Local-Regional News May 14

 

The City of Mondovi will help some property owners on Mirror Lake with erosion control. Mondovi Mayor Brady Weiss says the city reviewed the dredging project from five years ago and found the city had followed all of the rules and regulations. Even though the city felt it had no liability to the property owners, in the best interests of the lake, the city council approved spending up to $10,000 to help the property owners armor the shoreline to prevent further erosion.

The Durand City Council is meeting tonight. Items on the agenda include discussion and possible action on changing city hall hours, facade grant requests for Bodhi’s Event Center and Waznick Heike Group, and the appointment of a tourism commission. Tonights meeting begins at 6:30 at Durand City Hall and will be live-streamed on the WRDN website.

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation will be changing an intersection in Elk Mound. The DOT has decided to install a 4-way stop at the intersection of Hwy H and Hwy 12 in Elk Mound. The intersection has long been considered dangerous, especially for those trying to cross or turn onto Hwy 12 from Hwy H. The installation of the signs for the 4-way stop should be done in the next few weeks.

Due to the dry weather, all burning permits in Dunn County have been suspended. The suspension is in effect until further notice. Fire officials are also recommending no campfires as a single spark can grow rapidly to and out of control wildfire. Rain and cooler temperatures are expected later this week and into the weekend.

Firefighters from Menomonie, Colfax and Wheeler responded to a fire in the town of Tainter. When Firefighters arrived they found the side of the home and three outbuildings on fire. Due to the dry conditions a grove of pine trees started on fire which ended up burning an acre. Five dogs were rescued from the home and no one was injured in the blaze.

A Chippewa Falls man is accused of sexually assaulting a child. Forty-five-year-old Benjamin Bejin is charged with first-degree sexual assault of a child. According to the criminal complaint, the alleged victim claims Bejin sexually assaulted her in 2017 when she was ten-years-old.

The Eau Claire City-County Health Department is showing strengths and weaknesses with its newly released annual report. Some of the report's positive aspects were the creation of a Child and Youth Data Report, which tracks health trends, increased access for mental health options and promoting physical activity. On the downside, the report showed the need for improvements, such as access to healthcare. This particularly impacts those in rural areas. The full report is available online at eauclairewi-dot-gov

State-funded ATV/UTV trails are about to open in Eau Claire County. The County Parks and Forest Department says the trails will open for the season on Thursday. The trails are typically closed from March 15th through May 15th to minimize erosion during the spring thaw. A map of the trails is available online at eauclairecounty-dot-gov

Immigration enforcement was the focus of a state senate committee hearing yesterday. Lawmakers heard public testimony about a bill that would require local sheriff's offices to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement. Democrats oppose the bill, saying they're concerned about ICE detaining and deporting people who are in the country legally.

A new rehabilitation hospital is coming to Eau Claire. ClearSky Health says it's building a new 36-bed facility focusing on treating patients for strokes, brain and spinal injuries, multiple sclerosis, and other injuries or illnesses. ClearSky says the new facility will treat about 650 patients every year and create 100 jobs. It's scheduled to open in mid-2026. A location has not been announced.

The man accused of abducting a pregnant Beaver Dam teenager from her home now faces federal charges. An indictment against 40-year-old Gary Day was filed last week in federal court in the Eastern District of Day’s home state of Arkansas. The indictment’s six counts include having sex with a minor and traveling for the purpose of an unlawful sex act with a minor. In February, the now-17 -year-old girl was reported missing from her home and believed to be with Day, who authorities say is the father of her child. The two were located at an Omaha truck stop last month. Day is also charged in Dodge County with counts of felony child abduction and felony child enticement.

Minnesota's Keith Ellison is among twenty state attorneys general suing over President Donald Trump's attempts to link some federal grants to immigration enforcement. Two lawsuits were filed today to try and block efforts to force the states to cooperate with ICE enforcement or not receive the funds. The grants are for things like disaster relief, cyber security and transportation. Wisconsin is also part of that lawsuit.

A famous music festival that started four decades ago is coming to Minnesota for the first time. "Farm Aid 40" is set for September 20th at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. The event will be headlined by the three artists who organized the first-ever Farm Aid in 1985 -- Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp and Neil Young. Dave Matthews and Margo Price are also listed as headliners. Farm Aid, which was inspired by global hunger relief efforts such as Live Aid, has raised more than 80-million-dollars for American farmers. Tickets go on sale Friday morning at 10 a.m. and are available through the Farm Aid website.

A Wisconsin man accused of murdering his wife nine years ago is now facing homicide charges. Prosecutors say James Radford of Fairbanks told investigators his wife, Sabrina Radford, shot herself in 2016. After investigators couldn't confirm her cause of death, an investigation was launched. The Sheriff's Office concluded Sabrina Radford did not die of suicide and recommended charges to the Shawano County District Attorney. James Radford is now in custody and is being held on an 800-thousand-dollar bond.

Wisconsin bird lovers have picked their favorite fat bird. May 2-9, people were invited to vote daily for their favorite bulbous bird in the bracket-style elimination tournament. Shelly Torkelson is with the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin says "the pictures are adorable and some of them are kind of hilarious.” The "Spherical White-throated Sparrow" received the most votes this year. Fat Bird Week is an effort to raise awareness about Wisconsin’s endangered birds. Torkelson says there are 68 species in Wisconsin that are endangered, threatened or have declining populations. Find pics of all this year’s fat birds and resources to help Wisconsin’s native birds at www.wisconservation.org.

Local-Regional News May 13

 

The Mondovi City Council is meeting tonight. The agenda includes an update on the Mirror Lake Erosion and reports from the Mayor and City Department heads. The meeting begins at 5:30 at the Marten Center in Mondovi.

The Pepin County Government Center will be closed tomorrow. The county is replacing the center's generator, and all offices inside will be closed. The new generator is expected to be installed and tested by the end of the day on Wednesday, and the center will be open for regular hours on Thursday.

An investigation is underway after an officer-involved shooting in Jackson County. Police say this all unfolded early yesterday morning when officers attempted to stop a vehicle in the Town of Hixton. The driver allegedly fled and a police chase ensued. The pursuit ended when the suspect's vehicle came to a stop along the 81-hundred block of Sand Prairie Road. Police say an officer shot the suspect during the encounter, who remains in critical condition.

Efforts are being made to stop cliff jumping at Mount Simon. Eau Claire City officials say several trees people use for rope swinging and cliff jumping have been cut down and many more are marked to be removed. A fence was also installed with a warning sign. Last September, someone was injured after falling off of a rope swing and hitting the rocks below the cliffs.

The City of Eau Claire has received a $1.68 million payment. It's the first installment as part of the class action settlement with 3M over PFAS contamination. It is the first of four class action settlements in cases filed by the city against manufacturers of PFAS. According to a release from the city on Monday, the total from the settlements of all four claims are expected to exceed $12 million. The city will be constructing a PFAS filtration facility aimed at removing remaining trace amounts of PFAS from the water supply and reactivating the affected wells. This facility is projected to be operational early 2026. 

Governor Tony Evers is touring the state to highlight investments into Wisconsin's workforce. Evers visited Lippert Components in Eau Claire to learn how the company is using a 400 thousand dollar fast forward worker training grant from the DWD and Chippewa Valley Technical College to train workers in manufacturing. Evers says the state needs to invest in the workforce to meet the needs of a 21st century economy.

New numbers show a sharp increase in odometer fraud in Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation says almost six-thousand vehicles were sold with rolled-back odometers in 2024, resulting in more than 37-million dollars in fraud. That's about four-thousand vehicles more than 2023. The DOT says most fraud comes from wholesalers selling cars to retail sellers in the state, and title processing errors.

Advocates and elected leaders are calling for more childcare funding in the upcoming state budget out of yesterday's rally in Waunakee. This was part of the fourth annual National Day Without Child Care. During the pandemic, the Child Care Counts program gave providers extra funding to keep their doors open. That funding has now run out. Those in attendance at the rally are calling on Governor Tony Evers to put 480 million dollars in early childhood education with the next state budget.

Wisconsin filmmakers tell lawmakers that a tax incentive to make films in the state would have a positive cultural and economic impact. Hayden Mauk is an executive producer from Middleton and says film crews are an economic boom to the communities they film in because they shop locally and do their best to support those communities. Stacy Nash, a documentary filmmaker based in Milwaukee, says Wisconsin has the scenery and the talent to have a good film industry, but it needs to proper infrastructure to succeed. Under a proposed bill, companies could apply for a 30% credit equal to the costs of salary or wages of Wisconsin residents paid to produce a film.

Republican leaders on the Legislature’s budget panel say Democratic Governor Tony Evers plan to overhaul the state’s prison system needs work. Joint Finance Committee co-chair Representative Mark Born is pleased Evers wants to close the Green Bay prison, but said the plan is "half baked" and "needs a lot of work." Born and committee co-chair Senator Howard Marklein expect there will be more conversations with the governor's office. Under Evers’ plan, the maximum-security Green Bay Correctional Institution would eventually be shut down, and the hundreds of men housed there would be moved to other institutions. Evers also wants to convert changing the maximum-security Waupun Correctional Institution into a medium security prison that focuses on job training. In all, the $535 million reorganization would reduce the capacity of Wisconsin’s prison system by about 700 people.

Proposed legislation would let the Scouts recruit new members in Wisconsin schools. Lucia Cronin, President of the Milwaukee based Three Harbors Council of Scouting America, spelled out the issue to the Senate Education Committee. Cronin said while there are more than 760 schools in Wisconsin that still have a scouting program, but the inability to effectively recruit new members means those programs are dying. Tim Molepske with the Chippewa Valley Council described the same situation in northwest Wisconsin. He said the bill would simply allow Scouting to continue to invest in young people. Molepske said access has been an issue for about the last ten years, driven largely by legal concerns rather than objections by superintendents and principals. Governor Tony Evers vetoed similar legislation last session, citing concerns over local control and possible conflicts with federal law.

The body of a teenage boy was recovered from the Wisconsin River in Wausau Sunday evening. Police say they responded to the report of a possible drowning near a riverside dock. Witnesses at the scene said they saw the 16-year-old enter the river from the dock, but he never resurfaced. Crews found the teen around the area where he was last seen. He was taken to a hospital where he later died. Police say foul play is not a factor in the teen’s death as the incident remains under investigation.

Wisconsin is among the top ten states with the lowest property crime. That's according to a new study by property buying expert Eden Emerald Buyers Agent, which ranked Wisconsin fifth for the state with the lowest property crime. Idaho took the top spot, while New Mexico had the highest property crime in the country. The rankings were based on FBI crime data.

More than a dozen nurses at the same maternity center are pregnant in Green Bay. The HSHS St. Vincent Hospital's Women and Infants Center said that 14 nurses on their team are expecting. The medical center shared the news ahead of Mother's Day and during National Nurses Week, which ends Monday. A hospital spokesperson said that this is an incredible full circle moment for many of our nurses, some of which are about to become first time moms.

Local-Regional News May 12

 Six people were injured in a two vehicle accident Saturday in Nelson Township. According to the Buffalo County Sheriffs Department, a 15yr old female from New Richmond was traveling southbound on Hwy 35 when she attempted to make a left had turn onto Hwy 25 and failed to yield to oncoming traffic and struck a nothbound vehicle driven by a 47yr old male from Mount Pleasant. Three people from each vehicle were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The Buffalo County Sheriff’s Department and WI DNR rescued a stranded boater over the weekend. In a social media post, the Deputy Bresette assisted the boater and two children, who had run out of gas on the Mississippi River. Bresette used the drone to locate the boater and was able to talk with him and the children. The location of the boat was passed onto a WI DNR Warden who arrived on the scene.

Fire conditions continue to rise in the WRDN Listening area. The combination of warm and dry weather and windy conditions have led to high fire conditions in Pepin, Buffalo, Pierce and Trempealeau Counties and very high in Eau Claire County. The dry weather is expected to continue the first have of the week and authorities are asking people to avoid any burning at this time. Red flag warnings for extreme fire condition are in effect for the northern 1/3 of Wisconsin.

One person was injured in a single vehicle accident in Independence on Saturday. According to the Trempealeau County Sheriffs Department, 73yr old Ronald Suchla of Independence was traveling on Hwy O when he lost control and crashed. Deputies noticed signs of impairment and Suchla was taken into custody and charged with OWI 5^th offense.

Construction crews will begin installing silt fences this week along Hwy 93 from Cedar Road south of Eau Claire to the Trempealeau County Line just north of Eleva. The $7.7 million project will include milling and replacing the asphalt surface, replacing the Clear Creek Bridge and installing a new bridge at Pine Creek, widening the shoulder and replacing the guardrails. Hwy 93 will be closed starting on May 19. The project is expected to be completed in early August.

Three state Democratic lawmakers held a listening session over the weekend in Eau Claire. Senator Jeff Smith, and Representatives Jodi Emerson and Christian Phelps on Saturday addressed the budget cuts that went into effect last week. The listening session involved Governor Evers' Year of the Kid budget and how it impacts Chippewa Valley. Lawmakers told community members they have just one month to use funds that will go back into the general budget.

Blugold Realty is buying the former Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire. The real estate organization is part of the UW-Eau Claire Foundation, but that doesn't mean the hospital would become university property. It announced the hospital purchase earlier today. The 600-thousand square foot building is built on 27 acres adjacent to UW-Eau Claire's upper campus. The hospital closed last March.

Charges are filed against a Lake Hallie man accused of pointing a gun at officers while intoxicated. Prosecutors say officers responded to 59-year-old Scott Brun's home last month after he called 911. Responders say he answered the door with a loaded gun. After a struggle, an officer was able to push Brun's gun away and take him into custody. No guns were fired on either end. Prosecutors say Brun's blood alcohol level was three times the legal limit. He has been released from jail on a ten-thousand-dollar bond, and is not allowed to drink alcohol. He'll be back in court early next month.

The cause of a house fire in Eau Claire is under investigation. Firefighters were called to the burning home along Rudolph and Taft around ten yesterday morning. No injuries were reported. The fire is said to have caused about 100 thousand dollars worth of damage to the home.

The two bodies found in a Monroe County river are identified. The Sheriff’s Office says that video evidence confirms that Leath Lambert and Heather Larsen accidentally fell into the water of the East Fork Lemonweir River near Fort McCoy in Wyeville and drowned. The two were found after the Sheriff’s Office received a call from a person who said they found a body in the river after looking for Lambert and Larsen, who hadn’t been seen after leaving a local bar the night before. Foul play has been ruled out as an investigation into the deaths continues.

The father of the Abundant Life Christian School shooter is being held on a 20-thousand-dollar bail. His daughter killed one teacher and one student when she opened fire at the Madison school in December. Six other people were injured, including one student who is still in critical condition. Prosecutors say 42-year-old Jeffrey Rupnow, the shooter's father, was arrested Thursday morning during a traffic stop. He is charged with felony counts of intentionally selling a dangerous weapon to a child and contributing to the delinquency of a child.

A man is in jail after a 38-hour standoff ended in the Village of Fredonia. A Ozaukee County Sheriff spokesperson said on Saturday that residents are no longer under shelter in place orders. The suspect is suffering from minor injuries and will have a mental health evaluation. He allegedly admits to playing loud music, shooting an automatic weapon randomly in the air and threatening to kill anyone who approached him.

Democrats are making another attempt to overturn Wisconsin's congressional district maps. The Elias Law Group filed a motion on behalf of Democratic voters to the State Supreme Court Wednesday asking for a review of the House maps. The group filed a similar request last year, but the Court rejected the request because it was too close to the November election. The current maps only have two of the state’s seven congressional districts with the potential for real contention. They’re the 3rd District currently held by Republican Derrick Van Orden and the 1st District held by Republican Bryan Steil. The new lawsuit will be heard by a liberal Court, after Justice Susan Crawford won the spring election. The court's 4 - 3 liberal majority will remain in place until 2028.

A proposed bill that imposes the first-ever social media tax in the nation is advancing out of the Minnesota Senate Tax Committee. The chair of the committee, Senator Ann Rest of New Hope, says the public will not pay a dime of the planned tax. She adds that it will be primarily placed on big corporations that mine data from Minnesotans through social media. The measure also includes a provision to study the possible impact of sports betting in Minnesota.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is giving out 600-thousand-dollars in grant money to improve shooting ranges. Managers of ranges that meet public access requirements or people who want to build a new one can apply for some of the money. In past years, funding has gone toward renovating archery and shooting ranges and building restrooms or shooting benches. More information about applying is available on DNR-dot-Wisconsin-dot-gov until July 15.

Local-Regional News May 9

 For the last 10 years, residents of nine counties in western Wisconsin have been able to receive personalized mental health, substance use and other services through a unique partnership called the Western Region Recovery and Wellness Consortium (RWC).   The RWC is celebrating its 10th anniversary in May, having been established a decade ago to stabilize and address mental health and substance use needs in the population.  The counties in the RWC are Buffalo, Burnett, Chippewa, Dunn, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Rusk, and Washburn.   Chippewa County serves as the coordinating county. 

Buffalo County is again offering an Ag & Household Hazardous Clean Sweep collection program to residents, businesses and farms. Funds for collecting hazardous waste are provided by Buffalo County and Grants from the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.  Residents and farmers may bring their materials to the Clean Sweep collection site at no cost.  The Clean Sweep is tomorrow from 8-1 at the Mondovi Recycling Center.

Police are looking into cars being broken into at two different Altoona parks. Lake Altoona County Park and Otter Creek Dog Park are the two parks where cars got broken into. Police say the break-ins happened between 3:50 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. yesterday. Police are reviewing tapes and trends, but they believe it's an out of state group that's targeting parks. Anyone with information or saw anything is asked to contact police.

The Dunn County Sheriff’s Department and Menomonie Police Department are holding a fundraiser for the families of Corrections Officer Jeff Reynolds and Police Officer Sam Miller next month.  Sam Miller passed away unexpectedly while off-duty December 27, leaving behind his wife and two children. Jeff Reynolds passed away on Christmas Eve while on his way to work in a car accident, also leaving behind a wife and two children.  The event will be held June 1 from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Lucette Brewing and Pizza in Menomonie. 

La Crosse Bishop Gerard Battersby was shocked that an American was voted pope. Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was voted as the 267th Pope and first ever American to become Pope. Bishop Battersby said "I was completely surprised. I thought the truism that you could never have an American pope-because America's a superpower." The Bishop is excited to see the new Pope get to work.

Tomah police confirmed that a bomb threat message was sent in Tomah at Tomah High school. Police evacuated students and the staff from the school. The bomb threat message was written in a bathroom stall. Police searched the entire school and did not find the threat credible. Police are investigating the threat and will release more information when it becomes available.

Wisconsin is suing the Department of Transportation over more than 60 million dollars in blocked electric vehicle funding. Governor Tony Evers says the money was already approved by Congress and should not have been blocked. More than a dozen other states have also joined the lawsuit, which says losing the funds could halt infrastructure plans and job growth.

Building projects in Wisconsin are getting 125 million dollars in funding from the state. It's the first time the Building Commission has made a funding decision since disagreeing over Governor Tony Evers' 2025-2027 budget recommendations in March. Projects receiving the funding include utility infrastructure upgrades on the UW-Stevens Point and UW-La Crosse campuses, modernizing the Wisconsin Army National Guard's historic training facility, and maintenance repairs for thirty-one state agencies.

At the Capitol, a bipartisan win for Wisconsin nurses and patients. A bill would allow the state’s Advanced Practice Registered Nurses to care for patients without partnering with a doctor. State Senator Pat Testin of Stevens Point said it's the result of productive conversations with the various stakeholders along with Governor Tony Evers, who will sign the measure if and when it reaches his desk, The new license will allow nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, certified nurse midwives, and certified registered nurse anesthetists to care for patients without partnering with a doctor. Advocates say it will help alleviate gaps in availability of healthcare. 27 states have similar licenses in place. The bill adds educational requirements after Evers vetoed two earlier versions.

Another arrest by federal immigration agents at the Milwaukee County Courthouse. Chief Judge Carl Ashley said ICE agents waited for a Wednesday morning hearing to end before making the arrest. The identity of the person taken into custody, the charges they face, and where the accused was being taken were not revealed. ICE has made several recent arrests at courthouses in Milwaukee and Ozaukee counties. Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan was arrested last month and is accused of helping undocumented immigrant Eduardo Flores Ruiz avoid immigration enforcement at the courthouse. Ashley says a policy on how to handle ICE agents inside the courthouse is still being worked out.

A bill at the Capitol would criminalize deep-fake pornography. The proposal would make using AI to turn someone’s visual image into a naked photo or sex video a felony. Bill co-sponsor Republican Senator Andre Jacque, addressed an Assembly committee hearing on Wednesday.  Proponents of the bill say deep-fake images used to harass and intimidate others could escalate as the use of AI increases. Jacque says 32 other states already have laws similar to what the measure advocates.

Several community leaders are demanding a woman face criminal charges after she was accused of calling a young African American boy a racial slur. The local NAACP held a town hall session at the Rochester Civic Theatre yesterday afternoon. The incident, which went viral, happened April 28th at Soldiers Field Veterans Memorial Park. A video shows Sharmake Omar confronting Shiloh Hendrix for calling a boy a racial slur. Rochester Police handed over its investigation to city attorneys. The Olmsted County Attorney's Office is also investigating.

Negotiations in state budget talks are moving at a snail's pace despite Governor Tim Walz's involvement. The Legislature has a May 19th deadline to produce a spending plan. DFL Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy says it's been slow progress, and it's a difficult budget to settle this year. But Democrats and Republicans agreed on legislation that creates an Office of Inspector General to oversee state government program spending.

The Wisconsin Department of Tourism has unveiled the newest State Highway Map. The Wisconsin DOT used geographic information system data to help improve the paper version of the map, which the department says is still in high demand. Department of Tourism Secretary Anne Sayers says the map is more than a tool for motorists, it's a resource for discovery. The map features Wisconsin's state parks, trails, and recreation areas, as well as historic sites and veterans memorials. Printed maps can be picked up for free at a number of locations, including state rest areas and welcome centers. 

Local-Regional News May 8

 

Two people were injured in a two vehicle accident Tuesday in Trenton Township. According to the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department, 32yr old Brendan Kirby of Prescott was traveling southbound on Hwy 63, when he collided with a northbound vehicle driven by 78yr old Dale Edgar of Kasson, MN. Edgar and passenger 77yr old Julie Edgar were taken to Mayo Red Wing Hospital. Kirby was not injured in the accident.

Wisconsin 3^rd District Congressman Derrick Van Orden is changing his plans in response to a "credible threat" made against members of his family. According to a statement from his office, the Republican had to miss votes yesterday and reschedule his upcoming town hall. The threat was made against his wife, children, and grandchildren in a letter delivered to his Washington-based office. The congressman's office condemned threats of political violence against public officials and noted the incident has been reported to authorities.

Middle School Students from Durand-Arkansaw, Assumption and Pepin will be learning about the Civil War today with the Pepin County Heritage Center. Bob Zika with the Heritage Center says the Center is hosting the 2^nd Minnesota Battery of Light Artillery based out of Red Wing today.  The public is invited after 2pm, and as part of the visit today, the group will be shooting a large cannon throughout the day.

Mondovi residents who use North Washington Street will need to use Hwy 37 today. The City of Mondovi will have North Washington closed to through traffic for the majority of the day today. Utility Crews are installing pipes along the road and hope to have that completed by the end of the day.

The CPKC railroad will close multiple railroad crossings for repairs in Wabasha County over the next few months. The crossing on County Road 84 near Hwy 61 will be closed May 17-20, and by Kellogg May 29 through June 2^nd. The Gambia Street Crossing in Wabasha will be closed June 12-16 and the Lakewood Drive Crossing in Lake City will be closed July 8-12.

Plum City School District Students will be starting summer early. Because the district did not use all of the scheduled snow days, students will be released early on the last day of School June 5^th. Elementary students will be released at 12:50 and middle high school students at 1. All busses will run their same routes.

Fire crews are investigating how a fire started at an assisted living facility in Holmen. The fire took place yesterday on the 3000 block of Circle Drive. When fire crews arrived at the scene, they saw light smoke coming from one of the rooms, but no flames were spotted. The facility was evacuated as crews could put the fire/smoke out. No one was injured and crews believe the fire started from an air conditioning unit.

Applications are open for a new Barron County Sheriff. Current County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald announced his retirement to the public earlier this week after notifying Governor Tony Evers on Friday. Fitzgerald says he's leaving for a public relations role at Mosaic Technologies. Once selected, the new sheriff will serve until January 2027. Applications will be accepted through May 23rd.

The Wisconsin State Patrol is warning drivers about a higher risk of deer crashes as the weather gets warmer. State Patrol says the number of crashes involving deer increase in May and June as deer look for places to give birth and keep their young offspring. There were more than 17 thousand deer-related crashes reported last year, resulting in nine deaths and more than 700 injuries.

Farmers need to make their voices heard on agricultural equipment “lemon law” legislation. That from state Representative and farmer Travis Tranel of Cuba City, after no one testified on the bill during a public hearing at the Capitol this week. Tranel said although farmers are busy right now with spring planting, they and farm organizations need to show up for issues that are important to them, because their voices matter. The bill would entitle farmers to be eligible for replacement or refund, if equipment repairs are not correctly completed after four trips to a service department or if the equipment is out of service for 30 days.

A Republican authored bill in the Wisconsin Senate would require school districts to include a good-faith estimate of the property tax impact of a passed referendum on a single-family residence. Appleton Republican Senator Rachael Cabral-Guevara say it would offer more transparency for voters. Opponents say it will be hard to predict the impact of referendum at the start of the process versus when it eventually goes on the ballot. The Senate Education Committee also took testimony Tuesday on related legislation to restrict how often school districts can propose operating referenda. Another bill would require school boards make textbooks, curricula, and instructional materials available for inspection by district residents.

As expected, Republican budget writers will extensively rework Governor Tony Evers two-year state spending plan. Republicans who hold the majority on the Legislature’s budget writing Joint Finance Committee have signaled for weeks that they plan to essentially build a new 2025-2027 budget from scratch. That’s similar to how they’ve handled the three previous Evers’ budgets. When the committee meets Thursday, they’ll strip more than 600 policy items out of the budget the Democratic governor proposed earlier this year. Items to be deleted include the governor's proposed fifth state tax bracket for Wisconsin’s high wage earners; along with proposals to legalize marijuana, expand Medicaid eligibility, and increase state funding support for childcare providers. The finance committee will send their finished product to Evers this summer.

For the 30th straight year, Wisconsin leads the nation in cranberry production. The latest harvest report from the Wisconsin Cranberry Board shows that the state produced just over 6 million barrels of cranberries in 2024. That represents over 60 percent of the nation's cranberry supply, more than doubling the amount produced by the number two cranberry provider in the U.S., Massachusetts. Of the 19 counties delivering that output, Wood County was the state’s leader, producing nearly a third of the total amount.

Gov. Tony Evers announced the reappointment of Cindy Brown to the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) Board, effective May 2, 2025. She is the immediate Past-President of the Global Pulse Confederation. DATCP Secretary Randy Romanski. said“Ms. Brown is engaged and knowledgeable, and I look forward to continuing to work with her on the DATCP Board.” Ms. Brown served as President of Chippewa Valley Bean from 2011 – 2025 and currently serves as Chairman of the Board.

There's more solar power coming to the Madison area. Madison Gas and Electric received approval from the Wisconsin Public Service Commission to build a new 20 megawatt solar array in Fitchburg. The plant will be called the Sunnyside Solar Energy center, and will be able to power 6,000 homes. The plan also calls for a 40 megawatt battery storage system to hold that power overnight. M G and E already has 40 megawatts of solar power in its grid from other arrays in Fitchburg.

The site of a beloved decades-long Wisconsin Dells attraction is sold. The property that was home to the Tommy Bartlett water-ski show and Tommy Bartlett Exploratory has been purchased by Ripley’s Believe It or Not World Entertainment. The sale announced Monday comes five years after the Bartlett venues closed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The owners of the shuttered property searched for a buyer who would maintain the space as a tourism and entertainment spot. The new owners plan to keep the site open as a year-round attraction. 

Local-Regional News May 7

 

The Durand-Arkansaw School Board has approved a plan to have a late start for Wednesday Classes to allow for teacher collaboration. The plan would have teachers report to work on Wednesday at 7:30am for collaboration until 8:15 with classes starting at 8:20. Dismissal times for students would remain the same. The new plan for teacher collaboration will begin with the new school year.

One person was injured in a motorcycle accident in Rock Elm Township on Monday. According to the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department, 69yr old Jeffrey Kerg of Elmwood was traveling westbound on Hwy 72 when he struck a deer. Kerg was taken to Mayo Hospital in Menomonie.

Two people were injured in a motorcycle accident in Clifton Township on Monday. According to the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department, 46yr old Charles Cook of Gem Lake, MN was traveling southbound on Hwy F when he lost control and entered the ditch. Cook and passenger 23yr old Alexis Cook were taken to Regions Hospital in St. Paul.

Residents in Trempealeau will soon see a price hike in their utility bills. The Trempealeau Municipal Electric and Water Utility has put forth an application with the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin to get a tweak with rates that would increase it by 12 percent. This would be the first price hike since 2023.

Fire crews are investigating how a fire started at Bush Brothers in Augusta. Crews responded to the building yesterday in the early evening. Smoke damage can be seen on the outside of the building as crews were putting out flames. Employees were seen outside of the building. It is unclear of injuries as well as how the fire first started.

An investigation is underway in Monroe County after two people were found dead in a river. Monroe County deputies say the bodies of a man and a woman were found Sunday afternoon in a river just northeast of Fort McCoy in Wyeville. The pair went missing the night before from a nearby bar. The Medical Examiner's office has not identified the victims, but deputies are not suspecting foul play at this time.

The Minnesota State Patrol confirmed that a man is dead after riding his e-bike and being hit by a car in Winona. The incident took place at the intersection of 6th Street and Liberty Street Monday night. Police say another man was driving and turning on to 6th street when he hit the victim riding an e-bike. The man hit was pronounced dead at the scene. Police say the sun may have played a role in the crash, and that alcohol did not play a role.

Minnesota State Senator Matt Klein is running for Congress. The Mendota Heights Democrat is hoping to replace Southeast Minnesota Congresswoman Angie Craig, who is running for U. S. Senate. Klein believes his experience as a doctor and his nine years as a state legislator will help him to serve voters in the congressional district. He has already gained endorsements from the Minnesota Pipe Trades Association and Iron Workers Local 512.

Burn permits are suspended in 30 Wisconsin counties. The Department of Natural Resources says no precipitation for much of the state, combined with low humidity, makes for increased fire danger. The majority of fire danger is in the northern third of Wisconsin, with parts of central and southwestern Wisconsin affected as well. Here in the WRDN Listening Area, Pepin, Buffalo, Dunn and Pierce Counties are under a Moderate Fire Danger while Eau Claire and Chippewa Counties are under a High Fire Danger. More than 650 wildfires have burned in Wisconsin so far this year, burning more than 22-hundred acres of land. Current fire danger and burn restriction information is available on the DNR's website.

The deadline is finally here, and you'll now need a Real ID to be federally compliant. AAA Representative Brynna Knapp says you need one to fly domestically, enter a military base or some federal buildings. Knapp says you must bring several Department of Motor Vehicles accepted documents that help verify your identity, U.S. legal residents and citizenship status, and then your current address that you live at now. You can visit your local Wisconsin DMV office to get your Real ID. You can also make an appointment, which can speed up the process. More info is available on the Wisconsin Department of Transportation website.

The CDC is announcing a multi-state outbreak of salmonella involving backyard poultry in six states including Wisconsin. Seven people have reportedly gotten sick from contact with infected ducks or chickens. CDC health experts are offering tips for reducing risk of salmonella, saying wash your hands for 20 seconds after touching birds, their supplies, or collecting eggs. They also recommend using a pair of dedicated boots or shoes for your chicken coop and take them off before entering your house. Salmonella symptoms include fever, diarrhea and stomach cramps six hours to six days after being exposed.

Wisconsin joins 19 other states in a lawsuit against the U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary. Attorney General Josh Kaul announced that the state will join the suit which aims to stop Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the Trump administration from making cuts to HHS. Kaul says that's “…resulting in increased and unnecessary risk to people’s health and wellbeing.” Kaul also argues that the Trump administration can’t authorize the cuts, since Congress already approved the funding. Kennedy eliminated 28 departments from the agency and decreased its workforce by 25% during a restructuring last month.

Governor Tony Evers appoints three new members to the UW Board of Regents. The Democratic governor has appointed Tom Palzewicz, Linda Terwilliger and Noah Fritz to fill vacancies created by terms ending for the last three regents appointed by former Republican governor Scott Walker. Evers says the appointments come at a critical time, calling this a make-or-break moment for the Universities of Wisconsin and institutions of higher education across the state. Palzewicz and Terwilliger's terms end in 2032, Fritz's will end in 2027. State law requires the UW Board of Regents to be made up of at least one member from each of Wisconsin's congressional districts.

Police officers from Ohio are cleared of any wrongdoing in the death of a man during last year's Republican National Convention In Milwaukee. The Milwaukee County District Attorney's office won't be charging the five Columbus officers involved in the shooting death of 43-year-old Sam Sharpe during the RNC last July. The officers who killed Sharpe were among nearly 4,000 non-Milwaukee officers who assisted during the convention. Investigators said Sharpe was trying to attack another man with two knives when he was shot and killed by the Columbus cops. The DA found their use of force permissible under Wisconsin law.

A mental health grant designated for the Rochester Public Schools is terminated. RPS Superintendent Kent Pekel says he learned that the one-point-nine-million dollar grant will be cut off in the middle of a multi-grant period, effective December 31st. He added that students in need of counseling for depression, anxiety, and thoughts of suicide will not get the needed support. The federal grant covers tuition in the social work program at Winona State University, substitutes pay for staff while they complete internship experiences, while earning their degrees, and provides mentoring and supervision to support mental health practitioners.

A Minnesota company is planning to auction some of the possessions of late country music star Johnny Cash. Edina-based Karats by Auction House took bids online yesterday on such items as rings, furniture, belt buckles, and handwritten lyrics. The businesses owner says the auction was breaking records as it had well over 15-thousand potential buyers in the virtual room. Cash's daughter Cindy is donating a portion of the proceeds to the conservation group Sea Shepherd and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.