>>> HI EVERYONE..THANKS FOR WATCHING TONIGHT.

FOR 45 YEARS, MARCH HAS BEEN KNOWN AS “FOOD SHARE MONTH” IN MINNESOTA IN AN EFFORT TO RESTOCK FOOD SHELVES AROUND THE STATE.

THE “GREATER MINNEAPOLIS COUNCIL OF CHURCHES” PARTIALLY MATCHES MONETARY DONATIONS TO FOOD SHELVES FROM MARCH FIRST TO APRIL SIXTH AND OUR REPORTER SYDNEY DICK SPOKE TO THE BEMIDJI COMMUNITY FOOD SHELF TO SEE HOW MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE THOSE DONATIONS CAN MAKE TO THOSE IN NEED.

>> IN FIRST TWO MONTHS OF 2026, THE FOOD SHELVES HAVE SEEN MORE THAN 2,000 VISITS, AND THEY'LL GIVE AWAY MORE THAN ONE MILLION POUNDS OF FOOD BY THE END OF THE YEAR, MORE THAN EVER BEFORE.

IN MARCH, THE FOOD SHELVE IS PARTICIPATING IN THE FOOD SHARE MONTH.

WHERE PARTIAL MATCHES, CARRY EVERY $25 DONATION TURNS INTO $100 WORTH OF FOOD.

>> IT SHOWS PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR NEIGHBORS, AND I DON'T THINK THAT HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH POLITICAL DIVISIONS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

THIS MONTH, IS SHOWING HOW EVERYONE IN THE STATE IS RALLYING AROUND TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE FED.

>> IT'S BEEN AROUND SINCE 1982, AND AFTER IT STARTED IN THE TWIN CITIES, IT EXPANDED TO THE ENTIRE STATE WHERE MORE THAN 300 FOOD SHELVES PARTICIPATE.

>> ALL YEAR THEY GET DONATIONS AND RAISE MONEY, SO DURING THE MONTH ANY MONEY WE GET IN OR FOOD DONATED THEY DO A PARTIAL MATCH FINANCIALLY.

IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO DONATE AND HAVE THE MONEY GO FARTHER.

>> IF MONEY HELPS TO CARRY THE FOOD SHELVES ACROSS THE STATE IN THE FALL SEASON.

>> THE GENEROSITY IS AMAZING.

I'VE LIVED HERE A LONG TIME BUT NEVER SEEN THIS LEVEL OF COMMITMENT FROM THE COMMUNITY TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY IS TAKEN CARE OF AND HAS FOOD FOR THEM AND THEIR KIDS.

>> DONATIONS WILL CONTINUE TO BE ACCEPTED THROUGH APRIL 6, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS CAN SEND THEIR MONEY DIRECTLY TO THE FOOD SHELVES OR OTHERS IN THE LAKELAND COUNTRY OR THROUGH THE CHURCHES IN THE FOOD SHARE WEBSITE.

STARTING IN APRIL, THE BEMIDJI FOOD SHELF WILL START OPENING ONE NIGHT A MONTH FOR THOSE WHO CANNOT MAKE IT DURING THEIR REGULAR HOURS ON MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, AND FRIDAY FROM TEN TO THREE.

THE FIRST MONDAY OF EVERY MONTH WILL SOON BE OPEN FROM FIVE TO SEVEN PM FOR EXTRA SHOPPING TIME FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

>>> IN OTHER NEWS TONIGHT...A LOCKDOWN AT WARROAD SCHOOL HAS BEEN LIFTED AFTER AUTHORITIES DETERMINED THERE WAS NO CREDIBLE THREAT TO STUDENTS OF STAFF.

ACCORDING TO WARROAD POLICE CHIEF WADE STEINBRING, THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT RECEIVED A 911 CALL AROUND EIGHT THIS MORNING, REPORTING A POTENTIAL ACTIVE THREAT AT WARROAD SCHOOL.

LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS RESPONDED AND PLACED THE SCHOOL ON LOCKDOWN AS A PRECAUTION WHILE THE SITUATION WAS INVESTIGATED.

FOLLOWING A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION, AUTHORITIES DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS NO CREDIBLE THREAT TO STUDENTS OR STAFF.

THE LOCKDOWN HAS SINCE BEEN LIFTED, AND THE SCHOOL HAS RESUMED NORMAL OPERATIONS.

THERE WERE NO REPORTED INJURIES.

>>> THE BEMIDJI PUBLIC LIBRARY HAS ANNOUNCED CUTS TO STAFF AND HOURS FOLLOWING 170-THOUSAND-DOLLARS' WORTH OF FUNDING CUTS FROM BELTRAMI COUNTY.

STARTING ON MARCH 30 THE LIBRARY WILL BE CLOSED SATURDAY THROUGH MONDAY BUT REMAIN OPEN FROM TUESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY FROM TEN AM TO SEVEN PM AND ON FRIDAY FROM NINE AM TO SIX PM.

ALONG WITH THE HOUR CHANGES THE LIBRARY WAS FORCED TO LAY OFF TWO FULL-TIME STAFF MEMBERS AND WILL HAVE TO SAY GOODBYE TO SOMEONE WHO HAS BECOME A CELEBRITY AMONGST THOSE WHO FREQUENTLY VISIT THE LIBRARY.

>> IT'S MY PARTNER, AND HE HAS BEEN HERE SINCE THE LAST SUMMER AND THE KIDS JUST ADORE HIM.

BUT YEAH, WE'VE LOST OUR JOBS.

>> SINCE I'VE BEEN WORKING HERE FOR FOUR YEARS AND I WORK THE COUNTY FAIR, THE TRIFESTIVAL, OUTREACH AT WIN SONG, SENIOR LIVING.

BRINGING AWARENESS TO THE LIBRARY, I HAVE MET WONDERFUL PEOPLE.

IT'S A PLAST.

>> IT'LL HAVE A BIG IMPACT ON PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY CLOSED ON SATURDAY.

IT'S THE SLOWEST DAY, HOWEVER, IT'S A DAY PEOPLE WHO WORK THROUGH THE -- THE KIDS IN THE LIBRARY WHEN THEY'RE NOT AT WORK, THAT'S THE DAY THEY CAN BRING THEM TO THE LIBRARY, AND NOW NOT AVAILABLE TO THEM.

THE TWO POSITIONS THE BEMIDJI PUBLIC LIBRARY WERE FORCED TO LAY OFF WERE THE CHILDREN'S LIBRARIAN AND THE OUTREACH COORDINATOR.

THEIR LAST DAY WILL BE FRIDAY... MARCH 27.

>>> THE MINNESOTA DNR REPORTS THE PASSING OF ONE OF THEIR K-9 PARTNERS.

FENNEC, A GERMAN SHEPHERD/BELGIAN MALINOIS, DIED AWAY YESTERDAY AFTER A BATTLE WITH CANCER.

FENNEC JOINED THE DNR IN 2020, WORKING FIRST WITH MAJOR SCOTT STAPLES AND MORE RECENTLY WITH CONSERVATION OFFICER MIKE FAIRBANKS.

FENNEC WAS ALSO WELL KNOWN IN ITASCA COUNTY AND BEYOND, AND OFFICIALS SAY HE WAS A FINE AMBASSADOR FOR THE DNR WHO PARTICIPATED IN MANY PUBLIC EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE STATE, INCLUDING THE MINNESOTA STATE FAIR.

FENNEC WAS TRAINED TO DETECT WILD FISH AND GAME, FIREARMS, AND SHELL CASINGS, AND TO LOCATE PEOPLE.

THROUGHOUT HIS CAREER, HE PLAYED A CRITICAL ROLE IN LOCATING KEY EVIDENCE AND SEARCHING FOR PEOPLE.

OFFICIALS SAY FENNECK BEEN WORKING ON BEHALF OF MINNESOTA'S PEOPLE AND NATURAL RESOURCES UNTIL JUST HOURS BEFORE HIS DEATH.

>>> THE BEMIDJI CITY COUNCIL AWARDED A LOCAL CONSTRUCTION COMPANY ITS 20-26 STREET RENEWAL PROJECT DURING MONDAY'S MEETING.

THE COUNCIL RECEIVED FOUR OFFERS FROM VARYING CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES BUT ULTIMATELY DECIDED TO GO WITH THE CHEAPEST OPTION IN "SPARKY'S CONSTRUCTION" WHICH BID A LITTLE OVER $1.23 MILLION FOR THE PROJECT.

THE CITY ESTIMATES THAT AFTER DESIGN AND ENGINEERING THE TOTAL PROJECT COST WILL BE AROUND $1.4 MILLION WHICH IS ACTUALLY BELOW WHAT THE CITY ORIGINALLY ESTIMATED.

CONSTRUCTION OF THE PROJECT IS >> IT CAME IN $120,000 LESS THAN WHAT WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE.

THE ASSESSMENTS, THE OTHER MONEY TO SPEND, TO ACCOMMODATE A LOWER BID.

SET TO BEGIN AS SOON AS MAY 11... WEATHER PERMITTING AND IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED IN SEPTEMBER LATER THIS YEAR.

>>> A MAJOR ESCALATION IN THE WAR WITH IRAN AS ISRAEL STRIKES AN IRANIAN GAS FIELD AND IRAN RETALIATES, SPARKING MARKET SLIDES AND SPIKING FUEL PRICES, BRIAN ABEL HAS THE LATEST FROM WASHINGTON AS THE WAR APPROACHES ITS FOURTH WEEK.

>> NARROWLY ESCAPING A STRIKE IN LEBANON.

THE U.S.

WORE WITH IRAN INTENSIFIES.

IT COMES AS A WAVE OF ATTACK ON THE ENERGY PRODUCTION SITE IN THE REGION.

THE U.S.

PRESIDENT, PRESIDENT TRUMP, DENYING THAT THEY KNEW OF THE PLAN OF THE GAS FIELD, THE LARGEST RESERVE.

BUT SOURCES SAY HE KNEW.

THE ATTACK PROMPTING THE RETALIATING STRIKES BY IRAN.

THE ESCALATING ATTACKS AND THE EFFECTIVE BLOCK AID, DISTRIBUTING TO SLIDING GLOBAL STOCK MARKETS AND THE ENERGY PRICES.

THE PRICE OF OIL BRIEFLY HITTING $119 BER BARREL THURSDAY.

HE EXPECTED A SHARPER SPIKE IN THE OIL PRICES, SUGGESTING THE IMPACT IS MORE LIMITED.

>> I FEEL IT WOULD BE WORSE.

>> THE U.S.

TREASURY CONSIDERING NEW MEASURES TO LOWER THE PRICE AT THE PUMP.

>> IN THE COMING DAYS WE MAY UNSANCTION THE IRAN OIL THAT'S ON THE WATER, IT'S 140 MILLION BARRELS.

>> AND THE THE $200 MILLION REQUEST, MAY BE A MOVING TARGET.

>> IT TAKES MONEY TO GET BAD GUYS.

THE WHITE HOUSE HAS RULED OUT IMPOSING A BAN ON CRUDE OIL AND GAS EXPORTS, AS IT SEEKS WAYS TO EASE SURGING ENERGY PRICES TRIGGERED BY ITS WAR WITH IRAN, AN ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL TOLD CNN.

AND-- RESPONDING TO A REPORT FROM REUTERS THAT THE U.S.

IS CONSIDERING DEPLOYING THOUSANDS OF US TROOPS TO THE MIDDLE EAST IN THE FUTURE.. A WHITE HOUSE OFFICIAL SAYS QUOTE... “PRESIDENT TRUMP WISELY KEEPS ALL OPTIONS AT HIS DISPOSAL.” .

>>> WE'LL SEE QUIET WEATHER TOMORROW BUT A COLD FRONT IN THE AREA ON SATURDAY, COULD BRING US A CHANCE OF RAIN AND SNOW.

THE FORECAST COMING UP.

>> AND AFTER THE BREAK, THE 2026 AWARD RESIP >>> CTC MARKETING AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT DIRECTOR JILL CASPER HAS BEEN NAMED THE RECIPIENT OF THE 2026 "ATHENA INDIVIDUAL LEADERSHIP AWARD" HOSTED THROUGH THE "BRAINERD LAKES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE" THE AWARD IS THE RESULT OF A WOMEN-LED INITIATIVE TO RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE THE WOMEN WHO STRENGTHEN THE BRAINERD LAKES REGION.

CASPER IS ALSO INVOLVED IN THE "BRIDGES CAREER ACADEMIES WORKPLACE CONNECTION" THE "WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP FUND" THE "BRAINERD WOMEN'S FUND" AS WELL AS MANY MORE BOARDS AND ORGANIZATIONS CASPER IS BEING RECOGNIZED FOR HER AUTHENTIC LEADERSHIP DEEP COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO EMPOWERING OTHERS.

>> I REALLY FEEL STRONGLY ABOUT LEADERSHIP.

AND LEADERSHIP THAT CAN HAPPEN AT ANY LEVEL, AND SO I PARTICULARLY BEEN INVOLVED WITH ORGANIZATIONS THAT WORK WITH WOMEN, AND LIFT WOMEN UP, AND I THINK IF WE CAN DO THAT MORE, THE COMMUNITIES WILL BE A MUCH BETTER PLACE.

LAKES AREA "GRIT AND GRACE" IS ALSO A WINNER THE 2026 ATHENA ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERSHIP AWARD BOTH CAPSER AND "GRIT AND GRACE" WILL BE HONORED ON MAY 4 AT 10:30 AM AT MADDEN'S ON GULL LAKE.

>>> TIME FOR WEATHER, IT IMPROVES.

>> MORE NICE WEATHER IN STORE TOMORROW, MILD TEMPERATURES AND WE ARE LOOKING AT A COLD FRONT MOVING IN THE AREA ON SATURDAY.

THAT COULD BRING US A CHANCE OF RAIN OR SNOW, AND A >>> WE WERE LUCKY TO ENJOY THE SUNSHINE AGAIN, AND TEMPERATURES BACK IN THE 40'S AND 50'S.

HIGHS FOR THE MOST PART BE IN THE 40'S, AND FOR SATURDAY, WE'LL SEE A COLD FRONT MOVE IN THE AREA, THAT'LL BRING A CHANCE OF RAIN, FREEZING RAIN OR SNOW.

AND COLDER TEMPERATURES IN THE AREA FOR THE END OF THE WEEKEND.

BEMIDJI IS STILL -- AT THE AIRPORT, AND WINDS AT 3 MILE PER HOUR.

44 IS THE DEW POINT, AND HUMIDITY IS 80%.

THE PRESSURE IS FALLING AND WINDS FROM THE SOUTH AT 9 MILES PER HOUR.

AND THE SATELLITE AND RADAR, ALL IS QUIET IN THE VIEWING AREA.

WE ARE ANTICIPATING AREAS OF FOG DEVELOPING TONIGHT, AND THAT COULD LINGER INTO TOMORROW MORNING.

OUTSIDE OF THAT, MOSTLY CLOUDY SKIES, THE HIGHS FOR THE MOST PART IN THE 40'S TOMORROW.

WEATHER SHOTS TO WANT, FUN CLOUDS OVER LOWER RED LAKE.

NOT A LOT OF SNOW LEFT ON THE GROUND.

GORGEOUS BLUE SKIES IN LAPORTE, AND THAT WAS IN BY JOAN.

THE SUNSET WAS BEAUTIFUL.

AND GARY SENDING US THIS PHOTO OF THE ICE ON THE LAKE.

THANK YOU ALL FOR SHARING TONIGHT.

FOR THE EAGLE EYE REPORT.

FOG THIS MORNING.

AND MOSTLY SUNNY WITH A HIGH OF 51.

BREEZY TODAY, 57 FOR THE HIGH.

BRAINERD, MIST AND FOG.

CLEAR SKIES TONIGHT.

AND SUNSHINE WITH A HIGH OF 53, PARTLY CLOUDY AND 60.

AND A MIX OF SUNSHINE AND CLOUD TODAY, BREEZY SIDE.

WE DID TOP OUT AT 53, WE ARE SEEING THE TEMPERATURES MORE THAN 10 DEGREES ABOVE THE AVERAGE.

IN BEMIDJI TODAY, WE TOPPED AT 56, VERY MILD.

39 IS THE AMBLING HIGH TEMPERATURE -- AVERAGE HIGH TEMPERATURE.

LOOKING AT TOMORROW'S FORECAST, WE'LL CONTINUE TO HAVE PATCHY FOG IN THE HOURS, AND ONCE THAT LIFTS, WE'RE LOOKING AT PARTLY CLOUDY SKIES FOR THE DAY.

LOOKING AT THE HIGH TEMPERATURES, THEY'LL RANGE FROM 40 TO 52 IN PARK RAPIDS.

AND A BIT OF DIFFERENCE IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA, CENTRAL MINNESOTA WARMER WITH HIGHS IN THE 50'S AND CLOSE TO 60.

A LOOK AT THE FORECAST, MOSTLY CLOUDY SKIES TOMORROW, PATCHY FOG, LOWS NEAR 32, AND TOMORROW, MOSTLY CLOUDY, PATCHY FOG IN THE MORNING.

59 FOR THE HIGH, NORTHWEST WIPDZ UP TO 10.

THE WEEKEND FORECAST, WE'LL SEE THE COLD FRONT MOVE IN THE AREA ON SATURDAY.

A CHANCE OF MIXED PARTICIPATION, THE BIG TEMPERATURE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE FROM THE HOSPITAL.

THE HIGHS ONLY -- FRONT, AND THE HIGHS ONLY IN THE 30'S.

THE COOLER TEMPERATURES, AND THE WEEKEND STILL SLIGHT CHANCES OF SNOW EARLY NEXT WEEK.

AND THE HIGHS BACK IN THE 40'S BY MONDAY AND TUESDAY.

>>> THANKS, CHARLIE IS HERE NOW.

BEMIDJI IS STANDING OUT GUARD, IS HEADING TO -- >> YEAH, A LOT OF PEOPLE WONDERING WHERE HE WOULD GO.

AND TODAY WE GOT TO TALK TO HIM AND HEAR FROM HIM ON WHY HE CHOSE BEMIDJI STATE.

AND ALSO A CHANCE TO HEAD TO GRAND RAPIDS AND TALK TO THEIR BASKETBALL TEAM.

THAT'S COMING UP AFTER >>> WE TOLD YOU YESTERDAY THAT BEMIDJI BOYS' BASKETBALL STANDOUT JAXON BOSCHEE COMMITTED TO TAKE HIS TALENTS TO BSU NEXT YEAR WELL EARLIER TODAY WE SPOKE WITH THE SOON TO BE BEAVER TO FIND OUT WHY HE CHOSE BEMIDJI STATE.

>> A BIG GROUP OF GUYS OVER THERE, AND I WATCHED THEM ALL OF MY LIFE.

I'M EXCITED TO BE THERE.

IT'LL BE FUN.

THERE'S A LOT OF SCHOOLS I CONSIDERED BUT THE END OF THE DAY, THE AT ONE POINT TO PLAY FOR MY DAD IS SOMETHING I DIDN'T THINK I COULD PASS UP.

MIKE BOSCHEE JAXON'S FATHER AND HEAD COACH AT BSU WAS ALSO HIS YOUTH TRAVEL BALL COACH FROM 5TH TO 8TH GRADE SO NEXT YEAR WON'T BE HIS FIRST TIME PLAYING FOR HIM.

JAXON ALSO SAID HE SPENT TIME WATCHING FILM WITH HIS DAD AFTER GAMES LOOKING FOR WAYS TO IMPROVE BUT ISN'T SURE WHAT THE DYNAMIC WILL BE LIKE NEXT YEAR UNTIL THEY BOTH STEP ON THE COURT BOSCHEE JOINS A GROWING LIST OF AREA BASKETBALL PLAYERS ON BEMIDJI STATES ROSTER AND IS THE SECOND COMMIT FROM THE LUMBERJACKS THIS SEASON JOINING AUSTIN RIEWER WHO COMMITTED DURING THE FALL EARLY SIGNING PERIOD.

JEERINGS THE WILD AT HOME TRYING TO GET BACK TO BACK WINS.

CHICAGO LEADING HERE IN THE SECOND, WITH THE STEAL AND HE'LL TAKE IT HIMSELF.

BLACKHAWKS, LITERARY IN THE PERIOD, LOOKING FOR -- LATER IN THE PERIOD, LOOKING FOR AN ANSWER.

THAT'LL CUT THE LEAD IN HALF.

IN THE THIRD, UNDER 10 TO PLAY.

THE PUCK IS LOOSE.

PILE UP AT THE NET.

ALEC ABLE TO GET THE STICK IN TO SAVE THE DAY FOR CHICAGO.

CHICAGO, THEY BEAT THE WILD FOR THE FIRST TIME IN SEVEN YEARS AND THE FIRST REGULATION WIN SINCE 2017.

THAT BREAKS THE LONGEST ACTIVE STREAK IN THE NHL.

GRAND RAPIDS BOYS' BASKETBALL WON 24-GAMES THIS SEASON EN ROUTE TO THE SECTION 7-THREE-A TITLE AND A BERTH IN THE STATE TOURNAMENT IT'S THEIR BEST WIN TOTAL SINCE THEY LAST MADE THE TOURNEY NINE YEARS AGO THE THUNDERHAWKS HEAD INTO THE QUARTERFINALS ON AN 8-GAME WIN STREAK AND WHILE THEY'LL CERTAINLY BE TRYING TO WIN THEY'LL ALSO BE TRYING TO HAVE A LITTLE FUN WHILE THEY'RE AT IT.

>> IF IT'S FUN TO WIN, AND TIME FLIES WHILE YOU'RE HAVING FUN, THE THUNDERHAWKS ARE SOARING.

IT WASN'T A FUN START FOR GRAND RAPIDS, LOSING THE FIRST TWO GAMES OF THE SEASON AND THREE OF THE FIRST FIVE.

BUT THEY GO 22 AND 2 THE REST OF THE WAY, INCLUDING THE POST SEASON.

>> WE WERE HAVING SO MUCH FUN TOGETHER, SO BONDED, THAT'S WHAT STARTED IT.

AND IN THE SECTION TOURNAMENT, WE WERE HAVING SO MUCH FUN, THAT FUELLED IT.

>> THE FUN CONTINUES IN THE CLASS, AGAINST LASALLE.

TWO TEAMS SHARED A COMMON OPPONENT, WHO BEAT THE -- >> THE FIRST GAME, AND WE KIND OF DEPARTMENT HAVE IT -- DIDN'T HAVE IT TOGETHER YET.

>> BY THE END OF THE SEASON, GRAND RAPIDS AVERAGE MARGIN OF VICTORY WAS -- AND OVER 73 POINTS PER GAME, THEY SET THE TONE ON THE OTHER END OF THE COURT.

>> THE DEFENSE IS ALWAYS THERE.

THAT KEEPS US IN THE GAME, AND EVERYONE PLAYS THEIR ROLE AND WE WORK TOGETHER AS ONE UNIT.

>> FOR THE THUNDERHAWKS, IT MADE ALL THE DIFFERENCE TO KEEP THE FUN GOING JUST A LITTLE LONGER.

>> IT'S A DREAM OF OURS AS A GROUP.

IT'S REALLY FUN.

LAST YEAR WE FELL SHORTED, AND COMING BACK AND DOING IT, IS THE BEST THING TO DO.

IT'S A GREAT FEELING.

>>> AND THEY'RE -- FOURTH TEAM TRIP TO THE STATE TOURNAMENT.

THE BEST FINISH THEY HAD WAS A RETURN UP FINISH A COUPLE OF YEARS BACK.

>> A WEEK AWAY.

>> STARTS NEXT THURSDAY.

SIX DAYS AWAY.

THE SECOND WEEKEND OF MARCH MADNESS .

>>> BEMIDJI'S FIRST EVER CHARTER SCHOOL IS CELEBRATING ITS 25TH ANNIVERSARY THIS SCHOOL YEAR.

OUR REPORTER SYDNEY DICK STOPPED BY SCHOOLCRAFT LEARNING COMMUNITY IN DECEMBER FOR THIS GOLDEN APPLE REPORT.

>> IT STARTED AS A CHARTER SCHOOL IN 2000.

THEY SPENT 18 YEARS AT THAT LOCATION, AND THEN MOVED TO THE OLD DEER LAKE SCHOOL IN BEMIDJI.

THEY ARE NOW CELEBRATING 25 YEARS AS A SCHOOL.

>> THE IDEA IS TO BE INNOVATIVES IN THE SETTINGS, HAVE THE SPECIFIC FOCUSES AND DIFFERENT THINGS AND THE REQUIREMENTS THAT COME FROM A PUBLIC SCHOOL.

>> THE PEOPLE THINK OF THE SCHOOL THAT -- IN THE COMMUNITY AND WANTS TO TAKE PART IN THE COMMUNITY IN A MEANINGFUL WAY.

WE ARE A SCHOOL THAT LOVES THE KIDS.

>> BEING A PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL, IT STILL HAS THE CLASS AND TESTING STANDARDS.

WITH THE GENERAL MATH AND SCIENCE CLASS, THEY'RE ABLE TO OFFER MORE TO THE STUDENTS.

>> A LOT OF THE IDEAS OF THE CHARTER SCHOOLS WAS NOT TO COME IN AND COMPETE WITH THE TRADITIONAL DISTRICTS BUT TO PROVIDE MORE OPTION AND IS TO IMPROVE THE OVERALL EDUCATION OF THE COMMUNITY.

HERE WE HAVE 25 ACRES OF WOODS, AND FIVE DIFFERENT CLASSROOMS, THAT CAN BE USED BY ANY CLASS.

>> KINDERGARTEN AND 1ST ARE ON THEIR OWN, AND SECOND AND THIRD GRATE, FOURTH AND FIFTH ARE ALL COMBINED AND SPLIT UP INTO FOUR CREWS.

AND THE CLASS SIZE CAP AT 22, THEY HAVE ONE ON ONE STUDENT TEACHER TIME.

>> I LOVE, IT'S A BEG DIFFERENCE TO MAKE MORE MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS WITH THE STUDENTS, AND MEET THEIR NEEDS.

>> AND WE DO REALLY PUT EMPHASIS ON THE COMMUNITY AND THE CULTURE WE HAVE HERE.

MORE OF THE CONNECTIONS AND REALLY CONNECTING STAFF WITH THE STUDENTS.

>> FROM BEMIDJI, LAKELAND NEWS.

>>> THAT'LL WRAP UP THE NEWSCAST, HAVE A GREAT NIGHT, SEE YOU TOMORROW.

GOOD NIGHT.

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