Local-Regional News Nov 14

 

One person was injured after a semi accident in Gilmanton Township on Wednesday. According to the Buffalo County Sheriff’s Department, 68yr old Michael Meyer of Mondovi was traveling southbound on Hwy 37 when he drove off the road and onto the southbound shoulder. Myer over-corrected and lost cont of the semi causing it to jack-knife in the southbound ditch. Meyer was treated on scene and released. Hwy 37 was closed for two hours as crews cleaned up the scene.

The Pepin County Board Authorized borrowing of up to $500,000 for the highway department. Pepin County Board Chairman Tom Milliren says this helps the highway commissioner bring in extra money for projects through grants.  The board passed the borrowing on a unanimous vote.

Dunn County will have an ambitious road improvement program in 2026. This week the budget for 2026 was passed and includes improvement of almost 17 miles of county highways in 2026, along with two bridge replacements and one bridge rehabilitation project, a considerable increase over the historical number of miles usually improved.  The total county budget will increase 1.54 percent to $83.4 million, while the tax levy will increase 1.73 percent to $25.2 million.

One person was injured in an ATV accident Thursday in Trempealeau County. According to the Trempealeau County Sheriff’s Department, 26yr old David Kvistad was on private property an attempted making a left turn at high speed when he was thrown from the ATV. Kvistad was med-flighted from the scene to a La Crosse Hospital.

Two teenagers have been identified as the suspects in a shooting in downtown Chippewa Falls Monday.  Chippewa Falls Police arrested Carter Michael J. Murphy, 19, and Leonardo L. Campbell, 18, after police responded to gunshots Monday night in Downtown Chippewa Falls. Murphy faces multiple charges, including possession of stolen firearms and bail jumping. Campbell faces charges of recklessly endangering safety and obstruction. Formal charges have not yet been filed. 

The man accused of firing shots in a Winona neighborhood on Nov. 6 appeared in court Thursday for his first appearance. Jonathan Marquist Payton, 40, is accused of endangering safety with the intentional discharge of a firearm and the reckless discharge of a firearm. Payton is also charged with a third felony for possessing a gun with a previous criminal conviction. His next court appearance is set for December.

Compeer is alerting its customers of a caller impersonating a Compeer Employee asking for financial information. The calls appeared to be from Compeer Financial’s (800) 705-6603 number. The caller identified themselves as a member of the Compeer Financial team and claimed they were verifying a transaction. In some situations, clients receive follow-up text messages.  Compeer is reminding customers they do not ask for personal information over the phone or text. If you receive a call or text you are asked to contact Compeer via the phone number at compeer dot com.

Wisconsin lawmakers introduce legislation that would expand vehicle ignition interlock device requirements. The bipartisan bill would allow people convicted of operating while intoxicated to get a restricted license sooner after installing an ignition interlock device. The bill also would require people to use their device for 180 days without tampering or trying to bypass it. According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data, in 2023 182 people died in Wisconsin crashed where alcohol was a factor. The bill had a public hearing in a Senate Committee this week at the Capitol.

The parent company of Facebook and Instagram is planning to build a massive data center northwest of Milwaukee. The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation says Meta wants to build a one-billion dollar campus in Beaver Dam, which they expect to be completed in 2027. State officials noted the center will support roughly a hundred jobs. The Beaver Dam location would join Meta's massive network to process and store user data.

Health care employers are being encouraged to apply for training grants. The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development has a new round of grant funding available for state health care employers that will help them train workers and fill critical workforce needs. Grant funding would reimburse those health care employers for developing training alongside community partners like nonprofits, educational institutions, Tribal governments, or workforce development boards. The health care and social assistance sector makes up 15% of the state's employment. There's a total of $2.25 million in grant funding available.

Authorities are investigating the case of a 14-year-old girl who weighed 35 pounds, which led to multiple arrests. Officials say the child was hospitalized in Outagamie County with several injuries, including multi-organ dysfunction. Three people, Walter Goodman the Third, Savanna LeFever, and Kayla Stemler were arrested for felony child neglect. Their court dates are set for this month and all face decades in prison if convicted. Goodman's wife, Melissa Goodman, was also arrested and is awaiting charges.

The DOJ is investigating Cargill for allegedly price-fixing beef. The Minnetonka-based company is among several meatpacking companies being investigated amidst soaring beef prices. Without evidence, the White House is accusing JBS, Tyson Food, National Beef and Cargill, for potentially colluding and manipulating prices. These companies control about 85 percent of the U.S. beef-processing market, meaning any price-tampering could greatly exploit American consumers, farmers and ranchers. Average beef prices have climbed by one dollar and 27 cents since 2020, which is more than double the rate of inflation.

The deal reopening the federal government would kill Minnesota's Hemp-Derived THC market. On Monday, the bill that passed the U.S. Senate which includes an effective ban on hemp products containing more than point-four milligrams of THC. If passed, the federal ban would take effect one year after it's approved. Carol Moss, an attorney representing several Minnesota hemp businesses is calling the bill an industry-killing change. Before the state legalized recreational marijuana, Minnesota was a pioneer for the industry that could potentially become illegal.

Governor Tony Evers is inviting you to contribute ornaments for this year's holiday tree honoring troops. The Tribute to Our Troops Tree tradition began in 2005 and honors Wisconsin service members who have served or are currently serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. Ornaments can be sent in honor of Wisconsin service members, past and present, in Wisconsin and abroad. The invitation is open to families of all service members and can be personalized. If you want your ornament to be included in this year's tree, it needs to be received no later than November 20th. Ornaments will then be displayed throughout the month of December.

Local-Regional News Nov 13

 

The Pepin County Board passed the 2026 budget last night. The budget has a total tax levy of $5.7 million, an increase of $12,532. The mill rate for the new budget is $5.06 per $1000 of equalized value. Total Equalized value in Pepin County was just over $1.1 billion, an increase of $107 million.

The Dunn County Board approved the 2026 budget last night. The budget has a total tax levy of just over $25 million. The $111 million budget includes $11 million for Facilities Operations, $9 million for the sheriff’s department, just over $7 million for administration and $5 million in debt service.

Buffalo County has a new budget. The county board approved the 2026 budget last night with a tax levy of just over $6.5 million. The $7.9 million budget includes debt service of just over $1.2 million, along with $140,000 for the county library and $14,000 for aid for county bridges.

The Pierce County Budget has been approved. The new budget will have an operating tax levy of $17.5 million with a mill rate of $3.66 per $1000 of equalized value. Pierce County saw the equalized value jump by 6.7% in 2025 for a total of just over $6 billion.

Another candidate for the 3^rd Congressional seat in Wisconsin. Rodney Rave from Black River Falls announced his campaign yesterday in Black River Falls. According to a press release, Rave will run as a Democrat and will be focusing on affordability with accountability, and fair treatment for rural communities. Rave is the latest in a crowed democrat field to enter the race to face incumbent Derrik Van Orden for the 3^rd Congressional seat.

Residents in parts of Mondovi may be without water today. The city reported a water main break yesterday in the Milomere Drive, Jefferson and Oak Street vicinity. City Crews are expected to repair the water main today, and during the repairs water will be turned off. The main should be back in service by the end of the day today.

The 22nd annual Women's Business Conference drew hundreds to Eau Claire's Pablo Center yesterday. The conference provided more than 450 women with educational resources for entrepreneurs and business owners. Western Dairyland sponsored the conference and also offers year-round training and resources for business executives.

After two years under construction, the school district of Cadott has opened the doors on a new 29-thousand square foot technical education center. A ribbon-cutting formally opened the center yesterday. The school's construction was part of a ten-million dollar referendum last year. All other projects funded through the Cadott referendum have been completed.

University of Minnesota is looking to expand its Rochester campus. This comes as the Rochester campus saw an 80-percent enrollment spike in what is the campus' largest freshman class ever. It surpassed one-thousand students in 2024, and this surge has leaders both celebrating and scrambling. On Tuesday, Chancellor Lori Carrell, shared plans to accommodate up to 25-hundred students by building more academic space downtown. The university owns approximately five acres of land near Soldiers Memorial Field Park and hopes to turn it into a, "student residence and recreational district."

Governor Evers is calling on the federal Education Department under the Trump administration to release overdue funds for rural and Tribal-operated schools. Evers says the delay is harming around 20 school districts and more than 21-thousand students who rely on the funds for basic operations. The money was supposed to arrive last month but remains unpaid. Evers claims the department has provided no guidance on when it will be released. He is demanding immediate action from the DOE to ensure funds reach the districts immediately.

Trial dates are set for the man accused of stalking Chief Justice Jill Karofsky. Officials accuse 37-year-old Ryan Thornton of sending threatening emails and making multiple calls to Karofsky and the Office of Lawyer Regulation between August and October. This comes from Thornton's belief that the court improperly handled his grievance against a former attorney. Thornton was arrested last month and is charged with one felony count of stalking. His trial is scheduled to start at the end of January 2026.

Safety advocates and families of drunk driving victims are urging state lawmakers to strengthen ignition interlock laws. This follows a Senate Bill under consideration that aims to prevent repeat operating-while-intoxicated offenses. Between 2006 and 2023, ignition interlock devices prevented around three million drunk driving incidents in the state. More than 18-thousand OWI convictions were made in 2024, while nearly half of traffic fatalities involved alcohol or drugs.

Report cards for public school districts statewide are showing almost all of them meet expectations. The state's Department of Public Instruction notes that 94-percent of districts earned a rating of "Meets Expectations" or above. Evaluations are based on achievement, growth, target-group outcomes, and on-track graduation rates. DPI officials note that the ratings cannot be directly compared with previous years due to updated benchmarks.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is issuing an executive order to create a statewide Veteran Food Pantry Network for veterans and service members. The governor's office took action after mentioning that records from the government's Department of Veterans Affairs shows that 13 percent of vets on health care with the VA have food insecurity. Thousands of Minnesota vets also depend on SNAP, which has been challenged by the federal government shutdown. Veterans Affairs officials are expected to partner with nonprofits, government agencies and other entities in order to support the network. Minnesota is home to more than 280 thousand veterans.

A surprise over the weekend for a group of Wisconsin veterans. A post shared on the Badger Honor Flight Facebook page captures former President Barack Obama greeting the group of Korean and Vietnam War veterans and their families moments after their flight from Madison arrived at Washington National Airport. Obama thanked the veterans for their sacrifices as something that will always be honored, and noted the mild 70° day in DC. Veterans and their families thanked the former president, who also shook hands as the veterans exited the plane and presented each with a Presidential Challenge Coin to express his personal gratitude for their sacrifices. 

Local-Regional News Oct 12

 

The City of Mondovi will bring the Miss Mondovi program under the city’s umbrella. During last nights meeting the council approved having the program be covered under the city’s liability insurance. The council approved appointing the current program members to continue running the program as part of having the program now part of the city government.

The Pepin County Health Department is announcing a program to help farm families coping with dementia. The project is being done in conjunction with the Universities of Iowa and Illinois and is a free online educational series to support caregivers of individuals living or working on or near farms. It is a online class that will begin on January 26^th. For more information on the program contact Pepin County Health or call 319-384-3817.

The Pepin County Board is holding their annual meeting tonight. Items on the agenda include a public hearing on the 2026 budget, authorizing a $700,000 loan for highway road improvement projects for 2026 and approval of the 2026 budget and tax levy. Tonights meeting begins at 7pm in the board room at the government center in Durand.

The Buffalo County Board is meeting tonight. A public hearing on the budget will be held followed by the board meeting. Items on the board meeting agenda include discussion and possible action on the 2026 budget and tax levy, a resolution to borrow up to $500,000 and reports from the chairman and department heads. Tonights meeting begins at 7pm in the board room at the courthouse in Alma.

The Dunn County Board is meeting tonight. Items on the agenda include discussion and possible action on the 2026 budget and tax levy, a resolution supporting increasing state funding for counties and reports from department heads. Tonights meeting begins at 7pm in the government center in Menomonie.

Arrests have been made in connection with a Monday night shooting incident in downtown Chippewa Falls. Police received calls after 11 p.m. reporting gunfire in the area and responding officers did find property damage. Two people were taken into custody.

A Chippewa Valley resource line that connects folks in need with valuable information will not be shutting down after all. Great Rivers 211 provides folks with information on where to turn for local aid with regards to families, the elderly and the disabled as well as information on addiction, mental health and crisis services. The line serves residents of 13 Wisconsin counties and is funded by Emplify Health who is pulling support due to budget concerns and was to close by the end of the year. Great Rivers United Way says now that they will be stepping in to continue the service.

Eau Claire City Council is approving a substantial increase in the wheel tax. The vehicle registration fee will more than double beginning in 2029 to 50 dollars. The increase was approved on Tuesday by a vote of seven to three.

The State of Wisconsin topped all other states in the most recent Drug Take Back collection. The October event as a partnership between the DEA and local law enforcement through which folks around the country could safely drop off and dispose of expired and unneeded prescription medications. More than 53-thousand pounds of drugs were collected in Wisconsin -- more than in any other state.

A major recall of organic baby formula. ByHeart is recalling its baby formula products after an outbreak of botulism that hospitalized 15 infants in 12 states. That includes the Whole Nutrition and Anywhere Pack pouches, sold at Target, Whole Foods and Walmart. Anyone who has the formula should throw it out immediately. No children have been sickened in Wisconsin, but there have been cases in both Minnesota and Illinois.

Another major Wisconsin retailer is doing away with pennies. Woodman's grocery stores, with 20 locations in Illinois and Wisconsin, will be rounding all cash sales to the nearest nickel, and store self-checkout kiosks will stop accepting cash in December. Digital and debit card payments will remain unchanged. The US Treasury stopped minting pennies this year, and shortages are already taking place across the country.

The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection and the Department of Health Services reminds businesses in the FoodShare program they cannot turn away QUEST card users. On October 31st, Governor Evers signed Executive Order number 278, which prohibits price gouging due to the loss of FoodShare funding. It also calls on grocers and retailers to ensure relevant resources are readily available for Wisconsinites and the state and state agencies can utilize every available tool and resource to support during the government shutdown. FoodShare members who are wrongfully denied the ability to use their QUEST card to purchase food when they have a remaining balance should call Wisconsin's Consumer Protection Hotline. At this time, full November FoodShare benefits are available on all QUEST cards.

Minnesota applies for a share of Trump's rural health grant. The one-billion-dollar grant would go towards improving rural healthcare would help supplement looming cuts to the federal Medicaid health program. Minnesota should find out in the next month if it will receive its share. Each state applied for 200-million-dollars per year for five years, but the amount could vary. Federal leaders have said that states can't use the funds rather than funding to keep struggling hospitals afloat.

At the Capitol, proposed legislation would require additional labeling for lab grown protein. State Senator Romaine Quinn says the bill would place labeling requirements on food products that contain cultured animal cells or tissue. If signed into law, products containing cultured animal cells or derived from cultured animal cells would be required to be labeled with the phrase “lab-grown meat.” Quinn says it’s hard for consumers to choose if they don’t know what they’re buying. The bill was introduced in the Senate and has bipartisan support along with co-sponsors in the state Assembly.

The American Lung Association has released its annual State of Lung Cancer report. Spokesperson Michael Seilback says Wisconsin is above average when it comes to treatment and is 14th in the country when it comes to five-year survival rates for lung cancer. Seilback says one area Wisconsin could improve is biomarker testing, as it's one of 28 states that has yet to require any insurance coverage for lung cancer biomarker testing. Biomarker testing lets those diagnosed with cancer find treatments that work specifically for the tumor they have. Wisconsin’s most recent rate of lung cancer cases is 55.5%, higher than the national average of 52.8%.

UW-Madison is launching a new public policy undergraduate program available next fall. La Follette School director Susan Yackee says it can be obtained under a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science degree. The degree will prepare students to fill roles in government, advocacy and other related sectors. It's the first of its kind in the state.

Sun Prairie food pantry spokesperson Mark Thompson says Kemps, Pick N' Save and Metro Market are donating over 20-thousand shelf-stable milk cartons in Madison. The product is shelf-stable for up to one year. Thompson says 40-percent of those they serve are under 17. The milk is the most requested and chocolate is a favorite. 

Local-Regional News Nov 11

 

The Mondovi City Council is meeting tonight. Items on the agenda include discussion and possible action on a building site agreement with Ancom Communications, approval of the 2026 non-union wage increases and reports from the mayor and department heads. Tonights meeting begins at 5:30 at the Marten Center in Mondovi.

The Chippewa Valley Health Cooperative is receiving a financial lift. The nonprofit is receiving a 250-thousand-dollar grant from the Eau Claire Community Foundation. Those funds are intended to help cover the cost of the cooperative's interim healthcare facility at the former St. Joseph's Hospital.

Eau Claire County will be testing outdoor sirens in Eau Claire and Altoona tomorrow. The sirens are part of the community's outdoor system to alert folks of severe weather and other possible emergencies. The sirens will be tested on Wednesday at around 1 p.m. but may be tested once more before 4 p.m.

The city of Elgin is issuing a drinking water warning due to reported high levels of nitrates. Water samples collected on November 3rd showed nitrate levels of 12 mg/L, which exceeds the nitrate standard of 10 mg/L,. The city is warning residents not to give the water to infants under six months old or use water to make infant formula. The city also says boiling, freezing, filtering, or letting water stand does not reduce the nitrate level either. The City says  its exploring methods to reduce the levels of nitrate, which could include alternate water sources or water treatment.

The Department of Natural Resources is asking Wisconsin deer hunters to step up and test their harvests for chronic wasting disease. Deer specialist Erin Larson says they're especially looking for deer in areas where C W D was recently detected. Those zones are in central and northern Wisconsin and Larson says the agency is trying to track any potential spread of the fatal deer illness. If your deer does test positive for C W D, the DNR will issue you a fresh deer permit that can be used in any season this year. You can find out more online at D N R dot W I dot Gov.

It was a split vote from Wisconsin's US Senators on passing a bill to fund and reopen the government. Democrat Tammy Baldwin was a no and Republican Ron Johnson a yes as seven Democrats broke ranks on a budget deal. The bill would fund the government through the end of January and extend the current Farm Bill by another year. The bill does not include extensions of Affordable Care Act tax cuts and subsidies. The bill was passed by the Senate will have to go back to the House for a vote, where Speaker Mike Johnson has said he will not reconvene until the Senate passes the House version of the budget that the Senate has been deadlocked on for over two months.

Another shift in the continuing fight over federal food assistance funding. A federal court on Monday blocked an effort by President Donald Trump to prevent states like Wisconsin from using their own funding to fully pay for SNAP. The Trump Administration said there was only enough money to pay half of the month's food benefits after a pair of courts ordered payment of benefits. Governor Tony Evers and a number of other states fully paid their benefits in between rulings. Now the US Treasury is declining to reimburse retailers for sales made through SNAP programs. It's unclear where any of these rulings will land, or if they will start making their way to the US Supreme Court as challenges continue.

Authorities in Vernon County are continuing to investigate a recent accident at State Highway 82 and County Road P. Sixty-three-year-old Stephen Hynek was driving a Ford truck filled with shelled corn on Friday when he said his brakes malfunctioned. Hynek was injured when his truck went off the roadway and hit an embankment before coming to a final stop across both lanes of 82.

Democratic state lawmakers want to cap utility rates in Wisconsin. They’ll unveil legislation at the Capitol Tuesday. Milwaukee Representative Darrin Madison is lead author on the bill which would cap the percentage of income Wisconsin households pay for heat and electricity. According to Census Bureau data, 24% of Americans couldn't pay their utility bills last year. Democrats say that crisis will be made even worse by the Trump administration's dismantling of the Income Home Energy Assistance program, which helps fund Wisconsin's home energy assistance program.

Waterfowl hunters need to double check their targets this season. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is reminding hunters that all wild swans are protected in Wisconsin. Other large white birds like American white pelicans and whooping cranes are also illegal to hunt. Trumpeter swans are between 4.5 to 5 feet long and have a wingspan over 7 feet, tundra swans are a little smaller but are best distinguished by their high pitch call. Both are white with black bills. The population of the once-endangered trumpeter swan now exceeds 15,000 since their successful reintroduction by the DNR.

A farm in Door County is seeking a special permit from the Wisconsin DNR to expand its operation by nearly 1000 cows. There were mostly comments against expansion of Gilbert Farms in Sevastopol at a Wednesday public hearing. Many in the community worry air and water quality will be impacted by increased waste and manure runoff. The Wisconsin DNR will make a decision on the permit once the public notice period has closed and they have reviewed all feedback.

As deer season begins, cases of chronic wasting disease continue to climb in Minnesota. Last year, there were nearly 100 cases, the highest on record, but so far this year there only six confirmed cases but more are expected. Chronic wasting disease is a fatal degenerative disease that affects deer and other hoofed mammals like elk, causing lethargy and weight loss. Data shows CWD has mostly been found in Minnesota's southeastern counties, although it has jumped to northern counties in small numbers. Meanwhile, Wisconsin cases in Iowa County have tallied over 45-hundred since 2002.

Minnesota's largest financial aid program is at risk of cutting funds to thousands of low- and middle -income college students. The Minnesota State Grant program faces a 102-million-dollar deficit. The program has been in the red for the last three years. Office of Higher Education official Nicole Whelan says the deficit was after four thousand more students enrolled in Minnesota colleges and universities this school year, and 22 hundred more qualified for the State Grant.

The Wisconsin Department of Revenue announced that its free, secure, electronic filing option WisTax, will be available for filing 2025 income taxes. The service will begin in February with expanded feature for those who claim the Veterans and Surviving Spouses Property Credit or need to amend their return. The announcement follows the IRS announcing of it discontinuing its free, secure income tax filing system, Direct File. The shutdown of the IRS tax filing system is effective as of this month and no future launch date has been set. Taxpayers can learn more about WisTax on DOR's website or by contacting DOR Customer Service for assistance.

Local-Regional News Nov 10

 

A Dunn County man is accused of using social media to upload child pornography. Colt Eastman is charged with ten counts of possession of child pornography. Investigator say they found sexual photos of underage girls uploaded to his Snapchat account. During law enforcement interviews, Eastman admitted to looking at images of young children and having some of these images on his phone. He's scheduled to appear in Dunn county Court on December 30th for an initial appearance.

One person was arrested after a high speed chase in Trempealeau County Sunday. According to the Trempealeau County Sheriff’s Department, deputies responded to a call of a man threatening to kill several people. Deputies located Alec Muller of Blair traveling on Hwy 53 in the township of Preston and attempted to pull him over. Muller refused to stop and a chase ensued at speeds of up to 125mph before the vehicle broke down. A loaded handgun was found in the vehicle and Muller was taken into custody on charges of fleeing an officers, stalking while armed, battery, strangulation, obstruction of an officer and disorderly conduct.

One person was stabbed in an incident in the Village of Trempealeau on Friday. According to Trempealeau police, officers responded to a reported stabbing at a residence in the village. Police executed a search warrant and a suspect was arrested in Winona and will be extricated back to Wisconsin. Another suspect was also arrested and the victim was taken to a Winona Hospital.

Security Financial Bank is warning customers of an increse in spoofed phone calls. These calls may appear to come from Security Financial Bank, but they are actually from scammers attempting to gain access to business accounts. These fraudulent calls are part of a broader scam trend affecting many financial institutions across the country. The callers often pretend to be bank representatives and may ask for sensitive information – such as online banking credentials, verification codes, or approval for ACH or wire transfers. They may even claim to have detected a suspicious payment to make their call sound convincing. Do not give out any personal information if you receive a suspicious call or text and contact SFB Directly.

The Eau Galle Town Board is meeting tonight. The board will hold a public hearing on the proposed 2026 Budget then after the public hearing the board will meet to and consider a resolution to exceed state levy limits and to approve a total tax levy of $363,241. Tonights meeting begins at 6pm at the Eau Galle Town Hall.

Pepin County Salvation Army is looking for volunteers to ring bells for the Annual Red Kettle Campaign. Pepin County will kick off the Annual Red Kettle Campaign on November 15, 2025.  Volunteers are needed at Durand Fresh Market, Villa Bellezza, Consumer Cooperative in Pepin and at Bank of Alma. 85% of the funds contributed to local kettles are available to be redistributed to those in need of assistance throughout Pepin County via local law enforcement and/or Human Services. For more information on volunteering call 715-279-3720.

The search for a missing Barron County woman has reached a tragic end. Sixty-year-old Rice Lake resident Toni Peterson was reported missing last Monday. Her body was found Friday afternoon in the Town of Ashland. There has been no word on Peterson's cause of death though authorities say letters had been left for members of her family.

Prison time for a Chippewa Falls man who investigators say sexually assaulted children. Prosecutors say that two young victims were assaulted multiple times by defendant Thomas Buetow who previously entered a no contest plea to charges back in July. On Friday, Buetow was sentenced to a term of 30 years in prison.

Investigators are working to determine the cause of a destructive house fire in Chippewa Falls. Crews arrived Sunday morning at a home on Irvine Street to find the residence engulfed in flames. The home's resident had already managed to escape. No one was hurt.

Scammers are targeting utility customers as winter approaches. Wisconsin Public Service spokesman Matt Cullen says they've been getting reports of calls from their entire customer base, from residential to commercial, and even religious organizations. The scammers are using old tactics, mainly threatening to turn off power and gas if you don't pay them immediately over the phone. Cullen says the most important thing you can do is hang up and contact WPS directly to check the status of your account, saying it's not rude, it's safe. Also remember legitimate businesses will never ask for immediate payment in the form of gift cards or crypto.

Lawmakers order an audit of the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. Wednesday’s unanimous vote in the ten-member Joint Legislative Audit Committee clears the way for an audit of DPI’s policies on revocation and suspension of educator licenses. It the week’s second appearance before a legislative committee for state Superintendent Jill Underly, who earlier announced a new online database listing educators with suspended and revoked licenses. All of this was prompted by a Capitol Times report finding the agency had investigated more than 200 teachers, aides, substitutes and administrators between 2018 and 2023 following accusations of sexual misconduct or grooming.

US Senator Ron Johnson is ready terminate a tactic used to delay votes on certain legislation, something President Donald Trump called for this week. Warning what would happen if Democrats were to eliminate the filibuster rule, the president said it's time for Republican to "terminate the filibuster.” Johnson agreed with Trump during an appearance on Newsmax, saying Trump is "100% correct.” This represents a reversal for the Wisconsin Republican, who three years ago accused Senate Democrats trying to kill the filibuster of wanting “absolute power.” The rule requires 60 votes to pass certain legislation. With a narrow 53-seat majority, Republicans require Democrats for a government funding bill to pass and end the shutdown.

More than 17-hundred people have had their protected health information mistakenly released by the state's Department of Corrections. Officials admitted the data was inadvertently disclosed while responding to a public records request. The DOC says it discovered the error in September after the information was released in July. Files included names, mental health diagnoses, and other sensitive details. Officials acknowledged the breach violated HIPAA and that they are notifying those affected.

Full November benefits are available to Wisconsin Foodshare recipients. A spokesperson for the office of Governor Tony Evers confirmed Friday that more than $104 million in benefits were paid to 337,000 households at midnight. According to the Evers administration, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services acted to release federal SNAP funding after federal judges ordered the Trump administration to make full payments, and before the Trump administration sought to block them. The Trump White House argues it lacks sufficient funds for full benefits and that the issue stems from congressional inaction amid the government shutdown. If the federal shutdown continues into next month, Wisconsin and other states will again face a halt to food assistance payments.

Minnesotans are filing for bankruptcy at a high clip. Filings statewide have increased by more than 20 percent each of the past three years, which is higher than the national average. LSS Financial Counseling, which is a program of the nonprofit Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota, is seeing clients with much higher debt compared to previous years due to higher interest rates. The program has suggested bankruptcy legal services to twice as many clients this year as it did in all of 2024.

Local-Regional News Nov 7

 

The Mondovi Police Department has put a new squad car into service. The K-9 Squad features a digital dash camera system and has a smaller profile that will allow traffic to maneuver around the squad and for officers to be seen during calls. The squad was made patrol ready by Emergency Vehicle Systems.

One person was injured in a single vehicle accident on I-94 near mile marker 77 on Thursday. According to the Wisconsin State Patrol, 71yr old Piotr Pazola was driving a semi westbound when he left the road way, struck a guardrail and rolled onto its side. Pazola was pinned under the door frame of the cab and had to be extricated by firefighters. I-94 was closed for several hours while crews cleaned up the scene.

The City of Wabasha, in conjunction with Homeland Security and Emergency Management in the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, has applied for Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for a new warning siren. The new warning siren will upgrade the city’s existing public notification system by resolving a critical coverage gap. The project will include the procurement and installation of a high-power rotating siren in the city’s higher-elevation residential district, mounted on a 50-foot wood pole. The system will include a dedicated battery backup and controller to ensure reliability during power outages and seamless integration with the Wabasha County Commander base station.

A driver involved in a single-vehicle crash Wednesday afternoon is continuing to recover from injuries suffered in that accident. The crash happened near Otter Creek and Hobbs Road with the driver losing control on a curve and hitting a number of trees. The Eau Claire County Sheriff's Office says that alcohol or controlled substance use was a factor in the accident.

Officials in La Crosse County are considering pulling the plug on Scenic Mississippi Regional Transit. The bus service links La Crosse with a number of surrounding rural communities. Proponents of cutting the bus service point to a drop in ridership with a climb in operational costs. The La Crosse County board held a hearing on the matter yesterday and a final vote is expected on Monday.

A federal judge is ordering the Trump administration to pay full November SNAP benefits by Friday, including Wisconsin's FoodShare. The judge in Rhode Island said during Thursday's hearing that "people have gone without for too long." The judge ruled the government must now draw from additional USDA funds so states can deliver full SNAP benefits by today. About 700-thousand Wisconsin residents get benefits from the state's FoodShare program, including roughly 270-thousand children. A health chunk of the benefits go to residents of Milwaukee County.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services is applying for federal funding to support rural healthcare. DHS is applying for $1 billion as part of the Rural Health Transformation program. DHS says more than 200 community partners have offered feedback to shape the state's application. More than $335 million would be used to strengthen rural healthcare workforce recruitment and retention. Nearly $330 million would be invested to upgrade rural provider systems and digital infrastructure. Another $279 million would create a grant program to improve healthcare coordination among rural regions. DHS will find out if it's been awarded funding at the end of December.

The FAA is cutting flights from Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport due to the government shutdown. MSP is expected to have 41 flights cut by Friday. This comes as ten percent of all air traffic will be canceled. The FAA said it's reducing flights numbers to help alleviate pressure from the nation's already-strained air traffic control system. Delays in air travel have once again become a political flashpoint amid the government shutdown that's entering day 37.

Wisconsin schools are using emergency teaching licenses more than ever. A Wisconsin Policy Forum report shows that 3,832 Tier I "emergency" licenses were given out by the state in 2023-24, which is almost 20% more than in 2022. The report says schools are using the emergency licenses because traditional teacher training programs aren't producing enough educators. An emergency license lets someone with a college degree start teaching right away while they work on getting their full teaching certificate. In 2019, only 2.5% of Wisconsin's licensed teachers had emergency licenses. By 2024, that number had grown to 3.6%.

Wisconsin residents are once again protected from having their heat and power turned off for non-payment. The winter disconnection moratorium started on Wednesday, which means people who cannot afford their utility bills will have until the spring to get current on them. Help is available through the Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program, and you can find out if you qualify for assistance by calling Home Energy Plus at 1 800 506 5596, or by contacting your local United Way at 2 1 1.

Wisconsin Badger football fans have consumed their fair share of alcohol this year. Online college sports newsletter Extra Points reports that at home football games between August and September, UW - Madison sold 80,435 units of alcohol for a total of $971,781 in revenue. Wisconsin was 8th among schools that reported alcohol sales revenue. The revenue from alcohol sales is roughly 84 times the amount of the lowest reported school, Ball State, which sold just $11,500 worth of alcohol. Wisconsin began selling alcohol at Camp Randall football games in 2024. The Badgers head into Saturday's game against Washington with a 2-6 record.

DeForest is home to Kwik Trip's newest distribution center. The company held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the facility on Tuesday, with the DeForest Pep and Marching Band and others in attendance to celebrate the occasion. It's the first distribution center in southern Wisconsin and is creating hundreds of new jobs. The building is 280-thousand square feet in size and will serve hundreds of stores in the region.

Volunteers help with the harvest for a Minnesota farm family in need. Last weekend, a group of volunteers converged on Buffalo, Minnesota to harvests around 200 acres of corn for a farmer recovering from a stroke. Farm Rescue is a 20-year-old nonprofit that helps farm families in crisis across the midwest. The nonprofit estimates that more than 90 percent of the farmers who ask for their help stay in business after the emergency passes.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is now accepting application for free tree seedlings. The initiative is part of the state's Arbor Day tree planting program. The offer is available to Wisconsin fourth-grade principals, teachers and homeschoolers. More details can be found at dnr-dot-wisconsin-dot-gov.

Local-Regional News November 6

 

Child pornography charges are being filed against a Dunn County man. Menomonie Police say they found child sex abuse content on the phone of 20-year-old Grant Shipley during a search back in August. Police add they later found evidence that Shipley had been exchanging nude images with a Pennsylvania teen. The Ridgeland man faces charges including ten counts of child porn possession.

A Chippewa Valley resource line that connects folks in need with valuable information will soon be shutting down. Great Rivers 211 provides folks with information on where to turn for local aid with regards to families, the elderly and the disabled as well as information on addiction, mental health and crisis services. Great Rivers 211 serves residents of 13 Wisconsin counties and is funded by Emplify Health who is pulling support. Reports say the decision to cut funding is one based on budget concerns. Great Rivers 211 is expected to shut down by the end of this year.

The Pepin County Dairy Promotions Committee has announced the host family for the 2026 Pepin County Town and Country Dairy Breakfast. The breakfast will be held at Baier Creek Farms on Hwy D near Elmwood. The breakfast will be on June 20^th from 6:30-11:30.

Eau Claire has been named this year to a list no city wants to be on. Eau Claire is ranked 46th on this year's "rattiest" cities list by Orkin. The pest control company says the list is determined by the number of new residential rodent treatments performed between September of last year and August of this year. By comparison, Madison places 44th on this year's list. Orkin is now calling out Los Angeles as the rattiest city in America.

La Crosse City Council is pushing back on comments recently made by Republican Congressman Derrick Van Orden. While visiting the community's Salvation Army, Van Orden called out local officials on a matter concerning the homeless. Van Orden had recently learned that a project that would help the homeless was being blocked from development on county property and he insisted that La Crosse City Council needs to take immediate action. City Council Member Gary Padesky says that -- since the lot is county property -- there is nothing that La Crosse City Council can do.

The Federal Aviation Administration announces unprecedented air traffic limits that could impact Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. On Wednesday, the FAA announced it would reduce ten percent of air traffic from 40 airports starting Friday due to the government shutdown. Two travel industry analysts told the Minnesota Star-Tribune that MSP will is likely to be included among the 40 airports. Henry Harteveldt, a travel industry analyst at the Atmosphere Research Group, said, "I'm not going to lie; it's going to be an unholy mess for the next few days if these cuts go through."

A Rochester-based company is being included in a new round of statewide grants aimed at supporting agriculture workforce training programs. Workforce Development Inc. will receive $500,000 from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). With this grant, Workforce Development Inc. will create a “Growing Opportunity” program in Southeast Minnesota. Participants will enroll in programs at Minnesota State colleges, selecting from a variety of specific agricultural programs that best suit their needs. DEED officials say ag-related careers are increasingly in demand in Minnesota, including the new legal cannabis sector.

Wisconsin residents are being urged to look at marketplace health insurance options. Open Enrollment for marketplace health insurance in Wisconsin is now open, and Wisconsin Insurance Commissioner Nathan Houdek says it’s a good time to explore options amid the federal government shutdown. At the federal level there's uncertainty about Affordable Care Act enhanced subsidies as they're set to expire at the end of the year. Houdek says if those subsidies are allowed to expire, many people will see their premiums go up. Houdek says people shouldn't be waiting to look at their Open Enrollment options. More info can be found at healthcare.gov.

Tesla is being sued by the children of 2 people killed in a fiery crash in Dane County a year ago. The crash involved a Tesla vehicle last November 1st, just outside of Verona. All 5 occupants were killed after the vehicle struck a tree and then started on fire. The plaintiffs, who filed suit in Dane County Court, allege that design defects caused the fire and prevented the occupants from escaping the burning vehicle. Toxicology tests on the victims showed that the driver and all of the passengers were legally drunk at the time of the crash. The victims of the crash were well known advocates for diabetes research.

The Wisconsin footprint of former Vice-President Dick Cheney. During the 1960’s, Cheney worked in the office of then-Governor Warren Knowles while he pursued a doctoral degree at the University of Wisconsin that he never completed. From there, Cheney serve as a Wyoming congressman, Chief of Staff for President Gerald Ford, Defense Secretary for President George H.W. Bush, and Vice President for the younger President Bush. During his time in the Madison, Cheney got to know former governor Tommy Thompson, who was appointed Secretary of Health and Human Services in the first term of the Bush-Cheney Administration. Dick Cheney died Monday at age 84.

A big turnout of Port Washington residents debate a proposed $15 billion data center. The city’s Common Council approved the creation of a Tax Increment District to finance the infrastructure of the planned Vantage data center. The council’s Tuesday night meeting heard comments both for and against the project. Amy Barrilleaux (BEAR-ah-low) with Clean Wisconsin told Fox 6 Milwaukee her group’s concern about the amount of lake water to be used by the center as well as the lack of transparency from officials on the building of the center. We Energies spokesperson Brendan Conway told the station that rising energy costs from the center’s power use wouldn’t be passed along to customers, adding estimates that the data center will use less water than a golf course.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz's office is under fire after an audit revealed some alleged instances of mismanagement. The report also involved Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan's office. Some of the findings included not correctly managing receipts, not overseeing employee timesheet completion and approval, as well as inaccurate payments to vendors. Walz's office says it has already resolved 11 of the 12 findings of the audit. Meanwhile, Senate Republican Leader Mark Johnson reacted by saying that when the governor's office can't follow basic financial controls, it's no wonder massive fraud is exploding across state government.

The Department of Natural Resources says deer hunters can really make a difference for Wisconsin families this year by donating their harvests. Deer Specialist Jeff Pritzl says they have a large amount of unfilled bonus antlerless tags in the central farmland regions. Hunters can not only help control the deer population but also keep food pantries filled this fall amid food benefit disruptions. You might also be able to donate leftover processed venison to your local pantry. Just call ahead and ask about their policies. Pritzl says that's entirely legal so long as you aren't being paid for the meat.