Western Wisconsin's congressman is wearing his ban from Russia with pride. Congressman Derrick Van Orden yesterday said it's a good thing that he is one of the 500 Americans on a new 'banned' list. Van Orden says it shows that Vladimir Putin and 'the group of criminals around him' understand that some people in Congress still oppose the invasion of Ukraine. Van Orden says he's not too worried about the ban, adding he wasn't planning on going to Russia anytime soon anyway.
The Durand City Council is meeting tonight. Items on the agenda include reports from the mayor, city administrator, and department heads and the council will also discuss and vote on a by-laws change to the Durand Ambulance Service to reflect the new officer team. Tonight's meeting begins at 6:30 at Durand City Hall and will be live-streamed on our YouTube Channel at Durand Broadcasting WRDN.
There's an expectation that Minnesota's legalization of marijuana will lead to more pot busts in western Wisconsin. Police in Eau Claire yesterday said with legal weed now just an hour-or-so away, more marijuana could find its way into the city. Minnesota became the 23rd state in the nation to legalize pot on Monday when the governor signed the new law. Eau Claire Police reminded everyone yesterday that marijuana possession is still illegal in Wisconsin.
Chippewa Falls police are asking for an end to illegal dumping at the city’s senior center. In a Facebook post, the police department implores people to stop illegal dumping during the annual Chippewa Falls Area Senior Center scrap metal drive. The event raises between $7,000 and $9,000, but part of the funds will be used this year to install security cameras and haul away old furniture, appliances and garbage that have been left at the drop-off site. The post noted that the drive is intended to take items that are all metal — not TVs, computers or household appliances.
Another local community is having difficulty finding lifeguards for their pool. Tactics Pine Island is using to attract possible hires include increased wages from $11 to $13 an hour and waiving certification fees, which could run anywhere from $200-$300. The community also struggled to find lifeguards during the covid-19 pandemic. The Pine Island Pool is set to open on June 6th. The pool at Tarrant Park in Durand is set to open on June 1st.
A Monroe County deputy is out of a job after his K9 partner died from the heat earlier this month. The sheriff's office yesterday said Detective Alex Maas resigned from the department. He'd been on administrative leave since his K9 partner, Kolt, died from the heat last week. The dog was rushed to the vet on May 10th after being locked in a hot car, he never recovered. The Vernon County Sheriff's Office and Juneau County District Attorney's Office are helping with the investigation into the dog's death. That investigation, the sheriff says, is on-going.
A Jackson County man who was found not competent for killing his father nearly ten years ago will be released to live in Juneau County. 29yr old Lars Helgeson admitted to killing his father Brian at a family farm in Hixton in 2013. In 2017, he was found not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect and was committed for life to the custody of the Department of Health and Human Services. Helgeson had petitioned the court for release from the Mendota Health Institute and Jackson County Judge Mark Goodman ruled that Helgeson was no longer a danger to himself or others and could be released and live in Juneau County. He will not be allowed to have any contact with the victim's families without consent.
Wisconsin is joining the lawsuit against a telemarketer accused of unleashing billions or robocalls. Attorney General Josh Kaul yesterday said the state is looking to hold Avid Telecom and its owner accountable. Kaul says Avid sent or transmitted more than seven-and-a-half billion robocalls to people on the Do Not Call List between December 2018 and January of this year. Every state in the nation except for Alaska is part of the suit as well.
Wisconsin lawmakers are demanding an outside investigation into the state's veterans' homes. The budget-writing Joint Finance Committee yesterday ordered the Department of Veterans Affairs to bring someone in, and look at the staffing shortages and lack of care at both the King and Union Grove Veterans homes. Vets and their families have complained for years about poor quality care, and nurses at the homes have complained for just as long about the lack of support and people to cover shifts. The VA has said King and Union Grove are among the most problematic in the country. State Rep. Mark Born yesterday blamed Governor Evers for a 'failure of leadership' for the troubles at the homes.
A pair of lawmakers from Green Bay are selling the idea of state help for the NFL Draft as an investment. State Rep. David Steffen and State Senator Rob Cowles yesterday asked for two-million dollars to help pay for the draft, which is set to come to Green Bay in 2025. The two say the draft will have a 94-million-dollar economic impact on Green Bay, and bring hundreds of thousands of people to the city. The pair say that compared to that, two-million dollars from the state is money well spent.
The city of Madison is still going to sue Kia and Hyundai over their easy-to-steal cars. The two car companies last week announced a 200-million-dollar settlement for people who've had their cars stolen over the past couple of years. Madison City Attorney Michael Haas says that's not stopping the city's case. Haas says Kia and Hyundai's settlement applies to individual people, Madison's lawsuit he says applies to the city. Madison wants the two carmakers to pay for the 270-percent spike in stolen Kias and Hyundais over the past year or so.
Wisconsin lawmakers are considering a plan to add Narcan to first aid kits in the state's schools. A Senate panel will hold a hearing on the proposal later this morning. Schools are already required to have first aid kits, and schools are already allowed to distribute anti-opioid medicine like Narcan. This new plan would combine the two ideas, and require Narcan in first aid kits for public and private schools across the state.
Sun Country Airlines flight attendants are rejecting a recent contract offer. Ninety-six percent of the more than 600 union members of the Minneapolis-based carrier voted yesterday against the proposed deal. Flight attendants want Sun Country to increase wages and reward staffers for the voluntary furloughs that several took during the pandemic. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 120 and the airline reached a tentative agreement this March following an informational picket at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.
Minnesota is seeing an increase in the number of ATV-related injuries and deaths. The State Department of Natural Resources is warning riders to be properly trained and prepared before operating ATVs. A training officer with the department told KARE11 that there were 22 deadly ATV crashes last year, and "and none of them had ATV safety." Information on safety courses is available on the department's website.
If you're looking for a vacation rental this summer, make sure you're not getting scammed. State Consumer Protection's Michelle Reinen says you should do some research to make sure that VRBO or AirBNB is real. If you're looking at more traditional rentals, be sure to read your rental agreement closely, and look for reliable reviews of the property before you make a reservation.
Get your vehicle or trail pass before visiting one of the state's many outdoor recreation areas. Wisconsin has 50 state parks, 15 state forests and 44 state bike trails. If you're headed to one this weekend, you'll need a daily or annual admission sticker for your vehicle. The annual pass is $28 for Wisconsin residents. If you're headed to a state trail, make sure you have a state trail pass, as wardens will be out checking passes this weekend. Annual passes are $25, and daily passes are $5. The Department of Natural Resources says you can save time by buying these stickers and passes online at DNR dot Wisconsin dot gov.
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