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

>> SPORTS ON LAKELAND NEWS IS SPONSORED IN PART BY PAUL BUNYAN COMMUNICATIONS, PROVIDING ALL FIBEROPTIC INTERNET SPEEDS UP TO 10 GIGS WITH NO DATA CAPS AND NO SPEED THROTTLING.

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

WE ARE HERE FOR YOU WITH LOCAL NEWS FROM BEMIDJI, BRAINERD, AND ALL OF THE LAKES COUNTRY.

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

[♪♪♪] >> Dennis: HI EVERYONE, THANKS FOR WATCHING TONIGHT.

>>> THE OWNER OF THE LUTSEN RESORT LODGE IS FACING CHARGES IN CONNECTION WITH THE FIRE THAT DESTROYED THE LODGE IN FEBRUARY OF 2024.

41-YEAR-OLD BRYCE JAMES CAMPBELL IS ACCUSED OF STARTING THE FIRE AND IS CHARGED WITH THREE FELONY COUNTS OF ARSON AND ONE FELONY COUNT OF INSURANCE FRAUD.

BCA FINANCIAL CRIMES AND FRAUD AGENTS DETERMINED THROUGH THEIR INVESTIGATION THAT CAMPBELL KNOWINGLY CAUSED THE FIRE TO FRAUDULENTLY COLLECT AN INSURANCE PAYOUT.

HE WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY ON DECEMBER THIRD IN SOUTHFIELD, MICHIGAN AND REMAINS IN MICHIGAN IN JAIL PENDING EXTRADITION TO MINNESOTA.

>> THIS IS A CRIME OF SELFISHNESS.

HE PUT HIS INTEREST ABOVE THE LIVELIHOOD OF HIS EMPLOYEES, THE SAFETY OF THE PEOPLE IN THE BUILDING, AND THE COMMUNITY THAT WAS THERE, AND ALL THE MINNESOTANS THAT LOVED LUTSTEN.

HE DID THAT TO GATHER MONEY IN THIS PROCESS, DEFRAUDING THE INSURANCE COMPANY, AND SETTING ABLAZE TO THIS HISTORIC LODGE.

>> THE NEARLY 140-YEAR-OLD LUNDY BUILDING WAS AN ICONIC SITE, WHERE MANY COUPLES GOT MARRIED AND FAMILIES RETURNED HERE YEAR AFTER YEAR.

THE LOSS OF THE RESORT IS DEEPLY FELT BY MANY.

>> ACCORDING TO THE CRIMINAL COMPLAINT IN THE CASE, CAMPBELL INCREASED THE INSURANCE POLICY FOR LUTSTEN BY $2.5 MILLION IN 2022 AND BY ANOTHER $2 MILLION IN 2023.

>>> A ROSEAU MAN AND A BEMIDJI WOMAN ARE FACING FELONY CHARGES IN CONNECTION WITH A HOME BURGLARY IN BEMIDJI.

ACCORDING TO COURT DOCUMENTS, 38-YEAR-OLD JOSHUA CHURCH AND 30-YEAR-OLD AMELIA SHOCKLEY ARE ACCUSED OF BREAKING INTO THE HOME ON THE 2400 BLOCK OF FIRST STREET AND TAKING $30,000 IN CASH.

THE OWNER OF THE HOME LIVES IN A CARE FACILITY AND A PERSON WHO CHECKS ON THE RESIDENCE FOR THE OWNER NOTICED A SAFE IN THE HOME WAS BROKEN INTO ON NOVEMBER 29TH.

AFTER CONDUCTING INTERVIEWS DEPUTIES IDENTIFIED CHURCH AND SHOCKLEY AS SUSPECTS.

BOTH ADMITTED TO AUTHORITIES TO TAKING PART IN THE BURGLARY.

THEY ARE FACING IDENTICAL FELONY 2ND DEGREE BURGLARY AND THEFT CHARGES.

BAIL FOR SHOCKELY WAS SET AT $50,000 WITH NO CONDITIONS AND $25,000 WITH CONDITIONS.

WHILE BAIL WAS CHURCH WAS SET AT $100,000 WITH NO CONDITIONS AND $75,000 WITH CONDITIONS.

THEIR NEXT COURT APPEARANCES ARE SCHEDULED FOR DECEMBER 15TH.

>>> WHILE THE BELTRAMI COUNTY BOARD WAS DECIDING THE UPCOMING BUDGET FOR THE COUNTY FOR 2026, HOUSE 2-A REPRESENTATIVE, BIDAL DURAN, APPROACHED THE BOARD WITH CONCERNS THAT THE FUNDING CUTS THEY HAVE MADE WON'T BE ENOUGH TO COVER THE PROJECTED $6 BILLION DEFICIT THAT THE STATE OF MINNESOTA MIGHT HAVE TO FACE IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS.

THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS VOTED 4-1 TO APPROVE NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET, WITH MASSIVE FUNDING CUTS BEING MADE TO COMMUNITY PROGRAMS AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS.

COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, TOM BARRY, HAS CITED STATE AND FEDERAL COST SHIFTS AS THE MAIN REASONING BEHIND THESE FUNDING CUTS.

PUTTING ASIDE $700,000 AS A COST SHIFT CONTINGENCY FUND.

REPRESENTATIVE DURAN EXPRESSED HIS CONCERNS ABOUT MINNESOTA'S BUDGET IN BOTH THE NEAR AND LONG-TERM FUTURE.

>> IN 2023-24, WILL GO DOWN IN HISTORY AS ONE OF THE WORST BIENNIUM THAT COULD AFFECT OUR STATE.

NOT JUST THE MANDATES ON OUR COUNTIES AND MUNICIPALITIES, AND OUR SCHOOL BOARDS, IT HAS DRASTICALLY IMPACTED OUR COMMUNITY MORE THAN WE EVER KNOW.

THEY WILL WANT THAT MONEY BACK.

WHERE WILL IT COME FROM?

IS IT GOING TO COME FROM OUR SCHOOL?

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES?

THESE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS WE NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO.

THE STATE OF MINNESOTA HAS PUT US IN A TOUGH SPOT.

I FEAR THAT IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE.

>> MINNESOTA'S BI-ANNUAL BUDGET FORECAST RELEASED EARLIER TODAY SHOWS THAT THE STATE'S BUDGET DEFICIT HAS ACTUALLY DECREASED TO ROUGHLY $3 BILLION FOR THE 2028 TO 29 BIENNIUM.

>>> DEMOLITION OFFICIALLY STARTED EARLIER TODAY ON THREE ABANDONED BUILDINGS IN THE RAIL CORRIDOR DISTRICT OF BEMIDJI TO MAKE WAY FOR A NEW YMCA.

ONE OF THOSE BUILDINGS IN PARTICULAR HOLDS SOME HISTORY BEHIND THE GROWTH OF THE CITY OF BEMIDJI AND NORTHERN MINNESOTA.

THE BUILDING ON 101 SOUTH MINNESOTA AVENUE FIRST OPENED ITS DOORS IN 1930 DURING THE GREAT DEPRESSION AS THE BEMIDJI CO-OP CREAMERY.

IN 1970, THE PLANT ENTERED A NEW CHAPTER WHEN IT WAS PURCHASED BY LAND O' LAKES, THE STATEWIDE COOPERATIVE.

THROUGH THAT SALE, THE BEMIDJI CO-OP DIDN'T LOSE ITS COOPERATIVE IDENTITY, BUT JOINED A LARGER NETWORK THAT COULD GUARANTEE STABLE MARKETS AND CONSISTENT STANDARDS.

TO UNDERSTAND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS FOR NORTHERN MINNESOTA.

IT HELPS TO LOOK STATEWIDE.

>> MINNESOTA USE TO HAVE CREAMERIES ALL ACROSS THE STATE.

THERE WERE THOUSANDS OF CREAMERIES ACROSS MINNESOTA.

THAT WAS REALLY BORN FROM FARMERS NEEDS TO PROCESS MILK EFFICIENTLY AND ALSO TO NEGOTIATE FAIR PRICES.

THAT MODEL WAS RADICAL IN ITS SIMPLICITY.

ONE MEMBER WAS ONE VOTE.

THE QUALITY AND PATRONAGE DIVIDENDS, THAT RETURNED TO THE FARMERS, INSTEAD OF OUTSIDE INVESTORS.

THAT'S WHAT MADE THE COOPERATIVE WORK.

THE SHARED GOVERNANCE SHAPED CREDIT UNIONS AND THINGS LIKE GREEN ELEVATORS, SO THEY PROVIDED MODELS FOR THE COOPERATIVE THAT BECAME A MODEL THAT IS STILL USED TODAY.

>> THE CITY OF BEMIDJI HOPES TO COMPLETE THE DEMOLITION PORTION OF THIS RAIL CORRIDOR PROJECT IN THE SUMMER OF 2026.

>>> THE BRAINERD SCHOOL BOARD IS IN CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF HIRING A NEW SUPERINTENDENT.

DANIEL PURSELL SAT DOWN WITH THE BRAINERD SCHOOL BOARD CHAIR TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PROCESS.

HERE HE IS WITH MORE.

>> Reporter: THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IS HOME TO OVER 6,000 STUDENTS AND THE SCHOOL BOARD IS LOOKING FOR SOMEONE TO LEAD THE DISTRICT AND PROVIDE THEIR STUDENTS WITH THE BEST EDUCATION POSSIBLE.

>> WE STARTED THAT PROCESS HERE IN THE LAST MONTH AND WE MET WITH BARB FROM MSBA, WHO YOU WORKED WITH BEFORE AND KIND OF SET OUR WHOLE CALENDAR IN MOTION.

WE HAVE ALL OUR DAYS BOUND FOR WHAT THE SEARCH WILL LOOK LIKE, WHEN WE'LL START AND STOP TAKING APPLICATIONS, WHEN WE WILL DO INTERVIEWS, AND ALL OF THAT IS KIND OF SET IN STONE.

SO THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT IN THE PROCESS RIGHT NOW.

>> Reporter: THE SCHOOL BOARD IS WORKING WITH THE MINNESOTA SCHOOL BOARD'S ASSOCIATION TO FIND AND VET POTENTIAL CANDIDATES FOR THE POSITION, WHICH WILL HELP NARROW DOWN THE NUMBER OF APPLICANTS FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD TO SERIOUSLY CONSIDER.

>> ONCE THOSE APPLICATIONS HAVE BEEN TAKEN IN, MSBA WILL VET THEM AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE BOARD BASED ON HOW THEY SEE THEM ALIGNING WITH WHAT WE PRIORITIZED AND THE KIND OF CANDIDATES WE'RE LOOKING FOR.

SO, WE WILL GET TOGETHER AS A GROUP THEN AND MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT WHO WE WANT TO SEE FOR INTERVIEWS.

>> THE BOARD BEGAN THIS PROCESS LAST YEAR, FOLLOWING THE RESIGNATION OF FORMER SUPERINTENDENT.

THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND A QUALIFIED CANDIDATE.

TO ENSURE THE SEARCH IS MORE FRUITFUL THIS YEAR, THEY CREATED A SURVEY FOR THE COMMUNITY TO COMPLETE TO GAUGE THE PUBLIC'S WANTS AND NEEDS FOR WHOEVER STEPS IN THE ROLE.

>> WE AS THE BOARD GOT AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO THROUGH AND NAME, I THINK THERE ARE 26 ATTRIBUTES AND A NUMBER OF OTHER KEY PRIORITIES, TO NAME WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR IN A SUPERINTENDENT.

SO WE'RE ASKING THE COMMUNITY TO DO THE SAME THING, THE SAME EXERCISE WE DID AS A BOARD, AND THEN WE WILL KIND OF MESH THE TWO AND MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ALIGNED WITH HOW THE COMMUNITY IS THINKING ABOUT OUR NEXT LEADER FOR THE DISTRICT AS WELL.

>> Reporter: THE SURVEY WILL BE OPEN UNTIL DECEMBER 15TH, BUT THE PROCESS WILL EXTEND FAR BEYOND THAT, WITH INTERVIEWS HAPPENING POTENTIALLY IN JANUARY AND THE POTENTIAL SELECTION OF A CANDIDATE HAPPENING MID-FEBRUARY.

REPORTING IN BRAINERD, I'M DANIEL PURSELL, LAKELAND NEWS.

>> Dennis: THE NEW SUPERINTENDENT WILL BEGIN THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES IN JULY OF NEXT YEAR, JUST IN TIME FOR THE 2026-27 SCHOOL YEAR.

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

WE HAVE A GOOD CHANCE OF LIGHT SNOW TONIGHT AND TOMORROW BUT QUIETER WEATHER WILL RETURN FOR THE WEEKEND.

I'LL HAVE YOUR FORECAST IN A FEW MINUTES.

>> COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK, THE CUYUNA MEDICAL CENTER AND [♪♪♪] >> AND NOW MORE NEWS WITH DENNIS WEIMANN.

[♪♪♪] >>> THE CUYUNA REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER AND SMILES FOR JAKE INITIATIVE HAVE TEAMED UP FOR A WEEK-LONG COMMUNITY CELEBRATION KNOWN AS SNOW MANY SMILES.

THE EVENT IS RUNNING FROM DECEMBER FIRST THROUGH THIS SATURDAY AND FEATURES CHRISTMAS LIGHTS, LAUGHTER, AND HOLIDAY SPIRIT THROUGHOUT THE CUYUNA LAKES AREA.

THE FREE FAMILY FRIENDLY EVENT WILL INCLUDE LIVE MUSIC, TREATS, AND A VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES.

THIS IS THE FIFTH ANNUAL SNOW MANY SMILES EVENT.

ACCORDING TO SMILES FOR JAKE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SARAH SMITH, THE EVENT STARTED WITH THE HOPE OF BRINGING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER DURING THE HOLIDAYS.

>> IT REALLY CAME TOGETHER LIKE HOW CAN WE SPREAD SMILES?

HOW CAN WE SPREAD KINDNESS?

HOW CAN WE DO IT FOR FREE?

THERE IS A COMMUNITY LIGHTING CEREMONY ON THE 5th AND THEN IT COMES TOGETHER ON DECEMBER 6TH.

WE HAVE THE CANDY CANE LANE AND GUM DROP LANE.

>> THE FINALE WILL CONCLUDE WITH A FIREWORKS SHOW OVER SERPENT LAKE ON DECEMBER 6TH.

>>> TIME FOR WEATHER, STACY JOINS US.

WE ARE SEEING WINTER WEATHER.

IT LOOKS LIKE CHANCES OF SNOW ALMOST EVERY DAY.

>> Stacy: YES, TONIGHT AND TOMORROW, WE WILL BE SEEING CHANCES OF SNOW.

WE COULD SEE SOME ACCUMULATION, ESPECIALLY ACROSS CENTRAL MINNESOTA.

QUIETER AND COLDER WEATHER THIS WEEKEND AND WE HAVE MORE CHANCES [♪♪♪] >> AND NOW THE WEATHER WITH STACY CHRISTENSON.

[♪♪♪] >> Stacy: WELL, WE DID HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF SUNSHINE EARLIER TODAY BUT CLOUDS HAVE BEEN INCREASING.

WE HAVE BEEN SEEING A LITTLE BIT OF SNOW IN THE AREA THIS EVENING.

WE COULD SEE MORE SNOW TONIGHT, ESPECIALLY IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA AND TOMORROW WHERE WE MAY SEE SOME ACCUMULATING SNOW EARLY ON IN THE CENTRAL PART OF THE STATE.

WE WILL SEE MORE SUNSHINE THIS WEEKEND BUT ONCE AGAIN, TEMPERATURES WILL BE COLDER.

RIGHT NOW IN BEMIDJI, IT'S 15 DEGREES.

AT THE AIRPORT.

WE HAVE A SOUTH WIND OUT AT THE STUDIO AND OUR DEW POINT IS 12.

IN BRAINERD, CLOUDY SKIES, 12 DEGREES, A DEW POINT OF 6.

WINDS ARE SOUTH AT 10 MILES PER HOUR, GUSTS UP TO 22.

ON OUR SATELLITE AND RADAR, WE HAVE BEEN SEEING MORE CLOUD COVER THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING.

WE HAVE BEEN SEEING SOME LIGHT SNOW AND FLURRIES MAKING THEIR WAY THROUGH THE AREA.

WE COULD CONTINUE TO HAVE MORE LIGHT SNOW, ESPECIALLY IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA, WE COULD SEE THAT SYSTEM MOVING THROUGH THE DAKOTAS, A LITTLE BIT SMALLER CHANCE TO THE NORTH.

SOME OF THE SNOW IN THE CENTRAL PART OF THE STATE WILL CONTINUE INTO TOMORROW.

WE COULD PICK UP 1 TO 3 INCHES OF ACCUMULATION.

TEMPERATURE-WISE NOT TOO BAD, TOMORROW WE WILL SEE HIGHS IN THE 20s, BUT COLDER AND QUIETER WEATHER RETURN FOR THE WEEKEND.

THE CLICKER IS LOCKED UP AGAIN, THERE WE GO.

WE GOT A LOT OF WEATHER SHOTS SENT TO US.

A BEAUTIFUL FULL MOON FROM WENDY IN BEMIDJI, RALPH IN JENKINS, JAMIE SENDING US THIS PHOTO OF A LITTLE BOY HAVING FUN IN THE NEW SNOW.

WE ALSO HAVE OTHER PICTURES FROM ANGELA IN CASS LAKE AND SHERRY IN BEMIDJI OF THE MORNING SKIES.

A LITTLE BIT OF A MORNING RAINBOW NEAR THE CLOUDS FROM GARY.

ICE IS THICKENING ON LOWER RED LAKE.

THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR SHARING THOSE.

FOR OUR EAGLE EYES REPORTS, ARLENE IN MENAHGA, -11 THIS MORNING.

CHRISSY AT DEER WOOD REPORTING A HIGH OF 12.

ARLENE IN LONGVILLE, BOTTOMING OUT AT -12.

ANGELA AT CASS LAKE, A LOW OF -9, BUT GUSTY WINDS TODAY.

REAL QUICK LOOK AT OUR ALMANAC, 9 WAS ALL WE COULD MANAGE FOR THE HIGH IN BRAINERD, WELL BELOW THE AVERAGE.

OUR LOW THIS MORNING WAS AT -11.

BEMIDJI TOPPING OUT AT 16, SO MORE THAN 10 DEGREES BELOW AVERAGE AND AGAIN THAT EARLY LOW TEMPERATURE OF -11.

SO HERE'S A LOOK AT TOMORROW'S FORECAST.

WE WILL BE SEEING A LOT OF CLOUD COVER, THE SNOW WILL BE MOVING ACROSS, ESPECIALLY ACROSS CENTRAL MINNESOTA WHERE WE COULD SEE ACCUMULATION.

TEMPERATURE-WISE, WE ARE LOOKING AT HIGHS IN THE TEENS AND LOW 20s ACROSS MUCH OF NORTHERN MINNESOTA.

WE COULD SEE 24 IN PARK RAPIDS WITH MID TO UPPER 20s IN THE CENTRAL PART OF THE STATE.

SO HERE'S OUR FORECAST, CLOUDY SKIES, SNOW IS LIKELY IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA, BUT WE HAVE A CHANCE OF SNOW FURTHER NORTH, LOWS NEAR 8, AND TOMORROW SNOW IS LIKELY IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA, WE COULD SEE A BIT OF ACCUMULATION, A SMALLER CHANCE OF SNOW IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA, WITH HIGHS NEAR 22.

LOOKING AT THE REST OF OUR WEEKEND FORECAST, QUIETER AND COLDER, HIGHS IN THE SINGLE DIGITS, LOWS NEAR -11 ON SUNDAY MORNING, AND CHANCES OF SNOW RETURN AS WE HEAD INTO MONDAY AND TUESDAY.

BACK TO YOU.

>> Dennis: THANKS STACY.

CHARLIE IS HERE WITH OUR SUPPORTS.

WAS THIS THE HOME OPENER?

>> Charlie: YES, HOME OPENER FOR BEMIDJI BOYS BASKETBALL AND WHAT A HOME OPENER IT WAS.

DOWN NEAR THE STRETCH, A LOT OF POINTS SCORED, EVERYTHING YOU WOULD HOPE FOR AS A FAN IN A BASKETBALL GAME.

ALSO BSU MEN'S BASKETBALL AND WOMEN'S BASKETBALL AT HOME TONIGHT.

WE HAVE [♪♪♪] >> AND NOW YOUR LOCAL SPORTS WITH CHARLIE YAEGER.

[♪♪♪] >> Charlie: THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF HYPE ON BEMIDJI BOYS BASKETBALL.

THEY ARE A GROUP THAT HAS THE ABILITY TO SCORE.

THE LUMBERJACKS OPEN THEIR SEASON ON THE ROAD, A 99-94 LOSS TO ST.

CLOUD APOLLO.

TONIGHT, THERE WAS PLENTY AS THEY TRY TO KNOT THEIR FIRST WIN.

LAKES EARLY ON, IT WAS THE LIKES OF REESE, WHO WAS SHOT FROM A CANNON EARLY.

HE HAD 6, THE JACKS 8 POINTS, THEY BUILD A LEAD.

THE LAKERS WOULD ANSWER BACK WITH AN 11-0 RUN.

DL AT THE HALF.

SECOND HALF, AUSTIN GIVES BEMIDJI A 61-56 LEAD, HE WOULD FINISH WITH 13 POINTS, AND LATER JACKSON DOING JACKSON TYPE THINGS.

ONE OF FOUR THREES FOR HIM, JACKS ARE IN THE LEAD.

LAKERS ERASE THE DEFICIT AND THEN MOSS FROM THE BENCH, PUTS THEM BACK IN FRONT, 67-66 WITH 4.5 TO PLAY.

UNDER 10 SECONDS NOW, JACKS TRAIL BY 2, AND IT'S OFF THE IRON.

BEMIDJI WOULD NOT GET ANOTHER LOOK BEFORE THE CLOCK HITS 0.

DETROIT LAKES WINS, 76-73.

MOSS HAD 27 FOR THE LAKERS.

>>> A COUPLE MORE SCORES, PEQUOT LAKES COLLECTING A WIN.

WADENA DEER CREEK GETS THE WIN.

CLEARBROOK-GONVICK BEATS BLACKDUCK.

WALKER-HACKENSACK-AKELEY FALLS.

NEW YORK MILLS BEATS VERNDALE.

ON THE GIRL'S SIDE OF THINGS, BRAINERD FALLS, BEMIDJI GETS A WIN OVER ST.

CLOUD.

CASS LAKE-BENA AND CROSBY-IRONTON BOTH GETTING WINS TONIGHT.

DEER RIVER BEATS GREEN WAY.

PILLAGER GETS THE WIN OVER BERTHA-HEWITT.

>>> IN GIRLS HOCKEY, BRAINERD LITTLE FALLS COMING IN 5-0-1, LOOKING TO STAY HOT, HOSTING SARTELL SAUK RAPIDS.

NOW KAYLIE FINDS THE BACK OF THE NET, HER SECOND GOAL OF THE NIGHT, GIVING BRAINERD A 2-GOAL LEAD.

HARPER SEARCHING FOR MORE CUSHION, AND THE GAME REMAINS 2-0.

THIRD PERIOD, THREE MINUTES LEFT, SAME SCORE, TRYING TO CLIMB BACK IN, SYDNEY, ONE OF HER 10 SAVES OF THE NIGHT, KEEPS SARTELL OFF THE BOARD.

BRAINERD KEEPS THE LOSS COLUMN CLEAN AS THEY GET 2-1.

>>> I HAVE SOME MORE HOCKEY SCORES, SARTELL BEATS BRAINERD.

BAGLEY FOSSTON GETS THE WIN OVER WADENA DEER CREEK.

NORTHERN LAKES GETS THE WIN OVER SUPERIOR.

>>> OVER IN GIRLS GYMNASTICS, BRAINERD KICKING THEIR SEASON OFF HOSTING SARTELL.

STARTING ON THE VAULT, PEYTON IS BRAINERD'S TOP SCORER, WITH AN 8.65 AND WE MOVE ON TO THE UNEVEN BARS.

SOFIA, SHE IS MAKING ME DIZZY JUST WATCHING THAT.

SHE IS NOT DIZZY.

SHE STICKS HER LANDING AND BRAINERD FALLS TO SARTELL, SCORE OF 139 TO 121 AND CHANGE.

>>> BEMIDJI STATE MEN'S BASKETBALL TAKING ON MINNESOTA STATE MOORHEAD THROUGH OPEN CONFERENCE PLAY.

BEAVERS TRAILED EARLY.

THEY CUT THE LEAD TO 2.

DOMINIC FAIRBANKS FINDING CREATIVE WAYS TO SCORE, MAKING IT 18-12.

BSU GETS BACK TO BACK THREES, AND IT'S PART OF A 10-2 RUN THAT BRINGS THEM WITHIN 123-122.

ROGERPARENT -- ROGER PAYNE HELPED THEM TO A LEAD.

MSU MOORHEAD WINS THAT ONE 90-60 THE FINAL THERE.

THE WOMEN, THEY BEAT MINNESOTA STATE MOORHEAD 55-53.

THE MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES BEAT THE PELICANS TWO GAMES IN A ROW.

RIGHT NOW THE MINNESOTA WILD, 12-13 IN THEIR LAST 15 GAMES, TRYING TO MAKE IT 13 AND 3 BUT THEY'RE DOWN 3-1 RIGHT NOW.

>> Dennis: THANKS CHARLIE.

>>> IN 2023 BEMIDJI HIGH SCHOOL BECAME THE FIRST SCHOOL IN MINNESOTA TO FORM A UNIFIED ROBOTICS TEAM, AND RECENTLY THEY HOSTED THEIR THIRD ANNUAL UNIFIED TOURNAMENT WITH THEIR BIGGEST TURNOUT YET.

FOR THIS WEEK'S GOLDEN APPLE, OUR REPORTER SYDNEY DICK STOPPED BY THIS YEAR'S ‘LORD OF THE RINGS' THEMED COMPETITION, TO SPEAK TO STUDENTS ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCE.

>> Reporter: IT BEGAN WITH THE FORGING OF THE GREAT RINGS OR AT BEMIDJI HIGH SCHOOL, IT BEGAN WITH THE MAKING OF THE GREAT ROBOTS.

OVER THE COURSE OF 36 MATCHES, STUDENTS FROM ALL OVER THE AREA GATHERED FOR THE UNIFIED ROBOTICS TOURNAMENT.

>> I AM HERE TO HAVE FUN.

>> SO WE HAVE OUR OWN BUILT ROBOT.

WE DO GET INSTRUCTIONS TO BEGIN WITH, BUT BASICALLY AFTER WE HAVE THAT, WE ADDED SOME MODIFICATIONS TO IT.

>> Reporter: THE CONFERENCE IN BEMIDJI START IN 2023 WITH ONLY FOUR TEAMS, SO IN JUST THREE YEARS THEY GROWN FROM 4 TEAMS TO 18.

>> WE PLAYED ON THE FLOOR AND THEN WE EXPANDED TO DOUBLES AND PUT IT ON THE TABLE, AND LEARNED A LOT.

THIS YEAR WE HAVE 8 SCHOOLS, 18 TEAMS, ABOUT 40 STUDENTS HERE.

>> Reporter: EACH TEAMED THAT 2 TO 3 STUDENTS OF ANY AGE ELEMENTARY TO HIGH SCHOOL AND IN TRUE UNIFIED FASHION, THOSE OF ALL ABILITIES WERE WELCOME.

>> IT'S AWESOME, THESE STUDENTS CAN BUILD ROBOTS, WORK TOGETHER, AND HAVE A GOOD TIME AND SHARE IN EACH OTHER'S SUCCESSES.

EVERYBODY LOOKS AT EACH OTHER AS PEOPLE.

>> Reporter: INSTEAD OF BEING AGAINST THE PERSON NEXT TO YOU, THE STUDENTS TRIED TO GET THE MOST COMBINED POINTS BY THROWING BALLS, KNOCK OVER THE TWO TOWERS, AND THROW THE RING INTO THE VOLCANO OF MOUNT DOOM, AND BRINGING TOGETHER STUDENT FROM ALL OVER THE STATE, EVERYONE HAD THEIR FAVORITE PART OF THE EVENT.

>> MINE IS THE COMPETING PART.

>> MY FAVORITE PART IS JUST BEING ABLE TO BE WITH DIFFERENT PEOPLE AND GETTING TO KNOW THEM.

>> I LIKE THE FACT THAT YOU'RE ALL, YOU SEE DIFFERENT PEOPLE INTERACT.

YOU HAVE DIFFERENT HOBBIES AND MAY FIND SOMETHING NEW YOU LIKE.

>> WHERE WERE YOU WERE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PROGRAM TO NOW.

THESE ARE THE SKILLS WE NEED.

WE NEED THE COLLABORATIVE AND TO WORK TOGETHER FROM ALL DIFFERENT WALKS OF LIFE.

>> Reporter: REPORTING FROM BEMIDJI WITH THIS WEEK'S GOLDEN APPLE, I'M SYDNEY DICK, LAKELAND NEWS.

>> MORE THAN 40 STUDENTS COMPETED AT THIS YEAR'S TOURNAMENT, AND SCHOOLS CAME FROM UPSALA, RED LAKE, BABBITT, DETROIT LAKES, CAMBRIDGE, AND BIGFORK TO PIT THEIR ROBOTS AGAINST EACH OTHER IN THE TEAM-BUILDING FOCUSED DAY.

>>> OKAY, WE HAVE TIME FOR ANOTHER LOOK AT OUR WEATHER.

WE GO BACK TO STACY.

>> Stacy: WE COULD BE SEEING SOME LIGHT SNOW TONIGHT, ESPECIALLY IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA, OTHERWISE CLOUDY SKIES, LOWS FALLING TO 8.

LOOKING AT TOMORROW, SNOW IS LIKELY IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA, AND WE MAY SEE A BIT OF ACCUMULATING SNOW IN THE CENTRAL PART OF THE STATE, A SMALLER CHANCE OF SEEING THE SNOW FAR FURTHER NORTH, HIGHS NEAR 22.

HEADING INTO THE WEEKEND, IT LOOKS LIKE WE WILL BE SEEING SUNSHINE.

WE WILL ALSO SEE COLDER TEMPERATURES WITH HIGHS IN THE SINGLE DIGITS AND LOWS BELOW 0.

>> Dennis: OKAY, WE ARE FINISHED FOR TONIGHT.

HAVE A GREAT EVENING AND WE WILL SEE YOU TOMORROW.

GOOD NIGHT.

>> Charlie: GOOD NIGHT.

[♪♪♪] CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY: AV CAPTIONING WWW.AVCAPTIONING.COM