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

>> ERIC: IN THE NEXT HOUR, WE'LL LOOK AT THE LATEST JOBS NUMBERS, LEARN ABOUT EFFORTS TO VACCINATE MEMBERS OF MINNESOTA'S DISABILITY COMMUNITY, AND DISCOVER A GROUP IN BEMIDJI FIGHTING TO COMBAT RACISM.

AND THEN MARY LAHAMMER SHOWS US A VERY VISIBLE CHANGE AT THE STATE CAPITOL.

>> Mary: AS THE SECURITY FENCE COMES DOWN OUTSIDE THE STATE CAPITOL, LAWMAKERS DISCUSS HOW TO END THE GOVERNOR'S EMERGENCY POWERS.

>> YOU CANNOT SAY THAT THE EMERGENCY IS NOT OVER.

IT'S OVER.

>> Mary: THAT'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 ELECTRICITY AND RELATED SERVICES TO 28 CO-OPS IN MINNESOTA.

A TOUCHSTONE ENERGY COOPERATIVE.

DELTA DENTAL OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION: MAKING DENTAL CARE POSSIBLE FOR MINNESOTANS IN NEED.

DELTADENTALMN.ORG/TPT.

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

ENBRIDGE: CONNECTING MINNESOTANS WITH ENERGY FOR OVER 70 YEARS.

MORE AT ENBRIDGE.COM/LINE3US.

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

MORE AT EDUCATIONMINNESOTA.ORG.

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

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT COMES FROM THE MINNEAPOLIS FOUNDATION, INSPIRING AND ENGAGING IN ACTION TO REALIZE STRONG, VIBRANT COMMUNITIES.

AND FROM THE BLANDIN FOUNDATION.

>> ERIC: LATER IN THE HOUR, WE'LL TALK ABOUT RELAXING COVID RULES, AND LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BUDGET DEADLOCK AT THE CAPITOL.

BUT FIRST UP, THE BIG JOBS REPORT TODAY.

>> CATHY: THE U.S. ECONOMY ADDED MORE THAN HALF A MILLION JOBS LAST MONTH, MUCH BETTER THAN THE MONTH BEFORE, BUT NOT AS GOOD AS TWO MONTHS AGO.

THE LATEST NUMBERS SHOW UNEMPLOYMENT DOWN AND WAGES UP.

HERE FOR SOME QUICK ANALYSIS, ECONOMIST LOUIS JOHNSTON FROM THE COLLEGE OF ST. BENEDICT AND ST. JOHN'S UNIVERSITY.

GOOD TO SEE YOU, PROFESSOR.

>> GOOD TO BE WITH YOU.

THANKS FOR INVITING ME.

>> Cathy: WHAT'S BEHIND THE UPS AND THE DOWNS?

>> WELL, I SAW THREE THINGS IN THE NUMBERS THAT I THOUGHT WERE REALLY INTRIGUING.

ONE WAS THAT THERE WAS A STEADY FLOW OF UNUNEMPLOYMENT NOW, ABOUT 25% OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE UNEMPLOYED ARE FINDING JOBS AND THAT'S ACTUALLY A VERY HEALTHY NUMBER.

THE SECOND WAS THAT THERE IS A BIG DROP IN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE UNEMPLOYED FOR A LONG TIME SO THE WAY THE LABOR DEPARTMENT DEFINES THAT IS 27 WEEKS OR MORE.

HALF THE PEOPLE, THAT NUMBER IS HALF AS BIG NOW, THIS MONTH, THAN IT WAS LAST MONTH SO THAT'S REALLY GOOD NEWS.

THE ONE KIND OF WORRISOME OR POINT OF CONCERN IS THE LABOR FORCE IS ABOUT THE SAME AS IT WAS LAST MONTH.

THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THERE EITHER LOOKING FOR JOBS OR HAVE PAID JOBS REALLY HASN'T BUDGED MUCH SO THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE STAYING ON THE SIDELINES FROM THE LABOR MARKED AND WE DON'T QUITE KNOW WHY.

>> Eric: INFLATION SEEMS TO BE GOING UP.

I WONDER HOW THAT MIGHT WEIGH IN ON EMPLOYMENT FIGURES GOING FORWARD.

>> I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO MATTER TOO MUCH.

THERE'S KIND OF AN ASSOCIATION THAT WE UNFORTUNATELY TALK TO YOU GUYS A LOT AS ECONOMISTS BETWEEN INFLATION AND UNEMPLOYMENT.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S REALLY GOING ON RIGHT NOW.

WHAT'S GOING ON NOW IN TERMS OF INFLATION IS BASICALLY YOU HAVE THIS GIGANTIC SHOCK TO THE MARKETS AND PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE RIGHT PRICES SHOULD BE FOR ALL THE DIFFERENT THINGS IN THE ECONOMY.

AND KIND OF LIKE THE SAME THING IN THE LABOR MARKET, THEY'RE SEARCHING AROUND, THEY'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE RIGHT PRICE AT WHICH TOO MAKE THESE TRADES IS AND RIGHT NOW THAT'S SCRAMBLING INFLATION NUMBERS AND IT'S MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN TERMS OF THE LABOR FORCE.

>> Cathy: WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE LABOR FORCE, PROFESSOR, WHAT ABOUT THE WORKER SHORTAGE IN SOME SECTORS OF THE ECONOMY?

HOW DOES THAT FACTOR INTO THIS?

>> THAT'S PART OF THAT NOISY WAS ALLUDING TO.

SO, FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU OWN A RESTAURANT OR IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR WORK FOR SEASONAL WORKERS OR THINGS LIKE THAT, YOU'RE LOOKING FOR PEOPLE AT A PARTICULAR WAGE WITH PARTICULAR SKILLS AND YOU'VE GOT TO GO OUT AND FIND THEM AND THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAVE THOSE SKILLS ARE LOOKING FOR YOU AND SO YOU'RE KIND OF LOOKING AROUND AND MISSING EACH OTHER BUT MAYBE YOU'RE MATCHING UP BUT THEN THE EMPLOYER CAN'T PAY THE WAGE THAT WILL BRING YOU OUT OF THE LABOR MARKET.

THERE IS A LOT OF THAT GOING ON RIGHT NOW AND SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT A SHORTAGE, USUALLY TALK ABOUT NOT BEING ABLE TO HIRE WORKERS AT A GIVEN WAGE IN GIVEN CIRCUMSTANCES.

I THINK THE PROBLEM RIGHT NOW IS THE WAGE IS GOING TO HAVE TO CHANGE AND THE OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES ARE GOING TO HAVE TO CHANGE BEFORE THOSE EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES CAN MATCH UP.

>> Eric: HOW OH DOES MINNESOTA'S EMPLOYMENT PICTURE MATCH UP WITH THE FEDERAL SITUATION, THE NATIONAL SITUATION?

>> IT'S SIMILAR BUT AS USUAL IT'S A LITTLE BIT BETTER, SO OUR UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IS LOWER BUT WHEN YOU START TO LOOK AT THE NUMBERS FOR THE LABOR FORCE AND FOR THE LONG-TERM UNEMPLOYED IT'S ABOUT A MONTH OR TWO -- ABOUT A MONTH BEHIND WHERE THE NATIONAL NUMBERS ARE BECAUSE THEY'RE STAGGERED.

BUT THEY LOOK ABOUT THE SAME SO MINNESOTA'S DOING PRETTY WELL.

I'M PRETTY HAPPY WITH IT.

>> Eric: JUST A MINUTE LEFT.

WITHOUT THE FEDERAL MONEY, THE BILLIONS AND TRILLION, HOW DIFFERENT WOULD THE PICTURE BE?

>> I THINK THAT THE JOB MARKET WOULD BE RECOVERING A LOT MORE SLOWLY.

HAVING THE STIMULUS CHECKS AND HAVING THE EXTENDED UNEMPLOYMENT HAS PUT RESOURCES IN PEOPLE'S POCKETS SO THAT WHEN THE VACCINE WAS AVAILABLE AND THINGS COULD START TO OPEN UP, PEOPLE COULD GO ON SPENDING.

THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO KIND OF PAUSE AND GET BACK TO WORK AND EARN SOME MONEY AND THEN START GOING OUT, SO I THINK IT HAS DEFINITELY HELPED.

>> Cathy: ALL RIGHT, PROFESSOR, ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> Eric: THANKS, PROFESSOR.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME.

>> CATHY: STILL TO COME, A LOOK AT A NEW DIGITAL SERIES HERE AT TPT THAT EXAMINES CULTURE AND FASHION.

BUT UP NEXT, IMPROVING COVID NUMBERS IN THE UNITED STATES MEANS MORE VACCINE AVAILABLE TO THE WORLD.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

♪♪♪ >> ERIC: WITH COVID CASES ON THE WANE HERE IN THE UNITED STATES, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SAYS IT WILL SEND 25 MILLION DOSES OF UNUSED AMERICAN VACCINES TO COUNTRIES AROUND THE GLOBE.

LET'S LEARN MORE ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL COVID SITUATION WITH MICHAEL OSTERHOLM.

HE HEADS THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA'S CENTER FOR INFECTIOUS DISEASE RESEARCH AND POLICY.

DOCTOR, WE MUST HAVE SOME EXCESS DOSES, WHICH COUNTRIES FIND MOST NEED?

>> WELL, BASICALLY THE WORLD HAS A NEED.

THERE ARE 6.4 BILLION PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN MIDDLE OR LOW-INCOME COUNTRIES AND RIGHT NOW THAT'S THAN 1% OF THEM HAVE HAD ANY ACCESS TO VACCINE AT ALL.

THIS IS A MAJOR CHALLENGE FOR THE WORLD BECAUSE OF NOT JUST THE HUMANITARIAN ISSUES OF SEEING SUCH A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH ILLNESS AND DEATH BUT ALSO BECAUSE THIS IS NOW WHERE THESE NEW VARIANTS, THESE MUTATED VIRUSES ARE COMING FROM WHICH ACTUALLY THREATEN OUR CURRENT VACCINES.

JUST SINCE I'VE BEEN ON THE SHOW LAST MONTH, WE'VE HAD A MAJOR NEW SEA CHANGE WITH THE VARIANT PICTURE ON A GLOBAL BASIS THAT IS OF GREAT CONCERN TO US HERE IN THE UNITED STATES.

>> Cathy: WHY?

EXPLAIN WHY, PLEASE?

>> WE HAVE A NEW VARIANT.

FOR EVERYONE, THIS IS A MUTATED VIRUS AND THIS IS B.1.1.7..72 AND WE'RE NOW SEEING IT BECOME THE DOMINANT ONE IN MANY COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD, COME FROM INDIA, AND A REPORT OUT OF ENGLAND TODAY SUPPORTS THAT IT'S ABOUT 50 TO 100% MORE INFECTIOUS THAN THE PREVIOUSLY INFECTIOUS B.1.1.7.

IS.

IN ADDITION, WE'RE BEGINNING TO SEE IT IMPACT.

THERE'S ONLY 30% PROTECTION WITH THIS VARIANT AGAINST THOSE WHO HAVE HAD A SINGLE DOZE OF VACCINE WHICH IS A REAL CHALLENGE BECAUSE WHILE WE OFTEN TALK ABOUT THE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE VACCINATED, OFTEN REFERS TO A SINGLE DOZE, NOT 2 DOSES AT LEAST FOR THE MRNA VACCINES.

SO WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.

ENGLAND HAS HAD AN INCREASE IN THE LAST WEEK OF 49% INCREASE IN CASES IN A COUNTRY THAT'S HEAVILY VACCINATED BUT THE POOL OF UNVACCINATED PEOPLE, PEOPLE WITH ONLY A SINGLE SHOOT, WE ONLY HAVE 63% OF OUR POPULATION WHO HAVE HAD A SINGLE SHOT SO IF THIS VARIANT DOES CONTINUE TO SPREAD AS WE THINK IT IS GOING TO WORLD-WIDE, WE'RE GOING TO BE IN FOR UNFORTUNATELY SOME VERY CHALLENGING MONTHS AHEAD.

>> Cathy: LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT THAT 70% MARK THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS TALKING ABOUT, FEDERAL AND STATE.

WHY SUCH A MAGIC NUMBER AND IF WE GET TO 70%, WILL THAT MITIGATE SOME OF THE CONCERN ABOUT THE VARIANTS?

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, THE 70% NUMBER IS I THINK PART OF THIS ADMINISTRATION'S EFFORT TO PUT MILEPOSTS OUT THERE SO WE KNOW WHERE WE'RE AT.

REMEMBER, IT WAS BACK LAST NOVEMBER, DECEMBER, WHEN THOSE OF US WERE ON THE TRANSITION TEAM OF THE BIDEN TRANSITION TEAM IN TERMS OF COVID WERE ACTUALLY CONCERNED THAT COULD WE MEET 100 MILLION DOSES OF VACCINE DELIVERED BY THE FIRST 100 DAYS, AND THROUGH SOME EXTRAORDINARY EFFORTS OF GOVERNMENT TOGETHER WITH MANUFACTURERS, WE GOT TO 220 MILLION.

BUT THAT FIRST INITIAL GOALPOST WAS REALLY IMPORTANT.

NOW THE 70% HAS BEEN SEEN AS A WAY TO GET US THERE.

IT'S NOT A MAGICAL NUMBER, IT WON'T MEAN THAT SOMEHOW WE'RE PROTECTED OR NOT AND I THINK WHAT WE'RE NOW SEEING IS WITH THIS NEW VARIANT FOR THE FIRST TIME, IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE HOW MANY DOSES OF THE VACCINE YOU HAVE.

WE'RE STILL WAITING TO SEE HOW THE J AND J SINGLE DOZE VACCINE WORKS BUT SPECIFICALLY AROUND THE MRNA VACCINES, HAVING 70% OF PEOPLE WITH ONE DOSE IS NOT ENOUGH.

IF THE VACCINE IS ONLY WORKING 30% OF THE TIME IN THAT POPULATION WITH THE SINGLE DOSE, SO I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO START SEEING MORE REFERENCE TO HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE FULLY VACCINATED, WHICH THAT NUMBER IS MUCH LOWER, RIGHT NOW, ABOUT 63% OF THE U.S. POPULATION HAS AT LEAST -- ADULT POPULATION HAS ONE DOSE, ONLY 52% HAVE BOTH DOSES.

SO THIS IS PUTTING A NEW TWIST ON HOW URGENT IT IS TO GET MORE PEOPLE VACCINATED.

>> Eric: NOW, DID COVID-19 START AT THE WITH YOU HAND INSTITUTE OFVILLE OR WET MARKET IN WUHAN OR DOES IT MATTER?

>> IT DOESN'T MATTER FROM THE STANDPOINT OF LAB SAFETY AND SPILLOVER FROM ANIMALS ARE BOTH CRITICAL ISSUES GOING FORWARD.

WE'VE KNOWN THAT, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT ON THIS VERY SHOW.

IN THE BOOK I PUBLISHED IN 2017, I LAID OUT BOTH OF THEM AS PRIMARY CONCERNS.

I THINK WHAT'S HAPPENED, UNFORTUNATELY, IS THIS HAS BECOME A WEAPONIZED ISSUE POLITICALLY, NOT SCIENTIFICALLY.

MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES WERE SOMEWHAT RETICENT, IF NOT AFRAID TO COME OUT LAST YEAR AND SAY, WELL, MAYBE THAT COULD HAVE BEEN A LEAK FROM THE LAB.

NOT INTENTIONAL BUT UNINTENTIONAL.

WE'VE HAD LEAKS FROM LABORATORIES ALL OVER THE WORLD, INCLUDING OUR OWN CDC, AND SO THIS MIGHT NOT BE SOMETHING OF A SURPRISE.

I THINK PEOPLE WERE AFRAID TO SAY THAT AND I SURELY CAUGHT A LOT OF PUSH.

FOR IT WHEN I SAID IT BECAUSE IT COULD BE EITHER ONE, I DON'T KNOW.

AND I THINK THAT THE DATA TRULY SUPPORTS IT'S NOT A WEAPONIZED VIRUS, IT WASN'T SOMETHING INTENTIONAL AND WE TRIED TO CHANGE IT BUT JUST POINTS OUT THE FACT THAT TODAY WE HAVE THESE DIFFERENT WAYS IN WHICH VIRUSES ARE GOING TO GET INTO PEOPLE.

JUST SINCE I WAS ON THE LAST TIME, WE HAVE A NEW CORONAVIRUS WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT CAME FROM DOGS TO PEOPLE AND I THINK YOU'LL START TO SEE MORE AND MORE OF THESE THINGS EMERGE AS TIME GOES ON.

>> Cathy: SHOULD THERE BE AN INVESTIGATION AS THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS CALLING FOR?

>> OH, I THINK SO BECAUSE ONLY RIGHT NOW IT IS SUCH A TOXIC ENVIRONMENT OUT THERE.

A VERY DEER FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE, ANTHONY FAUCI, YOU KNOW, IS LITERALLY HIS LIFE IS BEING THREATENED EVERY DAY.

IT IS SO DISRUPTIVE IN THE SCIENTIFIC WORLD BECAUSE PEOPLE NOW ARE CALLING INTO QUESTION CAN SCIENCE TELL THE TRUTH WHEN IN FACT WE HAVE BEEN, HE HAS BEEN.

HERE'S AN EXAMPLE WHERE THE MEDIA HAS REALLY NOT CLEARLY DELINEATED WHAT'S HAPPENED.

BUT ONE OF THE -- MY CLOSE COLLEAGUES, CHRISTIAN ANDERSON FROM THE SCRIPTS INSTITUTE, BASICALLY SENT TONY AN EMAIL EARLY IN THE PANDEMIC SAYING WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS VIRUS, CAN'T QUITE FIGURE OUT SOME OF IT.

WE DON'T KNOW IF THIS COULD BE SOMEHOW ENGINEERED OR NOT.

WELL, THREE WEEKS LATER, HE SENT A SECOND EMAIL SAYING WE'VE NOW LOOKED AT IT CAREFULLY AND IT'S NOT.

THIS IS A NATURAL WILD VIRUS.

EVERYONE IS FOCUSING ON THE FIRST EMAIL RIGHT NOW, NOBODY IS REPORTING ON THE SECOND EMAIL THAT ACTUALLY SAID IT WASN'T A PROBLEM.

AND THAT'S WHAT'S GIVING PEOPLE PAUSE TO SAY SOMEHOW WE'RE NOT TELLING THE TRUTH OR WE ARE LYING AND THAT'S BEEN A REAL DIFFICULT ISSUE FOR SCIENCE BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE TO HAVE WORDS THAT THEY CAN TRUST.

THEY HAVE TO HAVE PEOPLE THEY CAN TRUST, AND SO I THINK THIS HAS BEEN REALLY A VERY NOT ONLY DIFFICULT BUT I THINK DAMAGING SITUATION.

>> Cathy: SAY, BEFORE WE GO, QUICK THOUGHT HERE ON MASK MANDATES BEING DROPPED, OF COURSE, IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA AND ALL OVER REALLY.

GIVEN WHAT YOU JUST SAID ABOUT VARIANTS, WAS THAT -- IS THAT A SMART MOVE?

>> WELL, REMEMBER, CATHY, I'VE BEEN ALSO SAYING RIGHT ON THIS SHOW, AGAIN, TO -- NOT TO THE LIKES OF SOME PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT REMEMBER THESE FACE CLOTHE COVERINGS AND THESE GATERS CAN PROVIDE SOME ADDITIONAL PROTECTION BUT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 15-MINUTES' EXPOSURE IN A ROOM WITH SOMEONE WHO'S INFECTED AND YOU'RE WEARING NOTHING GETTING INFECTED VERSUS WEARING A FACE COVERING AND BEING IN THE ROOM FOR 30 MINUTES AND STILL GETTING INFECTED.

SO THEY DO REDUCE THE RISK SO I HAVE ALL ALONG SAID USE THEM.

BUT I WORRY THAT PEOPLE FEEL THESE ARE LIFE-SAVING DEVICES THAT I CAN GO INTO A CROWD, I CAN GO INTO A BAR OR A RESTAURANT FOR HOURS WITH MY FACE CLOTH COVERING ON AND I'LL BE PROTECTED AND THAT'S NOT THE CASE.

SO FROM A VARIANT STANDPOINT, THE MOST THING YOU CAN DO IS GET FULLY VACCINATED, I CAN'T SAY THAT ENOUGH.

THAT'S WHAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO DO RIGHT NOW.

>> Cathy: BY THE WAY, ARE YOU WEARING A FACE MASK NOW?

>> YOU KNOW, I DON'T WHEN I'M OUTDOORS, I DON'T INDOORS IN MOST LOCATIONS.

IF IT'S A SITUATION FROM AN ETIQUETTE SITUATION WHERE IT MAY MAKE PEOPLE FEEL COMFORTABLE, I MAY WEAR IT BUT I'M NOT WEARING IT FOR MY FULL PROTECTION.

>> Cathy: GOOD TO SEE YOU, DOCTOR.

THANK YOU.

♪♪♪ >> ERIC: THE KILLING OF GEORGE FLOYD A YEAR AGO HAS LED TO CALLS FOR CHANGE AROUND THE STATE.

"PROJECT FOR CHANGE" IS A NEW GROUP WORKING FOR RACIAL AND SOCIAL JUSTICE IN BEMIDJI.

ONE GREATER MINNESOTA REPORTER KAOMI LEE WENT TO BELTRAMI COUNTY TO FIND OUT MORE.

>> GEORGE FLOYD'S LIFE ENDED 200 MILES AWAY IN THE CITY STREETS OF MINNEAPOLIS.

BUT FOR THIS GROUP IN BEMIDJI, IT FELT CLOSE TO HIM.

>> THIS IS JUST A DISPLAY OF ADDRESS THAT IT JUST REALLY SURPRISED ME AND I WOULD -- AND I DON'T THINK I WOULD EXPECT THAT HERE IN MINNESOTA.

>> ALYSON IS HELPING TO LEAD A GROUP FOR RACIAL AND SOCIAL JUSTICE.

ITS MEMBERS ARE DIVERSE.

ONE THING IN COMMON THEY ALL HAVE ARE STORIES, WHETHER THEIR OWN OR SOMEONE THEY KNOW, WHERE RACE SEEMED TO BE A FACTOR IN HOW THEY WERE TREATED.

>> I THINK IT'S SOMETIMES VERY HARD TO ELABORATE WHAT IS GOING ON, YOU KNOW, AND, YOU KNOW, I'M WILLING TO GIVE PEOPLE THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT.

IT'S NOT ANYTHING SUPER OVERT, NOT LIKE CROSS-BURNINGS OR -- YOU KNOW, LIKE THE REALLY OVERT THINGS AND THAT'S SOMETIMES WHAT I THINK MAKES IT SO HARD IS IT'S NOW KIND OF BELOW THE SURFACE: THE GROUP WAS STARTED AFTER THE KILLING OF GEORGE FLOYD.

PRESIDENT JACOB WILEY KNOWS ALL TOO WELL HOW BIAS AND RACISM WORKS.

HE SAYS HE WAS ONCE STOPPED BY A TROUPER AND ASKED TO DO BREATH TESTS AND HE WAS EACH JAILED IN SPITE HAVING PASSED THE TESTS.

>> I STOPPED FOR THAT BUT JUSTICE -- I HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE JUST ASSUME BECAUSE I'M BLACK, I DO DRUGS OR I SMOKE WEED OR I'M A DRUNK BUT I'VE NEVER DRUNK A DAY IN MY LIFE.

>> SO THAT WAS A RACIST ACT.

>> I HONESTLY BELIEVE SO.

>> CHIEF BEMIDJI ---ONE YEAR AFTER GEORGE FLOYD'S KILLING, BLACK AND INDIGENOUS FOLKS HERE SAID THE CHANGE THEY'VE SEEN IS NOT ENOUGH.

AFTER GEORGE FLOYD'S KILLING, NEWS REPORTS SHOWED HUNDREDS MARCHED TO THE BEMIDJI POLICE DEPARTMENT.

THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS FACED CRITICISM ON HOW IT HANDLED THE PROTESTS AFTER FLOYD'S DEATH.

I TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO REACH THE BEMIDJI POLICE CHIEF BUT RECEIVED NO REPLY.

BUT THE STATISTICS SPEAK OF HISTORICAL POWER IMBALANCES OF THE CITY'S 15,000 RESIDENTS, NEARLY 80% ARE WHITE, 11% INDIGENOUS AND LESS THAN 3% BLACK.

THE INMATES AT THE COUNTY JAIL, HOWEVER, ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY PEOPLE OF COLOR.

>> THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT AND THE COUNTY CHEFS ARE THE ONES WHO ARE ELECTABLE INDIVIDUALS.

THEY MONITOR THE JAILS UP HERE.

WE DON'T HAVE POWER OVER THE JAILS.

>> THERE IS THE FIRST INDIGENOUS ROOM ELECTED TO THE CITY COUNCIL AND ONE OF TWO NATIVE AMERICANS VOTED IN LAST YEAR.

THAYER SAYS BEMIDJI HAS A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WANT TO DO THE WORK.

ONE IS TO CREATE A POLICE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE.

>> YOU CAN'T HIRE AND FIRE ON A COMMITTEE BUT WE CAN CREATE POLICY CHANGE, WE CAN I HAD INDICATE IN COMMUNITY AND WE CAN LOOK AT CHANGING THE NARRATIVE.

I WOULDN'T SAY THE BEMIDJI POLICE DEPARTMENT IS A FAILURE.

DO WE HAVE OFFICERS THAT OUR CHIEF OF POLICE NEEDS TO MONITOR MORE?

YES.

>> THIS NATIVE AMERICAN MOTHER OF A BLACK BEMIDJI HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT RECENTLY CALLED ON THE SCHOOL BOARD TO DO MORE TO FIGHT RACISM.

>> I PRAYED THAT NO OTHER STUDENT HAS TO WALK INTO THAT SCHOOL AND BE CALLED THE "N" WORLD OR ANOTHER DID HE ROWING TOWER TERM.

LIKE WHAT HAPPENED TO MY SON NEVER HAPPENS TO ANOTHER STUDENT.

AND YOU WERE THE LEADERS IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT COMES FROM YOU ALL THE WAY DOWN.

TAKE A STAND AND SAY NO RACISM, PLEASE.

>> DAVID FRISON IS BLACK AND HE AND HIS WIFE MOVED TO BE.

>> Mr. ' FOUR YEARS AGO.

>> I LOVE MY JOB HERE, I HAVE 175 STUDENTS EVERY SEMESTER, MOST OF THEM WHITE.

>> HE SAYS HE RELISHES BEING ABLE TO DEBUNK STEREOTYPES ABOUT BLACK MEN AS THEIR PROFESSOR, BUT OFF CAMPUS, HE IS JUST BLACK.

>> AS A BLACK MAN, I CAN'T CHANGE FROM BEING BLACK.

NO MATTER HOW MUCH EDUCATION I OBTAIN OR HOW MY SOCIAL STATUS -- I'M STILL VIEWED AS A BLACK MAN.

I STILL GO TO THE STORES HERE AND GET FOLLOWED AROUND THE STORES.

>> BUT EVEN THOUGH BEMIDJI HAS ITS PROBLEMS, HE BELIEVES THERE IS A CHANCE FOR THE COMMUNITY TO ADDRESS THEM.

>> I BELIEVE THAT YOU HAVE TO CHANGE YOUR ENVIRONMENT NO MATTER WHERE YOUR ENVIRONMENT WILL BE WHERE YOU'RE LOCATED, YOU HAVE TO MAKE IT SOMEWHAT BETTER.

♪♪♪ >> CATHY: SUSAN THAO OFTEN WORKS BEHIND THE SCENES ON "ALMANAC" BUT TONIGHT SHE STEPS IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA TO TALK ABOUT A NEW DIGITAL VIDEO SERIES SHE HAS CREATED CALLED "WORN WITHIN."

THE SERIES EXPLORES TRADITIONAL CLOTHING AND ITS CONNECTION TO CULTURAL IDENTITY.

THE SIX-PART SERIES IS AVAILABLE TO WATCH ON TPTORGINALS.ORG.

AND HERE WITH A PREVIEW, PRODUCER SUSAN THAO.

HOW ARE I CAN'T?

>> GOOD, HOW ARE YOU.

>> Cathy: GOOD.

HOW DID THE SERIES START?

>> SO, AT THE START -- REALLY AT THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC, I JUST SAW THE CANCELLATION OF JUST SO MANY CULTURAL EVENTS AND FESTIVALS AND I JUST WANTED TO DO SOMETHING TO CELEBRATE AND PAY TRIBUTE TO THOSE TRADITIONS AND SO THAT WAS ORIGINALLY HOW "WORN WITHIN" GOT STARTED.

BUT AS I DID RESEARCH ON THE TRADITIONAL DRESSES, I BECAME A LITTLE OVERWHELMED WITH HOW MUCH STORY AND HOW MUCH HISTORY CAN BE TOLD THROUGH, YOU KNOW, YOUR FABRICS OR YOUR CLOTHING OR EACH JUST LIKE A SIMPLE THING AS THE STITCHWORK ON THERE, LIKE ON THE FIRST EPISODE OF "WORN WITHIN," IT'S ABOUT -- JUST THE STORIES THAT FLOW OUT FROM THAT IS JUST VERY INCREDIBLE.

>> Eric: YOUR MOMS STEALS THE SHOW IN THIS SEGMENT.

LET'S ROLE THE CLIP AND YOU CAN TELL US ABOUT IT.

>> HMONG CLOTHES ARE USUALLY DONE WITH A PATCH WHICH IS DEFINED BY USING A DIFFERENT STITCHING TECHNIQUE, DIFFERENT COLORS AND GEOMETRIC PATTERNS.

>> TRADITIONALLY, HMONG GIRLS ARE TAUGHT ABOUT IT AT A YOUNG AGE, USUALLY BY THEIR MOTHER OR A FEMALE RELATIVE.

[SPEAKING NATIVE LANGUAGE] >> THIS WAS A VERY DESIRED SKILL TO HAVE, MAINLY BECAUSE, ONE, IT IS A FORM OF EXPRESSION, AN ART.

THE SECOND REASON AND PROBABILITY THE MOST PROMINENT IS TO GRAB THE ATTENTION OF THEIR SUITORS.

THE BETTER THE NEEDLEWORK, THE BETTER I'M LIKELY BE MARRIAGE MATERIAL.

>> Cathy: I TELL YOU, THE NEEDLEWORK IS STUNNING, JUST BEAUTIFUL.

I KNOW YOU KNOW THE HISTORY BUT DID YOU LEARN ANYTHING DIFFERENT, ANYTHING NEW?

>> YEA, NO, I DEFINITELY DID.

YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I LEARNED FROM THAT IS JUST HOW IMPORTANT HMONG CLOTHES REALLY ARE TO EACH PERSON, AND LIKE MY MOM, SHE DOESN'T -- SO SHE LOST -- I DON'T WANT TO SPOIL IT BUT SHE LOST HER PARENTS IN THAT VIETNAM WAR AND SO WITH -- WHAT WE JUST SAW, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR A MOM TO TEACH HER CHILD HOW TO DOLL [INDISCERNIBLE] AND I LEARNED HOW IMPORTANT AND HOW MUCH MORE I SHOULD DO BUN DHAO WITH MY PARENTS AND REALLY OUR KIDS, TEACH THEM.

>> Eric: LET'S LOOK AT THE SECOND CLIP WHICH INVOLVES NORWEGIAN-MADE JEWELRY WITH SECRET POWERS.

LET'S LOOK AT THE CLIP AND YOU CAN COMMENT AS WE COME OUT.

>> THESE ARE A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES OF DIFFERENT -- THE PINS AND JEWELRY VARY WIDELY ACROSS NORWAY.

>> THEY COMPLETE THE TRADITIONAL OUTFIT OR BRUNAD AS THE NORWEG ANSWER CALL IT.

IT'S BEEN A PART OF THEIR FASHION SINCE MEDIEVAL SOMETIMES.

WE'RE TALKING BACK IN THE FIFTH CENTURY.

>> BEFORE WE HAD BUTTONS, THE ONLY THING THAT WOULD HOLD THINGS TOGETHER WERE THE SILVER PINS AND THOSE ARE PROBABLY THE MOST PREDOMINANT PIECE THAT GO WITH REGIONAL CUSTOMS.

THIS SIMPLE OPINION HAS DEVELOPED INTO SOMETHING INCREDIBLY ORNATE AND BEAUTIFUL, SO THERE WOULD BE PINS, THERE WOULD BE CUFF LINKS, LOTS OF NECKLACES AND THE MOST BEAUTIFUL AND ORNATE [INDISCERNIBLE] WOULD BE THE BRIDAL CROWN.

>> Cathy: OKAY, SO I DON'T WANT -- YOU DON'T WANT TO GIVE IT AWAY SO DOES THIS -- THE JEWELRY, DOES IT REALLY HAVE MYSTICAL POWER?

>> IT DOES.

SO IN NORDIC FOLKLOWERS AND EVEN IN NORSE MYTHOLOGY, A LOT OF THEIR STORIES START OFF WITH THE JEWELRY OR THEY INCORPORATE SOME TYPE OF JEWELRY SO DEFINITELY -- IT DEFINITELY HAS MAGICAL POWERS AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY IT BECOMES THIS HEIRLOOM PIECE FOR MANY NORWEGIAN FAMILIES.

>> Eric: ACROSS THE ETHNIC GROUPS THAT YOU'VE STUDIED, WHAT IS IT ABOUT CLOTHING THAT IS SO IMPORTANT TO THEIR CULTURE?

>> YEAH, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, JUST LIKE ANYTHING -- LIKE ALL THEIR PRACTICES AND CUSTOMS, YOU KNOW, CLOTHING IS A WAY TO -- IT'S SUCH A POWERFUL STORY-TELLING TOOL THAT TELLS THEIR HISTORY AND TELLS THEIR JOURNEY, AND SO KEEPING THOSE TRADITIONALS ALIVE IS SO IMPORTANT ESPECIALLY SINCE FOR MANY COMMUNITIES, MOST OF THEIR TRADITIONS ARE TOLD ORALLY AND SO IF ONE GENERATION DOESN'T TELL THEIR KIDS OR WHATEVER IT IS THEIR TRADITIONS AND HISTORY BEHIND A DRESS OR WHATNOT, A LOT OF THAT INFORMATION IS LOST AND SO I THINK THAT'S WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO REALLY JUST CARRY ON WITH THESE TRADITIONS.

>> Cathy: SO HMONG, NORWEGIAN, WHAT OTHER EPISODES WILL YOU COVER?

WHAT OTHER CULTURES WILL YOU COVER IN OTHER EPISODES?

>> YEAH, SO WE COVER HMONG, NORWEGIAN AND ALSO THE WEST AFRICAN ANKARA PRINTS AND TELLING THE HISTORY OF THAT AND THE WEAVING TRADITIONS AND MARITAL CUSTOMS THAT COME WITH IT.

AND ALSO THE OJIBWE AND BEADWORK ART.

>> Eric: HOW DOES ONE FIND THIS MATERIAL TO VIEW?

>> SO YOU CAN ACTUALLY GO TO TPTO-DOG/WORNWITHIN AND YOU CAN ALSO SEARCH US ON YOUTube, JUST SEARCH FOR "ONE WITHIN."

>> Cathy: ALL RIGHT.

GOOD WORK.

>> Eric: THANKS.

♪♪♪ >> IT'S BEEN SAID BY MANY PEOPLE, IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT PARENTING FEELS LIKE, THROW LEGOS ON THE CARPET.

WE USED TO THINK THIS WAS A PSYCHOLOGICAL METAPHOR BUT, NO, IT JUST MEANS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO STEP ON A LOT OF STUFF.

TRAIN TRACKS, WOODEN ROBOTS, PLASTIC GRAPES, SWIMMING GOGGLES, SPIDER MAN.

NINTENDO CONTROLLER, VOICE DISTORTION MICROPHONE, SILLY PUTTY.

THAT ONE STAINED THE CARPET.

GLUTEN FREE SOY SAUCE, ARTICLE BY THOMAS FRIEDMAN ABOUT THE COLLAPSE OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY.

NOT GOOD.

RAINBOW GLITTER CROCS, TRANSPARENT GLASS MARBLES.

THESE ARE AWFUL.

I THINK YOU GET THE POINT.

THE LIST IS NEVER ENDS.

SO WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO?

SUPPOSE YOU COULD DO THE BATTLE AGAINST [INDISCERNIBLE] OR YOU COULD JUST BUY SLIPPERS.

♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ >> ERIC: THE TWINS CAN'T WIN, THE PRO BASKETBALL TEAMS IN TOWN HAVE A NEW OWNER, CONTROVESY WITH NAOMI OSAKA, THE UPCOMING OLYMPICS, ALL TOPICS ON THE AGENDA WITH LARRY FITZGERALD, BACK FOR HIS MONTHLY VISIT.

LARRY DOES RADIO WORK FOR THE NATIONAL PROGRAMMING NETWORK.

TWINS INJURIES AN EXCUSE?

>> YEAH, IT'S THERE, IT'S LEGIT, IT'S JUST BEEN A HORRIBLE 60 DAYS TO START A SEASON WITH WHAT THEY'VE HAD TO DEAL WITH.

WHEN YOU GO IN WITH A PLAN, YOU KNOW, WITH BUXTON AND THEN HE'S OUT AND THEN SANO, TO GET HIS AVERAGE DOWN TO 136 AND THEN HE HAS THIS WEEK WHERE HE'S BABE RUTH AND OTHER THAN THAT, IT'S JUST BEEN ONE INJURY AFTER ANOTHER, WHETHER IT'S PITCHING, DEFENSE, OUTFIELDERS.

THEY'RE PUTTING A REAL -- THEY'RE PUTTING A REAL STRAIN ON THEIR DEVELOPMENT SYSTEM AND THE MINOR LEAGUES.

>> Cathy: LET'S TALK ABOUT THE NEW OWNERS FOR THE TIMBERWOLVES AND THE LYNX.

IS IT TRUE THAT THOSE TEAMS REALLY WILL STAY IN MINNESOTA?

>> WELL, THANK TO THE MINORITY OWNERSHIP OF THE MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES, HE SUES GLEN TAYLOR BECAUSE TAYLOR DIDN'T HAVE A CLAUSE IN THE CONTRACT SELLING IT TO ALEX RODRIGUEZ AND Mr. LORE, THE BILLIONAIRE, TO KEEP THE TEAM IN MINNESOTA.

THERE'S NOTHING IN IT THAT WOULD ALLOW THEM TO DEFINITELY KEEP THE MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES HERE AND THAT'S NOT A GOOD THING.

SO I'M THINKING THAT BECAUSE OF THAT, AND THE FACT THAT THE NBA BOARD OF GOVERNORS WANTS TO CLEARLY KEEP THIS FRANCHISE IN MINNESOTA AND NOT ALLOW A NEW OWNERSHIP TO COME IN AND SAY, HEY, THE TARGET CENTER IS NOT CONDUCIVE TO WHAT WE WANT, THEY'VE SPENT HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AS WE KNOW RENOVATING TARGET CENTER.

IT'S FABULOUS AND HAD -- BUT GLEN TAYLOR, I DON'T KNOW WHY HE DID IT BUT HE DID SELL THE TEAM UNDER THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES AND IT REALLY BRINGS INTO QUESTION HIS MOTIVE.

>> Eric, WELL, SHORT OF YOU MUST HAVE A NEW STADIUM OR WE'RE GOING, WE'VE SEEN THAT MOVIE BEFORE.

>> WE HAVE AND IT WOULD BE USED IF, YOU KNOW, THAT OWNERSHIP GROUP, LORE AND AROD SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT, WE CAN DO GETS IN VEGAS.

BUT HOW CAN YOU CROSS UP THE 30 NBA OWNERS WHO HAVE ALREADY MADE IT CLEAR THAT THEY WANT TO HAVE EXPANSION IN A YEAR OR SO, SEATTLE AND LAS VEGAS ARE THOSE COMMUNITIES THAT THEY WANT TO TAKE THE NBA TOO, HOCKEY IS ALREADY THERE, FOOTBALL IS THERE, SO WHY NOT HAVE BASKETBALL THERE.

SO THAT'S WHY THEY WANT TO HAVE IT.

>> Eric: A-ROD PLAYED IN SEATTLE, OF COURSE.

>> HE DID SO HE'S GOT SOME LOYALTY TO THAT COMMUNITY AND IT'S A GREAT MARKET.

I MEAN, THEY'VE GOT A LOT OF OH FORTUNE 500 COMPANIES THERE JUST LIKE THEY HAVE HERE IN MINNEAPOLIS AND St. PAUL BUT I'M JUST REALLY DISEASE APPOINTED THAT AFTER HAVING THIS FRANCHISE SINCE 1994 AND HAVING SOME SUCCESS BUT A LOT OF DISAPPOINTMENT, A LOT OF QUESTIONABLE DECISIONS, GLEN TAYLOR WOULD LEAVE THE DOOR OPEN LIKE THAT.

>> Cathy: SAY, AS A PROFESSIONAL SPORTS JOURNALIST, FITZY, AND THE FATHER OF A PROFESSIONAL ATHLETE, WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE NAOMI OSAKA -- SHE'S THE FANS PLAYER, OF COURSE, THE WHOLE SITUATION WITH HER AND HER MENTAL HEALTH AND NEWS CONFERENCES AND -- IT JUST SEEMS LIKE IT'S SUCH AN INTERESTING BALANCE.

>> WELL, I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED PARTICULARLY WHEN SHE WAS HONEST AND LET THEM KNOW COMING INTO THE TOURNAMENT WHAT SHE WAS DEALING WITH, AND BECAUSE OF HER RAKING NUMBER TWO IN THE WORLD AND MAKING 55.3 MILLION IN ONE YEAR, MORE THAN ANY WOMAN ATHLETE IN HISTORY, THEY HAD A PROBLEM AND I THINK IT'S PARTLY DUE TO THE FACT THAT WE'RE IN THIS NEW AGE, 6 TO 3 WAS THE VOTE NUMBER TWO YEARS AGO WHEN THE SUPREME COURT GAVE EVERY STATE IN AMERICA THE RIGHT TO HAVE OPEN VOTING -- NOT VOTING BUT GAMBLING ON ALL GAMES, YOU NAME IT AND SO WHEN YOU BRING A TOURNAMENT TOGETHER, A GRAND SLAM, WHETHER IT BE THE PLAYOFFS OR NBA, YOU'RE DEALING WITH NUMBERS AND RANKINGS AND SO THEY'RE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT PEOPLE AND HAVING THE ABILITY TO PUT THEIR MONEY ON A PARTICULAR ATHLETE OR TEAM AND NOT HAVE THOSE NUMBERS CHANGE AND THAT TYPE OF THING, AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED WHEN YOU'RE GOING INTO A TOURNAMENT AND YOU'RE THE FAVORITE AND THEN YOU TELL THEM, I'M NOT DOING ANY INTERVIEWS AND THEN THEY SAY, WHAT?

NO, WE CAN'T HAVE THIS.

YOU GOT TO DO THIS.

THEY'RE GOING TO SLAP YOU ON THE WRIST, PARTICULARLY OF THE TIME I'VE BEEN IN THIS BUSINESS, WHEN AN ATHLETE IS INJURED, THEY DON'T DO INTERVIEWS.

SO THIS WAS A UNIQUE SITUATION IN THE SENSE THAT IT'S A MENTAL ISSUE BUT THE REALITY IS, IT'S STILL A HEALTH ISSUE AND SO THEY SHOULD HAVE WENT ALONG WITH WHAT SHE ASKED FOR.

>> Eric: GREAT STUFF, FITZY.

APPRECIATE YOUR TIME TONIGHT.

THANKS.

>> THANK YOU.

♪♪♪ >> ERIC: MINNESOTANS WITH DISABILITIES OFTEN HAVE HEALTH CONDITIONS THAT MAKE COVID PARTICULARLY DEADLY.

AND THERE'S A SPECIAL PUSH NOW TO INCREASE VACCINATION IN THIS COMMUNITY.

HERE TO TALK ABOUT A FEMA SITE AT THE STATE FAIRGROUNDS SET UP TO MAKE GETTING THE COVID SHOT EASIER... KODY OLSON IS WITH THE MINNESOTA COUNCIL ON DISABILITY.

DR. NATHAN CHOMILO IS A PEDIATRICIAN WHO HEADS A VACCINE EQUITY TEAM AT THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.

KODY, WHAT PARTICULAR CHALLENGES HAS COVID CREATED FOR THE DISABLED COMMUNITY?

>> YEAH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR INVITING ME TO BE ON THE SHOW HERE.

AS YOU MENTIONED, COVID-19 IS PARTICULARLY SOME CONCERN FOR MINNESOTANS WITH DISABILITIES, PARTICULARLY BECAUSE THAT MANY HAVE UNDERLYING HEALTH CONDITIONS THAT MAKE THEM A GREATER RISK FOR COMPLICATIONS WITH COVID-19.

SO IN THAT SPIRIT, THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND OUR STATE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER HAVE WORKED HARD TO ENSURE THAT OUR COMMUNITY HAS ACCESS TO THE SHOT.

>> Cathy: BEFORE WE GET TO Dr. CHOMILO, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK A BIT MORE HERE ABOUT THE ACCESS ISSUES, IF THERE ARE ANY FOR FOLKS LIVING WITH DISABILITIES.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SO, WE HAVE WORKED -- WE'VE PUT -- THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW STRATEGIES THAT HAVE WORKED TO COMBAT SOME OF THE BARRIERS THAT MINNESOTANS WITH DISABILITIES FACE WITH COVID.

WE HAVE, FOR EXAMPLE -- WE HAVE TRANSPORTATION CHALLENGES, PARTICULARLY NOT ONLY IN THE TWIN CITIES BUT ALSO IN THE GREATER MINNESOTA REGION.

WE'VE WORKED ON MAKING SURE THAT DEAF AND HARD-OF-HEARING MINNESOTANS HAVE ACCESS TO INTERPRETATION AND ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY SO THAT MIGHT ENABLE DEAF FOLKS TO COMMUNICATE WITH THEIR VACCINE PROVIDER, AND TO GET THROUGH THE VACCINATION PROCESS SMOOTHLY.

>> Eric: Dr., WHAT ARE THE VACCINE RATES IN THE DISABLED COMMUNITY, THE VACCINATION RATES?

>> THAT'S A REALLY GOOD QUESTION THAT UNFORTUNATELY WE DON'T HAVE A GREAT LINE OF SIGHT INTO.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE MINNESOTANS WITH DISABILITIES, IT'S PRETTY BOARD SO MANY FOLKS THINK INITIALLY OF INDIVIDUALS WHO MIGHT HAVE A PHYSICAL DISABILITY AND THERE'S ALSO INDIVIDUALS THAT KODY TOUCHED UPON THAT ARE DEAF, HARD OF HEARING, HAVING TROUBLE WITH VISION OR BLINDNESS.

WE ALSO KNOW THAT FOLKS WHO HAVE SPECIFICALLY TINNITUS ARE ALSO SOMETIMES DISABLED, AS WELL, AND SO IT'S A LOT OF DIFFICULTY GETTING EXACT NUMBERS OF UNDERLYING NUMBERS OF WHO EXISTS IN THE COMMUNITIES AND THEN UNDERSTANDING WHAT THEIR VACCINATION RATES OR.

WERE TRYING TO USE AN EQUITY METRIC THAT TRIES TO APPROXIMATE THOSE MINNESOTANS WHO ARE AT MOST RISK DUE TO STRUCTURAL INEQUITY CALLED THE SOCIAL DISABILITY ACCESS, THAT LIVE IN ZIP CODES WITH A HIGH SOCIAL VULNERABLE INDEX SCORE, THERE'S MINNESOTANS WITH DISABILITIES OVER-RECOMMENDED IN THOSE COMMUNITIES SO BY TARGETING RESOURCES FOR THE COMMUNITY, WE ARE TARGETING MORE TOWARDS PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT THE VACCINATION RATES IN THOSE ZIP CODES ARE LOWER ON AVERAGE THAN OTHER ZIP CODES THAT HAVE LOW SOCIAL VULNERABILITY.

>> Cathy: KODY, IF I MAY ASK, WHAT'S THE REACTION IN THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY TO THE VACCINE?

>> YEAH, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE COMMUNICATE WITH OUR DISABILITY COMMUNITY WITH ACCURATE AND TIMELY INFORMATION BECAUSE THERE IS A LOT OF FEAR, THERE IS A LOT OF CONCERN.

EARLY ON WHEN WE DIDN'T HAVE A LOT OF DATA, FOLKS WERE CONCERNED THEY MIGHT HAVE ADVERSE REACTIONS TO THE SHOT OR THEY WERE CONCERNED THEY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO FIND AN ACCEPTABLE LOCATION TO GET TO THE SHOT, AND BECAUSE -- WE RECOGNIZE THOSE CHALLENGES AND WORKED REALLY HAROLD TO ENGAGE WITH THOSE COMMUNITIES AND TO ENSURE THAT THE LOCATIONS THAT WE SET UP ARE AS WELCOMING AND INCLUSIVE AS POSSIBLE TO COMBAT THOSE CONCERNS.

>> Eric: Dr. CHOMILO, THE FEMA STATE FAIR SITE SEEKS TO ANSWER SOME OF THOSE CHALLENGES, RIGHT?

>> CORRECT.

THE STATE FAIR SITE WORKED HARD WITH MANY OF THE COVID COMMUNITY COORDINATORS AND OTHERS WITHIN OUR STATE AGENCY TO TRY TO DECREASE ANY BARRIERS TO ACCESS TO THE VACCINE.

THERE'S A LOT OF CAPABILITY, THERE'S MOCK-UP ABILITIES SO TO HAVE AN APPOINTMENT, WHEN YOU GET THERE, THERE'S MULTIPLE FORMS THAT SHOW ACCESSIBILITY AND SUPPORTS FOR THOSE WHO GET THEIR SHOT AT THE STATE FASC SITE IN PARTICULAR.

AND THIS IS -- THESE ARE STRATEGIES AND APPROACHES TO OUR VACCINATION SITES THAT WE REALLY ARE TRYING TO EMBED IN MORE AND MORE OF OUR COMMUNITY SITES, MOBILE VACCINATION UNITS ARE EQUIPPED TO BE ACCESSIBLE TO MINNESOTA'S DISABILITY -- IN FACT, WE HAD A REAL GREAT MILESTONE THIS YEAR -- THIS WEEK, SORRY, WHERE WE HAD 100 DIFFERENT EVENTS WITH THE MOBILE VACCINATION EVENT AND HALF OF THOSE SERVED MINNESOTANS WITH DISABILITIES.

>> Cathy: KODY, A QUESTION FOR YOU.

I KNOW METRO MOBILITY IS A KEY SERVICE FOR FOLKS WITH DISABILITIES.

HOW DOES THIS PLAY INTO THE MIX?

>> THAT'S A REALLY GREAT QUESTION, PARTICULARLY WITH THE FEMA SITE AT THE MINNESOTA STATE FAIR GROUNDS.

WE'VE ENTERED INTO A WONDERFUL PARTNERSHIP WITH METRO MOBILITY WHERE THEY'RE PROVIDING FREE RIDES TO THEIR CUSTOMERS AND THEY'LL COME TO THE FAIR AND RECEIVE NO-BARRIER VACCINATION.

THE METRO MOBILITY BUS WILL ARRIVE AND GO THROUGH THE DRIVE-THROUGH SITE THAT Dr. CHOMILO DISCUSS -- DISCUSSED AND THE VACCINATOR HAS THE OPTION TO BOARD THE BUS AND PROVIDE THE SERVICES TO THE PATIENTS IN THE METRO MOBILITY BUS WILL STAY WITH THE PATIENT AND TAKE THEM BACK, WHICH IS KIND OF UNUSUAL FOR METRO MOBILITY PICK-UP, SO WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL FOR THE PARTNERSHIP THAT WE HAVE WITH THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL TO OFFER THAT SERVICE.

>> Eric: GREAT INFORMATION, FELLAS.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

APPRECIATE YOUR TIME TONIGHT.

THANKS.

>> Cathy: THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

♪♪♪ >> CATHY: TEN DAYS FROM TODAY, LAWMAKERS ARE SET TO RETURN TO THE STATE CAPITOL FOR A SPECIAL SESSION.

THE HOUSE SPEAKER SAYS SHE EXPECTS THE BUILDING WILL BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC BY THEN.

AS MARY LAHAMMER REPORTS, WITH THE FENCE GONE, SOME LAWMAKERS ARE READY TO BACK OFF OF THE STATE OF EMERGENCY.

>> Mary: LINK BY LINK, THE LARGE FENCE THAT ENCIRCLED THE ENTIRE MINNESOTA STATE CAPITOL BUILDING BEGAN TO COME DOWN.

>> FIST UP.

>> Mary: A YEAR AFTER GEORGE FLOYD WAS KILLED BY A MINNEAPOLIS POLICE OFFICER, CIVIL UNREST HIT THE TWIN CITIES AND THE CAPITOL CITY OF St. PAUL.

STATE OFFICIALS DECIDED IT WAS NOW SAFE TO REMOVE THE TEMPORARY FENCE AND CEMENT BARRICADES SURROUNDING THE STRUCTURE THAT RECENTLY UNDERWENT A TOP TO BOTTOM $300 MILLION RENOVATION.

THE FENCE COST TAXPAYERS MORE THAN $100,000 AND WHEN THE BUILDING KNOWN AS THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE WILL REOPEN TO THE PUBLIC AS A HISTORIC SITE ONCE FREQUENTED BY TOURISTS.

AS THE FENCE CAME DOWN OUTSIDE THE STATE CAPITOL, REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS GATHERED INSIDE TO DISCUSS AN OFF-RAMP TO END THE GOVERNOR'S EMERGENCY POWERS.

>> IF YOU HAVEN'T NOTICED, EVERYBODY'S NOT WEARING A MASK.

YOU CAN GO TO THE TWINS GAME AND MOST PEOPLE DON'T WEAR A MASK.

THE HOSPITALS DON'T HAVE HARDLY ANYBODY IN THEM THAT ARE IN THERE BECAUSE OF COVID.

YOU CANNOT SAY THAT THE EMERGENCY IS NOT OVER.

IT'S OVER.

>> Mary: REPUBLICANS SAY THEY HAVE A WAY OUT OF THE EMERGENCY POWERS WITHOUT JEOPARDIZING THE GOVERNOR'S VACCINATION AUTHORITY OR FEDERAL FUNDS THROUGH A BILL READY FOR THE UPCOMING SPECIAL SESSION.

IT'S BEEN NEARLY 500 DAYS.

I DON'T THINK ANYBODY ANTICIPATED THAT THE CHAPTER 12 CLAUSE IN OUR CONSTITUTION WOULD GO BEYOND 30 DAYS, MUCH LESS 500.

THE EMERGENCY IS OVER, WE'RE GOING TO PROVIDE THE GOVERNOR THE THINGS HE NEEDS TO DO TO MANAGE COVID AND WE'RE GOING TO RESTORE THE LEGISLATURE AS A CO-EQUAL BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT.

>> CATHY: HERE TO TALK MORE ABOUT CAPITOL ACCESS AND EMERGENCY POWERS AND SLOW-MOVING BUDGET CONVERSATIONS, A DUO OF WILY POLITICAL OBSERVERS AND LEGISLATIVE LOBBYISTS.

JEFF HAYDEN IS A DFLER AND FORMER STATE LAWMAKER.

NOAH ROUEN IS A REPUBLICAN AND PARTY AND A PARTY ACTIVIST.

SENATOR HAYDEN, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE POTENTIAL FOR A SHUTDOWN.

NOW, THERE'S THESE LITTLE RUMORINGS AND I'M WONDERING WHAT YOU THINK.

IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THERE MIGHT NOT BE AN AGREEMENT AND THERE COULD BE A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN?

>> NO, I THINK THERE WILL BE AN AGREEMENT.

YOU KNOW, I'VE TALKED TO A LOT OF LEGISLATORS, BOTH RANK AND FILE AS WELL AS IN THE LEADERSHIP.

THEY'RE WORKING HARD.

IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT THE PUBLIC CAN'T SEE IT BUT THEY'RE WORKING REALLY HARD AND I THINK I HEARD THE MAJORITY LEADER SAY THIS, AS A MATTER OF FACT, THAT THEY'RE GOING TO COME BACK IN ABOUT A WEEK AND PROBABLY RUN UP TO THE END OF THE MONTH BUT THAT WILL GIVE ENOUGH TIME FOR THE PUBLIC TO GIVE INPUT AND FOR US TO SEE THOSE BILLS.

I THINK WE'LL BE JUST FINE.

>> Cathy: NOAH, WHAT COULD POSSIBLY DERAIL THE DEAL AT THIS POINT AND LEAD TO A SHUTDOWN?

>> I THINK THERE IS A WHOLE NUMBER OF THINGS.

IT'S GOING TO TAKE COMPROMISE AND RIGHT NOW EVERYBODY'S KIND OF SAYING THE RIGHT THING OR AT LEAST THIS WEEK WHEN THERE'S SOME KIND OF DUELING PRESS CONFERENCES, I KNOW THE GOVERNOR WAS AT THE MINNESOTA ZOO SAYING HE'S READY TO COMPROMISE BUT THERE'S NO COMPROMISE YET.

SO YOU GOT -- YOU HAVE THINGS LIKE THE CLEAN CAR INITIATIVE THAT THE GOVERNOR'S PUSHING, SOME INITIATIVES THE REPUBLICANS ARE PUSHING, SCHOOL CHOICE FOR ONE THAT IS PROBABLY -- THOSE ARE SOME ISSUES THAT ARE PROBABLY WHERE PEOPLE MIGHT BE ABLE TO COMPROMISE BUT THEY HAVE TO DO IT AND SO FAR NOBODY HAS BEEN WILLING TO DO IT.

ARE MEAN, I'M WITH JEFF A LITTLE BIT THAT I'M OPTIMISTIC THEY'LL GET A DEAL DONE BUT RIGHT NOW I DON'T SEE THE DEAL, SO... >> Eric: SENATOR, WOULD IT APPEAR THAT MOST OF THE CONTROVERSIAL POLICY STUFF WILL GET TOSSED OVERBOARD IN SERVES TO A GLOBAL AGREEMENT AND SOMETHING BEFORE A SHUTDOWN?

>> ARE YEAH, THAT'S USUALLY HOW IT HAPPENS IN A YEAR LIKE THIS, THINGS GET THROWN OVERBOARD AND THEY'LL COME BACK NEXT YEAR AND TYPICALLY DO THE POLICY WORK.

I THINK WE'LL PROBABLY HAVE A SMALL BONDING BILL THIS YEAR AND HOPEFULLY A LARGER ONE NEXT YEAR.

BUT I WILL SAY THIS, WATCH OUT FOR THE POLICE ISSUES.

I REALLY BELIEVE THE POCI CAUCUS IN PARTICULAR IN THE MINNESOTA HOUSE IS GOING TO WANT TO HAVE SOMETHING.

I THINK THE PUBLIC WANTS SOMETHING, SO SOMETHING LIKE PRE-TEXAS WAHL STOPS AND WORK ON THIS WARRANT ISSUE WHICH JUST POPPED UP THE OTHER DAY, I THINK THOSE ARE THE KIND OF THINGS THAT WILL PROBABLY REALLY, REALLY WILL KIND OF GET THROUGH.

AND THEN IN TURN THE DEMOCRATS HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS IT THAT THE REPUBLICANS REALLY WANT TO GET THROUGH SO I'M WORRIED ABOUT THAT -- NOT WORRIED BUT I THINK THAT'S WHERE THE RUBBER IS GOING TO MEET THE ROAD.

>> YEAH, I THINK THE ISSUE IT WAS JUST HIGHLIGHTED IN THE CLIP, IS THE GOVERNOR WILLING TO DO ANYTHING TO GIVE UP THE EMERGENCY POWERS AND SO FAR HE'S BEEN UNWILLING TO DO IT AND NOT -- THAT'S WHERE HIS LANGUAGE DIFFERS, TOO, FROM SAYING COMPROMISE TO SAYING ON THE PARTICULAR BILL THAT WAS MENTIONED, THAT THAT'S NOT A SERIOUS OFFER.

SO -- AND ATHAT'S A BIG DEAL FOR REPUBLICANS TO FIND AN OFF-RAMP FOR HIM WAS THE WORD THEY'VE BEEN USING AND UNTIL HE'S WILLING TO DO THAT, I DO THINK THAT JEOPARDIZES THE AGREEMENT.

BUT THAT -- AGAIN, THAT MIGHT BE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOMETHING ON POLICE REFORM IF HE'S WILLING TO KIND OF HELP WITH THAT OFF-RAMP FOR HIS EMERGENCY POWERS.

>> Cathy: AND THAT'S THE LINCHPIN FOR YOU, DO YOU THINK, FOR REPUBLICANS, BECAUSE REPUBLICANS DON'T SEEM TO WANT TO MOVE ON THE POLICING ISSUES AT THIS POINT.

>> THEY DID MAKE A SERIOUS OFFER AND THE GOVERNOR DID SAY IT WAS A SERIOUS OFFER COMPROMISE ON THE POLICE REFORM.

I THINK THEY UNDERSTAND THE PUBLIC WANTS TO SEE SOMETHING DONE AND SO I THINK THERE IS OPPORTUNITY.

I KNOW THEY'RE TRYING TO GET BUY-IN FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT, LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AND THEY HAVE STEPPED UP TO THE TABLE AND BEEN A PART OF THE CONVERSATION WHICH I THINK IS VERY CONSTRUCTIVE.

SO I THINK YOU'LL HOPEFULLY SEE SOMETHING DONE THERE BUT, AGAIN, YOU GOT TO HAVE SOME COMPROMISE OF THE OTHER SIDES.

>> Eric: SENATOR, THE LACK OF TRANSPARENCY I THINK IS OBVIOUS BUT I WONDER -- YOU'RE A FORMER LEADER IN THE SENATE, I WONDER IF THE SECRECY PREVENT THE PRESSURE GROUPS FROM EXERTING PRESSURE ON MEMBERS TO -- THAT MIGHT SCUTTLE THE DEAL.

MAYBE IGNORANCE IS BLISS IN THAT SENSE, HUH?

>> NO, THOSE GROUPS ARE STILL THERE, ERIC, THEY'RE STILL FINDING WAYS IN WHICH TO TALK TO THE LEADERS, YOU JUST DON'T NECESSARY LEE SEE IT.

BUT THOSE INTEREST GROUPS ARE THERE.

I THINK AS NOAH SAID, I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THE LAW ENFORCEMENT GROVES, ESPECIALLY THE NPPOA, THE RANK AND FILE OFFICERS ARE INTIMATELY INVOLVED WITH THIS.

THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, THE ACTIVISTS AND SO I ACTUALLY THINK THAT THEY'RE THERE.

ONE OF THE PROBLEMS IS WE DON'T SEE THEM SO THE PUBLIC -- SO THE PROBLEM IS THE PUBLIC IS NOT THERE BUT THE INTEREST GROUPS ARE.

>> WAIT UNTIL THEY OPEN UP THE CAPITOL.

IF THAT'S TRUE AND THEY OPEN UP THE CAPITOL, IT WILL BE FLOODED WITH THOSE INTEREST GROUPS THAT ARE READY TO BE HEARD, ESPECIALLY THE RANK AND FILE, MEMBERS OF THOSE INTERESTS GROUPS THAT KIND OF FEEL LIKE THEY'VE BEEN SHUT OUT, MAYBE THE LEADERSHIP OFTEN GROUPS, YOU KNOW, PUSHING ON DIFFERENT ISSUES HAVE BEEN IN CONVERSATION BUT CERTAINLY NOT, YOU KNOW, THE EVERYDAY CITIZEN THAT WOULD LOVE -- >> YEAH, BUT THE PEOPLE WILL BE THERE AND THAT'S THE THING WE WANT TO SEE.

THE PUBLIC INTEREST GROUPS HAVE A WAY, THEY HAVE PEOPLE'S TELEPHONE NUMBERS AND CELLPHONE NUMBERS BUT THE PEOPLE DON'T AND SO IF YOU WANT TO SEE WHEN THE CAPITOL OPENS UP WHO ACTUALLY SHOWS UP, IT WILL BE THE PEOPLE.

>> Cathy: SAY, YOU KNOW, RIGHT BEFORE THE END OF THE REGULAR SESSION, WE HAD THE LEADERS HERE IN STUDIO AND THIS HAS TAKEN ON A LITTLE BIT OF SOME STEAM HERE, SPEAKER HORTMAN WAS TALKING ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OFTEN A FULL-TIME LEGISLATURE, SHE THINKS THAT'S A GOOD IDEA.

SENATOR HAYDEN, AS A PERSON WHO'S WORKED IN THE LEGISLATURE, DO YOU THINK THAT'S A GOOD IDEA?

>> YOU KNOW, I DO AND I'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS A LOT AND I THINK IT GETS CAUGHT UP IN POLITICS.

WE HAVE A 55-5 BILLION-DOLLAR BIENNIAL BUDGET, IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO GO NORTH OR A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS, THAT CAN'T GET DONE IN 8, 12 SHORT WEEKS.

IN OTHER STATES THEY DO THINGS LIKE GET ALL THE FISCAL STUFF DONE AND THEN COME BACK AND DO THE POLICY IN THE FALL BUT WE'RE ASKING THESE LEGISLATORS WHO OFTEN HAVE ANOTHER JOB TO COME IN IN A VERY SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME AND MAKE SOME REALLY TOUGH DECISIONS SO I DO THINK WE SHOULD TALK ABOUT IT.

THE PROBLEM IS, IS THAT I THINK IT WILL GET CAUGHT UP IN THE POLITICS AND THEIR PAY AND ALL THESE OTHER ISSUES, I THINK THAT THAT'S WHAT STOPPED IT BEFORE.

BUT I THINK I'VE TALKED TO LESS LEGISLATORS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE WHO FEEL LIKE THEY'RE RUSHED TO MAKE DECISIONS THEY'RE NOT QUALIFIED TO MAKE.

>> Cathy: NOAH, DO YOU THINK THE IDEA HAS LEGS?

>> I THINK IT HAS LEGS, AS A REPUBLICAN, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE LESS MEETINGS, I WOULD SAY DO LESS HARM BUT THE REALITY IS THESE GUYS ARE WORKING ALMOST FULL TIME AND IT IS REALLY HARD FOR THEM TO HAVE OTHER JOBS, AND THEY DO WEIGH A LOT OF DIFFERENT ISSUES AND HAVE TO COME UP AND GET UP TO SPEED ON A HUGE BUDGET, RIGHT, AND SO WHEN THEY'RE -- I THINK THAT MIGHT HELP WITH SOME OF TRANSPARENCY ISSUES, TOO, IF THEY HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME TO WORK ON THIS.

BUT, YOU KNOW, I DO THINK THERE IS SOME POLITICS INVOLVED AND THE DELVE IS ALL THE IN THE DETAILS IN THOSE THINGS BUT AT LEAST ON THE LEADERSHIP SIDE, FULL-TIME LEGISLATORS AS IT IS.

>> Eric: SENATOR, DO WE KNOW WHERE THE FEDERAL MONEY IS GOING TO BE SPENT AND WHO'S GOING TO SPENDS IT?

>> THEY'RE FIGURING THAT OUT NOW.

THE FEDERAL GUIDANCE CAME IN AND THEY KIND OF AGREED THAT SOME OF THE MONEY IS GOING TO GO OUT, THE GOVERNOR HAS ABOUT 500 MILLION, THE LEGISLATURE WILL TAKE ABOUT ONE, TWO, AND FIGURE OUT -- AND THEY PUT ONE, TWO ON THE BOTTOM LINE TO FIGURE OUT NEXT YEAR.

NOW THE DEVIL IN THE DETAILS TO THAT AS NOAH SAID IS IT COMES IN TWO PAYMENTS, 1.2 BILLION THIS YEAR AND ANOTHER 1.2 BILLION NEXT YEAR.

AND THEN YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THE COUNTIES, RAMSEY AND HENNEPIN, AND THEN MINNEAPOLIS AND ST. PAUL.

SO I THINK THERE IS A SENSE OF CAUTION HOW DO WE GET THAT MONEY OUT AND DO IT RIGHT SO WE DON'T BREAK THE LAW BUT AT THE SAME TIME WE WANT TO HAVE THE IMPACT OF THE ONE-TIME MONEY.

>> Eric: NOAH, ARE THE REPUBLICANS COMFORTABLE THAT MONEY, THERE WILL BE SOME ACCOUNTABILITIES FOR IT, IT WON'T BE MISSPENT OR LOST IN SOMEBODY'S POCKET?

>> I THINK THAT'S THE MAIN REASON WHY THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT GETTING RID OF THE EMERGENCY POWERS SO THAT I BEEN THEY HAVE SOME OVERSIGHT OVER THIS.

I THINK THAT'S BEEN ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES FOR REPUBLICANS AND CERTAINLY THE SENATE THAT THE SENATE MAJORITY THAT SAYS WHERE'S ALL THIS MONEY GOING, WHAT IS THE ACCOUNTABILITY, WHAT ARE WE HOLDING PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE, GROUPS ACCOUNTABLE THAT ARE GETTING SOME OF THE THIS MONEY AND I THINK THE ANSWER LARGELY IS NO AND, YOU KNOW, SO I THINK IT IS A SERIOUS CONCERN.

WHEN YOU HAVE -- ESPECIALLY THE KIND OF MONEY YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, I MEAN, THIS IS -- IT'S REAL MONEY, RIGHT, IN THE BILLIONS AND WHERE IS IT GOING AND WHO'S ACCOUNTABLE AND THERE'S NOT HEARINGS ABOUT IT AND I THINK THAT'S -- THAT'S A REAL TROUBLE SPOT FOR REPUBLICANS, IT SHOULD BE FOR EVERYBODY IN MINNESOTA.

>> Eric: WHAT DO YOU THINK, SENATOR?

>> WELL, JIM NOBLES IS ALWAYS AROUND SO HE'LL MAKE SURE THAT THINGS GET SPENT WELL.

THE LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR IS THERE.

AND I ACTUALLY THINK THE GOVERNOR HAS DONE A GOOD JOB.

SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THE REPUBLICANS BROUGHT UP, THINGS LIKE GETTING THEM OUT -- YOU JUST THE A SEGMENT ON VACCINATION HESITANCY, A LOT OF THAT MONEY WENT OUT TO SOVEREIGN THE GROUND ESPECIALLY IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR WHO DON'T ALWAYS TRUST THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM, SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT VACCINATION RATES, IF YOU'RE EDUCATED AND WHITE YOU GOT IT BUT IF YOU'RE A PERSON OF COLOR OR IMMIGRANTS, YOU HAVEN'T GOT IT.

SO THAT MONEY HAS HELPED TO GET IT OUT THERE, I KNOW, I HELPED TO GET IT OUT THERE WHEN I WAS A LEGS TORE BUT JIM NOBLES AND HIS CREW DO A THOROUGH JOB OF MAKING SURE IT GOT TO THE RIGHT PLACE.

>> WE HAVE SEEN A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES OF ABUSE, TOO, AROUND HIRING P.R.

FIRMS FOR $25,000 A MONTH AND BLAME YOUTH SPORTS FOR THE SPREAD OF COVID AND THINGS LIKE THAT WHERE I THINK THOSE ARE SOME SERIOUS THINGS THAT WILL NEED TO BE LOOKED AT BUT OVERALL, THE GOOD NEWS, I WOULD SAY, TO LEAVE PEOPLE WITH GOOD NEWS IS, THERE IS ENOUGH MONEY, THIS ISN'T THE SHUTDOWN OF 2017 WHERE WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY FACING CUTS AND THIS IS MORE HOW DO WE SPEND THE MONEY AND I THINK THERE IS A GOOD WILL FRAMEWORK FOR A DEAL.

>> Eric: GOOD STUFF, FELLAS.

THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU.

>> ♪♪♪ >> ERIC: WE HAVEN'T ASKED YOU AN INDEX FILE QUESTION IN A FEW WEEKS.

SO LET'S MAKE UP FOR LOST TIME.

I'LL SET THE SCENE FOR YOU.

IT'S SPRING OF 1970 IN MINNEAPOLIS.

THE OLD LABOR TEMPLE, A POPULAR MUSIC VENUE AT THE TIME, WAS THE SITE OF A CONCERT WITH TWO ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAMERS ON THE BILL.

IT WAS THE ONLY TIME THAT YEAR THE TWO ACTS APPEARED ON THE SAME STAGE.

YOUR TASK IS SIMPLE: RETRIEVE THIS MUSIC FACTOID FROM YOUR BRAIN'S DEEPEST RESERVES.

WHAT TWO ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAMERS PERFORMED AT THE MINNEAPOLIS LABOR TEMPLE IN MAY, 1970?

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU WHETHER YOU ARE CALLING IN FROM JOHN LAKE, PAUL LAKE, GEORGE LAKE OR RINGO LAKE.

BELIEVE IT OR NOT, ALL REAL BODIES OF WATER IN MINNESOTA.

651-229-1430 IS OUR VOICEMAIL.

LEAVE YOUR ANSWERS, YOUR THOUGHTS, YOUR SUGGESTIONS.

651-229-1430.

A REMINDER THAT IF YOU WANT TO WATCH ALL OF THE VIDEOS IN THE "WORN WITHIN" DIGITAL SERIES, YOU CAN FIND THEM AT TPTORGINALS.ORG.

YOU CAN ALSO FIND MANY "ALMANAC" STORIES THERE.

TPTORIGINALS.ORG WE HAVE ENOUGH TIME FOR SOME SHOW-ENDING MUSIC.

THIS WEEK IN 2006, WE HAD A GAMELAN ORCHESTRA ON "ALMANAC."

WE SET IT UP NEXT DOOR IN STUDIO A BECAUSE WE NEEDED THE SPACE.

LET'S LISTEN TO THE LOVELY SOUNDS AS WE ROLL THE CREDITS.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

WE HOPE YOU JOIN US AGAIN NEXT WEEK.

AND BE CAREFUL.

♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ Captioned by: Paradigm Reporting/Captioning www.paradigmreporting.com >> "ALMANAC" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY MEMBERS OF THIS PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION.

SUPPORT IS ALSO PROVIDED BY... GREAT RIVER ENERGY: PROVIDING ELECTRICITY AND RELATED SERVICES TO 28 CO-OPS IN MINNESOTA.

A TOUCHSTONE ENERGY COOPERATIVE.

DELTA DENTAL OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION: INVESTING $25 MILLION TO IMPROVE DENTAL CARE FOR MINNESOTANS IN NEED.

DELTADENTALMN.ORG/TPT.

THE SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY: A TRIBAL NATION THAT CARES ABOUT COMMUNITY AND COLLABORATION, ESPECIALLY IN TIMES LIKE TODAY.

ENBRIDGE: CONNECTING MINNESOTANS WITH ENERGY FOR OVER 70 YEARS.

MORE AT ENBRIDGE.COM/LINE3.

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

MORE AT EDUCATIONMINNESOTA.ORG.

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

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT COMES FROM THE MINNEAPOLIS FOUNDATION, INSPIRING AND ENGAGING IN ACTION TO REALIZE STRONG, VIBRANT COMMUNITIES.

AND FROM THE BLANDIN FOUNDATION.

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