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

>> Eric: IN THE NEXT HOUR WE'LL LEARN ABOUT HOW LEGAL MARIJUANA IS WORKING IN OTHER STATES, TALK ABOUT THE BIG LAYOFFS AT 3M, KEVIN KLING WILL TREAT US TO AN ESSAY, MARY LAHAMMER HAS A STORY FROM THE CAPITOL THAT FOUND RARE BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.

>> LAWMAKERS GATHERED WITH THE FRIENDS AND FAMILY OF PRINCE FOR A HIGHWAY THAT WILL BE NAMED AFTER THE FAMOUS MINNESOTA MUSICIAN.

>> PRINCE NOBODY ASKED ANYONE FOR ANYTHING.

I THINK THIS IS ONE OF THE GREATEST GIFTS WE CAN GIVE HIM.

>> 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 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: IN A FEW MINUTES WE'LL LOOK AT HOW OTHER STATES ARE DEALING WITH LEGAL MARIJUANA AND WE'LL LEARN ABOUT THE CHILDCARE CRISIS THROUGH THE LENS OF AUSTIN, MINNESOTA.

CATHY GOT THE NIGHT OFF AND SITTING IN THIS WEEK IS ALMANAC POLITICAL REPORTER MARY LAHAMMER.

FIRST UP IN THE SHOW, MARY LOOK AT OUR UNCERTAIN ECONOMY.

>> Mary: YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT, ERIC.

BIG LAYOFF AT 3M, AND A LOOMING DEBT CEILING CRISIS.

HERE TO TELL US WHAT THEY MAY MEAN FOR OUR REGION, LEWIS JOHNSTON, HE'S AN ECONOMIST WITH THE COLLEGE OF ST. BENEDICT AND ST. JOHN'S UNIVERSITY.

LET'S START WITH THE NUMBERS, NATIONAL JOB NUMBERS.

>> 250,000 NEW JOBS, UNEMPLOYMENT RATE'S AS LOW AS IT'S BEEN SINCE THE LATE 1960S.

ESPECIALLY GOOD WAS EMPLOYMENT RATE, UNEMPLOYMENT RATE FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS, IT'S THE LOWEST T'S EVER BEEN SINCE WE STARTED RECORDING IT IN 1972.

>> Eric: THE FED HAS MADE A DECISION THIS WEEK I THINK IT'S THE TENTH TIME IN A YEAR TO RAISE INTEREST RATES.

DOES THIS REPORT IN ANY WAY AFFECT THEM OR COMPLICATE THEIR LIVES?

>> NO, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE SAYING IT DOES, I DON'T THINK IT DOES BECAUSE THEIR ATTITUDE IS WE WANT TO GET INFLATION DOWN, THE JOB MARKET IS STRONG SO THIS MEANS WE CAN KEEP EITHER RAISING INTEREST RATES OR KEEP THEM AT THE LEVEL WE'RE AT NOW AND NOT WORRY.

>> Mary: WHAT ABOUT THE TRICKLE DOWN ON INTEREST RATES AND THE HOUSING MARKET?

BECAUSE OUR STATE ECONOMIST HAS SAID THIS IS ONE OF THE RED FLAGS HERE.

THIS IS DEPRESSING THE ECONOMY AND HOUSING ARKET.

IN MINNESOTA AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

>> AND ON PURPOSE IN A SENSE.

THAT'S WHY THE FED HAS RAISED INTEREST ATES, THEY WANT TO SLOW THE ECONOMY DOWN, THE FIRST PLACE IT'S GOING TO SHOW UP IS IN THINGS LIKE HOUSING.

ANYTHING THAT'S SENSITIVE TO INTEREST RATES, AND AS YOU SAID IT'S GOING TO TRICKLE DOWN, ZIP THROUGH HINGS, SO THE 3M LAYOFFS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

THE BANK FAILURES THAT WE'RE SEEING.

IT'S ALL BECAUSE THOSE INTEREST RATE INCREASES ARE NOW START TO GO FILTER THROUGH.

>> Eric: WHAT HAPPENED AT 3M?

>> SO WHAT'S HAPPENING IS SLOW DOWN IN DEMAND FOR THEIR GOODS THAT THEY'RE PRODUCING.

AND THEY'RE I THINK BEING PREEMPTIVE, THEY SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THE HORIZON.

AND SO THEY'RE TAKING ACTION NOW TO MAKE SURE THEY DON'T GET CAUGHT LATER ON HAVING TO CUT WORKERS IN A HURRY.

IT'S LIKE BEING STRATEGIC NOW RATHER THAN JUST HAVING TO HURRY UP AND DO IT.

>> Mary: WHAT ABOUT THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE FOREVER CHEM CHEMICALS?

RIGHT NOW IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE THERE IS LANGUAGE THAT GOT INTO A BILL DEALING WITH THAT.

>> THAT'S A BIG ONE BECAUSE THAT PUTS A BIG LIABILITY ON THEIR BALANCE SHEET AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS YET AND THE STOCK MARKET IS ASKING HOW MUCH IS THIS GOING TO COST YOU AND TRYING TO PRICE THAT OUT AND SO THAT'S HURTING THEIR STOCK, THAT'S MAKING THEIR OUTLOOK MORE DIFFICULT, AND THAT'S PARTLY WHY THEY'RE LOOKIN' ALOUD.

>> Eric:AHEAD.

>> Eric: THE BANKING CRISIS SEEMED TO AFFECT REGIONAL BANKS.

IS THAT TAKEN CARE OF?

CANAIRRY IN THE COAL MINE OR SOMETHING?

>> WE HOPE IT'S BEEN TAKEN CARE OF.

REALLY THE BIG PROBLEM AGAIN IS THE FED'S BEEN RAISING INTEREST RATES, THESE REGIONAL BANKS THEY HAVE BONDS AND THINGS THAT ARE LOSING VALUE AND SO BIG DEPOSITORS WHO AREN'T NECESSARILY INSURED THEY'RE MOVING DEPOSITS TO BIGGER INSTITUTIONS THAT ARE MORE SAFE.

AND THAT'S HURTING OTHERWISE HEALTHY BANKS.

>> Mary: ANOTHER RED FLAG FROM THE STATE ECONOMIST, D.C. AND THE POLITICS IN D.C. AND THE DEBT CEILING, HOW BIG OF A DRAIN IS THIS?

>> IT'S A BIG DRAIN AND WHAT BOTHERS ME ESPECIALLY IS IT DOESN'T NEED TO BE THIS WAY.

WE HAVE BILLS THAT WE HAVE TO PAY, ATTORNEY ISSUE DEBT TO PAY THEM, AND AD WE'VE GOT A SITUATION WHERE ONE GROUP IS SAYING, WELL, WE'RE NOT GOING TO PAY THOSE BILLS NLESS YOU MAKE THESE PROMISES ABOUT THE FUTURE.

WELL, THAT'S, THAT'S NOT THE WAY TO MAKE A BUDGET.

>> Eric: COURT ACTION TO CHALLENGE THE CONSTITUTIONALITY?

IS THAT POSSIBLE?

>> YEAH, WELL, THE WAY IT WOULD WORK IS THE 14TH AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION SAYS THE UNITED STATES WILL MEET ITS DEBT OBLIGATIONS, IT WAS PASSED OVER THE CIVIL WAR TO ASSURE THE REST OF THE WORLD WE'RE GOING TO PAY OUR DEBTS BACK.

IN 1917 THEY PASSED THIS DEBT LIMIT AND NOBODY'S EVER BEEN SURE IF THAT'S CONSTITUTIONAL SO THE WAY IT COULD WORK IS THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION COULD JUST GO AHEAD, START ISSUING DEBT AND THEN SOMEONE WOULD HAVE TO BRING A SUIT.

>> Eric: WHAT ABOUT THIS INFAMOUS TRILLION DOLLAR COIN?

TOO MUCH OF A GIMMICK?

>> I SHOULDN'T LAUGH TOO MUCH.

IT'S POSSIBLE BUT I THINK IT'S WAY TOO MUCH OF A GIMMICK.

>> Mary: WHAT ABOUT PIVOTING BACK TO THE STATE THEN, RED FLAGS IN OUR ECONOMY, WE HAVE A $17 BILLION SURPLUS BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF CONCERNS, ANOTHER OF THEM IS WORKERS AND THE WHOLE STATE BUDGET IS KIND OF FASHIONED AROUND MAKING MINNESOTA MORE ATTRACTIVE, BRINGING PEOPLE HERE, WE DESPERATELY NEED PEOPLE TO MOVE HERE SO WE NEED HOUSING AND WORKERS.

HOW DO WE GET THEM?

>> WELL, AND WE NEED EDUCATION, WE NEED ALL THOSE THINGS THAT EMPOWER OUR WORKFORCE.

AT THE SAME TIME, THOUGH, WE'RE DOING SOME THINGS THAT I THINK ARE GONNA PUSH PEOPLE AWAY OR MAYBE NOT ALLOW BUSINESSES TO ATTRACT THEM.

THIS WORLDWIDE TAX REPORTING THAT'S ON THERE I THINK THAT'S A REALLY BAD IDEA.

THERE'S A TOP TIER IN THE TAX BRACKET THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT ADDING.

I THINK THOSE THINGS N A SENSE ARE GOING TO OFFSET THE GOOD STUFF THAT THEY DO SO I WISH THEY WOULDN'T DO THAT.

>> Mary: DOES THE GOOD STUFF ACTUALLY ATTRACT PEOPLE?

>> OH, YES.

I THINK IT DOES.

>> Mary: SOME OF THE POLITICS AND THE POLITICAL, BEING A REFUGE FOR A VARIETY OF PEOPLE.

>> IT DOES, I THINK IT REALLY DOES.

AND THE PROBLEM IS IS THAT WILL IT HAPPEN FAST ENOUGH AND WILL IT BE ENOUGH TO OFFSET THE NATIONAL TRENDS IN DECLINING IMMIGRATION?

BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE WE COULD REALLY GET SOME HELP AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE JUST NOT GETTING THOSE IMMIGRANT FLOWS.

>> Eric: REAL QUICK, CHANCE OF RECESSION?

>> I THINK ONE IN THREE, ONE IN FOUR.

>> Eric: ALL RIGHT.

ALWAYS GOOD, PROFESSOR, YOU COULD DO THIS FOR A LIVING.

>> I COULD, MAYBE I SHOULD.

>> Mary: CRITICAL FUNDING FOR THE STATE'S CHILDCARE PROVIDERS IS SET TO EXPIRE THIS SUMMER.

LAWMAKERS HAVE PROPOSED SOME REPLACEMENT FUNDS BUT MANY WORRY IT MAY NOT BE ENOUGH.

REPORTER KAOMI LEE WENT TO MOWER COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE POSSIBLE IMPACT.

>> IT'S 7:00 A.M. AND THERE'S NOTHING ELSE THAT 27-YEAR-OLD PAT ELIF WOULD RATHER BE DOING.

>> I'M UP IN THE MORNING, THERE'S NO REASON NOT TO BE HERE.

>> ELIF HAS BEEN WORKING AT KID'S CORNER N AUSTIN SINCE 19 THE 7.

IT'S THE WRAPAROUND DAYCARE IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.

EACH WEEKDAY ELIT ASSISTS PRE-K TO FOURTH GRADE STUDENTS.

THEY COLOR, MAKE CRAFTS AND PLAY GAMES.

>> OH, I JUST LOVE THEM.

IT'S SO MUCH FUN AND IT GETS ME MOVING.

>> AT 8:30 SHE'LL GO HOME OR GO EXERCISE.

AT 1:30 SHE'LL BE BACK TO DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN.

SHE SAYS IT'S TOO SOON TO TALK ABOUT RETIRING.

>> I DON'T KNOW, I'M ENJOYING IT RIGHT NOW, EVERYTHING IS GOING OKAY, HEALTH IS GOING DOWN.

THAT WILL BE DETERMINED PROBABLY SOMETIME DOWN THE ROAD.

>> HER BOSS SAYS SHE'S LUCKY TO HAVE ELIT.

CARRIE SAYS SHE CAN'T FIND ENOUGH GOOD STAFF.

>> RIGHT NOW OUR NEW NORMAL, TYPICALLY PRE-COVID HAD 450 STUDENTS IN OUR SCHOOL AGE CHILDCARE PROGRAM.

NOW WE'RE AT 250 AND THAT'S STRICTLY BECAUSE OF STAFFING.

>> 75 KIDS HAVE BEEN ON THE WAITING LIST ALL YEAR.

OLDER WORKERS LIKE ELIT ARE IDEAL.

THEY'LL WORK A SPLIT SHIFT AND THEY MIGHT BE MOTIVATED BY SOMETHING OTHER THAN MONEY.

>> OUR WAGES ARE REALLY IN LINE WITH OTHER CHILDCARE IN OUR REGION.

THEY HAVE A REALLY NICE BENEFIT PACKAGE, BUT THERE'S STILL OTHER PLACES, YOU CAN GO TO KWIK TRIP AND START AT CONSIDERABLY MORE.

>> EXPERTS SAY MEDIAN PAY FOR CHILDCARE WORKERS IN MINNESOTA IS 11.50 AN HOUR.

THE STATE ALSO RESTRICTS THE NUMBER OF KIDS PER WORKER.

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S ONE OF THOSE DOUBLE-EDGED SWORDS.

I NEED MORE STAFF SO I CAN HAVE MORE KIDS SO I CAN HAVE MORE MONEY, YOU KNOW, THAT COMES IN TO SUPPORT MORE KIDS AND MORE STAFF.

>> STATE LICENSED HOME DAYCARE AND CHILDCARE CENTERS MADE IT THROUGH COVID WITH HELP FROM THE GOVERNMENT.

KIDS CORNER RECEIVED $9,000 A MONTH THROUGH THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT BUT LAST MONTH THE GRANT WAS CUT IN HALF.

AT THE END OF JULY T STOPS ALTOGETHER.

WERMAGER SAYS THAT'S MONEY THAT DIRECTLY IMPACTS STAFF AND TRAINING.

>> WE CAN EXIST WITHOUT IT, WE DID BEFORE.

BUT THE WORLD IS DIFFERENT AFTER, AFTER COVID.

THE WORLD'S DIFFERENT.

KIDS' NEEDS ARE DIFFERENT, FAMILY'S NEEDS ARE DIFFERENT.

>> NON-PROFIT FIRST CHILDREN'S FINANCE HAS BEEN SURVEYING CHILDCARE PROVIDERS SINCE 2021.

>> THE CHILDCARE SECTOR IS REALLY IN A WAIT AND SEE.

>> CHILDCARE IN THE STATE WAS ALREADY AT A CRISIS LEVEL BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

A NEW SURVEY OUT THIS SPRING SHOWS ENROLLMENT HAS STABILIZED, BUT A TIGHT WORKFORCE AND SKYROCKETING INFLATION SPELL TROUBLE AHEAD.

>> THERE IS A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY IN THE SECTOR.

WE ASK, WE ASK PROVIDERS HOW LONG THEY EXPECTED TO STAY IN BUSINESS.

20% OF THEM SAID ONE YEAR OR LESS.

AND THEN A FURTHER 50% OF THEM SAID THEY DON'T KNOW.

>> FOR A BUSINESS THAT IS REALLY FOUNDATIONAL TO THE REST OF THE MINNESOTA ECONOMY TO HAVE 70% SAYING I DON'T KNOW OR I'VE GOT LESS THAN A YEAR IS PRETTY SCARE TOY TO THINK ABOUT.

>> PEARL SAYS THE COST OF CHILDCARE HAS MOSTLY BEEN LEFT TO YOUNG PARENTS WHO CAN'T AFFORD PRICE INCREASES AND HOME PROVIDERS AND CENTERS THAT ARE STRUGGLING TO BREAK EVEN.

PEARL SAYS GOVERNMENT SUPPORT NEEDS TO CONTINUE.

>> NOTHING'S A DONE DEAL BUT BOTH THE SENATE AND HOUSE AND THE GOVERNOR HAVE FUNDING FOR RETENTION GRANTS IN THEIR PROPOSALS, BUT THEY'RE AT VARYING LEVELS OF FUNDING.

>> THE PANDEMIC AFFECTED THE CHILDCARE CRISIS IN EACH COMMUNITY LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY.

IN AUSTIN, ONE EMPLOYER DECIDED TO DO SOMETHING.

>> TWO, ONE!

WOO-HOO!

THIS WEEK HORMEL BROKE GROUND ON A $5 MILLION CHILDCARE FACILITY.

IT WILL BE 13,000 SQUARE FEET AND HAVE ROOM FOR 130 CHILDREN, NEARLY HALF OF THE SLOTS WILL BE FOR KIDS TWO AND YOUNGER.

HORMEL SAYS IT JUST MADE SENSE.

>> WE ATTRACT ALENT FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND SO THEY'RE LOOKING AT WHAT SERVICES DO WE OFFER IN AUSTIN AND DO THEY WANT TO MOVE HERE.

WE ALSO SAW IT WAS A BARRIER TO RETAINING TALENT.

WE HAD NEW MOMS THAT WOULD LEAVE THE WORKFORCE BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T FIND CARE.

>> THE CITIZENS WIN, THAT'S WHAT EVERYBODY WANTS, WHETHER IT'S HORMEL FOODS BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO RECRUIT FOLKS TO WORK FOR THEM OR CITIZENS OF AUSTIN THAT ARE GOING TO HAVE, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO WANT TO BUY THEIR HOMES BECAUSE THEY'RE MOVING INTO THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE WE HAVE ALL THREE LAYERS WHETHER IT'S EMPLOYMENT AND SCHOOL SYSTEM AND NOW CHILDCARE.

>> AUSTIN IS GIVING HORMEL A 15-YEAR TAX ABATEMENT ON THE PROPERTY.

PRIORITY WILL GO TOWARDS HORMEL EMPLOYEES.

THE REST OF THE SLOTS WILL BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

- AT KIDS CORNER THESE DAYS ENROLLMENT IS UNPREDICTABLE.

MORE PARENTS ARE WORKING FROM HOME, BUT WITHOUT STATE SUPPORT, WERMAGER SAYS SHE MIGHT HAVE TO RELY ON DONATIONS TO THINGS LIKE CRAYONS AND KLEENEX.

>> WE'RE ALL HOLDING OUR BREATH HOPING SOMETHING IS GOING TO CHANGE.

♪♪ >> THE MINNESOTA HOUSE AND SENATE HAVE PASSED LEGAL MARIJUANA BILLS AND NOW A CONFERENCE COMMITTEE NEEDS TO IRON OUT DETAILS.

RECENTLY THE STAR TRIBUNE TOOK A LOOK AT TWO STATES AND THEIR EXPERIENCES WITH LEGAL CANNABIS.

REPORTER BROOKS JOHNSON FOCUSED ON MICHIGAN.

REPORTER RYAN FAIRCLOTH TOOK A DEEP DIVE INTO THE COLORADO EXPERIENCE.

WELCOME, FELLAS.

RYAN, COLORADO WAS LIKE THE PIONEER IN THIS.

>> YEP, YEP, MARIJUANA IS NEARLY A DECADE OLD THERE.

>> IS IT A MATURE INDUSTRY IS THERE THERE?

HOW'S IT GOIN'?

>> YEAH, I THINK AND BROOKS WILL SPEAK TO THIS TOO IN TERMS OF THE EARLY DAYS AND LATE DAYS AT FIRST ON THE FRONTEND SUPPLY WAS LOW, PRICES WERE HIGH.

THAT'S TOTALLY CHANGED NOW, SUPPLY IS ABUNDANT.

THE MARKET'S PRETTY SATURATED EVEN AND SALES ARE EVEN STARTING TO DIP A LITTLE BIT.

>> Mary: YEAH, BROOKS, I WAS WONDERING TOO IF MICHIGAN IS THE MORE ANALOGOUS EXAMPLE.

IT'S UPPER MIDWEST.

I'VE HEARD A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY WE NEED TO LEARN ABOUT MICHIGAN, COLORADO IS LONG AGO AND DIFFERENT.

>> MICHIGAN LEGALIZED BY VOTER INITIATIVE IN 2018.

THE FIRST SALE WASN'T UNTIL LATE 2019.

IT TAKES ABOUT THAT LONG WE'VE FOUND LOOKING AT OTHER STATES TO SET UP THEIR MARKET SO IF MINNESOTA PASSES HERE IT PROBABLY WILL TAKE AT LEAST THAT LONG.

IT WAS THE FIRST MIDWESTERN STATE AS WELL TO LEGALIZE, ILLINOIS, SHORTLY AFTER.

>> ARE THESE GOVERNMENTS GETTING RICH?

>> WELL, SO COLORADO HAS DONE ABOUT 2 AND A HALF BILLION IN TAW REVENUE.

THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY, IT'S HELPED TO FUND THINGS, I THINK TOP LINE ITEM IT'S HELPED TO FUND IS PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

MINNESOTA, WILL WE HAVE THAT SAME WINDFALL?

WE HAVE A MUCH LOWER TAX ATE IN THE TWO BILLS WE'RE LOOKING AT SO IT MIGHT NOT BE QUITE THE SAME.

>> Eric: MICHIGAN?

>> YEAH, MICHIGAN, 10% EXCISE TAX, AND THAT OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS HAS BROUGHT IN ABOUT $700 MILLION.

I DID A LITTLE MATH, THEY HAVE ABOUT TWICE THE POPULATION AS MINNESOTA AND OUR TAX RATE WOULD BE A LITTLE LOWER SO WE CAN EXPECT IN A FEW YEARS SEVERAL HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS IN TAX REVENUE DEPENDING ON WHICH TAX RATE THE HOUSE AND SENATE ULTIMATELY AGREE ON.

>> Mary: ONE OF THE BIGGEST ARGUMENTS WE'RE SEEING IS LOCAL CONTROL, THIS IS WHAT REPUBLICANS WERE REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT, LOTS OF AMENDMENTS.

EVEN IN THE SENATE THERE WAS AN AMENDMENT ON LIMITING THE QUANTITY, SO TITCH OF LOCAL CONTROL, HOW MUCH DO WE SEE IN THESE TWO STATES, CAN MUNICIPALITIES OPT OUT, LIMIT THE NUMBER?

>> COLORADO ALLOWS OPTOUT.

AND TO THIS DAY THE SECOND LARGEST CITY IN COLORADO, COLORADO SPRINGS DOESN'T ALLOW MARIJUANA SALES.

YOU CAN'T OPT OUT OF ALLOWING PEOPLE TO POSSESS MARIJUANA, THAT'S LEGAL ACROSS THE STATE BUT COMMERCIAL SALES ARE NOT ALLOWED IN COLORADO SPRINGS AND EST YES PARK NEAR ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK BECAUSE THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK IS FEDERAL LAW SO YOU CAN'T POSSESS MARIJUANA IN THAT PARK ANYWAY.

>> Mary: WHAT ABOUT MICHIGAN AND LOCAL CONTROL?

>> MICHIGAN ALSO IS OPT-IN, OPT-OUT STRUCTURE.

WHAT FOLKS HAVE SEEN IN MICHIGAN IS THAT MOST MUNICIPALITIES ND COUNTIES OPTED OUT.

THEY'RE LARGELY RURAL BUT AT THE SAME TIME THOSE THAT HAVE OPTED IN THAT'S MAJORITY OF THE POPULATION OF MICHIGAN.

SO A STUDY FOUND THAT MOST MICHIGANDERS ARE WITHIN 25 MINUTE DRIVE OF RETAIL POT DISPENSARY.

>> AS THERE BEEN ANY HOOTY DOODY WITH LICENSES?

>> NOT SURE ABOUT THAT, ISSUED SO MANY LICENSES OVER A DECADE, I KNOW SOME CITIES HAVE MORE LICENSED THAN OTHER, DENVER COMES TO MIND, THEY HAVE MORE LICENSES THAN ANYBODY IN THE STATE.

I BELIEVE THEY TYPICALLY HOVER AROUND 800 TO A THOUSAND.

THE LICENSES HAVE BEEN GOING DOWN THOUGH BECAUSE MARIJUANA IS NOT AN EASY BUSINESS TO BE IN, IT'S ALL CASH, RIGHT, YOU CAN'T GET LOANS SO PEOPLE ARE FINDING OUT THIS ISN'T EASY AND SOME OF THEM HAVE BEEN GIVING UP THEIR LICENSES AND BIG OUT OF STATE OPERATORS THAT OPERATE IN SEVERAL STATES HAVE BEEN COMING IN AND TAKING UP THOSE LICENSES.

>> Eric: BIG POT COME TO MICHIGAN, OR?

>> OH, CERTAINLY, AND ACTUALLY WHEN I WAS TOURING SOME OF THE DISPENSARIES THEY WERE SETTING UP TABLES JUST INSIDE SOME OF THESE MULTI-STATE OPERATORS AS THEY'RE CALLED SAYING LIKE HERE'S OUR PRODUCT IT'S A LITTLE BIT BETTER PRICE, IT'S A LITTLE BIT KNOWN OR WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE JUST LIKE YOU'RE GOING TO SEE AT A LIQUOR STORE WITH BIG BRANDS COMING IN SELLING THEIR STUFF.

>> Mary: SPEAKING OF LIQUOR, WE HAVE A TEST FOR IMPAIRMENT, ONE OF THE CHIEF CONCERNS WE HEAR IN THE STATE AND IN THESE OTHER STATES, NO TEST.

HOW ARE THEY HANDLING IMPAIRMENT ON THE ROAD?

>> YEP, YEP, SO THEY HAVE JUST TRAINED MORE OF THEIR STAFF TO HAVE THIS ADVANCED DRUG RECOGNITION KNOWLEDGE BASICALLY.

I MEAN, YOU HEAR A LOT AT THE STATE CAPITOL ABOUT FUNDING FOR DRUG RECOGNITION EXPERTS.

IN COLORADO THEY'VE ADDED MORE DRUG RECOGNITION EXPERTS BUT THEY MADE A POINT TO TRAIN EVERYBODY THEY CAN AND HAVE EVERYBODY KEYED INTO LOOKING FOR IT ASK AS A RESULT THEY CAUGHT MORE IMPAIRED DRIVERS.

MARIJUANA DUIS HAVE MORE THAN DOUBLED IN COLORADO BUT AGAIN THEY DON'T HAVE A BASELINE FROM BEFORE TO COMPARE IT TO.

THEY'RE LOOKING AT IT MORE NOW, LOOKING FOR IT MORE NOW THAN THEY USED TO AND THEY'RE FINDING MORE.

>> MICHIGAN IS SIMILAR AND THEY HAVE PILOTED THIS SALIVA TEST, RIGHT, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT WAS AT LEAST IN OUR BILLS FOR POINTS.

LAW ENFORCEMENT EXPERTS SAID THEY DON'T WANT TO RELY ON SOME OF THESE TESTS, THEY REALLY WANT PEOPLE TO BE EXPERTS IN DRUG RECOGNITION, AND SO TRAINING OFFICERS, LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL TO KNOW WHAT IMPAIRMENT LOOKS LIKE IS SO IMPORTANT BECAUSE YOU MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO MEASURE IMPAIRMENT VIA BLOOD TEST.

>> Eric: WE DON'T KNOW THE FINAL BILL OUT OF MINNESOTA BUT ARE YOU CONVINCED THAT THEY'VE TAKEN THE BEST AND THE WORST FROM OTHER STATES, REJECTED THE WORST AND DONE THE BEST POLICY?

TOO EARLY TO NOW?

>> TOO EARLY TO KNOW.

TIME WILL TELL.

WE'LL FIND OUT WHETHER WHAT THEY THINK IS GOOD IS OBJECTIVELY GOOD, WE'LL FIND OUT, YOU KNOW.

>> Mary: WHAT HAS EXPUNGEMENT AND SOME OF THE SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUES DRIVING IT IN MINNESOTA IS?

WERE THAT DRIVERS IN EITHER OF THE STATES YOU LOOKED AT?

>> IN MICHIGAN, I'LL START WITH DETROIT THEY PUT A HIATUS ON ALLOWING FOLKS TO OPEN MARIJUANA BUSINESS UNTIL THEY FIGURED OUT THE SOCIAL EQUITY PART AND THEY WERE SUED A NUMBER OF TIMES, IT TOOK AWHILE, EARLIER THIS YEAR THEY WERE OPENING FIRST MARIJUANA BUSINESSES IN DETROIT TO MAKE SURE THEY GOT THIS RIGHT RIGHT.

EVERY STATE THEY'VE TOLD US THEY'RE HAVING A HARD TIME BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS FOR FOLKS.

>> COLORADO IS PLAYING CATCH-UP.

THEY'VE STILL SAID THAT SOCIAL EQUITY WASN'T EVEN REALLY A DISCUSSION BACK THEN SO THEY'RE DOING IT ON THE BACK END WHICH IS A RECOMMENDATION THEY'VE GIVEN MINNESOTA WHICH DO IT NOW WHICH BOTH OF THESE BILLS DO.

BUT, YEAH, THEY DID IT ON THE BACK END AND NOW THEY ARE PLAYING CATCH-UP AND DENVER, THEY HAVE PUT A MORATORIUM ON LICENSES AND GIVEN EXCLUSIVE ACCESS ONLY TO SOCIAL EQUITY APPLICANTS.

SO NO ONE IN DENVER CAN GET ONE OTHER THAN SOCIAL EQUITY.

>> Eric: LET'S GIVE THE WEBSITE OME CLICKS.

STARTRIBUNE.COM, EASILY FINDABLE ONLINE.

>> YES, THANK YOU.

>> Eric: ALL RIGHT, MAN, GREAT STUFF.

THANKS FOR COMING.

FANTASTIC.

>> THANK YOU.

♪♪ >> Mary: NEXT WEEK THE COVID NATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY COMES TO AN END BUT THE DISEASE PERSISTS, KILLING 1,000 AMERICANS A WEEK.

THE END OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY WILL MEAN THAT SOME COVID TESTS AND SERVICES WILL NO LONGER BE FREE.

HERE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THIS CHANGE MEANS, MICHAEL OSTERHOLM, HE HEADS THE U OF M'S CENTER FOR INFECTIOUS DISEASE RESEARCH AND POLICY.

GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

SO LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT THIS REALLY MEANS FOR AVERAGE PEOPLE, THE END OF THIS EMERGENCY.

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT IN THE MINDS OF MOST AMERICANS AND FOR THAT MATTER PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD, THE EMERGENCY ENDED SOME MONTHS AGO.

AND WE'RE REALLY BACK OUT THERE DOING ALL THE THINGS WE DID BEFORE 2020.

IN TERMS OF WHAT THIS REALLY MEANS IMMEDIATELY IS THERE ARE GOING TO BE 20 TO 30 MILLION AMERICANS WHO WILL LOSE THEIR HEALTH CARE WHO HAVE BEEN ON MEDICAID DURING THIS TIME BECAUSE OF SPECIAL APPROVAL UNDER THE EMERGENCY ACT.

THAT'S GOING TO BE A BIG ISSUE.

AND THERE WILL BE SOME WHO WON'T HAVE ACCESS TO FREE VACCINE -- OR TO FREE TESTING.

THEY SHOULD ALL HAVE ACCESS YET TO FREE VACCINES.

>> Mary: OKAY.

>> Eric: WHAT IF THERE WAS A QUICK REGENERATION OF THE VIRUS OR A STRAIN OF SOME SORT?

HOW QUICK COULD YOU GEAR UP AGAIN NOW THAT THE CRISIS IS OVER?

>> WELL, THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE JUST WAITING FOR ME TO SAY OH, MY GOD, THE SKY IS FALLING, OKAY?

BECAUSE THEY EXPECT ME TO SAY THAT AND I'M NOT GOING TO SAY THAT.

I'M GOING TO SAY RIGHT NOW WE ARE IN THE BEST PLACE WE'VE BEEN SINCE 2020.

HOWEVER, AND THIS IS THE HARD PART, THIS VIRUS HAS CONTINUED TO THROW 210-MILE AN HOUR CURVEBALLS AT US AND JUST IN THE LAST WEEK AND A HALF A GROUP OF VIROLOGISTS GOT TOGETHER WHO DO LOT OF THE GENETICS OF THIS VIRUS AND THEY SAID HERE'S UP TO 30% HANCE WE COULD SEE ANOTHER WAVE WORSE THAN OMICRON.

AND SO I DON'T CONSIDER THIS PANDEMIC OVER UNTIL I GET A YEAR OUT AND LOOK BACK AND SAY, YEP, IT WAS OVER A YEAR AGO AND I THINK THAT'S CHALLENGE.

>> Mary: SO YOU'RE IN-PERSON, WITHOUT A MASK, IS HIS PERMANENT OR TEMPORARY FOR YOU?

>> THIS IS TEMPORARY FOR ME.

SOME OF THE PEOPLE ALREADY KNOW I HAD COVID IN THE FIRST PART OF MARCH AND I PROBABLY HAVE TWO TO THREE MONTHS OF PRETTY GOOD PROTECTION NOW.

BUT I ACTUALLY HAVE THREE COLLEAGUES RIGHT NOW AS I SPEAK WHO ARE NOW EXPERIENCING THEIR SECOND INFECTIONS AND THEY ARE VERY ILL.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE REALIZE THAT PREVIOUS INFECTION DOESN'T PROTECT YOU NECESSARILY AGAINST GETTING INFECTED AGAIN AND IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN VACCINATED WITHIN SIX MONTHS WITH THE BOOSTER DOSE YOU CAN GET INFECTED AGAIN.

THAT'S WHY WE CONTINUE TO URGE PEOPLE IN THE OPENING YOU NOTED 1,000 PEOPLE A WEEK ARE DYING IN THIS COUNTRY FROM COVID YET.

IF YOU LOOK AT THAT, IF YOU HAVE BOTH DOSES OF VACCINE AND YOUR BOOSTER YOU HAVE 13 TIMES LOWER RISK OF DYING THAN SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T HAVE ANY VACCINATION AT ALL.

>> BOOSTERS HAVE FALLEN OFF, HAVEN'T THEY?

PRECIPITOUSLY?

>> NOT EVEN FALLEN OFF, THEY JUST STOPPED.

IN MOST CASES 40% OF THOSE 65 AND OVER HAVE GOTTEN IT.

PLEASE GET IT.

AND NOW THE FDA AUTHORIZED ANOTHER BOOSTER.

IF YOU'RE ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE AT RISK FOR SERIOUS ILLNESS, HOSPITALIZATION OR DEATH AND GET BOOSTED EVERY SIX MONTHS WE CAN PROBABLY KEEP YOU OUT OF THE HOSPITAL.

>> Eric: WHAT IS THE OFFICE OF PANDEMIC PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE AT THE FEDERAL AND WHAT'S ITS MISSION?

>> WELL, THIS IS A NEW OFFICE LITERALLY STOOD UP BY CONGRESS FOR THE WHITE HOUSE AND THE WHITE HOUSE DIDN'T REALLY HAVE MUCH TO SAY ABOUT IT AT THE TIME.

AND NOW THEY'RE TRYING TO STAFF THAT UP AS THE STAFF WHO HAVE BEEN ON BOARD ARE ALL LEAVING AND SO WE HAVE A NUMBER OF OPEN POSITIONS IN THE ADMINISTRATION RIGHT NOW.

AND WITH THIS GROUP IS SUPPOSED TO BE DO COORDINATE ANY OF THE ACTIVITIES IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RIGHT NOW WITH COVID.

>> Eric: ARE YOU SKEPTICAL?

>> I'M SKEPTICAL, FOR EXAMPLE, AND THIS IS A TWO APART SKEPTICISM, THE WHITE HOUSE ANNOUNCED SIX WEEKS AGO THERE WOULD BE A NEW PROGRAM CALLED NEXT GEN, BASICALLY NEXT GENERATION OF VACCINES BUT THEY'RE GOING TO THROW $5 BILLION VER 18 MONTHS.

THAT WOULD BE LIKE GIVING SOMEONE MONEY AND TELL THEM TO BUILD THE IDS TOWER IN TWO WEEKS.

CAN'T BE DONE.

WELL, NOW THAT MAY NOT EVEN BE A REALIZATION BECAUSE CONGRESS IS CLAWING BACK THE 5 BILLION AND WE'RE NOT SURE THE ADMINISTRATION WHICH BASICALLY TOOK THAT FROM OTHER APPROPRIATIONS FOR COVID WITHIN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO PUT INTO THIS MAY NOT EVEN HAVE IT.

>> Eric: JUST TODAY THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION TODAY DECLARED THE GLOBAL CRISIS OVER.

>> AND AGAIN, I AGREE WITH THAT IN THE ENSE OF WHERE WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW.

BUT IF THIS VIRUS HAS TAUGHT US NOTHING IS DON'T BE SURPRISED.

ING YOU KNOW, AND I'VE SAID THAT TO YOU MANY MANY TIMES ON THIS SHOW AND LOOK AT HOW MANY TIMES WE HAVE BEEN SURPRISED.

AND SO I CAN ONLY HOPE KNOWING THAT HOPE'S NOT A STRATEGY, I CAN ONLY HOPE THAT THE VIRUS DOESN'T RETURN LIKE AN OMICRON-LIKE WAVE DOWN THE ROAD BUT AS I POINTED OUT TO THERE'S OTHERS WHO THINK IT COULD.

AND WE'VE ALREADY ESTABLISHED IT'S NOT GOING TO GO AWAY.

WE MAY HAVE A LOT FEWER SEVERE ILLNESSES DOWN THE ROAD BUT RIGHT NOW I MEAN YOU ARE AT RISK WHEN YOU ASK ME ABOUT MY MASK, I'M GOING TO MAKE SURE I HAVE MY N95 ON IF TWO TO THREE MONTHS.

>> Mary: THAT WAS MY NEXT QUESTION, YOU ADVOCATED VACCINES, WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE TO VIEWERS ON MASKING?

>> FIRST OF ALL, USE ADEQUATE MASKING, TO USE PROCEDURES MASKS LIKE MOST OF OUR HOSPITALS ARE USING IT'S LIKE FIXING THREE OF FIVE SCREENS IN YOUR SUBMARINE.

WHAT GOOD IS THAT?

MASKS YOU SEE PEOPLE WEAR IF YOU HAVE SPACE ON THE SIDE OR DOESN'T HAVE ELECTRO STATIC CHARGE, THEY'RE REALLY NOT HELPFUL.

WEAR THE N95, THE TIGHT FITTED RESPIRATOR.

THAT CAN MAKE ALL HE DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD AND THERE'S KN94S.

>> AND WHERE IS IS IT FLYING, CROWDED, INDOORS, PEOPLE AREN'T GOING TO MASK ALL THE TIME ANYMORE.

WHAT ARE THE SELECT PLACES YOU'D LIKE THEM TO MASK?

>> I GOT MINE IN AN ELEVATOR WHEN I DIDN'T HAVE MY N95 ON WHICH I SHOULD HAVE.

WE HAVE AN APPROACH AT OUR HOUSE BASICALLY YOU CAN NOT HAVE HAD ANY EXPOSURE TO ANYBODY IN THE PREVIOUS WEEK KNOWN TO HAVE COVID.

YOU CAN'T HAVE PREVIOUS SYMPTOMS DAY OF, NOT EVEN SNIFFLES AND WE DID THAT FOR MULTIPLE MONTHS AND NEVER HAD A PROBLEM.

I THINK THAT THERE ARE STILL THINGS YOU CAN DO THAT WAY.

>> Eric: HAS THIS XPOSED THE WHOLE PANDEMIC, WHAT HAS IT EXPOSED ABOUT PROBLEMS IN THE AMERICAN HEALTH CARE SYSTEM?

>> WE ARE LITERALLY ON THE EDGE OF BREAKING IN THIS COUNTRY.

PEOPLE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT.

WE DON'T HAVE NEARLY ENOUGH HEALTH CARE WORKERS AND WE BURNT OUT A LOT THAT WE HAD.

WE DON'T HAVE NEARLY ENOUGH CAPACITY.

IF YOU LOOKED AT THE HOSPITALS IN THE UNITED STATES JUST IN THE PAST WEEK ON DIVERSION STATUS MEANING THAT THEY DON'T HAVE ANY BEDS OPEN, YOU HAVE TO GO TO SOMEPLACE ELSE WE DON'T HAVE A CRISIS GOING ON, IT'S BECAUSE REIMBURSEMENT HAS HAS BEEN SUCH WE HAVE BASICALLY ELIMINATED SO MUCH CAPACITY IN OUR SYSTEM.

AND SO THIS IS REALLY WHAT THIS PANDEMIC EXPOSED WAS ONE OF THE REALLY, REALLY MAJOR CONCERNS WE SHOULD HAVE IN THIS COUNTRY AND MORE IMPORTANTLY CAUSED US TO ACCELERATE THAT CONCERN BECAUSE SO MANY PEOPLE LEFT, THEY COULDN'T TAKE IT AND I UNDERSTAND WHY.

>> Eric: WHAT DO YOU DO ALL SUMMER NOW THAT THE CRISIS IS OVER?

PLAY GOLF OR RIDE A HORSE?

>> Eric: >> MAYBE WRITE A BOOK.

>> Mary: OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES.

>> Eric: WHEN YOU WRITE IT, COME BACK, WE'LL PLUG IT FOR YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> Mary: ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF PRINCE'S DEATH THE MINNESOTA HOUSE PASSED A BILL RENAMING A STRETCH OF HIGHWAY IN HIS NAME.

TO EMBRACE THE BIPARTISAN MOMENT THAT SENDS THE BILL TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK TO BE SIGNED.

♪♪ >> SINGING: DEARLY BELOVED, WE ARE GATHERED HERE TODAY TO GET THROUGH THIS THING CALLED LIFE ... >> Mary: THE LIFE OF PRINCE WILL BE PERMANENTLY MEMORIALIZED WITH A HIGHWAY NAMED AFTER HIM IN THE CITY OF CHANHASSEN WHERE HE BUILT HIS EMPIRE AND STUDIO.

>> MEMBERS, OR I SUPPOSE DEARLY BELOVED, WE ARE GATHERED HERE TODAY TO GET THROUGH THIS THING CALLED THE 2023 LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

IT IS WITH BOTH SADNESS AND CELEBRATION THAT WE ARE HERE TODAY TO DEDICATE A STRETCH OF HIGHWAY TO THE ONE AND ONLY PRINCE ROGERS NELSON.

>> THE SIGNS WERE DONATED BY HIS FRIENDS AND FAMILY AT NO COST TO TAXPAYERS.

>> WHAT I'VE KNOWN ABOUT PRINCE, PRINCE NEVER ASKED NOBODY FOR ANYTHING.

I THINK THIS IS ONE OF THE GREATEST GIFTS WE CAN GIVE HIM.

>> HE WAS ABLE TO CREATE THIS WONDERFUL WONDERFUL MUSIC THAT WILL LIVE FOREVER, FOREVER.

FOREVER.

>> SENATORS TOLD THE STORY OF GRAMMY AWARD WINNING SENATE PRESIDENT BOBBY JOE CHAMPION ALLEGEDLY ONCE TURNING PRINCE DOWN.

>> THERE IS A MYTH OUT THERE, Mr. PRESIDENT, DID YOU KNOW THIS MYTH, I THINK, MAYBE YOU MIGHT HAVE HEARD THE STORY AND I WILL NOT TELL ANY MORE BECAUSE I JUST DON'T WANT TO GET IN TROUBLE WITH A CERTAIN SENATOR IN THIS BODY.

>> Mr. PRESIDENT, COULD YOU CONOR DENY THAT YOU COMMITTED THE SIN OF ONCE TURNING PRINCE DOWN?

>> I WILL NOT CONFIRM OR DENY THAT.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> WE NEVER MEAN TO CAUSE YOU ANY SOROW, WE NEVER MEAN TO CAUSE YOU ANY PAIN, WE ONLY WANT TO SEE YOU LAUGHING, LAUGHING AND CELEBRATING WITH THIS PURPLE SIGN.

>> PRINCE WAS AN ICON JUST IN OUR FAMILY.

LIKE WHO HE WAS WAS A EART AND SOUL FOR SO MANY PEOPLE.

AND SO I'M REALLY, REALLY GRATEFUL THAT WE WILL HONOR HIM IN THIS WAY, THAT OUR STATE WILL HONOR HIM IN THIS WAY BECAUSE THE IMPACT THAT HE HAD ON US THROUGH HIS USIC, WHICH WAS REMARKABLE.

HE USED TO DRUM IN THE BASEMENT WITH MY UNCLE.

>> LET'S GO CRAZY AND MAKE THIS BEAUTIFUL PURPLE MEMORIAL TO A MINNESOTA LEGEND A REALITY.

>> THERE BEING 55 AYES AND 5 NOES, THE BILL IS PASSED AND ITS TITLE AGREED TO.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> THE HOUSE UNANIMOUSLY PASSED THE PRINCE HIGHWAY BILL AND WITH THEIR MORE RELAXED RULES, THEY HAD A UNIQUE CELEBRATION.

>> THE BILL IS PASSED AND ITS TITLE AGREED TO.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE.

>> I RISE FOR A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE.

DEARLY BELOVED, WE ARE GATHERED HERE TODAY TO GET SIGNS ON HIGHWAY 5.

MEMORIAL SIGNS IN LAW FOREVER, AND THAT'S A MIGHTY LONG TIME.

BUT I'M HERE TO TELL YOU, THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE.

>> THERE WAS VOCAL BIPARTISAN SUPPORT IN THE HOUSE.

>> PAY TRIBUTE TO A PERSON THAT INVESTED HEAVILY IN OUR CULTURE HERE IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA AND DID A LOT OF REALLY GOOD THINGS FOR THE PEOPLE.

AND AS THE REPRESENTATIVE SAID VERY QUIETLY AND I THINK THIS IS A VERY NICE WAY TO HONOR PRINCE.

>> ASPIRE TO BE MUSICIANS AND ACTIVISTS AND MAKE SURE THAT BLACK AND BROWN CHILDREN HAD EQUITY IN OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM.

HE USED TO PROVIDE, YES, A LOT OF FUNDING AND SECRETLY BECAUSE HE WASN'T ABOUT HIMSELF, HE WAS ABOUT THE MOMENTUM OF MOVEMENT FOR ALL CHILDREN TO BE GREAT IN THIS GREAT STATE.

>> IF YOU JUST LOOK AT THE IMPACT THAT THIS ONE MAN HAD NOT ONLY ON CHANHASSEN AND THE TWIN CITIES AND OUR STATE BUT REALLY NATIONALLY AND GLOBALLY, I HAD THE GOOD FORTUNE OF BEING AT THE SUPER BOWL WHEN IT WAS ABOUT PRINCE, I MEAN, THAT IS GLOBAL IMPACT.

>> SINGING: PURPLE RAIN, PURPLE RAIN ... >> INSTEAD OF ASKING ME HOW MUCH MONEY IT WILL COST, ASK ME HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS.

BECAUSE IN THIS BODY, THINGS CAN GET REAL HARD TO GET INTO STATUTE.

ON THIS VOTE, YOU'RE ON YOUR OWN.

♪♪ >> SINGING: 'CAUSE IN THIS LIFE, THINGS ARE MUCH HARDER IN THE AFTER WORLD.

IN THIS LIFE, YOU'RE ON YOUR OWN.

♪♪ >> HAPPY CINCO DE MAYO.

THIS WAS A BIG WEEK, ONE OF MY HEROES, FAMED CALYPSO SINGER, AND CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST HARRY BELAFONTE LEFT US.

WE ALSO LOST THEATER LEGENDS BARBARA BRUNN AND GORDON LIGHT LIGHTFOOT.

I HAVE TO ADMIT I WAS NEVER MUCH OF A GORDON LIGHTFOOT FAN BACK IN THE 1970S.

I HAD MUCH MORE OF A RADICAL PUNK ROCK AESTHETIC, DESPERATELY LASHING OUT AGAINST THE MAN AND MACHINE JUST BEFORE I TURNED INTO THEM.

SO THE IMPACT WHEN LEARNING OF HIS DEATH CAUGHT ME BY SURPRISE.

BUT THEN I WENT BACK AND LISTENED TO HIS MUSIC AND I REALIZED HOW DEEPLY HIS SONGS ARE WOVEN INTO MY FABRIC.

FIRST, HE'S A CANADIAN SO HE'S KIND OF AN HONORARY MINNESOTAN, AND HIS SONGS THE ONE ABOUT THE WRECK OF THE EDMUND FITZGERALD IT WAS NOTHING SHORT OF AN EPIC EULOGY.

HE HONORED THE LAKE, GITCHE GUMEE, NOT AS A VILLAIN BUT AS A MYTHIC CONDUIT FOR THE STORM THAT IS THE STUFF OF LEGEND.

HE HONORED THE CREW OF 27 AND WITH THAT REMINDED US THAT WE TOO ARE THE STUFF OF LEGENDS.

WE ARE NOT JUST LIVING IN THE MYSTERY, BUT WE ARE PART OF THE MYSTERY, PART OF SOMETHING GREATER THAN OURSELVES.

AND WE LAUGH, CRY, HATE, DESIRE, AS MUCH AS ANY KING OR - QUEEN OR HERO THAT HAS EVER LIVED.

IN HIS MUSIC, IS PARADOX.

"IF YOU COULD READ MY MIND" IS ABOUT A BREAKUP AS TOLD THROUGH ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL LOVE SONGS EVER WRITTEN.

IN THE EARLY MORNING RAIN WE EXPERIENCE THE HARD EDGE OF LONELINESS.

IN "SUNDOWN" HE SAID SOMETIMES I THINK IT'S A SHAME WHEN I GET FEELING BETTER WHEN I'M FEELING NO PAIN.

THAT SOUNDS A LOT LIKE LUTHERAN GUILT.

SOMETIMES, HE SAYS, I THINK IT'S A SIN WHEN I FEEL LIKE I'M WINNING WHEN I'M LOSING GAIN.

OH, MAN, WHAT VIKINGS AN DOESN'T GET THAT?

HIS VOICE EVEN IN HARDSHIP, EVER REASSURING.

A TRUEADOR GUIDING US THROUGH THRESHOLDS.

SO I'LL HARRY, I'LL MISS GORDON, BUT THE EFFECT THEY HAD ON ME WILL LINGER.

TO REMEMBER THAT I AM PART OF THIS MYSTERY AND EVERYTHING WILL BE OKAY IN A WORLD WHERE EVERYTHING IS DEFINITELY NOT OKAY.

[ EDMUND FITZGERALD" ] >> WHEN "ALMANAC" WENT ON THE AIR 38 YEARS AGO BRENDAN HENEHAN WAS IN THE CONTROL ROOM SITTING IN THE PRODUCER'S CHAIR.

TONIGHT BRENDAN IS AGAIN PRODUCING "ALMANAC" AS HE HAS MOST FRIDAYS FOR NEARLY FOUR DECADES.

HENEHAN IS RETIRING NEXT FRIDAY AND WE'RE GOING TO EMBARRASS HIM A BIT THIS WEEK AND NEXT.

THE VIDEO YOU'RE ABOUT TO SEE FEATURES THE THOUGHTS OF SMALL GROUP WHO WORKED DAILY WITH BRENDAN FOR MANY YEARS.

DAVID GILLETTE PUT THE VIDEO TOGETHER.

THE FULL STORY WILL BE ONLINE SOON, BUT WE THOUGHT YOU MIGHT WANT TO SEE A BIT OF IT AS WE CHANGE OUT GUESTS.

TAKE A LOOK.

>> HI, I'M KAOMI LEE AND I'VE WORKED WITH BRENDAN HENEHAN FOR SIX YEARS.

>> I'M MARY LAHAMMER AND I HAVE WORKED WITH BRENDAN HENEHAN FOR 25 YEARS.

>> I'M KARI KENNEDY AND I HAVE WORKED WITH BRENDAN HENEHAN FOR 30 YEARS.

♪♪ >> WHAT FIRST COMES TO MIND WHEN YOU THINK OF BRENDAN?

>> PISTACHIOS.

>> MAYBE MUSTACHE.

>> HIS LAUGH.

>> IT IS HIS LAUGH.

>> IF BRENDAN WASN'T A PRODUCER WHAT WOULD BE HIS JOB?

>> MAYBE A BAKER.

>> ARCHITECTURAL PRESERVATIONIST.

>> HISTORIAN.

>> HISTORIAN.

>> WHAT SNACK FOOD DO YOU MOST ASSOCIATE WITH BRENDAN?

>> AGAIN, PISTACHIOS.

>> SALTED PISTACHIOS.

>> IS IT CARROTS?

I DON'T KNOW EITHER.

PISTACHIOS.

OH, THE NUTS.

>> IS THIS VIDEO MAKING BRENDAN'S SLIGHTLY UNCOMFORTABLE?

>> YES.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> THIS IS MAKING BRENDAN VERY UNCOMFORTABLE.

>> THIS VIDEO IS MAKING BRENDAN VERY UNCOMFORTABLE.

>> HOW CAN YOU TELL WHEN BRENDAN IS UPSET?

>> HE GETS QUIET.

>> SOMETIMES HE GETS QUIET.

HE DOESN'T ANSWER EMAILS.

>> THIS ONE'S EASY.

HE GOES LIKE THIS.

HE'S PROBABLY DOING THAT RIGHT NOW ACTUALLY.

>> HAVE YOU EVER SEEN BRENDAN WITHOUT A MUSTACHE?

>> NO.

>> NO.

>> NO, NOBODY HAS NOT EVEN HIS MOTHER.

>> IT'S KIND OF HIS THING.

>> WHAT'S AN UNEXPECTED ITEM YOU CAN FIND IN BRENDAN'S DESK?

>> OH, THERE'S A LOT OF ITEMS.

USED TO BE A LOT OF BOOKS.

ANTIQUE POSTCARDS AND OLD STAMPS.

>> AS LONG AS I'VE KNOWN BRENDAN, HE'S ALWAYS HAD ONE OF THOSE JAW HARPS YOU PUT IN YOUR MOUTH AND GO... [ LIP NOISES ] HE ALWAYS HAS.

>> WHICH OF BRENDAN'S MANY, MANY, MANY, MANY PROJECTS MOST IMPRESSED YOU?

>> HE DID SOME REPORTING HIMSELF BEFORE ALMANAC ON ISSUES THAT WERE REALLY AHEAD OF THE TIME FOR BACK THEN.

CLIMATE CHANGE, THE AIDS EPIDEMIC, WATCHING THAT WORK NOW IS -- IT'S PRETTY STUNNING HOW PRESCIENT IT WAS AND HOW IMPORTANT.

>> I LOVED WORKING WITH BRENDAN HENEHAN ON THE SERIES OF "MINNESOTA'S DEADLIEST..." FILL IN THE STORMS.

TORNADOES, BLIZZARDS, FIRES, AND FLOODS.

>> HE COMPILED A DATABASE OF AFRICAN AMERICAN NEWSPAPERS THAT WERE PUBLISHED IN MINNESOTA BACK TO LIKE THE BEGINNING OF TIME AND HE DID IT BY STARING AT MICROFILM AND MICROFICHE AT THE HISTORY CENTER.

I DON'T KNOW HOW HE DIDN'T GO BLIND.

>> OH, NO.

CAN YOU IMITATE BRENDAN'S LAUGH?

>> HOW DOES HE LAUGH?

>> ABSOLUTELY NOT.

IT IS UNIQUE AND ONE OF A KIND.

>> SHOULD WE TRY IT?

THIS IS GONNA HURT MY THROAT.

[ CACKLE ] >> NO.

NO, I CAN'T.

>> Eric: IN LESS THAN THREE WEEKS LAWMAKERS MUST END THEIR WORK UNLESS THEY AGREE TO GO INTO OVERTIME.

FEW THINK THAT'S LIKELY.

SOME OBSERVERS THINK THE LEGISLATURE ON COULD WRAP UP THEIR WORK EARLY.

LET'S PUT THAT IDEA TO THE TEST WITH A GROUP OF FOUR POLITICAL OBSERVERS.

ABOU AMARA, D.F.L., FORMER STAFFER, NOW AN ATTORNEY.

JANAE BATES, D.F.L.ER, MINISTER AND ORGANIZER ON SOCIAL JUSTICE AND ECONOMIC ISSUES.

REPUBLICANS JOINING S, BRIAN MCDANIEL, LEGISLATIVE LOBBYIST AND LAWYER AND STANDUP COMIC.

THE REPUBLICAN IS A FORMER CONGRESSIONAL STAFFER, LONG TIME REPUBLICAN PARTY ACTIVIST.

WELL, BRIAN, I HEARD THE SPEAKER WANTS THEM OUT BY MAY 12.

I HEARD SOMEBODY ELSE THANK YOU THEY'RE NOT GOING TO FINISH THE AGENDA BY MAY 22.

WHAT HEAR YOU?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE SAYIN' A LOT OF THINGS.

I WORKED FOR HOUSE SPEAKER STEVE SVIGGUM EVERY YEAR I WORKED FOR HIM HE SAID WE'RE GOING TO BE DONE BY EASTER.

WELL, IT NEVER HAPPENED.

I MEAN I THINK THAT BEING DONE MAYBE A FEW DAYS EARLY COULD HAPPEN.

YOU HEAR THE 18TH A LITTLE BIT.

BUT CONSTITUTIONALLY WE'RE HERE 'TIL, WHAT 22ND OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, LET'S JUST GET OUR WORK DONE, LET'S DO IT RIGHT, NOT RUSH ANYTHING THROUGH, AND THEN NOT TALK FOR A LONG TIME.

>> Eric: I'M GUESSING REPUBLICANS WOULD BE HAPPY TO HAVE THEM GO HOME EARLY.

>> IT WOULD BE FANTASTIC, I'D LOVE IT IF THEY WEREN'T RUSHING THINGS THROUGH BUT THEY CERTAINLY ARE, SOONER THEY CAN GET OUT OF TOWN THE BETTER AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED.

>> Mary: JANAE, YOU'VE BEEN BUSY, IN HALLWAYS, PRESS CONFERENCES, ARE YOU STUNNED BY THE PACE?

>> YEAH, I'M REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THE PACE.

I THINK WHAT WE'RE FINDING IS THEY'RE MOVING AT THE SPEED OF NEED REALLY, RIGHT?

IT'S LIKE TIME TO ACTUALLY REALLY BE ABLE TO GET SOME THINGS DONE AND EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED.

>> AND MIND YOU THESE IDEAS AREN'T BEING PUSHED THROUGH RADICALLY IN THIS YEAR, YOU HAD TEN YEARS OF STUDYING THESE IDEAS AND REPUBLICANS IN THE SENATE BLOCKING THEM AND SO FINALLY WHEN THERE WAS ONTROL OF GOVERNMENT DEMOCRATS COULD FINALLY ENACT ON WHAT THEY KNOW MINNESOTANS HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR.

>> Eric: I'M VERY CURIOUS WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH MAYO AND THE MINNESOTA NURSES ASSOCIATION.

THE MAYO'S TOOK A PAGE OUT OF THE VIKINGS AND TWINS AND SAID IF WE DON'T GET CERTAIN THINGS TAKEN OUT OF THE HUMAN SERVICES BILL WE'RE GOING TO WITHDRAW A BILLION DOLLARS IN DEVELOPMENT IN ROCHESTER AND THE MINNESOTA NURSES WILL BE ON THIS SIDE OF THAT AND BIG FRIENDS AND ALLIES OF THE DEMOCRATS.

WITH WHO'S GONNA WIN THIS STANDOFF?

>> UM.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> UM.

HERE'S WHAT I THINK, I THINK THAT THESE NEGOTIATIONS, YOU'RE DEALING ITH A LOT OF MONEY, YOU'RE DEALING WITH A LOT OF IMPORTANT ISSUES OF WHICH SOME OF WHICH LIKE ABOU SAID HAVE BEEN MANY MANY MANY YEARS IN THE MAKING.

AND THERE IS A LOT OF PENT-UP DESIRE TO PUSH SOME OF THIS STUFF HROUGH.

DO I THINK THAT IN ORDER TO HELP THE NURSES YOU HAVE TO ALSO BE WORKING WITH THEIR EMPLOYERS?

100%, ABSOLUTELY.

DO I THINK THAT MAYO HAS A LOT OF, A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF SWAY IN THESE THINGS?

YES, THEY DO.

BUT I THINK EVERYONE NEEDS TO REALIZE, YOU KNOW, WHAT DO THEY SAY IN HAMILTON?

YOU DON'T HAVE THE VOTES?

YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT WHO HAS THE VOTES AND IF YOU'RE THE ONES WHO DON'T HAVE THEM YOU NEED TO WORK WITH THE OTHER SIDE.

>> Eric: ABOU, WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

>> LOOK IT, TAKES TWO TO TANGO, WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IN PUBLIC, THERE WILL BE PRIVATE NEGOTIATIONS, YOU USED THE EXAMPLE THE VIKINGS, I THINK THAT'S A GOOD ONE, ULTIMATELY POSITIONS TAKEN, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY YOU GET TO THE TABLE AND GET THINGS DONE.

LET'S NOT FORGET WHY MAYO CAN THRIVE A BIG PART OF THAT IS THAT THE LEGISLATURE HAS INVESTED WITH DESTINATION MEDICAL CENTER, WE DID THAT TEN YEARS AGO.

>> Mary: TAPING SOMETHING TO CCO TODAY, WHAT MAYO WANTS, MAYO GETS, SOME OF US GO BACK AS FAR AS DESTINATION MEDICAL CENTER, THE THREAT WAS SIMILAR, IF YOU DON'T INVEST IN US YOU WON'T GET SOMETHING BACK.

>> I THINK A CORPORATION REALLY TRIED TO LEVERAGE BIG CORPORATE DOLLARS TO HAVE VETO POWER AT THE LEGISLATURE, WHICH ISN'T RIGHT, SO THEY SHOULD BE ACTUALLY WORKING WITH THE NURSES FOR THIS NURSING BEDSIDE BILL THAT THEY WANT, THEY SHOULD BE WORKING WITH THE LEGISLATURE TO MAKE SURE THAT MEDICATION IS AFFORDABLE FOR MINNESOTANS WHICH IS A THING -- >> Mary: IS THIS A UNION CLASH, BIG BUSINESS CLASH?

>> THE MAYO CLINIC IS THE CROWN JEWEL OF MINNESOTA AND LEGISLATORS SHOULD BE LISTENING.

THE FACT IT IS SO UPSET ABOUT A LAW THAT'S SO DETRIMENTAL TO ITS OPERATIONS I WOULD BE LISTENING CAREFULLY.

MAYO CLINIC IS A BIG CORPORATION, IT CAN TAKE INVESTMENTS ELSEWHERE AND DO JUST FINE.

THIS IS PART OF A PATTERN OF THE D.F.L.

AGENDA THAT HAS BEEN WAGING WAR ON BUSINESS.

MY CONCERN IS BUSINESSES THAT DON'T HAVE THIS VETO POWER OR INFLUENCES IN THE LEGISLATURE.

WE SHOULDN'T BE JUST LISTENING TO BIG BUSINESSES, ALTHOUGH WE SHOULD, BUT SMALL BUSINESSES AS WELL.

>> Mary: THE STATE ECONOMIST SAID BUSINESSES OULD E LEAVING MINNESOTA, HE WAS WORRIED ABOUT THE GLOBAL TAXING AND WE NEED PEOPLE TO COME HERE, VERY LOW UNEMPLOYMENT, WE ARE DESPERATE FOR WORKERS.

WHAT IS THIS PUSH AND PULL OF ATTRACTING PEOPLE AND SCARING PEOPLE AWAY, WHAT ARE WE DOING?

>> THE THING ABOUT THIS BILL IS A GREAT REFORM FOR TAX FAIRNESS AND IT'S GOING TO AFFECT SMALL BUSINESSES IN MINNESOTA OR BUSINESSES BASED IN MINNESOTA OR EVEN NATIONALLY, IT IS LITERALLY FOR MULTINATIONAL CORPORATIONS HIDING THEIR PROFITS IN OTHER COUNTRIES SAYING YOU HAVE TO REPORT THAT.

THAT IS A FAIR AND JUST THING TO DO.

>> IT'S NOT REAL.

I MEAN, YOU CAN'T -- THERE'S NO MECHANISM REALLY FOR THEM TO DO THIS.

I SUSPECT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SEEMED LIKE A GOOD IDEA, PROBABLY NOT GOING TO MAKE IT THROUGH CONFERENCE COMMITTEE.

BUT I MEAN IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS, LOOK AT THE NUMBERS.

WE'RE NOT GAINING A BUNCH OF POPULATION, I MEAN, THIS IS HAPPENING IN THE SOUTH ALL THE STATES THAT EVERYBODY SAYS THEY HATE, THAT'S WHERE PEOPLE ARE FLOCKING TO.

IF YOU LOOK AT HENNEPIN COUNTY PEOPLE ARE LEAVING, YOU LOOK AT WRIGHT COUNTY, PEOPLE ARE GOING.

SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE A MESSAGE NOT ONLY TO THE LOCAL POLITICIANS, STATE POLITICIANS, THE NATIONAL ONES THAT THESE -- IT'S NOT ONE BILL, IT'S NOT JUST THIS BILL IT'S A CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF ALL THE THINGS THAT MAKE MINNESOTA A PLACE YOU DON'T WANT TO START A BUSINESS, KEEP A BUSINESS, AND YOU DON'T WANT TO RETIRE.

>> Eric: CAN WE CHANGE SUBJECT, I'M ANXIOUS -- >> NO!

[ LAUGHTER ] >> Eric: YOU OLITICAL SAVANTS, I WANT YOUR OPINION ON THIS.

THE VOTING CHANGES.

SIGNED TODAY BY THE GOVERNOR.

AUTOMATIC REGISTRATION.

16 AND 17-YEAR-OLDS CAN PREREGISTER, EASIER ABSENTEE AND MAIL-IN, NO HARASSMENT AT THE POLLING PLACE.

STUDY FOR RANKED CHOICE VOTING.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE DATA ON THIS, BOU, BUT DEMOCRATS MUST THINK IT'S GOOD FOR THEM.

>> NO, DEMOCRATS THINK IT'S GOOD FOR DEMOCRACY.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> THIS IS THE ARGUMENT HERE.

REPUBLICANS UNDERSTAND THAT THE MORE PEOPLE VOTE, THEY'RE FEARFUL OF THEIR IDEAS BEING IN A COMPETITION.

WE BELIEVE THAT IF EVERYBODY'S ENGAGED IN THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS REGARDLESS OF THE RESULT IT IS GOOD FOR MINNESOTA, GOOD FOR AMERICA AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE PUSHING.

>> FIRST OF ALL, WE HAD A TRADITION THAT THE ELECTION REFORM BILLS WOULD HAVE BIPARTISAN SUPPORT, GOVERNOR PROMISED THAT, HE BLEW THAT THROUGH, THIS WHOLE NOTION, HAS ANYBODY TALKED TO ANYBODY THAT HAD A HARD TIME VOTING IN 2022?

>> YES, YES.

>> YES.

>> I DON'T KNOW ANYBODY BUT IT'S THIS RAM RODDING AGAIN WE SHOULD HAVE BIPARTISAN CONSENSUS ON HOW WE LEGISLATE OUR ELECTIONS, THAT HAS BEEN A TIME TESTED TRADITION IN THIS STATE AND YOUR PARTY BLEW THROUGH IT.

>> WELL, I WOULD JUST SAY THAT THAT'S JUST WRONG, REPUBLICANS, YOU CAN DO BIPARTISAN WORK WHEN YOU HAVE A PARTY THAT ACCEPTS ELECTION RESULTS.

AND WHEN YOU HAVE A REPUBLICAN PARTY THAT WILL NOT ACCEPT THAT PEOPLE LOST ELECTIONS THAT DONALD TRUMP LOST THE ELECTION, HOW DO YOU HAVE BIPARTISANSHIP?

>> I AGREE, WE SHOULD BE BELIEVING -- DONALD TRUMP EMBARRASSED HIMSELF AND MANY OF US WITH HOW HE HANDLED THIS.

I THINK THEY PROBABLY LEARNED HOW TO DO THIS, YOU KNOW, FROM GOVERNOR STACEY ABRAMS F GEORGIA WHO, YOU KNOW, WHEN SHE RAN THE FIRST TIME DIDN'T FOLLOW THAT.

BUT I THINK WHAT'S IMPORTANT HERE I DON'T THINK, THIS IS MINNESOTA, IT'S NOT HARD TO VOTE HERE, PEOPLE DO VOTE HERE, BUT WHAT IS IMPORTANT MAKING REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRAT VOTERS BELIEVE IN THE SYSTEM.

AND THAT HAPPENS WITH BIPARTISANSHIP, MAKING, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S RIGHT OR WRONG, BELIEVING THAT ONE SIDE IS GAMING IT IS WHAT'S HURTING THE SYSTEM.

>> SECRETARY SIMON SPOKE TODAY AT THE BILL SIGNING AND MADE IT VERY CLEAR, MOST OF THE PROVISIONS THAT ARE IN THIS BILL ARE DONE IN RED STATES, BLUE STATES, EVERYBODY, IN PURPLE STATES.

MANY STATES ARE DOING THIS.

IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT IT BECAME A PARTISAN ISSUE WHEN DEMOCRACY IS REALLY ABOUT EVERYBODY HAVING A VOICE.

>> Mary: OKAY, REPUBLICANS, THE ONLY THING REPUBLICANS ARE NEEDED FOR IN THE LEGISLATURE RIGHT NOW IS BONDING.

DOES A BONDING BILL MATTER?

IS IT GONNA HAPPEN?

WE HAD SENATE REPUBLICANS LEAN IN AND MAKE AN OFFER, IT'S THE ONLY OFFER, BIG GLOBAL OFFER THAT'S BEEN MADE SO FAR HIS SESSION, LINKING AS WE KNOW TAXES AND BONDING, ALWAYS LINKED.

ARE REPUBLICANS GOING TO COME ALONG IN THE SENATE?

IT'S ALREADY PASSED THE HOUSE.

>> PASSED THE HOUSE, GOT, WHAT 90, 91 VOTES, CHAIRMAN LEE AND LEAD DEAN URDAHL DID A FANTASTIC JOB THERE.

DO I THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE A BONDING BILL COMING OUT OF THE SENATE?

ABSOLUTELY.

DO I THINK THERE'S GREAT MOVEMENT?

I THINK THAT THERE REALLY IS.

I THINK IT'S RECENT MOVEMENT BUT IT IS HAPPENING.

DOES THE BONDING BILL MATTER?

YES, DOES IT MATTER AS MUCH AS PEOPLE WANT IT TO SOME OF THE REPUBLICAN ELECTED OFFICIALS?

NO.

BUT THEY'RE GONNA WORK TOGETHER BECAUSE IT DOES MATTER, PROVIDES JOBS, PROVIDES IMPORTANT INFRASTRUCTURE AND WE WANT TO SEE ONE PASSED.

>> EVERYBODY LOVES JOBS, RIGHT?

>> EVERYBODY LOVES JOBS AND EVERYBODY LOVES CUTTING RIBBON CEREMONIES IN THEIR COMMUNITIES, THEY LOVE THOSE THINGS, LOT OF INFRASTRUCTURE IN MINNESOTA PARTICULARLY IN GREATER MINNESOTA AND I THINK THIS S HERE DEMOCRATS CAN SHOW WE HAVE A STATEWIDE AGENDA, WE ARE NOT JUST INVESTING IN THE 7-COUNTY METRO, IN 87 COUNTIES ALL ACROSS THE STATE.

>> I AGREE EVERYONE LOVES JOBS, AND THE AY YOU DO THAT IS NOT BY CUTTING RIBBONS, YOU CUT TAXES AND CUTTING RED TAPE.

THERE WAS A MANUFACTURING PLANT THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO OPEN IN THE IRON RANGE AND WEREN'T ABLE TO OPEN BECAUSE RED TAPE WAS TOO MUCH.

150 GOOD PAYING JOBS.

MINNESOTA IS SO HIGHLY TAXED AND PEOPLE ARE CHOOSING TO OPEN BUSINESSES ELSEWHERE.

BONDING BILLS ARE A GREAT WAY TO GET JOBS, I AGREE, BUT ULTIMATELY THE BEST WAY TO DO THAT IS TO HAVE AN ENVIRONMENT ABOUT WHERE PEOPLE WANT TO HAVE THEIR BUSINESS AND RIGHT NOW MINNESOTA IS SO OUT OF THE LEAGUE HEY'RE FLEEING.

>> Eric: GO AHEAD.

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY I THINK IN GENERAL, COMING BACK TO THIS POINT ABOUT WHAT'S GOING TO MAKE IT GREAT FOR MINNESOTANS AND IT IS ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH THEY'RE LIVING IN WHICH MEANS THAT WE'RE TAXING FAIRLY, MAKING SURE THAT CORPORATIONS ARE PAYING WHAT THEY OWE, NOT ASKING THEM TO GO ABOVE AND BEYOND THAT AND THAT MAKES IT POSSIBLE FOR US TO HAVE ALL OF THE THINGS THAT WORKERS NEED TO CONTINUE TO ACTUALLY BE THE ONES THAT ARE CREATING ECONOMY WE NEED.

>> Eric: SPORTS BETTING ON THE RISE HERE, OR?

THEY DIDN'T VOTE ON IT THIS WEEK, THEY COULD HAVE VOTED IN COMMITTEE, BUT DIDN'T.

>> NOPE, NOPE, NO.

MY FIRM HAS SOME -- THERE.

I'M GETTING NERVOUS, WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS HAPPENING, IT'S GOING TO OTHER STATES OR BEING DONE ILLEGALLY.

THIS IS SOMETHING WHERE EVERYONE SHOULD GET TO THE TABLE, MAKE IT HAPPEN BECAUSE MINNESOTANS WANT THIS.

>> Eric: SOCIAL JUSTICE PEOPLE SEE SPORTS BETTING AS A TAX ON THE POOR OR SOMETHING THEY SHOULD DO?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK REALLY WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS JUST TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF THE BILLS THAT ARE RUNNING THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE RIGHT NOW ACTUALLY HAVE A RACIAL EQUITY LENS AND ARE ACTUALLY LEANING INTO HOW ARE WE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL COMMUNITIES ARE GOING TO GET WHAT THEY NEED.

>> Eric: IS MARIJUANA GOING TO MAKE IT?

>> YES.

FIRST OFF EVEN IF IT DOESN'T HAVE -- I AM SHOCKED IT'S HAPPENED AT THIS SPEED IT IS GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT YEAR SO I'M NOT CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.

THERE ARE A COUPLE ISSUES ON MARGINS YOU GOT TO WORK THROUGH BUT FUNDAMENTALLY THINK IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

>> Eric: PAID LEAVE?

>> YES, YES, YOU WERE UP, ALL WAY THROUGH?

>> ABSOLUTELY THINK IT'S GOING TO MAKE IT AND IT IS OVERDUE.

>> Mary: REPUBLICANS, ARE WE SURPRISED THAT BOTH PAID LEAVE AND MARIJUANA LOOK LIKE IT COULD HAPPEN THIS SESSION?

>> I THINK AGAIN WE ALL SUPPORT THE IDEA OF PAID FAMILY LEAVE, THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT IT, DOING IT N THIS ONEROUS WAY THAT PENALIZES WORKERS, PENALIZES BUSINESSES THAT MAKES MINNESOTA EVEN ORE COMPETITIVE.

WE EED TO DO THESE THINGS IN A WAY THAT TAKES INTO ACCOUNT THE PRIVATE ECONOMY.

>> AND MARIJUANA, BIPARTISAN IN INTEREST IT IN TOO.

>> BIPARTISAN INTEREST, THERE ARE THINGS THAT AREN'T WORKED OUT THAT NEED TO BE.

I THINK I EXPECTED A LITTLE BIT MORE REPUBLICAN SUPPORT BUT I THINK THAT THEY'RE STILL WORKING ON IT, THEY GOT TO REMEMBER LOCAL GOVERNMENTS MATTER BUT I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS GONNA HAPPEN THIS YEAR.

>> CALL ME OLD FASHIONED BUT I THINK EXPANDING GAMBLING AND MARIJUANA USE IN THIS STATE IS A REAL DANGEROUS IDEA.

THESE ARE HIGHLY PROBLEMATIC AREAS FOR A LOT F PEOPLE AND TAXING AND IT AND DOING IT ON THE ACKS OF PEOPLE, A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE REAL PRIMS.

>> Eric: I LIKE THE -- SHOT, GOOD -- OUT OF HAND AND I SAY THAT WITH ABOUT 51% CERTAINTY.

TWO FILLS.

>> HORSE IN THE ROUND.

>> Eric: THANKS.

>> GIDDYUP.

♪♪ >> Eric: GET READY, WE HAVE ANOTHER HISTORY QUESTION FOR YOU.

LET'S KEEP THE THEME GOING ON THIS WORLD RECORD BUSINESS.

REMEMBER THIS TIMEFRAME.

EARLY MARCH, 1991, A RESIDENT OF GOLDEN VALLEY, REALLY NOT SEEN HERE, SET A WORLD RECORD BY DOING SOMETHING NEARLY 7,000 TIMES.

THIS PERSON SMASHED THE OLD WORLD RECORD BY MORE THAN 800.

ARMED WITH THESE NUMBERS, WE WANT YOU TO TELL US WHAT THE RECORD WAS.

WHAT WORLD RECORD WAS SET BY A GOLDEN VALLEY RESIDENT IN MARCH OF 1991?

AND WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU WHETHER YOU'RE DIALING IN FROM MANY ARM LAKE, LITTLE ARM LAKE, OR NORTH ARM LAKE.

651-229-1430.

THAT'S THE VOICE MAIL.

AND DO YOUR EXTENSIVE RESEARCH AND GIVE US A JINGLE BUT E-MAIL IS ANOTHER OPTION.

ALMANAC @TPT.ORG.

TWO MORE REMINDERS, TUNING IN ABILITY FOR LEGISLATIVE COVERAGE, OFTEN SPILLING INTO EVENINGS THESE DAYS ON YOUR LOCAL PBS STATION AND YOU CAN CATCH MARY ON THAT SAME STATION NEXT WEDNESDAY NIGHT FOR ANOTHER EDITION OF "ALMANAC AT THE CAPITOL."

IT'S IME TO FILL OUT YOUR ALMANAC VIEWER SURVEY.

NEARLY A THOUSAND OF YOU HAVE ALREADY DONE IT.

WE ARE KINDA GREEDY AND WANT TO HEAR FROM MORE OF YOU.

IT'S OUR CHANCE TO HEAR WHAT YOU LIKE ABOUT THE SHOW AND THINGS YOU THINK WE COULD DO BETTER.

SHOW CLOSING MUSIC THIS WEEK, 2008, SAM MILTICH AND THE CLEARWATER HOT CLUB.

STOP BY ALMANAC TO PLAY FOR US.

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

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK AND BE CAREFUL.

♪♪ [ UPBEAT INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC ] ♪♪ >> "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.

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

♪♪ >> HI, I'M KAOMI LEE AND I'VE WORKED WITH BRENDAN HENEHAN FOR SIX YEARS.

>> MY NAME IS DAVID GILLETTE AND I'VE WORKED WITH BRENDAN HENEHAN FOR 17 YEARS.

>> I'M MARY LAHAMMER AND I HAVE WORKED WITH BRENDAN HENEHAN FOR 25 YEARS.

>> I'M KARI KENNEDY AND I HAVE WORKED WITH BRENDAN HENEHAN FOR 30 YEARS.

>> WHAT FIRST COMES TO MIND WHEN YOU THINK OF BRENDAN?

>> PISTACHIOS.

>> MAYBE MUSTACHE.

>> HIS LAUGH.

>> IT IS HIS LAUGH.

>> IF BRENDAN WASN'T A PRODUCER WHAT WOULD BE HIS JOB?

>> MAYBE A BAKER.

>> ARCHITECTURAL PRESERVATIONIST.

>> HISTORIAN.

>> HISTORIAN.

>> WHAT SNACK FOOD DO YOU MOST ASSOCIATE WITH BRENDAN?

>> AGAIN, PISTACHIOS.

>> SALTED PISTACHIOS.

>> IS IT CARROTS?

I DON'T KNOW EITHER.

>> PISTACHIOS.

>> OH, THE NUTS.

>> IS THIS VIDEO MAKING BRENDAN'S SLIGHTLY UNCOMFORTABLE?

>> YES.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> THIS IS MAKING BRENDAN VERY UNCOMFORTABLE.

>> THIS VIDEO IS MAKING BRENDAN VERY UNCOMFORTABLE.

>> HOW CAN YOU TELL WHEN BRENDAN IS UPSET?

>> HE GETS QUIET.

>> SOMETIMES HE GETS QUIET.

HE DOESN'T ANSWER EMAILS.

>> THIS ONE'S EASY.

HE GOES LIKE THIS.

[ PIANO MUSIC ] HE'S PROBABLY DOING THAT RIGHT NOW ACTUALLY.

>> HAVE YOU EVER SEEN BRENDAN WITHOUT A MUSTACHE?

>> NO.

>> NO.

>> NO, NOBODY HAS, NOT EVEN HIS MOTHER.

>> IT'S KIND OF HIS THING.

>> WHAT'S AN UNEXPECTED ITEM YOU CAN FIND IN BRENDAN'S DESK?

>> OH, THERE'S A LOT OF ITEMS.

>> USED TO BE A LOT OF BOOKS.

>> ANTIQUE POSTCARDS AND OLD STAMPS.

>> AS LONG AS I'VE KNOWN BRENDAN, HE'S ALWAYS HAD ONE OF THOSE JAW HARPS YOU PUT IN YOUR MOUTH AND GO... [ LIP NOISES ] HE ALWAYS HAS.

>> WHICH OF BRENDAN'S MANY, MANY, MANY, MANY PROJECTS MOST IMPRESSED YOU?

>> HE DID SOME REPORTING HIMSELF BEFORE ALMANAC ON ISSUES THAT WERE REALLY AHEAD OF THE TIME FOR BACK THEN.

CLIMATE CHANGE, THE AIDS EPIDEMIC, WATCHING THAT WORK NOW IS -- IT'S PRETTY STUNNING HOW PRESCIENT IT WAS AND HOW IMPORTANT.

>> I LOVED WORKING WITH BRENDAN HENEHAN ON THE SERIES OF "MINNESOTA'S DEADLIEST..." FILL IN THE STORMS.

TORNADOES, BLIZZARDS, FIRES, AND FLOODS.

>> HE COMPILED A DATABASE OF AFRICAN AMERICAN NEWSPAPERS THAT WERE PUBLISHED IN MINNESOTA BACK TO LIKE THE BEGINNING OF TIME, AND HE DID IT BY STARING AT MICROFILM AND MICROFICHE AT THE HISTORY CENTER.

I DON'T KNOW HOW HE DIDN'T GO BLIND.

>> OH, NO.

LAUGH.

CAN YOU IMITATE BRENDAN'S LAUGH.

>> HOW DOES HE LAUGH?

>> ABSOLUTELY NOT.

IT IS UNIQUE AND ONE OF A KIND.

>> SHOULD WE TRY IT?

THIS IS GONNA HURT MY THROAT.

[ CACKLE ] >> NO.

NO, I CAN'T.

>> WHAT IS SOMETHING BRENDAN DOES REALLY WELL?

>> HE CREATES A TEAM.

>> HE IS LIKE A WALKING ARCHIVE ABOUT TPT.

I CAN JUST ASK HIM.

DID WE EVER HAVE THIS PERSON ON AND HE CAN YOU KNOW, JUST TICK BACK IN HIS MEMORY AND TELL YOU WHAT SEASON AND WHAT YEAR AND AND FIND IT FOR ME.

>> THE FACT THAT HE'S KEPT A SHOW ON THE AIR LIKE ALMANAC FOR 40 YEARS AND KEPT IT AT A CONSISTENT QUALITY LEVEL THE WHOLE TIME IS ALMOST A HERCULEAN ACT IN MY MIND.

SO HE -- SUSTAINABILITY IS SOMETHING HE DOES VERY, VERY WELL.

>> HISTORY, HISTORICAL CONTEXT.

ALMANAC IS BRENDAN AND ALMANAC STRENGTH IS HISTORY AND CONTEXT AND BRENDAN'S BRAIN IS FULL OF HISTORY AND CONTEXT.

>> WHAT WILL YOU MISS MOST ABOUT BRENDAN?

>> I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO START THAT QUESTION ANSWER.

>> I WILL MISS THE WAY THAT HE ENCOURAGED YOU TO TRY TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS A BETTER AND NEW ROUTE FOR YOU TO TAKE AND HOW WE'D KIND OF PUSH YOU SUPPORTIVELY INTO TAKING THAT NEXT STEP.

>> HIS SENSE OF FUN.

>> THE THING I MISS MOST ABOUT BRENDAN, I WOULD HAVE TO SAY HE'S BEEN THE BEST BOSS I'VE EVER HAD.

BRENDAN COULD MAKE MEETINGS FUN.

>> HE CARES ABOUT THE PEOPLE HE WORKS WITH.

>> BRENDAN MADE LIVE TELEVISION FUN.

BRENDAN DEFINITELY HAD A SENSE OF ADVENTURE AND LIVE TELEVISION IS KIND OF CONTROLLED CHAOS SO IT HAS BEEN REALLY WONDERFUL TO GO THROUGH DECADES OF WORK IN LIVE TV WITH SOMEBODY WHO IS FUN AND GETS A KICK OUT OF DOING LIVE TELEVISION.

>> I WILL MISS HAVING HIM BE A - PART OF MY LIFE NEARLY EVERY DAY.

>> SAY SOMETHING NICE ABOUT BRENDAN AND THEN SAY GOODBYE.

>> BRENDAN'S A NICE GUY.

GOODBYE.

>> BRENDAN, WE ARE GOING TO MISS YOU.

I WISH YOU PEACE AND PURPOSE IN YOUR NEXT CHAPTER.

WE'RE ALL GRATEFUL TO YOU.

YOU'VE DONE SO MUCH FOR EVERY ONE OF US, AND THIS IS A BITTERSWEET DAY.

SO, THANK YOU AND THANK YOU, AND GOODBYE.

NOT GOODBYE.

SEE YOU SOON.

THANK YOU AND SEE YOU SOON.

>> IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE ALMANAC WITHOUT BRENDAN.

I THINK BRENDAN IS ALMANAC.

HE CREATED ALMANAC, HE FORMED ALMANAC, HE SHAPED ALMANAC.

THIS FABULOUS MIX OF QUIRKY HISTORY AND POLITICS AND CULTURE AND WEATHER AND MUSIC ALL THESE INCREDIBLY ECLECTIC THINGS THAT ARE SUPER MINNESOTAN, ARE ALL BRENDAN.

SO, THE SHOW AND ALL OF US WHO WORK WITH HIM WILL DEFINITELY MISS HIS REALLY UNIQUE, QUIRKY, BRILLIANT SENSIBILITIES.

>> BRENDAN HAS BEEN MY PRODUCING PARTNER IN CRIME, MY MENTOR, AND ONE OF MY BEST FRIENDS FOR THE MAJORITY OF MY ADULT LIFE.

I WILL MISS YOU TREMENDOUSLY HERE AT WORK, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO SAY GOODBYE BECAUSE YOU'RE STILL GOING TO BE A PART OF MY LIFE.

I THINK THAT'S IT.

♪♪