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

>> CATHY: ON TONIGHT'S SHOW, ALL-STAR WEATHER DUO MARK SEELEY AND PAUL DOUGLAS ARE HERE.

KAOMI LEE SPENT TIME LAST WEEK AT GEORGE FLOYD SQUARE IN MINNEAPOLIS.

DOMINIC PAPATOLA HAS AN ESSAY FOR US.

AND OUR FORMER SPEAKER DUO RETURNS TO THE COUCH.

THAT'S ALL COMING UP ON "ALMANAC."

♪ >> "ALMANAC" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY MEMBERS OF THIS PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION.

SUPPORT IS ALSO PROVIDED BY... GREAT RIVER ENERGY: PROVIDING WHOLESALE POWER TO 1.7 MILLION PEOPLE THROUGH ITS MEMBER-OWNER COOPERATIVES AND CUSTOMERS.

DELTA DENTAL OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION: IMPROVING ORAL HEALTH AND HELPING COMMUNITIES THRIVE.

DELTADENTALMN.ORG/TPT.

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

MORE AT EDUCATIONMINNESOTA.ORG.

>> CATHY: COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR, MARK SEELEY AND PAUL DOUGLAS ARE HERE TO TALK WEATHER FORECASTING IN AN ERA OF FEWER FEDERAL RESOURCES.

DOMINIC PAPATOLA HAS A SUGGESTION FOR MINNESOTA SPORTS FANS.

KAOMI LEE WAS AT GEORGE FLOYD SQUARE LAST WEEKEND.

AND OUR FORMER HOUSE SPEAKER DUO IS HERE TO BREAK DOWN THE BUDGET TALK CHALLENGES AT THE STATE CAPITOL.

>> ERIC: POLITICAL NEWS OUT OF THE NATION'S CAPITOL IS WHERE WE START TONIGHT.

THIS WEEK HAS BROUGHT MORE COURT DECISIONS.

ELON MUSK HAS LEFT THE ADMINISTRATION.

AND THE U.S. SENATE HAS YET TO TAKE ACTION ON THE BUDGET BILL PASSED BY THE HOUSE LAST WEEK.

DAVID SCHULTZ TEACHES POLITICAL SCIENCE AT HAMLINE UNIVERSITY AND IS ALSO AN ADJUNCT LAW PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ST. THOMAS.

A LOT OF ACTION WITH TRUMP IS IN THE COURTS AND I WONDER, WHAT'S THE SCORE CARD?

>> WHAT THE SCORE CARD IS RIGHT NOW IS TRUMP LOSING MOSTLY IN THE COURTS AND THIS IS CONSISTENT WITH WHAT WE SAW IN HIS FIRTH TERM.

LOOK AT ALL THE PRESIDENTS BACK TO ROOSEVELT AND LOOK AT THEIR TRACK RECORD IN COURT, TRUMP HAS THE WORST TRACK RECORD OF ANY PRESIDENT.

THE LAST 80 YEARS.

HE'S WINNING LESS THAN 50% OF HIS CASES IN COURT.

AND THE SAME THING IS HAPPENING NOW.

I THINK THE NUMBER RIGHT NOW IS WAY LESS THAN 50%.

SO I'LL TEACH -- DO REALLY QUICK CONSTITUTIONAL LAW.

PRESIDENTS CAN EITHER DO THINGS BECAUSE THEY HAVE INHERENT CONSTITUTIONAL POWER TO DO IT, OR THEY'RE DELEGATED POWER FROM CONGRESS.

IN THE CASE OF TRUMP, HE'S LOSING BECAUSE HE'S EITHER NOT GOING WITHIN THE DOMAINS OF WHAT DELEGATED POWER HE >> > HAS, OR HE'S ACTING BEYOND THE POWER THAT HE HAS AS PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

AND THAT'S WHAT THE COURTS ARE SAYING.

HE'S ALSO LOSING, BECAUSE WHAT?

IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO CERTAIN THINGS, THERE'S RULES AND PROCESS YOU HAVE TO FOLLOW AND HE'S NOT FOLLOWING IT.

>> Cathy: OKAY, SO HE'S LOSING IN COURT, BUT ARE WE SEEING ANY RAMIFICATIONS TO THESE LOSSES IN COURT?

>> THEY KEEP PILING UP.

ON ONE LEVEL, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO SAY, WELL, DOES IT REALLY MATTER?

IT ACTUALLY DOES MATTER BECAUSE WHAT'S HAPPENING IS THAT HE'S GETTING TIED UP IN COURT.

HAVING TO SPEND INCREDIBLE AMOUNTS OF RESOURCES, JUSTICE DEPARTMENT RESOURCES TO KEEP DEFENDING HILLSELF, IN SOME CASES, HE HAS TO FIGURE OUT WAY TEAS TO TRY TO WORK AROUND THEM.

SO HE'S GOING THROUGH THE SAME PATTERN HE WENT THROUGH IN HIS FIRST TERM WHERE HE SPENT SO MUCH TIME IN COURT THAT IT REALLY TAKES AWAY FROM THE EFFECTIVENESS OR THE ABILITY FOR HIM TO DO ANYTHING.

>> Cathy: THERE WAS A LAWSUIT FILED TODAY BY PBS AND LAKELAND PUBLIC TELEVISION BASED IN BEMIDJI, MINNESOTA, IN FAR NORTHERN MINNESOTA.

THEY'RE SAYING THAT THE EXECUTIVE ORDERS TO BLOCK CPB MONEY IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

AND THEY SAY CONGRESS HAS THE POWER, NOT TRUMP, TO FUND OR DEFUND THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING.

WHERE IS CONGRESS?

WELL, CONGRESS IS AT THAT POINT NOT DOING ITS JOB UNDER CHECKS AND BALANCES AND SEPARATION OF POWERS.

CONGRESS COULD COME IN AND SAY, YES, WE'RE GOING TO DEFUND AND PASS A LAW TO BASICALLY DO THAT.

BUT IT'S NOT DOING IT AND IT'S SORT OF ACRE SORT OF AC ACQUIESCING TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES IN TERMS OF HESE THINGS.- AN TERMS OF HESE THINGS.- AND ERMS OF HESE THINGS.- AND THMS OF HESE THINGS.- AND THIS OF HESE THINGS.- AND THIS GF HESE THINGS.- AND THIS GETHESE THINGS.- AND THIS GETS SE THINGS.- AND THIS GETS BA THINGS.- AND THIS GETS BACKHINGS.- AND THIS GETS BACK TNGS.- AND THIS GETS BACK TO S.- AND THIS GETS BACK TO MY- AND THIS GETS BACK TO MY- COMMENT FROM BEFORE HERE.

AGAIN, AMONG OTHER THINGS, WHAT?

APPROPRIATIONS AND SPENDING ARE LODGED WITH CONGRESS AND WHEN THEY PASS LAWS, THAT DETERMINES WHO GETS FUNDED OR DOESN'T GET FUNDED.

AND HERE THE PRESIDENT CAN'T JUST UNILATERALLY CUT THE FUNDS.

THIS IS THE BATTLE THAT WE'VE 50 YEARS WITH RICHARD NIXON WHO TRIED TO SAY THAT I'M NOT GOING TO SPEND FUNDS THAT CONGRESS HAS APPROPRIATED.

AND THE PRESIDENT LOST THEN.

SO THE ARGUMENT THAT'S BEING MADE HERE IS THE PRESIDENT IS USING POWERS THAT HE DOES NOT HAVE.

HE'S OT DELEGATED THIS AUTHORITY.

HE DOESN'T HAVE INHERENT PRESIDENTIAL AUTHORITY TO DO WHAT HE WANTS TO DO.

>> Eric: HAS PRESIDENT TRUMP REDEFINED THE OUTER LIMITS OF THE PRESIDENCY PERMANENTLY OR IS THIS A NE-OFF?

>> I THINK IT'S A COMBINATION OF BOTH.

I THINK HE'S ALSO DEFINED IT ONE OFF IN TERMS OF WHAT THE SUPREME COURT DID, FOR EXAMPLE, IN TRUMP VERSUS THE UNITED STATES.

SAID LAST YEAR, THAT THE PRESIDENTS CAN'T BE INDICTED FOR ACTION WHILE THEY'RE SITTING PRESIDENT.

BUT, YEAH, HE'S CLEARLY PUSHED THE PRESIDENCY FAR BEYOND WHAT WE NORMALLY THINK AND WHERE HE'S MOSTLY PUSHED THE PRESIDENCY IS IN TERMS OF WHAT WE WOULD CALL UNWRITTEN NORMS, EXPECT PRESIDENTS OR PEOPLE IN GOVERNMENT NOT TO DO CERTAIN THINGS.

>> Cathy: YOU TAUGHT IN EUROPE.

YOU'VE HAVE TIES TO EUROPE.

I'M WONDERING WHAT YOU THINK OF CPAC, THAT GROUP OF AMERICAN REPUBLICANS HOLDING THEIR MEETING IN HUNGARRY AND POLE YENNED.

IN HUNGARRY YOU HAVE VIKTOR ORBAN.

WHY ARE REPUBLICANS SO ENAMORED WITH THIS GUY?

AND DO YOU SEE THE POTENTIAL OF THINGS HAPPENING HERE?

>> WELL, THIS IS AN INTERESTING QUESTION.

IN TERMS OF -- BECAUSE DONALD TRUMP IS VERY MUCH ENAMORED BY STRONG MEN.

HE'S ACTING AS KIND OF LIKE A STRONG EXECUTIVE.

AND IN SOME SENSE, TRUMP HAS EMBRACED ORBAN, HAS EMBRACED SOME OF THESE STRONG EXECUTIVES ACROSS THE WORLD AND FOR THE REPUBLICANS WHO WANT TO BE IN GOOD GRACES WITH HIM, I THINK THEY'RE ALSO SIMILARLY SUPPORTING HIM.

BUT ALSO WHAT WE SEE IN PLACES LIKE HUNGARY, FOR EXAMPLE, IS A VERY SIMILAR DIVIDE LIKE THE UNITED STATES.

THE CITIES SUCH AS THE BUT YA PEST ARE VOTING OVERWHELMINGLY FOR THE OPPOSITION VERSUS THE RURAL AREAS ARE MUCH MORE SUPPORTIVE OF TRADITIONAL VALUES AND THAT LINES UP EXACTLY WHERE THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS UNDER TRUMP RIGHT NOW.

>> Eric: YOUR BEST 30 SECONDS ON HARVARD.

>> YOU'RE PICKING ON AN INSTITUTION THAT HAS A LOT OF MONEY WITH A LOT OF LEGAL TALENT TO FIGHT BACK.

THIS IS GOING TO BE AN INTERESTING TO SEE.

THE HEAD HE -- HAD HE PICKED ON, I DON'T KNOW, THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA, THAT DOESN'T HAVE THE SAME LEGAL RESOURCES.

SO IN TERMS OF THAT FIGHT, HARVARD'S GOING TO PROBABLY WIN MOST OF THOSE LEGAL BATTLES BECAUSE THERE'S A WHOLE BUNCH OF SEPARATION OF POWERS, DISCRIMINATION ISSUES, BUT IF WE GO IN A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT DIRECTION, IT'S ABOUT HITTING HARVARD ALSO HITS AT THE CENTER OF A LOT OF OUR LEARNING.

>> Eric: THANKS FOR SHARING.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR INPUT TONIGHT.

♪ >> CATHY: THURSDAY NIGHT, THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION NOTIFIED 20 MINNESOTA COUNTIES, THE CITIES OF MINNEAPOLIS AND ST. PAUL, AND THE STATE ITSELF THAT THEY ARE IN VIOLATION OF FEDERAL IMMIGRATION LAW.

QUESTIONS LINGER FOR IMMIGRANTS FROM VENEZUELA AND AFGHANISTAN AFTER THE SUPREME COURT RULED IN FAVOR OF REVOKING TEMPORARY PROTECTED STATUS.

AND PRESIDENT TRUMP HA TODAY THE SUPREME COURT ALLOWED THE ADMINISTRATION TO TEMPORARILY PAUSE THE HUMAN TAR EVERYONE PROGRAM FOR NEARLY HALF A MILLION PEOPLE.

JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT CURRENT IMMIGRATION QUESTIONS IN MINNESOTA, IMMIGRATION LAWYER ANA POTTRATZ ACOSTA.

SHE ALSO TEACHES AT THE MITCHELL HAMLINE SCHOOL OF LAW.

WELCOME BACK.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> Cathy: THERE'S A LOT TO TALK ABOUT HERE.

THERE WAS EARLIER AND NOW YOU'RE BACK.

OKAY, SO I WONDER WHAT YOU THOUGHT OF TODAY'S RULING, THE TEMPORARY BLOCK TO A BIDEN-ERA HUMANITARIAN PROGRAM.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

>> WELL, SO JUST TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND AS TO WHAT THIS PROGRAM WAS.

SO THERE WAS A PROGRAM THAT WAS USED BY THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.

IT WAS ONE OF SEVERAL PROGRAMS THAT WERE USED BY THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO CREATE WAFFLE PATHWAYS FOR PEOPLE TO COME IN WITH HUMANITARIAN STATUS AND IT WAS SPECIFIC FOR NATIONALS OF CERTAIN COUNTRIES.

SO IN THIS CASE, OR IN THIS PARTICULAR DECISION, IT WAS RELATED TO NATIONALS OF CUBA, HAITI, NICARAGUA, AND VEIN EXPWIL YA.

SO IT WAS KNOWN AS THE C.H.N.V.

PATROL PROGRAM.

AND THE PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM REALLY WAS TO EASE UNLAWFUL ENTRIES OR PRESSURE AT THE SOUTHERN BORDER AND CREATE LAWFUL PATHWAYS TO COME IN.

ONCE PEOPLE CAME IN, THEY ERE GRANTED PAROLEE STATUS FOR TWO YEARS AND WORK AUTHORIZATION AND THE GOAL WAS THAT THEY WOULD COME IN LAWFULLY THROUGH THIS PATHWAY, AND THEN PURSUE AN ASYLUM CLAIM.

AND WHAT HAPPENED WAS THAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION MADE A DECISION TO TERMINATE HUMANITARIAN PAROLE BEFORE THE TWO-YEAR PERIOD EXPIRED.

AND THAT AS CHALLENGED IN COURT.

AND THEN NOW WITH TODAY'S DECISION, THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS ALLOWED TO TERMINATE STATUS, WHICH MEANS THAT YOU HAVE APPROXIMATELY 500,000 PEOPLE WHO NO LONGER HAVE LAWFUL STATUS IN THE COUNTRY.

>> Eric: DO FEDERAL PROSECUTORS HAVE ANY DISCRETION AS THEY CHARGE THESE CASES OUT?

>> YES.

AND THAT WAS ACTUALLY ANOTHER POLICY UNDER THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.

WAS THAT THEY USED PROSECUTORIAL DISCRETION IN TERMS OF WHO THEY DECIDED TO PLACE IN REMOVAL PROCEEDINGS AND A LOT OF CASES WERE ACTUALLY TERMINATED OR DISMISSED USING PROSECUTORIAL DISCRETION.

ONE OF THE CHANGES UNDER THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION WAS TO DO AWAY WITH A LOT OF THE PROSECUTORIAL DISCRETION MEASURES THAT WERE USED DURING THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.

AND THE PROBLEM IS THAT RIGHT NOW, HOSE DECISIONS ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT TO EXERCISE PROSECUTORIAL DISCRETION, A LOT OF THAT DISCRETION IS BEING TAKEN AWAY AT THE LOCAL LEVEL AND THOSE DECISIONS ARE BEING MADE AT H.Q., BY THE HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, SO IN THIS CASE, IT WOULD BE WITH SECRETARY NOEN.

>> Cathy: WHEN YOU WERE HERE THE FIRST TIME, T WAS CHAOTIC.

THE ADMINISTRATION SAID SOMEONE IT DEPORTED SOMEONE 28 MINUTES AFTER THE HALT OF THE COURT ORDER.

AND THE ADMINISTRATION SAYS IT'S JUST AN ERROR.

YOU HEAR THAT AND YOU THINK WHAT?

>> I MEAN, I -- [ SIGHS ] I'M NERVOUS AS A LAWYER TO SORT OF BE A CHICKEN LITTLE, BUT WHEN YOU HAVE A SITUATION WHERE A COURT HAS ISSUED AN ORDER IN JOINING THE ADMINISTRATION FROM TAKING CERTAIN ACTION AND THE ADMINISTRATION IS NOT FOLLOWING THAT ORDER, THAT IS A VERY DANGEROUS PLACE FOR OUR COUNTRY AND OUR DEMOCRACY.

WHERE YOU HAD THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH NOT RESPECTING THE JUDICIARY AS A COEQUAL BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT.

>> Eric: WHAT ABOUT THIS WATCH LIST?

I THINK IT'S 20 MINNESOTA COUNTIES, MINNEAPOLIS AND ST. PAUL, WHAT'S THAT ALL ABOUT?

>> SO ONE OF THE OTHER ISSUES THAT HAS BEEN HIGHLIGHTED BY THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS THIS IDEA OF SO-CALLED SAIVELGTRY JURISDICTIONS -- SANCTUARY JURISDICTIONS.

I PERSONALLY BRISTLE A BIT AT THE TERM BECAUSE IT'S NOT ENTIRELY ACCURATE.

WHAT THEY MEAN BY A SANCTUARY JURISDICTION IS THAT THE LOCAL JURISDICTION, BE IT AT THE STATE, COUNTY, OR MUNICIPAL LEVEL, THEY MAYBE HAVE SOME SORT OF A POLICY TO LIMIT THE EFFORTS OR THE ACTIONS THAT THEY WOULD TAKE TO COOPERATE WITH IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT.

SO REALLY MORE THAN ANYTHING, IT'S -- IT HAS TO DO WITH OPERATION OPERATSEPARATION OF POWERS BETWN STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND SORT OF THE POSITION IS THAT IT'S NOT REALLY THE JOB OF STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO DEVOTE THEIR OWN ESOURCES WHEN THEY HAVE PLENTY TO DO AT THE STATE AND LOCAL LEVEL TOWARD IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT SORT OF LIKE LET THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WORRY ABOUT IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT.

WE'LL WORRY ABOUT COMMUNITY POLICING AND THAT SORT OF THING.

WHAT'S INTERESTING ABOUT THE LIST IN MINNESOTA IS THAT YOU DO HAVE SORT OF THE USUAL SUSPECTS, MEANING, YOU HAVE THE TWIN CITIES OF MINNEAPOLIS AND ST. PAUL, HENNEPIN AND RAMSEY COUNTY WHERE THE TWIN CITIES ARE LOCATED, BUT THEN YOU HAVE A NUMBER OF COUNTIES IN GREATER MINNESOTA THAT I'M SURE WERE VERY SURPRISED TO FIND THEMSELVES ON THIS LIST.

AND WHAT'S INTERESTING IS THAT THEY USED A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT METRICS TO PLACE COUNTIES ON THESE LISTS.

SO IT'S NOT ENTIRELY CLEAR HOW CERTAIN COUNTIES, PARTICULARLY COUNTIES IN GREATER MINNESOTA, WOUND UP ON THIS LIST.

>> Eric: WE'RE COUNTING ON YOU TO KEEP US POSTED.

APPRECIATE IT.

♪ >> CATHY: IT'S BEEN FIVE YEARS SINCE THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD BY A FORMER MINNEAPOLIS POLICE OFFICER AT THE INTERSECTION OF 38TH AND CHICAGO.

THE AREA, NOW CALLED GEORGE FLOYD SQUARE, HAS BECOME A MEMORIAL SPACE AND PLACE OF RESISTANCE TO RACIAL INJUSTICE.

BUT ITS FUTURE PLANS ARE UNDER DEBATE.

REPORTER KAOMI LEE SPENT TIME THERE LAST WEEK TO FIND OUT MORE.

>> Kaomi: TRACY WASHINGTON SAYS SHE HAD TO BE AT GEORGE FLOYD SQUARE.

>> I LOST MY SON A YEAR AGO TO POLICE BRUTALITY IN FLORIDA.

AND I WANTED TO BE ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE MOVEMENT.

>> Kaomi: THAT'S HOW HER EXHIBIT, WALK A MILE IN OUR SHOES, WAS BORN.

SHE DISPLAYED PHOTOS OF VICTIMS OF POLICE BRUTALITY OR GUN VIOLENCE ALONG WITH THEIR SHOES.

THE EXHIBIT WAS JUST STEPS AWAY FROM WHERE GEORGE FLOYD DIED.

>> MY QUESTION TILL REMAINS.

HOW DID WE GET HERE?

WHY ARE WE HERE?

>> MANY PEOPLE HAVE DESCRIBED THE SQUARE AS AN OPEN WOUND.

ORGANIZERS OF THE EVENTS SURROUNDING THE FIVE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY SAY THERE WAS ALSO AN EMPHASIS ON BLACK JOY.

>> IT'S ALWAYS OKAY TO FEEL JOY.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT GRIEF IS PROCESSING LOSS.

AND JUST BECAUSE YOU'VE LOST SOMETHING DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU NEED TO BE SAD ALL THE TIME.

SOMETIMES JOY CAN LOOK LIKE PROCESSING LOSS.

SOMETIMES SILENCE CAN LOOK LIKE PROCESSING OSS.

>> Kaomi: AUSTIN IS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF A NON-PROFIT THAT PRESERVES STORIES OF RESISTANCE TO RACIAL INJUSTICE.

>> WE RECOGNIZE THE LAND HAS A VERY INTEGRAL PART IN THIS MOVEMENT FOR JUSTICE.

AND IT HOLDS THE ENERGY.

IT HOLDS THE MEMORIES.

EVERY TEAR CRIED.

EVERY SHOUT SHOUTED.

>> Kaomi: LEE COLEMAN HAS BEEN KEEPING WATCH EVERY NIGHT FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS.

>> PROTECTING THE SQUARE, MAKING SURE I HOLD TRUTH TO POWER.

AND MAKE SURE EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT THERE'S SOMEBODY'S WATCHING.

>> Kaomi: THE SQUARE BECAME A PLACE OF RESISTANCE AND RESILIENCY.

AWE GEORGE FLOYD'S MURDER, COLEMAN WHO IS NATIVE AMERICAN, SAYS THE POLICE STAYED AWAY.

>> THEY REFUSED.

THEY WOULDN'T EVEN COME WITHIN TWO BLOCKS OF HERE.

WE WERE TO FEND FOR OURSELVES.

WE WERE TO ELP OURSELVES AND PROTECT OURSELVES.

AND WHICH WE DID.

>> Kaomi: MEANWHILE, HE AYS OFFICER-INVOLVED HOOTINGS HAVE CONTINUED.

>> I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S IMPROVED.

I THINK IT'S JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE HIGHLIGHTED.

BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S IMPROVED.

AT ALL.

I THINK IT'S JUST WAITING FOR THE NEXT SOMETHING TO HAPPEN.

>> Kaomi: ALL WEEK LONG, MANY HAVE BEEN COMING OUT TO PAY THEIR RESPECTS AT GEORGE FLOYD SQUARE AND TO MEMORIALIZE THE MAN AND WHAT HAPPENED HERE.

STILL, THERE ARE DIFFERING OPINIONS ON WHAT SHOULD BE THE FUTURE OF THIS INTERSECTION.

>> YOU STILL CAN'T DO THE THING THAT THE COUNCIL WANTS TO DO BECAUSE IT IS AGAINST THE LAW.

>> Kaomi: THE CITY SPENT $2 MILLION AND 17,000 HOURS OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TO FIND OUT WHAT THE PUBLIC WANTED.

MINNEAPOLIS MAYOR JACOB FREY SAYS THE MAJORITY SUPPORTED AN OPEN FLEXIBLE PLAN.

>> WHERE YOU CAN SHUT DOWN THE STREET FOR FESTIVALS OR GATHERINGS, FOR HEALING SESSIONS.

BUT, YES, YOU CAN ALSO GET THE MOST TRAVELED BUS LINE IN THE ENTIRE STATE THROUGH.

YOU CAN HAVE ACCESS FOR SMALL AND LOCAL BUSINESSES.

>> Kaomi: THE CITY COUNCIL, HOWEVER, FAVORED EXPLORING A PEDESTRIAN PLAZA, WHICH WOULD PERMANENTLY CLOSE A PORTION OF CHICAGO AVENUE.

MONTHS AGO, A SUPERMAJORITY OVERRODE FREY'S VETO.

>> THE STATE LAW REQUIRES THAT YOU CANNOT HAVE MORE THAN 50% OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS ALONG THAT CORRIDOR OPPOSE THE SHUTTING DOWN OF THE STREET.

RIGHT NOW, 100% OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS THAT WE'VE TALKED TO OPPOSE SHUTTING DOWN THE STREET.

>> Kaomi: CITY COUNCIL MEMBER EDUCATION EVERYONE CHAVEZ REPRESENTED WARD 9 WHERE GEORGE FLOYD WAS MURDERED.

HE SAYS THE CITY'S COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT LEFT OUT MANY BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT MAKE UP HIS WARD.

>> PUTTING TRANSIT BACK AND PUTTING CARS BACK IN AN AREA THAT HAS BEEN A SIGN OF PROTEST AND HAS BEEN A SIGN OF RESISTANCE, HAS BEEN A SIGN OF PUSHING FOR POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY AND TO REVERT BACK TO TRY TO GO O ACK TO THE STATUS QUO OR BACK TO HOW THINGS USED TO BE, IN MY OPINION, AND WHAT I HAVE HEARD FROM MANY PEOPLE IS THAT THAT WOULD BE ERASURE.

>> Kaomi: CHAVEZ SAYS THEY HOPE TO FINALIZE A PLAN IN DECEMBER THAT ENCOMPASSES THE LENGTH OF THE FORMER SPEEDWAY GAS STATION.

>> THE MAYOR'S TALKING ABOUT THE ENTIRE 38TH AND CHICAGO.

THE MOTION THAT WE PASSED AND WHAT WE'RE EXPLORING IS THAT CUL-DE-SAC.

SO HE LENGTH OF THE SPEEDWAY, THE PEOPLE'S WAY, THAT IS THE MODEL THAT WE ARE PURSUING THAT WE AVE AS A CITY COUNCIL EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR.

AND WE BELIEVE THAT UNDER STATE AW, WITH TAKING THE APPROPRIATE ACTIONS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN DO THAT IS ALLOWED.

>> Kaomi: NOT ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE N AGREEMENT.

THEY SAY A LACK OF COMPROMISE HURTS BUSINESSES.

SOME OF THOSE BUSINESSES ARE EVEN SUING THE CITY.

>> IT DELAYS PROGRESS.

IT ALSO -- I MEAN, THERE'S A COST.

THERE'S A ECONOMIC COST TO WAITING.

I THINK THIS STEP BACK TO RESEARCH, THE IDEA AROUND A PEDESTRIAN IS GOING TO COST AROUND -- BETWEEN I THINK 500 AND $800,000.

THAT'S REAL MONEY.

>> Kaomi: MOVING FORWARD, AND PROGRESS, ARE NOT ALWAYS THE SAME THING.

>> I THINK SOME OF THE CHALLENGES UP HERE IS THAT THERE'S NOT NECESSARILY A COHESIVE MESSAGE OR FEELING AROUND, LIKE, WHERE WE'RE HEADED AS A COMMUNITY.

>> Kaomi: ARTIST AND GALLERY OWNERST RICE HAS GROWN UP IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

HE SAYS WITH A DOZEN BLOCK OWNED SMALL BUSINESSES IN THE AREA, GEORGE FLOYD SQUARE HAS POTENTIAL.

>> IT'S BEEN A CHALLENGE TO KEEP UP CONSISTENT FLOW OF TRAFFIC OR CONSISTENT CUSTOMERS COMING IN WHEN TO A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THIS CITY, THIS IS KIND OF A DARK SPOT THAT, YOU KNOW, NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE WANT TO GO.

SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE I THINK PEOPLE ARE -- LIKE TO GO HERE THEY FEEL UPLIFTED.

THEY LIKE TO GO WHERE THEY FEEL SAFE.

>> Kaomi: EVERY DAY FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS, A GROUP OF NEIGHBORS GATHERED TO START THEIR DAY TALKING ABOUT RACIAL AND SOCIAL JUSTICE.

>> GEORGE FLOYD SQUARE IS IN THE HEARTS AND THE MINDS OF THE PEOPLE OF THE TWIN CITIES.

AS A HISTORIC LANDMARK.

IT'S THIS FLOOD LINE OF BEFORE AND AFTER.

OF RACIAL RECKONING.

>> Kaomi: ARCIA HOWARD HAS LIVED NEAR 38TH AND CHICAGO FOR MORE THAN IS A 25 YEARS.

SHE STANDS STEPS AWAY FROM THE SAY THEIR NAME CEMETERY, REPRESENTING VICTIMS OF RACIAL VIOLENCE.

SHE CALLS THEIR MOVEMENT AN UPRISING.

>> IT'S NOT JUST A PHYSICAL PLACE.

THE FIST IN THE MIDDLE OF G.F.S.

STANDS AT THE EPICENTER OF A RECKONING, WHERE PEOPLE HAVE TO INTERROGATE THEMSELVES.

WHERE DO I STAND IN THIS?

WHAT DOES WHITE SUPREMACY MEAN AND MOVE IN ME?

AND IT DIDN'T STOP IN 2020.

THAT'S WHY WE'RE STILL HERE.

♪ >> ERIC: THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAS PROPOSED SOME SIGNIFICANT CUTS TO THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION, KNOWN AS NOAA.

THE CUTS COULD IMPACT SEVERE WEATHER FORECASTING AND MANY AREAS OF WEATHER AND CLIMATE RESEARCH.

OUR TWO WEATHER GURUS ARE HERE TO HIGHLIGHT WHAT THESE CUTS MEAN FOR FUTURE FORECASTING.

MARK SEELEY IS THE AUTHOR OF "MINNESOTA WEATHER ALMANAC" AND A PROFESSOR EMERITUS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA.

PAUL DOUGLAS IS BACK.

WHEN PAUL ISN'T ON OUR AIRWAVES, YOU CAN CATCH HIS PREDICTIONS IN THE "STAR TRIBUNE."

IN HIS SPARE TIME, HE RUNS HIS OWN WEATHER COMPANY PRAEDICTIX.

ARE GAPS ALREADY SHOWING UP IN FORECASTING OR DO WE -- HAVE WE FELT THE EFFECTS OF THIS YET, OR ARE PEOPLE PITCHING IN AND DOING OVERTIME OR WHAT'S GOING ON?

>> YEAH, I THINK THE PERSONNEL CUTS ARE -- I DON'T KNOW THAT THEY'RE SHOWING UP YET IN TERMS OF FAULTY FORECASTS OR THINGS LIKE THAT.

BUT THEY'RE OF GREAT CONCERN.

I THINK PAUL AND I ARE BOTH AGREED ON THIS.

YOU NOW, THERE'S ROUGHLY 13,000 EMPLOYEES IN N.O.A.A.

NATIONWIDE.

AND THE TARGETED CUTS WERE TO ELIMINATE BETWEEN 10 AND 20% OF THEM.

AND ALREADY, BEFORE GOING INTO THIS, WHAT THE -- YOUR VIEWERS SHOULD KNOW IS, N.O.A.A.

WAS ALREADY UNDERFUNDED, AND TO A DEGREE, UNDERSTAFFED ALREADY.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A 24/7 OPERATION.

ROTATING SHIFTS ALL OVER 100 NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICES ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, BESIDES ALL THE SPECIALIZED OFFICES AND THEY'RE ALL SCRAMBLING TO KEEP ALL OF THEIR FUNCTIONS GOING.

>> Cathy: SO WHAT WAS HAPPENING HERE, PAUL?

I MEAN, I'VE HEARD THAT SOME OF THE LOCAL OFFICES WERE, YOU KNOW, 20 TO 40% VACANCY RATES WHICH IS AMAZING.

WERE THERE RETIREMENTS THEN PRIOR TO WHAT -- THESE CUTS?

>> I THINK -- SOME OF THIS WAS THE OFFER OF EARLY RETIREMENTS.

AND IT WASN'T JUST ENTRY-LEVEL POSITIONS.

THERE WERE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN THERE 20, 30, 40 YEARS.

WHO GOT CUT.

AND PEOPLE MAY SAY, WELL, AND I'VE HEARD THIS A COUPLE OF TIMES, PAUL, I HAVE THESE APPS ON MY PHONE.

WELL, NOAA PROVIDES THE DATA THAT POWERS EVERYTHING, INCLUDING THE FANCY GRAPHICS, LOCAL TELEVISION NEWS.

WE HAVE THE MOST EXTREME WEATHER, CATHY, OF ANY NATION ON EARTH.

BY NATURE OF OUR -- THE SIZE OF AMERICA, AND THE GEOGRAPHY.

THIS IS A MOSCH PIT FOR TORNADOES, HURRICANES, FLOODS, FIRES.

WE SHOULD PROBABLY HAVE A WEATHER SERVICE THAT'S UP TO THE TASK.

OUR WEATHER SERVICE WAS AND STILL IS THE ENVY OF THE WORLD.

AND I WORRY THAT THESE CUTS ARE GOING TO SHOW UP OVER TIME AT THE MOST INOPPORTUNE TIMES, TORNADO OUTBREAKS.

WE ASSUME A ORNADO WARNING WILL GO OUT BEFORE THE TORNADO HITS.

>> Cathy: YES.

>> SOME OFFICES NOW, THERE ARE 122 OF THESE LOCAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICES.

SOME OF THEM DON'T HAVE 24/7 COVERAGE.

AND MANY TIMES EXTREME WEATHER STRIKES UNEXPECTEDLY AT NIGHT.

YOU EXPECT THE WARNING TO GO OUT.

BEFORE THE FLOOD WATERS LAP AT YOUR FEET.

>> Cathy: OR THE TORNADO TOUCHES DOWN.

>> YES.

AND YOU EXPECT THE FORECAST TO GRADUALLY GET BETTER OVER TIME BY CUTTING RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, WE'RE CUTTING TO THE BONE.

AS A BUSINESS OWNER, I'M ALL FOR EFFICIENCY.

YOU MAKE TOUGH CUTS WHEN OU HAVE TO.

BUT TO ME, IT SEEMS LIKE A CLASSIC CASE OF READY, AIM, FIRE, THAT'S THE WAY IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN, IT AS READY, FIRE, AIM.

AND THEY DIDN'T DO ANY DUE DILIGENCE, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, ABOUT, WHAT SHOULD WE CUT?

>> Cathy: WHAT DID -- YOU ARE A CLIMATOLOGIST.

SO ARE WE ALSO SEEING CUTS IN THAT INFORMATION?

THE CLIMATOLOGY INFORMATION?

AND THEN HOW DOES THAT WORK WHEN WE START TALKING ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE?

>> YEAH, THAT'S VERY DISCONCERTING TOO, CATHY.

THE CUTS IN THE CLIMATE DATA AND SOME OF THE REGIONAL CLIMATE CENTERS WERE HUT DOWN LAST MONTH.

FOR BRIEFLY.

CONGRESS REINSTATED THEM AFTER A FEW DAYS.

BUT THE BACKGROUND DATA COLLECTION, THE DATA NETWORK THAT WE HAVE IN THIS COUNTRY IS SECOND TO NONE.

AND WE'RE VERY PROUD, BY THE WAY, OF OUR MINNESOTA DATA NETWORK.

IT'S VERY ROBUST.

AND ALL OF THOSE DATA ARE SED FOR SO MANY PURPOSES THAT THE PUBLIC DON'T FULLY REALIZE IN TERMS OF DROUGHT MONITORING, IN TERMS OF WILDFIRE THREAT ASSESSMENT.

THE DATA GO INTO SO MANY DIFFERENT APPLICATIONS SO THAT WE CAN ADJUST OUR INFRASTRUCTURE AND OUR MANAGEMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES TO HAT THE CLIMATE'S DOING.

AND NOW OF COURSE WITH THE CLIMATE CHANGE GOING ON IN THE BACKGROUND, IN A STATE LIKE MINNESOTA AND MANY OTHER STATES WHERE IT'S REALLY ACCELERATED, WE'RE GOING TO LOSE THE ABILITY TO EEP UP WITH IT, WHICH IS REALLY GOING TO BE HINDERING OUR ADAPTATION PRACTICES.

IN AGRICULTURE, ENERGY, TRANSPORTATION, THE WHOLE GAMUT.

SO THIS IS A REAL SERIOUS THREAT FOR THE FUTURE.

IF WE ARE DEPRIVED OF ACCESS TO THAT ROBUST DATA.

>> Eric: FOR THE PUBLIC THAT MAY SEE A METEOROLOGIST ON TV, YOU'VE GOT YOUR OWN DOPPLER RADAR, YOU'VE GOT THE EUROPEAN MODEL WHICH I ASSUME ISN'T CONNECTED TO NOAA.

IS THERE GOOD ALTERNATIVES OUT THERE?

>> THE EUROPEAN MODEL, WHICH I LIKE, AND MANY TIMES I PREFER, IS DEPENDENT ON NOAA DATA.

EVERY DAY, NOAA HANDLES 6.3 BILLION OBSERVATIONS.

THAT'S THE FUEL THAT GOES INTO THE WEATHER MODELS.

SO YOU PUT JUNK IN, YOU GET JUNK OUT.

IT'S LIKE PUTTING LOW OCTANE FUEL IN YOUR VEHICLE AND THEN WONDERING WHY THE ENGINE IS KNOCKING.

SO I'M CONCERNED.- AN I'M CONCERNED.- AND 'M CONCERNED.- AND I CONCERNED.- AND I THONCERNED.- AND I THINCERNED.- AND I THINK RNED.- AND I THINK ITED.- AND I THINK IT M.- AND I THINK IT MAY POP UP AT THE MOST INOPPORTUNE TIMES WHEN SEVERE WEATHER IS IMMINENT.

YOU KNOW, I'M WORRIED ABOUT HURRICANE SEASON.

WE COULD TALK ABOUT FEMA.

FOR TEN MINUTES OR LONGER.

YOU KNOW, WHAT HAPPENS?

ARE WE LEAVING IT UP TO EACH STATE?

IS IT EVERY STATE FOR THEMSELVES NOW?

SO IF YOU'LL NOT A LITTLE BIT -- IF YOU'RE NOT A LITTLE BIT PARANOID, YOU MAY NOT E PAYING ATTENTION.

AND I THINK THE SAME PEOPLE SAYING, WELL, YEAH, WE NEED CUTS, WE NEED EFFICIENCY, THEY MAY BE THE FIRST TO RAISE THEIR HANDS AND SAY, WHERE'S MY ECOVERY MONEY?

HOW DO I REBUILD MY HOUSE?

WHY WASN'T THE TORNADO WARNING 20 MINUTES IN ADVANCE?

AND SO I JUST -- I'M NERVOUS.

A LOT OF METEOROLOGISTS ARE NERVOUS.

WHATEVER JOB YOU DO, YOU WANT THE BEST TOOLS.

AND RIGHT NOW, WE ARE DULLING SOME OF THE TOOLS THAT NOAA IS USING.

WE ARE DEGRADING THE GREATEST WEATHER SERVICE ON THE PLANET.

>> Cathy: WHAT DOES HIS DO FOR YOUNG METEOROLOGISTS WHO ARE STILL IN SCHOOL AND THEY LOOK AT THEIR JOB PROSPECTS, WHICH DON'T LOOK GREAT?

SO YOU HAVE A TALENT PIPELINE THAT APPEARS TO BE POTENTIALLY COMPROMISED, MAYBE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

YEAH, JUST AS PAUL SAID, AND INSINUATED THAT WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF INTELLECT CAPACITY LEAVE THE WEATHER SERVICE IN RECENT MONTHS, LOTS OF EXPERIENTIAL KNOWLEDGE THERE.

WE'VE GOT ALL OF THE YOUNGER PEOPLE COMING IN WITH FRESH NEW TOOLS AND FRESH NEW TECHNIQUES AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE TO DO THE FORECASTING.

AND WE GOT TO HAVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM.

WE GOT TO OPEN UP THE DOORS.

WE GOT TO START FILLING THESE VACANCIES.

THEY'VE BEEN TRAINED AT THE -- WE HAVE SOME OF THE BEST SCHOOLS OF METEOROLOGY IN THE WORLD IN OUR COUNTRY AND THEY'VE BEEN WELL TRAINED AND WE GOT TO HAVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM.

IT'S NOT ALL GOING TO GO IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

THAT'S SILLY.

THE BACKBONE, AS PAUL SAID, THE BACKBONE OF OUR WHOLE INFRASTRUCTURE IN WEATHER AND CLIMATE MATTERS IS NOAA.

THAT'S THE BACKBONE OF THE WHOLE SYSTEM.

>> Cathy: YOU GUYS ARE GREAT AS ALWAYS.

THANKS FOR LAYING OUT A PICTURE FOR US.

>> THANK YOU.

♪ >> DOMINIC: ON MONDAY AFTERNOON, MY WIFE AND I JOINED ABOUT 11,000 OTHER FANS AT THE SOON-TO-BE-FORMER XCEL ENERGY CENTER TO WATCH THE MINNESOTA FROST WIN THEIR SECOND CONSECUTIVE PROFESSIONAL WOMEN’S HOCKEY LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP.

IT WAS A LOT OF FUN, AND ALSO A REMINDER OF WHY WOMEN’S SPORTS IN MINNESOTA ARE INFINITELY PREFERABLE TO MEN’S SPORTS IN MINNESOTA.

LET’S BREAK IT DOWN.

FIRST, IT’S MORE AFFORDABLE.

SEATS TO THAT DECIDING FROST GAME AGAINST THE OTTAWA CHARGE SET US BACK ABOUT 60 BUCKS A TICKET.

MAIN FLOOR.

19 ROWS UP.

ON THE BLUE LINE.

I CHECKED SEATGEEK, AND A PAIR OF TICKETS FOR LAST NIGHT’S STARS-OILERS GAME IN THE STANLEY CUP SEMI-FINALS IN ABOUT THE SAME LOCATION WOULD HAVE SET YOU BACK A THOUSAND DOLLARS.

WHICH LEADS US TO, SECOND, IT’S MORE GENERALLY ACCESSIBLE.

LITTLE KIDS -- LITTLE GIRLS, MOSTLY -- WERE PROBABLY THE SINGLE LARGEST DEMOGRAPHIC AT MONDAY’S FROST GAME.

TRUE, THEY HAVE AN INCESSANT, TEETH-GRATINGLY ANNOYING CHANT: "BRRR!

IT'S COLD IN HERE!

THERE MUST BE SOME FROST IN THE ATMOSPHERE!

IT IS ENDURABLE BECAUSE THEY ARE ASSURING THE FUTURE FAN BASE OF THE TEAM AND THE SPORT.

FINALLY -- AND I’M SORRY, GUYS, BUT THERE’S JUST NO DELICATE WAY TO SAY THIS -- THEY WIN.

DEPENDING ON HOW YOU COUNT, IN THE LAST 15 YEARS, MINNESOTA WOMEN’S PROFESSIONAL AND MAJOR COLLEGE SPORTS TEAMS HAVE WON AT LEAST TEN NATIONAL OR LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIPS.

IN THAT SAME 15 YEARS, MEN’S SPORTS TEAMS HAVE WON ZERO.

AND IN MOST CASES, THE DROUGHT IS MEASURED NOT IN YEARS BUT IN DECADES.

SO YOU WANNA WATCH AFFORDABLE, ACCESSIBLE, AND SUCCESSFUL WOMEN’S SPORTS TEAMS?

OR WOULD YOU RATHER SEE THE EXORBITANTLY OVERPRICED DISPLAY OF MEDIOCRITY AND ENTITLEMENT THAT IS MEN’S ATHLETICS?

YOU DON’T HAVE TO CHOOSE.

BUT IF YOU DID?

I DON’T THINK IT WOULD BE MUCH OF A CONTEST.

♪ >> CATHY: TWO FORMER "STAR TRIBUNE" REPORTERS JUST RELEASED A NEW BOOK THIS TUESDAY ENTITLED "SEA OF GRASS: THE CONQUEST, RUIN, AND REDEMPTION OF NATURE ON THE AMERICAN PRAIRIE."

THE RELEASE SPOTLIGHTS THE AREA AND ITS HISTORY, BUT ALSO THE LOSS OF THE ONCE ABUNDANT TALL GRASS PRAIRIE INCLUDING IN WESTERN MINNESOTA.

LET'S SEE WHAT WE CAN UNEARTH WITH THE BOOK'S AUTHORS.

DAVE HAGE IS HERE WITH US AND JOSEPHINE MARCOTTY.

WELCOME BACK TO YOU BOTH.

THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

I LAUGHED OUT LOUD WHEN I WAS LISTENING TO AN INTERVIEW WITH YOU GUYS AND I BELIEVE SOMEONE DESCRIBED THE PRAIRIE S THE RODNEY DANGERFIELD OF ECOSYSTEMS.

[ Laughter ] EXPAND ON THAT, IF YOU WOULD?

>> YEAH, IT WAS THE LAST OF THE MAJOR ECOSYSTEMS TO GET ITS OWN NATIONAL PARK BECAUSE IT WASN'T MAJESTIC AND GORGEOUS.

BUT MORE SERIOUSLY, I THINK WE MIDWESTERNERS, WE TAKE THE PRAIRIE FOR GRANTED.

IT'S THE FLAT BORING PART BEFORE YOU ET TO THE MOUNTAINS.

BUT PEOPLE WHO LOVE THE PRAIRIE, AND THERE ARE A LOT OF THEM, THEY KNOW A LITTLE SECRET.

IF YOU GET OUT OF YOUR CAR AND WADE INTO THAT DEEP GRASS, IT'S JUST A RIOT OF COLOR AND SOUND.

IT'S SONG BIRDS, FINCHES, MEADOW LARKS, IT'S GOLDEN ROD AND COLUMBINE AND ASKERS, IT'S JUST THIS RICH, RICH WORLD.

AND THE COOL THING IS IN THE LAST COUPLE OF DECADES, SCIENTISTS HAVE BECOME TO DISCOVER THAT TOO.

AND THEY'RE STUDIESING PRAIRIE PLANTS, PRAIRIE SOILS AND I THINK IT'S FAIR TO SAY, I THINK THERE ARE QUITE A FEW SIGN SCIENTISTS WHO WOULD SAY IT'S ON A PAR WITH THE AMAZON RAIN FOREST IS AS A VALUABLE ECOSYSTEM.

>> Cathy: SO IT'S GETTING MORE RESPECT?

>> YES, HOPEFULLY.

I THINK THE WORLD IS BEGINNING TO RECOGNIZE THAT IT IS IN ADDITION TO BEING A BEAUTIFUL PLACE, IT IS A VERY IMPORTANT CARBON SINK AND IT'S ALSO THE PLACE WHERE MANY OF OUR SPECIES HAVE TO EXIST AND SURVIVE, INCLUDING BIRDS.

I MEAN, ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE'VE SEEN SUCH A MASSIVE DECLINE IN BIRDS IN THE LAST SEVERAL DECADES IS ECAUSE OF THE LOSS OF GRASSLANDS AND THE PRAIRIE POT HOLES WHICH ARE PART OF THE WETLANDS IN THAT SYSTEM.

>> Eric: THIS WAS NOT A PROBLEM THAT STARTED YESTERDAY.

I READ IN THE BOOK WHERE IT WAS, LIKE, 1890, MOST OF THE LOCAL PRAIRIE WAS GONE.

>> RIGHT.

>> WE THINK OF SORT OF TWO SECTIONS.

MAYBE THREE.

BUT THE EASTERN TAL GRASS PRAIRIE WHERE THE GRASS WAS, YOU KNOW, OVER YOUR HEAD, ILLINOIS, IOWA, PLACES LIKE THAT, WAS TAKEN OVER FOR FARMING IN THE 19TH CENTURY.

THAT'S NOW 99% GONE.

TALL GRASS PRAIRIE, 1% IS LEFT.

THE WESTERN TALL GRASS PRAIRIE, FARMING DIDN'T TAKE OFF.

IT'S VERY DRY.

THE WEATHER IS DIFFICULT.

IT'S REMOTE.

AND SO ABOUT 40% OF THE WESTERN SHORT GRASS PRAIRIE STILL EXISTS BECAUSE IT STAYED IN CATTLE AND RANCHING, AND THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO PROTECT NOW.

THAT'S HAT'S DISAPPEARING.

A MILLION ACRES A YEAR DISAPPEARING NOW.

>> Cathy: THE GREAT JIM BRANDENBURGER OF COURSE IS FROM LUVERNE, MINNESOTA, HE TALKED A LOT ABOUT SAVING THE PRAIRIE, BUT DO YOU THINK T'S TOO LATE?

>> NO, IN FCT, ONE OF THE CHAPTERS IN OUR BOOK FOCUSES ON GLACIAL RIDGE WILDERNESS AREA UP IN NORTHWEST MINNESOTA WHICH IS THE LARGEST PRAIRIE RESTORATION AREA IN THE COUNTRY.

>> Eric: AND THAT'S A BIG SUCCESS STORY?

>> YEAH, FOR SURE.

THEY WERE ABLE TO BRING BACK 24,000 ACRES F GRASSLAND.

AND COMBINE IT WITH MANY OF THE OTHER NATURAL AREAS THAT ARE UP THERE.

INCLUDING, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE NATURAL SCIENTIFIC AREAS.

SO NOW IT'S A COMPLEX OF GRASSLANDS, 55 SQUARE MILES IN SIZE.

>> Eric: AND THAT'S A JOINT EFFORT OF THE LEGACY MONEY THAT WE GET HERE IN MINNESOTA AND I THINK NATURE CONSERVANCY MAY HAVE BEEN INVOLVED?

SO DO YOU NEED KIND OF A CONCERTED EFFORT I GUESS?

>> RIGHT, WELL, AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE COMMUNITY SUPPORT TO BRING BACK GRASSLAND.

IT'S VERY HARD TO TAKE LAND OUT OF PRODUCTION.

AND HAVE A COMMUNITY BUY INTO IT, BECAUSE THAT'S THEIR TAX BASE AND THAT'S THEIR INCOME.

THAT'S THEIR WAY OF LIFE.

BUT ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS THAT GLACIAL RIDGE HAD IS THAT THE TOWN OF CROOKSTON NEEDED A SOURCE OF CLEAN DRINKING WATER.

AND SO THEY WERE ABLE TO DO THAT BY PROTECTING THE PRAIRIE BECAUSE THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT GIVES YOU CLEAN WATER IS THE NATURAL AREA LIKE THAT.

>> Cathy: SO LARGE SCALE AGRICULTURE PROBABLY, YOU CAN LOOK TO THAT AS MAYBE AVING A ROLE IN THIS OBVIOUSLY.

SO WHAT'S THE ROLE OF LARGE SCALE AGRICULTURE IN TRYING TO RESTORE THE RAIRIE?

IF THERE IS A ROLE?

>> YEAH.

UM, IN THE BOOK, WE'RE CRITICAL OF OUR CURRENT FARMING SYSTEM.

THESE LARGE FARMS.

CAPITAL INTENSIVE.

WE'RE NOT ANTI-FARMER, BECAUSE THE FARMERS WE MET, REPORTING THE BOOK, WERE WONDERFUL, GENEROUS, HARDWORKING, BRILLIANT.

I MEAN, IF YOU SURVIVED AS A FARMER THROUGH THE '80s AND '90s, YOU'RE A GOOD FARMER.

THE TROUBLE IS THAT, AS FEDERAL MATTER, FOR THE FARM BILL, WE GIVE THEM ALL THE WRONG INCENTIVES.

THE FARM BILL, FEDERAL FAMILY FM SUBSIDIES, ALL PUSH FARMERS IN THE DIRECTION OF PLOWING MORE LAND, USING MORE CHEMICALS, SPECIALIZING IN CORN AND SOYBEANS.

A MONO CULTURE OUT THERE.

THAT'S BAD.

NATURE DOES NOT LIKE A MONOCULTURE.

NATURE LIKE DIVERSITY.

BUT FOR FARMERS, IT'S HARDER AND HARDER.

YOU CAN GROW OATS.

YOU CAN'T SELL IT.

YOU COULD GROW BARLEY.

YOU CAN'T SELL IT.

>> Cathy: I'M CURIOUS, WHY IS THIS OF INTENSE INTEREST TO YOU BOTH?

>> WELL, YOU CAN'T REALLY BE AN ENVIRONMENTAL WRITER OR AN ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTER IN MINNESOTA WITHOUT WRITING ABOUT GRASSLANDS AND WITHOUT WRITING ABOUT FARMING.

AND SO -- BUT IT WAS ALSO SOMETHING THAT WE LEARNED TO REALLY APPRECIATE DOING THAT REPORTING.

YOU KNOW, OVER THOSE MANY YEARS.

AND ALSO, THAT IT WAS -- I MEAN, A LOT OF PEOPLE, WHEN THEY FLY OVER THE MIDDLE PART OF THE COUNTRY, AND THEY LOOK DOWN, THEY SEE -- THEY THINK IT'S JUST EMPTY LAND.

YOU KNOW, YOU DRIVE THROUGH SOUTH DAKOTA, YOU THINK, THERE'S NOTHING HERE.

IT'S JUST EMPTY LAND.

WHEN IN FACT, IT'S A MARVELOUS ECOSYSTEM AND A PLACE OF MIRACULOUS SPACE AND LIGHT.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE REALLY FEEL AS IF IT WAS UNDERAPPRECIATED.

AND THAT WE'VE LOST SOMETHING LIKE THE TALL GRASS PRAIRIE IS GONE.

AND SO WE WILL NEVER KNOW WHAT WE LOST.

WE WILL NEVER APPRECIATE WHAT WE LOST BECAUSE IT'S JUST NOT THERE ANYMORE EXCEPT FOR ANY FEW PATCHES.

BUT THERE IS STILL SOMETHING WORTH SAVING IN THE WESTERN GRASSLANDS AND THERE'S A WAY TO DO AGRICULTURE BETTER.

>> Eric: GOT TO RUN.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> Cathy: IT'S GREAT TO SEE YOU GUYS AGAIN.

>> Eric: QUICKLY, ON JUNE 5TH, WHAT DO YOU GOT?

>> MAGERS AND QUINN.

>> OKAY, GREAT.

GOT THE PLUG IN OR YOU.

♪ >> WELL, THE TAX DEDUCTIBLE CAT IS OUT OF THE NON-PROFIT BAG AND AS YOU CAN SEE, CHANNEL 2 IS GETTING READY FOR ITS ANNUAL AUCTION AND DO WE HAVE A TREAT FOR YOU.

"ALMANAC"'S INFAMOUS INVESTIGATIVE UNIT HAS PIRATED A COPY OF THE STATION'S SECRET LIST OF AUCTION ITEMS AND GET A LOAD OF THESE.

ON THE BLOCKS THIS YEAR, 100,000 PIECES OF LUGGAGE, SOME CONTAINING VALUABLE CLOTHES AND OTHER ITEMS, A GENEROUS DONATION IN NORTHWEST AIRLINES, BAGGAGE HANDLERS LOCAL 505.

♪ ♪ >> ERIC: SUNDAY IS JUNE 1ST.

WITHOUT A STATE BUDGET PASSED, THAT MEANS 30-DAY LAYOFF NOTICES WILL GO OUT TO STATE WORKERS.

GOVERNOR WALZ AND LEGISLATIVE LEADERS STARTED THE WEEK WITH THE GOAL OF PASSING A BUDGET IN TIME TO STAVE OFF THOSE NOTICES.

WHAT HAPPENED?

LET'S SEE IF OUR FORMER HOUSE SPEAKER DUO CAN HELP ENLIGHTEN US.

DFLER MARGARET ANDERSON KELLIHER SERVED TWO LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS AS HOUSE SPEAKER.

SHE HELD THAT POSITION FROM JANUARY 2007 TO JANUARY 2011.

ALSO SERVING TWO SESSIONS, REPUBLICAN KURT DAUDT SERVED AS SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE FROM JANUARY 2015 TO JANUARY OF 2019.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE.

I AM INTERESTED IN THIS TIME OF YEAR AS THE CAUCUS LEADER AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE, ARE YOU HAND HOLDING MEMBERS?

ARE YOU GIVING THEM TOUGH LOVE?

ARE YOU DEEPING THEM IN THE LOOP?

WHAT'S THE ROLE OF THE SPEAKER?

>> I THINK ALL OF THAT, RIGHT, SPEAKER?

>> ALL OF THAT AND TRYING TO KEEP THEM IN THE STATE AT THIS POINT.

I MEAN, THAT'S THE OTHER PROBLEM WE HAVE.

PEOPLE HAVE LIVES.

>> WEDDINGS AND GRADUATIONS.

IT'S TOUGH.

>> YEAH, WHEN YOU GO INTO OVERTIME, IT BECOMES MUCH HARDER FOR A LOT OF REASONS.

>> AND I THINK THE STAKES ARE HIGHER TOO, RIGHT?

THERE'S A LOT MORE PRESSURE.

AND I THINK THERE'S A LOT MORE PRESSURE RIGHT NOW TOO BECAUSE AS YOU REMEMBER, BACK WHEN I WAS SPEAKER, ACTUALLY, WE GOT A SUPREME COURT DECISION THAT SAID A SHUTDOWN REALLY IS A SHUTDOWN NOW, THAT THE COURTS CANNOT APPROPRIATE MONEY.

SO WE HAVEN'T HAD A SHUTDOWN SINCE THAT DECISION.

AND IT MEANS THAT THEY REALLY HAVE TO GET THEIR WORK DONE OR WE'RE GOING TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, PRISONS LETTING PEOPLE OUT AND - >> LET'S HOPE NOT.

>> WE WON'T GET THERE, BUT IT'S HIGH STAKES.

>> Cathy: HOW DIFFICULT ARE NEGOTIATIONS NOW DO YOU THINK?

BECAUSE THE MARGINS ARE SO TIGHT?

>> OH, THIS IS -- I MEAN, I DO THINK THIS SHOULD BE NOT A BIG SURPRISE THAT WE ARE, YOU KNOW, APPROACHING JUNE AND THIS IS WHERE WE'RE AT.

MAINLY BECAUSE OF HOW TIGHT THIS IS.

AND HOW MUCH NEGOTIATION.

WE SAW IT EVEN RIGHT EFORE THE EDGED OF WHAT WE WOULD CALL THE REGULAR SESSION.

AND REALLY ISSENT COMING OUT ABOUT THE PARTIAL DEAL THAT WAS ANNOUNCED THEN.

SO I THINK IT'S REALLY HARD TO DO THIS.

AND IT'S EVEN HARDER BECAUSE A LOT OF THESE MEMBERS HAVE NOT, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY THEY'RE KEEPING THEM INFORMED AS MUCH AS THEY CAN, BUT THINGS ARE CHANGING RAPIDLY, SO THAT'LL BE THE DIFFICULT PARTED NEXT WEEK.

>> Eric: BUT HORTMAN, THE HOUSE SPEAKER EMERITA, AND SENATOR MURPHY, THE D.F.L.

SENATE LEADER, THEY BOTH GOT I THINK CRITICIZED HEAVILY BY THEIR CAUCUSES ON WHAT TO DO WITH THE UNDOCUMENTED HEALTHCARE.

DID THEY MISS OUT THE CONVERSATION PIECE?

>> WELL, IT'S TOUGH, RIGHT?

YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE IN THE ROOM AND YOU'RE MAKING THOSE DEALS, YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT WHAT YOU TALK ABOUT WITH YOUR CAUCUS OUTSIDE OF THOSE AND BALANCE THAT WITH BEING ABLE, YOU KNOW, NOT SAYING TOO MUCH, BUT BALANCING IT WITH, SAYING ENOUGH THAT YOUR CAUCUS IS WITH YOU AND GOING TO FOLLOW ALONG.

AND I THINK THERE'S A COUPLE OF BILLS THAT I THINK ARE GOING TO BE ONES TO WATCH.

ONE IS GOING TO BE THAT HEALTH BILL.

ON THE DEMOCRAT IDE, THAT BILL IS GOING TO HAVE A LOSS OF HEALTHCARE FOR UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS.

FOR AT LEAST ADULTS.

AND ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE, THERE'S SOME PRESSURE ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT REPUBLICAN MEMBERS, AND THEY'RE GETTING PRESSURE FROM OUTSIDE GROUPS, WHETHER OR NOT THEY'RE VOTING TO FUND ABORTION.

AND I THINK THE RIGHT ANSWER IS, NO, THEY'RE NOT, BUT THERE ARE OUTSIDE GROUPS SAYING THAT THEY ARE BECAUSE MEDICARE AND MEDICAID DOLLARS BY COURT DECISION CAN BE USED FOR THAT.

SO YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME REPUBLICANS AND SOME DEMOCRATS THAT DON'T WANT TO VOTE FOR THAT BILL.

>> WELL, AND YOU MIGHT HAVE SOMETHING ELSE COME OUT HERE BECAUSE I DO THINK THERE'S SOME PRESIDENTURE WITH ESPECIALLY PEOPLE WHO AVE -- AND WE SAW A COUPLE OF THESE STORIES COME OUT THIS WEEK, PEOPLE WHO ARE UNDERGOING CANCER TREATMENT.

AND THEY HAVE THEIR, YOU KNOW, DO YOU SHUT OFF THEIR COVERAGE AT THE END OF DECEMBER OF THIS YEAR?

I THINK THAT SEEMS VERY INHUMANE.

AND SO I AM WONDERING IF THERE'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING ELSE OR SOME WAY TO COMPROMISE YET ON THE ISSUE.

>> Eric: ON THE ISSUE OF TRANSPARENCY, IT WOULD TAKE LONGER, BUT WOULD THE FINAL PRODUCT BE ANY DIFFERENT IF IT WAS IN PUBLIC RATHER THAN IN PRIVATE?

IT WOULD TAKE LONGER BECAUSE THERE WOULD BE POSTURING.

>> I THINK IT COULD TAKE LONGER.

>> Eric: AND A CAMERA DOES CHANGE BEHAVIOR.

>> I'VE BEEN ON RECORD IN THE PAST SAYING THAT THE LEGISLATURE SHOULD PASS THE BILLS.

THEY SHOULD COME TO AGREEMENT AND ASS THE BILLS AND END THEM TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK AND LET THE GOVERNOR SIGN THEM OR VETO THEM, INSTEAD OF LET THE GOVERNOR SIT AT THE TABLE AND NEGOTIATE THEM AHEAD OF TIME.

I THINK SENATOR BAKK AND I BACK IN 2015, THAT WAS KIND OF THE LAST TIME WHERE WE REALLY DO DID THAT.

AND WE TRIED TO INCLUDE THE GOVERNOR BUT IT JUST KIND OF FELL APART.

WE NEEDED TO GET DONE ON TIME.

>> I THINK THEY ARE WHERE THEY ARE.

AND IT'S HARD TO DO THIS ALL IN PUBLIC.

BUT MAYBE THERE ARE SOME MECHANISMS TO BE ABLE TO SHARE WITH THE PUBLIC MORE OF WHAT'S GOING ON.

I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY'VE DONE SOME UPDATING AND BRIEFINGS.

BUT THEY'VE BEEN MORE ABOUT PROCESS.

AND NOT ALWAYS ABOUT THE SUBSTANCE.

AND IT IS HARD.

WE TRIED THIS.

WE TRIED WHEN GOVERNOR PAWLENTY WAS THE GOVERNOR.

AND SENATOR POGEMILLER AND I WERE LEADING.

WE ATTEMPTING O DO SOME VERY PUBLIC NEGOTIATIONS.

>> Eric: I REMEMBER.

>> HEARINGS, HEARINGS CAN BE PUBLIC.

I MEAN, THOSE SHOULD- ABMEAN, THOSE SHOULD- ABSOAN, THOSE SHOULD- ABSOLU, THOSE SHOULD- ABSOLUTETHOSE SHOULD- ABSOLUTELYOSE SHOULD- ABSOLUTELY AE SHOULD- ABSOLUTELY ANDSHOULD- ABSOLUTELY AND EOULD- ABSOLUTELY AND EVELD- ABSOLUTELY AND EVEN - ABSOLUTELY AND EVEN IF THEY'RE INFORMATIONAL.

AND SO MAYBE THAT'S ACOMB PROMISE HERE.

>> Cathy: WELL, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE CONFEREES WERE A LITTLE UPSET BECAUSE THEY FELT THAT THEY WERE NOT BEING LISTENED TO, THAT, YOU KNOW, THE FINAL REPORT WAS JUST KIND OF GIVEN TO THEM AND THEY WERE SUPPOSE ATTEND TO SIGN OFF ON IT.

SO I'M NOT SURE WHERE OUR RANK AND FILE LAWMAKERS ARE ON THIS TOO.

>> WELL, AND THAT'S THE PROBLEM THEY'RE GOING O HAVE, BECAUSE ANY ONE PERSON CAN WITHHOLD THEIR VOTE OR WITHHOLD, YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE MOST POWERFUL HING YOU HAVE WHEN YOU'RE ELECTED IS YOUR VOTE.

AND SO I'M NOT NECESSARILY ADVOCATING THAT HERE.

BUT I THINK THAT'S -- WE'RE LIKELY TO SEE SOME OF THAT.

>> I'M ACTUALLY SURPRISES.

YOU SERVED AT A TIME WHEN THE HOUSE WAS VERY CLOSE, IF I REMEMBER RIGHT?

>> NO.

>> IT WAS BEFORE YOUR TENURE.

>> I HAD A VERY ICE MARGIN.

>> WHERE IT WAS TWO SEATS AND IT MEANT THAT IF ONE PERSON DEFECTED, IT WAS -- I TAKE THAT BACK.

IT WAS WHEN EPUBLICANS HAD THE MAJORITY, STEVE SVIGGUM AND THERE WAS AND THERE WA WAS A TWO-SEAT MAJORITY AND MEMBERS FIGURED OUT THAT ONE MEMBER COULD HOLD THE ENTIRE CHAMBER HOSTAGE.

I'M KIND OF SURPRISED THAT THAT EXPWBZ HAPPENED THIS SESSION.

AND I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S BECAUSE THEY'RE KEEPING EVERYBODY INFORMED OR MEMBERS JUST HAVEN'T FIGURED IT OUT.

>> Eric: WHERE ARE YOU GUYS ON REMOTE VOTING?

>> WELL, I THINK THEY'VE COME TO THIS HAPPY MEDIUM AND INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH THE DATA PRACTICES ACT HAS CHANGED IN THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION TO ALLOW LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO DO MORE OF THIS AS LONG AS YOU CAN SEE THE PERSON, WE'RE DOING AWAY -- I GUESS DOING AWAY WITH THIS PIECE WHERE YOU HAD TO NOTICE WHERE YOU HAD TO NOTICE WHERE YO YOU WERE.

SO I THINK WHAT HAPPENED HERE IS LOCAL GOVERNMENT LEADERS SAID, IF THE LEGISLATURE CAN KEEP DOING THIS, WHY DON'T WE GET TO HAVE THIS MNIBUS?

I THINK IT'S AN OKAY OPTION BECAUSE WHAT IT DOES IS IT ALLOWS FOR PARTICIPATION ESPECIALLY IF PEOPLE HAVE HAD A HEALTH EMERGENCY OR ANY SORT OF HEALTH ISSUE.

I WOULD FROWN ON IT IF IT BECAME A HABIT OF THE >> I HAVE THOUGHT THAT ALWAYS THAT WE SHOULDN'T HAVE THE REMOTE VOTING.

I THINK MEMBERS SHOULD HAVE TO BE THERE AND PRESS THEIR BUTTON IN PERSON.

BUT, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT THERE ANYMORE.

I GUESS THEY'LL DECIDE HOW THEY WILL PROCEED.

>> Cathy: SO THE GOVERNOR, THIS WEEKEND, IS APPEARING BEFORE -- DOING SOME SPEECHES IN IS.

ARE.

SOUTH CAROLINA AND CALIFORNIA BEFORE POLITICAL CONVENTIONS AND HE SAID THAT THE LEADERSHIP HAS IT UNDER CONTROL.

WHAT'S HIS ROLE IN ALL OF THIS?

AND I'VE HEARD SPEAKER DAUDT -- >> I'VE HEARD SPEAKER DAUDT'S DECISION ON THAT THAT THE GOVERNOR SHOULDN'T SIT AT THE TABLE.

YOU KNOW, I THINK THE GOVERNOR IN WHERE WE ARE WITH THIS GOVERNOR HAS PRETTY WELL LAID OUT POSITIONS.

COMMISSIONERS WHO KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

AS WELL AS A GOOD STAFF.

AND SO 'M NOT TOO WORRIED ABOUT THAT AT THIS POINT.

IN THE PROCESS.

IF THEY HAD NOT HAD THAT OVERALL BUDGET AGREEMENT, IT WOULD BE PROBLEMATIC.

>> I THINK HE RUNS A RISK, THOUGH, PUBLICLY, OF NOT BEING PRESENT AS THINGS ARE COMING TOGETHER.

AND, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY HE'S WEIGHING THAT POLITICALLY.

AND HE THINKS THERE'S A BIGGER UPSIDE TO TRAVELING AROUND AND MAYBE FILLING A BIGGER ROLE ON THE NATIONAL STAGE.

>> Eric: I WONDER LONGER TERM WITH THE 2030 CENSUS ON THE HORIZON, IF SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE TO AVOID A TIE IN THE HOUSE.

>> YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THAT OVER THE YEARS OF CHANGING.

AND MAYBE ACTUALLY NESTING AN EQUAL NUMBER OF HOUSE AND SENATE DISTRICTS IN EACH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, SO CHANGING THE MAKEUP OF THE LEGISLATURE SO YOU CHANGE THE NUMBERS AND YOU OULDN'T END UP WITH AN EQUAL TIE.

IT JUST HAS REALLY NEVER CAUGHT STEAM.

>> Eric: BUT NOW, I KNOW AS NERDY AND EVERYTHING, BUT REALLY IT'S 67-67, IT FOSTERS SOME PROBLEMS.

>> FOR ONLY THE SECOND TIME IN HISTORY.

>> YEAH, THE CONSTITUTION IS FULL OF NERDY THINGS.

THAT'S WHAT I REMEMBER ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHEN PEOPLE USED TO TALK ABOUT THE STATE CONSTITUTION, GO READ IT SOMETIME.

YOU KNOW, IT IS REALLY NERDED.

SO THIS IS THE NERDY ISSUE THAT I THINK MINNESOTANS MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN.

>> Eric: DO YOU THINK IT SHOULD BE 135 OR 133?

>> I THINK WE HAVE TO SEE HOW THIS TURNS AND IF THEY FINISH BY JULY 1.

GLI WHAT'S YOUR THOUGHTS ON THEM MAKING IT >> I SAY NEXT WEEK IS A LONG SHOT YET.

BUT THE FOLLOWING WEEK IS MY BET.

>> I WOULD AGREE THAT THAT'S PROBABLY WHEN IT COMES TOGETHER.

WE'RE A TWO TOE THREE WEEKS FROM EVERYTHING FINALIZING AND WRAPPING.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE'RE AT THAT POINT WHERE 95% DONE BUT 95% YET TO GO.

THOSE LAST BIG DECISIONS ARE ALWAYS THE CONVERSATIONAL ONES.

SO WE'LL SEE.

>> ONE YARD TO THE GOAL LINE AND MAN, IS IT GOING TO BE A SLOG.

>> Cathy: YOU GUYS WOULD KNOW TOO.

>> YEAH, RIGHT.

WE'RE THANKFUL WE'RE NOT THERE.

>> Cathy: I CAN ONLY IMAGINE HOW THANKFUL YOU ARE.

REALLY GOOD STUFF.

>> Eric: AS ALWAYS, THANK YOU.

♪ >> TYPICALLY CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS ARE ALL ABOUT GALLERIES.

AND WHAT WE'VE TRIED TO DO IS CREATE THE FIRST MODEL FOR VISUAL ARTS, PERFORMING RTS.

THE WHOLE POINT OF REALLY ANY CULTURAL INSTITUTION IS TO ENGAGE IN DEBATE, CONVERSATION, TO LEARN ABOUT VALUES OTHER THAN OUR OWN, AND WAS WE'RE SEEING HERE ARE TWO EDUCATION SPACES, ONE WHERE YOU CAN WATCH FILMS FROM THE COLLECTION, ONE WHERE YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT THE COLLECTION.

>> Cathy: WELL, FRIENDS, THE TIME HAS COME TO TURN OUR ATTENTION TO MINNESOTA HISTORY AND SEE IF WE CAN STUMP SOME OF YOU WITH THIS WEEK'S QUESTION.

HERE'S A NOTE BEFORE WE BEGIN, THOUGH.

LONG-TIME VIEWERS OF THE PROGRAM MIGHT HAVE THE INSIDE TRACK ON THIS ONE.

WE'RE GOING TO TRAVEL BACK TO MAY OF 2015.

NOW, WE ROSHTED SOMETHING UNUSUAL ON THE SHOW AND TOLD YOU TO PAY ATTENTION BECAUSE IT WOULD BECOME A FUTURE INDEX FILE QUESTION AND GUESS WHAT.

THAT DAY HAS COME, MY FRIENDS.

IT'S SPRING TIME IN MINNESOTA.

SOMEONE OR SOMETHING TRAVELS SOUTH TO A PLACE RARELY VISITED BY MIDWESTERNERS.

IT IS THE FIRST TIME THIS PARTICULAR THING HAS VISITED THIS PLACE IN MORE THAN A DECADE.

OUR QUESTION FOR YOU, WHO OR WHAT AM I?

EXTRA CREDIT OF COURSE ALWAYS GOES TO THE VIEWER WHO CAN ADD IN DETAILS THAT LEAD US TO REPORT ON THIS EVENT.

(651)229-1430 IS THE HANDY NUMBER TO CALL.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU WHETHER YOU'RE CALLING FROM FIDDLE CREEK, BOASTERRING CREEK OR THE BLUE GRASS CEMETERY IN LE SUEUR COUNTY.

IF YOU WANT TO DROP US A NOTE INSTEAD, OUR EMAIL ADDRESS IS "ALMANAC"@TPT.ORG.

WE HAVE JUST ENOUGH TIME FOR SOME SHOW-ENDING MUSIC FROM THE ARCHIVES.

IT WAS THIS WEEK BACK IN 2000 THAT GRAMMY AWARD WINNER, COUNTRY SINGER KATHY MATTEA PERFORMED RIGHT HERE IN STUDIO "B."

HE HSHE AND HER BAND EVEN JOINED US AFTER THE SHOW FOR A LITTLE BARBECUE FUN.

HERE IS KATHY MATTEA SINGING "THE INNOCENT YEARS."

TAKE CARE.

WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT WEEK.

♪ ♪ >> >> ♪ I NEED TO GO DOWN AND WASH MY FACE ♪ ♪ DEEP IN THE RIVER OF MY OWN HOME PLACE ♪ ♪ I NEED TO WALK IN THE WATERS THAT ONCE GAVE ME LIFE ♪ ♪ GO OVER AND WALK THE OLD RAILROAD TRACK ♪ ♪ SEE IF I CAN FOLLOW IT ALL THE WAY BACK ♪ ♪ BACK TO WHERE MY VISION IS CLEAR ♪ ♪ BACK TO THE DAYS OF THE INNOCENT YEARS ♪ ♪ NOWHERE I'D TRADE IT ALL BACK ♪ ♪ FOR JUST ONE DAY LIKE IT WAS BACK THEN ♪ ♪ BACK BEFORE JUST LIVING MY LIFE ♪ ♪ GOT IN THE WAY ♪ ♪ TO SEE MY FACE AT 16 AGAIN ♪ ♪ THE BOY DOWN THE STREET WAS MY BEST FRIEND ♪ ♪ WHEN HIS SMILE TOOK AWAY MY TEARS ♪ ♪ BACK TO THE DAYS OF THE INNOCENT YEARS ♪ ♪ I GROW WISER EVERY DAY ♪ ♪ BUT THERE'S A PRICE YOU HAVE TO PAY ♪ ♪ THE GIRL I WAS JUST ISN'T HERE ♪ ♪ BEHIND THE INNOCENT YEARS ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> >> ♪ NOW WHEN THE SUN GOES DOWN ♪ ♪ I CAN SEE THE MOON OVER MY HOMETOWN ♪ ♪ I CAN ALMOST HEAR THE TRAIN RUSHING BY ♪ ♪ I CLOSE MY EYES AND I SAY A PRAYER ♪ ♪ FOR THE WIDE-EYED GIRL THAT I LOST SOMEWHERE ♪ ♪ MAYBE SOMEDAY SHE'LL FIND ME HERE ♪ ♪ LEAD ME BACK TO THE INNOCENT YEARS ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ I GROW WISER EVERY DAY ♪ ♪ THERE'S A PRICE YOU HAVE TO PAY ♪ ♪ THE GETTER I WAS JUST ISN'T HERE ♪ ♪ LEFT HER BEHIND N THE INNOCENT YEARS ♪ ♪ Captioned by: Veritext/Paradigm-Captioning Www.veritext.com >> "ALMANAC" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY MEMBERS OF THIS PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION.

SUPPORT IS ALSO PROVIDED BY... GREAT RIVER ENERGY: PROVIDING WHOLESALE POWER TO 1.7 MILLION PEOPLE THROUGH ITS MEMBER-OWNER COOPERATIVES AND CUSTOMERS.

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

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