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

>> WE WILL TALK THIS WEEK ABOUT THE SCATHING REPORT ON THE MINNEAPOLIS POLICE DEPARTMENT.

THEN WE'LL MEET A FAMILY IN BEMIDJI ASK THAT HAS IMMIGRATED FROM UKRAINE AND MARY LAHAMMER HAS A STORY ON HOTLY DEBATED TOPIC AT THE LEGISLATURE.

>> PROPOSALS FOR PAID FAMILY LEAVE ARE MOVING THROUGH THE HOUSE AND SENATE WITH DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS DIFFER IN THEIR BILLS.

WE'LL HAVE AN IN-DEPTH CONVERSATION WITH THE BILL AUTHOR.

>> WE SEE THAT THIS IS AN INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT ISSUE.

>> THAT'S COMING UP ON "ALMANAC."

♪♪ FLUSH >> "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/LINETHREEUS.

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 STRENGTHEN RURAL MINNESOTA.

>> Eric: LATER IN THE HOUR WE'LL HAVE REPORTS ABOUT FAMILY LEAVE, UKRAINIAN IMMIGRANTS IN BEMIDJI AND WE'LL LOOK AT THE FINAL FEW WEEKS OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, BUT FIRST UP IN THE HOUR AN EXTENSIVE AND TROUBLING LOOK AT THE MINNEAPOLIS POLICE DEPARTMENT CONDUCTED BY THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RIGHTS.

>> Cathy: YOU'RE RIGHT, THE REPORT WAS NEARLY TWO YEARS IN THE MAKING.

THE AUTHORS EXAMINED NEARLY A HALF MILLION DOCUMENTS AND WATCHED HUNDREDS OF HOURS OF BODY CAMERA FOOTAGE GOING BACK FULLY 10 YEARS.

CONCLUDED THERE WAS PROBABLE CAUSE.

THE HUMAN RIGHTS DEPARTMENT SAYS IT WILL WORK WITH MINNEAPOLIS OFFICIALS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO SPUR A CONSENT DECREE TO CREATE NEEDED CHANGES.

THAT CONSENT DECREE WILL BE ENFORCEABLE BY THE COURTS.

IT'S A LOT TO DIGEST AND WITH US IS DEENA WINTER FROM THE MINNESOTA REFORMER NEWS SITE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Cathy: GIVE US JUST TO START WITH EXAMPLES F THE MOST GLARING CONDUCT IN THIS REPORT.

>> I THINK THERE'S A LOT TO CHOOSE FROM, BUT I THINK THAT SOME OF THE LANGUAGE AND VIEWS OF SOME OF THE OFFICERS THAT THEY'VE PORTRAYED IN THE REPORT, SOME RACIAL SLURS THAT BE BEING USED BY OFFICERS AND JUST SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THEY HAVE BEEN SAYING.

APPARENTLY IT'S SO BAD THAT THEY'RE NOT EVEN USING SOME OF THE BODY WORN CAMERA FOOTAGE IN COURT AS EVIDENCE BECAUSE PROSECUTORS SAY THAT IT'S JUST NOT APPROPRIATE TO PLAY OR IT JUST MAKES, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE DISRESPECTFUL OR THEY'RE USING LANGUAGE THAT'S POOR SO THEY'RE CHOOSING NOT TO EVEN USE IT.

>> Eric: THE CITY OFFICIALS IN MINNEAPOLIS HAVE KIND OF HID BEHIND WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING, WE'RE TRAPPED BY ARBITRATION RULES OR STATE LAW.

THE REPORT SAYS THAT'S REALLY NOT THE CASE.

>> YEAH, I MEAN, I THINK THAT WAS KIND OF A HEADLINE FROM ME IS THAT WE HEAR A LOT HOW WE NEED TO CHANGE THIS LAW OR THE LABOR CONTRACT.

WE HEAR A LOT FROM MAYOR FREY ABOUT ARBITRATION AND HOW THAT'S REALLY A CULPRIT.

BUT THE STATE COMES OUT AND SAYS THAT'S REALLY KIND OF RED HERRING, THE CITY COULD DO A LOT MORE THAN IT'S DOING AND THEY NEED TO START DOING IT.

>> Cathy: LET'S TALK ABOUT PROBLEMS WITH TRAINING AND POLICE PROCESSES THAT WERE FOUND IN THIS REPORT.

>> YEAH, THEY SAY THAT THE DEPARTMENT TAKES A PAR YEAMILITARY APPROACH TO EVERYTHING AND THAT THE TRAINING IS SORELY LACKING, FIELD TRAINING OFFICERS ARE NOT GETTING ENOUGH TRAINING AND THEY HAVEN'T HAD A REFRESHER COURSE IT SAID I THINK SINCE 2015 FOR FIELD TRAINING OFFICERS.

DEREK CHAUVIN WAS A FIELD TRAINING OFFICER SO THAT'S A LITTLE TROUBLING WITH WE'RE NOT SEEING ENOUGH TRAINING FOR ANYBODY.

THERE WAS AN OFFICER IN THE REPORT QUOTED AS SAYING HE DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THE USE OF FORCE POLICY SO TWO YEARS AFTER, YOU KNOW, GEORGE FLOYD WAS KILLED ON THE STREETS OF MINNEAPOLIS, TO HEAR AN OFFICER SAY THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT POLICY IS A LITTLE BIT JARRING.

AND SO WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO N THAT FRONT.

>> Eric: ONE OF THE SAWS HAS BEEN THIS IS JUST A FEW BAD APPLES.

THIS SEEMS TO GO BEYOND THAT.

>> IT DOES, IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S ENDEMIC, IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S NOT JUST A FEW.

I MEAN, I'VE BEEN -- THERE'S NO COUNT OR THERE'S NO, YOU KNOW, IT'S PRETTY HARD TO NAIL THAT DOWN, BUT IT'S CERTAINLY -- >> Eric: IT'S A CULTURE THING, YEAH.

>> YEAH, CULTURE THING IS WHAT THEY'RE SAYING.

>> Cathy: MM-HMM.

YOU KNOW, BIPOC COMMUNITIES IN MINNEAPOLIS, IT'S ALMOST LIKE, YOU KNOW, SEE, WE TOLD YOU SO, THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON, WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO CALL ATTENTION TO THIS.

SO WHAT ABOUT THE REACTION AMONG PEOPLE OF COLOR?

>> YEAH, I MEAN, I REMEMBER WHEN I INTERVIEWED A JUROR FOR DEREK CHAUVIN'S TRIAL, A BLACK MAN FROM NORTH MINNEAPOLIS, BRANDON MITCHELL, YOU KNOW, HE -- I JUST SAID, YOU KNOW, HAVE YOU EVER, DID YOU GET STOPPED BY THE POLICE VERY OFTEN GROWING UP IN MINNEAPOLIS?

AND I DON'T KNOW THAT ANYONE ASK ASKED HIM THAT BEFORE DURING THE SCREENING OF JURORS BEFORE AND SO ON.

AND HE SAID, OH, YEAH, I MEAN IT WAS JUST A ROUTINE THING THAT YOUR MOM TAUGHT YOU ABOUT.

AND HE WAS STOPPED MANY MANY TIMES BY MINNEAPOLIS POLICE.

AND SO PEOPLE WHO, YOU KNOW, ARE FROM MINNEAPOLIS OR GREW UP HERE, THAT'S JUST A FACT OF LIFE THAT YOU ARE STOPPED MORE OFTEN, YOU'RE SEARCHED MORE OFTEN, FORCE IS USED MORE OFTEN, YOU'RE TASED MORE OFTEN, YOU'RE CITED MORE OFTEN, AND YOU'RE ARRESTED MORE OFTEN.

THAT'S JUST LIFE.

>> Eric: SHOULD PEOPLE BE OPTIMISTIC THAT THINGS CAN CHANGE OR IS IT KIND OF A SHOW ME MOMENT?

>> I THINK WE HAVE TO BE OPTIMISTIC OF.

I MEAN, WE HEAR A MAYOR SAYING THAT HE WANTS TO MAKE THESE CHANGES, HE'S ADAMANT ABOUT IT AND I HINK IT'S JUST A MATTER OF FIGURING OUT HOW TO CHANGE A CULTURE IN A DEPARTMENT.

THAT IS NOT N EASY THING TO DO.

IT'S LIKE TURNING A SHIP BY IMAGINE.

SO I THINK WE HAVE TO BE OPTIMISTIC.

WHAT CHOICE DO WE HAVE?

>> Cathy: SAY, BEFORE YOU GO, THIS WAS A VERY EXTENSIVE REPORT.

WHAT'S BEEN UNDERREPORTED IN THAT REPORT?

>> WELL, ONE THING THAT I FELT WAS INTERESTING AND BURIED IN THE REPORT WAS THAT THE PROSECUTORS ARE NOT GETTING BRADY MATERIAL FROM THE DEPARTMENT, WHICH IS INFORMATION THAT'S HELPFUL TO THE DEFENSE.

SO IF YOU'RE A DEFENDANT, THEY HAVE TO URN OVER ANY NEGATIVE INFORMATION ABOUT POLICE OFFICERS WHO ARE GOING TO TESTIFY AND IF THEY DON'T, THAT'S IN THE CONSTITUTION, AND THAT'S NOT HAPPENING.

AND SO A LAWYER TOLD ME THAT A LOT OF THESE CASES SHOULD BE REVIEWED AND MAYBE VACATED.

AND THAT'S KIND OF BIG.

>> Eric: DEENA, WE CAN FIND YOUR STUFF N MINNESOTAREFORMER.COM.

>> YOU SURE CAN.

, GOOD STUFF.

THANKS FOR COMING.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Eric: YOU BET.

♪♪ >> Eric: TO PUT THIS WEEK'S REPORT IN A BROADER CONTEXT AND TO WALK THROUGH WHAT A CONSENT DECREE MIGHT MEAN WE'RE JOINED BY TWO GUESTS, YOHURU WILL JAMES HISTORIAN, DIRECTOR OF THE RACIAL JUSTICE INITIATIVE AT THE UNIVERSITY UNIVERSITY OF ST. THOMAS.

AND SHANNON PRINCE JOINS US, A NEW YORK CITY CITY ATTORNEY WHO FOLLOWS POLICING ISSUES CLOSELY.

WELCOME TO BOTH OF YOU.

PROFESSOR, THE QUESTION I JUST ASKED TO YOU, PTIMISM OR YOU GOT TO SHOW US, OR?

>> I THINK YOU HAVE TO SHOW S. IF WE LOOK AT THE HISTORY OF POLICING IN MINNEAPOLIS IN PARTICULAR, THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME THAT WE'VE HAD A REPORT OF THIS NATURE.

WE CAN GO BACK TO 1975, 1984, 1990.

SO WHEN THE COMMUNITY LOOKS AT THIS, THEIR QUESTIONS ARE REALLY ABOUT WHERE'S THE EVIDENCE THAT THIS IS GOING TO LEAD TO REAL CHANGE?

IT TOOK TWO YEARS TO GET THIS REPORT SO I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF CONCERN ABOUT WHETHER THIS IS ACTUALLY GOING TO RESULT IN SUBSTANTIVE CHANGE FOR THIS COMMUNITY.

>> Cathy: SHANNON PRINCE, THIS IS WHERE CONSENT DECREES MAY COME IN.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN FOR FOLKS WHAT IS A CONSENT DECREE?

>> SO A CONSENT DECREE IS A LEGALLY BINDING AGREEMENT BETWEEN PARTIES OVERSEEN BY COURT IN.

THIS SITUATION ONE OF THE PARTIES WOULD BE THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RIGHTS REPRESENTING THE STATE OF MINNESOTA SEEKING TO ENFORCE THE MINNESOTA HUMAN RIGHTS ACT, WHICH IS A CIVIL RIGHTS ACT THAT BANS DISCRIMINATION IN THE STATE INCLUDING IN POLICING.

THE OTHER PARTIES WOULD BE THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS AND THE MINNEAPOLIS POLICE DEPARTMENT.

NOW, THE CITY CAN'T BE FORCED TO ENTER A CONSENT DECREE, THE MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL WOULD HAVE TO AGREE.

BUT IF ALL THE PARTIES AGREE TO ENTER THE CONSENT DECREE, THE NEXT STEP WOULD BE TO CREATE A PLAN FOR REFORMING THE POLICE AND A TIMELINE FOR WHEN CERTAIN BENCHMARKS WOULD BE HIT.

NOW, THAT PLAN WOULD BE OVERSEEN BY A JUDGE AND THAT JUDGE WOULD BE ADVISED BY THIRD PARTY MONITORS WHO ASSESS THE PROGRESS OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

ONE THING TO KEEP IN MIND IS THAT ALTHOUGH THESE PLANS HAVE TIMELINES, THEY DON'T HAVE EXPIRATION DATES.

A CONSENT DECREE IS NOT LIFTED UNTIL THE GOALS OF THE PLAN ARE ACHIEVED AND THEY REMAIN IN PLACE AS ELECTED OFFICIALS COME AND GO.

>> Cathy: I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER, PROFESSOR, I'M SURE THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER CONSENT DECREES, RIGHT, THAT HAVE CURD?

DIDN'T THE MINNEAPOLIS FIRE DEPARTMENT HAVE ONE?

I MEAN, THERE'S BEEN SEVERAL IN OTHER AGENCIES, RIGHT?

>> I'M NOT SURE AS TO THAT QUESTION, BUT JUST TO UNDERSCORE THE COUNSELOR'S POINT THE REALITY IS IS THAT WHEN YOU HAVE A CONSENT DECREE YOU CAN LOOK AT THE CITY OF OAKLAND, THEY'VE BEEN NDER CONSENT DECREE FOR 19 YEARS.

THERE ARE METRICS AND OVERSIGHT ASSOCIATED WITH THAT TYPE OF LEGAL STEP.

>> COUNSELOR, YOU'RE IN NEW YORK AND I WONDER IF A CONSENT DECREE CAME INTO PLAY WHEN THE CONTROVERSIAL STOP AND FRISK POLICY WAS UNDERWAY.

>> YOU KNOW, CONSENT DECREES HAVE BEEN USED TO VARIOUS EXTENTS IN THE PAST YEARS.

THEY'RE USUALLY NOT WITH THE STATE -- WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, AND WE SAW THEM REDISTRICTED UNDER THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, WE SAW THAT RESTRICTION RESCINDED UNDER THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.

WITH STOP AND FRISK I THINK SO MANY ELEMENTS CAME TO PLAY FROM THE WORK OF ACTIVISTS TO JUDGES WHO FOUND STOP AND FRISK UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

I THINK THAT IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN WHAT A CONSENT DECREE MIGHT LOOK LIKE IN MINNEAPOLIS.

>> Cathy: SO JUST MAYBE A REAL SIMPLISTIC QUESTION HERE BUT OBVIOUSLY WE'RE USING THE EXAMPLES OF OTHER PLACES LIKE YOU SAY OAKLAND WHO, IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME HEIR CONSENT DECREE HAS BEEN IN PLACE.

WHAT HAPPENS IF THE BENCH MARKS TO PROGRESS ARE NOT MADE?

WHAT'S -- WHAT'S THE STICK I GUESS?

>> YES, THAT'S RIGHT.

SO A DEPARTMENT DOES NOT ESSENTIALLY GET ITS INDEPENDENCE BACK UNTIL THOSE BENCHMARKS ARE HIT.

AND THAT'S A REAL MOTIVATION.

IT'S A STICK BUT IT'S ALSO A CARROT BECAUSE IT'S IN THE INTEREST OF LOCAL COMMUNITIES DEMOCRACY FOR A POLICE DEPARTMENT TO START LEARNING ITSELF LOCALLY AGAIN.

AND WE REALLY DO SEE INCENTIVE TO HIT THOSE BENCHMARKS AND REGAIN AUTONOMY.

>> Eric: HOW ABOUT THE POSING OF OFFICERS ON SOCIAL MEDIA?

>> THAT WAS DISTURBING.

I THINK WHEN WE HINK BACK TO THE LEGACY OF FEDERAL PROGRAMS LIKE COINTELPRO AND THE MONITORING OF SUBVERSIVE AND SOME CASES ORGANIZATIONS HAD LEGITIMATE GRIPES AGAINST GOVERNMENT.

ASKING THE FUNDAMENTAL QUESTION IF YOU HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE WAY THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS OPERATING, DID THAT PUT YOU ON THEIR RADAR.

AGAIN THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME THE MINNEAPOLIS POLICE HAVE BEEN THE CENTER OF THIS TYPE OF INVESTIGATION.

WE CAN GO BACK TO THE '90S AGAIN AND THERE WERE CONCERNS ABOUT WIRETAPPING AND TAPING OF OTHER OFFICERS BY OFFICERS ON THE FORCE.

AGAIN, THESE ARE BEHAVIORS.

THEY LOOKED AT TEN YEARS, JUST A DECADE.

THE REALITY IS THIS IS A CULTURE THAT GOES WAY ACK.

WE CAN TALK ABOUT THIS GOING BACK TO THE 1960S, 1970S.

THESE THINGS SIMPLY HAVE OT BEEN REFORMED OUT OF THE DEPARTMENT.

YOU NEED A MORE RADICAL STEP AT THIS POINT AND THAT'S WHY THE CONSENT DECREE I THINK IS SO WELCOME TO GO SO MANY PEOPLE.

>> Cathy: WHAT WOULD BE THE IMPORTANCE OF A NEW POLICE CHIEF IN THIS CASE?

>> THAT'S PROBLEMATIC BECAUSE A NEW CHIEF CAN CERTAINLY BRING NEW ENERGY BUT WE'VE SEEN HISTORICALLY AT LEAST THAT NO CHIEF HAS BEEN ABLE TO ACHIEVE THE LEVEL OF REFORM THE COMMUNITY HAS DESIRED.

WE CAN GO BACK TO TONY BOZA, JOHN LOCKS KIND OF CONTINUED SAME POLICIES AS UNDER BOZA.

THE REALITY IS A CHIEF IN AND OF THEMSELVES ISN'T GOING TO BE DRIVE THE CHANGE HE CITY NEEDS.

>> Eric: COUNSELOR, WOULD -- OF THE GEORGE FLOYD POLICING ACT HAVE ANY EFFECT ON THE INVESTIGATION?

>> YES, IT WOULD.

AND AS THE REPORT SHOWS THAT'S ONE THING THAT'S REALLY LACKING IN MINNEAPOLIS.

WHAT WE'VE SEEN IS A LACK OF POLICE OVERSIGHT, SO, FOR EXAMPLE, THE REPORT DESCRIBES HOW IN 2017 AN UNNAMED OFFICER HIT A UNARMED 14-YEAR-OLD BOY IN THE HEAD WITH A FLESH LIGHT AND THEN CHOKED HIM UNTIL HE WAS UNCONSCIOUS SIMPLY BECAUSE HE DIDN'T GET UP FAST ENOUGH WHEN THE OFFICER ORDERED HIM TO.

THAT OFFICER IS LIKELY TO BE DEREK CHAUVIN BECAUSE HE PLED GUILTY LAST YEAR IN AN INCIDENT WITH FACTS CONSISTENT TO THOSE.

AND WHAT'S STRIKING IS IT IT REMINDS US OF HOW MUCH WE NEED THE POLICE OVERSIGHT OF THE SORT THAT THE GEORGE FLOYD JUSTICE IN POLICING ACT WOULD PROVIDE BECAUSE IF THERE HAD BEEN IN 2017 SOMEONE OVERSEEING THE POLICE TO MAKE SURE THAT ATTACKS SUCH AS DEREK CHAUVIN'S ON THAT 14-YEAR-OLD BOY WERE HANDLED APPROPRIATELY, THEN GEORGE FLOYD WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN MURDERED IN THE FIRST PLACE >> Eric: ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT OVEROR NDER-POLICING IN REACTION TO THIS REPORT?

>> NOT AT ALL.

I THINK WE HAVE A SITUATION WHERE THIS COMMUNITY IS OVERPOLICED AND UNDERPROTECTED.

WHAT THEY'RE ASKING FOR IS PROTECTION THEY DESERVE AND THAT MEANS A POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT IS LOOKING AT TRAININGS THAT MAKE POLICE MORE RESPONSIVE TO THE NEEDS OF COMMUNITY.

I GO BACK TO 1975 AGAIN WHERE WE HAD A VERY SIMILAR REPORT COMING FROM THE MINNESOTA HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION.

THE FOLLOWING YEAR THE POLICE RESPONDED WITH 96 HOURS OF KARATE TRAINING TO BUILD CONFIDENCE IN OFFICERS, ONLY 14 HOURS OF TRANSACTIONAL ANALYSIS.

THIS IS THE PROBLEM AGAIN WHEN WE TALK ABOUT WHAT CAME OUT IN THAT REPORT YESTERDAY, IT'S DEEPLY HISTORICAL, IT REQUIRES US TO KIND OF REIMAGINE THIS WHOLE QUESTION OF POLICING AND PUBLIC SAFETY.

AND, AGAIN, A CONSENT DECREE AT THIS POINT SEEMS TO BE THE BEST OPTION THAT WE HAVE IN THIS MOMENT TO ACHIEVE REAL CHANGE.

>> Cathy: CAN YOU HELP US OUT HERE, SHANNON PRINCE, ISN'T THERE A PENDING JUSTICE DEPARTMENT PROBE AS WELL AND HOW DOES THAT FIT IN?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

SO THE REASON THAT THE CURRENT ONGOING INVESTIGATION INTO THE MINNEAPOLIS POLICE DEPARTMENT BY THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE IS DIFFERENT FROM THE INVESTIGATION BY THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RIGHTS THAT JUST CONCLUDED IS THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE IS INVESTIGATING TO SEE WHETHER THE MINNEAPOLIS POLICE DEPARTMENT IS VIOLATING FEDERAL LAWS.

WHAT THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RIGHTS WAS INVESTIGATE TO GO SEE WAS WHETHER THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS IN VIOLATION OF THE MINNESOTA HUMAN RIGHTS ACT, THE STATE CIVIL RIGHTS LAW.

NOW, IF THE DEVELOPMENT OF JUSTICE DOES FIND THAT THIS POLICE DEPARTMENT IS VIOLATING FEDERAL LAW, IT TOO MAY SEEK TO ENTER A CONSENT ECREE WITH THE MINNEAPOLIS POLICE DEPARTMENT.

>> Cathy: COMMENT, PROFESSOR?

, ARE YOU HOPEFUL ABOUT THE DOJ?

>> I AM, VERY MUCH SO AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE NEED AND I THINK THIS IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

>> Eric: THANKS FOR COMING.

GOOD STUFF.

THANKS, SHANNON PRINCE.

GOOD STUFF.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Eric: YOU BET.

♪♪ >> Cathy: COVID MESSAGING GOT A LITTLE COMPLEX THIS WEEK.

COVID CASES ARE UP HERE AND ELSEWHERE BECAUSE OF NEW VARIANT OF OMICRON.

YET DR. ANTHONY FAUCI APPEARED ON THE PBS NEWS HOUR THIS WEEK AND SAID THAT THE SUDS NO LONGER IN WHAT HE CALLED A PANDEMIC PHASE.

AND THEN LATER HE CLARIFIED HIS REMARKS SAYING THAT AMERICA IS IN A TRANSITIONAL PHASE.

HOPEFULLY A MORE CONTROLLED PHASE.

WHAT TERMINOLOGY ARE MINNESOTA HEALTH FFICIALS USING TO DESCRIBE THE CURRENT SITUATION CONCERNING THE CORONAVIRUS?

LET'S ASK MINNESOTA HEALTH DEPARTMENT COMMISSIONER JAN MALCOLM WHO'S BACK ON THE PROGRAM.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> HELLO.

>> Cathy: HOW ARE YOU DESCRIBING WHAT'S GOING ON OUT THERE?

I WAS >> I WAS GLAD THAT DR. DR. FAUCI CLARIFIED.

I THOUGHT HE MEANT WE'RE NOT IN A PANDEMIC PHASE THIS WEEK.

WE'RE VERY MUCH WATCHING CAREFULLY.

WE HAVE WE HAVE SEEN CASES GO UP.

WE'RE MONITORING LOTS OF INDICATORS IN ADDITION TO CASES.

WE THINK WE'RE IN A BETTER POSITION FRANKLY TO MANAGE WHAT WE'RE SEEING THAN WE HAVE BEEN BEFORE.

BUT THIS CLEARLY A REMINDER THAT WE'RE NOT DONE WITH THIS.

>> Eric: THE MIXED ESSAGING CONTINUES.

MINNEAPOLIS IS NOW STRONGLY RECOMMENDING A MASK AND THE CDC SAYS MINNEAPOLIS IS LOW RISK.

>> WELL, I CAN APPRECIATE THAT PEOPLE WONDER, YOU KNOW, KIND OF ARE WE TALK TO EACH OTHER?

AND, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES I LEARN ABOUT THINGS JUST THE SAME WAY YOU DO, ON THE NEWS.

BUT I DO THINK THAT THE CONSISTENCY IF THERE IS SOME THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO BE PREPARED AND TO BE VIGILANT BECAUSE CIRCUMSTANCES CHANGE PRETTY QUICKLY.

YOU KNOW, WE'VE CERTAINLY SAW THAT LAST DECEMBER AND JANUARY WHEN OMICRON JUST KIND OF CAME OUT OF LEFT FIELD AND CAME WITH A FURY.

THIS NEW VARIANT HAT WE'RE WATCHING DOESN'T SEEM TO BE ANY MORE VIRULENT THAN THE PRIOR ONE, BUT IT'S YET A LITTLE BIT MORE TRANSMISSIBLE.

SO THAT'S PART OF THE PROBLEM HERE IS WITH SO MUCH GOING STILL AROUND THE WORLD, THESE VARIANTS JUST KEEP COMING.

SO I THINK WHAT WE KNOW TODAY OR WHAT WE SEE TODAY IS JUST THE NEED TO KEEP ON DOING THE THINGS WE KNOW WORK, VACCINATION, BOOSTING IS PROVING TO BE VERY IMPORTANT, AND GETTING TESTED SO YOU KNOW YOUR STATUS.

YOU CAN GET TREATED QUICKLY IF YOU'RE AT HIGH RISK.

THESE ARE ALL THINGS THAT WE JUST HAVE TO BE MINDFUL OF, WE HAVE TO KNOW KIND OF WHAT ARE THING THAT'S WE CAN DO IF WE NEED TO PULL THOSE TOOLS OUT OF THE TOOL BOX.

>> Cathy: HOW IS THE BOOSTING GOING BY THE WAY, NUMBERS-WISE ARE YOU A LITTLE WORRIED ABOUT THAT >> YEAH, WELL, WE REALLY WANT TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO GET BOOSTED DID WHEN THEY'RE IN AN AGE GROUP OR HEALTH CONDITION THAT CLEARLY INDICATES AND THAT'S TRUE FOR 65-PLUS AND FOR YOUNGER PEOPLE WITH UNDERLYING CONDITIONS.

WE'RE DOING REALLY WELL RELATIVE TO THE COUNTRY.

WE STILL ARE NUMBER ONE IN THE PERCENTAGE OF OUR FOLKS OVER65 WHO HAVE BEEN BOOSTED.

NOW WE'RE ONTO SECOND BOOSTER SO I'M GOING TO GET MINE NEXT WEEK.

BUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S JUST KEEPING UP WITH ALL THESE EVOLVING RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT BOOSTERS, BUT SOME THINGS REMAIN CONSISTENT, AND THAT IS THAT PREVENTION REALLY IS KEY.

>> Eric: DID YOUR DEPARTMENT COME ONE THE 60% OF MINNESOTANS HAVE HAD COVID STATISTIC?

>> WITH WE, WELL, WE FED INTO THE CDC DATA THAT LOOKS AT MAKING ESTIMATES FOR WHAT MIGHT BE THAT INFECTION LEVEL IN MINNESOTA.

THAT IS -- THAT MAKES ENSE TO US.

BUT OF COURSE PEOPLE NEED TO REMEMBER THAT PRIOR INFECTION OR VACCINATION CONFERS SOME PROTECTION FOR SOME PERIOD OF TIME BUT PARTLY BECAUSE THIS VIRUS CONTINUES TO EVOLVE, HAVING BEEN INFECTED ONCE CLEARLY DOES NOT MEAN YOU'RE PROTECTED AGAINST EVERYTHING TO COME.

AND VACCINATION, AGAIN, WE'RE LEARNING MORE AND MORE ABOUT THE, RIGHT, MOST HELPFUL INTERVAL FOR BOOSTERS.

AND I JUST REALLY WANT TO EMPHASIZE AGAIN THE VALUE OF EARLY TREATMENT FOR PEOPLE WHO DO DEVELOP AN INFECTION WHO ARE AT HIGHER RISK.

THESE THERAPEUTICS THAT WE HAVE NOW ARE REALLY SIGNIFICANT AND EFFECTIVE.

BUT THEY HAVE TO BE TAKEN EARLY IN THE COURSE OF AN ILLNESS, SO THAT'S PART OF WHY WE REALLY ARE STILL ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO BE INDFUL OF TESTING, TO TEST WHEN THEY HAVE SYMPTOMS, AND TO UNDERSTAND WHAT TREATMENTS ARE OUT THERE.

CALL YOUR DOCTOR RIGHT AWAY IF YOU HAVE A POSITIVE TEST AND YOU HAVE SOME RISK FACTORS.

>> Cathy: YOU MENTIONED FOLKS 65-PLUS, AND THIS NEW VARIANT THAT'S UT THERE SEEMS LIKE IT IS HITTING OLDER PEOPLE HARDER, THOUGH.

YOU WORRY ABOUT THAT?

>> YES, I THINK WE ARE SEEING, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, KIND OF A COMBINATION OF THE NEW VARIANT.

IT MAY EVADES IMMUNITY MORE THAN PRIOR VARIANTS, WE DON'T KNOW THAT YET REALLY.

AND THEN THERE'S WAINING IMMUNITY.

AND WE WERE SUCCESSFUL EARLY IN GETTING A LOT OF OUR OLDER POPULATION VACCINATED.

SO THAT DURATION OF IMMUNITY AND THE NEED TO BOOST TO GET THAT IMMUNITY BACK UP IS EALLY VERY, VERY IMPORTANT.

>> Eric: WHERE DO SHOTS FOR INFANTS AND TODDLERS STAND?

>> WELL, IT'S DEFINITELY IN PROGRESS.

THE CLINICAL TRIES TAKE AWHILE TO DO WELL AND WE LIKE TO SEAT PROCESS BE VERY THOROUGH.

BUT WE'VE JUST HEARD THAT THE DATA ARE STARTING TO BE SUBMITTED NOW, SO WE'RE ANTICIPATING IT COULD BE EARLY SUMMER THAT WE'LL HAVE THE AUTHORIZATION TO PROCEED.

>> Cathy: HOW ARE YOU DOING, BY THE WAY?

IT'S BEEN A LONG ROAD.

>> IT'S BEEN A VERY LONG READY.

IT REALLY HAS AND SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE WORKED SO HARD.

I THINK WE'RE ENCOURAGED BY ALL THE PROGRESS THAT WE'VE MADE.

WE'RE, YOU KNOW, CONCERNED THAT PEOPLE MAY BE CONFUSED WITH MIXED MESSAGES, AND WE KNOW HOW WEARY PEOPLE ARE.

BUT THIS IS A TIME TO KEEP PAYING ATTENTION.

>> Eric: THANKS FOR OMING OVER.

>> >> Cathy: GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> THANKS.

>> Cathy: AS RUSSIA'S WAR IN UKRAINE CONTINUES U, UKRAINIANS IN MINNESOTA WORRY ABOUT THEIR LOVED ONES STILL THERE.

TWO BROTHERS EMIGRATED FROM UKRAINE, THEY REUNITED WITH THEIR MOTHER WHO CAME HERE 20 YEARS AGO.

KAOMI LEE WENT TO BELTRAMI COUNTY TO MEET WITH THIS FAMILY.

>> OLECK SANDR BOGDANOV IS STARTING A NEW LIFE.

IN UKRAINE HE WAS A 46-YEAR-OLD SCIENCE SCHOOL TEACHER.

SINCE NOVEMBER HE AND HIS BROTHER SERGII HAVE EEN IN BEMIDJI.

THEY CAME BECAUSE OF OPPORTUNITY, THEY CAME BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO BE FREE.

>> AMERICA, WE DECIDED, WE WAITED FOR IMMIGRATION ABOUT EIGHT YEARS AND NOW WE HAVE DOCUMENTS, GO TO KYIV AND TO THE UNITED STATES AND START NEW LIFE.

>> THE BROTHERS FINALLY GOT THEIR GREEN CARDS.

THEY JOINED THEIR MOTHER NATALIA WHO HAS LIVED IN BEMIDJI FOR 20 YEARS.

SHE CAME FOR MARRIAGE AND FOUND WORK AT A LOCAL BUSINESS CALLED BEMIDJI WOOLEN MILLS.

NOW OLECK SANDR AND SERGII ARE WORKING THERE TOO.

>> UNDERSTAND OR MAYBE NO LIKE BIG CITY, A LOT OF PEOPLE.

AND IN BEMIDJI NO NE WALK, NOBODY SEE.

AND VERY LIKE MINNESOTA.

>> THEY'RE FROM A CITY CALLED MIDKALIEV NEATER BLACK SEA.

THEIR HOMELAND IS UNDER SIEGE.

MYKALIV IS CONSIDERED A STRATEGIC PORT CITY.

NATALIA AND HER SONS HAVE MANY FAMILY MEMBERS STILL THERE.

>> AD.

HATE RUSSIA.

>> THE REAKOUT HERO IN UKRAINE HAS BEEN PIER THOSE, VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY.

THE ONCE COMEDIAN HAS INSPIRED HIS PEOPLE AND THE WORLD.

>> PEOPLE MAYBE DON'T KNOW WHO IS THAT PERSON BEFORE WAR.

NOW AFTER WAR, PEOPLE LOVE ZELENSKYY.

>> YOU HAVE A BUTTON?

>> YES.

>> ARE YOU HIS NUMBER ONE FAN?

>> YES.

>> BUT AS WAR RAGES ON THE BOGDANOV FAMILY IS TRYING TO START A NEW LIFE REUNITED IN MINNESOTA.

OLEKSANDR THE FORMER SCHOOL TEACHER WITH A CURE AREOCITY ON HOW THINGS WORK HAS LEFT BEHIND HIS OWN FAMILY, A WIFE, ELENA, AND 21-YEAR-OLD STEPDAUGHTER.

OLECK SANDR, WHO ALSO GOES BY SASHA IS RELIEVED HIS FAMILY IS SAFE.

THEY EVACUATED TO AN AREA NEAR THE MODELOVAN BORDER.

>> IN THE MORNING IS A GOOD TIME FOR SASHA TO GO ND TALK TO HIS DAUGHTER.

AND HE'LL JUST BE MESMERIZED ON HIS PHONE TALKING TO HIS DAUGHTER, AND I EMBRACE THAT.

I GIVE THEM DISTANCE BECAUSE I PUT MYSELF IN THAT PLACE AND IT'S A PLACE THAT I CAN'T IMAGINE.

I CAN'T IMAGINE MYSELF BEING IN A POSITION LIKE THAT.

IN LITTLE BEMIDJI, IF OUR AIRPORT GOT BOMBED, OUR WATER PLANT GOT BOMBED, OUR BRIDGES GOT BOMBED, THE BEMIDJI WOOL MILLS GET BOMBED, YOU'RE DESTROYING THE LIFE OF THAT COMMUNITY.

AND I CANNOT WRAP MY HEAD AROUND THAT.

>> BESIDES GIVING THEM JOBS, BATCHELDER ACTS LIKE A BIG BROTHER.

HE'S THE FOURTH GENERATION TO OWN HIS FAMILY'S 102-YEAR-OLD BUSINESS.

HE VALUES HISTORY AND FAMILY.

>> SASHA AND SERGII CAME IN DECEMBER AND THINGS WERE HEATING UP.

AND I GUESS THE RHETORIC THAT YOU JUST HEAR EVERY DAY OF RUSSIA COMING IN, GOING TO TAKE BACK CRIMEA, TAKE BACK DONBAS AREA, AND NOT FULLY UNDERSTANDING THE HISTORY OF THE CONFLICT, SO I WAS JUST AS NAÏVE AS NYONE ELSE.

SASHA AND SERGII COME IN DECEMBER AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN I'M HEARING RUSSIA AND UKRAINE ON THE RADIO EVERY SINGLE DAY.

>> HIS CONNECTION TO UKRAINE HAS DEVELOPED OVER TIME.

BESIDES NATALIA BEING THERE FULL TIME, HER SONS HAVE ALSO WORKED AT THE WOOLEN MILL FOR THE PAST SEVEN SUMMERS.

>> EVERY YEAR THEY WOULD COME AND THEY ARE SO COMMITTED, SO HARDWORKING, SO FLEXIBLE THAT I DIDN'T REALIZE THE INCREDIBLE TALENTS THAT THEY HAD IN MECHANICAL APT QUIETUDE AND COMPUTER ENGINEERING.

>> THEY DIDN'T COME TO BEMIDJI BECAUSE OF THE WAR.

THE BROTHERS HAD PLANNED THIS MOVE FOR A LONG TIME.

THEY REMEMBER WHAT BEING PART OF THE FORMER SOVIET NION WAS LIKE.

THEY SPEAK RUSSIAN, BUT THEY WANT TO BE FREE.

AND THEY WANT UKRAINE TO BE FREE.

[ SPEAKING NATIVE LANGUAGE ] >> THANK YOU TO ALL COUNTRIES, ESPECIALLY TO UNITED STATES TO HELP UKRAINE AND EACH UKRAINIAN PEOPLE.

THANK YOU.

STPHOET NOTE ♪♪ >> THE FIRST TIME I HEARD SOMETHING LIKE THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN WAS PROBABLY MORE THAN A DECADE AGO.

AND NOW HERE IT IS, JUST LIKE THEY SAID.

RIBBONS AND SPRAY PAINT COME FIRST.

THERE'S A LOT OF RIBBONS AND A LOT OF SPRAYPAINT.

WHEN I WAS YOUNGER, GREEN ASH TREES WERE NEVER MY FAVORITES.

THEIR BRANCHES WERE BRITTLE AND SCRATCHY TO CLIMB.

BUT NOW AS I ATCH THESE EMERALD ASH BORERS EAT THEM, PRETTY MUCH EVERY SINGLE ONE, I'M MARVELING AT HOW MANY THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS OF THEM THERE REALLY ARE.

AND THEY'RE EASY TO SPOT BECAUSE THEY ANNOUNCE THEMSELVES IN THEIR COLLAPSE.

♪♪ >> I'VE BEEN FEELING THIS NEED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE LIVING TREES.

THERE ARE STILL PLENTY.

I CAN TOUCH THEM JUST LIKE ALWAYS, BUT IT'S SORT OF LIKE THOSE FINAL MONTHS WITH AN OLDER RELATIVE.

SOMETHING VITAL HAS ALREADY LEFT AND THERE'S REALLY JUST THIS STRANGE FORM OF WAITING.

A YEAR FROM NOW THERE WILL BE A LOT OF STUMPS AND A LOT OF HISTORY IN THOSE STUMPS.

BUT HERE'S THE THING.

WE DON'T LIKE STUMPS AND I'M PRETTY SURE THOSE WILL BE GROUND UP TOO.

AND THAT'S JUST SUCH A PAINFUL TREND THESE DAYS.

SO MUCH OF THE WORLD COMES ACROSS AS ABSOLUTELY PERMANENT UNTIL IT'S SUDDENLY GONE.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO IN THE FACE OF THAT, BUT I AM GOING TO TRY TO REMEMBER THESE GREEN ASH TREES FOR AS LONG AS I CAN.

THAT FEELS LIKE SOMETHING I CAN DO.

♪♪ >> Eric: THIS WEEK LONGTIME REPUBLICAN ACTIVIST KRIS SANDA JOHNSON DIED AT THE AGE OF 84 OF CANCER.

ALANACK VIEWERS WITH KEEN MEMORIES WILL RECALL SANDA WAS ONE OF THE THREE MEMBERS OF THE ORIGINAL ALMANAC POLITICAL PANEL.

KRIS SANDA WAS SMART, PASSIONATE ABOUT HER POLITICS AND AS WARM AND GRACIOUS OFF THE CAMERA AS SHE WAS ON.

AFTER PUBLIC SERVICE IN THE ARNE CARLSON ADMINISTRATION, KRIS RETURNED FROM TIME TO TIME IN THE EARLY '90S AND EARLY 2000S.

BUT WE BEST REMEMBER THOSE CLASSIC 1980S PANELS, ESPECIALLY WHEN KRIS SANDA WOULD SPAR WITH D.J.

LEARY.

HERE'S AN EXCHANGE FROM 1987 WHEN KRIS AND D.J.

WERE ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF A BILL THAT OFFERED A TAX CUT TO CANTERBURY DOWNS RACETRACK.

>> AND ON OPPOSITE OF PANEL AND I REALLY DISAGREE.

I'LL GOT TO SAY THAT KRIS DID GREAT SERVICE ON THE RACING COMMISSION AND SHE'S CLEARLY CLOSER TO IT THAN I AM.

I'M CLOSER TO THE BETTING WINDOW THAN SHE IS.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> I TELL YOU, I REALLY THINK THAT THIS STATE, IF YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE MAJOR ATTRACTIONS LIKE CANTERBURY DOWNS AND OUR MAJOR LEAGUE SPORTS AND I DON'T CARE WHETHER THEY KICK BALLS OR THEY HIT THEM WITH A BAT, THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS YOU GOT TO DO WHAT THE REST OF THE COUNTRY DOES, THE REST OF THE COUNTRY MOST OF THESE STATES THEY'VE LOWERED THESE TAXES, ISN'T THAT RIGHT?

>> IT JUST SEEMS TO ME IS PRIVATE BUSINESS IS PRIVATE BUSINESS, AND WHEN WE'RE PAYING HIGH TAX, WE CAN'T RUN TO THE LEGISLATURE AND SAY IT'S TOUGH, I WANT TO KEEP PART OF THAT SO I CAN MAKE A PROFIT.

WHEN PRIVATE BUSINESS IS PART OF A MONOPOLY.

>> THAT'S NOT WHAT THEY'RE SAYING, KRIS, THOUGH.

>> THERE'S NO GUARANTEE FOR THEM TO -- GIVE IT.

♪♪ >> Cathy: AS MANY MINNESOTA TEENAGERS THIS SPRING PREPARE FOR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION ONE STUDENT IS WISHING FOR MUCH MORE.

THE STAR TRIBUNE LAST WEEKEND TOLD THE STORY OF SARA, A 19-YEAR-OLD REFUGEE FROM AFGHANISTAN.

LAST YEAR SHE WAS IN KABUL GOING TO AN ALL GIRLS CHOOL BUT THEN THE TALIBAN TOOK OVER AND SHE AND HER FAMILY WERE AMONG THOSE WHO HAD TO MAKE A DANGEROUS ESCAPE FROM THE COUNTRY.

AFTER A JOURNEY THAT FIRST LED THEM INDIANA, SARA IS NOW AT A PUBLIC SCHOOL IN CRYSTAL LEARNING ENGLISH AND WORKING ON HER G.E.D.

HER OAL IS TO ATTEND COLLEGE AND START A BUSINESS.

MAYA RAO IS THE REPORTER WHO TOLD HER STORY THIS WEEK.

IT'S A GREAT STORY TOO.

WHY DID YOU WANT TO TELL THIS YOUNG WOMAN'S STORY?

>> WELL, I'VE BEEN TALKING TO A LOT OF AFGHANS WHO HAVE RESETTLED IN MINNESOTA IN THE LAST, YOU KNOW, SINCE LAST FALL.

AND, YOU KNOW, I WAS PRIMARILY TALKING TO MEN WHO HAD BEEN HELPING AMERICANS AND, YOU KNOW, HAD RESETTLED THEIR FAMILIES.

AND I WANTED TO TELL THE STORY A YOUNG WOMAN INSTEAD, SOMEBODY WHO WOULD BE COMING TO IT WITH FRESH.

AND WAS REALLY GOING TO BE GRAPPLING WITH A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT SET OF GENDER NORMS, MUCH MORE EXPANDED OPPORTUNITY AND I THOUGHT IT WAS A REALLY GOOD TIME TO DO IT AFTER THE TALIBAN HAD JUST DRAWN A LOT OF GLOBAL OUTRAGE FOR BACKTRACKING ON A PROMISE TO LET GIRLS GO BACK TO SECONDARY SCHOOL THIS SPRING.

AND SO AT THAT TIME THIS YOUNG WOMAN I MET SARA WAS STARTING SCHOOL HERE AND JUST ENCOUNTER THIS WHOLE NEW WORLD.

AND I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE REALLY POWERFUL TO SPEND TIME WITH HER.

>> Eric: HOW'S SHE DOING?

>> YOU KNOW, SHE'S A VERY SPIRITED AND OPTIMISTIC PERSON.

I WAS REALLY IMPRESSED WITH HER AND I COULD SEE SHE WAS REALLY EAGER TO EARN ENGLISH, YOU KNOW, SHE DOESN'T SPEAK -- SHE ONLY SPEAKS A FEW WORDS OF ENGLISH HERE AND THERE BUT I CAN TELL SHE'S LEARNING REALLY QUICKLY.

I WORKED WITH HER THROUGH AN INTERPRETER WHO SPEAKS DHARI.

SHE'S EXCITED TO GO TO SCHOOL EVERY MORNING AND SHE'S FILLED WITH A LOT OF DREAMS AND AMBITIONS.

IT WAS REALLY INSPIRING TO GET SOME TIME WITH HER.

>> Cathy: HER STORY IS KIND OF TYPICAL OF AFGHANI GIRLS' STORIES IN TERMS OF THERE WAS A WINDOW TO GO TO SCHOOL AND THEN THAT WINDOW CLOSED.

THAT HAD TO BE REALLY HARD.

>> YEAH, AND SHE ACTUALLY -- HER AND HER FAMILY HAVE TALKED TO ME ABOUT HOW THEY ACTUALLY HAD A FAIRLY PROGRESSIVE ATTITUDE TOWARDS SARA AND HER GETTING HER EDUCATION AND HAVING A CAREER.

SHE WAS ALREADY GIVEN A LOT OF FREEDOM EVEN BEFORE THE TALIBAN CAME, SHE STARTED HER OWN BUSINESSES AFTER SCHOOL, SHE HAD A HAIRDRESSING SHOP, AND SHE HAD A TAILORING BUSINESS.

AND, YOU KNOW, BUT THEN SHE CAME TO SCHOOL ONE DAY LAST SUMMER, THE DOORS WERE LOCKED AND THE GUARD TOLD HER AND HER FRIENDS, YOU KNOW, HE TALIBAN IS TAKING OVER AND TO GO HOME.

SO SHE OLD ME THAT SHE JUST BROKE DOWN IN TEARS AND WHEN SHE GOT HOME AND WAS TELLING HER MOM THAT WE'RE GOING BACK TO THE DARK AGES.

AND IT WAS JUST A REALLY, REALLY GRIM TIME FOR A GIRL WHO HAD ENJOYED SO MUCH FREEDOM IN A SOCIETY THAT CAN BE QUITE RESTRICTIVE FOR YOUNG WOMEN TO SEE IT GET EVEN WORSE.

>> IS THERE A NOSE COUNT OF HOW MANY AFGHAN REFUGEES WE HAVE IN MINNESOTA >> I THINK IT'S ABOUT 1200 THE LAST TIME I CHECKED WITH THE STATE.

>> Eric: DOES SHE INTERACT THEN WITH FOLKS IN THAT COMMUNITY, THE DIASPORA FROM AFGHANISTAN?

>> YEAH, SHE, A LOT OF AFGHANS, YOU KNOW, THEY WERE TEMPORARILY PUT IN HOTELS AND SO SARA AND HER FAMILY WERE THERE AND THEY HAD A CHANCE TO MAKE SOME FRIENDS THERE.

BUT NOW THEY LIVE IN GOLDEN VALLEY, AND SO THEY'RE NOT NECESSARILY RIGHT IN THE SAME NEIGHBORHOOD.

I THINK SOME OF THE AFGHANS HAVE HAVE BEEN SPREAD OUT BUT SHE DEFINITELY KEEPS IN TOUCH WITH A FEW FAMILY FRIENDS AND SHE'S IN SCHOOL -- SHE GOES TO A NONTRADITIONAL HIGH SCHOOL LEARNING ENGLISH WITH ABOUT A DOZEN OTHER STUDENTS AND NONE OF THEM ARE AFGHAN BUT SHE'S REALLY EAGER TO MAKE FRIENDS WITH EVERYBODY FROM WHAT I COULD SEE.

>> Cathy: HOW IS HER DAD DOING?

I SK THAT BECAUSE OFF AIR HERE WE WERE TALKING ABOUT HIM.

HE WAS AT THE AIRPORT WHEN THE CRUSH OF INDIVIDUALS ARE WERE THERE AND THE ATTACKS.

WHAT A HORRIBLE MESS THAT WAS.

>> YEAH, I MEAN, SARA'S FAMILY IS HERE BECAUSE HER DAD HAD BEEN WORKING AT A JOB THAT PUT HIM AT RISK OF RETALIATION FROM THE TALIBAN.

HE WAS A SECURITY OFFICER AT THE KABUL AIRPORT FIRE ECADE.

SO HE WAS ACTUALLY THERE AT THE GATES DEALING WITH THE HUGE CROWDS, THE THREATS, HE'S SEEN PEOPLE DIE, SO THE FIRST WEEK AFTER THE TALIBAN TOOK OVER HE WAS THERE.

HE HAD A PANIC ATTACK AT ONE POINT AND THE FAMILY GOT OUT JUST IN TIME BEFORE THE MAJOR TERRORIST ATTACK THAT KILLED A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE.

THEIR FAMILY ACTUALLY THOUGHT THAT THEY WERE DEAD AT FIRST, BUT THEY -- >> Eric: HE'S' WORTH A STORY.

>> YEAH, I'LL BE FOLLOWING UP FOR SURE.

>> Cathy: AND YOU WENT TO THE 19TH BIRTHDAY FOR SARA.

HOW DID THAT GO >> THAT WAS REALLY NICE, I GOT TO GO WITH HER AT CUB FOODS WHILE SHE WAS PICKING OUT A BIRTHDAY CAKE.

AND YOU COULD SEE SHE AS A TYPICAL TEENAGE YOUNG WOMAN WHO WAS REALLY EXCITED ABOUT HER FUTURE, WHO'S HAVING FUN PICKING OUT HER CANDLES AND RED AND WHITE MARBLE AND YOU CAN MAKING A WISH.

A LOT OF MUSLIMS DON'T NECESSARILY CELEBRATE BIRTHDAYS BUT SARA AS PRETTY EAGER TO DO THAT.

>> Eric: ARCHIVED AT STAR TRIBUNE.COM.

>> Cathy: NICE WORK.

>> Eric: IT'S A GOOD READ.

THANKS, MAYA.

>> Cathy: THIS WEEK LAWMAKERS HAVE BEEN BUSY WORKING NIGHT AND DAY ON THE FLOOR AND IN COMMITTEE.

JUST AS A PAYMENT DEADLINE HITS.

ANOTHER ISSUE WORKERS AND EMPLOYERS ARE GRAPPLING WITH IS PAID FAMILY LEAVE.

REPORTER MAR YAY LAHAMMER TALKS WITH A HIGH PROFILE NEW SENATOR WHO HAS HAD TWO BABIES IN HER FIRST TERM SO THIS ISSUE IS PERSONAL FOR HER.

>> I THINK SOME PEOPLE ASSUME THAT ONLY DEMOCRATS CARE ABOUT FAMILY LEAVE AND YOU MADE NEWS AS A REPUBLICAN.

>> THE FEEDBACK I HAVE GONE GOTTEN HAS BEEN OVERWHELMLY POSITIVE PARTICULARLY FROM THE SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY WHO WANT AN AFFORDABLE OPTION TO OFFER THESE AMAZING BENEFITS TO THEIR EMPLOYEES WITHOUT HAVING THE HEAVY HAND OF GOVERNMENT CREATING ANOTHER TAX, ANOTHER THREAT OF FINES, ANOTHER HUGE GOVERNMENT BUREAUCRACY.

>> THIS IS DIFFERENT THAN SOME OF THE OTHER PLANS BECAUSE THIS IS REALLY SCALED FOR SMALL BUSINESS THAT'S DON'T ALREADY OFFER THIS AS A BENEFIT, CORRECT?

>> CORRECT.

WELL, ANY COMPANY OR ANY EMPLOYEE CAN ACCESS BENEFITS IF THEIR EMPLOYER PROVIDES THEM.

IT'S UNIQUE TO SMALL BUSINESSES WITH THE TAX CREDIT.

>> DOES THIS KIND OF HELP BRING THE SENATE TO THE TABLE AS WELL AND GIVE YOU HOPE THAT MAYBE THERE IS A NEGOTIATION AND A PLAN THAT COMES TOGETHER IN THE LAST MONTH OF SESSION SNEER >> I ABSOLUTELY THINK IT DOES.

I THINK WE IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY ARE SO MUCH MORE THAN THE PARTY OF NO, AND THIS GIVE GETS THUS A PARTY OF, YES, WE HEAR YOU, WE SEE THAT THIS IS AN INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT ISSUE ESPECIALLY TO YOUNG GROWING FAMILIES AND HERE IS OUR PROPOSAL.

>> YOU'VE BECOME KIND OF THE POSTER CHILD OF YOUNG GROWING FAMILY IN THE LEGISLATURE.

WHY DOES THIS MATTER TO YOU?

>> WITH MY FIRST CHILD I DIDN'T HAVE ACCESS O PAID FAMILY LEAVE.

AND I REMEMBER BEING BIG IN MY THIRD TRIMESTER AND MOONLIGHTING SO THAT I COULD AFFORD UNPAID TIME OFF TO RECOVER WHAT FROM WHAT ENDED UP BEING A CESAREAN OPERATION TO DELIVER MY CHILD.

THAT WAS ALSO EYE OPENING FOR ME WHEN I HAD MY TWINS.

NOW, IN THE SENATE THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS TIME OFF WHEN YOU HAVE BABIES.

I THINK PAID FAMILY LEAVE IS A DISCUSSION REPUBLICANS MUST BE AT THE TABLE FOR BUT IN A WAY THAT MAKES SENSE FOR MINNESOTANS.

>> WHAT ABOUT MAKING THE LEGISLATURE MORE FAMILY FRIENDLY?

YOU REALLY STOOD OUT AND HAD COMMENTS, TELL US WHAT YOU SAID AND HOW YOU SAID IT.

>> I HOPE IN SHARING MY EXPERIENCE AS A YOUNG MOM IN THE SENATE SINCE I GOT SWORN IN AND HAVE BEEN REALLY OPEN AND VULNERABLE TO PEOPLE ABOUT WHAT I WENT THROUGH WITH MY COMPLICATED PREGNANCY ITH THE TWINS, WITH TIME TO BALANCE LIFE AND MOTHERHOOD AND THE SENATE, AND AS I'VE BEEN TALKING SINCE REDISTRICTING TO POTENTIAL FEMALE CANDIDATES, THERE'S SUCH A HESITATION WITH THOSE WHO ARE STILL GROWING THEIR FAMILIES.

>> IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'VE GOTTEN SOME NEGATIVE FEEDBACK BUT ALSO SOME VERY POSITIVE FEEDBACK.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT KIND OF THE SPECTRUM OF THAT >> I HAVE GOTTEN POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE FEEDBACK ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE REALLY.

NOT REALLY WITHIN THE LEGISLATURE NECESSARILY.

I KNOW N MY CASE WITH THE TWINS, I WAS HAVING CONTRACTIONS AND WAS IN OFF ON-AGAIN, OFF-AGAIN LABOR EVERY DAY FOR TWO MONTHS AND THERE WOULD BE TIMES I WOULD BE PRESENTING A BILL WITH MY PHONE LIKE THIS ND ULTRASOUND TECH RIGHT HERE GIVE MING AN ULTRASOUND.

I WOULD BE VOTING IN THE HOSPITAL.

>> SPEAKING OF BEING IN LABOR, DID YOU SEE THE FOOTAGE AND HAVE HEARD OF BUZZ ABOUT SENATE CANDIDATE ERIN MAYE QUADE LITERALLY BEING IN LABOR AND HAVING CONTRACTIONS AT HER ENDORSING CONVENTION?

THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TALK ABOUT THAT AS WELL.

DID YOU FEEL FOR HER OR HAVE A RESPONSE?

>> YOU KNOW, I FEEL FOR EVERY MOTHER WHO IS RUNNING FOR OFFICE WHILE SERVING AND I'VE DONE IT TWICE NOW AND IT OPENED UP A CONVERSATION THAT'S WORTH HAVING OF SHOULD LOCAL GOVERNING PARTIES OR LOCAL PARTY UNITS START LOOKING AT EMERGENCY MEDICAL PROVISIONS AND I THINK THAT'S A WORTHWHILE CONVERSATION.

>> IS IT REMARKABLE HOW NONPARTISAN IN SO MANY WAYS THESE ISSUES ARE ABOUT WOMEN IN POLITICS AND FAMILY FRIENDLINESS AND FAMILY LEAVE?

IS IT BEYOND PARTNY >> IT MOST CERTAINLY IS BECAUSE ONCE YOU'VE EXPERIENCED BEING IN THE LEGISLATURE AND EXPERIENCED HOW YOU CAN REACH OUT ACROSS THE AISLE TO TALK TO ANOTHER PARENT, ANOTHER MOM YOU REALIZE THAT WE HAVE SO MUCH MORE IN COMMON THAN WE HAVE APART.

>> WHAT ABOUT ANOTHER SNORE COLEMAN?

BECAUSE YOUR FATHER-IN-LAW, U.S.

SENATOR COLEMAN SEEMS TO BE ENJOYING YOUR KIDS AND YOUR FAMILY QUITE A BIT BASED ON ALL THE FUN PHOTOS.

WHAT DOES HE THINK ABOUT YOU STEPPING OUT ON THESE ISSUES?

>> HE REALLY IS SUPPORTIVE, MAKING SURE THAT POLITICS AND POLICYMAKING IS A PLACE THAT PEOPLE LIKE HIS DAUGHTER-IN-LAW CAN FULLY PARTICIPATE.

IT'S BEEN AMAZING WATCHING HIM IN THE ROLE OF PAPA.

IT'S AN UNRECOGNIZABLE PERSON.

♪♪ >> Eric: STATE WILL YOU MEANICKERS ARE ENTERING THE FINAL STRETCH AND A LOT OF ACTION AT THE CAPITOL THIS WEEK INCLUDING A DEAL LINKING UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE AND HERO PAY.

HEAP TO TALK ABOUT THE BUSY WEEK, GREGG PEPPIN, REPUBLICAN FORMER LEGISLATIVE STAFFER, STILL ACTIVE IN THE PARTY.

JEFF HAYDEN IS HERE, D.F.L.ER, FORMER SENATOR, NOW A LEGISLATIVE LOBBYIST.

SUP SINCE YOU'VE BEEN ON THE FLOOR WITH A GREEN AND RED BUTTON IS THIS A GOOD SIGN THAT MORE COMPROMISE IS YET TO COME WITH THE U.I.

AND HERO GRANTS?

>> YEAH, I THINK SO.

IN THE LEGISLATURE WE DON'T DO IT UNTIL WE ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO DO IT AND WE DIDN'T HAVE TO DO IT UNTIL TODAY.

SO I THINK THOSE REAL DEADLINES GOOD SIGN.

I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THE SPENDING BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE TO SPEND ANY BUT I AM PRETTY SURE THAT SENATOR BAKK IS GOING TO PUSH TO GET A BONDING BILL OFF THE FLOOR FOR HIS LAST TERM.

>> WHAT'S THE IMPORTANCE, GREGG, OF TRADEOFFS?

OBVIOUSLY EACH SIDE GOT A LITTLE SOMETHING AND IT SEEMS A WONDERFUL THING BECAUSE IT'S REALLY HARD TO FIND NOWADAYS.

>> WELL, THAT'S TRUE.

YOU HIT THE NAIL RIGHT ON THE HEAD, CATHY.

IT WAS ONE OF THOSE UNFORTUNATELY RARE INSTANCE WHERE'S THEY CAME TOGETHER, GOOD, IT WAS A GOOD SIGN, THEY CAME TOGETHER, BOTH SIDES GOT A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT THEY WANTED AND AMAZINGLY IT WAS A OVERWHELMINGLY BIPARTISAN VOTE.

I MEAN, I THINK THERE MAYBE WAS FOUR OR FIVE NO VOTES IN BOTH CHAMBERS COMBINED.

SO, YEAH, THE QUESTION IS WILL THAT BE A CATAPULT TO FURTHER POSITIVE ACTION OR WILL WE KIND OF DIVERT INTO THE SLOW PAINFUL SLOG TOWARDS THE END OF SESSION AND I GET TIME WILL TELL.

>> Cathy: COULD THERE BE OTHER ITEMS THAT COULD BE LINKED TOGETHER?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT WILL BE THE PROBLEM IS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO LINK THINGS TOGETHER AND THAT'S GOING TO REALLY SLOW THINGS DOWN.

I THINK THERE ARE THINGS THAT PROBABLY COULD GET THROUGH.

WE JUST TALKED ABOUT PAID FAMILY LEAVE, THAT PROBABLY IS A SITUATION THAT THEY COULD FIGURE OUT SOMETHING BUT PROBABLY ATTACH TODAY OTHER THINGS.

>> Eric: FULL TIME LEGISLATOR, YOU WERE A FORMER STAFFER.

>> YEAH, NO.

I THINK THAT IS THE WRONG WAY TO GO.

THE LEGISLATURE'S TRIED TO ADDRESS THIS WITH THE PAID COMPENSATION COUNCIL WHERE THEY'RE TRYING TO MAKE THE PAY A LITTLE BIT MORE COMPETITIVE.

AND THE AMOUNT OF PROBLEMS WILL EXPAND TO FILL THE AVAILABLE TIME.

AND THAT'S NOT WHAT MINNESOTA NEEDS.

ATTORNEY KEEP IT PART TIME, WE NEED TO KEEP PEOPLE WHO HAVE ONE FOOT FIRMLY PLANTED IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR OR PRIVATE SIDE AND ANOTHER IN THE PUBLIC SIDE.

>> WELL, THE PROBLEM WITH IT IS THE BUDGET HAS GROWN EXPONENTIALLY AND THAT MEANS THE AMOUNT OF THINGS THEY HAVE FIGURE OUT HAS GROWN.

AND SO WE'RE HAVING SPECIAL SESSIONS NO MATTER WHAT ALL THE TIME SO WE IGHT AS WELL KIND OF SAY RAISE THE PAY, MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY CAN RUN.

RIGHT NOW YOU'RE AVING PEOPLE WHO ARE REALLY POOR, PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THEIR EARNING YEARS OFTEN LEAVE AND THEN PEOPLE THAT ARE MAYBE RETIRED OR SOME SOMEWHAT WEALTHY KIND OF RUN.

AND SO I THINK THAT THIS WOULD REALLY OPEN IT UP.

AND I ALSO THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, ONCE AGAIN, THERE ARE MORE ISSUES THAN THERE WERE WHEN WE HAD THE PART TIME LEGISLATURE, WE HAD TO GO PLANT THE FIELDS AND PICK THE CROPS AND ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF.

>> Eric: DO YOU THINK THE MINNEAPOLIS POLICE REPORT IS GOING TO AFFECT PUBLIC SAFETY NEGOTIATIONS IN CONFERENCE COMMITTEE?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT PROBABLY D.F.L.

MEMBERS WILL WANT TO BRING THAT IN.

I THINK THAT THE FLIP SIDE OF THAT COIN IS THAT THE CONSENT DECREE IS WITH INNEAPOLIS AND IT'S WITH MINNEAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL AND SO IT'S REALLY A LOCAL ISSUE HERE.

AND IT'S REALLY CONTINGENT UPON THE MINNEAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL, THE MAYOR SITTING DOWN AND FIGURING OUT IF THEY'RE GOING TO ACCEPT THAT.

I THINK IT WILL FACTOR IN, I DON'T THINK IT SHOULD, THOUGH.

>> I THINK GREGG IS RIGHT, I THINK MOST PEOPLE LOOK AT AS A MINNEAPOLIS PROBLEM, THOUGH.

COMMISSIONER HARRINGTON AND ATTORNEY GENERAL ELLISON EARLY IN THE TERM WENT THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND THEY FOUND THERE WERE PROBLEMS ALL THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

NOW, THIS PARTICULAR NICHE MINNEAPOLIS HAS BEEN GOING ON A LONG TIME AND THAT'S WHERE THE ENERGY IS.

SO I WOULD HOPE IT WOULD RAISE AWARENESS BUT I THINK GREGG MAY BE RIGHT THAT IT'S LOOKED UPON AS A MINNEAPOLIS ISSUE >> Cathy: SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY WHY ARE WE IN TAXES?

WHAT DO YOU THINK MIGHT COME OUT OF THE TAX COMMITTEE?

>> WELL, THEY'RE REALLY FAR APART.

THE REPUBLICANS WANT TO SPEND ALL OF THEIR MONEY ON TAXES AND DEMOCRATS ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THEY CAN DO FOR WORKING FAMILIES, FOR WORKING CLASS PEOPLE, MAYBE LOWER MIDDLE CLASS PEOPLE AND TRY TO FIGURE THAT OUT AND NOT PUSH THEMSELVES OUT INTO A PROBLEM LATER ON IN HE OUT YEARS, IF YOU WILL.

CALL THAT THE TAILS OR THE OUT BIENNIUMS.

SO I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT AND REPUBLICANS ARE LIKE, NOPE, WE WANT TO SPEND EVERY SINGLE ONE ON PERMANENT TAX RELIEF AND I THINK THAT'S WHERE THEIR MONEY'S GOING.

>> WELL, AND THEY SHOULD MAKE SOME ON THE TAX FRONT.

THERE'S A SURPLUS OUT THERE, THERE'S NO REASON WHY THEY CAN'T CHIP AWAY AT TAX FOURS ASSOCIATE SECURITY FOR SENIOR CITIZENS.

IT IMPACTS LOWER INCOME AND EVERYBODY ON THE SCALE.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A MONUMENTAL BUDGET SURPLUS HERE, RECORD BREAKING.

THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, AGAIN -- LIKE THE U.I., THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO COME TO THE TABLE AND EVERYBODY SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET SOMETHING.

UNFORTUNATELY, JEFF, I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT >> Cathy: I WONDER, SO YOU SEE THE SO CALLED WALZ CHECKS GOING ANYWHERE?

>> WELL, THE HOUSE ISN'T JUMPING CARTWHEELS FOR THAT.

SO I THINK THAT, NO, I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, PERHAPS THAT THAT'S OUT THERE AS A PLACEHOLDER, THAT MAYBE THE GOVERNOR WOULD COME IN AT THE END OF THE DAY AND TRY TO DO SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES DEPENDING ON HOW INVOLVED HE GETS AND HE HASN'T SHOWN A PROPENSITY TO REALLY GET INVOLVED HEAVILY IN THIS.

MAYBE THAT WILL CHANGE ANY YEAR.

>> Eric: I WANT TO ASK ABOUT THE CAUCUS CONVENTION SYSTEM OF ENDORSING CANDIDATES FOR THE LEGISLATURE.

MORRISON COUNTY HAD A LITTLE BIT OF STUFF ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE.

I KNOW WHEN YOU WERE RUNNING EYEBROWS WERE RAISED ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED AT YOUR CONVENTION FOR ENDORSEMENT.

THE ERIN MAYE QUADE, CANDIDATE DOWN IN APPLE VALLEY, WENT -- >> Cathy: INTO LABOR.

>> Eric: SHE WENT INTO LABOR AND HAD TO LEAVE RIGHT BEFORE THE VOTE.

>> RIGHT.

, DOES IT NEED TO BE CHANGED IN STRAIGHT PRIMARY?

>> WELL, I DON'T ANT TO BE SELF-SERVING BUT I THINK WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT IT.

I THINK THERE IS ENOUGH GOING ON IN THAT PROCESS ND MAYBE FOR ME IT WAS JUST BECAUSE IT WOULD COVID AND WE COULDN'T SEE EACH OTHER AND THIS INSTANCE OF ERIN MAYE QUADE I DON'T KNOW LIKE WHO WAS ON THE GROUPS THAT MAKE THE DECISION AND WHO HAD THE POWER TO KIND F MAKE THE DECISION TO PUT CONTINGENCIES IN.

THE IDEA THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE OUT IN GREATER MINNESOTA, PEOPLE SHOWING UP ARE AR-15S AND ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF IT SEEMS TO BE AND THAT'S WHEN I'M HEARING FROM MY REPUBLICAN FRIENDS, THAT SEEMS A LITTLE SCARY AS WELL.

SEEMS LIKE WE REALLY DO NEED TO TALK ABOUT THIS.

>> WELL, I THINK IT'S A DISCUSSION WORTH HAVING.

I THINK THERE'S AN INTERESTING KIND OF PARADIGM HERE BECAUSE YOU LOOK AT -- THESE ARE VOLUNTEER DRIVEN WHETHER IT'S MORRISON COUNTY, WHETHER IT'S APPLE VALLEY, THESE ARE LARGELY VOLUNTEER DRIVEN SO ARE WE GOING TO BE PERFECT?

NO, THEY'RE NOT.

ON THE OTHER HAND, I WOULD SAY AT LEAST ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE FOR THE STATEWIDE RACES I THINK IT'S BEEN VERY ROBUST, IT'S BEEN VERY ENERGIZING, IT'S BEEN VERY GOOD COMPARED TO YEARS PAST WHERE YOU'VE GOT MULTIPLE CANDIDATES VYING FOR MULTIPLE CIS OFFICES AND I THINK I'M SEEING THE BEST SIDE OF THE SYSTEM IN THAT.

THERE ARE HICCUPS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL CERTAINLY, AND SO MAYBE THERE'S A HYBRID PLAN THAT WE COULD KIND OF COME UP WITH HERE.

>> Cathy: WHILE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT POLITICS, JOANN BENSON SUSPENDED HER CAMPAIGN FOR GOVERNOR TODAY.

>> MICHELLE BENSON?

>> Cathy: EXCUSE ME.

YES, MICHELLE BENSON.

>> GOOD QUESTION.

I DO THINK THAT THEY WILL BE ALL OVER THE BOARD PROBABLY.

NOW, TO THE EXTENT THAT ANY OF HER SUPPORTERS, YOU KNOW, WERE SUPPORTING HER BECAUSE OF HER COMMAND OF HUMAN SERVICES AND ARE LOOKING FOR SOMEBODY WITH SENATORIAL EXPERIENCE THEN SENATOR GAZELKA COULD BE THE RECIPIENT THERE.

IF THEY'RE OUTSIDERS, PERHAPS KENDALL QUALLS COULD BE A RECIPIENT THERE.

I THINK THAT'S A VERY GOOD QUESTION AND WE'LL FIND OUT AFTER THE FIRST BALLOT.

>> ARE YOU WITH KENDALL QUALLS?

>> I AM -- YES, I AM WITH KENDALL AT THIS POINT IN TIME.

THAT'S A DECISION I CAME TO RELATIVE RECENTLY.

HE AND I ARE FRIENDS AND ACQUAINTANCES AND I DO BELIEVE THAT HE BRINGS THE MOST TO THE MIX.

, NECKER A MIDTERM COMING UP DOES WHAT HAPPENS AT THE LEGISLATURE MEAN MUCH FOR VOTING OR IS IT MAINLY JUST A REFERENDUM ON WHAT'S HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK IT IS A NATIONAL LECTION BUT I DO THINK THAT FROM A LEGISLATIVE STANDPOINT IT REALLY MAKES A DIFFERENCE, DISTRICT TO DISTRICT DEPEND UPON WHO BRINGS WHAT HOME, WHAT ARE THE ISSUES THAT THEY HAVE, WHAT DO THEIR DELEGATES, THE FOLKS THAT REALLY PAY ATTENTION.

I THINK IT DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LEGISLATURE THOUGH I THINK THAT IT'S A NATIONALIZED ELECTION BECAUSE SO UCH MONEY COMES IN FROM THE OUTSIDE.

>> GREED, GREED.

YOU KNOW, IT DIDN'T USED TO BE THAT WAY IN MINNESOTA.

IT USED TO BE IN YEARS PAST THERE WAS THAT SEPARATION BETWEEN LEGISLATIVE RACES AND NATIONAL RACES, AND YOU COULD -- IT WAS EASIER TO OVERCOME A NATIONAL WEIGHT.

THAT HAS SINCE CHANGED IN THE LAST TEN YEARS AND REALLY WHAT HAPPENS AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL REALLY DOES IMPACT WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE STATE LEVEL AND I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE THE CASE THIS YEAR.

>> Cathy: WE HAVE A MINUTE LEFT.

FORMER VICE PRESIDENT MONDALE, HIS MEMORIAL SERVICE WILL BE SUNDAY WAY DO YOU WANT TO SAY ABOUT THAT?

>> YOU KNOW, I WAS THINKING ABOUT THAT AS I DROVE OVER HERE.

I HEARD A STORY, I HAPPENED TO BE FRIENDS WITH BUCK HUMPHREY AND WE TRAVELED TOGETHER RECENTLY AND WE TALKED ABOUT THE TIME IN WHICH HIS GRANDFATHER WAS NEGOTIATING WITH THE DIXIECRAT FOR FANNIE LOU HAMER.

>> MISSISSIPPI DELEGATION.

>> YEAH, MISSISSIPPI DELEGATION.

AND MONDALE WAS THE SHUTTLE NEGOTIATOR PERSON GOING BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THE DIXIECRATS AND AFRICAN AMERICAN PEOPLE WANTING TO BE SEATS, AND HUMPHREY -- VICE PRESIDENT OR WHEREVER HE WAS AT THEY WANT AND BUCK AND I HAD A LONG CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT.

THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS TO REMEMBER ABOUT THE VICE PRESIDENT BUT THAT CERTAINLY STOOD OUT TO ME.

>> Eric: THAT'S A GOOD WAY TO CLOSE OUT THE SEGMENT.

WE HAVE RUN LONG TONIGHT BUT WE WANT TO YOU TO KNOW THAT THE STATEWIDE MINNESOTA CHANNEL WILL AIR THE MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR THE FORMER VICE PRESIDENT.

THE SERVICE STARTS SUNDAY AFTERNOON AT 1:30, THE MINNESOTA CHANNEL.

JUST ENOUGH TIME IF SOME SHOW-ENDING MUSIC FROM THE TPT ARCHIVES.

LET'S LISTEN TO ROBERT ROBINSON WHO APPEARED ON ALMANAC THIS WEEK IN 2014 SINGING "WE ARE CLIMBING JACOB'S LADDER."

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

BE CAREFUL.

>> LYRICS: WE ARE CLIMBING JACOB'S LADDER, WE'RE BROTHERS AND SISTERS I'M TELLIN' YOU.

WE ARE CLIMBING ACOB'S LADDER ♪♪ >> LYRICS: WE ARE CLIMBING JACOB'S LADDER JACOB'S LADDER ... WE ARE CLIMBING JACOB'S LADDER.

AND WE ARE SISTERS, OH.

SAID I'M TELLIN' YOU THAT VERY ROUND GOES HIGHER AND HIGHER SAID EVERY ROUND GOES HIGHER AND HIGHER.

[ VOCALIZING ] >> LYRICS: SAID EVERY ROUND GOES HIGHER AND HIGHER >> "ALMANAC" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY MEMBERS OF THIS PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION.

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