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

>> Eric: COMING UP WE'LL LEARN ABOUT MUSLIM CALLS TO PRAYER IN MINNEAPOLIS, WE'LL CHECK ON PROGRESS OF LEGISLATION UP AT THE STATE CAPITOL, AND WE'LL MEET THE STATE OF MINNESOTA'S FIRST EVER CHIEF EQUITY OFFICER, AND THEN MARY LAHAMMER BRINGS US HER INTERVIEW WITH SENATE MAJORITY LEADER KARI DZIEDZIC.

>> WE'LL HEAR FROM THE SENATE MAJORITY LEADER ABOUT RETURNING TO WORK AFTER A SHOCKING CANCER DIAGNOSIS DURING SESSION.

>> I WAS FEELING FINE, SO IT WAS A SHOCK AND THEN YOU JUST DEAL WITH IT.

>> 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.

THE SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY: A TRIBAL NATION FOCUSED ON COMMUNITY AND COLLABORATION, ESPECIALLY IN TIMES LIKE TODAY.

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

MORE AT EDUCATIONMINNESOTA.ORG.

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

>> Eric: IN A FEW MINUTES WE'LL MEET THE STATE'S POINT PERSON ON EQUITY AND CATCH UP ON A BUSY SPORTS WEEKEND.

FIRST HISTORIC NEWS OUT OF MINNEAPOLIS.

>> INDEED ON THURSDAY THE MINNEAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL CHANGED THE CITY'S NOISE ORDINANCE TO ALLOW MOSQUES TO BROADCAST ALL FIVE DAILY CALLS TO PRAYER.

THE VOTE WAS UNANIMOUS.

LOUD SPEAKER CALLS TO PRAYER ARE COMMON AROUND THE GLOBE BUT STILL RARE IN THE U.S.

THIS COMES DURING THE MUSLIM HOLY MONTH OF RAMADAN.

HERE IS MINNEAPOLIS COUNCIL MEMBER JAMAL OSMAN WARD SIX IN THE CEDAR RIVER SIDE NEIGHBORHOOD.

>> FOR FOLKS NOT FAMILIAR, EXPLAIN THE ALL TO PRAYER SIGNIFICANCE.

>> CALL TO PRAYER MUSLIM IS CONSIDERED TO BE THE MOST BEAUTIFUL SOUND IN THE WORLD.

CALL TO PRAYER, IT HAPPENS BEFORE PRAYER.

IT'S A CALL FOR PEOPLE AROUND THE AREA TO SAY IT'S TIME TO PRAY.

AS YOU KNOW MUSLIMS PRAY FIVE TIMES A DAY, SO FIRST TIME IN MINNEAPOLIS WE'RE ALLOWED TO DO THAT.

>> Cathy: AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AT THE CRACK OF DAWN AND SEVERAL TIMES DURING THE DAY AND WHEN THE NIGHT SKY STARTS TO DARKEN, IS THAT RIGHT?

>> THAT IS CORRECT.

>> Eric: WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS?

THIS I GUESS IS THE FIRST COMMUNITY IN THE COUNTRY TO DO THIS.

WHAT'S THE SIGNIFICANCE OF IT DO YOU THINK?

>> I THINK THAT THE COMMUNITY, IT STARTED ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO WHEN OVID, PEOPLE WERE NOT ABLE TO COME OUT TO PRAY IN-PERSON SO THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORS, SPECIALLY IN CEDAR RIVERSIDE AS YOU KNOW THERE'S HIGH RISE BUILDINGS THERE, WE ASKED THE MAYOR JACOB TO ALLOW A TEMPORARY ONLY DURING THE RAMADAN, MONTH OF RAMADAN TO BE ALLOWED.

SO HE DID THAT FOR A MONTH AND THEN LATER ON WHEN I JOINED THE COUNCIL, ME AND ALSO COUNCIL MEMBER ISAAC, COUNCIL MEMBER ELLISON, THREE OF US WHO ARE MUSLIM MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, DECIDED THAT MAYBE WE SHOULD LOOK INTO THE ORDINANCE CODE AND SEE IF THIS IS SOMETHING POSSIBLE.

>> Cathy: I KNOW THERE ARE PHONE APPS, OF COURSE THERE'S PHONE APPS FOR EVERYTHING.

SO I KNOW THERE ARE PROBABLY CALL TO PRAYER APPS, BUT WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO DO IT THE TRADITIONAL WAY?

>> I THINK IT'S A MUSLIM PERSON, SOMEONE WHO GREW UP IN A MUSLIM COUNTRY, HEARING THAT WAS SOMETHING TRADITIONAL, IT'S PART OF OUR FAITH AND FOR US TO HAVE THAT IT'S VERY IMPORTANT, MANY MUSLIM COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO IT.

SO WE FEEL LIKE THIS IS, WE BELONG TO THE COMMUNITY AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT EVERYONE WAS EXCITED AND I BELIEVE THAT LOOKING INTO THIS AS LEGISLATIVE, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE CODES ALLOW US TO DO, SO.

>> Cathy: SO LET ME ASK YOU THIS.

IS THIS, CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO FOLKS, IS ALMOST LIKE CHURCH BELLS IN THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH, YOU KNOW?

YOU HEAR CHURCH BELLS, YOU HEAR, EVERY RELIGION HAS SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, SO THIS WOULD BE YOUR VERSION OF CHURCH BELLS IN A SENSE.

>> IT IS, YES.

IT IS.

AND AS YOU MENTIONED THE CHURCH BELLS, IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HEAR ALL THE TIME AND FOR MUSLIM COMMUNITY TO REALLY REALIZE THAT THIS IS THE CITY THEY LIVE IN, THIS IS WHERE THEIR CHILDREN GREW UP, AND IT'S PART OF THEIR FAITH IS VERY IMPORTANT TO HAVE THE CALL TO PRAYER.

>> Eric: WHAT RE YOU HEARING FROM FOLKS IN THE SIXTH WARD?

>> EXCITEMENT.

THREE YEARS AGO PEOPLE WERE REALLY EXCITED TO HEAR FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A LONG TIME, ESPECIALLY IMMIGRANTS, AND ALSO KIDS THAT ARE BORN HERE LIKE MY CHILDREN COMING THERE AND LOOKING TO THAT.

AND EVEN NON-MUSLIM COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE COMING AND TAKING PICTURES AND ARE EXCITED.

IF YOU TRAVEL ROUND THE GLOBE ESPECIALLY IN MUSLIM COUNTRIES LIKE TURKEY AND EGYPT AND CAIRO, YOU HEAR THE CALL TO PRAYER AND IT'S A BEAUTIFUL VOICE AND THIS IS SOMETHING THE COMMUNITY IS EXCITED ABOUT.

>> Eric: COUNCIL IS OFTEN DIVIDED ON VOTES, I DON'T HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT.

THIS WAS 12 IN FAVOR ON VOTES.

>> IT WAS 12-NOTHING.

>> Eric: DOES THIS THE SOMALI COMMUNITY ACROSS ANY FACTION THAT MIGHT DEVELOP ON THE COUNCIL?

>> YES, AND AS MEMBERS WE UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF FAITH, WE HAVE TO BE EQUAL TO ALL RELIGIONS IN THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS AND I BELIEVE MINNEAPOLIS BECOMES THE FIRST MAJOR CITY TO TAKE THAT AND IT SHOWS HOW DIVERSE AND BEAUTIFUL THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS IS.

>> Cathy: WELL, DO YOU THINK MOSQUES NEED TO DO SOME EDUCATION BEFORE THEY DO START DOING THE CALLS TO PRAYER ESPECIALLY THE ONE THAT'S JUST AS DAWN IS BREAKING AS I'M SURE IF YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR AND IF YOU LIVE NEXT TO A MOSQUE THAT MIGHT BE A LITTLE JARRING.

WILL YOU HAVE TO DO SOME EDUCATION?

>> YES, I THINK LAST YEAR APRIL 1ST LAST YEAR THE CITY PASSED A RESOLUTION CALLING THAT THE MOSQUE CAN PARTICIPATE FOUR TIMES INSTEAD OF FIVE.

AND DURING THAT IME I TALKED TO A COUPLE MOSQUE LEADERS AND A FEW FOLKS AND THEY SAY THEY WILL NOT BE -- THEY WILL DO THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROCESS.

AND NOW AS FAR AS WE KNOW THERE'S ONLY ONE MOSQUE THAT ARE DOING THE CALL TO PRAYER.

OTHER MOSQUES HAD A ABOUT A YEAR NOW TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT BUT THEY HAVEN'T DONE THAT.

IT REQUIRES SOME EQUIPMENT AND SOME WORK, YOU KNOW, THE ROOF, HAVING EQUIPMENT ON THE ROOF IN THE WINTER, MINNESOTA WINTER, IT TAKES TIME.

SO MUSLIMS AND MUSLIM IMAMS, THEY WANT TO BE RESPECTFUL TO THEIR NEIGHBORS, THEY WANT TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT ENGAGEMENT AND THEY WANT TO BE TOLERANT AND MAKING SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, COMMUNITY KNOWS THAT THIS IS SOMETHING COMING.

SOME OF THEM ALSO HAVE TOLD ME THAT THE EARLY MORNING PRAYER THEY WILL NOT BE CALLING THAT OUT OF RESPECT.

>> Eric: THANKS FOR COMING ACROSS THE RIVER TO TELL US ABOUT THIS.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

>> Eric: THANKS VERY MUCH.

♪♪ >> Eric: THE TIMES ARE FIGHTING, LITERALLY, TO MAKE THE PLAYOFFS, THE WILD START THEIR PLAYOFF RUN NEXT WEEK.

THE LYNX JUST COMPLETED A DRAFT THAT THE TEAM HOPES WILL LEAD TO PLAYOFFS IN THE FALL.

HERE TO TALK SPORTS, BROADCASTER AND SPORTSWRITER LARRY FITZGERALD SENIOR, YOU CAN HEAR IM ON HE RADIO DIAL AS PART OF THE NATIONAL PROGRAMMING NETWORK.

THE ALWAYS TOUGH OKLAHOMA ITY THUNDER COME TO TOWN HERE TONIGHT.

THE BRAWLLING AND TOUGH TIMBERWOLVES, THEY SHOULD WIN TONIGHT, SHOULDN'T THEY?

>> WELL, THE TIMBERWOLVES STARTED THIS SEASON HERE IN TARGET CENTER AGAINST OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER, THEY BEAT THEM.

>> WITHOUT CHAD HOLM GREN, WE SHOULD SAY, THE LOCAL KID.

>> YEAH, AND I HOPE HE'LL BE SITTING COURTSIDE AND SOAKING IN COMING HOME, YOU KNOW.

HE'S HERE AND IN THE BIG TIME AND HE HAD A BAD INJURY AND THAT TYPE OF THING BUT NEXT YEAR THERE'S STILL A PROM OF PROMISING SITUATION.

>> Eric: RUDY GOBERT AND ANDERSON AND DANIELS.

>> Cathy: IT SEEMS SO JUNIOR HIGH.

>> I SAID THIS ON TWITTER TWO WEEKS AGO I WAS AS EXCITED ABOUT THIS TIME AND ITS PROSPECTS ONLY BECAUSE KARL ANTHONY TOWNS ISSED 52 GAMES AND YOU TRADE FOR RUDY GOBERT, FIVE NUMBER ONE PICKS AND FOUR PLAYERS YOU WANT TO PUT THAT MIX TOGETHER SO WE REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS TEAM'S OTENTIAL IS BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T HAD KART ALL YEAR.

BUT WE WERE SHOWING SOME SIGNS AND THIS MESS, FIGHTING AMONGST THEMSELVES AND THEN A PLAYER -- I NEVER HEARD OF A GUY BREAKING HIS OWN HAND BECAUSE HE WAS UPSET BUT, YOU KNOW, RUDY'S GOT A BACK DEAL, WE HOPE HE'LL BE ABLE TO PLAY TONIGHT BUT THEY HAVE TO WIN THIS GAME BECAUSE THIS FRANCHISE NEEDS TO PUT BACK TO BACK PLAYOFF TEAMS TOGETHER.

>> DIAMOND MILLER FOR THE LYNX, PRETTY GOOD PLAYER.

>> I'LL SAY.

YOU GET THE SECOND-BEST PLAYER IN A DRAFT AND JUST GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE LYNX HISTORY.

WHEN THEY GOT THE FIRST OVERALL PICK, GUESS WHAT?

FOUR CHAMPIONSHIPS FOLLOWED.

AND SO NUMBER TWO IS NOT THAT FAR AWAY, THEY GOT AN EXPERIENCED HALL OF FAME COACH AND SHE'S HUNGRY, SHE'S COACHING THE OLYMPIC TEAM.

I TELL YOU, I WAS THERE AT THE NEWS DEAL YESTERDAY.

EVEN PAIGE BUKERS CAME BACK TO TOWN JUST TO BE A PART OF THIS AND SHE'S STARTING HER OWN FOUNDATION.

BUT IT WAS AN INCREDIBLE SITUATION.

I HINK THE LYNX REALLY HAVE A BRIGHT FUTURE.

>> Cathy: SAY, I WAS LURKING AND AT THAT NEWS CONFERENCE WITH THE VIKINGS AND YOU GOT TO ASK THE FIRST QUESTION, TALKING ABOUT THE NFL DRAFT AT THE END OF THE MONTH.

WHAT DID YOU LEARN?

>> WELL, I LEARNED THAT THE VIKINGS ARE TRYING TO BE TIGHT-LIPPED ABOUT A COUPLE TESTY SITUATIONS, YOU KNOW.

DALVIN COOK, HE'S THEIR BEST RUNNINGBACK, HE SIGNED A BIG DEAL A COUPLE YEARS AGO, OVER A THOUSAND YARDS LAST YEAR, YOU HAVE TO RUN THE BALL TO BE ABLE TO THROW THE BALL DOWN THE FIELD TO JUSTIN JEFFERSON, JEFFERSON'S LOOKING FOR THE BIG CONTRACT.

THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

BUT THE OTHER GUYS WANT TO HANG ONTO WHAT THEY HAVE.

THEY DON'T WANT TO GIVE UP WHAT THEY HAVE JUST BECAUSE SOMEBODY ELSE IS IN A POSITION TO MAKE MORE MONEY.

THE VIKINGS DON'T HAVE AS MANY DRAFT PICKS AS THEY DID LAST.

ONE THING HAT CONCERNED ME WAS LAST YEAR THEY WENT INTO A DRAFT AND TRADED WITHIN THE DIVISION TO DETROIT AND GREEN BAY.

THAT'S A NO-NO.

SO I'LL HOPE THEY'LL DO NONE OF THAT STUFF THIS YEAR EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE SHORT OF DRAFT PICKS BUT I DON'T THINK THEY'LL FINDQUARTERBACK IN THIS DRAFT.

>> Eric: TWINS OFF TO A GOOD START AND SPEED UP HE GAME STUFF I LIKE IT.

>> YEAH, I DO.

THE GAMES ARE PRETTY CONSISTENT AND, YOU KNOW, 30 MINUTES OF A GAME IS IMPORTANT.

YOU GOT TEAMS ADJUSTING THEIR BEER SALES TIMES NOW BECAUSE THEY SEE THE REVENUE THEY'RE GOING TO LOSE IN THAT AREA.

BUT, HEY, THE TWINS ARE LOOKING VERY GOOD.

STARTING PITCHING HAS BEEN OUTSTANDING AND IF IT KEEPS UP LIKE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE GOT A LONG WAY TO GO, THEY GOT A GREAT CHANCE TO WIN THIS DIVISION >> Eric: HOW FAR CAN THE WILD GO?

>> I THINK THEY CAN GO A LONG WAY DEPENDING ON WHO THEY GET IN THE FIRST ROUND.

THEY MIGHT WIND UP WITH COLORADO.

I'VE NEVER SEEN A SITUATION WITH TWO TEAMS, TIMBERWOLVES, WILD, BOTH COMPLETED THEIR SEASONS AND THEY'RE ON THE CUSP OF THE PLAYOFFS AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHO THEY'RE GOING TO PLAY.

COLORADO IF THEY WIN TONIGHT THEN THE WILD WILL WIND UP HAVING TO PLAY DALLAS.

AND DALLAS IS A VERY, VERY TALENTED TEAM AND COULD BE A TOUGH MATCHUP FOR THEM.

>> Eric: GOT THE GOALTENDING STRAIGHTENED OUT?

IS IT GUSTAVSSON?

>> THEY WANT THIS TO BE GUST AAAVSSON'S TEAM AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

>> Eric: THANKS FOR COMING OVER.

>> THANK YOU BOTH.

♪♪ >> Cathy: THIS WEEK WE LEARNED THAT THE HYLIFE FOODS PORK PROCESSING PLANT IN WINDOM, MY.

IN COULD SHUT DOWN SOON.

WINDOM IS IN SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA AND POPULATION OF 4600 RESIDENTS.

MORE THAN A THOUSAND EMPLOYEES WORK AT THE PLANT.

THIS IS BIG DEAL.

HERE TO TALK ABOUT OPTIONS TO KEEP THE PLANT OPEN AND ABOUT THE STATE OF HOG PRODUCTION IN THE MIDWEST IS THOM PETERSEN, HE'S' MINNESOTA'S COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE.

WELCOME BACK TO THE PROGRAM.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Cathy: A THOUSAND WORKERS IN A TOWN OF 46, 45 -- 4600 PEOPLE, WOW, THAT IS A BIG BIG DEAL.

WHAT ABOUT THE RIPPLE EFFECTS THROUGHOUT THAT PART OF THE ECONOMY?

>> YEAH, REALLY CAUGHT WHEN I THINK I GOT MY FIRST PHONE CALL THE MORTGAGE IT WAS ANNOUNCED EARLY IN THE MORNING AT 6:30 FROM A HOG FARMER, THAT'S THE FIRST THING WE THOUGHT OF, THOUSAND JOBS IN A TOWN OF EUSETAD.

THE WE HAVE MORE AND MORE BUSINESSES CALL IN AND SAY I TRUCK INTO THAT PLANT, THEY WASH THE TRUCKS ACROSS THE WAY, THE FARMERS, YOU THINK OF ALL JUST THE BACK THAT IT GOES AND THE WORKERS AND, YOU KNOW, THE INSECURITY THAT THAT BRINGS.

AND SO I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT AS WE TRY TO LOOK FOR A BUYER FOR THAT PLANT AND HOPEFULLY SOMETHING POSITIVE COMES UP SOON.

>> Eric: DOES CONSOLIDATION OF THE INDUSTRY COME INTO PLAY HERE AT ALL?

>> YOU KNOW, IT REALLY DOES.

THIS IS AN INTERESTING PLANT.

THEY PROCESS A LITTLE OVER 5,000 HOGS A DAY, SOME OF THOSE BIGGER PLANTS LIKE J BS IN WORTHINGTON OR SMITHFIELD, THEY DO CLOSE TO 20,000 A DAY SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE THOSE MID-SIZED PLANTS TO GET TO THAT CONSOLIDATION ISSUE, SO WE WANT TO WORK REALLY HARD TO SUPPORT THOSE PLANTS.

RIGHT NOW WITH HIGH CORN AND SOYBEAN PRICES, THE DEVALUE DOLLAR IN CANADA OR JAPAN WHERE A LOT OF OUR PORK GOES, THAT'S CREATED SOME CHALLENGES FOR THE INDUSTRY.

>> Cathy: WE SHOULD SAY THAT THE HIGH SOYBEAN AND CORN PRICES, I MEAN, THAT'S WHAT HOGS ARE EATING, RIGHT?

>> CORRECT.

AND, YOU KNOW, SO THAT JUST, YOU KNOW, LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS HAPPENING THERE, WHETHER YOU HAVE THE WAR IN UKRAINE OR A DROUGHT IN ARGENTINA OR SLOW PLANTING SEASON THIS YEAR ALL THINGS CAN AFFECT THAT AND IT'S GOOD FOR CROP FARMERS BUT NOT ALWAYS GOOD FOR THE HOG MARKET.

IT'S KIND OF INTERESTING, RIGHT NOW THE BEEF MARKET PRICES ARE THE HIGHEST THEY'VE BEEN, PORK IS THE LOWEST IT'S BEEN.

SO A LOT OF THAT IS ALSO COVID BACKED UP AND CHANGED SOME OF OUR FOOD SYSTEM AS WELL.

>> Eric: DOES THIS CREATE A CLARION CALL THAT OTHER OWNER YOU'RE MIGHT COME IN, IN OTHER WORDS IS THIS GOOD ADVERTISEMENT THAT WE NEED A NEW BUYER?

>> YEAH, YOU KNOW, THE HYLIFE AND ALKING WITH THEM AND MEETING WITH LOCAL OFFICIALS OF THIS PLANT WHEN GLEN TAYLOR OWNED IT HE INVESTED A LOT OF MONEY INTO THE PLANT.

TRUST ME, I'VE TOURED A LOT OF PLANTS AROUND THE STATE, COUNTRY AND WORLD, THIS PLANT IS A TOP NOTCH PLANT AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT MAKES IT ATTRACTIVE FOR BUYERS SO WE'RE HOPEFUL SOMEBODY STEPS FORWARD SOON.

>> Cathy: THIS WAS A BEEF PROCESSING PLANT PRIOR, RIGHT?

>> CORRECT.

>> Cathy: AND THEN SWITCHED OVER TO HOGS.

COULD THEY GO BACK TO BEEF AND SAVE THE PLANT?

>> YOU KNOW, WE COULD AND I THINK THAT WHEN THINKING ABOUT THE WORKERS A LOT THAT WE WANT TO TRY TO KEEP AS MANY AS POSSIBLE AND I THINK THAT KEEPING IT IN PORK WOULD WORK WITH A LOT OF THE, IT'S SET UP FOR PORK PRODUCTION AND ALSO WITH WORKERS.

BUT IT COULD, BECAUSE THE PLANT IS IN SUCH GOOD CONDITION AND DIFFERENT THINGS THAT IT COULD POTENTIALLY DO THAT OR SOMETHING ELSE.

>> Eric: ARE THE DAYS OF THE STATE OFFERING INCENTIVE PACKAGES TO NEW COMPANIES TO COME HERE, ARE THOSE DAYS GONE, OR IS THAT STILL A POSSIBILITY, OR?

>> NO, ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING, I WORK CLOSELY WITH OUR ACTING D.E.E.D.

OMMISSIONER KEVIN MACKINNON AND COUNTY OFFICIALS AND OTHERS THAT WE ALWAYS ARE TRYING TO BE AGGRESSIVE AND BRING PEOPLE INTO MINNESOTA AND SO, NO, THOSE DAYS ARE STILL HERE.

WE ALWAYS WISH WE HAD MORE MONEY AND RESOURCES BECAUSE WE COMPETE AGAINST OTHER STATES AND THINGS, BUT, NO, WE TRY TO BE AS AGGRESSIVE AS POSSIBLE TO BRING THOSE BUSINESSES HERE.

>> Cathy: SO IF A BUSINESS LOOKS AT THIS AND SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT, THERE'S NO UPSIDE US GETTING INTO THIS AND IT CLOSES, WHAT HAPPENS TO THE HOGS THAT ARE OUT THERE WITH SOME OF THESE FARMERS?

>> YEAH, IT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

AS WE LOOK AT THE MARKET AND WHERE THESE WILL GO, THEY'LL HAVE TO FIND OTHER HOMES, SOME PEOPLE MAY CHOOSE TO EXIT THE BUSINESS AND THAT'S TOO BAD.

WE HAVE FARMERS THAT HAVE LOANS THAT THIS WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT ON THEM.

AND SO WE WILL WORK WITH THAT TOO TO TRY TO FIND HOMES FOR THOSE HOGS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE AND ALREADY LOOKING AT THAT.

>> Eric: HAVE THEY GIVEN YOU A TIMELINE?

>> I THINK THAT WHAT THE PROCESS WAS ON THIS HYLIFE PLANT WAS THEY HAD TO GIVE A WARNING.

IT COULD BE AS EARLY AS A WEEK TO JUNE 2ND ON WHAT IT WOULD BE.

MY GUESS IS IT WILL BE A COUPLE OF WEEKS, HOPEFULLY THAT WE CAN -- HYLIFE IS KEEPING THE PLANT RUNNING, KEEPING EMPLOYEES AND ACTIVELY LOOKING FOR A NEW BUYER.

>> Cathy: WE'RE TALKING HOGS RIGHT NOW BUT REALLY QUICKLY HERE, HOW ABOUT OF COURSE BIRD FLU IS OUT THERE AGAIN.

WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM YOUR POULTRY PRODUCERS?

>> YEAH, KNOCK ON WOOD WE ONLY HAD ONE CASE TWO WEEKS AGO.

LAST YEAR AT THIS TIME WE HAD SEVERAL CASES.

AND THIS WAS A BACKYARD FLOCK, NOT A BIGGER COMMERCIAL FLOCK.

THE ONLY THING I CAUTION WITH WAS THAT WE HAVE FOUND WILD BIRDS HAVE EEN TURNED INTO THE RAPTOR CENTER AND WE KNOW THE VIRUS IS CIRCULATING, FARMERS BIG AND SMALL WHETHER YOU HAVE TEN BIRDS OR A THOUSAND BIRDS, TOUGH BIOSECURITY MEASURES AND GREAT THINGS IN PLACE.

FINGERS CROSSED BECAUSE THAT'S VERY STRESSFUL FOR FARMERS TO DEAL WITH THAT.

>> Eric: APPRECIATE YOU COMING OVER TO TALK TO US.

>> APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY.

>> Cathy: GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> Eric: THANKS VERY MUCH.

♪♪ >> THE GREAT PYRAMIDS ARE INCREDIBLY INSPIRING STRUCTURES.

AND I SAY THIS KNOWING FULL WELL THEY'RE REALLY JUST HISTORY'S LARGEST HEADSTONES.

WHICH HAS ME THINKING ABOUT AMERICANS TODAY.

BECAUSE IF YOU WATCH HOW WE BEHAVE DURING LIFE, IT'S PRETTY CLEAR WE'RE NOT SUPER FOCUSED ON HUMILITY.

BUT IN DEATH WE'RE KIND OF QUIET, WHICH IS SURPRISING.

IF YOU LOOK AT OUR TECHNOLOGY, LOOK AT OUR RESOURCES, IF WE WANTED, THIS COULD BE THE GOLDEN AGE OF OVERBLOWN MONUMENTS.

WE COULD BE 3D PRINTING OUR OWN FACES AT 2,000 TIMES THEIR ORIGINAL SIZE.

WE COULD BE SETTING UP VIDEO MONITORS AND PLAYING OUR BEST HOME VIDEOS IN A NEVER-ENDING LOOP.

WE COULD BE ADDING L.E.D.

LIGHTING, AROMATHERAPY, BIOLUMINESCENT REFLECTING POOLS, THE PHARAOHS THEMSELVES WOULD BE WRACKED WITH ENVY.

BUT WE'RE NOT, WE'RE NOT DOING ANY OF IT.

MOST OF US ARE SIMPLY TURNING OURSELVES INTO A FEW POUNDS OF ASHES THAT END UP IN SOME RELATIVE'S CLOSET AND IF YOU ASK ME THAT'S A RATHER MODEST FINISH TO A LIFESTYLE THAT WASN'T ALWAYS MARKED BY MODESTY.

I GUESS I'M WONDERING IF MAYBE AMERICANS ARE PERFORMERS AT HEART.

YES, WE FOCUS ON THE AUDIENCE AS LONG S WE HAVE IT BUT WE ALSO KNOW THERE'S NOT MUCH POINT IN SAVING THE COSTUMES ONCE THE LIGHTS GO OUT.

OR MAYBE IT'S JUST THAT EVERY TREND IS CYCLICAL AND OUR GRANDCHILDREN WILL BE MOUNTING THEIR ENORMOUS FACES ON THE PYRAMIDS.

YOU GOT TO ADMIT, THAT WOULD LOOK PRETTY COOL ON A POSTCARD.

♪♪ >> Eric: THIS WAS THE FIRST WEEK ON THE JOB FOR OUR STATE'S FIRST EVER CHIEF EQUITY OFFICER.

STEPHANIE BURRAGE WAS TAPPED FOR THE POST.

SHE PREVIOUSLY WAS A TEACHER AND SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR.

MOST RECENTLY BURRAGE WAS DEPUTY COMMISSIONER IN THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

WELCOME.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Eric: WHAT'S YOUR ROLE IN THIS CONTINUED BATTLE TO REDUCE INEQUITIES IN OUR STATE?

>> OH, MY GOSH, IT'S A LOT.

BUT I LOVE IT, SO I HAVE TO SAY THIS HAS BEEN PROBABLY THE -- AND, YOU KNOW, I'M AN EDUCATOR, YOU JUST SHARED THAT BUT WHAT HAS BEEN GREAT FOR ME IS AS AN EDUCATOR I GOT TO LISTEN TO STUDENTS, I WAS ABLE TO THROWN PARENTS, I WAS ABLE TO LISTEN TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND THIS HAS JUST EXPANDED THE WORK THAT I WILL DO.

I'M HEAVY INTO LISTENING TO OUR COMMUNITY.

AND SO BEING THE CHIEF EQUITY OFFICER FOR THE STATE OF MINNESOTA IS GOING TO ALLOW ME TO DO THIS ACROSS THE STATE.

I'M GOING, I LOOK AT MYSELF AS THE AMBASSADOR FOR THE COMMUNITY.

AND THAT PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO REACH OUT AND SAY HERE OOZE WHAT'S HAPPENING N MY COMMUNITY, HELP ME MAKE SURE I'M GETTING TO THE RIGHT PLACES AND THAT'S MY JOB I FEEL IS TO GET THEM TO THE TABLE BECAUSE THERE HAS TO BE A SEAT FOR THE PEOPLE.

THEY HAVE TO BE ABLE TO COME AND SHARE THEIR CONCERNS AND SHARE WHAT'S HAPPENING AND I BELIEVE THAT IT'S MY IS TO HELP GET THE RIGHT PEOPLE CONNECTED TO THEM BUT I'M SITTING AT THE TABLE WITH THEM THROUGH THIS PROCESS.

>> Eric: I SEE.

>> Cathy: WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO HAVE A CENTRALIZED POSITION IN STATE GOVERNMENT TO WORK ON EQUITY ISSUES?

>> SO I'LL GIVE YOU A LITTLE BACKGROUND.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HEARD BUT WE STARTED SOMETHING CALLED MIND, BODY AND SOUL.

AND LITERALLY, AND IT STARTED WITH ME JUST GOING TO THE GOVERNOR SAYING I NEED OU TO LISTEN TO THIS GROUP OF PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY ARE HAVING SOME CONCERNS.

AND I WANT YOU JUST TO LISTEN.

HE DID.

THE GOVERNOR AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR WAS IN THE ROOM AND IT STARTED WITH ABOUT 100 PEOPLE.

IT HAS GROWN TO 750-PLUS PEOPLE AND THEY COME INTO THE ROOM TO JUST LISTEN.

WE HAVE FACILITATORS THAT FACILITATE SMALL GROUPS, WE HAVE TOPICS SO EVERY COMMISSIONER MAY COME IN AND TALK ABOUT HERE'S WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR AREA AND THEN AFTER THAT THEY'LL GO INTO THE GROUPS AND THE GROUPS WILL THEN SHARE HERE'S WHAT'S WORKING WELL FOR US, HERE'S WHAT'S NOT, HERE'S WHAT WE WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT BECAUSE THIS IS AFFECTING US IN THIS WAY.

>> Eric: HOW MUCH OF THIS IS MONEY FROM THE LEGISLATURE AND POLICY CHANGE AND HOW MUCH IS HEARTS AND MINDS FOR ALL MINNESOTANS ON THIS ISSUE?

>> IT'S BOTH, AND.

SO WHEN WE STARTED THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED, WE STARTED TALKING AND THEN THESE CONVERSATIONS LED TO HERE OOZE WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN OUR BUDGET.

HERE'S WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE OUR GOVERNMENT DO FOR US.

IT HAS SHIFTED TO CONVERSATIONS AROUND WE'D LIKE TO SEE THIS IN THE BUDGET AND I'LL GIVE A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THAT.

UNIVERSAL MEALS, THAT WAS A BIG TOPIC IN THE CONVERSATIONS.

HERE'S HOW YOU CAN HELP FAMILIES, HERE'S WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE FOR US WHEN WE HAVE TO MANAGE HAVING TO COVER FOOD, HAVING TO MAKE SURE OUR KIDS ARE BEING ABLE TO EAT AND UNIVERSAL MEALS WAS A GREAT EXAMPLE BECAUSE THAT WAS ONE OF THE REQUESTS TO GO IN THE BUDGET TO SAY HELP US WITH MAKING SURE THAT OUR KIDS ARE FED WHILE THEY ARE AT SCHOOL.

>> Cathy: OKAY, SO THERE'S A STATE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RIGHTS, HOW DOES THAT MESH WITH WHAT YOU'RE DOING?

>> IT MESHES DIRECTLY BECAUSE I'M WORKING WITH ALL OF THE COMMISSIONERS.

SO WHEN I HEAR CERTAIN THINGS, THEN I AM NOW GOING BACK TO THE COMMISSIONERS OR GOING INTO THE COMMUNITIES TO SAY MAYBE I NEED TO CONNECT DIFFERENT GROUPS TOGETHER AND MAYBE WE NEED DIFFERENT CONVERSATION AROUND WHAT THE PROBLEM IS, HOW CAN WE GET TO A SOLUTION TO HELP THIS ISSUE.

SO IT DOES TIE.

>> Eric: HOW MUCH DOES IT HELP TO HAVE A GROWING AND GROWING IN POWER AND STATURE PO POCI, PEOPLE OF COLOR CAUCUS AT THE CAPITOL?

>> I'LL TELL YOU HIS, I GREW UP IN A SMALL TOWN, BLUEBERRIES, THAT WAS OUR FAMILY REA.

SO SOMETIMES THING THAT HAPPEN IN RURAL SPACES WILL LOOK DIFFERENT THAN OF COURSE WHAT HAPPENS IN THE CITIES.

SO YOU HAVE TO HAVE DIFFERENT PEOPLE OR DIFFERENT GROUPS TO HELP MOVE YOUR CAUSE ALONG.

AND I THINK THAT'S AGAIN WHAT MY JOB IS.

IF THERE ARE ISSUES THAT ARE OUT THERE THEN THE COMMUNITIES CAN REACH OUT TO SAY HERE'S AN ISSUE AND THAT MAY BE A SPACE WHERE I'LL GO.

I MAY SAY WE NEED TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THE CAUCUS OR WE MAY NEED TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH ANOTHER GROUP BECAUSE HERE'S AN ISSUE WE HAVE TO ADDRESS AND SOMETIMES IT'S GETTING MULTIPLE GROUPS IN THE ROOM TO SAY HOW CAN WE GET TO A SOLUTION.

>> Cathy: SO HOW WILL YOU KNOW THAT YOU'RE SUCCESSFUL?

YOU KNOW, AT THE END MAYBE SAY IN THE NEXT TWO, THREE YEARS, I'M SURE YOU'VE GOT GOALS.

>> I DO, YEAH.

I DO.

>> Cathy: WHEN WILL YOU KNOW THAT YOU'VE REACHED WHERE YOU WANT TO GO?

>> SO THE FIRST THING, I BELIEVE IN METRICS, I BELIEVE IN LOOKING AT HOW, HOW DO YOU MEASURE.

SO ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS I'M GOING TO DO IS GOING TO AVE A LISTENING TOUR.

I'M GOING TO GO THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND LISTEN TO HE PEOPLE.

I WANT TO HEAR SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THEY WANT TO SEE AND TOPICS THAT THEY HAVE IN DIFFERENT REGIONS OF THE STATE SO THAT I CAN BUILD WHAT ARE GOING TO BE THE MEASUREMENTS THAT I WILL USE TO SEE HOW I'VE REACHED THE GOALS THAT I NEED TO REACH.

BUT I BELIEVE YOU CAN'T MAKE IT JUST I CAN'T COME UP WITH SOMETHING, I NEED TO HEAR FROM THE PEOPLE.

>> Cathy: YOU JUST STARTED THE JOB THIS WEEK.

>> DID YOU HEAR ME?

CAN YOU FEEL MY ENERGY, LIKE, YES.

>> Cathy: SO YOU START WITH THE LISTENING SESSION, PROBABLY YOUR FIRST STEP.

>> VERY FIRST.

>> Eric: WE'LL WATCH WITH INTEREST AND CHECK IN AND COME BACK FROM TIME TO TIME.

>> I WOULD LOVE TO COME BACK.

THIS HAS BEEN EXCITING FOR ME TO BE HERE TODAY.

>> Eric: THANKS VERY MUCH.

THANKS.

THIS WEEK CHEF SEAN SHERMAN JOINED AN IMPORTANT LIST THAT INCLUDES BRITTANY GREINER AND SALMAN RUSHDIE.

A FEW WEEKS AGO KAOMI LEE PROFILED SHERMAN.

>> LAKOTA CHEF SEAN SHERMAN AND BUSINESS PARTNER DANA THOMPSON OPENED OWAMNI IN 2021 ON DAKOTA LAND WITH COOPERATION OF THE MINNEAPOLIS PARK BOARD.

LAST YEAR IT WON BEST NEW RESTAURANT IN AMERICA BY THE PRESTIGIOUS JAMES BEARD FOUNDATION.

>> THE FOOD ITSELF IS VERY SIMPLE.

WE JUST USE HAVE SIMPLE INGREDIENTS, WE JUST TRIED TO UTILIZE INDIGENOUS INGREDIENTS AND CUT OUT COLONIAL INGREDIENTS, NO ANE SUGAR.

>> LOCAL INGREDIENTS, YET INFUSED WITH MEANING, VENISON TARTAR WITH SQUASH PURE YEAH AND SMOKED WHITEFISH.

THE MESSAGE IS NOT ONLY ABOUT SUSTENANCE BUT ALSO ABOUT RECLAMATION.

>> WE'RE NOT TRYING TO TO BE TO BE ABOUT THE PAST, WE'RE SAYING THIS IS THE FOOD THE FUTURE.

>> SHERMAN GREW UP ON THE PINE RIDGE RESERVATION IN SOUTH DAKOTA.

HE ATE CANNED FOOD AND FRY BREAD.

BY 14 HE FOUND HIS WAY INTO KITCHENS AND NEVER LEFT.

>> A FEW YEARS INTO MY CHEF CAREER I REALIZE THE ABSENCE OF INDIGENOUS FOODS ANYWHERE INCLUDING MY OWN KNOWLEDGE.

>> THAT SET HIM ON A ATH OF LEARNING ABOUT THE FOOD OF HIS LAKOTA ANCESTORS BEFORE COLONIZATION, HE AND THOMPSON LAUNCHED THE SIOUX CHEF BUSINESS IN 2019, A COOKBOOK, FOOD LAB AND NATIONALLY RENOWNED RESTAURANT LATER, AND THE MESSAGE IS RESONATING.

♪♪ >> SO I'’M STANDING IN LINE AT WHERE I WORK, AND I SEE ONE OF THE DONUT SHOP BY THE CLINIC WHERE I WORK, AND I SEE ONE OF MY REGULAR PATIENTS COMING IN THE DOOR BEHIND ME.

I LOOK AROUND, BUT THERE IS NO OTHER EXIT.

THEY'VE ALREADY SEEN ME.

THERE'’S NO WAY OUT.

"WOW, DOC," MY PATIENT SAYS.

"HAVING A DONUT?

I THOUGHT THOSE ARE BAD FOR YOU."

IT'S A WEIRD THING, BUT I FEEL LIKE I'M ALWAYS SUPPOSED TO ACT HEALTHIER THAN I REALLY AM.

IT'S A LOT OF PRESSURE.

THAT'S WHY I ALWAYS GO THERE UNDERCOVER.

I'M NOT WEARING SCRUBS OR A STETHOSCOPE AROUND MY NECK.

NOBODY WOULD KNOW, UNLESS THEY ALREADY KNOW.

WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO SAY?

"WELL, YES, I'M ACTUALLY DOING SOME NUTRITIONAL RESEARCH FOR THEY NEEDED SOME SAMPLES."

REALLY, HE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT I'M GOING TO ORDER.

COULD BE A HEALTHY BRAN MUFFIN.

I NEVER GO BACK TO THE OFFICE WITH JELLY ON MY FACE.

ANYWAY, I'M NOT BUYING CRACK COCAINE, IT'S JUST DONUTS.

I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO DRIVE 75 MILES TO KRUSTY'S DONUT SHOP IN MANKATO UNDER COVER OF DARKNESS JUST TO BUY DONUTS.

ALTHOUGH KRUSTY'S DONUTS ARE AMAZING.

I EVEN WALKED TO THE DONUT PLACE, AND THEN I'M WALKING BACK AFTERWARDS.

SO BASICALLY I'M BREAKING EVEN.

INSTEAD, I SAY, "YEAH, WE'RE CELEBRATING AT THE OFFICE.

IT'’S, UM, NATIONAL HEMOMATOCLINOSUS AWARENESS DAY."

GREAT, SO NOW I'D HAVE TO BUY A DOZEN.

NOW, BECAUSE I DON'’T WANT TO LOOK BAD, I END UP LOOKING MUCH WORSE.

"OF COURSE," I TELL HIM, "THEY'RE NOT FOR ME.

NO, I USUALLY JUST HAVE FIBER CEREAL AND SOME KALE."

FINALLY I GET TO THE FRONT OF THE LINE, AND THE GUY BEHIND THE COUNTER SAYS, "HI, DOC.

THE USUAL?"

"ME?"

I SAY IN A LOUD VOICE.

"UM, YEAH.

THE USUAL FOR ME.

JUST ONE PLAIN BLACK COFFEE."

THEN MY PATIENT LOOKS AT ME AND SAYS, "WOW, DOC, ISN'T COFFEE SUPPOSED TO BE BAD FOR YOU?"

♪♪ >> Cathy: SENATE MAJORITY LEADER KARI DZIEDZIC GRANTED A SMALL NUMBER OF INTERVIEWS WITH CAPITOL REPORTERS TO TALK ABOUT HER RECOVERY FROM CANCER SURGERY.

MARY LAHAMMER TALKED WITH SENATOR DZIEDZIC ABOUT HER CANCER TREATMENT AND ALSO DURING THE CONVERSATION THE SENATOR DISCUSSED THE BENEFITS OF RECENT SENATE RULE CHANGES THAT ALLOW LAWMAKERS TO VOTE REMOTELY WHEN REQUIRED.

>> FROM DAY ONE THE SESSION HAS BEEN A SPRINT SO A CANCER DIAGNOSIS FOR THE NEW SENATE MAJORITY LEADER WAS A SHOCK.

>> THEY FOUND A TUMOR SO THEN HAD TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THAT WAS AND HOW TO PROCEED.

BUT, YOU KNOW, GETTING YOUR COLONOSCOPIES, MAMMOGRAMS, YOUR PAP SMEARS, ALL OF THOSE TASKS I THINK ARE O IMPORTANT BECAUSE YOU TRULY DON'T KNOW.

I HAD NO SYMPTOMS, SO.

>> AND YOU WERE BUSY AND STRESSED.

THIS IS THE BIGGEST JOB OF YOUR LIFE.

>> YEAH, I WAS STRESSED BUT IT WAS A LOT OF FUN AND VERY BUSY AND VERY ACTIVE.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, I ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO JUST GET TESTED BECAUSE YOU JUST DON'T KNOW.

MINE IS OVARIAN CANCER AND THERE'S NOT A LOT OF SYMPTOMS AND PEOPLE DON'T CATCH IT EARLY.

>> SO HOW ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON WITH YOU MENTALLY AFTER GOING 100 MILES AN HOUR, SESSION WAS OFF TO THE BUSIEST START IN REALLY STATE HISTORY, OVER A DOZEN BILLS AND NOT LITTLE BILLS, MAJOR BILLS SIGNED INTO LAW.

YOU ARE LEADING A SLIM ONE-VOTE MAJORITY, A NEW JOB, JUST OING SO FAST AND SO HARD AND HEN THIS HITS.

WALK US THROUGH THAT, WHAT DOES THAT FEEL LIKE?

>> WELL, IT WAS A SHOCK.

BECAUSE, AGAIN, LIKE I SAID, I WAS FEELING FINE.

SO IT WAS A SHOCK AND THEN YOU JUST DEAL WITH IT, SO I JUST DEALT WITH IT LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE, JUST ONE DAY AT A TIME, ONE STEP FORWARD ASK JUST DEALT WITH IT.

AND, YOU KNOW, HAD THE SURGERY MONDAY BUT, YOU KNOW, ON THE PHONE AND VOTED THE NEXT DAY, YOU KNOW, YOU JUST -- >> REMOTE VOTING LIKE HOW IMPORTANT IN RETROSPECT WAS THAT POLICY OF ALLOWING REMOTE VOTINGVOTING AND NEW LEXIBLE WORK SCHEDULE THAT MANY OF US HAVE POST-PANDEMIC.

>> YEAH, I MEAN, I DIDN'T THINK MY SITUATION AT ALL IT WAS MORE WE HAVE A LOT OF YOUNG PARENTS AND THE MOST YOUNG PARENTS IN HISTORY IN THE SENATE AND I JUST THOUGHT PEOPLE JUST NEED TO HAVE FLEXIBILITY.

YOU KNOW, WE HAD ANOTHER MEMBER THAT WAS JUST OUT INJURED AND SO THEY WERE ABLE TO VOTE FROM HOME FOR A FEW WEEKS HERE SO I THINK IT IS HELPFUL.

>> SENATOR WESTROM.

>> REPUBLICAN SENATOR TORREY WESTROM RETURNED TO THE CAPITOL THIS WEEK AFTER BREAKING RIBS IN A SNOWMOBILE CCIDENT.

>> I WANT TO USE WHAT I'VE LEARNED IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS TO HELP US LEGISLATE WHEN WE COME TO OTHER BILLS DEALING WITH HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AND SOME FUNDING.

BUT I'M NOT GOING TO GO INTO THAT TODAY.

BUT, MEMBERS, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS AND YOUR CARE OVER THE TIME I WAS WORKING REMOTELY AND HEALING.

AND IT'S GREAT TO BE BACK HERE.

>> LAWMAKERS HAVE LONG HAD TO JUGGLE PERSONAL LIVES DURING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

>> IN THE SENATE YOU REALLY ARE HAVE TO BE THERE TO VOTE.

THE HOUSE YOU MIGHT PRESS A VOTE.

-- >> NOBODY ELSE CAN PUSH YOUR BUTTON IN THE SENATE.

I HAD A C SECTION ON A FRIDAY AND CAME BACK TO WORK ON A MONDAY.

MY HUSBAND SUPPORTED ME, MY MOM WAS THERE, THE ENTIRE CAUCUS MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR ME TO HAVE MY DAUGHTER WITH ME BUT YOU STILL NEED SOME SELF-CARE AND I REMEMBER A WEDNESDAY NIGHT CAUCUS SOMEBODY TAPPING ME ON THE SHOULDER AND SAID YOU FELL ASLEEP, YOU HOULD MAYBE GO HOME.

I HOPE SOMEBODY'S LOOKING OUT FOR KARI THE WAY THEY LOOKED OUT FOR ME.

>> IT IS A FAMILY, WE GIVE GRACE AND DEFERENCE ON THINGS LIKE THAT.

I KNOW PEOPLE ARE STEPPING UP.

>> SO IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE YOU'VE BEEN DOING A LOT OF RESTING AT HOME.

IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'VE BEEN WORKING A LOT.

>> A LOT OF PHONE CALLS, BUT, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN REST AND DO PHONE CALLS AND PEOPLE HAVE BEEN VERY RESPECTFUL AND STAFF AND ASSISTANT LEADERS HAVE BEEN GREAT AND I GREATLY APPRECIATE THE NOTES FROM PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, MY CONSTITUENTS, A LOT OF ADVOCATES AND MEMBERS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE AND IN THE HOUSE.

AND IT'S TRULY BEEN A DAY BRIGHTENER TO GET NOTES FROM PEOPLE.

>> WE JUST DISCOVERED THIS WAS A REALLY BIG SURGERY.

THIS WAS FIVE HOURS, INVOLVED MULTIPLE PROCEDURES, CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED AFTER THE CANCER DIAGNOSIS?

>> I HAD A HYSTERECTOMY, REMOVED THE SPLEEN, THE APPENDIX, THEY OPEN YOUR STOMACH MUSCLES FROM STERNUM ON DOWN AND I THINK THAT HAS BEEN THE BIGGEST ADJUSTMENT.

JUST EVEN SITTING HERE TODAY YOU FORGET HOW MUCH YOU'RE USING YOUR STOMACH AND BACK MUSCLES, THAT HAS BEEN A CHALLENGE.

>> THE PANDEMIC CREATED A TEMPLATE FOR REMOTE VOTING AND WORK GOING FORWARD, ALONG WITH BUILDING MOMENTUM AROUND ONE OF THE MORE DIFFICULT BILLS OF THE SESSION.

>> WHAT ABOUT PAID FAMILY LEAVE?

DOES IT MAKE THAT BILL WHICH IS STILL SLOW IN GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS KIND OF MORE IMPORTANT FOR YOU?

>> I'VE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE TELL ME THAT, THAT THIS BILL IS IMPORTANT SHOWS HOW IMPORTANT PAID FAMILY LEAVE IS, THE DOCTORS SAID YOU SHOULD PROBABLY TAKE SIX WEEKS OFF, YOU NEED A DOCTOR'S NOTE?

AND I'M LIKE I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S GOING TO WORK, I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN TAKE SIX WEEKS OFF.

♪♪ >> Eric: CRUNCH TIME IS APPROACHING AT THE STATE CAPITOL.

DEMOCRATS HAVE AN AMBITIOUS AGENDA AND MUCH OF IT IS STILL UP IN THE AIR.

PLUS MORE NEWS THIS WEEK ABOUT THE CANCER SURGERY AND RECOVERY OF SENATOR DZIEDZIC.

WE'RE GOING TO CLOSE THE HOUR TALKING TO THESE POLITICOS.

DEMOCRATS WITH US TONIGHT INCLUDE MELISA LOPEZ FRANZEN, UNTIL EARLIER THIS YEAR SHE WAS THE D.F.L.

SENATE MAJORITY LEADER, JOINED BY JANAE BATES, WORKS ON SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUES, AND FORMER SPOKESPERSON BRIAN MCCLUNG, BRIAN MCDANIELS, IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER, PODCASTER, STANDUP COMEDIAN, LOBBYIST.

>> LOT OF THINGS TO A LOT OF PEOPLE.

>> Eric: SENATOR DZIEDZIC'S ABSENCE DOESN'T SEEM TO HAVE CAUSED MUCH PROBLEM.

I WAS WATCHING THE DEBATE TODAY ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND 34-33 EVERY REPUBLICAN AMENDMENT GOT DEFEATED.

WHY JUST SUCH A SMOOTH TRANSITION WITH HER GONE?

>> WELL, I'D SAY SHE'S WONDERWOMAN.

I TALKED TO HER THIS LAST WEEK AND SHE SOUNDS NORMAL LIKE THERE'S NOTHING PHASING HER, SHE'S WORKING ON BILLS, SHE EVEN CUT ME OFF SHE'S LIKE SHE'S TOO BUSY, GETTING THINGS DONE SO I'M REALLY PROUD OF ALL THE SUPPORT THE CAUCUS HAS GIVEN HER AND COLLEAGUES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE AND I THINK SHE'S READY TO GET THIS DONE.

>> Cathy: TALK ABOUT THE DYNAMICS AS YOU GET INTO THE LATTER PART OF THE NEGOTIATIONS THAT THAT GET TOUGH.

AND YOU'RE NOT THERE IN-PERSON YOU'RE DOING IT REMOTELY.

SO LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.

DOES THAT CHANGE THINGS?

>> WELL, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE SHE HAS THE BENEFIT OF HAVING SOME REAL SENIOR LEADERS ON HER TEAM, RIGHT?

SENATOR BOBBY JOE CHAMPION AS SENATE PRESIDENT, SENATOR MARTY IS FINANCE COMMITTEE CHAIR AND DOWN THE LIST OF THE COMMITTEE CHAIRS.

>> SENATOR REST.

>> SENATOR REST, DON'T FORGET, RUNNING TAXES.

SHE'S GOT PEOPLE WHO REALLY, YOU KNOW, HAVE BEEN THERE A LONG TIME AND GET IT AND THEY SEEM TO BE A REAL COHESIVE TEAM.

SO AND I THINK THEY KNEW THAT GOING IN WITH A 34-33 MAJORITY YOU HAVE TO BE.

AND I THINK THAT'S ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, PLAYED A ROLE IN KIND OF WORKING THROUGH THIS.

>> Eric: JANAE, HAVE YOU BEEN SURPRISED BY HOW MUCH OF THE SOCIAL JUSTICE AGENDA HAS BEEN TACKLED?

AND PASSED ALREADY A LOT OF THE STUFF BY THE LEGISLATURE.

>> YEAH, IT'S BEEN PHENOMENAL BUT I HAVEN'T BEEN SURPRISED.

JUST BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THESE ARE A BUNCH OF ISSUES THAT WE, YOU KNOW, MINNESOTANS ACROSS THE STATE HAVE BEEN FIGHTING FOR FOR A REALLY LONG TIME AND NOW THAT THE GRIDLOCK IS FINALLY OVER IT WAS EXPECTED THESE THINGS WERE GOING TO START TO GET DONE AND WE'RE GRATEFUL THEY'RE GETTING DONE QUICKLY.

>> Eric: ARE THERE FISSURES DEVELOPING BETWEEN THE HOUSE AND SENATE A LITTLE BIT?

>> THERE ALWAYS IS, WE'VE HAD ONE PARTY RULE WITH DEMOCRATS BEFORE AND I CAN REMEMBER BEING IN A TAX COMMITTEE HERE SENATOR BAKK AND REPRESENTATIVE LENCZEWSKI BOTH DEMOCRATS WENT IN THERE AND VERY QUICKLY IT BECAME SENATE POSITION, HOUSE POSITION.

I THINK WHAT YOU'RE SEEING THOUGH IS THE BILLS WHERE THERE IS HAS BEEN AGREEMENT THE DEMOCRATS HAVE PASSED.

WE'RE WAITING ON CANNABIS, PAID FAMILY LEAVE, GAMBLING STUFF, THE TAX BILL.

THERE ARE THINGS IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY HARD TO GET 34 DEMOCRATS TO VOTE FOR SOME OF THESE BILLS AND THAT'S WHY THEY HAVEN'T HAPPENED YET.

>> Eric: WHAT ABOUT THAT DYNAMIC?

>> WELL, I'M EXPECTING EVERYTHING TO GET DONE ON TIME, LIKE JANAE WAS SAYING WE ARE WANTING TO GET THESE THINGS DONE.

I WAS THERE FOR A DECADE AND WE HAD GRIDLOCK FOR PART OF THAT AND PEOPLE WANT THINGS TO HAPPEN.

THEY'RE HAPPENING AT LIGHTNING SPEED WHICH IS TO SAY THERE WAS A LOT OF PENTIUM DEMAND FOR A LOT OF THINGS THAT WEREN'T DONE IN THE LAST SIX YEARS.

I THINK IT'S WHAT MINNESOTANS WANT.

THEY'RE READY TO SERVE, READY TO DO HE JOB AND GOING TO COME TO A COMPROMISE TO GET IT DONE.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS I'VE BEEN SAYING IS WE MIGHT HAVE ONE-PARTY RULE IN STATE GOVERNMENT BUT WE STILL AVE DIVIDED GOVERNMENT IN SOME AREAS AND SO ESPECIALLY I THINK ON THE TAX BILL, YOU KNOW, WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT RIGHT NOW, THE HOUSE D.F.L.

HAS ALMOST $9 BILLION IN TAX INCREASES ON TOP OF A 17 AND A HALF BILLION DOLLARS SURPLUS.

THE SENATE IS MUCH LOWER, THE SENATE IS MORE LIKE $2 BILLION IN TAX INCREASES.

AND THAT IS REFLECTIVE OF THE FACT THAT THEY HAVE A ONE-SEAT MAJORITIES.

SO I THINK YOU WILL SEE SOME REAL STARK DIVISIONS COME FORWARD AS YOU GET INTO -- THOSE ARE BIG QUESTIONS AND BIG DECISIONS AND EVEN GOVERNOR WALZ KIND OF THREW COLD WATER ON THIS NEW FIFTH TIER INCOME TAX THAT HOUSE DEMOCRATS ARE TALKING ABOUT.

SO I DO THINK YOU'RE GOING TO SEE SOME OF THAT.

THAT'S GOING TO COME TO THE FOREFRONT AS WE GET INTO THE FINAL WEEKS OF SESSION.

>> YEAH, AND, YOU KNOW, JUST BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE ON THE SAME TEAM OR LOOK THE SAME, BRIAN AND I WE'RE GINGERS WITH PRACTICALLY THE SAME NAME, DOESN'T MEAN WE AGREE ON EVERYTHING FROM THE REPUBLICAN SIDE.

BRIAN BROUGHT UP TAXES, BUT LOOK AT HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, IF YOU LOOK AT THE HEALTH BILL AND HUMAN SERVICES BILL IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE THEY ALL SPEND A LOT OF MONEY BUT ON DIFFERENT THINGS.

HOW THEY CONFERENCE THAT REMAINS TO BE SEEN.

>> Cathy: JANAE, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> IT IS ABSOLUTELY TRUE, DIFFERENT TEAM PLAYERS ARE GOING TO PLAY DIFFERENTLY.

BUT I WOULD SAY AND PUSH ON IS THIS NOTION OF HAVING A DIVIDED GOVERNMENT.

MINNESOTANS MAY BE DIVIDED ON SOME THINGS BUT A LOT OF THE NEEDS ARE THE SAME.

SO WHAT THEY'RE REALLY TRYING TO DO IS DDRESS SOME OF HESE REALLY LIKE CONCRETE NEEDS WITH SOME REAL CONCRETE ACTIONS.

>> Cathy: BRIAN BROUGHT UP CANNABIS LEGISLATION, TRUCKERS, DOCTORS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT ARE ALL AGAINST EGALIZING CANNABIS AT THIS POINT.

INTERESTING KIND OF COALITION THERE, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME HESITATION WITH SOMETHING NEW LIKE CANNABIS, SAME THING WITH PAID FAMILY LEAVE BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY THE BROAD CONSENSUS OF THE PUBLIC ARE GOOD ON BOTH OF THEM BECAUSE THEY THINK IT'S GOOD FOR MINNESOTA TO ACTUALLY HAVE A REGULATORY MARKETPLACE WHERE WE CAN ACTUALLY KNOW WHAT THEY'RE CONSUMING OR A PAID FAMILY LEAVE COMPONENT WHERE WE CAN ACTUALLY TAKE CARE OF MINNESOTANS.

WE KNOW IT'S POPULAR, WE KNOW IT WILL ATTRACT NOT DETRACT FROM OUR STATE.

THOSE ARE THINGS I KNOW EVENTUALLY ARE GOING TO HAPPEN SO I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

>> Eric: PETER CALLAHAN CAPABLE REPORTER FOR MINNPOST HAS SHARP ELBOWS ONCE IN A WHILE, THERE WAS A NEWS CONFERENCE ON AT THE CAPITOL, THEY SAID ONE MORE QUESTION, HE SAID WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE BILL.

HE GOT INTO WITH A HOUSE STAFFER, THEY REMOVED SOME OF HIS PRIVILEGES, THE SPEAKER HAD TO RELEASE PRESS RELEASE TODAY OBVIOUSLY NOT APOLOGIZING BUT OBVIOUSLY STANDING BY WHAT THEY DID.

YOU'RE A FORMER SPOKESPERSON FOR THE GOVERNOR, WHAT ABOUT IT?

>> I CAN TELL YOU ALL OF THE TIMES AT A PRESS CONFERENCE I SAID ONE MORE QUESTION GOVERNOR PAWLENTY TOOK THREE OR FOUR MORE QUESTIONS, THAT WAS MY EXPERIENCE.

AND THAT DIRECTIVE ONE MORE QUESTION THAT'S FOR THE PERSON AT THE PODIUM, NOT FOR THE ASSEMBLED MEDIA.

THE PERSON YOU'RE WORKING WITH IS SAYING THIS IS ALL WE HAVE TIME FOR, YOU NEED TO WRAP THIS UP AND MOVE ONTO THE NEXT THING.

I THINK THAT'S WHERE THE INTERACTION WENT WRONG, YOU DON'T GET TO TELL THE PRESS WHETHER TO ASK QUESTIONS OR NOT, THEY GET TO DO WHAT THEY WANT, THAT'S THEIR RIGHTS AS REPORTERS, THEIR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT.

I THINK WHAT THIS SHOWS MORE BROADLY IS JUST KIND OF A BREAKDOWN IN THAT KIND OF INTERACTION BETWEEN POLITICAL SPOKESPEOPLE, COMMUNICATIONS FOLKS AND THE PRESS.

AND, YOU KNOW, BACK WHEN I DID THIS WE USED TO SPEND A LOT OF TIME WITH THE CAPITOL PRESS CORPS GETTING TO KNOW THEM, HAVING CONVERSATIONS JUST KIND OF SHARING INFORMATION.

AND SO WHEN WE WOULD HAVE AN ARGUMENT AND DISAGREEMENT, AND I HAD PLENTY, RIGHT?

I GOT, I DON'T KNOW IF WE EVER FOUGHT BUT I HAD PLENTY OF DISAGREEMENTS WITH CAPITOL REPORTERS OVER THE YEARS BUT WE HAD ENOUGH OF A RELATIONSHIP AND UNDERSTANDING THAT WE COULD GET THROUGH THAT.

I DON'T SAY ANY OF THIS TO CAST ASPERSIONS ON TODAY'S GROUP OF POLITICAL STAFFERS, THOSE ARE REALLY HARD JOBS, I UNDERSTAND THAT.

BUT I DO THINK IN THIS AGE OF POLARIZATION AND SOCIAL MEDIA WE'VE LOST A LITTLE BIT OF THAT.

>> Eric: YOU WANT TO WEIGH IN, SENATOR?

>> WELL, I MEAN, LET'S BE REAL, THEY ARE DOING HEROIC LIGHTNING SPEED, THEY'RE REALLY BUSY AND BEEN BUSY FROM THE BEGINNING OF SESSION WITH POOR SLEEP IF ANY.

SO LET'S GIVE SOME GRACE TO BOTH SIDES BECAUSE THE CAPITOL PRESS CORPS THEIR DUTY IS TO EDUCATE HE PEOPLE ON WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE DOME AND THEY'RE DOING AN EXCELLENT JOB AND THE DUTY OF THE STAFFERS WHO REALLY HELP RUN THE PLACE.

SO I THINK THERE'S JUST BEEN A LOT OF MOVEMENT, A LOT OF WORK, AND LET'S GIVE BOTH SIDES SOME GRACE.

I'M SURE WE'RE NOT GOING TO HEAR THE END OF IT JUST TODAY BUT GIVE PEOPLE GRACE AND CERTAINLY WE APPRECIATE WHAT THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING ON BOTH SIDES >> Cathy: OKAY, SO IT'S BEEN A LONG SESSION SO FAR SO WHAT ARE YOU ALL EXPECTING AS WE HEAD TO THE END HERE?

>> YOU KNOW, WE ARE MOST CERTAINLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS CONTINUATION F THINGS GETTING DONE.

WHAT WE SAW, THE FACT THAT WE SAW THE, YOU KNOW, THE TAX TARGETS COME OUT OR BUDGET TARGETS COME OUT SO QUICKLY, THE FACT THAT WE HAVE MOST CERTAINLY SEEN A BUNCH OF POLICIES GET DONE WE'RE GOING TO ONTINUE TO SEE THAT KIND OF MOVEMENT, MOST CERTAINLY THERE ARE GOING TO BE DISAPPOINTMENTS ON BOTH SIDES.

>> PASS BUDGET BILLS RIGHT NOW.

>> ABSOLUTELY, PASSING BUDGET BILLS MOST CERTAINLY, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE SOME GOOD CHILD TAX CREDITS POTENTIALLY.

MOST CERTAINLY MINNESOTANS I THINK ARE GOING TO BE REALLY PLEASED BY THE FACT THAT THINGS ARE HAPPENING.

>> Cathy: SO NOT A TRAINWRECK AS WE'VE SEEN IN THE PAST.

>> WELL, I'M A REPUBLICAN AND CUBS FAN, I'M AMILIAR WITH DISAPPOINTMENT.

REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO BE DISAPPOINTED.

I THINK WHAT WE'RE GOING O SEE THOUGH IS THAT A VERY AMBITIOUS AGENDA AND I GIVE THE DEMOCRATS A TON OF CREDIT, THEY HAD A LONG LIST OF THINGS THEY WANTED TO DO AND THEY'RE NOT AFRAID TO DO THEM, THEY REALLY ARE DELIVERING FOR THEIR PROGRESSIVE BASE, HOWEVER, WE HAVE SEEN THAT SAME PROGRESSIVE BASE NOT ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, SETTLE FOR MOST OF A LOAF.

SO WHAT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO SEE IS IF WHAT'S REMAINING ON THE AGENDA GETS MOSTLY DONE BUT OT ALL THE WAY DONE, IS THERE GOING TO BE A BIG BACKLASH FROM THE LEFT.

THEY'RE NOT AFRAID OF THE RIGHT, THEY'RE NOT AFRAID OF US AND THEY PROBABLY DON'T NEED TO BE RIGHT NOW.

BUT THAT LEFT FLANK IS REALLY SOMEWHAT, I MEAN, THEY HAVE A SHARP TONGUE AND THEY DON'T FORGET.

>> Eric: ARE REPUBLICANS GOING,SENATOR JOHNSON REPUBLICAN MINORITY LEADER SAID HE FELT REPUBLICANS MORE THAN SUAL ARE GETTING SHOUT OUT IN THE SENATE.

>> WELL, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S UNUSUAL, MINORITY CAUCUSES ALWAYS FEEL LEFT OUT.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S ORE AGGRESSIVE.

ABUT THE REPUBLICANS ARE WERE VERY RECENTLY THE MAJORITY, SO I THINK THEY FEEL MOST AGGRIEVED.

>> I WOULD SAY THEY SHOULD BE HAPPY WE'RE GET PASSING BILLS AND GETTING THINGS DONE, WE'VE DONE HOUSING, CLIMATE CHANGE, INFRASTRUCTURE, I COULD GO ON AND ON, THIS HALF OF THE BUDGET AND YESTERDAY -- CAME THROUGH, THIS WEEK THEY'RE DOING PUBLIC SAFETY.

HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.

THEY SHOULD BE HAPPY.

>> Eric: CULTURE DIFFERENCES.

SENATE MORE PATIENT, AND HOUSE MORE WE GOT TO GET THINGS DONE?

>> WE HAVE FRESHMEN, AND AT THE SAME TIME THE FRESHMAN THAT CAME INTO THE CAUCUS IN THE MINNESOTA SENATE HAVE EEN AMAZING AND THEY CAN TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES.

>> Cathy: SAY, GETTING BACK TO THING THAT'S MIGHT BE ON THE CUTTING ROOM FLOOR OR WHAT HAVE YOU, WHERE ARE THE REBATE CHECKS IN THE TAX BILL?

>> AGAIN, THE LEGISLATIVE LEADERS HAVE BEEN LUKEWARM AT BEST ON THE REBATE CHECKS.

YOU'VE SEEN COMMENTS FROM SPEAKER HORTMAN COMMENTING MAYBE WE OULD DO SOME OF THAT, BUT IT SEEMS UNLIKELY AND A BIG QUESTION MARK FOR ME, THAT'S -- WHAT CAN YOU DO THAT'S GOOD FOR MINNESOTA'S ECONOMY AND DOESN'T INCREASE SPENDING LONG-TERM AND CAUSE US TO HAVE A FUTURE BUDGET PROBLEM?

AND THAT'S A REAL ISSUE, YOU KNOW, THE BUDGET IS GOING TO UP BY CLOSE TO 30% VER THE LAST BUDGET.

THAT'S A WILD INCREASE.

AND I KNOW SOME OF THAT IS ONE-TIME SPENDING BUT NOT ALL OF IT AND OFTENTIMES ONE-TIME SPENDING FEELS LIKE IT SHOULD BE ONGOING AND IT GETS HARD TO NOT COME BACK WITH THAT AGAIN IN THE FUTURE.

SO I THINK THEY REALLY, THEY NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT BOTTOM LINE AND FIND SOME AREAS OF AGREEMENT, FIND SOME AREAS WHERE WE CAN INVEST IN MINNESOTA'S ECONOMY, THINGS LIKE THE MINNESOTA FUTURE FUND THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS AND THEY HAVE $500 MILLION IN THE BUDGET TARGET FOR, SOMETHING LIKE THAT TO INVEST IN THE CRITICAL ECONOMIC SECTORS AND EVEN SUPERCHARGING THAT SO WE COULD DO MORE.

THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS I'M INTERESTED IN SEEING.

>> Eric: STATE OF OF THE STATE ON WEDNESDAY.

>> YEAH.

>> Eric: IS THE GOVERNOR GOING TO TAKE A VICTORY LAP OR WHAT DO YOU EXPECT?

>> I THINK WHAT WE'RE GOING TO EXPECT HE'LL RIGHTFULLY BE ABLE TO SAY A BUNCH OF THINGS MOVED THAT MINNESOTANS ARE EXCITED ABOUT.

I THINK HE'LL ALSO NAME WHAT WE'VE BEEN NAMING HERE THAT THERE ARE GOING TO BE A SERIES OF THINGS THEY'RE GOING TO GET DONE AND THAT THEY'RE GOING TO ENSURE THAT THESE DOLLARS THAT WE'VE ALL BEEN TALKING ABOUT QUITE A BIT ARE GOING TO GET USED FOR LIKE LONG-TERM LIKE GOOD HEALTHY WAYS TO BENEFIT THE STATE.

>> Eric: ALL SO LATE IN THE SESSION.

>> -- WHY SO LATE IN THE SESSION?

>> BECAUSE IT DOESN'T MATTER, ALL SEVEN PEOPLE THAT ARE GONNA WATCH IT I'M SURE WILL BE ENTHRALLED.

I THINK THE GOVERNOR WILL TAKE A VICTORY LAP AND PROBABLY SHOULD.

THEY'RE GETTING A LOT OF WHAT THEY WANT TO DO GET DONE.

I THINK THE DAYS OF PEOPLE SITTING ON THE DGE OF THEIR SEAT WAITING FOR THIS OTHER THAN MARK DAYTON WHICH THANK GOD NEVER GOT TOO BAD, HE MADE IT XCITING WITH HEALTH ISSUES, BUT IT'S JUST NOT AS INTERESTING.

>> Eric: YOU'RE REALLY HYPING OUR LIVE COVERAGE.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> Cathy: BEFORE WE GO WHAT DID YOU THINK OF DEAN PHILLIPS GETTING NATIONAL ATTENTION FOR CALLING ON SENATOR FEINSTEIN TO STEP DOWN?

>> EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO DECIDE WHAT THEY WANT TO SAY ABOUT A COLLEAGUE, I WOULD SAY EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO DECIDE WHEN TO STEP DOWN FROM PUBLIC OFFICE.

THAT'S A PERSONAL DECISION AND I'VE BEEN THROUGH THAT AND I THINK PEOPLE NEED TO GIVE POLITICIANS AND ELECTED SERVANTS SOME GRACE WHEN IT COMES TO MAKING A PERSONAL DECISION ABOUT PUBLIC SERVICE WHICH IS A GREAT NOBLE CAUSE THAT WE SEE PEOPLE LESS AND LESS WANTING TO GO INTO.

>> Eric: TAX INCREASES THAT DEMOCRATS ARE PROPOSING, SALES TAXES, CAPITAL GAINS TAX, INCOME TAX, PAYROLL TAX, FEE INCREASES.

HOW MUCH THAT FAR -- [ CONVERSATIONS OVERLAPPING ] >> IN ONE BODY, IT'S STILL IN THE HOUSE, IF IT'S STILL IN THE HOUSE IT'S STILL ALIVE, RIGHT?

SO IN AN ERA WHERE EVERYBODY GETS STUFF DELIVERED ALL THE TIME WE'RE GOING TO START TAXING THAT?

I MEAN, IT'S REALLY THIS TAX INCREASES, DEMOCRATS LIKE TO CLAIM THAT THEIR TAX INCREASES ARE ONLY ON THE WEALTHY, THAT IS NOT TRUE, THAT IS NOT THE CASE, THESE RE TAX INCREASES THAT HIT EVERYBODY CROSS THE BOARD AND IN SOME CASES THESE ARE REGRESSIVE TAX INCREASES.

>> PASSING INCOME TAX IS DIFFICULT TO DO SO YOU MAKE SURE IT'S GOING TO PASS AND IF IT'S NOT REALLY SETTING SOMETHING UP FOR THE FUTURE.

IN THIS CASE I SAT ON TRANSPORTATION FOR ALMOST EIGHT OF MY TEN YEARS THERE AND WE NEED DEDICATED INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING, THAT IS A GIVEN, WE TRIED AND WE AVEN'T DONE IT SO MAYBE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAS TRACTION HIS SESSION.

>> $18 BILLION BUDGET SURPLUS.

>> NOT ENOUGH.

>> Eric: ALL RIGHT, I'M GOING TO GO TRY TO SAVE THE STATE OF THE STATE FOR OUR VIEWERSHIP.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> Cathy: THEY'RE CRUSHED.

♪♪ >> Eric: HERE'S THE SETUP TO LAST WEEK'S HISTORY QUESTION.

LISTEN CAREFULLY, NOW.

THE PLACE?

SWEDEN, SUMMER OF 1988 AND WE TOLD YOU THAT 33,115 FANS CRAMMED INTO A SOCCER STADIUM THERE.

A NUMBER OF GROUPS PERFORMED THAT DAY AT THE STADIUM INCLUDING A MUSICAL ENSEMBLE FROM MINNESOTA.

AND WE ADDED ONE MORE HINT.

THIS EVENT WAS GROUNDBREAKING IN SOME WAY.

WHAT MINNESOTA MUSIC ENSEMBLE PERFORMED BEFORE 33,000 SWEDES IN THE SUMMER OF 1988?

AGAIN, NO SHORTAGE OF WRONG GUESSES TO IMPRESS YOU WITH.

HERE'S A GENEROUS SAMPLING.

>> SOUNDS OF BLACKNESS, THE GOSPEL SOUL AND RXB GROUP THAT ORIGINATED FROM MACALESTER COLLEGE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> OUR NATIONAL CHOIR WHICH WAS FORMEDFORMED IN 1986.

>> -- DUTCHMEN FROM NEW ULM, HAS TO BE GREAT GROUP LIKE THAT, 33,000 PEOPLE WOULD HAVE TO TURN OUT TO LISTEN TO THEM.

>> THE GAY MEN'S CHORUS?

THAT'S MY GUESS.

>> I PROBABLY CALLED THE WRONG LINE BUT I WANTED TO MAKE THE COMMENT ON WHAT GROUP SANG IN 1988 FOR A LARGE NUMBER OF SWEDES AND I THINK IT WAS ABBA.

>> YOU HAD THE RIGHT LINE BUT JUST FOR THE RECORD, ABBA, NOT A MINNESOTA BASED BAND.

WHAT MINNESOTA GROUP PLAYED BEFORE 33,000 SWEDES IN 1988?

THERE WAS NO FOOLIN' DIANA OUT OF HIBBING.

>> HI, I BELIEVE -- THIS IS DIANA UP IN HIBBING AND I BELIEVE THE GROUP IS THE HIBBING HIGH SCHOOL BAND.

AND IT WAS FOR THE FIRST AMERICAN FOOTBALL GAME TO BE PLAYED ON THE EUROPEAN CONTINENT.

>> Eric: YEAH, THE VIKINGS PLAYED THE FIRST EVER EUROPEAN FOOTBALL GAME OUTSIDE OF ENGLAND BACK IN 1988.

THE GAME AWAS PLAYED IN GOTEBURG AND HALFTIME ENTERTAINMENT INCLUDED THE HIBBING HIGH SCHOOL BAND.

HAVE A QUESTION YOU THINK MIGHT STUMP THE ALMANAC TEAM?

E-MAILS GREAT TOO, ALMANAC@TPT.ORG.

YOU CAN WATCH ALL LOCAL LEGISLATIVE ROCEEDINGS ON OUR LOCAL STATION, IT'S FREE, LIVE, OVER THE AIR.

ON THE SAME STATION YOU CAN WATCH ALMANAC AT THE CAPITOL THAT'S AT 7:00.

NEXT WEDNESDAY GOVERNOR WALZ DELIVERS HIS STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.

SHOW-CLOSING MUSIC THIS WEEK, BACK IN 1984, TPT WAS THEN KNOWN AS KTCA DID A PBS SPECIAL THAT INCLUDED A PERFORMANCE BY CHICAGO SINGER STEVE GOODMAN.

HERE IS A RARELY SEEN CLIP FROM GOOD ONE OF GOODMAN'S TV AEXPERIENCES.

HE DIED OF LEUKEMIA LATER THAT YEAR.

HOPE TO SEE YOU NEXT WEEK AND BE CAREFUL.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ >> "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.

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

MORE AT EDUCATIONMINNESOTA.ORG.

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

♪♪