OF TWIN CITIES PBS FOR THE STATIONS OF MINNESOTA PUBLIC TELEVISION ASSOCIATION.

>> CATHY: THERE'’S A LOT TO TALK ABOUT ON TONIGHT'’S SHOW.

WE'’LL FIND OUT HOW WELL THE ST. PAUL REFERENDUM DESIGNED TO CONTROL RENT HIKES IS WORKING, LARRY FITZGERALD, SR., IS IN THE HOUSE TO TALK ABOUT THE PUNCHLESS TWINS, AND MARY LAHAMMER INTRODUCES US TO AN INFLUENTIAL LAWMAKER WHO YOU PROBABLY HAVEN'’T HEARD OF.

>> Mary: A FOOTBALL COACH FROM NEBRASKA PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, AND WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THE GOVERNOR.

WE'LL HAVE THE STORY [ TAPPING GAVEL ] >> THE HOUSE WILL COME TO ORDER.

>> Mary: THAT FEEL GOOD?

>> I COULD DO THAT IN MY SLEEP.

>> Mary: THAT'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 WHOLESALE POWER TO 27 MINNESOTA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES.

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DELTADENTALMN.ORG/TPT.

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

MORE AT EDUCATIONMINNESOTA.ORG.

"ONE GREATER MINNESOTA" REPORTING ON "ALMANAC" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE OTTO BREMER TRUST, WHOSE MISSION IS INVESTING IN PEOPLE, PLACES AND OPPORTUNITIES IN OUR REGION.

>> CATHY: OVER THE NEXT HOUR WE'’LL FIND OUT HOW WILDFIRES IN CANADA CAN AFFECT US HERE IN MINNESOTA, KAOMI LEE SHOWS US WHAT IS BEING DONE TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF FARMER SUICIDES, AND ESSAYIST TANE DANGER HAS BEEN LEARNING ABOUT HOW WE PERCEIVE COLORS.

>> ERIC: BUT, FIRST, AN UPDATE ON THE EFFORT TO CONTROL THE COST OF RENTING AN APARTMENT IN ST. PAUL.

THE RENT STABILIZATION ORDINANCE, WHICH VOTERS APPROVED IN 2021, WAS DESIGNED TO LIMIT RENT INCREASES TO 3% UNLESS THE LANDLORD WAS GRANTED AN EXEMPTION.

BUT A LOT OF EXEMPTIONS HAVE BEEN MADE SINCE THE ORDINANCE WENT INTO EFFECT LAST YEAR.

THE CITY ESTIMATES THAT ABOUT 1/3 OF ST. PAUL RENTAL PROPERTIES ARE EXEMPT FROM RENT CONTROL.

FREDERICK MELO HAS BEEN COVERING THIS STORY FOR THE ST. PAUL "PIONEER PRESS" AND HE JOINS US NOW.

IS THIS ORDINANCE HAS BEEN REDUCED TO KIND OF SWISS CHEESE?

>> YOU KNOW, I TALKED TO THE CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND SHE WAS A BIG VOICE FOR GETTING SOME OF THESE EXEMPTIONS.

SHE SAID, HIS ORDINANCE IS WHAT PEOPLE THOUGHT THEY WERE VOTING ON IN NOVEMBER 2021.

IN HER VIEW, SHE'S MADE IT -- SHE AND THE REST OF THE COUNCIL HAVE MADE THE ORDINANCE A LITTLE BIT MORE LIKE WHAT YOU SEE IN NEW YORK OR WHAT YOU SEE IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS.

THAT WE HAVE THE STRICTEST RENT CONTROL, 3% CAP, NO EXEMPTIONS FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION, NO EXEMPTIONS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

OTHER CITIES DO HAVE THOSE EXEMPTIONS AND NOW WE DO TOO.

SO IN HER MIND, IT'S NOT SWISS CHEESE, IT'S BACK TO NORMAL.

>> Eric: TELL US ABOUT THE BALANCING OF THE VOTERS' WISHES VERSUS MAYBE REAL LIFE IN THE RENTAL MARKET, PLEASE.

>> SURE, YEAH, I MEAN, THAT'S GOING TO BE THE ARGUMENT THAT'S GOING TO BE CARRIED FORWARD, ESPECIALLY AFTER THE NOVEMBER ELECTIONS, I THINK FOUR OF OUR SEVEN CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE NOT RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION.

SO THAT'S GOING TO BE THE DISCUSSION, IS, YOU KNOW, VOTERS APPROVED A 3% CAP.

I TALKED TO A WOMAN WHO IS IN HER 80s, SHE GOT A 6%, ACTUALLY AN 8% RENT INCREASE, SHE'S GOING, WHAT WAS THE POINT OF A 3% CAP IF I'M IN MY 80s, I'M IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND EVEN I'M NOT PROTECTED FULLY?

A LOT OF LANDLORDS ARE COMING FORWARD AND SAYING THERE'S NOW A VACANCY DECONTROL, WHICH IS A FANCY WAY OF AYING, IF AN APARTMENT'S EMPTY, YOU KNOW, SOMEONE MOVED OUT, THEY BOUGHT A HOUSE, FOR WHATEVER REASON LEFT, YOU CAN ACTUALLY GO AND INCREASE THE RENT BY INFLATION PLUS 8%.

YOU DO THE MATH.

7% INFLATION, 8%, THAT'S A 15% INCREASE.

>> Eric: YEAH.

>> SO YOU'RE SEEING DOZENS, ABOUT 90 LANDLORDS A MONTH COMING FORWARD SAYING, MY UNIT'S EMPTY, GIVE ME 15% INCREASE.

THAT'S NOT 3%.

THAT'S NOT WHAT THE VOTERS APPROVED.

>> Eric: O.

>> Cathy: WHAT HAPPENED TO THE POOR ELDERLY WOMAN?

WHAT HAPPENED IN HER CASE?

THAT'S A HEFTY RENT HIKE.

>> SO WHAT SHE AID IS, YOU KNOW, SOCIAL SECURITY INCREASED, AND THERE GOES MY SOCIAL SECURITY INCREASE.

BASICALLY SHE'S ABLE TO STAY IN HER APARTMENT, THANK GOODNESS, BUT IT'S GOING TO BE TOUGH.

THE CITY COUNCIL EXEMPTED AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THEY EXEMPTED NEW CONSTRUCTION, AND THE LOOK-BACK PERIOD WAS 20 YEARS.

IF YOU WERE BUILT 12 YEARS AGO, YOU'RE EXEMPT FROM RENT CONTROL.

>> Eric: ON THE OTHER HAND, THIS HAS SURVIVED A COURT CHALLENGE.

>> OH, YEAH.

YEAH.

THERE WAS A COURT CASE, TWO LANDLORDS CAME FORWARD, ONE DOWNTOWN, ONE IN HIGHLAND PARK, SAID, THIS IS AN ILLEGAL TAKING, AND SOME CONSTITUTIONAL -- -- IT'S UNCONSTITUTIONAL, THE JUDGE SAID, LOOK, WE'VE HEARD THESE ARGUMENTS LITERALLY FOR 100 YEARS, THEY ROLLED OUT THESE RENT CONTROLS SINCE WORLD WAR I, THEY'VE BEEN AROUND SINCE THE 1920s, GOVERNMENT HAS THE RIGHT TO REGULATE HOUSING.

SOMETHING GOVERNMENT'S ALWAYS DONE.

>> Cathy: IT SOUNDS LIKE DEVELOPERS AND LANDLORDS KIND OF WON.

>> YOU NOW, THAT'S FUNNY, BECAUSE DEVELOPERS WILL SAY THE OPPOSITE.

THEY DIDN'T WANT A 20-YEAR EXEMPTION, THEY WANTED A 30-YEAR EXEMPTION.

AND THERE'S ONE PARTICULAR DEVELOPER, WE'DNER HOMES, THAT WAS GOING TO BUILD SOMETHING LIKE 13 APARTMENT BUILDINGS AT THE OLD FORD SITE, HIGHLAND BRIDGE.

THEY WON'T RETURN CALLS.

I HAVEN'T TALKED TO THEM IN OVER A YEAR.

THEY'RE BUILDING NOTHING AFTER THE INITIAL CONSTRUCTION.

THEY HAD LUND'S GROCERY, APARTMENTS CONNECTED TO THAT.

VERY NICE.

NOWHERE TO BE FOUND SINCE THEN.

>> Eric: AS YOU MENTION, THE CITY COUNCIL IS UP FOR RE-ELECTION AND THERE'S GOING TO BE FOUR NEW EOPLE.

>> YES.

>> Eric: IS THIS INSINUATING ITSELF INTO OLITICS IN THE COUNCIL RACES?

>> I THINK IT WILL.

YEAH, THE FOUR PEOPLE WHO WERE NOT RUNNING WERE THE FOUR WHO WERE MOST VOCAL AGAINST RENT CONTROL.

MAYBE THEY DODGED A BULLET THERE, E'LL NEVER KNOW, IN TERMS OF WHO WILL RUN AGAINST THEM, WHO WILL SAY, HEY, YOU'RE ON THE WRONG SIDE.

BUT CERTAINLY, THERE'S NO POLITICAL PRIMARY.

SO, ON NOVEMBER, YOU KNOW, THE FILINGS ARE IN AUGUST, THEY CLOSE AUGUST 15th, SO IN NOVEMBER, WE'LL SEE RANK-CHOICE ELECTION WITH SOME PRETTY LOUD VOICES FOR ND AGAINST FURTHER CHANGES.

>> Eric: St. PAUL IS A RENTER AJORITY TOWN, RIGHT?

>> YEAH, JUST ABOUT.

IT'S IN THAT 50-50 MARK.

YEAH, IT'S GOING TO BE GIG BIG.

>> Cathy: GOING BACK TO THE DEVELOPERS FOR JUST A MOMENT, YOU MENTIONED THE ONE DEVELOPER WHO HASN'T BUILT ANYTHING IN THE HIGHLAND PARK ENABLED.

DO YOU KNOW WHETHER NEW BUILDING PERMITS ARE UP OR DOWN BECAUSE OF THIS?

>> I LOOKED AT A LOT OF HUD DATA, GOING FROM, I THINK IT WAS MARCH '22 TO MARCH '23, THE PERMITS I SAW WERE DOWN 48%.

SO WE HAD A BIG PLUMMET.

SOME OF THAT MAY JUST BE, WHAT IS THIS, THIS IS BRAND-NEW, HOW DO WE GET AN EXEMPTION, A LOT OF THOSE RULES WEREN'T FEELING VERY SOLID AND THEN THE CITY COUNCIL IN SEPTEMBER KIND OF CRAFTED SOME OF THESE EXEMPTIONS FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION.

THEY DIDN'T TAKE EFFECT UNTIL JANUARY 1.

SO SOME OF THAT MAY HAVE BEEN SOME INITIAL NERVOUSNESS, WHAT'S GOING ON IN St. PAUL?

ANECDOTALLY, IF YOU JUST DRIVE DOWN THE STREET IN St. PAUL, YOU DON'T SEE A LOT OF CRANES RIGHT NOW.

IS THAT RENT CONTROL?

IS THAT THE ECONOMY?

IS THAT INFLATION?

IS THAT LABOR SHORTAGE, SUPPLIES?

SUPPLY CHAIN PROBLEMS?

WE'LL SEE.

>> Eric: GREAT STUFF AS ALWAYS, THANKS, FREDERICK.

>> THANKS.

>> Cathy: THANKS.

>> ERIC: IT WAS A HISTORIC LEGISLATIVE SESSION IN SO MANY WAYS.

ONE ASPECT THAT HASN'’T BEEN COVERED AS MUCH IS THAT THE PERSON WHO RAN THE MAJORITY OF HOUSE FLOOR SESSIONS WASN'’T THE SPEAKER.

MARY LAHAMMER INTRODUCES US TO THE HOUSE DFL'S LINEUP CHANGE THAT SET A NEW PACE FOR PASSING BILLS.

>> IT'S AMAZING TO BE HERE.

>> Mary: THE STATE CAPITOL IS WHERE REPRESENTATIVE DAN WOLGAMOTT ALWAYS WANTED TO BE AND TENACITY GOT HIM HERE WHERE HE EXUDES EAGER, EARNEST ENERGY.

>> IT WAS NOVEMBER OF 2018, AND IT TOOK ME HREE TIMES TO RUN TO WIN, AND ESPECIALLY AFTER THE SECOND TIME THAT I LOST, I THOUGHT I WOULD NEVER GET TO DO THIS.

>> Mary: HE ALSO NEVER THOUGHT HE'D PLAY SUCH AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN HISTORIC LEGISLATIVE SESSION BY SERVING AS SPEAKER PRO TEM, OR TEMPORARY SPEAKER, RUNNING A MAJORITY OF THE FLOOR SESSIONS AT THE END OF SESSION.

>> Mary: NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE GET TO HANG OUT UP HERE.

>> NO, IT'S JUST REMARKABLE.

YOU KNOW, TO BE IN FRONT OF THIS WHOLE SPACE, THIS BEAUTIFUL SPACE, WITH 133 MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES REPRESENTING 5.7 MILLION MINNESOTANS' VOICES UP HERE, I MEAN, IT JUST GIVES YOU GOOSE BUMPS WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT.

[ TAPPING GAVEL ] THE HOUSE WILL TOM COULD ORDER.

>> Mary: THAT FEEL GOOD?

>> I COULD DO THAT IN THE SLEEP.

>> Mary: FOR THE RECORD, THE MUTE BUTTON HAS BEEN REMOVED.

IT MIGHT HAVE EEN TEMPTING, THOUGH?

[ Laughter ] >> THAT'S RIGHT.

WE'VE GOT TO LET THE PEOPLE'S VOICES FLOW THROUGH.

>> Mary: HIS VOICE IS HARD TO MISS, ESPECIALLY WITH THE UNHEARD AMOUNT OF TIME THAT HE SPENT PRESIDING THIS YEAR.

HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU THINK YOU WERE IN THE CHAIR THIS SESSION?

>> I WAS TALKING IT OVER WITH THE CHIEF CLERK AND WE THINK 90 TO 95% OF THE TIME UP THERE.

>> Mary: AND YOU'RE NOT THE SPEAKER.

>> ESPECIALLY AS THE SESSION WENT ON.

>> Mary: YEAH.

BUT THAT'S WHY THERE WAS A SPEAKER PRO TEM, BECAUSE THE SPEAKER'S IN CHARGE OF MANY DIFFERENT THINGS, YOU KNOW, MEMBER MANAGEMENT, NEGOTIATING BILLS, TRACKING EVERYTHING.

AND, SO, IT WAS REALLY AN HONOR THAT SHE TRUSTED ME TO PRESIDE UP THERE IN HER ABSENCE O THAT SHE COULD DO THE WORK OF THE JOB.

>> Mary: WOLGAMOTT FIRST CAME TO MINNESOTA TO PLAY FOOTBALL AT ST. JOHN'S UNIVERSITY AS AN OFFENSIVE LINEMAN FROM NEBRASKA.

>> WELL, I WAS ABOUT 275 BY MY SENIOR YEAR.

I WAS PRETTY BIG.

>> Mary: OKAY, OKAY.

>> LUCKILY, I'VE TRIMMED DOWN A LOT.

I PLAYED FOOTBALL AT ST. JOHN'S UNIVERSITY, OR LEGENDARY FOOTBALL COACH.

AND I'M JUST STARTING MY 11th SEASON COACHING THE FRESHMAN FOOTBALL TEAM AT SAUK RAPIDS HIGH SCHOOL.

THE BIG THING THAT HELPS BEING SPEAKER PRO TEM IS NOT WHAT HAPPENS DURING SESSION BUT WHAT HAPPENS OUTSIDE OF SESSION.

I TAKE THE SAME APPROACH I TOOK IN COLLEGE AND IN COACHING TO WATCHING FILM, RIGHT?

YOU'VE GOT THE GAME FILM, YOU'VE GOT THE PRACTICE FILM, THE SOONEST YOU'RE DONE, YOU GET ON YOUR COUCH, PULL IT UP, GRAB SOME FOOD, BREAK IT ALL DOWN, AND YOU LEARN TENDENCIES.

>> Mary: SO YOU'RE BREAKING DOWN SESSION LIKE YOU BRACH DOWN A FOOTBALL GAME?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

ABSOLUTELY.

>> Mary: THAT'S SURREAL.

>> CRITIQUING MY OWN PERFORMANCES.

>> MR. SPEAKER, POINT OF PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY.

>> MR. SPEAKER.

MR. SPEAKER!

>> MR. SPEAKER!

MR. SPEAKER!

>> I MEAN, IT'S THE JOB.

>> Mary: YOU HAVE KIND OF A NICE GUY IMAGE.

>> THAT'S WHY THE FOOTBALL STUFF IS SO KEY BECAUSE I REMEMBER EVEN GROWING UP, LIKE I KNEW I WANTED TO PLAY FOOTBALL, MY GRANDPA LEGIT WAS LIKE, YOU ARE TOO NICE TO PLAY FOOTBALL.

YOU COULD NEVER HIT ANYBODY.

I CAN GET THAT, I WILL KNOCK YOUR BLOCK OFF, LOOK AND TONE ON YOUR FACE, KIND OF LIKE BEING COACH, RIGHT?

SOMETIMES YOU'VE GOT TO BE TOUGH, STERN, FIRM.

AND SOMETIMES YOU'VE GOT TO LIGHTEN THINGS UP A ITTLE BIT.

BUT YOU'RE CONSTANTLY READING THE ROOM, LOOKING, OKAY, WHO'S TALKING TO WHO, WHAT'S THE VIBE, HOW CAN WE COOL THINGS DOWN HERE, YOU PICK THAT UP FROM WATCHING FILM.

JUST LIKE IN FOOTBALL, YOU DON'T ALWAYS GET IT RIGHT.

BUT YOU GO BACK, YOU LEARN.

>> Mary: AND THE REPRESENTATIVE FROM St.

CLOUD ALSO LEARNED FROM ANOTHER NOTABLE FOOTBALL COACH.

>> WHEN I WAS A SOPHOMORE IN COLLEGE, LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO GET CONNECTED WITH AN INTERNSHIP IN THE OFFICE OF CONGRESSMAN TIM WALZ, AND THAT WAS A LIFE-CHANGING XPERIENCE FOR ME BECAUSE I ALWAYS THOUGHT OF POLITICIANS AS THESE, YOU KNOW, REALLY FANCY, HOITY TOITY, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE THAT YOU CAN NEVER REALLY ACCESS.

AND TIM WAS JUST A COMPLETE OPPOSITE.

>> Mary: GOVERNOR WALZ ENCOURAGED WOLGIE, AS HE'S KNOWN, TO DIVE INTO POLITICS.

>> Mary: SAME LIFE STORY, ISN'T IT?

>> YES, YES.

>> Mary: SO DID YOU FALL FOR A MINNESOTAN, TOO?

>> I MET MY WIFE, NICOLE, IN COLLEGE.

WE'VE GOT TWO BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTERS.

>> Mary: DEMOCRATS ARE NOT DOING WELL UTSIDE HE METRO, ASIDE FROM POPULATION CENTERS.

HE SAYS IT'S SIMPLY PUTTING IN THE WORK.

>> I'VE BEEN OUT DOOR KNOCKING EVERY YEAR SINCE 2014 IN MY DISTRICT.

AND BUILDING THAT TRUST OF THE PEOPLE I REPRESENT.

THAT'S HOW YOU FLIP SEATS, THAT'S HOW YOU HOLD SEATS.

AND I ACTUALLY SERVE AS OUR CANDIDATE RECRUITMENT CHAIR FOR HE HOUSE DFL IN THE 2022 CYCLE, AND I REALLY LOVED GOING OUT INTO OTHER AREAS OF THE STATE, TRYING TO RECRUIT THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST OF PEOPLE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

>> Mary: IT ALSO HELPED BUILD A DFL TRIFECTA THAT TACKLED GENERATIONAL CHANGE, LED BY SPEAKER MELISSA HORTMAN.

>> I'LL GIVE HER THE CREDIT, RIGHT?

I MEAN, SHE'S THE ONE THAT GOT IT DID -- GOT IT DONE, DID ALL THE WORK.

I'M REALLY PROUD THAT I WAS ABLE TO SUPPORT HER IN DOING HER JOB AND BEING ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE SPEAKERS THAT WE'VE SEEN IN OUR STATE'S HISTORY.

>> Mary: AND HE'S NOT CONCERNED VOTERS WILL SEE IT ALL AS OVERREACH.

>> I CAMPAIGNED ON IT IN 2022.

I WAS RE-ELECTED.

SO, IT'S KIND OF ANTICLIMACTIC, IT'S LIKE, OKAY, THIS IS THE THIRD TIME WE'VE VOTED TO LEGALIZE CANNABIS, PAID FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE, EARNED SICK AND SAFE TIME, HISTORIC FUNDING FOR SCHOOLS, INVESTMENTS IN ROADS AND BRIDGES, E'VE BEEN VOTING FOR THESE THINGS, PASSING THESE THINGS, CAMPAIGNING ON THESE THINGS OR MULTIPLE CYCLES NOW.

♪♪ >> CATHY: THERE ARE OVER 400 WILDFIRES BURNING IN CANADA RIGHT NOW AND MORE THAN HALF OF THEM ARE CONSIDERED OUT OF CONTROL.

SMOKE FROM THOSE FIRES HAS BEEN BLOWING ACROSS THE BORDER.

THIS WEEK THE SMOKE DESCENDED ON PARTS OF THE EAST COAST, CREATING A THICK HAZE AND FORCING THE CANCELLATION OF MANY EVENTS.

WE'VE ALREADY HAD AIR QUALITY ALERTS HERE IN MINNESOTA AND MORE COULD BE ON THE WAY.

LEE FRELICH HAS BEEN FOLLOWING THESE FIRES CLOSELY.

HE IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA'S CENTER FOR FOREST ECOLOGY.

ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE YOU, PROFESSOR.

WELCOME BACK.

>> NICE TO BE HERE.

>> Cathy: LARGE SWATHS F LAND IN CANADA ARE BURNING RIGHT NOW.

GIVE US A SENSE OF THE SCOPE OF THIS.

>> WELL, THERE ARE OVER 100 FIRES IN QUEBEC, THERE ARE SEVERAL IN NORTHERN ONTARIO, NORTH OF MINNESOTA.

THERE ARE A LOT MORE FIRES IN NORTHERN SASKATCHEWAN, AND ALBERTA, AND BRITISH COLUMBIA, IN FACT, A COUPLE HUNDRED FIRES.

SO, ALL ACROSS THE WHOLE COUNTRY OF CANADA.

USUALLY THE FIRES ARE CONFINED TO ONE PART OF CANADA, JUST WESTERN CANADA OR JUST EASTERN.

AND NOW THEY'RE EVERYWHERE.

>> Eric: WHAT'S CAUSING ALL THIS?

>> WELL, ONE OF THE HOTTEST SPRINGS EVER.

HAS OCCURRED WITH TEMPERATURES 15 AND 20 DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL.

AND IT DRIES TREES OUT AT THIS TIME OF YEAR BECAUSE THE SUN IS SO STRONG, THE DAYS ARE SO LONG, ESPECIALLY UP THERE, IT REALLY JUST BLASTS THE MOISTURE OUT OF THE TREES AND IF YOU HAVE A DROUGHT AND ABOVE-NORMAL TEMPERATURES IN MAY AND EARLY JUNE, IT JUST DRIES THINGS OUT UNBELIEVELY FAST.

>> Cathy: AND THEY'RE LETTING THEM BURN OUT, IS THAT RIGHT, BECAUSE THERE'S JUST TOO MANY OF THEM?

>> WELL, THESE FIRES HAVE SUCH A HIGH INTENSITY THAT THEY CAN'T REALLY BE CONTROLLED.

THE FLAMES ARE -- THAT I'M SEEING ON TV ARE 100, 200, EVEN 300 FEET HIGH.

AND YOU CAN'T EVEN GET WITHIN SEVERAL HUNDRED FEET OF A FLAME LIKE THAT.

THE HEAT IS SO INTENSE.

SO THERE'S BASICALLY NO WAY THEY COULD POSSIBLY BE CONTROLLED, SO WHAT THE FIREFIGHTERS ARE PROBABLY DOING IS HELPING PEOPLE WHO NEED TO EVACUATE AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

AND IF IT RAINS, THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO JUMP IN AND, YOU KNOW, PUT OUT THE REMNANTS OF A FIRE.

BUT, NO, THESE ARE NCREDIBLY HIGH-INTENSITY FIRES.

MOSTLY IGNITED BY LIGHTNING.

SO A LOT OF DRY LIGHTNING HAS BEEN OCCURRING, AND IT'S JUST A REMARKABLE FIRE SEASON.

THEY'VE ALREADY HAD 15 TIMES AS MUCH AREA BURNED BY FIRE AS YOU WOULD NORMALLY HAVE AT THIS DATE.

>> Cathy: WOW.

>> Eric: IS THE BLOWDOWN FROM THE BOUNDARY WATERS ALL CLEANED UP?

IS THAT FUEL FOR A PROBLEM IN MINNESOTA?

>> IT'S NOT ALL CLEANED UP.

THE HAM LAKE FIRE, THE CAVITY LAKE FIRE BURNED PARTS OF IT.

BUT THERE'S STILL SOME BIG CHUNKS OF IT THAT -- WHERE THE BLOWDOWN FUEL IS STILL IN TACT AND COULD STILL BURN IN A HIGH-INTENSITY FIRE.

>> Eric: WHAT'S YOUR SENSE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF THAT?

>> I THINK IF THERE'S A DROUGHT, WE GET SOME DRY LIGHTNING, I THINK IT'S VERY LIKELY.

AND NOT ONLY THAT, A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THIS, BUT THERE ARE LOTS OF HUGE BLOWDOWN THAT IS ARE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF ACRES IN SIZE IN CANADA.

THESE BIG DEAR RATIOS THAT HAVE HURRICANE-FORCE WINDS HAVE BEEN OCCURRING FURTHER NORTH THAN THEY USED TO AND THAT'S PROBABLY A CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACT AND THEY'RE UGE SWATHS OF BLOWDOWN FUELS, ESPECIALLY IN ONTARIO AND QUEBEC, AND THEN THERE ARE HUGE AREAS WITH A LOT OF TREES THAT HAVE DIED FROM DROUGHT STRESS OR FROM INSECTS LIKE BARK BEETLES IN WESTERN CANADA.

AND, SO, ALL THAT DRY WOOD, IN ADDITION TO THE LIVE FUELS, YOU KNOW, IS A VERY FLAMMABLE SITUATION.

>> Cathy: SO WE HAVE THIS GOING ON UP THERE.

THE SMOKE IS JUST POURING ACROSS THE BORDER, AS WE MENTIONED IN OUR INTRODUCTION.

AND THE WEATHER'S NOT HELPING, OBVIOUSLY, BECAUSE OF THE JET STREAM.

SO, WILL THIS JUST LAST ALL SUMMER LONG, PERHAPS?

>> IF IT DOESN'T RAIN, IT COULD LAST ALL SUMMER.

AND WHAT TYPICALLY HAPPENS IS A BIG FIRE WILL MAKE A RUN OF 10 OR 15 OR EVEN 20 MILES IN A DAY, AND BURN MAYBE 80 OR 100,000 ACRES OF FOREST, AND IT WILL MAKE AN INCREDIBLE VOLUME OF SMOKE.

AND THE JET STREAM WILL TAKE THAT SOMEWHERE, AND IF IT RUNS INTO A LOW PRESSURE CENTER WITH SOME FRONTS, IT WILL COME DOWN TO THE GROUND AND YOU'LL GET THAT ORANGE LOOK LIKE THEY HAD IN NEW YORK CITY A FEW DAYS AGO.

>> Eric: YEAH.

>> Cathy: SO THESE FIRES, AND, OF COURSE, WE OT CLIMATE CHANGE, OUR FORESTS, I THINK, - HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE HEALTH F OUR FORESTS?

OBVIOUSLY FIRE IS AN ISSUE, BUT CLIMATE CHANGE HAS ALSO CHANGED THE MAKEUP OF OUR FORESTS.

HOW WORRIED ARE YOU?

>> YEAH, WELL, I'M PRETTY WORRIED THAT MINNESOTA COULD BECOME THE NEW KANSAS, AND THAT THE SOUTHERN-MOST 300 MILES OF THE BORELOE FOREST FROM EDMONTON, ALBERTA, ALL THE WAY TO LAKE SUPERIOR COULD DIE IN THE NEXT SEVERAL DECADES AND BURN AND BECOME GRASSLAND.

THERE'S SOME OTHER BIOME.

AND THAT'S WHY IT'S LISTED AS A TIPPING POINT BY SCIENTISTS.

ONE OF THE WORLD'S TIPPING POINTS.

BECAUSE IF THAT HAPPENS, IT'S A HUGE PULSE OF CARBON INTO THE ATMOSPHERE.

>> Eric: WE'RE GOING TO HAVE YOU BACK WHEN YOU CAN SHARE SOME GOOD NEWS WITH US.

>> Cathy: ALTHOUGH IT MAY BE SOME TIME.

>> THANKS A LOT.

>> Eric: YOU'RE WELCOME.

THANKS, TOM.

>> ERIC: THE MINNESOTA TWINS ARE IN FIRST PLACE DESPITE AN OFFENSE THAT IS HAVING A LOT OF TROUBLE SCORING RUNS.

THE LYNX ARE IN LAST PLACE AND HAD A GAME POSTPONED THIS WEEK IN NEW YORK BECAUSE OF BAD AIR.

MEANWHILE, THE MINNESOTA AURORA WOMEN'S SOCCER TEAM IS DOMINATING THEIR LEAGUE.

LARRY FITZGERALD, SR., JOINS US NOW TO HELP MAKE SENSE OF IT ALL.

THANK GOODNESS FOR THE CENTRAL DIVISION.

WE'RE IN FIRST PLACE!

>> ISN'T THAT AMAZING?

NOT A TEAM IN THE DIVISION OVER .500.

AND WE'RE IN JUNE.

I GUESS THE, YOU KNOW, SPEEDING UP THE GAMES HAS BEEN AN ASSET TO, YOU KNOW, PLAYING GAMES IN TWO AND A HALF HOURS, BUT THE TWINS ARE AVERAGING ABOUT 10 O 12 STRIKEOUTS A GAME.

>> Eric: WOW.

>> IN THE LAST SIX GAMES, THEY'RE AVERAGING LESS THAN TWO RUNS A GAME.

AND, YOU KNOW, PAUL MOLITER IS ACTUALLY WORKING ON THE WCCO BROADCASTS THIS WEEK.

I DON'T KNOW HOW ROCCO WOULD FEEL ABOUT THAT WITH A FIVE-GAME LOSING STREAK AND THIS TEAM NOT EVEN CLOSE TO ITS POTENTIAL FROM A HITTING STANDPOINT.

ALL THE INJURIES.

PALENKO, BUXTON, CORREA, HE HAD A COUPLE HITS THE OTHER NIGHT, HOMERUN, SEVENTH OF THE SEASON.

BUT OTHER THAN HAT, THEY HAVE JUST BEEN DEVASTATED BY A TON OF INJURIES.

AND THE PITCHING'S BEEN GOOD.

>> Eric: YEAH.

>> THE STARTING PITCHING'S BEEN VERY GOOD.

>> Cathy: BY THE WAY, THE BYRON BUXTON SITUATION, HE SEEMS SO FRAGILE, DOESN'T HE?

HIS CAREER HAS BEEN DERAILED ON AND OFF THROUGHOUT THE YEARS BY INJURY.

>> IT JUST CONCERNS ME, I MEAN, A GREAT PLAYER LIKE THAT, HERE WE ARE, THEY'VE GOT ABOUT 99 GAMES LEFT, AND HE HASN'T PLAYED IN A REGULATION GAME THIS YEAR IN THE FIELD.

HE'S BEEN A DESIGNATED HITTER.

ONLY.

AND IT'S A BIG DEAL BEING AN EVERYDAY PLAYER AND BECOMING A DESIGNATED HITTER.

AND HE'S TRYING TO ADJUST TO IT.

HE'S GOT ABOUT 10 HOME RUNS.

20 PLUS RBIs.

BUT HE'S ONLY HITTING ABOUT 220.

SO, HIS INJURY TO HIS RIB CAGE, I THINK, YOU KNOW, IT'S GOING TO EEP HIM OUT OF THE LINEUP A WHILE.

>> Eric: VIKINGS, LOOKS TO ME LIKE, IT'S NOW FULL REBUILD, HUNTER, COOK GONE, PROBABLY.

THEY'RE NOT RELOADING.

THEY'RE REBUILDING, AREN'T THEY?

>> WELL, FIVE GUYS ON DEFENSE, THE DEFENSE WASN'T VERY GOOD LAST YEAR, BUT THEY DID WIN, RUMOR HAS IT, A LOT OF GAMES ON THE LAST POSSESSION, YOU KNOW, IN THE FOURTH QUARTER.

AND THAT TYPE OF THING.

BUT THEY WERE THE THIRD PASSING TEAM IN THE NFL.

>> Eric: OH.

>> SO THEY GOT UP AND DOWN THE FIELD.

BUT, YOU KNOW WHAT?

IF YOU'RE GOING TO BEAT CHICAGO, AND YOU'RE GOING TO BEAT GREEN BAY, YOU GOT TO RUN THE BALL.

AND THEY'RE GIVING UP A GREAT PLAYER IN ALVIN COOK, THIS GUY, OVER 8,000 YARDS, 52 TOUCHDOWNS, AND A COUPLE YEARS AGO, HE HAD 16 TOUCHDOWNS AND HE'S HAD, WHAT, FOUR STRAIGHT 1,000-YARD SEASONS.

SO, YOU JUST CAN'T GIVE UP ON THE RUNNING GAME.

YOU JUST CAN'T DO THAT.

BUT THEY'RE LOOKING AT IT LIKE WE GOT TO SQUEEZE THIS TEAM DOWN, BLEED THE ROSTER, BECAUSE WE WANT TO CREATE CAP SPACE BECAUSE APPARENTLY WHEN THEY TALKED THEIR WAY, KWESI ADOLF OMEN SAW AND O'CONNELL, WHEN THEY CAME IN, THEY TOLD THE OWNERS THAT WE CAN BUILD A CHAMPIONSHIP 'TEAM IN A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME.

WELL, WHEN YOU START OUT WITH 13 WINS, OW -- WOW, WE'RE EXCITED.

BUT YOU SAW WHAT HAPPENS IN THE PLAYOFFS, THE GIANTS WENT RIGHT THROUGH HEM AND THEY'RE A THIRD-PLACE TEAM.

SO I'M CONCERNED ABOUT WHERE THEY ARE RIGHT NOW.

BECAUSE NOT ONLY ARE YOU LOSING TALENTED PLAYERS, YOU'RE LOSING EXPERIENCE AND YOU'RE LOSING LEADERSHIP.

AND IT'S GOING TO BE TOUGH TO REPLACE THAT WHEN LAST YEAR'S DRAFT, ALL THE GUYS THAT THEY DRAFTED, NOT ONE OF THEM PLAYED.

AND, SO, THIS SEASON, YOU'RE EXPECTING THOSE GUYS TO STEP OUT THERE AND PLAY LIKE THEY'RE SECOND AND THIRD-YEAR PLAYERS, AND THAT DOESN'T USUALLY HAPPEN.

>> Cathy: SAY, WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE LYNX?

1-6 ON THE SEASON.

>> IT'S BEEN A TRANSITION.

BUT LET'S CELEBRATE.

IT'S A GREAT WEEKEND, 25th ANNIVERSARY THIS WEEKEND.

>> Eric: YEAH.

>> Cathy: IS IT?

>> SEIMONE AUGUSTUS IS HERE.

YOU KNOW, SO ARE ALL THE OTHER GREAT PLAYERS THAT WON THOSE FOUR CHAMPIONSHIPS, LINDSAY WHELAN.

AND MAYA MOORE.

AND, SO, THEY'RE HAVING A BIG RAFFLE OF AND A BIDDING WAR, STARTED AT 9:00 TODAY, AND IT GOES UNTIL SUNDAY.

WHEN THE SPARKS ARE HERE.

AND, SO, THEY'RE TRYING TO CELEBRATE WHAT THEY'VE ACCOMPLISHED.

BUT THIS IS CLEARLY A REBUILD FOR THEM BECAUSE THEY JUST HAVEN'T KICKED INTO THE SEASON AND THEY'RE PLAYING AN INDIANA TEAM TONIGHT AND THEN SUNDAY THEY PLAY THE -- YOU KNOW, HE SPARKS.

AND, SO, THEY GOT A CHANCE, PLAYING AT HOME TO GET AT LEAST A COUPLE OF MORE WINS, HOPEFULLY.

>> Eric: ARE YOU COMFORTABLE WITH THE SAUDIS OWNING THE PGA TOUR?

>> I'VE GOT A BIG PROBLEM.

I SAW THOSE TOWERS GO DOWN.

AND I READ WHAT MOST OF US READ THAT THEY HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT.

AND, SO, I JUST GOT A BIG PROBLEM WITH IT.

I COULD CARE LESS ABOUT LIV.

>> Eric: THIS IS THE SAUDI-BACKED ALTERNATIVE TOUR.

>> EXACTLY.

FOR THE COMMISSIONER, THE WAY HE STOOD UP FOR THOSE FAMILIES AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN TO BASICALLY, THEY GAVE HIM A POOL OF HIS OWN OF MONEY AND THEN THE REST OF IT GOES TO THE PLAYERS STARTING IN 2024, I JUST DON'T LIKE IT.

YOU KNOW?

BUT IF OU LOOK AT THE WAY THINGS ARE GOING, THE SAUDIS ARE BRINGING THEIR MONEY, NOT ONLY IN TO GOLF, THEY CALL IT, WHAT, MONEY WASHING OR WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT, BUT THE REALITY IS, THEY'RE DOING IT IN SOCCER ALSO.

>> Eric: YEAH.

>> BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE LINO MESS SEE PLAYING IN THE NLS, HOPEFULLY HE'LL COME TO ONE OF THE GAMES AT ALLIANZ.

>> Cathy: HEY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY.

A LITTLE BIRD TOLD ME IT IS YOUR BIRTHDAY TOMORROW.

>> IT IS.

THAT IS CORRECT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THAT MEANS A LOT.

IT REALLY DOES.

>> Eric: WELL, MANY HAPPY RETURNS.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Eric: LARRY FITZGERALD, EVERYBODY, THE BIRTHDAY BOY.

>> Cathy: YAY!

6 >> CATHY: FARMERS ARE MORE LIKELY TO DIE BY SUICIDE THAN THE GENERAL POPULATION.

MINNESOTA IS LEADING THE NATION IN EFFORTS TO PREVENT FARMER SUICIDES.

REPORTER KAOMI LEE TELLS US WHY ONE FARMER IS ALIVE TODAY.

>> THOMAS AND HIS WIFE, KRISTEN, ARE FOURTH-GENERATION FARMERS IN PRINCETON.

IN TEN YEARS, THEIR FARM WILL BE 100 YEARS IN THE FAMILY.

THEY HAVE ABOUT 40 DAIRY COWS.

MOSTLY JERSEYS.

THEY ALSO SELL HAY.

FROM A DISTANCE, FARM LIFE LOOKS PASTORAL.

UNDERNEATH THERE'S CONSTANT STRESS.

>> MY INPUT COSTS THIS YEAR ARE UP ABOUT 30% FROM LAST YEAR.

IN THE MEANTIME, THE INCOME IS GOING DOWN.

CURRENTLY THE MILKING, IT TAKES ABOUT $108 A DAY JUST IN GRAIN TO FEED THE COWS, MILK PER DAY IS ABOUT $150 IN INCOME, THAT'S BEFORE ANY EXPENSES.

>> IT IS A LOVE/HATE RELATIONSHIP.

FOR THE MOST PART, IT IS A GOOD LIFE.

SOMETHING JUST DIFFERENT, DIFFERENT WAY OF LIFE COMPARED TO A LOT OF PEOPLE.

>> BUT IN 2017, THINGS GOT TOO HARD.

>> FINANCIALS REALLY GOT TO ME.

EVERYTHING WE'RE DOING TO PAY BILLS, OKAY, THROW IT ON A CREDIT CARD, WE'LL GET CAUGHT UP FOR NOW.

THEN ANOTHER BILL COMES DUE.

IT'S LIKE, WHAT'S NEXT?

WHAT'S NEXT?

>> THAT'S WHEN HE TRIED TO TAKE HIS LIFE.

>> I HAD ONE ATTEMPT.

I'LL BE HONEST, I WOULDN'T BE HERE TODAY IF IT WASN'T FOR KRISTEN.

SORRY.

MY PHONE RANG IN MY POCKET, AND IT WAS KRISTEN.

THE TEXT MESSAGE SAID, WHERE ARE YOU?

>> HAT ONE TEXT IS THE REASON HE'S ALIVE.

KRISTEN KNEW SOMETHING WAS OFF AND WOULD NOT LEARN UNTIL A YEAR LATER HE HAD NEARLY DIED BY SUICIDE.

>> I JUST FELT LIKE HE WAS VERY DISTANT AND I DIDN'T KNOW IF IT WAS JUST BECAUSE HE WAS NERVOUS HAVING A BABY ON THE WAY, AND, YOU KNOW, I JUST WANTED HIM TO TALK TO ME.

IT WAS JUST HARD TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO.

BUT ALSO HAVING TO KEEP ON GOING WITH THE FARM AND KEEP DOING A LOT OF THE THINGS BY MYSELF.

>> STATISTICS SHOW PEOPLE SUFFERING FROM MENTAL ILLNESS, ON AVERAGE, TAKE MORE THAN TEN YEARS TO SPEAK UP.

MONICA IS ONE OF TWO MENTAL HEALTH SPECIALISTS IN THE STATE.

SHE'S FUNDED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF AG AND PROVIDES FREE COUNSELING TO FARMERS AND THEIR FAMILIES.

AND MINNESOTA'S THE ONLY STATE TO DO THIS.

>> WHAT WE DO KNOW IS THAT FARMER SUICIDES ARE TILL HIGHER THAN THE GENERAL POPULATION.

SO, IN MINNESOTA, I THINK OUR DEATH BY SUICIDE ARE RIGHT AROUND 13.8 OUT OF -- PER 100,000 PEOPLE.

>> MONICA HERSELF GREW UP ON A FARM.

SHE SAYS A CULTURE OF SILENCE, ISOLATION AND FEELINGS OF SHAME AROUND MENTAL ILLNESS ARE PERVASIVE AND GENERATIONAL IN FARM FAMILIES.

>> WE DO KNOW THAT DEPRESSION, ANXIETY ARE GENETICALLY LINKED IN MANY CASES.

AND, SO, IT'S NOT UNUSUAL THAT WHEN THERE'S A FAMILY MEMBER THAT HAS DIED BY SUICIDE THAT CURRENT FAMILY MEMBERS ARE GOING TO STRUGGLE WITH IT.

FUTURE FAMILY MEMBERS.

>> BUT FARM ECONOMICS ARE NO LONGER A MATTER OF PERSONAL GRIT.

VOLATILE MARKETS, FREQUENT, INTENSE WEATHER EVENTS, AND CHANGING TECHNOLOGY HAS ALTERED THE FAMILY FARM.

MONICA SAYS IN THE PAST FOUR YEARS, ATTITUDES ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH ARE CHANGING, TOO.

>> I SEE MORE OF AN OPENNESS IN OUR FARM FAMILIES ABOUT RECOGNIZING WARNING SIGNS AND THEN IN REACHING OUT AND TALKING ABOUT IT.

>> SHE SAYS FARMERS ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT RESOURCE ON THE FARM, BUT THEY OFTEN PUT THEIR OWN NEEDS LAST.

THE WARNING SIGNS ARE IN THE CALLS.

>> I THINK IT WOULD BE REALISTIC TO SAY EVERY ONE IN TEN ARE IN SOME STAGE OF HAVING THOUGHTS OF SUICIDE.

>> THIS HITS CLOSE TO HOME FOR EMILY, THE FATHER OF A COLLEGE CLASSMATE DIED BY SUICIDE.

>> THAT WAS A REALLY BIG MOMENT FOR ME AND THINKING ABOUT THIS RELATIONSHIP OF SAFETY AND HEALTH AND HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS ON A FARM.

>> EMILY HELPS ORGANIZE FARM COUPLE RETREATS AROUND THE STATE.

>> BASICALLY WE BRING FARM COUPLES TOGETHER FOR AN OVERNIGHT AT A HOTEL.

IT'S A REALLY KIND OF INTENSIVE WORKSHOP WHERE WE TAKE THEM THROUGH COMMUNICATION AND THEY DO PERSONALITY ASSESSMENTS AND THEY LEARN ABOUT GOAL SETTING AS A COUPLE AND A FAMILY.

>> EMILY ALSO WORKS TO HELP FARMERS UILD MASTERY SKILLS, TO RECOGNIZE THAT SOME THINGS LIKE THE WEATHER AND MARKETS ARE BEYOND THEIR CONTROL.

AND TO, INSTEAD, FOCUS ON WHAT THEY CAN CONTROL.

SHE RECOMMENDS GETTING EIGHT HOURS OF SLEEP AND EATING ENOUGH HEALTHY FOOD.

SET ASIDE TIME FOR YOURSELF, WHETHER IT'S FIVE MINUTES TO READ THE NEWSPAPER OR TAKE A WALK.

TALK TO OTHERS ABOUT HOW YOU'RE FEELING AND ASK FOR HELP IF YOU NEED IT.

>> THERE'S A RESOURCE FOR EVERYBODY.

NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE ON YOUR PATH, THERE'S SOMEONE, THERE'S SOMETHING THAT CAN HELP.

>> AT THE END OF THE DAY, I MEAN, YOU ARE MY BEST FRIEND, AND I MEAN IT.

I'M GLAD YOU'RE HERE WITH ME.

>> THOMAS DUDEN SAYS IT HASN'T BEEN EASY TO TALK OPENLY ABOUT HIS DEPRESSION.

>> I STILL FEEL SHAME ABOUT IT ALL.

I STILL DON'T KNOW WHY I WENT THROUGH IT.

BUT, YOU KNOW, IF I CAN HELP SOMEONE ELSE OUT.

>> HE MATTERED.

HIS LIFE MATTERED.

HIS FAMILY MATTERS.

WE NEED HIM.

♪♪ >> I'’VE BEEN READING THIS EYE-OPENING BOOK, "AN IMMENSE WORLD," BY ED YONG, WHICH IS ALL ABOUT HOW VARIOUS CREATURES PERCEIVE THE WORLD AROUND US.

TAKE JUST ONE SENSE, SIGHT, WHICH IS PRIMARILY BASED ON PERCEIVING LIGHT.

LIGHT IS BOTH A WAVE AND A PARTICLE, FOR REASONS I CAN'’T GET INTO IN THE 90 SECONDS THEY GIVE ME HERE.

DIFFERENT ANIMALS HAVE DEVELOPED DIFFERENT SENSITIVITIES TO THE DIFFERENT WAVELENGTHS OF LIGHT AND FOR HUMANS THAT MEANS COLOR.

HUMANS SEE SOMETHING AT 700 NANOMETERS AND PERCEIVE IT AS RED AND SOMETHING AT 500 NANOMETERS AND SEE IT AS BLUE.

BUT, THERE IS NOTHING FUNDAMENTALLY BLUE ABOUT 500 NANOMETERS OR RED ABOUT 700.

THOSE WAVES ARE SIMPLY STIMULATING ONE OF THE THREE SETS OF CONE CELLS IN OUR EYES AND THEN OUR BRAINS MAKE SENSE OF IT.

IT'’S DIFFERENT FOR DIFFERENT ANIMALS.

READY TO HAVE YOUR MIND BLOWN?

PURPLE DOES NOT EXIST IN THE RAINBOW AND CANNOT BE EXPRESSED WITH A SINGLE WAVELENGTH OF LIGHT.

INSTEAD, OUR RED AND BLUE CONES ARE STIMULATED TOGETHER, AND OUR BRAIN REGISTERS PURPLE.

HUMANS SEE COLOR IN THREE DIMENSIONS.

BUT BIRDS, REPTILES, INSECTS AND EVEN THE HUMBLE GOLD FISH CAN SEE FOUR DIMENSIONS OF COLOR.

THEY CAN PERCEIVE ULTRAVIOLET COLORS IMPERCEPTIBLE TO MOST HUMANS.

IT'’S LITERALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO SHOW YOU HOW A HUMMINGBIRD MIGHT SEE THE WORLD.

YOU MAY THINK CREATURES EVOLVED TO SEE COLOR TO BETTER DISTINGUISH BETWEEN DIFFERENT TYPES OF FOOD.

AMAZINGLY, IT IS THE OPPOSITE.

THE ABILITY TO SEE COLOR CAME FIRST, AND THEN THINGS LIKE PLANTS AND FRUIT DEVELOPED COLORS TO ENTICE OR REPEL CREATURES.

SO, IN A SENSE, THE ANIMAL WORLD WAS READY TO SEE COLOR, AND NATURE ROSE UP TO MEET THE CHALLENGE.

IT GIVES YOU A LOT TO THINK ABOUT THE NEXT TIME YOU SEE A RAINBOW.

THE EVOLUTIONARY MIRACLE THAT'’S GOING ON IN YOUR EYES AND BRAIN TO SEE IT.

THE FACT THAT IT'’S IMPOSSIBLE TO KNOW EXACTLY HOW ANOTHER BEING PERCEIVES IT.

AND A REMINDER THAT WE HAVE POTENTIAL IN US TO SENSE AND UNDERSTAND THINGS WE DON'’T ALREADY, BECAUSE WE AND THE WORLD ARE STILL EVOLVING TOGETHER.

♪♪ >> CATHY: JUNE IS PRIDE MONTH AND LOTS OF CELEBRATIONS ARE PLANNED.

THE SAINT PAUL PRIDE FESTIVAL WILL BE GOING ON ALL DAY TOMORROW IN DOWNTOWN SAINT PAUL.

SATURDAY.

AND LATER THIS MONTH THE THREE-DAY TWIN CITIES PRIDE FESTIVAL WILL TAKE PLACE IN AND AROUND LORING PARK IN MINNEAPOLIS.

BUT THERE IS SOME TALK THAT THE FESTIVAL, WHICH DRAWS HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE, MAY BE LOOKING FOR A BIGGER SPACE TO HOLD THE EVENT IN THE FUTURE.

ANDI OTTO IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF TWIN CITIES PRIDE.

WELCOME TO "ALMANAC."

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> Cathy: LORING PARK, GOSH, I MEAN, PRIDE'S BEEN THERE SINCE, WHAT, '72?

DIDN'T IT START AT LORING PARK?

>> IT DID, YEAH.

IT DID.

>> Cathy: SO WHY LOOK FOR A DIFFERENT PLACE?

IT'S BEEN THERE SO LONG.

>> I KNOW.

WELL, THERE'S A COUPLE DIFFERENT FACTORS.

AND I WOULD SAY, EVERY YEAR WE LOOK AT IT AND UNDERSTAND LOGISTICALLY HOW THE YEAR PREVIOUSLY WENT.

THERE'S A COUPLE REASONS.

ONE, WE ARE GROWING.

THIS YEAR WE'RE ANTICIPATING ON SEEING OVER 600,000 PEOPLE IN A 34-ACRE PARK.

AND, SO, WE'VE DONE SOME THINGS LIKE EXPAND TO THE SCULPTURE GARDEN ACROSS HE WAY TO HELP ALLEVIATE SOME OF THOSE THINGS.

BUT THERE'S ANOTHER REASON, AND PART OF THAT IS IT IS VERY EXPENSIVE TO HAVE A FESTIVAL OR ANY SORT OF EVENT IN DOWNTOWN MINNEAPOLIS.

>> Cathy: WHY IS THAT?

IS IT SECURITY COSTS?

OR WHAT?

>> IT'S SOME SECURITY COSTS, SOME PERMIT COSTS.

AND THINGS OF THAT THAT JUST KIND OF COME INTO PLAY.

MOST PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT EVERY PARADE BOARD YOU SEE, EVERY CONE YOU SEE, EVERY HOOD ON A METER, WE PAY OR.

>> Eric: THAT 600 PLUS VENDORS, I THINK, THIS YEAR.

>> YEAH.

>> Eric: WHAT'S NEW?

FOR INSTANCE, THE YOUTH HIDEAWAY, WHAT'S THAT ALL ABOUT?

>> WHEN I BECAME EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ONE OF THE THINGS I WANTED TO FOCUS ON WAS OUR YOUTH.

THEY'RE UP AND COMING, BUT THEY'RE ALSO BEING TARGETED.

AND, SO, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WANTED TO DO WAS CREATE A SPACE WHERE, IT HASN'T ALWAYS BEEN AVAILABLE AT PRIDE.

SO THIS IS A SPACE THAT THEY CAN BE AUTHENTICALLY THEMSELVES.

THAT IS ADULT FREE.

SO THEY HAVE ARTS, CRAFTS, GAMES, ND A LITTLE STAGE TO HAVE THEM DO WHATEVER IT IS THEY WANT TO DO IN A GENDER-AFFIRMING WARDROBE, MAYBE THEY WANT SOMETHING MORE COMFORTABLE TO BE IN.

ALL OF THAT IS FREE TO THEM, IT JUST GIVES THEM A SPACE TO BE AUTHENTIC.

>> Cathy: I WANT TO GET BACK TO THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE OU THINK ARE GOING TO BE HERE THIS YEAR.

IS THERE A REASON FOR 600,000 PEOPLE AT LEAST?

>> WELL, EVERY YEAR WE GROW.

THAT'S JUST NATURAL KIND OF THING THAT HAPPENS.

THERE'S A COUPLE DIFFERENT FACTORS.

ONE, PEOPLE ARE COMING HERE BECAUSE WE'RE SAFE IN MINNESOTA.

AND WE HAVE -- WE ARE NOW A TRANS REFUGE STATE.

SO THAT IS ONE REASON.

THE OTHER REASON, MISS TAYLOR SWIFT IS IN TOWN ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY.

SO, SHE BRINGS A WHOLE BUNCH OF PEOPLE WITH HER.

>> Eric: WHAT'S THE STATUS OF CORPORATE INVOLVEMENT?

YOU KNOW, TARGET GOT NTO SOME CONTROVERSY ABOUT WHERE IT WAS PLACING MERCHANDISE IN ITS STORES AND SO FORTH AND HAS PULLED BACK.

ARE THEY GOING TO HAVE A PRESENCE, FOR INSTANCE?

>> YOU KNOW, I HAD A LONG CONVERSATION WITH THE C LEVEL EXECS AT TARGET AND I GAVE THEM THE OPTION TO BAIL OUT.

TARGET HAS BEEN A VERY GOOD PARTNER FOR US FOR MANY MANY YEARS AND THEY ASKED ME MY OPINION.

AND MY OPINION WAS, I THINK YOU SHOULD COME AND FACE THE COMMUNITY THAT RIGHT NOW IS KIND OF DISAPPOINTED IN YOUR ACTIONS.

AND, SO, TARGET, LIKE THE TRUE PARTNER THAT THEY ARE, AGREED TO DO.

THAT AND, SO, TARGET WILL BE THERE.

THEY'RE READY TO HEAR THE BACK STORY OF THE COMMUNITY AND HOW THE COMMUNITY FEELS.

BUT WE'RE A LITTLE DIFFERENT IN MINNESOTA, RIGHT?

EVERYBODY KNOWS EITHER SOMEONE WHO WORKS AT TARGET OR THEY'VE WORKED AT THAT ARE GET THEMSELVES.

SO I THINK IT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT HERE, WHY WE'RE DISAPPOINTED IN TARGET'S ACTIONS, WE STILL HAVE A LOVE OF TARGET.

>> Cathy: SO LET'S GO BACK TO POSSIBLY MOVING PRIDE MAYBE NEXT YEAR, WHENEVER.

WHERE WOULD YOU GO?

I MEAN, STATE FAIRGROUNDS, WHERE WOULD BE A LARGER AREA WHERE YOU COULD SPREAD OUT?

>> I KNOW, ISN'T THAT THE QUESTION?

SO, YES, WE HAVE LOOKED AT THE STATE FAIRGROUNDS, MULTIPLE TIMES.

IT'S A UNIQUE VENUE WHERE THEY HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE ALREADY THERE.

AND PREPARED.

AND WE'VE HAD THAT CONVERSATION WITH THEM.

>> Cathy: AND PARKING.

>> AND PARKING, YES.

WE ALL KNOW PARKING, BEST THING ABOUT PARKING IN LORING IS THAT IF YOU GRAB A BUS, YOU CAN RIDE IT FREE DOWNTOWN TO LORING PARK.

>> Eric: AND DECISION ON THAT WILL BE MADE, I SUPPOSE, WHAT, EARLY NEXT YEAR, END OF THIS YEAR?

>> DECEMBER, JANUARY IS WHEN WE START TO LOOK AT THAT AGAIN.

>> Eric: APPRECIATE YOU COMING DOWN.

THANKS.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> Cathy: HAPPY PRIDE.

>> YOU TOO.

♪♪ >> ERIC: THERE WERE LOTS OF NEW LAWMAKERS AT THE LEGISLATURE THIS YEAR, AND MARY LAHAMMER HAS BEEN INTRODUCING US TO MANY OF THEM.

TONIGHT WE MEET A FIRST-TERM HOUSE MEMBER WHO MADE THE JUMP FROM SIBLEY COUNTY COMMISSIONER TO STATE LEGISLATOR.

>> Mary: REPRESENTATIVE HARDER, FIRST QUESTION, WHY DID YOUMENT TO RUN -- WHY DID YOU WANT TO RUN FOR OFFICE, FOR THIS OFFICE, IN PARTICULAR?

>> ERVING AS SIBLEY COUNTY COMMISSIONER, I WAS GOING TO BE UP FOR RE-ELECTION, AS COMMISSIONER, AND THEN WITH ALL THE REDISTRICTING AND THE MOVES OF PEOPLE, PEOPLE RUNNING, YOU KNOW, EITHER THEY WEREN'T GOING TO RUN AGAIN OR THEY WERE RUNNING FOR SOMETHING ELSE, REATED AN OPENING.

>> Mary: AND IT ALSO MEANT THAT YOU PROBABLY HAD A REALLY GOOD CHANCE OF WINNING.

YOU RAN UNOPPOSED, IS THAT CORRECT?

>> I DID.

PRAISE THE LORD.

I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT CAME ABOUT.

BUT IT'S PRETTY THRILLING TO HAVE THAT HAPPEN.

>> Mary: YEAH, WAS IT 93% OF THE VOTE YOU GOT?

>> YEAH, 97, 98.

YEAH, IT WAS UP THERE, YEAH.

>> Mary: OKAY, THAT'S A LOT.

YOU MIGHT COME IN WITH THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE.

HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT THAT IN THE LEGISLATURE?

[ Laughter ] >> I DON'T KNOW.

BUT THAT IS PRETTY PHENOMENAL.

>> Mary: YOUR VOTERS KNEW YOU, THEY KNOW ABOUT YOU.

HOW MUCH DOES THAT HELP HAVING THAT COUNTY EXPERIENCE?

>> I THINK IT HELPS QUITE A BIT.

BECAUSE THE LAWS, STATUTES, POLICIES THAT COME DOWN FROM THE STATE OR THE AGENCY AND THEN THE COUNTY LEVEL, YOU HAVE TO SOMEHOW MANAGE THAT.

A LOT OF TIMES THE MANAGING JUST COMES, YOU NEED TO DO THIS, AND YOU FIGURE OUT HOW YOU'RE GOING TO PAY FOR IT.

THAT'S THE FRUSTRATING PART.

>> Mary: SO WHAT'S THAT INTERACTION, BECAUSE NOT EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS THAT WHEN THEY COME INTO THE LEGISLATURE THAT THE STATE GOVERNMENT INTERACTS QUITE A BIT WITH VARIOUS LOCAL VERSIONS.

HOW DO YOU SEE HOW YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE, IMPROVE THAT INTERACTION?

>> WELL, I HOPE TO IMPROVE IT.

THE ONE THING THAT MANY PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND IS THE RELATIONSHIP FROM THE STATE WITH COUNTY GOVERNMENT.

SO, COUNTY GOVERNMENT WAS CREATED TO BE THE ADMINISTRATIVE ARM OF THE STATE.

SO, WHATEVER THE STATE SAYS THAT KNEW HE HAD -- THAT YOU NEED TO DO AS A GOVERNMENT, THEN WE NEED TO FOLLOW THROUGH AND FIGURE OUT.

THE PROBLEM IS, I'LL TAKE SIBLEY COUNTY AS AN EXAMPLE, WE HAVE LESS THAN 15,000 PEOPLE, AND WE HAVE TO DO THE SAME THINGS THAT ARE REQUIRED OF, SAY, A LARGER COUNTY.

>> Mary: I'VE BEEN TO HENDERSON MANY TIMES.

>> YEAH.

YES.

>> Mary: I'VE EEN THERE AS A NEWS REPORTER.

EVERY TIME HENDERSON'S TURNED INTO AN ISLAND AND I'VE BEEN THERE, WHEN HENDERSON HAS BROUGHT LAWMAKERS FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE TALKING ABOUT HOW MUCH HELP THEY NEED BECAUSE THE TAX BASE WASN'T THERE TO HELP WITH THE CONSTANT FLOODING THAT YOU SEEM PRETTY PLAGUED BY.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THAT?

>> YES.

THE FLOODING IS A GREAT CONCERN.

THE LAST ONE, WHICH WAS THE BIG ONE IN 2014, I THINK IT WAS, I MEAN, THE ROADS IN AND OUT OF HENDERSON, THEY WERE BLOCKED OFF.

AND THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE NORTH OF HENDERSON, WHEN THERE'S FLOODING, THEY HAVE TO GET IN AND OUT BY BOATS.

>> Mary: THAT'S A BIG DEAL, IF I CAN JUMP IN.

>> IT'S A HUGE DEAL.

>> Mary: YOU CAN GET STRANDED, ESSENTIALLY, THERE.

THEY GET LIKE LANDLOCKED BECAUSE OF THE WATER.

>> THEY DO.

YEAH.

IT'S A REALLY BIG DEAL.

SO, THE FACT THAT I WAS ABLE TO WORK WITH MY SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES TO HELP THAT AREA IS SIGNIFICANT.

WE GOT $14 MILLION, IN THE BONDING BILL, TO HELP WITH THAT.

I WAS JUST GLAD THAT I WAS THE COMMISSIONER THAT ASKED THE QUESTION.

CAN YOU HELP US?

AND THEY WERE WILLING TO HELP AND THAT'S JUST FANTASTIC.

>> Mary: I KNOW YOU'RE A FAN OF LIMITED GOVERNMENT AND CAMPAIGNED N THAT.

SO CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THAT BALANCE OF CERTAIN THINGS THAT GOVERNMENT, YES, CAN AND SHOULD DO AND OTHER THINGS THAT YOU DON'T WANT THEM DOING?

>> GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE SMALLER.

WE, THE PEOPLE, SHOULD BE BIGGER.

GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE SMALLER.

THE THING THAT'S HAPPENED IS THAT SO MANY PEOPLE RELY ON GOVERNMENT, LIKE THEY'RE THE SAFETY NET.

AND I COME FROM A FAMILY THAT SAYS, YOU NEED TO TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF, YOU NEED TO FIND A WAY THAT IF YOU GET YOURSELF IN A PROBLEM, WHATEVER, YOU FIGURE IT OUT.

DO NOT ALWAYS RELY ON GOVERNMENT TO HELP YOU.

>> Mary: WHEN YOU WERE OUT THERE ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL, WHAT WERE THE ISSUES THAT YOU HEARD THE MOST FROM FOLKS?

>> HIGH PRICES, THINGS ARE GETTING HIGHER, WAGES DON'T INCREASE, THE PRICES INCREASE, IT'S HARD TO MANAGE.

CRIME.

CRIME WAS A BIGGER ONE.

>> Mary: AND ARE YOU SEEING MUCH CRIME OR IS THERE JUST FEAR OF CRIME?

>> SOME OF MY NEIGHBORS THAT HAVE MOVED OUT TO THE AREA HAVE MOVED MAINLY BECAUSE OF CRIME.

SIBLEY COUNTY, OVERALL, IS A SAFE PLACE TO LIVE.

WE KNOW OUR NEIGHBORS, WE TAKE CARE OF ONE ANOTHER.

THE OTHER THING THAT PEEMED TALKED ABOUT IS EDUCATION, WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE CLASSROOM.

>> Mary: HOW DO YOU DESCRIBE YOUR DISTRICT?

>> I DESCRIBE IT S GREEN ACRES.

IF I WANT TO GET IN THE BIG CITY, I CAN GET IN MY CAR, GO HALF AN HOUR, HOUR TO THE CITIES.

I COME BACK OUT TO THE COUNTRY AND IT'S JUST FANTASTIC.

I LOVE IT.

IN MY LITTLE AREA THAT I LIVE, WHERE DO YOU WORK, WHAT DO YOU DO, THERE ARE MORE PEOPLE NOW THAT ARE WORKING FROM HOME THAN EVER BEFORE.

>> Mary: AND YOU HAVE GOOD BROADBAND, GOOD INTERNET IN THE AREA, IS THAT AN ISSUE AT ALL IN THE DISTRICT?

>> WHERE I LIVE THERE'S NO PROBLEM.

BUT ONE OF THE FARMS THAT WE HAVE, IT'S HORRIBLE.

IT'S ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE.

>> Mary: YEAH, OMETHING YOU'D LIKE TO WORK ON, BIPARTISAN STATEWIDE INTEREST IN IMPROVING BROADBAND CONNECTIVITY, ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE WORKING REMOTELY NOW.

>> IT SHOULD BE LOOKED AT.

THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.

>> Mary: YOU HAVE A HARDER ROAD AHEAD IN THE MINORITY.

WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO DO TO GET BILLS HEARD AND GET PASSED?

>> IT'S A STRUGGLE.

NO DOUBT ABOUT T. HAS TO BE SOMETHING WE'RE GOING -- WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER ON, OTHERWISE WE'RE GOING TO BE SPINNING OUR WHEELS FOR TWO YEARS.

>> CATHY: REPORTERS ARE STILL SORTING THROUGH THE DETAILS OF ALL THE LEGISLATION PASSED DURING THE HISTORICALLY-PRODUCTIVE LEGISLATIVE SESSION THAT WE JUST COMPLETED.

WE ARE JOINED NOW BY TWO OF THEM.

BRIANA BIERSCHBACH COVERS POLITICS FOR THE "STAR TRIBUNE."

TOREY VAN OOT IS A REPORTER FOR AXIOS.

IN THE TWIN CITIES.

SAY, TOREY, WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN, THE HOUSE RULES COMMITTEE PASSED A 30% INCREASE IN PER DIEM FOR HOUSE LAWMAKERS AND IT'S RETROACTIVE?

>> THEY DID.

SO, PER DIEM IS THE BUMP THAT LAWMAKERS GET, THE LITTLE PAYMENT THAT IS THEY GET FOR THE DAYS THAT THEY'RE CTUALLY IN SESSION.

I THINK IT'S $20, RIGHT?

SO WHAT THE HOUSE LAWMAKERS SAY, THIS BRINGS THEM IN LINE WITH THE SENATE.

THEY SAY, LAWMAKERS IN THE HOUSE, WE TRAVEL FROM ALL AROUND THE STATE, HAVE TO LEAVE THEIR DAY JOBS, LEAVE THEIR FAMILIES, PAY FOR ALL OF THESE THINGS, SHOULD GET THE SAME AMOUNT AS THE SENATORS.

THEY SHOULDN'T BE TREATED LESS.

SOME REPUBLICANS DIDN'T LIKE THAT.

AND THEY SAID, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TREATING OURSELVES, WE'RE GIVING OURSELVES SOME MORE.

AND SOME DEMOCRATS, I THINK AT LEAST TWO ABSTAINED FROM THE VOTE.

SO SOME TRICKY POLITICS THERE.

>> Cathy: DID THEY REPORT ON THAT?

IT WAS PRETTY QUIET.

>> THE "STAR TRIBUNE" DID.

MY COLLEAGUE ID THIS WEEK.

WE DIDN'T KNOW THIS WAS HAPPENING, NECESSARILY.

IT WASN'T ANNOUNCED, IT WAS IN A RULES COMMITTEE MEETING.

THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION DURING SESSION THAT THEY WANTED TO DO THIS.

AND THERE WAS FUNDING PUT IN A BUDGET BILL FOR IT.

BUT THEN THEY HAD TO DO IT LATER.

AND IT WAS QUIETLY DONE.

AND I THINK IT'S A SENSITIVE ISSUE, LEGISLATIVE PAY.

PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW ABOUT IT.

PEOPLE TEND TO GET UPSET ABOUT IT.

SO I THINK REPUBLICANS WERE SORT OF UPSET ABOUT THAT.

>> THEY RAISED THE LAST-MINUTE THING, TOO, AFTER THE SESSION, BEING DONE QUIETLY.

THE BIG PICTURE S, LAWMAKERS, PART-TIME LEGISLATURE, REN'T ACTUALLY PAID THAT MUCH, YOU KNOW, COMPARED TO SOME OTHER STATES.

AND IT'S NOT REALLY A FULL-TIME JOB.

BUT IT IS A REALLY KIND OF TRICKY AND SENSITIVE POLITICAL ISSUE.

I WOULD GUESS YOU'RE GOING TO SEE IT ON SOME MAILERS NEXT YEAR.

>> Eric: YOU'VE GOT A FEATURE ONLINE ABOUT KIND OF A TAX TOOL.

WHAT HAVE YOU DETERMINED ABOUT THE RELATIVE BALANCE BETWEEN TAX CUTS AND TAX INCREASES?

>> WELL, WE KIND OF KNEW THAT GOING IN, YOU KNOW, WE KNEW THERE WAS $3 BILLION IN CUTS AND ABOUT A BILLION IN INCREASES.

IT WAS REALLY INTERESTING, THOUGH, TO DIG INTO WHERE THAT MONEY IS GOING, WHO'S REALLY GOING TO GET THIS.

AND I THINK PEOPLE REALLY WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT THAT.

SO WE THOUGHT, IF WE CAN, LET'S TRY TO MAKE SOME CALCULATORS SO PEOPLE CAN SEE.

YOU KNOW, I'M ALSO GETTING A LOT OF EMAILS ABOUT PEOPLE WHO ARE FRUSTRATED THAT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GET A REBATE CHECK, THEY'RE NOT NECESSARILY GOING TO QUALIFY FOR THE NEW CHILD TAX CREDIT, BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO PLUGGED IT INTO THE CALCULATOR AND REALIZED THEY'RE GOING TO GET SOME BIG, YOU KNOW, DEDUCTIONS AND SOME MONEY BACK.

SO I THINK IT'S A GREAT WAY FOR PEOPLE TO ACTUALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT THE LEGISLATURE JUST DID.

>> Cathy: SO WHAT ARE THE FIRST IMPACTS THAT WE'LL SEE?

WILL THEY BE -- WILL WE SEE SOME OF THE TAX CUTS, TAXES CREDITS, THE REBATE CHECKS, GROW YOUR OWN MARIJUANA?

I MEAN, WHAT WILL BE SOME OF THE FIRST THINGS UT OF THE BOX IN TERMS OF -- >> WHAT HAPPENED THIS SESSION?

>> Cathy: YEAH.

>> WELL, SOME THINGS HAVE ALREADY HAPPENED.

SOME LAWS HAVE ALREADY TAKEN EFFECT, INCLUDING THC, SELTZERS, ACTUALLY BEING ALLOWED IN LIQUOR STORES.

THE VOTING, VOTING RIGHTS FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE FELONY RECORD WHO ARE ON PROBATION, THAT'S ALREADY TAKEN EFFECT.

GROW YOUR OWN, OR POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA, TAKES EFFECT IN AUGUST.

AND I THINK THE REBATE CHECKS, THEY'RE TARGETING AUGUST, SEPTEMBER, BUT THESE THINGS OFTEN TAKE A LITTLE IT LONGER THAN THEY SAY.

BUT THINGS ARE GOING TO START HAPPENING PRETTY SOON, AS THESE LAWS START TO TAKE EFFECT.

>> AND THOSE REBATE CHECKS, I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE DIDN'T UNDERSTAND, IF YOU FILE YOUR TAXES, AND YOU GAVE BANKING INFORMATION TO THE STATE, THAT HASN'T CHANGED, AND YOU QUALIFY, THOSE ARE JUST GOING TO END UP RIGHT IN YOUR BANK ACCOUNT, EARLY FALL.

THAT'S HOW THEY'RE GOING TO BE DOING THAT.

IF YOUR BANKING INFORMATION HAS CHANGED, YOU CAN ALSO REACH OUT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE AND GET THAT CHANGED.

>> Cathy: CAN SOMEONE HELP ME HERE, WHEN WE HAD THE GOVERNOR ON, WHAT WAS IT, TWO WEEKS AGO, LAST WEEK, I CAN'T REMEMBER, WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE SANFORD FAIRVIEW MERGER, THERE WAS TALK ABOUT A SPECIAL SESSION.

IS THAT STILL BEING TALKED ABOUT IN THE HALLS OF THE CAPITOL, HAVING A SPECIAL SESSION FOR THIS PARTICULAR MERGER?

>> THE LAST TIME I THINK EITHER OF US TALKED TO THE GOVERNOR ABOUT THAT WAS AROUND THE SAME TIMELINE AS YOU DID.

AND I THINK IT ALL DEPENDS ON WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE MERGER.

SO I THINK THE QUESTION ABOUT THE SPECIAL SESSION IS WHETHER THE "U" -- WHETHER THE MERGER IS MOVING FORWARD AND AS PART OF THAT IF THE "U" S TRYING TO ESSENTIALLY TAKE BACK ITS TEACHING HOSPITALS AND THEY NEED SOME HELP FROM THE STATE.

SO, IF THAT HAPPENS, GOVERNOR WALZ, AND TOP LEGISLATORS ARE SAID THEY'RE INTERESTED AND OPEN IN A SPECIAL SESSION TO GET IT DONE.

BUT IT'S HARD TO SEE WHERE THAT'S ALL GOING TO GO.

>> Eric: A LOT OF YOUR BEAT INVOLVES COVERING THE GOVERNOR.

WHAT'S WITH HIS NATIONAL PROFILE AND THE DRONE THAT CAME THROUGH THE CAPITOL AND HE'S WALKING DOWN THE STAIRS -- WHAT'S OING ON WITH HIM?

>> YOU KNOW, I MEAN, I THINK HE IS, FIRST OF ALL, EXCITED, HE HAD DIVIDED GOVERNMENT FOR HIS FIRST FOUR YEARS, YOU KNOW, IT WAS A PRETTY BRUISING ELECTION.

YOU CAN KIND OF SEE THAT HE'S GIDDY AND HE'S EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITIES.

I ALSO THINK THAT THERE'S BEEN SOME MORE PRESSURE AS REPUBLICAN STATES HAVE BEEN MOVING OF IN SORT OF THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION FOR DEMOCRATIC GOVERNORS LEADING STATES LIKE MINNESOTA WHERE THEY HAVE A TRIFECTA TO SHOWCASE MORE WHAT DEMOCRAT-LED STATE MIGHT LOOK LIKE AS A WAY TO SORT OF TEE UP, YOU KNOW, THE NEXT ELECTION CYCLE.

SO I THINK THERE'S MORE PRESSURE THERE.

BUT WALZ IS SOMEONE TO WATCH.

HE'S YOUNG, HE'S IN HIS SECOND TERM AS GOVERNOR, THERE'S NO TERM LIMITS, BUT MOST GOVERNORS DON'T RUN FOR A THIRD TERM.

SO WE'LL HAVE TO SEE.

>> Eric: AND YOU RIPPED THE LID OFF THE DROAP CONTROVERSY.

>> I DON'T KNOW IF I WOULD CALL IT A CONTROVERSY.

DRONE.

[INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC] IT'S ILLEGAL.

>> THE -- >> Eric: IT'S ILLEGAL.

>> AS YOU MENTIONED, AT THIS BILL SIGNING EVENT THAT HE HAD, THIS CELEBRATION, THERE WAS A DRONE THAT WAS TAKING FOOTAGE, A LOT OF REPORTERS, PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE NOTICED IT.

BEAUTIFUL IS VIDEO CAME OUT, THEY HAD DONE ANOTHER DRONE VIDEO AT THE BRYANT LAKE BOWL HERE, THE EVENT WAS ORCHESTRATED TO GO VIRAL.

IT GOT 2.5 MILLION VIEWS IN TWO DAYS.

BUT, WHY, IT TURNS 0 -- YES, IT TURNS OUT THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION RULES ON THE WEBSITE DO SAY NO DRONES IN OR AROUND THE CAPITOL, THE DRONE WAS ACTUALLY INSIDE THE CAPITOL, TOO, BUT GOVERNOR WALZ STAFF DID GET PERMISSION.

TO THE ADMINISTRATION -- DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION GAVE THE DRONE THE OKAY ALL CLEAR TO TAKE OFF.

>> Eric: IS HE GOING TO BE WANDERING AROUND THE COUNTRY AS A BIDEN SURROGATE?

HE TOLD US HE HAD EEN IN CONTACT WITH THE CAMPAIGN AND WOULD BE DOING SOME TRAVEL ON BEHALF OF THE PRESIDENT.

>> THAT WOULDN'T SURPRISE ME.

HE'S ALREADY PLANNING SOME TRAVEL.

HE HAS A TRADE TRIP AS WELL LATER IN THE YEAR.

BUT THAT WOULDN'T SURPRISE ME.

I THINK HAS ALWAYS BEEN A STRONG SUPPORTER OF THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION AND GOVERNORS DO DO THAT.

THEY CAN DO IT IN THEIR OWN STATES.

I IMAGINE WHERE HE'S GOING TO BE NEEDED IS IN A STATE HERE BIDEN MIGHT HAVE MORE TROUBLE, LIKE A STATE LIKE WISCONSIN.

>> THINK HE'S BEEN IN FLORIDA, HE WAS IN BOSTON FOR SOME MEDICAL TECH, MED TECH CONFERENCES.

>> Eric: NATIVE AMERICAN CONFERENCE, I THINK, SOMEWHERE.

>> THAT WAS IN THE STATE, THOUGH.

>> Eric: THAT WAS IN STATE, OKAY.

>> YEAH.

>> Cathy: WITH ABOUT 30 SECONDS LEFT.

HOW WOULD YOU WRAP UP THIS SESSION?

IN A COUPLE WORDS.

>> WELL, DEMOCRATS STAY IT'S TRANSFORMATIONAL IN A GOOD WAY, IT'S GOING TO CUT CHILD POVERTY, MAKE MINNESOTA, THEY LIKE TO SAY, A BETTER PLACE FOR WORKING FAMILIES.

I THINK THAT'S PART OF THE SELL THAT GOVERNOR WALZ IS MAKING.

REPUBLICANS SAY IT'S TRANSFORMATIONAL FOR THE OPPOSITE REASON.

THEY SAY THEY SPENT ALL OF THE $17 BILLION SURPLUS AND RAISED TAXES.

WHILE THEY WERE AT IT.

AND, SO, CERTAINLY A LOT OF CHANGES, WHETHER GOOD OR BAD, DEPENDS ON YOUR POLITICAL OUTLOOK.

AND ALSO HOW THEY ALL SHAKE OUT.

HOW THESE HINGS LIKE PAID FAMILY LEAVE, THINGS LIKE MARIJUANA, WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENS WITH THEM WHEN THEY'RE IMPLEMENTED.

>> I THINK THAT'S THE THING, THERE'S SO MUCH THAT HAS TO BE IMPLEMENTED.

YOU KNOW, GOVERNMENT, THEY PASS THESE LAWS, NOW GOVERNMENT HAS TO ENACT IT.

IT'S A READY, SET, GO FOR THEM.

>> Eric: THANK YOU, BOTH, FOR COMING.

HECK OF A JOB DURING THE SESSION, BOTH OF OU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> CATHY: WE'VE NEARLY REACHED THE END OF THE HOUR, BUT WE DID LEAVE ENOUGH TIME FOR OUR HISTORY QUESTION.

TONIGHT'’S QUERY IS ABOUT A COMPANY FOUNDED IN MINNEAPOLIS IN 1951.

IT WAS AN EARLY PLAYER IN WHAT IS NOW A MULTI-BILLION-DOLLAR INDUSTRY.

A PROCESS THAT THIS COMPANY DEVELOPED AND PATENTED IN 1979 SOLVED A SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM THAT THE INDUSTRY FACED AT THE TIME.

WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT COMPANY WAS GRANTED A PATENT IN 1979 THAT REVOLUTIONIZED THEIR INDUSTRY?

DON'T FORGET TO TELL US WHAT THE PATENT WAS FOR.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU WHETHER YOU ARE CALLING FROM CHICKEN LAKE, STEAK LAKE OR BOLOGNA LAKE.

ALL REAL BODIES OF WATER IN OUR STATE.

651-229-1430 IS THE NUMBER TO CALL.

DAY OR NIGHT.

IF YOU'RE CALLING AT NIGHT, BE CAREFUL.

IF YOU'D RATHER TYPE THAN TALK, DROP US A NOTE AT ALMANAC@TPT.ORG.

LET'S WRAP THINGS UP WITH SOME SHOW-CLOSING MUSIC FROM THE ARCHIVES.

THIS WEEK IN 1999, SINGER AND TRUMPET PLAYER BYRON STRIPLING ALONG WITH PIANIST WILLIAM GRIMES PERFORMED ON THE OLD "NEWSNIGHT MINNESOTA" PROGRAM.

THEY WERE IN TOWN FOR A CONCERT CELEBRATING THE MUSIC OF LOUIS ARMSTRONG.

FEEL FREE TO SING ALONG AND WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

♪ I CAN'T GIVE YOU ANYTHING BUT LOVE ♪ ♪ BABY ♪ ♪ NOW, THAT'S THE ONLY THING I HAVE PLENTY OF ♪ ♪ BABY ♪ ♪ DREAM A WHILE, CHEME A WHILE ♪ ♪ YOU'RE SURE TO FIND, A HAPPINESS AND I GUESS, LOOK OUT, ALL THOSE THINGS YOU ALWAYS PINE FOR ♪ ♪ BUT, GEE, I'D LIKE TO SEE YOU LOOKIN' SWELL ♪ ♪ BABY ♪ ♪ UNTIL, UNTIL THAT LUCKY DAY, YOU KNOW DARN WELL ♪ ♪ BABY ♪ ♪ I CAN'T GIVE YOU ANYTHING BUT LOVE ♪ >> I THINK I'M GONNA PLAY A WHILE.

♪♪ >> "ALMANAC" IS A PRODUCTION CAPTIONED BY: VERITEXT/PARADIGM CAPTIONING WWW.VERITEXT.COM ♪ ♪ >> "ALMANAC" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY MEMBERS OF THIS PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION.

SUPPORT IS ALSO PROVIDED BY: GREAT RIVER ENERGY: PROVIDING WHOLESALE POWER TO 27 MINNESOTA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES.

DELTA DENTAL OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION: IMPROVING ORAL HEALTH WHILE ADVANCING SOCIAL EQUITIES.

DELTADENTALMN.ORG/TPT.

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

MORE AT EDUCATIONMINNESOTA.ORG.

"ONE GREATER MINNESOTA" REPORTING ON "ALMANAC" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE OTTO BREMER TRUST, WHOSE MISSION IS INVESTING IN PEOPLE, PLACES AND OPPORTUNITIES IN OUR REGION.

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