>> 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.

>>> MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS RELATIVES OR MMIR IS AN EPIDEMIC OF VIOLENCE EXPERIENCED BY INDIGENOUS PEOPLE FOR GENERATIONS.

THE MILLE LACS BAND OF OJIBWE HOSTED A PROGRAM TODAY TO HELP BRING AWARENESS TO MMIR.

REPORTER SAMMY HOLLADAY WAS IN ATTENDANCE TO LEARN MORE.

>> Reporter: ACCORDING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY IN MINNESOTA, FROM 2010 TO 2018, 8% OF ALL MURDERED WOMEN AND GIRLS IN MINNESOTA WERE INDIGENOUS, DESPITE MAKING UP JUST 1% OF THE STATE'S POPULATION.

ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF JUSTICE, 84.3% OF INDIGENOUS WOMEN HAVE EXPERIENCED VIOLENCE IN THEIR LIFETIME, 56.1% HAVE EXPERIENCED SEXUAL VIOLENCE.

JUST ONE CASE OF VIOLENCE IS TOO MUCH, WHICH IS WHY EVENTS LIKE THE MMIR PROGRAM TODAY IS OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE.

>> THEY'RE IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT NOT ONLY RAISES AWARENESS BUT IT BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER.

SOMETIMES PEOPLE ARE JUST COMING FOR THE FOOD OR A T-SHIRT, BUT THEY HEAR A POWERFUL MESSAGE THAT THEY LEAVE WITH AND THEY REMEMBER AND THEY TALK ABOUT THAT WITH THEIR FRIENDS AND FAMILY.

THAT'S HOW WE RAISE AWARENESS.

>> Reporter: IT IS A DIFFICULT SUBJECT TO TALK ABOUT BUT AWARENESS AND EDUCATION ON THIS EPIDEMIC IS KEY TO UNDERSTANDING WHY THERE IS SUCH A DISPARITY AMONG THE NATIVE POPULATION.

>> EDUCATION IS VERY IMPORTANT.

IF WE LOOK AT OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM, BRINGING AWARENESS TO OUR SCHOOL, STARTING FROM THERE, WE NEED TO LOOK AT OUR RUNWAYS, ARE THEY REALLY RUNAWAYS OR ARE THEY MISSING?

JUST BRING AWARENESS TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC WITH REGARDS TO EDUCATION AND WHY THE STATISTICS IS SO MUCH HIGHER FOR NATIVE WOMEN THAN ANYONE ELSE.

>> Reporter: IF FEES WILL FUND REWARD CASES FOR MISSING INDIGENOUS PEOPLE.

IT WILL ONLY BRING MORE AWARENESS TO THE ISSUE WHEN PEOPLE SEE IT ON THE ROAD.

OTHER TRIBES HAVE PLATES TO RAISE AWARENESS AND LEADERSHIP HAS BEEN WORKING HARD TO DEVELOP THEIR LICENSE PLATE, HONORING MMIR AWARENESS.

>> I THINK IT'S GREAT.

I LOVE THE FACT THAT THE STATE IS DOING THE PLATE AND THERE ARE OTHER TRIBES THAT DO IT AS WELL.

I BELIEVE WHITE EARTH AND RED LAKE ARE STARTING TO DO THE PLATES.

JUST TO BRING THAT CONNECTION TO THE RESERVATION WITH REGARDS TO OUR OWN PLATES, I THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT TO ME AND I KNOW IT'S IMPORTANT TO A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> Reporter: SEEING THE AMOUNT OF SUPPORT TODAY WAS ENCOURAGING AND HEARTWARMING BUT EVEN MORE SO WAS SEEING THE YOUTH GET INVOLVED AND SET THE EXAMPLE FOR THE NEXT GENERATION.

>> ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS, SO WHEN WE LOOK AT WHAT OUR YOUTH CAN DO AND WHAT WE ARE SUPPOSED TO DO FOR OUR YOUTH, WE CAN WATCH OUT FOR THEM.

THERE IS PREVENTION WE DON'T TALK ABOUT.

IT'S A DIFFERENT WORLD OUT THERE.

THERE ARE ENOUGH PEOPLE TO LISTEN NOW AND HAVE THAT COMFORT AMONG OUR YOUTH, MEN AND WOMEN TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST WHAT IS GOING ON.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT.

I MEAN WITHOUT IT, WE'RE NEVER GOING TO FIX IT.

>> Reporter: SAMMY HOLLADAY, LAKELAND NEWS.

>> THIS SUNDAY, MAY 5TH MARKS THE OFFICIAL DAY FOR MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS RELATIVES AWARENESS.

THE MMIW 218 WILL HOST ITS ANNUAL WALK/RUN EVENT ALONG WITH A FULL DAY OF ACTIVITIES IN BEMIDJI.

THE EVENT IS FREE TO ATTEND BUT REQUIRES REGISTRATION.

A LINK TO REGISTER WILL BE POSTED ALONG WITH THE STORY ON OUR WEBSITE.

>>> CENTRAL LAKES COLLEGE PARTNERED WITH THE WEARE CLINIC AND SEXUAL ASSAULT SERVICES TO HOST THE RED SAND PROJECT TO RAISE AWARENESS ON THE SCOURGE TO MANKIND THAT IS HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

REPORTER MILES WALKER HAS MORE.

>> Reporter: FOR THE NATIONAL DAY OF AWARENESS, THEY'RE SHEDDING LIGHT ON A GLOBAL EPIDEMIC MANY ARE NOT AWARE OF.

>> FOR ME, IT WASN'T A WELL-KNOWN ISSUE UNTIL I WAS AWARE OF THE PREVALENCE OF THIS ISSUE.

REALLY WHAT HUMAN TRAFFICKING ENCOMPASSES.

>> Reporter: WHICH IS WHY THE RED SAND PROJECT ASKS SUPPORTERS TO POUR RED SAND IN BETWEEN SIDEWALK CRACKS, WHICH REPRESENTS THE VICTIMS THAT HAVE FALLEN THROUGH THE CRACKS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

>> I THINK THE BIGGEST THING THAT EVERYONE CAN DO IS EDUCATE THEMSELVES ON THE TOPIC, HOW PREVALENT IT IS, LOOKING AT DIFFERENT WARNING SIGNS.

WE LIVE IN AN AREA THAT HAS A LOT OF TOURISM.

SOMETIMES THAT CAN BE A SITUATION WHERE IT WILL BE LIKELY THAT SOMEBODY IS BEING TRAFFICKED, SOMEONE IS IN A VULNERABLE SITUATION.

>> Reporter: AND ONE MISUNDERSTANDING THAT MANY HAVE ON THE TOPIC OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING IS THE BELIEVE THAT IT'S ONLY PREVALENT IN MORE POPULATED AREAS.

>> IT'S ABOUT RAISING AWARENESS.

KNOWING THAT IT'S HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITY AND IN MINNESOTA, IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT JUST HAPPENS IN BIGGER CITIES.

IT'S AFFECTING PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

>> Reporter: OF THE 40-PLUS MILLION HUMAN TRAFFICKING VICTIMS, 75% OF THEM ARE WOMEN AND GIRLS, YET ANOTHER REASON IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT ORGANIZATIONS LIKE CLC SHOW THEIR SUPPORT FOR WHAT THE RED SAND PROJECT DOES.

>> THIS IS MY THIRD YEAR THAT I'VE BEEN HERE FOR THIS EVENT AND I THINK IT'S STEADILY GROWN EVERY YEAR.

I HOPE THAT WILL CONTINUE ESPECIALLY WITH THE COMMUNITY LAW ENFORCEMENT, THEY HAVE HAD A STRONGER PRESENCE THE LAST FEW YEARS.

IT'S BEEN GREAT TO SEE THAT MORE PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF THIS CAUSE AND ARE DOING THEIR PART TO SUPPORT IT.

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

>> OF THE 40 MILLION HUMAN TRAFFICKING VICTIMS, 81 PERCENT OF THEM ARE TRAPPED IN FORCED LABOR AND BOYS MAKE UP ROUGHLY 36 PERCENT OF CHILDREN IN THE U.S.-WIDE SEX INDUSTRY.

>>> IN OTHER NEWS TODAY, POLICE IN ALEXANDRIA ARE SEARCHING FOR A SUSPECT IN AN ARMED ROBBERY OF A BANK IN DOWNTOWN ALEXANDRIA.

THE ROBBERY HAPPENED JUST BEFORE 4:30 THIS AFTERNOON AT BREMER BANK.

THIS IS A PHOTO OF THE SUSPECT WHO REPORTEDLY HAD A HANDGUN AND GOT AWAY WITH AN UNDISCLOSED AMOUNT OF CASH.

A K-9 ATTEMPTED TO TRACK THE SUSPECT BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL.

NO ONE WAS INJURED IN THE INCIDENT.

ANYONE WITH ANY INFORMATION SHOULD CONTACT THE ALEXANDRIA POLICE DEPARTMENT.

>>> AN ALL TERRAIN VEHICLE CRASH IN MORRISON COUNTY HAS CLAIMED THE LIFE OF A 21-YEAR-OLD ROYALTON MAN.

MORRISON COUNTY SHERIFF SHAWN LARSEN SAYS JOHN POPPEN DIED IN THE CRASH THAT HAPPENED JUST BEFORE 7:00 LAST NIGHT, NORTH OF ROYALTON.

LARSEN SAYS POPPEN WAS DRIVING AN A.T.V.

ON THE DESIGNATED PORTION OF THE SOO LINE TRAIL WHEN HE LOST CONTROL OF THE A.T.V., WENT OFF THE TRAIL AND STRUCK A TREE.

LIFE-SAVING MEASURES WERE PERFORMED ON POPPEN, AND HE WAS LATER PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE.

POPPEN WAS NOT WEARING A HELMET AND THIS CASE REMAINS UNDER INVESTIGATION.

>>> FUNDS FOR THE AFFORDABLE CONNECTIVITY PROGRAM, WHICH DISCOUNTS MONTHLY HOME INTERNET BILLS FOR MILLIONS OF AMERICANS, ARE ABOUT TO RUN OUT.

GROUPS WORKING TO CLOSE THE DIGITAL DIVIDE WARN OF SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES.

KARIN CAIFA IS IN WASHINGTON WITH THE LATEST.

>> Reporter: A FEDERAL PROGRAM THAT, THAT HAS PROVIDED A DIGITAL LIFELINE WITH LOW OR NO COST INTERNET FOR ROUGHLY 23 MILLION AMERICAN HOUSEHOLDS IS ABOUT TO END.

THE AFFORDABLE CONNECTIVITY PROGRAM, A 2021 PANDEMIC ERA BENEFIT HAS RUN OUT OF MONEY AND ADVOCATES ARE WORRIED WHAT THAT MEANS.

>> THAT'S THE PATH WE'RE ON, WE'RE GOING TO RETURN TO A PLACE WHERE KIDS ARE DOING THEIR HOMEWORK IN PARKING LOTS, FOLKS CAN'T ACCESS THEIR TELEHEALTH.

>> Reporter: IN MAY, ENROLLEES MAY RECEIVE A REDUCED BENEFIT AND FOR JUNE, NOTHING AT ALL UNLESS CONGRESS ACTS.

THEY WILL PUSH CONGRESS FOR A RENEWAL AND ENCOURAGE SERVICE PROVIDERS TO HELP IN THE MEANTIME.

>> WE ANNOUNCED EARLIER THIS MONTH THAT WE ARE ENCOURAGING PROVIDERS TO TAKE STEPS TO KEEP THEIR CONSUMERS CONNECTED AT THIS CRUCIAL TIME BY OFFERING LOW COST, NO COST PLANS.

>> Reporter: THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL DIGITAL INCLUSION ALLIANCE SAYS USERS OF THE AFFORDABLE CONNECTIVITY PROGRAM SHOULD CHECK IN WITH THEIR INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS ABOUT THOSE LOW COST OPTIONS.

>> IF AN INDIVIDUAL OR HOUSEHOLD UTILIZED ONE OF THE LOW COST OFFERS PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC, THEY SHOULD CHECK WHAT THE LOW COST OFFER IS NOW.

IT MAY NOT BE THE SAME AS IT WAS THEN.

>> Reporter: THEY SUGGEST LOOKING AT THE FCC LIFELINE PROGRAM FOR DISCOUNTS ON PHONES AND BROADBAND SERVICE.

IN WASHINGTON, I'M KARIN CAIFA.

>> THE AFFORDABLE CONNECTIVITY PROGRAM PROVIDES A MONTHLY DISCOUNT OF UP TO $30 FOR ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLDS AND UP TO $75 FOR HOUSEHOLDS ON NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBAL LANDS.

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

>> Stacy: RAIN SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS WILL BEGIN TO TAPER OFF OVERNIGHT TONIGHT.

WE HAVE A FEW MORE CHANCES THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE MAINLY QUIET WEATHER AS WE HEAD OVER THE WEEKEND.

I'LL HAVE YOUR FORECAST IN A FEW MINUTES.

>> AND IN TODAY'S >> 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.

>>> THE GREAT AMERICAN THINK-OFF HAS ANNOUNCED FOUR FINALISTS WHO WILL COMPETE IN THIS YEARS ANNUAL PHILOSOPHY CONTEST.

THIS YEARS QUESTION IS, "IS FREEDOM OF SPEECH WORTH THE COST?

” THE FOUR WILL DEBATE THAT QUESTION DURING THE 31ST ANNUAL GREAT AMERICAN THINK-OFF IN NEW YORK MILLS ON SATURDAY JUNE 8TH.

THE FOUR FINALISTS ARE DAVID LAPAKKO OF RICHFIELD.

LAPAKKO IS FINISHING HIS 38TH AND FINAL YEAR AS AN ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF COMMUNICATION STUDIES AT AUGSBURG UNIVERSITY IN MINNEAPOLIS.

MICHELLE MELLON OF DEMING, NEW MEXICO.

MELLON HAS OVER 30 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AS A PROFESSIONAL STORYTELLER, INCLUDING MORE THAN 25 YEARS WORKING IN MARKETING AS A COPYWRITER, CONTENT WRITER, AND GHOSTWRITER.

CRYSTAL KELLEY OF EDEN PRAIRIE.

KELLEY IS A FULL-TIME CAREGIVER FOR HER DISABLED ADULT SON AND HAS BEEN A WRITER AND EDITOR FOR SEVERAL DECADES.

AND BILL SUTHERLAND OF EDEN PRAIRIE.

SUTHERLAND HAS BEEN IN THE CONSULTING ENGINEERING BUSINESS FOR ABOUT 40 YEARS AND FOUNDED MINNTECH ENGINEERING CONSULTING ENGINEERS IN 1984.

KELLEY AND MELLON WILL ASSERT THAT YES, IT IS WORTH THE COST, WHILE LAPAKKO AND SUTHERLAND WILL ARGUE THAT NO, IT IS NOT.

THESE FOUR ESSAYISTS EACH WIN $500 AND A WEEKEND TRIP TO NEW YORK MILLS IN JUNE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE LIVE PHILOSOPHICAL DEBATE.

>>> TIME FOR WEATHER.

STACY IS HERE NOW AS WE NEAR THE WEEKEND.

ARE WE ABOUT TO CLEAR OUT ALL THIS RAIN?

>> Stacy: PROBABLY NOT ALL OF IT, MOST OF IT WILL TAPER OFF OVERNIGHT, BUT WE HAVE A FEW CHANCES OF RAIN SHOWERS THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS, FRIDAY AND SATURDAY, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE WE'LL HAVE SUNSHINE IN THE FORECAST, WARMER TEMPERATURE AS WE HEAD INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK.

SOME OF US COULD SEE >> 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, WE SAW CLOUDY SKIES AND DRIZZLY CONDITIONS MOST OF THE DAY.

THE RAIN SHOWERS HAVE BEEN PICKING UP AS WE MOVED INTO THE EVENING.

WE WILL HAVE A FEW THUNDERSTORMS THIS EVENING UNTIL MIDNIGHT.

WE SHOULD SEE THAT TAPER OFF AS WE HEAD INTO THE OVERNIGHT.

WE'RE NOT QUITE THROUGH, A FEW MORE CHANCES FOR RAIN SHOWERS LATE THIS WEEK AND SUNDAY IS LOOKING NICE WITH SUNSHINE AND MILD TEMPERATURES.

RIGHT NOW IN BEMIDJI, 44 AT THE AIRPORT.

AT THE STUDIO, WE HAVE A SOUTHEAST WIND AT 9 MILES PER HOUR, THE DEW POINT IS 44, AND SO FAR WE HAVE RECEIVED 0.03-INCH OF RAIN BUT WE'RE STILL SEEING RAIN SHOWERS OUT THERE TONIGHT.

IN BRAINERD, LIGHT RAIN THIS EVENING AND AREAS OF FOG.

IT'S 47 DEGREES, THE DEW POINT IS 45, PRESSURE IS HOLDING STEADY AND WINDS ARE SOUTHEAST AT 9 MILES PER HOUR.

WE HAVE AREAS OF RAIN SHOWERS AND SOME THUNDERSTORMS MAKING THEIR WAY INTO THE AREA THIS EVENING AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE THOSE MOVING ACROSS THE AREA, AT LEAST FOR THE NEXT FEW HOURS.

WE SHOULD SEE THAT TAPER OFF FROM SOUTH TO NORTH AS WE HEAD INTO THE OVERNIGHT, LINGERING A LITTLE BIT LONGER IN FAR NORTHERN MINNESOTA.

NOW TOMORROW, THERE IS A LIKELIHOOD OF SEEING SOME SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS IN NORTHWEST MINNESOTA, BUT OTHER THAN THAT, SOME ISOLATED RAIN SHOWERS COULD DEVELOP AS WE HEAD INTO THE AFTERNOON.

WE ARE GOING TO BE SEEING VERY WINDY CONDITIONS TOMORROW HOWEVER, SO THAT WILL BE SOMETHING TO KEEP IN MIND AS WELL.

VARIABLE CLOUDS OUTSIDE OF THAT, BUT IT DOES LOOK LIKE NICER WEATHER IS IN STORE AS WE HEAD INTO THE SECOND HALF OF THE WEEKEND.

SO SOME WEATHER SHOTS TO SHARE WITH YOU TONIGHT, BEAUTIFUL SUNRISE, DIANE SENDING US THIS PHOTO AND THE PRETTY SKIES AROUND SUNRISE IN MENAHGA FROM ARLENE.

SAMROSE TAKING A PICTURE OF THE GRAY SKIES OVER LOWER RED LAKE THIS MORNING.

ARLENE CAPTURING A COUPLE OF DUCKS MAKING THEIR WAY THROUGH THE YARD IN LONGVILLE AND ANGELA WITH THE CLOUDS AND RAIN ON THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER TONIGHT.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING THOSE WITH US TONIGHT.

FOR OUR EAGLE EYES REPORT, STEPHANIE IN BRAINERD, OVERCAST TODAY WITH A HIGH OF 50.

ARLENE IN LONGVILLE, CLOUDY SKIES, TOPPING OUT AT 54.

BOB IN BLUFFTON, DRIZZLY CLOUDS TODAY, A SOUTHEAST WIND, AND ANGELA AT CASS LAKE, CLOUDY AND DRIZZLE FOR MOST OF THE DAY, PICKING UP SOME RAIN THIS EVENING.

ON OUR ALMANAC, BRAINERD REACHING A HIGH OF 51.

THE CLOUDS ARE RO -- KEEPING TEMPERATURES CLOSE TO AVERAGE.

IN BEMIDJI, WE REACHED A HIGH OF 52.

WE'RE FALLING SHY OF THE AVERAGE HIGH TEMPERATURE, 39 FOR THE LOW AND SUNSET AT 8:34.

HERE'S A LOOK AT OUR FORECAST.

WE WILL SEE VARIABLE CLOUDS ACROSS NORTHERN AND CENTRAL MINUTE.

WE DO HAVE A VERY GOOD CHANCE OF SEEING SOME RAIN SHOWERS AND SOME ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS IN THE FAR NORTHWEST CORNER OF THE VIEWING AREA, A SMALLER CHANCE OUTSIDE OF THAT, AND A LOT OF THIS WILL BE OCCURRING AS WE HEAD INTO THE AFTERNOON.

HIGH TEMPERATURES FROM ABOUT 53 IN WARROAD, TO 61 IN GRAND RAPIDS, AND AS WE HEAD INTO CENTRAL MINNESOTA AGAIN, PARTLY TO MOSTLY SUNNY SKIES, SOME ISOLATED RAIN SHOWERS IN THE AFTERNOON, WITH HIGHS IN THE LOW TO MID-60s.

SO HERE'S OUR FORECAST FOR TONIGHT, MOSTLY CLOUDY SKIES, SOME AREAS OF RAIN AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS.

WE SHOULD START TAPER OFF FROM SOUTH TO NORTH AS WE HEAD INTO THE OVERNIGHT.

LOWS NEAR 39.

TOMORROW, VARIABLE CLOUDS, SHOWERS LIKELY, SOME ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS IN NORTHWEST MINNESOTA, BUT OTHERWISE ISOLATED SHOWERS POSSIBLE IN OTHER PARTS OF OUR VIEWING AREA, HIGHS NEAR 59, WITH WEST TO SOUTHWEST WINDS AT 10 TO 25.

LOOKING AT OUR WEEKEND FORECAST, STILL COULD SEE A FEW SHOWERS ON SATURDAY WITH OTHERWISE PARTLY TO MOSTLY SUNNY SKIES AND HIGHS NEAR 57.

MOSTLY SUNNY AND 65 AND MOST OF US SHOULD HAVE HIGHS IN THE 70s ON MONDAY.

IT'S STILL WARM ON TUESDAY, UPPER 60s, BUT WE COULD SEE SCATTERED SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS ON MONDAY AND TUESDAY.

BACK TO YOU DENNIS.

>> Dennis: CHARLIE IS HERE NOW WITH OUR LOCAL SPORTS.

TWINS -- NO ONE GOT TO WATCH THEM TODAY BECAUSE THEY WERE OFF.

A LOT FEWER FANS WILL BE ABLE TO WATCH THEM ON TV WHEN THEY GET BACK TO PLAYING.

>> Charlie: YEAH, IF YOU COULDN'T WATCH THE TWINS YESTERDAY, YOU PROBABLY WEREN'T THE ONLY ONES.

WE HAVE THAT STORY COMING UP.

ALSO, BSU MEN'S HOCKEY, THEY WILL HAVE A DIFFERENT LOOK ON THEIR STREAM NEXT YEAR.

WE'LL TELL YOU WHY COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK.

[♪♪♪] >> SPORTS ON LAKELAND NEWS IS SPONSORED IN PART BY PAUL BUNYAN COMMUNICATIONS; NORTHERN MINNESOTA'S CERTIFIED APPLE NORTHERN MINNESOTA THE GIGAZONE.

INTERNET SPEEDS UP TO 10 GIGABITS PER SECONDS, BOTH UPLOAD AND DOWNLOAD.

IT'S THE GIGAZONE FROM PAUL BUNYAN COMMUNICATIONS AND IT'S RIGHT HERE.

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

DEDICATED TO PROVIDING RELIABLE ELECTRICITY AND A KNOWLEDGEABLE AND CARING STAFF TO ASSIST YOU WITH ENERGY-SAVING PROGRAMS AND TIPS MORE AT CWPOWER.COM.

>> AND NOW YOUR LOCAL SPORTS WITH CHARLIE YAEGER.

>>> SOME BIG NEWS FOR BSU MEN'S HOCKEY FANS.

THE CCHA HAS AGREED TO A MEDIA RIGHTS AGREEMENT WITH MIDCO SPORTS PLUS TO BE THE EXCLUSIVE STREAMING PARTNER OF CCHA TV.

THE 3-YEAR DEAL BEGINS NEXT SEASON WITH MIDCO SPORTS PLANNED TO STREAM LIVE AND ON DEMAND COVERAGE OF ALL REGULAR AND POST SEASON CCHA GAMES.

THE LEAGUE PREVIOUSLY HAD A 3-YEAR CONTRACT WITH FLO-HOCKEY-TV THAT EXPIRED AT THE END OF THIS PAST SEASON.

AS WITH THE PREVIOUS AGREEMENT, MEMBER SCHOOLS WILL STILL HANDLE THE PRODUCTION OF THEIR RESPECTIVE HOCKEY BROADCASTS.

>>> THE THREAT OF RAIN CANCELED MANY HIGH SCHOOL GAMES.

LACROSSE WAS IMMUNE TO THE WEATHER.

GIRLS LACROSSE, THEY WIN 6-2.

BEMIDJI BOYS VOLLEYBALL, THEY WIN 3-1 OVER CLOQET.

>>> WELL, HEADING INTO THIS PAST OCTOBER, THE MINNESOTA TWINS CONTRACT WITH A BANKRUPT DIAMOND SPORTS GROUP.

THE OPERATOR OF BALLY SPORTS NORTH WAS COMING TO AN END AND THERE WERE QUESTIONS SWIRLING ABOUT HOW FANS WOULD WATCH THE TEAM COME SPRING 2024.

LUCKILY THE TWO SIDES WERE ABLE TO AGREE TO A ONE-YEAR DEAL ON BROADCAST RIGHTS, SETTLING THE ISSUE UNTIL AT LEAST NEXT OFFSEASON OR SO WE THOUGHT.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK.

>>> MANY FANS TUNED INTO BALI SPORTS NORTH YESTERDAY TO WATCH THE TWINS TRY FOR THEIR MLB 10th WIN IN A ROW.

THOSE WITH MIDCO WERE MET WITH AN UNSAVORY MESSAGE ON THEIR TV INSTEAD.

IT READ THAT BALLY SPORTS IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE.

THEY ARE IN BANKRUPTCY PROCEEDINGS AND THEY DECLINED SEVERAL OPTIONS FOR US TO CARRY THEIR NETWORK.

AS A RESULT, MIDCO NO LONGER HAS THE RIGHT TO CARRY THEIR CONTENT.

FANS TOOK TO X VOICING THEIR DISPLEASURE SAYING NO TWINS BASEBALL?

NO USE FOR MIDCO.

THEY ALSO DROPPED BALLY SPORTS, DONE WITH THIS ORGANIZATION.

COMCAST, THE JOINT VENTURE WITH MIDCO SERVING THE GREATER MINNEAPOLIS AREA DROPPED THE SPORTS NETWORK AS WELL, LEAVING MORE FANS LOOKING ELSEWHERE TO WATCH THE TWINS PLAY UNTIL A DEAL IS STRUCK.

ON X, THEY TOOK A POLL TO SEE HOW FANS PLAN TO WATCH THE TWINS GOING FORWARD WITH OVER 50% SAYING THEY JUST WON'T WATCH AT ALL.

BALLY SPORTS ISSUED A STATEMENT SAYING UNFORTUNATELY COMCAST HAS REJECTED A PROPOSED EXTENSION THAT WOULD HAVE KEPT OUR CHANNELS ON THE AIR AND INSTEAD THEY PULLED OUR SIGNALS WHILE WE CONTINUE TO PURSUE A MULTI-YEAR AGREEMENT.

THE TWINS ISSUED THEIR OWN STATEMENT SAYING THE TWINS ARE DISAPPOINTED ABOUT THIS DISRUPTION FOR OUR FANS.

THE SITUATION IS A BUSINESS NEGOTIATION BETWEEN COMCAST AND BALLY'S.

THEY HAVE NO ROLE OR VOICE IN THIS MATTER.

SOME ARE NOT SO QUICK TO LET THE TEAM OFF THE HOOK.

AARON RESPONDED VIA TWITTER SAYING WHILE TECHNICALLY TRUE, IT'S ONLY AN ISSUE BECAUSE THE TWINS CHOSE MORE MONEY OVER AVAILABILITY BY RETURNING TO BALLY.

NOW THEIR FANS ARE HURT BY YET ANOTHER CONSEQUENCE OF THE TEAM'S DECISION.

JOHN, THE OPERATOR OF TWINS DAILY WAS CRITICAL OF THE TEAM BY RESPONDING THE TWINS CONVENIENTLY IGNORED THEY VOLUNTARILY SLAPPED SOME BIG GOLDEN HANDCUFFS ON THEMSELVES.

THEY TOOK A BIG WAD OF MONEY FROM BALLY FOR THEIR TV RIGHTS, GIVING UP CONTROL HOW IT WOULD BE BROUGHT TO CONSUMERS.

HE POINTED OUT TEAM OWNERSHIP POCKETED THE CASH AND DID NOT ADD IT TO THIS YEAR'S PAYROLL.

IN FACT, THEY DECREASED IT BY $30 MILLION.

AS OF TODAY, ALL PARTIES ARE POINTING FINGERS AT EACH OTHER, WITH A SOLUTION SEEMINGLY UNLIKELY TO ARISE IN THE FUTURE.

THE TWINS WILL TRY TO CONTINUE THEIR WIN STREAK TOMORROW, BUT EVEN IF THEY EXTEND THE STREAK, THE FANS WILL STILL HAVE LOST.

>>> TRYING TO STREAM GAMES HAS PROVED DIFFICULT AS WELL.

MANY FANS TRIED TO WATCH THE TWINS ON MLB EXTRA INNINGS BUT THEY ONLY ALLOW STREAMING FOR OUT OF MARKET GAMES.

HERE'S A LOOK AT WHERE YOU CAN WATCH THE TWINS GAMES.

YOU CAN SUBSCRIBE IN PERSON OR GO TO TARGET FIELD.

>> Dennis: THAT'S ONE WAY TO DO IT.

THANKS CHARLIE.

>>> STUDENTS AT HORACE MAY ELEMENTARY IN BEMIDJI HAVE RECENTLY BEEN LEARNING ABOUT KINDNESS AND HOW A SIMPLE KIND GESTURE CAN REALLY HELP THOSE IN NEED.

OUR REPORTER MATTHEW FREEMAN STOPPED BY MISS PEARSON'S 2ND CLASS EARLIER THIS WEEK TO SEE WHAT HER STUDENTS HAVE LEARNED ABOUT KINDNESS, FOR THIS WEEK'S GOLDEN APPLE.

>> Reporter: STUDENTS OF MS. PEARSON'S SECOND GRADE CLASS HAVE BEEN READING FROM A BOOK TEACHING THEM TO BE KIND AND HELPING THOSE INTO NEED.

THEY WANTED TO HELP THE COMMUNITY IN SOME WAY SO THEY DECIDED TO MAKE GIFT BAGS FOR THE EMERGENCY SHELTER FOR FAMILIES EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.

>> IT STARTED OUT WITH A STORY WE READ CALLED KIDS CAN BE BIG HELPER.

SO WE LOOKED AT HOW AN AUTHOR WRITES PERSUASIVELY.

THEY LEARNED HOW TO HELP AT HOME, AT SCHOOL, AND IN THE COMMUNITY.

WE DECIDED TO HELP IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> Reporter: MS. PEARSON PUT OUT A LETTER HOPING FOR DONATIONS TO MAKE 12 BAGS FOR THE SHELTER.

>> THAT WAS MY HOPE, BUT WE MADE 46.

THAT WAS VERY EXCITING.

>> Reporter: THEY FILLED THE BAGS WITH TOOTHPASTE, DEODORANT, WASH CLOTHS, AND MUCH MORE.

WHEN THEY REALIZED KIDS WOULD BE RECEIVING THE BAGS, THEY WANTED TO DO SOMETHING EXTRA.

>> WE SAID WHAT ABOUT AN ART BAG?

WE SHARED OUR CRAYONS, EXTRA PENCILS, SOME BLANK BOOKS, AND THEY CHOSE SOME COLORING PAGES AND WE PUT THAT TOGETHER TO HELP THE CHILDREN THAT COME TO VILLAGE OF HOPE.

I ASKED MY CHILDREN WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO GET, WHAT WOULD BE FUN FOR YOU?

THAT'S HOW IT CAME ABOUT.

>> Reporter: THEY SAID IT'S A GREAT FEELING AND THEY COULDN'T BE HAPPIER DOING IT.

>> IT FEELS GOOD BECAUSE WE'RE HELPING PEOPLE.

>> WE KNOW THAT PEOPLE DON'T ALWAYS GET AS MUCH AS WE HAVE.

SO GIVING PEOPLE THINGS HELPS US BE HAPPIER.

>> IT FEELS REALLY GOOD TO HELP OTHER PEOPLE AND IT WAS REALLY FUN TO MAKE IT.

I LIKED IT.

IT WAS REALLY FUN.

>> IT FEELS REALLY NICE INSIDE AND IT FEELS GOOD.

IT'S JUST FUN HELPING PEOPLE.

>> Reporter: THE VILLAGE OF HOPE WAS APPRECIATIVE OF THESE SECOND GRADERS FOR THEIR DONATIONS.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH HORACE, WE APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOUR SECOND GRADERS DID FOR THE VILLAGE OF HOPE.

THIS MEANS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT TO US.

WE LOVE IT WHEN THE COMMUNITY STEPS UP AND EVERYONE BECOMES RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS VILLAGE.

>> Reporter: REPORTING FOR THIS WEEK'S GOLDEN APPLE, I'M MATTHEW FREEMAN, LAKELAND NEWS.

>> THE 2ND GRADERS ALSO ADDED HANDWRITTEN NOTES IN EACH OF THE BAGS THAT WERE DONATED IN ORDER TO SHOW WHOEVER GETS THOSE BAGS THAT SOMEONE OUT THERE CARES.

>>> WELL, THAT'S GOING TO DO IT FOR US TONIGHT.

HAVE A GREAT NIGHT EVERYBODY, WE'LL SEE YOU TOMORROW.

>> Charlie: GOOD NIGHT.

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