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

>> CATHY: IN THE NEXT HOUR, WE'LL TALK ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY PLANNING AS THE CHAUVIN TRIAL IS SET TO START.

WE'LL LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW A LAND BRIDGE IN THE OLD RONDO NEIGHBORHOOD MIGHT WORK.

CHECK IN ON THE HEALTH OF RETAIL BUSINESS IN MINNESOTA.

AND WE HEAR ABOUT PLANS TO REOPEN SCHOOLS.

>> Mary: AS THE GOVERNOR DECIDES TEENAGERS CAN RETURN TO THE CLASSROOM FULL TIME, LAWMAKERS DECIDE TO TRY AND TAKE HIS EMERGENCY POWERS AWAY.

>> I AM EAGER FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THE WALLS OF MY HIGH SCHOOL WITH MY CLASSMATES ONE LAST TIME.

>> Mary: WE'LL HAVE THE STORY.

IT'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 ELECTRICITY AND RELATED SERVICES TO 28 CO-OPS IN MINNESOTA.

A TOUCHSTONE ENERGY COOPERATIVE.

DELTA DENTAL OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION: MAKING DENTAL CARE POSSIBLE FOR MINNESOTANS IN NEED.

DELTADENTALMN.ORG/TPT.

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

ENBRIDGE: CONNECTING MINNESOTANS WITH ENERGY FOR OVER 70 YEARS.

MORE AT ENBRIDGE.COM/LINETHREEUS.

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

MORE AT EDUCATIONMINNESOTA.ORG.

>> CATHY: A BIT LATER IN THE HOUR, WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE HEALTH OF THE RETAIL BUSINESS IN MINNESOTA AND PLANS FOR A CREATIVE WAY TO REVITALIZE A ST. PAUL NEIGHBORHOOD.

BUT FIRST UP, GROWING QUESTIONS ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY AS THE DEREK CHAUVIN TRIAL IS ABOUT TO BEGIN.

>> ERIC: WHILE LAWMAKERS DEBATE WHO PAYS FOR EXTRA POLICING, PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICIALS ARE GOING AHEAD WITH PLANS TO DEAL WITH PROTESTS AND UNREST.

FORMER POLICE CHIEF JOHN HARRINGTON IS MINNESOTA'S COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC SAFETY.

AND A FORMER STATE SENATOR.

COMMISSIONER, I'M GUESSING THAT THAT WHO WILL PAY ARGUMENT IS KIND OF BEING DRIVEN BY POLITICS AT THE LEGISLATURE, AND I'M ASSUMING IT'S NOT GOING TO AFFECT THE QUALITY OF YOUR PLAN.

IS THAT FAIR TO SAY?

>> SAY YOU GOT IT ABOUT HALF RIGHT.

IT'S BEING DRIVEN FROM QUESTIONS THAT I GOT FROM LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AND WAS GETTING THEM FROM MAYORS AND CITY COUNCILS WANTING TO KNOW WHO WAS GOING TO PAY IF THEY WERE ASKED TO COME BACK TO THE TWIN CITIES OR COME SOMEWHERE FROM THE STATE FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME.

SO IT'S DEFINITELY BEING DRIVEN BY SORT OF A LOCAL INTEREST IN MAKING SURE THAT EVERYBODY'S GOING TO BE MADE WHOLE.

BUT THE SECOND PART IS ABSOLUTELY THE CASE.

WE HAVE HAD JUST AN OUTSTANDING RESPONSE TO OUR REQUEST FOR MUTUAL AID.

WE'VE HAD HUNDREDS OF OFFICERS.

WE HAVE A REALLY VERY ROBUST PLAN.

I'M FEELING VERY COMFORTABLE AND CONFIDENT IN THAT PLAN.

>> Cathy: BUT WILL THE POLITICAL MANEUVERING AT THE CAPITOL, COMMISSIONER, POTENTIALLY -- BHOZ WHO'S GOING TO ACTUALLY PAY FOR THIS IN THE END, DO YOU THINK?

>> I'M STILL VERY HOPEFUL THAT THE GHOAR'S BILL FOR THE -- THE GOVERNOR'S BILL FOR THE S.A.F.E.

ACCOUNTED WILL IN FACT BE ABLE TO MOVE THROUGH THE HOUSE AND THROUGH THE SENATE AND WE WILL HAVE A STATE FUND THAT WILL HELP US PAY FOR THE WORST CASE SCENARIO AND NOT JUST FOR THE TWIN CITIES BUT FOR WHEREVER THIS HAPPENS.

AND SO I'M SO OPTIMISTIC, I HAVEN'T GIVEN UP HOPE THAT THAT APPROACH IS THE RIGHT APPROACH.

IF THAT APPROACH DOESN'T HAPPEN, WE WILL WORK THAT OUT WITH THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS AND HENNEPIN COUNTY AND THE OTHER LOCAL JURISDICTIONS THE WAY WE WOULD ALWAYS DO THAT IN THE CASE OF A MUTUAL AID REQUEST.

>> Eric: AS YOU PREPARE FOR THIS, ARE YOU LOOKING AT KIND OF A LAW ENFORCEMENT SHOCK AND AWE TYPE OF DETERRENT?

>> NO, I'M LOOKING AT THIS AS A COMMUNITY POLICING TYPE OF DETERRENT.

I REALLY THINK THAT'S A MUCH BETTER APPROACH, AND I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE LESSONS LEARNED AS WE LOOK BACK ON WHAT WE'VE DONE.

WE DID THIS IN 2020.

AND WHAT OTHER CITIES HAVE DONE THAT HAS WORKED.

I THINK OUR APPROACH IS GOING TO BE ONE WHERE WE ARE GOING TO DO PREVENTION.

WE WILL HAVE THE CAPACITY TO RESPOND IN AN EMERGENCY.

IF WE HAVE AN OUTBREAK OF VIOLENCE, WE HAVE AN OUTBREAK OF LOOTING, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE CAPACITY TO QUICKLY MOVE THERE AND STOP IT.

BUT WHAT I REALLY HOPE THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS WE'RE GOING TO REACH OUT TO COMMUNITY AND ASK THEM TO HELP US KEEP THE PEACE.

AND I THINK THAT HAS BEEN, FRANKLY, THAT'S BEEN A BETTER MODEL FOR, IN MY EXPERIENCE, WHETHER IT WAS IN ST. PAUL WHEN I WAS IN TRANSIT AND NOW AT THE STATE, I THINK WE'RE ALWAYS BETTER OFF WHEN WE'RE WORKING WITH COMMUNITY AND NOT TRYING TO FIGHT WITH THEM.

>> Cathy: WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE, THOUGH, I'M CURE, COMMISSIONER.

DURING THE UNREST, OF COURSE, THERE WERE P SOME NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS THAT BANDED TOGETHER TO OFFER PUBLIC SAFETY FOR THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS.

ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THAT OR SOMETHING DIFFERENT?

>> I'M TALKING ABOUT THAT AND.

MY EXAMPLE WOULD BE WHEN WE DECIDED THAT WE WERE GOING TO DO A CURFEW, ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THAT WE DID THAT I THINK IS ONE OF THE SMARTEST THINGS WE DID, IS WE REACHED OUT TO THE CHURCHES AND THE SYNAGOGUES AND MOSQUES AND ASKED THEM TO REACH OUT TO THEIR CONGREGATIONS AND ASKED THEM TO PLEASE STAY HOME AND NOT PROTEST AND NOT BE OUT ON THE STREETS LATE AT NIGHT.

AND YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENED?

THE STREETS WERE BASICALLY EMPTY, EXCEPT FOR FOLKS WHO REALLY DID WANT TO CREATE HAVOC AND MISCHIEF OUT THERE.

AND THAT MADE AN ENORMOUS DIFFERENCE IN THE ABILITY TO KEEP THE PEACE.

I THINK THAT'S STILL A BETTER MODEL.

WE'RE GOING TO ASK COMMUNITY.

WE'RE GOING TO GIVEN THEM OPTIONS AS TO WHERE THEY CAN PROTEST, FREE SPEECH ZONES, BUT WE'RE ALSO GOING TO HAVE, VERY, VERY CLEAR TO THEM WHAT OUR EXPECTATIONS WILL BE.

AND WE'RE HOPING THAT THAT WORKING WITH THEM, THEY'LL HELP KEEP THEIR GROUPS, THEIR ORGANIZATIONS, ON THE LAWFUL FIRST AMENDMENT PROTECTED SIDE OF THAT LINE.

>> Eric: YOU'RE GOING TO BE COORDINATING STATE, LOCAL, AND FEDERAL FORCES HERE.

AND I'M WONDERING IF THE CHAIN OF COMMAND IS GOING TO BE DIFFERENT THAN IT WAS LAST MAY?

>> CHAIN OF COMMAND IS ACTUALLY PRETTY SIMILAR.

WE PULLED TOGETHER WHAT WE CALLED A M.A.C., A MULTIAGENCY COORDINATING OFFICER AND WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW IS WHAT WE'RE CALLING UNIFIED COMMAND, WHICH IS ESSENTIALLY A NICE WAY OF SAYING WHAT THE M.A.C.

DID, BUT TAKE A STEP BACK.

LET'S TAKE A STEP BEYOND BEING IN RESPONSE MODE WHICH IS WHAT WE WERE LAST YEAR, AND LET'S TAKE THAT STEP AND APPLY PLANNING TO.

LET'S APPLY INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS.

LET'S HAVE THAT PRESS CONFERENCE WE'D OF WE HAD THIS PAST WEEK AND TALK ABOUT THAT WITH ONE VOICE, THOUGH.

SO A UNIFIED COMMAND WILL GIVE US ONE VOICE IN TERMS OF PUTTING OUT PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS, IN TERMS OF GETTING INFORMATION OUT.

WE THINK THAT UNIFIED COMMAND IS A BETTER MODEL AND WE THINK THAT IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO WORK, ENGAGE OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS, THERE WILL BE AN EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE THAT IS THERE TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY IS PLAYING WELL TOGETHER.

BUT IT WILL NOT BE FRAGMENTED.

>> Cathy: SO I KNOW THAT CONCRETE BARRIERS AND CHAIN LINK FENCES ARE UP ALREADY AROUND THE HENNEPIN COUNTY GOVERNMENT CENTER WHERE THE TRIAL WILL TAKE PLACE.

WE'VE BEEN TALKING KIND OF FOCUSING ON MINNEAPOLIS.

BUT I'M CURIOUS, THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE AS YOU KNOW IN ST. PAUL IN THE UNREST BACK IN MAY.

WHAT'S THE PLAN FOR ST. PAUL?

>> PLAN FOR ST. PAUL IS NOT THAT DISSIMILAR, OTHER THAN OBVIOUSLY THE COURTHOUSE WHERE THE TRIAL IS GOING TO BE HAPPENING IS IN MINNEAPOLIS.

BUT CHIEF AXTELL HAS AN OUTSTANDING PLAN.

HE ACTUALLY WAS WAY AHEAD OF THE CURVE CREATING MUTUAL AID PARTNERSHIPS WITH DAKOTA COUNTY, WASHINGTON COUNTY AND RAMSEY COUNTY.

AND SO HE WAS WELL AHEAD OF THE CURVE ON WEST METRO IN TERMS OF HAVING HIS PLAN.

HE'S ALREADY BEEN EXERCISING HIS PLAN.

YOU CAN EXPECT TO SEE THAT THERE WILL BE AREAS WHERE AROUND THE CAPITOL WHERE WE'VE ALREADY HAD SOME OF THE FENCING GO UP AROUND THE LAW ENFORCEMENT CAMPUS WHERE THERE HAD BEEN FENCING GOING UP THERE.

SO YOU CAN EXPECT TO SEE SOME SIMILAR TYPES OF PHYSICAL BARRICADES AND YOU CAN EXPECT TO SEE THAT SAME STATE, LOCAL, AND THE NATIONAL GUARD PARTNERSHIP OUT ON THE STREETS DURING WHAT WE THINK OF AS THE -- THAT FINAL PHASE OF THE TRIAL, ONCE THE JURY HAS GONE TO DELIBERATIONS AND WE'RE AWAITING A VERDICT, YOU CAN EXPECT TO SEE A VERY SIMILAR PROFILE IN TERMS OF PREVENTIVE PATROL, WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY TO KEEP THE PEACE.

>> Eric: COMMISSIONER, THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

APPRECIATE THE TIME.

THANKS.

>> ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO SEE BOTH OF YOU.

EVEN IF IT'S IN ZIMMERN.

[ Laughter ] >> Eric: TRUE.

>> ERIC: STUDENTS IN MINNESOTA HIGH SCHOOLS AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS CAN GO BACK TO SCHOOL IN-PERSON FULL-TIME AS SOON AS MONDAY, AFTER THE GOVERNOR TURNED THE DIAL UP ON EDUCATION THIS WEEK.

BUT AS MARY LAHAMMER REPORTS, THAT STILL DOESN'T SATISFY SOME LAWMAKERS WHO CONTINUE TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE GOVERNOR'S EMERGENCY POWERS DURING THIS PANDEMIC.

>> Mary: AT MANKATO WEST HIGH SCHOOL, GOVERNOR TIM WAYS WAS THE DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP FOOTBALL TEAM.

NOW HE'S WORKING WITH THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BALL.

>> FELLAS, ICE IT AND KNEEL IT DOWN.

>> WE'RE ON OFFENSE NOW AND IT'S TIME TO TAKE BACK THE THINGS THAT MAKE LIFE SO WONDERFUL FOR US.

>> Mary: THE OFFENSIVE PLAN IS TO ALLOW HIGH SCHOOL AND MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS TO RETURN TO THE CLASSROOM FULL TIME.

A MULTI-SPORT SENIOR ATHLETE FROM OWATONNA WITH AN ALL-AMERICAN HONOR PROVED A TOUGH ACT TO FOLLOW.

>> I'M EAGER FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THE WALLS OF MY HIGH SCHOOL WITH MY CLASSMATES ONE LAST TIME.

AND ALTHOUGH THE END OF MY SENIOR YEAR MAY NOT AS TRADITIONAL AS I HAD HOPED, I KNOW THAT MY GRADE WILL GET TO EXPERIENCE IT IN THE MOST IMPORTANT WAY POSSIBLE: TOGETHER.

>> Mary: WALZ LINED UP SUPERINTENDENTS FROM ACROSS THE STATE TO SUPPORT HIS DECISION.

>> WE'VE APPRECIATED THE FOCUS ON SCIENCE AND DATA.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ABOUT AS EDUCATORS.

>> THE DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON BLACKLOCK, INDIGENOUS, AND PEOPLE OF COLOR.

SO TODAY, THIS MARKS AN EXCITING OPPORTUNITY TO BRING MORE STUDENTS BACK IN PERSON.

>> Mary: MEANWHILE, SENATE REPUBLICANS PASSED A BILL TAKING AWAY THE GOVERNOR'S EMERGENCY POWERS TO CLOSE SCHOOLS.

>> THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST CRITICAL THINGS THAT WE CAN BE DOING IN MINNESOTA.

THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE LOST PART OF TWO SCHOOL YEARS.

THAT'S JUST TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE.

THIS SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN.

IT SHOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED.

BUT WE SHOULD NEVER ALLOW THAT TO HAPPEN AGAIN.

>> Mary: THEY TOO PUT FORTH SUPPORTERS FROM PARENTS TO SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS.

>> MY 13 AND 15-YEAR-OLD HAVE HAD ZERO, ZERO DAYS OF SCHOOL IN ALMOST A YEAR.

NONE, NO IN-PERSON EDUCATION.

I MEAN, WE ARE LIKE PEASANTS WAITING AROUND THE SCENE WITH BEATED BREATH.

WHAT IS HE GOING TO SAY?

WHAT IS HE GOING TO SAY?

WE'RE ALL WAITING FOR THESE CRUMBS OF FREEDOM.

>> AS A SCHOOL BOARD REPRESENTATIVE, IT TROUBLES ME WHEN I HAVE NO SAY IN THE OUTCOME OF MY DISTRICT.

>> I WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOU'RE HEARING FROM DISTRICTS AND WHETHER THEY CAN BE BACK IN SCHOOL AS SOON AS MONDAY AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL.

>> WELL, THERE IS CONCERN ABOUT THE TIME FRAME.

AND THE ABILITY.

BUT WHAT I WOULD SAY IS THAT THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF ONE MORE EXAMPLE OF THE GOVERNOR'S WRONG APPROACH.

ONE SIZE FITS ALL APPROACH.

THE GOVERNOR SHOULD BE ALLOWING OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO MAKE THESE DECISIONS.

>> Mary: DON'T DISTRICTS NOW HAVE THE OPTION TO DECIDE EXACTLY WHEN AND HOW THEY GO BACK?

>> WELL, IT WAS A LITTLE UNCLEAR FROM THE GOVERNOR'S PRESS CONFERENCE ABOUT THAT.

>> Mary: NELSON SAYS HER BILL ONLY ALLOWS THE GOVERNOR TO PROVIDE GUIDANCE TO SCHOOLS AS OPPOSED TO MANDATES.

STILL DEMOCRATS AND THE GOVERNOR'S PARTY AREN'T PLEASED.

>> HAS THERE BEEN CONTROVERSY?

YES.

ALL OF OUR LIVES ARE DISRUPTED.

BUT YOU KNOW WHAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT?

WE NEED RESOURCES?

YOU WANT TO OPEN THE SCHOOLS, FINE.

GIVE US RESOURCES!

>> TYING OUR HANDS TO LITERALLY PREVENT DISASTER FROM HAPPENING IN OUR SCHOOLS.

AGAIN, BACK TO THE CONVERSATIONS I'VE HAD WITH MY SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND PARENTS, MANY PARENTS, VERY MAD PARENTS, VERY ANGRY PARENTS, VERY THANKFUL PARENTS AND VERY CONFUSED PARENTS, ALL OF THE ABOVE, AND I'M ONE OF THEM.

>> WE'RE AT WAR NOW AND THIS WAR IS NOT AGAINST TYRANNY OR COMMUNISM OR FASHISM.

THIS WAR IS AGAINST THE VIRUS.

>> THIS IS ABOUT TRYING TO SCORE POLITICAL POINTS AGAINST THE GOVERNOR AND THAT IS SAD AND UNFORTUNATE.

>> Mary: THE SENATE BILL IS UNLIKELY TO PASS THE HOUSE AND THE GOVERNOR'S PLAN TO SEND TEENAGERS BACK INTO SCHOOLS WILL STILL LIKELY MOVE AHEAD.

>> THE TEARS OF JOY THAT I COULD FEEL IN THIS VERY SMALL ROOM OF PEOPLE PROBABLY BEING FELT ACROSS MINNESOTA.

THIS HAS BEEN HARD.

IT'S BEEN UNPRECEDENTED IN A CENTURY THAT THE WORLD'S SEEN THIS AND IT'S BEEN TRAGIC.

♪♪ >> CATHY: RETAIL HAS BEEN HAMMERED DURING COVID, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO OLD-SCHOOL SHOPPING, PEOPLE IN PHYSICAL STORES.

JUST HOW BAD HAS IT BEEN?

THAT'S ONE OF THE TOPICS WE WILL COVER IN THE NEXT FEW MINUTES TALKING TO NICOLE NORFLEET.

SHE HANDLES THE RETAIL BEAT FOR THE "STAR TRIBUNE."

NICOLE, WELCOME TO THE PROGRAM.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

GIVING ME SOMETHING FUN TO DO ON A FRIDAY NIGHT.

[ Laughter ] >> Cathy: THANKS FOR, YOU JOINIG US.

SO HOW ARE RETAILERS DOING IN A, WELL, A WHOLE YEAR WITH COVID?

>> WELL, AS YOU ALREADY KNOW, A LOT OF THESE RETAILERS ABOUT WERE DEEMED NOT ESSENTIAL, SO A LOT OF THEM HAD TO CLOSE, AND THEN WHEN THEY HAD REOPENED, THEY HAD TO DEAL WITH HOW DO THEY KEEP THEIR CUSTOMERS SAFE?

HOW DO THEY KEEP THEIR STAFF SAFE?

AND A LOT OF THEM, THEY TRIED DIFFERENT AVENUES TO GET PRODUCTS TO CONSUMERS.

CURBSIDE PICKUP.

I SAT IN MYSELF ON A FEW FACEBOOK LIVE VIDEO PRODUCTS BEING DONE.

BUT THAT IN-STORE SHOPPING THAT REALLY MAKES A DIFFERENCE FOR RETAILERS.

AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW, YOU GO INTO A STORE, YOU GO IN FOR ONE ITEM, YOU COME OUT WITH FOUR ITEMS.

IT DOESN'T REALLY HAPPEN DURING ONLINE SHOPPING.

AND SO A LOT OF THESE RETAILERS HAVE SUFFERED TREMENDOUSLY DURING THE PANDEMIC.

THERE'S BEEN A DEFINITE GULF BETWEEN WINNERS AND LOSSERS AND SO WHILE WE HAVE SOME PLACES LIKE TARGET AND BEST BUY THAT HAVE BEEN PERFORMING EXTRAORDINARILY WELL, WE HAVE OTHER RETAILERS, SMALLER RETAILERS, EVEN MID-SIZED RETAILERS LIKE CHRISTOPHER AND BANKS THAT RECENTLY FILED FOR BANKRUPTCY THAT HAVE NOT BEEN DOING WELL AT ALL.

SO THE GRADUAL INCLINE TO IN-STORE SHOPPING IS SOMETHING THAT ALL RETAILERS THROUGHOUT THE STATE ARE LOOKING FOR.

>> Cathy: ANY SPECIFIC AREA OF RETAIL THAT'S BEEN HIT THE HARDEST?

>> SURE.

YEAH, APPAREL HAS BEEN SOMETHING THAT HAS SUFFERED TREMENDOUSLY THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC.

I MEAN, YOU'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE.

YOU DON'T REALLY NEED ANY NEW CLOTHES.

AND SO THAT'S BEEN A SOFT CATEGORY FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.

A LOT OF FOLKS ARE GOING TO STORES FOR ESSENTIAL ITEMS SUCH AS GROCERIES, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE GOING TO STORES FOR ELECTRONICS TO HELP WITH THEIR AT-HOMEWORK ENVIRONMENTS OR THEIR SCHOOL ENVIRONMENTS.

BUT APPAREL SEEMS TO BE A CONTINUAL SOFT CATEGORY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

>> Eric: WHAT'S THE FUTURE OF THE MALL OF AMERICA AND THE OTHER BIG MALLS AROUND THE REGION?

>> RIGHT, SO THE MALL OF AMERICA, SIMILAR TO OTHER MALLS, SUFFERED TREMENDOUSLY AS WELL DURING THE PANDEMIC.

IF YOU REMEMBER, THEIR OWNER, ACTUALLY FELL BEHIND IN THEIR MORTGAGE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS AND THEY ONLY JUST RECENTLY IN DECEMBER BECAME CURRENT ON THAT.

SO RIGHT NOW, I THINK THEY ARE TRYING THEIR BEST.

THEY DON'T HAVE THE CAPACITY RESTRICTIONS ANYMORE.

NOW THEY ARE -- THEY STILL HAVE CAPACITY RESTRICTIONS FOR THE RESTAURANTS, THE ENTERTAINMENT, LIKE THE NICKELODEON UNIVERSE AND CENTER, SO RIGHT NOW THEY'RE TRYING TO GET THEIR RENTS BACK AND -- BUT IT'S STILL A VERY DIFFICULT TIME FOR A LOT OF RETAILERS.

BURNSVILLE CENTER WHICH I'VE WRITTEN ABOUT, THEY ALSO WENT THROUGH A LOT OF ISSUES, AND THEY RECENTLY WERE BOUGHT IN AN AUCTION, AND NOW THEY ARE KIND OF GOING TO NEW OWNERS.

THEY'RE KIND OF GOING THROUGH DIFFERENT THINGS OF HOW THEY COULD POSSIBLY REVITALIZE THE MALL.

I THINK THEY'RE SELLING ABOUT SELLING SOME STAND ALONE BUILDING AND TRYING TO BRING NEW TRAFFIC INTO THE MALL.

>> Cathy: I'M CURIOUS.

I'M WONDERING ABOUT RETAILERS IN -- AND THEIR MESSAGING IN THE WAKE OF SOME OF THE UNREST FOLLOWING THE DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD AND A LOT OF FOCUS ON INCLUSIVITY AND DIVERSITY.

>> YEAH, YEAH, AND SO AFTER THE KILLING OF GEORGE FLOYD, WE SAW A LOT OF, ESPECIALLY MINNESOTA RETAILERS, BECAUSE IT'S IN YOUR BACKYARD, YOU KNOW, ISSUE STATEMENTS TALKING ABOUT DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION.

I'LL FOCUS A LITTLE BIT ON TARGET, FOR INSTANCE, THEY FORMED A WHOLE COMMITTEE WITH EXECUTIVES, THEY'RE FOCUSING NOT ONLY ON HOW TO MAKE THEIR WORKPLACE MORE INCLUSIVE BUT HOW CAN WE MAKE OUR STORES MORE WELCOMING AND MORE INCLUSIVE.

SO NOW WE'RE FAST-FORWARD TO BLACKLOCK HISTORY MONTH, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE EXPANDED THEIR PRODUCTS THAT THEY'RE OFFERING.

THEY EXPANDED THE AMOUNT OF PRODUCTS AS WELL AS EXPANDED WHERE THE PRODUCTS ARE GOING TO BE OFFERED AT.

SO WHEREAS BEFORE IT WAS AROUND 700 STORES HAD THESE PRODUCTS, NOW IT'S AT 1400.

AND NOT ONLY ARE THEY OFFERING PRODUCTS THAT ARE DESIGNED BY IN-HOUSE DESIGNERS, BUT THEY'RE ALSO OFFERING MORE PRODUCTS OF BLACK-OWNED COMPANIES, SO MCBRIDE SISTERS, AND BLACK GIRLS, MR.

CHAIR AND MEMBERS MAGIC, ROSE, SO THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF COMPANIES DOING THINGS LIKE THAT.

BUT I THINK EVEN PAST THE TRIAL, PAST KIND OF THIS TIME IN HISTORY, IDENTIFICATION THE BIG THING WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING FOR IS HOW DO THEY INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE AT THEIR STORES THAT ARE PEOPLE OF COLOR.

NOT ONLY AT THE STORES BUT ALSO IN THEIR EXECUTIVE LEVEL.

AND THEY -- BEST BUY AS WELL AS TARGET HAVE BOTH COME OUT WITH DIFFERENT GOALS TO INCREASE THEIR PEOPLE OF COLOR WITHIN THEIR RANKS.

I THINK BEST BUY, 1,000 PEOPLE IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS AND 30% OF THAT, THEY WANT TO BE PEOPLE OF COLOR.

FOR TARGET, THEY'RE TRYING TO INCREASE THEIR AMOUNT OF BLACKLOCK EMPLOYEES BY 20%.

IN THE NEXT COUPLE YEARS.

AND SO I THINK WE'RE GOING TO KIND OF CONTINUALLY SEE HOW THEY'RE ABLE TO DO THIS EVEN AFTER EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON RIGHT NOW.

>> Cathy: ALL RIGHT.

NICOLE, REALLY A PLEASURE.

THANKS SO MUCH.

>> Eric: THANKS.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> Eric: YOU BET.

♪♪ >> ERIC: IN A WEEK THAT SAW THE END TO THE LONGEST COLD STREAK IN THE TWIN CITIES IN NEARLY 50 YEARS, IT'S A PERFECT TIME TO REVISIT THE TRADITION OF THE SAUNA.

TPT'S LUKE HEIKKILA TAPPED INTO HIS FINNISH ROOTS TO BRING US THIS STORY, WHICH EXPLORES AN AGE-OLD QUESTION.

>> IT'S CULTURAL.

IT'S SPIRITUAL.

IT'S PHYSICAL.

AND IT'S OFTENTIMES SOCIAL.

>> CAN YOU SAY THE WORD FOR ME?

SAY THAT ROOM THAT GETS HOT AND SWEAT IN.

HOW DO YOU SAY THAT WORD?

>> THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE HAS ONE FINNISH WORD IN IT.

IT'S SAUNA.

>> IN GENERAL CONVERSATION, I SAY SAUNA.

I TYPICALLY SAY SAUNA AS WELL.

BUT I WOULD BE CURIOUS TO KNOW WHAT LANG WOULD SAY ABOUT THAT.

>> I KIND OF GO RIGHT IN BETWEEN SO I DON'T OFFEND ANYBODY.

>> "SOW-NA" FEELS FANCY.

>> HERE'S THE THING.

I DON'T EVER SEE ANYBODY CHANGING HOW THEY SAY THAT.

I THINK ABOUT SAUNA LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK ABOUT GOOD FOOD.

GOOD WINE.

GOOD BEER.

THINK ABOUT IT IN TERMS OF QUALITY.

I DON'T CARE HOW YOU SAY IT.

BUT WE'RE GOING TO INTRODUCE YOU TO THE REAL THING.

WE'RE GOING TO INTRODUCE YOU TO THE AUTHENTIC MEAL, AND BY THE END OF EATING THE MEAL, YOU'RE GOING TO START ASKING, WHAT WENT INTO CREATING THIS?

>> WHAT MAKES A SAUNA.

>> THERE'S THREE KEY ELEMENTS TO ME, WHICH IS STONE, WATER, AND WOOD.

YOU GOT THE WOOD TO CREATE THE FIRE, TO CREATE THE HEAT IN THE FIRST PLACE.

STONE TO BECOME A, YOU KNOW, A REPOSITORY FOR THAT HEAT AND TO HOLD IT IN PLACE.

AND THEN WATER TO THROW ONTO THOSE ROCKS AND CREATE THE STEAM.

THAT'S THE SAUNA.

AT THAT POINT.

>> IT'S AN ESCAPE.

IT'S A PLACE YOU GO AND YOU JUST RELAX.

AND HEAT, YOU KNOW, YOU BURN OUT ALL THE TOXINS FROM YOUR DAY, BABY, IT'S JUST -- IT'S GOOD STUFF, IT'S GOOD STUFF.

>> IN THE FACE OF OUR DIGITAL WORLD THAT SO MUCH IS INTANGIBLE, SO MUCH IS DIGITIZED, THERE ARE VERY FEW EXPERIENCES THAT ARE AUTHENTIC, THAT ARE ANALOG, AND WE SET OUR PHONES DOWN.

AND THE HEAT OF THE SAUNA FORCES THAT.

>> WHAT DO YOU REALLY APPRECIATE ABOUT BEING IN THE SAUNA?

>> IT REALLY -- I FEEL LIKE IT'S, NUMBER ONE, A BREAK FROM EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON, BECAUSE YOU'RE SECLUDED.

AND YOU'RE -- IT JUST TAKES YOU AWAY FROM ALL THE CLUTTER.

>> VERY OFTEN OUR WORLD IS IWOULD SAY NOW, FULL OF STRESS AND ANXIETY.

>> SAUNA DESTROYS STRESS.

IT DESTROYS IT.

IF YOU ARE HAVING A BAD WEEK, AND YOU GO IN THERE, AND YOU ENDURE 190 DEGREES, YOU KNOW, FAHRENHEIT WITH THREE SCOOPS OF WATER ON THE ROCKS, AND YOU GO THROUGH THAT SEARING EXPERIENCE, THE TRIVIALITIES OF LIFE CAN'T STAND NEXT TO THAT.

>> WALKING INTO A 190-DEGREE ROOM IS A BIT OF A DAUNTING EXPERIENCE AT FIRST.

I THINK THE IMPORTANT THING TO FOCUS ON IS HOW YOU FEEL AFTER THAT WHOLE PROCESS IS DONE AND I'VE FOUND NOTHING ELSE IN LIFE THAT REACHES THAT SENSE OF WELL-BEING AND EQUILIBRIUM I THINK IS THE TERM I OFTEN COME TO.

>> THERE'S SO MANY MONTHS OF THE YEAR HERE IN MINNESOTA THAT ARE DARK AND COLD.

AND SO BEING ABLE TO GO INTO ANYWHERE THAT FEELS LIKE YOU CAN SWEAT AND YOU CAN BREATHE IN WARM AIR, REALLY JUST KIND OF, AGAIN, REINVIGORATES YOUR BODY AND REINVIGORATES ALL OF THOSE NERVES AND TENDONS THAT YOU HAVE THAT YOU FORGOT ABOUT.

>> MINNESOTA'S JUST -- IT'S THE CULTURAL HUB.

IT'S THE CAPITAL OF SAUNA IN THE U.S. AND WE GET TO EXPERIENCE THAT MANY FAMILIES BROUGHT HERE 150 YEARS AGO.

>> AND YOU REALLY DO WALK OUT FEELING LIKE THE WORLD'S A DIFFERENT PLACE.

>> WHAT'S IT FEEL LIKE?

>> AWESOME.

>> PERFECT THURSDAY.

>> LETTING IT ALL GO.

>> YEP.

>> THERE IT GOES.

♪♪ >> CATHY: SEVERAL TIMES IN THE PAST FEW YEARS, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT PLANS FOR A POSSIBLE HIGHWAY LAND BRIDGE IN ST. PAUL.

THE PLAN IS TO COVER I-94 FOR FOUR BLOCKS ALONG ITS ROUTE THROUGH ST. PAUL, RESTORING SOME OF THE HOUSING AND RETAIL LOST IN THE DESTRUCTION OF THE RONDO NEIGHBORHOOD BACK IN THE 1960S.

STATE LAWMAKERS HAVE BEEN APPROACHED AGAIN THIS YEAR TO FOR PLANNING MONEY FOR A RONDO LAND BRIDGE.

BACK WITH US TO TALK ABOUT THE PLAN, MARVIN ANDERSON.

HE GREW UP IN RONDO AND HAS LONG BEEN A DRIVING FORCE IN RESTORING THE NEIGHBORHOOD LOST BY THE HIGHWAY.

HE'S JOINED BY KEITH BAKER WITH THE RECONNECT RONDO GROUP.

WELL, MR. ANDERSON, WE'RE GOING TO BEGIN WITH YOU.

WE HAVE -- I THINK WE SHOULD SHOW FOLKS SOME PICTURES.

GIVE PEOPLE AN IDEA OF WHAT RONDO USED TO LOOK LIKE.

YOU KNOW, BACK IN THE DAY.

YOU'RE A SON OF RONDO.

TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS PICTURE.

>> WELL, THAT'S A PICTURE OF A YOUNG MAN WHO WAS -- THAT USED TO BE WHERE HE WOULD SEE HIS PARENTS WALK.

OR HE MIGHT GO TO THE STORE THERE.

OR ME MIGHT BE WALKING ON HIS WAY TO A CHURCH.

AND HE'S WATCHING RONDO AVENUE BE DESTROYED BY TRACTORS THAT CAME THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY.

TORE THE STREET UP FOR THE PURPOSES OF I-94 FREEWAY, THAT JUST DECIMATED THE COMMUNITY OF RONDO.

FROM ABOUT 158 TO 1968.

AFFECTING ALMOST 3,000 PEOPLE.

OVER A THOUSAND HOMES.

200, 300 BUSINESSES.

A WAY OF LIFE WAS DESTROYED.

CHURCHES, COMMUNITY CENTERS, SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS.

CLUBS, BOY SCOUTS, GIRL SCOUTS.

YOU NAME IT.

ALL WERE AFFECTED BY THE DECISION TO ROUTE I-94 THROUGH RONDO AVENUE WHEN THERE WAS AN ALTERNATE ROUTE, THE NORTHERN ROUTE, WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN -- WHICH WOULD HAVE SAVED OUR COMMUNITY AND OTHER COMMUNITIES FROM THE TRAUMA THAT THEY ENDURED THROUGH THE ROUTING OF I-94 THROUGH RONDO.

>> Eric: YOU'RE LOOKING FOR $6 MILLION IN PLANNING MONEY FOR THIS PROJECT.

AND YOU'VE BEEN UP AT THE CAPITOL AT LEAST VIRTUALLY.

TESTIFYING.

WHAT'S THE RECEPTION BEEN?

>> I'LL LET KEITH -- I'M HERE WITH KEITH BAKER.

WHO'S OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR RECORRECT RONDO.

>> Eric: ALL RIGHT, KEITH?

>> AND, YEAH, KEITH, I'D LIKE FOR HIM TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION.

>> I TELL YOU, OUR HEARING WAS AN INFORMATIONAL HEARING.

LED BY REPRESENTATIVE HORNSTEIN, WHO'S THE CHAIR OF THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE.

AND THE WELCOME WAS REALLY, REALLY EXTRAORDINARY.

I THINK THERE WAS A GREAT EXCHANGE.

WE PRESENTED THE PROPOSITION, THE VISION.

AND IT ALLOWED PEOPLE TO TRANSITION FROM THE STORY THAT MR. ANDERSON SET ABOUT RONDO AND TRANSITION INTO KIND OF A LARGER VISION.

AND THAT'S WHAT RECONNECT RONDO REALLY IS LAYING OUT THERE.

SO I ASKED FOR $6.2 MILLION AND IT'S TO GET US JUMP-STARTED IN THE PREDEVELOPMENT PHASE OF THIS ACTIVITY.

AND I THINK WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO RETURNING BACK IN MARCH WHERE WE'RE EXPECTING TO HAVE MORE VIGOROUS DEBATE, BUT CERTAINLY AN OPPORTUNITY TO KIND OF TELL THE STORY.

>> Cathy: SO LET'S TALK ABOUT THE STORY HERE NOW.

FOLKS ON TV ARE SEEING WHAT YOUR IDEA IS.

THIS IS ABOUT, WHAT, FOUR BLOCKS FROM ABOUT LEXINGTON TO DALE, RIGHT?

AND THIS LAND BRIDGE COVERS 94.

IS IT KIND OF LIKE WHAT YOU SEE IN DULUTH WHEN 35 IN DULUTH, AS THAT KIND OF GOES THROUGH THAT PORTION OF DULUTH?

YOU'VE GOT HOUSES AND BUSINESSES ON TOP OF THE BRIDGE PART, RIGHT?

>> WELL, I APPRECIATE YOU POINTING OUT -- I GREW UP IN DULUTH, SO I USE THAT AS A REAL IMPORTANT EXAMPLE.

RIGHT NEAR THE LAKEFRONT IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF A LAND BRIDGE.

AND MOST LAND BRIDGES ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE REALLY PARK SPACE, SPACE THAT PROVIDES FOR A GATHERING.

THIS PROPOSITION IS SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT IN THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT COMMUNITY BUILDING, NOT JUST HAVING OPEN SPACES, BUT ALSO CONSIDERING THOSE THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT LIKE HOUSING, RETAIL SPACE, PARK SPACE, CERTAINLY WAYS IN WHICH PEOPLE CAN GATHER, AND AMPHITHEATER, SO THERE ARE ILLUSTRATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY LIKE THAT, BUT DULUTH IS A GOOD ILLUSTRATION OF THE STRUCTURE AND THE PARK SPACE ON TOP.

WE CERTAINLY ARE PROPOSING SOMETHING A BIT MORE HOLISTIC IN NATURE.

>> Eric: MR. ANDERSON, IS THERE ANY CONCERN AT ALL THAT THIS WOULD GENTRIFY THAT PART OF ST. PAUL AND MAKE IT MAYBE OUT OF REACH OF FOLKS THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO GET INVOLVED IN THIS?

>> ERIC, THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.

AND I SHOULD HAVE SENT THE TWO OF -- THANKED THE TWO OF YOU IN THE BEGINNING FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO COME BACK TO "ALMANAC" AGAIN.

THIS -- AS CATHY MENTIONED, THIS IS I THINK OUR THIRD OR FOURTH TIME AND WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THIS INCREDIBLE PLAN.

BUT, YES, ERIC.

THERE IS -- THERE'S ALWAYS THAT DANGER OF GENTRIFICATION, OF ANY PROJECT OF THIS SIZE AND OF THIS MAGNITUDE.

HOWEVER, WE'VE TAKEN -- WE'RE GOING TO BE TAKING SOME VERY POSITIVE STEPS ALONG WITH COMMUNITY GUIDANCE.

SO THAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO CURB THAT GENTRIFICATION WHICH JUST HAPPENS BECAUSE OF SHEER REAL ESTATE SPECULATION.

THE LAND BRIDGE, IT REPRESENTS A TOTAL COMMUNITY EFFORT.

AND PEOPLE WILL BE DRAWN TO THE LAND BRIDGE.

NOT JUST BECAUSE OF THE POTENTIAL REAL ESTATE SPECULATION.

BUT THEY'RE GOING TO BE DRAWN TO THIS LAND BRIDGE, THIS PROJECT, BECAUSE AS KEITH MENTIONED, IT'S A HOLISTIC PROJECT.

THAT ENCOMPASSES NOT JUST THE -- THE PHYSICAL STRUCTURE, BUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE IN A COMMUNITY WHERE THERE IS A CERTAIN RESPECT FOR AND A CERTAIN CELEBRATION OF THOSE COMMUNITY VALUES THAT REPRESENTED THE RONDO COMMUNITY.

WE REALLY FEEL THAT THIS LAND BRIDGE IS A WONDERFUL EXAMPLE OF THIS PROMISE.

THAT MINNESOTA IS -- HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO FULFILL AFTER GEORGE FLOYD AND AFTER SOME OF THE UPHEAVAL AND THE RECKONING GOING ON NOW, THIS LAND BRIDGE PROJECT GIVES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO COME TOGETHER FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE.

FROM OTHER PARTS OF THE COMMUNITY.

AND TO CELEBRATE AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN HERITAGE AND CULTURE.

AND THAT WASN'T A PART OF OUR COMMUNITY, REAL ESTATE SPECULATION.

SO IF THOSE WERE YOUR REASONS TO COME THERE, TO BE A PART OF THAT, I DON'T THINK THE RECEPTION OR THE PEOPLE WILL SURELY PICK UP THAT THIS IS A DIFFERENT TYPE OF PROJECT.

THIS IS A PROJECT ABOUT HEALING.

ABOUT RESTORING.

ABOUT EQUALITY.

EQUITABLE RESTORATION AND WEALTH BUILDING IN A -- IN AN ATMOSPHERE THAT'S TOTALLY DIFFERENT FROM THAT.

AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE SO EXCITED ABOUT IT.

>> Cathy: INTERESTING YOU MENTIONED, MR. ANDERSON, ABOUT EQUITABLE RESTORATION.

AND WEALTH BUILDING.

AND, MR. BAKER, THIS FINAL QUESTION TO YOU I GUESS.

SO MUCH WAS LOST.

WHEN THE HIGHWAY CAME THROUGH THE RONDO NEIGHBORHOOD.

I DON'T KNOW EVEN KNOW HOW MANY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OVER THE YEARS YOU COULD -- I'M SURE THERE'S SOMEONE HAS PROBABLY LOOKED AT THAT.

MILLIONS LOST WITH ALL THOSE BUSINESSES LOST, RIGHT?

SO HOW MUCH WILL THIS GO TOWARD RESTORING THE ECONOMICS OF THAT AREA PERHAPS?

>> WELL, I MEAN, WHAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT HERE IS TO RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS A COMMUNITY-DRIVEN PROCESS.

ORDINARILY, ORGANIZATIONS, TRANSPORTATION, CITIES AND COUNTIES AND SO FORTH.

AND SO BECAUSE WE CONNECT RONDOO ORGANIZATION IS DRIVING THE OPERATION, WE HAVE A CHANCE TO RESHAPE AND REFRAME HOW THINGS TRANSFER AND TRANSLATE BAKST TO THE COMMUNITY AS BENEFITS.

AND THOSE LAND USE OPPORTUNITIES, WHAT YOU HAVE IS DEVELOPERS BEING PRIMARY BENEFICIARIES, COMMUNITIES BEING SECONDARY BENEFICIARIES.

WHAT WE INTEND WITH THIS PROJECT IS JUST TO REVERSE THAT BY ALLOWING A COMMUNITY TO BE PRIMARY BENEFICIARY, SECONDARY, TERTIARY, AND THEN THOSE OF US THAT ARE AROUND TO SUPPORT THE EFFORT, IN TERMS OF DEVELOPERS, ENSURING THAT THAT BECOME AS THE OUTCOME.

SO $157 MILLION, IF WE WERE TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE VALUE OF HOMES TODAY, THAT REALLY, $150 MILLION WORTH OF EQUITY LOST, IF THOSE HOMES HAD REMAINED.

WHICH IS FAR MORE CALCULATION ASSOCIATED WITH THAT THAT WE'VE CONDUCTED A NUMBER OF STUDIES.

AND WE CERTAINLY HAVE THESE THINGS ON OUR WEBSITE.

AT RECONNECTRONDO.COM.

>> Cathy: OKAY.

>> AND PEOPLE CAN DIG A LITTLE BIT DEEPER IF THEY'D LIKE TO.

>> Cathy: MR. BAKER, MR. ANDERSON, GOOD TO SEE YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.

>> YOU BET.

♪♪ >> VACCINATION NUMBERS ARE INCREASING.

MINNESOTA SCHOOLS ARE RETURNING TO IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION.

AND EACH OF US ARE FINDING OUR OWN PERSONAL LIGHTS GLITTERING AT THE END OF THIS LONG, DARK COVID TUNNEL.

FOR ME, I'M GRATEFUL TO BE STANDING IN THE STUDIO AGAIN AFTER A YEAR.

I LOVED THAT THERE WAS ACTUALLY TRAFFIC ON MY DRIVE DOWN HERE.

BUT I THINK I'M MOST GRATEFUL FOR FRESCA.

YOU MAY HAVE MISSED THIS IN THE GREAT TOILET PAPER SHORTAGE OF 2020, BUT THERE WERE SEVERAL MONTHS BACK THERE WHERE DIET SODAS OF ANY KIND WERE HARD TO FIND.

AND FRESCA?

YOU WOULD HAVE HAD HAVE A BETTER CHANCE OF FINDING THE WINTER CARNIVAL MEDALLION THAN A 12-PACK OF THAT CITRUS-Y DELIGHT.

AS EARLY AS JUNE OF LAST YEAR, A COLUMNIST FOR THE "CHICAGO TRIBUNE" WAS INVESTIGATING THIS ADMITTEDLY-NOT-VERY-PRESSING ISSUE.

LOOK ON THE INTERNET, AND YOU'LL FIND A SMALL-BUT-DEVOTED CADRE OF FRESCA-LOVERS DEMANDING ANSWERS.

SOME BLAME THE INCREASED DEMAND FOR ALUMINUM CANS, AND THE INSIDIOUS INFLUENCE OF BIG BEER TO CORNER THE MARKET.

OTHERS NOTE THAT LOTS OF ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS ARE MANUFACTURED IN CHINA, WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN SEEKING TO EXPLOIT OUR SOFT, FLABBY UNDERBELLY.

AND THEN OF COURSE, BOTTLING PLANTS SLOWED OR STOPPED PRODUCTION DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC, AND THE HUMBLE-YET-DELICIOUS FRESCA WAS SIMPLY NOT A PRIORITY.

ALL I KNOW IS THAT THE DAY I WANDERED INTO THE GROCERY STORE AND SAW THOSE FEW CASES GLIMMERING ON THE SHELVES, I LEAPT ON THEM LIKE A MAN DYING OF THIRST, WHICH I WAS.

WHEN THE PEACH AND BLACK CHERRY VARIETIES STARTED APPEARING, I KNEW MY PERSONAL LONG NATIONAL NIGHTMARE WAS NEARING AN END.

THANKS, FRESCA.

IT'S GOOD TO HAVE YOU BACK.

MMM!

YEAH.

♪♪ >> ERIC: PITCHERS AND CATCHERS REPORTED THIS WEEK.

AND BASKETBALL IS IN FULL SWING AS TALKS TURN SOON TO MARCH MADNESS.

BUT ALL THINGS ARE DIFFERENT THIS YEAR OF COURSE DUE TO COVID.

HERE TO TALK ABOUT THAT, AND A TRULY AWFUL SUPER BOWL, LARRY FITZGERALD, SENIOR.

WHEN HE'S NOT MAKING MONTHLY "ALMANAC" APPEARANCES, HE'S DOING RADIO WORK FOR AN OUTFIT CALLED THE NATIONAL PROGRAMMING NETWORK.

TWINS AND WHITE SOX IN THE CENTRAL, IS THAT WHAT IT'S GOING TO COME TO, FITZY?

>> CLEVELAND FINDS A WAY TO THROW THEIR HAT IN THERE.

DETROIT IS EVER IMPROVING.

BUT THERE'S NO SECRET.

THE WHITE SOX ARE IMPROVED.

AND, YOU KNOW, TONY LARUSSO IS BACK, BELIEVE IT OR NOT.

AND THE TWINS ARE THE TWINS.

THEY'VE FOUND A WAY TO BE VERY COMPETITIVE OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

OBVIOUSLY THE POST SEASON HAS BEEN A DISAPPOINTMENT.

BUT THE TWINS ARE GOING TO BE RIGHT THERE EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE MISSING A FEW PIECES FROM LAST YEAR'S TEAM.

>> Eric: ARE WE GETTING TOO GREEDY IF WE EXPECT THEM TO DO BETTER IN THE PLAY OFFS?

WHAT ARE THEY, 0 AND 18 OR SOMETHING?

>> YEAH, IT'S DISAPPOINTING, IRRITATING, FRUSTRATING TO ANYBODY WHO GOES INTO IT, PARTICULARLY LAST YEAR, PLAYING A ASTRO TEAM WITH THE HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE AND THE ASTROS HAD A LOSING RECORD IN THE REGULAR SEASON DURING THE 60 GAMES, BUT MINNESOTA COULDN'T HANDLE THEM AND GOT SWEPT AND THAT FRUSTRATING LOSS LAST YEAR LEADS TO THE CONTINUATION OF ONE OF THE MOST FRUSTRATING LOSING STREAKS IN THE HISTORY OF BASEBALL.

>> Cathy: LET'S TALK ABOUT THE WOLVES HERE, FITZY.

ANTHONY EDWARDS LOOKS LIKE THE REAL DEAL BUT DON'T YOU THINK HE NEEDS A LITTLE BIT OF HELP ON HIS OUTSIDE SHOOTING?

>> THE INABILITY TO HAVE WHAT THEY CALL TION THE SUMMER LEAGUE, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS NO SUMMER LEAGUE WITH THE COVID AND THE SITUATION THAT WE'RE ALL EXPERIENCING AND DEALING WITH.

AND SO THEY DRAFTED HIM.

HE WAS AVAILABLE.

HE'S NOW IN THE MIX.

AND SO HE'S GOING THROUGH SOME UPS AND DOWNS.

AND THERE -- IT'S THE LITTLE THINGS, THE FUNDAMENTAL THINGS THAT YOUNG PLAYERS WHO COME IN WITH ALL THIS EXPECTATION AND ABILITY DON'T GET TO DO.

AND IT'S ADDED TO A TIMBERWOLVES SITUATION WHERE YOU LOOK AT KARL ANTHONY TOWNES, HE'S HAD TO BATTLE COVID AND HE'S BACK.

AND THEN YOU LOOK AT THE FACT THAT THEY HAD DEANGELO RUSSEL.

THEY BRING IN MALIK BEASLEY.

TOWNS AND RUSSEL, THEY'VE ONLY PLAYED FIVE GAMES TOGETHER.

AND THESE GUYS HAVE BEEN HERE FOR BETTER THAN A YEAR NOW.

BUT IT'S INJURIES.

IT'S COVID.

IT'S A LOT OF THINGS.

BUT THE CONTINUATION OF THE HORRENDOUS TIMBERWOLF BASKETBALL THING IS JUST ONE OF THE MOST AMAZING THINGS THAT I'VE WITNESSED IN A LONG TIME COVERING SPORTS.

>> Eric: NOW, THE GOPHER MEN, I WANT TO ASK YOU IF THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE THE NCAA TOURNAMENT AND ONE REASON IS ALL OF THE TOURNAMENT ARE GOING TO BE IN INDIANA.

AND WHEN YOU GO THERE, THEY TALK ABOUT YOU IN HUSHED TONES.

>> AND OF COURSE CHERYL REEVES, WHENEVER SHE GETS DOWN THERE.

FOR ME, I'M DISAPPOINTED THAT THE BIG TEN TOURNAMENT DECIDED THEY'RE GOING TO MOVE THE TOURNAMENT FROM CHICAGO, WHICH, YOU KNOW, I ALWAYS WANT TO GO HOME, TO INDIANA, WHICH, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY WHERE I WENT TO SCHOOL, BUT THE GOPHERS RIGHT NOW, MAN, THEY'RE IN A BIT OF TROUBLE.

THEY'RE 13-9.

THEY CAN'T WIN ON THE ROAD.

THEY JUST LOST KELCHER, A BROKEN FINGER IN HIS SHOOTING HAND.

AND THEY'VE BEEN LOSING GAMES THAT THEY'VE HAD A CHANCE TO WIN AND THEY GOT A GREAT OPPORTUNITY THIS WEEKEND.

IF THEY CAN BEAT ILLINOIS, THEY'RE NUMBER FIVE IN THE NATION AND ILLINOIS KILLED THEM THE LAST TIME THEY PLAYED, THE GOPHERS WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO IMPROVE ON THEIR RESUME WITH FOUR GAMES LEFT.

BUT I CAN'T SEE THEM MAKING THE TOURNAMENT IF THEY DON'T WIN ANY ROAD GAMES AND THEY'VE ONLY GOT ONE LEFT AND THAT'S AT PENN STATE.

>> Cathy: THE WILD ARE DEALING WITH -- THEY HAVE THEIR OWN COVID PROBLEMS.

>> THEY DO.

AND IT'S BEEN DISAPPOINTING AND FRUSTRATING FOR THEM.

I THINK FOR ALL THESE ORGANIZATIONS.

I MEAN, NOT JUST THE NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE AND THE WILD.

BUT I MEAN, YOU LOOK AT BIG TEN, FOR EXAMPLE.

MICHIGAN, THEY'RE NUMBER THREE IN THE COUNTRY.

THEY'RE 15-1.

THEY WENT THREE WEEKS WITHOUT PLAYING A GAME AND IT'S BECAUSE OF COVID PROTOCOLS AND THE OTHER ISSUES IN REGARD TO LOSING AND PROTECTING THE HEALTH OF THEIR PLAYERS.

BUT FOR THE NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE, I MEAN, LOOK AT TORONTO.

I MEAN, THE WHOLE COUNTRY, BASICALLY, HAS SHUT THE BORDER, I MEAN, THE RAPTORS ARE IN TOWN AND THEY DON'T HAVE A HOME.

THEY DON'T PLAY ANY HOME GAMES.

I THINK IT HAPPENED IN TORONTO, THE BASEBALL TEAM HAD TO PLAY IN BUFFALO LAST YEAR.

SO -- >> Eric: IT'S NUTTY.

>> I CAN'T WAIT TO GET THROUGH THIS THING.

IT'S JUST BEEN ONE OF THE MOST FRUSTRATING THINGS WE CAN EXPERIENCE.

>> Eric: THANKS, FITZY.

GREAT TO SEE YOU.

STAY WARM, MAN.

♪♪ >> I AM A SOLDIER, I'M A VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER, I SERVED ON A SCHOOL BOARD SO FOR ME, IT'S JUST ABOUT BEING IN SERVICE.

I KNOW THAT KINDS OF SOUNDS CHEESY.

ANY CHANCE I GET TO BE OF SERVICE, ESPECIALLY TO THE COMMUNITY OR TO THE STATE, I'M GOING TO TAKE THAT OPPORTUNITY.

SO THIS RACE WAS UNDER A MICROSCOPE, WASN'T IT?

>> I'LL BE HONEST.

I DON'T THINK I EXACTLY KNEW THE KINDS OF SCRUTINY THAT MIGHT BE INVOLVED WITH THIS PARTICULAR RACE.

I CERTAINLY LEARNED THAT ALONG THE WAY.

BUT INITIALLY I WAS KIND OF NAIVE TO JUST HOW IN TUNED PEOPLE MIGHT BE TO THE RACE IN DISTRICT 58.

♪♪ >> ERIC: STATE LAWMAKERS CONTINUED TO ARGUE THIS WEEK ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY, COVID, AND BACK TO SCHOOL PLANS.

LET'S VIRTUALLY CHAT ABOUT IT ALL WITH REPUBLICAN POLITICAL CONSULTANT BRIAN MCCLUNG AND FORMER DFL LAWMAKER, NOW LOBBYIST, JEFF HAYDEN.

SENATOR, I'VE BEEN ANXIOUS TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THIS WEEK, THE D.F.L.

HAS THE MAJORITY IN THE STATE HOUSE.

THEY CAN'T GET THE GOVERNOR'S $35 MILLION SECURITY FUND OUT OF THAT CHAMBER.

SO GOING DEEP INTO THE WEEDS HERE, WHY WOULD THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE BRING THAT BILL TO THE FLOOR WHEN SHE DIDN'T HAVE THE VOTES TO PASS IT?

>> WELL, I THINK WE GOT TO LOOK AT IT A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY.

ERIC.

ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK WE SHOULD LOOK AT IS THIS WAS A BILL THAT THE MPPOA, THE SHERIFFS, THE GOVERNOR, RIGHT, AND MANY DEMOCRATS WANTED AND WE GOT ZERO REPUBLICANS ON IT.

ZERO REPUBLICANS.

SO THERE WERE A FEW DEMOCRATS THAT DIDN'T VOTE FOR -- BUT MAJORITY, THEY DID, THEY UNDERSTOOD HOW IMPORTANT THIS WAS.

THEY TEAMED UP WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE GOVERNOR AND WE GOT NO REPUBLICANS TO VOTE FOR IT.

>> Eric: SO YOU'RE TRYING TO GET REPUBLICANS ON THE RECORD, BUT IF YOU GOT THE MAJORITY, YOU RUN THE CHAMBER, YOU SHOULDN'T BE DEPENDING ON REPUBLICAN VOTES, SHOULD YOU?

>> I THINK THIS SHOULD BE A BIPARTISAN VOTE.

I MEAN, THIS IS ACTUALLY SAYING THAT WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO SPEND THE STATE'S MONEY, TO BE ABLE TO PROTECT THE ASSETS OF THE SOME OF THE GREATEST ASSETS IN THE STATE.

THAT SHOULDN'T BE A DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN ISSUE.

IT SHOULD BE A ISSUE.

>> Cathy: BILL, WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS?

>> I THINK THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IN RECENT HISTORY, CERTAINLY IN MY MEMORY THAT, A GOVERNOR'S PRIORITY, A BILL THAT WAS BROUGHT TO THE FLOOR BY THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE FAILED ON A FLOOR VOTE.

I MEAN, THAT ESSENTIALLY NEVER HAPPENS.

AND SO I ABSOLUTELY AGREE WITH SENATOR HAYDEN.

IT HAS TO BE A BIPARTISAN AGREEMENT.

AND REPUBLICANS OFFERED A REAL COMPROMISE, AND SO THEY WANT TO WORK TOWARDS SOMETHING THAT WILL PROTECT OUR COMMUNITIES AND MAKE SURE THE FUNDING IS THERE.

BUT THERE WERE CLEARLY ISSUES WITH BOTH DEMOCRATIC MEMBERS AND REPUBLICAN MEMBERS.

SO NOW THEY'VE GOT TO SORT THAT OUT.

JUST NOT IN THE HOUSE BUT ALSO RELATIVE TO THE SENATE VERSION THAT WAS PASSED LAST WEEK.

BUT REALLY, I MEAN, THAT IS A STUNNING REBUKE TO HAVE A GOVERNOR'S PRIORITY COME TO THE HOUSE FLOOR AND NOT BE ABLE TO PASS.

EVEN WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE SPEAKER.

>> Cathy: SENATOR HAYDEN, ABOUT SIX DFLerS VOTED WITH THE G.O.P.

WHAT WAS BEHIND THAT MOVE?

>> YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW.

I HAVEN'T TALKED TO THEM.

I THINK SOME OF THEM IS ON PHILOSOPHICAL ISSUES.

OTHERS REALLY WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE BILL HAD SOME OF THE ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES.

BUT I KNOW REPRESENTATIVE MARIANI WANTED.

I JUST THINK THAT THIS JUST NEEDS A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME.

WE GOT A LOT OF TIME LEFT IN THE SESSION AND THOSE JOINT POWERS AGREEMENTS ARE REALLY IMPORTANT, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE HAVE TO PAY FOR THEM.

SO THOUGH I HEARD EITHER THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE, BUT I HAVEN'T TALKED TO ANY MEMBER OF THE HOUSE YET ON IT.

BUT I THINK THAT THERE IS TENSION AND THERE IS SOME CONSTERNATION ABOUT HOW THIS BILL WOULD WORK AND MAKING SURE THAT IT DOESN'T GO AGAINST THEIR VALUES OR THEIR CONSTITUENTS' VALUES.

>> Eric: BRIAN IS THE SCHOOL OPENING QUESTION GETTING SOME PROBLEMS POLITICALLY FOR THE DEMOCRATS?

>> YEAH, I THINK THIS IS POTENTIALLY THE MAJOR ISSUE OF THE 2022 ELECTIONS.

SUBURBAN PARENTS AND I'M A SUBURBAN PARENTS AND OTHER SUBURBAN PARENTS THAT I'VE TALKED TO, YOU KNOW, MANY OF THOSE VOTERS HAD SHIFTED AND VOTED FOR DEMOCRATS IN THE LAST ELECTION CYCLE.

AND NOW I THINK YOU'RE SEEING THEM WITH THIS SERIOUS CONCERN.

AND TALK ABOUT NEXT FALL, SCHOOL NOT EVEN STARTING AGAIN.

AND SO IT'S GOING WAY TOO SLOW.

WE HAVE EXAMPLES OF SCHOOLS ACROSS MINNESOTA THAT HAVE BEEN IN SESSION, IN PERSON, SINCE SEPTEMBER.

YOU HAVE SCHOOLS, YOU KNOW, 20 MINUTES AWAY IN HUDSON, WISCONSIN, THAT HAVE BEEN IN PERSON SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.

SO I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF FRUSTRATION.

I THINK THE DEMOCRATS HAVE PLAYED TOO HEAVILY WITH THE TEACHERS UNION.

I DON'T SAY THIS ABOUT TEACHERS.

I THINK TEACHERS DO A GREAT JOB.

MY MOM WAS A TEACHER AT A PUBLIC SCHOOL.

BUT THIS INABILITY TO GET KIDS BACK IN PERSON IS HAVING A REAL IMPACT ON FAMILIES AND A REAL IMPACT ON KIDS AND THEIR FUTURES.

>> Eric: SENATOR, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> WELL, I WOULDN'T USE HUDSON, WISCONSIN AS AN EXAMPLE OF WHO WE SHOULD FOLLOW.

BUT I DO THINK THE GOVERNOR WAS FOLLOWING THE SCIENCE.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT NOW, HE IS MOVING TOWARDS GETTING KIDS IN SCHOOL.

HE IS ALLOWING SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO HAVE SOME ABILITY TO TALK ABOUT HOW ARE THEY GOING TO DO IT.

EACH SCHOOL DISTRICT IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

SO DEPENDING UPON WHERE YOU ARE, PEOPLE THINK ABOUT THIS DIFFERENTLY.

I DON'T THINK THAT PAROCHIAL AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS IS REALLY THE MODEL.

IT'S A MUCH DIFFERENT MODEL.

THEY DO A HYBRID.

I KNOW AT A LOT OF THE PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS THAT I TALK TO.

SO I THINK WE'RE GETTING THERE, WE'RE MOVING FORWARD AND I THINK WE SHOULD BE CAREFUL SIMPLY TO SAY WHAT ALL THE SUBURBS ARE GOING TO DO OR WHAT ALL THE URBAN AREAS ARE BEGUN DO.

I THINK PEOPLE ARE REALLY PROTECTIVE OF THEIR CHILDREN.

>> Cathy: WHAT DOES IT SAY THAT K-12 ENROLLMENT WENT DOWN SUBSTANTIALLY OVER THE PAST YEAR?

ARE YOU BOTH WORRIED ABOUT THAT?

>> WRNS A BIG PART OF THAT WAS A DRAMATIC INCREASE ESPECIALLY AMONG HOME SCHOOLERS.

AND SO THE HOME SCHOOL POPULATION WENT UP ALMOST 50%.

SO A LOT OF PEOPLE DECIDED THAT THEY WERE GOING TO TAKE OVER THAT RESPONSIBILITY, DO THAT THEMSELVES, MAYBE POOL WITH OTHER FAMILIES.

YOU DID SEE ESPECIALLY PRIVATE SCHOOL ENROLLMENT, IT DID GO UP.

AND PARTICULARLY FOR IN KINDERGARTEN, IT WENT UP.

SO I THINK THERE WAS A SHIFT.

AND I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WE NEED MORE SCHOOL CHOICE IN MINNESOTA.

YOU SEE FAMILIES LOOKING FOR CHOICES, LOOKING FOR OTHER OPTIONS.

THAT SHOULDN'T JUST BE AVAILABLE FOR PEOPLE OF MEANS.

THAT SHOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR ALL MINNESOTA FAMILIES.

SO IT SHOULDN'T MATTER WHAT ZIP CODE YOU'RE IN, WHAT YOUR FAMILY'S FINANCIAL SITUATION IS.

YOU SHOULD HAVE THE ABILITY TO CHOOSE THE SCHOOL THAT'S BEST FOR YOU.

WE SEE PARENTS LOOKING FOR THAT RIGHT NOW AND WE SHOULD MAKE THAT AN OPTION FOR EVERYBODY.

>> Cathy: SENATOR HAYDEN, WHEN YOU SAW THOSE FIGURES OUT TODAY, WHAT DID YOU THINK?

>> THE SCHOOL CHOICE ANGLE, THAT'S NOT WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.

THIS IS ABOUT COVID-19 AND BEING SAFE.

IF I HAD A KINDERGARTENER, I WOULD HAVE TO THINK ABOUT, THIS IS ME, DO I NEED TO HOME SCHOOL HIM IN THIS OFFICE OR IF I CAN WAIT ANOTHER YEAR AND STILL GET THE INSTRUCTION.

THAT'S WHAT YOU SAW AT THE KINDERGARTEN LEVEL.

OTHERS STARTED TO THINK ABOUT HOME SCHOOLING IF THAT'S WHAT THEY WANTED TO DO.

BUT I JUST THINK THAT COVID-19 IS REALLY THE ISSUE.

AND THE BLUNDER THAT WE HAD IS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF WHAT WE HAD IN WASHINGTON AND THAT REALLY STARTING TO KIND OF HAVE A RIPPLE EFFECT THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

I'M NOT AS WORRIED.

I THINK PUBLIC SCHOOLS WILL BE FINE NEXT YEAR.

I THINK YOU'LL SEE ENROLLMENT SKY-ROCKET.

RIGHT NOW WHAT WE GOT TO THINK ABOUT IS HOW DO WE MOVE FORWARD, HOW DO WE GET KIDS IN SCHOOL SAFELY, HOW DO WE DO SUMMER INSTRUCTION TO GET THEM TO CATCH UP AND I THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE OKAY.

>> Eric: THE RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA BILL IS MOVING IN THE HOUSE.

DOES THAT HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE 155,000 VOTES THAT THE TWO POT PARTIES GOT IN THE LAST ELECTION?

>> WELL, I WOULD SAY THIS.

I HAD THAT BILL IN THE SENATE LAST YEAR.

WE WORKED AWFULLY HARD TO PUT TOGETHER A COMPREHENSIVE PACKAGE.

THAT NOT ONLY LOOKED AT RECREATIONAL AND ADULT USE CANNABIS BUT ALSO LOOKED AT THE HISTORICAL EFFECT IT HAD ON COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

SO THERE'S A TON OF SOCIAL JUSTICE BENEFITS.

SO I WANT TO SHOUT-OUT MAJORITY LEADER WINKLER FOR PUTTING TOGETHER A PRETTY GOOD BILL.

I HAD A LITTLE PART OF THAT.

BUT I ALSO WILL SAY THAT I THINK THAT THE REPUBLICANS HAVE PLAYED GAMES WITH THIS AND HAS RECRUITED CANDIDATE EASE TO RUN JUST TO TAKE AWAY DEMOCRATIC VOTES BUT THEN WON'T GIVE IT A HONEST HEARING, AT LEAST IN THE SENATE.

SOLE I THINK THAT PEOPLE ARE REALLY STARTING TO UNDERSTAND THAT.

I THINK WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD.

I THINK THE PRESSURE WILL BE ON THE REPUBLICANS TO HEAR THE BILL AND GET SOMETHING DONE.

>> Eric: COUNTY ATTORNEYS AND POLICE STILL AGAINST MARIJUANA, AND SENATE AGAINST IT, BRIAN?

>> YEAH, THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING, AND LAW ENFORCEMENT STILL HAS CONCERNS.

CERTAINLY SOME REPUBLICANS DO AS WELL.

THERE ARE, THOUGH, A NUMBER OF LIBERTARIAN LEANING REPUBLICANS THAT SUPPORT IT.

I DON'T THINK WE'RE THERE YET AS A STATE.

I THINK THERE'S SOMETHING THAT TAKES A LONGER TERM CONVERSATION.

I WILL ALSO SAY THAT I THINK IT'S INTERESTING THAT HOUSE DEMOCRATS ARE WILLING TO PASS ADULT USE CANNABIS, BUT WE CAN'T SEEM TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A -- UNLEASHING THE GROWLER, AND GETTING RID OF THE GROWLER CAPS AND THE OTHER THINGS ARE STOPPING OUR CRAFT BREWERIES FROM EXCELLING.

MAYBE MAKE IT EASIER TO SELL SOME BEER AT THE SAME TIME.

>> Eric: FOR A FUTURE SEGMENT.

THANKS, MEN.

APPRECIATE IT.

♪♪ >> CATHY: WE HAVE A NEW HISTORY QUESTION FOR YOU, AND IT CONCERNS A TERM THAT IS NOW VERY COMMON BUT WASN'T USED OFTEN UNTIL THE RECENT PAST.

WE DID SOME RESEARCH AND DISCOVERED THAT THIS FAMILIAR TERM DID NOT APPEAR IN PRINT IN A MINNESOTA NEWSPAPER UNTIL FEBRUARY 1979 WHEN AN "ASSOCIATED PRESS" STORY CONTAINING THE TERM WAS PRINTED IN THE WINONA AND ST.

CLOUD DAILY NEWSPAPERS.

YOUR TASK IS SIMPLE.

DO SOME DIGGING AND TELL US WHAT THIS TERM WAS.

WHAT NOW COMMON TERM FIRST APPEARED IN A MINNESOTA NEWSPAPER THIS WEEK IN 1979?

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU WHETHER YOU ARE CALLING FROM NEAR THE SHORES OF LOBSTER LAKE, OYSTER LAKE, OR CRAB LAKE.

MAKES YOU HUNGRY JUST HEARING THOSE NAMES.

651-229-1430 IS THE WAY TO REACH OUR VOICEMAIL.

OR YOU CAN EMAIL US AT ALMANAC@TPT.ORG.

WE ASKED YOU TO CONTACT US LAST WEEK AFTER WE SHOWED THE 17-MINUTE DOCUMENTARY ON THE TOPIC OF STRUCTURAL RACISM.

"LISTEN!

PLEASE!"

WAS CREATED BY J.D.

STEELE.

WE HEARD FROM MORE THAN 50 OF YOU WITH COMMENTS, AND NEARLY ALL OF YOU SUPPORTED OUR DECISION TO SHOW THE ENTIRE FILM AS PART OF OUR BROADCAST.

HERE'S A SAMPLING OF YOUR CALLS.

>> CATHY: IF YOU MISSED THE FILM THE FIRST TIME AROUND OR WISH TO WATCH IT AGAIN, YOU HAVE SEVERAL CHOICES.

YOU CAN GO RIGHT NOW TO TPT.ORG/ALMANAC AND WATCH LAST WEEK'S PROGRAM.

TWIN CITIES PBS HAS ALSO CREATED A HALF-HOUR SPECIAL FEATURING THE FILM AND DISCUSSION ABOUT IT.

TWIN CITIANS CAN WATCH THIS SPECIAL ON TPT-2 ON FEBRUARY 24TH AND AGAIN ON FEBRUARY 28TH.

FOR ALL THE AIRTIMES, GO TO TPT.ORG AND SEARCH FOR "LISTEN!

PLEASE!"

FOR SHOW-CLOSING MUSIC THIS WEEK, WE TURN THE STAGE OVER TO AN ARCHIVAL CLIP BY FOLKSINGER BILL STAINES.

HE'S MADE 20 ALBUMS, AND HE APPEARED IN THIS STUDIO THIS WEEK IN THE YEAR 2000.

LET'S LISTEN TO BILL AS WE ROLL THE CREDITS.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT WEEK WHEN WE'LL START A SERIES OF CONVERSATIONS WITH PHOTOGRAPHERS ON THE NORTH SHORE.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

♪♪ >> HE WAS KIND OF A LOCAL MONUMENT ♪ ♪ YOU KNOW, YOU'D ALWAYS FIND HIM THERE ♪ ♪ HE NEVER CAUSED ANYBODY ANY TROUBLE ♪ ♪ JUST PASSING BY ♪ ♪ US KIDS WE USED TO GO TO HIM.

WE'D LISTEN TO HIS SONGS ♪ ♪ SOME OF THEM WERE HAPPY.

WELL, SOME WERE JUST PLAIN WRONG ♪ ♪ YOU USED TO PICK THEM OUT ON THIS OLD GUITAR ♪ ♪ I CAN STILL REMEMBER ALL THE WORDS THAT OLE PENN SPOKE TO ME ♪ ♪ DON'T YOU GO TELLING NO LIES ♪ ♪ GET YOU IN DEEP TROUBLE ♪ ♪ JUST FOLLOW YOU LIKE FLIES ♪ ♪ HE SAID, SON, WATCH WHERE YOU'RE WALKING ♪ ♪ AND DON'T BE AFRAID TO LOSE ♪ ♪ PUT YOUR MEMORIES IN YOUR TRAVELING BAG AND MILES UPON YOUR SHOES ♪ ♪ PUT YOUR MEMORIES IN YOUR TRAVELING BAG AND MILES UPON YOUR SHOES ♪ Captioned by: Paradigm Reporting & Captioning www.paradigmreporting.com >> "ALMANAC" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY MEMBERS OF THIS PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION.

SUPPORT IS ALSO PROVIDED BY... GREAT RIVER ENERGY: PROVIDING ELECTRICITY AND RELATED SERVICES TO 28 CO-OPS IN MINNESOTA.

A TOUCHSTONE ENERGY COOPERATIVE.

DELTA DENTAL OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION: INVESTING $25 MILLION TO IMPROVE DENTAL CARE FOR MINNESOTANS IN NEED.

DELTADENTALMN.ORG/TPT.

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

ENBRIDGE: CONNECTING MINNESOTANS WITH ENERGY FOR OVER 70 YEARS.

MORE AT ENBRIDGE.COM/LINETHREEUS.

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

MORE AT EDUCATIONMINNESOTA.ORG.

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