGRESSIVE COUNCIL?

>> WELL, IT'S EARLY YET.

IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING.

I THINK WE'VE ALREADY SEEN KIND OF A LOT OF DRAMATIC DISCUSSION WITHIN THE COUNCIL ABOUT GAZA, ABOUT HAVING THIS RESOLUTION THAT THESE PROTESTERS REALLY PUSHED HARD FOR.

TOOK FIVE WEEKS, FINALLY THE COUNCIL CAME TOGETHER AFTER WEEKS OF SILENCE AND SAID, YES, LET'S CREATE A RESOLUTION URGING JOE BIDEN TO URGE ISRAEL TO STOP BOMBING GAZA.

THE MAYOR DIDN'T HAVE MUCH TO SAY BEFORE IT PASSED.

HE DIDN'T HAVE MUCH TO SAY AFTER IT PASSED.

HE WAS VERY QUIET, HE SAID HE WOULD NOT OPPOSE IT.

SO FAR, SO GOOD.

WHEN IT COMES TO RENT CONTROL, RENTER'S RIGHTS I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE MORE COMPLICATED AND VOCAL.

>> Eric: UBER IS APPARENTLY MOVING OUT OF MINNEAPOLIS MAY 1ST IF THINGS DON'T CHANGE.

IS ST. PAUL -- SPLASH ONTO ST. PAUL?

>> THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE SAYING.

WELL, THAT'S WHAT UBER TOLD ME, THEY ARE LEAVING MSP, MINNEAPOLIS, ST. PAUL, ENTIRE METRO.

LYFT DID NOT GET BACK TO ME, BUT IF THAT HAPPENS, IT COULD BE A GAME OF CHICKEN, COULD BE BLUFF BUT IF THAT HAPPENS THERE'S GOING TO BE SERIOUS REPERCUSSIONS.

CAB COMPANIES O NOT HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO RAMP UP.

WE USED TO HAVE 20 CAB COMPANIES IN ST. PAUL, WE AVE TWO.

WE HAVE ABOUT 15 CARS LEFT.

UBER AND LYFT IND OF DECIMATED THE MARKET FOR THEM TO LEAVE NOW YOU'VE GOT TO BUILD UP, STARTUP COMPANIES MIGHT BRING IN A THOUSAND DRIVERS.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 8,000 DRIVERS UNEMPLOYED OVERNIGHT.

>> Eric: WE'LL SEE WHAT WE SEE ON THAT.

>> WE'LL SEE WHAT WE SEE, WE DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE ACTUALLY LEAVING.

>> Cathy: THANKS, FRED.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

♪♪ >> I'M OUTSIDE ST. ALBERT THE GREAT CATHOLIC CHURCH WHERE THERE IS A ONDERFUL, BEAUTIFUL THING THAT HAPPENS EVERY FRIDAY NIGHT DURING LENT.

A FISH FRY!

LET'S GO INTO A BASEMENT OF A CHURCH AND FIND OUT!

>> JUST GO DOWN AND ENJOY YOURSELF AND TAKE SOME OF EVERYTHING BECAUSE IT'S ALL GOOD.

THE SPAGHETTI, MASHED POTATOES ARE OUTSTANDING, COLESLAW, FISH, BREAD, BIG TABLE FULL OF DESSERTS.

>> HERE AT ST. ALBERT THE GREAT, HOME OF PHENOMENAL FISH DINNERS.

PRAYER TO DEEPEN OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS.

FASTING BECAUSE WE NEED TO KIND OF MAKE SACRIFICES SOMETIMES TO GO WITHOUT THINGS IN ORDER TO APPRECIATE WHAT WE HAVE.

AND ALMSGIVING, HELPS US BE GENEROUS TO OTHER PEOPLE.

>> NONE OF THOSE WORDS WERE FISH.

>> NONE OF THOSE WERE FISH.

>> FISHES AND LOAVES.

COULD THOSE FRIES?

>> THEY FED A LOT OF PEOPLE JUST LIKE FISH DINNERS HERE AT ST. ALBERT THE GREAT.

>> THAT IS WHY THIS MAN IS A PROFESSIONAL!

I HAVE MY PLATE HERE.

>> I'M SURE YOU'RE GONNA LOVE IT ALL.

THE POTATOES ARE GREAT.

AND THE FISH, THE BREADED AND NONBREADED, VERY TASTY.

>> MY TWO FAVORITE KINDS OF FISH, BREADED AND NON-BREADED.

>> N38.

>> 50 CENTS APIECE.

>> THIS IS A CHEAP GAME.

>> IT IS.

AND YOU WIN BIG!

>> AND PEOPLE SIT TOGETHER SO THEY DINE TOGETHER AND THEY PLAY TOGETHER.

>> GOT THE WHOLE GROUP.

OUR NEW CREW!

>> HAPPY LENT, EVERYBODY!

♪♪ >> Eric: GET THIS.

WHEN THE PRODUCERS CONFIRMED OUR NEXT GUEST HE WASN'T SURE IF THE ARMEST WINTER ON RECORD, ONGOING DROUGHT, MARCH TEMPERATURES IN THE 60S AND 70S WERE ENOUGH TO FILL THE NEXT FIVE MINUTES ON "ALMANAC."

BUT HE SAID HE'D DO HIS BEST.

PAUL DOUGLAS IS HERE.

IN ADDITION TO HIS MONTHLY VISITS TO THE ALMANAC TABLE YOU CAN READ HIS WEATHER WISDOM IN THE STAR TRIBUNE AND CATCH HIM ON CO RADIO AND IN HIS FREE TIME HE HEADS HIS OWN WEATHER COMPANY PRAEDICTIX.

>> PLEASE DON'T ADJUST YOUR SET.

>> Eric: WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THIS -- MUSIC HERE?

>> IT'S EL NINO.

THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU HAVE A SUPER -- I WAS CLEAN SHAVEN FOR THE HOLIDAYS.

>> Eric: WE HAVE A MORE SPECIFIC REASON TO GET RIGHT TO THE DECK OF SLIDES.

>> WE DO.

ERIC, CATHY, I NEVER THOUGHT IN MY LIFETIME I WOULD EXPERIENCE A WINTER LIKE WE JUST HAD.

I THOUGHT MAYBE MY KIDS OR MY GRANDBOYS, MY GRANDSONS WILL SOMEDAY EXPERIENCE A YEAR WITH NO WINTER.

IT REALLY WAS.

LET'S GO TO THE VIDEOTAPE.

>> Eric: YES, SIR.

>> Cathy: YES.

>> ONE OF THE SHORTEST ICE SEASONS.

IF YOU BLINKED, IF YOU SNEEZED YOU MISSED THE ICE SEASON.

WHAT, A WEEK FOR MINNEAPOLIS ICE RINKS THIS WINTER?

THAT'S UNHEARD OF.

HERE ARE SOME OF HE STATS, BULLET POINTS.

YES, WARMEST WINTER ON RECORD FOR MINNESOTA FOR THE ENTIRE U.S., FOR ALL OF CANADA.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT WE HAD ONE REALLY COLD WEEK BACK IN MID-JANUARY.

ONE WINTRY WEEK.

18 DAYS SINCE DECEMBER 1ST TO MARCH 1ST WITH HIGHS OF 50-PLUS.

THE OLD RECORD WAS 8 DAYS.

WE HAD 18.

SIX SUBZERO NIGHTS DURING THAT ONE WEEK IN MID-JANUARY.

THE AVERAGE FOR THE METRO IS 19 SUBZERO NIGHTS.

THAT'S THE ROLLING 30-YEAR AVERAGE.

14.3-INCHES OF SNOW.

SECOND-LEAST ON RECORD.

LAST YEAR AT THIS TIME WE HAD ALREADY SEEN OVER 80 INCHES.

IT'S LIKE I CAN'T BELIEVE WE'RE LIVING IN THE SAME PLACE.

WHY WAS IT SO WARM, PAUL?

NATURAL CYCLES, THE BIGGEST ONE BEING A VERY STRONG EL NINO WHICH TENDS TO SHIFT THE STORM TRACK SOUTH AND IT TENDS TO FLOOD THE ZONE, NORTH AMERICA, WITH MILD PACIFIC AIR.

THAT AND EXPERTS SAY DON'T DISCOUNT THE BACKGROUND WARMING OF THE ATMOSPHERE AND THE OCEANS.

AND YOU CAN SEE THAT TREND TO THE RIGHT AND WHERE WE ARE IN THE UPPER RIGHT.

WINTERS, ESPECIALLY EAST OF THE ROCKIES THE WARMING HAS BEEN ACCELERATING SINCE 1974.

MINNESOTA AND WISCONSIN WINTERS 4, 5-DEGREES WARMER THAN HEY WERE BACK IN THE MID-'70S.

NORTHERN MINNESOTA IT'S MORE LIKE 6, 7 DEGREES WARMER.

THAT'S WHERE THE WARMING SIGNAL IS SHOWING UP THE MOST, NOT DURING THE SUMMER, DURING THE WINTER.

AND OCEAN WATER TEMPERATURES ARE OFF THE SCALE.

HURRICANE FORECASTERS CONCERNED WHAT THAT COULD MEAN ESPECIALLY FOR THE GULF COAST, FLORIDA, AND THE EAST COAST.

A LOT OF FUEL FOR POSSIBLY STRONGER HURRICANES THIS FALL.

THE ONE THING WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT HERE IN MINNESOTA.

WE'RE HEADING INTO A LA NINA COOL PHASE LATER THIS YEAR.

WE ARE UNDER A LA NINA WATCH, CORDING TO NOAA.

COLDER AND SNOWIER NEXT WINTER.

I WOULD BET A KETCHUP STAINED KIRK COUSINS VIKINGS JERSEY THAT NEXT WINTER WON'T LOOK ANYTHING LIKE THIS WINTER.

>> Eric: REALLY?

NOT THE NEW NORMAL?

>> NO, THIS IS AN EXTREME EXAMPLE OF WHAT YOU GET WITH A VERY TRONG EL NINO COUPLED WITH ACCELERATING BACKGROUND WARMING OF THE OCEANS AND ATMOSPHERE.

87% OF MINNESOTA IN MODERATE TO SEVERE DROUGHT.

WE'VE BEEN IN DROUGHT FOR THE BETTER PART OF THREE YEARS.

2019 WAS THE WETTEST YEAR ON RECORD STATEWIDE ND WE THOUGHT THAT WAS THE NEW NORMAL.

AND THEN TALK ABOUT WEATHER WHIPLASH.

I'M WORRIED ABOUT THE DROUGHT INTENSIFYING IN SCOPE AS WE HEAD INTO THE UMMER MONTHS.

WE'LL SEE.

THE PATTERN COULD CHANGE QUICKLY.

30S, IT'S ACTUALLY GOING TO FEEL LIKE LATE FEBRUARY SUNDAY AND MONDAY.

NO BIG STORMS, BUT HE MODEL'S HINTING A LITTLE SLUSH BY THE END OF NEXT WEEK.

A WEEK FROM TODAY, NEXT FRIDAY SOME SLUSHY POSSIBILITIES.

I'M KIND OF BUMMED I PULLED OUT THE DRIVEWAY STAKES.

I THINK THAT -- >> Cathy: THAT MEANS WE'RE GONNA GET SNOW NOW.

>> WELL, THIS WAS APRIL OF 2018 WHEN WE HAD TWO STORMS BACK TO BACK, 26 SNARKS INCHES OF SNOW.

THAT'S WHAT CAN HAPPEN.

AND ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES DJ KAISER AT PRAEDICTIX REMINDED ME, PAUL, THERE HAVE BEEN 44 WINTERS WHERE AFTER MARCH 15TH THE METRO PICKED UP 10 INCHES OR MORE.

BACK IN 1983 IT WAS 36 INCHES OF SNOW AFTER MARCH 15TH!

SO I THINK WE MIGHT SEE -- >> Cathy: NOT THIS YEAR, THOUGH.

>> YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW.

I DOUBT IT BUT NEVER SAY NEVER.

I'M CONCERNED ABOUT DROUGHT EXPANDING AND BECOMING MORE INTENSE.

THE MODEL'S HINTING AT AN EXTRA HOT SUMMER.

MORE SEVERE HURRICANES PERHAPS WITH THIS WARMER OCEAN WATER AND NEXT WINTER WON'T LOOK ANYTHING LIKE THIS WINTER.

I HINK WE GO BACK INTO A NORMAL WINTER NEXT YEAR.

WE JUST GOT A GLIMPSE.

THIS ISN'T THE NEW NORMAL BUT I THINK IT WAS A PROBLEMONITION OF WHAT A LOT OF WINTERS MAY LOOK LIKE 30, 50, 70 YEARS DEPENDING ON WHAT HAPPENS WITH GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS.

ONE SILVER LINING.

ONE SILVER LINING.

CONSTRUCTION SEASON CAME EARLY THIS YEAR AND I AM JAZZED FOR THAT.

>> Eric: AND HIGH SCHOOL SPRING SPORTS, TRACK AND FIELD AND BASEBALL.

>> Cathy: TRUE.

>> YEAH!

I SAW SAIL BOATS, FISHING BOATS DRIVING OVER TO ST. PAUL THIS EVENING.

WHERE ARE WE LEAVING?

>> Eric: WE GOTTA GO.

>> Cathy: HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.

>> YOU TOO.

>> Cathy: BYE-BYE.

♪♪ >> I LOOKED UP WHAT THE FANTASY WEBSITES, FANTASY FOOTBALL WEBSITES AND THEY HAD COUSINS THE EIGHTH RANKED QUARTERBACK IN THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE.

>> WELL, IT'S ALL BASED ON YOUR QBR, THAT'S QUARTERBACK RATING.

YOUR COMPLETION PERCENTAGE, ALL THOSE THINGS.

BUT THE NUMBERS THAT I PUT AT YOU ARE THE ONES THAT ARE IMPORTANT.

4,000 YARDS, 25 TOUCHDOWNS, 12 OR 10 INTERCEPTIONS.

YOU CAN LIVE WITH THAT WHEN YOU'VE GOT A BALANCED OFFENSE LIKE THE VIKINGS HAVE.

THE THING THE VIKINGS HAVE TO MAKE CERTAIN THEY DO IS KEEP HIM HEALTHY.

HE HAS PLAYED EVERY GAME OVER THOSE THREE YEARS AND THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT PART.

CURABILITY, THAT'S SOMETHING THE VIKINGS HAVEN'T HAD AT THAT POSITION.

♪♪ >> Cathy: MINNESOTA'S UNEMPLOYMENT RATE OF 2.7% IS THE EIGHTH LOWEST IN THE NATION.

THAT'S ACCORDING TO THE LATEST DATA BY THE U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.

AND WHILE THE LABOR SHORTAGE IS FELT EVERYWHERE, THE STATE'S ORCHARDS AND SMALL TO MID-SIZED FARMS ARE FACING SOME TOUGH CHOICES.

IN PART ONE OF A TWO-PART STORY, REPORTER KAOMI LEE TRAVELED TO DAKOTA COUNTY TO CATCH UP WITH ONE FAMILY WHO IS LEAVING THE APPLE BUSINESS.

>> THIS IS PROBABLY -- ONE OF THE THIS IS, IT'S HARD TO TELL, BUT THIS IS NEW GROWTH.

>> JON PARRANTO AND HIS MOTHER KATHY SHOW ME AROUND THEIR APPLE ORCHARD NEAR LAKEVILLE.

AS FAR AS THE EYE CAN SEE, THERE ARE APPLE TREES, MORE THAN 8,000 ON 25 ACRES IN THE TWIN CITIES SUBURBS.

>> HOW MANY VARIETIES DO YOU GROW HERE?

>> 14, 15, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

>> ALSO THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA ONES.

>> AND IT'S FOR SALE, THE ENTIRE 61-ACRE PROPERTY INCLUDING THE MAIN HOUSE AND ALL THE BUILDINGS IS LISTED FOR $2.1 MILLION.

AFTER THREE DECADES, CEO KATHY AND HER SON ARE CALLING IT QUITS.

>> IT IS FOR SALE AFTER ALL THIS TIME.

LIKE 30 YEARS FROM THE TIME WE BOUGHT THE PROPERTY.

PRIMARILY BECAUSE I'M READY TO RETIRE.

>> AT 77, KATHY PARRANTO SAYS OWNING AN ORCHARD HAD BEEN A DREAM SHE SHARED WITH HER LATE HUSBAND.

>> MY SON IS THE ONLY ONE LEFT HERE TO HELP ME AND IT'S JUST NOT ENOUGH.

WE CAN'T AFFORD TO HIRE OTHER PEOPLE TO KEEP RUNNING THE ORCHARD.

>> JON IS THE FARM MANAGER.

HE STARTED OUT WORKING AT THE ORCHARD AS A EENAGER AND THOUGHT ONE DAY HE WOULD SUCCEED HIS PARENTS.

NOW HE DOESN'T WANT IT.

>> I'D KEEP GOING, IT JUST, IT'S EXPENSIVE IS THE MAIN ONE, YOU KNOW, AND THE EXPENSES ARE CRAZY.

ESPECIALLY OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS PRICES AVE GONE UP.

YOU CAN WATCH FROM YEAR TO YEAR YOUR CHEMICAL PURCHASES, INVENTORY PURCHASES, THEY ALL DOUBLED, TRIPLED.

THAT'S MAKING MY PRICES GOING UP TO THE CUSTOMERS.

SOONER OR LATER YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE ZERO NET.

>> ANOTHER PROBLEM IS A LACK OF HELP.

RELYING ON FAMILY AND FRIENDS IS NO LONGER VIABLE.

FINDING AVAILABLE AND EXPERIENCED ORCHARD WORKERS IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE.

AND MOM KATHY SAYS THE LOCAL SUBURBAN KIDS JUST DON'T SEEM THAT INTERESTED EITHER.

>> I WENT TO BOTH HIGH SCHOOLS AND I WROTE LETTERS TO BOTH OF THEM TO PUT OUT AN AD UP THAT WE WERE LOOKING FOR PEOPLE.

>> SO THERE'S NOT ENOUGH KIDS WILLING TO WORK.

>> NO, EXACTLY.

>> THE ORCHARD IS PROFITABLE AND HAS LOYAL CUSTOMERS.

THEY COUNT ON BEING ABLE TO PICK THEIR OWN APPLES RIGHT FROM A TREE EACH YEAR BUT A DEEP LABOR SHORTAGE HAS INCREASED THE RISK FOR SMALL TO MID-SIZED GROWERS IN THE STATE.

THE SPRAWLING PINE TREE APPLE ORCHARD IN WHITE BEAR LAKE HAS BEEN OWNED BY THE JACOBSON FAMILY SINCE 1958.

>> RIGHT NOW WE'RE EXPERIENCING THAT THERE IS A LABOR SHORTAGE OR A LACK OF LABOR IN THE AREA THAT WE'RE LOCATED IN MINNESOTA AROUND THE TWIN CITIES AREA.

AND I THINK IT'S TRUE FOR JUST ABOUT ANY BUSINESS THAT THERE IS.

>> WITH A TOTAL OF 150 ACRES OF APPLE TREES THEY'RE ONE OF MINNESOTA'S TOP FIVE APPLE PRODUCERS IN A $500 MILLION INDUSTRY.

THEY RELY ON A FEDERAL PROGRAM CALLED THE H2A TEMPORARY AGRICULTURAL WORKERS.

IT ALLOWS THEM TO HIRE OVERSEAS WORKERS WITH FARM EXPERIENCE TEMPORARILY EACH YEAR.

>> THIS IS NOT IMMIGRATION.

THIS IS A STABLE WORKFORCE THAT WE'RE TRYING TO HAVE.

PEOPLE HAVE TO TRY AND SEPARATE THESE TWO THINGS.

>> IT'S EXPENSIVE AND OUT OF REACH FOR MANY SMALLER OPERATIONS.

PINE TREE APPLE ORCHARD BRINGS IN WORKERS FROM MEXICO AND OTHER COUNTRIES EACH YEAR.

EMPLOYERS MUST PAY FOR HOUSING, TRANSPORTATION, AND A MINIMUM HOURLY RATE SET BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

IN MINNESOTA, IT'S $18.50 AN HOUR.

>> IT'S BEEN GOING UP SINCE WE'VE BEEN INVOLVED.

IT NEVER STABILIZES, IT'S ALWAYS BEEN GOING UP.

AND WITHIN THE LAST FOUR YEARS IT'S GONE UP FIVE DOLLARS PER HOUR.

>> AMERICANS GET PRIORITY OVER THESE JOBS AND EMPLOYERS HAVE TO SHOW THEY'VE EXHAUSTED ALL OPTIONS TO HIRE THEM.

BUT IN MINNESOTA OFFICIALS SAY THERE IS A .4 UNEMPLOYED WORKER FOR EVERY JOB VACANCY.

JACOBSON SAYS THE INTENSIVE OUTDOOR LABOR JOBS AREN'T FOR EVERYONE AND INCREASINGLY, FEW AMERICANS.

>> I THINK ABOUT 20 TO 25 YEARS WE'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE H2A PROGRAM AND WE'VE ONLY HAD ONE PERSON COME OUT AND APPLY FOR A JOB.

>> H2A WORKERS ARE HELPING FILL THE GAP, EMPLOYER JACOBSON IS WORRIED.

>> THE ABILITY TO GET WORKERS, TO GET WORKERS ON TIME.

MOST OF OUR WORKERS DO COME FROM MEXICO BUT WE GET WORKERS FROM ALL OVER.

>> E SAYS SOME OF THE ROAD BLOCKS CAN ONLY BE FIXED IN WASHINGTON.

>> THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT ISSUES WITH THE H2A.

THERE'S WAGE ISSUES THAT GET TIED TO IT, THERE'S SOMETHING CALLED ADVERSE WAGE RATE.

>> IT'S THE MINIMUM WAGE SET BY THE US DEPARTMENT OF LABOR FOR H2A WORKERS.

IT VARIES BY STATE.

SOME MINNESOTA GROWERS SAY THE STATE'S $18.50 WAGE RATE IS ARBITRARY.

A RESPONSE TO THE EFFECT OF THE WAGE RATE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR WAS NOT RETURNED BY AIR TIME.

FEDERAL LAW EXEMPTS OVERTIME FOR AGRICULTURAL WORKERS BUT SOME STATES LIKE MINNESOTA DO NOT.

HERE MANY AGRICULTURAL WORKERS QUALIFY FOR TIME AND A HALF AFTER 48 HOURS.

JOHN JACOBSON SAYS LABOR ACCOUNTS FOR 70% OF HIS PRODUCTION COSTS.

>> OTHER STATES DON'T HAVE THE OVERTIME ISSUE SO WISCONSIN AND MICHIGAN WORKERS CAN WORK AS MUCH AS THEY CAN AND THEY DON'T HAVE TO PAY TIME AND A HALF.

>> SO THAT'S AN UNFAIR ADVANTAGE YOU'D SAY?

>> ABSOLUTELY IT DOES, AS FAR AS THE APPLE GROWERS OR VEGETABLE GROWERS.

WHEN THEY TRY TO SELL THEIR PRODUCT TO A GROCERY STORE CHAIN OR WHOEVER THEY CAN PRODUCE THEIR PRODUCT LESS THAN WHAT WE COULD IN MINNESOTA.

>> DECREASING MARGINS IS ONE REASON KATHY PARRANTO'S KIDS ARE MOVING ON.

THEY'VE CULTIVATED A COMMUNITY AT APPLEWOOD ORCHARD OVER THE YEARS.

SHE SAYS SHE HOPES THAT WILL CONTINUE.

>> I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS PEOPLE LIKE TO COME BECAUSE THIS IS MINNESOTA AND MINNESOTA APPLES.

♪♪ >> Eric: THE STAR TRIBUNE'S "CURIOUS MINNESOTA" FEATURE IS CELEBRATING FIVE YEARS BY LAUNCHING A NEW ONLINE INTERACTIVE FEATURE.

THE READER-DRIVEN REPORTING PROJECT HAS RECEIVED MORE THAN 3,000 QUESTIONS SINCE ITS LAUNCH IN 2019.

CURIOUS MINNESOTA EDITOR ERIC ROPER GETS TO SORT THROUGH THOSE QUESTIONS AND REPORT BACK SOME OF THE ANSWERS.

WELCOME BACK AND HOW DO YOU PICK THESE?

I WOULD THINK THERE'S A LOT TO CHOOSE FROM.

>> YEAH, I HAVE A COUPLE CRITERIA.

I DO RECEIVE EVERY QUESTION WHICH FILLS UP MY INBOX EVERY DAY AND I LOVE THAT.

WE GET 700 TO 800 QUESTIONS A YEAR FROM READERS AND LISTENERS.

GENERALLY IT SHOULD BE ABOUT MINNESOTA, IT SHOULD BE A TALE, WE LOVE A TALE, RIGHT?

SOMETHING THAT CAN FILL A COLUMN, SOMETHING THAT HAS A BROAD INTEREST.

YEAH, SO I MEAN AND I SORT THROUGH, I LOVE HISTORY BUT IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE ABOUT HISTORY, IT COULD BE SCIENCE, COULD BE POLITICS, YOU KNOW, WHAT HAVE YOU.

>> Cathy: I'M INSANELY JEALOUS, THIS IS A GREAT JOB, OF COURSE, I JUST LOVE THIS.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Cathy: I'M WONDERING, YOU SAID A STORY.

WHAT MAKES A GOOD STORY?

WHEN YOU COME ACROSS A QUESTION YOU'RE LIKE THAT'S IT, THIS IS IT.

WHAT IS THAT, THOUGH?

>> I MEAN, AS I SAID, I THINK A TALE, I MEAN, SOME THINGS ARE LIKE BEST INVENTIONS IN MINNESOTA OR TOP INVENTIONS WHERE THAT'S LESS OF A TALE, MORE OF A LIST WHAT HAVE YOU.

SOME OF THEM LIKE HOW DID KID CANN BECOME THE MOST INFAMOUS GANGSTER IN MINNEAPOLIS AND THERE'S A JUICY TALE THERE.

THE OTHER THING FOR ME THAT'S FUN, STAR TRIBUNE IS 150 YEARS OLD, WE WERE PRESENT FOR A LOT OF THESE EVENTS.

AND THE ARCHIVES, SOME OF THESE PHOTOS HAVE NOT SEEN THE LIGHT OF DAY SINCE THEY WERE PUBLISHED IN THE '30S OR '40S SO I GET TO GO SEARCH OUT ALL THOSE HISTORICAL PHOTOS.

TO ME ANY CURIOUS STORY IS SORT OF A CHRISTMAS TREE, IT'S DAZZLING THE EYE, TEXT, OLD PHOTOS, CHARTS, MAPS.

WE REALLY TRY TO PRODUCE THESE TO GIVE YOU A GREAT DIGITAL EXPERIENCE.

>> Eric: LET'S GO TO SOME VIDEO OF THE ONLINE FEATURE, YOU CAN TALK US THROUGH IT.

>> Cathy: THIS IS ACTUALLY KID CANN I BELIEVE.

>> YOU CAN GO TO STARTRIBUNE.COM/CURIOUS.

MY COLLEAGUES, TOM OF TOM, NEIL, AND ANNA BOONE, I WANT TO GIVE THEM CREDIT FOR THIS AMAZING DATABASE.

THIS IS OUTSIDE THE PAYWALL, YOU CAN FIND THE STORY, THE STORIES ARE INSIDE THE PAULWALL SO WE HOPE YOU GET INTO THOSE STORIES AND WANT TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE STAR TRIBUNE BUT YOU CAN FIND ALL 260 CURIOUS MINNESOTA STORIES, AS WELL AS MORE THAN 80 PODCASTS IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS.

IT'S THE LARGEST NEWS ROOM IN MINNESOTA SO WE HAVE A LOT OF EXPERTISE IN THE ROOM AND WE TAP THAT TO WORK ON THESE STORIES.

>> Cathy: THERE IS SOME PUBLIC RADIO STATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY HERE'S LIKE SECRET CHICAGO, SAN FRANCISCO'S GOT SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

HAVE YOU PATTERNED THIS AFTER ANY OTHER CITY OR IS THIS WHOLLY YOUR OWN?

>> THIS WAS NOT, WE DO NOT HAVE THE MARKET ON THIS IDEA.

THERE'S CURIOUS TEXAS OUT OF DALLAS WHICH I THINK OURS WAS, WE WERE AT LEAST LOOKING AT WHEN IT STARTED.

I WASN'T AROUND WHEN URIOUS STARTED, OR I WASN'T PART OF THE STARTING OF CURIOUS.

THERE'S CURIOUS LOUISIANA NOW.

THERE'S A NUMBER OF CURIOUS AROUND THE COUNTRY.

OURS ARE PRETTY ROBUST, I CAN'T SPEAK TO WHAT THEY ALL ARE.

I THINK A LOT OF PAPERS AND MEDIA IN TOWN OR IN THE COUNTRY ARE REALIZING THAT READERS HAVE A LOT OF IDEAS.

IT'S A PRETTY SIMPLE CONCEPT, IT'S LIKE WHAT DO YOU WANT TO READ ABOUT, RIGHT?

AND WE HAVE FOUND THAT THESE STORIES DO LIKE WILDLY BIG TRAFFIC BECAUSE IT'S, YOU KNOW, YOU ASK PEOPLE WHAT THEY WANT TO READ ABOUT AND THEY'LL READ IT IN BIG NUMBERS SO THAT'S WHY IT'S BEEN FUN FOR ME BECAUSE WE'RE PROVIDING SOMETHING PEOPLE SAY THEY WANT ESSENTIALLY.

>> Eric: HAVE YOU EARN ANYTHING ABOUT YOUR READERS THROUGH THE QUESTIONS THEY'VE SUBMITTED?

>> YES, I OULD SAY THE MOST INTERESTING THING ABOUT CURIOUS IS PEOPLE POINT US TO THE MISSING PART OF THE NARRATIVE.

SO WHAT DO I MEAN BY THAT?

I WROTE A STORY ONCE ABOUT WHY DID MINNEAPOLIS' FLOWER BOOM GO BUST.

THAT WAS THE HEADLINE, THE, THE MILL FLOUR BOOM, WHAT HAPPENED?

SO IT'S THE MISSING PART F HISTORY THAT WE ALL KNOW, AND THAT PART HAS BEEN INTERESTING TO ME BECAUSE WE HAVE FOUND AND THEN THERE'S STORIES LIKE WE DIDN'T EXPECT TO FIND LIKE MOORHEAD BEING THIS ALCOHOL HAVEN WHEN NORTH DAKOTA BANNED ALCOHOL EARLY IN ITS HISTORY, LIKE WE WEREN'T AWARE, WE DIDN'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT THAT HISTORY AND IT TOOK US TO A PLACE WE DIDN'T EXPECT.

SO I THINK THAT'S BEEN TO ME IT'S WE'RE ALWAYS GETTING SURPRISED ALMOST LIKE ON A REGULAR BASIS BY WHERE THESE READER QUESTIONS ARE TAKING US.

>> Cathy: AND FINAL QUESTION TO YOU IS WHERE DO YOU WANT TO TAKE THIS?

>> I MEAN, E WANT TO GROW IT.

WE'RE DOING A PODCAST, PEOPLE SHOULD SUBSCRIBE TO THE CURIOUS MINNESOTA PODCAST WHICH I HOST AND WE HAVE OUR REPORTERS ON AND YOU CAN HEAR FROM STAR TRIBUNE REPORTERS.

WE DO IT EVERY OTHER WEEK.

WE HAVE DABBLED WITH EVENTS AT THE STATE FAIR.

WE'D LIKE TO DO MORE EVENTS.

IT'S SORT OF A FRANCHISE SO WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW CAN WE GROW THIS.

IT'S A PLUG AND PLAY CONCEPT, YOU TELL US WHAT YOU WANT TO READ ABOUT, WE SOLITTED QUESTIONS AT THE FAIR AND HAD PEOPLE VOTE ON THEM.

IT WAS AN INTERESTING ONE, HOW MUCH FLOUR WOULD IT TAKE TO TURN LAKE SUPERIOR INTO BREAD?

AND IT WAS ASKED BY A TEENAGE GIRL, WE TREATED IT SERIOUSLY AND SOME BIG MATH ON THAT QUESTION.

>> Eric: THANKS FOR COMING ON.

BIGGEST BIG OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS NOW LAW.

WITH NO SIGNING CEREMONY, GOVERNOR TIM WALZ APPROVED A HARD-FOUGHT COMPROMISE ON SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS.

THE BIPARTISAN DEAL TOOK MONTHS TO HASH OUT AND REPORTER MARY LAHAMMER TAKES US INSIDE THE PROCESS WITH THE ONLY LAWMAKER WHO WAS A POLICE OFFICER IN SCHOOLS.

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

[ Banging Gavel ] >> A BILL TO GET POLICE OFFICERS BACK IN SCHOOLS QUICKLY GOT THE GOVERNOR'S SIGNATURE.

>> SOME GUARDRAILS THAT HAVE NOT EXISTED PRIOR TO THIS TIME, INCLUDING TRAINING, INCLUDING A MODEL POLICY.

>> WE CAN KEEP OUR STUDENTS SAFE IN SCHOOL AND THE FOLKS WHO DO THAT JOB CAN DO SO KNOWING THERE ARE RULES AROUND WHAT THEY CAN DO, TO BE PROTECTED.

>> LET'S LIGHT THE BOARD UP GREEN AGAIN.

THE BILL IS SIMILAR TO WHAT WE PASSED, IT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE PASSED LAST TIME SO LET'S GET THIS MOVING AND BE DONE WITH IT.

>> THE COMPROMISE CONFERENCE REPORT NEEDED SUPPORT FROM REPUBLICANS TO PASS WITH HELP OF A KEY MEMBER OF THE MINORITY CAUCUS.

>> THEY NEEDED YOU AND YOUR CAUCUS, THAT'S A HARSH REALITY.

>> I HAD THOSE RELATIONSHIPS WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT, I THINK THAT'S THE PART I COULD BRING.

I WAS ALSO AN SRO FOR 27 YEARS OF MY CAREER WITH BURNSVILLE P.D.

>> AND YOU'RE THE ONLY MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATURE WHO'S DONE THAT JOB THAT'S BEEN DEBATED FOR THE LAST EIGHT MONTHS.

>> EXACTLY.

EXACTLY.

SO YOU KNOW YOU HAVE THAT REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCE.

>> THAT EXPERIENCE GOT THE FRESHMAN FROM A SWING DISTRICT ON A COVETED CONFERENCE COMMITTEE.

>> I WILL SIT ON THAT KIND OF CONFERENCE COMMITTEE ALL THE TIME WHEN WE COME TO AGREEANCE AND OBVIOUSLY THE SENATE CREED TO THE HOUSE IN WHAT WE BROUGHT FORTH IN A BILL.

I PPRECIATE MY COLLEAGUES ACROSS THE AISLE, FINALLY -- I HAD MY HAND EXTENDED THE WHOLE TIME.

>> TOOK LITTLE WHILE.

>> TO GRAB THAT, AND I THINK IT WAS HELPFUL.

>> THE REPUBLICANS STILL RIPPED THE ORIGINAL BILL THAT HAD TO BE FIXED BUT THEY LARGELY VOTED FOR IT.

>> NO INCIDENCES REPORTED OF SROs EVER ACTING IMPROPERLY.

SO, YOU KNOW, THE PUBLIC COULD BE SCRATCHING THEIR HEAD SAYING, WELL, WHY IN THE WORLD DID WE END UP WITH THIS TERRIBLE SRO LAW, THEN?

>> THIS WAS A GOVERNOR WALZ INITIATIVE TO MAKE SURE THAT IT HAD THE VERY INTENDED CONSEQUENCES IN WHICH WERE DISCOVERED.

WE REMOVED SCHOOL RESOURCE PERSONNEL, SCHOOL SAFETY PERSONNEL FROM OUR SCHOOLS AND VIOLENCE HAS CONTINUED.

>> NOBODY CAN POINT TO THIS WRATH OF OFFICERS IN THE SCHOOLS THAT ARE ABUSING AND CAUSING HARM TO CHILDREN.

IT'S NOT HAPPENING.

>> WE'RE VERY, VERY VERY CAREFUL NOT TO POLITICIZE THE ISSUE BECAUSE WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE SAFETY OF OUR KIDS IN OUR SCHOOLS.

>> THE SENATOR AND THE REPRESENTATIVE FROM LAKEVILLE BOTH BECAME THE LEAD VOICES IN THEIR CAUCUS ON THE ISSUE OF SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS.

AND TURNS OUT THE REPRESENTATIVE WON A SEAT IN THE COMPETITIVE SUBURB BY JUST 700 VOTES.

>> SENATOR ZACH DUCKWORTH AND I HAVE A GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIP AND WHEN THIS FIRST CAME TO ME I WENT TO MY CAUCUS TO MAKE SURE, YOU KNOW, HEY, WE NEED TO LEAD ON THIS.

AND THAT WAS THE GOAL.

LET'S LEAD, LET'S FIND A SOLUTION, LET'S HAVE OUR HAND OUT WITH A BIPARTISAN -- BUT ALSO MENTIONED TO SENATOR ZACH DUCKWORTH WHO IS A VETERAN BUT ALSO VOLUNTEER FIRE MEMBER BUT ALSO ON THE SCHOOL BOARD SO HE UNDERSTOOD THE IMPORTANCE OF IT.

>> THE FINAL VOTES WERE SPLIT.

>> I'M NOT GOING TO BE VOTE FOR IT TODAY.

I WANT US ALL TO TRULY HOLD THE SAFETY OF OUR STUDENTS AND NOT JUST THE PHYSICAL SAFETY OF OUR STUDENTS BUT ALSO THE SAFETY EMOTIONALLY.

>> I WAS ONE OF THE PEOPLE THAT DID NOT VOTE FOR THIS AS IT MOVED OFF THE FLOOR.

I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE VERY MINDFUL WORK THAT WAS DONE AS WE TRY TO BALANCE MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE TREATING ALL CHILDREN AS CHILDREN AND TREATING THEM WITH EQUITY AND MAKING SURE WE ARE NOT DOING MORE HARM TO THEM.

>> SOME PEOPLE SAY THIS IS NOT A PERFECT BILL.

WELL, QUITE HONESTLY, WHAT BILL IS PERFECT WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH 201 LEGISLATORS?

BUT THIS PARTICULAR BILL IS SEVERAL, IT HAS THE SUPPORT OF ALL THREE MAJOR LAW ENFORCEMENT PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS.

>> THE LEGISLATURE HAS HAD A RECKONING WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AFTER GEORGE FLOYD'S MURDER.

BUT THE DEATH OF BURNSVILLE FIRST RESPONDERS HAD LAWMAKERS RALLYING AROUND OFFICERS AT THE MEMORIAL.

>> I DECIDED NOT TO SIT WITH MY CAUCUS OR THE ELECTED OFFICIALS.

I SAT WITH MY ALUMNI FAMILY WITH BURNSVILLE AND THAT WAS TOUGH BECAUSE I'M WATCHING PEOPLE THAT I HAD TRAINED AND HAD, WAS SIDE BY SIDE ON THE STREET WALKED BY AND THAT WAS THE MOST DIFFICULT PART FOR ME.

>> SO YOU PUT ON YOUR LAW ENFORCEMENT HAT NOT YOUR LAWMAKER HAT THAT DAY.

>> EXACTLY.

AND I WAS IN THE RIGHT PLACE WHERE I NEEDED TO BE THAT DAY.

>> SAYS HE'S APPROACHING BEING A NEW LAWMAKER JUST LIKE BEING A NEW OFFICER.

>> I KEPT MY EYES AND EARS WIDE OPEN AND MY MOUTH SHUT AND I REALLY TRIED TO LEARN AND I TRIED TO BUILD THOSE RELATIONSHIPS AND WHEN THE SUMMER CAME AND LAW ENFORCEMENT CAME TO ME WITH THIS I JUST RELIED ON THOSE RELATIONSHIPS.

ROLLED UP MY SLEEVES AND TRIED TO WORK BOTH WAYS.

>> ANYTHING ELSE THAT WOULD SURPRISE PEOPLE THAT PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT THIS WHOLE PROCESS YOU WENT THROUGH ON THIS HUGE ISSUE?

>> I THINK MINNESOTANS WANT THIS.

THEY WANT US WORKING TOGETHER.

I THINK BY COMING TOGETHER I THINK WE HAVE TRONGER LEGISLATION BECAUSE WE'RE WORKING TOGETHER, WE'RE LOOKING AT BETTER SOLUTIONS.

♪♪ >> Cathy: WITH THE STUDENT RESOURCE OFFICER ISSUE RESOLVED FOR NOW AT TH CAPITOL, WHAT WILL LAWMAKERS AND THE GOVERNOR TURN THEIR ATTENTION TO NEXT?

WE'LL PONDER THAT WITH UR COUCH FULL OF POLITICOS.

REPUBLICANS UP FIRST, BRIAN MCCLUNG, PR PROFESSIONAL, JEN DEJOURNETT IS A POLITICAL OPERATIVE AND VETERAN OF CAMPAIGNS, EMBER REICHOTT JUNGE AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, ABOU AMARA.

TALKING ABOUT THE SRO LAW, A TRIUMPH OF BIPARTISAN AND COMPROMISE EVEN THOUGH YOU HAVE THE NINE SENATE DEMOCRATS AND THREE DEMOCRATS AGAINST IT.

>> I THINK THAT VOTE TELLS YOU THE VAST MAJORITY OF MINNESOTANS ND THE VAST MAJORITY OF THEIR REPRESENTATIVES BELIEVE THAT HAS TO BE SOME ROLE FOR SAFETY IN OUR SCHOOLS AND I THINK THAT VOTE TAKE THES THAT.

>> SENATOR.

>> I THINK WHAT HAPPENED HERE IS THEY DIDN'T BRING EVERYONE TO THE TABLE LAST YEAR INCLUDING LAW ENFORCEMENT.

AND WHEN YOU HAVE A SOLUTION, YOU HAVE TO HAVE EVERYBODY A PART OF IT AND THEY IMPROVED THE BILL BY DOING THAT.

THEY HAD TRAINING AND STANDARDS AROUND THE STATE AND I THINK EVERYBODY BENEFITED BY THAT.

>> Eric: WERE YOU SURPRISED BY THE BIPARTISAN NATURE OF THIS?

IS >> NO, I DON'T THINK SO.

I DO THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A CONVERSATION WE'VE BEEN HAVING SINCE LAST SUMMER AND REPUBLICANS WERE CALLING REPEATEDLY FOR A SPECIAL SESSION, WE COULD HAVE SOLVED THIS LAST YEAR.

GLAD IT GOT DONE NOW.

I WILL SAY ALSO THROUGH IN THAT PIECE YOU SAW REPRESENTATIVE JEFF WITTE FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT AND AS AN SRO IT'S ANOTHER REMINDER OF WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE A CITIZEN LEGISLATURE TO HAVE SOMEBODY WITH THAT KIND OF EXPERIENCE.

DEMOCRATS THIS WEEK HAD A BILL TO MAKE THE LEGISLATURE YEAR-ROUND A PROFESSIONAL LEGISLATURE.

WE WOULD LOSE THE VIEWPOINTS OF PEOPLE LIKE REPRESENTATIVE JEFF WITTE IF WE WENT IN THAT DIRECTION SO I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT.

>> Eric: THEY SURROUNDED THE FULL TIME LEGISLATURE WITH BIPARTISAN RESTRICTING COMMISSION AND END TO THE REVOLVING DOOR OF LOBBYISTS COMING OUT OF THE LEGISLATURE.

>> WELL, I OPENED UP A WHOLE 'NOTHER CAN OF QUESTIONS THERE.

LOOK, I THINK THAT THERE'S BIPARTISAN OPPOSITION TO A YEAR-ROUND LEGISLATURE.

THE IDEA THAT YOU WOULD TAKE WHAT WE HAVE NOW AND KEEP LAWMAKERS IN THERE, THEY HAVE ENOUGH BAD IDEAS IN FIVE MONTHS, I REALLY DON'T THINK WE SHOULD MORE THAN DOUBLE THAT.

>> Eric: FULL TIME LEGISLATURE >> NO, I THINK THAT'S COMPLETELY RIDICULOUS.

I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU DON'T GET A LOT OF PEOPLE RUNNING OR WANTING TO SERVE BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT THEY'RE BEING PAID.

I CAN APPRECIATE THAT, BUT I NEVER -- I ALWAYS KNOW MY TAX DOLLARS ARE SAFE WHEN THEY'RE OUT OF SESSION AND I KNOW THEY'RE NOT GOING TO PASS ANY MORE RIDICULOUS LAWS THAT ARE GOING TO INFRINGE ON THE FREE PARK WHEN THEY'RE NOT IN SESSION SO I SAY SHORTEN THE SESSION, LET THEM GET TO HAVE THE CHANCE TO MAKE A REAL LIFE INCOME, DO THE WORK UICKER, FASTER I THINK IT WOULD BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER TO WORK IN A BIPARTISAN WAY AND WE'D GET MORE EFFECTIVE GOVERNMENT F WE DID THAT.

>> Eric: DEMOCRATS I'M GOING LIKE THIS.

>> HERE'S THE DEAL, IF YOU WALK INTO IF IGROCERY STORE AND YOU'RE A STATE REPRESENTATIVE YOUR CONSTITUENT DOESN'T CARE IF IT'S DECEMBER OR IN SESSION, THEY WANT ISSUES ADDRESSED.

I THINK THERE'S SUBSTANCE TO IT, MAYBE NOT FULL TIME LEGISLATURE BUT THERE'S GOT A REFLECTION OF IT'S HARDER WORK THAN IT'S EVER BEEN IT'S GOT TON COMMENSURATE TO COMPENSATION.

>> I DON'T SUPPORT A FULL-TIME LEGISLATURE AT ALL.

I HINK THE JOB SHOULD BE DONE IN A SHORTER PERIOD OF TIME AND YOU NEED TIME IN THE COMMUNITY TO ACTUALLY BE IN ANOTHER JOB OR IN OUR, WITH YOUR FAMILY AND REALLY LIVING LIFE SO YOU CAN BRING THAT PERSPECTIVE BACK TO THE LEGISLATURE.

>> Cathy: CAN YOU REALLY SHORTEN THINGS UP THOUGH AND DO DECENT LAWMAKING REALLY?

>> I THINK YOU CAN.

IF YOU GET RID OF SOME OF THE GAMESMANSHIP -- >> Cathy: WELL, GOOD LUCK WITH THAT.

>> I THINK IF YOU GET DOWN TO WHAT REALLY IS IS IMPACTING PEOPLE AND HOW DO YOU COME TO A SOLUTION TOGETHER I THINK YOU CAN DO IT.

OTHER STATES HAVE A HORTENED SESSION.

OTHER STATES ARE ABLE TO GET THEIR WORK DONE.

WE'RE ABLE TO DO THAT AND REALLY IT DOES GET THOSE LEGISLATORS OUT IN THE COMMUNITY LISTENING TO REAL PEOPLE AND HOW THE THINGS THEY'RE DOING IMPACTS PEOPLE'S LIVES.

THEY'RE LESS IN A FISH BOWL WHERE THEY'RE HEARING PAID GOVERNMENTAL LOBBYISTS TELL THEM WHAT THE SOLUTION IS ND GETTING TOO MUCH CAUGHT UP IN THE NEGATIVITY AROUND THINGS.

>> Cathy: DISAGREEING?

>> A DISAGREE, I THINK THE SRO BILL IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE.

HOW MUCH ENGAGEMENT HAD TO HAPPEN, ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS ACROSS THE TABLE.

IT'S NOT SOMETHING YOU CAN HAVE A FULL TIME JOB ELSEWHERE, THERE'S A LOT OF INTENT THAT HAD TO HAPPEN.

MAYBE IT'S NOT A FULL TIME LEGISLATURE BUT IT HAS TO BE COMMENSURATE WITH THE WORK WE'RE EXPECTING THEM TO DO.

>> Eric: I'M REALLY CONFUSED ABOUT LOCAL CONTROL AND PARTIES SEEM TO BE THEY LIKE IT NTIL THEY DON'T LIKE IT.

AND NOW UBER AND LYFT ARE BEING BANNED OUT OF MINNEAPOLIS MAYBE ON MAY 1ST AND THERE'S A BILL IN THE LEGISLATURE TO NOT ALLOW CITIES TO MAKE THAT DECISION, THAT IT WOULD BE A STATEWIDE.

>> WELL, THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT DON'T WORK CITY TO CITY.

AND GETTING IN A CAR AND DRIVING SOMEWHERE IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS.

WHEN OU'RE GOING TO CROSS NUMEROUS JURISDICTIONS WHEN YOU ARE IN A RIDE-SHARING VEHICLE IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE FOR EVERY CITY ALONG THE WAY TO HAVE A DIFFERENT SET OF RULES, DIFFERENT PAY STANDARD AND SO I THINK ON THE LOCAL CONTROL ISSUE OR NOT, I THINK WHAT YOU OUGHT TO LOOK AT IS IS THIS SOMETHING WHERE IT MAKES SENSE TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, LOCAL EXPERIMENTATION, LOCAL OPPORTUNITY TO COME UP WITH A BETTER PLAN, BUT SOMETHING LIKE RIDE-SHARING IS NOT ONE OF THOSE THINGS AND THAT'S WHY WE NEED THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR TO STEP IN.

YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE NINE OR TEN MINNEAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS DECIDING WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN FOR RIDE-SHARING FOR THE ENTIRE METRO REGION OR POTENTIALLY THE ENTIRE STATE.

>> SENATOR?

>> I AM NOT A FAN NORMALLY OF PREEMPTION WHICH IS UNDOING LOCAL CONTROL.

BUT WE HAVE A MINNEAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL THAT IS GOVERNING BY IDEOLOGY AND NOT LEGISLATING.

BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T BRING THE COMPANIES TO THE TABLE TO HAVE A SOLUTION.

THERE ARE ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS THAT COULD HAVE BEEN HAD THAT THE MAYOR PROPOSED.

I THINK IN THIS CASE IT IS UP TO THE LEGISLATURE TO FIX THAT TO ACTUALLY HAVE A STATEWIDE STANDARD AND USE THE DATA OF THE STUDY THAT WAS PROPOSED, THEY HAVE REAL DATA AND BASE IT ON THAT SO THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR REAL COMPROMISE AND A REAL SOLUTION.

>> I THINK THERE'S TWO PROBLEMS THAT ARE HAPPENING HERE.

I THINK THE FIRST PROBLEM IS THERE ARE SOME REAL ISSUES THE DRIVERS ARE BRINGING TO THE TABLE AROUND SAFETY, JOB PROTECTION, IF THEY GET HARMED ON THE JOB AND THEIR PAY SCALE.

THAT ISN'T BEING ADDRESSED, THAT IS A COMPANY PROBLEM UBER AND LYFT HAVE TO SOLVE.

THE OTHER PART OF THE PROBLEM KIND OF GOING TO THE POINT OF NOT ALL VOICES AT THE TABLE, WHEN YOU KIND OF GET SINGLE PARTY CONTROL OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN THAT PUSH AND PULL OF HAVING TO WORK THINGS OUT TO GET SOMETHING DONE DOESN'T HAPPEN.

SO I THINK THERE'S A COUPLE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING HERE THAT NEED TO BE WORKED OUT BUT, NO, YOU CAN'T CREATE A SYSTEM WHERE IT'S IMPOSSIBLE FOR COMPANIES TO OPERATE BECAUSE IT DOESN'T REALLY SERVE ANYONE ESPECIALLY THE TRANSPORTATION VULNERABLE.

>> Eric: WHERE THE DRIVERS, DID UBER AND LYFT ENVISION THIS AS A LIVING WAGE, FULL TIME JOB FOR PEOPLE OR WAS IT A SIDE HUSTLE AS A PART TIME JOB?

AND I WONDER IF THEY SET THE BUSINESS MODEL UP WHERE THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GIVE THEM A FULL LIVING WAGE BECAUSE IT'S NOT DESIGNED TO BE THAT.

>> THAT MAY AVE BEEN THE CASE OF HOW IT STARTED BUT THE REALITY THE VAST MAJORITY OF DRIVERS THIS IS THEIR MAIN SOURCE OF INCOME.

I DO THINK IT'S WELL INTENTIONED I ADMIT IT'S A PROBLEM.

IT'S GOING TO CAUSE SERIOUS PUSHBACK, THERE'S 18 MILLION RIDES IN MINNESOTA EVE YEAR THROUGH EASTBOUNDER AND LYFT AND IF YOU ADD IN THE JEWEL INFRASTRUCTURE, THE MALL OF AMERICA, THE AIRPORT, THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS NOT GOING TO BE SERVED.

AND I SUSPECT WHETHER THE LEGISLATURE ACTS OR NOT IN THE SUMMER WHEN PEOPLE FEEL THE IMPACTS OF THIS INCLUDING DRIVERS BECAUSE MANY OF THEM WON'T BE RECEIVING INCOME DURING THAT TIME I SUSPECT THEY MAY BE GOING BACK TO CITY HALL AND ASKING TO MODIFY THE PROPOSAL.

>> THAT'S WHATTED HEADLINE SHOULD HAVE BEEN, MINNEAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL CHANGES PAY STRUCTURE FOR LYFT AND UBER DRIVERS TO ZERO DOLLARS AN HOUR STARTING MAY 1ST.

THAT'S WHAT THEY DID.

THEY'RE NOT GOING TO OPERATE HERE AND THAT IS NOT WORKABLE AND IT'S SOMETHING LIKE 10,000 DRIVERS THAT ARE GOING TO BE SIDELINED IN THE MEANTIME.

I'VE BEEN TALKING TO RESTAURANT OWNERS IN DOWNTOWN MINNEAPOLIS, THEY ARE SCARED WHAT THE IMPACT WILL BE.

>> AND TO ABOU'S POINT IT'S BEYOND WHAT YOU SAID, IT'S PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, SENIOR CITIZENS TRYING TO GET TO HEALTH CARE, THIS IS GOING TO BE A MAJOR CRISIS NOT ONLY IN MINNEAPOLIS BUT AROUND THE REGION AND IT REALLY CANNOT BE ALLOWED TO GO FORWARD.

IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, THEY ACTUALLY DID LEAVE.

THERE WAS A THREAT TO LEAVE AND THEY LEFT.

THEY CAME BACK NINE MONTHS LATER, ES, BUT IT CAUSED A GREAT DEAL OF CHAOS.

WE DON'T WANT THAT HERE.

>> Cathy: GOVERNOR WALZ BACK ON CNN AFTER VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS WAS IN TOWN TALKING ABOUT ABORTION RIGHTS.

HE HAD SOME INTERESTING THINGS TO SAY ABOUT ABORTION RIGHTS ON CNN.

WHAT DID YOU MAKE OF THAT WHAT'S HE UP TO?

>> ONE, IT'S CLEAR THE GOVERNOR'S PROFILE HAS BEEN RAISED, LEADING THE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR'S ASSOCIATION, HE IS CLEARLY NOT JUST A VOICE BUT REPRESENTS A FIGURE THAT CAN REACH VARIOUS PARTS OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND HE KNOWS ABORTION IS KEY TO HOLDING THE BLUE WALL.

I'M GOING TO INCLUDE MINNESOTA IN THAT BLUE WALL FROM MINNESOTA TO WISCONSIN TO MICHIGAN TO PENNSYLVANIA, IF JOED BIDEN CAN WIN THOSE STATES HE WILL BE REELECTED.

>> YOU KNOW, I HOPE THIS ELECTION DOESN'T COME DOWN TO ONE ISSUE AGAIN.

THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER ISSUES THAT IMPACT PEOPLE'S LIVES.

>> ABORTION IMPACTS LOTS OF PEOPLE'S LIVES.

>> NO, I UNDERSTAND THAT BUT IF YOU'RE PRO-ABORTION OR PRO-LIFE WE ALREADY KNOW WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO VOTE.

THE REST OF US WHO WANT TO TALK ABOUT ALL THE OTHER ISSUES THAT IMPACT PEOPLE'S LIVES NEVER GET A CHANCE TO HEAR CANDIDATES FULLY VETTED VIEWS ON THAT BECAUSE WE'RE STUCK ON ONE ISSUE.

AND WHILE I UNDERSTAND IT'S IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE, I GET THAT BUT CAN WE TALK ABOUT ALL THE OTHER THINGS THAT IMPACT PEOPLE'S LIVES?

CAN WE FOCUS, CAN WE DRILL ON THAT BECAUSE WHEN WE DON'T WE NEVER HAVE TIME TO TALK ABOUT ALL OF THOSE ISSUES AND THEN PEOPLE JUST, YOU KNOW, GO BACK TO THEIR CORNERS, OU TAKE A SIDE AND YOU MAYBE GO WITH SOMEBODY YOU DON'T WANT.

>> Eric: GOOD STUFF.

WE'LL HAVE ALL SUMMER TO TALK ABOUT IT.

THANKS A LOT.

>> Cathy: APPRECIATE IT.

♪♪ >> MINNESOTANS ARE SICK OF THIS BUDGET ROLLERCOASTER AND THE ONLY WAY TO GET OFF THE BUDGET ROLLERCOASTER IS TO LOOK AT BALANCING THE BUDGET N THE LONG-TERM.

>> YOU KNOW, OUR PREMISE IS THOSE SAME PEOPLE MAKING, IF YOU WILL, THE BIG MONEY ARE ALSO THE PEOPLE MA MAKE JOBS.

♪♪ >> Cathy: ALWAYS FUN TO SEE A COUCH FULL OF LEGISLATIVE LEADERS FROM YEARS GONE BY.

SPEAKING OF DAYS GONE BY IT'S TIME FOR THE MINNESOTA HISTORY PORTION OF TONIGHT'S SHOW.

LAST WEEK ERIC ASKED YOU A QUESTION CONCERNING THE XCEL ENERGY CENTER.

HOME TO THE MINNESOTA WILD SINCE 2000 AND LOCATION FOR MOST OF THE HOME GAMES FOR THE PWHL MINNESOTA TEAM'S INAUGURAL SEASON.

ERIC THEN SHARED THESE DETAILS: A DECADE AFTER OPENING, IN THE FALL OF 2010, A GROUP OF MORE THAN 1000 PEOPLE DID SOMETHING AT TH X THAT HAD NEVER BEEN ACCOMPLISHED BEFORE.

AND AS NEAR AS WE CAN TELL, IT'S NOT BEEN DONE SINCE.

OUR TASK FOR YOU: ELL US WHAT RECORD WAS SET AT THE XCEL ENERGY CENTER IN NOVEMBER OF 2010.

WRONG ANSWERS ALWAYS GO FIRST.

>> THE ANSWER IS DOMINOES.

THERE WAS AN INCREDIBLE NUMBER OF DOMINOES SET UP AT THE XCEL CENTER.

THIS IS LARRY FROM MINNETONKA.

>> THE RECORD THAT WAS SET AT THE XCEL ENERGY CENTER WAS THE MINNESOTA WILD'S 4 ANDTH CONSECUTIVE SELLOUT OF THEIR FIRST 400 HOME HOCKEY GAMES.

JERRY IN ELK RIVER.

>> HE ANSWER TO THIS WEEK'S INDEX FILE QUESTION IS THERE WAS A THOUSAND PEOPLE CURLING AT THE XCEL ENERGY CENTER.

LOVED THE SHOW.

>> Cathy: THANK YOU, JEFF.

ALL FINE GUESSES, ONE AND ALL.

BUT ALL WRONG.

DESPITE HAPPENING ON THE ICE AT THE XCEL ENERGY CENTER THE ANSWER DOES NOT INVOLVE A GAME OR SPORTING EVENT.

WE PROMISED EXTRA CREDIT IF YOU WERE THERE AND PROVIDED PHOTOGRAPHIC EVIDENCE.

OUR NEXT CALLER TOOK THAT TO HEART, TAKE IT AWAY, ANITA.

>> HELLO, THE RECORD SET AT XCEL ENERGY CENTER WAS THE MOST MEN WITH MUSTACHES ON THE ICE AT ONE TIME.

THIS WAS A MOVEMBER FUNDRAISER FOR PROSTATE CANCER RESEARCH.

THOSE OF US WHO COULDN'T GROW MUSTACHE WERE PROVIDED WITH SOME BUT WE WEREN'T ALLOWED TO BE PART OF THE RECORD SETTING.

OUR FAMILY HAS BEEN IMPACTED IN MANY INSTANCES BY PROSTATE CANCER.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING THIS AS AN INDEX FILE QUESTION.

THIS IS ANITA ON BEHALF OF THE HUPFER, MARTY AND SOLDERMAN FAMILIES OF CAMBRIDGE AND COTTAGE GROVE.

>> THANK YOU, ANITA.

THE MOST MEN WITH A MUSTACHE WAS THE ANSWER WE SOUGHT AND YOU PROVIDED THE PERFECT ANSWER AND VISUALS.

SHOUT-OUT TO VIEWER MIKE WHO WAS THERE THAT DAY AND SENT US THE QUESTION LAST SPRING.

DO YOU HAVE A MINNESOTA HISTORY QUESTION YOU THINK WE HAVE NOT ASKED IN THE LAST FOUR DECADES?

GIVE US A CALL OR DROP US A NOTE.

IF WE USE IT YOU WILL GET YOUR NAME ON THE AIR.

JUST ENOUGH TIME BY THE WAY FOR SHOW-ENDING MUSIC.

THIS WEEK BACK IN 2001 SEMISONIC PERFORMED "CLOSING TIME" ONE OF MY FAVORITE SONGS IN STUDIO B.

TAKE A LISTEN.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

♪♪ >> SINGING: CLOSING TIME TURN ALL OF THE LIGHTS ON OVER EVERY BOY AND EVERY GIRL CLOSING TIME ONE LAST CALL FOR ALCOHOL SO FINISH YOUR WHISKEY OR EER CLOSING TIME YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO HOME BUT YOU CAN'T STAY HERE I KNOW WHO I WANT TO TAKE ME HOME I KNOW WHO I WANT TO TAKE ME HOME I KNOW WHO I WANT TO TAKE ME HOME TAKE ME HOME ... CAPTIONED BY: VERITEXT/PARADIGM-CAPTIONING WWW.VERITEXT.COM >> ALMANAC IS MADE POSSIBLE BY MEMBERS FROM 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.

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

MORE AT EDUCATIONMINNESOTA.ORG.

AND PAINT CARE, HELPING MINNESOTA PAINT SMARTER TO PREVENT WASTE.

MORE AT PAINTCARE.ORG.

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