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

>> Eric: GOING TO COVER A LOT OF GROUND IN THE NEXT HOUR.

HIGH INFLATION, OUR LOUSY SPRING WEATHER, AVIAN FLU, IT'S YOUR BACKYARD BIRD FEEDER, FULL LINEUP.

MARY LAHAMMER HAS A STORY TOO.

>> Mary: COVID BROUGHT MORE CAMERAS INTO COURTROOMS IN MINNESOTA AND THEY COULD BE HERE TO STAY.

WE'LL DISCUSS IT.

>> OUR COURTS HAVE DONE AN AMAZING JOB OF KEEPING THE DOORS OF JUSTICE OPEN BY BRINGING IN EW TECHNOLOGIES.

>> 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 28 MINNESOTA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES.

DELTA DENTAL OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION: IMPROVING ORAL HEALTH WHILE ADVANCING SOCIAL EQUITIES.

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.

>> Eric: IN A FEW MINUTES, WE'LL HAVE A WEATHER CHAT WITH PAUL DOUGLAS.

SHARON STITELER BETTER KNOWN AS THE BIRD CHICK STOPS BY.

FIRST IN THE HOUR, MORE BAD INFLATION NEWS THIS WEEK.

>> Cathy: MINNESOTA'S INFLATION RATE IN THE PAST YEAR WAS A BIT LOWER THAN THE NATIONAL NUMBER, BUT IT WAS STILL THE LARGEST ONE-YEAR HIKE IN INFLATION IN FOUR DECADES AND THERE'S GROWING EVIDENCE THAT WE ARE CHANGING DRIVING AND PURCHASING HABITS BECAUSE OF THE SITUATION.

HERE WITH SOME THOUGHTS, WE WELCOME CHRIS FARRELL, BACK TO THE PROGRAM, HE'S A SENIOR ECONOMICS CORRESPONDENT FOR AMERICA PUBLIC MEDIA, WHICH IS A FANCY WAY OF SAYING, YOU HEAR HIS WORK ON PUBLIC RADIO STATIONS ACROSS THE NATION.

AND YOU DO A TON OF OTHER THINGS.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> Cathy: 8%, SOME ECONOMISTS THINK IT MIGHT HAVE PEAKED.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> 8%, 8.5%, LOOKING AT THE NATIONAL NUMBER, AND THE ECONOMISTS DID NOT GET THAT UPSET ABOUT IT.

AND, IN FACT, A LOT OF THEM JUST RAISED THE ISSUE THAT YOU RAISED, WHICH IS, IS THIS THE PEAK, ARE WE AROUND THERE?

AND THE REASON FOR IT IS, IT WAS SO MUCH DRIVEN BY ENERGY AND FOOD.

NOW, THOSE ARE LIKE TWO OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS IN LIFE FOR MANY PEOPLE.

BUT THEY'RE VERY VOLATILE.

AND THEY'RE DRIVEN UP BY WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH RUSSIA AND THE UKRAINE.

BECAUSE THE UKRAINE IS AN ENORMOUS EXPORTER OF GRAINS AND THEN, F COURSE, THE WHOLE ENERGY ISSUE.

ONCE YOU LOOK BELOW ENERGY, IT WASN'T THAT THERE WASN'T INFLATION, BUT WHAT'S CALLED CORE INFLATION, WHEN YOU TAKE OUT THE ENERGY AND FOOD, FOR THE PAST YEAR, 6.5%.

IF YOU LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, HOUSEHOLDS, ABOUT HALF THE HOUSEHOLD'S SPENDING ON SERVICES, A LITTLE OVER HALF, THAT'S RUNNING T ABOUT 4.5%.

SO THESE ARE STILL HIGH NUMBERS.

BUT THEY'RE NOT AS HIGH AS 8.5% WOULD SUGGEST.

AND THEN THERE HASN'T BEEN MUCH OF AN INCREASE SO THERE IS A SENSE OF PEAKING.

>> Eric: HOW IMPORTANT IS HOW CONSUMERS REACT TO THE HIGHER PRICES TO THE BIG ECONOMIC PICTURE?

>> IT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.

I MEAN, WHAT CONSUMERS ARE DOING IS, FIRST OF ALL, IT'S REALLY SMART WITH THEIR HOUSEHOLD BUDGETS.

RIGHT?

SO THEY'RE STARTING TO, I THINK YOU WERE MENTIONING, THERE WAS A STORY IN THE PAPER ABOUT, YOU KNOW, AA FAMILY COMPLAINING THAT RATHER THAN GOING IN TWO CARS, EVERYONE HAS TO CROWD INTO ONE MINIVAN WHEN THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE TRIPS, MAKING FEWER TRIPS, BUYING MORE IN BULK, LOOKING AT ALL THE DISCOUNTS, GOING TO THE BIG BOX RETAILERS.

I MEAN, ALL THOSE THINGS THAT THE AMERICAN CONSUMER KNOWS.

I MEAN, THIS IS AN INTANGIBLE KNOWLEDGE THAT WE ALL HAVE.

AND THEY'RE USING ALL OF IT.

>> Cathy: SOMEBODY HERE ON STAFF WANTED TO KNOW, HOW DOES INFLATION AFFECT YOUR BOTTOM LINE?

>> SO, INFLATION IN THE END HURTS YOUR BOTTOM LINE.

BUT IT DOES DEPEND, IF YOU'RE A SAVER.

THINK INFLATION IS YOUR DOLLAR'S WORTH LESS, RIGHT?

THAT'S A SIMPLE WAY OF PUTTING INFLATION.

SO IF YOU'RE A SAVER, IT REALLY HURTS YOU.

AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT YOUR WAGES, WHEN YOU OPEN THAT PAYCHECK OR YOU GO INTO THE BANK ACCOUNT, THEY DID PUT THE MONEY IN THERE, YES, THEY DID.

YOUR PAYCHECK IS LESS BECAUSE ONCE YOU ADJUST FOR INFLATION.

BUT IF YOU'RE A BORROWER, YOU COME OUT AHEAD BECAUSE YOU'RE PAYING THE BANK BACK OR WHOEVER YOUR LENDER IS, THE AUTO COMPANY, WITH DOLLARS THAT ARE DEPRECIATING.

SO OVERALL INFLATION IS A BAD THING.

THERE'S NOT MUCH GOOD TO SAY ABOUT IT.

BUT IT DOES PARTIALLY DEPEND ON WHERE YOU ARE IN LIFE AND WHETHER YOU'RE A SAVER OR BORROWER.

TYPICALLY WHEN PEOPLE ARE YOUNGER, THEY BORROW.

AND THEY BORROW MORE, A LOT MORE.

AND ALSO IF YOU'RE NOT MAKING MUCH MONEY AND YOU'RE LIVING ON A LOW, UNSTABLE INCOME, INFLATION REALLY HITS YOU.

>> Eric: IS THIS JOBLESS FIGURE IN MINNESOTA OF 2.5%, I MEAN, IT SEEMS AWFULLY LOW, BUT ARE WAGES KEEPING UP WITH INFLATION?

>> SO, WAGES ARE NOT KEEPING UP WITH INFLATION.

THEY'RE JUST NOT.

HOWEVER, WHEN YOU START LOOKING AT PEOPLE WHO ARE AT THE LOWER WAGES, THEY'RE ACTUALLY MOVING UP VERY DRAMATICALLY.

IN FACT, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE ON THE LOWER END OF THE SPECTRUM, THE WAGE INCREASES HAVE BEEN BIG ENOUGH THAT INFLATION, YOU'RE KIND OF EVEN AS OPPOSED TO IT'S HITTING MORE ABOVE THAT.

BUT THEN AGAIN, PEOPLE ARE LIVING ON A LOW INCOME, YOU KNOW, THEY PAY MORE FOR SHELTER, THEY HAVE TO PAY FOR FOOD, AND MORE DEPENDENT ON TRANSPORTATION.

THOSE THREE THINGS THAT REALLY ARE RUNNING.

SO THEY'RE HURTING.

BUT IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER, THIS UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IS SO LOW.

IT'S A HALF -- YOU KNOW, FOUR-DECADE HIGH IN INFLATION, BUT HALF-CENTURY LOW IN UNEMPLOYMENT.

AND THERE'S A LOT OF DEMAND FOR WORKERS.

THE JOBLESS, CLAIMS FOR UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE.

>> Cathy: YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THE FED HAS BEEN MONKEYING AROUND WITH INTEREST RATES, THIS IS A GLOBAL -- >> THAT'S A TECHNICAL TERM.

>> Cathy: IT IS, THANK YOU.

>> TECHNICAL TERM, VERY GOOD.

>> Cathy: I LEARNED IT FROM YOU.

YOU KNOW, INFLATION, THOUGH, IS HAPPENING GLOBALLY, RIGHT?

>> YEAH.

>> Cathy: SO, REALLY, WHAT CAN ONE COUNTRY DO IN THE GRAND SCHEME OF THINGS?

>> SO WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IS CENTRAL BANKERS AROUND THE WORLD ARE TIGHTENING UP.

THE FED IS FAR FROM ALONE.

NEW ZEALAND IS TIGHTENING UP, CANADA IS TIGHTENING UP, THE UNITED KINGDOM HAS TIGHTENED UP.

THE EUROPEAN UNION IS MOVING SLOWER BUT FOR OBVIOUS REASONS.

THERE ARE TWO REALLY DRIVING OF FACTORS HERE.

ONE IS THE PANDEMIC.

I MEAN, THE PANDEMIC TOOK THIS ECONOMY DOWN, SHARPLY.

AND THEN WHEN IT OPENED UP, WE ENDED UP WITH HIGHER PRICES.

AND THEN YOU HAD THIS TRAGEDY, THIS HORRIBLE TRAGEDY OF RUSSIA INVADING THE UKRAINE, AND THAT JUST HIT THE FOOD MARKET AND THE OIL MARKET REALLY HIGH.

>> Eric: CHANCE OF A RECESSION IN THE NEXT YEAR?

>> YOU KNOW, THE RECESSION TALK HAS REALLY PICKED UP A LOT.

THE REASON WHY IT'S THERE IS, WITH THIS FEDERAL RESERVE IS TRYING TO DO IS VERY DIFFICULT, TO SLOW THE ECONOMY DOWN ENOUGH THAT IT RELIEVES THE INFLATIONARY PRESSURES, BUT, AT THE SAME TIME, NOT TIPPING IT INTO RECESSION.

DIFFICULT TO DO.

WE KNOW IT'S DIFFICULT TO DO.

I HINK EVERYONE HAS TO BE VERY MODEST IN THEIR EXPECTATIONS.

THIS IS A VERY NUSUAL TIME IN HISTORY.

>> Eric: GREAT STUFF, AS ALWAYS.

THANKS, CHRIS.

>> Cathy: GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> THANKS A LOT.

>> Cathy: YOU BET.

BYE-BYE.

♪♪ [INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC] TORNADOES IN SOUTHERN MINNESOTA, BIG SNOW TO THE NORTH NORTH AND WEST, HIGH WINDS, EVERYWHERE, YES, CONFLICTING EVIDENCE ABOUT THE RUMORED ARRIVAL OF SPRING TO MINNESOTA.

HERE WITH HIS TAKE ON THE SLUSHY, WINDY, STORMY MIX IS THE SHRUBSTER, PAUL DOUGLAS.

>> WHAT?

>> Eric: MULTIMEDIA WEATHER GURU.

COLD SPRING MEANS COLD SUMMER, DOESN'T IT?

>> NO, IT DOES NOT.

I WANT TO APOLOGIZE FOR THE SPRING.

MY DOPPLER HAS BEEN MALFUNCTIONING.

>> Eric: MINE, TOO.

>> I SHOULD HAVE NOT HIT THE RED BLINKING BUTTON.

YEAH.

ANYWAY.

MY BAD.

>> Cathy: CRAZY WEEK.

>> >> BUT IT WOULD BE PREMATURE TO WRITE OFF A STINKING-HOT SUMMER.

THERE S AN ANALOG, HERE IS SOME HISTORY THAT SUGGESTS THAT LA NIÑA SPRINGS AND SUMMERS CAN ACTUALLY TURN OUT TO BE QUITE HOT AFTER A LATE, A TARDY SPRING.

>> Eric: CHARTS AND GRAPHS ALWAYS HELP ME UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON.

>> I KEEP FORGETTING, THIS IS TELEVISION.

>> Eric: YEAH.

GO FOR IT.

>> OKAY.

I BROUGHT SOME.

JUST TO REMIND YOU, IT CAN ALWAYS BE WORSE.

THIS WAS FOUR YEARS AGO, YESTERDAY.

2018, ALMOST A FOOT OF SNOW, AND 26 INCHES OF SNOW, THE SNOWIEST MONTH OF THE ENTIRE WINTER SEASON CAME IN SPRING, CAME FROM APRIL.

AND PEOPLE WROTE OFF SUMMER.

WELL, HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED.

NEU -- HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED AFTER 26 INCHES OF SNOW IN APRIL.

BY THE END OF APRIL, IT WAS IN THE MID 80s.

IN MAY WE SAW 100°.

AND THE ENTIRE SUMMER WAS HOTTER THAN AVERAGE.

SO, AGAIN, WE ALL KNOW HOW QUICKLY THE WEATHER CAN TURN.

DON'T MAKE ANY ASSUMPTIONS.

NINE OUT OF TEN OF NOAA'S CLIMATE MODELS ARE PREDICTING A HOTTER THAN NORMAL SUMMER FOR MINNESOTA AND FOR MOST OF THE U.S.A.

THIS IS JUST ONE OF NINE.

HERE'S NOAA'S OFFICIAL PREDICTION.

JUST ABOUT THE ENTIRE NATION FORECAST TO BE HOTTER THAN AVERAGE, JUNE, JULY, AUGUST, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE WEST COAST.

AND POSSIBLY DRIER, A DRIER BIAS FOR THE NORTHWEST AND THE CENTRAL PLAIN STATES, WE'LL SEE.

BUT, AGAIN, THE MESSAGE, MY SPIDEY SENSE, IT IS GOING TO BE A HOT SUMMER.

AND, YES, YOU CAN BLAME LA NIÑA.

NOT THE LOCAL METEOROLOGIST.

WE'RE JUST MESSENGERS HERE.

A COOL PHASE OF THE PACIFIC OCEAN.

IT'S A LITTLE IKE KEEPING THE FREEZER DOOR HANGING OPEN.

AND THE JET STREAM INSTEAD OF, YOU KNOW, NORTH OF WINNIPEG, THE JET STREAM HAS BEEN HOWLING OVERHEAD, THAT'S ONE OF MANY REASONS WHY IT'S BEEN SO WINDY.

LA NIÑA ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH THE SUMMER.

AND LA NIÑA SPRINGS AND SUMMERS TEND TO PRODUCE MORE SEVERE WEATHER, ESPECIALLY IN APRIL AND MAY.

OFTEN HOTTER SUMMERS.

AND A BUSIER LATE SUMMER AND FALL FOR HURRICANES.

THAT'S WHAT LA NIÑA TENDS TO DO.

THEY THOUGHT IT WOULD FIZZLE BY NOW, BUT IT JUST KEEP GOING ON GOING FOR SOME -- KEEPS ON GOING FOR SOME STRANGE REASON.

THE GOOD NEWS, THE SIXTH WET HEST START TO METEOROLOGICAL SPRING WHICH BEGAN BACK BEGAN ON MARCH 1st, MUCH OF THE STATE, MUCH OF WISCONSIN, QUITE A BIT WETTER THAN AVERAGE.

THE DROUGHT HAS EASED.

THERE'S STILL POCKETS OF MODERATE DROUGHT BUT WE'RE IN SO MUCH BETTER SHAPE THAN WE WERE LAST FALL.

NEU SO I'M ENCOURAGED FOR FARMERS, FOR ANYBODY WHO HAS A LAWN.

AND IF NEIGHBORS WHINE ABOUT THE CHILLY START, YEAH, EVERY MONTH HAS BEEN COLDER THAN AVERAGE, SINCE JANUARY 1st.

THE 57th COLDEST START TO THE EAR SINCE 1873.

WE HAVE SEEN SO MUCH WORSE, AND I THINK I BROUGHT THE EUROPEAN MODEL, WHICH SHOWS 70s BY FRIDAY AND SATURDAY OF NEXT BE WEEK.

SO I KNOW IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE IT.

IT'S GOING TO BE A LIGHT SWITCH SPRING.

NO DIMMER SWITCH THIS YEAR.

IT'S GOING TO BE LIKE FLIPPING ON A SWITCH, BLOOP.

>> Eric: WINTER TO SUMMER?

>> Cathy: LET ME ASK YOU THAT.

I HAVE RELATIVES IN AUSTRIA, AS YOU KNOW.

THEY HAVE NOTICED THE TREND FOR THE PAST TEN YEARS WHERE HE THIS GO FROM WINTER -- WHERE THEY GO FROM WINTER TO SUMMER, IS THIS A SINGLE OF CLIMATE CHANGE?

>> IT COULD VERY WELL BE, CATHY.

SINCE 2010, WE'RE GETTING SNOWFALL LATER INTO APRIL, CHILLY WEATHER LATER INTO APRIL, AND THEN A SUDDEN SPIKE IN TEMPERATURE, AND SOME CLIMATE SCIENTISTS THINK IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH ARCTIC MELTING AND ARCTIC AMPLIFICATION AND THE CHANGES THAT ARE HAPPENING IN THE ARCTIC, WHAT HAPPENS IN THE ARCTIC DOESN'T STAY IN THE ARCTIC.

SOME OF THAT COLD AIR BEING DISPLAYED OVER THE CENTRAL PLAINS AND THE UPPER MIDWEST.

SO SUMMER DELAYED, WHEN IT COMES, IT COMES WITH A VENGEANCE, NOT EVERY YEAR, BUT MANY YEARS, AND, YES, IT MAY BE A SINGLE.

>> Eric: DID THEY GRADE THE STRENGTH OF THE TWO TORNADOES IN SOUTHERN MINNESOTA?

>> ONE WAS AN E F2 AND THE OTHER WAS A EF-1.

THERE WERE A TOTAL OF TWO.

SEVERAL IN IOWA.

WE'LL SEE.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A BUSY SEVERE WEATHER SEASON AND A TORNADO SEASON AS WE GO FAST FORWARD INTO SUMMER OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS.

SO IT'S COMING.

THE HEAT, THE HUMIDITY, THE BUGS, THE TICKS, ALL OF IT, IT'S COMING.

>> Cathy: I HINK MY FRIENDS IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA, OUR FRIENDS IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA WILL BE ACTUALLY EXCITED TO HEAR YOU SAY THAT WITH ALL THE SNOW UP THERE.

>> WE EARN OUR SUMMERS EVERY YEAR.

>> Eric: OUR MONEY'S ON YOU, KID.

>> YOU TRUST ME.

>> Eric: THANKS, MAN.

>> Cathy: SEE YA.

>> Eric: COVID CHANGED A LOT OF THINGS IN LAW ND POLITICS.

ONE THING IN PARTICULAR IS CAMERAS IN THE COURTROOM.

MINNESOTA'S LONG HAD ONE OF THE OST RESTRICTIVE APPROACHES TO LIMITING THE BROADCAST OF JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS.

BUT A PANDEMIC AND TWO HIGH-PROFILE CASES ARE CREATING A DESIRE FOR MORE ACCESS.

MARY LAHAMMER SAT DOWN WITH SUPREME COURT JUSTICE PAUL THISSEN, WHO IS SERVING AS A LIAISON TO A COMMITTEE CONSIDERING WHETHER TO ALLOW CAMERAS IN THE COURTROOM ON A MORE PERMANENT BASIS.

>> Mary: LET'S TALK ABOUT WHERE WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF CAMERAS IN THE COURTROOM IN MINNESOTA RIGHT NOW.

>> THE CRIMINAL CASES, WE ALLOW SOME CAMERAS IN THE COURTROOM AFTER A CONVICTION FOR THE SENTENCING, THAT TYPE OF THING.

BUT WE REALLY DON'T UNLESS THE PARTIES BOTH CONSENT TO ALLOW CAMERAS IN THE COURTROOM PRIOR TO THE CONVICTION.

AND, SO, WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW IS WHETHER WE SHOULD CONSIDER CHANGING THE STATUS QUO A LITTLE BIT TO ALLOW CAMERAS PRESENTENCING IN THE COURTROOM IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES.

>> Mary: AND WHAT'S THE TIMING?

BECAUSE YOU'RE IN KIND OF A DECISION-MAKING FACT-GATHERING STAGE STILL.

>> PART OF IT WAS, YOU KNOW, COVID AND HOW PEOPLE HAVE REACTED AND HAD TO ADAPT TO COVID.

OUR COURTS, ESPECIALLY OUR DISTRICT COURTS, HAVE DONE AN AMAZING JOB OF COATING THE DOORS OF JUSTICE OPEN BY BRINGING IN NEW TECHNOLOGIES.

THAT KIND OF STARTED US THINKING, WELL, SHOULD WE THINK ABOUT THE STATUS QUO IN OTHER AREAS?

TECHNOLOGY HAS CHANGED, AS WE ALL KNOW, IN TERMS OF THE ABILITY TO BE LESS OBTRUSIVE IN THE COURTROOMS.

THEN WE HAD THE TWO POLICE OFFICER TRIALS.

WE HAD DEREK CHAUVIN'S TRIAL AND KIM POTTER'S TRIAL.

>> IT IS THE JUDGMENT OF THE COURT THAT YOU NOW STAND CONVICTED OF THAT OFFENSE.

>> THAT YOU WILL BE COMMITTED TO THE CUSTODY OF THE COMMISSIONER OF CORRECTIONS.

>> BOTH OF WHICH FOR CONSTITUTIONAL REASONS, THE DISTRICT COURT DECIDED, AND BECAUSE COVID WAS LIMITING ACCESS TO THE PUBLIC, THAT THEY NEEDED TO OPEN UP THE COURTROOM TO CAMERAS.

>> Mary: DO YOU THINK THAT THERE IS A PREVAILING PUBLIC OPINION ON IT, THAT THE COURT HAS A CLEAR DIRECTION OF WHAT THE PUBLIC WANTS?

>> I THINK THAT THE PUBLIC LEARNED A LOT FROM WATCHING THE DEREK CHAUVIN TRIAL AND THE KIM POTTER TRIAL.

AND I THINK THAT'S PART OF WHAT WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT.

SO, YOU KNOW, WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE CAMERAS IN THE COURTROOM ISSUE, WHEN OUR COMMITTEE IS THINKING ABOUT IT, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE INTERESTS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU HAVE AUDIO AND VIDEO COVERAGE, YOU HAVE A DIFFERENT KIND OF TRANSPARENCY WHICH BRINGS ACCOUNTABILITY.

I MEAN, THE COURTS ARE A PUBLIC INSTITUTION.

WE NEED TO BE TRANSPARENT AND ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PUBLIC.

BUT IT ALSO PROVIDES US GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO EDUCATE PEOPLE ABOUT THE COURTS.

I MEAN, THE COURTS IS KIND OF THIS FORGOTTEN BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT MANY TIMES.

>> Mary: M I'M GLAD YOU MENTIONED BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT BECAUSE WHERE WE'RE SITTING HAS A LOT OF IMPORTANCE.

WE'RE HERE IN THE STATE CAPITOL, JUDICIAL BRANCH, THE HOUSE, THE SENATE, THERE ARE CAMERAS EVERYWHERE, YOU KNOW, YOU WERE HOUSE SPEAKER.

>> THE AMENDMENT WAS NOT ADOPTED.

>> Mary: YOU KNEW COMMITTEE ROOMS, FLOOR SESSIONS.

YOU ERE QUITE USED TO CAMERAS PERVADING OR INVADING, DEPENDING ON HOW YOU WANT TO LOOK AT IT, EVERYDAY LIFE.

SO I'M WONDERING IF YOU COME AT THIS A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY THAN MANY IN THE JUDICIARY?

>> THIS IS A TOOL THAT CAN ACTUALLY INCREASE ACCESS TO JUSTICE.

THE REMOTE ACCESS HAT WE'VE HAD THROUGH ZOOM AND THAT KIND OF THING, I THINK THE PUBLIC HAS APPRECIATED IT IN MANY CASES.

EVEN IF IT'S -- CERTAINLY IF YOU HAVE TO DRIVE TWO HOURS TO A HEARING, YOU CAN SAVE YOUR CLIENT MONEY IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO GET IN THE CAR AND CHARGE THEM FOR FOUR HOURS OF DRIVE TIME AND CLIENTS THEMSELVES, EVEN HERE IN MINNEAPOLIS, YOU KNOW, IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO TAKE OFF WORKING TO DOWN TO THE COURTROOM SO YOU CAN SHOW UP AT A REMOTE HEARING, YOU KNOW, THAT'S IMPORTANT.

ON THE OTHER HAND, OF COURSE, HAVING WITNESSES AND CREDIBILITY DETERMINATIONS, YOU WANT PEOPLE IN PERSON.

AS FAR AS CAMERAS IN THE COURTROOM, I ALSO THINK THAT THAT CAN INCREASE ACCESS BECAUSE OUR TRIALS ARE ALL PUBLIC.

YOU KNOW, THERE ARE DOWNSIDES.

THAT'S WHAT THE COMMITTEE IS THINKING ABOUT.

OR THINGS THAT WE NEED TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT.

THINGS LIKE WE CAN'T FUNCTION WITHOUT JURORS.

AND WE HAVE A RULE IN PLACE THAT'S GOING TO MAKE JURORS LESS INCLINED TO SHOW UP BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO SHOW UP ON CAMERA, THINGS LIKE CERTAIN TYPES OF WITNESSES, YOU KNOW, CHILDREN, HILD WITNESSES, RIGHT?

I MEAN, THESE THIS ARE -- THESE ARE THINGS WE NEED TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT.

THE OTHER THING WE NEED TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT, THE MOST IMPORTANT, THE RIGHT OF EVERY DEFENDANT OF TO A FAIR TRIAL.

>> Mary: AS A FORMER LAWMAKER, YOU KNOW HOW MINNESOTA CAN BECOME AN ISLAND ON THINGS, HOW WE WERE AN ISLAND ON SPORTS BETTING, WHICH THEY'RE HEARING RIGHT NOW, AN ISLAND ON SUNDAY SALES, WE'VE ALSO BEEN REFERRED TO AS AN ISLAND ON CAMERAS IN THE COURTROOM.

DOES THAT MATTER?

>> I'M THE LIAISON.

THE COMMITTEE'S MADE UP -- I MEAN, THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR FOLKS TO KNOW, THE COMMITTEE'S MADE UP OF PROSECUTORS AND JUDGES, OF PUBLIC DEFENDERS, OF PRIVATE CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYERS.

WE'VE REACHED OUT AND HAD PUBLIC HEARINGS ITH THE MEDIA, WITH VICTIMS RIGHTS GROUPS, ACADEMICS WHO HAVE STUDIED THIS.

SO WE'RE TRYING TO REACH OUT VERY BROADLY TO GET, YOU KNOW, BROAD PUBLIC INPUT ON THIS.

BUT WE ARE, YOU KNOW, IN THE MINORITY OF STATES.

THE COMMITTEE WILL MAKE A RECOMMENDATION THIS SUMMER TO THE COURT AND THEN WE'RE LIKELY TO HAVE ANOTHER PUBLIC HEARING TO HEAR MORE FROM THE PUBLIC, AND WE'LL MAKE A DECISION SOMETIME I WOULD IMAGINE BEFORE THE END OF THIS YEAR.

>> Mary: ULTIMATELY IT'S BEEN A REALLY TOUGH COUPLE OF YEARS FOR MINNESOTANS, BETWEEN COVID, RACIAL RECKONING, THE KILLING OF GEORGE FLOYD.

ALL OF THOSE ISSUES FORCED THIS, THAT THE COURT WOULDN'T NECESSARILY HAVE MOVED AS QUICKLY AND RE-EXAMINED THIS WITHOUT CRISIS, CORRECT?

>> I THINK THAT THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT WITHOUT WHAT WE'VE LEARNED THROUGH COVID AND WHAT WE'VE LEARNED THROUGH THE TWO TRIALS, WE WOULDN'T BE THINKING ABOUT THESE ISSUES IN THE SAME WAY, AND WE PROBABLY WOULDN'T BE THINKING ABOUT DO WE NEED TO CHALLENGE THE STATUS QUO AS A COURT SYSTEM, NOT JUST ON THIS ISSUE BUT LOTS OF ISSUES.

AND I THINK THAT'S HEALTHY.

♪♪ >> Cathy: THE SLOW ARRIVAL OF SPRING DOES NOT MEAN THAT BIRDS ARE BEHIND SCHEDULE.

MIGRATORY BIRDSER ARE HERE.

AND THAT'S RAISING URTHER CONCERN ABOUT AVIAN FLU.

HERE FOR HER QUARTERLY "ALMANAC" VISIT, SHARON STITELER, BETTER KNOWN AS THE BIRDCHICK.

I'M GLAD THAT OUR FEATHERED FRIENDS ARE ARRIVING.

BIRDS DON'T SEEM TO CARE ABOUT THE WEATHER, WHICH IS GOOD.

>> YEAH, I'VE BEEN ENJOYING THE FOX SPARROWS IN MY YARD THIS WEEK, THAT'S ONE OF MY FAVORITE PARTS OF MIGRATION.

TODAY THE YELLOW RUMPED WARBLERS, A.K.A., BUTTER BUTTS ARE STARTING TO SHOW UP.

ARE.

>> Cathy: BEFORE WE SK YOU ABOUT AVIAN FLU, BY THE WAY, HOW DO YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY YOU ARE AN EXPERT ON THIS, CAN YOU SEE WEATHER RADAR PICKING UP BIRDS WHEN THEY ARRIVE?

>> YOU CAN.

CORNELL LAB ORNITHOLOGY AS A GREAT SITE CALLED BITTERCAST.

AND WHAT HAPPENS WITH NEXRAD RADAR, IT CAN SOMETHING IS IN THE AIR, AND, SO, YOU'LL GET THESE BLUE CIRCLES THAT SHOW UP OVER THE TWIN CITIES.

SO IT'S JUST KIND OF CLUTTER, IT CAN'T TELL WHAT IT IS, BUT IT'S A LOT OF SOMETHING.

AND IT ALWAYS SEEMS TO HAPPEN ON -- WHEN WINDS ARE FAVORABLE AND MILLIONS OF BIRDS ARE MIGRATING AT NIGHT.

I WATCH FOR THE BLUE CIRCLES AND SOMETIMES I TWEET THEM.

AND SOMETIMES I GO OUTSIDE AND YOU CAN HEAR THE BIRDS MIGRATING OVERHEAD WHEN YOU SEE THOSE BLUE CIRCLES SHOW UP ON NEXRAD RADAR.

>> Eric: IMPACT OF BIRD FLU.

LET'S GET TO THE -- >> IT'S A BUMMER.

>> Eric: YEAH.

>> A BIG QUESTION THAT'S HAPPENING BECAUSE WE HAD TWO SIGNIFICANT GRAY-HORNED OWL NESTS IN THE TWIN CITIES THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE KNEW ABOUT WHERE ALL THE CHICKS AND THE ADULTS HAVE SUCCUMBED TO AVIAN THAN -- INFLUENZA.

AND THEY MOST LIKELY GOT IT FROM EATING WATERFOWL WHO ARE SICK, THAT'S WHAT BIRDS OF PREY DO.

THE RAPTOR CENTERS CAME OUT AND SAID, YOU SHOULD STOP FEEDING BIRDS.

I'M GETTING INUNDATED.

THE MINNESOTA DNR HAS NOT ADVISED THAT YOU STOP FEEDING BIRDS.

BUT I THINK IF YOU LIVE IN A NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE THERE'S POULTRY, IF YOUR NEIGHBORS HAVE DUCKS OR CHICKENS, DON'T FEED BIRDS.

IF YOU HAVE A PET BIRD, STOP YOUR BIRD FEEDING F. YOU SEE A BIRD IN YOUR BACKYARD, IT'S SHOWING SIGNS OF ILLNESS AND THAT CAN BE BIRD FLU, THAT CAN BE THE PINK EYE OR THE CONJUNCTIVITIS THAT THE HOUSE FINCHES GET, YOU SHOULD STOP FEEDING OR A WEEK AND CLEAN YOUR FEEDERS.

IF YOU'VE HAD A REALLY ROUGH TWO YEARS AND FEEDING BIRDS IS WHAT'S GETTING YOU THROUGH IT, I'M NOT GOING TO JUDGE YOU FOR HAVING YOUR FEEDER.

BUT IT IS TIME TO BE A LITTLE MORE CAUTIOUS WITH THE BIRD FEEDING.

>> Cathy: WHO APPEARS TO BE -- YOU MENTIONED THE BIRDS OF PREY ARE STARTING TO FALL SICK.

>> YES.

>> Cathy: WHO ELSE IS GETTING SICK?

>> MAINLY WATERFOWL, DUCKS, GULLS.

BUT WHAT'S INTERESTING, IT'S STARTING TO SHOW UP IN HERONS AS WELL.

AND THE WILDLIFE REHAB CENTER IS NOT TAKING IN WATERFOWL NOW.

SO THESE ARE COOT SNG ALONG THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER AND CANADA GEESE.

IF YOU'RE SHOWING A BIRD THAT'S SHOWING SIGNS, DON'T TOUCH IT, DON'T FONDLE IT.

KEEP IN MIND THAT THE WILDLIFE REHAB CENTER IS NOT GOING TO KEEP THOSE SPECIES IN.

THIS, UNFORTUNATELY, HAS TO RUN ITS COURSE IN THE BIRDS.

>> Eric: SO WE GOT SOME VIDEO OF THE BLUE JAYS AND THE CEDAR WAX WINGS.

TELL US ABOUT THOSE BIRDS.

>> THE BLUE JAYS, THIS IS FROM THE CABIN, AND, YOU KNOW, THINKING ABOUT NOT FEEDING BIRDS, YOU DON'T WANT THEM CONGREGATING BECAUSE HE WILL CONGREGATE, ESPECIALLY -- THEY WILL CONGREGATE, ESPECIALLY DURING MIGRATION, THAT AN SPREAD IT TO THER SPECIES.

WE DON'T KNOW THE AFFECT, IF IT WILL GET TO GROSS BEAKS, CHICKADEES, THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS TO NOT ENCOURAGE BIRDS TO CONGREGATE AT THE BIRD FEEDER BUT IT'S MIGRATION AND BIRDS NATURALLY CONGREGATE.

THESE ARE SOME CEDAR AX WINGS FEEDING ON CRAB APPLES, I WATCHED A BUNCH OF ROBINS DOING THAT IN NIGH -- IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD.

EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT FEEDING BIRDS, THERE ARE STILL AREAS WHERE THEY CONGREGATE.

WE CAN'T PREVENT IT 100% BUT WE CAN MINIMIZE IT.

I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT, IF YOU DO HAVE TO TAKE THE FEEDERS DOWN, THE BIRDS ARE NOT GOING TO STARVE TO DEATH, THERE IS STILL PLENTY OF FOOD OUT THERE FOR THEM.

IF YOU ARE TAKING THE FEEDER DOWN, THEY'LL BE FINE.

>> Cathy: THE JAYS AND THE CEDAR WAX WINGS, ARE THEY GETTING SICK, TOO?

>> THERE HASN'T BEEN A DOCUMENTED WAX WING BUT THERE HAS BEEN A DOCUMENTED BLUE JAY.

>> Eric: HERONS AND LOONS, THEY'RE ARRIVING?

>> THEY ARE.

IT'S MIGRATION TIME.

THE GREAT BLUE HERONS AT NORTH MISSISSIPPI REGIONAL PARK, THEY ARE ALREADY WORKING ON THE NESTS.

SO, EVEN THOUGH IT'S BEEN PRETTY CHILLY TODAY FOR US, LIFE STILL GOES ON FOR THE GREAT BLUE HERRON AND THEY'RE STILL GOING.

>> Cathy: AND THE LOONS, I THINK MY FRIEND IS SVEN SUN GUARD SAW HIS FIRST LOON AT BDE MAKA SKA.

>> LOONS ARE A LITTLE DIFFERENT.

THEY HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THE ICE WENT OUT.

THE MORNING THE ICE WENT OUT ON LAKE MINNETONKA, SHE HAD A LOON RIGHT OUTSIDE HER WINDOW.

LOONS MIGHT BE A LITTLE LATE UP NORTH BECAUSE THEY CAN'T WALK ON LAND.

BUT FOR OTHER BIRDS THAT CAN WALK ON LAND THEY'RE COMING.

>> Eric: PLUG YOUR BOOK.

>> I WROTE A BOOK AND IT WENT VIRAL.

>> Cathy: YOU WENT VIRAL.

>> IT WAS ACCIDENTAL.

NORTH AMERICAN BIRD WATCHING FOR BEGINNERS.

AND I WAS ON DEADLINE AND I DIDN'T THINK THE EDITOR WOULD LEAVE IT IN, BUT I HAD TO WRITE ABOUT WHERE CANADA GEESE ARE.

AND I JUST WROTE IN THERE EVERYWHERE, THEY COULD BE IN YOUR HOUSE RIGHT NOW.

AND I JUST MADE A JOKE ABOUT IT ON TWITTER, AND NOW EVERYBODY THINKS IT'S A HILARIOUS BOOK.

I EVEN GET SCREENSHOTS OF HIS SENT TO ME OF PEOPLE SAYING, IS THIS BOOK FOR REAL?

YES, IT'S MINE, IT COMES OUT NEXT WEEK.

[ Laughter ] >> Eric: ALL THE GOOD BOOKSTORES AND AMAZON AND ALL THAT?

>> I BELIEVE SO.

I THINK MAZON IS THE MAIN PLACE TO GET IT BUT BECAUSE I'M KIND OF MOVING TO ALASKA, I'M NOT KEEPING TRACK OF EVERYWHERE WHERE IT'S GOING TO BE AND I WON'T BE DOING ANY BOOK SIGNINGS.

>> Cathy: YOU JUST SAID YOU'RE MOVING TO ALASKA, PEOPLE JUST FREAKED RIGHT NOW.

RIGHT OUT.

SHE'S GOING TO LEAVE?

I'LL COME BACK TO VISIT.

>> Cathy: YOU GO BACK AND FORTH?

>> I DO.

I DO.

WELL, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, I'VE GOT A SPECIAL SOMEONE HERE.

>> Cathy: OKAY, ALL RIGHT.

SHE'LL BE BACK, SHE'LL BE BACK.

>> Eric: WE GOT YOU THE REAL NEWS AT THE END OF THE SEGMENT.

>> ARE -- >> Cathy: THERE YOU GO.

>> Eric: SEE YOU LATER.

THANKS.

♪♪ >> AS COVID RESTRICTIONS EASE UP AND DOWNTOWN CITIES ACROSS AMERICA, YOU KNOW WHAT?

FOLKS ARE HEADING BACK TO THE OFFICE IN RECORD NUMBERS.

NOW, FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, MANY OF US HAVE WORKED FROM HOME.

THAT MEANT LOTS OF ZOOM MEETINGS BUT LITTLE PERSONAL INTERACTION WITH FELLOW CO-WORKERS.

I, FOR ONE, HAVE BEEN TALKING MORE TO MY CHILDREN THAN I HAVE TO FRIENDS LIKE CHAD HARTMAN, WHO I WORK WITH AT WCCO RADIO.

BECAUSE, YOU SEE, WHILE I WAS WORKIN' FROM HOME, I WAS ALSO HOME SCHOOLING MY KIDS.

SO, I HAVEN'T REALLY BEEN AROUND ANYONE OVER THE AGE OF 15 YEARS OLD WHO I'M NOT PERSONALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT I DON'T CLAIM ON MY TAXES.

NOW, I HAVE TO ADMIT, NOW WE'RE ALL IN PERSON AGAIN AT THE OFFICE.

I'M HAVING A REALLY HARD TIME GETTING OUT OF MOMMY MODE.

I'VE BEEN BOSSIN' BRYCE OLSON AROUND LIKE HE WAS ONE OF THESE BRUNDIDGE BABIES.

AND Y'ALL, JUST TODAY, I HAD TO CATCH MYSELF, BECAUSE WHEN THE ALARM WENT OFF ON MY PHONE AT NOON FOR EVERYONE TO TAKE A POTTY BREAK, I FORCED POOR ADAM CARTER TO GO TO THE BATHROOM.

>> I DON'T HAVE TO GO POTTY.

>> IS I HOPE IT DOESN'T TAKE TOO LONG FOR ME TO GET BACK INTO THE SWING OF THINGS.

BECAUSE I'M NOT SURE MY COUNTERPARTS APPRECIATE MY CONSTANT SUPERVISION.

NOW, IF YOU WILL EXCUSE ME, I'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE HENRY LAKE HAS SOME VEGGIES ON HIS PLATE BECAUSE IT'S ALMOST TIME FOR HIS DINNER BREAK.

>> Eric: St. PAUL VOTERS APPROVED RENT CONTROL LAST FALL AND IN A FEW WEEKS, THE NEW POLICY GOES INTO EFFECT.

AS CITY OFFICIALS ARE STILL TWEAKING THE PLAN, THERE'S SOME EVIDENCE THAT THE THREAT OF RENT CONTROL MAY BE CAUSING A SLOWDOWN IN MULTIFAMILY HOUSING CONSTRUCTION IN THE CAPITAL CITY.

REPORTER FRED MELO WITH THE "PIONEER PRESS" HAS BEEN CRUNCHING SOME PERMIT NUMBERS AND IS HERE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT HE FOUND.

FRED, IT STARTS MAY 1st, WHAT IS THE INDUSTRY RESPONSE SO FAR?

>> WELL, THE INDUSTRY RESPONSE HAS BEEN FRANKLY A LITTLE SHORT OF PANIC.

RENT CONTROL WAS APPROVED BY THE VOTERS IN NOVEMBER.

AND THEY'VE BEEN SAYING, YOU KNOW, DEVELOPER FTER DEVELOPER HAS BEEN SAYING, LOOK, I JUST CAN'T BUILD IN THIS ENVIRONMENT.

SOME ARE CHOOSING NOT TO BUILT.

SOME ARE SAYING, I WOULD GO AHEAD, UT THE FINANCING ISN'T THERE.

THE PENSION FUNDS AND REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS THAT BACK UP NEW APARTMENT BUILDINGS ARE NOT TAKING A CHANCE.

THERE'S TOO MUCH CONFUSION.

THERE ISN'T REALLY STAFFING TO IMPLEMENT RENT CONTROL, THERE'S A LOT OF CONFUSION ABOUT THE RULES.

AND THIS IS ALL HAPPENING IN A MONTH.

>> Eric: OKAY.

>> Cathy: AND HOW MUCH HAVE CONSTRUCTION PERMITS DROPPED?

>> SO, YOU KNOW, THIS IS ALWAYS A LITTLE BIT TOUCHY BECAUSE YOU'RE LOOKING AT ONE MOMENT IN TIME.

YOU CAN'T LOOK AT AN HOUR IN THE LIFE OF THE STOCK MARKET AND SAY, THIS IS THE STOCK MARKET.

BUT, YOU KNOW, FROM DECEMBER 1st TO MARCH 1st, YOU HAD MAYBE 241 MULTIFAMILY APARTMENT UNITS, APARTMENT BUILDINGS, THAT'S AN 83% DROP FROM THE SAME PERIOD A YEAR EARLIER.

MINNEAPOLIS HAS NOT HAD THAT SLOWDOWN.

THE BIG REAL ESTATE ANALYSTS ARE SAYING, NATIONALLY YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE RECORD CONSTRUCTION.

THERE'S NO SHORTAGE OF DEMAND FOR HOUSING.

>> Eric: DO WE KNOW YET WHETHER THE FINAL PRODUCT IS GOING TO MIMIC THE LANGUAGE IN THE AMENDMENT THAT WAS APPROVED BY THE VOTERS?

>> SO, KIND OF WHAT WILL RENT CONTROL LOOK LIKE COMPARED TO NOVEMBER?

>> Eric: YEAH.

>> YEAH.

SO THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

THE ORDINANCE THAT WAS APPROVED IN NOVEMBER EXPLICITLY SAID, LANDLORDS STILL HAVE A RIGHT TO REASONABLE RETURN ON THEIR INVESTMENT.

SO THEY CAN APPLY FOR HARDSHIP EXEMPTIONS.

AND WE'LL LEAVE IT TO THE CITY TO CRAFT THAT.

SO, REALLY, THE LANDLORDS, THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY, THE TENANTS, HOUSING ADVOCATES HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR ALMOST SIX MONTHS WITH BAITED BREATH TO SEE WHAT THAT LANGUAGE WOULD BE.

THE CITY JUST CAME OUT WITH DRAFT LANGUAGE.

IT WON'T BE FINALIZED UNTIL APRIL 29th.

RENT CONTROL GOES INTO EFFECT MAY 1st.

BUT THERE'S A LITTLE LINE IN THERE SAYING,, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE REALLY STRUGGLING BECAUSE OF PROPERTY TAXES, IMPROVEMENTS, AND YOU WANT TO INCREASE RENT MORE THAN 3%, WHICH IS THE CAP THAT WAS APPROVED IN NOVEMBER, YOU CAN SELF-OF CERTIFY UP TO 8%.

>> Cathy: WHAT DOES THAT MEAN, SELF-CERTIFY?

>> WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

YOU FILL OUT A WORKSHEET, IT'S LIKE 22 PAGES, FULL OF FINANCIAL INFORMATION, SOME LANDLORDS ARE SAYING, THAT'S PROPRIETARY INFORMATION, THERE'S NO WAY I'M GOING TO FILL THAT OUT.

BUT IF YOU FILL IT OUT, ASSUMEDLY, THE CITY WOULD TAKE YOU ON YOUR WORD THAT YOU CAN RAISE YOUR RENT UP TO 8% BECAUSE YOU HAVE THESE EXPENSES.

>> Cathy: WILL TENANTS BE MADE AWARE THAT THEIR LANDLORD HAS APPLIED FOR THESE TEMPORARY WAIVERS?

>> NO.

THERE'S NO REQUIREMENT THAT THAT HAPPEN.

NOW, THE LANDLORD WILL BE GIVEN KIND OF A COURTESY SHEET THAT THEY CAN PASS ON SAYING, I APPLIED.

DON'T SUE ME OR TAKE ME TO COURT.

RENT'S CAPPED AT 3%, HERE'S WHY I'M GOING TO 5%, WE'VE MADE SOME IMPROVEMENTS.

IF A LANDLORD WANTS TO GO ABOVE 8%, THEY'VE REALLY GOT TO GO THROUGH A HEARING PROCESS AND REALLY MAKE A CASE TO THE CITY.

>> Eric: COULD A LANDLORD SAY, OKAY, YOUR RENT'S GOING UP 3%, BUT I GOT SOME FEES THAT ARE GOING TO GO UP HIGHER?

>> YEAH, YEAH.

>> Eric: SND THAT A WORK -- ISN'T THAT A WORK AROUND IT?

>> I THINK THAT'S ALREADY HAPPENING.

WE HEAR FROM LANDLORDS AND TENANTS, MY LANDLORD IS CHARGING ME FOR WATER, PASSTHROUGH WATER BILL OR TRASH COLLECTION.

SO THERE'S GOING TO BE STUFF LIKE THAT THAT SEEKS TO MAYBE GET AROUND THE 3% RENT CAP.

NOBODY'S HAPPY ABOUT IT.

THERE ARE FOLKS HO ARE SAYING, OBVIOUSLY, RENT CONTROL HASN'T TAKEN EFFECT UNTIL MAY 1.

SO IT'S HARD TO SAY, WOW, WHAT A DISASTER FOR SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T EXIST YET.

BUT FOLKS ARE SAYING, THIS IS THE WORST OF BOTH WORLDS, FOR THE TENANTS AND THE LANDLORDS, IT'S QUG, IT'S UNDERSTAFFED, THE CITY'S GOING TO HIRE TWO PEOPLE.

IT'S CONFUSING.

>> Cathy: I WAS GOING TO SAY, IS THE CITY STAFFED UP TO DEAL WITH THIS?

>> THEY'RE LOOKING AT TWO PEOPLE WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF SAFETY ND INSPECTIONS TO HANDLE THE HARDSHIP EXEMPTIONS, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO ADD MORE, REALISTICALLY.

>> Eric: THE AMENDMENT IN MINNEAPOLIS WAS JUST ALLOWING THE CITY COUNCIL TO EXPLORE IT.

>> SURE.

>> Eric: IS INNEAPOLIS GOING TO LEARN SOME LESSONS FROM St. PAUL?

>> I THINK THAT'S THE HOPE.

JUST THIS WEEK THEY DECIDED TO ASSEMBLE A 25-MEMBER WORKGROUP AND BASICALLY, YOU KNOW, GET AHEAD OF SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS AND CHALLENGES, INSTEAD OF PASSING THE ORDINANCE AND THEN FIGURING OUT THE DETAILS.

AND WHAT MINNEAPOLIS HAS SAID, ONCE WE HAVE SOME LANGUAGE, WE'LL PRESENT THAT TO THE VOTERS AND PUT THAT ON THE BALLOT IN 2023.

SO WE ACTUALLY HAVE OVER A YEAR BEFORE THIS ONTINUES AND I THINK WE'LL BE REPORTING ON RENT CONTROL UNTIL I'M FULLY WHITE IN THE HAIR.

>> Eric: WE LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING YOU CHAIR SHARE THAT WITH US.

GLAD TO HAVE YOU AGAIN.

GREAT STUFF.

>> Cathy: GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

♪♪ >> Cathy: THE GREEN LIGHT FUND BRINGS INVESTORS AND FOUNDATIONS TOGETHER TO TACKLE SOCIAL PROBLEMS.

IT'S A NATIONAL ORGANIZATION WITH LOCAL CHAPTERS.

THIS WEEK, THE TWIN CITIES GREEN LIGHT GROUP ANNOUNCED A $1.4 MILLION EFFORT TO ADDRESS LOW-LEVEL CRIME ON THE LAKE STREET CORRIDOR IN MINNEAPOLIS.

THE PROGRAM HAS A GOAL TO CREATE A COMMUNITY-INVOLVED APPROACH TO REDUCE POLICE INTERACTIONS.

JUST HOW WOULD THAT WORK?

SIMONE HARD MAN JONES IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF GREEN LIGHT FUND TWIN CITIES.

OF SIMONE, WELCOME P TO "ALMANAC."

>> THANK YOU.

>> Cathy: WHAT PROBLEM IS THIS PROGRAM TRYING TO SOLVE?

>> SURE, SO THE LEAD PROGRAM, WHICH STANDS FOR LET EVERYONE ADVANCE WITH DIGNITY, IS A PROGRAM THAT REALLY IS CENTERED AROUND TWO KEY THINGS.

ONE, BRINGING COMMUNITY TOGETHER TO SOLVE ONE OF OUR MOST PERVASIVE SOCIAL ROBLEMS AROUND POLICING AND LAW ENFORCEMENT INTERACTION.

AND ALSO HARM REDUCTION APPROACH TO COMMUNITY SAFETY.

THIS IS A PUBLIC HEALTH APPROACH TO COMMUNITY SAFETY ROOTED IN A CASE MANAGEMENT MODEL THAT REALLY SEEKS TO HELP DIVERT PEOPLE WHO ARE CYCLING IN AND OUT OF THE LEGAL SYSTEM, HAVING FREQUENT INTERACTIONS WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT INTO A CASE MANAGEMENT MODEL THAT WILL REALLY SUPPORT AND GUIDE THEM IN A DIFFERENT WAY.

>> Eric: WHAT WOULD A CASE MANAGER DO?

>> Cathy: EXACTLY.

>> SURE.

SO I THINK THE BIGGEST, MOST POIGNANT EXAMPLE I CAN SHARE, ESPECIALLY AS WE COME UP ON THE SECOND YEAR OF THE MURDER OF GEORGE LOYD, IS GEORGE FLOYD COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN A CLIENT IN THIS PROGRAM.

THE DAY THAT GEORGE FLOYD WENT INTO CUP FOODS AND THERE SEEMED TO BE AN ISSUE, INSTEAD OF THAT SHOP OWNER, INSTEAD OF THAT BUSINESS OWNER CALLING 911, THEY COULD HAVE CALLED THAT -- GEORGE FLOYD'S CASE MANAGER AND SAID, HEY, THERE SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM, CAN SOMEONE COME OUT, CAN SOMEONE COME SUPPORT GEORGE, AND THAT CASE MANAGER WOULD HAVE COME OUT THAT DAY AND SAID, GEORGE, HOW CAN WE HELP YOU?

WHAT CAN WE DO?

HOW CAN WE SUPPORT YOU?

WHAT DO YOU NEED IN THIS MOMENT?

HOW CAN -- WHAT CAN WE DO TODAY THAT WILL MAKE YOUR TOMORROW BETTER?

AND THAT WOULD HAVE CHANGED THE TRAJECTORY OF HIS LIFE.

HE CERTAINLY WOULD BE ALIVE TODAY.

>> Cathy: SO WHAT KIND OF CRIMES, WE ARE TALKING THE LOW-LEVEL CRIMES, AS GEORGE FLOYD WAS ACCUSED OF PASSING A COUNTERFEIT $20 BILL.

>> URE, YEAH.

>> Cathy: WHAT OTHER CRIMES ARE WE TALKING ABOUT?

>> YEAH.

A LOT OF DISTURBANCES IN THE COMMUNITY THAT ARE OFTEN ROOTED IN SOME THER ISSUE, LIKE MENTAL HEALTH, NEEDING MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT, PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, AND POVERTY AND/OR SUBSTANCE USE.

AND, SO, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE REALLY HEARD AS WE WERE GOING THROUGH OUR PROCESS AND REALLY UNDERSTANDING IF THIS MODEL COULD WORK IN OUR COMMUNITY, WE HEARD A LOT FROM BUSINESS OWNERS ON THE LAKE STREET CORRIDOR AND RESIDENTS IN THE LAKE STREET CORRIDOR SAYING, WE WANT TO BE A THE PA OF A SOLUTION THAT WILL -- WE WANT TO BE A ART OF THE SOLUTION THAT WILL HELP REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF INTERACTION WE ARE HAVING WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT, BUT ALSO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR PEOPLE TO CONNECT WITH MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT, WITH CASE MANAGERS, WITH PEOPLE WHO CAN REALLY SEE THEIR HUMANITY, SEE THEIR DIGNITY, AND HELP AND PARTNER WITH THEM TO PROVIDE THE SUPPORT THEY NEED AND CREATE CHANGE IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> Eric: THIS HANDS-ON APPROACH SEEMS IKE IT WOULD BE LABOR INTENSIVE, IN OTHER WORDS, YOU'D NEED A LOT OF FOLKS TO HANDLE THESE REPEAT RESIT VISES, YOU KNOW?

RESIDISTS.

>> AND THAT'S A GREAT POINT.

AND THE CASE MANAGERS' CASELOADS ARE INTENTIONALLY LEFT SMALL BECAUSE THIS REALLY IS ABOUT BUILDING KEY RELATIONSHIPS AND SUPPORTING PEOPLE ALONG THE WAY.

WE DON'T WANT TO FORCE ANYONE TO DO ANYTHING THEY'RE NOT READY TO DO.

IT IS REALLY TRULY ABOUT MEETING THEM HERE THEY ARE IN THAT MOMENT AND REALLY GETTING AT THE ROOT CAUSE OF WHY THEY'RE IN THE SITUATION THEY ARE.

AND, SO, WE WILL BE HAVING STARTING WITH A COUPLE OF CASE MANAGERS AND A PROJECT MANAGER WHO WILL HELP COORDINATE BECAUSE THIS IS A COMMUNITY-LED EFFORT.

THIS PROGRAM WILL NOT BE HELD BY ANY ONE ENTITY.

IT IS HELD BY COMMUNITY.

SO WE ARE BRINGING TOGETHER COMMUNITY LEADERS, NONPROFIT LEADERS, CITY GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS.

WE HAVE A GREAT PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MINNEAPOLIS CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, WE'RE REALLY -- WHO ARE REALLY EXCITED TO DO THIS WORK OUTSIDE OF THE SYSTEM THAT THEY'VE BEEN CONFINED TO TO REALLY MAKE AN IMPACT ON THE LAKE STREET CORRIDOR.

>> Cathy: HAS THIS BEEN TRIED ELSEWHERE?

WHAT HAVE THE RESULTS BEEN LIKE?

>> SUCH A GREAT QUESTION.

GREENLIGHT AT ITS CORE, WE WORK TO FIND MODELS AND PROGRAMS THAT HAVE EVIDENCE OF IMPACT IN OTHER PARTS OF OUR COUNTRY.

AND THINK ABOUT HOW WE CAN BRING THEM IN TO PARTNER AND WORK TOGETHER IN OUR COMMUNITY.

SO THE L.E.A.D.

PROGRAM, LET EVERYONE ADVANCE WITH DIGNITY, STARTED IN SEATTLE AND IS NOW SCALED TO 70 PLUS CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

AND THE OTHER POINT I REALLY WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU IS THAT IT'S REALLY MPORTANT TO KNOW THAT THE L.E.A.D.

PROGRAM, LET EVERYONE ADVANCE WITH DIGNITY, THAT TERM, THAT TITLE IS REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE URDER OF GEORGE FLOYD, THE L.E.A.D.

PROGRAM CHANGED THEIR NAME TO LET EVERYONE ADVANCE WITH DIGNITY BECAUSE, THE PREVIOUS NAME WAS THE LAW ENFORCEMENT-ASSISTED DIVERSION PROGRAM, AND, SO, THEY WANTED TO SORT OF RECENTER COMMUNITY AND DECENTER LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THEIR WORK AND, SO, IT'S REALLY, I THINK, IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT WE ARE LAUNCHING THIS IMPORTANT PROGRAM IN MINNEAPOLIS AS LET EVERYONE ADVANCE WITH DIGNITY.

THE GROUND ZERO OF THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD AND WHAT WE CALL THE RACIAL RECKONING THAT CAME AFTER.

>> Eric: GREAT LUCK WITH IT.

THANKS FOR COMING OVER.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> Eric: LET US KNOW HOW IT GOES.

>> I WILL.

THANK YOU.

>> Cathy: THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> WHEN I FIRST FELT THE CALL ON MY HEART TO JOIN THE LEGISLATURE, IT WAS UNMISTAKABLE.

I HAVE BEEN TRULY BLESSED TO SERVE SOME OF THE MOST MAZING PEOPLE IN SCOTT COUNTY.

I'VE MADE A LOT OF OPCORN IN THE LAST TEN YEARS AND INVITED ANYONE AND EVERYONE TO COME IN AND SIT ON MY COUCH AND SHARE A CONVERSATION AND A BAG OF POPCORN.

THAT REALLY DRIVES IT.

THAT'S THE ONLY CURRENCY THAT WE HAVE TO TRADE WITH ONE ANOTHER HERE IS OUR WORD.

BUT THAT WORD COMES BY RELYING UPON THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT WE ENCOURAGE AND NURTURE OVER SO MANY MONTHS AND HOURS OF INTENSIVE CONVERSATIONS, SO KEEPING OUR COOL, KEEPING YOUR DEMEANOR AND JUST REALLY SAYING, LOOK, LET'S APPRECIATE THAT WE ALL COME TO ISSUES FROM DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES.

♪♪ >> Eric: MINNESOTA LAWMAKERS ARE ON THEIR ANNUAL EASTER/PASSOVER BREAK, A TIME WHEN, ACCORDING TO TRADITION, LEGISLATORSER RETURN HOME AND GET AN EARFUL FROM CONSTITUENTS.

AND WHAT ARE THEY HEARING THIS YEAR?

LET'S ASK A PAIR OF LEGISLATIVE OBSERVERS.

ABOU AMARA, FORMER STAFFER AT THE STATEHOUSE.

HE'S NOW AN ATTORNEY IN PRIVATE PRACTICE, A DEMOCRAT.

BRIAN McDANIEL, REPUBLICAN, ALSO AN ATTORNEY, PODCASTER, HE MAKES HIS LIVING AS A LEGISLATIVE LOBBYIST.

SAY, BRIAN, LET'S DUST OFF THE OLD WAY BACK MACHINE.

>> YEAH.

>> Eric: HOW ABOUT THE OLD 1/3, 1/3, 1/3 WITH THE SURPLUS?

>> AS MY OLD BOSS USED TO SAY, THE TURN, TURN, TURN, STEVE SVIGGUM, BUT, ANYWAY, THAT WAS BACK WHEN, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE KNEW HOW TO CUT DEALS.

THAT WAS ROGER MOE IN THE SENATE, STEVE SVIGGUM IN THE HOUSE, WE HAD JESSE IN THE GOVERNOR -- YOU KNOW, THERE WAS ALWAYS GOING TO BE A DEAL.

SOMEONE WOULD WIN, SOMEONE WOULD LOSE, BUT THERE WOULD BE A DEAL.

AND NOW, YOU KNOW, EACHING ACROSS THE AISLE, IS SEEN AS TREESON AND YOU CAN'T REALLY GOVERN EFFECTIVELY THAT WAY.

TREEON.

>> Eric: OUR WEEKLY REMINDER, NOTHING HAS TO BE DONE, THE BUDGET WAS BALANCED WITH A HUGE SURPLUS.

ARE WE HEADING TOWARD AKE YOUR POLITICAL POINTS, WE'LL TAKE IT TO NOVEMBER?

>> I THINK WE MIGHT BE IN THAT POSITION, SADLY.

THERE'S A HISTORIC OPPORTUNITY WITH $9 BILLION TO DO SOME REALLY BIG THINGS, TO THINK IT THROUGH THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION, AS YOU SAID, THERE WAS NO PRESSURE TO GET A BUDGET DONE.

AND I THINK REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT IN NOVEMBER.

THEY'RE STANDING IN THE WAY OF 700,000 EOPLE GETTING CHECKS IN THE MAIL, THANK YOU FOR HELPING S GET THROUGH THE PANDEMIC.

IF THEY WANT TO DO NOTHING GOING INTO MAY, THE END OF SESSION, I GUARANTEE DEMOCRATS WILL TAKE THAT ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL.

>> WELL, I DON'T THINK THE WALZ CHECKS ARE IN THE HOUSE TAX BILL OBJECT THE -- OR THE SENATE TAX BILL.

SO I THINK THAT'S A GIMMICK.

I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT WOULD SCORE GOOD POINTS ON THE DAY THEY RECEIVE IT.

AND THEN PEOPLE WOULD FORGET IT RIGHT AWAY.

>> Cathy: BUT THE KSTP SURVEY U.S.A.

POLL FOUND THAT PEOPLE KIND OF LIKE THE WALZ CHECKS, BUT THEY LIKE ELIMINATING THE SOCIAL SECURITY TAXES TOO.

>> YEAH.

I THINK IT IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS, THIS IS THE PEOPLE'S MONEY.

IN NO WAY SHAPE OR FORM, DO I WANT TO MAKE IT SOUND LIKE THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD HOLD ONTO IT FOR US.

NO, THAT'S NOT WHAT IT'S THERE FOR.

THERE ARE INVESTMENTS THEY CAN MAKE, THERE ARE WAYS THROUGH THE TAX BILL TO MAKE IT MORE IMPACTFUL THAN GIVING A COUPLE HUNDRED DOLLARS.

>> Eric: THIS IS A LITTLE OVERSIMPLISTIC, BUT THE HOUSE WANTS TO SPEND MOST OF THE SURPLUS, SENATE WANTS TO USE IT FOR TAX CUTS.

IS THERE A DEAL THERE THAT COULD BE MADE?

IT SEEMS LIKE, TAKE A LITTLE FROM COLUMN A, COLUMN B, IS THERE THE WILL TO DO IT?

>> FIRST, HE DEMOCRATS DON'T WANT TO SPEND ALL THE SURPLUS.

THE PROJECT AMOUNT IS ABOUT $4.9 BILLION, AS I UNDERSTAND IT.

AND THAT'S ONE-TIME MONEY.

WHICH MEANS WE STILL HAVE A MAJORITY OF THE $9 BILLION SURPLUS TO STORE IN A RAINY DAY.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT'S AN IMPORTANT POINT.

SECOND, I DO THINK THERE'S A MIDDLE GROUND.

YOU'VE EEN DEMOCRATS SAY, WE'RE WILLING TO DO THINGS FOR BUSINESSES WHEN IT COMES TO UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE AND MAKES SURE HE HIT IS NOT AS STRONG COMING OUT OF COVID.

WE'RE WILLING TO NEGOTIATE.

WHO'S STANDING IN THE WAY F HERO PAY?

THAT'S THE SENATE REPUBLICANS.

>> WHAT HAPPENED TO HERO PAY?

>> HERO PAY, THERE WAS A DEAL THAT WAS KIND OF MADE WITH THE FORMER MAJORITY LEADER.

AND I THINK THAT ONCE THE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE DEAL KIND OF STOPPED PROGRESSING, THEN THE HERO PAY ALSO STOPPED PROGRESSING.

I THINK THAT THERE ARE DEALS TO BE MADE.

THERE HAS TO BE A WILLINGNESS TO MAKE THEM.

AND IT'S NOT JUST REPUBLICANS.

IT'S DEMOCRATS TOO.

AND I THINK BOTH CAUCUSES, THEY'RE NOT OF ONE MIND ON SOME OF THESE THINGS.

I THINK WITHIN THE DFL CAUCUS, ESPECIALLY IN THE HOUSE, THERE ARE DIFFERENT FACTIONS, ABSOLUTELY ARE NOT ON THE SAME PAGE ON WHAT TO SPEND MONEY ON, HOW TO SPEND IT.

AND WHETHER TO SPEND IT AT ALL.

>> HERE'S THE REALITY.

REPUBLICANS RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR, IN THE SENATE, KNOW THAT IF TIM WALZ SENDS OUT WALZ CHECKS, TO 700,000 PEOPLE, THAT HE IS GOING TO WIN RE-ELECTION, THAT'S WHY THEY'RE STANDING IN THE WAY OF THAT PROPOSAL.

>> I THINK THAT CALLING THEM WALZ CHECKS IS EMBARRASSING AND OFFENSIVE BECAUSE IT IS NOT TIM WALZ'S MONEY.

IT IS THE PEOPLE'S MONEY.

AND PEOPLE ARE ELECTED TO DEAL WITH THAT AND SOMETIMES THAT'S GIVING MONEY BACK AND SOMETIMES IT'S GIVING IT BACK TO PEOPLE WHO SPEND THE MONEY BY WAY OF TAX CUTS.

>> Cathy: OKAY.

IS THERE ANY EAL THEN TO BE MADE WITH THE CHECKS, THE GOVERNOR'S CHECKS, OR WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT, AND ELIMINATING THE SOCIAL SECURITY TAXES THAT THE SENATE REPUBLICANS WANT TO DO?

>> I MEAN -- >> Cathy: DEAL THERE.

>> I THINK THAT YOU DEFINITELY CAN GET TO, YES, ON SOME OF THESE ISSUES.

I AM NOT AS SURE -- I THINK THAT THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT ISSUES THAT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO JUST DO ONE THING HERE AND ONE THING THERE.

WE'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR GLOBAL AGREEMENTS.

AND I HINK THAT IS GOING TO BE VERY HARD TO COME BY.

>> Eric: WHAT DID WE LEARN FROM THE CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS THIS WEEK?

>> WE LEARNED TWO THINGS.

ONE, THE REPUBLICAN PARTY'S IN SHAMBLES.

THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY HAS LITERALLY MILLIONS OF MORE DOLLARS THAN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HERE IN MINNESOTA.

POINT NUMBER ONE.

POINT NUMBER TWO, THE HOUSE DEMOCRATS HAVE RAISED AN ASTONISHING AMOUNT OF DOLLARS, $1.4 MILLION, CASH ONHAND, LITERALLY TWO TO ONE CASH ONHAND ON THE REPUBLICANS RUNNING TO TAKE BACK THE HOUSE.

MIND YOU, THEY HAVE DEBT.

SO YOU'VE SEEN NOT JUST IN THE CAPITOL, BUT THE PARTY ITSELF IS IN A MUCH BETTER INANCIAL POSITION WHEN DEMOCRATS ARE IN CHARGE.

>> DEMOCRATS ALWAYS HAVE MORE MONEY THAN REPUBLICANS.

IT'S THIS MYTH THAT REPUBLICANS IN MINNESOTA ARE THE BIG MONEY PARTY.

WE HAVEN'T BEEN.

WE'RE ALSO A LOT LESS CENTRALIZED.

ALMOST EVERYTHING GOES TO THE DFL PARTY, WHERE WITH REPUBLICAN POLITICS, MORE GOES TO THE HOUSE CAMPAIGNS, SENATE CAMPAIGNS, IT'S SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

BUT SHAMBLES, I THINK THAT -- YOU KNOW, YOU'RE HARD PRESSED TO FIND A PUNDIT WHO THINKS THE REPUBLICANS AREN'T GOING TO HAVE REALLY GOOD YEAR.

I THINK SHAMBLES SAY BIT MUCH.

>> Eric: JOE BIDEN'S POLLSTER SAID, THIS IS THE WORST POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT HE'S SEEN FOR DEMOCRATS IN DECADES.

>> I'M NOT SO SURE ABOUT THAT.

DO I THINK THE HEAD WINDS ARE AGAINST DEMOCRATS STRUCTURALLY?

I THINK THAT'S TRUE.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS GOING INTO 2010, IN TERMS OF POLLING, I MEAN, THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT, THE RESULT IN MOBILIZATION OF REPUBLICANS.

>> Eric: TEA PARTY.

>> THE TEA PARTY RISE.

I DON'T THINK ACTUALLY WE'RE THERE.

AND BECAUSE WE'RE IN A HYPER POLARIZED ENVIRONMENT, THAT'S ACTUALLY GOING TO BRING OUT DEMOCRATS, IN THIS ELECTION WHO MAY HAVE STAYED HOME OR FLIPPED 'TO THE REPUBLICANS IN 2010.

I AGREE, THERE ARE SOME CHALLENGES WE'LL HAVE TO GET THROUGH BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S ANYWHERE NEAR 2010.

>> Eric: IN THE BROAD MIDTERM ELECTION, IS IT SO NATIONALIZED THAT NO MATTER WHAT THE STATE LEGISLATURE DOES IT'S DWARFED BY WHATEVER'S HAPPENING NATIONALLY OR CAN WHAT THEY DO IN St. PAUL DURING THE SESSION ACTUALLY MOVE VOTERS IN NOVEMBER?

>> WHAT TIN O'NEILL SAID -- TIN O'NEILL SAID, ALL POLITICS IS LOCAL.

ZERO PERCENT TRUE ANYMORE.

TIP O'NEILL.

I THINK IT IS NATIONALIZED.

I REALLY WISH PEOPLE WOULD PAY MORE ATTENTION AND DRAW MORE DISTINCTIONS BETWEEN WHAT'S HAPPENING MORE LOCALLY.

BUT I THINK THAT WHEN PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, WHEN PEOPLE GO TO VOTE, THEY THINK THEY'RE VOTING FOR PRESIDENT, AND THAT'S PRETTY MUCH WHAT THEY FOLLOW.

>> YEAH, GRAB YOUR SURFBOARD BECAUSE THERE'S GOING TO BE A WAVE.

I THINK IT'S A NATIONAL ELECTORATE KIND OF, SO YOU'RE SEEING LARGE GROUPS OF PEOPLE KIND OF GO WITH WHAT'S HAPPENING NATIONALLY.

I DO THINK DEMOCRATS HAVE AN ADVANTAGE LOCALLY, THOUGH, IF YOU LOOK AT SOME F THE STRONG CANDIDATES THAT THE HOUSE DEMOCRATS HAVE PUT UP IN THE SUBURBS, IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO PUSH BACK AGAINST THAT WAVE, YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE GOOD CANDIDATES, GOOD CONNECTIONS, RAISING THE MONEY TO DO SO.

ALTHOUGH THERE'S A WAVE COMING, I THINK DEMOCRATS ARE IN A STRONG POSITION TO PUSH BACK AGAINST IT.

>> WHAT BIDEN'S NUMBERS ARE WITH YOUNG PEOPLE, THEY'RE TERRIBLE.

AND THAT DOESN'T TELL ME THAT YOUNG PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GO OUT IN DROVES AND PULL THE DEMOCRATS ACROSS THE FINISH LINE.

>> Cathy: TELL US ABOUT THE BIG ISSUES THIS FALL.

CRIME, INFLATION, EDUCATION.

>> IN MINNESOTA IT'S GOING TO BE PUBLIC SAFETY, IT'S GOING TO BE PEOPLE'S POCKETBOOKS WITH THE INFLATION THAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SHOW.

I THINK EDUCATION'S GOING TO BE PART OF IT BECAUSE IF THERE ISN'T SOME OF THE SURPLUS THAT GOES TOWARDS EDUCATION, PEOPLE WILL NOTICE THAT.

BUT I THINK IT'S MOSTLY GOING TO BE PUBLIC SAFETY AND THEIR POCKET BE BOOKS.

>> I THINK THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE IS GOING TO BE IN THE SUPREME COURT UNDOES A WOMAN'S RIGHT TO CHOOSE.

YOU'RE GOING TO SEE WOMEN ALL ACROSS THE STATE, IN THE SUBURBS, IN PARTICULAR, WHERE DEMOCRATS NEED TO DO ELL, AND WOMEN ACROSS THIS COUNTRY STAND UP AND MOBILIZE, AND THAT'S GOING TO BE A LIGHTNING ROD ISSUE THAT GETS VOTERS TO THE POLLS FOR THE DEMOCRATS.

>> Eric: IS THERE A TRUMP EFFECT IN MINNESOTA?

>> NOT PRESENTLY.

I MEAN, YOU NOW, TALK TO ME AGAIN IN 2024.

BUT I THINK THAT THE TRUMP EFFECT, THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT WERE ENERGIZED TO GET INTO THE PARTY BY DONALD TRUMP, BUT RIGHT NOW THEY ARE THEIR OWN ENTITY.

YOU KNOW, TRUMP IS NOT SOMEONE THAT IS A DAILY FIXTURE IN REPUBLICAN POLITICS IN MINNESOTA.

>> I THINK THAT'S A BIT OF WISHFUL THINKING.

LOOK AT THE FIRST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, YOU HAVE REPUBLICANS RUNNING TOWARDS DONALD TRUMP SAYING, I USED TO WORK FOR TRUMP, VOTE FOR ME, I WAS WITH TRUMP BEFORE YOU WERE WITH TRUMP.

SO TRUMP IS STILL IS THE ENIGMA IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

WE'LL SEE HOW LONG IT FESTERS.

BUT HE'S STILL AROUND.

>> Cathy: SAY, GETTING BACK TO THE CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS, WHAT DID YOU SEE IN THOSE REPORTS AMONG THE GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATES THAT YOU WENT, OH, WOW?

ANYTHING?

>> I THINK SOME OF THEM NEED TO RAISE MORE MONEY.

BUT I ALWAYS THINK THAT.

SO I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A REASON WHY PEOPLE LIKE Dr. JENSEN ARE CONSIDERED THE FRONTRUNNER.

THEY HAVE A LOT OF MONEY.

THEY HAVE RAISED A LOT OF MONEY.

BUT THAT'S -- THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY TRANSLATE INTO DELEGATE VOTES.

SO, FOR THE CANDIDATES THAT DON'T HAVE MONEY, IF THEY WANT TO UNSEAT Dr. JENSEN FROM THE TOP SPOT, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO REALLY PROVE TO EVERYBODY THAT THEY ARE MAKING HEADWAY WITH DELEGATES.

>> Eric: THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE HAS SAID IOWA HAS TO APPLY LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE NOW TO BE FIRST IN THE NATION.

IN 2024.

CAN MINNESOTA INSINUATE ITSELF IN THERE A LITTLE BIT?

>> I THINK SO.

I THINK PART OF THE WHAT THE PARTY'S TRYING TO DO HERE, MAKE SURE THE EARLY STATES REFLECT THE DIVERSITY AND RICHNESS OF THE PARTY OVERALL.

AND I LOVE THE STATE OF IOWA, LIKE ANYBODY ELSE.

NEU BUT IOWA MAY NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT DEMOGRAPHICALLY THE RISING ELECTORATE IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

AND I THINK PARTS OF MINNESOTA REALLY DO.

YOU THINK ABOUT OUR IMMIGRANT POPULATIONS, SOUTHEAST ASIANS AND EAST AFRICANS, YOU THINK ABOUT YOUNG PEOPLE, TONS OF UNIVERSITIES WE HAVE IN THIS STATE.

I THINK MINNESOTA REALLY REPRESENTS A LOT OF WHAT DEMOCRATS WOULD LIKE TO BELIEVE THE FUTURE OF THE PARTY IS.

SO WE'VE GOT A STRONG ARGUMENT TO W THE PARTY.

>> Eric: REPUBLICANS ARE STICKING WITH IOWA?

>> YEAH, WE LIKE IOWA.

IOWA'S GREAT.

TRADITION MEANS SOMETHING.

EVERYTHING ABOU IS AYING IS TRUE.

YOU CAN'T NECESSARILY LOOK AT NEW HAMPSHIRE AND IOWA AND SAY THIS REFLECT THE BROAD CROSS-SECTION OF AMERICA.

IT IS SOMETHING I STILL LIKE.

>> Eric: YOU GOING TO BRING THE REPUBLICAN CONVENTION BACK TO St. PAUL LIKE YOU HAD?

>> THAT WAS EXHAUSTING.

I DON'T KNOW.

IT'S PROBABLY GOOD FOR THE LOCAL ECONOMY BUT TOO MANY PARTIES.

[ Laughter ] >> Eric: ALL RIGHT, MEN, THANKS VERY MUCH.

>> Cathy: THANKS, YOU GUYS.

>> Eric: THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.

>> Eric: GOT A HEALTHY RESPONSE TO LAST WEEK'S INDEX FILE QUESTION.

SO LET'S GET RIGHT TO IT.

WE QUIZZED YOU ABOUT A BIG NEWS STORY IN LATE 1980.

IT WAS ONE OF OUR MYSTERY PEOPLE QUESTIONS.

WE TOLD YOU THAT IT WAS A FEW DAYS AFTER CHRISTMAS IN 1980 WHEN PRESIDENT IMMY CARTER MADE NATIONAL HEADLINES WHEN HE INJURED HIMSELF DURING A SKIING ACCIDENT.

CARTER WAS ROSS-COUNTRY SKIING ON A NATURE TRAIL AT CAMP DAVID WHEN HIS SKI HIT A ROCK AND HE HUMBLED AND HIS BROKE HIS COLLARBONE.

NATIONAL NEWS REPORTS NOTED THAT CARTER WAS IN A SMALL GROUP THAT NCLUDED HIS WIFE, ROSALIND, AND SOMEONE WHO WOULD EVENTUALLY BE WELL KNOWN IN MINNESOTA.

AND WE WANTED YOU TO NAME THAT MINNESOTAN.

WHAT FUTURE MINNESOTAN WAS ALONGSIDE PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER DURING HIS 1980 SKIING ACCIDENT?

"ALMANAC" TRADITION DICTATES THAT WE START WITH WRONG GUESSES AND, SO, THAT'S A WARNING FOR LARRY, ED, JEFF, AND JAMES.

[ Laughter ] >> Eric: IT WAS NOT PAUL WELLSTONE.

THOUGH THE PERSON WITH PRESIDENT CARTER THAT AY DID INDEED GO ON TO SERVE IN CONGRESS.

ONE OF MANY CALLERS WITH THE RIGHT ANSWER, A VERY EXCITED ERIC OUT OF KENSINGTON.

>> AFTER ABOUT 20 YEARS OF TRYING, I THINK I MIGHT HAVE THIS ONE.

>> Eric: SLOW AND STEADY WINS THE RACE, ERIC, GOOD FOR YOU.

JOHN KLINE WAS A TRUSTED MARINE CORPS MEMBER WHO CARRIED THE NUCLEAR FOOTBALL FOR PRESIDENTS CARTER AND REAGAN.

OF HE, OF COURSE, WOULD GO ON TO REPRESENT MINNESOTA FOR MORE THAN A DECADE AS THE CONGRESSIONAL REP FROM THE SECOND DISTRICT.

IF YOU'VE GOT AN IDEA FOR AN INDEX FILE QUESTION, LET US KNOW, 651-229-1430 OR BY EMAIL ALMANAC@TPT.ORG.

LAWMAKERS ON EASTER/PASSOVER BREAK.

BACK IN St. PAUL NEXT WEEK.

WATCH THEM IN ACTION ON THE STATEWIDE MINNESOTA CHANNEL.

SHOW-CLOSING MUSIC, 40 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK, THE TRIO PERFORMED ON TPT'S NIGHTTIMES VARIETY MUSIC SERIES.

THE EPISODE WAS RECORDED AT THE OLD KTCA STUDIOS NEAR THE FAIRGROUNDS.

LET'S LISTEN TO THE RIO THING "SHOUT SISTER SHOUT."

IT'S A CLASSIC.

THANKS FOR WATCHIN'.

BE CAREFUL.

LYRICS: I'VE GOT TO SEND MY BABY A BRAND-NEW $20 BILL.

I'M GOING TO SEND THAT MONEY, A BRAND-NEW $20 BILL.

>> SHOULDN'T SAY THAT.

SHOULDN'T SAY THAT.

>> IF THAT DON'T BRING HER BACK, I BET THIS W WILL -- I BET THIS WILL.

8 I BABY LEFT TOWN, SHE GIVE ME A BUICK TO RIDE.

>> SHOULDN'T AY THAT.

SHOULDN'T SAY THAT.

LYRICS: I'M GONNA SHOUT, SISTER, SHOUT.

I GOT TO SHOUT, SISTER, SHOUT.

I GOT TO SHOUT, SISTER, SHOUT.

WELL, I KNOW THAT WOMAN, SURE GOT TO JUMP AND SHOUT.

YOU WANNA SAY THAT, YOU WANNA SAY THAT.

>> "ALMANAC" IS A PRODUCTION Captioned by: Paradigm Reporting & Captioning www.paradigmreporting.com LY RICS: I CALLED THAT WOMAN.

SHOULDN'T SAY THAT.

SHOULDN'T SAY THAT.

'I SPOILED THAT WOMAN.

>> "ALMANAC" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY MEMBERS OF THIS PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION.

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

DELTA DENTAL OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION: IMPROVING ORAL HEALTH WHILE ADVANCING SOCIAL - EQUITIES.

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.

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