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

>> ERIC: WE'VE GOT NOT ONE, BUT TWO PANELS FOR YOU TONIGHT.

POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSORS ARE HERE, AND WE'LL FILL THE COUCH WITH POLITICAL ANALYSTS LATER IN THE HOUR.

KAOMI LEE PROFILES ST. PAUL CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT MITRA JALALI.

AND MARY LAHAMMER HAS BEEN TRACKING A BIG BIPARTISANSHIP ISSUE AT THE CAPITOL.

>> Mary: MINNESOTA HAS AN AFFORDABLE OUSING CRISIS, DESPITE RECORD FUNDING LAST YEAR, THIS YEAR A NEW BIPARTISAN COALITION IS COMING TOGETHER ACROSS THE STATE.

>> HOUSING IS NOT A PARTISAN ISSUE.

I THINK THAT WE START OFF SMALL ND BUILD INTO SOMETHING POSSIBLY BIGGER.

>> Mary: THAT'S COMING UP ON "ALMANAC."

♪♪ >> WHEN THE HOUSE COMMITTEE DIDN'T TAKE ACTION ON IT, THEY LAID IT OVER.

IT WAS LIKE, OKAY WE HAVE A PROBLEM.

SO THEY DECIDED TO DO SOME MORE WORK ON IT.

AND THEN THIS WEEK, THEY FINALLY GOT MOVING AGAIN.

SO THEY DID COME TO A COMPROMISE.

>> Eric: GEORGE FLOYD'S DEATH HANGS OVER THIS DEBATE, DOESN'T IT?

>> YEAH, BECAUSE HE WAS IN THE PRONE POSITION WHEN HE DIED.

AND THAT IS THE, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE KEY POSITION THAT IS "AT ISSUE" HERE IS WHEN YOU'RE FACE DOWN ON THE GROUND AS HE WAS.

AND THAT WAS A KEY FACTOR IN THE DEATH.

SO IT'S A VERY TOUGH TOPIC IN MINNESOTA.

>> Cathy: YET WE DON'T REALLY KNOW HOW MANY STUDENTS HAVE HAD THIS DONE TO THEM, RIGHT?

I MEAN, HOW MANY TIMES ARE PRONE RESTRAINTS USED ON STUDENTS?

>> WELL, THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS HAT THEY WANT TO START KEEPING TRACK OF BECAUSE IT'S NOT BEING KEPT TRACK, YOU KNOW, NOW IN MINNESOTA.

THAT WE KNOW OF, YOU KNOW, THEY WANT TO START TRACKING THAT -- THAT'S A PART OF THE BILL IS TO HAVE THE USE OF FORCE BE REPORTED.

EVERY YEAR.

>> Cathy: NOW I REMEMBER TALKING TO SOME OF THOSE FOLKS WHO ARE AGAINST THIS BILL.

THEY'RE PASSIONATELY AGAINST THE BILL.

SO WHERE WAS THE COMPROMISE THAT GOT THIS THING MOVING?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT THEY'RE GOING TO: I THINK THERE'LL BE SOME DEMOCRATS THAT I SUSPECT SOME WILL VOTE AGAINST IT.

BUT THE REPUBLICANS SEEM TO BE ON BOARD WITH IT.

SO THEY WON'T NEED ALL THE DEMOCRATIC VOTES.

SO I THINK IT'S GOING TO E TRULY A BIPARTISAN BILL.

SO THEY WERE OPPOSED BECAUSE THEY FEEL LIKE THIS -- THESE KINDS OF RESTRAINTS SHOULD NOT USED IN SCHOOLS.

YOU KNOW, WE SHOULD NOT -- >> Eric: WELL, AND THEY BELIEVE THAT BLACK STUDENTS IN PARTICULAR GET OVERREPRESENTED IN THE RESTRAINTS.

CORRECT?

>> YEAH, I MEAN, I THINK THAT -- AND THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT GET CONCERNED ABOUT STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS AND SO ON.

ALTHOUGH THEY PASSED A BILL LIKE THIS A FEW YEARS AGO TO BAN THIS KIND OF -- ALTHOUGH, IT CAN STILL BE USED IN CERTAIN CASES, YOU KNOW, TO PREVENT INJURY OR DEATH AND SO ON.

>> Cathy: IT SOUNDS LIKE SOME OF THE COMPROMISE MIGHT BE THAT S.R.

O.ss WOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH SOME SPECIAL TRAINING?

>> YEAH, THEY WOULD HAVE TO -- WELL, BASICALLY, THE BILL REALLY JUST WALKS BACK FROM WHAT THEY DID LAST YEAR.

AND PRETTY MUCH KNOCKS THAT OUT, I WOULD SAY.

AND AS FAR AS BANNING THE HOLDS, THEY MAKE IT CLEAR, SCHOOL POLICE OFFICERS CAN DO THOSE HOLDS IN CERTAIN CASES, AND THEY HAVE TO BE TRAINED.

THEY HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, THE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS IS DEFINED IN STATE LAW.

AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

THEY'LL HAVE A MODEL POLICY THAT THE P.O.S.T.

BOARD WILL COME UP WITH.

BUT THE FIRST VERSION OF THE BILL, THEY WOULD HAVE HAD TO FOLLOW THAT POLICY.

WHICH IS WHAT MADE THE POLICE LOBBY NERVOUS AND SOME OF THE REPUBLICANS BECAUSE THEY WERE AFRAID THEY'LL JUST GO BACK TO THE OLD LAW LAST YEAR.

YOU KNOW, AFTER THE ELECTION.

>> Cathy: SO SOUNDS LIKE IT'S MOVING FORWARD IN A BIPARTISAN WAY.

>> IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S MOVING FORWARD.

WE'LL SEE, YOU KNOW, YOU NEVER KNOW UNTIL PEOPLE PUSH THE BUTTON.

>> Eric: THANKS FOR COMING OVER.

>> Cathy: WE ARE GOING TO HEAD OVER TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COUCH WHERE A COUCH FULL OF POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSORST AWAIT US.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

♪♪ >> ERIC: THE FIRST BIG PRIMARY CONTESTS IN THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE ARE FIRMLY IN THE REAR-VIEW MIRROR.

AND WITH SUPER TUESDAY ON THE HORIZON, PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN AND FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP HAVE A FIRM HOLD ON THEIR PARTY'S NOMINATIONS.

BUT THEIR CHALLENGERS HAVE NOT GONE AWAY QUIETLY, AND MANY AMERICANS DON'T SEEM EXCITED ABOUT A REMATCH OF THE 2020 ELECTION.

PLENTY TO TALK ABOUT WITH OUR TRIO OF PROFESSORS.

MICHAEL MINTA TEACHES POLITICAL SCIENCE STUDENTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA.

THE U OF M IS ALSO THE ACADEMIC HOME OF KATHRYN PEARSON.

ROUNDING OUT THE GROUP, THE PROFESSOR WHO DROVE THE FARTHEST TO THE STUDIO TONIGHT, CINDY RUGELEY HEADS UP THE POLITICAL SCIENCE DEPARTMENT AT UMD.

I JUST WANT TO RUN DOWN THE WEEK THAT DEAN PHILLIPS HAS HAD.

A CONSULTANT THAT HE HIRED APPARENTLY DID A FAKE ROBO-CALL IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.

HE TOLD CHAD HARTMANN ON CCO THAT THE FACT THAT AMY KLOBUCHAR IS RUNNING FOR ANOTHER TERM IS ABSURD.

AND THEN HE OFFERED HIMSELF UP AS A RUNNING MEAT FOR NICKI HALEY.

WHAT THE?

>> YEAH, WOW.

PEOPLE ARE STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT EAN PHILLIPS, WHAT'S HIS AIM, WHAT'S HE'S TRYING TO DO?

OBVIOUSLY HIS ARGUMENT HAS BEEN LONG THAT HE DOESN'T WANT TRUMP REELECTED.

HE DOESN'T THINK BIDEN CAN DO THE JOB.

BUT I THINK MANY DEMOCRATS ARE REALLY JUST SCRATCHING THEIR HEAD AND THE MORE HE SAYS, I MEAN, HE SAYS CONTRADICTORY THINGS.

LIKE HE SAID HE WOULD NEVER RUN ON A NO LABELS TYPE PARTY BECAUSE HE SAID IT WOULD TAKE AWAY FROM JOE BIDEN.

OH, HE WOULD CONSIDER RUNNING WITH NICKI HALEY.

SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON WITH DEAN FILL WRIPS.

PHILLIPS.

>> HERE HE IS CREATING PROBLEMS FOR HIMSELF, POTENTIALLY FOR DEMOCRATS BUT REALLY AT THIS POINT IT SEEMS FOR HIMSELF AND HITZ STAFF.

>> Eric: HOW ABOUT AN INDEPENDENT RUN FOR GOVERNOR IN '26.

>> HE IS KIND OF A LESTON IN SELF-DESTRUCTION, BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE TALKING ABOUT HIM BEING THE GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE.

AND SELF-DEDESTRUCTION'S AN UGLY EVENT.

>> Cathy: YOU GOT THE SOUTH CAROLINA PRIMARY TOMORROW, SATURDAY.

NIKKI HALEY'S COMING INTO TOWN ON MONDAY, AHEAD OF SUPER TUESDAY.

SO IT SOUNDS LIKE SHE'S STILL IN HE RACE AT LEAST FOR A LITTLE WHILE.

>> AND SHE'S INDICATED HE WANTS TO LET EVERYONE VOTE.

BUT ABOUT A THIRD OF THE DELEGATES IN BOTH PARTIES ARE UP IN THE SUPER TUESDAY CONTEST.

SO CERTAINLY SHE'LL STAY IN THROUGH THERE EVEN IF SOUTH CAROLINA AND MICHIGAN DON'T GO WELL IN THE INTERIM.

BUT I THINK SHE'S SINCERE ABOUT WANTING TO GIVE VOTERS A CHANCE, AND SHE HAS ENOUGH MONEY, BUT SHE'S NOT DOING WELL IN THE POLLS, WITH THE ENDORSEMENTS, WITH THE THE POLLS THAT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS THE PARTY OF TRUMP.

>> Eric: WITH ALL THE SIDE ISSUES SURROUNDING TRUMP AND BIDEN, IS THERE ANY POSSIBLE WAY THROUGH THE NATIONAL CONVENTION OR OTHERWISE THAT THESE GUYS DON'T END UP AS THE NOMINEES?

>> NO, I DON'T THINK SO.

AND I'M ONE OF THE PEOPLE THAT SAID, WELL, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A RESPONSIBILITY THAT SOMEBODY ELSE, BUT I JUST DIDN'T THINK THE PARTY STRUCTURE IS IN PLACE ANYMORE TO MAKE A CHANGE AT THE CONVENTIONS.

>> Eric: COULD BIDE WREN AGREE TO RELEASE HIS DELEGATES AT THE CONVENTION?

>> I CAN'T SEE THAT.

>> Eric: OKAY.

>> I DON'T SEE THAT HAPPENING.

>> Eric: I'M LOOKING -- >> I DID WANT TO COMMENT ON NIK KIKI HALEY.

AND THAT'S FROM MY FORMER HOME STATE AND GETTING SOME OF THE LOCAL CHATTER AND I THINK SHE IS RUNNING, BECAUSE SHE SEES TRUMP, YOU KNOW, THEY WANT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY TO TURN THE PAGE ON DONALD TRUMP.

AND SO SHE WANTS TO BE THERE IN CASE ANYTHING GOES -- NOW, HE HAS SO MANY INVESTIGATIONS, LAWSUITS, SO THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE HE MIGHT GET CONVICTED, AND HEY, WHO SELLS THERE?

NIKKI HALEY THERE TO SAVE THE DAY.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'LL HAPPEN BEFORE THE ELECTION.

>> THERE'S ANOTHER POINT ON THAT.

IT YOU'D TO BE, THEY'D RUN OUT OF MONEY AND THELDZ THEY'D GETF THE RACE.

THEY DON'T RUN OUT OF MONEY.

>> BUT THE PROBLEM FOR HER IS THAT, YOU KNOW, SHE AND TRUMP OBVIOUSLY AT THIS POINT TRUMP IS ANGRY THAT SHE'S STILL RUNNING, AND SO HIS SUPPORTERS WON'T NECESSARILY BE THAT PLEASED IF SHE'S THE ONE LEFT STANDING IF SOMETHING HAPPENS.

>> Cathy: ERIC MENTIONED THAT THE PHILLIPS CAMPAIGN HIRED THIS MAGICIAN.

AS POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSORS, HOW MUCH DO YOU ALL WORRY ABOUT THE USE OF A.I.

AND DEEP FAKES AS WE HEAD >> A GREAT DEAL.N?- I REMEMBER AFTER BIDEN, WHEN HE CAME TO SUPERIOR, THERE WAS THESE VIDEOS GOING AROUND OF HIM TALKING SLOW AND SLURRING HIS SPEECH.

AND THAT JUST WASN'T WHAT HAPPENED.

THEY WERE GENERATED.

THEY WERE ALTERED AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO I THINK IT'S GOING TO HAVE A TREMENDOUS EFFECT AND I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE DEALT WITH AND I DON'T KNOW HOW.

>> AND THEY WORK BECAUSE WE KNOW FROM THE RESEARCH, MOST AMERICANS DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT POLITICS.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE MAY FOLLOW IT AND WE LOVE IT, BUT MOST AMERICANS DON'T KNOW, AND SO WHEN THEY HEAR THIS INFORMATION AND YOU DON'T HAVE A CREDIBLE SOURCE TO DISPUTE IT, THEN ... HEY, THEY MIGHT BELIEVE IT.

SO THAT'S REAL ISSUE.

>> Eric: IN VITRO FERTILIZATION, THE ALABAMA COURT SAYS EMBRYOS ARE PEOPLE.

YOU KNOW, THE ABORTION ISSUE SEEMED TO BE HELPING THE DEMOCRATS.

DOES THIS ADD TO IT?

>> TO THE EXTENT TO WHICH IT PUTS THE ABORTION ISSUE BACK FRONT AND CENTER, YES, THAT HELPS DEMOCRATS.

BUT WHAT WE'VE EEN IN THE LAST COWL OF DAYS ARE REPUBLICANS SORT OF COMING OUT AND SAYING WE OPPOSE THIS DECISION AS WELL, PARTICULARLY REPUBLICAN WOMEN.

I USED INI.V.F., AND SO WE'RE SEEING I THINK A LITTLE BIT MORE BIPARTISANSHIP ON THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE, BUT THAT SAID, IT JUST PUTS ABORTION FRONT AND CENTER.

>> ND TRUMP EVEN ISSUED A STATEMENT TODAY ENCOURAGING THE ALABAMA LEGISLATURE TO OVERTURN THE COURT DECISION.

SO I THINK THEY RECOGNIZE THE POTENTIAL OF IT TO BE A HOT ISSUE AND JUST WANT TO PUT IT BEHIND THEM.

>> AND DEMOCRATS AREN'T GOING TO LET IT GO, THOUGH.

AND YOU SEE THE CAMPAIGNS AND THE STRATEGIES AND AT CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS.

THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT ABORTION IS FRONT AND CENTER BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE THAT LAST TIME IT GAVE THEM A LOT OF TRACTION AND HELPED THEM HOLD ONTO NOT THE GAINS IN THE SENATE, EDEN PRAIRIE THAT, AND NOT AS MUCH BLEEDING IN THE HOUSE.

SO I THINK THEY'RE GOING O KEEP RUNNING ON THAT ISSUE.

>> Cathy: LOOKS LIKE WE'RE PREPARING FOR A PARTIAL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN SOME >> WELL, HALF THE STOP GAP BILLS RUN ON MARCH 1ST.

THE OTHER HALF RUN OUT ON MARCH 8TH AND THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE HAVE NOT FINISHES THEIR ANNUAL APPROPRIATIONS BILLS AND THEY'RE STUCK ON THESE POLICY PROVISIONS WHICH ARE NOT SUPPOSED O BE PART OF THE FUNDING BILLS TO BEGIN WITH.

BUT SPEAKER JOHNSON HAS TOLD HIS REPUBLICAN CONFERENCE IN THE HOUSE THAT THESE PROVISIONS AREA GOING TO STAY IN AND THAT'S TO APPEASE THE FREEDOM CAUCUS.

ON THE OTHER HAND, THEY'LL HAVE TO COME OUT IF DEMOCRATS IN THE SENATE AND PRESIDENT BIDEN ARE GOING TO AGREE.

AND NO ONE IS GOING TO BENEFIT FROM A SHUTDOWN.

>> WELL, IT'S A MESS.

>> Eric: BUT THIS KABU KINK THEATER IS KIND OF TYPICAL IN A PRESIDENTIAL YEAR?

OR AM I WRONG THERE?

>> YOU'RE NOT WRONG, BUT THIS IS AN EXTREME CASE.

REPUBLICANS HAVE LOST SIX FLOOR VOTES ON RULES WHICH GIVE THEM CONTROL OF THE AGENDA.

SO IT REALLY IS STRIKING.

>> IT IS.

AND I MEAN, WHEN YOU'VE GOT THIS ONE VOTE AND THE SPEAKER'S OUT, IT MAKES THE THEATER A LITTLE BIT MORE DRAMATIC.

>> YEAH, AND THE SPEAKER, I MEAN, I THINK HE WANTS TO REMAIN SPEAKER, SO HE'S NOT GOING TO TRY TO REPEAT WHAT KEVIN MCCARTHY DID.

SO I DON'T KNOW.

IT'S GOING TO BE VERY INTERESTING TO SEE IF HE -- I MEAN, HE'S GEEING BY THE RULE OF THE MAJORITY OF THE MAJORITY.

AND IF HE STEAKS WITH THAT, I THINK WE ARE HEADED TO A SHUTDOWN.

>> Eric: AND THE IMPACT ON THAT, ON VOTERS ON REGULAR AMERICANS WOULD BE WHAT?

>> IT DEMENDS ON THE DURATION OF THE SHUTDOWN.

WE'VE SEEN SHORTER SHUTDOWNS WHICH VOTERS GENERALLY FORGET ABOUT.

CLEARLY THE ECONOMY IS ALWAYS A FACTOR IN ELECTIONS BUT THIS YEAR WE'RE SEEING THE IMPORTANCE OF IMMIGRATION, FOREIGN POLICY, YOU KNOW, THE AGE OF CANDIDATES.

SO IT'S SHAPING UP TO A STRANGE ELECTION YEAR.

>> Eric: I'M FULLY INFORMED AND READY TO VOTE.

THANK YOU, PANEL.

♪♪ >> ABOUT 150 YEARS AGO, MINNESOTA FARMERS DID SOMETHING THAT STILL IMPRESSES ME.

THEY WENT INTO NO, SIR FIELDS, WITH NOTHING MORE THAN SHOVELS, ROPES, AND THE OCCASIONAL BEAST OF BURDEN A.AND THEY EMOVED THE ROCKS FROM MILLIONS OF ACRES OF TOP SOIL.

THESE ROCKS ENDED UP IN PILES OFTEN WITH A SINGLE OAK TREE GROWING OUT THE TOP AND GENERATIONS LATER WITH THEIR FARM HOUSES GONE AND THE EDGES OF THEIR FIELDS REWORKED BY TECHNOLOGY, THESE PILES HAVE BECOME THE FARMER'S LONGEST LASTING IMG PRINT ON THE PHYSICAL WORLD.

TODAY AN EQUALLY AMBITIOUS PROJECT IS UNDER WAY.

AND IT'S TAKING PLACE MOSTLY IN THE SUBURBS.

FOR REASONS I DON'T FULLY UNDERSTAND, MINNESOTANS HAVE DECIDED THAT GENTLE INCLINES LIKE THIS, THEY'RE OFFENSIVE AND MUST BE DESTROYED.

IN THEIR PLACE, WE'RE INSTALLING STONE RETAINING WALLS AND IT DOESN'T MATTER IF THE EFFORT COSTS THOUSANDS OR TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.

SOCIAL DECENCY DEMANDS IT.

THESE RETAINING WALLS WHICH HAVE TAKEN DECADES TO CONSTRUCT ARE ACTUALLY THE CULMINATION OF A THREE-STAGE PROCESS.

FIRST THE GLACIERS SPREAD ROCKS ACROSS THE STATE.

SECOND, EUROPEAN SETTLERS MOVED THE ROCKS INTO DISCRETE PILES.

AND THIRD, THE FARMERS' DESCENDANTS IN THE GRIPS OF OF A SELF-ENS FORCED FORM OF PEER PRESS YOU, THAT MAKE IT DANGEROUS TO PLAY BOCCE BALL.

NOW, HERE'S A PREDICTION FOR THE CENTURIES TO COME.

JUST AS THE ORIGINAL SCATTERED PILES OUTLIVED THE FARM HOUSES THAT CREATED THEM, RETAINING WALLS WILL OUTLIVE THE CITIES THEY SURROUND AND WHEN WE LOOK BACK AT THE OVERALL STORY OF HUMANITY, IT WON'T BE OUR COMPUTERS OR AIRPLANES OR ELECTRIC TOOTH BRAWB BRUSHES OUR REMEMBER.

IT ILL BE OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH ROCKS AND WHAT A STRANGE EULOGY THAT WILL BE.

WE CAME, WE MOVED SOME ROCKS AROUND, AND THEN WE WERE NO MORE.

♪♪ >> CATHY: 35% OF MUNICIPAL OFFICES IN THE STATE ARE HELD BY WOMEN.

A STUDY BY RUTGERS UNIVERSITY MAKES MINNESOTA 16TH IN THE NATION OVERALL.

ONE CITY LEADING THAT STATISTIC IS ST. PAUL, WHICH JUST ELECTED ITS FIRST ALL-FEMALE CITY COUNCIL.

REPORTER KAOMI LEE MET UP WITH CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT MITRA JALALI TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HER BACKGROUND.

>> SO THIS IS THE PART OF ST. PAUL I'VE REPRESENTED SINCE 2018.

SO I LIKE TO THINK OF IT AS KIND OF THE NORTHWEST PART OF THE CITY.

>> Cathy: 37 YEAR OLD MITRA JALALI IS THE ST. PAUL CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND REPRESENTS WARD 4.

SHE SAYS HER WARD IS IVERSE AND A GATEWAY TO THE CITY FROM THE WEST.

>> ALL INCOME LEVELS.

THEY ALL LIVE IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND THAT'S PART OF THE STORY I FEEL I'VE BEEN TRYING TO TELL AS A RESIDENT OF THIS WARD FOR FIVE YEARS S WE REPRESENT THE CHANGE HAPPENING IN ST. PAUL.

>> Cathy: LAST FAULT, JALALI AND HER COUNCIL MEMBERS MADE HISTORY.

>> THE ST. PAUL CITY COUNCIL WILL COME TO ORDER.

ROLL CALL.

>> Cathy: ALL SEVEN MEMBERS ARE WOMEN, A FIRST FOR ST. PAUL AND FOR ANY U.S. CITY OF ITS SIZE.

ALL BUT ONE ARE WOMEN OF COLOR.

AND ALL ARE 40 AND UNDER >> YOU RE NOT EVEN FOUR WEEKS OLD THERE I THINK.

>> Cathy: JALALI'S PARENTS ARE IMMIGRANTS.

HER MOTHER IS AN ADOPTED KOREAN.

HER FATHER AIM FROM IRAN TO STUDY.

THEY MARRIED AND HAD MITRA AND HER TWO BROTHERS.

THEY SPOKE FARSI AT HOME AND ATE IRAN EVERYONE AND KOREAN FOOD.

RATHER THAN FEEL HALF 6 ANYTHING, SHE SAYS SHE FEELS MORE WHOLE OF EVERYTHING.

>> AT PERSIAN NEW YEAR, THEY'RE DEFINITELY LIKE, OH, THOSE ARE THE KOREAN ONES.

BUT WHEN I GO TO LIKE KOREAN METHODIST CHURCH, THEY ARE LIKE, WHO ARE THOSE BROWN KIDS?

PEOPLE ARE SOCIALIZED TO BE LIKE, WELL, YOU MUST BE THIS ONE THING.

BEING FROM A MULTICULTURAL FAMILY, FEEL LIKE I'VE HAD TO SEEK OUT WHAT I HAVE IN COMMON WITH OTHER PEOPLE ALWAYS.

>> Cathy: JALALI SAYS SHE GETS HER PERSEVERANCE FROM MANAGER MOTHER.

SHE SURVIVOR REPRESENTATIVED A ORPHANAGE AND A TRANS NATIONAL ADOPTION.

>> IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT BEING THE ONLY ASIAN PERSON IN SMALL RURAL AND A GOT TEASED A LOT IN SCHOOL BUT MADE ME REALLY TOUGH.

I ALWAYS TAUGHT MY KIDS, YOU HAVE TO BE COMFORTABLE IN YOUR OWN SKIN.

THAT'S THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN OVERSOME ANYTHING HERE IS JUST SEE YOURSELF THE WAY THAT YOU WANT TO BE SEEN.

>> Cathy: WHEN TERRORISTS HIT THE TWIN TOWERS, MITRA LEARNED EARLY ON HOW HER RACE AND ETHNICITY COULD BE POLITICIZED.

>> I HAD JUST STARTED HIGH SCHOOL WHEN 9/11 HAPPENED AND ALL THE SUDDEN, IT WAS LIKE, IRAN, IRAQ, AND NORTH KOREA ARE THE AXIS OF EVIL.

AND GEORGE W. BUSH, THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES IS, LIKE, ON TELEVISION TALKING ABOUT THIS.

AND EVERYONE IN SCHOOL IS, LIKE, WHISPERING BECAUSE WE'RE CHILDREN SO WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IT MEANS.

AND HONESTLY A LOT OF MY POLITICAL AWAKENING WITH GOING TO A COMMUNITY MEETING THAT THE IRAN EVERYONE COMMUNITY ORGANIZED.

>> Cathy: IT WAS A BENEFIT FOR THE VICTIMS OF 9/11 ORGANIZED BY FAMILY FRIEND JAY THAT HEEDY.

HE SAW JALALI IN THE AUDIENCE AND ASKED HER TO SPEAK.

>> SHE SAYS, OH, NO, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY.

I SAID, YES YOU DO.

YOU KNOW MORE THAN MORE OF THESE PEOPLE.

COME AND SAY SOMETHING ON BEHALF OF AMERICA'S YOUTH.

AMERICA'S YOUNG PEOPLE.

AND I INTRODUCED HER.

SHE CAME.

GAVE THE MOST POWERFUL, MOST PASSIONATE IVE-MINUTE SPEECH.

THAT THIS WAS A HORRIBLE EVENT.

THAT IF SHOULD NOT BE DONE IN AMERICA OR ANYWHERE.

SHE WAS THE ONLY ONE OUT OF PROBABLY 15, 16 SPEAKERS WHO GOT A STANDING OVATION.

>> Cathy: JALALI'S FATHER DECLINED AN ON CAMERA INTERVIEW, BUT PROMINENTLY DISPLAYED IN HER OFFICE IS HIS ART WORK.

>> HE TAKES HAD A LOT OF DIFFERENT PIECES AND HE CUTS THEM ONE BY ONE.

>> Cathy: SHE SAYS HER DAD'S SPECIALTY IS MAKING TRADITIONAL PERSIAN ART.

>> WHAT THIS MEANS IS WOMAN, LIFE, FREEDOM.

[ SPEAKING FARSI ] >> Cathy: FOR IRAN EVERYONES, POLITICS AND LIFE ARE INTERTWINED.

JALALI SAYS HER FAMILY AND COMMUNITY HAVE SHAPED WHO SHE IS.

>> I FEEL ULTIMATELY VERY LUCKY THAT I HAVE SUCH A UNIQUE SPECTRUM OF EXPERIENCES TO DRAW FROM.

AND I THINK IT HAS MADE ME A BETTER LEADER BECAUSE I DON'T GET TO NOT THINK ABOUT THAT STUFF.

♪ >> ERIC: THE ONGOING WAR BETWEEN ISRAEL AND HAMAS MAY BE HALFWAY ACROSS THE WORLD, BUT THE CONFLICT HAS REVERBERATED IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS MINNESOTA.

CEASEFIRE RESOLUTIONS HAVE PASSED FROM HASTINGS TO THE RED LAKE NATION.

IN MINNEAPOLIS, MAYOR JACOB FREY VETOED A RESOLUTION.

AND HERE IN ST. PAUL, THE CITY COUNCIL HAS DECLINED TO TAKE UP A CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION, RESULTING IN PROTESTORS SHUTTING DOWN A COUNCIL MEETING EARLIER THIS WEEK.

NATHAN STOCK IS A NON-RESIDENT SCHOLAR AT THE MIDDLE EAST INSTITUTE.

STOCK IS AN EXPERT ON THE MIDDLE EAST CONFLICT WHO HAS LIVED IN BOTH THE GAZA STRIP AND ISRAEL.

AND NOW LIVES IN THE TWIN CITIES.

WELCOME.

WHY IS THE DISAGREEMENT ON THIS ISSUE SO INTENSE?

>> WELL, I THINK IN THE LAST FEW YEARS, THERE HAS BEEN A NEW CONSTITUENCY ON THE LEFT IN THE UNITED STATES SUPPORTING PALESTINIAN RIGHTS.

THERE'S A MUCH LARGER BODY OF AMERICANS WHO HOLD THAT VIEW.

AND THAT WASN'T THE CASE EVEN TEN YEARS AGO AROUND THE 2014 GAZA WAR.

SO THERE ARE, THEREFORE, A LOT MORE VOICES IN THE DEBATE IN OUR UNITED STATES THAN WE HAVE HISTORICALLY SEEN ON THIS ISSUE.

>> Cathy: I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT OURSELF EFORE WE KIND OF GET INTO HOW TO DEAL WITH THIS CONFLICT.

I THINK IT'S INTERESTING THAT YOU'VE LIVED IN BOTH THE GAZA STRIP AND IN ISRAEL AND HOW HAVE THOSE LIFE EXPERIENCES SHAPED HOW YOU DO YOUR WORK?

>> WELL, I HAVE AN INTIMATE FEELING FOR WHAT IT'S LIKE TO LIVE IN A GENERATIONS-LONG CONFLICT, RIGHT?

THAT'S WHAT ISRAELIS AND PALESTINIANS HAVE BEEN LIVING.

AND I TAKE THAT WORLD VIEW INTO ALL OF MY WORK.

PARTICULARLY IN THE CASE OF GAZA, IT MAKES ME VERY AWARE OF THE WIDER CONTEXT.

I MOVED TO GAZA WHEN WAS I WAS IN MY MID-20s IN THE SPRING OF 2000.

AT THAT TIME, THE VAST MAJORITY.

PALESTINIANS WHO LIVED THERE COULDN'T LEAVE.

IT WAS ALREADY AN OPEN AIR PRISON FOR THEM.

AND THAT WAS AT THE HEIGHT OF THE SO-CALLED PEACE PROCESS IN THE '90s.

SO THAT CONTEXT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO KEEP IN MIND AS WE UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON TODAY.

ISRAELI RESTRICTIONS ON GAZA, ON THE MOVEMENT OF PEOPLE AND GOODS HAVE HAD A PROFOUNDLY DAMAGING EFFECT ON THE ECONOMY.

THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE.

YOU KNOW, BEFORE OCTOBER 7 WAS 45, 50%.

RIGHT?

SO WHAT WE HAVE SEEN OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS IS A REALLY HORRIFYING AND TRAGIC EXPLOSION OF VIOLENCE THAT'S CAUSED, YOU KNOW, ENORMOUS HARM TO CIVILIANS ON BOTH SIDES.

BUT IT IS ALSO AN OUTGROWTH OF LONG-RUNNING ISRAELI POLICIES OF CONTROL OVER PALESTINIANS AND A REFUSAL TO GRANT THEM SELF-DETERMINATION AND FREEDOM THE WAY WE WOULD UNDERSTAND IT AS AMERICANS.

>> Eric: HOW -- IF YOU WERE GOING TO SIT DOWN PEOPLE ON BOTH SIDES AND DO CONFLICT RESOLUTION, WHERE DID YOU START ON THIS?

IT SEEMS INTRACTABLE.

>> YEAH, AND IT'S WORSE NOW.

I AM, IT'S WORSE AFTER THE COLLECTIVE TRAUMAS THAT BOTH SIDES ARE EXPERIENCING RIGHT NOW.

BUT IT REINGD REINFORCES FOR MEE IMPORTANCE OF TRYING TO ADDRESS THE UNDERLYING ISSUES HERE.

IT MEANS ENSURING THAT PALESTINIANS GET RIGHTS OF SOME KIND.

EITHER THEY GET A STATE OF THEIR OWN.

PERHAPS THEY GET SOME SORT OF EQUAL RIGHTS AND A UNITARY STATE.

BUT THE EVENTS OF THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS HAVE DEMONSTRATED IN A HORRIBLE WAY THAT THE ISRAELI POLICY OF ISOLATING PALESTINIANS AND THINKING THAT THEY COULD KICK THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD.

THEY DON'T NEED TO SOLVE THIS.

BUT THIS ISN'T WORKING.

I MEAN, IT'S LED TO HORRIFYING VIOLENCE.

SO AS MUCH AS THE TWO SIDES ARE TRAUMATIZED RIGHT NORTHERN, AS MUCH AS THEY DON'T WANT TO TALK TO EACH OTHER AND I UNDERSTAND THAT, THEY NEED TO FIND A WAY TO LIVE TOGETHER, AND THAT MEANS THAT BOTH PEOPLES NEED RIGHTS NAIL WAY THAT HASN'T BEEN TRUE FOR THESE DECADES NOW.

>> Cathy: OF COURSE ISRAELI THEY FEAR BIEL ELIMINATED, YOU KNOW, SO HOW DO YOU ADDRESS THEIR MEEDZ?

NEEDS?

>> THERE HAVE BEEN IDEAS ON THE TABLE.

LIKE, AS AN EXAMPLE, SHOULD YOU EVER HAVE A PALESTINIAN STATE IN THE WEST BANK IN GAZA, YEARS AGO THE PALESTINIAN STATE AGREED THAT THAT STATE WOULD BE DEMILITARY DEMILITARIZED.

SO THERE ARE SECURITY MECHANISMS TO ADDRESS, IDENTIFICATION LEGITIMATE ISRAELI SECURITY CONCERNS BUT YOU HAVE TO START WITH SOME ISRAELI WILLINGNESS TO ALLOW THESE PEOPLE TO HAVE A FREE COUNTRY OF THEIR OWN WHICH WE HAVEN'T HAD.

>> Cathy: MINNEAPOLIS, OTHER PLACES IN MINNESOTA WHEN IT COMES UP BEFORE LOCAL CITY COUNCILS, WHY SHOULD LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TAKE THIS ISSUE UP?

WOULDN'T THAT JUST ADD TO THE STRIFE?

SHOULD LOCAL GOVERNMENT JUST STAY OUT OF THIS ISSUE OR SHOULD THEY INGEAJ?

>> I'M OF TWO MINDS OF THIS.

I'M ODE.

SO BEING A LITTLE OLD-FASHIONED, OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS DON'T HAVE FOREIGN POLICY.

SO THERE IS AN ARGUMENT TO SAY, NO, WHY WOULD YOU COMMENT ON ANY MATTER OF FORNG POLICY, RIGHT?

THAT SAID, I CAN UNDERSTAND WHY AS A JUSTICE ISSUE, PEOPLE WANT TO GO ON RECORD ON THIS.

AND THIS IS WHERE IT'S IMPORTANT TO PUT THE FIGHTING IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS IN THE CONTEXT OF INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW, THE GENEVA CONVENTIONS AND OTHER WATERS IN THE 21ST CENTURY, RIGHT?

I MEAN, YOU HAVE NOW, WHAT?

30,000 PALESTINIAN DEAD, OF THE CONFIRMED DEAD, 70% ARE WOMEN AND CHILDREN.

20,000 WOMEN AND CHILDREN.

THE ACTUAL NUMBER OF PALESTINIANS CIVILIAN DEAD IS CERTAINLY MUCH HIGHER THAN THAT.

THAT PERCENTAGE OF CIVILIAN DEATHS IS MUCH HIGHER THAN OTHER COMPARABLE ARMED CONFLICTS IN THE LAST 20 YEARS.

I MEAN, THE UNITED STATES AND OUR ALLIES, IN 20 YEARS IN AFGHANISTAN, WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR A CONFIRMED TOTAL OF AROUND 12,000 CIVILIAN DEAD, IN 20 YEARS.

IN THIS CASE, IN FOUR OR FIVE MONTHS, 20,000 WOMEN AND CHILDREN KILLED.

SO I UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE FEEL VERY STRONGLY ABOUT THIS.

AND FEEL THE NEED TO SPEAK OUT.

>> Eric: THANKS FOR SHARING YOUR EXPERTISE.

VERY INTERESTING STUFF.

THANKS.

♪♪ >> EVERY DAY ALL DAY, NOT ONLY MY WIFE BUT MY KIDS, I HAD TWO SONS THAT WERE OUTSTANDING ATHLETES.

AND THOSE TWO DOGS THERE, WERE BROUGHT TO MY HOME BY THE F.B.I.

BECAUSE THERE ERE SO MANY THREATS.

♪♪ >> CATHY: LAST MONTH, ROSLYN HARMON BECAME GOLDEN VALLEY'S FIRST BLACK MAYOR.

SHE WAS SWORN IN A LITTLE MORE THAN A YEAR AFTER AN INVESTIGATION FOUND A CULTURE OF RACISM IN THE CITY'S POLICE DEPARTMENT.

RACIAL COVENANTS AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING HAVE BEEN ISSUES IN THE CITY AS WELL.

HERE WITH MORE ON HER PLANS TO MOVE THE CITY FORWARD, GOLDEN VALLEY MAYOR ROSLYN HARMON.

WELCOME TO "ALMANAC."

>> OH, IT'S SUCH A PLEASURE TO BE HERE.

THANK YOU.

>> Cathy: IT'S A PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU HERE TOO.

BOY, I TELL YOU, GOLDEN VALLEY'S 85% WHITE I AM.

>> YES.

>> Cathy: THAT REPORT ABOUT A CULTURE OF RACISM IN YOUR POLICE DEPARTMENT IS SERIOUS STUFF.

WHAT DID YOU THINK WHEN YOU SAW THAT?

>> OH, GOSH, THERE WERE A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON IN MY MIND.

FOR SOMEONE WHO DOES RESTORATIVE JUSTICE FOR A LIVING, THERE DEFINITELY WAS A DIVISION.

NOT ONLY WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT, BUT WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY, WHICH IS WHY I FELT THE NEED TO RUN.

TO REALLY BE THAT BRIDGE BUILDER.

TO HELP BRING PEOPLE BACK TOGETHER AS YOU TALKED EARLIER ABOUT CONFLICT RESOLUTION, RIGHT?

TO REALLY COME TOGETHER AND WORK OGETHER ON BEHALF OF WHAT WAS DISCOVERED, WHICH WAS UNFORTUNATE.

WE HAD 35 OFFICERS, AND 28 LEFT, AND ALTHOUGH I DON'T BELIEVE THAT ALL 28 WERE RACISTS, THERE DEFINITELY WAS SOMETHING OING ON, BUT I BELIEVE THE PROCESS OF HOW EVERYTHING HAPPENED COULD HAVE PROBABLY BEEN HANDLED A LITTLE BIT BETTER.

>> Eric: I WONDER IF THE CONVERSATION WOULD HELP IN GOLDEN VALLEY AND I WONDER IF THAT'S PART 69 PLAN TO GET OUT WITH THE PEOPLE.

YOU WON BY 26 VOTES, SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF MAJORITY YOU HAVE.

MAYBE EXPLAIN YOUR AGENDA A LITTLE MORE AREFULLY.

>> I THINK SO.

AND AS I WAS CAMPAIGNING A LOT OF PEOPLE, THAT WAS THEIR GREATEST CONCERN WAS PUBLIC SAFETY.

AND THANKS TO HENNEPIN COUNTY, THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, FOR ASSISTING US DURING THE DAYTIME, WE WERE REALLY ABLE TO ANSWER CALLS.

STILL VERY SWIFTLY AND EFFICIENTLY.

SO NOTHING -- CRIME DID NOT GO UP IN GOLDEN VALLEY.

PEOPLE WERE CONCERNED.

AND WITH THE NEW POLICE CHIEF, IN PLACE -- >> Eric: AFRICAN-AMERICAN FELLA.

>> AFRICAN-AMERICAN AS WELL AS TWO ASSISTANT CHIEFS WHO ARE ALSO OF COLOR, YOU KNOW, WE'RE DOING GREAT.

WE'RE MAKING GREAT STRIDES.

WE'RE NOW -- OUR NUMBERS WERE AT 7 AND NOW WE'RE AT 20.

SO I THINK WE'RE GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

MOVING FORWARD.

>> Cathy: BUT WHEN YOU SEE WHAT HAPPENED IN BURNSVILLE, THAT TERRIBLE TRAGEDY, YOU LOOK AT THAT AND YOU KIND OF THINK, I WONDER HOW THAT AFFECTS POTENTIAL RECRUITMENT MOVING FORWARD.

>> ABSOLUTELY, ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK IN OLDEN VALLEY, WE REALIZE HOW FOLKS WHO GO INTO PUBLIC SAFETY ARE PUTTING THEIR LIVES AT RISK EVERY DAY.

WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT.

AND THERE SHOULD BE INCENTIVES, RIGHT?

TO SAY, COME WORK WITH US.

AND WE'LL PROVIDE YOU EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT BENEFITS.

I THINK PEOPLE WANT TO GO WHERE THEY'RE CELEBRATED AND NOT NECESSARILY WHERE THEY'RE TOLERATED.

AND SO THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO SHIFT IN ORDER TO MAKE PEOPLE FEEL WELCOMED AND WANT TO STAY.

AND THAT'S HOW WE'LL KEEP OUR NUMBERS.

>> Eric: UM, THE SITUATION IN BUILDING THE DOWNTOWN GOT ME NTERESTED.

I READ A LITTLE BIT ABOUT -- YOU WANT TO VITALIZE, IS THERE A STRIP MALL THERE?

>> Cathy: DO YOU HAVE A DO YOU KNOW TOWN?

I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW YOU HAD A DOWNTOWN.

>> WELL, THAT'S THE PLAN.

SO WE HAD PASSED IN THE ELECTION, IT WAS APPROVED FOR A 1.25% SALES TAX.

WHICH WILL HELP SUPPORT OUR PUBLIC WORKS AND PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENTS.

TO HAVE NEW FACILITIES.

AS OF NOW, WE STILL DON'T HAVE A LOCATION.

OF WHERE THAT WILL E. YOU'RE REFERRING TO THE DOWNTOWN STUDY, WHICH WE NEED TO REVISE THAT.

BUT AT THIS TIME, THE SALES TAX WILL START EFFECTIVE APRIL .

BUT WE'RE STILL TRYING TO WORK OUT THOSE LOGISTICS, BUT, YES, WHEN YOU COME DOWN HIGHWAY 55 -- [ Laughter ] WHAT SCREENS GOLDEN VALLEY, THERE ISN'T MUFF.

YOU JUST COME RIGHT ON THROUGH.

AND SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO HAVE THAT IDENTITY AND WE ARE WORKING THROUGH THAT.

>> Eric: BUYER'S REMOTIONER, OR YOU'RE HAPPY YOU DID THIS?

>> I'M SO HAPPY THAT I DID THIS.

THIS IS HISTORY, RIGHT?

IT'S HARD WORK.

ON TOP OF HAVING A FULL-TIME JOB, BUT HERE I AM, AND I'M EXCITED.

SENATOR THE FOUR YEARS TO COME.

>> Eric: THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND APPRECIATE YOU COMING OVER.

♪♪ >> ARON: LAST WEEK, I WAS IN THERAPY, AND AS I WAS LISTENING TO MY THERAPIST PONTIFICATE ON HOW WELL ADJUSTED I AM AND HOW I'M NOT AT ALL THE THE PROBLEM, I CAUGHT SOMETHING IMPORTANT SHE SAID.

SOMETHING I WANT TO SHARE WITH ALL OF YOU.

PANIC ISN’T PRODUCTIVE.

IT’S EASY TO FORGET SOMETIMES THAT PANIC ISN’T PRODUCTIVE, BECAUSE IT USUALLY PRECEDES DRASTIC ACTIONS.

YOU PANIC, AND THEN YOU JUMP OUT OF A PLANE.

YOU PANIC, AND THEN YOU ORDER YOUR MEAL.

YOU PANIC, AND THEN YOU GET MARRIED.

THESE ARE JUST COMMON EVERYDAY EXAMPLES.

AND BECAUSE PANIC GIVES A BOOST OF ENERGY AND MOTIVATES WITH FEAR, WE TEND TO THINK OF IT AS THIS EXTREMELY PRODUCTIVE THING WHEN REALLY IT’S NOT.

IF YOU HAVE ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD, YOU WOULD LIKELY JUMP OUT OF A FALLING PLANE, YOU’D LIKELY ORDER WHAT YOU’D LIKE TO ORDER, AND YOU’D PROBABLY MARRY THE PERSON YOU WANT TO MARRY.

THIS IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER AS LIFE SOMETIMES MAKES IT SEEM LIKE THE CLOCK IS TICKING TOWARDS DOOM, THAT THINGS CAN ONLY HAPPEN PERFECTLY THE FIRST TIME, AND THAT SHAME IS THE ONLY REASONABLE FEELING TOWARDS FAILURE.

AND TO THAT I SAY: BABY BOK CHOY, RELAX.

PANIC WILL NOT SET YOU FREE.

MOST THINGS THAT ARE DONE CAN BE UNDONE, AND NO AMOUNT OF FAILURE WILL DEFINE YOU.

IT’S NOT LIKE YOU’RE A HEART SURGEON.

AND EVEN IF YOU ARE, WHO CARES?

YOU KNOW WHAT YOU CALL A HEART SURGEON THAT SCREWS UP?

A DENTIST.

YOU KNOW WHAT YOU CALL A DENTIST THAT SCREWS UP?

A VETERINARIAN.

YOU KNOW WHAT YOU CALL A VETERINARIAN THAT SCREWS UP?

A TAXADERMIST!

SO REALLY, IT’S NOT THAT BAD.

LIFE THESE DAYS IS HARD.

YOU DON’T NEED TO BE HARD ON YOURSELF TO MAKE IT WORTHWHILE.

SO THE NEXT TIME YOU FEEL YOURSELF IN A PANIC, ASK YOURSELF IF IT’S HELPING, TAKE A BREATH, AND TRUST YOU’LL FIND A WAY FORWARD.

♪♪ >> ERIC: THE LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE STATE HAS LAWMAKERS FROM ACROSS THE AISLE AND A VARIETY OF INTEREST GROUPS COMING TOGETHER AT THE CAPITOL.

REPORTER MARY LAHAMMER SHOWS US WHO'S JOINING FORCES AND WHY, AFTER A BILLION-DOLLAR INVESTMENT LAST SESSION.

>> IT'S TIME TO GET TO WORK!

[ Cheers and applause ] >> Mary: HOUSING IS TAKING CENTER STAGE AT THE CAPITOL THIS YEAR.

>> WE WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE ARE UNITED TOGETHER IN MAKING SURE THAT UR FUTURE STARTS AT HOME.

[ Cheers and applause ] >> SO WE HAD A PRETTY GOOD YEAR FOR HOUSING LAST YEAR, RIGHT?

WE DID $1 BILLION IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN OUR BUDGET LAST YEAR.

>> Mary: AFTER RECORD FUNDING LAST SESSION WITH A SURPLUS THAT'S NOW NEARLY GONE, SEVERAL NEW INITIATIVES ARE FOCUSING ON POLICY CHANGES TO SOLVE THE HOUSING CRISIS, ONE HAS BIPARTISAN SUPPORT AND A POLITICAL ODD COUPLE BACKING IT.

HOW UNUSUAL IS THIS BIPARTISAN GATHERING TODAY?

>> I WOULD SAY THAT HOUSING IS NOT A PARTISAN ISSUE.

SOMETIMES IT HAS BEEN.

BUT NOT TODAY.

NOW IS THE TIME TO ADDRESS OUR HOUSING SHORTAGE.

AND WHETHER YOU'RE A DEMOCRAT OR A REPUBLICAN, I THINK YOU'RE HEARING FROM MINNESOTANS THAT SAY, I CAN'T AFFORD A HOME.

>> I THINK THAT WE START OFF SMALL AND BUILD INTO SOMETHING POSSIBLY BIGGER, BUT AT THE VERY BASE OF ALL OF IT IS, YOU KNOW, I WANT MY CHILDREN AND MAYBE YOUR CHILD ONE DAY COMES HOME TO BUY A HOME IN THE COMMUNITY THEY GREW UP IN.

WE NEED TO MAKE IT A LITTLE EASIER.

>> I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THAT LEGISLATORS FROM ALL OVER THE STATE KNOW THAT WE NEED MORE HOUSING.

>> Mary: DOES IT SPEAK TO HOW BAD THE CRISIS IS THEN AND THIS ISS -- THE LEAGUE OF MINNESOTA CITIES OPPOSES THE BIPARTISAN BILL SAYING IT WOULD UNDER MINE THE ABILITY OF CITIES TO MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS ABOUT AND THENNING AND LAND USE.

>> THIS IS NOT AN ANTI--CITY BILL.

WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS, PLEASE COME AND WORK WITH US, BECAUSE IT IS THAT IMPORTANT.

>> TO UNLOCK A TRULY AFFORDABLE STARTER HOME, WE NEED TO BUILD THINGS LIKE DUPLEXES, SINGLE LEVEL TOWN HOMES, COTTAGE HOUSING, THOSE TYPES OF HOUSING THAT ARE EMERGING AS OUR BEST PATH, N MOST CITIES THEY REALLY AREN'T BEING BUILT AND OFTEN ARE EXPRESSLY PROHIBITED IN BEING BUILT.

>> Mary: THERE'S ALSO A COALITION OF NON-PROFITS TO TALK HO HOLISTICALLY.

>> WE'RE ALL SO FROANT.

BUT YET WE ALL BELIEVE THAT E HUMAN BEING DESERVES SAFE, STABLE, AND AFFORDABLE PLACE TO CALL HOME.

>> Mary: THEY'RE SEEKING $500 MILLION IN BONDING, WHICH MAY BE THE ONLY NEW FUNDING THAT GETS OUT OF THIS LEGISLATURE.

>> SHOW US THE MONEY!

SHOW US THE MONEY!

>> YOU DID A RECORD BILLION-DOLLAR INVESTMENT LAST SESSION.

THERE'S STILL MORE TO DO AND MORE ON THE POLICY SIDE IT SOWNES LIKE?

>> WHEN WE REALLY DISINVESTED IN HOUSING FOR DECADES, EVEN A BILLION-DOLLAR INVESTMENT ISN'T GOING TO CHANGE THINGS OVERNIEGHT.

AND STILL IN THIS STATE, MORE THAN 600,000 MINNESOTANS ARE COST BURDENED.

>> TH THIS ISHAVE I VERY FREE MARKET BILL.

AND I VOTED AGAINST THAT COMPONENT UTILITY OF UTILITY BUT THIS IS A POLICY BILL.

>> Mary: THE AVERAGE AGE OF HOME OWNERSHIP IS NOW 36 YEARS OLD.

THAT'S THE HIGHEST NUMBER IN HISTORY AND IT SHOT UP DRAMATICALLY AND QUICKLY.

>> STUDENT DEBT MOUNTS.

THE PRICE OF HOUSES ARE GETTING LARGER AND LARGER.

>> Mary: AND REDLINING, WE'RE STILL REALLY LEARNING THE EFFECTS IN THE STATEWIDE NATURE.

WE DID A REVEALING DOCUMENTARY ON HOW STATEWIDE PERVASIVE REDLINING WAS AND THAT THOSE COVENANTS WERE STILL ON THE BOOKS TODAY.

>> THAT IS THE LEGACY OF WHY WE'RE HERE AND WHY WE HAVE THESE DEEP RACIAL GAPS IN HOME OWNERSHIP.

WE STILL HAVE ODERN DAY REDLINING THAT'S OCCURRING BY SOME LOCAL RULES THAT REALLY PREVENT FOLK FRIEZE ENTERING HOME OWNERSHIP AT AN AFFORDABLE LEVEL.

THERE'S SOME CITIES THAT RULES THAT SAY THAT EVERY HOME HAS TO HAVE A THREE-CAR IMARNLG.

>> I LEARNED THAT NO ONE IS IMMUNE TO HOUSING INSTABILITY AND ULTIMATELY HOMELESSNESS.

>> OMETIMES, I COULD BARELY AFFORD FOOD.

OR A HOTEL.

>> Mary: TO START WITH HOME GROUP IS INTERESTED IN A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT AS WELL, ANTICIPATING THE E.R.A.

WILL GET ON THE BALLOT, DRIVING LIKE-MINDED VOTERS.

LAWMAKERS WILL WAIT FOR THE UPDATED ECONOMIC FORECAST BEFORE ADDING DOLLARS THAT COULD DIVIDE THE BIPARTISAN SUPPORT FROM DIFFERENT PARTIESND DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE STATE.

>> THIS IS AN URBAN, SUBURBAN, RURAL PROBLEM?

>> THIS IS A STATEWIDE PROBLEM.

HOUSING AFFORDABILITY IS A CRISIS ALL ACROSS THE STATE, ONE THING'S CLEAR EVERYWHERE, WE'RE NOT BUILDING ENOUGH HOMES, ESPECIALLY THE KINDS OF HOMES THAT MINNESOTANS WANT.

>> I THINK OF ONE COMMUNITY I REPRESENT, THEY BUILT A LOT OF STARTER HOMES SEVERAL YEARS AGO, WE'RE NOT BUILDING ENOUGH 6 OF OF THOSE.

♪♪ >> CATHY: THIS YEAR'S LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS NOT AS BUSY AS LAST YEAR, BUT IT CERTAINLY HASN'T BEEN COMPLETELY QUIET.

AMONG THE THORNY ISSUES LEGISLATORS ARE TACKLING: STUDENT RESOURCE OFFICERS IN SCHOOLS, PROPOSED GUN RESTRICTIONS, AND AS WE JUST HEARD, AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

ALL ON OUR TOPIC LIST FOR THIS WEEK'S POLITICAL PANEL.

DEMOCRATS UP FIRST.

JAVIER MORILLO, FORMER NATIONAL COMMITTEE MEMBER AND LONGTIME LABOR ORGANIZER.

WINTANA MELEKIN, D.F.L.

ACTIVIST CURRENTLY TOILING AWAY UP AT THE CAPITOL.

REPUBLICANS WITH US TONIGHT: FORMER SENATE MAJORITY LEADER, NOW LOBBYIST AMY KOCH.

AND ANDY BREHM, LAWYER AND FORMER PRESS SECRETARY TO U.S.

SENATOR NORM COLEMAN.

SENATOR KOCH, I WAS GOING TO START WITH LEGISLATIVE STUFF, BUT I THINK I'M GOING TO ASK YOU THIS.

ABOUT DEAN PHILLIPS.

SO HE RIPS SENATOR KLOBUCHAR AND CALLS RUNNING -- SAYS THAT SHE'S RUNNING AGAIN IS BE SUCH.

RIPS GOVERNOR WALZ.

RIPS SENATOR MITH.

DOES HE HAVE A OLITICAL DEATH WISH?

>> OU NOW, I HAVEN'T UNDERSTOOD EVEN THE WHOAL -- SINCE HE'S DECIDED TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT.

I THINK THAT WHAT HAPPENS IS, SOMETIMES IN A POLITICAL CAMPAIGN, YOU GET CAUGHT IN A BUBBLE.

AND THE BUBBLE GETS SMALLER, AND IT KIND OF CLOSES IN AROUND YOU AS YOU GET CRITICISM.

YOU CLOSE TIGHTER AND TIGHTER AND YOU START TO SEE EVERYBODY AS SORT OF AGAINST YOU.

AND I THINK MAYBE THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENED HERE.

BECAUSE IT'S NEVER BEEN THE STYLE OF CONGRESSMAN PHILLIPS EVERY.

HE'S ACTUALLY BEEN SORT OF A HAPPY WARRIOR, VERY FRIENDLY, ALL SIDES WELCOME.

COMING COM AND HAVE SOME COFFEE AYE ATHLETIC MY TRUCK OR WHATEVER.

SO I JUST THINK THAT HAS HAPPENED IS THIS CAMPAIGN, AS THEY GOT CRITICISM REALLY STARTED TO CLOSE AROUND ITSELF AND YOU SEE HE RESULTS.

WHICH IS UNFORTUNATE.

>> I MEAN, IT'S UNHINGES BEHAVIOR AT THIS POINT.

>> Eric: WHAT ARE THE DEMOCRATIC HIERARCHY STAY SAYING ABOUT THIS?

>> I DON'T THINK ANYONE'S WORRYING ABOUT IT VERY MUCH.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, JUST TODAY THERE WAS NEWS ABOUT HIS CAMPAIGN BEING INVOLVED IN A DEEP FAKE AD THAT WAS FAKING JOE BIDEN'S VOICE TO URGE PEOPLE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE TO NOT VOTE.

I MEAN, LIKE HE HAS SURROUNDED HIMSELF WITH EXPENSIVE CONSULTANTS, NOT VERY GOOD ONES, LIKE THROE AWAYS FROM REPUBLICANS.

THE GUY WHO BROUGHT US SARAH PALIN FOR EXAMPLE.

YEAH.

AND SO HE'S JUST GETTING I THINK AMY'S RIGHT.

HE'S IN SOME KIND OF A BUNKER LISTENING TO ALL THE WRONG PEOPLE.

AND DOING BIZARRE THINGS.

IT FEELS LIKE A BIZARRE DECLINE.

>> I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYTHING UNHINGED ABOUT WHAT HE'S SAYING AT ALL.

I MEAN, HE'S SAYING THAT A PRESIDENT THAT'S 81 YEARS OLD WITH A 38% APPROVE RATING MIGHT NOT BE THE MOST ELECTABLE GUY.

AND I THINK HE STRUCK AN INDEPENDENT PATH AND A LOT OF VOTERS I TALK TO SAY HE MAKES A LOT OF SENSE.

SO, YOU KNOW, I MEAN THE LONG KNIVES CAME OUT FOR HIM A LONG TIME.

THE DEMOCRATIC ESTABLISHMENT WENT AFTER HIM HARD.

ALL HE WAS SAYING LET'S HAVE A COMPETITION.

WHAT'S WRONG WITH THAT?

I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE THE SAILISAME THING IN THE REPUBLICN PARTY?

>> I THINK THAT DEAN PHILLIPS IS PLAYING AT SENATOR KLOBUCHAR'S AGE.

I'M NOT THE BIGGEST FAN OF SENATOR KLOBUCHAR, BUT I THINK THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT SHE DOES WRONG HAT RE NOT ABOUT HER AGE.

SOMEHOW TRYING TO DISMISS HER LEADERSHIP, I FIND TO BE OFFENSIVE AND DISRESPECTFUL.

I THINK THAT ONE THING THAT I'M FRUSTRATED ABOUT DEAN PHILLIPS IS THAT HE'S NOW TRYING TO SEND A PLAY FOR PROGRESSIVES, BUT NOT HAVING PLEA PROGRESSIVE VALUES.

REALLY LACKS DIRECTION OR STRATEGY.

>> Eric: STATESIDE, I DID A LITTLE MINIMAL RESEARCH TODAY, AND SENATE BILL INTRODUCTIONS ARE ON A PACE TO BREAK THE MOST RECORD FOR AN EVEN-YEAR SESSION SINCE 1920.

I KNOW THAT'S BONDING PROJECTS AND EARLY DEADLINES AND STUFF.

BUT A LOT OF ACTION OVER THERE FOR A QUIET DAY.

>> THERE IS A LOT OF ACTION.

IT'S ALSO SURPRISING THAT 1920.

AND THIS WAS LIKE WHEN THEY WERE CRANKING THEM OUT BY HAND I ASSUME.

>> Eric: WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WHEN THE SMOKE CLEARS?

>> SO WE'RE GOING TO GET THE BUDGET FORECAST NEXT WEEK, WHICH TELLS THEM IF THERE'S MONEY -- RIGHT NOW THE BUDGET FORECAST DOES NOT LOOK GOOD, RIGHT?

THE OUTYEARS, THERE'S DEFICIT IN THE OUTYEAR WHICH IS A PROBLEM.

SO WE'LL FIND OUT NEXT WEEK IF THAT CONTINUES.

IF THAT CONTINUES, IF THE TREND CONTINUES AND HERE IS THAT, I THINK VERY LITTLE HAPPENS THIS YEAR.

I THINK A LITTLE BIT OF POLICY.

THEY'RE GOING TO WORK -- THEY'RE GOING TO FIX SOME ERRORS THAT WERE MADE LAST YEAR AND THEY'RE GOING TO LARGELY GET OUT OF DODGE.

MAYBE A CAPITAL INVESTMENT BONDING BILL.

>> Eric: ARE YOU PROGRESSIVES WORRIED THAT NOT ENOUGH'S GOING TO GET DONE?

>> NO, I FEEL CONFIDENT THAT THE LEGISLATURE IS GOING TO GET DONE WHAT THEY NEED TO.

I THINK THEY HAVE AMAZING LIERP AND I FEEL CONFIDENT THAT THEY'LL GET IT DONE.

>> Eric: REPUBLICANS' JOB IS TO WIN THE HOW FAST, STATE HOUSE BACK.

WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM THE LEGISLATURE THAT WOULD HELP REPUBLICANS?

>> WELL, I MEAN, I THINK THE, YOU KNOW, THE MORE DEMOCRATS DO, THE ETTER IT WILL PROBABLY BE FOR REPUBLICANS.

BECAUSE I MEAN, LAST SESSION WAS NOTHING SHORT OF A TRAIN WRECK, AND MINNESOTANS ARE NOT HAPPY ABOUT SEEING AN $18 BILLION SURPLUS SIMPLY WASTED.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE SITTING READY TO GO AND I THINK REPUBLICANS HAVE A GREAT SHOT OF TAKING BACK THE HOUSE.

I MEAN, THIS EXTREME AGENDA DOESN'T SIT WELL WITH MOST MINNESOTANS.

>> Eric: WHAT ARE THERE, EIGHT COMPETITIVE SEATS OUT OF 134?

>> RIGHT, YEAH, AND WHAT YOU SEE REPUBLICANS FOCUSING ON IS THING LIKE THE FLAG, LIKE REALLY IMPORTANT ISSUES, RIGHT?

THERE ISN'T A COHERENT REPUBLICAN AGENDA IN MINNESOTA OR NATIONALLY.

EXCEPT, YOU KNOW, TO TAKE AWAY RIGHTS, EXCEPT, YOU KNOW, IN ALABAMA, A PETRI DISH HAS MORE RIGHTS THAN WOMEN DO.

SO THAT KIND OF EXTREMISM IS WHAT WE WILL BE RUNNING AGAINST.

BECAUSE DEMOCRATS, WHAT DEMOCRATS DID THIS LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION WAS ENACT AN AGENDA.

THEY WERE, LIKE, I CAN'T COUNT THE NUMBER OF TIMES OVER THE YEAR THAT WE WOULD ALWAYS COMPLAIN ON THIS COUCH THAT THEY WON'T GET THEIR JOB DONE.

LAST YEAR THEY PASSED A RECORD NUMBER OF BILLS.

THEY GOT IT DONE ON TIME.

AND NOW THEY'RE DOING THEIR JOB.

WHAT THEY SHOULD DO.

AND THEY ARE -- I DON'T EXPECT YOU TO LIKE WHAT THEY DID, BECAUSE THEY'RE DEMOCRATS.

>> BUT THE IDEA THE REPUBLICANS DON'T HAVE AN AGENDA IS RIDICULOUS.

I MEAN, THEY DO.

REPUBLICANS BELIEVE THAT THE STATE GOVERNMENT SHOULD LIVE WITHIN ITS MEANS.

IT GREW BY 40% LAST SESSION.

WE THINK THAT OUR STATE NEEDS TO BE COMPETITIVE IN TERMS OF BEING A BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT.

IT'S NOT.

THOSE OF THAT NEED JOBS NEED THEM TO STAY HERE.

THESE ARE THINGS THAT RESONATE WITH VOTERS.

YOU CAN PRATT ALE OFF THE TALKING POINTS ABOUT THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON IN ALABAMA, BUT REPUBLICANS HERE ARE FOCUSED ON MAKING MINNESOTA A SAFER PLACE.

I MEAN, OUR CITIES ARE CRIME INFESTTH AND THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO SOLUTIONS ON THE TABLE.

I THINK IT'S APPEALING TO MOST PEOPLE -- >> Eric: IS THE LACK OF VOTES FOR THE IMMIGRANT SANCTUARY BILL DISAPPOINTING?

SHOULD THE LEADERSHIP USH THAT HARDER?

>> YEAH, I THINK THAT IS ACTUALLY A PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT NEEDS A LOT MORE WORK BEFORE WE GET IT DONE IN THIS YEAR.

I MEAN A IMMIGRANT MYSELF.

I AIM KAIM TO THE UNITED STATES AS A REFUGEE.

I DON'T THINK THE CURRENT PACKAGE IS PREPARED FOR THAT AND I THINK THERE'S SOME WORK TO BE DONE ON THAT.

BUT I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IF THE REPUBLICANS WERE DOING WHAT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO, THEY WOULD HAVE WON THE ELECTIONS AND THEY DIDN'T.

THEY HAVE BECOME DYSFUNCTIONAL, UNSTRATEGIC AND LACK OF VISION.

FOLKS ARE NOT INTERESTED IN BANNING BOOKS, TAKING LUNCH FROM LITTLE CHILDREN.

THEY'RE INVESTED IN A STRATEGY THAT TALKS ABOUT WRAP AROUND SERVICES MAKING SURE THAT FOLKS HAVE JOBS, CHILDREN HAVE THINGS TO EAT.

>> I THINK ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES THAT CAME OUT OF LAST YEAR'S SESSION IS THE STUDENT RESOURCE OFFICERS WHICH NOW IS IN ON ALL THE HEADLINES BECAUSE THEY'RE TRYING TO MAKE, YOU KNOW, FIXES TO THE BILL -- >> Cathy: AND IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S BIPARTISAN.

>> IT IS BIPARTISAN TO GET THE STUDENT RESOURCE OFFICERS BACK BECAUSE THERE WAS SOME REALLY SWEEPING LEGISLATION THAT WAS BASED ON WHAT LEGISLATORS WANTED TO DO INSTEAD OF TALKING O THE COMMUNITIES AND TALKING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AND TALKING TO THE PARENTS AND THAT CAUSED A TREMENDOUS PROBLEM.

IT PUT STUDENTS AT RISK.

IT CONCERNED A LOT OF PARENTS ACROSS THE STATE.

AND THEY CONTINUE.

RIGHT NOW, THERE ARE MANY SCHOOLS THAT DON'T HAVE THIS.

AND, YOU KNOW, YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT POLLING.

THEY JUST DID A STUDENT SURVEY.

94% OF STUDENTS WANT S.R.O.s IN THEIR SCHOOL.

7% OF THEM SAID THAT THEY WOULD FEEL VERY COMFORTABLE MEETING WITH THEIR STUDENT RESOURCE OFFICER TO TALK ABOUT ISSUES THAT ARE GOING ON.

THEY'RE INCREDIBLY POPULAR.

THEIR WHOLE POINT IS THEY EMBED IN THE SCHOOL AND THEY PROVIDE TRUST AND THEY PROVIDE SAFETY.

>> Cathy: JUST CURIOUS, HOW DID THIS ISSUE THAT WAS SO PARTISAN BECOME BIPARTISAN THIS SESSION?

>> THINGS MOVED WAY TOO QUICKLY LAST YEAR AND THINGS WERE NOT FULLY VETTED.

THAT IS THE PROBLEM.

HISTORIC THINGS WERE DONE.

MANY MISTAKES WERE MADE.

AND THINGS LIKE THIS WENT WITHOUT OUTSIDE INPUT.

>> LET'S BE VERY CLEAR ABOUT WHAT THIS BIPARTISAN BILL IS GOING TO DO IS SIMPLY GOING TO CODIFY WHAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL ALREADY SAID ABOUT THE PREVIOUS LANGUAGE.

ALL THIS SHOWS IS THAT YES, AS ANDY SAID, REPUBLICANS RUN ON CRIME AS AN TOISH RILE PEOPLE UP.

THE S.R.O.

ISSUE WAS A FAKE ISSUE.

THIS BILL IS DOING NOTHING EXCEPT THE EXACT SAME THING THE ATTORNEY GENERAL ALREADY SAID ABOUT THE ORANGE LANGUAGE.

THE LANGUAGE, THE BEHAVIOR THAT THAT BILL BANS WAS BANNED IN PRISONS.

AND WE WANT TO BE OKAY WITH THAT BEING -- I MEAN, HAPPENING IN SCHOOLS.

THIS IS A FAKE ISSUE.

>> Eric: WE'RE GETTING THE HOOK.

IT WAS JUST GETTING GOOD TOO.

THANKS, PANEL.

♪♪ >> THEN HE WHOS YOUNG AND OLD WILL SIT DOWN A FEAST AND THEY'D FEAST AND THEY'D FEAST, AND THEY'D FEAST, FEAST, FEAST, FEAST.

THEY WOULD FEAST ON WHO PUDDING AND RARE WHO ROAST BEAST, WHICH WAS SOMETHING THE GRINCH COULDN'T STAND IN THE LEAST.

♪♪ >> ERIC: I REMEMBER THAT READING LIKE IT WAS JUST YESTERDAY.

SPEAKING OF DAYS GONE BY, IT'S TIME FOR THE HISTORY PORTION OF TONIGHT'S SHOW.

SPRING TRAINING IS IN FULL SWING DOWN SOUTH, AND PLAYERS HAVE MORE ON THEIR MINDS THAN BATTING PRACTICE THIS YEAR.

THE NEW UNIFORMS UNVEILED BY MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL ARE NOT GETTING RAVE REVIEWS.

WHICH LEADS US TO THIS WEEK'S INDEX FILE QUERY.

WE TRAVEL BACK IN TIME 30 YEARS.

IT'S 1994.

OUR QUESTION CONCERNS A MINNESOTAN INVOLVED IN MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL AND AN ITEM THAT WAS ONCE PART OF A BALLPLAYER'S OFFICIAL UNIFORM.

THE MINNESOTAN IN QUESTION WAS SO STRONGLY OPPOSED TO THIS PARTICULAR PIECE OF EQUIPMENT THAT HE OR SHE WORKED TIRELESSLY AND SUCCESSFULLY TO HAVE ITS REMOVAL WRITTEN INTO THE NEW LABOR AGREEMENT FOLLOWING THAT YEAR'S STRIKE.

OUR TASK FOR YOU: WHO IS THIS MINNESOTAN IN QUESTION, AND WHAT PIECE OF EQUIPMENT WAS REMOVED FROM THE UNIFORM CODE?

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU WHETHER YOU ARE CALLING FROM HAT POINT, SHIRT LAKE, OR THE SHORES OF STOCKING LAKE.

651-229-1430 IS THE NUMBER TO CALL.

YOU CAN ALWAYS DROP US A NOTE WITH YOUR GUESSES AS WELL.

ALMANAC@TPT.ORG IS OUR ELECTRONIC INBOX.

WHILE YOU'RE ONLINE, DON'T FORGET, YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE AND WATCH ANY SHOW FROM THE PAST SEVERAL DECADES.

THAT'S ALL AT TPT.ORG/ALMANAC.

JUST ENOUGH TIME TO LEAVE YOU WITH SOME MUSIC FROM THOSE ARCHIVES.

BILL STAINES HAS A GREAT SET OF PIPES.

AND HE SHOWED THEM OFF IN THIS VERY STUDIO THIS WEEK BACK IN THE YEAR 2000.

HERE'S STAINES ON THE OLD "NEWSNIGHT MINNESOTA" PROGRAM.

TAKE A LISTEN.

BE CAREFUL.

>> ♪ WELL, OLD PEN WAS A FRIEND OF MINE ♪ ♪ HE USED TO SIT DOWN BY THE SQUARE ♪ ♪ HE WAS KIND OF A LOCAL MONUMENT ♪ ♪ YOU KNOW, YOU'D ALWAYS FIND HIM THERE ♪ ♪ HE NEVER CAUSED ANYBODY ANY TROUBLE ♪ ♪ TOWN FOLKS JUST PASSING BY ♪ ♪ SOMETIMES YOU'D HEAR HIM LAUGHING TO HIMSELF ♪ ♪ AND SOMETIMES YOU'D SEE HIM CRY ♪ ♪ WELL, US KIDS, WE USED TO GO TO HIM ♪ ♪ WE'D LISTEN TO HIS SONGS ♪ ♪ WELL, SOME OF THEM WERE HAPPY ♪ ♪ WELL, SOME WERE JUST PLAIN LONG ♪ ♪ HE USED TO PICK 'EM OUT ON THIS OLD GUITAR ♪ ♪ THAT HE'D WON ONCE WHEN HE'D BEEN OUT AT SEA ♪ ♪ I CAN STILL REMEMBER ALL THE WORDS ♪ ♪ THAT OLD PEN SPOKE TO ME ♪ ♪ HE SAID "SON, WELL, LISTEN TO ME ♪ ♪ AND DON'T YOU GO TELLING NO LIES ♪ ♪ THEY GET YOU IN DEEP TROUBLE ♪ ♪ THEY JUST FOLLOW YOU LIKE FLIES" ♪ ♪ HE SAID, "SON, WATCH WHERE YOU'RE WALKING ♪ ♪ AND DON'T BE AFRAID TO LOSE ♪ ♪ PUT YOUR MEMORIES IN YOUR TRAVELING BAG ♪ ♪ AND MILES UPON YOUR SHOES ♪ ♪ PUT YOUR MEMORIES IN YOUR TRAVELING BAG ♪ ♪ AND MILES UPON YOUR SHOES" ♪ >> "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.

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

MORE AT EDUCATIONMINNESOTA.ORG.

AND PAINT CARE.

HELPING MINNESOTA PAINT SMARTER TO PREVENT WASTE.

MORE AT PAINTCARE.ORG.

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