>> HARRIS WAS COMING UP ON ALMANAC NORTH.

QUICK SAILORS COUNTY IS HONORING COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT HELPS WITH THE COUNTIES PANDEMIC RESPONSE AS CO-THE CASES CONTINUE TO FOLLOW.

>> THE PROGRAM FOR VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT RECOGNIZING SURVIVORS DURING SEXUAL ALSO AWARENESS MONTH.

>> WE WILL EXPLORE THE CATALYST STORY IN THE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SECOND CITY FILM SCHOOL.

>> THESE STORIES AND FORCES OF THE REGION COMING UP ON ALMANAC NORTH.

>> HELLO AND WELCOME THE ALMANAC NORTH.

I THINK WE ARE ALREADY FOR SPRING TO MAKE AN APPEARANCE.

ENOUGH OF THE SNOW ALREADY.

>> I WANT TO SEE THAT BIG, ORANGE GLOBE IN THE SKY LITTLE MORE LIKE WE HAD TODAY.

>> IT WAS STARTING, BUT NOW IT WILL GET PRETTY SLUSHY.

>> LET'S BEGIN AT THE HEADLINES.

>> MINNESOTA LAWMAKERS BEGAN A WEEKLONG EASTER BREAK AFTER IMPORTANT BILLS WERE PASSED THROUGH COMMITTEE HEARINGS THIS WEEK.

LEGISLATORS WILL RETURN TO WORK AFTER EASTER FOR A MONTH-LONG SPRINTER THE MAY LEGISLATIVE DEADLIN.

TUNE INTO MINNESOTA LEGISLATIVE REPORT SUNDAY AT 5:00 P.M. ON PBS NORTH, WHERE THE LATEST NEWS FROM THE LEGISLATOR.

>> THE RESOURCES AND REHABILITATION BOARD APPROVED MORE THAN $15 MILLION IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FUNDING AT ITS MEETING THIS WEEK.

THE I RRR BOARD AWARDED A $10 MILLION AWARD ALONE TO THE CHISHOLM AIRPORT AUTHORITY TO BUILD AN ADDITION TO DETROIT DIESEL'S FACILITY AT THE AIRPORT.

OTHER FUNDING INCLUDED INFRASTRUCTURE AND TRAILS GRANTS TO A NUMBER OF NORTHERN MINNESOTA COMMUNITIES.

>> THE CITY OF DULUTH HELD A PUBLIC MEETING TO OUTLINE THE PLAN FOR STREET IMPROVEMENTS THIS YEAR.

THE CITY PLANS TO REPAIR OVER 16 MILES OF STREETS DURING THE UPCOMING CONSTRUCTION SEASON.

SIX OF THOSE MILES WILL BE FUNDED USING SALES TAX REVENUES, WHILE THE REST WILL BE PAID FOR WITH A VARIETY OF FUNDING SOURCES AVAILABLE TO THE CITY.

>> AFTER DANIEL, ONE OF THE STARTS OF THE ACADEMY AWARD-WINNING FILM CODA WAS HONORED IN DULUTH ON MONDAY.

THE MAYOR DECLARED IT DANIEL DAY AND A RECEPTION WAS HELD FOR HIM AT THE ICE CUBE LOBBY.

HE GREW UP ACTING AS A CHILD IN DULUTH AND HIS PARENTS TO LIVE IN THE CITY.

>> THE WORST APPEARS TO BE BEHIND US AS COVID CASES CONTINUE TO DECLINE LOCALLY AND NATIONWIDE.

ST. LOUIS COUNTY BEGAN HONORING THE COMMUNITY PARTNERS WHO LENT A HAND IN THEIR COUNTIES PANDEMIC RESPONSE.

HERE WITH AN UPDATE IS PATRICK, ST. LOUIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER, AND CHAIR OF THE BOARD'S HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE.

AND AMY WESTBROOK'S ST. LOUIS COUNTY'S PUBLIC HEALTH DIVISION DIRECTOR.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING ON ALMANAC NORTH TONIGHT.

AMY, REALLY TWO SOLID YEARS INTO THE COVID PANDEMIC.

IT SEEMS LIKE WE'VE BEEN FIGHTING THIS FOR A LONG TIME.

WHAT'S THE CURRENT SITUATION?

DO WE HAVE A HANDLE ON THIS RIGHT NOW?

>> WE DID HAVE SOME PRETTY MAJOR SPIKES WITH THE DELTA VARIANT AND THE OMICRON VARIANT, AND WE DROPPED OUR NUMBERS SIGNIFICANTLY, SO HOPEFULLY WE HAVE A LOT OF IMMUNITY OUT THERE, A LOT OF VACCINATED PEOPLE, A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO MAY HAVE BEEN EXPOSED.

AND WE ARE SEEING OUR NUMBERS COME DOWN.

SO THEY HAVE MATCHED UP A -- NOTCHED UP A BIT, BUT WE ARE STILL PRETTY GOOD FOR OUR NUMBERS RELATIVE TO WHERE WE WERE EVEN A COUPLE MONTHS AGO.

>> WHAT ARE HOSPITALIZATION RATES LIKE?

>> OUR HOSPITALIZATION RATES HAVEN'T INCREASED YET, SO THAT'S A GOOD THING.

WE KNOW THAT PEOPLE CAN GET SICK WITH COVID AND HAVE VERY MILD SYMPTOMS.

HOPEFULLY THAT'S WHAT WE WILL SEE WITH THE CASE IS STILL OUT THERE.

WE ARE CERTAINLY STILL SEEING PEOPLE GET SICK AND HOSPITALIZED, BUT OUR HOSPITALIZED NUMBERS HAVE NOT BEEN AS HIGH AS THEY HAVE BEEN OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS.

>> ST. LOUIS COUNTY HAS BEEN HONORING THE COMMUNITY PARTNERS WHO REALLY STEPPED UP WITH PUBLIC HEALTH PARTNERSHIP AWARDS.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THOSE THINGS THAT ORGANIZATIONS AND PEOPLE DID THAT REALLY WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND THAT NEED TO BE RECOGNIZED RIGHT NOW?

>> IT WAS ABOUT 25 MONTHS AGO ABOUT THIS TIME THEY AMY AND MYSELF, DR. NICK HAD A PRESS CONFERENCE ANNOUNCING THE FIRST DIAGNOSED CASE OF COVID IN ST. LOUIS COUNTY.

IT WAS OUR GOAL FROM THAT POINT, AND I THINK DENNIS BROUGHT IT UP, OUR MAIN GOAL WAS TO PREVENT FOLKS FROM GETTING INTO THE ICU ROOMS.

WE DID THAT THROUGH THE TWO SEARCHES, BUT WE COULDN'T DO IT ON OUR OWN.

WE KNEW THAT RIGHT AWAY.

THAT'S WHERE WE CAME IN WITH PRIVATE AND PUBLIC PARTNERS.

BUT THEY DID AND DID SO WELL, WHILE STILL DOING THEIR JOBS ON TOP OF IT, WAS TO HELP EDUCATE FOLKS IN ST. LOUIS COUNTY, TO HELP SET UP SITES TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE EASY ACCESS TO TESTING ON IMMUNIZATIONS.

THAT'S WHAT WE REALLY CELEBRATED THIS PAST WEEK.

HOW MANEY -- HOW MANY AWARDS DID WE HEAD OUT?

WAX 41.

>> SO WE WILL HAVE A CELEBRATION UP NORTH WHEN WE ARE UP THERE FOR OUR COUNTY BOARD MEETING.

BUT IT WAS TO TAKE CARE THE MOST VULNERABLE.

THE MINORITY POPULATIONS IN ST. LOUIS COUNTY.

THOSE SUFFERING FROM HOMELESSNESS, OUR VETERANS.

SO WHAT WE REALLY WANTED TO DO WAS NOT HAVE SERVICES COME TO US, BUT WE HAVE SERVICES THAT ARE COMING TO YOU.

SO THE PARTNERS OF CHUMS, SOME OF OUR CHURCHES, THIS CENTER, LIGHTHOUSE WITH THE YOUTH, THAT IS WHERE WE REALLY GOT IT ALL AND WE SAVE LIVES BECAUSE OF IT, BECAUSE OF OUR PARTNERS.

>> A LOT OF OUR VIEWERS ARE PROBABLY CONCERNED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ANY NEW VARIANT THAT MIGHT BE HIDING OUT THERE.

WHAT'S THE SITUATION RIGHT NOW?

WAX OMICRON CONTINUES TO BE THE DOMINANT VARIANTS, AND WE HAVE SEEN THE VARIANCE OF LINEAGES HERE IN MINNESOTA AND IN THE NORTHEAST PART OF MINNESOTA.

BUT WE KNOW THAT THE BEST THING WE CAN DO IS GET VACCINATED, GET BOOSTED, AND THAT OFFERS THE BEST PROTECTION AGAINST ANY VARIANT THAT WE HAVE SEEN SO FAR.

>> NOW THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR MANY PEOPLE TO GET A FOURTH SHOT.

WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THAT AT THIS POINT FOR ANYBODY WHO QUALIFIES FOR IT?

OR MIGHT IT BE BEST TO HOLD OFF FOR A WHILE ?

>> THERE IS NEW RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ANYONE OVER THE AGE OF 50 OR ANYONE IMMUNOCOMPROMISED WITH CERTAIN CONDITIONS, AND, GETTING A FOURTH BOOSTER IS CERTAINLY A GOOD IDEA, TIMING WISE IT COULD BE A GOOD IDEA TO TALK TO YOUR PHYSICIAN, TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE BEST TIME FOR YOU, OUR NUMBERS ARE LOW, PEOPLE MAY WANT TO WAIT, PEOPLE MAY WANT TO GET IT NOW BASED ON WHEN THEY GOT THEIR LAST SHOT, SO THERE'S A LOT TO CONSIDER IN THE BEST RESOURCE IS YOUR PHYSICIAN.

>> THIS IS PUBLIC HEALTH WEEK IN ST. LOUIS COUNTY, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

>> IT MEANS A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS.

I WAS TALKING TO AMY BEFORE WE STARTED IN PUBLIC HEALTH WILL CONTINUE TO GO ON.

I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE EMPHASIZE IN BUDGET MOVING FORWARD THAT WE ALWAYS HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE FOR THE NEXT ISSUE, WHETHER IT'S A PANDEMIC, A BIRD FLU, WE DON'T KNOW, BUT WE HAVE TO HAVE INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE AND CELEBRATE IT.

I'M SO PROUD OF OUR PUBLIC HEALTH TEAM AND NOT ONLY TAKING ON THE LAST FEW YEARS, BUT STILL WORKING WITH VULNERABLE ADULTS WITH THE WIC PROGRAM, WITH WOMEN WITH PREGNANCIES WITH CHILDREN, TO CONTINUE THAT AND MOVE FORWARD HIS PREVENTIVE CARE AND IT'S GREAT.

>> I WISH WE HAD MORE TIME, BUT WE DON'T.

AMY AND PATRICK, THANK YOU FOR BEING ON THE PROGRAM.

>> THANK YOU.

>> APRIL IS SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH WITH ORGANIZATIONS IN DULUTH AND SUPERIOR HOSTING EVENTS ALL MONTH LONG.

OUR PRODUCER VISITED THE CLOTHESLINE PROJECT AT THE UW SUPERIOR CAN -- CAMPUS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR UNIVERSITIES TO PARTNER WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS TO SPREAD AWARENESS.

>> I THINK AN AWARENESS MONTH IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT'S A TANGIBLE WAY THAT WE ARE SUPPORTING SURVIVORS IN THE COMMUNITY.

SO, IT'S A DEDICATED TIME WHERE WE TRY TO PLAN SOME DIFFERENT ACTIONS AROUND THE COMMUNITY JUST TO SHOW SUPPORT.

WE KNOW STATISTICALLY SPEAKING THAT IS VERY COMMON FOR PEOPLE TO BE SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE, WHETHER THEY'VE SHARED IT WITH ANYONE OR NOT.

I THINK JUST HAVING THIS VISIBLE SHOW OF SUPPORT IN DIFFERENT WAYS AROUND THE COMMUNITY AND AROUND A CERTAIN MONTH IS HELPFUL FOR PEOPLE TO NORMALIZE IT, TO SHOW COMPASSION FOR IT, AND TO HAVE HOPE IN THE AMOUNT OF SUPPORT THAT THEY GET FROM THE COMMUNITY.

>> THE CLOTHESLINE PROJECT IS SOMETHING WE DO EVERY SINGLE YEAR.

AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET OUT MESSAGES ABOUT SEXUAL THAW AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE, HELPING TO BRING MESSAGES THAT ARE MORE OF THOSE STORIES AND EXPERIENCES THAT SOMETIMES IS AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT SOMEONE HAS GONE THROUGH AND HOW WE MIGHT SUPPORT PEOPLE AND BETTER WAYS MOVING FORWARD.

>> 16 TO 25 IS WHERE WE SEE A LOT OF SEXUAL ASSAULTS HAPPENING.

AROUND UNIVERSITY WERE A LOT OF THAT AGE GROUP IS CENTERED HERE HAS A HIGH POPULATION OF THAT 18 TO 25.

THAT'S WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO HAVE IT AT THE UNIVERSITY.

>> IT SOMETHING THAT NOT EVERYBODY MIGHT BE AWARE OF THEM SOMETHING THAT OUR STUDENTS MIGHT HAVE GONE THROUGH THEMSELVES.

SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE SUPPORTING OUR POPULATIONS AND THAT WERE BRINGING FURTHER EDUCATION, FURTHER UNDERSTANDING TO WHAT THESE ISSUES ARE AND HOW OUR STUDENTS CAN GET INVOLVED TOWARDS ENDING VIOLENCE TOWARDS ANYONE.

>> THE SHIRTS BEHIND ME, THERE'S A LOT OF REPRESENTATION OF WHAT COLOR MATCHES WITH THE DIFFERENT VIOLENCES.

THIS YEAR WE ONLY FOCUSED ON RED AND BLUE.

RED WAS BASED ON RAPE AND ASSAULT FOR INDIVIDUALS.

BLUE WAS BASED ON CHILD AND TEST RATE.

WE DO HAVE PURPLE, THAT TALKS ABOUT SPIRITUAL, EMOTIONAL ABUSE.

BLACK GOES WITH DISABLED ABUSE BASED ON ORIENTATION.

IN THE WHITE BASICALLY DESCRIBES HOW INDIVIDUALS PASSED AWAY FROM SEXUAL ASSAULT.

THE REPRESENTATION OF ASSAULTS GIVES THAT KIND OF AWARENESS AND ANOTHER DEPTH INTO TALKING ABOUT SEXUAL AWARENESS MONTH.

>> I ALWAYS LOVE SEEING STUDENTS THAT WILL STOP AND KIND OF LOOK AT THE DIFFERENT SHIRTS AND READ THE MESSAGES AND READ THE STORIES AND CONNECT WITH THAT EXPERIENCE, EVEN THOUGH IT'S AN ANONYMOUS EXPERIENCE, HE BEING ABLE TO SEE THAT THE PERSON HAS BEEN THROUGH AND GETTING A MORE GENERAL UNDERSTANDING THAT IT'S NOT A SINGLE IDENTITY OR SINGLE PERSON ISSUE, BUT IT REALLY EXPANDS A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS AND EXPERIENCES WHEN TALKING ABOUT SEXUAL VIOLENCE.

TYPICALLY, WE SEE STUDENTS THAT WILL STOP BY AND SAY, WHAT ARE THE SHIRTS FOR?

WHAT IS THE EVENT ABOUT WAR HOW DO WE GET INVOLVED OR BE MORE ENGAGED WITH SOMETHING LIKE THIS AND TALKING ABOUT THESE ISSUES ON OUR CAMPUS?

>> I WANT THE PROJECT TO CONTINUE.

I HOPE THE INDIVIDUALS GET THAT POWER STATEMENT OF SPEAKING UP FOR NOT JUST SEXUAL ASSAULT, BUT MENTAL HEALTH.

GIVEN THE COMMUNITY AWARENESS THAT SEXUAL ASSAULT DOES HAPPEN AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN FIND WAYS TO CHANGE HOW PEOPLE ARE INDIVIDUALLY IMPACTED BY THIS EVERYDAY.

>> PRETTY MUCH ANYONE YOU KNOW COULD BE IMPACTED AND YOU CAN HAVE ANNOYED YOU.

HOW YOU'RE REACTING AND TALKING ABOUT STORIES IN THE MEDIA, THINGS HAPPENING IN POP CULTURE AND HOW YOU RESPOND TO THAT COULD UNINTENTIONALLY BE GIVING MESSAGING TO PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE ABOUT IF YOU ARE A SAFE PERSON TO TALK TO HER NOT ABOUT TRAUMA THEY'VE EXPERIENCED.

I THINK IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO KINDA EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY ABOUT ALL THE DIFFERENT SERVICES WE PROVIDE AND THE DIFFERENT WAYS PEOPLE STRUGGLE AFTER EXPERIENCING VIOLENCE, AND THE DIFFERENT WAYS THEY CAN RECEIVE HELP.

>> WE HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE CROSSING THE BRIDGE, COMING TO SUPERIOR FOR WORK EXPERIENCING THE ABUSE.

WHERE THEY MAY EXPERIENCE AT HOME OR VICE VERSA ON THE DILUTE SIDE.

SO IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT THEY WORK WITH OUR PARTNERS ACROSS THE BRIDGE, AND THAT THEY WORK WITH US SO THAT WE ARE ABLE TO HOPEFULLY DOUBLE OUR PREVENTION EFFORTS, AS WELL AS DOUBLE OUR SUPPORT AROUND VICTIMS.

>> I THINK PEOPLE HAVE DIFFERENT EXPERTISE IN DIFFERENT AREAS.

NONPROFITS ALL OVER THE TWIN PORTS NEED EACH OTHER TO HELP PROVIDE SUPPORT BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT KINDA NEEDS THE PERSON COMING INTO CS IS GOING TO HAVE.

SOMETIMES THAT SOMETHING WE CAN HELP WITH, AND SOMETIMES IT SOMETHING THAT ONE OF THE OTHER GREAT AGENCIES THAT WE WORK WITH IS BETTER EQUIPPED TO HELP WITH OR MANAGE.

SO, TRYING TO BUILD STRONG RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER NONPROFITS AND SERVICES IN THE AREA IS ESSENTIAL TO BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE THE BEST SERVICES POSSIBLE TO PEOPLE THAT SEEK HELP FROM US.

>> A LOT OF TIMES WE ONLY TALK ABOUT SEXUAL ASSAULT WHEN IT SEES BIG CASES THAT ARE PUBLICIZED ACROSS THE NEWS, NATIONAL NEWS OUTLETS, BUT IT'S HAPPENING EVERYWHERE, IT'S HAPPENING IN SCHOOLS, IT'S HAPPENING AT HOME, IT'S HAPPENING IN THE PUBLIC, AND THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE AWARENESS AROUND IT.

>> TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ACTIVITIES TO SPREAD AWARENESS THIS MONTH, VISIT THE FACEBOOK PAGE FOR EVENTS IN DULUTH AND THE FACEBOOK PAGE FOR EVENTS AND SUPERIOR.

♪ >> DULUTH'S CATALYST STORY INSTITUTE RECENTLY ANNOUNCED A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SEC.

A FILM SCHOOL.

THE GROUP THAT HAS PRODUCED SOME OF THE BIGGEST NAMES IN COMEDY.

THAT YOU OFFER TRAINING DESIGNED TO HELP ASPIRING WRITERS, PRODUCERS, DIRECTORS AND PERFORMERS EXPAND THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF COMEDY AND ALL ITS FORMS.

NOW HERE TO TELL US MORE ABOUT THE PARTNERSHIP IS PHILIP, CEO AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT THE CATALYST, AND DANCE DOG HE IS WITH THE UPPER MINNESOTA FILM OFFICE HERE IN DULUTH, GENTLEMEN, THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.

WHAT ARE THE GOALS OF THIS PARTNERSHIP?

>> CATALYST OPERATES AS A YEAR-ROUND STORY INSTITUTE AND FOCUS ON EPISODIC CONTENT.

WHETHER IT MEANS TELEVISION, SHORT FORM, WEB, ANYTHING WRITTEN IN EPISODIC FORMAT, SO WE DON'T FOCUS ON FILM.

WHAT THAT MEANS IS, WE HAVE TO HAVE A NUMBER OF PARTNERS AROUND THE INDUSTRY TO WORK WITH FOR COMEDY AND DRAMA AND ALL THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF GENRES.

THERE ARE FEW PARTNERS IN THE COMEDY REALM AND SECOND CITY.

THE FACT THAT IT'S A MIDWEST BASED ORGANIZATION IS A NICE BONUS.

OUR GOAL AT THE INSTITUTE IS TWO THINGS, HELP CREATORS UNDERSTAND HOW THE TV PROCESS WORKS AND HOW TO MOVE THEIR STORIES FORWARD, BUT SECONDLY, CONNECT THE DULUTH GREATER COMMUNITY WITH THE GLOBAL CREATIVE COMMUNITY TO CREATE A 2-WOOD -- TO A BRIDGE OR PEOPLE WORK ON PRODUCTIONS OR LOCAL PRODUCTIONS CAN FIND THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO HAPPEN.

>> IS SOMEONE WHO GREW UP WATCHING SECOND CITY, I REALIZE THAT THIS SOUNDS LIKE A REALLY COOL OPPORTUNITY FOR DULUTH AND FOR THE CATALYST STORY INSTITUTE.

BUT CAN YOU TALK MAYBE ABOUT WHAT THOSE OPPORTUNITIES ARE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN THE INDUSTRY HERE IN THE DULUTH AREA?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

CATALYST IS DOING AN AMAZING JOB OF BRINGING ATTENTION TO DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY IN THE NORTHLAND TO BRING PRODUCTIONS HERE.

IN THE UPPER MIDWEST FILM OFFICE, ONCE THEY GET HERE AND SAY, WE WANT TO SHOOT HERE, WE ARE THE ONES THAT SORT OF HELP THEM THROUGH.

THERE'S AMAZING THINGS GOING ON.

SO FAR, WE'VE GOT SEVEN PROJECTS THAT HAVE SHOT AND THEY HAVE EITHER WRAPPED OR ARE SHOOTING RIGHT NOW, THAT BROUGHT 550 THOUSAND DOLLARS INTO ST. LOUIS COUNTY.

THE NEXT FEW MONTHS WE HAVE SEVEN MORE PROJECTS THAT WILL HIT AND THAT WILL BRING $4.2 MILLION INTO ST. LOUIS COUNTY.

ALL OF THOSE PRODUCTIONS ARE BRINGING JOBS AND ALL THE GOOD THINGS THAT COME WITH THAT KIND OF MONEY.

>> HOW DIFFICULT IS IT FOR NEW TALENT TO ADVANCE THEIR CAREERS?

MAYBE ON TELEVISION?

>> IT'S A CHALLENGE TO BE CERTAIN, BUT THAT THERE IS SORT OF A WEALTH OF PRODUCTION HAPPENING RIGHT NOW, ESPECIALLY WITH STREAMING SERVICES, THEY NEED SO MUCH CONTENT.

>> THERE'S MORE OUTLETS, THEY CAN'T MEET DEMAND FOR OUR EYEBALLS TO SEE ALL OF THESE SHOWS.

SO IF YOU ARE COMING UP IN THE INDUSTRY RIGHT NOW AND YOU WANTED TO EPISODIC TELEVISION, IS A GREAT TIME TO BE IN THE INDUSTRY BECAUSE IT'S BLOWING UP AND IT'S BLOWING UP IN DULUTH.

>> WHAT KINDS OF OPPORTUNITIES WILL THERE BE IN TERMS OF WORKSHOPS OR SEMINARS, THINGS LIKE THAT THAT ARE COMING TOGETHER SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE OF THIS PARTNERSHIP WITH SECOND CITY?

>> THIS WILL BE A WORKSHOP AND SEMINAR BASED ON COMEDY WRITING, DIRECTING AND PRODUCING.

AT THE FESTIVAL IN THE FALL WE WILL HAVE A SECOND CITY COMEDY SHOWCASE OF A LOT OF DIFFERENT WORKS, BUT THERE'S ACTUALLY IN ENTIRE FOUR-PART WORKSHOP SERIES THAT STARTING NEXT WEEK WITH CATALYST.

THAT IS GOING TO WALK PEOPLE THROUGH THE REALITY OF HOW TV WORKS, HOW TO WRITE YOUR STORY, HOW TO WRITE YOUR PITCH, HOW TO CREATE YOUR BUDGET AND WE WILL WORK WITH PRODUCERS THAT WORKED AT PLACES LIKE HBO.

THERE WILL BE MAJOR FINANCES AND INVESTORS TO TALK ABOUT HOW DO YOU ACTUALLY GO THROUGH THE PROCESS AND RAISE THE MONEY TO PRODUCE YOUR SHOW.

SO ALL OF THESE SEMINARS AND WORKSHOPS THAT HAPPEN THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, WITH PARTNERS LIKE SECOND CITY AND MANY OF OUR OTHERS, ARE FOCUSED ON GIVING STORYTELLERS THE OPPORTUNITY FROM HERE IN DULUTH TO BE ABLE TO BE PART OF THE INDUSTRY WITHOUT HAVING TO MOVE TO L.A. OR NEW YORK OR ATLANTA.

THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN THIS HISTORICAL THING ABOUT OUR INDUSTRY THAT IT ONLY EXISTS OUT THERE.

BUT THE REALITY IS, THE PEOPLE WHO MOVE THEIR MOVE THERE BECAUSE THEY WERE FROM PLACES LIKE DULUTH, DES MOINES OR ELSEWHERE, BUT THE WORK WAS IN HERE.

THAT'S CHANGING AND THAT'S WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO HELP WITH.

>> YOU ARE WORKING PRIMARILY TO HELP OUT LOCAL CREATORS HERE IN THE DULUTH AREA, OR ARE YOU WORKING WITH CREATORS ACROSS THE COUNTRY?

>> IT'S BOTH AND BEYOND.

WE HAVE AN ENTIRE INTERNATIONAL CONTINGENT ON PRETTY MUCH EVERY CONTINENT, AND SOME OF THOSE CREATORS WERE HERE.

THEY COME TO DULUTH.

THERE WAS AN ENTIRE CONTINGENT THAT CAME TO THE FESTIVAL LAST YEAR AND THEY ARE LOOKING TO COME TO BRING THEIR PRODUCTIONS HERE.

IT'S REALLY ABOUT PUTTING DULUTH AT THE CENTER OF THE EPISODIC TV WORLD AND HAVING DULUTH BE THE PLACE EVERYBODY COMES TO TWO LEARN, TRAIN, GET EXPERIENCE AND PRODUCE THEIR SHOWS.

>> WHAT'S THE PROCESS THAN THAT NEW TALENT MUST TAKE TO GET THEIR PROJECTS FUNDED, PRODUCED AND DISTRIBUTED?

>> COME TO THE WORKSHOP, THE WORKSHOPS WE WILL DO SOON ARE FREE.

THEY ARE SPONSORED BY THE REGIONAL ART COUNCIL.

WE WILL GIVE YOU THE FULL ANSWER ON THAT.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING WITH US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

>> IT'S TIME NOW FOR VOICES OF THE REGION.

>> EXCUSE ME, I GET TO READ THIS.

>> YOU GET TO READ THIS, GO RIGHT AHEAD.

>> IT IS TIME NOW FOR VOICES OF THE REGION.

WE HEAR FROM A JOURNALIST COVERING STORIES OF THE REGION IN THE NORTH M. OUR REPORTER IS MARSHALL WITH THE TIMBER J NEWS.

>> WE ARE REPORTING ON THE CONTINUING FIGHT OVER THE FUTURE OF THE PROPOSED TWIN METALS COPPER NICKEL MINE.

THAT FIGHT IS COMING DESPITE THE RECENT CANCELLATION OF WHAT'S CRITICAL TO THE PROJECT, AND THE PROPOSED 20 YEAR MINERAL DRAW THAT WOULD PREVENT NEW LEASES FROM BEING ISSUED FOR THE PROJECT FOR AT LEAST 20 YEAR TIMEFRAME.

THE RECENT RUSSIAN INVASION OF UKRAINE HAS BEEN GIVEN FRESH FODDER FOR THE ARGUMENTS ABOUT THE STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE OF THE METALS.

THE COMPANY'S CHIEF OFFICER WAS IN WASHINGTON, D.C. LAST WEEK AS SHE TESTIFIED BEFORE THE SENATE ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE.

THE CHAIRMAN OF THAT COMMITTEE, THE WEST VIRGINIA DEMOCRAT WAS HERE TO FOCUS HIS ATTENTION ON THE NEED FOR MORE DOMESTIC PRODUCTION OF FUNERALS LIKE LITHIUM, LITHIUM AND COBALT, -- LITHIUM, NICKEL AND COBALT, WHICH ARE NEEDED FOR ALTERNATIVE FORMS OF ENERGY AND TRANSPORTATION LIKE ELECTRIC VEHICLES AND RENEWABLE ENERGY.

SHE CITED THE GEOLOGICAL FORMATION NOTED AS THE COMPLEX AND SAID THE CURRENT MINERAL WITHDRAWAL PROPOSAL, WHICH WOULD AFFECT 225,000 ACRES IN THE UPPER REACHES OF THE RAIN AND RIVER WATER SHELF WOULD TAKE VIRTUALLY ALL OF OUR COUNTRIES, NICKEL, COBOL AND PLATINUM OFF THE TABLE.

CRITICS OF THE TWIN METALS PROPOSAL JUMPED ON THE COMMENTS POINTING OUT THAT THE COMPANY CONTROLS LESS THAN 10% OF THE KNOWN METAL DEPOSITS WITHIN THE DULUTH COMPLEX, AND THAT MOST OF THOSE DEPOSITS ACTUALLY LIE OUTSIDE THE WATERSHED AND WOULD NOT BE IMPACTED BY THE PROPOSED MINERAL WITHDRAWAL.

>> ALSO REPORTING ON THE RESULTS PRIMARY ELECTIONS HELD TUESDAY.

IT WASN'T A GREAT DAY FOR THE THREE TRIBAL AND COUNSEL INCUMBENTS FOR THE ELECTION.

ONE OF THE INCUMBENTS, WHO REPRESENTS THIS SECTOR OF THE RESERVAION, WAS SIGNED OR JUST 14% OF THE VOTE IN A FIVE WAY RACE.

THEY LET ALL THE CANDIDATES IN THAT RACE WAS 41%, BUT IT WASN'T ENOUGH TO AVOID A RUNOFF WITH THE SECOND-PLACE FINISHER ROBERT, WHO WON 34%.

THE BAND'S LONGTIME SECRETARY-TREASURER, DAVID MORRISON SENIOR, NARROWLY SURVIVED HIS PRIMARY CONTEST, BUT WON ONLY 36% OF THE VOTE, WHICH SUGGESTS HE MAY HAVE A REAL CHALLENGE IN THE JUNE GENERAL ELECTION WHEN HE WILL FACE TERRY, WHO PICKED UP 33% OF THE VOTE IN A TIGHT THREE-WAY CONTEST.

IN THE DISTRICT CONTEST, THE INCUMBENT FINISHED IN SECOND PLACE IN A FOUR-WAY RACE.

THEY WILL MOVE ON TO THE GENERAL ELECTION TO FACE THEM, BUT IT OF FEAR -- IT APPEARS HE MAY FACE AN UPHILL FIGHT.

>> WE ARE ALSO REPORTING ON THE RESULTS OF THE MOST RECENT AERIAL MOOSE SURVEY CONDUCTED BY THE DNR.

THE AGENCY DIDN'T CONDUCT THE SURVEY IN 2021 SO IT HAS BEEN TWO YEARS SINCE WE HAD A GLIMPSE OF THE STATUS OF THE MOU'S POPULATION IN THE STATES PRIMARY MOU'S, WHICH ENCOMPASSES NORTHERN SAN LUIS COUNTY AND COOK COUNTY'S.

OUR NEWS WAS SURPRISINGLY HOPEFUL WITH AN ESTIMATE OF 4700 ANIMALS.

THAT'S THE HIGHEST ESTIMATE SINCE 2011 BEFORE THE POPULATION DOWNTURN THAT BEGAN AROUND 2010.

THERE WAS OTHER GOOD NEWS IN THE REPORT, INCLUDING THE CAP TICAL RATIO WAS 0.4 FIVE, WHICH IS THE HIGHEST SINCE 2005.

THAT AFFECTS THE REPRODUCTIVE SUCCESS OF THE MOU'S POPULATION, AND THE RATIO OF .45, WHICH MEANS ROUGHLY ONE CALF FOR EVERY TWO COWS IS A REASONABLY HEALTHY RATIO.

THEY BIOLOGISTS ALWAYS NOTE THAT THERE IS A LOT OF STATISTICAL NOISE IN THESE NUMBERS FOR THESE TYPES OF SURVEYS.

ONE DOESN'T MEAN THAT THEY STILL FACE CHALLENGES ON THINGS LIKE CHANGING CLIMATE AND OTHER FACTORS.

BUT 10 YEARS WORTH OF DATA NOW POINTS TO THE STABILIZATION IN THE REGION'S MOST POPULATION, WHICH IS GOOD NEWS, ALBEIT, IT'S AT LOWER LEVELS THAN WHAT WE SAW IN THE EARLY 2000 TO ME HAD ALMOST TWICE THIS NUMBER.

>> THAT'S OUR TIME THIS WEEK, BUT YOU CAN STAY UP-TO-DATE BY FOLLOWING ALMANAC NORTH ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.

VISIT THE WDSU WEBSITE FOR PROGRAM UPDATES, NEWS ABOUT THE STATION AND UPCOMING EVENTS AND DOWNLOAD THE PBS VIDEO APP TO DOWNLOAD YOUR FAVORITE PBS PROGRAMS ON DEMAND.

IT APPEARS THAT THERE IS GOING TO BE A LITTLE BIT OF A MELT IN STORE FOR US THIS WEEKEND.

>> I THINK THAT'S WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE HOPING FOR.

>> I'M ONE OF THEM.

THANKS OUR GUEST INTO THE CREW HERE IN THE STUDIO.

WITH DENNIS ANDERSON, HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND, WE WILL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.

♪