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

>> CATHY: IT'S AN "ALMANAC" TRADITION, TOP LEGISLATIVE LEADERS JOIN US LIVE ON THE FINAL FRIDAY OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

SPEAKER HORTMAN AND MAJORITY LEADER GAZELKA WILL BE HERE IN STUDIO.

WE'LL ALSO PREVIEW A NEW DOCUMENTARY ABOUT THE WORLD WAR II MILITARY JAPANESE LANGUAGE SCHOOL IN MINNESOTA MIKE VEECK WILL BE HERE, TOO.

PLUS MARY LAHAMMER WILL HAVE THE LATEST FROM THE CAPITOL.

>> Mary: THERE'S JUST A FEW DAYS LEFT IN THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND THE MOST NOTABLE ACT IS NOT ON THE BUDGET BUT THE HOUSE HIS FOR RIK PASSAGE OF MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION.

>> THAT'S COMING UP ON "ALMANAC."

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

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

A TOUCHSTONE ENERGY COOPERATIVE.

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

DELTADENTALMN.ORG/TPT.

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

ENBRIDGE: CONNECTING MINNESOTANS WITH ENERGY FOR OVER 70 YEARS.

MORE AT ENBRIDGE.COM/LINE3US.

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

MORE AT EDUCATIONMINNESOTA.ORG.

>> CATHY: IN A FEW MINUTES WE'LL TALK HISTORY AND BASEBALL, AND REMEMBER THE LATE JIM KLOBUCHAR.

BUT FIRST UP, SOME POLITICS.

>> ERIC: LAWMAKERS HAVE JUST A FEW DAYS TO WRAP UP WORK IN THE REGULAR LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND MANY OBSERVERS ARE -- WORD IS LAWMAKERS WILL NOT GET THEIR WORK DONE ON TIME.

LET'S GET THE ASSESSMENT FROM THE PEOPLE WHO RUN THE PLACE.

JOINING US FROM ACROSS THE STUDIO, SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE MELISSA HORTMAN.

AND SENATE MAJORITY LEADER PAUL GAZELKA.

SENATOR GAZELKA, THE GOVERNOR WILL HAVE THING THE MASK BAN, DOES THAT SOVEREIGN THE GROUNDS FOR NEGOTIATIONS MORE BROADLY OR DOES IT HAVE ANY I PACT AT ALL?

>> WELL, I WOULD SAY THE C.D.C.

LED THE WAY AND HE'S JUST FOLLOWING THAT.

BUT WE'RE OING TO WORK ON IT ANYWAY, AS FAR AS WHETHER WE GET DONE MONDAY NIGHT OR OT, PROBABLY NOT, BUT I WOULD SAY THAT WE'RE ABSOLUTELY WORKING TOWARDS A FINISH.

>> Cathy: MADAM SPEAKER, WILL YOU HAVE BUDGET TARGETS BY MONDAY?

>> I WOULD HOPE THAT WE WOULD HAVE BUDGET TARGETS SOONER THAN MONDAY.

I THINK THAT WE'RE GETTING CLOSER, WE'RE INCHING TOWARDS THE FINISH LINE.

WE'RE ON THE SAME PLANET NOW.

I THINK WHEN WE STARTED NEGOTIATIONS WE WERE ON DIFFERENT PLANETS, SO WE'RE DIFFERENTLY ON THE SAME PLANT NET NOW.

THERE'S PLANE ISSUES, THE MONEY BUT THE POLICY, AS WELL, SO WE REALLY HAVEN'T EVEN KIND OF SCRATCHED THE SURFACE OF THE POLICY DEBATES.

>> Cathy: I'M THINKING THERE ARE SOME VIEWERS RIGHT NOW TONIGHT OOKING AT YOU BOTH SAYING, LOOK, WHAT IN THE PAST TEN SESSION, Y'ALL HAVE GONE INTO OVERTIME.

WHY CAN YOU OT GET YOUR WORK DONE ON TIME?

SENATOR GAZELKA.

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, THIS TIME, THE FEDERAL STIMULUS WAS $2.8 BILLION THAT WE HAVE TO FEATHER INTO WHAT WE'RE DOING AND WE HAVE NO GUIDANCE UNTIL EARLIER THIS WEEK, AND SO THAT MADE IT A LITTLE BIT LONGER.

I THINK MANAGING AROUND THE COVID REGULATIONS WERE ALSO TOUGH BUT THAT'S WHY I SAY, WE'RE GONNA GET IT DONE.

I THINK THE LAST THING I WOULD SAY IS THE TWO SIDES ARE SO VERY DIFFERENT ON MANY ISSUES AND THOSE ARE THE ISSUES THAT MAKE IT HARD.

>> Cathy: MADAM SPEAKER?

>> I WOULD SAY OVER THE LAST DECADE, WE HAVE SEEN AN INCREASING PATTERN OF GOING BEYOND THE REGULAR ESSION ADJOURNMENT TIME, AND SO I THINK WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THAT AND SAY, THAT IN A STATE WITH 5.7 MILLION PEOPLE AND ABOUT A $50 BILLION BUDGET, THE TIME WE HAD ALLOTTED IN 1973 FOR A LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS TOO SHORT AND WHEN WE LOOK AT ALL THOSE SPECIAL ESSIONS WE HAD LAST YEAR, THAT WAS KIND OF A BABY STEP TOWARDS A FULL-TIME LEGISLATURE.

WE'VE AD LESS WORK ON OUR PLATE THIS YEAR COMING BACK IN BECAUSE E DID A LOT OF THINGS WHILE WE WERE GETTING TOGETHER ONCE EVERY 30 DAYS OVER THE LAST YEAR.

>> Eric: AND SENATOR, THE GOVERNOR HAS EXTENDED HIS EMERGENCY POWERS AGAIN, SETS UP A JUNE 14?

SPECIAL SESSION.

WHAT'S THE CASE FOR HIM TO GIVE UP THE EXECUTIVE POWERS?

>> WELL, THERE'S NO MORE EMERGENCY, IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT.

AND I THINK HE'S CONCERNED THAT DOES HE HAVE THE ABILITY TO MAKE SURE HE HAS ENOUGH VACCINES AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

YOU COULD CALL A ONE-DAY SPECIAL SESSION IF IT WAS SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

HE'S TALKED ABOUT THE EVICTION MORATORIUM AND THERE IS AN OFF-RAMP FOR THAT.

WE HAVE A BILL THAT PASSED WITH A VETO -- NUMBER OF VOTES, WE COULD OVERCOME A VETO IN THE SENATE, DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS.

SO TO US, THERE'S REALLY NOTHING LEFT.

WE THINK HE SHOULD BE OPENING UP THE SCHOOLS.

THEY STILL HAVE TO WEAR THEIR MASKS, THE TEACHERS AND STUDENTS, MAKES NO SENSE TO ME.

>> Eric: MADAM SPEAKER, WHAT'S THE CASE FOR HIM TO CONTINUES THE EXECUTIVE POWERS?

>> THERE IS AN ANTI-PRICE-GOUGING MEASURE IN PLACE, ADDICTION MORATORIUM, A WAIVER FOR MEDICAL PROVIDERS, THE AUTHORITY TO HAVE THE NATIONAL GUARD ASSIST WITH VACCINE DISTRIBUTION AND TESTING, AND TO CONTINUE TO RUN THE VACCINE SITES AND THE TESTING SITES.

ALSO SOME EXPEDITED PROCUREMENT, SO IF WE NEED SOME SOMEPLACE RATHER QUICKLY.

AND SO WE'RE ALSO GETTING ABOUT $40 MILLION A MONTH FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND AS SOON AS WE DON'T HAVE AN EMERGENCY ANYMORE, WE DON'T GET THAT.

SO I THINK THAT THERE'S COMPROMISE POSITION THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO REACH ON THAT ISSUE.

>> Cathy: LET ME ASK ABOUT POLICE REFORM.

THERE IS A LOT IN THAT CONFERENCE COMMITTEE RIGHT NOW, A LOT OF DIFFERENT IDEAS.

WHICH LOOK THE MOST PROMISING THAT CAN ACTUALLY PASS?

SINCE THE CAMERA IS ON YOU, MADAM SPEAKER, WE'LL BEGIN WITH YOU.

>> THAT'S REALLY AN ISSUE FOR CHAIR MARIANI AND VICE CHAIR SED DRINK PHRASE AIR TO FIGURE OUT IN CONSULTATION WITH THE SENATE.

THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT ARE REALLY EASY TO LOOK AT AND SAY THEY'RE KIND OF COMMONS ESSENTIAL.

THE SIGN AND ELEASE WARRANTS, SO IN THE CASE OF DAUNTE WRIGHT WHO WAS NOT AWARE HE HAD A WARRANT FOR A MISSED COURT DATE, INSTEAD OF TAKING HIM INTO CUSTODY, HAVE HIM SIGN A PIECE OF PAPER THAT SAYS I'LL GO TO COURT.

NOT PULLING SOMEBODY OVER FOR A MINOR TRAFFIC NFRACTION, THESE ARE SOME REALLY OBVIOUS THINGS THAT I THINK WE COULD WORK ON WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AND GET TO A POINT WHERE EVERYBODY COULD SUPPORT IT.

>> Cathy: SENATOR GAZELKA, WHAT ARE YOU WILLING TO ACCEPT?

>> WELL, LAST YEAR WE HAD EVERYONE AT THE TABLE AND E GOT A DOZEN OR MORE THINGS DONE, THE POLICE WERE AT THE TABLE, TOO, AND THAT'S WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR.

WHAT ARE NOT THINGS THAT EVERYBODY WOULD SAY THAT'S COMMON SENSE AND I BELIEVE THERE ARE SOME OF THOSE, SO THOSE ARE THE ONES WE'LL DO.

FOR US WE FEEL LIKE IT'S ANTI-POLICE, WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO IT.

WE FEEL SOME OF THOSE PROVISIONS ARE BUT THERE ARE OTHER PROVISIONS IT WOULD SEEM WE CAN FIND SOME COMMON GROUND.

>> Cathy: FOR INSTANCE?

>> HONESTLY, I DON'T WANT TO SAY BECAUSE I'M WAITING FOR THE COMMITTEES TO DO THEIR WORK AND FILTER UP THE ONES THAT EEM TO RISE TO THE TOP THAT WE COULD ACCEPT BUT I AM SAYING IT APPEARS THAT THERE WILL BE SOME.

>> Eric: I WANT TO ASK YOU BOTH ABOUT THE LEGALIZED MARIJUANA ISSUE.

MADAM SPEAKER, WITHOUT THE SIX REPUBLICANS WHO VOTED FOR IT LAST NIGHT, YOU DIDN'T HAVE THE VOTES TO GET IT OFF THE FLOOR.

>> THE MAJORITY LEADER HAS DONE A TREMENDOUS JOB WORKING THAT ISSUE.

THREE YEARS AGO, WHEN THE GOVERNOR WAS A BRAND-NEW GOVERNOR, MAJORITY LEADER WINKLER AND GOVERNOR WALZ WERE READY TO ROLL YOU FEEL THEIR SLEEVES AND GET GOING ON THAT ISSUE AND I WAS RELUCTANT AS THE MOTHER OF A THEN 23-YEAR-OLD AND 25-YEAR-OLD, IT TOOK A WHILE FOR ME AND OUR WHOLE CAUCUS TO COME ON BOARD.

BUT YOU CAN'T DENY THE RACIAL EQUITY ISSUE THERE.

MINNESOTANS WHO ARE WHITE AND PEOPLE OF COLOR USE MARIJUANA AT ABOUT THE SAME RATE BUT THE ARREST RATE FOR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR IS EIGHT TIMES HIGHER THAN THE WHITE COMMUNITY SO AS WE LOOK AT A POST-GEORGE FLOYD WORLD, WHERE WE REALLY, EVERY DAY, HAVE TO WRESTLE WITH THE RACIAL INEQUITIES AND RACIAL INJUSTICES, AND IT IS INCUMBENT UPON US TO TACKLE THOSE, WE CAN NOT IGNORE THE ISSUE OF CANNABIS PROHIBITION AND THE IMPACT OF RACIAL INJUSTICE.

>> Eric: Mr. LEADER, I KNOW IT'S NOT GOING ANYWHERE IN THE SENATE BUT I WONDER IF GIVEN THE HOUSE HAS PASSED THIS BILL OFF THE FLOOR, ARE YOU I WANTED IN SOME LESSENING OF PENALTIES OR DOING SOMETHING WITH MEDICAL MARIJUANA OR WHAT WOULD BE YOUR ANSWER TO THE HOUSE?

>> YEAH, I REGULARLY SAY, I'M OPEN TO LOWERING THE PENALTIES.

ANYTHING THAT'S MEDICALLY RELATED THAT YOU CAN POINT TO THAT ACTUALLY HELPS.

WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN OPEN TO IT.

WE JUST DON'T WANT RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA TO BE LEGAL.

THE PENALTIES CAN BE LOW, I JUST DON'T THINK IT'S GOOD FOR OUR SOCIETY.

HAZELTON OR TEEN CHALLENGE WILL TELL YOU IT'S AN ENTRY-LEVEL DRUG INTO MORE ABUSE AND SO WE UST DON'T THINK THAT'S A GOOD IDEA.

>> Eric: IT'S ON THE FLOOR NOW FOR THE 2021 SESSION, CORRECT?

IT'S OUT OF THE HOUSE FOR THE 2022 SESSION.

>> THAT'S RIGHT, EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS THIS YEAR IS STILL ALIVE NEXT YEAR.

>> Eric: ARE YOU LOOKING AT A TWO-YEAR ADVENTURE HERE WITH THAT BILL?

>> GO WELL, I THINK IT MIGHT TAKE FLIPPING THE SENATE TO D.F.L.

CONTROL BEFORE WE CAN GET A PASS IN THE MINNESOTA SENATE.

>> Cathy: SAY, I WANT TO ASK SOMETHING THAT IS A STICKING POINT FROM WHERE SOME PEOPLE LOOK AT IT.

THIS CLEAN CAR MANDATE VERSUS HOLDING UP THE ENVIRONMENTAL BUDGET BILLS LIKE FOR THE D.N.R.

AND P.C.A.

WHY DO YOU WANT TO HOLD UP FUNDING, Mr. LEADER, FOR THOSE AGENCIES OVER THIS CLEAN CAR MANDATE?

>> CHAIRS AND MAJORITY LEADERS AND -- NOT MAJORITY LEADER OF THE SENATE AND SENATORS AND HOUSE MEMBERS HAVE SAID THAT THEY WANT TO HOLD UP THE BUDGET FOR FOUR, FIVE DIFFERENT THINGS.

I THINK MYSELF AND THE SPEAKER REALIZED THAT WE NEED TO GET THE BUDGET DONE.

WE CANNOT ALLOW OUR GOVERNMENT TO SHUT DOWN IN JULY.

A LOT OF THINGS SHUT DOWN AND SO WE'RE NOT HEADING THERE.

I WILL TELL YOU THAT WAITING -- AT LEAST A TWO-YEAR MORATORIUM ON USING CALIFORNIA'S AIR STANDARDS AND EMISSION STANDARDS I THINK IS A GOOD IDEA TO WAIT.

WE CAN HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW DO WE BUILD THE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR ELECTRIC CARS THAT ARE COMING.

THERE'S NO, YOU KNOW, WE SUPPORT THAT SO MAYBE THERE IS A WAY THROUGH IT.

>> Eric: MADAM SPEAKER, THERE IS THIS ISSUE OF THE ELECTRONIC PULLTABS, AND THIS IS A LOBBYING MEGAMATCH WITH BARS AND THE CHARITIES VERSUS THE TRIBES.

I'M GUESSING THE GOVERNOR ND YOUR CHAMBER WILL BE ON THE SIDE OF THE TRIBES, OR WHERE IS THAT HEADED?

>> WELL, I THINK THERE IS A LOT OF PEOPLE IN WHO BELIEVE NOTHING KEEPING A DEAL THAT YOU MAKE, AND THE DEAL WE MADE WHEN WE AGREED TO BUILD THE VIKING STADIUM AND TO FUNDS IT WITH ELECTRONIC PULLTABS WAS THAT WE WOULDN'T AUTHORIZE ELECTRONIC PULLTABS THAT LOOK LIKE A SLOT MACHINE.

SO MINNESOTA'S TRIBAL NATIONS HAD NOTHING TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT IN TERMS OF COMPETITION.

WE WERE LOOKING TO REPLICATE THE PAPER EXPERIENCE -- >> Eric: PULLTABS.

>> ON AN iPAD AND WHEN YOU CHANGE THAT TO PRESSING ONE BUTTON AND HAVING IT LOOK LIKE A SLOT MACHINE, THAT BREAKS THE DEAL.

AND I THINK NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE, YOU WANT TO LIVE UP TO YOUR WORD AND KEEP YOUR COMMITMENT.

>> Eric: Mr. LEADER, WHAT'S THE SENATE'S VIEW OF THIS?

>> WELL, WE ARE NOT GOING TO CHANGE WHAT IS IN PLACE RIGHT NOW.

MANY OF THE AMERICAN LEGIONS, THE VFWs, THEY SAID THAT WOULD CRIPPLE US BUT I THINK MAYBE THERE IS A SOLUTION WHEN WE REFINANCE THE VIKINGS STADIUM, IF WE CHOOSE TO DO THAT.

THERE IS A BUNCH OF MONEY SAVED, MAYBE THERE IS A WAY TO FIND A WIN FOR BOTH SIDES.

>> Cathy: MADAM SPEAKER, DO YOU THINK THE FIFTH TIER, THE FIFTH TAX TIER, THAT IDEA DEAD?

>> I THINK A MORE FAIR WAY TO LOOK AT THE TAX SITUATION RIGHT NOW, OR A MORE PRACTICAL WAY, I GUESS I WOULD SAY, IS TO LOOK AT THE CORPORATIONS WHO SHELTER INCOME OFF-SHORE.

SO RIGHT NOW IN MINNESOTA, YOU HAVE A LOCAL BUSINESS ON MAIN STREET, THEY DON'T KNOW REALLY THE FIST -- THEY DON'T HAVE THE SOPHISTICATION TO LIED CAYMAN ISLANDS BUT THEY'REND- COMPETING AGAINST RETAILERS WHO DO SHELTER IN THOSE HAVENS.

SO WHAT WE HOPE TO DO IS TAX THOSE CORPORATIONS WHO ARE SHELTERING INCOME OVERSEAS, TREAT THEM JUST LIKE FOLKS DOING BUSINESS IN MINNESOTA WHO ARE SMALL BUSINESSES, AND THEN USE THAT TO FINANCE THE P.P.P.

TAX BREAK.

>> Cathy: WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THAT IDEA, SENATOR?

>> MORE COMPLICATED THAN THAT.

THESE ARE SOME OF OUR MAJOR CORPORATIONS IN MINNESOTA THAT ARE NATION-WIDE CORPORATIONS AND THEY HAVE BEAN EXPRESSING REAL CONCERN ABOUT HOW THEY'VE BEEN TREATED IN MINNESOTA.

THEY CAN BE ANY PLACE THEY WANT AND I THINK IT'S DANGEROUS TO PASS LAWS THAT IN EFFECT MAY DRIVER THEM OUT OF THE STATE.

SO WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL WHAT WE DO.

EVERY DECISION HAS CONSEQUENCES.

WE DON'T THINK ANYBODY DESERVES A TAX INCREASE RIGHT NOW.

WE GOT A BIG SURPLUS, WE HAVE ALL KIND OF FEDERAL MONEY COMING IN.

WE JUST NEED TO GET A BUDGET DONE.

>> Eric: MADAM SPEAKER, ARE YOU CONFIDENT THAT THE STATE AGENCIES AND THE COUNTY AGENCIES AND THE CITY COUNCILS CAN RIDES HERD ON ALL THIS FEDERAL MONEY?

IT JUST SEEMS TO ME THIS IS GOING TO BE AN AWESOME CHALLENGE TO OVERSEE THIS MONEY.

ARE WE UNTO THIS?

>> WE'RE DEFINITELY UP TO THE JOB.

YOU KNOW, IN MINNESOTA, OVER THE LAST TEN OR 15 YEARS, WE'VE REALLY BEEN STAGNANT IN OUR GOVERNMENT FUNDING AND SO WHEN YOU'RE STANDING STILL AND NOT KEEPING UP WITH INFLATION, YOU REALLY HAVE A DECLINE IN GOVERNMENT SERVICES AND WHAT WE CAN OFFER PEOPLE, WHETHER YOU LOOK AT THE ROADS IN TEN YEARS SINCE WE REALLY INFUSED NEW MONEY INTO OUR ROADS AND THAT AFFECTS CITIES, TOWNS, ALL THE WAY DOWN.

THERE'S A LOT OF PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE THAT IS REALLY LANGUISHING FOR NEGLECT, AND SO I HAVE EVERY CONFIDENCE THAT THIS MONEY THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN AND THE CONGRESSIONAL DEMOCRATS SENT TO US IS GOING TO MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

>> Eric: YOU SHARE THAT CONFIDENCE, Mr. LEADER?

>> WELL, WHAT I WOULD SAY IS OVER THE THREE STIMULUS PROGRAMS THAT WE'VE GOTTEN, THERE'S SIGNIFICANTLY OVER $10 BILLION THAT WENT DIRECTLY TO LOCAL SCHOOLS, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, SO THEY HAVE PLENTY OF MONEY, AND BESIDES THAT, A COUPLE YEARS AGO, WE INCREASED LOCAL GOVERNMENT AID ABOUT 30%.

SO THEY HAVE PLENTY OF MONEY, WHETHER THEY USE IT WISELY OR NOT WILL BE UP TO ALL OF US TO CHECK.

JUST LIKE WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THE STATE OF MINNESOTA IS USING THE MONEY WISELY.

>> Cathy: BEFORE YOU GO, TIMELINE QUESTION HERE.

SO WE KNOW THAT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO MAKE THE MONDAY DEADLINE.

SO WHEN DO YOU THINK THE SESSION -- WHEN MIGHT YOU BE IN SPECIAL SESSION, IS IT AS YOU GET CLOSER TO THE ENDS OF THE FISCAL YEAR, WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN HERE?

>> GO AHEAD.

>> I THINK JUNE 14th IS WHEN WE WILL COME BACK AND HAVE EVERYTHING DONE AND I THINK SENATOR GAZELKA AND I SHARE A COMMITMENT TO GETTING THESE TARGETS AS SOON AS WE CAN AND HAVING ALL 1201 LEGISLATORS FINISH P THESE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORTS, BEING READY TO GO ON JUNE 14th WHEN WE COME IN, AND SO THAT THAT'S A FASTER SPECIAL SESSION THAN A LONGER ONE.

>> Eric: WE'LL BE WATCHING.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR COMING OVER.

APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> CATHY: HOW DID OUR NATION'S ONLY WORLD WAR II MILITARY JAPANESE LANGUAGE CAMP END UP IN MINNESOTA?

THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS YOU WILL LEARN IN A NEW DOCUMENTARY PRODUCED BY TWIN CITIES PBS THAT WILL PREMIERE ON MONDAY.

"ARMED WITH LANGUAGE" TELLS THE STORY OF THE CRITICAL ROLE JAPANESE AMERICANS PLAYED IN WORLD WAR II AT THE VERY SAME TIME THEIR CIVIL RIGHTS WERE DENIED IN THEIR HOME COUNTRY.

IN A MINUTE, WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE FILM, BUT FIRST, AN EXCERPT.

>> THIS HISTORICAL MARKER IS ALL THAT'S EFT OF THE CAMP.

IT COMMEMORATES A LITTLE KNOWN MILITARY INTELLIGENCE SERVICE INITIATIVE THAT TOOK PLACE IN MG WORLD WAR II.

6,000 SECOND-GENERATION JAPANESE AMERICANS CAME THROUGH MINNESOTA'S LANGUAGE SCHOOL WHERE THEY WERE TRAINED TO BE TRANSLATORS, INTERROGATORS AND JAPANESE MILITARY EXPERTS.

[SOUNDS OF BOMBS] >> AFTER PEARL HARBOR, THE ARMY AS AN INSTITUTION WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY HAPPY TO DISCHARGE ALL MUSEI.

>> YES, THEY ARE SERVING THEIR COUNTRY BUT, MEANWHILE THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS ARE IMPRISONED.

THEY THEMSELVES WERE IMPRISONED.

>> BUT I THINK NOW WHAT I CAN FEEL IS THE EAR THEY MUST HAVE HAD.

>> YOUR AWARENESS THAT YOU'RE JAPANESE AND YOU'RE NOT THE SAME AS YOUR FELLOW MERICANS, YET ALL THE WHILE, YOU THINK AS AN AMERICAN.

>> I WAS SO MAD BEING INCARCERATED BUT I JOINED, AS SOON AS I JOINED, I DECIDED TO DO MY BEST TO DO MY DUTY.

>> THE ARMY DAMN WELL NEEDED THEM.

COULD NOT FIGHT A WAR AND WIN WITHOUT THE CAPABILITIES THEY HAD.

>> WHILE THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO WINNING THE WAR IN THE PACIFIC ARE UNDENIABLE, THE STORY OF THEIR COURAGE, SACRIFICE AND PATRIOTISM IS YET TO BE WIDELY RECOGNIZED.

>> THE RULES DID NOT APPLY THE SAME TO EVERYBODY.

THERE'S NOT EQUAL JUSTICE WHICH IS ONE OF THE ROMISES OF THIS COUNTRY.

>> I VOLUME TIERED FOR THE SERVICE AND PEOPLE DEFINITELY -- I'M JUST AS AMERICAN AS ANYBODY.

♪♪ >> CATHY: JOINING US NOW BY ZOOM, KATIE O'ROURKE.

SHE'S THE PRODUCER OF THE DOCUMENTARY.

HERE AS WELL IS DAVID MURA, THE TWIN CITIES AUTHOR, PLAYWRIGHT AND PERFORMER WHO WAS THE DOCUMENTARY'S WRITER AND NARRATOR.

DAVID, I'M GOING TO BEGIN WITH YOU.

I DID NOT KNOW UNTIL I SAW THE DOCUMENTARY THAT HAROLD STASSEN, GOVERNOR STASSEN PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN BRINGING THE SCHOOL TO MINNESOTA.

TALK ABOUT THAT.

>> YES, WELL WHEN THEY MADE THE ORDER TO EVICT JAP PIECE FROM THE WEST COAST, THEY HAD TO MOVE THE JAPANESE LANGUAGE SCHOOL FROM THE PRESIDIO IN SAN FRANCISCO, AND THE LEADER OF THE SCHOOL, CAPTAIN RASMUSSEN, WENT AROUND TO OFFICIALS IN THE WESTERN STATES ASKING IF THEY COULD BRING THE SCHOOL THERE, AND ONE GOVERNOR SAID, IF YOU BRING THE JAPANESE TO OUR STATE, YOU'LL FIND THEM HANGING FROM EVERY TREE.

BUT HAROLD STASSEN, THE GOVERNOR OF MINNESOTA SAID, ALSO ROOM IN THE PEOPLE'SAND- HEARTS.

AND SO THEY DECIDED TO MOVE THE CAMP, MOVE THE SCHOOL TO CAMP SAVAGE IN MINNESOTA.

>> Eric: KATIE, WHAT WERE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES DOING THIS DURING A PANDEMIC?

>> YEAH, WELD QUITE A FEW CHALLENGES.

I MEAN, THE ENVIRONMENT OF TRYING TO FILM PEOPLE SAFELY DURING THE PANDEMIC WAS THE FIRST ONE AND THEN SEEING THE FILM, THERE IS A MOVE TO BEING DISTANCED OUTDOORS -- SOME OTHER INTERVIEWS BUT ALL OF OUR INTERVIEWS WERE GREAT SPORTS AND REALLY GAVE VERY COMPELLING INTERVIEWS.

WE ALSO AD SOME INCREDIBLE ORAL HISTORIES WE WERE ABLE TO LEAN ON TO KIND OF FILL IN THE GAPS WITH SOME OF THOSE FIRST-PERSON NARRATIVES.

WE WERE LUCKY WITH OUR PARTNERS AND OUR RESOURCES MUCH.

>> Cathy: DAVID, GETTING BACK TOOTH FOLKS HO WENT THROUGH THE SCHOOL, IT WAS INTERESTING TO NOTE THAT THEY SERVED IN THE ACIFIC THEATER WHICH WAS A VERY DIFFICULT PLACE TO BE DURING WORLD WAR II.

TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THEY DID THERE AND HOW SUCCESSFUL WERE THEY IN THEIR MISSION.

>> WELL...

YES, WELL, THEY WERE ON THE BATTLETHEY WOULD HELPING TROOPS WHEN THEY -- AND INTERROGATED PRISONERS.

THEY TRANSLATED DOCUMENTS, CAPTURED DOCUMENTS AND CAPTURED MESSAGES.

AND THE BIG THING ABOUT THIS WAS THAT THEY PROVIDED U.S. ARMY WITH INTELLIGENCE THAT THEY COULDN'T HAVE HAD OTHERWISE.

AND GENERAL WILLOBY WHO WAS JEN McARTHUR'S HEAD, SAID THE LINGUIST SHORTENED THE WAR IN THE PACIFIC BY TWO YEARS AND PROBABLY SAVED A MILLION AMERICAN LIVES.

AND McARTHUR HIMSELF LATER SAID THAT NO ARMY WENT INTO BATTLE KNOWING MORE ABOUT THE ENEMY AND THAT WAS DUE TO THE WORK OF THESE LINGUISTS.

AND YET, AS E KNOW, MANY OF THEIR FAMILIES WERE BILL INTERED AND IN PRISON IN CONCENTRATION CAMPS THROUGHOUT THE IN VERY DESOLATE, EMPTY AREAS.

>> INDICATE THEY, THIS IS NOW GOING TO BE VIEWED BY THE PUBLIC AT A TIME WHEN THERE'S RISING HARASSMENT OF ASIAN AMERICANS.

IS THIS TIMING INCIDENTAL OR PURPOSEFUL?

>> IT'S ABSOLUTELY PURPOSEFUL.

THIS IS SOMETHING WE TRY TO DO WITH ALL OF OUR WORK IS REALLY LOOK AT OUR STATE HISTORY AND SEE HOW IT CARRIES THROUGH TO INDICATE.

THIS HAS BEEN ON OUR RADAR, THIS IS A STORY WE'VE WANTED TO TELL FOR YEARS BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE RELEVANT.

>> Cathy: DAVID, THIS IS A PERSONAL STORY FOR YOU WHICH I FIND INTERESTING.

COULD YOU PLEASE TELL US ABOUT THAT?

>> WELL, MY UNCLE WAS ONE OF THE JAPANESE-AMERICAN SOLDIERS WHO STUDIED THE JAPANESE LANGUAGE AT FORT SNELLING AND HE SERVED IN THE OCCUPATION OF JAPAN.

AND ALSO I LEARNED RECENTLY THAT, LIKE, ONE OF MY NEIGHBORS, Mr. HOSAKI, WAS A MEMBER OF THIS SCHOOL AND THE BROTHER OF ONE OF MY UNCLES WAS ALSO A MEMBER OF THIS SCHOOL.

SO IT FEELS VERY CLOSE.

AND ALSO MY PARENTS WERE INTERNED DURING WORLD WAR II, THEY WERE INCARCERATED IN THE MINIDAKOTA INTERNMENT CAMP, SO THE INTERTWINING OF -- YOU HAVE THESE STORIES OF THESE MEN WHO -- AND WOMEN WHO WERE MILITARY INTELLIGENCE SERVICE PERSONNEL AND, YET -- SO THEY WERE TRUSTED WITH AMERICA'S HIGHEST MILITARY SECRETS AND AS ONE OF THEM SAYS, AND YET, EVEN THOUGH I WAS ENTRUSTED WITH THE HIGHEST MILITARY SECRETS, MY OWN FAMILY WAS IN PRISON BEHIND BARBED WIRE UNDER RIVAL TOWER GUARD MACHINE GUNS POINTED INWARD AT THE CAMP.

>> Eric: WAS IT 1945, THE COURTS FINALLY OVERTURNED ALL OF THAT OR -- IT TOOK A WHILE.

>> THEY OVERTURNED IT, THEY DIDN'T RULE IT UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND IT WASN'T UNTIL THE 1980s -- 1982 THAT A LEGAL RESEARCHER FOUND THAT THE GOVERNMENT ACTUALLY KNEW THAT THE JAPANESE AMERICANS WERE NOT A MILITARY DANGER.

AND THAT LED TO THE APOLOGY BY THE U.S. OVERNMENT, BY THE CONGRESS AND RONALD REAGAN, WHERE THEY ADMITTED THAT THERE WAS NO MILITARY NECESSITY FOR THE CAMPS AND THAT THE REAL REASON WAS RACISM, WARTIME HYSTERIA AND THE FAILURE OF LEADERSHIP.

AND SO THIS FAILURE TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE NATION OF JAPAN AND AMERICANS OF JAPANESE DESCENT IS IN A WAY SOMETHING WE'RE SEEING ODAY WHERE ASIAN AMERICANS ARE NOT DISTINGUISHED BETWEEN THE COUNTRIES OF CHINA.

AND THIS HAS LED TO THE RISE IN ANTI-ASIAN HATE CRIMES, A 100% RISE IN ANTI-ASIAN HATE CRIMES OVER THE LAST YEAR.

>> Cathy: KATIE, WHEN YOU PRODUCE SOMETHING LIKE THIS, THIS IS ONE OF THE LARGER DOCUMENTARIES YOU'VE DONE, YOU ALWAYS TAKE AWAY SOMETHING PERSONALLY WHEN YOU DO A PROJECT LIKE THIS?

WHAT'S THAT FOR YOU?

>> I THINK THE THING THAT I'M TAKING AWAY MORE THAN ANYTHING IS HOW CLOSE THIS HISTORY IS TO US STILL.

I THINK HEARING FROM -- WE HEARD FROM SOME OF THE CHILDREN OF SOME OF THE MEN WHO WENT TO SCHOOL AND SERVED IN THE PACIFIC AND IT'S SO CLOSE, AND THE FACT THAT I DIDN'T KNOW THIS STORY GROWING UP IN MINNESOTA, YOU KNOW, HAVING EXTENSIVE WORLD WAR II AND MINNESOTA HISTORY THROUGHOUT MY EDUCATION, I'M STUNNED THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WAS EARLY AND OFTEN BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION IN SCHOOL.

SO I THINK IT'S ONE OF THE REASONS I LOVE HISTORY, IT'S ONE OF THE REASONS I LOVE DOCUMENTARY FILM MAKING IS REALLY JUST HAVING THAT PERSONAL CONNECTION, FEELING HOW CLOSE WE ARE TO IT.

>> Eric: DO YOU EVER THE DATE OF THE AIRING OF IT AT HAND THERE, WHEN IT WILL?

>> YES, THIS MONDAY AT 8:00 p.m. AND IT WILL BE STREAMING ON TPT.ORG AFTER THAT.

SO WE'RE EXCITED TO SHARE IT WITH OUR AUDIENCES.

>> Eric: INTERESTING STUFF.

WE'LL BE WATCHING.

THANKS.

>> Cathy: CONGRATULATIONS.

>> THANKS SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> ♪♪ >> HEY Y'ALL, I'M KALIN JACKSON, THE IDEAS REPORTER HERE AT TWIN CITIES PBS.

WE COVERED A LOT ABOUT RACIAL DISPARITIES IN MINNESOTA AND WE PLAN TO DO A LOT MORE.

BUT WE WANT TO HEAR WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT OUR WORK.

YOU CAN SHARE YOUR STORY IDEAS AND FEEDBACK BY GOING TO TPT.ORG/SURVEYS.

IT WILL ONLY TAKE 10 MINUTES BUT IT COULD MAKE A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE IN OUR COVERAGE.

WE HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU, AND HOPE THAT YOU STAY TUNED FOR MORE.

>> ERIC: THE SAINT PAUL SAINTS ARE STILL SELLING A FUN EXPERIENCE AT THE BALLPARK.

BUT THIS YEAR, THE TALENT LEVEL HAS INCREASED, AND THE TEAM IS NO LONGER INDEPENDENT.

THE ST. PAUL SAINTS ARE NOW A TRIPLE AAA AFFILIATE OF THE MINNESOTA TWINS.

HERE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THE CHANGE MEANS AND WHAT IT DOESN'T, LONGTIME ST. PAUL SAINTS OWNER MIKE VEECK.

MIKE, DO YOU EVER TO BE MORE SERIOUS WHEN YOU'RE A TRIPLE A AFFILIATE INSTEAD OF AN INDEPENDENT OUTFIT?

>> DEPENDS ON WHO YOU ASK.

IF YOU ASK THE MINNESOTA TWINS AND DAVE St. PETER AND JIM POHLAD, REMAIN THE SAME.

MAJOR EAGUE BASEBALL, I CAN'T BELIEVE THEY'VE GROWN A SENSE OF HUMOR IN THIS SHORT TIME SO I'M A LITTLE WARY.

I'M THRILLED WITH THE CHANGE.

I THINK IT'S WONDERFUL FOR THE FANS, THE TALENTS LEVEL WILL BE CONSISTENT BUT IT'S MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL, YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE ELEPHANT IN THE CORNER OF THE ROOM.

>> Cathy: THEY'RE NOT GIVING -- MLB HASN'T GIVEN YOU A LIST OF DOs AND DO NOTES, OR HAVE THEY?

>> MAYBE IT'S CALLED CAN IS A'S WISH LIST, I DON'T KNOW, BUT IT'S 250 PAGES OF REALLY HARD-HITTING STUFF.

>> Eric: WHAT'S AN EXAMPLE?

>> WE UNDERSTAND, BECAUSE OF THE COVID, OUR PROTOCOL WAS USED ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THE ONE THAT THE SAINTS ESTABLISHED.

I'M ERY PROUD OF THAT BUT, YOU KNOW, WHETHER HE PIG IS ON THE FIELD AT THE SAME TIME OR THE LIKE, HOW CLOSE THE CONTESTANTS ARE, YOU KNOW, WE SHOULD BE WORRYING ABOUT A WHOLE LOT MORE.

>> Eric: TELL US HOW THE VACCINE NIGHT CAME ABOUT.

>> WELL, BECAUSE WE WORK SO CLOSELY WITH THE GOVERNOR'S STAFF AND THE C.D.C.

AND ALL THE OF THE GROUPS INVOLVED, THEY WANTED TO REALLY TEST IT IN A CONTROLLED SITUATION BECAUSE WE HAVE FEWER NUMBERS AND WE PLAYED, YOU KNOW, SOME 25 GAMES LAST YEAR ND SO THEY ASKED US IF WE WOULD BE WILLING TO STAGE AN EVENT, YOU KNOW, WITH VACCINES AND THE LIKE.

AND I THINK THAT THE GOVERNOR, AFTER TALKING TO THE WHITE HOUSE AND TO PRESIDENT BIDEN, MENTIONED THAT, YOU KNOW, THE SAINTS WERE DOING THIS PROGRAM AND SO THERE WAS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF INTEREST.

HE HAD A PRESS CONFERENCE ON THE CONCOURSE -- >> Eric: SAW THAT, YEAH.

>> THAT WAS LARGER THAN WHEN WE SIGNED DARYL STRAWBERRY, SO... [Laughter] PEOPLE STILL HAVE PRIORITIES STRAIGHT.

>> Cathy: TELL ME ABOUT THE REORGANIZATION OF THE MINOR LEAGUES, SEEMS LIKE THERE IS A LOT OF CHURN THAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.

>> I LOVE THAT YOU ASKED THAT.

IT'S -- WE REALLY HAVE JUST LEFT 42 OF OUR BRETHREN IN THE DUST.

AND THAT COMES DOWN TO, THEY THINK BECAUSE THE SAINTS WERE REALLY SUCCESSFUL, THAT'S BECAUSE OF THE AREA, THAT'S BECAUSE MINNESOTANS AND THE TWIN CITIES -- THEY'RE GREAT BASEBALL FANS AND THEY SUPPORT IT.

BUT SOME OF THESE CLUBS HAVE BEEN IN SMALL TOWNS ACROSS AMERICA AND IT COMES DOWN TO CONTROL.

THE COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE WANTS TO CONTROL THE TRAINING OF BASEBALL PLAYERS, SOON TO BE, I THINK, EN AND WOMEN FROM GRADE SCHOOL OR LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL THROUGH THE NCAA, AND INTO THE MINOR LEAGUE SYSTEM.

SO THEY'RE TRYING, I THINK, TO HIDE BEHIND GEOGRAPHIC, YOU KNOW, BEING CLOSE AND IT BEING EASIER TO GET PLAYERS, ND OBVIOUSLY IN THIS CASE, YOU CAN WATCH A KID PLAY AT CHS AND THEN THE NEXT DAY SEE HIM PITCH, YOU KNOW, AT TARGET FIELD.

SO IN LONG TERM, IT MAKES SENSE.

IN THE SHORT TERM, JUST CUTTING 42 LOOSE AND SAYING, YOU KNOW, TEND FOR YOURSELF OR BE A DREAM LEAGUE, IT WASN'T WELL THOUGHT OF.

AND I DON'T THINK THEY'VE IMPLEMENTED IT WELL.

>> Eric: HOW ABOUT THE RULES CHANGES, THE RUNNER ON SECOND BASE IN THE TENTH INNING AND SO FOR THE.

YOU BUYING THE EXPERIMENT OR IS SOMETHING SIMILAR GOING ON IN THE MINOR LEAGUES?

>> I LOVE THE FACT THEY'RE EXPERIMENTING.

I'M NOT CERTAIN ABOUT WHAT THEY'VE CHOSEN, YOU KNOW, THAT THE SIZE OF THE BASE FOR ME, I CAN GET MORE ADVERTISING ON IT AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, SO -- BUT IT'S I A SIGN THAT WE RECOGNIZE AS AN INDUSTRY WHAT'S GOING ON, WHICH IS -- KIDS ARE NOT FOLLOWING BASEBALL THE WAY I DID WHEN I WAS GROWING UP.

AND THAT'S A SERIOUS ROBLEM, AND SO I'M VERY MUCH IN SUPPORT OF THE EXPERIMENTATION.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SEE THE RULES IMPLEMENTED.

I MEAN 20 SECONDS TO RETURN THE BALL, IF THEY JUST PLAYED THE GAMES AND PRETENDED BOB GIBSON WAS PITCHING, WE HAVE 2:31 GAMES.

>> Eric: GIVE ME 30 SECONDS ON TICKET AVAILABILITY.

>> TICKET AVAILABILITY, THERE'S GOING TO BE A HUGE NUMBER BECAUSE OF COURSE WE'VE BEEN SELLING AT 27% SO RIGHT NOW, AS WE SPEAK, WE HAVE 30%.

COME JUNE 1, WE'LL BE ABLE TO SELL 50% AND COME THE FIRST OF JUMP, I BELIEVE THE TATE'S GOING TO OPEN -- FIRST OF JULY, I BELIEVE THE STATE'S GOING TO OPEN.

>> Eric: A REALLY EXCITING PARTNERSHIP, WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO BEING AT THE BALLPARK.

>> IT HAS BEEN REALLY GREAT AND I WANT TO TELL MINNESOTANS, ONE GREAT THING ABOUT IT.

WALZ THE A PLAN, I LIVED PART-TIME IN SOUTH CAROLINA, WE HAD NO PLAN SO STICK WITH IT.

IT'S GOING TO COME OUT FINE.

>> Eric: MIKE VEECK, THANKS SO MUCH.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> Eric: YOU BET.

♪♪ >> PEOPLE ARE ASKING ME TO MAKE PLANS, MEET UP BE, IN PERSON.

BEING A MINNESOTAN IF NOT BY BIRTH, THEN BY TRAINING, I IMMEDIATELY SAY, I WOULD LOVE TO.

I THOUGHT BEING A MINNESOTAN AND AN INTROVERT, I IMMEDIATELY REGRET IT.

I'VE ALWAYS FELT AWKWARD -- GIVE ME A JOB REFILL THE SNACK BOWL AT YOUR PARTY AND I'M GREAT.

OTHERWISE I'LL ENDS UP HIDING IN THE CORNER WITH A BOOK, OR A CAT, OR BOTH.

I'M NOT SURE I KNOW HOW TO BE A PERSON IN PUBLIC ANYMORE.

IF I GO OUT WITH PEOPLE WHO DON'T LIVE WITH ME, WILL I HAVE ANYTHING INTERESTING TO SAY?

WE WERE IN TODDLER LAND BEFORE EVERYTHING SHUT DOWN.

SO WE'RE USED TO BEING REINCLUDESES BY :00 p.m.

I HAVEN'T SUDDENLY DEVELOPED ANY FAST NATURING HOBBIES IN THE LAST EAR, WILL I HOLD MY PHONE IN FRONT OF MY FACE AND SHOW PICTURES OF THE KID AND HOPE HE'S CAN YOU TELL US ENOUGH TO MAKE CONVERSATION.

MY APPEARANCE.

I TOOK A WALK THIS WEEK IN AN OUTFIT AND A HAIRDO THAT WOULD NORMALLY ONLY SEE ITSELF IN MY BEDROOM.

WILL EVERYONE BE STARING AT THAT ONE CHINHEAD THAT'S ESCAPED ATTENTION AND IS NOT ADVERTISING ITSELF WITH NEON SIGNS?

SEE, NO FILTER, I'M TALKING ABOUT MY CHIN HAIRS ON TV.

OBVIOUSLY I CAN HOLD A CONVERSATION AND PUT ON PUBLICLY ACCEPTABLE CLOTHES.

I'M HERE AND I'M NOT A SHAM KNOWLEDGE PANDEMIC MESS.

I JUST ASK THAT WE ALL CUT EACH OTHER SOME SLACK IN THE COMING MONTHS.

WE'RE GOING TO NEED IT.

AND STOP LOOKING AT MY CHIN HAIRS.

♪♪ >> CATHY: LONGTIME AUTHOR AND NEWSPAPER COLUMNIST JIM KLOBUCHAR, FATHER TO MINNESOTA'S SENIOR SENATOR, DIED THIS WEEK AT THE AGE OF 93.

KLOBUCHAR WAS A PROUD NATIVE OF ELY AND LOVED ANYTHING TO DO WITH ATHLETICS, AND THE OUTDOORS.

IN THE 1980S, KLOBUCHAR HOSTED A WEEKLY TV SPORTS SHOW ON TWIN CITIES PBS.

HE ALSO HOSTED OCCASIONAL TV SPECIALS.

IN 1982, JIM KLOBUCHAR HOSTED A TPT PROGRAM ON THE LIFE OF FAMED NATURALIST, AND FELLOW ELY LEGEND, SIGURD OLSON.

THE PROGRAM SHOWCASED KLOBUCHAR'S LOVE OF NATURE, AND HIS SKILL AT WRITING.

HERE'S A CLIP FROM THAT 1982 SPECIAL.

[LOON CALLING] >> THE WILDERNESS CAN MEAN A DELICIOUS SOLITUDE BUT IT DOES NOT EVEN MEAN TOTAL SILENCE.

WHAT KIND OF SILENCE COULD THERE BE IN THE BOUNDARY WATERS AS LONG AS THERE ARE LOONS?

THE LOONS OF LACK LACROIX ARE PART OF THE VAST SOLITUDE.

THE HUNDREDS OF ROCKY ISLANDS^, THE LONG REACHES OF THE... MY MEMORY'S FULL OF THEIR CALLING.

ONCE YEARS AGO, ON THE OPEN REACHES OF LACK LACROIX, I HEARD THEM UNDER THE LIGHT OF A SPRING MOON, A WILD BLENDING HARMONY THAT'S HAUNTED ME EVER SINCE.

[LOONS CALLING] >> EVOKE THE TALL NORWAYS AND THE CHAT TEARING STREAM.

THE CALLING OF A BIRD IN THAT MARVELOUS WORLD OF SUNRISE WHEN THE WORLD LIES STILL AND THE ONENESS IS COMPLETE.

THE PILGRIM WITH HIS EARTH.

THERE'S NO TIME AND THERE IS NO STRUGGLE.

AND AT A MOMENT LIKE THIS, THE HUMAN BEING SOMEHOW SEEMS CLOSER TO IMMORTALITY BECAUSE HE IS, HOWEVER BRIEFLY, CLOSER TO THE ULTIMATE PEACE.

SIG OLSON'S WORDS WERE CAPABLE OF BRINGING US TO THAT FULFILLMENT.

HE MUST HAVE FELT IT NEAR HIMSELF, THAT INAL DAY, WHEN HE ROSE EARLY IN THE MORNING AND PUTTING ON A PAIR OF SNOWSHOES HIS SONS HAD GIVEN HIM FOR CHRISTMAS, CALLED TO ELIZABETH.

IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL DAY, HE SAID.

LET'S GO INTO THE SNOW TOGETHER.

THEY DID, FROLICKING AND TROMPING GANG AS THEY DID 60 YEARS BEFORE.

AND A FEW HOURS LATER, SIG OLSON WAS DAVIDS OF A HEART ATTACK.

THE NEXT DAY HIS SON SIGURD WALKED INTO THE LITTLE WRITING SHACK AND REFLECTED ON HIS FATHER'S LIFE.

>> WELL, I WALKED UP TO THE TYPEWRITER HERE AND I SAW THAT SOMETHING WAS IN IT AND I -- THE THOUGHT OCCURRED TO ME, WELL, THIS MUST HAVE BEEN HIS DAILY TYPING.

HE ALWAYS SAT DOWN AND TYPED SOMETHING DURING THE DAY SO I THOUGHT I'LL SEE WHAT HE WROTE.

AND WHEN I SAW WHAT IT WAS, I JUST -- IT SORT OF TIED EVERYTHING TOGETHER FOR ME.

>> AND WHAT IT WAS WAS A NOTE SAYING, A NEW ADVENTURE IS COMING UP AND I'M SURE IT WILL BE A GOOD ONE.

♪♪ >> ERIC: IT APPEARS THE LEGISLATURE WILL AGAIN NEED EXTRA TIME TO GET THEIR WORK DONE BY MONDAY'S CONSTITUTIONAL DEADLINE.

LAWMAKERS WORKED LATE LAST NIGHT, NOT ON THE BUDGET BUT PASSING, FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, LEGALIZATION OF MARIJUANA.

MARY LAHAMMER REPORTS.

[ Banging Gavel ] >> THE HOUSE WILL COME TO ORDER.

>> Mary: THE MINNESOTA HOUSE MADE A HISTORIC MOVE TO VOTE TO APPROVE ADULT USE OF CANNABIS IN THE FINAL DAYS OF THE REGULAR LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

>> HISTORIC, BIPARTISAN, YOU GOT REPUBLICAN VOTES.

WHY IS IT DEAD ON ARRIVAL THEN IN THE SENATE?

>> I THINK IT'S JUST BECAUSE SENATE REPUBLICAN LEADERS DON'T LIKE IT VERY MUCH.

PAUL GAZELKA IS CONSERVATIVE IN A VERY TRADITIONAL SENSE OF THE WORD.

>> Mary: IF YOUR BILL AS IS HIT THE SENATE FLOOR, DO YOU THINK IT COULD PASS?

>> FUNDAMENTALLY, YES, IT COULD PASSION.

>> THE MARIJUANA BILL IS UP IN SMOKE.

>> IT WOULD STOP HUGE RACIAL INEQUITIES AND DISPARITIES IN MARIJUANA ENFORCEMENT.

>> THESE NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE SO MUCH CHALLENGES, MEMBERS, AND THIS BILL TARGETS THESE NEIGHBORHOODS.

>> Mary: REPUBLICANS ULTIMATELY HELPED DEMOCRATS PASS THE UNPREDICTABLE LIBERTARIAN ISSUE.

>> IN THE YEAR 2021, THAT THE ERA OF MARIJUANA PROHIBITION IS OVER.

>> Mary: BUT THEY SAY THE D.F.L.

PRIORITIES ARE OFF AND THEY DEMAND STATE TAX RELIEF FROM FEDERAL BENEFITS EVER BENEFITS WITH CHECKS DUE ON MONDAY.

>> YOU SHOWED MINNESOTANS WHERE YOUR PRIORITIES ARE.

TWO HEARINGS ON HELPING UNEMPLOYED MINNESOTANS DURING THE PANDEMIC, 13 HEARINGS N POT.

>> THIS HAD DOZEN COMMITTEE BUDGET DEAL YET.

ISN'T A- DID THAT HURT YOU?

>> NOT REALLY.

I MEAN, IT DIDN'T CHANGE ANYBODY'S VOTE ON THE FLOOR.

>> Mary: ULTIMATELY THIS SESSION OR YET THIS YEAR IS WHAT PASSES SMOKEABLE MEDICAL MARIJUANA, IS THAT THE REALISTIC END POINT?

>> I THINK WELL GET THAT TODAY, IN FACT.

IT IS AN MPORTANT STEP FORWARD AND IT WOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED WITHOUT THE BILL WE PASSED LAST NIGHT.

>> Mary: IS THE ALLOWING OF SMOKEABLE MEDICAL MARIJUANA STILL PROGRESS FOR YOU AND YOUR SUPPORTERS?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WHEN WE WENT ACROSS MINNESOTA, EVERY COMMUNITY WE WENT TO, 15 STOPS, AT EVERY SINGLE ONE, ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THAT WAS RAISED WAS THE FACT THAT OUR MEDICAL PROGRAM IS TOO RESTRICTIVE, TOO EXPENSIVE AND HURTING TOO MANY PEOPLE WHO DEPENDS ON IT.

>> Mary: BY MID-WEEK, LEGISLATIVE LEADERS HAD TO ADMIT TIME WAS RUNNING OUT AND THEY WOULDN'T FINISH BY MONDAY'S STUMP DEADLINE.

>> WE'RE COMING TO THE LAST FEW DAYS OF SESSION AND SO IT WILL BE VERY DIFFICULT TO FINISH ON TIME, GIVEN THE LOGISTICS INVOLVED IN IN PUT PUTTING THE BILLS TOGETHER.

>> THERE HAVE BEEN OFFERS EXCHANGED BACK AND FORTH, IT'S MORE DIFFICULT WHEN WE HAVE $2.8 BILLION OF FEDERAL STIMULUS MONEY THAT CAN BE USED TO HELP SUPPLEMENT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE WORKING THROUGH, AND SO THAT'S -- THAT MAKES IT MORE COMPLEX BUT WE ARE WORKING ON IT.

>> I THINK MINNESOTANS EXPECT US TO BE HERE, TO BE AT THE CAPITOL OR ORKING FROM OUR REMOTE OFFICE ATTENTION AND TO KEEP PLOWING AHEAD AND NOT JUST THROW UP OUR HANDS AND SAY WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING UNTIL WE HAVE TARGETS.

I'VE HEARD THAT OVER MANY, MANY YEARS, SENATOR GAZELKA AND YOU KNOW THAT'S JUST NOT TRUE.

THERE'S PLENTY OF WORK THAT YOU CAN DO.

>> Mary: THE REALITY IS THAT LAWMAKERS ARE SET TO RETURN ANYWAY JUNE 14th FOR SPECIAL SESSION TRIGGERED BY THE GOVERNOR'S CONTINUED STATE OF EMERGENCY, EVEN AS VACCINES PICK UP, MASKS ARE OFF AND ACTIVITIES ARE BEGINNING TO RETURN TO NORMAL, LIKE LARGE SPORTING EVENTS.

>> I THINK BOTH SIDES ARE COMING TO AGREEMENTS BECAUSE, AGAIN, WHAT WE FIND OUT SO MANY TIMES, IT'S NOT WHAT I WANT AND WHAT YOU WANT, MUCH OF THAT IS COMMONALITY THAT WE WANT.

WE WANT GOOD SCHOOLS, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR TAX POLICIES ARE APPROPRIATE AND FROM THE THINGS WE WANT WITHOUT DOING TOO MUCH.

>> Mary: AND AGREEMENT ON ADDITIONAL POLICE REFORM REMAINS FRUSTRATING AND I WILL LOUIS IRV.

>> I DON'T KNOW HOW I CAN SAY IN GOOD CONSCIENCE TO ANYONE WHO'S ASKING ME IF, YOU KNOW, IF WE ALL CARE ABOUT -- IF YOU ALL BELIEVE, TRULY BELIEVE THAT BLACK LIVES MATTER OR YOU TRULY BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD TAKE CARE OF OUR VICTIMS, IF WE TROUBLE BELIEVE TO TAKE CARE OF OUR FIREFIGHTERS, HOW IN GOOD CONSCIENCE CAN I SAY THAT WE TRULY BELIEVE THAT?

>> FOR YOU TO SHAME US INTO THE FACT THAT WE AREN'T MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, WELL, QUITE FRANKLY, UNTIL WE GET THOSE TARGETS, IT'S EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO MOVE WITHOUT THAT WE WERE GIVEN AS ARGET- SENATE.

♪♪ >> ERIC: THINGS GOING DOWN TO THE WIRE.

POLARIZED LAWMAKERS.

AND PLENTY OF POSTURING.

THIS MID-MAY SCENARIO IS OLD HAT TO OUR FOLLOWING ANALYSTS.

EACH IS A WILY CAPITOL VETERAN.

JEFF HAYDEN SPENT MORE THAN A DECADE AS A LAWMAKER.

THE DFLER IS NOW A LOBBYIST.

THAT'S THE SAME OCCUPATION OF REPUBLICAN BRIAN MCDANIEL.

SENATOR, THE GOVERNOR'S ASK MANDATE DECISION, THAT MUST HAVE BEEN A POLITICAL COMPONENT TO THAT, WASN'T THERE?

>> WELL, THE GOVERNOR ALWAYS SAID THAT HE WAS GOING TO FOLLOW THE SCIENCE AND WHEN THE C.D.C.

CAME OUT AND SAID THINGS WERE GOING TO BE OKAY, THAT DURING THIS PARTICULAR SITUATION, YOU DIDN'T AVE TO WEAR A MASK, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THE GOVERNOR DID.

SO, NO, I DON'T THINK IT WAS A POLITICAL DECISION, I THINK THE GOVERNOR DID WHAT HE SAID HE WAS WAS GOING DO, FOLLOW THE SCIENCE, THE CDC AND OTHER EXPERTS.

>> ric: I BELIEVE THE GOVERNOR MIGHT HAVE GOTTEN BOOED AT FERGUS FALLS TOMORROW FOR THE FISHING OPENER IF HE HAD NOT LIFTED THE MANDATE.

>> I THINK THAT WILL PROBABLY HAPPEN ANYWAY BUT I DON'T THINK THIS IS POLITICAL MOVE.

POLITICAL MOVE WOULD HAVE BEEN TO TRADE THAT FOR ONE OF THE PRIORITIES THAT HE AND HIS PARTY CARE ABOUT.

HE DIDN'T DO THAT.

HE JUST REACTED TO HAT THE FEDS DID AND, YOU KNOW, HERE WE ARE.

>> Cathy: YEAH, HERE WE ARE.

SENATOR AYDEN, WHY ON EARTH HAVE THINGS GONE SO SLOWLY THIS SESSION?

AND NOW AGAIN WE'RE LOOKING AT A SPECIAL SESSION AND WORK WAS NOT DONE BY THE CONSTITUTIONAL DEADLINE OF MONDAY.

>> WELL, IT'S REALLY COMPLEX ISSUE, WE'RE COMING OUT OF A PANDEMIC, WE HAVE THE CIVIL UNREST FOLLOWING THE DEREK CHAUVIN TRIAL, WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN THERE.

AND THEN 2.8 BILLION DOLLARS, THE STATE GETS 270 -- 250 -- DEPENDING ON THE COUNTIES, SO I THINK IT'S INCREDIBLY COMPLEX TO BE ABLE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO A BUDGET AFTER COMING OUT OF A PANDEMIC AND CIVIL UNREST, WITH A GOOD THING WITH A LOT OF RESOURCES BUT TO MAKE SURE WE CAN DO THOSE THINGS RIGHT.

I THINK THE SPEAKER HAD IT RIGHT, MINNESOTANS-MINNESOTA'S BUDGET IS THAT THE POPULATION IS GROWING, THE BUDGET HAS BEEN -- THESE SMALL SESSIONS AREN'T REALLY -- WE'RE GOING INTO SPECIAL SESSION EVERY YEAR EVEN WITHOUT THE PANDEMIC.

>> Cathy: DO YOU THINK THIS SHOULD BE A FULL-TIME LEGISLATURE?

>> I DO.

I THINK LIKE ILLINOIS, NOT ONLY FULL-TIME BUT WE SHOULD HAVE A SESSION THAT WE HAVE IN THE FALL TO KIND OF TAKE ARE OF THESE ISSUES.

WE'RE SIMPLY GOING TO DO THAT NOW.

EVEN IF THE GOVERNOR DIDN'T FIND PEACETIME EMERGENCY, WE'RE NOT PROPOSED, WE'RE NOT QUITE READY TO TAKE IN ALL THE IF I HAD GUIDANCE, FIGURE OUT WHERE THE MORE THAN IS GOING, MAKE SURE WE DON'T OVERLAP AND GET THAT MONEY OUT TO THE PLACES THAT IT NEEDS TO GO.

WE SIMPLY JUST DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME.

>> Eric: BRIAN, WHEN YOU WERE AN AID TO SPEAKER SVIGGUM BACK IN THE DAY, WASN'T THERE SOME LAWMAKER FEAR ABOUT WHAT CONSTITUENTS WOULD THINK ABOUT A SPECIAL SESSION?

I DON'T SENSE THAT SAME -- THERE MINUTE BE A POLITICAL PRICE TO PAY FOR GOING INTO SPECIAL ESSION ANYMORE.

>> NO, IF SPEAKER SVIGGUM WERE DEAD, HE'D BE ROLLING IN HIS GRAVE BECAUSE HE WAS VERY WORRIED ABOUT WHAT EOPLE WOULD BE THINKING AND SAYING BACK HOME AT THEIR KITCHEN TABLE.

HE FELT THAT WE NEEDED TO BE IN THE CAPITOL, WE NEEDED TO BE WORKING, WE NEEDED TO BE SHOWING PEOPLE THAT WE WEREN'T LOLLIGAGGING AND THAT IS SOMETHING.

AND I DON'T THINK THAT THERE IS A CONSEQUENCE NOW BUT I ALSO THINK, THEN, THERE WAS A MUCH DIFFERENT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ONSTITUENTS AND MEDIA, WHERE NOW EVERYTHING'S ON TWITTER, EVERYTHING IS SENSATIONALIZED, WHETHER WE'RE WORKING CAN HE TAP TOLL NORTHERN IS NOT EVERYONE'S MAJOR CONCERN.

>> Cathy: CAN YOU WALK VIEWERS THROUGH WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE BUDGET TARGETS ARE FINALLY DECIDED UPON AND THEN THEY'RE RELEASED TO THE VARIOUS CONFERENCE COMMITTEES, WALK US THROUGH SOME OF THE HORSE-TRADING THAT THEN STARTS.

[Overlapping Conversation] >> PART OF IT IS NOW HE COMMITTEE CHAIRS NOW NOW HOW MUCH MONEY THEY CAN SPENDS, OR NOT SPEND.

AND THEN AT THAT POINT, THEY'LL START OUT USUALLY WITH THE THINGS THAT THEY AGREE UPON, HOW TO SPENDS THE MONEY AND THEN THEY'LL GET THOSE OUT OF HE WAY AND THEN THEY HAVE TO HORSE-TRADE BETWEEN THE BIG THINGS THEY REALLY WANT TO DO.

SO IF IT'S IN H.H.S.

AND SOMEONE REALLY WANTS TO EXPAND THE AMOUNT OF MONEY WE SPEND FOR HE DISABILITY COMMUNITY AND SOMEBODY ELSE WANTS TO EXPAND THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE GIVE TO LOW-INCOME PEOPLE, WE'LL HAVE TO FIGURE THAT OUT.

THAT'S JUST AN EXAMPLE OF THE SOME OF THE WORK I DID WHEN I WAS IN THE LEGISLATURE.

>> Cathy: BRIAN?

>> WELL, OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE GENERAL IDEAS ON WHAT THEY WANT TO DO AND WHAT THEY'LL BE ABLE TO DO.

THEY KNOW THAT THE NUMBER WILL BE HIGHER THAN WHAT THE SENATE NUMBER IS NOW, IT WILL BE LOWER THAN WHAT THE HOUSE NUMBER IS NOW, SO, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THIS WORK IS HAPPENING BUT THE FINAL, THE FINAL DECISIONS CANNOT BE MADE UNTIL THEY GET THOSE FINAL BUDGET DECISIONS AND, YOU KNOW, ITH ALL THAT FEDERAL MONEY COMING IN SO LATE WITH THE GUIDANCE COMING IN ON MAY 10TH REALLY ISN'T REALISTIC TO SAY THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE HAD THIS ALL WRAPPED UP BY NOW.

>> Eric: SENATOR, AS A GODFATHER OF THE POCI CAUCUS, I WANT TO ASK YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, WHAT WILL THE SENATE ACCEPT OF THE 12 PROPOSALS THAT HAVE COME ON POLICE REFORM AND WILL THAT BE ENOUGH TO SATISFY THE SPEAKER'S PEOPLE OF COLOR CAUCUS IN THE HOUSE?

>> WELL, I HOPE SO.

LAST YEAR I WORKED REALLY HARD ALONG WITH THE POCI CAUCUS AT PUTTING TOGETHER THE REFORMS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO GET WITH THE PROMISE OF THOSE BEING ENACTED AROUND WE WOULD COME BACK THIS YEAR AND DO MORE.

SO THE HOUSE POCI CAUCUS OR THE HOUSE CAUCUS IN GENERAL HAS HELPED PUT THESE THINGS FORWARD.

THE SENATE HASN'T DONE THAT, WOULD.

SENATOR LIMMER HASN'T LOOKED AT THE BILLS, HE CERTAINLY HASN'T HEARD THEM.

I THINK RIGHT OFF THE TOP, WE KNOW THE STOPS AND THE STUFF THAT THE SPEAKER WAS TALKING ABOUT IN TERMS OF WARRANTS THAT YOU HAVE THAT AREN'T LIKE, YOU KNOW, THAT YOU EVER HARMED A PERSON BUT THERE'S OTHER WARRANTS THAT YOU MAY GET FOR NOT SHOWING UP, LIKE WHAT HAPPENED TO DAUNTE, I THINK THAT'S THE KIND OF STUFF THAT REPRESENTATIVE MARIANI, AND OTHERS REALLY WANT TO PUT FORWARD.

I THINK THERE'S ALSO MORE WORK TO DO, MORE WORK AT THE P.O.S.T.

BOARD AND WE DO HAVE TO START THIS KIND OF QUALIFIED IMMUNITY.

>> Eric: BRIAN, AN EXAMPLE OF HORSE-TRADING, WHO KNOWS, GAZELKA SAYS, WELL, I'LL TAKE THREE OF THE 12 ON OLICE REFORM, YOU DROP TAXES OR YOU GIVE THE TAX RELIEVER TO THE UNEMPLOYMENT -- EXTENDED UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS, THAT SORT OF THING.

IS THAT THE STATUS OF WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW OR... >> YEAH.

NORMALLY, IT'S HARD TO NEGOTIATE WITH A REPUBLICAN BECAUSE REPUBLICANS DON'T WANT ANYTHING.

THIS YEAR THAT'S NOT THE CASE.

I THINK IF YOU LOOK AT TAXES WITH THE PPP LOANS AND WITH THE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE, THAT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT THE REPUBLICANS WANT TO GET FOR THEIR CONSTITUENTS, FOR THE PEOPLE OF MINNESOTA.

SO I DO THINK THAT ONCE THEY ACTUALLY SIT DOWN AND DO THEIR JOB, WHICH IS TRADING, A, TO GET B, YOU NOW, A LOT OF THESE THINGS WILL BE SETTLED AND NO ONE'S GOING TO BE SATISFIED THAT HEY GOT ENOUGH BUT THAT'S ALWAYS THE SIGN OF A GOOD DEAL.

>> Cathy: SAY, I'M CURIOUS WHERE YOU TWO STAND ON THIS.

THERE'S ALWAYS THIS -- IT'S KIND OF A JOKE ABOUT THE CONE OF SILENCE AT THE CAPITOL AT THIS STAGE OF THE GAME AND, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE OFFERS BEING TRADED BEHIND HE SCENES BUT IT IS A SERIOUS ISSUE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT TRANSPARENCY UP THERE.

HOW HAS THAT BEEN ALL SESSION LONG?

I'VE BEEN HEARING FROM FOLKS SAYING IT'S JUST NOT BEEN A VERY -- THINGS HAVE BEEN DONE AND IT'S NOT VERY PUBLICLY.

WHAT ABOUT THAT, AND WHAT -- HOW -- WHAT'S THE PROBLEM WITH THAT?

SENATOR?

>> WELL, THIS YEAR'S REALLY BEEN EXACERBATED BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC AND WE'RE DOING ALL OF OUR WORK LIKE WE'RE TALKING TO YOU TODAY, VIA ZOOM, AND I THINK BRIAN KNOWS, WE'VE WORKED ON SOME THINGS TOGETHER BUT THAT'S REALLY HARD TO GET IN AND TALK TO PEOPLE AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET THE PUBLIC INTO A ROOM AND BE ABLE TO KIND OF SEE WHAT'S GOING ON.

THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN AT THE ENDS THIS KIND OF CONE OF SILENCE IN TERMS OF THE BIG ISSUES, THE GLOBAL AGREEMENT.

HOWEVER, I DO THINK THAT WE'VE BEEN MOVING FARTHER AND FARTHER AWAY FROM CONFERENCE COMMITTEES AT THE ENDS TO GO THROUGH EACH ONE OF THE PROVISIONS, HAVE THE PUBLIC UNDERSTAND IT AND UNDERSTAND WHERE EACH MEMBER IS ON THAT PARTICULAR ISSUE.

I DO THINK WE NEED TO ET BACK TO THAT.

BUT THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE AT THE END THIS KIND OF LARGE NUMBERS ND WANTING TO HEAR, FRANKLY, WHAT PEOPLE HEAR ABOUT TO IND OF COME TO A POLITICAL SOLUTION.

>> Eric: SENATOR BAKK HAS CONVENED A BONDING COMMITTEE.

SENATOR, YOU'RE A FORMER COLLEAGUE OF HIS AND A GOOD FRIEND.

HE'S ALWAYS GOT SOMETHING GOING, WHAT'S SHAKING ON BONDING?

>> WELL, LIKE SENATOR BAKK ALWAYS TELLS ME, YOU HAVE TO START WITH THE HOUSE, IT'S A HOUSE FILE, JUST HAD TO GET THAT IN.

SO HE WANTS TO SEE WHAT THE HOUSE IS ABLE TO PASS AND I'M SURE -- THE MINORITY REALLY COMES INTO PLAY THEN WITH SENATOR PAPPAS AAS WELL AS THE FOLKS AND SENATOR GAZELKA, SO I THINK THAT THEY HAVE A PACKAGE THAT THEY WANT TO DO, THAT SENATOR BAKK REALLY WANTS TO SEE WHAT THE HOUSE IS ABLE TO GET DONE AND THEN AT THAT POINT, THAT ALSO BECOMES USUAL LEAP THE LAST THING THAT GETS DONE IN THE GLOBAL AGREEMENT.

>> Eric: BRIAN, JUNE 30th OR JUNE 14th?

>> JUNE 14th.

YOU KNOW, IT'S MY HOPE, CERTAINLY, THAT A LOT OF THESE ISSUES WITH POLICE REFORM AND SOME OF THESE OTHER ISSUES WILL BE SETTLED WELL BEFORE JUNE 30th.

I THINK IF THEY COME BACK ON JUNE 14th WITHOUT A DEAL ON THESE ISSUES, THEN THERE'LL BE WASTING THEIR TIME.

THEY DON'T WANT TO WASTE THEIR TIME, THEY WANT TO GET TO THE LAKE ALONG WITH ALL OF THEIR CONSTITUENTS.

>> Eric: MEMBERS WANT TO GO ON VACATION, TOO.

THANKS, FELLAS.

LEARNED A LOT.

>> Cathy: THANKS.

♪♪ >> CATHY: WE PROUDLY PRESENT A TRICKY MINNESOTA HISTORY QUESTION FOR YOU TONIGHT.

SO LISTEN CAREFULLY TO OUR CLUES.

WE ARE ASKING ABOUT A WARTIME HOLIDAY.

CHRISTMAS EVE, 1944.

AND PEOPLE AROUND THE GLOBE LISTENED TO A RADIO SPECIAL CALLED "PEACE ON EARTH WITH GOOD WILL TOWARD MEN" ON THE NBC RADIO NETWORK.

A 125-MEMBER CHOIR FROM MINNESOTA WAS FEATURED IN THE BROADCAST.

MINNESOTANS TUNED IN TO KSTP RADIO TO HEAR THE CHOIR SING "ALL GLORY LAUD AND HONOR."

LOCAL NEWSPAPERS PROMOTED THE BROADCAST WITH PICTURES OF CHOIR MEMBERS.

YOUR JOB IS SIMPLE: NAME THAT CHOIR.

WHAT MINNESOTA CHOIR WAS FEATURED ON NBC WORLDWIDE RADIO ON CHRISTMAS EVE, 1944?

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU WHETHER YOU ARE DIALING IN FROM SANTA CLAUS LAKE, ST. NICHOLAS OR MISTLETOE CREEK.

ALL REAL PLACES IN THE NORTH STAR STATE.

651-229-1430, THAT'S THE NUMBER TO CALL.

651-229-1430.

A REMINDER THAT THE ANNUAL "ALMANAC" VIEWER SURVEY IS OUT.

IT'S AN IMPORTANT PIECE OF INFORMATION AS WE PLAN OUR WORK NEXT YEAR.

YOU CAN FILL OUT THE SURVEY ANY TIME, NIGHT OR DAY BY GOING TO TPT.ORG/SURVEYS.

A REMINDER THAT YOU CAN WATCH LEGISLATIVE NEWS CONFERENCES AND FLOOR ACTION ALL WEEKEND ON THE FREE DIGITAL OVER-THE-AIR MINNESOTA CHANNEL.

EVERY PBS STATION IN THE STATE OFFERS THAT SERVICE.

AND DON'T FORGET THAT THE FINAL EPISODE OF "ALMANAC AT THE CAPITOL" WILL AIR NEXT WEDNESDAY NIGHT AT 7:00 ON THE SAME CHANNEL YOU FIND LEGISLATIVE COVERAGE.

FOR SHOW-CLOSING MUSIC, IT WAS THIS WEEK NINE YEARS AGO THAT STEVE KAUL AND THE BRASS KINGS STOPPED BY STUDIO B TO PLAY SOME TUNES FOR US.

I MISS LIVE MUSIC.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

WE HOPE TO SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT WEEK.

♪ VERY LIVELY BANJO MUSIC ♪♪ ♪ WELL THE SUN CAME UP THIS MORNING LIKE A HAMMER ON MY HEAD, SPENT THE NIGHT NEXT TO THE BED ♪ ♪ I HAD LAST NIGHT'S FOOD AND ONE SHOE ON, THE OTHER ONE WAS DOWN THE STREET AT THE LAST BAR I FOUND ♪♪ ♪ WE GOT HELL TO PAY AND THE DEVIL'S TO PAY ♪♪ ♪ WE GOT TO GET OUT OF THIS HOTEL ROOM ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ WHAT HAPPENED LACE NIGHT I'M NOT QUITE SURE ♪ ♪ EVERYTHING IS JUST A BLUR ♪ ♪ I HAVE BLOOD ON MY SHIRT AND IN MY POKED IS A HOTEL KEY AND I DON'T KNOW HOW I GOT IT ♪♪ Captioned by: Paradigm Reporting/Captioning www.paradigmreporting.com >> "ALMANAC" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY MEMBERS OF THIS PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION.

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A TOUCHSTONE ENERGY COOPERATIVE.

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ENBRIDGE: CONNECTING MINNESOTANS WITH ENERGY FOR OVER 70 YEARS.

MORE AT ENBRIDGE.COM/LINE3US.

AND EDUCATION MINNESOTA: THE VOICE FOR PROFESSIONAL EDUCATORS AND MORE ATS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.- EDUCATIONMINNESOTA.ORG.

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