Local-Regional News Jan 12

 

Dunn County will have 10 contested county board races this election year. Contested races are expected for County Board Seats in Districts 1, 2, 6,9,11,22,26,28,and 29. Meanwhile in the city of Menomonie Matthew Crow and Grady Richarz will face incumbant Randy Knaack for city Mayor. The Spring Election is April 7^th.

Grant funding is available to improve telecommunications access and affordability in Wisconsin. The money comes from the Wisconsin Public Service Commission's Telemedicine Equipment and the Lifeline Outreach grant programs. The Telemedicine Equipment program supports the purchase of equipment that will enhance medical care in rural or undeserved part of the state. The Lifeline Outreach program helps address affordability challenges by providing a discount on essential telecommunication services like internet and phone for low-income households. More info can be found on the PSC's grant website.

Two people die in a Rochester house fire. Fire crews responded to the fire on Friday night and found two adults inside. When taken outside, EMS performed life efforts but they were unsuccessful. The identities of the two adults have not been released. Fire officals are investigating the cause of the fire.

The Chippewa Falls Police and Fire Commission is eyeing a new fire department chief. The commission is asking former Rhinelander fire chief Brian Tonnancour to take the job in Chippewa Falls. Tonnancour would replace just-retired Chippewa Falls Fire Chief Jason Thom.

Tomah firefighters were dispatched to the scene of an apartment blaze in Tomah Saturday night. The fire at the Lakeside Housing Complex started as residents in one unit were cooking and resulted in damage to multiple apartments. The apartment is uninhabitable due to the fire, and the American Red Cross is assisting the residents who were displaced. The incident is under investigation.   No one was hurt.

Minnesota's Sun Country Airlines is being acquired by Allegiant in a one-point-five-billion-dollar deal. On Sunday, Allegiant announced the deal and a pledge to maintain a significant presence at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. CEOs of both companies said the acquisition would ultimately benefit air travelers and Minnesota. The sale awaits approval by federal regulators and stockholders.

Elderly Wisconsinites can claim a new tax deduction on their 2025 tax return. I R S spokeswoman Stacy Engle says those tax breaks are even for people who are working part time. The new program will allow 6-thousand dollars per person in extra deductions for amount of Social Security that is taxable on those tax returns. There’s a new form included on the standard 10-40 this season that you'll need to fill out to claim the deduction, but any standard e-filing program will handle that for you. Find out more online at I R S dot Gov.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has several big projects in the new year. Parks and Recreation Management Director Steve Schmelzer says the DNR continues to try and improve accessibility. The DNR is putting in accessible kayak launches and beach access mats at properties across the state, as well as track chairs that make trails more accessible. The DNR also plans to update their kiosks at state park properties so they dispense a sticker on site so you don't have to come back later and redeem your ticket for a state park sticker. You can keep up to date on what the DNR is doing by visiting their website.

A large importer and distributor of specialty cheese from Italy has issued several recalls. The Food and Drug Administration said the recalled products tested positive for listeria. The recall affects several types of shredded cheese. The recalled products were distributed to Wisconsin, Washington, Virginia, Texas, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Ohio, New York and many other states. The FDA said no illnesses have been reported in association with the cheese recall.

The U.S. Senate voted Thursday to block further action in Venezuela by the Trump administration. The 52-47 comes less than a week after President Donald Trump authorized a strike that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife on drug trafficking charges. Wisconsin Democrat Tammy Baldwin said she doesn’t want American service members in Venezuela. Baldwin said no U.S. national interest in Venezuela worth the lives of constituents in Wisconsin. The vote on the War Powers Resolution brought forward by Virginia Democrat Tim Kaine and Kentucky Republican Rand Paul was procedural but indicates it could pass a final vote before going to the House. Wisconsin’s Ron Johnson was not among the five Republicans joining Senator Paul to pass the measure.

A Wisconsin man accused of killing his parents to fund a plan to assassinate President Donald Trump pleads guilty to homicide. Prosecutors allege 18-year-old Nikita Casap killed his mother and stepfather in February of last year and lived with the decomposing bodies for weeks before fleeing across the country with $14,000 in cash, passports, a gun and the family dog. Federal authorities say he wrote a manifesto calling for Trump's assassination and was in touch with others about his plan to kill Trump and overthrow the U.S. government. Casap pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree intentional homicide, each of which carries a mandatory life sentence. Casap's sentencing is scheduled for early March.

State lawmakers are being urged to pass legislation to improve the health of people confined in Wisconsin jails and prisons. One bill would cap costs on most personal hygiene products for inmates, while another would require the Wisconsin Department of Corrections to provide free menstrual products. Inmate advocates note the department currently offers some products, but access is not guaranteed, and that can negatively impact the health of incarcerated individuals. Similar legislation has previously failed to get to the governor’s desk, but both current versions have bipartisan support in both the Assembly and Senate.

Minnesota is freezing the enrollment of new providers in Medicaid programs. The state Department of Human Services announced on Thursday, that it will freeze the enrollment in 13 services that are considered high risk for fraud. Officials have not yet decided when the moratorium will begin, but it will last at least six months. Services that will be affected include integrated community supports, intensive residential treatment and adult day services. This comes as the state is facing national scrutiny for fraud in it's social service programs.

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation announced new specialty license plates. The specialty plates include a blackout design and a retro butter yellow designs. WisDOT estimates over half a million Blackout plates could be on the road within three years. The slogan "America's Dairyland" will display under the numbers and letters on the retro plate. Both plates come with a one-time 15 dollar issuance fee, plus a 25 dollar annual registration fee.

Local-Regional News Jan 9

 

Staff at the Eau Claire office of Congressman Derrick Van Orden say someone tried force their way inside in the hours after an ICE agent shot and killed a woman in Minnesota. Van Orden says the man was shouting slurs, spouting anti-ICE rhetoric and pounding on the doors. The Congressman says the incident was a direct result of Democrats' violent rhetoric.

Plum City and Maiden Rock are receiving low interest loans from the State of Wisconsin’s Clean Water Fund Program. Plum City will receive a $207,000 loan for the reconstruction of the sewer service on Maple Street, while Maiden Rock will receive a $604,000 loan for improvements to the Waste Water Treatment Plant. The Clean Water Fund Program provides affordable financial assistance to municipalities throughout Wisconsin for wastewater and water quality-related stormwater infrastructure projects that protect and improve public health and water quality

After watching video of the ICE shooting, Representative Angie Craig confronts Representative Tom Emmer. Craig told Emmer, "this political stunt got a woman killed today" and Emmer replied by repeatedly telling her knock it off and take a walk. Emmer is a close ally to the President and has previously applauded the administration's decision to send ICE to Minnesota. After watching the same video, Emmer said, "he doesn't want to jump to conclusions" about the shooting. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem described Renee Nicole Good's actions as an "act of domestic terrorism."

The Elk Mound Middle School is looking for Volunteers for their Annual Career Fair. The school is looking for those wanting to share their career stories and how they started their career with 7^th and 8^th Graders. The Career Fair will be February 27^th from 9-10am. Contact the Elk Mound School District if you would like to volunteer.

A Chippewa Falls woman is facing allegations that she mistreated animals. Last month, authorities investigating a report of animal maltreatment went to the home of 22-year-old Hannah Swanson and seized 14 dogs out of concern for the conditions in which they were being kept. Charges filed against Swanson include 13 counts of intentionally mistreating animals.

Charges are being filed against a La Crosse man who reportedly injured his girlfriend in an accidental shooting. Investigators say that 27-year-old Anthony Stagman was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the Wednesday night incident. The woman drove herself to the hospital for treatment after being shot, and the facility was placed on lockdown for a short time out of concerns that Stagman might follow her. Stagman was arrested early Thursday on charges including negligent handling of a weapon and possession of a firearm while intoxicated.

The clock is running on legislation that would reform how pharmacy benefit managers operate and protect patients from sudden drug cost hikes. Bill Schmidtknecht’s 22-year-old son Cole died after a PBM copay accumulator drove the price of his asthma inhaler to $500 -- which he was unable to afford. During a Capitol press conference on Thursday, Schmidtknecht said for patients with asthma, diabetes, heart disease or mental health conditions, a delay in getting medication is a serious safety risk. The legislation requires PBMs to allow patients to use any licensed pharmacy without facing penalties. It also requires PBMs to pay pharmacists a dispensing fee at least equal to what the state pays through Medicaid. The Senate version cleared a committee on a unanimous vote in August, but the bill hasn’t had a hearing in the Assembly. Rob Gunderman is with Wisconsin All Copays Count said they want to get an Assembly hearing in January and to get the bill out of committee so there's an opportunity to get it to the floor.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is telling ICE to stay away from Minnesota schools. Less than three miles from Wednesday's ICE shooting, Roosevelt High School went into lockdown after armed federal agents arrived on campus. The Minneapolis Federation of Educators said agents deployed tear gas at the scene as well as arrested and released an educator. Minneapolis Public Schools canceled classes and activities for the week at all schools on Wednesday. The Richfield Public Schools Superintendent emphasized that students have a constitutional right to attend school regardless of immigration status and that schools must be a safe haven.

$5 million in funding is going to support hunger relief efforts in Wisconsin. Governor Tony Evers and the Department of Ag, Trade and Consumer protection announced that the Hunger Task Force and Feeding Wisconsin will each receive $2.5 million. The organizations will use the funding to purchase food, which will then be distributed to individuals and families across the state at no cost to consumers. Evers says not only does the food help families, but it helps farmers because 51% of purchased food needs to be produced or purchased in Wisconsin. The state funding comes from the biennial budget that Evers signed last summer.

The Milwaukee County Zoo has closed its Herb and Nada Mahler Family Aviary for the foreseeable future. The move comes after a bird flu case was confirmed on zoo property. Zoo officials say a wild Canada goose was found dead in the zoo's parking lot and tested positive for avian influenza. The closure is precautionary to protect its bird population. The zoo says none of its animals have been affected as of now. Officials say they will continue monitoring the situation and provide updates as more information becomes available.

Governor Tony Evers appoints a replacement for Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan. Dugan submitted her resignation Saturday, A jury found her guilty in December of obstructing federal agents who were at the county courthouse to arrest an undocumented man in April, but acquitted her of helping that man evade those agents. Evers appointed Milwaukee County Assistant District Attorney Owen Piotrowski on Wednesday to fill Dugan’s seat on the bench. Piotrowski was previously appointed to replace Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Jeffrey Wagner, but the governor’s office says he agreed to replace Dugan instead due to the "urgent need" to fill her spot. His appointment will take effect February 1st.

Top Minnesota officials are calling on the federal government to allow state investigators to investigate the deadly shooting of a woman by an ICE agent in Minneapolis. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension says they were told by the Federal Bureau of Investigation that the probe would be led only by the FBI. Governor Tim Walz demanded that Minnesota must be a part of the investigation. Meanwhile, Attorney General Kieth Ellison questioned the feds why are you afraid of an independent investigation for. The woman killed has been identified by her mother as Renee Nicole Good. Protest continued today with demonstrations near the Whipple Federal Building in Minneapolis. All local public schools are closed for the rest of the week.

Minnesota Hunters are taking nine-percent more deer than 2024. Hunters took over 186-thousand deer which is about 16-thousand more than last season. Officials said favorable weather and a larger deer population helped Minnesota hunters. The Department of Natural Resources also reported around 117 deer were found to have chronic wasting disease.

One of two sheep on the lam in southeast Wisconsin has been captured. The sheep, one black and one white, had been spotted wandering through Ozaukee County for weeks. The white sheep, given the name Hilda Houdini, was taken in by Cedarburg resident Merdith Biehl, who raises sheep at Sunnyview Farm in Germantown. Biehl said she and her daughter used a lamb to entice Hilda into being caught. The once-wandering ewe will stay at the Germantown farm for the time being.

Local-Regional News Jan 8

 

The Arkansaw Sanitary District, which serves just over 300 people in the town of Waterville, is receiving $3,381,200 in Clean Water Fund Program funding from the state of Wisconsin, including $2,366,840 of priority principal forgiveness, with the remainder serving as a loan with a subsidized interest rate. This funding will be used to construct a new lift station and sewer lines to connect to an existing wastewater treatment plant located in the City of Durand.

Alcivia has a new Chief Executive Officer and President. On Tuesday, the Alcivia Board appointed Rodney Balvitsch of Mondovi as the new CEO. Over the past four months a CEO search evaluated more than 30 candidates. Balvitsch has been with Alcivia since 2020 and has served as interim CEO since July of 2025.

Due to the warm and rainy weather, snowmobile trails in Western Wisconsin remain closed. While some of the trails had opened just after New Year’s Day the warm weather has melted the snow on the trails. Those looking to snowmobile will have to go to far Northern Wisconsin where trails remain open in the Lake Superior Snow Belt region of the state.

The Wabasha Fire Department completed the year with 178 runs (a 48% increase since last year) and the Wabasha Ambulance Department finished the year with over 1016 calls and an 11% increase in call volume and a 20% increase in revenues. Meanwhile, Police responded to 3,700 calls for service in and undertook major investigations resulting in convictions for child pornography, theft, stolen property, and felony drug charges.

A $20 million PFAS removal facility in Eau Claire is nearly completed. The facility has been under construction since 2025 is ready to begin removing PFAS from the water system. Due to settlements with PFAS manufacturers, federal aid and state grants most of the cost of the facility will be covered. However the city is still requesting a 20% increase in water rates due to rising costs of water treatment and infrastructure costs. The Public Services Commission is reviewing the request.

The City of Eau Claire is closing three warming shelters and their outdoor skating rinks. Higher than usual temperatures are leading officials to close their Boyd, Roosevelt and Putnam warming shelters through Saturday. As for the skating rinks, people are being asked to stay off of the ice for now so as to allow the rinks to recover quickly when the temperatures drop again.

A Sparta man finds himself in a familiar position after being arrested this week for the seventh time on an OWI charge. Jackson County Sheriff's officers pulled 42-year-old Leroy Woodworth over Tuesday night after they say his driving showed signs of impairment. Woodworth was arrested after being put through a field sobriety test.

Billionaire Glen Taylor is donating a 100-million-dollar land gift to help rural areas. Minnesota's wealthiest man announced on Tuesday that he's donating that amount in farmland and securities to his philanthropic initiative, the Taylor Family Farms Foundation. Millions of dollars of income generated from last year's proceeds have paid for grants to help rural fire departments and child care centers. This comes after last year's transfer of 172-million dollars from the his foundation.

Republicans in the Wisconsin Legislature want to reign in the governor’s veto power. Republicans in the Wisconsin Senate voted in November to repeal a controversial 400-year increase in K-12 school funding created by Democratic Governor Tony Evers’ use of the partial veto. Senate President Devin LeMahieu noted the bill has yet to be taken up in the Assembly and would face a likely veto if it gets to the governor. On Wednesday, a state Senate Committee heard testimony on a proposed amendment to the Wisconsin Constitution which would prohibit the use of partial vetoes to create or increase taxes or fees. The resolution passed the Senate and Assembly in 2024, and if approved again would go before voters statewide in November.

Greyhound expands bus service in Wisconsin. The nationwide intercity carrier announced on Tuesday the launch of service connecting Minneapolis and Chicago with stops in nearly a dozen Wisconsin communities. Passengers will have access one trip per day in each direction, seven days a week. The service has already begun. Stops include Milwaukee, Manitowoc, Green Bay, Wausau and Eau Claire. The expansion is backed by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation in response to recent changes in regional bus service across the state.

A Marshfield woman pleads not guilty to swindling Ronald McDonald House. Lilee Pederson entered the plea to nearly a dozen counts on Tuesday- investigators say the 39-year-old made unauthorized cash withdrawals from the Marshfield charity over two years, then pocketed the money for herself and provided leaders with redacted bank records to cover it up. All told more than 120 thousand went missing, and when confronted Pederson resigned her post and told investigators she took the money because someone in her family was going through a difficult time. She faces more than 50 years in prison if found guilty.

At the Capitol, lawmakers debate a bill requiring parental consent for minors to change the name or pronouns they use at school. WisPolitics reports that during a public hearing in the Senate Education Committee opponents said the measure amounts to bullying of an already vulnerable population. Co-author Senator André Jacque said it would ensure parents are involved and are kept in the loop on decisions for their children. He said schools would “promote secrecy” by keeping parents uninformed. Democratic Senator Chris Larson noted not all parents are accepting when their kids want to change their name or pronouns and argued the bill would put them at risk. Democratic Governor Tony Evers would be likely to veto the bill if it reaches his desk.

A bipartisan bill at the Capitol would allow consumers to know some health care costs upfront The Price Transparency for Patients Bill gets a public hearing before a state Senate committee today. Senator Julian Bradley of New Berlin says it requires providers to let patients see upfront costs for “shop-able” services, such as an MRI or an X-ray, or blood work, so they can find out ahead of time what the price will be and shop a little bit and try to save some money. Bradley notes the idea of price transparency polls extremely well with voters. Most Wisconsin health systems and the Wisconsin Hospital Association have registered against the measure, which will need to pass both chambers of the Legislature before the current session ends this spring.

Safety advocates and drunk driving victims' families are urging state lawmakers to strengthen Wisconsin's ignition interlock device laws. Supporters gathered at the Capitol as the Assembly Judiciary Committee is hearing arguments on the bill. The legislation aims to prevent repeat drunk driving offenses. It could legally allow offenders to drive soon, but only if an interlock device is installed to ensure sober driving. Advocates say the bill would allow faster installation of the devices for repeat and first-time high blood alcohol content offenders.

Tickets to this weekend’s Packers - Bears playoff game are going to cost you. According to Ticket King dot com, as of 4 pm Tuesday, the cheapest seats at Soldier Field are $480 apiece, and you must buy them in packs of 2 or 4. Those tickets are up in the 4th level. The cheapest end zone seats will cost you around $750, and if you want to sit right behind the Packers bench, it's $1800. Ticket King spokesman Travis Lotus tells Fox 11 Green Bay that Bears fans haven't had a home playoff game since 2018, and it's made them very excited for the heated rivalry matchup.

Local-Regional News Jan 7

 

Authorities are sharing the name of the person found dead after a New Year's Eve fire in Trempealeau County. Crews responded that night to a garage fire in Independence. Thirty-nine-year-old Kyle Klimek was found dead at the scene. Foul play is not suspected in Klimek's death.

A defendant charged following a stabbing incident in Lake Hallie is pleading not guilty. Police responding to a 41st Avenue home on July 11th of last year found a man who was stabbed five times. Eighteen-year-old Orestes Kouris of Eau Claire was later located near the Lake Hallie Golf Course and arrested. Charges against Kouris include attempted 1st-degree intentional homicide. He entered his plea on Tuesday and remains in custody at the Chippewa County Jail on a 300-thousand dollar bond.

A Western Technical College instructor charged in connection with the death of a pregnant woman is pleading not guilty. The body of 27-year-old Alexis Pickett was found in November at the scene of a La Crosse house fire. Pickett's former romantic partner Matthew Sierra is charged with first-degree intentional homicide in the case and entered his plea Monday in court.

A bill introduced by River Falls Representative Shannon Zimmerman would prevent companies that build data centers from passing on higher energy costs to consumers. The bill would require data centers to use closed-loop water systems for cooling, and require the center to report how much water they use. Zimmerman says the legislation would protect consumers while at the same time promote economic growth.

The Pepin County Board has passed a resolution to support a social worker in the Durand-Arkansaw School District. The county will use ARPA funds to contribute 60% of the costs for a school social worker at a cost of $135,000 through the third quarter of this year.

Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons says ICE is taking part in its largest operation ever. He says ICE agents are going door-to-door to companies in Minnesota suspected of hiring illegal immigrants. Lyons added that both his department and Homeland Security investigators are taking part in the operation. Ice agents have also been taking part in operations in Eau Claire County and in Red Wing. Local police say they have not been in communication with federal officials regarding the increased activity.

Proposed legislation would do away with the requirement to have a state issued license to carry a concealed firearm. Current Wisconsin law generally prohibits carrying a concealed weapon unless the owner has a license issued by the state Department of Justice or an identification card indicating the individual is a qualified current or former law enforcement officer. The bill from Republicans Representative Chanz Green and state Senator Andre Jacque eliminates permit requirements for firearm owners who want to carry concealed, known to supporters as constitutional carry. Under the bill which gets a public hearing today, "law-abiding adults" wouldn't need a license to carry. Governor Tony Evers would be likely to veto the bill, which is opposed by the Wisconsin Professional Police Association and others and supported by the NRA and gun owner groups. A second bill from Green and Jaques strengths language around the right to bear arms in the state constitution.

Medicaid expenses for Wisconsin are likely to be higher than originally budgeted for. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services projects Medicaid general program expenses to be $213 million higher than projected when the new two-year state budget was signed last summer. DHS Secretary Kirsten Johnson cited several reasons for the projected shortfall in a letter to co-chairs of the legislature’s Joint Finance Committee. Those include unexpected higher costs for prescription drugs, Medicare buy-in programs, and fee-for-service mental health and substance use disorder services. DHS was projecting a $144 million shortfall in the Medicare program three months ago.

Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg [[ BOOT-edge-edge ]] is planning to visit La Crosse, Wisconsin for a town hall. The event is scheduled for January 16th and Buttigieg is expected to discuss the cost of housing, child care, health care and "the need for leadership that actually listens." The former transportation secretary said he's "looking forward to hitting the road next week." Buttigieg ran for the Democratic nomination in 2020 and has left the door open for a second attempt at the presidency.

A Waukesha-based generator producer is expanding its footprint in Wisconsin. Generac recently purchased a building in Sussex and announced yesterday the facility will be used to boost its manufacturing output for the data center market. A statement from the company noted the facility will help Generac better serve other large generator customers, as well, including those in health care, water utility, and others. Generac says the Sussex operation will create 100 new jobs, and hopes to open the building during the fourth quarter this year.

Former Wisconsin Republican Party Chair and Trump Chief of Staff Reince Preibus tells WISN's UpFront he expects President Donald Trump to be involved in the upcoming race for governor. Preibus says Trump likes to have his fingerprints on things and doesn't see him sitting out of the election. Preibus says he sees Republican candidate Tom Tiffany having a leg up and being the front runner in his race against Washington County Executive Josh Schoemann. Schoemann is the only other major Republican candidate for governor.

The man accused of stalking state Supreme Court Justice Jill Karofsky is sentenced to two years of probation. Court records show 37-year-old Ryan Thornton admitted to intimidating a victim and disorderly conduct in Dane County Court. Thornton pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges, which dismissed a felony stalking charge. As probation, Thornton must have no contact with Justice Karofsky, wear GPS monitoring for 30 days, and stay out of Dane County without approval.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz says he has no plans to resign before the end of his term. A day after announcing he's ending his bid for a third term, Walz said, "I'm not going anywhere" and added "over my dead body will that happen." Walz has come under scrutiny over allegations of fraud involving Somali daycares. The federal government has sent a surge of agents to Minnesota in response to the allegations. On Monday, Homeland Security said more than one-thousand arrests have been made since sending the agents to the state last week.

One Wisconsin city is being praised for keeping its New Year's resolutions. Finance website WalletHub ranked the best and worst cities for sticking to those resolutions based on several factors, which they said could be working against residents. Those include exercise opportunities, income growth, and more. Madison was the only city to make the cut and was ranked 23rd overall. Wisconsin's capital city also ranked in the top 20 in the financial and bad habit resolutions categories.

Local-Regional News Jan 6

 

The Menomonie City Council voted unanimously Monday night to create a new zoning ordinance for data center projects. This new ordinance will reclassify data centers and other similar large businesses.  It will give the city more flexibility to give parameters on water and electricity usage and other issues surrounding data centers. The new ordinance comes after the city experienced major push back from a proposed data center last year.

A Minnesota man has reached a plea deal in connection with a fraud case in Dunn County. 43Yr old Ronald Jenkins was charged in 2020 with four counts of misappropriating ID’s and four counts of credit card forgery after authorities found over 35 fake IDs and 53 credit cards in his vehicle. On Monday, Jenkis pleaded guilty to three of the eight charges and was sentenced to one year in jail and given credit for the year in jail he as already served. Jenkins is also required to pay court and extradition costs.

The Dunn County Board Administrative Committee is meeting today. The Committee will be going into closed session to discuss the candidate for the Chief Financial Officer position with the county. The committee will also review reports, resolutions and ordinances to the county board.

The Eau Claire County Sheriff's Office says that ICE agents are operating inside the county. The department confirmed reports to that effect on Monday. They say they are not involved with any of ICE's operations and that ICE has not reached out to them asking for any assistance.

An Eau Claire man is pleading not guilty to child porn charges. Forty-two-year-old Anthony Loiselle appeared in court yesterday as he faces four counts of possession of virtual child pornography. Investigators say that Loiselle used AI to generate child sex abuse images including at least one in which he placed the face of an underage neighbor girl onto a nude body.

Prison for an Eau Claire County man convicted in connection with an armed robbery. Twenty-seven-year-old Maxwell Luebeck robbed an Eau Claire credit union in 2023. He was convicted on charges in the case back in October and has now been given a five-year prison sentence.

A Western Technical College instructor charged in connection with the death of a pregnant woman is pleading not guilty. The body of 27-year-old Alexis Pickett was found in November at the scene of a La Crosse house fire. Pickett's former romantic partner Matthew Sierra is charged with first-degree intentional homicide in the case and entered his plea Monday in court.

The Olmsted County Sheriff is retiring.  Sheriff Kevin Torgerson announced his retirement on Facebook yesterday. First elected in 2014, Torgerson’s tenure as sheriff will come to an end in January 2027.  Torgerson has served for the Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office since 1986. He started his career in Hennepin County in 1980.

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers is showing appreciation for his counterpart in Minnesota. In a statement, Evers praised Minnesota Governor Tim Walz after the latter announced he was ending his bid for a third term as the Gopher State's chief executive. Evers referred to Walz as a "good friend and a good neighbor," saying he was grateful for the time they got serving as governors together. He added Walz has always been committed to improving the lives of Minnesotans and everyone else across the country.

A longtime Buffalo County Fair Board member has passed away. John Iverson passed away on January 2^nd. He was a 30yr member of the Buffalo County Fair Board including over 10yrs as the Fair Board President. During his tenure as President, he spearheaded funding and construction of the south livestock barn and new restrooms. Memorial services will be held Wednesday at 2pm at Central Lutheran Church in Mondovi.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources confirms the first positive test result for Chronic Wasting Disease. The positive result comes from a wild deer in Clark County. Clark County was already under a two-year baiting and feeding ban before the detection. The ban will be extended for another three years and will reset following any future detections, as required by state law. No other counties are impacted by a baiting and feeding ban from this detection.

A short time after Minnesota Governor Tim Walz announced he won't run for a third term a popular candidate may enter the race. The Star Tribune reports that U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar is seriously considering a run for the state's top political office. There are reports that Walz and Klobuchar met yesterday before he informed the media today that he was dropping out of a reelection campaign. The senator is considered a tough opponent for Republican candidates. Other DFLers who could consider the governor's office are Attorney General Keith Ellison and Secretary of State Steve Simon.

This could be the year Wisconsin lawmakers eliminate a bottleneck in getting election results. Current state law prohibits election workers from opening, processing or counting absentee ballots until Election Day. Representative Scott Krug wants to allow processing to begin the day before, as he explained during a committee hearing. Krug said a bill addressing the issue could get through the Assembly and the Senate and get signed by the governor. That can also safely, accurately, swiftly report results and restore confidence in Wisconsin elections. Krug said getting the Monday processing bill passed and signed into would help put an end to perceptions of late night “ballot drops” in Milwaukee, where counting absentee ballots can stretch into the early morning hours after Election Day. A previous version of the bill passed the Assembly but didn’t get a vote in the state Senate. Similar law are in place in several other states including Florida.

An Oneida Nation company has terminated a $3.9 million contract with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. During a press conference on Friday, Oneida Nation Chairman Tehassi Hill said neither he nor the nine-member Oneida Business Committee were aware of the ICE contract until a short time ago. Hill said "the business venture does not align with the nation’s values, our culture and who we as Haudenosaune people." WLUK in Green Bay first reported last week that a joint venture with Oneida Environmental and global firm Stantec was awarded the contract to work on construction of ICE detention facilities. During the Friday press conference, Onedia ESC CEO Jeff House apologized for greenlighting the contract without consulting the business committee.

Nearly 12-thousand Minnesota residents are applying for the new paid family leave program. It officially launched on Thursday, but the department opened applications earlier in the week for people who need to take leave in 2026. The department of Employment and Economic Development commissioner Matt Varilek said this shows just how motivated people are to engage with this new program. The paid leave program allows employees 12 weeks of partial pay for medical reasons, such as bonding with a newborn or caring for a sick family member. It will be capped at 20 weeks a year for people using both.

It's time to start gathering everything you need to file your 2025 taxes. I R S spokesman Christopher Miller says for most people, that's just a few forms. That means your W-2's from work, and also any 1099s you have for other income like stocks, dividends or contractor work. It also includes proof that you have health insurance, as well as any supporting documents you need to claim deductions or tax credits. You can find out more online at I R S dot Gov
Wednesday