>> 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.

>>> MINNESOTA REGULATORS SAID WEDNESDAY THAT AN HISTORIC LODGE ON THE SHORES OF LAKE SUPERIOR THAT WAS DESTROYED IN A FIRE HAD THREE UNRESOLVED VIOLATIONS FROM A RECENT FIRE CODE INSPECTION, BUT IT ISN'T CLEAR IF THOSE VIOLATIONS PLAYED A ROLE IN THE BLAZE.

A STAFFER AT LUTSEN LODGE SPOTTED SMOKE COMING FROM ELECTRICAL OUTLETS IN THE LOBBY AROUND 12:30 TUESDAY MORNING.

THE EMPLOYEE MADE IT OUT AND NO GUESTS WERE CHECKED IN, BUT THE LODGE WAS DESTROYED.

THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY SAYS THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL DIVISION PERFORMED AN INSPECTION IN JULY AND FOUND SEVEN VIOLATIONS.

THE AGENCY SAYS THE PROPERTY OWNER REPAIRED FOUR OF THEM, BUT SAYS IT'S TOO EARLY TO DETERMINE IF THE OUTSTANDING VIOLATIONS PLAYED A ROLE IN THE FIRE.

>>> A JURY HAS CONVICTED A 74-YEAR-OLD BEMIDJI MAN ON FIVE FELONY COUNTS OF FIRST DEGREE CRIMINAL SEXUAL CONDUCT WITH A PERSON UNDER THE AGE OF 13.

PAUL WAYNE SWAN SENIOR WAS FOUND GUILTY ON JANUARY 25TH.

THE JURY FOUND HIM NOT GUILTY OF SIX OTHER CRIMINAL SEXUAL CONDUCT CHARGES.

THE VICTIM IN THE CASE IS NOW 16 BUT REPORTED BEING BETWEEN THE AGES OF 6 AND 10 WHEN THE ASSAULTS HAPPENED.

THE MAXIMUM SENTENCE FOR EACH COUNT OF FIRST DEGREE CRIMINAL CONDUCT IS 30 YEARS OR $40,000, OR BOTH.

SENTENCING IS SCHEDULED FOR MARCH 7TH.

>>> RACHEL THOMAS, FOUNDER OF SOWERS EDUCATION GROUP, TALKED ABOUT RAISING AWARENESS FOR SEX TRAFFICKING LAST THURSDAY AT BEMIDJI HIGH SCHOOL.

PARTICIPANTS AT THE EVENT GOT ONGOING RESOURCES TO AVOID AND OVERCOME RISKS TO SEX TRAFFICKING.

OUR REPORTER MATTHEW FREEMAN HAS MORE.

>> Reporter: WHEY -- RACHEL THOMAS IS A PRESIDENTIAL APPOINTEE TO THE UNITED STATES COUNCIL ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND A PERSONAL SURVIVOR OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING, WHICH IS A REASON WHY SHE GOES AROUND THE COUNTRY TO SPREAD HER MESSAGE.

>> I GOT INTO THIS FIELD BECAUSE I'M A SURVIVOR OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

AFTER BURYING MY STORY AND LIVING IN SHAME, I HAD AN EXPERIENCE AS A TEACHER WITH ONE OF MY STUDENTS.

I SAW THE RED FLAGS AND I DIDN'T SPEAK UP BECAUSE I HADN'T DEALT WITH MY OWN TRAUMAS AND ACKNOWLEDGE MY OWN PAST, SO THAT WAS MY SPARK, TO START TALKING ABOUT THIS ISSUE.

>> Reporter: RACHEL HAS REACHED OVER 150,000 LIVE AUDIENCE MEMBERS AND MILLIONS MORE THROUGH NUMEROUS MORE MEDIA OUTLETS, BUT STILL THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO COME TO BEMIDJI.

>> THIS COMMUNITY HAS SEEN SOME SCARY REALITIES AND TRAGEDIES.

IT IS BEGINNING TO BE SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE IN BEMIDJI CAN NO LONGER SAY IT DOESN'T HAPPEN HERE OR IT'S NOT OUR ISSUE.

THIS IS A REALLY RIPE TIME FOR PEOPLE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IT IS HAPPENING IN THIS COMMUNITY AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, CHOOSE TO RALLY TOGETHER WITH OTHER PEOPLE THAT ARE TRYING TO MAKE A CHANGE AND TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

>> Reporter: THIS PRESENTATION WAS NOT ONLY ABOUT BRINGING AWARENESS TO AN IMPORTANT ISSUE, BUT WHAT QUALIIES AS HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

>> A LOT OF TIMES IN MOVIES, WE SEE SOMEBODY BEING HANDCUFFED TO A BED OR KIDNAPPED BY A STRANGER AND THAT'S NOT HOW IT HAPPENS.

THERE IS PREDATORY BEHAVIOR ONLINE OR IN PERSON.

THEY'RE FORMING A RELATIONSHIP, A FRIENDSHIP, A BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY, IT'S A LOVE INTEREST.

SO, UNDERSTANDING THAT HUMAN TRAFFICKING DOES NOT HAVE TO INVOLVE MOVING OF LOCATION FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER, IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE INVOLVED BEING PHYSICALLY HELD AGAINST YOUR WILL.

>> Reporter: WHAT SHOULD YOU DO IF YOU SEE WARNING SIGNS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING?

>> IF YOU SEE SOMETHING SUSPICIOUS OF cm -- CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR, CALL 9-1-1.

REPORT IT.

LET THEM BUILD A CASE AND WATCH FOR IDENTIFIABLE DETAILS, VEHICLES, LICENSE PLATES, DESCRIPTIONS, WHAT DID THE PERSON LOOK LIKE?

IT'S THE SAME THING WE DO IN ANY SITUATION, JUST PAY ATTENTION.

DON'T ASSUME THAT SOMEBODY ALREADY SAW IT.

JUST SPEAK UP AND MAKE THE CALL AND REPORT IT.

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

>> THOMAS OFFERS AN ONLINE COURSE CALLED THE COOL AUNT SERIES, WHICH TEACHES TEENS THE SEVEN RISKS THAT LEAD TO SEX TRAFFICKING.

YOU CAN FIND THAT ON OUR WEBSITE.

>>> MINNESOTA HAS REACHED A SETTLEMENT WITH ELI LILLY IN A PRICE GOUGING LAWSUIT FILED AGAINST THE COUNTRY'S THREE BIGGEST INSULIN MANUFACTURERS.

ATTORNEY GENERAL KEITH ELLISON SAID WEDNESDAY IT GUARANTEES THAT MINNESOTANS CAN NOW BUY LILLY INSULIN FOR ONLY $35 A MONTH FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.

HE SAYS THE SETTLEMENT IS LIKELY TO BENEFIT AS MANY AS 500,000 RESIDENTS WHETHER THEY HAVE INSURANCE OR NOT, BUT LITIGATION REMAINS PENDING AGAINST TWO OTHER MANUFACTURERS NAMED IN THE 2018 LAWSUIT, SANOFI-AVENTIS AND NOVO NORDISK.

>>> THE NORTHWOODS BATTERED WOMEN'S SHELTER HAS STARTED A CAPITAL CAMPAIGN FOR A NEW FACILITY IN THE BEMIDJI AREA.

THIS COMES AFTER HAVING TO TURN AWAY 553 VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS BECAUSE OF NOT HAVING ENOUGH SPACE IN THE CURRENT BUILDING.

REPORTER ZY'RIAH SIMMONS HAS MORE.

>> Reporter: NORTHWOODS BATTERED WOMEN'S SHELTER STARTED THEIR CAMPAIGN SEVEN YEARS AGO FOR A NEW WOMENS SHELTER.

WITHIN THAT TIME, COVID-19 HAD HAPPENED, THE TAXES ON THE NEW PROPERTY HAD RISEN, AND A TRANSITION OF A NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.

>> AND THIS IS REALLY A REALITY THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

COVID SLOWED DOWN THE CAMPAIGN BUT WITHIN TWO YEARS, WE RAISED 2.8 MILLION.

OUR GOAL HAD BEEN 3.2 MILLION, SO WE WERE SUPER CLOSE, BUT WITH INFLATION AND RIING COSTS OF EVERYTHING, OUR NEW GOAL IS 4 MILLION.

WE HAD TO STEP UP THIS LAST LITTLE BIT.

>> Reporter: THE CURRENT BUILDING WAS BUILT IN 1910, LEAVING IT NOT SUITABLE FOR THE NEEDS OF THE CURRENT PARTICIPANTS OR FUTURE ONES IN THE COMMUNITY.

WITH THE DONATION FROM THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY AND GRANTS, THE SHELTER HAS MADE HALF OF WHAT THEY NEEDED FOR THE FUTURE FACILITY.

>> WE HAVE FOUR ROOMS THAT FOLKS HAVE TO SHARE, SO IT'S REALLY TOUGH WHEN YOU'RE GOING THROUGH A CRISIS, OR YOU'RE TRYING TO HEAL, AND YOU HAVE TO SHARE A SPACE, SOMETIMES WITH THREE OTHER WOMEN THAT ARE IN CRISIS AS WELL.

IT'S HARD TO HEAL WHEN YOU'RE NOT IN YOUR OWN SPACE.

AT THE NEW FACILITY, THERE WILL BE STUDIO APARTMENTS, THEY WILL HAVE THEIR OWN BATHROOM, A KITCHENETTE, AND THAT PRIVATE SPACE TO HEAL AND MOVE FORWARD FOR THE 60 DAY STAY HERE AS WE'RE TRANSITIONING AND MOVING ON AND FINDING HOUSING AND ALL THE SERVICES NEEDED.

>> Reporter: THE WOMEN'S SHELTER IS MUCH NEEDED, WITH ONLY BEING ABLE TO HOUSE 12, AND THE MAJORITY OF THE WOMEN TRYING TO GET HELP HAS BEEN AN UPHILL BATTLE FOR NORTHWOODS WOMEN'S BATTERED SHELTER.

>> THE NEW FACILITY WILL DOUBLE OUR CAPACITY.

WE WILL BE ABLE TO SHELTER 24 VICTIM SURVIVORS OF INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE, AND WE WILL DO A LOT MORE COMMUNITY OUTREACH.

WE WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE SUPPORT GROUPS AND MENTAL HEALTH GROUPS AND WE'LL HAVE MUCH MORE ROOM FOR INTAKES AND PRIVACY AND CONFIDENTIALITY.

SO THIS HAS REALLY BEEN A NEED FOR THE COMMUNITY IN THE AREA HERE.

>> Reporter: EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE READY TO START BUILDING, THEY ARE STILL FINDING WAYS TO MAKE FUNDS TO SUPPORT THE NEW FACILITY.

>> SO WE HAVE A FEW GRANTS THAT ARE PENDING IN THE WORKS.

WE HAVE ONE OF OUR FUNDRAISERS COMING UP, A FORMAL DINNER AT THE TAVERN.

THOSE PROCEEDS WILL GO TOWARDS THE CAMPAIGN.

FOR THE NEW FACILITY.

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

>> NORTHWOODS BATTERED WOMEN'S SHELTER WILL HAVE ITS FIRST GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY ON THE PROPERTY ON MAY 17TH.

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

>> Stacy: LIGHT RAIN IS LIKELY TONIGHT AND TOMORROW, AND WITH COLDER TEMPERATURES LATER THIS WEEK, WE HAVE A CHANCE FOR SNOW.

I'LL HAVE YOUR FORECAST IN A FEW MINUTES.

>> COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK, CROW WING COUNTY RELEASED THEIR LATEST >> 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.

>>> CROW WING COUNTY RELEASED THEIR SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT PLAN LAST WEEK.

THEY WILL ACCEPT ALL INCOUNTY WASTE AT THE CROW WING COUNTY LANDFILL AND WILL INCREASE LANDFILLING FROM ROUGHLY 47,000 TONS TO 48,000.

RECYCLING WILL ALSO INCREASE FROM 37 PERCENT TO 41 PERCENT, THANKS IN LARGE PART TO THE COUNTY'S NEW RECYCLING CENTER.

>> WE HAVE SEEN QUITE AN INCREASE ALREADY SINCE OPENING IN JUNE.

JUST MORE OUTREACH, MORE SIMPLIFIED APPROACH WHEN PEOPLE USE THAT RECYCLING CENTER, THEY CAN DROP THEIR PAPER, PLASTIC, A MATTRESS, A TV, WHATEVER IT MAY BE.

IT'S ALL-IN-ONE PLACE NOW, WHERE BEFORE THEY HAD TWO OR THREE PLACES THEY HAD TO GO POTENTIALLY.

WE'RE SEEING AN INCREASE AND WE'RE HOPING TO SEE MORE ONCE PEOPLE SEE HOW EASY IT IS TO USE THE FACILITY.

A DRAFT OF THE PLAN IS AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW ON THE MINNESOTA POLLUTION CONTROL AGENCY PUBLIC NOTICES WEB PAGE BELOW.

COMMENTS AND OTHER REQUESTS MUST BE RECEIVED AT THE MPCA IN WRITING ON OR BEFORE MARCH 4TH.

WE DID NOT HAVE THAT UP FOR YOU ON THE SCREEN, WE'LL HAVE THAT WITH THE STORY ON OUR WEBSITE.

>>> THE BRAINERD DISPATCH WAS AWARDED THE VANCE TROPHY AT THE 2022-2023 MINNESOTA NEWSPAPER ASSOCIATION BETTER NEWSPAPER CONTEST.

THE VANCE TROPHY IS GIVEN TO THE TOP MULTI-DAY NEWSPAPER IN THE STATE.

THE DISPATCH IS NO STRANGER TO AWARDS, NOW HAVING RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 44 AWARDS.

THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THE DISPATCH WON THE VANCE TROPHY AND ARE PROUD THAT THEIR HARD WORK HAS PAID OFF.

>> THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, WE FINISHED SECOND OR THIRD.

WE KNEW WE HAD A CHANCE.

THIS YEAR WE WENT FROM THE BRIDE'S MAID TO THE BRIDE.

IT'S A NICE HONOR FOR OUR STAFF AND THE COMMUNITY TOO TO HAVE THE NUMBER ONE PAPER IN THE STATE.

>> IT'S INCREDIBLE.

IT GOES BACK TO THE DEDICATION THAT OUR TEAM HAS, THE PASSION THAT OUR TEAM HAS FOR OUR PRODUCTS AND EVERYTHING WE DO.

I THINK IT IS MENTIONED EARLIER ABOUT THE PRIDE WE HAVE.

JUST AS A NEWSPAPER OF OUR SIZE, COMING TO WORK EVERY SINGLE DAY AND GIVING IT OUR ALL.

>> THE BRAINERD DISPATCH IS THE SMALLEST NEWSPAPER TO WIN THE VANCE TROPHY.

THE AWARD HAS BEEN GIVEN OUT SINCE 1985 AND THE DISPATCH IS ONLY THE FOURTH DIFFERENT NEWSPAPER TO WIN THE AWARD.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THEM, THEY DO A FINE JOB.

THEY'RE SERVING THE BRAINERD COMMUNITY.

WE BRING IN STACY NOW WITH OUR WEATHER.

WE ARE GOING TO SEE A LITTLE RAIN COMING IN IT SOUNDS LIKE.

>> Stacy: A LITTLE BIT OF LIGHT RAIN TONIGHT, CONTINUING OVERNIGHT, AND THROUGH TOMORROW.

WE HAVE MORE PRECIPITATION LATER THIS WEEK, BUT TEMPERATURES WILL BE COLDER ON FRIDAY, SO WHAT WE SEE WILL >> 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: WELL, IT WAS ANOTHER MOSTLY CLOUDY, BUT MILD DAY ACROSS THE AREA.

WE DO HAVE SOME LIGHT RAIN SHOWERS MOVING THROUGH THE AREA TONIGHT.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE A VERY GOOD CHANCE OF RAIN SHOWERS TONIGHT AND TOMORROW.

AS TEMPERATURES START TO GET COLDER TOMORROW NIGHT AND THEN INTO FRIDAY, EXPECT TO SEE THE PRECIPITATION BEGIN TO CHANGE OVER TO SNOW, WE COULD SEE A LITTLE BIT OF SNOW ACCUMULATING WITH THE NEXT SYSTEM AS WE HEAD INTO THE END OF THE WEEK.

RIGHT NOW IN BEMIDJI, 39 AT THE AIRPORT, WINDS ARE SOUTHEAST AT 9 MILES PER HOUR, 32 IS THE DEW POINT WITH THE HUMIDITY OF 75%.

IN BRAINERD, WE HAVE CLOUDY SKIES, 47 DEGREES, THE DEW POINT IS 33.

SOUTHEAST WINDS AT 12 MILES PER HOUR, BUT WE HAVE GUSTS UP TO 31.

VERY WINDY OUT THERE IN THE BRAINERD LAKES AREA.

ON THE RADAR, WE HAVE AREAS OF LIGHT RAIN MOVING THROUGH MINNESOTA, AND WE CAN SEE THAT HERE ON THE RADAR.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE THIS SYSTEM IMPACTING ALL OF MINNESOTA AS WE HEAD INTO TONIGHT, SO RAIN SHOWERS ARE LIKELY.

WE WILL STAY PRETTY MILD, LOW TEMPERATURES AROUND 40 TONIGHT, AND WE ARE STILL LOOKING AT HIGHS IN ABOUT THE 40 TO 50 DEGREES RANGE ACROSS OUR VIEWING AREA.

LOOKING AT THE PRECIPITATION, RAIN SHOWERS ARE LIKELY WITH THE BODILY HARMER -- WARMER AIR.

SO WE WILL START SEEING THE RAIN TRANSITIONINGS TO SNOW AS WE HEAD TO THE END OF THE WEEK.

IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL SUNSET ACROSS THE AREA.

ANDREA, AND ERIN, AND JANETTE WITH PICTURES OF THE SUNSET.

WE HAVE MORE FOR YOU TO ENJOY.

ARLENE, AND TERRY WITH THOSE PICTURES.

THANK YOU ALL FOR SHARING YOUR PHOTOS WITH US.

FOR OUR EAGLE EYE REPORTS, ARLENE, 45, WINDY, AND CLOUDY THIS EVENING.

CHUCK IN FINLAYSON DID REPORT SOME BLUE SKY, HIGH OF 47.

ARLENE IN LONGVILLE, MOSTLY CLOUDY AND BREEZY.

STEPHANIE IN BRAINERD, MOSTLY CLEAR WITH A HIGH OF 48.

ON OUR ALMANAC, BRAINERD TOPPING OUT AT 49.

THAT IS A RECORD HIGH.

THE OLD ONE OF 48 WAS SET IN 1987, 34 FOR THE LOW, 5:30 WAS OUR SUNSET.

BEMIDJI REACHING A HIGH OF 40.

31 FOR THE LOW AND 5:30 FOR THE SUNSET.

HERE'S A LOOK AT OUR FORECAST.

TOMORROW, MOSTLY CLOUDY SKIES WITH RAIN SHOWERS LIKELY ACROSS THE AREA.

HIGH TEMPERATURES WILL RANGE FROM ABOUT 39 IN WARROAD, BUT A LOT OF NORTHERN MINNESOTA SHOULD SEE HIGH TEMPERATURES IN THE MID-40s.

WE ARE LOOKING AT MID-40s TO UPPER 40s IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA, BUT AGAIN IT IS GOING TO BE A CLOUDY DAY, RAIN SHOWERS ARE LIKELY THROUGHOUT THE DAY AND AS TEMPERATURES START TO FALL TOMORROW NIGHT, WE WILL START TO SEE THE RAIN TRANSITIONING TO SNOW.

SO HERE'S OUR FORECAST, RAIN LIKELY TONIGHT, OTHERWISE MOSTLY CLOUDY, LOWS NEAR 40, WITH SOUTHEAST WINDS 10 DO -- TO 25.

HERE'S A LOOK AT THE WEEKEND FORECAST.

WE DO HAVE A CHANCE OF SOME SNOW IN THE AREA, BEST CHANCE WILL BE IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA ON FRIDAY, WITH A SLIGHT CHANCE IN NORTHEAST MINNESOTA ON SATURDAY.

HIGHS LATE THIS WEEK SHOULD BE IN THE MID-20s, MAYBE SOME UPPER 20s AS WE HEAD INTO SUNDAY AND PARTLY CLOUDY SKIES, A SLIGHT CHANCE FOR SNOW ON MONDAY WITH A HIGH NEAR 31.

BACK TO YOU DENNIS.

>> Dennis: THANKS STACY.

CHARLIE IS HERE NOW WITH OUR LOCAL SPORTS.

BSU FOOTBALL TEAM RESTOCKING ITS ROSTER TODAY.

>> Charlie: YEP, NATIONAL SIGNING DAY, 48,000 STUDENT ATHLETES OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR WILL SIGN THEIR NLI, BUT TODAY IT WAS ALL ABOUT FOOTBALL.

IT'S THE FIRST DAY THEY COULD OFFICIALLY SIGN.

WE LOOK AT WHAT BSU REELED IN THIS YEAR COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK.

[♪♪♪] >> SPORTS ON LAKELAND NEWS IS SPONSORED IN PART BY THE GIGAZONE GAMING CHAMPIONSHIP AND TECH EXPO SATURDAY, APRIL 20TH WITH SPECIAL GUEST DANIELLE FEINBERG, PIXAR ANIMATION STUDIOS.

EXHIBITOR APPLICATIONS ONLINE AT GIGAZONETECHXPO.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.

[♪♪♪] >>> IN ITS 97-YEAR HISTORY, BEMIDJI STATE FOOTBALL HAS PRODUCED 305 ALL CONFERENCE PLAYERS, 63 ALL AMERICANS, AND 3 NFL PLAYERS.

TODAY, 31 FOOTBALL PLAYERS SIGNED THEIR LETTER OF INTENT TO JOIN THAT PROUD BEAVER TRADITION AND CONTINUE TO BUILD OF THE RECENT SUCCESS THE PROGRAM HAS SEEN UNDER HEAD COACH BRENT BOLTE.

>> SINCE 2021, BSU FOOTBALL HAS WON 27 GAMES AND 2 CONFERENCE TITLES.

[Cheering] >> THEY MADE IT TO THE SECOND ROUND OF THE NCAA PLAYOFFS THREE STRAIGHT YEARS AND LAST YEAR FINISH WITH THAT THEIR HIGHEST END OF SEASON RANKING IN TEAM HISTORY AT 16.

[Cheering] >> THERE IS SOMETHING THAT STRINGS IT ALL TOGETHER AND IT STARTS WITH RECRUITING QUALITY YOUNG MEN.

>> THE WHOLE KEY TO THIS RECRUITING PROCESS IS YOU GET THE FILTERING DOWN OF KIDS THAT SHOULD BE HERE.

CERTAINLY TALENTED KIDS THAT WE DON'T OFFER OR DON'T FIT WITHIN OUR CULTURE, I THINK WE DO A GOOD JOB IDENTIFYING THE KEY VALUES OF KIDS THAT FIT.

WE WANT GUYS THAT, YOU KNOW, PUT OTHER PEOPLE FIRST, AND PUT THEIR VALUES BACK INTO TEAMS.

>> AND THEY FOUND SOME OF THE PLAYERS CLOSE TO HOME.

ONE IS LUCAS, THE 270-POUND DEFENSIVE END FROM BEMIDJI THAT WILL NOW PLAY ON SATURDAY INSTEAD OF FRIDAY NIGHT.

>> I LIKE THE CULTURE THERE.

I REALLY LIKE COACH, THE D-LINE COACH, I LIKE ALL THE COACHES TO BE HONEST.

THEY HAVE A CULTURE OF WINNING.

I WANT TO WIN, I WANT TO WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP WHILE I'M THERE AND I THINK WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT.

>> YOU CAN'T DISGUISE SIZE, AND HE'S A MONSTROUS KIDS.

IT'S GOOD TO HAVE A LUMBERJACK TO COME HERE TO BEMIDJI STATE.

>> Reporter: ANOTHER STANDOUT IS 6 FOOT 6, 270-POUND OFFENSIVE TACKLE WHO STARTED 3 YEARS AS A LINEMAN AT BRAINERD HIGH SCHOOL AND PLAY IN THE ALL-STAR GAME.

>> I CHOSE BSU BECAUSE IT FELT LIKE HOME TO ME WITH THE TOWN, SIMILAR TO BRAINERD, AND VERY CLOSE TO HOME, JUST A COUPLE HOURS AWAY.

SO MY PARENTS WILL COME AND WATCH ME AND STUFF.

>> HE'S BIG, HE'S STRONG, WE SAW HIM AT A LOT OF SUMMER CAMPS.

VERY ATHLETIC KID THAT PLAYS TACKLE FOR US.

>> Reporter: THE BEAVERS ALSO FOUND PLAYERS WITH TIES TO THE UNIVERSITY, INCLUDING HAYDEN, A WIDE RECEIVER FROM MONTICELLO WHO BROKE THEIR SINGLE SEASON TOUCHDOWN RECORD AND PARENTS WENT TO BEMIDJI STATE.

>> HONESTLY, I DIDN'T KNOW UNTIL HE PLAYED BEMIDJI HIGH SCHOOL AND HE WENT OFF TO 200 YARDS.

HE CAN JUMP, FOR A GUY THAT IS JUST SCRATCHING HIS POTENTIAL, I THINK HE HAS A BIG UPSIDE.

>> Reporter: ANOTHER COMMIT IS MANKATO WEST QUARTERBACK, WHO IS NAMED THE NORTH STAR DISTRICT OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR.

HIS PARENTS BOTH WENT TO BSU AND WELL AND HIS DAD WAS A DEFENSIVE END FOR THE BEAVERS.

>> I FEEL LIKE BART WAS DESTINED TO BE HERE.

I REMEMBER HIM GROWING UP WHEN WE BEAT MANKATO, IN THE CROWD WITH HIS DAD.

HE WAS ONE OF THE KIDS THAT ALWAYS HAD BSU STUFF ON.

HE IS A GREAT FOOTBALL PLAYER AS WELL, WAS IN THE ALL-STAR GAME, PUT UP RIDICULOUS NUMBERS AS WELL.

HE THROUGH 4,000 YARDS IN HIS CAREER, 1,000 YARDS RUSHING.

I LIKE HIS LEADERSHIP.

HE WAS THE MVP AND THE ALL-STAR GAME AS WELL.

I GOT A LOT OF RESPECT.

>> Reporter: THEY ALREADY HAD SOLID NUMBERS IN MOST AREAS, BUT THERE WERE A FEW GAPS THAT NEEDED FILLING DUE TO GRADUATION AND THEY CAME NAMELY IN THE DEFENSIVE SECONDARY.

>> WE KNEW WE HAD TO TAKE A LARGER GROUP OF D.B.s THIS YEAR WITH THE GRADUATION OF THE THREE D.B.s WE HAD.

WE HAD THREE ALL CONFERENCE D.B.s.

WE HAVE SOME GUYS IN HOUSE THAT CAN PLAY, BUT THIS IS A GROUP THAT WE JUST NEEDED TO NOT JUST FOCUS ON TALENT, BUT FOCUS ON NUMBERS AS WELL.

>> Charlie: HERE'S A LOOK AT THE OTHER RECRUITING BREAK DOWN, 31 COMMITS FROM 6 DIFFERENT STATES, FULL LINE AND D-LINE WERE THE MOST RECRUITED POSITION.

YOU CAN'T HAVE ENOUGH OF THE BIG GUYS.

>>> HERE ARE THE STATE QUALIFIER FROM THE SECTION 8 MEET FOR THE GIRLS.

A COUPLE OF INDIVIDUALS FROM BEMIDJI, COMPETING IN INDIVIDUAL PURSUIT.

ON THE BOY'S SIDE, BRAINERD WON THE SECTION 8 MEET AND WILL GO TO STATE AS A TEAM.

IN THE INDIVIDUAL PURSUIT, BJORN QUALIFIED AND ELLIOT, FROM LITTLE FALLS, AND THE SPRINT RELAY, AND HE VIE -- LEVY AND COLTON WILL COMPETE FOR BEMIDJI.

>>> AND THE BASKETBALL GAME, I GOT A CHANCE TO CATCH SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS, SEE THE CROWD, UNBELIEVABLE EVENT.

WE WILL HAVE MORE ON THAT TOMORROW NIGHT.

WE'LL HEAR FROM SOME OF THE PLAYERS THAT COMPETED.

>> Dennis: THAT WAS A GREAT EVENT LAST YEAR AND LOOKS LIKE ANOTHER HUGE CROWD.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WHAT YOU HAVE TOMORROW NIGHT.

>> Stacy: I.

>> Charlie: I HEARD IT'S INCREDIBLE.

>> Dennis: THANKS CHARLIE, WE'LL LOOK FOR IT TOMORROW NIGHT.

>>> HAVING A HEALTHY DIET, EXERCISE, AND NOT SMOKING ARE ALL IMPORTANT FOR HEART HEALTH, BUT THERE ARE SOME RISK FACTORS FOR HEART DISEASE THAT HEALTHY LIFESTYLES ALONE CAN'T HELP.

IN TODAY'S HEALTH MINUTE, MANDY GAITHER HAS MORE ON THE IMPORTANCE OF KNOWING YOUR PERSONAL AND FAMILY HEART HEALTH HISTORY AND THREE LESSER-KNOWN HEART HEALTH TESTS THAT CAN HELP DETERMINE RISK.

>> Reporter: LAURIE KNEW HER FAMILY HISTORY, HER MOM HAD HER FIRST HEART ATTACK AT 48, HER GRANDFATHER, UNCLE, AND AUNT ALL DIE IN THEIR EARLY 50s WITH HEART DISEASE.

DESPITE THAT, SHE FIRST DISCOUNT ADD PRESSURE IN HER CHEST AND HANDS THAT WENT NUMB.

>> I HAD A 90% BLOCKAGE IN MY LEFT DESCENDING ARTERY, THE WIDOW MAKER.

>> Reporter: SHE AND HER MOTHER HAD HIGH LEVELS OF LIPOPROTEIN A, WHICH CHOLESTEROL TRAVELS.

IT CAN'T BE CONTROLLED BY HEALTHY EATING OR EXERCISE.

>> THIS IS GENETIC.

YOU HAVE IT OR YOU DON'T.

>> Reporter: THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WITH HIGHER LIPOPROTEIN A LEVELS, BUT FEW ARE TESTED SAYS DR. WESLEY.

>> IT'S A FORM OF BAD CHOLESTEROL THAT IS STILL UNDERGOING INCREASED AWARENESS, BOTH IN THE GENERAL POPULATION AND AMONG HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS.

>> Reporter: TWO OTHER SCREENINGS OF WHICH THOSE WITH GENETIC RISKS SHOULD BE AWARE, AN ULTRASOUND FOR AORTIC ANEURYSMS TO DETECT DAMAGE TO THE BODY'S LARGEST BLOOD VESSEL, AND A C.T.

SCAN THAT CAN DETECT THE HARDENING OF ARTERIES BEFORE SYMPTOMS APPEAR.

EARLY DETECTION IS CRITICAL.

>> IT'S SO WE CAN DEVELOP A PERSONALIZED TREATMENT PLAN TO KEEP THEIR RISK AS LOW AS POSSIBLE.

>> Reporter: KNOWING SHE HAS HIGH LEVELS OF LIPOPROTEIN A HAS GUIDED HER HEALTHCARE DECISIONS AS IT DID FOR HER MOTHER.

>> WE HAVE 25 EXTRA YEARS WITH MY MOM BECAUSE OF THAT TEST.

THAT'S AN INCREDIBLE GIFT.

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

>> Dennis: AND WITH ONE LAST LOOK AT WEATHER, WE HEAD TO STACY.

>> Stacy: LIGHT RAIN WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE AREA, AND LOWS NEAR 40, BREEZY WITH SOUTHEAST WINDS AT 10 TO 25.

LIGHT RAIN CONTINUES TOMORROW, MOSTLY CLOUDY SKIES, HIGHS NEAR 44, AND COLDER TEMPERATURES AS WE HEAD INTO FRIDAY AND SATURDAY, CHANGING RAIN TO SNOW, ESPECIALLY IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA, HIGH TEMPERATURES SHOULD BE IN THE 20s.

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

HAVE A GREAT NIGHT EVERYBODY.

WE'LL SEE YOU TOMORROW.

GOOD NIGHT.

>> Charlie: GOOD NIGHT.

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