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

MEMBER FDIC.

>> C.T.C.

; KEEPING OUR COMMUNITY CONNECTED WITH INTERNET, TV, MOBILE, AND HOME PHONE.

LEARN MORE AT AT GOCTC.COM.

>> SOURCEWELL; BOOSTING STUDENT AND COMMUNITY SUCCESS RIGHT HERE IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA.

MN.SOURCEWELL.ORG.

>> CLOSED CAPTIONING IS SPONSORED IN PART BY THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACCESS OF MINNESOTA.

>> AND BY SANFORD HEALTH WITH PRIMARY CARE LOCATIONS IN BEMIDJI AND ACROSS THE UPPER MIDWEST.

SANFORD HEALTH IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING CARE CLOSE TO HOME.

LEARN MORE AT SANFORDHEALTH.ORG.

>> 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.

>>> AFTER OVER 60 YEARS OF SERVING THE BEMIDJI COMMUNITY, MAX HITES, AN EMPLOYEE AT LUEKEN'S VILLAGE FOODS IN BEMIDJI, IS OFFICIALLY ENTERING RETIREMENT.

OUR REPORTER, MATTHEW FREEMAN, SPOKE WITH HITES AND HIS COLLEAGUES AT HIS RETIREMENT PARTY EARLIER TODAY, TO REFLECT ON HIS CAREER AND TO SEE WHAT HE'S LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT.

>> I WAS WONDERING IF HE WAS GOING TO RETIRE.

I WAS 12 YEARS OLD WHEN HE STARTED AND I DIDN'T THINK IT WOULD LAST THAT LONG.

>> Reporter: THE YEAR IS 1965, 20-YEAR-OLD MAX HITES IS A FARM BOY LIVING SOUTH OF BEMIDJI LOOKING FOR SOMETHING DIFFERENT TO DO WITH HIS LIFE.

THAT'S WHEN A FRIEND CALLED HIM UP AND ASKED HIM IF HE WANTED A JOB AT THE GROCERY STORE.

>> THERE WAS NO INTERVIEW.

HE SAID WOULD YOU LIKE TO WORK AT THE STORE?

I SAID YEAH.

SO I STARTED WORKING.

>> Reporter: HITES IS OFFICIALLY RETIRING AFTER 60 YEARS OF SERVING THE BEMIDJI COMMUNITY.

>> HE IS ALWAYS HERE, EVERY DAY, SHOWS UP ON TIME.

HE IS A WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE, A FRIEND, SOMEONE THAT YOU CAN ASK A QUESTION TO AND HE WOULD GIVE YOU AN ANSWER FOR EVERYTHING.

>> HE HAS BEEN ALL OVER THE PLACE, ONE OF A KIND GUY.

FOR HIM TO BE HERE FOR 60 YEARS AND LOVE IT EVERY SINGLE DAY, THAT'S A TESTAMENT OF WHAT KIND OF A GUY HE IS.

>> Reporter: FOR THE EMPLOYEES, NOT SEEING HIM AROUND WILL BE CHALLENGING.

>> HE DID A LOT AROUND HERE SO WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO GETTING SIGNS MADE, I WILL HAVE TO FIND SOMEBODY ELSE.

HE WAS A PRETTY INTEGRAL PART OF HOW THINGS WENT.

>> MONDAY WILL BE A DIFFERENT DAY.

IT WILL BE A LITTLE MORE QUIET AROUND HERE.

IT WILL BE DIFFERENT.

>> Reporter: WHILE HE IS LOOKING FORWARD TO RETIREMENT, HE SAYS IT WILL BE A WEIRD FEELING WHEN HE WAKES UP ON MONDAY.

>> I HOPE IT WILL FEEL LIKE GOING ON VACATION, BUT I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE DIFFERENT.

IT'S GOING TO BE VERY STRANGE TO REALIZE THAT PART OF MY LIFE IS OVER AND DONE WITH.

>> Reporter: GIVEN THE LONG LINE OF BEMIDJI RESIDENTS WANTING TO SAY GOODBYE TO HITES, HE LEFT MORE OF AN IMPACT THAN HE REALIZED.

>> YOU SEE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY AND YOU REALIZE YOU KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE AND IT'S AMAZING THEY TAKE TIME OUT OF THEIR LIVES TO COME AND BE HERE FOR A FEW MINUTES.

IT'S OVERWHELMING.

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

>> AS A MEMBER OF THE PAUL BUNYAN VINTAGE AUTO CLUB, HITES SAYS HE IS LOOKING FORWARD TO FOCUSING ON HIS CLASSIC CAR COLLECTION DURING HIS RETIREMENT.

>>> MAY 5TH IS RECOGNIZED AS THE NATIONAL DAY OF AWARENESS FOR MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS WOMEN AND RELATIVES.

THE BEMIDJI MMIR CHAPTER WILL BE HOLDING THEIR ANNUAL WALK TO RECOGNIZE THE CRISIS THIS SUNDAY, MAY 3RD.

A GROUP GOT TOGETHER TO MAKE SIGNS AHEAD OF THE MARCH PLANNED TO START AT PAUL AND BABE AND END AT THE SANFORD CENTER.

THERE, THE THIRD ANNUAL CONFERENCE WILL BE HELD TO BRING AWARENESS TO THE INDIGENOUS POPULATION THAT GO MISSING OR ARE MURDERED AT A MUCH HIGHER RATE THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGES FOR OTHER GROUPS.

>> MARCH IS GOING TO START AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO SANFORD AND WAIT FOR THE RUNNERS FROM BEMIDJI.

AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO START OUR PROGRAM.

I THINK THAT'S SUCH A POWERFUL THING THAT THEY'RE DOING, THEY'RE RUNNING FOR EACH OF THE ONES THAT HAVE BEEN MISSING AND MURDERED, YOU KNOW.

I THINK IT'S A HUGE THING OF SHOWING AWARENESS AND I'M SUPER EXCITED TO MARCH WITH MY PEOPLE AND EVERYBODY THAT'S A PART OF THE COMMUNITY.

>> THE RED LAKE RUNNERS WILL RUN 37 TOTAL MILES, AND END AT THE SANFORD CENTER, WHERE THE CONFERENCE WILL THEN BEGIN.

>>> MINNESOTA STATE REPRESENTATIVE KRISTIN ROBBINS HAS ENDED HER CAMPAIGN FOR GOVERNOR.

THE 58-YEAR OLD ROBBINS IS IN HER FOURTH TERM IN THE STATE HOUSE AND WAS ONE OF SEVERAL CANDIDATES SEEKING THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION IN THE GOVERNORS RACE.

OTHERS STILL IN THE RACE N THE REPUBLICAN SIDE INCLUDE HOUSE SPEAKER LISA DAYMUTH, HEALTH CARE TECH EXECUTIVE KENDALL QUALLS AND MIKE LINDELL WHO IS THE FOUNDER OF MY PILLOW.

U.S.

SENATOR AMY KLOBUCHAR IS EXPECTED TO GET THE D.F.L.

NOMINATION FOR GOVERNOR.

>>> THE MINNESOTA D.N.R.

IS LAUNCHING A MODERNIZED ELECTRONIC LICENSING SYSTEM AND MOBILE APP THAT WILL ALLOW HUNTERS, ANGLERS, AND BOATERS TO PURCHASE, STORE, AND DISPLAY LICENSES DIGITALLY.

THIS NEW SYSTEM REPLACES THE PREVIOUS 25-YEAR-OLD PLATFORM AND ENABLES LINKING FAMILY ACCOUNTS, AND PERMITS ELECTRONIC HARVEST REGISTRATION.

IT WON'T BE READY FOR THE FISHING OPENER BUT IS EXPECTED TO ROLL OUT THIS SUMMER.

>> THE MOBILE APP IS A REAL STEP FORWARD FROM THE CURRENT ONLINE SYSTEM.

ONCE YOU DOWNLOADED THE APP, LOGGED IN, PURCHASED YOUR LICENSE, YOU DON'T NEED SELF SERVICE TO DISPLAY YOUR LICENSE.

THAT MATTERS A LOT WHERE MANY CUSTOMERS SPEND THEIR TIME.

>> THIS IS A PARADIGM SHIFT IN THE WAY THAT MINNESOTANS WILL ENJOY THE GREAT OUTDOORS IN MINNESOTA FOR YEARS TO COME.

>> WHEN THAT PART OF THE SYSTEM LAUNCHES, CUSTOMERS WILL HAVE THREE WAYS TO BUY AND THREE WAYS TO CARRY THEIR LICENSE.

THEY CAN PURCHASE FROM A LICENSED AGENT ONLINE OR IN THE NEW APP.

>> THE NEW SYSTEM WILL ALSO ALLOW MINNESOTANS TO STORE THEIR LICENSES ON PAPER AS A PDF, THROUGH EMAIL OR WITHIN THE MOBILE APP.

SOME OF THE NEW FEATURES INCLUDE THE ABILITY TO LINK LICENSES BETWEEN FAMILY MEMBERS AND SPOUSES TO MAKE PURCHASES EASIER FOR GROUPS.

>>> THE BEMIDJI FIRE DEPARTMENT IS HOSTING THE REGION'S FIRST-EVER WOMEN EXPLORE FIRE DAY THIS WEEKEND, TO GIVE WOMEN A CHANCE TO GET OUT INTO THE FIELD AND SEE WHAT EXACTLY A FIREFIGHTING CAREER ENTAILS.

THE BEMIDJI EVENT WILL SERVE ALL OF REGION 2, THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF THE STATE.

WOMEN WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRY ON EQUIPMENT, USE THE LADDER TRUCK AND FIRE HOSES, AND SEE HANDS-ON DEMONSTRATIONS FROM CURRENT WOMEN FIREFIGHTERS SHOWING HOW THEY OVERCOME OBSTACLES IN THEIR DAY-TO-DAY JOBS.

>> I DON'T ALWAYS KNOW IF THEY CAN DO IT AND SHOWING THEM THAT THEY ABSOLUTELY CAN IS EASILY ONE OF THE BIGGEST BATTLES THAT WE FACE.

IT GIVES THAT SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR WOMEN TO TRY DIFFERENT SKILLS OUT AND SHOW THEM, I AM CAPABLE OF THIS.

WHATEVER DEMOGRAPHICS WE HAVE IN OUR COMMUNITY, OUR PEOPLE AND OUR DEPARTMENT SHOULD REPRESENT THAT AS WELL.

THAT'S THE BEST WAY TO REPRESENT OUR PEOPLE, TO TRULY BE ONE OF OUR PEOPLE.

ACCORDING TO A STUDY A COUPLE YEARS AGO, 51% OF ALL CITIZENS IN THE UNITED STATES ARE WOMEN AND SO, WITH THAT DATA, WE WANT TO HAVE WOMEN IN THE SERVICE TO HELP ALSO BE ABLE TO RESPOND TO CALLS AND YOU CAN SEE SOMEONE ON A CALL THAT LOOKS LIKE YOU, REMINDS YOU OF YOU, GIVES YOU THAT COMFORT TO FEEL BETTER ON OPENING UP ON CERTAIN THINGS WHEN SITUATIONS ARE HAPPENING AND EVERYONE BRINGS DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES TO THE TABLE, EVERYONE BRINGS DIFFERENT IDEAS AND OPINIONS, SO WHEN WE HAVE A DIVERSE GROUP, THAT'S THE BEST WAY TO SERVE THE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

>>> THE EVENT WILL START AT 9:30 IN THE MORNING THIS SATURDAY, MAY SECOND, AT THE BEMIDJI FIRE STATION.

ONLINE REGISTRATION IS ENCOURAGED, AND CAN BE FOUND ON THE WOMEN EXPLORE FIRE DAY WEBSITE OR BEMIDJI FIRE DEPARTMENT FACEBOOK PAGE.

>>> THE NATIONWIDE AVERAGE FOR A GALLON OF GAS HAS SURGED AGAIN, ACCORDING TO AAA PRICES AT THE PUMP ARE NOW UP MORE THAN 30 CENTS IN JUST THE LAST WEEK.

MEANWHILE, IRAN SUBMITTED A FRESH PEACE PROPOSAL TO PAKISTANI MEDIATORS AND PRESIDENT TRUMP ARGUED TO CONGRESS THAT HOSTILITIES WITH IRAN TERMINATED WITH A CEASEFIRE ON APRIL 7, KEEPING LAWMAKERS INFORMED, HE SAID, CONSISTENT WITH THE WAR POWERS RESOLUTION.

KARIN CAIFA HAS THE LATEST ON THE CONFLICT'S PRESSURES ABROAD AND AT HOME.

>> Reporter: U.S.

GAS PRICES ARE MAKING ANOTHER OVERNIGHT SURGE.

>> I CRIED WHEN I SAW $4.22 LAST NIGHT.

>> Reporter: THE NATIONWIDE AVERAGE FOR A GALLON OF GAS SPIKED TO $4.39 FRIDAY ACCORDING TO AAA.

THIS GAS STATION IN THE BAY AREA TOPPING $7 A GALLON ON THURSDAY.

>> I USED TO FILL UP WITH $60 TO $80, AND NOW I'M LOOKING AT $130 TO $150.

>> Reporter: IRAN SUBMITTED A FRESH PEACE PROPOSAL TO PAKISTANI MEDIATORS, SPARKING HOPE THAT THE TWO COUNTRIES COULD COME BACK TO THE NEGOTIATING TABLE.

>> THEY WANT TO MAKE A DEAL SO BADLY BUT THEY'RE NOT THERE YET.

>> Reporter: THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS FACING PRESSURE ON MULTIPLE FRONTS.

>> PRESIDENT TRUMP IS CONSTRAINED BY THE MIDTERMS.

HE IS CONSTRAINED BY THE WAR POWERS ACT.

HE IS CONSTRAINED BY THE PUBLIC AT HOME.

THE IRANIAN REGIME IS ONLY CONSTRAINED BY OUCH -- HOW MUCH THEY CAN GET AWAY WITH.

>> Reporter: EVEN WHEN THE CONFLICT ENDS, IF THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ REOPENS FOR NORMAL BUSINESS, IT WOULD TAKE MONTHS FOR U.S.

GAS PRICES TO RECOVER.

>> WE LOST A MILLION BARRELS OF OIL DUE TO THE SHUTDOWN AND NOW EXPORTS AND PRODUCTS ARE HITTING A NEW RECORD AS COUNTRIES START BUYING OUR OIL AND DIESEL AND JET FUEL.

>> Reporter: BEFORE THE STRIKES ON IRAN, THE GAS WAS $2.98.

>> Dennis: PRESIDENT TRUMP TOLD REPORTERS FRIDAY AT THE WHITE HOUSE THAT IRAN WANTS TO MAKE A DEAL BUT HE SAYS THEY ARE ASKING FOR THINGS HE CAN'T AGREE TO.

TRUMP DID NOT ELABORATE ON WHAT HE SEES AS THE PROPOSAL'S SHORTCOMINGS.

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

>> IT WAS FAIRLY MILD TODAY THROUGHOUT MOST OF OUR VIEWING AREA AND THAT WILL CONTINUE TONIGHT.

IT WILL BE A LITTLE BIT CHILLY BUT WE WON'T SEE ANY RAIN AT ALL UNTIL TOMORROW AFTERNOON.

I'LL HAVE THE FULL DETAILS IN A FEW MINUTES.

>> AND COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK, MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS WITHIN THE BRAINERD LAKES AREA AND THROUGHOUT NORTHERN MINNESOTA GATHERED [♪♪♪] >> AND NOW MORE NEWS WITH DENNIS WEIMANN.

[♪♪♪] >>> STUDENTS IN THE BRAINERD LAKES AREA GATHERED AT FORESTVIEW MIDDLE SCHOOL FOR THE REGIONAL CIVICS BEE COMPETITION THIS WEEK.

REPORTER MILES WALKER HAS MORE ON WHAT THE OPPORTUNITY MEANS FOR THE PARTICIPANTS AND THE COMMUNITY.

>> Reporter: DUE TO THE STRONG REPRESENTATION, FORESTVIEW MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS EXHIBITED WITH 17 DIFFERENT KIDS QUALIFYING, THE SCHOOL WAS SELECTED TO HOST THE COMPETITION FOR THE FIRST TIME.

>> SOURCEWELL PUT OUT THE INFORMATION ON HOW TO HAVE YOUR STUDENTS WORK ON AN ESSAY AND BE A PARTICIPANT.

BOTH OF MY TEACHERS HOPPED ONBOARD AND SOUGHT INTEREST FROM HER STUDENTS.

>> Reporter: EVERY STUDENT PRESENT EARNED A SPOT IN THE COMPETITION BY ANSWERING A SIMPLE PROMPT, HOW CAN YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN YOUR COMMUNITY?

>> WE DISCUSSED IN THE CLASS, WHAT AREAS DO YOU SEE THAT COULD USE SOME HELP, THAT NEEDS GROWTH IN SOME AREAS.

KIDS STARTED SHARING IDEAS AND MORE AND MORE KIDS GOT EXCITED ABOUT IT.

>> Reporter: PREP WORK FOR THE FORESTVIEW STUDENTS INCLUDING A VERBAL ROUND, WHERE THEY SPOKE ABOUT THEIR ESSAYS, MIMICKING WHAT THE KIDS DID FOR THE COMPETITION.

>> WE GO THROUGH EVERYTHING FROM WRITING, WHAT IT TAKES TO WRITE A GOOD ESSAY, WORD CHOICE, WHAT COUNTS AS VIRTUES AND PRINCIPLES.

WE DID A LOT OF PRACTICE, QUIZLETS AND GETTING THEM FOCUSED ON THE CIVICS PART OF IT.

THEY GREW A LOT IN ALL THE DIFFERENT AREAS WE COVERED.

>> Reporter: TO INSPIRE YOUNG AMERICANS TO ENGAGE IN CIVICS AND ENGAGE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES, TO ADDRESS COMMUNITY CHALLENGES, PROPOSE SOLUTIONS, AND SHOW KNOWLEDGE ON CIVIC VIRTUES.

THOSE AT FORESTVIEW ARE HAPPY TO SEE THE STUDENT BODY GETTING INVOLVED.

>> SERVING THE COMMUNITY, UNDERSTANDING WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A GOOD CITIZEN, A POSITIVE MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY, SOMEONE WHO CAN SHAPE THE COMMUNITY, THE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE OUR FUTURE AND WHEN WE HAVE THEM ONBOARD, EXCITING THINGS HAPPEN.

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

>>> JUSTUS ANDERSON, FERN SCHMIDT, AND MAGGIE PRAHM WILL EACH COMPETE IN THE MINNESOTA STATE CIVICS BEE IN SAINT PAUL IN JUNE.

>>> TIME FOR WEATHER, STACY IS OFF BUT SYDNEY IS HERE AGAIN.

IT'S SHAPING UP LIKE A GOOD WEEKEND?

>> Sydney: THERE WILL BE SOME SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS IN THE AFTERNOON TOMORROW, BUT AS WE GET INTO SUNDAY, IT WILL BE [♪♪♪] >> AND NOW THE WEATHER ON LAKELAND NEWS AT 10:00.

>> Sydney: IT WAS FAIRLY WARM AND TEMPERATURES WILL BE DROPPING.

THERE WILL BE FROST DOWN IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA, BUT IT WILL BE WARM AS WE GET INTO THE WEEKEND.

CURRENTLY, IT IS 43 DEGREES AT OUR STUDIO, SOUTHEAST WINDS OF 2 MILES PER HOUR, IT WAS FAIRLY CALM TODAY WITH A PEAK WIND OF ABOUT 9 MILES PER HOUR.

IN BRAINERD, THERE ARE CLEAR SKIES, IT IS CURRENTLY 51 DEGREES, WITH ABOUT 23% HUMIDITY, AND 8 MILES PER HOUR NORTH WINDS.

THROUGHOUT THE DAY TODAY, LIKE I WAS SAYING BEFORE, IT WAS FAIRLY CALM, THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF CLOUD COVER COMING IN THROUGH THE AFTERNOON BUT THAT CLEARED OUT.

FAIRLY CLEAR SKIES AND IT WAS SUNNY THROUGHOUT MOST OF THE DAY TODAY.

A COUPLE OF WEATHER SHOTS TO SHARE WITH YOU.

SOME SUNSETS SEPTEMBER IN FROM SAMROSE IN LOWER RED LAKE, SARAH IN LAKE EDWARD, AND RALPH IN JENKINS.

CLEAR BLUE SKIES FROM GARY IN DEERWOOD.

BLUE SKIES AGAIN IN CASS LAKE FROM ANGELA WITH A LITTLE BIT PEAR GLIDING ACTION OVER THERE AND BILL AND JUDY, BEAUTIFUL SUNSET OVER UPPER RED LAKE.

THANK YOU ALL FOR SHARING THOSE.

ON TO OUR WEATHER WATCHER REPORT, BOB IN BLUFFTON REPORTS A HIGH OF 53 AND SUNNY SKIES.

CHRISSY IN DEERWOOD SAID THERE WAS A LIGHT AND VARIABLE BREEZE AND A LOW OF 33 DEGREES.

ARLENE IN LONGVILLE, LOW OF 26 AND SUNNY.

RALPH IN JENKINS, ANOTHER LOW TEMPERATURE OF AROUND 25 DEGREES, STEPHANIE IN BRAINERD, LOW OF 34 THIS MORNING, HIGH OF 53 THIS AFTERNOON AND ANGELA IN CASS LAKE, MOSTLY SUNNY SKIES AND A HIGH OF 51 DEGREES.

SO THANK YOU ALL FOR SHARING THOSE WITH US.

ON OUR ALMANAC, BRAINERD, THE HIGH WAS 55 DEGREES, SO STILL PRETTY CHILLY AND THE LOW OF 31 AS COMPARED TO THOSE AVERAGES.

SUNSET WAS AT 8:25 P.M., AND IN BEMIDJI, JUST A LITTLE BIT BELOW THOSE AVERAGES, A LITTLE WARMER, IT WAS 55 DEGREES, AND LOW OF 29, AND SUNRISE WAS AT 6:02 A.M., SO IT'S GETTING A LITTLE BIT EARLIER EVERY DAY.

ON OUR FORECAST, AS WE HEAD INTO THE WEEKEND, IT WILL BE CLEAR SKIES THROUGHOUT THE MORNING, THROUGHOUT MOST OF THE STATE.

A LITTLE BIT OF CLOUD COVER WILL COME IN AND THIS IS WHERE WE SEE THOSE ISOLATED RAIN SHOWERS COMING IN.

THERE IS ONLY A SMALL PERCENT OF AREAS AND THAT IS WHEN CHANCES WILL INCREASE, SUNNY IN THE MORNING, CLOUDY IN THE AFTERNOON AS WE GET INTO THE 60s, WARM TEMPERATURES FOR THE NORTHERN AND CENTRAL PART OF THE STATE.

TONIGHT, WE'RE LOOKING AT MOSTLY CLEAR SKIES, THE LOW TEMPERATURE OF ABOUT 30 DEGREES, CENTRAL MINNESOTA WILL BE WAKING UP TO SOME FROST TOMORROW.

THAT WILL BE MOVING IN AFTER MIDNIGHT.

VARIABLE WINDS BUT FAIRLY CALM AS A WHOLE.

TOMORROW, THERE IS MOSTLY SUNNY SKIES AND THAT WILL TRANSITION INTO MOSTLY CLOUDY IN THE AFTERNOON, THOSE ISOLATED SHOWERS COULD BE MOVING THROUGH.

5 TO 10 MILES PER HOUR WINDS, SO FAIRLY CALM ON THE WIND SIDE OF THINGS, BUT WARM SATURDAY AND SUNDAY.

THOSE TEMPERATURES WILL BE DROPPING AS WE GET INTO MONDAY.

20% CHANCE OF SHOWERS ON MONDAY, AND TUESDAY WILL BE CLOUDY, WEDNESDAY THOSE ISOLATED SHOWERS WILL BE MAKING THEIR WAY BACK.

THE NIGHTTIME WILL CONTINUE TO BE CHILLY BUT IT WILL BE SUNNY AND WARM OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS.

>> Dennis: ALL RIGHT, THANKS SYDNEY.

CHARLIE IS HERE WITH OUR SPORTS, WHAT'S GOING ON?

>> Charlie: IT'S A LOT OF MAKE UP WORK BECAUSE OF THE WEATHER EARLY IN APRIL.

THEY ARE GETTING SOME GAMES IN TODAY AS WELL.

WE HAVE A BUNCH OF HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE BEMIDJI AREA AND SCORES AROUND THE AREA [♪♪♪] >> AND NOW YOUR LOCAL SPORTS WITH CHARLIE YAEGER.

>> Charlie: THERE'S BEEN PLENTY OF EARLY SEASON CANCELLATIONS AND POSTPONEMENTS, BUT BEMIDJI BASEBALL HAS NAVIGATED THEIR WAY PAST THE DISTRACTIONS TO A 4-1 START.

AFTER COLD WEATHER TUESDAY LED TO ANOTHER POSTPONEMENT, THIS TIME A HOME DOUBLE HEADER AGAINST MOORHEAD, THE LUMBERJACKS FINALLY TOOK THE DIAMOND TODAY FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A WEEK.

LUMBERJACKS WITH JUST THEIR SECOND HOME GAME OF THE SEASON, HOSTING SARTELL.

WE PICK UP IN THE BOTTOM OF THE 3RD, TIED AT ONE, RUNNER ON FIRST FOR JAMES GARRISON, SINGLE MOVES REECE DOKKEN TO THIRD, THEN, GARRISON DECIDES HE WANTS A DOUBLE OUT OF IT, AND WHEN THE THROW GETS AWAY AT SECOND, DOKKEN SCORES TO GIVE THE JACKS A 2-1 LEAD.

BOTTOM OF THE 4TH, SAME SCORE, GUNNAR GANSKE LEADS THINGS OFF WITH A DOUBLE, THEN GETS TO THIRD ON A SAC-BUNT.

THAT BRINGS UP J-D BROWN, HE PUTS THE BALL IN PLAY, SABRES THOUGHT ABOUT GOING HOME BUT TAKE THE OUT AT 1ST INSTEAD AND GANSKE SCORES TO MAKE IT 3-1.

SARTELL THOUGH, AFTER TYING THE GAME IN THE 5TH, HAS A BIG INNING IN THE 7TH, THEY SCORE 3-RUNS INCLUDING 2 ON THIS MATEO SEGURA BLOOPER.

BEMIDJI WENT 1-2-3 IN THE BOTTOM OF THE 7TH AND DROP THIS ONE 6-3.

(.

>>> ELSEWHERE IN BASEBALL, BRAINERD BEATS DULUTH EAST 3-2.

MOVING ON, AITKIN AND SEBEKA GETTING WINS TODAY.

MENAHGA GETS THE WIN OVER PILLAGER.

PIERZ DROPS A GAME.

FOSSTON BEATS BLACKDUCK.

WADENA DEER CREEK GETS A WIN OVER PINE RIVER-BACKUS.

SACRED HEARTBEATS ROSEAU.

BAGLEY FALLS.

>>> AFTER A RESOUNDING 12-1 VICTORY ON TUESDAY, BEMIDJI IS LOOKING FOR A WIN.

KALI FLASHING SOME LEATHER AT SECOND BASE, THE CARDINALS WILL, INC.

-- INK OUT A ONE.

AND THEY KNOT THE GAME AT 1-1.

CARLY, THAT'S A GROUND BALL WITH EYES.

JACKS TAKE A 2-1 LEAD.

LATER, RUNNERS IN SCORING POSITION, HOW DO YOU DO?

IT'S A 2 R.B.I.

DOUBLE FOR THE SENIOR.

BEMIDJI GOES ON TO WIN 13-5 OVER ALEXANDRIA.

JACKS WIN THEIR SECOND STRAIGHT TO GET BACK TO 4-4.

>>> MORE SOFTBALL SCORES FOR YOU, MOORHEAD AND BRAINERD SPLIT TODAY.

IN SOFTBALL, BLACKDUCK HANDLES LITTLE FORK.

WADENA DEER CREEK TOPS JAMESTOWN AND BEATS STAPLES MOTLEY.

NEVIS GETS THE WIN.

BEMIDJI BOYS TENNIS AT HOME FOR THEIR FINAL TIME THIS REGULAR SEASON, THEY'RE HOSTING SARTELL AS PART OF THE TRIANGULAR.

ETHAN AND PETER, IT'S FRANK DOING THE BULK OF THE WORK.

THEY GET OUT A 3 SET MATCH AGAINST THE SABERS.

NEXT DOOR, CHASE AND PAUL, FAIRCHILD SERVING UP HEAT ON SET POINT.

THEY WIN IN STRAIGHT SETS.

THEN OVER AT FOUR SINGLES, ELI RUNNING HIS OPPONENT ALL OVER THE COURT, FINISHES WITH A SLICE, UNFORTUNATELY NEITHER OF THE SINGLES PLAYERS COULD SECURE A MATCH WIN.

THREE DOUBLES FELL AS BEMIDJI DROPS BOTH CONTESTS IN THIS TRIANGULAR, 5-2.

>>> IN LACROSSE, THE GIRLS GET A WIN OVER WESTON -- WEST TONKA.

A BUNCH OF AREA SCHOOLS FINISHING THE TOP FIVE, BEMIDJI TAKES THE NUMBER ONE SPOT.

WE LOOK AT THE INDIVIDUAL RESULTS THERE, JACKSON WHITE, HIS BROTHER CARTER WHITE FROM STAPLES MOTLEY LAST YEAR AT NORTH DAKOTA STATE, HE IS PLAYING PRETTY WELL LIKE HIS BROTHER.

MAVERICK FROM WALKER-HACKENSACK-AKELEY, A STATE CHAMPION THERE.

DOWN FURTHER SOUTH, DAKOTA RIDGE INVITE, THE ROUND 1:00 AND AFTER ROUND ONE, BRAINERD IS LEADING THINGS THERE.

THEY'RE SHOOTING 3-UNDER-PAR.

>>> IN COLLEGE BASEBALL, CONCORDIA ST.

PAUL SWEEPS BEMIDJI.

THE TORONTO BLUE JAYS TOP THE MINNESOTA TWINS TO END THE TWO-GAME WIN STREAK.

>> Dennis: SO MUCH FOR THAT.

THANKS CHARLIE.

THE CENTRAL LAKES COLLEGE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER HAS OPENED PERFORMANCES OF THE GRAPES OF WRATH, A TONY AWARD-WINNING ADAPTATION OF JOHN STEINBECK'S NOVEL.

THE STORY FOLLOWS A FAMILY IN THE 1930S LEAVING OKLAHOMA IN SEARCH OF WORK AND STABILITY IN CALIFORNIA.

OUR REPORTER XZAYVER CURRY HAS THE STORY FOR THIS WEEKS IN-FOCUS.

>> Reporter: STUDENTS AND FACULTY OF THE CAMPUS AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY LINED UP TO SEE THE AWARD-WINNING PLAY, FEATURING RETURNING AND NEW LOCAL PERFORMERS INCLUDING JAKE, BLAKE, AND AMELIA, WHO FELT IT WAS A NEW AND EXCITING TASK TO TRY TO NAVIGATE A ROLE WITH SO MUCH DEPTH.

>> IT WAS JUST A NEW EXPERIENCE BECAUSE IN THE PAST, I HAVE DONE MUSICALS, BUT I WAS REALLY INTERESTED TO DO IT BECAUSE I HAVEN'T DONE A PLAY LIKE THIS BEFORE.

I WAS REALLY EXCITED TO DO IT.

I SAW WHAT THESE PEOPLE WERE GOING THROUGH AND I WANTED THEM TO LEARN WHAT THE FAMILIES WERE GOING THROUGH.

>> Reporter: THE PRODUCTION CONNECTS THEMES FROM THE PLAY SET IN THE 30s TO PRESENT DAY ISSUES.

THE DIRECTOR JOEY REMEMBERS COMING BACK TO THE STORY AND HOW IT RESONATES WITH ISSUES IN TODAY'S CLIMATE.

>> HOW RELEVANT IT FEELS TO MODERN DAY.

IT'S A STORY THAT IS ALMOST 100 YEARS OLD, BUT IT'S ABOUT SOCIETAL UPHEAVAL, ABOUT THINGS CHANGING AROUND US.

WE'RE LIVING IN A PERIOD, A CULTURAL AND TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE.

>> Reporter: AT CENTRAL LAKES COLLEGE, THIS PRODUCTION GOES BEYOND THE STAGE.

STUDENTS HAVE TURNED THEIR RESEARCH ON THE GREAT DEPRESSION AND THE DUST BOWL INTO AN IMMERSIVE PERFORMANCE, WITH A DEEPER INSIGHT INTO THE GRAPES OF WRATH AND ITS LASTING IMPACT.

>> THE GREAT DEPRESSION OF THE DUST BOWL WAS UNPRECEDENTED STRUGGLE FOR THE COUNTRY AT THE TIME AND THE LAST 20 YEARS, SIMILAR UPS AND DOWNS.

WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF CHALLENGES AROUND THE WORLD AGAIN.

I THINK THIS PLAY HAS A LOT OF TIMELESS THEMES.

>> Reporter: THE PLAY IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE VOTERS OF MINNESOTA THROUGH A MINNESOTA STATE ARTS BOARD ARTS EXPERIENCE AND A GRANT FROM THE FIVE WINGS ARTS COUNCIL.

REPORTING IN BRAINERD FOR THIS WEEK'S IN FOCUS, XZAYVER CURRY, LAKELAND NEWS.

[♪♪♪] >> Dennis: C.L.C.

WILL CONTINUE THEIR PERFORMANCES OF GRAPES OF WRATH THROUGH MAY 3RD, WITH PRE-SHOW TALKS WITH CORY JOHNSON A MEMBER OF THE THEATRE'S FACULTY, AND C.L.C.

STUDENTS ON MAY 2ND AND MAY 3RD AT 1:00 P.M.

IN THE DRYDEN THEATRE.

>>> OKAY, LET'S GO BACK TO SYDNEY FOR MORE ON THE WEATHER.

>> Sydney: LOOKING AT THE EXTENDED FORECAST, THERE WILL BE A 20% CHANCE OF SCATTERED ISOLATED SHOWERS TOMORROW, MONDAY AND WEDNESDAY, BUT BOTH SUNDAY AND TUESDAY WILL BE CLEAR, AS WE GET UP INTO THE 60s AS WE HEAD INTO THE WEEKEND.

>> Charlie: AND NOAH FROM BSU HIT HIS 12th AND 13th HOME RUNS OF THE SEASON FOR BSU BASEBALL, THAT BREAKS THE HOME RUN RECORD IN THEIR HISTORY, THE LAST WAS IN 1997.

>> Dennis: HAVE A GOOD NIGHT EVERYONE, WE'LL SEE YOU BACK ON MONDAY NIGHT.

>> Charlie: GOOD NIGHT.

[♪♪♪]