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

>> Cathy: IN THE NEXT HOUR WE'LL MEET THE INTERIM PRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA.

WE'LL HEAR ABOUT POSSIBLE EFFECTS OF MINNESOTA'S MINIMUM WAGE LAW, AND THE STEELES WILL STOP BY TO ENTERTAIN US.

PLUS MARY TAKES LOOK AT HOW THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION MAY END.

>> LAWMAKERS ARE NEARING THE FINISH LINE LOOKING TO EVEN CONCLUDE OF EARLY WHICH IS UNHEARD OF IN A BUDGET YEAR.

WE'LL HAVE SOME CONTEXT.

>> PAID FAMILY LEAVE NOW.

>> WHY WE ARE ACTUALLY TAKING THIS ACTION THIS SOON.

>> 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.

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

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

MORE AT EDUCATIONMINNESOTA.ORG.

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

>> Cathy: IN A FEW MINUTES WE'LL LEARN ABOUT PROGRESS AT THE STATE CAPITOL AND TREATED TO A TUNE BY THE STEELES.

FIRST UP, BIG CHANGES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA.

>> Eric: THERE HAVE BEEN SIX PRESIDENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA SINCE "ALMANAC" FIRST WENT ON THE AIR BACK IN LATE 1984.

SOMETIME IN THE NEXT YEAR A NEW U OF M PRESIDENT WILL BE SELECTED.

IN THE MEANTIME AN INTERIM HEAD HAS BEEN APPOINTED THIS WEEK, HE'S JEFF ETTINGER, FORMER CEO OF HORMEL FOODS AND A PROUD GRAD OF THE U OF M. HE JOINS US TONIGHT AS DOES THE CHAIR OF THE U OF M'S BOARD OF REGENTS, JANIE MAYERON.

A GRAD OF THE U OF M LAW SCHOOL.

SAY, Mr. PRESIDENT, AT LEAST TWO WAYS YOU COULD GO.

YOU COULD BE A PLACEHOLDER OR YOU COULD DO ALL THE TOUGH DIRTY WORK AND LEAVE A CLEAN SLATE FOR THE NEXT PRESIDENT.

HOW DO YOU SEE YOUR ROLE?

>> WELL, I WANT TO START BY MAKING SURE THE RECORD'S STRAIGHT.

I DON'T HAVE A DEGREE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA.

MY WHOLE FAMILY DOES, THOUGH.

MY WIFE, MY WIFE'S PARENTS, LL FOUR OF OUR CHILDREN.

I GREW UP IN LOS ANGELES AND WENT TO U CLA, I HAVE BEEN A TEACHER AT THE CARLSON SCHOOL FOR FOUR YEARS.

IN TERMS OF YOUR CORE QUESTION I REALLY SEE THE POSITION AS BEING A BRIDGE BUILDER AND BRIDGE BEING THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION AND THE NEW PRESIDENT.

AND, YOU KNOW, TO THE EXTENT THAT THE VISION TO ME IS ALREADY IN PLACE, THE IMPACT 25 AND THE PROGRESS I HEARD ABOUT DURING THE BOARD MEETING THIS WEEK IS VERY IMPRESSIVE.

>> Cathy: THE REGENTS SAID THAT YOU WERE LOOKING FOR SOMEONE TO EMBRACE THE MISSION, YET BRING SOMETHING FRESH TO THE TABLE.

WHAT MIGHT BE FRESH ABOUT PRESIDENT ETTINGER?

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, HE BRINGS TO US A WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE OUTSIDE OF ACADEMIA, WHICH IS DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST, IN THE PAST WE'VE ALWAYS HAD SOMEONE FROM ACADEMIA.

OBVIOUSLY, AS HE SAID HE'S TAUGHT AT THE CARLSON BUT WHAT HE'S BRINGING TO US IS HIS EXPERIENCE IN A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT ARENAS AND I THINK WHAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT IS THAT HE HAS WONDERFUL CONNECTIONS BOTH IN THE COMMUNITY AND ALSO WITH OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS, AND I THINK THERE'S A NEED THERE, THERE'S BEEN AN EXPRESSED NEED THAT WE NEED A NEW LOOK, A NEW WAY OF APPROACHING THE COMMUNITY AND OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS, AND I THINK JEFF IS GOING TO BRING THAT TO THE TABLE.

>> Cathy: Mr. PRESIDENT, YOU HAD SAID YOU WANT TO RESTORE THE U'S REPUTATION WITH LAWMAKERS WHICH HAS NEVER BEEN WORSE.

HOW ARE YOU GOING TO START TO DO THAT?

>> WELL, AND CURRENTLY THE SESSION IS ALMOST COMPLETED.

ONGOING SESSIONS, BONDING BILL, UNIVERSITY WILL CERTAINLY BE INVOLVED AND OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE TO FIND A SOLUTION TO THIS SANFORD-FAIRVIEW SITUATION ON THE HEALTH CARE SIDE.

SO IT'S A MATTER OF GETTING OUT, LISTENING AND LEARNING AND WE HAVE SOME VERY KNOWLEDGABLE FOLKS WHO ARE LEADING EFFORTS PARTICULARLY ON THE HEALTH CARE SIDE AND I LOOK FORWARD TO BEING INVOLVED THAT WAY.

>> Eric: WITH YOUR CORPORATE BACKGROUND IT'S INTERESTING THAT THE NEW UMD CHANCELLOR HAS A CORPORATE BACKGROUND AS WELL.

>> I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE FACULTY, I KNOW IT'S A SHARED GOVERNANCE SYSTEM IN THE UNIVERSITY.

I THINK I THINK THE FACT THAT IT'S INTERIM ROLE, THE BOARD HAS BEEN CLEAR IN THE LONG-TERM THEY WANT TO STAY IN THE ACADEMIC WORLD AND I'M VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THAT.

>> Cathy: YEAH, THE LAST 40 YEARS THE INTERIM PRESIDENTS, KEN KELLER HAS BOB BRUININKS GOT THE PERMANENT NOD.

WOULD YOU BE INTERESTED IN THAT JOB?

>> I THINK THE BOARD WAS WISE OF MAKING IT A REQUIREMENT OF OUR APPLICATION THAT WE NOT BE APPLICANTS FOR THE PERMANENT JOB.

THERE'S A LOT TO WORK ON AND I LOOK FORWARD TO FOCUS ON THIS BRIDGE TIME A FRAME.

>> WELL, I WOULDN'T SAY THEY'RE LABOR SEATS, OTHERS HAVE SAID THAT.

NOT Y STATUTE ANYWAY BUT THEY CERTAINLY COME WITH THAT BACKGROUND AND THAT LENS.

>> Eric: NEW DYNAMICS FOR THE BOARD.

HOW DO YOU SEE THAT EVIDENCING ITSELF MOVING FORWARD HERE?

>> I'M VERY EXCITED.

THE FACT THAT WE HAVE 8 OUT OF 12 WHO ARE WOMEN AND WE HAVE FOUR FROM THE BIPOC COMMUNITY, WE HAVE A VERY DIVERSE BOARD WITH VERY DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS AND LENSES TO RING TO THE TABLE.

I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE EXCELLENT DISCUSSIONS AND MAKE EXCELLENT DECISIONS WITH THIS.

>> Eric: HOW MUCH ARE YOU PAYING THE PRESIDENT?

>> WE'RE WORKING ON THAT RIGHT NOW BUT I THINK OUR CONTRACT, WE'RE IN NEGOTIATION AND FAIRLY SOON WE'LL BE ABLE TO DISCLOSE ALL THE TERMS OF THE CONTRACT.

>> Cathy: AS A PERSON IN THE CORPORATE WORLD THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH SALARY WITH FORMER PRESIDENT, OUTGOING PRESIDENT GABEL AND THAT HER SALARY LEVEL WAS LESS IN THE MARKETPLACE.

IS THAT A PROBLEM ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE MARKETPLACE AND YOU'VE GOT A GOOD CORPORATE BACKGROUND HERE.

>> CLEARLY IN TERMS OF MY ROLE AS INTERIM PRESIDENT TO ME THAT'S DIFFERENT THAN WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO ESTABLISH ULTIMATELY FOR THE PERMANENT PRESIDENT.

WE WERE ASKED DURING OUR APPLICATION PROCESS WHAT WE WOULD CONSIDER, YOU KNOW, AN APPROPRIATE SALARY GIVEN THE BACKGROUND WE PROVIDE, AND DID PROVIDE THAT AND SO IT WILL BE WITHIN THAT RANGE ULTIMATELY BUT THAT FIGURE WILL COME OUT HERE SOON ONCE THE CONTRACT'S DONE.

>> Cathy: PROBABLY A GOOD QUESTION TO ASK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, OBVIOUSLY PRESIDENT GABEL LEFT TO GET A MUCH HIGHER SALARY AT PITTSBURGH.

HOW DO YOU NAVIGATE THIS GOING FORWARD?

IN TERMS OF THE NEW PRESIDENT, WHOEVER MIGHT THAT BE.

>> WELL, I THINK WE ULTIMATELY WILL BE LOOKING AT WHAT THE MARKET DEMANDS BY WAY OF COMPENSATION.

OUR POLICIES ARE VERY CLEAR THAT WHEN WE LOOK AT THE FACTORS THAT SET OUT THE COMPENSATION FOR A OUR PRESIDENT, WE LOOK AT WHAT MARKET COMPENSATION IS AND THE MARKET IS THE MARKET FOR PRESIDENTS OF BIG 10 UNIVERSITIES, OUR, R1 INSTITUTIONS AND THAT'S THE MARKET WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT AND THOSE NUMBERS ARE GOING UP UNFORTUNATELY YEAR BY YEAR SO WHEN PRESIDENT GABEL STARTED SHE WAS MORE IN THE MIDDLE, BY THE TIME SHE LEFT SHE WAS NEAR THE BOTTOM.

AND WE'RE GOING TO JUST HAVE TO ADDRESS THAT BECAUSE, AS IN ALL OTHER SECTORS, THOSE NUMBERS CONTINUE TO RISE.

>> Eric: YOU'RE N GREATER MINNESOTA GUY.

HOW ABOUT SORT OF THE OUTSTATE CAMPUSES OF THE U?

DO YOU HAVE SOME THOUGHTS ON HOW THEY CAN BE IMPROVED OR GET MORE INVOLVED?

>> I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT, I HAD THE CHANCE TO MEET ALL THOSE CHANCELLORS OVER THE LAST TWO DAYS, I'VE NOT EEN ON THE CROOKSTON CAMPUS BEFORE, I'VE BEEN ON ALL THE OTHERS BUT I WILL DEFINITELY BE GETTING THERE AND ALREADY HEARD WONDERFUL CREATIVE IDEAS THEY BROUGHT TO THE BOARD OF RECENTLIENTS MEETINGS OVER THE LAST TWO DAYS TO WORK ON ENROLLMENT AND OFFER SOME CREATIVE NEW FORMATS FOR STUDENTS TO ENJOY THOSE UNIVERSITIES.

>> AND I WAS GOING TO SAY I THINK WE'RE TAKING A VERY -- IN THE LAST YEAR OR TWO WE'RE TAKING A DIFFERENT PPROACH ABOUT VIEWING THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA AS A WHOLE SYSTEM CAMPUS, IT'S NOT ONE VERSUS THE OTHER VERSUS THE OTHER BUT HOW TOGETHER CAN WE ADVANCE THE ENTIRE MISSION OF THE UNIVERSITY AS A SYSTEM, ALL FIVE CAMPUSES.

>> Eric: HOW ARE YOU GOING TO ATTACK THIS HOSPITAL MERGER PROPOSAL?

>> WELL, I MEAN, FROM A STRUCTURAL STANDPOINT, I WOULD INTEND TO HAVE A ROLE SIMILAR TO WHAT I DID IN THE CORPORATE WORLD WHICH S I'M NOT THE POINT PERSON, YOU HAVE TEAMS IN PLACE THAT ARE THE EXPERTS WITHIN THE AREA, BUT HOPEFULLY IN THE BEHIND THE SCENES AREA I CAN LEND EXPERIENCE IN THAT REGARD AND I KNOW THAT'S SOMETHING HAT, YOU KNOW, VEN THOUGH IT'S AN INTERIM ROLE THAT NEEDS TO GET DONE DURING THIS NEXT YEAR.

SO CLEARLY I UNDERSTAND THAT THAT'S A ROLE I NEED TO PLAY IN MOVING THAT FORWARD AND PROTECTING THE STATE OF MINNESOTA AND PROTECTING OUR UNIVERSITY ASSETS.

>> Cathy: SAY, WE WOULD BE REMISS IF WE DIDN'T BRING THIS UP BECAUSE OF COURSE THERE ARE A LOT OF PARENTS WATCHING OF U OF M STUDENTS AND STUDENTS ARE ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THIS.

THE RISE OF VIOLENCE IN IT THE DINKYTOWN AREA NEAR THE U OF M. PROBABLY THAT'S GOING TO BE ON YOUR DESK SOMEHOW I'LL PRESUME.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT?

>> WELL, WE DID GET A BRIEFING ON THAT TODAY AS WELL.

CLEARLY THE UNIVERSITY FOCUSER IS ON THE ON CAMPUS ACTIVITIES BUT NEEDS TO GET EVER-MORE INVOLVED WITH COLLABORATION WITH THE CITY POLICE AND MAKING SURE THAT IT'S A SAFE ENVIRONMENT.

I MEAN, THAT'S, THOSE ARE TABLE STAKES FOR UNIVERSITY HONESTLY AND THE STUDENTS CARE, THEIR PARENTS CARE AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE PROTECTED.

>> Eric: I SO BADLY WANT TO ASK IF SPAM IS GOING TO E ON THING LIST FOR FOOD SERVICES BUT I'M NOT.

GOOD LUCK, WE WISH YOU BOTH THE BEST.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

PLEASURE TO BE HERE.

>> Eric: LAWMAKERS ARE EXPECTED TO WORK THROUGH THE NIGHT AND WEEKEND IN ATTEMPT TO FINISH BEFORE THE CONSTITUTIONAL DEADLINE.

THEY'VE ALREADY ACCOMPLISHED A LOT OF THEIR GOALS WITH A FEW KEY PRIORITIES REMAINING LIKE PAID FAMILY LEAVE AND MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION.

POLITICAL REPORTER MARY LAHAMMER GETS US UP TO SPEED WITH PERSPECTIVE FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND FROM THE LEGISLATURE.

>> HELP US PASS THIS AT THE END OF SESSION.

>> THERE COULD BE JUST DAYS LEFT TO LOBBY AND RALLY LAWMAKERS AT THE CAPITOL, AS ALL DEMOCRATIC CONTROL LOOKS TO EARLY ADJOURNMENT.

>> LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, YOU'RE A FORMER LAWMAKER, NOW ERY INVOLVED IN THE ADMINISTRATION, SO YOU KNOW HOW HARD EARLY ADJOURNMENT IN A BUDGET YEAR IS.

UNPRECEDENTED, CAN YOU GUYS REALLY DO IT?

>> I THINK WE WILL COME VERY CLOSE AND I THINK WE CERTAINLY ARE GOING TO ADJOURN AT LEAST ON TIME.

>> CAN YOU REALLY FINISH EARLY IN A BUDGET YEAR?

THAT'S A HARDER TO ASK.

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S POSSIBLE.

I THINK AS WE CONTINUE TO GO FORWARD AND DO THE THINGS THAT MINNESOTANS ASKED US TO DO, END GRIDLOCK AND FIND SOLUTIONS.

>> ON I'D LOVE TO SEE AN EARLY FINISH IF WE'RE ABLE TO DO THAT BUT THAT WILL TAKE SOME AGREEMENT.

>> HOUSE REPUBLICANS ARE NOT PLEASED WITH THE RACE TO THE FINISH THEY THINK IS RUSHED.

>> WE STILL HAVE A NUMBER OF DAYS LEFT.

WHY WE ARE ACTUALLY TAKING THIS ACTION THIS SOON AS OPPOSED TO NEXT WEEK.

>> THE HOPE IS NEXT WEEK IS THE FINAL WEEK OF SESSION AND WE AREN'T GOING PAST THE 18TH.

SO THAT'S CERTAINLY THE SPEAKER'S INTENT.

>> THIS IS BEYOND THE PALE.

LIKE, WE NEED TO ACTUALLY DO THE PROCESS, INCLUDE THE PUBLIC.

I COULDN'T BE MORE UPSET TODAY.

>> WE OWE IT TO THE INSTITUTION TO START LISTENING TO THIS SORT OF THING BECAUSE THE PUBLIC IS INTERESTED BUT THEY CAN'T BE INTERESTED IF THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.

>> THE THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO GET DONE WITH UNIVERSAL MEALS, CODIFYING ACCESS TO REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE.

THE CROWN ACT, $100 MILLION IN TAX CUTS FOR MINNESOTANS, THAT HAPPENED FAIRLY QUICKLY, AND, YOU KNOW, SOMEONE WHO'S BEEN AROUND HERE FOR A WHILE, IT IS BREAK-NECK SPEED BUT IT'S ALSO THINGS THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR FOR A REALLY LONG TIME.

>> YOU HAVE A VISUAL AID OF SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME, ARE YOU WILLING TO SHOW US WHAT YOU HAVE THERE?

>> I WAS ONE OF THE ORIGINAL FOUNDERS OF THE PAID FAMILY ND MEDICAL LEAVE COALITION, AND SO WE HAD THESE FOAM FINGERS THAT WERE MADE HAT SAY PAID FAMILY LEAVE NOW.

AND FOR A WHILE IT WAS PAID FAMILY LEAVE NOW?

AND THIS SESSION, IT IS PAID FAMILY LEAVE NOW.

WE ARE GOING TO GET IT DONE AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NAME HOW LONG THIS HAS TAKEN AND HOW THOUGHTFUL IT HAS BEEN OVER, YOU KNOW, REALLY LIKE THE LAST DECADE.

>> ANOTHER ISSUE A LONG TIME IN THE MAKING WITH MOMENTUM AND REALLY TRAGIC MOMENTUM IS GUN CONTROL.

IT'S IN THE PUBLIC SAFETY BILL.

>> IT'S IN.

>> YEAH.

>> IT'S IN.

AND, YOU KNOW, WHEN I WAS WITH CHILDREN'S DEFENSE FUND THIS WAS AN ISSUE THAT WE WERE WORKING ON I THINK AS A MOM WHO HAS A KIDDO WHO HAS COME TO TALK ABOUT ACTIVE SHOOTER DRILLS, THIS IS, IT'S BEEN TIME.

>> TWO OF THE FLASHPOINTS WHICH IS HE GUN VIOLENCE REDUCTION PROVISIONS, BACKGROUND CHECKS AND RED FLAG BILLS, I WANT TO TELL YOU THESE PROVISIONS ARE ENORMOUSLY POPULAR AMONG THE RESIDENTS OF MINNESOTA.

>> ONE OF THE BIGGER BUDGET BILLS PUBLIC SAFETY FINISHED AND LSO CREATES RESTORATIVE JUSTICE AND MORE POLICE FUNDING.

>> THE INVESTMENTS WE'RE MAKING IN YOUTH ARE HISTORIC AND CRITICAL AND I THINK THIS IS THE BEST BUDGET I'VE EVER SEEN IN MY LIFE.

>> I THINK IT REALLY HELPS RESTORE THE TRUST IN OUR SYSTEM THAT WE NEED IN MINNESOTA SO THAT EVERYBODY CAN STAY SAVE AT THE END OF THE DAY.

>> RESTORATIVE JUSTICE, ESPECIALLY FOR JUVENILES WITH LOWER LEVEL CRIMES TRYING TO HELP REFORM INSTEAD OF CREATING CAREER CRIMINALS.

WHAT DO YOU SAY ABOUT THAT WORK?

>> I THINK IT IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT THAT OUR YOUNG PEOPLE ARE SEEN AS YOUNG PEOPLE BUT ALSO HELD TO ACCOUNT.

AND WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY REALLY FOR THAT REFORM.

>> SOMEWHAT RELATED, EXPUNGEMENT IS IN LEGALIZATION OF MARIJUANA.

DOES THAT LOOK LIKE IT'S GOING TO GET TO THE FINISH LINE?

ARE YOU GUYS EXCITED TO SIGN THAT?

>> I FEEL REALLY HOPEFUL, I THINK FOR ME PERSONALLY I THINK THE EXPUNGEMENT PIECE IS ACTUALLY THE MOST IMPORTANT PIECE OF THIS BILL.

>> GIVEN HE IMPORTANCE THAT THIS BILL HAS FOR MINNESOTANS AND THE DRAMATIC IMPACT IT'S GOING TO HAVE ON THEIR LIVES, WE GET IT RIGHT AND DON'T RUSH IT.

>> OUR LAWS ARE DOING MORE HARM THAN GOOD AND EVERY DAY WE LEAVE THEM IN PLACE MORE HARM IS DONE.

WE'RE GOING TO DELIVER THIS BILL FOR THE PEOPLE OF MINNESOTA THIS YEAR.

>> WE SAW WHEN THERE WAS REPUBLICAN CONTROL OF THE LEGISLATURE THEY PASSED A LOT, PUT THINGS ON THE BALLOT, LOST CONTROL OF THE CHAMBERS AND WERE TOLD OVERREACH.

DEMOCRATS CONCERNED ABOUT OVERREACH?

>> I HINK THE THINGS THAT WE ARE DOING IS, MARY, REALLY THE THINGS WE PROMISED THAT WE WOULD DO.

♪♪ >> Cathy: DID MINNESOTA'S MINIMUM WAGE HIKE LEAD TO FEWER HOURS WORKED AND A LOSS OF JOBS?

A CONTROVERSIAL TUDY THIS WEEK CAME TO THAT ONCLUSION.

MEANWHILE, WILL CONGRESS SOON REACH A DEAL ON RAISING THE DEBT CEILING?

TWO TOPICS WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT WITH CHRIS FARRELL.

YOU KNOW HIM AS THE HIGH PROFILE ECONOMICS REPORTER FOR AMERICAN PUBLIC MEDIA.

I KNOW YOU LIKE THAT TITLE.

>> IT'S WONDERFUL, I'M GOING TO PUT THAT ON MY BUSINESS CARD, THANK YOU.

CALLED CATH YOU SHOULD.

THERE IS SOME PUSHBACK TO THIS STUDY, AS I MENTIONED IN THE INTERIM.

$15 AN HOUR ADVOCATES ARE PUSHING BACK ON IT.

EVIDENTLY $15 AN HOUR MINIMUM WAGE SEEMS AS THOUGH IT'S HAD A DAMPENING EFFECT ON NUMBER OF HOURS AND JOBS DECLINE TOO.

IS THAT YOUR READ ON THIS?

>> SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE STUDY THE REAL FOCUS HAS BEEN ON RESTAURANT JOBS, AND THAT'S WHERE, BECAUSE THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY IS A MINIMUM WAGE INDUSTRY OR HAS BEEN FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME.

SO THE IMPACT IS LARGEST N THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY, SOME IN RETAIL.

THEY HAVE LARGER HAN OTHER NUMBERS THAT ARE OUT THERE, AND SO THIS STUDY GOES OUT TO I BELIEVE IT'S 2028 THEY'RE GOING TO KEEP FOLLOWING THE NUMBERS AND THERE'S STILL A LOT OF CONFUSION ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THE PANDEMIC.

AND WHAT IS, SO, WHAT I WOULD TAKE AWAY FROM THIS IS INCREASE IN MINIMUM WAGE DID HAVE AN IMPACT, HOW BIG IS STILL AN OPEN QUESTION.

THEIR STUDY SHOWS PRETTY LARGE NUMBERS.

THERE IS AS YOU SAY, THERE IS A PUSHBACK, BUT IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE MINIMUM WAGE A LOT OF TIMES IT DOESN'T SHOW UP IN A LOSS OF JOBS WHICH IS WHAT PEOPLE ARE AFRAID OF, BUT IT MIGHT BE FEWER HOURS WORKED.

YOU'RE STARTING A BUSINESS, YOU THINK ABOUT, WELL, MINIMUM WAGE IS GOING TO BE GOING UP SO MAYBE I'LL BUILD MY BUSINESS AROUND THREE PEOPLE AS OPPOSED TO FOUR PEOPLE.

SO IT WORKS ITS WAY OVER TIME BUT FOR LL THE HEAT THAT IS GENERATED BY THE MINIMUM WAGE CONTROVERSY, BY AND LARGE THE IMPACT IS RELATIVELY LIMITED IN MOST CIRCUMSTANCES.

>> Eric: BUT HASN'T THE MARKET ITSELF KIND OF MADE THE MINIMUM WAGE OBSOLETE?

>> WELL, THIS IS THE OTHER THING THAT'S HAPPENED AS WE'VE COME OUT OF THIS PANDEMIC WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, OKAY, $15 AN HOUR, IT'S MORE OF A NATIONAL ISSUE THAN IT IS A SPECIFICALLY A LOCAL ISSUE.

SO, YOU KNOW, NATIONALLY ABOUT A THIRD OF THE WORKFORCE EARNS LESS THAN $15 AN HOUR AND ROUNDING OUT THE NUMBERS, 50% ARE WOMEN, 50% ARE BLACK, AND MORE THAN THAT ARE SINGLE PARENTS.

AND SO THERE, ITH THE FEDERAL MINIMUM WAGE IS $7.25 AND IT'S BEEN THERE SINCE 2009.

SO IT'S LOST 30% OF ITS PURCHASING POWER OVER THAT PERIOD OF TIME.

YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE'S A BIGGER DEBATE ABOUT RAISING THE MINIMUM WAGE.

SO, AGAIN, THEIR STUDY DOES SHOW A GENUINE IMPACT, A GENUINE NEGATIVE IMPACT, BUT FOR ALL THE QUESTIONS THAT YOU'RE RAISING AND THAT YOU'RE RAISING, YOU REALLY -- I HATE TO SAY THIS BUT IT'S LIKE WE HAVE TO ACTUALLY GET MORE DATA TO COME UP WITH SOME STRONGER CONCLUSIONS.

>> Cathy: ALTHOUGH OTHER ECONOMISTS SAY RAISING THE MINIMUM WAGE IS NOT A BAD IDEA BUT AS YOU SAY THERE ARE COSTS AND TRADEOFFS.

WHICH I THINK PEOPLE UNDERSTAND.

>> THE QUESTION IS HOW BIG IS THE TRADEOFF.

THIS STUDY SHOWS A PRETTY BIG TRADEOFF.

OTHER STUDIES HAVE SHOWN A SMALLER TRADEOFF, YOU AN HAVE A LEGITIMATE DEBATE WHETHER THAT IS WORTH HAVING OR NOT.

ONE OF THE THINGS THERE WAS A CONFERENCE THAT DEALT WITH THIS ISSUE AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CAME OUT OF IT IS, LOOK, NO ONE'S EVER STOOD ON TOP OF A CAR AND SAID RAISE THE EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT, OKAY?

YOU CAN SAY RAISE THE MINIMUM WAGE, PEOPLE KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.

BUT IF YOU REALLY DO WANT TO IMPROVE THE INCOMES OF PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING ON LOW AND UNSTABLE INCOME, THE GREAT ADVANTAGE OF THE EARNED INCOME TAX REDIT DOESN'T HAVE A LOT OF NEGATIVE AND SOCIETY SHARES IN THE COSTS, NOT JUST BUSINESS.

>> Eric: GIVE US A MINUTE ON THE DEBT CEILING.

>> DEBT CEILING IS A CRISIS THAT SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING.

THIS TIME AROUND THERE IS MORE CONCERN THAN IN THE TWO PREVIOUS EPISODES WHERE WE CAME CLOSE, AND THERE IS A GREATER SENSE BECAUSE OF THE POLITICS THAT YOU COULD ACTUALLY BREACH A DEBT LIMIT.

THE BETTING IS THAT HAPPENS IT WOULD BE INCREDIBLY SHORT, IT WOULD BE A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, IT'S NOT GOING TO O THROUGH THE WHOLE SUMMER.

BUT THIS IS A MANUFACTURED CRISIS, THIS IS WE HAVE A 3.4% UNEMPLOYMENT RATE, MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE COMING INTO THE JOB MARKET, WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO PUT THAT, THIS ADDITIONAL BURDEN ON AN ECONOMY THAT HAS DEALT WITH COMING OUT THE PANDEMIC, THERE'S CONCERNS ABOUT RECESSION, THE FEDERAL RESERVE HAS BEEN TIGHTENING.

WE HAD THESE REGIONAL BANKS THAT HAVE HAD ALL THEIR PROBLEMS, THIS IS A CRISIS THAT YOU SHOULD NOT BE PUTTING ON THE ECONOMY.

>> Cathy: SO THE STAREDOWN ENDS WITH SOMETHING, RIGHT?

>> YES.

HERE'S THE THING, WE MAY DEFAULT, WE MAY NOT DEFAULT, BUT IF WE DO DEFAULT IT DOESN'T LAST FOR VERY LONG.

WE WILL PAY OUR BILLS.

THE QUESTION IS HOW DO WE GET THERE AND HOW MUCH DAMAGE HAPPENS IN BETWEEN?

THERE IS NOTHING GOOD, I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR ABOUT THIS, THERE IS NOTHING GOOD ABOUT A DEBT DEFAULT NO MATTER HOW SHORT IT IS, IT IS A BAD THING FOR THE ECONOMY.

THINK ABOUT THIS.

U.S. TREASURIES ARE THE FOUNDATION OF THE GLOBAL FINANCIAL SYSTEM, THEY ARE THE FOUNDATION OF AMERICA'S RETIREES, AND SO YOU JUST DON'T WANT TO MESS AROUND WITH THIS.

EVERYTHING IS PRICED OFF U.S. TREASURIES.

>> Eric: KEEP US POSTED ON IT, WILL YOU?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I AM FOLLOWING THIS.

>> Eric: I CAN TELL.

THANKS, CHRIS.

♪♪ >> Eric: BRENDAN HENEHAN HAS PRODUCED ALMANAC FOR 38 YEARS.

IT'S A BEHIND THE SCENES JOB, CHOOSING TOPICS, TIMING SEGMENTS, WHISPERING QUESTIONS IN OUR EARS THAT WE OFTEN IGNORE.

I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH BRENDAN FOR 36 YEARS.

>> ME?

I'M THE ROOKIE...

BEING ONBOARD FOR "ONLY" 29 YEARS WITH BRENDAN.

TONIGHT IS BRENDAN'’S FINAL NIGHT IN THE CONTROL ROOM.

AND HE'S ALLOWED US TO CELEBRATE HIM A BIT.

JUST A LITTLE BIT.

RECENTLY WE SAT DOWN WITH BRENDAN AND KARI KENNEDY HIS LONGTIME PARTNER IN CRIME.

KARI WILL BE TAKING OVER AS THE PRODUCER OF ALMANAC.

HERE'S PART OF OUR CONVERSATION.

>> I ALWAYS THOUGHT "ALMANAC" WAS A STATEWIDE SHOW BUT IT WASN'T AT THE BEGINNING.

>> THERE REALLY WASN'T A STATEWIDE NETWORK, THERE WAS NO SATELLITE SYSTEM TO DO IT SO IN THE BEGINNING UNLESS YOU BICYCLED TO TAPE, WE DID THAT IN THE EARLY DAYS WE LITERALLY AFTER THE SHOW WOULD BRING A 3-QUARTER-INCH TAPE TO THE GREYHOUND STATION IN MINNEAPOLIS, PUT IT ON THE BUS, IT WOULD GET TO BEMIDJI AND EARLY SATURDAY SOMEONE WOULD GO DOWN AND AIR IT IN BEMIDJI.

IT WAS CALLED BICYCLING AND SOMEONE LITERALLY PUT IT ON A BUS.

>> HAVE THE BASIC ELEMENTS OF THE SHOW REMAINED THE SAME?

>> THERE'S OBVIOUSLY BEEN SOME EVOLUTION, LIVE MUSIC, WE DIDN'T HAVE LIVE MUSIC FOR A LONG TIME ON THE SHOW.

AN HOUR-LONG, SOME SERIOUS, SOME FUN, AN ESSAY IN THE MIX, HISTORY QUESTION.

THOSE WERE IN THE FIRST SHOW SO PART OF THAT IS LARGER VISION, LARGELY THE VISION OF BILL HANLEY, MY COCREATOR.

>> Cathy: SO YOU WERE WHEN THE FIRST WAS ON STATEWIDE TV I THINK THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN, WHAT, 1987?

>> I THINK THAT'S RIGHT.

>> Cathy: OKAY.

THIS IS A CLIP OF YOU BACK IN THE DAY TALKING ABOUT THE SHOW.

ON THE SHOW.

>> PUBLIC TELEVISION HAS THIS IMAGE OF BEING STAYED AND BORING AND SOMETIMES ALL TOO SERIOUS AND WE THOUGHT WE COULD DO SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT.

WE COULD KEEP THE SERIOUS AND HAVE SOME FUN TOO AND THAT'S WHAT WE WANTED TO DO WITH "ALMANAC."

>> DID YOU HAVE ANY PROBLEMS SELLING THE CONCEPT IN-HOUSE?

>> I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN SAY THIS, BUT, YEAH, IT WAS A NEW THING.

AND IT WASN'T AN EASY SELL NECESSARILY.

I MEAN, WE WANTED AN HOUR, WE DIDN'T HAVE AN HOUR BEFORE, AND AN HOUR CAN BE A LONG TIME ON PUBLIC TELEVISION, THE IMAGE OF TALKING HEADS SCARED SOME PEOPLE HERE, BUT WE PROVED THAT YOU CAN HAVE SOME FUN AND STILL HAVE PLENTY OF TIME TO DO SERIOUS THINGS TOO AND THAT WAS IMPORTANT.

WE CAN'T DO THE SHOW AT HALF AN HOUR AND STILL HAVE FUN, WE HAD TO DO AN HOUR.

>> Cathy: WELL, WE'VE MADE A LITTLE SWITCH HERE.

WE'RE JOINED BY SOMEBODY ELSE, KARI KENNEDY.

SO IS THIS THE BIG ANNOUNCEMENT?

THE BIG REVEAL?

OKAY.

SO, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, BRENDAN HENEHAN, AFTER 40-SOME YEARS IS RETIRING IN CASE YOU'RE JUST TUNING IN.

AND WE ARE SO THRILLED TO ANNOUNCE THAT KARI KENNEDY WILL BE THE NEW PRODUCER OF "ALMANAC."

CONGRATULATIONS.

>> THANK YOU, I'M EXCITED TO KEEP WORKING ON THE SHOW.

>> Cathy: YOU GOT BIG SHOES TO FILL, THOUGH.

>> YEAH, WE'LL BE OKAY.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> Cathy: THERE YOU GO!

>> NOW, MY BIG QUESTION IS ARE YOU GOING TO CONTINUE WITH THE ALUMINUM TREE TRADITION IN DECEMBER?

>> Cathy: WELL, YOU BETTER.

>> AS LONG AS I CAN CONVINCE YOU TO LEAVE THEM BEHIND WHICH I'VE BEEN WORKING REALLY HARD ON AND IF HE TAKES THEM WITH HIM I'M GOING TO GO TO HIS HOUSE BECAUSE I KNOW WHERE HE LIVES, I'M GOING TO SNEAK IN, CONSPIRE WITH HIS WIFE BECAUSE SHE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE FEWER BOXES OF TREES IN THE HOUSE AND I'LL BRING THEM BACK.

>> Cathy: I KNOW HOW TO PUT THEM TOGETHER.

>> IT WILL BE FINE, THE TREES WILL REMAIN ON THE SET.

>> I KNOW VIEWERS ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS.

>> Eric: HOW FAR BACK DO YOU TWO GO?

>> WE WORKED 30 YEARS AGO ON A DOCUMENTARY PROJECT, "MINNEAPOLIS PAST."

KARI WAS IN THE DEPARTMENT, I BET WE KNEW OF EACH OTHER BUT HADN'T WORKED WITH EACH OTHER UNTIL THEN.

SUBSTANTIAL WHAT EXACTLY THE CHAIN OF EVENTS WERE AFTER THAT THAT YOU ENDED UP WORKING N "ALMANAC."

>> I DON'T EITHER REALLY.

WE HAD A MUCH LARGER DEPARTMENT, WE HAD LOTS OF PROJECTS GOING ON AND WE WOULD GO THROUGH THESE CYCLES, OUR BOSS BILL HANLEY WOULD GO THROUGH CYCLES WHERE HE WOULD SHUFFLE PEOPLE AROUND, BRENDAN DIDN'T ASK ME TO WORK ON ALMANAC, I DIDN'T ASK TO WORK ON ALMANAC, NEITHER OF US WERE UNHAPPY BUT FOR GOD'S SAKE NEITHER ONE OF US THOUGHT WE'D STILL BE SITTING HERE.

>> WE'LL SEE, I DON'T HAVE PLANS TO MAKE HUGE CHANGES.

I THINK THERE'S A REASON WE'VE BEEN ON THE AIR THIS LONG.

I THINK IT'S A PLACE PEOPLE COME FOR CIVIL DISCOURSE AND POLITICAL CONVERSATIONS WHERE YOU CAN HEAR DIFFERENCES AND PEOPLE AREN'T SCREAMING AT EACH OTHER, SO YOU CAN REALLY HEAR THOSE DIFFERENCES.

SO IT'S MY GOAL TO CONTINUE THAT.

I'M EXCITED TO HAVE US CONTINUE TO SHOW THE DIVERSITY OF OUR STATE.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, SINCE THIS NEW LEGISLATURE STARTED UP IS I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE DIVERSITY OF OUR LEGISLATURE.

IT IS MORE DIVERSE THAN IT'S EVER BEEN.

IT REFLECTS THE COMMUNITIES OF OUR STATE MORE THAN IT EVER HAS AND THAT'S EXCITING TO E, IT MEANS THERE'S A NEW GENERATION OUT THERE WHO CARED ENOUGH TO RUN FOR OFFICE, THEIR CONSTITUENTS CARED ENOUGH TO SEND THEM THERE AND WE GET TO COVER THAT.

THAT FEELS LIKE A TREAT THAT WE GET TO DO THAT.

>> Cathy: SO BRENDAN, S YOU GO, WHAT DO YOU WANT VIEWERS TO REMEMBER?

>> YOU KNOW, ALMANAC HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PLACE WHERE YOU AN HEAR MULTIPLE PERSPECTIVES AND WE TREAT IMPORTANT STORIES SERIOUSLY AND, YOU KNOW, IN THE CLUTTER OF HYPER-PARTISANSHIP THERE'S STILL A PLACE FOR THAT AND THERE WILL ALWAYS BE A PLACE FOR THAT.

>> Cathy: WHAT WILL YOU MISS THE MOST?

>> WHAT AM I GONNA MISS THE MOST?

YOU KNOW, LIVE TV IS FUN, YOU KNOW THAT.

YOU GET A LITTLE KIND OF, YOU KNOW, YOUR GUT ROILS A LITTLE BIT AND YOU NEED TO HAVE THAT, BUT THERE'S NOTHING LIKE A LIVE INTERVIEW THAT GOES WELL AND A SHOW THAT HANGS TOGETHER TIGHT.

AND WHERE DO YOU GET THAT ELSEWHERE IN THIS WORLD, I DON'T KNOW.

BUT I'M GOING TO MISS THAT.

>> Cathy: WE'LL HAVE TO HAVE YOU ACK.

>> Eric: THANKS FOR ALL YOU'VE DONE FOR THE STATE.

>> THANK YOU, YOU'VE BEEN GREAT TO WORK WITH.

>> Cathy: IT'S BEEN REALLY, REALLY AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE.

♪♪ >> TODAY IS THE 53RD DAY OF SPRING.

AND AT LEAST IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, THE TRANSITION TO WARM WEATHER FILLS THE SENSES: YOU CAN SMELL THE CRABAPPLE BLOSSOMS, HEAR THE ROBINS CHATTERING AND, IN MY YARD ANYWAY, SEE THE ALMOST IRIDESCENT YELLOW OF DANDELIONS.

BUT SOMEHOW, THIS SPRING SEEMS MORE...

TRANSITIONAL... THAN USUAL.

LAST NIGHT, MY DAUGHTER METAPHORICALLY CROSSED THE STAGE AND RECEIVED HER COLLEGE DIPLOMA.

MY SISTER-IN-LAW AND HER HUSBAND - WITH AN EMPTY NEST OF THEIR OWN -— ARE RETIRING, SELLING THEIR HOUSE AND MOVING TO... WELL, THEY DON'’T KNOW EXACTLY WHERE YET.

IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS, I WILL ATTEND THREE WEDDINGS OF THE CHILDREN OF FRIENDS.

AND TONIGHT IN THE STUDIO, BRENDAN HENEHAN -— WHO TAPPED ME FOR THIS GIG 24 YEARS AGO -— WILL PRODUCE HIS FINAL EPISODE DOES ALL THIS MAKE ME FEEL OLD?

YES.

YES, IT DOES.

BUT I'M TRYING TO LOOK AT IT FROM A LITTLE DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE.

THE TERM "TRANSITION" COMES FROM A LATIN WORD MEANING "A GOING ACROSS OR OVER."

I LIKE THAT.

IT'S GOT SOME MOTION TO IT.

RATHER THAN FOCUSING ON THE END OF THINGS, TRANSITION, BY THAT DEFINITION, EMPHASIZES THE NEW.

THE UNKNOWN.

THE ADVENTUROUS.

THERE'S A SPEECH IN A THORNTON WILDER PLAY THAT TALKS ABOUT ADVENTURE.

IN IT A CHARACTER NAMED BARNABY SAYS: "THE TEST OF AN ADVENTURE IS THAT WHEN YOU'’RE IN THE MIDDLE OF IT, YOU SAY TO YOURSELF, 'OH, NOW I'VE GOT MYSELF INTO AN AWFUL MESS; I WISH I WERE SITTING QUIETLY AT HOME.'

AND THE SIGN THAT SOMETHING'S WRONG WITH YOU IS WHEN YOU SIT QUIETLY AT HOME WISHING YOU WERE OUT HAVING LOTS OF ADVENTURE."

SO, SOFIE; HELEN AND KIP; SEAN, PHILIP, BEN, AND, OF COURSE, BRENDAN, I WISH YOU A GOOD TRANSITION AND JUST THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF ADVENTURE.

♪♪ >> Cathy: OH, MY GOODNESS, OF COURSE WE'RE SAYING GOODBYE TO BRENDAN BUT WE'RE SAYING HELLO TO OTHER PEOPLE, SPECIFICALLY THE STEELES, I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS, IT'S BEEN THREE YEARS SINCE YOU ALL HAVE BEEN INSTUDIO.

IS THAT POSSIBLE?

WHAT?

>> I KNOW.

>> Cathy: OH, MY GOSH, WE'RE GOING TO CATCH UP WITH ALL OF YOU AND WE HAVE SOME SONG SINGING HERE.

SO GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL.

I MISSED -- BILLY, OH, MY GOODNESS.

WE GOT TO FIND OUT WHAT YOU ALL ARE DOING.

FRED, YOU'RE THE FIRST ONE ON DECK, YOU GOT SOMETHING GOING ON ON MOTHER'S DAY?

>> YES, ON OTHER'S DAY AT CROONERS I'M GOING TO BE WORKING WITH MY GOOD FRIEND C. WILLIE MILES AND WE ARE PRESENTING A GREAT PERFORMANCE FOR MOTHER'S DAY, I'M SO EXCITED IT'S UNPLUGGED COMPLETELY, JUST ME ON A PIANO WITH A MICROPHONE.

THIS IS SOMETHING DIFFERENT FOR ME, I'M EXCITED.

>> Cathy: INTIMATE.

I LOVE THAT.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

YOU'RE ALWAYS DOING SOMETHING.

>> I'M TRYING TO KEEP UP WITH THE STEELES.

WE WENT TO OREGON TO DO A SHOW AND I'M GETTING READY TO PERFORM FOR WITH THE MINNESOTA ORCHESTRA FOR JUNETEENTH ON THE 23RD OF JUNE.

>> Cathy: YOU'RE ON RADIO, HOSTING THINGS AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING MUSICALLY?

>> MUSICALLY, I AM SINGING, I WAS SUPPOSED TO SING TODAY EARLIER AND HAD A DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITY SAID, GO, GO, GO, GO THE OTHER WAY.

I HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT I AM ALSO ABSOLUTELY DOING NOTHING AT THE END OF JUNE BECAUSE I'M GOING TO HAVE A VACATION FINALLY.

>> Cathy: AN ACTUAL VACATION.

>> AN ACTUAL VACATION.

>> Cathy: NO.

>> AND I'LL SING THE WHOLE TIME.

>> Cathy: AS YOU SHOULD.

>> TO MYSELF.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> Cathy: I LIKE THAT, THAT'S GOOD.

JUST RELAX THEN.

JD, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

>> ACTUALLY, SHE WON'T HAVE A VACATION, WE'RE OPENING THE TASTE OF MINNESOTA THAT WEEKEND ON THE SECOND.

SO MUCH FOR YOUR VACATION.

>> Cathy: DO YOU NOT COMMUNICATE AS FAMILY MEMBERS?

>> WE DO.

>> Cathy: DID YOU KNOW THAT?

>> YES, WE DO, SO THAT'S EXCITING, YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO MISS BRENDAN AROUND HERE, YOU KNOW THAT.

AND I WANT TO SAY HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY, MOM.

>> OH, I KNOW, WE LOVE YOU.

>> Cathy: OF COURSE BILLY, YOU'RE BEHIND THE PIANO THERE, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

>> RIGHT NOW I'M FINISHING UP A PROJECT THAT I'M WORKING WITH CHILDREN AT MINNEHAHA ACADEMY WHICH IS BLOWING MY MIND RIGHT NOW HOW TALENTED THESE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE, I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

I'M ACTUALLY IN THE STUDIO WITH THEM AND THEY'RE DOING A THEME SONG FOR THEIR SCHOOL KIND OF THING, IT'S REALLY COOL.

>> Cathy: REALLY GREAT TO GET OUT AFTER THREE YEARS IS HE, WE SO MISSED SEEING YOU ALL HERE WITH US.

YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING?

OF COURSE BECAUSE IT IS BRENDAN'S LAST NIGHT HE CHOSE YOU ALL, WE'RE SO BLESSED THAT YOU'RE HERE TO CELEBRATE.

YOU'RE GOING TO DO SOME SINGING FOR US, RIGHT?

SO LET'S BEGIN WITH THE FIRST SONG, WE HAVE A SPECIAL SONG AT THE END.

WHAT'S THIS FIRST SONG YOU'RE GOING TO SING?

>> THIS IS CALLED "WITHOUT A SONG," WE'RE GOING TO DEDICATE THIS TO BRENDAN.

>> Cathy: NICE.

THE STEELES, EVERYBODY.

>> SINGING: WITHOUT A SONG, THE DAY WOULD EVER END WITHOUT A SONG, THE ROAD WOULD NEVER BEND WHEN THINGS GO WRONG, THE MAN AIN'T GOT A FRIEND WITHOUT A SONG THAT FIELD OF CORN WOULD NEVER A PLOW THAT FIELD OF GRAIN WOULD BE DESERTED NOW A MAN IS BORN AND HE'S NO GOOD NO HOW WITHOUT A SONG I'VE GOT MY TROUBLES AND WOES AS SURE THAT I NOW THAT I'LL GET ALONG AS LONG AS A SONG IS DOWN IN MY SOUL ♪♪ I WILL NEVER KNOW WHAT MAKES THE RAIN TO FALL I'LL NEVER KNOW ♪♪ WHAT MAKES THE GRASS GROW TALL I ONLY KNOW THERE AIN'T NO LOVE AT ALL WITHOUT A SONG.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] ♪♪ >> Eric: IF YOU BELIEVE SOME CAPITOL OBSERVERS LAWMAKERS MAY HAVE THEIR WORK DONE BY NEXT FRIDAY BUT OTHERS THINK THIS IS WISHFUL THINKING AND THAT THE LEGISLATURE PER USUAL WILL BE PULLING ALL NIGHTERS NEXT WEEKEND.

WHAT'S LEFT TO BE DONE, WE'LL CHECK IN WITH A GROUP OF ANALYSTS.

ON THE D.F.L.

SIDE, MELISA LOPEZ FRANZEN, SENATE MINORITY AS A DEMOCRAT UNTIL EARLIER THIS YEAR.

KARLA BIGHAM, LEFT THE SENATE TO BECOME A WASHINGTON COUNTY COMMISSIONER.

REPUBLICANS FOR US FORMER TIM PAWLENTY SPOKESMAN NOW A PR PROFESSIONAL BRIAN MCCLUNG AND WE WELCOME TO THE PANEL BECKY SCHERR, WORKED ON G.O.P.

CAMPAIGNS, POLITICAL STAFFS, NOW A PR CONSULTANT AND POLITICAL PODCASTER.

MADAM LEADER, WHAT IS IT LIKE THIS TIME OF YEAR AT THE CAPITOL FOR THOSE OF YOU IN LEADERSHIP AND WITHOUT LEADERSHIP.

>> ELL, I DON'T THINK PEOPLE KNOW WHAT DAY IT IS TODAY AND THEY'RE LITERALLY ON THE SENATE FLOOR RIGHT NOW DEBATING THE PUBLIC SAFETY AND JUDICIARY BILL.

THAT MIGHT GO ALL HE WAY TO MIDNIGHT IT, MIGHT GO TO TOMORROW, HOPEFULLY BEFORE MOTHER'S DAY ON SUNDAY THEY WILL BE DONE WITH THE BILL.

>> Cathy: YOU WERE LAUGHING THERE EARLY.

>> I GOT A TEXT MESSAGE FROM SENATOR FRENTZ AT 4 IN THE AFTERNOON SAYING GOOD MORNING.

NO, NICK, IT WAS NOT MORNING.

THIS IS JUST CHAOTIC RIGHT NOW AND IT'S, YOU'RE JUST TRYING TO GET THINGS ONE AND PEOPLE WANT TO MAKE SURE THEIR PROVISIONS, MEMBERS AND STAKEHOLDERS ARE ALL IN THERE, SO IT'S HECTIC.

>> Eric: BECKY, JUST FOR A KIND OF ILLUMINATING THIS CRAZINESS AT THE END THE REPUBLICANS TODAY WERE COMPLAINING THAT THEY WERE NOT PART OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY CONFERENCE COMMITTEE AS EXAMPLE, 300-PLUS-PAGE BILL DROPPED AT 2:00 A.M.

EARLIER TODAY.

IS TRANSPARENCY GETTING LOST IN THIS RUSH TO ADJOURNMENT?

>> I THINK TRANSPARENCY IS BIG THING HAT WE'RE LOSING RIGHT NOW.

WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF CONFERENCE COMMITTEES WITHOUT REPUBLICAN VOICES ON THEM, THEY'RE COMING TOGETHER AFTER NEGOTIATING BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, THE PUBLIC AND THE PRESS ARE, AND THE LEGISLATORS ARE LARGELY BEING LEFT OUT OF IT.

>> Eric: WHAT DO YOU THINK, BRIAN?

>> WELL, AND THAT IS REALLY A PROBLEM BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, NOW THAT THERE'S ONE PARTY CONTROL, DEMOCRATS HAVE THE HOUSE, SENATE, AND GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, THEY SAID WE WILL BE MORE TRANSPARENT, WE WILL DO THIS IN PUBLIC AND I THINK THEY DID A GOOD JOB, RIGHT, I'LL GIVE THEM CREDIT HAVING TARGETS SET EARLIER AND TRYING TO HAVE A BETTER PROCESS EARLIER ON IN THE SESSION BUT NOW WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF THAT SAME BEHAVIOR WHERE THE FINAL DECISIONS ARE GETTING MADE BEHIND CLOSED DOORS AND THINGS ARE POPPING P IN CONFERENCE COMMITTEE THAT HAVEN'T HAD A HEARING, THAT HAVEN'T HAD THE OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC INPUT.

AND SO I DO WISH, AND THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM, DOESN'T REALLY MATTER, HASN'T MATTERED WHETHER IT'S SPLIT-PARTY CONTROL OR ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER, THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM AND WE ALL NEED TO, YOU KNOW, SHINE A LIGHT ON IT AND TRY TO DO A BETTER JOB.

>> Cathy: YOU KNOW, SENATOR, I WAS WATCHING THE LEGAL MARIJUANA CONFERENCE COMMITTEE WHICH MEANS I PROBABLY HAVE NO LIFE BUT I WAS WATCHING IT AND IT SEEMED LIKE A LOT OF IT WAS PRE-CONFEREED IN A WAY, YOU KNOW, WHAT ABOUT THIS LACK OF TRANSPARENCY?

>> WELL, I THINK THERE IS TRANSPARENCY, THERE'S A LOGJAM, THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING.

AND SOME OF THE STAFF WORKING ON ONE BILL MIGHT BE HUNG UP WITH ONE BILL AND CAN'T MOVE THE OTHER.

SO MOTIONS ARE HAPPENING BEFORE THEY GET TO CONFERENCE BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THEY'RE NOT HAVING DISCUSSIONS IN AN OPEN FORUM BECAUSE THEY ARE MEETING IN CONFERENCE COMMITTEE.

IT IS A DIFFERENT PROCESS THAN IT HAS BEEN IN THE LAST SIX YEARS AT LEAST SINCE I'VE BEEN THERE FOR TEN THE LAST SIX YEARS THERE REALLY WASN'T MUCH TRANSPARENCY, THERE WASN'T MUCH DONE SO WE'RE EXCITED THINGS ARE HAPPENING AND THEY'RE ACTUALLY MEETING AND PASSING THESE BILLS LIKE THEY ARE TODAY.

>> PEOPLE SAYING THEY MISSED THE TRIBUNAL?

THAT ISN'T EVEN A THING THIS YEAR, I MEAN, COME ON.

THE CHAIRS ARE NEGOTIATING THIS, CONFEREES ARE NEGOTIATING, THE ACTUAL MEMBERS, RANK AND FILE ARE ACTUALLY DOING SOMETHING.

I SPENT SIX EARS UP THERE WHERE CONFERENCE COMMITTEES DIDN'T EVEN MEET BECAUSE THEY HAD TO GO RIGHT TO THE TRIBUNAL BECAUSE THERE WASN'T TIME.

SO I THINK THIS IS A LOT OF TRANSPARENCY AND I GIVE THE MEMBERS CREDIT FOR TAKING THE CONTROL ACK OVER THEIR OWN BILLS AND, NO, I THINK IT'S NOT ABNORMAL THE TO PRE-CONFEREE THINGS, NOT AT ALL.

>> Eric: ARE REPUBLICANS READY TO VOTE FOR SPORTS BETTING -- >> YES, THEY ARE!

>> Eric: SHE'S THE GODFATHER OF SPORTS BETTING.

>> I THINK SO, IT DOES APPEAR THAT THERE IS SOME SUPPORT ON BOTH SIDES, E WERE TALKING ABOUT IT EARLIER.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN BEING WORKED ON FOR A COUPLE OF SESSIONS NOW, SO I DO THINK SO.

>> YEAH, I THINK IT'S GONNA HAPPEN.

I WOULD BET ON THE OVER, IT'S GONNA HAPPEN.

[ LAUGHTER ] AND SENATOR KLEIN HAS DONE A TREMENDOUS JOB PULLING THAT ACROSS THE FINISH LINE HERE AND, YOU KNOW, THEY REALLY DO NEED THE REPUBLICANS' VOTE, THERE ARE KNOWN DEMOCRATS THAT WILL NEVER TOUCH THAT VOTE WITH A TEN-FOOT POLE.

THEY'LL GET IT DONE, THEY NEED THE REVENUE IN THE TAILS.

>> Cathy: SPEAKING OF REVENUE, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE TAX BILL, SHALL WE?

THERE IS THE REBATE IN THE BILL, LOOKS LIKE $250 PER PERSON UP TO FIVE IN A HOUSEHOLD, INCOME LIMITS WITH THIS.

REPUBLICAN MINORITY LEADER DEMUTH SAYS, QUOTE, BIG WHOOPTY-DOO.

SO IT'S SMALLER THAN WHAT THE GOVERNOR WANTED.

>> IT IS, AND WE TALKED BOUT THIS IN THE SHOW THAT THE DEMOCRAT LEGISLATIVE LEADERS ARE LUKEWARM AT BEST, EVEN IF THEY WERE GOING ALONG WITH SOME REBATE I GUESS IS SOME SURPRISE.

BUT I THINK FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE LIKE $250, REALLY?

ARE YOU SERIOUS?

WE HAVE AN $18 BILLION SURPLUS.

I THINK THE NUMBER ONE THING THAT MINNESOTANS ARE GOING TO REMEMBER IF THIS SESSION IS THAT WE HAD AN $18 BILLION SURPLUS AND ONE-PARTY CONTROL BY DEMOCRATS AND THEY RAISED TAXES ON TOP OF THAT.

IN WHAT WORLD IS $18 BILLION IN EXTRA REVENUE NOT ENOUGH?

AND SO, YEAH, OH, GREAT, $250, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

BUT IT IS NOT -- >> YOU MISSED PIECES THAT ARE PART OF THE TAX BILL.

>> THE IDEA THAT YOU'RE GOING TO NEED ANOTHER 2 OR 3 OR $6 BILLION ON TOP OF THIS, THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT HAVING A HOLE WHEN IT COMES TO REVENUE, HOW IS THERE A HOLE WHEN YOU HAVE $18 BILLION IN SURPLUS?

>> WELL AND THEN GIVING A LOT OF MONEY BACK TO FAMILIES, WORKING FAMILY TAX CREDIT, CHILDCARE TAX CREDIT, THAT IS HELPING LIFT KIDS OUT OF POVERTY AND FAMILIES OUT OF POVERTY, PAYING FOR ALL THE MONEY FOR SCHOOL LUNCHES, THOSE ARE DOLLARS THAT ARE ALSO GOING TO FAMILIES.

IF YOU ADD IT UP WE'RE GIVING A LOT BACK TO MINNESOTANS, THEIR HARD EARNED MONEY TO HELP FAMILIES THE MOST.

>> ISN'T IT THEIR MONEY?

I MEAN, $18 BILLION SURPLUS THEY WERE OVERTAXED ALREADY, SO GIVING THEM THEIR MONEY BACK IN A WAY THAT MAYBE THEY DON'T WANT TO SPEND THEIR MONEY.

>> -- IF -- WERE GOVERNOR AND WE HAD AN $18 BILLION IN SURPLUS WE'D BE TALKING ABOUT $18 BILLION IN REBATES AND TAX CUTS.

WE'D BE SAYING THIS IS TOO MUCH, LET'S FIND A WAY TO GIVE IT BACK.

>> LEADER LOPEZ AND I ARE OLD ENOUGH REMEMBER WHEN THE REPUBLICANS WERE CALLING THESE CHECKS GIMMICKS.

ONE MINUTE THEY'RE CALLING THEM GIMMICKS, NEXT MINUTE THEY'RE SAYING WHOOPTY-DOO.

THESE ARE INVESTMENTS FOR WORKING FAMILIES, INFRASTRUCTURE, BROADBAND, EDUCATION, $2.4 BILLION IN EDUCATION AGREED TO TODAY THAT IS GOING TO CLOSE THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP, CROSS THE SUBSUBSIDY FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION, WE CAN GO ON.

THE PUBLIC SAFETY BILL IS AMAZING.

YOUTH INTERVENTION PROGRAMMING THAT WE BOTH WORKED ON TIME FINALLY GETTING ACROSS THE FINISH LINE.

PEOPLE ARE FREAKING OUT BECAUSE FOR SIX YEARS THERE WAS OBSTRUCTION, NOTHING GETTING DONE BECAUSE OF THE REPUBLICANS IN THE SENATE, AND NOW WE'RE DELIVERING ON THINGS THAT FAMILIES AND MINNESOTANS HAVE WANTED.

>> Eric: BUT WHY NOT A BROAD BASED EVERYBODY GETS A LITTLE SOMETHING OUT OF THE TAX BILL INSTEAD OF PICKING THESE INDIVIDUAL CATEGORIES THAT KIND OF CREATE WINNERS AND LOSERS >> WELL, I MEAN, THERE'S A LITTLE IT FOR EVERYBODY N THAT TAX BILL.

THERE'S SOME SOCIAL SECURITY RELIEF AS WELL, IT'S NOT THE ENTIRE PIECE OF IT LIKE I MENTIONED, THE CHILDCARE TAX CREDIT FOR FAMILIES THAT HAVE KIDS.

THERE'S OTHER PIECES -- >> Eric: THESE ARE SPECIFIC GROUPS, THESE AREN'T THE BROAD CITIZENRY OF MINNESOTA.

>> WELL ALL OF US ARE AFFECTED BY TAXES WHETHER YOU LIVE IN A DISTRICT, WE ALL AY IN, TO YOUR POINT EARLIER WE ALL PAY INTO THE SYSTEM AND WE HOPE WE GET PUBLIC SAFETY, HEALTH CARE AND WE'RE DOING ALL OF THAT IN ONE BIG BRUSH IN A VERY HISTORIC SESSION, $4 BILLION IN TAX RELIEF SO IT IS HISTORIC, LOOK AT THE FINE PRINT, LOOK AT THE BILL OVERALL AND SEE ALL THE BENEFITS TO MINNESOTANS.

>> Cathy: CAN SOMEONE HELP ME OUT HERE?

EVIDENTLY THE D.F.L.

IS MOVING AHEAD WITH A CASH ONLY BONDING BILL.

MOST NORMAL PEOPLE WOULD SAY, SO WHAT?

WHY IS THAT A BIG DEAL?

>> IT'S NOT REALLY A BONDING BILL, WE'RE JUST SPENDING CASH FOR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS FOR STARTERS.

SECONDLY MOST OF THE TIME WHEN THE STATE INVESTS IN INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS, THEY DO THAT THROUGH BORROWING, THEY DO IT THROUGH BONDING.

AND THAT'S A MECHANISM TO USE THE STATE'S RESOURCES TO GO OUT AND DO MORE AND BIGGER PROJECTS.

AND WE HAVEN'T HAD A BONDING BILL FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS BECAUSE OF, YOU KNOW, DISAGREEMENTS OVER THAT.

AND SO NOW THIS WOULD E AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT.

I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, REPUBLICANS IN THE SENATE HAVE SAID WE'RE NOT GOING TO AGREE TO THAT.

IT TAKES A SUPERMAJORITY VOTE, 60% TO PASS IT SO REPUBLICANS IN THE SENATE SAID WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO THAT UNLESS WE SEE OTHER SIGNIFICANT TAX RELIEF OR OTHER THINGS WE'RE LOOKING FOR.

THAT'S WHY WE'RE IN THAT SITUATION.

IT LOOKED LIKE THEY WERE MAKING PROGRESS ON TRYING TO GET SOME REPUBLICANS TO COME ALONG TO DO BONDING BUT APPARENTLY THAT'S NOT WHERE IT'S HEADED.

>> REPUBLICANS ARE DOING WHAT THEY DO BEST, WHAT THEY DID FOR SIX YEARS, OBSTRUCT.

THE ONE THING THEY COULD HAVE DONE TO HELP PROGRESS IS PUT UP THE VOTES TO REPRESENT THEIR COMMUNITY, BRING PROJECTS TO THEIR COMMUNITY, THEY DID WHAT THEY ALWAYS DO AND REOBSTRUCTED.

>> Eric: BECKY, MIKE, A COUPLE OF REPUBLICANS COULD GO TO LEADERSHIP, HEY, WE COULD USE THIS PROJECT, MAYBE WE COULD VOTE TO GET INVOLVED OR IS THERE REPUBLICAN SHUTOUT ON THE BONDING BILL?

>> I THINK THIS IS A REALLY GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR REPUBLICANS TO GO IN AND NEGOTIATE, WHETHER MORE MONEY FOR NURSING HOMES, TAX RELIEF, MAYBE NOT INCREASE TAXES TO THE LEVEL THEY ARE.

I'M HOPEFUL AND I THINK THE REPUBLICANS ARE HOPEFUL THAT DEMOCRAT LEADERSHIP WILL COME ALONG AND MAKE THAT AGREEMENT.

>> Cathy: SO DO YOU REALLY THINK THAT THE LEGISLATURE WILL ADJOURN EARLY?

[ LAUGHTER ] >> Cathy: I LIKE THAT.

NO OOO.

>> I MEAN, WHY, RIGHT?

IT'S A NICE IDEA BUT WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO IT THERE ARE THOSE THINGS THAT YOU WANT TO TRY TO NEGOTIATE AND TUSSLE OVER AND THE PRESSURE OF A DEADLINE IS WHAT GETS SOME PEOPLE TO YES.

SO IN ALL LIKELIHOOD MAY 22ND THE CONSTITUTIONAL DEADLINE YOU CAN COUNT ON THE LEGISLATURE BEING THERE.

>> Eric: AND THE GUN BILL, THE GUN CONTROL BILLS ARE WRAPPED IN HE BROADER OMNIBUS PUBLIC SAFETY BILL?

IT'S BEING DEBATED SO THEY CLEARLY AVE THE VOTES SO IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

>> YES, ABSOLUTELY.

>> IT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW AND I'LL SAY KSTP HAD A POLL OUT YESTERDAY AND IT SHOWED VERY BROAD SUPPORT, MORE HAN 70% FOR UNIVERSAL BACKGROUND CHECKS, MORE THAN 60% SUPPORT FOR THESE KIND OF RED FLAG LAWS.

SO THESE ARE PROVISIONS THAT DO HAVE BROAD SUPPORT.

IT WAS A QUESTION MARK IN A 34-33 SENATE IF THEY WERE GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET ALL THE DEMOCRATS BUT IT'S LOOKS LIKE THAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.

>> NOTHING WAS NOT AN OPTION.

>> Eric: GOTTA RUN.

BECKY, THANK YOU.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING US.

>> Eric: ALL THE BEST.

THANK YOU.

♪♪ >> Cathy: IT IS MINNESOTA HISTORY TIME.

WE QUIZ YOU, YOU CONTACT US WITH THE ANSWERS.

LAST WEEK WE ASKED ABOUT A NOTEWORTHY EVENT FROM EARLY MARCH IN 1991.

WE TOLD YOU A RESIDENT OF GOLDEN VALLEY ABSOLUTELY NOT SEEN HERE SET A WORLD RECORD BY DOING SOMETHING NEARLY 7,000 TIMES.

WE TOLD YOU THIS PERSON SMASHED THE OLD WORLD RECORD Y MORE THAN 800.

ARMED WITH THESE NUMBERS, WE WANT YOU TO TELL US WHAT THE RECORD WAS, WHAT WORLD RECORD WAS SET BY A GOLDEN VALLEY RESIDENT IN MARCH OF 1991?

WE THEN ADDED HINTS TO SUGGEST THAT THE RIGHT ANSWER HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH ARMS AND HANDS.

SOME OF YOU TOOK THAT HINT TO HEART.

>> HELLO, THIS IS KEITH FROM MINNEAPOLIS.

I THINK THAT THE RECORD WAS MOST POGO STICK BOUNCES.

>> THE QUICK AND EASY ANSWER TO THE TRIVIA QUESTION IS JUMPING ROPE.

TWO GIRLS JUMPED ROPE LONGER THAN ANYONE EVER IN 1991 IN GOLDEN VALLEY.

>> HELLO, THIS IS TOM AND KATHY FROM ROSEVILLE.

WE THINK THE ANSWER IS PULL-UPS.

THANK YOU.

>> I ALWAYS GET THESE WRONG BUT I'M GOING TO TAKE A SHOT AT IT ANYWAY.

I'M GOING TO SAY HULA-HOOP OR POGO STICK.

I DON'T KNOW.

THANK YOU!

>> Cathy: I DON'T KNOW WHY ALL THE INTEREST IN THE POGO STICKS, WHO KNOWS.

BY THE WAY, THE ARM HINTS WERE REAL.

THE RIGHT ANSWER HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH ARM STRENGTH BUT NOBODY CALLED IN WITH THE RIGHT ANSWER.

SO YOU KNOW HOW THIS THING WORKS, WE'RE GOING TO KEEP ASKING THIS QUESTION UNTIL SOMEBODY GETS IT RIGHT.

HERE AGAIN ARE THE HIGH POINTS.

THE YEAR 1991, A GUINNESS BOOK OF WORLDGUINNESS BOOKOF WORLD RECORDS WAS SET HEN SOMEONE ID SOMETHING NEARLY 7,000 TIMES.

ONE FURTHER HINT: STRONG ARMS WERE CRITICAL TO SETTING THE RECORD.

WHAT WORLD RECORD WAS SET IN 1991 BY A GOLDEN VALLEY RESIDENT?

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU WHETHER YOU'RE CALLING FROM BLUEBERRY LAKE, BLACKBERRY LAKE OR BOG BREACH LAKE.

AND REMEMBER TO CATCH MARY LAHAMMER ON "ALMANAC AT THE CAPITOL" WEDNESDAY NIGHT 7:00 P.M. ON YOUR SAME STATION.

AND, FRIENDS, IT'S ALMANAC VIEWER SURVEY TIME.

YOU CAN FILL OUT THE QUESTIONNAIRE ONLINE BY GOING TO TPT.ORG/ALMANACSURVEY.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR THOUGHTS.

SPEAKING OF THOUGHTS, NOW IT'S NEARLY TIME FOR SHOW-CLOSING MUSIC.

AND IF "ALMANAC" IS THE HEARTBEAT OF THE STATION THEN ITS SOUL HAS BEEN THE COCREATOR BRENDAN HENEHAN.

IN A FEW MOMENTS OUR FRIEND, COLLEAGUE AND MENTOR WILL SEE HIS NAME IN THE SHOW CREDITS FOR THE LAST TIME AFTER 1,000 SOMETHING SHOWS, BUT, HEY, WHO'S COUNTING?

AS YOU HEARD EARLIER, BRENDAN IS RETIRING.

THANK YOU, BRENDAN.

THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE FOR US, FOR THE STATION, AND FOR MINNESOTA JOURNALISM.

YOU WILL BE MISSED.

IN HONOR OF THIS FINAL SHOW PRODUCED BY BRENDAN THE STEELES WILL GO OUT WITH A SPECIAL SONG, "ANOTHER DAY."

THANK YOU, BRENDAN.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

♪♪ >> SINGING: I HEAR THE SWEET LAUGHTER OF MY CHILDREN AS THEY WATCH CARTOONS.

AND I HEAR MY GIRL CALLIN' SOMEBODY IN THE LIVING ROOM.

SAYING MAMA, WE'LL BE COMING RIGHT THROUGH AT 2:00.

SEE YOU REAL SOON SO DON'T FORGET TO MAKE YOUR ABY BOY HIS FAVORITE DISH YOU KNOW HE LIKES.

MACARONI AND DISH.

MAMA, PLEASE.

WANNA SEE MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY WHAT A DAY IT'S GONNA BE ANOTHER DAY ♪♪ A SECOND CHANCE TO START ALL OVER AGAIN ANOTHER WAY TO LIVE MY LIFE AS LONG AS I TRY, I KNOW IT'S GONNA BE ALL RIGHT ♪♪ >> IT'S 3 IN THE AFTERNOON, THE SUN'S ON MY FACE Y'ALL KNOW I DON'T NEED NO TAN, BUT IT FEELS REAL JUST THE SAME.

UNCLE JIMMY'S ON THE GRILL AND HE'S BURNING HALF THE FOOD BUT WE'RE ALL HAVING A GOOD TIME BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS COOL WE GOT ROGER ON THE RADIO SINGIN' DOO-WAH-DITTY, HERE WE GO.

GRANDMA'S COMING DOWN THE SOUL TRAIN LINE PRACTICING BUT SHE'S DOING FINE ANOTHER DAY, A SECOND CHANCE TO START ALL OVER AGAIN ♪♪ ANOTHER WAY TO LIVE MY LIFE AS LONG AS I TRY, I KNOW IT'S GONNA BE ALL RIGHT ♪♪ >> IT FEELS SO GOOD TO SHARE THIS TIME >> OH, I WISH THE DAY WOULD NEVER END WANNA BE WITH YOU AGAIN >> OH, YES, TOMORROW BRINGS ANOTHER CHANCE SAID I WANNA START LL OVER, YEAH >> OOH, ANOTHER DAY.

♪♪ >> ANOTHER DAY.

>> A SECOND CHANCE >> TO START ALL OVER AGAIN.

>> ANOTHER WAY >> ANOTHER WAY TO LIVE MY LIFE AS LONG AS I TRY I KNOW IT'S GONNA BE ALL RIGHT >> ANOTHER DAY, YEAH, ♪♪ >> ANOTHER DAY, A SECOND CHANCE TO START ALL OVER AGAIN ♪♪ >> ANOTHER WAY TO LIVE MY LIFE ... >> "ALMANAC" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY MEMBERS OF THIS PUBLIC STATION.

SUPPORT IS ALSO PROVIDED BY GREATER RIVER ENERGY, PROVIDING WHOLESALE POWER TO 27 MINNESOTA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES.

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

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

MORE AT EDUCATIONMINNESOTA.ORG.

ONE GREATER MINNESOTA REPORTING ON ALMANAC IS MADE POSSIBLE BY OTTO BREMER TRUST WHOSE MISSION IS INVESTING IN PEOPLE, PLACES AND OPPORTUNITIES IN OUR REGION.

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

♪♪ [ VOCALIZING ] >> BRENDAN HENEHAN WHO HAS PRODUCED "ALMANAC" FOR NEARLY FOUR DECADES IS RETIRING IN MAY.

PRODUCERS ARE FAMOUS FOR LURKING BEHIND THE SCENES, CHOOSING SEGMENTS, TIMING THE SHOW, SUGGESTING QUESTIONS IN OUR EARS.

WE THOUGHT IT WOULD MAKE SENSE TO DRAG BRENDAN OUT OF IN FRONT OF THE CAMERAS FOR A FINAL CHAT.

I KNOW HOW UNCOMFORTABLE THIS IS FOR YOU, BUT.

>> WHAT THE HECK.

>> Cathy: YOU PREFER NOT BEING SEEN.

ANYWAY, YEAH, CONGRATULATIONS ON A HECK OF A CAREER BY THE WAY.

>> THANK YOU, I'VE HAD NO AMBITION, I'VE BEEN DOING THE SAME JOB FOR NEARLY FOUR DECADES.

>> YOU DIDN'T PREPARE FOR A CAREER IN TV.

>> NOT AT ALL.

I WAS A SOCIOLOGY MAJOR FOR GOODNESS SAKES.

WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THAT?

I STUMBLED INTO THIS AREER, I HAD NO TRAINING, I HAD NO RIGHT TO BE DOING IT BUT LUCKILY I WAS WORKING NEXT TO SOMEONE WHO WASN'T VERY GOOD AND STARTED DOING THEIR JOB AND LO AND BEHOLD.

>> Eric: HOW DID YOU OME UP WITH THE NAME "ALMANAC" FOR THE SHOW?

IT'S FUNNY, MY BOSS BILL HANLEY HAD WORSE NAMES.

HE LIKED THE WEATHER VEIN AS A SYMBOL, HE THOUGHT THAT WEATHER WANE WOULD BE A GOOD NAME.

I SAID THAT'S A TERRIBLE NAME.

I WAS PLAYING WITH ENCYCLOPEDIA, COMPENDIUM, AND IT'S LIKE ALMANAC, IT'S A NICE CONCISE TERM, A STRONG WORD.

>> Cathy: I ALWAYS THOUGHT ALMANAC WAS A STATEWIDE SHOW BUT IT WASN'T AT THE BEGINNING.

>> THERE REALLY WASN'T A STATEWIDE NETWORK, THERE WAS NO SATELLITE SYSTEM TO DO IT.

IN THE BEGINNING UNLESS YOU BICYCLED TO TAPE, AND WE DID THAT IN THE EARLY DAYS, WE LITERALLY AFTER THE SHOW WOULD BRING A 3-QUARTER-INCH TAPE TO THE GREYHOUND STATION IN DOWNTOWN MINNEAPOLIS, GET IT ON THE BUS, IT WOULD GET TO BEMIDJI, EARLY MORNING ON SATURDAY SOMEONE FROM BEMIDJI WOULD GO DOWN AND IT WOULD AIR IN BEMIDJI.

IT WAS CALLED BICYCLING AND YOU LITERALLY PUT IT ON A BUS.

>> Eric: HAVE THE BASIC ELEMENTS OF THE SHOW REMAINED THE NAME?

WHAT ABOUT ANY EVOLUTION THERE?

>> YOU KNOW, THERE'S OBVIOUSLY BEEN OME EVOLUTION.

LIVE MUSIC, WE DIDN'T HAVE LIVE MUSIC FOR A LONG TIME ON THE SHOW.

THE IDEA OF AN HOUR-LONG BUNCH OF DIFFERENT TOPICS, SOME SERIOUS, SOME FUN, AN ESSAY IN THE MIX, INTERACTIVE HISTORY QUESTION, THOSE WERE IN THE VERY FIRST SHOW, SO, PART OF IT IS REALLY THAT LARGER VISION, LARGELY THE VISION OF BILL HANLEY, MY COCREATOR, THAT IT'S UNTRUE.

>> Cathy: SO YOU WERE WHEN THETHE SHOW WAS FIRST ON STATEWIDE TV, I THINK THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN WHAT, 1987?

>> I THINK THAT'S RIGHT.

>> Cathy: OKAY, SO THIS IS A CLIP OF YOU BACK IN THE DAY TALKING ABOUT THE SHOW ON THE SHOW.

>> PUBLIC TELEVISION HAS THIS IMAGE OF BEING STAYED AND BORING AND SOMETIMES ALL TOO SERIOUS AND WE THOUGHT THAT WE COULD DO SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT.

WE COULD KEEP THE SERIOUS BUT WE COULD HAVE SOME FUN TOO AND THAT'S WHAT WE WANTED TO DO WITH ALMANAC.

>> DID YOU HAVE ANY PROBLEM SELLING THE CONCEPT IN-HOUSE?

>> I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN SAY THIS, BUT, YEAH, IT WAS A NEW THING.

IT WAS A NEW THING AND IT WASN'T AN EASY SELL NECESSARILY.

WE WANTED AN HOUR.

WE DIDN'T HAVE AN HOUR BEFORE AND AN HOUR CAN BE A LONG TIME ON PUBLIC TELEVISION, THE IMAGE OF TALKING HEADS SCARED SOME PEOPLE HERE, BUT WE PROVED THAT YOU AN HAVE SOME FUN AND STILL HAVE PLENTY OF TIME TO DO SERIOUS THINGS TOO AND THAT WAS IMPORTANT.

WE COULDN'T DO THE SHOW AT HALF AN HOUR AND STILL HAVE FUN, WE HAD TO DO AN HOUR.

>> Cathy: "ALMANAC" IS LIVE AND THERE'S AN ART TO LIVE TV I THINK, WOULD YOU AGREE WITH THAT >> >> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

ABSOLUTELY.

PART OF IT IS THE SHOW STACK AND YOU WANT TO START THE SHOW WITH SOMETHING TIME LEACH, YOU PUT WHAT WE CALL AN ACCORDION SEGMENT AT THE VERY END, OFTEN OUR POLITICAL PANELS, IT CAN BE AS TIGHT AS 8 MINUTES AND AS BIG AS 12 MINUTES, SO YOU HAVE TO BURY TIME BECAUSE OF COURSE SOMETIMES THE HOSTS AREN'T GOOD AT ENDING THE SEGMENTS ON TIME.

I'M NOT SAYING YOU TWO BUT I'M SAYING THE HOSTS.

>> Cathy: WHAT?

>> YOU KNOW, AND THINGS HAPPEN, INTERVIEWS GET BETTER THAN THEY SHOULD, INTERVIEWS GO POORLY AND YOU GOT TO DUMP OUT EARLY.

YOU IDE TIME AND TRY TO MIX UP THINGS SO YOU MOVE FROM THE TABLE TO THE PIT AND -- >> Cathy: AND THIS IS CALLED THE PIT BY THE WAY, THE COUCH IS CALLED THE PIT.

>> WE CALLED IT THAT.

>> Eric: CHALLENGES DURING THE PANDEMIC?

>> BOY, THERE WERE A BUNCH OF CHALLENGES.

I THINK THE PANDEMIC IT'S LIKE YOU'RE DOING TV ITH ONE ARM TIED BEHIND YOUR BACK.

I REMEMBER WE HAD A MUCH SMALLER CREW IN THE STUDIO, LOCKED DOWN CAMERAS FOR A WHILE, GUESTS BY ZOOM, SOMETIMES WE HAD GUESTS TWO FLOORS BELOW IN THE MEASUREININE, REMEMBER THAT.

FOR A WHILE THEY WERE CROSS THE STUDIO.

IT WAS A LOT MORE DIFFICULT TO DO I THINK AND LESS FUN, YOU COULDN'T HAVE COMPLEX SHOWS AND LIVE MUSIC AND ALL THOSE THINGS WE GET A KICK OUT OF.

>> Cathy: OKAY, SO GOING BACK TO LIVE TV WHAT'S THE WEIRDEST, STRANGEST, ODDEST THING THAT HAS HAPPENED ON LIVE TV DURING THE SHOW THAT YOU CAN THINK OF?

>> I REMEMBER WE HAVE KIND OF OTHER CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR WITH PERENNIAL CANDIDATES, REMEMBER BEA MOONY SHE WAS DRESSED IN A 19TH CENTURY NURSE'S UNIFORM, MARY JANE REAGAN AND RACKNER, SHE AD A BIG SPIDER ON HER DRESS.

>> A BROACH.

>> RACKER-PHOBIA.

AND THEN A GUY HOLDING A BIBLE, THEY ALL STARTED FIGHTING.

IT WAS A IGH POINT.

>> Eric: I DID A TERRIBLE JOB REFEREEING THAT ONE.

>> YOU WERE BY YOURSELF FOR SOME REASON.

>> Eric: I GOT RUN OVER.

>> I SAY CRAP, CRAP ON THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS.

>> Cathy: I THINK AT THE BEGINNING THE PRODUCERS LIKED TO BE BEHIND THE CENES, YOU WOULD BE IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA IF YOU REALLY WANTED TO BE TALENT.

>> OUR WHOLE GOAL IS NOT TO BE RECOGNIZED IN THE FREEZER SECTION AT GROCERY STORES.

>> YEAH, GOOD MOVE.

IT'S A GOOD MOVE.

BUT YOUR HANDYWORK IS SEEN OBVIOUSLY AND THAT INCLUDES SOME OF YOUR QUIRKY INTERESTS IN LIFE, SPECIFICALLY YOU AND I BOTH LOVE THE EVERGLEAM ALUMINUM CHRISTMAS TREES.

>> THIS IS A 7-FOOT VERGLEAM.

THE EVERGLEAMS WERE.

>> THEY WERE MADE IN MAN TOE WACK, WISCONSIN.

OF COURSE YOU HAVE THE COLOR WHEEL.

THAT'S THE KEY TO THIS, ADAM, AS WE KNOW.

THIS ONE IS SO MESMERIZING BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT THE COLOR WHEEL.

THAT'S ORIGINAL TOO, RIGHT?

>> YEAH, THAT'S A VINTAGE COLOR WHEEL AS WELL.

>> THAT COULD SORT OF FIRE VERY EASILY.

>> WELL, WE'VE MADE A LITTLE SWITCH HERE, ALL OF A SUDDEN WE'RE JOINED BY SOMEBODY ELSE, KARI KENNEDY.

SO IS HIS THE BIG ANNOUNCEMENT, THE BIG REVEAL?

OKAY, SO, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, BRENDAN HENEHAN AFTER 40-SOME YEARS IS RETIRING, IN CASE YOU'RE JUST TUNING IN.

AND WE ARE SO THRILLED TO ANNOUNCE THAT KARI KENNEDY WILL BE THE NEW PRODUCER OF "ALMANAC."

CONGRATULATIONS.

>> THANK YOU.

I'M EXCITED TO KEEP WORKING ON THE SHOW.

>> Cathy: IT'S -- YOU GOT BIG SHOES TO FILL, THOUGH.

>> YEAH, WE'LL BE OKAY.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> Cathy: THERE YOU GO.

>> NOW, MY BIG QUESTION IS?

>> WHAT?

>> ARE YOU GOING TO CONTINUE WITH THE ALUMINUM TREE TRADITION IN DECEMBER?

>> Cathy: WELL, YOU BETTER.

>> AS LONG AS I CAN ONVINCE YOU TO LEAVE THEM BEHIND WHICH I'VE BEEN WORKING REALLY HARD ON IF E TAKES HIM WITH HIM I'M JUST GOING TO GO TO HIS HOUSE BECAUSE I KNOW WHERE HE LIVES, I'M GOING TO SNEAK IN, CONSPIRE WITH HIS WIFE BECAUSE SHE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE FEWER BOXES OF TREES IN THE HOUSE AND I'LL BRING THEM BACK.

>> Cathy: I KNOW HOW TO PUT THEM TOGETHER SO IT'S FINE.

>> IT WILL BE FINE, TREES WILL ALWAYS REMAIN ON THE SET.

>> Cathy: I WAS WORRIED.

>> I KNOW THE VIEWERS ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS.

>> Eric: HOW FAR BACK DO YOU TWO GO?

[ LAUGHTER ] >> WE WORKED 30 YEARS AGO ON A DOCUMENTARY PROJECT.

>> Cathy: WOW.

>> "MINNEAPOLIS PAST."

KARI WAS IN THE DEPARTMENT, WE KNEW OF EACH OTHER BUT WE HADN'T WORKED WITH EACH OTHER UNTIL THEN AND THEN I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT EXACTLY THE CHAIN OF EVENTS WERE AFTER THAT THAT YOU ENDED UP WORKING ON "ALMANAC."

>> I DON'T EITHER REALLY.

I MEAN, WE HAD A UCH LARGER DEPARTMENT, WE AD LOTS OF PROJECTS GOING ON AND WE WOULD GO THROUGH THESE CYCLES, OUR BOSS BILL HANLEY WOULD GO THROUGH CYCLES WHERE HE WOULD KIND F SHUFFLE PEOPLE AROUND AND SOMEHOW I LANDED ON ALMANAC.

BRENDAN DIDN'T ASK TO HAVE ME ON ALMANAC, I DIDN'T ASK TO WORK ON ALMANAC, NEITHER ONE OF US WERE UNHAPPY BUT FOR GOD'S SAKES 29 YEARS LATER WE DIDN'T THINK WE'D BE STILL SITTING HERE.

>> Cathy: WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED FROM BRENDAN ABOUT PRODUCING, CREATING A SHOW?

>> I MEAN, IT'S ALLED PRODUCTION BUT IT IS A PRODUCTION, YOU HAVE TO PUT ALL THE PIECES TOGETHER, MAKE IT WORK TOGETHER.

THERE'S KIND OF ALMOST A DANCE TO LIFE TV THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S VERY DIFFERENT THAN DOING A TAPE PIECE BECAUSE IT'S LIVE, YOU DON'T GET TO EDIT IT AND YOU DON'T ALWAYS KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

PEOPLE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT WE DO, I ALWAYS SAY, WELL, IT'S KIND OF CONTROLLED CHAOS.

IF YOU WANT YOUR WEDDING OR YOUR EVENT TO GO OFF WITHOUT A HITCH OR AT LEAST PEOPLE THINK IT WENT OFF WITHOUT A HITCH, HIRE A LIVE TV PRODUCER BECAUSE THEY KNOW HOW TO ROLL WITH THE PUNCHES.

>> Eric: WHAT IS KARI KENNEDY GOING TO DO TO PUT HER INDIVIDUAL STAMP ON THIS FABLED FRANCHISE?

>> WELL, I THINK THERE'S A REASON WE'VE BEEN ON THE AIR THIS LONG.

I THINK T'S A PLACE PEOPLE COME FOR CIVIL DISCOURSE AND POLITICAL CONVERSATIONS WHERE YOU CAN HEAR DIFFERENCES AND PEOPLE AREN'T SCREAMING AT EACH OTHER, SO YOU CAN REALLY HEAR THOSE DIFFERENCES.

SO IT'S MY GOAL TO CONTINUE THAT.

I'M EXCITED TO HAVE US CONTINUE TO SHOW THE DIVERSITY OF OUR STATE.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, SINCE THIS NEW LEGISLATURE STARTED UP IS I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE DIVERSITY OF OUR LEGISLATURE.

IT HAS -- IT IS MORE DIVERSE THAN IT'S EVER BEEN.

IT REFLECTS THE COMMUNITIES OF OUR STATE MORE THAN IT EVER HAS AND THAT'S EXCITING TO ME.

IT MEANS THERE'S A NEW GENERATION OUT THERE WHO CARED ENOUGH TO RUN FOR OFFICE, THEIR CONSTITUENTS CARED ENOUGH TO SEND THEM THERE AND WE GET TO COVER THAT.

THAT FEELS LIKE A TREAT THAT WE GET TO DO THAT.

>> Cathy: BRENDAN, AS YOU GO, WHAT DO YOU WANT VIEWERS TO REMEMBER?

>> YOU KNOW, "ALMANAC" HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN HEAR MULTIPLE PERSPECTIVES AND WE TREAT IMPORTANT STORIES SERIOUSLY AND, YOU KNOW, IN THE CLUTTER OF HYPERPARTISANSHIP THERE'S STILL A PLACE FOR THAT AND THERE WILL ALWAYS BE A PLACE FOR THAT.

>> Cathy: WHAT WILL YOU MISS THE MOST?

>> WHAT AM I GONNA MISS THE MOST?

YOU KNOW, LIVE TV IS FUN, YOU KNOW.

YOU KNOW THAT, YOU GET A LITTLE KIND OF, YOU KNOW, YOUR GUT ROILS A LITTLE BIT AND YOU NEED TO HAVE THAT.

BUT THERE'S NOTHING LIKE A LIVE INTERVIEW THAT GOES WELL AND A SHOW THAT HANGS TOGETHER TIGHT, AND, YOU KNOW, WHERE DO YOU GET THAT ELSEWHERE IN THIS WORLD, I DON'T KNOW, BUT I'M GOING TO MISS THAT.

>> Cathy: HAVE TO HAVE YOU BACK.

>> YEAH.

>> Eric: THANKS FOR ALL YOU'VE DONE FOR THE STATE.

>> THANK YOU.

YOU'VE BEEN GREAT TO WORK WITH.

>> Cathy: IT'S BEEN REALLY, REALLY AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE.

♪♪