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

>> ERIC: WELCOME BACK TO "ALMANAC."

ON TONIGHT'S SHOW, WE'LL TALK ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY IN SCHOOLS.

TAKE A LOOK AT OUR WILD WINTER WEATHER WITH MARK SEELEY.

OUR POLITICAL PANEL WILL FILL THE COUCH.

AND MARY LAHAMMER HAS BEEN FOLLOWING A COURT DECISION WITH LEGISLATIVE IMPACT... >> Mary: THE STATE SUPREME COURT SENDS VOTING RIGHT - RESTORATION HERE FOR THE LEGISLATURE TO DEAL WITH.

WE'LL HAVE INSIDER CONTEXT.

>> WE NOW FRONT AND CENTER KNOW THAT THIS IS THE MISSION.

CAN'T GET IT DONE ANY MORE THROUGH THE COURTS.

>> 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 28 MINNESOTA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES.

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

DELTADENTALMN.ORG/TPT.

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

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

MORE AT EDUCATIONMINNESOTA.ORG.

>> ERIC: ANOTHER FULL SHOW FOR YOU TONIGHT.

IN THE NEXT HOUR, WE'LL TALK ABOUT BUSINESSES EXITING NORTH MINNEAPOLIS, AUTHOR DAVID MURA'S NEW BOOK ON RACE, AND LARRY FITZGERALD IS HERE FOR HIS MONTHLY SPORTS ROUND-UP.

>> CATHY: WE START TONIGHT WITH A STORY THAT SHOOK THE TWIN CITIES THIS PAST WEEK.

ST. PAUL HARDING HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS RETURNED TO SCHOOL THIS MORNING FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE SOPHOMORE DEVIN SCOTT WAS FATALLY STABBED IN A HALLWAY LAST FRIDAY.

EARLIER THIS WEEK A 16-YEAR-OLD WAS CHARGED WITH SECOND-DEGREE MURDER IN THE STABBING DEATH.

ST. PAUL SCHOOL OFFICIALS HAVE INCREASED THEIR ATTENTION TO SECURITY AND SAFETY ISSUES IN THE AFTERMATH.

HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE TOUGH CHALLENGES FACING EDUCATORS, STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES ACROSS MINNESOTA AND THE U.S. IS LONGTIME EDUCATION REPORTER BETH HAWKINS.

SHE WRITES FOR THE NATIONAL EDUCATION NEWS SITE KNOWN AS THE 74.

HEY, BETH.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> GLAD TO BE HERE.

>> Cathy: HARDING, LET'S PUT HARDING IN THE SPOTLIGHT HERE.

THEY'RE LOOKING AT SAFETY AND SECURITY IN THE WAKE OF THAT STABBING DEATH.

AND THEY SAY THAT THEY'RE DANCING THE LINE BETWEEN HAVING POLICE AT THE SCHOOL AND OTHER MEANS OF KEEPING KIDS SAFE.

WHAT ARE SCHOOLS DOING ABOUT THIS?

>> YOU KNOW, THIS IS, AS YOU MENTIONED EARLIER, A NATIONWIDE PROBLEM RIGHT NOW.

KIDS ARE COMING BACK TO SCHOOLS WITH BROKEN SOCIAL FABRIC AND THEY'RE COMING BACK WITH HEIGHTENED, INCREASED MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS, THE LIKES OF WHICH HAVEN'T BEEN SEEN N YEARS.

SO SCHOOLS ARE LOOKING, LIKE YOU SAID, AT SECURITY, IN St. PAUL, THE POLICE ARE STATIONED OUTSIDE THE SCHOOL, WHICH IS, OF COURSE, A CHANGE FROM YEARS PAST.

SCHOOLS, WE MOVED POLICE OFFICERS FROM INSIDE THE BUILDING IN THE WAKE OF GEORGE FLOYD'S MURDER, IN 2020, SO THE FACT THAT THEY'RE STATIONED OUTSIDE NOW IS A COMPROMISE BETWEEN PAST PRACTICES.

THERE WAS A SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THE WEST METRO THAT HAD A SHOOTING LAST YEAR THAT REINSTITUTED METAL DETECTORS AT THE DOOR TO THE SCHOOL.

SO THERE ARE ALL SORTS OF BALANCING ACTS THAT SCHOOL LEADERS ARE LOOKING INTO TO TRY TO MANAGE BEHAVIOR, BUT THE FUNDAMENTAL CRISIS IS STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH WHICH, OF COURSE, IS THE UNDERLYING BASIS OF BEHAVIOR.

>> Eric: AND I THINK ADVOCATES HAVE SAID MINNESOTA HAS ONE OF THE WORST COUNSELOR TO STUDENT RATIOS IN THE COUNTRY, I THINK.

AT LEAST THAT WAS TRUE A WHILE BACK.

BUT EVEN IF YOU HAD UMPTEEN COUNSELORS IN EVERY SCHOOL IT WOULD BE HARD TO KEEP UP WITH THE DEMAND, I WOULD GUESS.

>> THERE'S RESEARCH OUT THIS WEEK THAT SAYS 92% OF SCHOOL SYSTEM LEADERS NATIONWIDE SAY THAT MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES ARE MUCH MORE PROFOUND THAN THEY WERE PRE-COVID.

THE NUMBER OF VIOLENT INCIDENTS THAT THEY'RE REPORTING HAS DOUBLED SINCE COVID.

79% DON'T FEEL THAT THEY HAVE THE STAFF TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEMS.

AND THIS IS DESPITE A HUGE INFUSION OF FEDERAL PANDEMIC RELIEF MONEY, WHICH IN St. PAUL I BELIEVE THEY'RE SPENDING $23 MILLION ON STUDENT'S SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL AND WELLNESS.

THEY HAVE PUT A COUNSELOR IN EVERY SCHOOL IN THE DISTRICT.

THEY HAVE SPENT SEVERAL MILLION DOLLARS ON INTENSIVE TRAINING FOR SOCIAL WORKERS IN TRAUMA-INFORMED PRACTICES.

BUT THE SIZE OF THE PROBLEM IS PRETTY UNPRECEDENTED.

>> Cathy: WHAT DO WE KNOW, WHAT HAS RESEARCH SHOWN, WHAT'S ANECDOTALLY OUT THERE ABOUT WHY, WHAT HAPPENED DURING COVID THAT IS NOW SHOWING UP IN SOME OF THESE KIDS AS THEY ACT OUT?

>> SO, STUDENTS WERE IN UNSTRUCTURED ENVIRONMENTS FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

THEY WERE COPING IN THE CASE OF OUR MOST FRAGILE LEARNERS, OUR MOST LOW-INCOME STUDENTS, OUR STUDENTS WITH CHALLENGES, STUDENTS WITH ABSENT ARENTS, THEY WERE COPING WITH COMPOUNDED TRAUMAS.

SO NOT JUST ONE THING BUT PERHAPS A PARENT WHO IS A FIRST RESPONDER OR A FRONT-LINE WORKER.

THEY WERE LIVING IN VERY CLOSE QUARTERS SO THEY HAD HIGHER DISEASE RATES.

THEY WERE PERHAPS CARING FOR YOUNGER SIBLINGS ECAUSE THERE WAS NO CHILD CARE.

SO ALL OF THOSE THINGS IMPACTED SOME CHILDREN MUCH MORE PROFOUNDLY THAN OTHERS.

AND THAT'S COMING BACK INTO SCHOOLS WITH CHILDREN WHO ARE LESS ABLE TO REGULATE THEMSELVES, SO SELF-REGULATION IS A SKILL AND CHOOLS REINFORCE IT AND IF YOU'VE BEEN OUT OF SCHOOL FOR TWO OR THREE YEARS OR YOU'VE BEEN ABSENT, IF YOU'VE GOT CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM, YOU'RE PERHAPS NOT THERE OFTEN ENOUGH TO PICK THOSE SKILLS UP.

YOUR FUSE IS SHORT, IF YOU ARE LOW ON SELF-REGULATION ND HIGH ON TRAUMA.

>> Eric: WELL, I WOULD THINK THE TEACHERS ARE JUST THROWING UP THEIR HANDS IN FRUSTRATION IN MANY SCHOOLS, I WOULD GUESS.

WHAT'S THE EFFECT ON THE TEACHERS?

>> I THINK THEY'RE EXHAUSTED.

AND, YOU KNOW, THERE IS ACTUALLY SOME RESEARCH FROM TULANE UNIVERSITY ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE NOW HAVE TRAUMATIZED TEACHERS WHO ARE ATTEMPTING TO REPLACE THE SELF-REGULATION OF THE STUDENT, SO IF THE TEACHER IS LOWER IN CAPACITY, THE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR IS LOWER IN CAPACITY, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A TRICKLE-DOWN EFFECT.

SO WE REALLY DO NEED A WAVE OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE CAPACITY TO ADDRESS THIS.

>> Cathy: WOW.

I WONDER OW THAT HAPPENS.

I MEAN, GOOD QUESTION.

>> Cathy: YEAH, EXACTLY.

I WANT TO PIVOT HERE A LITTLE BIT HERE AND STILL TALK ABOUT St. PAUL.

HOW DID St. PAUL LEVERAGE THEIR PANDEMIC FUNDS, THEY RECEIVED, AND CAUGHT THE ATTENTION OF THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION IN A GOOD WAY?

>> WELL, THERE'S BEEN A GREAT DEAL OF HAND WRINGING NATIONWIDE THAT THIS UNPRECEDENTED, I THINK IT'S $1.7 BILLION HAS POURED INTO SCHOOLS FOR PANDEMIC RECOVERY, THAT IT'S GOING TO ALL NEED TO BE SPENT BY FALL OF 2024, AND THAT LOTS OF DISTRICTS ARE THROWING IT INTO PRE-EXISTING DEFICITS.

THEY'RE FILLING BUDGET HOLES THAT PRE-EXISTED COVID.

WHEN, IN FACT, THEY HAVE THESE DEFICITS AND HEIGHTENED NEEDS THAT THEY NEED TO MAKE UP.

SO St. PAUL GOT $300 MILLION IN ONE-TIME FUNDING ND FOUR YEARS TO SPEND IT.

AND THEY MADE A DECISION TO FUND 52 DIFFERENT STRATEGIES, GIVEN THE DIVERSITY OF THE DISTRICT.

IT'S MINNESOTA'S MOST DIVERSE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND SECOND LARGEST.

AND THEN TO MEASURE AS THEY SPENT THE MONEY WHAT IMPACT THEY THOUGHT IT WAS HAVING.

SO THEY DESIGNED A DASHBOARD FOR EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE FOUR DOZEN PLUS STRATEGIES, AND THEY HAVE ALREADY BEGUN TO ITERATE AND REFINE BASED ON THE DATA THAT THEY'RE GETTING ABOUT WHAT'S WORKING AND WHAT ISN'T.

SO THEY ARE -- AND THIS FOR A SCHOOL DISTRICT IS A SEA CHANGE IN CULTURE THAT IF THEY'RE SUCCESSFUL SHOULD AST FOR DECADES INSTEAD OF MAKING DECISIONS BASED ON ONE, TWO AND MULTIPLE-YEAR CYCLES, THEY'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO MAKE CHANGES IN A MATTER OF WEEKS.

GO AHEAD.

>> Eric: I WISH WE HAD MORE TIME.

I'M GETTING THE GOTTA GO" SIGN.

WE'LL HAVE YOU BACK.

CECILIA ZANDALASINI WE'LL HAVE YOU BACK.

THIS IS -- >> Cathy: WE'LL HAVE YOU BACK.

THIS IS FANTASTIC.

>> ERIC: MANY RESIDENTS OF NORTH MINNEAPOLIS HAVE BEEN SURPRISED - AND ANGERED - BY NEWS THAT BOTH ALDI AND WALGREENS WILL SHUT THEIR DOORS PERMANENTLY BY THE END OF THE MONTH.

ACCESS TO GROCERIES AND MEDICATIONS COULD BECOME A CHALLENGE FOR MANY, ESPECIALLY THOSE WITHOUT EASY ACCESS TO TRANSPORTATION.

HERE TO TALK MORE ABOUT WHAT THIS MEANS FOR THE COMMUNITY, CONSUMER REPORTER GITA SITARAMIAH, WHO'S BEEN COVERING THIS FOR THE "STAR TRIBUNE."

I KICKED YOUR LAST NAME, TELL ME THE RIGHT PRONUNCIATION.

>> SITARAMIAH.

PRETTY GOOD.

>> Eric: HOW DID IT GET SPRUNG ON THE COMMUNITY?

>> WELL, ALDI, A SIGN WENT UP ON THE WEEK BEFORE, BEFORE THE CLOSING, LAST SUNDAY, IT WAS A REAL SHOCK FOR A LOT OF THE NEIGHBORS WHO WALKED OR BUSSED TO GET THERE.

IT'S A COMMUNITY WHERE MOST PEOPLE RELY ON TRANSIT OR JUST THEIR FEET TO LUG THEIR GROCERIES HOME.

SO IT WAS A BIG SHOCK.

AND FOR WALGREENS, I THINK IT WAS A SIMILAR SORT OF SITUATION.

ANNOUNCEMENT WAS RECENT THAT THEY WILL BE CLOSING SOON.

>> Cathy: WHAT ARE THE REASONS?

WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

WAS IT A BUSINESS REASON?

WAS IT SOMETHING ELSE THAT HAPPENED?

>> THERE'S DIFFERING REASONS AND IT DEPENDS ON THE STRATEGY OF THE ETAILER.

BUT, YOU KNOW, GENERALLY RETAILERS WHO DON'T MAKE A PROFIT AT A LOCATION CLOSE THOSE STORES.

AND IN THE CASE OF ALDI, WHAT WE DO KNOW IS THEY'VE SAID THAT THE LOCATION WAS, YOU KNOW, THE LEASE WAS ABOUT TO BE UP AND THE STORE WASN'T BIG ENOUGH TO CARRY THE CURRENT LARGER ASSORTMENT THAT THEY'RE NOW PROVIDING.

SO THAT'S WHY THEY LEFT.

AND ALDI IS OTHERWISE IN GROWTH MODE.

I MEAN, THEY WILL CLOSE LESS PROFITABLE LOCATIONS OR PLACES WHERE THEY DON'T SEE GROWTH, BUT THEY RE IN GROWTH MODE OVERALL.

WALGREENS IS A DIFFERENT STORY.

WALGREENS HAS BEEN CLOSING LOCATIONS NATIONWIDE.

AND SO THIS IS ONE OF THOSE THAT WENT.

>> Eric: PRETTY TOUGH NEIGHBORHOOD, THOUGH, FOR WALGREENS WITH LIQUOR STORE AND A GAS STATION THAT HAVE BEEN PROBLEMATIC AREAS.

>> YEAH, DEFINITELY.

AND THERE'S A LOT OF SPECULATION THAT CRIME IS RELATED.

THE RETAILERS ARE OBVIOUSLY NOT SHARING THAT.

NEARBY THERE'S CUB NORTH SIDE AND CUB FOODS CEO HAS SAID THAT -- CUB WILL REMAIN COMMITTED TO STAYING ON HE NORTH SIDE BECAUSE IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

SO THAT'S NOW THE ONLY PHARMACY SERVING AREA.

>> athy: I JUST WAS GOING TO ASK, WHAT KIND OF HOLES DOES IT LEAVE IN THE COMMUNITY TO HAVE THE ALGREENS GONE AND THE ALDI?

>> THERE'S A BIG HOLE FOR FRESH PRODUCE, FOR INSTANCE, AND FOR FAMILIES WHO WANT TO JUST PICK UP GROCERIES FOR THE WEEK.

YOU KNOW, BREAD, MILK, EGGS.

THERE'S TWO FULL-SERVICE GROCERIES LEFT, THAT'S NORTH MARKET, WHICH IS A NONPROFIT, SOCIAL ENTERPRISE GROCER, THERE'S ALSO THE CUB, AS I MENTIONED.

AND THEN THERE'S SOME OTHER NEIGHBORHOOD MARKETS.

I HEAR THERE'S A GREAT ASIAN MARKET THAT HAS FRESH PRODUCE.

BUT IT'S NOT EASY FOR PEOPLE TO GET TO THESE LOCATIONS.

>> Eric: THESE ARE PROFIT-MAKING ORGANIZATIONS, THESE AREN'T TWO NONPROFITS, I WONDER IF THERE'S A WAY FOR THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT, STATE, TO STEP IN AND DO SOMETHING OR IS T JUST BEYOND THEIR ABILITY TO DO SOMETHING?

>> WELL, NORTH MARKET IS ACTUALLY A SOCIAL ENTERPRISE VENTURE.

IT WAS STARTED BY PILLSBURY UNITED COMMUNITIES ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO.

THEY RAISED $6 MILLION, INCLUDING $2 MILLION OF STATE FUNDING.

TODAY THE STORE OPERATES ON REVENUE, 10 TO 20% OF THE OPERATING BUDGET IS DONOR FUNDING AND PROVIDES SERVICES LIKE THEIR PROMOTIONS LIKE THEIR HALF OFF PRODUCE ON WEDNESDAYS.

SO THAT IS A REALLY INTERESTING EXAMPLE OF AN ALTERNATIVE.

>> Cathy: IS THERE A DOMINO EFFECT HERE?

IF THESE BUSINESSES FALL, DO OTHERS FOLLOW SUIT?

>> EVERYONE IS WONDERING THAT.

IS THIS A COINCIDENCE?

I MEAN, THE TIMING IS TERRIBLE.

THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT T. >> Eric: IS THERE WOULD ALDI'S OR WALGREENS LOOKING FOR SOMETHING ELSE, ANOTHER LOCATION OR BRING ANOTHER STORE IN?

>> THERE'S HOPE.

BUT, I MEAN, I WILL SAY THAT THE LANDLORD OF THE LOCATION WHERE THE ALDI IS IS LOOKING FOR ANOTHER GROCER.

THE LOCATION IS READY FOR A GROCER.

THAT'S WHAT IT'S BEEN DOING.

I DON'T KNOW IF WILL BE A WALGREENS OR ALDI THAT'S IN NORTH MINNEAPOLIS BUT SOMETHING ELSE.

>> Eric: WE'LL WATCH FOR YOUR CONTINUED REPORTING ON THIS.

THANKS NO COMING OVAL.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Cathy: GOOD TO SEE YOU.

♪♪ >> CATHY: IT'S FEBRUARY IN MINNESOTA, SO OF COURSE WE'VE HAD RECORD-SETTING HIGH TEMPS, RECORD RAINFALL AMOUNTS, HIGH WINDS AND ROAD-CLOSING BLIZZARDS ACROSS THE STATE.

AND THAT WAS JUST THIS WEEK.

THE END OF METEOROLOGICAL WINTER IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER SO WE'VE INVITED BACK U OF M PROFESSOR EMERITUS MARK SEELEY.

HE'S ALSO WITH THE MINNESOTA CLIMATE ADAPTATION PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM TO JOIN US AS THE SEASONS ARE ABOUT TO CHANGE.

VALENTINE'S DAY WAS NOT EXACTLY SWEET.

WHAT THE HECK HAPPENED THERE WITH RAIN, HISTORIC RAIN?

>> HISTORIC.

IN OUR CLIMATE NETWORK IN THE STATE, CATHY, OVER 100 RECORDS WERE SET ON VALENTINE'S DAY FOR RAIN.

IT WAS ARGUABLY THE WETTEST VALENTINE'S DAY WE'VE EVER HAD.

>> Eric: WHAT CAUSED IT?

>> WELL, IT WAS SET UP BY, ERIC, THE PRECEDING DAYS.

REMEMBER HOW WE SAW HOW INTERNATIONAL FALLS WENT UP TO 47°?

>> Eric: YEAH, RIGHT.

>> TOWER, ONE OF THE COLDEST PLACES IN THE STATE, WENT UP TO 49.

SO WE HAD THIS INFLUX OF WARM SOUTHERLY AIR FOR A FEW DAYS.

BROUGHT IN A WARMER AIR MASS.

BUT ALSO MORE MOISTURE.

>> Eric: I SEE.

>> AND, SO, THERE WAS A LOT OF MOISTURE THERE FOR THE FRONTAL SYSTEM TO DEPOSIT OVER THE STATE.

AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED.

AND IT WAS A BIT OF A SURPRISE.

IT'S RARE.

HISTORICALLY, CATHY, YOU KNOW THIS FROM OUR TALKS ON MORNING EDITION TO HAVE A SIGNIFICANT RAINFALL LIKE THAT IN THE WINTERTIME.

BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, AND IEWERS ARE PROBABLY LEARNING THIS AS A FACT OF LIFE, MORE AND MORE WE'RE SEEING SOME RAINFALL EVENTS DURING OUR CORE WINTER MONTHS.

>> Cathy: WHICH IS JUST NOT RIGHT.

>> RIGHT.

>> Cathy: AND THE ICE THAT'S LEFT BEHIND IS HORRIBLE.

>> IT IS.

IT MAKES IT TREACHEROUS FOR PEDESTRIANS AND TRAFFIC.

AND IT'S JUST BEEN -- IT'S JUST BEEN A NIGHTMARE THIS WINTER.

>> Eric: WHAT DOES THE SNOW AMOUNT HAVE TO DO, IF ANYTHING, WITH THE WINTER TEMPERATURES?

DOES IT MAKE IT COOLER BECAUSE THERE'S SNOW ON THE GROUND?

>> OH, YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

ALMOST ALL OF OUR RECORD LOWS HISTORICALLY ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THE PRESENCE OF SNOW COVER.

WITHOUT IT WE ALL KNOW WE'VE SEEN 60° IN FEBRUARY.

WE'VE EVEN SEEN 70°.

BUT ALL OF THOSE OCCURRENCES IN OUR PAST HAVE BEEN WITHOUT SNOW COVER.

>> Eric: I SEE.

>> SO IT'S A HUGE FACTOR IN HOW THE TEMPERATURE BEHAVES.

>> Cathy: OKAY, SO IT RAINED TO BEAT THE BAND THERE ON VALENTINE'S DAY.

BUT I'M WONDERING, WHEN IT COMES TO THE DROUGHT, IS IT BETTER TO GET SNOW OR RAIN?

YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING?

BECAUSE THE FROST LEVEL ISN'T AS DEEP AS IT WAS.

>> RIGHT.

>> Cathy: SO I'M JUST KIND OF WONDERING.

>> WELL, T'S ALL CIRCUMSTANTIAL I THINK I'VE HEARD FROM OTHER OBSERVERS AS WELL AS MY FRIENDS AT THE STATE CLIMATOLOGY OFFICE THAT THE RAIN WE DID GET VALENTINE'S DAY IN SOME PARTS OF THE STATE WENT INTO THE SOIL BECAUSE THE SOIL FROST DEPTHS HAVE BEEN SO SHALLOW THIS WINTER WITH ALL THAT ONSET OF EARLY WINTER SNOW.

>> Eric: YEAH.

>> TO SORT OF INSULATE THE SOIL AND NOT ALLOW THE FROST TO PENETRATE TOO DEEP.

ELSEWHERE THERE'S SOME PARTS OF THE STATE WHERE THE FROST IS DOWN AROUND 20 OR 30 INCHES.

SO THAT'S A FACTOR THERE.

OVERALL, MOISTURE'S MOISTURE, CATHY.

I THINK THE BUILDUP OF WINTER MOISTURE IS A POSITIVE FROM THE STANDPOINT OF ALLEVIATING DROUGHT.

BUT IT'S GOING TO PLAY OUT, IT'S HOW IT'S GOING TO PLAY OUT THAT'S REALLY GOING TO BE IMPORTANT.

ARE WE GOING TO HAVE A GRADUAL THAT YOU?

ARE WE GOING TO HAVE A RAPID THAW?

ARE WE GOING TO SUDDENLY TURN AND HAVE A WET SPRING ON TO HAVE I ASNOWY WINTER?

THEN, OF COURSE, WE MIGHT MAGNIFY THE SPRING SNOW MELT FLOOD THREAT.

>> Eric: WHAT IS THE OUTLOOK LOOK LIKE NOW ON FLOODING?

>> IT'S ALMOST, I'D SAY, ERIC, IT'S MODERATE FOR MOST OF OUR MAJOR WATERSHEDS.

NOTHING TO GET REAL UPSET ABOUT.

I THINK THERE'S A COUPLE OF SPOTS ALONG THE RED RIVER OF THE NORTH WHERE THERE'S SOME CHANCE FOR A HIGH, A MAJOR FLOOD.

SMALL CHANCE, THOUGH, AT THIS POINT IN TIME.

REALLY, WE'VE GOT SO MUCH OF WINTER LEFT ND SO MUCH OF EARLY SPRING LEFT THAT COULD DICTATE HOW THIS PATTERN GOES THAT THERE'S A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY ASSOCIATED WITH IT YET.

>> Cathy: I SAW THAT THE CLIMATE PREDICTION CENTER WAS OUT.

>> YES.

>> Cathy: WITH ITS CRYSTAL BALL OUTLOOK.

WHICH I KNOW YOU'RE NEVER TOO IMPRESSED WITH.

BUT WHAT DID YOU THINK OF IT?

>> WELL, YOU'RE RIGHT, CATHY, I'VE NEVER BEEN A FAN OF IT.

AND I PROBABLY HAVE BEEN ONE OF THE MOST CRITICAL PEOPLE OF IT IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA FOR MY 45 YEARS OR WHATEVER IT IS.

BUT A CONVERGENCE OF THE MODELS, SO NOT JUST ONE MODEL, BUT A CONVERGENCE OF THE MODELS IS SUGGESTING THAT BY THE END F MAY, WE MIGHT HAVE ALLEVIATED THE DROUGHT ACROSS THE STATE.

>> Eric: WOW.

>> AND THAT'S GOOD.

I MEAN, OUR GARDENERS AND OUR FARMERS AND STUFF SHOULD BE LOOKING MORE OPTIMISTICALLY NOW AT WHAT 2023 MIGHT BRING.

>> Eric: LET'S END IT RIGHT THERE ON A HIGH POSITIVE NOTE.

>> Cathy: NO SENSE IN GETTING DEPRESSED.

>> OKAY, GOOD.

>> Eric: THANKS, PROFESSOR.

>> THANKS, ERIC.

>> Cathy: SEE YOU LATER.

♪♪ >> SHELETTA: RIGHT NOW THE LEGISLATURE IN THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO IS DEBATING ON WHAT THE STATE AROMA WILL BE.

AND IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'’VE DECIDED ON THE SMELL OF ROASTING CHILI PEPPERS.

IN MINNESOTA, WE HAVE A STATE MUFFIN - THE BLUEBERRY.

A STATE FUNGUS - THE MORELL MUSHROOM.

AND A STATE FRUIT - THE HONEYCRISP APPLE.

BUT NO AROMA???

I'’M GLAD TO STICK MY NOSE IN STATE BUSINESS WITH SOME SCENT-SATIONAL NOMINEES FOR AN OFFICIAL MINNESOTA STATE SMELL.

SO MANY POSSIBILITIES WITH A WINTER THEME, AM I RIGHT?

WET WOOLEN MITTENS, THE HOT RUBBER AROMA OF STUCK TIRES SPINNING IN THE SNOW OR ZAMBONI FUMES.

FOODWISE, WE COULD GO WITH BUTTERED SWEETCORN, OF COURSE JUICY LUCIES, TATER TOT HOT DISH OR SPAM.

OUTDOORS, WE HAVE NORTHWOODS PINE, SPRING LILACS OR PRAIRIE AIR.

THEN THERE'’S FISH.

WALLEYE IS FISHY.

BAIT SHOPS ARE FISHIER.

LUTEFISK IS FISHIEST.

AFTER THIS VIKINGS SEASON, NO CHANCE WE CAN GO WITH THE SWEET SMELL OF VICTORY.

LORD HAVE MERCY.

WE COULD GO WITH THE SMELL OF CATHY WURZER.

YOU CAN'’T TELL BY WATCHING HER ON TV, BUT SHE ALWAYS SMELLS GOOD.

BUT THE PICK FOR MY NOSE IS A COMBO PLATTER.

I'’M THINKING THE SMELL OF ANYTHING FRIED ON A STICK AND A DASH OF MANURE.

YOU BETCHA, THE STATE AROMA HAS GOT TO BE THE SWEET FRAGRANCE OF THE MINNESOTA STATE FAIR.

AND THAT'’S MY TWO SCENTS!

♪♪ >> ERIC: IT'S A LATE WINTER SPORTS TRADITION HERE IN THE NORTHLAND.

TWINS PLAYERS HAVE REPORTED TO SPRING TRAINING.

THE WILD ARE STRUGGLING TO GET BACK IN TO A PLAYOFF SPOT.

THE WOLVES ARE BLOWING BIG LEADS.

AND THE MINNESOTA VIKINGS HAVE TURNED THEIR EYES TOWARDS NEXT SEASON.

ALL THIS SPORTS TALK MEANS THAT LARRY FITZGERALD IS BACK IN THE STUDIO.

FRESH OFF COVERING THE SUPER BOWL IN ARIZONA.

LARRY DOES RADIO WORK FOR THE NATIONAL PROGRAMMING NETWORK AND VISITS US REGULARLY HERE ON "ALMANAC."

TWINS OFF-SEASON CHANGES, IS THE CLUB IMPROVED AS WE HEAD TO THE NEW SEASON?

>> I WOULD HAVE TO SAY YEAH.

YOU KNOW, THEY'RE GETTING A COUPLE OF PITCHERS BACK WHO DIDN'T PITCH LAST YEAR.

MAIDA BEING ONE AND THEY'VE ADDED, YOU KNOW, LÓPEZ AND THEY ARE REALLY EXCITED.

YEAH.

THEY REALLY BELIEVE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE A TEAM THAT CAN GO OUT AND DICTATE.

AND YOU CAN DO THAT WITH STARTING PITCHING.

NOW THE BIG QUESTION IS, ARE THEY GOING TO LET THEM PITCH?

ARE THEY GOING TO LET HIM PITCH, 5, 6, 7, YOU KNOW, ROCCO LIKES TO TAKE THE BALL AWAY FROM YOU AROUND THE FIFTH INNING.

I'M AGAINST THAT BECAUSE I THINK THAT EXPOSES YOUR BULLPEN AND HE CONSISTENCY THAT YOU HAVE IN THAT AREA.

>> Eric: YEAH.

>> Cathy: LET'S TALK ABOUT THE WILD.

IS THERE SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE WILD THAT THEY CAN'T SCORE GOALS OR WHAT?

>> IT'S AMAZING.

BOY, THEY'RE LEANING SO HEAVY ON KAPRIZOV, IT'S ALMOST LIKE YOU CAN SEE HIS SHOULDERS.

HE'S GOT 64 POINTS, 31 GOALS BUT THEY NEED TO GET HIM SOME HELP.

THEY'VE LOST SOME GAMES HERE RECENTLY ON THIS HOMESTAND SINCE THE ALL-STAR BREAK.

THEY'RE WINNABLE GAMES.

YOU CAN'T BLAME THE GOALTENDER FOR LOSING A 2-1 GAME IN A SHOOT-OUT.

THE OTHER NIGHT I'M THERE TO SEE THE STANLEY CUP AVALANCHE, THEY LOSE THAT ONE 3-2.

THEY'RE IN THE GAME.

PLAY HERE, PLAY THERE.

THEY'VE STRUGGLED A COUPLE OF TIMES IN THE AREAS OF LETTING THE PUCK GET OUT OF THEIR END.

AND THAT'S COST THEM.

BUT THIS WEEKEND IS A BIG ONE.

THEY'VE GOT TO TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS AND BEAT DALLAS AND FIND A WAY TO BEAT THE PREDATORS WHEN THEY COME IN HERE ON SUNDAY.

>> Eric: ARE THE T-WOLVES BUILDING SOMETHING GOOD OR ARE THEY IN DISARRAY, I CAN'T QUITE TELL?

>> WHAT A NIGHTMARE ON FRIDAY, THEY HAD ALMOST 18,000 PEOPLE THERE, THEY WERE SO EXCITED ABOUT THE BOBBLEHEADS, RUDY, KARL-ANTHONY TOWNS, EVERYBODY WANTED ONE, THEY GET IN THERE, THE TIMBERWOLVES ARE UP 22, AND THEY BASICALLY FELL ASLEEP.

YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE THESE STRETCHES IN GAMES THAT REALLY CONCERNS YOU THAT THEY DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO PUT THE CLAMPS ON PEOPLE WHEN YOU GET 26 AND 22-POINT LEADS IN BASKETBALL GAMES AND WASHINGTON KEPT COMING AT 'EM.

AND THE TIMBERWOLVES HAVE TO BE MORE DISCIPLINED AND TAKING THREE-POINT SHOTS.

THEY ONLY MADE 8 OF 28.

AND THAT'S LESS LESS THAN 30%.

GET THE BALL INSIDE.

RUDY'S THE GUY IN TERMS OF BEING CLOSE TO THE BASKET, DUNKING.

AND KEEP YOUR FINGERS CROSSED ON WHETHER OR NOT THEY CAN GET KARL-ANTHONY TOWNS BACK PLAYIN' AT THE LEVEL THAT HE PLAYED AT BEFORE.

>> Cathy: NOW, FITZY, WHEN THE LAST TIME YOU WERE HERE, YOU TOLD US THAT YOU HAD HIGH HOPES FOR THE VIKINGS IN THE PLAYOFFS.

AND THEY LOST IN THE FIRST ROUND.

>> YES.

>> Cathy: AGAIN.

SO, WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SAY?

>> WELL, I'M DISAPPOINTED THE WAY THINGS WENT DOWN BUT WE SAW THE SIGNS AS THE SEASON WENT ON, THEY WON 11 GAMES ON THE LAST POSSESSION OF THE GAME.

WHICH TELLS YOU THAT THEY HAVE A GOOD OFFENSE, BUT DEFENSIVELY, THEY WERE LIKE A RUBBERBAND.

BUT THAT COULD CHANGE NOW WITH BRIAN FLORES OMING IN.

HE IS A DYNAMIC COACH.

AND HE REALLY GETS AFTER HIS PLAYERS AND MOTIVATES THEM TO BE ABLE TO STAND OUT.

AND HE COMES WITH DIFFERENT WRINKLES.

HE HASN'T TOLD US WHETHER HE'S GOING TO BE, YOU KNOW, 3-4, 4-3, BUT I THINK HE'S GOING TO LEAN WITH A 3-4 DEFENSE.

>> Eric: HOW ANY SUPERBOWLS HAVE YOU COVERED?

>> THIS IS 43.

THANK YOU FOR MENTIONING IT.

I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT FACT.

>> Eric: LET ME ASK, WITH THIS BACKGROUND, IS THIS THE WORST THE TURF HAS EVER BEEN FOR ARIZONA?

>> LARRY PLAYED HIS ENTIRE CAREER OUT THERE.

THEY'VE ALWAYS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THEIR TURF, TIBBLE WHEN THEY'RE PLAYING A -- PARTICULARLY WHEN THEY'RE PLAYING A GAME THAT'S IN THE 6:00 OR 7:00 TIME ZONE.

THEY HAD THE ROOF OPEN.

BUT THAT FIELD REALLY WAS A PROBLEM.

AND I THINK IT HURT PHILADELPHIA BECAUSE F THE SPEED THAT THEY HAVE WITH THEIR RUSH, THOSE GUYS JUST COULDN'T GET THEIR LEVERAGE.

AND I THINK IT HURT 'EM IN THE END.

>> Eric: WAS THERE ANY EXPLANATION AS TO WHY IT WAS SO BAD?

>> WELL, THEY WENT AND PLANTED THIS FIELD, THEY SAID THIS IS THE WAY TO GO.

THEY WERE GOING TO GIVE IT TIME.

THEY PUT IT OUT IN THE SUN, THAT TYPE OF THING.

BUT FOR SOME REASON, THE FIELD HAD THIS GLOSS ON IT.

AND PARTICULARLY AFTER THE HALFTIME SHOW WHICH WAS 30 MINUTES OR SO WITH RIHANNA, WHEN THEY WENT BACK OUT THERE, GUYS WAS SLIP SLIDING ALL OVER THE PLACE.

>> Eric: YEAH.

>> Cathy: SAY, BEFORE YOU GO, WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THE U OF M MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM?

THEY CAN'T WIN IN THE BIG 10?

>> WELL, THEY CAN'T WIN, THAT'S TRUE.

AND THEY'RE NOT WINNING BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PLAYERS.

AND THE PLAYERS THAT THEY'VE BEEN COUNTING ON HAVEN'T BEEN AVAILABLE.

THEY'VE BEEN HURT.

THAT TYPE OF THING.

AND I'M SURPRISED THAT THE FACT DURING THIS TIME OF N.I.L.s AND TRANSFER PORTALS THAT THERE ISN'T -- THEY SHOULD HAVE PLAYERS.

THEY SHOULD HAVE PEOPLE THAT WANT A DESIRE TO PLAY BASKETBALL AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL IN THE BIG 10.

BUT THAT HASN'T BEEN THE CASE THIS YEAR.

IT'S REALLY BEEN A DISAPPOINTING SEASON.

>> Eric: FITZY, ALWAYS A PLEASURE, WE LEARNED A LOT, THANKS FOR COMING OVER.

>> Cathy: HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.

♪♪ >> I WAS ASKED TWICE TO RUN FOR THE HOUSE.

ONE IN 2018 AND NOW THIS TIME.

AND I WAS ASKED ONCE BY THE SENATE TO RUN.

MY WIFE AND I DISCUSSED, WE SAID, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES THE SECOND CALLING MEANS SOMETHING.

I KNEW WE HAD TO CAMPAIGN, WE HAVE TO CAMPAIGN HARD.

WHEN I COMMIT TO SOMETHING, I DO 100%.

I DIDN'T KNOW HOW IT WOULD STAND.

>> Mary: BUT YOU HAVE TO FEEL PROUD THAT YOU FLIPPED A SEAT AND YOU COULD HAVE INFLUENCED CONTROL, IT DIDN'T END UP BEING THE DECIDER BUT IT COULD HAVE BEEN.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK A LOT OF MY WORKING WITH A -- AS A MAYOR WITH THE OTHER CITIES, FIRST RESPONDERS, JUST BEING OUT IN THE WHOLE CLAY COUNTY, BEING BORN AND RAISED DOWN IN DETROIT LAKES, BERKE COUNTY, I THINK THAT HELPS A LOT, TOO.

WE STARTED A PROGRAM HERE AND WORKED THERE, IN HAULLY.

ONE OF THE BIG REASONS TO GET INTO THAT, I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND IT A LOT, SO MY MAIN THING WAS TO GET IN THERE, RIDE ALONG, JUST UNDERSTAND.

HAWLEY.

>> CATHY: POET, WRITER, AND CRITIC DAVID MURA HAS WRITTEN A NEW BOOK.

"THE STORIES WHITENESS TELLS ITSELF" LOOKS DEEPLY AT THE WAYS RACE HAS SHAPED THE COUNTRY AND MODERN EXPERIENCES AND PERCEPTIONS.

THE BOOK BEGINS AND ENDS WITH THE KILLINGS OF THREE MINNESOTANS BY POLICE OFFICERS, ALL BLACK MEN: PHILANDO CASTILE, GEORGE FLOYD, AND DAUNTE WRIGHT.

IT EXPLORES HOW STORIES ARE FRAMED -— REAL AND FICTIONAL, PAST AND PRESENT -— AGAINST THE BACKDROP OF WHITE SUPREMACY.

HERE TO TELL US MORE ABOUT HIS BOOK, DAVID MURA.

IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

IT'S BEEN A WHILE.

>> GOOD TO BE HERE.

>> Cathy: YOU ARE JAPANESE AMERICAN, YOU'RE WRITING ABOUT BLACKNESS AND WHITENESS.

WHAT SPURRED YOU TO WRITE THE BOOK?

>> PART F IT IS THE KILLING OF PHILANDO CASTILE, WHICH TOOK PLACE PROBABLY NOT MORE THAN THREE MILES, MAYBE TWO MILES FROM MY HOUSE.

I'VE DRIVEN DOWN THAT ROAD.

I KNOW PEOPLE WHO KNEW PHILANDO CASTILE.

AND THEN, AS I BEGAN EXAMINING THE ROOTS OF WHAT HAPPENED ON LARPENTEUR AVENUE, I REALIZED THAT THE ROOTS GO ALL THE WAY BACK TO SLAVERY, THEY GO ALL THE WAY BACK TO OUR HISTORY OF RACE.

AND I REALIZED THAT THE WAY WE TELL THE HISTORY OF OUR COUNTRY S NOT ACCURATE.

YOU KNOW, I SAY IN THE BOOK, OUR COUNTRY BEGAN WITH TWO GOALS.

THE FIRST WAS FREEDOM, EQUALITY AND DEMOCRACY.

BUT THE OTHER GOAL, WHICH WE DON'T ANT TO TALK ABOUT WAS TO ESTABLISH WHITE SUPREMACY AND THE ABILITY OF WHITE PEOPLE TO OPPRESS PEOPLE OF COLOR.

AND AS WE SEE IN THE CONTROVERSY OVER DESANTOS, SOME PEOPLE ARE FINE WITH TELLING THE STORY ONLY THROUGH THE LENS OF THE FIRST GOAL.

AND NOT THROUGH THE LENS OF THE SECOND GOAL.

AND THEY DEEM THAT HISTORY OF WHITE SUPREMACY AND RACISM AS UN-AMERICAN, AS UNPATRIOTIC, AS A BLEMISH, WHICH IT IS IN ACTUALITY ON WHAT AMERICA IS BUT THAT'S HE TRUTH.

AND WE CAN'T BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND WHO WE ARE AND HOW WE'VE GOTTEN TO THIS PLACE.

>> Eric: WHAT DO YOU WANT WHITE READ TOWERS GET OUT OF THIS?

>> -- WHITE READERS TO GET OUT OF THIS?

>> I SAY THIS ALL THE TIME.

I DON'T WRITE TO SHAME OR GUILT WHITE PEOPLE.

I BELIEVE YOU CHANGE PEOPLE THROUGH LOVE AND THROUGH KNOWLEDGE.

SO WHAT I'M TRYING TO FFER THEM IS KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE WAYS THAT RACISM WORKS IN OUR HISTORY AND IN OUR SOCIETY.

AND WE SIMPLIFY IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

YOU KNOW, IN THIS CONTROVERSY THAT DESANTOS HAS IN FLORIDA, WHERE HE WANTS TO BAN THE A.P.

STUDIES COURSE, JUST THINK ABOUT IT.

BACK IN SLAVERY, THE SLAVE OWNERS SAID O THE AFRICANS, YOU CAN'T TEACH EACH OTHER TO READ.

YOU CAN'T TEACH EACH OTHER YOUR CULTURE OR LANGUAGE.

SO, WHAT DESANTOS IS SAYING IS AN OLD SOUTHERN TRADITION.

THESE AFRICAN AMERICAN WRITERS AND SCHOLARS, YOU'RE NOT QUALIFIED TO TEACH ABOUT YOUR CULTURE AND HISTORY.

AND HE SAYS IT'S NOT EDUCATIONAL, BUT WHO IS HE TO MAKE THIS JUDGMENT?

HE DOESN'T HAVE A PhD IN AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES.

AND, SO, -- AND HE'S CERTAINLY NOT BLACK.

AND HE'S RELYING ON THIS TROPE OF RACISM WHERE THE PROBLEM IS NOT THAT WHITE AMERICA HAS ABUSED BLACK AMERICANS THROUGHOUT OUR HISTORY, BUT THAT BLACK AMERICANS REMEMBER THIS HISTORY AND KEEP TELLING WHITE PEOPLE ABOUT IT.

WHICH SOMEHOW VICTIMIZES WHITE PEOPLE.

>> Cathy: AND WHAT ARE THE NARRATIVES THAT WHITES TELL THEMSELVES, THEN, THROUGH THAT HISTORICAL LENS?

>> WELL, THEY TELL STORIES OF UNBLEMISHED WHITE HEROES.

IF I TOLD YOU, THERE'S BRILLIANT WRITER DOWN THE BLOCK, HE'S A BRILLIANT THINKER, HE'S PUSHING IDEAS OF - EQUALITY, FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY, AND HIS NAME IS THOMAS JEFFERSON, YOU GO, GREAT.

AND THEN IF I TOLD YOU, AND THOMAS JEFFERSON OWNS 600 SLAVES, HE IMPREGNATED A 16-YEAR-OLD SLAVE.

AND HIS CHILDREN, THIS IS VERY INTERESTING, SALLY HEMINGS HE IS WAS ONE-QUARTER BLACK, SO THEIR CHILDREN WERE 1/8 BLACK, AND PEOPLE SAID, TOM, SURE LOOKS LIKE YOU, THESE KIDS AND HE KEPT THEM IN SLAVERY.

NOW, WE WOULD THINK THIS PERSON IS A MORAL MONSTER, SOMEHOW SICK.

AND WE WANT TO SAY, OH, THAT'S IN THE PAST, RIGHT?

BUT IF YOU LOOK AT RACIAL MEDICAL DISPARITIES, BLACK PEOPLE WAIT LONGER IN EMERGENCY ROOMS FOR PAIN MEDICATION FOR THE SAME CONDITIONS AND ILLNESSES.

THEY RECEIVE LESS PAIN MEDICATION THAN WHITES FOR THE SAME CONDITIONS AND LLNESSES.

AND IN 2016, THERE WAS A STUDY WHICH SAID 122 WHITE MEDICAL STUDENTS, AND HALF OF HEM PROFESSED TO BELIEVE THAT BLACK PEOPLE FEEL LESS PAIN THAN WHITE PEOPLE.

>> Eric: IF ALL OF THIS WAS ACKNOWLEDGED, WHAT DIFFERENCE WOULD IT MAKE?

>> BLACK PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF OUR RACIAL HISTORY AT EVERY POINT IN OUR HISTORY.

AND WHITE PEOPLE, THE MAJORITY OF WHITE PEOPLE ARE WRONG.

AND, YET, WHITE PEOPLE HAVE NEVER TURNED TO BLACK PEOPLE AND SAID, YOU KNOW, WE GOT IT WRONG, EVERY SINGLE TIME IN OUR HISTORY AND YOU GOT IT RIGHT.

MAYBE WE'LL LISTEN TO YOU IN THE PRESENT.

AND WHEN THAT BEGINS TO HAPPEN, WE'LL KNOW THAT WE'RE REALLY ON THE ROAD TO CHANGING OUR RACE IN AMERICA.

>> Cathy: WHAT WOULD A REALLY GOOD AMERICAN HISTORY CLASS LOOK LIKE?

>> IT WOULD TELL THE STORY -- IT WOULD TELL THE STORY, AS I SAID, OF THIS PURSUIT OF EQUALITY, FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY, BUT IT WOULD ALSO TELL THE STORY OF HOW SLAVERY AND ITS AFTERMATH HAS AFFECTED US.

BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WHEN THESE 222, HALF OF THOSE MEDICAL STUDENTS WHO BELIEVE BLACK PEOPLE FEEL LESS PAIN THAN WHITE PEOPLE, THAT'S AN IDEA THAT JEFFERSON WAS PUSHING IN THE 1700s.

SO THAT IDEA FROM THE 1700s IS STILL INFECTING THE MINDS OF WHITE AMERICANS TODAY.

SO YOU CAN'T SAY THE PAST IS WAY IN THE BACK.

IT'S ACTUALLY PRESENT.

UNLESS WE UNDERSTAND THAT, WE CAN'T BEGIN TO ROOT IT OUT.

>> Eric: WISH WE HAD MORE TIME.

>> Cathy: REALLY GOOD BOOK.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> Eric: "WHITENESS TELLS ITSELF."

BE "THE STORIES WHITENESS TELLS ITSELF."

♪♪ >> ERIC: THIS WEEK THE STATE SUPREME COURT ISSUED A DECISION ON THE RESTORATION OF VOTING RIGHTS FOR FELONS, ESSENTIALLY SAYING IT'S THE LEGISLATURE'S JOB TO DECIDE.

POLITICAL REPORTER MARY LAHAMMER SHOWS WHAT'S AHEAD NEXT FOR THE ISSUE AND WHY VOTING MATTERS SO MUCH IN MINNESOTA.

>> THIS IS A BAD DAY FOR DEMOCRACY.

>> Mary: THE SECRETARY OF STATE RAN ON DEMOCRACY AND PROVED THE TOP VOTE ETTER IN MINNESOTA, AND HE WANTS VOTING RIGHTS RESTORED FOR RELEASED FELONS.

REACTION, GENERALLY, TO THE MINNESOTA SUPREME COURT DECISION ON VOTING RIGHTS?

>> IT'S WHAT WE EXPECTED AND WHAT THE COURT, BOTTOM LINE, SAID ON A 6-1 BASIS, MAJORITY OPINION WAS, LOOK IT, IF YOU'RE GOING TO CHANGE THE LAW ON THE SUBJECT, WHICH I SUPPORT, FROM A POLICY STANDPOINT, IT REALLY IS THE LEGISLATURE THAT HAS TO CHANGE THE LAWS, NOT GOING TO BE DONE THROUGH THE COURTS.

>> Mary: FASCINATING THAT THE OPINION WAS WRITTEN BY A FORMER LAWMAKER, FORMER HOUSE SPEAKER, PAUL THISSEN.

SO DOES HE CARRY GREATER AUTHORITY ON THE SEPARATION OF POWERS AND WHAT THE LEGISLATURE SHOULD BE DOING?

>> IT'S HARD TO READ INTO THE AUTHOR OF ANY COURT OPINION AND MAKE THOSE DETERMINATIONS.

BUT FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO INTERPRET IT THAT WAY, I WOULD WELCOME THAT INTERPRETATION.

A PERSON, LIKE ME, CAN BELIEVE WE OUGHT TO CHANGE THE LAW, BUT THAT'S A DIFFERENT QUESTION THAN WHETHER THE CURRENT LAW SAYS WHAT SOME PEOPLE THINK IT SAYS.

>> Mary: RACIAL DISPARITIES DISPROPORTIONATELY HIT COMMUNITIES OF COLOR ON THIS ISSUE.

>> BLACK PEOPLE COMPRISE ABOUT 6% OF MINNESOTA'S OTING AGE POPULATION, BUT 24% OF THESE DISENFRANCHISED VOTERS.

>> IT HURTS.

I ADMIT, IT HURTS.

THAT THE HIGH COURTS OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA DIDN'T MAKE DRASTIC MEASURES AND CHANGES TO ENSURE THAT WE ALL CAN USE OUR VOICES.

>> THIS IS A DARK DAY AND, YET, ANOTHER STAIN N DEMOCRACY.

>> Mary: THE PLAINTIFFS SAY THIS WAS A BAD DAY FOR DEMOCRACY.

>> I UNDERSTAND THE DISAPPOINTMENT OF ANYONE WHO IS NOT ON THE REVAILING SIDE IN A COURT CASE.

BUT THEY SHOULD BE HEARTENED BY THE FACT THAT IN TERMS OF THE ULTIMATE OUTCOME, THERE'S A BILL MOVING IN THE LEGISLATURE THAT I STRONGLY SUPPORT AND WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT.

>> Mary: ONE OTHER ASPECT FROM THE ACLU AND THE PLAINTIFFS, THEY DEFINITELY TALK ABOUT THE RACIAL DISPARITY AND HOW DEVASTATING AND DISPROPORTIONATE THIS IS FOR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

CAN YOU ADDRESS THAT?

>> I THINK THEY'RE RIGHT.

WHAT THEY SUBMITTED IN THE BRIEFS, THEY PAINTED A PRETTY DEVASTATING PICTURE.

BUT, AGAIN, WHAT THE SUPREME COURT SAID WAS, THESE THINGS MAY BE TRUE AND CORRECT, BUT THE PLACE TO TAKE THAT UP IS THE LEGISLATURE, NOT THE COURTS.

AND THAT'S WHAT SO MANY OF US ARE TRYING TO DO.

>> Mary: HERE IN THE HOUSE, THEY'VE ALREADY PASSED VOTING RIGHTS RESTORATION.

IT'S NOT SCHEDULED FOR ACTION YET ON THE SENATE FLOOR.

BUT A SOURCE TELLS ME IT COULD COME UP AS SOON AS NEXT WEEK.

>> I URGE THE MINNESOTA LEGISLATURE TO RESTORE MY RIGHT TO VOTE.

IF YOU DON'T ACT, MY SON WILL NEVER SEE ME CAST A BALLOT.

I STAND HERE REPRESENTING ALL THE PEOPLE WITHOUT A VOICE.

ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ON PROBATION AND HAVE BEEN LABELED FELONS.

>> Mary: THE PLAINTIFF HAS A FELONY DRUG CONVICTION AND IS NOW CLEAN AND A DRUG COUNSELOR.

SHE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO VOTE UNTIL SHE'S 71 YEARS OLD.

ACLU ATTORNEYS SAY STOPPING PRODUCTIVE CITIZENS FROM VOTING NO LONGER MAKES SENSE.

>> NO ONE HAS EVER ARTICULATED ANY SOUND REASON THAT DISENFRANCHISED PERSONS WHO LIVE AND WORK IN OUR COMMUNITIES ON SUPERVISED RELEASE, AND IT'S CORROSIVE TO OUR DEMOCRACY.

>> REHABILITATION OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS, IT SERVES PUBLIC SAFETY FOR THE EXTENDED COMMUNITIES AFFECTED AND IT PROMOTES DEMOCRACY.

THERE HAS BEEN A GROWING TREND, PARTICULARLY IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS, TOWARDS EITHER DISENFRANCHISING FEWER PEOPLE OR RESTORING THEIR RIGHTS MORE QUICKLY.

>> Mary: SO PRESSURE ON THE SENATE?

HAVE YOU TALKED TO AND LEANED ON SENATE LEADERS OR INDIVIDUAL SENATORS SINCE THIS OPINION LANDED?

>> I WILL JUST SAY, GENERALLY, THAT I HAVE TALKED WITH SENATORS, MANY OF THEM, AND WITH SENATE LEADERSHIP ABOUT THIS.

AND ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF GETTING THIS DONE.

IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

WE NOW FRONT AND CENTER KNOW THAT THIS IS THE MISSION.

CAN'T GET IT DONE ANY MORE THROUGH THE COURTS.

SO THAT I HOPE PUTS SOME POSITIVE PRESSURE ON PEOPLE TO DO WHAT I AT LEAST BELIEVE IS THE RIGHT THING.

WHAT MANY OTHER STATES HAVE DONE.

NORTH DAKOTA, IOWA'S HEADED IN THAT DIRECTION, FLORIDA'S HEADED IN THAT DIRECTION, A GROWING LIST OF STATES, RED, BLUE, EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN, HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT RESTORING THE RIGHT TO VOTE FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE LEFT PRISON BEHIND IS A GOOD THING TO DO.

>> THEY ARE OUR NEIGHBORS, OUR FRIENDS, OUR DAUGHTERS, OUR SONS, OUR COUSINS, OUR MOTHERS, OUR FATHERS.

THEY HAVE JOBS.

THEY HELP TAKE CARE OF THEIR FAMILIES.

THEY PAY TAXES.

THEY ARE SUBJECT TO THE LAWS AND POLICY DECISIONS HAT WE MAKE IN THIS BODY.

BUT IN OUR REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT, THEY ARE DEPRIVED OF THE FOUNDATIONAL RIGHT TO VOTE.

>> I'M GOING TO VOTE FOR YOUR BILL BECAUSE I THINK IT'S A GOOD START.

AND I HOPE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO WORK ON THESE THINGS THAT WILL BRING US CLOSER TOGETHER.

>> Mary: SUPPORT IN THE HOUSE WAS BIPARTISAN, BUT NOT UNIVERSAL.

>> THE REALITY IS, UNDER THIS BILL, SOMEONE WHO'S CONVICTED OF FELONY VOTER FRAUD, WHO ISN'T INCARCERATED, WHO MIGHT ONLY GET PROBATION, WILL NEVER LOSE THEIR RIGHT TO VOTE.

THAT'S BONKERS.

♪♪ >> ERIC: IT'S BEGINNING TO FEEL LIKE A BROKEN RECORD TO SAY THE LEGISLATURE IS MOVING AT A FAST PACE THIS YEAR.

SO, I WON'T SAY IT BEFORE I INTRODUCE THE COUCH FULL OF POLITICAL ANALYSTS.

DFLERS UP FIRST TONIGHT.

JEFF HAYDEN IS A FORMER STATE SENATE LEADER, NOW LOBBYIST.

ALICE HAUSMAN RECENTLY RETIRED FROM THE MINNESOTA HOUSE WHERE THE LEGISLATIVE REFERENCE LIBRARY SAYS SHE SERVED 12,095 DAYS.

>> DID NOT KNOW THAT.

>> Eric: IN THE HOUSE, THERE YOU GUY.

THERE YOU GO.

REPUBLICANS ON THE COUCH TONIGHT.

BRIAN MCDANIEL, ATTORNEY, LOBBYIST, AND STAND- UP COMEDIAN.

AND WE WELCOME BACK JEN DEJOURNETT, A POLITICAL OPERATIVE WHO RAN RYAN WILSON'S AUDITOR CAMPAIGN LAST FALL.

SENATOR HAYDEN.

>> YES.

>> Eric: ON THIS PACKAGE OF VOTING CHANGES, AND THERE'S A HANDFUL OF THEM, THE OLD BROMIDE WAS, WE MUST HAVE BIPARTISAN BUY-IN TO MAKE ELECTION LAW CHANGES.

IS THAT NO LONGER OPERATIVE?

>> NO LONGER OPERATIVE.

NOTHING CHANGED BECAUSE OF THAT.

SO, IT'S TIME FOR CHANGE, AND I HINK DFLers HAVE RUN ON THAT.

AND THEY WANT CHANGE O HAPPEN SO THEY'RE GOING TO START TO MAKE IT MORE ACCESSIBLE AND GET MORE PEOPLE IN THE VOTING ROLLS.

>> Eric: DO REPUBLICANS FEEL LIKE IT'S GOING TO BE MORE DFLers TURNING OUT BECAUSE OF THIS OR NOT?

DO WE HAVE DATA?

>> WELL, I DO THINK THAT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS KIND OF PUSHING REPUBLICAN OPPOSITION TO SOME OF THESE MEASURES.

BUT I ALSO THINK THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT WHAT KIND OF CITIZENS, AS WE'RE TRYING TO REBUILD OUR WORLD A LITTLE BIT, YOU KNOW, THE THOUGHT THAT, YOU KNOW, TAKING AWAY SOMEONE'S VOTING RIGHTS IS GOING TO MAKE THEM, YOU KNOW, SOMEHOW BE A DETERRENT TO CRIME, I MEAN, THAT'S RIDICULOUS.

WE WANT TO, PEOPLE PAID THEIR DEBT TO SOCIETY, GET BACK INTO FUNCTIONING IN SOCIETY.

LET'S WORK TO GET THESE PEOPLE EMBRACE OUR VALUES.

>> Eric: WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?

>> IT'S JUST NOT ABOUT THE VOTING RIGHTS AND THE RESTORATION THAT'S IN SOME OF THESE ELECTION PACKETS THAT ARE NOT GETTING FULLY DISCUSSED FOR ALL MINNESOTANS TO UNDERSTAND.

INSIDE SOME OF THESE ELECTION BILLS ARE WHOLESALE CHANGES, LIKE OUR POLITICAL CONTRIBUTION REFUND PROGRAM IS BEING CHANGED TO DEMOCRACY DOLLARS, WHERE VOUCHERS WILL BE SENT TO ALL REGISTERED VOTERS TO BE MAILED BACK, WHICH FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGES HOW CAMPAIGNS ARE FINANCED AND RUN.

AND THERE'S OTHER DETAILS THAT ARE IN THERE THAT ARE NOT BEING DISCUSSED OPENLY.

AND THAT'S THE PROBLEM RIGHT NOW WHEN YOU HAVE SINGLE-PARTY CONTROL, IS THAT A LOT OF THESE DECISIONS ARE BEING MADE IN THE BACK ROOMS AND IS THAT REALLY GOOD FOR MINNESOTA?

I MEAN, OR WOULD WE REALLY HAVE OPEN ISCUSSION WHERE PEOPLE ARE HAVING DETAILED CONVERSATIONS.

>> Eric: MADAM CHAIR, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> WELL, I REALLY HAVE NOTHING MORE TO ADD ON THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A CONVERSATION I WISH WE WEREN'T HAVING TO TALK ABOUT.

>> Eric: HOW SO?

>> THAT WE HAVE THIS STRONG FEELING THAT THE PROCESS IS SO DOMINATED BY PARTISAN POLITICS.

OF EVERY SINGLE ISSUE.

AND I THINK THE LAST TIME I WAS ON WITH YOU, I REFLECTED A LITTLE BIT THAT I BELIEVE YOU GO THERE AND WHETHER YOU'RE IN THE MAJORITY OR THE MINORITY, YOU'RE THERE TO GET THINGS DONE AND THAT REQUIRES RELATIONSHIP BUILDING AND BUILDING TRUST.

AND THAT DOES NOT FIT WITH THE POWER MODEL WHICH I SO OFTEN FEEL GETS CONNECTED TO CONVERSATIONS LIKE THIS THAT IS MORE -- IT BECOMES MORE ABOUT WHICH PARTY IS GOING TO HAVE MORE POWER.

I UST DON'T KNOW THAT THOSE ARE HELPFUL KINDS OF TONES OF CONVERSATION.

>> SO CAN I JUST INTERJECT?

I FEEL LIKE WE'RE HAVING MORE HEARINGS THAN WE'VE EVER HAD BEFORE.

I'M RUNNING AROUND THE CAPITOL AND I'M -- I THINK -- SO I DISAGREE.

I THINK WE'RE REALLY TALKING ABOUT IT.

I THINK THE LAST SIX YEARS IN THE SENATE, WE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT MUCH, SO I ACTUALLY BELIEVE THAT THESE BILLS ARE GETTING VETTED AND WE'RE HEARING A LOT ABOUT 'EM.

>> Eric: BUT A LOT OF REPUBLICAN AMENDMENTS ARE GETTING REJECTED ON PARTY-LINE VOTES.

>> WELL, I MEAN, I MEAN, IT'S THE JOB OF THE MINORITY TO BE REALLY LOUD AND TO TAKE -- TAKE A LOOK AT THESE BILLS THAT JEN'S TALKING ABOUT, PICK OUT THE THINGS THAT ARE NOT REALLY SUPPOSED TO BE IN THERE, AND ALL YOU CAN DO IS MAKE NOISE AND TRY TO GET ATTENTION FOR IT.

YOU KNOW, ELECTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES.

AND WHEN YOU DO -- WHEN YOU HAVE FEWER MEMBERS THAN THE MAJORITY, YOU'RE JUST NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO PASS TOO MANY THINGS.

YOU CAN REACH ACROSS THE AISLE.

THAT'S IMPORTANT.

BUT, REALLY, THE MAIN THING YOU CAN DO IS JUST BE REALLY LOUD.

>> WELL, IT'S NOT THAT THEY'RE HAVING HEARINGS, IT'S THAT SOME OF THE TOPICS THAT ARE MASSIVE CHANGES, ESPECIALLY TO SMALL BUSINESSES AND MINNESOTANS ACROSS.

SO, YES, WE'RE HAVING MORE HEARINGS ON SOME THINGS, BUT ON OTHER THINGS, WE'RE NOT.

WE'RE HAVING -- I SAT IN A HEARING THE OTHER DAY AND THEY WERE, LIKE, WELL, WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE MANY QUESTIONS TODAY, WE'RE GOING TO SPEED THROUGH SOME OF OUR TESTIFIERS.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S A GOOD THING.

I DON'T KNOW IF A LOT OF THINGS GET DISCUSSED.

NOW, ON SOME OTHER ISSUES, YOU ARE SEEING BIPARTISAN COLLABORATION, LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, ON PFAS AND SOME OTHER THINGS LIKE THAT -- >> Eric: FOREVER CHEMICALS.

>> FOREVER CHEMICALS.

AND PEOPLE ARE WORKING TOGETHER AND CROSS-COLLABORATING BUT ON OTHER ISSUES THAT HAVE MASSIVE CHANGES, LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, THE FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE STUFF, I MEAN, THAT IS JUST GETTING RAMRODDED THROUGH.

AND NOT REALLY TALKING THROUGH THE LONG-TERM ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES TO ALL MINNESOTA.

>> Cathy: DO YOU SEE PAID SICK LEAVE PASSING THE LEGISLATURE THIS SESSION?

>> IT PASSED THE HOUSE.

>> IN SOME FORM, YES.

>> Cathy: OKAY.

>> AND MY SENSE IS, JUST LOOKING AT THE BACKGROUND, A LOT OF THIS, THERE HAS TO BE AN AGREEMENT THAT ALL OF THIS -- THE THINGS THAT WE'VE TRIED BEFORE AND DIDN'T ACCOMPLISH, WE NEED TO MOVE QUICKLY ON.

I THINK THAT'S SOME OF THE REFLECTION WE'RE HEARING.

AND THAT WOULD CERTAINLY -- THAT WOULD CERTAINLY E ONE OF THEM.

BY THE WAY, I HOULD SAY, THAT WHEN I WAS INVITED TO BE ON THIS PANEL, ON TUESDAY, THIS WAS GOING TO ALL BE RETIRING LEGISLATORS AND, SO, THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO KIND OF REFLECT ON THE PAST.

AND UDDENLY I'M HERE WITH POLITICAL ANALYSTS.

SO THIS IS -- >> THAT'S WHAT YOU ARE NOW, ALICE.

>> YOU'RE A PUNDIT.

>> TAKE OFF ONE HAT, PUT ON ANOTHER ONE.

>> Cathy: DIFFERENT HAT.

LET ME ASK YOU ALL, WE STARTED THE PROGRAM TALKING ABOUT SCHOOL SAFETY, IN LIGHT OF THE HARDING STABBING.

AND THAT HASN'T REALLY BEEN TALKED A LOT ABOUT IN THE LEGISLATURE, YOU KNOW, WHEN IT COMES TO VIOLENCE IN SCHOOLS.

AND I'M CURIOUS, WHERE DOES THIS GO NOW IN THE LEGISLATURE WITH THE HARDING STABBING?

HARDING HIGH SCHOOL STABBING.

>> NOW, I THOUGHT ONE BILL HAD ALREADY BEEN HEARD IN COMMITTEE AND IS MOVING.

BUT THAT, TOO, IS ONE THAT HAD ALREADY BEEN MOVING LAST YEAR.

AND THAT THEY'RE RETURNING TO.

SO I GUESS I AVE HEARD AT LEAST A LITTLE BIT OF COVERAGE ABOUT IT.

>> SO I THINK IT'S LOCAL CONTROL, RIGHT?

LIKE SOME OF THE ISSUES AROUND CSRs, CROs, THE COPS THAT WERE IN THE SCHOOLS, YOU KNOW, AFTER GEORGE FLOYD, THERE WAS KIND OF IMMEDIATE PUSH TO PUSH THE COPS OUT.

WHAT I'M HEARING FROM PRINCIPALS AND EDUCATORS, A LOT OF THEM, THEY DEFLECTED AND DEFUSED A LOT OF THOSE ISSUES.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT -- I KNOW WHAT I HEARD, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH THIS VIOLENCE AT HARDING HIGH SCHOOL.

SO I DON'T WANT TO GO TOO FAR BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO BE CONJECTURE, BUT ONE PRINCIPAL SAID TO ME, OFF-LINE, THAT THIS PROBABLY COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED IF THE CSOs OR CROs WERE THERE.

>> THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION AT A PRESS CONFERENCE IN St. PAUL ABOUT THAT, AND THEY DO BELIEVE THEY'LL BE COMING BACK, BUT IN A DIFFERENT FORM.

WE'VE LEARNED SOMETHING ABOUT WHAT WOULD HAVE WORKED IN THIS INSTANCE.

AND, SO, AT LEAST IN THE PRESS CONFERENCE IN St. PAUL, I DID HEAR IT.

>> Eric: WERE YOU SURPRISED THE STAR STRIB UNI"HE HAD TOARL TODAY CAME OUT THE UNIVERSAL EVERYBODY GETS A FREE LUNCH.

>> A LITTLE BIT.

BECAUSE USUALLY THE "STAR TRIBUNE" TAKES A MORE LEFTIST POSITION.

>> Eric: WHERE ARE YOU ON THAT ONE?

>> FIRST OF ALL, I THINK ALL KIDS NEED TO BE FED F. THERE'S A HUNGRY KID IN SCHOOL, THEY CAN'T LEARN.

IT IMPACTS THEIR ABILITY TO READ AND COMPREHEND.

AND THE KIDS FELL SO FAR BEHIND IN THE PANDEMIC, EVEN MY SEVENTH GRADER IS STILL STRUGGLING TO CATCH UP.

SO, WE WANT ALL KIDS FED.

NOW, USING OUR TAX DOLLARS WISELY AND HOW THAT GETS DISTRIBUTED TO GIVE FLEXIBILITY TO LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS AND NOT CREATING ANOTHER UNFUNDED MANDATE, I WISH THEY WOULD HAVE -- I LISTENED TO THAT WHOLE HEARING, AND I LISTENED TO THE DEBATE ON THE FLOOR OF THE HOUSE, AND I WISH SOME OF THOSE AMENDMENTS WOULD HAVE CRESTED THROUGH, THAT IF YOU'RE A FAMILY THAT DOESN'T NEED IT AND WANTS TO MAKE SURE THAT ANOTHER KID WHO DOES NEED IT GOT THOSE DOLLARS, WE COULD HAVE ADDED SOME OF THOSE AMENDMENTS AND THEN ALSO TRANSFER SOME OF THAT CONTROL TO SCHOOL BOARDS, WHO ARE SMART, WHO WANT TO DO THAT WORK, AND WHO JUST NEED THE FLEXIBILITY IN THEIR BUDGETS.

>> Eric: WHAT'S THE RATIONALE BEHIND EVERYBODY GETTING, EVEN IF YOU CAN, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY AFFORD IT?

>> WELL, I MEAN, WE NEED TO BE GOOD STEWARDS OF THE PEOPLE'S MONEY.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT EVEN THOUGH WE'RE IN A TIME NOW WHERE WE HAVE A LOT OF MONEY AT THE STATE LEVEL, THAT'S THE PEOPLE'S MONEY.

IT'S NOT, YOU KNOW, THE STATE'S DOING BETTER THAN MOST MINNESOTANS, SO, I MEAN, I DON'T THINK IT'S OUT OF LINE TO SAY THAT FAMILIES THAT CAN AFFORD TO FEED THEIR KIDS SHOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT SO THAT WAY THERE'S MORE MONEY TO PUT TOWARDS KIDS WHO DON'T HAVE THAT.

HOWEVER, YOU KNOW, JUST BECAUSE YOUR FAMILY HAS MONEY DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN THAT THEY ARE USING IT TO THE BENEFIT OF THEIR KIDS.

THERE HAS TO BE A COMMON-SENSE MIDDLE GROUND ON THIS.

AND I REALLY JUST IMPLORE EVERYBODY TO REALLY TRY TO WORK TOGETHER ON THIS BECAUSE EVERYBODY, EVERYBODY WANTS EVERY KID TO BE FED.

>> WE WANT EVERY DOLLAR OF EDUCATION MONEY WELL SPENT, TOO.

AND FOOD INSECURITY AND HOUSING INSTABILITY BOTH AFFECT A CHILD'S ABILITY TO LEARN.

THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA HAS DONE RESEARCH SPECIFICALLY ON THE HOUSING STABILITY.

WE WANT ALL OF THOSE DOLLARS WELL SPENT.

BUT THE OTHER PIECE THAT'S BEEN PRESENT IN THE CULTURE OF THE SCHOOL IS THIS SHAMING, WHEN CHILDREN ARE TREATED DIFFERENTLY, THAT HAS A PROFOUND EFFECT AND THAT ALSO AFFECTS A HILD'S ABILITY TO LEARN.

SO I THINK THAT'S PART OF WHAT IS AT THE CORE OF THIS CONVERSATION.

>> Cathy: SAY, I WAS TALKING TO REPRESENTATIVE FRAZIER ON THE AIR, ON MPR EARLIER IN THE WEEK, ABOUT HIS RED FLAG BILL THAT HAS GONE THROUGH THE HOUSE AND THE OTHER BILLS -- GUN CONTROL BILLS ARE GOING THROUGH THE HOUSE.

BUT THERE SEEMS TO BE A LITTLE QUESTION ABOUT WHETHER THEY CAN PASS THE SENATE.

DO WE THINK THAT'S TRUE?

>> YEAH, SO THERE ARE -- I THINK IT'S PRETTY CLEAR THAT THERE ARE SOME NEW MEMBERS THAT ARE REALLY TRYING TO FIGURE THIS OUT.

SO THEY'RE TAKING THEIR TIME TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE HOUSE IS KIND OF GONE THROUGH THIS A FEW TIMES AND REALLY KIND OF KNOW THE BILLS.

SO THERE ARE MEMBERS THAT ARE REALLY LISTENING TO THEIR COMMUNITIES, THEY'RE TALKING TO THEIR LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNITIES.

THERE WAS A GREAT POLL OUT THERE THAT JUST SAID THAT, LIKE, THIS IS OVERWHELMINGLY POPULAR EVEN IN RED ISTRICTS.

HOWEVER, THOSE NEW MEMBERS HAVE TO REALLY HEAR THAT AND THEY WON BY A FEW VOTES.

SO DO THINK THAT WE'RE GOING TO KIND OF PUSH FORWARD WITH THAT, BUT I THINK IT WILL BE A LITTLE MORE TIME IN THE SENATE.

>> WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT TAKING AWAY SOMEONE'S CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS, WE DON'T RANK CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS, YOU HAVE A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO OWN A FIREARM.

THESE RED FLAG LAWS ARE ALREADY IN PLACE IN MANY STATES, CALIFORNIA, COLORADO, I BELIEVE NEW YORK, WHERE THERE IS AN INTENSE AMOUNT OF CRIME.

THEY DON'T WORK THE WAY YOU WOULD WANT THEM TO WORK.

SO, YOU KNOW, JEFF'S TALKING ABOUT, IN RED DISTRICTS, IT'S POPULAR.

I THINK THAT THE NAME IS POPULAR, AS IS COMMON-SENSE GUN REFORM, BUT WHEN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT THAT IS, YOU REALLY START LOSING SUPPORT.

AND THIS IS A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT AND I'M GLAD THAT THERE'S SUCH INTENSE DEBATE ON IT.

>> Eric: MADAM CHAIR, I HOPE YOU'LL COME BACK, AND WE'LL GET -- >>>> Cathy: WE'LL HAVE FORMER LAWMAKERS, YES, WE WILL.

>> Eric: BUT WE'LL GET PRESCRIPTION ON HOW TO DO A BONDING BILL.

>> I WAS HOPING WE WERE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THAT.

I HAVE SOME VERY STRONG FEELINGS, I USED TO CHAIR THAT, AND THEN I CHAIRED HOUSING.

THE SAME STRONG OPINIONS I HAD BEFORE, I STILL HAVE TODAY.

AND I'M SCRUTINIZING AND HAVE A HIGH ANXIETY LEVEL ABOUT HOUSING IN THIS, AS THESE THINGS ARE COMING TOGETHER.

>> Cathy: WE'LL HAVE YOU BACK THEN.

>> SO I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT.

>> Eric: THANKS, WE'LL AVE YOU BACK.

>> ERIC: I'M STANDING NEXT TO THE BIG MONITOR SO IT MUST BE HISTORY TIME.

LAST WEEK CATHY ASKED YOU ABOUT A STRUCTURE SOMEWHERE IN MINNESOTA THAT IS STILL STANDING AND WAS NAMED TO THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES IN 1978.

SHE THEN ADDED DETAILS INCLUDING IT'’S CONSIDERED THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN THE U.S. AND IN 2013, AN ARTIST REPLICATED ITS DESIGN IN A SCULPTURE MADE FROM STEEL AND 12,000 FEET OF ROPE.

YOUR TASK WAS TO ANSWER THIS QUESTION.

WHAT IS THIS HISTORIC STRUCTURE?

WE START WITH THE WRONG ANSWERS FIRST.

AND THERE ARE SOME GOOD ONES THIS WEEK.

TAKE A LISTEN.

>> Eric: WE'RE CHAT TPT.

ANDREW, YOU ARE WRONG.

THE FOSHAY TOWER IS NOT THE ANSWER WE SOUGHT.

WE HERE AT "ALMANAC" ARE HAPPY TO HAVE DEFEATED CHATGPT.

THAT MAY BE OUR FAVORITE WRONG ANSWER EVER.

FOR THIS WEEK'S RIGHT ANSWER WE TURN TO VIEWER MIKE.

>> ERIC: YES, MIKE, THE STRUCTURE WE SOUGHT IS THE NORDIC WARE TOWER IN ST. LOUIS PARK.

THERE'S A NICE LOOK AT THE ICONIC TOWER.

IN ADDITION TO THE TOWER, NORDIC WARE IS KNOWN TO MANY AS THE MAKER OF THE BUNDT CAKE PAN.

WE HAVE JUST ENOUGH TIME FOR A LITTLE SHOW-ENDING MUSIC TO SEND YOU ON YOUR WAY TONIGHT.

IT WAS THIS WEEK IN 1983, VALENTINE'S DAY AS A MATTER OF FACT, THAT CLAUDIA SCHMIDT AND GREG BROWN PLAYED A TUNE TOGETHER ON KTCA'S OLD NIGHTTIMES VARIETY PROGRAM.

GREG BROWN WROTE THE TUNE.

IT'S CALLED "CANNED GOODS."

TAKE A LISTEN AND WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

AND BE CAREFUL.

♪ ELLOWING AND BLOW I'M A WARM AS JULY TOMATO ♪ ♪ PEACHES ON THE SHELF, POTATOES IN THE BIN, SUPPER'S READY, EVERYBODY, COME ON IN AND TASTE A LITTLE OF THE SUMMER ♪ ♪ TASTE A LITTLE BIT OF SUMMER, YOU CAN TASTE A LITTLE BIT OF THE SUMMER ♪ ♪ MY GRANDMA PUT IT ALL IN JARS ♪ ♪ THERE'S A ROOT CELLULAR -- CELLAR DOWN BELOW, WATCH YOUR HEAD AND DOWN WE GO ♪ ♪ SUPPER'S READY, EVERYBODY COME ON IN ♪ - AND TASTE A LITTLE BIT OF THE SUMMER, TASTE A LITTLE OF THE SUMMER ♪ ♪ TASTE A LITTLE BIT OF THE SUMMER, MY GRANDMA PUT IT ALL IN JARS ♪ ♪ WELL, MAYBE YOU'RE WEARY AND YOU DON'T GIVE A DAM, I BET YOU NEVER TASTED HER BLACKBERRY JAM ♪ ♪ TASTE A LITTLE SUMMER, MY GRANDMA PUT IT ALL IN JARS ♪ ♪ SHE'S GOT MAGIC IN HER, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN ♪ SNOW SHE PUT THE UN AND THE MOON IN WITH HER GREEN BEANS, PEACHES ON THE HELF, POTATOES IN THE BIN, SUPPER'S READY, EVERYBODY COME ON IN ♪ >> "ALMANAC" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY MEMBERS OF THIS PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION.

SUPPORT IS ALSO PROVIDED BY: GREAT RIVER ENERGY: PROVIDING WHOLESALE POWER TO 28 MINNESOTA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES.

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DELTADENTALMN.ORG/TPT.

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

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.