>> 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.

; INTERNET, PHONE, AND T.V.

C.T.C; CONNECTING THE COMMUNITY ONLINE 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, CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF THE GIGAZONE, THE ALL FIBEROPTIC NETWORK THAT HAS TRANSFORMED HOW WE LIVE AND WORK.

>> 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.

>>> BEMIDJI'S HIGHWAY 197 PROJECT HAS BEEN PAUSED SINCE MARCH OF THIS YEAR BUT THERE IS NOW RENEWED HOPE THAT IT COULD RESUME BY NEXT YEAR.

OUR REPORTER MATTHEW FREEMAN HAS MORE DETAILS.

>> Reporter: AN $18 MILLION RAISE GRANT WAS FROZEN IN MARCH EARLIER THIS YEAR BY THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

IT COVERED A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF MnDOT AND THE CITY OF BEMIDJI'S PORTION OF THE HIGHWAY 197 PROJECT.

THEY BELIEVE THE RAISE GRANT COULD BE REINSTATED BY THE END OF THE YEAR, ALLOWING MnDOT'S PORTION OF THE PROGRAM TO RESUME.

>> THE GRANT WAS PAUSED FOR A PERIOD OF TIME, WHICH IMPACTED BOTH OF OUR CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULES.

WE WENT BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD, SAT DOWN, AND TALKED ABOUT HOW WE CAN ACCOMMODATE THAT, SO THAT WE'RE NOT WORKING IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO ONE ANOTHER.

>> Reporter: IN 2026, MnDOT PLANS TO FOCUS CONSTRUCTION ON THE WEST SIDE OF HIGHWAY 197 WHILE THE CITY OF BEMIDJI WRAPS UP THEIR CONSTRUCTION OF MIDDLE SCHOOL DRIVE AND HANNAH AVENUE.

THEN THEY PLAN TO FINISH THE REST OF THE PROJECT BY THE END OF 2027.

EACH CONSTRUCTION PERIOD PLANS TO END MAY THROUGH OCTOBER.

>> WE WILL WIDEN THIS SECTION, TO ENSURE ADEQUATE TURN LANE CAPACITY AND A TEMPORARY SIGNAL.

THERE WILL BE TWO SHORT-TERM CLOSURES WITH DETOURS FOR HIGHWAY 71 TRAFFIC AT THE 71 INTERSECTION.

AT A CERTAIN POINT, WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO POUR CONCRETE ACROSS THE INTERSECTION, WHICH WILL TAKE SOME CURE TIME.

IT WILL BE LIMITED TO TWO TO THREE WEEKS.

>> Reporter: MnDOT'S PORTION OF THE PROJECT WAS SLATED TO BEGIN AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR.

NOW THEY WILL RESUME THEIR PORTION IN 2026 AND WRAP THINGS UP IN 2027.

SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS WERE CONCERNED OF HAVING TWO CONSTRUCTION SEASONS AFFECTING LOCAL BUSINESSES.

>> I'M WORRIED THAT THOSE BUSINESSES IN THAT AREA, THE CITY PROJECT AND MnDOT'S PROJECT, IT'S GOING TO BE CONFUSING TO GO FROM THE CENTER TO MENARDS.

IT'S NOT JUST ONE YEAR, BUT TWO.

>> Reporter: MAYOR PRINCE SAID IF THERE IS POSSIBILITY FOR NIGHT CONSTRUCTION, TO LOWER THE CONSTRUCTION PERIOD BETWEEN THE CITY AND MnDOT'S PROJECTS.

>> WE HAVEN'T BEEN DOING THAT HERE.

IT'S A CRAFTSMANSHIP AND A SAFETY THING FOR BOTH OUR EMPLOYEES AND THE CONTRACTORS.

YOU KNOW, WE UNDERSTAND THAT NO 1 LIKES ROAD CONSTRUCTION.

WE HATE THAT WE HAVE TO DO IT TO THE BUSINESS OWNERS IN THIS AREA, BUT IT'S THE FACT OF IT.

WE LOOK AT WHAT WE HAVE HERE WITH THE STAGING PLAN, A VIABLE AND ACHIEVABLE PROJECT.

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

>> IF THE RAISE GRANT IS NOT REINSTATED, MN-DOT WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD WITH THE HIGHWAY 197 PROJECT UNTIL ALTERNATIVE FUNDS ARE FOUND.

>>> A WOMAN WHO WAS A FOUNDING MEMBER OF MMIW 218, A GRASSROOTS GROUP DEDICATED TO ADDRESSING THE CRISIS OF MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS WOMEN, HAS DIED.

SIMONE SENOGLES PASSED AWAY ON SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 20TH AT THE AGE OF 54.

ACCORDING TO HER OBITUARY, SENOGLES WORKED WITH THE INDIGENOUS ENVIRONMENTAL NETWORK FOR OVER 25 YEARS IN MANY DIFFERENT CAPACITIES.

SENOGLES WAS AN EDUCATOR ON THE LOCAL IMPACT OF TOXIC CHEMICALS.

AND SHE SPEARHEADED THE ORGANIZATION'S FOOD SOVEREIGNTY WORK.

SENOGLES ALSO SERVED ON THE GOVERNING BOARD OF GRASSROOTS GLOBAL JUSTICE, AN ALLIANCE OF ORGANIZATIONS OF WORKING AND POOR PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

IN ADDITION SHE HELPED CREATE THE FIRST INDIGENOUS FEMINIST ORGANIZING SCHOOL IN THE U.S, AS WELL AS ITS INTERNATIONAL COUNTERPART.

TRADITIONAL SERVICES WILL BE HELD AT 10:00 A.M.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26TH AT THE NEW RED LAKE CENTER IN RED LAKE.

A WAKE WILL BEGIN AT 6:00 P.M.

ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25TH AT THE NEW RED LAKE CENTER AND WILL CONTINUE UNTIL THE TIME OF THE SERVICES.

>>> MINNESOTA LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS STEPPED UP ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS THIS SUMMER FROM MEMORIAL DAY TO LABOR DAY, FOR WHAT IS KNOWN AS THE 100 DEADLIEST DAYS.

AND RESULTS FROM THAT CAMPAIGN SHOW THEY HANDED OUT MORE THAN 46,000 SPEEDING CITATIONS, CONDUCTED MORE THAN 1,300 D.W.I.

ARRESTS AND GAVE OUT 178 MOVE OVER CITATIONS.

AMONG THE LOWLIGHTS, A NICOLLET COUNTY DEPUTY CITED A DRIVER FOR SPEEDING 90 MILES PER HOUR IN A 65 MILE PER HOUR-ZONE.

TWO HOURS LATER, THE SAME DRIVER WAS STOPPED FOR SPEEDING 100 IN A 65-ZONE, WHICH LED TO AN UNDERAGE D.W.I.

PROCTOR POLICE ARRESTED A DRIVER FOR D.W.I.

IN AUGUST, MAKING IT HIS THIRD D.W.I.

THAT MONTH.

THE MOUNDS VIEW POLICE DEPARTMENT CITED A DIRVER FOR SPEEDING AT 145 MILES PER HOUR.

AND THE LINCOLN COUNTY SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT ARRESTED A DRIVER FOR D.W.I.

WITH A BLOOD ALCOHOL LEVEL OF 0.431, WHICH IS ALMOST FOUR TIMES THE LEGAL LIMIT.

THIS YEAR, PRELIMINARY FIGURES SHOW THERE WERE 110 FATALITIES AND 29 OF THOSE DEATHS WERE SPEED-RELATED.

THAT COMPARES TO 2024 WHERE PRELIMINARY FIGURES SHOW THERE WERE 149 FATALITIES AND 44 OF THOSE DEATHS WERE SPEED-RELATED.

>>> THE LITTLE FALLS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IS INTRODUCING A NEW INITIATIVE TO DRIVE MORE PEOPLE TO BUSINESSES IN THE COMMUNITY.

REPORTER DANIEL PURSELL HAS MORE.

>> Reporter: THE LITTLE FALLS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE INTRODUCED THE CHAMBER PASSPORT, AN PROGRAM TO SHOW OFF THE BUSINESSES IN THE LITTLE FALLS COMMUNITY.

>> THE LITTLE FALLS CHAMBERS PASSPORT, BASICALLY IT'S A PROMOTION STARTED BY THE COMMUNITY PROMOTIONS COMMITTEE OF THE CHAMBER.

THIS IS, THE INTENT IS TO PROVIDE VISIBILITY AND EXPOSURE TO OUR BUSINESSES.

>> Reporter: GETTING A PASSPORT IS EASY.

JUST WALK INTO ANY PARTICIPATING BUSINESS AND ASK FOR ONE AT THE FRONT DESK.

DON'T FORGET TO ASK FOR A STICKER.

>> THE HOPE IS TO GENERATE MORE FOOT TRAFFIC BY HANDING OUT STICKERS AT EVERY OF THE LOCATIONS.

SO IF YOU VISIT THE LOCATION, YOU GET A STICKER.

DON'T JUST VISIT TO GET A STICKER, HAVE A CHAT WITH THEM, FIND OUT WHAT THEY ARE DOING, FIND OUT WHAT THEY ARE ALL ABOUT.

YOU MIGHT FIND SOMETHING NEW.

BE A TOURIST IN YOUR OWN TOWN, WHY NOT?

>> Reporter: THERE ARE 20 BUSINESSES PARTICIPATING IN THE INITIATIVE, INCLUDING A NON-PROFIT ART ORGANIZATION THAT HOPES THE PASSPORT PROGRAM WILL BRING MORE PEOPLE TO SEE AND EXPERIENCE THEIR WORK.

>> WORKING WITH THE CHAMBER IS A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY FOR US.

THEY PUT ON THESE LARGER COMMUNITY-WIDE PROGRAMS AND IT HELPS BRING IN NEW PEOPLE TO OUR ORGANIZATION, PEOPLE THAT MAY NEVER HAVE COME IN BEFORE, AND IT ALSO GETS SOME PEOPLE TO COME BACK WHO ATTENDED OTHER EVENTS.

>> Reporter: PARTICIPANTS MUST DROP OFF THEIR COMPLETED PASSPORTS TO THE LITTLE FALLS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, WHERE THREE NAMES WILL BE DRAWN TO WIN UP TO $300 IN CHAMBER CASH, THAT CAN BE USED AT PARTICIPATING BUSINESSES.

>> THE PROMOTION WILL BE RUNNING UP UNTIL OCTOBER 31ST, SO HALLOWEEN.

IF YOU ARE HERE DOWNTOWN TRICK-OR-TREATING, A GREAT TIME TO DO THIS.

THEN YOU BASICALLY HAVE UP UNTIL NOVEMBER 6TH TO TURN THIS IN.

ONCE THESE ARE TURNED IN ON NOVEMBER 15TH, WE WILL BE MAKING AN ANNOUNCEMENT OF OUR WINNERS.

>> Reporter: REPORTING IN LITTLE FALLS, I'M DANIEL PURSELL, LAKELAND NEWS.

>> THE WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON THE LITTLE FALLS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FACEBOOK PAGE ON NOVEMBER 15TH.

>>> AUTHORITIES SAY A SHOOTER WITH A RIFLE OPENED FIRE FROM A ROOF ONTO A U.S.

IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT LOCATION IN DALLAS TODAY.

THE MAN KILLED ONE DETAINEE AND WOUNDED TWO OTHERS IN A TRANSPORT VAN BEFORE TAKING HIS OWN LIFE.

A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL WHO SPOKE TO THE ASSOCIATED PRESS IDENTIFIED THE SUSPECT AS JOSHUA JAHN.

THE FBI SAID AMMUNITION FOUND AT THE SCENE CONTAINED ANTI-ICE MESSAGING.

THE AGENCY SAYS IT'S INVESTIGATING THE SHOOTING AS AN ACT OF TARGETED VIOLENCE.

AUTHORITIES SAY NO ICE AGENTS WERE INJURED AND THE SURVIVING DETAINEES WERE IN CRITICAL CONDITION.

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

>> Stacy: WE HAVE MORE SUMMERTIME WEATHER ON THE WAY THIS FALL AS TEMPERATURES CONTINUE TO REACH THE 60s AND 70s, MAYBE SOME 80s AS WE HEAD INTO THE SECOND HALF OF THIS WEEK.

I'LL HAVE YOUR FORECAST IN A FEW MINUTES.

>> AND COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK, SANFORD HEALTH IN BEMIDJI CELEBRATED THE GRAND OPENING OF THEIR NEW PEAK [♪♪♪] >> AND NOW MORE NEWS WITH DENNIS WEIMANN.

[♪♪♪] >>> SANFORD HEALTH IN BEMIDJI HELD A GRAND OPENING FOR THEIR NEW PEAK CENTER, THEIR FRESHLY RELOCATED OUTPATIENT THERAPY DEPARTMENT, THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY A PART OF THEIR ORTHOPEDICS AND SPORTS MEDICINE CENTER ON THE MAIN SANFORD CAMPUS.

OUR REPORTER SYDNEY DICK STOPPED BY TO SEE WHAT SERVICES ARE BEING OFFERED AT THE NEW $3.3 MILLION FACILITY.

>> Reporter: SANFORD HEALTH'S NEW PEAK CENTER IN BEMIDJI IS A 23,000 SQUARE FOOT FACILITY THAT WAS CREATED FOR SEVERAL REASONS, THE BIGGEST OF WHICH IS DUE TO OUTGROWING THEIR ORIGINAL THERAPY SPACE.

>> WE HAVE RECRUITED 35 NEW CLINICIANS, SOME OF THEM ARE REPLACEMENTS, SOME OF THEM ARE NEW, NEW SERVICES.

SO WE ARE IN THE DEPTH OF MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE SPACE FOR EVERYBODY THAT WE RECRUITED AND NEED TO RECRUIT FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

>> Reporter: PHYSICAL THERAPY WILL FOCUS ON BALANCE -- WALKING, STRENGTHENING THE WHOLE BODY.

IT'S THINGS PEOPLE NEED TO DO TO PERFORM THEIR DAILY FUNCTIONS.

SPEECH THERAPY WORKS ON SWALLOW FUNCTION, TO SPEECH ARTICULATION AND CLARITY, COGNITION, AND IN GENERAL, THERAPISTS' FOCUS TO RETURN PEOPLE BACK TO THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF FUNCTION POSSIBLE.

>> Reporter: AND IT NOT ONLY HELPS WITH SANFORD'S STAFFING BUT IT CAN POTENTIALLY HELP PATIENTS.

>> WE MAY HAVE PATIENTS WHO HAVE SUFFERED A STROKE, SO THEY MAY NEED PHYSICAL, OCCUPATIONAL, AND SPEECH THERAPY SERVICES.

IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO COORDINATE THAT CARE AND PROVIDE IT ALL-IN-ONE LOCATION, SO THEY CAN MAKE ONE TRIP IN, GET THE THERAPY SERVICES AT ONE TIME AND NOT HAVE TO BOUNCE AROUND FOR DIFFERENT LOCATIONS FOR THAT.

>> Reporter: IT STARTED IN AUGUST 2024 AND THE MOVE ITSELF OF ALL THE EQUIPMENT WAS DONE IN ONLY THREE DAYS.

ALTHOUGH THEY'RE JUST NOW HOSTING THEIR GRAND OPENING, THEY HAVE BEEN OPEN SINCE MID-MAY AND THEY HAVE SEEN MORE THAN 15,000 PATIENTS.

>> I DON'T THINK WE'VE ASSESSED THAT OH MY GOSH, WE HAVE A TON MORE, BUT THAT'S RAMPING UP.

I THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DEFINITELY SEE MORE PATIENTS IN THIS SPACE.

>> Reporter: THE OUTPATIENT THERAPY ROOMS AND MACHINES ONLY TAKE UP HALF THE FACILITY, WITH THE OTHER SIDE BEING OFFICE SPACE FOR NON-PATIENT FACING WORKERS.

>> PHARMACY, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, HEALTH INFORMATION MANAGEMENT, QUALITY, MARKETING, AND ALL KINDS OF OTHER PEOPLE.

>> Reporter: REPORTING FROM BEMIDJI, I'M SYDNEY DICK, LAKELAND NEWS.

>> SANFORD OFFICIALS HAVE NOT YET DETERMINED WHAT WILL BE GOING INTO THE ORIGINAL THERAPY SPACE IN THEIR ORTHO BUILDING, BUT HAVE SAID THAT IT WILL BE A PART OF THEIR FIVE-YEAR PLAN AS NEEDS CONTINUE TO GROW AND CHANGE.

>>> TIME FOR WEATHER, STACY IS HERE.

I BET YOU ARE POPULAR AROUND THE AREA TODAY.

>> Stacy: I HAVE HEARD SOME COMPLEMENTS TODAY.

IT'S BEAUTIFUL WEATHER OUT THERE.

WE ARE EXTENDING SOME SUMMERTIME INTO OUR FALL AND IT WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE WEEKEND.

A LOT OF SUNSHINE IN OUR FORECAST, MILD TEMPERATURES, AND IN FACT HIGHS IN MANY LOCATIONS COULD BE IN THE 80s ALREADY STARTING TOMORROW.

I'LL [♪♪♪] >> AND NOW THE WEATHER WITH STACY CHRISTENSON.

[♪♪♪] >> Stacy: WELL, WE HAVE JUST BEEN SEEING AMAZING WEATHER ACROSS THE AREA THROUGHOUT THIS WEEK AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE THIS GREAT WEATHER AS WE HEAD INTO THE SECOND HALF OF THE WEEK AND IT SHOULD STICK AND INTO NEXT WEEK.

A LOT OF SUNSHINE IN OUR FORECAST, VERY MILD TEMPERATURES, HIGHS IN THE 70s TODAY, COULD SEE SOME IN THE 80s IN PARTS OF OUR AREA TOMORROW.

REALLY, IT'S A PRETTY UNEVENTFUL FORECAST FOR US AS WE HEAD INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK BECAUSE MORE OF THIS IS JUST GOING TO CONTINUE RIGHT THROUGH THAT TIME PERIOD.

RIGHT NOW IN BEMIDJI, IT IS 62 DEGREES AT THE AIRPORT.

AT OUR STUDIO, WINDS ARE CALM, THE DEW POINT IS 59 AND WE HAVE HUMIDITY AT 90%.

IN BRAINERD, CLEAR SKIES, 58 DEGREES, OUR DEW POINT IS 57, PRESSURE IS FALLING AND WINDS ARE CALM.

ON OUR SATELLITE AND RADAR, IT HAS BEEN VERY QUIET ACROSS THE AREA THIS EVENING.

A LOT OF CLEAR SKIES OUT THERE, AND AGAIN WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE MOSTLY CLEAR SKIES OVERNIGHT TONIGHT.

WE COULD SEE SOME PATCHY FOG DEVELOPING HERE AND THERE ONCE AGAIN TONIGHT AND SOME OF THAT COULD LINGER INTO TOMORROW MORNING.

OTHERWISE, IT LOOKS LIKE SUNSHINE WILL BE BACK TOMORROW AND OUR MILD TREND WILL CONTINUE.

SOME WEATHER SHOTS TO SHARE WITH YOU TONIGHT, THIS PHOTO OF THE FOGGY START TO THE MORNING AT LAKE ADA.

SAMROSE AT THE BLACKDUCK RIVER NEAR LOWER RED LAKE, YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THE FOG IN THE DISTANCE THERE.

IRENE SPOTTING A FOG BOW IN PILLAGER, THAT'S A RAINBOW FORMING IN THE FOG.

LAURIE WITH SOME OF THE DUCKS THAT ARE STILL THERE AT LITTLE TURTLE LAKE, WE HAVE SOME BEAUTIFUL FALL COLORS FROM ARLENE IN MENAHGA.

THE LAKES WERE REFLECTING ALL THE BEAUTY, THE FALL COLOR FROM ANGELA AT CASS LAKE AND GARY, AND TONIGHT'S SUNSET, ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL.

THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR SHARING THOSE TONIGHT.

FOR OUR EAGLE EYES REPORTS, DEBRA IN PINE RIVER, VERY FOGGY THIS MORNING.

ARLENE IN MENAHGA, CALM WITH SOME FOG THIS MORNING.

BOB IN BLUFFTON, LOTS OF SUNSHINE TODAY, OUR HIGH WAS 77.

ARLENE IN LONGVILLE, FOG AND SUN, THE HIGH WAS 77.

STEPHANIE IN BRAINERD, MOSTLY SUNNY WITH SOME FOG THIS MORNING, ANGELA AT CASS LAKE, CLEAR SKIES WITH A HIGH OF 78.

ON OUR ALMANAC, 75 FOR OUR HIGH TEMPERATURE IN BRAINERD.

VERY WARM TEMPERATURES OUT THERE, 50 DEGREES FOR THE LOW, SUNRISE AT 7:08.

77 WAS THE HIGH IN BEMIDJI, AVERAGE IS 64, SO WE ARE MORE THAN 10 DEGREES ABOVE THE AVERAGE.

45 WAS THE LOW AND SUNSET AT 7:10.

IT LOOKS LIKE WE WILL BE SEEING A LOT OF SUNSHINE, ALREADY STARTING IN THE MORNING, AND REALLY CONTINUING THROUGHOUT THE DAY, EVEN INTO THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING.

HIGH TEMPERATURES ACROSS NORTHERN MINNESOTA, RIGHT AROUND 70 IN NORTHWEST MINNESOTA, RIGHT AROUND WARROAD, BUT MID TO UPPER 70s FOR THE REST OF NORTHERN MINNESOTA AND AS WE HEAD INTO CENTRAL MINNESOTA, HIGHS WILL BE NEAR 80, MAYBE EVEN INTO THE LOW 80s.

SO OUR FORECAST TONIGHT, MOSTLY CLEAR SKIES, PATCHY FOG, LOWS NEAR 53.

LOOKING AT TOMORROW, SUNNY SKIES, PATCHY FOG IS POSSIBLE IN THE MORNING, HIGHS IN THE MID TO UPPER 70s.

LOOKING AT OUR WEEKEND FORECAST, PLENTY OF SUNSHINE, NOT A LOT OF CHANGE IN THAT FORECAST, THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE WILL BE TEMPERATURES UP AND DOWN A LITTLE BIT.

IT'S A LITTLE BIT COOLER TO START THE WEEKEND, HIGHS NEAR 70, UP TO 77 ON SUNDAY.

THEN AS WE HEAD INTO THE WORKWEEK, PARTLY TO MOSTLY SUNNY SKIES, BUT TEMPERATURES ARE MILD, HIGHS SHOULD BE NEAR 78.

BACK TO YOU.

>> Dennis: SHOULD BE A GREAT FRIDAY NIGHT FOR FOOTBALL.

>> Charlie: YES, NOT RAINING THIS TIME, THIS WEEK, SO IT SHOULD BE REALLY GOOD.

WE GOT A COUPLE FOOTBALL TEAMS THAT WE WANTED TO TALK ABOUT FIRST STAPLES MOTLEY OFF TO A 4-0 START, PICKING UP WHERE THEY LEFT OFF FROM LAST YEAR.

THEN FRIDAY NIGHT, BATTLE FOR BABE'S BELL.

BRAINERD VERSUS BEMIDJI, WE TALK ABOUT THE RIVALRY AND ALL THAT AND MORE COMING UP [♪♪♪] >> AND NOW YOUR LOCAL SPORTS WITH CHARLIE YAEGER.

[♪♪♪] >>> AFTER FINISHING AS THE CLASS STATE RUNNER UP, STAPLES MOTLEY IS FOLLOWING UP ON THEIR BEST SEASON IN FOUR DECADES ON AN ABSOLUTE HEATER, OUTSCORING THEIR OPPONENTS 193-49.

NOW ENTERING THE BACK HALF OF THEIR REGULAR SEASON MATCHUPS, SPORTS REPORTER MILES WALKER STOPPED BY PRACTICE, FOR THE REIGNING CLASS 2A RUNNER-UPS.

>> Reporter: STAPLES MOTLEY FOOTBALL HAS BEEN SHOWCASING A VERSATILE AND UNPREDICTABLE OFFENSE, SHARING THE WEALTH AND KEEPING THE OPPOSITION ON THEIR TOES.

>> A MAN GOES DOWN, WE'RE STEPPING UP THE NEXT PERSON.

WE HAVE A TON OF ATHLETES THAT CAN PICK UP AND START ANYWHERE.

>> I WOULD SAY THAT'S PROBABLY OUR BIGGEST STRENGTH, WE'RE AN ALL AROUND GAME.

WE DEFINITELY WERE LAST YEAR, BUT WE HAD SOME BIGGER WEAPONS LAST YEAR AND THIS YEAR, IT'S A SPREAD AROUND, EVERYBODY.

IT'S GOOD ATHLETES IN GOOD AREAS.

>> Reporter: SIMILAR TO LAST YEAR'S ROSTER, THEY ARE PRODUCING ON THE GROUND AND THROUGH THE AIR, AMASSING OVER 20 RUSHING TOUCHDOWNS AND HAVING 10 DIFFERENT PLAYERS RECORD A RECEPTION.

>> IT HELPS A LOT.

IT BRINGS THE CORNERS EVERY TIME WE HAVE AN ACTION PLAY, THEY GET SUCKED IN.

YOU HAVE TO.

PEOPLE CAN'T JUST TARGET ONE GUY BECAUSE WE CAN THROW IT TO SO MANY PEOPLE AND KEEP EVERYBODY IN THE GAME.

>> Reporter: IN ADDITION TO MAINTAINING A DYNAMIC APPROACH, LAST YEAR'S RUN SHOWED THAT, THAT STAYING COMPOSED CAN PAY DIVIDENDS.

>> I WILL SAY OUR FOCUS EVERY DAY DURING PRACTICE, WE KNEW WE WERE PLAYING THE BEST OF THE BEST, SO WE HAD TO PREPARE LIKE WE WERE PLAYING THE BEST OF THE BEST.

>> WE HAVE TO KEEP OUR COOL MORE INSTEAD OF GETTING DUMB PENALTIES.

>> Reporter: STAPLES MOTLEY FOOTBALL IS PUTTING UP NOTHING BUT NUMBERS IN 2025, AVERAGING OVER 420 TOTAL YARDS OF OF A GAME SO FAR, EXTENDING THEIR SEASON FAR PAST OCTOBER ONCE AGAIN WILL BE CONTINGENT ON REMAINING PHYSICAL IN EVERY PHASE OF THE GAME, STAYING READY FOR ANY CHALLENGE PUT BEFORE THEM.

>> PHYSICALITY IS A BIG FOCUS AND WE HAVE A TOUGH SECTION AND A LOT OF GOOD TEAMS AND WE ARE FOCUSED EVERY SINGLE WEEK, KNOWING ANY OF THE TEAMS CAN BEAT US.

WE HAVE TO PLAY OUR BEST GAME.

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

>> Charlie: THE CARDINALS LOOK TO STAY UNDEFEATED BUT THEY WILL FACE A 3-1 FELTON ON THE ROAD THIS FRIDAY.

>>> THIS FRIDAY WILL MARK THE 80TH MEETING BETWEEN BRAINERD AND BEMIDJI FOOTBALL, AND THE 8TH TIME THEY WILL, BATTLE FOR BABE'S BELL, ONE OF STATES MOST UNIQUE TRAVELLING TROPHIES.

HERE'S A LOOK AT THE RIVALRY AND WHAT IT MEANS TO THE PLAYERS LINING UP ON BOTH SIDES ON THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE.

[♪♪♪] >> TOUCHDOWN.

>> IT'S A RIVALRY CENTERED ON A FOLKTALE, TWO CITIES LAYING CLAIM AS THE LARGEST FOLK HERO, PAUL BUNYAN.

BEMIDJI AND BRAINERD ARE BOTH HOMES TO TOWERING STATUES OF THE MAN IN PLAID AND HIS BLUE OX BABE.

THE DISAGREEMENT SPILLED ON TO THE GRIDIRON IN 1940 AND SINCE 2018, THE WARRIORS AND LUMBERJACKS PLAYED FOR A TRAVELING TROPHY THAT STAYS WITH THE WINNER.

>> IT'S A TOTALLY DIFFERENT FEELING.

EVERYONE ON THE TEAM IS HYPED UP, NO ONE IS SAD, AND THEN EVERYONE IS JUST EXCITED TO BRING THE BELL BACK TO BABE.

>> Reporter: IN THE 7 YEARS THEY PLAYED, THE JACKS HAVE WON 5 TIMES, INCLUDING LAST SEASON'S 28-22 VICTORY THAT BROUGHT THE TROPHY BACK TO BEMIDJI AFTER A 2-YEAR HIATUS.

>> IT FELT AMAZING AND SINGING THE SONG AND TAKING PICTURES, IT WAS AWESOME.

>> THE AVERAGE MARGIN OF VICTORY IS 17 POINTS, BUT WHETHER 1 OR 100, THE STING OF DEFEAT IN THIS RIVALRY CAN MAKE THE REST OF THE SEASON SEEM ALMOST INCONSEQUENTIAL.

>> BEMIDJI AND BRAINERD, WE HAVE THAT RESPECT, BUT HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL, WE HAVE THE RIVALRY.

WE ALWAYS WANT TO BEAT BEMIDJI IF WE DON'T BEAT ANYONE ELSE.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE CAN BEAT THEM THIS TIME.

>> Reporter: WHAT'S UP FOR GRABS GOES BEYOND THE NORMAL BRAGGING RIGHTS.

>> IT MEANS EVERYTHING FOR THE PLAYERS, THE COACHES, THE WHOLE TOWN.

THIS IS WHAT WE PLAY FOR EVERY YEAR AND THE OFF SEASON IT'S WHAT WE WORK FOR AND TO BE ABLE TO SEE THAT BELL IN OUR WORK ROOM, IT'S AMAZING TO US.

[CHEERING].

>> WELL, YOU CAN SEE HERE THIS IS EXACTLY HOW IT'S PLAYED OUT SINCE THEY STARTED TRADING THE BELL.

BEMIDJI WON THE FIRST FOUR, THEN BRAINERD TWO IN A ROW BEFORE BEMIDJI GOT IT BACK LAST YEAR.

IT CAME DOWN TO THE 2-POINT CONVERSION THAT BRAINERD MISSED.

I'M EXPECTING THIS YEAR'S GAME, IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY CLOSE AS WELL, A TOSS UP.

I COULDN'T TELL YOU WHO I THINK IS GOING TO WIN.

>> Dennis: IT COULD BE RIGHT DOWN TO THE WIRE.

>> Charlie: I SURE HOPE SO.

I KNOW THE COACHES DON'T HOPE SO, BUT I HOPE SO.

>> Dennis: THANKS CHARLIE.

>>> MORE PEOPLE ARE SURVIVING CANCER IN THE U.S.

AS OF JANUARY 1ST ABOUT ONE IN EVERY 18 AMERICANS WAS A CANCER SURVIVOR AND THAT NUMBER IS EXPECT TO CONTINUE INCREASING PARTLY DUE TO THINGS LIKE, ADVANCED TREATMENTS AND SCREENINGS.

BUT A STUDY RELEASED TODAY FINDS YOUR LIKELIHOOD OF SURVIVING CANCER MAY HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH WHERE YOU LIVE.

IN TODAY'S HEALTH MINUTE, MANDY GAITHER HAS MORE ON SO-CALLED Z.N.A., AND HOW RESEARCHERS SAY IT AFFECTS CANCER SURVIVAL.

>> Reporter: FIRST, SOME GOOD NEWS.

THE OVERALL CANCER DEATH RATE IN THE U.S.

DROPPED 34% BETWEEN 1991 AND 2022, AVERTING ABOUT 4.5 MILLION DEATHS.

THE BAD NEWS, NOT EVERYONE IS SEEING THIS SHIFT IN THEIR BATTLE AGAINST CANCER.

>> WHERE PEOPLE LIVE CAN DETERMINE WHETHER THEY LIVE FROM CANCER AND NOT BY A SMALL AMOUNT.

>> Reporter: IN A NEW STUDY FROM THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY, RESEARCHERS SAY THE OVERALL 5-YEAR CANCER SURVIVAL RATE WAS LOWER IN RURAL AREAS FOR BOTH BLACK AND WHITE U.S.

RESIDENTS, WHICH MEANS YOUR ODDS OF SURVIVING CANCER AREN'T ONLY BASED ON BIOLOGY SAYS DR.

KAMAL.

>> THIS STUDY IS SPEAKING TO THE IMPORTANCE OF SOMEONE'S Z.N.A., THEIR ZIP CODE, AS WE MAY THINK OF SOMEONE'S D.N.A., THIS IDEA THAT WHERE YOU LIVE AND ITS LOCATION AND DISTANCE FROM HIGHLY SPECIALIZED CARE, INCLUDING CLINICAL TRIALS, CAN DETERMINE WHETHER YOU LIVE FROM CANCER.

>> Reporter: KAMAL SAYS THE FIRST STEP IN CLOSING THE GAP IS TO BE AWARE THERE IS ONE AND THAT RURAL RESIDENTS MAY NOT HAVE ACCESS TO SPECIALIZED SERVICES LIKE RADIATION, OR TO SURGEONS EXPERIENCED IN TREATING THEIR SPECIFIC DISEASE.

>> THAT MEANS THAT PEOPLE ARE, INSTEAD OF HAVING TO GO TO CANCER CARE, THE CANCER CARE IS COMING TO THEM.

THIS LOOKS LIKE DIFFERENT FORMS.

SMALLER CANCER CENTERS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, EVEN HOME BASED SHOWS A LOT OF PROMISE ON HOW TO CLOSE THIS GAP.

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

>> Stacy: AND MOSTLY CLEAR SKIES TONIGHT, WE COULD SEE PATCHY FOG DEVELOPING HERE AND THERE.

53 FOR OUR LOW TEMP, SOME FOG LINGERING IN THE MORNING, SUNNY SKIES, WEST WINDS 5 TO 20.

A LOT OF SUNSHINE HEADING THROUGH THE WEEKEND, TEMPERATURE-WISE, HIGHS SHOULD BE IN THE 70s.

>> Dennis: ALL RIGHT, THANKS FOR WATCHING EVERYBODY.

WE'RE BACK AT 10:00 TOMORROW NIGHT.

WE'LL SEE YOU THEN.

GOOD NIGHT.

>> Charlie: GOOD NIGHT.

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