>> CATHY: ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT, A CONTROVERSIAL MAILING IN THE ST.

PAUL MAYOR'S RACE... THE SEASON'S FIRST WINTRY BLAST... THE CHANGING NATURE OF YOUTH SPORTS... AND MARY LAHAMMER HAS A BIG INTERVIEW ON A BIG TOPIC.

>> KEN BURNS LOVES MINNESOTA.

WE'LL FIND OUT WHY AS WE TALK TO A LOCAL PRODUCER AND A VOICE FROM THE VIETNAM DOCUMENTARY.

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

A TOUCHSTONE ENERGY COOPERATIVE.

FLINT HILLS RESOURCES: PRODUCING TRANSPORTATION FUELS FOR MINNESOTA AND THE UPPER MIDWEST AT ITS ROSEMOUNT REFINERY.

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

MORE AT EDUCATIONMINNESOTA.ORG.

AND HEALTH PARTNERS: WITH 60 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE HELPING PLAN MEMBERS ACHIEVE THEIR WELL-BEING GOALS, HEALTHPARTNERS IS YOUR TRUSTED MEDICARE PARTNER.

>> ERIC: LET'S START WITH SOME HEADLINES FROM THE WEEK.

GOVERNOR DAYTON OFFICIALLY HAD BEEN NEUTRAL ON WHETHER THE POLYMET COPPER NICKLE MINE SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO PROCEED IN NORTHEAST MINNESOTA.

THE GOVERNOR SAID THIS WEEK HE WOULD SUPPORT THE POLYMET PROJECT IF IT MEETS ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS.

THE GOVERNOR HAS NOT COMMITTED SUPPORT FOR ANOTHER CONTROVERSIAL COPPER NICKLE MINE PROJECT UP NORTH, THE TWIN METALS PROPOSAL.

>>> THE NICOLLET MALL RE-DO IN DOWNTOWN MINNEAPOLIS IS COMING TO AN END.

TWO YEARS IN THE WORKS, THE RECONSTRUCTED MALL WILL RE-OPEN WITH A PUBLIC CEREMONY ON NOVEMBER 15.

THE MALL HAS BEEN CLOSED TO VEHICLES, AND CAUSING HEADACHES FOR PEDESTRIANS, SINCE THE SUMMER OF 2015.

>>> THE FIRST SNOWSTORM OF THE SEASON BLASTED THROUGH THE REGION TODAY.

MORE THAN EIGHT INCHES OF SNOW WAS REPORTED IN SPOTS IN THE NORTHERN THIRD OF THE STATE, AND WIND-DRIVEN FLAKES BLASTED TWIN CITIANS FOR MUCH OF THE DAY.

MORE ON THAT IN A FEW MINUTES.

>>> BUT WE START THE HOUR WITH A CONTROVERSIAL MAILING IN THE ST.

PAUL MAYOR'S RACE THAT FOCUSES ON CRIME IN THE CITY.

THE MAILING ALSO TARGETS MAYORAL CANDIDATE MELVIN CARTER AND LINKS A THEFT OF GUNS FROM CARTER'S HOME TO A RISE IN GUNFIRE IN THE CAPITOL CITY.

THE POLITICAL MAILING WAS CONDEMNED BY THE CARTER CAMPAIGN, AND BY MANY OTHERS, INCLUDING CANDIDATE PAT HARRIS.

HARRIS HAS BEEN ENDORSED BY THE ST.

PAUL POLICE FEDERATION, ONE OF THE GROUPS BEHIND THE MAILING.

TODAY, THE POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MAILING ANNOUNCED IT IS CLOSING DOWN.

WE'RE GOING TO SPEND SOME TIME ON THIS COMPLEX, QUICKLY MOVING STORY TONIGHT, AND WE START WITH A REPORTER WHO'S BEEN COVERING THE MAYORS' RACES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE RIVER.

PETER CALLAGHAN WITH MINNPOST.

THANKS FOR COMING.

THIS IS KIND OF A COALITION OF GROUPS THAT HAS FORMED TOGETHER AND IS IT A PAT HARRIS SUPPORT GROUP OR -- >> IT'S KIND OF HARD TO TELL WHAT THE POINT OF IT WAS.

DEFINITELY, IT IS TO DO MAILINGS TO SUPPORT PAT HARRIS BUT YOU HAD St.

PAUL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MONEY, FIREFIGHTERS MONEY, TEAMSTER MONEY AND OBVIOUSLY THE POLICE FEDERATION AND SOME INDIVIDUALS.

DID A PRETTY GOOD JOBS, THEY RAISED ALMOST $100,000, BUT THAT IS THE GROUP THAT SPONSORED THE MAILING.

>> SO THEY'VE SHUT DOWN OPERATIONS.

>> THEY'VE SHUT -- BASICALLY IT'S ONE GUY WAS THE DIRECTOR OF IT AND WAS COORDINATING WHAT THEY WERE DOING.

IT'S INTERESTING HOW MANY PEOPLE NOW WHO GAVE MONEY TO IT SAY THEY HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS GOING TO BE HAPPENING OR WHAT WAS GOING TO COME OUT OF THIS MAILING.

THE St.

PAUL CHAMBER EACH SAID, WE HAD AN AGREEMENT WITH THEM THAT THERE WOULD BE NO NEGATIVE MAILING AND THAT THIS IS A VIOLATION OF THAT.

A LOT OF APOLOGIES ISSUED THIS WEEK.

>> Eric: DOES IT INDICATE THAT MELVIN CARTER IS A FRONT-RUNNER OR -- SINCE HE'S BEING ATTACKED?

>> WELL, I WOULD THINK THAT MELVIN CARTER HAS BEEN A FRONT-RUNNER FROM PROBABLY BEFORE HE DECLARED AND HAS RUN A STRONG CAMPAIGN, RAISED A LOT OF MONEY, BEEN VERY ACTIVE.

SO I WOULD SAY HE'S CLEARLY ONE OF THE TOP TWO CANDIDATES AND IF YOU'RE SUPPORTING HARRIS, WHO IS ALSO I THINK ONE OF THE TOP TWO CANDIDATES, THAT'S THE FIRST THING YOU WANT TO TAKE DOWN.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT INDICATES NECESSARILY HE'S THE FRONT-RUNNER BUT HE'S CERTAINLY OUT THERE.

>> Cathy: WHAT DOES IT SAY ABOUT THE ROLE OF PACs IN SOME OF THESE LOCAL RACES?

IS THIS A FAIRLY NEW PHENOMENON IN SOME OF THE MORE LOCAL MAYORAL TYPE RACES?

>> NO, THIS IS REALLY THE FIRST MUNICIPAL RACE I'VE COVERED UP HERE SINCE I MOVED HERE BUT I LOOK BACK AT THE COUNCIL RACES TWO YEARS AGO AND THE MAYOR RACES OR THE COUNCIL RACES FOUR YEARS AGO AND IT'S PRETTY COMMON.

YOU THROW SOME MONEY INTO THE POT, THE MAILING COMES OUT, IT DOESN'T HAVE YOUR NAME ON IT, THE EFFECT IS THE SAME AND SO YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF PACs THAT SOUND LIKE REALLY WONDERFUL THINGS, PEOPLE FOR GOOD THINGS IN YOUR CITY, BUT OFTENTIMES, THEY'RE DOING THE NEGATIVE CAMPAIGNING THAT THE CANDIDATES DON'T WANT TO DO THEMSELVES.

>> Eric: I SUPPOSE WE SHOULD SAY, THOUGH, THAT THERE'S SUPPOSED TO BE NO CORD NATIONS, CORRECT?

>> THIS IS AN INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURE CAMPAIGN AND THERE'S NOT TO BE COORDINATION OR CONVERSATION WITH THE CANDIDATE THAT THEY ARE BENEFITING.

HOW THAT IS ENFORCED IS BEYOND ME.

>> Eric: YOU HAVE WRITTEN ABOUT THE LACK OF TRANSPARENCY IN CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTING IN MINNESOTA.

ARE THESE LOCAL RACES, IS THERE MORE DISCLOSURE OR LESS OR THE SAME OR -- >> ACTUALLY, THE STATE -- IF YOU'RE A STATE CAMPAIGN, SO NEXT YEAR THAT'S QUITE A BIT BETTER.

THERE'S SIX REPORTS OVER THE COURSE OF THE CAMPAIGN, THE 24-HOUR NOTICE REQUIREMENT SO A BIG CONTRIBUTION HAS TO BE REPORTED WITHIN 24 HOURS.

IN THESE MUNICIPAL RACES, YOU'VE GOT TWO REPORTS THAT YOU DO.

ONE TECHNICALLY CALLED PRE-PRIMARY, NEITHER CITY HAS A PRIMARY ANYMORE AND ONE PRE-ELECTION REPORT.

IN MINNEAPOLIS, YOU WILL HAVE GONE FROM AUGUST 1st TO HALLOWEEN, THREE MONTHS OF A CAMPAIGN, THE HOTTEST PART OF THE CAMPAIGN WITHOUT HAVING TO FILE ANY REPORTS ON YOUR EXPENDITURES OR YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS.

>> Eric: SO THE VOTERS WOULDN'T KNOW WHO'S GIVING TO WHO?

>> WE CAN ALL FIND OUT ON HALLOWEEN BUT IF YOU WANT TO GIVE MONEY, SAY, STARTING THE 26th BECAUSE THAT'S THE NEXT REPORTING PERIOD, I CAN GIVE A TO BE OF MONEY, I CAN CREATE A NEW COMMITTEE, I CAN COLLECT A LOT OF MONEY, SPEND IT IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS OF THE CAMPAIGN AND WE ALL FIND OUT ABOUT IT ON JANUARY 31st.

>> Cathy: SO THERE IS A HASHTAG GUN GATE ON THIS AND I'M CURIOUS, BECAUSE St.

PAUL HAS RANKED CHOICE VOTING, HOW DOES IT CHANGE THE COMPLEX ON OF THE RACE?

>> WELL, I'M GLAD I DIDN'T SEE THAT HASHTAG BUT IT'S HARD TO SAY.

I MEAN, IS HARRIS HURT BY THIS?

I MEAN, THE St.

PAUL CHAMBER TODAY APOLOGIZED TO MELVIN CARTER BUT THEY ALSO APOLOGIZED TO PAT HARRIS.

FOR BRINGING -- >> Eric: PAT HARRIS CRITICIZED THE WHOLE BUSINESS.

>> YES, HE DID, AND THEY APOLOGIZED FOR INADVERTENTLY THEY THOUGHT BRINGING HIM INTO THIS.

THEY MUST HAVE REALIZED THERE WILL BE, AMONG CERTAIN PEOPLE, SOME CONNECTION TO THIS MAILING TO PAT HARRIS.

DOES THAT BRING TAO UP TO BE THAT CARTER VOTER'S SECOND CHOICE?

YEAH, THERE COULD BE REPERCUSSIONS UP AND DOWN THAT WAY BUT YOU WANT TO WIN?

GET MORE FIRST-PLACE VOTES.

>> Eric: I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT ONE OF THE BENEFITS OF RANKED CHOICE VOTING IS THAT IT ELEVATES THE CAMPAIGN BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO OFFEND OTHER CANDIDATES' VOTERS AND IT WOULD STOP THE NEGATIVITY OF CAMPAIGNING.

SWING AND A MISS HERE OR -- >> WELL, I THINK IT PROBABLY DISCOURAGES CANDIDATES FROM VOICING NEGATIVE MESSAGES ABOUT THEIR OPPONENTS BUT IT DOES NOT STOP THIRD PARTIES FROM COME IN, AS LONG AS YOU EVER SOME SEPARATION, AS LONG AS YOU CAN DENOUNCE IT.

I'M NOT SUGGESTING THAT PAT HARRIS THINKS THIS WAS A GREAT MAILING OR SUPPORTS IT.

I BELIEVE HIM, HE DOESN'T, BUT THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE THESE INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURE CAMPAIGNS TO GIVE YOU AN ARM'S LENGTH AND A DENINETY.

THIS ONE WAS INTERESTING, WITH HOW QUICKLY IT TURNED.

TUESDAY IT STARTED, BY FRIDAY -- EVERYBODY APOLOGIZED AND THERE WAS THAT LITTLE HICCUP IN-BETWEEN WHERE THE POLICE FEDERATION, DAVE TITUS APOLOGIZED, THEN THE MAILING HIT THE NEXT DAY SO IT KIND OF CAME UP AND DOWN A FEW TIMES.

>> Eric: YOU EXPLAINED IT WELL, THANKS FOR COMING OVER.

>> THANK YOU.

>> ERIC: WE'LL HAVE MORE ON THIS STORY IN JUST A MINUTE, BUT WE NEED TO SWITCH GUESTS.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

♪ LADY MADONNA, CHILDREN AT YOUR FEET, WONDER HOW YOU MANAGE TO MAKE ENDS MEET ♪ WHO FIND THE MONEY, WHEN YOU PAY THE RENT, DID YOU THINK THAT... >> CATHY: ST.

PAUL MAYOR CHRIS COLEMAN IS LEAVING THE MAYOR'S OFFICE TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR.

HE HASN'T ENDORSED A CANDIDATE FOR HIS CURRENT JOB.

BUT COLEMAN DID WEIGH IN ON THE MAILING CONTROVERSY, CONDEMNING THE MAILING AND ASKING FOR THE RESIGNATION OF THE ENTIRE BOARD OF THE ST.

PAUL POLICE UNION.

THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TUSSLE THAT COLEMAN HAS HAD WITH THE ST.

PAUL POLICE FEDERATION.

WE INVITED THE FEDERATION TO JOIN US THIS EVENING.

THE GROUP DECLINED.

HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE MAILING, AND ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY IN HIS CITY, ST.

PAUL MAYOR CHRIS COLEMAN.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> Cathy: WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THIS WHOLE MESS?

>> IT'S OUTRAGEOUS, YOU KNOW, POLITICS CAN BE A NASTY BUSINESS AND THERE ARE FAIR ATTACKS ON CANDIDATES AND INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURES, AS PETER OUTLINED ARE NOTHING UNUSUAL BUT WHEN YOU GET INTO A SITUATION LIKE THIS WHERE IT IS JUST DOG WHISPER RACISM, ATTACKING A CANDIDATE FOR OFFICE, SUGGESTING THAT AS A VICTIM OF CRIME, THAT SOMEHOW HE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR CRIME THAT WAS HAPPENING, A GUY WHO HAS SERVED THE CITY WELL AS A COUNCILMEMBER, WHOSE FATHER WAS A POLICE OFFICER, WHOSE MOTHER IS A COUNTY COMMISSIONER, IT'S JUST OUTRAGEOUS AND, YOU KNOW, THE HOLLOW APOLOGY THAT THEY OFFERED, THE FEDERATION OFFERED, FOLLOWED BY THIS MAILING THAT WENT OUT THAT DOUBLED DOWN ON EXACTLY WHAT THEY HAD DONE, IS NOT -- DOESN'T REPRESENT TO ME THE BEST OF THE CITY OF St.

PAUL AND IT CERTAINLY DOESN'T REPRESENT THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE St.

PAUL POLICE DEPARTMENTS WHO I KNOW DON'T SUPPORT WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN THIS MAILING.

>> Cathy: YOU'VE NOT MADE AN ENDORSEMENT, YET YOU'RE KIND OF JUMPING INTO THIS SIDE OF THE STORY.

WHY?

YOU COULD HAVE STAYED OUT?

>> YOU CAN'T STAY OUT WHEN YOU SEE STUFF LIKE THIS.

THIS IS -- THE ANTITHESIS OF EVERYTHING I'VE WORKED FOR FOR 12 YEARS AND EVERYTHING THAT CHIEF ACTIONTELEHAS WORKED FOR AND CHIEF SMITH BEFORE HIM AND CHIEF HARRINGTON AND FINNEY, TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS IN THE COMMUNITIES, TO BUILD TRUSTING RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN POLICE OFFICERS AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, AND WHEN A PERSON OF COLOR SEES A PERSON LIKE MELVIN WHO'S A CANDIDATE FOR MAYOR, WHO, AGAIN, HIS FATHER WAS A POLICE OFFICER, HIS MOTHER IS A COUNTY COMMISSIONER, AN THEY SAY, WELL, IF THEY CAN GO AFTER SOMEONE LIKE MELVIN, WHAT ABOUT ME?

HOW AM I PROTECTED ON THIS THING?

AND IT IS JUST -- IN A TIME WHERE POLICE COMMUNITY RELATIONS ARE THE NATIONAL CONVERSATION AND ARE SO CRITICALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE BUILD TRUST IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE CITY OF St.

PAUL, THIS UNDOES YEARS OF WORK THAT OUR CHIEFS HAVE BEEN WORKING ON AND THE MEN AND WOMEN OF OUR DEPARTMENT HAVE BEEN WORKING ON.

>> Eric: SHOTS FIRED, REPORTS ARE UP, 19 HOMICIDES OVER 16 IN THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR, HOW SAFE IS THE CITY?

>> THE CITY IS VERY SAFE BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER S WE HAVE SEEN A DRAMATIC INCREASE IN SHOTS FIRED, PARTICULARLY SPIKED EARLIER THIS YEAR.

THE CHIEF REDIRECTED RESOURCES, WE'VE CALLED FOR MORE ADDITIONAL OFFICERS, WE HAVE THE HIGHEST COMPLEMENT OF OFFICERS IN THE HISTORY OF THE CITY OF St.

PAUL BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER S WE HAVE TOO MANY GAWNS IN THE HANDS OF TOO MANY PEOPLE THAT ARE TOO WILLING TO USE THEM AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO TAKE GUNS OFF THE STREETS OF St.

PAUL.

WE NEED COMMONSENSE GUN LAWS IN THIS COUNTRY BUT WE ARE THWARTED AT EVERY ATTEMPT.

UNIVERSAL BACKGROUNDS CHECKS, THAT FACT ALONE, IF WE COULD GET THAT AND IT'S SUPPORTED BY THE VAST MAJORITY OF MINNESOTANS WOULD RESULT IN A DRAMATIC INCREASE -- DECREASE IN GUNS ON THE STREETS AND A DRAMATIC DECREASE IN SHOTS FIRED AND PEOPLE INJURED BY GUNS.

>> Eric: WHOEVER WINS ON NOVEMBER 7th, DOES THIS EPISODE PORTENDS BAD THINGS FOR RELATIONS WITH THE CITY HALL AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE RANK AND FILE PROBLEMS WITH THE MAYOR AND POLICE FEDERATION?

>> I HAVEN'T EXACTLY BEEN THE CLOSEST OF FRIENDS WITH THE PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERATION OVER THE YEARS BUT I'VE ALWAYS SUPPORTED THE POLICE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE AN INCREDIBLE DEPARTMENT, AND I THINK THE NEXT MAYOR REGARDLESS OF WHO IT IS IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO GIVE THE DEPARTMENT THE RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED, AND SUPPORT THE LEADERSHIP OF CHIEF AXTELL.

THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ABOUT AND THAT'S WHY THIS IS A BLIP AND I WANT TO GET PAST THIS.

THE OTHER -- CLEARLY -- I'VE SPOKEN TO MELVIN AND I KNOW THIS IS PERSONALLY HURTFUL TO HIM BUT I'VE ALSO SPOKEN TO PAT HARRIS AND HE IS DISGUSTED BY WHAT HAPPENED.

THIS IS NOT PAT HARRIS, I'VE KNOWN HIM FOR DECADES AND HE IS AS APPALLED BY WHAT WAS DONE AS ANYBODY.

AND SO WHEN YOU HAVE SOME -- LOOK IT, YOU GOT TO DO BETTER THAN THIS.

YOU CANNOT SAY THAT YOU ARE SWORN TO PROTECT AND SERVE THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY OF St.

PAUL AND THROW OUT THIS KIND OF GARBAGE BECAUSE IT JUST -- IT JUST HURTS EVERYONE INVOLVED IN THE SITUATION.

>> Eric: YOU'VE GOT SOME SKYWAY RULE CHANGES, CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THOSE AND WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO CORRECT THROUGH THOSE?

>> WELL, WE'RE JUST -- WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE FEEL SAFE IN THE SKYWAYS, THAT THEY'RE CLEANING, IN SOME OF THE BUILDINGS UNDER TRANSITION, THE OLD "PIONEER PRESS" BUILDING THAT WAS EMPTY, NOW BEING REDONE AS HOUSING BUT THERE WERE PEOPLE SLEEPING IN THE SKYWAYS AND ESPECIALLY DURING THE TRANSITION WHILE BUILDING THE NEW DOROTHY DAY CENTER AND SO WE'RE TRYING TO RESTRICT SOME OF THE HOURS AND SOME OF THE MISBEHAVIOR AND PARTICULARLY THE PEOPLE THAT WERE SLEEPING OVERNIGHT IN THE SKYWAYS.

THESE ARE PUBLIC SIDEWALKS EFFECTIVELY, VERY DIFFERENT THAN THE MINNEAPOLIS SITUATION, THESE ARE PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAYS, AND SO WE HAVE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, PARTICULARLY IN THE WINTER, YOU KNOW, THESE ARE IMPORTANT ACCESS POINTS TO THEIR HOUSING, AND SO WE HAVE TO TRY TO STRIKE THAT BALANCE BETWEEN SAFETY, SECURITIES AND THE ABILITY FOR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO MOVE AROUND DOWNTOWN.

>> Cathy: I KNOW YOU'VE NOT MADE AN ENDORSEMENT, GETTING BACK TO THE MORAL RACE HERE BUT DO YOU PLAN ON DOING SOMETHING LIKE THAT IN THE FUTURE?

>> NO, I HAVE GREAT RESPECT FOR THE PEOPLE RUNNING FOR THIS OFFICE AND I'VE ALWAYS SAID IT'S NOT THE JOB OF THE CURRENTS MAYOR TO SAY WHO THE NEXT MAYOR SHOULD BE.

I THINK WE HAVE SOME GREAT CANDIDATES WHO CAN DO A GOOD JOB AND THAT'S WHY I WANT TO GET PAST THIS WEEK'S, YOU KNOW,Y LANGUAGE BECAUSE WHAT WAS ABOUT TO COME OUT WAS PROBABLY NOT APPROPRIATE.

LET'S GET PAST THIS, LET'S GO BACK.

WE HAD A VERY COLLEGIAL, A VERY CORDIAL, POLITE CONVERSATION ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE CITY OF St.

PAUL.

I WANT TO GET BACK TO THAT FOR THE LAST WEEK AND A HALF OF THIS ELECTION.

>> Eric: GLAD YOU CAME OVER.

THANKS VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Cathy: THANKS.

>> CATHY: IT HAD BEEN NEARLY A DECADE SINCE THE TWIN CITIES HAD SEEN A TRUE OCTOBER SNOWFALL.

THAT STREAK ENDED TODAY WHEN AN ICY, SLUSHY MIX STRAFED THE METRO.

UP NORTH, THE STORM DROPPPED MORE THAN A HALF FOOT OF SNOW ACROSS A WIDE SWATH.

PERHAPS THE BIGGEST WEATHER STORY OF THE WEEK WAS THE WIND, GUSTING TO MORE THAN 40 MILES AN HOUR SEVERAL DAYS THIS WEEK IN MANY LOCATIONS.

BLUSTERY WEATHER IS PAUL DOUGLAS' SPECIALTY.

HIS WEATHER EMPIRE NOW INCLUDES THE "STAR TRIBUNE," WCCO RADIO, AERIS WEATHER, AND, OF COURSE, "ALMANAC."

WE'RE JUST A MERE BRICK IN YOUR CASTLE.

>> NO, NO, NO.

>> Eric: USE YOUR POWER WISELY.

>> Cathy: OKAY, SO THE STORM WAS A LITTLE UNDERSOLD, I THINK, IN AT LEAST NORTHERN MINNESOTA.

IT WAS KINDS OF INTERESTING WITH DULUTH WITH ABOUT 10 INCHES OF SNOW?

>> TEN INCHES, YEAH.

>> Eric: UP THE HILL, MY MOM JUST GOT TWO INCHES BY THE LAKE.

SHE WAS OUT SHOVELING.

>> A LITTLE REVERSE LAKE EFFECTS BECAUSE THAT LAKE WATER IS STILL RELATIVELY WARM.

WOULDN'T WANT TO SWIM IN IT BUT -- YEAH, 10 INCHES UP NORTH.

I HEAR JUST A COATING OF SLUSH HERE.

AGAIN, THIS KEEPS US FROM A POPULATION OF 10 MILLION, 15 MILLION PEOPLE.

IF WE DIDN'T GET AN OCCASIONAL OCTOBER SNOW, AND THIS HAPPENS ONE OUT OF EVERY FOUR OCTOBERS, WE GET A MEASURABLE SNOW.

ONE IN FOUR.

IF THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE, WE WOULD BE L.A.

WITH LAKES.

>> Eric: ON THE RADIO, YOU CAN PAINT A WORD PECK TUR BUT HERE ON TELEVISION, WE LIKE TO HAVE SOME VISUAL EFFECTS TO HELP US AMPLIFY YOUR PRESENTATION.

WHAT DO YOU GOT?

>> IT'S A LITTLE INTELLECTUALLY LAZY BUT, OKAY.

ALL RIGHT, JUST FOR YOU.

>> Eric: WHAT DO YOU HAVE?

>> WE WILL NOT SEE THIS MUCH SNOW.

>> Cathy: THAT'S RIDICULOUS.

>> I THINK THAT'S NORWAY, EITHER NORWAY OR JAPAN, I'M NOT SURE WHERE THAT WAS.

WE NORMALLY GET OUR FIRST COATING OF SNOW NOVEMBER 2nd, ERIC.

OUR AVERAGE FIRST INCH OF SNOW IS NOVEMBER 16th, CATHY, AND THE EARLIEST SNOW BACK IN SEPTEMBER 24th, 1985, THE LATEST DECEMBER 3rd, 1928.

SO, YEAH, IT'S COMING A LITTLE EARLY.

IN THE LAST 20 YEARS, WE'VE ONLY HAD THREE MEASURABLE SNOWS IN OCTOBER AND, YES, THIS IS THE FIRST OCTOBER COATING IN EIGHT YEARS.

YOU HAVE TO GO BACK TO 2009.

SO UNUSUAL, HARDLY UNPRECEDENTED.

AND IF YOU DON'T LIKE THIS STUFF, IT'S MOVING OUT.

HERE'S FUTURE RADAR AND IT SHOWS THAT SWIRL, THAT PINWHEEL OF SNOW GRADUALLY PUSHING NORTHEAST AND THE WINDS EASE UP TOMORROW.

SATURDAY THE NICER DAY OF THE WEEKEND.

THE NEXT CLIPPER COMES IN SUNDAY, MIGHT BE WARM ENOUGH FOR A LITTLE LIGHT RAIN-SNOW MIX.

SO THIS IS IT FOR A WHILE.

NO MORE FLAKY SURPRISES.

SIGNIFICANT SNOW ACCUMULATION IN SIGHT.

AMOUNTS GENERALLY A COATING FOR MUCH OF THE METRO, YOU GETS INTO THE FAR NORTH METRO, FAR WESTERN SUBURBS, AN INCH OR TWO AND, AGAIN, THE MODELS DID A FAIRLY GOOD JOB ACROSS MUCH OF THE STATE BUT, AGAIN, MAYBE UNDERESTIMATING HOW MUCH THE NORTH SHORE GOT.

HERE'S THE EUROPEAN MODEL WHICH PREDICTED THREE INCHES FOR MUCH OF THE TWIN CITIES METRO.

TURNS OUT THE GROUND TEMPERATURE JUST ABOUT 2 GROWS TO WARM, THE AIR TEMPERATURE JUST A LITTLE BIT TOO WARM FOR THIS STUFF TO STICK.

HALLOWEEN, I KNOW YOU'RE BOTH TRICK OR TREATING THIS YEAR.

>> Cathy: ABSOLUTELY.

>> Eric: GOING AS PAUL DOUGLAS.

>> YOU WILL GETS NO CANDY, TRUST ME.

[Laughter] 40O AND DEGREE, AND LOOK AT THIS, ACCORDING TO SPERLING'S BEST PLACES, THE TWIN CITIES THE 7th SAFEST LARGE CITY IN AMERICA.

>> Cathy: MEANING?

>> BEHIND SALT LAKE CITY, LOOKING AT ALL NATURAL DISASTERS, MOST OF THE TROUBLE SPOTS ARE IN THE SOUTH, AUSTIN, MIAMI, OKLAHOMA CITY, NEW ORLEANS BECAUSE THEY GET HURRICANES, TORNADOES AND FLOODS, AND WE ONLY GET OCCASIONAL TORNADOES.

SO RELATIVELY SPEAKING, IT'S WORTH REMINDING PEOPLE THAT THOSE COLD FRONTS INOCULATE US FROM SOME OF THE WORST STORMS ON THE PLANET.

IT'S NOT HELPING, IS IT?

>> Cathy: NO, BUT THANKS.

>> Eric: TELL AMAZON, THEY MIGHT -- >> SHOULD I CALL JEFF?

IT'S BEEN FOUR YEARS SINCE WE HAD AVERAGE SNOW OR ABOVE AVERAGE SNOW.

YOU HAVE TO GO BACK TO 2013-2014, THAT WINTER WE HAD ALMOST 70 INCHES.

THAT WAS THE POLAR VORTEX WINTER.

STATISTICALLY WE'RE DUE FOR AN AVERAGE WINTER WITH 54 INCHES OF, SENATOR THAT'S AVERAGE.

HERE'S NOAA'S PREDICTION, WETTER FOR THE NORTHERN THIRDS OF THE U.S.

WARMER FOR MUCH OF THE WINTER FOR MUCH OF THE NATION.

JUST A LITTLE BIT COOLER FORECAST FROM NORTH DAKOTA INTO THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST.

>> Cathy: I LOVE THIS.

>> HERE'S MY JANUARY OUTLOOK AND I STAND BY THIS.

MY EYES HURT AND I CAN'T FEEL MY LEGS.

SO ONE OF THOSE TWO WILL VERIFY.

THIS IS TYPICAL FOR LATE SENATOR BUT WELL SEE A FEW MORE DAYS IN THE 50s, MAYBE ANOTHER 60 BY MID-NOVEMBER.

DON'T WRITE OFF INDIAN SUMMER JUST YET.

>> Cathy: OH, OKAY.

>> NORMALLY THINGS GET REALLY ROUGH HERE BY ABOUT LATE NOVEMBER INTO EARLY DECEMBER, THAT'S WHEN THE SNOW STARTS TO TO -- STARTS TO STICK.

THAT'S WHEN WE HAVE THE MESSY COMMUTES.

THIS WAS JUST AN APPETIZER SHOT AT LEAST HER IN THE METRO.

FALL ISN'T OVER JUST YET.

>> Cathy: A WEAK La NIÑA, IS THAT POSSIBLE?

WILL THAT MESS THINGS 'FOR THE WINTER, PERHAPS?

>> THE WINTER WILL BE MESSED UP, I HAVE NO DOUBT BUT YOU'RE RIGHT, WE'RE UNDER A La NIÑA WATCH, A COOLING PHASE OF THE PACIFIC WHICH CORAL LATER WITH COLDER WINTERS FOR MINNESOTA AND THE UPPER MIDWEST.

THERE IS A ROUGH CORRELATION BUT LAST WINTER WE HAD A MILD LaNINA.

>> Cathy: DID WE?

>> AND WE ONLY HAD 32 INCHES OF SNOW AND IT WAS WARM.

SO EVEN THE La NIÑA WINTERS NOW ARE TRENDING WARMER.

ABOUT ONE OUT OF EVERY FOUR WINTERS IS AN OLD-FASHIONED BUTT-KICKER.

WE'RE KINDS OF DUE FOR ONE BUT I DON'T THINK IT WILL BE LIKE FOUR YEARS AGO WITH A POLAR VORTEX AND -- I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO BE THAT NASTY BUT I THINK IT WILL BE A LITTLE TOUGHER THAN LAST WINTER.

>> Eric: WE'LL HEAR YOU ON THE RADIO.

THANKS, MAN.

>> THANKS, ERIK, CATHY.

>> CATHY: MINNESOTA CONTINUES TO PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE BIGGEST DOCUMENTARIES IN AMERICAN HISTORY.

KEN BURNS HAS FOUND MATERIAL IN OUR STATE BEFORE, BUT HIS LATEST "VIETNAM" DOCUMENTARY MIGHT NOT HAVE HAPPENED WITHOUT A LOCAL AUTHOR.

MARY LAHAMMER RECENTLY SAT DOWN WITH KEY PLAYERS FROM THE VIETNAM DOCUMENTARY PROGRAM.

>> ONE EPISODE OF KEN BURNS AND LYNN NOVAK'S VIETNAM DOCUMENTARY STARTS IN MINNESOTA, WORTHINGTON, TURKEY CAPITAL OF THE WORLD.

>> I GREW UP IN A SMALL FARMING COMMUNITY IN SOUTHERN MINNESOTA.

>> WE ARE PROUD OF OUR OWN.

DO YOU FEEL THAT AND UNDERSTAND IT?

>> OF COURSE.

YEAH, OF COURSE I DO, THE MOMENT THE TURKEY SHOWED UP AND IN KEN AND LYNN'S FILM, JUST BIG FAT TURKEY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SCREEN, I KNEW WHERE I WAS.

I REMEMBER THE DAY MY DRAFT NOTICE ARRIVED.

>> Mary: IN OUR INTERVIEW, O'BRIEN ADMITS HE DIDN'T INITIALLY WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE FILM.

FIRST BLUSH, WHAT DID YOU THINK?

>> NO.

>> Mary: REALLY?

>> I DON'T LIKE BEING ON TELEVISION, NUMBER ONE.

IT'S SCARY.

>> WE WERE UNRELENTING IN KNOWING THAT WE CANNOT COULDN'T DO THIS FILM WITHOUT HIM.

>> RADIO.

ALL CIVILIANS, POTENTIAL ENEMIES.

>> ON THE ONE END, I DID THINK THE WAR WAS LESS THAN RIGHTEOUS.

ON THE OTHER HAND, I LOVE MY COUNTRY.

>> Mary: HE SAYS GOING TO WAR WASN'T EXACTLY A DECISION BUT MORE OF A FORFEITURE OF A DECISION.

♪ YOU SAY YOU WANT A REVOLUTION ♪ >> Mary: O'BRIEN WOULD GO TO WAR AND WRITE SO ELOQUENTLY ABOUT VIETNAM THAT THE MOST HERALDED DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKERS IN AMERICAN HISTORY HAD TO HAVE HIS VOICE ON THE RECORD.

>> OFTEN THEY CARRIED EACH OTHER.

THE WOUNDED OR WEAK.

THEY CARRIED INFECTIONS, CARRIED CHESS SETS, BASKETBALLS.

THE TOPIC OF VIETNAM WAS SO EMOTIONAL TO ME BECAUSE I'M A FORMER SOLDIER AND HAVE LIVED WITH THE BURDENS OF WHAT I WENT THROUGH ALL THESE YEARS BUT TRYING TO GIVE AMERICA ITS OWN HISTORY IS A KIND OF GIFT TO OUR COUNTRY.

IT WAS -- IF I COULD MAKE THE SACRIFICE OF PUTTING A SUITS AND TIE ON AND DOING THAT, THE INTERVIEW STUFF.

>> Mary: DID YOU HAVE TO NEGOTIATE THE BASEBALL CAP?

>> NO.

>> Mary: THEY SAID FINE?

>> NO ONE SAID A WORD.

>> Mary: REALLY?

>> IF THEY HAD, I WOULD HAVE SAID I'M SORRY BUT GET SOMEBODY ELSE.

>> Mary: THAT'S A DEAL-BREAKER FOR YOU.

TELL US WHY, WHAT'S THE STORY?

>> I WAS ON AN AIRPLANE COMING HOME FROM THE WAR, I WENT INTO THE BACK OF THE AIRPLANE, INTO THE LAVATORY AND I TOOK OFF MY UNIFORM, I PUT ON JEANS, PUT ON A T-SHIRT AND A SWEATER AND A BASEBALL CAP.

AND THE WAR WAS OVER.

MINNESOTA GARB OF BASEBALL CAPS AND BLUE JEANS AND A PERSON I HAD BEEN AND I WANTED TO BECOME AGAIN.

>> Mary: IN OUR CURRENT FRACTURED TIMES, CREATING THIS SHARED EXPERIENCE ABOUT OUR DIFFICULT PAST CAN BE AN ACCOMPLISHMENT.

WHAT ABOUT KEN BURNS' APPROACH, BECAUSE IT'S BEEN SAID THAT THERE IS A MIDWESTERN SENSIBILITY IN HIS APPROACH TO STORY-TELLING.

DO YOU FEEL THAT?

>> YES.

KEN BURNS LOVES AMERICA.

AND LOVING AMERICA DOESN'T MEAN YOU DON'T SEE FAULTS.

>> Mary: AN HOW IMPORTANT IS IT RIGHT NOW IN OUR CURRENT CLIMATE, WHEN WE HAVE THIS INCREDIBLY FRACTURED COUNTRY, TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A SHARED EXPERIENCE LIKE THIS?

>> I THINK YOU PUT IT PERFECTLY.

THERE'S ALMOST NOTHING MORE IMPORTANT THAN BEING ABLE TO LISTEN TO EACH OTHER AND HEAR EACH OTHER.

>> DO YOU GO OFF AND KILL PEOPLE IF YOU'RE NOT PRETTY SURE IT'S NOT RIGHT AND IF YOUR NATION ISN'T PRETTY SURE IT'S RIGHT?

IF THERE ISN'T SOME CONSENSUS?

DO YOU DO THAT?

I WAS AT FORT LEWIS, WASHINGTON, AND CANADA WAS, WHAT, BY 90-MINUTE BUS RIDE AWAY?

>> TIM GAVE US AN EXTRAORDINARY INTERVIEW, SO BRUTALLY HONEST AND AUTHENTIC AND POWERFUL.

>> IT WAS A FEAR OF EMBARRASSMENT, A FEAR OF RIDICULE AND HUMILIATION WHAT MY GIRLFRIEND WOULD HAVE THOUGHT OF ME AND THE PEOPLE IN THE CAFÉ IN DOWNTOWN WORTHINGTON, BUT I'M HERE BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT THIS FILM IS GOOD FOR OUR COUNTRY, IT'S GOOD TO KNOW YOUR OWN HISTORY.

>> WE COLLECTED HUNDREDS OF HOURS OF ARCHIVAL FOOTAGE AND PRESIDENTIAL RECORDINGS, 100,000 PHOTOGRAPHS, HUNDREDS OF SONGS FROM THE PERIOD, I MEAN, IT'S AN ENORMOUS, JUST AVALANCHE OF MATERIAL.

>> Mary: ALL IN ALL, THE ENORMOUS DECADE-LONG PROJECT PROVED EMOTIONAL FOR EVERYONE.

>> MY JOB RIGHT NOW IS TO MAKE GROWN MEN CRY.

AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S A GOOD THING OR A BAD THING BUT IT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN DOING BECAUSE THERE IS THIS EMOTION RIGHT BELOW THE SURFACE AND PEOPLE SOMETIMES ARE RELUCTANT TO LET IT OUT BUT IT'S ALSO, I THINK, LIBERATING.

>> AND I HAD TO LIVE WITH IT NOW FOR, YOU KNOW, 40 YEARS.

IT'S A LONG TIME TO LIVE WITH A FAILURE OF CONSCIENCE AND A FAILURE OF NERVE.

AND THE NIGHTMARE OF VIETNAM FOR ME IS NOT THE BOMBS AND THE BULLETS.

♪ SOFT MUSIC ♪ IT'S THAT FAILURE OF NERVE THAT I SAW.

>> Mary: DID YOU ASSESS YOUR PERFORMANCE?

>> THE ASSESSMENTS WERE WHY COULDN'T YOU HOLD THE TEARS BACK?

I STRUGGLED TO DO IT.

COULDN'T DO IT.

I THINK NOW, HAVING DONE IT ENOUGH TIMES SINCE THEN, I COULD, YOU KNOW, KEEP THE EMOTIONS INSIDE WHERE THEY REALLY BELONG.

>> Mary: WHY?

WHY DO THEY BELONG INSIDE?

IT'S AN ICKY FEELING TO -- WHEN I'M WATCHING SOMEONE PUBLIC TO DO THAT BECAUSE I THINK IT INVITES PITY.

>> Mary: PITY IS NOT THE FIRST EMOTION THAT COMES TO MIND.

PERHAPS IT'S PRIDE, TO SEE ONE OF OUR STATE'S BEST WRITERS PROVIDE THE CLOSING WORDS FOR THE TEN-EPISODE, 18-HOUR EPIC TALE OF A TORTURED WAR.

>> ONE STEP AND THEN THE NEXT AND THEN ANOTHER... THEY MADE THEIR LEGS MOVE.

THEY ENDURED.

♪♪ ♪ WHEN I FIND MYSELF IN TIMES OF TROUBLE ♪ >> ERIC: THIS WEEK, THE "STAR TRIBUNE" COMPLETED A THREE-PART IN-DEPTH LOOK AT THE CHANGING WORLD OF YOUTH SPORTS.

THE SERIES WAS CALLED "GAME ON AND ON."

IN A NUTSHELL, THE SERIES DETAILED HOW YOUTH SPORTS ARE GETTING MORE TIME-CONSUMING, MORE EXPENSIVE, AND HOW PRIVATE CLUBS, NOT HIGH SCHOOLS, NOW ARE SEEN AS THE TOP LEVEL OF COMPETITION IN MANY HIGH-SCHOOL-AGE MINNESOTA SPORTS.

WITH US TO TALK ABOUT THE SERIES IS ONE OF THE AUTHORS, "STAR TRIBUNE" SPORTS WRITER JOE CHRISTENSEN.

WELCOME TO THE PROGRAM.

JOE, WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS AND THE CHALLENGES THAT THIS NEW SYSTEM CREATES?

>> WELL, I THINK THE QUALITY OF PLAY IN A LOT OF THESE SPORTS HAS GONE UP, YOU KNOW, TREMENDOUSLY.

THIS HAS BECOME -- IT'S ALWAYS BEEN A HOCKEY HOT BED BUT BASKETBALL, VOLLEYBALL, LA CROSSE IS GROWING SO FAST, JUST AS AN EXAMPLE, AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, PROBABLY THE DOWNSIDE IS MORE AND MORE KID ARE HAVING TO SPECIALIZE IN ONE SPORT EARLY.

YOU KNOW, THE DAYS OF A THREE-SPORT ATHLETE ARE GONE, I MEAN, BECAUSE THE DEMANDS IN JUST ONE OF THOSE SPORTS TAKES UP YOUR WHOLE YEAR, SO YOU HAVE THESE STORIES OF THE HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL SEASON REACHES THE PLAYOFFS AND ONE OF THE STAR PLAYERS HAS TO GO TO A CLUB SOCCER TOURNAMENT IN INDIANAPOLIS, AND JUST -- WHERE HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS USED TO BE SORT OF THE BE-ALL, ENDS-ALL BUT NOW THE CLUBS HAVE BECOME SO IMPORTANT TO SO MANY KID.

>> Cathy: IT'S EXPENSIVE.

O MY GOSH, YOU HAVE SWING COACHES AND GOALIE COACHES AND -- I MEAN, THE SPECIALIZATION MUST COST AN ARM AND A LEG.

>> YEAH, WE'VE HEARD MULTIPLE STORIES OF FAMILIES GOING BETWEEN 7 AND $10,000 A YEAR IN THEIR PARTICULAR SPORT, AND THAT -- YOU KNOW, THAT GOES TO PAY THE ENTRY FEES FOR THE CLUBS, AND YOU START DOING THE TRAVELING, YOU KNOW, TO OUT OF STATE AND THE HOTELS AND THE MEALS FOR THESE, YOU KNOW, HIGH SCHOOL-AGE KID, IT ADDS UP QUICK.

>> Eric: LOW-INCOME FAMILIES, THEY GOT A SHOT HERE AT ALL?

>> WELL, THAT'S ANOTHER PART OF THIS IS IT'S SORT OF BECOME A HAVE AND HAVE-NOT.

IF YOU'RE IN YOUR COMMUNITY AND YOU SAY, WELL, MY GOAL IS TO PLAY FOR THAT BASKETBALL TEAM, YOU MIGHT HAVE THE TALENT EARLY ON BUT, BOY, THERE'S GOING TO BE A GROUP OF THEM THAT ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO PLAY NINE, TEN MONTHS A YEAR, TRAVEL, AND YOU CAN QUICKLY GET LEFT BEHIND IF YOU CAN'T KEEP UP.

>> Cathy: WHY IS THIS HAPPENING?

IS THIS BEING PUSHED BY PARENTS OR IS THERE SOMETHING-SOME SOME OTHER TREND HAPPENING?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S BEEN AN ORGANIC THINGS OF FAMILIES WANTING THE BEST FOR THEIR KIDS BUT, YEAH, IT'S BECOME SUCH A BIG BUSINESS.

SOME ESTIMATE IT AT $15 BILLION A YEAR.

YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOT STORIES OF COACHES WHO START CLUB TEAMS AS SORT OF A SIDE HOBBY THEY HAVE, AND NOW IT'S THEIR FULL-TIME JOB BECAUSE THEY HAVE SO MANY -- THESE CLUBS HAVE GOTTEN SO BIG THAT THEY HAVE SO MANY SPOTS.

>> Eric: IN SID'S IMMORAL WORDS, M-O-N-E-Y.

>> SHOW ME THE MONEY.

>> IN FARIBAULT, DO YOU HAVE THE SAME OPPORTUNITY GEOGRAPHICALLY AS A KID IN LAKEVILLE HAS?

>> THE VOLLEYBALL COACH AT B.A., THEY'VE WON LIKE SEVEN STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS AND HE TALKED ABOUT HOW HE WAS ORIGINALLY AGAINST SOME OF THIS, HOW MUCH IS DEMANDED OF THIGHS KIDS IN THE SUMMER NOW BUT HIS VOLLEYBALL TEAM KEEPS WINNING THAT SMALL SCHOOL STATE CHAMPIONSHIP BECAUSE THEY'VE KIND OF ADOPTED ON THE FLY.

>> Cathy: WHAT DOES THE DO TO THE YOUNG ATHLETES?

I MEAN, IF YOU'RE PUSHED FROM AN EARLY ABLE, YOU'VE GOT, AS I SAY, MAYBE YOU'RE PLAYING FOR A TEAM BUT YOU'VE GOT YOUR PRIVATE SWING COACH HELPING YOU OUT OR WHATEVER, ON THE SIDE, RIGHT, DOES IT NOT ONLY AFFECT YOUR HEAD BUT COULD YOUR BODY BREAK DOWN FASTER?

>> WELL, THERE ARE STUDIES DONE ABOUT, LIKE, WHEN ATHLETES ARE SPECIALIZING AT A YOUNG AGE, THEY BECOME MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO THESE OVERUSE INJURIES, OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, IT'S -- IT'S BOTH PHYSICAL AND MENTAL, I THINK, BECAUSE THE GRIND OF KEEPING UP WITH SOME OF THESE CLUBS THAT ARE GOING LIKE -- IN A SUMMER PROGRAM WHERE YOU'VE GOT A FOUR-HOUR MORNING PRACTICE AND THEN BY 3:00, YOU'VE GOT TO BE AT, YOU KNOW, FOR BATTING PRACTICE FOR A SOFTBALL AND YOU'RE GOING TO PLAY AT 5:00 AND THEN GOING TO WEEKEND TOURNAMENTS AND YOU'RE STUDYING VIDEO UNTIL ALL HOURS, AND IT JUST -- BEFORE YOU KNOW IT, YOUR WHOLE SUMMER IS GONE AND ALL YOU'VE DONE IS SOFTBALL.

>> Eric: FOOTBALL SEEMS TO BE SEPARATE BUT IS HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS ON THE WAY TO BECOMING OBSOLETE OR AT LEAST LESS TALENTED KIDS PLAYING IT OR -- >> WELL, IT'S AN INTERESTING DISCUSSION OF WHAT THE FUTURE OF HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS LOOKS LIKE AND SOME DO SPECULATE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO JUST GO TO THE CLUB MODEL.

THAT'S WHAT THEY DO IN EUROPE, AND SOCCER IN A LOT OF WAYS IS BECOMING THAT WAY -- >> Eric: EVERY MLS TEAM HAS AN ACADEMY, FOR INSTANCE.

>> YEAH, SO IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW SCHOOL DISTRICTS, RETAINING COACHES HAS BECOME A CHALLENGE, YOU KNOW.

TO SO MANY OF US, HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS WERE WONDERFUL AND SO I THINK WE'RE ALL PULLING FOR THEM BUT IT'S GOING TO BE AN INTERESTING NEXT FEW DECADES.

>> Cathy: DOES IT MEAN GOING FORWARD, IF YOU HAVE THIS SYSTEM SET UP, ARE WE -- ARE THE KIDS TRYING TO GET SCHOLARSHIPS TO GO TO COLLEGE, DO THEY WANT TO PLAY D-1 OR D-2 SPORTS, IS THAT WHAT THE END RESULT HERE IS?

>> YOU DO HEAR A LOT OF THAT BUT PEOPLE NEED TO REMEMBER, ONLY 2% OF ALL HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETES GET COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP MONEY AND SO -- BUT WHAT SURPRISED US I THINK IS THAT'S WHAT WE THOUGHT THE CLUB SPORTS SCENE WAS AND IT'S REALLY -- IT'S BECOMING MORE ABOUT MAKING THE VARSITY TEAM.

AGAIN, IF YOU'RE GOING TO KEEP UP IN YOUR INDIVIDUAL SPORT, YOU BETTER DO WHAT ALL THE OTHER PLAYERS ARE GOING.

>> Eric: THIS IS ARCHIVED ON THE WEBSITE SO PEOPLE CAN SEE IT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THREE-PART SERIES.

GIVE IT A READ.

>> Eric: THREE-PART SERIES, WELL READ.

THANKS, JOE.

♪♪ >> IT'S BEEN ALMOST A MONTH SINCE THE TWIN CITIES MARATHON, AND MY LEGS ARE STILL SORE.

I HAD TO STAND THERE FOR LIKE AN HOUR WATCHING ALL THE RUNNERS GO BY.

IT WAS EXHAUSTING.

I COULD HARDLY EAT MY DONUT.

MARATHONS CAN BE HARD ON EVERYONE, AND NOT JUST THE RUNNERS.

A STUDY LAST SUMMER SHOWED THAT CLOSING THE STREETS FOR A MARATHON MAKES IT HARDER FOR PEOPLE TO GET TO THE HOSPITAL DURING A HEART ATTACK.

PATIENTS WERE 13% MORE LIKELY TO DIE DURING RACES, EVEN IF THEY WEREN'T RUNNING.

RESEARCHERS FIGURED THAT CLOSING ROADS FOR THE RACE CAUSED SOME DELAY GETTING TO HELP.

IT TOOK ABOUT 4 MINUTES LONGER FOR AN AMBULANCE TO REACH THE HOSPITAL.

THAT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE MUCH, BUT WHEN EVERY SECOND COUNTS, IT CAN MEAN LIFE OR DEATH.

SCIENTISTS HAVE SEEN THE SAME TRAFFIC TIE-UPS DURING OTHER MAJOR SPORTING EVENTS AS WELL.

APPARENTLY, IT CAN HAPPEN ANY TIME HUGE CROWDS GET TOGETHER TO WATCH OTHER PEOPLE EXERCISE.

GIANT CROWDS?

ENORMOUS OVERBLOWN SPORTING EVENT?

SOUND FAMILIAR?

FEBRUARY IS COMING, AND THE SUPERBOWL HOOPLA IS GOING TO BE RIDICULOUS.

HUGE CROWDS, CLOSED STREETS, TOSS IN TONS OF BAD FOOD AND ALCOHOL AND IT'S CHAOS.

THE WHOLE CITY IS GOING TO BE TIED UP IN KNOTS.

IF YOU ARE ANYWHERE, YOU CAN SEE THE MASSIVE U.S.

BANK STADIUM.

REALLY, ANYWHERE THIS SIDE OF BLAINE.

THE ROADS NEARBY ARE PROBABLY GOING TO BE CLOSED.

MY ADVICE?

WELL, FOR ONE THING, DON'T TRY TO DRIVE TO THE HOSPITAL YOURSELF.

PEOPLE THINK THEY ARE BETTER OFF NOT WAITING FOR THE AMBULANCE, BUT THE PARAMEDICS CAN START TREATING YOU RIGHT AWAY, EVEN IF YOU ARE STUCK BEHIND A PEDAL PUB.

AND I GUESS NOW WOULD BE AN EXCELLENT TIME TO QUIT EATING DONUTS.

I'M DONE.

YOU DON'T WANT YOUR MASSIVE HEART ATTACK IN FEBRUARY.

OTHERWISE, MAYBE THE SAFEST THING TO DO IS WATCH THE GAME FROM THE HOSPITAL WAITING ROOM.

BRING YOUR OWN SNACKS.

[Applause] ♪♪ >> CATHY: THIS MONTH, THERE WAS A PUBLIC HEARING IN HENNEPIN COUNTY OVER PLANS TO CHANGE THE NAME OF LAKE CALHOUN TO ITS ORIGINAL DAKOTA NAME, BDE MAKA SKA.

A FEW MONTHS AGO ON OUR WEEKLY WEB-ONLY SEGMENT CALLED "THE WRAP," DAVID GILLETTE SAT DOWN WITH DAKOTA LANGUAGE INSTRUCTOR, JOE BENDICKSON.

JOE WALKED US THROUGH THE PROPER DAKOTA PRONUNCIATION OF MANY MINNESOTA PLACE NAMES.

SINCE THIS WAS THE MOST-WATCHED EDITION OF THE WRAP IN THE PAST YEAR, WE THOUGHT IT DESERVED BROADER ATTENTION.

TAKE A LOOK.

♪♪ >> David: HEY, EVERYBODY AND WELCOME TO THE WRAP.

I'M DAVID GILL LEGALITY.

IT'S NO REAL SECRET THAT A LOT OF THE PLACE NAMES HERE IN GOOD OLD MINNESOTA ARE DERIVED FROM THE DAKOTA LANGUAGE AND SINCE WE HAVE Mr.

JOE BENDICSON WITH US TONIGHT, AN EXPERTS IN THE DAKOTA LANGUAGE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA, WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO GO THROUGH THE NAMES.

I'LL SAY THEM FIRST, YOU CAN CORRECT ME AND TALK ABOUT THEIR MEANING.

SOUND FUN?

>> YES.

>> SO MY WHOLE LIFE I'VE LIVED HERE, I CALLED IT MINNESOTA.

>> IN DAKOTA, WE SAY MINNIE SOTA.

>> KIND OF CLOSE.

>> MEANING?

>> MINNIE IS WATER AND SOTA IS CLEAR, CLEAR WATER.

>> IT'S RELATED TO THIS ONE, MINNETONKA.

>> TONGA IS LARGE, SO LARGE WATERS AND THE LAKE IS REALLY LARGE.

THAT'S WHY WE HAVE A LOT OF MINNE BECAUSE THERE IS A LOT OF MINNE IN MINNESOTA.

MINN HA HA.

>> THIS ONE IS FUNNY TO ME, WE SAY IT CMINNE CHAC HA.

THAT'S DESCRIBING THE WATERS -- >> A LITTLE GUT TURRAL IN IT.

>> NO, BECAUSE IT'S CURLED, VIBING THE WATER AS IT GOES OVER THE WATERS FALLS AND SO IT'S SO FUNNY BECAUSE MINNEHAHA MEANS WATERFALLS, SO MINNEHAHA WATER FALLS IS WATER FALLS WATER FALLS.

>> David: I LIKE THIS.

THANKS FOR DOING THIS.

WE'VE ALSO -- THIS IS WHERE IT GETS INTERESTING, I TOOK MY DRIVER'S TEST IN CHASKA, MINNESOTA.

>> CHASKAA.

THAT MEANS FIRST-BORN SON.

>> David: OH, BEAUTIFUL.

AND I THINK THIS ONE IS THE -- IS THEMATICALLY RELATED, IN WINONA.

>> WHICH NOONA.

>> THAT'S FIRST BORN DAUGHTER.

>> I HAVE A WINOONA.

CHANHASSEN?

>> NOPE, NOT EVEN CLOSE.

OKAY.

CHHA AND HA -- CHA-HA-SAN.

IT'S DESCRIBING THE MAPLE SUGAR TREE.

>> David: SO I'VE BEEN GOING TO THE CHANHA-SON DINNER THEATER.

OWATONNA?

>> NOPE.

OH-WOT-NNA.

THAT MEANS STRAIGHT.

>> David: DOES IT I HAVE ANY RELATION TO OWATONNA, I DON'T KNOW OWATONNA INTIMATELY.

I'LL HAVE TO CHECK IT OUT.

I PLAYED THESE GATES IN BASKETBALL, ALWAYS CALLED THEM MAHTOMEDI.

>> THE FIRST PART YOU SAID GOOD.

MATOBDE >> I SHOULD HAVE SAID IT BETTER.

>> MAHTO MEANS BEAR AND THE REST MEANS LAKE.

>> I HEAR THIS ON SOME OF THE THUNDER BEDS, AND I HEAR MDEWAKANTON.

>> NO, THAT'S COMPLETELY WRONG.

THE FIRST PART YOU DAT MDAY-WALK-TON, MDE IS ANOTHER SPELLING OF LAKE, DIFFERENT DIALECTS IN OUR LANGUAGE, AND WAKA IS KIND OF LIKE A -- DOESN'T REALLY BE TRANS PLATES VERY WELL, THEY SAY SPIRIT AND AN NTON IS LIKE A DWELLING PLACE, SPIRIT LAKE DWELLERS.

>> David: SOMETHING I'VE ALWAYS ASKED MYSELF DOING MEDIA WORK, DO YOU THINK IT'S BETTER TO TRY TO PRONOUNCE IT IN THE CORRECT DAKOTA WAY OR DOES THAT TAKE ME DOWN A WEIRD PART?

WHICH WOULD BE MORE IMPORTANT TO SAY ON THE NEWS, CHASKA, MINNESOTA OR IS THERE A REAL ARGUMENT FOR RETURNING TO TRADITIONAL PRONOUNCATIONS?

>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

I THINK IF YOU ARE REALLY SINCERE AND YOU WANT TO SAY IT THE RIGHT WAY, YOU SHOULD MAKE AN EFFORT BUT, YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW, IT'S BEEN SAID THIS WAY FOR SO LONG, CHASKA, LIKE IT DOESN'T BOTHER ME, PERSONALLY.

>> David: INTERESTING.

A FEW MORE.

>> WACONIA.

>> WACONIA.

THAT'S HOW I GREW UP SAYING IT, LAKE WACONIA.

>> THAT ONE'S PRETTY GOOD.

>> HI, LAKE WACONIA.

TWO MORE.

SHAKOPEE.

>> NO.

>> NO?

>> NO, NO, SHACK-PAI.

THERE'S NO "O" SOUND IN THERE.

>> David: IS THE "O" ALWAYS SILENT OR IS THIS AN EXCEPTION?

>> WE DON'T EVEN WRITE IT THAT WAY.

[Laughter] IT'S SHACK-PAI.

>> David: IT SHOULD BE LIKE THIS?

>> ONE LESS E.

[Laughter] $AND THEN OUR LAST ONE, I THINK, WE'RE BACK TO THE LAKE, THIS IS THE CHANGE OF LAKE CALHOUN AND YOU PRONOUNCED THIS FOR US ON THE SHOW, PRONOUNCE THIS ONE MORE TIME, HOW DO WE SAY THE NEW LAKE NAME IN MINNEAPOLIS?

B'D MAKA SKA.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

SEE YOU NEXT WEEK ON THE WRAP, EVERYBODY.

>> CATHY: QUARRELSOME U.S.

SENATORS AND TALK OF TAX CUTS, POLYMET NEWS, A CONTROVERSIAL MAILING THAT ROILED THE ST.

PAUL MAYOR'S RACE.

LOTS TO TALK ABOUT.

HERE TO DO IT IS THIS WEEK'S VERSION OF OUR POLITICAL PANEL.

DEMOCRATS WITH US ARE UNION LEADER AND DFL ACTIVIST, JAVIER MORILLO-ALICEA.

ALEXANDRA FETISSOFF IS HERE.

SHE'S A FORMER AIDE TO SENATOR FRANKEN.

REPUBLICANS ON THE COUCH TONIGHT, FORMER STATE LAWMAKER PHIL KRINKIE.

AND WE WELCOME BACK JEN DEJOURJNETT, SHE'S THE STATE DIRECTOR OF THE GROUP AMERICAN MAJORITY.

HALF YEAR, I WANT TO START WITH YOU BUT GET EVERYBODY INVOLVED IN THE PARTY STRUCTURE BREAKING DOWN.

I HEARD YOU ON THE PODCAST, YOU WERE ALL OVER THE DNR CHAIRMAN, TOM PEREZ.

>> YEAH.

>> Eric: THE REPUBLICAN McCONNELL AND TRUMP WING ARE GETTING A LOT OF PUBLICITY BUT APPARENTLY THERE'S SOME TURMOIL IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTIES?

>> YEAH, SO MY ISSUE WITH THE WAY THE CHAIRMAN HAS BEEN RUNNING THE PARTY IS THAT WE'RE NOT REALLY HEALING THE WOUNDS OF THE PRIMARY, WHICH IS CRAZY FOR IT TO HAVE GONE THIS LONG, AND I FEAR THE DIVISIONS ARE BECOMING REALLY ENTRENCHED SO THERE WAS A MOVE IN THE DNC TO REMOVE SOME SUPPORTERS -- SOME PEOPLE WHO HAD SUPPORTED CONGRESSMAN ELLISON FOR CHAIR.

AND SO I JUST THINK THAT IT HAS PEOPLE FOCUSED ON THE WRONG THINGS AND WHAT WE THEY HAD TO BE FOCUSED ON IS AN AGENDA FOR 2018.

IT'S ALSO -- THERE'S GOING TO BE NATURAL TURMOIL AFTER A LOSS LIKE THIS SO THERE IS A LOT OF CONVERSATION IN THE PARTY BUT, YEAH, I THINK WE NEED TO BE DOING BETTER TO PREPARE.

>> Eric: IS THERE SOME DEMOCRATIC MESSAGING OR RESEARCH GOING ON OR WHAT IS THE 2018 MESSAGE, ALEXANDRA?

>> I THINK IT'S ABOUT FOCUSING ON JOBS IN THE ECONOMY AND IT'S SOMETHING WE BELIEVE TO OUR CORE AS DEMOCRATS, WE HAVEN'T DONE THE BEST JOB OF TALKING ABOUT IT, SO ALL THE PIECES ARE THERE, WE HAVE TO GET THE MESSAGE OUT.

>> Eric: ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE, IT'S KINDS OF SENATOR McCONNELL WING VERSUS THE TRUMP WING AND IS THAT FRICTION SHOWING UP AT ALL IN MINNESOTA?

>> I THINK A LITTLE BIT.

THERE IS SOME POLITICAL REALIGNMENT THAT'S GOING ON, AS DEMOCRATS ARE LEAVING THE DEMOCRATIC PARTIES AND RECONSIDERING THEIR POLITICAL ALIGNMENT AND JOINING WITH REPUBLICANS FOR GROWTH AND THE ECONOMY, YOU ARE SEEING A LITTLE BIT OF THAT FRICTION BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, PEOPLE COME TOGETHER TO ELECT GOOD CANDIDATES SO I THINK WE'LL ALL COME TOGETHER AT THE END.

IT'S GOOD TO HAVE A LITTLE BACK AND FORTH AND A LITTLE SHARP ELBOWS HERE BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN GOOD DECISIONS GET MADE IN THE END.

>> Eric: DOES STEVE BANNON HAVE ENOUGH TO TAKE ON THESE ESTABLISHED REPUBLICANS?

>> I THINK THAT'S A GOOD MOVEMENT BUT I DON'T THINK IT WILL GAIN A LOT OF TRACTION.

THIS IS SORT OF THE INTERNAL BETWEEN ELECTIONS AND ON BOTHER SIDES OF THE EQUATION, YOU HAVE PEOPLE POSITIONING FOR A PRIMARY CONTEST.

OBVIOUSLY HERE IN MINNESOTA, WE'VE GOT A LARGE GROUP OF DEMOCRATS RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR, LARGE GROUP OF REPUBLICANS RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR AND SO, AGAIN, I THINK THAT'S JUST PART OF THE POLITICAL PROCESS.

THE MID-TERM BANTERING AND POSITIONING.

>> Cathy: I HADN'T HEARD THAT DEMOCRATS WERE LEAVING AND JOINING THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

>> I THINK SO.

I TALKED TO A LARGE SEGMENTS OF BERNIE SANDERS SUPPORTERS ACROSS THE STATE OF MINNESOTA AND THAT PEOPLE WEREN'T THAT HAPPY WITH THE DEMOCRATS, IN ADDITION TO -- ESPECIALLY IN GRATER MINNESOTA AS THE DEMOCRATS MOVE VERY, VERY PROGRESSIVE LEFT, YOU DO HAVE SOME STRUGGLE AND THEY'RE RECONSIDERING THEIR POLITICAL OPTIONS, WHICH IS A GOOD THING.

>> WHAT YOU HAVE, RIGHT, ARE -- YOU SAY THAT THE STEVE BANNON MOVEMENT IS NOT GOING TO GO FAR, HE HEAR LAST TWO HEADS, LIKE TWO INCUMBENT SENATORS WHO HAVE DECIDED TO RUN SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO BE CHALLENGED FROM THE RIGHT AND I THINK IS THAT, YES, WE HAVE INTERNAL CONVERSATIONS WITHIN THE PARTY BUT THE IDEA THAT DEMOCRATS ARE FLOCKING TO REPUBLICANS I THINK JUST IS NOT SUSTAINED AT ALL.

THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HAS, LIKE, THE BRAND IS SO DAMAGED RIGHT NOW, THE PRESIDENT HAS THE THE WORST APPROVAL RATINGS IN THE HISTORY OF APPROVAL RATINGS -- >> BUT WERE POLLS RIGHT IN THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, NOT AT ALL?

TRUMP DID SO WELL IN MINNESOTA.

>> IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN A CHAINED ELECTION BUT WE HAVEN'T SEEN ANY CHANGE AND WORSE THAN THAT, WE HAVEN'T SEEN ANY MOVEMENT OR GOVERNMENT.

MAYBE PEOPLE, PERHAPS, HAD A THOUGHTS BUT I THINK THAT YOU GIVE -- THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HAS GIVEN THEM NOTHING AT THIS POINT IN TIME TO VOTE FOR.

>> YOU KNOW, WE'RE HAVING DEEP CONVERSATIONS AND LEGISLATION SHOULDN'T BE EASY.

IF YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE BIG CHANGES AND WORK ON TAX REFORM AND HEALTH CARE REFORM, IT SHOULDN'T BE AN EASY PROCESS.

PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE HARD CONVERSATIONS AND IT SHOULDN'T BE RUSHED, SO I THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY WHEN THE WHOLE PROCESS IS OVER, PEOPLE WILL COME TOGETHER AND PASS LEGISLATION.

IT'S JUST A MATTER OF -- YOU KNOW, JUST A MATTER OF WORKING THROUGH THE PROCESS.

>> Eric: PUT ON YOUR CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE TAX COMMITTEE HAT AND TELL US ABOUT THE PROSPECTS FOR TAX REFORM, WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE, IS IT GOING TO HAPPEN?

GIVE US THE LAY OF THE LAND FROM YOUR POINT OF VIEW.

>> Cathy: AND ARE SHOULD IT BE RUSHED LIKE THEY'RE TRYING TO DO IN CONGRESS AT THIS POINT?

>> I THINK THEY ALL KNOW THAT BOTH DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS KNOW THEY NEED TO COME OUT OF THIS SESSION WITH SOMETHING TO GO BACK HOME AND TALK ABOUT OVER THE CHRISTMAS BREAK AND GOING INTO 2018, SO THREE MONTHS AGO, I WOULD HAVE SAID THAT THE CHANCES OF MAJOR TAX REFORM WERE PROBABLY 50-50.

TODAY I THINK I WOULD PUT IT AT 80-20 THAT THEY'RE REALLY GOING TO PUSH SOMETHING THROUGH.

NOW, AGAIN, AS WE ALL KNOW, WHAT THAT END PRODUCT LOOKS LIKE WILL BE HARD TO TELL BUT IF I COULD GO BACK JUST A MOMENT TO WHAT JEN WAS SAYING, THAT I SPOKE RECENTLY TO ONE OF OUR REPUBLICAN GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATES WHO'S OUT MAKING THE ROUND AROUND THE STATE AND HIS COMMENT WAS THAT IN CERTAIN AREAS OF THE STATE, HE THINKS THAT TRUMP, IF, AGAIN, WOULD DO BETTER IN PARTS OF RURAL MINNESOTA THAN HE DID A YEAR AGO, SO I THINK THAT THERE ARE SOME MOVEMENT OUT THERE AND NATIONAL POLLS AS WE KNOW DON'T NECESSARILY INDICATE WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF THE VOTERS.

>> Cathy: YOU MENTIONED THE GUBERNATORIAL RACE, SO WHEN DOES SPEAKER DAUDT ENTER THE RACE, IF INDEED HE PLANS ON JUMPING IN THE RACE?

>> YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW.

I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT.

I THINK ALL CANDIDATES ARE LOOKING AT THE RACE AND LOOKING AT THE OPPORTUNITIES, WHETHER IT'S THE GOVERNOR'S RACE OR THE U.S.

SENATE RACE OR CONGRESSIONAL RACES, OR EVERY OTHER CONSTITUTIONAL RACE DOWN THE TICKET.

I JUST THINK PEOPLE HAVE TO MAKE THOUGHTFUL DECISIONS AND HAVE THEIR HEART BE IN IT BECAUSE IF IT'S GOING TO BE -- THIS IS GOING TO BE A LONG, PROJECTED BALLOTS AND THE STAKES ARE VERY HIGH SO EVERYONE HAS TO MAKE THE DECISION FOR THEMSELVES, THEIR FAMILY AND THEIR CAMPAIGN.

>> Eric: HOW ABOUT THE D.F.L.

PROBLEMS WITH TRADE UNIONS AND THE ENVIRONMENTALISTS, ENBRIDGE, POLYMET, THE GOVERNOR CAME OUTS FOR POLYMET.

THAT SEEMS LIKE A PRETTY DEEP CHASM THERE.

>> THERE ARE DEFINITELY SORT OF ISSUES FOR DEMOCRATS ON THAT ISSUE.

I THINK THAT WE HAVE CANDIDATES WHO, I THINK, ARE LIKE LUCKILY I THINK ARE SPEAKING TO A MINNESOTA THAT IS CONNECTED.

I THINK THAT THE TICKET OF WALZ-FLANAGAN WILL BE INTERESTING ON THAT FRONT, SOMEONE WITH SOLID PROGRESSIVE CREDENTIALS, AND THE CONGRESSMAN WHO'S THOUGHT OF AS MORE MODERATE.

SO, YOU KNOW, YES, THERE ARE ISSUES ON BOTH SIDES THAT ARE WE BELIEVES BUT I THINK THAT WHEN I LOOK AT OUR CROP AND I LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, I THINK FRANKLY PEOPLE ARE STAYING OUT OF THE REPUBLICAN SIDE BECAUSE TIM PAWLENTY IS PLAYING FOOT SEE WITH IT AND SAYING I'M NOT A CANDIDATE, I'M SORT OF A CANDIDATE AND KURT DAUDT, WHEN TIM PAWLENTY DECIDES, THAT'S WHEN HE'LL JUMP IN IF HE WILL OR NOT AND IT MAY BE TOO LATE FOR BOTH OF THEM.

>> Eric: WHERE ARE YOU ON THE BLUE-GREEN ALLIANCE?

>> I THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE DO MANAGE TO COALESCE.

I THINK WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE LIVING IN THE METRO DICTATING WHAT KIND OF JOBS PEOPLE IN GREATER MINNESOTA SHOULD HAVE.

I ALSO THINK THAT THERE WAS A PROCESS IN PLACE FOR POLYMET AND IT WAS FOLLOWED AND THE GOVERNOR MADE A DECISION AND I THINK THAT WE HAVE SOME OF THE STRONGEST ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS IN THE COUNTRY AND THEY SHOULD TAKE THEIR COURSE.

AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE SHOULD ALLOW TO HAPPEN.

>> Eric: I SEE YOU ON TWITTER ONCE IN A WHILE, I WONDER WHAT YOU FEEL ABOUT SOME KIND OF REGULATION ON LIKE THE Facebook ADS AND THAT SORT OF THING THAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT TO PREVENT THIS RUSSIAN MEDDLING AND OTHER JEOPARDY ROWING TOWER Facebook STUFF IN POLITICS.

>> WE ABSOLUTELY DON'T WANT PEOPLE MEDDLING IN ELECTIONS AND I THINK THE PROCESS IS STILL BEING RESEARCHED OF WHAT DID OR DIDN'T HAPPEN AND ALL THE NONSENSE THAT GOES ON.

HOWEVER, I'M NOT FOR MORE REGULATION, I DON'T THINK REGULATION RESTRICTS YANG FREE SPEECH AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA OR ON Facebook OR TWITTER IS GOOD OVERALL.

WE WANT PEOPLE TO COMMUNICATE.

WE WANT PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO TALK TO ONE ANOTHER SO I REALLY DON'T THINK REGULATIONS IS THE WAY TO GO.

>> Eric: WE'RE THERE LIKE 3,000 RUSSIAN ADS ON Facebook IN THE LAST CAMPAIGN?

>> THAT'S JUST WHAT WE KNOW NOW, AND, YEAH, I THINK THERE IS A REAL DANGER.

PAID FOR IN RUBLES FROM WHAT WE KNOW.

IT IS ACTUALLY PRETTY OUTRAGEOUS AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, AT RUSSIAN MEDDLING AT ALL LEVELS.

>> HOW ABOUT THE St.

PAUL POLICE FEDERATION MEDDLING IN ELECTIONS?

I COME BACK TO THE POINT ABOUT REPUBLICANS, I THINK, COME OUT OF OUR ENDORSING CONVENTION OR EVEN OUT OF A PRIMARY MUCH MORE UNITED, MUCH MORE INCLINED TO BE ABLE TO WIN A GUBERNATORIAL -- >> EXCEPT THAT'S ALSO REPUBLICANS, THAT'S A REPUBLICAN FIRM THAT WAS USED TO DO ALL THOSE HIT PIECES WHICH IS WHY THEY TURN OFF PROGRESSIVE VOTERS SO MUCH.

IT'S A REPUBLICAN FIRM AND THE POLICE FEDERATION IN MINNEAPOLIS, St.

PAUL, HIRE THEM.

THEY HAVE THEM IN THEIR TOOLBOX AND ONE OF THEIR TOOLS IS A SLEDGEHAMMER AND IT TURNS OFF VOTERS.

>> MY POINTS GOING BACK, THE DEMOCRATS, BLUE, GREEN, THEY HAVE A MUCH GREATER DIVIDE GOING A YEAR FROM NOW, GOING INTO A GENERAL ELECTION.

REPUBLICANS I THINK OUR MESSAGE LESS GOVERNMENT, LESS TAXATION.

JOB CREATION, MUCH BETTER THAN WHAT THE DEMOCRATS ARE GOING TO FACE IN 2018.

>> Cathy: FINAL COMMENT HERE.

>> I WOULD HAVE TO DISAGREE BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY WE HAVE A LIGHTNING RODS IN THE WHITE HOUSE THAT LACKS AS A UNIFIRE TO BRING DEMOCRATS TOGETHER, WE'RE TALKING INDEPENDENTS AND CENTRISTS.

IT'S NOT SURPRISING WHAT HAPPENED IN St.

PAUL DID AS WE'RE DEALING WITH THE CONSTANT RANCOR THAT WE'RE GETTING FROM THE PRESIDENT EVERY DAY.

IF WE DON'T THINK THAT'S GOING TO IMPACT LOCAL ELECTIONS WITH THIS NEGATIVE, DISGUSTING TYPE OF DISCOURSE, THEN WE HAVE ANOTHER THINK COMING.

>> Eric: NEXT TIME YOU'RE AM HERE, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT RANGED CHOICE VOTING BUT WE RAN OUT OF TIME.

THANKS, PANEL.

>> ERIC: WE RAN LONG TONIGHT.

DON'T WORRY, THE INDEX FILE SECTION WILL BE BACK IN ACTION NEXT WEEK.

WE DO JUST HAVE ENOUGH TIME, THOUGH, TO PLAY YOU SOME MUSIC UNDER OUR CREDITS.

IT WAS THIS WEEK IN 2005 THAT ALICIA WILEY STOPPED BY STUDIO B AND PLAYED OUR PETROF PIANO.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

WHY DON'T YOU MAKE IT A HABIT?

BE CAREFUL.

♪ ♪ BETTER SEE THAN DOING SOMETHING ABOUT THEIR DIRTY MIND, LET'S SHOW THEM WHAT WE STARTED ♪ Captioned by: Paradigm Reporting & Captioning www.paradigmreporting.com Paradigm Reporting & Captioning >> "ALMANAC" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY MEMBERS OF THIS PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION.

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

A TOUCHSTONE ENERGY COOPERATIVE.

FLINT HILLS RESOURCES: PRODUCING TRANSPORTATION FUELS FOR MINNESOTA AND THE UPPER MIDWEST AT ITS ROSEMOUNT REFINERY.

HEALTH PARTNERS: WITH 60 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE HELPING PLAN MEMBERS ACHIEVE THEIR WELL-BEING GOALS, HEALTHPARTNERS IS YOUR TRUSTED MEDICARE PARTNER.

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.

♪♪ >> David: HEY, EVERYBODY, AND WELCOME TO THE WRAP.

I AM DAVID GILLETTE.

OUR POLITICAL PANEL, IT'S A VERY POPULAR PART OF OUR PROGRAM AND EVERY NOW AND THEN, YOU WILL SEE A NEW FACE ON THE COUCH.

THAT WAS RECENTLY THE CASE FOR ALEXANDRA FEIT TIS SOME OF, ONE OF OUR NEW PANELLISTS, AND YOU MAY BE CURIOUS WHO SHE IS, WHAT'S HER POLITICS, HER BACKGROUND.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO TONIGHT.

ALEXANDRA, NICE TO HAVE YOU HERE.

>> NICE TO BE HERE, DAVID.

>> David: LET'S STARTS WITH POLITICS.

WHAT'S YOUR BACKGROUND?

>> I'M A DEMOCRAT.

I WAS IN SALES IN A JOB IN L.A.

AFTER COLLEGE AND A FRIEND OF MINE CALLED ME AND SHE WAS WORKING THE CLINTON CAMPAIGN IN LAS VEGAS, AND SHE SAID, WE NEED HELP.

CAN YOU COME DOWN AND HELP AHEAD OF THE CAUCUSES?

AND I SAID, YEAH.

I JUMPED IN MY CAR AND DROVE DOWN TO LAS VEGAS AND I WORKED PROBABLY FROM, I DON'T KNOW, 5:00 TO 2:00 EVERY DAY AND I ABSOLUTELY FELL IN LOVE.

>> David: SO IT LITERALLY WAS A CALLING IN THE MOST LITERAL SENSE OF THE WORD.

>> YES, GOT A PHONE CALL.

>> David: LET'S PLAY THE -- PROBABLY GOING TO DO THREE-YEAR COMMITMENT MIRROR IMOBJECT ON TV BUT TO MY LEFT, YOUR RIGHT, THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM, HOW FAR LEFT OR RIGHTS DO YOU PLACE YOURSELF?

I PROBABLY DID THIS BACKWARDS BUT HOPEFULLY YOU GET THE IDEA.

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK I'M PROBABLY MORE MID -- MIDDLE OF THE ROAD DEMOCRAT.

YEAH.

>> David: DID YOU PUT PRESSURE ON THE PANEL TO GO ONE WAY OR THE OTHER?

>> NO, NOT NECESSARILY, I ALWAYS FEEL LIKE I SPEAK WHAT I'M THINKING BUT I THINK I'VE GOTTEN TO WORK IN SO MANY RED STATES AND I THINK THAT'S REALLY GIVEN ME AN APPRECIATION FOR ALL THE DIFFERENT VOICES THAT ARE IN THE DEMOCRATIC SPECTRUM AND JUST HEARING FROM THEM AND WHAT THEY VALUE, SO COMING FROM NEW JERSEY, YOU KNOW, AT ONE POINT IN TIME WAS -- GUNS WERE USED TO KILL PEOPLE AND NOW I WOULD NOT -- COUSIN OF A HUNTER, I WOULDN'T THINK THAT AT ALL SO I THINK MAYBE WITH AGE -- AND WORKING IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT PLACES, MINNESOTA IS THE 13th STATE THAT I'VE LIVED IN SO -- >> David: WOW, 13.

>> YEP, SO THAT PERSPECTIVE HAS GIVEN ME A LOT OF... >> David: YOU MENTIONED YOUR HUSBAND.

THIS IS NOT HIS SEGMENT BUT VERY BRIEFLY, HE'S ALSO VERY POLITICALLY INVOLVED, A LOT OF INSIDERS HAVE USED THE PHRASE "POWER COUPLE" I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU THINK OF THAT -- >> HE IS THE DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF FOR GOVERNOR DAYTON AND WE MET ON THE HILL IN WASHINGTON WHEN HE WAS WORKING FOR SENATOR KLOBUCHAR AND I WAS WORKING FOR SENATOR FRANKEN.

>> David: DID IT EVER GET COMPETITIVE?

>> NO, I THINK IT'S A GREAT RESOURCE, ACTUALLY.

YOU KNOW, MAYBE A LITTLE BIT OVER CLIPS AT SOME POINT IN TIME.

>> David: SENATOR KLOBUCHAR, SENATOR FRANKEN, YOU'VE WORKED FOR BOTH.

>> NO, ONLY WORKED FOR SENATOR FRANKEN.

>> I APOLOGIZE.

BUT SENATOR FRANKEN IN REAL LIFE >> WONDERFUL.

>> David: FUNNY?

DOES HE KEEP IT ON THE ON SWITCH?

>> YES, I'M THE PERSON WHO DOES DON'T SAY THAT.

>> David: BRIEFLY WHEN YOU'RE WORKING FOR SOMEONE LIKE SENATOR FRANKEN IN THAT POSITION, WHAT IS IT REALLY YOUR GIG TO DO?

WE KNOW THE TITLES AND EVERYTHING BUT DAY TO DAY, WHAT WAS YOUR ROLE WITH SENATOR FRANKEN?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION AND THAT IS A -- IT WAS -- EVERY DAY WAS LIKE DRINKING FROM A FIRE HOST.

-- HOSE.

YOU KNOW, HOW MUCH HAPPENS ON A DAILY BASIS IN THE SENATE AND SO MUCH OF THE MEDIA JUST -- I WOULDN'T EVEN THINK HAS BAND WIDTH TO PAY ATTENTION TO BUT I THINK WHAT OUR GOAL OR MY GOAL WAS SPECIFICALLY IN HIS FIRST TERM WAS TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT HE WAS DOING AND HIS PRIORITIES WERE BEING COMMUNICATED BACK TO MINNESOTA.

AND THAT CERTAINLY WAS HIS TOP PRIORITY, AS WELL, AND SO A LOT OF IT WAS HOW CAN WE TARGET CERTAINLY THE TWIN CITIES BUT, REALLY, HOW CAN WE TARGET GREATER MINNESOTA AND BUILDING UP A LOT OF RELATIONSHIPS WITH RADIO HOSTS, FOR EXAMPLE, ALL OVER GREATER MINNESOTA, YOU KNOW, AL DOES RADIO EVERY WEDNESDAY MORNING STARTING AT 7:30 IN THE MORNING IN THE OFFICE SO I WOULD BE WITH HIM DOING THAT.

YOU KNOW, JUST MAKING PHONE CALLS WITH REPORTERS, COMING UP WITH LONG-TERM AND SHORT-TERM STRATEGIES, JUST TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE KNOW WHAT HE'S DOING BECAUSE HE IS AN ABSOLUTE WORKER BEE AND PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW WHAT HE'S UP TO EVERY DAY.

>> David: THANK YOU FOR BEING ON OUR POLITICAL PANEL.

I'M GOING TO END WITH A ONE-WORD QUESTION THAT WILL BE TOUGH, BUT DO IT ANY WAY, FINISH UP BY SAYING POLITICS IS BLANK.

WHAT IS POLITICS?

>> THE FIRST WORD THAT CAME TO MY MIND WAS FUN.

>> David: FUN, WE'LL LEAVE IT THERE.

THANKS FOR WATCHING THE WRAP.

LOOK FOR HER ON THE PANEL.

SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.