Durand and the Chippewa Valley are expecting the hottest day of the year today. The Excessive Heat Warning for the city continues until 10 p.m. tonight. A Heat Advisory then takes effect til tomorrow evening. Forecasters say western Wisconsin could see triple-digit temperatures, and say the Heat Index will definitely feel like 100-plus. The Weather Service says folks should stay inside as much as they can today. The good news is that the weekend looks nice, with temperatures in the 70s.
The Durand City Council is meeting tonight. Items on the agenda include a discussion on the 2024 budget process and preliminary meeting dates, an update on the Tarrant Park Pool Project, and reports from the mayor, city administrator, and department heads. Tonight's meeting begins at 6:30 at Durand City Hall and will be live-streamed on the WRDN YouTube Channel.
The City of Mondovi is unhappy with the engineering services for the North Eau Claire Street project from CBS Squared. During last night's council meeting, Mayor Weiss told the members of his intention to send a formal letter of complaint to the company in regard to the poor service. Mondovi Mayor Brady Weiss says he is not happy with CBS Square's involvement in the project. The project must be completed by October for the city to be allowed to use a CBDG Grant so it is not clear what if any other actions the city will be able to take in regards to their complaints.
The City of Eau Claire has filed a lawsuit against PFAS manufacturers. PFAS chemicals have been detected on the City Well Fields property and the groundwater the community depends upon for drinking water. Costs for Eau Claire’s PFAS response – which included shutting down the use of nearly half its wells - are already over $1 million and expected to rise to over $20 million with construction and long-term maintenance of new treatment facilities, according to a news release. The release says the suit filed in Eau Claire County Court is a further step to protect the city’s rights and ensure those responsible for the contamination are held accountable for clean-up and damages.
Eau Claire County is getting two-and-a-half million-dollars in opioid settlement money. The county is now trying to figure out how to spend it. The county's Department of Human Services says there is a community survey that is looking to get feedback as to just what the county should do with the money. Last year, Eau Claire County spent almost 80 thousand dollars in opioid money on Narcan and fentanyl test strips. There's no word when the county will make its decision.
A woman from Rochester has entered a guilty plea to charges related to the violent riot that took place in Washington, D.C. more than two years ago. Victoria White has agreed to plead guilty to one count of civil disorder-aiding and abetting. White drove from Rochester to Washington, D.C., and was present when the riots at the U.S. Capitol happened on January 6th, 2021. She faces up to six months in prison when she's sentenced in November.
The seven-mile stretch of Highway SS in Barron County is now officially the Officer Emily Breidenbach and Officer Hunter Scheel highway. Barron County leaders yesterday named the portion of the highway between Chetek and Cameron for the two officers who were gunned down there during a traffic stop in April. Both Breidenbach and Scheel were killed by a wanted man. Yesterday, police chiefs from both communities helped unveil the sign that they say will serve as a forever marker that remembers Breidenbach and Scheel's sacrifice.
Extreme heat leads to buckled pavement. That’s the warning from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. The agency says very hot conditions that much of the state will experience this week can cause pavement slabs to expand and push against one another. The pressure exerted could lead to buckling and unexpected bumps or dips. The department advises drivers to keep their full attention on the roadway, watch for slowing traffic, and to report pavement issues to law enforcement, providing specific location information.
Wisconsin lawmakers are looking at a plan that could rewrite the rules for UW tuition reciprocity with Minnesota. A State Senate committee will hold a hearing later this morning on the plan which should send more money to UW schools. Currently, Minnesota kids will pay Minnesota tuition to attend a UW school. The Minnesota rate is higher, but UW schools don't get the extra. That is split between the state of Wisconsin and the State of Minnesota. UW managers want lawmakers to allow the university to keep the difference instead. Last school year, that would have meant an extra 13-and-a-half-million dollars for UW-Madison alone.
Wisconsin solar companies fear regulations wanted by two utility companies will make solar panels too expensive. Madison Gas and Electric and Alliant Energy are considering changing how they charge net metering, the practice of lowering solar costs by allowing the utilities to use customers' excess energy. They could lower the compensation rate of net metering for new solar customers, which may no longer make it profitable for them to switch to solar. The Wisconsin Public Service Commission will consider approving those changes later this year.
There is a plan to get rid of work permits for 14 and 15-year-olds in Wisconsin. A trio of lawmakers is looking for support for legislation that would do away with the state requirement for young workers. State Rep. Clint Moses says a work permit is just another hurdle for a young worker to overcome. Moses says the work permit requirement slows down the hiring process and makes it more difficult for both teens and businesses in the state.
The first Badger to get an NIL deal from Kwik Trip doesn't wear a football helmet or a basketball jersey, he carries a mellophone. Kwik Trip yesterday announced its first ever name, image, and likeness deal with William Hazeltine, a member of the Badger Marching Band. Hazeltine reached out to Kwik Trip first, but the company quickly embraced the idea. Hazeltine is a huge Kwik Trip fan and said he's excited to share his Kwik Trip story with everyone. The NCAA okayed NIL deals back in 2021 as a way to pay college athletes, mostly in football and basketball.
The University of Minnesota is investigating a data breach from 2021 and earlier. Officials notified law enforcement last month along with state and federal regulatory agencies about a huge data breach. University spokesman Jake Ricker says that an unauthorized party claimed to have possession of data taken from the university's systems. He adds that outside global forensic professionals have been hired to determine the validity of the party's claims. They will also be responsible for ensuring the security of the university's systems.
The Minnesota Department of Transportation will soon send mobile phone alerts statewide to warn about road conditions and other hazards. Mn-DOT has reached an agreement with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to allow alerts that warn Minnesotans about road problems that impact public safety. The alerts will only be sent when road closures due to weather or crashes are expected to last more than four hours. The alerts will typically include a brief description of the problem and a link to www-dot-511-M-N-dot-org for more information.
A large group of Minnesota residents set a world record over the weekend. Officials say 330 people floated on pool noodles in Lake Minnetonka at the same time on Saturday. They broke the previous world record of 253. Minnesota-based foundation Project Got Your Back put on the event and it plans to use all proceeds to help veterans transition to civilian life.
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