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

>> CATHY: WE'RE COMING TO YOU TONIGHT LIVE FROM THE ATWOOD MEMORIAL CENTER ON THE CAMPUS OF ST.

CLOUD STATE UNIVERSITY.

A DUO OF ECONOMIC PROFESSORS WILL JOIN US.

KAOMI LEE WILL INTRODUCE US TO A FIRST-YEAR STUDENT HERE AT THE NEW MEDICAL SCHOOL IN ST.

CLOUD.

>> ERIC: WE'LL FILL THE COUCH WITH CURRENT AND FORMER LEGISLATORS FROM THE AREA.

AND MARY LAHAMMER HAS BEEN FOLLOWING THE ACTION AT THE CAPITOL ALL WEEK.

>> Mary: YEAH, THAT'S WHERE GOVERNOR WALZ DELIVERED HIS FINE STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS AT THE CAPITOL WHERE ETHICS DECISIONS ALSO CAME DOWN TODAY.

I'LL TALK WITH ERIC AND CATHY ABOUT THAT AND THE HOME STRETCH OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

THAT'S COMING UP ON "ALMANAC."

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

SUPPORT IS ALSO PROVIDED BY... GREAT RIVER ENERGY: PROVIDING WHOLESALE POWER TO 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.

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

MORE AT EDUCATIONMINNESOTA.ORG.

AND VANESSA DAYTON, THROUGH THE HEALTHCARE FOR ALL MINNESOTANS FUND, SUPPORTING ACCESSIBLE HEALTHCARE STATEWIDE.

[ Cheers and applause ] >> ERIC: WELCOME TO THIS SPECIAL EDITION OF "ALMANAC."

WE ARE LIVE FROM THE CAMPUS OF ST.

CLOUD STATE UNIVERSITY, RIGHT NEAR THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER IN STEARNS COUNTY.

THANK YOU TO MORE THAN 400 PEOPLE HERE IN THE AUDIENCE FOR THE WONDERFUL WARM St.

CLOUD WELCOME.

TANE DANGER, KAOMI LEE, AND SHELETTA BRUNDIDGE WILL BE HANGING OUT WITH SOME OF YOU LATER IN THE HOUR.

WE HAVE SOME ST.

CLOUD-FOCUSED SEGMENTS TONIGHT, INCLUDING A LOOK AT THE NEW MEDICAL SCHOOL IN TOWN, A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN CENTRACARE AND THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA.

>> CATHY: AND OF COURSE PLENTY OF POLITICS AS WELL.

MARY LAHAMMER WILL ROUND UP THE STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS AND JOIN US FOR A LIVE CONVERSATION.

WE'LL FILL THE COUCH WITH A SPECIAL ST.

CLOUD AREA PANEL OF LEGISLATORS PAST AND PRESENT.

BUT WE ARE GOING TO START TONIGHT WITH THE ECONOMY.

AS THE WAR IN THE MIDDLE EAST CONTINUES, OIL PRICES REMAIN VOLATILE AND GAS PRICES HAVE REACHED MORE THAN $5 A GALLON IN SOME PARTS OF THE U.S HERE IN MINNESOTA, $4.09, RIGHT HERE N St.

CLOUD.

LOUIS JOHNSTON TEACHES ECONOMICS JUST DOWN THE ROAD AT THE COLLEGE OF ST.

BENEDICT AND ST.

JOHN'S UNIVERSITY.

HE HAD A MUCH SHORTER DRIVE TO JOIN US TONIGHT.

INSTEAD OF COMING DOWN TO St.

PAUL.

AND WE WELCOME KING BANAIAN TO THE SHOW, ECONOMICS PROFESSOR HERE AT ST.

CLOUD STATE.

GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> THANK YOU.

GOOD TO BE ERE.

>> Cathy: PROFESSOR JOHNSTON.

>> YES.

>> athy:IST DRIVING UP 94 AND I SAW THE GAS PRICES AT 4 BUCKS 9 CENTS A GALLON, AND I'M ASSUMING THEY'RE ONLY GOING TO GO HIGHER.

I SEE TODAY THAT NEIL KASHKARI, PRESIDENT OF THE MINNEAPOLIS FED THINKS THAT INTEREST RATES WILL HAVE TO GO UP AT THE STRAIGHT OF HORMUZ -- IF THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ REMAINS CLOSED.

THAT DOESN'T SOUND GOOD AT ALL.

>> NO, AND HE WAS PRETTY VOCIFEROUS ABOUT IT BECAUSE HE'S ON THE FEDERAL OPEN MARKET COMMITTEE THAT SETS INTEREST RATES AND HE ACTUALLY FORMALLY DISSENT FROM THE STATEMENT AND SAID, WE SHOULD TAKE ANY TALK OF INTEREST RATES GOING OWN OFF THE TABLE, TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND, INTEREST RATES ARE NOT GOING DOWN, THEY'RE STAYING THE SAME OR GOING UP.

AND YOU NEED TO BE READY FOR IT.

>> Eric: DESPITE THE OIL SHOCK, I WONDER IF THE OVERALL ECONOMY, THE GROWTH IN THE ECONOMY IS STILL FAIRLY SOLID, ISN'T IT?

>> IT IS.

IT IS, ERIC.

IT'S STILL BEEN A PRETTY SOLID ECONOMY.

WE'VE GOT A PERIOD WHERE WE HAVE A LOW, HIGHER LOW FIRE LABOR MARKET, BUT PRICES ARE HIGHER.

I THINK PRESIDENT KASHKARI IS CORRECT IN HIS DECISION, IT'S BEING SHARED, BY THE WAY, BY TWO OTHER PRESIDENTS, IN FACT, HE HAD FOUR DISSENTS ON THE VOTE ON WEDNESDAY, THAT WAS THE FIRST IME ANYONE ELSE 1992 THAT THAT HAPPENED.

>> Eric: WHAT'S THE RESULT FOR THE ECONOMY WITH HIGHER INTEREST RATES?

>> WELLING I HINK YOU'RE GONNA SEE THINGS SLOWER THAN THEY OTHERWISE WOULD BE.

BUT ONE THING THAT I THINK I'M CONCERNED ABOUT, I'D LOVE TO HEAR WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THIS, KING, IS THAT THIS IS NOT ANOTHER GOOD THING FOR THE HOUSING MARKET.

>> YES.

>> WE'VE ALREADY BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH THE HOUSING MARKETS SO INTEREST RATES ARE GOING TO BE HIGHER THAN THEY OTHERWISE WOULD SO THAT'S GOING TO SLOW CONSTRUCTION SPENDING, THAT'S GOING TO SLOW BUILDING, THAT'S GOING TO SLOW THE REAL ESTATE MARKET AND THOSE ARE ALL THINGS THAT IT MIGHT NOT CAUSE A RECESSION, BUT THEY'RE CERTAINLY GOING TO SLOW US DOWN.

>> YEAH, THAT'S BEEN PRETTY ROCKY IN THIS AREA FOR A LITTLE WHILE NOW.

AND I WOULD SAY, I WOULD SAY PROBABLY TO STAY ROCKY.

ALTHOUGH LOCALLY HERE IN THE St.

CLOUD AREA, CONSTRUCTION HAS STAYED IN A PRETTY STEADY PLACE, BUT THE TYPES OF HOUSES BEING BUILT AND WHAT PEOPLE CAN AFFORD, THE ABILITY OF PEOPLE TO MOVE, PARTICULARLY WHEN YOU GET INTO THAT PERIOD WHERE YOU MAYBE WANT TO MOVE INTO A SMALLER HOUSE, THAT'S NOT HAPPENING BECAUSE IT'S A LITTLE HARD TO GET YOURSELF TO PAY THAT INTEREST RATE THAT'S OUT THERE RIGHT NOW.

>> Cathy: YOU MENTIONED JOBS.

AND I'M CURIOUS TO SEE WHAT YOU BOTH SAY ABOUT THIS.

THE MINNESOTA JOBLESS RATE IS HIGHER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.

>> YEAH.

>> Cathy: WHICH IS THE LAST TIME THAT HAPPENED?

THAT SEEMS TO BE A CONCERN?

WHEN IS THE.

>> IT IS.

IT'S HIGHER IN St.

CLOUD THAN THE STATE AS A WHOLE.

IT'S AN INTERESTING MOMENT FOR US.

SO THAT RATE IS GOING UP AND THAT MAY WELL MEAN THAT WE ARE SEEING MORE OF OUR COMMUNITY ACTUALLY TRYING TO GO BACK INTO THAT JOB MARKET BECAUSE THEY'RE STRESSED, THEY FEEL LIKE THEY NEED TO BE OUT THERE RIGHT NOW.

AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT LOUIS THINKS ABOUT THIS, BUT I DO THINK THAT THE NEXT STEP WILL BE FOR THAT RATE TO GO EVEN A LITTLE BIT HIGHER FROM HERE.

>> I WAS LOOKING AT THIS, THE LAST TIME WE SAW THIS WAS 2006.

2006, '7 AND INTO 2008, MINNESOTA'S RATE WAS HIGHER AND WAS GOING FASTER THAN THE NATIONAL.

BUT THEN THE FINANCIAL CRISIS HAPPENED, AND THE REST OF THE COUNTRY ZOOMED UP AND WE JUST KIND OF KEPT GOING UP A LITTLE BIT.

SO I'M STARTING TO WONDER, IS THIS A LITTLE PRELUDE OF THE REST OF THE COUNTRY STARTING TO SLIP, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING AHEAD A LITTLE BIT AND THE REST OF THE COUNTRY'S GOING TO SEE THEIR UNEMPLOYMENT RATES START TO JUMP UP.

>> Cathy: DO WE KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE OB MARKET IN TERMS OF, ARE THERE ANY SIGNS OF STRENGTH ANYWHERE IN THE MARKET HERE IN MINNESOTA OR IS IT ALL JUST GENERALLY BAD NEWS ACROSS THE BOARD?

>> WELL, IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE RIGHT AT THIS MOMENT IT'S PROBABLY MORE THE BLUE-COLLAR JOBS HAVE ACTUALLY STAYED FAIRLY STEADY IN THIS TIME.

INTERESTINGLY, EVEN THOUGH THE HOUSING MARKET HAS NOT DONE PARTICULARLY WELL, CONSTRUCTION'S BEEN OKAY.

WHERE YOU'RE SEEING THAT SLIP IS IN A FEW PLACES THAT TYPICALLY WE THINK AS BEING RECESSION-PROOF.

LIKE HEALTHCARE, EDUCATION, IN PROFESSIONAL BUSINESS SERVICES, THOSE ARE THE AREAS THAT TYPICALLY WE THINK THEY'RE GOING TO DO OKAY EVEN IN A RECESSION, BUT RIGHT NOW WE'RE SEEING SOME STRESS THERE.

>> Eric: FARM ECONOMY, A LOT OF STORIES THAT IT'S TOUGH OUT THERE.

>> YEAH.

AND I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THAT SHOWING EVEN MORE WEAKNESS BECAUSE THEY'RE GETTING HIT WITH TARIFFS LAST YEAR, NOW THEY'RE GETTING HIT WITH TARIFFS AND WITH A BIG -- WELL, OIL PRICE INCREASE THAT'S SHOWING UP IN FERTILIZER, IN DIESEL FUEL.

YOU KNOW, HOW MUCH MORE CAN THEY TAKE IS WHAT I KEEP WONDERING.

>> Eric: ARE THERE REFUNDS FOR TARIFF PAYMENTS?

WAS THAT JUST TALKED ABOUT OR IS THAT SOMETHING -- >> THERE'S A MECHANISM TO DO IT.

I JUST DON'T KNOW THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO GET IT TO WHERE -- BECAUSE THE MECHANISM GOES TO WHO PAID IT.

IT WASN'T THE EVENTUAL CUSTOMER, LIKE YOU AND ME, ERIC, IT IS ACTUALLY THE PERSON THAT DID THE IMPORTING, THAT'S GOING TO GET THAT.

IF THEY PASS THAT PRICE THROUGH, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO ORT OF HOPE THAT THEY BEHAVE NICELY AND SEND THAT MONEY BACK.

>> YEAH, YOU WON'T BE GETTING A CHECK.

YOU WON'T BE GETTING A CHECK.

>> Eric: OH, DARN IT.

>> Cathy: HE WAS SO HOPING HE COULD.

CHANGE GUARD OF THE FED.

JEROME POWELL IS STILL HANGING AROUND.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THAT?

>> I THINK HE WAS VERY CLEAR IN WHAT HE SAID, IS THAT HE'S TRYING TO PROTECT THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE FED.

HE IS WAITING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE INVESTIGATION INTO THE CHARGE THAT SOMEHOW THERE WAS AN OVERCHARGE IN THE WAY -- IN THE BUILDING, IN THE NEW BUILDING, LIKE NOBODY IN D.C.

EVER HAD TO GO OVER A BID.

HE'S GOING TO STICK AROUND.

I THINK THIS IS IMPORTANT, BECAUSE I THINK HE FEDERAL RESERVE -- THE FEDERAL RESERVE INDEPENDENCE IS A VERY IMPORTANT THING.

AND HE GAVE A VERY ELOQUENT DEFENSE OF THAT IN HIS LAST, WHAT I GUESS WILL BE HIS LAST PRESS CONFERENCE.

>> I THOUGHT IT WAS VERY INTERESTING, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE IF PRESIDENT TRUMP HAD BEEN NICE TO JEROME POWELL, SECOND READING TWO SEATS TO FILL.

AND SINCE HE WASN'T, HE ONLY GETS TO FILL ONE.

SO... >> Cathy: ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE YOU.

GREAT TO SEE YOU AGAIN, PROFESSOR BANAIAN, IT'S BEEN A WHILE, OF COURSE, WELL, PROFESSOR JOHNSTON, YOU'RE AMAZING.

>> Eric: HOW ABOUT A HAND FOR THESE ECONOMIC GUYS.

[ Applause ] >> THANK YOU.

>> Cathy: WE ARE GOING TO HEAD OUT TO THE AUDIENCE RIGHT NOW.

POLITICAL REPORTER ARY LAHAMMER IS OUT THERE.

MARY.

>> Mary: YEAH, CATHY, THERE'S JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS LEFT IN THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

AND SO FAR, VERY FEW BILLS OF SUBSTANCE HAVE PASSED.

AND THAT WAS THE BACKDROP FOR THE GOVERNOR'S STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.

[ Applause ] [ Cheers and applause ] >> Mary: GOVERNOR IM WALZ DELIVERED HIS FINAL STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.

>> WELL, IT'S BEEN NO SECRET.

IT'S BEEN AN UNIMAGINABLY DIFFICULT YEAR FOR MINNESOTA.

OUR IS SEASON OF GRIEF BEGAN LAST SUMMER WHEN WE LOST MELISSA AND MARK, AND WE NEARLY LOST JOHN, YVETTE AND HOPE HOFFMAN.

WE ARE SO DEEPLY RELIEVED AND GRATEFUL THAT JOHN IS BACK WITH US.

[ Cheers and applause ] >> Mary: FOR THE VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE WHO HAD TO COME HOME AFTER HIS ONLY UNSUCCESSFUL RUN FOR OFFICE, IT'S BEEN A TUMULTUOUS TIME.

>> FOR NO REASON AT ALL, WE LOST TWO MORE OF OUR NEIGHBORS.

RENEE GOOD AND ALEX PRETTI.

WE GATHER TONIGHT IN THE LONG SHADOW OF ALL THOSE TRAGIC TRANSFORMATIVE LOSSES.

AND, YET, THE STATE OF OUR STATE REMAINS STRONG.

>> Mary: SLIDING POPULARITY, MOUNTING FRAUD, AND INCREASED THREATS TO HIS FAMILY, ALL PRECEDED WALZ'S ENDING HIS LONG POLITICAL CAREER IN THE STATE.

>> IT IS MY LAST STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.

NEXT YEAR -- [ SCATTERED APPLAUSE ] >> TAKE IT.

BUT THE THINGS WE IMPLEMENTED WILL BE HERE FOR DECADES.

[ Laughter ] [ Applause ] >> Mary: REVIEWS OF THE GOVERNOR'S ADDRESS WERE MIXED.

FROM LEGISLATIVE LEADERS LOOKING TO END SESSION IN JUST WEEKS.

>> THE STATE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA IS SOMEWHAT DISAPPOINTING.

AS YOU WELL REMEMBER, WE HAD $18 BILLION OF SURPLUS.

THAT WAS NOT RETURNED TO THE TAXPAYERS OF MINNESOTA.

>> IT WAS A DISAPPOINTING SPEECH IN A LOT OF WAYS, BUT, REALLY, KIND OF A FITTING END TO WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST DIVISIVE GOVERNOR IN MINNESOTA'S HISTORY.

>> IT IS NOT A LEGACY OF AFFORDABILITY.

IT'S NOT A LEGACY OF ACCOUNTABILITY.

IT IS NOT A LEGACY THAT MAKES MINNESOTANS PROUD.

>> THE GOVERNOR CLEARLY HAS A VERY IMPRESSIVE LEGACY AS HE FINISHES UP HIS LAST STATE OF THE STATE.

AND WE ARE VERY ROUD TO HAVE BEEN PART OF MAKING THAT HAPPEN UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF SPEAKER HORTMAN.

>> WHAT I HEARD WAS HOPE AND PRIDE.

THERE WAS A LOT OF PRIDE IN THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE AS A COMMUNITY IN COMING THROUGH A VERY TOUGH YEAR, AND, FRANKLY, A VERY TOUGH EIGHT YEARS.

>> HE ALSO REMINDED US THAT THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE DONE TOGETHER ARE GOING TO ERSIST FOR A VERY VERY LONG TIME.

EVEN THOUGH HE WILL NO LONGER BE IN OFFICE.

♪ >> ERIC: HERE WITH MORE ON THE GOVERNOR'S STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS AND THE STATE OF THE LEGISLATURE AS THEY HEAD INTO THE FINAL WEEKS BEFORE ADJOURNMENT, MARY LAHAMMER HAS RUN UP HERE FROM THE AUDIENCE TO JOIN US ON THE COUCH.

WELL, WHILE THE GOVERNOR IS BEGINNING HIS LONG GOOD-BYE, THERE WAS ACTION TODAY IN THE HOUSE ETHICS COMMITTEE.

>> Mary: YEAH, AND NOTABLE BECAUSE OUR STATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IS TIED.

AND SO MUCH IS GETTING STUCK ON A TIE OTE.

NOT TODAY IN ETHICS COMMITTEE.

IT WAS ACTUALLY UNANIMOUS TO DECIDE NOT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH ANETHICS COMPLAINT.

THIS WAS AGAINST THE TWO REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS, YOU MAY HAVE SEEN THIS, WHO WERE CAUGHT LEAVING COMMITTEE EARLY.

THAT WAS ACTUALLY MORE THE SOURCE OF THE COMPLAINT THAN WHAT THEY WERE DOING, THEN THEY WERE CAUGHT DRINKING AT A LOCAL ESTABLISHMENT.

AND THEN COMING BACK TO FLOOR SESSION AND THEN LATER IN THE NIGHT A DWI.

ONE OF THEM HAD AN ATTORNEY, ONE OF THEM REPRESENTED HIMSELF.

AND THEY TROTTED OUT THE NUMEROUS AMOUNT OF OTHER LAWMAKERS, DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKERS, WHO HAD ALSO HAD DWIs AND SAID, SO THEY WEREN'T PUNISHED, BUT WE'RE GOING TO BE PUNISHED.

AND -- SO THAT WAS A BIPARTISAN DECISION THERE.

AND THEN THERE WAS A COMPLAINT AGAINST A DEMOCRAT, NO DECISION ON REPRESENTATIVE FALCONER, ACCUSED OF LOBBYING WHILE LAWMAKING.

>> Cathy: OKAY.

SO THAT WAS TODAY.

>> Mary: YEAH.

>> Cathy: HEY, ALSO SOME INTERESTING NEWS COMING OFF THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL THAT THE LINEUPS OF SOME CAMPAIGNS HAVE BEEN CHANGED.

>> Mary: YEAH, SHAKEN OUT.

BECAUSE WE'RE LOOKING AT THE CONVENTIONS.

THIS YEAR, DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS ARE HOLDING THEIR CONVENTIONS THE SAME WEEKEND.

AND THAT'S COMING UP IN JUST A FEW WEEKS, IGHT AFTER THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION CLOSES, A LITTLE LATER IN MAY.

AND WE'VE SEEN SOME REPUBLICANS NOW THIS WEEK GETTING OUT OF THE RACE.

FIRST DAVID HANN, REPUBLICAN GETTING OUT OF THE U.S.

SENATE RACE AND THEN TODAY, REPUBLICAN KRISTIN ROBBINS, YOU MAY HAVE SEEN HER, SHE'S RAISED HER PROFILE, SHE IS THE CHAIR OF THE RAUD COMMITTEE.

THE ONLY SOLO CHAIR.

EVERYBODY ELSE IS CO-CHAIR, DEMOCRAT/REPUBLICAN, SHARING A GAVEL BACK AND FORTH.

THIS WAS PART OF THE DEAL, WHERE THERE'S A REPUBLICAN SPEAKER AND A REPUBLICAN CHAIR.

SO WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF HER ON THE FRAUD ISSUE.

SHE WAS RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR AGAINST THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE, LISA DEMUTH, AND SHE SUSPENDED HER CAMPAIGN.

I SENT HER A LITTLE NOTE BEFORE WE CAME ON AIR TO ASK, WHAT'S NEXT?

STATE AUDITOR?

MAYBE A RUN FOR THE STATE SENATE, BECAUSE THE STATE SENATOR FROM MAPLE GROVE, WARREN LIMMER, IS RETIRING.

THAT IS A COMPETITIVE DISTRICT.

IT WILL BE TARGETED, A PURPLE DISTRICT.

DEMOCRATS WANT TO FLIP.

SHE SAID, NO, ON BOTH OF THOSE.

SO THERE'S YOUR BREAKING NEWS.

>> Cathy: SOMETHING.

>> Eric: WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON WHAT SHE MIGHT DO?

>> I THINK SHE AS RAISED HER PROFILE ON THAT FRAUD ISSUE.

SO I DON'T THINK SHE'S DONE WITH ELECTIVE OFFICE OR HIGH-PROFILE ROLE.

>> Cathy: YEAH.

>> Mary: MAYBE A RUNNING MATE, PERHAPS.

>> Cathy: I DON'T KNOW.

>> Eric: YEAH.

>> Cathy: DO YOU FORESEE OTHER CANDIDATE DROPPING BEFORE THE CONVENTION?

>> Mary: PROBABLY NOT.

ESPECIALLY ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE, WHERE THERE ARE MORE CANDIDATES, OBVIOUSLY WHEN AMY KLOBUCHAR CAME IN WHEN TIM WALZ CAME OUT OF THE GOVERNOR'S RACE, THAT SOLIDIFIED THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE.

REPUBLICANS, YOU KNOW, SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE LISA DEMUTH WAS SEEN AS A FRONTRUNNER, SHE'S KIND OF BEEN LOCKED DOWN AT THE CAPITOL FOR A FEW MONTHS.

KENDALL EQUALS HAS BEEN DOING THE -- QUALLS HAS BEEN DOING THE OUTSIDER ROLE AND MAYBE WINNING SOME STRAW POLLS.

YOU CAN'T PREDICT WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH MIKE LINDELL, WHO TALKS ABOUT HIS CLOSE TIES TO PRESIDENT TRUMP.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN AT THAT CONVENTION.

>> Eric: HAT WOULD IT BE LIKE IF GOVERNOR WALZ HAD DECIDED TO SEEK A THIRD TERM?

>> EVERYTHING CHANGED WITH OPERATION METRO SURGE.

I THINK IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO PREDICT EXACTLY WHERE.

I DO THINK, I'VE HEARD YOU AND OTHER PEOPLE SAY, BUT MAYBE HE'S MORE POPULAR OUTSIDE THE STATE OR OUTSIDE THE COUNTRY.

WE'VE NEVER HAD A GOVERNOR WIN A THIRD TERM.

YOU WATCHED THE LAST DEMOCRAT WHO TRIED TO DO THAT, RUDY PERPICH, IT DIDN'T GO WELL FOR HIM.

HE LOST O A REPUBLICAN PARTY WHOSE CANDIDATE HAD TO DROP OUT AFTER SWIMMING NAKED WITH TEENAGE GIRLS.

>> Cathy: SO BEFORE YOU -- >> Eric: THERE'S THAT.

>> Cathy: YEAH, THERE'S THAT.

SO BEFORE YOU GO, END OF SESSION, RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER.

DO WE EXPECT THIS TO BE A QUIET END?

>> Mary: PERHAPS.

BECAUSE OF THE ELECTION CYCLE, IT'S SO TIGHT, THAT TIED HOUSE, ALL 201 LAWMAKERS UP.

IT'S HARD FOR THEM TO SOLVE BIG, DIFFICULT ISSUES IN A BIPARTISAN BASIS.

I THINK SOME OF THE HUGE THING THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE IT TO THE ELECTION, MAYBE SOME SMALLER THINGS, INSPECTOR GENERAL, THAT'S LOOKING LIKE IT COULD GET SOLVED.

AND PROBABLY A BAILOUT FOR HCMC HOSPITAL.

THAT IS A HUGE BIPARTISAN ISSUE THAT DOES AFFECT THE ENTIRE REGION.

>> Eric: MARY, THANKS A LOT.

LET'S HEAD BACK OUT TO THE AUDIENCE WHERE TANE DANGER HAS CAUGHT UP WITH GREATER MINNESOTA REPORTER KAOMI LEE.

>> Tane: HEY, EVERYBODY, I'M TANE DANGER HERE WITH -- >> Kaomi: AND I'M KAOMI LEE.

>> Tane: AND WE ARE WE ARE GOING TO -- WE ARE GOING TO MEET SOME OF OUR St.

CLOUD FANS.

AND WE LIKE TO ASK TRIVIA QUESTIONS.

>> Kaomi: DOES NINO WHERE THE NAME St.

CLOUD CAME FROM?

>> Tane: THIS MIGHT BE RELATIVELY EASY.

DO YOU MIND IF WE ASK YOU?

>> DID IT COME FROM SOMETHING THE PATRON SAINT OF RAIN.

>> Tane: THAT IS NOT CORRECT.

DO YOU HAVE A GUESS?

>> WAS IT NAMED IN HONOR OF CLOUD STORAGE?

>> Tane: THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY GOOD, BUT 19th CENTURY, BUT NO.

DO YOU HAVE AN ANSWER?

>> I'M TOLD THAT IT BEGAN AS AN INSIDE JOKE BETWEEN SAWMILL OWNER JOHN WILSON AND TWO FRENCH MEN HE HIRED TO PAINT A HOUSE.

APPARENTLY WILSON WAS FASCINATED BY NAPOLEON WHO WAS INVADING RUSSIA AT THE TIME AND NAPOLEON USED TO INQUIRE ABOUT HIS WIFE, WHO WAS IN A CASTLE CALLED SAN CLU.

SO WILSON BORROWED THE PHRASE AND SAID, HOW ARE THINGS IN St.

CLOUD.

TO THE FRENCH FENCE PAINTERS AND APPARENTLY THE NAME STUCK.

>> Tane: THAT IS CORRECT!

>> Kaomi: THAT'S CORRECT!

WOW!

>> Tane: HOW DID YOU KNOW THAT?

>> I TEACH HISTORY AT St.

CLOUD STATE.

>> Tane: WELL, THAT WORKS OUT.

>> OKAY, THERE WE GO.

>> Tane: A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE.

THEN I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO KAOMI LEE.

>> Kaomi: THAT WAS FUN.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR OUR "ALMANAC" FANS.

ST.

CLOUD IS NOW HOME TO THE STATE'S NEWEST FOUR-YEAR MEDICAL SCHOOL, THE FIRST ONE IN 50 YEARS.

IT'S NAMED THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA MEDICAL SCHOOL CENTRACARE REGIONAL CAMPUS - ST.

CLOUD.

THE MISSION IS TO TRAIN FUTURE PHYSICIANS WHO HAVE A PASSION FOR SERVING RURAL COMMUNITIES.

I VISITED THE CAMPUS A FEW WEEKS AGO, AND HERE'S WHAT I FOUND.

>> HEY!

>> HI, CHARLIE!

>> Kaomi: ETHAN BAKER IS A 26-YEAR-OLD FIRST-YEAR MEDICAL STUDENT FROM SAUK RAPIDS.

HE AND HIS WIFE AND 5-MONTH-OLD DAUGHTER LIVE IN A TWO-BEDROOM, TWO-BATHROOM APARTMENT.

IT'S ADJACENT TO THE NEW UNIVERSITY UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA MEDICAL SCHOOL IN St.

CLOUD.

THE SPACIOUS APARTMENT WITH AMPLE AMENITIES IS NOT ONLY CONVENIENT -- THERE'S.

>> THERE'S A PERIOD OF TIME I DIDN'T DEPOT OUTSIDE FOR LIKE THREE DAYS.

>> Kaomi: HE'S ALSO PART OF A FIRST-YEAR COHORT OF ONLY 24 STUDENTS.

IT'S INTENTIONAL AND THAT'S WHAT ATTRACTED HIM.

>> EASILY THE BEST PART ABOUT BEING HERE.

WE KNOW EACH OTHER'S PARTNERS, WE KNOW EACH OTHER'S DOGS.

>> Kaomi: THE SCHOOL IS A PARTNERSHIP WITH SAN TRA CARE, ONE OF THE LARGEST HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS IN THE STATE.

THE MISSION IS TO TRAIN AND ENCOURAGE MORE PHYSICIANS TO PRACTICE RURAL MEDICINE.

THE CLASSES ARE THE SAME AS THE UNIVERSITY'S OTHER MEDICAL SCHOOL CAMPUSES IN DULUTH AND THE TWIN CITIES.

WHAT'S DIFFERENT HERE IS A FOCUS ON WHO WAS RECRUITED.

>> WHEN YOU GREW UP HERE, IT'S WHAT YOU LIKE.

AND YOU LIKE WHERE YOU GROW UP, I FEEL.

>> WE HAVE KNOWN THAT THERE'S A CHALLENGE IN OUR RURAL COMMUNITIES THERE'S NOT ENOUGH PHYSICIANS.

>> Kaomi: ACCORDING TO THIS NATIONAL STUDY, PHYSICIANS WITH A RURAL BACKGROUND WERE MORE LIKELY TO CHOOSE A RURAL PRACTICE.

THAT COMPARES TO ONLY 13.8% OF RURAL DOCTORS WHO WERE FROM URBAN CITIES.

MOST MEDICAL SCHOOLS ARE LOCATED IN LARGE CITIES.

UNTIL THIS YEAR, U OF M MEDICAL STUDENT AT THE DULUTH CAMPUS COMPLETED THEIR THIRD AND FOURTH YEARS IN THE TWIN CITIES.

>> SO Dr.

HOL MAN, THE CEO OF CENTRACARE AND Dr.

JACOB TOLL LREADY, AT THAT TIME THE DEAN OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA MEDICAL SCHOOL, GOT TOGETHER.

>> Kaomi: THE TWO LEADERS DECIDED TO COMBINE THE EXPERTISE OF THE U OF M WITH CENTRACARE'S RURAL-BASED SYSTEM.

A CENTRACARE PEDIATRICIAN SERVES AS THE SCHOOL'S ASSISTANT DEAN.

SHE SAYS ABOUT HALF OF THIS INCOMING CLASS WERE ONLY ABLE TO ATTEND MEDICAL SCHOOL BECAUSE OF THE St.

CLOUD LOCATION.

>> OUR STUDENTS ARE CHOOSING TO COME TO OUR CAMPUS.

WE WERE HEIR FIRST CHOICE.

BECAUSE THEY WANT TO BE IN THIS COMMUNITY.

>> Kaomi: AND DONORS WANT THEM, TOO.

THE CENTRACARE FOUNDATION RAISED MORE THAN $43 MILLION, THAT INCLUDES SCHOLARSHIPS AND BUILDING A $19 MILLION APARTMENT COMPLEX FOR SOME 90 STUDENTS.

CENTRACARE CONTRIBUTED THE MEDICAL SCHOOL BUILDING, THE STATE KICKED IN $15 MILLION FOR THE BUILDOUT AND ACADEMICS.

LIGHT-FILLED CLASSROOMS AND STUDY ROOMS ARE NAMED AFTER THE HOMETOWNS OF EACH STUDENT IN THIS INAUGURAL CLASS.

AND THE STUDENTS WILL GET HANDS-ON TRAINING AT SOME OF CENTRACARE'S REGIONAL CLINICS.

>> IT WILL TAKE A LONG TIME FOR US TO SEE THE FRUITS OF THAT.

>> Kaomi: HENNING SMITH IS AN ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR IN HEALTH POLICY AND MANAGEMENT.

SHE'S ALSO THE CO-DIRECTOR OF THE U OF M'S RURAL HEALTH RESEARCH CENTER AND IS ON THE BOARD OF CENTRACARE.

>> MED SCHOOL IS A LONG ROAD AND THEN YOU DO RES CANNES AND A FELLOWSHIP AFTER THAT.

SO IT WILL BE A WHILE BEFORE THEY CAN BE FULLY PRACTICING PHYSICIANS IN MINNESOTA.

BUT I EXPECT THAT THAT'S GOING TO MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE.

>> Kaomi: ACCORDING TO NEW DATA FROM THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, MORE THAN 43% OF MINNESOTA'S RURAL PHYSICIANS ARE OLDER THAN 54 YEARS OLD.

20% ARE OVER 65.

MORE THAN A QUARTER EXPECT TO RETIRE IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.

THAT'S COMPARED TO NEARLY 70% UNDER THE AGE OF 55 N THE STATE'S URBAN CENTERS.

AND THE RURAL PIPELINE EMAINS SMALL.

ONLY 30% OF RURAL PHYSICIANS ARE SUPERVISING A MEDICAL RESIDENT.

AMONG URBAN DOCTORS, 82% ARE.

>> WHAT'S EQUALLY IMPORTANT, BESIDES THE NEW MEDICAL SCHOOL SLOTS, IS OPENING UP ADDITIONAL RESIDENCY SLOTS.

BECAUSE IT'S NOT SO MUCH WHERE YOU GO TO SCHOOL THAT INFLUENCES WHERE YOU'LL PRACTICE, IT'S WHERE YOU GET YOUR RESIDENCY.

AND IF YOU GRADUATE 24 STUDENTS FROM St.

CLOUD IN FOUR YEARS, BUT THEY CAN'T FIND RESIDENCIES HERE IN MINNESOTA, AND THEY GO ELSEWHERE, THEN YOU WILL HAVE TRAINED THEM HALFWAY AND YOU WILL HAVE THEM -- AND YOU WILL HAVE LOST THEN.

>> Kaomi: THE RURAL URBAN DISPARITY IS ACUTE AMONG FAMILY DOCTORS AND SPECIALISTS.

IN FACT, IT SAYS THERE ARE LESS THAN 20 PSYCHIATRISTS PRACTICING IN SMALL TOWNS IN MINNESOTA RIGHT NOW.

FIRST-YEAR MEDICAL STUDENT ETHAN PAIRK MAY ONE DAY BE -- BAKER MAY ONE DAY BE ONE OF THEM.

>> IT'S DEFINITELY EASIER IN SMALLER COMMUNITIES TO SEE THE DIFFERENCE YOU MAKE.

♪ >> CATHY: HERE WITH MORE ON THE NEW MEDICAL SCHOOL AND CHALLENGES FACING HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS IN GREATER MINNESOTA, KEN HOLMEN IS THE CEO OF CENTRACARE.

GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> LIKEWISE.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

GOOD EVENING.

>> Cathy: IT WAS ABOUT A YEAR WE HAD YOU ON THE SHOW TALKING ABOUT THIS MEDICAL SCHOOL.

AND I WANT TO JUST KIND F FOCUS ON THE PROBLEM FOR JUST A OMENT BEFORE WE START TALKING ABOUT OTHER ISSUES HERE.

WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO SOLVE WITH THIS MEDICAL SCHOOL.

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SAYS THERE ARE THREE DOCTORS PER 100,000 PATIENTS IN RURAL AREAS.

33 FAMILY DOCTORS FOR FOLKS IN THE METRO AREA.

SO I'M WONDERING, DOCTOR, WHAT ARE THE TANGIBLE EFFECTS OF HAVING THESE HANDFUL OF DOCTORS FOR 100,000 PATIENTS?

>> SO, THE STATISTICS WERE PRETTY CLEAR ABOUT THE SHORTAGE OF PHYSICIANS.

AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE AGING OUT, IT'S GOING O GET WORSE.

YOU SAW THE STATISTICS ABOUT THE AGE OF THE AVERAGE PHYSICIAN IN OUTSTATE MINNESOTA.

SO, WE NEED TO ATTRACT MORE, WE NEED TO TRAIN THEM, AND THE COMMENT ABOUT RESIDENCY PROGRAMS WAS SPOT ON.

SO WE'VE ADDED NOTHER SIX ADDITIONAL RESIDENCY PROGRAMS TO MAKE SURE THAT PHYSICIANS, ONCE THEY FINISH MEDICAL SCHOOL, CAN DO THEIR ADDITIONAL TRAINING.

WHETHER IT'S FAMILY PRACTICE, INTERNAL MEDICINE, OB OR ANY OTHER SPECIALTIES.

WHEN I LOOK AT THE MEDICAL SCHOOL, I'M REMINDED OF THE PARABLE OF THE SEWER.

AND THAT IS, AS LEADERS, WE CAST SEEDS OUT, RIGHT, WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE FUTURE'S MORE VIBRANT.

AND THIS HAS BEEN A REMARKABLE STORY OF SEWING SEED THAT IS GREW.

SO WE'VE HAD REMARKABLE ACCEPTANCE.

WE'VE HAD THOUSANDS OF KIDS APPLY, COMING HERE FOR TRAINING, WE'RE ADDING RESIDENCY PROGRAMS, WE'RE CREATING OTHER EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AS WELL.

FOR EVERY STUDENT THAT'S GOING TO BECOME A DOCTOR, WE NEED EIGHT TO TEN OTHER PEOPLE.

SO NOW WE HAVE COLLABORATIONS WITH St.

CLOUD STATE, St.

CLOUD TECHNICAL SCHOOL, St.

JOHN'S, St.

BEN'S, St.

MARY'S, ALL IN THE EFFORT OF SIMPLY DOING ONE THING.

MAKING RURAL LIFE HEALTHIER, BY MAKING SURE WE HAVE A PIPELINE OF PHYSICIANS, NURSES, AP Ps, MED TECH, X-RAY, ALL THOSE FOLKS THAT WANT TO MAKE RURAL LIFE HEALTHIER.

>> Cathy: SO PROPERLY STAFFED THEN, YOU HAVE PATIENTS IN RURAL AREAS WHO WILL GET THE CARE THEY NEED WHEN THEY NEED IT?

A.CORRECT.

>> >> Cathy: BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THAT'S NOT HAPPENING.

>> THERE'S NOT ONLY A SHORTAGE OF PHYSICIANS IN RURAL AMERICA.

METROPOLITAN AREAS HAVE A MUCH HIGHER DENSITY OF ALL PHYSICIANS, OF ALL SPECIALTIES.

WHEREAS IN OUTSTATE, NOT ONLY IS THERE A SHORTAGE, THE MALDISTRIBUTION IS EVEN WORSE.

>> Eric: IS THE TUITION MANAGEABLE?

>> SO, THE COMMENT WAS MADE ABOUT THE FOUNDATIONS, SO OUR FOUNDATIONS' RAISED OVER $43 MILLION IN THE LAST 18 MONTHS.

MUCH OF THAT IS FOR SCHOLARSHIPS.

AS I LOOK AT THE AUDIENCE, IT IS FROM OUR COMMUNITIES.

THANK YOU.

[ Applause ] SO THE FOUNDATION MONEY IS RAISED TO SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS.

BECAUSE WHEN YOU HAVE STUDENTS FROM RURAL ENVIRONMENTS APPLY, MANY OF THEM DO NEED FINANCIAL HELP.

YOU TAKE FOUR YEARS OF COLLEGE, FIGURE UP SOME NUMBER FOR TUITION FOR FOUR YEARS.

FOUR YEARS OF MEDICAL SCHOOL.

PICK A NUMBER, 60,000 PER YEAR.

PRETTY SOON YOU'RE GETTING TO SIGNIFICANT DEBT.

AND IF WE WANT FOLKS TO STAY IN RURAL MINNESOTA, WE HAVE TO CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE THEY CAN SEE THEMSELVES AS BEING SUCCESSFUL.

>> Cathy: I GOTTA ASK YOU ABOUT THE ROLE AI WILL PLAY, NOT ONLY IN TRAINING THESE YOUNG DOCTORS, BUT ALSO CARE, MAYBE FIVE, TEN YEARS INTO THE FUTURE.

>> SO AI IS BOTH EXCITING AND THREATENING.

SO, HOW DO WE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ECHNOLOGY?

EVERYBODY'S FAMILIAR WITH ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORD NOW.

AND, SO, WE HAVE SEVEN AI PLATFORMS THAT RUN IN THE BACKGROUND TO HELP US TAKE CARE OF PATIENTS MORE EFFECTIVELY, MORE ACCURATELY, AND THE QUESTION THEN IS, WHAT IS THE HUMAN COMPONENT TO A RAPIDLY ADOPTING TECHNOLOGY?

AND WE HAVE LOTS OF BARRIERS TO THAT.

PHYSICIANS AND SOMETIMES PATIENTS ARE RESISTANT TO TECHNOLOGY.

BUT AS YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY'S GOT A CELL PHONE.

TECHNOLOGY IS RAMPANT.

SO I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IT.

BUT I'M OLD ENOUGH TO WORRY ABOUT IT.

SO HOW DO WE PUT IN PLACE THE NECESSARY PERSONAL OVERSIGHT TO MAKE SURE THAT TECHNOLOGY ACHIEVES THE DESIRED OBJECTIVE.

>> Eric: IS PRIMARY CARE THE NUMBER ONE SORT OF EMPTY POINT FOR DOCTORS IN GREATER MINNESOTA?

>> THAT IS CORRECT.

SO OUR PRIMARY EMPHASIS, WE HAVE TWO FAMILY PRACTICE RESIDENCIES, ONE IN St.

CLOUD, WE STARTED ANOTHER ONE IN WILLMAR.

LAST YEAR AS WELL.

AND I MENTIONED THE OTHER RESIDENCY PROGRAMS THAT ARE COMING.

SO, AGAIN, THE INTENT IS, WE KNOW IF WE EDUCATE THEM AND TRAIN THEM, WE HAVE PROBABLY ABOUT A 75% CHANCE OF KEEPING THEM IN URAL MINNESOTA.

>> Cathy: I KNOW THIS MEDICAL SCHOOL IS CLOSE TO YOUR HEART.

IS THIS YOUR LEGACY?

>> WELL, I THINK IT'S LOTS OF PEOPLE'S LEGACY.

IT SOUNDS FAIRLY STRAIGHTFORWARD TO BUILD A MEDICAL SCHOOL, LIKE FOUR OR FIVE WORDS.

IT DOESN'T REFLECT ENORMOUS NUMBER OF TEAMS.

THIS TRULY WAS A COLLABORATION IN A DIFFERENT MODEL.

SO, THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN CENTRACARE IS A PRIVATE, NOT-FOR-PROFIT 501(C)(3) HEALTHCARE AND THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA IS A UNIQUE MODEL IN THE COUNTRY.

AND THAT'S WHAT'S COOL.

>> Cathy: IT WAS GREAT TO SEE YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> WELL, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT AND ALL THAT YOU DO.

>> Cathy: Dr.

KEN HOLMEN FROM CENTRACARE.

>> Eric: THANKS, DOCTOR.

>> ERIC: FOR MORE THAN TWO DECADES, EARNING AN UNDERGRAD DEGREE HERE AT ST.

CLOUD STATE HAS INCLUDED TAKING THREE DIVERSITY COURSES.

MANY OF THOSE STUDENTS HAVE TAKEN ETHNIC STUDIES COURSES LED BY PROFESSOR CHRISTOPHER LEHMAN, AN ACCOMPLISHED HISTORIAN AND AUTHOR.

ONE OF HIS RECENT BOOKS, "IT TOOK COURAGE" DETAILS ELIZA WINSTON'S JOURNEY, AN ENSLAVED WOMAN WHO SOUGHT HER FREEDOM AFTER BEING BROUGHT TO MINNESOTA.

PROFESSOR CHRISTOPHER LEHMAN JOINS US.

MINNESOTA'S RELATIONSHIP TO SLAVERY IS LITTLE COMPLICATED.

IS THAT FAIR?

>> WELL, THAT'S CERTAINLY AN UNDERSTATEMENT.

[ Laughter ] SO, SLAVE HOLDERS ACTUALLY OWNED THE TRADING POSTS WHERE MINNESOTANS SOLD THEIR FURS AND THEN WHEN THE MINNESOTANS BECAME PUBLIC OFFICIALS, LIKE HENRY RICE IN CONGRESS, THEY INVITED SOUTHERN COLLEAGUES TO COME TO MINNESOTA AND INVEST IN BUSINESSES AND INVEST IN INSTITUTIONS.

SLAVE HOLDER INVESTED IN THE U OF M AND St.

CLOUD STATE'S FIRST CAMPUS BUILDING WAS AN ABANDONED HOTEL WHERE SLAVE HOLDERS WOULD BRING THEIR SLAVES.

>> Cathy: AND WE WOULD ALSO, RIGHT, WELCOME WEALTHY SLAVE OWNERS TO VACATION HERE IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

SO, IT WAS OKAY TO TAKE THEIR MONEY?

>> YES, IT WAS.

BECAUSE WHEN MINNESOTA WAS A TERRITORY, THAT'S WHEN THE TOURISM BEGAN, ESPECIALLY WHEN STEAMBOAT TRAVEL BECAME ADVANCED IN THE 1850s.

AND THEN THE DRED SCOTT DECISION IN 1857 MADE SLAVERY LEGAL IN ALL TERRITORIES, AND MINNESOTA WAS STILL A TERRITORY FOR ANOTHER 14 MONTHS.

AND THEN MINNESOTA BECAME A FREE STATE, BUT MINNESOTANS HAD GOTTEN SO WEALTHY FROM WELCOMING PEOPLE INTO THEIR HOTELS AND THEIR RESTAURANTS THAT HEY DIDN'T WANT TO LOSE THAT CLIENTELE SO THEY JUST DID NOT ENFORCE THE LAW.

AND IN 1860, IT HAD GOTTEN SO BAD THAT THERE WERE ACTUALLY TWO ILLS THAT WERE INTRODUCED TO THE LEGISLATURE TO MAKE MINNESOTA A SLAVE STATE.

BUT JUST DURING THE TOURISM MONTHS AND JUST FOR THE TOURISTS.

SO IT'S IN THAT CLIMATE IN 1860 WHEN ELIZA COMES ON HER ENSLAVER'S VACATION.

>> Cathy: AND I'M SO GLAD THAT YOU TOLD ELIZA'S STORY.

FASCINATING.

HOW DID YOU START TO UNEARTH WHAT WAS A -- KIND OF A COMPLICATED STORY IN A SENSE.

>> WELL, ELIZA WINSTON'S STORY HAD BEEN FAMILIAR TO MINNESOTA HISTORIANS, BUT USUALLY THE STORY WAS TOLD FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE LOCAL ALLIES THAT SHE HAD GENERATED IN MINNEAPOLIS.

SO WHAT I WANTED TO DO WAS TO FIND AS MUCH INFORMATION AS I COULD TO TELL ELIZA'S TORY AND MAKE HER THE CENTRAL FIGURE IN IT.

AND ONE THING THAT SURPRISINGLY HELPED WAS THAT I FOUND OUT THAT PRESIDENT ANDREW JACKSON WAS ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO ENSLAVED HER.

AND HE KEPT HER IN HIS FAMILY WITH HIS IN-LAWS FOR 25 YEARS.

SO WHAT I FOUND OUT THAT A SITTING PRESIDENT HAD BEEN ONE OF THE ENSLAVERS, THEN I COULD USE HIS PRESIDENTIAL PAPERS AND THAT REALLY HELPED LOT.

>> Eric: THE ABOLITIONEST MOVEMENT PLAYED SOME PART IN HER STORY, CORRECT?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> Eric: TELL US ABOUT THAT.

>> SO WHEN ELIZA WINSTON WAS SENT ON AN ERRAND IN MINNEAPOLIS, SHE MET A FREE AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMAN NAMED EMILY GRAY.

AND ELIZA TOLD EMILY HER STORY.

AND EMILY SAID, WELL, I KNOW PEOPLE IN MINNEAPOLIS WHO ARE ANTI-SLAVERY.

WE CAN HELP YOU.

AND THEY DEVELOPED A PLAN TO HAVE HER GO TO A CHURCH THE FOLLOWING SUNDAY AND SOMEONE WOULD TAKE HER TO CANADA.

BUT HER ENSLAVERS FOUND OUT THAT PLAN.

SO THEY TOOK HER AWAY FROM THE HOTEL IN MINNEAPOLIS AND THEN TO A LAKE HOUSE BY LAKE HARRIET.

BUT HER ALLIES STILL FOUND HER AND THEY GOT THE SHERIFF OF HENNEPIN COUNTY TO GET HER AT THE CABIN AND THEN TAKE HER TO THE COURTHOUSE AND THEN SHE PLEADED FOR HER FREEDOM AND SHE WON.

>> Cathy: THE PAST IS OFTEN PROLOGUE.

AND I'M WONDERING, HER STORY, AND YOUR RESEARCH, WHAT DOES OUR HISTORY SAY ABOUT CURRENT RACE RELATIONS HERE IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA?

>> WELL, THERE'S NOTHING NEW UNDER THE SUN, REALLY.

AND I'VE BEEN ENCOURAGED THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE IN MINNEAPOLIS HAVE FOUND PARALLELS BETWEEN WHAT'S HAPPENED IN RECENT MONTHS AND WHAT HAPPENS TO ELIZA WINSTON.

AND JUST LIKE ELIZA HAD PEOPLE WHO LOOKED OUT FOR HER, WHEN THERE ARE MINNESOTANS WHO WERE TRYING TO CAPTURE HER AND BRING HER BACK TO HER ENSLAVERS, PEOPLE IN MINNEAPOLIS ARE BEEN LOOKING OUT FOR EACH OTHER AS WELL AND MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE'S RENTS ARE PAID AND THAT THEY GET THEIR FOOD.

AND, SO, THIS TRADITION OF MINNESOTANS LOOKING OUT FOR EACH OTHER, THAT GOES BACK AT LEAST 160 YEARS.

SO THEY'RE STANDING ON SOME PRETTY GOOD SHOULDERS.

>> Eric: THE BOOK IS CALLED "IT TOOK COURAGE," AVAILABLE AT ALL HE TRADITIONAL BOOK PLACES I ASSUME?

>> YES.

>> Eric: THANKS, PROFESSOR, FOR COMING BY.

>> Cathy: THANK YOU, PROFESSOR THE.

[ Applause ] >> Eric: ET'S HEAD BACK OUT INTO THE CROWD WHERE DANE DANGER AND SHELETTA BRUNDIDGE ARE COOKING SOMETHING UP.

>> Tane: THAT'S RIGHT.

SHELETTA BRUNDIDGE, WHAT ARE YOU WEARING?

>> Sheletta: WELL, YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW THIS, BUT MY SON, ANDREW, WHEN HE WAS A FRESHMAN AT ST.

CLOUD UNIVERSITY, HE LOVED THRIFTING.

GOT COLD.

WENT TO A THRIFT SHOP AND FOUND THIS BEAUTIFUL FUR COAT.

FOR, LIKE, 30 BUCKS.

WHAT DO YOU SAY, GUYS?

YOU LIKE IT.

>> Tane: PRETTY OOD, YEAH.

THIS IS GOOD.

>> Sheletta: AND SO St.

CLOUD IS AN AMAZING THRIFTING AND VINTAGE SHOP.

CHAD O'BRIEN GAVE US SOME AMAZING THINGS.

SO IF YOU'RE IN St.

CLOUD AND YOU'RE THRIFTING, DEFINITELY CHECK OUT THOSE TWO SHOPS.

>> Tane: HAY, YOU DO NOT HAVE TO TAKE OUR WORD FOR IT.

WE HAVE TWO AMAZING AND BRAVE AUDIENCE VOLUNTEERS WHO ARE GOING TO DO OUR FIRST-EVER "ALMANAC" THRIFT FASHION SHOW.

SO LET'S DO A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.

WE'RE GOING TO BRING OUR FIRST PERSON UP.

COME ON DOWN!

[ Applause ] >> Sheletta: THIS IS KAI, SHE'S FROM St.

CLOUD AND SHE IS WEARING SOMETHING FROM METS AND COMPANY, AND O'BRIEN DRY GOODS.

>> Tane: IS IT A PARTY -- IT'S NOT A PARTY IF IT'S NOT A PANTSUIT PARTY.

>> Sheletta: NEXT IS MAX, MAX AND KAI ARE BEST FRIENDS, SHE'S GOT HER PRINCE SHIRT ON.

SHE TOOK AMAZING.

THEY DO A LOT OF THRIFTING.

THEY SAY HALF F THE THINGS IN THEIR CLOSET IS THRIFTING.

>> Tane: YOU LOOK GOOD, YOU FEEL GOOD.

>> I LOOK GOOD.

I FEEL OUT OF PLACE A LITTLE BIT.

BUT Y SON WORE THIS ON CAMP FOR US AN ENTIRE YEAR.

TANE ALL RIGHT.

LET'S GIVE ONE MORE BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR THESE AMAZING AUDIENCE VOLUNTEERS AND FOR OUR FRIENDS AT METS AND COMPANY AND O'BRIEN'S DRY GOODS.

AND NOW, THROWING IT BACK TO ERIC AND CATHY ON STAGE.

>> Cathy: HONESTLY, YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO GET WHEN YOU HAVE A LIVE "ALMANAC" FROM St.

CLOUD STATE UNIVERSITY.

THANKS, YOU TWO.

"OPERATION METRO SURGE" WAS THE OFFICIAL NAME OF INCREASED IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT THIS WINTER BUT FEDERAL AGENTS WERE ACTIVE ACROSS THE STATE, INCLUDING HERE IN ST.

CLOUD.

HOME TO MINNESOTA'S LARGEST SOMALI AMERICAN COMMUNITY OUTSIDE OF THE TWIN CITIES.

AHMED LAARRI MANAGES ST.

CLOUD'S SOMALI COMMUNITY RADIO STATION, KZYS, HERE IN St.

CLOUD.

WELCOME TO ALMANAC."

THANKS FOR TAKING THE TIME.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Cathy: YOU KNOW, YOUR STATION IS ONE OF MANY IN BROADCAST HISTORY, YOU PROBABLY KNOW THIS, IN THE 1930s, WHEN RADIO WAS JUST STARTING ITS ASCENDENS, THERE WERE YIDDISH RADIO STATIONS FOR THE JEWISH POPULATION, THERE WERE GERMAN LANGUAGE STATIONS, ITALIAN LANGUAGE STATIONS, AND NOWADAYS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A SOMALI LANGUAGE RADIO STATION.

AND I'M JUST CURIOUS, FROM WHERE YOU SIT, IS THERE STILL A ROLE FOR A STATION IN THIS DAY AND AGE?

>> THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME TO THE PROGRAM.

AND ALSO I DO WANT TO THANK THE AUDIENCE.

THIS RADIO IS JUST VERY IMPORTANT FOR THIS COMMUNITY, LOCAL St.

CLOUD COMMUNITY.

AND ALSO BECAUSE OF THE MANY PEOPLE, THEY DO WATCH OUR PROGRAMS THROUGH OUR STREAMING, SUCH AS FACEBOOK, YouTube, AND SOMETIMES TIKTOK, WHERE A LOT OF PEOPLE -- WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE USING NOWADAYS.

SO IT IS GREAT THAT WE DO HAVE AN FM RADIO.

THE FM IS VERY POPULAR IN THE SOMALI-SPEAKING COMMUNITY IN St.

CLOUD.

SO WE BROADCAST OUR PROGRAMS IN ENGLISH AND OMALI LANGUAGE.

>> Cathy: IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT, OBVIOUSLY, DURING THE SURGE HERE IN St.

CLOUD.

AND I'M WONDERING, HOW DID YOUR STATION, HOW DID YOUR SERVICES SERVE THE COMMUNITY?

>> WELL, Y UNDERSTANDING, AND EVERYBODY'S UNDERSTANDING, I.C.E.

IS A FEDERAL ORGANIZATION, LIKE OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT.

SO, WE HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL AS RADIO.

WE RELIED ON THE NEWS, LOCAL NEWS, WHAT'S HAPPENING, TO TRANSLATE THAT NEWS TO OUR LISTENERS.

AND ALSO WE INVITED IMMIGRATION AUTHORITY, St.

CLOUD LEGAL AID OFFICE HAD A COUPLE OF PROGRAMS THAT THEY COME TO St.

CLOUD PUBLIC COMMUNITY RADIO AND THEY SENT MESSAGES TO THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THINGS THAT THEY CAN DO, THINGS THAT THEY CANNOT DO.

SO WE INTERVIEWED IMMIGRATION LAWYERS, WE DID TALK TO SOME STATE REPRESENTATIVES, STREAMING OUR PROGRAMS FROM MINNEAPOLIS.

IT WAS VERY HELPFUL AND ALSO A COUPLE OF TIMES COMMUNITY MEMBERS, THEY HAVE TO CALL OUR SHOW, OUR PROGRAMS ON EITHER LIVE, WE STREAM LIVE OUR SHOWS, AND ALSO THEY HAVE THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT I.C.E.

AND THERE IS A LARGE ACTUALLY STAND BETWEEN SOMALI AMERICAN COMMUNITY AND I.C.E.

HERE IN St.

CLOUD.

>> Eric: TELL US BOUT HIRING RADIO PERSONALITIES, HOSTS OR HOST HE SAYS FOR THE VARIOUS SEGMENTS ON THE SHOW.

WHAT'S THAT PROCESS LIKE?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, WE'RE A VERY SMALL COMMUNITY, IT'S VERY TOUGH, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THE IMMEDIATE WHERE -- THE MEDIA, YOU KNOW, IT'S VERY COMPETITIVE IN THE MEDIA.

>> Eric: FOR SURE.

>> THERE'S A LOT OF RADIO, NEWSPAPER.

I USED FOR WORK FOR THE LOCAL NEWSPAPER, St.

CLOUD TIMES.

AND ALSO THEN WHEN THIS RADIO IS AVAILABLE, I JOINED THEM AS A REPORTER.

AND THEN I BECOME PART OF THE MANAGEMENT FOR THE RADIO.

BECAUSE OF FUNDING, WE USED TO RELY ON THE VOICE OF AMERICA, VOICE OF AMERICA USED TO TRANSLATE FROM ENGLISH TO OTHER LANGUAGES, INCLUDED SOMALI, SWAHILI, OTHER AFRICAN, SPANISH, BUT THAT'S GONE.

THAT'S NOT THERE, BECAUSE THE FUNDING WAS CUT.

SO NOW WE HAVE THE CHALLENGE TO FIND REPORTERS THAT CAN COVER ON STATE, LOCAL, OR NATIONWIDE.

>> Cathy: JUST CURIOUS.

WE HAVE ABOUT A MINUTE LEFT.

WHAT'S THE MOST POPULAR LOCAL SHOW YOU HAVE?

>> FOR OUR RADIO?

IT DEPENDS WHO YOU ASK.

A LOT OF PEOPLE CALL FOR THE RADIO FOR DIFFERENT REASONS.

INCLUDING OUR MUSIC.

WHENEVER WE PLAY MUSIC FOR OLD FOLKS, YOUNG PEOPLE WILL CALL AND SAY, THAT'S MUSIC FOR OLD PEOPLE.

AND THEY ASK IF MAYBE WE CAN CHANGE TO THE YOUNGER GENERATION MUSIC.

YOU KNOW.

SO THERE ARE CHALLENGES.

BUT WE DO HAVE ALL KIND OF DIFFERENT PROGRAMS.

NEWS, MUSIC, AND ALSO TALK SHOWS.

BUT IT DEPENDS WHO YOU ASK.

I LOVE ALL OF THEM.

>> Eric: APPRECIATE OUR WORK FOR THE COMMUNITY.

>> Cathy: YES.

>> Eric: GLAD YOU COULD COME OVER AND VISIT.

>> Cathy: SO GLAD YOU'RE ON THE AIR.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

[ Applause ] ♪ >> ERIC: IT IS TIME FOR THIS WEEK'S VERSION OF THE POLITICAL PANEL.

WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE FUN TO PAIR UP TWO CURRENT LEGISLATORS WITH TWO FORMER LEGISLATORS.

ALL FROM THE ST.

CLOUD AREA.

DFL STATE REPRESENTATIVE DAN WOLGAMOTT WAS FIRST ELECTED IN 2018.

REPUBLICAN STATE REPRESENTATIVE BERNIE PERRYMAN WAS FIRST ELECTED IN 2022.

BOTH ARE POISED TO LEAVE THE STATE HOUSE AS THEY RUN FOR OTHER OFFICES.

FORMER LEGISLATORS JOINING US TONIGHT - DAVE KLEIS WAS A REPUBLICAN SENATOR FOR A DECADE -- TWO DECADES.

AND IT WAS MAYOR -- WAIT A MINUTE.

THE OTHER WAY AROUND.

ONE DECADE.

>> ONE DECADE IN THE SENATE.

TWO MAYOR.

LONG TIME.

>> Eric: HE RETIRED FROM PUBLIC OFFICE JUST ABOUT A YEAR AGO.

ROUNDING OUT OUR GROUP, TARRYL CLARK IS A FORMER DFL STATE SENATOR, NOW A STEARNS COUNTY COMMISSIONER.

BONDING BILL.

YOU'VE GOT TWO St.

CLOUD-SPECIFIC PROJECTS, AT LEAST, RIGHT?

CONNECTIONS BETWEEN DOWNTOWN AND THE CAMPUS AND THE RIVER AND THE CAMPUS -- AND DOWNTOWN?

>> DOWNTOWN TOTAL REVAMP TYPE BONDING BILL.

AND THEN A COUPLE MORE OUTSIDE, WAITE PARK AND St.

JOE AS WELL.

SO, I'VE BEEN LUCKY THIS TERM TO FIND SOME PROJECTS THAT PEOPLE WANT TO HELP OUR AREA.

AND I HOPE THEY CAN GET THROUGH THE FINAL CAMPAIGN FOR IT.

>> Eric: WHAT'S THE STATUS OF THE BONDING BILL?

>> WE ARE WORKING HARD TO GET A BONDING BILL DONE.

AND IT IS SO IMPORTANT.

LIKE REPRESENTATIVE PERRYMAN SAID, THERE ARE KEY PROJECTS IN OUR DISTRICT AND THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE STATE THAT CAN HAVE AN IMPACT, A BENEFICIAL IMPACT THAT LASTS FOR DECADES TO COME.

THAT'S WHAT'S SO SPECIAL ABOUT THE BONDING BILL.

AND I'M SURE THAT WELL-INFORMED "ALMANAC" LISTENERS KNOW THAT IT TAKES A SUPER MAJORITY TO PASS A BONDING BILL.

SO THAT'S WHY WE NEED THE BIPARTISAN COOPERATION.

AND REPRESENTATIVE PERRYMAN'S BEEN A GREAT TEAMMATE TO WORK WITH TO GET OUR LOCAL PROJECTS OVER THE FINISH LINE.

THE CENTRACARE MEDICAL SCHOOL THAT WE TALKED ABOUT WAS AN EXAMPLE OF THAT.

THE THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM THAT WE HAVE, JUST OPENED UP IN St.

CLOUD, IS AN EXAMPLE OF THAT.

THERE'S A LOT OF GREAT PROJECTS IN THIS BILL THAT WILL MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE FOR INFRASTRUCTURE FOR YEARS TO COME.

WE'RE WORKING OVERTIME TO GET IT DONE.

>> Cathy: DAVE KLEIS, AS A VETERAN LAWMAKER, GIVE US A SENSE, FOLKS WHO ARE OT REALLY FOLLOWING THE BOUNCING BALL AT THE LEGISLATURE, HOW MUCH HORSE TRADING GOES INTO THE BONDING BILL, ESPECIALLY AT THE END OF SESSION?

>> WELL, AS A FORMER MAYOR, I'M STILL WAITING FOR THE $100 MILLION BEFORE I LEFT THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, A LOT GOES INTO T. AS THE REPRESENTATIVES SAID T TAKES A SUPER MAJORITY.

IT'S SOMETHING THAW START AND IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT OF ALL OF THE LEGISLATION THAT'S THERE, IT'S THE BONDING THAT REALLY TIES OTHER THINGS TOGETHER.

BECAUSE EVERYBODY'S COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THE BONDING COMMITTEE GOES OUT THROUGHOUT THE STATE AHEAD OF TIME, BUT IT REALLY IDENTIFIES, YOU KNOW, I KNOW ALMOST EVERY LEGISLATOR THROUGH THE THE ENTIRE SESSION CONSTANTLY IS LOBBYING THEIR COLLEAGUES TO GET THAT LITTLE PIECE OF THAT BONDING BILL.

IN ORDER TO GET A SUPER MAJORITY, YOU NEED A LOT OF PROJECTS IN THERE AND THAT'S NORMALLY THE CHALLENGE.

>> Eric: ARE YOU GOING TO GET SOME HELP FINANCIALLY FROM THE LEGISLATURE AS THE CUTS FROM THE FEDS KIND OF BOIL DOWN TO COUNTY LEVEL?

>> YEAH, WE'RE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.

AS BOTH REPRESENTATIVE PERRYMAN AND REPRESENTATIVE WOLGAMOTT WILL TELL YOU, THEY COULD PROBABLY EACH TALK ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT GETTING TECHNOLOGY THAT'S REALLY OLD AND REALLY BAD MODERNIZED FOR OUR HUMAN SERVICES.

AND THEN THE FUNDS THAT ARE NEEDED TO ADMINISTER THE PROGRAMS THAT THE FEDS ARE SHIFTING BECAUSE, HONESTLY, OTHERWISE IT'S PROPERTY TAX INCREASES.

SO, FOR EVERYBODY -- FOR EVERY LEGISLATOR LISTENING, DON'T MAKE PEOPLE RAISE PROPERTY TAXES, THIS IS SOMETHING YOU ALL NEED TO WORK ON.

>> Eric: YOU'RE A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER.

>> YES.

>> Eric: WHAT'S YOUR SENSE OF HOW THE LEGISLATURE'S TREATING BUSINESS?

>> AHH, THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

BEING A BUSINESS OWNER, LIVING HERE ALL THESE 27 YEARS, IT'S NOT GOOD.

THERE'S JUST TOO MANY LAYERS OF AXES.

UNFUNDED MANDATES PUT ON US.

IT TARTED WITH EARNED SICK AND SAFE TIME, WHICH IS A TAX ON YOUR PAYROLL AND SALARY.

AND THEN YOU ADD FAMILY PAID LEAVE TO IT, WHICH IS ANOTHER TAX, AND THEY'RE ALL UNFUNDED TAXES.

AND IT REALLY HURTS UR BUSINESSES.

AND IT HURTS GROWTH, IT HURTS BUSINESSES THAT MIGHT COME HERE, THAT WANT TO COME HERE, BUT THEY LOOK AT OUR TAXES, AND IT'S A LITTLE -- IT'S DIFFICULT.

>> Eric: YOUR RESPONSE?

>> WE NEED A WORKFORCE.

THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE THAT I HEAR ABOUT WHEN I TALK TO BUSINESSES IN OUR COMMUNITY IS WE NEED MORE WORKERS.

AND THE LACK OF PAID FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE IN CHILD CARE IN THIS STATE IS A HUGE BARRIER TO THE WORKFORCE.

IT DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTS WOMEN.

THAT'S WHY I'M SO PROUD OF THE INVESTMENTS THAT WE AS A STATE HAVE MADE IN PAID FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE.

NO MINNESOTAN SHOULD AVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN TAKING CARE OF THEMSELVES OR A LOVED ONE IF THEY'RE SICK AND EARNING THE MONEY THAT THEY NEED TO PAY THEIR BILLS AND LIVE A FULFILLING LIFE.

THAT'S WHY I'M PROUD OF THESE PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE ENACTED.

AND I KNOW THAT WE ALL WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN FIND THAT BALANCE OF MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE LOOKING AFTER WORKING FAMILIES IN A WAY THAT IS MANAGEABLE FOR BUSINESSES SO THAT IT'S SUSTAINABLE.

THAT'S WHAT WE PUT FORWARD, THAT'S WHAT WE'LL SEE CONTINUE TO PLAY OUT IS PAID FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE AND EARNED SICK AND SAFE TIME FURTHER IMPLEMENTED.

>> Eric: WHAT DO YOU SAY IS GOVERNOR WALZ'S LEGACY?

>> WELL, I THINK IN GENERAL, I THINK THE LEGACY FOR THE LEGISLATURE IN GENERAL, AND I'VE JUST SEEN IN THE LAST -- SINCE I RETIRED, THERE'S JUST BEEN A LOT OF DIVISION.

AND I SEE THIS LEGISLATURE, I SEE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, I SEE IT AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

YOU KNOW, AND I WAS IN THE LEGISLATURE, THERE'S DIVISION AT THAT TIME.

THERE'S NO DOUBT.

WE HAD THAT.

BUT I THINK THE POLARIZATION HAS GOT TO THE POINT WHERE IT'S JUST NOT SUSTAINABLE.

I THINK IT IS ELIMINATING THE ABILITY AND THE WILLINGNESS FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO RUN FOR OFFICE.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY TIMES I'VE TALKED TO PEOPLE, SAY, YOU SHOULD RUN FOR COUNCIL OR RUN FOR COUNTY COMMISSIONER, SOME OFFICE.

BUT PEOPLE ARE SO TURNED OFF ON IT.

SO I THINK I WOULD SAY, FOR THE LEGISLATURE, PRESENT COMPANY -- [ Laughter ] -- YOU KNOW, YOU TOOK A RISK BY INVITING FOUR PEOPLE THAT AREN'T KNOWN FOR THEIR BREVITY.

>> Eric: WELL, THAT'S ALL RIGHT.

GO FOR IT.

>> THE ISSUE, I THINK IT'S MORE JUST THE POLARIZATION.

ANYBODY SERVING RIGHT NOW, THE LEGACY, REALLY, THE LEGISLATURE AT THE FEDERAL AND STATE LEVEL, THERE'S JUST O MUCH DIVISION.

>> Eric: YOU WERE IN DFL SENATE LEADERSHIP.

WHAT'S YOUR SENSE OF THE CHANGE?

>> YEAH, WELL, MY FIRST TERM, THE HOUSE WAS REPUBLICAN, THE GOVERNOR WAS REPUBLICAN, AND THE SENATE WAS DFL.

AND THE PEOPLE WHO GOT THE MOST IMPACT ON LEGISLATION HAD NEVER ERVED IN THE MAJORITY IN THEIR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY IN THE SENATE.

I THINK ABOUT STEVE DILL AND I THINK ABOUT DENNY FREDRICKSON AND A COUPLE OTHER FOLKS, AND IT'S PART BECAUSE THEY BUILT RELATIONSHIPS, THEY DIDN'T CARE WHO THEY WERE, THEY WERE GOING TO TALK TO YOU AND WE NEED MORE OF THAT.

RIGHT NOW WITH IT BEING SO CLOSE, IT'S SO HARD, I HEAR FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE, IN BOTH BODIES, WE WANT TO GET THINGS DONE AND PEOPLE ARE DISCOURAGED.

WE GOTTA GET PAST THE DISCOURAGED TO ACTUALLY GET SOMETHING DONE BY THE END OF THE SESSION.

THERE'S AN AWFUL LOT AT STAKE.

>> Cathy: YOU KNOW, SOME OF US WHO WATCH THE LEGISLATURE WERE WONDERING, WHETHER THE HOUSE MIGHT BE A LITTLE DIFFERENT, THE HOUSE AND SENATE A LITTLE DIFFERENT THIS SESSION BECAUSE OF THE UNTIMELY DEATH OF SPEAKER HORTMAN AND MAYBE THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING TO BRING EVERYONE TOGETHER.

HAVE YOU EXPERIENCED THAT OR NOT?

>> IT HAS BROUGHT US TOGETHER.

YOU KNOW, WE ALL SUFFERED A VERY LARGE LOSS.

SHE WAS A GREAT LEADER.

AND WE ALL HAVE OUR OWN STORIES WHAT HAPPENED THAT DAY ON THAT SATURDAY.

AND THAT'S WHEN WE GROW -- WE GROW CLOSER TOGETHER.

WHEN WE TALK AND SHARE OUR STORIES WITH EACH OTHER AND WHAT WE EXPERIENCED, ANDHE GO ON THE FLOOR, THE DEDICATIONS WITH THE FAMILY MEMBERS STILL COMING BACK, IT'S -- YOU CAN'T FORGET IT.

AND WE HAVE A MEMORIAL IN THE BACK ROW WHERE HER SEAT WAS, WITH FLOWERS, AND YOU JUST -- YOU ALWAYS REMEMBER.

IT'S A GOOD REMEMBRANCE.

SHE WAS A GREAT LEADER.

NO MATTER WHAT YOU WANT TO SAY, SHE WOULD LEAD WITH A GOOD STRONG HAND, BUT FAIRNESS.

SO IT HAS BROUGHT US TOGETHER.

THINKING THE GOOD TIMES AND THE GOOD STORIES AND NOT WITH POLITICS.

>> Cathy: YET, THERE'S STILL A LOT OF DIVISION IN THE LEGISLATURE, OBVIOUSLY, AND YOU KNOW THAT.

I'M WONDERING AS WE EAD TOWARD THE END OF SESSION, IS IT GOING TO END QUIETLY OR MIGHT THERE BE ANOTHER TRAIN WRECK?

>> WELL, I THINK -- >> I'M GLAD YOU GET THAT QUESTION.

>> ONE THING I DO WANT TO SAY ABOUT MELISSA, BECAUSE SHE WAS A VERY CLOSE FRIEND OF MINE, SHE RECRUITED ME TO RUN FOR THE OUSE.

WE MISS HER SO MUCH EVERY SINGLE DAY.

BUT THE THING THAT I WANT EVERYONE TO TAKE AWAY WITH THEM ABOUT MELISSA IS THAT NOBODY FOUGHT HARDER THAN SHE DID FOR WHAT SHE BELIEVED IN.

BUT SHE REMEMBERED THAT WE ARE HUMANS.

SHE SAW THE HUMANITY IN EVERY SINGLE ONE OF HER CAUCUS MEMBERS.

AND EVERY SINGLE MEMBER OF THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS, STAFF.

FOR EXAMPLE, SHE IMPLEMENTED A RULE THAT THE HOUSE NOT BE ALLOWED TO MEET PAST MIDNIGHT.

BECAUSE OF THE WEAR AND TEAR THAT IT TOOK ON STAFF.

SHE AND I WOULD GO AND DO SNACK RUNS AND FILL UP OUR PANTRY IN THE CAUCUS ROOM, SHE HAD A SPEAKER SNACK CART.

SHE REMEMBERED THAT PEOPLE ARE HUMANS, AND AS WE COME TO THE END OF SESSION, I THINK THAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT LESSON THAT WE CAN TAKE AWAY FROM MELISSA IS THAT WE ARE HUMANS.

AND IF WE CAN GET PAST OUR KEYBOARDS AND THE SOCIAL MEDIA WARRIORSHIP, AND REMEMBER THAT WE ARE LIVING, BREATHING HUMANS, THAT'S HOW WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO AVOID, YOUR WORDS, THE TRAIN WRECK AND MAKE SURE THAT WE GET OUR JOBS DONE AND DO THE ABSOLUTE BEST WE CAN FOR MINNESOTANS THIS SESSION.

>> Eric: I'M NOT SURE IF BENTON, STEARNS, AND SHERBURNE ARE DOING THIS, BUT THERE'S THE -- THE DEMOCRATS HAVE A BILL THAT'S GOING TO DOCK ID TO CITIES AND COUNTIES THAT WAVE THE OLD FLAG.

>> THAT IS TRUE.

>> Eric: IS THAT MOVING AT ALL?

>> NO.

THE GOOD THING 'ABOUT A TIE IS A LOT OF THINGS JUST DIE AND GO BACK TO THE TABLE.

THAT'S A GOOD THING ABOUT A TIE IN THE HOUSE.

BUT THAT IS A BILL THAT THEY BROUGHT FORWARD.

THE DEMOCRAT PARTY THAT IF YOU FLY THE OLD FLAG, YOUR LGA WILL BE DOCKED, I WANT TO SAY, 10% FOR FLYING THAT FLAG.

>> Cathy: WHY ARE WE FIGHTING OVER THE STATE FLAG?

HAVE YOU CONSIDERED HIS?

>> YOU KNOW, TO ME, IT'S A SMALL THING.

I MEAN, THERE ARE BIGGER THINGS TO DISCUSS.

BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, WHEN I WAS MAYOR, WE CHANGED THE FLAG, WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY CONTROVERSY TO DO THAT.

BUT, YOU KNOW, IT IS SOMETHING THAT -- AGAIN, THIS GOES BACK TO THIS WHOLE DIVISION PIECE.

PEOPLE ARE, THINGS FOR THE DIVISION THAT ARE SMALL, THE REAL THING IS THE BUDGET, THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WE DO.

>> Eric: DON'T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING ON IT THIS YEAR.

>> NOW THAT I'M A RETIREE, ELIMINATING SOCIAL SECURITY ON RETIREES WOULD BE NICE, TOO.

>> Eric: WE GOTTA GO, I'M GETTING THE HOOK, WE GOTTA GO.

THANKS, PANEL, THIS WAS A LOT OF FUN.

AND THANKS FOR JOINING US IN THE STUDIO AND AT HOME.

THANKS FOR THE GREAT HOSPITALITY HERE IN St.

CLOUD.

YOU'VE BEEN A WONDERFUL AUDIENCE.

BEFORE WE GO, WE HAVE A FEW HOUSEKEEPING DETAILS FOR YOU.

IT'S TIME FOR THE ANNUAL "ALMANAC" VIEWER SURVEY.

EACH SPRING WE ASK YOU TO SPEND A FEW MINUTES TO LET US KNOW HOW WE'RE DOING.

IT'S A GREAT HELP AS WE PLAN UPCOMING SHOWS.

>> Cathy: EXACTLY.

YOU CAN FILL OUT THE SURVEY BY SCANNING THE QR CODE YOU SEE RIGHT NOW ON YOUR SCREEN OR HOP ONLINE AND HEAD TO TPT.ORG/ALMANAC SURVEY WE MIGHT WARN YOU.

THINGS MIGHT LOOK A LITTLE DIFFERENT ON OUR WEBSITE THIS WEEK.

TWIN CITIES PBS HAS LAUNCHED A BRAND-NEW WEBSITE.

TPT.ORG IS WHERE YOU CAN EXPLORE ALL THE NEW FEATURES.

JOIN US AGAIN NEXT WEEK FOR A MORE TRADITIONAL EDITION OF THE SHOW FROM OUR STUDIO IN DOWNTOWN ST.

PAUL.

THANKS AGAIN FOR BEING SUCH A AMAZING AWED QLEERNS IN St.

CLOUD.

THANKS TO ALL OF YOU AT HOME FOR WATCHING.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

THANKS AGAIN FOR BEING SUCH AN AMAZING AUDIENCE HERE IN St.

CLOUD.

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