Local-Regional News April 14

The Mondovi City Council is meeting tonight. Items on the agenda include discussion and possible action on renewal of the Buffalo County Recycling Center Agreement, and update on the Pedestrian Crossing Lights on North Eau Claire Street, and discussion on cybersecurity issues at city hall. Tonights meeting begins at 5:30 at the Marten Center in Mondovi.

The Durand Police Department is using an AI assistant to generate their police reports. Code Four analyzes body camera footage to write the reports, with officers and supervisors reviewing them for errors. Police Chief Stan Ridgeway says the program has been great for their smaller force, adding they're "saving an officer four, five or six hours depending on how busy their week is." The department is currently using it for free on a trial basis but is looking to add it to the budget for 2027.

While the city of Durand repealed the vacant building ordinance this month, there have been new businesses opening in the downtown. Durand City Administrator Tracy Carlson reminds business owners or those thinking of starting a business that there are some programs available to help.  For more information on either the revolving loan fund or the facade grant program, contact Durand City Hall.

Police in Elk Mound are investigating after individuals reportedly threw an object from a bridge on Friday afternoon -- hitting a passing vehicle below. The incident happened on Interstate 94 at the South Holly Avenue overpass. The suspects are described as older male teens. Anyone with information on the incident is to contact Elk Mound Police.

Severe weather moved through the WRDN Listening area last night. According to the National Weather Service, 3 inch hail was reported near Waumandee, 2.5 inch hail was reported in Lake City, and the Buffalo County Emergency Management reported trees down just north of Alma. The weather should be quieter today with another chance of showers later this week.

Netflix has released its first trailer for its upcoming "Little House on the Prairie" series. The show is adapted from the book series by Laura Ingalls Wilder based on her childhood. It follows her family as they move to rural Minnesota from Pepin County. "Little House on the Prairie" hits Netflix on July 9th.

Gas prices are on the rise this week in Western Wisconsin. Triple-A reports the average price of regular fuel in Western Wisconsin is now three-60 per gallon -- ten-cents more per gallon than they were one week ago. In La Crosse, the average cost of a gallon of regular fuel is three-57 per gallon -- four-cents more per gallon than they were one week ago. The average cost of a gallon of regular fuel in the Badger State is three-78 per gallon.

Investigators are working to learn the cause of a Monday afternoon house fire in Bloomer. According to the Chippewa County Sheriff’s Department, firefighters responded to a fire at a home on 210th Avenue went up in flames at around 12:30 p.m. When firefighters arrived they found the home fully engulfed in flames. The home was a total loss. No one was hurt.

Goodhue County Authorities are searching for a missing 14yr old. According to the Sheriff’s Department, Peyton Knudsen was last seen at her grandmothers home in Minneapolis on April 5^th. She was last seen wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, black running pants and brown boots. Knudsen has connections in Goodhue County and anyone with information on her whereabouts is to contact the Goodhue County Sheriff’s Department.

If you haven't filed your taxes yet, it's time to file for an extension. The I R S allows anyone to fill out a one time extension to file their taxes for any reason. That extension will last until October 15th, to give you time to get your paperwork in order. This has to be done by April 15th, and does not mean an extension to pay your taxes. Make sure to make at least some payment if you owe money, and go online to I R S dot Gov to find free filing options.

A Minnesota faith leader is calling on President Trump to apologize for remarks concerning Pope Leo. Bishop Robert Barron of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester to exception to the president's recent posting on Truth Social that he doesn't want a pope who thinks it's OK for Iran to have a nuclear weapon. Barron, who is also on Trump's Religious Liberty Commission, says the commander-in-chief was inappropriate and disrespectful when he also shared an image depicting himself as Jesus Christ on his social media account. Trump also called the pontiff weak on crime and terrible for foreign policy. Bishop Barron is calling on high-ranking Catholics in the Trump administration to meet with Vatican officials for a real dialogue.

Time is running out for Wisconsin utility customers who are behind on their bills to get help. The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin says the annual winter moratorium on utility disconnections ends Wednesday. After that, electric and natural gas customers who haven’t made payment arrangements could face shutoffs. The PSC is encouraging anyone falling behind to contact their utility as soon as possible to set up a payment plan. Customers may also qualify for help through the Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program. Applications are available online at energybenefit.wi.gov.

A lab worker at the University of Wisconsin - Madison is in trouble with the law. Police say Makoto Kuroda was arrested last week on charges of recklessly endangering safety for having a chemical in the lab. It's unknown what the chemical was, but police were called when an odor was coming from the facility. The 41-year-old Madison resident was taken into custody and booked into Dane County Jail. Officials called it an isolated incident, adding there' no danger to the public.

A statewide student mental health program in Wisconsin is expanding with a new 600-thousand-dollar grant. The funding supports a school-based initiative helping districts provide counseling and behavioral health services. The program currently serves 21 districts and about 148-thousand students across the state. Officials say the funding helps reduce waitlists and expand access to mental health services.

Wisconsin Native students can now wear traditional tribal regalia at graduation ceremonies. A new law signed by Governor Tony Evers bars public and charter schools from prohibiting tribal regalia for Native students who are tribal members, descendants, or eligible for membership. Some schools already allow students to wear regalia, but there hasn't been statewide clarity in the issue. Tribal leaders say the law is an important step toward respecting cultural identity and inclusion in Wisconsin schools.

It’s Severe Weather Awareness Week, and Wisconsin Emergency Management is reminding residents to be prepared before storms hit. Public Information Officer Katie Rousonelos says it’s important to know your safe spot during a tornado warning — ideally a basement or an interior room away from windows. Apartment residents should head to the lowest level possible. She also recommends having an emergency plan, a way to communicate with family, and an emergency kit with food, water, flashlights, batteries, and items for kids. More preparedness tips are available on the Wisconsin Emergency Management website. 

Local-Regional News April 13

 

The City of Durand has approved a contract with Dahlby Conservation Services to harvest timber on city owned land. Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren says there are four tracts of land that will be harvested.  The city is paying Dahlby just over $6600 to market the timber for harvesting and the city is hoping to receive between $30,000 -$40,000 in the sale of the harvested timber.

Buffalo County has adopted a new Public Nuisance Property Ordinance. This ordinance provides a structured approach to addressing properties that generate repeated calls for service, criminal activity, or ongoing disturbances that negatively impact surrounding neighborhoods. The goal is to hold property owners accountable while working collaboratively to resolve issues before they escalate. The ordinance outlines that properties may be identified as a nuisance when they are associated with repeated violations, unlawful activity, or behaviors that disrupt public peace. Once identified, property owners will be notified and given the opportunity to correct the issue. Continued violations may result in enforcement actions, including citations and cost recovery measures.

Buffalo County emergency crews participated in a mass casualty training exercise in Alma on Saturday morning. The training scenario simulated a crash between a vehicle and a school bus where the bus rolled over with multiple victims trapped inside. Emergency crews practiced patient triage, vehicle extrication, extrication of patients from a school bus, as well as scene management.

Dunn County officials want 300 people with private wells to have their water tested free for nitrates this summer. County staff will visit each participating property, collect a water sample and bring it to the laboratory for nitrate analysis at no cost to the homeowner. The testing is open to anyone with a well within Dunn County.

A person was killed in an officer-involved shooting Thursday morning in Chippewa Falls. The Wisconsin Department of Criminal Investigation says just before 11 a.m. on Thursday, police officers were called to a hotel in Chippewa Falls for several subjects wanted by police. When officers arrived, one person fled on foot. During the chase, police said the person brandished what they believed to be a handgun and then jumped over a patio railing. The officer fired their weapon and struck the subject. Aid was rendered but the person died at the scene. No other people or officers were injured. No word if a weapon was recovered. Police told news media there was one person in custody and the investigation was ongoing.

Authorities are confirming the name of the man whose body was pulled Friday morning from the Jump River in Chippewa County. Seventy-eight-year-old Balsam Lake resident Gary Ebensperger went fishing Thursday and his family reported him missing when he failed to return home. He was found in the water the next day.

Prison for an Eau Claire man convicted on federal drug charges. Jason Bloedow was arrested last year as investigators say he was headed back into Wisconsin after having picked up methamphetamine in Minnesota for the purposes of distributing it here. He has been sentenced to ten years in prison.

Charges could be pending after authorities executed a search warrant at a vape shop in St Croix Falls. The Polk County Sheriff's Office, along with the St Croix Valley Drug Taskforce, and St Croix Falls Police Department searched the St Croix Tobacco and Vape on Tuesday. The Taskforce was aware that many products sold in the business weren't in compliance with Wisconsin state law. A trailer load of evidence was seized from the business. Several products that were previously sold at the shop showed levels of THC delta-9 exceeding the allowable limit.

In Northwest Wisconsin, an election decided by a coin flip. Almena is a village of just over 700 residents in Barron County. Last Tuesday’s election had three seats for village trustee, with five candidates on the ballot. As results were tallied, the third and fourth candidates each had 65 votes, a tie. Village clerk-treasurer Kim Bauer said the candidates, Derrick Koehn and incumbent Kathy Rockow were contacted and met for a coin flip. Rockow chose heads. The coin flip was tails, meaning Koehn won. Rockow could call for a recount, but Bauer said no one is challenging the results and the coin flip stands.

Olmsted County officials say they mistakenly overcharged one-point-five million dollars in property taxes. County Administrator Travis Gransee says it was all due to a data entry error that was a human mistake. He added that internal controls have been put in place to prevent similar mishaps. Gransee says the mistake will be rectified his staff will recommend the one-point-five million dollars will be collected and allocated to the 2027 budget.

At the Capitol on Thursday, Universities of Wisconsin System Regents told their side of the story to a state Senate committee following this week’s firing of President Jay Rothman. Regent President Amy Bogost and Regent Timothy Nixon said there was nothing unusual about the process that led to Rothman’s firing, and that he knows that they cannot comment unless Rothman waives his right to confidentiality.

A two-year-old child is dead in Wisconsin after being shot by his four-year-old sibling. Authorities in Fond du Lac County say the four-year-old found a loaded gun in a vehicle Friday morning in the village of Lamartine and it discharged, striking the two-year-old. Investigators say a parent had briefly went inside the home when the shooting happened. First responders attempted lifesaving efforts, but the child died at the scene.

Dodge County Sheriff Dale Schmidt is filing a federal defamation lawsuit over allegations an Illinois woman was detained by ICE. The suit says Sundas "Sunny" Naqvi's claims she was held for around 40 hours in Chicago and Wisconsin are a hoax. Schmidt cites surveillance video, hotel records, and federal data showing Naqvi was staying at a hotel and traveling freely during the alleged incident. The lawsuit also names Cook County Commissioner Kevin Morrison, who supported Naqvi's claims. Schmidt is seeking one-million-dollars in damages from each defendant.

The Wisconsin DHS is investing 31-million dollars in opioid settlement funds. Health officials made the announcement Thursday, saying the state will get 14-point-five-million dollars from last year and 16-point-five-million dollars this year. DHS says they'll use the money to support prevention programming, reduce overdose deaths, increase access to treatment and invest in recovery services. The state saw a drop in opioid deaths from 2023-to-2024, with the health officials saying they'll continue to invest in helping those in need.

A Cudahy High School teacher is facing felony drug charges. An FBI official says Joshua Beck discovered meth and drug paraphernalia in his home Thursday. Agents had originally raided his home on a child porn search warrant. School officials say he's no longer working at the school. Beck had his initial appearance yesterday and is being held on a five-thousand dollar cash bond.

Local-Regional News April 10

 

The City of Durand has repealed the vacant building ordinance. The ordinance charged property owners a fee if their property was empty. Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren says the ordinance wasnt enforceable and wasn’t accomplishing what was hoped. The city hopes to use economic development to fill empty properties in the city.

Those wanting to camp at Tarrant Park will now have to reserve their campsite online. Durand City Administrator Tracy Carlson says the city now has on line reservations on the city website. The Tarrant Park Campground will be reopening later this spring.

The Pepin County Sheriffs Department and St. Johns Lutheran Church are hosting a presentation tonight on sextortion awareness. Sextortion is when someone on the internet convinces a child or adult to sent sexual photos and then threaten to put those photos on the internet unless the victim pays money. Pepin County Sheriff Joel Wener says the presentation will provide tools for parents to talk to their children about this issue. Debby Schyta, Elecutive Director of Just Talk to Them-Keeping Young people safe online will be the featured speaker. Tonights event is free and begins at 6pm at St. Johns Lutheran Church in Durand.

The new mayor of Menomonie says he will remain committed to his opposition to the construction of a data center. Matthew Crowe believes the controversy over the data center led to his victory on election night. Crowe told WQOW that the data center project will remain dead even if a developer resubmits a proposal. He also said he wants to update zoning codes to deter data center developments. When Crowe is sworn in as mayor, it will be the first time in 16yrs Menomonie has had a new mayor.

The Dunn County Highway Department is announcing that seasonal weight restrictions on county highways will be lifted on Monday. With the frost out of the ground, roadbeds have regained strength to handle heavier loads. The weight restrictions will be lifted once signs are removed.

Pepin County Land Conservation has announced that Holden Campground is now open for reservations. Those wanting to reserve a campsite must reserve that site online through the Pepin County Website. Over the last few years, the park has undergone some renovations and improvements including the installation of showers and bathrooms, expanded campsites and other new amenities.

The Wabasha City Pool will be switching to all online registrations this year for Swimming Lessons, the purchase of all types of Pool Passes, and to reserve Pool Parties.  Online reservations for swimming lessons will open on Monday. Visit the City of Wabasha website to register. The city pool is expected to open on June 11.

The Augusta School District is facing budget cuts after voters rejected a $750,000 operational referendum. District leaders say they will now have to make staffing cuts and program changes to reduce expenses for the next school year. The district will look at asking voters for another operational referendum in the fall or spring, but if that is also rejected, district leaders warn that even more significant cuts will be needed to balance the budget.

Governor Tony Evers signs a bill funding UW - Madison's NIL deals. $14.6 million will go towards to the University's athletic department, while also writing existing name‑image‑likeness practices into state law. Evers issued a partial veto to adjust language he said could cause confusion about how the money can be used, giving UW more flexibility to manage athletic facility debt. While UW–Madison will receive the largest share, the law also directs $200,000 each to UW–Milwaukee and UW–Green Bay for athletic facility debt service. It also formalizes rules allowing student‑athletes to profit from their name, image and likeness, while barring endorsements of tobacco, alcohol, gambling or illegal activity. It also creates a new public‑records exemption for NIL agreements. Evers signed and vetoed a number of bills on Wednesday.

A Wisconsin city is approving a first-of-its-kind referendum targeting data center construction. According to unofficial results published by the county, voters in the city of Port Washington approved the referendum with about 66 percent support. Now future large-scale projects that receive tax benefits will be required to secure approval from local voters. Data center construction across the country has faced growing opposition from local communities over the past year due to concerns about rising electricity prices, water usage and other environmental impacts.

An author with more than 250 books to his name is speaking at the University of Wisconsin - Madison's spring commencement. The school announced James Patterson would be the speaker for this spring's graduation ceremony at Camp Randall on May 9th. Patterson's wife Susan is a graduate of UW - Madison, and the couple provides scholarship support to more than 150 Badger students each year, to go along with other efforts to fund literacy-focused programs. Patterson is also a multi-time Emmy Award winner, and more than 100 of his books have reached number 1 New York Times bestseller status.

The Madison Children's Museum is celebrating its largest gift ever. The group announced philanthropist Jerry Frautschi provided a six-and-a-half-million-dollar gift to the museum before he passed away. Officials explained this latest gift will go toward maintenance, upgrades, and other needs for the facility. Frautschi was no stranger to gifting the Madison Children's Museum, donating five-million dollars to the center back in 2005. He also gave millions more during the COVID-19 pandemic and to the facilities fund.

No charges will be filed against Green Bay Mayor Eric Genrich for recording devices installed at City Hall. Microphones were installed in 2021 and 2022 at Genrich’s direction, though they were removed after a court’s order in March 2023. The case was reviewed for possible criminal charges by West Allis police. Fond du Lac County District Attorney Eric Toney was appointed as a special prosecutor to review the case. Toney, a Republican, consulted with former Democratic Door County District Attorney Joan Korb to create a bipartisan review. Noting that Genrich acted with the advice of the city attorney, Toney said charges are not warranted.

Milwaukee will be joining a number of other Midwest cities for inclusion in the Michelin Guide. The publication tours restaurants across the world to showcase the best a city has to offer, and a Michelin star can propel lesser known venues to notoriety. Visit Milwaukee CEO Peggy Willams Smith says the decision by Michelin to include Milwaukee shows it is one of the best culinary destinations in the world. The other cities on the list are Cleveland, Detroit, Indianapolis, Minneapolis, and Pittsburgh.

Local-Regional News April 9

 

The City of Durand has passed an ordinance to allow ATV/UTV’s to use the Hwy 10 Bridge to cross the Chippewa River. Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren says its hoped the bridge will be open for ATV traffic by July. Before the Bridge is open to ATV/UTV traffic, the Town of Waubeek and Pepin County must also pass ordinances allowing the use of the bridge.

One person was injured in a single vehicle accident in River Falls Township on Saturday. According to the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department, 38yr old Jacob Figi of River Falls was traveling eastbound on 770^th Ave, when he lost control and went into the ditch. Figi was taken to Regions Hospital in St. Paul.

A former Glenwood City School District Superintendent is facing jail time. This comes after a forensic audit showed the district reimbursed Timothy Johnson 75-thousand dollars for graduate courses he claimed to have completed, despite never have completing the courses. Johnson was also accused of placing over 300-thousand dollars of district funds into investments not compliant of Wisconsin statutes. The judge ordered him to serve three years in prison and three years of extended supervision during his sentencing Tuesday.

A former Durand-Arkansaw Student has been named the new head coach for The University of Wisconsin-Stout women's basketball program. Director of Athletics Erin Sullivan announced the hiring of Sam Clayton for the role. Clayton is the 10th head coach in program history. Sullivan said Clayton's "commitment to building relationships, developing student-athletes, and leading with purpose will have a meaningful impact on our program." Clayton said the position means "a great deal to me, not only because of the tradition and potential of the team, but also because it brings me closer to home." Clayton was a player for Durand-Arkansaw Girls Basketball from 2006-2009.

The new Police Chief in the City of Whitehall is introducing himself. In a post on Facebook, Eduardo Hernandez said he began his career in law enforcement in 2015 with the Arcadia Police Department as a part-time patrolman. He was then hired as a full-time deputy for the Trempealeau County Sheriff's Office in 2016. Hernandez says he looks forward to serving the City of Whitehall with dedication, professionalism, and commitment.

Work is underway on the replacement of the Bainbridge pedestrian bridge over I-90 in La Crosse County. The Bainbridge bridge is one of three I-90 bridges being rehabbed over the course of the summer. The bridge is currently closed for pedestrians and drivers can expect single lane closures along I-90. Construction on these bridges is expected to be completed by August 31st.

A Birchwood man is being sentenced to prison after his involvement in a child pornography case. Authorities reviewed multiple Snapchat messages between Tyler Sprague and another person, with the messages being sexual in nature. Investigators later found files of child pornography on his cell phone and laptop. Sprague was sentenced to ten years of prison and five years of extended supervision.

The Chippewa Valley Homebuilder’s Foundation awarded $8,000 worth of tools to schools across western Wisconsin. Durand-Arkansaw, Elk Mound, and Mondovi were among the 15 schools receiving the tools. The tools can be replacements for old, outdated equipment, or they can be something brand new. Organizers say every program they help has different needs. Over 2,200 students are expected to be impacted by donations this coming school year.

A Minnesota DNR officer is recovering after falling from a deer stand last week. According to the Minnesota DNR, officer Annette Schlag was removing a deer stand in the Whitewater Wildlife Management Area near Plainview last week when she fell 20 feet. Schlag was able to reach rescuers, and the Minnesota Air Rescue Team airlifted Schlag from the scene.

Questions remain after the firing of Universities of Wisconsin President Jay Rothman. Business group leaders and lawmakers say the move by the UW Board of Regents is difficult to understand. Rachel Ver Velde with Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce says the Regents praised Rothman’s performance, then dismissed him anyway. Republican lawmakers are now seeking answers. State Senator Rob Hutton says unconfirmed Regents will be questioned at a hearing today, calling the decision disruptive to the system. In an interview airing Sunday on WISN’s UpFront, Rothman says he won’t fight the decision, but still doesn’t know why he was fired.

Wisconsin US Senator Tammy Baldwin wants to know why the mail is so slow. Baldwin has written a letter to the Postmaster General with questions about long-term delays and staffing shortages at post offices across Wisconsin. Week long delays have been reported in Madison and Brown Deer, in the Milwaukee area. Baldwin says the delays affect local businesses, newspapers and Wisconsin families who rely on the Postal Service for prescriptions, bills and voting. The Madison Democrat expressed her frustration on the matter as she has reached out to the US Postal Service before about mail delivery issues.

Tracking spending the race for Wisconsin Supreme Court. The Brennan Center for Justice spending tracker showed total spending on television ads of just under $3.6 million. The bulk - $2,932,549 - by the campaign of liberal Appeals Court Judge and former Democratic state lawmaker Chris Taylor, who won 60% of the vote. Conservative Judge Maria Lazar spent $332,072, outside groups spent a total of $329,003 on TV ads across both campaigns. Those amounts are dwarfed by last year’s record setting Supreme Court race, in which total spending by the campaigns and outside groups – including Elon Musk - exceeded $100,300,000.

Recognition for workplace safety in Wisconsin. Wisconsin Safety Council announced winners of the organization’s 32nd annual Workplace Safety Awards this week. Sponsored by the Department of Workforce Development and M3 Insurance, they honor employers that demonstrate a commitment to workplace safety. The awards were distributed based on company size in three categories: Manufacturing; Agriculture, Transportation, Utilities & Other; and Construction. The Hydrite Chemical Co. of La Crosse was the only Western Wisconsin Business recognized.

There are new regulations for Wisconsin's general inland fishing season which opens in less than a month. The Department of Natural Resources says the 2026–27 general inland fishing season opens statewide May 2nd. The DNR is reminding anglers to review new regulations before heading out. Among the changes: inland trout season opened April fourth and runs through October 15th, the muskie season now opens statewide May second, and a catch‑and‑release sturgeon season starts June sixth on select waters. Anyone sixteen and older needs a fishing license, available through the DNR’s Go Wild system. More info can be found on the DNR's website.

Wisconsin families are living in a state with below average health care for kids. That's according to a new study by finance website WalletHub, which ranked all states and Washington, D.C. based on healthy kids and keeping them that way. The study used several key factors, including the number of pediatricians in each state and kids in excellent health. Wisconsin was ranked 32nd overall, but ranked in the top ten in two of the major categories. Those were the kids' nutrition and obesity, and oral health categories.

Brad Paisley is performing at the 2026 Minnesota State Fair. The three-time Grammy winner will take the stage on September 3rd. He will perform alongside special guest Avery Anna. This year's Grandstand act will also feature TLC, Salt-N-Pepa, Rod Stewart and more.

Local-Regional News April 8

 

Patrick Milliren has been re-elected as Mayor of Durand. Unofficial results from yesterday’s election show Milliren defeating challenger Herb Schneider 331-221. Durand City Council members Hooker, Kavanaugh and Weisenbeck were all unopposed and re-elected to the council. The city had mailed 53 absentee ballots, and 44 of those were returned.

The Durand City Council is meeting tonight. Items on the agenda include discussion and possible action on amending Ordinance 535 which would allow ATV/UTV use of the Hwy 10 Bridge, repeal of the vacant building ordinance and approval of an agreement for timber sales with Dahlby Conservation Services. Tonights meeting begins at 6pm at Durand City Hall.

Among other races settled by voters on election day in Western Wisconsin was the contest for Eau Claire City Council president. Former District 3 representative Jeremy Gragert prevailed in that contest over Scott Rogers. In some of the other regional contests, voters in the Fall Creek School District and Eleva-Strum School District passed referendums. Matthew Crowe defeated incumbent Randy Knaack and will become Menomonie's next mayor.

Wisconsin voters on Tuesday selected Democratic-backed Chris Taylor to serve on the state Supreme Court. Unofficial results show Taylor beat her opponent Maria Lazar by 20 percentage points. In claiming victory, Taylor said that her win shows Wisconsin voters believe people should be at the center of government and the priority of the judiciary.

The Chippewa County Highway Department is notifying property owners and the public that agricultural activities and encroachments within county highway right-of-way areas are prohibited under Wisconsin law. Agricultural activities that were observed in the right of way in 2025 include plowing, cultivating, planting and the placement of crops, fences, equipment, or other materials. Those activities can obstruct drainage systems, hinder roadside visibility and compromise roadway safety. The highway department is asking for voluntary compliance to avoid the need for enforcement measures.

Wabasha County has announced a partnership with CredibleMind, expanding access to convenient and confidential mental wellbeing resources for community members. The partnership will offer digital content for county employees, health care providers and community organizations engagement and personalized mental health resources for all residents in Wabasha County. The resources will be available 24-7.

The Minnesota National Guard has been activated to provide emergency assistance in Winona County after a cyber attack . According to authorities, the attack happened on Monday and has impaired the county’s ability to deliver emergency and municipal services. The guard is providing cyber protection support to continue municipal operations. County officials have been working with with Minnesota Information Technology Services, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the League of Minnesota Cities, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and external cybersecurity experts.

Authorities are investigating after the recent discovery of a body in Rusk County. Stevens Point resident Jade Olson was found dead last Friday in a wooded area just north of Ladysmith. His vehicle was parked nearby. There has been no word on Olson's cause of death.

The president of Wisconsin's public university system is being expelled. The Universities of Wisconsin Board of Regents voted last night to fire Jay Rothman following roughly 20 minutes of private discussion. A press release said Rothman's tenure will end immediately, and vice president of university relations Chris Patton will take over in the interim. Rothman was hired to the role in 2022, and previously served as CEO for a Milwaukee law firm. Regents are now tasked with finding a permanent successor to lead Wisconsin's 13-university system.

New data tracks losses in the teaching profession in Wisconsin. A report from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction shows just fifty‑two percent of new teachers are still in K-12 public school classrooms by their eighth year. Retention is even lower among special education teachers, at just forty‑three percent. The report also finds nearly thirty percent of newly trained educators never enter Wisconsin classrooms. State Superintendent Jill Underly says pay remains a key issue, noting mid‑career teacher compensation is more than twenty percent lower than in 2010, after inflation. Underly warns without stronger state investment, Wisconsin’s educator shortage will continue to grow.

The number of those filing for unemployment for the first time are increasing across Wisconsin. That's according to the latest data from the U.S. Department of Labor, which shows that for the week ending March 28th, there were more than 44-hundred first time filings in the state. That is more than 800-more filings compared to the week before. Nationally, the number of filings decreased compared to the week prior.

Hospital costs in Wisconsin are rising far faster than family paychecks, according to a new report. Analysis from the University of Wisconsin’s Center for Research on the Wisconsin Economy finds hospital service costs have climbed nearly three times faster than the state’s median household income. The report also shows Wisconsin hospitals charge the fourth‑highest prices in the nation for family health insurance premiums. Researchers say greater price transparency could play a key role in slowing the growth of healthcare costs for patients.

Former Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan is losing another fight in court. A motion to overturn her conviction for obstructing federal immigration agents was denied by a judge yesterday. Dugan's legal team tried to claim what happened could be considered "part of a judge's job," but the judge rejected that, adding he made the same note in a motion to dismiss the case. A jury convicted Dugan of felony obstruction in December for helping a man in her courtroom evade an immigration arrest. Jurors cleared her of a separate misdemeanor charge tied to concealing someone from discovery and arrest.

A judge is siding with the Trump administration and is allowing it to withhold Medicaid funds from Minnesota. The state was requesting a judge to prevent the administration from withholding a quarter-billion dollars in Medicaid funding. However, the judge ruled on Monday that Minnesota hasn't shown the administration broke the law. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison argues that this is part of President Trump's reckoning and retribution against the state. Vice President J.D. Vance said the funds will be reinstated once Minnesota complies with a corrective action plan.

Wisconsin ranks among the top states for remote work. That's according to a new report from Wallethub. Electricity costs and access to broadband internet are credited with making putting Wisconsin at the 28th best place to work remotely. The state ranked fifth in having the most cyber crime per capita. Iowa ranked at the bottom of all the states for working from home.

Local-Regional News April 7

Crews began removing trees along Madison Street yesterday as the Madison Street Reconstruction project began. Durand City Administrator Tracy Carleson says the project will last through the summer. Crews also began blocking the intersections along Madison Street and will begin the staging of construction equipment for the project. The City of Durand has a webpage on its website with updates on the project.

Sexual assault and child abuse charges are being filed against an Eau Claire man in Buffalo County. Investigators say that 38-year-old Kyle Dean Vaughn abused three young people between December of 2017 and April of 2023 in Mondovi. Vaughn is in custody and is being held on a $25,000 cash bond and has a court appearance scheduled for tomorrow. If convicted of all the charges, Vaughn faces over 30yrs in prison.

Authorities are sharing more details in the shooting of a man in the Township of Washington this past Friday. Dakotah Blackcoon was shot at around 3 a.m. at a location on Mall Drive and sustained non life-threatening injuries. The suspect has been identified as Cameron Blackcoon -- the victim's son. Cameron Blackcoon was arrested following the incident.

A Whitehall man is facing charges in Jackson and Trempealeau counties. Seth Day is accused in a March 7th shooting incident in the Village of Taylor in which police say he was riding a skateboard and firing shots that damaged two vehicles. Meanwhile, in Trempealeau County, he faces half-a-dozen counts of bail-jumping.

A suspect accused of making threats against a St. Croix County church has now been charged. Leaders with the Faith Community Church in Hudson contacted authorities last Wednesday morning with word that the church had received a bomb threat. A subsequent search by police found no signs of an explosive device. Bryant Camp later surrendered to police in connection with the incident. Camp has now been charged with making terrorist threats and causing a bomb scare.

The search continues in the Mississippi River for an elderly woman who was last seen in Winona. The Winona County Sheriff's Office says 72-year-old Patricia Sweningson went missing in mid-March. Search crews surveyed the river on Saturday and they were not successful. Sweningson is described as five-foot six woman weighing 110 pounds. Anyone that knows her whereabouts is urged to contact the Winona Police.

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation has announced nearly $50 million in grants were awarded through the first round of Agricultural Roads Improvement Program (ARIP) funding that was a result of bipartisan budget negotiations and approved by the governor in the 2025-27 Biennial Budget. Here in Western Wisconsin, the Town of Naples in Buffalo County received a $389,000 grant to improve Gonty Road, the Town of Spring Brook received a $954,000 grant to improve 810^th Street, and the Town of Arcadia in Trempealeau County received a $2.3 Million grant to improve River Valley Road. The funding is focused on improving local rural roads used by farmers and producers to transport agricultural and forestry products that support Wisconsin’s more than $116 billion agricultural industry statewide.

As the annual winter moratorium on utility disconnections ends on April 15^th. Xcel Energy is reminding qualified customers that help is available through the company’s new Residential Arrears Assistance Program and other payment assistance options. Customers who remain past due after April 15 and do not have payment arrangements in place may be at risk of disconnection. Xcel Energy customers who need help paying their bills should call 1-800-895-4999, and customer representatives will help set up payment arrangements and refer them to the appropriate agencies to determine if they’re eligible for assistance.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is reminding you to be bear aware as black bears emerge from their winter dens. As warmer weather draws more people outdoors, the DNR says bear sightings and encounters increase across the state. Black bears, especially active in spring, are often drawn to neighborhoods by food smells. Officials urge people to secure trash, remove bird feeders, bring pet food inside, and clean grills. If you encounter a bear, stay calm, make loud noises, and give it a clear escape route. The DNR says prevention is the best protection against black bear encounters. More info can be found on the DNR's website.

PFAS funding is released as Governor Tony Evers signs a pair of bills. Following months of negotiations with Republican lawmakers, Evers on Monday signed the bills to facilitate release of $125 million from the PFAS Trust Fund to combat “forever chemicals” contamination statewide. The bipartisan Assembly Bill 130 and Assembly Bill 131 passed the state Senate unanimously last month. The $125 million was allocated as part of the 2023-24 state budget, but Evers vetoed the legislation, calling it "not good enough." The bills he signed will allocate some $80 million from the trust fund to a community grant program, and amend the state’s Spills Law so fire departments, farmers, landowners, and some business owners, will not be held liable for PFAS contamination they didn’t cause.

An 8-year-old Wisconsin girl who was the subject of an AMBER Alert over the weekend was found safe in Nebraska. The alert was posted Saturday after police in Wautoma learned that Betty Lentz had taken daughter Irene Lentz to meet 44-year-old Joseph Nicpon. Nicpon was released from prison on supervised release late last month after being convicted of child incest in 2017. Police said Nicpon is prohibited from having contact with Betty and Irene. After the Wisconsin Department of Corrections was notified that Nicpon removed his GPS tracking bracelet in Adams County, the Nebraska State Patrol located all three on Saturday afternoon near Omaha. Nicpon was taken into custody without incident, and Betty Lentz was taken into custody for questioning by Wisconsin authorities.

The hiring of an officer by a police department in Washington County is under scrutiny. The Kewaskum Village Board filed charges through its Police and Fire Commission against police Chief Thomas Bishop and Lieutenant Bryan Frank. That's after an investigation found what the board called negligence in the hiring of Officer Jeremy Haske, who was previously fired from the Juneau County Sheriff’s Office in 2010 over several allegations including mishandling evidence and fabricating information. The board’s investigation questions the vetting procedures in the hiring of Haske, who is currently on paid administrative leave. The Police and Fire Commission will next decide if any disciplinary action will be taken against Bishop and Frank

Governor Tony Evers is starting the process of issuing the state’s first commutations in more than 25 years. Evers announced Friday he’s creating a new advisory board to review cases and recommend sentence reductions. Unlike pardons issued for people who’ve already completed their sentences, commutations can shorten prison or supervision time. While Evers has granted a record-breaking 2,000 pardons, no commutations have occurred since 2001, when then Governor Tommy Thompson granted seven. Evers says the move is aimed at improving public safety, reducing repeat offenses, and easing overcrowded prisons. He’s also prioritizing people sentenced as minors, including those serving life sentences. Certain crimes, including sexual offenses and child abuse, will not be eligible.

A Wisconsin anti-ICE activist accused of interrupting an Easter service at a St. Paul church is no longer facing charges. Four misdemeanor counts were dismissed against Emily Heather Phillips, including committing offensive, noisy or obscene behavior and disturbing a religious service at the church. She was set free today after spending the night in jail. Phillips defense attorney said her client was on public property across the street from Cities Church yesterday while she was with several other protestors. The lawyer added that Phillips was using a blow horn and speaker before she was arrested.

As spring arrives, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is reminding people to keep their distance from young wild animals. Officials say animals that appear abandoned are often being cared for by a parent nearby. Interacting with them — or leaving human scent — can put them at risk by attracting predators or causing parents not to return. The DNR says well‑intentioned rescues often do more harm than good and remind you it’s illegal to rehabilitate wildlife without a license. More tips can be found on the DNR’s website.