Local-Regional News June 6

The case of a man charged with hiding a corpse, obstruction of an officer, and animal mistreatment has been settled in Buffalo County. Arthur McMullin had been arrested and charged last year after authorities found the decomposing body of his wife and 70 dogs and cats in their home in Fountain City. McMullin was found guilty of obstruction of an officer and not guilty due to mental disease or defect on the other charges and was sentenced to time served. McMullin will remain in jail until the Department of Health conducts a mental health examination to determine if he should be committed to institutional care or have a conditional release.

With the recent announcement of two people in the Twin Cities area infected with measles, health officials are reminding everyone that two doses of the measles vaccine are the best way to prevent the spread of the disease. Jessica Schrauth with the Pepin County Health Department says that your age may determine if you need that second dose.  If you are unsure of your vaccination status, the Pepin County Health Department can help find that information.

Durand Fun Fest kicks off this afternoon at Memorial Park. Fun Fest Chair Rhonda Sweeney says there will be music throughout the weekend.  Other events include the car show, golf tournament, carnival and the grand parade is set for Sunday at 2pm.

Governor Tony Evers approved a regionwide I-94 Bridge maintenance work project. Evers signed a contract with prime contractor Thunder Road for sealing decks and pier columns on bridges on or over I-94 in St. Croix, Dunn, Eau Claire, Trempealeau, and Jackson counties. Work is scheduled to start on Sunday.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is seeking the public’s help on the ongoing investigation into the cause of a fire that destroyed the 68-year-old Tank Creek Bridge in Trempealeau County on the Great River State Trail. The fire occurred in the evening on Thursday, May 15. No injuries were reported; however, the bridge was a total loss. The cause of the fire is under investigation, and the public’s help is needed. The DNR asks the public to share any information with the DNR’s confidential Violation Hotline online or by calling 1-800-847-9367.

An area business has been recognized by Pierce County Economic Development. ALCIVIA has been awarded the Pierce County Economic Boost Award at the annual Pierce County Economic Development Awards Ceremony, held on May 15. The award recognizes ALCIVIA’s expansion project in Hager City, Wisconsin, which has generated significant economic benefits for the region. The Hager City grain facility boasts 3.9 million bushels of storage and the ability to handle up to 60,000 bushels per hour along with rail access. The Economic Boost Award is presented to a project, initiative, or collaboration that has driven significant economic advancement in Pierce County through job creation, investment, or business attraction.

The 2025 WIAA State Track and Field Championships will kick off today in La Crosse. Over 22-thousand people are expected to attend the two-day event. The event is anticipated to bring in four-million-dollars to the region according to city officials. Meanwhile, La Crosse Police warn of major traffic congestion due to the event

Secretary of State Sarah Godlewski launches a new database aimed at increasing transparency. The new searchable database is part of the new Secretary of State portal and provides streamlined access to public government documents. Godlewski says for the first time, anyone with internet access can search and download official public records like oaths of office, executive orders, and pardons. In addition to free access, certified copies can be ordered directly through the portal for a small fee. More information can be found on the Secretary of State's website.

The U.S. Department of Justice is accusing the Wisconsin Elections Commission of violating federal law. On Wednesday the DOJ sent a letter to the commission threatening to withhold federal funding. It accuses the commission of not providing a complaint process for state voters. The DOJ says this violates the Help America Vote Act.

Budget negotiations between Governor Tony Evers and legislative Republicans stall. The Democratic Governor accuses Republican lawmakers of walking away from negotiations, while Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu and Joint Finance Committee co-chair Howard Marklein say Evers' spending priorities have extended beyond what taxpayers can afford. An Evers’ statement said he agreed to Republican proposals including a tax cut for certain retirees and the middle class but added that he is “…disappointed that Republican lawmakers aren't willing to reach consensus and common ground." LeMahieu and Marklein stated their confidence that the legislature will pass a 2025-27 budget that the governor will sign.

Minnesota legislators are on course for a weekend special session after exceeding a midweek deadline to finish work on the state budget. After hours of closed-door meetings held yesterday, Governor Tim Walz and legislative leaders say they are discussing plans for a special session on Saturday. The General Assembly adjourned its regular session on May 19th without a completed two-year spending plan. If the state doesn't have a budget by July 1st, it would enter a partial government shutdown, which would cause the layoff of thousands of public employees.

Take advantage of a state park during Free Fun Weekend. State park admission fees, fishing licenses, and trail passes will be waived for all visitors Saturday and Sunday. Wisconsin has 50 state parks, 15 state forests, 44 state trails, and 84,000 miles of rivers and streams for you to check out. Free Fishing clinics will also be held over the course of the weekend at state and municipal properties to instruct beginning anglers. Visit the DNR Events calendar and Wisconsin State Parks webpage for a list of events and more information on state properties.

A Madison Girl Scout has set a new state record for most cookies sold. Badgerland Girl Scouts say Molly Lenius sold 35-thousand-598 boxes over 13 years. Her family also set a record with more than 64-thousand boxes sold by two siblings. Lenius, a Gold Award Girl Scout, plans to study engineering and math at Iowa State University.

 

Local-Regional News June 5

 

The City of Durand will be spraying for mosquitoes tonight. The Public Works Department will begin spraying this evening at 8pm and should be done by midnight. Residents are advised to close windows in their home when the spray truck is in your neighborhood.

One person was rescued in Lake City after a vehicle entered Lake Pepin. According to the Lake City Police Department, firefighters and EMS responded to a call of a vehicle in Lake Pepin last Thursday evening. The boat landing at Roschen Park was closed for several hours during the rescue and recovery efforts. Firefighters were able to rescue the driver from the submerged vehicle and transport them to the hospital. The name of the driver was not released.

The Wisconsin Public Works Commission will be holding a public hearing on the proposed water rate increase for the city of Durand on June 30^th. The hearing will be held at Durand City Hall on June 30^th at 11am and via zoom. Visit the City of Durand Website for more information on attending the meeting via zoom. The proposed rate increase is just over 56% from current rates and would take effect later this year is approved by the PSC.

An agreement between the city of Durand and the Arkansaw Sanitary District is moving forward. Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren says there has been some minor changes to the agreement but its hoped it will be approved by the end of June.  The agreement would allow the Arkansaw Sanitary District to build a sewer line from Arkansaw to Durand to access the Durand Wastewater Treatment Facility. The city would then bill the district for the amount of water treated.

The streets around Memorial Park in Durand are closed or will be closing soon for the upcoming Fest. 2^nd Avenue East and East Wells Street are currently closed by the park and on Friday 1^st Avenue and Madison Street around the park will also be closed for events. Durand Fun Fest begins on Friday at 3:30.

The Eddy Street Bridge in Eau Claire will close on Friday for repairs. This comes after an inspection found structural flaws on the bridge, resulting in a weight limit. The repairs are expected to begin at the end of the month and take three to five days to complete. The bridge will remain open to pedestrian and bike traffic.

The City of Tomah has issued a drinking water advisory after elevated nitrate levels were found in Well 14. The well was taken offline after a test in May showed nitrate at 14-point-four milligrams per liter, above the safe limit of ten. Residents are urged not to give tap water to infants or pregnant women. Tomah is working with the Wisconsin DNR on solutions and will provide updates as available.

Bipartisan legislation introduced at the Capitol would support Wisconsin's smaller police agencies. The bill would create a pilot program providing grants to small law enforcement agencies. Those grants would cover labor costs and unreimbursed training costs tied to sending officers to the academy and six months of on-the-job training. Lawmakers hope the bill would address staffing shortages that are currently affecting small police departments statewide. The bill was introduced by Democratic lawmakers Senator Brad Pfaff and Representative Clinton Anderson and Republicans Senator Jesse James and Representative Bob Donovan.

The University of Wisconsin is taking steps to improve healthcare in rural communities of the state. The Orion Initiative aims to invest in the power of partnership between the medical community and frontline rural providers for better healthcare in rural areas. University officials say this will be accomplished by providing full scholarships to students who show a strong commitment to practicing medicine in rural Wisconsin communities post-graduation. The Orion Initiative has been funded by a private donation.

Over a thousand citations were given to Wisconsin drivers for failing to buckle their seat belts. The Wisconsin State Patrol handed out more than 1,300 citations during its two-week "Click It Or Ticket" special enforcement program from May 19th through June 1st, to remind drivers of the importance of seat belt safety. The State Patrol points out that there were 176 deaths last year from crashes where drivers or passengers weren’t wearing seat belts. The campaign gives state troopers an opportunity to educate drivers and passengers on the benefits of buckling up, which is a top priority year-round.

Wisconsin Democratic lawmakers are pushing for a new package of gun control bills. The proposed legislation was introduced yesterday and contains four bills aimed at addressing gun violence in the state. One of the bills proposes a 48 hour waiting period for all gun purchases. Another calls for law enforcement or a family member to petition a judge to temporarily remove guns from someone deemed an extreme risk to themselves or others.

A bill to provide a film tax credit in Wisconsin and establish a state film office has moved out of a Senate committee. Wisconsin Tourism Secretary Anne Sayers says the state has lost out on a lot of opportunities because productions don't want to film in the state due to a lack of a film credit. Sayers says the department has heard from plenty of producers that they'd like to film in Wisconsin and now is the time to get the bill made into law. The bill would allow companies to apply for a 30% credit equal to costs of salary or wages for Wisconsin residents working on productions. It’s now ready for a vote by the full Senate.

The Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management will start issuing its first licenses for recreational cannabis this week. Officials will conduct a pair of lotteries today. Social equity applicants will be selected for retail sales first. A separate general applicant lottery will follow. These licenses will be for those who grow, transport, manufacture, and sell cannabis. License numbers will be drawn, but names and addresses of applicants won't be posted publicly the same day.

The Wisconsin Humane Society is reducing adoption fees for the next week in an effort to open up shelter space. Dogs six months and older can be adopted for 75-dollars, while dogs who have been at the shelter for longer than average can be adopted for 25-dollars. The Humane Society is caring for 400 dogs and more than 100 are ready to go home. Discounted adoption fees will apply until next Wednesday, June 11.

More than 82-thousand Wisconsin drivers added emergency contact information to their licenses since the option was first introduced last year. The To Inform Families First Law was signed into law in 2023. Wisconsinites can add an emergency contact to their record online at WisconsinDMV-dot-gov-slash-EmergencyContact. No visit to a physical location is necessary.

Local-Regional News June 4

 

Charges have been filed in Buffalo County Court against an Alma man involved in an accident that killed two people in September. Luke Larson has been charged with two counts of Homicide by Negligent Operation of a vehicle and 2^nd -Degree Recklessly Endangering Safety in connection with the September 27^th crash in the Town of Nelson. Larson crossed the centerline of Hwy 25 and struck three motorcyclists in the southbound lane, killing two of them. Larson is due in court later this month.

Members of the Pepin County ATV/UTV Club met with city and state officials about changing a state law that would allow ATV/UTV’s to use the bridge across the Chippewa River. Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren says that while the city supports the use of the bridge for ATVs/UTVs, the state must change the law first.  10^th District State Senator Rob Stafsholt has introduced a bill that would change state law and allow the Chippewa River Bridge be used by ATV/UTV’s.

One person was injured in a single vehicle accident Sunday in Oak Grove Township. According to the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department, 16yr old Dominic Weise of Prescott was traveling eastbound on 570^th Ave when he lost control and entered the ditch. Weise was taken to Regions Hospital.

One person was injured in a single vehicle accident Friday in the Village of Bay City. According to the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department, 19yr old Angelica Oakins of Bay City was traveling southbound on Hwy 35, when she lost control and entered the ditch. Oakins was taken to Mayo-Red Wing Hospital.

The Eau Claire County Emergency Management Committee is calling for state assistance due to potential federal budget cuts. County officials say without support, the county could face challenges in the event of a natural disaster. The Trump Administration recently proposed a budget that includes nearly 650 million dollars in cuts to FEMA grants and programs. The Eau Claire County Local Emergency Planning Committee drafted a resolution to request state aid if federal funding is reduced.

An investigation is underway after a large number of bricks on the exterior wall of a tavern in downtown Eau Claire fell. This happened yesterday at Wigwam Tavern on Madison Street. No one was hurt in the incident. The owners of Wigwam say the tavern will remain open.

Two organizations are putting up a reward to find the person responsible for killing a bull elk in Jackson County earlier this year. The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation is offering a five-thousand-dollar reward and the Bear Club is offering a five-hundred-dollar reward for information leading to the successful prosecution in the elk's killing. The bull was found shot to death on private property off of East Snow Creek Road on March 14th. The elk was wearing a GPS radio collar, and the Department of Natural Resources was able to gather information about the shooting from nearby cellular trail cameras. Anyone with any information should call the Department of Natural Resources' confidential violation hotline at 1-800-847-9367.

The Wisconsin Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), in coordination with the Department of Transportation (DOT), is alerting residents about a new phishing scam targeting people via text message. Department managers say scammers are impersonating government agencies and sending fraudulent texts that direct recipients to fake websites designed to steal personal information. The Wisconsin DOT and DMV emphasize that these messages are not from them and should be ignored. Anyone who receives such a message is urged not to click on any links and to report the incident directly to the Wisconsin DOT or DMV.

At the Capitol, the clock is running on the next two-year state budget. Democratic Governor Tony Evers and Republican legislative leaders have met twice so far. The two sides are attempting to reach consensus on tax cuts while the Joint Finance Committee works on the budget. If lawmakers don't pass a new budget by the end of June, current spending levels will continue. A drawn-out impasse into late summer or fall would not be welcome by Wisconsin’s local governments and school districts, who need to know what their shared revenue and general school aids payments will be for their own budget planning. The last time that happened was in 2007, when then Governor Jim Doyle and Republican lawmakers reached a compromise in October.

The newest member of the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Board of Control is Wausau School Board President Jim Bouche (boo-SHAY), who wants to look at emerging sports like boys’ volleyball and flag football.  Bouche says he’ll be guided by what’s best for the state, not just the Wausau district. Bouche's term on the 11-member board will run through 2028.

A pair of Wisconsin Democratic Congressmembers visited an ICE detention facility in Dodge County Monday. 2nd District Representative Mark Pocan says there weren't any ICE officials on location during the visit, which made getting certain information difficult. Pocan says they couldn't get details on how many people were detained, what the makeup of the detainees was, or why they were there. Pocan says they also couldn't talk to any detainees without ICE permission. Pocan was joined by fellow Democrat Congresswoman Gwen Moore, who were conducting congressional oversight on the facility.

Charges against a Milwaukee man who admitted to framing an undocumented immigrant. A criminal complaint says 52-year-old Demetric Scott sent handwritten letters to government offices with the address of immigrant Ramon Morales-Reyes, who is facing deportation. The letters mentioned threats to kill President Donald Trump and ICE agents. Morales-Reyes, who was scheduled to testify against Scott in a criminal trial, does not read, write, or fluently speak English. Scott, who's being held in the Milwaukee County Jail on armed robbery and battery charges, admitted that he wrote everything in the letters and envelopes himself. Morales-Reyes remains at an ICE detention facility in Dodge County.

Dozens of retired state and federal judges think the case against Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan should be dismissed. Dugan is facing federal charges for allegedly obstructing Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in April, as they tried to detain Mexican immigrant Eduardo Flores-Ruat the Milwaukee County Courthouse. Flores-Ruiz was arrested outside of the courthouse a short time later, and the FBI arrested Dugan at the courthouse a week later. An amicus brief in Dugan’s case was filed Friday, signed by 138 retired judges including former federal judges appointed by Republican and Democratic presidents. Echoing arguments made by Dugan’s attorneys, the judges conclude her conduct seems in line with official acts of a judge. For that reason, she should be immune from prosecution.

An innovative effort to keep food waste out of the landfill. Dane County residents are now able to compost food scraps for free at five 24-hour drop-off sites throughout the county, with sixth to be added later this summer. Food and yard waste are among of the biggest contributors to the Dane County Landfill, making up over one-third of what gets dumped there, according to the county’s Department of Waste and Renewables. Burying food and organic waste in the landfill produces methane, a greenhouse gas that’s at least 20 times more potent than carbon dioxide. Acceptable waste includes fruit and vegetable scraps, coffee grounds and loose tea, eggshells, beans, nuts, shells, and seeds, all of which will be collected and taken to Purple Cow Organics, a regional resource for composting since 2008.

Local-Regional News June 3

 

The Durand Council has changed meeting times. Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren says the council will now meet at 6pm on the 2^nd and 4^th Wednesday of the month.  Milliren said the city council had gone to two meetings a month to have less committee meetings back in the mid 2010’s.

A plea agreement has been reached in a Dunn County child sexual assault case. 38Yr old Steven Bignell pleaded no contest to second-degree sexual assault of a child in Dunn County Court yesterday. Bignell was accused of assaulting the victim in 2022 and was sentenced to one year in jail with Huber privileges and must register as a sex offender and undergo a sex offender assessment.

The Sojourner House in Eau Claire will stay open year-round. Catholic Charities of the Diocese La Crosse announced it has secured the necessary funding to operate all year long. The shelter was facing a potential service reduction due to financial shortfalls. The funding gap was bridged through the collaboration with local government, nonprofits, and community members.

The American Red Cross is in need of blood donations. Red Cross officials report donations typically drop during the summer months. Several donation sites are available in Chippewa Valley and Menominee. Those who donate blood from now through June 30th will receive a 15-dollar gift card and a chance to win a seven-thousand-dollar gift card. More information is available online at redcrossblood-dot-org.

Two new measles cases are being reported near Western Wisconsin. The Minnesota Department of Health confirmed the cases are in the Twin Cities metro area. The first case involves an adult in Washington County, which borders Wisconsin. The other case involves an unvaccinated child from Dakota County. Health officials say the child visited Mall of America on May 24th between 5 pm and 9 pm. Both individuals are quarantined at home. Health officials warn those possibly exposed should be on the lookout for symptoms.

Canadian wildfires are causing unhealthy air quality levels in the U.S., including Wisconsin and Minnesota. The fires have caused more than 25-thousand people to be evacuated across Manitoba, Alberta, and Saskatchewan. Firefighters from Alaska, Oregon and Arizona have traveled to Canada to help fire fighting efforts. Smoke will clear in northwest Minnesota early this morning, and air quality will begin to improve from northwest to southeast from Tuesday through Wednesday morning.

Don't get scammed while booking a summer vacation. Lisa Schiller with the Better Business Bureau says you should only be working with a trusted travel agent or online booking site, rather than third parties. Also be sure to only pay with a credit card and never use strange payments like wire transfers or gift cards. If you're going to book a short term rental, don't be afraid to check a map website to see if the property that's being offered actually exists. Schiller says any deal that seems too good to be true shouldn't be trusted.

Many organizations are providing free healthy meals to kids during the summer months. The Summer Food Service Program is a federally funded program that provides free healthy meals to kids under eighteen-years-old in low-income areas. The program is to make up for the lack of free school lunches during the summer. More information about participating organizations are available at the Summer Meals for Kids Site Finder. As part of the summer school program, the Durand-Arkansaw School District will be providing lunch to students attending summer school.

No one is hurt following a structure fire at the Rochester Public Utilities facility. The blaze started Sunday night near the corner of 7th Street Northwest and Valleyhigh Drive Northwest. Officials say the flames caused major damage to the contents inside, and the structure itself had minor to moderate damage. The cause of the blaze is under investigation.

The union representing striking nurses at a Madison hospital has reached tentative agreement with management. The Service Employees International Union Wisconsin strike began Tuesday and was set to end Sunday morning. Officials with Meriter Unity Point Health announced the pending agreement in a statement Saturday. SEIU said wage increases and what it termed “historic” contract language were achieved through the strike. A Meriter nurse who was a member of the union bargaining team said management has agreed to address “key safety and security concerns.”

State of Minnesota workers will be returning to the office this week in St. Paul. Many employees have not been in the downtown area since the pandemic shutdown in 2020. Meanwhile, St. Paul city workers have been back in the office since April, but the return of State employees can give an economic boost to the recovery effort of the downtown area. Governor Tim Walz imposed a return to office policy in March that requires the state workforce to exchange working remotely for appearing in office at least 50 percent of the time.

Wisconsin's largest state forest is turning 100 years old. W X P R in Rhinelander reports a celebration is planned this weekend for the centennial of the Northern Highland American Legion state forest. The nature reserve got its start in 1904, and was expanded to include the headwaters of several major rivers including the Wisconsin River in 1925. Events include a fishing lesson, a visit by Smokey Bear and a tree planting. The party starts at 9 am this Saturday at Crystal Lake in Boulder Junction.

A pro golfer says she's O-K after an alleged attempted break-in at her Airbnb. Amari Avery competed in the U.S. Women's Open at Erin Hills this weekend. She said her and her family woke up to loud noises and saw someone at the front door on Friday. That person ended up leaving right before police arrived. No injuries were reported.

Construction of the state’s largest fully inclusive playground for all children begins this week in southeast Wisconsin. The 13-thousand square foot Never Say Never Playland in Delavan will feature ADA compliant design and construction, including wheelchair-accessible swings and merry-go-rounds, sensory-friendly zones for children with autism or sensory processing challenges, and static-free slides safe for children with cochlear implants. The city has pledged to match funds raised by the non-profit organized to build the playground up to $350,000. An estimated one-thousand volunteers are expected to help with the construction of the project. 

Local-Regional News June 2

 

One person is dead after a UTV vs Truck crash in Wabasha County Saturday. According to the Wabasha County Sheriffs Department, the accident happened near 31583 County Road 67 when a truck driven by 34yr old Jeffrey Timm collided with a UTV driven by 24yr old Skyler Helgeson. Helgeson was pronounced dead at the scene. The accident is still under investigation.

A Dunn County Man has been arrested and charged with possession of child pornography. 33Yr old Saul Perez of Colfax was arrested after a search of Perez’s home where authorities found images and videos of suspected child porn on Perez’s phone. Perez had a cash bond of $10,000 set and his next court appearance is set for July 10.

The new Durand Farmers Market starts this month. The market will be open Monday afternoon and into the evening at Memorial Park. Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren says there will be vendors and food trucks at the market. The Market will start on June 16^th at Memorial Park.

Residents of the Chippewa Valley have the opportunity to have their voices heard in a survey about the new train service planned between Eau Claire and the Twin Cities. The West Central Wisconsin Rail Coalition is conducting the survey to ask residents how they think the train should operate. Questions include preferred departure and return times, as well as how much people would be willing to pay for parking. The survey is open until June 10th.

UW-Eau Claire has a new police chief. Amanda Carrier was named the new chief last week. Carrier has been in a leadership role with the department over the past 4yrs and has been serving as acting chief since February after the retirement of former chief Jay Dobson. Carrier has been with the department for 13yrs and is a 2009 UW-Eau Claire graduate with a degree in criminal justice.

Goodhue County, as well as other Minnesota counties across the state, finds itself on the federal government’s list of sanctuary jurisdictions. This list, compiled by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), said these counties are defying federal immigration law. This list was created by an executive order to identify sanctuary jurisdictions, which are determined by factors such as compliance with federal law enforcement, information restrictions, and legal protections for illegal aliens.

One person was arrested after a hit and run accident between a UTV and a Polk County Sheriff’s Department Squad Car on Sunday. According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Department, a deputy was traveling on Hwy 35 when the squad was hit in the drivers side by a UTV, which left the scene. The UTV driver was located and arrested for hit and run and suspicion of driving while intoxicated.

Protesters assemble for a rally at the State Capitol over the weekend regarding potential Medicaid cuts. Protesters on Saturday demanded that Governor Tony Evers veto any budget that doesn't include Medicaid expansion. This comes after the U.S. House passed a bill to cut funding to Medicaid.

Six-hundred Wisconsin National Guard soldiers from Oshkosh are being deployed. A send-off ceremony was held Saturday at UW-Oshkosh. The soldiers are traveling to eventually work with America's NATO allies in the U.S. Central Command. The group will help promote security and stability in the region.

As work on the next state budget continues at the Capitol, Democrats accuse Republicans on the Joint Finance Committee of failing to adequately fund the state’s professional licensing agency. Representative Deb Andraca (an-DRAA-ca) says the Department of Safety and Professional Services has been a success story deserving of support . Committee co-chairs, Senator Howard Marklein and Representative Mark Born issued a statement that the Republican budget investment ensures the agency can continue to operate effectively and provide critical services

President Trump is cracking down on alleged "sanctuary communities." Homeland Security officials said Thursday that Milwaukee, Madison, Dane County and Shawano counties are refusing "to cooperate with federal immigration authorities." An executive order was signed last month to publicly identify states and local jurisdictions and will also be sent formal notification of non-compliance.

Attorneys for the Milwaukee County judge charged with interfering with immigration agents say she is immune from prosecution. Attorney Dean Strang argues in a brief filed Thursday that Judge Hannah Dugan is protected by 400 years of legal precedent, and that a judge has absolute authority in her own courtroom. The brief states that Dugan's arrest by the F B I is a federal overreach and a violation of the 10th Amendment which lays out states’ rights to their own governance. Federal prosecutors accuse Dugan of assisting a man sought by I C E in eluding agents by preventing them from entering her courtroom and sending the man out another exit.

A southern Wisconsin deer farm tests positive for Chronic Wasting Disease. The state Department of Agriculture reports CWD was detected in a doe at a game farm in Rock County. The farm has been placed under quarantine and monitoring, and staff from the USDA and DATCP will be on site to examine the rest of the animals. C W D is a fatal illness of the nervous system that kills deer, elk and moose and is most commonly transmitted through close contact between animals.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources wants residents to participate in this year's "Great Wisconsin Bat Count." The effort is meant to help wildlife experts gauge the state's bat population. Volunteers are asked to count bats between June 6th and 8th and then again between July 18th and 20th. The two counts help estimate the number of bat pups that have begun flying. More details can be found on the Wisconsin Bat Program website.

Local-Regional News May 30

A busy day is expected today in Durand as the Durand-Arkansaw School District is hosing a WIAA Sectional Track meet at the Bauer Built Sports Complex. Durand Arkansaw Superintendent Ryan Nelson says the event is good for students and the community.  Organizers are expecting upwards of 5,000 people to attend today. Expect increased traffic near the sports complex and along Prospect Street as the district will be running shuttle buses between the High School, Caddie Woodlawn Elementary, and the Bauer Built Sports Complex.

The City of Durand is still intending to have swimming lessons this summer. Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren says pool staff is working on becoming certified instructors and the hope is to have lessons in late July.  The pool is expected to be open in the last half of June.

Construction is set to begin Monday on Hwy C in Glencoe Township. Crews will be working on Hwy C from Hwy 95 to Konkel Valley Road for culvert replacement and milling, and replacement of the asphalt. While Hwy C will be open, expect traffic delays

Construction crews will begin work on a pavement improvement project on Hwy 53 from Golf Road in Eau Claire to 40^th Avenue in Lake Hallie starting Monday. The $10 million project will make repairs or remove and replace segments of concrete, overlay the southbound lanes, replace guardrails and signage and place new pavement markings. Hwy 53 will be down to one lane at times, and the project is expected to be completed in October.

A man charged in connection with a recent shooting in La Crosse is now in custody. Twenty-eight-year-old Diontae Booth is accused of shooting a 20-year-old woman May 15th at a residence on Fifth Avenue South. Booth is charged with first-degree intentional homicide and was taken into custody on Thursday.

Authorities are sharing the name of a woman who lost her life in an accident on Lake Wissota. Two watercraft collided on the lake last Friday night, resulting in the death of 24-year-old Elle Jo Kramschuster. The accident remains under investigation.

The Community Foundation of Dunn County awarded the Dunn County Health Department $1,000 to purchase children’s learning and development books in a variety of languages. This funding comes from the Susan Thurin Resettlement Fund. The Health Department contracts with many programs that provide learning and development books to children who use our services, but the books provided are printed in English. With this grant, the department will purchase books in languages like Spanish, Hmong, and other languages spoken in our region that are not English.

Officials across a large swath of the country are warning about smoke due to wildfires in Canada. Parts of Canada are under a state of emergency due to raging wildfires, and the smoke is heading to the central U.S. The smoke is expected in parts of Western Wisconsin and Eastern Minnesota It could continue across the country into the Carolinas by tomorrow. Experts say residents with respiratory conditions, older adults, and children should be mindful of poor air quality in their area. If residents see or smell smoke, they should stay inside or limit strenuous outdoor activity.

Minnesota-based Hormel Foods is recalling over 250-thousand pounds of canned beef stew. According to federal health officials, the nationwide recall was issued due to potential contamination with wood fragments. The recalled products have a "FEB 2028" best by date" printed on the 20-ounce cans containing "Dinty Moore Beef Stew." There have been no confirmed reports of injury, however, consumers who have the product at home are encouraged to throw it away or return it to the place of purchase.

A Cumberland Police K9 named Kilo helped officers find almost 500 grams of meth during a traffic stop, leading to the arrest of one suspect. Driver Jeffery Snider was arrested after Kilo alerted to the drugs and police found meth and weed in the car. The street value of the drugs is estimated at about 25-thousand-dollars. This is Kilo's third successful narcotics deployment since finishing training one week ago.

Wisconsin Senator Tammy Baldwin toured the Peck Family Farm in Chippewa Falls Wednesday to talk with farmers about how trade and tariff uncertainties are affecting their operation. Baldwin says not only are farmers' input prices uncertain, but so are farmers' export markets.  Some in Congress believe that only Congress and impose tariffs and that congress should re-assert its control over the executive branch. Baldwin says the Senate did pass a resolution revoking the emergency declaration on which the Canadian Tariffs were based, but it was not brought up for a vote in the House.  Trade agreements are usually ratified by Congress, but because the President does not have Trade Promotion Authority, if any of those agreements are brought before Congress, they could be subject to amendments by any member, thus endangering the agreement. Baldwin believes that the current trade agreement between the US and UK is not a formal agreement but rather a handshake agreement.

U.S. Senator Ron Johnson says the House passed Big Beautiful Bill budget reconciliation contains unacceptable spending, and he’ll continue to dig his heels in to oppose it. During an appearance at the Milwaukee Press Club on Wednesday, the Wisconsin Republican said he'll put pressure on House and Senate leadership and President Trump " to get serious about reducing spending because you don't defeat the deep state deep state by continuing to fund it at President Biden’s levels.” Johnson said he doesn't talk about cuts, but about returning to "reasonable pre-pandemic levels" of baseline spending using the same expenditures that President's Clinton, Obama and Trump in his first term laid out. He said "that's just returning to a reasonable spending level.” Johnson and fellow Republicans Rand Paul and Ted Cruz are opposed to the House bill, and Johnson said he believes more Republican Senators are opposed as well.

As warmer weather approaches, make sure to pay close attention to the health of you and your loved ones. The Department of Health Services is urging you to be aware of the heat this summer and know the signs of exhaustion or heat stroke. Those include confusion, rapid breathing and heartbeat, body temperature above 104 degrees, or nausea and vomiting. You can beat the heat by remaining inside air-conditioned buildings during the hottest part of the day and drinking plenty of fluids. And never leave a child or pet unattended inside a car. More than 668 Wisconsinites visited emergency rooms for heat-related illnesses last year. More tips can be found on the DHS website.

A group of wake boat owners sues a northwest Wisconsin town over its ban on the activity. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports plaintiffs from Texas and Florida claim the Burnett County Town of Scott is depriving them of use of their wake boats by not allowing their use on four lakes with the majority of their shoreline within the town. The wake boat owners have property on one of those lakes. It's the first challenge against local wake boating ordinances in Wisconsin, which have been enacted after repeated attempts to regulate them failed at the Capitol. Wake boats carry powerful motors and ballast tanks, producing waves large enough to allow a surfer to follow behind without a tow rope. Critics say the heavy waves damage shorelines and lake bottoms.

The Green Bay Packers are announcing the date for their annual family night this year. It is planned for Saturday, August 2nd at Lambeau Field. The event is an introduction to the new football season and consists of a full practice and game-like atmosphere at the stadium. Tickers are ten dollars each and go on sale at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, June 16th through Ticketmaster-dot-com.