Local-Regional News Nov 4

 

Some road closures today in Buffalo County. Hwy E from the intersection of Hwy 35 to 2^nd Street in Alma will be closed today along with Hwy 95 in the City of Fountain City will have restricted access and be down to one lane. Allow for extra travel time today. Both roads will be fully re-open by late this afternoon.

The Buffalo County Dairy Promotions Committee has announced the host family for the 2026 Buffalo County Dairy Breakfast. The breakfast will be hosted by Buffalo Ridge Organic near Fountain City, owned by Nathan and Jenny Brandt. The farm milks 65 cows and uses a robotic milking system. The Buffalo County Dairy Breakfast is scheduled for June 20^th.

The Buffalo County Health and Human Services Department has announced that due to the government shut down, heating assistance payouts have been delayed. Energy Assistance Coordinator Amy Dahl says the department is still taking applications for the regular heating season and those wanting to apply should contact the Health and Human Services Department.

The Durand Fire Department is reminding homeowner and landowners that have longer driveways to have the driveway evaluated to make sure a fire truck will fit down the driveway. In case of a wildfire or fire on your property responding firetrucks need clearance from trees and a wider driveway to make turns to reach your home safely. Property owners should contact Durand Fire to have their driveways evaluated.

A warning about increased fire risk here in Western Wisconsin. National Weather Service meteorologists say a prolonged dry spell, mixed with breezy conditions and leaves falling from trees have combined to increase the chance of spreading fires. You're reminded to refrain from starting burn barrels, using equipment that could cause sparks, or firing up an outdoor charcoal grill.

The Eau Claire County Sheriff’s Department has received a grant from the Spirit Lutheran Foundation. The grant will be used to assist sheriff’s department employees with mental health support that is not covered by health insurance or EAP providers. The grant will go into the Mental Health Support for Law Enforcement Fund at Eau Claire Community Foundation.

An Eau Claire man accused of sexually assaulting a teenage runaway will make his first court appearance today. Police say that 38-year-old Jeremiah Richardson offered food and shelter to the 15-year-old but instead nailed a door shut to prevent her from leaving, assaulted her and then denied her food for days. Charges against Richardson include sexual assault and false imprisonment of a minor.

Eau Claire County health officials are hoping to track down the owner of a dog that bit a man last week. The incident happened at around 4:30 p.m. on Friday near Imperial Circle and Eldorado Boulevard. Reports say the dog -- described as a large-sized, short-haired, white dog with some brown-colored fur -- was not on a leash but was with two adults. The Eau Claire City-County Health Department is hoping to learn if the dog had been vaccinated for rabies so as to have a better idea how to treat the victim.

Authorities are moving forward with charges against two men in connection with a deadly accidents on Lake Wissota. Two jet skis collided on the lake on the night of May 23rd resulting in the death of 24-year-old Elle Jo Kramschuster. Kramschuster had been a passenger on one of the jet skis. The operators of the watercrafts -- Bruce Sanborn and Sean Irvine -- have each been charged with second degree reckless homicide.

State officials say it could take weeks for federal food assistance to reach local families. More than 700-thousand Wisconsinites who receive benefits through the federally-funded FoodShare program have been impacted by the ongoing government shut down. A recent court order has directed the Trump administration to pay at least partial SNAP benefits despite the administration previously stating they did not have the funds to do so. Federal officials say they will pay half of the benefits due to recipients in November though it will take time now for those benefits to reach qualified individuals.

Proposed legislation to allow so called “constitutional carry” for Wisconsin gun owners may not have much support. Current state law requires training and state licensure for concealed carry. Previous Marquette Law School polls have shown strong support for that, but director Charles Franklin said the latest poll finds 78% oppose dropping those requirements. That includes 72% of Republicans, 60% of independents and 90% of Democrats. The latest version of constitutional carry has been introduced by Republican state Representative Chanz Green and state Senator Andre Jacque. Under the bill, "law-abiding adults" wouldn't need a license to carry a concealed firearm in public. Previous “constitutional carry” bills have failed to come to a vote in either chamber of the Wisconsin Legislature. Green and Jacque are also proposing another bill to make firearms, ammunition, crossbows and related merchandise exempt from sales tax each year on the Fourth of July and during the third week of December. They are also offering an amendment to the Wisconsin Constitution which would strengthen the right to keep and bear arms in the state.

The Wisconsin Assembly Task Force on Protecting Kids met for the first time last week to discuss the impact of the digital age on kids' development. Madison Democratic State Representative Renuka Mayadev says she looks forward to diving into how social media addictions are impacting Wisconsin kids. Wisconsin Family Action legislative director Samuel Krebs says children pay for the breakdown of marriages and any task force looking at how to protect children must start at the home. Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos has also put together three other task forces on government efficiency and modernization, elder services and the state's rulemaking process. The task forces will use testimony to recommend potential future legislation.

Two staffers at Madison's Whitehorse Middle School have been cleared by police of any wrongdoing after a mother accused them of abusing her special needs son. The woman made the claims on social media and it went viral. The school district and Madison police both launched investigations. On Friday, Madison police said there is a significant amount of evidence that directly contradicts the allegations that were made. Detectives reviewed surveillance video at the school during the time the boy's mother told them the incident happened. The video placed the student and both of the accused staff members inside the school building during the time the alleged assault took place.

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers has vetoed a bill that would relax unemployment requirements. It would have extended the amount of time that employers have to respond to unemployment claims. Proponents of the bill argued that employers don't have enough time to respond to claims because of delays in the U.S. Postal Service.

Wisconsin Republicans want voter approval before municipalities can tax Wisconsinites for vehicle registration. A Republican backed bill would require local voters to give the green light to the tax increase. Right now 14 counties and more than 50 municipalities have wheel taxes that range from ten dollars to 40 dollars per year. Republicans say its taxation without representation while municipalities say they need the money for road paving and transportation projects.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has announced the launch of its official online merchandise store. The store feature a variety of items celebrating the state's fish, wildlife, plants, public lands and recreation traditions. Proceeds from DNR merchandise sales directly support conservation and environmental education and outreach initiatives across the state. Profits from Smokey the Bear merchandise directly support the National Fire Prevention Program. The merchandise line includes, Musky Tees, Hunt Wisconsin Beanie's Hunt Wisconsin Tees, Smokey Bear tees, Smokey Bear mugs, Flora & fauna of Wisconsin mugs and tees among other things.

local-Regional News Nov 3

 

One person is dead after a skid steer vs train accident in Diamond Bluff Township on Wednesday. According to the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department, 72yr old Randy Anderson of Hagar City was attempting to cross a private railroad crossing when he was struck by a southbound BNSF train. Anderson was pronounced dead at the scene by by the Pierce County Medical Examiner.

The City of Durand is looking at possibly expanding the facade grant program to provide incentives for building owners on Main Street to improve their buildings that face the Chippewa River and Madison Street. Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren says the economic development committee will look into the issue.  Currently, the city offers $5000 grants to businesses and building owners to improve store fronts that face any street.

Two people were injured in a two vehicle accident in Hartland Township on October 27. According to the Pierce County Sheriffs Department, 69yr old Deborah Griffin of Hudson was traveling southbound on 690^th Street, when she collided with a vehicle driven by 68yr old Patricia Olafson of Bay City who was traveling westbound on Hwy V. Griffin was transported to Mayo Red Wing Hospital, while Olafson was med-flighted to Regions Hospital in St. Paul.

One person was injured in a semi accident in Trenton Township on October 24^th. According to the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department, 24yr old Dillon Tincher of Pikeville, TN was traveling northbound on Hwy 35 when he lost control and entered the ditch, striking a tree. Tincher was transported to Mayo Hospital in Red Wing.

A man charged with second-degree intentional homicide and substantial battery in two cases is pleading no contest. Officials say 19-year-old Du'Marion Stogner waived his preliminary hearing and accepted dismissal of other charges that were read in. The homicide charge stems from the January 2025 death of 21-year-old Andre Simmons Junior. Meanwhile, the battery charge involves an October 2024 assault on a footbridge. Stogner is scheduled for sentencing in February.

The College Republicans chapter on the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire campus is drawing criticism for holding an event where a student dressed as a federal immigration agent was photographed arresting students. The original photo as posted online and was deleted but it was reshared elsewhere online. University officials say the event was not organized by the university. College and state Democrats have condemned the photos, calling them distasteful.

The La Crosse Wastewater Treatment Plant has finished construction of what it calls the largest public works project from the city of La Crosse in its history. The project is designed to meet low-level phosphorous compliance and reduce the biosolid footprint. It will also generate electricity from burning methane gas. La Crosse began planning the 68-million dollar project ten years ago.

The Village of Elmwood would like to inform residents that blasting will be taking place at the quarry today, 10am-2pm. You may hear loud noises or feel vibrations during this time. Village authorities say the blasting is a planned and controlled event.

Wisconsin school districts who currently have no prohibitions in place on the use of cell phones during class time will be required to put such a limit in place. Governor Tony Evers signed a bill into law on Friday requiring all school systems in the state to ban the use of cell phones during classroom time by July 31st. Exceptions will be allowed for emergencies.

Governor Evers has declared a state of emergency amid the ongoing federal shutdown and the looming lapse of FoodShare benefits. Evers announced the order yesterday, giving the state authority to combat price-gouging and direct resources toward mitigating economic disruption. This comes as President Trump says his administration will only fund SNAP after receiving court guidance. Evers noted nearly 700-thousand state residents could lose access to food assistance if federal funding is not restored.

Governor Tony Evers is rejecting a measure requiring Wisconsin state employees to spend most of their work time in a physical office. Assembly Bill 39 would've required state employees to spend 80 percent of their work hours in an office starting New Year's Eve. Evers said he rejected the bill in its entirety and accused the legislature of "encroaching on the executive branch." He also argued it would have an impact on Wisconsin taxpayers and "jeopardize the efficiencies" of state government. It was one of 19 bills Evers took action on last week.

Scammers are returning to an old trick to try and get your personal information. Wisconsin Consumer Protection Administrator Michelle Reinen says criminals are calling victims about fake loan offers, or loans that they never paid back. They're both scam attempts; there's no real offers or reminders out there. Reinen says this sort of scam is based on surprising or alarming you with large amounts of money, and scammers want you to hand over your information without thinking about it. As always, be sure to get anything having to do with loans or finances in writing before you make a decision.

Minnesota soybean farmers are fearing the long-term effects of the China trade war. Across rural Minnesota, steel grain bins sit filled with soybeans with no market to sell to. President Trump's trade war with China could not have come at a worse time. It's the lean years in the soybean markets, and up until this year, every third row went to China. Farmers are saying they're losing money on every acre they plant because of a crisis they didn't cause. After year of economic distress, being stuck in the middle is a pain felt particularly hard in rural Minnesota.

A University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire professor and his student researchers are featured in two documentaries spotlighting their work to find forgotten Holocaust history. Dr. Harry Jol and his team appear in BBC and National Geographic documentaries titled "The Hidden Holocaust" and "How he Holocaust Began." The films show the university's Holocaust Mapping Program, which uses advanced technology to locate mass burial and execution sites. The research team travels overseas to collect data using ground-penetrating radar, laser leveling and aerial drones. The documentaries feature footage and interviews shot in 2022 when Jol and his students did research in Lithuania and Latvia.

Six cruise ships will be visiting Green Bay next year. Officials say the visits are expected to bring about 785 passengers into the city and more than 327-thousand dollars in economic impact for the area. Two of the visits will be from Victory Cruise Lines and the other four from American Cruise Lines' American Patriot. This year, Green Bay welcomed two cruise ships.

Local-Regional News Oct 31

 

No one was injured when two trailer homes started on fire in Elk Mound on Tuesday. According to Elk Mound Fire District Fire Chief Colin Feuster, the Elk Mound Fire District received a report of a possible structure fire. Firefighters arrived to find two trailer homes fully engulfed in flames. The fire is believed to have started in the mudroom of one of the homes before spreading to the second home due to the intensity of the blaze. Both homes were unoccupied at the time of the fire, and all residents are accounted for.

The Durand-Arkansaw School District will hold a groundbreaking ceremony this afternoon for the new Early Learning Center. Durand-Arkansaw School Superintendent Ryan Nelson says the district is aware of the lack of child care in the area and wanted to do something to address that issue.  The facility is expected to open in September of 2026. We will have a complete interview with Mr. Nelson about the center during halftime of tonights Durand-Arkansaw at Grantsburg Football Game.

The Pepin County Human Services Department is starting a food drive to help those in need due to the upcoming loss of SNAP Benefits due to the government shutdown. Matt Roesler with Human Services says the department wanted to create something that would have information about the food drive and ways people can help.  The food drive will be from November 5-19, and for more information, visit www.co.pepin.wi.us/foodrive

Alternate side parking begins in Menomonie tomorrow. From 2am to 7am residents must park on the odd side of the street during odd numbered calendar days and on the even side of the street during even numbered calendar days. Alternate side parking will remain in effect until April first.

The Dunn County Board of Supervisors will hold its annual budget hearing at 7 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 12, to vote on a proposed 2026 budget that continues the recent trend of reducing the tax rate used to assess property taxes. The 2026 tax (mill) rate is projected to drop to $4.30 per $1,000 of property value, a nearly 6 percent reduction from the 2025 rate of $4.53. The total operating budget would increase 1.54 percent to $83.4 million, while the tax levy would increase 1.73 percent to $25.2 million. Debt service would increase slightly to $5.172 million.

An agreement has been reached in a child sexual assault case in Buffalo County. 24Yr old Kaleb Doerr, was charged in 2023 for allegedly sexually assaulting three children.  Doerr pleaded guilty to three counts of fourth-degree sexual assault as part of a plea deal. He was ordered to pay $886 and entered into a deferred agreement. It says if doesn't commit any new crimes for the next two years, and meets the other terms, his case will be dismissed. 

A man charged with second-degree intentional homicide and substantial battery in two cases is pleading no contest. Officials say 19-year-old Du'Marion Stogner waived his preliminary hearing and accepted dismissal of other charges that were read in. The homicide charge stems from the January 2025 death of 21-year-old Andre Simmons Junior. Meanwhile, the battery charge involves an October 2024 assault on a footbridge. Stogner is scheduled for sentencing in February 2026.

A proposed reroute of a northern Wisconsin oil pipeline is one step closer to completion. The US Army Corps of Engineers on Wednesday approved a permit for Enbridge Energy to reroute it’s pipeline around the Bad River Lake Superior Chippewa Band’s reservation. Canadian-owned Enbridge was ordered to relocate the line several years ago after losing a court case with the Tribe. Environmental groups protested the proposed reroute, alleging it would harm or damage delicate wetlands and watersheds near the reservation. The Corps fast tracked approval of the plan on the directive of President Donald Trump, who wants energy related projects to get faster permitting.

The Trump administration has denied the state's request for hazard mitigation grant funding for six counties hit by August storms and flooding. This follows a previous refusal of public-assistance funding for more than 26-million-dollars in damage. The decision leaves communities without federal support for rebuilding infrastructure and preparing for future disasters. Governor Evers says he plans to appeal both decisions and that the state has 30 days to submit additional justification.

A federal judge has ordered the Trump Administration to return mental health services funding to Wisconsin schools. Attorney General Josh Kaul announced that Wisconsin will once again be getting 10 million dollars in grant funding due to the ruling. Seattle US District Court Judge Kymberly Evanson ruled that the Trump administration must release millions of dollars in grants intended to address the shortage of mental health workers in schools. Evanson determined the US Department of Education caused "irreparable harm" when it decided in April to stop paying out grant funding that schools in 16 states had already budgeted for expanded services. That included efforts at UW-Madison to train 24 new school psychologists for high need schools. Kaul calls the ruling a win for the well being of Wisconsin students.

Preliminary numbers for Wisconsin’s bear hunting season are in.The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources announced Wednesday that hunters harvested 3,724 bears during the 35-day season. That’s just below the overall harvest target of 4,075 , but within the expected range of harvest for the season, which ran from September 3rd through October 7th. The DNR estimates the state’s bear population at around 23,000 with a range that covers more than half the state. A record 146,000 people applied for a bear hunting license for this year.

The latest Marquette Law School Poll finds a massive partisan divide among Wisconsin voters regarding President Donald Trump. Poll Director Charles Franklin said the poll of more than 800 registered voters in Wisconsin found about 92% of Republicans who voted for him last November approve of the president's job performance. Franklin said there’s been little drop in Republican support for the president in Wisconsin or nationally. Trump’s disapproval rating among Wisconsin Democrats is at 95%. Franklin said the poll found similar partisan divides on the relative importance to voters of issues such as illegal immigration and inflation.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz says the state will hire a third party to audit billing for 14 Medicaid services considered at high risk for fraud. The Department of Human Services has signed a one-year, two-point-three-million-dollar contract with Optum to flag questionable claims. The state says Optum will review batches of claims every two weeks to look for irregularities such as missing documentation or unusually high billing. The added oversight could slightly delay payments, but the department hopes to get most claims paid within 30 days.

A marathon website has named the Eau Claire Marathon the best in the state. The global website for marathon runners -- Race Raves -- has picked the best marathons in each state. In Wisconsin, it chose the Eau Claire Marathon based on votes, ratings and reviews by runners. Registration is open for next year's marathon, which is scheduled for May 2nd and 3rd.

Local-Regional News Oct 30

 

The Durand City Council has approved the intergovernmental agreement for the creation of a fire district. Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren says the city and the rural fire department are bringing their assets together so there wont be a lot of money changing hands.  As part of the agreement, the City will sell the fire hall to the new district for $10. If approved by the rural fire department and all the townships, the new district would go into effect in January.

The Dunn County Judicial Center will be closed from Noon-4:30 on November 7^th. The facility will be conducting staff security training. The Circuit Courts, Clerk of Courts Office, Child Support and District Attorneys Office will all be closed during the training. The Jail and Communications Center will remain open.

Chippewa Valley Technical College has a new resource for teaching hands-on workplace safety. The Safety Training Center features a 3,500-square-foot lab to teach skills like HAZMAT response, forklift operations and fall protection. Other hands-on stations include a robotic palletizer to practice proper tag out procedures. Tag out or lockout procedures are important when maintaining complicated equipment that could turn dangerous if accidentally turned on. CVTC President Dr. Beaton-Garcia said the Safety Training Center is also one-of-a-kind in Wisconsin bringing a unique hands-on option to the area.

The Chippewa Falls School Board has approved a budget for the next fiscal year that represents an increase of just under one percent over last year -- despite an enrollment drop that meant less state aid for the district. The budget calls for an overall spending increase of one-half a percent to a little more than 70-and-a-third million dollars. Districtwide, enrollment fell by 170 students. This meant state aid fell by more than 862-thousand dollars.

While the government shutdown continues and many Americans are trying to afford food, the Eau Claire Area School District is highlighting its free and reduced-price meals program for the community. While federal food programs will be affected by the shutdown, students who receive the free and reduced-price meals at school won't be affected. Families need to reapply each year for the program but the district understands when circumstances change.

Wisconsin Congressman Derrick Van Orden was at the Capitol in Madison on Wednesday, testifying on veterans’ legislation. Reporters asked the 3rd District Republican about the looming pause of federal funding for Wisconsin’s Foodshare program. Van Orden said people need to "call Tammy Baldwin's office. Tell the Democrats to open up the government again, and this problem will go away. This is a problem that was created by the Democrat Party, so they need to open the government again, and we can sit down and negotiate.” Van Orden said House Republicans “won’t be held hostage.” A spokesperson for Baldwin’s office released the following statement: “Donald Trump has the power and money to fund FoodShare–but he is choosing not to use it, and it’s 700,000 Wisconsinites who might not have food on the table come Saturday because of it. While Congressman Van Orden is on day 40 of his paid vacation, Senator Baldwin has been in Washington working with her colleagues to lower health care costs and reopen the government.”

Marquette Law School Poll Director Charles Franklin says few Wisconsin voters know much about candidates running for governor next year. Franklin notes that this is the time Wisconsin has had a primary in both parties with no incumbent running in a long time. And, just over a year out from the general election. voter disengagement is not surprising. The latest statewide poll of 846 registered voters finds 70% of Republicans and 81% of Democrats haven’t made a primary choice. Among likely Republican primary voters, Congressman Tom Tiffany is the best-known candidate, with 39% who recognize his name. Among likely Democratic primary voters, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley has 26% name recognition, followed by Lieutenant Governor Sara Rodriguez at 25%. In all cases, more than 60% of voters have no opinion of the candidates.

The suspect in a New Lisbon triple homicide is pleading not guilty to all charges. Court officials say 48-year-old Virgil Thew allegedly killed his girlfriend, Elizabeth Kolba, and two girls ages 12 and 13 in December 2024. Authorities confirmed all three died from gunshot wounds. Thew was arrested in January after a multi-day manhunt. He faces multiple charges, including three counts of first-degree intentional homicide. A nine-day jury trial is set for December 2026.

Wisconsin lawmakers want to offer state disaster assistance to residents. Representative Dan Knodl introduced the bill on Tuesday. The Germantown Republican wants to set up a fund managed by the Department of Military Affairs and Wisconsin Emergency Management that would offer grants to homeowners and businesses that are unable to secure FEMA funds following a disaster. Notably, that would currently cover flood damage to properties and infrastructure in Door, Grant and Ozaukee Counties. In September, President Donald Trump approved individual households in Milwaukee, Washington and Waukesha counties. But Door, Grant and Ozaukee counties were not approved for that individual aid. If passed and signed into law, the bill would provide state-funded help for those types of situations.

Republican lawmakers are disappointed with Governor Evers on his plan to overhaul Wisconsin's prison system. State Senate President Mary Felzkowski says Evers moved forward without consulting them. Despite objections, Felzkowski and Republican Senator Andre Jacque voted yes Tuesday as the State Building Commission signed off on moving forward with a 15 million dollar planning budget. The complete project would shift lower risk inmates towards early release to focus on more serious offenders, close the state’s northern Wisconsin youth prisons in favor of a facility in southeast Wisconsin, and close the Green Bay prison. The entire plan would take six years to complete with a projected cost of about $1 billion.

State and local leaders are hoping to resolve a loophole affecting tobacco sales in Wisconsin. Federal law doesn't allow people under 21 to purchase tobacco and nicotine products, but state law says anyone over 18 can buy the products. In Milwaukee, Alderman Peter Burgelis has tried to change the local ordinance, but learned that nothing can change unless the law is changed at the state level. More than half of the city's common councilmembers have signed a letter advocating for a bill to close the loophole.

As many as 100 Minnesota employees could get pink slips today due to the government shutdown. The impact has cut off federal funding for state inspections of health care facilities and nutrition, and breastfeeding support for new mothers and infants. The Minnesota Department of Health plans to lay off workers on December 2nd unless the shutdown in Washington ends. Workers at risk of losing their jobs include those in the regulation division, which makes sure that hospitals and nursing homes comply with licensing requirements and federal standards.

The state's Department of Natural Resources is encouraging hunters to donate legally harvested Wisconsin deer to its Deer Donation Program. The request comes as the department combats rising food-pantry demand. Hunters must field-dress, register, and in some counties have the deer tested for chronic wasting disease before drop-off. DNR officials emphasize minimizing lead exposure by using non-lead ammunition. The program has provided over 100-thousand deer since it began in 2000.

Local-Regional News Oct 29

 

The Durand City Council is holding a special council meeting today. Items on the agenda include discussion and possible action on the intergovernmental fire district agreement, appoint a city council representative to the new fire district, and discussion and possible action on the facade grant application from Studio Jo on Main Street. Todays meeting begins at 4pm at Durand City Hall. Following the Council Meeting there will be a committee of the whole meeting to work on the upcoming 2026 city budget.

The Durand-Arkansaw School Board has agreed to purchase a new compact tractor with a snow blower. Durand-Arkansaw Superintendent Ryan Nelson says the new tractor will replace one that is over 30yrs old.  The cost of the tractor was approximately $24,000 and is coming from Johnson Tractor.

UW-Extension is looking to hire a new 4-H Program Educator for Buffalo County. The educator would provide leadership for the County 4-H Program including expanding 4-H membership, responsible for providing oversight for all 4-H programs in regards to policy and risk management and cultivate partnerships with other organizations to expand 4-H programming opportunities. Application deadline is November 17.

The board of the Chippewa Valley Technical College District has approved a tax rate for the upcoming fiscal year. District residents will see a slight drop in their tax rate, thanks to an increase in new construction and property values. New construction in the district increased by just under two percent and overall property values jumped by nearly nine percent.

The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire has honored Xcel Energy with its Regents Business Partnership Award. The award highlights businesses that show exceptional dedication to working with the university to benefit students and the region. Xcel's partnership with the university includes work in workforce development and major infrastructure projects.

Local food banks report a surge in demand only days after the USDA announced a suspension of the federal Food Share program beginning next month. Officials with the Feed My People agency say on an average weekday, they help some 300 to 350 households. Since the USDA announcement, they've already served up to 500 households a day. They say when the end of the Food Share payments officially end, they expect the number to rise.

A Hasting's restaurant is offering free meals to SNAP recipients. As food shelves were overwhelmed and food stamps ending on November 1st, the Lock and Dam Eatery is offering free meals every Tuesday to SNAP recipients. Just blocks away, the Hastings Family Service, which operates the local food shelf says the demand for food has skyrocketed. For food shelves across the country, the fear isn't just what happens if SNAP benefits stop, but also higher costs for health care, child care and rent.

Target lays off over 800 employees via email and virtual meeting. The 815 Twin Cities employees received an email at 8 a.m. telling them to join an audio call at 9 a.m.. Two employees told the Star-Tribune that the audio didn't work for half of the call. Those who still had a job received emails about at 9:17 a.m..

Ridglan Farms in Blue Mounds will be closing a section of its facility. The Animal Activist Legal Defense Project announced the closure on Tuesday. The move comes after the Dane County Board of Supervisors approved a resolution urging the state to revoke the facility's license. A special prosecutor from La Crosse County was also seeking to charge it with felony animal cruelty, but they ultimately reached an agreement with the organization. Ridglan Farms said in a statement that it would be adjusting its structure to fully comply with the agreement.

State Attorney General Josh Kaul is joining a federal lawsuit with 24 other states and D.C. over the suspension of SNAP benefits. The suit says the federal government has funds to continue the food assistance program during the shutdown. It says suspending the program would be the first in its history and violates the Administrative Procedure Act. Around 40-million Americans, including about 700-thousand in Wisconsin, rely on SNAP benefits

Minnesota food shelves are getting four million dollars as the state prepares to lose SNAP benefits. Governor Tim Walz and state officials have said that these funds are only temporary. Minnesota has about 440-thousand residents who receive SNAP benefits. As the government shutdown enters its 28th day on Tuesday, federal officials have said they won't have enough money to fund SNAP into November. Minnesota's Department of Children, Youth and Families, said the money will be distributed to 300 food shelves.

Fire officials are investigating another fire on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus. The fire reportedly started early Tuesday morning at Gordon Commons. Crews found a dryer on fire with heavy smoke in the building's lower level. An automatic sprinkler system prevented the flames from spreading while firefighters put out the fire using a water can. Officials say the sprinkler systems kept damage minimal and no injuries were reported. This marks the second fire in two weeks at the university, both involving appliances with rags or towels.

The former clerk of the Town of Bergen is found guilty for taking over $100,000 from the community's coffers. Gloriann Doyle was sentenced to six years in the state's prison system on Monday morning. This will include four years in prison and two years on extended supervision. She will also pay around $242,000 in restitution to the town and to the Wisconsin Valley Art. Doyle pleaded guilty to six courts, with five counts dismissed. The sentence also includes a no-contact order with the victims.

Today’s technology helps a lost hunter in southeast Wisconsin. The 71-year-old type-1 diabetic was pheasant hunting with his dog in the Jackson Marsh State Natural Area Sunday afternoon. The man called his wife, who then called first responders, who in turn called the lost hunter. Washington County Sheriff Martin Schulteis tells Fox 6 Milwaukee the man was then directed to log onto a website. Schulteis said "When we plug that into the website, it literally comes up with the three-foot grid of where he is located.”A sheriff’s department drone found the hunter, who needed medical help as he was led to safety.

A longtime Milwaukee television news anchor has died. Jerry Taff helmed the newscasts for WISN-TV from 1979 until his retirement in 2005. Taff returned to his native Texas after he stepped away from the anchor desk. He’s best known to viewers in southeast Wisconsin for closing his newscasts with the phrase "Good night and better tomorrows." Jerry Taff died Monday at the age of 85. 

Local-Regional News Oct 28

 

One person was injured in a motorcycle vs car accident in Alma on Sunday. According to the Buffalo County Sheriff’s Department, Margaret Ruff of Alma was traveling southbound on Hwy 35 and waiting to make a left hand turn onto Spooner Road when her vehicle was struck from behind by a motorcycle driven by Paul Retzer of Plum City. Retzer was taken to Wabasha Hospital with possible life-threatening injuries. He was med flighted to another medical facility.

Two people were injured in a three motorcycle accident in Gilmanton Township on Saturday. According to the Buffalo County Sheriff’s Department, 60yr old Kevin Hanson of Onalaska was northbound on Hwy 88 near Laehn Ridge Road when he lost control of the motorcycle and went over an embankment. Hanson was traveling 3^rd position in a group of 200 motorcycle when the accident occurred. 42Yr old Mathew Steinke of La Crosse also lost control of his motorcycle and came to rest on the highway, when their bike was struck by another motorcycle driven by 70yr old Jack Jenkins of La Crosse. Jenkins was ejected from his bike into the nortbound ditch. Both Hanson and Jenkins sustained serious injuries and were taken to Mayo Hospital in Eau Claire.

Parents of Middle School Students at Durand-Arkansaw will see some changes to report cards in the future. Durand-Arkansaw School Superintendent Ryan Nelson says Middle School Staff is working on the changes to give students and parents more details on proficiency skills in areas like math, science, reading and other skills for their grade level.  The changes are expected to start for the 2026-27 school year.

The Buffalo County Sheriff’s Department has identified the person killed in a workplace incident last week. 54Yr old Shannon Beebe of Mondovi was killed in a forklift accident near a loading bay at the Symrise Pet Food Plant on Thursday. The investigation into that incident continues.

Lutheran Social Services has kicked off renovation of the former Libertas Center to turn it into an addiction recovery center. State Senator Jesse James was among the speakers who turned out for the ceremony yesterday. James says the decision to partner with Lutheran Social Services on the project was an easy one. The agency is currently in the middle of a fundraising campaign and so far has raised all but 600-thousand dollars toward its 4-point-6 million dollar goal. The center is scheduled to open by spring.

Eau Claire officials are considering a hike in its 24-dollar local wheel tax to 50 dollars to help raise money for road projects. It's a move other municipalities across the state have made. Revenues generated by wheel taxes can only be used for transportation projects in Wisconsin. Currently, local wheel tax revenues total one-million dollars which Eau Claire officials say doesn't go far enough to cover all the projects that need to be funded. The proposal will be on the City Council agenda on November 11th.

Eau Claire fire officials are investigating the cause of a fire that heavily damaged a home in the Villa Diane mobile home park. The fire broke out at the home Sunday night and caused an estimated 50-thousand dollars in damages. No one was home at the time. A firefighter suffered an injury putting out the blaze.

Chippewa County will be implementing new software and launching a new website. The site is set to go live this Thursday. A press release says residents will have to register again to receive email notifications involving agendas and minutes for county board meetings. The county received notice from Granicus earlier this year that it would not be supporting the software the county uses, prompting the transition to the CivicPlus software.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is reminding the public to check fire danger before conducting outdoor burning activities. The DNR says over 50 wildfires have happened in October so far, burning approximately 20 acres. The fires were small, but were mainly caused by people and preventable. The U.S. Drought Monitor shows most of Wisconsin has been experiencing abnormally dry conditions, while some areas are in a moderate drought. Dry weather, gusty winds and a lack of rain can increase fire activity and concerns over elevated fire risk will remain until significant precipitation in the form of rain or snow occur.

A new initiative targeting inappropriate behavior at high school athletic events in Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association has launched the "“Hear It? See It? Report It!" initiative with the hopes of making it easier and more effective to report bad behavior. The WIAA spent the last year listening to concerns from student-athletes, coaches, parents, and officials and learned that reporting such incidents needs to be simpler and faster. If you encounter inappropriate behavior at a game, you can now report it by scanning a QR code at events or filling out an online form. You're also encouraged to still report it immediately to a coach, official or manager at the event.

Help Wisconsin bats during International Bat Week. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is encouraging you to attend a local educational bat event and find out how you can help the species. Of the eight bat species found in Wisconsin, the big brown bat, little brown bat, northern long-eared bat and tricolored bat are threatened. The decline of bats in Wisconsin is primarily due to white-nose syndrome, a disease caused by a fungus that attacks the bare skin of bats during hibernation each winter. Head to the DNR's website for more information and to find an event near you.

Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin will resume abortion care services. They stopped providing abortion services on October 1st after President Donald Trump's tax and spending bill was signed. That bill did not include Medicaid funding for abortion providers for one year. That law is being challenged in federal court by Planned Parenthood Federation of America and 23 state attorneys general, including Wisconsin's.

Rochester International Airport is getting its largest grant in its history. Airport officials say they received more than 70 million dollars in federal grant funds. The money will go toward major infrastructure upgrades and improving safety for air travelers.

The first-ever street fishing competition in the United States was hosted in Green Bay this past weekend. Teams from nine countries gathered on Saturday and Sunday to fish in the Fox River. Team Hungary took first place in the pairs and team category. Romania took second place in both categories as well, with Team USA taking fourth place in pairs.  

Local-Regional News Oct 27

 

The Durand-Arkansaw School Board approved an agreement with the Mondovi School District to share library media specialists. Durand-Arkansaw School Superintendent Ryan Nelson says the agreement helps both districts. The agreement approved is an extension of past agreements with Mondovi.

The Village of Pepin is working on issues related to their water and wastewater treatment facilities. The Wisconsin DNR inspected both facilities last month and found 15 items the village must respond to within 30 days. The village continues to deal with water loss issues in and is looking at possible grants to help locate water leaks and repairs.

The Pepin School Board is meeting tonight. The annual Budget Hearing is first at 6:30 followed by the Annual Meeting at 6:45. Items on the agenda for the Annual Meeting include approval of the tax levy, authorization to subsidize the lunch and breakfast programs and approval of the sale of property not needed by the district. Tonights meetings will be held at the Pepin School LMC.

Red Wing Police are claiming an international cybercrime group is behind recent swatting calls. Two hoax emergencies that prompted large-scale armed responses earlier this month have been linked to Seven-Six-Four, an extremist cybercrime terror group. The group is accused of manipulating children and vulnerable people through blackmail, extortion and swatting in hopes they join the group and participate in the violence. Seven-Six-Four has been designated as a terrorist group by both the DOJ and FBI. The swattings occurred on October 14th and 16th at a home in Red Wing.

Dakota County is ending its same-day license and ID pilot program. According to county officials, these cards didn't have the same look and feel as those printed off-site and delivered by mail. The program was intended to make the process of getting a new driver license much faster. Since its being canceled, you'll still have to wait until you'd receive it by mail.

The St Croix County Sheriff's Office is investigating an accident in which an 85-year-old man died from his injuries this weekend. The accident happened a week ago yesterday. Authorities say a motorist lost control of his car on a roundabout on County Road E and rolled into a ditch. The driver -- who was identified as Paul Paulson from Houlton -- was extricated from his car and rushed to Regions Hospital. He died Saturday.

A La Nina climate pattern could mean a return to what feels like a normal Wisconsin winter this year. UW - Madison Professor Jonathan Martin says because we've had such mild winters in recent years, that even a mild La Nina might seem like a more severe stretch of winter weather. Martin says the La Nina also has a lot of unpredictability, but we should still expect stretches with very cold temps and more wet weather. Martin says we could experience the effects of the La Nina into March.

United Airlines is coming back to Mosinee next year. The company announced that it would be begin offering three flights to Chicago daily from the Central Wisconsin Airport. A spokesperson for the airline said the move will allow customers greater access to not only Chicago, but all the places they'd like to go. Tickets are available now for the flights beginning on May 21st, 2026.

Wisconsin's Most Wanted fugitive, Armando Barragan, is in custody after being arrested in Mexico. Barragan has been on the run since 2005 following federal racketeering charges. U.S. Marshals tracked him down with assistance from the Mexican authorities and the Monterrey Consulate. The former Latin Kings leader is accused of ordering the killing of an innocent bystander at a gas station as a teenager.

Dane County leaders are calling on state regulators to decide whether a controversial dog breeder should lose its license. This comes as Ridglan Farms faces backlash over conditions at its Blue Mounds facility. The location supplies puppies for research and faces allegations of more than 300 animal welfare violations. A judge previously found probable cause of criminal animal-cruelty and appointed a special prosecutor to investigate. Ridglan has denied all allegations as it faces a proposed 55-thousand-dollar civil forfeiture.

The University of Minnesota is opposing President Trump's academic compact. The University Senate said the Presidents provisions are, "antithetical" to the University's mission and would endanger the school's independence and integrity. Another faculty senator said signing the compact would set a precedent that future administrations could use to suppress any viewpoints they don't like. Trump's compact asks the schools signing own to pledge allegiance to conservative values among other demands. The resolution opposing the compact was approved 123 to 18.

The Trump administration has denied federal disaster assistance for several Wisconsin counties after severe flooding in August caused over 26 million dollars in damage. Governor Tony Evers announced he will appeal the decision to ensure Door, Grant, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Washington and Waukesha counties receive necessary support. Governor Evers said the state is going to "fight tooth and nail" to ensure communities get every possible resource to rebuild and recover. FEMA determined that the public assistance program was not warranted, despite significant impacts to individuals and households. Preliminary damage assessments by FEMA and Wisconsin Emergency Management confirmed the extensive costs.

Legislation to prohibit foreign adversaries from acquiring Wisconsin agricultural or forestry land had a hearing at the Capitol this week. Assembly Agriculture Committee chair Representative Travis Tranel, himself a farmer, questioned the bill’s authors. Tranel said he's often asked how many acres in Wisconsin are currently owned by foreign entities. Representative William Penterman said according to USDA, 2.6% or roughly 600,000 acres of Wisconsin farmland is owned by foreign persons, but that it's difficult to tell how much is owned by foreign adversaries as would be defined in the bill. Current state law already places restrictions on foreign ownership of ag and forestry land, but the bill adds the language on foreign adversaries. While it doesn’t specify countries, Penterman and Senator Andre Jaque named communist China as their main concern.

A new study by the Center for Research on the Wisconsin Economy is finding a link between Wisconsin Badgers football losses and economic losses. The report says the decline in the University's football program could cause a 160-million-dollar annual loss in economic activity for Madison. It attributes the decline to lower game attendance, reduced fan spending, and less tourism. The university's Athletics Department could see its profits fall by 20-million-dollars annually. Athletic Director Chris McIntosh stressed the need to invest in the football program.