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

!>> Cathy: WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE MINNEAPOLIS BUDGET, MEET OUR NEW D.E.E.D.

COMMISSIONER, TAKE A LOOK AT THE STATE'S ECONOMY WITH A PANEL OF PROFESSORS PLUS A CHILDREN'S BOOK AUTHOR -- EXTREME HEAT.

>> WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT THE LANDMARK LEGAL CASE OUT OF MONTANA THAT HAS TO DO WITH CLIMATE CHANGE AND KIDS AND A MEMORABLE CONNECTION TO MINNESOTA, METEOROLOGY AND MEDIAL.

>> THE MASSIVE CLIMATE EVENTS WERE OF GREAT CONCERN TO HIM.

>> 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.

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

>> Cathy: COMING UP HERE ON THE PROGRAM WE'RE GOING TO TALK JOBS AND ECONOMY WITH OUR NEW D.E.E.D.

COMMISSIONER, WE HAVE A PANEL OF ECONOMIC EXPERTS, WE'LL MEET A UKRAINIAN FAMILY LIVING IN UNCERTAINTY HERE IN MINNESOTA.

>> Eric: WE START WITH NEWS OUT OF MINNEAPOLIS THIS WEEK WHERE MAYOR JACOB FREY RELEASED A $1.8 BILLION BUDGET PROPOSAL.

IN THE BUDGET FUNDING FOR POLICE REFORM, CLIMATE CHANGE AND HOUSING, PLUS A TAX LEVY INCREASE.

HERE TO TALK MORE, DAVE ORRICK WITH THE STAR TRIBUNE, HE KEEPS A CLOSE EYE ON THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS AND CITY HALL.

I SUPPOSE LAW ENFORCEMENT DIRECTIVES MAY BE THE DOMINANT FEATURE HERE.

WHEN THE AYOR SAYS CHANGE ISN'T CHEAP PUT SOME CONTEXT TO THAT.

>> YEAH, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE'VE REALLY SEEN DOLLAR FIGURES ATTACHED TO THE SETTLEMENT WITH THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE UPCOMING CONSENT DECREE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, WHICH IS ABOUT MAINLY POLICING IN THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS AND STUFF.

AND I'VE GOT SOME NUMBERS HERE.

WE'RE LOOKING AT $16 MILLION IN 2024 AND ANOTHER 11 MILLION IN 2025.

AND PROBABLY AROUND 11 MILLION FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS TO COME EACH YEAR.

SO IT'S, YOU KNOW, OUT OF A $1.8 BILLION BUDGET IT'S NOT EVERYTHING, BUT IT'S REAL MONEY.

>> Cathy: WHO'S PAYING FOR THAT?

>> THE TAXPAYERS OF MINNEAPOLIS, PROPERTY OWNERS OF MINNEAPOLIS BY AND LARGE.

THERE'S NEW MONEY FROM THE STATE THAT'S COMING IN TO HELP BOOST UP THE FUNDS, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AID HAS A BOOST.

THERE'S ALSO REVENUES FROM INCREASED ECONOMIC ACTIVITY FROM THE OCAL TAXES COMING INTO MINNEAPOLIS AND THE POST-PANDEMIC WORLD, YOU KNOW, WE HAD TAYLOR SWIFT, WE HAD BEYONCE, THERE'S MORE ACTIVITY IN DOWNTOWN MINNEAPOLIS THIS YEAR.

>> Eric: HOMEOWNER AND PROPERTY TAX IMPLICATIONS?

>> YEAH, MY CHEAT SHEET HERE, THE MEDIAN FAMILY HOME AND MEDIAN HOME VALUE IN IN MINNEAPOLIS IS 331,000 WHICH IS SAYS SOMETHING RIGHT THERE.

THIS WOULD BE ABOUT 150 TO $160 MORE A YEAR.

>> Eric: YOU ADD ON THE COUNTY AND SCHOOL DISTRICT.

>> OH, YEAH, THOSE ARE OF COURSE SEPARATE FROM THE MINNEAPOLIS BUDGET.

YEAH, THE TOTAL TAX BURDEN FROM THE CITY WOULD BE CLOSE TO $2,000 WITH THIS AGAIN NOT INCLUDING OTHER TAXING JURISDICTIONS.

>> Cathy: SO PART OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY BUDGET GOES TO VIOLENCE INTERRUPTERS AND OTHER NON-PROFITS THAT KIND OF WORK IN THAT AREA.

DO E KNOW, IS IT CLEAR HETHER THESE -- DOES THAT EFFORT WORK?

>> YEAH, IT DEFINITELY WORKS SOMETIMES.

A LOT OF THE MONEY OR A PORTION OF THE MONEY FOR POLICE REFORM IS GOING TO GO TOWARD TRACKING THAT, THOUGH.

THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE TO HIRE.

THERE'S MORE THAN 30 PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BE HIRED JUST AS PART OF THIS REFORM THING.

THAT'S NOT NEW OFFICERS ON THE STREET AND IT'S NOT THE ACTUAL VIOLENCE INTERRUPTERS, IT'S PEOPLE TO TRAIN THEM, IT'S PEOPLE TO TRACK THE DATA AND WRITE THE SOFTWARE TO TRACK THE DATA.

AND ALL THIS OTHER LEVEL OF INFRASTRUCTURE TO FIND OUT HOW WELL THAT WORKS.

WHERE ARE THEY BEING SENT, OR THEY BEING EFFECTIVE WHEN THEY'RE BEING SENT TO THESE PLACES, ARE THEY EVEN BEING SENT OR ARE THEY ON THEIR OWN, IS 911 PROPERLY COORDINATING WITH THEM.

>> Cathy: SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE BUDGET HERE, THERE'S A BIG PIECE THAT DEALS WITH PUBLIC HOUSING.

THAT'S A PRETTY BIG INCREASE.

>> THAT'S RIGHT, THIS IS A LEVY THAT'S BASICALLY SITTING AT ZERO FOR AABOUT OF YEARS.

MINNEAPOLIS PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY HAS THE ABILITY TO LEVY WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE CITY, OF THE MAYOR.

AND THE CITY COUNCIL ULTIMATELY, THEY CUT A DEAL, PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY WANTED MORE MONEY BUT IN THE END THE DEAL THEY CUT IS GOING TO GIVE THEM I BELIEVE IT'S 10 MILLION A YEAR AND THAT IS TO START TO ADDRESS A PRETTY BIG BACKLOG OF A COUPLE HUNDRED MILLION IN MAINTENANCE IN OLDER BUILDINGS, PRIMARILY WITH ALL THE HIGHRISES THAT PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY HAS.

>> Eric: DOES THE MAYOR PROPOSE ANY SPENDING CUTS?

>> NOT THAT I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FIND.

THERE'S SHIFTING OF MONEY AND STUFF SO YOU CAN GO IN AND FIND A LINE THAT MAY GO DOWN A LITTLE BIT, IT TURNS OUT IT'S BECAUSE SOMETHING ELSE HAS BEEN SHIFTED OVER.

AS FAR AS I'VE SEEN SO FAR THERE'S NO MAJOR CUTS.

>> Cathy: CAN WE ASK YOU SOME OTHER QUESTIONS?

BECAUSE OF COURSE YOU'VE GOT THE WHOLE BOWL OF WAX HERE WHEN IT COMES TO MINNEAPOLIS POLITICS.

THE ORDINANCE THAT WOULD RAISE PAY FOR RIDESHARE DRIVERS, MAYOR FREY SENT A LETTER TO COUNCIL MEMBERS SAYING COULD YOU UPUMP THE BRAKES ON THIS, WE SHOULD KIND OF KEEP TALKING ABOUT IT.

BUT THE COUNCIL WENT OFF AND STILL PASSED IT.

WHAT MIGHT BE DONE WITH THAT?

>> THEY DID.

WELL, A VETO IS WHAT MIGHT BE DONE WITH IT.

WE WON'T KNOW.

THE MAYOR HAS UNTIL WEDNESDAY TO ACT.

HE'S NOT ACTED YET, AND I WOULD EXPECT SOMETHING MONDAY OR TUESDAY.

WE WILL SEE.

BUT THERE IS DEFINITELY A DECENT CHANCE HE COULD VETO THIS.

HE EXPRESSED A NUMBER OF SERIOUS CONCERNS, A LOT OF THEM ARE IN PARALLEL TO THE CONCERNS THAT TIM WALZ HAD WHEN HE VETOED SOMETHING SIMILAR PASSED BY THE DEMOCRATIC CONTROLLED LEGISLATURE.

WALZ SET UP A TASK FORCE TO STUDY THE ISSUE.

NOW, THE CAPITOL SOMETIMES WE SAY TASK FORCES ARE WHERE THINGS GO TO DIE, THAT WOULD BE ONE VIEW.

FREY'S TAKE IS, LOOK, THIS TASK FORCE HAS SOME REPRESENTATIVES FROM STAKEHOLDERS FROM A LOT OF DIFFERENT INTERESTS IN THIS.

THEY'RE GOING TO COME UP WITH DATA, REAL HARD INFORMATION, COME UP WITH RECOMMENDATIONS, AND THEN WE SHOULD SEE WHAT THE CITY SHOULD DO.

>> Eric: EW PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSIONER ON AN INTERIM BASIS.

>> ON AN INTERIM BASIS PROBABLY LONG TIME ALMANAC GUEST.

LEE SKEEHE YES.

ONE OF HIS FIRST JOBS, HE WAS WITH THE U.S. WATERGATE COMMITTEE.

I PULLED THE FINAL WATERGATE REPORT TODAY AND THERE WAS HIS NAME THERE AMONG THE STAFFERS, JUST TO CONFIRM THAT.

>> Cathy: WELL, WHAT'S THE DEAL?

>> HE'S ACTUALLY BEEN IN A DIFFERENT INTERIM ROLE IN THE CITY FOR A FEW MONTHS AT ANOTHER DEPARTMENT.

LEE IS ONE OF THESE PROFESSIONAL STEADY HAND TROUBLESHOOTERS NOW.

IF YOU'VE GOT A LITTLE STICKY THING GOING ON IN MINNESOTA AND YOU NEED SOMEONE TO COME IN AND YOU'RE DEMOCRAT OR INDEPENDENT, LEE IS SOMEONE WHO CAN COME IN AND TAKE CARE OF IT.

SHEHEY WILL COME IN AND GUIDE THAT AS THEY FIND THE PERMANENT REPLACEMENT.

>> Eric: DAVE ORRICK FROM THE STRIB.

THANKS FOR COMING IN.

>> THANKS.

♪♪ >> Cathy: ENVIRONMENTALISTS WON A BIG COURT CASE THIS WEEK, ACTUALLY, THAT IS THE WRONG COPY, SO I'M GOING TO TELL YOU AIR LITTLE BIT MORE HERE ABOUT THE COMMISSIONER.

WE HAVE A NEW COMMISSIONER OF D.E.E.D.

IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

REPLACING THE OLD COMMISSIONER WHO WENT TO THE STAR TRIBUNE, SPECIFICALLY COMMISSIONER MATT VARILEK TOOK UP THE MANTLE AT D.E.E.D.

THIS SUMMER AND HE OF COURSE IS BRINGING BACKGROUND OF POLITICS AND SMALL BUSINESS WITH HIM.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE BY THE WAY.

>> GREAT TO BE HERE.

>> Cathy: CLEARLY MINNESOTA HAS AN AGING WORKFORCE AND I'M CURIOUS ABOUT THE GRANTS THAT YOU HAVE.

YOUTH AT WORK GRANTS.

IS THAT TO TRY TO KIND OF INJECT A LITTLE MORE YOUTH INTO OUR WORKFORCE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE ARE REALLY FORTUNATE IN MINNESOTA TO HAVE A VERY STRONG ECONOMY AND THAT'S BECAUSE OF A LOT OF ENTREPRENEURS AND RISK TAKERS AND GREAT WORKERS AND INVESTMENTS AND LEADERSHIP BY FOLKS INCLUDING GOVERNOR WALZ AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR FLANAGAN WHO APPOINTED ME.

AND THE YOUTH AT WORK GRANTS ARE VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE ONE OF THE CENTRAL FEATURES OF THE ECONOMY RIGHT NOW IS THAT UNEMPLOYMENT IS LOW, DEMAND IS HIGH ON THE PART OF BUSINESSES, AND SO THEY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE MORE TALENTED PEOPLE IN MORE JOBS THAN THEY CAN FILL RIGHT NOW.

SO THE YOUTH AT WORK GRANTS, IN FACT WE ANNOUNCED $7 MILLION IN THOSE GRANTS MAYBE ABOUT A MONTH OR SO AGO.

AND I GOT TO GO TO A PLACE CALLED RIGHTTRACK IN ST. PAUL WHICH IS A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY AND SEE SOME OF THAT IN ACTION WHERE THEY ARE WORKING WITH YOUNG PEOPLE WHO MIGHT NOT NECESSARILY KNOW WHAT RANGE OF INTERESTING CAREER OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE TO THEM, AND THEY ALSO THEN GET SKILLS WHEN IT COMES TO HOW DO YOU DO A RESUME, HOW DO YOU ENGAGE IN INTERVIEWING, HOW DO YOU DO THE AWKWARD THING THAT WE CALL SCHMOOZING IN BUSINESS ENVIRONMENTS.

>> Eric: NETWORKING.

>> NETWORKING, THAT'S RIGHT.

AND YOU SEE BEFORE YOUR VIEW EYES YOUNG PEOPLE LEARNING THOSE SKILLS AND THEN TELLING YOU THAT'S WHY I LANDED THIS JOB.

WE'RE BRINGING YOUNG PEOPLE WITH TALENT WHO MIGHT NOT HAVE OTHERWISE HAD THOSE OPPORTUNITIES AND THOSE GRANTS CAN OPEN THEM.

>> Eric: I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE PAYING ATTENTION TO RATINGS BUT ARE WE THE FIFTH BEST OR FIFTH WORST FOR STATES?

I'VE SEEN BOTH IN THE PAST MONTH OR SO.

>> FIFTH BEST IS CERTAINLY THE ONE CNBC HIGHLIGHTED, WHICH WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT.

WE KNOCKED TEXAS DOWN ONE NOW.

AND I THINK THAT SPEAKS TO THE FACT THAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING THE GOOD LIFE IN MINNESOTA AND IN THE MOST RECENT LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND WITH THE GOVERNOR AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR MADE INVESTMENTS THAT ARE GOING TO BE VERY ATTRACTIVE TO WORKERS MAKING THIS A GREAT PLACE TO RAISE KIDS AND THAT'S GOING TO HELP ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES.

>> Eric: HAVE YOU COME UP WITH THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE PAID FAMILY LEAVE PROGRAM?

>> SO ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE REQUIRED TO DO IS AN ACTUARIAL STUDY SO THAT IS GETTING UNDERWAY RIGHT NOW.

SO THAT WILL GIVE US A MORE PRECISE PICTURE OF THE ECONOMICS.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT IMPLEMENTATION OF PAID FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE ACTUALLY BEGINS AS FAR AS THE PUBLIC IS CONCERN WITH COLLECTION OF PREMIUMS AND THEN AVAILABILITY OF BENEFITS IN JANUARY OF 2026, BUT AT D.E.E.D.

WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO IN THE MEANTIME.

IN FACT ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES TAKING A LEAD ROLE IN THIS HAS A COUNTDOWN OF THE NUMBER OF DAYS, I THINK WE'RE AROUND 800.

>> Eric: 2026?

>> JANUARY 2026, YEAH, AND WE'RE MAKING GOOD PROGRESS IN THE EARLY STAGES OF IMPLEMENTATION.

ALSO VERY EXCITED THAT WE HAVE JUST HIRED THE PERSON WHO'S GOING TO BE THE DIRECTOR OF THAT DIVISION, WE'LL HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT EARLY NEXT WEEK ABOUT WHO THAT IS.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE SAID THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS SINCE I'VE BEEN ON BOARD AND THEN ALSO DURING THE DEBATE WHICH OF COURSE PRECEDES MY TIME AT D.E.E.D., BUT IS THAT WE WANTED TO LEARN FROM OTHER STATES, BECAUSE WE'RE NOT THE FIRST TO DO THIS.

WE WILL BE I THINK THE 13TH AND WE'RE FORTUNATE IN THAT WAY THAT WE CAN LEARN FROM WHAT MISTAKES MAY HAVE BEEN MADE ELSEWHERE AND SO THAT IS REFLECTED N THE PERSON THAT WE HIRED.

>> Cathy: MINNESOTA OF COURSE IS KNOWN FOR IT'S A HOME TO A LOT OF DIFFERENT MULTINATIONAL CORPORATIONS BUT YOU HAVE A BUSINESS BACKGROUND IN SMALL BUSINESS, SO WHAT DOES D.E.E.D.

WANT TO DO TO GROW SMALL BUSINESSES IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA?

>> YEAH, AND I WOULD SAY THEY'RE ALL IMPORTANT AND IT'S TRUE THAT I HAVE A BACKGROUND HAVING WORKED AT THE U.S. SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION IN A COUPLE DIFFERENT ROLES THERE AND THEN THE JOB I HAD BEFORE THIS WAS AT THE INITIATIVE FOUNDATION IN LITTLE FALLS WHICH FOCUSES ON 14 COUNTIES OF CENTRAL MINNESOTA AND AMONG OTHER THINGS DOES LENDING TO SMALL BUSINESSES, TRAINING FOR SMALL BUSINESSES, ET CETERA.

AND PART OF THE CASE THAT I MADE AS A CANDIDATE WAS THAT I'VE ACTUALLY WORKED WITH D.E.E.D.

FAIR BIT BECAUSE SOME OF HOW THAT ORGANIZATION THAT I USED TO BE WITH DOES ITS WORK IS WITH D.E.E.D.

FUNDING AND D.E.E.D.

PARTNERSHIPS.

TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION ABOUT HOW WE WANT TO WORK TO GROW SMALL BUSINESSES, BUSINESSES NEED TO BE SPINNING A LOT OF PLATES ALL AT ONCE TO SUCCEED, SO THEY NEED TO HAVE ACCESS TO KNOWLEDGE OF HOW TO DO A GOOD BUSINESS PLAN SO THEY CAN THEN GO TO A BANKER OR CREDIT UNION OR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTION AND CONVINCE THEM I'M A GOOD RISK FOR YOU TO TAKE, AND THEN YOU GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS HAVE CAPITAL AND THAT THEY ARE WILLING TO TAKE THOSE RISKS.

BESIDES THE BUSINESS PLAN YOU SOMETIMES NEED ONE ON ONE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND SO D.E.E.D.

HAS A NUMBER OF RESOURCES, ONE THAT CAME OUT OF THE LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION WITH ADDITIONAL RESOURCES IS THE SMALL BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM.

SO THAT PROVIDES GRANTS TO COMMUNITY BASED NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT KNOW THE FOLKS THAT THEY WANT TO WORK WITH AND CAN DELIVER THOSE SERVICES IN AN IMPACTFUL WAY.

LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, A NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT CENTER IS ONE THAT WHEN I WAS AT THE INITIATIVE FOUNDATION WE WORKED WITH.

THEY'VE DONE A LOT OF WORK TO ADDRESS INEQUITIES WHEN IT COMES TO WHO HAS THE RESOURCES TO LAUNCH SMALL BUSINESSES.

I JUST HAD A GREAT UNCH TODAY AT THE MIDTOWN GLOBAL MARKET WHICH IS JUST A SHOWCASE FOR SMALL BUSINESS IN MINNESOTA.

>> Eric: HOPE YOU'LL COME BACK FROM TIME TO TIME AND KEEP US POSTED.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, IT WAS AN HONOR.

>> Cathy: THANK YOU.

>> Eric: ENVIRONMENTALISTS WON A BIG COURT CASE THIS WEEK IN MONTANA THAT HAS POTENTIAL IMPACT ACROSS THE NATION AND HERE IN MINNESOTA.

YOUNG PEOPLE WERE BEHIND THIS LONGSHOT LEGAL EFFORT.

REPORTER MARY LAHAMMER FOUND A CONNECTION TO THAT STORY THAT INVOLVE RAISE FAMILIAR FACE FROM MINNESOTA BROADCASTING HISTORY.

>> WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE HISTORIC CLIMATE CHANGE CASE OUT OF MINNESOTA WITH A MINNESOTA CONNECTION.

YOU ARE OUR MINNESOTA CONNECTION, TELL US HOW YOU ARE RELATED TO MINNESOTA AND WEATHER AND CLIMATE.

>> I'M A ST. LOUIS PARK GRADUATE OF THE CLASS OF 2003, GREW UP IN MINNEAPOLIS AND THE TWIN CITIES METRO AREA, AND MY GRANDFATHER WAS BARRY THE WEATHER MAN.

>> ONE TO THREE INCHES OF SNOW IS EXPECTED IN THE ARROWHEAD REGION.

>> WE HAVE TO PAUSE BECAUSE OUR VIEWERS LOVED LOVED LOVED BARRY THE WEATHER MAN.

WE HAD HIM ON I THINK ON HIS 60TH ANNIVERSARY AND HE WAS INDUCTED INTO THE HALL OF FAME.

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S SO FUNNY BECAUSE HE JUST HAD THIS LONGEVITY IN THE MARKET.

A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE COME AND GO AND YOU MAYBE FORGET ABOUT THEM.

BUT HONESTLY UP UNTIL WHEN HE DIED IF I WENT ANYWHERE WITH HIM IN THE TWIN CITIES PEOPLE WOULD STILL STOP HIM.

>> BARRY'S GRANDDAUGHTER MARITSA WAS BORN AT 12:45 YESTERDAY.

>> HE AND YOU HAVE A CONNECTION TO MONTANA AND YOUR TV STATION.

YOU WENT INTO THE AIR FORCE AND LEARNED METEOROLOGY, AND HE DID SOME RADIO OUT HERE AND HIS VERY FIRST TV STATION WAS MISSOULA IN WHAT ENDED UP BEING MY FIRST TV STATION.

PROUD LEGACY THERE.

>> IT MAKES YOU VERY WELL PREPARED FOR THIS HUGE HISTORIC NATIONAL IF NOT INTERNATIONAL STORY.

>> WE'VE BEEN WATCHING THIS FOR A LONG TIME, THIS LAWSUIT WAS INTRODUCED FIRST IN 2020 AND MONTANA'S LEGISLATIVE SESSION, IT HAD A LOT OF ATTENTION.

I'M SURE SOME OF YOUR VIEWERS MAYBE REMEMBER SOME OF THE BIG FIGHTS OVER OUR TRANS LAWMAKER ZOEY ZEPHYR.

IN HE LEGISLATURE THIS YEAR THEY PASSED A BILL SIGNED BY GOVERNOR BASICALLY AMENDED THE MONTANA ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT O IT PROHIBITED THE STATE FROM CONSIDERING GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS AND CLIMATE CHANGE IN ANY PERMITTING DECISIONS.

WHAT'S INTERESTING IS THAT WAS JUST THIS YEAR IN THE LEGISLATURE BUT THIS CASE WAS FILED LIKE I SAID IN 2020.

FOR NOW THIS DECISION INVALIDATES THAT LAW, BUT WE'RE GOING TO SEE A LONG ROAD AHEAD OF THIS BECAUSE AS ALWAYS WE EXPECT FULL APPEALS FROM THE STATE OPPONENTS TO THIS HAVE ALREADY SPOKEN OUT AND CALLED THE JUDGE AN ACTIVIST JUDGE THAT SIDED WITH LEFT WING ENVIRONMENTALISTS.

>> AND THEY'RE APPEALING ALREADY O YOUR STATE SUPREME COURT, PLANNING TO DO SO.

WHAT IS THE POLITICAL MAKE-UP OF YOUR STATE SUPREME COURT?

MONTANA HAS HAD SOME PURPOSISH HUES IN THE PAST.

>> IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW IT SHAKES OUT.

BECAUSE LIKE NATIONALLY, PEOPLE WHO MAY BE CONSIDERED LEANING RIGHT OR REPUBLICAN BEFORE ARE NOW BEING CALLED RINOS OR LEFT OF CENTER.

IMMEDIATELY THE STATE WAS TRYING TO GET A STAY ON THIS DECISION WHILE THEY GO THROUGH THAT APPEALS PROCESS.

IT REALLY COULD HAVE SOME MAJOR IMPACTS WHEN IT COMES TO THE FUTURE OF HOLDING GOVERNMENTS AND COMPANIES ACCOUNTABLE WHEN IT COMES TO CLIMATE CHANGE.

YOU KNOW, THERE HAVE BEEN MANY MANY LAWSUITS ABOUT THIS ISSUE, FEW HAVE GONE TO TRIAL AND SO NOW THIS WILL REALLY BE CONSIDERED SOMEWHAT OF A BUILDING BLOCK FOR SIMILAR CASES THAT WE XPECT TO SEE COMING FORWARD IN OTHER STATES.

>> YEAH, DEFINITE REVERBERATIONS NATIONALLY AND COULD BE PRECEDENT, RIGHT, FOR OTHER CASES.

THE OTHER PART OF THIS THAT I THINK HAS STOOD OUT AND BEEN SO UNIQUE IS WHO THE LITIGANTS ARE.

THESE ARE KIDS, THESE ARE YOUNG PEOPLE.

FOR YOU AS A TV REPORTER WHAT STOOD OUT ABOUT THAT AND MADE THE STORY RESONATE THERE?

>> NOT ONLY AM I A TV REPORTER IN MONTANA BUT I'M A MOM AND I HAVE AN 11-YEAR-OLD WHO WILL TELL YOU HIS NUMBER ONE ANXIETY IS CLIMATE CHANGE AND WHAT IT MIGHT MEAN FOR HIS FUTURE.

SO MANY OF THE PLAINTIFFS HERE HAD SIMILAR CONCERNS AND THE YOUNG GIRL NAMED IN THIS SHE COMES FROM A RANCHING FAMILY AND SHE EVEN SAID HER GENERATION FEELS A LOT OF PRESSURE, LIKE A BURDEN TO CHANGE SOMETHING.

>> JUMP IN, THAT'S PART OF YOUR COVERAGE, YOU KIND OF SPECIALIZE IN WILDFIRES THERE.

>> RIGHT, I'VE DONE A TON OF WORK WITH WILDFIRES AND EVERYBODY WHO IS AN EXPERT IN FIRE SCIENCE WILL TELL YOU THE FIRES THAT THEY'RE FIGHTING NOW ARE JUST RADICALLY DIFFERENT AND I'M SURE A LOT OF YOUR VIEWERS WILL BE FAMILIAR WITH FLATHEAD LAKE.

FLATHEAD LAKE IS DOWN MORE THAN TWO FEET OF WHAT'S CONSIDERED FULL POOL.

>> MINNESOTA HAD AN ALL TIME RECORD FOR POOR AIR QUALITY.

>> BECAUSE OF THAT WILDFIRE SMOKE.

>> WE ARE FEELING THAT AND THINKING BECOME IT IN A DIFFERENT WAY.

>> WHEN THAT HAPPENS IT WAS FASCINATING TO ME, I LIVE WITH WILDFIRE SMOKE IN MONTANA PRETTY MUCH EVERY YEAR, SOME YEARS WORSE THAN OTHERS.

TO SEE MY HOMETOWN OF MINNEAPOLIS LOOK LIKE BASICALLY WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE HERE IN THE SMACK DAB MIDDLE OF WILDFIRE SEASON WAS SHOCKING.

>> SO YOU'RE SEEING CLIMATE CHANGE AFFECT EVERYDAY LIFE THERE.

>> THAT'S WHAT THESE KIDS WERE SAYING, THIS IS ALREADY HAVING AN IMPACT ON OUR QUALITY OF LIFE.

THINK OF ALL THE REASONS WE LIVE N MONTANA, THE SAME REASONS MINNESOTANS LIVE THERE AND COME VISIT US IN MONTANA, LIKE YOUR FAMILY, MARY.

♪♪ >> Cathy: IT IS TRUE THAT MINNESOTA IS HEATING UP.

ALREADY THIS SUMMER WE'VE HAD 23 DAYS ABOVE 90 DEGREES WITH PLENTY MORE IN THE FORECAST FOR NEXT WEEK.

A NEW SET OF TOOLS FROM THE MET COUNCIL SEEKS TO HELP COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE MITIGATE THE EFFECTS OF EXTREME HEAT.

AND SOME OF THEIR SOLUTIONS ARE SURPRISINGLY SIMPLE.

JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT EXTREME HEAT AND THE MET COUNCIL'S PROJECT, DR. VISHNU LAALITHA SURAPANENI AND ASSISTANT PROFESSOR AT THE U OF M MEDICAL SCHOOL AND DR. ERIC WOJCHIK, A SENIOR PLANNER WITH THE MET COUNCIL.

WHAT DOES THE EXTREME HEAT DO TO THE BODY?

YOU CAN GET REALLY SICK.

>> EXTREME HEAT CAN HAVE A LOT OF IMPACTS.

OFTEN PEOPLE THINK ABOUT HEAT STOKE OR HEAT EXHAUSTION WHERE YOU OVERHEAT IF YOU'RE WORKING OUTSIDE IN THE HEAT.

HEAT CAN ACTUALLY AFFECT YOUR BRAIN, HEART, LUNGS AND KIDNEYS.

EVEN REGULAR ACTIVITIES LIKE GOING TO THE STATE FAIR, FOR EXAMPLE, ON A VERY HOT DAY CAN BE DANGEROUS IF YOU'RE NOT TAKING PROPER PRECAUTIONS.

SO I HAVE THIS ELDERLY PATIENT THAT I TOOK CARE OF WHO WAS GARDENING IN THE SUN ALL DAY AND SHE PASSED OUT, SO WHEN THE FAMILY BROUGHT HER IN SHE HAD KIDNEY INJURY AND HAD TO BE ADMITTED TO THE HOSPITAL.

>> Cathy: I'M SORRY, HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO HAVE THESE EFFECTS?

ARE THEY CUMULATIVE OR WITH IT JUST BE ONE?

>> RIGHT, THIS WAS LUCKILY REVERSIBLE.

EACH PERSON IS DIFFERENT, ELDERLY, THOSE WHO HAVE PREEXISTING ILLNESS OR TAKING MEDICATIONS AND OUTDOOR WORKERS ARE REALLY IMPACTED A LOT MORE THAN OTHERS.

>> Eric: WE HAVE SOME SLIDES THAT COME FROM THE MET COUNCIL ON TREE COVER IN THE METRO AREA.

DOES THIS FOLLOW MAINLY THE RED LINE NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE MINORITIES COULDN'T GET LOANS AND SO FORTH?

>> THAT IS EXACTLY RIGHT.

THERE'S A DIRECT CORRELATION BETWEEN FORMERLY RED-LINED NEIGHBORHOODS AND WHERE WE SEE EXTREME HEAT AND LACK OF TREE COVER.

AND, YOU KNOW, THAT CORRELATION IS VERY STRONG.

AND WHAT WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO DO IS DISPLAY HAT AND GET GOVERNMENTS TO INTERVENE AND ACTUALLY DO SOME GOOD PLANNING AROUND MAKING SURE THESE NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE, CAN MITIGATE EXTREME HEAT.

>> Eric: HOW EFFECTIVE CAN SHADE TREES BE SOMEBODY >> YEAH, I THINK SHADED REES IS THAT'S ONE OF THE INTERVENTIONS THAT WE NEED, BUT FOR SOME OF THESE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT HAVE THESE SYSTEMIC INJUSTICES, WHAT WE NEED ARE ALSO SYSTEMIC SOLUTIONS.

SO IN ADDITION TO TREE COVER, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT ACCESS TO AIR-CONDITIONING, CHEAP AND CLEAN ENERGY ACCESS, AND MAKING SURE THAT THE COMMUNITIES ARE INVOLVED IN THIS DECISION MAKING AND THEY'RE THE ONES WHO ARE LEADING THESE SOLUTIONS.

>> Cathy: YOU KNOW, THESE MAPS REALLY ARE PRETTY AMAZING.

SO I WANT TO GO PUT THIS UP ON THE SCREEN RIGHT NOW, LET'S TALK ABOUT FROGTOWN, HIS IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THIS.

EXPLAIN WHAT WE'RE SEEING HERE.

>> THIS MAP IS SHOWING THE LACK OF TREE COVER IN FROGTOWN AS IT CORRELATES TO RACE.

SO OVER HALF OF FROGTOWN IS PEOPLE OF COLOR, AND IT HAS ABOUT 14% OF TREE COVER IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD AND THEN YOU HAVE NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE SUMMIT HILL THAT HAVE OVER 40% OF TREE COVER AND ABOUT 9% WOULD IDENTIFY AS A PERSON OF COLOR.

SO YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE THIS PLAYING OUT IN OTHER PARTS OF OUR REGION, NOT JUST IN THE CITY OF ST. PAUL.

SO IT'S A POWERFUL IMAGE AND I THINK IT JUST SENDS A MESSAGE TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS THAT WE CAN DO A LOT IN THIS AREA.

>> Eric: RED RECTANGLE, WHAT IS THAT?

>> THAT'S FROGTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND THAT'S SHOWING I BELIEVE THAT SLIDE IS SHOWING RACE, IN THAT SLIDE AND THE PREVIOUS ONE WAS SHOWING THE CORRELATION WITH LACK OF TREE COVER IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.

>> Cathy: A LITTLE CONFUSED.

WHY WOULD SOME OF THESE BIPOC COMMUNITIES, LOW INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS NOT HAVE AS MANY TREES?

WERE THEY INITIALLY IN, WHAT, INDUSTRIAL AREAS?

>> THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.

SO FROM A LAND USE PERSPECTIVE, WE HAD A LOT OF LIGHT AND HEAVY INDUSTRY, WE HAD LARGE COMMERCIAL USES WHICH WE STILL SEE IN THESE NEIGHBORHOODS, AND THOSE COME WITH A LOT OF IMPERVIOUS SURFACE, A LOT OF ROOFTOP AND VERY LITTLE GREEN SPACE.

SO I THINK THAT THAT IS CHANGING.

WE HAVE NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATIONS LIKE FROGTOWN GREEN THAT HAVE PLANTED OVER 500 TREES IN THE LAST FEW YEARS WORKING WITH THE CITY OF ST. PAUL TO KIND OF REMEDY THIS ISSUE.

BUT IT'S AN EXCITING TIME I THINK TO MAKE CHANGE AND THINK ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE IN TERMS OF REALLY CHANGING THE, CHANGING THE SCOPE AND REMEDYING THIS ISSUE.

>> Cathy: AS YOU SAY THIS IS TRULY AN EQUITY ISSUE.

>> MM-HMM, YEAH.

VERY MUCH SO.

AND I WAS JUST THINKING ABOUT THESE WITH THE HISTORICAL DECISIONS BEING MADE DECADES AGO THAT STILL CONTINUE TO HAVE AN IMPACT TODAY AND HOTTER NEIGHBORHOODS, LESS TREE COVER AND THESE ARE RESIDENTS EXPERIENCING NOT ONLY IMPACTS OF EXTREME HEAT DISPROPORTIONATELY BUT EXTREME HEAT CAN ALSO WORSEN AIR QUALITY.

PEOPLE COME AND I SEE THIS OFTEN, PEOPLE COME IN WITH ASTHMA ATTACKS ON HOT DAYS BECAUSE OF AIR QUALITY.

>> Cathy: WE SHOULD MENTION OF COURSE THESE ARE HISTORICAL DECISIONS THAT WERE MADE, BUT THERE ARE STILL DECISIONS BEING MADE TODAY WHEN IT COMES TO DEVELOPMENT.

THERE'S ANOTHER GOOD MAP HERE FROM THE EAST METRO WHICH IS REALLY INTERESTING.

THAT'S THE EAST METRO IN 2002.

I THINK, I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE WHERE THAT IS SPECIFICALLY BUT LOOK HOW THAT HAS CHANGED DRAMATICALLY.

SO IT'S LAND USE ALSO PLAYS INTO THIS.

>> YEAH, SO WHAT WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO, WE'RE TRYING TO GET LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO THINK ABOUT DESIGNING WITH NATURE AND NOT -- >> Eric: YOU CAN'T MANDATE IT BUT YOU CAN SHAME THEM INTO DOING IT.

>> WELL, WE CAN ENCOURAGE AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO HERE.

DESIGN WITH NATURE, THINK ABOUT NATURE AT THE FOREFRONT OF OUR DECISION-MAKING PROCESSES.

>> Cathy: FINAL WORD BY THE WAY, IT'S GOING TO GET VERY HOT NEXT WEEK.

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO TELL PEOPLE?

>> MM-HMM.

YEAH.

SO I THINK EVERY PERSON REACTS DIFFERENTLY TO HEAT BUT WE'RE ALL VULNERABLE.

SO I WOULD SAY THAT ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO TAKE MEDICATIONS AND THOSE WHO HAVE A PREEXISTING ILLNESS YOU NEED A PERSONALIZED HEAT SAFETY PLAN.

BUT OTHERWISE IF YOU'RE YOUNG AND EALTHY, STILL HEAT CAN AFFECT YOU, SO HYDRATE, HYDRATE, HYDRATE.

MAKE SURE YOU TAKE BREAKS IN COOL SHADED AREAS.

IF YOU'RE OUT MAYBE TRYING TO GET INTO A BUILDING AND TAKE A BREAK SO THAT YOUR BODY HAS A CHANCE TO COOL DOWN.

>> Eric: GOOD LUCK WITH THE PROGRAM, THE DATA COLLECTION.

THANKS FOR COMING, BOTH OF YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

♪♪ >> Eric: NOW A LITTLE SWEETNESS FOR THE SHOW.

ROSE MCGEE IS THE FOUNDER OF SWEET POTATO COMFORT PIE, A TWIN CITIES BAKER THAT UUSES FOOD CULTURE TO BUILD CONNECTIONS AND FACILITATE RACIAL HEALING.

ROSE IS A SPEAKER, FORMER BUSH FELLOW, FACILITATOR, BAKER AND NOW AMONG MANY OTHERS, A CHILDREN'S BOOK AUTHOR.

ROSE, CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE HEALING POWER OF SWEET POTATO PIE FIRST FOR FOLKS WHO MAY NOT KNOW THE STORY?

>> WELL, I JUST HAPPEN TO THINK IT'S THE SACRED DESSERT OF BLACK CULTURE.

AND THAT MEAN ANYONE CAN BE IMPACTED BY THAT.

AND RIGHT NOW WE NEED ANY OUNCE AND ANY SLICE OF HEALING THAT WE CAN GET.

WE'RE ALL FEELING THE IMPACT OF IT.

WE JUST HEARD ABOUT HOW HEAT IS BOTHERING PEOPLE AND WE KNOW THAT IS CREATING A LOT OF STRESS, A LOT OF FOLKS CAN'T GET OUTSIDE AND BE ACTIVELY ENGAGED.

BUT THE WHOLE THING WITH THE SWEET POTATO PIE AND HOW WE BRING IT FORD IS REALLY TO BRING COMFORT.

>> Eric: TELL US ABOUT THE BOOK.

>> WELL, THE BOOK I'M EXCITED ABOUT BECAUSE IT'S TAKEN A LONG TIME TO GET HERE.

IT'S TAKEN A LONG TIME TO GET HERE.

THE MINNESOTA HISTORICAL SOCIETY PRESS DID PUBLISH IT.

IT WAS FIRST SUBMITTED TO THEM AROUND 2014.

>> Eric: OH, BEEN AWHILE.

>> YEAH, BUT IT WAS SUBMIT THE AS A CHILDREN'S CHAPTER BOOK AND I GUESS MY INSPIRATIONAL MESSAGE TO PEOPLE IS DON'T GIVE UP.

JUST KEEP AT IT.

AND THEY SAID, WELL, WE'RE NOT PUBLISHING CHILDREN'S CHAPTER BOOKS BUT WE ARE PUBLISHING CHILDREN'S ILLUSTRATED BOOKS.

I CAN'T CONDENSE ALL OF THESE WORDS DOWN TO THIS LITTLE BIT.

>> Eric: BUT THE ILLUSTRATIONS YOU SHOULD GIVE A PLUG TO THE ILLUSTRATOR BECAUSE IT POPS OFF THE PAGE.

>> IT DOES AND THAT'S WHAT WHAT FINALLY HAPPENED HOW MANY YEARS LATER, WENT BACK AND RESUBMITTED THE MANUSCRIPT AND SAID I WILL TRY PUTTING IT DOWN TO A CHILDREN'S ILLUSTRATED BOOK SO THEY SELECTED CHRISTOPHER AARON DEANS, HE'S A VERY WELL KNOWN VISUAL ARTIST AND HE'S DYNAMIC.

WHAT I REALLY LIKE, I LIKE TO POINT IT OUT TO PEOPLE, CHRIS DOES SUCH DETAILED IMAGERY.

IT ISN'T, YOU KNOW, SO MANY CHILDREN'S BOOKS YOU'LL SEE THEY'RE JUST PLAIN WITH EYES AND THE NOSE AND THOSE ARE VERY NICE TOO, BUT HE PUTS THAT EXTRA TOUCH INTO HIS AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.

>> Cathy: ROSE, WHAT GOT YOU TO WANT TO WRITE A CHILDREN'S BOOK?

AS ERIC SAID THE LAUNDRY LIST OF WHAT YOU HAVE DONE AND WHAT YOU ARE STILL DOING IS AMAZING.

BUT WHAT ABOUT A CHILDREN'S BOOK?

>> INTERGENERATION.

I REALLY WANTED SOMETHING THAT WOULD ALLOW CHILDREN TO COME TOGETHER WITH GRANDPARENTS AND FAMILIES AND PEOPLE TO SIT DOWN AND HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS.

AND ALSO SOME GOOD VALUES THAT, YOU NOW, WITH SUBTLETY ARE BROUGHT INTO THE STORY AS WELL TO HELP TEACH.

SO IT'S CALLED CAN'T NOBODY MAKE A SWEET POTATO PIE LIKE OUR MAMA, AND HERE WE HAVE THIS SET OF TWINS, A LITTLE GIRL AND LITTLE BOY, WHO BICKER OVER EVERYTHING EXCEPT THEIR MAMA'S SWEET POTATO PIE.

THEIR GRANDMOTHER'S SWEET POTATO PIE.

>> Eric: IS MAMA BASED ON A REAL PERSON?

>> WELL, I GUESS YOU COULD SAY MAYBE, WE ALL HAVE THAT PERSON IN OUR LIVES.

MY LITTLE GRANDDAUGHTER -- >> Eric: CAN YOU BRING UP THE NEXT GENERATION?

>> Cathy: WE GOT TO MEET THIS YOUNG WOMAN, THIS LITTLE LADY, IS SHE THE INSPIRATION FOR THE BOOK?

>> WELL, SHE CERTAINLY IS ONE OF THEM.

SHE'S NOT LOOKING VERY INSPIRATIONAL AT THE MOMENT.

[ LAUGHTER ] BUT, YES, SHE IS.

HER FATHER AND HER AUNTIE ARE THE INSPIRATIONS IN ONE SENSE BECAUSE I USE THEIR MIDDLE NAMES S THE MAIN CHARACTERS.

>> Eric: WHAT DO YOU WANT PEOPLE TO TAKE AWAY FROM READING THE BOOK?

AND YOUR WHOLE OPERATION JUST IN GENERAL, YOUR PHILOSOPHY.

>> I WANT PEOPLE TO REALLY TAKE TIME TO BE WITH THEIR CHILDREN.

AND I WANT TO GO EVEN FURTHER TO SAY THIS STORY BRINGS IN FAMILY AND, YOU KNOW, SO OFTENTIMES WE HEAR THE NEGATIVES ABOUT BLACK FAMILIES, BUT THIS FAMILY, THIS LOVE THAT THESE CHILDREN ARE LEARNING AND BEING PASSED ON THROUGH THEIR GRANDMOTHER AND ALSO THROUGH THIS DESSERT.

AND THE RECIPE IS IN HERE TOO.

>> Eric: I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A FAMILY SECRET, AND YOU'RE WILLINGLY SHARING IT.

>> Cathy: SHE SHARES THE LOVE.

>> WELL, THE LAST THING THAT WE DO SAY IN HERE IS THE SECRET INGREDIENT IS -- DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE SECRET INGREDIENT IS?

YOU DON'T?

YEAH, YOU KNOW THE STORY.

WHAT IS IT?

>> LOVE.

>> LOVE.

>> Eric: AND YOU TOSSED IN A "YOU BETCHA" AT THE END OF THE BOOK.

WHAT'S GRANDDAUGHTER'S NAME?

YOU TELL THEM.

WHAT'S YOUR NAME?

>> BENTLEY ROSE.

BENTLEY ROSE, THIS S YOUR TV DEBUT, GLAD YOU'RE HERE.

>> Eric: HERE'S THE BOOK.

PERFECT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE OF ANY AGE IN YOUR READING CATALOG.

THANK YOU FOR COMING OVER.

>> Cathy: ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

TAKE CARE.

♪♪ >> IF YOU ARE ONE OF THE MILLION OR SO MINNESOTANS RECEIVING A REBATE CHECK FROM THE STATE THIS WEEK, HEY, ENJOY IT.

IF YOU ARE NOT ONE OF THOSE LUCKY FOLKS, TAKE HEART.

I'VE THOUGHT OF A FEW OTHER NON-CASH REBATES THAT YOU CAN MAYBE APPLY FOR.

NOW, THE PER-PERSON REBATE FROM THE STATE IS $260.

SO IT ONLY SEEMS FAIR FOR ME TO SEEK A 260-MINUTE REBATE FROM THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.

THAT WON'T PUT A DENT IN THE HOURS WE'VE SPENT DODGING PYLONS AND CONSTRUCTION WORKERS THIS SUMMER BUT IT'S A START.

OR WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO GETTING A 260-CALORIE REBATE FROM THE MINNESOTA STATE FAIR, WHICH OPENS NEXT WEEK?

THAT WOULD GET YOU ONE CORN DOG DOG, MAYBE FOUR OR FIVE MINI DONUTS OR ZERO CHEESE CURDS.

AND AFTER A SMOKY JUNE, IT LOOKS LIKE NORTHERN WILDFIRES ARE GOING TO MAKE SEPTEMBER A CHALLENGE AS WELL.

SO, HEY, CANADA, HOW ABOUT A REBATE OF 260 AIR QUALITY INDEX POINTS?

WE CAN SPREAD THOSE OUT OVER THE COURSE OF THE SUMMER.

AND, OF COURSE, THE GOPHER FOOTBALL TEAM BEGINS ONE OF THE TOUGHEST SCHEDULES IN THE COUNTRY IN A COUPLE WEEKS.

I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT I WOULD DEARLY LIKE TO ASK P.J.

FLECK FOR A REBATE OF AT LEAST 260 OF THE PIPE DREAMS I'VE ENTERTAINED OVER THE YEARS ABOUT MINNESOTA GOING TO THE ROSE BOWL.

BUT CHARITY BEGINS AT HOME, I SUPPOSE.

IF I'M GOING TO ASK FOR ALL THESE REFUNDS I SUPPOSE I SHOULD OFFER YOU ONE MYSELF.

SO IF THIS MONOLOGUE WASN'T EVERYTHING YOU HOPED IT WOULD BE, HERE'S ONE MORE REBATE FROM ME TO YOU.

THAT'S 90.

180.

260-DEGREES.

♪♪ >> Cathy: THOUSANDS OF UKRAINIANS WHO FLED FROM THE RUSSIAN INVASION OF THEIR COUNTRY NOW CALL MINNESOTA HOME.

REPORTER KAOMI LEE CAUGHT UP WITH ONE FAMILY TO HEAR ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCE.

>> MARINA KARAKOVA IS A CASE MANAGER AT THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MINNESOTA.

SHE HELD UKRAINIANS WHO FLED FROM WAR TO RESETTLE HERE.

SHE'S ONE HERSELF.

>> WE HAVE TWO CARS, SO WE USED ONE CAR.

>> THE 36-YEAR-OLD KARAKOVA AND HER HUSBAND AND THEIR FOUR CHILDREN DROVE WEST TOWARDS HUNGARY.

FRIGHTENED, SHE REACHED OUT TO A MINNESOTA WOMAN WHOM SHE HAD MET 25 YEARS AGO.

>> WHEN THE WAR STARTS, I JUST CALL HER AND JUST SAYING LIKE WE ARE LEAVING, PLEASE PRAY BECAUSE WE HAVE NO IDEA WHERE WE ARE GOING.

>> KELLY LINDELL TOLD AREA NEWS MEDIA SHE ET KARAKOVA ON A MISSION TRIP TO UKRAINE.

>> I ASKED WHERE ARE YOU GOING, AND SHE SAID WE DON'T KNOW, WE JUST LEAVE.

>> LINDELL DECIDED TO SPONSOR THE FAMILY UNDER A PROGRAM CALLED UNITING FOR UKRAINE.

IT LETS UKRAINIANS WITH A SPONSOR COME TO THE U.S. FOR TWO YEARS.

LINDELL FUNDRAISED AND TALKED ABOUT THE FAMILY TO A GROUP OF SENIORS SHE WAS TEACHING.

>> KELLY IS A PERSON WHO IS TEACHING CLASSES IN SENIOR BUILDING, SO WHEN SHE WAS LIKE FINDING OUR STORY AND PREPARING DOCUMENTS SHE SHARED WITH SOME SENIOR COUPLES ABOUT THAT WE ARE GOING TO COME HERE.

AND THE SENIORS OFFERED US TO STAY IN THIS HOUSE AND JUST PROVIDED THIS HOUSE FOR FREE FOR US.

ALL THE SENIORS HELPED SETTLE THIS HOUSE WITH US, INCLUDING PAINTING, FOOD, EVERYTHING.

>> AT FIRST THE FAMILY HOUGHT THEY'D STAY SIX MONTHS BUT AS THE WAR CONTINUED, THEY SETTLED IN.

ROLLOD MIR HO'S OF 2 GOT A JOB AS A CARPENTER.

THE KIDS GOT COMFORTABLE AT THEIR SCHOOLS IN CHAMPLAIN.

THEY FINALLY HAD ROOM TO BREATHE.

>> DO YOU FIND A PART OF YOUR HEART IS STILL IN UKRAINE?

WHAT DO YOU MISS?

THERE MUST BE THINGS THAT YOU MISS.

>> HOME.

>> SEEING FAMILY.

>> YEAH.

>> IS YOUR FAMILY SAFE?

>> I COULDN'T SAY THAT.

LIKE IT'S NOT A SAFE PLACE NOW.

>> FLEEING WAR AND HAVING TO LEAVE YOUR COUNTRY AND EVERYTHING YOU KNOW BEHIND IS UNIMAGINABLE FOR MANY OF US.

THIS FAMILY DESPITE THE CHALLENGES, IS THRIVING.

BUT THERE ARE STILL UNCERTAINTIES.

>> UKRAINIANS STARTED ARRIVING IN 2022, AND EVEN THOUGH IN THEORY THEY ARE REFUGEES, RIGHT, BECAUSE THEY'RE LEAVING A WAR IN THEIR COUNTRY, THEY CAME TO THE U.S.

UNDER A HUMANITARIAN PAROLEE STATUS.

>> THAT IS A TEMPORARY TWO-YEAR STATUS.

SHE SAYS ABOUT 4,000 UKRAINIANS HAVE ARRIVED IN MINNESOTA SINCE.

WHEN THEIR STATUS EXPIRING NEXT YEAR, THERE'S STILL NO WORD WHETHER IT WILL BE RENEWED.

>> THAT'S A HARD THING FOR PEOPLE BECAUSE TWO YEARS GOES VERY QUICKLY.

SO THAT CAN BE ANOTHER STRESS FOR FOLKS.

>> THERE'S NO PATH TO CITIZENSHIP AND NOT KNOWING IF THEY CAN STAY BEYOND NEXT YEAR PUTS UKRAINIANS IN A KIND OF LIMBO.

MEANWHILE THE KYROKOVS SAY THEIR CHILDREN ARE BECOMING AMERICANIZED.

>> I WANT THEM TO BE HAPPY, AND THEY BECAME HAPPY HERE.

>> AND HOW ABOUT YOU, VLAD?

DO YOU WANT TO GO BACK?

>> I THINK ABOUT CHILDREN AND FUTURE CHILDREN.

>> CHILDREN WHO HAVE ALREADY SEEN WAR, DEATH, AND DEVASTATION.

NEW MINNESOTA FRIENDS ARE HELPING THEM TO REMEMBER THEY'RE STILL KIDS.

IN CHAMPLAIN, EIGHTH GRADER SOPHIA LEARNED HOW TO WATER SKI ON THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.

>> I WON'T LEAVE HERE BUT MAYBE WE VISIT FOR A FEW DAYS AND GO BACK HERE.

>> WHERE IS HOME FOR YOU NOW?

>> LIKE HERE.

>> YOU FEEL LIKE THE U.S. IS HOME?

>> YEAH.

YEAH, BUT I MISS UKRAINE, SO.

BUT I LIKE U.S. MORE THAN UKRAINE.

♪♪ >> PLAYING SONGS FROM THEIR HOMELAND HELPED THEM REMEMBER WHAT AND WHO THEY'VE LEFT BEHIND.

BUT IT'S HERE WHERE THE KYRAKOVS HAVE FOUND HAPPINESS AND A HOME.

♪♪ >> QUICK NOTE ON THE STORY YOU JUST SAW, JANE GRAUPMAN OF THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MINNESOTA IS ALSO A MEMBER OF TPT'S COMMUNITY ADVISORY COUNCIL.

MOVING ON, INFLATION IN MINNESOTA IS DOWN, THE JOB MARKET IS TIGHT, STATE ISSUED REBATE CHECKS STARTED COMING OUT THIS WEEK, SO LOT OF GROUND TO COVER ITH THIS WEEK'S PANEL OF ECONOMISTS.

LET'S GET RIGHT TO IT.

JOINING US FROM THE COLLEGE OF ST. BENEDICT, LOUIS JOHNSTON, PROFESSOR MARCUS BANSAH FROM ST. OLAF CAMPUS IN NORTHFIELD, KRISTINE WEST IS HERE REPRESENTING THE ECONOMICS DEPARTMENT AT ST. KATE'S.

PROFESSOR JOHNSTON, LET'S TALK ABOUT INFLATION A LITTLE BIT AND I WONDER IF PAYCHECKS AND WAGE INCREASES ARE MAKING UP FOR THE INFLATION THAT EXISTS.

>> WELL IN GENERAL, PAYCHECKS ARE DOING PRETTY WELL.

SO THEY'RE NOT CATCHING UP EXACTLY, WHICH IS UNFORTUNATE, BUT THEY'RE DOING PRETTY WELL.

IT DEPENDS ON WHERE YOU ARE IN THE INCOME DISTRIBUTION.

WHAT'S REALLY GOOD NEWS IS THAT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE AT THE LOWER ENDS HAVE BEEN GAINING MORE THAN WHO ARE AT THE TOP.

>> Cathy: AND INFLATION OF COURSE, YOU MENTIONED INFLATION, ERIC, YOU AND I TALKED ON MPR, PROFESSOR, ABOUT HOW THE TWIN CITIES HAS AN INCREDIBLY LOW INFLATION RATE.

WHAT'S THE TWIN CITIES DOING RIGHT?

WHAT'S GOING ON THERE?

>> WELL, ONE OF THE MAJOR THINGS THAT I THINK THEY ARE DOING RIGHT IS A LOT OF INVESTMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN PUT INTO HOUSING.

HOUSING IS A MAJOR COMPONENT OF THE CPA.

WE USE THE VALUE OF HOUSING AND IF YOU LOOK AT DATA ON A YEAR OVER YEAR BASIS THERE SEEMS TO BE 1% FALL WHEN IT COMES TO THE PRICE OF HOUSING SO THAT KIND OF FEEDS INTO THE NUMBERS THAT WE SEE.

APART FROM THAT WE KNOW THAT THE STATE HAS BEEN DOING OTHER THINGS AND OF COURSE ENERGY PRICES USED TO BE REALLY HIGH, THAT HAS ALSO COME DOWN.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE DATA, IT FELL BY 16.7% YEAR ON YEAR.

THIS IS NATIONALLY, AND SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS.

BUT I THINK HOUSING IS A MAJOR ONE THAT IS PUSHING IT DOWN.

>> Eric: WELL, AND THE INTEREST RATE FOR HOME LOANS NOW IS OVER 7%?

>> I SAW THAT.

>> Eric: SINCE 2002 I THINK.

>> RIGHT.

>> Eric: HOW DOES THAT AFFECT THE PICTURE HERE?

>> WELL, IT CERTAINLY MAKES IT MORE EXPENSIVE AND HARDER FOR PEOPLE TO GET INTO NEW HOUSING AND PROBABLY LOCK SOME PEOPLE INTO HOUSING CHOICES WHEN THEY'RE LOOKING TO MOVE.

IT IS AN INTERESTING SORT OF JUXTAPOSITION OF THE DATA THAT THE HOUSING COSTS ARE DOWN AND YET THE INTEREST RATES ARE UP.

AND SO, YEAH, WE'LL SEE HOW THIS SHAKES OUT.

>> Cathy: HELP US OUT HERE.

WHAT'S THE LINK BETWEEN AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND INFLATION?

>> OKAY.

SO HOUSING PRICES DEPEND ON INTEREST RATES.

INTEREST RATES DEPEND ON INFLATION.

SO IF INFLATION, FOR EXAMPLE, GOES UP, THAT USUALLY MEANS INTEREST ATES ARE GOING TO GO UP TO COVER THAT EXTRA INFLATION.

THAT MAKES HOUSING PRICES -- WELL, IT MAKES HOUSING MORE EXPENSIVE, EITHER THROUGH THE ACTUAL INTEREST RATE THAT YOU PAY ON YOUR LOAN, OR IN THE VALUE OF THE HOUSE, DEPENDING ON -- ONE OR THE OTHER, SOME DISTINCTION OF THOSE TWO.

HIGHER INTEREST RATES, MORE EXPENSIVE HOUSES USUALLY.

BUT AS MY TWO COLLEAGUES WERE MENTIONING, THERE'S OTHER FACTORS THAT ARE GOING ON HERE.

IF YOU'RE BUILDING MORE HOUSING THAT'S GOING TO HELP KEEP THE PRICE DOWN.

OR INTEREST RATES ARE ALSO GOING TO REDUCE DEMAND FOR HOUSING AT GIVEN LEVELS OF PEOPLE'S INCOMES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> Cathy: SO IN THIS CASE OF THE TWIN CITIES BUILDING HAS BEEN PRETTY ROBUST.

>> YEP.

>> SURE, SURE.

THE MORE HOUSES YOU CAN SUPPLY TO THE MARKET, INTEREST RATE IS ALREADY HIGH WHICH MEANS THAT DEMAND MAY BE GOING DOWN.

MAYBE ONLY THOSE WHO REALLY NEED IT NOW WANT TO GO IN FOR IT.

IF PEOPLE CAN WAIT A LITTLE BIT AND THEY DON'T REALLY HAVE A NEED FOR IT, THEN WE WANT TO WAIT FOR THE INTEREST RATE TO GO DOWN A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE IF THE INTEREST RATES ARE HIGH AND GOING FOR A MORTGAGE, YOU'RE GOING TO BE PAYING A LOT OUT OF POCKET AND IF YOU DON'T WANT THAT YOU MAY WANT TO KIND OF WAIT.

SO IF SUPPLY OF HOUSING HAS INCREASED, DEMAND FOR HOUSING HAS SLOWED DOWN THEN WE HAVE THAT GROUP WITH DOWNWARD PRESSURE.

>> Eric: YOU THREE DEAL WITH SMART YOUNG PEOPLE.

WE HEAR FROM THE STATE DEMOGRAPHER THAT YOUNG PEOPLE ARE LEAVING THE STATE.

I WONDER AS YOU HAVE CONTACT WITH THESE KIDS, HOW DO YOU KEEP THEM HERE.

WHAT ARE WE NOT DOING THAT WE SHOULD BE?

>> THIS IS KEY, RIGHT, KEEPING PEOPLE IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA AND ATTRACTING NEW PEOPLE TO THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

OUR BIGGEST PROBLEM RIGHT NOW IS THE DEMAND FOR LABOR HAS OUTSTRIPPED THE SUPPLY.

WE HAVE A SHORTAGE OF LABOR, WE NEED MORE WORKERS AND WORKERS TO HAVE THE SKILLS FOR THE JOBS THAT THE STATE NEEDS.

SO KEEPING, THE POLICIES TO KEEP PEOPLE HERE ARE PROBABLY SIMILAR TO SOME OF THE ONES WE SAW COMING OUT OF THE LEGISLATURE THIS TERM.

WE HAVE THESE FAMILY LEAVE POLICIES AND WE HAVE INVESTMENTS IN EDUCATION THAT DO THE KIND OF THINGS THAT LIKE CONVINCE PEOPLE THAT MINNESOTA IS A GOOD PLACE TO LIVE AND WORK WHERE YOU CAN BALANCE WORK AND FAMILY.

>> Eric: SAME QUESTION.

>> WELL, I THINK YOU COVERED THAT.

WE ALSO HAVE TO I THINK REALLY ENCOURAGE IMMIGRATION.

THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAS REALLY HELPED MINNESOTA A LOT, ESPECIALLY OVER THE LAST 40, 50 YEARS, THAT HAS BEEN REALLY IMPORTANT.

AND SO THE SLOWDOWN IN IMMIGRATION AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL IS HURTING US AT THE STATE LEVEL ESPECIALLY.

SO THE MORE THAT WE COULD DO TO ENCOURAGE THAT, THE BETTER OFF OUR LABOR MARKET WOULD BE.

>> Cathy: PROFESSOR BANSAH, YOU'RE IN NORTHFIELD.

ISN'T THE JOB MARKET PRETTY TIGHT IN NORTHFIELD?

>> SURE.

ACTUALLY I LIVE IN LAKEVILLE, BUT OF COURSE I TEACH IN NORTHFIELD, SO, YEAH.

THOSE ARE MY AREAS.

YEAH, THE JOB MARKET HAS BEEN PRETTY TIGHT.

IT HAS IMPROVED A LITTLE BIT BUT MAYBE LIKE A YEAR AGO, PRETTY TIGHT.

COMPANIES COMPLAIN ABOUT THE DIFFICULTY IN TRYING TO GET PEOPLE TO WORK, AND IF YOU HAVE A VERY TIGHT LABOR MARKET IT MEANS THAT WAGES NEED TO GO UP BECAUSE HOW DO YOU ATTRACT SOMEONE TO WORK FOR YOU WHEN EVERYBODY'S LOOKING FOR THE SAME PEOPLE?

SO THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WAGES MAY HAVE TO GO UP, WHICH IS GOOD FOR THE WORKER BUT YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT EMPLOYERS WHETHER THEY WILL BE ABLE TO PAY THOSE HIGHER WAGES.

IF THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO PAY THOSE WAGES SOME OF THEM MIGHT WANT TO CUT DOWN THEIR OPERATIONS OR EVEN GO OUT OF BUSINESS FOR MAYBE THE MEANTIME.

SO THAT WILL BE SOME.

SO I THINK WHATEVER POLICIES WE ARE LOOKING AT AS WE THINK ABOUT THOSE WHO ARE GOING TO BE RECEIVING THOSE BENEFITS, WE ALSO NEED TO BE THINKING ABOUT THE BUSINESS AND WHETHER THEY CAN AFFORD THOSE.

THERE HAS TO BE SOME KIND OF BALANCE WHEN IT COMES TO THESE POLICIES THAT BENEFIT THE WORKER.

>> Eric: I LOOKED AT YOUR BIOGRAPHY AND IT SAYS YOU'RE AN EXPERT ON THE ECONOMICS OF EDUCATION.

TELL ME MORE.

>> YEAH, WELL, I DO A LOT OF WORK ABOUT TEACHER LABOR MARKETS AND POLICIES THAT AFFECT OUR K12 EDUCATION SYSTEM.

>> Eric: HOW WE DOING THERE?

>> MINNESOTA'S GOT A GREAT EDUCATION SYSTEM, IT'S SOMETHING WE COULD BE PROUD OF AND SOMETHING THAT THE INVESTMENTS THAT WE'VE MADE OVER THE YEARS HAVE REALLY PAID OFF.

>> Eric: BUT THE DIVERSITY, THE GAPS.

>> OH FOR SURE.

>> Eric: ARE AMAZING.

>> YOU TOOK MY NEXT SENTENCE, IT WAS EXACTLY THAT.

BUT THERE'S ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT AND THERE'S SPACES WHERE WE CAN CLOSE SOME GAPS AND SO WE NEED TO DO MORE TO THINK ABOUT HOW TO GET TEACHERS INTO THE CLASSROOM THAT REPRESENT THE DIVERSITY OF THE CHILDREN IN OUR CLASSROOM.

RIGHT, THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD RESEARCH THAT SHOWS THAT'S AN IMPORTANT DRIVER OF ACHIEVEMENT.

AND I THINK WE JUST WANT TO NOT LOSE SIGHT OF HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO INVEST IN K K12 OF EDUCATION AND THE TEACHERS THAT DO THAT IMPORTANT FRONTLINE WORK.

>> Cathy: ANOTHER TOPIC HERE WHILE WE HAVE YOU ALL.

IS IT TRUE THAT THE RECESSION IS NO LONGER LOOMING?

I ASK THAT QUESTION BECAUSE NOT MORE THAN THIS WEEK I THOUGHT I HAD THAT STORY BUT I HEARD ANOTHER LITTLE BIT N NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO THAT THERE MIGHT BE SOME STORM CLOUDS, OR IS THAT INCORRECT?

WHAT IS THIS?

>> IT'S THERE, O I THINK THE LAST COUPLE TIMES I'VE BEEN HERE I'VE SAID ONE IN FIVE.

>> Cathy: YES.

>> I THINK.

AND, YOU KNOW, ANYBODY WHO SAYS THE PROBABILITY IS ZERO IS NOT A VERY GOOD GAMBLER, RIGHT?

THERE'S ALWAYS A PROBABILITY OF SOMETHING.

BUT I STILL THINK THE CHANCE IS PRETTY LOW RIGHT NOW.

BUT, YEAH, THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING.

THE HIGHER INTEREST RATES ARE DEFINITELY STARTING TO AFFECT THINGS.

WHEN YOU DRIVE THROUGH DOWNTOWN ST. PAUL OR DOWNTOWN MINNEAPOLIS THOUGH THE CONSTRUCTION IS JUST HEAVY, AND SO IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE INTEREST RATES ARE BITING VERY HARD THERE.

>> Cathy: PEOPLE SEEM TO BE SPENDING.

>> I WAS AT THE MALL TODAY AND IT WAS FULL.

SO AND I TALKED TO ALL OF THE SALESPEOPLE AND I SAID HOW'S BUSINESS AND THEY SAID IN PARTICULARLY THE MEN'S DEPARTMENT IS HOPPING, PEOPLE ARE BUYING SUITS TO GO BACK TO WORK.

AND I WAS LIKE, OKAY, WELL, THAT'S REALLY INTERESTING.

>> Eric: I SAW VIDEO TODAY FROM A COMPANY CALLED SOMATIC.

IT'S A ROBOT THAT CLEANS TOILETS.

>> MMM.

>> I SAW THAT TOO.

>> Eric: AND I WONDER, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, HOW IS THAT GOING TO CHANGE THE U.S. ECONOMY?

>> YES, THE ECONOMY MOVING AT PRETTY MUCH, THERE'S A LOT OF ACTION WHEN IT COMES TO ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

SURE, IF YOU DEVELOP ROBOTS ND OTHER THINGS THAT CAN DO THE WORK THAT HUMANS CAN DO, AND IN SOME AREAS WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME JOB LOSSES, BUT THERE'S NOT EVERYTHING THAT ROBOTS CAN DO.

SO IT JUST DEPENDS ON THE JOBS THAT MIGHT ALSO ADD.

IT'S NOT ALWAYS JUST ABOUT LOSING JOBS, LET'S SAY CERTAIN EXPERIENCES OR CERTAIN OPPORTUNITIES THAT COME WITH THAT.

>> Eric: SO YOU'RE NOT PRESSING THE PANIC BUTTON.

>> YEAH, SO TO ME THERE WILL BE SOME JOB LOSSES BUT EVEN IN AN ECONOMY WITH SOME JOB LOSSES T DEPENDS ON WHETHER WE ARE RELOCATING THOSE LOSING JOBS TO THE AREAS WE NEED IT.

UNEMPLOYMENT BECOMES A BIG ISSUE ONLY IF WE CANNOT EASILY REALLOCATE PEOPLE BECAUSE MAYBE PEOPLE ARE NOT TRAINED OR THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO DO SO.

BUT WE COULD USE THOSE WHO ARE LOSING JOBS, WE COULD USE THEM IN OTHER AREAS OF THE ECONOMY.

>> Eric: IS COLLEGE EDUCATION GOING TO HAVE TO CHANGE?

>> WELL, I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY IT'S A GREAT AD FOR A LIBERAL ARTS EDUCATION.

IT GIVES YOU THE FLEXIBILITY TO BE ABLE TO MOVE.

YOU DON'T WANT TO TRAIN YOURSELF FOR ONE JOB, YOU WANT TO TRAIN YOURSELF FOR MULTIPLE JOBS AND BE ABLE TO CHANGE JOBS.

A.I.

IS NOT GOING TO TAKE AWAY JOBS BUT IT'S GOING TO CHANGE THE JOBS THAT ARE OUT THERE.

IT'S GOING TO MAKE IT SO THAT THE WORKERS ARE GOING TO DO DIFFERENT THINGS AND SO YOU NEED ADAPTABLE SKILLS AND WE NEED THOSE NVESTMENTS IN EDUCATION THAT GIVE OUR K12 AND OUR HIGHER ED STUDENTS THAT ADAPTABILITY AND ABILITY TO MOVE.

>> Eric: I HEAR THE BELL RINGING.

I THINK CLASS IS OVER.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> Eric: THANKS, GUYS.

>> THANK YOU.

♪♪ >> Cathy: HEY, WE'VE REACHED THE HISTORY QUESTION PORTION OF THE SHOW.

WE LOVE INVITING YOU TO CALL IN WITH YOUR GUESSES AND YOUR COMMENTS.

IN ADDITION TO A NUMBER OF RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT ERIC'S HAIRSTYLE OF LAST WEEK, WE ALSO RECEIVED A NUMBER OF WRONG ANSWERS LAST WEEK TO OUR HISTORY QUESTION.

SO LET US REVIEW.

WE ASKED YOU ABOUT A FAMOUS VAUDEVILLE PERFORMER WHO SUCCESSFULLY TRANSITIONED TO THE ILVER SCREEN.

AND IN 1934 WAS FEATURED IN AN AD FOR A WELL-KNOWN MINNESOTA BRAND.

FIRST, LET'S HEAR SOME OF THE REALLY WRONG ANSWERS.

>> YEAH, THIS IS SPENCER FROM SOUTHEAST MINNEAPOLISING, AND THE ANSWER TO TONIGHT'S INDEX FILE QUESTION IS BLANCHE YURKA.

AND THE PRODUCT SHE WAS PROMOTING WAS WHEATIES.

>> YES, THIS IS JIM FROM ST. PAUL.

AND I HAVE THE ANSWER FOR THE ALMANAC QUESTION TONIGHT, WHICH IS THE BEGINNING OF THE IRISH FAIR IN MINNESOTA ON HARRIET ISLAND.

IT'S JIMMY CAGNEY, FAMOUS IRISH ACTOR, THAT IS GOING TO BE PROFILED IN THE IRISH GAZETTE.

NEXT ISSUE, I UNDERSTAND.

THANK YOU, GOODBYE.

>> HELLO, THIS IS DAVE AND DEB FROM OAKDALE.

OUR ANSWER TO THE INDEX QUESTION WOULD BE VERNE GAGNE AND GERITOL.

THANK YOU.

>> THAT'S NOT A BAD ANSWER.

BY THE WAY, SPENCER, YOU'RE ONE OF THE BEST.

WE DID HAVE A FEW CALLERS THAT GOT HALF OF THE EQUATION RIGHT.

HERE'S ONE OF THOSE HALF-CORRECT ANSWERS.

>> HI, THIS IS BONNIE FROM INVER GROVE HEIGHTS.

I BELIEVE I FOUND THE CORRECT ANSWER TO LAST WEEK'S INDEX FILE QUESTION.

FAMOUS PERSON, I BELIEVE, WAS ACTRESS CLAUDETTE COLBERT.

SHE WAS PICTURED AND QUOTED IN A 1934 MAGAZINE AD SAYING "VITALITY IS EVERYTHING."

COLBERT CREDITED BREAD AS A SOURCE OF ENERGY FOR VITALITY.

THE PROMINENT MINNESOTAN WHOSE BREAD COOKBOOK WAS BEING ADVERTISED WAS NONE OTHER THAN BETTY CROCKER.

>> INDEED CLAUDETTE COLBERT WAS IN A BETTY CROCKER AD CAMPAIGN IN 1934 AND BETTY CROCKER WAS THE COMPANY WE HAD IN MIND BUT Ms. COLBERT DID NOT GET THEIR START AS A VAUDEVILLIAN.

SO TRY AGAIN THIS WEEK.

COUPLE OF ADDITIONAL HINTS.

THE ACTRESS WE'RE THINKING OF IS PERHAPS MOST REMEMBERED AS HALF OF A FAMOUS DANCING DUO.

BUT SHE WOULD GO ON TO RECEIVE AN ACADEMY AWARD FOR A ROLE IN A DRAMA TOO.

THINK YOU GOT IT NOW?

WE'RE GOING TO TIP OUR TOPHATS TO YOU IF YOU DO.

GIVE US A CALL.

651-229-1430 AND YOU CAN ALWAYS SEND US AN E-MAIL AT ALMANAC ALMANAC@TPT.ORG.

HEY!

NEXT WEEK WE'VE GOT AN EXTRA SPECIAL SHOW LINED UP FOUR YOU.

WE'RE GOING TO BE BACK AT THE MINNESOTA STATE FAIR.

YOU CAN CATCH THE LIVE HOW THERE NEXT FRIDAY AUGUST 25TH AT 11:00 IN THE MORNING.

WE'LL BE BROADCASTING LIVE ON THE RADIO FROM THE MINNESOTA PUBLIC RADIO BOOTH AT THE CORNER OF JETSON AND NELSON AT THE NEAR THE DAIRY BUILDING [ MOOING SOUND EFFECTS ] >> THANK YOU FOR THE ANIMAL SOUNDS.

WE'RE GOING TO REBROADCAST THE SHOW HERE IF YOU MISS US LIVE.

WE'LL HAVE GOVERNOR WALZ AS A GUEST AND A STORY FROM KEVIN KLING AND OF COURSE SOME LIVE ANIMALS.

[ ANIMAL SOUND EFFECTS ] >> IT IS THE MINNESOTA STATE FAIR AFTER LL.

FOR SHOW ENDING MUSIC -- GOOD ONE, THANK YOU -- FOR SHOW ENDING MUSIC TONIGHT WE'VE GOT THE CAFE ACCORDION ORCHESTRA WHO JOINED NEWSNIGHT ON THE AIR BACK IN 2001.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING?

SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

♪♪ ♪♪ >> "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.

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

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