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

>> ERIC: COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR, THE ONGOING TWIN CITIES RIDESHARE STORY-- WILL UBER AND LYFT LEAVE OR WILL THEY STAY?

SHARON STITELER, AKA BIRDCHICK, RETURNS TO THE "ALMANAC" STUDIO.

ST.

CLOUD MAYOR DAVE KLEIS IS HERE.

AND MARY LAHAMMER HAS BEEN FOLLOWING A CAPITOL RENOVATION THAT ISN'T GETTING A LOT OF ATTENTION YET.

>> Mary: IT'S TIME FOR THE PUBLIC TO WEIGH IN ON THE CAPITOL MALL REDESIGN PROJECT OUTSIDE THE BUILDING.

HEAR WHAT PEOPLE HAVE TO SAY SO FAR.

>> I LIKE THE IDEA OF THEM PUTTING SOME NATURAL THINGS IN THERE.

>> I JUST REALLY LIKE THE IDEA OF RECOVERING THE HISTORY.

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

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

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

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

DELTADENTALMN.ORG/TPT.

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

MORE AT EDUCATIONMINNESOTA.ORG.

AND PAINTCARE: HELPING MINNESOTANS RECYCLE LEFTOVER PAINT.

MORE AT PAINTCARE.ORG.

"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.

>> ERIC: FULL SHOW FOR YOU TONIGHT.

WE'LL CATCH UP ON WHERE THINGS ARE WITH UBER AND LYFT THREATENING TO LEAVE THE TWIN CITIES.

SHARON STITELER, OUR FAVORITE BIRDER, IS BACK IN MINNESOTA AND BACK IN STUDIO B WITH US.

ALSO HERE TONIGHT, STATE HEALTH COMMISSIONER BROOKE CUNNINGHAM AND ST.

CLOUD MAYOR DAVE KLEIS.

>> CATHY: WE START TONIGHT WITH THE BIG BUDGET DEFICITS FACING THE MINNEAPOLIS AND ST. PAUL SCHOOL SYSTEMS.

BOTH DISTRICTS ARE SCRAMBLING TO PLUG BUDGET HOLES OF MORE THAN $100 MILLION, AND PROPOSED CUTS WOULD RESULT IN FEWER TEACHERS WITH LARGER CLASS SIZES, AS WELL AS LOSS OF FUNDING FOR WORLD LANGUAGES, BAND CLASSES, AND MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES.

BECKY DERNBACH COVERS EDUCATION FOR THE SAHAN JOURNAL AND HAS BEEN FOLLOWING THESE PROPOSALS ACROSS THE METRO.

GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> Cathy: THIS IS OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING THAT'S NOT JUST FOCUSED ON MINNEAPOLIS AND St. PAUL.

AS I MENTIONED, THERE ARE A LOT OF DISTRICTS AROUND MINNESOTA THAT ARE LOOKING AT BUDGET SHORTFALLS.

WHAT'S GOING ON?

>> YOU MAY REMEMBER, FOUR YEARS AGO, AROUND THIS TIME, WE WERE DEALING WITH THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, AND CONGRESS RESPONDED WITH THIS PRETTY RARE INFUSION OF FEDERAL FUNDS INTO PUBLIC SCHOOLS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

AND GAVE SCHOOLS UNTIL SEPTEMBER 2024 TO SPEND THAT MONEY.

SO THAT CLOCK IS RUNNING OUT.

AND, SO, DISTRICTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE FACING WHAT IS CALLED A FISCAL CLIFF OF THE MONEY'S RUNNING OUT, NOW THEY HAVE TO DEAL WITH WHATEVER BUDGET PROBLEMS THEY HAD BEFORE THE PANDEMIC AND NEW PROBLEMS THAT HAVE ARISEN SINCE THEN WITHOUT THAT MONEY SOURCE THAT WAS REALLY FUELING DISTRICTS FOR THE LAST MANY YEARS.

>> Eric: MINNEAPOLIS HAS KICKED THIS CAN -- WHATEVER SCHOOL BOARD IT'S BEEN THE LAST YEARS -- THEY'VE KICKED THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD PRETTY REGULARLY, HAVEN'T THEY?

>> YES.

SO -- YEAH.

SO MINNEAPOLIS HAS BEEN DEALING WITH BUDGET DEFICITS FOR A LONG IME NOW, AND THEY WERE FACING BUDGET DEFICITS OF SOMETHING LIKE $33 MILLION IN 2018, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO PLUG THOSE HOLES, AND THEN THE COVID MONEY CAME AND THEY REALLY WERE ABLE TO USE THAT TO SORT OF FILL OUT THEIR BUDGET FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS AND NOW THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO DO THAT ANYMORE.

BUT, AT THE SAME TIME, A LOT OF THINGS HAVE CHANGED.

MINNEAPOLIS HAS BEEN FACING ENROLLMENT DECLINES FOR A WHILE, BUT THERE'S BEEN SO MUCH THAT'S HAPPENED, YOU KNOW, THE PANDEMIC, THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD, AND THE SUBSEQUENT UPRISING, THERE WAS A CONTROVERSIAL REDISTRICTING PLAN IN MINNEAPOLIS, THERE WAS A THREE-WEEK TEACHER STRIKE.

SO THE ENROLLMENT DECLINES IN MINNEAPOLIS REALLY WERE A LOT OF STEEPER THAN EXPECTED.

AND AT THE SAME TIME INFLATION HAS PUSHED UP COSTS.

SO NOW THE BUDGET HOLE IS WORSE THAN IT WAS IN 2018.

>> Cathy: IT'S QUITE A MESS, OBVIOUSLY.

>> YEAH.

>> Cathy: I WENT TO COOPER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN SOUTH MINNEAPOLIS, I DROVE BY THE BUILDING LAST WEEK, AND IT'S BEEN CLOSED FOR A LONG TIME.

>> UM-HUM.

>> Cathy: I KNOW MINNEAPOLIS HAS A LOT OF BUILDINGS LIKE COOPER THAT ARE JUST KIND OF MOTHBALLED.

COULD THEY SELL SOME OF THESE BUILDINGS AND RAISE SOME MONEY?

>> POTENTIALLY.

BUT THEY'RE ALSO THINKING ABOUT POTENTIALLY CLOSING OTHER SCHOOLS.

AND THAT'S A CONVERSATION THAT, AGAIN, THEY'VE BEEN PUTTING OFF FOR A WHILE AND ANOTHER FACTOR IS THEY'VE BEEN WITHOUT A PERMANENT SUPERINTENDENT FOR A YEAR AND A HALF UNTIL RECENTLY.

SO THEY HAVE BEEN SORT OF PUTTING OFF MAKING SOME F THESE BIGGER DECISIONS.

SO I THINK THAT AS WE GET INTO THE FALL, WE'RE GOING TO BE HEARING MORE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT CLOSING MORE SCHOOLS.

>> Eric: WHAT WILL IMPACT -- WHAT MPACT WILL THIS HAVE ON THE KIDS?

ACHIEVEMENT GAP, ET CETERA.

>> SO I THINK THAT WHERE A LOT OF KIDS ARE GOING TO NOTICE THIS IS IN THEIR CLASS SIZES.

THE DISTRICT IS PROPOSING, IN MINNEAPOLIS, AN INCREASE OF THREE ADDITIONAL IDS PER CLASS IN SCHOOLS THAT WHERE FEWER THAN 70% OF STUDENTS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR FREE AND REDUCED-PRICE LUNCH.

SO WE'RE TALKING, LIKE, 27 KINDERGARTENERS IN A CLASS, 31 FOURTH GRADERS, 35 MIDDLE SCHOOLERS.

SO I THINK THAT'S WHERE -- THAT'S GOING TO BE -- THAT'S WHERE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO FEEL IT, THEY'RE GOING TO LOSE SOME TEACHERS.

THEY'RE ALSO GOING TO BE LOSING SOME SUPPORT STAFF.

THERE WERE READING AND MATH SUPPORT STAFF IN SCHOOLS TO HELP THE ACADEMIC CHALLENGES THAT CAME FROM THE PANDEMIC OR THAT WERE EXACERBATED BY THE PANDEMIC AND A LOT OF THOSE STAFF WILL BE CUT.

>> Cathy: YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT CUTTING TEACHING POSITIONS.

DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY?

BECAUSE, WELL, THEY JUST HAD A NEW CONTRACT, A FAIRLY, YOU KNOW, A COUPLE YEARS AGO.

>> YEAH.

>> Cathy: INCREASE TEACHER SALARIES.

SO NOW YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT LAYOFFS POTENTIALLY.

HOW MANY TEACHERS?

>> IT'S NOT TOTALLY CLEAR YET.

THE BUDGET IN MINNEAPOLIS IS SORT OF DIVIDED INTO PARTS AND IN ONE PART THEY'VE BEEN CLEAR THAT ABOUT 200 STAFF POSITIONS WILL BE AFFECTED.

THAT'S LIKE THE DISTRICT LEVEL CUTS.

BUT THE SCHOOL EVEL CUTS, WE HAVEN'T SEEN A CLEAR NUMBER FOR THAT YET.

IN St. PAUL, THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT CUTTING ABOUT 115 TEACHERS.

>> Eric: IN THE FUNDING FORMULA, ENROLLMENT IS KEY.

>> YES.

>> Eric: AND I WONDER IF IMMIGRANT STUDENTS IN MINNEAPOLIS ARE GOING TO RIDE TO THE RESCUE HERE, JACK UP ENROLLMENT.

>> YEAH.

SO THAT IS AN INTERESTING QUESTION THAT I ASKED HE DISTRICT ABOUT THAT, AND I, MEAN, THEY HAVE SEEN A LOT OF NEW IMMIGRANT STUDENTS AND THAT HAS BEEN HELPING REVERSE BE THE ENROLLMENT DECLINE.

BUT THAT ALSO MEANS THAT THOSE STUDENTS REQUIRE A LOT OF SUPPORT, PARTICULARLY IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNING AND THE LEGISLATURE LAST YEAR INCREASED FUNDING TO SUPPORT ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS, BUT HISTORICALLY THE SCHOOLS PAY WAY MORE FOR THOSE SERVICES THAN THE STATE REIMBURSES THEM FOR, AND THE AMOUNT THE STATE INCREASED IT BY IS NOT REALLY SET TO -- IT'S NOT SET TO GET ITS FULL INCREASES UNTIL 2026, WHICH IS TWO YEARS FROM NOW.

SO THE DISTRICT TOLD ME, WE DON'T REALLY KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY WE'RE GOING TO GET FROM THESE STUDENTS, BUT WE'RE -- YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE, BUT WE KNOW THAT THE STATE IS NOT PROVIDING ENOUGH SUPPORT.

>> Cathy: IS THERE A DEADLINE FOR SOME OF THESE DECISIONS TO BE MADE, END OF JUNE?

>> YEAH, END OF JUNE, STATUTE REQUIRES DISTRICTS TO FINALIZE THEIR BUDGETS.

>> Cathy: THANK YOU.

>> Eric: THANKS FOR COMING OVER.

>> YEAH, THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> Eric: YOU BET.

NICE JOB.

♪♪ >> ERIC ESKOLA HAS DECIDED THAT HE HAS A QUESTION.

ERIC IS FROM WCCO RADIO.

>> I WILL FIND A PLACE WHERE THEY DIFFER.

AND THAT'S ON THE QUESTION OF ABORTION.

AND EVER SINCE, I THINK, DFL CONVENTIONS IMMEMORIAL, THAT SEEMS TO BE THE DIVISIVE AND THE OVERRIDING ISSUE.

AND LET ME ASK SECRETARY OF STATE GROWE, IS THAT GOING TO BE THE ISSUE THAT DECIDES IT THIS TIME?

AND IS IT TOO DIVISIVE?

AND WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO TO KEEP THAT FROM BEING DIVISIVE?

>> WELL, AS YOU KNOW, ERIC, I DO NOT SUPPORT GOVERNMENT INTERVENING IN THE PERSONAL DECISION THAT A WOMAN MAKES RELATED TO AN ABORTION.

I THINK THAT THAT'S A DECISION THAT A WOMAN MAKES WITH HER FAMILY, WITH HER PHYSICIAN AND WITH HER MINISTER, PRIEST, OR RABBI.

♪♪ >> ERIC: WILL UBER AND LYFT PULL OUT OF THE TWIN CITIES RIDESHARE MARKET BY MAY 1ST?

WILL THE MINNEAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL RECONSIDER THEIR PLAN TO RAISE DRIVER COMPENSATION TO A LEVEL THAT HAS BOTH COMPANIES THREATENING TO LEAVE THE AREA?

WILL THE LEGISLATURE STEP IN AND COME UP WITH A STATEWIDE COMPROMISE PLAN?

HERE TO HELP US WITH THESE ANSWERS AND MORE, DAVE ORRICK COVERS MINNEAPOLIS CITY HALL FOR THE "STAR TRIBUNE" NEWSPAPER AND HAS BEEN FOLLOWING THIS STORY FOR WEEKS.

WELCOME BACK.

THE COUNCIL WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO RECONSIDER ITS PROVOCATIVE AND CONTROVERSIAL ORDINANCE.

>> ON THURSDAY.

>> Eric: NEXT WEEK, YEAH.

>> THEY'RE GOING TO CONSIDER WHETHER TO RECONSIDER IT.

>> Eric: HOW DOES IT LOOK?

>> IT'S HARD TO SAY.

LOOK, THERE'S A COUPLE OF WAYS THIS COULD GO.

THERE'S A LOT OF PROCEDURES.

BUT I DON'T THINK YOU'LL SEE -- IF ANYTHING HAPPENS, I DON'T THINK THERE WILL BE ANY MAJOR CHANGES MADE ON THURSDAY.

I COULD BE WRONG.

BUT AT BEST, PROBABLY THEY'RE GOING TO SAY, YES, WE'RE GOING TO BRING THIS BACK FOR RECONSIDERATION, BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO MAKE ANY CHANGES YET.

>> Eric: WELL, THIS IS HEADING TO THE STATE LEGISLATURE, FROM EVERYTHING I CAN GATHER, I THINK IT'S POLITICALLY DAUNTING FOR THE DEMOCRATS, AND I JUST -- DON'T YOU THINK IT'S GOING TO THE LEGISLATURE FOR A OLUTION?

>> WELL, THE LEGISLATURE'S GRAPPLING WITH IT RIGHT NOW, BUT IT IS DAUNTING FOR THE DEMOCRATS BECAUSE, LOOK, IF THE LEGISLATURE'S ACTUALLY GOING TO FIX OR CHANGE WHAT'S HAPPENING IN MINNEAPOLIS, THEN THAT MEANS THAT THEY HAVE TO PREEMPT.

AND THAT IS A THIRD RAIL FOR LEGISLATORS AND A LOT OF, IF NOT THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE MINNEAPOLIS DELEGATION, IS LISTENING TO THE AJORITY OF THE MINNEAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL, WHICH IS SAYING, DON'T YOU DARE PREEMPT US.

THIS IS OUR CITY, WE GET TO SET THE RULES.

AND THE REPUBLICANS NOT GOING TO PLAY BALL ON ANYTHING OTHER THAN, OH, WE CAN SAY, NO CITIES CAN REGULATE THIS.

WE'LL FAVOR THAT.

BUT OTHERWISE THIS IS A DFL INTRABATTLE RIGHT NOW THAT'S GOING ON AT THE LEGISLATURE.

AND I THINK IT'S POSSIBLE THEY COULD COME UP WITH A STATEWIDE COMPROMISE, BUT NOT ONE THAT NECESSARILY HAS ANY EFFECT ON MINNEAPOLIS ITSELF.

>> Cathy: LYFT SEEMS AS IF THEY'RE INTERESTED IN MAYBE COMPROMISING, IS THAT RIGHT?

>> THEY ARE.

LYFT THIS WEEK PUT OUT A NUMBER AND SAID, THIS NUMBER, WHICH IS TIED TO A STATE-COMMISSIONED STUDY AND IS BASICALLY THE OWEST NUMBER YOU'LL SEE OUT THERE IN THE DISCUSSIONS THAT COULD GET DRIVERS EQUIVALENT OF MINIMUM WAGE, THEY SAID, IF YOU UYS DO THAT NUMBER, WE'LL STAY.

WE WON'T LEAVE.

UBER HASN'T QUITE BEEN SO CLEAR.

THEY'RE NOT QUITE AS ENGAGED.

BUT IT'S NOT -- THERE'S NOT REAL, LIKE, HEATED NEGOTIATIONS GOING ON RIGHT NOW.

MAYBE THEY'LL COME.

BUT WE'RE NOT THERE YET.

>> Cathy: I WONDER, THEN, IF YOU HAVE A SITUATION WHERE UBER AND LYFT SAYS, LOOK, WE'RE OUT OF HERE N MAY THE 1st, IS THERE SOME OTHER ENTITY THAT'S WILLING TO COME INTO THE MARKET AND CAN THEY COME INTO THE MARKET FAIRLY FAST?

>> I GOT A LIST HERE OF ENTITIES THAT ARE READY TO COME INTO THE MARKET.

NONE OF THEM ARE SPELLED CORRECTLY.

THERE'S MOVE, M-O-O-V, RIDES, W-I-D-Z, MY WHEELS, NO H, NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH MY WHEELS, WITH A H, DIFFERENT KIND OF RIDESHARE ELSEWHERE, NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH ANOTHER COMPANY CALLED JOY RIDE, J-O-Y-R-I-D-E.

OKAY.

FOUR COMPANIES HAVE ACTUALLY APPLIED FOR A LICENSE IN MINNEAPOLIS.

THEN THERE'S ALSO ANOTHER COMPANY CALLED EMPOWER, WE'RE NOT GOING TO APPLY BECAUSE WE DON'T HE NEED A LICENSE.

WE'LL SEE.

>> Eric: HOW ABOUT THE OLD-FASHIONED TAXI INDUSTRY?

>> THE TAXIS ARE GETTING READY TO RAMP UP.

THEY COULD, IN THEORY, BE RAMPED UP PRETTY QUICKLY.

THEN THERE'S A BUNCH OF DRIVERS, ACTIVIST DRIVERS WHO ARE KIND OF BEHIND THIS WHOLE PUSH, WHO ARE TRYING TO START A CO-OP, DRIVER-OWNED CO-OP.

WHETHER ANY OF THESE CAN GET UP AND RUNNING BEFORE MAY 1, REMAINS TO BE SEEN.

BUT THE WHEELS ARE IN MOTION TO TRY TO STAND THESE COMPANIES UP.

>> Eric: WELL, THERE'S MONEY TO BE MADE, OBVIOUSLY.

SO I DON'T KNOW HOW REPUTABLE OR -- THE START-UPS ARE.

>> IT'S A QUESTION, ACTUALLY.

I MEAN, UBER AND LYFT JUST RECENTLY BEGAN POSTING PROFITS.

YOU KNOW, THEY CAME TO DOMINANCE LARGELY THROUGH SUBSIDIZING FARES AND DRIVER BONUSES.

THEY WERE BURNING THROUGH CASH.

AND I THINK THAT THERE'S A QUESTION, OKAY, IF WHAT WE ARE SEEING NOW IS THEM PROFITABLE, YOU HAVE PEOPLE IN PROGRESSIVE CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY SAYING, WELL, THAT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH.

YOU'RE NOT PAYING DRIVERS ENOUGH.

NOW, THAT'S DEBATABLE, THE COMPANIES DISPUTE THAT.

BUT THAT'S WHERE WE STAND RIGHT NOW.

THIS IS A OUGH BUSINESS TO MAKE MONEY.

AND IF YOU HAVE FOUR TO SIX TO EIGHT COMPANIES ITH A -- WITH THE TAXI COMPANIES ALL FIGHTING, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE FARE WARS.

>> Cathy: YOU THINK THEN THAT THE MINNEAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL WILL KIND OF KEEP IT AS IS, IN A SENSE, RIGHT?

>> FOR NEXT WEEK.

>> Cathy: FOR THE NEXT WEEK.

>> AND THEN AT HE END OF THE MONTH, THEY HAVE ANOTHER MEETING THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE COUNCIL HAS SAID, IF WE ARE GOING TO TWEAK THIS, THAT'S WHEN WE'RE GOING TO TWEAK IT.

>> Eric: AND MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL, HOW THEY GETTING ALONG?

>> NOT TOO GOOD.

>> Eric: OKAY.

THAT'S FOR ANOTHER HOW.

>> YEAH.

>> Eric: THANKS.

THANKS, DAVE.

>> Cathy: THANKS.

>> YOU BET, GUYS.

♪♪ >> CATHY: IT’S OFTEN CALLED MINNESOTA’S FRONT LAWN.

THE MALL IN FRONT OF THE PEOPLE’S HOUSE IS ABOUT TO UNDERGO A MAJOR TRANSFORMATION TO ATTRACT MORE PEOPLE THERE.

STATE CAPITOL CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS ARE SOMETHING OUR MARY LAHAMMER HAS BEEN TRACKING FOR DECADES AND SHE HAS THIS UPDATE ON THE PUBLIC COMMENT PHASE NOW UNDERWAY.

>> TO RESTORE THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE TO ITS PAST GLORY.

>> Mary: MANY MINNESOTANS CLOSELY WATCHED THE $300 MILLION TOP-TO-BOTTOM RESTORATION OF THE CAPITOL.

NOW ENGAGED CITIZENS ARE LEARNING ABOUT A TRANSFORMATION PLAN FOR THE MALL OUTSIDE.

WHAT DID YOU LEARN?

>> WELL, I LEARNED THAT THEY HAVE SEVERAL, ALMOST TEN OR SO, NEW DESIGNS FOR THE OUTSIDE OF THE CAPITOL TO MAKE IT AS NICE AS THEY MADE THE INSIDE OF THE CAPITOL.

>> Mary: WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE INSIDE AND THE WORK AND THE RENOVATION?

>> I THINK THE INSIDE'S FANTASTIC.

>> I'M REALLY, YOU KNOW, GRATEFUL FOR THE, YOU KNOW, REDOING OF THE CAPITOL.

IT'S REALLY BEAUTIFUL NOW.

I'M VERY INTERESTED IN HOW DO WE GET PEOPLE FROM RURAL MINNESOTA, SUBURBS, THE URBAN AREA TO ALL MIX TOGETHER AND KIND OF LIKE SEE EACH OTHER AS MINNESOTANS AND NOT AS WHATEVER DIFFERENT CAMPS.

>> Mary: DOES THE OUTSIDE MATCH THE SPLENDOR YOU SEE INSIDE AT THIS POINT?

>> OH, O, NO, NO, NO.

[ Laughter ] TOO MANY STREETS, HARD STUFF.

>> Mary: THE PLAN IS TO SLIM DOWN THE FOOTPRINT OF THE STREETS AND SOFTEN THE LANDSCAPE WITH HUNDREDS OF TREES AND WATER FEATURES.

SHADE AND SEATING CAME ACROSS AS A TOP CONCERN IN SURVEYS.

>> OVER TIME THE TREE CANOPY IN THE CAPITOL AREA HAS BEEN ERODED, AS ORIGINAL TREES THAT WERE PLANTED IN THE ORIGINAL DESIGN HAVE DIED OFF, THOSE HAVE NOT BEEN REPLACED AT THE SAME RATE.

SO WE SEE LARGE AREAS THAT LACK SHADE AND TREE COVER.

WE CAN USE THE WIDTH OF THE STREETS AND TAKE BACK THAT SPACE FOR PEDESTRIAN INFRASTRUCTURE, AS WELL AS FOR TREE CANOPY.

SO HERE'S AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE.

>> Mary: WHAT DID YOU LIKE?

WHAT STOOD OUT?

YOU GOT TO SEE SOME OF THE PHOTOS, OME OF THE IDEAS.

>> I LIKE THE IDEA OF THEM PUTTING SOME NATURAL THINGS IN THERE TO REFLECT THE DIFFERENT CULTURES IN MINNESOTA, I LIKE THAT A LOT.

>> WE WANT TO LOOK AT WAYS THAT WE CAN TURN THAT INTO A RESOURCE IN THE HOT SUMMERS.

DECORATIVE WATER FEATURES, LIKE A CASCADE, INTERACTIVE JETS, OR A SEASONAL SKATING LOCATION THAT REALLY COMMUNICATE THE SYMBOLIC IMPORTANCE OF WATER.

>> Mary: WHAT STOOD OUT TO YOU?

>> PART OF IT IS JUST FIGURING OUT HOW TO GET INTO THE CAPITOL BUILDING EASIER.

RIGHT NOW IT'S A BIT KIND OF HARD TO GET INTO.

THEY'RE ALSO LOOKING AT HAVING SOME OTHER RESTAURANT AREAS, WHICH I THINK WOULD BE GREAT, ESPECIALLY IF THEY CAN SUPPORT THE IMMIGRANT RESTAURANTS ALONG RICE AND UNIVERSITY.

>> WE LOOKED AT A SOLUTION THAT INVOLVES CREATING A HOLISTIC SYSTEM OF USER EXPERIENCE ELEMENTS.

ONE IS A KIND OF VISITOR AMENITY PAVILION OR SMALL PLACE WHERE WE COULD HAVE RESTROOMS, CAFÉ, MAYBE AN AMBASSADOR THAT WELCOMES THEM TO THE CAPITOL AREA, HELPS THEM GET THEIR BEARINGS, PROVIDES THEM INFORMATION.

ANOTHER LAYER IS WAYFINDING SIGNAGE, AS WELL AS SIGNAGE THAT HELPS YOU TO UNDERSTAND, WHAT IS THE HISTORY OF THIS PLACE?

AND WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE TODAY, WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF MINNESOTA'S CAPITOL.

AND ANOTHER LAYER OF DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE, WAYS TO INTERACT WITH THE CAPITOL MALL THROUGH YOUR PHONE OR iPAD OR SIGNAGE THAT CHANGES TO REFLECT CHANGES IN SEASON OR EVENTS.

>> Mary: IN ADDITION TO THESE IN-PERSON OPPORTUNITIES TO HEAR FROM PEOPLE ACROSS THE STATE ON THE CAPITOL MALL REDESIGN, THERE WAS AN ONLINE SESSION WITH SPECIFICS.

>> I THINK IT FELT LIKE A VERY OLD OR FORMAL PLACE.

THERE WASN'T A WHOLE LOT TO DO THAT FELT FAMILY OR KID FRIENDLY.

WE WANT TO THINK ABOUT CASS GILBERT TO CREATE A MORE FAMILY-FRIENDLY DESTINATION AND A PLACE WHERE KIDS CAN COME AND THINK ABOUT THEIR ROLE IN DEMOCRACY AND THEIR FUTURE IN IT.

THAT INCLUDES A RESTROOM, FOOD AND BEVERAGE OPPORTUNITIES, PICNIC TABLES TO HAVE LUNCH DURING A SCHOOL TRIP, AS WELL AS AREAS TO PLAY AND INTEGRATE PLAY INTO AN EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE.

AND HOPEFULLY EVEN BECOME A DESTINATION FOR FAMILIES IN THE REGION WANT TO COME HERE SPECIFICALLY TO PLAY AND TO LEARN A BIT MORE ABOUT THE MINNESOTA CAPITOL.

>> Mary: VISITORS TO THE CAPITOL EXPRESSED EXCITEMENT FOR IMPROVING THE OUTDOORS OF THE SEAT OF GOVERNMENT.

>> I THINK IT'S KIND OF A CORE PLACE FOR THE STATE, THAT'S WHY I WAS INTERESTED IN HOW TO MAKE USE OF ALL THE HUGE RALLIES THAT HAPPEN OVER ON MLK BOULEVARD.

THIS IS THE 1805 TREATY AREA, IT'S IMPORTANT TO TRY TO DO WHAT WE CAN TO HONOR THE HABITAT AND TREATY FISHING RIGHTS.

I JUST REALLY LIKE THE IDEA OF RECOVERING THE HISTORY, YOU KNOW, THE AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY, THE NATIVE AMERICAN HISTORY, LIKE THE FRENCH CANADIAN HISTORY.

>> THERE COULD BE SIGNS THAT DESCRIBE ECOLOGY AS WELL AS HISTORY, JUST AN OPPORTUNITY FOR FAMILIES TO GATHER AND ENJOY THEMSELVES.

>> I USED TO WORK ACROSS THE STREET AT CHRIST LUTHERAN CHURCH, VOLUNTEERING FOR SEVERAL YEARS, I'D COME OVER HERE TO THE CAL CAPITOL AT -- TO THE CAPITOL AT NOONTIME, EASIER TO WALK AROUND UNDERGROUND.

>> Mary: YOU DIDN'T SEE A REASON TO GO OUT THERE, NOTHING CALLED YOU.

>> JUST A LUNCH HOUR.

NO REASON.

IT WAS BETTER TO GO HERE IN THE CAPITOL, ACTUALLY.

>> Mary: THE POTENTIAL PRICE TAG OF 5 TO $30 MILLION DOESN'T DETER THESE OLKS FROM MINNEAPOLIS.

>> Mary: WHAT ABOUT THE PRICE RANGE, THE 5 MILLION TO $30 MILLION, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT?

>> HAT SOUNDS REASONABLE.

>> Mary: AND THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR WHO CHAIRS THE CAAP BOARD, OVERSEEING THE PROJECT IS ECSTATIC.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS TO REDESIGN THE CAPITOL MALL?

>> I'M SO EXCITED.

WE'VE HAD AN EXCITING TIME AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO IS COME TOGETHER, REIMAGINE WHAT MINNESOTA'S FRONT LAWN, ESSENTIALLY, LOOKS LIKE.

♪♪ >> ERIC: THE FIRST WEEK OF APRIL IS NATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH WEEK, A GOOD EXCUSE TO HIGHLIGHT RECENT HEALTH HEADLINES HERE IN MINNESOTA, INCLUDING CONTINUING DISPARITIES FOR MINNESOTANS OF COLOR IN UNINSURED RATES AND OPIOID OVERDOSE DEATH RATES.

BROOKE CUNNINGHAM IS THE STATE'S HEALTH COMMISSIONER.

WELCOME BACK TO "ALMANAC."

I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THIS RATE OF UNINSURED.

3.8% SEEMS VERY LOW AND SEEMS LIKE GREAT NEWS, BUT, AGAIN, I GUESS WE HAVE THESE DISPARITIES ONCE AGAIN.

>> RIGHT.

NO, IT IS GOOD FOR MINNESOTA, RIGHT, AND MINNESOTA OFTEN WHEN WE LOOK AT HEALTH STATISTICS ENDS UP COMING OUT WITH GOOD NEWS IN TERMS OF OUR HEALTHCARE SECTOR, EVEN THOUGH WE KNOW IT'S EXPERIENCING SOME STRESSORS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

WE TEND TO BE A PLACE THAT RANKS HIGH ON HEALTHCARE.

BUT, YOU KNOW, LESS THAN 4% UNINSURED RATE IN THE MOST RECENT HEALTHCARE ACCESS SURVEY, DONE WITH OUR PARTNERS AT THE "U."

YOU KNOW, THAT IS GOOD NEWS.

ALTHOUGH THERE WERE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO HAD SHORT-TERM PERIODS OF UNINSURANCE.

SO, THERE WERE FEWER PEOPLE WHO WENT FOR LONGER PERIODS, LIKE A HOLE YEAR, WITHOUT INSURANCE, BUT THERE WERE MORE PEOPLE WHO HAD SHORT-TERM GAPS IN COVERAGE.

>> Cathy: HOW ARE YOU DOING WHEN IT COMES TO THE INCREDIBLE RATE OF OPIOID DEATHS IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA, ESPECIALLY AMONG COMMUNITIES OF COLOR?

>> RIGHT.

>> Cathy: DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING THAT SEEMS TO BE WORKING TO HELP THESE PEOPLE?

>> I THINK THERE ARE A NUMBER OF INITIATIVES.

JEREMY DRUCKER, WHO IS OUR SUBSTANCE USE LEAD FOR OUR STATE ENTERPRISE, PART OF HIS ROLE IS TO BRING US ALL TOGETHER, RIGHT?

BECAUSE THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT REQUIRES ALL HANDS ON DECK TO THINK ABOUT, RIGHT?

WE HAVE O THINK ABOUT THE INTERSECTIONS BETWEEN ADDICTION, THE INTERSECTION BETWEEN MENTAL HEALTH, THE INTERSECTION BETWEEN HOMELESSNESS AND THEN, AGAIN, ACCESS, RIGHT?

TO BE ABLE TO GET ACCESS TO TREATMENT AND TO ARE AND TO REALLY TREAT ADDICTION AS THE PROBLEM, THE PUBLIC HEALTH PROBLEM THAT IT IS.

SO, FORTUNATELY, ONE OF THE SUCCESSES AND WINS FROM THE 2023 LEGISLATIVE SESSION WAS INVESTMENT IN SUBSTANCE USE STRATEGY.

SO WE HAD A COMPREHENSIVE LAN ON THE MDH SIDE, DHS, THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES, ALSO, OF COURSE, RAMPED UP A PLAN TO ADDRESS SUBSTANCE USE.

OURS REALLY DOES FOCUS ON PREVENTION, EDUCATION, OUTREACH, PARTICULARLY GOING INTO PLACES WHERE MORE PEOPLE ARE HOMELESS, HOMELESS HUBS, AND PARTNERING WITH COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS FROM DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED COMMUNITIES.

SO OUR INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES, OUR TRIBAL NATIONS, AS WELL AS BLACK COMMUNITIES, BECAUSE WE SEE HIGH RATES, SO, WITHIN THE AMERICAN INDIAN COMMUNITY, COMPARED TO OVERALL MINNESOTA POPULATION, TEN TIMES THE RATE OF FATALITIES FOR OVERDOSE.

AND, SO, WE HAVE TO PARTNER.

WE HAVE TO PARTNER AND REALLY GET BOLD AND ALL COME TOGETHER, REALLY ALL HANDS ON DECK, AND TO THINK ABOUT NEW STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS HE PROBLEM.

>> Eric: WHAT HAS CHANGED, IF ANYTHING, AT THE DEPARTMENT AND IN THE PUBLIC HEALTH STRUCTURE OF THE STATE POST-PANDEMIC?

>> SO THE ONE THING, ERIC, THAT I JUST LIKE TO LIFT UP IS POST-PANDEMIC, YOU KNOW, WE LOOK AT LOSING A LOT OF THOSE FEDERAL INVESTMENTS, RIGHT, THAT HELPED US ADDRESS THE EMERGENCY, ADDRESS THE EMERGENCY AND RESPONSE.

FORTUNATELY, LAST YEAR, WITH THE HISTORIC LEGISLATIVE SESSION, WITH THE SURPLUS, WE WERE ABLE TO INVEST IN PUBLIC HEALTH AND TO CONTINUE SO WE DON'T LOSE THE MOMENTUM.

SO WE GOT NEW INVESTMENTS IN WHAT WE CALL THE FOUNDATIONAL CAPABILITIES OF PUBLIC HEALTH.

THOSE ARE THINGS LIKE MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH, LIKE ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH, THINGS THAT WHERE WE PASS MONEY THROUGH FROM THE STATE TO LOCAL PUBLIC HEALTHPARTNERS TO WORK ON THOSE FOUNDATIONAL CAPABILITIES, BUT THE OTHER PACKAGE WAS A PACKAGE AROUND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, RIGHT, SO THAT, AGAIN, WE DON'T LOSE THE MOMENTUM, RIGHT SO, THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO IMPLEMENT THE LESSONS.

AND ONE OF THE LESSONS, AGAIN, BACK TO PARTNERSHIP, WE REALLY WENT OUT AND PARTNERED WITH COMMUNITIES IN DIFFERENT WAYS.

AND WE WANT TO CONTINUE THAT WHEN WE LOSE FEDERAL FUNDING.

SO WITH THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, WE WERE ABLE TO CONTINUE OUR CULTURAL COMMUNICATIONS TEAM, SO REALLY GET OUT INFORMATION IN A TIMELY FASHION IN LANGUAGES OTHER THAN ENGLISH, SO HMONG, SPANISH, SOMALI, AND TO KEEP THAT TEAM, TO KEEP SOME OF THE WORK WE'VE DONE WITH COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS AS WE RECOVER FROM COVID, TO KEEP OUR OFFICE OF AMERICAN INDIAN HEALTH, RIGHT.

SO A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT WE HAVE TRIED THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION SO THAT WE DON'T LOSE MOMENTUM.

>> Cathy: YOU MENTIONED COVID.

>> YES.

>> Cathy: I'M NOT SAYING THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE SOME KIND OF A COVID THING.

>> YES.

>> Cathy: BIRD FLU SITUATION.

>> YES, BIRD FLU.

>> Cathy: IT'S ODD, TO SAY THE LEAST.

SO BIRD FLU SEEMS LIKE IT HAS JUMPED TO ANOTHER SPECIES.

>> RIGHT.

>> Cathy: COWS AND GOATS.

>> RIGHT.

>> Cathy: ARE YOU ALL DOING ANYTHING ABOUT THIS?

>> RIGHT.

WELL, WE'RE GETTING READY.

WE'RE WATCHING.

WE'RE GETTING READY.

WE'RE ON THE CALLS WITH CDC, INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS.

RECENTLY PLANNING HOPEFULLY NEXT WEEK WITH OUR TEAM THINKING ABOUT, LIKE, WITH AG AS A PARTNER, RIGHT, LIKE HOW ARE WE GOING TO MONITOR, HOW ARE WE GOING TO GET RAPID SIGHT LINES AND SURVEILLANCE GOING, WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH LABORATORY TESTING, YOU KNOW, JUST TO PREPARE.

WE WANT TO BE PREPARED.

I THINK WE DO A GOOD JOB WITH THAT.

BUT WE'VE GOT OUR SIGHT LINES ON IT, YOU KNOW.

THE RISK RIGHT NOW, WHAT EVERYBODY IS SAYING THE RISK IS LOW, BUT SHOULD THAT CHANGE, WE WANT TO BE READY.

>> Cathy: GOOD.

>> Eric: APPRECIATE YOU COMING OVER AND TALKING TO US.

YOU'VE GOT A LOT ON YOUR PLATE.

SO APPRECIATE YOU MAKING THE TIME.

>> Cathy: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.

>> THANK YOU, ALL.

>> Eric: YOU BET.

>> athy: GOOD TO SEE YOU.

♪♪ >> SHELETTA: THE BEST PARENTING ADVICE I EVER GOT CAME FROM AN OLD FRIEND.

HE SAID, SHELETTA, WHATEVER YOU WANNA TEACH YOUR KIDS, DO IT BEFORE THEY TURN 11.

BECAUSE AT 12 THEY WON’T LISTEN TO ANYTHING YOU HAVE TO SAY.

QUITE FRANKLY, TO PUT IT BLUNTLY, THEY THINK YOU’RE STUPID.

DUMB AS A BAG OF ROCKS.

NOW LISTEN, I LOVE MY OLD FRIEND LIKE A BROTHER, BUT I JUST * *KNEW * * HE WAS WRONG ON THIS ONE.

SURELY, THE KIDS WHO CONSULT ME FOR THEIR EVERY MOVE AND WARDROBE SELECTIONS WOULD * *NOT * * DROP ME LIKE A BAD HABIT ONCE THEY GOT A LITTLE OLDER.

TURNS OUT MY OLD FRIEND WAS SPOT ON.

AT 17, MY OLDEST SON ANDREW WON’T TAKE ANY OF THE ADVICE I TRY TO GIVE HIM.

CASE IN POINT, I HAVE THREE NUMBER ONE BEST-SELLING CHILDREN’S BOOKS, SO I THINK I KNOW A THING OR TWO ABOUT HOW TO MARKET AND PROMOTE A PRODUCT.

I’VE ONLY BEEN DOING IT FOR A COUPLE OF DECADES.

WELL, THIS YEAR, MY HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR WROTE HIS OWN CHILDREN’S BOOK.

IT’S CALLED "ANDREW DOES HIS DANCE" AND IT’S ALL ABOUT HOW TO SUPPORT, QUOTE, UNQUOTE, NORMAL KIDS LIKE HIM WHO HAVE SIBLINGS WITH AUTISM.

HE CAME TO ME ONCE THE BOOK WAS FINISHED AND SAID, "MOM, I WANT TO GO TO "GOOD MORNING AMERICA" AND SHOW THIS BOOK TO MICHAEL STRAHAN SINCE HE’S IN IT.” I SAID, "SON, THAT’S NOT HOW IT WORKS.

YOU DON’T JUST FLY OFF TO NEW YORK WITH YOUR FIRST BOOK.

YOU GOTTA START * *LOCAL * * FIRST.

YOU KNOW, GO TO KSTP, SIT DOWN WITH BEN AND ELIZABETH ON TWIN CITIES LIVE."

NOPE, MY SON SAID, I’M GOING STRAIGHT TO TIMES SQUARE.

SO HE WROTE A LETTER TO MICHAEL STRAHAN WHICH I TOLD HIM WOULD WIND UP IN A PILE OF FAN MAIL WITH THE FINAL DESTINATION BEING A RECYCLE BIN IN THE HALL OF FAME NFL PLAYER’S OFFICE.

TURNS OUT, MICHAEL LIKES FAN MAIL.

HE LIKES ANDREW TOO.

I’M GONNA HAVE TO LEARN TO BITE MY TONGUE BECAUSE MY SON AND I ARE GONNA TAKE A BITE OUT OF THE BIG APPLE IN JUST A COUPLE OF DAYS.

♪♪ >> CATHY: WE ARE SO EXCITED TO WELCOME BACK ONE OF OUR FAVORITE REGULAR GUESTS, SHARON STITELER, KNOWN TO BIRDERS EVERYWHERE AS "BIRDCHICK," MOVED TO ALASKA FOR A "TEMPORARY" POST AT DENALI NATIONAL PARK THAT KEPT HER AWAY FOR MORE THAN TWO YEARS.

HAPPY TO REPORT THAT SHARON HAS MOVED BACK TO MINNESOTA FULLTIME THIS SPRING AND IS HERE ONCE AGAIN TO SHARE HER BIRD WISDOM WITH US.

IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> IT'S GOOD TO BE SEEN.

I'M SO EXCITED TO BE BACK.

I HAVE JUST BEEN IKE CRASHING MY WINDOW EVERY MORNING, DRINKING COFFEE AND SOAKING IN THE SOUNDS OF ROBINS, CARDINALS, HOUSE FINCHES, IT'S A DELIGHT.

>> Eric: I'M GLAD YOU'RE HERE.

I WANT TO GET INTO BIRDING, I NEED ADVICE.

>> I CAN HELP YOU OUT, MY FRIEND.

>> Eric: GO FOR IT.

>> SO THERE ARE DIFFERENT GROUPS THAT YOU CAN JOIN HERE IN THE TWIN CITIES.

NOW, IF YOU WANT SOMETHING THAT'S A LITTLE MORE ADULT, THERE'S BIRDS AND BEERS, THE NEXT ONE'S HAPPENING ON APRIL 17th AT THE BLACK FOREST, AND IT'S FOR BIRDERS OF ALL ABILITIES.

YOU CAN GO AND ASK A QUESTION, YOU CAN FIND OUT WHERE TO GO, LIKE IF YOU'VE NEVER SEEN A BOBALINK, YOU CAN ASK THAT QUESTION, SOMEONE WILL TELL YOU.

IT HAPPENS ONCE A MONTH.

YEAH, YOU CAN COME, YOU CAN HAVE FOOD AT THE BLACK FOREST, YOU CAN HAVE A BEER, YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A BEER, YOU CAN HAVE A SODA, I HAVE WHISKEY.

BUT, YEAH, IT'S A GOOD TIME, GREAT WAY TO CONNECT WITH THE BIRDING COMMUNITY.

>> Cathy: YOU MENTIONED TO US OFF AIR THAT THE REASON THAT YOU REALLY ARE EXCITED ABOUT HEARING THE BIRDS SINGING HERE IS BECAUSE IN ALASKA IT WAS PRETTY DARN QUIET.

>> FOR SIX MONTHS, IT WAS DEAD SILENCE.

YOU KNOW, I LOVE THE PEACE IN NATURE, BUT PEACE IN NATURE, TO ME, IS CRICKETINGS -- CRICKETS, FROGS, BIRD SONGS, WATER BUBBLING, FROM SEPTEMBER TO APRIL, THERE'S NOTHING BECAUSE EVERYTHING HAS MIGRATED OUT OR IS HIBERNATING.

>> Cathy: LET'S TALK ABOUT MIGRATION.

>> YES!

>> Cathy: WHAT DO WE HAVE OUT THERE RIGHT NOW?

WHAT DO YOU SEE?

>> THINGS ARE MOVING IN, WOODCOCKS ARE STARTING TO COME IN, GREAT BLUE HERONS HAVE COME BACK TO THE ROOKERY IN NORTH MINNEAPOLIS.

>> Cathy: WHAT IS THIS?

>> WOODCOCK, I WENT OUT WITH MY FRIENDS LAST NIGHT, AND WE WATCHED THEM, THIS IS 15 MINUTES AFTER SUNSET THIS TIME OF YEAR, THEY START GOING PAINT, PAINT.

THEY DO THIS CRAZY TUMBLING DANCE IN THE AIR.

IT IS ONE OF THE BEST SPRING THINGS TO DO.

HIGHLAND PARK IS GREAT.

LEBANON HILLS.

CARVER PARK IS A GOOD SPOT.

YEAH.

ANY PLACE WHERE THERE'S WIDE-OPEN AREAS NEXT TO A WOODS, BECAUSE THEY LURK IN THE WOODS ALL DAY, THEY COME OUT IN THE EVENING, AND THEN THAT'S -- I DON'T KNOW WHY THE MALES ARE TUMBLING, I DON'T NO WHAT THE FEMALES ARE WATCHING FOR, THEY SIT IN JUDGMENT AS THE MALES DO THIS TUMBLING.

>> Eric: CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACT ON BIRDING.

>> OH, THAT'S A WHOLE SEGMENT IN AND OF ITSELF.

>> Eric: YEAH.

GIVE ME THE ELEVATOR VERSION.

>> TIMING IS DIFFERENT.

FOOD IS GETTING PROBLEMATIC.

BUT, YEAH.

THE CHALLENGE THAT'S HAPPENING, WHAT I REALLY SAW IN ALASKA THAT'S HORRIFYING IS THAT INSECT HATCHES AREN'T HAPPENING AT THE TIME THAT THEY SHOULD OR THERE'S CHANGES IN THE SEA WATER, THERE'S MASSIVE SEA BIRD DIEOFF THAT'S HAPPENING UP IN ALASKA, WHICH IS A PROBLEM ON MANY LEVELS.

AND IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TIME UNTIL IT HAPPENS HERE.

>> Cathy: OH, THAT IS -- NEU >> IT'S DEPRESSING.

>> Cathy: IT IS DEPRESSING.

OH, MY GOSH.

>> YEAH, YEAH.

>> Cathy: YOU MENTIONED, WE HAD A PICTURE THAT WAS UP THAT WE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT.

WAS THAT THE HERON ROOKERY THAT WE SAW?

>> YES, YES, THE HERON ROOKERY.

I KNOW THEY'VE ALREADY HAD THE WELCOME BACK THE HERONS PROGRAM, YOU CAN GO TO MARSHALL TERRACE PARK AND SEE THAT.

WHAT'S REALLY INTERESTING TO NOTICE, SINCE I'VE COME BACK, IS THAT IT'S NOT JUST GRAY BLUE HERONS NOW, CORMORANTS HAVE MOVED INTO IT, ANOTHER COUPLE EEKS, GREAT EGRETS WILL MOVE INTO IT.

IT'S JUST THOSE REALLY COOL THING IN, YOU KNOW, URBAN MINNEAPOLIS THAT WE HAVE ALL THESE GREAT AQUATIC BIRDS.

>> Eric: MY SISTER, OUT OF BEAUTIFUL LAKE WACONIA, TOOK A PICTURE OF AN EAGLE AND SHE SAID THEY'RE KIND OF GETTING MORE PLENTIFUL.

>> YEAH.

>> Eric: ARE THEY MAKING A COMEBACK?

>> EAGLES HAVE MADE A GIGANTIC COMEBACK.

WHEN I WAS A KID YOU HARDLY SAW THEM AT ALL.

NOW THEY NEST NEAR THE 35W BRIDGE.

>> Eric: HOW DID THAT HAPPEN?

>> WE STOPPED SHOOTING THEM.

>> Cathy: THAT WAS A BIG ONE.

>> WE STOPPED USING D DT, EVERYWHERE OUTSIDE, THEY'VE HAD PROTECTIONS, AND WE JUST AREN'T POISONING THEIR FOOD SUPPLY, SO THEIR EGGS AREN'T TOO THIN ANYMORE.

>> Cathy: GOOD.

SAY, I WANT TO KNOW, YOU JUST HEARD ABOUT BIRD FLU.

IT IS OBVIOUSLY A PROBLEM THAT WILD BIRDS HAVE, RIGHT?

>> ESPECIALLY WATER BIRDS, YEAH, FOR SURE.

>> Cathy: SHOULD WE NOT BE FEEDING THE SONGBIRDS TO TRY TO KEEP THEM HEALTHY?

>> IT DOESN'T MATTER.

BECAUSE SINCE IT'S MOSTLY COMING FROM DUCKS, EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT FEEDING BIRDS, IF A DUCK IS FLYING OVER AND IT DEFECATES WHILE IT'S FLYING, THAT'S GOING TO GET IN YOUR YARD AND THE BIRDS ARE GOING TO GET IT ANYWAY.

IF YOU SEE A SICK BIRD AT YOUR BIRD FEEDER, ABSOLUTELY STOP FEEDING BIRDS.

YOU KNOW, THAT IS SOMETHING YOU SHOULD DO, TAKE YOUR FEEDER DOWN FOR A WEEK, CLEAN IT UNTIL THE BIRDS MOVE ON, THEN PUT IT BACK UP.

AND SICK BIRDS ARE OBVIOUS -- THIS IS A HEALTHY HOUSE NAINCH WE HAVE UP RIGHT NOW.

SEE HOW THE EYES ARE BRIGHT, IT'S LOOKING AROUND, ITS FEATHERS ARE KIND OF COMPRESSED, WHEN A BIRD IS SICK, IT'S PUFFED UP, THE EYES AREN'T OPEN RIGHT AWAY, YOU CAN GET CLOSE TO IT, THAT'S A SIGN TO TAKE YOUR FEEDERS DOWN FOR A WEEK, MAKE SURE YOU CLEAN THEM BEFORE YOU PUT THEM BACK UP.

>> Eric: COME BACK REAL SOON.

>> I WILL.

BECAUSE I'M A CRAZY BIRDING MACHINE.

I'M SO GLAD TO BE BACK, THANK YOU.

>> Eric: ALL RIGHT, BIRDING MACHINE, SEE YOU.

>> Cathy: SEE YOU.

♪♪ >> ERIC: EARLIER THIS WEEK, ST.

CLOUD'S LONGEST-SERVING MAYOR DELIVERED HIS 19TH STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS, HIGHLIGHTING A STRONG FINANCIAL BASE AND DECREASING CRIME BUT ALSO A NEED FOR MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND INVESTMENT IN DOWNTOWN.

HE ALSO MENTIONED THE POSSIBILITY THAT A SPACE SHUTTLE COULD BE COMING TO THE CITY'S NEW CHILDREN'S MUSEUM.

DAVE KLEIS HAS BEEN ST.

CLOUD'S MAYOR SINCE 2006, AFTER A TEN-YEAR STINT AS A STATE SENATOR.

WELCOME BACK, MAYOR.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> Eric: YOU BET.

AS A FORMER STATE SENATOR HOW DID ALL THAT SPENDING THAT WAS DONE LAST YEAR, DID ANY OF THAT MATRICULATE TO St.

CLOUD?

>> YOU KNOW, IN SOME AREAS, IN TRANSPORTATION, ROADS, THAT'S THE PIECE, OF COURSE, WE'VE GOT A BIG BONDING REQUEST THIS YEAR.

>> Eric: $100 MILLION.

>> $100 MILLION, 100 MILLION REASONS TO HELP OUR DOWNTOWN.

>> Eric: YEAH.

>> BUT, YEAH, THAT'S PART OF THE HOUSING WE TALKED ABOUT, I MEAN, WE HAVE -- I MEAN, HOUSING, WORKFORCE HOUSING, ATTAINABLE HOUSING IS NEEDED ALL OVER THE STATE.

I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW OF ANY EMPLOYER WHO DOESN'T NEED HOUSING.

YOU KNOW, IT USED TO BE, YOU'D ALWAYS TRY TO GET JOBS IN YOUR COMMUNITY.

NOW YOU TRY TO GET EMPLOYEES IN YOUR COMMUNITY BUT YOU CAN'T UNLESS YOU HAVE HOUSING.

SO OUR DOWNTOWN, REALLY, I SET A GOAL LAST YEAR TO PUT 1,000 NEW HOUSING UNITS DOWNTOWN.

AND, YOU KNOW, LOOK AT CENTRAL MINNESOTA, RIGHT NOW ALL THE SURVEYS I'VE SEEN, MILLENNIALS, THE LARGEST WORKFORCE, OVER 70%, WANT TO LIVE IN A WALKABLE URBAN AREA.

AND CENTRAL MINNESOTA, St.

CLOUD AREA, HOW MUCH IS WALKABLE URBAN?

LESS THAN 1%.

>> Cathy: PROBABLY NOT MUCH.

>> LESS THAN 1%.

YOU'VE REALLY GOT TO FOCUS ON THAT DOWNTOWN.

COVID HAS SHOWN US THAT DOWNTOWNS THAT HAVE DONE WELL SINCE COVID HAVE BEEN ONES THAT HAD HOUSING COMPONENTS, NOT JUST OFFICE.

LOOK AT ALL THE DOWNTOWNS AROUND THE COUNTRY WHERE IT WAS JUST FOCUSED ON OFFICE SPACE, WHERE NOW THEY'RE CONVERTING TO HOUSING, PLACES THAT DID WELL THAT HAD HOUSING, NORTH LOOP IN MINNEAPOLIS, HOUSING IS REALLY THE KEY.

THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO DO IN St.

CLOUD, ADD THE HOUSING COMPONENT.

>> Cathy: WOULD YOU HAVE CONDOS, APARTMENT BUILDINGS DOWNTOWN?

>> ALL LEVELS.

YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE A MIXED USE.

YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE A VIBRANT DOWNTOWN WITH A GOOD VIBE.

YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE ALL INDS OF HOUSING, WORKFORCE HOUSING, YOU NEED HOUSING AT ALL EVELS TO DO THAT.

SO YOU REALLY START WITH THE PART OF RENTAL FIRST, EVENTUALLY PEOPLE GET TO OWNERSHIP.

>> Cathy: AND SPEAKING OF WORKFORCE, IT LOOKS LIKE THE MEDICAL SCHOOL IS KIND OF AN INTERESTING MARRIAGE BETWEEN CENTRACARE BASED IN St.

CLOUD AND THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA.

WILL THAT MEDICAL SCHOOL MAYBE PUMP SOME -- >> OH, ABSOLUTELY.

>> Cathy: -- FOLKS INTO YOUR AREA?

>> CENTRACARE IS OUR LARGEST EMPLOYER, HEALTHCARE IS THE LARGEST EMPLOYER FOR MINNESOTA, IN OUR AREA IT'S THE LARGEST EMPLOYER, TOO.

5,000 EMPLOYEES ADJACENT TO DOWNTOWN.

MEDICAL SCHOOL IS A BIG PART OF IT.

THE ISSUE, YOU KNOW, HOUSING THE DOWNTOWN, YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE THE TYPES OF THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU REALLY DRAW TO A COMMUNITY.

YOU'VE GOT TO GET PEOPLE TO HAVE PLACES TO LIVE.

BUT YOU ALSO NEED THE BOOK ENDS.

St.

CLOUD STATE UNIVERSITY IS A UNIVERSITY, IT'S ONE OF THOSE BOOK ENDS.

THE HOSPITAL IS THE OTHER SIDE, DOWNTOWN REALLY NEEDS TO BE A VIBRANT PLACE THAT PEOPLE WANT TO LIVE.

>> Eric: YOU KNOW THIS BETTER THAN I DO, BUT IF YOU -- IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS, IN ANY CITY, THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF RESENTMENT ABOUT DOWNTOWN.

SO YOU'VE GOT TO KEEP THE NEIGHBORHOODS HAPPY AS WELL.

SO THEY DON'T FEEL JUST LEFT OUT THAT IT'S ALL ABOUT DOWNTOWN.

WHAT HAVE YOU GOT THERE?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, THE DOWNTOWN, YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE A CORE.

IN ANY CITY YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE A STRONG CORE BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T HAVE A STRONG CORE, YOUR CITY -- AND St.

CLOUD IS A CORE CITY OF A EGION.

SO NOT ONLY IS St.

CLOUD NEEDS TO BE HEALTHY, IT NEEDS TO BE HEALTHY FOR SARTELL AND WAITE PARK AND SAUK RAPIDS AND ALL THE OTHER CITIES THAT ARE IN OUR AREA.

AND WE SIT IN THREE COUNTIES, THAT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO THREE COUNTIES.

>> Eric: THE CITY IS IN THREE COUNTIES.

>> WE'RE IN THREE, AND WE'RE ON THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.

I MEAN, YOU'VE GOT, WHAT, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOT WATER FRONT AND IT GOES, YOU'VE GOT EAST AND WEST SIDE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE IN AN AREA THAT THAT CORE NEEDS TO BE IMPORTANT BUT YOU NEED THE ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT.

I MEAN, YOU NEED ATTRACTIONS.

SO IT'S NOT AS MUCH THAT, DOWNTOWN DOES REALLY WELL, ALL STUDIES SHOW IN ALMOST ANY CITY IN THE COUNTRY, ADJACENT DOWNTOWN DOES VERY WELL.

IN FACT, YOU'VE INCREASED THE VALUE.

SO IT IS REALLY A KEY.

>> Eric: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITY WITH THE IMMIGRANT POPULATION, REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT AND SO FORTH?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE A VIBRANT COMMUNITY, YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE A VIBRANT THAT'S DIVERSE.

PEOPLE WANT TO LIVE IN AN URBAN, WALKABLE COMMUNITY.

AS I MENTIONED WITH MILLENNIALS, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A WORKFORCE, YOU NEED TO HAVE A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE WANT TO LIVE.

AGAIN, IT'S NOT ATTRACTING -- PEOPLE CAN WORK ANYWHERE BECAUSE THEY CAN WORK FROM HOME.

THAT'S WHY YOU WANT PEOPLE LIVING DOWNTOWN BECAUSE YOU WANT THEM TO BE ABLE TO WORK FROM HOME, MAYBE THEY'RE WORKING FOR OMEPLACE, SOMEWHERE ELSE IN THE COUNTRY, THE STATE, THE WORLD.

YOU WANT TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

SO, YES, WE EMBRACE, WE'RE A WELCOMING COMMUNITY.

WE'VE GOT A LOT OF GREAT ENTREPRENEURS.

JUST IN THE LAST 15 MONTHS, WHEN WE STARTED FOCUSING ON DOWNTOWN, THERE ARE 27 NEW BUSINESSES DOWNTOWN THAT HAVE EITHER CREATED OR EXPANDED.

THAT'S MORE THAN I'VE SEEN IN THE 19 YEARS I'VE BEEN MAYOR.

>> Eric: WOW.

>> SO THERE'S A FOCUS ON DOWNTOWN.

AND THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT -- IN FACT, TALK ABOUT THAT -- EMBRACING THE IMMIGRANT POPULATION, I JUST CUT A RIBBON TWO DAYS AGO TO TEQUILA TOWN, A FAMILY, YOU KNOW, SOME MEXICAN AMERICANS THAT HAVE COME AND SET UP A RESTAURANT AND RIGHT IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN, TOOK 100-YEAR-OLD BUILDING AND IS GIVING IT A NEW USE.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS HAPPENING THAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO THAT REALLY IS FOCUSING, A LOT OF PEOPLE LIKE SUSTAINABILITY, TOO, COME BACK FOR A WHOLE 'NOTHER SHOW, WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH OUR NUTRIENT RECOVERY PLANT, USED TO BE CALLED A SEWAGE PLANT.

WE'RE GOING TO BE THE FIRST CITY IN THE WORLD THAT'S CREATING HYDROGEN IN St.

CLOUD.

IN THE WORLD.

>> Eric: FOOD WASTE -- >> COOKING OIL, FOOD WASTE.

>> Cathy: GOT TO ASK YOU THIS, THOUGH.

YOU SAID YOU'VE BEEN MAYOR FOR 19 YEARS.

I KNOW YOU HAVE THE TOWN HALLS, YOU DO SOME CREATIVE THINGS, SHALL WE SAY, WITH YOUR TOWN HALLS OVER THE YEARS.

DID YOU HONESTLY IT IN CITY HALL FOR 24 HOURS?

>> I SAT IN CITY HALL.

>> Cathy: GET OUT.

>> I STARTED AT MIDNIGHT, I THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, I BROUGHT A BUNCH OF THINGS TO DO, I THOUGHT I'D BE GETTING A LOT OF STUFF DONE.

I HAD 85 PEOPLE THERE THROUGHOUT THE DAY.

I ACTUALLY HAD SOMEONE COME AT MIDNIGHT, AND I HAD A STEADY STREAM.

85 PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT.

I HAD ONE GENTLEMAN COME ABOUT 2:15 IN THE MORNING, HE STAYED FOR ABOUT FOUR HOURS.

AND OTHER PEOPLE CAME TOO.

SO I LEARNED ABOUT HIS WHOLE LIFE.

BUT E -- IT REALLY -- IN ORDER TO REALLY REPRESENTINGS, YOU'VE GOT TO ENGAGE.

AND I'VE ALWAYS BEEN TOLD, I'D LOVE TO COME TO YOUR TOWN HALL MEETINGS BUT I WORK SHIFTS, I WORK NIGHTS, WE'LL DO A 24-HOUR ONE, SO THAT'S WHERE PEOPLE CAME.

I'VE DONE 980 OF THEM.

SO THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY.

>> Cathy: THERE YOU GO.

>> Eric: THANKS FOR DRIVING DOWN.

>> THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.

>> Cathy: GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN, TOO.

>> Eric: THANKS.

>> SO MUCH OF OUR POLICY CONVERSATIONS ARE CENTERED AROUND SCIENCE, EVERYTHING FROM CLIMATE CHANGE TO VACCINATIONS, TO COVID RESPONSE TO PUBLIC HEALTH AND SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH, FENTANYL CRISIS.

I THINK FINALLY, SCIENTISTS LIKE MYSELF, WE'RE TAKING A MORE ACTIVE ROLE, SAYING, IT'S NOT ENOUGH FOR US TO PUBLISH AND PRESENT AND KNOW THIS WITHIN OUR OWN SPHERES, WE NEED TO BE TAKING THIS OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY, TOO, SO THAT THE COMMUNITY UNDERSTANDS HOW IMPORTANT SCIENTIFIC WORK IS.

WHEN YOU'RE JUST TALKING STRAIGHT FACTS, I FIND THAT'S NOT REALLY POLITICAL AND I FIND THAT ASKING QUESTIONS BASED ON FACTS IN FRONT OF ME DOES HELP ME KIND OF REACH ACROSS THE AISLE AS WELL BECAUSE IT'S LIKE, YOU KNOW, HEY, LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS, UNDERSTAND IT BETTER TOGETHER.

AND I THINK IT DOES INFORM BETTER POLICY AS WELL.

>> CATHY: THERE'S JUST 214 DAYS UNTIL ELECTION DAY.

YOU ARE FOREWARNED.

THE PRESUMED REMATCH BETWEEN CURRENT PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN AND FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP HAS MANY VOTERS LESS THAN EXCITED.

SO WHAT ARE VOTERS THINKING ABOUT?

WARS IN MIDDLE EAST AND THE UKRAINE.

CLOSER TO HOME ECONOMIC ISSUES ARE USUALLY TOP OF MIND.

HERE WITH MORE, THIS MONTH'S TRIO OF POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSORS.

LARRY JACOBS HEADS UP THE CENTER FOR POLITICS AND GOVERNANCE AT THE U OF M'S HUMPHREY SCHOOL.

DAVID SCHULTZ IS A PROFESSOR OF POLITICAL SCIENCE AND LEGAL STUDIES AT HAMLINE UNIVERSITY.

KATHRYN PEARSON'S ACADEMIC HOME IS THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA WHERE SHE FOCUSES ON AMERICAN POLITICS AND CONGRESS.

PROFESSOR JACOBS, EVIDENTLY THE HOUSE IS SCHEDULED TO VOTE NEXT WEEK TO REBUKE THE PRESIDENT'S CALL FOR AN IMMEDIATE CEASE-FIRE IN GAZA.

HE HAD THIS KIND OF FRAUGHT CALL WITH BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE POLITICS OF THIS.

THIS SEEMS LIKE THIS COULD BE KIND OF MESSY IN THE HOUSE.

>> OH, YEAH, IT'S GOING TO BE MESSY, PLUS WE SEE IN THE SENATE WE'VE GOT DEMOCRATS, AND DEMOCRATS IN THE HOUSE, WHO ARE LINING UP PUSHING JOE BIDEN, THEY DON'T FEEL LIKE JOE BIDEN IS GOING FAR ENOUGH.

THERE'S TALK BOUT HOLDING UP SALE OF PLANES, MILITARY PLANES, POSSIBLY WEAPONS OF OTHER SORTS TO ISRAEL.

AND NOW THE PRESIDENT'S GOING TO GET HAMMERED BY THE HOUSE REPUBLICANS.

I MEAN, THE ISSUE HERE IS, YOU'VE GOT A FRAUGHT WAR IN GAZA THAT'S INTERNATIONALLY REJECTED AND IT'S PLAYING INTO THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION HERE IN WHICH YOU'VE GOT REPUBLICANS HOPING TO PEEL AWAY MORE JEWISH VOTERS AND JEWISH DONORS, SO, YEAH, IT'S POLITICS WASHINGTON STYLE.

>> Cathy: WOW.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

WHAT'S HAPPENING?

>> I WAS GOING TO ADD TO IT AND SAY, SINCE THE HOUSE WANTED TO IMPEACH JOE BIDEN FOR THE LONGEST TIME, THEY CAN'T IMPEACH HIM, LET'S REBUKE HIM AT THIS POINT.

PART OF IT IS ABOUT PEELING OFF VOTERS, BUT IT'S ALSO, I THINK, IN PART, ABOUT THE REPUBLICANS TRYING TO FIND SOME WAY OF CONTINUING TO DAMAGE JOE BIDEN, KEEPING HIM ON DEFENSIVE.

AND THIS BECOMES ANOTHER WAY OF DOING IT.

AND IT'S A WAY OF SPLINTTERING THE DEMOCRATIC COALITION AT THIS POINT.

PEEL JEWISH VOTERS AWAY, ALIENATE PROGRESSIVE VOTERS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

BUT, MEANWHILE, REPUBLICANS ARE DIVIDED OVER UKRAINE AND, SO, THAT IS YET ONE MORE THING THAT SPEAKER JOHNSON HAS ON HIS PLATE, WHO KNOWS IF HE'LL BE ABLE TO EAL WITH IT, YOU KNOW, RIGHT BEFORE RECESS REPRESENTATIVE MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE, YOU NO, FILED A MOTION TO VACATE, WHO KNOWS IF THAT WILL ACTUALLY COME UP FOR A VOTE.

SO BOTH PARTIES HAVE THEIR OWN INTERNAL FACTIONS AND DYNAMICS TO CONTEND WITH.

>> Cathy: I WANT TO ASK ABOUT HIM.

DO YOU THINK HE'S -- IS HE -- HOW MUCH TROUBLE IS THE SPEAKER IN?

>> WELL, I MEAN, HE IS IN TROUBLE IN THE SENSE THAT HE DOES NOT HAVE THE FULL SUPPORT OF HIS HOUSE REPUBLICANS WHO HAVE NOW AT THIS POINT A ONE-SEAT MAJORITY.

THAT SAID, YOU KNOW, THEY DON'T HAVE MUCH TIME LEFT WHERE THE -- BEFORE THE END OF THE SESSION SO I'M NOT SO SURE THIS WILL ACTUALLY COME TO A VOTE.

BUT, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE LOST SIX RULES, WHICH GIVE THE MAJORITY PARTY AGENDA CONTROL, WHICH HASN'T HAPPENED IN DECADES.

>> Eric: NOW YOU WROTE THE ORIGINAL BOOK, WAS IT NINE STATES DECIDE THE PRESIDENCY?

AND NOW YOU'RE DOWN TO SEVEN?

>> I SAID TEN.

NOW IT'S DOWN TO SIX -- FIVE OR SIX, DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU WANT TO GO.

>> Eric: WELL, FOR ALL YOU GUYS, IN SIX OF THE SEVEN SWING STATES.

>> YES.

>> Eric: WISCONSIN THE EXCEPTION.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> Eric: TRUMP IS WINNING.

>> YUP.

>> Eric: BUT HE'S BELOW 50% IN ALL THOSE STATES.

IS THIS SOMETHING MEANINGFUL OR NOT?

>> YES.

ALSO KEEP IN MIND THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT POLLS -- FIRST OFF, REMEMBER POLLS ARE NOT PREDICTORS, THEY'RE SNAPSHOTS IN TIME.

ALSO, FOR ALL ALL THE POLLS IN ALL OF THOSE STATES, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, THEY'RE ALL WITHIN THE MARGINS OF ERROR.

IT IS INCREDIBLY CLOSE.

I MEAN, I'VE BEEN ARGUING THAT THIS ELECTION IS GOING TO COME DOWN TO ABOUT 150,000 VOTERS, YOU KNOW, GIVE OR TAKE ACROSS, YOU KNOW, FIVE OR SIX STATES.

THAT'S REALLY WHAT'S GOING TO DECIDE THE ELECTION.

LOU JACOBSON, WHO DOES SOME REALLY GOOD WORK, IS ACTUALLY NOW STARTING TO HIGHLIGHT, SOMETHING THAT I'VE ALSO BEEN TALKING ABOUT, THE ELECTION IS DOWN TO SWING VOTERS IN A FEW SWING COUNTIES IN A FEW SWING STATES.

>> CERTAINLY SWING VOTERS?

SWING STATES BUT ALSO BASE VOTERS IN SWING STATES.

>> YES.

>> SO WILL THE TWO CANDIDATES, THE TWO PARTIES BE ABLE TO MOBILIZE THEIR BASE FOR CANDIDATES WHO AREN'T THAT POPULAR WITHIN THEIR OWN PARTY RIGHT NOW?

AND I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE WILL BE A LOT OF BOTH REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS WHO COME HOME TO THEIR CANDIDATE CLOSER TO THE ELECTION.

BUT RIGHT NOW BOTH PARTIES ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT TURNOUT OF THEIR BASE.

>> SO I THINK TO FILL THAT OUT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE LOOKING AT NIKKI HALEY PULLED OUT, WHAT, A MONTH AGO.

STILL ABOUT ONE OUT OF FIVE REPUBLICANS VOTING FOR HER.

EVEN THOUGH SHE'S NOT A CANDIDATE.

AND WE KNOW FROM EXITY POLLS THAT SOME -- EXITY POLLS SOME PERCENT JUST REJECT TRUMP.

EXIT.

MEANWHILE, YOU'VE GOT THE UNCOMMITTED VOTE IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, WHICH IS A PROTEST VOTE FOR THE PRESIDENT'S POLICY IN GAZA.

YOU'VE GOT ROBERT KENNEDY, WHO'S DOING VERY WELL.

EVEN THOUGH THE NO LABELS GROUP CAME OUT YESTERDAY AND SAID THEY WERE NOT GOING TO PUT UP A CANDIDATE, THE THIRD PARTY PROBABLY HURTS BIDEN A BIT MORE THAN TRUMP.

>> I WANT TO ADD A COMPLICATION TO IT BECAUSE THIS BECOMES HE POLITICAL SCIENTIST NIGHTMARE NOW FOR PREDICTIONS BECAUSE IF YOU JUST HAVE TWO CANDIDATES RUNNING WITH NO VIABLE THIRD PARTIES, SO SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO DON'T LIKE BIDEN OR TRUMP WILL COME HOME, SOME AREN'T GOING TO VOTE.

NOW YOU'VE GOT THE COMPLICATION OF SAYING, WELL, HECK, I CAN GO VOTE FOR RFK JR., I CAN VOTE FOR SOMEBODY ELSE.

SO NOW TRY TO CALCULATE IT OUT.

AND I ACTUALLY THINK -- I MEAN, LARRY'S RIGHT ON THIS ONE, I ACTUALLY THINK IT HURTS BIDEN MORE BECAUSE THIS ELECTION, I STILL THINK IS MORE OF A REFERENDUM ON THE INCUMBENT, WHO'S BIDEN, AND THE THIRD-PARTY CANDIDATE PROBABLY, I THINK, IN THIS CASE HERE, MAY BE DRAWING A LITTLE BIT MORE FROM THE PEOPLE WHO WOULD OTHERWISE MAYBE VOTE FOR BIDEN.

>> Eric: WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE ARIZONA, MONTANA AND OHIO SENATE RACES?

>> THAT THEY WILL BE VERY VERY COMPETITIVE AND DETERMINE THE CONTROL OF THE SENATE.

I MEAN, RIGHT NOW, IF I HAD TO PREDICT, I WOULD SAY THE SENATE LEANS REPUBLICAN, OF COURSE, IT'S CURRENTLY DEMOCRAT AND THE HOUSE LEANS DEMOCRATIC AND IT'S CURRENTLY REPUBLICAN.

BUT ALL OF THESE RACES WILL BE VERY CLOSE.

AND I THINK WE WON'T KNOW CONTROL OF, OU KNOW, CONGRESS OR THE WHITE HOUSE ON ELECTION NIGHT.

AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO REALLY START BEING CLEAR ABOUT THAT.

AND THEN THE OTHER THING I WOULD SAY IS SOME OF THESE STATES, LIKE FLORIDA, FOR EXAMPLE, ARE HAVING ABORTION ON THE BALLOT AS WELL.

AND THAT WILL HELP DEMOCRATS.

YOU KNOW, MAYBE NOT ENOUGH FOR FLORIDA TO REALLY BE IN PLAY, BUT CERTAINLY IN SOME OF THESE CONGRESSIONAL RACES.

>> AND THEN YOU'VE GOT THESE CLOSE RACES WHERE YOU'VE GOT INCUMBENTS ROM THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY WHO ARE FACING REPUBLICANS AND THE PRIMARY HAS NOMINATED SOME PRETTY FAR RIGHT CANDIDATES, PARTICULARLY IN OHIO, WHICH COULD HAVE BEEN A STATE THAT WOULD HAVE MOVED MORE PREDICTABLY IN A REPUBLICAN DIRECTION.

NOW THAT'S GOING TO BE VERY -- A VERY CLOSER ELECTION THAN WE MIGHT HAVE EXPECTED.

>> I WOULD ADD ONE MORE THING.

WHEN YOU OPENED UP THE SEGMENT HERE, YOU SAID 214 DAYS WHATEVER TO THE ELECTION.

ACTUALLY SUBTRACT 45 FROM THAT.

YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO START TO SEE, REMEMBER, EARLY VOTING ACROSS THE COUNTRY SO THAT, THINK ABOUT IT NOW, WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO START SEEING VOTING THE LAST WEEK OF SEPTEMBER.

>> Cathy: OH, NO.

>> AND -- >> THAT'S TRUE, THOUGH.

>> I MENTION THIS BECAUSE THINK ABOUT THE CHALLENGES FOR A RACE THIS LOSE, AS YOU HAVE ESSENTIALLY ROLLING VOTING GOING FOR 45 DAYS, TRYING TO MAKE YOUR FINAL MESSAGE WHEN YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT, I'VE GOT TO START WORRYING ABOUT THIS ON SEPTEMBER, WHAT, 30th, OCTOBER 15th, ET CETERA, THIS JUST MAKES IT EVEN MORE COMPLICATED.

>> Cathy: AND HOW DO YOU -- HOW DO YOU AMPAIGN?

I MEAN, HOW -- YOU'RE RIGHT.

THAT IS SO DIFFICULT.

>> BECAUSE IT'S NOT LIKE RUNNING A MARATHON WHERE IT USED TO BE, YOU GET TO THE END, YEAH.

NOW IT'S OLLING.

>> THE CAMPAIGN IS ALL ABOUT YOUR VOTERS.

I THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE ALL ABOUT THE DATA ON WHERE OUR VOTERS ARE LOCATED AND OR DEMOCRATS, THEY ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT VOTERS OF COLOR.

THERE'S BEEN POLLING COMING OUT SHOWING A VERY SIGNIFICANT FALLOFF IN TERMS OF BLACK SUPPORT FOR THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, HISPANIC SUPPORT FOR THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

>> Cathy: WHERE DO THEY GO, WHERE DO HE VOTERS GO?

>> THEY GO FOR REPUBLICANS.

>> IT'S TOO SOON TO SAY THIS WILL HAPPEN BECAUSE THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN VOTING AND, YOU KNOW, POLL.

>> YOUNG VOTERS AS WELL.

>> YES.

>> Eric: CARL ROVES FORMULA IS 90% OF YOUR PARTY'S VOTERS AND MOST OF THE INDEPENDENTS.

WITH ALL THESE UNCOMMITTED VOTES, IS BIDEN NOT GOING TO GET 90% OR TRUMP NOT GOING TO GET 09%?

>> I THINK GIVEN WHAT WE SAW IN THE LAST TWOW THE LAST ELECTION WHERE TRUMP GOT 94% OF REPUBLICANS AND BIDEN GOT 93% OF DEMOCRATS, THE VOTERS WHO VOTE WILL COME HOME.

I THINK, AGAIN, TO SORT OF GO BACK TO WHAT I SAID EARLIER, TURNOUT WILL BE SO CRITICAL, ESPECIALLY AMONG THESE YOUNGER VOTERS, WHO TYPICALLY DON'T TURN OUT AT THE SAME RATE ANYWAY, AND WHO ARE PARTICULARLY DISILLUSIONED WITH BIDEN ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE BECAUSE OF THE WAR IN GAZA.

>> RIGHT.

I THINK THE MPHASIS YOU MADE HERE IS PERFECT HERE.

IT'S GOING TO BE THE DEPTH, NOT THE PERCENTAGE, BUT IT'S GOING TO BE HE DEPTH OF HOW MUCH PEOPLE SHOW UP.

>> Eric: CAN'T WAIT TO DISCUSS IT MORE WITH YOU GUYS DOWN THE ROAD.

>> Cathy: THANK YOU.

>> Eric: THANKS VERY MUCH.

>> I TOOK WITH THIS MY IPHONE THIS MORNING.

I SHOULD HAVE BEEN OUT HELPING THIS WOMAN.

>> Cathy: YES.

>> BUT I THOUGHT THE VIDEO WAS SO COMPELLING.

ANYWAY, YEAH, OKAY.

THE NORTHERN SUBURBS, SPECIFICALLY, GOT TEN INCHES OF SNOW.

A GOOD DAY TO FLY SOUTHWEST, AND BY SOUTHWEST, I MEAN IN A SOUTHWESTERLY DIRECTION.

>> Cathy: YES.

>> JUST GET ME OUTTA HERE.

THIS TOO SHALL PASS.

>> ERIC: OUR HOUR TOGETHER HAS NEARLY COME TO AN END.

BUT FIRST IT'S TIME FOR US TO HEAR FROM YOU.

LAST WEEK WE ASKED YOU A MINNESOTA HISTORY QUESTION ABOUT SOMETHING THAT IS WELL KNOWN IN OUR STATE.

BEFORE 1926, THERE WERE SOME OF THESE THINGS IN OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD.

BUT IN 1926, MINNESOTA BECAME THE FIRST PLACE IN THE UNITED STATES TO HAVE ONE.

NOW THERE ARE 93 OF THEM IN THE UNITED STATES, BUT MINNESOTA HAS THE DISTINCTION OF GETTING ONE FIRST.

YOUR TASK WAS A SIMPLE ONE.

TELL US WHAT MINNESOTA "GOT" IN 1926 THAT WAS THE FIRST ONE IN THE UNITED STATES?

AS ALWAYS, CALLERS WITH THE WRONG ANSWERS GO FIRST.

>> ERIC: ALL GOOD ANSWERS.

BUT ALL INCORRECT.

A SPECIAL SHOUTOUT FROM THE PRODUCERS TO JOE FROM PUPOSKY WHO ANSWERS THE HISTORY QUESTION THE OLD-FASHIONED WAY - WITHOUT THE ASSISTANCE OF GOOGLE!

FOR THIS WEEK'S RIGHT ANSWER, ANTHONY, YOU'RE ON.

>> Eric: WE CAN ALL ASPIRE TO GREATNESS.

YEAH, ANTHONY, YOU'RE CORRECT.

THE BASILICA OF ST. MARY IN MINNEAPOLIS IS THE ANSWER WE SOUGHT.

THERE'S A NICE COLOR PHOTO FROM EARLIER THIS CENTURY.

THE BIG CATHOLIC CHURCH WAS ORIGINALLY DESIGNATED THE CHURCH OF IMMACULATE CONCEPTION AND HELD ITS FIRST MASS IN 1914.

IN 1926, THE CATHOLIC CHURCH CHANGED THE DESIGNATION TO THE BASILICA OF ST. MARY.

THANKS TO JIM BICKAL FOR THAT QUESTION AND FOR HELPING US OUT LAST WEEK.

A BIT OF HOUSEKEEPING FOR YOU BEFORE WE GO TONIGHT.

IT'S TIME FOR THE ANNUAL "ALMANAC" VIEWER SURVEY.

EACH SPRING WE ASK YOU TO SPEND A FEW MINUTES TO LET US KNOW HOW WE'RE DOING.

IT'S A GREAT HELP AS WE PLAN UPCOMING SHOWS.

YOU CAN FILL OUT THE SURVEY ONLINE BY GOING TO TPT.ORG/ALMANAC SURVEY.

AGAIN, THAT'S AT TPT.ORG/ALMANACSURVEY.

WE HAVE JUST ENOUGH TIME FOR SOME SHOW-ENDING MUSIC FOR YOU TONIGHT.

THIS WEEK BACK IN 2011, THE HONEYDOGS PERFORMED ON AN EPISODE OF THE TPT ARTS PROGRAM MINNESOTA ORIGINAL.

TAKE A LISTEN.

AND BE CAREFUL.

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