Local-Regional News Jan 28

 

The Durand City Council is meeting tonight. Items on the agenda include discussion and possible action on the public engagement plan for the comprehensive plan project, an update from the Durand Fire District and reports from the Mayor and City Department heads. Tonights meeting begins at 6pm at Durand City Hall.

Officials of the Dunn County Treatment Court recently reported that 2025 was a successful year in helping individuals overcome addiction and rebuild their lives through evidence-based treatment and recovery support.  In 2025, the program served 17 participants, celebrated six successful graduations and had five new admissions, said Kayla Johnson, county Treatment Court Coordinator.  In 2025, Johnson added, the court received 20 referrals, including 15 self-referrals, two from defense attorneys, one from the District Attorney’s Office, and two from the state Department of Corrections. 

The Pierce County Fair is accepting applications for the Century and Sesquicentennial Farm and Home awards. Families whose property has remained in the same family for 100 or 150 years may qualify for recognition during the 2026 Pierce County Fair and the Wisconsin State Fair. Application deadline is March 1^st, and for more information, contact the Pierce County Fair at 715-273-6874.

Tuesday's scheduled arraignment of an Eau Claire man accused of killing a neighbor did not take place as scheduled. Shane Helmbrecht is charged with intentional homicide in the fatal shooting of neighbor Jenn Ward in 2016. Helmbrecht had previously been found incompetent to stand trial, and was sent to a group home that he later walked away from -- only to later be found in Mexico. Tuesday's hearing was delayed with Helmbrecht continuing an appeal. Another hearing is scheduled to take place in March.

A Sparta man has been sentenced to prison in connection with the death of a Sparta woman in February of 2024. 53yr old Timothy Burns pleaded no contest to manufacturing and delivering the narcotics that killed the woman. He was sentenced to two years in prison and three years of extended supervision.

Authorities are continuing to investigate a deadly collision that happened Monday night in Jackson County. The Jackson County Sheriff's Office says a driver traveling on County Highway P lost control and went left of center and into the path of an oncoming vehicle. One of the drivers was killed and the other was left injured.

Minnesota Energy Resources has asked customers to decrease natural gas usage through Friday, Jan. 30, as extreme cold weather causes volatile prices and higher bills. MER spokesperson Alison Trouy says “The price that we pay for natural gas is the price our customers pay. There’s no markup there. The extreme cold, both in Minnesota and across the country, is really to blame for this. The company recommended lowering thermostats by a few degrees during the continued freezing temperatures. Additional conservation methods include avoiding fireplace use, using gas ranges sparingly, opening blinds during the day, and closing them at night to contain warmth from the sun.

A former high school principal is formally charged for failing to report child abuse. Online court records show Jennifer Ploeger is charged with three misdemeanor counts of failing to report child abuse during her time as principal at Sun Prairie West High School. The charges stem from an investigation into former West dean of students Robert Gilkey-Meisegeier. An independent investigation found that Ploeger was told multiple times that Gilkey-Meisegeier had inappropriate relationships with students, but Ploeger wrote the allegations off as rumors. Gilkey-Meisegeier pleaded guilty last week in federal court to a count of producing child pornography. Ploeger is set to make an initial court appearance in early March.

US Senator Tammy Baldwin wants the resignation of D H S Secretary Kristi Noem and the removal of ICE agents from Minneapolis. Speaking on Tuesday, the Wisconsin Democrat says Noem oversaw the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. "We watched as ICE agents shot Alex 10 times, even as Alex laid motionless on the ground." Baldwin also will be a no vote on any funding bill that includes ICE funding without reforms. There's a government shutdown set to take place at the end of the month if no continuing resolution is passed.

Wisconsin residents are being warned about a new payment scam via email. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation says scammers are impersonating tolling agencies and "sending fake email notifications claiming recipients owe overdue toll fees." Victims who click on the link in the emails are taken to websites designed to look like legitimate toll payment portals. Officials are saying anyone who receives these emails should report them and delete them immediately.

A massive data center project in Racine County gets the green light. The Mt. Pleasant Village Board Monday night approved site plans for 15 more data centers near Microsoft’s existing facility at the former Foxconn site. Village President David DeGroot tells FOX 6 Milwaukee that, “Data center AI is an emerging market, and I think that there isn't a better spot for us to be in.” Microsoft is already building two data centers on the site. Though some residents remain opposed to more, the vote by the seven-member board was unanimous.

The Wisconsin Elections Commission may be getting involved in an elections lawsuit against the city of Madison. WEC met in closed session on Tuesday to discuss that lawsuit brought by the liberal law firm Law Forward. A group of residents is suing the city for failing to count nearly 200 ballots in the 2024 presidential election. The Elections Commission previously ruled that the city erred in that failure and directed it to create policies that would prevent miscounts in the future. Madison officials dispute the Commission's authority to actually dictate city policy but did not officially contest the ruling. It's unclear what actions WEC might take in the current lawsuit. The commission did not discuss anything in open session.

A Wisconsin Corrections staffer has been fired following an investigation that began after Morgan Geyser left a Madison group home last year. Geyser and a friend were convicted in the 2014 Slender Man stabbing when both they and their victim were 12. Now 24-years-old, she walked away from a Madison group home on November 22nd. Geyser and a 43-year-old man were taken into custody the following evening south of Chicago. Three Department of Corrections employees were the subject of personnel investigations related to the incident. A DOC spokesperson confirmed that two have returned to work after serving unpaid suspensions of three and five days, while the third employee was terminated. Geyser has been returned to the Winnebago Mental Health Institute in Oshkosh.

Chris Madel is dropping out of the Minnesota governor's race and said he can't support federal retribution. His exit comes as some other Republicans have started to distance themselves from the Trump administration's immigration crackdown in the state. In a surprise video announcement, the attorney said he supported the originally stated goals of ICE in Minnesota, but the effort has expanded far beyond its stated focus on true public safety threats. After launching his campaign on December 1st, he quickly rose from a relative political unknown to a top contender for the GOP nomination. He launched his campaign as a staunch defender of law enforcement and has recently provided legal counsel to Jonathan Ross, the ICE agent who shot and killed Renee Good on January 7th.

Local-Regional News Jan 27

 

The Mondovi City Council is meeting tonight. Items on the agenda include discussion of the 2026 Landfill Monitoring Proposal with Oakridge Engineering, discussion of the upcoming meeting with the WI DOT on the Hwy 37 project, and reports from the Mayor and Department heads. Tonights meeting begins at 5:30 at the Marten Center in Mondovi.

The Pepin County Sheriff’s Department is seeking the public's help for tennis balls. K9 Officers Jack and Pasca use tennis balls as part of their training. Because both are such enthusiastic chewers, the department goes through tennis balls fairly quickly. The department is asking the community for donations of lightly used tennis balls in good condition. Donations can be dropped of at the sheriff’s department.

A Tremplealeau man has been sentenced to 20yrs in federal prison after being convicted on child porn and other sexual assault charges. Stephen Jenkins was sentenced last week in federal court in Madison. According to federal authorities, Jenkins sexually assaulted three children, videotaped the assaults and also had hundred of child porn images in his possession. Along with the prison sentence, Jenkins was fined $15,000.

The City of Menomonie is offering up to $20000 in funding for projects and programs to help improve the quality of life in the city. The city is currently accepting applications for the Nonprofit Financial Assistance Grant program. The grant will support non profit groups and the deadline to apply is February 19. Contact Menomonie City hall for more information.

An arrest warrant was issued Friday for an Appleton man accused in the sexual assault of a child. Michael Rouse allegedly assaulted the victim inside his Eau Claire home in 2003 when she was eleven-years-old and he was 25. Police say there are other victims.

A suspect wanted in connection with a Monday morning stabbing in Holmen is now in custody. Police received word early yesterday morning that a stabbing victim was receiving treatment at a local hospital and later arrested 24-year-old Dennis Hernandez on charges including substantial battery. The victim's injuries are described as non life-threatening.

A suspect accused of gunning down a man in Rochester and then breaking into a home is in custody. The crime happened yesterday. Officers responded to the scene in the 12-hundred block of Marion Road Southeast. They found a man on the ground with a gunshot wound. The victim was transported to a hospital where he died later. Authorities say the suspect broke into a home only miles from the shooting scene. Charges are pending in the case. Police say in a preliminary report that the victim and the suspect were related.

A Medford woman is pleading guilty to charges stemming from robberies at a pair of Jackson County banks. Banks in Black River Falls and Alma Center were robbed in 2018 and 2019 and two people have been charged. Defendant Michaela Davis has pleaded guilty to charges including conspiracy to commit robbery of a financial institution. She has been sentenced to one year of conditional jail time and ten years of probation.

Measles is confirmed in Wisconsin. A Waukesha County case marks the first confirmed case of measles in Wisconsin this year. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services says the case is related to international travel and is working to identify and notify people who may have been exposed. DHS encourages you to check your vaccination status to make sure you're protected from the virus. Symptoms include runny nose, high fever and a red rash with raised bumps that starts at the hairline and moves to the arms and legs. More info can be found on the DHS website.

There’s already a revision in the works for Wisconsin’s school cell phone law. Representative Lindee Brill of Sheboygan Falls chairs the Speakers Task Force on Protecting Kids. She says proposals include a change to Wisconsin’s newly enacted law which allows school districts to restrict student cell phone use during the school day. Brill says a "bell-to-bell"  ban on student phone use has be adopted in other states and has bipartisan support. The task force has drafted ten bipartisan bills, including an ap store accountability act, warning labels on explicit content and mental health warnings for social media. The Task Force on Protecting Kids is one of several which have produced bills for legislative consideration during the rest of the current session.  

 

The chancellor of UW-Madison is leaving the school for another job. Officials announced Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin has accepted a position as the next president of Columbia University. Mnookin is expected to remain in her current role through the spring commencement before moving on to her new job. An interim chancellor is expected to be named soon while the Board of Regents searches for a permanent replacement.

The NRA and Minnesota gun rights advocates are rejecting Trump officials blaming Alex Pretti for being armed. Rob Doar, senior vice president of the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus, said he's confident that the gun taken from Pretti's waist is the same gun in the photo posted on social media by the DHS. Doar concluded, "If Mr. Pretti was disarmed, absent any other evidence of any risk to an officer, I don't see how deadly force would be justified." U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, Bill Essayli, posted on X, saying, "If you approach law enforcement with a gun, there is a high likelihood they will be legally justified in shooting you." The National Rifle Association responded to his comments, saying responsible public voices should be awaiting a full investigation, not making generalizations and demonizing law-abiding citizens.

A new survey shows Wisconsin employers don't think students are prepared for the workforce. The survey from Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce finds over half of responding employers say Wisconsin’s K-12 education system does not adequately prepare students for the workforce. Survey data shows 64 percent of employers indicated their employees struggle with reading, math, or both. 30 percent of respondents have had to resort to remedial education or tutoring for employees. According to the survey, only 10 percent of Wisconsin employers rate the quality of their local school district as excellent.

An author of Bradyn's Law, a new state statute that criminalizes sextortion, is already looking to expand upon it. Representative Brent Jacobson of Mosinee says victims of the crime, including their families if the victim dies by suicide, should be able to sue for damages and be compensated for their losses. Braydn’s Law is named is named in honor of Bradyn Bohn, a 15-year-old D.C. Everest Junior High School student who died by suicide in March 2025 after falling victim to a sextortion scheme. Jacobson’s proposal would clarify potential damages in state law, making it easier for civil lawsuits to stick. Jacobson says getting it through before the end of the session may be a stretch, but he's confident the measure can get bipartisan support and could be re-introduced next year if needed.

Wisconsinites can support conservation during tax season by donating to the DNR’s Endangered Resources Fund. Natural Heritage Conservation Director Drew Feldkirchner says the fund helps protect rare plants, animals, and the state’s natural areas. Donations are tax‑deductible and support efforts ranging from bat conservation to maintaining Wisconsin’s historic State Natural Areas. More details are available on the DNR website.

Governor Tony Evers is supporting Minnesota Governor Tim Walz following the death of a Wisconsin native. Evers announced Monday that Wisconsin is joining a multi-state lawsuit against the Trump Administration and ICE, and said federal agents are endangering Americans and having their rights violated. "It has to stop," said Evers. The lawsuit accuses ICE and other agencies of overstepping their authority and taking unlawful actions against legal residents. Quote "This has nothing to do with public safety." ICE agents on Saturday shot and killed Green Bay native Alex Pretti while he was being restrained on the ground, claiming he had a weapon, and killed Renee Good earlier this month while she was driving away from agents, claiming she was threatening them with her vehicle.

Local-Regional News Jan 26

 

No one was injured in a machine shed fire near Alma on Saturday. According to the Buffalo County Sheriff’s Department, firefighters from Alma, Mondovi, Nelson and Waumandee responded to the fire at W1829 Pony Trail and were able to extinguish the fire quickly. Firefighters believe the fire may have started by a heater being used to warm a vehicle inside the building. With the cold weather, authorities are reminding residents to take extra precautions when using space heaters.

No one was injured after Buffalo and Pepin County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a subject armed with a knife and experiencing a mental health crisis in Mondovi on Saturday morning. According to the Buffalo County Sheriffs Department, deputies responded to the scene on West Main Street and were able to communicate with the subject and safely placed the individual into protective custody. Hwy 10 was closed for a short period of time and there was no threat to the public at any time. If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, help is available by calling the Northwest Connections Crisis Line at 888-552-6642.

Ntec is warning customers of a scam. If you receive an email asking you to verify account information from a nelson-tel.com address it is not from Ntec and is a scam. Do not click on the links or share any personal details. If you have questions contact Ntec directly.

The Pierce County Sheriff’s Department and Wisconsin Department of Transportation are warning residents of another fake texting scam. The new scam warns of “unpaid vehicle fees” and includes a fraudulent link to get you to pay for the fake violation. The Sheriff’s Department reminds residents the WI DMV will never text or email you saying you owe money. If you receive one of these messages do not click on the link and just delete it.

Winona County says it has identified and responded to a ransomware incident affecting its computer network on Friday. The county noted that upon discovery, it initiated an investigation to assess the scope and impact of the incident. It is working closely with a third-party cybersecurity and data forensics-experts, as well as local, state and federal law enforcement. Winona County says it will provide an update when more information becomes available, and thanks everyone for their patience as it implements business continuity measures.

Months after the mayor of La Crosse ordered its temporary closure, Cameron Park is reopening. Burns Park and Cameron Park were closed in September due to what Mayor Shaundel Washington-Spivey said were safety concerns involving the behavior of sheltered and unsheltered individuals. Burns Park was reopened in December and Cameron Park is to be reopened tomorrow.

Two people were left injured after a single-vehicle weekend crash in Vernon County. Authorities say 61-year-old John Harnish lost control of his vehicle on a curve in the in the Town of Wheatland, went down an embankment and hit several trees. Harnish was taken to a local hospital for care and there has been no word on his condition. A passenger from the vehicle suffered injuries that are described as minor.

A Juneau County man faces murder charges in the death of his father. Prosecutors filed first degree homicide charges last week against 34-year-old Jacob Sanders of Mauston. Mauston police allege Sanders killed 73-year-old Michael Sanders last Wednesday and then stole his car and fled the state. He was arrested in Terre Haute, Indiana where police allege there was blood in the car and on Jacob's hands. Jacob is being held in the Vigo County Indiana jail awaiting extradition. The cause of Michael Sanders' death has not been released.

A federal judge is ordering ICE and DHS not to destroy or alter evidence in the Alex Pretti fatal shooting. A federal judge has granted the temporary restraining order brought by Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison. He said during a press conference on Sunday that if federal officials openly defy the court order, state officials will pursue legal recourse. Minneapolis police had called for the state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension to investigate the shooting, and it says it obtained a search warrant for the scene, but its investigative team was blocked by federal agents from accessing the area. Pretti, a Minneapolis resident, was shot and killed by federal agents Saturday morning on Nicollet Avenue near 26th Street.

Wisconsin officers may stop prioritizing the breathalyzer on drivers. A new bill introduced would let police test drivers' oral fluid by asking for a breath test, a saliva test or both to look for drugs. Senator Jesse James says that "oral fluid tests can quickly screen for six types of drugs, including THC and meth." He also says the tests are meant to only help officers decide weather they have enough cause to make an arrest or if more testing is needed. The bill is now waiting for more action in the Senate.

Legislation to strengthen interlock ignition device laws passes in the Wisconsin Senate. The bill would add 180 days to an interlock ignition device order for a number of offenses, including tampering with the device, removing it without authorization or trying to start a vehicle with a blood alcohol content of .02 or more. Penalties for violating a device order would also increase, including fines of up to $1,100 and up to six months in jail. The bill would also eliminate waiting periods to apply for an occupational license after a device is installed. The bill now heads to the Assembly, where it's also expected to pass.

Two Republican authored amendments to the Wisconsin Constitution will be on the statewide ballot in November following approval by the state Senate this week. One amendment, which Democrats argue targets DEI initiatives, would prohibit discrimination or preferential treatment in public employment and education based on race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin. Republicans argue existing diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in state and local governments are discriminatory and exclusionary. Democrats opposed the amendment, arguing it would harm disadvantaged people regardless of race and make it more difficult to attract people to seek employment or education in Wisconsin. A second amendment would prohibit governments from closing a house of worship during a state emergency. Both will appear on ballots statewide in the November election. The Senate also approved an amendment which would bar governors from using their partial veto to create or increase any tax or fee. That will need to pass both chambers of the Legislature for a second time before going to voters.

Open government advocates are putting pressure on lawmakers to reach a deal to revive WisconsonEye. The state's version of C-SPAN would broadcast every floor session of the state Senate and Assembly for free before it was shut down due to financial issues. Rules became enforced from Republicans that prohibited the public from live streaming or recording proceedings. Governor Tony Evers said he would support a fundraising deal to revive the network as long as "the state wasn't paying for all" of its budget.

Mayo Clinic officials say they have performed a record number of organ transplants in 2025. The facility conducted two-thousand-65 operations last year. The new record surpassed two-thousand-and-six organ transplants in 2024. Mayo said the record number of transplants is encouraging as the number of patients waiting on the national transplant list remains very high.

Can trees explode in the extreme cold? With the onset of frigid temperatures around Wisconsin, plenty of viral posts are claiming that can happen, but a TikTok video from Muskego arborist Jonathan Roberts explains that when the temperatures drop quicker than normal, the moisture in the sap contracts more quickly causing a cracking or popping sound in the tree. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources explains that the cooling sap causes small cracks to become larger which leads to the popping. Trees that hold onto more moisture like birch and maple trees are most likely to be affected. If that leads to concern about the health of a tree in your backyard, you’re advised to contact an arborist to assess the tree’s condition. Exploding trees are a rare occurrence according to the DNR.

Local-Regional News Jan 23

 

Dangerously cold weather is hitting the Chippewa Valley. The National Weather Service says wind chills as low as 45 below is expected. The cold weather is expected to remain in the area into the weekend. An extreme cold warning is in effect for the region. The dangerously cold wind chills could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as ten minutes.

Dunn County Representative Clint Moses is introducing legislation to ensure transparency and accountability in data center development across Wisconsin. The bill would prohibit data center developers from entering into nondisclosure agreements or similar arrangements that conceal material information from local governments or property owners. If a developer violates this transparency requirement, no city, village, town, or county could approve the project. The proposed bill comes in response after a Menomonie put a proposed data center on hold after community concerns.

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation will be holding a public meeting on January 29^th from 5-7pm at the Marten Community Center in Mondovi to talk about a pavement replacement project on Hwy 37 from Hwy 88 in the town of Mondovi to Hwy 10 in the city of Mondovi. The pavement is nearing the end of its life and will be replaced, along with widening the shoulders, installing new storm sewers and water mains in the city of Mondovi. The project is scheduled for 2027.

An area lawmaker is pushing an effort to make schools safer. Wisconsin State Senator Jesse James has introduced the Senate version of bills that would update how Wisconsin schools handle safety plans. If approved, the measures would standardize school lockdown announcements for emergencies and require safety plans to include procedures for informing students and families when an incident happens. The Thorp Republican says these bills are in response to the deadly Abundant Life school shooting in Madison in 2024.

Home sales in Wisconsin ended the year with moderate growth. According to the Wisconsin Realtors Association, December home sales in the state rose 4% compared to 2024. In Western Wisconsin, Pepin County reported 7 homes sold, Buffalo County 15, Pierce County 19 and Dunn County had 34 homes sold in December. The median price of a home in Western Wisconsin was $290,000 below the statewide median of $312,750.

People’s Energy Cooperative (PEC) is warning its members of scammers, who are targeting PEC members. PEC says multiple members have been targeted in this scam, where the scammer calls and indicates they have a bill that is past due, and needed to pay immediately or be disconnected. Members are reminded that if they receive a call from someone claiming to represent a utility company, and the caller asks for personal information or threatens disconnection without immediate payment, to hang up and call the customer service number on your bill. PEC adds that staff will never request bank or payment information from its members over the phone.

A Rochester-area man accused of causing a deadly crash while using Snapchat on his cellphone is getting probation. Eric Wittlief was sentenced yesterday in Winona County District Court. The collision involving the Oronoco man's pickup truck and a car happened in 2021. Wittlief's passenger, Christ Brown, died from blunt-force injuries. The defendant agreed to reckless driving and careless driving as part of a plea deal. Wittlief was also ordered to perform 40 hours of community service.

Senator Amy Klobuchar is inching closer to a run for Minnesota governor. Klobuchar has publicly confirmed an interest in running for governor, and she filed paperwork with the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board on Thursday. The move comes after current Governor Tim Walz announced he would be dropping his bid for a third term over recent criticism surrounding a statewide fraud scandal. A Klobuchar governor campaign would be a boost for Democrats who welcome the prospect of her running.

The Wisconsin Conservation Congress is asking residents to submit ideas for new or updated laws affecting the state’s natural resources. Vice‑Chair Paul Reith says the Congress—created nearly 90 years ago—serves as a way for the public to advise the DNR on issues like wildlife, air, and water quality. Citizens can submit resolutions now through February 9th, and those proposals will be reviewed for the 2026 Spring Hearing, held in every county on April 13th and available online through April 15th. Reith notes that major policies, including Wisconsin’s blaze orange requirement, have come from this public process. More information is available on the DNR’s website.

Organizers are revealing several headliners for this summer's Northern Wisconsin State Fair. Country band Sawyer Brown will perform opening night on July 8th. Sugar Ray and Uncle Kracker take the stage on July 10th, while 1980s tribute band Hairball will entertain the crowd on July 9th. The Northern Wisconsin State Fair will be held July 8th through the 12th in Chippewa Falls.

Wisconsin GOP members are asking for mental health services to be expanded across to Wisconsin high schoolers. The two-year pilot program would be launched in the 2026-2027 school year and would provide at least 50-thousand-students help through an online tool. It would provide behavioral health education resources, peer-to-peer support and access to private virtual sessions with licensed mental health professionals. A report by the Wisconsin Office of Children's Mental Health found that only half of the state's high school students felt like they belonged in the classroom.

A bill to regulate data center projects in Wisconsin passed the state Assembly this week – but Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu says it needs work. Prior to the Senate's Wednesday floor session, the Republican leader said it seems as if often bills are rushed through the Assembly, while the Senate takes its time. Senate. LeMahieu said he likes the intent of the bill, but Senate Republicans haven't had a full caucus discussion on it yet. The Republican authored bill would require the Wisconsin Public Service Commission to make sure that utility ratepayers are insulated from new costs linked to data centers, and that any renewable energy facilities intended to mainly serve a data center to be located on-site. The bill passed the Assembly with few Democrats in support, and Senate Minority Leader Dianne Hesselbein said it would need a lot of changes to get Democratic support in that chamber.

WisconsinEye, the state’s version of C-SPAN, has been offline since December. State Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu provided an update on Wednesday. The Republican leader said that on December 23rd, the co-chairs of the joint Legislative Audit Committee sent WisconsinEye a letter asking them specific questions, with a deadline of January 9th to respond. LeMahieu said there was no response from WisconsinEye until Wednesday morning, which he hadn’t had a chance to review. The Senate’s Wednesday floor session was livestreamed on the Legislature’s website. WisconsinEye is currently fundraising to resume operations. LeMahieu said the outlet has not contacted lawmakers to access $10 million in matching funds.

Another central Wisconsin community has brought a PFAS treatment facility online. WAOW-TV in Wausau reports the village of Rothschild received 7 point 5 million dollars in grants to build the facility to remove PFAS from the city's water supply. Tests in 2022 detected the contaminants in the village wells. The system is similar to one that Wausau installed several years ago. Village Administrator Ryan VanDeWalle says PFAS levels are dropping to near non-detectable levels.

Former broadcaster Michele Tafoya is running for U.S. Senate. On Wednesday, the former "Sunday Night Football" sideline reporter announced her bid for Minnesota's open U.S. Senate seat. Tafoya described herself as a "political outsider and a reformer" who will "clean up the system" by "fighting corruption and ending fraud." Despite getting early backing from the National Republican Senatorial Committee, Tafoya will still need to prevail in a crowded GOP race this fall. If she wins the GOP nomination, Tafoya will still need to defeat either Representative Angie Craig or Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan in November.

The Department of Natural Resources is looking for some seasonal help in state parks. A wide range of position types are available that include opportunities in land management, outdoor recreation and education. The DNR says these seasonal jobs in the State Park System are a great way to spend your summer outside and help the public enjoy Wisconsin's natural resources. Some of the positions available include park rangers, natural resources educators, and campground attendants. Jobs typically start in the spring to early summer and extend through late summer to fall. More info can be found on the DNR's website.

Local-Regional News Jan 22

 

Due to the cold weather, residents of Mondovi who have experienced water freeze-up problems or who expect problems due to recent digging should leave a pencil-sized stream of water running to prevent freezing. Those residents who do run the water should call Mondovi City Hall immediately to let the city know.

The entire state of Wisconsin is bracing for bitterly cold temperatures. The National Weather Service has issued an Extreme Cold Warning beginning at 9pm tonight, covering the Badger State from border to border. Overnight temperatures will be well below zero, and tomorrow's high will be in the negative single digits. However, forecasters expect wind chills to be as low as negative 40, causing frostbite on exposed skin in as little as ten minutes.

Residents of the City of Menomonie will see a Mayoral Primary on the ballot in February. Three candidates have filed papers to run for the office of Mayor of Menomonie, triggering a needed Spring Primary. The top two candidates will advance to the spring election. Meanwhile, Residents of the Town of New Haven, Town of Stanton, Town of Tiffany, and Village of Downing will also head to the polls for the February 17, 2026 Spring Primary Election for the Glenwood City School Board election. Five candidates have filed to run for election for two School Board seats, triggering a needed primary.  The top 4 candidates will move on to the April election.

A Hagar City Man has been charged with three felony charges in connection with sexually assaulting two children. William McRoberts was charged yesterday in Pierce County Court after investigators were told by two girls of the assaults. McRoberts is being held on a $100,000 cash bond and will return to court on January 30^th.

A local man is facing accusations that he made threats of violence against judges and the Eau Claire police chief. Reports say that 52-year-old Billy Curran called the Department of Homeland Security this past Saturday calling out two judges and Police Chief Matt Rokus as corrupt and saying that -- if they were not arrested -- he would shoot them dead. Curran was later arrested on charges that include threatening to cause bodily harm to a judge and threatening to cause bodily harm to a law enforcement officer.

A man facing charges after a deadly crash 2025 crash in Eau Claire is pleading not guilty. Police began a pursuit of a speeding vehicle just after 2:30 a.m. October 1st that ended near West Clairemont Avenue and Craig Road. Reports say the suspect -- 27-year-old Anthony Reyes -- who had turned off his headlights to try and evade police -- crashed into another vehicle whose driver -- 35-year-old Jack Ritchie -- then died at the scene. Reyes has pleaded not guilty this week to charges including Intoxicated Use of a Vehicle and First-Degree Reckless Homicide.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced it is awarding more than $11 million in grant funding to support dairy businesses and producers through the Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives (DBI) grant program. The initiatives support small and mid-sized dairy businesses in the development, production, marketing, and distribution of dairy products. The Universities of Wisconsin is included in the funding program and will use the funding to provide valuable technical assistance and subaward funds to dairy farmers and businesses across the region, supporting them with business plan development, marketing, and branding, as well as increasing access to innovative production and processing techniques to support the development of value-added products.

The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office is requesting the public’s help after a woman was assaulted at an I-94 rest stop. On Tuesday evening, deputies responded to the eastbound I-94 rest stop and found an adult female injured after being assaulted while traveling through Jackson County. The suspect's vehicle was described as a white 4-door SUV. The Sheriff’s Department is asking for any witnesses to contact the department.

Probation for a man convicted on charges stemming from a La Crosse home invasion. Investigators say that Braxton Sullivan was one of three men who forced their way into a Redfield Street resident in June of 2024 and demanded cash before leaving. Shots were fired during the incident. Braxton was convicted after pleading no contest to charges of burglary and intimidation and has been sentenced to five years of probation.

Prosecutors are once again filing charges in a Clark County case involving a deadly UTV crash. A passenger died following the crash of a UTV in July of last year in the in the Town of Dewhurst. The vehicle's operator -- 56-year-old Jay Sawasky -- was hit with a homicide charge that was later dismissed as prosecutors were still waiting on medical records and an autopsy report. With that information in, new charges against Sawasky -- including homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle have now been filed.

Legislation to regulate data centers in Wisconsin is advancing at the Capitol. Data centers projects are a source of concern for residents around the state. A Republican authored bill which passed the state Assembly on Tuesday could address those, although Ashland Democrat Angela Stroud argued it doesn’t do enough to protect ratepayers or the environment. Stroud said "the only take away from the Republican bill is they don't actually want to regulate data centers." Democratic Governor Tony Evers has indicated he opposes the bill. Its author, River Falls Republican Shannon Zimmerman, cautions against doing nothing, and that the bill will provide protections for ratepayers and the state's water resources. Zimmerman said he trusts that the state Public Service Commission will be able to implement the provisions of the bill once its passed and signed into law. Democrats failed to amend the bill on the floor or return it to committee. It’s now ready for consideration in the Senate.

A private investor wants to kickstart renovations at Madison's Alliant Energy Center. Dane County executive Melissa Agard announced last week that events company Live Nation wants to invest 100 million dollars to overhaul and renovate the Veterans Memorial Coliseum. The 10,000 seat Coliseum was built in 1967. The investment would match the county's intentions to overhaul the entire site, which has seen income drop since the 2020 pandemic. Live Nation wants to overhaul the lighting, seating, access and amenities to modernize the facility. Any agreement and project would have to be approved by the full Dane County Board.

A Shawano man is heading to federal prison for producing child pornography. 29-year-old Brandon Boogren was sentenced Tuesday to 15 years for sexually assaulting a two-year-old and distributing videos of the abuse. The U.S. Attorney’s office says the FBI’s Milwaukee office began investigating Boogren in June after a phone search of a suspect in Texas revealed videos showing him sexually assaulting the child. Authorities said Boogren made the videos at the request of an “online model” in Houston who was actually a man posing as a woman to “catfish” Boogren. Once his sentence concludes, Boogren will serve five years’ supervised release and be required to register as a sex offender.

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison says he won't run for governor. Ellison was considered a potential candidate after Governor Tim Walz dropped his bid for re-election earlier this month. Ellison says he will instead continue his campaign for a third term, citing the federal ICE surge as the reason to remain in his current role to defend Minnesotans.

Twin Cities police leaders say several off-duty officers have been the target of harassment by ICE agents. Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Bruley says one of his officers was recently pulled over by federal immigration agents, who demanded to see her paperwork with their guns drawn. Meanwhile, St. Paul's top cop, Axel Henry, mentioned that city employees experienced the same treatment during traffic stops. One instance involved a Public Works employee who is legally authorized to work in the United States and now faces deportation. Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt added that she has seen instances of people being stopped, questioned, and harassed due to the color of their skin.

Wisconsin is receiving high marks as a place to raise a family. That's according to a recent study by finance website WalletHub, which ranked all 50 states based on how supportive of an environment it offers to raise a family. The family-friendly conditions include family income, housing affordability, crime rates, and more. Wisconsin was ranked fourth overall on the list, ranking in the top ten in categories such as education and child care and socio-economics. Only North Dakota, Minnesota, and Massachusetts were rated higher.