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

>> Eric: COMING UP ON "ALMANAC," WE'LL MARK THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF PRINCE'S DEATH, HIGHLIGHT St.

PAUL MAYOR KAOHLY HER'S FIRST STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS, FILL THE COUCH WITH POLITICOS AND MARY LAHAMMER TRACKING ILLS THAT ARE PASSING AT THE CAPITOL.

>> Mary: AS UNDERSTAND OF SESSION HIGH NEGOTIATIONS CONTINUE, WE'LL HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE FAVORITE FEEL-GOOD BILLS THAT ARE MOVING ALONG.

>> I FEEL LIKE WE'RE IN A SESSION WHERE IT'S RAFFLES, ROCKS, AND RETIREE R & R.

>> GOOD WORK AND ROCK ON.

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

>> "ALMANAC" IS A PRODUCTION >> "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 STATEWIDE.

>> Eric: FULL SHOW TONIGHT.

WE'LL REMEMBER PRINCE WITH SOMEONE WHO COVERED HIM AND KNEW HIM WELL.

WE'LL AKE A LOOK AT THE BIG JOURNAL STORY THIS WEEK ABOUT KIDS BEING TAKEN BY I.C.E.

AGENTS.

DAVID GILLETTE, TRAVEL ESSAY FOR US.

AND PLENTY OF POLITICS PER USUAL.

>> Cathy: THAT'S A LOT OF SHOW.

WE START TONIGHT WITH St.

PAUL CITY POLITICS.

MAYOR KAOHLY HER DELIVERED HER STATE OF THE CITY EARLIER THIS WEEK AND IT'S BEEN A WEEK FULL OF St.

PAUL DEVELOPMENT NEWS, INCLUDING THE SALE OF THE GREAT NORTHERN BUILDING IN DOWNTOWN AND NEWS YESTERDAY THAT BILL McGUIRE IS ACQUIRING THE NEW CBS SITE IN St.

PAUL.

FRED MELO COVERS ALL THINGS St.

PAUL FOR THE PIONEER PRESS, INCLUDING HIS NEXT ASSIGNMENT.

>> CAN WE TALK FASTER, I WANT TO GET DANCING AND EATING.

YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE ME DANCE.

>> Cathy: I WOULD, ACTUALLY, ANYWAY, LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT HERE ABOUT THE STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS.

I THOUGHT IT WAS REALLY INTERESTING THAT THE MAYOR BROUGHT UP THINKS THAT HOME SNS A REGIONAL PROBLEM AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED REGIONALLY.

NOT MANY PEOPLE REALLY BRING THAT UP.

>> NOT MANY PEOPLE BRING UP THAT.

BUT St.

PAUL IS CARRYING THE WATER FOR THE STATE.

St.

PAUL AND MINNEAPOLIS.

I A LOT OF THE FFORDABLE HOUSING, A LOT OF THE SHELTER HOUSING THAT'S BUILT IN MINNESOTA LANDS IN THE TWIN CITIES, AND THEN INSTEAD OF GETTING A THANK YOU FROM THE SUBURBS, IT BECOMES OH, THAT'S A SCARY PLACE TO LIVE, LOOK WHO THEY HAVE THERE.

THE HOMELESS ARE THE STATE'S HOMELESS, IT'S A STATEWIDE PROBLEM.

>> Cathy: AND, OF COURSE, WHEN YOU BREAK UP AN ENCAMP.

FOLKS GO SOMEWHERE ELSE.

AND THE PROBLEM JUST MOVES AROUND.

>> IT JUST MOVES AROUND.

>> Eric: THE MAYOR SAID THAT SHE CAMPAIGNED ON GETTING BACK TO THE BASICS.

>> YEAH.

>> Eric: AND SHE HAD A LIST OF HINGS THAT HAVE BEEN GOING ON, LIKE A MAYOR OF A BIG CITY WOULD DO.

>> YEAH.

>> Eric: DIFFERENT STYLE THAN CARTER, MAYBE.

>> A LITTLE BIT OF DIFFERENT STYLE, RIGHT, EVEN N TERMS OF STRUCTURE.

INSTEAD OF HAVING ONE DEPUTY MAYOR, LIKE CARTER HAD JAMIE TINCHER HAS HIS RIGHT HAND PERSON, SHE HAS FOUR.

ONE OF THEM'S ALREADY LEFT.

JODY PFARR HAS MOVED BACK TO RAMSEY COUNTY.

SO, IT HASN'T BEEN PERFECT, BUT SHE CERTAINLY SPLIT UP THE WORK AND HAD CERTAIN FOLKS TUNNEL IN ON CERTAIN ISSUES LIKE THE MIDWAY SITE.

>> Cathy: BOY, DID IT COME AS A SURPRISE THAT OWNER OF THE LOONS WOULD BUY THAT PROPERTY, THE CVS -- OLD CVS PROPERTY, IT'S BEEN #RAISEDBYWOLVES AT THIS POINT.

>> FOR ME, NOT AT ALL, HE WOULD LITERALLY BE AT COMMUNITY MEETINGS WITH PICTURES OF WHAT HE WANTED TO SEE THERE.

EUROPEAN VILLAGE-STYLE HOUSING, YOU KNOW, JUST SOMETHING ARCHITECTURALLY INTERESTING.

HE WANTS MARKET RATE HOUSING, NOT AFFORDABLE.

THERE'S A LOT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON SNELLING AVENUE ITSELF, IT'S TIME TO GET PEOPLE WHO CAN AFFORD TO KEEP THE RESTAURANTS AFLOAT AND KEEP HIS STADIUM ULL OF PATRONS.

>> Eric: THERE'S A VERY AMBITIOUS PLAN WITH THE St.

PAUL ARENA, RIVERCENTRE, ROY WILKINS, THE GOVERNOR THROE THREW SOME COLD WATER ON THAT AS FAR AS THE STATE'S END OF IT.

>> WHAT THE CITY WANTS TO O IS EXTEND A HALF-CENT SALES TAX THAT ALREADY EXISTS AND KEEP IT GOING FOR ANOTHER 30 YEARS OR SO.

THAT WOULD PAY FOR THE CITY'S PORTION OF THE $600 MILLION RENOVATION.

THE TEAM WOULD PUT IN SOME MONEY.

THEY'RE ASKING THE STATE FOR $200 MILLION.

WHICH WOULD COME FROM THE BONDING BILL, IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE THE GOVERNOR'S SOLD ON THAT.

SO, IT'S PROBABLY, YOU KNOW, LET'S COME BACK NEXT YEAR, BUT THE ASK IS OUT THERE.

IT'S A ITTLE MORE SOLIDIFIED, A LITTLE CONCRETE.

IT TOOK LAWMAKERS BY SURPRISE LAST YEAR.

THERE'S NO SURPRISES THIS YEAR.

>> Cathy: I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU THAT.

I WAS TALKING TO CRAIG LEOPOLD, OWNER OF THE WILD, AND HE SAID HE THOUGHT THE THIRD TIME WAS GOING TO BE THE CHARM.

DOESN'T SEEM LIKE IT MIGHT BE.

WHY DOES THIS KEEP -- WHY DOES THIS FACE AN UPHILL CLIMB?

>> THE STATE DOESN'T HAVE THE HUGE SURPLUS A COUPLE YEARS AGO.

THIS MIGHT HAVE BEEN A DIFFERENT ASK, FOUR YEARS AGO, LET'S SAY.

THE ATTITUDE AMONG BOTH REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS, IT'S KIND OF BIPARTISAN DISTASTE FOR FUNDING ANOTHER SPORTS STADIUM.

THIS ISN'T JUST A SPORTS STADIUM, THOUGH.

IT'S THE CONVENTION CENTER, IT'S WHERE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATIONS AND STATE WRESTLING TOURNAMENTS HAPPEN, HOME OF THE WILD, HOCKEY STATE, THIS IS WHERE BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN WOULD GO TO PERFORM.

>> Eric: DURING HER SPEECH, THE BIGGEST CHEER CAME FOR ALDI'S.

>> YEAH.

WE HAVE A VERY RESIDENTIAL DOWNTOWN NOW.

IT'S NOT THE HOME OF LAW FIRMS AND INVESTMENT OF BANKS.

AND WHEN WE LOST LUNDS AND BYERLY'S, THAT LEFT WITH AS A FOOD DESERT IN DOWNTOWN.

KIND OF EMBARRASSING, A LOT OF OLDER FOLKS MOVED DOWNTOWN, MAYBE FOLKS WHO DID NOT WANT TO RELY ON A CAR, AND SUDDENLY THERE'S NO PLACE TO GET BASIC MILK AND CHEESE.

SO ALDI IS PROBABLY A MORE APPROPRIATE PRICE POINT FOR KIND OF THE RANGE OF HOUSING YOU HAVE DOWNTOWN.

YOU HAVE SOME AFFORDABLE UNITS.

AND THEY'RE PROVEN, THEY'RE PROVEN KNOWN COMMODITY IN THE TWIN CITIES.

SO, YEAH, THEY'RE BREAKING GROUND -- THEY HAVE A GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY N THURSDAY.

YOU'RE BOTH INVITED.

>> Cathy: ALL RIGHT.

THERE YOU GO.

SAY, BEFORE WE GO, WHO IS THIS FLORIDA GUY WHO MIGHT BE PURCHASING THE GREAT NORTHERN BUILDING HERE IN DOWNTOWN St.

PAUL?

>> YEAH, I KNOW.

I'VE SPOKEN TO HIM ON THE PHONE.

HIS NAME IS JAMIE RAND, HE SAID IN THE DOWNTURN OF 2008 I BOUGHT 20,000, SINGLE FAMILY HOMES, GAINED VALUE, HE MADE A LOT OF AIL, HE FAILED OUT OF RETIREMENT THREE TIMES, HE'S COMING INTO DOWNTOWN St.

PAUL, AND HE'S GOT FOUR BUILDINGS THAT HE'S BUYING, ALL HUGE, ALL OWE BACKS TAXES, THEY NEED A LOT OF HELP, HE'S GOT THE MONEY TO DO IT.

FLORIDA GUY TO THE RESCUE, I'VE NEVER MET 'EM.

I'VE TALKED TO DEVELOPERS WHO CAN.

>> Eric: GET OVER TO THE GALA.

>> I'M OUTTA HERE.

>> Cathy: GET SOMETHING TO EAT.

>> Eric: THANKS A LOT.

>> Cathy: SEE YOU LATER.

♪ ♪ >> HOW ABOUT HOW EFFECTIVE THE HOUSE IS?

I CAN SEE FROM RIGHT HERE, THE ROSES AT MELISSA HORTMAN'S DESK.

IT'S BEEN REALLY HARD.

AND IT'S BEEN HARD TO -- YOU KNOW, MELISSA HAS BEEN HERE, BEEN SPEAKER, SPEAKER EMERITA, BY TENURE IN THE LEGISLATURE.

I'VE LEARNED SO MUCH FROM HER.

AND I MISS HER.

>> REALLY STILL MOURNING HERE.

>> YEAH.

AND THEY'RE NOT OKAY AND MAYBE THEY'RE NOT OKAY SAYING THEY'RE NOT OKAY.

HOW MUCH ARE PEOPLE ACKNOWLEDGING THE STRAIN THAT ALL OF YOU ARE UNDER?

>> THEY'RE NOT.

THEY'RE NOT.

AND WHEN YOU GO THROUGH TRAUMA, YOU KNOW, WE ALL WANT TO PUT OUR BEST FACE ON, LIFT OUR CHIN UP A LITTLE BIT AND SAY WE'RE OKAY.

BUT WE'RE NOT OKAY.

♪ >> Eric: HEADLINE IN THE SAHAN JOURNAL THIS WEEK ANNOUNCED MORE THAN 70 MINNESOTA CHILDREN WERE DETAINED IN OPERATION METRO SURGE.

THAT NUMBER INCLUDES 5-YEAR-OLD LIAM RAMOS, WHOSE PHOTO, WEARING A BLUE BUNNY HAT BEING TAKEN INTO CUSTODY, WENT VIRAL.

AT THE TIME NO ONE KNEW HOW MANY OTHER CHILDREN HAD BEEN TAKEN BY FEDERAL AGENTS.

TO FIND THE NSWER, THE SAHAN JOURNAL ANNUALIZED ICE I.C.E.

DETENTION DATA AND COURT PETITIONS FROM MINNESOTA AND TEXAS AND HEARD DETENTION STORIES FROM FAMILIES, CHILDREN, AND IMMIGRATION ATTORNEYS.

BECKY CONCERNBACH, WAS THE MAIN REPORTER ON THE STORY.

WELCOME BACK.

WELL, THE PICTURE OF LITTLE LIAM WAS ICONIC BUT HE WASN'T ALONE.

>> NO, HE WASN'T.

YEAH, I FOUND A PETITION FROM MANKATO THE DAY BEFORE LIAM'S ARREST OF ANOTHER 5-YEAR-OLD BEING DETAINED AT THE WAL-MART PARKING LOT WITH HIS MOTHER.

YES, IN SOME WAYS VERY SIMILAR STORY, SENT TO DILLEY DETENTION CENTER IN TEXAS.

THEY CONFISCATED HIS DINOSAUR TOY.

AND THAT WAS JUST THE DAY BEFORE LIAM WAS DETAINED.

>> Cathy: ARE THERE STILL KIDS WHO ARE DETAINED?

>> YEAH.

SO, THE DATA I HAVE IS, AS OF MARCH 10th, AND IT SHOWED THAT AT LEAST SEVEN KIDS WERE STILL IN DETENTION AS OF THAT DAY.

AND TWO OF THOSE WERE GIRLS WHO SPENT TIME AT DILLEY, FIVE OF THEM WERE TEEN BOYS WHO DIDN'T HAVE A LOCATION LISTED, AND I SPOKE TO ATTORNEYS REPRESENTING TWO OTHER TEEN BOYS HORN DETAINED ALONE, AND -- BOYS WHO WERE DETAINED ALONE AND SENT TO CHRISTIAN YOUTH CENTERS IN MICHIGAN.

SO I ASKED THE SHELTERS IF THEY STILL HAD ANY MINNESOTA KIDS, AND THEY TOLD ME THEY COULDN'T REALLY CONFIRM THAT.

DHS WOULDN'T CONFIRM IT EITHER.

>> Eric: WHAT KIND OF CONDITIONS DID THE CHILDREN FACE?

>> WELL, THERE WERE A COUPLE DIFFERENT PLACES THAT THE KIDS WERE SENT.

IN DILLEY, THE DETENTION CENTER IN TEXAS, FOR FAMILIES.

THERE WERE ABOUT 30 MINNESOTA KIDS SENT THERE.

AND THEY COMPLAINED ABOUT SPOILED FOOD THAT THE KIDS WERE REFUSING TO EAT, BAD DRINKING WATER THAT WAS MAKING THEM SICK, THERE WAS A MEASLES OUTBREAK DOWN THERE.

NOT EVERYBODY WAS SENT TO DILLEY.

THERE WERE SOME KIDS WHO WERE SENT TO HOTELS.

I TALKED TO THE FAMILY OF A 2-YEAR-OLD GIRL, WHO THEY WERE DETAINED IN A HOTEL FOR A FEW DAYS.

AND THE CONDITIONS IN THE HOTEL, THEY SAID, ERE NOT BAD, THE PROBLEM WAS THEY WERE CONFINED TO A HOTEL ROOM.

THEY HAVE THIS 2-YEAR-OLD GIRL WITH ADHD WHO WANTS TO BE OUT RUNNING AROUND, JUMPING, PLAYING, JUST STARING OUT THE WINDOW, CONFINED TO THIS HOTEL ROOM FOR DAYS.

AND SIMILARLY, THE KIDS WHO WERE SENT TO MICHIGAN, THEY SOUNDED KIND OF BORED, THEY DIDN'T HAVE ACCESS TO EDUCATION, IT WASN'T THAT THEIR BASIC NEEDS WEREN'T MET E BUT THESE ARE KIDS WHO WERE TAKEN AWAY FROM THEIR FAMILIES AND THEY WERE SENT HERE ALONE, THEY HAVE NO IDEA HOW LONG THEY'RE GOING TO BE THERE, THEY DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE GOING TO SEE THEIR FAMILIES AGAIN.

SO THE CONDITIONS VARY.

BUT THERE'S TRAUMA ACROSS ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT KINDS OF EXPERIENCES.

>> Eric: YEAH, I WONDER, IN THE EXPERTS -- SOME OF THE EXPERTS IN YOUR STORY TALKED ABOUT LONG-LASTING EFFECT, MENTALLY, I SUPPOSE.

>> YES, YES, PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT INTERGENERATIONAL TRAUMA THAT COULD CARRY ON FOR PEOPLE WHO AREN'T EVEN BORN YET OF THESE KIDS.

AND, YEAH, IN THE COLUMBIA HEIGHTS SCHOOL DISTRICT, YOU KNOW, THEY'VE HAD SEVEN KIDS WHO WERE DETAINED, SIX OF THEM WENT TO DILLEY, ONE ENDED UP RETURNING TO ECUADOR, AND FIVE ARE BACK -- SIX ARE BACK IN SCHOOL.

ONE WAS DETAINED TEMPORARILY IN THE WHIPPLE BUILDING.

SO THEY'RE REALLY SEEING, YOU KNOW, A GOOD GROUP OF KIDS THAT THEY'RE HELPING WITH THEIR TRAUMA, THEY'RE SAYING THAT, YOU KNOW, THE KIDS' RESPONSE TO TRAUMA REALLY VARIES BY THEIR AGE.

THE OLDER KIDS ARE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT IT, BUT THE YOUNGER KIDS ARE YELLING, SCREAMING, KICKING, JUST ACTING OUT.

AND ALSO FINDING, YOU KNOW, BRIGHT LIGHTS, TRAUMATIZING, BECAUSE IN DILLEY THEY KEEP THE BRIGHT LIGHTS ON ALL NIGHT, THEY'RE SLEEPING IN THE BRIGHT CONDITIONS, LOUD NOISES, SIRENS, WHISTLES.

JUST A LOT OF TRAUMA TRIGGERS FOR THESE KIDS.

>> Cathy: DO YOU KNOW WHETHER THESE KIDS -- DO WE KNOW WHO'S BEEN DEPORTED, WHO HAS SELF-DEPORTED?

>> YEAH.

>> Cathy: ARE THERE NUMBERS ON THAT?

>> YES, THERE ARE.

SO OF THE 70 PLUS KIDS WHO WERE DETAINED, ABOUT 20 OF THEM WERE DEPORTED.

ABOUT TEN SELF-DEPORTED, OR THEIR FAMILIES SELF-DEPORTED.

AND, YEAH, THEN THE SEVEN, LIKE I SAID, AT LEAST SEVEN THAT ARE STILL IN DETENTION.

>> Eric: WERE ANY OF THE OLDER TEENAGERS BAD ACTORS OR HAD CRIMINAL WARRANTS OR SOMETHING AGAINST THEM?

>> NOT THAT I'M AWARE OF.

>> Eric: THESE ARE ALL INNOCENT YOUNG PEOPLE?

>> YEAH, THERE WAS A KID WHO WAS DETAINED, HE LEFT DINNER ON A FRIDAY -- HE LEFT HOME ON A FRIDAY NIGHT TO PICK UP DINNER FOR HIS FAMILY, AND WAS PICKED UP IN MINNEAPOLIS IN JANUARY.

IT WASN'T -- BUT THE ATTORNEYS I TALKED TO SAID THAT THIS IS VERY UNUSUAL AND THAT IN PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS, CHILDREN JUST WERE NOT DETAINED, CHILDREN WHO WERE ALREADY INSIDE THE COUNTRY, WHEN YOU'RE ENTERING THE COUNTRY, THERE'S SOMETIMES A TEMPORARY DETENTION PROCESS WHILE YOUR APPLICATION FOR ASYLUM OR WHATEVER THE LEGAL PROCESS IS IS BEING PROCESSED, BUT ONCE KIDS ARE INSIDE THE COUNTRY, THEY TYPICALLY DON'T GET DETAINED.

SO, THIS IS A NEW AND AGGRESSIVE TACTIC, THEY'RE SAYING.

>> Cathy: THERE'S OTHER EXCELLENT REPORT FROM SAHAN JOURNAL, ANOTHER ONE OF YOUR COLLEAGUES TALKS ABOUT HOW ASYLUM CASES ARE INCREASINGLY BEING DENIED.

>> YEAH.

>> Cathy: AT WHIPPLE.

I WONDER, I CAN'T IMAGINE THE UNCERTAINTY THAT THESE FAMILIES AND THESE KIDS ARE GOING THROUGH.

>> YES.

AND, SO, SOME OF THESE KIDS ARE COMING BACK, YOU NOW, LIKE I SAID, ABOUT 20 HAVE BEEN DEPORTED.

SO FAR.

BUT, YOU KNOW, THE KIDS WHO ARE BACK, THERE'S A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY, YOU KNOW, IN THE COLUMBIA HEIGHTS SCHOOL DISTRICT, THERE ARE A FEW KIDS WHO ARE TILL FACING ACTIVE DEPORTATION CASES AND, YEAH, THERE'S A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY.

THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN OR HOW LONG THEY'LL BE ABLE TO STAY.

AND SOMETIMES BEING DETAINED WILL TRIGGER A COURT PROCESS, SO THEY'LL HAVE A HEARING MORE QUICKLY AND, YEAH, IT'S UNCERTAIN AND SCARY.

AND, I MEAN, THESE FAMILIES LEFT OF FOR A REASON.

YOU KNOW.

AND THEY OFTEN DON'T WANT TO GO BACK.

>> Eric: ARCHIVED ON THE SAHAN JOURNAL WEBSITE.

>> YES.

>> Eric: FOR FOLKS WHO WANT TO TAKE A LOOK.

>> Cathy: WHAT'S YOUR NEXT STEPS WITH THIS STORY?

I'M SURE THERE'S A LOT OF TENTACLES YOU'RE GOING TO BE FOLLOWING.

>> YEAH, I'M EAGER TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED TO THESE KIDS WHO ARE STILL DETAINED.

AND, YEAH, HOPING TO FIND MORE INFORMATION ON THAT.

>> Eric: CONGRATULATIONS.

THANKS FOR COMING OVER.

>> Cathy: THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> YEAH, THANK YOU.

>> Cathy: APPRECIATE IT.

>> YOU MET HIM.

HOW DID HE MANAGE TO BRING YOU ALL INTO THE OLD?

>> WELL, WE USED TO PERFORM AT THE BLACK MUSIC AWARDS, AS WELL AS THE MINNESOTA MUSIC AWARDS.

I EVEN HOSTED BOTH OF THOSE SHOWS A COUPLE OF TIMES.

AND -- SO WE CROSSED PATHS, GOING ON AND OFF THE STAGE, AND BEING BACK STAGE.

BUT HE CALLED US IN TO DO GRAFFITI BRIDGE, TO DO NE SONG, THEN HE BROUGHT US IN FOR ANOTHER SONG.

>> ANOTHER SONG.

>> AND THEN THE NEXT THING WE KNOW, WE ENDED UP IN THE MOVIE AND WE STARTED A GREAT WORKING RELATIONSHIP.

>> Eric: WHAT WAS IT LIKE WCCOING WITH HIM?

>> OH, MY GOSH, LIFE CHANGING.

HE CHANGED OUR LIVES.

HE ABSOLUTELY DID.

I BECAME A BETTER SINGER.

I BECAME A BETTER PERFORMER.

I HAD A BETTER BUSINESS MIND.

FROM BEING IN HIS COMPANY.

AND HE BECAME LIKE FAMILY TO US.

HE REALLY DID.

♪ ♪ >> Cathy: IT HAS BEEN TEN YEARS SINCE PRINCE'S SUDDEN DEATH FROM A FENTANYL OVERDOSE AND IT SHOOK THE MUSIC WORLD.

MOST MINNESOTANS CAN TELL YOU EXACTLY WHERE THEY WERE ON APRIL 21st, 2016, WHEN THEY HEARD THE NEWS, INCLUDING ANDREA SWENS SON, A MUSIC OF JOURNALIST WHO WORKED AT THE CURRENT, THE SISTER STATION FOR MINNESOTA PUBLIC RADIO, SHE RUSHED TO PAISLEY PARK WHEN THE RUMORS HIT AND WAS THERE WHEN PRINCE'S DEATH WAS CONFIRMED.

I KNOW IT WAS INCREDIBLY HARD FOR YOU, YOU DID A GREAT JOB THAT DAY.

I WAS WONDERING,S AS A REPORTER, WHO TIPPED YOU OFF?

>> WELL, THE NEWSROOM GOT A TIP, ACTUALLY, AND IT WAS REALLY SOON FTER HIS -- HE HAD BEEN FOUND.

SO I DIDN'T WANT TO BELIEVE IT, OBVIOUSLY.

BUT I DROVE OUT TO CHANHASSEN IMMEDIATELY, AND I WAS WORKING REALLY HARD TO TRY TO DISPROVE THAT THIS HAD HAPPENED.

BUT I STARTED CALLING EVERY PERSON THAT I'D EVER MET IN PRINCE WORLD, AND EVENTUALLY GOT THROUGH TO BOBBY Z, AND HE'S THE ONE THAT CONFIRMED IT TO ME, AND THEN I CALLED JADE ON AIR, ON THE CURRENT, AND WE BROKE THE NEWS.

AND THEN IT IMMEDIATELY BECAME GLOBAL AND IT WAS JUST SO SURREAL TO BE STANDING OUT THERE, I MEAN, I THINK I WAS ONE OF THE FIRST TWO OR THREE JOURNALISTS TO BE ON THE LAWN AND THEN PRETTY SOON SOMEONE'S PUTTING A FLOWER AND A BALLOON AND THERE'S HELICOPTERS AND THERE'S THIS STORM OF PEOPLE AND ATTENTION AND I WAS OUT THERE ALL DAY LONG JUST WATCHING IT ALL UNFOLD.

IT WAS SO STRANGE AND SURREAL, BUT ALSO THERE WERE SOME VERY PRINCE-Y MOMENTS, IT WAS RAINING AND THEN LATER IN THE DAY THE SUN CAME OUT AND A RAINBOW FORMED OVER PAISLEY PARK, I'LL NEVER FORGET IT.

>> Eric: YOUR HISTORY WITH PRINCE, YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT IT BEFORE, BUT IT WAS DEEP AND LONG LASTING.

>> AND FUNNY.

>> Eric: YEAH.

>> VERY FUNNY.

I WAS A REPORTER COVERING HIM AND THEN ENDED UP ON HIS RADAR BECAUSE I DREW THIS LITTLE DOODLE OF HIM IN MY NOTEBOOK AT A SHOW HE WAS DOING AT THE DAKOTA.

THEY WOULDN'T ALLOW US TO SEND A PHOTOGRAPHER.

SO I PUT THE DOODLE WITH MY REVIEW OF THE SHOW AND HE EMAILED ME.

I FOUND OUT LATER IT WAS ACTUALLY HIM, NOT HIS ASSISTANT OR MANAGER.

AND HE SKED IF HE COULD HAVE IT.

AND THEN HE USED IT AS THE COVER ART FOR A RECORDING FROM THAT SHOW THAT HE PUT ON HIS YouTube PAGE.

AND A RELATIONSHIP WAS BORN.

ME AND PRINCE, UNLIKELY FRIENDS.

>> Cathy: RIGHT.

COMPLICATED GUY.

I MEAN, CLEARLY, INCREDIBLY CREATIVE, BUT JUST A COMPLICATED INDIVIDUAL.

AND WHAT WORK ETHIC, TOO.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> Cathy: YOU SAW THE STEELES ON WITH US.

AND THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT HOW HE OULD CALL THEM AT 2:00, 3:00 IN THE MORNING, COME ON OVER AT PAISLEY PARK, WE'RE JAMMING, WE'RE WORKING ON SOME STUFF.

HE WAS SUCH A WORK HORSE.

>> YEAH, HE DESCRIBED IT AS BOTH A BLESSING AND A CURSE BECAUSE HE JUST HAD TO.

HE HAD TO MAKE MUSIC.

THESE SONGS WERE JUST BURSTING OUT OF HIM.

AND HE WOULD STAY UNTIL THEY WERE DONE.

I MEAN, IT'S REALLY INCREDIBLE TO THINK ABOUT THE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN UNEARTHED FROM HIS VAULT.

YOU WOULD THINK, OH, MAYBE IT'S DEMO RECORDINGS WITH SCRATCH VOCALS OR KIND OF HALF-FINISHED IDEAS.

NO, FULLY PRODUCED SONGS THAT HE WOULD FINISH IN A DAY AND THEN JUST PUT AWAY AND SAY, IT'S NOT TIME TO RELEASE THAT YET.

>> Eric: I WONDER, YOU'D BE A GOOD PERSON TO COMMENT ON THIS, THAT THE STUFF'S IN THE VAULT, HE DIDN'T THINK IT WAS READY FOR PRIME TIME OR DIDN'T THINK IT WAS READY FOR RELEASING.

SOME STUFF INEVITABLY IS GOING TO BE RELEASED AS TIME GOES ON.

WOULD WE WANT THAT OR DID HE NOT THINK THAT THEY'RE FIT FOR PUBLICITY?

>> WELL, HE SAID MANY TIMES IN INTERVIEWS THAT HE KNEW EVENTUALLY THEY WOULD BE RELEASED, AND SOMETHING THAT I FOUND ERY POIGNANT AS I WAS GOING THROUGH ALL OF HIS INTERVIEWS, IN ONE OF HIS FINAL INTERVIEWS WITH EBONY MAGAZINE, HE SAID HE CONSIDERED HIS CATALOG TO BE PART OF AMERICAN CULTURE, HE REALLY SAW THE VAULT AS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE PRESERVED, PROTECTED, END UP SOMEWHERE LIKE THE SMITHSONIAN, HE REALIZED IT WAS THAT SIGNIFICANT.

YEAH.

>> Cathy: DID HE TALK ABOUT A YOUNGER GENERATION AT ALL, IT SEEMS LIKE THERE IS A YOUNGER GENERATION RECOVERING HIM, WHICH I THINK IS SO FAN FACT.

>> -- FANTASTIC.

>> HE WAS INSPIRED BY YOUNG PEOPLE.

WHEN I WAS OUT AT PAISLEY PARK, HE WAS HOSTING MUSICIANS IN THEIR 20s.

HE WAS REALLY INTERESTED IN CUTTING-EDGE MUSIC, WHAT THE NEW IDEAS WERE AND REALLY TAPPING INTO THAT YOUTHFUL ENERGY AND INSPIRATION.

HE WAS SURROUNDED BY THIRD EYE GIRL, HIS BAND, THEY WERE ALL IN THEIR 20s AT THE TIME.

SO HE WAS, I THINK, REALLY THINKING ABOUT THAT AND HOW TO POSITION HIMSELF AS KIND OF AN ELDER STATESMAN AND A MENTOR, AND NOW IT'S, YOU KNOW, INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT THAT HIS MUSIC REACHES YOUNG PEOPLE.

>> Eric: PAISLEY PARK AND THE ESTATE HAVE GONE THROUGH A COUPLE OF OVERSEERS, INCLUDING THE GROUP THAT DID GRACELAND, I THINK.

>> YES, THAT WAS THE FIRST TEAM.

>> Eric: HAS THAT CALMED DOWN, PEACE IN THE VALLEY IN PRINCE WORLD?

>> WELL, THERE'S NEVER TOTAL PEACE IN PRINCE WORLD, THERE'S ALWAYS A LITTLE DRAMA.

NO, THE ESTATE WAS SETTLED IN 2022.

AND WENT TO THESE TWO PARTIES.

ONE SIDE IS THE REMAINING HEIRS THAT KEPT THEIR SHARES, REPRESENTED BY AYOU LAWYER, AND THE OTHER -- REPRESENTED BY A LAWYER, AND THE OTHER WAS SOLD TO A BIG PUBLISHING COMPANY.

THERE'S THE TWO ENTITIES MANAGING THE ESTATE, THEY'RE DOING THINGS LIKE THE BROADWAY MUSICAL THAT OPENED IN THE FALL RIGHT HERE IN MINNEAPOLIS.

>> Cathy: THAT'S RIGHT.

HOW CAN YOU MARK THE TENTH -- HOW DID YOU MARK THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY?

I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT I WAS GOING TO FEEL THAT DAY AND I WENT THROUGH EVERY EMOTION, OUR BY HOUR.

IT WAS REALLY POIGNANT THIS YEAR TO HIT THAT TEN-YEAR MILESTONE, AND I WAS THINKING ABOUT HOW MUCH MINNESOTA HAS GONE THROUGH SINCE WE LOST PRINCE AND HOW MANY OF THESE REALLY PUBLIC GLOBAL TRAGEDIES WE'VE EXPERIENCED AND PRINCE WAS ONE OF MANY OF THESE, WHERE WE'VE EXPERIENCED THIS INFLUX OF MEDIA AND ATTENTION AND PAIN.

SO I WAS THINKING A LOT ABOUT THE SAD FEELINGS IN THE MORNING, AND THEN AS THE DAY WENT ON, I SAW SUCH AN OUTPOURING OF LOVE FOR HIM AND PEOPLE WERE SHARING HIS SONGS AND VIDEOS AND MEMORIES AND THEN I JUST WAS FILLED WITH SO MUCH JOY AND GRATITUDE THAT I GOT TO EVEN BE ALIVE AT THE SAME TIME AS PRINCE, THAT I GOT TO SEE HIM, THAT I GOT TO MEET HIM, ALL OF THESE THINGS I JUST FEEL SO GRATEFUL FOR NOW.

>> Eric: THANKS FOR SHARING.

GREAT TO SEE YOU.

>> Cathy: GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

THANK YOU.

♪ >> Mark: DESPITE THE THINGS MY DAD TRIED TO TEACH ME, I’M NOT REALLY A “FIX-IT” KIND OF GUY.

I CAN REMOVE A SUSPICIOUS MOLE AND STITCH THINGS BACK TOGETHER WITH BARELY A SCAR, BUT I SOMETIMES HAVE TROUBLE PUTTING IN A FLUORESCENT LIGHT BULB.

I CAN HANDLE PRETTY MUCH ANY HOME REPAIR THAT DOESN'T REQUIRE TOOLS.

BASICALLY, THAT LEAVES SWEEPING, TAKING OUT GARBAGE, AND JIGGLING THE TOILET HANDLE WHEN THE WATER KEEPS RUNNING.

SO I HATE GOING TO THE HARDWARE STORE.

IF THAT DOESN'T SOUND SCARY TO YOU, YOU HAVE PROBABLY NEVER WANDERED AROUND FOR 2 HOURS TRYING TO FIND EXACTLY THE RIGHT HOLLOW WALL ANCHOR.

MOST OF THE TIME I'M NOT EVEN SURE WHAT I REALLY NEED.

EVEN IF I KNEW, I'D NEVER BE ABLE TO FIND IT.

NORMALLY I WANDER AROUND, LOOKING IN VARIOUS DRAWERS AND BINS, AND THEN I FINALLY ASK THE HUNDRED-YEAR-OLD LADY BEHIND THE COUNTER FOR HELP.

SOMETIMES I SWEAR SHE KNOWS WHAT I WANT BEFORE I TELL HER.

IT’S LIKE, “YEAH, HI, I'M LOOKING FOR--” “AISLE 14, SHELF 6, LEFT BIN.” I THINK THEY ENJOY WATCHING ME WANDER THROUGH THE AISLES, PICKING UP VARIOUS SCARY LOOKING SPRINGS AND PLUGS UNTIL I FINALLY GIVE UP.

THEY PROBABLY BET EACH OTHER ABOUT HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE ME TO WALK UP TO THE HELP DESK.

“I NEED ONE OF THESE,“ I TELL HER, SHOWING HER THE WEIRD THING THAT FELL OUT OF THE SLIDING CLOSET DOOR.

SHE GOES, “YEAH, THAT’S A NO.5 B-16 SELF-TAPPING PHILLIPS RETAINER SCREW.

AISLE SEVEN, DRAWER FIVE, BOX 2.” THEN THEY SEE THE LOOK ON MY FACE, SO THEY TAKE MY HAND AND LEAD ME TO THE RIGHT PLACE.

I SECRETLY WISH ONE OF THEM WOULD COME TO MY OFFICE ONE DAY AND SAY, “I FEEL KIND OF A PAIN HERE,” AND I’LL GO, “YEAH, WHAT YOU’VE GOT THERE IS AN ABDOMINAL NON-INCARCERATED INTESTINAL HERNIA.

YOU’RE GOING TO NEED YOURSELF A SURGEON.

FOURTH FLOOR, OFFICE 407.” THEN I WOULD FILL OUT THE REFERRAL FORM AND HAVE THE RECEPTIONIST MAKE THE APPOINTMENT.

IF THEY LOOK CONFUSED, I WOULD LEAD THEM THERE BY THE HAND.

♪ >> Cathy: THE SONG YOU JUST HEARD IS ONE OF MANY THAT WILL BE PART OF THE VOCAL ESSENCE "GLOBAL RHYTHMS, JOYFUL VOICES" CONCERT ON SUNDAY MAY 3RD AT THE ORDWAY.

THE CONCERT WILL CELEBRATE THE CULTURAL TRADITIONS THAT SHAPE AMERICAN MUSIC AND THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.

HERE WITH MORE, VOCAL ESSENCE BOARD MEMBER AND ALSO SINGER, BRIANNA HILL.

WELCOME TO THE PROGRAM.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> Cathy: AMBITIOUS PROGRAM, MY GOSH.

NOW, THIS IS VOCALESSENCE PART -- YOUR EFFORT TO CELEBRATE THE 250th ANNIVERSARY OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.

TALK ABOUT THE THEMES.

YOU'VE GOT A LOT THAT ARE GOING TO GO ON HERE.

>> YES.

THIS IS ROBABLY ONE OF OUR LARGER EVENTS IN TERMS OF COMMUNITY FOCUS AND BRINGING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER, ESPECIALLY FOR THE CELEBRATION OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.

AND, SO, WE HAVE SOME PERFORMANCES THAT ARE PRECONCERT.

AND, SO, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE COME FROM 2:00 TO 4:00 TO SEE ALL OF THE ARRAY AND VARIETY OF PERFORMANCES THAT WE'LL HAVE.

SO, FOR INSTANCE, WE DO HAVE KNEE BOXING FAMILY WHICH IS A TRUING FAMILY.

DRUMMING FAMILY.

COLLECTIVE, DANCE COLLECTIVE AS WELL.

SO WE'LL ALSO HAVE THE HMONG DANCE TEAM FROM HOPE COMMUNITY ACADEMY.

THE RJK DANCE ENSEMBLE, SOUTHEAST ASIAN GROUP, AND THE LOS LAGOS FROM MEXICO, SO WE HAVE A LOT OF REPRESENTATIONS FROM DIFFERENT CULTURES WHICH I TRULY BELIEVES REPRESENTS THE TAPESTRY OF THE TWIN CITIES.

>> Eric: IT'S THE OLD MELTING POT IDEA OF AMERICA.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> Eric: AND THIS IS BEYOND MUSIC.

>> YES.

>> Eric: CAN YOU TELL US, THERE'S DANCE AND STORYTELLING AND SOME OTHER THINGS.

>> YEAH, SO THERE'S DEFINITELY DANCE, STORYTELLING, THERE'S ALSO SOME INSTRUMENT MAKING AS WELL, SO PARTICIPANTS THAT COME TO THE PRECONCERT WILL BE ABLE TO MAKE AN INSTRUMENT, DO SOME COLORING O SOME ARTISTRY AS WELL.

THERE WILL BE FOOD TRUCKS THERE AS WELL.

AND, SO, IT WILL BE FUN, IT WILL BE A LOT OF FUN.

>> Cathy: WE WERE TALKING OFF AIR, YOU'RE A DANCER.

>> I AM.

>> Cathy: RIGHT.

AND A SINGER.

>> YES.

>> Cathy: 'M WONDERING HERE, OUR COUNTRY AS SO MANY WONDERFUL, DIFFERENT CULTURAL INFLUENCES ON OUR MUSIC.

AS A PERFORMER, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO YOU?

>> HONESTLY, WHEN I'M ABLE TO COMBINE DANCE AND SINGING, IT'S ONE OF THE BEST WAYS TO EXPRESS CULTURE.

IT'S THE BEST WAY TO EXPRESS EMPATHY, IT'S THE BEST WAY TO EXPRESS EMOTIONS.

AND, SO, TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THIS FUSION OF FOOD, DANCE, SINGING, YOU KNOW, ARTISTRY, EVERYTHING COMING TOGETHER, IT REALLY WILL BE LIKE OUR SOUL CATERING TO THE COMMUNITY.

AND, SO, THAT'S WHAT VOCALESSENCE DOES, AND I'M JUST PROUD TO BE A PART OF THAT COMMUNITY.

>> Eric: AND MUSIC IS UNIQUE IN OFFERING THAT SERVICE TO PEOPLE.

REACHING THEM.

>> YES.

>> Eric: I THINK IT'S -- MUSIC IS SO -- WHAT WOULD YOU SAY -- IT'S VERY SOOTHING, HEALING.

>> Cathy: CROSS-CULTURAL.

>> AS WELL.

I WAS GOING TO SAY IT'S GLOBAL, AND THAT'S WHY WE CALL IT THE GLOBAL RHYTHMS AND JOYFUL VOICES CELEBRATION.

>> Cathy: I CAN'T IMAGINE HOW MUCH WORK HAS GONE INTO THIS.

OH, MY GOSH.

>> YEAH.

LOTS OF BEHIND-THE-SCENES WORK WITH THE VOCALESSENCE LEADERSHIP TEAM, WITH THE CHOIRS AS WELL, BECAUSE THERE'S MULTIPLE CHOIRS, AND, SO, WHAT YOU WILL SEE THERE IS THE VOCALESSENCE CHOIR, WHICH IS THE LARGEST ONE, 120 MEMBERS, AND YOU'LL ALSO SEE THE SINGERS OF THIS AGE, WHICH IS THE TEENAGE GROUP, SO THAT'S A SMALLER GROUP, BUT THEY ARE POWERFUL AND THEY ARE WONDERFUL.

>> Eric: AND YOU TAKE IT TO THE STREETS.

>> WE DO, YES.

>> Eric: FOOD TRUCKS.

>> YES.

IT WILL BE OUTSIDE THE ORDWAY AND INSIDE THE ORDWAY.

>> Cathy: WOW.

NOW YOU'RE A BOARD MEMBER, TOO.

>> I AM, YES.

>> Cathy: HOW, AS A MEMBER MEMBER, THIS -- HOW AS A BOARD MEMBER, THIS PARTICULAR EVENT, I'M SURE YOU TALKED ABOUT IT IN YOUR BOARD MEETINGS, IT'S ALWAYS IMPORTANT TO GET OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY YOUNG FOLKS, IT SEEMS LIKE THIS IS A TAILOR-MADE EVENT TO REACH THOSE YOUNG PEOPLE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THIS IS A FAMILY EVENT.

SO I THINK NORMALLY WHEN WE HAVE OUR CONCERTS, WE USUALLY WILL SEE A CROWD OF ADULTS.

BUT THIS IS ONE WHERE I PERSONALLY, AM, IKE, INVITE YOUR COMMUNITY, INVITE YOUR FAMILY, INVITE THE CHILDREN.

EVERYBODY'S GOING TO HAVE A GOOD TIME, SO IT'S NOT JUST GET A TICKET AND BRING A FRIEND, BRING ALL YOUR FRIENDS.

>> Eric: IS THIS FAR AFIELD FROM WHAT YOUR GROUP USUALLY DOES?

>> IN TERMS OF PRECONCERT, YES, A LITTLE -- JUST A LITTLE BIT.

AND, SO, -- BUT IN TERMS OF COMMUNITY, WHAT WE REPRESENT, NO.

SO WE SEE A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A LOT OF FUSION OF DIFFERENT WALKS OF LIFE WITHIN VOCALESSENCE, SO WE SEE IT AMONG EACH OTHER A LOT, BUT IN TERMS OF CONCERTS, EXPRESSING IN CONCERT, THIS IS ONE OF OUR HIGHLIGHTS THIS YEAR.

SO IT IS SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

>> Eric: ARE THERE TICKETS AVAILABLE STILL?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> Eric: MAY 30th -- MAY 30rd.

>> SUNDAY, MAY 3rd, COME AT 2:00, COME FOR THE PRECONCERT, BUT THE CONCERT STARTS AT 4:00.

>> Cathy: IMPORTANT TO DO THAT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> Eric: GOOD LUCK.

>> THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> Cathy: APPRECIATE IT.

♪ >> OKAY, I'VE DECIDED IT'S TIME TO CONFESS, MY SECRET RELATIONSHIP.

IT'S NOT WITH NOTHER PERSON.

WELL, I GUESS YOU COULD SAY IT'S WITH SIX MILLION PEOPLE.

BECAUSE I'M TALKING ABOUT A PLACE, WHICH I AM CONFIDENT YOU'VE HEARD OF.

IT'S THE HOME OF ELEPHANT ROCK STATE PARK,S WHICH MAYBE MY CHILDREN'S FAVORITE PLACE ON EARTH.

AND IT'S ALSO THE CREATOR OF THE TRULY UNIMAGINABLE CITY MUSEUM, WHICH IS AN INTERACTIVE WAREHOUSE-SIZED SCULPTURAL EXHIBIT THAT'S SO OVERSTIMULATING IT REGULARLY BRINGS PEOPLE TO TEARS.

IF THOSE CLUES AREN'T ENOUGH, IT ALSO HAS A BIG SILVER ARCH 8.

8.

I'M TALKING ABOUT MISSOURI.

THE STATE OF MISSOURI.

I LOVE IT.

THE PARKS, THE RIVERS, AND MY PERSONAL FAVORITE, THE CAVES.

IF YOU LIKE CAVES, THEY HAVE SO MANY CAVES, LOOK HOW BEAUTIFUL THESE ARE.

I COULD TOUR EVERY SINGLE CAVE IF I HAD THE TIME, HONESTLY, I CAN'T GET ENOUGH.

MY FAMILY HAS NOW GONE TO MISSOURI FOR SPRING BREAK TWO YEARS IN A ROW.

WHY?

WELL, IT'S EASY TO GET TO.

THERE'S PLENTY OF PARKING.

AND IN St.

LOUIS, IN MY OPINION, THEY HAVE BOTH THE MOST INSIGHTFUL ART MUSEUM AND THE MOST STUNNING CATHEDRAL IN THE NTIRE UNITED STATES.

ON TOP OF THIS, THERE'S THE HISTORY.

IF YOU WANT TO UNDERSTAND THE AMERICAN STORY, ESPECIALLY AS IT PLAYED OUT IN THE 1800s, I THINK YOU NEED TO VISIT MISSOURI.

FINALLY, IT'S JUST A FUN PLACE.

WITH ENOUGH ACTIVITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AND ENOUGH NEW EXPERIENCES FOR ADULTS, YOU CAN EASILY LOSE A WEEK EXPLORING, DISCOVERING, AND EATING.

THERE'S SO MUCH EATING.

WHY AM I SAYING ALL THIS?

I GUESS ON SOME LEVEL I JUST PREFER THE UNDERDOGS.

I MEAN, WHEN SPRING BREAK COMES AROUND, FLORIDA IS GREAT.

THE BEACHES ARE WONDERFUL.

BUT THERE'S MORE TO THIS COUNTRY THAN BEACHES.

THERE'S PLACES LIKE MISSOURI.

AND, BESIDES, IF YOU WANT TO SPICE THINGS UP, WHAT COULD POSSIBLY BE PORE FUN THAN A SECRET RELATIONSHIP?

♪ ♪ >> Eric: LAWMAKERS ARE STILL STRUGGLING TO REACH CONSENSUS ON TOP PRIORITIES OF SESSION WITH WEEKS TO GO, BUT SMALLER BIPARTISAN MEASURES ARE MOVING ALONG AND SOME OF THEM HAVE EVEN BEEN FUN.

MARY LAHAMMER HAS BEEN TRACKING THIS FAVORITE FEEL-GOOD BILL FOR WEEKS.

>> THERE BEING 48 AYES AND 18 NOS, THE BILL IS PASSED AND ITS TITLE IS AGREED TO.

>> Mary: BIPARTISAN BILLS ARE BREAKING THROUGH, SMALLER THINGS, SUCH AS A NEW LICENSE PLATE CONTEST.

>> THIS MIGHT BE THE EASIEST YES VOTE THAT WE'LL GET TO TAKE ALL SESSION.

BECAUSE THIS BILL CELEBRATES ONE OF THE MOST RECOGNIZABLE SYMBOLS WE HAVE IN MINNESOTA.

>> THIS IS AN AWESOME EXAMPLE OF HOW THINGS SHOULD GET DONE AROUND THIS PLACE.

THIS BILL TRULY SHOWS THE POWER OF THE PEOPLE.

>> Mary: WATCHING FROM THE SENATE GALLERY IS THE CITIZEN WHO SPEARHEADED HE IDEA OF CELEBRATING THE OFFICIAL STATE GEM STONE.

SO HOW DOES IT FEEL TO HAVE ONE OF THE FEEL-GOOD BILLS OF SESSION?

>> FEELS INCREDIBLE.

IT JUST ABSOLUTELY -- ABSOLUTE AMAZING ENERGY TO SEE THIS COME TOGETHER, SEE THE RESPONSE, AND HAVE THIS AS SOMETHING THAT CAN BRING MINNESOTA TOGETHER.

>> Mary: LEAFBLAD GOT TO GO ON THE HOUSE FLOOR TO SEE LAWMAKERS ENJOY DEBATING THE NEW AGRICULTURE YATES PLATE.

>> THIS BILL MAY NOT PLOT A BOULDER PATH FORWARD, BUT IT IS FUN AND I WOULD CHARACTERIZE IT AS HIGHLY UNCONTROVERSIAL.

>> I RISE IN SUPPORT, NOT JUST FOR SHIFTS AND GIGGLES BUT FOR REAL -- FOR REAL SUPPORT FOR -- [ Laughter ] >> POINT OF ORDER.

>> THOSE OF US THAT WORK WITH ROCKS IN OUR DISTRICT KNOW WHAT THEY ARE.

I ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT BECAUSE I DO NOT WANT TO TAKE IT FOR GRANITE.

[ Laughter ] >> UPON LEARNING THAT IT WAS REPRESENTATIVE GOTTFRIED'S FIRST BILL TO PASS, AND SEEING THE COLLEGIALITY OF FOLKS COMING FROM ACROSS THE AISLE TO KIND OF DO, YOU KNOW, FIRST BILL MOMENT AND TO BE PART OF THAT JOURNEY AND STORY HAS JUST BEEN ANOTHER AMAZING PART OF THE JOURNEY.

>> THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER, MAY THE MOSTDY VISIVE THING HAPPEN TODAY BE MY TERRIBLE PUNS, ROCK ON, THANK YOU.

>> Mary: THE JOURNEY PLAYS LIKE A CLASSIC TAIL OF HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW.

TALE.

>> REACHING OUT TO MY STATE REPRESENTATIVE, I HAD NEVER MET REPRESENTATIVE GOTTFRIED, REACHED OUT WITH AN EMAIL, CAN WE GRAB A CUP OF COFFEE, TALK ABOUT AN IDEA OF HOW DOES SOMETHING GET ON A LICENSE PLATE, LET'S GRAB COFFEE.

THAT'S HOW IT ALL STARTED.

>> Mary: IN A SESSION THAT NOTHING HAS TO HAPPEN, ESPECIALLY A BUDGET, LAWMAKERS ARE EAGER TO EMBRACE SOME OF THE FEEL-GOOD BILLS OF SESSION, WHICH INCLUDE A NURSING HOME HAPPY HOUR, MEAT RAFFLE RULE UPDATES AND A NEW CONTEST FOR A STATE AGRICULTURE YATES LICENSE PLATE.

>> FEEL LIKE WE'RE IN A SESSION WHERE IT'S RAFFLES, ROCKS, AND RETIREE R & R.

>> AND A STANDALONE BILL THAT PASSES HOUSE AND SENATE AND SAILING TO THE GOVERNOR.

THE PROCESS IS PRETTY REMARKABLE TO YOU, YEAH?

>> IT FEELS VERY SERENDIPITOUS THAT THE WAY THE PLANETS HAVE ALIGNED IN TERMS OF A MOMENT THAT WE COULD USE SOME OF THAT GOOD ENERGY AND TO SEE HOW THINGS CAME TOGETHER IN A WAY THAT WAS NOT ORCHESTRATED BUT SIMPLY FOLKS COMING TOGETHER AND SAYING HOW WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO THIS TOGETHER HAS BEEN AMAZING.

>> HEY, WHAT'S UP, EVERYBODY?

I'M CURRENTLY MAKING MY WAY DOWN TO LAKE SUPERIOR BEACH.

>> Mary: THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF AGRICULTURE YATES ENTHUSIASTS WHO ORGANIZED AROUND THE GEM OFTEN FOUND ON THE SHORES OF THE STATE'S MANY LAKES.

AGRICULTURE YATES.

AGATE.

AGATES.

>> OOH, THIS IS AWESOME.

>> Mary: DO YOU THINK IT HELPED TO HAVE THE AGATE ESTABLISHED AS THE STATE GEM STONE, DO YOU THINK YOU HAD A STARTING POINT?

>> I THINK WE'RE WORKING WITH ANOTHER GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS IN THE 1960s THAT SAID, WE HAVE A PASSION, ABOUT THIS GEM STONE, ULTIMATELY IN 1969 THE MINN MINERAL CLUB WORKED TO HELP GET THE LAKE SUPERIOR AGATE PICKED AND SIGNED INTO LAW IN 1969 BY THE OVERNOR.

>> Mary: NOW THE PUBLIC WILL GET A CHANCE TO WEIGH IN ON CREATING A NEW PLATE.

AND IT'S A CONTEST, THAT'S PART OF THE FUN.

>> THAT IS ABSOLUTELY PART OF THE FUN.

I WANT TO CHANNEL THAT ENERGY OF THE NAME A NOWPLOW CONTEST THAW SEE MINNESOTANS SUBMIT IDEAS FOR NAME A SNOWPLOW.

>> Mary: AS A WELL CONNECTED CONSULTANT, LEAFBLAD S NO STRANGER TO WHERE THIS EFFORT ARRIVES.

>> YOU CAN FEEL THE CHALLENGE OF THE MOMENT WE'RE IN, IN TERMS OF WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE AS TWIN CITIES AND AS A STATE.

AND I THINK PART OF WHAT THIS WHOLE PROCESS HAS BEEN, SUCH AN INFUSION OF HOPE AND OPTIMISM AND JOY IS TO SEE FOLKS A LITTLE SMILE CRACK WHEN YOU SAY, THIS IS AN IDEA ABOUT PUTTING OUR STATE GEM STONE ON A LICENSE PLATE.

>> TO ALL THE ROCK HOUNDS ACROSS THE STATE, GOOD WORK, AND ROCK ON.

>> Eric: THERE ARE JUST 24 DAYS LEFT IN THE 2026 LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

LEADERS ARE MEETING BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.

POLITICAL REPORTERS ARE SPECULATING HOW MANY BILLS WILL ACTUALLY MAKE IT TO THE- GOTUALLY MAKE IT TO THE- GOVEALLY MAKE IT TO THE- GOVERNLY MAKE IT TO THE- GOVERNOR MAKE IT TO THE- GOVERNOR'SAKE IT TO THE- GOVERNOR'S DE IT TO THE- GOVERNOR'S DESIT TO THE- GOVERNOR'S DESK.

TO THE- GOVERNOR'S DESK.

TO THE- IT'S JUST ABOUT THE BEST TIME OF YEAR FOR OUR NEXT GROUP OF GUESTS - THIS WEEK'S VERSION OF THE POLITICAL PANEL.

DEMOCRATS UP FIRST TONIGHT.

ABOU AMARA IS A FORMER LEGISLATIVE STAFFER NOW AN ATTORNEY IN PRIVATE PRACTICE.

ALYSEN NESSE IS A PARTY LOYALIST AND LOBBYIST UP AT THE CAPITOL.

REPUBLICANS HERE, ANNETTE MEEKS, FORMER CONGRESSIONAL STAFFER AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR CANDIDATE WHO NOW HEADS UP THE FREEDOM FOUNDATION OF MINNESOTA, AND BRIAN MCCLUNG GETS THE FINAL SEAT ON THE COUCH TONIGHT, FORMER GOVERNOR PAWLENTY STAFFER AND LONGTIME CAPITOL OBSERVER, NOW A PUBLIC RELATIONS PROFESSIONAL.

ABOU, IF THE LEGISLATURE BAILS OUT HENNEPIN COUNTY MEDICAL CENTER, GETS A BONDING BILL, AND DOES SOME FRAUD PREVENTION, GIVEN THE FACT THAT THEY HAVE TO DO NOTHING, THEY GOT THE BUDGET IN TACT, THAT'S A DECENT SESSION WITH DIVIDED GOVERNMENT, ISN'T IT?

>> I THINK THERE WOULD BE A GREAT RESULT.

THERE'S STILL A GOOD RESULT EVEN IF ONE OR TWO OF THOSE THINGS DON'T HAPPEN.

NOTHING NEEDS TO HAPPEN, THEY COULD DO NOTHING AND GO HOME, OBVIOUSLY THERE ARE PROBLEMS THEY SHOULD SOLVE.

I SUSPECT SOME OF THOSE THINGS WILL BE DEALT WITH.

I DON'T KNOW IF ALL OF THEM WILL BE.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> I THINK THAT'S A PRETTY GOOD SMAITION.

THERE'S SOMETHING THEY HAVE TO DO.

SUMMATION.

I THINK THERE'S ENOUGH RETIRING LEGISLATOR, AND, FRANKLY, ENOUGH CITY THINGS THAT NEED TO BE DONE.

SOME OF THE WATER PROJECT AND THINGS LIKE THAT THAT ACTUALLY COULD BE PRETTY BENEFICIAL TO LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND TO THEIR RE-ELECTIONS, I THINK SOME OF THOSE MIGHT GET DONE.

BUT I DON'T SEE ANY OVERWHELMING URGE.

I MEAN, I HAVE MY OWN LIST OF THINGS I WISH THEY WOULD DO AND THINGS I WISH THEY WOULDN'T DO.

I DON'T THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE MUCH.

>> Cathy: DOESN'T HCMC NEED SOMETHING?

>> YES.

>> Cathy: TALK ABOUT THE INFUSION OF CASH, WHAT ABOUT THE SALES TAX?

>> I THINK THE SALES TAX SAY NONSTARTER, I THINK REPUBLICANS HAVE MADE THAT CLEAR, EVEN SOME DEMOCRATS ARE NOT FOR THAT.

BUT HCMC, IT'S TOO BIG TO FAIL AND IT'S TOO IMPORTANT TO THE STATE.

IT IS REALLY WHERE A LOT OF OUR DOCTORS ARE TRAINED, IT'S THE MAJOR SAFETY NET HOSPITAL, IT'S A LEVEL ONE TRAUMA CENTER.

SO HCMC NEEDS TO BE THERE.

ALSO IN THAT YOU HAVE FUNDING FOR EMERGENCY SERVICES AND AMBULANCE SERVICES AROUND THE STATE.

THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT DOING UNCOMPENSATED CARE POOL, AND WE KNOW ESPECIALLY IN RURAL MINNESOTA THAT THOSE AMBULANCE SERVICES ARE STRETCHED THIN SO I THINK YOU'LL SEE THAT.

I THINK ANOTHER ONE IS THAT REPRESENTATIVE PAUL TORKELSON HAS SAID, WE HAVE GOT TO IMPROVE THE TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE OF THIS STATE, AND HE'S A RETIRING LEGISLATOR, AND, SO, I THINK YOU'LL SEE SOME F THOSE LEGISLATORS WHO ARE, YOU KNOW, THIS IS THEIR LAST SESSION, WANT TO MAKE SURE SOMETHING THEY WISH THEY HAD GOTTEN DONE IN THEIR FIRST SESSION HAT HAS TO GET DONE BY THE END OF THEIR LAST ONE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

ESPECIALLY THE I.T.

INFRASTRUCTURE FOR COUNTIES WHO DELIVER OUR HUMAN SERVICES SYSTEM.

REPRESENTATIVE TORKELSON CAME INTO THE LEGISLATURE IN 2008, HE AID, I SHOULD HAVE ADDRESSED IT THEN, IT HASN'T BEEN UPGRADED SIN, BUT IT'S THE LAST THING I'M GONNA DO IN 2026.

>> Eric: DOES THE ACTIVITY IN WASHINGTON, FROM BOTH SIDES, DOES THAT FILTER OWN TO THE 2026 LEGISLATIVE ELECTIONS OR SENATE ELECTIONS OR IS IT ALL POLITICS LOCAL?

>> I THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE HIGHLY LOCAL THIS YEAR.

I THINK THE DEMOCRATS WOULD LIKE TO MAKE IT ALL TRUMP TRUMP TRUMP.

AND I'M SURE THEY WILL.

BUT I ALSO THINK THERE'S ENOUGH LOCAL ISSUES HERE IN MINNESOTA THAT WILL FORCE THEM TO AT LEAST HAVE SOME HONEST DEBATES ABOUT WHAT DIRECTION SHOULD OUR AT A TIME GO BECAUSE WE HAVE A ONCE EVERY, WHAT, TEN YEARS ELECTION WITH ALL THE STATE CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICES AND ALL 201 LEGISLATORS.

>> NO DOUBT CANDIDATES MATTER, MINNESOTA CANDIDATES MATTER, BUT THE ATMOSPHERE IS GOING TO BE FUNDAMENTALLY ABOUT DONALD TRUMP AND ABOUT THIS ADMINISTRATION.

JUST TWO MONTHS AGO YOU HAD AGENTS OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ON THE STREETS OF MINNESOTA.

IF YOU DIDN'T THINK THAT'S NOT GOING TO IMPACT VOTERS IN MINNESOTA IN THIS ELECTION, I THINK YOU'D BE FOOLING YOURSELF.

SO, THAT'S THE ATMOSPHERE.

SO WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE PARTICULARS, BUT FUNDAMENTALLY, THIS IS A CHECK ON THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, THAT'S WHAT THIS ELECTION -- >> WELL, IT'S THE DIFFERENCE NOW WITH TIM WALZ NOT RUNNING FOR A THIRD TERM AND WITH, YOU KNOW, FRAUD WAS THE FOCUS PRIOR TO THAT.

SO GO BACK TO NOVEMBER, DECEMBER WHEN THE HE FOCUS WAS ON POTENTIALLY $9 BILLION WORTH OF FRAUD, WHAT'S HAPPENING IN MINNESOTA, WHO'S ASLEEP AT THE SWITCH.

IF TIM WAS WERE RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION, IT WOULD BE A REFERENDUM ON TIM WALZ AND WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING IN MINNESOTA.

WITH HIM OUT OF THE WAY, IT DOES OPEN IT UP, AND IT MAKES IT MORE OF A NATIONALIZED ELECTION.

SO THAT'S ADMITTEDLY TRUE.

BUT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A LEGISLATURE THAT'S DIVIDED BY ONE SEAT.

RIGHT?

A MAJORITY IN THE SENATE OF ONE SEAT.

A TIED HOUSE.

SO WE DO KNOW, IT WILL COME DOWN, IN THOSE RACES, WHEN YOU'RE KNOCKING ON DOORS, PEOPLE GET GET TO PEOPLE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE RUNNING FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE IN THEIR DISTRICT.

SO CANDIDATE QUALITY MATTERS.

AND THE ULTIMATE OUTCOME IN THE LEGISLATURE IS GOING TO BE ON THOSE HANDFUL OF RACES.

>> YES.

I WILL SAY, THOUGH, EMOCRATS ARE WINNING ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN PLACES WE HAVE NO BUSINESS WINNING IN.

STATE RACES IN MISSISSIPPI, STATE RACES IN THE REDDEST COUNTIES IN FLORIDA, JUST FLIPPED TO BLUE, BECAUSE LABOR IS GETTING INVOLVED, MIDDLE-CLASS PEOPLE ARE RUNNING FOR OFFICE, THEY'RE SPEAKING TO THE ISSUES THAT PEOPLE CARE ABOUT, AND THEY ARE WINNING.

>> I THINK THE INTERESTING THING IS WHAT BRIAN SAID, WHAT LEVEL OF FRAUD WILL ULTIMATELY INFILTRATE EVERY SINGLE RACE IN THIS STATE.

WHEN YOU GO OUT TO GRAPE, AS OUR GOVERNOR CALLS THEM, ROCKS AND COWS, PEOPLE ARE FURIOUS, THEY'RE FURIOUS THAT NO ONE HAS BEEN MONITORING THIS, THEY'RE FURIOUS WE CAN'T GET THE MONEY BACK.

AND THEY WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED, AND WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO TO PREVENT IT FROM EVER HAPPENING AGAIN.

GREATER MINNESOTA.

AND I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE THE BIGGEST PROBLEM SENATOR KLOBUCHAR RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR, WHERE WAS SHE?

>> Eric: BUSY WEEK FOR THE GOVERNOR, POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE, WRITING A BOOK, JIMMY KIM MEL.

>> Cathy: HE WAS IN SPAIN, GOING TO SPAIN NEXT WEEK.

>> HE HAS A NATIONAL PLATFORM.

I'VE SAID THAT MANY TIMES.

HE HAS A NATIONAL PLATFORM AND HE USES IT.

SOME PEOPLE THINK HE'S VERY UNPOPULAR IN MINNESOTA.

HE'S POPULAR IN OTHER STATES.

HE HAS A MESSAGE, HE DID DO SO MANY GOOD THINGS IN MINNESOTA AND FOR DEMOCRATS.

NOT ALL.

>> ORRY.

>> BUT HE IS POPULAR.

HE WOULDN'T HAVE THESE OPPORTUNITIES, THE ROOMS WOULDN'T BE FULL IF HE WASN'T WANTED.

>> IF HE WERE POPULAR, HE'D BE RUNNING FOR RELEANGS, HE KNOWS THAT.

RE-ELECTION.

HE KNOWS THAT, JUST HIM SAYING LAST NIGHT, I'M GOING TO TEACH AGAIN.

GOOD LUCK.

AND HE'S WRITING A BOOK.

WHO'S WRITING A BOOK?

IS HE WRITING IT?

WELL, HE SHOULD BE NEGOTIATING WITH LEGISLATORS.

I THINK THIS GUY IS SO DISENGAGED FROM BEING GOVERNOR IN MINNESOTA, THAT HE'S LEADING HIS PARTY IN A VERY FALSE NARRATIVE, HE'S NOT POPULAR.

>> WELL, WE FOUND OUT LAST WEEK THAT GOVERNOR WALZ HAD NOT MET WITH REPUBLICAN LEGISLATIVE LEADERSHIP SINCE SEPTEMBER.

I MEAN, THAT'S A DERELICTION.

I WORKED FOR A GOVERNOR FOR SIX YEARS.

WE NEVER WENT THAT LONG WITHOUT MEETING WITH THE DEMOCRATS.

I MEAN, IT'S JUST SILLY.

AND THIS IS A GOVERNOR WHO HAS LEFT RURAL MINNESOTA BEHIND.

AND NOW HE STARTS A P.A.C.

ABOUT SMALL TOWNS.

I MEAN, ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

LOOK AT HAT GOVERNOR WALZ DID TO NURSING HOMES IN GREATER MINNESOTA.

I MEAN, JUST AS ONE EXAMPLE OF HOW HE HAS LEFT GREATER MINNESOTA BEHIND.

SO, I DON'T KNOW, I UNDERSTAND HE'S LOOKING FOR THE NEXT THING THAT HE'S GOING TO DO.

I GET THAT.

BUT I DON'T THINK THIS IS THE ANSWER.

AND I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO BE LONG LIVED.

>> Eric: STATE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE WAS EETING AND THERE ARE SEVERAL MELISSA HORTMAN MEMORIALS PLANNED.

I WROTE THEM DOWN.

STATE OFFICE BUILDING, THE NEW RENOVATION, WOULD BE NAMED FOR HER, STATE PARK, HIGHWAY 610.

IN HER DISTRICT.

SHE BROUGHT BACK.

A STATUE.

AND THEN KARI DZIEDZIC DIED OF CANCER, WOULD BE THE SENATE BUILDING WOULD BE NAMED FOR HER.

>> WOULDN'T THAT BE NICE?

THAT WOULD BE A NICE BIPARTISAN THING THAT THEY COULD DO TO REMEMBER -- TO REALLY IMMEMORIALIZE -- IS THAT THE WORD?

>> Eric: YEAH.

>> TWO GREAT LEADERS THAT ARE OUR STATE LOST TWO YOUNG.

SO THAT WOULD BE A NICE THING.

>> Cathy: LET'S TALK ABOUT ROYCE WHITE HERE FOR JUST A MOMENT.

RUNNING FOR THE GOP NOMINATION FOR SENATE AGAIN.

AND EVIDENTLY HE'S GOT NO CONTACT ORDER, HIS EX-WIFE, HIS SON ARE AFRAID OF HIM.

AND I'M WONDERING, THE MINNESOTA GOP CAME OUT TONIGHT AND SAID THAT THE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST ROYCE ARE TROUBLING, HE SHOULD SUSPEND HIS CAMPAIGN, WE HAD MICHELLE TAFOYA, IT'S UP TO ROYCE WHITE AND THE PARTY WHETHER HE REMAINS IN THE RACE.

>> I'M NOT HEARING A LOT OF SUPPORT FOR ROYCE WHITE ANYHOW, RIGHT?

HE'S BACK AT IT AGAIN.

I THINK THIS S A WAY FOR HIM TO KIND OF KEEP HIMSELF OUT THERE AND RAISE SOME MONEY AND PROBABLY FUND HIMSELF IN SOME WAY.

WE KNOW IN THE PAST HE'S USED HIS CAMPAIGN FUNDS TO GO TO STRIP CLUBS AND OTHER INAPPROPRIATE THINGS.

SO, REALLY, -- YOU HAVE A WELL KNOWN BROADCASTER WHO CAN DELIVER A MESSAGE.

A NAVY SEAL WHO HAS A MILITARY BACKGROUND WHO HAS A LOT OF APPEAL TO A LOT OF REPUBLICANS.

ROYCE WHITE HAS REALLY NOT BEEN A MAJOR PART OF THIS CONVERSATION.

HE'S KIND OF PLAYING THE MIKE LINDELL ROLE, LIKE LINDELL IS RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR.

SURE, GREAT.

YOU'RE KIND OF THIS MAGA GUY.

BUT ULTIMATELY HOSE AREN'T THE PEOPLE IN THE GOVERNOR'S RACE, HE'S NOT REALLY SERIOUS IN THE GOVERNOR'S RACE, I DON'T THINK ROYCE WHITE IS A SERIOUS CONTENDER IN THE SENATOR RACE.

>> THAT'S WISHFUL THINKING, TWO YEARS AGO HE WAS ENDORSED BY THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

TO SAY HE DOESN'T HAVE SUPPORT IS ABSURD.

YOU JUXTAPOSE THAT WITH REPUBLICANS, MICHELLE TAFOYA, WHO IS ACTUALLY WITH THE DEMOCRATS IN TERMS OF ABORTION.

IF SHE'S REALLY GOING TO GET DELEGATE TO SUPPORT HER, ON AN ISSUE LIKE ABORTION, WHERE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO ASK HER, ARE YOU GOING TO SUPPORT CODIFYING ROE V. WADE IN THE SENATE, THAT ISSUE IS GOING TO BE A NONSTARTER WITH REPUBLICAN DELEGATES.

SO PEOPLE MAY SQUABBLE WITH ROYCE WHITE, BUT HE IS CLOSER TO THE BASE OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

>> SORRY.

YOU KEEP ON YOUR DFL SIDE.

I'LL STAY ON MY REPUBLICAN SITE.

I KNOW THOSE DELEGATES.

THE DELEGATES WANT TO WIN.

IT'S A PRAGMATIC RACE, THEY LOOK AT MICHELLE, SHE CAN WIN, SHE'S PUTTING TOGETHER A WINNING MESSAGE AND RAISING THE MONEY.

ROYCE WHITE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO TWO YEARS AGO.

AND HE DIDN'T WIN.

AND I THINK IT'S TIME DELEGATES WANT SOMEBODY NEW.

>> Eric: HOW VIGOROUS IS THE CRAIG FLANAGAN DFL SENATE ENDORSEMENT AND PRIMARY GOING TO BE?

>> IT'S ABSOLUTELY PICKING UP.

WE JUST SAW IN ILLINOIS WHAT THAT RACE WAS WITH THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR THAT JUST CAME OUT ON -- WITH THE ENDORSEMENT.

IT'S ABSOLUTELY PICKING UP.

WE'LL SEE WHO HAS THE BEST DELEGATE PLAN FOR MAY 29th.

>> Eric: WILL MONEY MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE THERE?

>> FOR ME, THERE'S A CONVERSATION AROUND THE CONVENTION AND THE PRIMARY.

CONVERSATION AROUND THE DELEGATES, I THINK PEGGY FLANAGAN IS PROBABLY LIKELY TO WIN THAT.

MONEY WILL PLAY A HUGE ROLE IN AUGUST.

>> CAN WE CLOSE OUT WITH MEAT RAFFLES?

>> PLEASE.

>> WE HEARD A LOT ABOUT THE TRIFECTA, THIS YEAR'S TRIFECTA IS DRINKING THIS NURSING HOMES, AGATE LICENSE PLATES AND MEAT RAFFLE MODERNIZATION, SO DON'T FORGET ABOUT THE MEAT RAFFLES, PEOPLE.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE ON THE HOUSE FLOOR PROBABLY NOT THIS UPCOMING WEEK BUT THE NEXT WEEK.

>> Cathy: THREE BIPARTISAN EFFORTS.

>> LET'S GET IT DONE.

>> Eric: YOU'RE REPRESENTING THE MEAT -- >> I'M FOR THE MEAT RAFFLE ASSOCIATION OF MINNESOTA.

>> Eric: THANKS.

>> VICE PRESIDENT DICK CHENEY CALLED ME, AND SAID THAT HE HAD BEEN IN TOUCH WITH HE PRESIDENT, CANADA, ON BEHALF OF THE PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, THEY ASKED THAT I NOT GO FORWARD WITH THIS EFFORT AND NOT ENGAGE IN THE BATTLE AGAINST NORM COLEMAN AND EVENTUALLY AGAINST PAUL WELLSTONE FOR UNITED STATES SENATE.

>> Eric: TIM PAWLENTY WOULD GO ON TO WIN THE GOVERNOR'S RACE THAT YEAR AND SERVE TWO CONSECUTIVE TERMS.

IT IS MINNESOTA HISTORY TIME!

AND IT'S BEEN A FEW WEEKS SINCE WE ASKED YOU A BASEBALL HISTORY QUESTION IN HONOR OF THE MINNESOTA TWINS HOME OPENER.

NO ONE GOT IT RIGHT THAT FIRST WEEK SO WE HAD TO ASK IT AGAIN.

LET'S QUICKLY REVIEW THE HINT-FILLED QUESTION.

OUR MYSTERY PERSON MADE THEIR MAJOR LEAGUE DEBUT AS A MINNESOTA TWIN AT THE AGE OF 19 IN JUNE 1970.

HE DID SOMETHING DURING THE FIRST AT BAT HE WAS INVOLVED IN THAT WOULD UNFORTUNATELY BECOME A SIGNATURE PART OF HIS CAREER AND EARN HIM A PLACE IN A DUBIOUS TOP TEN LIST IN THE RECORD BOOKS.

WHO IS THIS MYSTERY PERSON AND WHAT DID HE GIVE UP IN HIS DEBUT FOR THE MINNESOTA TWINS?

HOW'D YOU DO?

THESE NEXT FOUR CALLERS... NOT SO GOOD.

>> Eric: LUCKILY MOST OF YOU DID GET THIS ONE RIGHT.

INCLUDING ONE OF OUR FAVORITE BASEBALL CARD COLLECTORS.

>> ERIC: YES, RIK ALBERT BLYLEVEN WAS THE FORMER TWIN WE SOUGHT.

THERE'S A NICE SHOT OF A YOUNG BERT ON THE MOUND.

BLYLEVEN GAVE UP A HOME RUN TO THE FIRST BATTER HE FACED IN THE MAJOR LEAGUES.

ON HIS WAY TO MAKING THE TOP TEN LIST OF HOME RUNS GIVEN UP BY AN MLB PITCHER.

BUT... HE ALSO HAD A HALL OF FAME CAREER.

AND WON A WORLD SERIES WITH THE TWINS IN 1987.

QUICK REMINDER FOR YOU BEFORE WE GO, ONE WEEK FROM TONIGHT WE GO LIVE FROM ST.

CLOUD.

YOU CAN CHECK OUT DETAILS AND GRAB YOUR FREE TICKET B HEADING TO TPT.ORG/EVENTS.

AND WE REALLY HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE.

SHOW-ENDING MUSIC TONIGHT, 15 YEARS AGO, MOTHER BAN I DON'T AND FRIENDS PLAYED FOR US HERE IN STUDIO B.- TA STUDIO B.- TAKETUDIO B.- TAKE ADIO B.- TAKE A LO B.- TAKE A LISB.- TAKE A LISTE- TAKE A LISTEN.

TAKE A LISTEN.

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CLOUD NEXT WEEK.

AND BE CAREFUL.

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