♪ >> WELCOME TO ALMANAC NORTH.

>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

AIR QUALITY HAS BEEN A MAJOR CONCERN IN OUR REGION THIS SUMMER.

>> HEALTH EXPERTS JOIN US TO SHARE WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW WHEN WE SEE ANOTHER HAZY DAY.

>> HEADLINES THIS EVENING.

THIS YEAR MARKS THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF MINNESOTA'S CLEAN INDOOR AIR ACT.

THE FIRST LAW OF ITS KIND IN THE NATION, ENACTED IN 1975.

IT PROTECTED WORKERS AND THE PUBLIC FROM SECONDHAND SMOKE AND INDOOR SPACES.

IT'S EVOLVED TO INCLUDE BANS ON SMOKING IN RESTAURANTS, BARS, SCHOOLS, AND CANNABIS USE.

SECONDHAND SMOKE CAN CAUSE HEART DISEASE, LUNG CANCER, AND SERIOUS HARM TO CHILDREN.

EXPOSURE HAS DROPPED DRAMATICALLY.

DISPARITIES REMAIN ESPECIALLY AMONG LOW INCOME FAMILIES AND THOSE LIVING IN MULTIUNIT HOUSING.

THE ONLY WAY TO FULLY PROTECT PEOPLE IS TO KEEP INDOOR SPACES COMPLETELY SMOKE AND VAPED FREE.

>> 4600 ACRES OF NORTHERN MINNESOTA FOREST LAND PERMANENTLY PROTECTED AND PUBLICLY OWNED THANKS TO A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN A CONSERVATION FUND IN ST. LOUIS COUNTY.

THE LAND WAS ORIGINALLY PART OF AN INDUSTRIAL TIMBER PORTFOLIO OWNED BY A REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST FOCUSED ON SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY.

TO PREVENT FRAGMENTATION, THE FUND BEGAN ACQUIRING THE LAND IN 2018.

NOW THE PROPERTY HAS BEEN TRANSFERRED TO ST. LOUIS COUNTY FOR LONG-TERM PUBLIC MANAGEMENT.

THE FOREST LAND WILL SUPPORT WILDLIFE HABITATS, SUSTAINABLE TIMBER PRODUCTION, AND PUBLIC RECREATION.

IT'S A SMART INVESTMENT IN CONSERVATION AND LOCAL ECONOMIES.

THE PROJECT AS PART OF A LARGER EFFORT TO PRESERVE MINNESOTA'S WORKING FORESTS AND KEEPING THEM ACCESSIBLE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

>> TO ROADS ARE NOW CLOSED DUE TO STORM DAMAGE FROM JULY 23.

THE FOREST SERVICE ISSUED A CLOSURE ORDER FOR TROUT LAKE ROAD AND BALLCLUB LAKE ROAD TO ENSURE PUBLIC SAFETY DURING THE ONGOING REPAIRS.

THE CLOSURES IMPACT ACCESS TO TROUT, BALLCLUB, THRUSH, AND BATH LAKES AND WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT FOR A YEAR.

FOR UPDATES, CONTACT THE DISTRICT OR VISIT THE SUPERIOR NATIONAL FOREST WEBSITE.

>> TOUGH SUMMER FOR AIR QUALITY.

WHAT GOES INTO ISSUING AIR QUALITY ALERT AND HOW DO THEY TRACK AIR POLLUTION?

OUR TEAM GOT THE DETAILS EARLIER THIS WEEK WHEN THEY MET WITH AN AIR QUALITY METEOROLOGIST FOR THE WISCONSIN DNR.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK.

>> EYEING IN THE AIR QUALITY METEOROLOGIST FOR THE DNR IN WISCONSIN.

SO FAR, WE'VE HAD OVER 20 DAYS WITH AN ACTIVE 2.5 AIR QUALITY ADVISORY SOMEWHERE IN THE STATE OF WISCONSIN.

LAST YEAR IN 2024, WE ONLY HAD THREE DAYS IN TOTAL.

SO VERY BIG DIFFERENCE.

2023 WAS ALSO OVER 20 DAYS.

2.5 IS THE FEDERALLY REGULATED POLLUTANT THAT WE FIND IN WILDFIRE SMOKE.

THE REASON THAT THIS IN PARTICULAR POLLUTANT IS CAUSING HEALTH ISSUES IS BECAUSE OF HOW SMALL IT IS.

2.5 IS BECAUSE IT'S VERY SMALL MATTER THAT'S 2.5 MICRONS OR SMALLER.

YOU ARE ABLE TO BREATHE IT IN AND IT CAN GET DEEP INTO YOUR RESPIRATORY TRACT.

IF IT GETS DEEP ENOUGH, IT CAN GET INTO YOUR BLOODSTREAM.

ALL THESE THINGS CAN CAUSE COMPLICATIONS AND THEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO CAUSE COMPLICATIONS IN SENSITIVE GROUPS AND PEOPLE WITH ASTHMA AND OTHER RESPIRATORY ISSUES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

THE STATES HAVE A LOT OF MONITORING EQUIPMENT.

THIS IS VERY HIGH-TECH MONITORING EQUIPMENT.

IT'S FEDERALLY SUPPORTED.

THESE ARE INSTRUMENTS THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DEEMS HIGH ENOUGH QUALITY TO BE PROVIDING ACCURATE DATA.

THESE ARE SCATTERED ALL THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

IN TERMS OF VIEWING REAL-TIME AIR QUALITY DATA, THESE ARE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE RELY ON PRETTY HEAVILY.

BUT RECENTLY, OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS, LOW COST QUALITY SENSORS HAVE ALSO REALLY BECOME POPULAR.

IN THE END, IT'S A VERY GOOD THING.

IT ALLOWS US TO SEE A MUCH DENSER NETWORK OF AIR-QUALITY OBSERVATIONS.

SO WHENEVER WE ARE LOOKING WITHIN AN ACTUAL EVENT LIKE WE JUST WERE, I'M RELYING PRETTY HEAVILY ON THAT.

I'M ABLE TO LOOK AT MAPS SUCH AS THE AIR NOW FIRE AND SMOKE MAP THAT EPA PUT OUT THAT HAS A COMBINATION OF BOTH THE FEDERAL MONITORS AND LOW COST CENTERS.

YOU CAN SEE A PRETTY NICE PAINTED PICTURE OF WHERE THE HIGH POLLUTANTS ARE AT.

ANOTHER THING THAT WE LOOK AT WHEN WE ARE THINKING ABOUT FORECASTING INTO THE FUTURE IS THAT YOU CAN LOOK AT, WE KNOW WHERE THE FIRES ARE BECAUSE THE SATELLITES ARE ABLE TO DETECT THEM AND WE ARE ABLE TO SEE THE SMOKE PLUMES AS THEY FORM.

YOU CAN THINK, IN THIS GENERAL AREA WHERE WE KNOW WE ALREADY HAVE FIRES, WHAT IS THE FUTURE FIRE WEATHER LOOKING LIKE?

ONE OF THE INDICES WE LOOK AT IS THE HOT, DRY, WINDY INDEX.

SO BASICALLY THOSE THREE PARAMETERS REALLY CONTROL HOW STRONG A FIRE CAN END UP BEING AND HOW QUICKLY IT WILL GROW.

SO IF YOU HAVE FIRES AND MAYBE THEY ARE NOT EVEN THAT LARGE, BUT IT'S ABOUT TO BE A STRETCH OF VERY HOT, DRY, WINDY WEEK.

THEN IT'S LIKELY THAT THOSE FIRES ARE GOING TO GROW VERY LARGE.

AND BURN VERY INTENSELY.

THESE THINGS ARE GOING TO CREATE A LOT OF SMOKE.

THAT'S ANOTHER THING YOU HAVE TO FACTOR IN AS YOU ARE FORECASTING INTO THE FUTURE.

YOU ARE NEVER ABLE TO KNOW WHERE A NEW FIRE WILL START.

IF YOU HAVE NEW FIRES OR EXISTING FIRES, HOW LIKELY IS IT THAT THESE FIRES ARE GOING TO GROW AND START TO PRODUCE LARGE AMOUNTS OF SMOKE?

ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO SMOKE, ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT IS HOW THE SMOKE IS MOVING THROUGHOUT THE ATMOSPHERE.

IN AN IDEAL SITUATION, WHAT HONESTLY HAPPENS PRETTY FREQUENTLY IS THAT THE SMOKE IS BEING CREATED BY FIRES THAT ARE VERY HOT.

THE AIR AROUND THERE IS VERY HOT .

HOT AIR LIKE A HOT AIR BALLOON IS GOING TO RISE IN THE ATMOSPHERE.

SO A LOT OF THE TIMES WITH THIS FIRE SMOKE, WE WILL SEE THE SMOKE RISE UP INTO THE UPPER ATMOSPHERE, UP INTO THE JET STREAM COME UP WHERE JETS ARE FLYING.

THEN IT'S ABLE TO DISPERSE AND MOVE AWAY.

YOU WILL SEE SOME NICE SUNSETS.

OTHER THAN THAT, THERE'S NO IMPACT AT THE SURFACE.

ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT IS, WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO KEEP THE SMOKE AT THE SURFACE?

AS I WAS MENTIONING, HIGH-PRESSURE SYSTEMS IS ONE OF THOSE MAIN THINGS.

SO YEAH.

WE ARE ALWAYS KEEPING AN EYE ON THAT.

THE OTHER THING THAT WE LOOK AT PRETTY FREQUENTLY IS PRECIPITATION.

WE CONSIDER THIS AND THINK ABOUT THIS AS A LITTLE BIT OF A CLEANSING MECHANISM FOR THE ATMOSPHERE.

SO IF YOU END UP HAVING A LOT OF RAIN THAT GOES THROUGH AN AREA, TYPICALLY TAKES FAIRLY HEAVY RAIN, THEN YOU THINK ABOUT THAT AS A POSITIVE.

THAT IT'S GOING TO HELP TO CLEAN OUT THE ATMOSPHERE AND DEPOSIT THE SMOKE, THE PARTICLES ONTO THE SURFACE.

THEN YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT BREATHING THEM IN SINCE THEY'VE BEEN DEPOSITED AT THE FRIDGES.

>> IT ONLINE FOR THE LATEST AIR-QUALITY ALERTS NEAR YOU.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW AIR QUALITY IMPACTS OUR BODIES, DILEMMA WHY IT IS HERE WITH US.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING THE AREA >> IT'S BEEN A BUSY SUMMER.

A LOT OF SMOKE.

>> THANKFULLY WE FINALLY GET A BEAUTIFUL DAY.

>> THE FIRST BEAUTIFUL DAY IN A LONG TIME.

>> WE ARE GOING TO BE DOWNERS HERE BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO GO OVER THIS STUFF.

IF YOU DON'T KNOW, YOU CAN'T TAKE STEPS TO PROTECT YOUR FAMILIES.

>> WE'VE HAD 20 AIR-QUALITY ALERT DAYS THIS YEAR SO FAR.

HOW BAD IS IT TO BE OUT IN THOSE HIGH AIR-QUALITY ALERT DAYS?

>> WE TALKED IN THE PRESHOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT COMPARING IT TO SMOKING CIGARETTES.

AN AIR QUALITY OF 150, EIGHT HOURS, IS LIKE SMOKING THREE QUARTERS OF A CIGARETTE.

THAT SPEAKS TO HOW BAD CIGARETTES ARE.

IT CAN BE VERY BAD.

ESPECIALLY FOR FOLKS WITH PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS AND FOR CHILDREN.

IT CAN HAVE SERIOUS EFFECTS ON THEIR BODIES.

THOSE PARTICLES ARE SO SMALL, THE GO ACROSS THE BARRIERS OF THE LUNGS INTO THE BLOODSTREAM.

THEY AFFECT THE WHOLE BODY.

EFFECTS CAN LINGER EVEN WHEN THE AIR HAS CLEARED UP.

>> IS NOT JUST IN YOUR LUNGS.

IT'S A FULL-BODY THING.

SOME OF THE SYMPTOMS, I WAS FEELING OFF AND I HAD THESE LITTLE HEADACHES AND WHATEVER.

I WOULD BE LIKE, THAT'S CONNECTED TO THE AIR-QUALITY.

>> THAT'S HOW IT GETS YOU.

IT DOESN'T CHAINS OXYGEN DIFFUSION.

IT'S NOT AN OXYGENATION PROBLEM.

THE PARTICLES ARE LITERALLY IN OUR BLOOD, CAUSING INFLAMMATION TO OUR WHOLE BODIES, WHICH IS WHY IT CAN HAVE SUCH A SEVERE IMPACT ON THE YOUNG, THE OLD, THOSE WITH MEDICAL CONDITIONS.

>> THIS IMPACTS CHILDREN AND ALSO ELDERLY AND MIDDLE-AGE FOLKS.

CORRECT?

>> IT CAN AFFECT EVERYONE, REGARDLESS OF THEIR BACKGROUND, THEIR AGE, THEIR PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS.

CERTAINLY SOME PEOPLE ARE AT HIGHER RISK.

IT CAN AFFECT EVERYONE SEVERELY.

HE ASKED -- >> WHAT CAN WE DO?

>> AC ON.

NO WINDOWS OPEN.

AT -- LIKE ANYTHING, IT'S ABOUT RELATIVE RISK.

EXCEPTING HOW MUCH RISK YOU CAN TOLERATE.

CAN YOU SAFELY TOLERATE.

FOR THOSE OF US THAT ARE HEALTHY AND DON'T HAVE ANY PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS, MAYBE WE CAN GO OUTSIDE FOR A LITTLE BIT TO DO GARDENING OR A LOW PHYSICAL ACTIVITY EXERCISE.

AIR-QUALITY BETWEEN 50 AND 100.

WE SHOULDN'T BE OUT THERE FOR TOO LONG BUT WE CAN DO IT FOR A WHILE.

MAYBE WEAR A MASK THAT BLOCKS OUT 95% OF THE PARTICLES.

FOR THOSE WHO ARE YOUNG OR OLDER WHEN AIR-QUALITY NUMBERS CLIMB HIGH, AVOIDING HIGH INTENSITY PHYSICAL EXERCISE IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

TRYING TO LIMIT YOUR TIME OUTSIDE CAN MAKE A MASSIVE DIFFERENCE.

>> IT'S HARD WHEN SUMMER IN DULUTH IN OUR REGION IS BEAUTIFUL.

PARTICULARLY WITH LITTLE ONES.

CAMPING TRIPS.

SOME ARE IS THE TIME TO DO A LOT OF THOSE ACTIVITIES.

HOW DO YOU BALANCE TRYING TO KEEP THEM SAFE INDOORS BUT THEN ALSO MAKING SURE YOU ARE GIVING THEM OUTSIDE AND DOING ACTIVITIES THAT THEY LOVE?

>> YOU FEEL IS APPARENT, YOU ARE TRYING TO BALANCE ON A SCALE THEIR PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH.

BEING ABLE TO GO OUTSIDE AND PLAY BUT ALSO NOT WANTING THEM TO INHALE SMOKE.

THERE'S NOT A PERFECT ANSWER FOR THAT.

WATCHING THE AIR-QUALITY CAN BE A GOOD WAY TO GAUGE THAT.

SOME DAYS LIKE TODAY WHERE IT'S CLOSER TO 50, GET THEM OUTSIDE.

LET'S GET OUT THERE.

IF YOUR KIDS ARE OLDER, THEIR ABILITY TO TOLERATE MASKS WILL OPEN UP MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOWER INTENSITY EXERCISES.

FOR OTHERS, MOMENT TO MOMENT AND DAY TODAY.

LOOKING AT MAPS THAT HAVE MULTIPLE DATA POINTS AND SENSORS SO YOU CAN SEE DIFFERENT PARTS OF TOWN, DIFFERENT PARTS OF TOWN HAVE DIFFERENT AIR QUALITIES.

THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE A 40 POINT DIFFERENCE BUT A DIFFERENCE IN 25 POINTS CAN BE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WANTING TO STAY INSIDE AND BEING ABLE TO GO OUTSIDE AND DO LOW INTENSITY ACTIVITIES WITH THE MASK ON.

>> WHEN SHOULD 76 MEDICAL ATTENTION?

SAY I HAVE A HEADACHE FOR MULTIPLE DAYS.

SHOULD I COME IN?

>> IF YOU FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A COLD, HEADACHE, ACHY, TIRED, PROBABLY TRY TO STAY INSIDE, RUN THE FILTERS AND GIVE YOUR BODY A BREAK.

IF YOU START TO HAVE TROUBLE BREATHING, CHEST PAIN, SEVERE HEADACHES, IF YOU ARE NOT ASKING -- ACTING NORMALLY, YOU SHOULD COME IN FOR A MEDICAL EVALUATION.

IT AFFECTS YOUR WHOLE BODY.

WE'VE BEEN SEEING MORE STROKES AND HEART ATTACKS.

EARLY DETECTION IS KEY.

>> YOU MENTION THE SHORT-TERM SYMPTOMS.

DO WE KNOW OF LONG-TERM ISSUES?

>> TOTALLY.

WE DON'T.

THERE'S NOT A TON OF DATA ON THIS.

THE BEST DATA SETS WE HAVE ARE FOR FIREFIGHTERS WHO ARE ROUTINELY EXPOSED TO HIGHER LEVELS OF THESE PARTICLES.

HIGHER RATES OF HEART ATTACK, STROKE, ALZHEIMER'S, PULMONARY DISEASE.

LOTS OF SERIOUS PROBLEMS THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO SUFFER FROM.

WE DON'T HAVE THE DATA FOR CHILDREN.

WE DON'T HAVE GOOD DATA FOR KIDS.

THERE'S A LOT OF POTENTIAL CONCERNS FOR THEM THAT WE ARE UNKNOWN.

IT MAY FEEL OK IN THE SHORT-TERM BUT KNOW THAT THERE IS A RISK THERE.

WE HAVE DECENT DATA FOR ADULTS THAT SHOWS THAT'S NOT A GOOD IDEA.

>> SO KEEP OUR EYES.

[LAUGHTER] KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE ALERTS.

>> OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, WE WILL HAVE BETTER DATA LOOKING AT KIDS AND NATIVE KIDS UP NEAR THE FIRES THEMSELVES WHO ARE BEING THE MOST AFFECTED BY THIS.

THEY WILL BE ABLE TO GIVE US THE MOST DATA.

RIGHT NOW, WE ARE IN THE DARK FOR A LOT OF THIS STUFF.

>> STAY SAFE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

NOW IT'S TIME FOR A FEW WORDS FROM DENNIS ANDERSON.

>> THANK.

I'M DENNIS ANDERSON AND THIS IS DENNY'S DESK.

BEING OUTSIDE IS SYNONYMOUS WITH BEING IN THE NORTH LAND.

FROM FISHING AND HIKING TO KAYAKING AND SUMMER YOUTH SPORTS .

OUTDOOR LIFE ISN'T JUST RECREATION.

IT'S TRADITION.

LATELY OUR SKIES ARE TELLING A DIFFERENT STORY.

THIS SUMMER ONCE AGAIN, WILDFIRE SMOKE FROM CANADA DRIFTED ACROSS OUR REGION.

IT BROUGHT WITH IT HAZY HORIZONS AND AIR-QUALITY ALERTS THAT URGE CAUTION OR EVEN COMPLETE AVOIDANCE OF OUTDOOR ACTIVITY.

WHAT USED TO BE AN OCCASIONAL CONCERN IS NOW BECOMING A MORE CONSISTENT PROBLEM.

THIS IS NOT A FLUKE.

IT'S BECOMING THE NEW NORMAL.

CLIMATE SHIFTS AND MORE INTENSE WILDFIRE SEASON'S MEAN WE MAY NEED TO PLAN AROUND OUR QUALITY SINGLE SUMMER, NOT JUST DURING RARE EVENTS.

IT'S A DIFFICULT BALANCE.

PUBLIC HEALTH EXPERTS RIGHTLY WORN THAT SMOKE AND HIGH OZONE LEVELS CAN SERIOUSLY IMPACT OUR LUNGS, ESPECIALLY FOR CHILDREN, OLDER ADULTS, AND THOSE WITH ASTHMA OR HEART CONDITIONS.

AT THE SAME TIME, FOR MANY OF US ARE FAMILIES AND FRIENDS, THE OUTDOORS OR A LIFELINE.

WHEN A PARK VISIT GETS CANCELED, IT'S EVEN MORE THAN DOES EATING.

IT DISRUPTS THE RHYTHM OF LIFE HERE IN THE NORTH LAND.

SO HOW DO WE MOVE FORWARD AND WITH AWARENESS, WITH FLEXIBILITY, IN THE SAME SENSE OF RESILIENCE THAT HAS LONG DEFINED THE PEOPLE OF THE REGION?

WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO CHANGE THE SKIES BUT WE CAN PROTECT EACH OTHER, ADAPT, AND STILL FIND JOY IN THE PLACE WE CALL HOME.

SO THIS HAS BEEN DENNY'S DESK.

BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

A FEW MORE HEADLINES THIS EVENING.

A MAN WORKING AT WASHBURN IRONWORKS WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY BY ICE AGENTS ON JULY 21 FOLLOWING A REPORTED DUI ARREST IN IRON RIVER.

THE MAN EMPLOYED THROUGH A CHICAGO-BASED STAFFING AGENCY WAS NOT DIRECTLY EMPLOYED BY THE COMPANY.

LOCAL POLICE ASSISTED ICE BUT DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE ARREST.

COMMUNITY MEMBERS INCLUDING WASHBURN RESIDENTS VOICED CONCERN AT A RECENT BAYFIELD COUNTY BOARD MEETING ABOUT THE BROADER IMPLICATIONS OF SUCH ARRESTS, ESPECIALLY WITHOUT LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGREEMENTS WITH ICE IN PLACE.

>> THE LAND OF 10,000 LAKES IS TAKING A STEP TOWARD CLEANER CONSTRUCTION.

MINNESOTA IS AWARDING 206 $2000 TO GRANTS TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PRODUCT DECLARATIONS FOR KEY BUILDING MATERIALS SUCH AS CONCRETE AND ASPHALT.

THE FUNDING GOES TO THE AGGREGATE ASSOCIATION, THE MINNESOTA ASPHALT PAVEMENT ASSOCIATION, AND CONTRACTING.

THE DECLARATIONS WILL TRACK THE CARBON FOOTPRINT OF CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS USED IN PUBLIC PROJECTS ACROSS THE STATE.

OFFICIALS SAY IT'S PART OF MINNESOTA'S BIKE LEAN INITIATIVE AIMED AT LOWERING EMISSIONS IN THE BUILDING SECTOR WHILE HELPING SMALLER PRODUCTIONS COMPETE IN A GROWING CLEAN MATERIALS MARKET.

IT'S A MOVE TOWARD MORE TRANSPARENCY, SMARTER CHOICES, AND LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY AND HOW WE BUILD THE FUTURE.

>> YOUNG BLACK BEAR WAS A JAR STUCK ON ITS HEAD.

IT'S NOW SAFE AND FREE.

THE TWO-YEAR-OLD FEMALE WAS TRACKED ACROSS NORTHERN WISCONSIN, TRAVELING NEARLY 50 MILES THROUGH SAWYER BAYFIELD AND DOUGLAS COUNTIES.

WILDLIFE STAFF LOCATED IN SAFELY SEDATED THE BEAR OVER THE WEEKEND.

THE JAR WAS REMOVED AND THE BEAR WAS EXAMINED INTACT, THEN RELEASED INTO THE WILD UP ITS GIDDY BUT HEALTHY AND ALREADY FEEDING ON BERRIES.

♪ >> FINALLY TONIGHT, WE ARE JOINED BY SHANNON WATSON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR MAJORITY IN THE MIDDLE COMING HERE TO TALK ABOUT AN INITIATIVE STARTED IN RESPONSE TO THE POLITICAL VIOLENCE EARLIER THIS SUMMER.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU YOU FOR THE INVITATION.

>> TELUS, WHAT IS MAJORITY IN THE MIDDLE?

>> ON NONPROFIT, NONPARTISAN ORGANIZATION.

WE WORK ON CIVILITY IN POLITICS, CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO CONNECT.

AND THEN OPPORTUNITIES TO REACT TO THIS TRAGEDY.

>> WHAT AN IMPORTANT MISSION.

SO TELL US ABOUT THE REACTION TO THE POLITICAL VIOLENCE THAT HAPPENED IN JUNE AND HOW PEOPLE CAN GET INVOLVED.

>> SO WE CAME TOGETHER WITH SEVERAL PEERS IN WHAT I CALL THE GOOD DEMOCRACY SPACE.

THERE ARE A LOT OF ORGANIZATIONS FROM BRAVER ANGELS TO CITIZENS LEAK THE DIFFERENT CHURCHES AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS.

ALL WORKING ON THE CIVILITY ISSUE.

POLITICAL VIOLENCE IS A SIGNIFICANT ESCALATION OF INCIVILITY AND POLITICS.

SO WE DIDN'T NECESSARILY HAVE THOSE RESOURCES.

LUCKILY SOMEBODY IN OUR NETWORK HAS WORKED ON THESE ISSUES IN OTHER STATES.

IN OTHER COUNTRIES FOR YEARS.

SO HE REALLY HELPED GUIDE SOME OF THE RESPONSE.

WHAT WE DID IS WE PUT TOGETHER AN INITIATIVE CALLED WHAT WE CAN DO WEEKS.

THAT WAS ANSWERING EVERYONE'S QUESTION.

WHAT CAN WE DO?

HERE'S WHAT WE CAN DO.

WE SET OUT TWO WEEKS TO HAVE EVENTS SO PEOPLE COULD LEARN, PEOPLE COULD CONNECT, PEOPLE COULD VERY DELIBERATELY ENGAGE IN THE SPACES.

DIFFERET ORGANIZATIONS COULD HOST EVENTS AND INITIATIVES THAT MADE SENSE TO THEM AND THEIR WORK, THEIR CONSTITUENCIES.

SO THAT KICKOFF WAS JULY 31 AND IT RUNS THROUGH THE 16TH.

THAT'S WHAT WE CAN DO.

>> WHAT DOES A WEEK LIKE THAT LOOK LIKE THAT FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE TAKING PART IN IT?

DID YOU SEE PEOPLE ON ONE SIDE AND ON THE OTHER?

>> PART OF THE CHALLENGE WHEN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT CROSSING DIVIDES IN POLITICS IS THAT WE ASSUME THAT EVERYBODY'S POLITICAL VOTING HISTORY IS HOW WE SHOULD IDENTIFY.

ARE YOU AND I THE SAME OR ARE WE DIFFERENT?

A LOT OF THIS IS ABOUT CONNECTING WITH THE PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE.

NOT NECESSARILY LETTING THE POLITICS BE CENTER STAGE OR GET IN THE WAY OF THAT.

SO IT JUST SO HAPPENS THAT NATIONAL NIGHT OUT WAS ON TUESDAY.

FELL WITHIN THIS SET OF WEEKS.

SO WE ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO GO TO AN INTERNATIONAL LIGHT OUT.

WE'VE BEEN DOING A LOT OF ZOOM EVENTS WHERE WE HAVE EXPERTS TALK ABOUT HOW TO ENGAGE WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENT, HOW TO OVERCOME DIVISION.

WE HAD AN AUTHOR TALKING ABOUT A BOOK THAT SHE WROTE CALLED HIGH CONFLICT WHICH I RECOMMEND SUPER HIGHLY.

>> YOU ARE PLANNING TO POTENTIALLY BRING AN EVENT TO DULUTH.

WHAT WOULD THAT LOOK LIKE AND WHY DULUTH?

>> WHY DULUTH.

NUMBER ONE, WE WERE ASKED TO, WHICH IS AWESOME.

THE FIRST KICKOFF EVENT OF WHAT WE CAN DO WEEKS WAS THE SIGNING OF A CIVIC PLEDGE FOR A STRONGER MINNESOTA.

PEOPLE COULD FIND THE PLEDGE ON THE WEBSITE.

WE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE COME TO SPACE IN ST. PAUL & THE PLEDGE.

SAY THAT WE DON'T CONDONE POLITICAL VIOLENCE.

WE WILL TAKE ACTION AGAINST LANGUAGE THAT INCENSES VIOLENCE.

WE WILL DO THE HARD WORK OF FINDING COMMON GROUND.

THOSE ARE THINGS THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE FIND VERY EASY TO AGREE ON.

SO ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO WAS SIGNING THE PLEDGE THAT DAY, SHE SAID, BY THE WAY, I TALKED TO A FRIEND OF MINE IN DULUTH AND THEY WANT -- THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO BE HERE.

CAN WE DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS IN DULUTH?

I SAID ABSOLUTELY.

THAT WILL BE MID-SEPTEMBER.

>> WHERE DID YOU GET THE PASSION FOR THE WORK YOU ARE DOING TODAY?

>> PROBABLY MY PARENTS.

MY DAD IS A LEGACY REPUBLICAN.

HE'S BEEN REPUBLICAN FOR A LONG TIME.

MY MOM IS A DEMOCRAT.

OR A LIBERTARIAN DEPENDING ON THE ISSUE.

SO I LITERALLY LEARNED BIPARTISANSHIP GROWING UP AT THE DINNER TABLE.

SO THIS IDEA THAT PEOPLE CAN'T BE IN RELATIONSHIP IF YOU DON'T VOTE THE SAME, THAT'S A WEIRD CONCEPT TO ME.

I'VE WATCHED WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU DO MAKE IT WORK AND WHEN YOU DON'T LET THAT GET IN THE WAY OF YOUR RELATIONSHIP PEERING AT EVERYDAY OF MY LIFE.

55 YEARS OF MARRIAGE I THINK.

SO IT CAN WORK.

>> IT'S POSSIBLE.

YOU SAW IT OVER A PLATE OF SPAGHETTI.

>> YES.

ONE OF THEIR FAVORITE THINGS TO DO IS VOTE TOGETHER, KNOWING FULL WELL THAT THEY WILL LIKELY CANCER EACH OTHER'S VOTE OUT.

THAT MAKES IT IMPORTANT FOR BOTH OF THEM TO GO.

>> IT'S A DATE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO.

BEFORE WE GO, WE WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT OUR AUGUST FUNDRAISER KICKS OFF THIS WEEKEND.

A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO SUPPORT THE WORK WE DO HERE AT PBS NORTH.

YOU HELP MAKE PROGRAMS LIKE THIS ONE POSSIBLE.

SHOWS THAT EDUCATE, ENGAGE, REFLECT LIFE IN THE NORTH LAND.

YOUR SUPPORT ALLOWS US TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE STORY SHAPING OUR COMMUNITIES.

>> WHEN YOU TUNE INTO PBS NORTH, YOU ARE WATCHING SHOWS THAT ARE SELECTED WITH THIS COMMUNITY IN MIND.

SUPPORT FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU THAT MAKE IT ALL HAPPEN.

GIVING IS EASY.

EVERY GIFT IS A DIRECT INVESTMENT IN THE PROGRAMMING INFORMING, INSPIRING, CONNECTING NEIGHBORHOODS ACROSS THE NORTH LAND.

WHEN YOU MAKE YOUR CONTRIBUTION, WE'VE GOT GREAT WAYS TO SAY THANK YOU.

>> WEN YU SUPPORT PBS NORTH, YOU ARE INVESTING IN STORIES THAT REFLECT THE SPIRIT OF OUR REGION.

THE PEOPLE WHO CALL IT HOME PEERING AT A SUSTAINING GIFT OF SEVEN DOLLARS A MONTH.

WE THANK YOU HER PBS NORTH MUG.

PERFECT FOR YOUR FAVORITE HOT BEVERAGE AND A DAILY REMINDER THAT YOU ARE HELPING KEEP PUBLIC BROADCASTING STRONG HERE IN THE NORTH LAND.

AT $10 A MONTH, YOU CAN CHOOSE THE PUZZLE BY MINNESOTA ARTIST AT INTERMENT.

THIS VIBRANT PUZZLE CAPTURES THE JOURNEY OF THE NORTH SHORE FROM DULUTH TO GRAHAM PORRIDGE WITH FUN LITTLE DETAILS TUCKED INTO EVERY PIECE.

WHEN YOU GIVE $15 A MONTH AS A SUSTAINER, WE THANK YOU WITH A DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTION TO THE NEW YORK TIMES A FULL YEAR OF UNLIMITED ACCESS TO TRUSTED COVERAGE OF EARNINGS, CULTURE, FOOD, AND MORE.

ANYTIME AND ANYWHERE ON YOUR SMARTPHONE, TABLET, OR COMPUTER.

THE MOST REPORT AND THING IS YOUR SUPPORT.

YOUR DONATION ENSURES PBS NORTH CAN CONTINUE TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY WITH LOCAL PROGRAMS, THOUGHTFUL DOCUMENTARIES, AND CONVERSATIONS THAT MATTER.

MAKE YOUR GIFT TODAY BY CALLING 218-788-2844 OR VISITING PBS NORTH.ORG.

THANK YOU FOR STANDING WITH PBS NORTH.

>> WHAT A GOOD WAY TO END THE SHOW.

THAT'S IT FOR THIS WEEK.

GO OUT AND ENJOY YOUR WEEKEND.

>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

GOOD NIGHT.

♪ ♪