Local-Regional News Nov 20

 The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction is releasing its updated school report cards.  The annual reports show statistics in the areas of achievement, growth, target group outcomes, and graduation tracks for more than 19 hundred public and over 400 private schools across the state.   Durand-Arkansaw, Mondovi, and Pepin Schools met expectations while Alma and Plum City Exceeded expectations.    Pepin had the highest graduation rate at 90%

The Durand City Council is meeting tonight.  Items on the agenda include a public hearing on the 2025 proposed budget, discussion and approval of that budget,  discussion and possible action on the purchase of Badger Books, and reports by the mayor and department heads.  Tonight's special meeting begins at  6:30 at Durand City Hall.

The Durand-Arkansaw School Board is meeting tonight. The agenda includes approval of a new district vehicle, consideration of a FEMA BRIC Grant application, and an update on the proposed district-operated early learning childcare center. The meeting begins at 6 p.m. in the board room at Durand-Arkansaw High School.

Police are charging a man with second-degree murder after a weekend standoff in Red Wing.  Forty-one-year-old Darryl Dion Nixon, Junior was arrested on Sunday after several hours of negotiating by police.  Investigators found the body of a woman inside the home where the standoff took place.  An autopsy was ordered, and police expect to release information about the victim later today.  Nixon is also expected to appear in court today.

A man shot by Eau Claire police in 2022 is suing the city for damages, claiming officer negligence and lack of training led to the incident. Clayton Livingston is seeking compensation for pain, medical costs, and lost earnings after being wounded during a confrontation where officers said he pointed a gun at them. In April, the Eau Claire City Council rejected his four-million-dollar claim. Both the district attorney and police determined the officers' actions were justified. Livingston is due in court in January on charges from the same incident.  

Huebsch Laundry Company announced its acquisition by Cintas Corporation, finalized on November 14. Customers are assured that existing products, services, and pricing will remain unchanged, and current staff will continue with added support from Cintas employees. The deal marks a significant transition for the local business, with plans to maintain strong customer relationships. Both companies highlighted their commitment to a seamless transition.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is urging hunters to keep safety in mind ahead of the state's gun deer season.  The nine-day hunting period begins this Saturday and runs through December 1st.  DNR is reminding hunters to follow the four "TAB-K" gun safety rules:  Treat every firearm as if it is loaded, Always point the muzzle in a safe direction, Be certain of your target, and Keep your finger outside the trigger guard until you are ready to shoot.  Those who are out looking to harvest deer also need to make sure that at least 50 percent of their outer clothing above the waist is blaze orange or fluorescent pink.  The same applies to hats or head coverings.

An ice cream recall from a Madison-based dairy is expanding. Babcock Dairy says it's still recalling its orange custard chocolate chip and chocolate peanut butter flavors after a labeling error. But now, an additional batch of the product has been added. Ice cream produced either on September 17 or September 30 will be accepted for a refund. The dairy says the mistake led to inaccurate allergen information on labels.  

Roundy’s Supermarkets will pay more than $1 million to the state of Wisconsin for alleged package violations. The Wisconsin Department of Ag, Trade and Consumer Protection says during a four day period in January inspectors looked at Pick ‘n Save and Metro Market stores in several Wisconsin communities. During the survey more than 1,200 products inspected were found to have a listed net weight that was unreasonably inaccurate, meaning consumers received less than what they paid for. DATCP says products were found to be overpriced an average of $1.44 per item, with the largest error being overpriced by $7.04.

This fall's bear hunting season saw a harvest of about 42-hundred bears in Wisconsin, an increase of more than a thousand compared to last year. The Department of Natural Resources says more than eleven thousand hunters got licenses this year through a lottery system. That's slightly fewer permits than normal, but the DNR says hunter success rates were higher. Proceeds from bear hunting license purchases will help fund research and management for the species. 

An inmate and a former corrections officer have been sentenced for their roles in distributing drugs inside a Minnesota federal prison.  The U.S. Attorney's Office announced the sentences for inmate Axel Rene Kramer and former Stillwater corrections officer Faith Rose Gratz yesterday.  Investigators said Gratz used her position to smuggle meth into the prison for Kramer, who distributed it to other inmates.  Kramer had 180 months added to his current prison sentence, while Gratz was sentenced to 27 months in prison for her role in the drug conspiracy.

With winter right around the corner $101 million in federal funding is going to Wisconsin's Low-Income Home Energy Assistance program. It provides households with energy crisis assistance to help heat their homes. Funds can also be used to weatherize homes to make them more energy efficient, and during disasters and extreme weather to mitigate energy emergencies. If you're interested in applying for help through the program, visit energyhelp.us.

A new US Navy warship with a Wisconsin connection will be commissioned in Milwaukee this weekend. The ceremony for the USS Beloit will be held Saturday at Veterans Park on Milwaukee’s lakefront. The ship is named in honor of the contributions of Beloit’s Fairbanks Morse Plant, which builds engines that power many of the Navy's ships and submarines. Following its commissioning, the USS Beloit will sail to its assigned homeport of Jacksonville, Florida.

The chairman of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party is seeking the top position with the Democratic National Committee.  Ken Martin announced his intention this morning in a video posted on X.  He mentioned that he's ready to focus on rebuilding the party.  Martin has served as leader of the state's Democrats since 2011.  He also serves as vice chair of the DNC and president of the Association of State Democratic Chairs.  

Rochester will be using a new tactic to try to discourage crows from gathering in the city during the winter.  The city has been battling to keep crows from roosting downtown for more than a decade.  Beginning December 1st, USDA staffers will spend five days using air rifles to target some of the crows in hopes of frightening them away.  The city will also continue to discourage the crows, using lights and noise in an effort that could last through February.

A new exhibit at UW-Eau Claire memorializes 40 Ukrainian students who lost their lives in the ongoing war. The "Unissued Diplomas" exhibit features photos and stories of the students written on diplomas in English and Ukrainian. Organized by Ukrainian international student Iryna Levada, the exhibit aims to humanize the statistics of war casualties. It marks 1,000 days since Russia's invasion and runs through November 26 at McIntyre Library.  

Local-Regional News Nov 19

 The Mondovi City Council is holding a special meeting tonight.  Items on the agenda include discussion and possible action on the 2025 Budget and tax levy.  Tonight's meeting begins at 5:30 at the Marten Center.

The public review and comment period for the Wabasha County Hazard Mitigation Plan is now open.  The plan covers all cities and townships in Wabasha County and also incorporates the concerns and needs of other key stakeholders like school districts, organizations, and businesses participating in the planning process.   The public review period will run from November 18 to December 2,  prior to submission of the plan to FEMA.   Those interested in reviewing the plan can contact the Wabasha County Emergency Management Office.

Area farmers wanting to participate in the Farmers 4 Health Cover Crop Incentive Program are encouraged to apply.  FARMERS 4 HEALTH was established to reduce nitrate contamination of groundwater in the Bear Creek/Chippewa River watershed. The group offers financial incentives for soil and water protection practices that can reduce the loss of nitrates from farm fields.  The deadline to apply is Thursday, December 19th at 5pm.   Visit the Farmers 4 Health Facebook Page for more information.

Pepin County Land Conservation is holding their annual native tree sale.    The sale program provides landowners with the opportunity to plant native trees on their land. Native trees are important because they help return the area to a healthy ecosystem. Native plants help provide a natural habitat for wildlife, and encourage pollinator growth.  All trees come in bundles of 25 trees, and will be available for pickup in April or May of 2025.  For more information on the sale contact the Pepin County Land Conservation Office.

President-elect Trump is choosing former Wisconsin Congressman Sean Duffy to serve as transportation secretary.  Duffy represented the state's Seventh Congressional District from 2011 to 2019 and was a member of the Financial Services Committee.  He left the House in 2019 after one of his children had a heart condition and he currently hosts a show on Fox Business.  Trump said in a statement that the Wisconsin native was "a tremendous and well-liked public servant."

Hours at the Eau Claire City Hall could be shortened. The City says they don't have the staff to cover the 45 hours the building is currently open every week. This is partially due to budget cuts over the past few years. Currently, City Hall is open from eight A-M until five P-M on weekdays. Community feedback on future hours will be taken on the City's website. 

The Altoona Police Department has achieved national accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies. The two-year process involved aligning policies with industry best practices and an external assessment. Altoona joins just three other departments in Wisconsin with this designation, which highlights accountability and commitment to community safety. Accredited agencies often see reduced legal actions and lower liability insurance costs, according to CALEA.  

 A 17-year-old online student from the Auburndale School District was arrested for possessing a firearm in a school zone. Authorities say Alden Jensen brought an AR-style .22 caliber rifle onto school property but later moved it to a nearby residence. Deputies found ammunition in Jensen's vehicle and the firearm at the residence. No threats were made, and Jensen claimed the rifle was in his car after teaching firearm safety over the weekend. He remains in custody at the Wood County Jail.  

There is a record number of registered apprentices in Wisconsin this year. The Wisconsin Registered Apprentice Program allows students to receive paid on-the-job training while completing their education. The state Department of Workforce Development says more than 17,000 people are enrolled in the program this year, almost a thousand more than last year's record-breaking number.  

A research team at UW-Madison is using a driving simulator to study the effects hemp-derived products have on drivers.  The research is targeting Delta Eight and Delta Nine, which reportedly can make users feel "high."  The 2018 Farm Bill made the two products legal.  The driving simulator that will be used is one of the few "full care" simulators in the country, according to the director of the University's simulator lab.  In addition to University researchers, the DEA and FDA will be involved in the study.

Republican US Senate candidate Eric Hovde has conceded his loss to Democrat Tammy Baldwin. In a statement posted to ‘X’ on Monday, Hovde continued to question the integrity of election results from Milwaukee.  Hovde had previously claimed to be “shocked” by Milwaukee’s reporting of its absentee ballot results early Wednesday morning, although the city’s central count location has routinely announced absentee ballots all at once. Clerks around Wisconsin are prohibited from processing absentee ballots until Election Day. Hovde also accused “Democrat operatives” of supporting independent and Liberation candidates in the Senate race.

Donating deer to feed the hungry.  The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is urging hunters to donate state-harvested deer through the Deer Donation Program. The initiative helps to stock food pantries throughout the state. Nearly four million pounds of ground venison has been processed from over 94,000 donated deer since the program began. More information is available on the DNR website. The state’s gun deer season begins this coming weekend.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services is unveiling a new tool to help local organizations track and respond to overdoses. Director of Substance Use Initiatives Michelle Haese says the Suspected Overdose Alerts for Rapid Response system will include data from multiple sources. The program will send out automated messages and emails to users when a certain number of incidents take place. Access to the system is available to professionals at approved organizations, and more info is available on the DHS website.

Wisconsin is the nation's leader in collecting unused prescription medication. The Wisconsin Department of Justice says Wisconsin brought in a best-in-the-nation 55 thousand pounds of medication during the Fall 2024 Drug Take Back Collection. The DOJ says it's a continuation of Wisconsin's trend of being one of the nation's leaders in collecting old and expired medicine. Since 2010, Wisconsin has collected over one point-three million pounds of unwanted medicine. That's good enough to be third in the country. 

The Chippewa Valley's Christmas tree farmers say the weather has been good so far. This year's rainy spring and dry summer are the perfect conditions to grow pine trees, at least according to Brittney Malone who is the owner of Curvue Tree Farm and Garden in Eau Claire. It's about the time that many families will start to shop for Christmas trees, and Malone says there are plenty to choose from this year. Malone's best tip for picking trees is to do it while it's warm enough to be outside. She said it's best to get your tree before it's too cold to cut it down. 

Local-Regional News Nov 18

 One person is dead after a crash and vehicle fire in Mondovi on Saturday.  According to Mondovi Police,  49yr old Clifford Ford was traveling southbound on South Eau Claire Street when his vehicle left the roadway, struck the Buffalo River Bridge, and then caught fire.  Ford was found deceased in the vehicle after the fire was brought under control.  The cause of that crash is still under investigation.

Police are investigating after a woman was found dead in Red Wing last night.  Officers were called to a home on Putnam Avenue after receiving a report about a suicidal man armed with a handgun.  The man surrendered to police after a standoff lasting several hours.  The woman's body was found inside the home after the man was arrested.  Police were still gathering information last night and more details are expected later today.

Stepping Stones of Dunn County will be able to provide turkeys to families in need this Thanksgiving after two donors stepped forward.  According to Stepping Stones, an anonymous donor bought 200 turkeys, and the Menomonie Rotary Clubs paid for another 300 turkeys and two weeks of groceries for the food pantry shelves.  The donations come after Stepping Stones announced in October they would not be able to provide Thanksgiving turkeys this year.

One person is dead and another injured after a two-vehicle accident in the city of Eau Claire on Thursday.  According to Eau Claire Police, an SUV traveling northbound on Clairmont Avenue was attempting to turn left onto Folsom Street and was struck by a truck towing a trailer loaded with railroad ties was traveling southbound on Clairmont Avenue.  The 74yr old driver of the SUV died from his injuries at the hospital while the driver of the truck was not injured.  That accident remains under investigation.

The Durand Improvement Group has announced the grand marshal for the upcoming Holidazzle Day Parade.  Linda and Steve Talford will lead the parade this year.  Linda is a leader at Faith Lutheran Church and helps organize the Sunday Supper and Fun Fest Chicken tent each year.  The Holidazzle parade will be on November 30th at 6:30pm in Downtown Durand.

Wisconsin is among the states included in the latest recall. On Saturday, the CDC issued a nationwide recall for organic carrots grown by Grimmway Farms. There's an E. coli outbreak that's already sickened nearly 40 people. The CCDC says 15 people have gone to the hospital because of E. Coli. The carrots were sold as far back as September, but the CDC says some people may still have the possibly tainted carrots in their homes. If you do, the advice is to simply toss them out. 

Wisconsin's Supreme Court will hear arguments today about the constitution and Wisconsin's elections boss. Democrats are asking the court to allow Elections Commission administrator Meagan Wolfe to keep her job, even though she has not been officially reappointed for a second term. They are leaning on a recent Wisconsin Supreme Court decision that says appointed board members can continue to serve until the State Senate approves their replacement. Republican lawmakers, however, say the Elections Commission never actually nominated Wolfe for a second term, therefore the till-a-replacement-is-approved loophole doesn't apply. Wolfe has been at the center of questions and Republican anger since the 2020 election in Wisconsin. 

Health officials in the Twin Cities are warning after several people came sick from eating hamburgers.  They confirmed ten cases of E. coli in customers who ate hamburgers at Red Cow restaurants in Hennepin, Ramsey and Olmsted Counties.  Another case of E. coli was reported in a customer at a Hen House Eatery in Minneapolis.  Officials say the owners of Hen House and Red Cow have fully cooperated and have made changes to prevent future illnesses.  Anyone who became sick after eating a hamburger between October 31st and November 7th is asked to contact their local healthcare provider.    

 UW-Stout has one more football game to play. The school announced over the weekend that it's been invited to play Wheaton College in the Culver's Isthmus Bowl Saturday in Sun Prairie, Stout finished its season 6-4 this year. Wheaton College finished with an 8-2 record. 

A Wisconsin police officer is resigning after he allegedly reenacted the police killing of George Floyd in a Minnesota classroom.  Steven Williams has been on administrative leave from the Prescott Police Department since October 16.   Last month, South Washington School District officials said they banned Williams from teaching after he repeatedly made racially harmful comments and told sexist jokes while filling in as a substitute teacher at Woodbury High School.

A Wisconsin company will lay off more than 310 workers in Madison and Monona in January. Wisconsin Physician Services is a private company that accepts Medicare and TRICARE benefits for members of the military and veterans. All but ten of the employees are based at the Monona campus on Broadway. The others are employed at the WPS location on Tradewinds Parkway in Madison.

A crucial step forward for a pipeline project in northern Wisconsin.  The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has granted permits required for Enbridge Energy to reroute its Line 5 pipeline around the land of the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. Enbridge must adhere to more than 200 specific conditions included in the permits to ensure it meets state standards for wetlands and waterways. Environmental and tribal activists remain opposed, citing potential wetland and wildlife destruction or contamination and potential oil spills. Enbridge must complete the 41-mile-long project around the Bad River Reservation by November 2027, hire DNR-approved environmental monitors, and allow DNR employees to access the site during reasonable hours.

Dane County is getting a million dollars in federal funding for road safety improvements. The US Department of Transportation grant will go toward driver, bicyclist, and pedestrian safety. The City says more than 250 people have died on Wisconsin roadways since 2017, and more than 14 hundred have been seriously injured. Both the City of Fitchburg and the Village of Shorewood Hills will get part of the money to kick off safety action plans.

A Minnesota Department of Natural Resources waterfowl specialist wants his job back after he was fired for driving drunk in a work vehicle.  Steve Cordts doesn't deny the charge.  However, he believes the case was a result of a recent diagnosis of Charles Bonnet Syndrome.  The illness causes hallucinations from the brain's adjustment to significant vision loss.  Cordts was convicted of driving under the influence, paid a fine of more than 600, and will have an ignition lock on his truck for a year.  He is now awaiting a date for an arbitration hearing.

The Wisconsin Department of Justice has released its annual crime report.   The report shows a total of 765 fentanyl-related cases in 2023, up 84 from 2022. Attorney General Josh Kaul is asking the State Legislature to invest in crime labs to improve staffing for these cases. Kaul says the state crime labs are essential to protecting public safety and ensuring criminal investigations and prosecutions lead to justice. The AG says DOJ has made enhancements in technology at the crime labs which should improve the way cases are tracked. DOJ typically releases its annual report in late summer, but it was delayed until this week as the agency dealt with an audit.

Local-Regional News Nov 15

 One person is dead after a single vehicle accident in Chippewa County.  According to the Chippewa County Sheriff's Department 27yr old Kyle Baker of Bloomer was traveling northbound on Hwy 40 when he vehicle left the roadway, entered the ditch and overturned several times and Baker was ejected from the vehicle.  He died of his injuries at the scene.

Chippewa Falls is getting a new hospital, after being without one since HSHS and Prevea closures earlier this year. Aspirus [[ uh-SPIRE-uss ]] Health says plans for the new facility are in the works, and the hospital could be open in as little as a year-and-a-half. The hopes is to find a site close to Highway 29. Aspirus is based in central Wisconsin, and has 18 hospitals throughout Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Michigan.

The man accused of the death of Mary Schlais in 1974 appeared in Dunn County court on Tuesday.  Online court records show that 84yr old Jon Miller is being charged with first-degree murder and is being held in the Dunn County Jail on a $1 million cash bond.  Miller was arrested on November 7th in Owatonna, MN after authorites used DNA  evidience to identify him as the primary suspect.  His next court appearance is November 21st.

 It's prison time for a Dunn County former care worker in a sexual assault case. A judge sentenced 49-year-old Ramone Bridges to nine years in prison for sexually assaulting two people at the adult assisted living facility where he worked. The assaults date back to 2018, when Bridges worked as a caregiver at the now-closed Serving Hands in Menomonie. After his prison term, Bridges will spend nine more years on parole, and will have to register as a sex offender. He's also barred from ever working as a caregiver again.

A Clark County dad is looking at charges after investigators say one of his daughters found his gun, and shot her sister. It happened in Neillsville earlier this week. Prosecutors say 29-year-old Brandon Woods' five-year-old daughter found his gun under a couch cushion, pointed it at her four-year-old sister, and pulled the trigger. The wounded little girl was rushed to the Marshfield Medical Center for treatment. There's no word just how seriously she was wounded. Woods told investigators that this is not the first time his daughter found the gun, but it is the first time she fired it. 

 It could soon be more expensive to charge your EV at the gas station or the store. The Wisconsin Department of Revenue yesterday announced the state's EV charger tax will begin in January. The tax comes to three-cents per-kilowatt hour. Businesses will have to pay the tax, but people who have an EV charger at their home will not. State lawmakers approved the tax as a way to make-up for the gas tax that EV drivers are not paying.

 The votes are counted in Wisconsin, but the election is not yet official. The Wisconsin Elections Commission yesterday said local election clerks have finished counting their ballots. That means the state's canvass can begin. The canvass will produce the official election results. Nothing has changed since the day after Election Day when news organizations said President Trump, and Democratic U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin both won Wisconsin. The Elections Commission has til December 1st to collect canvass results, and certify Wisconsin's official election results.

Schools across Wisconsin will be getting a lot of new money in the new year. A new report says voters across the state approved a record four-point-four billion-dollars in school referendums in this year's two elections. The Wisconsin Policy Forum says more schools were able to pass their tax hike questions last week. Just over 77 percent of schools got the money they asked for this fall, compared to just over 60 percent back in the spring. The Policy Forum report says the need for local tax hikes highlights the problem with Wisconsin's statewide school funding model, but some Republican lawmakers say many local districts just do a better job of budgeting the money they already have. 

The latest look at Wisconsin's crime lab shows it's taking a lot longer to turn around just a few more cases. Attorney General Josh Kaul released the latest report into the crime lab yesterday. It shows the number of cases at the lab increased by just under one percent last year. The report also shows a much larger jump in the time it took scientists to turn those cases around. In some cases it took twice as long. This is just the latest report that shows a growing gap in turnaround times at the state crime lab. Kaul dismissed critics of the lab, and said the real solution is to hire more people.   

A new initiative is helping connect local schools and hospitals and creating new opportunities for students. Wisconsin Hospital Association Vice President of Education Leigh Ann Larson says the goal is to fill the healthcare workforce pipeline while also creating a pathway for stable careers. Larson says grant money will create HOSA chapters in high schools, which help provide students with opportunities to explore healthcare careers and experiences. 30 local hospitals and 23 high schools are taking part in the program.

Lawmakers in Wisconsin are reacting to President-elect Donald Trump's nomination of Florida Representative Matt Gaetz to be the US attorney general. He resigned from his position as a state representative yesterday after the nomination. Republican Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin says he's going to support Trump's nominations. Democratic US Senator Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin, however, is asking the House Ethics Committee to release a report on Gaetz concerning allegations of sexual contact with a minor. She says the report should be available for senators considering the nomination.  

Wisconsin employment rates are at a record high for the sixth month in a row. The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development says October's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was, again, at two-point-nine percent. That's more than one percent below the national rate. The state's labor force participation rate also increased.

 Two sick or injured coyotes have been spotted in Madison. The Police Department and UW Urban Canid [[  KANE-id  ]] Project say dozens of reports have come in about the coyotes. One was seen with an injured leg near Vilas Park, and the second was seen near Midvale, according to the Canid Project. The Project and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources are among agencies trying to trap the sick animal and take it to the Wildlife Center for treatment. People are encouraged to avoid or scare away either coyote.

Over 32 thousand St. Paul residents with unpaid medical bills are now debt-free.  A city partnership with Fairview Health Services and Undue Medical Debt is credited with wiping out close to 37 million dollars in medical debt.  Residents who had their debt forgiven will get a notice in the mail this week.  A spokesperson for St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter says the action is just the first wave and they hope to get rid of medical debt for thousands more residents.

Governor Tony Evers is inviting students and families in Wisconsin to create ornaments celebrating state parks. Evers announced that the theme for the 2024 State Capitol Holiday Tree will be "125 Years of Wisconsin’s State Parks.” 2025 will mark the 125th anniversary of the state’s park system, and ornaments should reflect that. The ornaments should be mailed to the state Department of Administration's Division of Facilities and Transportation Services no later than November 22nd. The tree lighting ceremony at the Capitol will take place December 5th. 

Local-Regional News Nov 14

 Chippewa County is looking for a new administrator. Administrator Randy Scholz yesterday announced his retirement.  Scholz says his last day with the county will be in March of next year. He's not saying why he is retiring, or where he may be going.  Scholz has been with Chippewa County since 2018, and says it was an honor to work in the county's administrative office.

One person was injured in a car vs deer accident in Spring Lake Township on Monday.  According to the Pierce County Sheriff's Department 34yr old Vanessa Moreno of Elmwood was traveling southbound on Hwy 128 when she struck a deer.  She was transported to Western Wisconsin Health in Baldwin.

Two residents of Goodhue County Minnesota have been identified as the people killed this week in an accident on the Kansas Turnpike.  The accident happened early Monday morning near Wichita and involved a total of three vehicles.  In the crash, an SUV with the Minnesota residents inside rear-ended a semi-truck.  Seventy-eight-year-old Thomas Reller and 27-year-old Octavia Reller, both of Zumbrota, were killed. 

 Eau Claire Police say no one was hurt when a driver went through the fence at the sports field at Memorial High School. It happened yesterday. Police say it looks like the driver had some kind of medical emergency, and drove through the fence. The crash destroyed about 40 feet of the fence near soccer fields off the Fairfax Avenue side of the school. The school says they're going to have to replace the fence. 

The first electric charging stations are going online at Kwik Trip. The company announced Wednesday that a set of chargers has been installed in West Salem, and that the system will run off a new app called Kwik Charge. The stations will offer plugs for both major vehicle standards, and can charge at 150 kilowatts. The effort matches a push for expanded electric vehicle service in Wisconsin, which has seen fewer charging installations than other states. That makes it hard to travel to rural parts of the state.

Now is the time to vaccinate against respiratory illnesses. Tom Haupt with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services says 22% of Wisconsinites have received the flu shot, while 11% of the state residents have been vaccinated against COVID 19. The numbers for the flu vaccine are a little higher than last year. According to Haupt about 1.2 9 million Wisconsinites are vaccinated against the flu this season, compared to 1.2 5 million last year. Haupt would like to see flu vaccination rates as high as they were in the 2020-21 season, when 44% received a flu shot. If you get it now you can protect yourself through the New Year.

 Wisconsin's chief justice wants to find a way to get more lawyers for the rest of the state. Chief Justice Annette Ziegler yesterday challenged lawyers in the state to work with lawmakers to come up with a way to handle the state's lawyer shortage. Ziegler said there are not enough private attorneys in Wisconsin to handle all of the cases.  She says seven counties in northern Wisconsin don't have a single attorney to take criminal cases when the public defender isn't available. She says that means people are being denied justice.  Ziegler isn't saying just what she wants done, but she says something must be done to help communities outside of the Milwaukee and Madison areas. 

  Wisconsin's governor says the latest round of teacher education grants could help with the state's teacher shortage. Governor Tony Evers yesterday announced a million-dollars in grant money for non-profits across the state. The governor says the idea is to help local groups find, train, and license teachers. Evers says too many schools in Wisconsin need teachers. Wisconsin is not the only state seeing a teacher shortage. Reports show that the turnover numbers for teachers in the state spiked after the COVID years when many older teachers retired, and many young teachers left their classrooms for other jobs. 

 The federal government and four states are suing to block UnitedHealth Group's proposed three-point-three billion dollar purchase of the home health company Amedisys.  The complaint is the second time in less than three years that the U.S. Justice Department has tried to stop the Minnetonka-based health insurance business from completing deals.  The feds allege the recent acquisition of Amedisys would harm competition because UnitedHealth previously completed the multi-billion dollar purchase of LHC Group, which is another home care and hospice company.  The government unsuccessfully sued to block UnitedHealth's Optum division from acquiring Change Healthcare in 2022.

Eric Hovde is questioning Milwaukee's election operation as he continues to refuse to concede Wisconsin's U.S. Senate race. Hovde released an eight minute video on Twitter yesterday that explains why he has not yet admitted defeat in the race against Tammy Baldwin.  He questioned both Milwaukee's decision to recount over 30-thousand absentee ballots, and the large number of Election Day registrations in Oak Creek.  Hovde said he wants to wait til all the votes are counted, and he explores all of his options before he decides what to do. Milwaukee's election managers say Hovde has it wrong, and says last week's election was fair, honest, and transparent. 

It doesn't look like the leadership in the Wisconsin legislature will be changing next year. Republicans in the Assembly yesterday re-elected Speaker Robin Vos, and Democrats in the Wisconsin Senate re-elected Dianne Hesselbein as minority leader as well. Senate Republicans last week re-elected Senator Devin LeMahieu as majority leader. Democrats in the Assembly are the only ones who have not yet voted for their leader, that vote is set for next Tuesday. The re-elections signal that next year won't be that much different from the past two years at the Capitol in Madison. A new legislature takes office in early January. 

Minnesota officials are reporting widespread bomb threats directed toward election offices.  Secretary of State Steve Simon says the offices in more than half of Minnesota's counties have gotten threatening emails since Friday.  Local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies have been asked to help track down those who are responsible.  A recently-adopted Minnesota law has increased penalties for individuals who threaten or harass election administrators.

The Department of Natural Resources is asking for input on moving Northwoods deer hunting zones back to habitat models. Deer specialist Jeff Pritzel says many hunters are dissatisfied with how a county based model works, and that it doesn't closely match the needs of the deer or the hunters. The first of four public hearings on the proposed changes is set for Thursday night at 5 at the Woodruff Town Hall. You can find out more and sign up for one of the virtual hearings online at D N R dot W I dot Gov.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is asking local libraries to take part in an annual program.  The Check Out Wisconsin State Parks at Your Library program gives library cardholders the opportunity to check out a daily pass to state parks, forests, and recreation areas. The program is entering its fourth year, and the DNR is expanding it to include public, university, and technical college libraries. In its first year in 2022, 20 public libraries took part in the program, and in its most recent year in 2024 160 libraries took advantage of the program. Along with the day pass, library cardholders may receive an informational kit of state park system materials and maps, stickers, accessibility information and more. More information on the program is available on the DNR's website.

They're off to a good start with the Christmas Village in Irvine Park. Crews started work on the village way back in September. Chippewa Falls' parks Director John Jimenez says they're on track to be ready to open the Christmas Village by Thanksgiving. Jimenez says it's now 'crunch time.' They need to hang 200 thousand lights, as well as get the rest of the village put up. Irvine Park's Christmas Village opens for walkers on Thanksgiving night, and will remain open til New Year's Day

Local-Regional News Nov 12

 A deer hunter from Louisiana had to be rescued from the Tiffany Wildlife Area yesterday.  According to the Buffalo County Sheriff's Department, the 32yr old male had hurt his leg while climbing a tree and was unable to walk and needed medical assistance.  Rescue crews worked two hours to find the injured man and he was transported to Mayo Clinic in Eau Claire.

 

Investigators in Dunn County say they got their break in a cold case murder last year when a relative of the suspect uploaded their DNA to the internet. The investigation into the 1974 murder of Mary Schlais sat idle for years until a DNA match was found at an inline genealogy site. Investigators yesterday said that DNA was uploaded last year, and was likely from a first cousin. The DNA match led detectives to Jon Keith Miller from Minnesota. Dunn County is now pushing ahead with murder charges. They say without the DNA match, the case may have gone unsolved forever. 

The Mondovi City Council is meeting tonight.  Items on the agenda include an update on the Hwy 10 Project, replacement of the downtown siren and discussion on uses for the old library building.  Tonight's meeting begins at 5:30 at the Marten Center in Mondovi.

The Dunn County Board is meeting tonight.  Items on the agenda include a public hearing on the proposed 2025 budget, discussion and possible action on the budget and 2025 tax leavy and reports from department heads.  Tonight's meeting begins at 7pm in the board room at the Dunn County Government Center.

It's probation for an Eau Claire man who shot at his neighbors with a crossbow.  A judge yesterday ordered Robert Willi to get a mental health evaluation, stay sober, and spend the next five years on probation. Police arrested Willi back in March after his neighbors say he fired a crossbow at them while they walked by his house. They say Willi has made threats about shooting them before. Willi pleaded no contest in the case yesterday, and will not spend any time in jail. 

A teen whose kayak overturned in northwestern Wisconsin is now dead. The Barron County Sheriff's Department says deputies responded to Kirby Lake on Saturday after multiple people called 9-1-1, reporting they heard others screaming for help. Deputies say two people were in the water, and a third went underwater and hadn't come back up. The 17-year-old was found using sonar technology, and divers were sent to recover him. The boy was sent to a Minnesota hospital, where he later died. The case is still under investigation. Ten Wisconsin agencies responded to the scene. 

The National Weather Service is reporting a weather radio outage in the Rochester area.  The NWS branch in La Crosse, Wisconsin reported the outage on Facebook over the weekend.  The outage was caused by a communication issue and is being worked on by technicians.  The weather service recommends using radio frequencies serving Mankato, Red Wing, Winona or other nearby communities until the issue is fixed.

Wisconsin's Supreme Court looks ready to strike down the state's 1849 abortion law. The court yesterday heard arguments in the case that challenges whether the law still applies. Wisconsin's attorney general saw the law was basically overridden when Wisconsin lawmakers passed more recent abortion regulations. The lawyer for Sheboygan County's D.A., however, said that post-Roe the law is still the law. Liberal Justice Jill Karofsky said keeping the 1849 law would mean 'signing the death warrants' of women and children in the state. The lawyers for Sheboygan County's D.A. said the court needs to decide about the law that's on the books, not the law they'd like to see. 

A Fillmore County judge is considering motions to dismiss some of the charges filed against a woman accused of causing a deadly buggy crash last year.  Attorneys for Samantha Jo Petersen have asked the judge to dismiss 18 of the 21 charges filed against her after the crash killed two children and injured two others.  Prosecutors countered those arguments in documents filed last week, asking the judge to allow evidence such as blood tests and recorded conversations between Samantha and Sarah Petersen.  Samantha Petersen is accused of criminal vehicular homicide, driving while impaired and several other charges.  She's also been accused of trying to switch places with her sister to avoid being arrested.

An out-going Republican lawmaker is blasting Wisconsin's utility regulators for once again giving some of the state's utilities a rate increase. Senator Rob Cowles on Friday accused the Wisconsin Public Service Commission of giving We Energies and WPS 'unchecked, unaccountable, and unnecessary rate hikes.' Last week, the Commission approved increases that will add just under 10 dollars a-month to We Energies bills, and will add just over seven dollars per-month for WPS customers next year. There will also be increases in 2026 as well. Cowles said Commissioners are disconnected from reality, and are hurting the hardworking families of Wisconsin. 

A record number of school referendums passed last week. A report from the Wisconsin Policy Forum shows 3 point 4 billion dollars in school tax increases were approved by voters last Tuesday. The largest among them were a pair of measures in Madison that increased spending by 600 million dollars over the next 21 years. That will go towards operating expenses as well as renovations at elementary and middle schools. Other major increases were approved in Kaukauna, Green Bay, and Janesville.

A Chicago man is charged in connection with a gift card scam ring around Wisconsin. Surveillance footage from a Walgreens in Grafton showed 52-year-old Guangguo Zhu allegedly placing gift cards onto one of the racks of the store Thursday and then leaving. Grafton Police say Zhu was later pulled over as he left a Walgreens in nearby Cedarburg, and located two duffle bags inside the vehicle that contained over 1800 gift cards. Detectives say Zhu’s vehicle has been seen all over Wisconsin this past month. He’s been charged with three counts of forgery, and three counts of identity theft.

A 65-year-old homicide case in Ozaukee County has been solved.  The skeletal remains of 7-year-old Markku Julita were found in a Mequon culvert in October of 1959 while the boy was the subject of a missing child investigation in Houghton, Michigan. By 1966, Markku’s adoptive parents admitted to beating their son to death and disposing of his body in Mequon while relocating from Houghton to Chicago. Charges were dismissed after prosecutors couldn’t connect Markku’s skeleton with his parents. They died in 1988. In September, DNA testing matched Markku’s skeleton with several members of his original birth family. His remains will be buried Friday in Port Washington.

 University of Wisconsin's assistant football coach is expected to resign after an OWI arrest. Head coach Luke Fickell says the university is taking Jack Del Rio's arrest seriously and doesn't want any distractions during the rest of the football season. Assistant coach and former NFL head coach Del Rio is accused of driving into and breaking a fence before crashing into a Madison yard while drunk early Friday morning. He joined the Badger football team before the 2024 season began.

An unusual shopper at a grocery store in Madison. Madison police say a 10 point buck entered the HyVee store on the east side through open pharmacy doors last Wednesday morning. The buck ran through the store until staff corralled him in the cooler area. Officers and animal control employees were able to barricade parts of the storage area in the back of the store and usher the buck out one of the doors. Madison police say the suspect is free and back out in the wild!

Local-Regional News Nov 11

 Dunn County Taxpayers are invited to a public hearing tomorrow night at 7pm to discuss the proposed 2025 county budget.    The proposed 2025 tax (mill) rate would go from $4.83 for each $1,000 of equalized value to $4.53, a reduction of 6.2 percent.  The 2024 budget reduced the tax rate by 14 percent as well.  The tax rate was $7.10 in 2020, and the County Board has taken numerous steps to avoid increases, said County Manager Kris Korpela.   The budget calls for total county spending of $111.2 million and borrowing $3 million for highway projects.  

One person was injured in a vehicle vs deer accident in Gilman Township on Thursday.  According to the Pierce County Sheriff's Department, 64yr old Wanda Doughty of Elmwood was traveling westbound on Hwy 29 when she struck a deer.  Doughty was taken to Western Wisconsin Health with undetermined injuries.

One person was injured in a vehicle vs deer accident near Arcadia Saturday night.  According tot he Trempealeau County Sheriff's Department, 36yr old Jose Gonzalez was traveling on Hwy 93 when he struck a deer, and the vehicle left the roadway and hit a group of trees.  Gonzales was taken to the hospital with minor injuries.

The sheriff in Monroe County says the driver responsible for last week's deadly crash was likely high at the time. The sheriff's office says 39-year-old Kristoffer Cattle of Tomah crashed his pickup truck into another car Thursday morning on Highway A. The driver in that other car died on the scene, a passenger in the other car was flown to the hospital in critical condition. Deputies say Cattle crossed the centerline, and hit the other car head-on. He'd been spotted just a few hours before in Tomah, driving erratically. Cattle is now facing reckless homicide and OWI charges. 

It was an anniversary of service for Eau Claire's Family Resource Center. The FRC celebrated 25 years of service over the weekend. The new office in the Oakwood Mall is different from the FRC's first offices when it opened back in 1999. Director Jennifer Eddy says over the years the FRC has connected hundreds of families, not just with benefits and resources, but with each other. Eddy says they hope for another 25 years, but say funding continues to be an issue they need to solve. 

 The American Legion in Chippewa Falls is asking for help in finding the families of three Civil War veterans buried at Forest Hill. Post Commander Jim Campbell said they want to make sure the vets' families know where they are. Not only will that bring the families some piece of mind, Campbell said, but it will allow the Legion to help get new headstones made for the three men. The three who are buried in Forest Hill are from Iowa, Pennsylvania, and Canada. Campbell said it may be a longshot, but he's ready to try and give the Civil War veterans the recognition they deserve. 

The fate of a new emergency services building in Elgin is up in the air after voters rejected a $4.5 million referendum last week.  The referendum would have created the building to house the fire department, ambulance service and emergency management.    The referendum failed on  at 314-350 vote and the city of Elgin will now go back to the drawing board to find a way to have the new building built.

Minnesota's attorney general is warning veterans and their families about scams involving veterans benefit claims.  Attorney General Keith Ellison says the scammers use false advertising claiming they can help veterans get through the benefit process faster or get a better disability rating from the VA.  Ellison says the agreements signed by veterans often contain unreasonable fees or deceptive terms.  The attorney general reminds veterans and their families that they are entitled to free assistance from attorneys, claim agents and veterans service organizations accredited by the VA.

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Royce White plans to bounce back after Tuesday's loss to incumbent  Amy Klobuchar.  The former NBA player says he's looking forward to running against Senator Tina Smith in 2026.  White's 16-point defeat is the closest a GOP candidate has gotten to Klobuchar in her four runs for U. S. Senate.  Two years ago, he ran for Congresswoman's Ilhan Omar's 5th District seat but lost to Cicely Davis in the primary.

 Police in Wisconsin arrested a 13-year-old who they say tried to bring a rifle into a elementary school. It happened yesterday morning at Roosevelt Elementary School in Kenosha. Officers say the teen tried to get in through several doors, but they were all locked. When he went in the front door, police say school staffers stopped the teen, and asked him what he was doing. Initially the teen was reported to have some 'suspicious bags,' but Kenosha Police later said he had a rifle. The teen was arrested, and no one was hurt. Superintendent Jeffrey Weiss says school staffers were heroic. Police say the situation could have ended with a tragedy. 

A Republican legislator says the high number of referendums that passed that were related to school systems asking taxpayers for more money shows the state's system to pay for schools is working.  Waukesha State Representative Scott Allen said yesterday there's nothing wrong with giving local taxpayers more control over their local schools.  Nearly 100 local school districts asked voters for tax increases this fall, and about 70 percent of those passed.  Wisconsin State Superintendent Jill Underly said the wave of local referendum questions is proof that Wisconsin's school funding system is broken.

Devin LeMahieu is set to return as the Republican majority leader of the Wisconsin Senate.  In a press release, LeMahieu says the top issue for Republicans this upcoming legislative session will be returning the state's funding surplus to families. LeMahieu, of Oostburg, served as majority leader during both the 2021-22 and 2023-24 sessions and has been in the Legislature since 2015. The Republican caucus elected LeMahieu to the position during a Thursday meeting. The Republican majority in the Senate shrunk from 22-11 to 18-15 after Tuesday's election.

Several animals are safe after a large fire near a Walworth County pet kennel.  The fire happened in a hay barn near Lollipup's Pet Resort in the town of Delavan Thursday morning. Firefighters contained the fire in the barn owned by the Dancing Horses Theater across the highway from the kennel and daycare. 22 dogs were safely moved from their kennels while the fire was being extinguished. The flames didn’t spread to the pet resort, and no people or animals were hurt. The cause of the fire is being investigated.

The Milwaukee County Board seeks to preserve a popular attraction. Supervisors Thursday approved $30 million of county funds toward a $134 million renovation at the landmark Mitchell Park Domes botanical gardens on Milwaukee’s south side. The group in charge of the "Domes Reimagined" plan, Friends of the Dome, seeks tax credits to fund the remaining costs. Last year, the county considered tearing the domes down if it couldn’t get funding for renovations. The project now goes to Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley for his approval and could begin as early as 2027.