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

>> ERIC: COMING UP ON "ALMANAC," LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR PEGGY FLANAGAN IS HERE, FOUR LEGISLATIVE LEADERS WILL FILL THE COUCH, PAUL DOUGLAS TESTS OUR SEVERE WEATHER KNOWLEDGE, AND MARY LAHAMMER HAS AN INSIDE LOOK AT WHAT FORMER GOVERNOR VENTURA HAS BEEN UP TO.

>> Mary: AFTER ADVOCATING FOR MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION FOR DECADES, GOVERNOR JESSE VENTURA IS NOW IN BUSINESS.

WE'LL HAVE UNIQUE LOOK INSIDE HIS OPERATION.

>> GROWN IN MINNESOTA, PROCESSED IN MINNESOTA, PROMOTED BY A MINNESOTAN.

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

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

>> SUPPORT IS ALSO PROVIDED BY• GREAT RIVER ENERGY: PROVIDING WHOLESALE POWER TO 27 MINNESOTA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES.

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

DELTADENTALMN.ORG/TPT.

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

MORE AT EDUCATIONMINNESOTA.ORG.

AND PAINTCARE: HELPING MINNESOTANS RECYCLE LEFTOVER PAINT.

MORE AT PAINTCARE.ORG.

>> ERIC: IT'S DEADLINE DAY AT THE CAPITOL, WHEN BILLS HAVE TO MAKE IT OUT OF COMMITTEE FOR A CHANCE TO BECOME LAW THIS YEAR.

WE'LL TALK WITH LEGISLATIVE LEADERS ABOUT WHAT MADE IT THROUGH A LITTLE LATER IN THE HOUR, PAUL DOUGLAS IS HERE WITH HIS NEARLY ANNUAL SEVERE WEATHER QUIZ, AND MARY LAHAMMER HAS AN INSIDE LOOK AT FORMER GOVERNOR VENTURA'S NEW CANNABIS BUSINESS.

>> Cathy: LIEUTENANT.

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR PEGGY FLANAGAN WILL BE JOINING US IN JUST A FEW MINUTES.

WE'LL START WITH SMALL-TOWN HOSPITAL NEWS.

THE HOSPITAL IN MAHNONMEN, MINNESOTA, WILL NO LONGER HAVE BEDS AVAILABLE FOR PATIENTS TO STAY IN.

THE SMALL NORTHWEST MINNESOTA FACILITY IS CONVERTING TO WHAT IS CALLED A RURAL EMERGENCY HOSPITAL.

EMERGENCY SERVICES AND OBSERVATION CARE WILL BE AVAILABLE BUT THOSE SERVICES CANNOT EXCEED 24 HOURS ON AVERAGE.

MAHNOMEN IS THE FIRST COMMUNITY IN MINNESOTA FACING THIS CHANGE.

HERE WITH MORE, DR. RAHUL KORANNE HEADS UP THE MINNESOTA HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION.

NICE TO HAVE YOU IN STUDIO.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> Cathy: THIS IS AN INTERESTING STORY.

EMERGENCY HOSPITALS IN RURAL MINNESOTA -- WELL, THIS IS THE FIRST IN RURAL MINNESOTA.

WHAT HAPPENED TO MAHNOMEN IN ORDER TO TIP IT INTO THIS CATEGORY?

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S COMMENDABLE THAT THE LOCAL HOSPITAL IS TRYING TO KEEP SOME SERVICES ALIVE FOR ITS COMMUNITY.

WE ALL KNOW WHAT HIS COMMUNITY IS LIKE, LIKE O MANY OTHER RURAL COMMUNITIES, YOU KNOW, TRANSPORTATION STRUGGLES, YOU KNOW, FOLKS REALLY HAVING DIFFICULTY, YOU KNOW, GETTING ACCESS TO MEDICAL CARE.

SO IT'S COMMENDABLE THAT THE LEADERSHIP AND THE BOARD ARE KEEPING EMERGENCY SERVICES ALIVE.

HOWEVER, WHAT THIS BRINGS FORWARD IS THE TROUBLING TIMES THAT NOT-FOR-PROFIT HEALTHCARE IS IN HERE IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

AND SINCE COVID AND POST COVID, I'VE CALLED IT A PERFECT STORM, I'VE CALLED IT A CONGLOMERATION OF CRISES, AND IT'S LIKE THE LIGHT ON THE CARD DASHBOARD TURNED ON LAST YEAR, SO WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT FOR A YEAR, YEAR AND A HALF.

NOW THAT LIGHT IS FLASHING.

NOT FOR PROFIT HOSPITALS AND HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS IN THE STATE ARE IN DEEP TROUBLE.

THIS IS A SYMPTOM OF THAT.

>> Eric: IN A RURAL HOSPITAL, YOU HAVE A LOT OF MEDICARE, MEDICAID, WE CALL IT MEDICAL ASSISTANCE IN MINNESOTA, REIMBURSEMENTS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO THE HOSPITAL.

IS THAT PART OF THE PROBLEM, I UNDERSTAND IT'S BEEN SEVERAL YEARS SINCE YOU'VE HAD, LIKE, AN INFLATION ADJUSTMENT TO THE REIMBURSEMENTS.

>> SO, ON AVERAGE, RIGHT NOW, 64% OF PATIENTS THAT ARE BEING SERVED BY OUR -- BY OUR HOSPITALS ACROSS THE STATE ARE GOVERNMENTAL INSURANCE, MEDICARE AND MEDICAID.

IN SOME COUNTIES, IN SOME HOSPITALS, THAT IS UP TO 70% OR 80%.

AND WHEN WE ADD UP THE NUMBERS, THESE ARE STUNNING LOSSES ON A YEAR-BY-YEAR BASIS.

YOU KNOW, IT'S $1 BILLION OF LOSSES IN A YEAR BY UNDERPAYMENTS BY MEDICARE.

IT'S, YOU KNOW, $800 MILLION OF LOSSES FROM MEDICAID.

SO YOU'RE RIGHT, OUR PAYMENTS FROM THE STATE GOVERNMENT, MEDICAID, HAVE NOT BEEN ADJUSTED SINCE 2019, AND WE ALL KNOW WHAT INFLATION HAS DONE IN THOSE LAST FIVE YEARS.

SO THE STRUCTURAL ISSUE THAT IS CAUSING THIS PROBLEM ACROSS URBAN AND RURAL PARTS OF THE STATE NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT AND I THINK MINNESOTANS AND OUR LAWMAKERS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS NEED TO GET READY TO IT HAVE A -- TO HAVE A REAL CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN MINNESOTA.

>> Cathy: IF THE RATES WERE RAISED, THOUGH, WOULD THAT HAVE SAVED A PLACE LIKE MA MAHNOMEN?

I UNDERSTAND IT'S STILL OPEN, THEY WILL OFFER EMERGENCY SERVICES, OTHER HOSPITALS HAVE CLOSED, THOUGH.

WOULD THAT ACTUALLY BE A LIFELINE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SO, RIGHT NOW, MEDICAID, THE STATE GOVERNMENT PAYMENT AND INSURER, IS PAYING US 68 CENTS ON THE DOLLAR OF COST.

WE ALL KNOW WHAT HOSPITAL COSTS ARE, PHARMACEUTICALS, YOU KNOW, SERVICES, EQUIPMENT, BUT, MOST IMPORTANTLY, UR SUPPORT FOR OUR WORKFORCE.

YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO BE PAYING OUR NURSES AND OUR PHYSICIANS, SO THOSE COSTS ARE GOING UP, SOME OF OUR OSPITALS ARE SAYING, IN DOUBLE DIGITS, AND IF THE REVENUES ARE FIXED AND THE GOVERNMENT, MEDICAID, DOES NOT PAY US UP TO THE LEVEL OF COST, THIS IS WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

>> Eric: THERE IS A BILL IN THE LEGISLATURE TO PUT A CAP ON OSPITAL EXECUTIVE PAY.

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THAT?

WOULD THAT BE ENOUGH TO PUT A DENT IN THINGS?

>> WELL, $2.3 BILLION IN ONE YEAR OF UNDERPAYMENTS BETWEEN MEDICARE AND MEDICAID, AND HALF A BILLION OF LOSSES IN THOSE PATIENTS THAT ARE IN OUR UNITS THAT CANNOT BE DISCHARGED TO A NURSING HOME, YOU KNOW, EXECUTIVE PAY IS A MINUSCULE AMOUNT OF THAT.

I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE A BIG AND A GOOD CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO MINNESOTANS IN URBAN AND RURAL AREAS WHEN THESE MEDICAL SERVICES LEAK AWAY.

LABOR AND DELIVERY, AMBULANCE SERVICES, COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES, ADULT DAY CARE, ON AND ON AND ON.

AND THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

IT'S HAPPENING NOW.

>> Cathy: I WONDER, YOU KNOW, WITH MAHNOMEN, SO, AGAIN, THEY'RE GOING TO OFFER EMERGENCY SERVICES STILL, BUT HOW MANY OTHER SMALLER HOSPITALS MIGHT FOLLOW SUIT AND SOON?

>> I WAS TALKING TO A SMALL RURAL HOSPITAL CEO YESTERDAY, AND THIS IS IN A COMMUNITY JUST SOUTH OF THE TWIN CITIES, LOST $11 MILLION LAST YEAR, THE WORST YEAR EVER IN THEIR HISTORY.

TALKING TO ANOTHER HOSPITAL CEO, FURTHER DOWN SOUTH, IN RURAL MINNESOTA, LOST $16 MILLION LAST YEAR, WORST YEAR IN THE HISTORY.

SO I THINK, AS PATIENTS, WE'RE ALL PATIENTS, WE COULD NEED HOSPITAL LEVEL OF SERVICES TODAY, WE NEED TO REALLY SIT DOWN AND THINK ABOUT WHAT DO WE NEED.

SO WHAT DO WE NEED FROM THE STATE LAWMAKERS?

WE NEED MEDICAID PAYMENTS TO BE -- TO GO UP TO COST.

>> Eric: WE'VE RUN OUT OF TIME.

>> RIGHT.

>> Eric: BUT THE BUDGET SESSION IS, OF COURSE, 2025, SEE WHAT HAPPENS THEN.

>> THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

>> Eric: APPRECIATE YOU COMING DOWN.

THANKS SO MUCH.

THANK YOU.

♪♪ >> HERE WE GO.

WATCH.

THIS IS GREAT.

LOOK AT THIS.

AMAZING.

[ Laughter ] [ Applause ] WHOO!

>> OUR COUNTRY NEEDS SOMEBODY WHO KNOWS COMMON SENSE IN A PRACTICAL WAY AND USE IT IN SUCH A WAY.

BUT THE PEOPLE HAVE ALSO GOT TO HELP.

THEY JUST CAN'T COMPLAIN ABOUT THINGS.

WE, OURSELVES, THE CITIZENS HAVE GOT TO BE MORE CONSTRUCTIVE THAN WE ARE.

♪♪ >> Eric: LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR PEGGY FLANAGAN JOINS US NOW TO TALK LEGISLATIVE POLITICS AND MORE.

SHE HAS EXPERIENCED THE FINAL COMMITTEE DEADLINE DAY AS A MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATURE, AND NOW AS PART OF THE ADMINISTRATION.

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, WELCOME BACK.

I AM REALLY INTERESTED TO HEAR -- GET YOUR VIEW ON THIS SITUATION GOING ON IN NORTHWESTERN MINNESOTA WITH THE WHITE EARTH BAND AND THE TRANSFER OF LAND FROM THE STATE PARK TO THE BAND'S TERRITORY.

AND YOU'RE AN ENROLLED MEMBER.

>> I AM.

>> Eric: ARE YOU IN THE MIDDLE OF NEGOTIATING THIS?

IT SOUNDS LIKE BECKER COUNTY AND THE TRIBE ARE AT ODDS.

>> WELL, OUR ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN, YOU KNOW, A LONG TIME SUPPORTER OF WORKING TO BUILD OUR TRIBAL STATE, YOU KNOW, ELATIONSHIP, AND I'M PROUD OF THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE.

WE RECENTLY RETURNED A STATE PARK TO THE YELLOW MEDICINE PEOPLE.

>> Eric: THAT DIDN'T SEEM TO HAVE A BIG DEAL.

>> IT WAS ONE PARCEL OF LAND, AND IT WAS A STATE PARK.

IT STILL TOOK ABOUT 20 YEARS TO GET THAT DONE.

AND IT TOOK THE GOVERNOR GOING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR TO MEET WITH THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY, ALONG WITH PRESIDENT GENERALS VOLD FROM THE UPPER SIOUX COMMUNITY.

SO I THINK THERE IS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN, CONVERSATIONS WITH THE COUNTIES, WITH COMMUNITIES.

JENSVOLD.

I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF MISINFORMATION OUT THERE AND I THINK THOSE CONVERSATIONS NEED TO HAPPEN ON THE FRONT END, I THINK, BEFORE THIS CAN MOVE FORWARD.

>> Cathy: AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 155,000 ACRES OF LAND, SO A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT IN TERMS OF STATE FOREST LANDS.

ARE YOU HELPING TO BROKER, ARE YOU HELPING TO MAYBE SOFTEN SOME OF THE RANCOR THAT IS IN NORTHWESTERN MINNESOTA BETWEEN BECKER COUNTY AND MAYBE SOME RESIDENTS AND TRIBAL -- THE TRIBAL NATION?

>> WELL, I AVE MET, YOU KNOW, WITH LEADERSHIP FROM WHITE EARTH AND, YOU KNOW, HAVE SHARED WITH THEM, I THINK THERE'S A REAL NEED FOR RELATIONSHIP BUILDING, AND I THINK THAT THEY HAVE STARTED, YOU KNOW, TO DO THAT WORK, TO MEET WITH THE COUNTIES.

I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO GET DONE THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION, BUT I DO THINK WE'RE IN A MOMENT WHERE WE ARE STRENGTHENING THOSE RELATIONSHIPS.

I THINK THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO STRENGTHEN THEIR RELATIONSHIPS WITH TRIBES AS WELL.

AND, YOU KNOW, THIS IS LONG -- YOU KNOW, THIS WORK TAKES A LOT OF TIME AND THOUGHT AND ATTENTION.

AND I THINK THAT THERE'S JUST, LIKE, A LOT OF RUMORS THAT ARE MOVING.

AND WE JUST NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS ARE BUILDING THAT TRUST, LOOKING EACH OTHER IN THE EYE AND TALKING ABOUT WHAT THEIR CONCERNS ARE, THE TRIBE CAN ADDRESS THOSE CONCERNS AND HOPEFULLY PEOPLE CAN MOVE FORWARD TOGETHER.

>> Eric: ANOTHER TOPIC.

YOU'VE BEEN QUOTED AS SAYING THAT THE DFL FOCUS IN THE LAST COUPLE YEARS ON MAKING THE STATE THE BEST STATE IN WHICH TO RAISE CHILDREN, I THINK YOU CALLED IT AN EXPERIMENT.

AND I'D LIKE TO YOU KIND OF EXPAND ON WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY AN EXPERIMENT EXACTLY?

>> WELL,, YOU KNOW, I'M THE PREVIOUS FORMER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CHILDREN'S DEFENSE FUND.

AND MANY OF THE THINGS, YOU KNOW, THAT WE WERE WORKING TOWARDS AT CDF, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH IN THE WALZ/FLANAGAN ADMINISTRATION, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THIS LEGISLATURE.

THINGS LIKE, YOU KNOW, BREAKFAST AND LUNCH FOR ALL KIDDOS AT SCHOOL.

IT'S BEEN INCREDIBLE TO FEED CHILDREN, YOU KNOW, BREAKFAST AND WATCH, YOU KNOW, THEIR FACES JUST LIGHT UP.

THEY GET TO VISIT WITH THEIR FRIENDS, THERE'S NO QUESTIONS ASKED.

>> Eric: TOO EXPENSIVE?

>> I THINK IT'S ONE OF THE BEST INVESTMENTS THAT WE CAN MAKE.

WE SEE THAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S HAPPENING IN SCHOOLS, TEACHERS, PRINCIPALS, SOCIAL WORKERS ARE SAYING, THEY'RE GETTING GREAT RESULTS.

AND I DON'T THINK THERE SHOULD BE ANY ARGUMENTS AROUND, YOU KNOW, FEEDING KIDS.

THE CHILD TAX CREDIT, I'VE BEEN TRAVELING ALL ACROSS THE STATE OF MINNESOTA, WAS JUST IN BEMIDJI LAST WEEK, TELLING PEOPLE ABOUT THE CHILD TAX CREDIT.

AND WE KNOW THAT THERE IS 20,000 MINNESOTANS WHO FILLED OUT THEIR TAXES FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, LIKELY BECAUSE OF THIS CREDIT.

380,000 CHILDREN HAVE NOW QUALIFIED, THEIR FAMILIES WILL GET THIS CREDIT, AND HE AVERAGE CREDIT PER FAMILY IS $2,500.

THAT'S REAL MONEY FOR FAMILIES.

THESE INVESTMENTS IN EDUCATION, IN CHILD CARE, WE KNOW THAT CHILDREN DON'T COME IN PIECES, AND I THINK THAT'S HOW WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO APPROACH, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THE POLICIES THAT WE MOVED LAST SESSION, PAID FAMILY AND MEDICAL EAVE, AND I'M EXCITED.

I THINK THINGS ARE WORKING.

AND I'M HOPEFUL ABOUT THE FUTURE, ESPECIALLY FOR THIS NEXT GENERATION OF MINNESOTANS.

>> Cathy: I WONDER, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU LOOK AT EVERYTHING IN TOTALITY HERE, AS THE SESSION STARTS TO WIND DOWN, THERE ARE A FEW WEEKS LEFT, OBVIOUSLY, WHAT ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT NOT GETTING THROUGH?

WHAT'S THE WALZ ADMINISTRATION WORRIED ABOUT NOT PASSING?

>> WELL, I THINK OUR PRIORITIES, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE'VE BEEN PRETTY CLEAR ABOUT THEM.

IT'S TWO THINGS.

IT'S A BONDING BILL AND THEN HOUSING DISCRIMINATION.

SO IN THE BONDING BILL, YOU KNOW, THE GOVERNOR JUST SAID THE MINNEAPOLIS VETERANS HOME, THERE ARE, YOU KNOW, NEEDED REPAIRS THERE, AND WE HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF, YOU KNOW, OUR WARRIORS AND PROJECTS ALL ACROSS THE STATE.

YOU KNOW, FOR MYSELF, I CARE TREMENDOUSLY ABOUT THE STATE PATROL.

WE JUST HAD THE 6th AND 69th -- 68th AND 69th ACADEMY CADETS GRADUATED TODAY.

WE NEED A STATE PATROL HEADQUARTERS THAT MEETS THE NEEDS OF MODERN LAW ENFORCEMENT.

WE'RE PUSHING FOR THAT.

AND THEN, YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW LANDLORDS HAVE THE ABILITY TO DISCRIMINATE AGAINST FOLKS WITH SECTION 8 HOUSING VOUCHERS, DISCRIMINATE AGAINST THEIR SOURCE OF INCOME.

THIS IS MOVING, IT MOVED LAST NIGHT IN THE HOUSING BILL, AND I'M HOPEFUL, AS A KID WHO HAD A SECTION 8 HOUSING VOUCHER, WE KNOW WHEN WE HAVE A HOUSING CRISIS, THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS WE CAN DO TO LESSEN IT.

>> Eric: ONE OF THE PARLOR GAMES AT THE CAPITOL IS, WHAT'S LIEUTENANT FLAN GONE GOING TO DO WITH HER POLITICAL FUTURE?

WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN SIX, EIGHT YEARS?

>> Cathy: YOU ARE ONE OF THE U.S.A. WOMEN TODAY TO WATCH.

>> THANK YOU.

I'LL TELL OU, I'M NOT TRYING TO BE, YOU KNOW, POLITICAL ABOUT IT, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, 2024 IS LITERALLY THE MOST IMPORTANT ELECTION OF OUR TIME.

I DON'T KNOW IF THERE WILL BE AN ELECTION IN 2026 OR 2028 UNLESS WE WIN THIS ONE.

I'M DOING ALL I CAN, THE GOVERNOR IS, TOO, TO RE-ELECT JOE BIDEN AND KAMALA HARRIS.

>> Eric: HAVE YOU TALKED ABOUT A THIRD TERM WITH HIM?

>> YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, CONTINUING TO GET DONE THE GOOD WORK THAT -- BUT WE HAVEN'T MADE A DECISION YET.

I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR.

GOVERNOR WALZ AND I HAVE NOT YET MADE A DECISION.

BUT WE ARE ALL IN, HIM WITH THE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNORS ASSOCIATION, MYSELF WITH THE DEMOCRATIC LIEUTENANT GOVERNORS ASSOCIATION, WORKING HARD HERE IN MINNESOTA TO RE-ELECT THE HOUSE, BUT ALSO GOING NATIONALLY TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE WINNING DEMOCRATIC VICTORIES UP AND DOWN THE BALLOT.

>> Cathy: YOU WERE WITH US J FIRST LADY BIDEN TONIGHT.

>> I WAS, I WAS.

>> Cathy: IS THAT RIGHT?

>> AND HE ROOM WAS PACKED, FULL OF WOMEN WHO ARE READY TO GET OUT THERE AND VOTE AND ORGANIZE AND I'M EXCITED.

>> Eric: THANKS FOR RUSHIN' OVER HERE.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANKS SO MUCH OR HAVING ME.

>> Eric: SEE YOU LATER.

>> CATHY: "PROFE" IS A BRAND-NEW DOCUMENTARY FROM MINNESOTA EXPERIENCE PREMIERING THIS TUESDAY AT 8:00 P.M. ON TWIN CITIES PBS.

THE FILM FOLLOWS TWO INDEPENDENT PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND LOOKS AT PAST AND PRESENT-DAY STRUGGLES FOR EDUCATION IN THE LATINE COMMUNITY.

ONE OF THE WOMEN FEATURED IN THE FILM IS THE CO-FOUNDER OF ACADEMIA CESAR CHAVEZ, RAMONA ARREGUIN DE ROSALES, WHO FOR DECADES ADVOCATED NOT JUST FOR FAIR ACCESS TO EDUCATION BUT EQUITABLE REPRESENTATION IN CURRICULUM HERE IN MINNESOTA.

>> THIS USED TO BE OUR RIDE, WHEN MY HUSBAND AND I WERE STUDENTS, WORKING WITH A COMMUNITY HERE ON THE WEST SIDE.

>> I ENROLLED AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA IN THE FALL OF 1969.

BEVERLEY STEWART, THE GENERAL COLLEGE ADVISOR, WE STARTED TO WORK TOGETHER TO IDENTIFY LATINO STUDENTS ON CAMPUS, AND I COULD ONLY IDENTIFY FOUR.

I DECIDED TO GO TO THE LOCAL HIGH SCHOOLS AND TRY TO RECRUIT STUDENTS.

I HAD THAT DRIVE IN ME BECAUSE I THOUGHT, HERE I AM, SOMEONE THAT I DIDN'T THINK I COULD ATTEND A UNIVERSITY, ATTEND COLLEGE, WHY CAN'T I FIND OTHERS THAT I CAN GET THEM TO BELIEVE JUST THAT, LOOK AT ME, HERE I AM.

I WENT OUT TO RURAL MINNESOTA, WENT TO THE MIGRANT CAMPS AND STARTED RECRUITING MIGRANT STUDENTS.

THAT WAS A LITTLE BIT MORE CHALLENGING BECAUSE I HAD TO CONVINCE THE FAMILIES THAT THEY ERE GOING TO BE FINE AND SAFE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA.

BEFORE YOU KNOW IT, YOU KNOW, I HAD A WHOLE LOT MORE CHICANO LATINO STUDENTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA.

WE STARTED TO SEE THAT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA WAS NOT TEACHING THEIR STUDENTS ABOUT LATINO CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE UNITED STATES.

AND, SO, WE SAID AS STUDENTS, WE NEED A DEPARTMENT AS WELL.

IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT WE HAD OUR OWN CHAIR, OUR OWN FACULTY RATHER THAN JUST HAVING A COURSE OFFERED.

WE WENT TO THE ADMINISTRATION AND WE GAVE THEM A LIST OF DEMANDS.

WELL, OF COURSE, THEY DIDN'T GET BACK TO US IN THE TIME FRAME THAT WE WANTED.

SO, WE HAD PEOPLE FROM THE COMMUNITY, BLACK STUDENTS, WOMEN LIBERATION, AMERICAN INDIAN MOVEMENT.

WE HAD ALL KINDS OF STUDENT SUPPORT, AND AFTER MUCH MUCH NEGOTIATION, WE DID GET GRANTED A CHICANO STUDIES DEPARTMENT.

I'M REALLY PROUD THAT WE STILL HAVE IT 50 YEARS LATER.

♪♪ >> WELCOME TO PAUL DOUGLAS' NEARLY ANNUAL WEATHER QUIZ!

NOW, HERE'S PAUL!

[ Applause ] ♪♪ >> HERE'S PAUL.

>> PAUL: YOUR EYES ARE NOT DECEIVING YOU.

I, PAUL DOUGLAS, HAVE TAKEN CONTROL OF THE TELEPROMPTER AND RELEGATED CATHY AND ERIC TO QUIZ CONTESTANTS JUST IN TIME FOR OUR NEARLY ANNUAL WEATHER QUIZ.

TODAY'S CONTESTANTS ARE READY TO BATTLE OVER A SERIES OF SEVERE WEATHER QUESTIONS DESIGNED TO GET US ALL READY FOR SEVERE WEATHER SEASON.

LAST WEEK WAS SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK.

WE SHOULD BE THINKING ABOUT THIS STUFF.

HOPEFULLY WE NEVER NEED IT, BUT IF YOU DO, ARMED WITH THE INFORMATION YOU NEED TO DO THE RIGHT THING.

BUT FIRST, A FEW RULES BEFORE WE GET STARTED.

I ASK THE QUESTIONS AND TRY TO STUMP THE CONTESTANTS.

QUESTIONS ARE MULTIPLE CHOICE AND MORE THAN ONE ANSWER CAN BE CORRECT.

YOU CAN PLAY ALONG AT HOME AND YOU DON'T EVEN NEED A BUZZER.

FOR THE TWO OF YOU HERE IN THE STUDIO, IF YOU BUZZ IN TOO SOON, YOU MAY MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT ON YOURSELF.

PATIENT BUZZING.

LET'S TRY THE HIGH-TECH BUZZER SYSTEM WITH A QUICK TEST QUESTION.

TRUE OR FALSE - TODAY IS THE THIRD COMMITTEE DEADLINE DAY AT THE LEGISLATURE.

CATHY.

>> Eric: WHAT?

>> Cathy: HE DID BUZZ IN.

>> DID HE BUZZ IN SOONER?

>> Eric: YOU FILIBUSTER WORSE THAN THE STATE SENATE.

[ Laughter ] >> WHAT'S THE ANSWER?

>> Eric: IT IS THIRD DEADLINE.

>> OKAY.

TEST OF THE BUZZER, LET ME HEAR YOUR BUZZER AGAIN.

[ BUZZING ] >> VERY NICE, ALMOST HARMONIOUS.

>> ARE WE PLEDGING AROUND THIS?

>> THIS SEGMENT WILL NOT BE HARMONIOUS.

TALK ABOUT HYPER COMPETITIVE.

>> Eric: GO AHEAD.

START IT HERE, LET'S GO.

>> ON AVERAGE, QUESTION NUMBER 1, HOW MANY TORNADOES HAVE HIT MINNESOTA EVERY YEAR SINCE 1991?

30-YEAR DATA.

IS IT 17?

28?

33?

[ BUZZER ] >> Cathy: B, 28.

>> S WRONG.

>> Eric: 38.

>> THAT'S NOT ONE OF THE POSSIBLE ANSWERS.

[ Laughter ] >> Eric: ANYBODY COULD PICK THEM ROM THE FOUR CHOICES.

I'M OUTSIDE THE BOX.

>> Cathy: WHAT IS IT?

>> Eric: NEXT QUESTION.

>> THE ANSWER IS 46.

>> Cathy: REALLY?

>> ACCORDING TO THE MINNESOTA CLIMATE OFFICE, 30-YEAR DATA, 46 WAS THE AVERAGE.

MOST WERE SMALL AND BRIEF.

WE'RE SEEING THINGS ON DOPPLER THAT WE DIDN'T SEE BEFORE DOPPLER AND, SO, SOME OF THOSE DIDN'T EVEN TOUCHDOWN.

TOUCH DOWN.

ALL RIGHT, NOBODY WINS THAT.

>> Eric: WE'RE TIED.

>> GOOD GRIEF.

NUMBER 2, WHICH OF THESE LOCATIONS, AND I'M LOOKING FOR ONE ANSWER HERE, WHICH IS THE BEST PLACE TO SEEK SHELTER DURING A TORNADO?

>> Cathy: GO AHEAD, ERIC.

>> Eric: BASEMENT UNDER THE STAIRS.

>> IS CORRECT.

>> Cathy: NICE.

>> YES!

WOW!

>> Cathy: FINE.

>> Eric: WHY ARE YOU SO SHOCKED?

>> I GAVE THAT TO YOU.

>> I'M NOT SHOCKED, I'M PROUD.

>> Eric: WELL, GOOD.

>> IF YOU DON'T HAVE A BASEMENT, THE SAFEST PLACE, A SMALL WINDOWLESS ROOM ON THE GROUND FLOOR, A CLOSET, A BATHROOM, YEAH, PEOPLE HAVE SURVIVED F-5 TORNADOES BY HIDING IN THEIR BATHTUB.

PREFERABLY NO WATER IN THE BATHTUB.

>> Eric: KEEP ROLLING HERE, I'M ON A HOT STREAK.

>> NUMBER 3, WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO DEAL WITH HYDROPLANING ON THE HIGHWAY DURING HEAVY RAIN?

ALL-SEASON TIRES, HONK THE HORN REPEATEDLY, SLOW DOWN OR ALL OF THE ABOVE?

>> Cathy: SORRY!

>> WOW, THAT'S A LOT OF BUZZIN'.

>> Cathy: I WOULD AY SLOW DOWN.

>> IS CORRECT.

>> Cathy: THANK YOU.

>> WELL DONE.

>> Cathy: ERIC DOESN'T HAVE A CAR, THERE'S NO WAY HE WAS GOING TO GET THAT ONE.

>> THE ONLY THING YOU CAN DO WHEN YOU LOSE TEMPORARY CONTROL IS TO SLOW DOWN.

>> Eric: DON'T YOU STEER IN THE DIRECTION OF THE SKID?

>> THAT'S ON SNOW.

>> Cathy: AGAIN, HE DOESN'T DRIVE, IT'S FINE.

>> ON WATER, YOU'RE WATER-SKIING DOWN 494.

>> Eric: HYDROPLANING, YES.

KEEP GOING.

>> NUMBER 4, WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING HAIL SIZES IS CAPABLE OF DAMAGING YOUR HOME OR CAR?

THERE MAY BE MORE THAN ONE ANSWER.

PEA-SIZE, QUARTER SIZE, GOLF BALL SIZE, CANTELOUPE SIZE?

>> Cathy: I WOULD SAY THE LAST THREE.

>> IS CORRECT!

>> Eric: I WAS GOING TO SAY PICKLEBALL.

>> Cathy: WHAT?

>> TO BE TRENDY, I SHOULD HAVE USED PICKLEBALL.

>> Eric: YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

>> ANYTHING BIGGER THAN QUARTER SIZE, NE INCH IN DIAMETER IS CONSIDERED SEVERE, ESPECIALLY IF THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM IS PRODUCING HIGH WINDS.

OKAY, NUMBER 5.

YOU'RE OUTSIDE, LIGHTENING OVER AHEAD -- LIGHTNING OVERHEAD, NO SHELTER NEARBY, I'M LOOKING FOR ONE ANSWER.

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?

ERIC.

>> Eric: FLAT ON THE GROUND.

>> IS WRONG.

>> Eric: WHAT?

>> CATHY.

>> Cathy: I'M TRYING TO SEE.

KEEP GOING.

>> HIDE UNDER THE NEAREST TREE.

CROUCH INTO A BALL WITH YOUR HEAD TUCKED.

FIND THE NEAREST DITCH AND PRAY.

>> Eric: I'VE DONE THAT CROUCH DEAL WITHOUT HAVING A SEVERE WEATHER.

[ Laughter ] >> THAT SOUNDS IKE A PERSONAL PROBLEM.

>> Cathy: IT IS KIND OF A PERSONAL PROBLEM.

>> WE DON'T HAVE TIME TO GET INTO THAT.

>> Cathy: I WOULD SAY C. >> C?

>> Cathy: C. >> C IS CORRECT.

WHERE DO WE STAND HERE?

>> Cathy: I THINK I DON'T KNOW.

>> I THINK CATHY IS WINNING.

>> Cathy: MIGHT BE.

>> Eric: I THINK THE VIEWERS ARE THE LOSERS.

>> Cathy: PROBABLY TRUE.

>> OH, MY GOSH.

ALL RIGHT.

NUMBER 6.

WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING USES SAME TECHNOLOGY?

SAME.

SO YOU CAN GET A WARNING ONLY FOR YOUR COUNTIES.

A.M. RADIO, DOPPLER RADIO, HAM RADIO OR NOAA RADIO?

>> Eric: GOT TO BE NOAA.

>> IS CORRECT.

ONLY NOAA RADIO WITH SPECIFIC MESSAGE CODING, SAME, ALLOWS YOU TO PLUG IN YOUR COUNTY OR ADJACENT COUNTIES SO YOU'RE NOT UP ALL NIGHT.

>> Eric: YOU'VE BEEN GOOD PROMOTING THE WEATHER, RIGHT, THE NOAA WEATHER RADIO.

YOU'VE DONE A GOOD JOB WITH THAT.

>> CHEAPEST LIFE INSURANCE.

35 BUCKS.

>> Eric: YOU HAVE.

>> THANK YOU.

I SHOULD HAVE BROUGHT ONE FOR YOU.

>> Eric: YEAH.

>> DO YOU HAVE ONE?

>> Eric: NO PRIZES FOR THIS?

>> NO PRIZES.

JUST MY RESPECT ND ADMIRATION.

ISN'T THAT ENOUGH?

REALLY?

>> Cathy: WHO'S AHEAD?

WHO'S AHEAD?

DO WE KNOW?

>> I THINK IT'S TIED.

LET'S PRETEND IT'S TIED.

>> Cathy: WHAT?

>> HERE'S THE TIE WREAKER.

BREAKER.

LAST QUESTION.

A WARMING CLIMATE IS SCIENTIFICALLY LINKED TO CHFT FOLLOWING.

MORE THAN ONE ANSWER POSSIBLE?

HEAVIER SUMMER RAINS?

HYPER SUMMER HUMIDITY AND HEAT INDICES?

MORE FREQUENT TORNADOES?

AND LARGER HAIL SIZES?

CATHY.

>> Cathy: I WOULD SAY EVERYTHING.

>> IS WRONG.

>> Cathy: WHAT?

COME ON.

>> Eric: WHAT ARE THEY AGAIN?

>> Cathy: YEAH, WHAT ARE THEY AGAIN?

>> Eric: I JUST ASSUMED -- WAIT A MINUTE.

I KNOW.

IT'S -- >> Cathy: COME ON, I'M RIGHT.

MAYBE NOT C. >> Eric: THE OVERNIGHT LOWS ARE TOO HIGH.

>> Cathy: I THINK I'M RIGHT ON THIS ONE.

>> Eric: I THINK I'VE GOT IT.

>> Cathy: HEAVIER SUMMER RAIN, COME ON.

>> IT'S A AND B.

>> Cathy: A AND B?

>> WARMER, IT'S BASIC PHYSICS, YOU WARM UP THE ATMOSPHERE, IT HOLDS MORE WAWRP VAPOR AND THAT WATER VAPOR COMES DOWN HARDER, ESPECIALLY IN THE SUMMER, HEAVIER RAIN, AND HIGHER HEAT INDICES WITH HIGHER DEW POINTS IN THE SUMMER.

>> Cathy: YOU HAVE MORE STORMS.

>> THERE IS NO LINK YET THAT WE CAN FIND -- HAD.

>> Cathy: BIGGER HAIL.

>> -- NO SPECIFIC SCIENTIFIC LINK BETWEEN FREQUENCY F TORNADOES OR EVEN HAIL SIZE.

>> Cathy: FINE.

>> SO IT ENDS IN A DRAW.

YOU BOTH HAVE MY RESPECT AND ADMIRATION AND NOTHING MORE.

>> Eric: I THINK WE'RE BRINGING IN MARK SEELEY NEXT YEAR.

>> Cathy: WOW!

>> OUCH.

>> Cathy: THAT HURT.

>> WELL, I LOVE MARK, SO, YEAH.

>> Eric: THANKS, PAUL.

YOU DID GREAT.

YOU'RE OUR HERO.

>> HAPPY, HAPPY.

>> Cathy: SEE YOU LATER.

[ BUZZING ] ♪♪ >> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IT'S THAT SPECIAL TIME F YEAR WHEN THE SNOW HAS MELTED AND IT'S FINALLY WARM ENOUGH TO START BIKING!

BIKING IS LITERALLY MY FAVORITE MODE OF TRANSPORTATION.

IT'S HEALTHY, IT'S FUN, AND IT'S A GREAT WAY TO GET AROUND.

WHICH IS WHY EVERY APRIL I DO TWO THINGS.

I GET MY BIKE TUNED UP, AND THEN I IMMEDIATELY REMIND EVERYONE, YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO HIT BIKERS WITH YOUR CAR!

YES!

I KNOW SOME BIKERS ANNOY YOU, BUT THAT DOES NOT MEAN YOU SHOULD RUN THEM OVER.

I WANT TO BE CLEAR HERE.

BEING ANNOYED IS NOT AN EXCUSE FOR MURDERING ANYONE.

EVEN BIKERS!

YOU NEED TO GET READY FOR US BECAUSE CONTRARY TO POPULAR BELIEF, WE ARE ALLOWED TO BIKE ON THE ROADS.

NOW, SOME OF YOU MIGHT BE THINKING, WELL, SURELY I CAN HIT THE BIKERS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET.

AND TO THAT I SAY, NO, THAT IS A CRIME!

BUT WHAT ABOUT THE BIKERS WHO WON'T GET OUT OF THE WAY?

STILL NO.

DO NOT HIT THEM.

BUT WHAT ABOUT THE BIKERS WHO DO THINGS I DON'T LIKE?

EVEN THEN, YOU SHOULD NOT RUN OVER A BIKER.

LISTEN, I'M NOT A LAWYER.

BUT I THINK I CAN STILL ADVISE PEOPLE NOT TO BREAK THE LAW.

IT'S AT THIS POINT, I HAVE TO ASK, WHY ARE YOU SO ANGRY AT BIKERS?

IT'S NOT LIKE WE'RE SPEEDING.

IT'S A BIKE.

IT'S NOT LIKE WE'RE MAKING A LOT OF NOISE, IT'S A BIKE.

IT'S NOT LIKE WE'RE TAKING UP PARKING, AGAIN, IT IS A BICYCLE.

SO, FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT IS HOLY, PLEASE DON'T HIT BIKERS WITH YOUR CAR.

AND IF YOU PLAN ON BIKING THIS SPRING, YOU BETTER WEAR A HELMET.

BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE IGNORING ALL OF THAT.

♪♪ >> CATHY: ANDREW BRUNDIDGE HAS THREE YOUNGER SIBLINGS WITH AUTISM AND SPENDS A LOT OF TIME HELPING TAKE CARE OF THEM AND PLAYING WITH THEM, IN ADDITION TO HELPING OUT AROUND THE HOUSE, GETTING GOOD GRADES IN SCHOOL AND WORKING TWO JOBS.

HE DANCES HIS WAY THROUGH MANY OF HIS HOUSEHOLD CHORES AND FELT A BIT INVISIBLE UNTIL HIS MOM, SHELETTA, POSTED A VIDEO ON SOCIAL MEDIA OF DANCING ANDREW SHOVELING THE DRIVEWAY.

THAT WENT VIRAL.

THAT LED THE TWO OF THEM TO WRITE A NEW BOOK "ANDREW DOES HIS DANCE."

ANDREW BRUNDIDGE, WELCOME TO "ALMANAC."

HERE TOO IS LATONYA LAND, A SCHOOL COUNSELOR WHO HELPED WITH THE BOOK'S SERIES OF TIPS ON HOW TO SUPPORT KIDS WHO HAVE SIBLINGS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.

GOOD TO SEE YOU BOTH HERE.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

>> Cathy: THE LAST TIME, OF COURSE, ANDREW WAS ON THE AIR, HE WAS JUST A LITTLE BABY, WHICH IS JUST KIND F FUNNY TO HAVE HIM NOW AS A YOUNG MAN.

CONGRATULATIONS.

YOU FINALLY GOT YOUR OWN BOOK NOW.

FINALLY!

>> THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE IT.

YES, MA'AM, I DID.

>> Eric: WHAT'S THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE BOOK'S TITLE?

>> THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE BOOK'S TITLE COMES FROM ORIGINALLY WHEN MY MOM PUT ME ON THE NEWS -- NOT ON THE NEWS -- PUT ME ON FACEBOOK FOR DANCING AND SHOVELING, ORIGINALLY I HAD NOT KNOWN SHE RECORDED THIS VIDEO.

THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED WITHOUT MY KNOWLEDGE.

>> Eric: OH, REALLY?

>> I WAS JUST MINDING MY BUSINESS, DOING MY LITTLE DOO DIDLY DANCE.

>> Eric: IT WAS GOOD.

>> IT WAS, I WAS HAVING A GOOD TIME.

AND NEXT THING I KNOW, NEXT DAY, SOMEBODY IS LIKE, HEY, YOU'RE ON "GOOD MORNING AMERICA."

I SAID, HUH, HILARIOUS.

NO, LOOK, THEY SHOWED ME A VIDEO OF SOMEBODY DANCING AND SHOVELING ON "GOOD MORNING AMERICA."

HEY, THAT'S MY HOODIE, THAT'S MY SHOVEL, THAT'S ME!

AND THAT'S KIND OF WHERE IT ALL STARTED.

>> Cathy: YEAH.

IT WAS GREAT.

WHAT DID YOU SAY WHEN YOU SAW IT?

>> I WAS LIKE, WOW, MY BABY'S ALL GROWN UP.

AND HE'S DOIN' HIS THING.

>> Cathy: COULDN'T YOU -- DON'T YOU LOVE IT?

>> I LOVE T. IT'S A FULL-CIRCLE MOMENT.

LIKE YOU SAID, HE CAME HERE AS A BABY, CRAWLING AROUND THIS STUDIO.

AND I THINK WAS IT WITH YOU, THE VIDEO THAT I SAW?

>> Eric: YEAH.

>> AND NOW HE'S HERE, SUPPORTING HIS NEW BOOK.

>> Eric: YOUR MOM DRAWS A LOT OF PUBLICITY FOR HER.

HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE KIND OF SEPARATED FROM THAT AND DOING THIS ON YOUR OWN IN THE SPOTLIGHT?

>> IT FEELS A LITTLE DIFFERENT, I'VE BEEN GETTING A LOT OF SPOTLIGHT AND ATTENTION LATELY.

BUT I'M A LITTLE USED TO IT.

BEING AROUND MY MOM, I KIND OF PICK UP ON THAT, COMES NATURALLY A LITTLE BIT.

>> Eric: WHAT DO YOU HOPE PEOPLE TAKE AWAY FROM THE BOOK, WHAT'S THE MISSION STATEMENT?

>> I WANT PEOPLE WHO HAVE SIBLINGS OR CLOSE FRIENDS WITH AUTISM OR DISORDERS TO KNOW THAT EVEN SOMETIMES MORE ATTENTION MAY GO TO THOSE THAT WOULD BE ON THE SPECTRUM OR HAVE DIFFERENT DISORDERS THAT THE PEOPLE WHO DON'T GET ALL THE ATTENTION ARE STILL SEEN AND STILL HEARD BECAUSE A LOT OF THE TIME WHEN I WAS GROWING UP, HAVING THREE YOUNGER SIBLINGS WITH AUTISM, MY MOM WOULD PAY A LOT MORE ATTENTION TO THEM THAN SHE WOULD ME.

THIS IS KIND OF MY MESSAGE TO THE SIBLINGS THAT MIGHT NOT HAVE AUTISM OR THE PEOPLE THAT DON'T THAT YOU'RE STILL SEEN, YOU'RE STILL HEARD.

>> Cathy: AND WE SHOULD SAY THAT THESE KIDS ARE CAREGIVERS OF THEIR OWN RIGHT, YOU KNOW.

AND THAT IS A LOT OF WORK.

>> T IS.

AND THAT'S WHY IF YOU PURCHASE THE BOOK, AT THE BACK AS AN EDUCATOR, I HAVE ADDED SOME TIPS, LIKE ANDREW SAID, THERE ARE TIMES WHERE THE STUDENTS, THEY FEEL THAT THEY'RE UNHEARD BECAUSE ALL THE ATTENTION GOES TO THE STUDENT WHO HAS AUTISM OR ANY SPECIAL NEED.

BUT ANDREW WANTED TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE UNDERSTOOD, HEY, HERE I AM, SEE ME.

AND, SO, THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO PROMOTE AS WELL.

SO PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS, DON'T FORGET ABOUT THE CHILDREN WHO ARE, QUOTE, UNQUOTE, NORMAL BECAUSE THEY STILL HAVE FEELINGS, HEY WANT TO BE SEEN, AND THEY WANT TO BE HEARD.

>> Cathy: MUCH LIKE ADULT CAREGIVERS, DO YOU EVER FEEL, ANDREW, THAT IT'S REALLY TIRING, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, FOLKS WHO TAKE CARE OF THEIR PARENTS SAY, IT IS A LOT OF WORK.

AGAIN, YOU'RE KIND OF A CAREGIVER TO YOUR SIBLINGS.

DO YOU EVER GET TIRED SOMETIMES?

>> I DO, I DEFINITELY GET TIRED.

I FIND MYSELF DRINKING COFFEE AT LIKE 6:00 IN THE MORNING, LIKE, MAN, THIS IS OMETHING.

I'M READY FOR KIDS AT THIS POINT.

BUT I'M SED TO IT.

I ENJOY IT.

>> Eric: DO THEY -- ALL SIBLINGS GET INTO ARGUMENTS, I DON'T WANT TO SAY FIGHTS, BUT DISAGREEMENTS.

DO THEY OOK UP TO YOU AS A LEADER AND PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT YOU'RE ASKING THEM TO DO OR HOW DOES THAT RELATIONSHIP WORK?

>> THEY TYPICALLY DO, THEY DON'T ALWAYS LISTEN, I DO LIKE TO THINK THEY LOOK UP TO ME AND ADMIRE ME.

>> Eric: WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR TECHNIQUES, WHAT DO YOU DO TO MAKE THEM GO ALONG WITH THE FLOW HERE?

>> FOOD, GAMES AND FUN.

>> Cathy: ALL RIGHT.

THAT WORKS FOR EVERYBODY.

ALL RIGHT.

LATONYA, LET ME ASKING YOU SOMETHING, AT THE END OF THE BOOK HERE, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE FOLKS THAT ARE WATCHING, PROBABLY MUCH LIKE ANDREW, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE SIBLINGS WHO ARE ON THE SPECTRUM, WHAT DO YOU RECOMMEND THAT YOU CAN DO FOR THESE YOUNG FOLKS?

>> OVERALL, THE KEY THING I WOULDMENT EVERYBODY TO THINK ABOUT IS SEE THEM AS AN INDIVIDUAL.

DON'T JUST SEE THEM AS THE SIBLING F THE CHILD WHO HAS AUTISM.

KNOW THAT, YES, THEY HAVE FEELINGS, AND LIKE YOU'VE ALREADY STATED, ANDREW, WITH HIS SIBLINGS, HE'S A LEADER, HE'S A CAREGIVER, BUT SOMETIMES HE WANTS MORE CARE FOR HIM.

SO THAT WOULD BE ONE OF THE BIGGEST TAKEAWAYS, BUT THERE ARE TEN TIPS THAT WE HAVE AT THE BACK OF THE BOOK THAT I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO CHECK OUT BUT THAT WOULD BE THE BIGGEST TAKEAWAY.

>> Cathy: NOW, BIG EVENT ON SUNDAY.

>> OH, YES.

>> Cathy: AT THE MALL OF AMERICA.

>> YES, MA'AM.

>> Cathy: OKAY, ANDREW, WHAT IS IT?

>> WE'LL BE HAVING A BOOK READING/BOOK GIVEAAWAY, THE FIRST 50 KIDS WILL GET NICKELODEON WRISTBANDS AND A FREE SIGNED BOOK.

I WILL BE READING MY BOOK TO EVERYBODY, THEN THERE WILL BE A SILENT DISCO WHERE KIDS WHO HAVE AUTISM OR DIFFERENT DISORDERS MAY NOT LIKE ALL THE LOUD NOISES OF A REGULAR DISSEW OR DANCE, THEY CAN PUT ON HEADPHONES AND ENJOY THEIR DANCE IN THEIR OWN PLACE.

DISCO.

>> Eric: WHAT DO YOU HAVE ON THE PLATE FOR THE FUTURE?

YOU'RE GOING TO COLLEGE?

>> YES, SIR.

>> Eric: YOU'VE GOT OTHER MEDIA PROJECTS, BOOKS, OR VIDEOS?

>> YOU KNOW, I'M JUST TAKING THINGS ONE DAY AT A TIME, ONE STEP AT A TIME AND I'LL FIGURE IT OUT WHEN I GET THERE.

>> Eric: I WISH I HAD YOUR FUTURE.

>> Cathy: I LOVE THAT.

>> I ESHT PREIT.

I APPRECIATE IT.

>> Eric: THANK YOU FOR COMING OUT.

ANDREW DOES HIS DANCE, IT'S FANTASTIC.

>> Cathy: IT IS.

>> Eric: THANKS, GUYS.

♪♪ >> ERIC: THIS WEEKEND ON 4/20 FORMER GOVERNOR JESSE VENTURA WILL KICK OFF HIS NEW CANNABIS BUSINESS IN MINNESOTA.

OUR MARY LAHAMMER WAS THE ONLY TV REPORTER INVITED INSIDE THE NEW OPERATION WHERE THE GOVERNOR FORTH ON ISSUES RANGING FROM MARIJUANA TO PRESIDENTIAL POLITICS.

>> ary: GOVERNOR JESSE VENTURA HAS ADVOCATED FOR MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION FOR DECADES.

NOW THAT IT'S ALLOWED IN HIS HOME STATE, HE'S GOING INTO BUSINESS IN THE AREA HE LONG CALLED HOME.

ARE WE ALLOWED IN?

OKAY.

GOVERNOR, WHERE ARE WE RIGHT NOW?

>> THIS IS RETRO BAKERY, LOCATED HERE IN BROOKLYN CENTER ON THE BORDER OF BROOKLYN PARK.

AND IF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW, I WAS THE FORMER MAYOR OF BROOKLYN PARK MANY YEARS AGO.

AND THIS IS WHERE CANNABIS TAKES PLACE IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

BECAUSE CANNABIS IS LEGAL NOW, GOVERNOR WALZ SIGNED IT, HANDED ME THE PEN, THEY CAN'T GET OUT OF IT, THE GENIE'S OUT OF THE BOTTLE NOW, THOSE ARE GUMMIES ON THE SHELF RIGHT THERE.

WE'LL PACKAGE THEM UP NOW, THEY'LL GO IN THESE LITTLE PACKETS.

>> Mary: DIVERSITY AND EQUITY ARE AN IMPORTANT PART OF MINNESOTA'S MARIJUANA LAW, AND IT'S AN ETHIC CARRIED THROUGH AT JESSE VENTURA FARMS.

>> WE'RE THE MOST DIVERSE COMPANY IN MINNESOTA, PROBABLY.

>> Mary: REALLY?

>> YEAH, WHEN IT COMES TO EVERYTHING.

WE HAVE PEOPLE WORKING HERE WHO, YOU KNOW, MADE SOME BAD DECISIONS IN THEIR LIFE AND PAID FOR THEM.

WE HAVE ALL COLORS REPRESENTED HERE.

CANNABIS KNOWS NO COLOR.

>> Mary: WHAT ABOUT WOMEN?

I HEAR AND SEE THAT THERE ARE WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP POSITIONS HERE, TOO.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> Mary: WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT TO YOU?

>> WOMEN, IF YOU WANT TO GET POLITICAL, WOMEN ARE GOING TO DECIDE THE FATE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IN THE 2024 ELECTION.

>> Mary: NOW, THIS LOOKS LIKE THESE ROOMS SEAL UP AND THEY'RE -- >> YEAH.

THESE ARE ROOMS HERE WHERE THEY ACTUALLY WILL DO THE CREATION.

AND, SO, YOU DON'T WANT THEM CONTAMINATED AT ALL.

>> Mary: CANNABIS USE BY KIDS IS A CONCERN.

THE STATE LAW SPECIFIES IT'S ONLY FOR ADULTS OVER 21.

>> IF KIDS ARE GETTING CANNABIS, BLAME THE ADULTS.

IT'S THAT SIMPLE.

>> Mary: THIS FEELS LIKE A BAKERY OR A KITCHEN, RIGHT?

>> IT IS.

>> Mary: YEAH.

>> T IS A BAKERY, SIMPLY OF CANNABIS.

>> Mary: THIS MARKS THE FIRST TIME AN ELECTED OFFICIAL IN THE UNITED STATES HAS PUT THEIR NAME ON A MARIJUANA-RELATED PRODUCT.

>> Mary: YOU MADE HISTORY BEFORE BUT THIS MOVE IS HISTORIC.

>> I THINK SO, IN THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, LET'S REMEMBER AT ONE TIME I WAS A MILLER LITE ALL-STAR, SO I PUSHED BEER.

I WAS PREFER CANNABIS OVER BEER BECAUSE, NUMBER ONE, YOU CAN'T GET SICK USING IT.

AND, NUMBER TWO, THERE'S NO HANGOVER.

MY LIFE WAS CHANGED BECAUSE OF MARIJUANA CANNABIS.

THE FIRST LADY OF MINNESOTA WAS STRICKEN WITH SEIZURE DISORDERS LATE IN LIFE.

NOTHING PHARMA COULD DO TO HELP.

FOUR DIFFERENT SEIZURE MEDICINES, NONE OF THEM WORKED.

SHE WENT ON CANNABIS, SHE HAS NOT HAD A SEIZURE SINCE.

>> Mary: THIS IS PERSONAL FOR YOU.

>> THIS IS VERY PERSONAL FOR ME.

AND IT'S ALSO A FOCUS RIGHT NOW FOR ME.

I AM GOING TO FOCUS ON NOTHING ELSE.

>> Mary: COMPANY LEADERS SAY, UNLIKE OTHER CELEBRITY ENDORSEMENTS, VENTURA HAS BEEN HANDS-ON, TASTING AND TESTING PRODUCTS.

HAVE YOU TRIED THEM?

>> YES.

>> Mary: OKAY.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> THEY TASTE GREAT.

WE DECIDED TO NAME THE PACKAGE YOU CAN ORDER ON THE INTERNET, LAKE STREET.

>> Mary: BECAUSE?

>> BECAUSE I GREW UP TWO BLOCKS FROM LAKE STREET.

>> Mary: AND WHAT WOULD YOU SAY THE EFFECT IS FOR YOU?

>> I REQUIRE CANNABIS BECAUSE I'M INFLICTED WITH SOME POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS AND I'M ALSO INFLICTED WITH NONSPECIFIC NEUROPATHY OF THE FEET.

WHICH, IN LAYMAN'S TERM, MEAN YOUR FEET ARE NUMB AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHY.

WHAT CANNABIS DOES, IT DID YOU ALSO THAT DOWN.

IT PUTS IT ON THE BACK BURNER TO WHERE AT NIGHT YOU CAN SHUT YOUR EYES, SAME I TYPE -- SAME TYPE OF THING.

>> Mary: DO YOU HAVE ACHES AND PAINS FROM WRESTLING THAT YOU USE IT FOR?

>> OF COURSE.

I GOT MY HIP REPLACED.

CANNABIS CAN STOP PAIN.

>> Mary: HESE EDIBLES HAVE BEEN IN DEVELOPMENT FOR YEARS.

ORIGINALLY THEY WERE LOOKING TO OPEN ELSEWHERE, BUT MINNESOTA'S MOVE TO LEGALIZE POT HAS MADE THIS VENTURE POSSIBLE HERE.

WHY PUT YOUR NAME ON IT?

>> WHY NOT?

THIS IS A COMPANY I'VE CHOSE TO DO BUSINESS WITH.

THEY'RE A LOCAL COMPANY.

WE'RE OF THE BELIEF IN THE CANNABIS WORLD, WE WANT TO KEEP EVERYTHING MINNESOTAN.

GROWN IN MINNESOTA, PROCESSED IN MINNESOTA, PROMOTED BY A MINNESOTAN.

>> Mary: THE NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT STILL SHINES ON THE FORMER PRO WRESTLER TURNED GOVERNOR, WHO CAN'T RESIST DABBLING IN POLITICS.

>> IF YOU WANT TO GET THE COUNTRY BACK RIGHT NOW, JESSE VENTURA SHOULD BE YOUR PRESIDENT.

BECAUSE I KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO HAVE TWO OPPOSING SIDES, AND I KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE AFTER THREE YEARS TO FORCE THEM BACK TOGETHER TO OPPOSE YOU.

SO I COULD BE THE SAVIOR OF THE NATION RIGHT NOW.

>> Mary: BUT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO RUN EVEN THOUGH YOU THINK YOU CAN PROBABLY WIN?

>> I CAN'T, I AN'T, HOW WOULD I GET BALLOT ACCESS?

THE ONLY THING I'D FEAR, MARY, IF I HAD BALLOT ACCESS IN ALL 50 STATES, I'D WIN.

AND THEN I'D HAVE TO DO THE JOB.

>> Mary: LONGTIME FRIEND, ROBERT F. KENNEDY, JR., PUBLICLY CONSIDERED VENTURA FOR A RUNNING MATE WHO WOULD HAVE RELISHED A CHANCE TO DEBATE.

>> I THINK THAT SINCE ONALD TRUMP HAS COME AROUND, HE HAS CHANGED AMERICA TO THE WORSE IN EVERY ASPECT.

NOW WE'RE NOT EVEN GOING TO HAVE PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES?

>> Mary: YOU WOULDN'T BE GOVERNOR WITHOUT DEBATES, WOULD YOU?

>> NO.

>> Mary: THAT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT HERE.

>> THAT WAS THE WHOLE THING.

THERE'S A LOT OF POT SMOKERS, AND IF JOE BIDEN WERE TO REMOVE COMPLETELY ANY FEDERAL PENALTIES AND GET RID OF THE FEDERAL BANNING OF CANNABIS, I'M SURE HE COULD PROBABLY STIMULATE A LOT OF VOTES.

>> Mary: FOR NOW, THE FORMER THIRD-PARTY GOVERNOR IS CONTENT LIVING HIS DREAM.

♪♪ >> ERIC: AS WE'VE NOTED SEVERAL TIMES IN THE LAST 40 MINUTES, IT'S COMMITTEE DEADLINE DAY AT THE LEGISLATURE.

FOR ALL WHO CELEBRATE, DO YOU KNOW WHERE YOUR LEGISLATIVE LEADERS ARE TONIGHT?

RIGHT HERE ON THE "ALMANAC" COUCH, OF COURSE.

DEMOCRATS UP FIRST.

DFL HOUSE SPEAKER MELISSA HORTMAN HAS THE LONGEST LEADERSHIP TENURE IN OUR GROUP.

SHE HAILS FROM BROOKLYN PARK.

SENATE MAJORITY LEADER ERIN MURPHY IS NEW TO THAT POSITION THIS YEAR.

SHE'S REPRESENTED ST. PAUL IN THE HOUSE AND NOW THE SENATE.

REPUBLICAN HOUSE MINORITY LEADER LISA DEMUTH CALLS COLD SPRING HOME.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST, REPUBLICAN ASSISTANT MINORITY LEADER ZACH DUCKWORTH HAILS FROM LAKEVILLE, MINNESOTA.

MADAM SPEAKER, WITH A MONTH LEFT, YOU'RE DESCRIBING WHERE WE ARE N THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION AS THE SEASON OF DISAPPOINTMENTS.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> Eric: WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

>> THERE'S ALWAYS SO MANY BILLS INTRODUCED, BUT NOT EVERY BILL CAN BE HEARD AND NOT EVERY BILL THAT IS HEARD CAN MAKE IT TO THE HOUSE FLOOR OR THROUGH THE SENATE OR TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK.

SO, THIS IS THE TIME OF YEAR PEOPLE FIGURE OUT WHAT'S NOT GOING TO MAKE IT.

>> Eric: YOU MENTION TO YOUR CAUCUS THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING BECAUSE WE'VE GOT A BALANCED BUDGET?

>> WE DID MAYBE MENTION THAT THIS YEAR WOULD BE LESS ACTIVE THAN LAST YEAR.

>> Eric: YEAH.

>> YES.

>> Cathy: ARE THEY GETTING THE MESSAGE?

>> WELL, THERE'S STILL A LOT OF EXCITEMENT OF BEING IN St. PAUL.

WE RUN FOR THIS JOB, WE DO A LOT OF WORK TO GET HERE AND PEOPLE LOVE IT.

SO THEY CERTAINLY BRING THEIR ENTHUSIASM TO THEIR PROPOSALS EVERY YEAR.

>> Cathy: SO IT'S DEADLINE DAY TODAY.

>> IT IS.

>> Cathy: YES, WHICH I'M SURE IS A VERY EXCITING THING.

WHAT'S ON LIFE SUPPORT RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE NOTHING'S EVER TRULY DEAD AT THE CAPITOL, BUT WHAT'S ON LIFE SUPPORT IN TERMS OF BILLS?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

YOU KNOW, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT, SPEAKER HORTMAN WAS TALKING ABOUT THE SEASON OF DISAPPOINTMENT, I THINK ABOUT THIS PART OF THE SESSION IS THE MOST INTERESTING PART.

LIKE WE HAVE WINNOWED OWN AND ARE PRETTY FOCUSED ON WHAT WE NEED TO GET DONE AND WHAT WE WANT TO GET DONE.

PEOPLE HAVE WORKED VERY VERY HARD, AND I'M REALLY PROUD OF THE WORK PRODUCT THAT'S COMING THROUGH THESE COMMITTEES, THE SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET, WE HAVE BONDING LEFT TO DO.

I THINK WE'RE GOING TO DO REALLY IMPORTANT WORK AND FINISH FOR THE PEOPLE OF MINNESOTA.

>> Eric: IN THE MINORITY, IT IS NOT ALWAYS FUN, BUT I HEARD SENATOR JOHNSON, YOUR LEADER, THIS WEEK AT A NEWS CONFERENCE SAY THAT THE DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN A LITTLE MORE OPEN ABOUT ACCEPTING AMENDMENTS AND YOUR IDEAS AND SO FORTH.

ARE YOU GETTING THAT SENSE IN THE HOUSE AS WELL?

>> WE ARE SENSING THAT IN THE HOUSE.

I THINK THERE IS A LITTLE BIT MORE VISIBLE OPENNESS, WORKING TOGETHER, WHICH WE APPRECIATE.

YOU KNOW, WE HAD THE TWO TAX BILLS THAT NEEDED TO BE FIXED.

>> Eric: YEAH.

>> WE FIXED THE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER ISSUE.

AND BONDING IS THE ONLY THING REALLY THAT WE'RE STILL TALKING ABOUT.

OTHER BILLS ARE MOVING THROUGH.

I HEAR LEADER MURPHY TALK ABOUT NOTHING IS REALLY DEAD OR, YOU KNOW, AS WE KIND OF GO THROUGH POTENTIALLY.

WE'VE HAD A LOT OF DEADLINE WAIVERS IN THE HOUSE, IN THE RULES COMMITTEE.

SO I THINK THINGS ARE STILL MOVING.

>> Eric: YOU GUYS AREN'T GREASING THE SKIDS FOR SOME REPUBLICAN BONDING VOTES, ARE YOU?

>> WELL, WE CERTAINLY ARE HAVING GOOD CONVERSATIONS.

WE HAD ONE VERY NICE GATHERING OF THE FOUR LEADERS WHERE WE MADE SOME HEADWAY AND WE'RE GETTING TOGETHER AGAIN SOON.

SO I WOULD ANTICIPATE ANOTHER GOOD CONVERSATION SOON.

>> NOT SO MUCH GREASING SKIDS, I THINK, AS WORKING TOGETHER TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE WANT TO ACCOMPLISH.

>> Cathy: WELL, THERE NEEDS TO BE, OF COURSE, REPUBLICAN VOTES FOR THE BONDING BILL.

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SEE IN THAT BONDING BILL?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

I'M NOT SURE WE'RE READY TO REVEIL THAT YET.

I'M JUST KIDDING.

REALLY, WHAT WE WANT TO SEE AS IT RELATES TO INFRASTRUCTURE ARE PROJECTS REALLY FOCUSED ON CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE.

ROADS, BRIDGES, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE MASSIVE BONDING BILL THAT WAS PASSED LAST YEAR, ABOUT A BILLION OF THOSE DOLLARS WENT TO SPECIAL PROJECTS THAT WEREN'T NECESSARILY, IN MY OPINION, WHAT A BONDING BILL IS INTENDED FOR, THAT BEING CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE.

I'M HOPEFUL WE'LL BE A LITTLE BIT FOCUSED THIS EAR IF A BONDING BILL DOES PASS.

BUT REPUBLICANS ARE REALLY FOCUSED ON THE CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

>> Cathy: LEADER DEMUTH, WHAT DO YOU SAY?

>> THE CONTENT OF THE BILL HAS BEEN OUR PRIORITY.

BOTH THE IZE AND THE CONTENT OF THAT, AS SENATOR DUCKWORTH MENTIONED.

THE AMOUNT OF BONDING LAST YEAR WAS QUITE, QUITE LARGE.

AND, SO, AS WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT, WE NEED THE ROADS, THE BRIDGES, A STATEWIDE IMPACT, NOT JUST A METROCENTRIC AREA.

>> Eric: THE TYPICAL PATTERN FOR A BONDING BILL AT THE END OF SESSION IS HOUSE AND SENATE GO TO CONFERENCE, AND IT DOESN'T GET ANY SMALLER, IT GETS BIGGER, BECAUSE YOU COMBINE BOTH CHAMBERS' PRIORITIES.

IS THAT WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN THIS YEAR?

>> WELL, THERE'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE WE HAD A BONDING BILL CONFERENCE COMMITTEE.

THEY KIND OF NOW ARE GETTING NEGOTIATED A LITTLE BIT BETWEEN THE FOUR LEADERS AND THEN PASSED JUST IN ONE FORM.

AND I THINK THE REASON FOR THAT IS, ONCE YOU PUT A PROJECT IN A BONDING BILL AND YOU PASS IT OUT OF THE HOUSE OR SENATE, PEOPLE GET THEIR HOPES UP, WHETHER IT'S AN AIRPORT IN t. CLOUD OR WASTE WATER TREATMENT IN ANOTHER PART OF THE STATE.

SO WE KIND OF TRY TO SPARE PEOPLE GETTING THEIR HOPES UP AND THEN GETTING LET DOWN LATER IN THE SEASON.

>> Eric: THAT'S NOT REALLY TRANSPARENT, THOUGH, IS IT, SENATOR?

>> I THINK THAT THE BONDING COMMITTEE, WHICH TRAVELED ALL OVER THE STATE OF MINNESOTA DURING THE INTERIM, IS THE PLACE WHERE WE BEGIN.

WE KNOW WE'VE GOT MANY MANY PROJECTS.

SANDY PAPPAS, OUR SENATE LEAD, THE CHAIR OF THE BONDING COMMITTEE, WITH SENATOR HOUSLEY, WITH REPRESENTATIVE URDAHL, REP LEE, ARE TALKING WITH MEMBERS, OF COURSE, TALKING WITH MINNESOTANS, SO THEY'VE BEEN THROUGH THE BONDING COMMITTEE, ND WE'LL SEE A PROPOSAL COME TOGETHER.

AND I THINK IT WILL COME TOGETHER SOON.

>> Cathy: I ASKED ABOUT WHICH BILLS ARE ON LIFE SUPPORT?

AND, AGAIN, KNOWING THAT NOTHING'S EVERY TRULY DEAD.

BUT WHAT ARE YOU HOPING STILL SQUEAKS THROUGH, LEADER DEMUTH, AT THE END HERE?

>> I WOULD SAY HOPEFULLY NOT A LOT OF SESSION.

WE WERE CAUTIONED BY MMB THAT THE LEGISLATURE NEEDS TO REALLY RESERVE AND USE CAUTION WITH ANY EXTRA SPENDING.

SO WE DON'T WANT TO SEE EXTRA SPENDING.

LIKE I SAID, THE THINGS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN FIXED ARE DONE.

THE BONDING BILL MAY OR MAY NOT HAPPEN BUT THE WORK IS BEING DONE.

AND THEN WE COULD POTENTIALLY SINE DIE SOON.

>> Cathy: OKAY.

>> A COUPLE THINGS, IF I CAN ADD TO THAT.

YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER, SOMETIMES A BONDING BILL IS NOT NECESSARILY NEGOTIATED IN A SILO.

IF YOU RECALL LAST YEAR, REPUBLICANS MADE A REALLY BIG PUSH FOR FUNDING FOR NURSING HOMES, AND THAT WAS A KEY ASPECT OF GETTING THAT BONDING BILL AGREED UPON AND PASSED.

THERE ARE SEVERAL OUTSTANDING ISSUES THAT REALLY STILL NEED TO BE RESOLVED.

UBER AND LYFT IS ONE OF THEM.

>> Eric: I WANT TO ASK ABOUT THAT IN A SECOND BUT GO AHEAD.

>> THAT HAS TO GET RESOLVED.

RURAL EMS, THAT NEEDS A LOT OF WORK.

>> Eric: NEEDS MORE THAN $16 MILLION.

>> MUCH MORE THAN THAT.

AND THEN ALSO OUR SCHOOLS ARE ASKING FOR A LOT OF HELP RIGHT NOW, AND WE OWE IT TO THEM BEFORE WE END SESSION TO PROVIDE THEM SOME ADDITIONAL LEADERSHIP AND RELIEF.

>> Eric: WHAT DID YOU DFL LEADERS SAY TO THE MINNEAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL, I HEARD IT WAS SOMETHING ALONG THE LINES OF, GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER, - NEGOTIATE WITH UBER AND LYFT, GET A EAL, OR WE'RE GOING TO PASS PREEMPTION, WE'RE GOING TO REDUCE LOCAL CONTROL IN MINNEAPOLIS, IS THAT ACCURATE?

>> NOT EXACTLY.

HE SAID YOU WERE MORE DIPLOMATIC.

>> THE HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER AND THE SENATE MAJORITY LEADER HAVE BEEN HEADING UP THIS WORK.

>> I THINK IT'S MOSTLY THE HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER.

I JUST TALKED THIS EVENING WITH COUNCIL MEMBER CHAUDHARY -- >> Eric: MINNEAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL.

>> FROM THE MINNEAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL, THAT'S RIGHT.

WE DID HAVE A MEETING WHERE WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PROCESS BETWEEN NOW AND THE END OF SESSION.

BUT THERE WASN'T A WHOLE LOT OF ADMONITION.

I DO THINK IT'S GOING TO BE IMPORTANT THAT WE -- THE LEGISLATURE, WHICH NEEDS O PASS A STATEWIDE FRAMEWORK, I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.

FOR ME, MAKING SURE THAT DRIVERS ARE BEING PAID FAIRLY AND THAT THERE'S A RIDESHARE AVAILABLE, UBER, LYFT, OTHERS IF THEY COME INTO THE MARKET, THAT'S IMPORTANT.

WE CAN GET THAT WORK DONE.

BUT MINNEAPOLIS IS GOING TO HAVE TO JOIN US IN THAT WORK BECAUSE THEY CAN'T BE AN ISLAND.

>> Eric: BUT YOU WERE DIPLOMATIC?

>> YEAH.

>> Eric: ALL RIGHT.

WHAT DO THE REPUBLICANS THINK?

>> I'M AN OPTIMIST BY NATURE, AS THE TIME WEARS ON, I'M BECOMING LESS AND LESS OPTIMISTIC THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE A SOLUTION BY THE END OF SESSION.

UBER IS ALREADY WINDING DOWN OPERATIONS IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

PEOPLE OF MINNESOTA DON'T HAVE ANY CERTAINTY REGARDING THIS ISSUE, AND I THINK WE HAD A BILL BEFORE US IN THE SENATE COMMERCE COMMITTEE AND IT REFLECTED ALMOST NOTHING THAT THE TASK FORCE THAT WAS STOOD UP ABOUT -- BY THIS RECOMMENDED.

THE GOVERNOR VETOED THE BILL LAST YEAR FOR A REASON.

WE'VE HAD AN ENTIRE YEAR TO WORK ON A SOLUTION.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE COULD HAVE PASSED TOWARD THE BEGINNING OF THE SESSION.

>> THEY'VE MADE CONSIDERABLE HEADWAY, I UNDERSTAND THAT THEY'VE RESOLVED INSURANCE ISSUES AND ISSUES RELATED TO DRIVERS BEING REINSTATED AND HAVING SOME APPEALS PROCESS WHEN THEY'RE UNFAIRLY, YOU KNOW, X'd FROM THE SERVICE.

SO I THINK THE ONLY THING LEFT IS REALLY THE RATE OF PAY AND THERE'S SOME GOOD WORK THAT WAS DONE BY THE STATE AND THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS TO LOOK AT WHAT IS A FAIR WAGE.

>> Eric: PETER CALLAHAN HAD A VERY INTERESTING ARTICLE IN MINNPOST WHERE HE TALKED ABOUT THE PERCEPTION, I THINK IT WAS A PERCEPTION THAT HE AS REFLECTING THAT THE DFL IS VERY ANTICORPORATE BUSINESS, BIG BUSINESS.

REFLECTED IN SOME OF THE LAWS THAT HAVE COME OUT LAST YEAR AND THIS YEAR.

DO YOU SHARE HAT VIEW?

>> I THINK WHEN WE LOOK AT WHAT WAS PASSED LAST YEAR, EARNED SICK AND SAFE TIME, PAID FAMILY LEAVE, YOU KNOW, EVEN THE ISSUE WITH UBER AND LYFT, IT IS VERY DIFFICULT FOR BUSINESSES TO DO THEIR WORK IN AN AFFORDABLE WAY.

WE KNOW WE HAVE A VERY HIGH CORPORATE TAX, HIGH INDIVIDUAL TAX, TOO.

IT IS HARD FOR BUSINESSES TO WANT TO EITHER STAY IN MINNESOTA OR EXPAND OR COME TO OUR STATE AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT.

THE MANDATES, THE UNFUNDED MANDATES THAT ARE PUT ON BUSINESSES ARE DIFFICULT.

>> WE ARE NOT ANTICORPORATE, WE ARE PRO WORKER.

AND I THINK WHAT'S IMPORTANT IS THAT PEOPLE WHO WORK A FULL-TIME JOB, THEY SHOULD HAVE ENOUGH WAGES AND BENEFIT TO SUPPORT THEIR FAMILY.

THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO SEND THEIR KIDS TO COLLEGE IF THAT'S SOMETHING THEY CHOOSE.

THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO AFFORD THEIR HOUSING AND THEIR CHILD CARE.

AND, SO, THAT'S THE WORK THAT WE DID IN 2023.

>> Eric: I'VE HEARD REPUBLICANS SAY, SOCIALISM, MARXISM, I DON'T THINK THEY'VE GOTTEN TO COMMUNISM YET.

BUT WHAT'S YOUR SENSE OF THIS ISSUE?

>> MY SENSE OF THIS ISSUE IS IT COMES BACK TO A PHILOSOPHY, WHICH IS THIS, LESS GOVERNMENT REGULATION, LESS MICROMANAGING OF PEOPLE, THEIR EVERYDAY LIVES, THEIR BUSINESSES, THEIR SCHOOL, WHAT HAVE YOU, AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, THEN KEEPING MORE OF THEIR HARD-EARNED INCOME SO THEY CAN INVEST IT IN THEIR FAMILIES, THEIR FUTURE THE WAY THEY SEE FIT.

EVERY TIME WE INCREASE TAXES, EVERY TIME WE MAKE IT MORE EXPENSIVE FOR I ABUSINESS TO DO BUSINESS OR -- FOR A BUSINESS TO DO BUSINESS OR RAISE THE WAGES OF ITS EMPLOYEES, WE'RE TAKING LESS AND LESS CONTROL FROM THEM TO NAVIGATE THEIR LIVES THE WAY THEY WOULD LIKE TO AND I THINK THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT ISSUE THAT PEOPLE ARE BEGINNING TO PUSH BACK ON.

>> Eric: SENATOR?

>> WE DID SO MUCH WORK LAST SESSION WITH MINNESOTANS AND FAMILIES IN MIND.

WHEN WE THINK ABOUT SCHOOL LUNCHES, MAKING CHILD CARE MORE AFFORDABLE, HOUSING MORE AFFORDABLE.

THE CHILD TAX CREDIT, WHICH IS GOING TO REDUCE CHILD POVERTY, AND WE'RE WORKING ON HEALTHCARE NOW.

I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO RECOGNIZE THAT THERE'S A GROWING GAP BETWEEN THOSE WHO ARE AT THE VERY TOP OF THE INCOME SCALE AND WORKING PEOPLE.

WE SHOULD PAY ATTENTION TO THAT.

BUT OUR FOCUS HAS BEEN SQUARELY ON WORKERS AND FAMILIES AND MINNESOTANS AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO AFFORD THEIR LIVES.

WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS THERE.

>> Cathy: SO IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, YOU STILL HAVE A LOT TO DO.

WHEN YOU AND I TALKED, MADAM LEADER N MPR RECENTLY, WE TALKED ABOUT SPORTS BETTING.

>> WE DID.

>> Cathy: AND YOU GAVE ME THE IMPRESSION THAT IT'S ON KIND OF A ROCKY ROAD, IT'S GOT A ROCKY ROAD LEFT TO TRAVEL.

AND I'M WONDERING, IS IT GETTING ROCKIER SINCE THAT TIME THAT YOU AND I TALKED, GIVEN THAT THE HOUSE, THERE'S A BILL ON THE HOUSE FLOOR THAT WOULD BAN HISTORICAL HORSE RACING?

THERE SEEMS TO BE THE PULL ND TUG BETWEEN THE TRACKS AND THE TRIBAL NATIONS.

EXAMINE IT JUST SEEMS LIKE IT'S GETTING TO BE A BIT OF A CUMBERSOME MESS HERE.

WHAT'S GOING ON?

>> I THINK THAT SPORTS WAGERING, SPORTS BETTING HAS MANY STAKEHOLDERS, AND THEY'RE AT ODDS WITH ONE ANOTHER.

AND I THINK THERE'S A QUESTION ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS FOR US TO EXPAND THIS FORM OF GAMBLING.

SO, I THINK THERE ARE MANY QUESTIONS BEFORE US.

THE ISSUE ABOUT THE HISTORIC HORSE RACING HAS JUST CLOUDED IT A BIT.

>> Eric: THROWN A CURVE BALL.

>> RIGHT.

AND IT ESSENTIALLY VIOLATED THE LAW, WE'RE GOING TO PUT A PROHIBITION ON THAT.

BUT FOCUS AGAIN ON THE ISSUE OF SPORTS WAGERING.

I DO THINK THERE ARE PEOPLE AT ODDS, BUT THERE ARE DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS WHO ARE WORKING TOGETHER THAT WANT TO GET THAT DONE AND WE'RE GOING TO GIVE THEM EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT.

>> ND NOT EVERY PERSON WHO CLAIMS TO BE A STAKEHOLDER IS ON EQUAL FOOTING.

MINNESOTA'S SOVEREIGN TRIBAL NATIONS ARE ENGAGED IN GOVERNMENT-TO-GOVERNMENT NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

THE RACETRACKS ARE BUSINESSES WHO STRUGGLE, THEY ARE A REGULAR FOR-PROFIT BUSINESS LIKE LOTS OF BUSINESSES IN OUR STATE, BUT THEY REALLY WANT LOT OF STATE SUBSIDY TO KEEP OPERATING, WHICH IS A TOTALLY DIFFERENT INTEREST TO BRING TO THE TABLE THAN OUR GOVERNMENT-TO-GOVERNMENT NEGOTIATIONS WITH TRIBAL NATIONS.

>> I THOUGHT YOU WERE ANTIGOVERNMENT, YOU SAID THAT EARLIER, I'M JUST TEASING.

>> Eric: CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS, E.R.A., BORTION ONE, ONE ALLOWING A FULL-TIME LEGISLATURE, ANY -- >> ULL-TIME LEGISLATURE'S NOT A GREAT IDEA THAT.

WOULD NOT SERVE THE STATE OF MINNESOTA WELL.

AND WE ARE -- >> Eric: IT DOESN'T MANDATE IT, IT ALLOWS IT, AM I CORRECT ON THAT?

>> IT ALSO WOULD ALLOW A NORTH DAKOTA-STYLE SYSTEM OF EVERY OTHER YEAR.

IT BRINGS A LOT OF FLEXIBILITY INTO THE LEGISLATIVE SCHEDULING, WHICH WE SEE AROUND THE COUNTRY, SOME ARE FULL TIME, OME ARE EVERY OTHER YEAR.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT ONE HAS THE STEAM TO GET ACROSS THE FINISH LINE THIS YEAR.

E.R.A.

IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT HAS HAD A LOT MORE WORK PUT INTO IT.

>> Eric: 2026 OR '24?

>> '26.

>> '26.

>> TO BE FAIR, I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY WAY THAT THE STATE OF MINNESOTA'S GOING TO MOVE TO AN EVERY OTHER YEAR STYLE OF LEGISLATING IF THAT BILL WERE TO PASS.

THE WRITING'S ON THE WALL, IF IT WERE TO PASS, WE'D PROBABLY BE A FULL YEAR LONG.

AND MAYBE THE IDEA IS THAT JUSTIFIES THE $750 MILLION STATE OFFICE BUILDING, I DON'T KNOW.

BUT I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO BE FULL TIME.

>> Eric: ALL RIGHT.

WELL, IT SOUNDS LIKE PEACE IN THE VALLEY BASED ON WHAT'S HAPPENED HERE TONIGHT.

[ Laughter ] YOU ALL GOT ALONG GREAT.

>> Cathy: GOOD LUCK.

>> ERIC: WE'VE RUN A BIT LONG TONIGHT SO WE'LL GET TO THE INDEX FILE SECTION NEXT WEEK.

QUICK REMINDER BEFORE WE ROLL CREDITS.

STOP BY OUR WEBSITE, TPT.ORG/ALMANAC, AND FILL OUT THIS YEAR'S ALMANAC VIEWER SURVEY.

IT'S A WAY FOR US TO FIND OUT WHAT YOU WANT TO SEE AS WE PLAN UPCOMING SHOWS.

THAT'S COMING UP AND AVAILABLE TO YOU ONLINE.

JUST ENOUGH TIME LEFT FOR SOME MUSIC FROM THE ARCHIVES.

IT WAS THIS WEEK BACK IN 1992 THE GEARDADDIES OUT OF AUSTIN, MINNESOTA, PERFORMED ON THE TPT MUSIC SERIES SHOWCASE.

IT WAS SHORTLY AFTER THE GROUP APPEARED ON LETTERMAN AND SHORTLY BEFORE THE BAND BROKE UP.

TAKE A LISTEN.

AND BE CAREFUL.

♪♪ ♪ YOU AIN'T THE FOOL I THOUGHT I KNEW ♪ ♪♪♪ ♪ I WOULD LOVE YOU BUT I DON'T ♪ AND AFTER ALL THIS TIME, GONNA FIND ♪ CAPTIONED BY: VERITEXT/PARADIGM CAPTIONING WWW.VERITEXT.COM ♪ YEAH, I'VE DONE ANYTHING FOR YOU ♪ ♪ ANYTHING YOU'D ASK ME TO ♪ >> "ALMANAC" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY MEMBERS OF THIS PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION.

SUPPORT IS ALSO PROVIDED BY• GREAT RIVER ENERGY: PROVIDING WHOLESALE POWER TO 27 MINNESOTA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES.

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

DELTADENTALMN.ORG/TPT.

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

MORE AT EDUCATIONMINNESOTA.ORG.

AND PAINTCARE: HELPING MINNESOTA PAINT SMARTER TO PREVENT WASTE.

MORE AT PAINTCARE.ORG.

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