>> "ALMANAC" IS PRODUCED FOR THE STATIONS OF MINNESOTA PUBLIC TELEVISION ASSOCIATION.

>> Cathy: INS NEXT HOUR WE WILL MEET "USA TODAY"'S MINNESOTA WOMAN.

YEAR.

FORMER LEGISLATIVE LEADERS ASSESS THIS YEAR'S SESSION.

WE'LL BRING YOU A PROFILE OF LEGENDARY CHEF RAGHAVAN IYER.

THAT'S ALL NEXT 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 27 MINNESOTA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES.

DELTA DENTAL OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION: IMPROVING ORAL HEALTH WHILE ADVANCING SOCIAL EQUITIES.

DELTADENTALMN.ORG/TPT.

THE SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY: A TRIBAL NATION FOCUSED ON COMMUNITY AND COLLABORATION, ESPECIALLY IN TIMES LIKE TODAY.

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

MORE AT EDUCATIONMINNESOTA.ORG.

ONE GREATER MINNESOTA REPORTING ON "ALMANAC" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE OTTO BREMER TRUST WHOSE MISSION IS INVESTING IN PEOPLE, PLACES AND OPPORTUNITIES IN OUR REGION.

>> Eric: LATER IN THE HOUR WE'LL HEAR ABOUT WHAT BANK FAILURES ELSEWHERE MIGHT MEAN TO MINNESOTANS, PAUL DOUGLAS WILL DISCUSS GROWING WORRIES ABOUT SPRING FLOODING BUT FIRST UP A HISTORIC VOTE IN THE MINNESOTA HOUSE.

THE MINNESOTA HOUSE PASSED A BILL THAT WOULD MAKE MINNESOTA A PLACE OF REFUGE FOR THOSE SEEKING GENDER AFFIRMING HEALTH CARE.

THAT WERE PART OF AN EXECUTIVE ORDER ISSUED BY GOVERNOR WALZ EARLIER THIS MONTH.

THE GENDER AFFIRMING LEGISLATION THAT PASSED THE HOUSE WAS AUTHORED BY FIRST TERM LAWMAKER LEIGH FINKE.

ON SUNDAY SHE WAS NAMED MINNESOTA WOMAN OF THE YEAR BY "USA TODAY."

IN JANUARY FINKE BECAME THE FIRST TRANSGENDER LAWMAKER IN OUR STATE AND IS ALSO THE CHAIR OF THE LEGISLATURE'S 12-MEMBER QUEER CAUCUS.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, IT'S A TRUE HONOR TO BE HERE.

>> Cathy: YOU KNOW, I'M CURIOUS ABOUT THIS.

THERE IS -- THERE'S ALSO HE EXECUTIVE ORDER SIGNED BY GOVERNOR WALZ AND TRANS PEOPLE ARE PROTECTED UNDER MINNESOTA LAW, THERE'S A 1993 LAW THAT PROTECTS TRANS PEOPLE, SO WHAT WILL HIS BILL DO SPECIFICALLY?

>> YEAH, SO, YOU'RE RIGHT.

MINNESOTA WAS THE FIRST STATE TO PROTECT TRANS PEOPLE IN ITS MINNESOTA HUMAN RIGHTS RIGHT ACT AND WE DO HAVE ACCESS TO GENDER AFFIRMING CARE BUT THE WORK WE'RE DOING IS PROTECTING PEOPLE NOT IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA, LIKE PEOPLE IN IOWA WHO BANNED GENDER AFFIRMING CARE A FEW DAYS OF DAYS AGO AND SOUTH DAKOTA BANNED TWO WEEKS AGO.

IT SAYS IF YOU CAN'T FIND GENDER AFFIRMING CARE IN YOUR HOME STATE YOU CAN COME HERE.

>> Eric: IS THAT CONSTITUTIONAL?

>> WE HAVE A RIGHT TO MAKE LAWS JUST AS THEY DO.

WE HAVE A RIGHT TO PROTECT THE PEOPLE IN OUR STATE.

THERE ARE QUESTIONS OF CONSTITUTIONALITY BUT WE HAVE DONE THIS MANY TIMES.

WE HAVE PROTECTED INTERRACIAL MARRIAGES WHEN THOSE WERE NOT BEING HONORED IN OTHER STATES, WE HAVE REFUSED TO RETURN RUNAWAY SLAVES IN THE FUGITIVE SLAVE ACT.

SO THERE IS A LONG HISTORY OF MAKING LAWS THAT ARE JUST AND DOING IT BECAUSE IT IS RIGHT.

>> Cathy: REPRESENTATIVE, FOR FOLKS WHO ARE NOT CLEAR, HOW DO YOU DEFINE GENDER FFIRMING CARE?

>> YEAH, GENDER AFFIRMING CARE IS A WIDE SLATE OF HEALTH CARE THAT IS OFFERED TO PEOPLE WHO ARE GENDER EXPANSIVE.

IT CAN BE ANYTHING FROM COUNSELING, USUALLY IT'S MOSTLY COUNSELING AND SUPPORT DURING A SOCIAL TRANSITION.

IT'S ALSO MEDICAL, HORMONE THERAPY, FOR ADULTS EVENTUALLY OFTEN, AND NOT OFTEN, ACTUALLY, BUT THAT'S SOMETHING I THINK MOST PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND, BUT IT ALSO INCLUDES SURGERIES.

>> Eric: I WANT TO READ WHAT THE STONEWALL REPUBLICANS SAID AND THAT'S THE REPUBLICAN GAY RIGHTS GROUP I GUESS YOU WOULD SAY SAID THAT THE BILL ENCOURAGES CHILDREN TO GO IRREVERSIBLE CHEMICAL THERAPIES AND SURGERIES.

WHAT'S YOUR REACTION TO THAT QUOTE?

>> WELL, THE ILL DOESN'T ENCOURAGE ANYONE TO DO ANYTHING.

IT JUST SAYS IF YOU ARE GOING TO RECEIVE GENDER AFFIRMING CARE IN MINNESOTA THE LAWS HERE WILL PROTECT YOU WHILE YOU RECEIVE THAT CARE.

CHILDREN IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA DO NOT RECEIVE SURGERIES UNDER THE AGE OF 18.

CHILDREN IN MINNESOTA DO NOT RECEIVE HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY WITHOUT THE APPROVAL OF THEIR PARENTS, CONSENT OF THEIR PARENTS AND DOCTORS, THERE ARE ETHICAL GUIDELINES IN PRACTICING MEDICINE, YOU CAN'T JUST GIVE PEOPLE DRUGS WITHOUT FOLLOWING PROCEDURES.

AND THESE ARE VERY PERSONAL DECISIONS THAT PEOPLE MAKE WITH THEIR FAMILIES, WITH THEIR DOCTORS.

THESE ARE TREATMENT PROGRAMS.

ALL OF THESE DRUGS, ALL OF THESE THINGS RE USED IN OTHER TREATMENTS AS WELL.

NONE OF THIS IS PARTICULARLY UNIQUE TO GENDER AFFIRMING CARE.

THE PROBLEM IS WE'RE TREATING GENDER DYSPHORIA, WE'RE SEPARATING OUT TRANS PEOPLE AND SAYING YOU CAN'T HAVE ACCESS TO THIS CARE.

>> Eric: JUST TO UNDERLINE THIS FOR EMPHASIS, THIS AFFECTS FOLKS THAT WOULD COME HERE FOR TREATMENT AND REALLY THE STATUS QUO FOR TRANSGENDER FOLKS N MINNESOTA, IS THAT, AM I READING THAT RIGHT?

>> YOU ARE READING THAT EXACTLY RIGHT.

WHAT IS BEING OFFERED TO PEOPLE FROM OUTSIDE OF MINNESOTA IS WHAT MY COMMUNITY IS VERY LUCKY TO HAVE ACCESS TO ALREADY IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

>> Cathy: WERE YOU SURPRISED LAST NIGHT, THIS WAS A LONG DEBATE, HOURS-LONG DEBATE AND IT GOT REALLY EMOTIONAL AT TIMES.

WHAT DID YOU MAKE OF ALL THAT?

>> I WAS SHOCKED, BUT NOT SURPRISED I THINK, BY SOME OF THE LEVELS OF THE RHETORIC THAT WE HEARD FROM THE OTHER SIDE.

BUT THESE ARE PASSIONATE ISSUES, THERE'S ALSO A LOT OF MISINFORMATION ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A TRANS OR GENDER EXPANSIVE PERSON.

AND, YOU NOW, THAT'S WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT FOR MYSELF AND REPRESENTATIVE KOZLOWSKI, OUR FIRST NONBINARY MEMBER TO BE THERE, TO BE ABLE TO VOICE OUR OWN EXPERIENCES NTO THAT SPACE BECAUSE IT'S STEAMILY PERSONAL.

>> Eric: WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT SENATE PROSPECTS FOR THIS?

>> THE SENATE, IT HAS BEEN THROUGH JUDICIARY OVER THERE.

I'M UNDER THE IMPRESSION IT WAS VOTED THROUGH JUDICIARY TODAY, I SHOULD HAVE LOOKED T THAT BEFORE I SAT DOWN BUT I THINK IT WAS AND WE'LL EE WHEN THEY'RE READY TO BRING IT TO THE FLOOR.

>> Eric: WHAT KIND OF COMMUNICATION ARE YOU HAVING WITH FOLKS AROUND THE COUNTRY OVER THIS PARTICULAR BILL?

>> WELL, I'M HEARING FROM TRANS PEOPLE AND ESPECIALLY PARENTS OF TRANS KIDS VERY OFTEN WHO ARE VERY WORRIED.

IT'S VERY SCARY IN THIS COUNTRY FOR THOSE FAMILIES, ESPECIALLY IN STATES HERE CARE HAS BEEN BANNED.

SO THEY ARE REACHING OUT TO ME LOOKING FOR HELP, LOOKING FOR ADVICE.

IF A PERSON WERE TO BE UNDERGOING GENDER TRANSITION AND THEN BEING FORCED TO DETRANSITION, IT'S CALLED FORCED DETRANSITION, IT'S AN ALMOST UNIMAGINABLE VIOLENCE FOR A TRANS PERSON TO UNDERGO SO HOSE PARENTS ARE VERY SCARED AND THEY'RE LOOKING TO FIGURE OUT HOW THEY CAN PROTECT THEIR KID.

>> Cathy: IS THAT HAPPENING RIGHT NOW?

>> IT'S HAPPENING IN MANY STATES RIGHT NOW.

PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN ON MEDICATIONS, SOMETIMES FOR YEARS ARE LOSING ACCESS TO THEIR MEDICATIONS.

IT'S VERY, IT'S IMMORAL, IT'S STRONG, AND IT'S DANGEROUS.

>> Cathy: BEFORE YOU GO BY THE WAY, CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR AWARD, WHAT DID YOU THINK?

>> IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST WILD DAYS I'VE EVER HAD IN MY LIFE, THE DAY THAT WAS ANNOUNCED.

I'M INCREDIBLY HONORED.

AND, YEAH, I MEAN, IT'S BEEN A WEIRD WEEK.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> Cathy: LIFE CHANGING WEEK I'M SURE.

>> IT HAS.

>> Eric: THANKS FOR COMING OVER.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

>> Eric: YOU BET.

♪♪ >> Eric: THIS WEEK THE FEDERAL RESERVE AGAIN HIKED INTEREST RATES SIGNALING THAT THE FED BELIEVES FURTHER BANKING TROUBLES ARE UNLIKELY.

CLOSER TO HOME THIS WEEK MINNESOTA REPORTED STRONG JOB GAINS IN FEBRUARY, THAT MEANS OUR STATE HAS FINALLY RECOVERED ALL THE PRIVATE SECTOR JOBS THAT WERE LOST IN THE PANDEMIC.

HOW CONFIDENT SHOULD MINNESOTANS BE ABOUT THEIR JOBS AND THEIR BANKS?

LET'S ASK LOUIS JOHNSTON, TEACHES ECONOMICS AT THE COLLEGE OF ST. BENEDICT'S AND ST. JOHN'S UNIVERSITY.

ARE OUR DEPOSITS AFE UP $250,000?

>> YES, SAFE UP TO THAT BUT THE FED IS PRETTY CLEAR IF YOU'VE GOT MORE THAN THAT, YOU'RE PROBABLY GOING TO BE BACKED UP AS WELL >> Eric: IS THAT A NEW DEAL?

>> YEAH, TWO WEEKS AGO WHEN SVP STARTED TO GO UNDER WHEN THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION TOOK THEM OVER IT WAS $250,000 BUT IT WAS PRETTY CLEAR THERE WERE A LOT OF DEPOSITORS WITH A LOT MORE MONEY THAN THAT.

THE FEDERAL RESERVE AND TREASURY DEPARTMENT STEPPED IN AND SAID IF YOU HAVE DEPOSITS ABOVE THAT WE'RE GOING TO BACK THOSE AS WELL AND MAKE IT POSSIBLE OF THE BANK TO DISPOSE OF ASSET IT NEEDS TO MAKE SURE YOU GET PAID.

>> Cathy: OKAY, THAT SOUNDS GOOD.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> SOUNDS GOOD.

>> Cathy: ARE BANKS TRULY HEALTHY IN THIS COUNTRY?

>> I THINK IN GENERAL THEY ARE.

THERE'S A NUMBER OF PROBLEMS, THOUGH.

ONE OF THEM IS MANAGING RISK, AND YOU THINK THAT'S WHAT A BANK IS SUPPOSED TO DO BUT WHAT THE FEDERAL RESERVE HAS DONE LATELY IS RAISE INTEREST RATES VERY RAPIDLY, ASTER THAN THEY EVER HAVE IN THE POST-WAR PERIOD.

A LOT OF BANK RISK MANAGEMENT IS BASED ON HISTORY.

IT'S LIKE, OKAY, THIS IS WHAT WE CAN EXPECT SO WE'RE GOING TO PLAN AHEAD LOOKING AT THAT.

WELL, THE FED RAISED INTEREST RATES MUCH FASTER THAN ANYBODY EXPECTED AND SO THE VALUE OF THEIR ASSETS HAS ACTUALLY FALLEN FASTER THAN THEY EXPECTED.

>> Eric: LESSONS FROM THE 2008 FINANCIAL CRISIS >> IN A WAY IT'S A RESULT OF THAT, THE DODD FRANK LEGISLATION AND PUT IN PLACE CERTAIN THINGS ABOUT MANAGING RISK AND SO THEY'VE PUT THOSE THINGS IN PLACE.

SOMETIMES THEY HAVEN'T LISTENED, SO FOR EXAMPLE ONE OF THE THINGS SVB HAD, THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO HAVE A HIEF RISK OFFICER.

THAT POSITION'S BEEN VACANT FOR EIGHT MONTHS, SO THAT'S A LESSON WE LEARNED BUT HAVEN'T SEEMED TO FOLLOW.

>> Cathy: SO THE FED IS LOOKING LIKE WE'RE GOING INTO A SIXTH STRAIGHT RATE HIKE VERSUS FOCUSING ON THE HEALTH OF BANKS.

>> CORRECT.

>> Cathy: IN THE MOST RECENT SITUATION.

>> AND THAT'S THE DILEMMA THAT THE UNITED STATES HAS.

THE FEDERAL RESERVE HAS WHAT'S CALLED A DUAL MANDATE.

IT'S SUPPOSED TO WATCH OUT FOR INFLATION BUT ALSO PROMOTE ECONOMIC GROWTH.

AND THAT MEANS THEY ALSO HAVE TO WATCH THE DISABILITY OF THE BANKS.

NO OTHER CENTRAL BANK IN THE WORLD HAS TO DO THIS.

ALL THE OTHER CENTRAL BANKS THEY CAN JUST FOCUS ON INFLATION AND LET SOMEBODY ELSE TAKE CARE OF IT.

WELL, NOW HE FED HAS TO DO THIS BALANCING ACT.

IF THEY RAISE INTEREST RATES TO MODERATE INFLATION THAT'S GOING TO MAKE THE BANKING PROBLEM WORSE.

>> Eric: FIVE-DIGIT EMPLOYMENT INCREASE IN MINNESOTA IN FEBRUARY.

WHAT'S GOING ON?

>> EYE-POPPING.

I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE COMING BACK INTO THE LABOR MARKET WHO WERE OUT OF THE LABOR MARKET BEFORE.

AND THE CONTINUED DEMAND FOR GOODS AND SERVICES IS LEADING BUSINESSES TO JUST KEEP ON ADDING ON EMPLOYMENT.

>> Eric: WAGES ARE NOT KEEPING UP WITH INFLATION.

>> NO.

BECAUSE THEY'RE GROWING IN NOMINAL TERMS, THAT IS THE DOLLAR AMOUNT IS GROWING BUT INFLATION IS JUST THAT MUCH FASTER.

>> Cathy: SO PEOPLE YOU THINK ARE GOING BACK INTO THE JOB MARKET WHICH IS A GOOD THING, BUT AREN'T WE ON THE CUSP OF A POTENTIAL RECESSION?

I MEAN, THERE ARE SOME PRETTY BIG LAYOFFS OUT THERE.

>> WELL, WE KEEP THINKING WE'RE ON THE EDGE OF A RECESSION BUT IT DOESN'T HAPPEN.

IT'S LIKE WE'RE WAITING FOR GADOT, IT JUST NEVER COMES.

JOB NUMBERS ARE GOOD, INCOMES SEEM TO BE GROWING, THINGS LIKE THAT.

I THINK WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN A LOT OF WAYS IS REORGANIZATION.

WE'VE GOT LAYOFFS IN SOME SECTORS BUT OTHERS THAT NEED WORKERS SO THEY'RE MOVING SIDEWAYS.

>> Eric: WHERE ARE YOU ON THE SO-CALLED WALZ CHECKS IF THEY HAPPEN IN TERMS OF INFLATION?

>> CONTRIBUTING TO INFLATION I DON'T THINK IT WILL MAKE THAT MUCH DIFFERENCE.

MINNESOTA ECONOMY IS NOT THAT BIG.

THE NATIONAL INFLATION RATE IS PRETTY MUCH DETERMINED BY OTHER THINGS.

I'M A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED THEY'RE TAKING THE ENTIRE SURPLUS AND SPENDING IT OR SENDING IT BACK AS TAXES.

I WOULD HAVE LIKE TO HAVE SEEN A LITTLE BIT MORE IN RESERVES, MY PET IDEA IS A SOVEREIGN WEALTH FUND FOR MINNESOTA THAT WE HAVE SOMETHING THAT COULD BE USED TO FUND THINGS KIND OF LIKE NORWAY HAS WITH OIL REVENUES.

WE COULD HAVE DONE THAT AND WE'VE BASICALLY DECIDED, NOPE, WE'RE GOING TO DIVVY IT LL UP.

>> Eric: YOU OT A BILL AUTHOR?

THAT'S AN INTERESTING IDEA.

>> I NEED A COSPONSOR.

>> Eric: OUTLOOK SHORT-TERM FOR THE ECONOMY, REST OF THE YEAR, WHAT DO WE GOT >> RIGHT NOW I THINK THINGS ARE LOOKING GOOD.

ALWAYS A CHANCE OF RECESSION, I'D PUT IT AT ONE IN FOUR RIGHT NOW.

>> Eric: PROFESSOR, ALWAYS GOOD.

THANKS.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME.

>> Eric: THAT'S GREAT.

♪♪ >> Cathy: IT'S A NEW APPROACH AT THE CAPITOL.

A GROUP OF URBAN NATIVE AMERICAN ORGANIZATIONS HAVE COME TOGETHER TO MAKE A JOINT PITCH TO LAWMAKERS FOR BONDING BILL SUPPORT.

IT'S CALLED THE CLYDE BELLECOURT INITIATIVE.

IT WOULD SUPPORT BUILDING PROJECTS FOR 16 ORGANIZATIONS.

HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE INITIATIVE, MARISA CUMMINGS, SHE HEADS THE INDIAN WOMEN'S RESOURCE CENTER.

HERE TOO, JOE HOBOT, HE HAS THE INDIAN OIC, JOB AND TRAINING CENTER.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

USUALLY WHEN WE TALK ABOUT BONDING BILLS WE'RE FOCUSED ON GREATER MINNESOTA.

THERE'S LOT OF PROJECTS ALL OVER THE STATE OF MINNESOTA BUT YOU WOULD THINK THAT YOU WOULD FOCUS ON GREATER MINNESOTA NATIVE COMMUNITIES BUT THESE ARE FOR URBAN INDIANS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, THE URBAN INDIAN POPULATION.

WHY THAT CHANGE?

>> WELL, YES AND NO.

I THINK FIRST AND FOREMOST OUR COMMUNITIES CO-LOCATE BETWEEN TRIBAL HOMELANDS AND URBAN POPULATION.

WHILE WE HAVE ABOUT 60% OF OUR POPULATION LIVE OFF RESERVATION IN URBAN AREAS MANY GO BACK HOME TO SEEK JOBS.

PARTICULARLY FOR OUR ORGANIZATION WHEN WE DO JOB TRAINING AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES THEY MAY GET EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES BACK HOME.

AND THE TRUTH IS FOLKS COME DOWN TO THE CITIES TO SEEK EMPLOYMENT.

THIS INVESTMENT IS BOTH IN METROPOLITAN AREA AS WELL AS OUTSTATE.

>> Eric: HOW WOULD NEW FACILITIES AFFECT THE PROGRAMMING YOU CAN GIVE?

>> IT WOULD ABSOLUTELY IMPROVE THE SERVICE DELIVERY THAT WE CAN DO.

SO IT COULD INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF CLIENT RELATIVES WE SERVE AS WELL AS INCREASE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS AS WELL.

SO AND JUST TO FEED OFF OF YOUR QUESTION, IN 1953 THERE WAS AN ACT, FEDERAL ACT CALLED THE RELOCATION TERMINATION ACT UNDER THE TRUMAN ADMINISTRATION.

WHAT THAT ACT DID IS IT FORCED A LOT OF AMERICAN INDIAN FAMILIES INTO RBAN CENTERS LIKE MINNEAPOLIS, WE HAVE CO- OR MULTIPLE CITIZENSHIP, RIGHT?

WE HAVE TRIBAL CITIZENSHIP AND AMERICAN CITIZENSHIP.

AND SO THE 80,000 AMERICAN INDIAN PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THE TWIN CITIES OFTEN MOVE BACK TO THE RESERVATION, THEN BACK TO THE CITIES AND WE SERVE THE ENTIRE, WE ARE THE MINNESOTA INDIAN WOMEN'S RESOURCE CENTER, WE SERVE THE ENTIRE STATE OF MINNESOTA AND BEYOND.

AND SO OUR CLIENT RELATIVES ARE BOTH THOSE WHO LIVE IN THE TWIN CITIES AND BEYOND.

>> Cathy: WHO CAME UP WITH THIS IDEA?

I MEAN, IT'S -- IT SEEMS LIKE A PRETTY GOOD ONE.

>> YEAH, WELL, I THINK IT'S REALLY LEANING INTO WHAT WE'VE BEEN TAUGHT COMING UP FROM OUR ELDERSELDERS AND THE WISDOM THEY'VE IMPARTED WITH US, THAT THE COMMUNITY SUCCEEDS WHEN WE TAKE CARE OF THE ENTIRETY OF THE COMMUNITY.

- MANY OF OUR ORGANIZATIONS IN THIS COALITION ALREADY HAVE STRONG PARTNERSHIPS AS WE REFER CLIENT RELATIVES TO RECEIVE SERVICES AND RECEIVE A CONTINUUM OF SERVICES BETWEEN EACH OF THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE NICHE SPECIALTIES AND WHAT THEY DO.

IT'S JUST AN EXTENSION AND EXTRAPOLATION OF THAT MINDSET THAT WE WORK TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY AND I THINK ALSO IN THE DISCUSSIONS WE HAVE WHEN WE TALK TO EACH OTHER, WE'RE ALSO FRIENDS, WE'VE FOUND OUT EVERYONE IS IN NEED, DESPERATE NEED OF NEW BUILDINGS.

SO INSTEAD OF GETTING INTO SOME FIGHTING BETWEEN NATIONS WE'VE BLENDED TEACHINGS TO WORK TOGETHER AND SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER.

ULTIMATELY ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE PART OF THIS COLLABORATIVE, THEIR SUCCESS IS GOING TO BE OUR SUCCESS AS WELL.

>> Cathy: MARISA, YOU SAID THIS WAS GOING TO BE A BIG DEAL FOR YOUR ORGANIZATION.

PAINT THE PICTURE.

IF YOU WERE TO RECEIVE SOME BONDING MONEY HOW WOULD THAT CHANGE HOW YOU WORK?

>> WELL, OUR BUILDING STARTED OUT AS A NURSES 'DORMITORY.

AND SO WE HAVE FLOODING, THERE'S SEWAGE RIGHT NOW WITH ALL THE WATER, IT'S IN OUR BASEMENT ALREADY.

IT'S JUST NOT A FUNCTIONING BUILDING, IT'S NOT SAFE AND IT'S NOT FUNCTIONAL FOR DELIVERY OF SERVICES.

AND SO THE, WHAT IT COULD DO NOT ONLY FOR THE COMMUNITY BUT ALSO FOR EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, WE DO EVERYTHING FROM TRADITIONAL BIRTH WORK, WE KNOW THAT AMERICAN INDIAN WOMEN HAVE THE HIGHEST RATES OF INFANT AND MATERNAL MORTALITY IN THE COUNTRY, AND SO WE'VE DESIGNED OUR OWN CULTURALLY SPECIFIC MODEL TO ADDRESS THAT EPIDEMIC.

WE ADDRESS MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH THROUGH WE HAVE BOTH INTENSIVE OUTPATIENT TREATMENT PROGRAMS, PEER RECOVERY PROGRAMS, WE HAVE A DROP-IN CENTER FOR UNSHELTERED RELATIVES.

SO WHAT WE'VE DONE IS CREATE NOT ONLY OUR WORK AT MIWC BUT ALL OF AREAS CREATE AN ECOSYSTEM OF SUPPORT.

WE HAVE JOB PLACEMENT, GED TRAININGS, WE INTERREFER CLIENTS TO ONE ANOTHER.

AND WHAT THIS HAS DONE, NOT MANY OF US HAS THE CAPACITY AS ED'S BECAUSE WE'RE DOING SO MANY THINGS, WE DON'T HAVE THE CAPACITY TO SEEK FUNDING INDIVIDUALLY.

THIS HAS ALLOWED US COLLECTIVELY TO COME TOGETHER TO PUSH THROUGH THIS INITIATIVE AND IT WOULD BE LIFE ALTERING FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

>> Eric: IS IT A CHALLENGE TO EDUCATE NOT ONLY THE PUBLIC BUT LEGISLATORS ON THE HISTORY AND MAYBE THEY MAY NOT HAVE AS MUCH -- WELL, I THINK MINNESOTANS IN GENERAL MAY NOT HAVE A GREAT KNOWLEDGE OF THE HISTORY WITH NATIVE AMERICANS.

I WONDER IF THAT'S A CHALLENGE.

>> CHALLENGE IS TO PUT IT POLITELY.

IT IS.

AS A FORMER SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHER I WELCOME EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES WE CAN HAVE POLICY MAKERS.

I THINK IT'S AN HONOR WE HAVE WE CAN CONTINUE TO EDUCATE FOLKS IN OUR COMMUNITY ABOUT WHO WE ARE, WE CONSIDER THAT PART OF OUR SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY.

THERE'S A LOT OF MISNOMERS ABOUT HOW OUR COMMUNITY OPERATES, HOW OUR RESOURCES WORK OR THAT WE EVEN ARE HERE AND THERE'S A LOT OF THING THAT'S WE'VE BEEN RELEGATED TO THE BACK PAGES OF HISTORY, AND WE'RE NOT, WE'RE YOUR NEIGHBORS.

>> Cathy: HOW ARE LAWMAKERS VIEW THIS EFFORT?

AGAIN, YOU ARE TOGETHER AND YOU'RE COOPERATING AND AT HE CAPITOL AS THIS PRETTY POWERFUL GROUP.

>> WE'RE VERY PROUD OF OUR CHAMPIONS, SENATOR MAR MARY KUNESH, REPRESENTATIVE HODAN HASSAN, GOVERNOR WALZ WAS AT YOU ARE OUR RALLY JUST THIS WEEK.

WE'RE HEARTENED BY THE STRONG SUPPORT BUT WE DO GET SOME QUIZZICAL LOOKS, THIS IS A LARGE: WHY ARE WE NOT BREAKING IT APART AND REALLY WHEN WE GET INTO CONVERSATIONS WITH POLICY MAKERS THAT ARE GIVING US THESE QUIZZICAL WORKS IT COMES DOWN TO AN UNDERSTANDING HOW WE OPERATE AS A PEOPLE IN TERMS OF OUR CULTURE.

>> Cathy: I BET CLYDE BELLECOURT WOULD BE REALLY PROUD OF THIS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I KNOW HE WOULD BE NOT ONLY BECAUSE IT CARRIES HIS NAME BUT LEGACY OF A LOT OF THE FOUNDERS AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT RESPONDED TO RELOCATION EFFORTS IN 1950S AND IN THE 1970S.

>> Eric: GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR EFFORTS AT THE CAPITOL, WE'LL BE WATCHING.

THANKS.

>> Cathy: MA'AMIER HAS BEEN TALKING TO FIRST TERM LAWMAKERS.

THIS WEEK WE BRING YOU HIGHLIGHTS FROM TWO RECENT INTERVIEWS.

TAKE A LOOK.

>> YOU'RE NOWHERE NEAR THE FIRST HMONG LAWMAKER BUT YOU JOIN A REALLY NOTABLE CROWD AND THERE'S SEVERAL.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT YOUR HERITAGE AND INCREASED REPRESENTATION YOU'RE SEEING?

>> WE HAVE SOMETHING CALLED THE MINNESOTA ASIAN PANK CAUCUS HERE, WE HAVE THE LARGEST CAUCUS IN HISTORY, AND OUTSIDE OF HAWAII WE HAVE THE MOST ASIAN-PACIFIC LEGISLATORS OF ANY STATE LEGISLATURE, SO REALLY PROUD OF THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE DONE GROWN OVER THE YEARS AND I THINK THAT'S BECAUSE THE ASIAN COMMUNITY, HMONG COMMUNITY, WE SHOW UP FOR EACH OTHER AND ARE REALLY GRATEFUL OF THAT.

I THINK FOR ME OUR DISTRICT IS INCREDIBLY DIVERSE.

WE ARE AT LEAST 40% IF NOT NOW 50% ASIAN AMERICAN IN 67A.

I'M THE FIRST ASIAN LEGISLATOR EVER TO REPRESENT THE DISTRICT.

FOR US THAT'S A BIG EAL.

I'M ALSO THE FIRST WOMAN TO REPRESENTED THE DISTRICT.

>> YOU MAKE A LOT OF HISTORY RIGHT THERE.

>> JUST A LITTLE BIT, RIGHT?

BUT ALSO REALLY EXCITED TO BE JOINING MY OTHER ASIAN COLLEAGUES AND MAKING SURE THAT WE REPRESENT OUR REALLY DIVERSE CONSTITUENCIES IN INNESOTA.

MUCH HAS BEEN SAID ABOUT THIS LEGISLATURE PERHAPS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A LONG TIME LOOKS LIKE THE STATE.

WHY DOES IT MATTER?

>> THAT'S IMPORTANT JUST BECAUSE I THINK WE LL BRING REALLY DIFFERENT LIVED EXPERIENCES.

I'VE BEEN GRATEFUL TO WORK IN CONGRESS FOR MANY MEMBERS OF OUR FEDERAL DELEGATION AS WELL AND I BRING A DIFFERENT LENS THINKING ABOUT IMPLEMENTATION, RIGHT, AND, YOU KNOW, HOW THIS IS GOING TO WORK FOR EVERYBODY.

I AM ALSO A HEADSTART ALUM, RIGHT?

AND SO THANKFULLY I'M ON THE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES COMMITTEE AND I CAN BRING THAT EXPERIENCE SAYING, HEY, WHEN WE INVEST DOLLARS IN OUR LITTLEST CONSTITUENTS THERE'S A REALLY BIG RETURN N INVESTMENT.

SO FOR ME THAT'S REALLY EXCITING.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WHEN LEGISLATORS MAKE POLICY WE IMPROVE PEOPLE'S LIVES BUT DECISIONS ARE WELL INFORMED.

AT THE END OF THE DAY WE ARE ALL WILLING TO WORK LATE AND, YOU KNOW, REALLY READ INTO THE FINE DETAILS BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE PEOPLE'S LIVES BETTER.

THAT'S HOW YOU MEASURE SUCCESS, RIGHT?

IT'S NOT REALLY THE BILLS OR THE AMENDMENTS THAT YOU GET IN BUT IT'S AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU KNOW, ARE WE HELPING PEOPLE AND RE WE DOING GOOD THINGS.

>> YOU KNOW, I SPENT TWO AND A HALF YEARS AS A NURSING HOME ADMINISTRATOR WITH MY HANDS ON THE GLASS HOLDING THE HANDS OF DYING RESIDENTS.

AND I THOUGHT WE SPENT, I SPENT DECADES TRYING TO SET UP PERSON CENTERED CARE FOR SENIORS AND I THOUGHT THIS IS NOT PERSON CENTERED CARE WHEN THEY'RE DYING ALONE.

AND HAVING HAD BREAST CANCER AND EIGHT SURGERIES AND FINE FINE NOW, I THOUGHT I HAD MY MOM WITH ME AND KIDS AND DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AND FRIENDS AND FAMILY AND THESE WOMEN HAVE ALL BEEN ALONE.

I DON'T WANT PEOPLE DYING ALONE EVER IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

I GREW UP ON A FARM WHERE WE TREAT CATTLE BETTER THAN THAT.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE AT THE END OF OUR LIFE WE HAVE THE BEST CARE FOR OUR SENIORS.

>> WHAT ABOUT YOUR PERSONAL HEALTH CARE JOURNEY?

I BELIEVE YOU WROTE A BOOK ABOUT IT.

>> I DID, I WROTE ABOUT IT.

SEPSIS ALMOST KILLED ME.

I DIDN'T KNOW ONE IN THREE HOSPITALIZATION DEATHS ARE SEPSIS, I DIDN'T KNOW I WAS VULNERABLE AT 48 OR 2-YEAR-OLD OR 20-YEAR-OLD OR SOMEONE WHO HAS DENTAL WORK OR SURGERY.

HIGH RISK IS ANY AGE.

I WROTE A BOOK "THE SCARS YOU CAN'T SEE" BECAUSE A LOT OF THE SCARS ARE PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL, AND THAT'S KIND OF WHAT HAPPENED IN COVID.

>> THIS WAS NOT AN EASY RACE, HOW CLOSE WAS IT IN THE VERY END?

>> NO, 33 VOTES SO TO THE POINT A REVOTE COUNTS IT, TRULY DOES.

>> YOU HAD A HARD RACE IN TERMS OF TAKING ON WELL KNOWN INCUMBENT.

>> 46-YEAR INCUMBENT, VERY HARD TO BEAT.

WHEN I WAS DOORKNOCKING KNEW THAT, I KEPT AT IT, STAYING FOCUSED.

I DIDN'T PERSONALIZE IT.

I SAID, LOOK, I LIKE THE INCUMBENT TOO.

IT IS ABOUT WHAT DO WE NEED FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS AND YEARS TO COME.

AND I THINK AT THIS POINT IT'S GREAT TO BE A LIFELONG VOLUNTEER, BUT I SIGNED A THING SAYING, LOOK, I WILL SELF-RETIRE IN TEN.

I WANT TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE FROM THE NEXT GENERATIONS TO SERVE AND I THINK AT SOME POINT WE LOSE OUR RELEVANCY BACK TO THE COMMUNITIES AND IT DOESN'T INSPIRE NEXT GENERATIONS TO GET ACTIVE.

>> WHEN I WAS TOLD ABOUT YOU I BELIEVE THE WORDS WERE "SHE'S A ROCK STAR."

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF HEARING THAT FROM YOUR CAUCUS?

[ LAUGHTER ] >> YOU KNOW, I HOPE I CAN SERVE -- I'VE BEEN SERVING MY ENTIRE LIFE.

THIS IS A NEW WAY TO SERVE AS A LEADER.

I THINK WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE MINNESOTA AN EVEN BRIGHTER STAR.

♪♪ >> Eric: FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE TWIN CITIANS KEPT KEEPING OFFICIAL WEATHER RECORDS WE HAVE GONE FIVE STRAIGHT MONTHS WITH AT LEAST TEN INCHES OF SNOW AND ALL THAT MOISTURE HAS RAISED CONCERN ABOUT SPRING FLOODING.

HERE TO TALK ABOUT THAT, PAUL DOUGLAS.

MEDIA MOGUL AND IN ADDITION TO HIS "ALMANAC" WORK YOU CAN FIND HIM WRITING FOR THE STAR TRIBUNE AND CHATTING ON WCCO RADIO.

AND WHEN HE WANTS TO IMPRESS PEOPLE PAUL MENTIONS THAT HE OWNS HIS OWN WEATHER COMPANY, PRAEDICTIX.

YOUR RESUME NEEDS A BOOKMARK.

>> WHO WRITES YOUR STUFF BY THE WAY?

>> Eric: I DON'T KNOW.

BEEN WET.

>> Cathy: REALLY WET.

>> YES, THE SNOW MACHINE APPARENTLY GOT STUCK IN THE ON POSITION.

AND NOW WE ARE WORRIED ABOUT SPRING FLOODING.

AND, LOOK, I THINK IF YOU'VE HAD PROBLEMS IN THE PAST, YOU SHOULD DEFINITELY NOT LET YOUR GUARD DOWN AND PAY ATTENTION BECAUSE THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION HOW BAD IS IT GOING TO BE, WE CAN'T ANSWER THAT.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN LATE APRIL.

IT'S REALLY THE LATTER HALF OF APRIL THAT COULD TELL THE TALE.

>> Eric: CAN YOU ILLUSTRATE YOUR PRESENTATION FOR US?

>> YES, ABSOLUTELY.

I WANT TO SHOW YOU THE PILE OF SNOW IN MY FRONT YARD, THIS IS RIGHT NEXT TO MY DRIVEWAY, I PUT IN AN ASPHALT DRIVEWAY, THAT HIGH SUN ANGLE, THE AS FAULT DRIVEWAYS STAY WET EVEN WHEN T'S BELOW FREEZING.

I'D LIKE TO SHIP SOME OF THIS TO YOU, ERIC.

>> Cathy: YES, HE EEDS IT.

>> Eric: MY MOM HAS A DRIFT UP TO HER SHOULDERS IN DULUTH.

>> Cathy: YEAH, IT'S NOT GOOD.

>> YEAH, SO WHAT A WINTER.

NOT COLDER THAN AVERAGE, A COUPLE OF DEGREES WARMER THAN AVERAGE.

81.2, EIGHTH SNOWIEST TO DATE.

ALMOST THREE FEET SNOWIER THAN AVERAGE.

AND IF YOU'RE EEPING SCORE AT HOME TODAY WAS THE 115TH DAY IN A ROW OF AT LEAST AN INCH OF SNOW OR MORE ON THE GROUND.

>> Eric: TWIN CITIES, YOU'RE TALKING.

>> TWIN CITIES, YES, THANK YOU.

THAT TIES FOR THE NINTH LONGEST.

BY THE WAY THE RECORD WAS 1965, 136 DAYS.

65 THERE WAS STILL HEAVY SNOW ON THE GROUND THROUGH THE TENTH DAY OF APRIL AND INSTANT WARMUP AND THAT LED TO THE WORST FLOODING IN STATE HISTORY.

ANYWAY, THERE'S STILL PLENTY OF SNOW OUT THERE AND AS YOU STOLE MY THUNDER, YOU STOLE MY SNOW, ERIC.

>> Eric: SORRY.

>> YOU ARE CORRECT, FIVE CONSECUTIVE MONTHS OF 10 INCHES-PLUS AND THAT HAS NOT HAPPENED SINCE RECORDS FIRST STARTED BACK IN 1884.

AND WE COULD GET A FEW MORE INCHES HERE IN APRIL, WOULD NOT BE SHOCKED.

SO THERE'S WHERE WE STAND.

81.2, 125 UP IN DULUTH.

AND WHAT'S MORE IMPORTANT, CHECK OUT THE DEPARTURES.

WE ARE RUNNING THREE FEET ABOVE AVERAGE HERE IN THE METRO.

FOUR FEET ABOVE AVERAGE UP IN DULUTH.

THREE FEET ABOVE AVERAGE IN ST.

CLOUD.

SO, YEAH, THERE'S AN AWFUL LOT OF WATER LOCKED UP IN THAT SNOWPACK.

AND THAT'S THE GOOD NEWS.

NO DROUGHT NOW ACROSS MUCH OF CENTRAL AND EASTERN MINNESOTA, STILL SOME POCKETS OF DRYNESS BUT EXPECTS THE DROUGHT TO FADE EVEN IN SOUTHWESTERN MINNESOTA IN THE COMING WEEKS.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE TRACKING IS THE SNOW WATER EQUIVALENT, HOW MUCH WATER IS LOCKED UP IN THE SNOW.

ANYWHERE FROM 2 TO 6-INCHES OF WATER IN THAT SNOW COVER.

SO MUCH IT HAS BEEN A GOLDILOCKS MELTDOWN.

ALMOST IDEAL CONDITIONS.

THE QUESTION, WILL THAT CONTINUE DEEP INTO APRIL?

AGAIN, NOAA PREDICTING MODERATE TO MAJOR FLOODING ESPECIALLY ON THE ST. CROIX AND THE MISSISSIPPI, THE THREAT HAS GONE DOWN A LITTLE BIT DOWNTOWN ST. PAUL.

THE THREAT HAS GONE UP IN STILLWATER AND RED WING ALL THE WAY SOUTH DOWN TO ST. LOUIS.

THERE COULD BE VERY IMPRESSIVE FLOODING, DEPENDING ON HOW QUICKLY IT WARMS UP.

HIGHS IN THE 40S, LOWS IN THE 20S, 40S, OKAY, YOU'RE GOING TO MELT SNOW EACH DAY.

LOWS IN THE 20S, BELOW FREEZING, THAT TAPS THE BRAKES ON THE RUNOFF.

SO THIS IS AS GOOD AS IT GETS.

THIS IS A BEST CASE SCENARIO, BUT WE CAN ONLY LOOK OUT THROUGH THE FIRST WEEK OF APRIL, BEYOND THAT, GOOD LUCK.

AND THEN WE'VE GOT EL NINO, WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO KICK IN THIS UMMER.

THE WARM PHASE OF THE PACIFIC, WE'VE HAD THREE YEARS LAUGH NINA COOLING WHICH I THINK CONTRIBUTED TO OUR WINTER, LA NINA SUM WINTER TEND TO BE WARMER.

IF YOU LIKE SNOW, GET OUT AND PLAY IN IT, SOAK IT UP.

>> Cathy: SO IF WE'RE AT THE EIGHTH SNOWIEST WINTER SO MUCH CAN WE CRACK THE TOP TEN?

OR CRACK THE TOP FIVE, I'M SORRY.

>> 85 INCHES, WE'RE IN THE TOP FIVE.

AND WE'RE AT 81.2.

SO WE DON'T NEED MUCH AND I THINK WE'LL PROBABLY GET A FEW MORE INCHES OF SLUSH IN APRIL.

I DON'T THINK WE'LL BEAT 83, 84, MY FIRST WINTER OUT HERE 98.6.

THAT IS A RECORD THAT IS GOING TO STAND FOR SOME TIME.

>> Eric: I'M ROOTING FOR THE RECORD.

>> ARE YOU?

LET'S GO FOR IT.

>> Eric: PAUL DOUGLAS.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Cathy: BYE-BYE.

♪♪ >> IT'S SPRING!

IT'S THAT SPECIAL TIME OF YEAR WHEN SNOW MELTS, FLOWERS SPRING, AND POTHOLES ABOUND.

IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT A POTHOLE IS, IT'S AN NVITATION TO SWEAR INSIDE YOUR CAR.

THESE SOMETIMES SMALL, SOMETIMES LARGE CRATERS IN THE GROUND ARE THE LEADING CAUSE OF EXPLETIVES ON THE ROAD AND EVEN THOUGH THEY ARRIVE EVERY YEAR PEOPLE SEEM TO BE SURPRISED BY THEM.

EACH SPRING DRIVERS OF ALL LEVELS ARE SHOCKED BY THE DRASTIC DIPS IN THE ROAD, AND I LOVE IT!

POTHOLES ARE A GREAT WAY TO LEARN ABOUT THE POLITICAL IDEOLOGIES OF DRIVERS BECAUSE POTHOLES FORCE DRIVERS TO IDENTIFY LEADERSHIP AT FAULT.

SOMETIMES DRIVERS BLAME THE CITY COUNCIL FOR POTHOLES OR THE MAYOR, OR MY FAVORITE, GOD.

WHAT BETTER WAY TO PREPARE FOR EASTER THAN SOME VEHICULAR BASED BLASPHEMY.

SOME DRIVERS FOREGO AN EXPLETIVE FOR A PRIMAL SHOUT.

THIS IS VERY ANIMALISTIC AND IS SEEN PREDOMINANTLY IN FOREIGN MODELS.

THE ONLY GROUP OF DRIVERS WHO DON'T SEEM TO YELL ARE COMMERCIAL DRIVERS, THEIR ZEN STANCE ON POTHOLES COMES FROM YEARS OF MEDITATION AND THE KNOWLEDGE THEY AREN'T THE ONES WHO HAVE TO PAY FOR A NEW SUSPENSION.

SOME OF YOU MIGHT BE WATCHING AND GOING, ARON, I'VE BEEN DRIVING FOR YEARS AND YELLING ON THE ROAD, HOW DO I KEEP THINGS FRESH?

I SUGGEST PEOPLE MIX THINGS UP BY DOING WHAT RED FOXX FROM SANFORD AND SON DID, SCREAMING THE NAME ELIZABETH!

AND KEEP THINGS CLASSY.

IF YOU'RE NOT A WIDOW YELL THE NAME OF A PET OR SOMEBODY WHO'S ALREADY PASSED.

YOUR LOCAL OBITAIRRY IS A GREAT PLACE TO FIND FLAMES TO SCREAM.

TRY SLAPPING YOUR STEERING WHEEL.

BE WARY NOT TO SLAP TOO HARD AS ANYTHING TOO HARD WILL CAUSE DRIVERS TO SWERVE INTO TRAFFICKER OR WORSE, MORE POTHOLES.

EVERY POTHOLE MAY ANNOY AND FRUSTRATE BUT IT'S ALSO A LITTLE HELLO FROM A OUR GOOD FRIEND, SPRING.

♪♪ >> Cathy: RAGHAVAN IYER IS ONE OF THE BEST INDIAN COOKS IN AMERICA AND HE LIVES RIGHT HERE IN MINNESOTA.

IYER WAS BORN AND RAISED IN MUMBAI.

HE ARRIVED IN MARSHALL, MINNESOTA IN THE 1980S TO GO TO SCHOOL AND HIS EXPERIENCES THERE LIT HIS PASSION FOR THE FLAVORS OF HIS HOMELAND AND SHARING THEM WITH OTHERS.

REPORTER KAOMI LEE GOT TO MEET WITH IYER WHO IS NOW ON HIS FINAL DEATH ADVENTURE.

>> WHEN RAGHAVAN IYER COOKS, THERE'S COLOR, TEXTURE AND SPICES.

>> I EAT WITH ALL MY SENSES, YOU KNOW?

>> IYER AND IS THE JAMES BEARD AWARD WINNING AUTHOR OF HIS BOOKS ON THE CURRY TRAIL.

AT AGE 61 HE'S STILL TEACHING.

HE'S SHOWING ME HOW TO MAKE A SAVORY INDIAN DISH OF TAPIOCA PEARLS, PEANUTS AND SPICES.

AS SOMEBODY WHO PREPARES INDIAN FOOD FROM A JAR THIS SEEMS APPROACHABLE EVEN FOR A NOVICE INDIAN FOOD COOK LIKE ME.

>> YOU KNOW WHAT I LOVE IS THAT THE FLAVORS HAVE SO MUCH IMPACT.

>> IYER HAS BEEN SHARING HIS KNOWLEDGE FOR DECADES.

>> MY NAME IS RAGHAVAN IYER, I'M A JAMES BEARD AWARD WINNING CULL NATURERY EDUCATOR, AUTHOR AND CONSULTANT.

>> IN 198.

1982 RAGHAVAN ARRIVED IN SOUTHERN MINNESOTA TO DO GREAT THINGS AND HE HAS.

>> REALLY IT'S THE HOUSEMADE KIMCHI.

>> IYER ALSO APPEARED ON TPT'S SERIES "RELISH."

>> EXPLAIN THAT A LITTLE BIT TO ME.

>> SPICY IS NOT A TASTE ELEMENT BUT HOT IS.

THIS DISH IS ALL ABOUT BALANCE AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE CREATING IN THIS.

>> HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE CALLED AN ICON?

>> IT'S A TERMINOLOGY I REALLY WOULD NOT HAVE ASSIGNED TO MYSELF.

>> TO UNDERSTAND RAGHAVAN YOU HAVE O KNOW HIS BACK STORY.

RAISED IN THE LARGE CITY OF MUMBAI A YOUNG CHEMISTRY GRADUATE CAME TO MINNESOTA ON A WHIM.

>> I FRANKLY I CHOSE THE CHEAPEST UNIVERSITY, WHICH WAS MARSHALL, MINNESOTA.

>> AS A YOUNG GAY INDIAN MAN, HE NEEDED SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

MSU ALSO HAD A WELL REGARDED HOSPITALITY PROGRAM.

HE MET HIS LIFE PARTNER TERRY ERICKSON THERE, BUT ASIDE FROM POTATOES AND ONIONS THE LOCAL STORES HAD HIM IN DESPAIR.

>> DESOLATE.

IT WAS LIKE WHAT AM I DOING HERE?

>> THERE WAS HOWEVER SOMETHING STRANGE CALLED CURRY POWDER.

>> I WASN'T A GOOD COOK.

I CAME HERE AND LEARNED HOW TO COOK.

I LEARNED HOW TO BOIL WATER.

AND MY FIRST MEALS WAS SPRINKLED LIBERALLY WITH CURRY POWDER BECAUSE THAT'S ALL THAT WAS AVAILABLE AT THE TIME.

>> .

IN THOSE EARLY DAYS HE LEARNED HOW TO BECOME A BRIDGE.

>> THE THING ABOUT RAGHAVAN THAT I FIND I ADMIRE SO MUCH, HE CAN TAKE THE MOST COMPLEX CONCEPT, HISTORY HAT'S LIKE A BOWL OF SPAGHETTI, IT'S NOT STRAIGHTFORWARD, IT'S NOT EASY JUST TO SHARE, AND HE CAN MAKE IT UNDERSTANDABLE AND EXCITING.

>> LYNN CASPER HOSTED THE SPLENDID TABLE RADIO PROGRAM FOR 22 YEARS.

RAGHAVAN WAS ONE OF HER FAVORITE GUESTS.

IYER FOLLOWED IN THE STEPS OF COOKBOOK AUTHORS AND ARRIVED AT THE SCENE AT THE RIGHT TIME.

>> HE CAME AT IT FROM A DIFFERENT STANCE.

STILL THE AUTHENTICITY, STILL THE INCREDIBLE TASTE BUT NOT RECIPES THAT WERE MULTI-PAGES LONG AND TRYING TO WORK WITH WHAT WE CAN BUY IN A SUPERMARKET.

>> TO ME COOKING WAS CATHARTIC.

IT WAS ALSO A WAY FOR ME TO SHOWCASE MY CULTURE.

>> IYER SAYS HE WAS ONCE EMBARRASSED TO BE INDIAN, A SOUTH ASIAN, BUT WRITING AND COOKING WAS HIS WAY TO CONNECT PEOPLE.

NOW HE'S ON HIS FINAL JOURNEY.

IYER HAS BEEN LIVING WITH STAGE FOUR COLORECTAL CANCER FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS.

HE TURNED IN HIS LATEST BOOK TRACING CURRY FROM ITS NDIAN ROOTS, BETWEEN CHEMO TREATMENTS.

>> I SAT DOWN AT THE COMPUTER AND SAID YOU KNOW WHAT?

I DON'T HAVE CONTROL OVER CANCER BUT I HAVE CONTROL OVER MY DEADLINE.

>> YER KNOWS HIS OWN TIME IS COMING TO AN END.

HE SAYS TERRY, THEIR SON ROBERT, HIS FAMILY IN INDIA AND MANY FRIENDS HE'S MADE ALONG THE WAY ARE HIS LEGACY.

>> I DON'T WANT TO SAY I LEFT BEHIND SEVEN BOOKS, AN EMMY, HANDFUL OF JAMES BEARD, JULIA CHILD AWARDS.

YEAH, THEY WERE MEANINGFUL, THEY WERE, YOU KNOW, THEY SERVED A PURPOSE, THEY MADE MY CAREER WHAT THEY WERE.

BUT AT THE END OF HE DAY IT'S MY RELATIONSHIPS THAT I'M LEAVING BEHIND.

♪♪ >> Eric: FURTHER EVIDENCE THAT THINGS ARE MOVING AT A RECORD PACE AT THE STATE CAPITOL, LEADERS CAME UP WITH BUDGET SPENDING TARGETS EARLY, REALLY EARLY, WITH NEARLY HALF OF THE SESSION TO GO.

DOES THIS FOR TEND A SMOOTH END TO THE SESSION?

LET'S DEBATE THAT AND THER THINGS WITH THE HELP OF FOUR FORMER LAWMAKERS LL FROM THE STATE SENATE.

AMY COP, REPUBLICAN FORMER SENATE MAJORITY LEADER.

AMY IS NOW A LOBBYIST, FRITZ KNAAK IS HERE, ONE TIME ASSISTANT MINORITY LEADER IN THE SENATE.

SUSAN KENT, A DEMOCRAT, SHE WAS THE SENATE MINORITY LEADER AT ONE POINT.

JEFF HAYDEN ROUNDS OUT THE GROUP.

DEMOCRAT AMONG HIS TITLES IN THE SENATE, DEPUTY MAJORITY LEADER.

ALSO A LOBBYIST.

MADAM LEADER COP, ON THE TRANSGENDER BILL THIS MORNING ONLY ONE REPUBLICAN VOTED NO.

THAT WAS A FORMER CAUCUS LEADER.

UNDER WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES DO YOU LET FOLKS WALK OR VOTE -- WHAT MAKES THAT DETERMINATION?

>> WELL, IT DEPENDS ON THE BILL.

GAMING IS NEVER GOING TO BE A FULL PARTY VOTE.

THERE ARE CERTAIN MEMBERS ON EITHER IDE THAT ARE FUNDAMENTALLY OPPOSE TODAY GAMING IN ANY FORM.

SO THAT'S A NATURAL WHERE PEOPLE ARE JUST GOING TO HOLD THE LINE.

I FEEL LIKE ON HE BUDGET BILLS, PARTICULARLY WHEN LIKE THEY'RE TOUGH VOTES, WE HAD BIG DEFICIT, RIGHT, I NEEDED MY MEMBERS, WE HAD 37 SO WE COULD HAVE LOST A COUPLE, BUT FOR CAUCUS ORALE, I NEEDED EVERYONE TO BE ON THE SAME PAGE.

WE ALL HAD 20 AGREE THAT WE HATE A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING IN ALL THESE BILLS BUT WE STILL HAVE TO TAKE THAT VOTE TOGETHER.

SO REALLY THE BILL DEPENDS.

>> Eric: HOW HARD IS THAT WHEN IT'S 34-33 DEMOCRATS WITH A VOTE?

WHEN YOU CAN'T -- NOBODY CAN -- EVERYBODY'S GOT TAKE ONE FOR THE TEAM, RIGHT?

>> THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.

AND I JUST STAY FOCUSED ON WHY ARE WE HERE, WHAT ARE OUR PRIORITIES, WHAT IS THE BIG PICTURE WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH.

YOU KNOW, MOST OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THE TOUGH SEATS AND FOR WHOM ANY OF THESE WILL BE TOUGHER VOTES, THEY'VE ALREADY HAD THE EXPERIENCE OF HAVING REALLY NASTY THINGS SAID ABOUT THEM IN THEIR MAILBOXES, MANY OF WHICH FOR SOME OF US WE'VE NEVER HAD A RECORD SO IT'S SORT OF FUN TO WATCH SOME STUFF COME THROUGH.

YOU STAY FOCUSED ON THAT AND SAY WE'RE GOING TO HANG TOGETHER AS BEST AS POSSIBLE AND NEGOTIATE ALONG THE WAY.

>> Cathy: WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE ANY COMMENT ON THIS?

>> WELL, I WAS PRIMARILY A BOMB THROWER WHEN I WAS THERE.

[ LAUGHTER ] THERE'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE ON THIS IF YOU'RE IN THE MINORITY AND YOU'RE TRYING TO KEEP PEOPLE FOCUSED ON ISSUES THAT YOU THINK ARE IMPORTANT.

EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE YOU WILL SEE A SITUATION WHERE THE MINORITY HAS THAT SAME CONVERSATION AND YOU TAKE IT FOR THE TEAM BECAUSE THE LAST THING YOU WANT TO DO IS CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE ONE OF YOU -- ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU'VE GAIT BIPARTISAN BILL FOR ELECTION PURPOSES IS RARELY A GOOD THING.

SO.

>> SO I WAS A BOMB THROWER AND PEACE MAKER.

>> Eric: YOU DID BOTH.

>> I WAS ON BOTH SIDES OF THOSE THINGS.

I THINK WHEN YOU'RE IN THE MAJORITY AND SUSAN AND I SERVED TOGETHER IN THIS, TOM BAKK USED TO SAY HE DOESN'T BRING A BILL TO THE FLOOR UNLESS IT HAS 34 VOTES.

I THINK YOU REALLY DO YOUR WORK BEHIND THE SCENES TO MET MEMBERS WHERE THEY NEED TO GO BEFORE YOU BRING THE BILL FORWARD.

>> Eric: I WANT TO TRY ONE OTHER THING ON THE SPENDING TARGETS WHERE EACH GETS A TARGET OF SPENDING YOU CAN'T -- BUT IS THERE AN APPEALS PROCESS?

DOES SOME SENATOR COME UP TO YOU AND SAY, MADAM LEADER, WE NEED MORE MONEY?

ARE THESE SET IN STONE OR NOT?

>> WELL, I HAD THE ADVANTAGE OF HAVING A $6 BILLION DEFICIT SO THERE WAS NO MORE MONEY, IT'S JUST ABOUT HOW MUCH YOU WANT CUT AND IF YOU GET SASSY, YOU KNOW.

BUT, YEAH, I THINK THIS CASE THERE'S A LOT OF BEHIND THE SCENES MANEUVERING THAT'S PROBABLY GOING TO GO INTO THESE, I HINK.

BUT THEN ONCE YOU START MOVING THAT TARGET FOR SOMEBODY YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MOVE IT FOR SOMEBODY ELSE, IT'S NOT AN INFINITE AMOUNT OF MONEY.

THERE'S NOT, WELL, THIS YEAR EVEN WITH 18 BILLION THERE'S NOT MONEY NECESSARILY STASHED AWAY THAT YOU AREN'T TAKING FROM ANOTHER CHAIR.

IF YOU MOVE THE TARGET IN HIGHER ED WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO TAKE IT FROM, AG?

ARE YOU GOING TO TAKE IT FROM THE ENVIRONMENT?

YOU HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION AND NOW YOU'VE MADE ANOTHER PERSON UNHAPPY >> , YEAH, THERE'S A LITTLE MONEY TUCKED AWAY FOR SAY PAID FAMILY LEAVE.

$688 MILLION -- >> WALZ CHECKS TOO, YOU GOT TO EXPECT THAT'S GOING TO GO UP AND DOWN.

-- >> THERE'S FEDERAL MONEY FOR REIMBURSEMENT, THERE'S ABOUT $500 MILLION TUCKED AWAY, PAID ATTENTION TO THAT BUDGET A LITTLE BIT THERE.

THAT'S NOT TO SAY ONCE YOU DO IT, I DO AGREE WITH AMY ONCE YOU DO IT FOR SOMEBODY YOU GOT TO DO IT FOR EVERYBODY.

I THINK SUSAN KNOWS THERE'S OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO BE ABLE TO FIND A LITTLE EXTRA MONEY OR FOR INSTANCE IN THE HEALTH CARE BUDGET THERE MAY BE SOME TWEAKS THAT YOU CAN MAKE TO FIND MONEY IN TERMS OF SCHEDULES AND THE WAY THAT YOU SPEND MONEY FOR CERTAIN FOLKS.

SO I THINK HERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY.

>> THE HARD PART THOUGH IS THERE'S NOT A LOT OF ONGOING MONEY, 5 AND A HALF BILLION SO REALLY OVER THE GRAND SCHEME OF THINGS IS NOT THAT MUCH.

AND THAT'S GOING TO REALLY FORCE PEOPLE TO PAY ATTENTION AND ADD EVERYTHING UP RIGHT.

AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S -- KNOWING THESE LEADERS THEY'VE LEFT THEMSELVES A LITTLE WIGGLE ROOM SO THEY CAN HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH PEOPLE.

>> Cathy: THAT PAID LEAVE PROGRAM IS PRETTY EXPENSIVE.

WHERE IS IT GOING DO YOU THINK?

>> I THINK WE'RE GONNA DO IT, I REALLY DO.

THERE'S GOING TO BE A STARTUP AND IT'S JUMP STARTING IT, ULTIMATELY T'S BASICALLY SELF-FUNDING BECAUSE YOU PAY INTO IT, EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES PAY INTO IT AND THAT BECOMES THE POOL TO PAY OUT OF IT.

AND I THINK I'VE ALWAYS SAID WHEN I CARRIED THE BILL DURING COVID, THAT PROGRAM GOT STRESS TESTED IN A BUNCH OF STATES AND IT DID GREAT.

AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO GO WELL.

>> Eric: DO YOUR SMALL BUSINESS, DOES IT GET AFFECTED BY THIS?

>> EVERYBODY GETS AFFECTED, IT'S A TAX INCREASE, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, AND THAT'S ONE OF THE PROBLEMS IN TERMS OF THE OPTICS OF THIS IS YOU'VE GOT ALL THAT MONEY AND YOU'RE INCREASING TAXES AND IT MAY WELL BE, YOU KNOW, IT MAY WELL BE THAT THIS IS ALL FOR GOOD AND, YOU KNOW, THE ARGUMENTS ARE ALL THERE BUT IT'S GOING TO BE EXPENSIVE AND THE PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO PAY FOR IT ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE WORKING.

>> Cathy: YOU MENTION TAX INCREASES, THERE IS THIS SALES TAX, PROPOSED SALES TAX IN THE METRO TO PAY FOR TRANSIT, RIGHT?

AND DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE $75 PER PACKAGE DELIVERY FEE?

DID YOU HEAR THAT BILL?

>> THERE'S A BILL FOR THAT.

>> Cathy: YEAH, PEOPLE WOULD PAY $75 PER PACKAGE TO HAVE IT DELIVERED TO YOUR DOOR.

BUT -- 75 CENTS PER PACKAGE TO HAVE IT DELIVERED TO YOUR DOOR.

>> THOSE ARE IDEAS, RIGHT?

WE WANT TO PUT IDEAS ON THE TABLE, WE WANT TO SEE HAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO SAY ABOUT IT.

I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPENED OVER THE LAST SIX YEARS ESPECIALLY IN THE SENATE WE DIDN'T HEAR THOSE THINGS, THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN THEY'RE GOING TO HAPPEN BUT YOU WANT TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO AND HOW DO YOU KIND OF DEAL WITH ONGOING REVENUE ISSUES.

I DON'T THINK IF THEY PROPOSE IT IT WILL BECOME LAW BUT I DO THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO TALK ABOUT IT.

>> Eric: BONDING.

IT'S DEMOCRATS' TERM TO HAVE A LITTLE SHARP ELBOWS.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT'S GOING ON THERE YOU TWO VETERANS OF BONDING SESSIONS PAST?

IS >> SURE, SO BONDING OR CAPITAL INVESTMENT IS MONEY THAT'S PUT ON ROADS, INFRASTRUCTURE OF REGIONAL OR STATEWIDE IMPORTANCE.

AND IT IS THE ONLY BILL ON THE FLOOR THAT YOU NEED A SUPERMAJORITY FOR.

SO IT REQUIRES BY JUST DEFINITION HERE IT'S GOING TO REQUIRE REPUBLICAN VOTES IN BOTH HOUSES.

SO FROM A REPUBLICAN STANDPOINT IT'S REALLY KIND OF YOUR ONLY VOTE HERE YOU HAVE LEVERAGE.

>> Eric: BUT THEY'RE TYING IT TO TAX CUTS BEFORE THEY VOTE.

>> IN THE SENATE THEY SAID WE WOULD LIKE TO VOTE FOR TAX RELIEF BEFORE WE VOTE FOR ALL THE SPENDING OR AS E VOTE FOR ALL THE SPENDING.

THEY DID NOT PASS IN THE SENATE.

THEY'RE CALLING A SMALLER BONDING BILL WHICH IS 1.5 IN GO BONDS AND 1.7 MILLION IN CASH DID PASS THE HOUSE AND ACTUALLY PASSED IN A VERY BIPARTISAN FASHION.

>> Eric: 20 REPUBLICANS.

>> RIGHT.

THOSE BILLS ARE I THINK SOME OF THE MOST INTERESTING AS THOSE CHAIRS THEY HAVE TO WORK ACROSS THE AISLE.

THEY HAVE A PARTNER IN THEIR LEAD AND THEY MUST WORK ACROSS THE AISLE AND MAKING HAT HAPPEN IS DELICATE AND A LITTLE BIT TRICKY AND YOU HAVE TO BE QUITE THE POLITICIAN I THINK TO BE A BONDING CHAIR.

>> Eric: BUT AFTER THE SENATE DIDN'T PASS A BONDING BILL, SENATOR KENT, THE BONDING COMMITTEE CONVENED IN THE SENATE AND A BUNCH OF REPUBLICAN PROJECTS GOT TOSSED OUT AND THEN THE DEMOCRATS ARE SAYING WE'LL JUST DO ALL CASH, WE WON'T NEED THE SUPERMAJORITY.

>> AND THAT IS AN OPTION CERTAINLY BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF ONE-TIME MONEY AND THERE'S NOTHING BETTER THAN TO SPEND THAT ON THESE KINDS OF INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS.

I THINK IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE SO THAT VERY BIPARTISAN VOTE IN THE HOUSE, FOR THE SENATE REPUBLICANS TO SAY, NOPE, WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO IT, WE'RE GOING TO LINK IT TO SOMETHING ELSE AND THEY COULD DO THAT IN ANOTHER WAY.

THEY COULD GET AN AGREEMENT ON SOME TAX BILLS -- >> WELL, THEY -- >> AHEAD OF TIME IF THEY WANTED TO AND THEN PASS THE BONDING.

>> WELL, THEY HAD AN AGREEMENT.

THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM, NO PUN INTENDED WAS THAT THEY HAD AN AGREEMENT LAST YEAR TO TIE THOSE VERY THINGS TOGETHER AND THEY WALKED AWAY FROM IT.

AND THEY COME BACK THIS YEAR AND SAY WE WANT A REDO AND THE DEMOCRATS ARE IKE WAIT A MINUTE LET'S GET THIS DONE BECAUSE LAST YEAR WHEN WE PUT THIS ALL TOGETHER YOU GUYS DECIDED TO WALK AWAY.

I THINK THAT THEY'RE GOING TO GET A BILL DONE AND THERE'S ABOUT ABOUT 2 BILLION THAT THEY CAN DO KIND OF THEMSELVES AND FIGURE OUT THOSE PROJECTS.

BUT I DO THINK THAT DEMOCRATS ARE KIND OF SAYING, LISTEN, WE GOT TRUST ISSUES WITH YOU AND WE WANT TO START TO SEE THINGS GET DONE AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO KIND OF WAIT UNTIL THE END AND RUN ACROSS THE TRAIN TRACKS AND DO ALL THE STUFF WE'VE DONE BEFORE.

MY MESSAGE TO REPUBLICANS IS IT'S A REALLY GOOD BILL, ASK CHAIR URDAHL, THE ONE THEY JUST KIND OF REJECTED AND THEN LET'S WORK ON ISSUES S WE MOVE FORWARD.

>> I WAS A MEMBER OF REAL SMALL MINORITY, MY RESPONSE TO THAT IS POUND SAND.

>> THEN YOU DON'T GET YOUR PROJECTS, I MEAN, YOU KNOW.

>> IF HAT'S THE WAY IT WORKS THEN THAT'S THE WAY IT WORKS.

THE VICTORY IS, AND THERE IS ONE IN THERE, WE'RE NOT PAYING TENS OR HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OVER A LONG TIME FOR INTEREST ON PROJECTS WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH NOW.

IF YOU WANT TO BE PARTISAN ABOUT IT, YOU SAY, OKAY, NONE OF THOSE APOLOGIZE THAT INVOLVE REPUBLICAN DISTRICTS ARE GOING TO BE TAKEN CARE OF IT.

FAIR ENOUGH.

EVERYBODY HERE KNOWS WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND AND AT SOME POINT THERE WILL BE PAYBACK.

>> FIRST THEY GOT A BIPARTISAN BILL ON THE ABLE.

THAT'S WHAT -- THEY HAD ONE ON THE TABLE THAT THEY VOTED AGAINST.

>> THEY HAVE ONE ON THE TABLE THEY VOTED AGAINST FOR EXACTLY THE REASONS I DESCRIBED TO YOU.

I THINK THERE'S A -- >> I FUNDAMENTALLY DISAGREE.

>> WELL, IF YOU WANT TO SEE IT AS SOMETHING YOU CAN ADD TO THE POOL OF $17 BILLION, IN OTHER WORDS REALLY WE'RE TALKING 19 BILLION BECAUSE WE GOT THAT BILL TOO THEN WHAT YOU'RE SAYING MAKES SENSE, OTHERWISE IF YOU'RE REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT KEEPING THOSE COSTS, INTEREST COSTS GOING UP WHY ARE WE SPENDING MONEY ON INTEREST WHEN WE'VE GOT MONEY IN THE BANK >> Eric: COUPLE OF GOOD FLOOR SPEECHES HERE.

>> Cathy: WHERE IS RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA?

>> NOT UP IN SMOKE YET BUT GETTING CLOSE.

>> Cathy: I WAS WONDERING ABOUT THAT.

>> -- IT'S A LONG WAYS TO GO.

>> FIRST OF ALL I THINK THAT THE EXPECTATIONS ON THIS AS WAS WITH MANY IN THE TRIFECTA WERE OVERBLOWN, IT'S A REALLY BIG BILL AND WE MAY HAVE ACCIDENTLY LEGALIZED LAST YEAR SORT OF KIND OF BUT THERE'S A LOT THAT GOES INTO THIS BILL, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, LAW ENFORCEMENT, CITY GOVERNMENTS, COUNTY GOVERNMENTS.

THERE WAS A RUSH AT THE BEGINNING, THE BILL NEEDS 12 OR 14 COMMITTEE HEARINGS IN THE HOUSE ALONE AND THAT IN A YEAR WHEN YOU'VE GOT A MASSIVE BUDGET TO DISCUSS, BONDING BILLS, PAID FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVING ALL THE DEBATE AROUND ABORTION AND -- >> LEGALIZED SPORTS BETTING.

>> LEGALIZED SPORTS BETTING THAT WAS I THINK TOO AMBITIOUS AND SHOULD HAVE TEMPERED EXPECTATIONS THAT IT MIGHT TAKE TWO YEARS.

>> Eric: WITH 30 SECONDS LEFT IS GOVERNOR WALZ RAISING HAD I NATIONAL VISIBILITY FOR SOME PURPOSE?

>> I AM SURE THERE IS SOME PURPOSE BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO SEE THE CONTRAST TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON IN SOME CONSERVATIVE STATES WHERE THEY'RE BANNING BOOKS AND DEMONIZING CHILDREN.

>> AND PEOPLE OF COLOR AND EVERYONE ELSE.

>> RUNNING FOR SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE.

>> Eric: I DID CHECK -- HE'S NOT WRITING A BOOK SO MAYBE THAT MEANS NO PRESIDENTIAL.

>> >> Cathy: THANKS, PANEL.

GOOD JOB.

♪♪ >> Cathy: IT IS TIME OR HISTORY TRIVIA AND LAST WEEK'S QUESTION WAS INSPIRED BY THE LATE VIKINGS GREAT BUD GRANT.

BUD OF COURSE WAS FAMOUS FOR HIS OLD SCHOOL FOOTBALL WAYS.

NO HEATERS ON THE SIDELINE.

TOUGH DEFENSES.

STRAIGHT LEG KICKERS.

HERE'S OUR QUESTION.

KEEPING INMIND BUD GRANT AND HIS TRADITIONAL WAYS, WHEN WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT THE VIKINGS PLAYED A AME ON ARTIFICIAL TURF IN MINNESOTA?

WE PLEADED WITH YOU TO BE CAREFUL WITH THIS QUESTION BUT MOST OF YOU DIDN'T HEED THAT.

NEARLY ALL OF YOUR GUESSES WERE WRONG.

READ 'EM AND WEEP.

>> I THINK THAT THE MINNESOTA VIKINGS PLAYED THE HOUSTON OILERS ON DECEMBER 14TH, 1986.

THAT WAS THEIR FIRST ASTROTURF.

>> TULANE STADIUM WHERE THE VIKINGS PLAYED IN SUPER OWL IX AGAINST THE PITTSBURGH STEELERS.

I JUST REMEMBER WATCHING IT AS A YOUNG GUY AND SEEING THAT THE TURF WAS ABOUT AS FAKEY AS HEY COME.

>> THE FIRST YEAR THE VIKINGS PLAYED ON TURF WAS IN 1982 IN THE METRODOME OPEN.

>> IN 1969 THE VIKINGS PLAYED A REGULAR SEASON GAME ON OCTOBER 5TH AGAINST THE GREEN BAY PACKERS AT MEMORIAL STADIUM WHICH HAD THE CRAPPIEST ARTIFICIAL TURF I'VE EVER BEEN ON.

>> JIM, YOU WERE HALF-RIGHT.

MEMORIAL STADIUM WAS INDEED THE LOCATION OF THE FIRST ARTIFICIAL TURF VIKINGS GAME IN MINNESOTA.

BUT THAT 1969 GAME WAS PLAYED ON GRASS.

FOR THE RIGHT ANSWER, LET'S ALL LISTEN TO THE DETAILS SUPPLIED BY VIEWER MIKE FROM ST. LOUIS PARK.

>> AUGUST 8TH, 1971.

THERE WAS A PRESEASON GAME AGAINST THE NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS.

THE GAME WAS PLAYED AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA'S MEMORIAL STADIUM.

THEY JUST INSTALLED ARTIFICIAL TURF IN 1970.

THIS IS MIKE FROM ST. LOUIS PARK.

>> Cathy: YES, YES.

MEMO NORMAL STADIUM WAS FITTED WITH TARTAN TURF, OF THE 3M COMPANY.

THE VIKINGS PLAYED AT MEMORIAL STADIUM IN THE FALL OF 1971.

SEVERAL COLLEGES THAT YEAR HOSTED PRESEASON NFL GAMES AS WITH A WAY TO MAKE SOME MONEY.

THERE WAS THE LAST TIME THE VIKINGS WOULD PLAY AT MEMORIAL STADIUM.

MAY REMEMBER THE UNIVERSITY'S CURRENT FOOTBALL STADIUM WAS THE HOME OF THE VEHICLE VIKINGS IN THE 2014-2015 SEASONS.

IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION THAT YOU THINK WOULD BE INDEX FILE WORTHY SEND IT IN AND WE'LL JUDGE THAT.

CALL IT IN TO 651-229-1430 OR E-MAIL US AT ALMANAC@TPT.ORG.

LET'S LEAVE YOU AS ALWAYS WITH A TUNE FROM THE TPT ARCHIVES.

THIS WEEK IN 1992 WAS THE GEAR DADDIES APPEARED ON TPT'S SHOWCASE MUSIC PROGRAM.

LET'S LISTEN TO THEM AS WE ROLL THE CREDITS.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

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♪♪