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

>> CATHY: COMING UP ON "ALMANAC," WE'LL TALK WITH MEMBERS OF THE "STAR TRIBUNE" TEAM THAT WON A PULITZER PRIZE THIS WEEK.

KAOMI LEE HIGHLIGHTS MAYO CLINIC CLOSINGS IN RURAL MINNESOTA.

A POLITICAL PANEL FILLS THE COUCH.

AND MARY LAHAMMER HAS BEEN TRACKING THE END OF SESSION.

>> Mary: THE DAYS LEFT IN THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION ARE DISAPPEARING, BUT SOME BIPARTISAN BILLS HAVE SERIOUS MOMENTUM, TO STOP FRAUD AND SAVE A HOSPITAL.

>> NOT EVERYBODY HAS CALLED TO PUBLIC SERVICE.

THOSE PEOPLE WHO WORK AT HCMC HAVE THAT CALLING AND THAT DESIRE.

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

♪ +-L >> "ALMANAC" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY MEMBERS OF THIS PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION.

SUPPORT IS ALSO PROVIDED BY... GREAT RIVER ENERGY: PROVIDING WHOLESALE POWER TO 1.7 MILLION PEOPLE THROUGH ITS MEMBER-OWNER COOPERATIVES AND CUSTOMERS.

DELTA DENTAL OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION: IMPROVING ORAL HEALTH AND HELPING COMMUNITIES THRIVE.

DELTADENTALMN.ORG/TPT.

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

MORE AT EDUCATIONMINNESOTA.ORG.

AND VANESSA DAYTON, THROUGH THE HEALTHCARE FOR ALL MINNESOTANS FUND, SUPPORTING ACCESSIBLE HEALTHCARE FOR MINNESOTANS STATEWIDE.

>> CATHY: WELCOME TO "ALMANAC."

WE HAVE A VERY FULL SHOW TONIGHT.

PART OF THE "STAR TRIBUNE" TEAM THAT WON A PULITZER FOR THEIR COVERAGE OF THE ANNUNCIATION SCHOOL SHOOTING JOINS US.

WE'LL HIGHLIGHT A SPECIAL MOTHER'S DAY MUSICAL REUNION.

KAOMI LEE LOOKS AT HEALTHCARE CLINIC CLOSINGS AND CONSOLIDATIONS IN GREATER MINNESOTA.

AND OF COURSE PLENTY OF POLITICS TO BOOKEND THE HOUR.

>> ERIC: WE START TONIGHT WITH ACTION AT THE CAPITOL.

JUST OVER A WEEK LEFT IN THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND MOST OF THE MAJOR WORK REMAINS, BUT A COUPLE OF KEY PRIORITIES HAVE EMERGED.

MARY LAHAMMER SHOWS US HOW BIPARTISAN BILLS TO SAVE HOSPITALS AND STOP FRAUD ARE ON THE FAST TRACK.

[ PEOPLE SINGING ] >> Mary: FAITH LEADERS PRESSED LAWMAKERS TO URGENTLY PASS A BILL TO RESCUE HENNEPIN COUNTY MEDICAL CENTER, HCMC, WHILE WORKERS JOINED THE CALL TO FUND THE STATE'S SAFETY NET HOSPITAL.

>> IT'S REALLY UNSETTLING.

I'VE BEEN THERE FOR 29 YEARS.

YOU KNOW, I'VE NEVER ONCE -- LIKE, IT'S GOING TO MAKE ME CRY.

NOT EVERYBODY IS CALLED TO PUBLIC SERVICE.

AND THESE E THOSE PEOPLE WHO WORK AT HCMC HAVE THAT CALLING AND THAT DESIRE.

THAT'S WHERE I WANT TO WORK.

>> WE NEED A DEAL THAT IS GOING TO STABILIZE THEM FOR A SIGNIFICANT PERIOD OF TIME SO THAT THE WORKERS OF THIS HOSPITAL CAN FEEL CONFIDENT THAT THEY HAVE JOB STABILITY AND A PLACE TO CALL HOME.

>> Mary: GOVERNOR WALZ BLAMES THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR CUTS TO MEDICAID, CREATING UNCOMPENSATED CARE.

>> WE'RE GOING TO LOSE HCMC BECAUSE OF THEM.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO ECONOMIC RECOVERY BECAUSE OF THEM.

>> Mary: THE FIRST ITEM LISTED IS HRJ.

WHAT DO YOU THINK THE PROSPECTS ARE?

>> WE NEED TAKE CARE OF HCMC AND OUR RURAL HOSPITALS BECAUSE THE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL HAS DONE A LOT OF DAMAGE.

>> Mary: A BIPARTISAN PLAN HAS MOMENTUM.

>> HIS IS OUR STATEWIDE HOSPITAL FOR A LACK OF A BETTER TERM.

WE HAVE PATIENTS NOT ONLY IN HENNEPIN COUNTY BUT ACROSS THE STATE.

>> AS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, THIS IS -- THIS IS A STATEWIDE RESOURCE, WELL, THOSE OF US WHO LIVE IN HENNEPIN COUNTY ARE REALLY FOOTING THE BILL TO KIND OF HELP THEM TO MAKE THAT CASH FLOW HAPPEN WEEK TO WEEK.

AND SO THAT'S SORT OF PART OF THE REASON FOR THE NEED FOR INTERVENTION.

>> IEFORTSZ JUST LEAVE IT AT THAT.

IT'S A COMPLEX ISSUE.

AND SO I HOPE WE CAN CONTINUE TO WORK THROUGH IT AND LOOK AT ALL THE DIFFERENT ANGLES AND KIND OF COME TOGETHER ON IT.

>> IT'S MY GOAL NOT TO AVE A SITUATION WHERE WE'RE PUTTERING BAND-AIDS ON SO WE CAN LIMP ALONG FOR A COUPLE MORE YEARS.

WHAT I'M LOOKING AT IS TO MAKE IT SO THAT HENNEPIN -- HCMC, NORTH MEMORIAL, CAN NOT SURVIVE, BUT THRIVE.

>> Mary: COULD THIS BE A TEMPLATE FOR OTHER ISSUES YOU'RE MOVING QUICKLY, SESSION'S WINDING DOWN, IT'S BIPARTISAN.

>> WHEN WE DO COME TOGETHER AND WE HAVEN'T BURNED BRIDGES IN THE PAST, IT MAKES IT SO MUCH EASIER TO WORK TOGETHER AND ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE'S SO MANY PEOPLE THAT CARE ABOUT SOMETHING.

YOU CAN FIND PATHS THROUGH.

YOU JUST HAVE TO WORK HARD AT IT.

>> Mary: IS THERE TIME IN THE LAST TEN DAYS TO GET THIS DONE SOME >> THERE'S ALWAYS TIME, UNTIL THAT FINAL GAVEL BANGS.

THERE'S ALWAYS TIME.

>> Mary: ANOTHER BIPARTISAN BILL DEALS WITH FRAUD AS THE MINNESOTA HOUSE FINALLY TOOK UP THE PLAN TO CREATE AN OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL.

>> THERE BEING 127 AYES AND 5 NAYS, THE BILL IS PASSED AND ITS TITLE AGREED TO.

THE BILL IS PASSED AS AMENDS AND ITS TITLE AGREED.

>> THE PROPOSED OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL IS A POWERFUL OFFICE MEANT TO ADDRESS A CRITICAL CONCERN.

FRAUD AGAINST OUR PUBLIC PROGRAMS.

>> I HOPE THAT THIS IS HE BEGINNING OF THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL.

THIS AND SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE'VE PASSED.

BECAUSE MINNESOTANS ARE MAD.

AND THEY DESERVE MORE.

>> Mary: THE SENATE PASSED A DIFFERENT VERSION LAST YEAR, AND THE GOVERNOR IS READY TO SIGN THE BILL.

>> IF YOU TALK ABOUT OVERSIGHT, VOTE FOR THAT OVERSIGHT AND THE BILLS THAT ARE WORKING THEIR WAY THROUGH THE CHAMBER.

[ Applause ] >> YOU GOT TO WANT STOP IT, NOT JUST TALK ABOUT IT.

SO SEND 'EM TO MY DESK AND I'LL SIGN 'EM INTO LAW IMMEDIATELY.

>> Mary: SENATOR KLOBUCHAR ANNOUNCED HER PLAN AS THE LEADING CANDIDATE TO REPLACE THE GOVERNOR.

>> TRANSFORM OUR GOVERNMENT INTO A GOVERNMENT THAT IS INNOVATIVE, EFFECTIVE, AND ACCOUNTABLE.

THESE IDEAS AREN'T PARTISAN.

GOOD IDEAS CAN COME FROM DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS.

SOME OF THEM ARE PENDING RIGHT NOW BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE.

>> FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, WHAT THE HELL, PEOPLE?

>> IT IS MADDENING.

IT IS INFURIATING.

IT IS HARD.

>> Mary: AND THE FEISTY FRAUD COMMITTEE CONCLUDED FOR SESSION.

>> IT HAS BEEN EYE-OPENING FOR ME, AND I THINK FOR ALL OF OUR MEMBERS.

AND ALSO FOR THE PUBLIC.

>> LET'S CONTINUE TO DVANCE THE MANY PROPOSALS THAT ARE MOVING THROUGH OUR BODY AND OUR NEGOTIATION WITH THE SENATE.

VERY PLEASED WITH THEM.

>> I RAN INTO THE HEAD OF THE B.C.A., THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSIONER.

I SAID WHAT ARE YOU GUYS DOING OVER HERE?

AND THEY SAID WE'RE WORKING ON FRAUD.

SO THERE IS A LAW ENFORCEMENT SAFETY ASPECT ON SOME OF THESE BILLS.

>> ABSOLUTELY AND THERE ARE FRAUD BILLS MOVING IN ALL THESE DIFFERENT COMMITTEE BILLS, YOU KNOW, SORT OF COMMITTEES OF JURISDICTION.

SO I INSPECT THAT WE WILL GET SEVERAL THINGS OVER THE FINISH LINE.

♪ ♪ >> CATHY: HERE TO TALK MORE ABOUT BIPARTISAN BILLS AND BEHAVIOR AT THE LEGISLATURE THIS YEAR, SHANNON WATSON.

SHE HEADS UP THE NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION "MAJORITY IN THE MIDDLE," WHICH ENCOURAGES CIVIC POLITICAL CONVERSATION AND FINDING WAYS TO COMPROMISE.

WELCOME BACK, SHANNON.

WELCOME BACK, SHANNON.

>> THANK YOU.

HAPPY GETTING TO THE END OF SESSION TO YOU.

YES, WE'RE SO CLOSE.

>> NINE, SLASH, TEN DAYS LEFT.

>> Cathy: EXACTLY.

TEN BILLS SIGNED THIS WEEK AND THAT WOULD INDICATE SOME LEVEL OF BIPARTISANSHIP.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

EVERYTHING THAT GETS THROUGH THE HOUSE HAD TO BE BIPARTISAN.

AND I THINK ONE OF THE REASONS THAT WE'RE SEEING MORE BILLS IS BECAUSE THEY'RE RUNNING THOSE SINGLE SUBJECT.

AND SO THOSE HAVE A MUCH BETTER SHOT AT BEING BIPARTISAN AND FINDING SOME AGREEMENT AND THEN JUST GETTING OVER THE FINISH LINE REALLY EASILY.

SO THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS THAT NUMBER IS UM AY HIGH THIS YEAR.

>> Cathy: FOR PEOPLE, THE SINGLE ISSUE BILLS ARE ACTUALLY -- IT'S KIND THE WAY IT USED TO BE IN A SENSE INSTEAD OF HAVING THESE HUMONGOUS OMNIBUS BILLS.

>> YES, AND THE CHRISTMAS TREE BILLS, THE OMNIBUS BILLS, THOSE HAVE IN THE PAST BEEN KIND OF THE WAY THAT WE'VE DONE LEGISLATING IN MINNESOTA BECAUSE THE MAJORITY PARTY PUTS A BUNCH OF THINGS IN THERE THAT THEY LIKE AND USUALLY SOME THINGS THAT THE MINORITY PARTY DOESN'T LIKE.

AND THEN PASSES THOSE ON PARTISAN LINES.

THE CHALLENGE BECOMES WHEN YOU GET THE GOOD STUFF IN THE BILL THAT PEOPLE WIND UP VOTING AGAINST.

THAT SHOULD, YOU KNOW, IT GIVES US THIS IDEA THAT THERE'S NO BIPARTISANSHIP.

SINGLE SUBJECT, LIKE, THAT SHOWS WHERE EVERYBODY AGREES.

>> Eric: YOU KNOW, SINCE YOU BRING THIS UP AND HAVE QUITE A BIT TO SAY ABOUT PARTISANSHIP AND NONPARTISANSHIP.

I KIND OF WATCH FOR THOSE SIGNALS AND I WONDERED WHAT YOU THOUGHT ABOUT THE CONTROVERSY OVER THE NEW STATE FLAG?

IS THAT A SIGNAL OF DEEP DIVISION IN THE STATE?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT'S A SIGNAL THAT PEOPLE ARE FEELING T OF CONTROL, AND I THINK A LOT OF US ARE FEELING OUT OF CONTROL JUST SORT OF GENERAL, AND THEY WANT SOMETHING THEY CAN CONTROL, AND IF THEY WERE NOT PART OF THAT PROCESS AND THEY DIDN'T KNOW THAT THEY COULD SUBMIT IDEAS OR THEY WANTED TO HAVE A VOTE OR SOMETHING ON THAT, THEY'RE SAYING, NO, NO WAIT, IT'S SOMETHING REALLY EASY TO CONTROL.

SO I JUST -- I THINK IT'S SORT OF A BELL WEATHER FOR OTHER THINGS MORE THAN IT IS THE FLAG.

>> Cathy: OKAY, BUT IT DOESN'T REALLY SMACK OF PARTISANSHIP TO YOU AT ALL?

>> I DON'T THINK SO, BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF PLACES THAT ARE DOING THIS, THAT THOSE CITY COUNCILS ARE GENERALLY PRETTY NONPARTISAN.

AND OF COURSE THERE IS SOME PUSHBACK BECAUSE OF WHEN THAT FLAG PROCESS WENT THROUGH.

BUT I THINK -- AGAIN, I THINK IT'S PEOPLE FEELING UNHEARD AND FEELING MAYBE LIKE THEY'RE S BEING ERASED.

>> Eric: SAFER THE SESSION IS OVER, SINE DIE, RETIREMENT SPEECHES OCCUR AND INEVITABLY THE RETIRING LAWMAKER SAYS ONE OF THEIR GREATEST MOMENTS WAS WORKING ACROSS THE AISLE WITH THE OTHER PARTY TO ACCOMPLISH SOME COMMON GOOD.

BUT THAT DOESN'T SEEM TO CARRY OVER INTO THE REGULAR SESSION AND ALL THE HOURS AND DAYS BEFORE THAT.

>> SOMETIMES I WISH WE DID RETIREMENT SPEECHES, LIKE, ON THE FIRST DAY.

WOULDN'T THAT BE AWESOME?

ALTHOUGH, ACTUALLY COME TO THINK OF IT, WATCHING THE LEGISLATORS WHO HAVE DECIDED THAT THEY ARE RETIRING, WATCHING -- THEIR LANGUAGE SORT OF SHIFTS, AND I THINK THEIR BEHAVIOR SHIFTS.

SO, LIKE, THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE IN THE HOUSE.

BOTH OF THOSE CO-CHAIRS ARE RETIRING AT THE END OF THE YEAR AND I THINK THAT IVES THEM A LITTLE EXTRA MOTIVATION TO GET SOMETHING ACROSS THE FINISH LINE AND WORK TOGETHER.

>> Cathy: SO WHAT DO YOU MAKE, BY THE WAY, I THOUGHT IT WAS QUITE INTERESTING, I WAS TALKING TO REPRESENTATIVE ANDERSON ABOUT THE OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL BILL THAT RAN INTO TROUBLE AT THE BEGINNING OF SESSION.

AND THERE WAS SOME FIREWORKS OVER THAT AND THEN REPRESENTATIVE ANDERSON AND A BIPARTISAN GROUP OF LAWMAKERS WENT OFF A WORKING GROUP AND HAMMERED THAT THING OUT.

WHAT DOES THAT TELL YOU ABOUT WHAT HOPE DOES THAT PORTEND?

>> THAT TELLS ME THAT LEGISLATING IN FRONT OF A CAMERA IS REALLY DIFFICULT.

THAT WORKING GROUP ACTUALLY -- THEY HAD BEEN MEETING FOR ALMOST TWO YEARS NOW.

THAT STARTED AT THE START OF SESSION LAST YEAR.

AND IT WAS EVERY TUESDAY NIGHT.

THOSE FOUR LAWMAKERS, SOMETIMES OTHERS, SOMETIMES STAFF, LIKE, THEY WERE WORKING TOGETHER AND CRAFTING THAT BILL ALL ALONG.

>> Eric: AND THE VOTE WAS 127 TO 5 IN FAVOR.

>> YES, YES.

ISN'T THAT GREAT?

BECAUSE IT'S A SINGLE SUBJECT AND EVERYBODY LIKES IT.

YES.

THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU GET TOGETHER AND YOU FIND SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE CAN BOTH AGREE ON BUT THAT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING ON IT, THE BEST THING THAT THAT YEAR AND A HALF OR TWO YEARS DID WAS ALLOWED THEM TO BUILD TRUST.

BECAUSE THAT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT'S MISSING.

>> Cathy: HOWEVER, PUSHING BACK, THE LACK OF TRANSPARENCY - >> OH, ABSOLUTELY.

>> Cathy: IS HORRIBLE.

>> THE TRANSPARENCY IS WORKING GROUPS IS TERRIBLE, 100%, AND YOU COME OUT WITH BETTER POLICY AT THE END SO I'M SO TORN ON THAT.

>> HORTMAN-HOFFMAN INFLUENCE.

>> AH, HUGE.

I HAVE REALLY ENJOYED WATCHING SENATOR HOFFMAN THIS YEAR.

BECAUSE HE TALKED ON THE FIRST DAY BACK ABOUT HOW THIS HAS BEEN REALLY CLARITY GIVING FOR HIM.

HE HAS BEEN MORE PASSIONATE ABOUT THE THINGS THAT HE'S ALWAYS BEEN PASSIONATE ABOUT, AND I THINK HE'S BEEN MORE PASSIONATE ALSO ABOUT CONNECTING WITH HIS FELLOW LEGISLATORS.

HE'S ALWAYS BEEN A FIRST NAME GUY KIND OF PERSON AND THAT COMES OUT IN COMMITTEE TOO.

HE REFERS TO PEOPLE NOT AS SENATOR SO AND SO BUT, YOU KNOW, BILL OR WHATEVER.

>> Eric: WE APPRECIATE YOUR WATCHDOGGEDNESS.

>> Cathy: LAST FEW DAYS.

>> Eric: SHANNON WATSON, EVERYBODY.

♪ >> THE WORK THAT WE DO IS SO CRUCIAL AND FOLKS SO DESPERATELY NEED TO KNOW ABOUT WHAT STATE LEGISLATORS AND THEIR GOVERNMENT IS DOING FOR THEM OR INSPITE OF THEM, I GUESS.

AND I JUST THINK I LOVE MY JOB.

AND I HOPE THAT PEOPLE KNOW THAT.

AND I HOPE TO KEEP DOING IT FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

>> Dana: WE'LL LEAVE IT RIGHT THERE.

THANKS, DANA.

THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR "THE WRAP," EVERYBODY.

SEE YOU NEXT WEEK!

>> THAT WAS COOL.

>> Dana: THAT WAS A GOOD ONE.

BETTER THAN MOST.

♪ ♪ >> ERIC: FOR THE SECOND TIME IN JUST HALF A DECADE, THE MINNESOTA "STAR TRIBUNE" HAS BEEN AWARDED A PULITZER PRIZE FOR THEIR COVERAGE OF A TRAGEDY THAT STRUCK OUR STATE.

THE PRESTIGIOUS AWARD WAS ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK IN RECOGNITION OF THE PAPER'S REPORTING ON THE MASS SHOOTING AT ANNUNCIATION CATHOLIC SCHOOL LAST SUMMER.

HERE WITH US NOW ARE TWO MEMBERS OF THAT AWARD-WINNING TEAM.

ERIC WIEFFERING IS A MANAGING EDITOR FOR THE "STAR TRIBUNE," AND HE'S JOINED BY STATE AND REGIONAL REPORTER REID FORGRAVE.

CONGRATULATIONS, GUYS, AND THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

TAKE US THROUGH THE FIRST ITERATION OF THIS.

YOU FOUND OUT ABOUT IT.

AND WHERE DO YOU START AS A COVERING IT?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, WE HAD -- IT LITERALLY WAS ALMOST IN SOMEONE'S BACKYARD.

ONE OF OUR REPORTERS WAS IN HIS BACKYARD AND HEARD THE SHOTS.

AND HIS FIRST CALL WAS TO 11.

THEN HE CALLED THE NEWS ROOM AND HE HEADED OVER TO THE CHURCH.

ONE OF OUR EDITORS, WAS IN THE CHURCH WHEN THE SHOOTING HAPPENED AND SHE HAD JUST GOTTEN TO THE NEWS ROOM AND GOT THE CALL.

SO WE WERE ABLE TO SCRAMBLE PEOPLE BOTH TO THE SCHOOL AND CHURCH AND TO EMERGENCY ROOMS RIGHT WAY.

ONE OF THE REASONS WE OT THAT GREAT PHOTOGRAPH FROM RICH IS BECAUSE HE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST PEOPLE THERE.

AND -- >> Eric: THIS IS THE PHOTOGRAPH OF THE WOMAN WITH -- BAREFOOT.

RUNNING, HOLDING HER SHOES.

>> Cathy: WOW.

I MEAN, WHAT AN IMAGE, IGHT?

>> Eric: THAT WENT AROUND THE WORLD.

>> Cathy: AND OF COURSE JOURNALISTS RUN TOWARDS THE DANGER.

WE DON'T OFTEN TALK ABOUT THAT.

I'M WONDERING HOW THOSE REPORTERS AND STAFF ARE DOING.

>> I THINK WE DO BETTER THAN WE USED TO AT TALKING ABOUT IT.

AND ONE THING ABOUT THIS AWFUL TRAGEDY IS THAT -- I LIVE CLOSE TO ANNUNCIATION, I LIVE FIVE BLOCKS AWAY AND IT THE WAY THAT IT HAS NORMALIZED THERAPY IN THIS COMMUNITY IS PRETTY REMARKABLE.

ARE PEOPLE AT ANNUNCIATION DOING ELL?

NO.

I DON'T THINK PEOPLE ARE DOING WELL.

ARE REPORTERS NECESSARILY DOING WELL?

YOU KNOW, IT'S UP AND DOWN.

BUT I DO THINK THAT IN 2026 AMERICA, WE TALK ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH MORE THAN WE EVER DID.

AND IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD, I WAS AT ANNUNCIATION THE DAY AFTER THE PULITZER WAS ANNOUNCED.

I WAS WORTH ON A STORY ALL DAY THERE.

AND THERE'S A LITTLE GIRL THERE, AND SAID, THAT'S REID, HE GOES TO THE SAME THERAPIST THAT I DO.

AND I THINK THAT'S A VERY HEALTHY BEHALF OF PROCESSING THIS.

>> Cathy: FOR FOLKS WHO DON'T UNDERSTAND, THE CHOICES MADE IN CONTINUING COVERAGE, IN THE DAYS AND WEEKS AND MONTHS AFTER SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

>> YEAH, THAT FIRST DAY WE HAD A LIVE DIALOGUE GOING FOR 13 HOURS.

AND THAT LIVE DIALOGUE WAS UPDATED 83 TIMES THROUGH THE COURSE OF THE DAY.

AND THAT'S BE EXPECTATION THAT READERS HAVE THESE DAYS, RIGHT?

THEY WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOU KNOW IN REAL TIME.

AND THAT PUTS AN INCREDIBLE BURDEN ON YOU TO BE ACCURATE.

SO THE GUARDRAILS AROUND ACCURACY AND FAIRNESS DON'T GO DOWN IN THAT KIND OF SITUATION.

SO IT'S JUST A REMARKABLE TESTAMENT TO THE ENERGY THAT OUR REPORTERS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS AND VIDEOGRAPHERS AND GRAPHICS PEOPLE BROUGHT TO THIS STORY BECAUSE THEY WERE OPERATING AT INCREDIBLY HIGH SPEED THROUGHOUT THE DAY.

WE HAD 83 UPDATES.

WE HAD 13 SEPARATE SPOARS.

WE PRODUCED A 10 WE PRODUCED A 1 10 MINUTE VIDEO AND WE TRANSMITTED DOZENS AND DOZENS PHOTOS.

AND THEN THE STORY GOES ON.

OUR COVERAGE DIDN'T END AT THAT POINT.

THE AWARD RECOGNIZES THE FIRST SEVEN-DAYS OF COVERAGE BUT WE COMMITTED TO TELLING THIS STORY.

>> Cathy: IN YOUR APPLICATION TO THE PULITZER BOARD, THE "STAR TRIBUNE" NOTED, THE NEWS ROOM DECIDED EARLY ON THAT IT WOULD NOT LET THE SHOOTING BE EASILY FORGOTTEN, THE STAFF WOULD HOLD UP ANNUNCIATION'S PAIN AND ASK OUR READERS TO RECKON WITH IT.

>> THAT IS ACTUALLY WHAT I'M MOST PROUD OF WITH THIS NEWS ROOM IS THAT VERY EARLY ON, I WENT ON A WALK WITH DEVON O'BRIEN, HE IS AN ANNUNCIATION PARENT.

HE WAS IN THE CHURCH THAT DAY.

HE RAN TOWARD THE DANGER.

HE RAN TOWARD THE SHOOTER.

HE KNOWS PUBLIC GRIEF AND PUBLIC TRAGEDY BECAUSE HIS UNCLE WAS TOM BARNETT JUNIOR WHO WAS ON FLIGHT 93 ON 9/11.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT DEVON SAID TO ME THAT FRAMED HOW I'VE THOUGHT ABOUT THIS SINCE THEN IS IN THE YEARS SINCE 9/11, EVERYONE FOCUSES ON THAT DAY AND HE SAYS THAT'S REALLY JUST CHAPTER ONE.

IN THE ANNUNCIATION COMMUNITY, THEY REFER TO IT AS 8/27 AND THEY SEE THAT AS JUST THE FIRST CHAPTER, A DARK CHAPTER, AN AWFUL CHAPTER, A CHAPTER THAT SORT OF DETERMINES ALL OF THE REST, BUT WHAT I THINK THEY'VE DONE A GREAT JOB OF IS FRAMING THEIR OWN STORY.

AND I THINK THAT IF WE'VE PLAYED A SMALL PART IN THAT, THAT, I'M AS PROUD OF THAT AS ANY PRIZE THEY COULD GIVE US.

>> Eric: ONE OF THE KIND OF CLICHES OF JOURNALISM IS THAT IN THE WAKE OF A TRAGEDY, THE FIRST FEW HOURS, THERE'S WRONG INFORMATION PUT OUT.

FROM YOUR JOB AS MANAGING EDITOR, WHAT'S THAT LIKE FOR YOU TO MAKE SURE STUFF IS ACCURATE?

>> WELL, THE PRESSURE IS ON ALL OF US, THE REPORTERS, EDITORS, AND THEN THERE WERE SOME CALLS WE HAVE TO MAKE, AND THERE YOU ARE JUST REALLY RELYING ON THE TRUST THAT YOU'VE BUILT UP WITH THE REPORTING STAFF.

WE WERE THE FIRST TO REPORT THE TWO CHILDREN WERE DEAD.

THAT'S A VERY DIFFICULT THING TO DO.

BUT WE KNEW THAT INFORMATION WAS SOLID.

THE SOURCING WAS SOLID.

I THINK WE I THINK W WE WERE THE FIRST TO IDENTIFY THE NAME OF THE SHOOTER.

AND, YOU NOW, IT IS -- THOSE KINDS OF DECISIONS INVOLVE MULTIPLE LAYERS OF EDITORS AND THE FINAL CALL IS MADE BY THE TOP ED TOP E EDITOR, EXECUTIVE EDITOR, KATHLEEN HENSY.

>> Eric: NOW PEOPLE THAT AREN'T IN JOURNALISM WILL SAY, WELL, HOW CAN YOU KEEP YOUR HEAD ABOUT YOU HEN THIS HORRIBLE TRAGEDY IS HAPPENING?

AND MAYBE FOLKS AT HOME WOULD BE INTERESTING N HEARING HOW WHEN YOU PUT ON YOUR JOURNALISM HAT.

>> I CRIED A LOT THAT DAY.

I CRIED A LOT IN THE WEEKS AND MONTHS AFTER THIS.

I CRIED WHEN I WAS TALKING TO A FOURTH GRADE CLASS AT ANNUNCIATION EARLIER THIS WEEK.

I THINK PUTTING YOUR JOURNALISM CAP IS ON, IS WE GET THE FACTS RIGHT.

BUT I ALSO THINK IN -- WHEN PEOPLE THINK OF JOURNALISTS, SOMETIMES WE GET A BAD RAP, A LOT OF IT BECAUSE OF SOCIAL MEDIA OR BECAUSE OF, LIKE, NATIONAL JOURNALISM.

BUT I THINK AN IMPORTANT PART OF THIS IS THE COMPASSION, THE PUTTING HUMANITY FIRST.

AND I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT OUR NEWS THAT OUR NE NEWS ROOM, DAY IN, DAY OUT, NOT JUST ON THIS STORY, BUT WE DO A REALLY GOOD JOB OF CENTERING THE HUMANITY.

>> Cathy: THIS IS THE "STAR TRIBUNE"'S THIRD PULITZER I BELIEVE?

>> YOU KNOW, WE JUST HAD A CONVERSATION.

IT'S OUR TENTH, IF YOU LOOK BACK.

>> Cathy: IS IT?

OWE, WOW!

>> BUT THE FIRST ONE SINCE 2021, WHICH RECOGNIZED THE GEORGE FLOYD COVERAGE.

BUT WE WERE A FINALIZE IN 2022, A FINALIST IN 2023.

A FINALIST IN 2018.

SO WE'VE BEEN IN THE HUNT.

BUT THIS -- IT FEELS REALLY GOOD TO WIN ONE AND NOT JUST BE A FINALIST.

>> Cathy: AND WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO A NEWS ROOM TO WIN A PULITZER?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, IT'S -- THE NEWS ROOM IS INCREDIBLY THANKFUL TO BE RECOGNIZED FOR THE WORK IT DID, AND IT'S GRATIFYING THAT IT RECOGNIZES THE WORK OF THE ENTIRE NEWS ROOM, BUT THOSE FEELINGS WERE VERY MUCH TEMPERED BY THE FEELING THAT THIS WAS ONE OF THE WORST DAYS IN STATE HISTORY AND THAT THERE IS A COMMUNITY, THAT EXPANDS BEYOND ANNUNCIATION, THAT IS STILL GRIEVING AND STILL TRYING TO PROCESS WHAT HAPPENED AND TRYING TO MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN IF THAT'S POSSIBLE.

>> Eric: WELL, CONGRATULATIONS, GREAT WORK AND WE'LL LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING COVERAGE ON THE ANNIVERSARY I SUPPOSE IN AUGUST.

THANK YOU.

♪ >> SHELETTA: PHEWWWW, THAT WAS A CLOSE ONE.

I MADE IT JUST IN TIME FOR MY SEGMENT.

WHEN "ALMANAC" PRODUCERS CALLED TO TELL ME IT WAS MY TURN TO DO A MONOLOGUE, I HAD TO TAKE A MOMENT TO RETHINK MY COMMITMENT TO THIS SHOW.

I MEAN, IT'S A 15-MILE TRIP FROM MY HOUSE TO THE TPT STUDIOS, AND GAS PRICES IN COTTAGE GROVE ARE AROUND $4.30 A GALLON.

THAT MATH AIN'T MATHING!

BUT CATHY WURZER VOUCHED FOR ME 20 YEARS AGO AND TOLD EVERYBODY I'D DO A GOOD JOB IF THEY PUT ME ON TV.

AND I DON'T WANNA DISAPPOINT HER.

MY GIRLFRIEND.

SO I FIGURED I'D BETTER FIGURE SOMETHING OUT.

I DROVE TO HASTINGS WHERE THE PRICE OF PETROL IS ALWAYS A PENNY OR TWO LESS.

BUT WHEN I PULLED UP TO THE PUMP, THE STICKER SHOCK WAS STILL THE SAME.

THE PRICE OF GAS GOT ME MAKING LIFE DECISIONS.

DO I REALLY LOVE THIS JOB?

YES, YES, I DO.

SO I PLANNED TO RIDE MY DAUGHTER'S BIKE TO SAVE A FEW BUCKS.

SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD IDEA, RIGHT?

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL SPRING DAY IN MINNESOTA.

WRONG!

IT OCCURRED TO ME THAT I NEVER LEARNED HOW TO RIDE A BIKE GROWING UP.

AND WHEN MY POOR NEIGHBOR NEXT DOOR, MR.

PHIL, TRIED TO TEACH ME A FEW MONTHS AGO, IT DIDN'T END WELL.

>> STEP OVER.

>> OKAY.

>> THERE WE GO.

YOU CAN PUT YOUR BUTT UP THERE.

>> DON'T LET ME GO, MR.

PHIL!

>> YOU'RE RIDING, THIS IS IT!

>> [ SCREAMING ] I WAS RUNNING OUT OF OPTIONS AND TIME.

SO I WENT TO GOOGLE MAPS AND FOUND OUT IF I PUT ONE FOOT IN FRONT OF THE OTHER, I COULD BE HERE IN FIVE HOURS.

OR I COULD JUST ASK MR.

PHIL TO DROP ME OFF.

♪ >> CATHY: LONGTIME VIEWERS OF TWIN CITIES PBS MAY REMEMBER THE 1980S PROGRAM "NIGHT TIMES VARIETY," A LIVE MUSIC SHOW THAT HIGHLIGHTED MINNESOTA MUSICIANS.

44 YEARS AGO, THE SHOW'S PRODUCERS DECIDED TO DO A LITTLE SOMETHING DIFFERENT ONE EPISODE.

AND IT LAUNCHED AN ALL-STAR BAND.

HERE'S A LOOK BACK AT THE PERFORMERS WHO WOULD BECOME "WOMEN WHO COOK."

>> LIVE FROM THE TWIN CITIES, THIS IS "NIGHT TIMES VARIETY."

WITH MICHELLE BARBER.

[ Applause ] >> THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE, AND WELCOME ONCE GAIN.

TONIGHT OUR STAGE IS GOING TO BE FILLED WITH 11 OF THE TWIN CITIES' MOST TALENTED PERFORMERS WHO HAPPEN ALSO TO BE WOMEN.

WE'VE PUT TOGETHER SOME STRIKING ARRANGEMENTS OF FAVORITE COUNTRY, BLUES AND POP TUNES FOR THIS SPECIAL EVENING.

>> >> ♪ WALK DOWN THAT LONESOME ROAD ♪ ♪ ALL BY YOURSELF ♪ ♪ DON'T TURN YOUR HEAD ♪ ♪ BACK OVER YOUR SHOULDER ♪ ♪ AND ONLY STOP TO REST YOURSELF ♪ ♪ WHEN THE SILVER MOON ♪ ♪ IS SHINING HIGH ♪ ♪ ABOVE THE TREES ♪ ♪ ♪ >> >> ♪ HAVING A PARTY ♪ ♪ EVERYBODY'S SWINGING ♪ ♪ DANCING TO THE MUSIC ♪ ♪ ON THE RADIO ♪ ♪ HAVING A PARTY ♪ ♪ EVERYBODY'S SWINGING ♪ ♪ DANCING TO THE MUSIC ♪ ♪ ON THE RADIO ♪ ♪ >> CATHY: "WOMEN WHO COOK" WENT ON TO PLAY AT VENUES AROUND THE TWIN CITIES, INCLUDING THE GUTHRIE AND THE ORDWAY.

THEY ALSO WENT ON AN HISTORIC SOVIET PEACE TOUR IN 1988.

WHY ALL THIS HISTORY?

YOU ASK?

THE LEGENDARY BAND HASN'T DONE A SHOW SINCE 2002.

AND THEY ARE COMING TOGETHER FOR A MOTHER'S DAY REUNION THIS SUNDAY AT THE DAKOTA.

MARIAN MOORE WAS THE PRODUCER OF "NIGHT TIMES VARIETY."

WELCOME BACK TO TWIN CITIES PBS.

>> THANK YOU.

IT'S GOOD TO BE HERE.

IT'S BEEN A WHILE.

>> Cathy: OH, MY GOSH, MARIAN, I GOT TO SAY, I'M FAN-GIRLING OUT.

I THOUGHT "NIGHT TIMES VARIETY" WAS A FANTASTIC SHOW, YOU DON'T SEE SHOWS LIKE THAT ANYMORE.

>> AND WE DIDN'T KNOW HOW LUCKY WE WERE.

83 SHOWS OVER THREE YEARS AND MY JOB AS A 20-SOMETHING WAS TO GO OUT AND HEAR MUSIC ALL THE TIME AND FIND, YOU KNOW, FIND THE MUSICIANS THAT WERE WORTHY OF THE SHOW.

>> Eric: HOW DID YOU PUT THIS THICK TOGETHER?

>> Cathy: THE SPARK?

>> THE SPARK OF "WOMEN WHO COOK"?

>> Eric: YES.

>> WELL, WE -- YOU KNOW ABOUT DOING A SHOW EVERY WEEK, RIGHT?

SO -- AND WE HAVE THESE GREAT MUSICIANS IN MINNEAPOLIS AND ST.

PAUL.

BUT WE WANTED TO DO THEM IN DIFFERENT KINDS OF FORMATIONS.

SO KATHY RILEY WHO WAS THE PRODUCER AND I WAS THE ASSOCIATE RODUCER, WE CHOSE PEOPLE THAT WE RESPECTED, AND SO ONE OF MY PEOPLE WAS PRUDENCE JOHNSON, AND WE WENT TO PUMPERNICK'S FOR LUNCH ON THE WEST BANK AND HAD THESE DIFFERENT IDEAS INCLUDING TO BRING TOGETHER ALL WOMEN AND WHAT WAS VERY SIGNIFICANT WAS IT WASN'T JUST WOMEN SINGERS, BUT THE WHOLE BACKUP BAND, INSTRUMENTALISTS, ET CETERA.

>> Cathy: OH, REALLY, OKAY?

>> BUT THAT IS STILL TRUE.

>> Cathy: ASSOCIATE PRODUCERS, BY THE WAY DO ALL THE WORK.

YOU KNOW THAT, RIGHT?

WHAT DID THE HIGHER UPS THINK ABOUT THIS?

>> WE DIDN'T EVEN REALLY HAVE TO ASK THEM.

>> Cathy: OH, GOSH, OKAY.

THE INGREDIENTS SEEMED TO WORK QUITE WELL FOR "WOMEN WHO COOK."

>> YEAH, YOU KNOW, IT WAS THE VARIETY, WE REALLY WANTED TO DO REAL VARIETY.

SO, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE GINGER COMMODORE WHO IS COMING OUT OF JEVETTA STEELE AND YOU HAVE PRUDENCE WHO'S A JAZZ SINGER AND IN THAT FIRST SHOW, MARY DUCHENE WHO'S A FIDDLE PLAYER AND THAT WAS I THINK THE DIVERSITY OF THE MUSICAL STYLES.

>> Eric: DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE SET LIST LOOKS LIKE FOR MOTHER'S DAY?

>> OH, YEAH, THAT ONE YOU JUST HEARD, "HAVING A PARTY" IS GOING TO OPEN THE SHOW.

AND WE'RE DOING REALLY SONGS FROM THE SOVIET PEACE TOUR PRIMARILY.

AND, WELL, ACTUALLY SONGS FROM THE VERY FIRST SHOW TOO.

>> Eric: IT SEEMS LIKE GREAT CHEMISTRY.

THROUGH THE TV, IT UJUST LOOKS LIKE IT.

>> YEAH, AND I WAS TALKING TO SOMEBODY ABOUT IT AND I WAS SAYING ALSO, I THINK IT WAS WHEN JON BREAM WHO WROTE A NICE SPHOAR ABOUT THE REUNION, NOBODY HAS TO CHECK ANYTHING ABOUT BEING A WOMAN AT THE DOOR.

SO WHATEVER THAT MEANS, WE CAN HAVE A LONG ONVERSATION ABOUT THAT, BUT I THINK THAT'S ALSO OBVIOUSLY A REALLY IMPORTANT PART OF THE CHEMISTRY.

BUT ALSO, THINK OF THIS.

THESE ARE WOMEN, MOST OF THEM HAVE BEEN GIGGING FOR VER 50 YEARS.

AND THEY'VE KNOWN EACH OTHER AND WORKED TOGETHER FOR 44-PLUS YEARS.

THAT IS A LOT OF SPECIAL SAUCE.

>> Cathy: OH, MY GOSH.

SAY, YOU KNOW, GOING BACK TO THAT FIRST GIG, I GUESS, THAT FIRST BROADCAST, OR EPISODE, DO YOU REMEMBER FEELING ANY APPREHENSION AT ALL WHEN YOU STARTED TO ROLL?

>> THAT'S -- >> Cathy: I KNOW IT'S BEEN A WHILE AGO, YES.

>> I THINK IT WAS REALLY EXCITEMENT.

I MEAN, OH, WILL HE HORN PLAYER DO -- I MEAN, WE ALWAYS HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF, IS IT ALL GOING TO COME TOGETHER, BECAUSE THIS WAS ALL ORIGINAL MUSIC.

OFTEN WE WOULD HAVE BANDS ON THAT HAD BEEN JUST BROUGHT THEIR REGULAR REPERTOIRE.

AND SO THIS WAS ALL MUSIC MADE FOR THE SHOW.

AND THEN FOUR MONTHS LATER, AT THE GUTHRIE, SOLD OUT.

ET CETERA.

>> Eric: YOU'RE PAYING TRIBUTE TO JEANNE ARLAND PETERSON, THE MATRIARCH OF THE PETERSON FAMILY OF COURSE.

>> YES, OBVIOUSLY JEANNE IS NO LONGER WITH US.

AND PRUDENCE AND I WERE LISTENING TO OLD TAPES OF ALL THE "WOMEN WHO COOK" MUSIC AND CAME ACROSS THIS TAPE OF JEANNE AND KATHY JENSEN WHO WAS A SAX PLAYER, FAMOUSLY PLAYED WITH PRINCE AND NEXT POWER GENERATION AND JEE YE, WHO'S THIS EXTRAORDINARY PIANO PLAYER AND THEY DID A THELONIUS MONK TUNE AND SO WE'RE GOING TO PLAY THAT AUDIO OF KATHY, WHO'S NOT LIVING HERE ANYMORE.

>> Eric: FUTURE PROJECTS?

THIS AYS THE GROUND WORK FOR SOMETHING GOING FORWARD.

>> Cathy: I SAY DOCUMENTARY.

>> OH, OF THE WHOLE ERA.

YOU KNOW, WE DID DO THAT DOCUMENTARY OF THE SOAIVE DOCUMENTARY OF THE SOAI SOVIET PEACE TOUR.

AND SO THAT'S FUN TO WATCH AGAIN.

>> Eric: WHAT DO YOU GOT IN MIND?

>> I THINK WE HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE HOW SUNDAY GOES.

BUT, YEAH, MARY T. OVER AT CROONER'S IS ALREADY KNOCKING ON THE DOOR.

>> Eric: 4:00 P.M.

AND 7:00 P.B.M.SING ON MOTHER'S DAY.

I'M SURE A FEW TICKETS ARE LEFT?

>> MAYBE TWO OR THREE OR FOUR.

>> Eric: WELL, CONGRATULATIONS.

>> Cathy: HOW FUN TO HAVE YOU BACK IN STUDIO.

>> YEAH, IT'S REALLY GREAT TO BE HERE.

I WAS HERE DURING THE OLD, OLD BUILDING DAYS.

AND I JUST ALSO WANT TO HONOR TWIN CITIES PUBLIC TELEVISION DOING SHOWS LIKE THAT AND SHOWS LIKE THIS REALLY DOES A LOT FOR THE COMMUNITY.

>> Eric: AMEN.

>> Cathy: OH, GOTH, MARIAN MOORE, THANKS FOR COMING.

>> THANK YOU, SO MUCH.

>> Cathy: WELL, WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND TALK ABOUT SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENTLY AT THIS POINT.

THE FATE OF HCMC AND ITS LEVEL ONE TRAUMA CENTER IS BEING WATCHED CLOSELY BY RESIDENTS IN GREATER MINNESOTA TOO.

RESIDENTS IN THE SOUTHEASTERN PART OF THE STATE HAVE ALREADY SEEN ONE MAJOR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER RECENTLY CLOSE CLINICS AND CONSOLIDATE SERVICES.

REPORTER KAOMI LEE WENT TO FIND OUT HOW RURAL PATIENTS ARE ADJUSTING TO THE CHANGES.

>> Kaomi: I'M FROM THIS -- >> I'M FROM THIS AREA.

>> Kaomi: 33 YEAR OLD PhD STUDENT ERIN KELSO RETURNED TO HER ROOTS A FEW YEARS AGO.

>> MY MOM WAS A VETERINARIAN.

>> KELSO MOVED BACK AFTER HER MOTHER WAS DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER.

SHE DIED LAST YEAR, NOW SHE'S CARING FOR HER FATHER WHO ALSO HAS CANCER AND SHE HAS HAD HER OWN PROBLEMS TOO.

SO IT CAME AS A SHOCK WHEN THE CLINICS CLOSED.

>> ALL OF A SUDDEN, 2023, EVEN THOUGH WE HAD THIS NEW BUILDING, I MEAN, IT WAS A WELL TRAVELED CLINIC.

I MEAN, THERE'S PATIENTS, FOR SURE.

PATIENT TRAFFIC.

>> Kaomi: HER DOCTOR GOT TRANSFERRED TO THE MAYO CLINIC IN ST.

PETER, BUT MAYO CLOSED THAT CLINIC TOO AND FIVE OTHERS IN SOUTHERN MINNESOTA.

NOW KELSO MUST TRAVEL TO MANKATO TO SEE HER SAME DOCTOR.

>> IT WENT FROM BEING A TEN-MINUTE DRIVE TO 40 TO 45-MINUTE DRIVE TO ACCESS MY HEALTHCARE AND THAT DOESN'T FEEL GOOD.

>> Kaomi: LIVING MATTER SMALL TOWN COMMUNITY WHERE THE MAYO BROTHERS, WILLIAM AND CHARLES, WERE FROM.

IN A STATEMENT, THE MAYO CLIP CRICK SAID THIS IS CHANGE IS PART OF THE ONGOING EFFORTS TO STRENGTHSEN RURAL HEALTHCARE DELIVERY AND TO ENSURE SAFE, HIGH QUALITY AND SUSTAINABLE CARE FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.

MAYO ALSO CITED STAFFING SHORTAGES AND DECLINING PATIENT VOLUMES.

>> IT SEEMS TO ME MORE LIKE KIND OF CONFORMITY SPEAK FOR COST CUTTING MEASURES.

>> Kaomi: SHE SAYS THE MAYO MANKATO CLINIC NOW SEEMS CHAOTIC.

HER DOCTOR TOLD HER STAFF MORAL IS LOW.

IN RECENT YEARS, MAYO HAS DOWN-SIZED ABOUT A DOZEN FACILITIES.

THAT WASN'T ALWAYS MAYO'S STRATEGY.

>> THE '80s AND '90s, MAYO CLINIC IN MINNESOTA EXPANDED BY BUYING UP MANY, IF NOT MOST OF THE HOSPITALS IN SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA.

ALSO IN WESTERN WISCONSIN.

LA CROSSE, EAU CLAIRE, MENOMONIE, AND BUYING CLINICS IN NORTHERN IOWA, CREATING A REGIONAL SYSTEM, KIND OF A HUB AND SPOKE STRATEGY.

>> Kaomi: PATIENTS WHO NEEDED SPECIALISTS WOULD BE REFERRED TO ROCHESTER.

HE SAID IT WAS A WAY TO CREATE A STEADY FLOW OF PATIENTS AND REVENUES.

BUT NOW THESE REGIONAL PRIMARY CARE CLINICS HAVE BECOME EXPENSIVE TO RUN.

>> EVEN THE VAUNTED MAYO CLINIC WITH ITS GOLDEN PRESTIGE ALSO HAS A DIFFICULT TIME GETTING PHYSICIANS TO PRACTICE IN THOSE AREAS.

>> Kaomi: BUT THE SUDDEN CLOSURES HAVE LEFT MANY PATIENTS ANGRY AND FRUSTRATED.

FOR SOME, THE NUMBERS DON'T ADD UP.

>> MAYO CLINIC IS A HUGELY PROFITABLE ORGANIZATION.

IN THEIR 2025 RESULTS THEY SET NEW RECORDS, I THINK, FOR THEIR PROFITABILITY.

SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 1 BILLION AND 1.5 BILLION IN OPERATING INCOME.

I THINK IT IS FAIR TO RAISE THE QUESTION ABOUT WHAT IS THEIR COMMITMENT, WHAT IS THEIR DUTY TO RURAL COMMUNITIES?

>> Kaomi: THE MAYO CLINIC DID NOT REPLY BEYOND THIS STATEMENT, BUT ITS ANNUAL REPORT RAISES QUESTIONS ABOUT ITS COMMITMENT TO CHARITY CARE VERSUS PROFITS.

A YEAR AGO, IT SETTLED WITH THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL, AFTER AN INVESTIGATION FOUND IT WAS SUING TO COLLECT ON DEBTS FROM PATIENTS WHO WERE ELIGIBLE FOR CHARITY CARE.

THE MAYO CLINIC DENIED ANY WRONGDOING.

THE ABRUPT CLINIC CLOSURES HAVE ALSO STRUCK A NERVE.

>> I'VE HEARD A LOT OF DISAPPOINTMENT FROM CONSTITUENTS.

>> Kaomi: IN ST.

PETER THERE'S STILL CARE THROUGH THE HOSPITAL, BUT THE COUNCIL WOMAN SAYS MAYO'S DEPARTURE HAS LEFT RURAL RESIDENTS WITH FEWER OPTIONS.

>> I THINK IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE, YOU KNOW, YOU GO TO MAKE A PRIMARY HEALTHCARE APPOINTMENT, AND YOU HAVE TO WAIT EIGHT MONTHS JUST TO GET IN, I THINK THERE'S JUST OVERALL A LACK OF PROVIDERS, ESPECIALLY IN THESE RURAL AREAS.

>> Kaomi: TRANSPORTATION IS ANOTHER CONCERN, THOUGH MANKATO IS A 20-MINUTE DRIVE AWAY.

>> IF YOU RELY ON A SERVICE FOR YOUR MEDICAL TRANSPORTATION, I KNOW THAT THOSE NON-PROFITS AND THOSE SYSTEMS ARE BEING STRETCHED RIGHT NOW.

>> Kaomi: A MANKATO NON-PROFIT OPERATES THE TRUE TRANSIT SHUTTLE SERVICE.

RIDES ARE BY RESERVATION AND IT SERVES COUNTIES.

LAST YEAR IT HAD 13,000 RIDERS.

IT'S ONE OF THE FEW WAYS FOR MAYO PATIENTS WITHOUT A CAR TO NOW GET TO MANKATO.

>> WE DO FILL ONE.

LIKE, IF YOU WERE TO CALL TODAY, THIS AFTERNOON NOW, IT MIGHT BE DIFFICULT TO GET A RIDE TOMORROW.

AT THE EXACT TIME YOU WANT.

>> Kaomi: AND THE ERVICE IS ONLY CURB TO CURB.

IT CAN'T HELP RIDERS FROM THEIR HOUSE TO THE BUS.

IF MAYO'S PLAN IS TO GET PATIENTS TO FOLLOW DOCTORS TO THEIR HUBS, IT MAY BACKFIRE.

>> WE'VE SEEN AN INCREASE IN PATIENTS COME TO SEE US.

>> Kaomi: MORE THAN 400 NEW PATIENTS HAVE COME TOGETHER MAIRKT CLINIC IN ST.

PETER SINCE MAYO CLOSED.

THAT'S MORE THAN A 200% INCREASE FROM THE SAME TIME PERIOD A YEAR AGO.

CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER ANDREW LINDQUIST SAYS THEY'VE HAD TO HIRE STAFF TO KEEP UP.

>> IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US, YES.

WE ARE FULLY INVESTED IN THIS COMMUNITY.

AND SOUTHERN MINNESOTA.

>> Kaomi: ALTHOUGH PATIENT VOLUMES ARE DOWN SYSTEM-WIDE, HE SAYS THE INDEPENDENT PHYSICIAN-OWNED LINIC HAS NO PLANS TO CONSOLIDATE.

>> THAT'S NOT A PART OF OUR DNA.

>> Kaomi: SOME ST.

PETER EMPLOYERS ONLY OFFER MAYO PLAN HEALTH COVERAGE.

OTHERS HAVE HAD LONG RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEIR MAYO DOCTORS.

RETIRED GUSTAVUS ADOLPHUS PROFESSOR HAVE BEEN MAYO PATIENTS IN ST.

PETER FOR DECADES.

>> I'D SAY ANGER IS A MAJOR FOR ME.

THEY BOUGHT A CLINIC.

THEY IMPROVED IT.

THEY MADE A LOT OF IMPROVEMENTS, AND THEN THEY LEAVE.

>> Kaomi: BOTH IN THEIR 70s, THE PAULS NOW GO TO MERIT TO SEE THEIR PRIMARY DOCTOR.

76-YEAR-OLD GARRETT PAUL IS RECOVERING FROM A FALL AND TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY.

>> THIS IS ADDING ANOTHER TRIP TO MANKATO.

WE'RE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE RURAL POPULATION.

OUTSIDE OF TOWN.

AND HOW THEY WILL GET THERE.

>> AND THE DEPENDENCY OF OLDER PEOPLE ON THEIR NEIGHBORS TO GIVE THEM RIDES.

♪ >> I'VE TOLD PATRICK MURPHY, LET ME KNOW HOW I CAN HELP.

I WANT TO STAY INVOLVED IN MENTORING YOUNG PEOPLE.

I ALWAYS HAVE A HUGE STABLE OF INTERNS.

I TRY TO KEEP IN TOUCH WITH THEM AND ENCOURAGE THEM.

SO ANYTHING I CAN DO TO PROMOTE YOUNG PEOPLE'S INTEREST IN PUBLIC SERVICE I'LL CONTINUE TO DO.

>> Mary: DO YOU THINK YOU WOULD BE AN EEFFECT WILLED OFFICIAL TODAY WITHOUT YOUTH IN GOVERNMENT?

>> THERE'S LOTS OF WAYS TO SERVE EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT ELECTED.

I HAD WORKED AS A STAFFER IN CONGRESS.

I WORKED HERE AT THE CAPITOL UNDER GOVERNOR CARLSON AND GOVERNOR PAWLENTY, I WAS ON HIS CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS COMMISSION.

SO IF YOU HAVE THAT SPARK TO WANT TO DO PUBLIC SERVICE, THERE ARE SO MANY WAYS TO BE INVOLVED.

♪ ♪ >> ERIC: SESSION IS COMING TO AN END AS LAWMAKERS LOOK TO SCURRY TO THE FINISH LINE.

BILLS WITH BIPARTISAN BACKING ADVANCED, BUT THERE IS STILL PLENTY OF DISAGREEMENT.

OUR PANEL THIS WEEK KNOWS A BIT ABOUT DISAGREEING.

LET'S SEE IF THEY CAN FIND SOME HARMONY.

SOME PEACE IN THE VALLEY.

REPUBLICANS UP FIRST.

PAT GAROFALO IS A FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE AND THE CURRENT PRESIDENT OF THE MINNESOTA GROCERS ASSOCIATION.

EMILY NOVOTNY CHANCE IS A FORMER WHITE HOUSE INTERN AND LEGISLATIVE ASSISTANT IN THE STATE SENATE.

SHE IS THE YOUNGEST NATIONAL REPUBLICAN COMMITTEEWOMAN IN THE COUNTRY.

DFLERS HERE TONIGHT: KARLA BIGHAM IS A FORMER STATE LAWMAKER WHO SERVED IN BOTH LEGISLATIVE CHAMBERS.

SHE'S NOW A WASHINGTON COUNTY COMMISSIONER.

JAVIER MORILLO IS A LONGTIME UNION AND PARTY ACTIVIST AND A FORMER NATIONAL COMMITTEEMAN FOR THE DNC.

REPRESENTATIVE GAROFALO, EVERYTHING IS CONNECTED TO EVERYTHING ELSE THIS TIME OF YEAR.

AND I WONDER, IN A DIVIDED HOUSE, WITH A TIE, HOW DO THEY SORT OUT WHAT -- WHO WANTS WHAT AND THE BONDING BILL NEEDS BIPARTISAN VOTES.

WHERE ARE WE HERE?

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, ERIC, CATHY, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME ON.

APPRECIATE IT.

>> Eric: DELIGHTED TO HAVE YOU.

>> I THINK WHAT'S DIFFERENT THIS YEAR, THERE'S A STATE COURSE CASE HANGING OUT THERE SAYING YOU CAN'T PUT EVERYTHING INTO ONE GIANT GARBAGE BILL.

THEY SHOT ACROSS THE BOW AND SAID YOU CAN'T DO THIS.

WE'RE SEEING INDIVIDUAL BILLS PROGRESSING WHICH IS A POSITIVE TREND THAT I HOPE CONTINUES GOING FORWARD.

BUT IF PEOPLE ARE GOING TO TRY TO PRACTICE THE OLD WAYS OF DOING THINGS OF SAYING WE'RE NOT GOING TO AGREE TO ANYTHING UNTIL WE AGREE TO EVERYTHING.

THANK GOODNESS FOR DIVIDED GOVERNMENT.

THANK GOODNESS.

WE HAVE THE HOUSE STICKING IN THERE SAYING, HEY, WE GOT TO KEEP THESE THINGS INDIVIDUAL AND EPARATE.

CERTAINLY THERE'LL BE SOME HORSE RADING BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.

BUT THAT'S GOING TO BE CONTINGENT IF PEOPLE INSIST ON DOING THINGS THE OLD WAY.

>> I THINK THAT THEY'RE GOING TO PROBABLY DO ABOUT THREE, MAYBE FOUR BIGGER THINGS YET.

I THINK YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH HC BHSK HC BHCM AND I THINK THERE'S COLLABORATION AROUND THAT.

I'M FEARFUL IT'S GOING TO BE A ONE-TIME APPROPRIATION AND THAT WILL HURT WITH RETENTION AND RECRUITING FOR HCMC.

AND THEN ONCE THE BONDING BILL.

THAT I BELIEVE WILL GET DONE.

I THINK THEY JUST NEED A TARGET.

BUT IT MIGHT BE ONE OF THOSE -- WE'RE OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER THIS, THAT THE BILL GETS POSTED AT 11:00 AND YOU'RE EXPECTED TO VOTE ON IT BEFORE MIDNIGHT ON SUNDAY.

AND THEN I THINK THE MODERNIZATION FOR THE COMPUTER SYSTEM THAT COUNTIES USE AND THAT HAS TO INTERFACE WITH THE STATE WILL ALSO BE TAKEN CARE OF.

>> Eric: WHAT DO REPUBLICANS HOPE TO GET OUT OF THE LAST TEN DAYS HERE?

>> I THINK SCHOOL SAFETY IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE A TOP PRIORITY.

RIGHT NOW THEY'RE TRYING TO PUSH A BIG APITOL SECURITY PROJECT.

IF WE CAN'T TAKE CARE OF STUDENTS AND CHILDREN ACROSS MINNESOTA, I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE A BIG STICKING POINT FOR REPUBLICANS WHEN THEY COME TO THE NEGOTIATION TABLING.

>> Eric: WHAT ARE THE DEMOCRATS LOOKING FOR?

DO THEY HAVE TO FIND SOMETHING THE REPUBLICANS WANT?

WHAT'S THE STRATEGY?

>> OU KNOW, THIS IS THE TIME OF HE YEAR WHEN UNFORTUNATELY, LIKE, THE PEOPLE WHO ARE INVOLVED IN THE STRATEGY ARE ALL IN -- I HOPE IN A ROOM RIGHT NOW.

FIGURING THINGS OUT.

AND YOU TALKED TO OTHER LEGISLATORS, THEY'RE ACTUALLY FRUSTRATED AND CRANKY BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT INVOLVED AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.

SO I THINK, LIKE, AS PAT SAID, THIS, YOU KNOW, PUSHING TO HAVE INDIVIDUAL BILLS WILL BE A BETTER THING.

WOULD BE BETTER THING.

BUT IT DOES SEEM LIKE RIGHT NOW THEY'RE LOOKING FOR A GLOBAL PACKAGE.

>> Cathy: GETTING BACK TO THE BONDING BILL FOR JUST A SECOND.

SO JUST TO BE CLEAR, IS THE IDEA TO FIX UP THE GRAND CASINO ARENA?

IS THAT DEAD AT THIS POINT?

IS THERE NY OTHER MONEY FLOATING AROUND FOR ROY WILKINS?

>> FIRST OF ALL, IT'S SOMETHING THAT -- EASY FOR ME TO SAY, NOT AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, NEVER STANDING FOR OFFICE AGAIN, HA-HA, THIS IS AN IMPORTANT THING.

ST.

PAUL IS TEETERING RIGHT NOW.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAPPEN.

BUT VERY EARLY ON IN SESSION WHEN THE GOVERNOR WAS ASKED ABOUT IT, IT WAS VERY CLEAR THAT HE WASN'T GOING TO EXPEND A LOT OF POLITICAL CAPITAL ON IT AND CANDIDLY WHETHER IT'S A VIKINGS STADIUM, C.H.S.

FIELD, ANY SORT OF BIG PROJECT LIKE THAT, YOU NEED TO HAVE GUBERNATORIAL LEADERSHIP IN THERE, AT LEAST SETTING UP A PATH OF EXPECTATION.

>> Eric: A SAW A NATIONAL STORY THIS WEEK THAT I WANTED YOU TO COMMENT ON, AND THAT IS - >> HERE WE GO.

>> Eric: IN SOME STATES THE CONSERVATIVES OR REPUBLICANS ARE GETTING UP ON THE FLOOR OF THEIR LEGISLATURES AND SAYING WE DON'T WANT TO BECOME ANOTHER MINNESOTA!

WHAT'S THAT DO FOR THE BRAND?

>> YOU SEE WE HAVE HISTORIC FRAUD HAPPENING IN THIS STATE AND WASTE AND ABUSE.

WHO WOULD WANT TO BE LIKE US?

I WOULDN'T WANT TO BE.

THE TAXES ARE GROWING.

IT'S UNAFFORDABLE TO LIVE HERE.

I THINK THAT'S A SENTIMENT EVERYONE SHARES.

>> WE HAVE A GREAT QUALITY OF LIFE AND PEOPLE ARE MOVING TO MINNESOTA.

AND THAT'S A FANTASTIC THING.

THERE ARE LOTS OF PEOPLE WHO, LIKE, LOOK TO MINNESOTA.

AND LOOK TO MINNESOTA AS A BEACON OF DEMOCRACY.

REALLY, LIKE WHEN OPERATION METRO SURGE, HAPPENED HERE, MINNESOTANS STOOD UP FOR THEIR NEIGHBORS AND IN HISTORIC WAYS AND EVERYWHERE I GO ACROSS THE COUNTRY, I'VE BEEN APPLAUDED SAYING I'M FROM MINNESOTA.

>> WE'RE DEFINITELY IN DIFFERENT ROOMS BECAUSE I'VE SEEN STATS WHERE IT'S -- >> I DON'T DOUBT THAT.

>> PEOPLE ARE HIGHLY FLEEING MINNESOTA AND THEY'RE LOSING THEIR BUSINESSES AND PACKING UP AND LEAVING AND GOING TO STATES THAT THAT ARE MORE TAX FRIENDLY.

>> MINNESOTANS HAVE HIGH EXPECTATIONS, AND SO I THINK THIS WEEK WHEN THE O.I.G.

PASSED, THAT'S AN EXAMPLE OF TAKING RESPONSIBILITY AND I THINK WE LEAD BY EXAMPLE.

WE COME TOGETHER AND WE FIND SOLUTIONS.

AND THAT'S JUST A RESILIENCE THAT WE ARE AS MINNESOTANS.

>> I MEAN, THE REALITY IS, IT'S BEEN A TOUGH TEN TO 15 YEARS FOR MINNESOTA.

I MEAN, I LOVE MINNESOTA.

LIVED HERE MY WHOLE LIFE.

BUT I MEAN, ON EDUCATION, ON QUALITY OF LIFE, ON WEALTH MIGRATION, POPULATION MIGRATION, WHEN YOU MATCH US UP AND COMPETING AGAINST OTHER STATES WE'RE LOSING.

AND THAT'S NOT A -- YOU CAN'T ASCRIBE IT TO ONE POLICY OR ONE INDIVIDUAL.

BUT IT'S CLEAR THAT MINNESOTA NEEDS TO DO A BETTER JOB.

AND I THINK IF YOU SEE BOTH OF THE MAJOR CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR RIGHT NOW ARE SAYING THAT SAME THING.

AND THAT IS THAT MINNESOTANS DESERVE BETTER.

>> OVER A QUARTER OF THE LEGISLATURE IS GOING TO BE NEW.

OVER THAT.

I MEAN, IT'S CLOSER TO 30% NOW - >> I'M NOT TALKING -- >> I'M SAYING THEY NEED TO WORK TOGETHER TO ALSO LEAD AND I HINK THERE'S A LEADERSHIP, YOU KNOW, DYNAMIC THAT WILL BE CHANGING, AND THAT'S GOING TO BE VERY IMPORTANT FOR TURNING THE NEXT PAGE.

>> Cathy: SPEAKING OF LEADERSHIP, WHAT DID YOU THINK OF SENATOR KLOBUCHAR'S NEWS CONFERENCE EARLIER THIS WEEK LAYING OUT HER PLAN IF SHE WERE TO BE GOVERNOR?

>> I THOUGHT SHE DID WHAT SHE NEEDED TO DO.

>> Cathy: DISTANCE HERSELF FROM THE WALZ ADMINISTRATION?

>> SHE NEEDS TO BE HER OWN PERSON AND PARTICULARLY ON THE ISSUE OF FRAUD.

SHE WAS A COUNTY ATTORNEY.

SHE WAS A ROSECUTOR.

I THINK SHE'S WELL POSITIONED TO BE A PERSON TO SAY WE'RE GOING TO TAKE AT GOING TO TAKE A THE REINS AND MAKE SURE THIS O LONGER HAPPENS.

SO I HINK, LIKE, SHE DID WHAT SHE NEEDED TO DO AND THAT'S A GOOD THING.

>> Eric: ANYBODY IN FAVOR OF THIS CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT ELIMINATING THE -- LIMITING THE GOVERNOR AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR TO TWO TERMS?

>> ABSOLUTELY, ABSOLUTELY.

IT SHOULD BE STATEWIDE OFFICES IN MINNESOTA.

IF YOU CAN'T GET THE JOB DONE IN EIGHT YEARS, YOU CAN'T GET THE JOB DONE.

>> I THINK THE PEOPLE DECIDE ESSENTIALLY.

AND THE PEOPLE HAVE TERM LIMITED IN MINNESOTA THROUGH THEIR CHOICES.

>> Cathy: SAY,EN, GOING BACK TO LEADERSHIP AGAIN, WHAT HAPPENED TO SHAREE GANDHI?

YOU KNOW, THE ACTING D.H.S.

COMMISSIONER, THEN WAS ELEVATED, AND THEN RIGHT BEFORE THE CONFIRMATION HEARING WAS BLOWN OUT.

WHAT'S THE STORY?

>> THE STORY IS SHE DIDN'T WANT TO GO IN FRONT OF THE FRAUD COMMITTEE BUT SHE'S ALWAYS BEEN AVAILABLE TO GO TO THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE, BUT SHE WON'T SHOW UP WHEN IT'S TIME TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND CONVENIENTLY RESIGNS AND IS REASSIGNED AFTER THE HEARING.

WHEN GOVERNOR WALZ SAYS HE WANTS TO BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS RAUD, THAT'S NOT HOW YOU DO.

>> Eric: I WONDER IF EVEN SOME EMOCRATS WOULD HAVE BEEN HAPPY TO HAVE A HEARING.

>> YEAH, I THINK THERE WAS CONCERN FOR SOME FOLKS THAT SHE WAS STILL TOO CLOSE TO THE PREVIOUS COMMISSIONER.

AND SO THINK THEY PROBABLY WOULD HAVE REFER PREFERRED SOMEBODY A LITTLE BIT FRESHER, NEWER, THAT COULD HAVE COME IN WITH A FRESH SET OF EYES.

>> IT'S ALMOST LIKE IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS, SOMEBODY GOT SOME POLLING DATA.

[ Laughter ] AND SOMEBODY GOT SOME POLLING DATA THAT SAID, YOU KNOW, INSTEAD OF JUST BEING ABLE TO WHISTLE TO A TRIFECTA AND A EASE D.F.L.

WIN, THE VOTERS ARE LETTING PEOPLE KNOW THEY'RE PRETTY PSET ABOUT ALL THIS MONEY GETTING RIPPED OFF.

WE SAW THE O.I.G., SUDDENLY THEY FOUND RELIGION AND THEY'RE IN FAVOR OF IT AND IT PASSED.

THAT'S GOOD NEWS.

AND HEN YOU SEE SENATOR KLOBUCHAR.

WHAT DOES SHE TALK ABOUT?

I'M AGAINST FRAUD.

IT'S LIKE SOME POLLING DATA CAME OUT THERE SOMEWHERE -- >> Eric: IF THERE'S A TRIFECTA IN 2027, I'M HE CANNER THAT THERE WILL BE AN ATTEMPT TO PREDISTINCT.

>> NO.

>> NO.

>> Eric: THERE'S A MAP FLOATING AROUND THAT HAD SEVEN DEMOCRATIC SEATS AND ONE REPUBLICAN.

>> LET ME TELL YOU WHY THIS IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

FIRST OF ALL, IT'S ILLEGAL IN MINNESOTA TO DO THAT.

EVEN TODAY SENATOR KLOBUCHAR SAID IN A INTERVIEW, I'M PARAPHRASING, SHE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT GOVERNOR WALZ IS TALKING ABOUT.

THE ANSWER IS NO.

>> YEAH, I DON'T THINK YOU WOULD COMMENT ON A MAP LIKE THAT ANYWAY.

AND I JUST THINK AS A WEIRD COMMENT THAT CAME OUT FROM -- >> TWEET.

>> THE TWEET.

LIKE YOU DON'T PUT -- KLOBUCHAR IS RIGHT.

THERE'S LEGALITY ISSUES THERE.

AND THAT IS A VERY APPROPRIATE STATEMENT AT THIS TIME.

>> Eric: BUT STATES ALL OVER THE COUNTRY ARE REDISTRICTING.

>> THERE ARE PLENTY OF CRAZY THINGS THE DFL WILL DO, BUT RESTRICTING WILL NOT BE ONE OF THEM.

>> I THINK WE'RE IN A NATIONAL CRISIS OF OUR DEMOCRACY RIGHT NOW, THAT HAS BEEN SPURRED BY THE REPUBLICAN SUPREME COURT, THAT THE REDISTRICTING RACE TO THE BOTTOM IS A TERRIBLE THING.

AND WE NEED A NATIONAL SOLUTION TO IT.

THAT'S WHY DEMOCRATS NATIONALLY LIKE AT ALL VOTED FOR A BAN ON GERRYMANDERING ACROSS THE BOARD.

BUT UNTIL IT'S FIXED, WE'RE GOING TO BE IN THIS BATTLE BACK AND FORTH.

>> ALL GERRYMANDERING SHOULD BE BANNED.

>> THEN WHAT HAPPENED TO VIRGINIA?

THAT WASN'T JERRY THAT WASN'T JER GERRYMANDERING.

>> THAT WAS A RESPONSE TO -- >> THE SUPREME COURT RULED THAT -- >> LEARNED SOMETHING TONIGHT, THAT REPUBLICANS INVENTS GERRYMANDERING.

>> Eric: IT JUST GOT GOOD AND THE TIME IS UP.

THANK YOU, PANEL.

♪ >> WHOEVER FIGURED THIS THING OUT WAS A REAL GENIUS?

RIGHT AFTER YOU TO GET THE FISH HOUSES OFF THE ICE.

MAYBE ARNE CAN GET TO WORK ON THAT.

I MIGHT EVEN VOTE REPUBLICAN IF HE COULD STRAIGHTEN THAT OUT.

I DOUBT IT, BUT I MIGHT.

WELL, THAT'S ALL I GOT THIS WEEK.

OH, ONE MORE THING.

HI, MOM!

SEE YOU ON SUNDAY, OKAY?

♪ ♪ >> CATHY: NICK COLEMAN SHOULD HAVE USED MY IDEA.

COMBINE THE TWO AND TAKE YOUR MOTHER FISHING.

AS AN AVID FISHER-PERSON, I SAY THAT'S THE ANSWER.

IT'S HISTORY TIME ONCE AGAIN, KIDS.

FOR THIS WEEK'S EFFORT, WE TRAVEL BACK JUST A COUPLE OF YEARS TO 2024.

A "MINNESOTAN" IS HONORED AS PART OF A YEARLY SERIES.

IN A WRITE-UP ABOUT THE MINNESOTA HONOREE, THERE ARE MENTIONS OF GOING FOR GOLD, HORSEBACK RIDING, AND THE MALL OF AMERICA.

I MAY HAVE GIVEN IT AWAY, SO I AM GOING TO STOP RIGHT THERE AND ASK THIS WEEK'S QUESTION.

WHO IS THIS 2024 MINNESOTA HONOREE?

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU WHETHER YOU ARE CALLING FROM JACK THE HORSE LAKE, BIG AMERICAN ISLAND, OR NEAR THE GOLD MEDAL FLOUR SIGN ON THE BANKS OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.

651-229-1430 IS THE NUMBER TO CALL WITH ALL OF YOUR GUESSES, RIGHT OR WRONG.

YOU CAN ALWAYS DROP US A NOTE TOO.

ALMANAC@TPT.ORG IS THE HANDY EMAIL ADDRESS TO USE.

WHILE YOU'RE ONLINE, IT'S TIME FOR THE ANNUAL "ALMANAC" VIEWER SURVEY.

EACH SPRING, WE ASK YOU TO SPEND A FEW MINUTES TO LET US KNOW HOW WE'RE DOING.

IT'S A GREAT HELP AS WE PLAN UPCOMING SHOWS.

YOU CAN FILL OUT THE SURVEY BY SCANNING THE Q.R.

CODE YOU SEE RIGHT NOW ON YOUR SCREEN, OR HOP ONLINE AND HEAD TO TPT.ORG/ALMANACSURVEY.

THINGS MIGHT LOOK A LITTLE DIFFERENT ON OUR WEBSITE THIS WEEK.

TWIN CITIES PBS HAS LAUNCHED A BRAND-NEW WEBSITE.

TPT.ORG IS WHERE YOU CAN EXPLORE ALL THE NEW FEATURES.

TAKE A LOOK AROUND AND LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK.

IT APPEARS WE HAVE JUST ENOUGH TIME FOR SOME MUSIC, FOR SOME SHOW-ENDING MUSIC FROM THE ARCHIVES.

YES.

PRUDENCE JOHNSON WAS IN STUDIO THIS WEEK BACK IN 2002.

SHE MAY LOOK FAMILIAR.

YOU SAW HER IN THE OLD CLIP OF "WOMEN WHO COOK" EARLIER TONIGHT.

DON'T FORGET.

YOU CAN CATCH PRUDENCE AND THE REST OF THE GROUP ON SUNDAY AT THE DAKOTA FOR THEIR MOTHER'S DAY REUNION SHOW.

LAST TIME WE LOOKED, THERE WERE STILL A FEW TICKETS LEFT.

HERE'S JOHNSON BACK IN 2002.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

♪ ♪ >> ♪ I LONG FOR THAT ♪ ♪ MOON COUNTRY ♪ ♪ THAT POSSUM ♪ ♪ AND COON COUNTRY ♪ ♪ THAT SYCAMORE HEAVEN BACK ♪ ♪ SOUTH ♪ ♪ I'LL LOSE MY MIND ♪ ♪ I LONG FOR THAT ♪ ♪ OLD COUNTRY ♪ ♪ THAT GOOD FOR THE SOUL ♪ ♪ COUNTRY ♪ ♪ WITH FOLK COOKING THINGS ♪ ♪ THAT MELT IN YOUR MOUTH ♪ ♪ MMM, WHEN MY COUSIN, ♪ ♪ CINDY LOU ♪ ♪ PLAYS A TWILIGHT HYMN ♪ ♪ TO YOU ♪ Captioned by: Veritext/Paradigm-Captioning Www.veritext.com >> "ALMANAC" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY MEMBERS OF THIS PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION.

SUPPORT IS ALSO PROVIDED BY... GREAT RIVER ENERGY: PROVIDING WHOLESALE POWER TO 1.7 MILLION PEOPLE THROUGH ITS MEMBER-OWNER COOPERATIVES AND CUSTOMERS.

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