>> 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.

[♪♪♪] >> Matthew: HEY EVERYONE, THANK YOU FOR WATCHING TONIGHT.

I'M MATTHEW FREEMAN FILLING IN FOR DENNIS WEIMANN WITH YOUR LAKELAND NEWS.

[♪♪♪] >>> A WOMAN HAS BEEN PRONOUNCED DEAD AFTER BEING INVOLVED IN A TWO-VEHICLE CAR CRASH YESTERDAY IN ITASCA COUNTY.

ACCORDING TO THE MINNESOTA STATE PATROL, A JAGUAR DRIVEN BY A 16-YEAR-OLD WAS HEADED NORTH-BOUND ON HIGHWAY 1-69 APPROACHING COUNTY-ROAD 15 IN THE CITY OF TACONITE, WHEN A SUV DRIVEN BY 87-YEAR-OLD ELINOR BELLEFY CROSSED ONTO COUNTY ROAD 15 AND FAILED TO YIELD TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC, AND WAS STRUCK BY THE JAGUAR IN A T-BONE STYLE CRASH.

THE 16-YEAR-OLD WAS TAKEN TO GRAND ITASCA EMERGENCY ROOM WITH NON-LIFE-THREATENING INJURIES.

>>> STATE LEGISLATORS ARE REVIEWING A BILL THAT WOULD TRANSFER WHITE EARTH FOREST LAND OWNERSHIP TO THE WHITE EARTH TRIBE.

THE TRIBE IS SEEKING THE RIGHT TO MANAGE THE LANDS AND HAS PROMISED TO KEEP THEM ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE.

HOWEVER, SOME OF THE NEARBY COUNTIES ARE NOT IN FAVOR OF THE PROPOSED BILL.

REPORTER ZY'RIAH SIMMONS HAD THE CHANCE TO SPEAK WITH CHAIRMEN MICHEAL FAIRBANKS ON HIS THOUGHTS ON THE SENATE ENVIRONMENT, CLIMATE, AND LEGACY COMMITTEE TABLING THE BILL FOR NOW.

>> Reporter: THE COMMITTEE RECENTLY VOTED TO TABLE A PROPOSAL TO TRANSFER WHITE EARTH LAND TO THE WHITE EARTH NATION.

MANY RESIDENTS TRAVELED TO THE CAPITAL TO MAKE THEIR CASE.

EVENTUALLY THE DEMOCRATS DECIDED TO SET THE BILL ASIDE AFTER REPUBLICANS WHO OPPOSED THE EFFORT SOUGHT TO BLOCK IT OUTRIGHT.

>> WE HAD SOME TESTIMONY LAST WEEK, LAST THURSDAY WE WERE AT THE SENATE AND THE BILL GOT CABLED OF COURSE, BUT IT DIDN'T DIE THERE.

HOPEFULLY IT MOVES ON TO THIS FOLLOWING WEEK OR NEXT WEEK.

>> Reporter: MICHAEL FAIRBANKS DESCRIBES THE WHITE EARTH NATION AS A STATE WITHIN A STATE.

THE TRIBAL NATION HAS ITS OWN FOREST DEPARTMENT AND D.N.R.

THE GOAL OF THE NATION IS NOT TO TAKE AWAY BUT TO KEEP THE LANDS OPEN FOR EVERYONE AS IT HAS BEEN.

>> WE WANT OUR PARKS AND TRAILS TO BE OPEN FOR ALL THE PUBLIC.

WE HAVE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH THE SNOWMOBILERS.

WE HAVE TRAILS THAT COME THROUGH OUR RESERVATION, THE HEART OF OUR RESERVATION.

YOU KNOW, WE WORK WITH EVERYONE.

ONE OF THE THINGS I REALLY LIKE TO PROMOTE IS MULTI-USE TRAILS LIKE THEY HAVE IN AND AROUND THE MINNESOTA LAKE.

THE STATE PARK HAS MULTI-USE TRAILS.

THESE ARE THINGS I'M LOOKING AT AND LOOKING FORWARD TO FOR NOT ONLY OUR MEMBERSHIP TO UTILIZE, BUT ALL OF OUR NEIGHBORS.

>> Reporter: ACCORDING TO THE WHITE EARTH NATION, THE BILL IS TO MANAGE THE FOREST RESOURCES IN AN ENVIRONMENTAL POSITIVE MANNER FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PRESENT AND FUTURE.

>> I'M HERE TO HELP AND WE'RE HERE TO PRESERVE THIS AREA FOR YEARS TO COME.

YOU KNOW, IT'S FOR THE NEXT SAY 7 GENERATIONS, YOU KNOW.

THAT'S WHAT IT IS ABOUT, PRESERVATION AND KEEPING THIS LAND INTACT FOR EVERYONE TO SEE THE BEAUTY OF THE FOREST.

>> Reporter: REPORTING IN WHITE EARTH NATION, I'M ZY'RIAH SIMMONS, LAKELAND NEWS.

>> IF THE BILL IS SIGNED INTO LAW, THE TRANSFER WON'T HAPPEN UNTIL 2029.

>>> PEOPLE IN THE LITTLE FALLS AREA MAY SEE SOME SMOKE IN THE AIR OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.

THAT IS BECAUSE THE CRANE MEADOWS NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE IS PLANNING A SERIES OF PRESCRIBED BURNS TO BE CONDUCTED DURING THE SPRING SEASON TO HELP MAINTAIN THE NATURAL HABITATS FOR WILDLIFE AND REDUCE THE CHANCE OF WILDFIRES OUTSIDE OF THE REFUGE.

THESE PRESCRIBED BURNS RESTORE THE NATURAL ECOSYSTEM BY ACCOMPLISHING SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES FOR VEGETATION AND WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT.

THE OAK SAVANNA ECOSYSTEM IS ADAPTED TO FIRE AND DEPENDS ON PERIODIC BURNING FOR CONTINUED EXISTENCE.

ALTHOUGH THESE PRESCRIBED BURNS HAPPEN ANNUALLY, THE SAME AREAS ARE NOT BURNED YEAR AFTER YEAR.

PRESCRIBED BURNS AT CRANE MEADOWS NATIONAL FOREST REFUGE ARE PLANNED TO BE CONDUCTED IN APRIL AND MAY, OR IN THE FALL AND WINTER, WHEN THE WEATHER AND SAFETY CONDITIONS ARE RIGHT TO MEET THE OBJECTIVES OF THE BURNS.

>>> BEMIDJI'S NORTHWOODS PREGNANCY CENTER HAS STARTED THEIR CAPITAL CAMPAIGN “HERE FOR LIFE, HERE TO STAY, ” IN THE FACILITY THEY HAVE BEEN IN SINCE JULY 2020.

AFTER THE PREGNANCY CENTER MOVED INTO THE NEW BUILDING THE NUMBER OF FAMILIES THEY SUPPORTED WENT FROM 90 FAMILIES IN 2019 TO 246 FAMILIES IN 2023.

THE NORTHWOOD PREGNANCY CENTER HAS BEEN SERVING THE BEMIDJI COMMUNITY SINCE 2012.

IT HAS OPERATED IN THREE DIFFERENT LOCATIONS, BUT THIS NEW LOCATION HAS MADE THE CENTER MORE ACCESSIBLE.

AFTER BEING PRESENTED WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO PURCHASE THE BUILDING THAT THE PREGNANCY CENTER CURRENTLY OCCUPIES, THEY HAD TO DECIDE WHETHER TO BUY OR MOVE TO A NEW LOCATION.

>> BECAUSE OF THE GIRLS WE'VE SEEN, THE CLIENTS THAT WE'VE GAINED, WE DECIDED THAT IT WOULD BE BEST TO STAY IN OUR LOCATION.

>> WE'RE TRYING TO RAISE THE PURCHASE PRICE AMOUNT OF $500,000, SO THAT CAMPAIGN ENDS MAY 31st.

>> Matthew: SO FAR THE PREGNANCY CENTER RAISED $150,000 FOR ITS CAMPAIGN.

>>> AFTER CONTROVERSY SURROUNDING A LAW THAT WAS IMPLEMENTED LAST YEAR REGARDING SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS, THE MINNESOTA SENATE ON MONDAY HAS ADVANCED A PROPOSAL THAT CLARIFIES THE USE-OF-FORCE PRACTICES FOR S.R.O.'S.

THE ISSUE FROM LAST YEAR'S BILL WAS REGARDING A SMALL SECTION BANNING S.R.O.

'S FROM USING CERTAIN HOLDS THAT COULD INTERFERE WITH A STUDENT'S ABILITY TO BREATHE OR VOICE THEIR DISTRESS, UNLESS THAT STUDENT POSED A SERIOUS RISK.

DUE TO THE LANGUAGE OF THAT BILL, SOME LAW ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENTS BEGAN PULLING S.R.O.

'S FOR LIABILITY CONCERNS.

THE BILL THAT WAS PASSED ON MONDAY EXPANDS THE DEFINITION FOR REASONABLE FORCE, INCLUDING THEFT, DAMAGE, OR DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY WHILE STILL PROHIBITING USING HOLDS THAT PUT WEIGHT ON A STUDENT LIKE THE LAW FROM LAW YEAR REQUIRED.

S.R.O.

'S CANNOT BE USED TO DISCIPLINE STUDENTS FOR VIOLATING SCHOOL POLICY, AND WILL ALSO BE REQUIRED TO TRAIN IN SUBJECTS LIKE DE-ESCALATION AND HOW TO RESPOND TO MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS.

THIS BILL PASSED THE HOUSE LAST WEEK.

IT WILL NOW GO TO COMMITTEE AFTER AN AMENDMENT WAS ADDED BY SENATORS.

>>> MINNESOTA REGULATORS ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT THEY WILL BE CRACKING DOWN ON ILLEGAL CANNABIS SALES BEFORE THE START OF THE STATES RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA MARKET.

THE OFFICE OF CANNABIS MANAGEMENT SUSPECTS THAT SOME RETAILERS ARE SELLING ILLEGAL CANNABIS AND MASQUERADING IT AS C.B.D.

OR DELTA 9.

HEALTH INSPECTORS WILL NOW START IMMEDIATELY EXAMINING RAW FLOWER TO VERIFY THAT IT HAS THE LEGAL LEVELS OF T.H.C.

RETAILERS WILL BE ASKED TO SEND THEIR PRODUCT OFF FOR LAB TESTING.

THE CURRENT LAW SAYS T.H.C.

LEVELS CANNOT EXCEED 0.3 PERCENT.

RETAILERS WHO DECIDE TO VIOLATE THAT LAW COULD HAVE THEIR PRODUCT SEIZED AND FACE FINES OF UP TO $1 MILLION.

>>> AN APPEALS COURT SAYS A MINNESOTA BOARD WAS JUSTIFIED WHEN IT REJECTED A SUBSTITUTE TEACHING LICENSE A FORMER POLICE OFFICER WHO FATALLY SHOT A BLACK MAN DURING A TRAFFIC STOP IN 2016.

THE MINNESOTA COURT OF APPEALS ON MONDAY AFFIRMED A LICENSING BOARD THAT CONCLUDED JERONIMO YANEZ DIDN'T MEET THE MORAL STANDARDS REQUIRED TO TEACH IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

YANEZ, A FORMER ST. ANTHONY POLICE OFFICER, SHOT PHILANDO CASTILE DURING A TRAFFIC STOP AFTER CASTILE VOLUNTEERED THAT HE HAD A GUN.

CASTILE HAD A PERMIT FOR THE FIREARM.

YANEZ WAS ACQUITTED OF MANSLAUGHTER BUT LEFT LAW ENFORCEMENT AND BECAME A PART-TIME TEACHER AT A PAROCHIAL SCHOOL.

>>> PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN HAS FORMALLY CLINCHED A SECOND STRAIGHT DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION.

NOW HIS PARTY'S PRESUMPTIVE NOMINEE, HE FACES AN ALL-BUT-CERTAIN REMATCH WITH FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP.

BIDEN CLINCHED THE NOMINATION TUESDAY AFTER WINNING ENOUGH DELEGATES IN GEORGIA.

HIS NOMINATION WILL BECOME OFFICIAL AT THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION TO BE HELD IN CHICAGO IN AUGUST.

BIDEN, WHO MOUNTED HIS FIRST BID FOR PRESIDENT 37 YEARS AGO, DID NOT FACE ANY SERIOUS DEMOCRATIC CHALLENGERS TO HIS RUN FOR REELECTION AT AGE 81.

THAT'S DESPITE FACING LOW APPROVAL RATINGS AND A LACK OF VOTER ENTHUSIASM FOR HIS PRESIDENCY, DRIVEN IN PART BY HIS AGE.

ONE OF THE FEW DEMOCRATS WHO DID RUN BEFORE DROPPING OUT WAS REPRESENTATIVE DEAN PHILLIPS OF MINNESOTA.

BEFORE MINNESOTA'S SUPER TUESDAY PRIMARY LAST WEEK, MANY PEOPLE ANGRY WITH BIDEN SAID THEY WEREN'T AWARE OF PHILLIPS' CHALLENGE OR CONSIDERED IT A DISTRACTION FROM BEATING TRUMP.

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

>> Stacy: TEMPERATURES ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO GET COLDER AS THEY MOVE THROUGH THE WEEK AND WE HAVE CHANCES OF RAIN OR SNOW IN THE FORECAST.

I'LL HAVE THAT FORECAST FOR YOU IN A FEW MINUTES.

>> COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK ON THIS WEEK'S NORTHWOODS EXPERIENCE, A CURLING CAMP AT THE BRAINERD LAKES AREA CURLING CLUB RAN BY A THREE TIME OLYMPIAN THAT HELPS A WONDERFUL CAUSE.

[♪♪♪] >> 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.

[♪♪♪] >>> ONE STUDENT IN MINNESOTA IS USING A GIFT FROM HER TEACHER TO GIVE BACK ONE THOUSAND FOLD.

PAIGE HANSEN HAS THE STORY OF AMELIA AND HER HAPPY CART.

>> IT ALL START WITH A SINGLE DOLLAR AND A CHALLENGE FROM A TEACHER, HOW CAN YOU USE THAT DOLLAR TO SPREAD COMPASSION?

>> THIRD GRADE, MY TEACHER GAVE US $1 AND SHE SAID DO SOMETHING GREAT WITH IT.

>> SO AMELIA TOOK THAT DOLLAR AND DECIDED TO USE IT TO RAISE ADDITIONAL MONEY.

SHE WAS ABLE TO RAISE $500 AND SHE AND HER MOM BOUGHT A BUNCH OF TREATS AND PUT THEM ON A CART TO TAKE AROUND TO TEACHERS.

>> Reporter: FROM THERE, THE HAPPY CART WAS BORN.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> Reporter: THIS GRADE STUDENT AMELIA IS ON HER THIRD YEAR OF PUSHING THE HAPPY CART THROUGH HER SCHOOL HALLS AND DELIVERING SOME SWEET TREATS TO TEACHERS AND STAFF.

>> IT JUST BRINGS JOY TO THE TEACHERS' FACES.

ONE OF THE FAVORITE THINGS SHE GETS TO EXPERIENCE WITH THIS HAPPY CART IS SEEING ALL THE TEACHERS COME OUT AND THE SMILES ON THEIR FACES AND HOW IT LIGHTS UP THEIR DAY.

>> Reporter: THE YOUNG STUDENT WAS AWARDED A YOUTH PHILANTHROPY GRANT.

SHE RECEIVED $1,000 THROUGH THE GRANT TO BUY SNACKS FOR HER CART.

>> ONE THING ABOUT THESE ACTS OF KINDNESS AND COMPASSION IS THAT THEY SPARK OTHER ACTS OF KINDNESS AND COMPASSION.

THAT'S A BIG PART OF WHAT I HOPE WOULD COME OUT OF THIS FOR SURE AND I KNOW AMELIA TOO, IS OTHER PEOPLE SEEING WHAT SHE HAS DONE HERE AND SEEING WHAT IMPACT SHE MAKES WITH SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS THE HAPPY CART AND HANDING OUT SNACKS TO HER TEACHERS.

>> Reporter: AMELIA'S MOM IS A TEACHER SO SHE KNOWS FIRSTHAND THE DEMANDING WORK THEY TAKE ON.

EACH TEACHER AND STAFF MEMBER GETS TWO SALTY SNACKS, A SWEET TREAT, AND A DRINK.

AMELIA SAYS SEEING THE REACTIONS FROM TEACHERS GIVES HER A WARM AND FUZZY FEELING.

>> WHEN I GIVE THINGS, IT JUST FEELS SO GREAT TO DO IT.

>> Matthew: WITH THE HELP OF THE GRANT, AMELIA STOCKED UP AND IS PROVIDING HER SCHOOL WITH TWO HAPPY CART DAYS THIS YEAR.

>>> NOW IT'S TIME TO GO TO STACY CHRISTENSON WITH THE WEATHER.

>> Stacy: WE'RE SEEING COOLER TEMPERATURES.

LATER ON THIS WEEK, THERE ARE CHANCES OF RAIN OR >> 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 DID ENJOY SUNNY SKIES TODAY ACROSS THE AREA.

TEMPERATURES ARE A BIT COLDER IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA, BUT WE DID SEE SOME NEW RECORDS SET AGAIN, OR TIED IN THE CENTRAL PART OF THE STATE.

WE'RE SEEING MAINLY QUIET WEATHER TONIGHT AND TOMORROW, AND CLOUDS WILL BE INCREASING.

TEMPERATURES ARE STARTING TO COOL OFFER AND WE WILL HAVE COOLING TEMPERATURES THROUGHOUT THE WEEK AND WE WILL HAVE CHANCES OF RAIN OR SNOW SHOWERS.

IN BEMIDJI IT'S 38.

HUMIDITY IS AT 80%.

IN BRAINERD, 42 UNDER CLEAR SKIES, DEW POINT IS 20, PRESSURE IS RISING AND WINDS ARE CALM.

LOOKING AT RADAR, IT IS QUIET OUT THERE.

WE ARE SEEING THE CLOUDS INCREASE NOW IN THE AREA.

WE HAVE SOME UPPER LEVEL MOISTURE BUT WE'RE NOT SEEING ANY PRECIPITATION REACH THE GROUND OUT OF THAT.

IT IS GOING TO BE MOSTLY CLOUDY ACROSS THE AREA OVERNIGHT TONIGHT AND AS WE HEAD INTO TOMORROW, WE WILL START OUT WITH MOSTLY CLOUDY SKIES, ALTHOUGH WE MAY SEE SOME PARTLY SUNNY SKIES RETURNING TO EASTERN AND CENTRAL MINNESOTA AS WE HEAD THROUGH THE DAY.

TEMPERATURES ARE GOING TO BE COLDER THAN WE HAD TODAY AND WE WILL CONTINUE THAT COOLING TREND AS WE HEAD THROUGH THE REST OF THE WEEK.

SOME WEATHER SHOTS TO SHARE WITH YOU TONIGHT, BEAUTIFUL SKIES FROM ARLENE IN MENAHGA.

KAREN SENDING US THIS PHOTO OF THE ICE.

ANGELA WITH THE PICTURE OF THE MOONLIGHT IN CASS LAKE.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR PHOTOS TONIGHT.

FOR OUR EAGLE EYE REPORTS, ARLENE IN MENAHGA, CALM THIS MORNING.

KAREN IN BEMIDJI REPORTING 56 AND SUNNY TODAY.

STEPHANIE IN BRAINERD, CLEAR SKIES WITH A HIGH OF 64.

ARLENE IN LONGVILLE, ALSO REPORTING A HIGH OF 64.

ANGELA AT CASS LAKE MOSTLY CLEAR SKIES WITH A HIGH OF 55.

LOOKING AT OUR ALMANAC, BRAINERD WITH A HIGH OF 64.

THAT TIES THE RECORD HIGH FOR TODAY THAT WAS SET IN 2016.

34 WAS OUR LOW TEMP THIS MORNING, SUNSET AT 7:19.

IN BEMIDJI, A LITTLE BIT COOLER, WE TOPPED OUT AT 55, STILL WELL ABOVE THE AVERAGE, BUT A LITTLE FURTHER AWAY FROM THE RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE.

29 DEGREES FOR THE LOW AND 7:22 THE SUNSET.

HERE'S A LOOK AT OUR FORECAST FOR TOMORROW, WE WILL BE SEEING PARTLY TO MOSTLY CLOUDY SKIES IN THE AREA AND TEMPERATURES AS I MENTIONED CONTINUE THEIR COOLING TREND.

WE'RE LOOKING AT UPPER 30s IN NORTHWEST MINNESOTA.

WE WILL BE SEEING 40s AND SOME 50s, THAT LARGE TEMPERATURE GRADIENT TOMORROW, PARK RAPIDS AROUND 52.

HEADING INTO CENTRAL MINNESOTA, IT GETS WARMER.

PARTLY TO MOSTLY CLOUDY SKIES, HIGHS IN THE MID-50s, AND CLOSE TO LITTLE FALLS IT COULD BE NEAR 60 DEGREES.

HERE'S OUR FORECAST, MOSTLY CLOUDY SKIES TONIGHT, LOWS DROPPING TO 29 WITH VARIABLE WINDS UP TO 10 MILES PER HOUR.

TOMORROW, PARTLY TO MOSTLY CLOUDY SKIES, 49 FOR OUR HIGH TEMPERATURE WITH EAST WINDS AT 5 TO 15.

LOOKING AT OUR EXTENDED FORECAST, TEMPERATURES DO CONTINUE TO COOL AS WE HEAD THROUGH THE WEEK.

44 ON THURSDAY WITH PARTLY TO MOSTLY CLOUDY SKIES.

WE DO START TO SEE CHANCES OF RAIN OR SNOW RETURN TO THE AREA ON FRIDAY AND THEN ACROSS THE AREA ON SATURDAY.

LOOKS LIKE BY SATURDAY WE'RE LOOKING AT PROBABLY MORE SNOW THAN RAINFALL.

HIGHS ON SATURDAY NEAR 38 AND EVEN COLDER ON SUNDAY, PARTLY TO MOSTLY CLOUDY SKIES WITH HIGHS NEAR 30.

BACK TO YOU.

>> Matthew: THANK YOU STACY.

WE HAVE CHARLIE WITH US.

SOMEONE IS MAKING A RETURN TO THE STATE TOURNAMENT.

>> Charlie: YEAH, THE FIRST TIME IN 18 YEARS, FOSSTON GIRLS BASKETBALL ARE RETURNING TO THE STATE TOURNAMENT.

THEY WON A COUPLE OF STATE TOURNAMENTS IN THE EARLY 2000s.

WE TALKED WITH THE TEAM BEFORE THEY HEADED DOWN TO STATE.

QUESTION HAVE MORE FROM THEM AND AROUND THE AREA AS WELL, COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK.

[♪♪♪] 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.

>> AND NOW YOUR LOCAL SPORTS WITH CHARLIE YAEGER.

[♪♪♪] >>> BY WAY OF AN 8 POINT VICTORY OVER KITTSON COUNTY CENTRAL IN THE SECTION 8-A CHAMPIONSHIP LAST FRIDAY, FOSSTON GIRLS BASKETBALL IS HEADED BACK TO THE STATE TOURNAMENT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 18 YEARS.

THEY SPENT ALL OF THIS SEASON RANKED IN THE CLASS A TOP 20, FINISHING WITH 29 WINS AND ONLY TWO LOSSES, BOTH OF WHICH CAME TO RANKED OPPONENTS.

THE GREYHOUNDS HAD A SIMILAR RUN LAST YEAR ONLY TO BE STOPPED SHORT IN THE SECTION TITLE GAME INSPIRING THIS YEAR'S TEAM TO FINISH THE JOB.

>> EVERYONE KNEW THAT WE COULD DO IT.

LIKE, EVEN OUR COACHES AND THE BEGINNING OF THE SEASON THEY WERE LIKE YEAH, THIS IS A DIFFERENT TEAM.

WE HAVE THE DRIVE TO GO ALL THE WAY.

>> WE HAVE FOUR GREAT SENIORS, GOOD CHARACTER, THEY'RE NOT SELFISH, THEY SHARE THE BASKETBALL, THEY PUT A LOT OF TIME IN AND THIS HAS BEEN ONE OF THEIR GOALS.

>> IT WAS LIKE OUR DREAM.

WE KNEW WHERE WE WANTED TO GO AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SEASON AND WE KNEW WE HAD TO WORK REALLY LARD TO GET WHERE WE WANTED TO GO.

WHEN WE DID IT, IT FELT UNREAL.

I STILL DON'T BELIEVE IT.

IT'S UNBELIEVABLE.

I AM SO EXCITED.

>>> THE HOUNDS WON THREE CLASS A STATE TITLES IN THE EARLY 2000'S AND WHILE THE ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO BRING HOME A FOURTH.

THERE IS PLENTY TO TAKE AWAY FROM THE TOURNAMENT BESIDES A TROPHY.

>> I AM MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING FUN WITH MY TEAMMATES AND FEELING THE WHOLE EXPERIENCE.

I MEAN IT'S THE LAST TIME I WILL PLAY ON THE COURT WITH THOSE OTHER THREE SENIORS SO WE'RE MAKING THE MOST OF IT.

WE HAVE A LOT OF COMMUNITY SPORTS SO TO DO THAT FOR THEM AND HAVE SOMETHING FOR THEM TO BE EXCITED ABOUT IS SO HEARTWARMING FOR THE COMMUNITY.

>> THIS WILL BE FOSSTON'S 7TH STATE TOURNAMENT APPEARANCE FOR GIRLS BASKETBALL.

THEY DREW THREE SEED BUFFALO LAKE-HECTOR-STEWART OUT OF SECTION 2 IN THE QUARTERFINAL GAME WILL BE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA IN MATURI PAVILLION.

>>> WELL, TWO MORE BEMIDJI HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT-ATHLETES ANNOUNCED THEIR INTENTIONS TO PLAY IN COLLEGE.

RILEY BRANSON COMMITTED TO PLAY FOOTBALL AT THE UNIVERSITY OF JAMESTOWN IN NORTH DAKOTA WHILE ZACH ROBERTS COMMITTED TO JOIN THE SWIM TEAM AT GRINNELL UNIVERSITY IN IOWA.

AFTERWARDS, THE BOYS SHARED WHY THEY CHOSE THEIR RESPECTIVE SCHOOLS.

>> WELL, I AM GOING TO STUDY PHYSICAL THERAPY AND THEY HAVE IT ALL THE WAY THROUGH A DOCTORATE.

THEY JUST REVAMPED THEIR WEIGHT ROOM AND THE FACT I HAVE A STRAIGHT LINE THROUGH EDUCATION.

I AM INTERESTED IN SOCIOLOGY AND ANTHROPOLOGY.

SO THEY HAVE A REALLY GREAT PROGRAM FOR THAT.

THEY'RE A GOOD SCHOOL ACADEMICALLY.

IT'S A SMALLER GROUP AND THERE ARE LESS KIDS PER PROFESSOR.

I LIKE THAT BETTER.

>> ROBERTS IS THE FIRST LUMBERJACK TO COMMIT TO GRINNELL THIS YEAR WHILE BRANSON IS THE THIRD HEADED TO JAMESTOWN AND THE SECOND FOR FOOTBALL.

>>> AFTER HITTING A THREE GAME SKID TO END THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY, THE MINNESOTA WILD STARTED MARCH HAVING WON THREE OF THEIR LAST FOUR CONTESTS.

THAT DIDN'T STOP THE TEAM FROM A HUGE SALE, BUT IT DIDN'T AFFECT THEM TONIGHT.

THE WILD FACING OFF THE COYOTES.

THEY ARE 2-1 THIS SEASON.

NO SCORE, 18 GOALS IN HIS LAST 22 GAMES, MAKE IT 19.

HE HAD 40 A YEAR AGO AND NOW 32 SO FAR THIS SEASON.

IN THE SECOND, FORMER MR. HOCKEY PLAYED AS A HIGH SCHOOLER, HE HAS FOUR GOALS IN IT THIS YEAR, TIES IT AT 2-2.

RYAN HAD A GOAL AGAINST THE PREDATORS.

NOW HE HAS ONE TONIGHT, GIVING THE WILD A 2-1 LEAD.

THEY BEAT THE COYOTES 4-1.

MINNESOTA HAS NOW WON 4 OF THEIR LAST 5.

TIMBER WOLVES ARE IN ACTION PLAYING IN L.A.

THE SCORE IS CURRENTLY 63-55 IN FAVOR OF THE CLIPPERS.

>> Matthew: USUALLY AFTER A BIG TRADE, YOU CAN EXPECT A BIT OF A WONKINESS BUT THEY SEEMED GOOD TODAY.

>> Charlie: YEAH, THEY HAVE BEEN PLAYING WELL THE LAST FIVE GAMES SO HOPEFULLY THEY CONTINUE PLAYING WELL.

>> Matthew: THANK YOU CHARLIE.

>>> A CURLING CAMP WAS HELD AT THE BRAINERD LAKES AREA CURLING CLUB OVER THE WEEKEND TO BENEFIT THE LUPUS RESEARCH FOUNDATION.

THREE-TIME OLYMPIC CURLER, KEVIN MARTIN, RAN THE CAMP AND TAUGHT LOCAL CURLING ENTHUSIASTS HOW TO ELEVATE THEIR GAME.

REPORTER SAMMY HOLLADAY HAS MORE FOR THIS WEEK'S NORTHWOODS EXPERIENCE.

>> Reporter: THE BRAINERD AREA LAKES CURLING CLUB HELD A CURLING CAMP THIS WEEKEND.

NOT ONLY DID THEY LEARN FROM A LEGEND OF THE SPORT, THEY SUPPORTED A GREAT CAUSE, THE LUPUS RESEARCH FOUNDATION, WHICH WAS FOUNDED BY SOMEONE WITH FIRSTHAND KNOWLEDGE OF HOW GRIM A LUPUS DIAGNOSIS COULD BE.

>> THE REASON WE STARTED THE FOUNDATION IS BECAUSE I HAVE LUPUS.

WE DON'T WANT TO SEE ANOTHER YOUNG PERSON HAVE TO GO THROUGH WHAT I DID.

LUPUS IS AN AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE, WHICH MEANS THE BODY ATTACKS ITSELF.

IT MAY ATTACK HEALTHY TISSUE.

>> Reporter: THE CAMP WAS RUN BY A GOLD MEDALIST.

HAVING SOMEONE AROUND KEVIN'S CALIBER AROUND THE CAMP GAVE ATTENDEES A MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE.

>> TO HAVE ONE OF THE TOP CURLERS SUPPORT OUR FOUNDATION HAS BEEN INCREDIBLE.

IT BRINGS SO MUCH MORE JOY AND FUN AND EXCITEMENT TO OUR MISSION AND THE CURLING COMMUNITY IS LIKE FAMILY.

SO WHEN THEY SEE THIS WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY, THEY COME OUT TO SUPPORT AND IT MEANS THE WORLD TO US AND OUR FOUNDATION.

CURLERS HAVE A HEART OF GOAL -- GOLD.

>> Reporter: SO BEING ABLE TO GIVE BACK AND TEACHING PEOPLE ABOUT THE SPORT THAT HAS GIVEN HIM SO MUCH IS WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.

>> BETWEEN COMPETING AND TRAVELING AROUND THE WORLD AND HAVING FRIENDS ALL OVER EVERY COUNTRY, ALL OVER THE WORLD AND THEN BEING ABLE TO WORK WITH KIDS.

I STARTED TEACHING IN 1991, SO THAT'S 33 YEARS AGO.

THEN IT COMES TO WHY WE'RE HERE AND THAT'S RAISING MONEY FOR THE LUPUS RESEARCH FOUNDATION, AND THAT'S THROUGH CHARITY, SO THAT'S IMPORTANT TOO.

>> Reporter: LUPUS AFFECTS OVER 1 MILLION AMERICANS, SEEING SO MUCH SUPPORT, THE ORGANIZERS ARE ETERNALLY GRATEFUL.

>> I HAVE GRATITUDE FOR EVERY PERSON THAT GIVES OF THEIR HEART, THEIR TIME, THEIR RESOURCES TO OUR FOUNDATION.

IT'S PERSONALLY SUCH A BLESSING.

I FEEL GRATITUDE ON BEHALF OF ALL PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING WITH LUPUS AND THEIR FAMILIES AND THEIR CAREGIVERS.

>> Reporter: REPORTING IN BRAINERD WITH THIS WEEK'S NORTHWOODS EXPERIENCE, SAMMY HOLLADAY, LAKELAND NEWS.

>> Matthew: TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE LUPUS RESEARCH FOUNDATION, YOU CAN VISIT THEIR WEBSITE WHICH IS LISTED ON THE SCREEN.

>> Charlie: GUNNAR, THEY ANNOUNCED THAT HE HAD COME TO TERMS WITH THE NEW YORK GIANTS.

HE WILL BE PLAYING THERE NEXT YEAR AS WELL.

CONGRATULATIONS TO HIM.

>> Matthew: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING.

THAT'S IT FOR TONIGHT, WE'LL SEE YOU TOMORROW.

GOOD NIGHT.

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