>> I AM JULIE ZENNER AND HERE IS WHAT'S COMING UP ON ALMANAC NORTH.

WE LOOK AT HOW THE PANDEMIC PUSHED SCHOOLS TO A VIRTUAL LEARNING MODEL.

IT POINTED OUT WEAK SPOTS IN BROADBAND IN OUR REGION.

WE WILL SPEAK TO OUR GUEST ABOUT THAT, AND FISHING GUIDES AND RESORT OWNERS EXPECTING A BIGGER THAN USUAL OPENING OF THE MINNESOTA FISHING SEASON.

THESE TOPICS AND VOICES OF THE REGION, NEXT ON "ALMANAC NORTH."

♪ DR. REYNOLDS: HELLO AND WELCOME -- DR. REYNOLDS: HELLO AND WELCOME TO -- JULIE: HELLO AND WELCOME TO "ALMANAC NORTH."

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

DENNIS IS OFF THIS WEEK.

MINNESOTA RETURNING TO NORMAL WITH GOVERNOR WALZ REPEALING THE STATEWIDE MASS MANDATE AS OF TODAY.

THE MOVE CAME AFTER THE CENTERS OF DISEASE CONTROL SAY THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE FULLY VACCINATED NEED NOT WEAR A MASK IN MOST PLACES.

AND THERE WERE OTHERS THAT SAID THEY WOULD NO LONGER ENFORCE THE CITY ORDINANCE BUT SOME BUSINESSES MAY STILL REQUIRE PEOPLE TO WEAR MASKS.

WISCONSIN IS OFFERING COVID VACCINATIONS TO CHILDREN AGES 12 TO 15.

THE PFIZER VACCINE HAS BEEN RULED SAFE FOR CHILDREN IN THIS RANGE BY THE CDC.

MINNESOTA IS ALSO OPENING UP VACCINATIONS TO CHILDREN OF THAT AGE WHO MUST HAVE PARENT APPROVAL FOR THE SHOTS.

MINNESOTA DNR MORNING FOLKS THAT THE FIRE DANGER IS HIGH IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA.

NORTHERN COUNTIES REMAIN UNDER OPEN BURNING RESTRICTIONS.

THE DNR IS EXPECTING A HEAVY TURNOUT FOR THE FISSION -- FISHING OPENER AND MAKE SURE THEIR FIRE IS COMPLETELY OUT OF FOR LEAVING.

UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-SUPERIOR WILL HOLD A VIRTUAL COMMENCEMENT FOR GRADUATE SATURDAY.

GRADS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WALK ACROSS THE STAGE AND DEPOSE WITH A PHOTO WITH THE CHANCELLOR PRIOR TO THE VIRTUAL CEREMONY.

A TOTAL OF 431 STUDENTS ARE GRADUATING THIS SPRING.

NOW, OUR LESSONS FROM COVID-19 SERIES CONTINUES WITH THE LESSONS THAT CHALLENGES ARE FACED BY SCHOOL DISTRICTS DURING THE PANDEMIC.

I SCHOOLS WERE MOVING TO REMOTE LEARNING, THEY FOUND OUT WHERE THE GAPS WERE.

WE HEARD ABOUT CLASSROOM TECH ISSUES AND THE IMPORTANT SOCIAL ROLE THAT PUBLIC EDUCATION CONTINUE TO PLAY DURING THE PANDEMIC.

>> WE'RE TRYING TO BE FORTUNETELLERS IN THE WAY OR SEE THE FUTURE AND TO DETERMINE WHAT KIND OF NEEDS WE WOULD HAVE THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR.

>> IT WAS DEFINITELY A LEARNING CURVE FOR MYSELF TO FIND A CREATIVE WAY TO BUILD THOSE CONNECTIONS WAS INTERESTING.

SOMETIMES THEY WOULD ASK, WHY CAN'T WE BE CLOSER.

>> IT IS A NEW WORLD TO JUST LEARNING AT ALL AND WE WILL GET THROUGH IT TOGETHER.

>> THE SILVER LINING OF COVID IS THE FACT THAT WE HAVE LEARNED BETTER WAYS TO INSTRUCT.

MY NAME IS RICK ALDRICH AND I AM THE SUPERINTENDENT.

ANY OF OUR TEACHERS THAT MIGHT HAVE FELT UNCOMFORTABLE WITH TECHNOLOGY IN THE PAST REALLY EMBRACED IT.

THE BIGGEST LESSON BUT I THINK THAT WE LEARNED IS WE ASSUMED, AND I THINK THE STATE ALSO ASSUMED THAT WE CAN JUST PUSH A BUTTON THEN WE CAN GO TO DISTANCE LEARNING AND EVERYONE WILL BE ABLE TO CONNECT USING AN IPAD WHICH ALL OF OUR STUDENTS HAD, BUT THE REALITY IS A LOT OF KIDS TAKE THIS HOME AND THEY DO NOT HAVE THE INTERNET CAPABILITY.

LOOK AT OUR NEIGHBORING DISTRICTS THAT ARE MORE RURAL.

THEY REALLY STRUGGLED WITH PROBLEMS WITH CONNECTIVITY.

IT WAS A DRIVE AND EDUCATION FOR A LOT OF DISTRICTS.

WI-FI AT THEIR SCHOOLS, TRYING TO CREATE HOT SPOTS IN THE COMMUNITY.

WE HEARD MANY STORIES OF FAMILIES PARKED OUTSIDE OF MCDONALD'S DOING THEIR HOMEWORK ON THEIR IPAD BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT GET ANYWHERE ELSE TO GET WI-FI.

THE OTHER PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE HERE IS WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF TOPSOIL, BUT YOU DIG DOWN, SO IT IS ROCK, SO IS NOT EASY TORONTO INTERNET CONNECTIVITY.

INITIALLY WE BOUGHT HOTSPOTS AND THAT IS HOW WE GOT OURSELVES THROUGH TO THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR STARTING MARCH 18 OF 2020 UNTIL THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.

WE STILL HAVE STUDENTS THAT ARE NOT CLOSE ENOUGH TO A CELL TOWER WHERE THIS WORKS FOR THEM.

EVERY STUDENT HAS THEIR OWN DEVICE, EVERY STAFF MEMBER HAS THEIR OWN DEVICE, AND OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT IS BEEN A ONE-TO-ONE SCHOOL FOR OVER 10 YEARS.

PRIOR TO COVID, THEY COULD DOWNLOAD HOMEWORK ON TO THE DEVICE, SO ALL THEY NEED IS POWER, THEY DON'T NEED INTERNET CONNECTIVITY TO DO THEIR WORK.

DEVICES ARE GREAT BUT IF WE DON'T HAVE THAT ABILITY TO REACH OUT AND BE IN EVERY CHILD'S HOME , THEY ARE BASICALLY USELESS.

>> I AM A SIXTH-GRADE MATH AND SCIENCE TEACHER WITH ONE CO-TEACHER.

RIGHT OFF THE BATS, WE SET UP A WHOLE NEW COMMUNICATION SYSTEM CALLED PARENT SQUARE OR STUDENT SQUARE.

SCIENCE IS A LOT OF HANDS-ON STUFF THAT THEY CANNOT DO ANYMORE EITHER.

WHAT I DID IS I KNOW SOME OF THEM CANNOT GO OUT DURING A PANDEMIC AND BIOMATERIALS.

SO I WOULD HAVE MY FIANCE HOLD THE CAMERA AND I WOULD DO EXPERIMENTS FOR THE KIDS AT HOME.

LET IT EXPLODE.

THAT WAS THE HIGHEST ONE.

>> I AM CURRENTLY TEACHING KINDERGARTEN.

AT FIRST, MY INITIAL THOUGHT WAS HOW AM I GOING TO GET TO KNOW A STUDENT THROUGH THE CAMERA.

THERE WERE A LOT OF GOOD OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHILDREN TO SHOW THEIR YOUNGER SIBLINGS OR THEIR OLD URSZUL -- OR THEIR PETS, I GOT TO SEE A HEDGEHOG THIS YEAR.

AND THEN WE WOULD HAVE TECHNOLOGY ISSUES.

FAMILIES WOULD GET ON THE VIRTUAL CHAT IN THE MORNING AND THEY WOULD BE LIKE, OUR CAMERA IS NOT WORKING.

SOMETIMES IT WAS LIKE A, I CAN HEAR WHAT YOU ARE SAYING BUT I CAN'T SEE YOU.

I WAS NOT ABLE TO UPLOAD THIS ACTIVITY.

ONE OF MY BIGGEST LESSONS FROM THIS IS, JUST THINKING ABOUT MY CLASSROOM AND WHAT WE HAVE DONE IN THE PAST THAT MAY BE DID CREATE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SPREADING GERMS THAT MAY BE IN THE FUTURE IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE DOING.

>> I AM A HIGH SCHOOL SCIENCE TEACHER AN GRAND MARIAS.

SPEAKING FROM THE HIGH SCHOOL PERSPECTIVE, IT WAS INEQUITIES WERE A LITTLE BIT MORE SUBTLE.

IT IS HARD TO SEE HOW MUCH IT BOUNCES BACK UP.

SOME OTHERS CIVIL -- SILVER LININGS WITH THIS, I DON'T KNOW THAT WE WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GO TO PAPERLESS CLASSROOMS WITHOUT THIS HAPPENING, AND THE ADVANTAGE THAT IS NOT THE MOST OBVIOUS THING WHERE WE ARE SAVING PAPER, BUT THE ADVANTAGE IS THAT STUDENTS ARE ACTUALLY GIVING MORE FEEDBACK, MORE IMMEDIATE FEEDBACK AND MORE FREQUENT FEEDBACK USING SOMETHING LIKE A GOOGLE CLASSROOM AND THEY CAN SUBMIT SOMETHING.

AT ANY TIME I CAN GIVE THEM FEEDBACK, AND THAT PROCESS CAN HAPPEN, WHEREAS BEFORE THEY WOULD TURN IN PAPER, I WOULD HAVE TO PHYSICALLY HAVE THAT PAPER WITH ME, SO YOU GO THROUGH AND YOU GRADED.

AND THEN I HAVE TO WAIT TO SEE THEM AGAIN.

THERE HAS BEEN A REAL IMPROVEMENT ON THE LEVEL OF WHAT STUDENTS ARE ACTUALLY UNDERSTANDING ON OUR DAY-TO-DAY ASSIGNMENTS BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO IMPROVE THAT FEEDBACK PROCESS THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

THAT IS ONE ASPECT OF TECHNOLOGY I WILL TAKE WITH ME AFTER THE PANDEMIC.

>> FOR MY SIXTH-GRADERS, PERSONALLY, NOT EVERYBODY IS THE SAME, SO DIFFERENT HOME LIVES GOING TO THAT, DIFFERENT NEEDS.

FOR THE DIFFERENT RESOURCES, OUR LUNCH STAFF NEEDED TO COME IN AND OUR LUNCH STAFF PROVIDED LUNCHES FOR THE KIDS.

THE WHOLE SCHOOL CAME TOGETHER.

>> IT HAS REALLY MADE OBVIOUS WHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT, JUST HOW MUCH THE COMMUNITY RELIES ON THE SCHOOL FOR THINGS LIKE DAYCARE, BUT ALSO A LOT OF CONNECTIONS WITH THE COMMUNITY, EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES AND SPORTS AND ALL OF THAT.

>> ONE OF OUR BIGGEST CONCERNS WHEN EVERYTHING HITS WAS FEEDING OUR KIDS.

THE MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS THAT CAME FROM THIS PANDEMIC, WE TRY TO PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES IN A DIGITAL FORMAT, WHICH AGAIN, BRINGS UP A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT CONNECTIVITY.

EDUCATION IS ALWAYS IN THE BACKGROUND, IT IS ALWAYS IMPORTANT, BUT IT TOOK A BACKSEAT FOR A LOT OF THE PANDEMIC.

WE LEARNED A LOT OF LESSONS, WE MADE A LOT OF MISTAKES, BUT EDUCATION HAS IMPROVED AS A RESULT OF THIS PANDEMIC.

♪ JULIE: WE SAW GAPS IN BROADBAND INTERNET COVERAGE WITH THE BIGGEST OBSTACLE.

THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE RANGER ASSOCIATION OF MUNICIPALITIES AND SCHOOLS IS HERE TO TALK ABOUT THAT ISSUE.

THANK YOU FOR MAKING THE DRIVE HERE AND COMING INTO TALK WITH US.

STEVE: GLAD I COULD JOIN YOU.

JULIE: HOW DID THE PANDEMIC REALLY PUNCTUATE THE LACK OF CONSISTENT BROADBAND ACCESS?

STEVE: IT MOVED IT UP ON THE LIST OF PRIORITIES FOR A LOT OF OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS, OUR COMMUNITY LEADERS.

OBVIOUSLY, IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS, IT BECAME OVERNIGHT -- IT BECAME A NUMBER ONE PRIORITY.

THERE IS A HUGE, NEW AWARENESS ABOUT HOW FAR BEHIND WE ARE COMPARED TO OTHER AREAS OF THE STATES, AND HOW FAR WE HAVE TO GO TO GET QUALITY BROADBAND IN RURAL ST. LOUIS COUNTY.

JULIE: YOU SAY YOU NOW KNOW HOW FAR BEHIND ARE YOU, WHERE DOES THE REGION STAND IN RELATION TO THE REST OF THE STATE IF YOU LOOK AT BROADBAND ACCESS?

STEVE: IN ST. LOUIS COUNTY, IT IS WELL OVER 50% OF THE AREAS ARE STILL UNDERSERVED, WHICH MEANS THEY HAVE LEFT -- LESS THAN 23 WIRELINE SERVICE.

BROADBAND IS DEFINED BY 25 DOWN, 3 UP, AND WHAT WE FOUND AN COVID IS THAT IS NOT ENOUGH.

WITH THE DISTANCE LEARNING AND PEOPLE TRYING TO WORK FROM HOME, 25-3 IS NOT ADEQUATE BANDWIDTH TO ACCOMPLISH ANY OF THOSE NEEDS.

IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA, THE GOAL FOR 2022, SET BY THE LEGISLATURE WAS FOR EVERYONE, EVERYONE IN MINNESOTA WOULD HAVE 25-3 SERVICE.

IN 2026, THAT GOAL GOES FROM 20 DOWN, 20 UP.

-- 100 DOWN, 20 UP, BECAUSE THAT IS THE MINIMUM WE SHOULD HAVE.

JULIE: WHAT ARE THE NEGATIVES WHEN YOU DO NOT HAVE THE BROADBAND SERVICES THAT IS UP TO PAR WITH OTHER COMMUNITIES?

STEVE: YOU ARE TREMENDOUSLY LIMITED.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS AT A STANDSTILL.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE HOUSING MARKETS AND OTHER COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE QUALITY BROADBAND OR IN TOWN, THESE HOUSES ARE SELLING LIKE HOT CAKES.

ONCE YOU GET OUT INTO THE COUNTRYSIDE, A HALF MILE OR THREE QUARTERS OF A MILE FROM TOWN, YOU DON'T HAVE THAT SERVICE.

THOSE LOCATIONS ARE NOT GOING TO SELL AS WELL.

YOU LOOK AT SOMETHING LIKE LAKE FERMILLION WITH ALL OF THE HIGH LEVEL CABINS, THE SEASONAL HOMEOWNERS WOULD LOVE TO HAVE QUALITY BROADBAND UP THERE.

I PERSONALLY KNOW SEVERAL MINNEAPOLIS PEOPLE THAT HAVE LAKE PLACES AND THEY WOULD COME UP AND TRY TO DO DISTANCE LEARNING, TRY TO GET A HOTSPOT SO THEY COULD TRY AND WORK FROM THEIR CABIN -- IT IS A REAL CHALLENGE.

WE ARE MISSING OUT ON A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES.

JULIE: ARE THERE PROJECTS UNDERWAY TO KIND OF BRING UP ALL OF THOSE AT THIS POINT?

STEVE: THERE IS A GRANT PROGRAM FOR COMMUNITIES AND I HAVE PARTICIPATED IN TWO OF THEM, AND WE IN SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE BOUNDARIES, SO WE ARE INCLUDING TOWNSHIPS AND MULTIPLE CITIES.

THEY CREATED A GREATER SWATH OF PARTICIPATION AND A LOT OF THAT CHERRY TOWNSHIP, YOU WOULD NOT THINK OF IT, BUT CHERRY TOWNSHIP, THEY ENDED UP WITH A $5.2 MILLION RECONNECT THE GRANT, AND THEY WILL BE INSTALLING FIBER TO THE HOME IN CHERRY TOWNSHIP THIS SUMMER, UTILIZING CTC OUT OF BRAINERD, THAT WILL BE THE PROVIDER FOR THAT.

WE HAD A COUPLE OF NEAR PROJECTS AND A COUPLE MORE TOWNSHIPS JUST NORTH OF VIRGINIA.

WORRY, SANDY, PAUL BUNYAN WAS READY TO GO ROLL AND THEY APPLIED FOR A STATE BORDER TO BORDER GRANT THIS YEAR, AND THEN THEY GOT HIT BY THE ART OFF AUCTION AND WERE DISQUALIFIED AND COULD NOT GET ANY STATE FUNDS.

ALL OF THE ENGINEERING AND ALL OF THE SURVEYING DONE, AND THAT PROJECT GOT STOPPED.

THE CITY OF ELY JUST INSTALLED FIBER DOWN THERE MAIN STREET FOR THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, AGAIN UTILIZING CTC.

THEY WENT OVERHEAD TO SAVE SOME FUNDS.

THEY WILL HAVE FIBER DOWN THERE MAIN STREET AND MID CO. IS COMING IN POSSIBLY LATER THIS WEEK, BUT FOR SURE NEXT WEEK AND UPPING THEIR SERVICE TO ONE GATE, SO THERE ARE SOME POCKETS IN ST. LOUIS COUNTY WHERE SOME POSITIVE THINGS ARE HAPPENING.

JULIE: I WISH WE HAD MORE TIME TO TALK ABOUT IT, BUT WE WILL HAVE YOU BACK AGAIN SOMETIME.

STEVE: ONGOING PROJECT.

JULIE: THANKS FOR THE WORK YOU'RE DOING.

STEVE: THANK YOU.

JULIE: NEXT WEEK, OUR SPECIAL SERIES CONTINUES WITH OUR CONVERSATION WITH THE PUBLIC SCHOOL FAMILY AND THEY SHARED THEIR EXPERIENCES AND THE ADJUSTMENTS THEY MADE IT HOME TO MAKE THINGS WORK FOR -- WORK.

>> WE DID HAVE SOME ISSUES, I THINK LAST SPRING, AND COMING INTO THE FALL, WE UPGRADED TO THE FASTEST SPEED WE COULD GET AND A NEW ROUTER, JUST TO HELP TRY TO ELIMINATE SOME OF THOSE ISSUES.

I DON'T LOOK WE HAD ANY ISSUES THIS TIME.

>> NO.

>> SOMETIMES YOU WOULD NOT HAVE CONNECTIVITY OR YOU WOULD BE IN THE MIDDLE OF YOUR MEETING AND YOU WOULD DROP OUT SOMETIMES.

BUT NOT EVERYBODY, IF YOU LIVE OUT OF TOWN A LITTLE FURTHER, YOU DON'T HAVE THAT SOMETIMES ABILITY TO HAVE FAST INTERNET.

>> I KNOW AT ONE POINT, THERE WAS A TEACHER THAT WAS HAVING ISSUES THAT WAS TRYING TO DO A GOOGLE MEET UP FROM HER HOME AND SENT OUT A MESSAGE AND SAID WE WILL HAVE TO CANCEL TODAY BECAUSE SHE IT WAS NOT GETTING ANY CONNECTIVITY.

EVERYBODY WAS JUST FLEXIBLE AND JUST KIND OF ROLLED WITH IT, AND THAT WORKS BEST.

>> FORTUNATE FOR US, BRITTANY WAS ABLE TO STAY HOME, LEAVE HER JOB FOR A WHILE, AND STAY HOME, AND JUST BE ABLE TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO HELP THE KIDS.

JULIE: WE WILL HAVE MORE ON THE FAMILY'S PANDEMIC EXPERIENCE NEXT WEEK ON "ALMANAC NORTH."

♪ JULIE: TIME NOW FOR VOICES OF THE REGION.

EACH WEEK WE HEAR FROM A JOURNALIST.

THIS WEEK, MARSHALL IS OUR GUEST.

♪ >> SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS AND ELY ARE WRESTLING WITH THE DEBATE OVER WHETHER TO PROHIBIT THE USE OF A BOOK OF THAT SOME PARENTS AND STUDENTS ARE OBJECTING TO.

THE BOOK, TITLED "I AM STILL HERE: BLACK DIGNITY IN A WORLD MADE FOR WHITENESS" HAS GENERATED CONTROVERSY AFTER A PARENT CHALLENGED THE INCLUSION OF THE BOOK.

AND SEVERAL OTHER PARENTS SUPPORTED THAT CRITICISM AS WELL.

THE BOOK IS WRITTEN BY AUTHOR AND ACTIVIST AUSTIN CHANNING BROWN.

IT SPENT 16 WEEKS ON "THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERS LIST" AND CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED FOR CHALLENGING PREVAILING ATTITUDES OF THE EFFECTIVENESS, BUT SOME SEE THE BOOK DIFFERENTLY AND SEE IT AS HATEFUL TOWARDS WHITE PEOPLE.

THE SCHOOL BOARD AND ELY HAS NOT FACED AN ISSUE IN RECENT MEMORY.

THEY ARE TRYING TO INVESTIGATE THE CRITICISMS OF PARENTS WITHOUT GETTING OVERLY INVOLVED IN CURRICULUM.

IT CAME FROM A COMMUNITY GROUP WHICH WAS SEEKING TO EXPAND STUDENTS EXPOSURE TO PERSPECTIVES OF PEOPLE OF COLOR.

SOME MIGHT ARGUE THAT IT HAS BEEN A GOOD CONVERSATION THAT HAS ENGENDERED THOUGHT ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ISSUE.

THE SCHOOL BOARD HAS YET TO ACT AND THEY MAY NOT TAKE ANY ACTION IN THE END.

THEY MIGHT JUST ALLOW THE STAFF TO RESOLVE THIS ADMINISTRATIVELY.

THEY WOULD RATHER SEE THESE CONCERNS BROUGHT THROUGH A CHAIN OF COMMAND, WHERE THEY WOULD INITIALLY GO TO A TEACHER, TAKE IT TO A PRINCIPAL, AND IF THAT POINT THEY DID NOT GET SATISFACTION, IT COULD COME TO THE BOARD.

♪ >> REPUBLICAN STATE SENATOR HAS ISSUED AN ULTIMATUM TO THE MINNESOTA POLLUTION CONTROL AGENCY, SENATOR IN ALEXANDRIA TOLD THE AGENCY BE MUST -- THE AGENCY THAT THEY MUST HALT A NEW EMISSION STANDARD OR THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO WATCH STATE PARKS CLOSE AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES EVAPORATE COME MAY 1 .

A CONFERENCE MEETING OF SENATORS AND HOUSE MEMBERS, IT WOULD BOOST THE NUMBER OF ZERO EMISSIONS ELECTRIC VEHICLES IN THIS STATE THAT HE TOOK A HARD LINE ON.

IT WOULD ALSO REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS.

THIS BUDGET WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD UNLESS THE PROPOSED RULES COME OFF THE TABLE, AND THE SENATE'S VERSION OF THE BUDGET IS AGREED TO.

HE LATER BACKTRACKED SAYING HE WOULD ACCEPT A TWO-YEAR MORATORIUM ON THE NEW CLEAN CAR RULES.

AT THE ROOT OF THE CONFLICT, THE STATE IS CURRENTLY FALLING BEHIND TARGETS THAT THE LEGISLATURE SET IN 2007 FOR REDUCING GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS.

I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE IS THAT MUCH DEMAND OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES IN RURAL PARTS OF THE STATES, SO THEY MAY NOT NECESSARILY NOTICE MUCH IMPACT FROM THIS ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.

I SUSPECT MOST OF THE DEMAND IS PROBABLY DOWN IN THE METRO AREA AND I KNOW DOWN THERE, IT IS QUITE DIFFICULT TO PERSON -- PURCHASE AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE AND ARE NOT MANY CHOICES.

THAT IS ONE THING THAT ADVOCATES OF THIS SAY THAT STATES THAT DO HAVE THESE RULES ENACTED TEND TO GET THE OVERWHELMING NUMBER OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES THAT ARE PRODUCED.

♪ MARSHALL: ANOTHER STORY, WE ARE LOOKING AT WHAT COULD BE ONE OF THE BEST FISHING OPENERS IN YEARS APPEAR.

WITH EARLY ICE OUT AND THE WARMER WEATHER THAT WE ARE HAVING NOW JUST AHEAD OF THE OPENER, I SPOKE TO SEVERAL GUIDES UP HERE, AND THEY ARE ALL EXPECTING PLENTY OF ACTION FOR ANGLERS, AND THEY SHOULD BE HUNGRY.

THAT SHOULD PLEASE ANYONE LOOKING TO PUT A FEW FRESH DINNER ON THEIR PLATE.

ONE OF THE HIGHEST WALLEYE COUNTS, IT COULD MONITOR THE FISH POPULATION, AND IT CATCHES THE HIGHEST IN MORE THAN 35 YEARS, SO HOPES ARE HIGH FOR SATURDAY'S OPENER.

FISHING IS INTENSE ESPECIALLY AT THE CLOSURE OF THE CANADIAN BORDER LAST YEAR.

THAT HAS REDIRECTED MANY OF THE ANGLERS TO NORTHERN MINNESOTA LEGS.

THE GUYS I SPOKE TO SAY THEY HAVE NEVER HAD SO MANY BOOKINGS WITH MANY OF THEM SAYING THEY ARE BOOK SOLID INTO JULY.

THAT IS WHY FOLKS ARE OPTIMISTIC THAT IT WILL BE A VERY BUSY SUMMER IN THE NORTH COUNTRY, BUT I WILL BE MIXING PLEASURE WITH BUSINESS AND I WILL ALSO BE REPORTING ON THE OPENER.

♪ ♪ JULIE: THE OPENING OF THE MINNESOTA FISHING SEASON IS ALWAYS ONE OF THE BIGGEST EVENTS OF THE SPRING.

IT MIGHT BE BIGGER THAN EVER AS FOLKS COOPED UP ALREADY TO GET OUTDOORS.

GUIDES AND RESORT OWNERS ARE EXPECTING PLENTY OF BUSINESS TO SUMMER.

♪ >> I THINK THAT FISHING IS GIVING US AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE OUTDOORS, AND I THINK IT IS A VERY HEALTHY COMMITMENT BY PEOPLE IN ITASCA COUNTY IS TOO WELCOME TO OUR AREA.

OPENING UP FISHING IS A RITUAL AND IT IS ONE OF THE MOST ATTENDED DAYS, ONE DAY EVENT AND I AM BOOKED UP ALL THE WAY THROUGH MID JULY.

NORMALLY, IT WOULD NOT BE THAT BUSY, BUT ALL OF THE GUYS THAT HAVE A GOOD GUIDE BUSINESS AND OUR AREA ARE GETTING BOOKED UP AND A LOT OF IT HAS TO DO WITH PEOPLE COMING UP HERE FROM SOUTHERN MINNESOTA, IOWA, ILLINOIS, WISCONSIN, AND A LOT OF IT HAS TO DO WITH THE OPENER.

>> WE ARE NOT REQUIRING VACCINATIONS BUT WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE VACCINATION TO PEOPLE WHO COME ON THE BOAT.

WE HAVE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS GOING ON, IF A CONGRUENT CARE FACILITY IS COMING OUT, MOST ALL OF THOSE FOLKS ARE VACCINATED.

IF WE HAVE A FAMILY UNIT OR WHATNOT, THOSE FAMILIES THAT ARE IN CLOSE CONTACT ON A REGULAR BASIS, WE ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO MONITOR AND FOLLOW THE STATE GUIDELINES AS THINGS PROGRESS, BUT WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO OPENING THINGS WIDE OPEN TO THE SUMMER OF 2021.

>> WHILE WE HAD MASSIVE CANCELLATIONS LAST SUMMER, WE WERE ABLE TO FILL A LOT OF THOSE WITH PEOPLE WHO DID SEE THIS AS A SAFE OPPORTUNITY WHO COULD COME UP AND STAY IN THEIR BUBBLE, BRING THEIR SUPPLIES, AND DO GROCERY PICKUP.

THAT HAS TRANSLATED INTO ANOTHER BIG YEAR FOR US.

WE HAVE VERY FEW OPENINGS RIGHT NOW AND THE BULK OF THE SUMMER, AND WE HAVE WAY FEWER THAN WE WOULD ANTICIPATE UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES.

JULIE: GOOD LUCK TO ALL OF THE ANGLERS HEADING OUT FOR THE OPENER.

YOU CAN STAY UP-TO-DATE WITH ALMANAC NORTH BY FOLLOWING US ON SOCIAL MEDIA, YOU WILL FIND US ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.

YOU CAN ALSO VISIT THE W DSU WEBSITE FOR NEWS ABOUT YOUR FAVORITE PROGRAMS.

TAKE PUBLIC TELEVISION WITH YOU WHEREVER YOU GO BY DOWNLOADING THE PBS VIDEO APP ON YOUR PHONE OR TABLET.

THANKS TO OUR GUESTS AND THE CREW IN THE STUDIO.

WE WILL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.

♪