JULIE: I AM JULIE ZENNER, ALONG WITH DENNIS ANDERSON.

HERE IS WHAT'S COMING UP ON ALMANAC NORTH!

DENNY: PREPARE FOR MORE DETOURS, AS THE BIG TWIN PORTS INTERCHANGE RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT CONTINUES.

WE WILL HAVE AN UPDATE ON THE CAN OF WORMS REBUILD.

JULIE: SHIPPING IS BOUNCING BACK IN A BIG WAY, AFTER 2020 WAS BOGGED DOWN BY THE PANDEMIC.

WE WILL HAVE A MID-SEASON SHIPPING REPORT.

DENNY: AND WE WILL SAY GOOD BYE TO A FAMILIAR FACE HERE AT WDSE.

JULIE: THOSE STORIES AND VOICES OF THE REGION, COMING UP ON ALMANAC NORTH!

♪ WELL JULIE: HELLO, AND WELCOME TO ALMANAC NORTH.

THANKS FOR WATCHING!

DENNY, SUMMER AND ROAD CONSTRUCTION SEEM TO GO HAND IN HAND IN OUR REGION.

DENNY: THEY CERTAINLY DO.

WE NEED THEM DONE.

JULIE: THAT'S TRUE BUT SUMMER GOES FAST AND ROAD CONSTRUCTION GO SLOWLY.

AND I DON'T GET THAT.

DENNY: THAT IS TRUE.

JULIE: WE WILL HAVE MORE ON THAT NOW HERE'S DENNY WITH THE NEWS IN A MINUTE.

NOW HERE'S DENNY WITH THE NEWS HEADLINES.

DENNY: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, JULIE.

AS THE HOT, DRY WEATHER CONTINUES, OFFICIALS ARE TIGHTENING RESTRICTIONS IN THE SUPERIOR NATIONAL FOREST.

ON THURSDAY, ALL FIRES -- INCUDING THOSE IN DESIGNATED FIRE RINGS -- WERE BANNED IN THE SUPERIOR NATIONAL FOREST AND THE BOUNDARY WATERS.

GAS OR PROPANE STOVES WITH AN ON/OFF SWITCH ARE STILL ALLOWED IN THE FOREST.

JULIE: THE DULUTH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT HAS RECEIVED A $750,000 FEDERAL GRANT, TO HELP ESTABLISH AIR SERVICE BETWEEN DULUTH AND DENVER.

THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION "SMALL COMMUNITY AIR SERVICE DEVELOPMENT GRANT" WAS ANNOUNCED THURSDAY.

AIRPORT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TOM WERNER SAYS, THE MONEY WILL JUMPSTART EFFORTS TO LAND AN AIRLINE FOR THE NEW ROUTE.

DENNY: MINNESOTA ATTORNEY GENERAL KEITH ELLISON ANNOUNCED A MULTI-STATE COALITION HAS REACHED A $26 BILLION AGREEMENT WITH MAJOR OPIOID MANUFACTURERS.

MINNESOTA'S SHARE COULD BE AS MUCH AS $337 MILLION OVER 18 YEARS.

THE MONEY WILL LARGELY BE SPENT ON OPIOID TREATMENT AND PREVENTION EFFORTS.

JULIE: AND THE DULUTH ENTERTAINMENT AND CONVENTION CENTER RECEIVED SOME GOOD NEWS THIS WEEK.

THE DECC WAS AWARDED A $750,000 "SHUTTERED VENUE OPERATORS GRANT", PART OF THE FEDERAL COVID RELIEF PACKAGE.

THE MONEY WILL HELP THE DECC HIRE BACK FURLOUGHED STAFF AND PAY OFF UTILITY DEBT THAT ACCRUED EVEN AS THE FACILITY SAT MOSTLY EMPTY DURING THE PANDEMIC.

DENNY: THE COMPLETE REBUILD OF THE SO-CALLED "CAN OF WORMS" ON INTERSTATE 35 IN DULUTH IS PICKING UP STEAM.

MORE DETOURS ARE PLANNED BEGINNING IN AUGUST AS THE $343 MILLION PROJECT PROGRESSES.

HERE WITH AN UPDATE ON THE TWIN PORTS INTERCHANGE PROJECT IS PAT HUSTON, THE ASSISTANT DISTRICT ENGINEER IN CHARGE OF MAJOR PROJECTS FOR MNDOT DISTRICT ONE.

PAT, WELCOME AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

MAYBE YOU COULD TELL US ABOUT THE PROJECT GOING ON RIGHT NOW IN THE SO-CALLED, CAN OF WORMS?

PAT: I WILL.

FIRST, I LIKE TO START WITH, WHY ARE WE THERE?

IT IS AGING INFRASTRUCTURE BUILT IN THE LATE 1960'S.

IT IS AT THE END OF ITS LIFE.

SAFETY AS WE ALL KNOW HERE, THE LOCAL, THE LEFT EXITS AND BLIND EMERGES, GETTING RID OF THOSE.

AND TO INCREASE FREIGHT MOBILITY.

WE HAVE SEEN GIANT CARGO COMING ON THE PART.

RIGHT NOW THEY HAVE TO TRAVEL ON THE CITY STREETS AND THEY SHOULD BE ON THE INTERSTATE.

SO THOSE ARE THE GOALS.

BUT WHAT IS GOING ON NOW?

WE STARTED LAST OCTOBER.

WE WORK TO THE WINTER ON AREAS WHERE WE COULD GET THROUGH WITHOUT DISRUPTING TRAFFIC.

I THINK EVERYONE NOTICED THIS SUMMER, SINGLE LANE TRAFFIC, ONE LANE IN EACH DIRECTION FOR THE MOST PART.

THIS WILL BE THE MOST DIFFICULT SUMMER WITH THAT.

THE REASON WE HAD SINGLE LANE TRAFFIC IS, WHAT IS REALLY CONTROLLING IT, WE ARE PUTTING IN A NEW CROSSING.

MILLER AND COFFEE CREEK BOTH GO UNDER THEIR FREEWAY AND THE RAILROAD IN SEPARATE LOCATIONS.

WE ARE BUILDING ONE VERY LARGE, FOR CHAMBER BOX CULVERT OFF TO THE SIDE.

SO THAT IS 50 FEET BELOW THE FREEWAY RIGHT NOW.

WE ARE WORKING ON BOTH SIDES OF THAT.

WE NEED TO GET ALL OF THE TRAFFIC ON ONE SIDE BECAUSE IT IS SUCH A BIG EXCAVATION.

IT IS A REALLY MONSTROUS PART OF THE PROJECT.

SO WE ARE DOING THAT.

WE HAVE RECONSTRUCTED MICHIGAN STREET DRAINAGE AND WE ARE GETTING THAT READY TO REROUTE SOME FREEWAY TRAFFIC ON IT.

THIS OCTOBER WHEN HE GO TO THE NEXT BIG STAGE, WE WILL HAVE SOUTHBOUND I-35 ROUTED DOWN ONTO LOWER MICHIGAN.

IT WILL BE KIND OF INSIDE CONCRETE BARRIERS SO TRAFFIC CANNOT MIX FROM THE FREEWAY AND CITY STREETS.

SO WE ARE SAFE THERE.

WE WILL BUILD A TEMPORARY ROAD AND BRING IT UP BEFORE 20 7TH AVENUE WEST.

WHY WOULD -- BEFORE 20 7TH AVENUE WEST -- 27TH AVENUE WEST.

WE WILL PUT THE NORTHBOUND TRAFFIC ON THE SOUTHBOUND SIDE AND COMPLETELY DEMOLISHED NORTHBOUND I 35 WITH CONNECTIONS TO 535 AND 53.

WE HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS.

WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH THEIR, REHABILITATING BEFORE.

BUT THIS IS A COMPLETE REMOVAL AND RECONSTRUCTION.

JULIE: IT IS AN AREA WITH A LOT OF HISTORY.

ARE YOU FINDING ANYTHING INTERESTING OR SURPRISES?

PAT: WE ARE.

IT IS REALLY A CHALLENGING PROJECT.

WE HAVE WEAK SOILS AND A LOT OF THAT WAS FILLED IN BAY.

OLD SAWMILLS, SAWDUST, WE FOUND DUMPS INCLUDING SHOE DUMPS.

WE HAVE, ALL OF THE SOIL IS CONTAMINATED.

ALL OF THE WATER IS CONTAMINATED.

IN THE EARLY DAYS FROM LEGACY CONTAMINATION, UNFORTUNATELY, THAT IS HOW WE OPERATED AS A SOCIETY.

NOW WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THAT DURING CONSTRUCTION.

IN MY 30 WHEN YOUR CAREER THIS IS THE FIRST PROJECT I HAVE EVER BEEN ON, WHERE WE HAVE TWO TEMPORARY WATER TREATMENT PLANTS ON THE PROJECT, ONE ON EACH SIDE OF THE FREEWAY.

SO FOLKS ARE DRIVING BY AND THEY LOOK LIKE BIG SHIPPING CONTAINERS.

THOSE ARE PRETREATMENT PLANS, WHERE WE CLEAN UP THE WATER FROM THE PROJECT BEFORE IT GOES TOWLSSD FOR FINAL CLEANUP.

DENNY: THE WEATHER SEEMS TO BE COOPERATING, ARE YOU ON SCHEDULE?

PAT: WE AREN'T SCHEDULE.

WE HAVE RUN INTO IF -- WE ARE ON SCHEDULE.

WE HAVE RUN INTO SURPRISES BUT OVERALL WE ARE ON SCHEDULE.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT CLOSURES AND THE BIG CHANGE WILL COME IN OCTOBER WHEN WE'LL GO TO TWO LANES IN EACH DIRECTION.

WE WILL UTILIZE LOWER MICHIGAN AND ONE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY.

IT WILL BE FOUR LINES.

WE ARE DOING THAT SO WE CAN WORK THROUGH THE WINTER.

WHAT DRIVES THAT -- IF YOU HAVE SEEN CONSTRUCTION BEFORE -- TYPICALLY YOU GET ALL OF THE ORANGE CONES IN THE CENTER OF THE FREEWAY.

THEN WE HAVE TO GET EVERYTHING BACK TO FOUR LANES BEFORE THE SNOW FLIES.

BECAUSE IT IS MINNESOTA, SNOW AND ICE SEASON, WE CANNOT HAVE SINGLE EYES -- SINGLE LANE TRAFFIC ON THE FREEWAY DURING SNOW AND ICE.

WE ARE WORKING WITH THE CONTRACTOR, AMES KRAMER JOINT VENTURE PARTNERED UP, LARGE REGIONAL CONTRACTOR CAME UP WITH THE SCHEME, TO GET THINGS BACK TO FOUR LANES YET STILL LET US WORK THROUGH EACH WINTER OF THIS MULTI-SEASON PROJECT.

AND TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT.

THAT CUT A YEAR OFF THE PROJECT.

JULIE: SO FAR IT SEEMS TRAFFIC IS MOVING PRETTY WELL THROUGH THAT AREA.

TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE MAJOR DETAILS OR DETOURS, AND WHERE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO ROUTE AROUND AS THE NEXT PHASES COME IN?

PAT: OK. BEFORE I TALK ABOUT THAT, THE DELAYS.

WE HAVE INSTRUMENT ALONG THE HIGHWAY, SO THEY DETECT BACKUPS AND TURN MESSAGE SIGNS ON.

WE CAN ALSO LEARN FROM THOSE, EVEN DURING PEAK BACKUP TIMES, DATA SHOWING 3-5 MINUTES ONLY.

SO IT MAY SEEM LIKE A LONG TIME, BUT IT IS RELATIVE.

JULIE: I HAVE BEEN THINKING IT IS PRETTY GOOD.

PAT: OUR OFFICE IS ON RAILROAD STREET SO WE SEE SLOW TRAFFIC BUT REALLY, FIVE MINUTES.

I DO NOT WANT TO TALK ABOUT ALL OF THE DETOURS BECAUSE I CANNOT KEEP THEM STRAIGHT.

BUT THE NEXT ONE IS COMING UP AUGUST 2.

THERE WILL BE TWO SIGNIFICANT CHANGES.

SOUTHBOUND I-35 PIEDMONT AVENUE, HIGHWAY 53, WILL BE CLOSED.

THAT DETOUR WILL BE SIGNAGE OVER TO 40TH AVENUE WEST AND HAYNES ROAD.

THE OTHER MOVEMENT CLOSED THE OCTOBER -- AUGUST 2 WILL BE FROM SUPERIOR 535 IF YOU WANT TO GO UP AGAIN PIEDMONT AVENUE HIGHWAY 53 WILL BE TAKEN OFF AT GARFIELD.

AND I THINK WILL GO OVER 1ST STREET 21ST THAT HE CAN GET ON THE ON RAMP AND GO BACK UP YOU MIGHT AVENUE.

THIS WILL BE CLEARLY POSTED ON OUR WEBSITE, 511.

IF YOU ARE USING A SMART PHONE, YOU CAN PREPROGRAM IT FOR WHERE YOU WANT TO GO AND LISTEN TO IT.

DENNY: EVENTUALLY?

?

WILL THE BRIDGE ALSO GET A REMAKE PAT: WE ARE WORKING ON THE BLAHNIK PROJECT.

THE SHORT ANSWER IS, THERE WILL BE A SIGNIFICANT PROJECT AROUND 2028.

WE ARE WORKING NOW ON NEPA, THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENT A POLICY ACT.

WE LOOK AT THE WORLD OF POSSIBILITIES, AND BRING IT TO UP ONE PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE WITH THE LEAST IMPACT.

I CANNOT SAY WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE BECAUSE WE ARE NOT THERE YET.

WE WILL GET THERE IN 2023.

I WILL SAY, AT A MINIMUM, IT WOULD BE REPLACING THE MAIN SPAN.

DENNY: SURE.

JULIE: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING IN.

I IMAGINE WE WILL HAVE YOU BACK HERE IN A FEW TIMES THROUGH THE COURSE OF THIS PROJECT.

BECAUSE IT IS GOING TO BE EXTENDING A FEW YEARS.

PAT: IT WILL BE THREE AND A HALF YEARS.

DENNY: THANK YOU, PAT.

PAT: YOU ARE WELCOME.

♪ JULIE: IT'S TIME NOW FOR "VOICES OF THE REGION".

EACH WEEK WE HEAR FROM A JOURNALIST IN THE AREA ABOUT THE STORIES THEY ARE COVERING.

THIS WEEK DANIELLE KAEDING, A REPORTER WITH WISCONSIN PUBLIC RADIO, IS OUR GUEST.

♪ DANIELLE: AS A NEW EFFORT UNDERWAY TO TRANSFER BURIAL LANDS OF FOND DU LAC CHIPPEWA BACK TO THE TRIBE.

FOR THOSE WHO REMEMBER, MORE THAN 100 YEARS AGO, IN 1918, NEARLY 200 BRAVES -- GRAYS WERE REMOVED FROM THE BURIAL GROUNDS AT WISCONSIN POINT.

THAT SITE REPRESENTS THE ENDPOINT OF THE OJIBWAY MIGRATION STORY FOR THE FOND DU LAC AND.

-- BAN -- BAND.

SEVEN GENERATIONS HAVE BEEN BURIED AT THAT CEMETERY INCLUDING A CHIEF.

NOW, WITH THIS NEW EFFORT, THIS APPEARER CITY COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY PASSED A RESOLUTION TO SUPPORT TRANSFERRING THOSE LANDS INTO THE OWNERSHIP, OR PLACED IN FEDERAL TRUST, FOR THE FOND DU LAC BAND.

THEY WOULD OVERSEE THE CARE OF THOSE PROPERTIES.

THOSE GRAYS WERE REMOVED FOR U.S. STEEL.

THEY HAVE PLANS TO BUILD ORE DOCS THAT WERE NEVER BUILT.

SO FOR THE FOND DU LAC BAND, THIS IS WAY TO MOVE FORWARD IN A GOOD WAY.

THE TRIBAL CHAIRMAN SAID, WE REALLY CANNOT GO BACK AND MAKE THINGS RIGHT.

WHAT IS DONE IS DONE.

BUT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD.

AND TRY TO MOVE THINGS FORWARD IN A DIFFERENT WAY, TO RECOGNIZE AND REALIZE WE ARE ALL HUMANS.

THAT THEY DESERVE RESPECT.

HE SAID, THIS WAS AN ACT OF HUMANITY.

SO THIS IS SOMETHING HE HAS BEEN WORKING ON WITH COUNSELOR JENNY VAN SICKLE WHO HAS BEEN SPEARHEADING THIS EFFORT WITH THE TRIBE.

SHE WAS OVERCOME BY EMOTION TUESDAY, ABOUT REACHING THIS POINT.

YOU KNOW, SHE IS THE FIRST NATIVE AMERICAN COUNCILMEMBER FOR SUPERIOR CITY COUNCIL.

♪ DANIELLE: THE TOWNS OF GOLDEN AND GORDON WERE LEFT IN THE LURCH AND AT THE MERCY OF THE GOOD GRACES OF THE SURROUNDING SERVICES, THAT WOULD BE WILLING TO RESPOND WHENEVER THEY RECEIVED A CALL.

THEY USUALLY RECEIVE 30 CALLS EACH YEAR.

SO IT IS NOT A LOT.

BUT IT IS SOMETHING THEY HAVE STRUGGLING TO DEAL WITH, BECAUSE IT IS HARD TO FIND VOLUNTEERS IN THE AREA, TO BE PART OF THIS AMBULANCE SERVICE.

YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WHO GET CERTIFIED AS EMT OR FIRST RESPONDER, CAN PAY FROM $500 TO $1500 JUST TO GET THE LEVEL OF CERTIFICATION THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO HELP OUT.

THEY HAVE ENCOUNTERED DIFFICULTIES WITH A NATIONAL EXAM THEY NEED TO PASS, TO QUALIFY AND TAKE PART.

IN THE SERVICE.

.

SO THE AMBULANCE SERVICE DIRECTORS IN THE AREA STRUGGLED WITH THIS.

BUT THEY WERE ABLE TO SIGN A CONTRACT TO GOLDEN AND GORDON WERE ABLE TO SIGN A CONTRACT WITH TWO OTHER TOWNS.

BASICALLY, THE GLIDDEN AREA EMS, OPERATING AS A FIRST RESPONDER SERVICE, WILL NOW OPERATE AS AN AMBULANCE SERVICE AND TRANSPORT PEOPLE IN NEED FOR THOSE TWO TOWNS.

♪ DANIELLE: THE CURRENT NATURAL RESOURCES BOARD CHAIR, HE HAS BEEN IN THIS POSITION AND WAS APPOINTED BY -- UNDER GOVERNOR STOTT WALKER'S ADMINISTRATION.

HIS TERM CAME UP ON MAY 1 AND SO GOVERNOR TONY EVERS, A DEMOCRAT, APPOINTED SANDRA DINOZ, AND ASHLAND SCHOOL TEACHER WHO HAS EXPERIENCE IN THE FIELD OF CONSERVATION.

SHE HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO TAKE HER SEAT ON THE BOARD, BECAUSE THE CURRENT CHAIR, FRED CRANE, HAS REFUSED TO STEP DOWN.

NOW THERE HAS BEEN A CHALLENGE REGARDING THAT.

THE HUMANE SOCIETY OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY ARE SAYING, WAIT A MINUTE.

WE DO NOT BELIEVE HE IS LAWFULLY OCCUPYING THE SEAT.

WE WANT THE WISCONSIN ATTORNEY GENERAL, JOSH KAUL, TO TAKE A LOOK AT THIS, AND TAKE A SPECIAL FORM OF LEGAL ACTION THAT WOULD EXAMINE WHETHER OR NOT HE HAS THE RIGHT TO HOLD A PUBLIC OFFICE.

THEY ARE ASKING THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO TAKE SWIFT ACTION TO REVIEW THAT BEFORE THE NEXT MEETING IN AUGUST.

♪ DANIELLE: I THINK IT WAS 1971, WHEN KAREEM ABDUL-JABBAR HELPED LEAD THE BUCKS TO THE NBA CHAMPIONS.

AND NOW, GIANNIS HAS HELPED THE BUCKS CLAIM VICTORY AGAIN, HE SCORED 50 POINTS IN THE GAME TUESDAY NIGHT.

THEY DID IT IN SIX GAMES AGAINST THE PHOENIX SUNS.

SO THERE WAS A LOT OF CELEBRATION LAST NIGHT IN MILWAUKEE AND I'M SURE THERE WAS CELEBRATION AND SUPERIOR AS WELL.

IF YOU REMEMBER BACK IN DECEMBER, GIANNIS SIGNED A FIVE-YEAR CONTRACT WITH THE DULUTH WHICH WAS SURPRISING AT -- WITH THE BUCKS, WHICH WAS SURPRISING AT THE TIME.

IT WOULD HAVE BEEN EASY PRIME TO GO TO ANOTHER TEAM BUT I GUESS IT SHOWED THAT STUBBORN SYDENHAM.

I THINK PEOPLE ARE HAPPY -- THE STUBBORN SIDE OF HIM.

I THINK PEOPLE ARE HAPPY THEY GET TO KEEP THEM FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.

♪ DENNY: THE 2020 SHIPPING SEASON IN THE TWIN PORTS WAS IMPACTED SUBSTANTIALLY BY THE GLOBAL PANDEMIC.

BUT AT ABOUT THE MID-POINT OF THE 2021 GREAT LAKES SHIPPING SEASON, THERE IS REASON FOR OPTIMISM.

HERE TO UPDATE US ON A BOUNCE-BACK IN SHIPPING IS JAYSON HRON, THE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATION AND MARKETING WITH THE DULUTH SEAWAY PORT AUTHORITY.

WELCOME THANKS FOR BEING HERE!

AND LAST YEAR DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC, SHIPPING WAS WAY DOWN IN THE TWIN PORTS.

WHAT IS IT LIKE NOW?

JAYSON: IT WAS.

IT WAS THE LOWEST TONNAGE IN THE PORT OF BLISS APPEARS SINCE 1938 SO COVID DEFINITELY HAD A MONSTROUS IMPACT ON TONNAGE CHIPS THROUGH THE PORT.

THINK ARE LOOKING BETTER NOW AS YOU NOTED.

THROUGH JUNE WE HAD REALLY GOOD NUMBERS.

IN TERMS OF TOTAL TONNAGE WE ARE 3.5% AHEAD OF THE FIVE SEASON AVERAGE.

THAT IS A GOOD FIGURE.

THAT HAS BEEN DRIVEN THIS YEAR BY IRON OR, WHICH IS WELL AHEAD OF ITS PACE LAST YEAR, ALMOST 40% AHEAD OF LAST YEAR'S PACE.

JUNE, IN PARTICULAR, WAS A GREAT MONTH FOR IRON ORE. WE HAD 2.3 MILLION TONS OF IRON ORE, THE MOST AND A MONTH SINCE AUGUST, 2019, AND THE MOST IN A JUNE SINCE 2014.

SO, IRON ORE HAS BEEN SURGING, WITH A SPORT HAVING 55% OF ITS TOTAL TONNAGE CONTRIBUTIVE BY IRON ORE.

WHENEVER IRON ORE IS DOING WELL IT IS A GOOD THING FOR THE PART OF SUPERIOR.

JULIE: ANY NEW OR UNIQUE CARGOES YOU SEE COMING TO THE PORT AS THE ECONOMY STARTS OPENING UP?

JAYSON: THERE ARE SOME NEW AND UNIQUE CARGOES.

ONE THAT IS INTERESTING THIS YEAR HAS BEEN AN ON-AGAIN OFF-AGAIN CARGO, PETROLEUM COKE.

THAT IS A BYPRODUCT OF THE REFINING PROCESS USED IN DIFFERENT MANUFACTURING PROCESSES ELSEWHERE.

WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF THAT MOVE THROUGH THE PORT THIS YEAR AND IT HAS HELPED LIFT WHEN WE CATEGORIZE IT STATISTICALLY WE LUMP THAT IN WITH OUR COLD TONNAGE -- COAL TONNAGE.

WE ARE UP AROUND 900,000 SHORT TONS OF THAT FOR THE SEASON, FAR AHEAD OF THE PREVIOUS PACE.

PET COKE HAS BEEN TRANSITING THE PORT AT VARIOUS TIMES FOR THE LAST THREE DECADES.

SOMETIMES NOT SO MUCH.

THIS YEAR THERE HAS BEEN A SURGE, SO THAT IS NICE.

THE WIND CARGO HAS BEEN A BIG LEFT IN TERMS OF A NUKE-- NEW LIFT, IN TERMS OF A NEW CARGO.

DENNY: OCEAN?

JAYSON: YES BUT NOT AS STRONG AS SOME YEARS BECAUSE GRAIN HAS BEEN SLOW THIS YEAR.

THE TOTAL NUMBER OF OCEANGOING VESSELS THROUGH JUNE IS UP A LITTLE OVER LAST YEAR.

I THINK IT WAS 20 THE LAST TIME I CHECKED.

OCEANGOING TRAFFIC IS STILL DOING WELL BRINGING IN A LOT OF PROJECT CARGOES LIKE THE WIND CARGOES.

AND MOST RECENTLY REACTOR PARTS THAT WENT TO THE REFINERY AND SUPERIOR.

JULIE: GETTING THOSE PIECES AND PARTS OF THE REFINERY IN AN OUT OF THE PORT HAS BEEN A CHALLENGE WITH THE TWIN PORTS INTERCHANGE RECONSTRUCTION, HAS THAT CREATED NEW ISSUES FOR YOU THIS YEAR?

JAYSON: IT IS ONE OF THE BENEFITS OF THE PORT OF DULUTH-SUPERIOR.

IN TERMS OF NATIONWIDE PORTS, OURS IS ONE OF THE LEAST CONGESTED.

SO CARGO MOVES WELL THROUGH OUR PART.

THERE ARE ALWAYS CHALLENGES.

CERTAINLY, THE EFFECT OF SOME OF THE TWIN PORTS INTERCHANGE PROJECT AND SOME LEGACY INFRASTRUCTURE THAT CANNOT FACILITATE GIANT WIND CARGOES HAS BEEN A CHALLENGE.

WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THAT AND PAT TALKED ABOUT IT EARLIER WITH WIND CARGOES HAVING TO DETOUR AROUND CITY STREETS AND SMALLER ROADS, NOT A SOLUTION ANY OF US WANT FROM A FREIGHT HANDLING STANDPOINT, IT SLOWS THINGS DOWN IT MAKES IT MORE EXPENSIVE.

AND FROM A SAFETY STANDPOINT, IT IS NOT IDEAL.

DEFINITELY LOOKING FORWARD TO THOSE CHANGES COMING FROM THE TWIN PORTS INTERCHANGE PROJECT, TO EXPEDITE CARGO MOVEMENT THROUGH THE PORT.

AND SPECIFICALLY THAT GARFIELD AVENUE RAMPS, WE HOPE AND UP BECOMING A PART OF -- A COMPONENT OF THE PROJECT IT DOES HAPPEN SOONER RATHER THAN LATER.

DENNY: RAIL IMPROVEMENT IS ON THE SCHEDULE FOR EARLY NEXT SPRING.

CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT IT?

JAYSON: WE RECENTLY RECEIVED A GRANT FROM MNDOT FOR RAIL IMPROVEMENT.

IT WILL HELP US UPGRADE A CHUNK OF RAIL ON OUR CLEAR PUBLIC MARINE TERMINAL BUILT WITH THE THEN INDUSTRY STANDARD OF 100 POUND RAIL AND WE WILL BE ABLE TO UPGRADE THAT TO 115 POUND RAIL SO IT WILL MEET THE INDUSTRY STANDARD.

WE WILL BE ABLE TO SMOOTH THE GRADE OF THE CORNER A LITTLE BIT AND TAKE CARE OF THE CONCRETE OVERLAYS ON THAT STRETCH OF THE TERMINAL.

IT IS A REALLY IMPORTANT STRETCH OF THE PUBLIC MARINE TERMINAL RAIL.

DULUTHDULUTH IT SERVES CARGO CONNECT -- IT SERVES DULUTH CARGO CONNECT AND OTHER TENANTS ON HOW THEY CAN MOVE THEIR CARGO.

WE ARE EXCITED TO SEE THAT GRANT COME THROUGH.

JULIE: A LOT OF CONVERSATION AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL ABOUT FEDERAL INFO STRUCTURE FUNDING.

ANY HIGH HOPES?

FOR THE PACKAGE?

JAYSON: THERE IS DEFTLY HIGH HOPES REPORTS NATIONWIDE.

THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF TALK ABOUT THAT FROM THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF PORT AUTHORITIES.

THE PORT OF DULUTH-SUPERIOR IS IN THAT GROUP.

ALSO LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING THOSE DOLLARS INVESTED AT THE SUE LOCKS TO HELP FACILITATE THAT TRANSFER OF CARGO ACROSS LAKE SUPERIOR AND LOWER LEGS.

DEFINITELY HIGH HOPES ON THAT.

THERE HAS BEEN BIPARTISAN REPRESENTATION IN THIS PORT, TALKING ABOUT THE NEED FOR THOSE INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS, IN TERMS GREAT LAKES SHIPPING.

WE ARE EXCITED TO BE A PART OF IT AND BENEFIT FROM IT.

DENNY: HOW MANY VESSELS VISIT THE TWIN PORTS IN ONE YEAR?

JAYSON: IN THE AVERAGE YEAR, SOMETIMES AROUND 700.

NOW WE ARE OVER 300 TO THIS POINT IN THE SEASON, SO WE ARE TRACKING TOWARD THAT 700 NUMBER CLOSELY.

DENNY: VERY GOOD.

I THINK WE ARE OUT OF TIME.

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

JAYSON: THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

JULIE: FINALLY, TONIGHT WE WANT , TO THANK KAREN SUNDERMAN FOR HER 27 YEARS OF OUTSTANDING WORK HERE AT WDSE.

TODAY IS HER LAST DAY AT THE STATION, AS SHE MOVES ON TO NEW OPPORTUNITIES.

KAREN BEGAN HERE IN 1994, PRODUCING STORIES FOR VENTURE NORTH.

SHE SPENT 15 YEARS GUIDING THAT SERIES, THEN WENT ON TO CREATE OUR "GREAT GARDENING" PROGRAM.

AND LATER, THE ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT SERIES, "THE PLAYLIST".

DURING THAT TIME, SHE ALSO PRODUCED SEVERAL DOCUMENTARIES AND WON TWO REGIONAL EMMY AWARDS, ALONG WITH GARNERING A HOST OF EMMY NOMINATIONS.

THE PAST THREE YEARS, SHE HAS BEEN PRODUCING "MAKING IT UP NORTH", AND OF COURSE YOU SEE HER SMILING FACE DURING MEMBERSHIP DRIVES HERE AT THE STATION.

IT HAS BEEN QUITE A CAREER.

DIFFICULT TO SUM UP IN JUST A IT IS FEW SENTENCES.

HER LONG-TIME PRODUCTION SO TEAM-MATE STEVE ASH PUT , TOGETHER THIS VIDEO OF KAREN'S WORK THROUGH THE YEARS: [VIDEO CLIP] >> WE ARE HAPPY THIS WEEK TO INTRODUCE TO THE NEWEST MEMBER OF OUR VENTURE NORTH TEAM, KAREN, GREAT TO HAVE YOU HERE.

>> GREAT TO BE HERE.

WELCOME TO VENTURE NORTH.

>> WE ARE GLAD YOU COULD JOIN US FOR A LOOK AT WHAT IS HAPPENING ACROSS THE NORTH LAND.

KAREN: HELLO AND WELCOME TO VENTURE NORTH.

GLAD YOU ARE WITH US.

PLACES TO GO AND PEOPLE TO MEET THIS WEEK ON VENTURE NORTH.

KAREN: JOIN US FOR ART, HISTORY, AND ADVENTURE THIS WEEK ON THE CORNUCOPIA EDITION OF VENTURE NORTH.

THERE IS A LOT TO LEARN IN THIS WORLD OF OURS.

THIS WEEK YOU WILL FIND OUT ABOUT NEW WAYS TO SPEND YOUR TIME.

KAREN: NANCY STRIVES -- STRIDES THROUGH HER YARD WITH AN AIR OF CONFIDENCE.

AS A MASTER GARDENER SHE IS COMFORTABLE AMONG FLOWERBEDS AND VEGETABLE PLOTS.

KAREN: IT WON'T BE LONG NOW BEFORE OUR GARDENS TAKE OFF AND WITH ADVICE FROM NANCY I MAY EVEN HAVE LUCK.

KAREN: WELCOME TO ANOTHER EDITION OF GREAT GARDENING.

IT IS TIME TO TALK VEGETABLES.

THIS WENT REALLY FAST.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I AM SURE MORE QUESTIONS WILL COME UP AS WE CONTINUE TO GROW IN THE GROWING SEASON BUT WE ARE OFF TO A GREAT START.

KAREN: METALWORKERS GET DIRTY WHILE FORGING COMMUNITY.

SEIZE THE MOMENT WITH A PASTEL PAINTER AND LIVE MUSIC FROM JAMES DAMORE'S.

YOUR PLAYLIST IS NEXT.

KAREN: THANK YOU FOR SPENDING THE NIGHT WITH US.

REMEMBER TO GO OUT AT LIVE MUSIC AND LOCAL ART.

>> HIGH FIVE, GIVE ME SOME LOVE.

KAREN: GENTLEMEN.

[APPLAUSE] KAREN: TONIGHT, 40 ARTISTS PUT THEIR PAINTBRUSHES ON THE LINE, THE QUICK PAINT PORTION OF THE COMPETITIVE PLEINE AIRE COMPETITION ABOUT TO BEGIN.

[HORN] ♪ >> IT IS IMPORTANT NOT TO PANIC.

KAREN: YOU HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION, THIS IS IT.

AND THEN GO FOR IT.

MAKING IT, WE ALL TRY TO MAKE IT AND ALL HAVE SOMETHING TO LEARN IN THIS EPISODE MEET FOR PEOPLE IN THE PROCESS OF MAKING IT.

>> IT IS FUN.

IT IS AN EXTREMELY FUN PLACE, AND ENERGETIC SPACE.

A SPACE WITH A LOT OF ENERGY EVERY DAY.

♪ KAREN: CONGRATULATIONS FOR KAREN: GOOD LUCK.

♪ JULIE: WE ARE REALLY GOING TO MISS YOU HERE AT THE STATION.

I AM SURE VIEWERS WILL AS WELL.

IT HAS BEEN PHENOMENAL.

DENNY: FOR 27 YEARS WE HAVE INFANT WATCHING WHAT SHE HAS PRODUCED, A MYRIAD OF -- 427 YEARS WE HAVE BEEN WATCHING WHAT SHE HAS PRODUCED, A MYRIAD OF STORIES.

JULIE: AND WE WATCHED HER GROW UP.

DENNY: WE DID.

JULIE: GOOD LUCK TO KAREN.

DENNY: ALWAYS.

JULIE: THAT IS OUR TIME FOR THIS WEEK.

YOU CAN KEEP UP WITH OUR LATEST POSTS BY FOLLOWING ALMANAC NORTH ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.

VISIT THE WDSE WEBSITE FOR PROGRAM UPDATES, UPCOMING EVENTS AND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE , STATION.

AND DOWNLOAD THE PBS VIDEO APP FOR ON-DEMAND VIEWING OF YOUR FAVORITE PBS PROGRAMS AND PAST EPISODES OF ALMANAC NORTH.

AND DENNY, LET'S HOPE FOR SOME , RAIN TO PUT A DAMPER ON THIS DROUGHT!

DENNY: WE COULD GET SOME MOISTURE, ISN'T THAT THE TRUTH.

JULIE: IT WILL COME, I DON'T THINK THIS WEEKEND.

CREW HERE IN THE STUDIO!

WITH DENNIS ANDERSON, I AM JULIE ZENNER.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME!

♪