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

THE BEMIDJI SCHOOL DISTIRCT IS FACING A $3.5 MILLION PROJECTED DEFICIT FOR THE 2026-2027 SCHOOL YEAR AND IT CONSIDERING CLOSING ONE OF ITS ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS BECAUSE OF THAT.

JW SMITH ELEMENTARY WAS BUILT IN 1954 AND IS LOCATED NEAR DOWNTOWN BEMIDJI.

EARLIER THIS MONTH THE SCHOOL BOARD VOTED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PROCESS TO CLOSE THE SCHOOL.

THE DISTRICT WILL HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING ON TUESDAY MARCH 24 ON THE POSSIBLE CLOSURE BUT PRIOR TO THAT THE DISTIRCT IS NOW OFFERING A QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSION REGARDING PROPOSED PLANS FOR JW SMITH.

THAT QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSION WILL BE HELD ON TUESDAY, MARCH 17 AT 6 PM IN THE JW SMITH GYMNASIUM.

THERE WILL BE A PRESENTATION AND THEN A QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSION WILL FOLLOW.

>>> NO ONE WAS HURT IN A FIRE AT A HOME IN DEER CREEK YESTERDAY.

DEER CREEK AND HENNING FIRE DEPARTMENTS RESPONDED TO THE SCENE ON COUNTY HIGHWAY 50 IN RURAL DEER CREEK JUST BEFORE 3 YESTERDAY AFTERNOON.

THE FIRE WAS CONTAINED TO AN UPSTAIRS BEDROOM AND THERE WAS MINOR SMOKE DAMAGE TO OTHER AREAS OF THE HOME.

OTTERTAIL COUNTY OFFICIALS SAY THE FIRE IS BELIEVED TO BE NON SUSPICIOUS IN NATURE.

FIREFIGHTERS WERE ALSO CALLED TO A FIRE AT HOME IN NEW YORK MILLS EARLY THIS MORNING.

IT WAS REPORTED AROUND 4:30 AM.

RESIDENTS OF THE HOUSE WERE ABLE TO ESCAPE WITH NO INJURIES BUT THE HOME SUFFERED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE.

FIREFIGHTERS FROM NEW YORK MILLS AND PERHAM EXTINGUISHED THE BLAZE THAT APPEARED TO START IN THE GARAGE AND SPREAD TO THE HOUSE.

OFFICIALS SAY IT IS NON SUSPICIOUS IN NATURE.

>>> A THIRD “NO KINGS” RALLY IS BEING PLANNED FOR LATER THIS MONTH WITH MORE THAN 1,000 EVENTS SCHEDULED NATIONWIDE AND WITH SEVERAL PLANNED FOR THE LAKELAND VIEWING AREA.

THE NO KINGS RALLY IS DESCRIBED BY ORGANIZERS AS A PEACEFUL, LARGE SCALE MOVEMENT WHERE PEOPLE ACROSS AMERICA STAND TOGETHER TO SAY NO THRONES, NO CROWNS, NO KINGS.

AT LEAST THREE RALLY'S ARE BEING PLANNED IN THE LAKELAND AREA ON MARCH 28.

THE GROUP ITASCA AREA INDIVISIBLE IS HOSTING ONE THAT DAY AT OLD CENTRAL SCHOOL IN GRAND RAPIDS FROM 11 AM TO 12:30 PM INDIVISIBLE BEMIDJI IS HOSTING ONE FROM 1-2PM THAT DAY AT THE PAUL BUNYAN PLAZA IN DOWNTOWN BEMIDJI.

AND BRAINERD LAKES INDIVISIBLE IS PUTTING ON A RALLY THAT DAY AT 2 PM AT THE INTERSECTION OF WASHINGTON STREET AND SIXTH STREET.

ORGANIZERS SAY ALL "NO KINGS EVENTS" UPHOLD A UNIFIED DEDICATION TO PEACEFUL PROTEST AND COMMUNITY WELL-BEING.

ORGANIZERS RECEIVE DE-ESCALATION TRAINING, EACH EVENT DESIGNATES A SAFETY LEAD, AND LOCAL COORDINATION ENSURES IMPACTFUL, NONVIOLENT ACTIONS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.

>>> OVER 100 MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS FROM THE BEMIDJI AREA... WITH THE HELP OF AN ORGANIZATION FROM CENTRAL MINNESOTA... PACKED THOUSANDS OF MEALS FOR THOSE IN NEED.

OUR REPORTER, MATTHEW FREEMAN, ATTENDED THE PACKING EVENT YESTERDAY AT SAINT PHILLIPS CHURCH IN BEMIDJI... AND HAS THE TOTAL NUMBER OF MEALS THE STUDENTS ENDED UP PACKING.

>> IT GETS THE FAITH FORMATION OF THE STUDENTS AT THE CHURCH, TO FOCUS ON THE PRAYER AND GIVING.

TO PROVIDE THE TEMPORARY HUNGER RELIEF.

>> WE WANTED TO HAVE A SIGNIFICANT SERVICE PROJECT TO INVOLVE ALL OF THE STUDENTS.

WE TALKED BACK AND DONE THIS IN THE PAST, PROBABLY 15 YEARS AGO, AND WE WANTED TO BRING IT BACK, IT WAS A GREAT EVENT.

>> TO FIGHT HUNGER, IT'S AN ORGANIZATION THAT ATTEMPTS TO DELIVER THE MESSAGE WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO SERVICE WORK TO ADDRESS THE STUDENT SECURITY, TO STEP AWAY FROM OURSELVES.

>> IT PROVIDES THE UNIQUE SERVICE OPPORTUNITY TO PACKAGE THE RICE MEALS.

THEY HAVE 55 BOXES EACH FULL OF FOOD TO THE PACKING EVENT.

THEY TURPITUDE THE FOOD TO 21,000 MEALS IN 90 MINUTES.

>> THEY'RE GIVING UP THEIR TIME TO COME AND PACK, AND GIVING AWAY, AND MAKING THE MEALS TO A LOT OF PEOPLE.

>> IN 90 MINUTES, WE'LL PACK 21,000 MEALS.

MY HOPE IS TO PRAY FOR THEM.

>> THEY HOPE TO CONTINUE THE ACTIVE SERVICE IN THE COMMUNITY FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.

>> WE TALKED TO THE KIDS TO DO A LIFE SERVICE, WITH THE HOPE OF NOT ONE BIG DAY BUT THEY CONTINUE THIS THROUGHOUT THE THEIR WHOLE LIVES IN SMALL AND BIG WAYS IN THEIR HOME AND OUTSIDE OF THE COMMUNITY.

>> ALL OF THE PACKED MEALS GO TO STATE, NATIONAL, AND INTERNATIONAL LOCATIONS.

I'M MATTHEW FREEMAN, LAKELAND NEWS.

>> THE STUDENTS ACTUALLY OVERACHIEVED THEIR INITIAL GOAL OF 21,000 MEALS AND ENDED UP PACKING 23,760 MEALS IN TOTAL FOR THOSE IN NEED.

>>> THE CROW WING COUNTY LAND SERVICES DEPARTMENT IS CURRENTLY HOLDING A LAND SALE THROUGH AN ONLINE AUCTION PORTAL PARCELS ARE BEING SEPARATED DEPENDING ON SIZE LOCATION AND STARTING BID PRICE.

PARCEL TYPES CAN VARY FROM BUILDINGS TO SEASONAL USE AND RECREATIONAL PARCELS OFFERED FROM PREVIOUS AUCTIONS THAT HAVE REMAINED UNSOLD ARE ALSO AVAILABLE FOR DIRECT PURCHASE OVER THE LAND SERVICES DEPARTMENT COUNTER.

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE COME TO THE COULD YOU REPEAT ASKING FOR PROPERTIES TO BUILD ON.

THEY WANT A HOME TO SELL IN 6 MONTHS, WE HAVE MULTIPLE PROPERTIES OUT THERE.

SOME VARY IN ACREAGE, AND SOME TO GET ACCESS TO A PARCELLED LAND.

>> THE SALE ENDS AT 7 PM ON TUESDAY, MARCH 24.

ANYONE INTERESTED IN THE NEW PARCELS UP FOR SALE CAN CREATE AN ACCOUNT ON THE "PUBLIC SURPLUS" WEBSITE AND FOLLOW ALL REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS THERE.

>> WINTER IS NOT QUITE OVER YET, MORE DETAILS OF THAT IN A FEW MINUTES.

>> AND AFTER THE BREAK FOR THE GOLDEN APPLE, ONE ROBOTICS TEAM WON THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP AND >>> IT MAY DELIGHT YOU TO KNOW THERE IS SOMETHING CALLED THE WORLD CHEESE CHAMPIONSHIP.

THIS YEAR, A MINNESOTA DAIRY TOOK HOME TOP HONORS FOR A VARIETY SURE TO IGNITE YOUR CHARCUTERIE BOARD.

XAVIER WALT HAS DETAILS.

>> OFFERING CHEESE GO HERBS A VARIETY OF THE DIFFERENT CHEESE DELICACIES.

INCLUDING BUN THAT'S THE WORLD'S BEST.

THE AGED PROVELONE.

>> WE'RE EXPECTING THE ON LINE RESULTS ALL THE TIME.

WE KNOW THE CONTEST HAPPENS, AND I KNOW FROM EXPERIENCE THE RESULTS FROM THE FIRST DAY COME OUT SOMEWHERE AROUND 7 P.M.

THE NIGHT.

>> AND THOSE RESULTS, 7 DIFFERENT MEDALS IN DIFFERENT CATEGORIES, INCLUDING TWO FIRST PLACE CHEESES STRAIGHT OFF THE PRODUCTION LINE.

>> BASICALLY I PULLED IT RIGHT OFF THE PRODUCTION LINE AND I HAVE A SPECIAL CASE I PUT IT IN TO GIVE IT A NICE EVEN CYLINDER SHAPE.

THE JUDGES WANT TO SEE NOT ONLY FLAVOR AND TEXTURE, BUT A NICE PACKAGED EVEN SHAPED CHEESE.

>> IT COMES IN AN IMPORTANT TIME, THE CELEBRATING 160 YEARS.

>> TO KEEP THE PLACE GOING FOR 130 YEARS, AND WE'RE ALWAYS STRIVING TO CONTINUE TO IMPROVE ALL THE TIME.

TO GET A COUPLE OF GOLD MEDALS AND SEVEN OVERALL, IS AN AFFIRMATION WE'RE ON THE RIGHT TRACK.

>> IT'S THE LITTLE THINGS AND THE UNSUNG HEROS THAT MAKE GOOD CHEESE GREAT CHEESE.

>> IT STARTS WITH THE FARMERS AND THE QUALITY MILK WE GET FROM THE FARMERS.

OUR PATRONS ARE OWNERS AND THAT'S WHERE WE GET THE MILK FROM.

IT'S A TEAM EFFORT.

EVERYONE CARES ABOUT QUALITY HERE.

THAT'S HOW YOU MAKE CHAMPIONSHIP CHEESE.

>> THEY'LL BE BACK TO DEFEND THEIR CURRENT CROWN.

>> NOW WEATHER, AND A BIG NIGHT OF WEATHER TO TALK ABOUT.

>> YES, WE HAVE WINTER WEATHER MOVING THROUGH, >>> HI EVERYONE, AND THANKS FOR WATCHING.

TONIGHT, WE DO HAVE WINTER WEATHER MOVING THROUGH THE AREA, AND I'LL GO THROUGH THE DETAILS ABOUT THOSE IN A BIT.

BUT FIRST, CURRENTLY IN BEMIDJI, THE TEMPERATURE IS 28 DEGREES.

PEAK WINDS AT 22 MILES PER HOUR.

SIMILAR CONDITIONS IN BRAINERD WITH A LIGHT SNOW, FOG AND MIST.

33 DEGREES RIGHT NOWED AND A FALLING BAROMETER WITH GUSTS UP TO 20.

THE WINTER WEATHER MOVING THROUGH, WE HAVE A LOT GOING ON.

A FULL MAP.

THE WINTER STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT AND WILL BE IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 P.M.

TOMORROW.

THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 10 A.M.

TOMORROW AND THE HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 1 P.M.

TOMORROW, WITH THOSE -- 1 TO 6 TOTAL INCHES TONIGHT ARE POSSIBLE IN THE VIEWING AREA.

WITH THE HIGHER TOTALS IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA AND THE WIND COULD GUST UP TO 60 MILES PER HOUR TONIGHT.

BE CAREFUL TRAVELING ON THE ROADS.

THE SNOW TOTAL FORECAST THROUGH SATURDAY, NOT WHAT WE WANT TO SEE THIS TIME OF YEAR.

VERY ACTIVE RADAR, WE HAVE RAIN THAT MOVED THROUGH EARLIER, THAT TURNED TO SNOW, AND THANKS TO THE VIEWERS FOR SUBMITTING THE PHOTOS.

WITH THE SNOW TODAY, AR LEAN WITH THE MOON THIS MORNING.

DONNA IN BEMIDJI.

MOVING ALONG HERE.

11 DEGREES AT 5 A.M.. SIMILAR CONDITIONS WITH CHRISSY.

WITH A LOW OF 17, BOB IN BLUFFTON WITH MORE SNOW THIS AFTERNOON.

18 DEGREES THIS MORNING.

AND ANGELA IN CAST LAKE, AND STEPHANIE IN BRAINERD WITH WIND AND SNOW.

THANK YOU FOR SENDING THOSE IN.

AND CURRENT CONDITIONS, HIGH OF 35 TODAY, IN BRAINERD, LOW OF 13, SUNSET AT 7:18.

SIMILAR CONDITIONS IN BEMIDJI, WITH AVERAGE TEMPERATURES ON PAR TODAY, YOUR FORECAST LOOKING AHEAD HERE, THE SKIES CLEAR UP TOMORROW, AND MOVE TO SATURDAY, CLOUDY CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE, NO CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION.

THAT APPREHEND WILL CONTINUE TO SUNDAY EVENING.

TOMORROW, MID 20'S ACROSS THE BOARD, LIGHT SNOW POSSIBLE IN THE MORNING, AND CLEARING SKIES TOMORROW AROUND 30 DEGREES.

TONIGHT, WINTER CONDITIONS, SNOW AND RAIN COULD BE HEAVY AT TIME WITH THE HIGH WHIPPED AND THAT'LL -- WIND THAT'LL CONTINUE TO TOMORROW WITH THE WIND CONTINUING AND THE SNOW WILL TAPER OFF.

THE SUN WE'LL SEE TOMORROW AFTERNOON.

THE WEEKEND FORECAST, FRIDAY MORNING, ESPECIALLY IN NORTHEAST MINNESOTA, CHANCE OF SNOW AND WE'LL COOL OFF MORE AS WE MOVE TO SUNDAY WITH SNOW POSSIBLE, RETURNING GETTING COLD AND THEN SUNDAY TO MONDAY, WE'LL LOOK AT LOWER WIND CHILLS WE COULD SEE BELOW ZERO AGAIN.

BACK TO YOU.

>> SPRING IS NOT HERE YET.

THAT'S FOR SURE.

>> DEFINITIVELY NOT.

>> TOURNAMENTS USUALLY A SNOW STORM.

AND GIRLS BASKETBALL TIME.

IT MATCHES UP.

>> YEP, IT DOES.

WE STARTED, THE TOURNAMENT STARTED YESTERDAY.

THE CLASS A GIRLS STARTED TODAY.

THE FIRST TIME AT THE STATE TOURNAMENT.

IN FACT, THEY WERE TRYING TO GET THE FIRST WIN EVER AT THE STATE TOURNAMENT, WE HAVE THE HIGHLIGHTS AND MORE >>> NORTHOME-KELLIHER GIRLS BASKETBALL HAS THRIVED OFF THE STEAL AND AN UP-TEMPO OFFENSE.

LED BY THE STATE'S ALL-TIME CAREER STEALS LEADER KATE THAYER THE MUSTANGS LIKE TO FORCE TURNOVERS AND PUSH THE PACE TO THE TUNE OF 86 POINTS PER GAME WHILE HOLDING OPPONENTS TO UNDER 45.

TO WIN AT STATE THEY'D NEED TO HOLD TRUE TO THOSE NUMBERS.

>>IN THE CLASS A QUARTERFINAL FROM MATURI PAVILION IT'S 3-SEED NORTHOME-KELLIHER IN THEIR FIRST EVER STATE TOURNAMENT GAME TAKING ON 6-SEED CENTRAL MINNESOTA CHRISTIAN.

EARLY FIRST HALF...MUSTANGS LOOKED THEIR TYPICAL SELVES FROM DOWNTOWN...THAYER... CASH FROM THREE...TO GIVE THEM A 13-8 LEAD.

CMC WOULD GO ON A 16-0 RUN THOUGH BEFORE KYLEE BINKLEY WOULD STOP THE BLEEDING WITH A CORNER TREY SHE HAD 17 POINTS BUT MUSTANGS STILL TRAIL 24-16.

LATER IN THE FIRST KIYA BUENTENMEIER PULLS THE MUSTANGS TO WITHIN TWO SHE SCORED IN DOUBLE DIGITS 10 POINTS BUT THE BLUE JAYS LED 45-37 AT THE BREAK.

SECOND HALF IF YOU NEED A WAY BACK IN YOURE GOING TO LOOK TO THAYER SHE HAD A TRIPLE-DOUBLE...12-STEALS 11- REBOUNDS AND 29-POINTS.

BUT CENTRAL MINNESOTA CHRISTIAN CAME TO PLAY AND THEN SOME SIENNA DUNNICK CERTIFIED BUCKET GETTER ALL GAME LONG SHE PUT UP A 30 PIECE.

SCORE AS NORTHOME-KELLIHER FALLS TO CMC 82-69.

THE MUSTANGS CAME IN SHOOTING JUST SHY OF 50% FROM THE FIELD BUT TONIGHT ONLY MANAGED TO SHOOT 32.8% UNCHARACTERISTIC OF THE HIGH SCORING OFFENSE.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - .

>>> PARK RAPID'S PARA-SKIER AND >> WE PLAYED TOUGH RIGHT AWAY AND STARTED QUICK, AND MAKE A LOT OF SHOTS.

AND GOT DOWN BY 12, 13 POINTS, AND SEEMED THAT WAS HARD TO COME BACK.

THE PEOPLE THAT COME HERE, DRIVE DOWN AND SEE US PLAY, AND WE HAVE MORE FANS HERE TONIGHT THAN THE BIGGER SCHOOLS.

WE'RE SUPER PROUD.

>> IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY HERE, AND YEAH, WE CAME OUT SHORT, BUT STILL GREAT.

>> THE TIME AT STATE IS NOT OVER YET, THEY HAVE THE SEMIFINALS TOMORROW, AGAINST -- IF THEY WIN THAT ONE, THEY'LL PLAY SATURDAY.

>> TIED FOR SECOND, IN THE NHL WITH THE TAECHLTS, AND SPEAKING OF THE THRILL, LATER IN THE PERIOD.

GIVE THE WILD THE LEADING NOD.

38 GOALS THIS SEASON.

EARLY IN THE THIRD.

THE FLYERS SHORT HANDED, KNOT THE GAME AT 2.

WISHING HE HAD THAT ONE BACK, ESPECIALLY THE WILD GOES ON TO LOSE IN A SHOOTOUT, AND GET A POINT AND LOSE GROUND TO DALLAS, AND MORE THAN LIKELY COLORADO.

>>> THE MEN'S HOCKEY, SENIOR SIGNED A CONTRACT TO CONTINUE HIS HOCKEY CAREER.

THE FORWARD TRANSFERRED AFTER HIS SOPHOMORE YEAR IN TWO SEASONS WITH THE INTERVAL START.

HOW HE CAN DO >> GET A MEDAL.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> THANKS.

>>> FOR THE FIRST TIME IN BEMIDJI “FIRST LEGO LEAGUE ROBOTICS” PROGRAM HISTORY THEY ARE SENDING A TEAM TO THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP.

THIS YEAR, THREE OF BEMIDJI'S LEGO LEAGUE TEAMS MADE IT TO THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP AND ONE TEAM WON IT ALL WITH STUDENTS FROM FOURTH TO EIGHTH GRADE.

FOR THIS WEEK'S GOLDEN APPLE, OUR REPORTER SYDNEY DICK CAUGHT UP WITH “JUST A LITTLE DUSTY” TEAM MEMBERS TO HEAR ABOUT WHAT THEY HAVE DONE THROUGHOUT THE SEASON TO CONTINUE TO WIN.

>> THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THEY MADE IT TO THE WORLD STAGE.

THAT'LL BE COMPETING IN TEXAS, WITH ONE OF TWO LEGO TEAMS WORLDWIDE.

>> IT FELT REALLY GOOD, WE'VE BEEN WORKING REALLY HARD FOR IT, AND WE DESERVED IT.

>> IT'S A LOT OF HARD WORK DOING DIFFERENT THINGS WITH ROBOTS AND PROJECT, WE HAVE ON TO CONTRIBUTE A LOT, AND DESIGN DIFFERENT THINGS.

>> THIS YEAR'S FIRST PROJECT WAS TO CREATE SOMETHING THAT WOULD MAKE AN ARCHAEOLOGIST'S LIFE EASIER.

AND THEY TOOK INSPIRATION FROM SMOKEY THE BEAR.

>> WE TALKED TO A LOCAL ARCHAEOLOGIST AND HE SAID, RAISING AWARENESS.

THE MAFBLTH, THE FIRST -- MASCOT, WE HAVE A WEBSITE AND GAME AND BROCHURES.

>> MOVING DUST FROM THE ARTIFACTS, SOMETIMES THERE'S BIG -- WE NEED A HAMMER, AND SOMETIMES THE SMALLER ONES, ALL YOU NEED IS A BRUSH TO MAKE SURE IT -- THE DISCOVERY.

>> THERE'S MORE THAN 400 TEAMS COMPETING IN MINNESOTA THIS YEAR, AND DUSTY CAME OUT AS NUMBER ONE OVERALL.

CREATING A -- WITH THE ROBOT, TO FINISH THE TASK, THE TEAM'S INNOVATION PROJECT SET THEM APART.

ALONG WITH THE DUSTY SWAG AND COLORING BOOKS, THEY CREATED A FULLY FUNCTIONING ARCADE AND WEBSITE.

AND TO TEACH PEOPLE ARCHAEOLOGY FACTS AS THEY GO.

>> WE'RE TRYING TO CONTACT THE GOVERNMENT TO SPREAD IT MORE.

MY FAVORITE PART IS WE ACTUALLY MAKE A REAL IMPACT ON THE WORLD AND THE STUFF WE CREATED IS ACTUALLY OUT THERE.

>> THE TEAM WILL BE TRAVELING DOWN TO HOUSTON, TEXAS FOR THEIR NEXT COMPETITION WHERE THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP WILL TAKE PLACE FROM APRIL 29 TO MAY 2.

>>> WHIPPED TO WANT UP TO 6 -- TONIGHT UP TO 60 MILES PER HOUR.

AND 1 TO 6 INCHES POSSIBLE.

IT'LL BE WINTER, BE CAREFUL OUT THERE.

>> AND THE MINNESOTA -- SIGNED MURRAY.

AND THE VIKINGS GOT HIM FOR THE LEAGUE MINIMUM, GOOD TO SEE HIM COMPETE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THAT'LL DO IT FOR US, HAVE A GREAT NIGHT, SEE YOU TOMORROW.

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