The City of Durand and the Durand-Arkansaw School Board have reached an agreement on the library.  Durand-Arkansaw School Superintendent Greg Doverspike says the original contract needed to be cleaned up.  Both Doverspike and Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren said the process toward a new agreement went easier and faster than expected.

Three  people were injured in a two vehicle accident in the Town of Hale on Monday.  According to the Trempealeau County Sheriff's Department, a truck pulling a trailer was backing into a driveway when it was struck by a southbound vehicle on Hwy D.  The driver of the truck was transported to a local hospital while the driver and passenger of the other vehicle received minor injuries and were treated at the scene and released.

Xcel Energy’s Wisconsin customers will soon see the benefits of an improved, high-tech electric grid as the company begins installing smart electric meters at their homes and businesses. Installation work begins today in the company’s southern communities as part of a multiyear project to bring customers cleaner, safer and more reliable energy through advanced grid technology.  The first meters will be installed in the communities of Alma Center, Coon Valley, Ettrick, Hixton, Melrose, Rockland and Sparta starting today as the company sets out to install more than 260,000 of the new devices in Xcel Energy’s Wisconsin service area this year and through 2025.

There’s more information on a man who led the Wisconsin State Patrol on an Interstate chase in a semi cab last Friday.  47- year-old Michael Steven Jones is from St Louis.  A criminal complaint says Jones had been fired from the semi company on Friday morning and reportedly flipped out.  Jones was in Chippewa County and decided to steal the semi while a woman was getting her belongings out of it. She was taken along for the wild ride and had called 911 several times, pleading for help. The police pursuit along I 90/94 finally came to an end near the Dells when the semi caught on fire and crashed into a ditch. Nobody was seriously hurt, but Jones also kicked out the glass of a police cruiser, which did injure an officer, as he was being taken to the Juneau County Jail.  

The Leinenkugel's strike in Chippewa Falls is over.  The union for the 45 or so striking workers at the plant yesterday said they are heading back to work.  The strike started on July 10th, and was focused on money.  The local Teamsters union is not saying just what the new deal looks like.  Molson Coors, which owns Leinenkugel's, yesterday said they are happy that the strike is over.  The new three-year deal means workers will be back on the job next week. 

 A Trempealeau County man has been charged with vehicular homicide after a crash that left a woman dead this past March.  According to authorities, Gavin  Becker of Independence was driving to work on Highway 53 around 8 a.m. on March 17th when he crossed the center line and hit an SUV driven by 64-year-old Jeannie Furlin.  She died at the hospital and a one year old child was ok.  An investigation showed Becker was on his phone at the time of the crash, Becker told police he'd been looking at his screen.   His next court appearance is in September.

Dunn County Authorities have dropped hiding a corpse charges against a Minnesota man who dumped  4 bodies in the county.  Authorities dropped the charges against Antoine Suggs because he was convicted of 4 counts of murder in Minnesota and is currently serving a 100yr sentence.  However, Suggs' father, Darren Osborn had admitted to helping his son dump the bodies and will still face charges of hiding a corpse.

 Republicans at the Wisconsin Capitol are trying again with a massive tax cut plan.  Republicans yesterday unveiled a three-billion-dollar tax cut plan that would give a tax cut to people making between 37-thousand and 405-thousand dollars a year. The plan would also eliminate Wisconsin's income tax on 150-thousand dollars worth of retirement income.  Assembly Speaker Robin Vos says the plan will mean a 700-dollar tax cut for most people in the state.  He says the money would come from Wisconsin's massive surplus.  Vos and the Republicans say they are returning that money to the people.  Governor Evers vetoed the last Republican tax cut plan, and it's likely he will veto this one as well. 

Minnesota  officials are beginning a series of listening sessions to gather input on a plan to boost broadband access and advance digital equity.  The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development will hold its first Digital Opportunity Program meeting today in Willmar.  Meetings will happen in 16 cities through the end of next month, including stops in Rochester, Winona, Mankato and Faribault. Two virtual meetings are also scheduled for anyone who can't attend in person.  Written comments on the draft plan will be accepted through September 29th.

Republican lawmakers continue to try and force the state's elections boss out of her job.  The Senate Committee on Elections held an hours-long hearing yesterday to take a look at Meagan Wolfe's performance as Elections Commission administrator.  A number of Republicans, and at least one Democratic senator, want Wolfe replaced because of how she handled the 2020 election in Wisconsin.  It remains to be seen if the Senate can fire Wolfe  Elections commissioners have refused to formally nominate her for a second term, and both Wisconsin's attorney general and some legislative lawyers say that means the Senate cannot vote her out.  Some local elections managers say pushing Wolfe out at this point will create nothing but chaos for next year's elections. 

Two off-duty Kenosha County sheriff’s deputies rescued a family from drowning in Lake Michigan.  The sheriff’s office says deputies Kelsey Schwuchow and Christopher Bischoff saw two children struggling to swim in the lake off Simmons Island in Kenosha Sunday afternoon.  After the children’s mother saw them drowning, she ran into the water to try to save her children but couldn't reach them.  That’s when the deputies went into action, battling three-to-four-foot waves and rip currents to bring the children to shore, then returning to bring the mother in from the waters.  Everyone involved was observed at area hospitals and is expected to fully recover.

Wisconsin's Supreme Court Justice says the court's new liberal majority is trying to pull off a coup. Chief Justice Annette Ziegler made the comments in a pair of emails. She said she has 'no confidence in the recent hostile takeover' of Wisconsin's high court. Ziegler continues to be furious that the new liberal majority fired the state's court administrator, then hired a new person, and moved to limit the chief justice's power within days of gaining the majority on the court. Ziegler accused the new court administrator of issuing orders in her name. Liberals on the court have defended their moves, but have not commented on Ziegler's accusations. 

3M has reached a six-billion-dollar settlement with military service members over defective earplugs.  More than 200-thousand claims were filed over the Combat Arms CAEv2 earplugs that allegedly caused hearing loss.  Claimants must register for a payment plan and provide proof of hearing damage.  Payments will be made through 2029.

The Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce is giving its stamp of approval to the renewal of a half-cent sales tax to help fund millions in public infrastructure projects.  The chamber issued its endorsement for the renewal of the tax yesterday, saying it will provide money for products that add to the city's quality of life and economic growth.  The sales tax was originally approved by voters in 1982 and was been renewed three times.  It's expected to generate over 200-million dollars that will be earmarked for the construction of a new recreation and sports complex, as well as road projects, water and flood-control improvements and regional economic development.  The tax will expire at the end of next year unless it is reauthorized by voters in November.

A proposal in the Wisconsin legislature would aid victims of gun violence. The bill, introduced by Fitchburg Representative Jimmy Anderson and Milwaukee Senator Lena Taylor, would add a point-five percent tax to gun purchases in the state which would pay for a fund for victims of gun violence.  That fund would be administered by the state Department of Justice.  Anderson and Taylor are now seeking co-sponsors for that legislation.

A Milwaukee  bar is offering Packer fans a way to cash-in on Aaron Rodgers' misery this season. Jack's American Pub is offering free drinks anytime the New York Jets lose this season. You have to be at the bar 15 minutes before game time, and you have to start a tab. If the Jets lose, the bar will pay off your drink tab. Jack's Ryan Cooke says it's a way to get people to the bar when the Packers aren't playing. That's another one of the rules, the free drinks offer is only good when Rodgers is starting, and when the Packers aren't playing. New York opens its season Monday, September 11th against the Bills.