>> 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.

>>> THE LEECH LAKE BAND OF OJIBWE HELD A GRAND OPENING CEREMONY FOR THEIR NEW TRIBAL EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS OFFICE BUILDING IN CASS LAKE.

OUR REPORTER SYDNEY DICK ATTENDED THE EVENT TO SEE WHAT NEW EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES ARE BEING BROUGHT TO THE AREA.

>> Reporter: FOR NEARLY 50 YEARS, TRIBAL EMPLOYMENT BUILDINGS HAVE BEEN BUILT AROUND THE COUNTRY TO BRING EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES TO TRIBAL NATIONS.

>> WHEN CONSTRUCTION HAPPENS ON TRIBAL LAND, COMPANIES COME TO OUR DEPARTMENT TO OFFER PEOPLE EMPLOYMENT, TO OFFER LEECH LAKE NON-BAND MEMBERS, MEMBERS OF OTHER TRIBES, THEY GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO GAIN JOB EXPERIENCE OR FULL TIME EMPLOYMENT.

>> Reporter: THE PREVIOUS WAS SPLIT AMONG DIFFERENT BUILDINGS AMONG LEECH LAKE AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME EVERYTHING IS UNDER ONE ROOF AND IT HAS EXPANDED AS WELL.

>> IF WE NEEDED TRAINING, WE NEEDED TO LOOK FOR SOMETHING IN TOWN AND THERE IS NOT ALWAYS A FACILITY THAT CAN HOST IT OR GIVE US ROOM.

NOW WE HAVE OUR OWN HOME.

>> Reporter: THE OFFICE HAS FOUR FULL TIME EMPLOYEES.

>> WHEN I GOT TIRED OF TRAVELING, I FOUND THIS JOB.

I LOVE WHAT I CAN DO.

I CAN HELP PEOPLE, GIVE THEM CONFIDENCE IN WHAT TO DO OUT THERE IN THE FIELD.

EVEN IF THEY COME BACK, JUST GET OUT THERE AND TRY IT AND DON'T QUIT ON THEMSELVES.

>> I LIKE TO SEE PEOPLE TRY.

>> Reporter: THE CENTER HAS A 16 CHAIR CONFERENCE ROOM AND FOUR INDIVIDUAL OFFICES, AS WELL AS A SEVERAL THOUSAND SQUARE FOOT GARAGE, WHERE TRAINING WILL TAKE PLACE.

MANY DIFFERENT CERTIFICATIONS CAN BE EARNED RIGHT AT THE LEECH LAKE TEAR -- TARO, SINCE THEIR INCEPTION IN 1976.

>> BACK THEN, YOU DIDN'T GET TRAINING, YOU HAD TO HAVE THE RIGHT LAST NAME.

NOW TRAINING, WE HAVE AND BETTER OPPORTUNITY.

ON THE NORTH PART, WE HAVE ROOM FOR HEAVY EQUIPMENT TRAINING.

WE'RE GOING TO GET SOME EQUIPMENT SO PEOPLE CAN GET MORE HANDS-ON AND MORE TIME FOR THAT.

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

>> THE NEW FACILITY IS NOW OFFICIALLY OPEN FOR BUSINESS TO HELP LEECH LAKE BAND MEMBERS, NON-BAND MEMBERS, AND MEMBERS FROM OTHER TRIBES ALIKE.

>>> WE HAVE MORE INFORMATION TONIGHT ON THE OFFICER INVOLVED SHOOTING IN WALKER ON FRIDAY NIGHT.

31-YEAR-OLD DILLON KLOEHN OF FARGO WAS CHARGED IN CASS COUNTY COURT TODAY WITH ONE COUNT OF FIRST-DEGREE ASSAULT/USE OF DEADLY FORCE AGAINST AN OFFICER, TWO COUNTS OF SECOND-DEGREE ASSAULT WITH A DANGEROUS WEAPON ONE COUNT OF ATTEMPTED FIRST-DEGREE AGGRAVATED ROBBERY AND MISDEMEANOR FLEEING POLICE.

ACCORDING TO COURT DOCUMENTS, KLOEHN ENTERED THE DOLLAR STORE WITH A KNIFE AROUND 6:45 P.M.

WHEN LAW ENFORCEMENT ARRIVED KLOEHN RAN TO THE BACK OF THE STORE AND THREW ITEMS AT WALKER POLICE OFFICER KENT CLEVELAND.

CLEVELAND REPEATEDLY TOLD KLOEHN TO DROP THE KNIFE AND GET ON THE GROUND.

BUT AFTER OFFICER CLEVELAND HAD BACKED OUT OF THE STORE, KLOEHN THREATENED TO KILL HIM AND CHARGED AT HIM WITH THE KNIFE.

KLOEHN WAS THEN SHOT BY CLEVELAND IN THE LEFT ARM AND WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY A SHORT TIME LATER.

KLOEN WAS TAKEN TO SANFORD BEMIDJI WITH NON-LIFE THREATING INJURIES.

CLEVELAND HAS BEEN PLACED ON CRITICAL INCIDENT LEAVE WHICH IS STANDARD PROCEDURE.

KLOEN IS BEING HELD ON $400,000 BAIL OR BOND WITH NO CONDITIONS OR $20,000 BAIL OR BOND WITH CONDITIONS.

HIS NEXT COURT APPEARANCE IS SET FOR AUGUST 25TH.

>>> A 55-YEAR-OLD STAPLES MAN IS CHARGED WITH SEVERAL FELONIES AFTER FLEEING FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT ON AN A.T.V.

ON AUGUST 7TH.

ROSS REICHEL IS CHARGED WITH RECEIVING STOLEN PROPERTY, 3RD DEGREE BURGLARY, AND FLEEING A PEACE OFFICER IN A MOTOR VEHICLE.

REICHEL WAS LOCATED IN A CORN FIELD BY A DRONE ABOUT FOUR HOURS AFTER HE FLED FROM WADENA COUNTY DEPUTIES WHO WERE INVESTIGATING A TRESPASSING INCIDENT NORTH OF STAPLES IN THOMASTOWN TOWNSHIP.

AFTER REPEATED COMMANDS TO SURRENDER, K-9 RANGER APPREHENDED REICHEL AND HE WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT.

$28,000 OF STOLEN PROPERTY WAS LATER RECOVERED FROM REICHELS RESIDENCE LATER IN THE DAY AFTER AUTHORITIES EXECUTED A SEARCH WARRANT THERE.

THE STOLEN PROPERTY WAS FROM VARIOUS BURGLARIES IN WADENA AND TODD COUNTY'S.

>>> A GRAFTON NORTH DAKOTA MAN IS BELIEVED TO HAVE DROWNED IN CASS LAKE SATURDAY AFTERNOON.

ACCORDING TO THE CASS COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE, THE VICTIM GOT INTO THE WATER WITHOUT A LIFE JACKET TO WORK ON A BOAT MOTOR PROBLEM AND DIDN'T RESURFACE.

HIGH WINDS CAUSED THE BOAT TO DRIFT AND IT WAS LATER INTERCEPTED BY OTHER BOATERS ON THE LAKE.

THE MANS BODY WAS LOCATED IN THE WATER JUST BEFORE 8:00 P.M. AN AUTOPSY IS SCHEDULED AND THE VICTIMS NAME IS NOT BEING RELEASED UNTIL FAMILY MEMBERS ARE NOTIFIED.

>>> A MAN RIDING A BICYCLE IN NISSWA WAS INJURED ON SATURDAY AFTER HIS BIKE COLLIDED WITH A VEHICLE ON HIGHWAY 371.

THE STATE PATROL SAYS 72-YEAR-OLD GARY SNYDERS SUFFERED NON-LIFE THREATENING INJURIES AFTER COLLIDING WITH AN SUV IN THE LEFT TURN LANE NEAR COUNTY ROAD 13.

THE STATE PATROL REPORT DOES NOT INDICATE IF THE VEHICLE STRUCK THE BIKE OR VICE VERSA, JUST THAT THEY COLLIDED.

THE DRIVER OF THE SUV, 39-YEAR-OLD ERIC COOK OF NEW LONDON WAS NOT INJURED IN THE COLLISION.

>>> BEMIDJI WAS THE HOST OF THE BANK IN MINNESOTA CONVENTION LAST WEEK.

REGIONAL ECONOMISTS SAT DOWN WITH LOCAL BUSINESS LEADERS TO DISCUSS THE ECONOMY OF BEMIDJI AND HOW MUCH THE JUNE 21ST SEVERE WIND STORM HAS AFFECTED IT.

MANY OF THOSE LEADERS SAY THAT THE ECONOMY IS ACTUALLY DOING QUITE WELL, AND IN SOME CASES, BETTER THAN OTHER PLACES IN THE STATE.

ECONOMISTS AT THE MINNEAPOLIS FEDERAL RESERVE SAY WHAT HAS MADE THAT POSSIBLE IS HOW QUICKLY THE COMMUNITY CAME TOGETHER TO REBUILD AND RECOVER.

>> SOUNDS LIKE TOURISM HAS BEEN DECENT.

WE HAD THE BIG STORM UP HERE AND I DON'T THINK THAT DID ANYTHING GOOD FOR TOURISM UP HERE.

BY THE SAME TOKEN, I WAS REALLY ENCOURAGED FRANKLY, ABOUT HOW POSITIVE PEOPLE WERE, DESPITE THAT STORM, THINGS STILL SEEMED TO BE DOING WELL.

WHAT WE SEE IN A LOT OF THE DATA ARE THE PLACES THAT ARE GROWING ARE GOING TO SUCCEED IN GETTING MORE WORKERS, BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF JOBS OUT THERE, STILL.

MAYBE NOT EVERYONE WANTS TO MOVE UP HERE BUT BECAUSE YOU HAVE A LOT OF TRAVELERS, YOU HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE COMING UP, IT DOES PUT YOU ON THE RADAR FOR MORE PEOPLE AND THAT'S A GOOD THING.

>> WIRTZ RECOGNIZES THAT WITHOUT FEMA FUNDING, RECOVERY EFFORTS FOR THOSE AFFECTED BY THE STORM JUST GOT A BIT MORE EXPENSIVE, AND COULD DELAY THE CLEANUP EVEN FURTHER.

HE SAYS THERE IS STILL A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY RELATED TO TARIFFS AND OTHER FACTORS WHEN IT COMES TO THE STATE AND NATIONAL ECONOMY, BUT IS CONFIDENT THAT CERTAINTY WILL RETURN.

>> WHAT HAPPENS WHEN UNCERTAINTY HAPPENS IS THAT A BUSINESS IS GOING TO PULL IN THEIR ARMS A LITTLE BIT TO PROTECT ITSELF.

IT'S NOT GOING TO MAKE THOSE INVESTMENTS THAT IT OTHERWISE WOULD IF THEY HAD MORE CERTAINTY.

I AM CONFIDENT THAT IF WE CAN GET MORE CERTAINTY IN GENERAL ABOUT CURRENT ECONOMIC CONDITIONS, I SEE THE POTENTIAL FOR GROWTH.

>> WIRTZ SAYS THAT THE EMPLOYMENT RATE AND THE ECONOMY OF BEMIDJI ARE ALL CURRENTLY ON OF BEMIDJI ARE ALL CURRENTLY ON THE RISE.

>>> THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY'S OFFICE OF TRAFFIC SAFETY HAS RECOGNIZED NEARLY 70 LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AROUND THE STATE WHO WERE NOMINATED BY THEIR AGENCIES FOR THEIR EXCEPTIONAL EFFORTS TO STOP IMPAIRED DRIVING IN 2024.

MINNESOTA STATE PATROL TROOPER GUSTAVO CULBEAUX LED THE WAY WITH 224 DWI ARRESTS IN THE YEAR.

TROOPER CULBEAUX HAS BEEN A D.W.I.

ENFORCER ALLSTAR FOR THE PAST SIX YEARS, AND THIS IS HIS FOURTH TIME AT THE TOP OF THE D.W.I.

ALLSTAR LIST.

THE GREATER MINNESOTA D.W.I.

ENFORCER ALLSTARS INCLUDE 15 LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS FROM THE IMMEDIATE LAKELAND PBS VIEWING AREA.

THESE WERE THE TOP FIVE, CHASE GALLINGER OF THE RED LAKE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY LEADS THE WAY WITH 179 THE OTHERS INCLUDE LAVONTE HARDIE, OF THE BELTRAMI COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, TIM KORINTA OF THE BEMIDJI POLICE DEPARTMENT, NEAL WARREN FROM THE BEMIDJI POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND LANE WEST FROM THE WHITE EARTH POLICE DEPARTMENT WE'RE INCLUDING ALL FIFTEEEN FROM THE LAKELAND VIEWING AREA ALONG WITH THIS STORY ONLINE.

THE D.W.I.

ENFORCER ALLSTAR TEAM WAS HONORED YESTERDAY DURING THE MINNESOTA TWINS PRE-GAME ACTIVITIES AT TARGET FIELD.

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

>> Stacy: WE HAVE A LINE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS MOVING ACROSS THE AREA TONIGHT AND AIR QUALITY IS ONCE AGAIN POOR ACROSS MINNESOTA WITH AN AIR QUALITY ALERT OUT UNTIL TOMORROW MORNING.

I'LL HAVE THE DETAILS IN A FEW MINUTES.

>> COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK, THE SAFARI NORTH ZOO IN BRAINERD HELD A FUNDRAISER TO RAISE [♪♪♪] >> AND NOW MORE NEWS WITH DENNIS WEIMANN.

[♪♪♪] >>> THE COMMISSION ON JUDICIAL SELECTION ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT IT IS RECOMMENDING THREE CANDIDATES FOR CONSIDERATION TO FILL A VACANCY IN MINNESOTA'S NINTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT.

THE VACANCY WILL OCCUR UPON THE RETIREMENT OF THE HONORABLE DONNA K. DIXON AND THE SEAT WILL BE CHAMBERED IN ROSEAU IN ROSEAU COUNTY.

THE CANDIDATES INCLUDE, MICHAEL GROVER WHO IS AN ASSISTANT COUNTY ATTORNEY IN THE ROSEAU COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE WHERE HE WORKS PRIMARILY IN ADULT CRIMINAL PROSECUTION AND WITH THE ROSEAU COUNTY TREATMENT COURTS AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COURT, KATIE NOLTING WHO IS THE BEMIDJI CITY ATTORNEY, HANDLING BOTH CRIMINAL AND CIVIL MATTERS ON BEHALF OF THE CITY, AND MAX SCHAFER WHO IS AN ASSISTANT PUBLIC DEFENDER IN THE NINTH DISTRICT PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE IN THIEF RIVER FALLS, WHERE HE REPRESENTS CLIENTS THROUGHOUT NORTHWESTERN MINNESOTA.

>>> TWO WEEKS FROM TONIGHT WE WILL FIND OUT WHO THE WINNER OF OUR LAKELAND PBS VACATION GIVEAWAY CONTEST IS.

THE GRAND PRIZE WINNER GETS A THREE-NIGHT STAY AT CRAGUNS RESORT NEAR BRAINERD.

ALL SUMMER LONG DURING EACH NEWSCAST WE DRAW FIVE POTENTIAL QUALIFIERS FOR A GRAND DRAWING THAT WILL HAPPEN ON OUR MONDAY, AUGUST 25TH NEWSCAST, SO TWO WEEKS FROM TONIGHT, AND SOME MORE CHANCES TO QUALIFY FOR THAT DRAWING.

AND HERE ARE TONIGHTS POTENTIAL QUALIFIERS.

TO BE AN OFFICIAL QUALIFIER, IF YOU SEE YOUR NAME, CALL THE NUMBER ON THE SCREEN BEFORE THE END OF THE NEXT BUSINESS DAY, AND YOU WILL BE IN THAT GRAND DRAWING SLATED FOR LATER THIS MONTH.

TWO WEEKS FROM TONIGHT, IT'S COMING UP QUICK SO THAT MEANS THIS SUMMER IS COMING TO AN END PRETTY QUICK TOO.

>> Stacy: YEAH, I WONDER WHERE IT WENT.

IT WENT PRETTY FAST.

WE HAVE SOME SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS MAKING THEIR WAY ACROSS MINNESOTA TONIGHT, STRONG STORMS IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE'RE STILL SEEING POOR AIR QUALITY FROM WILDFIRE SMOKE AND AN AIR QUALITY ALERT IS OUT OVERNIGHT [♪♪♪] >> AND NOW THE WEATHER WITH STACY CHRISTENSON.

[♪♪♪] >> Stacy: A LINE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS IS MAKING ITS WAY ACROSS THE STATE TONIGHT.

WE HAVE SEEN SOME OF THAT IN BEMIDJI.

WE'RE SEEING STRONG STORMS IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA THIS EVENING AS WELL.

THAT WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE ITS WAY EASTWARD ACROSS THE STATE OVERNIGHT TONIGHT.

WE COULD BE SEEING SOME SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA TOMORROW, OTHERWISE IT LOOKS LIKE QUIETER WEATHER WILL ARE R -- RETURN.

WE HAVE AN AIR QUALITY ALERT.

HERE'S THE CURRENT CONDITIONS, 67 AT THE AIRPORT.

AT OUR STUDIO, WINDS ARE VARIABLE AT 3 MILES PER HOUR, WITH THE STORMS ROLLING THROUGH, WE HAD SOME WIND GUSTS OF 20 MILES PER HOUR, DEW POINT IS UP TO 67 AND WE HAVE RECEIVED ABOUT 0.3-INCH OF RAINFALL.

IN BRAINERD, CLOUDY SKIES, HAZY AND 71, THE DEW POINT IS 61.

PRESSURE IS HOLDING STEADY.

WINDS ARE SOUTH AT 10 MILES PER HOUR.

WE DO HAVE AN AIR QUALITY ALERT OUT FOR THE ENTIRE STATE.

FOR US, THAT IS OUT UNTIL 9:00 A.M. ON TUESDAY.

THE AIR QUALITY INDEX IS EXPECTED TO BE IN THAT RED OR UNHEALTHY CATEGORY.

NOW ON OUR SATELLITE AND RADAR, WE CAN SEE THE SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM LINE MOVING EASTWARD TONIGHT, STILL IMPACTING A GOOD PORTION OF THE VIEWING AREA.

WE CAN SEE IT RIGHT HERE.

WE HAVE SOME STRONG STORMS, WHICH COULD BRING HALF AN INCH OF HAIL AND 40 MILES PER HOUR WINDS IN THAT REGION.

THIS WILL CONTINUE MAKING ITS WAY EASTWARD TONIGHT, SO A LITTLE BIT QUIETER BEHIND IT.

WE DO HAVE A GOOD CHANCE OF SEEING SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS IN EASTERN MINNESOTA OVERNIGHT TONIGHT.

A FEW SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS IN FAR NORTHERN MINNESOTA TOMORROW, BUT OTHER THAN THAT, IT LOOKS LIKE QUIETER WEATHER WILL BE RETURNING.

WEATHER SHOTS TO SHARE WITH YOU TONIGHT, ANGELA SENDING US THIS PHOTO OF THE FOGGY MORNING IN CASS LAKE AND THE SMOKE IN THE AIR CREATING THOSE BEAUTIFUL SUNRISES FROM DEBRA AT LAKE ADA.

SARAH, SPOTTING A FAMILY OF SWANS ON PERCH LAKE AND DAVE WITH A BEAR IN THE BEMIDJI AREA.

WE HAVE THE MORNING GLORIES IN BLOOM FROM ARLENE IN LONGVILLE.

GARY SPOTTING SOME WILDFLOWERS.

BILL AND JUDY WITH THE SMOKEY SKY.

JOAN SPOTTING A COYOTE ON THE TRAIL CAM.

WE MENTIONED SOME OF THE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS AND HEAVY RAIN FALLING AT TIMES.

CHRIS SENDING US THIS PHOTO OF THE STREET FLOODING IN BEMIDJI THIS EVENING.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING THOSE TONIGHT.

FOR OUR EAGLE EYE REPORTS, DEBRA AT PINE RIVER, 57 AND SMOKEY THIS MORNING.

JOAN IN LAPORTE, HAZY AND HUMID TODAY.

ARLENE IN LONGVILLE, SMOKE AND SUNSHINE.

BOB IN BLUFFTON, FOG, SMOKE, AND SUN TODAY.

BILL AND JUDY REPORTING RAIN, THUNDER, WIND, AND LIGHTNING.

ANGELA AT CASS LAKE REPORTING SOME OF THE THUNDERSTORMS TONIGHT.

ON OUR ALMANAC, BRAINERD TOPPING OUT AT 80.

WE HAD A LOW OF 55.

BEMIDJI REACHING A HIGH OF 80 AS WELL, 2 DEGREES ABOVE THE AVERAGE.

OUR LOW WAS 56.

LOOKING AT TOMORROW'S FORECAST, THERE MAY BE A FEW LINGERING SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS, MAINLY IN FAR NORTHERN MINNESOTA.

OTHERWISE, WE WILL BE SEEING A RETURN TO MAINLY QUIET CONDITIONS, A FEW SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS COULD DEVELOP IN NORTHEAST MINNESOTA TOMORROW EVENING, HIGH TEMPERATURES, WE ARE LOOKING AT HIGHS IN THE LOW TO MID-70s ACROSS THE NORTHERN HALF OF OUR VIEWING AREA, MID TO UPPER 70s IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA.

HERE'S OUR FORECAST, PARTLY TO MOSTLY CLOUDY TONIGHT, SOME LINGERING SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS, BETTER CHANCE OF SEEING THOSE IN EASTERN MINNESOTA, LOWS NEAR 58.

TOMORROW, PARTLY TO MOSTLY SUNNY SKIES WITH SOME CHANCES OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA AND HIGHS NEAR 73.

SUNNY AND 75 ON WEDNESDAY BUT CHANCES OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS RETURN ON THURSDAY AND A FEW COULD LINGER AS WE HEAD INTO THE END OF THE WEEK AND SOME RAIN SHOWERS LINGERING INTO SUNDAY.

HIGH TEMPERATURES WILL BE MAINLY IN THE 70s.

BACK TO YOU.

>> Dennis: ALL RIGHT, CHARLIE IS HERE WITH OUR SPORTS.

SOME BIG NEWS.

>> Charlie: YES, BAILEY OVER THE WEEKEND HAD HERSELF QUITE A WEEKEND.

SHE MADE A COMMITMENT TO WHERE SHE WILL GO TO SCHOOL AND ALSO MADE ONE OF THE U.S. HOCKEY TEAMS.

WE HAVE MORE FROM HER.

WE GOT A CHANCE TO TALK TO HER WHILE SHE IS IN LAKE PLACID RIGHT NOW AND WE'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM THE BEMIDJI FOOTBALL TEAM AS WELL, COMING UP [♪♪♪] >> AND NOW YOUR LOCAL SPORTS WITH CHARLIE YAEGER.

[♪♪♪] >>> IT WAS A DREAM WEEKEND FOR BEMIDJI GIRL'S HOCKEY STANDOUT BAILEY RUPP.

THE SOON TO BE JUNIOR LUMBERJACK IS SOON TO BE A BULLDOG, ANNOUNCING HER VERBAL COMMITMENT TO PLAY HOCKEY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA DULUTH VIA INSTAGRAM ON SATURDAY.

THE ON SUNDAY, SHE WAS PICKED TO PLAY WITH THE U.S. UNDER-18 WOMEN'S SELECT TEAM IN A SERIES AGAINST CANADA THIS COMING WEEK.

IT'S LOT TO UNPACK, BUT IT ALL STARTED WITH THE STAR FORWARDS THIRD APPEARANCE AT THE U.S.A. HOCKEY WOMEN'S NATIONAL FESTIVAL LAST WEEK IN LAKE PLACID.

46 U-18 GIRLS WERE INVITED TO ATTEND, BUT ONLY 25 MAKE THE FINAL ROSTER FOR THE SELECT SERIES WITH CANADA.

THREE YEARS AGO RUPP WAS INVITED TO THE U-15 DEVELOPMENTAL CAMP AND LAST YEAR COMPETED AT THE U-18 CAMP, BUT THIS WAS HER FIRST TIME BEING PICKED TO THE SELECT TEAM.

>> IT'S PRETTY AMAZING.

IT'S LIKE HUGE DREAM COME TRUE.

EVERY PERSON DREAMS OF GETTING TO PUT ON THE U.S.A. JERSEY AND ACTUALLY GET TO PLAY CANADA.

SO, IF I HEARD MY NAME CALLED, I WAS LIKE NO WAY, THIS IS INSANE.

I HAD A LOT OF PRIDE, BEING ABLE TO REPRESENT OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE NOT MANY PEOPLE FROM BEMIDJI ARE ABLE TO PLAY ON THESE TEAMS.

I THINK IT'S REALLY COOL.

>> NOW AS FAR AS HER COMMITMENT TO UMD, IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG FOR A DECISION.

THE FIRST DAY FOR COLLEGE COACHES TO BEGIN INITIATING OFF-CAMPUS CONTACT WITH RISING JUNIORS IS JUNE 15TH, AND BEMIDJI'S LEADING SCORER SAYS THERE WAS NO SHORTAGE OF SUITORS RECRUITING HER TALENTS.

>> IT WAS THE VERY FIRST DAY, IT WAS A LOT.

IT WAS CHAOTIC, BUT THEN VERY FIRST PHONE CALL WITH THE DULUTH COACHES, I WAS LIKE WOW, I LOVE THEM.

I STILL REMEMBER GETTING OFF THE PHONE CALL AND IT TOLD MY DAD, THERE'S NO WAY I DON'T GO HERE.

AS SOON AS I WAS DONE, I THOUGHT I WAS FOR SURE GOING HERE.

EVERYTHING ABOUT IT FELT RIGHT AND THE COACHES ARE AMAZING.

I'M SUPER GRATEFUL FOR THEM TO GIVE ME THIS OPPORTUNITY.

MY CHEST FEELS A LOT LIGHTER, MAKING MY DECISION AND KNOWING THAT'S WHERE I'M GOING TO BE.

NOW, I JUST WANT TO WORK HARDER TO BE ABLE TO PLAY THERE AND TO WIN THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP, SO NOW IT GAVE ME A BOOST IN MY MOTIVATION.

>> SHE'LL BE JOINING HER SISTER MOLLIE AT UMD, WHO IS AN INCOMING FRESHMAN ON THEIR WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL TEAM.

THE U-18 U.S.A.

SELECT TEAM WILL PLAY A 3-GAME SERIES AGAINST OUR NEIGHBORS TO THE NORTH, CANADA HAS WON 12 OF THE 18 SELECT SERIES THUS FAR WITH TEAM U.S.A.'S LAST SERIES WIN COMING IN 2017.

>>> WELL IT WAS TIME TO KNOCK THE RUST OFF FOR BEMIDJI FOOTBALL, AS THEY, LIKE ALL THE OTHER HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS IN MINNESOTA, STARTED THEIR SEASON TODAY.

THE 2025 LUMBERJACKS ARE COMING OFF A 7-3 CAMPAIGN THAT INCLUDES A RUN TO THE SECTION 5-A SEMIFINALS FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW, BUT THE BOYS AREN'T RESTING ON WHAT WAS, AS NOTED BY HEAD COACH BRYAN STOFFEL WHO HAD POSITIVE WORDS AFTER THEIR FIRST PRACTICE BACK ON THE GRIDIRON.

>> IT'S A LOT OF LEARNING, BOTH WITH WHAT WE'RE PUTTING IN FOOTBALL-WISE, AND ALSO TEACHING THE BOYS HOW WE ACTUALLY PRACTICE.

SO THERE IS A LOT OF LEARNING GOING ON, WHICH SLOWS THE FEED AT TIMES, BUT TODAY IT WAS GOOD.

I TALK TO THE KIDS, YOU ARE GOING TO MAKE MISTAKES.

THE KEY TO GETTING BETTER IS NOT MAKING THE SAME MISTAKES OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND WE TAUGHT WHAT COACHABILITY IS.

WHETHER YOU GET COACHED ON SOMETHING THAT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN RIGHT, HOW QUICKLY AND HOW ACCURATELY CAN YOU FIX THAT?

THOSE ARE THINGS THAT IF YOU CONTINUE TO CORRECT MISTAKES, YOU GET BETTER BY DEFAULT.

>> AS THERE IS EVERY YEAR, BEMIDJI SAW SOME TURNOVER, BUT THERE WERE SOME KEY PLAYERS RETURNING ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BALL INCLUDING FORMER LINEBACKER TURNED SAFETY, SENIOR NICK STRAND, AND QUARTERBACK OWEN VANDERMEER, WHO BENEFITTED FROM 7 STARTS UNDER CENTER LAST SEASON.

>> IT DEFINITELY MAKES ME BE MORE CONFIDENT IN WHAT I'M DOING OUT ON THE FIELD NOW.

LIKE, I'M NOT RUSHING TO KNOW EVERYTHING THAT I DIDN'T KNOW LAST YEAR AND KNOWING YOU KNOW MORE THAN LAST YEAR.

WE HAVE A COUPLE NEW FACES THIS YEAR OF KIDS THAT JOINED.

THEY ARE KIND OF SCRAMBLING AND THEY ASKED SOME QUESTIONS AND IT'S NICE TO BE ABLE TO TELL THEM WHAT THEY NEED TO DO.

>> THE MOST PHYSICAL DEFENSE IN MINNESOTA, WE'RE GOING TO DO EVERYTHING IT TAKES TO BE THERE.

WE WEREN'T IN PADS TODAY BUT WE WERE PHYSICAL.

WE WERE SWARMING TO THE BALL, THERE WEREN'T A LOT OF ERRORS IN OUR ASSIGNMENT.

EVERYONE KNEW WHAT THEY WERE DOING.

THAT FEELS GOOD, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU ONLY HAVE A COUPLE RETURNING STARTERS.

>> Charlie: HOPEFULLY THEY CONTINUE TO KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING BECAUSE THEIR FIRST GAME IS JUST 17 DAYS AWAY AND IT'S A BIG ONE.

THEY HOST REIGNING 5A STATE CHAMPION ELK RIVER.

THAT'S A GAUGE OF HOW THE REST OF 2025 WILL GO PLAYING THE STATE CHAMP.

AND BSU FOOTBALL WILL PLAY IN THE PRE-SEASON COACHES POLL, ONE OF THREE NSIC TEAMS TO START THE SEASON IN THE TOP 25 WITH MINNESOTA STATE AT 11th AND AUGUSTANA AT 23rd.

BEMIDJI STATE WAS RANKED 13th IN THE FINAL POLL LAST YEAR AFTER MAKING THE RUN TO THE QUARTER FINALS.

IT'S THEIR SECOND HIGHEST RANKING EVER GOING INTO A SEASON.

THEY WERE RANKED 10th IN 2023.

>> Dennis: THEY WON THREE OR FOUR YEARS IN A ROW THEY WERE IN THE NATIONAL PLAYOFFS.

>> Charlie: YEAH, FOUR YEARS IN A ROW NOW AND EVERY YEAR THEY MADE HISTORY ALONG THE WAY TOO.

SO LAST YEAR WAS THE FURTHEST INTO THAT QUARTER FINALS ROUND.

>> Dennis: THANKS CHARLIE.

SAFARI NORTH WILDLIFE PARK IN BRAINERD IS HOME TO OVER 12O SPECIES OF ANIMALS.

AND ON SATURDAY THEY HELD A FUNDRAISER TO HELP RAISE MONEY FOR ONE ANIMAL IN THEIR CARE WHO'S CONSERVATION STATUS IS LISTED AS NEAR THREATENED BY THE WORLD WILDLIFE FUND.

REPORTER DANIEL PURSELL HAS MORE WITH THIS WEEK'S IN BUSINESS.

>> Reporter: WHEN SOMEONE THINKS OF WHAT MIGHT GO WITH WINE, THEY THINK OF CHEESE, PASTA, OR STEAK, BUT WHAT ABOUT RHINOS?

>> WE'RE HAVING A SPECIAL FUNDRAISER FOR RHINO CONSERVATION AND SOMETHING THAT MY KIDS PUT TOGETHER TO DO THIS.

IT'S A CHANCE TO HAVE SOME WINE, HAVE A DRINK, AND GET TOGETHER AND PET A RHINO AND DO A LOT OF FUN UNIQUE THINGS HERE.

>> Reporter: THEY HELD THE EVENT TO RAISE MONEY FOR AN ORGANIZATION FOCUSED ON THE CONSERVATION OF THE FIVE SPECIES OF RHINOS ACROSS ASIA AND AFRICA.

>> THE SOUTHERN WHITE RHINO IS THE LEAST ENDANGERED OUT OF THE FIVE RHINOS.

THERE ARE ABOUT 17,000 OF THE SOUTHERN WHITE RHINOS.

THE REASON THEY ARE ENDANGERED IS POACHING.

THAT'S THE BIGGEST THREAT TO THE RHINOS IN GENERAL.

PEOPLE ARE POACHING FOR THEIR HORNS, IT'S SOLD IN THE BLACK MARKET IN VIETNAM.

>> Reporter: STAFFERS TRIED TO RAISE AWARENESS OF THE RESIDENT RHINO.

>> THIS IS GUNNER, HE CAME FROM NORTH DAKOTA WHERE THEY WERE HOUSING TWO MALE RHINOS AND THEY STARTED MATURING AND GETTING A LITTLE DOMINANT WITH EACH OTHER.

THAT'S HOW WE GOT GUNNER.

HE IS 13 THIS AUGUST AND HE WEIGHS JUST UNDER 5,000 POUNDS, HE EATS ABOUT 125 OF HAY AND GRAIN EVERY DAY.

>> Reporter: ATTENDEES GOT THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET UP AND PERSONAL WITH A LOT OF ANIMALS IN THE PARK.

>> 43 ACRES, 130 DIFFERENT SPECIES OF BIRDS AND ANIMALS, AND IT'S A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE.

WE HAVE JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING YOU CAN IMAGINE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THE RHINO, THE GIRAFFES, WE HAVE ABOUT 20-DIFFERENT PRIMATES, ANYTHING YOU CAN WANT IN A ZOO, WE HAVE.

>> Reporter: REPORTING IN BRAINERD WITH THIS WEEK'S IN-BUSINESS, I'M DANIEL PURSELL, LAKELAND NEWS.

>> IF YOU'D LIKE TO PAY A VISIT TO GUNNAR OR ANY OF THE OTHER ANIMALS AT THE SAFARI NORTH WILDLIFE PARK, THE PARK IS OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK FROM 9:00 A.M. TO 6:00 P.M. >>> WE HAVE TIME FOR ONE LAST QUICK LOOK AT OUR WEATHER WITH STACY.

>> Stacy: AIR QUALITY ALERT REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9:00 A.M. ON TUESDAY, THE AIR QUALITY INDEX IS EXPECTED TO BE IN THE RED OR UNHEALTHY CATEGORY.

SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE, LOWS NEAR 58.

>> Dennis: THAT IS GOING TO DO IT FOR US.

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

>> Charlie: GOOD NIGHT.

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