TWIN CITIES PBS FOR THE STATIONS OF MINNESOTA PUBLIC TELEVISION ASSOCIATION.

>> ERIC: IN THE NEXT HOUR, WE'LL EXPLORE WHY SO MANY SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS ARE CALLING IT QUITS.

WE'LL GIVE YOU A TOUR OF ONE OF AMERICA'S FINEST PRAIRIE SCHOOL HOMES.

AND WE'LL HEAR ABOUT PLANS TO SHORE UP SUPPORT FOR SENIOR CARE IN MINNESOTA.

AND THEN MARY LAHAMMER HAS THE LATEST FROM THE REPUBLICAN STATE CONVENTION IN ROCHESTER.

>> Mary: REPUBLICANS HAVE GATHERED IN ROCHESTER TO ENDORSE A SLATE OF STATEWIDE CANDIDATES FOR OFFICE.

WE'LL TAKE YOU THERE... >> GET REPUBLICANS ELECTED.

WE NEED THEM -- WE NEED EVERYONE.

>> Mary: 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 TWENTY-EIGHT 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.

ENBRIDGE: CONNECTING MINNESOTANS WITH ENERGY FOR OVER 70 YEARS.

MORE AT ENBRIDGE.COM/LINE3US.

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.

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT IS PROVIDED BY THE BLANDIN FOUNDATION, WORKING TO STRENGHTEN RURAL MINNESOTA.

>> ERIC: GOOD EVENING.

I'M ERIC ESKOLA.

CATHY WURZER HAS THE NIGHT OFF.

LATER IN THE HOUR, WE'LL EXPLORE A NEW EFFORT TO ADDRESS HEALTH CARE DISPARITIES AMONG CHILDREN AND HEAR ABOUT THE INCREASING PROBLEM OF SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS QUITTING.

BUT FIRST UP, A POLITICAL VISIT TO ROCHESTER.

THAT'S WHERE STATE REPUBLICANS ARE GATHERING FOR THEIR ENDORSING CONVENTION.

IN AN ODD QUIRK OF TIMING, REPUBLICANS HAVE THEIR STATE CONVENTION THIS WEEKEND, AND THE DFLERS NEXT WEEKEND DURING THE FINAL DAYS OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

REPORTER MARY LAHAMMER AND PHOTOGRAPHER SCOTT TROTMAN HAVE BEEN IN ROCHESTER TODAY KEEPING TRACK OF THE ENDORSEMENT BATTLES TAKING PLACE.

MARY JOINS US BY ZOOM WITH THE LATEST.

>> Mary: HERE AT THE REPUBLICAN STATE CONVENTION IN ROCHESTER, THE CHAIR OF THE CONVENTION JUST SAID THREE DOWN AND ONE TO GO, THAT MEANS THREE ENDORSEMENTS AND ONE TO GO, HE ONE THAT JUST WRAPPED UP MOMENTS AGO, BIG SURPRISE A POLITICAL NEWCOMER, JIM SCHULTZ WAS JUST ENDORSED FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL.

HE IS A YOUNG LAWYER FROM SOUTH HAVEN, MINNESOTA, POPULATION 186.

GREW UP GOING TO MOM'S CAFÉ AND THEN WENT ON TO ARVARD LAW.

HE TOUTED HIS PRO LIFE STANCE AND TALKED ABOUT HIS RELIGION, SPECIFICALLY GOING TO SEMINARY SCHOOL, AND REALLY SURPRISED THE ESTABLISHMENT, AND PART OF HIS MOMENTUM IS THANKS TO A WELL-KNOWN NAME, TADD JUDE, FORM EAR LAWMAKER, JUDGE.

HE FINISHED IN THIRD PLACE AND THROUGH HIS SUPPORT AND THAT WAS AGAINST DOUG WARDLOW.

HE RAN AGAINST KEITH ELLISON LAST TIME AROUND, HE HAS TIES TO MIKE LINDELL, THE CEO OF MY PILT LOW, BUT BIG SURPRISE IN ROCHESTER, A POLITICAL NEWCOMER, AN OUTSIDER, JIM SCHULTZ JUST ENDORSED MOMENTS AGO FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL.

OF COURSE THE MAIN EVENT HERE WILL BE THE ENDORSE .

FOR GOVERNOR, WHICH SHOULD GET STARTED HERE LATER TONIGHT BUT COULD GO INTO THE DAY TOMORROW.

HERE'S A LOOK AT THE REST OF THE CONVENTION SO FAR.

>> THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO SO THAT WE CAN GET THE WORK DONE.

>> Mary: THE REPUBLICAN STATE CONVENTION LAUNCHED WITH A FIGHT OVER HOW TO VOTE.

FASTER ELECTRONIC CLICKERS PREVAILED AS A WAY TO TRY TO GET ENDORSEMENTS FOR IMPORTANT STATEWIDE RACES.

[INDISCERNIBLE] >> FORMER VIKINGS FOOTBALL PLAYER MATT BIRK AND RUNNING MALT Dr. SCOTT JENSEN ARE PLAYING UP THE SPORTS THEME AS THEY'RE SEEN AS FRONT-RUNNERS BUT JENSEN WOULDN'T MAKE ANY PREDICTIONS.

KENDALL QUALS HAS MOMENTUM, DOING WELL IN LOCAL POLLS COMING INTO THE CONVENTION.

HE RAN UNSUCCESSFULLY FOR CONGRESS BEFORE.

SENATOR PAUL GANG AND RUNNING MATE MARY JULY ANNIE STEVENS PAIRED UP WITH MIKE MURPHY, ALONG WITH Dr. KNEEL SHAW COULD ALL TEAM UP TO BLOCK AN ENDORSEMENT THAT IS EXPECTED TO TAKE A LONG TIME, IF RESOLUTION IS REACHED AT ALL.

ATTORNEY GENERAL CANDIDATES HERE ARE TADD JUDD, JIM SCHULTZ AND DOUG WARDLOW WHO APPEARED WITH MY PILLOW CEO MIKE LYNN DID HE MEAN.

>> MINNESOTANS THE INJUSTICE IS... [INDISCERNIBLE] THE CONSTITUTION, NOT PAPER POLITICS.

>> I'VE WORKED AT THE PET GONE, THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ALONGSIDE OUR MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM.

>> WE ARE STANDING HERE TOGETHER FOR FREEDOM, FOR THE RULE OF LAW AND FOR THE CONSTITUTION.

>> SECRETARY OF STATE CANDIDATES ARE KIM CROCKETT AND KELLY JANNER BURN.

>> MY CAMPAIGN IS FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT FROM DAY ONE.

>> AND STATE AUDITOR CANDIDATE RYAN WILSON ALSO HAS A PRESENCE HERE.

[INDISCERNIBLE] WILSON WAS ENDORSED FOR AUDITOR, HE WAS UNOPPOSED.

KIM CROCKETT ENDORSED FOR SECRETARY OF STATE AND JUST MOMENTS AGO, NEWCOMER JIM SCHULTZ ENDORSED FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL.

NOW THEY MOVE ON TO PICK THE CANDIDATE WHO WILL RUN AGAINST THE INCUMBENT GOVERNOR, TIM WALZ.

REPUBLICAN ENDORSE.

FOR GOVERNOR STILL ON TAP FOR TONIGHT.

I'M MARY LaHAMMER, REPORTING LIVE FROM ROCHESTER.

♪♪ >> ERIC: ONE ISSUE THAT STATE LAWMAKERS ARE GRAPPLING WITH AT THE END OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS THE STATE OF LONG-TERM CARE.

A RECENT SURVEY FOUND THAT FINANCIAL PRESSURES MAY LEAD TO THE CLOSING OF HUNDREDS OF SENIOR CARE SETTINGS ACROSS THE STATE.

AS MANY AS 14,000 SENIORS COULD LOSE CARE AND SUPPORT.

WITH US NOW, PEOPLE REPRESENTING THE TWO LARGEST SENIOR CARE PROVIDER ORGANIZATIONS IN MINNESOTA.

KARI THURLOW IS THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF LEADING/AGE MINNESOTA.

PATTI CULLEN LEADS THE GROUP CARE PROVIDERS OF MINNESOTA.

WHY ZONE' WE START WITH KIND OF THE LAY OF THE LAND.

HOW SEVERE IS THE PROBLEM?

>> YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO THINK OF THE WORD TO DESCRIBE HOW BAD IT IS.

WE USE CATASTROPHE, CATACLYSMIC, COLLAPSE, ALL THE "C" WORDS, IT IS THE WORST WE'VE EVER BEEN.

I'VE BEEN IN THIS PROFESSION FOR FOUR DECADES AND I IT'S REAL.

THE CLOSURES ARE REAL, THE 23,000 VACANT POSITIONS ARE REAL.

THE SURVEY THAT WE JUST COMPLETED TALKED ABOUT THE ONGOING CLOSURES THAT ARE GOING TO CONTINUE UNLESS SOMETHING HAPPENS NOW, AND IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT AT THE HEART OF IT ALL, SENIORS WILL NOT GET ACCESS TO CARE, FAMILIES WILL NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH THEIR LOVED ONE, HOSPITALS WILL BE BACKED UP IN THE EMERGENCY OOMS AND IN SMALL TOWNS, WHERE THE NURSING FACILITY IS HE MAIN EMPLOYER -- >> Eric: THIS IS WHAT I DON'T GET.

SENIORS ARE THE FASTER GROWING DECILE OF THE POPULATION, THEY VOTE EGULARLY, WHY -- WHY HAS THIS NOT BEEN ABLE TO KEEP PACE WITH THE GROWING AND NEED FOR THIS SERVICE?

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S A GREAT QUESTION AND MINNESOTA BECAME HOME TO 1 MILLION SENIORS THIS YEAR, WHICH IS ABOUT A LITTLE MORE THAN 20% OF OUR POPULATION AND THAT'S GROWING.

YOU KNOW, I THINK WHAT HAS HAPPENED, ESPECIALLY IN THE LAST SEVERAL MONTH, IS THAT WE HAVE SEEN A STEEP DECLINE OF OUR WORKFORCE AS PEOPLE HAVE LEFT, AS WAGES ARE MUCH MORE COMPETITIVE OUTSIDE THE FIELD OF SENIOR CARE, AND WHAT I THINK IS MISUNDERSTOOD IS HOW MUCH OF A PARTNER LAWMAKERS ARE IN OUR ABILITY TO PAY COMPETITIVE WAGES.

SO, AGAIN, AS PATTY HAS INDICATED, WE ARE PLEADING OUR CASE TO THE LAWMAKERS THAT SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE IN THIS SESSION IN ORDER TO STOP CATASTROPHE FROM HAPPENING.

>> Eric: THERE IS A CONTINUUM OF CARE NOW WHICH S SORT OF INDEPENDENT LIVING, ASSISTED LIVING, NURSING HOME.

IS THIS A HANCE TO KIND OF RETHINK AND RELOOK AT THE SYSTEM AS A WHOLE IN MINNESOTA?

>> WELL, I THINK WE ARE ONE OF THE STATES THAT ARE LEADER IN REBALANCING.

WE HAVE A LOT TO OFFER IN A CONTINUUM OF CARE.

UNFORTUNATELY, MEDICAID, WHICH IS THE GOVERNMENT-DIRECTED PROGRAM, ALSO PAYS FOR ASSISTED LIVING SERVICES FOR A VARIETY OF PEOPLE WITHOUT MEANS.

THAT ALSO IS NDERFUNDED SO THIS CRISIS OF UNDERFUNDING SENIOR CARE IMPACTS ASSISTED LIVING AS WELL AS OUR NURSING FACILITIES, AND, AGAIN, THE MEDICAID PROGRAM, IT'S UP TO THE GOVERNMENT TO SET THE RATES.

>> Eric: ELL, THERE'S I THINK $7 BILLION LEFT IN THE PROJECTED SURPLUS.

YOU CAN'T GET A PIECE OF THAT OR... >> WELL, I MEAN, I THINK THAT'S THE FORTUNATE NEWS IS THAT MINNESOTA IS WELL-POSITIONED TO ADDRESS THIS CRISIS.

AND WE HAVE A PROPOSAL AT THE LEGISLATURE THAT'S IN CONFERENCE COMMITTEE RIGHT NOW THAT WOULD CALL FOR $358 MILLION THAT WOULD BE DEDICATED TO BASE WAGES TO ELEVATE BASE WAGES FOR CARE-GIVERS WITH THE THEORY THAT WE NEED TO GET CARE-GIVERS BACK INTO LONG-TERM CARE SO WE CAN SERVE TODAY'S SENIORS AS WELL AS THOSE INTO THE FUTURE.

SO THERE'S OPPORTUNITY AND THERE ARE RESOURCES, WE JUST NEED A POLITICAL WILL.

>> Eric: WHAT KIND OF IPPLE EFFECT GOES THROUGH A SMALL ERR TOWN WHEN THE NURSING HOME CLOSES?

>> WELL, IT'S NOT JUST THE ECONOMIC IMPACT BECAUSE AS THE NUMBER ONE EMPLOYER, WHEN THAT LEAVES ANY COMMUNITY, SO GOES THE THER BUSINESSES, RIGHT?

THERE'S NO GROCERY STORES, AND THE LIKE.

IT'S ALSO THE FACT THAT IF YOU'RE NOT GOING TO FIND A PLACE FOR YOUR LOVED ONE, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO STAY IN THAT TOWN, RIGHT?

SO YOU'RE GOING TO MOVE TO THE NEXT TOWN SO COULD LITERALLY SHUTTER DOWN SOME SMALL TOWNS.

WE HAVE SEEN THAT HAPPEN IN THE PAST, WHEN FACILITIES HAVE CLOSED.

WE ALSO KNOW THAT THE SMALL RURAL HOSPITALS WILL HAVE PEOPLE BACKED INTO THOSE HOSPITALS BECAUSE THERE'S NO PLACE FOR THEM TO GO, AND THAT'S THE WRONG PLACE FOR A FRAIL SENIOR TO BE.

>> Eric: DID THIS OCCUR BECAUSE THERE WERE YEARS OF SORT OF STAGNANT FINANCIAL COMMITMENT TO THIS AND NOW WITH COVID, THERE'S KIND OF A CATCH-UP THAT'S NEEDED AND IT'S KIND OF A BIG BUBBLE THAT HAS NOW OCCURRED OR FINANCIALLY -- >> I THINK IT'S ABSOLUTELY TRUE THAT STATE MEDICAID RATES HAVE NOT KEPT UP TO PAY CARE-GIVERS WHAT THEY DESERVE.

CARE-GIVING IS HONORABLE WORK AND THEY SHOULD BE PAID A WAGE THAT CAN SUPPORT FAMILIES.

AT THE SAME TIME, WE'VE SEEN STEEP INFLATION, WAGE PRESSURE THROUGHOUT HE STATE OF MINNESOTA THAT HAS DEEPENED OUR CRISIS SO HILE OUR REIMBURSEMENT SYSTEMS, THE WAY WE PAY FOR MEDICAID IS SET UP TO TAKE CARE OF NORMAL SITUATIONS, IT'S NOT SET UP TO RESPOND TO THE SITUATION WE HAVE NOW, WHERE WE HAVE PROVIDERS PROVIDING DOUBLE-DIGIT WAGE INCREASES, AND FUNDING THAT HROUGH RESERVES, WE NEED PERMANENT FUNDING FROM LAWMAKERS OR OUR SYSTEM WILL COLLAPSE THROUGH FINANCIAL RUIN.

>> Eric: DID THE COVID PANDEMIC AND THE BURDEN IT PLACED ON NURSING HOMES, HAS THAT MADE IT LESS OF AN ATTRACTIVE JOB?

>> I THINK THAT IS PART OF IT.

I THINK WE LOST A LOT OF WORKFORCE INITIALLY.

I THINK OUR MOMENTS WHO WERE PRIMARY CARE-GIVERS WHO HAD TO STAY WITH KIDS, THEY DIDN'T COME BACK.

AND SCHOOL STOPPED DOING PROGRAMS FOR AN ONGOING PERIOD OF TIME, WE LOST THE PIPELINE.

SO BETWEEN A STOP IN THE PINE LINE AND SOME OF OUR WORKERS LEAVING, THAT CAUSED A BIG DIP AND NOW WE LOOK AT THE COMPETITION WITH ALL THE OTHER WORKFORCE PLACES, THE EMPLOYERS WHO CAN GIVE MUCH MORE PER HOUR AND COLLEGE BENEFITS, THE THINGS THAT WE CAN'T AFFORD TO GIVE RIGHT NOW.

>> Eric: DOES THIS DRIBBLE DOWN TO THE FAMILIES AND THE RESIDENTS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> Eric: THAT THEY SENSE A FUTURE THAT'S IFFY OR -- >> WELL, I THINK WHERE WE SEE IT PLAYING OUT ALL OVER IS WHEN SENIORS CAN'T ACCESS CARE IN THEIR HOME COMMUNITIES.

SO, FOR EXAMPLE, I'VE HEARD OF STORIES WHERE THERE ARE FAMILIES WITH A LOVED ONE WHO HAS MEMORY CARE NEEDS IN MAPLE GROVE AND THEY'VE HAD TO CALL TEN OR 20 LOCATIONS, AND ULTIMATELY THAT LOVED ONE MIGHT HAVE TO FIND CARE IN ALEXANDRIA.

SO YOU HAVE INDIVIDUALS HOURS AWAY FROM THEIR FAMILY, THEY MIGHT NOT GET VISITS EVERY DAY, AND WE SEE THAT PLAYING OUT OVER AND OVER AGAIN, AND UNLESS SOMETHING IS DONE THIS SESSION, I THINK THAT THAT -- WE ARE GOING TO SEE EVEN MORE OF THAT THROUGH THE SUMMER AND THE FALL MONTHS, AS WE HAVE OVER 400 SETTING AT RISK OF CLOSURE.

>> Eric: JUST 30 SECONDS LEFT.

IT'S IN CONFERENCE, THE TWO HOUSE AND SENATE BILLS DON'T SEEM COMPATIBLE.

WHAT'S YOUR BEST GUESS AS TO WHAT YOU GET OUT OF HERE?

>> WELL, WHAT WE'RE HOPING IS THAT EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS THE IMPORTANCE OF SOME PERMANENT INCREASES, NOT ONE-TIME THANK-YOUS, PERMANENT INCREASES SO WICK INCREASE WAGES.

THE SENATE HAS HAT IN THEIR BILL AND WE HOPE THAT THE HOUSE AND THE GOVERNOR CAN SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT, WE BELIEVE IN WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.

WE THINK WE COULD TAKE THAT POSITION.

>> Eric: WE'LL BE WATCHING.

THANK YOU TO BOTH OF YOU FOR COMING DOWN.

A FEW WEEKS BACK, WE INTRODUCED YOU TO A NEW DIGITAL OUTDOORS SERIES MADE BY TWIN CITIES PBS.

IT'S CALLED "OUTSIDE CHANCE."

IT'S AN EXPLORATION OF WHAT TO DO OUTDOORS IN OUR STATE, YEAR 'ROUND.

IN A RECENT EPISODE, SERIES HOST CHANCE YORK WENT ON A BICYCLE TOUR OF URBAN GARDENS IN NORTH MINNEAPOLIS.

>> HERE IN NORTH MINNEAPOLIS, THERE'S SEVERAL AREAS THAT COULD BE CONSIDERED A FOOD DESERT AND THAT MEANS THAT FOOD, HEALTHY, WHOLE FOOD IS REALLY HARD TO OME BY.

YOU CAN'T GET THOSE NUTRITIOUS INGREDIENTS THAT YOU NEED FROM THE CORNER STORE OR THE GAS STATION SO COMMUNITY GARDENS OFFER THAT POSSIBILITY.

WE'RE GOING TO MEET UP WITH MY FRIEND, MARCUS CARR, MULTI-TALENTED, A FILMMAKER, ACTIVIST, A ROCK MUSICIAN BUT BEYOND THAT, HE'S SOMETHING THAT'S VERY RARE, A BLACK FARMER IN MINNESOTA.

ACCORDING TO THE MINNESOTA FARM CENSUS, THERE'S 100,000 FARMERS BUT ONLY 39 IDENTIFY AS BLACK.

NOW, MARCUS TAKES CARE OF SOME LAND 30 MILES OUTSIDE THE CITY BUT HE ALSO DOES SOME PRETTY MAZING WORK HERE IN NORTH MINNEAPOLIS WITH KIDS, DIRT AND SEEDS.

HONESTLY, THESE ARE SOME OF MY FAVORITE TOPICS.

LET'S GET TO IT.

HERE WERE WITH MY MAN, MARCUS.

MARCUS, BEAUTIFUL GARDEN.

TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT WE GOT GOING ON HERE.

>> YEAH, MAN, WE IN HARRISON NEIGHBORHOOD, THIS IS A FOOD FOREST THAT THIS ENTIRE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN EATING OFF OF AND THERE IS AN ENCAMPMENT DOWN THE STREET OF A BUNCH OF PEOPLE IN TRANSITION THAT HAVE BEEN EATING OUT OF HERE.

WE'RE HERE TO MAINTAIN AND SERVE OUR COMMUNITY.

>> LOOK AT THIS, THERE'S ALL THESE BEAUTIFUL GREENS.

>> I KNOW.

>> KALEs, COLLARD, RAINBOW CHARRED.

>> RAINBOW CHARRED.

THESE MEXICAN SUN FLOWERS HAULING IN THE ONARCHS, AND BELL PEPPERS, FOOD IS THE ONE THING WE'RE ALL CONNECTED TO.

WE GOT TO EAT.

>> THERE IS SUCH A DISCONNECT TAKING PLACE WHERE I HEARD LITTLE YADI THE APPER SAY, I DON'T EAT FRUIT.

I'LL EAT FRUIT SNACKS.

THAT STUCK WITH ME BECAUSE I KNOW A LOT OF KIDS THAT ARE JUST LIKE THAT.

ACTUAL WHOLE FOOD IS SO SEPARATE FROM US.

PEOPLE KNOW EVERYTHING IS PACKAGED AND PROCESSED, SO COMING BACK TO THE OIL IS WHAT BRINGS US ALL TOGETHER.

>> >> IT IS.

>> I HEARD THAT THIS GARDEN IS PART OF YOUTH FARM.

WHAT IS THAT?

>> YOUTH FARM IS AN ORGANIZATION IN URBAN AGRICULTURE, VERY OLD, 26-YEAR-OLD ORGANIZATION.

IT USES FOOD AS A MEDIUM TO CAUSE SOCIAL CHANGE.

THIS IS ONE OUT OF LIKE SEVEN OR EIGHT GARDENS JUST IN NORTH MINNEAPOLIS.

WE SPAN THROUGHOUT THE TWIN CITIES.

♪♪ >> ERIC: THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITALS SYSTEM KNOWN AS CHILDREN'S MINNESOTA HAS BEEN STUDYING RACIAL DISPARITIES IN HEALTH OUTCOMES FOR SOME TIME.

AND ON WEDNESDAY, CHILDREN'S MINNESOTA LAUNCHED WHAT ITS CALLING THE COLLECTIVE FOR COMMUNITY HEALTH.

THE AMBITIOUS GOAL OF THE UNIT, TO ELIMINATE HEALTH DISPARITIES AMONG YOUNG PATIENTS.

WITH US ARE THE TWO PEOPLE LEADING THE EFFORT.

JAMES BURROUGHS IS THE CHIEF EQUITY AND INCLUSION OFFICER AT CHILDREN'S MINNESOTA.

LAUREN GILCHRIST LEADS THE COLLECTIVE FOR COMMUNITY HEALTH TEAM.

Mr. BURROUGHS, WHAT ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF WHERE THE INEQUITIES SHOW UP ND MAYBE HAVE BEEN ENHANCED THROUGH THE COVID PANDEMIC?

>> SURE.

FIRST OF ALL, THANKS FOR HAVING US HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE COLLECTIVE.

SOME OF THEM ARE ASTHMA, WE HAVE A LOT OF DISPARITIES BETWEEN UR WHITE PATIENTS AND OUR PATIENTS OF COLOR, SOME OF THEM ARE IN THE COMBO VACCINES, WHETHER THE CHILDREN GET THE VACCINES IN A TIMELY FASHION OR NOT.

OUR CHILDREN ARE LAGGING BEHIND THAT.

WHAT WE WANT TO DO IN BRINGING TOGETHER THE COLLECTISM WAS TO SAY, LOOK AT THOSE HEALTH DISPARITIES BUT LOOK AT THE COMMUNITY AND HOW WE CAN PARTNER WITH COMMUNITY, HOW WE CAN LOOK AT ADVOCACY, SOME OF THE KEY EXPERTS AROUND ISSUES, ISSUES, THAT ADDRESS THOSE THINGS IN A VERY COMPREHENSIVE WAY.

>> Eric: HOW DO YOU GET THE INFORMATION OUT TO THE COMMUNITY?

>> THERE ARE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT WAYS.

CHILDREN'S MINNESOTA IS FORTUNATE TO HAVE MANY COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS TODAY AND OUR GOAL WITH THE COLLECTIVE IS REALLY TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF THE COMMUNITY WHERE OUR KIDS LIVE AND THE FAMILIES LIVE BY STRENGTHENING THOSE PARTNERSHIPS AND -- >> Eric: HOW DO YOU DO THAT?

>> WE DO THAT IN A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT WAYS.

ONE, WE LISTEN, SO WE'RE GOING TO BE LISTENING TO OUR PARTNERS AND CONTINUING TO LISTEN.

WE HAVE A PROCESS CALLED THE COMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS ASSESSMENT THAT HOSPITAL SYSTEMS DO EVERY THREE YEARS AND WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF DOING THAT RIGHT NOW.

AND WE'RE GOING TO BE CREATING AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE THAT WILL PROVIDE US WITH INPUT AND WE'RE GOING TO WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY PARTNERS THAT WE ARE WORKING WITH TODAY AND REALLY RECOMMIT AND STRENGTHEN OUR PARTNERSHIPS MOVING FORWARD.

>> Eric: ONE OF THE QUOTES IN THE PRESS RELEASE THAT I READ WAS INTERESTING, 80% OF HEALTH IS DETERMINED BY WHERE PEOPLE ARE BORN, WHERE THEY LIVE, WHERE THEY LEARN, WHERE THEY WORK AND WHERE THEY PLAY.

THIS SEEMS LIKE A BIG CHUNK TO BREAK OFF AND TRY TO ADDRESS.

WHERE DO YOU START?

>> IT IS, I MEAN, THE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH START AT HOME.

SO THEY START IN THE COMMUNITY YOU LIVE IN AND WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT THE "R" WORD, RACISM, RACISM, RACISM, HAS THE -- HAS LED US TO A PLACE WHERE A LOT OF OUR HOMES, A LOT OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, A LOT OF OUR AREAS, A LOT OF OUR EMPLOYMENT, PEOPLE HAVE FACED DISCRIMINATION AND LED TO THE THOSE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH AFFECTING THEIR HEALTH CARE.

WHAT WE REALIZE IN THE HOSPITAL SYSTEM IS ONLY 20% OF WHAT WE DO AFFECTS THE HEALTH AND WEALTH OF OUR PATIENTS, WE GOT TO JUMP IN THE COMMUNITY AND TAKE THAT BIG CHANCE AND SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT, WE CAN GET INVOLVED WITH OUR PARTNERS WHO ARE ALREADY DOING GREAT WORK.

WE'RE HELPING THEM EXPAND THEIR CAPACITY, GET MORE KNOWLEDGE AND INFORMATION, AND MAKE SURE THEY HAVE A RELATIONSHIP.

AND THINK ABOUT IT, ERIC, IS, WE CAN'T BE AFRAID TO FAIL BECAUSE THE SYSTEM HAS FAILED ALONG THE WAY.

IF WE'RE IN THERE WITH THE PATIENTS AND AMILY AND COMMUNITY, WE'RE SAYING WHAT DO WE TRY INNOVATIVELY WHERE YOU AND COLLECTIVELY SOLVE THIS ISSUE, AS WELL.

BY THAT, 0% IS DAUNTING AT TIMES BUT THE THING ABOUT IT, IF WE DON'T GET IN THERE, WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN?

OUR KIDS AND FAMILIES WILL SUFFER BECAUSE OF THAT.

>> AND WHAT KIND OF IMPACT DO YOU THINK YOU COULD HAVE AND WHAT DO YOU THINK WILL BE THE MEASURE OF SUCCESS FOR THIS PROGRAM?

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE KNOW SPEAKING TO WHAT WE CALL THE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH IS WHEN WE AS THE KID EXPERTS ARE ABLE O HELP OUR PATIENT AND FAMILIES CONNECT WITH SOCIAL SUPPORTS FOR HOUSING, FOR FOOD SECURITY, FOR LEGAL ASSISTANCE, THAT THOSE KIDS AND FAMILIES HAVE BETTER OUTCOMES.

SO THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'LL BE LOOKING AT IS HOW MANY TIMES WE'RE ABLE TO CONNECT PEOPLE TO THE RESOURCES THAT EXIST IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND THEN WE LSO WATCH THEIR HEALTH OUTCOMES, SO WE HAVE ALREADY SEEN THAT WHEN WE MAKE THESE REFERRALS TO SOCIAL SUPPORTS THAT WE EE IMPROVED OUTCOMES IN EDIATRIC ASTHMA, WE SEE HOUR USE OF THE E.D.

AND INCREASED USE OF PRIMARY CARE SETINGS SO THOSE ARE THE SORTS OF REAL-LIFE IMPACTS THAT WE'LL BE LOOKING AT.

>> Eric: IS CHILDREN'S THE ONLY HOSPITAL GROUP DOING THIS?

THIS WOULD SEEM TO BE A -- DESERVE A COORDINATED EFFORT.

ARE YOU LEADING THE WAY ON THIS?

>> I THINK WE'RE LEADING THE WAY.

I WON'T SAY WHAT ANOTHER HOSPITAL SYSTEMS ARE DOING BECAUSE I'M NOT SURE BUT WE WANT TO BE SURE WE CAN PARTNER WITH OTHER HOSPITAL SYSTEMS, AS WELL.

KID CARE AND KID SUCCESS AND KID SUCCESS IN HEALTH IS SOMETHING THAT MINNESOTA NEEDS TO BE MORE AWARE OF SO WE'RE WILLING TO PARTNER WITH LL THE OTHER SYSTEMS.

>> Eric: ARE THERE SILOS HERE AMONG THE SYSTEMS OR CAN THEY WORK TOGETHER?

>> THEY CAN WORK TOGETHER.

THINK ABOUT IT, IF KIDS ARE SUFFERING IN MINNESOTA, WE ALL GOT TO COME TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ADDRESS THEIR NEEDS OR THERE WON'T BE A FUTURE MINNESOTA WITH THESE YOUNG PEOPLE.

>> Eric: I WAS THINKING WHAT MAYBE YOU COULD START WITH A MORE WIDE' SPREAD CHILD VACCINATIONS, FOR INSTANCE?

>> DEFINITELY, THAT IS AN AREA WE'RE WORKING ON, TO YOUR EARLIER POINT, DURING THE COVID PANDEMIC, WE'VE SEEN THE IMPORTANCE OF VACCINES, NOT ONLY THE COVID VACCINE BUT MAINTAINING REPPING VACCINES, AS WELL.

THAT'S WHERE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS ARE SO IMPORTANT.

WE CAN'T JUST ARRIVE IN A COMMUNITY AND THINK WE'LL BE ABLE TO VACCINATE, WE HAVE TO HAVE AUTHENTIC PARTNERSHIPS WITH COMMUNITIES ORGANIZATIONS, CHURCHES, SCHOOLS, WITH LOCAL LEADERS SO WE CAN EDUCATE FOLKS ABOUT THINGS LIKE VACCINES AND MAKE SURE WE GET THE SLOTS IN THE ARMS THAT WE NEED TO KEEP OUR WHOLE COMMUNITY HEALTHY.

>> Eric: THE HEIGHTENED AWARE OF DISPARITIES IN ALL KIND OF SECTORS IN MINNESOTA AT LEAST IT'S BEFORE THE PUBLIC NOW AND I WONDER IF THERE'S MOMENTUM THAT YOU FEEL YOU CAN BUILD ON WITH SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

>> THERE IS A OT OF MOMENTUM AND IF WE'RE HONEST, IT STARTED MAY 25th, 2020, WHEN GEORGE FLOYD WAS MURDERED.

A LOT OF THOSE HEALTH DISPARITIES CAME TO THE FOREFRONT AND FOLKS, NOT ONLY THE COMMUNITY BUT BUSINESSES SAID WE GOT TO DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY AND THAT HAS LED US TO THE POINT WHERE WE ARE NOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE SAID WE HAVE TO HAVE CTION ATTACHED TO THOSE DESIRES TO HAVE MORE EQUITABLE OUTCOMES FOR KIDS AND THIS IS PART OF THE ACTION.

>> Eric: DOES HIS TAKE MORE MONEY OR IS THIS A CASE OF PREPRIORITIZING?

>> I THINK IT IS DEFINITELY AN OPPORTUNITY TO FOCUS INVESTMENT.

WHAT WE'RE HOPING TO DO IS DEEPEN THE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS AND BE ABLE TO CO-CREATE INNOVATIVE IDEAS AND BRING AND LEVERAGE MORE RESOURCES TO THE IDEAS IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> Eric: ARE THERE FOUNDATIONS STEPPING UP?

>> WE WOULD HOPE SO, WE'RE STALKING WITH SOME KNOW AND PARTNERING WITH THEM IN WORK WE CAN DO.

WE'RE LOOKING AT OTHER WAYS, AS WELL.

BUSINESS WANTS TO LEAN IN HEAVILY AROUND THIS AND WHAT CAN WE DO DIFFERENTLY FOR OUR FUTURE WORKFORCE AND WE'RE MAKING THOSE CONNECTIONS NOW AND BUILD >> ERIC: THERE HAVE BEEN MANY STORIES IN THE PAST TWO YEARS ABOUT SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS UNDER PRESSURE DURING COVID.

CONFLICTS OVER MASKING POLICIES, REMOTE LEARNING, CHALLENGES TO WHAT'S IN THE CURRICULUM, AND IN THE LIBRARIES.

ACCORDING TO STATISTICS GATHERED BY THE MINNESOTA SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION, SINCE 2020, 86 SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS HAVE STEPPED DOWN.

MORE THAN TWO DOZEN HAVE LEFT SO FAR THIS YEAR.

THOSE STATS ARE WAY ABOVE NORMAL.

BETH HAWKINS IS USED TO CRUNCHING EDUCATION NUMBERS.

SHE'S COVERED THIS ISSUE IN A RECENT STORY FOR THE EDUCATION NEWS SITE KNOWN AS "THE 74."

TEST TEST TEST ARE INSISTING THERE'S DANGEROUS INDOCTRINATION, THAT CHILDREN ARE BEING GROOMED INTO VARIOUS LIFESTYLES IS GOING ON IN THE HALLS AND THERE'S NO EVIDENCE OF IT.

I DON'T KNOW HOW CLOSELY YOU'VE BEEN TRACKING THE CURRICULUM DEBATE IN FLORIDA BUT RON DE SANTIS THERE SUGGESTED THAT DOZENS OF CURRICULUM CONTAINED INAPPROPRIATE MATERIAL, REFUSED TO PRODUCE THE MATERIAL AND THEN WHEN THE REPORTERS, I WASN'T ONE OF THEM, OBVIOUSLY, WENT AND CHECKED THE TEXTBOOKS, FOUND ABSOLUTELY NO EVIDENCE OF CRITICAL RACE HEORY IN THE MATH CURRICULUM.

>> Eric: IS THIS SOLELY SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS OR TEACHERS GETTING THE SPILL OFF THIS?

>> OH, TEACHERS ARE DEFINITELY GETTING THE SPILL OFFER.

I THINK THEY'RE VERY WARY OF MAKING MISTAKES, SAYING SOMETHING THAT WILL DRAW ATTENTION TO THEIR CLASSROOM.

THEY'RE CONCERNED THE KIDS WILL O HOME AND PARENTS WILL BECOME INFLAMED.

THEY'RE NOT QUITE SURE WHERE THE LINE IS AND THAT LOOKS A LITTLE DIFFERENT IN MINNESOTA THAN MAYBE IT DOES IN THE REST OF THE COUNTRY BUT I THINK THAT IT IS CAUSING PEOPLE CAUSING PEOPLE WHEN THEY KNEAD TO ENGAGE WITH THEIR STUDENTS IN A COMMUNITY THAT'S EEN RUPTURED.

>> Eric: HOW MUCH OF THIS IS AATTRIBUTABLE TO THE REACTION AS REVOLVING AROUND THE PANDEMIC.

>> A LOT OF IT.

SO SCHOOL CLOSURES, THOSE DECISIONS HAVE BEEN LEFT TO SCHOOL BOARDS, SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS, THE GUIDELINES SHIFTED CONSTANTLY IN A LOT OF PLACES, INCLUDING MINNESOTA.

MASKING IS OFTEN LEFT TO SCHOOL BOARDS, DECISIONS ABOUT VACCINATION AFTER JANUARY WHEN THE COURTS OVERTURNED BIDEN'S EXECUTIVE ORDER, THOSE DECISIONS HAVE HAD TO BE MADE AT A LOCAL LEVEL AND IN SOME COMMUNITIES, THOSE COMMUNITIES ARE VERY EVENLY SPLIT AND THERE'S NO ROOM IN THOSE ARGUEMENTS FOR ANY NUANCE.

>> Eric: HOW ABOUT ENROLLMENTS?

I THINK PEOPLE HEADED FOR THE LIMITS A LITTLE BIT DURING THE PANDEMIC.

>> YEP.

>> Eric: IS THIS HAVING AN EFFECT ON THE SCHOOL ENROLLMENTS?

>> SURE, ABSOLUTELY.

YOU'RE LOOKING AT SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS WHO GET ALMOST NO PAY, WORK VERY LONG HOURS, HAVE TO MAKE HIGH-STAKES DECISION AND NOW DOING IT WITH DECLINING BUDGETS AND BUDGETS THAT ARE DECLINING REALLY QUICKLY.

>> Eric: DO WE NEED TO REVISIT THE PER PUPIL -- THIS IS DEEP IN THE WEEDS, I GUESS, BUT THE PER PUPIL FUNDING FORMULA IS LINKED TO ENROLL.

SIZE AND I WONDER IF THIS NEEDS TO BE REVISITED GIVEN THE CIRCUMSTANCE.

>> I LIVE IN THOSE WEEDS, ERIC, AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT MINNESOTA LIKE MANY OTHER PLACES HAS GIVEN MINNESOTA SCHOOLS SOME HOLD-HARMLESS FUND YANG AND THAT'S A DETECTIVE KALE ACT, YOU GIVE SCHOOLS SOME MONEY TO KIND OF BUFFER FOR THE FACT THAT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE HIGHER EXPENSES AND LOWER ENROLLMENT BUT THEN WHEN YOU TAKE IT AWAY, BECAUSE WHEN YOU TAKE IT AWAY, THERE'S A FISCAL CLIFF AND IF THE LONGER YOU HOLD HARMLESS, THE STEEPER THAT CLIFF IS GOING TO BE BUT IT'S A REAL NEED, A REAL FUNDING DROP, IT HAS REAL CONSEQUENCE THE.

>> Eric: WHERE DO YOU FIND THE 74 BECAUSE I THINK FOLKS WOULD BE INTERESTED IN A COUPLE OF YOUR STORIES THIS WEEK.

>> THANK YOU.

THE 74MILLION.ORG, THE 74 IS IN NUMBER RATHER, THE 74 MILL.ORG.

>> Eric: ALL RIGHT, BETH, KEEP IT STUPID.

YOU'RE GOING GREAT STUFF.

>> LEASURE TO BE HERE.

THANK YOU, ERIC.

>> ERIC: AFTER A TWO-YEAR HIATUS, ONE OF THE COUNTRY'S FINEST EXAMPLES OF PRAIRIE SCHOOL ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN IS BACK OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

THE MINNEAPOLIS INSTITUTE OF ART RECENTLY STARTED OFFERING TOURS AGAIN OF THE RENOWNED PURCELL-CUTTS HOUSE.

A FEW WEEKS AGO, WHEN SNOWFLAKES WERE STILL FLYING, REPORTER KAOMI LEE GOT A PERSONAL TOUR FROM THE CURATOR.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK.

>> NEAR LAKE OF THE ISLES IN MINNEAPOLIS, THERE IS AN ARCHITECTURAL GEM THAT WAS YEARS AHEAD OF ITS TIME.

>> WELCOME TO THE HOUSE.

>> THIS IS AMAZING.

LOOK AT THIS DOOR.

>> MANY PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT PRAIRIE SCHOOL ARCHITECTURE BECAUSE F FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT, BUT FEWER KNOW ABOUT HIS CONTEMPORARIES, WILLIAM GRAY PURCELL AND GEORGE GRANT ALLY.

>> THEY BRING A DIFFERENT ASPECT TO PRAIRIE SCHOOL ARCHITECTURE AND THEY WERE REALLY PROLIFIC HERE IN MINNESOTA BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THEY WERE LOCATED SO MANY OF THEIR HOUSES ARE HERE.

>> THE PERSELL-CUTS HOUSE IN MINNEAPOLIS IS CONSIDERED ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT EXAMPLES OF THE PRAIRIE SCHOOL DESIGN PHILOSOPHY, ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY.

IT'S A SUBLIME 'EM PO' BODIMENT OF THE COLLABORATION BETWEEN PURCELL AND ELMSLEY, AND BECAUSE PURCELL WAS ONE OF THE CLIENTS, IT'S ONE OF THE MOST AVANT-GARDE.

>> THIS WAS AT THE TURN OF THE LAST SCENERY, INSTEAD OF A PAR ALREADY TO RECEIVE GUESTS, IT IS HOUSE HAD AN OPEN LIVING PLAN.

>> THERE IS A REALLY STRONG GEOMETRY IN THE PRAIRIE SCHOOL HOUSE.

THEY TEND TO BE QUITE LINEAR, OFTEN VERY RECTANGULAR AND HUGGING THE LAND SAME.

YOU GET THAT WHEN YOU'RE OUTSIDE.

WHEN YOU COME IN HERE, THE COLOR PALLET CHANGES THAT YOU HAVE ALL THIS WHITE OAK WHICH IS THE TYPE OF FOOD WE HAVE HERE BUT THEY REALLY WORKED VERY STRONGLY WITH GEOMETRIC FORMS.

>> THE ARC TEXT WERE INTERESTED IN ART WORK WITHIN AN ART ORK.

>> THEY COMMISSIONED TWO ARTISTS TO PRODUCE DESIGNS FOR A MURAL BEFORE THE FIREPLACE.

THE ONE THAT THEY CHOSE WAS CHARLES LIVINGSTON BULL.

HE DID THIS MURAL OF LOUISIANA HERRON FLYING OVER WHAT'S IMPLIED TO BE A BODY OF WATER SO THERE'S KIND OF SOME REFERENCES TO THINGS LIKE LIKE OF THE ISLES -- >> Narrator: THE HOUSE WAS ALSO A SHOWPIECE ON ON WHAT THE ARCHITECTS COULD DO.

>> YOU CAN IMAGINE A FIRE IN THIS FIREPLACE THAT IT WOULD BE BOUNCING OFF THE MORTAR JOINTS IN THE FIREPLACE WHERE THERE'S IRIDESCENT GLASS LAID.

>> THE LARGE GLASS WINDOWS BROUGHT THE OUTDOORS IN.

PURCELL HAD PROGRESSIVE IDEAS.

IF I HAD THIS OFFICE, I WOULD NEVER GO BACK TO WORK, IN AN OFFICE AGAIN, IF I COULD.

RIGHT OFF THE MAIN LIVING SPACE, HE DESIGNED AN OFFICE FOR HIS WIFE, EDNA.

BACK THEN, A WOMAN'S SPACE WAS RELEGATED TO THE KITCHEN OR A BEDROOM.

NOT EDNA.

>> THIS WAS MEANT TO BE HER SPACE FOR CORRESPONDENCE, READING, WHATEVER SHE LIKED.

THIS WAS MEANT TO BE PART OF THE DESIGN FROM THE VERY BEGINNING.

>> HIGH ABOVE THE LIVING ROOM IS A WHIMSICAL PRODUCE AS IF ON A SHIP.

A REPRODUCTION OF THE ORIGINAL INSPIRED BY A SWEDISH CHILDREN'S BOOK.

IT CONNECTS THE LIVING ROOM TO THE DINING ROOM.

SOMETHING THAT'S KIND OF SPEAKING TO ME HERE, I LIVED IN JAPAN FOR A WHILE BUT YOU'VE GOT THE LIGHTS, THE STAIRWELL AREA THERE WITH THE SORT OF ZEN-LIKE DESIGN, REALLY REMINDS ME OF JAPAN.

DO YOU THINK THERE WAS SOME JAPANESE INFLUENCE SOMEWHERE?

>> THERE WANTS AN AWARENESS OF ASIAN DESIGN AND THEY WERE LOOKING AT INTERNATIONAL DESIGN JOURNALS.

>> ORIGINAL HANGING LIGHTS SIGNAL A SHIFT IN LIVING SPACE, A JAPANESE-INSPIRED SLIDING SCREEN SEPARATES THE MASTER BEDROOM FROM A CHILD'S ROOM.

MAID CALL BUTTONS WERE COMMON IN AFFLUENT HOMES OF THE TIME.

ALSO IN VOGUE WERE PORCHES OFF OF BEDROOMS.

>> THESE TWO TWIN BRASS BEDS AND THEY COULD ROLL HEM OUT ON TO THE SLEEPING PORCH AND SLEEP OUT THERE BECAUSE THERE WAS THOUGHT TO BE REALLY GOOD FOR YOUR HEALTH.

THE FIRST PUBLIC HEALTH CAMPAIGN IN THE UNITED STATES WAS RIGHT AROUND THE TURN OF THE 19th CENTURY, AND IT WAS ACTUALLY AGAINST TUBERCULOSIS.

>> MORE INNOVATIONS WERE PLACES FOR STORAGE, LIKE THIS OPENING IN THE FLOOR.

>> THEY WERE ABLE TO CARVE OUT SPACE THAT TENDED -- CEILING DOWN THERE, IF YOU CAN IMAGINE IT.

THERE'S DEAD SPACE ABOVE IT SO HE CARVED OUT CEDAR STORAGE INTO THE FLOOR, AND SO THIS IS WHERE THEY PUT THE WOOL AND CLOTHES.

>> IN SUCH A FABULOUS HOUSE, ONE CAN ONLY IMAGINE THE HOUSE'S MARKET VALUE TODAY.

IF YOU WERE TO THROW OUT A NUMBER, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY?

>> I THINK WHEN WE RESTORED THE HOUSE, THE VALUE WAS CLOSE TO A MILLION IN 1990 SO JUST IMAGINE, LIKE, WHAT THE MARKET WOULD BE NOW.

>> SO, ANOTHER BEDROOM?

>> YEAH, THIS IS THE GUEST BEDROOM.

>> LAST ON THE TOUR IS A FITTING REMINDER OF THE FAMILY THAT OWNED THE HOUSE FOR 66 YEARS.

>> WE DO HAVE IN HERE A PORTRAIT OF ANSON CUTTS SENIOR, ALTHOUGH WE DO INTERPRET THE HOUSE FROM THE TIME THAT PURKRELLS LIVED HERE BUT WE HAVE SOME THINGS FROM THE CUTTS FAMILY BECAUSE THEY WERE GOOD STEWARDS OF THE HOUSE.

>> I THINK ONE OF MY DOPAMINE BUTTONS IS BROKEN.

LET ME EXPLAIN.

DOPAMINE IS A REWARD NEUROTRANSMITTER, RIGHT?

THE ONE THAT GETS PRODUCED WHEN YOU'RE DOING SOMETHING YOU LIKE A LOT.

AND THERE ARE HEALTHY DOPAMINE TRIGGERS AND NOT-SO-HEALTHY ONES.

FOR EXAMPLE, READING OR LISTENING TO A GREAT STORY, HEALTHY DOPAMINE BUTTON.

REPEATEDLY FORGETTING TO EAT AND SLEEP BECAUSE YOU CAN'T PUT THE STORY DOWN, NOT-SO-HEALTHY DOPAMINE BUTTON.

NOT THAT I'VE EVER DONE THAT.

I USED TO BE PRETTY GOOD AT UNSTRUCTURED TIME.

WHEN I LIVED IN NEW YORK, I'D RIDE THE SUBWAY SOMEWHERE AND JUST WALK BACK UNTIL I GOT TIRED.

THIS MOTHER'S DAY, I GOT THREE WHOLE HOURS TO MYSELF.

AMAZING.

I HAD TO LEAVE THE HOUSE BECAUSE A CLOSED DOOR IS NO BARRIER TO A SMALL CHILD WHO BELIEVES THAT ONLY MAMA CAN CUT HIS RAINBOW ORANGE THE RIGHT WAY.

SO, I LEFT THE HOUSE.

AND I COULDN'T THINK OF ANYTHING TO DO.

I DIDN'T PLAN BECAUSE I'M A CHAOS MUPPET.

SO I DROVE AROUND, WHICH I USED TO ENJOY, BUT IT WAS UNSATISFYING.

I REALIZED, I'VE BEEN USING ROUGHLY THE SAME DOPAMINE BUTTONS FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS: SLEEPING, SNACKING, AND STREAMING.

SO I NEED TO RECALIBRATE SOME BUTTONS, AND MAYBE REPLACE A FEW.

BUT I THINK I'LL KEEP THAT "SO WRAPPED UP IN A GOOD BOOK THE WORLD GOES AWAY" BUTTON IN CASE OF A RAINY AND/OR CHILD-FREE DAY.

THERE ARE NEW LEADERS WHO ARE EMERGING AND AS LONG AS MY VOICE IS IN THAT ROOM, THEIR VOICE WON'T BE SO WELL HEARD.

>> Mary: WHAT ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN FOR THE GOVERNOR, YOU STOOD OUT AS THE ONLY WOMAN, PARTICULARLY ON YOUR PARTY'S SIDE BUT IN GENERAL, HOW DOES IT FEEL NOT TO HAVE A WOMAN RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR IN THIS STATE ANYMORE?

>> NOT SOMETHING I THINK MINNESOTA POLITICS HAS TO UNPACK.

I WASN'T THE RIGHT CANDIDATE FOR THE DELEGATES AT THIS TIME AND I HADN'T DONE MY DUE DILIGENCE IN PREPARING TO FUNDRAISE FOR SOMETHING THIS BIG.

IT'S ABOUT $1.5 MILLION TO RUN IN A PRIMARY.

ON PAPER, I WAS A GOOD CANDIDATE BUT THE DELEGATES WERE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING ELSE IN THE ERA OF TRUMP AND FRANKLY THE POLARIZATION THAT HAS COME IN POLITICS, IT'S CHALLENGING FOR SOMEONE WHO JUST FOCUSES ON -- AND GOOD POLICY.

♪♪ >> ERIC: FOR THE NEXT TEN MINUTES, WE'RE GOING TO TALK POLITICS LOCAL AND NATIONAL.

ON THE NATIONAL FRONT, THE TOPIC LIST INCLUDES ROE V. WADE, HIGH INFLATION AND FOREIGN POLICY.

CLOSER TO HOME, BOTH REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS ARE TESTING THE POWER OF PARTY ENDORSEMENT THIS MONTH.

HERE TO UNPACK ALL THIS, A TRIO OF POLITICAL SCIENTISTS.

DAVID SCHULTZ.

HAMLINE IS HIS ACADEMIC HOME.

CYNTHIA RUGELEY PLYS HER TRADE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA-DULUTH.

STEVE SCHIER IS A PROFESSOR EMERITUS AT CARLETON COLLEGE.

WELCOME ONE AND ALL.

OKAY, I KNOW THE CONVENTIONAL WISDOM AND ALL THE RESEARCH WOULD TELL YOU THAT THE PARTY THAT IS IN POWER LOSES SEATS IN THE MID-TERM.

BUT LISTEN TO THIS LIST OF VARIABLES.

WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH TWITTER, ABORTION, TRUMP EFFECT, COVID, UKRAINE WAR, INFLATION, PROFESSOR SCHULTZ.

DO THESE FACTORS HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO SHAKE UP THE CONVENTIONAL WISDOM?

>> I THINK ALL OF THEM THAT COULD SHAKE IT UP, I THINK MOSTLY IT COULD BE ROE VERSUS WADE AND THAT'S OVERTURNED BECAUSE GENERALLY IN THE MID-TERM ELECTION, AS YOU POINTED OUT, THE PARTY OF THE PRESIDENT DOESN'T DO WELL BUT ALSO DEMOCRATS ARE NOT QUITE AS MOTIVATED AT MID-TERM ELECTIONS NOT TO SHOW UP AND WITH TRUMP NOT ON THE BALLOT, THAT'S A CONCERN, ALSO.

IF ROE GETS REVERSED, I DON'T WANT TO SAY ALL BETS ARE OFF BUT THIS COULD MOTIVATE A LOT OF SUBURBAN WOMEN AND YOUNG WOMEN TO SHOW UP AND VOTE.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT WILL BE ENOUGH TO SAVE THE DEMOCRATS BUT IT COULD CERTAINLY CHANGE THE CALCULUS A LITTLE BIT.

>> PROFESSOR.

>> I AGREE, I THINK THAT ROE COULD -- I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S ENOUGH TO REALLY CHANGE THE OVERALL BUT I THINK IT COULD MINIMIZE THE EFFECT OF THE MID-TERM ELECTION.

ROE COULD.

AND ALSO I HINK THAT THERE IS STILL AMONG DEMOCRATS A HEAVY DISLIKE OF THE FORMER PRESIDENT AND HIS POLICIES, AND SO IT WILL BE EXHIBITING TO SEE HOW THEY RESPOND TO SO MANY CANDIDATES RUNNING STILL ON HIS COATTAILS.

>> Eric: PROFESSOR SCHIER, DO YOU WANT TO WEIGH IN ON THIS?

>> SURE.

WELL, ABORTION VOTERS ARE STRONG PARTISANS SO MINDS AREN'T REALLY GOING CHANGE AT THE MASS LEVEL ABOUT ABORTION.

BUT, THE ADVANTAGES FOR THE DEMOCRATS WITH THE ABORTION ISSUE WOULD BE ADDITIONAL VOLUNTEERS AND CONTRIBUTIONS FROM STRONGLY MOTIVATED SUPPORTERS OF ROE WHO ARE UPSET WITH THE SUPREME COURT OPINION.

>> Eric: THE PRESIDENT, FORMER PRESIDENT, PRESIDENT TRUMP, HAD A PRETTY GOOD DAY -- PRETTY GOOD TIME IN THE MAY PRIMARIES SO FAR.

HIS ENDORSEMENTS SEEM TO BE HOLDING IN THESE REPUBLICAN PRIMARIES.

WHY DIDN'T HE GET INVOLVED OR HASN'T GOTTEN INVOLVED YET IN MINNESOTA?

>> WELL, I THINK A COUPLE DIFFERENT REASONS.

ONE, FIRST YOU SHOULD POINT OUT BY HIM DOING SO WELL AT OTHER ENDORSEMENT, IT'S SPEAKING TO THE FACT THAT I THINK HE AND HIS SUPPORTERS HAVE A PRETTY GOOD GRASP ON THE PARTY.

I THINK HERE, IT'S BECAUSE, WHAT, IN MANY WAYS, TRUMP DIDN'T DO THAT WELL IN THIS STATE.

>> Eric: THIRD IN THE -- >> THIRD AND ALSO I WAS GOING TO SAY BUY DEAN WON BY A PRETTY DECISIVE PERCENTAGE HERE COMPARED TO HOW CLOSE THE RACE WAS BETWEEN TRUMP AND CLINTON.

SO YOU HAVE TO START THINKING IN TERMS OF ESPECIALLY THE REPUBLICANS HERE, WHERE THEY HAVE NOT WON STATEWIDE OFFICE GOING BACK TO 2006, THEY'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT A WAY OF BROADENING THEIR BASE AND I THINK BECAUSE TRUMP IS SO POLAR EYEING A FIGURE, YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO USE HIM AS A WAY OF REACHING OUT TO SUBURBAN VOTERS.

>> Eric: I GUESS THE SALE OF TWITTER IS ON HOLD FOR THE TIME BEING BUT I GUESS PRESIDENT TRUMP WOULD HAVE THE ABILITY TO COME BACK ON TWITTER, WOULD THAT BE GOOD POLITICS OR BAD POLITICS FOR HIM AND HIS SUPPORTERS OR... >> WELL, IT WOULD BE GOOD FOR HIM BECAUSE IT FEEDS HIM.

I SEEMS TO FEED OFF OF IT SO IT WOULD BE GOOD FOR HIM AND HIS SUPPORTERS BECAUSE THERE WOULD BE SOMETHING THEY COULD GO BACK OVER THERE AND START FOLLOWING HIM AGAIN.

KEEP IN MIND, THE STATES THAT HE DID WELL IN, OHIO, THAT'S A STRONG TRUMP STAYED.

MINNESOTA, NOT SO MUCH, AND SO, I MEAN, THAT PROBABLY PLAYS INTO IT A LITTLE BIT.

TWITTER, I MEAN, HE REALLY MADE HAY OUT OF THAT BECAUSE IT WAS LIKE THAT WAS HIS DAILY PRESS CONFERENCE AND EVERYTHING GOT ATTENTION AND IT ENDED UP ON THE NEWSPAPERS AND THINGS LIKE THAT AND ON THE NEWS SO, YEAH, I THINK IT WOULD BE GOOD FOR HIM TO GET BACK ON IT.

>> Eric: PROFESSOR SCHIER, WOULD THAT FIRE UP DEMOCRATS, THAT YOU WOULD HAVE A DAILY OUTRAGE, QUOTE, UNQUOTE.

>> >> ILL, THEY WOULD AVE A DAILY OUTRAGE.

I DO WANT TO AGREE WITH DAVE ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF SUBURBAN VOTERS AND ALSO POLITICAL INDEPENDENTS IN THE 2022 MINNESOTA ELECTIONS.

THE KSTP POLL THIS WEEK SHOWED THAT IN THE MATCH RACES FOR GOVERNOR, ABOUT A THIRD OF SUBURBANITES AND A THIRD OF INDEPENDENTS WERE REALLY UNDECIDED.

THAT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR REPUBLICANS BUT I AGREE WITH THE OTHER TWO PROFESSORS THAT TRUMP IS NOT THE WAY TO WIN THEIR HEARTS.

>> Eric: IN THOSE POLLS, WALZ WAS UNDER 50% AND AS PROFESSOR SCHIER SAYS, QUITE A GOOD NUMBER OF UNDECIDEDs.

WHAT DOES THAT PORTEND FOR NOVEMBER, IF ANYTHING?

>> WELL, IT'S NOT UNEXPECTED, HE'S THE INCUMBENT -- >> HE DID CRACK 50, HOUGH.

>> ONE IS ONE POLL AND IT'S EARLY AND THERE'S NO OPPONENT, THERE'S NO PERSON TO BE AGAINST ND SO IT'S NOT UNUSUAL THAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING, I DON'T KNOW WHO I'M GOING TO VOTE FOR NOW BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHO THE OTHER CANDIDATE IS.

>> WALZ STILL HAS QUITE A FEW ADVANTAGES.

HE HAS VASTLY FAR MORE MONEY THAN ANY OF HE REPUBLICAN OPPONENTS DO AND MONEY STILL MATTERS IN POLITICS.

HE STILL HAS FAIRLY GOOD SUPPORT -- I KNOW STEVE MENTIONED ABOUT THE FACT THAT ONE-THIRD ARE UNDECIDED BUT IF YOU LOOK AT SUBURBAN VOTERS, THERE'S STILL A LOT OF SUPPORT FOR HIM THERE AND ATHE REPUBLICANS HAVE TO MAKE A SIGNIFICANT INROAD INTO SUBURBAN VOTERS AND HAVE TO HAVE A LOT OF, LET'S SAY, THE TWIN CITIES URBAN DEMOCRATS STAY HOME ON ELECTION DAY.

THOSE TWO HAVE TO OME TOGETHER FOR HIM TO WIN BECAUSE WE'RE LOOKING AT WHAT, NOW, ROUGHLY THE TWIN CITIES IS ABOUT -- LET'S SAY HENNEPIN AND RAMSEY COUNTY, ABOUT 55%, YOU KNOW, OF THE STATEWIDE VOTE AT THIS POINT, UNLESS THEY DO SOMETHING REALLY SERIOUS TO CRACK THAT, IT'S GOING TO BE HARD FOR THEM TO WIN STATEWIDE.

>> Eric: IS ELECTION INTEGRITY GOING TO BE AN ISSUE IN MINNESOTA OR ELSEWHERE, PROFESSOR SCHIER?

>> WELL, KIM CROCKETT HAS JUST BEEN ENDORSED AT THE REPUBLICAN CONVENTION THIS EVENING AND SHE IS RUNNING FOR SECRETARY OF STATE AND SHE CERTAINLY IS GOING TO BE CARRYING THAT BANNER, AND OF COURSE SCOTT JENSEN, WHO MAY BE THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE FOR GOVERNOR WANTS -- BELIEVES THAT OUR SECRETARY OF STATE, STEVE SIMON, BELONGS IN JAIL.

SO I THINK THAT THIS ISSUE MAY HAVE SOME SALIENCE IN NOVEMBER, I'M NOT SURE IT HELPS REPUBLICANS BUT THEY WILL CERTAINLY BRING IT UP.

>> Eric: HAS PRESIDENT BUSH RAMPED UP HIS ATTACKS ON THE TRUMP AND HIS SUPPORTERS?

I KIND OF SENSE THIS WEEK HE WAS ON THE OFFENSE I HAVE A LITTLE BIT, WHERE HE HADN'T BEEN.

>> WELL, HE USUALLY STAYS OUT OF IT.

THE THING ABOUT -- HE HAS, HE'S BEEN MORE OUTSPOKEN.

>> Eric: AND IS FORTUNES ARE IMPORTANT TO DEMOCRATS DOWN HE BALLOT, OBVIOUSLY.

>> YEAH, I MEAN IT -- THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT HIM IS HE USUALLY STAYS OUT OF IT, I MEAN, HAS SINCE HE WAS PRESIDENT.

WHEN HE WAS GOVERNOR OF TEXAS, IT WAS NOT UNUSUAL FOR HIM -- HE WOULDN'T ENDORSE A DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE BUT HE WOULDN'T SPEAK AGAINST THEM.

THAT'S THE WAY HE DID BUSINESS, IF IT WAS A DEMOCRAT HE LIKED.

IT IS UNUSUAL FOR HIM TO STEP UP AND START DOING THIS.

>> IT'S UNUSUAL IN GENERAL, I THINK, FOR PAST PRESIDENTS TO REALLY GET INVOLVED IN AMERICAN POLITICS.

USUALLY -- I DON'T WANT TO QUITE SAY THEY RIDE OFF INTO THE SUNSET BUT GENERALLY THEY DO AND THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, TRUMP -- TRUMP IS STILL ACTIVE, ALTHOUGH HE MAY RUN AGAIN, YOU KNOW, THEY BROUGHT OBAMA BACK, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT A REALLY UNUSUAL PATTERN HERE NOW WHERE WE'RE -- WHERE THE -- THEY -- WE REALLY HAVE POLITICIZING 'EM WELL BEYOND THE TIME THEY'VE BEEN IN OFFICE BUT IT ALSO, I THINK, IS JUST FASCINATING N THE SENSE OF WHEN PEOPLE LIKE BUSH AND SO FORTH, LIKE THAT, HOW I THINK THEY'RE GETTING NVOLVED BECAUSE THEY ALSO FEEL SO ESTRANGED FROM THEIR PARTY NOW.

>> RIGHT, AND I THINK THERE IS A STRONG FEELING BY A LOT OF THE OLDER REPUBLICANS HAT SOMETHING'S GONE OFF THE RAILS.

AND I MEAN THE ISSUES THAT YOU WERE TALKING BOUT A MOMENT AGO ABOUT PEOPLE DENYING THE ELECTION RETURNS, I THINK THAT'S A GREAT CONCERN TO A LOT OF REPUBLICANS THAT ARE NO LONGER IN OFFICE, AND THE WHOLE QUESTION OF THE THREAT TO OUR DEMOCRACY.

>> AND IT SHOULD BE ALSO BECAUSE IN THE SAME WAY THEY'RE SAYING WE DON'T TRUST THE ELECTION RETURNS BECAUSE BIDEN DIDN'T WIN, IT'S ALSO HARD TO SAY HOW DO YOU TRUST THE ELECTION RETURNS IF THE REPUBLICANS WERE TO WIN THIS YEAR, TOO.

KIND OF A DANGEROUS TWO-EDGED SWORD HERE.

>> RIGHT.

>> Eric: PROFESSOR SURE, YOU SENT OUT A VERY INTERESTING COLUMN THIS WEEK, IS IT ROY TSCHERA, IS THAT HOW -- >> YEAH, A LONGTIME DEMOCRATIC ANALYST, LATINO.

[Overlapping Conversation] >> PROGRESSIVE LEFT OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY ARGUING THAT THEY HAVE FAILED IN EVERYTHING THEY'VE TRIED TO DO AND BECOME VERY -- AND HELPED TO MAKE THE PARTY VERY UNPOPULAR AND HE GIVES YOU SEVEN DIFFERENT ISSUES THAT REALLY HAVE NOT WORKED FOR DEMOCRATS AND I THOUGHT -- IT MADE ME STAND UP AND PAY ATTENTION.

>> AND YOU SEE THAT GOING ON ON THE OTHER SIGHT, TOO.

PRESIDENT BIDEN HAD WEEK, HIS NEWS CONFERENCE WHERE HE TALKED ABOUT HOW EXTREME AND HE BROUGHT OUT SOME OF THE MORE -- WHEN HE FOCUSED ON MARJORIE TAYLOR GREEN AND SOME OF HESE POSITIONS THAT ARE TAKING PLACE AND SO I THINK YOU'RE SEEING A LOT OF THAT BOTH SIDES AND THE FAR LEFT AND THE FAR RIGHT, YOU KNOW, ARE UNDER CRITICISM OR BECOMING AN ISSUE IN THE ELECTION.

>> Eric: WELL, THE ELITE IN THE UNI PARTY WHICH A LOT OF REPUBLICANS CALL -- CONSERVATIVES CAM THE NATIONAL STRUCTURE, THERE'S POPULISM ON BOTH SIDES, RIGHT, IN BOTH PARTIES?

>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

YOU HAVE SORT OF THE TRADITIONAL RANK AND FILE, YOU'VE GOT POPULISM POLLING IN VERY DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS FOR BOTH OF THE PARTIES AND, AGAIN, COME BACK TO THINK ABOUT PEOPLE LIKE BIDEN AND THAT, BIDEN ON FOR TWO REASONS.

A, HE WASN'T TRUMP AND PEOPLE WERE ANGRY ABOUT IT AND, TWO, HE RAN AS A MODERATE, AASEN TRYST.

I MEAN, THE BERNIE SANDERS WING DIDN'T WIN, AGAIN, AND I THINK THE MESSAGE THAT THE MESSAGE THE DEMOCRATS THINK NEED TO THINK ABOUT HERE IS DID THEY OVERREACH, DID THEY PUSH TOO FAR ON WHAT, BUILD BACK BETTER HAD EVERYTHING BUT THE KITCHEN SINK IN IT.

THIS IS NOT WHY BIDEN GOT ELECTED SO IT'S A DICHOTOMY BETWEEN THE URBAN PROGRESSIVE AND THE SUBURBAN BASE AND IT'S THE SUBURBAN BASE THAT WINS ELECTIONS.

>> Eric: PROFESSOR SCHIER, I'M WONDERING IF YOU THINK THE CURRENT CAUCUS CONVENTION SYSTEM OF ENDORSISM AND PRIMARY FOR NOMINATION, IS IT KIND OF STALE?

DOES IT NEED TO BE FLESHENED UP A LITTLE BIT?

>> WELL, LET'S JUST SAY IT ADVANTAGES THE ENTHUSIASTIC, AND THE ENTHUSIASTIC ARE NOT NECESSARILY THE REPRESENTATIVES, FIRST OF ALL, OF THE PUBLIC GENERALLY, AND EVEN OF THE RACK AND FILE IN THEIR OWN PARTY.

AND SO IT'S PERHAPS NOT A SURPRISE THAT, FOR EXAMPLE, ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE, OUR TWO MOST RECENT GOVERNORS WERE NOT ENDORSED BY THE PARTY.

>> Eric: WHAT DO YOU THINK, PROFESSOR SCHULTZ?

>> IF WE GO BACK OVER ABOUT 30 YEARS IN MINNESOTA, THE TRACK RECORD FOR ENDORSED CANDIDATES ON COMING OUT OF THE CONVENTION IS NOT VERY GOOD.

AND I THINK STEVE IS FUNDAMENTALLY CORRECT HERE, WE HAVE THE PARTY ACTIVISTS WHO LET'S SAY ARE EITHER FURTHER TO THE LEFT OR FURTHER TO THE RIGHT, AND THEN WE HAVE THE RANK AND NILE THAT VOTE IN THE PRIMARIES, WHICH IS A LITTLE BIT MORE CENTRIST AND YOU GET TO THE GENERAL ELECTION HERE, THERE HAS TO BE SOMETHING TO REBALANCE THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE SHOWING UP AT THE CAUCUSES AND CONVENTIONS.

I USED TO ALWAYS SAY WE HAVE CAUCUSES, PRIMARIES, CONVENTIONS AND GENERAL ELECTIONS, AT LEAST ONE OF THOSE DOESN'T FIT.

>> Eric: IN TEXAS, DO THEY HAVE THIS ENDORSEMENT SYSTEM DOWN IN TEXAS?

>> NO, THEY DON'T.

THEY GO THROUGH THE PRIMARY SYSTEM AND THEN IT'S OVER WITH.

THEY DON'T DO THE ENDORSEMENTS AND WHAT'S BEING SAID HERE, I MEAN, THEORETICALLY, WHEN YOU HAVE A CONVENTION SYSTEM, THEY NOMINATE A CANDIDATE WHO REPRESENTS THE ISSUE -- BUT WE'RE NOT SEEING THAT, I DON'T THINK.

I THINK WE'RE SEEING CANDIDATES WHO, YOU KNOW, PERHAPS THE MORE LIBERAL WING HAS TAKEN OVER THE DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM, THE MORE CONCERT ACTIVE WING HAS TAKEN OVER THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS SYSTEMS, SO ARGUABLY, YOU'RE NOT GETTING THOSE CANDIDATES COMING OUT OF THE ENDORSEMENT THAT DO REPRESENT THE PARTY POSITIONS.

AND SO I DON'T KNOW IF ITS NEED TO BE FRESHENED UP OR IT'S JUST AN EXERCISE NOW THAT REALLY HAS NO REAL MEANING.

[Laughter] >> Eric: I LEARNED A LOT AUDITING THIS COURSE TONIGHT.

THANK YOU GUYS.

THANKS, PROFESSOR SCHIER.

>> SKOL VIKINGS RUN UP THE SCORE... >> I'M SHEIKING, HAVEN'T STOPPED SHAKING FOR HOURS.

>> DID YOU EVER THINK YOU COULD CRY OVER POLITICS?

>> OH, YEAH.

>> EMOTIONS RAN RAW WITH THE FINAL VOTES OF THE SESSION.

>> ERIC: FOR THIS WEEK'S HISTORY QUESTION, WE VENTURE BACK 50 YEARS, TO 1972, AND THE VERY FIRST DRAFT OF THE WORLD HOCKEY ASSOCIATION.

THE MINNESOTA FIGHTING SAINTS, WHAT A GREAT LOGO, WERE A TEAM IN THE PROFESSIONAL LEAGUE THAT TRIED TO COMPETE WITH THE NHL.

THE WHA HAD A LONG DRAFT AND THINGS GOT A BIT LOOPY IN THE LATE ROUNDS.

IN THE 70TH ROUND -- YES, YOU HEARD THAT RIGHT -- THE SAINTS MADE A NON-TRADITIONAL PICK OF A NOTED MINNESOTAN.

YOU COULD SAFELY CALL IT A LONG SHOT.

THE PERSON SELECTED DIDN'T END UP PLAYING FOR THE SAINTS BUT THE NEWS MADE THE FRONT PAGE OF THE "MINNEAPOLIS TRIBUNE" THE MORNING AFTER THE DRAFT.

WE WANT YOU TO TELL US THE NAME OF THE NOTED MINNESOTAN.

WHO DID THE FIGHTING SAINTS DRAFT IN THE 70TH ROUND BACK IN 1972?

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU WHETHER YOU LIVE NEAR ICE LAKE, PUCK LAKE, HOCKEY LAKE, OR ZAMBONI LAKE.

ALL OF THOSE, EXCEPT THE LAST ONE, ARE ACTUAL BODIES OF WATER IN THE LAND OF 10,000 LAKES.

651-229-1430.

SURE, YOU CAN HOP ONLINE AND DO YOUR RESEARCH.

BUT WE ALSO ENCOURAGE WILD GUESSES.

THAT NUMBER AGAIN IS 651-229-1430.

BEFORE WE GO, A REMINDER THAT WITH JUST 10 DAYS LEFT IN THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, YOU CAN CATCH ALL THE DAYTIME AND LATE NIGHT LEGISLATIVE GOINGS-ON BY TUNING IN YOUR LOCAL PBS STATION.

LOOK FOR THE MINNESOTA CHANNEL.

WE HAVE ANOTHER THING WE WANT YOUR HELP ON.

WE'RE LAUNCHING OUR ANNUAL "ALMANAC" VIEWER SURVEY.

IT'LL TAKE ABOUT TEN MINUTES TO FILL OUT AND IT'S A GREAT WAY TO TELL US WHAT YOU LIKE ABOUT THIS SHOW, AND WHAT YOU THINK WE SHOULD BE DOING DIFFERENTLY.

YOU CAN FIND THE SURVEY ONLINE BY GOING TO TPT.ORG/ALMANACSURVEY.

WE'VE DONE THIS FOR MORE THAN A DECADE AND HAVE HEARD FROM NEARLY 10,000 OF YOU.

WE TAKE THE INFORMATION TO HEART.

THAT WEB ADDRESS AGAIN IS TPT.ORG/ALMANACSURVEY.

AND THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR TAKING THE TIME TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

FOR SHOW-CLOSING MUSIC, IT WAS THIS WEEK IN 2009 THAT JEREMY MESSERSMITH STOPPED BY THE STUDIO AND SANG FOR US ABOUT THE WONDERS OF LIGHT RAIL.

HE WAS STANDING ABOUT ABOUT 10 FEET TO MY LEFT.

LET'S LISTEN TO HIS TUNE AS WE ROLL THE CREDITS.

JOIN US NEXT WEEK WHEN LEGISLATIVE LEADERS ARE ON THE SHOW.

IT'S AN "ALMANAC" TRADITION ON THE FINAL FRIDAY OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

WE'LL SEE YOU THEN.

AND UNTIL THEN, BE CAREFUL.

♪ WE'LL TAKE YOU ANYWHERE YOU WANT TO GO, OH-OH ♪ ♪ TAKE A RIDE WELL, YOU CAN WATCH THE TOWN FLY BY ♪ ♪ HOP INSIDE, YOU'LL BE THERE IN HALF THE TIME WHEN YOU RIDE THE LIGHT RAIL ♪ ♪ La, La, La, La, La, La, La ♪♪ ♪ La, La, La, La, La, La, La ♪♪ "ALMANAC" IS A PRODUCTION OF CAPTIONED BY: VERITEXT/PARADIGM CAPTIONING WWW.VERITEXT.COM BL AST BLAST BLAST BLAST >> SO TAKE A RIDE ♪ YOU CAN WATCH THE TOWN FLY BY ♪ ♪ HOP INSIDE, YOU'LL BE THERE IN HALF THE TIME WHEN YOU RIDE THE LIGHT RAIL ♪ ♪ La, La, La, La, La, La ♪ ♪ La, La, La, La, La, La ♪ "ALMANAC" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY MEMBERS OF THIS PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION.

SUPPORT IS ALSO PROVIDED BY... GREAT RIVER ENERGY: PROVIDING WHOLESALE POWER TO 28 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.

ENBRIDGE: CONNECTING MINNESOTANS WITH ENERGY FOR OVER 70 YEARS.

MORE AT ENBRIDGE.COM/LINE3US.

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.

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT IS PROVIDED BY THE BLANDIN FOUNDATION, WORKING TO STRENGHTEN RURAL MINNESOTA.

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