CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY AV CAPTIONING www.avcaptioning.com >> Announcer: PRODUCTION FUNDING FOR LAKELAND NEWS IS PROVIDED BY FIRST NATIONAL BANK BEMIDJI, CONTINUING THEIR SECOND CENTURY OF SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY.

MEMBER, FDIC.

SOURCEWELL, BOOSTING STUDENT AND COMMUNITY SUCCESS RIGHT HERE IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA.

MN.SOURCEWELL.ORG.

>> 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 CROW WING COUNTY JUDGE HAS FOUND A 34-YEAR-OLD CROSSLAKE WOMAN GUILTY ON ALL 11 CHARGES IN A CHILD TORTURE MEDICAID FRAUD CASE.

THE TRIAL OF JORDEN BORDERS HAS TAKEN PLACE OVER THE PAST THREE AND A HALF WEEKS AND A TODAY SHE IS FOUND GUILTY OF ONE COUNT OF ATTEMPTED MURDER, THREE COUNTS OF CHILD TORTURE, THREE COUNTS OF STALKING AND FOUR COUNTS OF THEFT BY FALSE REPRESENTATION.

AS PROVEN AT TRIAL, SHE PHYSICALLY AND EMOTIONALLY ABUSED HER THREE MINOR CHILDREN FOR MORE THAN FIVE YEARS.

THE ACTS WERE ENGAGING IN MEDICAL CHILD ABUSE BY PERFORMING SPECIFIC ACTS AGAINST HER CHILDREN THAT LED THEM TO PRESENTING WITH FALSE MEDICAL CONDITIONS TO THEIR MEDICAL PROVIDERS.

THIS INCLUDES BORDERS FORCIBLY WITHDRAWING BLOOD FROM HER 9-YEAR-OLD CHILD PRIOR TO HER DOCTOR'S VISITS.

THE CHILD WAS PRESENTED WHERE HE WAS OBSERVED AS HAVING DANGEROUSLY LOW HEMOGLOBIN LEVELS.

SHE ALSO SELF-DIAGNOSED HER CHILDREN WITH OTHER DISEASES, INCLUDING BRITTLE BONE DISEASE AND FORCED HER CHILDREN TO WEAR BOOTS, CASTS, AND NECK BRACES EVEN THOUGH THEY DIDN'T HAVE IDENTIFIED FRACTURES OR DIAGNOSED INJURIES.

ONE CHILD WAS DETERMINED TO HAVE BEEN IN A CAST FOR NEARLY TWO YEARS AND TWO MONTHS OF HIS LIFE, DESPITE HAVING ONLY TWO CONFIRMED INJURIES BY MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS.

THE CASE PROSECUTED BY THE MINNESOTA ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE AT THE REQUEST OF CROW WING COUNTY ATTORNEY DON RYAN.

BORDERS HELD WITHOUT BAIL AND SET A SENTENCING DATE OF AUGUST 7th.

PRIOR TO SENTENCING, THE COURT WILL ISSUE AN ORDER ON AGGRAVATING FACTORS.

BORDERS' PARENTAL RIGHTS TO THE THREE CHILDREN HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN TERMINATED.

>>> A FIRE BROKE OUT AT A MULTI-USE BUILDING IN DOWNTOWN BRAINERD TODAY.

FIREFIGHTERS RESPONDED TO THE 600 BLOCK OF FRONT STREET AROUND 11 THIS MORNING ON A REPORT OF SMOKE IN THE APARTMENTS ABOVE THE FRONT STREET CAFE.

UPON ARRIVAL, CREWS DISCOVERED SMOKE DAMAGE IN THE SECOND FLOOR UNITS AS WELL AS SMOKE GATHERING IN THE ATTIC.

CREWS FOUGHT THE BLAZE FOR NEARLY THREE HOURS WITH THE HELP OF MULTIPLE FIRE DEPARTMENTS FROM AROUND THE AREA.

BRAINERD FIRE CHIEF TIM HOLMES SAYS THEY HAVE NOT YET DETERMINED THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE.

>> Holmes: THEY WERE REPORTING SMOKE IN ONE OF THE APARTMENTS.

WHEN WE ARRIVED, WE HAD A CREW GO TO THE SECOND FLOOR, FOUND SMOKE CONDITIONS IN THE SECOND FLOOR AND THEN IT APPEARED LIKE THE FIRE WAS BUILDING IN THE ATTIC SPACE AREA.

>> Dennis: THE RED CROSS IS WORKING WITH DISPLACED RESIDENTS, ACCORDING TO CHIEF HOLMES, TO ENSURE THEY HAVE A PLACE TO STAY WHILE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE IS DETERMINED AND THE BUILDING IS REPAIRED.

>>> A MAJOR CONSTRUCTION PROJECT AT BEMIDJI STATE'S ENTRANCE HAS BEEN CATCHING EYES OVER THE PAST WEEK AS A GIANT DIRT PILE HAS BEEN GROWING BY THE DAY, NOW NEARLY AS TALL AS THE LIGHTS AT THE BASEBALL FIELD IT IS NEXT TO.

THE PILE IS THE RESULT OF THE INSTALLATION OF A NEW STORMWATER INFILTRATION SYSTEM.

BSU, THE CITY OF BEMIDJI, AND THE BELTRAMI SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT HAVE TEAMED UP ON THE HALF-A-MILLION-DOLLAR ENDEAVOR THAT WILL BE REDIRECTING UP TO SEVERAL INCHES OF RAINWATER AWAY FROM LAKE BEMIDJI.

THE GOAL OF THE PROJECT IS TO CREATE A BETTER LIVING ENVIRONMENT FOR THE AREA'S AQUATIC PLANTS AND WILDLIFE.

>> WHAT IT DOES IS IT TAKES ALL OF THE ADJACENT STORMWATER FROM ALL OF THE ROADS, PARKING LOTS, SIDEWALKS, AND CURRENTLY IS GOING DOWN A PIPE TO LAKE BEMIDJI.

AND IT WILL BE DISPERSED DOWN INTO THE GROUND.

>> THE DESIGN FOR THIS PROJECT IS DESIGNED TO REDUCE ABOUT 60 POUNDS OF PHOSPHORUS A YEAR FROM ENTERING LAKE BEMIDJI, WHICH IS ABOUT 25% OF OUR 10-YEAR GOAL.

>> Dennis: THE CONSTRUCTION WILL DISPLACE 224,000 CUBIC FEET OF DIRT FROM A 200 BY 80-FOOT HOLE THAT'S 14 FEET DEEP.

THE NEW DRAINAGE AND FILTRATION SYSTEMS ARE ENTIRELY UNDERGROUND, SO ONCE THE PROJECT IS FINISHED, THE BSU FIELD WILL GO BACK TO LOOKING LIKE IT PREVIOUSLY DID.

>> THERE'S A PIPE THAT DRAINS THIS 92 ACRES.

IT COLLECTS IN CURB AND GUTTERS AND GOES INTO A STORMWATER PIPE, AND THAT PIPE ACTUALLY CONVEYS THE STORMWATER OUT INTO LAKE BEMIDJI, SO IT GOES UNDERNEATH THE BUILDINGS ON BSU'S CAMPUS HERE AND GOES OUT TO THAT END POINT PARK.

WHAT WE'RE DOING IS INTERCEPTING THAT PIPE, INSTALLING THIS UNDERGROUND INFILTRATION SYSTEM AND THE OVERFLOW WILL ENTER THE SAME TYPING SYSTEM AND CONTINUE TO DIAMOND POINT.

>> Dennis: THE PROJECT IS SET TO BE FINISHED NEAR THE END OF JUNE.

>>> PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP ISSUED A TRAVEL BAN TO THE U.S. FROM A DOZEN COUNTRIES WEDNESDAY.

THEY INCLUDE MUSLIM NATIONS LIKE LIBYA, SUDAN, YEMEN, AFGHANISTAN, AND IRAN.

BUT ALSO OTHERS, LIKE THE MOSTLY BUDDHIST MYANMAR AND MAJORITY CHRISTIAN REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO AND HAITI.

TRUMP SAYS THE BAN IS FUELED BY SECURITY CONCERNS.

>> Trump: THE RECENT ATTACK IN BOULDER, COLORADO, HAS UNDERSCORED THE EXTREME DANGERS POSED TO OUR COUNTRY BY THE ENTRY OF FOREIGN NATIONALS WHO ARE NOT PROPERLY VETTED AS WELL AS THOSE WHO COME HERE AS TEMPORARY VISITORS AND OVERSTAY THEIR VISAS.

WE DON'T WANT 'EM.

>> Dennis: TRUMP'S NEW TRAVEL BAN ALSO INCLUDES PARTIAL RESTRICTIONS FOR THOSE FROM SEVEN ADDITIONAL COUNTRIES.

THE BAN DOESN'T APPLY TO PERMANENT RESIDENTS OF THE U.S. OR TRAVELERS WITH EXISTING VISAS.

>>> THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY IS ALERTING MINNESOTANS TO BE AWARE OF FAKE MESSAGES CLAIMING TO BE FROM THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES, OR DPSMN, AND REQUESTING PAYMENT.

THESE WIDESPREAD MESSAGES ARE CREATING ALARM AMONG RESIDENTS BY MAKING FALSE CLAIMS AND REQUESTING PAYMENT FOR FALSE TRAFFIC TICKETS AND THREATENING ACTION IF THE RECIPIENT DOESN'T PAY.

SOME MINNESOTANS REPORT RECEIVING MULTIPLE MESSAGES IN A ROW, EACH ONE INCREASING IN THREATENING LANGUAGE TO PRESSURE THEM INTO PAYING.

DPS URGES RESIDENTS NOT TO OPEN ANY LINKS REQUESTING PAYMENT IN A TEXT MESSAGE TO AVOID PERSONAL INFORMATION BEING STOLEN.

DPS AND ITS DRIVER AND VEHICLE SERVICES DIVISION WILL NEVER SEND TEXTS ABOUT OUTSTANDING TRAFFIC TICKETS AND WILL NEVER REQUEST PAYMENT THROUGH A TEXT.

>>> THE WHITE HOUSE HAS OFFICIALLY ASKED CONGRESS TO CLAW BACK $9.4 BILLION IN ALREADY APPROVED SPENDING.

THE PROCESS KNOWN AS RESCISSION WOULD TAKE FUNDING AWAY FROM PROGRAMS TARGETED BY ELON MUSK'S DEPARTMENT OF GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY.

IT REQUIRES THE APPROVAL FROM CONGRESS TO RETURN MONEY THAT HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN APPROPRIATED.

CONGRESS WOULD NEED TO ACT ON THE REQUEST WITHIN 45 DAYS OF YESTERDAY, WHICH IS WHEN IT WAS SUBMITTED.

AMONG THE MONEY IT LOOKS TO TAKE BACK INCLUDES $1.1 BILLION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS BEGINNING IN OCTOBER.

THAT FUNDING WAS APPROVED BY CONGRESS WITH BIPARTISAN SUPPORT THIS SPRING AND SIGNED INTO LAW BY THE PRESIDENT THEN.

IT WOULD ALSO CUT NEARLY $9 MILLION FOR THE U.S. PRESIDENT'S EMERGENCY PLAN FOR AIDS RELIEF, ALSO KNOWN AS PEPFAR, WHICH BEGAN WITH PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH IN 2003 AND IS CONSIDERED BY MANY TO BE HIS GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT AS PRESIDENT.

PEPFAR DISTRIBUTES HIV-AIDS DRUGS TO PEOPLE IN POOR COUNTRIES WHO WOULDN'T OTHERWISE HAVE ACCESS TO THEM.

ACCORDING TO GOVERNMENT ESTIMATES, AS OF 2023 IT HAD SAVED 25 MILLION LIVES.

THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE ESTIMATES THE GOVERNMENT IS ON TRACK TO SPEND ROUGHLY $7 TRILLION THIS YEAR, WITH THE RESCISSION REQUEST EQUALING JUST 0.1% OF THAT TOTAL.

>> Announcer: STILL TO COME ON LAKELAND NEWS AT 10: >> Stacy: WE'LL SEE SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS STARTING TOMORROW AFTERNOON AND FRIDAY WITH WIDESPREAD CHANCES OF SHOWERS AS WE HEAD INTO THE WEEKEND.

I'LL HAVE YOUR FORECAST IN A FEW MINUTES.

>> Matthew: AND COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK, THE BEMIDJI HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION WILL BE CELEBRATING BEMIDJI'S FIRST 100-YEAR-OLD BUILDING.

>> Announcer: THIS PORTION OF LAKELAND NEWS IS SPONSORED BY CTC: INTERNET, PHONE AND TV.

CTC, CONNECTING THE COMMUNITY, ONLINE AT GOCTC.COM.

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

>> Dennis: A BIT OF HISTORY WILL BE RECOGNIZED AND HONORED IN BEMIDJI, CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF ONE OF BEMIDJI'S MAJOR LANDMARKS.

ON MONDAY AT THE BEMIDJI CITY COUNCIL MEETING, REPRESENTATIVES OF THE BEMIDJI HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION WENT BEFORE THE COUNCIL TO INVITE THEM TO THE COMMISSION'S FIRST CEREMONY RECOGNIZING THE BUILDING HOUSING THE NORTHWEST MINNESOTA FOUNDATION.

ALONG WITH THAT BUILDING IN DOWNTOWN BEMIDJI, THREE HOUSES WITHIN THE CITY HAVE ALSO REACHED THAT MILESTONE.

>> 202 THIRD STREET, 217 THIRD STREET, AND 219 THIRD STREET.

A LOT OF THEM WERE IN THE FAMILY FOR MANY YEARS.

202 WAS ORIGINALLY IN 1897 OWNED BY WILLIAM AND ELLA BAUER.

>> Dennis: KEVIN JOHNSON OF MY-BEMIDJI DESIGNED DECALS THAT WILL BE PLACED INSIDE EACH OF THE FOUR BUILDINGS.

WHILE PRESENTING TO THE COUNCIL, LEMMER COULDN'T HELP BUT REFLECT ON SOME OF HER PAST AND HOW ONE OF THE BUILDINGS IMPACTED HER LIFE.

>> EVERYBODY'S EXCITED THAT WE DO HAVE BUILDINGS IN THIS COMMUNITY THAT HAVE HISTORIES, THAT HAVE GROWN WITH OUR CITY.

I WANT TO TALK ABOUT ONE OF THOSE BUILDINGS, WHEN I WORKED AT THE LIQUOR STORE, WE'D GO OVER THERE FOR SUPPER.

TERRIFIC BUILDING AND THE FAMILY WAS A WONDERFUL FAMILY.

>> Dennis: THE CEREMONY CELEBRATING EACH OF THE BUILDINGS REACHING THIS 100-YEAR-OLD MILESTONE WILL BE HELD ON JUNE 11th AT 12:30 P.M. AT THE NORTHWEST MINNESOTA FOUNDATION BUILDING.

>>> THE LAKELAND PBS VACATION GIVEAWAY IS BACK AGAIN THIS SUMMER.

WE ARE AGAIN GIVING AWAY A THREE-NIGHT STAY AT CRAGUN'S RESORT NEAR BRAINERD.

TO REGISTER YOU NEED TO SEND US A POSTCARD WITH YOUR NAME, ADDRESS, AND PHONE NUMBER ON IT AND THEN WATCH LAKELAND NEWS TO SEE IF YOUR NAME IS DRAWN.

IF YOU SEE YOUR NAME ANNOUNCED, YOU CAN THEN QUALIFY BY CALLING US ON THE CRUISE HOTLINE NUMBER BEFORE 5 P.M.

THE NEXT BUSINESS DAY.

WE DO THIS EVERY WEEK NIGHT THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER.

HERE ARE OUR FIVE POTENTIAL QUALIFIERS FOR THE 2025 VACATION CONTEST.

IF YOU SEE YOUR NAME, CALL THE NUMBER ON THE SCREEN BEFORE THE END OF THE NEXT BUSINESS DAY AND YOU'LL HAVE A SHOT AT BEING OUR 2025 CRAGUN'S VACATION GRAND PRIZE WINNER, WHICH WE WILL ANNOUNCE IN A LIVE DRAWING ON MONDAY, AUGUST 25th ON THAT NEWSCAST.

YOU NEED TO CALL US BY THURSDAY TO GET IN THAT DRAWING.

STACY IS HERE NOW WITH THE WEATHER.

>> Stacy: YES, A WE'VE BEEN SEEING SOME SUNSHINE TODAY.

WE'VE BEEN SEEING CLEARER AIR.

WE'VE HAD A LOT OF SMOKE CLEARING OUT, BUT WE HAD A FEW SCATTERED SHOWERS THIS AFTERNOON.

WE'LL BE SEEING MORE SCATTERED SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY OVER THE NEXT COUPLE DAYS, MORE WIDESPREAD >> Announcer: CLOSED CAPTIONING IS SPONSORED IN PART BY THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACCESS 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 BY WIDSETH.

ARCHITECTS, ENGINEERS, ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTISTS, LAND SURVEYORS, SERVING MINNESOTA COMMUNITIES SINCE 1975.

>>> AND NOW THE WEATHER WITH STACY CHRISTENSON.

>> Stacy: WE ONCE AGAIN HAD SOME SUNSHINE TODAY, BUT A FEW POP-UP SHOWERS DID DEVELOP THIS AFTERNOON AND THIS EVENING AND LINGERING SHOWERS WILL BE DISSIPATING OVERNIGHT.

IT LOOKS PRETTY QUIET THROUGH AT LEAST THE START OF THE DAY TOMORROW.

AGAIN, WE COULD BE SEEING SOME POP-UP SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS STARTING TOMORROW AFTERNOON.

THOSE CONTINUE INTO FRIDAY AND A COLD FRONT MOVED IN THIS WEEKEND WHICH BRINGS US A BETTER CHANCE OF MORE WIDESPREAD SHOWER ACTIVITY, ESPECIALLY ON SATURDAY.

RIGHT NOW, BEMIDJI, IT IS 65 DEGREES AT THE AIRPORT, WINDS CALM AT OUR STUDIO, THE DEWPOINT IS 45 AND HMENT IS AT 47 -- HUMANITY IS AT 47%.

IN BRAINERD, WE HAVE MOSTLY CLOUDY SKIES, 67 DEGREES, 43 IS THE DEWPOINT, PRESSURE IS RISING AND WINDS ARE EAST AT 5 MILES PER HOUR.

ON THE SATELLITE AND RADAR, YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THE CLOUDS.

WE CAN ALSO SEE THE SCATTERED SHOWERS, EVEN A THUNDERSTORM OR TWO THAT DEVELOPED THIS AFTERNOON AND THIS EVENING.

THEY'RE ALREADY STARTING TO DISSIPATE AND ANY THAT ARE LINGERING WILL BE COMING TO AN END OVERNIGHT TONIGHT.

WE SHOULD HAVE VARIABLE CLOUDS OVERNIGHT TONIGHT.

HEADING INTO TOMORROW, AGAIN, HAVE SOME MORE SUNSHINE.

HEADING INTO MAINLY THE AMPLE, THERE ARE MORE CHANCES OF SHOWERS AND POSSIBLY SOME THUNDERSTORMS.

TONIGHT, ARLENE SENDING US THIS PHOTO OF THE BEAUTIFUL COLORS IN THE SKY THIS MORNING IN MENAHGA.

WENDY SPOTTING THESE YELLOW LADY SLIPPERS NEAR STUMP LAKE AND THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.

GARY WITH SOME FUZZY DAN HE DID LIONS THERE.

JOAN WITH A VISITOR TO THE YARD IN LAPORTE.

FOR THIS EVENING, BEAUTIFUL SUNSETS FROM ANGELA IN CASS LAKE, AND SARAH AT LAKE EDWARDS.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR FIRST WITH US TONIGHT.

EAGLE EYES REPORTS, ARLENE, 45 AND CALM THIS MORNING.

BOB IN BLUFFTON, PARTLY NI WITH A HIGH OF 72.

ARE A MEAN LONGVILLE, ALSO A HIGH OF 72.

ANGELA AT CASS LAKE, MOSTLY CLEAR AND THE HIGH AT 72.

IN THE ALMANAC, BRAINERD A HIGH TODAY OF 75.

OUR AVERAGE IS 74 AND WE HAD A LOW EARLY ON TODAY OF 41.

BEMIDJI TODAY, A VERY SIMILAR HIGH TEMPERATURE.

WE TOPPED OUT AT 74.

A COUPLE OF DEGREES ABOVE THE AVERAGE, AND OUR LOW WAS ALSO AT 41.

HERE'S A LOOK AT THE FORECAST TOMORROW.

WE MAY HAVE SOME AREAS OF CLOUDS MIXED IN WITH THE SUNSHINE TOMORROW.

MAYBE EVEN A FEW SPOTTY SHOWERS, BUT AS WE HEAD THROUGH THE DAY, WE'LL DEFINITELY SEE THOSE BECOME MORE LIKELY AS WE HEAD INTO THE AFTERNOON.

STILL LOOKING AT ABOUT A 20 TO 40% CHANCE.

HIGH TEMPERATURES IN THE LOW TO MID 70s IN THE NORTHERN HALF OF OUR VIEWING AREA.

WE COULD BE SEEING SOME MID TO POSSIBLY UPPER 70s IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA.

TONIGHT, 46 INCORPORATE LOW, VARIABLE WINDS UP TO 15 MILES PER HOUR AND PART HI TO MOSTLY SUNNY TODAY, THOUGH AGAIN WE COULD SEE AFTERNOON SHOWERS AND EVEN EVENING THUNDERSTORMS.

HIGH OF 75.

LOOKING AT OUR WEEKEND FORECAST, THERE'S A CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ON FRIDAY AND ON SATURDAY.

THAT COLD FRONT MOVES THROUGH AND SO WE'LL HAVE THAT GOOD CHANCE OF THAT RAIN SHOWER ACTIVITY AS IT MOVES THROUGH, AND THEN TEMPERATURES WILL BE A LITTLE BIT COOLER EARLY NEXT WEEK.

BACK TO YOU.

>> Dennis: ALL RIGHT.

CHARLIE IS HERE NOW.

STATE SOFTBALL IS GOING ON AND SECTION BASEBALL AS WELL.

>> Charlie: YEAH, A LITTLE BIT OF BOTH TODAY.

WE HAD SECTION SEASONABLE IN MANKATO AND A SECTION CHAMPIONSHIP TONIGHT.

IT WAS GRAND RAPIDS GOING FOR THEIR FIFTH STRAIGHT SECTION TITLE.

THEY WERE TAKING ON HERMANTOWN.

WE'LL >> Announcer: SPORTS ON LAKELAND NEWS IS SPONSORED IN PART BY PAUL BUNYAN COMMUNICATIONS, CELEBRATING TEN YEARS OF THE GIGAZONE, THE ALL-FIBEROPTIC NETWORK THAT TRANSFORMS HOW WE LIVE AND WORK.

>>> HEALTH MINUTE IS SPONSORED BY EMPLOYEE OWNED LUKE KEN'S VILLAGE FOODS.

MORE INFO AT LUEKEN'S.COM.

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

>> Charlie: RECORDS ARE MADE TO BE BROKEN, BUT AT THIS POINT, GRAND RAPIDS BASEBALL WOULD JUST BE BREAKING THEIR OWN RECORD.

THE THUNDERHAWKS HAVE BEEN TO THE STATE BASEBALL TOURNAMENT A RECORD 22 TIMES AND WITH A WIN TODAY, WOULD EXTEND THAT RECORD TO 23.

RAPIDS TAKING ON HERMANTOWN IN THE SECTION 3-A CHAMPIONSHIP.

TRYING TO WIN THEIR FIFTH CONSECUTIVE TITLE.

BOTTOM THREE, BASES LOADED, AND THEY GO INSTALL BALL.

SUICIDE SQUEEZE, JOE DICK BEATS THE THROW AND IT'S 3-1 RAPIDS, BUT THEY WEREN'T DONE YET.

TWO BATTERS LATER, JONES WITH THE BASES YOKED.

INTO THE ALI, A BASES CLEARING TRIPLE FOR THE SENIOR CAPTAIN.

YOU THINK HE'S EXCITED?

YEAH.

THUNDERHAWKS LED 8-1.

BOTTOM SIX, 11-2, RAPIDS COULD END IT WITH ONE MORE RUN.

JONES AGAIN, THREE FOR FIVE WITH FOUR RBIs, WALKS IT OFF AND GETS A BAT FOR HIS EFFORTS.

GRAND RAPIDS HOISTS THE SECTION TROPHY FOR A FIFTY OF THE STRAIGHT YEAR, 12-2 THE FINAL.

THUNDERHAWKS PERFECT IN THIS YEAR'S SECTION TOURNEY GOING 3-0.

NOT ALWAYS PERFECT ON THE FIELD, BUT THEY FOUND A WAY TO GET IT DONE.

>> FEELS AMAZING.

GOING TO STATE EVERY YEAR OF MY HIGH SCHOOL CAREER IS SOMETHING I'VE DREAMED OF AND IT'S BEEN AWESOME.

WHEN WE START MAKING ERRORS AND LOSING A LITTLE BIT, WE HAVE A LOT OF KIDS ON THE TEAM THAT ARE GOOD AT CALMING THE TEAM DOWN AND WE SLOW IT DOWN.

>> IT WILL BE THE FOURTH YEAR WE PLAYED IN IT AND HOPEFULLY WE GET FURTHER THAN LAST YEAR.

>> GOT THE ENERGY WE GOT AND GOT THE PING, SO IF WE CAN PLAY OUR GAME, WE CAN GET FURTHER IN.

>> PRETTY CRAZY, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IT'S EXPECTED OF THIS PROGRAM, WHICH IS WHAT MAKES IT REALLY GREAT.

>> WE HAVE A LOT OF GRIT AND RESILIENCE ON OUR TEAM, SO THAT'S BEEN A HUGE FACTOR FOR US ALL SEASON.

>> Charlie: SO A HALF DECADE OF DOMINANCE FOR GRAND RAPIDS.

YOU CAN SEE THEY WON THE SECTION TITLE LAST FIVE YEARS.

STATE RUNNER UP THAT FIRST YEAR AND TWO FOURTH PLACES A THIRD PLACE LAST YEAR.

THIS YEAR, WE'LL SEE WHAT THEY DO.

THEY START NEXT WEDNESDAY AND THEY'LL BE PLAYING DOWN IN JORDAN.

>>> A COUPLE HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL SCORES, ROYALTON AND ALBANY AND WE HAVE THE ALBANY-ST.

CLOUD CATHEDRAL SCORE AND THAT'S IMPORTANT.

ALBANY IS WHO PIERZ IS PLAYING TOMORROW.

>>> WELL, AFTER POSTPONEMENTS AND THEN CANCELLATIONS YESTERDAY DUE TO THE RAIN, THE STATE SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT IN MANKATO FINALLY GOT UNDERWAY AT 8:30 A.M.

THIS MORNING WITH THE CLASS 4-A BRACKET.

5-SEED BRAINERD BACK AT THE STATE TOURNEY FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2022 WHEN THEY FINISHED AS RUNNER-UP.

THEY'RE TAKING ON 4-SEED BLOOMINGTON JEFFERSON IN THE QUARTERFINALS.

TOP 3, BRAINERD TRAILING 1-ZIP.

MYA TAUTGES PARKS ONE OVER THE FENCE, HER 10th HOMER OF THE SEASON, TIES THE GAME AT ONE.

SHE WAS DOMINATING IN THE CIRCLE AS WELL, STRIKING OUT SEVEN JAGUARS AND ONLY ALLOWING THREE HITS FOR THE GAME.

BUT IN THE BOTTOM OF THE 7th, SAME SCORE WITH TWO OUTS AND A RUNNER IN SCORING POSITION, HERE'S ONE OF THE HITS.

GRACE ROLEK BREAKS THE HEARTS OF BRAINERD NATION.

JAGS WALK OFF THE WARRIORS 2-1.

BRAINERD WOULD LATER PLAY IN THE CONSOLATION SEMIFINAL WHERE THEY'D FALL TO EDINA IN ANOTHER NAIL BITER.

1-0 THE FINAL IN NINE INNINGS.

>>> BLACKDUCK SOFTBALL MAKING THEIR FIRST STATE TOURNAMENT APPEARANCE FOR THEIR SCHOOL IN ANY GIRLS SPORT.

THEY COME IN AS THE 8-SEED TAKING ON TOP SEED UNITED SOUTH CENTRAL.

AND ANNA SWEDBERG WAS PUTTING IN WORK FOR THE DRAKES.

SHE STRUCK OUT SEVEN REBELS IN THE CIRCLE, DOING HER BEST TO KEEP BLACKDUCK IN IT.

BUT USC WAS JUST TOO MUCH TO HANDLE.

ALIVIA BRIGG-GUR'S HOME RUN IN THE 5th MAKES IT 12-0 TO END THE GAME.

BLACKDUCK COULD STILL GET THEIR FIRST TOURNAMENT WIN TODAY.

THEY'RE CURRENTLY FACING WABASSO IN THE CONSOLATION SEMIFINAL.

THAT GAME DIDN'T START TILL 9:00 TONIGHT BECAUSE THAT'S HOW BACKED UP THEY WERE WITH ALL THE DOUBLE HEADERS THEY HAD TO PLAY TODAY.

>> Dennis: THANKS, CHARLIE.

>>> TICK-BORNE DISEASE CASES ARE ON THE RISE IN THE U.S.

ACCORDING TO CDC DATA, THE NUMBER OF THESE ILLNESSES REPORTED EACH YEAR HAS QUADRUPLED OVER THE PAST TWO DECADES, AND EXPERTS BELIEVE MANY MORE CASES ARE NOT BEING REPORTED.

IN TODAY'S HEALTH MINUTE, MANDY GAITHER HAS MORE ON WHY WE MAY BE SEEING MORE TICK-BORNE ILLNESSES AND EXPLAINS HOW TO PROTECT AGAINST TICKS.

>> Mandy: THEY'RE A GROWING THREAT, TICK-BORNE ILLNESSES ON THE RISE IN THE U.S. AND TICKS ARE OUT NOW THROUGH EARLY FALL.

>> SEEMS LIKE A HOT YEAR FOR TICKS.

>> Mandy: EXPERTS BELIEVE THE INCREASE IN TICKBORNE DISEASES IS DUE TO SEVERAL FACTORS, INCLUDING CLIMATE CHANGE, THE RISING HEAT AND HUMIDITY HELP TICKS THRIVE, GROWING TICK POPULATIONS, AND IMPROVED DISEASE TRACKING.

WHILE THERE ARE SEVERAL ILLNESSES THAT TICKS CAN CAUSE, LYME DISEASE IS BY FAR THE MOST COMMON.

MORE THAN 89,000 CASES OF LYME DISEASE WERE REPORTED IN THE CDC BY STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENTS AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA IN 2023.

THE AGENCY SAYS MANY MORE AREN'T REPORTED.

IF LEFT UNTREATED, LYME DISEASE CAN CAUSE SERIOUS HEALTH PROBLEMS.

>> EARLY SYMPTOMS OF LYME DISEASE UNFORTUNATELY LOOK LIKE THE FLU.

>> Mandy: THERE MAY ALSO BE A RASH THAT LOOKS LIKE A BULL'S-EYE.

EXPERTS SAY TO PROTECT AGAINST TICKS BY MINIMIZING ANY EXPOSED SKIN WHERE THEY CAN BITE AND IN AREAS WHERE 000 COMMON, WEAR LONG SLEEVES AND LONG PANTS WITH THE PANTS TUCKED INTO YOUR SOCKS AND WEAR A HAT.

ALSO, THOROUGHLY CHECK YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY AFTER SPENDING TIME IN HIGH RISK AREAS LIKE WOODS OR TALL GRASS.

FOR HEALTH MINUTE, I'M MANDY GAITHER.

>> Dennis: CURRENTLY THERE ARE NO VACCINES FOR ANY OF THE DISEASES THAT ARE CARRIED BY TICKS, BUT EXPERTS SAY SEVERAL VACCINES ARE IN CLINICAL TRIALS AS WE SPEAK.

>>> WELL, STACY HAS ONE LAST LOOK AT OUR WEATHER, SO WE HEAD OVER THAT WAY.

>> Stacy: WE'LL BE SEEING VARIABLE CLOUDS OVERNIGHT, LOWS IN THE MID 40s WITH VARIABLE WINDS UP TO 15 MILES PER HOUR.

TOMORROW, PARTLY TO MOSTLY SUNNY SKIES, SO AGAIN, WE COULD BE SEEING AFTERNOON SHOWERS AND EVENING THUNDERSTORMS IN THE AREA.

HIGHS NEAR 75, VARIABLE WINDS 5 TO 15.

AS WE LOOK AHEAD, MORE WIDESPREAD SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY WILL RETURN AS WE HEAD INTO THE WEEKEND.

WE HAVE THAT COLD FRONT MOVING THROUGH ON SUNDAY.

>> Charlie: PIERZ, WINNEMAC, BASEBALL TEAMS ALL PLAYING FOR SECTION TITLES TOMORROW AND WE'LL UPDATE YOU AND LET YOU KNOW EXACTLY HOW THEY DO.

>> Dennis: HAVE A GREAT NIGHT, EVERYBODY.

WE'RE BACK AT 10 TOMORROW.

WE'LL SEE YOU THEN.

GOOD NIGHT.

>> Charlie: GOOD NIGHT.

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