DENNIS: HELLO AND WELCOME TO "ALMANAC NORTH."

THANKS FOR WATCHING, I'M DENNIS THE BRUTAL COLD SNAP IS BEHIND US BUT THE FOCUS HAS BEEN PUT ON THE RELIABILITY AND THE NATION'’S POWER GRID.

WE HAVE A REPORT ON WHAT THE DULUTH AIRPORT IS DOING TO KEEP TRAVELER SAFE DURING THE PANDEMIC.

AND WE WILL HAVE AN EIGHT ON THE PACE OF VACCINATIONS IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA AND THE SAFETY OF THE VACCINE ITSELF.

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 ROTATE HOSTING DURING THE PANDEMIC.

GOVERNOR TIM WALZ ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT MORE THAN ONE MILLION DOSES OF THE COVID VACCINE HAVE BEEN ADMINISTERED IN MINNESOTA.

728,000 MINNESOTANS HAVE RECEIVED AT LEAST ONE DOSE, AND 286,000 HAVE COMPLETED THE TWO-DOSE SERIES.

THE STATES OF MINNESOTA AND WISCONSIN BOTH ANNOUNCED PROGRAMS THIS WEEK TO HELP CITIZENS GET VACCINATED.

THE BADGER STATE IS LAUNCHING THE "“WISCONSIN COVID-19 VACCINE REGISTRY"” AS A CENTRAL PLACE TO LET PEOPLE KNOW WHERE AND WHEN THEY CAN GET VACCINATED.

MINNESOTA'S TOOL IS CALLED THE "“COVID-19 VACCINE CONNECTOR"” AND SERVES THE SAME FUNCTION.

WE'LL HAVE AN UPDATE ON VACCINE DISTRIBUTION IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA LATER IN THE SHOW.

ESSENTIA HEALTH IS USING A SPECIAL GLASS IN ITS NEW HOSPITAL TO KEEP BIRDS FROM STRIKING THE BUILDING DURING MIGRATION.

THE "“FRITTED"” GLASS HAS A PATTERN THAT BREAKS UP REFLECTIVITY AND MAKES IT VISIBLE TO BIRDS.

SPECIAL NIGHTTIME LIGHTING AND OTHER DESIGN ELEMENTS WERE ALSO INCORPORATED TO MAKE THE HOSPITAL'S 15-STORY TOWER SAFER FOR BIRDS.

WISCONSIN'S HIGHWAY 13 ALONG THE SOUTH SHORE OF LAKE SUPERIOR AND THE BAYFIELD PENINSULA HAS BEEN NAMED A NATIONAL SCENIC BYWAY.

WISCONSIN HAD PREVIOUSLY DESIGNATED THE ROUTE "THE LAKE SUPERIOR SCENIC BYWAY" IN RECOGNITION OF ITS PICTURESQUE NATURE.

THE NATIONAL DESIGNATION WILL HELP ATTRACT NEW VISITORS TO THE AREA AND SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES DEPENDENT ON TOURISM.

TURNING NOW TO OUR TOP STORY, A MASSIVE COLD SNAP THAT DESCENDED AS FAR SOUTH AS TEXAS BROUGHT BLACKOUTS AND POWER OUTAGES TO MANY PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.

THE EXTREME COLD IS A FACT OF LIFE IN OUR REGION, AND DESPITE HIGH DEMAND THE LIGHTS AND FURNACES REMAINED ON HERE.

BUT IT TURNED OUR ATTENTION ON HOW IMPORTANT RELIABLE ELECTRICITY IS TO OUR NATION.

JOINING US NOW WITH MORE IS JOSH SKELTON, MINNESOTA POWER'S CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.

YOU HAVE BEEN IN THIS BUSINESS A LONG TIME NOW.

HOW DID OUR ELECTRIC GRID LOCALLY HOLD UP DURING THE BITTER COLD WEATHER WE RECENTLY HAD?

JOSH: THANKS FOR HAVING ME FIRST AND FOREMOST.

IT HAS BEEN A VERY COLD WEEK.

EXTREME WEATHER ACROSS OUR SYSTEM BUT OUR PORTFOLIO OF SUPPLY AND ARE TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS HAS HELD ITS INTEGRITY.

THAT RELIABILITY IN THOSE EXTREME WEATHER CONDITIONS IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO US AND OUR CUSTOMERS.

DENNIS: SO IT HELD UP WELL HERE?

JOSH: IT HELD UP WELL LOCALLY.

DENNIS: TEXAS IS NOT PART OF THE GRID SYSTEM THAT ALLOWS STATES TO TRADE POWER BACK AND FORTH.

HOW DOES THE POWER GRID WORK?

JOSH: MINNESOTA POWER SERVES THE NORTHEAST REGION OF MINNESOTA.

ESSENTIALLY 26,000 SQUARE MILES.

OUR CUSTOMERS ARE UNIQUE -- INDUSTRIAL AS WELL AS RESIDENTIAL.

WE HAVE A ROBUST ENERGY SUPPLY, A PORTFOLIO THAT LAST FALL REACHED 50 PERCENT RENEWABLE, SO MADE UP OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF ENERGY SUPPLY THAT WE CONNECT THROUGH TRANSMISSION INDUSTRIES AND WIRES.

DENNIS: DOES MINNESOTA POWER CONSTANTLY KEEP MONITORING THE SITUATION ACROSS THE COUNTRY JUST IN CASE WE NEED MORE POWER?

JOSH: THAT'’S A GREAT QUESTION.

OUR ENTITIES SERVE OUR CUSTOMERS BUT WE ARE A PARTICIPANT IN A 15-STATE AND ONE PROVINCE OF MANITOBA CONNECTED GRID.

IT'’S ONE SYSTEM THAT HELPS DELIVER THE ENERGY JUST-IN-TIME FOR CUSTOMERS.

IT IS A DYNAMIC NATURE TO HAVE THAT DEMAND IN REAL TIME.

DENNIS: WHAT IS IN PLACE LOCALLY TO PREVENT US FROM HAVING ALL THE ROLLING BLACKOUTS LIKE TEXAS EXPERIENCED?

JOSH: THERE ARE A LOT OF WAYS MINNESOTA POWER PLANTS FOR THAT SCENARIO JUST GIVEN THE CLIMATE WE ARE IN.

WITHIN OUR RESOURCE PORTFOLIO, WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE CUSTOMER DEMAND IN THOSE TIMES AND WE HAVE TO PLAN TO HAVE AN ADEQUATE RESOURCE TO START.

AND THEN WE WILL LOOK AT ADDING THE PORTFOLIO, OUR THERMAL AND RENEWABLE ASSETS TO MEET THAT DEMAND THROUGH THE CONNECTED NETWORK AND GRID.

WE HAVE TO PLAN FOR THOSE TIMES WHERE WE HAVE HIGH DEMAND OR MAYBE EQUIPMENT MALFUNCTION.

SO WE START WITH A GOOD RESERVE.

THE SECOND PART IS THE TYPE OF EQUIPMENT THAT MAKES UP OUR DELIVERY SYSTEM AND GENERATION SUPPLY HAVE TO BE ABLE TO WITHSTAND THIS COLD TEMPERATURES.

SO WE PLAN FOR THAT WEATHER AND ANTICIPATE DEMAND SPIKES AND TRY TO MEET THAT DEMAND WHEN IT IS MOST NEEDED.

DENNIS: SOME PEOPLE SAY WE ARE GETTING COLDER WINTERS AND HOTTER SUMMERS, EVEN HERE IN MINNESOTA.

HOW DOES MINNESOTA POWER KEEP AHEAD OF WHAT IS HAPPENING AS YOU CONTINUE TO STUDY WEATHER PATTERNS AROUND THE WORLD AND TRY TO PREDICT WHAT'’S COMING IN THE FUTURE?

JOSH: CLIMATE IMPACTS ARE REALLY COMPLEX IN MINNESOTA POWER HAS BEEN LEADING THE WAY MOVING TO A 100% CARBON FREE VISION.

FOR US TO MEET THOSE OBLIGATIONS, IT MEANS HAVING A RELIABLE SYSTEM THROUGH ALL SORTS OF WEATHER AND ALL SORTS OF DEMAND WHERE WE HAVE PEAK DEMAND SO THAT WE CAN BE ROBUST ENOUGH TO MEET THOSE 24/7 NEEDS OF OUR CUSTOMERS.

DENNIS: EVEN IN THE BITTER COLD WE EXPERIENCED, THE BIG TURBINES ARE STILL WORKING IN THE BITTER COLD?

JOSH: WE HAVE EXTREME COLD WEATHER PACKAGES ON OUR WIND TURBINES BUT EVEN THE TEST OF MOTHER NATURE WOULD PUT THAT TO THE LIMIT.

WE CAN OPERATE OUR EQUIPMENT SAFELY UP TO 22 BELOW ZERO TEMPERATURES AND THAT IS WHAT THE TECHNOLOGY WE PUT IN TO HAVE A WIDER RANGE TO MAKE SURE THEY CAN DELIVER WHEN WE CALL UPON THEM.

DENNIS: MINNESOTA POWER FROM TIME TO TIME DOES HAVE TO RELY ON OTHER SUPPLIERS?

JOSH: PART OF THAT NETWORK OF STATES IN THE CANADIAN PROVINCE CAN MEET THE DEMANDS OR WE CAN HELP OTHERS MEET THEIR DEMANDS AND THAT IS REQUIRED TO BE A PARTICIPANT.

DENNIS: THIS IS A LOOK AT THE NATIONAL GRID.

IF WE NEED MORE POWER HERE FOR A SHORT TIME, HOW DO YOU KNOW WHO TO PLUG-IN TO GET THE JUICE BACK UP HERE?

JOSH: THAT'’S SO WONDERFUL PART OF HAVING AN AGGREGATE SUPPLY.

IT RUNS ALL THE WAY FROM MANITOBA TO LOUISIANA.

WITHIN THAT, THERE IS CONNECTIVITY.

THEY WILL LOOK FOR THINGS LIKE CONGESTED -- CONGESTION ONLINE, DELIVERY SUPPLY ELEMENTS LIKE IF THERE IS A COMPLICATION WITH MAKING THE ELECTRICITY, THEY WILL BALANCE THAT WITH US AND OUR SYSTEM TO MAKE SURE CUSTOMERS DO NOT BECOME AT RISK.

DENNIS: IN OUR REGION, IS THE DEMAND FOR ELECTRICITY GROWING OR HAS IT LEVELED JOSH: OFF?

JOSH:FOR US, IT HAS BEEN RELATIVELY FLAT, WITH OUR FORECAST THAT WE ARE LOOKING TO MEET WITH THIS LAST RESOURCE PLAN, IT LOOKS TO BE ABOUT ON PAR.

IT DOES NOT LOOK TO BE LARGE GROWTH AT ALL.

THAT IS OK WITH OUR LARGE CONSERVATION EFFORTS AS PART OF OUR PROGRAM TO HOW DO WE MEET THIS DEMAND GOING FORWARD.

DENNIS: I'’M SURE THE COMPANY IS CONSTANTLY LOOKING AHEAD.

WHAT DO YOU EXPECT TO SEE THE NEXT 25 OR 30 YEARS?

JOSH: WE JUST LAUNCHED OUR RESOURCE PLAN THAT MAPS OUT A BLUEPRINT FOR US TO ACHIEVE MORE CARBON REDUCTION.

WE WILL BE LOOKING TO MOVE OUR ENERGY SUPPLY PORTFOLIO TO ONE THAT CAN MEET THE HIGH RELIABILITY DEMANDS OF THE REGION WITH THOSE LARGE INDUSTRIAL CUSTOMERS BUT BE BASED ON CARBON FREE.

WITH THE MIGRATION OF 50%, WE HAVE BEEN ALE TO KEEP THAT IN CHECK.

IN THE NEXT 20 TO 30 YEARS, WE WILL BE MAKING THE MIGRATION OF LESS CARBON TO MORE NEUTRAL WITHOUT SACRIFICING THE INTEGRITY.

DENNIS: WE KEEP HEARING CHATTER ABOUT NUCLEAR ENERGY IN THE FUTURE.

WHERE DO YOU SEE IN A SODA AND NUCLEAR POWER DOWN THE LINE?

JOSH: NUCLEAR POWER IS A GOOD PART OF BASELOAD ENERGY.

IT IS NOT PART OF OUR PORTFOLIO TODAY AND NOT PART OF WHAT WE ARE ALLOWED TO PLAN FOR.

TOWARD THAT LAST INCREMENT THAT GETS COMPLICATED, NUCLEAR COULD PLAY A ROLE.

IT IS NOT PART OF A PLAN SUBMITTED.

FEBRUARY, BUT WE WILL BE WATCHING THE TECHNOLOGY EVOLVE AS WE ANSWER HOW WE'’RE GOING TO SUPPLY AROUND IN A WORLD WITH NO CARBON.

DENNIS: WHEREVER YOU GO, YOU SEE PEOPLE USING PORTABLE SPACE HEATERS IN THEIR HOME AND PROBABLY WHEN IT GOT SEVERELY COLD IN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS -- ARE YOU SEEING A LOT OF THOSE IN USE?

JOSH: WE CAN SEE PEAKS IN DEMANDS IN CERTAIN CIRCUITS, THAT WOULD INDICATE WE ARE PROBABLY SEEING MORE USE OF SPACE HEATERS IN HOMES.

I WOULD ENCOURAGE FOLKS KNOW WHAT THEIR LIMITS ARE FOR THE WIRING IN THEIR HOME.

WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR SAFETY AS WELL AS OUR EMPLOYEES RESPONDING TO PROBLEMS THAT MAY ARISE IN DELIVERING ELECTRICITY TO THEIR HOMES EVERY DAY.

DENNIS: CAN'’T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.

YOU ARE THE NEWLY APPOINTED AS OF THIS PAST NOVEMBER, MINNESOTA POWERS CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER.

JOSH: THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

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

EACH WEEK WE HEAR FROM A JOURNALIST IN OUR BROADCAST AREA AND THE STORIES THEY ARE REPORTING.

THIS WEEK, DANI KAEDING FROM WISCONSIN PUBLIC RADIO IS OUR GUEST.

♪ JOSH: -- DANI: THE ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY BEEN CHARGED WITH THREE FELONY ACCOUNTS OF CAPTURING AN INTIMATE REPRESENTATION OF THE WOMEN.

HE FOUND SEXUAL ENCOUNTERS HE HAD WITH TWO WOMEN, APPARENTLY WITHOUT THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND AT LEAST ONE OF WHOM, HE HAD A CASE , ONE OF THE WOMEN HAD A CASE BEING HANDLED BY HIM AT THE TIME.

SO ESSENTIALLY, THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE BEGAN INVESTIGATING THE ASSISTANT PROSECUTOR AFTER CLAIMS A WOMAN SAID SHE WAS HAVING SEX WITH HIM IN EXCHANGE FOR LENIENCY PENDING CRIMINAL CASES.

THERE WAS ANOTHER WOMAN WHO THE PROSECUTOR HAD SEX WITH AND TAPES THAT AND COUNTER AS WELL.

ON THE VIDEO, THEY COULD BE HEARD DISCUSSING HOW SHE COULD AVOID CRIMINAL CHARGES FORRELATED TO THE WOLF'’S STATUS IN WISCONSIN AND WHETHER WE WOULD HOLD A HUNT.

INITIALLY, THE WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES SAID THEY WERE NOT GOING TO HOLD A HUNT THIS WINTER AFTER THE DELISTING AND THEY WERE GOING TO WAIT UNTIL THIS COMING FALL IN NOVEMBER.

THAT DREW THE BACKLASH OF REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS AND HUNTING GROUPS AND IN JANUARY, REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS ASKED THE STATE NATURAL RESOURCES BOARD TO ESSENTIALLY FORCE THE DNR TO RESUME THE HUNT IMMEDIATELY THIS WINTER.

THE BOARD VOTED AGAINST THAT NARROWLY.

IT WASN'’T NEARLY REJECTED BY THEN -- BY THEM SEVERAL WEEKS AGO, BUT THE BOARD JUST VOTED AGAIN THIS MONDAY THAT THEY WOULD SET A HARVEST OF 200 WOLVES AFTER A LAWSUIT CAME UP IN THE MEANTIME IN WHICH JEFFERSON COUNTY JUDGE RULED IN FAVOR OF THE KANSAS BASED HUNTING GROUP WHO SUED THE DNR AND ASKED THE JUDGE TO IMMEDIATELY HOLD A HUNT AND RULE IN THEIR FAVOR, WHICH THAT JUDGE DID LAST WEEK AND THE LEGAL DEBATE IS STILL ONGOING HERE IN WISCONSIN.

WE COULD SEE A WOLF HUNT YET NEXT WEEK, DEPENDING ON HOW THINGS COME OUT IN COURT.

♪ DANI: THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC HAS UPENDED EVENTS ACROSS WISCONSIN AND THE NATION BUT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE STILL HEADING UP NORTH TO SKI THE BERKEY THIS YEAR.

THE AMERICAN BAR COMBINERS SKI RACE HAS CHANGED ITS COURSE AND HAS FEWER PEOPLE EXPECTED TO ATTEND AND SKI IN PERSON.

LAST YEAR, WE HAD ABOUT 11,000 PEOPLE WHO TOOK PART AND THIS YEAR, IT IS EXPECTED TO BE UNDER 5000 SKIERS TO RACE IN PERSON AND THERE WON'’T BE ANY SPECTATORS ALLOWED.

THEY CHANGED IT SO THEY WOULD LIMIT IN PERSON CONTACT AT THE START OF THE RACE.

BY DOING THAT, THEY REMOVED BUSSING TO THE START LINE.

INSTEAD THEY ARE ASKING PEOPLE TO ARRIVE AND SKI ON THE START AND FINISH OF THE RACE IN A LOOP AND CABLE.

THE RACE HAS BEEN SPREAD OUT OVER FIVE DAYS AND PEOPLE ARE BEING ASKED TO TAKE THE COVID-19 TEST WITHIN FIVE DAYS OF COMING TO THE AREA OR TAKE PART VIRTUALLY IF THEY TEST POSITIVE FOR THE VIRUS.

ORGANIZERS OF THE RACE ARE CONFIDENT THEY ARE TAKING ENOUGH PRECAUTIONS TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF THE VIRUS AND A NUMBER OF PEOPLE COMING IN FOR THE RACE ARE FROM THE TRI-STATE AREA, WISCONSIN, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA.

♪ ♪ DENNIS: THIS IS THE TIME OF YEAR, MANY NORTHERN RESIDENTS PLAN TRIPS TO WARMER SOUTHERN CLIMATES.

BUT THE PANDEMIC HAS PUT TRAVEL PLANS ON HOLD FOR MOST THE PAST YEAR.

NOW, AS PEOPLE BEGIN THINKING ABOUT TRAVEL AGAIN, WE WONDERED WHAT STEPS AIRPORTS ARE TAKING TO KEEP TRAVELERS SAFE.

OUR RAMONA MAROZAS VISITED THE DULUTH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT THIS WEEK, WHERE SHE FOUND THE PANDEMIC PROTOCOLS ARE SKY HIGH.

RAMONA: EVEN UPON YOUR INITIAL ENTRY INTO THE AIRPORT, YOU WILL SEE WE HAVE THE MASK REQUIRED SO BEFORE YOU EVEN ENTER THE BUILDING, IT IS A REMINDER AND UNDERSTANDING MASKS ARE REQUIRED FROM THIS POINT ON FOR YOUR TRAVELS.

THE SEAT SPRAYING, SANITATION, DOING ON TOP OF WHAT IS BEING DONE NOT ONLY HERE BUT OTHER AIRPORTS IS SOMETHING TO BE VERY PROUD OF AND WE CAN TELL PEOPLE ARE REALLY WANTING TO GET BACK AND START TRAVELING.

WE ARE SEEING THE PASSENGER NUMBERS COMING UP, ESPECIALLY WITH THE VACCINATION THAT IS OUT.

WE HAVE THE SANITIZING STATIONS EVERYWHERE THROUGHOUT.

WE HAVE THE PLEXIGLASS.

WE ARE STILL OPERATING A LITTLE UNDER OUR CAPACITY OF WHAT IS NORMAL FOR US.

THE OTHER THING THAT IS REALLY NICE IS OTHER THAN ONE AIRCRAFT RIGHT NOW, ALL OF OUR FLIGHTS ARE FLYING WITH A 76 SEAT AIRPLANE.

SO IT IS NICE, IT ALLOWS A LITTLE MORE SPACING IN THE AIRCRAFT AS OPPOSED TO THE 50 SEAT AIRCRAFT, SO THAT IS ANOTHER COMFORT FOR PEOPLE THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO SPREAD THE FOLKS OUT, THE PASSENGERS THROUGHOUT THE AIRPLANE.

I DON'’T KNOW HOW LONG THAT WILL LAST.

EACH OF THE AIRLINES HAS THEIR OWN POLICY AROUND THAT AND AS EVERYTHING WITH COVID, IT IS A CONTINUAL REVIEW OF THAT POLICY AND IF IT STILL NEEDS TO STAY IN EFFECT.

IT IS NICE TO HAVE A LITTLE MORE SPACE ON THE AIRPLANE.

ON THE HALF-HOUR, WE DO THE ANNOUNCEMENTS OVERHEAD.

THE REMINDERS FOR THE MASKS AND SOCIAL DISTANCING.

HONESTLY, YOU CAN'’T SAY IT ENOUGH TO PASSENGERS.

IT'’S EITHER A GOOD REMINDER BECAUSE SOMETIMES WE GET CAUGHT UP IN OUR TRAVELS AND FORGET, BUT IT IS COMFORTING FOR PEOPLE TO HEAR THAT IT IS A REQUIREMENT AND WHAT THEY CAN EXPECT.

MIDDLE SEAT POLICY -- BOTH DELTA AND UNITED FOLLOWED THAT.

FOR HOW LONG THEY DO THAT FOR, THAT IS UP TO THE AIRLINE TO DECIDE.

WE ARE OPERATING WHERE WE HAVE PRETTY GOOD SPACE BETWEEN OUR FLIGHTS AND THE FREQUENCIES, SO THAT ALLOWS FOR AMPLE SPACE WHILE OUR PASSENGERS ARE HERE WITHIN THE AIRPORT.

RIGHT NOW, AS YOU ARE SEEING THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, VERY COMPETITIVE FLIGHT PRICES.

VERY TEMPTING FLIGHT RICES.

WHICH IS GREAT, ESPECIALLY WITH LEISURE TRAVELS.

WE HAVE ALL RIGHT -- WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A HEAVY BUSINESS TRAVEL AIRPORT.

WE SEE THAT FLIP A LITTLE BIT WHERE WE ARE SEEING A LOT MORE LEISURE TRAFFIC.

AS FAR AS GLOBAL TRAVEL, IT IS DEFINITELY DOWN RIGHT NOW OBVIOUSLY BECAUSE OF REQUIREMENTS AND RESTRICTIONS THAT DO EXIST.

WHEN YOU ARE TRAVELING OUTSIDE OF THE COUNTRY OR EVEN WITHIN THE COUNTRY, JUST MAKE SURE YOU ARE AWARE OF THOSE REQUIREMENTS.

IT IS NOT EVEN THAT YOU HAVE TO GET TESTED TO TRAVEL THROUGHOUT OUR COUNTRY, BUT GOING TO HAWAII , YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS REQUIRED OF YOU TO GO TO HAWAII TO GET INTO THAT STATE.

THE QUARANTINE EXPECTATIONS -- EVERY STATE HAS THEIR OWN, BUT WITH THE MASK MANDATE ESPECIALLY AND TRAVELING UNDER QUARANTINE, JUST TAKE THE TIME TO DO YOUR RESEARCH AND VERIFY WHAT IS EXPECTED OF THE LOCATION AND WHERE YOU ARE GOING.

PEOPLE ARE WANTING TO CONNECT.

SOME PEOPLE HAVEN'’T SEEN THEIR FAMILIES FOR A LONG TIME.

SO THEY ARE ABLE TO MAKE THOSE CONNECTIONS AND WE ARE HAPPY THEY ARE PROVIDING AN ENVIRONMENT THAT GETS THERE SAFELY.

YOU HAVE SOME PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD COVID, THAT HAVE ANTIBODIES, YOU HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE GOTTEN THE VACCINATION AND THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR A YEAR AND PEOPLE HAVE BEEN STEADFAST ABOUT STAYING HOME AND NOT GOING FAR FOR ABOUT A YEAR AND I THINK PEOPLE ARE GETTING TO A POINT WHERE THEY ARE READY TO GO.

THE MITIGATION AND THE CHANGES IN THE SANITATION AND CLEANING AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS, THAT IS NOT GOING TO CHANGE.

THAT IS HERE TO STAY.

WE HAVE ALL DEVELOPED A PROCESS AND UNDERSTANDING AND THOSE LEVELS ARE NOT GOING TO CHANGE ONCE WE FEEL COVID IS BEYOND US OR WE ARE BEYOND COVID, I SHOULD SAY.

ALL THE WAY DOWN TO COMMUNICATION PIECES LOCATED THROUGHOUT THE TERMINAL, WHETHER THEY ARE ON POSTERS COME ON FLOORS, ON PLANES, ON WINDOWS, OVERHEAD SPEAKERS, OUR ELECTRONIC BOARDS, THERE IS A CONSTANT REMINDER FROM THE TIME YOU ENTER OUR AIRPORT OF WHAT WE ARE DOING HERE FOR SAFE TRAVELS AND WHAT WE HAVE EXPECTATIONS FOR OUR TRAVELERS TO DO.

WE WANT THEM TO BE HEALTHY.

WE WANT THEM TO WEAR A MASK, SOCIALLY DISTANCE AND SANITIZE.

WE DO HAVE THE SANITATION STATIONS ALL THROUGHOUT WHERE YOU CAN USE THAT HAND SANITIZER AS YOU ARE WALKING BY.

AND JUST BECAUSE WE HAVE IN PLACE WHAT WE HAVE, WE ARE CONSTANTLY REVIEWING IF THINGS NEED TO BE UPDATED OR CHANGED.

DENNIS: PETERSON SAID THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS MANDATED MASK WEARING IN AIRPORTS AND ON AIRPLANES.

SHE STRESSED THAT YOU MUST DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH ON THE COVID REQUIREMENTS FOR YOUR DESTINATION.

THE DULUTH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT HAS COVID-19 RESOURCES LINKED ON THEIR WEBSITE.

THE ITASCA COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT HELD A VIRTUAL NEWS CONFERENCE THIS WEEK WITH AN UPDATE ON THE PROGRESS OF VACCINATIONS IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA.

HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS SAY PROGRESS IS BEING MADE, BUT STRESSED PATIENCE FOR THOSE WAITING TO GET THEIR SHOT.

>> ITASCA COUNTY HAS REACHED 15.9% TO BEGIN THE VACCINE SERIES.

THIS HAS BEEN A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT WITH THEIR CLINICS, PHARMACIES AND INCLUDING OUR NEIGHBORING GROUPS.

WE HAVE REACHED MOST OF OUR PHASE ONE A HEALTH CARE STAFF, ALTHOUGH IF YOU CONTINUE TO BE IDENTIFIED AND VACCINATED AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

TODAY, SCENIC RIVERS CLINIC HAS COMPLETED OVER 1000 VACCINES AND CLOSE TO 3000 ORGANIZATIONALLY.

WE HAVE CLINICS IN COOK, TOWER, FLOODWOOD, BIG FALLS AND BIGFORK MUNICIPAL.

WE CONTINUE TO FOLLOW GUIDANCE FOR COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS SET FORTH BY MDH AND WE ARE EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO OFFER VACCINES AND FIGHT THE PANDEMIC AND WE WOULD REMIND PEOPLE IT IS IMPORTANT TO CONTINUE TO WEAR A MASK, SOCIAL DISTANCE, FREQUENT HANDWASHING AND DO YOUR BEST TO STAY HEALTHY ALTOGETHER.

>> CURRENTLY WE ARE VACCINATING PATIENTS 75 AND OLDER.

WE ARE FOCUSING ON THIS POPULATION BECAUSE THEY ARE AT THE MOST RISK FOR SERIOUS ILLNESS INCLUDING DEATH SHOULD THEY CONTRACT THE VIRUS.

30% OF THE PATIENT POPULATION ACTIVELY USES THE CHART AND WE ARE WORKING WITH GROUPS TO UNDERSTAND HOW WE CAN REACH OUT TO THIS POPULATION AND MAKE SURE THEY DO NOT GO UNDERSERVED.

RIGHT NOW, WE ARE DOING 301ST DOSES PER WEEKEND NEXT WEEK WE WILL START DOING 300 FIRST AND SECOND DOSES, A TOTAL OF 600.

>> I'’VE BEEN PLEASANTLY SURPRISED WITH THE LACK OF VOLUME OF SIDE EFFECTS.

I'’VE TALKED TO PEOPLE AND PRIMARILY EVERYBODY GETS A SORE ARM.

SOME PEOPLE HAVE HAD FEVER.

WE HAVE HAD VERY FEW SEVERE REACTIONS.

WE HAVE HAD A COUPLE OF PEOPLE I HAD TO ADVISE NOT TO GET A SECOND IMMUNIZATION BECAUSE OF THEIR RESPONSE BUT THE BIGGEST CONCERN WE HAVE WITH THE VACCINE AND BASED ON HISTORY IS WHETHER OR NOT YOU MIGHT EXPERIENCE AN ANAPHYLACTIC REACTION TO THE VACCINE AND FORTUNATELY, FOR OUR ORGANIZATION, THAT HAS NOT OCCURRED.

WE TRY TO SERIOUSLY SCREAM PEOPLE BEFORE AND MAKE SURE THEY ARE NOT AT HIGH RISK.

-- SERIOUSLY SCREEN PEOPLE.

THIS VACCINE IS HIGHLY EFFECTIVE AND THERE HAVE BEEN NATIONALLY MILLIONS OF VACCINATIONS GIVEN AT THIS POINT AND WE ARE NOT IDENTIFYING ANY SECONDARY SIDE EFFECTS THAT WERE NOT IDENTIFIED IN THE FIRST TRIALS.

IF PEOPLE ARE ADEQUATELY BEING SCREENED AND ANSWERING THOSE QUESTIONS HONESTLY ABOUT PRIMARY -- ABOUT ALLERGY HISTORY, THIS IS A SAFE VACCINE ROLLOUT.

DENNIS: MANY FOLKS HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE COVID VACCINE, BUT ANSWERS HAVE BEEN HARD TO FIND.

DULUTH MEDIA ORGANIZATIONS ALONG WITH HEALTH PROVIDERS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS ARE JOINING TOGETHER NEXT WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24 TO HELP ANSWER SOME OF THOSE QUESTIONS.

LOCAL TV STATIONS, ALONG WITH "THE DULUTH NEWS TRIBUNE" WILL FEATURE SPECIAL COVERAGE ALL DAY ON THE COVID VACCINE.

IT WILL CULMINATE WITH AN HOUR-LONG PROGRAM AT 7:00 P.M. WEDNESDAY HERE ON WDSE.

"“COVID-19 VACCINE: FINDING ANSWERS"” WILL FEATURE REPORTS FROM ALL OF THE MEDIA PARTNERS ALONG WITH LIVE INTERVIEWS WITH GUEST EXPERTS ON THE TOPIC.

WE HOPE YOU WILL JOIN US FOR THAT IMPORTANT PROGRAM.

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

WE'RE ON FACEBOOK, YOUTUBE, AND TWITTER.

AND VISIT THE WDSE WEBSITE FOR UPDATES ON PROGRAMMING, NEWS ABOUT THE STATION AND UPCOMING EVENTS.

AND YOU CAN ALSO 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.

♪