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

Local-Regional News Jan 5

 

One person is dead after a garage fire in Independence Wednesday night. According to Independence Police, firefighters were called to a garage fire at 35543 6^th Street in Independence on Wednesday night. During an investigation into the fire a deceased male was found in the garage. The name of the victim has not been released.

After areas of freezing rain on Sunday caused travel issues, more winter weather is on the way for tonight. The National Weather Service says another storm system is expected to bring freezing rain to the entire WRDN Listening area tonight and tomorrow morning. The Weather Service says one to two tenths of an inch of ice is expected overnight. A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect from 9pm tonight till noon tomorrow for the entire WRDN Listening area.

Data centers will be the focus of the Menomonie City Council meeting tonight. The council is set to vote on an ordinance change that would create a new definition for data center projects that would include specific lot sizes requirements for a data center. To have a vote on the changes the council will first have to approve the waving of the first and second readings of the proposed changes. Tonights meeting begins at 7pm at Menomonie City Hall.

The Goodhue County Sheriff’s Office is seeking help from the public in relation to a New Year’s Eve burglary investigation in Roscoe Township . According to the department, a large John Deer Safe was stolen in the area of 147^th Avenue and Branch Trail in Roscoe Township. It is believe the suspects were driving a truck and dragged the safe away from the scene and then placed it into the bed of the truck. Anyone with information about the truck or safe, is to contact the Goodhue County Sheriff’s Department.

Students, staff and residents in River Falls are celebrating today as the UW-River Falls Football team won the NCAA Division 3 championship yesterday. The Falcons defeated North Central College 24-14 on Sunday during the Stagg Bowl in Canton, OH. The falcons rallied from a 14-3 deficit to score 21 unanswered points to win their first ever Division 3 Football Championship.

Investigators are working to learn the cause of an apartment building fire in La Crosse. Crews say that flames burned through the walls and ceilings of two units in an eight-unit structure on 5th Avenue South. Residents were able to evacuate safely.

The nation's biggest beef processor have reached an 87 million dollars settlement. A website launched for the settlement says the antitrust class action lawsuit was brought against several beef processors including Tyson Foods, Cargill, National Beef and JBS by a group of consmuers. The companies are accused of entering into "a market allocation agreement" allowing them to stop competing for market share. The U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota said the agreement served as a way to increase margins and prices paid by consumers. While the companies have not admitted wrongdoing Tyson Foods and Cargill have agreed to settlements of 55 million dollars and 32-point-five million dollars.

Wisconsin lawmakers are splitting along party lines over the US capture of Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro. President Trump says Maduro was captured during a "large scale strike" and flown out of the country. Democratic Senator Tammy Baldwin called Trump's action "unauthorized" and argued the president doesn't have "unilateral authority to invade foreign countries, oust their governments, and seize their resources." Republican Congressman Tom Tiffany commended Trump's decision, and described Maduro as the leader of a cartel "responsible for the deaths of countless Americans."

Applications are now open for the next Alice in Dairyland. Those interested have until January 30th to apply to be the 79th Alice in Dairyland. Applicants should have an interest in Wisconsin agriculture, public speaking experience, and be at least 21 years old. The current Alice, Sarah Hagenow, says the job is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Alice travels across Wisconsin and promotes the state's agricultural industry and its impact on the state's economy. More information on the position can be found on the Alice in Dairyland website.

Several new laws and policies set to begin in 2026 are officially in effect. Among the most notable changes is a restriction on student use of wireless devices in public school classrooms beginning July 1st. Licensed foster parents and relatives caring for young children through the Kinship Care program will receive a two-and-a-half-percent increase in monthly payments. Multiple tax changes take effect for 2026, with paperwork due by December 31st to qualify.

An Oklahoma woman is facing federal charges in Wisconsin. She is accused of traveling across state lines to engage in sexual conduct with a minor and producing child sexual abuse material. Randi L. Cook is charged in a criminal complaint with coercion or enticement of a minor for unlawful sexual activity. Court documents say that between November 7th and December 16th, Cook began talking online with a minor in Northeast Wisconsin. Prosecutors allege she convinced the child to send explicit images over the internet.

Democratic Governor Tony Evers touts child care and education gains in 2025. During his State of the State of address in January, Evers named 2025 "The Year of the Kid" and called on state lawmakers to support education focused initiatives in the 2025-27 biennial budget. That budget, which Evers signed in the summer, allocated $1.4 billion for K-12 schools and over $360 million for childcare support. There were also increases for the Universities of Wisconsin System and technical colleges in Wisconsin. Evers also signed into law a bill that bans cellphone use in classrooms, and his administration launched a program to provide direct payments to childcare providers.

Governor Tony Evers announced he'll deliver his 2026 State of the State address next month. The governor's office says the address will take place in the Assembly chamber of the state Capitol at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, February 17th. This is the 7th time in state history that a State of the State address was made later than January.

The Transportation Security Administration's calendar for 2026 features one of Milwaukee's best. The K9 calendar has an explosive detection dog from Mitchell International Airport named Rony, who is a five-year-old German shepherd. Rony is featured for the month of April in this year's edition. It provides information about Rony, such as his favorite toy and where his favorite spot is on the job, which is screening passengers and "jet-setting" with his handler.

The winner of the annual Burlington Liars’ Club contest is from Wisconsin. On New Year’s Eve, the club continued a tradition dating back to 1929, announcing the top 2025 lie from submissions sent from across the country. The winning fib was entered by Regan Buchholz from the Shawano County village of Bonduel. Buchholz says, "My parents were so poor that they had to bury grandfather naked just so that my dad had a suit to wear to the funeral."

Local-Regional News Jan 2

 

One person is dead after a Wednesday night fire in Trempealeau County. Crews responded at around 8:30 p.m. to a garage fire in Independence. Reports saw a male adult was found dead at the scene. The victim's name has not been released and the cause of the fire has not been reported.

Area snowmobilers wanting to ride the trails will have some opportunities this weekend. Pepin County trails are now open, but extra caution is advised. Eau Claire County Trails will open on Saturday, and in Trempealeau County, only the Buffalo River Trail is open. Trails in Dunn and Buffalo County remain closed as of Friday.

A missing Rusk County teenager has been found safe. Fourteen-year-old Alexandria Kuntz was found missing her Glen Fora home at around 2:30 a.m. Sunday. Police say the girl's laptop and cell phone had been left behind. Police say the girl was found last night. No other details as to how or where the girl was found have been released.

A suspect is in custody and facing charges in connection with a Sawyer County homicide. Authorities responding to a home in the Town of Radisson Wednesday afternoon found a woman who had been killed in an apparent stabbing. Investigators determined 37-year-old Yevhen Kravchenko to be a possible suspect in the killing of the woman -- since identified as Lynette Coaty. Kravchenko was later arrested during a traffic stop and is being held in the Sawyer County Jail.

A man charged following a deadly crash on I-90 is accepting a plea deal. Authorities say Isaac Morales Jr was drunk behind the wheel when he crashed into a man working a road surfacing machine near the Village of Oakdale in November of 2024. The worker died at the scene and Morales faced charged including first-degree reckless homicide. Morales pleaded no contest this week to homicide by intoxicated use of vehicle and injury by intoxicated use of vehicle. He will be sentenced at a later date.

A February hearing has been set for a Chippewa Falls man charged after a deadly accident on Lake Wissota. The attorney for defendant Bruce Sanborn is asking that a charge of reckless homicide filed against his client be dismissed. Twenty-four-year-old Elle Jo Kramschuster was riding as a passenger on Sanborn's jet ski in May when there was a collision with another jet ski and Kramschuster suffered fatal injuries. Sanborn and the other jet ski operator were both charged in the victim's death but Sanborn's attorney says the criminal complaint leaves out the part of the story where the other man charged admits to crashing into Sanborn's jet ski.

Fire officials are reminding residents to use space heaters safely during the winter months. This follows two recent home fires in Wausau that were linked to space heaters. One fire reportedly started when a heater was placed too close to clothing and bedding. Another fire was caused by a heater plugged into multiple power strips and an ungrounded outlet. Officials say space heaters are a leading cause of winter home fires and stress keeping heaters at least three feet away from anything that can burn.

Wisconsin voters may have the opportunity next fall to roll back a partial veto by Governor Tony Evers. The Democratic Governor’s partial budget veto committed the state to spending more on K-12 education each year for the next 400 years. Assembly speaker Robin Voss telling the Wisconsin State Journal that Republican lawmakers plan to bring back for a second consideration a constitutional amendment to reverse Evers’ veto. which was upheld in April by the state Supreme Court. The proposed amendment would prohibit Wisconsin governors from using a partial veto to increase taxes or fees in appropriation bills such as state budgets. It passed the legislature for the first time in early 2024 and if it passes both chambers again this year could come before voters in the fall election.

Tonight is the final night for Lights in the Valley in Eau Claire. This year's show boasts new themed sections plus a Pixel Forest, a salute to veterans, and a new festive finale. Lights in the Valley happens at the Eau Claire Expo Center Grounds. Tickets are more info can be found at lightsinthevalley-dot-com.

In Rusk County, Stubbs Township Chairman David Kochendorfer is resigning. The moves comes as the Rusk County District Attorney is investigating Kochendorfer for his handling of public meetings. Critics say the chairman violated the open meetings law by kicking residents out of meetings and limiting comment from those in attendance. In resigning, Kochendorfer said he has had enough of the whole thing.

Four Wisconsin universities are reporting hazing incidents on campus as a result of a new federal law. All schools were required to disclose those incidents just ahead of Christmas as part of the Stop Campus Hazing Act. The Journal Sentinel reports the University of Wisconsin - Madison showed nine hazing incidents, while Wisconsin - Whitewater reported two. UW - Green Bay and Carroll University in Waukesha also reported incidents. Most of the reports were tied to Greek Life, including all nine at the Madison campus.

Land west of Madison is being bought for conservation. The land, known as Wintergreen, was recently purchased by the Driftless Area Land Conservancy and is located in Spring Green. It's 245 acres and cost nearly three-million dollars. Officials noted the land along the Lower Wisconsin River comes with a large lineup of wildlife and undeveloped riverfront. The conservancy told WKOW they want to understand the land first before moving on to projects.

Be careful with your snow melt or salt this winter: it can be dangerous to your surroundings. Ag experts say the chemicals in many commercial brands of snow melt are strong enough to cut through most ice and packed snow with just a small amount. So don't toss too much out there too often. The sodium and chemicals from snow melt can seep into concrete and weaken it, can kill lawns, and contaminate ground water if too much gets into the storm drains. Use a conservative mount, just a cups worth for most front paths and drive ways, and if it's still too slick to get around, consider using sand or grit instead.

The House Oversight Committee will hold hearings on fraud concerns within Minnesota's social services programs. Committee Chairman James Comer announced the hearing on Wednesday, and it is set for January 7th with testimony from Republican lawmakers Kristin Robbins, Walter Hudson and Marion Rarick. Comer has also invited Minnesota's Governor Tim Walz and its Attorney General Keith Ellison to testify on February 10th. Walz's office issued a statement to The Hill sharing the governor is "happy to work with Congress," while also pointing to the committee's track record for holding what he called "circus hearings that have nothing to do with the issue at hand."

Winona Ice Park is open for the season. The man-made ice climbing park is one of the few in the country. It's created using hoses that slowly shower water down the stone walls of an old quarry. Winona is hosting its third annual Ice Climbing Festival from January 29th through February 1st. The ice park is located in the Sugar Loaf open space area and is managed but the Recreation Alliance of Winona.