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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.

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SPORTS ON LAKELAND NEWS IS SPONSORED IN PART BY PAUL BUNYAN COMMUNICATIONS, PROVIDING ALL-FIBEROPTIC INTERNET WITH SPEEDS UP TO 10 GIGABYTES WITH NO DATA CAPS AND NO SPEED THROTTLING.

>> Announcer: LAKELAND PBS IS PROUD TO PRESENT LAKELAND NEWS AT 10.

WE'RE 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.

A JURY HAS FOUND A 43-YEAR-OLD LITTLE FALLS MAN GUILTY OF SECOND DEGREE MURDER AND FIRST DEGREE MANSLAUGHTER IN THE DEATH OF HIS GIRLFRIEND'S ONE-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER.

A MORRISON COUNTY COURT JURY FOUND ERIK BLANCO GUILTY OF THOSE CHARGES YESTERDAY.

BLANCO WAS CONVICTED OF THE JULY 2023 ASSAULT AND KILLING OF THE TODDLER IN LITTLE FALLS.

ACCORDING TO THE CRIMINAL COMPLAINT IN THE CASE, THE CHILD'S MOTHER LEFT HER DAUGHTER WITH BLANCO WHILE SHE WENT TO THE LIQUOR STORE.

WHEN SHE RETURNED, THE GIRL WAS NOT BREATHING AND HAD BRUISING ON HER FACE AS WELL AS MARKS ON HER NECK AND BEHIND HER EARS.

THE GIRL LATER DIED AT AN AREA HOSPITAL.

AT TRIAL THE JURY FOUND BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT THAT BLANCO ABUSED HIS POSITION OF AUTHORITY OVER THE VICTIM AND THAT THE CHILD WAS PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE BECAUSE OF HER YOUNG AGE, WHICH RENDERED HER UNABLE TO SEEK HELP OR DEFEND HERSELF.

ATTORNEY GENERAL ELLISON'S OFFICE PROSECUTED BLANCO UPON A REFERRAL FROM MORRISON COUNTY ATTORNEY BRIAN MIDDENDORF.

>>> POLITICAL AND COMMUNITY LEADERS FROM AROUND THE BEMIDJI AREA WERE AT THE STATE CAPITOL EARLIER TODAY FOR THE 19th ANNUAL BEMIDJI DAY AT THE CAPITOL.

THIS DAY GIVES REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE BEMIDJI CITY COUNCIL, THE BELTRAMI COUNTY BOARD, THE BEMIDJI AREA SCHOOL BOARD, ALONG WITH SEVERAL COMMUNITY LEADERS A CHANCE TO LOBBY FOR POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS FACING THE COMMUNITY WITH STATE LEGISLATORS.

A TOTAL OF 39 BEMIDJIANS VISITED THE CAPITOL.

>> I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO GET A BUNCH OF PEOPLE TOGETHER FROM ALL DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS AND ALL COMING DOWN WITH THE SAME VOICE, WHICH IS WE CARE ABOUT NORTHERN MINNESOTA.

WE WANT TO SEE IT IMPROVE, AND THINGS ARE DIFFERENT UP NORTH THAN THEY ARE MAYBE IN OTHER AREAS OF OUR STATE.

AND SO IF WE'RE NOT DOWN HERE TELLING OUR MESSAGE IN HOW WE'RE DIFFERENT OR WHAT RESOURCES WE NEED TO GET BETTER, YOU KNOW, NO ONE IS GOING TO DO THAT FOR US, SO GLAD TO BE DOWN HERE.

>> IF WE START MAKING POLICIES IN ST.

PAUL THAT ARE GOING TO DRASTICALLY IMPACT NORTHERN MINNESOTA WITHOUT KNOWING NORTHERN MINNESOTA, WE HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THAT.

SO HAVING THE INPUT FROM STAKEHOLDERS IS CRUCIAL.

>> Dennis: OUR REPORTER MATTHEW FREEMAN WAS PRESENT FOR BEMIDJI'S DAY AT THE CAPITOL AND WILL HAVE A MORE EXTENSIVE LOOK AT WHAT ALL WAS DISCUSSED DURING TOMORROW'S BROADCAST.

>>> A CASS LAKE AREA CONSERVATION OFFICER HAS BEEN NAMED THE DNR'S 2025 CONSERVATION OFFICER OF THE YEAR.

CONSERVATION OFFICER PATRICK McGOWAN RECEIVED THE AWARD LAST WEEK DURING A CEREMONY AT CAMP RIPLEY.

McGOWAN CURRENTLY PATROLS THE CASS LAKE STATION AFTER A STINT IN WALKER.

HE'S A FAMILIAR FACE ON SOME OF THE STATE'S BUSIEST WATERWAYS, INCLUDING LEECH LAKE, AND DNR OFFICIALS SAY HE IS KNOWN AMONG OUTDOOR RECREATIONISTS AS A THOROUGH AND FAIR CONSERVATION OFFICER.

McGOWAN ALSO INSTRUCTS AT THE CONSERVATION OFFICER ACADEMY, IS A CERTIFIED BOATING INSTRUCTOR, AN ARSON INVESTIGATOR, AND A FIELD TRAINING OFFICER WHO WORKS WITH NEW CONSERVATION OFFICERS DURING THEIR TRAINING.

>>> KRISTI NOEM IS OUT AS SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY.

PRESIDENT TRUMP MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT THURSDAY ON SOCIAL MEDIA, SAYING HE WAS PUSHING NOEM OUT OF HER POSITION AND WILL NOMINATE SENATOR MARKWAYNE MULLIN OF OKLAHOMA TO REPLACE HER.

MULLIN WILL TAKE OVER ON MARCH 31st.

NOEM HAS FACED GROWING SCRUTINY OVER HER CONDUCT, INCLUDING AN ALLEGED ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIP WITH HER CHIEF ADVISER AND HER CONFLICTING ACCOUNTS OVER FATAL SHOOTINGS INVOLVING FEDERAL IMMIGRATION AGENTS.

IN A MEMO TO DHS EMPLOYEES, NOEM DESCRIBED HER ROLE AS SECRETARY AS THE HONOR OF HER LIFE.

SHE SAID HER LAST DAY WITH THE DEPARTMENT IS MARCH 31st.

TRUMP SAYS NOEM WILL NOW BE THE SPECIAL ENVOY FOR THE SHIELD OF THE AMERICAS, A NEW SECURITY INITIATIVE.

>>> OPERATION EPIC FURY IS IN ITS SIXTH DAY, AND DESPITE PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP AND TOP MILITARY OFFICIALS PROMISING VICTORY, THEY'VE ALSO PROMISED THAT THE WAR WILL ESCALATE AND INTENSIFY, URGING IRANIAN CIVILIANS TO, QUOTE, LAY LOW AND NOT PROTEST AS STRIKES CONTINUE TO RATCHET UP.

THIS AS THERE IS GROWING POLITICAL FALLOUT IN WASHINGTON, WHERE LAWMAKERS FORCED A VOTE UNDER CONGRESS'S 1973 WAR POWERS ACT TO CURB TRUMP'S AUTHORITY TO WAGE WAR, BUT AGAIN, FAILED TO PASS.

SHERRELL HUBBARD HAS THE LATEST DETAILS.

>> THE CURRENT RESOLUTION IS NOT ADOPTED.

>> Sherrell: A MEASURE IN THE HOUSE THAT SOUGHT TO REIN IN THE PRESIDENT'S WAR POWERS FAILED THURSDAY.

THE HOUSE VOTING IT DOWN 219-212.

SCIENCE REPUBLICANS REJECTED A SIMILAR RESOLUTION WEDNESDAY.

>> THE UNITED STATES MILITARY, TOGETHER WITH THE WONDERFUL ISRAELI PARTNERS, CONTINUES TO TOTALLY DEMOLISH THE ENEMY FAR AHEAD OF SCHEDULE.

>> Sherrell: PRESIDENT CONTINUING THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST IRAN ON THURSDAY, THAT AS ISRAEL AND IRAN CONTINUE TO TRADE ATTACKS.

IRAN FIRING MISSILES AT ISRAEL ISRAEL IT'S MOVING TO THE NEXT PHASE OF THE WAR AND CARRYING OUT MORE STRIKESES.

ACCORDING TO AN ISLAMIC NEWS AGENCY, MORE THAN 1200 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED IN IRAN SINCE SATURDAY.

>> BALLISTIC MISSILE ATTACKS HAVE DECREASED BY 90 PERCENT SINCE DAY.

DRONE ATTACKS HAVE DECREASED BY 83% SINS DAY ONE.

>> Sherrell: PRESIDENT TRUMP ON THURSDAY CLAIMED IRAN HAS REACHED OUT.

>> HOW DO WE MAKE A DEAL?

I SAID YOU'RE A LITTLE BIT LATE.

>> Sherrell: ON THE HOUSE FLOOR, SIX U.S.

SERVICE MEMBERS KILLED IN OPERATION EPIC FURY WERE REMEMBERED WITH A MOMENT OF SILENCE.

>> A MOMENT OF SILENCE IN HORN OF OUR FALLEN.

>> Sherrell: I'M SHERRELL HUBBARD REPORTING.

>> Dennis: THE WAR IN IRAN IS DRAWING IN U.S.

ALLIES LIKE QATAR, BAHRAIN, AND KUWAIT, AMONG OTHERS.

>> Announcer: STILL TO COME ON LAKELAND NEWS AT 10: >> Stacy: WE'LL SEE MIXED PRECIPITATION MOVE THROUGH THE AREA TOMORROW THROUGH TOMORROW NIGHT AND MOST OF US ARE UNDER A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY.

I'LL HAVE DETAILS IN A FEW MINUTES.

>> Sydney: AND COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK FOR THIS WEEK'S GOLDEN APPLE, PARENTS AND GUARDIANS FOR STUDENTS OF ALL AGES AT LINCOLN ELEMENTARY CAME IN TO SUPPORT THEIR KIDS FOR DROP EVERYTHING AND READ DAY.

>>> AND NOW, MORE NEWS WITH DENNIS WEIMANN.

>> Dennis: THE BELTRAMI COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS HOSTING ITS INAUGURAL WINTER FESTIVAL THIS WEEKEND AT KELLIHER PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

ORGANIZERS SAY THIS FREE EVENT IS MEANT TO CELEBRATE THE END OF WINTER WITH LOCAL RESOURCES AND NEIGHBORS.

A VARIETY OF BOOTHS WILL BE AVAILABLE TO CONNECT RESIDENTS WITH COMMUNITY RESOURCES AND SERVICES PRESENT IN BELTRAMI COUNTY, WITH AN ADDITIONAL FOCUS ON TRIBAL CULTURE.

THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION IS CONDUCTING A SURVEY AT THE EVENT AS WELL, ASKING ATTENDEES TO EVALUATE THE SAFETY OF ALL FORMS OF TRANSPORTATION IN THE AREA.

>> WHILE WE MIGHT BE RESOURCE-POOR AM BELTRAMI COUNTY, WE REALLY CAN PULL OUR RESOURCES TOGETHER AND IN A SENSE BE RESOURCE-RICH.

>> THIS ISN'T TARGETED FOR ONE AGE GROUP.

WE'RE JUST BRINGING ALL OF THESE PEOPLE TOGETHER TO SAY THIS IS BELTRAMI COUNTY, RIGHT?

AND WE MIGHT NOT HAVE A LOT OF RESOURCES, BUT WHEN WE PUT OUR RESOURCES TOGETHER, WE CAN CREATE A PLACE THAT'S SAFE.

WE ARE USING OUR RESOURCES TOGETHER TO MAKE THIS EVENT FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

>> Dennis: THE EVENT IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC ON SATURDAY, COMES WITH A FREE MEAL, AND TAKES PLACE FROM 11 A.M.

UNTIL 2 P.M.

AT KELLIHER PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

>>> THE WEATHER, STACY JOINS US.

A LITTLE BIT OF WINTER WEATHER COMING IN?

>> Stacy: A LITTLE BIT.

WE'RE SEEING MIXED PRECIPITATION AND THERE MAY BE SOME ACCUMULATING SNOW, BUT ALSO SOME ACCUMULATING ICE AS WE COULD BE SEEING SOME AREAS OF FREEZING RAIN.

WE DO HAVE MOST OF THE VIEWING UNDER A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR DIFFERENT TIME PERIODS THAT THE SYSTEM MOVES THROUGH, SO I'LL HAVE >>> AND NOW THE WEATHER WITH STACY CHRISTENSON.

>> Stacy: IT HAS BEEN A PRETTY CLOUDY DAY ACROSS THE AREA, BUT TEMPERATURES WERE ONCE AGAIN BUDGET.

AS WE HEAD INTO -- ABOVE FREEZING.

AS WE HEAD INTO TONIGHT, WE'LL SEE FREEZING RAIN AND POSSIBLY FREEZING RAIN MOVING INTO THE SQUARE AND AS THAT MOVES ACROSS THE AREA TOMORROW, WE'LL SEE SNOW NICKS IN AS TEMPERATURES COOL.

WE COULD BE ACCUMULATING SNOW AND ACCUMULATING ICE IN MOST OF THE VIEWING AREA UNDER A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY, SO I'LL HAVE MORE ON THAT IN A SECOND.

HEAR ARE THE SURNT CONDITIONS.

32 DEGREES AT THE AIRPORT IF BEMIDJI.

AT THE STUDIO, WINDS FROM THE SOUTH AT 9-MILE-PER-HOUR.

DEWPOINT 32, PEAK WIND GUSTS TONIGHT AT 17.

IN BRAINERD, CLOUDY SKIES, 34 DEGREES WITH A DEWPOINT OF 30.

PRESSURE IS FALLING AND WPD EAST AT 8 MILES PER HOUR.

NOW, NORTHWEST MINNESOTA IS UNDER A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT UNTIL 6 P.M.

FRIDAY.

WE'RE EXPECTING ON SEE THAT MIXED PRECIPITATION WITH UP TO AN INCH OF SNOW AND POSSIBLY A TENTH OF AN INCH OF ICE ACCUMULATION.

IN CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI, THAT WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FROM 3 P.M.

FRIDAY TO 9 A.M.

SATURDAY AND AGAIN MIXED PRECIPITATION IS EXPECTED WITH POSSIBLY TWO INCHES OF SNOW ACCUMULATION AND, AGAIN, ICE ACCUMULATION UP TO A TENTH OF AN INCH.

ON OUR SATELLITE AND RADAR, WE ARE SEEING A LITTLE BIT OF MIXED PRECIPITATION TRYING TO MOVE INTO MIDWEST MINNESOTA AND AGAIN, THERE IS A CHANCE, ESPECIALLY IN WESTERN MINNESOTA, OF SEEING THAT MIXED PRECIPITATION OVERNIGHT TONIGHT.

THAT WILL SPREAD ACROSS THE AREA TOMORROW AND AS THAT COLDER AIR BEGINS TO WORK N WE COULD ALSO SEE SOME PERIODS OF SNOW AS THE SYSTEM MOVES THROUGH.

STILL EXPECTING THAT TO CONTINUE THROUGH TOMORROW NIGHT AND EVEN INTO CENTRAL MINNESOTA INTO SATURDAY MORNING.

WEATHER SLOTS TO SHARE WITH YOU TONIGHT.

IT WAS A FOGGY DAY TODAY IN MENAHGA.

ARLENE SENDING US THIS PHOTO.

GARY SPOTTING A FLOCK OF TURKEYS IN DEERWOOD AND RALPH SENDING US THIS PHOTO OF THE MOONLIGHT IN JENKINS.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING THOSE.

EAGLE EYE REPORTS, ARLENE IN MENAHGA, 36, WINDY, DREARY AND GLOOMY TODAY.

BOB IN BLUFFTON, FOG AND CLOUDY SKIES.

ARLENE IN LONGVILLE, CLOUDY AND BREEZY, AND STEPHANIE IN BRAINERD REPORTING OVERCAST SKIES WITH A HIGH-34.

ON THE ALMANAC, WE TOPPED OUT AT 37 TODAY IN BRAINERD.

A LITTLE BIT ABOVE OUR AVERAGE HIGH TEMPERATURE AND WE DIDN'T SEE TEMPERATURES CHANGE MUCH THROUGHOUT THE DAY.

LOW OF 31.

BEMIDJI SEEING A HIGH OF 35, 3 DEGREES ABOVE THE AVERAGE AND ONLY 3 DEGREES ABOVE THE LOW TEMPERATURE TODAY, WHICH WAS 32.

WE HAD SUNRISE AT 6:52.

LOOKING AT TOMORROW'S FORECAST, WE'LL SEE AREAS OF MIXED PRECIPITATION MOVING ACROSS NORTHERN AND CENTRAL MINNESOTA AS WE HEAD THROUGH THE DAY, AND THEN WE MAY SEE A LITTLE BIT OF SNOW WORKING IN AS THAT COLDER AIR BEGINS TO ARRIVE.

HIGH TEMPERATURES WILL BE IN THE MID 30s IN PATTERN NORTHWEST MINNESOTA, SOME 40s ACROSS THE REST OF NORTHERN MINNESOTA, BUT AGAIN AS THAT COLDER AIR WORKS IN, THAT COLD FRONT MOVES IN, WE'LL BE SEEING THE TEMPERATURES FALL.

IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA, A LITTLE BIT WARMER WITH HIGHS IF THE MID TO UPPER 40s.

THE FORECAST FOR TONIGHT, MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH AREAS OF FOG AND WE DO HAVE CHANCE OF SOME RAIN, DRIZZLE AND FREEZING RAIN, LOW OF 31 AND TOMORROW, MOSTLY CLOUDY SKIES WITH SHOWERS, SNOW SHOWERS AND PRANE LIKELY.

WE'LL BE SEEING HIGHS NEAR 42 WITH VARIABLE WINDS AT 5 TO 0.

LOOKING AT THE WEEKEND FORECAST, THE CHANCES OF SNOW WILL LINGER INTO SATURDAY MORNING IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA.

OTHERWISE, IT STARTS TO BECOME MORE QUIET AND IT STARTS TO WARM UP AGAIN.

HIGHS ON SUNDAY NEAR 53.

A LITTLE BIT COOLER THERE ON MONDAY AND THEN AGAIN ON TUESDAY, AND TUESDAY WILL BRING OUR NEXT CHANCE OF SOME MIXED PRECIPITATION.

BACK TO YOU.

>> Dennis: ALL RIGHT.

CHARLIE IS HERE WITH OUR SPORTS NOW.

WHAT DO YOU HAVE FOR US TONIGHT?

>> Charlie: WE HAVE A COUPLE SECTION TITLE GAMES GOING ON TONIGHT.

LITTLE FALLS TRYING FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 35 YEARS TO GET BACK TO THE STATE TOURNAMENT.

ALSO STATE TOURNAMENT ACTION FROM BOYS HOCKEY AND A LITTLE MORE FROM AROUND THE AREA.

ALL THAT COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK.

>>> AND NOW YOUR LOCAL SPORTS WITH CHARLIE YAEGER.

>> Charlie: IT'S BEEN 35 YEARS SINCE LITTLE FALLS GIRLS BASKETBALL HAS BEEN TO THE STATE TOURNAMENT, BUT AFTER POWERING THEIR WAY THROUGH SAUK RAPIDS-RICE IN THE SECTION QUARTERFINALS AND SARTELL IN THE SEMI'S, THE TOP-SEEDED FLYERS HAVE THE CHANCE TO PUNCH THEIR TICKET TONIGHT AND IN FRONT OF THEIR HOME CROWD AS THEY HOST 3-SEED WILMAR IN THE SECTION 8-AAA CHAMPIONSHIP.

START OFF IN THE FIRST HALF, LITTLE FALLS DOWN 1 -- OR COULD SPOT GET MUCH GOING OFFENSIVELY EARLY, BUT SAM PINTS FINDS A 3.

THEY GO DOWN IN THE HALF, 27-25.

IN THE SECOND, PLIERS STILL STRUGGLING TO FIND A RHYTHM.

YOUNGBERG, GAME HIGH 20 POINTS, BUT THE CARDINALS HOUNDING THE FLYERS ALL NIGHT LONG.

LANG COAST TO COAST.

SHE HAD 15 POINTS.

LITTLE FALLS JUST COULDN'T FIND A RHYTHM DOWN THE STRETCH.

THEY GET UPSET BY WILLMAR TONIGHT, 55-41.

THE FLYERS, THOUGH, STILL HAD A FANTASTIC SEASON, FINISHED 22-7 ON THE YEAR, THEIR BEST RECORD SINCE 2016.

>>> MORE FROM AROUND THE AREA.

PEQUOT LAKES FELL TO DULUTH MARSHALL IN SUPERIOR.

ON THE BOYS SIDE, PARK RAPIDS BEATS WARROAD AND ALSO 8-AA IN THE FURST ROUND, ROSEAU, THEIR SEASON IS OVER.

SWITCHING TO 6-AA: THEY'RE BOTH MOVING ON AND WIN NA MACK AND CLEARBROOK GETTING THE UPSET WIN OVER RED LAKE.

NEVIS AND BROWERVILLE WINNING IN THE 5-A.

>>> TWO YEARS AGO IN THE 5-4 QUARTERFINAL MATCH-UP OF THE STATE HOCKEY TOURNAMENT, GRAND RAPIDS TREATED US TO AN INSTANT CLASSIC WHEN THEY SCORED WITH LESS THAN A SECOND LEFT IN REGULATION TO BEAT WHITE BEAR LAKE 2-1.

EARLIER TODAY, THEY DELIVERED MORE LATE GAME HEROICS IN ST.

PAUL.

THE CLASS 2-A QUARTERFINAL, RAPIDS THE 5-SEED TAKING ON 4-SEED ROSEMOUNT.

THE IRISH BEAT THE THUNDERHAWKS 6-0 EARLIER THIS SEASON.

T-HAWKS SEEMED UNFAZED FIRST PERIOD.

ANDER RAJALA BAR DOWN ON THE POWER PLAY, DRAWS FIRST BLOOD, BUT THE IRISH WOULD EVEN THE SCORE IN THE SECOND.

THEN LATE IN THE THIRD PERIOD, ROSEMOUNT TAKES THE LEAD.

CHANNING GOODWIN OFF THE REBOUND MAKES IT 2-1, PUT RAPIDS IN DESPERATION MODE.

JUST 30 SECONDS LEFT TO PLAY NOW, EXTRA SKATER ON, AND THEY FIND THE BACK OF THE NET.

JAMESON DUELL DEFLECTS IN THE SHOT BY GRANT VERSHEY TO FORCE O.T.

IN THE EXTRA FRAME, THOUGH, THE CADE SHERMAN SNIPER WINS IT FOR THE IRISH, SENDS THE CROWD INTO A FRENZY.

HEARTBREAK FOR THE GRAND RAPIDS FAITHFUL THIS TIME AROUND, BUT FOR THE THUNDERHAWKS, JUST GETTING TO THIS MOMENT SEEMED IMPROBABLE WHEN THEY WERE ONLY 3-8-1 AT THE START OF THE NEW YEAR BEFORE GOING 12-4 AND WINNING THEIR SECTION.

>> THE TURNAROUND HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH JUST THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU BELIEVE IN YOUR GUYS.

THEY FEED OFF OF THAT AND THEY BELIEVE IN THEMSELVES, AND WHEN YOU HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF SUCCESS AND IT STARTS GOING, THEN IT SNOWBALLS.

THEN YOU GET KIND OF, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE DID AT THE END OF THE YEAR.

>> EVERYBODY BELIEVED IN OUR END GOAL AND WE ALWAYS SAID ALL YEAR, 25 SCRIMMAGES, AND I THINK THE ADVERSITY REALLY PUSHED US THROUGH AND WE HAD STRONG MENTAL MIND AND THAT'S WHAT GOT US HERE.

>> WE DREAMED OF PLAYING AT THE STATE TOURNAMENT, ALWAYS TALKED ABOUT IT ALL THE WAY UP, AND IT'S A DREAM COME TRUE FOR SURE.

OBVIOUSLY IT'S NOT THE OUTCOME WE WANTED, BUT WE'LL KEEP BATTLING AND HOPEFULLY GET A MEDAL.

>> Charlie: T-HAWKS STILL A CHANCE TO END THE SEASON WITH A WIN.

THEY MOVE TO THE CONSOLATION BRACKET WITH GENTRY ACADEMY TOMORROW.

MANKATO LAKE FALLS AND THEIR SEASON COMES TO AN END.

>>> WELL, BEMIDJI SENIOR GUARD JAXON BOSCHEE HAS BEEN NAMED AN MBCA McDONALD AWARD FINALIST.

THE AWARD IS GIVEN ANNUALLY TO THE MOST OUTSTANDING SENIOR BOYS BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR IN MINNESOTA.

THIS SEASON, BOSCHEE BROKE THE LUMBERJACKS PREVIOUS CAREER POINTS RECORD OF 1,763 AND WOULD LATER BECOME THE FIRST PLAYER IN SCHOOL HISTORY TO ECLIPSE THE 2,000-POINT MARK.

>>> AND COLE SMITH IS VEGAS BOUND.

THE FORMER BRAINERD WARRIOR AND CURRENT NHL-ER WAS TRADED FROM THE NASHVILLE PREDATORS TO THE VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS ON TUESDAY NIGHT.

SMITH IS IN HIS SIXTH SEASON IN THE NHL AND IS IN THE FINAL YEAR OF HIS CONTRACT.

HE PLAYED FOUR YEARS AT UND BEFORE SIGNING WITH THE PREDATORS AS AN UNDRAFTED FREE AGENT.

VEGAS IS CURRENTLY IN FIRST PLACE IN THE PACIFIC DIVISION WHILE NASHVILLE IS FIVE POINTS OUT OF THE WILD CARD SPOT.

AND FINALLY, IF YOUR VIEWING PLEASURE, THAT WON'T BE A FULL HIGHLIGHT OF THE TIMBERWOLVES GAME, BUT THIS IS ANTHONY EDWARDS IN THE THIRD QUARTER.

.

THE R.J.

BARRETT ON A POSTER.

THAT WAS JORDAN-ESQUE.

THE WOLVES 115-107 WIN OVER THE RAPTORS.

AND I HEARD YOU LAUGHING IN THE OFFICE WHEN YOU SAW THAT ONE COME ACROSS THE TV.

>> Dennis: PRETTY IMPRESSIVE, WHAT HE CAN DO.

THEY'RE PLAYING WELL.

>> Charlie: THEY ARE, THEY ARE.

>> Dennis: THANKS, CHARLIE.

>>> EVERY YEAR LINCOLN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN BEMIDJI JOINS OTHER SCHOOLS AROUND THE NATION FOR "DROP EVERYTHING AND READ" DAY ON THE LAST FRIDAY IN FEBRUARY.

IN AN EFFORT TO ENCOURAGE STUDENTS TO READ, THE SCHOOL INVITES PARENTS TO COME IN FOR THEIR KIDS TO SPEND TIME READING ALOUD TO THEM.

FOR THIS WEEK'S GOLDEN APPLE, OUR REPORTER SYDNEY DICK STOPPED BY LAST WEEK'S READING DAY, WHICH ALSO SIGNIFIES THE END OF "I LOVE TO READ" MONTH.

>> Sydney: MANY REMEMBER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PAJAMA DAYS AS FUN, RELAXING, AND A WAY TO SPEND TIME OUT OF NORMAL ROUTINE.

LINCOLN ELEMENTARY TOOK PAJAMA DAY ONE STEP FURTHER THIS YEAR BY INVITING ALL THEIR K-3 PARENTS INTO THE SCHOOL TO SPEND THEIR AFTERNOON READING WITH THEIR COZY KIDS WITH THE PAJAMA/DROP EVERYTHING AND READ DAY.

>> AS PARENTS, MANY OF US HAVE BEEN THERE AND WE'RE LIKE WE GOT TO DO OUR READING.

BUT I'D RATHER DO THIS OR RATHER DO THAT.

AND READING IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART JUST FROM VERY LITTLE ALL THE WAY THROUGH.

SO I THINK THE MORE KIDS CAN GET EXCITED TO READ AND TO WANT TO SHARE THAT, THAT'S AN AWESOME THING.

>> Sydney: DROP EVERYTHING AND READ IS A SCHOOL-WIDE EVENT AND ALL 271 KINDERGARTEN THROUGH THIRD GRADERS ARE INVITED TO PERRY THEIR PARENTS OR GUARDIANS IN TO SHOW OFF THEIR READING SKILLS.

>> HIS KINDERGARTEN TEACHER AND I JOKED THAT HE DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO READ BECAUSE HE ALWAYS SAID HE DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO READ.

BY FIRST GRADE, HE WAS READING CHAPTER BOOKS.

>> Sydney: THE CHANGE IN READING SKILLS AND COMPREHENSION BETWEEN KINDERGARTEN AND THIRD GRADE IS DRASTIC AND WHILE STUDENTS ALL LEARN AT DIFFERENT PACES, SPENDING ONE-ON-ONE TIME WITH BOOKS CAN IMMENSELY HELP PROGRESS.

>> SINCE TECHNOLOGY HAS REALLY BECOME BIG THING IN SOCIETY, WE FIND THAT KIDS DON'T SIT IN FRONT OF BOOKS VERY MUCH ANYMORE, LIKE WHAT THEY USED TO, LIKE WHEN I WAS A KID.

SO WE'RE TRYING TO GET KIDS TO FIND THE LOVE FOR READING, THE SAME KIND OF LOVE THEY HAVE FOR READING AS THEY WOULD IF THEY WERE PLAYING A VIDEO GAME OR SOMETHING ELSE LIKE THAT.

>> Sydney: AND BY INVOLVING PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS AND GUARDIANS WITH STUDENTS READING LIVE, THE HOPE IS THEY WILL WANT TO CONTINUE ON THEIR OWN.

>> SHOWING KIDS,000 A WHOLE WORLD OF BOOK OUT THERE AND A WHOLE WORLD OF IMAGINATIONS AND IDEAS OUT THERE IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR THEM.

>> Sydney: REPORTING FROM BEMIDJI WITH THIS WEEK'S GOLDEN APPLE, I'M SYDNEY DICK, LAKELAND NEWS.

>> Dennis: LET'S HEAD BACK TO STACY.

>>.

>> Stacy: WE HAVE A WIRPT WEATHER ADVISORY IN NORTHWEST MINNESOTA TONIGHT TILL 6 P.M.

AND CENTRAL MINNESOTA FROM 3 P.M.

TOMORROW EMILY LARSON 9 P.M.

ON SUNDAY.

IT WOULD CAUSE I'M TROFL DIFFICULTIES.

FOR TONIGHT, MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH AREAS OF FOG.

WE'LL SEA THAT RAIN, DRIZZLE AND FREEZING RAIN MOVING IN WITH A LOW OF 31.

>> Charlie: HOCKEY STARTS THE MASON CUP QUARTERFINALS TOMORROW.

>> Dennis: THAT'S GOING TO DO IT FOR US.

HAVE A GREAT NIGHT EVERYBODY.

SEE YOU TOMORROW.

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