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

>> ERIC: FULL SHOW FOR YOU TONIGHT.

WE'LL LOOK AT THE STATE COURT-APPROVED CONSENT DECREE FOR THE MINNEAPOLIS POLICE DEPARTMENT, DIG INTO THE DETAILS OF NEW GUN LAWS, MARK SEELEY AND PAUL DOUGLAS ARE BOTH HERE, AND MARY LAHAMMER HAS A UNIQUE FAMILY STORY FROM THE LEGISLATURE.

>> Mary: MEET A WOMAN MAKING HISTORY AT THE CAPITOL WHO BECAME THE FIRST LAWMAKER TO HAVE A SIBLING AND A SPOUSE IN THE LEGISLATURE AT THE SAME TIME.

>> TO HAVE MY HUSBAND JUST IN THE CHAMBER NEXT DOOR, IT'S AMAZING.

I'M EXCITED.

>> 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: ON TONIGHT'S SHOW, WE'LL HEAR ABOUT NEW GUN AND PUBLIC SAFETY LAWS, MORE THAN 85 YEARS OF METEOROLOGY EXPERIENCE WILL GRACE THE COUCH, AND REVENUE COMMISSIONER MARQUART HAS DETAILS ON THE FALL TAX REBATES HEADING TO MANY MINNESOTANS.

>> CATHY: WE START TONIGHT WITH MORE BIG NEWS OUT OF MINNEAPOLIS.

ON THURSDAY A HENNEPIN COUNTY JUDGE APPROVED THE PROPOSED CONSENT DECREE BETWEEN THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS AND THE STATE HUMAN RIGHTS DEPARTMENT.

THE END RESULT OF AN INVESTIGATION THAT FOUND WIDESPREAD RACIAL DISCRIMINATION IN THE MINNEAPOLIS POLICE DEPARTMENT.

A CONCLUSION ALSO REACHED BY THE U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT JUST LAST MONTH.

MATT SEPIC IS A REPORTER WITH MINNESOTA PUBLIC RADIO WHO HAS BEEN COVERING THIS STORY AND WAS IN THE COURTROOM YESTERDAY.

GREAT TO SEE YOU AGAIN, THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

>> YEAH, GLAD TO BE HERE, CATHY.

>> Cathy: THIS HAS BEEN CALLED A CONSENT DECREE, FOR FOLKS WHO HAVE NOT BEEN STEEPED IN THIS, HAT IS THIS?

>> WELL, A CONSENT DECREE, OR A COURT-ENFORCEABLE AGREEMENT, AS THIS STATE AGREEMENT IS KNOWN AS, TECHNICALLY IN LEGAL TERMS, BASICALLY ALLOWS A JUDGE TO ORDER COURT-APPROVED OVERSIGHT OF THE MINNEAPOLIS POLICE DEPARTMENT SO THAT ANY CHANGES THAT HAVE BEEN TALKED ABOUT AND AGREED UPON BETWEEN THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE CITY HAVE THE FORCE OF LAW, WILL BE ENFORCED BY A JUDGE, AND IT WILL BE OVERSEEN BY A GROUP OF MONITORS, USUALLY A GROUP OF ATTORNEYS WHO WILL BE HIRED FOR THAT PURPOSE TO CHECK IN WITH MPD AND ENSURE COMPLIANCE.

>> Eric: ANY TEETH IN THE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THIS?

>> WELL, YEAH, I MEAN, MOST OTHER AGREEMENTS, YOU KNOW, THERE HAVE BEEN MANY OVER THE YEARS WITH VARIOUS GROUPS TO LOOK AT REFORMS, BUT HIS HAS THE FORCE OF LAW.

A JUDGE -- JUDGE KAREN YANISH APPROVED IT YESTERDAY, AND SHE INITIALLY WILL BE THE ONE TO OVERSEE IT AT LEAST ON THE STATE LEVEL SO, IF MPD DOESN'T COMPLY, SHE CAN ORDER THAT.

SO, INDEED, IT DOES HAVE THE FORCE OF LAW.

AND WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT A FEDERAL CONSENT DECREE COMING DOWN THE PIKE AS WELL.

>> Cathy: WILL THOSE TWO -- THOSE TWO -- WILL THOSE TWO WORK IN CONCERT WITH EACH OTHER SOMEHOW?

>> YES.

THAT'S THE WAY IT WAS DESIGNED FROM THE BEGINNING BECAUSE THE STATE PROCESS STARTED FIRST, AS YOU MENTIONED IN THE INTRODUCTION, ATHY, THIS, OF COURSE, BEGAN WITH THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD IN 2020.

LAST YEAR AFTER A TWO-YEAR INVESTIGATION, MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RIGHTS CAME OUT WITH A REALLY SCATHING REPORT THAT FOUND ALLEGATIONS OF RACISM, MISOGYNY, ALL SORTS OF PROBLEMS WITH MPD.

AND IN 2021, ONE OF HIS FIRST ACTS AS U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL GARLAND, ANNOUNCED FEDERAL INVESTIGATION INTO MPD.

SO THE STATE FOLKS KNEW THAT THERE WOULD BE A FEDERAL CONSENT DECREE COMING AND TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, YES, THEY WILL OPERATE IN PARALLEL, IN CONCERT, AND THE SAME SET OF MONITORS THAT ARE GOING TO OVERSEE THE STATE CONSENT DECREE, THIS IS A GROUP THAT HAS YET TO BE HIRED YET, THEY'RE FINDING FINALISTS FOR THAT NOW, WILL BE THE GROUP THAT WILL OVERSEE THE EXPECTED DOJ FEDERAL CONSENT DECREE.

>> Eric: YOU KNOW HOW IT WORKS IN MINNEAPOLIS CITY HALL.

I WONDER WHAT THE ODDS ARE OF THIS DEVOLVING INTO COMMISSIONS, TASK FORCES, AND TURF BATTLES, AND A LOT OF TALK, ADMIRE THE PROBLEM AND NOTHING HAPPENS.

>> WELL, THAT'S A BIG CONCERN.

I'VE HEARD A LOT OF HOPEFUL SIGNS FROM GROUPS SUCH AS COMMUNITIES UNITED AGAINST POLICE BRUTALITY, MICHELLE GROSS HAS BEEN A LONGTIME POLICE REFORM ADVOCATE IN MINNEAPOLIS.

AND SHE HAD A FEW RESERVATIONS ABOUT SOME OF THE DETAILS OF IT BUT WAS LARGELY HOPEFUL THAT IT WOULD LEAD TO SOME REFORM.

WE SPOKE YESTERDAY WITH REVEREND IAN BETHEL WITH THE UNITY COMMUNITY MEDIATION TEAM WHO'S ALSO A LONGTIME POLICE REFORM ADVOCATE, HIS CONCERN WAS EXACTLY WHAT YOU MENTIONED ERIC, IS THAT THERE WOULD BE A LACK OF FOLLOW-THROUGH WITH THIS.

BUT THE HOPEFUL SIGN IS, ACCORDING TO THE FOLKS THAT I HAVE TALKED TO WHO HAVE BEEN CLOSE TO THIS FOR MANY YEARS, IS THAT IT DOES HAVE THE COURT OVERSIGHT, NOT ONLY FROM A STATE JUDGE IN HENNEPIN COUNTY BUT ALSO A FEDERAL JUDGE.

>> Cathy: WE SHOULD PROBABLY ALSO LOOK AT SOME OF THE POTENTIAL BIG POLICY CHANGES IN THIS PLAN.

WHAT POPS OUT TO YOU?

>> WELL, THERE WAS AN AGREEMENT THAT THEY CAME UP WITH A EW MONTHS AGO, END OF MARCH, I ELIEVE, WAS WHEN THAT BECAME PUBLIC BETWEEN THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND MPD, AND WHAT IT CALLS FOR ARE, YOU KNOW, RESTRICTIONS ON THE USE OF SO-CALLED LESS LETHAL DEVICES, SUCH AS TASERS, A LOT ON TRAFFIC STOPS, AND COMPLETE, YOU KNOW, REDEFINITION OF THE USE OF FORCE, TRAFFIC STOPS, FOR EXAMPLE, OFFICERS WILL HAVE TO SAY INTO THEIR BODY CAMERA WHAT THE REASON FOR THIS TRAFFIC STOP IS.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF.

THAT IT GETS INTO RETTY GRANULAR DETAIL IF YOU LOOK AT THE MDHR AGREEMENT THAT CAME OUT BACK IN MARCH.

AND HE BIG NEWS ON THURSDAY WAS THAT THE JUDGE SIGNED OFF ON IT, ATTORNEYS FOR THE CITY AND FOR THE STATE WENT TO THE COURT AND SAID, WE'RE READY TO GO WITH THIS.

AND ONCE KAREN YANISH SIGNED THAT AGREEMENT, THE CLOCK'S TICKING, IT WILL BE ABOUT A FOUR-YEAR PROCESS WITH REGULAR CHECK-INS AND AT THE END OF THAT, I MEAN, THEY COULD CONTINUE WITH IT.

BUT, AGAIN, WE'LL HAVE THAT FEDERAL CONSENT DECREE ALONG WITH THE STATE AGREEMENT.

>> Eric: COST OF THIS FOR THE CITY?

>> NO ESTIMATE ON IT YET, BUT IF YOU LOOK AT OTHER CITIES, CLEVELAND AND NEW ORLEANS THAT HAVE THESE IN PLACE, HEY WILL SPEND MILLIONS ON THEM EVERY YEAR BECAUSE OFTENTIMES THERE'S MORE STAFF THAT NEEDS TO BE HIRED FOR COMPLIANCE WORK, NEW TECHNOLOGY, COMPUTER SYSTEMS TO KEEP TRACK OF ALL THIS DATA THAT THEY WILL LIKELY HAVE TO ENTER IN TO SHOW EXACTLY WHAT IT IS THAT THEY'RE DOING TO IMPLEMENT THESE CHANGES THAT ARE REQUIRED.

>> Cathy: AND THEY ARE WORKING RIGHT NOW, RIGHT?

THEY STARTED TODAY, I BELIEVE?

>> THAT'S -- THE NEXT STEPS WITH THIS ARE ACTUALLY FINDING THE MONITORS.

SO THEY HAVE ABOUT A HALF A DOZEN FINALISTS THAT THEY'RE CHOOSING AMONG TO BE THE MONITOR.

USUALLY WOULD LIKELY E A LAW FIRM, A GROUP OF ATTORNEYS.

AND THEN FROM THEN THEY WILL HAVE TO FORMALLY GET THE POLICY CHANGES APPROVED BY THE MONITORS AND THEN THEY CAN START TRAINING.

SO THERE ARE A LOT OF STEPS.

IT'S GOING TAKE MANY YEARS.

>> Cathy: ALL RIGHT.

>> Eric: THANKS FOR COMING OVER, MATT.

>> Cathy: APPRECIATE IT.

THANKS.

♪♪ >> ERIC: THIS SUMMER, WE'RE TAKING A CLOSER LOOK AT SEVERAL OF MINNESOTA'S NEW LAWS.

UP TONIGHT, NEW GUN LAWS, INCLUDING UNIVERSAL BACKGROUND CHECKS AND SO-CALLED RED FLAG LAWS.

BOTH ARE PART OF THE LARGER PUBLIC SAFETY BILL.

REPRESENTATIVE JAMIE BECKER-FINN WAS CO-CHAIR OF THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE THAT WORKED ON THE DETAILS BEFORE THIS YEAR'S PUBLIC SAFETY BILL PASSED BOTH THE HOUSE AND SENATE ON THE WAY TO BECOMING LAW.

REPRESENTATIVE BECKER-FINN JOINS US.

MADAM CHAIR, RED FLAG, IF THEY CAN PROVE THAT SOMEBODY'S GOING TO BE A DANGER O THEMSELVES OR OTHERS TEMPORARILY WEAPONS CAN BE WITHDRAWN AND AN EXPANDED BACKGROUND CHECK.

HOW MONUMENTAL IS THIS OR IS IT?

>> YEAH.

YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE'S NO ONE LAW THAT'S GOING TO CHANGE EVERYTHING AND PREVENT EVERY GUN CRIME, BUT I THINK THESE ARE REALLY SIGNIFICANT.

THEY'RE THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE KNOW IN THE POLLING THAT MOST MINNESOTANS AGREE THAT THESE ARE GOOD IDEAS AND THEY'RE COMMON-SENSE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO TO AT LEAST PREVENT SOME GUN CRIMES.

YOU KNOW, IT'S PRETTY BIG DEAL, YOU KNOW, FOR THE ADVOCATES WHO HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR A REALLY LONG TIME.

YOU KNOW, THIS WAS ONE OF THE ISSUES, WHY SOME OF THE PEOPLE I SERVE WITH EVEN DECIDED TO RUN FOR OFFICE IN THE FIRST PLACE.

SO TO FINALLY GET THESE THINGS ACROSS THE FINISH LINE WITH THE SUPPORT THAT WE'VE HAD IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

>> Cathy: EVIDENTLY RESEARCH SHOWS WHEN IT COMES TO THE RED FLAG LAWS THAT THE EFFECTIVENESS IS MIXED.

THEY SEEM TO WORK FOR FOLKS WHO MAY DO HARM TO THEMSELVES, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO MASS SHOOTINGS, YOU KNOW, IT'S KIND OF MIXED.

SO, WHAT ARE YOU HOPING WILL COME FROM THIS RED FLAG LAW?

>> YOU KNOW, THE THING THAT WE TALK ABOUT IN THE COMMITTEE, THE CHIEF AUTHORS OF THESE BILLS, REPRESENTATIVE PINTO, VICE CHAIR FRAZIER, REPRESENTATIVE MOLLER'S DONE A LOT OF WORK IN THESE OVER THE YEARS, WE ALWAYS SAY, AGAIN, THERE ISN'T ONE THING THAT'S GOING TO FIX EVERYTHING.

BUT HOW MANY LIVES SAVED IS ENOUGH TO MAKE IT WORTH IT TO DO THESE THINGS?

AND IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, THE WAY, LEGALLY, THEY'RE EXTREME RISK PROTECTION ORDERS.

YOU KNOW, KIND OF COLLOQUIALLY WE USE THE TERM RED FLAG.

BUT IT'S ALL ABOUT MANAGING RISK.

AND IN THE PLACES WHERE WE CAN REDUCE THAT RISK OF THAT HARM OCCURRING BECAUSE SOMEBODY HAS ACCESS TO A WEAPON WHEN THEY SHOULDN'T, WE THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA THAT WE DO THAT.

AND THE DEVIL'S IN THE DETAILS, TOO.

EVERY STATE HAS SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT WAYS OF GETTING THE ORDERS.

YOU KNOW, IMPLEMENTING THE ORDERS, WHETHER THEY GO AND TAKE THE GUNS, YOU KNOW, ALL THOSE KINDS OF THINGS DIFFER FROM STATE TO STATE.

AND, SO, DETAILS ARE BEING FIGURED OUT, SO WE CAN MOVE FORWARD ON THAT.

>> Eric: YOU HAD A GUN STORAGE BILL, I THINK, THAT DIDN'T MAKE IT.

>> CORRECT.

YEAH.

YOU KNOW, IT'S KIND OF -- IT WAS ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE ACTUALLY ON ITS FACE SEEMS LIKE THE MOST COMMON-SENSE ONES OF HE BUNCH.

AS A LIFE-LONG GUN OWNER MYSELF, FOR MOST FOLKS, THAT WAS PRETTY COMMON SENSE.

YOU KNOW, THINGS IN THE LEGISLATURE ARE NOT ALWAYS LOGICAL.

THE BEST ARGUMENTS DON'T ALWAYS WIN.

YOU KNOW, FRUSTRATING THAT SHERIFFS, IN PARTICULAR, WERE OPPOSED TO THAT.

IT'S A LITTLE BIT TROUBLING THAT OUR SHERIFFS WOULD BE OPPOSED TO STORING WEAPONS SAFELY.

BUT THERE'S MORE ORGANIZING GOING ON, AND WE'LL DEFINITELY BE BRINGING THINGS FORWARD NEXT YEAR.

>> Cathy: STRAW PURCHASES ARE ALSO REALLY BIG.

I MEAN, THAT WOULD -- THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP IN THE PAST, BUT THERE'S BEEN NO MOVEMENT ON THAT EITHER.

HOW DISAPPOINTING IS THAT FOR YOU?

>> YOU KNOW, ANY TIME WE CAN'T MOVE SOMETHING FORWARD, IT'S DISAPPOINTING, BUT, AT THE SAME TIME, IT'S JUST SO SIGNIFICANT THAT WE MOVED ANYTHING FORWARD AND IS ACTUALLY CHANGING RIGHT NOW THAT I THINK THAT THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.

AGAIN, IF WE CAN PREVENT SOME OF THOSE BAD OUTCOMES FROM HAPPENING, THEN IT'S WORTH IT.

>> Eric: THE PUBLIC SAFETY BILL, WAS IT $880 MILLION?

BIG NUMBER.

>> YUP.

>> I KNOW THAT THE COURT SYSTEM, THE JUSTICE SYSTEM, I THINK, HAS BEEN UNDERFUNDED FOR QUITE A WHILE.

IS IT PLUGGING SOME HOLES THERE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THIS IS ACTUALLY ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY WE HAD WITH THIS BUDGET.

SO, FOLKS MAY HAVE SEEN IN THE NEWS RECENTLY, WE WERE ABLE TO INCREASE FUNDING FOR PUBLIC DEFENDERS, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A LEGAL RIGHT TO REPRESENTATION IN CRIMINAL CASES.

AND WE HAVEN'T FUNDED THAT AS A STATE, YOU KNOW, ADEQUATELY FOR MAYBE -- MAYBE EVER HAVE WE EVER FUNDED IT ADEQUATELY.

SO WE FINALLY PUT THE FUNDS INTO THAT AS WELL AS CIVIL LEGAL SERVICES WHERE WE KNOW PREVIOUSLY OVER HALF OF THE PEOPLE WHO QUALIFY ARE BEING TURNED AWAY.

IT'S ACTUALLY AN 85% INCREASE IN CIVIL LEGAL SERVICES HIS YEAR.

>> Cathy: DO YOU THINK, THE TWO BILLS THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT HERE TONIGHT, IS THERE A POSSIBILITY THAT THEY COULD BE CHALLENGED IN COURT ON SECOND AMENDMENT GROUNDS?

>> I MEAN, THERE'S ALWAYS SOMEBODY WHO WILL FILE A LAWSUIT.

IT'S A MATTER OF WHETHER IT'S A VALID LAWSUIT THAT'S ACTUALLY GOING TO MOVE FORWARD.

WE KNOW THAT WE'RE NOT THE FIRST STATE TO MOVE THESE BILLS FORWARD AND THEY'VE BEEN UPHELD IN MANY OTHER STATES.

SO I THINK CONSTITUTIONALLY, THEY'RE SOUND.

>> Eric: WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING DOWN AND TALKING TO US TONIGHT.

THANKS VERY MUCH.

>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

>> Eric: GOOD TO SEE YOU, THANKS.

♪♪ >> CATHY: EARLIER THIS WEEK, THE LEGISLATIVE REPORT ON YOUTH HOMELESSNESS WAS RELEASED.

THE JOINT PROJECT BETWEEN WILDER RESEARCH AND THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES IDENTIFIED PERSISTENT BARRIERS AND GAPS IN RESOURCES FOR HOMELESS YOUTH, INCLUDING RACIST PRACTICES AND THE LACK - OF YOUTH-CENTERED SOLUTIONS.

JOINING US WITH MORE ON THE REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR LAWMAKERS, MICHELLE DECKER GERRARD LED THE STUDY FOR WILDER RESEARCH.

HERE TOO IS JAMES LEWIS.

HE HAS WORKED IN YOUTH HOMELESSNESS FOR MANY YEARS, MOST OF THE LAST DECADE WITH THE LINK, A TWIN-CITIES-BASED ORGANIZATION THAT WORKS WITH YOUTH IN POVERTY.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU BOTH HERE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

MICHELLE, FOR FOLKS, I BET SOME PEOPLE ARE SURPRISED THAT THERE'S SUCH A BIG YOUTH HOMELESSNESS PROBLEM IN MINNESOTA.

WHO ARE THESE YOUNG PEOPLE?

WHY ARE THEY ON THE STREETS?

>> WELL, EVERY YOUNG PERSON HAS A DIFFERENT STORY TO TELL.

A LOT OF COMPLEX HISTORIES, A LOT OF TRAUMA IN THEIR BACKGROUNDS.

WE HAVE YOUTH THAT HAVE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, YOUTH WITH PHYSICAL DISABILITIES, YOUTH THAT AVE BEEN IN FOSTER CARE, YOUTH WHO ARE LGBTQ AND MAYBE FOLKS DON'T UNDERSTAND OR ACCEPT THEIR IDENTITIES.

SO A WIDE, WIDE VARIETY OF FACTORS.

AND THEN SOME YOUTH ARE JUST EXPERIENCING POVERTY, CAN'T MAKE RENT AND, SO, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 24 YEARS OLD AND YOUNGER FOR UR YOUTH POPULATION, AND WE HAVE ABOUT 5,000 YOUTH WHO ARE HOMELESS ON ANY GIVEN NIGHT IN MINNESOTA.

SO IT'S A PRETTY CONSIDERABLE PROBLEM.

>> Cathy: JAMES, HOW DOES HOMELESSNESS AFFECT YOUTH DIFFERENTLY THAN ADULTS?

>> OOF, IN SO MANY WAYS.

YOUTH THAT ARE HOMELESS, THEY HAVEN'T HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO FIGURE OUT LIFE YET.

SO, THEY'RE STARTING OUT KIND OF IN A DEFICIT.

THE SERVICES THAT ARE AVAILABLE ARE SO IMPORTANT, THEY NEED MORE THAN JUST HOUSING.

THEY STILL NEED THE SUPPORT ON WHAT IT MEANS TO BECOME INDEPENDENT, HOW YOU FOLLOW A LEASE, HOW YOU GET ALONG IN YOUR COMMUNITY, GET CONNECTED TO RESOURCES, AND WITH THE ADULT SIDE, IT'S JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE COLD.

YOU GET WHAT YOU GET AND THEN YOU HAVE TO FIGURE IT OUT.

AND FOR THE YOUTH, THAT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH.

THEY NEED A LOT MORE.

>> Eric: ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS IS TO HAVE HOMELESS YOUTH AT THE TABLE, MAKING SUGGESTIONS, AND APPARENTLY -- I'M SURPRISED THAT ISN'T HAPPENING.

>> IT IS STARTING TO HAPPEN.

IT NEEDS TO HAPPEN WAY MORE.

IT'S A SHAME THAT IT'S AKEN THIS LONG TO GET EVERYBODY TO REALIZE THAT THIS IS THE WAY TO DO IT.

AT THE LINK, WE HAVE ABOUT 50 YOUNG PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE ON STAFF THAT HELP US RUN AND OPERATE ALL OUR PROGRAMS, AND WE FIGURED OUT THAT THE BEST WAY TO SOLVE THE ISSUES IS LET THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE MOST EXPERIENCE HELP US FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO THAT.

>> Eric: AND JUST TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT, ANOTHER OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS INDICATES THAT THERE'S A PATCHWORK OF POLICIES, CITY, COUNTY, STATE, UNCOORDINATED, NO -- SORT OF EVERYBODY ON THE SAME PAGE.

>> UM-HUM.

>> Eric: HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN?

>> THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT FUNDING SOURCES.

SO MANY DIFFERENT JURISDICTIONS.

AND YOUTH AREN'T JUST DEALING WITH THE HOUSING ISSUE.

AS JAMES SAID.

SO THEY'RE GOING TO SCHOOL, SOME OF THEM ARE INVOLVED WITH CHILD PROTECTION, SOME OF THEM ARE INVOLVED WITH THE LEGAL SYSTEM.

AND, SO, IT'S HAVING ALL THOSE SYSTEMS WORK TOGETHER, WHICH CURRENTLY THAT'S THE FRAGMENTATION, THEY AREN'T.

SO YOUTH SERVICE PROVIDERS DO DO A REALLY GOOD JOB, WE FOUND IN OUR REPORT, OF WORKING TOGETHER.

IT'S REALLY QUITE AMAZING, THEIR PARTNERSHIP WITH THOSE WHO WORK JUST WITH YOUTH HOMELESS FOLKS.

BUT ALL THE OTHER SYSTEMS THAT COME INTO PLAY THAT A YOUTH HAS TO DEAL WITH ON A DAILY BASIS IS WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

JUST REALLY COMPLEX.

>> Cathy: JAMES, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN ANSWER THIS QUESTION.

I'M GOING TO ASSUME THAT YOU MOSTLY WORK WITH URBAN YOUTH?

DO YOU FIND -- THE PROBLEM'S IN RURAL AREAS, RIGHT?

>> YES.

>> Cathy: DO THE RURAL KIDS COME IN TO THE CITIES LOOKING FOR HELP?

>> THEY DO, UNFORTUNATELY, BECAUSE THERE HASN'T BEEN A LOT OF RESOURCES IN THE RURAL AREA SO THEY'RE KIND OF FORCED TO RELOCATE.

I MEAN, I'M JUST SO PROUD OF WHAT WE'RE DOING AT THE LINK.

WE ARE ALSO WORKING IN THE SUBURBS.

WE'VE BEEN CONCENTRATING IN THE SUBURBAN AREAS FOR THE PAST SIX OR EVEN YEARS.

SIX OR SEVEN YEARS.

A LOT OF IT HAS BEEN EDUCATION THAT THOSE AREAS UNDERSTAND THE DEPTH OF THE ISSUES THAT ARE GOING ON.

AND THEN IT'S JUST TO LISTEN AND SUPPORT.

AND THEN HOPEFULLY IF THEY'RE HOMELESS AND THEY WANT TO STAY IN THEIR HOME COMMUNITY, THEY CAN DO THAT.

>> Eric: KIDS ARE PRETTY RESILIENT.

I WONDER IF YOU COULD SHARE A COUPLE OF SUCCESS STORIES WHERE HOMELESSNESS HAS BEEN ERADICATED, OTHER PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED.

I ASSUME THESE KIDS CAN REALLY FLOURISH.

>> OH, ABSOLUTELY.

THAT'S WHAT KEEPS ME IN THE WORK, IS THEIR RESILIENCY.

AND IT UST HUMBLES ME ALL THE TIME TO THINK OF WHAT THEY'RE ABLE TO GO THROUGH AND STILL SHOW UP AND WANT TO PURSUE GOALS AND WANT TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY.

THERE'S BEEN SO MANY EXPERIENCES THAT I'VE HAD THE GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO SEE FLOURISH.

WE HAVE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO COME IN WITH EXTREME BARRIERS AND TRAUMA AND HAVE BEEN ABLE TO NOT ONLY CONTRIBUTE TO BUILDING THE COMMUNITY THAT THEY'RE LIVING IN BUT OBTAIN PERMANENT POSITIONS AT OUR AGENCY AS WELL.

SO, WE'VE SEEN OUNG PARENTS REALLY GET AN OPPORTUNITY O GET INVOLVED WITH EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT, GET SOME GREAT SUPPORT TO THEIR CHILDREN, AT THE SAME TIME GET SUPPORT FOR THEMSELVES AND INCREASE THEIR INCOME AND BECOME SOLID FAMILY HOMEOWNERS.

>> Cathy: THOSE ARE SUCCESS STORIES.

I WAS TALKING TO A FRIEND TODAY, ICHELLE, ABOUT THE LARGE ENCAMPMENT THAT IS IN MINNEAPOLIS RIGHT NOW.

OFF OF FRANKLIN AVENUE AND HIAWATHA.

I'M SURE THERE'S PROBABLY SOME YOUNG PEOPLE THERE, TOO.

FOR THE PAST 30 YEARS, I MEAN, ERIC AND I HAVE BEEN DOING STORIES ABOUT HOMELESSNESS FOR, LIKE, 30 YEARS, WHY IS THE NEEDLE NOT REALLY -- DOESN'T SEEM LIKE IT'S MOVING, THE PROBLEM SEEMS LIKE IT'S GETTING WORSE.

>> WELL, THE PROBLEM -- PART OF THE PROBLEM WAS THE INVESTMENT.

AND THIS LEGISLATIVE ESSION, OF COURSE, THERE WAS A BIG INVESTMENT THAT WE'RE SUPER EXCITED ABOUT.

SO EVERYONE WHO WORKS IN THE HOMELESSNESS COMMUNITY IS PRETTY DARN HAPPY ABOUT THE INVESTMENT THAT WAS MADE IN HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS THIS SESSION.

SO THAT SHOULD REALLY HELP.

BUT IN ADDITION, WE DO NEED ALL THOSE OTHER UPSTREAM THINGS TO HAPPEN SO THAT PEOPLE DON'T LOSE THEIR HOUSING AND DON'T LOSE THOSE SUPPORTS.

AND PART OF THE REASON WHY PEOPLE ARE OUTSIDE AND ENCAMPING IS THE SERVICES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO HEM AREN'T REALLY ACCESSIBLE OR THE ONES THAT THEY NEED.

THEY MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO GET INTO A SHELTER WITH THEIR PARTNER OR WITH THEIR DOG OR WHATEVER IT IS.

SO THEY'RE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING THAT MEETS THEIR NEEDS.

SO THAT'S REALLY REALLY IMPORTANT AS PART OF OUR REPORT, WE FOUND THAT INDIVIDUALIZED SHELTER AND SERVICES ARE WHAT PEOPLE NEED.

>> Cathy: JAMES, DO YOU WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT ON THAT?

>> I MEAN, THAT'S THE BRUNT OF IT, YOU KNOW.

JUST TO BECOME ELIGIBLE TO GAIN ACCESS TO SERVICES HAS BECOME REALLY CHALLENGING.

>> Eric: YOU GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE HOMELESS KIDS KNOW THAT THE STUFF IS THERE TO ACCESS, I SUPPOSE, TOO.

>> YES, YES.

WE HAVE PLENTY OF WORKERS THAT ARE OUT ON THE STREET TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE KIDS ARE AWARE OF WHAT'S OING ON.

I FEEL LIKE AS PROVIDERS, THAT'S PART OF OUR JOB IS TO HELP EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST MONEY THAT WE NEED, IT'S THE SUPPORT AND EDUCATION AND JUST KNOWLEDGE THAT THERE'S AN ISSUE OUT THERE.

AND THE MORE PEOPLE THAT KNOW, THE MORE LIKELY WE'LL GET A CHANCE O END HOMELESSNESS.

>> Eric: WISH WE HAD MORE TIME.

THANK YOU, BOTH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Cathy: THANK YOU.

♪♪ >> ERIC: ONE LAWMAKER HAS MADE HISTORY NOT JUST ONCE BUT TWICE NOW, THANKS TO HER FAMILY CONNECTIONS AT THE CAPITOL.

MARY LAHAMMER HAS A UNIQUE LOOK AT TWO LAWMAKERS FROM TWO DIFFERENT CHAMBERS WHO DECIDED TO JOIN FORCES WALKING DOWN A DIFFERENT AISLE TOGETHER.

>> I CAN'T BELIEVE WE'RE GOING TO BE SERVING IN THIS PLACE TOGETHER.

>> I KNOW, I KNOW.

>> Mary: ALMOST A DECADE AGO, THEN REPRESENTATIVE MARION O'NEILL MADE HISTORY AS PART OF THE FIRST BROTHER/SISTER DUO IN THE LEGISLATURE.

>> IF SHE WOULDN'T HAVE PUSHED ME THAT HARD, I WOULD HAVE NEVER -- I WOULD NOT BE STANDING HERE TODAY.

>> I THINK ABOUT WHAT MY BROTHER DID, OVERCAME THE BRAIN TUMOR AND PARTIAL PARALYSIS AND IF HE CAN WIN WITH WHAT HE HAD TO OVERCOME, I'M JUST SO PROUD OF HIM.

I WAS TOLD BY SO MANY PEOPLE, INCLUDING IN MY OWN LEADERSHIP, DON'T SPEND YOUR TIME THERE, YOU'RE NEVER GONNA WIN.

I'M LIKE, LISTEN, DON'T TELL TWO DANIELS THAT WE CAN'T DO SOMETHING, WE'RE NOT GOING TO WIN, BECAUSE IT JUST MADE US WORK HARDER.

AND HE DID WIN AND HE FLIPPED A TEN-YEAR DFL INCUMBENT.

>> Mary: NOW THE REPRESENTATIVE FROM MAPLE LAKE HAS A NEW NAME AND SPOUSE.

>> ON THE FOURTH OF JULY, SENATOR RARICK AND I GOT MARRIED AND I CHANGED MY NAME TO RARICK.

SO NOW I AM REPRESENTATIVE RARICK.

IT WAS AMAZING AND EXCITING.

>> BRIAN AND I CAME IN TOGETHER IN 2014 ELECTION, KIND OF WHERE WE HAD THAT MOVE, KIND OF THAT RURAL SWING.

>> Mary: WE FIRST MET SENATOR RARICK ALSO A DECADE AGO ON THE HOUSE CAMPAIGN TRAIL WHEN THE ELECTRICIAN TRIED WHAT WAS A UNIQUE APPROACH TO CAMPAIGN FOR UNION VOTES IN MINNESOTA.

>> I WOULD BE AT REPUBLICAN EVENTS AND SAY I'M THE ONLY REPUBLICAN WHO'S A UNION MEMBER.

I'D BE AT UNYAO THINGS AND SAY, 'M THE ONLY UNION GUY WHO'S IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

AND I'D HAVE PEOPLE PULLING ME TO THE SIDE, OH, NO, I'M A REPUBLICAN, TOO, OR, HEY, I'M IN THE UP, TOO.

>> Mary: THE ISSUE OF MARRIAGE WAS FRONT AND CENTER THEN.

>> THAT IS THE ONE ISSUE THAT HAS REALLY UPSET A NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THE AREA.

>> Mary: AND ARE YOU AGAINST SAME-SEX MARRIAGE?

>> I'M OPPOSED TO SAME-SEX MARRIAGE, BUT I WOULD BE FOR SOMETHING LIKE A CIVIL UNION.

>> Mary: HAVE YOU CHANGED OR EVOLVED AT ALL FROM YOUR STANCE ON THAT?

>> YOU KNOW, NO, I STILL BELIEVE KIND OF THE SAME THING.

>> IT'S LAW NOW.

IT'S VERY -- IT'S A VERY PASSIONATE THING.

>> Mary: YOU MIGHT SAY THE RARICKS SHARE A SIMILAR APPROACH TO LAWMAKING, THEY'RE BOTH NOT AFRAID TO DIVE IN AND DO THE HARD WORK BEHIND THE SCENES, EVEN REACHING ACROSS THE AISLE, WHILE MAINTAINING THEIR CONSERVATIVE CREDENTIALS.

>> I WOULD RATHER BE KNOWN AS THE PERSON THAT DOVE IN AND MADE THE BILL BETTER.

IF YOU WATCH ME IN COMMITTEE, EVERY SINGLE COMMITTEE HEARING, I'M ASKING THE HARD QUESTIONS, I'M POINTING THINGS OUT THAT MIGHT BE PROBLEMATIC AND I'M LISTENED TO.

AND THINGS CHANGE.

SO, THAT'S WHERE I WANT TO LIVE.

>> Mary: I THINK OF HIGHER ED, TOO, AN ISSUE THAT YOU BOTH HAVE WORKED ON BUT THAT YOU'VE LED WITH AND REALLY HAD SOME BIPARTISAN COALITIONS IN THE SENATE.

DO YOU THINK THAT'S A LITTLE LET POLITICIZED BECAUSE OF THAT?

>> YEAH, I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE PROBABLY TWO OR THREE COMMITTEE AREAS WHERE YOU CAN KIND OF GET RID OF THAT POLITICAL LEAN AND TRY TO GET AT WHAT THE NEEDS REALLY ARE AND GET BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.

>> MY TRACK OF MANY YEARS OF REFORMING OUR SEXUAL ASSAULT LEGISLATION, SO A 13-YEAR-OLD COULD ACTUALLY GET JUSTICE.

SHE STILL TO THIS DAY DOESN'T HAVE JUSTICE.

>> Mary: THAT BUILT BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> Mary: THE PAIR MET AT A POLITICAL PARADE WHICH SEEMS APPROPRIATE.

>> I GRABBED A BUNCH OF HER SIGNS, WHERE'S A BATTERY DRILL, WE PUT UP A BUNCH OF HER SIGNS ON THE FLOAT.

>> Mary: USED HIS HANDY SKILLS.

>> I DID.

OH, YOU'RE MY HERO.

>> Mary: HAVE YOU DISAGREED ON POLITICS OR POLICY?

>> OH, YEAH.

>> Mary: GIVE ME ONE, WHAT HAVE YOU DISAGREED ON?

>> THERE HASN'T BEEN ANYTHING MAJOR.

>> Mary: THEY'RE NOT THE FIRST HUSBAND AND WIFE TEAM IN THE LEGISLATURE BUT THEY ARE THE LATEST.

>> E'RE ACTUALLY LOSING GOOD CANDIDATES BECAUSE THEY SEE THE ATTACKS THAT HAPPEN TO THEIR FAMILIES WHEN THEY'RE ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL.

>> Mary: YOUR CAUCUS DIDN'T BRING A SINGLE NEW WOMAN.

>> RIGHT.

>> Mary: THIS LAST ELECTION CYCLE.

>> WE RECRUITED A NUMBER.

AND IN THE END, THEY WERE JUST LIKE, NO, I CAN'T DO THIS.

AND MANY OF THEM, WERE, I CAN'T DO IT TO MY FAMILY.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO KIND OF CHALLENGE PEOPLE ON THE FAR EXTREME OF OUR PARTY AND THE FAR EXTREME OF THE OTHER PARTY W WHEN WE RUN THESE ADS, LET'S BE RESPECTFUL OF THE CANDIDATE AND THEIR FAMILIES BECAUSE WE'RE DRIVING GOOD CANDIDATES FROM BOTH PARTIES AWAY FROM THAT WILLINGNESS TO RUN.

>> Mary: THE RARICKS PLAN TO MAINTAIN SEPARATE RESIDENCES IN THEIR DIFFERENT DISTRICTS, BUT HOPE THEIR PARTY CAN FIND MORE SUCCESS IN THE FUTURE AS THEY DID IN EACH OTHER.

WHAT DO REPUBLICANS HAVE TO DO TO GET TRACTION STATEWIDE AND START WINNING AGAIN?

>> NEED TO GET PEOPLE TO SEE US KIND OF AS PEOPLE THAT THEY CAN RELATE TO.

AND I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'VE DONE A GOOD JOB OF THAT IN THESE LAST FEW GO-AROUNDS, YOU KNOW, JUST TO FIND SOMEONE, ESPECIALLY, THAT JUST A NORMAL PERSON THAT PEOPLE IN THE SUBURBS, PEOPLE IN RURAL AREA AND PEOPLE IN THE URBAN CAN ALL LOOK AT AND SAY, I CAN CONNECT WITH THAT PERSON.

>> Mary: WHAT DO YOU THINK?

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE SOLUTIONS FOR YOUR PARTY?

>> I'M A CONSERVATIVE WOMAN, WOMAN OF FAITH, AND WE'VE KIND OF OVERLOOKED SOME OF THE WOMEN, THE MOMS, THE SOCCER MOMS, ESPECIALLY IN THE SUBURBS.

AND WE NEED TO RESONATE BETTER WITH THEM.

>> Mary: DO YOU THINK THE CHAMBERS COULD FLIP AGAIN?

DO YOU THINK THAT THEY'RE IN CONTENTION?

>> I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE REAL CLOSE.

YOU KNOW, I THINK, YOU KNOW, YOU LOOK AT IT THIS YEAR, A COUPLE SEATS, YOU KNOW, AWFULLY CLOSE.

I JUST THINK IT'S GOING O STAY THAT WAY FOR QUITE A WHILE IN MINNESOTA.

>> Mary: HOW ABOUT THE HOUSE, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> YEAH, I THINK THE HOUSE CAN FLIP.

♪♪ >> HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM I HAVE: YOU RECEIVE A GIFT CARD FOR A BIRTHDAY, OR AS A "“THANK YOU,"” AND YOU TUCK IT AWAY TO USE ON SOMETHING SPECIAL.

EXCEPT NOTHING IS EVER SPECIAL ENOUGH TO WARRANT USING THE GIFT CARD.

NEW CLOTHES?

NO, TOO PEDESTRIAN.

GROCERIES?

TOO QUOTIDIAN.

THAT ITEM IN YOUR "“SAVED FOR LATER"” AMAZON LIST?

YOU DON'’T REALLY NEED IT RIGHT NOW.

I MEAN, DO YOU EVEN REALLY NEED IT?

BETTER SAVE THE GIFT CARD FOR SOMETHING YOU NEED.

LIKE GROCERIES.

AND AROUND AND AROUND IT GOES.

BY THE TIME YOU'’RE READY TO USE THAT GIFT CARD, YOU'’LL OPEN UP THE ENVELOPE AND NOTHING BUT DUST WILL FALL OUT.

I CAN'’T HELP BUT THINK OF THE LATE MINNESOTA PLAYWRIGHT TOM POOLE, WHO PASSED MUCH TOO EARLY.

AT HIS MEMORIAL SERVICE, WHICH WAS PACKED, A FRIEND TOLD A STORY ABOUT BEING OUT TO DINNER WITH TOM AND SHE WAS WORRIED ABOUT EATING TOO MANY TACOS.

TOM SAID SOMETHING LIKE, "“JUST EAT THE TACOS,"” ENCOURAGING HER TO ENJOY A DELICIOUS MEAL BECAUSE WE NEVER KNOW WHEN WE'’RE DONE HERE.

I TRY TO REMEMBER THAT WHEN I'’M SAVING SOMETHING FOR A "“SPECIAL OCCASION.

"” EVERY DAY IS A SPECIAL OCCASION.

USE THE GIFT CARD FOR A "“WANT"” NOT A "“NEED.

"” WEAR THE "“NICE"” OUTFIT TO THE GROCERY STORE.

AND GO AHEAD AND EAT SOME DELICIOUS TACOS.

>> YES!

>> ABSOLUTELY!

[ Applause ] ♪♪ >> CATHY: IT'S BEEN A SUMMER OF DROUGHT AND POOR AIR QUALITY HERE IN MINNESOTA.

AND THIS WEEK IS NO DIFFERENT.

DESPITE SOME RAIN SCATTERED AROUND THE REGION, THE MAJORITY OF THE STATE REMAINS IN DROUGHT.

AND PORTIONS OF THE STATE, INCLUDING THE TWIN CITIES, ARE AGAIN UNDER AN AIR QUALITY ALERT AS SMOKE FROM CANADIAN WILDFIRES HAS TRAVELED SOUTHWARD.

PAUL DOUGLAS IS HERE FOR HIS MONTHLY WEATHER CHAT.

PAUL HEADS UP HIS OWN WEATHER COMPANY, PREDICT-IX, AND HIS WEATHER MUSINGS CAN BE FOUND IN THE "STAR TRIBUNE" AND ON WCCO RADIO.

AND WE'RE EXCITED TO HAVE MARK SEELEY JOIN US THIS WEEK AS WELL.

LONGTIME METEOROLOGIST AND CLIMATOLOGIST AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA.

BETWEEN THE TWO OF THEM, WHAT, MORE THAN 85 YEARS -- >> 185 YEARS, YES, YEAH.

>> 85 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE RIGHT HERE ON THE OLD OUCH.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU GUYS HERE.

WOW, DROUGHTY, SMOGGY, SOOTY, SMOKY SUMMER.

THIS IS NOT EXACTLY ATTRACTIVE, YOU GUYS.

WHAT'S GOING ON HERE, PAUL DOUGLAS?

>> WELL, I'M HERE BECAUSE MARK SEELEY HAS THE ANSWER KEY AND I WANT TO FIND OUT EXACTLY WHAT IS GOING ON HERE.

[ Laughter ] YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE MANY REASONS I MOVED TO MINNESOTA WAS THE AIR QUALITY.

YOU KNOW?

COOL, CLEAN, CANADIAN AIR.

WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT CANADIAN AIR, IT'S NOT A PEJORATIVE.

IT'S A GOOD THING.

YOU KNOW?

>> RIGHT, RIGHT.

>> AND WE DON'T HAVE HEAVY INDUSTRIAL UPWIND BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF TREES UPWIND AND WHAT HAPPENS IN ANADA DOESN'T STAY IN CANADA.

AND THE FIRES HAVE BEEN HISTORIC, RIGHT, MARK?

>> SURE HAVE.

AND ALSO THE DOMINANCE OF HIGH PRESSURE, WHICH IS DAY TO DAY.

YOU LOOK AT THE WEATHER MAPS, YOU KEEP SEEING HIGH PRESSURE CELLS.

AND, SO, WE GET THE SMOKE, WE GET LACK OF PRECIPITATION, NO ATMOSPHERIC DYNAMICS OPERATING OVER US LIKE WE USUALLY GET IN THE SUMMERTIME.

AND FOURTH HOTTEST JUNE IN STATE HISTORY, STATEWIDE BASIS.

AND THEN, YEAH, IT'S REALLY GONE CRAZY, AND I SENSE A FRUSTRATION FROM MOST PEOPLE THAT I ENCOUNTER.

YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY BEEN A CHALLENGING SUMMER SO FAR.

IN RELATIVE TERMS, WE'RE LUCKY, THOUGH, PAUL, BECAUSE LOOK WHAT'S HAPPENING ELSEWHERE.

>> YEAH.

I'M GLAD I DIDN'T TAKE THE GIG IN PHOENIX.

>> Eric: WAS IT JUST RECENTLY WE RECORDED THE WARMEST DAY ON EARTH SINCE THE BEGINNING OF RECORDKEEPING?

>> YES.

YES.

>> Eric: THAT'S SOBERING, WASN'T IT?

>> LAST WEEK.

AND LAST WEEK WAS PROBABLY THE WARMEST WEEK IN 100,000 YEARS OR LONGER.

AND, LOOK, THERE HAVE BEEN PERIODS WHEN IT'S BEEN WARMER THAN THIS.

BUT THERE WAS ALWAYS A REASON FOR THAT.

EITHER VOLCANIC OR ASTRONOMICAL, CHANGES IN THE EARTH'S ORBIT.

BUT THIS TIME IT'S US.

AND IT'S GETTING HARDER AND HARDER TO DISMISS AND DENY WHAT'S HAPPENING.

AND DURING THE SUMMER, THAT'S WHEN ALL THE SYMPTOMS BECOME GLARINGLY OBVIOUS.

YOU MAY BE ABLE TO IGNORE IT IN JANUARY OR FEBRUARY, ALTHOUGH I QUOTE YOU ALL THE TIME WHEN I GO OUT AND GIVE MY TALKS THAT RAIN AND ICE IN MID-WINTER IS NOW, WHAT, FOUR TIMES MORE LIKELY THAN IT WAS BEFORE 2000.

>> FOUR OR FIVE TIMES MORE LIKELY.

NOVEMBER THROUGH MARCH, WE USED TO PRETTY CONSISTENTLY IN GENERATIONS GONE BY HAVE FROZEN PRECIPITATION ALL THE TIME.

>> RIGHT.

>> OKAY.

NOW WE'RE IN THE MODE OF ICE OR RAINFALL IN THAT INTERVAL AND WITH A GREATER AND GREATER FREQUENCY WITH EACH PASSING DECADE.

THAT'S THE OTHER ASIDE, PAUL, IS THE PACE OF CHANGE.

>> RIGHT.

>> IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NORTH AMERICAN CONTINENT WHERE WE MINNESOTANS LIVE, WE'RE SEEING A PACE OF CHANGE THAT'S JUST PHENOMENAL.

>> Cathy: I BET YOU GUYS HAVE SOME GRAPHICS, KNOWING BOTH OF YOU.

>> YES.

>> Cathy: KNOWING YOU WEATHER EXPERTS.

>> WELL, IT IS TELEVISION, RIGHT?

>> Cathy: IT IS TELEVISION, YES.

>> Eric: WE COULD USE A DROUGHT MAP.

>> WE DO HAVE A DROUGHT MAP.

THAT'S COMING UP.

LET ME JUST RECAP SOME OF THE THINGS WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT.

>> Eric: SURE, PLEASE.

>> WITH JUNE SPECIFICALLY, HOTTEST JUNE ON RECORD WORLDWIDE.

AND THE FIVE HOTTEST JUNES ON RECORD HAVE OCCURRED IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS.

>> Cathy: WOW.

>> NOW, MAYBE THAT'S A COINCIDENCE.

I THINK NOT.

NEXT WEEK, THE HEAT DOME, WE'RE GETTING ALL THESE NEW WAYS OF DESCRIBING THE HEAT, HEAT DOMES AND MARINE HEAT WAVES.

I SAW A WATER TEMPERATURE IN THE EVERGLADES, 98°.

THE WATER TEMPERATURE.

AND WHAT IS THAT GOING TO DO TO HURRICANE SEASON?

WE DON'T KNOW.

BUT THANKFULLY, MERCIFULLY, MINNESOTA, WISCONSIN, WILL GET OFF RELATIVELY EASY.

WE'RE GOING TO BE IN THE 80s, JUST TO OUR SOUTH, THOUGH, AS CLOSE AS KANSAS CITY AND EVEN CHICAGO, THE HEAT INDEX WELL OVER 100 NEXT WEEK AS THE HEAT PEAKS.

AND YOU ARM THINGS UP, THAT INCREASES THE FREQUENCY OF FLOODING.

WE'VE BEEN SEEING SOME CRAZY FLOODS IN RECENT WEEKS.

MOST RECENTLY IN NEW ENGLAND, VERMONT, INDIA, ALL KINDS OF FLOODING.

AND I FOUND THIS STATISTIC FROM CLIMATE CENTRAL FASCINATING.

BACK IN 1980, IN THE UNITED STATES WE WENT 82 DAYS, ON AVERAGE, BETWEEN BILLION-DOLLAR DISASTERS.

NOW THAT HAS SHRUNK TO 18 DAYS BETWEEN BILLION-DOLLAR DISASTERS.

SO THE ADENCE OF THESE WEATHER EXTREMES IS INCREASING.

THE FREQUENCY AND INTENSITY OF THESE EXTREMES THAT WE'VE HAD SINCE THE BEGINNING OF TIME, THEY'RE BECOMING MORE FREQUENT AND MORE EXTREME.

WE'RE POURING TOBASCO SAUCE ON OUR ICE CREAM SUNDAE.

>> Eric: AND YOU'VE SEEN ALL OF THE RECORDS THAT HAVE FALLEN, EVERY FRIDAY I HEAR YOU TWO TALKING AND SOME OTHER RECORD HAS FALLEN.

>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

THE PACE THAT WE'RE SETTING RECORDS IS PHENOMENAL.

AND CATHY AND I MORE RECENTLY HAVE, ON MPR, HAVE TALKED ABOUT THE AMPLIFIED VARIABILITY, ERIC.

AND THAT, TOO, WE HAVE THESE LONG-TERM MEAN TRENDS, STATISTITIONS USE MEAN VALUES A LOT.

UPWARDS IN TEMPERATURE, UPWARDS IN PRECIPITATION, ET CETERA.

BUT THE BACKGROUND VARIATION IS INCREASING, AND THAT'S WHAT WORRIES ME ABOUT THE DROUGHT CYCLES WE'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH.

SINCE 2015 TO BOUT 2020, WE HAD NO DROUGHT IN MINNESOTA.

IT WAS HARD TO FIND DROUGHT.

BUT STARTING IN 2020, AND THEN EVERY YEAR SINCE WE'VE HAD DROUGHT CREEP INTO THE STATE LANDSCAPE, AND THIS YEAR, AS WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IN RECENT WEEKS, IT DOESN'T LOOK TO ME LIKE IT'S GOING TO GO AWAY.

THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN IN THE SUMMER VERY OFTEN.

IT'S EITHER GOING TO REMAIN STABLE, THAT'S MAYBE THE BEST-CASE SCENARIO, OR IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO EXPAND UNTIL WE GET INTO THE AUTUMN SEASON.

>> EXCUSE ME.

I HAVE TO -- SINCE MARK IS HERE, I HAVE TO ASK THE QUESTION.

I WAS UNDER THE ILLUSION THAT SPRINGS WERE TRENDING WETTER.

>> Cathy: EXACTLY.

>> AND EVEN EARLY SUMMERS.

IN, WHAT, 2019, WETTEST YEAR ON RECORD FOR MINNESOTA.

>> RIGHT, RIGHT, YEAH.

>> WHAT HAPPENED?

I MEAN, THAT HAS BEEN MIND BLOWING FOR ME AS A METEOROLOGIST.

WHY IS IT TRENDING TOWARDS DROUGHT AND NOT WETTER?

>> VARIABILITY.

THE AMPLIFIED VARIABILITY.

WHEN WE HAVE -- WHEN WE GO THE OTHER WAY, WHEN WE GO INTO A MID LATITUDE DRY PATTERN, WE LOCK IN AND THAT'S IT.

WHEN WE GO INTO A MID-LATITUDE WET PATTERN, IT'S REALLY MORE AMPLIFIED.

SO IT'S BACK TO THE HIGH DEGREE OF VARIABILITY THAT WE HAVE.

>> OKAY.

>> THAT WHEN THE SWITCH SWITCHES, THE TERM FLASH DROUGHT COMES INTO PLAY, CATHY, WHICH WE'VE TALKED ABOUT A LOT.

>> Cathy: EXACTLY.

>> BUT WE ALSO GO THE OTHER WAY AND SOMETIMES WHEN WE GO THE OTHER WAY, WE HAVE FLASH RECOVERY.

YOU KNOW, ALL OF A SUDDEN IF WE HAVE A WET AUTUMN, FOR EXAMPLE, WE COULD HAVE A PROLIFIC WET AUTUMN THAT'S TWO OR THREE TIMES NORMAL AND RECOVER FROM THIS DROUGHT YET THIS YEAR, ALTHOUGH I THINK THAT'S A LOW PROBABILITY.

THE RECENT STATISTICS, ERIC, SHOW THAT SINCE THE YEAR 2000, 65% OF OUR AUTUMNS HAVE BEEN WETTER THAN NORMAL.

>> Eric: OH!

>> WHAT'S THAT OLD ADAGE, ONLY IN MINNESOTA CAN YOU BE KNEE DEEP IN MUD WITH DUST BLOWING IN YOUR FACE.

I EAN -- >> Cathy: THAT'S TRUE.

REMEMBER THE DAY WE HAD THE SNOW AND TORNADOES?

>> ES, YES, YES.

>> RIGHT.

>> Cathy: YEAH.

>> I THINK THERE HAVE BEEN CHANGES TO THE JET STREAM, A LOT OF CONCERN RIGHT NOW AMONG CLIMATOLOGISTS AND METEOROLOGISTS, JUST SHAKING THEIR HEADS, WE'RE SEEING THINGS WE HAVEN'T SEEN.

THE ARCTIC WARMING TWO TO FOUR TIMES FASTER THAN MID LATITUDES.

>> RIGHT.

>> AND THAT SEEMS TO BE IMPACTING THE SPEED OF THE JET STREAM AND THE CONFIGURATION AND WE'RE SEEING, TO YOUR POINT, MORE WETTER STALLING AND WHEN WEATHER STALLS, BAD THINGS HAPPEN.

>> Eric: NEXT TIME, CLIMATE CHANGE, WE'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT NEXT TIME YOU'RE WITH US.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> Eric: WE'RE NOT WORTHY OF YOU, TOO.

>> Cathy: GOOD CLASS.

THANKS, GUYS.

>> CATHY: THERE'S JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS LEFT TO MAKE SURE YOU GET YOUR TAX REBATE.

MARY LAHAMMER IS BACK TO TALK TO THE REVENUE COMMISSIONER ABOUT REBATE CHECKS AND A LEGISLATIVE FIX AHEAD FOR YOUR TAX RETURNS IN MINNESOTA.

>> Mary: WHAT DO YOU WANT TO COMMUNICATE ABOUT THOSE REBATE CHECKS THAT MINNESOTANS ARE EXPECTING?

>> THE REBATE CHECKS HAVE BEEN A HUGE PRIORITY FOR GOVERNOR WALZ AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR FLANAGAN TO GET THOSE CHECKS OUT TO FOLKS.

AND AS THEY TALKED ABOUT, IT'S TO EASE THE PAIN OF INFLATION AND COVID-19.

SO, WE'VE OF STARTED THE FIRST STEP ERE AT THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE.

IF YOU HAVEN'T CHANGED YOUR BANK ACCOUNT OR YOUR ADDRESS SINCE YOUR 2021 INCOME TAX OR PROPERTY TAX RETURN, THERE'S NOTHING YOU HAVE TO DO OTHER THAN JUST WAIT FOR THE CHECK TO ARRIVE.

BUT IF THERE HAS BEEN A CHANGE IN THE ADDRESS OR YOUR BANKING INFORMATION, YOU NEED TO GO TO THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE WEBSITE AND CORRECT THAT INFORMATION.

AND THAT ONLINE WEBSITE IS OPEN NOW UNTIL JULY 28th.

>> Mary: AND YOU'RE SEEING INCREASED TRAFFIC, LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE MONITORING THAT, SO PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED.

>> WE ARE.

SEVERAL THOUSAND ALREADY ON THERE CHANGING THAT.

AND ONCE YOU MAKE THOSE CHANGES, AGAIN, ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS WAIT FOR THE CHECK.

THERE'S NO APPLICATION YOU NEED TO DO.

>> Mary: YOU DO NEED TO CHECK YOUR INCOME.

AND I'VE HEARD LOTS OF FOLKS, BECAUSE THIS IS INCOME CAPPED.

THERE ARE LIMITS.

SO TALK ABOUT HAT THAT INCOME IS.

IT'S ADJUSTED, COUPLES, SINGLES, GIVE US THOSE POINTS.

>> GO BACK TO YOUR 2021 RETURN AND LOOK AT LINE NUMBER 1 OF YOUR M-1.

AND THAT WILL TELL YOU YOUR ADJUSTED GROSS INCOME.

IF YOU ARE SINGLE, YOU QUALIFY, IF IT'S $75,000 OR LESS.

MARRIED, JOINT FILER, $150,000 OR LESS.

>> Mary: WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT LIMIT?

THERE ARE FOLKS WHO SAY, I MAKE OVER $75,000, AND I THINK I'M MIDDLE INCOME.

IS IT FAIR LIMIT, IS IT TOO LOW?

>> I THINK WHAT THE GOVERNOR, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR WE'RE LOOKING AT IS KIND OF THOSE WHO SUFFERED THE MOST PAIN, ESPECIALLY DURING COVID-19.

AND WE KNOW THAT THAT DID NOT IMPACT PEOPLE EQUALLY.

THOSE THAT TENDED TO BE LOWER TO MIDDLE-INCOME TENDED TO GET HIT A LITTLE BIT HARDER THAN OTHERS.

SO I THINK IT'S A GOOD AMOUNT.

>> Mary: AND WHAT IS MIDDLE INCOME IN MINNESOTA?

YOU KNOW, THERE'S THE SKEW OF, RIGHT, PERCEPTION AND REALITY, LIKE WHAT'S AVERAGE RIGHT NOW?

>> SO YOU WANT ME TO TALK ABOUT TAX INCIDENT REPORTS AND ALL THOSE TYPES OF THINGS, YOU WANT TO GO BETWEEN THE THIRD AND EIGHTH DECILE AND SO FORTH?

I MEAN, IN MINNESOTA YOU'RE PROBABLY, IN A MARRIED JOINT FILING, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT ANYWHERE FROM, YOU KNOW, 50 TO 150,000, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

>> Mary: LET'S TALK ABOUT THE OTHER THING YOU'RE DEALING WITH AND THE LEGISLATURE'S GOING TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH, THERE WAS NEWS THAT THERE WAS A DRAFTING ERROR, IT'S BEEN DESCRIBED IN NEXT -- IN INCOME TAXES.

DO YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT NOW?

WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO DO ABOUT DID?

>> IT WAS A DRAFTING ERROR.

THE GOOD NEWS IS, IT WILL NOT IMPACT ANYONE UNTIL 2024.

SO THIS TAX YEAR HAS NO IMPACT.

THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT THERE'S NO IMPACT ON TAXPAYERS NOW, AND BECAUSE WE HAVE COMMITMENTS FROM THE HOUSE AND SENATE TAX CHAIRS AND LEADERSHIP TO CORRECT THIS IN '24 AND BEYOND, THERE WILL BE NO IMPACT ON TAXPAYERS INTO THE FUTURE.

>> Mary: SO DID THIS HAPPEN IN THE EARLY TAX BILL OR THE LATE TAX BILL?

WHICH VERSION DID THIS SLIP INTO?

>> YEAH, THIS WAS THE OMNIBUS TAX BILL IN MAY HAT WAS PASSED.

>> Mary: AT THE END.

>> THAT LAST BILL.

AND, YOU KNOW, BASICALLY WHAT IT WAS IS THAT WE MADE SOME CHANGES TO THE STANDARD DEDUCTION STATUTE.

AND THERE ARE SIX SUBDIVISIONS IN THAT.

WE MADE THINGS RIGHT FOR SUBDIVISIONS 5 AND 6, BUT DID NOT GO BACK AND CHANGE THE INFLATION NUMBERS IN OTHER PARTS OF THAT STATUTE.

AND, SO, BASICALLY WHAT'S HAPPENING IS FOLKS WOULD LOSE ABOUT FOUR YEARS OF INFLATION INCREASED DEDUCTION OR STANDARD DEDUCTION.

SO ON THE AVERAGE, THAT WOULD HAVE IMPACTED ON A MARRIED JOINT FILER ABOUT $210 AND ON A SINGLE FILER ABOUT $110.

BUT, AGAIN, THE GOOD NEWS IS, THIS IS NOT GOING TO IMPACT TAXPAYERS NOW OR INTO THE FUTURE.

>> Mary: AND THEY CAN FIX IT IN FEBRUARY WHEN THEY COME BACK, THE LEGISLATURE HERE?

>> THE LEGISLATURE CAN FIX THAT EARLY ON NEXT SESSION.

>> Mary: I GUESS YOU TRUST THEM?

FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T KNOW, THIS IS WHERE YOU USED TO WORK.

>> YEAH.

HEEZ HERE.

I MEAN -- >> Mary: HERE.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW LAWMAKERS, YOU WERE ONE.

>> WE'VE DONE THIS BEFORE WHERE WE'VE HAD TO CORRECT ERRORS THAT WERE DONE AT THE END OF SESSION.

AND THE TAX CHAIRS WILL WRITE A LETTER OF INTENT, SAYING, HEY, THIS WAS NOT THE INTENT, WE WILL AGREE TO FIX THIS IMMEDIATELY.

AND THEY COME BACK THE NEXT SESSION AND DO THAT.

>> Mary: AND SINCE YOU UNDERSTAND THE EXECUTIVE AND THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCHES NOW, I MEAN, THIS IS ALMOST AN UNPRECEDENTED AMOUNT OF WORK FOR THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH TO IMPLEMENT EVERYTHING THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH -- YOUR PERSPECTIVE, YOU WERE HERE FOR DECADES, DID YOU EVER SEE THIS MUCH POLICY PASS?

>> NO.

I MEAN, IT'S THE HUGE REFORM, THE PAID FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE, THE EW CANNABIS LAW, THE NEW CHILD TAX CREDIT, A ONE-TIME REBATE.

I MEAN, ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE HUGE.

♪♪ >> ERIC: EARLIER THIS WEEK THE U.S LABOR DEPARTMENT REPORTED TWO KEY ECONOMIC INDICATORS.

CONSUMER PRICES IN JUNE WERE UP JUST 3% FROM A YEAR AGO.

THAT'S THE SMALLEST INCREASE IN INFLATION IN MORE THAN TWO YEARS.

AND THE NUMBER OF JOBLESS CLAIMS FELL AGAIN.

HERE IN MINNESOTA, MANY PEOPLE WERE TOUTING AN ANNUAL SURVEY THAT RANKS MINNESOTA NUMBER 5 IN THE NATION FOR FRIENDLINESS TO BUSINESS.

WHAT DO THESE NUMBERS MEAN?

WE'VE GATHERED AN ESTEEMED GROUP OF ECONOMIC OBSERVERS TO FILL THE COUCH.

LOUIS JOHNSTON IS AN ECONOMIST WHO TEACHES AT THE COLLEGE OF ST. BENEDICT AND ST. JOHNS UNIVERSITY.

CHRIS FARRELL IS AN ECONOMICS REPORTER FOR AMERICAN PUBLIC MEDIA AND CAN BE HEARD ON PUBLIC RADIO ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

AND WE WELCOME BACK JEANNE BOEH, PROFESSOR OF ECONOMICS AT AUGSBURG UNIVERSITY.

TO REVIEW, WHEN BIDEN WAS INAUGURATED, INFLATION WAS 1.4%.

WENT TO 9% IN JUNE OF LAST YEAR.

NOW WE'RE AT 3%, 4% IF YOU ROLL OUT ENERGY AND FOOD.

WHY THE ROLLER COASTER HERE?

>> WELL, A LOT OF THINGS HAVE HAPPENED, RIGHT?

IF YOU LOOK AT WHICH SECTORS THAT HAVE GONE UP AND GONE DOWN, ONE OF THEM IS ENERGY HAS GONE DOWN, RIGHT?

AND ENERGY IS AN IMPORTANT INPUT TO -- THROUGHOUT THE ECONOMY.

AND RENTAL PRICES HAVE STARTED TO COME DOWN.

USED CAR PRICES HAVE STARTED TO COME DOWN.

AIRLINE TRAVEL HAS STARTED TO COME DOWN.

SO SOME OF THE AREAS WHERE PEOPLE ARE REALLY SPENDING A LOT OF THEIR MONEY HAVE STARTED TO DECLINE.

AND THERE ISN'T ANY REASON WHY SOME OF THAT WON'T CONTINUE.

ALTHOUGH AS THEY KEEP SAYING, THE LAST MILE ON INFLATION MIGHT BE HARD TO TAKE.

ALTHOUGH SOME PEOPLE HAVE ARGUED, WELL, IT'S NOT 2% BUT IT'S 3%, SO DOES THAT MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE, AND MAYBE WE SHOULDN'T CONTINUE O RAISE RATES.

>> Eric: COULD YOU GET TO 2% INFLATION WITHOUT A RECESSION?

>> THAT'S THE $32 TRILLION QUESTION.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> CAN WE DO THAT?

AND RIGHT NOW THE FED IS DOING AS GOOD A JOB AS ANYONE COULD HAVE PREDICTED, IF THAT'S WHAT'S GOING ON.

THAT, TO ME, IS THE BIG "IF" RIGHT NOW.

IS THE FEDERAL RESERVE ACTUALLY THE SOURCE OF THIS REDUCTION IN INFLATION OR IS THIS JUST LUCK?

I DON'T KNOW.

>> WELL, I THINK YOU'D SAY ONE WORD, PANDEMIC.

AND THE PANDEMIC JUST DISTORTED A WHOLE LOT OF THINGS IN OUR ECONOMY.

AND, SO, ONE WAY OF LOOKING AT WHAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW AND WHY I THINK THERE IS THE NOTION THAT WE MIGHT JUST GO BACK TO 2% IS NOT CRAZY, IS IT'S COMING DOWN, WE'RE GOING BACK TO THE WORLD THAT WE WERE BACK IN 2018, 2019, WE HAD THIS PANDEMIC, YOU HAVE THE SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES, THOSE ARE WORKING THEIR WAY THROUGH, YOU HAD ALL THIS MONEY THAT CAME INTO HE ECONOMY TO SUPPORT THE ECONOMY AND HOUSEHOLDS, THAT'S ORKING ITS WAY THROUGH.

AND, SO, WE MAY ACTUALLY JUST WITH 2% GROWTH IN A 3.5% UNEMPLOYMENT RATE, 3.6% UNEMPLOYMENT RATE, YOU KNOW, 2% ACTUALLY JUST MIGHT BE THE NATURAL STATE FOR THIS ECONOMY.

IT MAY NOT BE, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT'S AN UNREASONABLE POINT OF VIEW.

>> Cathy: HE JOB NUMBERS WERE OKAY, RIGHT?

I MEAN, DELTA EARNINGS CAME OUT, SOME OTHER MAJOR BUSINESS EARNINGS CAME OUT, NO TOO BAD.

ARE YOU STILL WAITING FOR A RECESSION?

>> I'M NOT, ACTUALLY.

I DON'T KNOW HAT THE ODDS ARE, I THINK THE LAST TIME I WAS N, I SAID ONE IN FOUR.

>> Cathy: YES.

>> AND THINK -- I'M THINKING IT'S EVEN LESS THAN THAT NOW.

MAYBE A SLOWDOWN, NOT A FULL-BLOWN RECESSION.

WE MIGHT SEE UNEMPLOYMENT GO UP SOMEWHAT, BUT I'M NOT -- I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT AN ACTUAL DOWNTURN.

>> Eric: ARE ANY CHANGES NEEDED IN ECONOMIC POLICY IN THE UNITED STATES?

IS THERE SOME GLARING THING THAT'S NOT BEING DONE THAT SHOULD BE BEING DONE?

>> WELL, ONE ISSUE IS THAT WE'RE NOW REACHED $1 TRILLION IN DEBT PAYMENTS, RIGHT?

AND, SO, AS THAT -- AS THE INTEREST RATE WENT UP, THEN THAT PART, THAT GOES UP, AND THEN THAT STARTS CROWDING OUT OTHER EXPENSES THAT MIGHT REALLY BE MORE VALUABLE.

SO THAT'S ONE ISSUE.

RIGHT?

>> Cathy: I WONDER, CHRIS, DO YOU WANT TO ADD TO THIS?

>> THE ONLY THING I WOULD ADD, I THINK THAT WE HAVE TO SEIZE THE MOMENT OF A 3.6% UNEMPLOYMENT RATE.

THIS UNEMPLOYMENT RATE HAS BEEN AT A HALF-CENTURY LOW.

WE'RE SEEING THE WAGES OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE LIVED FOR A LONG TIME IN INDUSTRIES THAT DON'T PAY VERY MUCH, THEY'RE GETTING PAID MORE ABOVE THE RATE OF INFLATION.

SO ABOUT SKILL, TRAINING, THE DEMAND FOR LABOR IS THERE.

THE DEFINITION OF A GOOD ECONOMY IS WHEN COMPANIES ARE LOOKING FOR WORKERS.

AND WE'RE IN THAT KIND OF ECONOMY.

SO I JUST WANT ALL KINDS OF IMPATIENCE IN TERMS OF SIEZING ADVANTAGE OF THE TRAINING, THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE THERE IN THIS ECONOMY.

>> I DON'T MEAN TO INTERRUPT, BUT THE LABOR FORCE PARTICIPATION RATE FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS IS AT HISTORIC HIGHS.

LIKE YOU SAID, WE NEED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS RIGHT NOW.

SO THAT'S WHY IF SOMEONE WHO IS OUT THERE WOULD BE AT THE FEDERAL RESERVE, I'D SAY, DON'T RAISE RATES NEXT TIME.

GIVE THIS A CHANCE.

DON'T TRY TO KILL THIS OFF.

>> Cathy: I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT UP WORKERS.

BECAUSE I'M WONDERING HERE, YOU HAVE THE S.A.G.

STRIKE WITH ACTORS AND WRITERS.

BUT I'M WONDERING ABOUT A POTENTIAL UPS DRIVERS STRIKE.

WHAT COULD THAT DO TO THE ECONOMY?

>> THAT WOULD BE A MAJOR BLOW TO THE ECONOMY.

AND IT'S A WORKFORCE OF OVER 350,000 WORKERS.

AND JUST THINK ABOUT OUR DAILY LIVES AND JUST HOW IT'S INTERTWINED.

NOT JUST IN THE HOUSEHOLDS BUT ALSO FOR BUSINESSES.

SO PART OF THIS TIGHT LABOR MARKET THAT WE'VE JUST BEEN TALKING ABOUT.

THE OTHER PART IS YOU'RE SEEING MANY MORE STRIKES.

WORKERS FEELING MORE CONFIDENT.

SO, I THINK IT WOULD BE A MAJOR BLOW TO THE ECONOMY.

MY GUESS IS IF IT HAPPENS, IT WOULDN'T LAST FOR VERY LONG BECAUSE OF THAT REASON.

ALL THE PRESSURE WOULD BE, JUST AS THE PRESSURE, WHAT WAS IT, LAST YEAR WITH THE RAILROADS TO COME TO AN AGREEMENT.

I MEAN, EVERYBODY KNOWS THIS IS NOT A GOOD THING.

AND, SO, IF IT DOES APPEN, IT WILL BE SHORT.

>> Cathy: PROFESSOR, DO YOU WANT TO MAKE ANY COMMENT ON THIS?

>> WELL, I WAS GOING TO SAY, CHRIS IS EXACTLY RIGHT, THAT ONE OF THE GOOD THINGS ABOUT THIS RECOVERY IS THAT SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE TRADITIONALLY LOWER PAID, LIKE IN RETAIL AND FOOD, HEY'VE BEEN HAVING WAGE INCREASES HIGHER THAN SOME OF THE TRADITIONALLY HIGHER PAID.

AND THAT, IN SOME WAYS, MIGHT BE WHY WE HAVE INFLATION THAT LASTS LONGER BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPENED THIS TIME IS THAT REAL WAGES HAVE BEEN GOING DOWN.

IN OTHER WORDS, PEOPLE, THEIR INCREASES ARE LESS THAN INFLATION, BUT NOT THIS TIME, REAL WAGES ACTUALLY WENT UP, RIGHT?

I MEAN, IT'S GOOD THAT THEY'RE GETTING WAGE INCREASES, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THAT MAY LEAD TO INFLATION DOWN THE ROAD.

>> Cathy: AY, I'M ALSO CURIOUS ABOUT THIS, HEALTHCARE MERGERS.

>> OH!

>> Cathy: THERE ARE THREE HAPPENING IN OUR REGION.

SANFORD, FAIRVIEW, ESSENTIA, MARSHFIELD HEALTH IN WISCONSIN AND St. LUKE'S AND ANOTHER WISCONSIN-BASED HEALTHCARE PROVIDER.

THOSE ARE THREE PRETTY BIG POTENTIAL MERGERS, WHAT DOES THAT SAY?

>> I'M REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THOSE BECAUSE HEALTHCARE IS THE BIGGEST SECTOR IN TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT IN MINNESOTA'S ECONOMY.

AND HOW THIS IS ALL GOING TO SHAKE OUT IS NOT ONLY GOING TO AFFECT INDIVIDUAL JOBS, IT'S GOING TO AFFECT THE WAY HEALTHCARE IS PROVIDED AND DELIVERED IN THE ENTIRE STATE.

AND, SO, I DON'T ACTUALLY KNOW HOW IT'S GOING TO SHAKE OUT.

BUT THAT'S A PLACE THAT I THINK WE NEED TO KEEP AN EYE ON AND I'M VERY GLAD THAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, FOR EXAMPLE, NOW HAS POWERS TO LOOK INTO THIS.

PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO PAY ATTENTION THAT THIS IS A BIG DEAL.

AND WE NEED TO.

>> Eric: CNBC'S STATES FRIENDLY OR NOT FRIENDLY TO BUSINESS, MINNESOTA IS RANKED NUMBER 5, AND I CAN JUST HEAR THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY SAYING, HUH, ARE YOU KIDDING ME.

>> SO WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THAT SURVEY?

>> I WONDER WHAT OTHER PEOPLE'S TAKE IS.

HERE'S MINE.

MINNESOTA ALWAYS IS HIGH ON SURVEYS WHEN THEY SAY ABOUT INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY, QUALITY OF LIFE.

IF IT'S A SURVEY ABOUT TAXES, MINNESOTA'S ALWAYS -- DOESN'T DO VERY WELL.

>> Eric: 45th, 46th.

>> RIGHT.

SO YOU LOOK AT THIS SURVEY, WE'RE GOOD ON TECHNOLOGY, INNOVATION, GOOD ON QUALITY OF LIFE.

WE'RE NOT VERY GOOD ON BEING BUSINESS FRIENDLY BECAUSE OF THE HIGH TAXATION.

SO, IT'S AN AGGREGATE FIGURE.

AND I THINK THE THING TO TAKE AWAY FROM THAT IS, MINNESOTA DOES HAVE SOME REAL STRENGTHS, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK WE NEED TO DO IS EVEN CREATE A STRONGER CULTURE FOR PEOPLE TO START THEIR OWN BUSINESS, MAKE IT EASIER TO START THEIR OWN BUSINESS.

>> Eric: HOW DO YOU DO THAT?

>> A LOT OF IT HAS TO DO WITH THE STUFF THAT WE DON'T ACTUALLY EVER SEE.

IT'S KIND OF LIKE THE EQUIVALENT OF THE BACK OFFICE, THE REGULATORY SIDE OF THE BUSINESS.

MAKING IT EASIER THERE.

BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS COMING OUT OF THIS PANDEMIC IS -- YOU KNOW THIS, CATHY -- THIS HUGE INCREASE IN PEOPLE STARTING THEIR OWN BUSINESS.

NOBODY SAW IT.

AND IT STAYED HIGH.

IT HASN'T DISAPPEARED AS THE PANDEMIC IS GOING INTO THE REARVIEW MIRROR.

SO IT'S LIKE HERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO ACTUALLY DO SOMETHING.

>> I THINK WE NEED TO WORK ON OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM, TOO.

RIGHT?

SO EDUCATION, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS INDEX, SOME THINGS ARE COUNTED MUCH MORE THAN OTHERS.

AND EDUCATION IS ONLY 6%, RIGHT?

BUT IF YOU LOOK AT HOW WE'VE DONE, PARTICULARLY OUR K-12 STUDENTS COMING OUT OF THE PANDEMIC, IT'S NOT GOOD, AND THOSE ARE OUR FUTURE WORKERS AND THOSE ARE OUR FUTURE SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS.

SO WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO HELP THOSE STUDENTS CATCH UP AND ACTUALLY DO EVEN BETTER THAN THEY WERE BEFORE.

>> Cathy: SAY, BEFORE YOU GO, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT HEALTHCARE BEING BIG IN MINNESOTA.

3M'S A BIG COMPANY.

THEY'VE GOT SOME PROBLEMS.

>> YEAH, I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THAT AS WELL.

THEY'RE SPINNING OFF THE HEALTHCARE, KEEPING THE REST.

AND THE IDEA IS, WE'LL BE ABLE TO BASICALLY INSULATE THE SUITS AND THE OTHER PROBLEMS.

I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

AND I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT'S GOING TO SHAKE OUT IN TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT IN THE MINNEAPOLIS/St.

PAUL AND GREATER MINNESOTA ECONOMIES.

>> Eric: THEY COULD REALLY USE A POPULAR POSTIT NOTE STYLE CONSUMER PRODUCT, TOO.

>> THAT WOULD BE NICE.

THAT WOULD BE NICE.

>> Eric: HAVEN'T HAD MUCH OF THAT.

ALL IGHT, ECONOMIC PROFESSORS AND EXPERTS, GOOD STUFF, GOOD STUFF.

>> Cathy: GOOD JOB.

THANK YOU.

>> ERIC: I'M STANDING NEXT TO THE BIG MONITOR SO IT MUST BE MINNESOTA HISTORY TIME.

FOR THIS WEEK'S QUESTION WE TRAVEL BACK IN TIME TO THE SUMMER OF 1952, A CENTRAL MINNESOTA FARMER CREATES A MODERN-DAY 'INVENTION' OUT OF WOOD AND PIECES OF STEEL WELDED TOGETHER.

WHILE HE IS NOT THE FIRST PERSON TO FASHION THIS NOW UBIQUITOUS ITEM, HE IS CREDITED WITH ITS CREATION BASED IN PART ON HIS UNIQUE STEERING SYSTEM.

OUR QUESTION FOR YOU.

WHO IS THIS FARMER AND WHAT IS HIS 1952 INVENTION?

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU WHETHER YOU ARE CALLING FROM JACK THE HORSE LAKE, DEAD HORSE LAKE OR THE HORSESHOE CHAIN OF LAKES JUST WEST OF ST.

CLOUD.

ALL REAL BODIES OF WATER HERE IN MINNESOTA AVAILABLE FOR YOUR BOATING PLEASURE.

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.

FOR TONIGHT'S SHOW-CLOSING MUSIC, A PRODUCER FAVORITE FROM THIS WEEK BACK IN 2003, DAN ZANES FROM THE DEL FUEGOS STOPPED BY STUDIO B TO PLAY A BIT FOR US.

HERE'S HIS VERSION OF "ROCK ISLAND LINE."

COME BACK AND SEE US AGAIN NEXT TIME.

BE CAREFUL.

♪♪ ♪ ROCK ISLAND ROAD IS A MIGHTY FINE ROAD ♪ ♪ A, B, C, W, X, Y, Z, CAT'S IN THE CORNER BUT YOU CAN'T SEE MEMENT YES, THE ROCK ISLAND LINE IS A MIGHTY GOOD ROAD THE ROCK ISLAND LINE IS THE ROAD TO RIDE YES, THE ROCK ISLAND LINE IS A MIGHTY GOOD ROAD IF YOU WANT TO RIDE YOU GOTTA RIDE IT LIKE YOU FIND IT GET YOUR TICKET AT THE STATION FOR THE ROCK ISLAND LINE.

♪ WELL, IT MAY BE RIGHT, IT MAY BE WRONG, YOU KNOW YOU'RE GONNA MISS ME, WHEN I'M GONE.

♪ ROCK ISLAND INE ♪ >> "ALMANAC" IS A PRODUCTION CAPTIONED BY: VERITEXT/PARADIGM CAPTIONING WWW.VERITEXT.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.

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