DELEGATION, DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS, TO JOIN US EACH WEEK ON THE SHOW.

WE HOPE TO HEAR FROM BOTH PARTIES IN THE NEAR FUTURE >> Cathy: IN EMPTY PRIVATE PRISON IN WESTERN MINNESOTA A SUBJECT OF A LOT OF SPECULATION THESE DAYS.

THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY IS IT LOOKING FOR MORE DETENTION SPACE.

BUT RESIDENTS IN APPLETON ARE SPLIT ON WHETHER THEY WANT AN I.C.E.

FACILITY THERE.

REPORTER KAOMI LEE WENT TO SWIFT IS COUNTY TO FIND OUT MORE.

>> SO THIS IS OUR MEMORIAL FOR OUR STREETS OF HONOR.

>> Kaomi: A MEMORIAL THAT HONORS APPLETON'S FALLEN HEROES.

FALLEN HERE IT HONORS SERVICE.

PEOPLE WHO DIED SERVING THEIR COUNTRY GOT A STREET NAMED AFTER THEM.

>> MY BROTHER WAS THE LAST ONE WHO GOT A STREET NAMED AFTER HIM, JESSE DIED IT IN BAGHDAD IN 2005.

IT LISTS THAT HE WAS IN THE NATIONAL GUARD.

HE WAS A 1999 GRADUATE FROM OUR LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL HERE.

>> Kaomi: APPLETON IS A SMALL FARMING COMMUNITY IN WESTERN MINNESOTA.

POPULATION 1392.

COMMUNITY TIES RUN DEEP.

BUT THE TOWN HAS STILL NOT RECOVERED AFTER ITS PRISON CLOSED IN 2010.

VANESSA LOCKA MEYER USED TO WORK THERE.

>> WE DIDN'T THINK THE PRISON WOULD SIT EFFORT FOR VERY -- EMPTY FOR VERY LONG.

AND WE DIDN'T THINK CERTAINLY IT WOULD BE 15 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD.

>> Kaomi: THE PRAIRIE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY S OWNED BY CORE CIVIC.

IT HAS A CAPACITY OF 1600 BEDS.

EVEN CLOSED, THE PRISON MAKES UP 1/3 OF THE CITY'S ANNUAL TAX BASE.

LATELY THERE'S BEEN SOME TALK OF THE PRIVATE PRISON RE-OPENING.

>> OUR MEDIAN INCOME IN TOWN IS $35,000 A HOUSEHOLD.

WE COULD DEFINITELY USE A BOOST HERE.

>> THERE WAS MORE PEOPLE IN THE PRISON THAN WE HAD IN TOWN.

>> Kaomi: BUSINESS OWNER SHAWN SWENSON REMEMBERS WHEN THE PRISON CLOSED.

>> IT AFFECTED EVERYTHING.

IT WAS THE HARDWARE STORE, THE GROCERY STORE.

EVEN THE HOSPITAL HURT.

>> Kaomi: SWENSON IS BETTING ON APPLETON'S COMEBACK.

HE TOOK ON BUSINESSES IN TOWN AFTER THEY CLOSED.

HIS NEW BAR IS DOING A LITTLE BETTER THAN BREAKING EVEN.

HE AND HIS WIFE ARE ALSO FIXING UP VACANT OR ABANDONED HOMES.

THE TOWN HAS ABOUT 20 OF THEM THAT NEED TO BE DEMOLISHED, EMPTY AFTER THE PRISON CLOSED.

HE'S ALL FOR PRISON OPERATING IN APPLE THAN TO AGAIN.

APPLETON AGAIN.

>> I WOULD BE CONCERNED WITH, DO WE NEED PROTESTERS HERE?

BECAUSE WE HAVE THE FACILITY, ON THE OTHER HAND, IF WE DID HAVE PROTESTERS, WE'D HAVE PEOPLE.

AND WHAT GOES WITH PEOPLE, MONEY.

ANY WAY WE GO WITH THIS IT CAN'T HURT US.

>> THE PRISON'S OWNER, CORE CIVIC HAS STAYED MUM.

IT SAID IN A STATEMENT, IT CONTINUES TO MARKET OUR PRAIRIE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY AND EXPLORE OPPORTUNITIES WITH OUR GOVERNMENT PARTNERS FOR WHICH THIS SITE COULD BE A VIABLE SOLUTION.

WE HAVE CONTINUED TO TAKE STEPS TO ENSURE THE FACILITY IS PROPERLY MAINTAINED.

THERE ARE NO OTHER UPDATES OR ANNOUNCEMENTS TO PROVIDE AT THIS TIME.

BUT THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY IS LOOKING FOR DETENTION SPACE.

IN DECEMBER, IT OUTLINED A PLAN FOR A TWO-YEAR $20 TO $50 MILLION CONTRACT FOR DETENTION AND RANSPORTATION IN THE St.

PAUL AREA THE SECOND QUARTER OF THIS YEAR.

THE LOCATION, APPLETON, MINNESOTA.

HOWEVER, THIS MONTH AN I.C.E.

OFFICIAL SAID, WE HAVE NO NEW DETENTION CENTERS TO ANNOUNCE AT THIS TIME.

THE CITY'S ADMINISTRATOR DECLINED AN INTERVIEW.

BUT AFTER THE CLOSURE, E SAID THE PRISON MARKET VALUATION WENT FROM $21.5 MILLION TO $14 MILLION.

THAT HAD AN IMMEDIATE IMPACT TO THE TOWN'S TAX RATE.

AND IN JUST TWO YEARS, THE CITY'S WATER AND WASTE WATER REVENUE WAS IN THE RED BY A MILLION DOLLARS.

APPLETON LEADERS ARE ANXIOUS TO TURN THE PAGE.

>> THEY'VE BEEN GOOD, THEY'VE BEEN HONEST, AND, YOU KNOW, WE'VE EVEN ASKED MULTIPLE TIMES, IS THERE ANY CHANCE OF IT OPENING?

AND THERE'S NO CONTRACTS AT ALL RIGHT NOW.

THEY'RE JUST DOING THEIR MAINTENANCE.

AND JUST KEEPING IT UP SO IF SOMETHING DOES COME UP, THEN IT'S TURNKEY READY.

THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION RECENTLY ANNOUNCED A DRAWDOWN OF OPERATION METRO SURGE.

HE SAYS HE'S STILL HOPEFUL.

>> THE OPENING OF THE PRISON IS JUST NOT CONTINGENT ON I.C.E.

OR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

THEY'RE STILL OPEN TO NEW CONTRACTS FROM OTHER STATES OR THE STATE OF MINNESOTA IF THEY WOULD EVER CHOOSE TO DO THAT.

>> IT'S VERY MIXED.

SOME DO NOT WANT IT OPEN AT ALL BECAUSE OF WHAT'S HAPPENING OUT THERE.

OTHERS, IT'S ECONOMIC.

>> Kaomi: GARY HENDRICKS IS IN HIS 30th YEAR AS A COUNTY OMMISSIONER.

HE'S ALSO A LOCAL BUSINESS OWNER.

>> SOMETIMES IT'S JUST NOT WHAT YOU SEE IN MINNEAPOLIS, WHAT YOU'RE HEARING FROM SOME OF THE OTHER DETENTION CAMPS.

YOU WANT PEOPLE TO BE TREATED WELL.

IF THEY'RE HERE ILLEGAL OR NOT, THEY'RE STILL HUMAN BEINGS.

>> Kaomi: ANDY PEARSON REPRESENTS A RURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE NONPROFIT.

HE SAYS, AREA RESIDENTS THEY'RE HEARING FROM SAY THEY DON'T WANT AN I.C.E.

FACILITY AS A NEIGHBOR.

>> REMEMBER THAT THIS IS CORE CIVIC THAT'S PROPOSING THIS.

THIS IS A BAD OPERATOR, TO BE HONEST.

THIS IS THE COMPANY HAT RUNS THE DETENTION CENTER THAT LITTLE 5-YEAR-OLD LIAM RAMOS WAS SENT TO IN TEXAS WHERE THERE'S A MEASLES OUTBREAK RIGHT NOW.

>> Kaomi: IN SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA, ARE WE SEEING THAT TYPE OF MASKED I.C.E.

AGENTS THAT WE'RE KIND OF SEEING IN THE TWIN CITIES AND St.

CLOUD?

>> OH, DEFINITELY.

I THINK THE COVERAGE IS DIFFERENT, AND, OF COURSE, IT'S NOT AS CONCENTRATED.

BUT WE HAVE HAD NEIGHBORS TAKEN.

YOU KNOW, CURE IS BASED IN MONTEVIDEO, MONTEVIDEO AS A -- HAS A LARGE LATINO POPULATION.

>> Kaomi: AND A SIZABLE MICRO NESIAN COMMUNITY IN NEAR MILAN.

LIFE GOES ON.

THE LAC QUI PARLE HIGH SCHOOL RECENTLY HAD AN ALL-SCHOOL SEND SWROF FOR THE DANCE TEAM GOING TO STATE.

AGAIN, COUNCIL MEMBER WAS THERE TO CELEBRATE WITH HER COMMUNITY.

AS FOR THE PRISON,... >> I HAVE SOME RESERVATIONS, BUT I DON'T HAVE A CHOICE EITHER.

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN, IF THE PRISON'S GOING TO OPE