>> 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.

>>> A BELTRAMI COUNTY JUDGE HAS GRANTED A TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER AND INJUNCTION FOR THE BEMIDJI EDUCATION ASSOCIATION.

BEMIDJI TEACHERS HAVE WORKED WITHOUT A CONTRACT FOR ALMOST SEVEN MONTHS NOW AND THIS WEEK PICKETED OUTSIDE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OFFICES AND SPOKE AT THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETING.

THE RULING BY JUDGE JOHN MELBYE SAYS THAT ON DECEMBER 18TH, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT ORDERED EMPLOYEES INVOLVED IN A CONTRACT DISPUTE TO CEASE AND DESIST FROM DISTRIBUTING ANY MATERIALS ON SCHOOL GROUNDS WITHOUT APPROVAL FROM THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.

AND ON JANUARY 4TH, THE DISTRICT ORDERED EMPLOYEES TO NO LONGER CONDUCT ANY FURTHER INFORMATIONAL PICKETS ON DISTRICT PROPERTY.

ACCORDING TO COURT DOCUMENTS, MELBYE SAID HE ORDERED THE RESTRAINING ORDER BECAUSE THE DISTRICTS ACTIONS CHILLED EMPLOYEES STATUTORILY PROTECTED ACTIVITIES.

HE WENT ON TO SAY INJUNCTIVE RELIEF IS NECESSARY TO CURE IRREPARABLE HARM TO THE POWER DYNAMICS BETWEEN LABOR AND MANAGEMENT IN THE MIDST OF AN ONGOING LABOR DISPUTE.

THE NEXT HEARING IN THE CASE IS ON MONDAY.

>>> THE BRAINERD JAYCEES ISSUED A PRESS RELEASE REGARDING THE ICE FISHING EXTRAVAGANZA TAKING PLACE ON FEBRUARY 3RD.

DUE TO THE CONDITIONS OF THE ICE ON GULL LAKE, THE CONTEST WILL TRANSITION TO A HYBRID MODEL.

REPORTER SAMMY HOLLADAY SAT DOWN WITH THE CHAIRS OF THE EXTRAVAGANZA TO LEARN MORE.

>> Reporter: THE HYBRID ASPECT OF THE TOURNAMENT IS THAT THE MEASUREMENTS WILL BE TURNED IN ONLINE, AND STILL HAVE A SON SITERING TO HELP PEOPLE WITH THE EVENT.

>> FOR A HYBRID TOURNAMENT, IT'S FOCUSED IN THE BRAINERD LAKES AREA.

WE'RE GOING TO WORK HARD TO GET THE MAP OUT TO PEOPLE SOON.

CONTESTANTS, THEY GET TO CHOOSE THEIR LOCATION WITHIN THIS MAP SYSTEM.

>> Reporter: WHILE THE CONDITIONS FOR THE CONTEST WILL NOT BE IDEAL, IT'S SOMETHING THAT THE JAYCEES HAD TO DO IN THE PAST.

IN 2021, THE EXTRAVAGANZA HAD TO BE MODIFIED BECAUSE OF COVID.

MEASUREMENTS WERE CONDUCTED ONLINE VIA AN APP CALLED THE FISH DONKEY.

>> THROUGH THE APP, YOU ARE ABLE TO DOWNLOAD IT RIGHT NOW AND SEE WHAT IT IS.

YOU WILL FIND THE TOURNAMENT RIGHT THERE AND REGISTER.

IT IS LISTED AS A FREE TOURNAMENT, BUT TO FISH IT, YOU NEED YOUR PHYSICAL TICKET AND ONE OF THE REQUIREMENTS IS THAT YOU HAVE TO TAKE A PICTURE OF YOUR TICKET WITH YOUR FISH PICTURE.

>> Reporter: WITH THE ORIGINAL PLANS FOR THE CONTEST, CONTESTANTS COULD BE SHUTTLED TO GULL LAKE.

THEY MAY NOT HAVE THAT SERVICE THIS YEAR.

>> CURRENTLY THE MAJORITY OF OUR CONTESTANTS MAY NEED TO FIND THEIR OWN TRANSPORTATION, BUT THAT'S SOMETHING WE'RE WORKING WITH VISIT BRAINERD ON, WITH SHUTTLES IN NEARBY HOTELS.

>> Reporter: THE TOURNAMENT BECAME KNOWN AS A NORTHERN PIKE TOURNAMENT BECAUSE OF THE LENGTH OF FISH DETERMINING THE WINNER.

THE JAYCEES FELT A BETTER SYSTEM SHOULD BE PUT IN PLACE WHEN WEIGHT DOES NOT DETERMINE A WINNER.

>> WE ARE ACTUALLY DOING A POINT SYSTEM.

WE'VE USED THIS THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

WHAT IT IS, WE HAVE NORTHERN WALLEYE, CRAPPY, PERCH.

WE HAVE THIS POINT SYSTEM THAT EQUALIZES THE FISH.

>> Reporter: BECAUSE A POINT SYSTEM IS USED, THE PRIZE PLACES WERE ALSO CHANGED FOR THE GRAND PRIZE.

>> WE MOVED SOME OF THE PRIZES AROUND A LITTLE BIT.

THIS IS OUR 2024 ICE FISHING TOURNAMENT, SO 24th PLACE IS A PICKUP TRUCK, SO IT'S NOT 1st.

WE'RE MOVING THINGS AROUND.

THAT HELPS KEEP THINGS REALLY FAIR AND LOT OF FUN.

>> Reporter: REPORTING FROM THE BRAINERD LAKES, SAMMY HOLLADAY, LAKELAND NEWS.

>> THE FINAL LAYOUT OF THE CONTEST AREA HAS NOT YET BEEN FINALIZED.

THE JAYCEES ARE WORKING WITH THE MINNESOTA D.N.R.

AND CROW WING COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO DETERMINE THE APPROPRIATE AREA.

WE WILL UPDATE YOU AS WE LEARN MORE.

>>> FOLLOWING FIVE TERMS IN OFFICE, MILLE LACS BAND OF OJIBWE CHIEF EXECUTIVE MELANIE BENJAMIN HAS ANNOUNCED SHE WILL NOT SEEK RE-ELECTION IN 2024 FIRST ELECTED IN 2000, BENJAMIN IS ONE OF THE LONGEST-SERVING CHIEF EXECUTIVES IN THE BAND'S HISTORY.

BENJAMIN HAS ALSO ACHIEVED NATIONAL PROMINENCE IN HER WORK PROMOTING NATIVE WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP.

BENJAMIN SAYS SHE WILL PASS THE TORCH TO A NEW GENERATION OF LEADERS AS SHE LEAVES A LEGACY SHE IS PROUD WHICH INCLUDES TRIBAL ECONOMIC SUCCESS, TRIBAL SOVEREIGNTY RESTORATION, HOMELANDS PROTECTION, AND LANGUAGE PRESERVATION.

ONE OF THE CENTRAL THEMES OF BENJAMIN'S ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN HER BATTLE TO PROTECT THE BAND'S HOMELANDS AND TRIBAL SOVEREIGNTY AT THE LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL.

SHE HAS AGGRESSIVELY FOUGHT TO PROTECT THE EXISTENCE OF THE BAND'S RESERVATION, DEFEATING CLAIMS BY MILLE LACS COUNTY THAT IT WAS DISESTABLISHED OVER 100 YEARS AGO.

WE'LL HAVE A CLOSER LOOK AT BENJAMIN'S TIME AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS WHILE CHIEF EXECUTIVE NEXT WEEK HERE ON LAKELAND NEWS.

A GENERAL ELECTION FOR THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE ROLE WILL BE HELD ON JUNE 11TH AND THE NEW CHIEF WILL TAKE OFFICE ON JULY 8TH.

>>> APPROXIMATELY 660 GROCERY WORKERS FROM FIVE BRAINERD LAKES AREA GROCERY STORES CONTINUE TO WORK WITHOUT A CONTRACT AFTER REJECTING A CONTRACT OFFER FROM OWNERSHIP OF THOSE STORES LAST WEEK.

WORKERS AT PEQUOT LAKES SUPERVALU CUB FOODS IN BRAINERD AND BAXTER, AND SUPER ONE FOODS IN BAXTER AND CROSBY HAVE BEEN WORKING WITHOUT A COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT SINCE DECEMBER THIRD AND STAGED A FOUR-DAY STRIKE AROUND CHRISTMASTIME.

THEY SAID IN A PRESS RELEASE LAST WEEK THAT THEY OVERWHELMINGLY VOTED TO REJECT THEIR EMPLOYERS' OFFERS FOR A SECOND TIME.

WORKERS SAY THEY ARE FIGHTING FOR BETTER WAGES AND BENEFITS TO BUILD A BETTER LIFE AT WORK AND BETTER SERVE THE COMMUNITIES THAT RELY ON THEM.

THEY SAY EMPLOYER PROPOSALS CONTINUE TO LEAVE THE MOST VULNERABLE PART TIME WORKERS BEHIND AND HAVE NOT KEPT UP WITH INFLATION AND RISING COSTS OF LIVING IN THE BRAINERD LAKES AREA.

TONIGHT, WE HAVE REACTION FROM THE OWNERSHIP OF THOSE STORES.

IN A PRESS RELEASE SENT TO LAKELAND NEWS, THE OWNERS OF SUPERONE FOOD, CUB FOODS AND SUPERVALU SAY THAT FOR MORE THAN 35 YEARS THEY HAVE WORKED TOGETHER ON 15-PLUS COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS WITH THE LOCAL 6-6-3 UNION.

THE STATEMENT SAYS THAT THEY ARE HURT AND SURPRISED BY THE DAMAGING TACTICS BEING USED BY THE UNIONS NEW LEADERSHIP.

THEY SAY THAT THEIR LAST OFFER WAS THEIR FINAL OFFER AND PROVIDES FOR MORE THAN A 15-PERCENT INCREASE IN WAGES AND BENEFITS FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES OVER THE PROPOSED TWO YEARS OF THE CONTRACT.

THEY SAY THE OFFER IS FAR AND AWAY THE HIGHEST OFFER THEY'VE EVER MADE TO ANY LOCAL UNION THEY DO BUSINESS WITH AND IT IS THEIR MOST SIGNIFICANT OFFER THEY'VE EVER MADE WITH LOCAL 6-6-3.

THE PRESS RELEASE NOTES IT INCLUDES SIGNIFICANT WAGE INCREASES FOR ALL EMPLOYEES, NO INCREASE IN HEALTH AND WELFARE COSTS TO EMPLOYEES ELIGIBILITY FOR PAID TIME OFF, BEREAVEMENT LEAVE AND JURY DUTY PAY.

AND HOLIDAY PAY FOR BAGGERS, CARRYOUT, CUSTODIAL, AND GENERAL CLEANUP EMPLOYEES.

THE UNION SAYS IT IS REQUESTING FUTURE BARGAINING DATES.

WHILE OWNERSHIP SAYS THEY REMAIN COMMITTED TO RESPECTFUL AND RESPONSIBLE NEGOTIATIONS WITH UNION LEADERSHIP.

>>> THE BELTRAMI COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS AND THE OPIOID STEERING COMMITTEE WOULD LIKE TO INVITE COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO SUBMIT A REQUEST FOR FUNDING APPLICATION AFTER MINNESOTA'S STATE ATTORNEY, KEITH ELLISON, SETTLED WITH TEEVA, ALLERGEN, C.V.S., AND WALGREENS.

THE STATE OF MINNESOTA NOW HAS ACCESS TO $568 MILLION.

THE OPIOID STEERING COMMITTEE WANTS TO ALLOCATE THESE FUNDS BACK INTO THE COUNTIES WHERE THE FRONT-LINE WORKERS ARE DOING THE WORK TO FIGHT OPIOID ADDICTION.

SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS OF THIS GRANT WILL BE WORKING TO MAKE A SUSTAINABLE IMPACT THROUGH ACTIVITIES THAT SUPPORT HARM REDUCTION, PREVENTION, CRIMINAL JUSTICE, TREATMENT AND RECOVERY.

>> ONE WAY THAT YOU CAN ACCESS THE GRANT WOULD BE GOING TO BELTRAMI COUNTY'S WEBSITE ON OUR MAIN PAGE.

THERE IS A BOX ON THE BOTTOM OF THE SCREEN THAT HAS A PICTURE OF THE ADVERTISEMENT AND FOLLOWING THAT ADVERTISEMENT IS ALSO THE APPLICATION.

YOU CAN PRINT OUT THAT APPLICATION AND FILL IT OUT AND SUBMIT IT TO ME.

MY CONTACT INFORMATION IS ON THERE.

>> APPLICATIONS ARE DUE BY FEBRUARY 29, 2024 AND THE RECIPIENTS OF THE OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUNDS WILL BE NOTIFIED BY APRIL 22, 2024.

>>> THE GORDON ROSENMEIER CENTER FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AT CENTRAL LAKES COLLEGE APPOINTED JIM RUSSELL AS PRESIDENT LAST WEEK.

RUSSELL WILL BE SUCCEEDING OUTGOING PRESIDENT MIKE O'ROURKE IN THE ROLE.

RUSSELL, WHO ALSO SERVES AS THE CLC MEN'S BASKETBALL COACH AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION INSTRUCTOR, SAID HE LOOKS FORWARD TO CONTINUING THE WORK OF THE CENTER 34 YEARS IN THE MAKING.

>> I JOINED THE BOARD A FEW YEARS AGO AND MY MAIN PURPOSE OF JOINING THE BOARD WAS TO BE INVOLVE WITH THE COMMITTEE AND EDUCATING PEOPLE AROUND HERE ABOUT JUST LIFE AND ALL THE NEWS THAT COMES IN AND OUT AND I LOVED IT.

TO JUST HEAR ALL THE BACKGROUNDS AND HEAR ALL THE MEMBERS THAT KNOW SO MUCH ABOUT POLITICS AND KNOW SO MUCH ABOUT THE AREA, THE REGION, IT'S SOMETHING I ALWAYS WANTED TO DO, I ALWAYS WANTED TO LEARN.

>> THE ROSENMEIER CENTER WILL BE HOSTING A FORUM THIS UPCOMING WEDNESDAY WITH MINNESOTA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MEMBER DEAN URDAHL FROM THE CHALBERG THEATRE AT 7:00 P.M. [♪♪♪] >> STILL TO COME ON LAKELAND NEWS AT 10:00.

[♪♪♪] >> Stacy: WE'LL HAVE AREAS OF FOG AGAIN TONIGHT AND SOME DENSE FOG IS POSSIBLE.

WE HAVE A DENSE FOG ADVISORY FOR PARTS OF THE VIEWING AREA.

WE'LL HAVE A LOOK IN A FEW MINUTES.

>> AND COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK, BEMIDJI STATE UNIVERSITY SNOWBALL DANCE EVENT IS HAPPENING THIS SATURDAY AND I SAT DOWN WITH THE INSTRUCTORS AND >> 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.

>>> BEMIDJI STATE UNIVERSITY'S BALLROOM AND SWING DANCE CLUBS WILL HOLD A SNOW-BALL DINNER AND DANCE FROM 6:00 TO 11:00 P.M.

THIS SATURDAY.

FOR MORE ON THAT STORY WE WILL GO TO OUR REPORTER MATTHEW FREEMAN WHO HAD A CHANCE TO TALK WITH SOME OF THE INSTRUCTORS AND STUDENTS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE EVENT.

>> Reporter: THIS IS THE SCHOOL OF DANCE, A PLACE WHERE BEMIDJI STATE STUDENTS ARE FREE TO COME AND DANCE THEIR DESIRES AWAY.

>> SO THIS BUILDING IS OUR PERSONAL STUDIO.

ON FRIDAY NIGHTS, WE INVITE ALL THE COLLEGE KIDS TO COME OUT FOR FREE AND JUST DANCE.

IT'S OPEN TO THE CAMPUS.

WE GET A LOT OF OUR BALLROOM KIDS AND OUR SWING CLUB KIDS.

THEY'RE JUST PRACTICING AND GOOFING OFF.

>> Reporter: AS PART OF THEIR 75th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION, THE BSU SNOWBALL WAS AIMED TO RAISE MONEY FOR BSU STUDENTS AND NOWED -- NOW THE BALLROOM, DANCE CLUB HAVE JOINED FORCES.

>> THEY GO OUT AND THEY HAVE THIS CONFIDENCE AND THEY CAN DRESS WELL AND THEY HAVE A WONDERFUL ETIQUETTE.

THEY CAN SHAKE HANDS, IN ADDITION TO DANCE A WALTZ, TWO STEP, JITTERBUG.

IT'S REALLY BUILDING A COMMUNITY.

>> Reporter: THIS TIME WILL BE DIFFERENT.

SINCE THE SNOWBALL WILL BE HELD IN THE STUDIO WHERE THE KIDS ARE TAUGHT, A STUDIO MEANS THAT WHOLE LOT TO THE OWNERS.

>> WE DEDICATED OUR LIFE AND MISSION TO DOING THIS, IN THE COMMUNITY.

IN THE END, WHETHER THEY'RE COMMUNITY MEMBERS OR CAMPUS MEMBERS, WE GET THE BEST STUDENTS AND THEY CAN GO TO THEIR COMMUNITY AND SPREAD WHAT WE GAVE THEM.

>> Reporter: THIS IS OPEN TO ANYONE AND EVERYONE THAT WANTS TO KNOW HOW TO DANCE.

>> IT'S A COMMUNITY.

WE BUILD A COMMUNITY.

THE PEOPLE WE MET DOING THIS, WE STAYED IN TOUCH WITH FOR 30 YEARS.

>> THEY'RE SO NICE, THEY'RE SO AWESOME, AND YOU MEET SO MANY GREAT PEOPLE.

THEY ALL HAVE GREAT, GREAT PERSONALITIES, SO MANY UNIQUE PEOPLE.

IT'S BEEN A REALLY FUN EXPERIENCE.

>> Reporter: THIS BLACK TIE EVENT IS A FUNDRAISER FOR BSU'S DANCE CLUB.

FUNDS RAISED WILL GO TOWARDS DANCE EXPENSES, CLUB APPAREL AND MORE.

>> THERE IS LIVE DANCING A LIVE BAND AND FOOD.

IT WILL BE A FUN EVENT.

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

>> TICKETS FOE THE DANCE COST $100 PER PERSON.

THOSE UNABLE TO ATTEND ARE ENCOURAGED TO DONATE BY CLICKING REGISTER NOW ON THE SNOW-BALL PAGE AND SELECTING A DESIRED AMOUNT.

>>> WELL, SPEAKING OF SNOWBALL STACY, NOT MUCH TIME LEFT TO MAKE SNOWBALLS FOR REAL.

>> Stacy: NOT WITH TEMPERATURES LIKE WE HAVE BEEN SEEING AND WILL CONTINUE TO SEE AS WE HEAD INTO THE REST OF THIS MONTH AND EVEN INTO THE BEGINNING OF FEBRUARY.

FOR TONIGHT, WE'RE GOING TO SEE AREAS OF FOG.

WE COULD SEE DENSE FOG IN THE AREA AND THERE IS AN ADVISORY OUT >> 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: IT WAS CLOUDY AND FOGGY ACROSS THE AREA TODAY, TEMPERATURES IN THE UPPER 20s AND INTO THE 30s ACROSS ALL OF NORTHERN AND CENTRAL MINNESOTA.

NOW AS WE LOOK AT WHAT WE ARE EXPECTING OVERNIGHT TONIGHT, STILL CLOUDY, AND WE'RE GOING TO SEE AREAS OF FOG.

WE COULD SEE DENSE FOG IN SOME PARTS OF THE AREA SO THERE IS AN ADVISORY ISSUED THROUGH TOMORROW MORNING.

BEYOND THAT, MORE CLOUD COVER AS WE HEAD INTO TOMORROW, BUT TEMPERATURES STILL REMAINING MILD.

RIGHT NOW IN BEMIDJI, IT'S 28 DEGREES.

AT THE AIRPORT, WINDS ARE CALM AND THE DEW POINT IS AT 28.

WE HAVE 100% HUMIDITY.

IN BRAINERD, CLOUDY WITH AREAS OF FOG, 34 DEGREES, THE DEW POINT IS 31, PRESSURE IS STEADY AND WINDS ARE NORTH AT 5 MILES PER HOUR.

A DENSE FOG ADVISORY IS OUT FOR MUCH OF CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST MINNESOTA UNTIL 10:00 A.M. ON FRIDAY, WE WILL SEE SOME AREAS OF DENSE FOG, VISIBILITY WILL BE REDUCED TO POTENTIALLY A QUARTER MILE OR LESS AT TIMES WITHIN THE DENSE FOG.

SO AGAIN THAT WILL BE EFFECTING ANY TRAVEL CONDITIONS WE HAVE TONIGHT AND TOMORROW MORNING.

ON THE RADAR, IT'S QUIET.

WE HAVE SOME LIGHT PRECIPITATION OUT THERE THAT IS NOT SHOWING UP ON THE RADAR.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE LIGHT FREEZING DRIZZLE IN PARTS OF WESTERN MINNESOTA.

SO AGAIN, KEEP THAT IN MIND TONIGHT AND TOMORROW MORNING, ROADS COULD BE SLICK WITH THOSE CONDITIONS.

FOR TOMORROW, ONCE THAT IS OVER, WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE THE CLOUD COVER.

MILD TEMPERATURES AND ONCE AGAIN WE COULD SEE PATCHY FOG THROUGHOUT THE DAY.

WEATHER SHOTS TO SHARE WITH YOU TONIGHT, AND ALL OF OUR EAGLE EYES REPORTING FOGGY CONDITIONS TODAY, DEBRA FROM LAKE ADA, ARLENE IN MENAHGA, AND ANGELA AT CASS LAKE WITH THOSE PHOTOS.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING THOSE TONIGHT.

FOR OUR EAGLE EYE REPORTS, BOB IN BLUFFTON REPORTING CLOUDY SKIES WITH A BIT OF FOG.

STEPHANIE IN BRAINERD, OVERCAST AND FOG.

ARLENE IN MENAHGA, FOGGY THIS EVENING.

ARLENE IN LONGVILLE, CLOUDY SKIES, A HIGH OF 34.

ANGELA AT CASS LAKE, CLOUDY WITH A HIGH OF 33.

ON OUR ALMANAC, BRAINERD REACHING A HIGH OF 36 TODAY, SO WE ARE WELL ABOVE OUR AVERAGE HIGH TEMPERATURE WE WOULD EXPECT TO SEE THE HIGHS AROUND 22.

32 WAS OUR LOW, AND SUNSET AT 5:10.

IN BEMIDJI, WE REACHED A HIGH OF 29, SO WE'RE MORE THAN 10 DEGREES ABOVE AVERAGE AND OUR LOW TEMPERATURE, NOT MUCH DIFFERENT AT 28.

HERE'S A LOOK AT OUR FORECAST FOR TOMORROW, IT'S GOING TO BE ANOTHER CLOUDY DAY AND WE COULD SEE SOME PATCHY FOG THROUGHOUT THE DAY.

THERE IS A SLIGHT CHANCE FOR FREEZING DRIZZLE IN THE MORNING IN THE WESTERN HALF OF OUR VIEWING AREA WITH HIGHS IN THE LOW 30s AS WE HEAD INTO THE CENTRAL PART OF THE STATE, CLOUDY SKIES, AREAS OF FOG, AND FREEZING DRIZZLE AROUND THE WADENA AREA.

SO OUR FORECAST, CLOUDY WITH FOG AND SOME FREEZING FOG TONIGHT, AS WELL AS SOME LIGHT FREEZING DRIZZLE IN THE WEST, LOWS NEAR 27.

TOMORROW, MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH AREAS OF FOG AND THAT PRECIPITATION CONTINUING IN THE WEST IN THE MORNING, HIGHS NEAR 33.

LOOKING AT THE WEEKEND FORECAST, WE MAY SEE A BIT OF SUNSHINE ON SATURDAY WITH PARTLY TO MOSTLY SUNNY SKIES, BUT THE CLOUDS WILL START TO ROLL IN AS WE HEAD INTO SUNDAY, HIGHS ON SUNDAY NEAR 36, AND THEY ONLY GET WARMER FROM THERE.

IT LOOKS LIKE THERE IS STILL A LOT OF CLOUD COVER BUT A FEW GLIMPSES OF SUNSHINE MONDAY AND TUESDAY.

>> Dennis: THANKS STACY.

CHARLIE IS HERE WITH OUR LOCAL SPORTS.

BRAINERD BOYS BASKETBALL.

>> Charlie: YES, THEY ARE PLAYING SAINT CLOUD TECH.

IT CAME DOWN TO THE WIRE.

WE HAVE THE HIGHLIGHTS AND WE'LL SHOW YOU WHAT HAPPENED.

WE HAVE HOCKEY AND A LOCAL COMMIT FROM PEQUOT LAKES.

>> SPORTS ON LAKELAND NEWS IS SPONSORED IN PART BY PAUL BUNYAN COMMUNICATIONS; SPECIAL GUESTS PIXAR ANIMATION STUDIOS.

APPLICATIONS ONLINE AT GIGA TEX.

>> THE GOLDEN APPLE IS SPONSORED BY CROW WING POWER.

WHEN LIFE GETS BUSY, WE KNOW YOU DEPEND ON US TO KEEP UP, SO YOU CAN TOO.

MORE AT CW POWER.COM.

>> AND NOW YOUR LOCAL SPORTS WITH CHARLIE YAEGER.

[♪♪♪] >>> BRAINERD BOYS BASKETBALL HAVE HAD AN UP AND DOWN SEASON.

CURRENTLY SITTING AT 7-7 ON THE YEAR.

BUT AFTER A CLOSE LOSS TO THIRD RANKED MINNETONKA JUST OVER A WEEK AGO, THE WARRIORS REBOUNDED WITH BACK-TO-BACK VICTORIES AND HAVE A CHANCE TO MAKE IT THREE TONIGHT, WHICH WOULD BE THEIR LONGEST WIN STREAK OF THE SEASON.

BRAINERD AT HOME TIPPING OFF AGAINST ST.

CLOUD TECH.

THE TIGERS COME IN RANKED 16TH IN CLASS 3A.

THE FOURTH RANKED TEAM THE WARRIORS HAVE FACED THIS SEASON.

TIGHT GAME, SWEET TOUCH ON THE FLOATER.

BRAINERD LEADS 66-63.

THEN FERGUSON FROM WAY DOWNTOWN, CASHES THE TRAY, AND HE LED ALL SCORERS.

THEY TIE IT.

BRAINERD DOWN 2 NOW, ELI IS GOING TO TAKE IT HIMSELF, GETS THE THREE, OR GETS THREE THE HARD WAY.

THEY WILL HIT THEIR FREE THROWS DOWN THE STRETCH AND THEY WIN A THRILLER OVER ST.

CLOUD TECH.

IT'S THEIR FIRST RANKED WIN THIS SEASON.

PEQUOT LAKES BEATS MORA.

PARK RAPIDS GETS THE BETTER OF AITKIN ON THE GIRLS SIDE.

GIRLS PEQUOT LAKES GETS THE WIN OVER MORA.

>>> IN GIRLS HOCKEY, NORTHERN LAKES HOSTING INTERNATIONAL FALLS AT THE WALKER COMMUNITY CENTER TONIGHT, TRYING TO BUILD ON THEIR WIN OVER MORRIS/BENSON AREA ON TUESDAY.

LIGHTNING TRYING TO STRIKE FIRST.

TRYING TO POKE IN THE LOOSE PUCK, SHE ENDS THE NIGHT WITH A HAT-TRICK.

NOW LATER IN THE THIRD PERIOD, SHOT SAVED, AND NOW PICKING UP THE TRASH, AND NORTHERN LAKES TAKES A 2-0 LEAD.

LIGHTNING CONTINUES TO DOMINATE.

AND HE GOES 5-0 AFTER RIPPING IT FROM THE BLUE LINE.

NORTHERN LAKES WINS 8-1 OVER INTERNATIONAL FALLS.

THEY HAVE OUT SCORED THEIR OPPONENT 15-4 IN THAT STRETCH.

>>> BEMIDJI BEATS EAST GRAND FORKS IN GIRLS HOCKEY.

ROSETTA BEATS ROSEAU.

WE WILL SEE THOSE TEAMS ON SATURDAY.

LAKE OF THE WOODS, THAT'S THE FIRST HIGH SCHOOL GAME OF THE HOCKEY DAY, AND THEY WIN.

MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES GETS A CLOSE WIN.

AND IN THE NHL, THE PREDATORS ARE ABLE TO COME BACK AND BEAT THE WILD.

>>> NOW BEMIDJI STATE VOLLEYBALL ANNOUNCED THEY WILL BE ADDING GRACE OF -- HOFFORD.

SHE HELP CAPTAIN THE PATRIOTS TO THEIR FIRST STATE TITLE IN VOLLEYBALL, EARNING NUMEROUS HONORS, INCLUDING ALL CONFERENCE, ALL STATE TOURNAMENT, AMONG OTHERS.

SO THAT'S QUITE AN ADDITION.

>> Dennis: TWO FROM PEQUOT LAKES.

THEY HAVE THE WINNING TRADITION.

>> Charlie: THEY DO RIGHT NOW.

>> Dennis: THANKS CHARLIE.

BEMIDJI HIGH SCHOOL'S VOCALMOTIVE SHOW CHOIR STARTED THE 2024 SEASON WITH A GRAND CHAMPION TITLE.

FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS, THE BHS VOCALMOTIVE SHOW CHOIR HAS BEEN GOING TO ONALASKA, WISCONSIN, AND DEFENDING THEIR TITLE AS THE BEST SHOW CHOIR OF NORTHERN MINNESOTA.

REPORTER ZY'RIAH SIMMONS GOT A BEHIND-THE-SCENES LOOK AT REHEARSALS FOR THIS WEEK'S GOLDEN APPLE.

>> Reporter: EVERY YEAR AT THE BEGINNING OF JANUARY, BEMIDJI HIGH SCHOOL BEGINS THEIR COMPETITION SEASON, WHERE THE STUDENTS PREP FROM SEPTEMBER TO JANUARY TO TRY TO TAKE HOME THE GRAND CHAMPION TITLE.

IT HAS NOT BEEN ANYTHING NEW TO THEM.

>> SO THIS IS NOTHING NEW, TAKING HOME A GRAND CHAMP.

WE TOOK ONE THIS YEAR.

LAST YEAR, THEY TOOK ONE IN ONALASKA, AND THE YEAR BEFORE THAT.

THIS IS ABOUT THREE YEARS IN A ROW THAT WE HAVE TAKEN HOME A GRAND CHAMPIONSHIP AT ONALASKA.

>> Reporter: THE STUDENTS QUICKLY ADJUSTED TO THE NEW DIRECTOR AND CHOREOGRAPHY AND DID WHAT HAD TO BE DONE TO TAKE HOME THE TITLE FROM THE 2024 ONALASKA SHOW CHOIR CLASSIC.

>> I AM SO EXCITED THAT OUR TEAM GOT TO EXPERIENCE THAT THIS YEAR, ESPECIALLY WITH ALL THE CHANGES.

I THINK EVERYONE WAS UPLIFTED BY THAT AMAZING ACCOMPLISHMENT THAT WE GOT.

>> I THINK THEY ADJUSTED TO THE ROUTINE THAT I BRING EVERYDAY TO REHEARSAL, SO WE START OUT IN THE CHOIR ROOM WITH A WARM UP AND THEN WE COME ON STAGE WITH THE BAND AND THEN CLEAN THINGS LITTLE BY LITTLE.

>> I WOULD SAY I FEEL MOSTLY HAPPINESS FOR THIS BEING MY SENIOR TEAM AND SENIOR YEAR, JUST HELPING THE TEAMWORK THROUGH THESE CHANGES THAT THEY HAVE GONE THROUGH.

>> Reporter: THE BEMIDJI HIGH SCHOOL SHOW CHOIR DIDN'T JUST WIN A TITLE, BUT THEY GAINED A COMMUNITY OF FRIENDSHIP.

>> WE'LL ALWAYS REMEMBER THE COMMUNITY THAT SHOW CHOIR HAS CREATED FOR ME.

I CREATED SOME OF MY FAVORITE MEMORIES IN SHOW CHOIR AND THE BEST RELATIONSHIPS WITH FRIENDS.

>> REALLY THE ATMOSPHERE AND THE FRIENDS I MADE IN THIS GROUP ARE ONES THAT I WILL PROBABLY KNOW MY LIFETIME.

>> Reporter: COMING TO AN END, GUNNAR EXPRESSES HOW THE STORY OF MOVING AWAY AND COMING BACK TO WHAT IS HOME.

>> I THINK THIS SHOW IS SOMETHING THAT WILL REALLY RESONATE WITH THE COMMUNITY.

THE WHOLE PREMISE OF THE SHOW IS SOMETHING THAT IS VERY PERSONAL TO ME, HAVING LEFT BEMIDJI AND NOW HAVING COME HOME TO IT.

IT DEALS WITH THE COMPLEX FEELINGS OF LEAVING HOME AND HOW WE FEEL WHEN WE LEAVE AND WHAT IT'S LIKE TO COME BACK.

SO WE HAVE SOME LYRICS THAT WE HOPE THE HOMETOWN CROWD WILL RESONATE WITH IN OUR CLOSER SONG, KIND OF ABOUT BEMIDJI AND THE FREEZING COLD TEMPERATURES THAT WE EXPERIENCE AND PAUL AND BABE AND THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER AND IT'S CLOSE TO MY HEART.

THESE KIDS HAVE DONE A WONDERFUL JOB.

>> REPORTING IN BEMIDJI WITH THIS WEEK'S GOLDEN APPLE, I'M ZY'RIAH SIMMONS, LAKELAND NEWS.

>> BEMIDJI HIGH SCHOOL VOCALMOTIVE NEXT PERFORMANCE WILL BE AT THE POP CONCERT ON FEBRUARY 26TH AT 7:30 P.M. >>> WE HAVE TIME FOR ANOTHER LOOK AT OUR WEATHER.

LET'S GO OVER TO STACY.

>> Stacy: WE WILL BE SEEING AREAS OF FOG TONIGHT, SOME DENSE FOG IS POSSIBLE IN CENTRAL AND PARTS OF NORTHEAST MINNESOTA.

A DENSE FOG ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10:00 ON FRIDAY MORNING.

WE COULD SEE VISIBILITIES REDUCED TO A QUARTER MILE OR LESS.

CLOUDY SKIES TONIGHT, AND FREEZING FOG.

THERE IS A SLIGHT CHANCE OF LIGHT FREEZING DRIZZLE ACROSS WESTERN MINNESOTA.

LOWS NEAR 27.

LOOKING AT TOMORROW, MOSTLY CLOUDY, STILL GOING TO BE SEEING AREAS OF FOG AND THERE IS THE SLIGHT CHANCE OF THAT LIGHT FREEZING DRIZZLE IN WESTERN MINNESOTA IN THE MORNING, HIGH TEMPERATURES NEAR 33.

LOOKING AHEAD, WE MAY SEE A LITTLE BIT OF SUNSHINE, ESPECIALLY AS WE START THE WEEKEND ON SATURDAY, HIGHS NEAR 32.

MORE CLOUD COVER, BUT AGAIN A FEW GLIMPSES OF SUNSHINE AS WE HEAD INTO NEXT WEEK, BUT TEMPERATURES WILL BE EVEN WARMER, 36 ON SUNDAY, COULD BE UP TO 38 ON TUESDAY.

>> Dennis: THAT'S THE LAST WEEK OF JANUARY -- I THINK IT IS.

>> Charlie: YEAH.

WE'RE ALMOST THERE.

LITTLE FALLS SECURED THE WIN OVER FOLEY TONIGHT.

LITTLE FALLS IS RANKED IN THEIR CLASS AND THEY HAD QUITE A SEASON.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THEM.

>> Dennis: YEAH, WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT PLAYOFFS SOON.

>> Charlie: YEAH, IT'S COMING UP.

>> Dennis: WE'RE OUT OF TIME, HAVE A GREAT NIGHT EVERYBODY.

>> Charlie: GOOD NIGHT.

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