>> PRODUCTION FUNDING FOR LAKELAND NEWS IS PROVIDED BY: FIRST NATIONAL BANK BEMIDJI; CONTINUING THEIR SECOND CENTURY OF SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY.

MEMBER FDIC.

>> SOURCEWELL; COOPERATIVE PURCHASING FOR GOVERNMENT NONPROFITS AND EDUCATION.

MN.SOURCEWELL.ORG.

>> CELEBRATING 25 YEARS OF LOCAL NEWS FOR BEMIDJI, BRAINERD, AND ALL OF THE LAKES COUNTRY.

LAKELAND PBS IS PROUD TO PRESENT LAKELAND NEWS AT 10:00.

DENNIS WEIMANN WITH THE NEWS, STACY CHRISTENSON WITH THE WEATHER AND CHARLIE YAEGER WITH YOUR SPORTS.

>> Dennis: HI EVERYONE, THANKS FOR WATCHING TONIGHT.

>>> THE MONTH OF APRIL IS DESIGNATED AS DISTRACTED DRIVING AWARENESS MONTH ACROSS THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.

OUR REPORTER MATTHEW FREEMAN GOT TO RIDE ALONG WITH BELTRAMI COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPUTY LAVONTE HARDIE, TO GET MORE INFORMATION ON DISTRACTED DRIVERS, AND HOW DANGEROUS THOSE DRIVERS CAN BE FOR EVERYONE AROUND THEM.

>> Reporter: DEPUTY HARDIE IS THE DESIGNATED OFFICER FOR DISTRACTED DRIVERS.

>> THE MOST POPULAR I SEE ARE ON THE PHONE, AT STOPLIGHTS, TEXTING, TALKING ON THE PHONE, ADJUSTING THE MUSIC.

WE'RE IN THE MODERN AGE OF TECHNOLOGY.

PEOPLE ARE OFTEN ADDICTED TO BEING ON THEIR PHONE WHILE DRIVING WHEN THEY NEED TO BE FOCUSING ON THE ROAD WITH TRAFFIC SAFETY.

>> THERE IS ONE RIGHT THERE.

>> Reporter: THE DEPUTY SAYS THE SIGNS FOR DISTRACTED DRIVING IS A LOT MORE CLEAR TO SEE THAN SOME MAY REALIZE.

>> ASIDE FROM DOING THE JOB FOR A LONG TIME, YOU CAN SEE WHEN THE TRAFFIC IS GOING BY AND YOU CAN SEE THE PHONE IN THEIR HAND AND THEM LOOKING DOWN AT IT, WHICH IS A VIOLATION OF THE LAW.

I CAN SPOT IT LIKE A HAWK, JUST BECAUSE IT'S WHAT I DO ALL DAY.

>> Reporter: REPORTEDLY MOST DRIVERS WHO ARE PULLED OVER FOR DISTRACTED DRIVING ARE BETWEEN THE AGES OF 16 AND 24 YEARS OLD.

>> THE REASON WHY IT'S YOUNG DRIVERS, IT'S SOCIAL MEDIA.

THE YOUNGER GENERATION, IT'S SOCIAL MEDIA.

PEOPLE ARE LIVE STREAMING WHILE DRIVING.

IT'S EGREGIOUS AND DANGEROUS BEHAVIOR.

THEY NEED TO PUT THE PHONE DOWN, FOCUS ON DRIVING.

THE LAST THING YOU WANT IS TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT OR GET YOURSELF OR SOMEBODY ELSE HURT OR EVEN WORSE, KILLED, FOR THE SAKE OF POSTING A COOL VIDEO ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

>> Reporter: ACCORDING TO THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF SAFETY, DISTRACTED DRIVING CONTRIBUTED TO NEARLY 30,000 CRASHES IN THE STATE FROM 2019 TO 2023 AND CONTRIBUTED TO AN AVERAGE OF 29 DEATHS AND 146 LIFE-CHANGING INJURIES A YEAR DURING THAT TIME.

>> UNFORTUNATELY, I WOULD SAY IT'S NOT UNCOMMON.

IT'S NOT A DAILY OCCURRENCE, BUT IN BELTRAMI COUNTY, IT'S SOMETHING THAT DOES HAPPEN.

WE'VE HAD PLENTY OF ACCIDENTS THAT DISTRACTED DRIVING HAS BEEN ONE OF THE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS TO AN UNFORTUNATE OUTCOME, WHETHER SOMEBODY IS HURT OR HEAVEN FORBID, SOMEONE IS DECEASED FROM DISTRACTED DRIVING.

I MYSELF RESPONDED TO A FATAL ACCIDENT AND THE DECEASED PERSON STILL HAD THEIR MAKE UP IN THEIR HAND AND IT APPEARED THAT THEY WERE POTENTIALLY DOING MAKE UP WHILE DRIVING AND UNFORTUNATELY THEY DID NOT MAKE IT OUT.

I NOTICED WHEN PEOPLE GET INTO BAD ACCIDENTS, THEY DON'T EXPECT IT TO HAPPEN.

WHEN THEY PUT ON THEIR SHOES AND THEY GET IN THIS CAR, THE LAST THING THEY EXPECT IS TO BE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT BUT IT CAN HAPPEN TO ANYONE AT ANY TIME.

UNFORTUNATELY OUTSIDE OF IMPAIRED DRIVING, DISTRACTED DRIVING TO ME IS JUST AS DANGEROUS BECAUSE YOU NEED TO FOCUS ON THE ROAD.

>> Reporter: SO WHAT ARE SOME TIP?

>> IT CAN ALWAYS WAIT.

THE TEXT MESSAGE CAN ALWAYS WAIT.

THE SNAPCHAT CAN ALWAYS WAIT.

THE PHONE CALL CAN ALWAYS WAIT.

PUT YOUR PHONE ON DO NOT DISTURB, SET IT DOWN, TELL YOURSELF IT CAN WAIT.

GENERALLY WHEN PEOPLE ARE GOING TO AND FRO, THEY'RE DOING A 10 MINUTE DRIVE.

>> Reporter: REPORTING FROM BEMIDJI, I'M MATTHEW FREEMAN, LAKELAND NEWS.

>> THE HANDS FREE LAW, ORIGINALLY PASSED IN 2019, IS THE LAW THAT MAKES IT ILLEGAL FOR DRIVERS TO USE HANDHELD CELL PHONES WHILE DRIVING ACROSS THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

PENALTIES FOR VIOLATING THAT LAW START AT $50 FOR FIRST-TIME VIOLATIONS, WITH REPEAT OFFENDERS FACING UP TO $275 IN FEES.

>>> CHARGES HAVE BEEN DROPPED AGAINST A BEMIDJI NATIVE NOW TEACHING IN DULUTH WHO WAS ACCUSED OF SEXUAL ASSAULT WITH A STUDENT.

48-YEAR-OLD JOHN HORGESHIMER IS A 1993 GRADUATE OF BEMIDJI HIGH.

HE WAS A TEACHER AT DULUTH EDISON WHEN A PRE-TEEN STUDENT ACCUSED HIM OF CORNERING HER IN A STAIRWELL AND MOLESTING HER ON MARCH 5TH.

HORGESHIMER RESIGNED FROM HIS POSITION AT THE SCHOOL AS A MUSIC TEACHER AFTER THE ST. LOUIS COUNTY ATTORNEYS OFFICE CHARGED HIM WITH FIRST AND SECOND DEGREE CRIMINAL SEXUAL CONDUCT ON MARCH 14TH.

THE ST. LOUIS COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE DECLINED TO COMMENT ON WHY THE CHARGES WERE DISMISSED AS THE INVESTIGATION IS STILL OPEN.

>>> A MAN WHO WAS RUN OVER BY A TRACTOR IN MORRISON COUNTY WAS AIRLIFTED TO A ST.

CLOUD HOSPITAL WITH UNKNOWN INJURIES.

THE MORRISON COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE SAYS 22-YEAR-OLD ALBIN OLDAKOWSKI OF LITTLE FALLS WAS ATTEMPTING TO GET A TRACTOR AND TRAILER UNSTUCK USING ANOTHER TRACTOR AND TRAILER.

OLDAKOWSKI GOT CAUGHT UNDER THE WHEEL OF THE TRACTOR THAT WAS BEING PULLED OUT AND WAS RAN OVER.

THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED JUST NORTH OF FLENSBURG AROUND 11:15 YESTERDAY MORNING.

>>> THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS SETTING NEW REGULATIONS ON THE AMOUNT OF FOREVER CHEMICALS THAT CAN BE FOUND IN DRINKING WATER.

THIS NEW STANDARD WILL REQUIRE WATER UTILITIES TO FILTER OUT FIVE OF THE FOREVER CHEMICALS, ALSO CALLED P.F.A.

'S, THAT ARE CURRENTLY FOUND IN HALF OF THE DRINKING WATER IN THE U.S.

P.F.A.

'S HAVE BEEN LINKED TO A NUMBER OF HEALTH ISSUES, INCLUDING CANCER, HEART DISEASE, AND REPRODUCTIVE PROBLEMS.

THE C.D.C.

SAYS THEY'RE FOUND IN THE BLOODSTREAM OF NEARLY 97 PERCENT OF AMERICANS.

THEY'RE OFTEN USED TO HELP PRODUCTS REPEL WATER AND OIL, BUT LINGER IN THE ENVIRONMENT AND HUMAN BODY.

ENVIRONMENTALISTS SAY THE RULING IS MONUMENTAL IN PROTECTING PEOPLE'S HEALTH.

IT'S THE FIRST FEDERAL STANDARD OF ITS KIND.

>>> THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SAYS 23 WATER SYSTEMS SERVING AROUND 350,000 PEOPLE IN THE STATE ARE EXCEEDING THE RULE NOW AT LEAST IN PART.

THOSE WATER SYSTEMS INCLUDE ALEXANDRIA, BATTLE LAKE, CLOQUET, SWANVILLE, AND WAITE PARK FROM NORTHERN AND CENTRAL MINNESOTA.

>>> BEMIDJI'S NOON AND SUNRISE ROTARY CLUBS ARE SEEKING TO SPONSOR FIVE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN THE 10TH AND 11TH GRADES TO ATTEND CAMP.

ROTARY YOUTH LEADERSHIP AWARDS, ALSO KNOWN AS RYLA, IS A YOUTH LEADERSHIP CAMP SPONSORED BY THE ORGANIZATION EACH SUMMER.

THIS CAMP WILL HAVE STUDENTS FROM MINNESOTA, NORTH DAKOTA, WISCONSIN, AND CANADA WILL LEARN ABOUT LEADERSHIP WHILE PARTICIPATING IN ACTIVITIES AND CHALLENGES WITH PEERS FROM ACROSS THE REGION.

>> THEY GO OUT TO CAMP AND THEY GET SITUATED IN WHAT'S CALLED A FAMILY.

THERE COULD BE 80 TO 150 STUDENTS.

THEY WILL SELECT 8 TO 10 STUDENTS, BOYS AND GIRLS.

THEY WILL DO EVERYTHING TOGETHER.

>> YOU'RE SURROUNDED BY UNFAMILIAR PEOPLE IN AN UNFAMILIAR ENVIRONMENT.

BY THE END OF THE FIRST NIGHT, YOU ARE ALREADY, YOU KNOW, JUST GREAT FRIENDS.

YOU ARE INTRODUCED TO DIFFERENT CHALLENGES, TO DIFFERENT WAYS TO BOND AND JUST KIND OF GROW AS LEADERS TOGETHER AND IT'S KIND OF ONE OF THE MOST INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCES YOU CAN IMAGINE.

IT'S HARD TO DESCRIBE IT IN WORDS JUST HOW GOOD IT IS.

>> APPLICATIONS ARE DUE APRIL 30.

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT THE WEB LINK BELOW.

>> STILL TO COME ON LAKELAND NEWS AT 10:00.

>> Stacy: WE'LL CONTINUE TO SEE SCATTERED SHOWERS AND A FEW THUNDERSTORMS TONIGHT AND TOMORROW, BUT SUNSHINE AND WARMER WEATHER IS ON THE WAY FOR THE WEEKEND.

I'LL HAVE YOUR FORECAST IN A FEW MINUTES.

>> AND COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK, SANFORD BEMIDJI STREET CLINIC >> THIS PORTION OF LAKELAND NEWS IS SPONSORED BY C.T.C.

; INTERNET, PHONE, AND T.V.

C.T.C; CONNECTING THE COMMUNITY ONLINE AT GOCTC.COM.

>> AND NOW MORE NEWS WITH DENNIS WEIMANN.

>>> LAKELAND NEWS WAS A BIG WINNER AT LAST WEEKEND'S MIDWEST BROADCAST JOURNALISTS ASSOCIATION ERIC SEVAREID AWARDS BANQUET.

FOUR STORIES THAT AIRED LAST YEAR HERE ON LAKELAND NEWS PICKED UP AWARDS IN THE CONTEST.

CHARLIE YAEGER TOOK FIRST PLACE IN THE “DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION ” DIVISION FOR A STORY HE PRODUCED ON THE EFFORTS UNDERWAY AT BEMIDJI STATE TO IMPROVE WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBILITY ON CAMPUS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.

LAKELAND NEWS ALSO EARNED TWO OF THE THREE AWARDS GIVEN FOR SPORTS REPORTING.

ONE OF THE AWARDS WENT TO CURRENT SPORTS DIRECTOR CHARLIE YAEGER FOR HIS STORY ON ORGAN DONOR AWARENESS DAY AT BEMIDJI STATE.

THE OTHER AWARD WENT TO FORMER SPORTS DIRECTOR CHAZ MOOTZ FOR HIS PROFILE ON FORMER BSU FOOTBALL PLAYER BRYCE DUFFY'S TRANSITION TO COACHING AFTER SUFFERING A SERIOUS NECK INJURY.

BOTH WERE HONORED WITH AWARDS OF MERIT.

AND HANKY HAZELTON ALSO WON AN AWARD OF MERIT IN THE “HARD FEATURE ” CATEGORY FOR HIS STORY ON A PIERZ HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT WHO INVENTED A MACHINE THAT IS THE FIRST OF ITS KIND AND WILL SAVE FARMERS FROM ENTRAPMENT OR SUFFOCATING INSIDE THEIR GRAIN BINS.

AND HERE YOU SEE CHARLIE AND HANKY WITH THE ERIC SEVAREID AWARDS WHICH ARE NAMED FOR THE NORTH DAKOTA-BORN AND UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA-EDUCATED JOURNALIST BEST KNOWN FOR HIS WORK AS A CORRESPONDENT FOR CBS RADIO AND TELEVISION.

THE COMPETITION WE WERE INCLUDED IN WAS THE SMALL MARKET DIVISION AND INCLUDED TV STATIONS FROM MINNESOTA, WISCONSIN, NORTH DAKOTA, SOUTH DAKOTA, IOWA AND NEBRASKA.

SOME OF THE TV MARKETS INCLUDED IN THE SMALL MARKET DIVISION INCLUDE DULUTH, ROCHESTER, SIOUX CITY, IOWA, AND BISMARCK NORTH DAKOTA TO NAME JUST A FEW.

LAKELAND PBS WAS THE SMALLEST STATION COMPETING.

>>> SANFORD HEALTH OF NORTHERN MINNESOTA WELCOMED A NEW PHARMACY ROBOT NAMED PHYLLIS, AT THE SANFORD PHARMACY ON ANNE STREET OUR REPORTER ZY'RIAH SIMMONS STOPPED BY THE PHARMACY TO SAY HI TO PHYLLIS AND LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ROBOT.

>> Reporter: THIS MONTH WILL MARK THE SECOND MONTH OF THE SANFORD 1611 CLINIC PHARMACY HAVING THE PHARMACY ROBOT.

PHARMACISTS ARE GETTING USE TO THE NEW HELPER OF THE TEAM.

>> WE'RE WORKING THROUGH OUR WORK FLOW RIGHT NOW.

>> IT'S A LITTLE CRAZY.

JUST YESTERDAY, THEY TURNED ON A FUNCTIONALITY WHERE ANYTHING FILLED BY THE ROBOT IS AUTOMATICALLY FLOWING TO IT.

IT'S COUNTING A LOT MORE PRESCRIPTIONS, WHICH IS THEN MAKING US CHECK MORE PRESCRIPTIONS FASTER, SO WE'RE GETTING A BACKLOG AT THE PHARMACIST'S SPOT TO GET VERIFIED.

>> Reporter: HE BREAKS DOWN WHAT GOES ON BEHIND THE SCENE WITH PHARMACISTS AND WHAT THE ROBOT DOES TO MAKE THEIR JOB A LOT SMOOTHER.

>> THE WAY A PRESCRIPTION WORKS, YOU GO TO YOUR DOCTOR, YOU GET A PRESCRIPTION, AND THEN IT GOES TO THE PHARMACY AND THEN OUR WORK FLOW.

OUR WORK FLOW COMES IN, YOU MAKE SURE ALL THE DATA IS ENTERED CORRECTLY.

IT GOES TO A PHARMACIST WHO CHECKS IT FOR INTERACTIONS, DOSING IS SAFE, ALL THAT GOOD STUFF.

THEN IT GOES TO OUR FILL QUEUE, WHICH IS A TECHNICIAN FILLING IT, AND THIS IS WHERE THE ROBOT COMES IN.

INSTEAD OF THE MEDICATIONS COUNTED MANUALLY, IT GOES TO THE ROBOT AND IT SPITS THE DRUGS OUT FOR US.

THE ONE WE HAVE PUTS THE LABEL AND CAP ON.

WHEN IT COMES OUT, IT GOES TO THE PHARMACIST AND WE CAN DISPENSE IT TO PEOPLE.

>> Reporter: IT HAS BEEN A MAJOR PUSH FOR THE PHARMACY, GETTING MEDICINE IN AND OUT AS FAST AS THEY CAN.

>> IT'S DECREASING OVERALL WAIT TIMES.

FOR FOLKS THAT, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE COMING THROUGH THE WALK IN AND YOU'RE GETTING A PRESCRIPTION FILLED, THAT'S BEEN A PRETTY FAST THING SO WE CAN SEE WHERE THEY'RE COMING FROM.

WE TRY TO GET THOSE OUT FAST.

YOUR FOLKS WHERE THEY ARE GETTING THEIR REGULAR BLOOD PRESSURE, CHOLESTEROL, DIABETES MEDICATION, WHATEVER.

THAT USE TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH A LOT MORE STEPS, NOW WE'RE BYPASSING SOME OF THOSE.

IT'S GETTING MORE AUTOMATED, WHICH MAKES IT SMOOTHER.

>> Reporter: PHYLLIS LOOKS TO ONLY IMPROVE AS TIME GOES ON.

>> IT USE TO BE BEFORE IT WAS GETTING FILLED, SO NOW WHEN YOU HAVE PEOPLE COMING IN, OH I NEED THIS MED, I CALLED IT IN YESTERDAY.

IT'S FARTHER ALONG IN THE PROCESS.

YOU CAN FIND IT AND GET IT DONE FASTER.

SO RIGHT NOW, IT'S KIND OF IN THAT LEARNING PHASE, WE'RE GOING THROUGH THE GROWING PAINS OF IT, BUT IT WILL DEFINITELY MAKE THINGS SMOOTHER AND FASTER AND WE WILL BE FILLING MORE.

>> Reporter: REPORTING IN BEMIDJI, I'M ZY'RIAH SIMMONS, LAKELAND NEWS.

>> PHYLLIS THE ROBOT COST $200,000 AND WAS FUNDED THROUGH PHILANTHROPY THROUGH THE SANFORD HEALTH FOUNDATION.

>>> TIME TO BRING IN WEATHERCASTER STACY CHRISTENSON.

A NICE DAY IN THE NORTHLAND TODAY FOR EARLY APRIL.

>> Stacy: YEAH, IT WAS VERY MILD OUT THERE.

WE HAD SOME SUNSHINE, WE HAD SOME CLOUDS, AND A FEW SHOWERS HERE AND THERE.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE SHOWERS OVERNIGHT AND INTO TOMORROW, ESPECIALLY IN THE MORNING.

IT LOOKS LIKE SUNSHINE AND WARMER TEMPERATURES WILL BE BACK >> CLOSED CAPTIONING IS SPONSORED IN PART BY THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE TELECOMMUNICATIONS, ACCESS MINNESOTA.

>> AND BY SANFORD HEALTH; HERE FOR ALL, HERE FOR GOOD.

DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT OUR SERVICES IN THE BEMIDJI AREA IS AVAILABLE AT SANFORDHEALTH.ORG.

>> THE WEATHER IS SPONSORED BY WIDSETH; ARCHITECTS, ENGINEERS, LAND SURVEYORS, ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTISTS SERVING MINNESOTA COMMUNITIES SINCE 1975.

>> AND NOW THE WEATHER WITH STACY CHRISTENSON.

[♪♪♪] >> Stacy: WE ENJOYED SOME MILD TEMPERATURES TODAY AND WE HAD SOME SUNSHINE AND WE HAD CLOUDS AND SCATTERED SHOWERS AND A FEW RUMBLES OF THUNDER OUT THERE.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE A CHANCE FOR SHOWERS AND A FEW THUNDERSTORMS OVERNIGHT TONIGHT, MOST OF THAT WILL TAPER OFF FROM WEST TO EAST THROUGHOUT THE DAY TOMORROW.

IT DOES LOOK LIKE AS WE HEAD INTO THE WEEKEND, THE SUNSHINE WILL BE BACK AND WE SHOULD BE SEEING WARM TEMPERATURES.

RIGHT NOW IN BEMIDJI, IT'S 46 AT THE AIRPORT.

WE HAVE A LIGHT NORTHWEST WIND AT OUR STUDIO WITH A DEW POINT OF 40, A TRACE OF RAIN IN THE AREA TODAY.

IN BRAINERD, CLEAR SKIES AND 57, A DEW POINT OF 34.

PRESSURE IS RISING AND WINDS ARE NORTHWEST AT 14 MILES PER HOUR.

WE CAN SEE SOME OF THE SCATTERED SHOWERS ON THE RADAR TONIGHT.

THEY WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE THROUGHOUT THE VIEWING AREA.

THERE ARE SOME THUNDERSTORMS MIXED IN, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE MOSTLY RAINFALL OVERNIGHT TONIGHT.

THEN AS WE HEAD INTO TOMORROW, WE WILL HAVE CHANCES OF RAIN IN THE MORNING, A FEW THUNDERSTORMS, AND THEN THAT WILL TAPER OFF FROM WEST TO EAST.

TEMPERATURES ARE A LITTLE COOLER TOMORROW, WE HAVE A COUPLE DAYS OF COOLER TEMPERATURES BEFORE THE WARM UP.

JUST A REMINDER, IT IS SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK IN MINNESOTA AND TOMORROW IS TORNADO DRILL DAY.

SIRENS WILL SOUND AT 1:45 AND 6:45 P.M., BUT THIS IS A DRILL.

THIS WILL BE HAPPENING ACROSS THE STATE AND ALLOWING PEOPLE TO PRACTICE FOR THEIR TORNADO READINESS.

KEEP THAT IN MIND FOR TOMORROW.

WEATHER SHOTS TONIGHT, OUR EAGLE EYES WERE BUSY.

WE HAVE A LOT TO SHARE WITH YOU.

A BEAUTIFUL SUNRISE PICTURE FROM ARLENE, DEAN IN RED LAKE, AND SANDY FROM RABIDEAU LAKE.

NOW WE HAVE THIS PICTURE FROM RACHEL AND CLOUD COVER FROM STEVEN AT LITTLE ROCK.

NICE SUNSHINE AND CLOUDS, ALSO A LOON.

AND THAT LED TO SOME RAINBOWS IN THE AREA, MILTON IN BEMIDJI WITH PHOTOS OF THAT.

WE HAD RAIN AND CLOUDS FROM ANGELA.

THANK YOU ALL FOR SHARING THOSE.

FOR OUR EAGLE EYES REPORT ARLENE IN MENAHGA, 40 WITH A HINT OF FOG THIS MORNING.

STEVEN AT LITTLE ROCK, REPORTING A HIGH OF 55.

KAREN IN BEMIDJI, THE TEMPERATURE IS 68 THIS AFTERNOON.

BOB IN BLUFFTON, THE HIGH IS 65.

ARLENE IN LONGVILLE, 71 FOR THE HIGH.

SANDY AT BLACKDUCK REPORTING RAIN SHOWERS AND ANGELA AT CASS LAKE WITH THUNDER AND RAIN TODAY, CLEARING SKIES FOR TONIGHT.

ON OUR ALMANAC, BRAINERD REACHING 71.

OUR AVERAGE IS 52.

34 IS THE LOW AND SUNSET IS 1 MINUTE BEFORE 8:00.

BEMIDJI WITH A HIGH OF 66.

SO AGAIN, VERY MILD THE LOW TEMPERATURE THIS MORNING AT 32.

HERE'S OUR FORECAST FOR TOMORROW.

WE COULD SEE LINGERING RAIN SHOWERS, ESPECIALLY IN THE MORNING.

THOSE SHOULD TAPER OFF FROM WEST TO EAST.

WE SHOULD HAVE MAINLY CLOUDY SKIES IN THE AREA AND TEMPERATURES WILL BE COOLER.

LOW 50s IN WESTERN MINNESOTA.

IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA, PARTLY CLOUDY SKIES, WITH A CHANCE FOR SHOWERS IN THE MORNING, HIGH TEMPERATURES IN THE MID-50s.

OUR FORECAST FOR TONIGHT, PARTLY TO MOSTLY CLOUDY SKIES, SOME SCATTERED SHOWERS, A FEW THUNDERSTORMS, LOWS NEAR 38.

THEN TOMORROW, PARTLY TO MOSTLY CLOUDY SKIES, A CHANCE FOR RAIN SHOWERS, AND THEY SHOULD TAPER OFF AS WE HEAD THROUGHOUT THE DAY.

A LITTLE BIT BREEZY AND HIGHS NEAR 53.

LOOKING AT THE WEEKEND FORECAST, SUNSHINE RETURNS AND WE START TO SEE A WARM UP AS WE HEAD INTO THE WEEKEND, PARTLY TO MOSTLY SUNNY SKIES SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, WITH HIGHS IN THE MID TO UPPER 60s.

WE HAVE A CHANCE FOR SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ON MONDAY.

BACK TO YOU DENNIS.

>> Dennis: ALL RIGHT, THANKS STACY.

CHARLIE IS BACK.

HOW WAS TEXAS?

>> Charlie: IT WAS FANTASTIC.

IT GOT DARK THERE FOR A SECOND.

I THINK EVERYONE SAW THE VIDEO.

>> Dennis: YOU SAW THE ECLIPSE.

>> Charlie: YEAH, THE CLOUDS PARTED FOR A MINUTE AND THEN A LOT OF THUNDER AND RAIN.

JUST GOT IT IN.

LUCKY US.

SPORTS-WISE, GET BACK TODAY AND THE CLOUDS CLEARED AGAIN FOR A LITTLE BIT OF SPORTS BECAUSE YOU KNOW, GOD LOVES SOFTBALL AND BASEBALL.

SO THE CLOUDS CLEARED, WE WERE ABLE TO GET A COUPLE DOUBLE HEADERS IN AND WE ALSO GET TO HEAR FROM THE TEAM DOWN SOUTH IN BRAINERD BOYS TENNIS.

ALL THAT IS >> PAUL BUNYAN COMMUNICATIONS.

MORE INFO AT GIGAZONEGAMING.COM.

>> HEALTH MINUTE IS SPONSORED IN PART BY EMPLOYEE-OWNED LUEKEN'S VILLAGE FOODS, FEATURING THE AREA'S LARGEST SELECTION OF SEAFOOD AND HIGHEST QUALITY MEATS.

MORE INFO AT LUEKENS.COM.

>> AND NOW YOUR LOCAL SPORTS WITH CHARLIE YAEGER.

>>> IT'S BEEN 346 DAYS SINCE BEMIDJI LAST PLAYED ON THE SOFTBALL FIELD AND 10 GAMES SINCE THEIR LAST WIN.

THE BEAVERS WERE BACK AT HOME FOR A DOUBLE HEADER AGAINST ST.

CLOUD STATE.

THERE IT IS, A BEAUTIFUL DAY OUT THERE.

WE'RE GOING TO HEAD TO THE TOP OF THE FOURTH, MAGGIE GOES DEEP FOR HER SECOND HOME RUN OF THE AFTERNOON, HER 11th OF THE SEASON.

THE HUSKIES ARE UP 2-1.

NOW AMY CHRISTENSON MAKE AS DIVING STOP, THEN GET THIS.

WE'LL SEE MORE OF HER LATER.

BOTTOM HALF OF THE INNING, STILL 2-1.

ELLE PUTS THE BALL IN PLAY.

ST.

CLOUD STATE THROWS AWAY THE DOUBLE PLAY AND AUBREY IS ABLE TO SCORE AND TIE THE GAME AT 2-2.

SKIP AHEAD TO THE BOTTOM OF THE 12th, A RUNNER ON SECOND AND THIRD.

HUSKIES UNABLE TO MAKE THE PLAY.

JOSEY SCORES THE GAME WINNING RUN.

THEY MOB CHRISTENSEN AT THE PLATE AS THEY BEAT ST.

CLOUD STATE IN GAME NUMBER 1.

GAME NUMBER TWO, THEY FELL TO ST.

CLOUD STATE 5-2.

>>> NEXT DOOR, BEMIDJI STATE BASEBALL HOLDING MINNESOTA DULUTH.

THE BEAVERS TRAILING 2-1.

JACK GET OUT OF HERE, A 3-RUN BOMB, HIS FIRST OF THE SEASON.

HE HIT A SOLO SHOT LATER.

BSU LEADS 4-2.

NOW THE PITCHER WITH A MAN ON, THEY SAY PITCHERS CAN'T HIT, BUT LOOKS JUST FINE TO ME.

BEAVERS EXTEND THEIR LEAD TO 3-RUNS.

BULLDOGS ARE KEEPING IT CLOSE, TRAILING BY 1 IN THE SIXTH.

GABE WITH A RUNNER ON SECOND, DROPS ONE IN CENTER FIELD.

HE TIES THE GAME AT 7-7.

TOP OF THE 8th, AND HE ALREADY HAS A HOME RUN.

THIS ONE TO LEFT, GRAND SLAM, FIRST OF HIS COLLEGIATE CAREER.

UPPED -- UMD TAKES THE LEAD AND BEMIDJI STATE FALLS 13-7 TO MINNESOTA DULUTH.

THAT WAS IN GAME NUMBER TWO.

IN GAME NUMBER ONE, THEY ALSO LOST 9-2.

>>> A COUPLE MORE SCORES FOR YOU.

IN HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL, DULUTH DENFELD BEATS GRAND RAPIDS, ROCK RIDGE BEATSS -- WINS.

THE MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES HAVE A LEAD OVER THE DENVER NUGGETS, TIED FOR FIRST PLACE WITH TWO GAMES TO GO.

IN MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL, THE TWINS BEAT THE DODGERS TODAY 3-2.

>>> BRAINERD BOYS TENNIS IS UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT THIS SEASON FOLLOWING HEAD COACH AND BRAINERD WARRIOR HALL OF FAMER ELLEN FUSSY'S RETIREMENT AT THE END OF LAST YEAR.

THE SCHOOL OPTED FOR THE HOMEGROWN ROUTE, HIRING 2019 HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE GARRETT GOEDEN AS THE WARRIORS ADJUST TO THE NEW ERA.

REPORTER MILES WALKER TELLS US HOW THE 23-YEAR-OLD'S RE-ACCLIMATING TO BEING BACK HOME.

>> Reporter: COACH'S HOMECOMING STILL HASN'T FULLY SET IN.

>> I NEVER THOUGHT COMING RIGHT OUT OF COLLEGE, 23 YEARS OLD, I WOULD BE ABLE TO BE IN THIS POSITION.

WHEN I HEARD THAT THERE WAS AN OPPORTUNITY, I WAS ALL ABOUT IT AND I REALLY TRIED TO DO MY BEST TO PUT MYSELF IN THE POSITION TO BE HERE.

>> Reporter: NOW THAT HE'S BACK AT BRAINERD, HE HAS DRAWN INSPIRATION FROM THE MANY COACHES HE HAD, INSTILLING HIS OWN CULTURE.

>> IT'S A MISMATCH OF EVERYTHING.

I HAVE SOME THINGS I LEARNED FROM PEOPLE AND I'M ALSO DOING THINGS MY WAY.

I ALSO HAVE MY OWN BELIEFS AND PHILOSOPHIES.

>> Reporter: IT'S EASY FOR KIDS TO LISTEN TO A MAN WHO HAS BEEN IN THEIR SAME SHOES.

>> HE MEANS A LOT TO US.

HE KNOWS EXACTLY HOW OUR MINDS ARE WORKING THROUGH THE GAME.

HE KNOWS WHEN WE'RE DOWN AND HOW WE'RE FEELING.

IT'S GOOD BECAUSE HE KNOWS WHAT WE'RE DOING, HOW WE'RE FEELING.

>> IT'S A LOT EASIER TO CONNECT WITH HIM AND UNDERSTAND HIM, KNOWING HE WAS DOING THE SAME EXACT THING FIVE YEARS AGO.

>> Reporter: THE SQUAD WELCOMED THE BRAINERD NATIVE BACK HOME WITH OPEN ARMS AS THEY SEAMLESSLY ADJUSTED TO THE CHANGING OF THE GUARD.

IN FACT, THEY HOPE MORE CHANGE IS COMING AS THEY ASPIRE TO BRING BRAINERD BOYS TENNIS THEIR CHAMPIONSHIP.

>> WE REALLY HAVE A DEEP AND COMPETITIVE SQUAD HERE.

YOU KNOW, THE GUYS ARE REALLY PUSHING EACH OTHER EVERY SINGLE DAY AT PRACTICE AND FIGHTING FOR THOSE TOP SPOTS.

WE SHOULD HAVE A GOOD LOOK INTO OUR SEASON.

>> Reporter: WITH THE SEASON STILL YOUNG, THE BOYS ARE LETTING THEIR MATCHES ACT AS THE BEST FORM OF PRACTICE.

>> YOU CAN'T REPLICATE MATCH PLAY.

WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT LINE UP WORKS BEST FOR US.

WE HAVE A LOT OF GREAT PEOPLE, WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHERE EVERYONE GOES.

IT'S REALLY ABOUT GETTING STARTED AND ONCE YOU GET STARTED, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A GREAT SEASON.

>> Reporter: REPORTING IN BRAINERD, MILES WALKER, LAKELAND NEWS.

>> Charlie: AND IF HE LOOKS FAMILIAR TO SOME OF THOSE IN BEMIDJI, HE SPENT TWO YEARS AS THE BEMIDJI ASSISTANT TENNIS COACH AT THE HIGH SCHOOL AND AT THE COLLEGE FOR BSU WOMEN.

>> Dennis: INTERESTING, THANKS CHARLIE.

>>> IT'S THE SECOND-MOST COMMON CANCER IN U.S. WOMEN.

ABOUT 240,000 CASES OF BREAST CANCER IN WOMEN WERE DIAGNOSED IN 2020 AND THE C.D.C.

SAYS REGULAR MAMMOGRAMS ARE THE BEST WAY TO FIND THE DISEASE EARLY BUT A NEW STUDY REVEALS WOMEN ARE FACING NUMEROUS BARRIERS IN GETTING THIS POTENTIALLY LIFE-SAVING SCREENING.

IN TODAY'S HEALTH MINUTE, MANDY GAITHER HAS A LOOK AT THE RESEARCH AND WHAT EXPERTS SAY NEEDS TO HAPPEN TO ENSURE HEALTHCARE FOR ALL.

>> Reporter: AS IS -- IT'S AN IMPORTANT WEAPON IN THE WAR AGAINST BREAST CANCER.

MAMMOGRAMS CAN DETECT SIGNS OF THE DISEASE EARLIER WHEN IT'S MORE EASILY TREATED.

A C.D.C.

STUDY FIND MANY WOMEN FIND IT DIFFICULT TO GET THIS RECOMMENDED SCREENING.

>> THOSE OF US WHO HAVE BEEN WORKING IN THIS SPACE HAVE KNOWN THAT THESE BARRIERS EXIST.

WE KNOWN IT FOR YEARS.

>> Reporter: THE U.S. PREVENTATIVE SERVICE TASK FORCE RECOMMENDS MAMMOGRAMS EVERY TWO YEARS FOR WOMEN AGES 50 TO 74 AND ONLY 66% OF WOMEN IN THAT AGE GROUP GET A MAMMOGRAM IF THEY HAVE THREE OR MORE HEALTH RELATED SOCIAL NEEDS, INCLUDING FOOD INSECURITY, FEELING SOCIALLY ISOLATED, LACK OF RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION, LOST EMPLOYMENT OR A REDUCTION IN HOURS, AND THE COST OF ACCESSING HEALTHCARE WAS THE BIGGEST BARRIER.

>> INSTITUTIONS NEED TO BE AWARE THAT THEY HAVE TO ASK ABOUT THESE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH.

IF YOU ASK, THEN YOU CAN HAVE A PLAN IN PLACE TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS.

>> Reporter: THE DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER FOR CANCER HEALTH EQUITY AT OHIO STATE'S COMPREHENSIVE CANCER CENTER SAYS HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS NEED TO DO BARRIER ASSESSMENTS TO IDENTIFY THINGS LIKE FINANCIAL ISSUES THAT MAY STOP PEOPLE FROM GETTING MAMMOGRAMS AND FIND SOLUTIONS TO ADDRESS THEM.

>> Reporter: I'M A THREE TIME BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR.

MY FIRST CANCER WAS DIAGNOSED 27 YEARS AGO ON A MAMMOGRAM.

IT WAS EXTREMELY SMALL, THE SIZE OF MY PINKY, TOP OF MY PINKY AND I AM STILL HERE.

SO MAMMOGRAPHY WORKS.

>> Reporter: FOR HEALTH MINUTE, I'M MANDY GAITHER.

>> Dennis: AND BACK TO STACY FOR A LOOK AT THE WEATHER.

>> Stacy: WE COULD SEE SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS TONIGHT.

PARTLY TO MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH LOWS NEAR 38.

>> Dennis: THAT'S GOING TO DO IT FOR US.

HAVE A GREAT NIGHT EVERYONE.

WE'LL SEE YOU TOMORROW.

>> Charlie: GOOD NIGHT.

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