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

>> Cathy: IN THE NEXT 60 MINUTES WE'LL LEARN ABOUT PROBLEMS WITH THE SOUTHWEST LIGHT RAIL LINE, WE'LL REMEMBER THE GORBACHEV VISIT TO MINNESOTA, AND WE'LL FIND OUT ABOUT A NEW MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY FARM CROP.

AND THEN MARY LAHAMMER MEETS UP WITH OUR NEWEST MEMBER OF CONGRESS.

>> WE'LL HEAD DOWN TO THE FINSTAD FARM IN SOUTHERN MINNESOTA TO MEET MINNESOTA'S NEWEST MEMBER OF CONGRESS CHOOSE BACK ON THE BALLOT IN JUST MONTHS.

>> HOW DIFFERENT IT DOES FEEL BEING HERE WITH YOUR NEW TITLE, CONGRESSMAN FINSTAD >> THAT HASN'T QUITE SETTLED IN YET, IT SEEMS A LITTLE WEIRD.

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

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

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

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

DELTADENTALMN.ORG/TPT.

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

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.

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT IS PROVIDED BY THE BLANDIN FOUNDATION.

WORKING TO STRENGTHEN RURAL MINNESOTA.

>> Cathy: IN A FEW MINUTES WE'LL TALK ABOUT STRATEGIES FOR COVID BOOSTERS AND WE'LL REMEMBER A LONGTIME ST. PAUL COMMUNITY LEADER GILBERT DE LA O.

BUT FIRST, A LONG-AWAITED REPORT RELEASED TODAY ON THE TROUBLED SOUTHWEST LIGHT RAIL PROJECT.

>> Eric: THE NEARLY 15-MILE RAIL LINE IS OVERBUDGET AND BEHIND SCHEDULE.

LAST WINTER, LAWMAKERS AGREED TO HAVE THE LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR'S OFFICE STUDY THE ISSUE AND RELEASE A REPORT.

THAT HAPPENED TODAY.

HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE FINDINGS, MINNESOTA'S LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR JUDY RANDALL.

WELL, MADAM AUDITOR, MISMANAGEMENT, UNFORTUNATE CIRCUMSTANCE, A FLAW IN THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS, WHAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE HERE?

>> WELL, THIS REPORT LOOKED AT A LOT OF THE BASICS AND LOOKED AT WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE BUDGET AND WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE TIMELINE.

SO WE ARE DOING ANOTHER REPORT THAT'S GOING TO LOOK MORE INTO MAYBE MISMANAGEMENT AND OVERALL MANAGEMENT.

SO I WANT TO JUST LEVEL-SET IN TERMS OF WHAT THIS REPORT WAS.

IT WAS SETTING THE FACTS OUT SO THAT WE CAN ALL HAVE A KNOWLEDGE BASED CONVERSATION AROUND WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE PROJECT.

>> Cathy: WELL, THE FACTS ARE PRETTY DAMNING ACTUALLY.

THE COST HAS MORE THAN DOUBLED, IT'S 9 YEARS BEHIND SCHEDULE.

STILL GOING TO BE A HALF A BILLION DOLLARS SHY AND MET COUNCIL DOESN'T KNOW WHERE THE MONEY IS GOING TO COME FROM.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE REASONS BEHIND THE DELAY, THOUGH?

>> YEAH, AND YOU REALLY HIT ON KEY KEY ISSUES.

I WANT TO REEMPHASIZE THOSE.

THE PROJECT MORE THAN DOUBLED FROM 1.25 BILLION TO 2.74 MILLION -- BILLION, SORRY, I SAID MILLION -- BILLION, AND A NINE-YEAR DELAY.

ONE OF THE BIG REASONS BEHIND THIS DELAY IS THE INTERSECTION WITH LIGHT RAIL AND FREIGHT RAIL.

FREIGHT RAIL LINES GO THROUGH A LOT OF THE SAME CORRIDOR, A LOT OF THE SAME ALIGNMENT AND IN THE BEGINNING MET COUNCIL AND ITS PARTNERS THOUGHT THE FREIGHT RAIL WOULD BE RELOCATED, IT WOULD MOVE OUT OF THAT CORRIDOR SO THEY DON'T FRANKLY WORRY ABOUT IT.

THEY DIDN'T INCLUDE IT IN THE PROJECT DESIGN, THEY DIDN'T INCLUDE IT IN THE COSTS.

AS THE PROJECT WENT ON THE FTA SAID, NO, ACTUALLY YOU DO HAVE TO INCLUDE THAT WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE COST AND PROJECT.

THEN MORE STUDY HAPPENED AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WAS OH, WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO RELOCATE IT AFTER ALL, WE MADE ASSUMPTIONS THAT WERE NOT CORRECT.

NOW WE HAVE TO CO-LOCATE, WE HAVE TO KEEP FREIGHT RAIL IN THE SAME CORRIDOR AS THE LIGHT RAIL.

THAT LED TO MORE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STUDIES THAT LED TO MORE DELAYS, MORE ENGINEERING.

THEN THEY SAID, OKAY, NOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO A TUNNEL FOR THE LIGHT RAIL.

STARTED TO DO A TUNNEL AND THEN THERE WERE CONSTRUCTIONS FOR THAT TUNNEL.

THEY HAD TO DO A DIFFERENT KIND OF TUNNEL, THAT LED TO MORE DELAYS, MORE COSTS.

IT'S KIND OF LIKE A DIMINO EFFECT IS WHAT WE'RE THINKING.

THAT'S KIND OF THE FREIGHT RAIL IMPACT I THINK ON HIS PROJECT.

>> Eric: ARE THERE TOO MANY PLAYERS SO THAT ACCOUNTABILITY IS LACKING AND PEOPLE CAN POINT THE FINGER AT SOMEBODY ELSE, OR?

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

MET COUNCIL IS RESPONSIBLE AT THIS POINT FOR THIS PROJECT.

>> Eric: AND WHAT DOES THE MET COUNCIL SAY ABOUT -- AT THE END YOU ALWAYS SAY WE'RE MAKING MANY OF THE CHANGES THE AUDITOR HAS AGREED TO.

WHAT'S THEIR COMEBACK?

>> THEIR RESPONSE TO OUR REPORT IS THAT IT'S ACCURATE.

THEY AGREE THEY DO NOT KNOW WHERE THE REMAINING 500 MILLION IS COMING FROM.

OUT OF THIS WHOLE REPORT THAT'S THE BIGGEST CONCERN.

THE FEDS CANNOT CONTRIBUTE ANY MORE MONEY.

STATE LAW IS CLEAR THAT THE STATE WON'T CONTRIBUTE ANY MORE MONEY.

HENNEPIN COUNTY HAS ALREADY CONTRIBUTED A BILLION DOLLARS AND HAS SAID THEY DON'T HAVE N AVENUE FOR CONTRIBUTING MORE MONEY.

SO I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT REMAINING MONEY IS GOING TO COME PRN AND I THINK THAT'S A BIG WORRY.

>> Cathy: WHAT ARE THE LESSONS LEARNED FROM THIS FIRST AUDIT?

>> WELL, I THINK THE LESSONS LEARNED IS DON'T MAKE ASSUMPTIONS, DON'T BUILD A WHOLE PLAN AROUND SOMETHING THAT IS JUST AN ASSUMPTION.

GET -- THE DETAILS MATTER.

YOU KNOW, DETAILS MATTER ON THESE BIG PROJECTS.

SO THAT'S A KEY THING.

COMMUNICATION WITH STAKEHOLDERS AND PARTNERS IS IMPORTANT THEY DID DO THAT BUT AGAIN THEY DIDN'T GET A COMMITMENT AROUND THIS FREIGHT RAIL LOCATION, AND I THINK THAT IN THE END REALLY CAUSED A LOT OF PROBLEMS.

>> Eric: HOW FAR ALONG IS HE CONSTRUCTION?

THERE'S PERIODIC CALLS FOR LET'S ABANDON IT, LET'S FORGET IT.

IS THAT EVEN FEASIBLE?

HOW FAR ALONG ARE THEY?

>> I THINK THEY'RE AROUND 60%, SO TO ABANDON IT HAS COSTS AS WELL.

THEY WOULD HAVE TO REPAY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

THAT'S A OT OF MONEY.

AND THEN THERE'S A LOT OF INFRASTRUCTURE THROUGHOUT THE WESTERN SUBURBS THAT YOU'D HAVE TO EITHER DISMANTLE OR PROTECT.

SO IT FEELS TO ME WE'RE IN A TOO BIG TO FAIL SITUATION.

>> Eric: TELL US ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES, THEY ARE BACK BEFORE YOUR OFFICE ONCE AGAIN.

>> THEY ARE.

WE JUST RELEASED A FINANCIAL AUDIT ON WEDNESDAY RELATED TO GRANT OVERSIGHT OF GRANTS THAT THEY ADMINISTERED RELATED TO HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING SUPPORTS.

AND WE AGAIN FOUND WHAT WE HAVE FOUND IN PREVIOUS AUDITS WITH THEM, THAT THEY HAVE INADEQUATE OVERSIGHT OF THESE GRANTS FROM THE VERY BEGINNING IN TERMS OF FIGURING OUT WHO SHOULD GET THE GRANTS, ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE FINAL OVERSIGHT, YOU KNOW, FINANCIAL RECONCILIATION, SEEING HOW THE MONEY IS SPENT.

WE'RE FINDING SIGNIFICANT GAPS ACROSS THAT WHOLE PECTRUM OF GRANTS MANAGEMENT.

>> Cathy: IS THERE A REASON THAT DHS, THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES HAS BEEN THE SUBJECT OF MULTIPLE AUDITS OVER THE YEARS?

>> WELL, THEY HAVE A LOT OF MONEY.

THEY RECEIVE A LOT OF MONEY.

ALTHOUGH I WILL NOTE WE'RE ON THE BRINK OF RELEASING ANOTHER AUDIT ABOUT DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH OVERSIGHT OF GRANTS, WE'RE DOING ANOTHER EVALUATION RELATED TO DPS ND DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION'S OVERSIGHT OF GRANTS.

SO THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ACROSS STATE AGENCIES, UNFORTUNATELY.

>> Eric: AND YOU'LL BE DOING A PROGRAM EVALUATION OF LIGHT RAIL AND BROADLY WHAT DOES THAT INCLUDE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SO THIS REPORT THAT WE ELEASED TODAY IS KIND OF STEP ONE.

IT'S ALMOST LIKE THE BACKGROUND CHAPTER OF THE REPORT.

PROGRAM EVALUATION HAS A MUCH MORE EXPANSIVE LOOK, WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT CHANGE ORDERS, WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT NONCONFORMANCE REPORTS, WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT DECISIONS THAT THE MET COUNCIL HAS MADE ALONG THE WAY.

>> Cathy: ALL RIGHT.

IT'S GOOD TO SEE OU.

>> Eric: YOU'RE BUSY.

>> Cathy: YOU ARE BUSY.

>> HAVE A REAT TEAM.

GREAT TEAM.

>> Eric: THE LEGISLATIVE COMMISSIONS LAYS OUT A WHOLE BUNCH OF STUFF FOR YOU TO DO IN THE COMING YEARS, SO.

COME BACK AND VISIT US OFTEN.

THANKS.

IT'S BEEN A MOST UNUSUAL ELECTION CYCLE FOR SOUTHERN MINNESOTA'S CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

FOLLOWING THE DEATH OF CONGRESSMAN JIM HAGEDORN, THERE WERE CONTESTED ENDORSING CONVENTIONS, A PRIMARY AND SPECIAL ELECTION ON THE SAME DAY, AND NOW THE NEW MEMBER OF CONGRESS BRAD FINSTAD HAS TO STAND FOR ELECTION AGAIN IN NOVEMBER IN A NEWLY REDRAWN DISTRICT.

GOT ALL THAT?

MARY LAHAMMER HEADED DOWN TO THE FINSTAD FARM THIS WEEK TO CATCH UP WITH THE BUSY NEW CONGRESSMAN.

>> IN THE VERDANT VALLEYS OF SOUTHERN MINNESOTA NEW NEW ULM'S GIANT HERMAN THE GERMAN STATUE SITS THE FINSTAD FAMILY FARM.

WHERE A CROP DUSTER CRUISES PAST TO TRY TO STOP APHIDS FROM DESTROYING A BUMPER CROP OF SOYBEANS.

>> THE BEANS ARE TOO IG AND GREAT LOOKING RIGHT NOW SO WE DON'T WANT TO PLOW THROUGH IT.

>> BRAD'S FOCUS FROM DAY ONE HAS BEEN AGRICULTURE.

>> THIS IS THE FARM WHERE I WAS BORN AND RAISED.

>> HE'S LATER MOVED JUST ACROSS THE FIELD.

>> IN SECOND GRADE I MET MY WIFE ON THE SCHOOL BUS SO IT TURNED OUT TO BE A PRETTY GOOD MOVE FOR US, FOR ME.

>> AND YOU TWO HAVE 7 CHILDREN, RIGHT?

>> 7 SEVEN, WE LIVE ON THE EDGE OF NEW ULM.

>> FINSTAD WAS FIRST ELECTED TO THE STATE LEGISLATURE AS ONE OF ITS YOUNGEST MEMBERS.

>> 26 YEARS OLD.

>> WHAT DID PEOPLE SAY AS YOU DOOR KNOCKED?

>> THAT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST QUESTIONS, HOW OLD ARE YOU?

>> HOW DOES IT FEEL BEING HERE WITH YOUR NEW TITLE, CONGRESSMAN FINSTAD?

>> THAT FEELS A LITTLE WEIRD WHEN PEOPLE SAY THAT.

IT'S WHAT'S DRIVEN ME TO RUN FOR ELECTIONS, DO THE GRUELING CAMPAIGN IT TAKES, NOT ONLY N A NORMAL CYCLE BUT IN AN EXTRAORDINARY ODD CYCLE AND TRYING TO DO THAT AFTER WE LOST A FRIEND AND STATESMAN N CONGRESSMAN JIM HAGEDORN.

WE UNDERSTAND YOU AVE A LOT OF KIDS.

CAN YOU GET THEM ALL ARE READY AND I HAD TO LOOK AT MY WIFE AND SAY DO WE HAVE CLEAN CLOTHES FOR THE 7 KIDS, DO THEY HAVE HAIRCUTS?

>> THE CONGRESSMAN VOTED AGAINST THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT.

>> WAS THAT A HARD VOTE >> IT WASN'T FOR ME, I'M A SIMPLE FARM GUY FROM SOUTHERN MINNESOTA.

IT'S TITLED INFLATION REDUCTION ACT, DOES IT REDUCE INFLATION?

AND I COULDN'T GET A STRAIGHT ANSWER.

>> AFTER BEING AN APPOINTEE OF PRESIDENT TRUMP, WE WONDERED WHAT HE'D HAVE TO SAY TODAY.

>> I TELL PEOPLE THIS ALL THE TIME, I PROUDLY SERVED IN THE USDA RURAL DEVELOPMENT.

IT'S WHAT I'VE SPENT MY CAREER WORKING ON SO I HAVE NO REGRETS ON THAT.

DID PRESIDENT TRUMP SPEAK THE WAY MY NORWEGIAN GRANDFATHER WOULD SPEAK?

PROBABLY.

>> DID HE WIN OR LOSE THE ELECTION, WHERE ARE YOU ON THAT?

>> WE HAVE RESIDENT BIDEN RIGHT NOW.

I ACCEPT THAT, I ACCEPT THAT HE'S PROBABLY THE WORST PRESIDENT WE'VE EVER HAD.

>> BUT HE'S IN A DISTRICT THAT GOVERNOR TIM WALZ HAD NOT LONG AGO.

>> I'M JEFF EVIDENTINGER, MY BUSINESS IS MAKING FOOD AFFORDABLE, SO I KNOW HOW TO FIGHT INFLATION.

>> IS THIS STILL A COMPETITIVE IN PLAY DISTRICT?

>> YEAH, I THINK IT'S COMPETITIVE.

I THINK IT'S IN PLAY.

>> THE ABOSSER ISSUE IS THE WILD CARD WITH TURNOUT IN BIGGER CITIES LIKE ROCHESTER AND MANKATO.

>> I GET WHY THE DEMOCRATS ARE TRYING TO MAKE THAT A BIGGER ISSUE.

I'M PRO-LIFE, I'VE WORKED MY LIFE ON THIS ISSUE, MY WIFE AND I HAVE BEEN DEVOTED TO HELPING MOTHERS AND FAMILIES IN NEED.

WE HELPED CREATE A CRISIS PREGNANCY CENTER IN NEW ULM, 150 BABIES HAVE BEEN BORN IN THAT CENTER.

NOW, IS THERE TOUGH SITUATIONS WHERE THE HEALTH OF THE MOTHER IS AT RISK?

YOU BET.

THAT'S WHERE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A DOCTOR AND WOMAN IN NEED, WOMAN IN HEALTH CRISIS TEND TO THE SITUATION.

>> THAT ISSUE TENDS TO BREAK IN CITY CENTERS, IS THAT GOING TO BE AN ISSUE FOR YOU DEMOGRAPHICALLY?

>> WELL, I WOULD HOPE NOT IT AND I LOOK FORWARD TO COMMUNICATE WITH FOLKS THAT MAYBE DON'T SEE THINGS THE SAME AS I DO.

BUT I ALSO HAVE DEVOTED AGAIN MY LIFE TO HELPING FOLKS IN NEED.

IT'S MORE THAN A POLITICAL STATEMENT FOR ME, IT'S HOW WE AS NEIGHBORS TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER.

♪♪ >> Cathy: ON THURSDAY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT APPROVED MODIFIED BOOSTERS FOR THE COVID VACCINE.

THE NEW SHOTS TARGET THE MOST RECENT COVID VARIANTS AND HEALTH OFFICIALS HOPE THIS WILL LEAD TO BETTER PROTECTION AND MORE PEOPLE GETTING THE SHOTS.

HERE TO TALK BOOSTERS, MICHAEL OSTERHOLM.

HE HEADS THE U OF M'S CENTER FOR INFECTIOUS DISEASE AND RESEARCH POLICY.

GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> GOOD TO BE HERE.

THANK YOU.

>> SHOULD THESE BOOSTERS WORK BETTER THAN THE PREVIOUS BOOSTERS?

>> WELL, LET'S TAKE A STEP BACK AND LOOK AT WHERE WE'RE AT AND THAT WILL ADD CONTEXT TO HOW WE MIGHT USE THE BOOSTERS.

AS I SAID LAST MONTH WHEN I WAS ON THE SHOW WE TALKED ABOUT THIS HIGH PLAIN PLATEAU.

WE HAVE JUST SEEN CONSTANT OCCURRENCE IN THE COMMUNITY CASES, HOSPITALIZATIONS AND DEATHS AND THAT CONTINUES AND IT'S PRIMARILY CAUSED BY A.5 IS, ONE OF THE SUBVARIANTS WE'RE VERY, VERY ONCERNED ABOUT AND IT'S PART OF THIS NEW VACCINE.

THE CHALLENGE I THINK WE HAVE RIGHT NOW, CATHY, IS I DON'T THINK THE DATA IS THERE TO SUPPORT THAT THESE VACCINES WILL BE EXTRAORDINARILY BETTER THAN THE VACCINE WE HAD.

I THINK THAT THEY MAY PROVIDE SOME BENEFIT.

BUT THE REAL CHALLENGE IS TURNING A VACCINE INTO A VACCINATION, AND I THINK OUR REAL CHALLENGE RIGHT NOW IS IN FACT THAT.

ONLY 55% OF MINNESOTANS 65 YEARS OF AGE AND OLDER HAVE RECEIVED TWO DOSES OF BEYOND THE ORIGINAL TWO, I.E., FOUR DOSES, WHICH IS WHAT THEY SHOULD HAVE.

THE SAME IS TRUE NATIONALLY WITH THE PROBLEMS GETTING VACCINE TO OLDER POPULATION THERE.

ONLY 26% OF PEOPLE 65 YEARS AND OLDER HAVE HAD ALL FOUR DOSES.

THIS IS WHERE WE'RE STILL SEEING THE PRIMARY NUMBER OF DEATHS.

JUST LIKE I SAID LAST MONTH ON THIS SHOW AND UNFORTUNATELY HEAR IT AGAIN TODAY, THIS REMAINS, COVID REMAINS THE NUMBER FOUR CAUSE OF DEATH IN THIS COUNTRY WITH OVER 500 DEATHS A DAY AVERAGING.

SO I THINK THE NEW VACCINE MAY CONFUSE SOME PEOPLE, IS IT BETTER, IS IT NOT, MY BOTTOM LINE MESSAGE IS GET DOSE OF VACCINE, WHICHEVER ONE IT IS, AND BE AS UP TO DATE AS YOU POSSIBLY CAN BE BECAUSE THAT'S THE DATA WE HAVE SAYS THAT THAT STILL GOES A LONG WAY N KEEPING YOU OUT OF THE HOSPITALS, BEING SERIOUSLY ILL OR DYING.

>> DOES IT MATTER THIS HAS BEEN TESTED ON HUMANS?

>> WELL, IN A SENSE IT HAS BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT THE VACCINES THAT WE'RE BEEN USING FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS THERE'S BEEN AN ENORMOUS NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN VACCINATED.

AND WHAT HAS BEEN CONSIDERED KIND OF A PARALLEL IS LIKE FLU VACCINE WHERE EVERY YEAR WE SLIGHTLY CHANGE THE VACCINE AND WE DON'T HAVE TO DO AGAIN ADDITIONAL TESTING TO SAY, OH, IS IT SAFE, HOW WELL DOES IT WORK.

I THINK MANY OF THE US, HOWEVER, IN THE FIELD OUT HERE WOULD SAY, BOY, YOU KNOW, WE PUT THIS INTO MOUSE, THEY MOUNTED AN IMMUNE RESPONSE, IDENTIFY WISH E ACTUALLY HAD DATA ON HUMANS, NOT BECAUSE I THINK IT'S GOING TO CHANGE ANYTHING BUT I DON'T WANT THOSE ANTI-VAXINE PROPONENTS TO SAY, OH, THIS IS A MOUSE VACCINE, AND WE'RE ALREADY HEARING THAT.

IT'S NOT A MOUSE VACCINE, THIS IS A HUMAN VACCINE.

SO I WISH WE HAVE MORE ATA ON HOW THE IMMUNE RESPONSE WORKS WITH THIS VACCINE AND WE'LL HAVE IT IN THE WEEKS AHEAD.

BUT IN THE MEANTIME TIME I ASSURE PEOPLE IT'S JUST AS SAFE AS THE VACCINES WE'VE BEEN USING OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS.

>> Eric: THE NEW BOOSTER FOR 12 PLUS WILL BE AVAILABLE AT THE MALL OF AMERICA THE GOVERNOR ANNOUNCED TODAY STARTING SEPTEMBER 7TH AND MORE BROADLY A WEEK LATER.

WHAT KIND OF INTERVAL DO YOU THINK IS APPROPRIATE?

COUPLE OF MONTHS BETWEEN YOUR LAST BOOSTER AND THIS ONE?

OR HOW ARE YOU PLAYING THAT?

>> ACTUALLY, THE RECOMMENDATION FROM THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION IS TWO MONTHS SINCE YOU'VE HAD YOUR LAST DOSE OF VACCINE OR THREE MONTHS FROM THE TIME YOU MAY HAVE PREVIOUSLY BEEN INFECTED.

WE STILL RECOMMEND PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN INFECTED TO ACTUALLY GET AN ADDITIONAL SHOT BECAUSE WE KNOW WE CAN STRENGTHEN THEIR IMMUNE RESPONSE EVEN SUBSEQUENT INFECTIONS EVEN MORE.

TWO MONTHS AFTER YOUR LAST DOSE, THREE MONTHS AFTER YOU'VE BEEN ICK.

>> Cathy: OKAY.

DO YOU LAN TO WAIT UNTIL, WHAT, MID SEPTEMBER, MID OCTOBER TO GET YOURS AND WOULD YOU COUPLE IT WITH A FLU SHOT?

>> YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW I WOULD GET MINE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE WHEN YOU'RE ELIGIBLE.

MEANING IF IT'S BEEN MORE THAN TWO MONTHS, GET IT RIGHT AWAY.

REMEMBER, I KEEP COMING BACK TO THE FIGHT THAT 500 PEOPLE A DAY ARE DYING IN THIS COUNTRY.

THIS IS THE NUMBER FOUR CAUSE OF DEATH.

WE ARE 35,000 TO 42,000 PEOPLE HOSPITALIZED IN THIS COUNTRY EVERY DAY.

AS I'VE CONTINUED TO SAY OVER THE COURSE OF THE SUMMER WILE WHILE THE PUBLIC IS DONE WITH THIS VIRUS, THEY'RE DONE WITH THE PANDEMIC, THE VIRUS IS NOT DONE WITH US.

AND TO SEE THESE ONGOING CASES THAT COULD BE LIKELY PREVENTED IF NOT AT LEAST SURELY REDUCED IN TERMS OF DISEASE SEVERITY IF EVERYONE GOT THEIR FOUR DOSES OF VAX JEAN AND NOW POTENTIALLY FIVE DOSES THAT WE ARE IN A BASICALLY DEATH VALLEY YOU MIGHT SAY OF VACCINE RIGHT NOW.

WE ARE SEEING THE FEWEST NUMBER OF PEOPLE BEING VACCINATED SINCE THE ENTIRE VACCINE PROGRAM ROLLED OUT BACK IN JANUARY OF TWO YEARS AGO.

>> Eric: SURGE THIS FALL?

>> YOU KNOW, AGAIN, ANYONE WHO PREDICTS WHAT THIS VIRUS S GOING TO DO MORE THAN A COUPLE WEEKS OUT, BE CAREFUL, THEY PROBABLY HAVE A BRIDGE TO SELL YOU.

AS I SAID THROUGHOUT THIS SUMMER WE'RE NOW INTO OUR TENTH WEEK HERE OF BASICALLY FLAT ACTIVITY AT A HIGH PLAIN PLATEAU LEVEL.

IT'S NOT LIKE IT'S DOWN LOW.

WE'RE NOT SEEING THE BIG MOUNTAIN PEAKS OF CASES, THE BIG SURGES, WE'RE NOT SEEING THE MOUNTAIN VALLEYS WHERE CASE NUMBERS DROP AND EVERYBODY SAYS WE'RE DONE.

WE'RE AT THAT HIGH PLATEAU LEVEL AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO CHANGE THAT.

ANYBODY WHO WILL PREDICT THERE WILL BE A FALL OR WINTER SURGE, THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT.

>> Cathy: WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE FLU SEASON?

OF COURSE NOW YOU HAVE HIGH PLATEAU WITH COVID, FLU IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER AND DIDN'T AUSTRALIA HAVE A PRETTY BAD FLU SEASON?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, CATHY, THIS COMES BACK TO A POINT THAT I'VE TRIED TO MAKE THROUGH THE COURSE OF MY APPEARANCES ON THIS SHOW.

THE KEYWORD IS HUMILITY.

HUMILITY.

WE DON'T KNOW.

IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT'S HAPPENED IN THIS PAST SUMMER, OUR SUMMER, WHICH WAS THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE'S WINTER, AUSTRALIA DID SEE AN INCREASED NUMBER OF CASES PARTICULARLY IN CHILDREN.

NOT IN ADULTS AND OLDER ADULTS.

BUT MANY PARTS OF THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE HAD VIRTUALLY NO FLU ACTIVITY.

SO WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT MIGHT BE PREDICTING FEATURE FOR THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE, YOU'D SAY, WELL, IF IT DIDN'T HAPPEN IN MUCH OF THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

I'M TELLING YOU RIGHT NOW, FLU IS GOING TO BE BETWEEN A 1 AND 10 THIS YEAR BUT I CAN'T TELL YOU IF IT'S CLOSER TO 1 OR 10.

>> Eric: I MADE A LIST HERE.

MONKEY POX, POLIO, FLU SHOT, AND THEN COVID.

ARE WE STREEPING OUR VACCINE CAPABILITIES HERE?

>> WE'RE BEYOND THAT.

WHAT PEOPLE ON'T UNDERSTAND RIGHT NOW, THE HEROES IN THE TRENCHES IN PUBLIC HEALTH TRYING TO GET VACCINES INTO PEOPLE AS WELL AS IN THE MEDICAL CARE SYSTEM IS BEYOND ANYTHING I'VE SEEN IN MY # 47 YEARS IN THE BUSINESS.

WE NOW HAVE TWO DIFFERENT COVID VACCINES.

REMEMBER YOU HAVE TO USE THE NEW BOOSTER VACCINE ONLY FOR BOOSTERS, YOU STILL HAVE TO USE THE OLD VACCINE TO START A SERIES, YOU'VE GOT TO KEEP THEM SEGREGATED.

WE'VE GOT MONKEY POX WHICH WE'RE TRYING TO DELIVER INTRA DERMAL, WHICH IS JUST UNDER THE SKIN.

WE'RE TRYING TO GET PEOPLE TO GET THAT VACCINE.

WE'VE GOT POCKETS OF POLIO SUSCEPTIBLE KIDS, IN MINNESOTA WE SEE NLY 23% OF OUR SOMALI CHILDREN VACCINATED AGAINST POLIO.

WE'RE TRYING TO LAUNCH A FLU SEASON VACCINE PROGRAM, AND THEN, OH, BY THE WAY, WE HAD A LOT OF KIDS WHO FELL BEHIND WITH THEIR ROUTINE CHILDHOOD IMMUNIZATIONS BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.

AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO EXTRA RESOURCES FOR ANYBODY HERE.

THIS IS A REAL CHALLENGE AND IT IS BY FAR THE DARKEST DAYS I THINK OF VACCINE RELATED PROGRAMS THAT I'VE SEEN AT ANY TIME.

>> Cathy: SO BEFORE WE GO YOU AND I TALKED ABOUT THIS ON MPR, YOU'RE STILL WEARING A WELL FITTED N95 MASK, RIGHT?

>> I AM, YOU KNOW, I AM NOT LETTING THIS VIRUS KEEP ME BACK, AT THE SAME TIME, I AM VERY RESPECTFUL OF IT.

AND I THINK THAT'S THE MESSAGE FOR EVERYONE.

YOU KNOW WHAT, I'M FULLY VACCINATED TO HOW MANY DOSES I CAN HAVE.

IF I'M IN PUBLIC SETTINGS, I'M ALWAYS WEARING MY MASK AND IN THIS CASE AN N95 RESPIRATOR, WHETHER I GO TO THE GROCERY STORE, DRUG STORE, ANYTHING.

IF I AVE PEOPLE HERE WITH MY PARTNER AND I TO HAVE DINNER, THEY FOR THE THREE DAYS PRIOR TO HERE THEY CAN'T HAVE HAD ANY EXPOSURE TO PEOPLE POTENTIALLY ILL.

IF THEY HAVE ANY SYMPTOMS OF ILLNESS, INCLUDING SOMETHING LIKE SNIFFLES AND THEY DO NOT TEST NEGATIVE ON THE DAY OF THE PARTY, THEN WE DON'T DO IT.

AND SO I THINK THAT'S A MESSAGE WE WANT TO GET.

YOU CAN STILL BE VERY CAREFUL AND STILL YET NOT GIVE INTO THIS VIRUS MEANING YOU HAVE TO ISOLATE YOURSELF COMPLETELY.

DON'T LET THAT HAPPEN.

>> Cathy: ALL RIGHT.

WE'LL SEE OU MONTH NEXT.

>> Eric: THANKS, DOCTOR.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> Cathy: BYE-BYE.

♪♪ >> Eric: KERNZA IS GETTING A LOT OF BUZZ THESE DAYS.

IT'S A PERENNIAL GRAIN THAT IS BETTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND THAT IS GETTING THE ATTENTION OF FARMERS AND CONSUMERS ALIKE.

REPORTER KAOMI LEE WENT NORTH TO ALEXANDRIA TO FIND OUT MORE.

>> LARS DROPPIC IS ONE OF THE STATE'S FUTURE FARMERS AND BEFORE HE VEN GRADUATES HIGH SCHOOL, HE'S LEARNING ABOUT A PROMISING NEW GRAIN.

>> IT REALLY INTERESTS ME BE SOMETHING THAT WE COULD USE ON OUR FARM WHERE WE COULD GRAZE IT EARLY SPRING WHEN THE PASTURES AREN'T READY BUT WE COULD STILL HARVEST THAT FALL AND USE IT FOR FEED IN THE WINTER.

>> IT'S CALLED KERNZA, TRADEMARK NAME FOR INTERMITTENT WHEAT GRASS BY THE LAND INSTITUTE IN KANSAS.

UNLIKE WHEAT IT'S A PERENNIAL GRAIN, PLANTED ONCE AND YIELDS FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

AND THAT DIFFERENCE CAN GREATLY IMPROVE SOIL HEALTH, SOMETHING VERY MUCH ON THE MINDS OF TEENAGERS TODAY.

>> SOMETHING WE HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT BECAUSE AFTER SO MANY YEARS OF NEGLECT IT NEEDS TO BE SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT UP AND IT'S A GOOD CONCERN OF OURS.

>> ALEXANDRIA IS ONE OF THE FIRST HIGH SCHOOLS TO GROW KERNZA AND THEY'RE GETTING GUIDANCE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA.

DON WYSE IS CODIRECTOR OF THE FOREVER GREEN INITIATIVE.

HE'S INTERESTED IN DEVELOPING THE NEXT GENERATION OF CROPS.

>> WHAT'S REALLY EXCITING IS THE VERY DEEP ROOT OF THAT GRASS.

IT GOES OWN TO 15 FEET, A DEPTH OF 15 FEET.

IT CAN BRING NITROGEN BACK UP, AND IT ALSO KEEPS NITROGEN FROM MOVING DOWN INTO THE SYSTEM, PROTECTING WATER AS WELL AS ALMOST COMPLETELY ELIMINATING ANY POTENTIAL FOR SOIL EROSION.

>> THE LONG ROOT SYSTEM RECYCLES SOIL NUTRIENTS AND SEQUESTERS CARBON.

PERENNIAL CROPS OFFER A NEARLY CONTINUOUS SOIL COVER.

>> THE MIDWEST WE'RE BASICALLY LOOKING AT THE PRODUCTION OF CORN AND SOYBEANS.

THOSE CROPS ARE PLANTED AND START TO DEVELOP IN MAY.

RIGHT?

AND THEY'RE HARVESTED IN SEPTEMBER, SO IF YOU COUNT THE MONTHS, BASICALLY JULY, AUGUST, AND SEPTEMBER, THAT'S THREE MONTHS WHERE YOU HAVE LIVING COVER ON THE LANDSCAPE, EXCEPT THEY AREN'T ON THE LANDSCAPE LONG ENOUGH.

THEY LEAVE THE FALL EXPOSED, SO EXPOSED IN THE FALL AND EXPOSED IN THE SPRING.

>> THERE'S NOW 2 TO 3,000-ACRES OF KERNZA PLANTED IN MINNESOTA.

FOREVER GREEN CAME OUT WITH ITS OWN VARIETY CALLED CLEARWATER IN 2019.

AT THE U'S ST. PAUL CAMPUS WYSE AND HIS TEAM ARE BREEDING KERNZA TO FIND THE BEST GENETICS.

>> WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT HERE, EACH PLANT IS GENETICALLY DIFFERENT FROM ANOTHER.

SO THE BREEDERS WILL COME OUT HERE AND LOOK FOR VARIOUS TRAITS.

IF YOU LOOK AT THIS ONE, THIS IS A NICE ERECT PLANT, IT DOESN'T HAVE LODGING, BY LODGING I MEAN FALLING OVER.

>> KERNZA IS STILL OT AN EASY SELL TO FARMERS.

>> IT'S NOT THAT THEY'RE OPPOSED TO IT BUT I THINK WHAT I HAVE ALWAYS SAID OVER THE YEARS, THERE'S A HASSLE FACTOR.

>> MADISON ORGANIC FARMER CARMEN FERNHOLZ IS NOW LEADING DEVELOPMENT OF A MARKET PIPELINE.

>> IT TAKES A LITTLE BIT OF ADAPTATION FOR A NEW CROP, ESPECIALLY A PERENNIAL CROP LIKE KERNZA.

NOT THAT WE CAN'T USE THE SAME EQUIPMENT, BUT JUST KNOWING HOW TO PLANT IT, HOW TO GROW T, AND HOW TO HARVEST IT.

AND THEN NOT BEING 100% SURE THAT THERE'S A MARKET.

>> AT THIS FIELD DAY IN WESTPORT LAST MONTH, ARMERS OF DIFFERENT GENERATIONS GATHERED TO LISTEN.

THE UNIVERSITY HAS BEEN DOING RESEARCH INTO WATER QUALITY FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS.

AGRONOMICS PROFESSOR JACOB JUNGERS SAYS THE FINDINGS ARE STUNNING.

>> WHAT WE FOUND IS THAT THE AMOUNT OF NITROGEN LEAVING THE SYSTEM INTO OUR GROUNDWATER IS TWO ORDERS OF MAGNITUDE LESS BENEATH KERNZA COMPARED TO CORN.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 99% REDUCTION IN NITRATE LEECHING IN KERNZA COMPARED TO CORN.

>> AND THAT'S RESONATING WITH CONSUMERS AND THE NUMBER OF KERNZA FOOD AND BEVERAGE PROJECTS IS EXPANDING.

YEAH, CITRUS-Y.

I RECENTLY TRIED TINY, A 1% KERNZA IPA AT BANG BREWING IN ST. PAUL.

IT'S ONE OF TWO KERNZA BEERS ON THE MENU.

THE OWNER SAYS EVEN JUST 1% COULD MAKE AN IMPACT IF MORE BREWERIES FOLLOWED SUIT.

>> I REALLY THINK THAT INDIVIDUAL ACTIONS MATTER IN HOW WE TEND OUR LAND, HOW IT'S FARMED, HOW WE SUPPORT SOIL HEALTH AND WATER HEALTH IS A BIG DEAL.

♪♪ >> I LOVE GOING TO THE FAIR.

FOR ME IT'S LIKE GOING BACK IN TIME LIKE GOING TO THE FAIR 1972, IT ALL LOOKS THE SAME.

THE STREETS ARE THE SAME, THE FOOD BOOTHS ARE MOSTLY THE SAME, THE COWS ARE THE SAME, ALTHOUGH COWS ALL LOOK ALIKE SO THESE COULD BE THE SAME COWS.

THE RIDES LOOK EXACTLY THE SAME, WHICH IS SCARY.

EVERY YEAR THEY DO THESE ARTICLES ABOUT ALL THE NEW FOODS AT THE FAIR.

BASICALLY THEY TAKE TWO OR THREE THINGS THAT DON'T GO TOGETHER AND COMBINE THEM LIKE RASPBERRY GLAZED LIVER CROISSANTS OR CARAMEL SARDINE SCHNITZEL.

FOR ME IT'S ABOUT THE BASICS, MILKSHAKE, SNOWCONES, MINI DONUTS AND E ONLY HAVE 12 DAYS TO GET IT IN AND IT DISAPPEARS.

IT'S LIKE BRIGGA DO NOT, ONCE IT'S GONE YOU CAN'T GO BACK FOR A YEAR?

I'M NOT GREAT WITH THE NEW BANDS, THEY HAVE WEIRD NAMES.

I'M BETTER WITH OLD BANDS LIKE IN HIGH SCHOOL IN HE CENOZOIC ERA.

THEY DON'T HAVE THE SAME MEMBERS THEY USED TOY SOMEHOW IN THE '80S THEY STARTED FIGHTING PROBABLY OVER PATTI BOYD, BUT THEY GOT RID OF THEM AND REPLACED THEM.

THEY WERE GREAT SITTING THERE -- WELL, MOSTLY JUST SITTING, TAPPED MY TOE ONCE IN A WHILE.

BUT IT WAS REASSURING LIKE HAVING THE LAST MINI DONUT BEFORE THE END OF THE FAIR BEFORE YOU RETURN TO THE FUTURE.

PRESENT DAY.

SORRY, I'M STILL ONFUSED ABOUT THE COW THING.

♪♪ >> Cathy: DID YOU KNOW WE'RE IN THE WILD RICE STORING MOON RIGHT NOW UNDER THE TRADITIONAL DAKOTA CALENDAR?

THE SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY BECAME THE FIRST TRIBAL GOVERNMENT TO HAVE A PRESENCE AT THE INNESOTA STATE FAIR LAST YEAR.

THIS YEAR THEY WERE NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOTHS BY THE STAIR.

MARY LAHAMMER HAS A LOOK.

>> A YEAR AGO YOU MADE HISTORY AND YOU'RE BACK, WHAT'S NEW THIS YEAR?

>> OUR GIVEAWAY THIS YEAR IS THIS WONDERFUL 16-MONTH CALENDAR.

IT'S GOT SOME REALLY AMAZING DAKOTA LANGUAGE IN IT, IT'S GOT SOME INFORMATION ABOUT THE DIFFERENT TRIBES IN MINNESOTA ALONG WITH SOME OF THE SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY'S PROGRAMS.

IT'S EALLY BEAUTIFUL.

IT WAS COMPLETELY DESIGNED BY OUR STAFF AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS AT HOTACOTATI OUR CULTURAL CENTER.

WE USE THE MOON CYCLES TO DETERMINE THE CALENDAR.

AND SO THIS IS KIND OF A CROSS BETWEEN DAKOTA AND A MORE TRADITIONAL WESTERN CALENDAR.

WE RETOOLED THIS CALENDAR JUST FOR THE STATE FAIR FOR EDUCATORS, SO IT STARTS IN SEPTEMBER, SEPTEMBER 1ST, AND 16 MONTHS SO IT GOES THROUGH THE END OF THE NEXT CALENDAR YEAR.

>> IT'S APPROPRIATE BECAUSE YOU'RE IN THE EDUCATION BUILDING AND THAT REALLY WAS YOUR GOAL WHEN YOU MADE HISTORY AS THE FIRST TRIBE AT THE FAIR WAS EDUCATIONAL.

>> YEAH, AND THE TRIBE AND MOST TRIBAL LEADERS SPEND A LOT OF TIME DUCATING OLKS ABOUT TRIBES, TRIBAL SOVEREIGNTY, HOW MANY TRIBES ARE HERE IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

AND SO I THINK IT'S REALLY POWERFUL TO BE HERE IN THE EDUCATION BUILDING.

>> THE CALENDAR IS FREE AND YOU ALSO DO A DAILY, THIS IS EVERY DAY A FREE BASKET GIVEAWAY.

>> YES, EVERY DAY WE'VE GOT THESE PRODUCTS FROM MESOPIA, OUR NATURAL FOOD STORES SO YOU CAN REGISTER ON THE IPADS OR EVEN ON YOUR PHONE AND WE WILL DO ONE DRAWING FOR EVERY DAY OF THE FAIR AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE HERE OR ANYTHING, WE'LL SEND THOSE BASKETS OUT TO THE WINNERS.

♪♪ >> Eric: ON ONE OF THE COLDEST JUNE DAYS IN TWIN CITIES HISTORY, MIKHAIL GORBACHEV PAID A SHORT BUT MEMORABLE VISIT TO MINNESOTA.

WE WERE REMINDED THIS WEEK OF THAT REMARKABLE MOMENT BECAUSE THE FORMER SOVIET LEADER DIED AT AGE 91.

NOW, OUR NEXT GUESTS HAD FRONT ROW SEATS DURING THE GORBACHEV VISIT BACK IN JUNE OF 1990.

CHUCK SMITH AND MICHAEL MCCAFFREY WERE FASHION PHOTOGRAPHERS WHO WORKED FOR DAYTON HUDSON.

THEY WERE LOANED OUT BY THEIR EMPLOYER TO TAKE PHOTOS OF THE TWO AND HALF HOUR LUNCH BETWEEN GORBACHEV AND MINNESOTA BUSINESS LEADERS AT THE GOVERNOR'S RESIDENCE.

CHUCK AND MICHAEL WERE THE ONLY PEOPLE IN THE ROOM THAT DAY RECORDING THE EVENTS FOR POSTERITY.

SO WE ARE VERY HAPPY TO WELCOME CHUCK SMITH TO THE PROGRAM ALONG WITH FELLOW DAYTON HUDSON PHOTOGRAPHER MICHAEL MCCAFFREY, CHUCK, HOW DID YOU FASHION PHOTOGRAPHER GUYS GET THIS GIG?

>> WE WERE DONATED.

WE WENT ALONG AS A GIFT FROM DAYTON HUDSON CORPORATION AS MANY OF THE CORPORATIONS IN THE AREA DONATED TO THE EVENT.

DAYTON'S PROVIDED CHINA AND CRYSTAL AND LINENS FOR THE TABLE.

THEY GAVE SOME FASHION CONSULTING AND STYLING FOR LOLA PERPICH AND A COUPLE PHOTOGRAPHERS TO TAKE PICTURES.

>> WAS THIS IN YOUR SKILL SET, DOING THIS KIND OF SHOOTING?

>> TO BE HONEST NOT REALLY.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> THIS IS LIKE A ONCE IN A LIFETIME THING, SO.

IN OUR BUSINESS, YOU CAN RESHOOT SOMETHING, YOU COULDN'T REALLY RESHOOT THE GORBACHEV VISIT, SO IT WAS CRAZY.

TO SAY THE LEAST WE WERE PRETTY EXCITED ABOUT DOING THIS, THOUGH, WHEN IT CAME ABOUT.

>> Cathy: I'M SURE A LITTLE NERVOUS.

>> TOTALLY NERVOUS.

>> YEAH.

>> Eric: GO AHEAD.

>> NO, I WAS GOING TO SAY WHEN YOU BRING UP THE PHOTOS IT'S I WAS PRETTY GOOD ABOUT LOOKING RELAXED BUT UNDERNEATH IT ALL.

>> IT WAS A WHIRLWIND.

>> Eric: WE GOT SOME PHOTOS, WHY DON'T WE TAKE A LOOK AND YOU GUYS CAN, AS WE TALK YOU CAN -- YOU WERE STATIONED OUTSIDE TO BEGIN WITH, OUTSIDE THE RESIDENCE?

>> NO, WE STARTED IN.

THIS IS MICHAEL FIRST THING IN THE MORNING, WELCOME TO THE GOVERNOR'S MANSION.

WE WERE THERE ABOUT 10:00 A.M. AND THE EVENT STARTED AT 2.

SO THERE WAS A LOT OF TIME TO GET THINGS IN ORDER.

>> Eric: LOT OF HELP HERE.

>> THE STAFF OF GOODFELLOWS CATERED OF EVENT SO THEY WERE BUSY GETTING TABLES SET UP AND FOOD PREP IN THE KITCHEN URING THAT EARLY TIME.

>> Eric: HOW CLOSE DID YOU GUYS GET TO THE TABLE?

>> WE WERE -- WE WERE CLOSE TO EVERYTHING.

>> WE WERE IN THERE, IN THE MIX.

>> Eric: THERE'S NOT THAT MUCH ROOM AROUND THE PERIMETER OF THE TABLE REALLY.

THE CROWD SIZE WAS FUN THAT DAY, EVEN THE PROTESTERS WERE HAVING FUN.

>> WELL, YES, THERE WAS HIGH ENERGY EVERYWHERE.

>> Cathy: WHAT WAS SECURITY LIKE THOUGH FOR YOU GUYS?

I'M SURE BECAUSE YOU'RE THE ONLY ONES SHOOTING FOR POSTERITY IN THAT AREA, YOU MUST HAVE HAD -- >> IT WAS TOUGH.

>> Cathy: YEAH.

>> I'VE NEVER SEEN SO MANY KGB GUYS AND POLICE ARE RIFLES ON THE ROOF AND ALL OF THAT.

WE HAD A SECURITY CLEARANCE FAIRLY HIGH FOR THIS, HOWEVER THOSE THINGS HAPPENED THEY PUSHED THROUGH PRETTY QUICKLY FOR US.

>> MRS. PERPICH'S DRESS, THAT NUMBER, SHE REALLY POPPED IN IN IN THAT YELLOW DRESS .

>> SHE REALLY POPPED, SHE LOOKED FANTASTIC.

>> Cathy: SHE WAS DRESSED BY DAYTON'S.

>> I BELIEVE THAT DAYTON'S OVAL ROOM WHICH WAS THE FASHION SERVICE FOR WOMEN PITCHED IN AND HELPED.

>> YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THE TABLE TOO, THAT WAS ABOUT THE ONLY TIME WE WERE ABLE TO REALLY -- PEOPLE WERE SITTING DOWN, WE'D HAVE TO TRACK THEM DOWN AND WE DIDN'T HAVE SECURITY GUYS TRYING TO HOLD US BACK.

>> IT GOT A LITTLE CALMER ONCE EVERYBODY GOT AT THE TABLE.

>> Eric: ROBERT MAXWELL WAS -- HE HAD A VERY WILD TIE ON THAT DAY.

>> YEAH.

>> Eric: AND HE KIND OF DOMINATED THINGS.

>> HE DID, YES.

HE WAS RATHER BOISTEROUS CHARACTER AND WELL KNOWN.

HE DID KNOW GORBACHEV AND HAD MET HIM BEFORE.

SO NUMEROUS LANGUAGES FLUENTLY SO HE WAS ON GORBACHEV'S SHOULDER PROBABLY MOST FREQUENTLY.

THEY WERE HAVING THEIR OWN PERSONAL CONVERSATION GOING BACK AND FORTH.

>> Cathy: WHAT DID YOU THINK OF GORBACHEV?

HE SEEMED LIKE HE AS TOTALLY COMFORTABLE.

>> HE WAS AWESOME.

>> HE WAS REALLY MAGNETIC.

WHEN HE CAME OUT I REMEMBER WHEN HE PPROACHED IT WAS ALMOST LIKE THE POPE WAS COMING.

HE WOULD STOP AND PEOPLE WOULD JUST RUSH THE CAR, IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE.

>> Eric: NOW, IS THERE -- GO AHEAD.

>> NO, IT WAS AMAZING.

>> HE DEFINITELY HAD A PRESENCE.

AND VERY CALM I THOUGHT IN THE MIDST OF WHAT WAS VERY CHAOTIC AND ENERGY BUZZING AROUND HIM CONSTANTLY, HE SEEMED SO CALM IN THE CENTER OF THAT.

AND, YOU KNOW, A SOFT PLEASANT SMILE, HE ACKNOWLEDGED PEOPLE RIGHT INTO THEIR FACE.

>> Eric: WHEN YOU, WHEN THEY WERE LEAVING, YOU WERE SPRINTING DOWN THE ROAD TRYING TO KEEP UP THE LIMO, IS THAT THE STORY?

>> YES, THAT IS THE STORY.

I DON'T KNOW THAT I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE DOING THAT, PROBABLY NOT.

BUT THE PHOTOS NOW ARE JUST STEPPING OUTSIDE OF THE MANSION, YOU CAN SEE THE SECURITY UP ON THE ROOF.

I JUST RAN OUT INTO IT NOT THINKING, I'M STILL TAKING PICTURES, AND I HAVE A SUIT AND TIE ON SO I KIND OF BLENDED IN WITH THE SUIT AND TIE FOLKS AND I WAS REALLY WRAPPED RIGHT IN WITH THE SECURITY PEOPLE.

WHEN THEY GOT IN THE CAR I JUST RAN DOWN THE STREET WITH THE CAR TAKING PICTURES UNTIL THEY TOOK OFF AND I REALIZED I WAS THE ONLY PERSON IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TREET WITH A COUPLE OF SECRET SERVICE GUYS AND WONDERING WHO I WAS.

>> Cathy: NOT GOOD -- >> I WAS BACK AVING SOME CHAMPAGNE WHILE YOU WERE RUNNING DOWN.

>> Eric: WHAT KIND OF EQUIPMENT DID YOU GUYS USE?

>> 35-MILLIMETER.

>> THE OLD DAYS.

>> I HAD ON CAMERA FLASH.

I PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE HAD MY PHONE NOW, IT WOULD PROBABLY TAKE BETTER, SHARPER PICTURES, IT'S AMAZING, BUT.

>> Cathy: BECAUSE YOU GUYS ARE FASHION PHOTOGRAPHERS, WHAT WAS IT LIKE TO WORK AS A NEWS PHOTOGRAPHER IN A SENSE?

>> TOTALLY DIFFERENT.

>> IT WAS TOUGH BECAUSE LIKE I SAID YOU DON'T HAVE A CHANCE TO MAKE A MISTAKE, SO.

>> -- STUDIO ENVIRONMENT, LOTS OF PLANNING, AND A TEAM OF PEOPLE WORKING ON THINGS AND THE TIME TO DO IT.

EVENT PHOTOGRAPHY IS A WHOLE 'NOTHER KIND OF THING.

>> Eric: ARE THESE PHOTOS IN SOME HISTORICAL SOCIETY OR MUSEUM SOMEWHERE?

WHERE ARE THESE IMAGES?

>> TO MY UNDERSTANDING TWO SETS OF -- THEY WERE SHOT ON 35-MILLIMETER SLIDE AND DUPLICATE SETS WERE MADE.

THE STATE GOT A COUPLE OF SETS, ONE WENT TO THE MINNESOTA HISTORICAL SOCIETY AND ONE TO THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE, DAYTON'S CORPORATION KEPT A COUPLE AND MIKE AND I GOT THE DUPE SET FOR OURSELVES AND THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN A FEW OTHERS BUT A FEW WENT OUT THERE.

>> Cathy: YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN IN THE BUSINESS FOR A ONG TIME.

YOU'VE SHOT A LOT OF THINGS, WHERE DOES THIS RANK IN TERMS OF YOUR CAREERS?

>> THIS WAS A HIGHLIGHT.

ANYTIME YOU SAY THAT YOU SHOT GORBACHEV IT'S, OH, REALLY, WOW, THAT'S AWESOME.

SO AND I EVEN FEEL LIKE IT'S A HISTORICAL THING.

I MEAN, WHEN I SAW THAT HE HAD PASSED I WAS, IT WAS TOUGH TO SEE THAT, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I REALLY -- HE WAS JUST SUCH A INFLUENTIAL PERSON IN RUSSIA, YOU KNOW.

, EXECS CHARISMATIC.

>> WELL, HE WAS MAGNETIC AND LIKE I SAID BEFORE IT WAS LIKE THE BEATLES SHOWED UP.

>> IT WASN'T JUST HIM, EVERYBODY AROUND HIM WHETHER THEY WERE NEAR OR INVOLVED IN POLITICS OR PEOPLE ON THE STREET, YOU FELT IT EVERYWHERE.

>> Eric: THANKS FOR SHARING THIS FANTASTIC STUFF.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING US.

IT WAS GREAT.

>> GILBERT DE LA O WAS AN ICON IN ST. PAUL'S LATINO COMMUNITY.

LONG ASSOCIATED WITH "NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE," THE COMMUNITY CENTER ON THE WEST SIDE, HE PERFORMED MANY ROLES.

HE WAS A COMMUNITY LEADER, AN ACTIVIST, A MENTOR, AN HONORED MILITARY VETERAN, AND THE CITY'S FIRST LATINO MEMBER OF THE SCHOOL BOARD.

GILBERT DE LA O DIED OF CANCER THIS WEEK AT AGE 77.

HE APPEARED MANY TIMES ON TWIN CITIES PBS OVER THE YEARS.

HE WAS OFTEN THE GO-TO SPOKESPERSON FOR HIS NEIGHBORHOOD AND HIS COMMUNITY.

IN 2008 HE WAS FEATURED IN A TPT DOCUMENTARY THAT LOOKED AT THE GROWING PROBLEM OF RACIAL DISPARITIES IN OUR REGION.

IN THAT FILM, DE LA O TALKED ABOUT HIS COMMUNITY AND ABOUT THE CRITICAL ROLE THAT NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE PLAYED IN HOLDING THE WEST SIDE TOGETHER.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THAT STORY.

>> THE NEW NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE IS ADORNED WITH MURALS THAT TELL THE STORY OF CARING AND COMMUNITY AND OF THE MANY CULTURES THAT HAVE MADE MINNESOTA HOME.

>> FIRST GENERATION AND YOU DIDN'T HAVE YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO MAKE AN EXCUSE FOR IT, BUT THEY WERE THE ONES, BE HERE REAL HUMBLY, THANKFUL, THOSE KINDS OF VALUES.

SO MY GENERATION BECAME THE LOUDMOUTHS, WE BECAME THE AGITATORS.

>> AGITATOR, ACTIVIST, VIETNAM VETERAN, AND NOW ELDER, FOR DECADES GILBERT HAS BEEN A STEADY AND FRIENDLY LEADER ON THE WEST SIDE.

>> FOUR GENERATIONS OF MY FAMILY HAD USED NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE SERVICES.

I'VE BEEN WITH NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE SINCE I WAS AGE 5.

THE '60S BROUGHT BROWN POWER TO THE TWIN CITIES 'MEXICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY.

BY THE '70S COLLEGE CLASSES AND CHICANO PRIDE HELPED GILBERT EVOLVE FROM A YOUNG STREET FIGHTER TO NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE WHERE HE WAS FOCUSED ON REACHING OUT TO YOUTH WHO WERE JUST LIKE HIM.

>> WHATEVER THE REASON IS, YOU KNOW, THE ECONOMY, RACISM, FOLKS EED THAT LITTLE BOOST AND IF WE CAN DO THAT GIVE THAT LITTLE BOOST TO THEM, AGAIN, THAT'S WHAT NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE HAS BEEN ALL ABOUT.

LOOK AT A LOT OF THE WORK THAT'S BEING DONE AROUND THE CITIES, WE CALL IT THE BROWNING OF MINNESOTA, BECAUSE WE'RE WHO'S WORKING ON THE ROADS, WHO'S WORKING IN THE LAWN INDUSTRY, ALL KINDS OF STUFF LIKE THAT, OU SEE US HERE.

>> SITTING OUT THERE, THERE'S SIGNS THAT SAY ABLA ESPANOL, AND IT'S LIKE, WOW, THEY KNOW WE'RE HERE NOW, EVEN THOUGH WE'VE BEEN HERE SINCE 1886, NOW THEY REALLY KNOW WE'RE HERE.

IT HAPPENED ON THE SHOULDERS OF THE CHICANO MOVEMENT, THE MEXICAN-AMERICAN, THEY DID ALL THAT.

SO THAT HISTORY HASN'T BEEN TOLD.

♪♪ >> Cathy: LABOR DAY IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER, THE STATE FAIR IS WINDING DOWN, KIDS ARE BACK IN THE CLASSROOMS OR DREADING THAT THE DAY WILL COME SOON.

AND ALL THIS MEANS THAT CAMPAIGN SEASON IS UPON US.

THE TIME WE TALK ABOUT DEBATES AND POLLS AND WHAT ISSUES ARE RESONATING WITH VOTERS .

LET THE CONVERSATION BEGIN.

right now.

DEMOCRAT CARIN MROTZ IS HERE.

LONGTIME PARTY ACTIVIST.

SHE'S JOINED BY FORMER STATE REPUBLICAN LOBBYIST BRIAN MCDANIEL.

>> HEY, CARIN, THE BIDEN SPEECH THURSDAY NIGHT, HOW MUCH OF THAT WAS PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS VERSUS SAY A DEMOCRATIC GET OUT THE VOTE RALLY?

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S INTERESTING, I KNOW SOME PEOPLE FEEL THIS WAS VERY POLITICAL, I HEARD A LOT OF STATING OF TRUE FACTS AND SAYING THINGS THAT ARE ACCURATE ABOUT THE WAY THAT LIKE AN ENTIRE PARTY HAS BEEN TAKEN OVER BY A FACTION THAT IS VERY ANTIDEMOCRATIC AND SEEMS PRETTY HELL BENT ON UNDERMINING SOME OF THE FABRIC OF DEMOCRACY.

AND I FOUND IT VERY -- I MEAN, I FOUND IT VERY INSPIRING AND I WILL SAY THAT IT WAS LESS ABOUT THE CONTENT AND -- WELL, IT WAS MORE ABOUT THE FACT THAT I THINK THAT DEMOCRATS HAVE SEEMED TO BE COASTING ON REPUBLICANS BEING UNPOPULAR RIGHT NOW.

PEOPLE ARE VERY IRED UP ABOUT ABORTION, THEY'RE FIRED UP ABOUT ABOUT A LOT OF THINGS AND I DON'T WANT DEMOCRATS TO ELY ON THAT, I ACTUALLY WANT DEMOCRATS TO FIGHT AND TAKE IT TO THE OTHER TEAM, WE'RE IN MIDTERMS, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT SO I FOUND IT PRETTY COMPELLING.

>> Eric: YOUR THOUGHTS.

>> HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MATLOCK.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> COLONEL SANDERS IS KIND OF THE -- ANYWAY, GO AHEAD.

>> THERE WERE STRIKING VISUALS TO IT AND I THINK THAT EVERYTHING THAT CARIN SAID IS TRUE EXCEPT WE WALKED ALL OF IT BACK TODAY.

I THINK THAT DONALD TRUMP IS COMPLETELY FAIR GAME TO CRITICIZE FROM THE LEFT OR WHATEVER, BUT I NEVER THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA FOR THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TO TAKE A SUBSET OF AMERICAN CITIZENS AND SAY THAT THEY ARE DANGEROUS, IF THEY ARE -- WELL, >> I MEAN, IT WAS TRUMP-Y TO DO SUCH A THING.

>> IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN AND MAYBE HE SHOULDN'T ACT LIKE THAT.

>> Eric: TODAY HE SAID I DIDN'T INSULT ANY TRUMP VOTERS.

>> HE SAID THAT NO TRUMP SUPPORTERS ARE A THREAT TO DEMOCRACY.

WHEN YESTERDAY IT WAS ALL TRUMP SUPPORTERS WERE A THREAT TO DEMOCRACY.

>> Eric: WHERE ARE WE AS LABOR DAY APPROACHES?

>> OBVIOUSLY THE WALZ CAMPAIGN HAS 23 TIMES AS MUCH AS THE OTHER SIDE, IS THAT WHAT I'M UNDERSTANDING?

I KNOW THE JENSEN CAMPAIGN FINALLY BOUGHT THEIR FIRST TV AD WHICH I GUESS MAKES SENSE, THAT'S THE THING THEY'RE GOOD AT IT FOOTBALL.

I THINK WE'RE LOOKING AT A DEBATE IN OCTOBER.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT IS A SERIES OF REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES WHO SEEM REALLY EXTREME AND ALSO JUST REALLY MESSY.

I'VE BEEN WATCHING THINGS AT THE FAIR AND EVERYTHING SEEMS TO BE CATERING TO KIND OF THE LOWEST POSSIBLE SENSE OF HUMOR AND LIKE ATTITUDES.

AND SO I THINK WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS THAT WE HAVE DEMOCRATS WITH AN ADVANTAGE, BUT THEY NEED TO ACTUALLY FIGHT FOR IT.

>> Eric: NOW WALZ IS ON THE BACK FOOT ABOUT HIS COMMENTS ABOUT THE PERCENTAGE OF KIDS THAT MISS SCHOOL BECAUSE OF COVID.

>> YEAH, I MEAN, I THINK WHAT CARIN IS SAYING ABOUT SOME OF THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES LACKING DISCIPLINE IS 100% CORRECT.

I ALSO THINK THAT GOVERNOR WALZ ON THESE EDUCATION MATTERS IS LACKING DISCIPLINE BECAUSE WHAT HE'S SAYING IS JUST FACTUALLY NOT TRUE, AND THEN HE'S HAVING TO WALK IT BACK.

HE HAS SUCH A BIG MONEY ADVANTAGE HE, YOU KNOW, IS PROUD OF A LOT OF THE THINGS HE DID.

I THINK THAT HE CAN STATE WHAT HE DID FACTUALLY AND MAKE THE SAME POINT INSTEAD OF JUST FISHING FOR NUMBERS OUT OF THE AIR AND HAVE THEM E PROVEABLY WRONG.

>> Cathy: WHAT ARE YOU MAKING OF THE JENSEN CAMPAIGN?

YOU SAID THEY'RE NOT VERY DISCIPLINED, WHY IS THAT?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT IN A -- THEY'RE TRYING TO BE AUTHENTIC.

YOU KNOW, DR. JENSEN IS TRYING TO BE AUTHENTIC, TO TELL IT, YOU KNOW, IN TRAIGHT TALK.

AND I THINK THAT THERE IS DEFINITELY A REFRESHING ELEMENT TO THAT BUT I ALSO THINK THAT WHEN YOU SAY SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, HITS WRONG, DOUBLING AND TRIPLING DOWN ON THAT IS PROBABLY NOT THE BEST WAY TO DO IT.

AND I THINK THAT IF THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT TIGHTER REINS ON HIM MESSAGE-WISE THERE PROBABLY WOULD BE A LOT LESS RED MEAT THAT'S BEING THROWN TO THE DEMOCRATS.

>> WHAT DID YOU MAKE OF THE HOLOCAUST COMMENTS?

>> SO I WILL SAY THAT FIRST OFF, THE DEA THAT BEING ASKED TO WEAR MASKS TO PROTECT PEOPLE FROM COVID IS OBVIOUSLY AND RIDICULOUSLY NOT ANALOGOUS TO AN INCIDENT LIKE KRISTALLNACHT WHICH SAW THE DESTRUCTION OF THOUSANDS OF JEWISH BUSINESSES AND HOMES AND SCHOOLS AND SYNAGOGUES AND ALSO THE ARREST OF 30,000 MEN SIMPLY JUST FOR BEING JEWS AND THEY WERE ALL ARRESTED AND THEN TAKEN TO THE CONCENTRATION CAMPS, I DON'T THINK AT ANY POINT ANY MASKING REQUIREMENTS WERE ROUGHLY SIMILAR TO THAT.

THAT ASIDE, FOR ME THE ISSUE WITH THAT FEELS MOST PROBLEMATIC AS A JEWISH MINNESOTAN WHO HAS JEWISH KIDS AND S RAISING THEM AND HAS COMMUNITY AND FAMILY HERE, WE ARE 1% OF THE STATE SO I CAN UNDERSTAND WHY 85% OF US ARE GOING TO VOTE DEMOCRAT, I CAN UNDERSTAND WHY A POLITICIAN MIGHT HAVE A CALCULATION THAT I DON'T CARE WHAT THE JEWISH COMMUNITY THINKS.

THAT'S NOT SOMETHING I'M LOOKING FOR IN SOMEBODY WHO'S LOOKING TO RUN THE ENTIRE STATE AND REPRESENT ALL OF US.

THERE WAS A LOT OF RESPONSE FROM THE JEWISH COMMUNITY IN A VERY BIPARTISAN WAY.

THIS ISN'T ACCURATE , THIS IS AHISTORIC, PLEASE STOP.

AND THE DOUBLING AND TRIPLING DOWN SHOWS ME HE'S HE'S NOT INTERESTED IN REPRESENTING OUR COMMUNITY WHETHER WE VOTE FOR HIM OR NOT AND THAT TO ME IS NOT LEADERSHIP.

>> Eric: LAST TIME YOU WERE ON, ASKED ABOUT SPECIAL SESSION AND YOU HAD A LITTLE TWINKLE IN YOUR EYE.

>> THE TWINKLE HAS BEEN PLUCKED OUT OF MY EYE, THROWN ON THE GROUND AND SMASHED UNDER SOMEONE'S HEEL.

NO, I DEFINITELY THINK THERE ARE HIGH PROFILE PEOPLE TRYING TO FIND WHAT'S THE RIGHT FORMULA TO GET THEM BACK TO THE TABLE ON THIS AND I THINK THAT YOU'RE HEARING ALL THE DIFFERENT PARTS BEING SAID THAT IF THEY WOULD ACTUALLY JUST SIT DOWN AND SAY, OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS, THIS, AND THIS, I THINK THEY COULD DO IT.

I THINK WE'RE SO CLOSE TO THE ELECTION NOW THAT I JUST CANNOT SEE IT HAPPENING.

I THOUGHT I SAW A WINDOW AND I THINK THAT WINDOW HAS BEEN SHUT.

>> Eric: HAVE WE HEARD WHERE THE HERO CHECKS ARE AND WHO'S ELIGIBLE AND WHO'S BEEN DISQUALIFIED AND WHEN THEY'RE GOING TO BE DELIVERED?

IS THAT COMING TO BE -- GOING TO BE A CONTROVERSY HERE?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT IF THEY DON'T GET DELIVERED, I MEAN, THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A DEFINED PERIOD WHERE IF YOU WERE, YOU KNOW, IF YOU WANTED TO ARGUE THAT YOU SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN IT AND YOU DIDN'T YOU HAD TO SUBMIT YOUR INFORMATION WITHIN A CERTAIN DATE.

NOW, WHEN HE CHECKS ARE ACTUALLY COMING, THAT I HAVE NO IDEA.

>> Eric: WHERE ARE THE MORE LIBERAL FOLKS ON WALZ?

>> ON WALZ, LIKE THE PROGRESSIVES?

>> Eric: YEAH.

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT THE PROGRESSIVES CAN SEE CLEARLY WHAT THE PROBLEMS ARE WITH REPUBLICANS AND I THINK THERE'S A REALLY BIG OPPORTUNITY TO BE REACHING OUT TO PROGRESSIVES AND STRENGTHENING THAT RELATIONSHIP.

>> Eric: IS HE?

>> I HAVE A LOT OF ANTICIPATION THAT IT WILL HAPPEN.

I WILL SAY CERTAINLY THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR TAKES THAT ROLE PRETTY WHOLEHEARTEDLY AND SHE STILL HAS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF SUPPORT FROM PROGRESSIVES, I SUPPORT GOVERNOR WALZ, I'M EXCITED TO SEE HIM REELECTED AND MY HOPE FOR THE CAMPAIGN WOULD BE THAT THEY WOULD REACH OUT TO MORE PEOPLE LIKE ME.

>> Cathy: SAY, DO YOU SEE ANY PROBLEM FOR THE GOVERNOR WITH THE TWO AUDITS THAT HAVE COME OUT, WITH THE DHS AUDIT, DHS SEEMS TO BE A MESS, AND THEN THE LIGHT RAIL AUDIT THAT CAME OUT TODAY?

I MEAN, THAT'S PRETTY DAMNING AUDIT.

>> YEAH, I MEAN, I ALSO DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE PAYING ATTENTION TO THE LIGHT RAIL AUDIT.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE PEOPLE PAYING ATTENTION TO THINGS LIKE THE JENSEN BIRK CAMPAIGN REFUSING TO RELEASE THEIR TAX AUDITS.

IT'S A HOLIDAY WEEKEND AND EVERYONE'S GOING TO BE BUSY THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF IMPORTANT THINGS THAT GET MESSED.

>> Eric: WHERE ARE YOU ON THE RELEASE THE TAX RETURN ISSUE?

>> WELL, I MEAN, IT'S TRADITIONALLY SOMETHING THAT IS DONE.

I DON'T KNOW IS THAT I THINK THAT IF THERE'S NOT SOME SORT OF ILLEGALITY THERE THAT THERE'S ANYTHING THAT'S ANYONE'S BUSINESS.

>> Eric: WELL, IN THE ALTERNATIVE, DO WE HAVE SUFFICIENT FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE FORMS FOR CANDIDATES, COULD THAT BE IMPROVED?

>> WHEN'S THE LAST TIME WE HEARD THERE BEING A PROBLEM IN MINNESOTA?

MINNESOTA HAS VERY TIGHT CAMPAIGN FINANCE RULES, YOU GO TO OTHER STATES AND THEY'RE A LOT LOOSEYER AND GOOSEYER, I DON'T SUSPECT THERE'S A PROBLEM.

>> Cathy: YOU DON'T SUSPECT BUT YOU DON'T REALLY KNOW.

>> WELL, I DON'T KNOW.

>> IT WOULD BE GOOD TO KNOW.

>> I THINK IT IS SOMETHING THAT WHEN YOU DON'T RELEASE THEM YOU HAVE TO BE WILLING TO ABSORB CRITICISM OF PEOPLE THEN TO SPECULATE WHAT'S IN THERE AND I WOULD SAY IF NOTHING'S IN THERE THEN JUST LET THEM HAVE IT.

>> Eric: 15 SECONDS, HOW MUCH OF A FACTOR IS THIS STUDENT LOAN CANCELLATION FOR MINNESOTA YOUNG PEOPLE?

>> I THINK IT'S A HUGE FACTOR, IT DOESN'T BEGIN TO ADDRESS HOW EXPENSIVE COLLEGE IS AND BRINGING THAT DOWN OVERALL BUT IT'S A GREAT START.

>> I THINK THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE THAT ARE REALLY, REALLY HAPPY ABOUT IT AND A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE VERY UPSET.

>> Eric: ON THAT STRADDLE THE FENCE NOTE, THANKS.

GOOD TO SEE YOU GUYS.

>> Cathy: THANK YOU.

♪♪ >> Cathy: IT'S MINNESOTA HISTORY TIME!

TONIGHT'S HISTORY QUESTION FIRST ASKED TO YOU SEVERAL WEEKS AGO AS A MATTER OF FACT AND TONIGHT WE FINALLY REVEAL THE RIGHT ANSWER.

LET'S GO OVER THE DETAILS AGAIN.

WE ASKED YOU ABOUT A NOTED AUTHOR LIVING IN THE TWIN CITIES WHO APPEARED AT THE DOWNTOWN POWERS DEPARTMENT STORE ALONG WITH THE SUBJECT OF THE BOOK.

THE BOOK'S SUBJECT WAS EVEN MORE WELL KNOWN THAN THE AUTHOR, THIS PERSON BEING ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS AMERICANS OF THE LAST CENTURY.

THE BOOK COST 4.95 AND THE MINNEAPOLIS NEWSPAPER PROCLAIMED THAT READERS WILL "WANT AN AUTOGRAPHED COPY FOR YOURSELF AND SEVERAL FOR GIFTS."

OUR QUESTION: WHAT FAMED AUTHOR AND BOOK SUBJECT DID A BOOK SIGNING IN MINNEAPOLIS IN JUNE OF 1960?

THEN WE DID SOMETHING RARE.

WE GAVE A HINT THAT ACTUALLY TOLD YOU THE TITLE OF THE BOOK DID THAT MEAN THAT EVERYONE GOT THIS QUESTION RIGHT?

NOT ON YOUR LIFE.

THAT'S OUR CUE TO ROLL THE WRONG ANSWERS.

>> YOU GAVE ME A HINT ABOUT SPORTS SO I'’M GOING TO GUESS PATTY BERG THE GOLFER.

>> THE CLOSEST WE COULD COME TO THE INDEX FILE QUESTION FOR THIS WEEK WAS HARMON KILLEBREW?

THAT'’S THE BEST WE CAN DO.

>> GEORGE MIKAN.

HE WROTE AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY ABOUT HIS YEARS IN MINNEAPOLIS AS PART OF THE MINNEAPOLIS LAKERS.

>> WE BELIEVE THAT THE ANSWER TO THE INDEX QUESTION IS DORIS KEARNS GOODWIN.

THANK YOU WE ENJOY THE SHOW.

>> Cathy: NOW, IN ALL FAIRNESS THE NOTED HISTORIAN DORIS KEARNS GOODWIN ALSO WROTE A BOOK WITH THE TITLE "WAIT 'TIL NEXT QUEER" BUT IT WASN'T IN 1960.

AND SHE'S NEVER LIVED IN THE TWIN CITIES.

WE RECEIVED MANY RIGHT ANSWERS.

THE PRODUCERS LOVED THE ENERGY IN THIS CALL FROM BRIAN OF MINNEAPOLIS.

>> THE ANSWER TO THIS WEEK'’S ALMANAC'’S QUESTION IS "“WAIT TIL NEXT YEAR: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF JACKIE ROBINSON"” BY JACKIE HIMSELF AND CARL ROWAN OF SOUTH MINNEAPOLIS.

THAT IS THE ANSWER AND THIS IS BRIAN FROM LOWRY HILL.

>> Cathy: YEAH, ROBINSON WAS ACTUALLY THE SUBJECT OF THE BOOK "WAIT 'TIL NEXT YEAR" WRITTEN BY NOTED AFRICAN AMERICAN NEWSPAPER COLUMNIST AND AUTHOR CARL ROWAN.

ROWAN WORKED FOR YEARS AT THE MINNEAPOLIS TRIBUNE, AND THE PAPER RAN EXCERPTS FROM THE JACKIE ROBINSON BOOK.

THANKS TO ALL OF YOU WHO CALLED IN.

HEY, IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION, BY THE WAY, YOU THINK WE SHOULD ASK, LET US KNOW BY DIALING 651-229-1430 OR BY E-MAILING US AT ALMANAC@TPT.ORG.

FOR SHOW CLOSING MUSIC, IT WAS THREE YEARS AGO THIS WEEK THAT ALMANAC DID A SHOW FROM THE TPT BOOTH AT THE STATE FAIR.

WE HOPE WE HAVE A CHANCE TO DO THAT AGAIN NEXT YEAR.

KATE AND BILL ISLES SANG FOR US BACK IN 2019 FROM OUR BOOTH ON MACHINERY HILL.

IT WAS BILL'S SONG "HOBOS IN THE ROUNDHOUSE."

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

WE HOPE TO SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT WEEK.

IN THE MEANTIME HAVE A SAFE HOLIDAY.

AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ERIC ESKOLA.

[ MUSIC ] ♪♪ >> SINGING: FROM AKRON AND HINCKLEY AND PRAIRIE DE CHE IN THEY ARE SOLDIERS AND LAWYERS, AND I BELIEVE WHAT THEY'RE SAYIN' AND I'LL ROUST THEM AT FOUR AND THEY'LL HEAD DOWN THE LINE MY HOBOS SLEEPIN' IN THE ROUNDHOUSE TONIGHT.

GOOD NIGHT, HYHOBOS, REST YOUR VAGABOND HEADS ON YOUR OLD STAPSACK PILLOWS AND YOUR GUNNYSACK BEDS FOR A FEW STOLEN HOURS, YOU'LL BE ALL RIGHT MY HOBOS SLEEPIN' IN THE ROUNDHOUSE TONIGHT.

WELL, THEY HIRED A NEW MAN TO WORK S A GUARD EVERY MORNING AT SUNRISE HE CHECKS OUT THE YARD.

BUT FOR NOW I WON'T TRUST HIM ... "ALMANAC" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY MEMBERS OF THIS PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION.

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

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

DELTADENTALMN.ORG/TPT.

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

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.

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT IS PROVIDED BY THE BLANDIN FOUNDATION.

WORKING TO STRENGTHEN RURAL MINNESOTA.

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

♪♪