DENNIS: I AM DENNIS ANDERSON.

HERE IS WHAT IS COMING UP ON "ALMANAC NORTH."

WELL, IT IS GRANDMA'S MARATHON WEEKEND.

WE BREAK DOWN HOW THE PANDEMIC HAS CHANGED THE BIG DAY FOR RACERS AND SPECTATORS.

OUR LESSONS FROM COVID-19 SERIES COMES TO AN END WITH A SEGMENT ON HOW THE PANDEMIC AFFECTED THE HOMELESS COMMUNITY IN OUR REGION.

PLUS, WE WILL HIGHLIGHT THE CLARITY PROJECT.

THESE STORIES AND MORE COMING UP RIGHT NOW ON "ALMANAC NORTH."

♪ HELLO AND WELCOME TO "ALMANAC NORTH."

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR WATCHING.

I AM DENNIS ANDERSON.

JULIE IS OFF THIS WEEK.

WELL, THE WISCONSIN ASSEMBLY PASSED A REPUBLICAN-BACKED BILL ON WEDNESDAY, PROHIBITING BUSINESSES, COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, GOVERNMENTS, AND ANYONE ELSE IN THE STATE FROM REQUIRING PROOF OF COVID-19 VACCINATION, ACCORDING TO THE ASSOCIATED PRESS.

AND MINNESOTA GOVERNOR TIM WALZ IS DIRECTING FLAGS AT STATE AND FEDERAL BUILDINGS THROUGHOUT MINNESOTA TO BE FLOWN AT HALF-STAFF STARTING THIS SATURDAY IN REMEMBRANCE OF THOSE WHO LOST THEIR LIVES TO COVID-19.

THIS IS ONGOING AND WILL HAPPEN THE 19TH OF EVERY MONTH.

MEANWHILE, TUESDAY MARKED THE 101ST ANNIVERSARY OF THE LYNCHING OF THREE BLACK MEN IN DULUTH.

NORTHLANDERS GATHERED AT THE CLAYTON, JACKSON, MCGHIE MEMORIAL TO REMEMBER HOW THE MEN WERE FALSELY ACCUSED OF A CRIME AND TO PAY TRIBUTE TO THEM.

AND THIS SATURDAY MARKS JUNETEENTH, A FEDERAL HOLIDAY COMMEMORATING THE END OF SLAVERY IN THE UNITED STATES.

THERE WILL BE CELEBRATIONS HAPPENING ACROSS THE NATION, INCLUDING HERE.

RIGHT NOW, GRANDMA'S MARATHON WEEK FESTIVITIES ARE IN FULL SWING, WITH THE BIG RACE HAPPENING TOMORROW.

BUT FOR RUNNERS AND SPECTATORS, THINGS WILL BE A BIT DIFFERENT COMPARED TO PAST YEARS DUE TO THE PANDEMIC.

WE CAUGHT UP WITH A GRANDMA'S MARATHON REPRESENTATIVE TO BREAK DOWN WHAT TO EXPECT.

ZACH: MY NAME IS ZACH SNYDER.

I AM THE MARKETING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS DIRECTOR FOR GRANDMA'S MARATHON.

IT IS A JOB THAT I'VE STARTED IN SEPTEMBER 2020.

GOVERNOR TIM WALZ ANNOUNCED IN EARLY MAY THAT MOST OF THE COVID-ERA RESTRICTIONS WERE GOING TO BE LIFTED BY THE TIME OUR RACE CAME IN THE FIRST WEEK OF JUNE.

IT WAS SUPER EXCITING, SUPER ENERGIZING FOR OUR STAFF AND OUR VOLUNTEERS TO KNOW THAT WE HAD THE GREEN LIGHT, AND WE WERE GOING TO HAVE A GRANDMA'S MARATHON, AND IT WAS GOING TO LOOK LARGELY LIKE A TYPICAL YEAR.

THERE ARE GOING TO BE SOME MODIFICATIONS IN PLACE, MAYBE THE BIGGEST OF WHICH IS THAT WE WILL BE OPERATING AT HALF CAPACITY, SO HALF THE USUAL RUNNERS OF A TYPICAL GRANDMA'S MARATHON WEEKEND.

BUT THOSE PARTICIPANTS AND PEOPLE WHO COME TO TOWN WILL GET A GRANDMA'S MARATHON EXPERIENCE, AND THAT IS SUPER IMPORTANT TO US, BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT THIS IS BUILT ON, THE EXPERIENCE YOU GET FROM THURSDAY ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE WEEKEND, AND THAT WILL BE HAPPENING THIS YEAR.

GRANDMA'S MARATHON THIS YEAR, A CHANCE TO DO A REALLY GOOD THING WITH A LOT OF EYES UPON US, BECAUSE WE ARE ONE OF THE FIRST MAJOR MARATHONS IN THE UNITED STATES TO COME BACK AT THIS LEVEL, SO THERE ARE A LOT OF RACE ORGANIZERS, A LOT OF POTENTIAL PARTICIPANTS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY LOOKING AT US AND SEEING, HEY, IF THEY CAN MAKE THIS WORK, MAYBE WE CAN MAKE THIS WORK.

AND TO SEE DULUTH ON A LIST OF MAJOR MARATHONS ALONG NAMES LIKE NEW YORK AND BOSTON AND LOS ANGELES AND CHICAGO, IT JUST MEANS SO MUCH.

IN THE END, YOU WON'T SEE THAT MANY DIFFERENCES FROM A TYPICAL GRANDMA'S MARATHON.

WE ARE OPERATING AT HALF THE PARTICIPANTS.

WE EXPECT THERE WILL BE FEWER PEOPLE WHO COME TO WATCH THIS YEAR THAN A TYPICAL YEAR.

OUR START PROCESS IS SLIGHTLY MODIFIED TO TRY TO CREATE MORE SPACE FOR PEOPLE ON OUR RACE COURSE, SO WE ARE USING WHAT WE ARE CALLING A ROLLING START PROCESS.

THE FINISH LINE AREA LOOKS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT, AGAIN, TRYING TO KEEP THAT FLOW OF PEOPLE THROUGH THAT AREA.

THE EXPO AND SPAGHETTI DAY LOOK A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

THEY ARE IN THE SAME LOCATION.

WE ORGANIZE THE LAYOUT OF THOSE ANCILLARY EVENTS, AND THAT CELEBRATION MOVES FROM ITS TRADITIONAL PLACE FROM RIGHT NEAR OUR FINISH LINE, THAT ROCK THE BIG TOP TENT WILL NOT BE HAPPENING THIS YEAR, BUT IN PLACE OF THAT, WE ARE MOVING OUR POST RACE CELEBRATION TO THE PARK, AND THAT WAS BORN THROUGH THE WINTER INTO THE SPRING MONTHS BECAUSE BAYFRONT OFFERS A LITTLE MORE SPACE THAN WE TYPICALLY HAVE AT ROCK THE BIG TOP.

WHETHER IT STAYS, WHO KNOWS, WE KIND OF HAVE TAKEN THE MANTRA HERE, ONE RACE AT A TIME.

ONCE 2021 IS IN THE BOOKS AND WE ARE TALKING MORE SERIOUSLY ABOUT 2022, WE ALL KNEW HOW IMPORTANT GRANDMA'S MARATHON WAS.

2020, MAY HAVE BEEN AN EYE-OPENER OF 40 SOME ODD YEARS OF IT HAPPENING AND BEING THE CONSTANT IN THE DULUTH SUMMER, TO NOT HAVE IT IN 2020 WAS STARTLING, I THINK, FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.

IT WAS RIGHT AT THE START, WHEN WE HAD TO CANCEL 2020, WAS RIGHT AT THE START OF THINGS GOING AWAY IN THE PANDEMIC WORLD.

♪ DENNIS: IN THE FINAL SEGMENT OF OUR LESSONS FROM COVID-19 SERIES NOW, WE END WITH A VISIT TO A HOMELESS SHELTER ON THE IRON RANGE.

WE SPOKE WITH A FORMER RESIDENT OF BILLS HOUSE IN VIRGINIA, MINNESOTA AND KEY PLAYERS IN ASSISTING THE HOMELESS POPULATION.

♪ TONICKA: MY NAME IS TONICKA MCDONALD.

I AM FROM OHIO.

I WAS AT BILLS HOUSE, THE SHELTER, FOR FIVE MONTHS.

I WAS LIVING IN MY CAR UP IN DULUTH.

AND I FELT THAT, I'M GOING TO PASS AWAY.

I'M GOING TO DIE.

SO WHEN THEY CAME TO ME AND THEN FLOORED ME DURING THE PANDEMIC?

I HAD TO BE -- I HAD TO -- I HAVE TO PAY IT FORWARD, I HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT SOMEBODY ELSE COMES.

>> A WHOLE LOT MORE DISINFECTING , SO THAT STUFF HAS CHANGED, BUT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO KEEP OUR DOORS OPEN AND SERVING PEOPLE AS WE HAVE PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC.

I AM A SHELTER MANAGER HERE AND I AM ALSO A CASEWORKER HERE.

PEOPLE HAVE BEEN MORE OPEN AND ACTUALLY TO COMING TO BILLS HOUSE, ON A WHOLE, WIDE RANGE OF ISSUES.

SO TO BE ABLE TO HAVE PEOPLE WILLING TO ACTUALLY HAVE THAT HELP, KNOW THAT IS AVAILABLE.

>> JUST WANTING TO KNOW THAT THEY HAVE SOMEWHERE SAFE TO GO, BECAUSE THAT IS ALREADY A CONCERN.

SO WHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT, YOU KNOW, IT WAS JUST MASS CHAOS.

IT WAS CRAZY.

IT WAS SCARY TO KNOW, TO THINK THAT MAYBE ONE PERSON, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU DID NOT KNOW, WHEN IT WAS SO NEW AT THAT TIME, YOU KNOW, YOU DID NOT KNOW IF THAT WAS COVID OR NOT, YOU DID NOT KNOW WHAT ALL THE SYMPTOMS WORK.

WE COVER HOMELESS PROGRAMS, AND WE ALSO RUN BILLS HOUSE SHELTER, WHICH IS A 12-BED SHELTER IN VIRGINIA, MINNESOTA.

WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE A PLACE TO SLEEP AND YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE YOUR NEXT MEAL IS GOING TO COME FROM, COVID CAN ESSENTIALLY RUIN YOUR WHOLE LIFE.

IT WAS GOOD TO GET THAT, TO COLLABORATE AND GET THESE PROGRAMS TOGETHER, BUT I THINK THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WERE HESITANT, AS FAR AS CLIENTS, TO COME OUT AND ACCESS THE SERVICES.

I THINK THE BIGGEST WORRY WAS THAT THEY WERE NOT GOING TO HAVE THAT ONE-TO-ONE CONTACT WITH OUR CASE MANAGERS, WHICH THEY HAD BEFORE, AND GETTING THE SUPPLIES AND A SAFE PLACE TO STAY WHERE, YOU KNOW, THEY WERE NOT GOING TO COME INTO CONTACT WITH OTHER PEOPLE, THAT THEY WERE, YOU KNOW, CAMPING IN A SITE WHERE THERE WERE PEOPLE AROUND OR MAYBE STAY AT AN ABANDONED HOUSE WHERE A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE COLLECTIVELY STAYING.

THEY ARE IN CONTACT WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE, AND I THINK JUST THE FEAR THAT IF THEY CAUGHT COVID, WHERE COULD THEY STAY THAT WOULD BE SAFE, SO THAT THEY COULD GET BETTER.

A LOT OF THINGS WERE CLOSED DUE TO COVID, SO THEY COULD NOT JUST WALK INTO BUILDING AND GET ALL THE HELP THAT THEY WERE USED TO GETTING.

THAT WAS A HUGE HURDLE.

GETTING ACCESS TO ANY CLEANING SUPPLIES OR IF THEY WERE ABLE TO BATHE OR PERSONAL HYGIENE THINGS.

GETTING THE INQ PROGRAM TOGETHER, WE MET FOR A FEW MONTHS BEFORE THE PROGRAM WAS PUT INTO PLACE, AND MINNESOTA HOUSING, THE COUNTY, PUBLIC HEALTH, WE ALL MET ON A REGULAR BASIS TO GET THE PROGRAM UP AND RUNNING.

PUBLIC HEALTH WOULD CONTACT US WHEN THEY CAME INTO CONTACT WITH SOMEONE WHO HAD COVID.

SOMEONE AT BILLS HOUSE WOULD TAKE THE CALL, AND THEN THEY HAD IT SET UP.

WHEN THE VACCINATION CAME OUT, WE WORKED WITH THEM AND GOING TO THE SITES WITH HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS TO GET THOSE FOLKS VACCINATED.

IT IS VERY RURAL HERE, SO IN RURAL MINNESOTA, TRANSPORTATION IS A HUGE ISSUE.

IF YOU CAN BRING THAT VACCINE TO THEM, THAT IS HUGE.

KNOWING THAT WE WERE CONNECTED TO A LOST BATTLE, IT IS A DETRIMENT OF THE PEOPLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH, WITH COUNTER DEPENDENCY ISSUES, WHO WERE ALREADY STRUGGLING WITH THAT, COVID HAD BEEN A BIG STRESSOR.

>> WHEN THE PANDEMIC FOR STARTED, THE ESTIMATES OF POSSIBLE INFECTION RATES FOR PEOPLE EXPRESSING HOMELESSNESS WERE REALLY HIGH, ESTIMATING UP TO 80%.

THANKFULLY, THAT IS NOT HOW IT PLAYED OUT.

THERE WAS MUCH LESS BUT STILL A CRITICAL ISSUE.

I WORK FOR PUBLIC HEALTH AND HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE EXPRESSING HOMELESSNESS MIGHT BE LIVING IN THEIR CARS OR WHO MIGHT BE DOUBLED UP THAT WERE NOT KNOWN TO OUR PROVIDERS.

IT DOES LOOK DIFFERENT, NORTH AND SOUTH OF THE COUNTY FOR SURE.

TRANSPORTATION IS A REALLY BIG ISSUE, BECAUSE IN NORTHERN ST. LOUIS COUNTY, THERE'S DIFFERENT CITIES, FROM THE TOWER HITTING, THERE'S NOT NECESSARILY A SHELTER OR A SPACE IN EACH OF THOSE TOWNS.

I THINK THE STIGMA PIECE IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE ALL ALWAYS WORKING ON.

WE HAVE EVEN SEEN THAT WITH A LOT OF THE FUNDS BETTER COMING DOWN FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE STATE GOVERNMENT TO ASSIST PEOPLE WHO ARE BEHIND WITH HER RENT AND AT RISK OF EVICTION ONCE THE MORATORIUM IS LIFTED.

IT IS REALLY TOUGH FOR PEOPLE TO ASK FOR HELP BECAUSE OF THE SOCIETAL STIGMA THAT WE HAVE ALL THAT.

TONICKA: I AM FORTUNATE.

I CANNOT PUT MYSELF IN THEIR SHOES, ND I DO NOT KNOW ANYBODY WHO IS LIVING ON THE STREET RIGHT NOW.

TO THINK THAT I WOULD BE SHARING THEIR STORY, OR TO BE ABLE TO SAY THAT I UNDERSTAND IT.

TONICKA: I'M GOING TO GET TEARY-EYED, BUT THIS PLACE HAS GIVEN ME A NEW FEELING.

IT SEEMS LIKE, YOU KNOW, NO MATTER HOW I FEEL OR I MAY NOT FEEL OR MAY FEEL, THAT'S JUST WHAT IT IS.

I JUST GIVE, BECAUSE I HAVE TO.

I WANT SOMEBODY TO GET UP, TO GET HELP.

I WANT TO PASS THE WORD ON.

I WANT PEOPLE TO BE, UM, LIKE I WAS, STEREOTYPES AND THINKING TOO MUCH.

SO I'M BRINGING THEM HOME TO MYSELF, AND THAT ALWAYS STARTS TO HELP, AND THAT IS WHY I AM HERE.

AND I LOVE IT.

I LOVE IT.

DENNIS: TONICKA MCDONALD, THE WOMAN WE JUST HEARD FROM, IS NOW RENTING HER OWN APARTMENT.

SHE HOPES TO ONE DAY OWN HER OWN BEAUTY SHOP.

ST. LOUIS COUNTY IMPLEMENTED A NUMBER OF SERVICES TO ASSIST THE HOMELESS POPULATION DURING THE PANDEMIC.

HERE TO DISCUSS THAT NOW IS AMY WESTBROOK, THE COUNTY'S PUBLIC HEALTH DIVISION DIRECTOR.

AMY, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR BEING WITH US TONIGHT.

HOW HAS ST. LOUIS COUNTY RESPONDED TO THE PANDEMIC, FOR THOSE WHO NEED ASSISTANCE?

DIR.

WESTBROOK: SURE.

WELL, EARLY ON, WE REALIZE THAT OUR MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS, INDIVIDUALS EXPRESSING HOMELESSNESS OR TRANSIENT SEE, WE REALLY WANTED TO PROTECT THEM AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

SO, GET CARE SETTINGS WERE OUR FIRST FOCUS IN -- WE KNEW IT WAS THE MAIN PUBLIC HEALTH INTERVENTION THAT WE HAD EARLY ON, KEEPING PEOPLE AWAY FROM OTHERS TO STOP THE SPREAD, SO WE REALLY FOCUSED ON SETTING UP MEANS FOR ISOLATION IN QUARANTINE FOR HOMELESS AND TRANSIENT INDIVIDUALS.

DENNIS: DO WE KNOW ROUGHLY HOW MANY HOMELESS WE HAVE IN ST. LOUIS COUNTY, AND DID THE PANDEMIC WORSE IN THAT SITUATION?

DIR.

WESTBROOK: YES, IT HAS WORSENED THE SITUATION.

I BELIEVE LAST YEAR WE HAD OVER 3000 PEOPLE ACCESS SERVICES, TARGETED FOR HOMELESS OR TRANSIENT INDIVIDUALS, ABOUT OVER 2000 HOUSEHOLDS, SO IT IS A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER, AND IT IS GROWING.

DENNIS: HAVE ANY OF THE SERVICES WORK SO WELL THAT THEY WILL CONTINUE AFTER THE PANDEMIC IS OVER?

DIR.

WESTBROOK: WELL, YOU KNOW, WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH OUR HUMAN SERVICES PARTNERS, WHO HAVE REALLY STRONG RELATIONSHIPS WITH ORGANIZATIONS, WORKING WITH INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, AND WE WERE LUCKY TO PIGGYBACK ON THOSE RELATIONSHIPS AND NOW HAVE STRONG RELATIONSHIPS WITH AOA, BILLS HOUSE, OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, SO WE CERTAINLY WANT TO BUILD THAT, CONTINUE THOSE PARTNERSHIPS TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE WHO HAVE ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE, OTHER ASPECTS OF HEALTH CARE.

DENNIS: NORTHERN ST. LOUIS COUNTY IS FAR MORE RURAL THAN SOUTHERN ST. LOUIS COUNTY.

HAS IT MADE A DIFFERENCE IN HOW YOU ARE HANDLING HOMELESSNESS UP IN THE NORTHERN PART OF THE COUNTY, OR -- LESSER NUMBERS?

DIR.

WESTBROOK: YES, FEWER NUMBERS CERTAINLY IN THE NORTHERN PART OF OUR COUNTY, AND TRANSPORTATION, AS LAURA MENTIONED IN THE PIECE, IS REALLY A STRUGGLE, SO WE DID WORK CLOSELY WITH AOA AND OTHERS TO ASSURE THAT WE HAD-TRANSPORTR PEOPLE ALL ACROSS THE COUNTY.

DENNIS: WHEN IT COMES TO HOMELESSNESS, WHAT LESSONS WERE LEARNED FROM COVID-19?

DIR.

WESTBROOK: WELL, THAT IS A GOOD QUESTION.

LESSONS LEARNED IS, YOU KNOW, IT IS ALL ABOUT PARTNERSHIPS AND RELATIONSHIPS AND WORKING TOGETHER IN A SYSTEMS-BASED WAY TO SERVE THOSE WHO ARE MOST VULNERABLE.

DENNIS: DO YOU SEE THOSE PARTNERSHIPS CONTINUING AFTER COVID-19?

DIR.

WESTBROOK: I DO, YES.

WE CERTAINLY RECOGNIZE THAT WHEN WE SAW INDIVIDUALS COMING INTO THE ISOLATION AND QUARANTINE SIDE, WITHIN THE POPULATION, PEOPLE ACCESSING THE SITES, THERE IS A HIGH PERCENT OF INDIVIDUALS WITH SEVERE, CHRONIC HEALTH CONDITIONS, SEVERE MENTAL ILLNESS, SO CERTAINLY WE WANT TO ASSURE THAT WE ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO ADDRESS A LOT OF THOSE ISSUES AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

DENNIS: I NEED KIND OF A QUICK ANSWER HERE.

CAN YOU SHARE THE COUNTY'S PLANS FOR CONTINUING HELPING THE HOMELESS, AND WILL IT CHANGE AT ALL ONCE THE PANDEMIC IS OVER>?

DIR.

WESTBROOK: WELL, RIGHT NOW WE ARE STILL FOCUSING ON ASSURING THEIR PLACES TO ISOLATE AND QUARANTINE, BUT YES, WE WILL WORK, WE WILL ASSURE THAT OUR RELATIONSHIP WILL CONTINUE.

DENNIS: THANKS AGAIN FOR BEING HERE, AMY.

AMY WESTBROOK, WE THANK YOU SO VERY KINDLY.

WE ARE NOW GOING TO CONTINUE OUR CLARITY PROJECT COVERAGE.

THE PROJECT IS BEING DEVELOPED BY ST. LOUIS COUNTY AND NUMEROUS PARTNERS AND WILL EXPAND MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE STABILIZATION SERVICES IN THE NORTHLAND.

♪ >> THE CLARITY PROJECT WAS STARTED ABOUT SIX YEARS AGO, AND BASICALLY THE FOLKS THAT FORMED IT WHERE THE HOSPITALS AND ST. LUKE'S, AT WHICH, DURING THAT TIME, THEY WERE HAVING ISSUES WITH GETTING INUNDATED WITH FOLKS RUNNING THROUGH PRICES, MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS.

>> WE WILL BE ABLE TO ACCEPT PRIVATE INSURANCE AND MEDICAL ASSISTANCE.

WE WILL HAVE SUPPORT FOR PEOPLE TO ENROLL IN INSURANCE IF THEY DON'T HAVE INSURANCE, SO IF YOU NEED HELP FILLING OUT A MEDICAL ASSISTANCE APPLICATION OR THOSE KINDS OF RESOURCES, WE WOULD BE ABLE TO HELP YOU WITH THAT SERVICE AT THE CENTER.

>> THE CENTER ITSELF WILL BE DESIGNED TO HAVE AN AREA WHERE LAW ENFORCEMENT CAN BRING INDIVIDUALS INTO THE CENTER FOR, YOU KNOW, A SECURED SPACE WHERE THEY CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE EVALUATION UNTIL FURTHER TREATMENT RECOMMENDATIONS ARE PROVIDED AND LAW ENFORCEMENT ARE RELEASED OR THE INDIVIDUAL MOVE ONTO A DIFFERENT LEVEL OF CARE, AND THAT MAY REQUIRE SOME LAW-ENFORCEMENT INVOLVEMENT, BUT WE WILL HAVE ACCOMMODATIONS FOR PARTNERSHIPS FOR THE LAW ENFORCEMENT WITHIN THE CENTER AS WELL.

>> CURRENTLY WE ARE WITHIN EACH OF OUR COMPONENTS, QUADRANTS, PERHAPS, OR SESSIONS, WORKING ON WHAT ARE THE SERVICES IN OUR RESPECTIVE COMMUNITIES, AND AS WE THINK ABOUT THE CLARITY HUB IN DULUTH, WHAT COULD WE SUPPORT, PERHAPS, THROUGH A TELEMEDICINE CONNECTION, WHAT ARE THOSE SERVICES THAT MAY BE SOMEBODY DOES RECEIVE CARE IN DULUTH, BUT WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THEM IN THEIR HOME COMMUNITY, HOW DO WE BUILD THOSE BRIDGES?

ONE OF OUR SIGNIFICANT TARGETED AREAS WILL BE WITH OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS, SUPPORT THE EDUCATIONAL INDIVIDUALS AND THE STUDENTS IN THOSE SETTINGS, AND THAT HAS BEEN ONE AREA OF IDENTIFIED NEED, PARTICULARLY AS CHILD, ADOLESCENT, YOU KNOW, YOUNG ADULTS RETURN, WHETHER IT BE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL OR COLLEGE, AND HOW DO WE SUPPORT INDIVIDUALS?

AGAIN, IT MIGHT BE THROUGH TELEMEDICINE OR A RESOURCE LIKE THAT, BUT WANTING TO SUPPORT THE URBAN AND RURAL COMMUNITIES.

>> THE CLARITY CENTER FOR WELL-BEING WAS NEEDED PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC, BUT NOW THAT WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH THE PANDEMIC, WE SEE THAT IT IS EVEN MORE NECESSARY TO HAVE HEALTH SERVICES AVAILABLE TO OUR COMMUNITY.

THE PREVALENCE OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS, SUBSTANCE USE AND THE ONGOING OPIOID EPIDEMIC CONTINUES, AND SO HAVING -- ENHANCING OUR CURRENT SYSTEM OF CARE IS JUST CRUCIAL AT THIS TIME.

>> I ALSO THINK IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO MENTION THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE OUR GROUP OF PEOPLE, A DIVERSE GROUP OF PEOPLE, A FOCUSED LOOK AT MAKING THIS -- BUILDING CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE AND OPEN TO EVERYBODY , NO MATTER WHERE YOU LIVE OR WHAT YOUR BACKGROUND IS.

PART OF OUR LARGER CLARITY GROUP HAS ALWAYS INVOLVED PEOPLE OF DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS.

WE HAVE TRAVEL INVOLVEMENT, SO WE REALLY THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO INVOLVE A VARIETY OF PEOPLE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS BUILDING, SO THAT EVERYBODY FEELS MORE COMFORTABLE.

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

EACH WEEK, WE HEAR FROM A JOURNALIST IN OUR BROADCAST AREA AND THE STORIES THEY ARE REPORTING.

THIS WEEK, DANIELLE KAEDING FROM THE SUPERIOR BUREAU OF WISCONSIN PUBLIC RADIO IS OUR GUEST.

♪ DANIELLE: POLICE OFFICERS ARE NOT REALLY TRAINED MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS.

THEY DO RECEIVE TRAINING IN DE-ESCALATION AND RESPONSE TO CRISIS CALLS, BUT HAVING THE MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL WHO CAN GO OUT WITH AN OFFICER ON THESE TYPES OF CALLS, IT HELPS THEM TO BE BETTER ABLE TO RESPOND AND POSSIBLY DIVERT SOMEONE AWAY FROM BEING TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL OR FREES UP AN OFFICER TO RESPONSE TO OTHER CALLS WHILE THAT SOCIAL WORKER OR THAT POSITION WORKS WITH THIS PERSON TO GET THEM THE CARE THAT THEY NEED.

AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE SEEING DONE IN POLICE DEPARTMENT ACROSS WISCONSIN.

THEY ARE HOPEFUL THAT THIS POSITION, YOU KNOW, WOULD BE ABLE TO ALLOW THEM TO HAVE MORE TIME AND RESOURCES TO RESPOND TO OTHER CALLS AND ALSO TO GET PEOPLE TO HELP THEY NEED SOONER AND MAYBE KEEP THEM FROM REACHING OUT AND BEING, YOU KNOW, CALLING POLICE AGAIN IN THE FUTURE, SO THAT THEY CAN BE HAPPY, HEALTHY, SUCCESSFUL HUMAN BEINGS.

♪ ANYONE THAT REMEMBERS THE FLOODING FIVE YEARS AGO IN JULY OF 2016 KNOWS THAT IT CAUSED SEVERE DAMAGE ACROSS NORTHERN WISCONSIN.

IT CLAIMED SEVERAL LIVES AND AROUND 41 MILLION DOLLARS IN DAMAGES TO HOMES, BUSINESSES, AND PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE, AND SAXON HARBOR WAS ONE OF THE AREAS THAT WAS HARDEST HIT IN THESE STORMS.

WE SAW UP TO 10 INCHES OF RAIN DUMPED ACROSS NORTHERN WISCONSIN IN JUST 24 HOURS, AND THAT REALLY DEVASTATED THE MARINA AT SAXON HARBOR.

85 BOATS WERE DESTROYED.

THERE WAS DEBRIS AND LITTER ALONG THE SHORELINE, AND THE HARBOR WAS JUST TORN UP.

ANDY HAS TAKEN, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THIS TIME TO REALLY GET THINGS BACK TO SOME SEMBLANCE OF NORMAL, AND, YOU KNOW, THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC DID DELAY THAT A LITTLE BIT.

WE DID SEE THE MARINA OPEN IN 2019 BUT WITH THE PANDEMIC HITTING, A KIND OF DELAYED THINGS GOING ON WITH THE CAMPGROUND, AND NOW, RECENTLY, STATE, FEDERAL, AND LOCAL LEADERS WERE ABLE TO GATHER AT THE HARBOR AND KIND OF CELEBRATE SOME OF THE CHANGES THAT HAVE BEEN MADE THERE, WHERE THEY HAVE TRIED TO IMPROVE AND INCREASE RESILIENCE FROM ANY FUTURE STORMS OR FLOODING THAT THEY MIGHT SEE.

♪ RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE LAKE LEVELS ARE LOWER, WE ARE NOT SEEING THE TYPE OF EROSION ALONG BEACHES THAT WE SAW LAST YEAR AND THE YEAR BEFORE, AS LAKE LEVELS SURGED TO RECORD LEVELS AT TIMES.

YOU KNOW, FROM MONTH-TO-MONTH ON LAKE SUPERIOR AND LAKE MICHIGAN.

SO THIS IS HELPFUL FOR THE BIRDS, BECAUSE THEY REALLY LIKE THESE SANDY, COBBLESTONE BEACHES TO MAKE THEIR NESTING GROUNDS, AND BASICALLY THE WATER WAS CREEPING INTO THEIR NESTING AREAS, SO NOW THEY HAVE A LOT MORE BEACH THAT THEY CAN NEST ON, AND THEY HAVE SEEN, I BELIEVE, LAST YEAR THEY HAD NINE NESTING PAIRS ON THE CAD ISLAND CHAIN IN GREEN BAY, SO THEY ARE HOPE WILL THAT THEY WILL SEE THE BIRDS COME BACK AND ASKED AGAIN ON SEVERAL OF THE ISLANDS, AND THE APOSTLES.

AND I'M HOPEFUL THAT WE WILL SEE MAYBE A NESTING PAIR, AS THEY COME BACK TO WISCONSIN POINT WHERE THEY WERE SORT OF BEACHED, IN SUPERIOR, WISCONSIN BAY.

THINGS ARE LOOKING PRETTY GOOD THIS YEAR.

THEY GET A LITTLE BIT OF A REPRIEVE FROM THOSE HIGH LAKE LEVELS.

♪ DENNIS: AND SO THANKS TO OUR GUESTS AND THE CREW HERE IN THE STUDIO.

HAVE A HAPPY FATHER'S DAY WEEKEND.

I AM DENNIS ANDERSON.

GOOD NIGHT EVERYONE, AND BE , KIND.

♪