DENNIS: I'M DENNIS ANDERSON.

HERE'S WHAT'S COMING UP ON ALMANAC NORTH.

THE LOCAL NAACP PRESIDENT REACTS TO GUILTY VERDICTS IN THE DEREK CHAUVIN TRIAL.

AND A CALL FOR THE DULUTH POLICE TO REFORM ITS USE OF FORCE AND ARREST RATES.

IN OUR SPECIAL SERIES, LESSONS FROM COVID-19, WE LOOK AT WHETHER PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES ARE RECEIVING FAIR TREATMENT DURING THE PANDEMIC.

AND WE REMEMBER FORMER VICE PRESIDENT AND MINNESOTAN, WALTER MONDALE, WHO PASSED AWAY AT THE AGE OF 93, THIS WEEK.

THESE STORIES AND VOICES OF THE REGION, COMING UP ON ALMANAC NORTH.

♪ DENNIS: HELLO AND WELCOME TO "ALMANAC NORTH."

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

I'M DENNIS ANDERSON.

JULIE IS OFF THIS WEEK AS WE ALTERNATE HOSTING DURING THE PANDEMIC.

A HENNEPIN COUNTY JURY THIS WEEK FOUND FORMER MINNEAPOLIS POLICE OFFICER, DEREK CHAUVIN, GUILTY ON THREE CHARGES, IN THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD.

CHAUVIN AWAITS SENTENCING, WHICH IS EXPECTED IN ABOUT EIGHT WEEKS.

THE GUILTY VERDICTS MAY MARK A TURNING POINT IN AMERICA.

WE'LL HAVE MORE ON THIS STORY SHORTLY.

WISCONSIN REACHED A MILESTONE IN THE FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19 THIS WEEK, WITH FOUR MILLION VACCINE DOSES ADMINISTERED IN THE STATE.

MORE THAN 50% OF BADGER STATE RESIDENTS HAVE RECEIVED AT LEAST ONE DOSE OF A VACCINE.

ALL WISCONSINITES AGE 16 AND OVER ARE NOW ELIGIBLE.

MICHAEL RAICH HAS BEEN NAMED THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF THE NORTHEAST HIGHER EDUCATION DISTRICT BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF MINNESOTA STATE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES.

THE PENGILLY NATIVE HAS BEEN SERVING AS INTERIM PRESIDENT SINCE 2019.

DR. RAICH IS LEADING THE PROCESS TO MERGE THE FIVE INDEPENDENTLY ACCREDITED COLLEGES TO ONE ACCREDITED COLLEGE WITH MULTIPLE CAMPUSES BY THE FALL OF 2022.

AND CONSTRUCTION ON A NEW LOCK AT SAULT STE.

MARIE MICHIGAN RESUMED THIS WEEK.

THE SOO LOCKS ALLOW TRANSIT OF VESSELS OF A THOUSAND FEET OR MORE BETWEEN LAKE SUPERIOR AND THE OTHER GREAT LAKES.

CONSTRUCTION OF A SECOND LARGE LOCK WILL REPLACE TWO OLDER, DECOMMISSIONED LOCKS.

IT HAS BEEN A MOMENTOUS WEEK IN OUR STATE AND NATION.

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MINNESOTA, A WHITE POLICE OFFICER WAS CONVICTED OF KILLING A BLACK MAN DURING AN ARREST IN MINNEAPOLIS.

IS THIS THE BEGINNING OF AN IMPORTANT CHANGE IN POLICING IN AMERICA?

JOINING US NOW IS CLASSIE DUDLEY, THE PRESIDENT OF THE DULUTH CHAPTER OF THE NAACP.

THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

YOUR REACTION TO THE DEREK CHAUVIN MURDER TRIAL?

CLASSIE: WHILE I FEEL THE FAMILY GOT A SENSE OF JUSTICE AND WHAT THE VERDICT WAS, WE STILL NEED TO PUSH FOR MEASURES OF ACCOUNTABILITY.

WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY, AND AT LARGE.

I DO NOT WANT US TO TAKE A RESTING POINT TO THINK IT ENDS HERE.

WE NEED TO REPRESENT FAMILIES WHO HAVE NOT GOTTEN MAINSTREAM MEDIA AND THEIR ISSUES WITH POLICE BRUTALITY, AND WITH INJUSTICE AND RACISM WITHIN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

SO I TRY TO PUSH FOR THIS NOT TO BE THE END.

IT WAS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

BUT WE HAVE SO MUCH MORE TO GO.

DENNIS: OF COURSE, ANOTHER DEATH WE ARE FAMILIAR WITH, THE DEATH OF DAUNTE WRIGHT IN BROOKLYN CENTER, THE LATEST POLICE CAUSED DEATH IN THE STATE HERE.

HOW DOES THAT BOLSTER THE NAACP'S DEMAND FOR POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY THROUGH THE NORTH LAND?

CLASSIE: I THINK IT KEEPS PUSHING OUR MESSAGE FORWARD.

WE NEED ACCOUNTABILITY.

WE NEED TO BE HUMANIZED.

WE NEED THAT COMMUNITY TO RALLY BEHIND US, AND ALL OF THIS -- ALL OF THESE CASES AND NOT JUST A FEW INDIVIDUALS.

WE NEED SYSTEMIC CHANGE.

WE NEED MORE THAN FOR US TO BE HEARD, WE NEED TANGIBLE, ACTIONABLE ITEMS.

AND WE NEED IT NOW.

WE SEE PEOPLE ARE DYING LEFT AND RIGHT.

PEOPLE ARE BEING START HERE LEFT AND RIGHT.

PEOPLE ARE WITHOUT HOUSING HERE.

PEOPLE ARE WITHOUT BASIC NECESSITIES, AND WE ARE AT SITTING AROUND HAVING THE SAME MEETINGS AND SAYING THE SAME THINGS WITHOUT PUSHING FOR ACTUAL CHANGE.

THAT IS ALL WE WANT, TO PUSH PEOPLE WHO ARE IN POWER, TO MAKE THESE CHANGES, AND MAKE THEM HAPPEN NOW.

IT IS REALLY NOT THAT HARD.

WE JUST NEED TO FOCUS ON, HOW CAN WE BEST SERVE OUR COMMUNITY AND LAMENT IT IMMEDIATELY?

DENNIS: YOUR ORGANIZATION, THE NAACP, ASKED THE DULUTH POLICE DEPARTMENT, ST. LOUIS COUNTY SHERIFF, AND MAIL -- AND THE MAYOR, TO HOLD LAW ENFORCEMENT AND ELECTED OFFICIALS ACCOUNTABLE TO FAIR INTERACTIONS WITH THE PUBLIC.

THE MAYOR AND POLICE TREES -- POLICE CHIEF HAVE ANSWERED THAT AND WE HEARD FROM THEM ON CAMERA.

>> WE TALKED ABOUT HOW WE ARE TRACKING AND COLLECTING DATA NOW THAT IS NEW, IN TERMS OF CAPACITY TO DO THAT BECAUSE OF A NEW DATA MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND COLLECTING DATA THAT IS NOT REQUIRED BY THE STATE OF MINNESOTA, AND DATA MANY OTHER DEPARTMENT ARE NOT COLLECTING.

WE SEEK TO BE ON THE FRONT EDGE OF THIS DATA COLLECTION AND INFORMATION GATHERING, SO WE CAN CREATE SYSTEMS THAT FEEL MORE RESPONSIVE AND IN LINE WITH THE DEMANDS MADE FROM THE COMMUNITY.

WE TAKE THEM REALLY SERIOUSLY.

>> WE ARE LOOKING TO NOT ONLY DO REMOVE RACIAL BIAS BUT ALSO LOOKING TO CONSULTANT WHO CAN HELP US LOOK AT THE DATA AND DATA POINTS, AND HAVE, GIVE US DIRECTION ON TRENDS THEY SEE IN OTHER PLACES, AND HOW WE CAN BE BETTER OR DIFFERENT.

.

.

PRAYER.

DENNIS: THE MAYOR AND CHIEF SAID THERE HAS BEEN A 57% REDUCTION IN TRAFFIC STOPS IN THE CITY OF DULUTH.

HOW DO MEMBERS OF THE NONWHITE COMMUNITY FEEL THEY HAVE BEEN TREATED IN TRAFFIC STOPS, PARTICULARLY MINOR TRAFFIC STOPS?

CLASSIE: WITHOUT WOULD SAY, WHILE THE DATA MIGHT SAY YES, THEY HAVE STOPPED OR HAVE WENT DOWN AND POLICE STOPPING MINOR TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS,.

BUT THE DATA IS STILL THERE AND HAS BEEN RACIALLY DISPROPORTIONATE.

THAT IS WHAT WE ARE WORKING WITH.

WE ARE AT A POINT WHERE WE SEE WHAT IS GOING ON, WE HAVE HEARD WHAT IS GOING ON.

THE DATA SHOW WHAT IT'S -- SHOWS WHAT IS GOING ON.

WE NEED TO MOVE TOWARD ACTUAL ITEMS OF POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY AND SYSTEMS ACCOUNTABILITY.

AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, I WOULD LOOK TO HOLD THAT PRESENCE THEM, IN ORDER TO EXPAND ON ALL THE PROGRAMS WE COULD PUT INTO PLACE.

AND THIS RACIAL BIAS ENDING, YOU'RE GETTING MY LIVE AND NATURAL REACTION BECAUSE THIS IS THE FIRST TO MY AM SAYING THIS BECAUSE I DID IT TODAY.

WE NEED TO BE PART OF THAT CONVERSATION.

ARE THOSE THE PEOPLE WHO LOOK LIKE US, WHO ARE FOR US?

IS IT AN INDEPENDENT AUDIT?

OR IS IT THROUGH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT?

ARE WE DOING IT ACROSS SYSTEMS TO -- SYSTEMS CITYWIDE?

WE KNOW SYSTEMIC RACISM LIVES IN OUR EDUCATION FIELD AND HEALTH SYSTEMS.

DATA IS THERE TO SUPPORT THOSE AS WELL.

AS THE NAACP, IT IS OUR JOB TO CALL IT OUT.

WE ARE CALLING IT OUT AND LETTING YOU KNOW WE SEE WHAT IS GOING ON AND WE NEED IMMEDIATE CHANGE.

THERE IS NO REASON PEOPLE HAVE TO LIVE THIS WAY.

ONCE IT HELPS THE BIPOC COMMUNITY, IT HELPS US ALL.

WE CAN ALL ACHIEVE TO LIVE EQUITABLY AND HAPPILY TOGETHER.

WE HAVE TO GET TO KNOW AND ACKNOWLEDGE THERE'S A PROBLEM.

AND HERE ARE THE ACTUAL STEPS WE ARE HAVING, CHANGE.

WE WANT DEADLINES AND NEED TO SEAT THESE DATA CHANGE, AT CERTAIN DEADLINES.

A LOT OF THE NARRATIVE GOING ON, ESPECIALLY WITH THE BUREAUCRACY OF INSTITUTIONS, IS THAT TO GET TANGIBLE CHANGE IS THIS LONG PROCESS OF MANY MEETINGS, AND MANY, BEDDING TALKING POINT -- MANY, MANY TALKING POINTS AND NEWS CONFERENCES.

WE DO NOT HAVE TO GO THAT ROUTE.

WE HAVE SEEN WITH THE COMMUNITY HAS TO SAY FOR YEARS NOW.

WE HAVE LISTENED TO THE STORIES.

WE SEE THE DATA.

NOW IS THE TIME TO START ACTING ON THIS CHANGE, AND ACTING ON IT.

DENNIS: WHAT IS YOUR ORGANIZATION ASKING OF THE PUBLIC AND THE PRESS, AS FAR AS HOLDING THE CITY ACCOUNTABLE TO CITIZENS?

CLASSIE: EXACTLY, THAT IS WHAT WE ARE ASKING.

WE ARE ASKING THOSE WHO PUT ELECTED OFFICIALS IN PLACE, TO PUT IN ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES TO WHEN THEY ARE NOT UPLOADING -- UPHOLDING THEIR OLD THEY TOOK TO THE COMMUNITY, WE CAN CHALLENGE THEM ON THAT.

WHEN TUSCAN FIRED THE POLICE OFFICER WHO DRUG THAT MAN AND GOT HIS HEAD HIT WITH A POLE, HE WAS REHIRED, BY THE CONTRACT HE HAD.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT DOES NOT HAPPEN.

WE ARE CHALLENGING THOSE SYSTEMS.

WE ARE CHALLENGING THOSE THINGS THAT KEEP OPPRESSION IN PLACE.

IT DOES NOT JUST FOCUS IN THAT REALM.

IT IS MANY OTHER REALMS AND SO WIDESPREAD.

THE PROBLEM IS WAY BIGGER THAN ANYONE YOU ARE SEEING NOW.

DENNIS: I WISH I HAD MORE TIME.

CLASSIE: IT IS MORE THAN FIVE MINUTES.

DENNIS: HEAD OF THE DULUTH CHAPTER OF NAACP, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

CLASSIE: GLAD TO BE HERE.

♪ DENNIS: WE CONTINUE OUR SPECIAL SERIES, LESSONS FROM COVID-19, WITH A LOOK AT WHETHER EVERYONE IS RECEIVING EQUAL MEDICAL CARE DURING THE PANDEMIC.

WELL-KNOW DULUTH MUSICIAN GAELYNN LEA, A DISABILITY RIGHTS ACTIVIST, HAD REAL CONCERNS AT THE START OF THE PANDEMIC.

WE CAUGHT UP WITH GAELYNN TO DISCUSS HOW THINGS HAVE PLAYED OUT IN TERMS OF FAIR TREATMENT, AND THE TOLL THE PANDEMIC IS TAKING.

♪ GAELYNN: LET'S NOT JUST FORGET ALL OF THIS STUFF AND GO BACK INTO WHAT IT WAS.

THE WHOLE POINT IS WE CAN TAKE THIS AND MAKE A COOLER SOCIETY IN THE LONGER-TERM.

WHAT I TOOK AWAY PERSONALLY FROM COVID WAS, THE VALUE AND LEARNING, HOW TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENTLY.

>> ♪ WHEN THE SMOKE CLEARS, WHEN THE DUST SETTLES WHERE DO YOU GO?

WHO DO YOU KNOW?

♪ GAELYNN: SWITCHING YOUR WHOLE MUSIC CAREER TO DIGITAL IMMEDIATELY, I THINK IT HAS FORCED US TO ADMIT WE DO NOT ALWAYS HAVE TO BE 100% CONDUCTIVE, ALL THE TIME.

YOU KNOW, EVERYONE SWITCHED TO THIS AT-HOME LIFESTYLE.

A LOT OF US WERE DEALING WITH MENTAL HEALTH THINGS.

I DON'T WATCH OPPRESSION A FEW TIMES DURING THE PANDEMIC.

IT EBBED AND FLOWED.

I DECIDED TO MAKE GOOD USE OF THE TIME, INSTEAD OF BEING SO FOCUSED ON WHAT WE COULD NOT DO, I DECIDED I WOULD WORK ON WRITING ABOUT.

I AM WRITING A MEMOIR ABOUT TOURING AS A DISABLED ARTIST.

AND SOME OF THE THINGS WE HAVE LEARNED ALONG THE WAY, MY HUSBAND AND I.

THIS WAS THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA) IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PANDEMIC, IN JULY.

IT WAS A TWILIGHT ZONE EPISODE, LIKE, EVERYBODY I KNEW WITH DISABILITIES, WAS VERY, VERY LOCKED DOWN, AND REALLY TRYING TO STAY SAFE, BUT MORE AT RISK.

EARLIER IN THE PANDEMIC, HOSPITALS WERE STARTING TO CREATE EMERGENCY POLICIES FOR, IF THEY NEEDED TO RATION LIKE VENTILATORS.

SOME OF THESE POLICIES WERE BEING WRITTEN WHERE, THEY WOULD NOT PRIORITIZE PEOPLE WHO HAD PRE-EXISTING HEALTH ISSUES OR DISABILITIES.

THE PROBLEM WITH THAT ISSUE IS, IF YOU ARE RATIONING MEDICAL, NECESSARY MEDICAL DEVICES FOR RECOVERY, AND A DOCTOR LOOKS AT SOMEONE LIKE ME, OR SOMEONE ELSE WITH A DISABILITY, THEY ARE COMING AT IT WITH THEIR OWN PRECONCEIVED NOTIONS OF, WHAT KIND OF LIFE MIGHT AS, LIKE, IF IT IS WORTH LIVING, ESSENTIALLY, YOU KNOW?

I THINK PEOPLE HAVE TO BE TREATED ON A MORE EQUAL PLAYING FIELD.

♪ >> ♪ I DON'T KNOW THE WORDS TO THE SONG I WANT TO SING YOU I DON'T HAVE A NAME FOR WHAT I WANT TO BRING YOU AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU HAVE SEEN OR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE BUT IF I COULD BRING YOU PEACE TODAY, MY BATTLE WOULD BE WON ♪ GAELYNN: SO I FILED AN COMPLAINT WITH THE OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS AND SEND THAT EMAIL TO OFFICES AROUND THE STATE AND COUNTRY.

LUCKILY, I KNOW THERE WAS SOME CLARIFICATION, ON THE OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS.

BUT THE POLICY CANNOT EXPLICITLY SAY, A HEALTH CONDITION WOULD MOVE YOU DOWN.

DISABILITY HAD PRINT TO BE PROTECTED -- LIKE, DISHABILLE HE HAD TO BE PROTECTED.

I KNOW THERE WAS A KATE --, LIKE, DISABILITY HAD TO BE PROTECTED.

INOVA CASE WHERE A MAN IN TEXAS WAS NOT GIVEN A VENTILATOR AND HE WAS NOT PROTECTED THOUGH HE HAD SEVERAL DISABILITIES AND HE PASSED AWAY BECAUSE OF COVID.

IF YOU HAD DISABLED PEOPLE HELPING MAKE THE POLICY, IT WOULD NOT HAVE TURNED OUT THIS WAY.

IN THE END YOU GET A LOT THAT IS MORE JUST, RIGHT?

THAT SHOULD BE THE GOAL.

DURING THE PANDEMIC I HAD A PHONE CALL WITH JUDY HUMAN, A DISABILITY RIGHTS ADVOCATE, FEATURED IN THE MOVIE, CRIP CAMP.

WE WERE TALKING AND I SAID, WHAT YOU THINK IT IS GOING TO TAKE TO MOVE DISABILITY RIGHTS FORWARD?

THE ADA ASSIGNED 30 YEARS AGO AND IT IS NOT PROPERLY ENFORCED YET.

WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO?

SHE SAID, I THINK WE NEED TO GET PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES INTO POSITIONS OF POWER, ELECTED INTO OFFICE.

THERE IS A LOT OF DISCRIMINATION.

AND IT IS NOT CONSCIOUS, NECESSARILY ALWAYS, AGAINST DISABLED PEOPLE IN THE MEDICAL WORLD.

EVEN IN TIMES OF PLENTY, I'VE HAD DOCTORS SAY THINGS LIKE, NOW THAT I SEE YOU, I DO NOT THINK I CAN TREAT YOU.

I WAS EXTREMELY LOCKED DOWN DURING THE PANDEMIC.

THE REASON WAS, I DID NOT KNOW HOW I WOULD BE RECEIVED IN THE HOSPITAL.

NOT THAT I DISTRUST ALL DOCTORS.

BUT IN A TIME OF EXTREME STRESS, WHEN I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS THEY'RE ADVOCATING FOR ME ON MY BEHALF, BECAUSE MY BODY IS DIFFERENT.

AND SMALLER, AND THEIR COMPLICATIONS, I DID NOT WANT TO FIND OUT HOW IT WILL GO IF I ENDED UP IN THE HOSPITAL WITH COVID.

I DO NOT KNOW IF THERE HAS BEEN A BIG CHANGE IN THE MEDICAL INDUSTRY YET.

THAT IS SOMETHING I WANT TO SEE IN MY LIFETIME.

INCLUDING DISABLED PEOPLE AND EDUCATION OF DOCTORS, THE ACTUAL PEOPLE, NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT THEIR DISEASES OR DISABILITIES.

BUT HEARING FROM ADVOCATES, AND HOW DISABILITY IS REALLY A FORM OF DIVERSITY, RATHER THAN JUST A MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS.

AND HOW WE CAN TREAT PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES THE WAY WE TREAT ANY MINORITY, TRYING TO SUPPORT THEM AND NOT TRYING TO ERADICATE.

YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE TALK ABOUT CURING DISABILITIES, EVEN THOUGH THEY MAY BE WELL-INTENTIONED.

I DO NOT THINK ERADICATE IN DISABILITY IS WHAT MOST DISABLED PEOPLE WANT, FROM, YOU KNOW, TO BE ERASED FROM SOCIETY?

ONE THING I DO WANT TO SEE AS A SOCIETY GOING FORWARD IS, THE REALIZATION THAT WE CAN BE FLEXIBLE.

ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO WORK.

PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES HAVE FOUGHT FOR ACCOMMODATIONS, LIKE IF THEY HAVE CHRONIC ILLNESS AND MAYBE SOMETIMES THEY CANNOT COMMIT TO THE OFFICE, MAYBE THEY CAN WORK FROM HOME.

THEY WOULD GET TOLD FROM YEARS, WE CANNOT DO THAT AND THIS HAS TO BE DONE IN THE OFFICE, RIGHT?

WE CLEARLY KNOW NOW THAT IF IT AFFECTS THE MAJORITY, WE ARE WILLING TO BE FLEXIBLE.

IT IS TIME TO MAKE SURE WE REALLY COMMIT TO BRINGING ALL THE DIFFERENT VOICES TO THE TABLE.

♪ DENNIS: SO ARE WE MAKING STRIDES , TOWARD EQUITABLE TREATMENT FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES DURING THE PANDEMIC?

JOINING US NOW WITH MORE ON THAT IS MEREDITH KUJALA, ADULT AND FAMILY SERVICES MANAGER WITH ARC NORTHLAND.

MEREDITH WELCOME, THANKS FOR , BEING HERE.

HOW DOES ARC NORTHLAND WORK WITH FAMILIES WHICH IS BILLY'S?

MEREDITH: WE HAVE PCA, HOME-BASED SERVICES TO HELP PEOPLE STAND THEIR HOME AND LIVE INDEPENDENTLY.

WE HAVE VARIOUS GROUPS.

HOUSING GROUP THAT HELPS PEOPLE GET INTO ADEQUATE, ACCOMMODATIVE HOUSING.

WE LET THE PEOPLE WE SERVE, PEOPLE WITH VARIOUS DISABILITIES, WE LET THEM DRIVE THE BUS.

AND WE SUPPORT THEM.

AND REALLY, YOU KNOW, ADVOCATING FOR WHATEVER THEY NEED.

THEY COME TO US TYPICALLY WITH SOME TYPE OF ISSUE OR BARRIER IN THEIR WAY AND WE AS THE ADVOCATE ARE TRYING TO WORK THROUGH THOSE AND YOU KNOW, HELP THEM BE AS INDEPENDENT AS POSSIBLE OR AS INDEPENDENT AS THEY WANT TO BE.

DENNIS: NOT NECESSARILY AT ARC NORTHLAND, BUT IN THE BIG WORLD, ARE PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES GETTING FAIR TREATMENT?

MEREDITH: MY OPINION?

NO.

IT HAS MAYBE GOTTEN BETTER.

BUT WHEN THIS WHOLE PANDEMIC STARTED AND PEOPLE WERE GETTING SICK AND HAVING TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES WERE NOT ON THE SAME LEVEL AS THE AVERAGE PERSON THAT MIGHT HAVE GONE COVID -- GOTTEN COVID.

DENNIS: SURE.

MEREDITH: WHEN THEY TALK ABOUT THE VENTILATOR THING, IT IS ABSURD.

BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT LETTING SOMEBODY WHO NEEDS A VENTILATOR GET IT BECAUSE THEY HAVE A BEST ABILITY -- THEY HAVE A DISABILITY?

VERSUS YOUR LETTING SOMEONE WHO DOES NOT HAVE A DISABILITY HAVE A VENTILATOR.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF DISCRIMINATION THERE.

AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE VACCINE, WE HAD THESE CHAIRS OF PRIORITY -- TIERS, OF PRIORITY GROUPS.

PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES WHO ARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO MORE THINGS, WERE NOT ON THOSE LISTS AND IT WAS DISAPPOINTING TO SEE.

DENNIS: HOW DO PEOPLE WHO NEED HELP GET HELP FROM ARC NORTHLAND?

MEREDITH: WALK IN THE DOOR OR DURING THE PANDEMIC WE ARE NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, BUT GIVE US A PHONE CALL.

SANDISON EMAIL.

-- SENT US AN EMAIL, WE ARE ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER.

WE DO NOT ASK FOR MEDICAL RECORDS, TO SAY YOU HAVE A DISABILITY MIGHT JUST SELF DIAGNOSE.

DENNIS: WHAT IS THE MISSION?

MEREDITH: TO HELP ANYBODY WHO HAS ANY TYPE OF DISABILITY, TO BE THE BEST THEM.

TO HELP THEM LIVE IN THE COMMUNITY, WORK IN THE COMMUNITY, PLAY IN THE COMMUNITY , TO THE LEVEL THAT THEY WANT.

DENNIS: I UNDERSTAND HOUSING SUPPORT IS ALSO AVAILABLE?

MEREDITH: HUGE, HUGE, BECAUSE HOUSING IS A BIG ISSUE, AND ACCOMMODATING HOUSING.

HOUSING IS A BIG ISSUE IN SOCIETY.

AND THEN THROW IN HAVING A DISABILITY ON TOP OF IT, AND MAKES THE PROBLEM HIGHER OR, A BIGGER ISSUE.

YES, WE DO HAVE A LOT OF INCREDIBLE HOUSING PROGRAMS THAT CAN HELP PEOPLE GET HOUSING.

DENNIS: THANK YOU, TIME GOES QUICKLY HERE.

MEREDITH, FROM THE ARC NORTHLAND FAMILY SERVICES, THANK YOU FOR COMING.

NOW NEXT WEEK OUR SPECIAL SERIES , CONTINUES AS WE EXPLORE HOW THE PANDEMIC HAS IMPACTED ENTERTAINMENT VENUES AND THOSE WHO WORK BOTH ON-STAGE AND BACKSTAGE.

♪ DENNIS: IT'S TIME NOW FOR VOICES OF THE REGION.

EACH WEEK WE HEAR FROM AN AREA JOURNALIST WITH MORE ON THE STORIES THEY ARE COVERING.

THIS WEEK WISCONSIN PUBLIC RADIO REPORTER DANIELLE KAEDING IS OUR GUEST.

♪ DANIELLE: THE CITY OF SUPERIOR IS SET TO RECEIVE $70 MILLION IN COVID FUNDING, AND THAT WILL COME IN TWO DISBURSEMENTS -- $17 MILLION DOLLARS IN COVID FUNDING IN TWO DISBURSEMENTS.

THE MAYOR OF SUPERIOR SAID HE WOULD LIKE TO SEE A BIG CHUNK OF IT GO TOWARD THE CITY'S PROPOSAL TO BUILD A CITY-OWNED BROADBAND NETWORK.

THIS IS SOMETHING THEY WANT TO DO, TO INCREASE COMPETITION AND PROVIDE PEOPLE WITH BETTER SERVICE.

THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH A CONSULTANT, ON A $31 MILLION PROPOSAL TO DO THIS.

SO, THEY WERE GOING TO PUT THE COST OF THE PROJECT ON USERS, YOU KNOW.

THEY WOULD PAY FOR THE SERVICE AND NETWORK.

SO, HE THINK THIS COULD POTENTIALLY HELP WITH THAT, AND ALLEVIATE SOME OF WHAT THEY WOULD PAY.

RIGHT NOW, THEY ARE SORTING THROUGH HOW THEY WANT TO SPEND IT, AND THERE IS STILL GUIDANCE THAT WILL COME DOWN FROM THE U.S. TREASURY ABOUT, WHAT EXACTLY YOU CAN SPEND IT ON.

SO I THINK LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ARE SET TO RECEIVE THE FIRST HALF OF THE MONEY ALLOCATED, AROUND EARLY TO MID MAY.

♪ THIS STARTED WITH A WISCONSIN COUPLE WHO LIVES IN THE HARVESTER AREA.

THEY WANTED TO BOTTLE AND SELL WATER FROM A WELL ON THEIR LAND.

IT GOT SHOT DOWN BY A COUNTY COMMITTEE LAST WEEK, BECAUSE A LOT OF RESIDENTS VOICED FEARS THIS PLAN WOULD HARM THE AREA AT WATERSHED.

YOU KNOW, A HARVESTER COUPLE CRYSTAL AND ROBERT APPLIED FOR A PERMIT FOR THEIR COMPANY, CRYSTAL-CLEAR, TO INSTALL UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANKS THAT WOULD CAPTURE WATER FROM AN ARTESIAN WELL ON THEIR PROPERTY AND THAT WATER WOULD BE COLLECTED BY TANKER TRUCK AND TRANSPORTED OFF-SITE TO BE BOTTLED AT A FACILITY IN SUPERIOR.

THEY WERE PLANNING TO SELL THE WATER IN WISCONSIN AND MINNESOTA PRIMARILY, ALSO ONLINE, TO CUSTOMERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

CRYSTAL HAD SAID TRANSFERRING THE BOTTLED WATER OUTSIDE THE AREA IS NOT CONSIDERED A DIVERSION, UNDER WISCONSIN LAW, THAT ENFORCES THE GREAT LAKES COMPACT, BECAUSE THAT WAS ONE QUESTION PEOPLE HAD ABOUT IT.

APPARENTLY STATE STATUTES SAY THE TRANSFER A BOTTLED WATER FROM THE GREAT LAKES BASIN'S IN CONTAINERS OF SIX GALLONS OR LESS IS NOT CONSIDERED A DIVERSION.

POINTING OUT, OBVIOUSLY, IT IS NOT GOING TO BE ONE TIME.

YOU ARE GOING TO TRANSFER THIS BOTTLED WATER OUT OF THE AREA MULTIPLE TIMES.

AND WHAT IS THE CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF THAT, AND THE EFFECT ON THE WATERSHED?

♪ THIS FEBRUARY, THERE WAS A LOT OF CRITICISM SURROUNDING THAT.

2 HARVESTING18 WALLS -- HARVESTING 218 AND THREE DAYS, THERE'S A LOT OF CONCERN FROM THE PUBLIC AND TRIBES AND ANIMAL-RIGHTS GROUPS.

THE AGENCY IS PROVIDING AN ONLINE SURVEY FOR PEOPLE TO PROVIDE INPUT ON UPDATING THE WOLF MANAGEMENT PLAN.

THEY HAVE FORMED COMMITTEES.

ONE WILL LOOK AT THE PLAN FOR WOLF MANAGEMENT 10 YEARS IN THE FUTURE.

ANOTHER WOULD LOOK AT THE HARVEST THIS FALL TO DEVELOP A QUOTA FOR THAT.

AND THE WOLF ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR THE DNR HAS ALREADY MET.

THEY HAVE THEIR FIRST MEETING AND HEARD FROM THE PUBLIC FOR THE FIRST TIME WITH A NUMBER OF PEOPLE SUGGESTING ZERO QUOTA, WHICH IS ESSENTIALLY NO HARVEST THIS FALL.

THEY ARE TAKING A LOOK AT ALL OF THIS AND GOING TO DO A SURVEY WITH HUNTERS AND TRAPPERS AND LOOK AT THE REVISED POPULATION ESTIMATE.

THEY GOING TO GATHER PUBLIC INPUT BEFORE THEY MEET AGAIN IN MAY, TO DEVELOP AND SET THE QUOTA FOR FALL.

THAT IS GOING TO GO BEFORE THE BOARD, THE NATURAL RESOURCES BOARD, WHICH ADVISES, SETS POLICY, FOR DNR.

THEY ARE GOING TO DECIDE WHAT THE WHAT IS THIS SUMMER, I BELIEVE IN AUGUST.

♪ DENNIS: NOW I AM GOING TO DO , SOMETHING I RARELY DO ON TELEVISION.

AND THAT IS, MAKE A VERY BRIEF PERSONAL REFLECTION, ON SOMEONE WHO IS DESERVING OF FAR MORE.

JUST A FEW DAYS AGO, THE STATE OF MINNESOTA, AND INDEED THE NATION, LOST NOT ONLY A POLITICAL CHAMPION, BUT A FRIEND, IN THE DEATH OF FORMER VICE PRESIDENT WALTER MONDALE.

I GOT TO KNOW FRITZ, AS HE LIKED TO BE CALLED, WHILE HE WAS MINNESOTA'S ATTORNEY GENERAL.

OVER THE YEARS, HE SPENT A GREAT DEAL OF TIME IN DULUTH.

MUCH OF THAT TIME VISITING FRIENDS, INCLUDING A FEW OF US AT WDIO-TV.

WITH SECRET SERVICE IN TOW, HE WOULD POP IN AT THE TV STATION TO SPEND A LITTLE DOWNTIME WITH SOME OF US.

AND WITH OTHERS, THERE WERE FISHING TRIPS UP NORTH, OR VISITS TO THE IRON RANGE.

RATHER THAN MENTION HIS POLITICAL SUCCESSES AND FAILURES HERE, WHICH HAVE ALREADY GOTTEN A LOT OF PRESS, I WANT TO TALK FOR JUST A MOMENT ABOUT THE MAN.

FRITZ MONDALE WAS AS KIND AND AS FRIENDLY AS THEY COME.

HE HAD A GIFT OF LAUGHTER THAT COULD BECOME CONTAGIOUS.

THAT SMILE YOU USUALLY SAW ON HIS FACE WASN'T THERE JUST FOR THE CAMERAS.

IT WAS REAL, IT WAS WARM.

HE WOULD ASK A LOT OF QUESTIONS OF US, SHOWING CONCERN FOR THIS OR THAT HERE IN OUR PART OF THE STATE.

THERE MUST BE A ZILLION OF US WHO CLAIM WALTER MONDALE AS A FRIEND.

HE WAS EASY TO BEFRIEND, NEVER MIND HIS LOFTY POSITIONS IN LIFE.

HE WAS JUST A REGULAR GUY WHO CARED A LOT ABOUT PEOPLE, AND HOW WE WERE TAKEN CARE OF BY THE TAX DOLLARS WE SPENT.

YES, INDEED, WE LOST A FRIEND WHEN HE SLIPPED AWAY, A FRIENDSHIP THAT NOT EVEN DEATH CAN DESTROY.

DENNIS: KEEP UP WITH THE LATEST FROM ALMANAC NORTH BY FOLLOWING US ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

YOU CAN CHECK US OUT ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.

OR VISIT THE WDSE WEBSITE FOR THE LATEST PROGRAM UPDATES, NEWS ABOUT THE STATION, AND OUR UPCOMING EVENTS.

DOWNLOAD THE PBS VIDEO APP FOR ON DEMAND VIEWING OF YOUR FAVORITE PROGRAMS.

THANKS TO OUR GUESTS AND THE CREW HERE IN THE STUDIO.

I'M DENNIS ANDERSON, STAY HEALTHY EVERYONE, AND BE KIND.

♪