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

>> ERIC: COMING UP THIS HOUR, A CONVERSATION WITH LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR PEGGY FLANAGAN.

TWO FIRST-TERM LAWMAKERS REFLECT ON A BUSY INAUGURAL SESSION.

WE'LL HAVE A LIVE PERFORMANCE OF AN OLD SONG ABOUT MINNESOTA THAT YOU PROBABLY HAVEN'T HEARD BEFORE.

AND MARY LAHAMMER HAS MORE ON THE LEGALIZATION OF CANNABIS.

>> Mary: WE'LL TAKE YOU BEHIND THE SCENES ON THE BUSINESS SIDE OF LEGALIZEDIZED MARNG AND CANNABIS AS STATE LAW IS ABOUT TO CHANGE AGAIN.

WHY THIS, WHY NOW?

>> TIMING, RIGHT?

THIS MARKETPLACE IS SO EXCITING.

DOING IT IN INNESOTA IS SO UNUSUAL.

>> 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.

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

MORE AT EDUCATIONMINNESOTA.ORG.

>> ERIC: THERE IS A LOT TO TALK ABOUT TONIGHT.

THE FIRST PHASE OF MINNESOTA'S ADULT-USE CANNABIS LAW TAKES EFFECT ON TUESDAY.

WE'LL BRING YOU SEVERAL PERSPECTIVES ON WHAT TO EXPECT.

AND AS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE CONTINUES TO IMPROVE, WE'LL TALK TO A LAWMAKER ABOUT WHAT KIND OF REGULATIONS THE STATE SHOULD CONSIDER.

PLUS, WE'LL HEAR ABOUT THE COLORFUL HISTORY OF AMATEUR BASEBALL IN MINNESOTA.

CATHY OFF THIS WEEK.

MARY LAHAMMER FILLING IN.

>> Mary: THANK YOU.

WE'LL START THINGS OFF BY CHECKING IN WITH MINNESOTA'S LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR PEGGY FLANAGAN.

SHE HAS BEEN BUSY TRAVELING ALL OVER THE STATE SINCE THE END OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

YESTERDAY, SHE TOURED THE ARMORY IN DULUTH WHICH IS BEING RESTORED USING MONEY INCLUDED IN THE $2.6 BILLION INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGE PASSED EARLIER THIS YEAR.

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, WELCOME.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE EWS OF THE DAY.

YOU PROBABLY HEARD THAT HOUSE REPUBLICANS SENT A LETTER DEMANDING A SPECIAL SESSION, SEVERAL FIXES FOR THE MARIJUANA BILL.

ESPECIALLY SOME OF THE NEW QUESTIONS BEING RAISED ABOUT KIDS AND WHETHER KIDS CAN CONSUME.

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SAY ABOUT THAT?

>> SO I WOULD SAY THAT THE USE OF CANNABIS BY MINORS IS ILLEGAL TODAY AND IT WILL BE ILLEGAL STARTING AUGUST 1ST.

WE'LL CONTINUE TO BE ILLEGAL.

ADULTS WHO TRY TO SELL CANNABIS TO YOUNG PEOPLE, THAT'S ALSO ILLEGAL.

SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE KNOW THAT THE USE OF CANNABIS BY MINORS, ANYBODY UNDER THE AGE OF 21, IS NOT ACCEPTABLE AND WILL REMAIN ILLEGAL IN MINNESOTA.

>> Eric: WHAT ABOUT A SPECIAL SESSION?

>> I DON'T BELIEVE A SPECIAL SESSION IS NEEDED.

BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT I AM ENCOURAGED THAT REPUBLICANS ARE THINKING ABOUT CHILD WELFARE.

THEY MISSED AN OPPORTUNITY THIS LAST SESSION TO WORK THINGS LIKE GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION, PAID FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE.

>> Mary: LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU'VE BEEN BUSY DOING.

YOU'VE BEEN TOURING THE STATE.

AND I REMEMBER AT THE BILL SIGNING SEEING PEOPLE OF COLOR AND TRIBAL REPRESENTATIVES.

I DON'T KNOW IF WE'VE EVER SEEN THAT AT THE BONDING BILL.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THAT ASPECT?

>> SURE, SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I CARE TREMENDOUSLY ABOUT.

YOU KNOW, THE FIRMT -- THE FIRST BONDING BILL THAT PASSED, WE SET ASIDE $30 MILLION FOR PROJECTS FOR -- BY AND FOR PEOPLE OF COLOR AND INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES BECAUSE FOR A LONG TIME, BONDING WAS SORT OF THIS THING THAT HAPPENED BEHIND CLOSE ONED DOORS.

THAT HAS CHANGED AND THIS YEAR, OVER $100 MILLION FOR THESE PROJECTS, WE KNOW THEY'RE MAKING A TREMENDOUS DIFFERENCE.

AND I'M STILL EXCITED ABOUT THESE INVESTMENTS ARE HAPPENING THAT WILL LEAD TO PROSPERITY FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.

>> Eric: THE 38% SPEND INCREASE IN THIS PAST SESSION.

I WONDER IF THAT'S SUSTAINABLE WITHOUT MORE TAX INCREASES DOWN THE LINE.

>> WELL, I THINK IN THE LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION, THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN OVERDUE.

AND THIS TRIFECTA, WE FRANKLY JUST KEPT OUR PROMISES.

BREAKFAST AND LUNCH FOR OUR CHILDREN IN SCHOOLS.

THESE ARE THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

LOWER COSTS FOR MINNESOTANS.

AND I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THESE SHORT-TERM GAINS AND THEN LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS.

THAT SHOULD BE WHAT MINNESOTANS EXPECT.

BUT ALSO KNOWING THAT, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THIS OWNER-OCCUPIED MONEY WE SPENT ON ONE-TIME INVESTMENTS, AND THE TAX CUTS THAT ARE OMING TO THE MIDDLE CLASS, I THINK, ARE REALLY EXCITING AND THAT KIND OF RELIEF IS WHAT A LOT OF MINNESOTANS SHOULD EXPECT.

>> Mary: SO THEY'RE TAX CUTS, BUT THERE'S ALSO TAX INCREASES.

AND HOW CAN YOU MAKE THAT ARGUMENT, AGAIN, STILL WITH THAT RECORD SURPLUS BEFORE EXPECTING BIGGER CHECK BACK?

YOU'RE RUNNING MATE WANTED A BIG ONE.

A COUPLE THOUSAND.

>> BUT WE DO BELIEVE THAT A LOT OF THESE INVESTMENTS THAT WILL LOWER COSTS FOR MINNESOTANS.

THESE CHECKS HIVING WILL BE COMING SOON.

AND THOSE WILL BE USED FOR SHOES AND SCHOOL CLOTHES, AUTO REPAIR.

AND WE THINK THAT'LL MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR FOLKS.

BUT IN THE LONG TERM, WE KNOW THAT THESE INVESTMENTS ARE REALLY GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR FAMILIES.

I AM REALLY EXCITED FOR THAT FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL.

WHERE KIDS NO LONGER HAVE TO RELY ON FREE AND REDUCED PRICE LUNCH.

FILLING OUT THAT PAPERWORK.

EVERYONE'S GOING TO GET FED.

THAT'S GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO SO MANY FAMILIES ACROSS THE STATE AND I THINK THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE WILL BE FOCUSED ON.

>> Eric: I KNOW YOU'RE GETTING QUESTIONS FROM DEMOCRATS AROUND THE COUNTRY.

IT GOES BACK TO YOUR WELLSTONE ACTION, WHICH WAS ORGANIZE, ORGANIZE, ORGANIZE.

>> ERIC, YOU NAILED IT.

THAT'S IT.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, WHEN I LOOK BACK ON SOME OF THE VICTORIES THAT WE'VE HAD, ARE THINGS THAT I'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR 20 YEARS.

AND, YOU KNOW, YOU GET WHAT YOU ORGANIZE FOR.

WE CONTINUED TO COME BACK.

WE CONTINUED TO STAY ALIGNED WITH -- WE HAD A STRONG INSIDE-OUTSIDE AME AND I THINK A LOT OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOW DECISION MAKERS WERE PART OF THAT ORGANIZING WORK ON THE FRONT END.

SO I THINK A LOT OF GRASS ROOTS, INFRASTRUCTURE, WAS BUILT.

WE RELIED ON IT.

AND THAT IS HOW WE DELIVERED.

WE RAN FAST.

WE RAN HARD.

BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THIS HAD TRIFECTA LOOKED A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN THE ONE WE HAD TEN YEARS AGO.

>> Mary: CAN THIS REALLY BE REPLICATED ELSEWHERE?

IS MINNESOTA SO UNIQUE THAT DEMOCRATS CAN'T PULL THIS OFF WITH ALL THE INVESTMENTS IN THE EDUCATION AND THE WELLSTONE AND THE GRASES ROOTS?

>> I THINK MINNESOTA'S SPECIAL, RIGHT?

WE ARE ALSO HUMBLE, RIGHT?

SO THAT'S AS MUCH AS I'LL SAY.

BUT I WILL SAY THIS, THAT, YOU KNOW, I HAVE TRAVELED TO WASHINGTON, D.C., TO THE WHITE HOUSE TO TALK ABOUT THIS GOOD WORK WE'VE DONE.

WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH FOLKS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ABOUT WHAT IS POSSIBLE.

I BELIEVE THAT WE CAN DO THIS WORK ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

I THINK THE GOVERNMENT IS HAVING MANY OF THESE CONVERSATIONS NATIONALLY.

>> Eric: HE'S IN IOWA THIS WEEKEND.

>> HE IS.

AND THERE'S A LOTS OF HOPE.

I THINK THAT WE CAN BRING FOLKS, ESPECIALLY IN PLACES WHERE PEOPLE FEEL LIKE THEY'RE RIGHTS ARE BEING TAKEN AWAY, WE'RE BRINGING AN ALTERNATIVE AND I THINK IT'S A GOOD THING TO ORGANIZE FOR.

>> Mary: IF I CAN JUMP IN, BECAUSE WE MENTIONED IOWA.

TALKING ABOUT MAY BE THE GOVERNOR INTERESTED IN A PRESIDENTIAL RUN OR YOU MAYBE INTERESTED IN HIS JOB.

LAY OUT THE FUTURE.

>> I AM VERY FOCUSED ON 2024 AND MAKING SURE THAT JOE BIDEN AND CAM YA LA HARRIS GET EEREELECTED AND THAT WE ALSO KEEP THE HOUSE.

I BELIEVE UNTIL GOVERNOR WRALZ AND HIS LEADERSHIP, CLEARLY.

BECAUSE WE ARE ON A TEAM -- >> Mary: ON A NATIONAL LEVEL, IS HE READY?

>> HE'S AN INGDAHL CREDIBLE LEADER AND I THINK WHAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO HERE IN MINNESOTA AND I THINK FOLKS ACROSS THE COUNTRY BENEFIT FROM THAT TOO.

>> Eric: DEAN PHILLIPS IS MEETING WITH DONORS I GUESS IN NEW YORK EARLY NEXT WEEK TO TALK ABOUT MAYBE CHALLENGING PRESIDENT BIDEN IN THE D.F.L., THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THAT?

>> I THINK DEAN PHILLIPS IS A GREAT CONGRESSPERSON FOR MINNESOTA.

I THINK JOE BIDEN IS A GREAT PRESIDENT FOR THE UNITED STATES.

AND WE SHOULD -- >> Eric: I WAS HOPING FOR A LITTLE MORE.

>> AND THEY SHOULD KEEP THEIR JOBS.

>> Eric: OKAY.

BUT IS BIDEN TOO OLD?

>> I THINK, I AM SO IMPRESSED WITH JOE BIDEN OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A REALLY -- I PERSONALLY HAVE A VERY SOFT SPOT IN MY HEART FOR HIM AS SOMEONE WHO WATCHED HIM WORK SO HARD ON THE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT.

I WILL DO WHAT IT TAKES TO MAKE SURE THAT HE GETS REELECTED.

THE WORK THAT HE'S DONE IN INDIAN COUNTRY, ALL THE INVESTMENTS IN INFRASTRUCTURE, WE'RE JUST BEGINNING TO SEA HOW THIS WILL CHANGE THINGS FOR GENERATIONHERE IN MINNESOTA AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

I THINK HE DESERVES ANOTHER SHOT.

>> Mary: WHAT ABOUT REELECTION FOR DEMOCRATS IN MINNESOTA.

IS THERE CONCERN ABOUT BACKLASH, OVERREACH?

>> YEAH, I MEAN, MY ADVICE TO, YOU KNOW, HOUSE CANDIDATES RIGHT NOW IS TO GET OUT ON THE DOORS AND TELL EVERYBODY WHAT YOU DID, BECAUSE -- >> Mary: IT WASN'T TOO MUCH?

>> I THINK IT'S WHAT WE -- NOBODY SHOULD BE SURPRISED.

IT'S WHAT WE TOLD PEOPLE.

WE WILL PROTECTED ACCESS TO ABORTION.

WE'D VENT IN THINGS LIKE CHILD CARE, PAID FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE, AND THIS CHILD TAX CREDIT, BUT 30% IN THE STATE, THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE CAN TALK THAT MAKE A RELEASED DIFFERENCE FOR MINNESOTANS.

>> Eric: THANKS FOR STOPPING BY.

APPRECIATE IT.

♪ >> MARY: AS YOU'VE BEEN HEARING, MARIJUANA BECOMES LEGAL NEXT WEEK.

THERE ARE A LOT OF CHANGES IN STORE FOR PEOPLE WHO ALREADY HAD HEMP-RELATED BUSINESSES AND ARE NOW TRANSITIONING TO THE NEW LAW.

HERE'’S A LOOK INSIDE OF ONE OF THOSE BUSINESS WITH SOME NOTABLE FOLKS BEHIND IT.

>> JEREMY, WHERE REWE?

>> WE ARE AT CROOKED BEVERAGE HEADQUARTERS.

>> Mary: IT'S GOT KIND OF A COOL VIBE.

>> YEAH, WE WANT IT TO BE FUN.

KEEP THE ENERGY UP FOR US.

IT'S WHERE ALL THE FOUNDERS MEET.

WE MEET WITH OUR DESCRIBILITIORS.

>> Mary: LOOKS LIKE YOU'VE GOT THE MARKETING THING DOWN.

>> YEAH, THIS IS OUR TV STUDIO.

>> Mary: TV IS NOT A NEW CONCEPT TO THE MAN WITH THE LAST NAME SUTHERLAND, JEREMY, THE BROTHER OF CELEBRITY CHEF JUSTIN SUTHERLAND.

>> ONLINE TRAINING VIDEOS, EDUCATION, TSMED H.C. EDUCATION, EDUCATION ON OUR PRODUCT.

>> Mary: YOU GUYS ARE I THINK GOING IND OF PROFESSIONAL HERE.

>> OKAY.

I'LL TAKE IT.

NO, NO, I'M GOING TO TAKE THAT.

>> Mary: LET'S TALK ABOUT STAFF.

WHAT DO PEOPLE DO HERE?

>> EVERYTHING FROM OUR DIRECT TO CONSUMER FULFILLMENT TO MANAGEMENT MEETINGS, FINANCIALS, IT'S KIND OF -- IT'S A NEW MARKET, BUT IT'S MOVING FAST.

>> Mary: THE T.H.C., HEMP, MASH OF MARIJUANA PRODUCT MARKET IS EXPLODING AS MORE STATES LIKE MINNESOTA HEAD TOWARDS EGALIZATION.

OKAY, THIS IS THE WAREHOUSE.

>> THIS IS THE WAREHOUSE.

>> THIS IS WHERE ALL THE STUFF IS BE RIGHT?

>> SOME OF THE STUFF.

SO A MAJORITY OF OUR PRODUCT IS STORED OVER AT OUR PARTNERS.

>> Mary: AND THAT SEEMS LIKE A MISSION DECISION TO WORK WITH OPPORTUNITY PARTNERS.

>> 100%.

MY BACKGROUND IS IN COMMUNITY AND GIVE BACK AND SOCIAL EQUITY AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN.

SO -- >> Mary: USUTHERLAND HAS BEEN WORKING TO COMMUNITIES OF COLOR CLOSER TO THE GAME OF GOLF WHITE ALSO CREATING SOCIALLY CONSCIOUS STREET WEAR.

HE'S ALL ABOUT A FRESH TAKE.

A CREATIVE LIFE STYLE ENTREPRENEUR BRINGING A NEW FACE TO THE FAIRWAYS.

HE GREW UP IN APPLE VALLEY, ATTENDED HOLY ANGELS AND PLAYED BASKETBALL OVERSEAS.

SO THIS SUTHERLAND IS NO STRANGER TO THE SPOTLIGHT.

>> I HUNG IT UP.

I'M A GOLFIER NOW AND A PICKLE BALLER.

>> Mary: WHY THIS?

WHY NOW?

>> TIMING, RIGHT?

OBVIOUSLY IT'S AN EXCITING MARKET.

IT'S NEW FOR MINNESOTA.

IT'S NOT NEW FOR 22 OTHER STATES.

SO THERE'S A BLUEPRINT FOR IT.

BUT IT'S, YOU KNOW, WE WANTED TO JUMP INTO, DO IT RIGHT.

CREATE A REALLY COOL, SAFE, YOU KNOW, COMPLIANT MARKET.

>> Mary: THE MARKET IN MINNESOTA WILL NOW TAKE INTO COUNT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE OF COLOR WHO HAVE BEEN PUNISHED BY THE JUSTICE SYSTEM FOR SOMETHING THAT IS NOW LEGAL IN ALMOST HALF THE COUNTRY.

>> THE EQUITY PIECE, SO PARTICULARLY WHEN IT CAME TO THIS BILL WAS JUST -- IT WAS IMPORTANT.

THEY LEANED INTO IT.

THEY MADE SURE THEY WERE GOING TO HIGHLIGHT PEOPLE WHO WERE DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED BY D.H.C.

LAWS IN THE PAST AND REALLY HELP BUILD A FOUNDATION ALLOWED FOR THEM TO SUCCEED IN THIS MARKET.

>> Mary: FORMER LEGISLATIVE LEADER RYAN WINKLER IS A BUSINESS PARTNER.

>> I NEEDED TO CHANNEL SOME OF THE ENERGY AND DRIVE ROM A CAMPAIGN INTO SOMETHING DIFFERENT AND NEW AND THIS MARKETPLACE IS SO EXCITES AND WHAT WE'RE DOING IN MINNESOTA IS SO UNUSUAL, I WANTED TO HELP A COMPANY THAT WAS GOING TO SET A STANDARD AND SHOW WHAT ACTUALLY CAN BE DONE AS WE MOVE TOWARDS GREATER ACCEPTANCE OF CANNABIS.

WE DO HAVE THESE CHILD SAFETY CAPS ON ALL OF OR PRODUCTS THAT ARE SOLD IN FOUR-PACKS.

>> WANT TO GET WORD OUT TO DRIVERS TO NOT GET BEHIND THE WHEEL IF THEY CHOOSE TO USE CANNABIS.

DRIVING WHILE IMPAIRED OFTEN HAS DEVASTATING CONSEQUENCES.

>> Mary: HOW ABOUT IMPAIRMENT ON THAT?

OBVIOUSLY YOU'RE A LAWYER.

YOU RAN FOR COUNTY ATTORNEY?

HOW DO WE MEASURE IMPAIRMENT FROM THESE?

>> WELL, THE SAME WAY WE MEASURE IMPAIRMENT ON EVERYTHING EXCEPT ALCOHOL.

BY WHETHER THE PERSON IS DRIVING IMPAIRED OR NOT.

AND SO THE LEGISLATION, FOR EXAMPLE, GAVE A MORE TRAINING MONEY FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT TO BE BETTER AT SPOTTING IMPAIRMENT.

>> Mary: THE PREVIOUS AND NEWEST LAWS ARE CONFUSING.

>> IN 2022 WE PASSED LEGISLATION THAT ALLOWED UP TO 5 MILLIGRAMS PER SERVING IN EDIBLES AND IN BEVERAGES.

IT CREATED EASIER ACCESS TO LOW-DOSE PRODUCTS ACROSS THE STATE AS LONG AS IT COMES FROM HELP ANTICIPATE.

HEMP IS FULL ELLY LEGAL.

WE WANT TO RESTRICTIONS ON WHERE HEMP CAN COME IN, ON HOW IT'S GLOWN.

YOU'LL NEED TO BE LICENSED IN ORDER TO SELL IT.

>> Mary: SO WHEN PEOPLE SAW YOU LOBBYING FOR THIS, THEY WERE WONDINGERRING IF WURP MAKING MONEY ON THIS.

>> I HAVE MADE ZERO MONEY ON THIS.

I STARTED IN 2023 ON THE BE HEARD ON CANNABIS TOUR.

HELPED MOVE THIS WHOLE ISSUE FRONT AND CENTER.

AND WHEN I LEFT OFFICE IN JANUARY, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PRINCIPLES THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR CANNABIS ACTUALLY WERE FOLLOWED THROUGH ON LEGISLATION.

AND SO I CONTRIBUTED ON A PRO BONO BASIS TO GET THAT BILL PASSED.

THE WORLD IS CHANGING.

SOCIETY IS CHANGING.

PEOPLE ARE MOVING AWAY FROM ALCOHOL AND CIGARETTES AND HAVE GROWING ACCEPTANCE TO THE RELATIVELY SAFETY OF CANNABIS PROBTS.

I LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE ENJOY HAVING A GOOD TIME AND I THINK CANNABIS DRINKS ARE A PRETTY SAFE GOOD ALTERNATIVE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT LOOKING FOR ALL THE NEGATIVES OF ALCOHOL.

♪♪ >> ERIC: WITH THE LEGALIZATION OF ADULT-USE CANNABIS, THERE ARE CONCERNS THAT MORE PEOPLE WILL CHOOSE TO DRIVE WHILE THEY ARE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF THE DRUG.

THIS WEEK AND NEXT, WE ARE GOING TO GET A COUPLE OF PERSPECTIVES ON HOW CANNABIS IMPAIRMENT IS MEASURED AND WHAT LAW ENFORCEMENT WILL BE DOING TO KEEP OUR ROADS SAFE.

NEXT WEEK WE'LL HEAR FROM BLOOMINGTON POLICE CHIEF BOOKER HODGES.

TONIGHT WE ARE JOINED BY ATTORNEY THOMAS GALLAGHER.

HE'S ON THE BOARD OF THE MINNESOTA CHAPTER OF NORML, THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR THE REFORM OF MARIJUANA LAWS.

THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

IS THIS GOING TO INCREASE TRAFFIC ACCIDENTSES?

>> NO, IT'S NOT.

FOR A FEW REASONS.

ONE, PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SMOKING MARIJUANA FOR A LONG TIME.

AND THE LEGALIZATION ISN'T -- IT'S ARGUABLE WHETHER IT WILL DRAMATICALLY INCREASE THAT.

IF WE LOOKED AT THE ALCOHOL PROHIBITION, IT HAPPENED DURING WHOL PROHIBITION COMPARED TO BEFORE IS MORE PEOPLE USED ALCOHOL DURING PROHIBITION, AND THEN AFTER PROHIBITION ENDED, PEOPLE USED EVEN MORE TO CELEBRATE FOR A COUPLE, FEW YEARS.

AND THEN THE USE STARTED DROPPING DOWN ACK TOWARDS THE USER RATE BEFORE PROHIBITION.

I'VE SEEN NEW STORIES RECENTLY ABOUT SOME OF THE EARLY STATES WHO LEGALIZED WHERE THE USAGE RATE IS STARTING TO COME DOWN ALREADY.

>> Mary: IS IT TRUE IN COLORADO.

CITING CRY OCTOBER THAT THERE WAS A TRAFFIC INJURIES AND DEATH.

AND THEY WOULD SAY THAT WENT UP.

WOULD YOU QUESTION THAT DATA?

>> I DO QUESTION THE DATA.

BECAUSE I'VE HEARD, THE REPORTS I'VE SEEN AND LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE HEARINGS I'VE BEEN IN WHERE I'VE HEARD TESTIMONY, PEOPLE TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A FATAL ACCIDENT, AND SOMEBODY TESTED POSITIVE FOR MARIJUANA, IN AIR QUOTES.

MY QUESTION IS, SHOW ME THE BLOOD TEST, BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF MISUNDERSTANDING ABOUT DRUG TESTING FOR CANNABIS VERSUS ALCOHOL VERSUS OTHER DRUGS.

BECAUSE WITH CANNABIS, IT'S -- THERE ARE MONEY MONEY TABO LITES THAT ARE NOT PSYCHO ACTIVE.

SO CARBOXY THC WHICH IS ONE OF THOSE, STAYS IN YOUR BODY FOR UP TO 30 DAYS -- >> Mary: SOUNDS COMPLICATED.

IS THERE A GOOD TEST >> HOW DO YOU MEASURE IMPAIRMENT?

>> IT'S DIFFICULT, BUT IT'S -- YES, IT IS DIFFICULT.

IT'S MORE DIFFICULT WITH DELTA-9THC WHICH IS THE MAIN PSYCHOACTIVE IN MARIJUANA LARGEBY BECAUSE IT'S FAT SOLUBLE.

ALCOHOL IS WATER SOLUBLE.

MANY OTHER DRUGS ARE WATER SOLUBLE.

THC CAN GET LOCKED IN OUR FAT CELLS AND THEN BE RELEASED LATER ON WHEN YOU DON'T EAT THAT FOOD THAT DAY OR SOMETHING.

NOT ENOUGH TO IMPAIR YOU.

BUT ENOUGH TO HAVE A RACE LEVEL DRUG TEST.

>> Eric: IS THIS AN UNDUE BURDEN FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT?

NO, I DON'T THINK IT IS.

I THINK THAT IT'S MORE DIFFICULT TO MAKE A CASE, COMPARED TO ALCOHOL DUI.

WE'RE ALL COMPARING DUI MARIJUANA TO DUI ALCOHOL.

IT'S JUST IRRESISTIBLE NOT TO DO THAT.

AND PEOPLE ARE KIND OF FILLING IN THE BLANKS OF THINGS THEY DON'T KNOW ABOUT MARIJUANA WITH THINGS THEY DO KNOW ABOUT ALCOHOL AND SOME OF THOSE THINGS ARE NOT ACCURATE AND THEY'RE MISLEADING.

SO ONE OF THOSE IS WITH ALCOHOL, THERE'S A WRONG CORRELATION BETWEEN YOUR BLOOD ALCOHOL LEVEL AND IMPAIRMENT WHEN IT COMES TO DRIVING.

BUT WITH DEVELOPMENT YA-9 THC AND MARIJUANA, THAT'S NOT TRUE AT ALL.

THERE'S NO CORRELATION.

SO IT MAKES NO SENSE TO LIMIT LAW, LIKE SOME EARLY ADOPTER STATES HAD, AND NOW THERE'S TALK IN GETTING RID OF THOSE.

>> Mary: LET'S PIVOT TO EXPHUMENT.

THERE'S SOME AUTOATIC EXPUNGEMENT.

HOW DO YOU SEE IT WORKING?

>> I HAVEN'T DONE A DEEP DIVE INTO THAT.

BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE LOWER LEVEL CRIMES, THE NON-FELONY CRIMES SHOULD BE AUTOMATICALLY EXPUNGED WITHOUT THE INDIVIDUAL INTERESTING TO DO ANYTHING.

AND THEN THERE'S GOING TO BE A BOARD THAT WILL REVIEW SOME APPLICATIONS FOR EXPUNGEMENT FOR FELONY CASES.

>> Mary: SO DO YOU THINK YOU'D BE REPRESENTING THOSE PEOPLE?

WHAT WOULD BE YOUR WORK GOING FORWARD?

>> MY UNDERSTANDING, WHICH COULD UN-- MIGHT NOT BE RIGHT, BUT I THINK THE IDEA BEHIND IT WAS TO NOT HAVE TO HAVE A LAWYER INVOLVED.

NECESSARILY.

>> Mary: JUST PUTTING YOU HAD OUT OF BUSINESS.

>> YEAH, WELL, YEAH.

[ Laughter ] I THINK A PROBLEM WITH EXPUNGEMENT, LIKE, WHEN I WAS TALKING TO RYAN WINKLER AND OTHER LAWMAKERS ABOUT ANY ISSUE AND OTHER PEOPLE TOO, A LOT OF US HAVE SAID, LOOK, EXPUNGEMENT, I WOULD SAY PROBABLY 99% OF THE PEOPLE IN MINNESOTA THAT HAVE BEEN ELIGIBLE FOR EXPUNGEMENT NEVER GOT ONE.

AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS THE BARRIER IS TOO HIGH.

THERE'S TOO MANY BARRIERS TO AVERAGE NORMAL PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO ARE TRYING TO GO TO WORK, MAKE MONEY, PAY FOR BILLS TO SOMEHOW HIRE A LAWYER OR DO THE THINGS THEY NEED TO DO.

SO THE IDEA IN THIS BILL WAS TO REDUCE THOSE BARRIERS.

MAKE IT EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO GET EXPUNGEMENTS.

>> Eric: PUT A MAN ON THE MOON.

I ASSUME THERE ARE COMPANIES WORKING ON A ROADSIDE TEST RIGHT NOW.

HOW IS THAT PROGRESSING?

>> IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT OTHER COUNTRIES LIKE CANADA, I THINK AUSTRALIA, HAVE THESE SALIVA TESTS OR ORAL FLUID TESTS AND THERE'S SOME NEW TECHNOLOGY FOR BREATH TESTS.

BUT THEY'RE KIND OF DIFFERENT THAN MOST OF THE ALCOHOL BREATH TESTS.

THE ALCOHOL BREATH TESTS TEST THE VAPOR IN YOUR BREATH.

BUT THE THC HAS LITTLE DROPLETS OF THE SALIVA IN YOUR BREATH.

AND THEN IT PICKS UP THE DROPLETS.

SALIVA IN -- SALIVA HAS THC IN IT.

SO LIKE A EUROPE TEST DOES A URINE TEST DOES NOT HAVE METABOLITES.

>> Eric: WE'RE GETTING THE HOOK.

>> Mary: YEAH, WE'RE OUT OF TIME.

THANK YOU FOR THE INFORMATION.

♪♪ >> LOOK AT THAT.

MY DAUGHTER IS OOD AT SWIMMING.

WELL, I GUESS THOSE SWIMMING LESSONS ARE PAYING OFF.

JOSIE IS LOOKING REALLY COMFORTABLE IN THE WATER.

OH, MY GOSH, SHE'S FAST.

SHE'S DESTROYING THOSE OTHER KIDS.

WHAT WAS THAT?

WHO SAID THAT?

LOOK AT HER STROKE.

SHE'S A FULL BODY LENGTH AHEAD.

WHO CARES?

IT'S A LESSON, NOT A RACE.

WE NEED TO FIND A COACH.

WE'RE HERE ECAUSE IT'S FUN.

THIS COULD E OUR TICKET.

LOVE SWIMMING.

WE DON'T EVEN KNOW IF SHE LIKES IT.

OH, NO, SHE'S ALREADY NINE.

SHE'S A CHILD.

WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU?

HOW ARE WE GOING TO AFFORD A DIETARY CONSULTANT?

THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ABOUT WATER SAFETY?

WHY AM I NOT TRACKING TRACKING HER HEART RATE?

YOU'RE A MONSTER.

>> I WONDER WHY DAD IS ALWAYS ACTING SO CONFLICTED.

HE SHOULD PROBABLY GET MORE EXERCISE.

♪♪ >> MARY: A REPORT OUT THIS WEEK FROM THE MCKINSEY GLOBAL INSTITUTE ESTIMATES THAT BY 2030, ADVANCES IN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE WILL AUTOMATE NEARLY 30% OF THE LABOR CURRENTLY DONE BY U.S. WORKERS.

THAT'S JUST THE LATEST EXAMPLE OF THE IMPACT THAT ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE COULD HAVE ON OUR SOCIETY.

AS A.I.

CONTINUES TO EVOLVE, GOVERNMENTS AROUND THE GLOBE INCREASINGLY WRESTLE WITH THE BEST WAYS TO REGULATE THE TECHNOLOGY.

WE'RE JOINED NOW BY SOMEONE WHO'S BEEN HIGHLY ENGAGED WITH THOSE DISCUSSIONS.

REPUBLICAN JIM NASH REPRESENTS THE WACONIA AREA IN THE MINNESOTA LEGISLATURE.

HE WORKS IN CYBER SECURITY AND HAS A STRONG INTEREST IN THE FUTURE OF TECHNOLOGY.

ARE YOU SCARED?

SHOULD WE BE AFRAID?

>> WELL, I DON'T EXPECT THIS TO BE SKY NET.

I DON'T EXPECT ARNOLD SOMEWHAT WARS NEGLECTER TO COME BACK AND -- NEED TO BE DEGREESED BY THOUGHTFUL LEGISLATORS BEFORE THIS BECOME THE 30% OF ALL WORK BEING DONE BY A.I.

I THINK THERE'S SOME REASONABLE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE NEED TO HAVE.

ACCOMPLISH A GOOD BALANCE.

>> Eric: WOULD YOU SAY THAT THE LEGISLATURE AT LEAST GOT A START WITH BANNING THE DEEM FABLING FAKES FOR, LIKE, NON-CONSENSUAL SEX AND TAMPERING WITH POLITICS, THAT KIND OF THING?

>> I THINK THAT THAT CONVERSATION IS AN INTERESTING ONE.

BUT YOU'RE QUITE HONESTLY JUST DIPPING YOUR TOE INTO THE WATER.

BUT I THINK IT'S A GOOD UNDERSTANDING THAT THE CAPABILITIES OUT THERE ARE STAGGERING.

PEOPLE, PARTICULARLY THE LUD YIETS OF THE WORLD, WHO HAVE NO IDEA WHAT'S POSSIBLE.

GLA >> Mary: IS IT ART EVERYONE?

IS THIS GOING TO BE A BIPARTISAN, NONPARTISAN ?ISH >> I'LL TELL YOU THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR ACTUALLY RECOMMENDED ME TO BE THE COMMISSIONER.

I DECLINED.

TO PPLY.

WE HAVE AS A RESULT OF -- >> Mary: LET'S JUST LET THAT SINK IN FOR A MINUTE.

BECAUSE EVERYBODY JUST THINKS -- >> SHE'S A FRIEND F MINE.

WE AGREE ON 11 THINGS.

BUT WE'RE GOOD -- BUT WHAT CAME OUT OF THAT WAS THE GOVERNOR'S BLUE RIBBON COUNCIL ON I.T.

AND CYBER SECURITY THAT'S NOW MORPHED INTO THE TECHNOLOGY ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

AND IT IS A BIPARTISAN EFFORT.

SO REPRESENTATIVE BAHNER AND I ARE REALLY IN LOCK-STEP ON THOSE THINGS.

SENATOR WIKLUND, SENATOR KORAN, WE'RE ALL VERY MUCH ON THE SAME PAGE.

WE ATTEND A LOT OF THE SAME CONFERENCES AND WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A.I.

AS WE SPEAK.

>> Eric: SHOW MOVING PACE OF THE LEGISLATURE IN NORM YEARS ANYWAY MAKES IT HARD TO KEEP TRACK, AHEAD OF IT.

>> WELL, YEAH, WE'RE NEVER ACTUALLY AHEAD OF ANYTHING.

REVISITED HOW MANY TIMES HAVE WE DONE BILLS THAT YOU'VE COVERED IN THE PAST.

YOU CAN'T EVEN COUNT.

BUT I THINK ON THE A.I.

ISSUE, IT IS A VALUABLE TOOL.

AND AS LONG AS WE ARE ASSIGNING IT PARAMETERS AND IT'S LONG AS WE ARE UNDERSTANDING WE NEED TO BE TRANSPARENT, SO THAT THE DECISIONS THAT GET MADE BY A.I.

ARE AVAILABLE FOR THE PUBLIC TO INVESTIGATE, HOW DID WE ARRIVE AT THESE THINGS, WHAT WENT INTO ALLOWING THOSE A.I.

APPLICATIONS TO DO THOSE THINGS, THAT'S GOING TO BE ONE OF HE PIECES THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT PART.

>> Eric: YOU'RE RUNNING FOR REELECTION?

>> YEAH.

>> Eric: OKAY.

ISN'T A.I.

GOING TO MAKE IT VERY DIFFICULT FOR US TO FIGURE OUT IF AN ATTACK AD WAS ACTUALLY AUTHORIZED BY SOMEBODY OR SOMEBODY JUST -- OUT THE PICTURE -- SPLL >> GOOD CAMPAIGNER IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE CONNECTED TO THEIR DISTRICT AND PEOPLE WILL UNDERSTAND AND HAVE ACCESS.

FOR ME, I PUBLISH MY CELL PHONE TO THE INTERNET AND HAVE PEOPLE CALL ME.

>> Eric: BUT HOW DO WE WANT PEOPLE -- KIND OF A CONSUMER GUIDE, A VOTER GUIDE, JUDGE WHAT'S REAL AND WHAT'S A.I.

OR FAKE?

>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE UP TO THE CANDIDATES REALLY PUSH OUT THEIR PLATFORM AND SO THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS JIM NASH, NOT SOMETHING THAT IS BEEN BEGINNED UP WITH THINGS I'VE SAID IN THE PAST BOTCHED UP TOGETHER.

AS TECHNOLOGY BECOMES MORE PROFICIENT, IT'S EASIER TO FAKE THINGS BUT, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, A GOOD CAM CAMPAIGNER IS GOING TO BE OUT OF FRONT OF PEOPLE AND WILL BECOME ACCESSIBLE TO THE PRESS.

AND PEOPLE WILL SAY, HEY, THIS DOESN'T SOUND LIKE YOU.

>> Mary: WHAT ABOUT THE PUBLIC SECT SECTOR ROLE VERSUS PRIVATE SECTOR?

INTERNATIONAL GROUPS HAVE?

WHOSE JOB SHIEFA?

>> GREAT QUESTION.

I THINK IF WE LOOK AT IT AS TO WHAT DOES THE STATE GOVERNMENT HAVE PURVIEW OVER, THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE SHOULD GET INTO.

>> Mary: LIKE WHAT?

>> WELL, SO I THINK ONE OF THE GOOD OCCASIONS FOR A.I.

COULD BE UNDERSTANDING TRAFFIC PATTERNS, UNDERSTANDING ACTION WITH A GOVERNMENT WHEN THINGS THAT WOULD HAVE NORMALLY GONE TO A -- AN ENTRY LEVEL PERSON WHO IS PROCESSING PAPERWORK -- >> Mary: YOU SAID QUANTITATIVE, NOT QUALITATIVE.

>> QUANTITATIVE WORK, BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE QUESTIONING, WHEN YOU HAVE A PERSON WHO -- THE HUMAN MIND IS INFINITELY MORE COMPLEX THAN A COMPUTER CAN EVER ACHIEVE BECAUSE WE BRING VALUES TO THE EQUATION.

WE TALK ABOUT THE HUMANITY OF PEOPLE.

WE UNDERSTAND THAT INTERACTING WITH PEOPLE, A MACHINE CAN'T DO THAT.

>> Eric: WE MIGHT HAVE YOU ON SPEED DIAL AS WE TRAVERSE THIS GREAT JOURNEY.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME ON.

♪♪ BRIAN IS A RESEARCHER WITH THE MCKIERNAN LIBRARY IN ST. PAUL.

HE'S MOST INTERESTED IN DISCOVERING A SPECIFIC TYPE OF MUSIC, WORK SONGS SUNG BY IRISH IMMIGRANTS IN THIS PART OF THE COUNTRY.

ALL RIGHT.

FIRST OF ALL, IT IS SO GREAT TO HAVE BOTH OF YOU HERE.

AND I AM REALLY CURIOUS, HOW DID YOU GET INTERESTED IN THIS PARTICULAR MUSIC, BRIAN?

>> YEAH, SO I GREW UP IN BEMIDJI, IN LUMBERJACK COUNTRY, I GUESS.

WE HAD THE BIG CONCRETE STATUE OF PAUL BUNYAN AND ALL THAT.

AND THEN I GOT INTERESTED IN IRISH MUSIC AS A TEENAGER AND REALLY HONESTLY OBSESSED WITH IRISH MUSIC.

AND THEN KIND OF I FOUND A WAY TO GET TOGETHER -- BECAUSE I'M A PROUD MINNESOTAN.

>> YEAH, WE ALL ARE.

>> BROUGHT IT BACK TOGETHER.

KIND OF WITH MY HOME HISTORY, I GUESS, THROUGH DISCOVERING THAT THERE WERE SONGS SUNG UP NORTH ND THAT THERE'S A LONG HISTORY OF IRISH IN MINNESOTA.

>> WHEN AND WHERE WOULD THESE SONGS HAVE BEEN SUNG INITIALLY?

>> SONGS SUNG IN LUMBER CAMPS.

AND THEN UP AROUND BEMIDJI EVEN.

BUT, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS PEOPLE SANING SONGS ON THE FARM'S IN THE FARM HOUSE TO PASS TIME.

YOU CAN IMAGINE, SHOCKING AS IT MAY SEEM, PEOPLE DIDN'T HAVE PHONES IN HEIR POCKETS.

THERE WAS VERY LITTLE SCROLLING IN THE 1800S AND THEY HAD TO MAKE THEIR OWN ENTERTAINMENT.

YOU DIDN'T EVEN REALLY HAVE A WAY TO HEAR A SONG ON A RADIO OR A RECORD OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

SO IF YOU WANTED TO HEAR IT, YOU HAD TO SING IT YOURSELF.

>> Jearlyn: AND OF COURSE, DANNY, THAT WAS THEN.

YOU STILL LOVE THE MUSIC.

TELL ME WHY.

>> WELL, FOR ME IT'S IN MY BLOOD I GUESS.

MY FAMILY, FOR MULTIPLE JEN RACES BACK IN IRELAND PLAYED THIS MUSIC.

IT'S SOMETHING IN YOU.

YOU EMBODY THIS KIND OF TRADITION FROM YOUR PLACE, ESPECIALLY LIVING HERE.

YOU KNOW, YOU CAN REPRESENT YOURSELF THROUGH IT AND SHARE IT WITH PEOPLE, SHARE WHO YOU ARE THROUGH IT.

I FIND IT REALLY POWERFUL AND COMPELLING.

I CAN'T NOT DO THAT.

>> Jearlyn: EXACTLY, YOU CAN'T NOT DO IT BECAUSE IT'S IN YOUR SOUL.

THAT'S BOTTOM LINE.

AND IRISH MUSIC LIVES IN THE SOUL OF MANY OF US.

LOOK, I HAVE A SON THAT LISTENED TO NOTHING BUT IRISH MUSIC FOR LIKE HIS IRST 13 YEARS OF HIS LIFE.

SO YOU NEVER KNOW WHO'S GOING TO FALL IN LOVE WITH THE MUSIC, RIGHT?

SO THEN WHERE DO WE GO TODAY?

WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED ABOUT THE IRISH IMMIGRANT EXPERIENCE?

, ESPECIALLY YOU, BRIAN.

>> YEAH, I'VE LEARNED SO MUCH AND IT ALL CAME THROUGH LOVE OF THE MUSIC, REALLY, AND AGAIN, LOOKING FOR THIS CONNECTION BETWEEN WHERE I GREW UP AND THE MUSIC.

BUT I'VE LEARNED THAT MINNESOTA HAS A LONG HISTORY OF IRISH.

I'VE LEARNED THAT ST. PAUL IS VERY PROUD OF THE IRERNESS THAT WE HAVE HERE.

IRISHNESS THAT WE HAVE.

AND SO WE, YOU KNOW, WE -- BY BRINGING THESE SONGS INTO THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT, I THINK WE KIND OF MAKE THEM OUR OWN AND THAT'S WHAT I LOVE ABOUT IT.

>> SO WHAT SONG ARE YOU ABOUT TO SING?

>> IT'S CALLED "LOVELY MINNESOTA-Y."

>> ♪ COME ALL YOU JOLLY IMMIGRANTS THAT HAVE BEEN INCLINED TO ROAM ♪ ♪ INTO THE WESTERN COUNTRY TO FIND YOURSELF A HOME ♪ ♪ JUST TAKE A PIONEER'S ♪ ♪ IT'S LOVELY MINNESOTA-Y ♪ ♪ THAT LILY ON THE WEST ♪ ♪ TO SEE THIS PLEASANT COUNTRY ♪ ♪ WOULD FILL YOU WITH SURPRISE ♪ ♪ TODAY THE SPREADING PRAIRIE ♪ ♪ AND FIELDS OF GRAIN LIKEWISE ♪ ♪ YOU CALL INTO A CABIN ♪ ♪ WHERE YOU'RE ALWAYS A WELCOME GUEST ♪ ♪ IN LOVELY MINNESOTA-Y ♪ ♪ THAT LILY IN THE WEST ♪ ♪ TO SEE THE JOLLY FARMER ♪ ♪ TOILING AT HIS PLOW ♪ ♪ LIKE THE PRETTY MILK MAIDS MILKING AT THEIR COWS ♪ ♪ ALSO THE LOYAL HOME MAKERS ♪ ♪ THE DARLINGS OF MINNESOTA-Y ♪ ♪ THE LILY OF THE WEST ♪ ♪.

♪♪ ♪ WELL, OUR FIELDS THEY YIELD SPONTANEOUSLY, POTATOES, CORN AND GRAIN ♪ ♪ THE CLIMB'S ALSO HEALTHY ♪ ♪ BIRTHING SHOWERS OF RAIN ♪ ♪ THERE ARE PLENTY OF FISH IN EVERY STREAM AND GAME IN THE FOREST ♪ ♪ AND LOVELY MINNESOTA-Y, THE LILY OF THE WEST ♪ ♪ WE HAVE A THRIVING COMMERCE OUT ON OUR INLAND SEAS ♪ ♪ WHERE LOFTY SHIPS AND STEAM BOATS ♪ ♪ DO SAIL CONTINUOUSLY ♪ ♪ WE'VE GOT MERITS HERE BOTH STOUT AND BRAVE AND CAPTAINS OF THE BEST ♪ ♪ ON THE SHORES OF MINNESOTA-Y, THAT LILY OF THE WEST ♪ ♪ AND PLEASANT SOUNDS AND IMAGES DO DECORATE THE SOIL ♪ ♪ THE ARC ARCHITECTS AND MECHANICS ♪ ♪ SO DO TELL ♪ ♪ WE'VE GOT CHURCHES HERE OF EVERY SC TELEVISION ♪ ♪ THE LOVELY MINNESOTA-Y, THAT LILY OF THE WEST ♪ ♪.

WELL, MICHIGAN IS NOT THE PLACE, NOR ILLINOIS THE SAME ♪ ♪ THEIR SOIL AND CLIMATE CAN'T COMPARE, RAISING OF THE GRAIN ♪ ♪ IT'S A LAND OF MILK AND HONEY ♪ ♪ AND TEMPERATURES OF THE PAST ♪ ♪ THEY CALL IT MINNESOTA-Y ♪ ♪, THE LILY OF THE WEST ♪ [ Applause ] ♪♪ >> DOMINIC: I WAS WATCHING THE U.S.-NETHERLANDS WORLD CUP MATCH THE OTHER NIGHT, AND OUR SIDE WAS PLAYING A PRETTY LISTLESS GAME.

THAT IS, UNTIL LINDSEY HORAN FROM OUR SIDE AND DANIELLE VAN DE DONK FROM THE DUTCHIES GOT INTO IT.

AFTER SPENDING TWO-THIRDS OF THE GAME PUSHING AND SHOVING AND JAWING AT EACH OTHER, IT LOOKED LIKE THEY MIGHT ACTUALLY COME TO BLOWS.

THE REF BROKE IT UP, AND A COUPLE MINUTES LATER, HORAN HEADED ONE INTO THE NET TO SALVAGE A 1-1 DRAW FOR THE TOP-RANKED U.S.

SQUAD.

AFTER THE GAME, THE TWO MIDFIELDERS EMBRACED, AND I LEARNED THAT THEY ACTUALLY BOTH PLAY FOR OLYMPIQUE LYON IN FRANCE.

MORTAL ENEMIES FOR 90 MINUTES AND 31 DAYS OF WORLD CUP PLAY.

TEAMMATES THE REST OF THE YEAR.

I'’M NOT SURE WHY, BUT I KEPT THINKING ABOUT THIS MOMENT AS I WAS WATCHING THE REACTION TO SENATE MINORITY LEADER MITCH MCCONNELL'’S LITTLE MEDICAL EPISODE EARLIER THAT DAY.

IF YOU DIDN'’T SEE IT, HE, LIKE, FROZE UP MID-SENTENCE IN FRONT OF A BUNCH OF REPORTERS.

TALKING ABOUT IT LATER ON, MCCONNELL NOTED THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN HAD CALLED TO CHECK UP ON HIM AND WISH HIM WELL.

THE FACT THAT THIS IS EVEN NEWS TELLS YOU A LOT ABOUT OUR CURRENT STATE OF POLITICAL DISCOURSE.

>> ERIC: ON AUGUST 18TH, THE 2023 MINNESOTA STATE AMATEUR BASEBALL TOURNAMENT WILL GET UNDERWAY IN DELANO, LITCHFIELD, AND DASSEL.

THIS IS THE 100TH STRAIGHT YEAR THAT THE TOURNAMENT WILL BE HELD.

IT HAS BEEN PLAYED THROUGH WARS, EPIDEMICS, AND A PANDEMIC.

MINNESOTA IS THE ONLY STATE WITH THIS LEVEL OF COMMITMENT TO AMATEUR BASEBALL, OR TOWN BALL AS IT'S KNOWN AROUND HERE.

A NEW PUBLICATION TRACES THE HISTORY OF MINNESOTA TOWN BALL.

IT'S CALLED "THE EARLY YEARS: CELEBRATING MINNESOTA TOWN BALL 1857-1973."

BRIAN LARSON IS THE CO-AUTHOR.

HE HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN MINNESOTA TOWN BALL FOR 48 YEARS.

WHY START WITH 1857?

[ Laughter ] >> WELL, SO ACTUALLY, WAS PLAYED IN MINNESOTA BEFORE WE WERE A STATE.

SO IT'S BEEN HERE.

>> Eric: WHY?

HOW DID IT HAPPEN HERE?

>> YEAH, WELL, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A GOOD, YOU NOW, BASEBALL STARTED ON THE EAST COAST AND IT MOVED ITS WAY WEST, I GUESS WITH PEOPLE.

YOU KNOW, SO THERE WAS A MINNEAPOLIS CLUB AND A ST. PAUL CLUB.

AND THEY PLAYED EACH OTHER.

AND THEN, YOU KNOW, PRETTY SOON, YOU KNOW, THEY GET TIRED OF PLAYING EACH OTHER, SO THEY WANT TO FIND SOMEBODY ELSE.

AND THIS SPREADS.

YOU KNOW, SO THAT'S HOW IT DID.

AND THEN AFTER THE CIVIL WAR, WHEN THE SOLDIERS CAME BACK HOME, THEY NEEDED JOBS.

WELL.

THE RAILROAD WAS EXPANDING OUT IN MINNESOTA.

SO AS THE RAILROAD BUILT, YOU KNOW, THE TOWNS STARTED SPRINGING UP BEHIND.

AND THE RAILROAD WORKERS GOT TIRED OF PLAYING BASEBALL WITH EACH OTHER, SO THEN THEY WOULD CHALLENGE THE TOWN TO GET -- THAT WAS BEHIND THEM TO GET, YOU KNOW -- A POT OF MONEY, 15, 25%.

>> Eric: REAL ONEY BACK THEN.

>> Mary: I BELIEVE WE HAVE SOME PHOTOS.

THIS REALLY IS ARE IMARKABLE TO SEE SOME OF THE CROWDS.

THIS WAS WELL ATTENDED.

>> YES, IT WAS.

>> Mary: OR MAYBE STILL.

>> MY PARTNER ON THIS, HAD DONE THE HEY-DAY OF TOWN BALL TEAMS WHICH IS 45-60 AND LIKE YOU SAY -- WAS HUGE.

IN 1950, KIND OF AN INTERESTING STORY.

THEY HAD -- IT WAS UP IN ST.

CLOUD, CHAMPIONSHIP GAME.

IT HOLDS 3,000 PEOPLE, BUT 5,000 SHOWED UM.

>> Eric: WHERE DID THEY PUT THEM?

>> THEY LET THE PEOPLE STAND AGAINST THE OUTFIELD WALL, INSIDE THE PARK.

AND THEN OF COURSE -- BUT THEY DIDN'T DO ENOUGH, WHAT IF-ING, I WOULD SAY.

IF T WAS IF THE BALL GO -- GROUND RULE DOUBLE.

THE OPPOSING TEAM HIT A FLY BALL, THE FANS WERE OUT.

THEY PARTED LIKE THE RED SEA.

HE GOT IN THERE AND CAUGHT THE BALL.

SO THE UMPIRE SAID OUT.

AND THEN THE OTHER MANAGER SAID, WAIT A MINUTE, WE HAD THIS RULE, WHERE IT'D BE A GROUND RULE DOUBLE.

THEN AFTER A ALF-HOUR DISCUSSION, THEY DECIDED, WE'VE GOT TO CHANGE THIS.

AND IF THEY'RE GOING TO MOVE, THEN WE CAN PLAY THE BALL.

>> Eric: ARE THERE PLAYERS FROM THE ERA THAT FOLKS WOULD RECOGNIZE, FORMER MAJOR LEAGUERS AND SO FORTH?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, WE HAD LIKE TERRY STEIN BACK.

HE MADE IT TO THE MAJOR LEAGUES.

AND THEN WE HAD JIM EISENREICH.

MADE IT WITH THE TWINS, BUT HE HAD THAT TOURETTE'S SYNDROME.

HE PLAYED WLT ST.

CLOUD SAINTS.

HIS BROTHER WAS MANAGING THAT TEAM.

AND HE'D SIT IN THE DUGOUT IN THE CORNER AND YOU COULD SEE HE WAS REALLY -- SO INTERESTING, THEY GOT HIS MEDICATION REGULATED AND HE DID GO BACK INTO THE MAJORS.

>> Mary: THERE WAS SOME EARLY INTEGRATION, AND NOT NEGRO LEAGUES BUT HERE IN MINNESOTA, WASN'T THERE?

>> YEAH, WELL, I HAD A MEETING WITH THE ST. PAUL WRITER, BOB SCHAFER.

HE SAID THE FIRST BLACK PLAYER TO PLAY WITH THE TOWN TEAMS WAS '41.

IT WASN'T.

IN MY BOOK I'LL SHOW IN -- THERE WAS LEFTY WILSON, WHO PLAYED.

BUT THERE WAS A LOT OF TEAMS THAT DID GO AROUND AND THEY DID PLAY ALL THE OTHER TOWNS AND ALL THAT, AND THEY ENJOYED PLAYING THEM.

AND THEY REALLY, YOU KNOW, ENJOYED IT.

SO YEAH.

>> Eric: BRIAN, LARSON, THE EARLY YEARS OF MINNESOTA TOWN BALL.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, GREAT GIFT FOR ANY HOLIDAY SEASON.

THANKS FOR COMING OVER.

♪♪ >> MARY: A BUNCH OF NEW LAWS TAKE EFFECT NEXT WEEK.

MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION IS GETTING THE MOST ATTENTION, AND IT'LL BE JOINED BY NEW LAWS REGARDING CATALYTIC CONVERTER THEFTS, ACTIVE SHOOTER DRILLS IN SCHOOLS, PRIVATE TRANSFERS OF FIREARMS, TRAFFIC RULES FOR BICYCLISTS, AND DISCRIMINATION BASED ON HAIR STYLE.

JOINING US NOW TO GIVE AN INSIDER'S PERSPECTIVE ON THE HISTORIC SESSION THAT PRODUCED THOSE LAWS ARE TWO FIRST-TERM LAWMAKERS.

D.F.L.

SENATOR CLARE OUMOU VERBETEN REPRESENTS ST. PAUL, AND REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE DANNY NADEAU IS FROM ROGERS.

WELL, SENATOR, EVERYONE'S TALKING ABOUT MARIJUANA AND WE DO AND DON'T KNOW, CONFUSION, ABOUT THE -- WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SAY AND WHAT WAS YOUR -- YOU WERE ONE OF THE CHIEF AUTHORS ON THIS.

>> YEAH, FOR ME THIS BILL WAS ABOUT RACIAL JUSTICE.

IT WAS ABOUT UNDERSTANDING THAT BLACK MINNESOTANS ARE FIVE TIMES MORE LIKELY TO BE CHARGED AND RECEIVE THOSE CONVICTIONS FOR CANNABIS RELATED OFFENSES.

AND THAT THIS WAS OUR OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY RIGHT THOSE WRONGS, TO LEAD ON EXPUNGEMENT.

AND TO MOVE US FROM THIS ILLICIT MARKET INTO A REGULATED ADULT-USE MARKET.

WHERE WE MADE SURE THE FOLKS WHO ARE GOING TO THEN PROFIT OFF THIS NEW MARKET ARE REALLY THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN HARMED BY THE CRIMINALIZATION.

>> Mary: AND REPRESENTATIVE, SEVERAL MEMBERS OF YOUR CAUCUS VOLUNTEEREDDED FOR THIS.

THIS IS NOT STRAIGHT NO ISSUE.

>> I WAS A NO ON THIS BILL.

AND IT WAS KIND OF, YOU KNOW, I REALLY TRY TO FIND WAYS WHERE I CAN AGREE WITH BILLS THAT ARE -- >> Mary: YEAH, YOU VOTED FOR SOME D.F.L.

STUFF.

>> LOTS OF THEM.

AND THIS BILL UNFORTUNATELY WAS JUST LIKE SO MANY OTHERS.

IT JUST NEVER HANGED.

IT'S GOING TO PASS.

REGARD LAST OF HOW MUCH WE TRIED TO BURNISH THE ROUGH EDGES, YOU KNOW, TALK ABOUT THOSE THINGS, COULD BE, YOU KNOW, COULD BE PROBLEMATIC, WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENT, WITH LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT.

THEY WERE KIND OF IGNORED.

THOSE VOICES WERE IGNORED AND THAT THAT WAS WHY I COULDN'T SIGN ONTO THIS ONE.

>> Eric: A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT LOOK IN THE CANNABIS IN A KIND OF A LONG VIEW AT THE CAPITOL THOUGHT, A LOT OF NEW THINGS.

ONE-VOTE MAJORITY.

IT'S GOING TO BE IN SESSION, WHAT HAPPENED INTERNALLY FOR ALL THIS STUFF TO GET DONE?

>> YEAH, I THINK THIS SESSION WAS A LOT OF EW FACES AS MENTIONED.

REPRESENT MINNESOTA.

THAT LOOK LIKE MINNESOTA.

THAT WERE BUILDING A LEGISLATURE THAT REFLECTS OUR COMMUNITIES.

I CAME IN AS ONE OF THE FIRST BLACK WOMEN TO SERVE IN THE MINNESOTA SENATE.

ONE OF THE FIRST QUEER BLACK WOMEN TO SERVE IN THE MINNESOTA SENATE.

OUR LARGEST CAUCUS, PEOPLE OF COLOR AND INADDITIONAL IN AND OUT FOLKS.

ELECTING OUR FIRST BLACK PRESIDENT IN SENATOR BOBBY JOE CHAMPION.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, FOR US, WE JUST -- WE'VE BEEN ASKING FOR THREE YEARS, AND WE HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THAT SHOT.

>> Eric: YOU REALLY LOVED THE SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS WITH THE ROLLOUT OF YOUR SUBURBAN SOLUTIONS CAUCUS.

YOU'VE GOT SOME CRITICISM BOTH FROM DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS, NO WOMEN STOOD UP.

I GUESS YOU DIDN'T HAVE A SPECIFIC BILL YOU'RE PUSHING.

IT REALLY SEEMED TO HAVE SPARKED A CONVERSATION ABOUT THE ROLE OF THE REPUBLICANS IN THE CURRENT LEGISLATURE AND ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL IN '24.

>> I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IT.

ACTUALLY.

YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU GET LEGISLATORS, THEY'RE GOING TO COME TOGETHER THAT COME FROM THESE DISTRICTS THAT LITERALLY, THE -- I WOULD SAY THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE LAST SESSION, STIFLED THOSE VOICES.

NOT JUST OURS.

I MEAN, WE CAN -- BUT IT STIFLED THE VOICES OF THOSE RESIDENTS IN THE SUBURBS.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO STAND TOGETHER AND WE'RE GOING TO WORK WITH THEM.

AND WE'RE GOING TO WORK WITH ANYBODY TO TRY TO MOVE THOSE POLICIES, RAISE THOSE VOICES, IN THE DISTRICTS, IN THE SUBURBS THAT WERE IGNORED.

>> Mary: BUT WHAT WITH WOMEN, SUBURBAN WOMEN, THEY ARE THE KEYS TO STATE ELECTIONS.

IS A WHAT DO YOU NEED TO DO TO SYMBOLSYMBOLICALLY AND REALISTICALLY INCLUDE AND REACH OUT TO THEM AND APPEAL TO THEM >> YEAH, AND WHAT'S THIS IS ALL ABOUT.

>> Mary: BUT YOU DON'T HAVE A WOMAN ON IT.

>> NOT YET.

BUT WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH PEOPLE.

TO COME, YOU KNOW, TO E PART OF IT.

AND WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IT.

YOU'LL SEE TOWN HOWLS THAT ARE ROLLED OUT AND WE'RE GOING TO TALK TO PEOPLE ON THOSE ISSUES AND HOPEFULLY YOU'LL SEE A LOT MORE WOMEN INVOLVED IN THE SUBURB SOLUTIONS CAUCUS MOVING FORWARD.

>> Mary: AND A WOMAN OF COLOR RUNNING THEIR CAUCUS.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN YOUR CAUCUS?

>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

I GREW UP IN ROSEVILLE.

I HAVE FAL COLLEGE HEIGHTS AND LAUDERDALE AS WELL AS ST. PAUL.

IN NOT GUILTY DISTRICT.

AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE IN WHAT YOU'RE SEEING ETWEEN THE D.F.L.

CAUCUSES AND THE G.O.P.

CAUCUSES AND I THINK WE'RE REALLY ON OUR SIDE EMBRACING, LOOKING LIKE OUR COMMUNITIES, LOOKING LIKE MINNESOTA.

WE'RE READY TO STEP UP AND LEAD AND REALLY BREAKING BARRIERS WITH FOLKS THAT WERE ELECTED THIS SESSION.

>> Eric: PRESIDENT TRUMP, DOES THAT IMPACT WHAT HAPPENS DOWN BALLOT FOR REPUBLICAN HOUSE MEMBERS RUNNING AGAIN?

>> YOU KNOW, MY OPINION, I FEEL THAT IT WILL.

I MEAN, THE TICKET ALWAYS HAS BEEN IMPACT.

I THINK PRESIDENT BIDEN WOULD HAVE AN IMPACT IN CERTAIN AREAS ACROSS THE STATE.

I THINK THE TOP OF THE TICKET ALWAYS HAS A FACTOR.

>> Mary: IS T AN ENTHUSIASM ISSUE WITH BOTH OF THEM IF THEY'RE BOTH BACK?

>> Eric: WOULDN'T IT BE FOR A YOUNGER GUY?

>> I THINK OUR PRESIDENT HAS DONE AN AMAZING JOB.

ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK IN MINNESOTA NOW, THERE'S SO MUCH ENERGY OFF OF THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION, THAT'S WHAT I'M EARING.

IS, LIKE, YOU ACTUALLY DELIVERED, RIGHT?

LIKE FOLKS, PLEASE PROTECT OUR PREPRODUCTIVE ACCESS AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THAT WE DID.

BACK TO THE QUESTION ABOUT, LIKE, REPRESENTING WOMEN AND OUR NEEDS, RIGHT?

WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THAT AUTONOMY AND WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT THAT IN 2024.

>> Eric: THE CASE FOR A REPUBLICAN MAJORITY IN THE STATE HOUSE.

>> WHAT'S THE CASE?

OH, MY GOSH.

I THINK IT'S ABSOLUTE OVERREACH.

I MEAN, JUST AS EXCITED AS DEMOCRATS ARE FOR HOW FAR THEY WENT, YOU KNOW, I THINK INDEPENDENT VOTERS AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, THOSE VOTERS THAT DON'T ALIGN, PARTIES ARE LOOKING AT THIS SAYING THERE WAS A, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A HUGE SURPLUS.

AND THEY RAISED TAXES $10 BILLION AND WHEN IS ENOUGH, WHAT'S ENOUGH?

WE WANT THOSE POLICIES THAT WE CAN BUY INTO.

WE WANT SCHOOLS FUNDED.

WE WANT THEM FUNDED WELL.

WE WANT THEM HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

THAT'S WHAT WE WANT.

WE WANT POLICE TO BE ABLE TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITIES SAFE BUT DON'T WASTE MONEY.

>> Mary: WHAT ABOUT THE TAXES?

I KNOW DEMOCRATS SAY, WE RAN ON STUFF PEOPLE -- BUT DID DEMOCRATS RUN ON RAISEING TAXES WITH A SURPLUS?

>> NO, AND WE PASSED THE LARGEST TAX CUT IN STATE HISTORY WITH THIS BILL.

AND I THINK WE ALSO PASSED AMAZING LEGISLATION THAT'S GOING TO PUT MONEY BACK IN THE POCKETS OF MINNESOTANS, THINGS LIKE UNIVERSITY MEALS -- UNIVERSAL MEALS, CHILD CARE TAX CREDIT, RIGHT?

JUST MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE CAN AFFORD EVERYDAY LIVES.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT WITH THE DFL STANDS FOR AND WHAT WE DELIVERED IN THIS SESSION.

>> Eric: DID YOU HAPPEN TO HEAR SCOTT JENSEN ON THE PODCAST THE LAST COUPLE WEEKS WHERE HE BASICALLY SAID I'M PRO-CHOICE ABORTION, I'M PERSONALLY PRO-LIFE, BUT MILLION POLITICS-WISE, I'M KIND OF PRO-CHOICE.

HOW TOUGH OF AN ISSUE IS THAT FOR REPUBLICANS?

>> I THINK, YOU KNOW, REPUBLICANS ARE NEVER GOING TO APOLOGIZE FOR BEING, YOU KNOW, THE PARTY OF BRO-LIFE AND PROTECTING CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.

I MEAN, WE'VE ALWAYS STOOD ON THOSE ISSUES.

BUT I THINK YOU'LL SEE, YOU KNOW, AS TIME GOES ON, YOU'LL -- TALK ABOUT IT IN DIFFERENT AYS.

YOU KNOW, THE LAWS ARE WHAT THEY ARE.

TODAY.

YOU KNOW, SO I THINK THAT -- I THINK THAT YOU'LL NEVER -- I MEAN, REPUBLICANS ARE ALWAYS GOING TO SUPPORT FAMILIES.

THEY'RE ALWAYS GOING TO SUPPORT, YOU KNOW, HOW DO WE BUILD THAT BETTER?

SO YOU'LL NEVER SEE THEM BACK DOWN FROM THAT.

>> Mary: I THINK PART OF HIS POINT TOO, PUSHED EVERYBODY TO THE EXTREME.

HE WAS LEFT AND RIGHT.

WHAT DO YOU SAY ABOUT THE EXTREMES KIND OF REALLY?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK MY PROUDEST DAYS IN THIS SESSION WERE AROUND PROTECTING OUR FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS.

SO I THINK THERE'S A CLEAR CHOICE AROUND THINGS LIKE REPRODUCTIVE -- BUT WHEN IT COMES TO SUPPORTING FAMILIES, I HOPE REPUBLICANS JOIN ON THINGS LIKE PAID FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE, ON FUNDING OUR SCHOOLS, MAKING SURE WE HAVE WORLD-CLASS EDUCATION IN THIS STATE.

I THINK THOSE ARE THINGS WE CAN AGREE ON.

>> Eric: THANK YOU, FIRST-TERMERS.

GOOD STUFF.

NICE TO SEE YOU.

THANKS.

♪♪ >> ERIC: WE'VE REACHED THE AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION PART OF THE PROGRAM.

THIS IS WHERE WE ASK A MINNESOTA HISTORY QUESTION AND YOU TELL US THE ANSWER.

TONIGHT'S QUESTION COMES FROM THE MINNESOTA INVENTION FILE.

WE'RE LOOKING FOR A NEW PRODUCT THAT WAS CREATED BY A MINNESOTA COMPANY IN RESPONSE TO A DISCOVERY MADE DURING WORLD WAR II.

THE FIRST VERSION OF THIS PRODUCT WAS INTRODUCED IN 1947.

IT MARKED THE BEGINNING OF A WHOLE NEW INDUSTRY.

OUR QUESTION TO YOU: WHAT WAS INVENTED BY A MINNESOTA COMPANY IN 1947 IN RESPONSE TO DISCOVERY MADE DURING WORLD WAR II?

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU WHETHER YOU ARE CALLING FROM WHITE BEAR LAKE, MISTLETOE CREEK, OR CROSBY, MINNESOTA.

651-229-1430 IS THE NUMBER TO CALL WITH ALL YOUR ANSWERS.

OR YOU CAN ALWAYS SEND US A NOTE AT ALMANAC@TPT.ORG.

RIGHT OR WRONG, THE "ALMANAC" STAFF LISTENS TO AND READS EACH AND EVERY ONE.

THAT NUMBER AGAIN IS 651-229-1430.

BEFORE WE GO, LET'S HEAR ANOTHER SONG BY BRIAN MILLER AND DANNY DIAMOND.

THIS IS A FIDDLE TUNE THAT WAS FOUND ON AN AUDIO TAPE, RECORDED IN THE 1950S BY A ST. PAUL MUSICIAN NAMED TONY DOHERTY.

TAKE IT AWAY, GUYS.

SOME ♪♪ Captioning by: Paradigm Reporting & Captioning www.paradigmreporting.com >> "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.

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

MORE AT EDUCATIONMINNESOTA.ORG.

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