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

>> ERIC: ON TONIGHT'S SHOW, WE'LL HIGHLIGHT ONE OF THE NEW MINNESOTA LAWS TAKING EFFECT JULY 1ST, WE'LL LOOK BACK AT THE CAREER OF FORMER MINNEAPOLIS POLICE CHIEF TONY BOUZA, OUR POLITICAL PANEL WILL FILL THE COUCH, AND MARY LAHAMMER TALKS TO A REPUBLICAN STATE SENATOR WHO REACHED ACROSS THE AISLE THIS PAST SESSION.

>> Mary: WE'LL INTRODUCE YOU TO A SENATE REPUBLICAN WHO HAD A MAJOR IMPACT ON LEGISLATION, DESPITE BEING IN THE MINORITY.

>> I'M ABLE TO FIND OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMON GROUND TO GET SOME GOOD THINGS DONE.

MY GOAL ISN'T IS TO MAKE A POINT, IT'S TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

>> >> 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 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.

>> ERIC: IN THE NEXT HOUR, WE'LL REMEMBER FORMER MINNEAPOLIS POLICE CHIEF TONY BOUZA, TALK WITH THE LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR ABOUT CONTINUING ISSUES WITH THE SOUTHWEST LIGHT RAIL PROJECT, AND LEARN MORE ABOUT A PHOTO EXHIBIT IN THE LOBBY OF THE "STAR TRIBUNE" IN DOWNTOWN MINNEAPOLIS.

>> CATHY: WE START TONIGHT WITH A LOOK AHEAD TO ONE OF MANY NEW LAWS THAT WILL TAKE EFFECT ON JULY 1ST HERE IN MINNESOTA, UNIVERSAL FREE MEALS FOR SCHOOL CHILDREN IN THE STATE.

THE PROGRAM BEGINS WHEN THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR STARTS UP THIS FALL.

JOINING US IS ONE OF THE CHIEF AUTHORS OF THE NEW LAW, FIRST TERM D.F.L.SENATOR HEATHER GUSTAFSON.

WELCOME TO "ALMANAC."

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

>> Cathy: ABSOLUTELY.

WHY IS THIS LAW NECESSARY?

>> YEAH.

SO WE KNOW THAT AROUND 43% OF STUDENTS PRIOR TO THIS BILL WERE USING FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH BUT WE ALSO KNEW THAT THE STATE HAD CALCULATED THAT SOMEWHERE AROUND 18% OF STUDENTS WHO QUALIFY FOR FREE AND REDUCED LUNCHES AND MEALS WEREN'T GETTING IT, AND ONE OF THE REASONS WHY IS BECAUSE THE -- YOU ARE EITHER DIRECTLY CERTIFIED BECAUSE YOU'RE ON MAYBE SOME OTHER PROGRAM THAT WOULD QUALIFY YOU OR YOU HAD TO FILL OUT A FORM.

THE FORMS WERE NOT -- THEY LOOKED DIFFERENT AT EVERY SCHOOL, THEY COULD BE CUMBERSOME, SOMETIMES THERE WAS A LANGUAGE BARRIER, SOMETIMES PARENTS WEREN'T EVEN AWARE IT WAS SOMETHING THEY COULD FILL OUT SO THEY WERE MISSING QUITE A FEW, IT WAS AN INEFFECTIVE TESTIMONY.

SO THAT MEANT STUDENTS WE'RE GETTING THE EALS THEY NEEDED.

>> Cathy: SO ABOUT 60% IF YOU ADD THOSE NUMBERS UP.

>> YEA.

>> Eric: I THINK FOUR STATES HAVE DONE THIS.

IS THERE ANY SYNERGY BETWEEN THE MEALS AND ACHIEVEMENT GAPS AND SO FOR THE?

>> WE KNOW THAT STUDENTS CAN'T LEARN WHEN THEY'RE HUNGRY.

WE KNOW IT M PROVINCE THEIR MENTAL HEALTH.

IT IMPROVES THEIR BEHAVIOR.

WE KNOW THAT IT ELIMINATES FOOD INSECURITIES, RIGHT, IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE YOUR NEXT MEAL IS COMING FROM, THAT'S A SOURCE OF STRESS AND REALLY, AT THE END OF THE DAY, STUDENTS AND KIDS SHOULD NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR CIRCUMSTANCES THAT ARE BEYOND THEIR CONTROL, SO ALL OF THAT TO SAY THAT THERE IS NO WORKSHEET OR MATH PROGRAM OR COMPUTER PROGRAM THAT WE CAN -- THAT WE CAN USE IN THE CLASSROOM THAT'S GOING TO INCREASE SCORES IF THEY'RE ON EMPTY STOMACHS.

>> Eric: WHO PAYS?

>> WE DO BUT IT'S LESS THAN 1% OF OUR EDUCATION BUDGET.

SO WE -- >> Eric: IS THIS WITH FEDERAL FUNDS OR WHEN THEY RUN OUT DOES THE STATE KICK IN OR GOES THE STATE KICK IN IT RIGHT AWAY?

>> GREAT QUESTION.

YOU HAVE TO BE MART OF THE NATIONAL LUNCH PROGRAM OR NATIONAL MEALS PROGRAM AND THAT IS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SAYING THAT'S A DIRECT CERTIFICATION, SO YOU HAVE TO USE ALL THE FEDERAL DOLLARS FIRST BEFORE WE TOUCH THOSE MINNESOTA DOLLARS BUT AS LONG AS YOU'RE ENROLLED IN THAT AND I THINK ALL BUT ONE OR TWO SCHOOLS IN MINNESOTA WERE, THEN THAT'S IT.

THEN THE REST OF IT IS OUR MINNESOTA -- WE'VE DECIDED THAT THAT IS AN EDUCATION PRIORITY.

>> Cathy: BUT FOR ALL KIDS.

>> FOR ALL KIDS, YES.

>> Cathy: EVEN THOSE WHO CAN AFFORD TO PAY FOR LUNCH ARE GOING TO GET FREE LUNCH.

>> RIGHT, YOU KNOW, AND -- >> Cathy: WHY IS THAT A GOOD MOVE?

>> YEAH, IT IS A GOOD MOVE BECAUSE IT REMOVES THE STIGMA.

WITHOUT IT BEING JUST EVERYBODY, THERE IT WAS A CERTAIN STIGMA ABOUT WHO IS GETTING A LUNCH TICKET OR UNABLE TO WALK THROUGH GRADUATION IF THEY HAVE A LUNCH BALANCE BUT ALSO, TOO, WE HAVE STUDENTS HO ARE FORTUNATE ENOUGH, THEY COULD PAY FOR BUS FARE IF THEY NEEDED IT, OR THEIR OWN LAPTOP OR A DESK.

WE DON'T MAKE THEM DO IT BECAUSE IT'S PUBLIC SCHOOL, WE FEEL LIKE INVESTING IN OUR STUDENTS IS REALLY GOOD FOR EVERYBODY IN THE STATE.

>> THAT'S LIKE ANOTHER EDUCATIONAL EXPENSE.

>> EXACTLY.

>> Eric: DEEP IN THE WEEDS, THE OLD FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH DATE WAS USE WAS USED TO CALCULATE COMPENSATORY AIDS FOR POORER SCHOOLS.

IS THERE A NEW MEASURING TECHNIQUE NOW WITH THIS GONE?

>> I LOVE THESE QUESTIONS, YOU DID YOUR HOMEWORK.

COMPENSATORY REVENUE WAS TRICKY, RIGHT, BECAUSE SCHOOLS WERE REALLY USING THAT DATA AS A WAY TO SAY, OKAY, WE HAVE THIS NUMBER, WE'RE GOING TO BE -- WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO HAVE THIS EXTENSE TEAR REVENUE TO SORT OF MAKE UP FOR SOME OF THOSE COSTS.

WE KNEW THAT IN THE SENATE.

IN THE HOUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE THAT FIX BUT IN THE SENATE THEY DID WHICH IS WHY IT TOOKS A LITTLE BIT LONGER TO PRESIDENT BUSH THAT THROUGH TO MAKE SURE WE HAD IT RIGHT.

SO WE WORKED WITH EVERYBODY, INCLUDING THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, THAT THE COMPENSATORY FIX WAS IN.

MOST SCHOOLS WILL GET EITHER THE SAME ORR MORE COMPENSATORY REVENUE THAN THEY HAD IN PREVIOUS YEARS SO EVERYBODY COMES OUT AHEAD.

>> Cathy: THIS WAS A SEPARATE BILL.

YOU COVER FOLDED IT INTO THE OMNIBUS EDUCATION BILL BUT YOU DIDN'T.

WHY WAS THAT?

>> IT'S MORE.

IT'S IMPORTANT SO SAY THESE ARE OUR VALUES, THIS IS WHAT WE STANDS OR.

WE ARE ON A MISSION TO MAKE THIS THE BEST STATE O RAISE YOUR FAMILY, TO WORK IN, TO LIVE IN AND WE ARE TRYING TO FIGHT CHILDHOOD POVERTY WHERE WE CAN.

THIS IS A BIG DEAL, THANKS TO OUR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, THIS WAS A BIG PROJECT OF HERS, AND THE HOUSE, REPRESENTATIVE JORDAN HAD BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR A WHILE AND I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT THE COMMUNITY ADVOCATES, HUNGER FREE MINNESOTA, SECOND HARVEST, ALL OF THESE PEOPLE KNEW IT WAS SUCH A PRIORITY.

>> Cathy: ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU, SENATOR, APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU.

>> CATHY: MINNESOTA HAS A LOT OF NEW LAWS ABOUT TO TAKE EFFECT AND WE'LL BE HIGHLIGHTING MANY OF THEM IN THE COMING WEEKS.

NEXT WEEK, WE TAKE A LOOK AT FREE COLLEGE TUITION FOR SOME MINNESOTANS.

WE'RE GOING TO SWITCH OUT GUESTS SO WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

♪♪ >> ERIC: WHEN JUDY RANDALL BECAME THE FULL-TIME LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR LESS THAN TWO YEARS AGO, SHE MAY NOT HAVE KNOWN SHE WOULD OVERSEE MULTIPLE REPORTS ON THE SOUTHWEST LIGHT RAIL PROJECT.

EARLIER THIS WEEK, THE OFFICE OF THE LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR ISSUED ITS THIRD REPORT ON THE LONG-DELAYED PROJECT THAT HAS BEEN RIDDLED WITH COST OVERRUNS.

THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL IS IN CHARGE OF THE PROJECT AND THIS WEEK'S REPORT FOCUSES ON THE NEED FOR MORE COUNCIL OVERSIGHT ON LARGE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS.

LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR JUDY RANDALL JOINS US.

WELCOME BACK.

THE LONG ARD SHORT OF IT IS, THERE WAS A CONTRACT WITH A CONSTRUCTION COMPANY AND MET COUNCIL DIDN'T GO BY THE TERMS OR... >> THE BOTTOM LINE ARE KIND OF THREE THINGS.

ONE, POOR CONTRACT MANAGEMENT.

A POOR CONTRACT THAT DIDN'T GIVE THEM EFFECTIVE ENFORCEMENT MECHANISMS AND THE ENFORCEMENT MECHANISMS THAT WERE IN THE CONTRACT, THE COUNCIL WASN'T WILLING TO USE.

AND THEN INADEQUATE DOCUMENTATION, WHICH I NOW SOUNDS LIKE A VERY AUDITOR-Y FINDING EXCEPTS THAT INADEQUATE DOCUMENTATION MEANS IT WILL BE HARD TO FIGURE OUT WHO SHOULD PAY FOR WHAT AT THE ENDS.

>> Cathy: BUT THE COUNCIL HAD AUTHORITY TO MAKE THESE DECISIONS, RIGHTS, THEY JUST DIDN'T DO IT?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

THE COUNCIL IS THE RESPONSIBLE AUTHORITY.

THEY HAD CONTRACTS WITH THE MAIN CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTOR BUT WE ALSO SAW ISSUES WITH AN INDEPENDENT CONSULTING DOING INDEPENDENT COST ESTIMATES AND WHAT WE SAW WAS A RELUCTANCE OF THE COUNCIL TO USE THOSE MECHANISMS.

BASICALLY THEY HAD TWO TOOLS, DEDUCT MONEY OR WITHHOLD MONEY AND THEY WEREN'T WILLING TO DO THAT.

>> Eric: THERE'S SO MUCH FINGER-POINTING YOU COULD GET POKED IN THE EYE ON THIS THING.

THE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY SEEMS TO THINK THE ORIGINAL DESIGN WAS FLAWED AND THAT CAUSED A LOT OF THE PROBLEMS AND THE OVERRUNS, FAIR ENOUGH OR -- >> WE DID NOT LOOK AT THAT.

WE ARE NOT DESIGN EXPERTS.

WE'RE NOT CONSTRUCTION EXPERTS, WE'RE NOT NURSE, RIGHT?

WE'RE AUDITORS AND LOOKING AT PROTECTING -- >> Eric: IS THE MET COUNCIL EQUIPPED TO HANDLE THESE MEGA PROJECTS?

>> I THINK THAT'S A BIG QUESTION RIGHT NOW, HONESTLY.

WE HAVE ISSUED, AS YOU SAID, A NUMBER OF REPORTS HERE THAT WE HAVE QUESTIONED THE MET COUNCIL'S ACTIONS IN TERMS OF OVERSEEING THE CONTRACT, ENFORCING THE CONTRACT, TRANSPARENCY, DECISIONS RAILROADING BUDGET.

I THINK OUR STRUCTURE ISN'T GREAT WHERE WE DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE THE ENTITIES THAT'S FUNDING THESE PROJECTS BEING THE ONE WHO'S THE RESPONSIBLE AUTHORITY.

WE HAD A HEARING ON WEDNESDAY AND AS I SAID THERE, I THINK NOW IS THE TIME TO REALLY TAKE A CLOSE LOOK BEFORE WE GET STARTED ON THESE OTHER TRANSIT PROJECTS.

>> Cathy: CHAIR CHARLIE ZELLE WAS AT THAT HEARING AND HE SAID, IT'S COSTING MORE BECAUSE IT WAS ALWAYS GONNA COST MORE AND IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN BUDGETED AT THE LEVEL IT IS RIGHT NOW.

IS THERE VALIDITY TO THAT STATEMENT, TO THE BEST OF WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT THE PROJECT?

>> IT WAS A -- IT WAS A PRETTY BIG STATEMENT, I THOUGHT, FOR HIM TO SAY.

I DON'T KNOW AND I DON'T KNOW THAT ANYBODY KNOWS WHETHER OR NOT IT WAS BUDGETED PROPERLY BASED ON THE INFORMATION THEY HAD AT THE TIME.

BUT IT'S CLEAR THAT IT'S GOING TO COST MORE MOW.

>> Eric: CORRUPTION, ILLEGAL BEHAVIOR, ANY OF THAT?

>> NOT THAT WE FOUND.

>> Cathy: SO THIS IS LIKE, WHAT, THE THIRD REPORT?

IS THERE ANOTHER ONE COMING DOWN THE PIKE?

>> THERE IS A FOURTHS ONE, WE'RE DOING A FINANCIAL AUDIT THAT OUR STAFF ARE WORKING ON SO EACH REPORT WE'VE DONE HAS KIND OF GONE DOWN ANOTHER LAYER SO IT STARTED WITH CONTEXT, BACKGROUNDS, HISTORY.

THEN DECISION-MAKING, COMMUNICATION, TRANSPARENCY, NOW WE'RE AT THE CONTRACT LEVEL.

THE NEXT ONE IS GOING TO GO AND LOOK AT SPECIFIC FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS, MAYBE LOOK AT SUBCONTRACTORS, THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> Eric: IF A VIEWER IS SAYING, WE NEED TO STOP THIS PROJECT, IT'S A BOONDOGGLE, IT'S 70% DONE OR SOMETHING?

>> THAT'S WHAT THE COUNCIL SAYS, YEAH.

I'M NOT SURE THAT IT'S WORTH STOPPING NOW BUT WHAT I THINK IS IMPORTANT IS AKING ALL THESE LESSON WE'VE LEARNED AND APPLYING THOSE TO THE NEXT PROJECT.

>> Eric: ARE YOU CONFIDENT THAT COULD BE DONE WITH WHAT YOU'VE SEEN IN THIS SITUATION, PROJECTING TO NEW BUS LINES AND A NEW LIGHT RAIL LINE?

>> Cathy: ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE STRUCTURE OF THE MET COUNCIL.

>> I THINK CHANGES NEED TO HAPPEN FOR US TO FEEL CONFIDENT WE CAN DO THIS BETTER IN THE FUTURE.

>> Cathy: AND YOU'RE HOPING THAT THE LEGISLATURE WILL TAKE THIS REPORT AND... >> I'M OPING THAT -- WELL, THERE IS A TASK FORCE SET UP RIGHT NOW THAT'S GOING TO START LOOKING AT THE COMPOSITION OF THE COUNCIL.

I'M HOPING FUTURE CONTRACTS HAVE ADDITIONAL ENFORCEMENT MECHANISMS LIKE ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION, THINGS LIKE THAT.

THAT MAYBE WE ALIGN WHO'S FUNDING IT WITH HO'S IN CHARGE SO THERE IS A MORE BUILT-IN INCENTIVE FOR SOME OF THESE DECISIONS.

>> Eric: YOU HAVE NO ENFORCEMENT, YOU JUST RECOMMEND STUFF, YOU CAN'T MAKE IT HAPPEN.

>> WE JUST RECOMMEND.

>> Eric: OKAY.

APPRECIATE YOU COME OVER.

THANKS VERY MUCH.

>> Cathy: NICE TO SEE YOU.

>> NICE TO SEE YOU BOTH.

♪♪ >> I RECENTLY LOST MYSELF IN A PLACE YOU NEVER NEW EXISTED.

I'LL CALL IT A GARDEN BECAUSE IT'S A PLACE WHERE THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARRANGES ITSELF IN BIZARRE AND INFURIATING TANG ELSE.

YOU CAN ONLY GET THERE IF YOU HAVE CHILDREN OF A CERTAIN AGE, CHILDREN THAT HAVE BEEN SPEAKING FOR MANY YEARS BUT NOW THEY'RE OLD ENOUGH TO MANIPULATE THE WORDS.

THE JOURNEY BEGINS WITH A SIMPLE SENTENCE, SOMETHING LIKE, HEY, KIDS, IF YOU WANT TO GO TO THE BEACH, YOU NEED TO EAT ALL YOUR BREAKFAST.

THIS IS THE SEED, CLEAR AND CONCISE.

BUT THEN IT GETS PLANTED IN THE FERTILE SOIL OF YOUNG MINDS.

HOW MUCH IS ALL THE KIDS ASK.

ALL IS ALL, I ANSWER, ALL OF IT.

BUT IT'S TOO LATE.

THE SEED HAS ALREADY SPROUTED.

DOES THAT INCLUDE THE MILK BECAUSE IT'S MOSTLY JUST LEFT OVERSUGAR AND YOU SAID WITH YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE SUGAR FOR BREAKFAST?

YES, I SIDE THAT, BUT THAT'S CANDY.

BECAUSE SHOCK HAT MILK IS A LIQUID, WE WANT CHOCOLATE MILK.

NO, YOU'RE NOT HAVING CHOCK LATE MILK FOR BREAKFAST.

EAT WHAT'S IN FRONT OF YOU.

>> IT IS IN FRONT OF US, YOU DIDN'T SAY HOW FAR IN FRONT.

AT THIS POINT, I'M NEARLY OVERRUN.

MY ONLY HOPE IS TO WIGGLE FREE.

FOCUS ON THE BEACH, OKAY?

LET'S GET TO THE BEACH.

WHAT IF WE JUST STAY ON THE PLAYGROUND?

THAT'S NOT TECHNICALLY ON THE BEACH?

GOD, WIGGLING ISN'T WORKING, TIME TO TAKE OUT THE MACHETE, IT'S ALL THE SAME, ALL THE BEACH, CHOP, CHOP, HACK, HACK.

THERE, MAYBE THAT DID IT.

DAD, IF IT'S REALLY ALL THE SAME, AREN'T WE ALREADY AT THE BEACH?

AHHHH!

I COULD SAY MORE BUT IF THERE'S ONE LESSON THE WORDS GARDEN HAS TAUGHT ME IS THAT THE MORE YOU SPEAK, THE WORST THINGS ARE GOING TO GET.

♪♪ >> CATHY: CURRENT VISITORS TO THE "STAR TRIBUNE" OFFICES IN DOWNTOWN MINNEAPOLIS ARE IN FOR A VISUAL TREAT.

THIS FREE PHOTO EXHIBIT SHOWCASES THE WORK OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY THIS SPRING TO WORK WITH THE PHOTOGRAPHY DEPARTMENT AT THE NEWSPAPER.

THE COLLABORATION WAS PART OF THE NEW HYPE PROGRAM HERE AT TPT, A MEDIA EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAM FOR YOUTH OF COLOR THAT HAS RETURNED TO TWIN CITIES PBS AFTER A 20-YEAR HIATUS.

HERE TO TELL US MORE ABOUT THE MENTORSHIP PROGRAM, DEB PASTNER IS THE DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY AT THE "STAR TRIBUNE" AND A CO-CREATOR OF THE PROJECT.

PARTICIPATED, ALONG WITH HER COLLEAGUE, ALEX KORMANN.

AND WE WELCOME TWO OF THE HYPE CREW MEMBERS, DAMARJ ROBINSON, STUDENT AT GORDON PARKS HIGH SCHOOL IN ST. PAUL.

THAT'S ALSO WHERE BENNY GUAJARDO ATTENDS SCHOOL.

I'M SO HAPPY YOU ALL ARE HERE.

THANKS.

WOW, WE HAVEN'T HAD A FULL COUCH IN, LIKE, A LONG TIME, HAVE WE?

>> Eric: NO, NO.

>> Cathy: SO DEB, OUR FRIEND ROBIN HICKMAN, WHO WE ADORE, YOU BOTHER HAD THIS VISION FOR IT SO LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT.

>> YEAH, WELL, THINK BACK TO MARCH OF 2020, BEFORE CERTAIN THINGS HAPPENED, AND THERE WAS A WONDERFUL RETROSPECTIVE EXHIBIT OF GORDON PARK'S WORK AT THE MINNESOTA MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART AND THE STUDENTS AT GORDON PARKS HIGH SCHOOL HAD WRITTEN THE ACCOMPANYING TEXT AND I HAPPENED TO GO ON A DAY THAT ROBIN WAS THERE AND I INTRODUCED MYSELF AND I SAID, I WOULD LOVE TO FIND A WAY TO HAVE THE TWO OF US COLLABORATE.

AND THEN SOMETHING HAPPENED IN-BETWEEN AND -- >> Cathy: A LITTLE PAN DIM I CAN THING, YEAH, A COUPLE YEARS.

>> A LITTLE PANDEMIC THING BUT WE GOT RECONNECTED LAST SUMMER AND WE STARTED TALKING AGAIN ABOUT HOW WE COULD MAKE THIS HAPPEN, AND SO I WAS SO LUCKY TO HAVE MY CO-COLLABORATORS, ALEX AND LIZ WHO WERE EXCITED TO HELP MENTOR THE STUDENTS.

>> Cathy: AND YOU LEAPT IN, RIGHT, ALEX?

SO DEB CAME TO YOU AND SAID, HEY, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

AND YOU'RE LIKE -- YOU SAID... >> YEAH, SO EB CAME TO US AND WAS, LIKE, HEY, WE HAVE THIS SUPER OPPORTUNITY TO MENTOR SOME STUDENTS AND I'M THE YOUNGEST ON THE PHOTO STAFF, STILL, ONLY BEEN ON THE STAFF FOR FOUR YEARS AND WHEN I WAS IN COLLEGE AND IN HIGH SCHOOL, MY ENTIRE CAREER, I FEEL LIKE I CAN DEDICATE TO THE MENTORS WHO HELPED GUIDE ME AND HELPED ME GROW IN THE FIELD AND THIS IS AN AMAZING OPPORTUNITIES TO GIVE BACK THE SAME AY THAT PEOPLE HELPED ME I SAID ABSOLUTELY, JUMPED RIGHT IN.

>> Eric: WHAT KIND OF STUFF DID YOU TEACH THESE BUDDING JOURNALISTS?

>> I REMEMBER COMING TO THE SCHOOL AND MEETING THE STUDENTS AND WE WERE THE FIRST ONES TO OPEN THE CAMERAS FROM THE BOXES AND HAND THEM TO THE STUDENTS, AND JUST SEEING THEIR REACTION WAS AMAZING, AND ONCE WE PUT THE CAMERAS IN THEIR HANDS, THEY -- IT WAS ALMOST A NATURAL INSTINCTIVE BEHAVIOR TO START TAKING PICTURES OF OTHER PEOPLE AND THAT PARTICULAR DAY, WE TAUGHT THEM HOW TO SHOOT USING AVAILABLE LIGHT.

>> Cathy: WE'RE TALKING NOT -- EVERYONE SHOOTS PICTURES WITH CELLPHONES, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PROFESSIONAL CAMERAS.

>> CORRECT.

>> Cathy: SO THAT'S A DIFFERENT DEAL.

>> Eric: WHAT KIND OF STUFF DID YOU LEARN, COMPOSITION AND LIGHTING AND THAT SORT OF STUFF?

>> YEAH, IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WAS WORKING ON THE LIGHTING AND SYMMETRY OF PHOTOS AND HUE WE CAN BALANCE THEM ALL OUT BUT WE STARTED DOING PORTRAITS OUR FIRST DAY THERE, ACTUALLY, AND I FEEL LIKE I STARTED TO FALL IN LOVE AFTER THE FIRST DAY, ESPECIALLY WITH JERRY EING THERE.

IT WAS REALLY -- >> Eric: JERRY HALL, SO IT WAS INTERESTING.

I ACTUALLY FELL N LOVE WITH IT AND I'M A PHOTOGRAPHER AS OF NOW.

I REALLY FEEL I CAN PURSUE THIS AND IT'S SOMETHING I REALLY LOVE AND IT WAS JUST -- IT WAS NATURAL TO ME.

IT WAS IKE ONCE THE CAMERA WAS IN MY HAND, I FELT THAT PIECE AND CAPTURING THE IMAGE OF -- CAPTURING THE EMOTION INSIDE OF THE IMAGES, JUST SOMETHING THAT REALLY JUST BRINGS JOY TO ME AND -- YEAH.

>> Cathy: BETTY, DO YOU FEEL THE SAME WAY?

>> YES, I FEEL LIKE I LEARNED A LOT IN THAT CLASS.

THEY TAUGHT ME THE BASICS.

I REALLY ONLY NEW HOW TO TAKE A PICTURE ON MY PHONE.

I ACTUALLY GOT THE CAMERA HERE AND THEN I BROUGHT IT OVER THERE SO FROM THERE, IT WAS PRETTY NICE LEARNING HOW TO DO EVERYTHING THE RIGHT WAY INSTEAD OF JUST TAPPING THE SCREEN AND FIXING THE BRIGHTNESS WITH YOUR PHONE.

>> Cathy: WE'VE GOT SOME PICTURES, WE GOT TO SEE SOME PICTURES SO WE'LL ROLL THEM.

THIS IS THE BEGINNING, RIGHT?

IS THIS -- >> YES, YES, AND I THINK YOU CAN SEE, THAT'S JERRY HOULE ON THE LEFT WHO IS ONE OF OUR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS, AN INTEGRAL PART OF THIS AND WAS WORKING WITH THE STUDENTS AND CARLOS GONZALEZ IS THE OTHER PHOTOGRAPHER WHO WAS WORKING WITH US, TOO.

>> Cathy: AND THIS IS WHERE YOU ALL JUST KIND OF STARTED OUT, LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE LIKE, OKAY, THESE ARE CAMERAS, WHAT ARE WE DOING?

LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE JUST STARTING?

>> AND, LIZ, THIS LOOKS LIKE THE AVAILABLE LIGHT ASSIGNMENT.

>> YEP, YEP.

>> Eric: THIS IS ARTISTIC, LOOK AT THE COMPOSITION AND THE SHADOWS AND... >> Cathy: SO THIS AS PART OF THE EXHIBIT, IS THAT RIGHT?

>> YEAH, SO ALL THESE PICTURES ARE ON EXHIBIT AT CAPELLA STORY WHERE THE "STAR TRIBUNE" OFFICES ARE.

THAT -- AND THAT'S DAMARJ'S PICTURE RIGHT THERE.

>> Cathy: NICE.

>> Eric: WOULD YOU CALL THAT A IMPORTANT AT ANY RATE OR -- >> I DON'T REALLY KNOW.

I'M STILL TRYING TO FIGURE THAT OUT.

>> Eric: DO YOU GUYS APLAN TO DO THIS AS A CAREER OR IS IT TOO EARLY TO SAY?

>> IT'S KIND OF EARLY.

I KIND OF VIEW IT AS A CAREER BUT I NEED A LITTLE MORE GUIDANCE.

>> ME PERSONALLY, I FEEL LIKE THIS IS SOMETHING I COULD REALLY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF AS A CAREER BUT I WANT TO KEEP BUILDING MY SKILLS AND I DON'T WANT TO LIMIT MYSELF TO ONE THING, I WANT TO HAVE MULTIPLE THINGS TO GO BACK TO IF I REALLY WANT TO.

SO, YEAH.

>> Cathy: THIS IS A REALLY GREAT WAY TO MENTOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF JOURNALISTS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE'RE ASSIGNED TO COVER THESE COMMUNITIES EVERY DAY AND IT'S KIND OF NICE TO BE ABLE TO GO INTO A SITUATION AND MENTOR THESE YOUNG FOLKS AND GIVE THEM THE PPORTUNITY TO HAVE THIS IDEA THAT THIS PROFESSION EXISTS FOR ALL OF US.

>> Cathy: YOU KNOW, YOU GUYS LEARNED A LOT BUT I AM THINKING THAT YOU PROBABLY TAUGHT THESE PROS SOMETHING, TOO, RIGHT?

BECAUSE THAT'S -- IT'S A TWO-WAY STREET.

ALEX, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK WHENEVER YOU'RE IN ANY SORT OF TEACHING SETTING, YOU'RE LEARNING FROM THE STUDENTS AT THE SAME TIME AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, THESE STUDENTS SHOWED ME THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T -- WHEN WE GIVE THEM CAMERAS AND THEY'RE JUST BEGINNING TO LEARN, THEY DON'T HAVE, LIKE -- LIZ AND I HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR A WHILE AND YOU CAN ALMOST GET BOGGED DOWN IN SOME OF THE HIGHER TECH CAMERAS YOU HAVE AND THESE KIDS ARE MAKING AMAZING WORK WITH THE MOST BASIC EQUIPMENT AND YOU LEARN THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A BIG PRODUCTION TO MAKE A TO THE, TO YOU CAN MAKE SOMETHING REALLY POWERFUL, BEAUTIFUL, WITH A WINDOW IN A CLASSROOM AND A REAL SIMPLE CAMERA AND IT'S LEARNING.

WHEN I GO THROUGH MY WORK NOW, I'M LIKE DO I NEEDS ALL THIS STUFF R CAN I GET TO THE HEART OF WHAT I'M TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, CAPTURE THROUGH THOSE TO THE TOSS?

>> Cathy: LIZ?

>> YEAH, IT'S -- ONE OF THE PICTURES THAT REALLY MOVED ME FROM GORDON PARKS IS A PICTURE OF A YOUNG MAN AND HE'S KIND OF LAYING IN THE GRASS ND HE'S GOT A JUNE BUG ON HIS FOREHEAD AND HE'S GOT A STRING AND IT'S JUST A BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL MOMENT.

THAT PICTURE ACTUALLY REMINDED ME OF ONE OF THE PICTURES DAMARJ TOOK OF WONG OF HIS COWSINGS AND THE LIGHT THAT HE USED ON THAT TO THE, TO THE SIMPLICITY BUT IT TOLD YOU A BIG STORY.

>> Eric: DID YOU LEARN MORE THAN YOU THOUGHT YOU WERE GOING TO LEARN?

WHAT KIND F EXPECTATION DID YOU HAVE COMING IN?

>> YOU KNOW, COMING IN, I WAS KIND OF -- I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT BUT WHEN ACTUALLY DID DIVE INTO ITS, IT WAS, LIKE, OKAY, WOW, PHOTOGRAPHY IS SOMETHING I'M REALLY INTO BECAUSE I ALWAYS TOOK PICTURES WITH MY PHONE SO WHEN I HAD THE CAMERA IN MY HAND, IT WAS LIKE I WAS ALREADY USED TO IT SO I JUST BUILT OFF THAT TO LEARN MORE.

IT WAS REALLY UNEXPECTED BECAUSE I NEVER THOUGHT PHOTOGRAPHY WOULD BE SOMETHING I COULD ACTUALLY PURSUE IN MY LIFE SO WITH ACTUALLY BEING EXPOSED TO PEOPLE WITH MORE KNOWLEDGE AND PASSING IT DOWN TO ME, AND BEING GREAT MENTORS AS THEY ARE, WHICH I DO APPRECIATE, JUST OPENED A WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY FOR ME.

>> Cathy: YOU KNOW YOU'RE ON THE RIGHT TRACK WHEN YOU'RE DOING SOMETHING AND YOU LOSE TRACK OF TIME.

DID THAT HAPPEN TO YOU?

>> YES, 100%.

I REALLY DIDN'T WANTS IT TO ENDS YET.

YOU KNOW, WHEN WE HAD THE LAST EVENT AT THE "STAR TRIBUNE," I WAS KIND OF SAD, YOU KNOW, I WAS KIND OF SAD BECAUSE I WAS, LIKE, MAN, THIS IS GOING TO BE THE END OF IT, FOR NOW.

WELL, HIGH SCHOOL IS OVER WITH SO IT'S LIKE ON TO THE NEXT.

>> Eric: WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO DO WITH ALL THIS INFORMATION AND KNOWLEDGE?

>> I HOPE TO TAKE, YOU KNOW, FURTHER MY FUTURE AND USE IT LATER ON, YOU KNOW, SAY IF I WANT TO START MY OWN THING, BUY MY OWN CAMERA, START DOING LITTLE IDE JOBS, YOU KNOW, FROM THE KNOWLEDGE THAT I'VE GOT FROM THE MENTORS AND THE KNOWLEDGE THAT I'VE LEARNED IN THE SCHOOL, YOU KNOW, THAT LITTLE CLASSROOM.

IT REALLY HELPED ME OUTS A LOT FOR THE LONG TERM AND, YEAH.

>> Eric: FOLKS CAN SEE THIS IN THE LOBBY AT -- DOWNTOWN.

>> DOWNTOWN, THE CAPELLA BUILDING, IT WILL BE THERE THROUGH THE SUMMER.

>> Eric: YOU HAVE TO CONTINUES THIS.

>> Cathy: WE WERE GOING TO SAY, YOU HAVE TO CONTINUES THIS.

>> THAT'S DEFINITELY OUR PLAN.

LOOKING FORWARDS TO THAT.

>> Cathy: WE'RE THRILLED THAT HYPE IS BACK.

WE REMEMBER THAT FROM 20 YEARS AGO, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN, SO SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE GOING TO STAY WITH HYPE, RIGHT, BOTH OF YOU?

>> Eric: HE FUTURE IS IN GOOD HANDS.

THANKS, EVERYBODY.

THANK YOU.

>> Cathy: THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

♪ >> I'M TRYING TO CUT BACK ON COFFEE.

NOT SURE HOW PEOPLE FIRST GET HOOKED.

IT'S NOT THAT TASTY...

REMEMBER THAT FACE YOU MADE THE FIRST TIME YOUR PARENTS LET YOU TRY IT?

YOU HAD TO ADD MILK AND THREE TEASPOONS OF SUGAR TO GET IT DOWN.

MOST PEOPLE START DURING SCHOOL.

YOU DRINK COFFEE ALL NIGHT BEFORE A BIG TEST, THEN YOU CAN HARDLY WRITE THE ANSWERS BECAUSE YOU ARE TOO JITTERY.

WORKING IN THE HOSPITAL, WE NEEDED COFFEE.

WE WERE UP ALL NIGHT SAVING LIVES.

OR SOMEONE WANTED AN EXTRA PUDDING AND NEEDED A DOCTOR'S OKAY.

BY MORNING, WE WERE LIKE HYPERTHYROID CHIHUAHUAS.

NOWADAYS, IT'S NOT WORTH IT JUST TO STAY UP AND STREAM ANOTHER EPISODE OF "STAR TREK PICARD."

OF COURSE, THERE'S ALWAYS DECAF, SAME UNPLEASANT FLAVOR, NONE OF THE JITTERS.

IT'S ACTUALLY POSSIBLE TO FALL ASLEEP WHILE DRINKING IT.

SOME PEOPLE SWITCH TO TEA.

THEY HAVE, LIKE, 5,000 FLAVORS, LIKE RASPBERRY MANGO CARDAMOM MINT TEA.

ALWAYS SOUNDS SO DELICIOUS, BUT THEY ALL TASTE LIKE AN ORANGE CRAYON DIPPED IN WATER.

THE FLAVOR OF THE WATER WAS STRONGER THAN TEA.

THERE'S ALSO CHAI, WHICH LITERALLY MEANS TEA.

IT HAS MILK SO YOU CAN AT LEAST TASTE IT.

OTHER PEOPLE DRINK KOMBUCHA THEY MAKE IN THEIR BASEMENTS.

BESIDES DRINKING WHAT IS BASICALLY SWAMP WATER, THE BIGGEST RISK IS WHEN THE JAR EXPLODES, SHOOTING SLIME EVERYWHERE.

IT'S VERY HEALTHY UNLESS YOU'RE STANDING NEXT TO IT.

THERE'S MATCHA, A KIND OF GREEN TEA.

IT HAS A FLAVOR SOME DESCRIBE AS "EARTHY"...

SWAMP WATER.

AND ALSO YERBA MATE, WHICH SOME PEOPLE SAY HAS "AN ACQUIRED TASTE."

YEAH, I DON'T TRUST THOSE PEOPLE.

YOU DRINK IT OUT OF A GOURD WITH A METAL STRAW, SO I GUESS ON THE WAY TO WORK YOU'D NEED A TRAVEL GOURD.

MAYBE I'LL JUST DRINK GOOD, OLD-FASHIONED HOT WATER, WITH A BIT OF LEMON.

IF I GET TOO SLEEPY, I'LL JUST POUR IT ON MY HEAD.

I'M SURE GETTING THE LEMON JUICE IN MY EYES WILL KEEP ME AWAKE.

[Applause] ♪♪ >> ERIC: FORMER MINNEAPOLIS POLICE CHIEF TONY BOUZA DIED EARLIER THIS WEEK AT THE AGE OF 94.

BOUZA LED THE MINNEAPOLIS POLICE DEPARTMENT IN THE 1980S.

HIRED TO REFORM THE DEPARTMENT, BOUZA WAS MEDIA SAVVY, APPEARING ON NATIONAL AND LOCAL NEWS PROGRAMS ON A REGULAR BASIS, INCLUDING HERE ON TWIN CITIES PBS.

BACK IN 1983, AS THE MINNEAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL WAS DECIDING IF THEY SHOULD APPOINT BOUZA TO A SECOND TERM, HE APPEARED ON THE KTCA PROGRAM "TURNING POINT," WHERE HIS SUPPORTERS AND CRITICS JOINED HIM ON THE SET AND A STUDIO AUDIENCE HAD THE CHANCE TO ASK TOUGH QUESTIONS OF THE CHIEF.

HERE'S A SHORT EXCERPT FROM THAT SHOW, WHEN BOUZA IS ADDRESSING CONCERNS ABOUT POLICE TREATMENT OF THE BLACK COMMUNITY AND THE GAY COMMUNITY.

>> WE DO HAVE OFFICERS IN UNIFORM WHO ARE UNFIT TO WEAR THE UNIFORM, WHO ARE NOT PROTECTORS OF OUR SOCIETY BUT A MENACE AND OUGHT TO BE SEPARATED FROM SOCIETY.

>> CHIEF BOUZA, CAN YOU FORESEE ANYTHING STANDING IN YOUR WAY OF CARRYING OUT YOUR OWN PERSONAL COMMITMENT TO SEEING SOCIAL JUSTICE?

>> WELL, I'M GOING TO BE TRYING.

I THINK THAT THE GAY AND BLACK COMMUNITIES HAVE VERY RIGHT TO BE WARY OF THE POLICE.

EVERYWHERE IN THE UNITED STATES, THERE ARE PROBLEMS AND A LOT OF THOSE PROBLEMS CENTER AROUND THE POLICE.

WE ONLY HAVE TO LOOK TO MIAMI TO SEE OR LOS ANGELES, CHICAGO, NEW YORK, AND I HOPE THAT WE'RE IMPROVING THE RELATIONS HERE.

I THINK WE HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL TO PROMOTE SOCIAL JUSTICE TO UNPOPULAR MINORITIES AND BLACKS AND GAYS REALLY ARE UNPOPULAR MINORITIES AND IT'S A THING WE HAVE TO FIGHT OVER.

>> IS THAT A MOUNTAIN THAT ANY CHIEF IN THE UNITED STATES CAN CLIMB?

>> EVERY CHIEF MUST TRY AND ALL TOO FEW EVEN ATTEMPT IT.

>> ERIC: JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT THE LEGACY OF TONY BOUZA, MICHAEL LANSING, A HISTORY PROFESSOR FROM AUGSBURG UNIVERSITY AND THE CO-CREATOR OF "OVERPOLICED AND UNDERPROTECTED," A PUBLIC HISTORY PROJECT THAT EXPLORES THE HISTORY OF POLICING IN THE TWIN CITIES.

PROFESSOR, YOU LABELED CHIEF BOUZA AS A MAN OF CONTRADICTIONS.

WHY?

>> INDEED.

INDEED, I THINK THIS IS THE BEST WAY TO CAPTURE BOUZA'S SIZABLE PRESENCE IN PUBLIC LIFE IN EMERGENCIES AND MINNESOTA FOR DECADES.

HE'S A PERSON THAT PEOPLE TAKE IN SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS AND HAVE SO MANY DIFFERENT OPINIONS ON SIMPLY BECAUSE HE EMBODIES CONTRADICTIONS.

>> Eric: WHAT ARE SOME EXAMPLES?

>> WELL, THE FIRST ONE THAT COMES TO MIND IS THAT HE'S NOTED CRITIC OF POLICING.

WHEN HE'S IN NEW YORK, WHEN HE'S IN MINNEAPOLIS, AFTER HE RETIRES FROM THE HEAD JOB IN MINNEAPOLIS, HE IS CONSTANTLY TALKING ABOUT ALL THE PROBLEMS IN POLICING, BOTH IN MINNEAPOLIS AND ELSEWHERE.

HE ALSO S A SELF-DESCRIBED COP-LOVER.

HE IS DEEPLY, DEEPLY COMMITTED TO POLICING AND, IN FACT, IS VERY FOCUSED -- HE ONCE CALLED HIMSELF A LOVING CRITIC OF POLICING SO THERE IS A CONTRADICTION, HOW DO WE MAKE SENSE OF THAT?

>> Cathy: ALSO CALLED SOME COPS THUMPERS, HE KIND THAT PHASE AND STILL LOVED OPS.

>> YEAH, SO ANOTHER CONTRADICTION THAT COMES OUT WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT BOUZA USING THE TERM "TEMPER" IS THAT HE COINS THAT IN 1980 TO DESCRIBE MINNEAPOLIS COPS WHO ARE ENGAGED IN PROBLEMATIC USE OF FORCE BUT HE'S ALSO SOMEONE WHO IN PRINT AND IN INTERVIEWS WILL DESCRIBE THE NECESSITY FOR POLICE VIOLENCE.

SO THIS IS A PERSON WHO, AGAIN, YOU CAN TAKE ANY NUMBER OF DIFFERENT WAYS.

>> Eric: HE AND HIS SPOUSE WERE PRETTY LIBERAL FOLKS.

DID HE CARRY THAT OVER TO RELATIONS WITH THE BLACK AND GUY COMMUNITIES?

>> HE'S PROBABLY THE MOST LIB BRAHAM POLICE CHIEF IN THE UNITED STATES N THE 1980s AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS HE IS EEL ON NIGHTLINE AND 2020 AND SPEAKING HIS MINDS ABOUT ALL THESE ISSUES.

THAT SAID, HE HAS AT BEST DEEPLY TROUBLED RELATIONSHIPS WITH LGBTQIA COMMUNITIES, WITH INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES, WITH BLACK COMMUNITIES IN THE CITY, BECAUSE OF HIS OTHER COMMITMENTS.

AGAIN, BECAUSE OF THESE CONTRADICTIONS.

>> Cathy: INTERESTING, BUT HE REALLY DID KNOW HOW TO USE THE MEDIA WELL.

>> WELL, HE'S VERY SAVVY, NO QUESTION ABOUT HOW SAVVY HE IS, PEOPLE TALK ABOUT BOUZA AS SOMEONE WHO'S ALWAYS GETTING HIMSELF INTO ONTROVERSIES BUT THERE IS A LOT OF DELIBERATION THERE.

>> Cathy: WHY DO YOU THINK THAT WAS?

>> WELL, I THINK HE HAD A LONG EXPERIENCE IN NEW YORK BEFORE COMING TO MINNEAPOLIS, BOTH AS A STREETS COP AND AS A MEMBER OF THE SPECIAL SERVICES DIVISION WHICH WAS AN INTELLIGENCE UNIT IN HE 1950s AND 1960s THAT ACTUALLY MONITORED AND SURVEILLED CIVIL RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS, FEMINIST ORGANIZATIONS, AND THEN OF COURSE HE WENT INTO LEADERSHIP IN THE NEW YORK P.D.

SO HE ALSO UNDERSTOOD NEWSPAPERS, POLITICIANS AND POLITICS AND I THINK THAT WAS A POTENT COMBINATION.

>> Eric: REFRESH OUR MEMBER RYE ON HIS SUSPENSION, WAS IT '85, HE SAID WITH SOMETHING ABOUT THE CITY COUNCIL?

>> DON FRAZIER AS MAYOR HAD BROUGHT HIM IN TO DE-MISSOURI SIZE IT IS MOST POLITICIZED DEPARTMENTS IN THE COUNTRY AND BOUZA WAS ABLE TO DO ALL KIND OF THINGS TO DE-POLITICIZE THE DOESN'T BUT IN 1985, HE REFERS TO A CITY COUNCIL PERSON AS, QUOTES, CHARLIE STENVIG IN DRAG.

AND THAT GETS THE SUSPENSION FROM MAYOR FRAZIER.

IN FACT, HOWEVER, HE TAKES IT.

HE DOESN'T REALLY EVER CRITIQUE MAYOR FRAZIER.

IT'S CLEAR THAT AS MUCH OF A MAVERICK AS HE WAS, HERE'S ANOTHER CONTRADICTION, IN FACT, HE WAS READY TO DEFER TO HIS BOSS.

>> Cathy: WHICH, AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT SHOULD SURPRISE US, RITE?

I KNOW THAT IS A CONTRADICTION BUT BEING IN THE POLICE HIERARCHY, YOU WOULD FOLLOW YOUR BOSS, RIGHT?

>> YOU WOULD HOPE SO AND THAT'S WHAT HE DOES BUT IN FACT THAT'S NOT TRUE OF EVERY CHIEF IN MINNEAPOLIS HISTORY.

>> Eric: POLICE UNION RELATIONS WITH THE CHIEF.

>> DEEPLY, DEEPLY, DEEPLY PROBLEMATIC.

A BIG GAP BETWEEN BOUZA AND THE POLICE UNION AND, IN FACT, SOME ARGUE, I WOULD ARGUE THAT THE POLICE UNION BECOMES A POTENT CENTER FOR POLITICS IN THE CITY AGAIN BECAUSE A DISUNITED FORCE BECOMES UNITED IN ITS DISLIKE AMONG THE RANK AND FILE FOR BOUZA AND THAT MOVES FROM THE DEPARTMENT INTO THE POLICE UNION.

>> Cathy: HE WAS BROUGHT INTO MINNEAPOLIS FOR PECIFIC REASONS.

WAS HE TRULY A REFORMER?

>> HE IS A REFORMER BUT THE YES IS WHAT EXACTLY IS BEING REFORMED?

AGAIN, THE QUESTION OF RACIALIZED POLICING IS SOMETHING THAT ACTUALLY BECOMES A DEEPER AND GREATER PROBLEM AS HIS TIME IN OFFICE GOES ON.

>> Eric: LEGACY?

>> WELL, I THINK IT'S THESE CONTRADICTIONS THAT MAKE HIM LARGER THAN LIFE, RIGHT?

AND WHY SO MANY PEOPLE IN TOWN HAVE THESE STORIES ABOUT TONY BOUZA, AND DON'T FORGET THAT, IN FACT, BECAUSE OF HIS APPEAR ONCE ON THE 197 DOCUMENTARY CALLED THE POLICE TAPES, KIND OF CINEMA VERITE, SOME ARGUE HE'S THE INSPIRATION FOR THE CAPTAIN ON "HILL STREET BLUES."

>> Cathy: REALLY!

I HAD NO IDEAS.

BEFORE YOU GO, I WANT TO GO BACK TO HIS POLITICAL SAVVY.

HE WAS KIND OF A POLITICAL ANIMAL.

COULD YOU GIVE US MORE EXAMPLES OF THAT, PERHAPS?

>> WELL, I THINK HE UNDERSTOOD THAT WHAT HE SAID MATTERED, AND I THINK HE WAS CAREFUL TO USE CONVERSATIONS WITH COMMUNITY GROUPS, CONVERSATIONS WITH REPORTERS, CONVERSATIONS IN THE NATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNITY BECAUSE HE WAS AN ACTIVE RESEARCHER AND SUPPORTED NATIONAL RESEARCH PROJECTS AND ACTUALLY WAS WRITING FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT JOURNALS, KIND OF PROFESSIONAL MAGAZINES.

HE UNDERSTOOD THAT THESE WERE ALL WAYS IN WHICH IT WOULD BE IMPORTANT FOR HIM TO ARTICULATE A VISION FOR POLICING, BOTH FOR THE CITY AND FOR HIS POTENTIAL FUTURE.

>> Eric: HE WAS VERY SMART AND SEEMINGLY VERY WELL-EDUCATED AND WELL-READ.

BUT HE DIDN'T SEEM TO -- DID HE LORDS IT OVER FOLKS THAT I'M SMARTER -- I'M THE SMARTEST GUY IN THE ROOM OR HOW WERE HIS RELATIONS IN GENERAL?

>> I THINK HE WAS VERY PERSONABLE, THAT'S CLEAR WHEN YOU SEE MEDIA CLIPS FROM THE 1970s OR '80s, IT'S CLEAR HE IS A PEOPLE PERSON.

HE'S VERY SHARP AND WELL-EDUCATED ATTENTION YOU SUGGESTED AND I'M SURE THAT TURNS SOME PEOPLE OFF.

>> Cathy: THE STREET RELATIONS, GOING BACK TO THE PROBLEMATIC RELATIONSHIPS WITH IT IS BIPoC AND LGBTQ COMMUNITIES, YOU THINK WORKING IN NEW YORK CITY WONDERING, HIS EXPERIENCE IN NEW YORK CITY, DID THAT COLOR HIS RELATIONSHIPS WITH BIPoC COMMUNITIES OR WHAT WAS BEHIND IT, DO YOU THINK?

>> IT'S THE FACT THAT HE CAN RECOGNIZE CLASSISM AND SEGREGATION AS PROBLEMS IN AMERICAN SOCIETY AND HE'S ARTICULATING THAT PUBLICLY IN THE 1970s AS AN ASSISTANT POLICE CHIEF IN NEW YORK BUT WHEN HE'S ACTUALLY A POLICE CHIEF HERE IN MINNEAPOLIS, HE IS SO COMMITTED TO POLICING AND SO CERTAIN FORMS OF LAW AND ORDER THAT THERE'S AUTOMATICALLY GOING TO BE TENSION.

>> Eric: DIFFERENT ERA THEN BUT DO YOU HAVE ANY SENSE F HOW HE WOULD HAVE FARED IN THE MODERN WORLD?

>> HARD TO IMAGINE A CHIEF IN 2023 SITTING THERE ON A STAGE FOR A PUBLIC TELEVISION PROGRAM WITH SOME OF HIS BIGGEST DETRACTSORS.

>> Eric: BUT HE FELT HE COULD HANDLE HIMSELF VERBALLY.

>> AND IF YOU WATCH THE REST OF, THAT HE DOES.

HE DOES.

>> Cathy: YES, HE DOES.

THANK YOU, IT WAS GREAT TO HAVE YOU HERE.

THANK YOU, PROFESSOR.

>> Eric: THANK YOU, PROFESSOR.

>> THANK UP SO MUCH.

>> CATHY: DEMOCRATS DOMINATED THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION WITH THEIR TRIFECTA BUT CAPITOL REPORTER MARY LAHAMMER NOTICED THE YOUNGEST SENATE REPUBLICAN WHO LEANED IN AND HAD A MAJOR IMPACT ON A VARIETY OF LEGISLATION.

HERE'S THE BACK STORY ON A LAWMAKER LEARNING TO BE EFFECTIVE IN THE MINORITY.

>> Mary: HOW DIFFERENT IS THE NEAT FROM THE HOUSE WHERE YOU CAME?

>> WELL, TOUGH TO COMPARE BUS WHEN I WAS IN THE HOUSE, WE WERE ALL DOING COMMITTEES ON ZOOM AND SO -- >> Mary: YOU WERE A COVID FRESHMAN OVER THERE.

>> A COVID FRESHMAN SO IT'S DEFINITELY BEEN GREAT TO, YOU KNOW, HAVE THE PEOPLE BACK IN THE CAPITOL TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH MY COLLEAGUES.

>> Mary: THIS IS WHERE YOU GOT TO BE IN-PERSON THIS YEAR ON THE FLOOR A LOT.

>> IN THE FRONTS ROW, GREAT TO BE NEXT TO SENATOR MILLER, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE PROCEDURAL BACKGROUNDS AND GETTING THE CHANCE TO LEARN FROM HIM.

>> Mary: KNOWLEDGE IS SOMETHING SENATOR RASMUSSON SOAKS UP QUICKLY.

HE'S SMART AND -- >> SENATOR INGEBRIGTSEN DECIDED TO RETIRE AND ASKED ME TO RUN FOR THE STATE SENATE.

>> Mary: IF I RECALL CORRECTLY, LEGENDARY REPRESENTATIVE BUD NORNES ALSO ASKED YOU TO RETURN WHEN HE WAS RETIRING.

>> THAT'S RIGHT, THAT'S HOW I ENDED UP IN THE LEGISLATURE IN THE FIRST PLACE.

>> Mary: HIS HOUSE IMMEDIATE SESSIONOR HAD A STELLAR REPUTATION FOR MAKING FRIENDS IN THE CAPITOL.

>> GREW UP IN FERGUS FALLS AND APPLIED AND GOT A CHANCE TO GO TO HARVARD.

>> Mary: WHY DO YOU THINK HE GOT IN.

>> JUST WORKING HARD AND A LOT OF LEADERSHIP ACTIVITIES AND TOOK THE CHANCE ON APPLYING, AND REALLY HAD A GREAT EXPERIENCE OUT THERE AND CAME BACK TO MINNESOTA AFTER I GRADUATED.

>> Mary: NOW RASMUSSEN WANTS TO MAKE SURE YOUNG PEOPLE LIKE HIM HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO RETURN HOME TO RURAL AREAS LIKE OTTER TAIL COUNTY WHICH IS ACTUALLY GROWING.

>> Mary: YOU PROBABLY HAD OPPORTUNITIES TO GO ELSEWHERE, YOU CAME BACK.

>> YEAH, NOT A TON OF HARVARD GRADS COMING BACK TO REPORT MINNESOTA BUT FOR ME, THAT'S WHERE MY FAMILY IS, THAT'S WHERE MY WIFE'S FAMILY S IN SO IT WAS GREAT TO COME BACK HOME.

THE BIGGEST COUNTIES I REPRESENTS, OTTER TAIL COUNTIES WHERE I LIVE IS FASTER GROWING IN HE STATE.

GROWING MUCH FASTER THAN HENNEPIN AND RAMSEY COUNTY IN TERMS OF POPULATION AND A LOT OF THAT IS PEOPLE DECIDESSINGS THEY WANT TO COME UP AND LIVE IN LAKES COUNTRY AND HAVING MORE FLEXIBILITY WITH THEIR JOBS SO COVID FOR US HAS ACTUALLY HAD LONGER TERM POSITIVE IMPACTS FROM BEING ABLE TO RECRUITS PEOPLE TO OUR AREA.

>> Mary: BUT YOU'RE A RURAL AREA THAT'S GROWING.

NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW THAT.

HE GREW AS A LAWMAKER WITH THE CHANCE TO SERVE ON THE HIGH-PROFILE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE CREATING MINNESOTA'S MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION.

>> I WAS THE ONLY MEMBER OF THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE WHO VOTED AGAINST THE BILL AND, YOU KNOW, I SAID, YOU KNOW, THIS IS LIKELY TO HAPPEN WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT AND SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO GET, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT I HAD ADDRESSED THROUGH THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORT.

I STILL HAVE A LOT OF CONCERNS WITH THE FINAL BILL AND THINK WE'LL HAVE SOME ISSUES THAT WE'LL HAVE TO FIX NEXT SESSION BUILT WAS ABLE TO GET MORE FUNDING FOR DRUG RECOGNITION TRAINING, BUT IN STRONG BASELINE STUDIES AND TESTING SO WE CAN SEE THE IMPACT THAT LEGALIZATION HAS ON OUR YOUTH AND PUBLIC HEALTH.

>> Mary: AS THE YOUNGEST SENATE REPUBLICAN, HE CAN SEE CONDITION ABYSS AND OTHER ISSUES THROUGH A GENERATIONAL LENS DIFFERENT THAN SOME OF HIS COLLEAGUES.

>> YOUNGER FOLKS ARE MORE SUPPORTIVE OF RECREATIONAL CANNABIS, YOU KNOW, I SUPPORTS OUR MEDICAL MARIJUANA PROGRAM.

>> Mary: HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO HAVE SOME OF THAT GENERATIONAL DIVERSITY?

>> I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE FOLKS FROM ALL AGES HERE IN THE MINNESOTA SENATE BECAUSE AT DIFFERENT LIFE STAGES, YOU FACE DIFFERENT ISSUES.

>> Mary: DESPITE BEING A REPUBLICAN IN A DFL-CONTROLLED LEGISLATURE, SENATOR RASMUSSEN GOT A REMARKABLE NUMBER OF BILLS SIGNED INTO LAW AND HE'S TECHNICALLY A FRESHMAN.

>> OF THE 44 BILL I WAS THE CHIEF AUTHOR OF, 21 OF THEM GOT SIGNED INTO LAW.

>> Mary: IN THE MINORITIES.

>> YEAH SO, ABOUT 48% OF THE BILLS THAT I WAS CHIEF AUTHOR OF BECAME LAW THIS SESSION.

>> Mary: NOTHER BILL THAT GOT SIGNED INTO LAW WAS THE LAST BIG COME PROMISE OF SESSION LINING A BRONZING BILL TO NURSING HOME FUNDING.

>> Mary: YOU WERE PART OF A BONDING BILL NURSING HOME FUNDING >> ALSO SENATE REPUBLICANS, THE CAUCUS'S BIGGEST PRIORITY WAS TO MAKE SURE BEFORE WE LEFT IT IS SESSION WE WANTED TO HELP THE NURSING HOMES AND WE HAD SEEN THE DEMOCRATS AND THEIR HUMAN SERVICES BILL WHICH PUT BASICALLY A LOAN PROGRAM AND WE GOT $300 MILLION FOR MINNESOTA NURSING HOMES.

LEADERSHIP WAS ABLE TO GET THAT NEGOTIATED AND THEN I WAS ASKED TO HELP FIGURE OUT THE DETAILS TO COME UP WITH ACTUAL BILL LANGUAGE THAT PASSED UNANIMOUSLY HERE NOTICE SENATE AND OVER IN THE HOUSE.

>> Mary: ESTIMATES SAY THE BILL SAID 40 NURSING HOMES FROM CLOSING, SOME IN THE INDUSTRY HAVE CALLED HIM A HERO.

HE SAID THE WORK THEY DO IS HEROIC.

>> >> WAS HAPPY TO PLAY A ROLE IN GETTING THAT DONE.

>> Mary: BUT YOU WEREN'T DOING THE PRESS CONFERENCES AND CHASING THE CAMERAS AND SAYING LOOK WHAT I DID.

WHY NOT?

>> I THINK YOU'RE ABLE TO GET MORE ONE WHEN YOU'RE GIVING CREDIT TO OTHER FOLKS AND IT REALLY WAS A TEAM EFFORTS.

>> Mary: I USE THE ANALOGY SHOW HORSES AND WORK HORSES.

WE WERE I A WORK HORSE ON, THAT NOT A SHOW HORSE.

>> >> YEP, GENERALLY WE SEE A LOT OF SHOW HORSES IN WASHINGTON, TO ME IT'S ABOUT THE CONSTITUENTS, GETTING POLICY RIGHT AND TRYING TO SHOW UP WITH THAT WORK ETHIC THAT FOLKS UP IN MY AREA EXPECT.

>> Mary: WHILE RASMUSSEN WORKED WITH DEMOCRATS AND GOT THINGS DONE, DON'T CAST HIM AS A MODERATE.

>> I'M ONE OF HE MOST CONSERVATIVE VOTING RECORDS HERE IN THE SENATE, AS WELL, BUT ABLE TO FIND OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMON GROUNDS TO GET SOME GOOD THINGS DONE.

MY GOAL ISN'T TO MAKE A POINTS, IT'S TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

♪♪ >> ERIC: JUNE 30TH.

IT'S A BUSY DAY IN THE POLITICAL WORLD.

MINNESOTA IS GETTING READY TO ENACT A PLETHORA OF NEW LAWS ON JULY 1ST.

AND IN D.C., THE U.S. SUPREME COURT FINISHED ITS TERM EARLIER TODAY, CAPPING OFF A WEEK OF BIG DECISIONS FROM THE HIGH COURT.

LET'S SEE WHAT THIS WEEK'S POLITICAL PANEL HAS TO SAY ABOUT THE BUSY WEEK LEADING UP TO THE LONG HOLIDAY WEEKEND.

REPUBLICANS UP FIRST.

FRITZ KNAAK IS A FORMER STATE SENATOR NOW PRACTICING LAW JUST DOWN THE STREET.

JEN DEJOURNETT IS A POLITICAL OPERATIVE AND VETERAN OF CAMPAIGNS.

DFLERS ON THE COUCH TONIGHT, FORMER STATE SENATOR IS ALSO A LABEL YOU CAN GIVE JEFF HAYDEN, AND WE WELCOME BACK WINTANA MELEKIN, DFL ACTIVIST WHO SPENT MANY HOURS AT THE LEGISLATURE THIS YEAR.

LET ME JUST TOO BRIEFLY DESCRIBE THE LAST PART OF THE SUPREME COURT'S CALENDAR HERE, COLLEGES CAN'T USE RACE FOR COMMISSIONS, BUSINESSES DON'T HAVE TO SERVE GAYS, EMPLOYERS MUST ACCOMMODATE RELIGIOUS BELIEFS AND PRESIDENT BIDEN CAN'T UNILATERALLY CANCEL STUDENT DEBTS.

POLITICAL IMPLICATIONS OF ALL THAT?

>> HURRAY, I'LL START WITH THAT.

FOR THOSE OF US WHO EVER HAD 20 KIND OF GRIT OUR TEETH WITH A LOT OF THE CRITICISM THAT TRUMP HAD BEEN RECEIVING, THE ONE THING WE CAN SAY, T LEAST SOME OF US, IS THIS IS THE JUSTIFICATION, THIS IS THE PAY-OFF.

YOU KNOW, THE DESIRE AMONG CONSERVATIVES WAS FOR THE COURT TO FIND A WAY TO EXTRICATE THE FEDERAL JUDICIARY FROM THE POLITICAL PROCESS DIRECTLY FROM BECOMING THE POLICY-MAKING BODY, THE UNELECTED POLICY-MAKING BODY AND YOU'RE SEEING THAT IN THIS CASE.

I JUST, ONE AFTER ANOTHER, I WAS GOING YOU BETCHA, THAT'S ALL GOOD.

>> Eric: SENATOR.

>> WOW, I DIDN'T EXPECT THAT OUT OF YOU.

I FEEL EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE.

>> OF COURSE.

>> OT NECESSARILY, I'LL LET FRITZ SPEAK TO THE -- IF HE FEELS LIKE FEDERAL COURTS ARE MAKING POLICY, IT'S REALLY SAD FOR US, SAD FOR AMERICA, SAD FOR THE UNITED STATES AND I THINK IT WILL BE REALLY SAD FOR REPUBLICANS POLITICAL.

>> Eric: HOW SO?

FIRST OF ALL, WE DON'T WANTS COLLEGES TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A REALLY ROBUST AND DIVERSE GROUP OF PEOPLE?

WE'RE NOT RECOGNIZING STRUCTURAL AND HISTORIC RACISM IN THIS COUNTRY?

RIGHT, LIKE WHERE -- WE'RE CAN EXCITED ABOUT THOSE KIND OF THINGS?

WE'VE SEEN IT IN CALIFORNIA WHERE THEY HAD A REFERENDUM, 50% OF THE PEOPLE OF COLOR, ESPECIALLY BLACKS AND LATINOS DON'T GO TO THE CALIFORNIA UNIVERSITIES SYSTEM.

WE THINK THAT'S GOOD FOR AMERICA?

>> Jearlyn: JEN, IS IT GOING TO BE BAD FOR REPUBLICANS?

>> LAST AUGUST, WE SAW THE ELECTION IMPLICATIONS OF WHAT HAPPENED AFTER THAT SUPREME COURT RULING AND THERE WAS CATASTROPHIC POLITICAL MACHINE FAILURE.

I THINK WHAT WE'LL SEE HERE IS VERY SIMILAR, UNLESS REPUBLICANS GET ON THEIR GAME VERY, VERY QUICKLY AND BUILD THE MACHINE BECAUSE AS JEFF SAID, THEIR SIDE IS GOING TO BE VERY MOTIVATED.

POLITICS IS ALWAYS PERSONAL.

PEOPLE VOTE WHEN THEY'RE MAD, THEY DO THINGS WHEN THEY'RE MAD, THEY DOOR-KNOCK, DONATE, ALL OF THAT.

WHAT WE SEE ON OUR SIDE IS WHEN THEY WIN THESE POLITICAL SUPREME OURT DECISIONS, OUR SIDE GOES TO SLEEP AND THERE'S NO INFRASTRUCTURE TO THEN TURN OUT THE VOTE AND MAKE SURE EVERYBODY VOTES AND THEN WE LOSE BIG.

AND THEN THAT HAS LONG-TERM IMPLICATIONS.

I DON'T THINK IT'S NECESSARILY -- I DON'T THINK WE'RE PREPARED AND I THINK WE NEED TO GET PREPARED VERY, VERY QUICKLY.

>> Cathy: WINTANA, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> WE'RE LOOKING AT A SUPREME COURT THAT HAS BEEN CAUGHT WITH TAKING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF GIFTS FROM MAJOR DONORS AND SHOWING US HOW CORRUPT THEY ARE AND THEY JUST DECIDED TO TURN THEIR BACK ON YOUNG PEOPLE, QUEER FOLKS, AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, AND I THINK IT'S ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTING AND EMBARRASSING.

BUT ALSO I THINK IT'S GOING TO HAVE A MASSIVE IMPACT ON ELECTIONS FROM CITY TO FEDERAL LEVEL BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE UNHAPPY WITH THE WAY THE SUPREME COURT IS MOVING, NOT ONLY FROM THE WAY THAT THEY'RE MOVING FINANCIALLY BUT ALSO THE WAY THAT HEY'RE MAKING THEIR LEGAL DECISIONS AND SO I THINK IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR DEMOCRATS TO TAKE BACK A LOT OF POWER BUT IT'S ALSO VERY SAD FOR OUR COMMUNITIES BUT WE'RE GOING TO SOME OF BECAUSE OF IT.

>> YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON BUT SENATOR KNAAK, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT JEN JUST SAID ABOUT REPUBLICANS NOT MAYBE HAVING THE MACHINE?

>> WELL, I THINK SHE'S SPOT ON WHEN IT COMES TO THE ABORTION ISSUE.

I THINK WHAT HAPPENED THERE IS REPUBLICANS WHO HAD BEEN ADVOCATING THAT THIS SHOULD BE SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE A DECISION MADE BY THE STATES FOR YEARS THAT IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE POLITICAL ARENA, WHEN THE SUPREME COURT FINALLY TURNED AROUND AND SAID THAT'S WHERE IT'S GOING TO BE, I THINK REPUBLICANS ESPECIALLY AND PRO-LIFE ORGANIZATIONS ESPECIALLY WERE CAUGHT COMPLETELY FLAT-FOOTED.

ALL THESE ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAD SPENT DECADES BASICALLY CREATING THE SUPPORTIVE SYSTEM WEREN'T READY FOR THE POLITICAL CONSEQUENCES.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN.

SECONDLY, I THINK YOU'RE DEALING WITH AN ISSUE IN ABORTION WHERE YOU'VE GOT A MAJORITY OF PEOPLE THAT WEREN'T FAVOR OF A STRONG RESOLUTION ANTI-ABORTION RESOLUTION, THAT'S NOT THE CASE IN THE -- IF YOU LOOK AT THE POLLING ON AFFIRMATIVE ACTION, A FEW OTHER THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO THE IMMEDIATE POLITICAL CONSEQUENCES LIKE THAT ARE LIKELY TO BE LESS.

>> Eric: WHAT ARE SOME OF THE ELEMENTS OF THE DFL MACHINE AS JEN IS TALKING ABOUT, THE ORGANIZATION, THE AMOUNT OF SPECIAL INTERESTS GROUPS, INTEREST GROUPS BACKING THE DEMOCRATIC CAUSE.

HOW IS THAT ALL EVOLVED?

>> I MEAN, I JUST THINK ABOUT AFFIRMATIVE ACTION.

WE HAVE -- WE KNOW THAT IN THIS COUNTRY, COMMUNITIES OF COLOR WILL HAVE LL OF THE MERIT, ALL THE RIGHT ATTRIBUTES AND STILL NOT BE ACCEPTED TO UNIVERSITIES.

WE CREATED AFFIRMATIVE ACTION TO GIVE FOLKS EQUAL ACCESS, IT'S BEEN RIPPED FROM THEM ND WHAT COMMUNITIES OF COLOR KNOW IS THAT WE AN CHANGE THAT RESULT BY GOING TO THE BALLOT.

MANY OF US WILL BE DOING IT, AND IT'S BEEN OBVIOUS TO US THAT IT'S THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY THAT IS IN ALIGNMENT WITH US ON THIS ISSUE AND THAT IS GOING TO BE THE PARTY THAT FOLKS SHOW UP FOR, AND SO I THINK THAT'S WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO.

>> Eric: YOU'RE HEADING AROUND THE STATE, ARE YOU CONVINCING REPUBLICAN GROUPS TO EMBRACE EARLY VOTING, IS THAT PARTS OF YOUR MISSION?

>> YEAH, SOME TRAVEL AROUND THE STATE SINCE DECEMBER OF LAST YEAR, PROBABLY THE ONLY REPUBLICAN THAT HAS TRAVELED AROUND THE STATE, I HAVE 20,000 MILES ON MY CAR, BACK AND FORTH, TEACHING INDIVIDUALS ABOUT THE NEED TO VOTE, TO TURN IN YOUR VOTE AND ALSO TO EARLY VOTE.

FOR EXAMPLE, 20,000-PLUS KNOWN CONSERVATIVES ACROSS THE STATE WHO HE LIVE IN RURAL AREAS WHO VOTED -- WHO CAN ONLY VOTE BY MAIL FAILED TO RETURN THAT BALLOT.

>> Eric: HOW MANY?

>> 20,000 PLUS.

AND THAT'S UNFOR THE NATURE AND THE SECRETARY OF STATE HAS 119,000 INDIVIDUALS WHO RECEIVED AN ABSENTEE BALLOTS IN THE STATE, DID NOT RETURN THEM, THAT'S SOME OF THEIRS AND SOME OF OURS, BUT THE POINT IS A LOT OF PEOPLE CHOOSE TO LISTEN TO SOME BAD INFORMATION ABOUT VOTING AND EARLY VOTING AND LISTEN TO SOME ERRORS AND THEN DIDN'T RETURN THEIR VOTE.

OR JUST FAILED TO VOTE AT ALL AND THAT IS UNFORTUNATE.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT EVERYBODY VOTES BUT THEY ALSO -- THE LEFT WHAT I'VE ALWAYS APPRECIATED IS THEY ORGANIZE IN A DIFFERENT WAY, THEY ORGANIZE ON ISSUES, ON THE GROUNDS AND THEY BUILD COALITIONS, AGAIN, TO BRING THOSE VOTES FORWARD LIKE THE PRO LIFE COMMUNITY, THEY SHOULD HAVE VOTED AND BROUGHT THOSE VOTES TO THE TABLE AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS MATTER AND IT'S IMPORTANT GOING FORWARD.

>> Cathy: SO LET'S SWITCH FOCUS AND TALK ABOUT THE -- WE HAD THE STATE AUDITOR HERE, THE SOUTHWEST LIGHT RAIL LINE IS -- THAT'S A HOT MESS.

SO IM WONDERING HERE, NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION, DOES THE MET COUNCIL HAVE A TARGETS ON ITS BACK?

>> ABSOLUTELY, 100%.

I WAS EXPIRATIONED THEY DIDN'T DO IT THIS YEAR, I THINK THERE WERE SO MANY THINGS IN FRONT OF IT.

THAT SEEMS TO BE BIPARTISAN AND WHEN YOU HAVE TOMORROW LIKE SENATOR DIBBLE AND REPRESENTATIVE HORNSTEIN -- >> AND DRAZKOWSKI ON THE OTHER SIDES.

>> EXACTLY, WHEN YOU START TO MUTTS THAT TOGETHER, I THINK THEY WANT TO BE THOUGHTFUL ABOUT IT, THEY WANT TO BE SMART AND FIGURE IT OUT BUT IT IS CLEAR THEY NEED MORE OVERSIGHT AND PROBABLY ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE AREA.

>> Eric: THE ELECTED MET COUNCIL HAS BEEN UP RIOR, RIGHT?

>> FOREVER, THAT'S THE PROBLEM IS GETTING SOME KIND OF ACTUAL CONCRETE RESOLUTION TO IT AND THE QUESTION THAT GETS ASKED IS, WELL, YOU KNOW, ARE WE JUST GOING TO CREATES ANOTHER LEVEL OF ELECTED OFFICE AND DOES THAT REALLY CREATES A SITUATION WHERE YOU GOT PEOPLE ANSWERABLE OR DO WE CHANGE WHAT THE COUNTIES ARE?

DO WE TURN IT INTO A METROPOLITAN COUNTY, FOR EXAMPLE, IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THESE ELECTED OFFICIALS?

THERE ARE ALL KIND OF POSSIBILITIES THAT ARE OUT THERE ON THIS AND THERE ARE ARE THERE IS NO EASY ANSWER OR IT WOULD HAVE BEEN DONLAR.

>> Cathy: SAY, I'M ALSO WONDERING ABOUT THIS.

THE SEARCH IS ON FOR THE HEADS OF THE OFFICE OF CANNABIS MANAGEMENT.

DO WE KNOW HOW POLITICAL THE PROCESS IS GROWING TO BE TO GETS ONE OF THE LICENSES TO BE A DISPENSARY?

WHAT DO WE THINK ABOUT THAT?

>> YEAH, I DON'T HAVE AN IMMEDIATE ANSWER.

I THINK THAT WE ARE IN VERY EARLY STAGES AND THERE IS A LOTS TO FIGURE OUT.

I'LL BE TRANSPARENT, FOR ME IT COMES DOWN TO RACIAL EQUITY, ARE WE GOING TO MAKE SURE IT IS FOLKS THAT HAVE BEEN THE MOST HARMED ARE THE FOLKS GETTING THE MOST ACCESS.

I DON'T FEEL CONFIDENT YET BECAUSE I WANT TO SKI MORE INFORMATION.

I WANT TO SIGH WHO'S HIRED AND HOW IT'S STRUCTURED.

>> AND I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE COLLABORATION WITH LOCAL ENTITIES AND LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES AND THE COUNTIES.

SO, FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN THEY PASSED THE LAW, THEY DIDN'T ACTUALLY GO BACK TO SOME OF OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND SAY, WHAT DO WE NEED AND WHAT DO YOU NEED SO THAT YOU CAN PASS THE PROPER ORDINANCES AND SO THEY'RE CONSISTENT ACROSS ALL LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

NOW, SOME LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ARE STARTING TO DO THAT IN A COLLABORATIVE SPACE SO THAT THEY HAVE THOSE SIMILAR LAWS BUT THERE IS A HOLE FLEET OF UNSOLVED AND UNTIED-UP PIECES AROUND THAT IN ADDITION TO FILLING GOVERNMENT -- >> LETS ME SAY THIS, I WANT -- AS JEN WALKS DOWN THERE, FOLKS HAVE TO -- THEY DIDN'T LIKE IT, THEY DIDN'T WANTS TO DO IT SO IT'S ALWAYS HARD TO COLLABORATE IF I'M SITTING DOWN TALKING TO YOU AND YOU DON'T WANT TO DO IT, THEN I'M GOINGS TO THINK WHAT'S BEST.

NOW THAT'S THE LAW AND I THINK THOSE THINGS WILL START TO HAPPEN.

BUT IF YOU IDN'T WANT IT AND YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY NOT, WE DON'T WANT TO DO IT, THEN YOU'LL PROBABLY GET SOMETHING YOU DON'T LIKE.

>> UNDERSTAND THAT CITIES IN PARTICULAR ARE LOCAL UNITS OF GOVERNMENT, THEY'RE VERY NERVOUS ABOUT THIS.

WE HAVEN'T SEEN THIS KIND OF SUBSTANCE, SO TO SPEAK, REGULATED AND REGULARS ALREADIABLE BY CITIES SINCE ALL HALL, FRANKLY CAME -- PROHIBITION AND O A LOT OF THE SAME QUESTIONS ARE COMING UP ABOUT SAFETY, ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHERE WE WANT PEOPLE TO BE SELLING THIS, HOW CLOSE TO SCHOOLS, FOR EXAMPLE, OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

THESE ARE ALL KINDS OF ISSUES FOR WHICH THERE IS NO CLEAR, IMMEDIATE ANSWER AND -- >> THAT'S NOT TRUE, IT'S IN THE BILL.

>> WELL, NO, THINGS -- ON A CASE BY CASE -- WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT, ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS, SOMEBODY, MUNICIPALITY, FOR EXAMPLE, IS GOING TO HAVE TO DECIDES, HAT KIND OF REGULATIONS OR LICENSING ARE WE GOING TO DO AND MORE IN PARTICULAR, WHERE ARE WHICH GOING TO ALLOW THIS ACTIVITY TO OCCUR?

>> I'M SAYING IT'S N THE BILL.

FRITZ, YOU HAVEN'T READ THE BILL.

>> I HAVE.

>> BUT THAT STUFF IS SPELLED OUT AND IT'S GIVING CITIES OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT.

THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT YOU CAN'T BE NEXT TO A SCHOOL, THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT HOW MANY LICENSES YOU CAN HAVE PER CAPITA.

>> RIGHTS.

>> THOSE THINGS ARE IN THE BILL.

>> Eric: OPPONENTS FOR AMY KLOBUCHAR.

>> NOPE, THERE'S STILL NO REPUBLICAN OPPONENT YET FOR AMY KLOBUCHAR AND, NO, I'M NOT RUNNING.

>> Eric: DO YOU HAVE ANY ACTIVE PEOPLE CONSIDERING ITS OR... >> NO, NOT ANYBODY IN A SERIOUS WAY.

BUT THERE MIGHT BE.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, EVERYONE TALKS ABOUT ITS AND UNTIL -- I DON'T THINK THEY'RE SERIOUS UNTIL THEY'RE ACTUALLY SERIOUS SO LET ME CAVEAT THAT.

>> Eric: HAPPY HOLIDAY WEEKENDS.

>> Cathy: WE'RE GLAD YOU'RE ALL HERE.

THANK YOU.

♪♪ >> ERIC: WE'VE REACHED THE TIME FOR THIS WEEK'S MINNESOTA HISTORY QUESTION.

HERE'S A REMINDER OF OUR QUERY FROM LAST TIME.

WE TRAVELED BACK IN TIME TO LATE DECEMBER OF 1982 AND A RARE EVENT THAT TOOK PLACE OUTSIDE THE U.S.

IT INVOLVED A WELL-KNOWN MINNESOTAN AND AN EVEN MORE WELL-KNOWN INTERNATIONAL FIGURE.

MORE THAN 15,000 PEOPLE WITNESSED THIS "INTERNATIONAL INCIDENT" AND NEARLY ALL OF THEM TOOK THE SIDE OF THE NON-MINNESOTA PARTICIPANT.

OUR QUESTION FOR YOU.

WHAT MINNESOTAN WAS INVOLVED IN A RARE "INTERNATIONAL INCIDENT" IN DECEMBER, 1982?

CATHY ADDED A SERIES OF HINTS THAT DID NOT HELP THESE CALLERS.

>> ERIC: LEE, YOU HAVE NOW JOINED A GROWING GROUP OF VIEWERS WHO HAVE TRIED, AND FAILED, TO USE CHAT GPT TO FIND THE CORRECT ANSWER TO OUR INDEX FILE QUERIES.

FOR THIS WEEK'S RIGHT ANSWER, WE TURN TO... A VIEWER-YET-TO-BE-NAMED.

NO ONE CALLED US WITH THE RIGHT ANSWER SO LONGTIME VIEWERS KNOW THE DRILL.

WE KEEP ASKING UNTIL SOMEONE GETS IT RIGHT.

IT'S A COUPLE OF DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS IN 1982, A RARE EVENT TAKES PLACE OUTSIDE THE U.S. INVOLVING A WELL-KNOWN MINNESOTAN AND AN EVEN MORE WELL-KNOWN INTERNATIONAL FIGURE.

MORE THAN 15,000 PEOPLE WITNESS THIS "INTERNATIONAL INCIDENT" AND NEARLY ALL OF THEM TAKE THE SIDE OF THE CANADIAN.

IN FACT, A FORMER TEAMMATE OF THE MINNESOTA STAR IN QUESTION RECALLS THAT NO FEWER THAN FIVE OF HIS TEAMMATES THREATENED HIM FOR HIS ACTIONS.

WHAT MINNESOTAN WAS INVOLVED IN A RARE "INTERNATIONAL INCIDENT" IN DECEMBER, 1982?

HERE'S A HINT FOR YOU...

THE INCIDENT ITSELF WAS NOT A RARE OCCURRENCE BUT THE PARTICIPANTS WERE.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU WHETHER YOU ARE CALLING FROM THE SHORES OF HOCKEY LAKE, PUCK LAKE, OR ICE LAKE.

651-229-1430 IS THE NUMBER TO CALL WITH ALL OF YOUR GUESSES RIGHT OR WRONG.

YOU CAN ALWAYS DROP US A NOTE AT ALMANAC@TPT.ORG.

WE HAVE JUST ENOUGH TIME FOR SOME SHOW-CLOSING MUSIC TO SEND YOU ON YOUR WAY.

THIS WEEK BACK IN 2010, "THE SPAGHETTI WESTERN STRING COMPANY" PLAYED ON SET FOR THE VERY LAST TIME.

THEY WERE RELEASING THEIR FINAL C.D.

THE NEXT NIGHT AND THEN MOVING ON TO OTHER ADVENTURES IN LIFE.

TAKE A LISTEN.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.

BE CAREFUL.

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