Local-Regional News Dec 4

 

Western Wisconsin Residents receiving home energy assistance from the Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance program are having benefits delayed. According to the Buffalo County Health and Human Services department, funding for the program has been delayed due to the government shutdown. Because of the delay, no benfits have been paid to utility companies. The state hopes to have the benefits are hoping to send out befefits on December 10.

With the recent snow and more snow in the forecast, the Durand Fire Department is reminding area residents to shovel out and round fire hydrants. If firefighters have to respond to a house fire, valuable time is wasted if they have to shovel out access to the hydrant. Residents are encourage to shovel a path to the hydrant and to shovel around it so firefighters have clear access.

An Eau Claire man who was shot at by Eau Claire police after they saw him point at gun at them during a disturbance is sentenced. A sentencing hearing took place Wednesday in Eau Claire County Circuit Court Wednesday for 54-year-old Thomas Burback,who plead no contest to failure to comply with an officer and possession of a firearm while intoxicated. Burback was sentenced to 1 ½ yrs in prison, 2yrs extended supervision and 1yr probation.

A handful of Minnesotans are waking up a little richer after winning in the recent Powerball drawings. According to the Minnesota Lottery, three $50,000 winning tickets were won in Wednesday’s and Saturday’s drawing. One of the winning tickets was sold at the House of Wine and Liquor Store in Red Wing.

In Barron County, Chetek Fire and Rescue is reminding folks to stay off of the ice. Crews were called to Pokegama Lake yesterday after someone fell through the ice and became trapped in the water. The victim survived the incident.

Onalaska Police Chief Charles Ashbeck is announcing his retirement. In a post shared Tuesday on social media, Ashbeck says he is exiting his post with mixed emotions and that he remains humbled and honored to have been selected as chief and to have had the opportunity to serve the community of Onalaska. Ashbeck's last day on the job will be January 20th.

One of Wisconsin's largest banks is acquiring more locations. Associated Bank announced Monday it will be merging with Omaha-based American National. Associated C E O Andy Harmening says the move will strengthen the company's reach in Minnesota, Nebraska and Iowa. The merger will cost over 600-million dollars, and bring Associated's total branches to over 200. The two companies are hoping to close the deal by next spring, if the merger is approved by federal agencies.

Wisconsin travelers without a Real ID will have to pay a 45-dollar fee to go through TSA checkpoints starting next year. The TSA announced on Monday the new fee will go into effect February 1st. An 18-dollar fee had originally been proposed last month. To pay the fee, travelers will need to visit TSA-dot-gov to verify their identity before they head to the airport. They will then receive an email confirmation to present at the TSA checkpoint.

Another Democrat is throwing his hat in the ring for Wisconsin governor. Former Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes announced yesterday his bid to be the Badger State's next chief executive. In a video announcing his candidacy, the 39-year-old said he wants to "reject the Washington way, and get things done the Wisconsin way." He also plans to hit the campaign trail in the coming days, with stops in Milwaukee, Madison, and other cities. Other Democrats in the race include Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley and Lieutenant Governor Sara Rodriguez.

Republican lawmakers are asking Wisconsin’s congressional delegation to support federal legislation to roll back a Clean Air Act program. A letter signed by 18 Republicans in State Senate and Assembly urges support for a measure that would repeal vehicle inspection and maintenance program requirements under the Clean Air Act. The state lawmakers argue the program is no longer useful due to the economic burdens it places on citizens and technological advancements that reduce the need for testing. If successful, the legislation would end regulations that have been in place since 1984 in seven southeastern Wisconsin counties.

Hundreds of gallons of milk are being recalled over contamination concerns. According to a FDA announcement, Prairie Farms Dairy is recalling select Gallon Fat Free Milk produced at its Dubuque, Iowa, facility because of the potential presence of "food-grade cleaning agents, which may cause illness if consumed." Close to 320 gallons of the milk were sold and distributed to 18 Woodman's grocery stores in Illinois and Wisconsin before the issue was discovered. The products have been removed from stores and consumers who purchased the product should dispose of it or return it to the place of purchase for a refund.

The Trump administration is threatening to withhold SNAP benefits from most Democratic-led states. Several blue states have refused to give the feds data that includes the names and immigration status of food stamp recipients. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins says 29 Republican-led states have complied, but 21 have refused access. Those states include California, New York and Minnesota. Rollins says her department wants the data to root out fraud.

Minnesotans are available to apply for the new paid family leave program starting on Wednesday. Governor Tim Walz created the program in 2023 to providing 12 weeks of leave with partial pay to parents of a newborn and 12 weeks for a sick family member. Benefits will be capped at 20 weeks a year for those who use both. Officials are anticipating roughly five-thousand claims as a preliminary phase. The full application will go live on January 1st.

Local-Regional News Dec 3

 

Cold weather is on the way to Wisconsin. Following weekend snowfall of 11 inches or more across southern Wisconsin, an arctic front arrives midweek with light snow, followed by the coldest air of the season. Wednesday night into Thursday morning will see lows in the single digits below zero in southern and central Wisconsin and in the teens below zero accompanied by dangerous wind chills dipping to -25° for northern Wisconsin.

Sentencing for a Menomonie man charged following a 2023 attack. Investigators say that Juan Hernandez-Roque battered a man who would not buy him beer. Hernandez-Roque was ordered yesterday to spend five years in prison.

The Salvation Army of the Chippewa Valley is in need of bell ringers. The organization say it is short on volunteers this holiday season and could use more folks to ring their bells next to their trademark red kettles. Details on how you can volunteer can be found at registertoring-dot-com.

The suspect charged in the homicide of 10-year-old Lily Peters made a court appearance yesterday. A motion hearing was held for 17-year-old Carson Peters-Berger in Chippewa County, who appeared via Zoom. Law enforcement took the stand to discuss their interviews with Peters-Berger, who is charged with killing Lily Peters in 2022. Defense attorneys argued police used leading questions and that Peters-Berger may not have known he could end the interviews. The trial remains scheduled for November 2026.

Authorities are sharing the name of the person who died after a Saturday evening crash near Black River Falls. Reports say two people were in a vehicle that slid on a patch of ice on I-94 Eastbound and then rolled into a ditch. The victims are from Milwaukee County. Both were taken from the scene to a local hospital where one of the victims, 67-year-old Robin Johnson, was pronounced dead. The other was treated for less severe injuries.

There's an effort to put a pause on all data center construction in Wisconsin. Clean Wisconsin has gathered 1200 signatures since last Wednesday calling for legislators to stop approval of data center projects until stricter standards on energy and water use are put in place. The group points out that two of the data centers that have been already approved will use more power than every single residential customer combined. There has been widespread community pushback against the centers, and Microsoft has already dropped plans to build a facility near Caledonia. A plan to build another center in DeForest has a tech company asking the city to annex land away from a neighboring town after community protests prevented a transfer of property.

Preliminary numbers from the state's Department of Natural Resources are showing small declines in gun-deer license sales and harvest totals. The 2025 season ended on Sunday and shows just over 182-thousand deer were registered during the nine-day gun hunt, down just under one-percent from 2024. Total deer hunting licenses sold slipped about point-12-percent, though archery participation continues growing. Muzzleloader season is currently underway, followed by late antlerless hunts through early January 2026.

Mandela Barnes is running for Wisconsin governor. The former lieutenant governor during Governor Tony Evers’ first term released a video Tuesday morning announcing his candidacy. An October poll from Badger Battleground showed Barnes as the only Democrat gaining double-digit support as the party’s candidate for governor, ahead of Lieutenant Governor Sara Rodriguez, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley and other contenders. Republicans running for governor include U.S. Congressman Tom Tiffany and Washington County Executive Josh Schoeman. The primary will be held next August, with the election in November of next year.

Wisconsin health officials are keeping an eye on rising cases of respiratory illnesses across the state. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services is tracking flu, COVID-19, and RSV. Last winter, Wisconsin saw a 211-percent spike in flu-related hospitalizations from late December to late January, right after the holidays. Official say its a reminder of how fast these viruses can spread once gatherings pick up. DHS data show less than a quarter of the state's population have received a flu shot. About nine percent have gotten the updated COVID-19 vaccine. Vaccination rates among young children and older adults are below state goals.

The attorney for Morgan Geyser, who was convicted in the 2014 "Slender Man" stabbing, is requesting she be moved out of the Waukesha County Jail. Lawyer Tony Cotton wrote a letter to the Waukesha County judge asking Geyser be transferred to the Winnebago Mental Health Facility. The letter cites reasons such as having no new charges in Waukesha County, among other things. Geyser was 12 years old when she and a friend stabbed another girl nearly to death in a bid to appease the fictional "Slender Man" character. Geyser was found in Illinois last month after cutting off an ankle monitoring bracelet and leaving a group home in Madison.

A woman already in prison for a gruesome murder is getting extra prison time. Taylor Schabusiness was sentenced Monday to an additional 90 days confinement on top of the life prison sentence she's already serving. Schabusiness pleaded guilty in October to attacking a staff member at Taycheeda Correctional last July while she was receiving treatment for an injury. Schabusiness also attacked her attorney during a plea hearing in the case this April.

The U.S. Treasury Secretary is investigating Minnesota over claims of a financial fraud pipeline to terror group. The claim is that Minnesota state welfare dollars flowed through fraudulent programs, to the Somali terrorist group al-Shabaab [[ al-sha-bahb ]]. However, there is little evidence to support the claim. This comes amid fraud cases such as the 250-million-dollar Feeding Our Future racket and recent charges against an autism therapy center. Many of those convicted or charged with crimes, though not all, are members of the Twin Cities' Somali-American community.

Holiday budgets are varying across Wisconsin this year. That's according to a recent study by finance website WalletHub, which looked at hundreds of cities to determine what residents should spend this month. The research takes into account several factors, including income, age, and savings-to-expense ratios. Appleton has the highest budget this year at two-thousand-92-dollars, followed by Waukesha at one-thousand-819-dollars. The lowest rated city in Wisconsin was Racine at just over 12-hundred dollars.

Local-Regional News Dec 2

 

A suspect is facing charges after leading police on a high-speed pursuit through parts of Trempealeau and Eau Claire Counties. Authorities say 29-year-old John Koplin was seen speeding Friday night and began a pursuit that eventually reached speeds of up to 120 miles per hour on Highway 10. A tire deflation device and a P.I.T. maneuver were eventually used to bring Koplin's vehicle to a stop. No one was hurt. Police say they later learned that Koplin's vehicle had been stolen.

Durand Police are reminding area residents to sign up fo rthe Nixle program to stay informed during snow emergencies. No parking is allowed on city streets until the street is plowed from curb to curb when a snow emergency is declared after 2 inches or more of snow has fallen. To sign up for Nixle, text DURANDWI to 888777. Snow emergencies are also posted on the snow emergency line at 672-5653 and on the Durand Police Department Facebook Page.

One person is dead and another injured after a Saturday evening crash near Black River Falls. Authorities say the two were in a vehicle that slid on a patch of ice on I-94 Eastbound and then rolled into a ditch. The victims are from Milwaukee County. Both were taken from the scene to a local hospital where one later died and the other was treated for less severe injuries.

The Eau Claire City Council President seat will open in 2026. City Council President Emily Berge has announced she will not be seeking another term, and will focus on her run for Congress in Wisconsin’s 3rd District instead. Berge was first elected to the City Council in 2018, reelected in 2021, and was elected to serve as City Council President in 2023. Berge is one of several democrats aiming to unseat Republican Congressman Derrick Van Orden, who is currently serving his second term.

The Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern Holiday Train will soon be making stops in Wisconsin. The holiday train makes stops across the country, putting on live concerts an raising money for area food banks. All stops are free and visitors are encouraged to bring food or cash donations to help support local communities. The holiday train will make stops in the Badger State from December 9th to the 11th. American authors and Pynk Beard will perform at all Wisconsin stops.

The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection has issued warnings about several types of holiday fraud. The department says to watch for online marketplace fraud, where scammers create fake listings for popular items like event tickets and vacation rentals. It warns to avoid upfront payments, keep communications within official apps and verify sellers before purchasing. The department is also alerting consumers over phishing messages, which are fraudulent texts and emails that look like they come from retailers or shipping companies, citing problems with purchases. It says to delete suspicious messages and visit company websites directly instead of clicking links.

Enrollment in Wisconsin's childhood disability program has sharply increased in recent years. The Children's Long Term Support program provides waviers for children with institutional-level disabilities. The number of children taking part has increased by 361-percent since 2017. There has also been a 28-percent jump in enrollment in just the last year and a-half. The Maciver Institute says the rapidly rising numbers signal either one of two things: a large increase in the number of children with severe mental/physical disabilities or a large increase in the recognition of these disabilities.

Wisconsin’s Highground offers programs for veterans. Chris Pettis, executive director of the Highground Veterans Memorial Park, said that began in 2017 and now includes retreats that focus on PTSD management, including one retreat for male veterans, two female retreats, a couples retreat and a winter retreat. Pettis said he's also working on developing a caregiver retreat that is focused on the caregiver, not just the veteran. The retreats allow participants to work through different mindfulness techniques to address some of the traumas of either combat or some of the struggles of service, or life after service. Everyone is welcome to visit the 155-acre park located just west of Neillsville on US Highway 10 in Central Wisconsin. Pettis said the park is open 365 days a year, seven days a week, 24 hours a day. The park is home to over 15 different tributes honoring service from World War One through current conflicts, as well as the nation’s largest memorial to Native American veterans. Pettis said a lot of people in Wisconsin, including veterans do not even know about the Highground, and that visitors will be amazed by it. Find out more online at https://www.thehighground.us/

School district consolidation gets a focus in the Wisconsin Legislature. A package of six bills Republican authored bills that would provide various incentives for districts to consolidate were introduced last month and fast tracked, receiving public hearings before being passed on largely partisan votes in the state Assembly. Districts that consolidate, and those that consolidate specific grades into one building, would be eligible for additional state funding. Democrats argued the Legislature has failed to adequately fund public education in Wisconsin. It’s not clear whether the state Senate will take up the legislation when lawmakers return to the Capitol in January, or how it would fare should it reach the desk of Democratic Governor Tony Evers.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services is urging vaccinations with the holiday season here. Respiratory Disease Epidemiologist Tom Haupt says the combination of travel and colder temps makes this time of year the perfect recipe for spreading disease. Immunization Program Manager Dr. Stephanie Schauer says it's not too late to get those vaccines, and even getting them now will give you protection for the bulk of the respiratory illness season. DHS data shows just 23% of Wisconsinites have received a flu shot this season, and only 9% got an updated COVID-19 vaccine.

The city of Sun Prairie is moving forward with a six-figure lawsuit against the owners of an apartment complex. The Sun Prairie Star reports that a lawsuit was filed September 22nd in Dane County Court against owners of The Element On Main. It alleges that the 240 unit complex went without hot water for an entire week at the end of May 2025. The lawsuit is for 810-thousand dollars, which accounts for over 33-hundred separate counts for each day and each tenant that was affected. The Star was unable to contact anyone representing the property management company that owns The Element, and the property's website has been removed from the internet.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Senator Amy Klobuchar are firing back following President Trump's claim Somali refugees are "completely taking over" Minnesota. Walz said in a Sunday morning interview on NBC's "Meet the Press" that Trump's insults are a "badge of honor." Trump said on Truth Social that "hundreds of thousands of refugees from Somalia are completely taking over the once great State of Minnesota," while also calling Walz a derogatory term. Klobuchar said in a Sunday interview on CNN's "State of the Union" that Trump was attempting to "stoke division."

The Wisconsin State Patrol is looking to add to its ranks next month. The agency posted on social media that it's preparing to hire for the next recruiting class starting January 11th. That process will continue through February 15th, which then follows a long process of background checks, offers, and exams. The recruiting class would begin in July and graduates would be celebrated in December. 

Local-Regional News Dec 1

 

Wabasha City Council will hold a public hearing on its 2026 budget and tax levy on Tuesday, at 6PM at City Hall. The detailed budget, summary, and powerpoint presentation that will be presented to Council and the public. After the presentation, there will be a chance for the public to ask questions about the budget and for Council to have a discussion and approve the final budget and final tax levy. 

The Wabasha County Board is meeting tomorrow. Items on the agenda include appointment and approval of members to Planning Commission, approval of the salaries for the County Attorney and County Sheriff, and reports from committee and department heads. Tomorrows meeting begins at 4pm at the old courthouse annex in Wabasha.

The last tow of the 2025 Upper Mississippi River navigation season departed from St. Paul, Minnesota, on Tuesday, November 25, 2025. The Motor Vessel Sierra Dawn departed late in the afternoon with 12 barges. Traditionally, the last tow to depart St. Paul and head south of Lock and Dam 2 marks the unofficial end of the navigation season. The St. Paul District’s acting locks and dams chief said it’s a “bittersweet milestone” when the last tow of the season departs. “It’s the end of the season, but the work isn’t done,” said Mitch Serjogins. “Maintenance becomes our priority over the winter to ensure we continue providing a reliable navigation channel for the movement of commodities up and down the Mississippi River.” The St. Paul District staff are working on maintenance projects scheduled at Lock and Dam 7, near La Crescent, Minnesota, and Lock and Dam 9, near Lynxville, Wisconsin. 

Cranberry production is forecast right at the five-year average. From coast to coast, cranberries are harvested ahead of the holiday season and are widely available from October to December. The remainder of the crop is processed into products sold year-round. Production of the fruit is measured by the barrel, with one barrel equivalent to 100 pounds. In 2025, the U.S. cranberry crop is forecast at 8.13 million barrels, a decrease of nine percent from last year but close to the five-year average of 7.95 million barrels. Wisconsin, the top-producing state in the U.S., typically harvests around 60 percent of the total crop. For 2025, Wisconsin’s production is forecast at 5.3 million barrels, a decrease of three percent from 2024 but four percent above the average of the previous three years due to dry growing conditions. Massachusetts, the second-largest producer, saw production drop 22 percent.

The Fair Maps Wisconsin Coalition will be holding an informational meeting on the proposal to create an Independent Redistricting Commission in Wisconsin in Nelson on December 6^th. The group is spearheading a plan to establish the commission with the goal of ending gerrymandering in Wisconsin when new voting district maps are redrawn every 10 yrs. The meeting will be held at the Nelson Community Hall starting at 12:30pm on December 6^th.

A St. Paul woman was arrested Thursday evening for an OWI with three children under 16 in the vehicle. According to the Wisconsin State Patrol, troopers pulled over 33yr old Samantha Hakala on Hwy 53 for failure to stop at a stop sign. During the stop, troopers noticed possible impairment and conducted field sobriety tests.  Hakala was arrested for operating a motor vehicle under the influence, 1st offense, with three children in the vehicle under 16.

 A motion hearing has been rescheduled for former Minnesota State Patrol trooper 33yr old Shane Roper, accused of  a May 2024 fatal crash that killed 18-year-old Owatonna native Olivia Flores.  Roper,is charged with one count of second-degree manslaughter and criminal vehicular homicide related to Flores’s death, along with five charges of criminal vehicular operation, one charge of reckless driving and one charge of careless driving related to the other victims. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges. The new hearing set for February 5.

Morgan Geyser is in the Waukesha County Jail. The assailant in the 2014 Slender Man stabbing was returned to Wisconsin from Cook County Illinois Wednesday. Geyser was arrested south of Chicago last weekend after allegedly cutting off her electronic monitoring bracelet and leaving the Madison group home where she was living. A December 22nd hearing is scheduled in Waukesha County Court as the Wisconsin Department of Corrections seeks to revoke Geyser’s conditional release. She’s also expected to face charges in Dane County related to the escape. Geyser, who was 12 years old at the time of the stabbing, was moved to the group home in September after being sentenced to the Winnebago Mental Health Institute in 2018.

Foxconn promises new jobs and investments in Racine County. The Board of Directors of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation has approved a contract amendment providing up to $16 million in additional performance-based tax incentives to Foxconn in support of the company’s investment of an additional $569 million to expand operations in Mount Pleasant and create 1,374 new jobs over the next four years. Foxconn is eligible to earn up to a total of $96 million in tax credits through December 31, 2029. According to WEDC, the amended contract will have Foxconn create a total of 2,616 jobs and make $1.2 billion in capital investments during that period. In a statement, Mount Pleasant Village President Dave DeGroot said the village couldn’t comment on the specifics of Foxconn’s plans, but looks forward to working with the company.

Madison Starbucks baristas have joined a national strike against the company's unfair labor practices. The strike began November 13th on Red Cup day and expanded to November 20th to protest what workers call union busting and the company's failure to finalize a union contract. Union stores in 22 cities joined the strike Friday, including locations in Wisconsin, Virginia, Utah, Pennsylvania, Oregon, North Carolina, New York, Missouri. Michigan, Massachusetts, Indiana, Illinois, Georgia and California. Workers United, the union representing the baristas said over 125-thousand people have signed a pledge to not buy Starbucks while baristas are on strike. Workers United said the National Labor Relations Board and its Administrative Law Judges have found Starbucks has committed over 400 labor law violations.

Trial is scheduled to begin next month for the judge accused of helping an undocumented man evade federal agents inside the Milwaukee County Courthouse. During a hearing on Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman told prosecutors and attorneys representing Judge Hannah Dugan to assume the trial will begin as planned on December 11 with jury selection. Prosecutors plan to call witnesses including federal agents and others who were inside the courthouse and courtroom when Dugan allegedly helped Eduardo Flores-Ruiz avoid being taken into custody in April of this year. Agents arrested Flores-Ruiz outside the courthouse after a brief foot chase and the Wisconsin Supreme Court suspended Judge Dugan not long after. The case has drawn national attention amid the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.

As we enter the holiday shopping season, you should be careful with what you buy online even on major shopping sites. Wisconsin Consumer Protection director Michelle Reinen says criminals are able to put phony and fake products on websites like Walmart and Amazon. Always check the reviews to make sure actual people are responding and it isn't simply a bunch of automated 5 star reviews. One tactic scammers use is to place ads in search engines, hoping to catch people with too good to be good deals on major sites. Often those products are simply pulled from the store once people buy them, leaving you on the hook to get a refund if you can.

A milk recall affects several stores in Wisconsin. Prairie Farms announced the recall Wednesday of select Prairie Farms Gallon Fat Free Milk produced at its Dubuque, Iowa facility and distributed to Woodman’s stores in Wisconsin and Illinois. A news release says some of the products may contain food-grade cleaning agents which could cause illness if consumed. The affected milk has a code date of DEC08, a plant code of PLT19-145, and was produced between the times of 17:51 and 21:23. Those who purchased the product with that coding should safely dispose of it or return it to the store for a refund.

Time is running out for hunters to apply for the 2026 black bear and turkey spring hunting seasons. Hunters might be in the middle of the deer firearm season, but the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is reminding you to apply for the upcoming spring black bear and turkey hunting seasons. The drawing for black bear authorizations will be done in February and for turkeys it will be done in December. Applicants will be notified via email if they've been selected, or they can check their Go Wild account. The deadline to apply for either is midnight on December 10th. More info can be found on the DNR's website. 

Local-Regional News Nov 28

 

Another Winter Storm is expected for the weekend. The National Weather Service has issued Winter Storm Warnings for Buffalo, Trempealeau and Goodhue Counties and Winter Weather Advisories for the rest of the WRDN Listening Area for Saturday through Sunday morning. Snow is expected to develop overnight tonight and continue all day Saturday. Four to Ten inches of snow is expected with the highest amounts along and south of I-90. After the storm moves through, quiet weather is expected all next week.

Three duck hunters had to be rescued when their boat capsized on Wednesday. According to the Wabasha County Sheriffs Department, rescue crews responded to the capsized boat near Weaver Landing on the Mississippi River. All three hunters were brought to shore by other hunters on the river. The three were taken to a local hospital.

The Fair Maps Wisconsin Coalition will be holding an informational meeting on the proposal to create an Independent Redistricting Commission in Wisconsin in Nelson on December 6^th. The group is spearheading a plan to establish the commission with the goal of ending gerrymandering in Wisconsin when new voting district maps are redrawn every 10 yrs. The meeting will be held at the Nelson Community Hall starting at 12:30pm on December 6^th.

A student in the Osseo-Fairchild School District has a pen pal like no other. Aubrey Hart and her classmates were instructed to write letters, look up addresses and send out their messages when learning to write cursive. Aubrey sent her letter off to the president asking about life in the White House. This week she received a response from President Trump. For his part, the president's letter was typed -- but signed in cursive.

Prison is being ordered for a St. Paul man convicted on charges stemming from a shooting in St. Croix County. Investigators say that Antonio Thelen fired a gun through the window of a Hammond bar last year and wounded one person. Thelen pleaded guilty to charges that include first-degree recklessly endangering safety and has now been sentenced to a term of seven-and-a-half years behind bars.

A Western Wisconsin Hospital is receiving a federal loan. U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development (RD) State Director Andrew C. Iverson announced St. Croix Regional Medical Center will receive $105 million to construct a 130,000-square-foot replacement critical access hospital facility in St. Croix Falls. The funding includes a $95,000,000 direct loan and a $10,000,000 guaranteed loan. Once completed, the new hospital will increase bed capacity to 25, add surgical and specialty care units, incorporate state of the art imaging and diagnostics, and have a state-of-the-art floor plan to support efficient patient flow and centralize outpatient services. The replacement facility will be located approximately three miles from the existing facility, which is outside the center of the City of St. Croix Falls residential district. The location will allow emergency vehicles easier access.

The Green County Humane Society is asking neighbors and animal lovers for assistance as they care for 55 recently-rescued dogs. The organization took in 29 adult dogs and 26 puppies on Tuesday after the animals were removed from a hoarding situation in Lafayette County. Operators of the shelter say they need donations and foster families to help care for the pets, as their facility is now over capacity. For information on how to help, visit green-county-humane-dot-org.

A pair of three-judge panels will hear lawsuits regarding Wisconsin’s congressional maps. The judges were appointed by the liberal majority of the Wisconsin Supreme Court. The lawsuits argue current congressional district maps unconstitutionally favor Republicans and must be redrawn. The suits will proceed in Dane County Circuit Court, although the judges are from multiple counties. It's the first time this process has been used since being created by Republicans in the Wisconsin Legislature more than a decade ago. Conservative Justices Annette Ziegler and Rebecca Bradley accused the liberal justices of attempting to deliver a political advantage to Democrats. Conservative Justice Brian Hagedorn agreed with part of the order, but not with how the judges were chosen.

Wisconsin is joining a lawsuit by 20 states against the Trump administration over cuts and new conditions to a Department of Housing and Urban Development program. The suit targets reductions in permanent housing assistance, with most of the funds shifted to transitional housing that includes work or service requirements. Governor Evers warns the move could force thousands of vulnerable people out of their homes during winter. New York Attorney General Letitia James is leading the lawsuit.

Morgan Geyser is going to be extradited back to Wisconsin. The 23-year-old was in court yesterday for a brief hearing where she signed a waiver of extradition following her arrest in Illinois on Sunday. Geyser was just 12 years old when she and a friend stabbed another girl nearly to death in a bid to appease the fictional "Slender Man" character. Geyser was placed in a mental institution after the 2014 attack but a judge earlier this year approved her conditional release to a group home. She apparently cut off a monitoring bracelet and left that facility in Wisconsin over the weekend. The Waukesha County District Attorney told reporters she hopes a motion is filed to revoke the conditional release.

Twenty people were arrested last week in a federal human trafficking probe covering an area including Kenosha. According to the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office, the investigation was based out of the Chicago area with federal teams from Homeland Security and the FBI staging portions of the operation out of the Kenosha Public Safety Building. The sheriff’s office and Kenosha Police Department were not asked to participate in the action. The sheriff’s office says U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement contacted them to confirm that any arrested undocumented immigrants connected to the case were deported, adding that ICE was not part of the original operation.

Drivers across Minnesota are being reminded to not drink and drive this Thanksgiving weekend. The Minnesota Department of Public Safety says police across the state will be participating in an extra DWI enforcement campaign, looking to crack down on impaired drivers. The campaign kicks off today and will run every weekend through December 31st.

Sidewalk chalk is now legal again in Anoka. Anoka City Council amended the law to allow water-soluble chalk drawings in public. The 2021 ban on chalk art, and other displays on public property, drew national attention and protests over free speech. The intention of the ban was to prevent the destruction of public property following the protests of the police killing of George Floyd. With the new amendment, Anoka now allows chalk on city sidewalks, as long as it can be easily removed with water, for drawings intended to last for less than 24 hours.

Local-Regional News Nov 26

 

One person was injured in a two vehicle accident in Gillman Township on Monday. According to the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department, 61yr old Timothy De Jong of Prescott was pulling a camper westbound on Hwy 29 when he collided with an eastbound vehicle driven by 37yr old Shane Rosendahl of Menomonie. The camper and Rosendahl’s vehicle were totaled in the accident. Rosendahl was taken to Regions Hospital, while De Jong was not injured.

Charges are being filed against an Eau Claire man who authorities say left a threatening voicemail on the line of a local school. Twenty-three-year-old Damien Haupt is accused of leaving a message for the Children's House Montessori School on East Lake Street last week saying his hope was for everyone at the school to be raped and killed. Haupt reportedly included in his message that he lived across the street from the school. Charges against him include making terrorist threats, telephone harassment and disorderly conduct.

A signature bond of ten-thousand dollars is being set for a Gilman man charged in connection with a fatal vehicle collision. Chippewa County prosecutors say that 33-year-old Cody Skorstad was driving uninsured and on a suspended license back in July when he caused a head-on collision while trying to pass a vehicle on County Road H in Delmar. Nineteen-year-old Ayden Nicpon was killed in the crash and Skorstad is facing charges of second-degree reckless homicide.

About 50 people in downtown Eau Claire were evacuated Tuesday evening after Xcel Energy says a vehicle hit a gas meter. Xcel Energy spokesperson Chris Ouellette said a vehicle hit a gas meter behind Houligan's Steak and Seafood on South Barstow Street. The Eau Claire Fire Department evacuated Houligan's, the Transit Center, and other buildings in the area as a precaution. 

Emplify Health says they are nearing their fundraising goal to open a specialized unit inside the behavioral health department at their hospital in La Crosse. Emplify has set a five-point-two-million-dollar goal for the effort and says they are just 250-thousand dollars shy of meeting the figure. The new unit will serve as an urgent care center for mental health emergencies.

Winona County officials are seeking public feedback on the country’s latest hazard mitigation plan. Emergency Management Director Ben Klinger explained the plan is crucial to be eligible for future FEMA assistance. The plan helps prepare for natural hazards like tornadoes, winter storms, flooding, and droughts. The public comment period is open through December 8.

Wisconsin drivers are getting a "recipe" from state officials for a safe Thanksgiving weekend. The Department of Transportation shared "ingredients" this week to make sure families have an enjoyable holiday with their loved ones. The agency said the recipe includes seat belts, patience, an emergency kit, and "heaps of courtesy to other travelers." More than a million and a half Wisconsinites are expected to travel 50 miles or more for the long Thanksgiving weekend. Peak travel times are expected to begin today between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m.

Opening weekend deer harvest numbers are up from a year ago according to the Department of Natural Resources. Deer specialist Jeff Pritzel says harvest numbers are up by about 3,000 over last year. Total gun harvest is over 90-thousand and combined with the archery season, around 212-thousand deer have been harvested this year. Two shooting incidents happened over the weekend as well, one was fatal. The D N R is still accepting chronic wasting disease samples from opening weekend, just look for testing sites online at D N R dot W I dot Gov or on your Go-Wild app.

A familiar face is taking over Wisconsin-based Kohl's on a permanent basis. The Menomonee Falls retailer announced Michael Bender as the new CEO after being unanimously selected by the Board of Directors. Bender had been holding the role on an interim basis since May 1st. He took over for Ashley Buchanon, who was fired after an investigation found conflict of interest in some of her dealings. Bender has more than three decades of experience in leadership positions, including executive positions at Walmart.

State Senate Democrats see a Republican proposal as an attack on abortion access in Wisconsin. The legislation would force women who use abortion medication to end a pregnancy or medically address a miscarriage to collect, bag up, and return any biological byproducts to their prescribing doctor. Senators LaTonya Johnson and Kelda Roys say it’s simply a way to punish the women in question. Johnson calls the bill from Republican Senator Andre Jacques “weird and evasive.” Republicans say the “Clean Water for All Life” bill would help protect Wisconsin’s waterways. The FDA recently rejected a petition from a pro-life group to restrict access to mifepristone due to a lack of evidence that the pills impact the environment. The bill from Jacques and Representatives Lindee Brill and Nate Gustafson is being circulated for co-sponsors.

Democratic candidate Ryan Strnad is dropping out of the state gubernatorial race. Strnad announced his decision today after switching parties and entering the race in August. He unsuccessfully ran for the Assembly in 2000 as a Republican. The Milwaukee Brewers beer vendor said he is supporting fellow Democrat and Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley. The race for governor is open with no incumbent running for the first time since 2010.

Snowy owls have made their way to Wisconsin. The birds make an annual migration trip south from Canada, and avian experts are urging caution for those who might encounter the birds. If you see a snowy owl, you're encouraged to keep your distance and take a photo but also keep your visit brief. The presence of humans disrupts rodent activity which then impacts the owls' hunting opportunities. The owls are all white with black spots. Snowy owls typically remain close to their breeding areas in the Arctic Circle, but a small number reach Wisconsin each year.

The University of Wisconsin Athletics is extending its partnership with Under Armour for another decade. The deal includes shoes, apparel, and accessories to all 23 Division-One teams and will invest in the university's NIL platform. Under Armour will also supply custom jerseys for the next Shamrock Series game against Notre Dame at Lambeau Field. Wisconsin first signed with Under Armour in 2015 following a 15-year partnership with Adidas.

The number of bankruptcy filings across Minnesota are on the rise. The latest data from UScourts.gov shows that nationally, bankruptcy filings are up by more than ten-percent. In Minnesota, the number of filings are up by 20-percent so far this year as compared to recent years. Bankruptcy attorney's say vehicle loans and wages not keeping up with the cost of living are the two biggest contributors to bankruptcies.

A survey by USA Today put cross country ski areas in the Western Upper Peninsula and northern Wisconsin as part of the nations best. ABR Trails Foundation in Ironwood and Minocqua Winter Park are in the top 10 cross country ski resorts in the country. ABR Trails came in at number four on the list and was described ad an 11-hundred acre Nordic skiing center with over 60 miles of cross-country trails. Minocqua Winter park landed in the number eight spot described as having a good variety of beginner, intermediate and advanced trails, groomed for skating and skiing.