Local-Regional News Aug 13

 

The Durand City Council is meeting tonight. Items on the agenda include discussion and possible action on the sale of the parking lot at 2^nd Ave West/Madison Street, connect communities agreement for 2026 and discussion on long range comprehensive plan along with an update on the protestors at the corner of E. Prospect Street and Hwy 10. Tonights meeting begins at 6pm at Durand City Hall.

A Chippewa County Jail inmate is scheduled to appear in court today on accusations that he attacked multiple officers. Twenty-five-year-old Trevor Blackburn faces two counts of battery by prisoners and four other counts of battery to a law enforcement officer stemming from an incident from May of this year. A cash bond has been set of ten thousand dollars.

Additional charges are being brought against a man already charged in an Eau Claire homicide. Nineteen-year-old Du'Marion Stogner is already in custody and accused in the January 25th shooting death of 21-year-old Andre Simmons. A review of Stogner's phone videos and social media accounts has led to new charges against him and another man in connection with an attack on a homeless man on a bridge. The new charges include substantial battery.

The village of Fall Creek was the scene of a Monday afternoon house fire. Crews were dispatched to an address on Victory Street around 4 p.m. and found smoke coming from the front of a home. Reports say the fire began in the home's kitchen. There are no reports of injuries.

Two men charged in connection with an incident that initiated fear last year in Rice Lake are taking plea deals. Prosecutors say that Dante Smith and Alexander Wuorenma were riding in a car last September that had been intentionally modified to make it sound like gunshots. The men and the vehicle set off a panic at a Walmart store and at a local middle school that was hosting a football game. The defendants were sentenced to probation and community service on disorderly conduct convictions.

Charges are being filed against a Jackson County man in connection with a robbery in Holmen. Police say that 56-year-old William Brink of Melrose robbed a BP gas station this past Thursday and then led law enforcement in a high-speed chase. Police eventually caught up to Brink who faces charges including robbery with use of force and battery.

The United States Department of Ag has updated eligibility requirements for free and reduced school meals. Under the new guidelines, students who live in a household of four people with a combined yearly income of $41,795 or less qualify for free meals. If a household of four has a combined yearly income between $41,795.01 and $59,478, students can qualify for reduced-price meals. The guidelines also include reimbursement for meals served in child and adult day care centers and family child care homes. More information can be found on the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction website.

A government agency is urging a south-central Wisconsin company to follow recommendations following a deadly explosion. The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board says Didion Milling in Cambria has not implemented any of its safety recommendations following a deadly explosion in 2017. Five employees were killed and 14 others were seriously injured. The safety board issued nine recommendations focused on dust management and emergency planning, but says Didion has yet to follow any of them. The agency does not issue citations or fines, only recommendations. OSHA does issue fines and slapped Didion with a 1 point 8 million dollar fine. Didion was also charged with criminal violations and was ordered to pay over 10 million dollars in restitution.

The woman who stabbed her friend years ago in an effort to summon the fictional "Slenderman" will remain behind bars for at least a little while longer. Morgan Geyser was 12 when she and another friend lured fellow 12-year-old Payton Leutner [[ Light-ner ]] into the Wisconsin woods in 2014, stabbing her 19 times. Leutner survived and Geyser, now 23, was sent to a mental institution. Earlier this year, a judge approved a conditional release plan for Geyser. That's now been thrown into question as Geyser's attorney says the group home where she was planning to stay has changed its mind over an earlier decision to let her live there. Other residents apparently launched a protest, arguing Geyser should not be allowed at the Sun Prairie facility. No word yet on what happens now.

More details are coming out about a recent cyberattack in the city of St. Paul. City Press Secretary Jennifer Lo announced that the attack on July 25th was ransomware. Ransomware is a malware that restricts access to files and computer operations unless a specified amount of money is paid to the attacker. Lo says that the city has not paid any amount to the suspected hackers. Currently, more than 35 hundred St. Paul city employees are going through a process of resetting passwords. The breach crippled the city's online services and internal systems, shut down internet access in government buildings, and put the security of government employees' data at risk.

It could be some time before we know how much damage was done in Southeast Wisconsin by this weekend's flash flooding. Wisconsin Emergency Management says local teams from Milwaukee and Waukesha Counties are in the process of assessing damage after over 14 inches of rain fell in some places Saturday afternoon through Sunday. Roads and bridges were washed out, homes were flooded and power was knocked out across the Milwaukee Metro. The city has opened up disposal drop off sites for free while cleanup continues. They're asking anyone who spots damaged or stalled out cars to report them so they can be moved from roads for safety.

Attorney General Josh Kaul sends warning letter to telecom companies to crack down on robocalls. Kaul announced Monday that Wisconsin will join a multi-state effort aimed at illegal robocalls. The Anti-Robocall Litigation Task Force warned 37 telecom companies that they must act now to stop alleged illegal robocalls from being routed through their networks. According to Kaul's office, the task force also sent letters to 99 downstream providers that accept call traffic from these companies. The task force was created in 2022 and is made up of 51 attorneys general.

A bill named after an injured K-9 officer became a memorial to the dog on the day it was signed into law. In 2021, Kenosha County Sheriff's Office K-9 Riggs was shot in the head while responding to a double homicide in Bristol. He eventually returned to duty and earned several honors until retiring last year. Riggs' injury led two state legislators to author the "K-9 Riggs Act", which elevates penalties for intentionally harming or killing law enforcement animals. On Friday, the day Governor Tony Evers signed the bill into law, the sheriff’s office announced the death of K-9 Riggs, calling it a "poignant coincidence" and a "bittersweet moment for our agency and the entire community."

A call to Digger's Hotline before you start a project on your property could save your life. Spokesman Chad Kruger says calling 8 1 1 could also save you from a very expensive mistake. Not only are there power and gas lines underground, but also phone and data lines. Those are very expensive to replace and if you didn't call to get your property marked, you could be liable for damage. Kruger expects many utilities to be very busy with cleanup in Southeast Wisconsin, and anyone who's planning on doing yard work to prevent flooding in the future should especially be calling ahead. Just be sure to give a few days notice so crews can mark your yard.

Local-Regional News Aug 12

 

Officers with the Buffalo County Sheriff's Office were called into action Sunday morning on the Mississippi River. A call came in just before 9 a.m. regarding a 75-year-old man experiencing cardiac arrest on an island. First responders reached the island by boat and took the man to a hospital for care. There has been no update on his status.

The Mondovi City Counil is meeting tonight. Items on the agena incclude authorization to apply for a DNR Urban Forestry Grant, along with reports from the mayor and department heads. Tonights meeting begins at 5:30 at the Marten Center in Mondovi.

A Chippewa Falls man is being indicted on federal weapons charges. Forty-two-year-old Michael Raskie Jr is accused of prohibited possession of a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon and possessing silencers that were not registered to him. The Chippewa County Sheriff's Office participated in the investigation that led to the charges.

Potential business owners can apply for Olmsted County's cannabis retail business registration lottery today. The upcoming lottery will focus only on retail business registrations. Applicants must submit their applications and pay the 100 dollar lottery fee by August 22nd. Other requirements include completing a background check through the Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management and providing proof of a pending state-level retail business application.

Weekend flash flooding in the Milwaukee area canceled Sunday’s final day of the Wisconsin State Fair. Debris and mulch were found scattered across the fairgrounds in West Allis after flood waters receded. People who held tickets for Sunday can exchange them for vouchers for the 2026 fair. That includes admission tickets and cream puff and bargain book vouchers, as well as ticket packs and wristband vouchers for the midway. Full exchange details will be announced next month. Those who purchased parking passes or concert tickets through Etix will have their purchases automatically refunded over the coming days.

A new challenger is entering the race for the seat of outgoing U.S. Minnesota Senator Tina Smith. Navy vet Tom Weiler announced his candidacy over the weekend. The Republican posted on social media that he's ready to lead with integrity, dedication, and commitment to the people of Minnesota. Weiler ran as a Republican against Democratic Congressman Dean Phillips in 2022 and lost by a 19-point margin. Democrats seeking the Senate seat are Minnesota Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan and Congresswoman Angie Craig. On the Republican side are Royce White, Adam Schwarze, Alycia Gruenhagen, Raymond Peterson, and Mike Ruoho.

Wisconsin is one of the best states to live in. A new report by WalletHub ranks all 50 states based on metrics like housing costs, education rates, and quality of hospitals. Wisconsin ranks fourth best, with the study citing better quality of life and health and education scores than most other states. Massachusetts, Idaho, and New Jersey are in the top three, with New Mexico and Louisiana at the bottom.

A Wisconsin man was found not guilty of killing two people more than 30 years ago. A jury acquitted Tony Haase  this morning after deliberating for four days. Prosecutors accused him of murdering Tanna Togstad and Tim Mumbrue in their Royalton home in 1992. The defense says a recorded confession during an interrogation before Haase's arrest was coerced, and that the decades-old DNA evidence was not reliable. He is acquitted of two first-degree intentional homicide charges.

Authorities are investigating a Saturday afternoon accident in Clark County that left one person dead. A horse-drawn buggy was struck by a van from behind just before 3 p.m. on County Trunk Highway K near Loyal. An adult passenger from the buggy died at the scene while a 12-year-old child survived with serious injuries. The van's driver was not hurt.

Governor Tony Evers signs bills into law, vetoes others. 17 bills were signed into law Friday by the Democratic governor, including one that would allow specially qualified nurses to establish private practices. Advocates say that will improve healthcare access in rural Wisconsin. Other bills signed into law include expansion of eligibility for caregivers supporting family members with Alzheimer’s disease and harsher penalties for harming police dogs. Evers vetoed five bills, including one that would have created a portable benefits program for many gig workers and another that could have sent thousands of formerly incarcerated people back to prison for violating release conditions.

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers is approving National Guard assistance for Milwaukee County following historic flooding in the region. Milwaukee saw 14 inches of rain at Timmerman Airport over the weekend. Evers says his office is monitoring flooding and keeping up with local officials to offer state assistance. Reports have come in of extensive damage to homes and cars submerged in floodwater.

Two hikers at Kettle Moraine State Forest lost consciousness after a lightning strike Saturday. Palmyra Fire rescue received reports of a man not breathing around 4:14 p.m. Crews were able to find the man and another woman who was also affected by a lightning strike. Both hikers were safely taken from the scene. Officials determined the couple was standing by a tree struck by lightning, and felt the effects through a ground current.

A 4-year-old in south central Wisconsin died in an accident involving farm equipment. According to the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, the child fell from a piece of equipment Wednesday evening at a farm in the Town of Marcellon. The child was already dead from severe injuries by the time first responders arrived. A statement from the sheriff’s office called the accident “…a tragic incident for all involved.”

Back to school shopping can be daunting task for parents and students alike. Marquette University marketing professor Alex Milovic says it’s important for families to keep cost in mind and spread out your shopping instead of doing it all at once. Milovic says don't be afraid to check and see if there are any leftover school supplies from last year you can re-use. The National Retail Federation estimates families will spend an average of $858 for the upcoming school supplies year.   

Local-Regional News August 11

 

The Wisconsin Army National Guard welcomed home more than 250 Soldiers with the 1st Battalion, 128th Infantry Regiment, on Saturday at the Chippewa Valley Regional Airport. The unit, based in Eau Claire, recently returned from a nearly year-long deployment to the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) area of operations in support of Operation Spartan Shield. While headquartered at Camp Buehring, Kuwait, the battalion also supported follow-on missions in several other countries across the region.

The Wuethrich Family/Grassland Dairy Center of Excellence at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls will now be able to produce even more dairy foods, thanks to the donation of a milk-hauling truck by a regional automotive dealer, Cernohous Chevrolet of Prescott.  The Chevrolet Silverado 3500 HD will haul a milk tank filled to its 8,600-pound capacity from Mann Valley Farm to the dairy pilot plant on campus, tripling the plant’s daily production capacity. “The truck will make a significant impact, allowing us to operate more efficiently and take advantage of our production center’s full capabilities,” said Rueben Nilsson, plant manager. The ability to expand production is important as the dairy pilot plant seeks to increase wholesale distribution of cheese and ice cream, Nilsson said. Those products, marketed under the Falcon Creamery name, are being sold at more and more regional locations.

The Universities of Wisconsin System is paying $265,000 to settle a discrimination lawsuit. UW-Eau Claire employee Rochelle Hoffman filed a federal lawsuit back in 2023, claiming she was demoted from her diversity position because she is white. She alleged the chancellor at the time, Jim Schmidt, and the UW Board of Regents subjected her to a ‘racially hostile and abusive work environment.’ Hoffman and the UW settled the lawsuit in July.

Three Eau Claire men are facing nearly 20 charges following a Thursday morning drug bust in the 500-block of Chippewa Street in Eau Claire.  According to Eau Claire Police officers observed high traffic in and out of the 500 block of Chippewa Street. From there, they decided to surveil the suspected house. During their investigation, traffic stops on cars leaving the house resulted in finding illegal drugs.  When officers searched the house, they found several pounds of marijuana and THC products, ketamine, cocaine, and MDMA. They also found a handgun and a business ledger.  Dillon Linn and Antonio Cantu were charged with maintaining a drug trafficking place, felon in possession of a firearm, and intent to deliver drugs like marijuana and cocaine. Vincent Archuleta was charged with two possession misdemeanors.

A Menomonie Man was not injured in a plane crash in Nebraska yesterday. According to Nebraska Authorities Issac Weix of Menomonie left the Norfork, NE Regional Airport and was at 5,000 feet when his aircraft experienced engine trouble. Weix attempted to return to the airport but was unable to make it back and landed the plane in a soybean field just east of Norfork, NE. The FAA is investigating the cause of the engine failure.

The Buffalo County Sheriff’s Department and the City of Alma are asking the public to please use the posted detour through the city of Alma when traveling on Hwy 35 or Hwy E. Both roads are currently closed and detours are in place. Commercial trucks, those pulling campers or any form of trailer are advised to use the detour for Truck traffic as the semis and those with trailers will not be able to navigate the street options in Alma. Motorists with passenger cars and passenger trucks can use the detour in the city and visit the local businesses.

Construction on Highway 93 in Eau Claire County is set to finish ahead of schedule. The highway, which has been closed since mid-May, will reopen Monday, Aug. 11. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation announced the reopening and noted that there will still be some lane closures for final paving but travelers will be able to pass through. Work was being done from Cedar Road to the Trempealeau County line.

The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture has issued a public health alert for a Western
Wisconsin Meat Locker. The department issued the alert for Cured and Smoked Teriyaki Beef produced by Holmen Locker & Meat Market in Holmen. This alert is due to the product being misbranded and containing undeclared allergens. The product contains soy and wheat, known food allergens which were not declared on the product’s label. The product was sold at Holmen Locker & Meat Market on or before August 1, 2025. No illnesses have been reported as a result of consuming this product. Anyone with signs or symptoms of a foodborne illness or allergic reactions should contact their doctor. Consumers who have this product can discard it.

A Black River Falls teen is being identified as the person who died following a crash in Jackson County. The accident happened just before 6:30 Wednesday morning in Franklin. Authorities say that 19-year-old Aurora Olson suffered fatal injuries when they lost control of their vehicle on a curve and rolled over on County Road C. No one else was hurt.

Governor Evers is signing legislation granting advanced practice registered nurses independent practice authority. The new 2025 Wisconsin Act 17 allows nurse practitioners and midwives to practice independently after supervised training. The bipartisan deal has medical groups neutral and nursing organizations, including the Wisconsin Nurses Association, celebrating. Under the law, healthcare access is expected to improve, especially in rural and underserved communities.

NASA astronaut and former Milwaukee native Jim Lovell is dead at age 97. The commander of NASA's Apollo 13 mission died on Thursday in Lake Forest, Illinois. Lovell helped lead the Apollo 13 mission's return to Earth after the spacecraft's oxygen tank exploded. Tributes have poured in from Wisconsin organizations like the Experimental Aircraft Association in Oshkosh, reflecting the state's strong connection to his legacy. Lovell attended Juneau High School and carried a Milwaukee Boy Scout patch into space on Apollo 8.

The former clerk of the rural Marathon County Town of Bergen pleads guilty to stealing thousands of dollars in public funds. Gloriann Doyle pled guilty to stealing public funds, forgery, and misconduct in public office on Thursday, with five additional counts then dismissed as part of the deal. The 65-year-old used her position as the Clerk to writer herself a handful of checks, totaling more than one hundred thousand dollars, saying she had fallen behind on bills including her mortgage. She now faces more than 35 years in prison at sentencing, which will be scheduled for this fall. The most serious charge against her carries a maximum sentence of 12 and a half years.

A northern Wisconsin tribe will have to stop barricading roads to private homes on its reservation. Federal judge William Conley ruled this week that the Lac du Flambeau tribe did not have justification to prevent residents of a number of homes from using 4 roads. Those blockades started in 2023 after the original easements to those properties expired, and the tribe wanted the town of Lac du Flambeau to pay for their upkeep. Judge Conley ruled that the roads are currently listed as public roads under federal funding programs and the 20 million dollar fee the tribe was demanding was exorbitant. Tribal leaders say they're weighing their future options, while the homeowners and the town expressed relief in statements to the media. Republican State Senator Mary Felzkowski of Tomahawk praised the ruling, and said the Lac du Flambeau tribe was "immature" in its dealings with the town and state.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is doubling down on his decision to do away with the Housing Stabilization program. The agency was started in 2020 and has recently faced allegations of fraud. Walz says shutting down the HSS program instead of repairing it is because the problem is too widespread. The governor added that the state is reviewing all Medicaid-involved programs for possible fraud. Walz adds that his message to fraudsters is that when they are caught, they're going to prison

The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association is launching a new foundation. The WIAA Foundation is to be an organization aimed at advancing Wisconsin high school athletics through charitable support. Executive Director Stephanie Hauser says this represents a significant milestone in the WIAA’s commitment to Wisconsin's high school athletes. The foundation will focus on three areas, athletic programs, risk minimization the development of officials for athletic events. Wisconsin's high school athletic community features more than 510 schools and 185,000 student-athletes. 

Local-Regional News August 8

 

A Menomonie Man was not injured in a plane crash in Nebraska yesterday. According to Nebraska Authorities Issac Weix of Menomonie left the Norfork, NE Regional Airport and was at 5,000 feet when his aircraft experienced engine trouble. Weix attempted to return to the airport but was unable to make it back and landed the plane in a soybean field just east of Norfork, NE. The FAA is investigating the cause of the engine failure.

Lake City Police are asking the public’s help in locating a missing teen. According to the Lake City Police Department, 17-year-old Kameron Collier was last seen by his family on Tuesday night at his home on South 6^th Street. He was wearing a black hoodie with a Hello Kitty design on it, black pants and white high-top shoes with red drawings on them. He also has a tattoo of a bleeding heart on one of his ankles. Collier has medical conditions and requires daily medication. He does not own a vehicle or have a drivers license. If anyone has any information on Collier they are to contact Lake City Police.

The Buffalo County Sheriff’s Department and the City of Alma are asking the public to please use the posted detour through the city of Alma when traveling on Hwy 35 or Hwy E. Both roads are currently closed and detours are in place. Commercial trucks, those pulling campers or any form of trailer are advised to use the detour for Truck traffic as the semis and those with trailers will not be able to navigate the street options in Alma. Motorists with passenger cars and passenger trucks can use the detour in the city and visit the local businesses.

Construction on Highway 93 in Eau Claire County is set to finish ahead of schedule. The highway, which has been closed since mid-May, will reopen Monday, Aug. 11. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation announced the reopening and noted that there will still be some lane closures for final paving but travelers will be able to pass through. Work was being done from Cedar Road to the Trempealeau County line.

The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture has issued a public health alert for a Western
Wisconsin Meat Locker. The department issued the alert for Cured and Smoked Teriyaki Beef produced by Holmen Locker & Meat Market in Holmen. This alert is due to the product being misbranded and containing undeclared allergens. The product contains soy and wheat, known food allergens which were not declared on the product’s label. The product was sold at Holmen Locker & Meat Market on or before August 1, 2025. No illnesses have been reported as a result of consuming this product. Anyone with signs or symptoms of a foodborne illness or allergic reactions should contact their doctor. Consumers who have this product can discard it.

A Black River Falls teen is being identified as the person who died following a crash in Jackson County. The accident happened just before 6:30 Wednesday morning in Franklin. Authorities say that 19-year-old Aurora Olson suffered fatal injuries when they lost control of their vehicle on a curve and rolled over on County Road C. No one else was hurt.

Five veterans are now in the Purple Heart Hall of Honor following Wednesday's ceremony. The Madison VA honored veterans for their sacrifice and service to the United States during wartime. The Purple Heart is awarded to military personnel who are wounded or killed while serving in action. Its designated day lands on August 7th.

Members of Wisconsin's Task Force 1 are back home after helping with flood-related search efforts in Texas. Twenty-one-members of Wisconsin’s Urban Search and Rescue Task Force spent two weeks in Central Texas assisting recovery efforts following catastrophic flooding. Two teams left in early July to search for missing people with the first team consisting of five people and three canines. More help was needed, so Wisconsin sent another sixteen personnel. Task Force K9s are trained to bark if human remains were found. Task force members helped with water search in areas along the Guadalupe River, including the Canyon Lake Area.

A Madison-based provider of tests for cancer prevention is cutting a portion of its workforce. Exact Sciences is eliminating about 200 positions in Wisconsin. 80 of those jobs are based at the company's Madison headquarters and another 120 remote workers around Wisconsin will be let go. The company employs 7,200 people and says the layoffs are connected to a reorganization of support functions to better meet growing demand. Those losing their jobs can apply for nearly 250 open roles elsewhere in the company.

Lawmakers from four states including Wisconsin are demanding accountability for Canadian wildfire smoke. Governor Tony Evers says he’d welcome dialog on a solution if it's productive. Republican state Representative Calvin Callahan of Tomahawk joined legislators from Iowa, Minnesota and North Dakota in a letter to the US Environmental Protection Agency calling for “real consequences” if Canada fails to get wildfires under control, as well an investigation into Canadian fire management practices. Wisconsin has seen more than 20 days of poor air quality this summer due to the wildfire smoke.

The mother of a teen involved in last year’s school shooting in Madison is dead. The Wisconsin State Journal reports Mellissa Rupnow was found dead inside a Janesville home last Friday. Rupnow was the mother of 15-year-old Natalie Rupnow who opened fire inside of Abundant Life Christian School December 16th, 2024, killing a fellow student and a teacher before turning the gun on herself. Janesville Police say it appears that Mellissa died by suicide but have not commented further because of an ongoing investigation. Her ex-husband Jeffrey Rupnow is facing multiple charges for allegedly letting Natalie have access to the weapons used in the shooting.

A missing American climate journalist and former UW - Madison alum is found alive in Norway According to multiple media reports, Alec Luhn was found just north of the Buarbreen , which is an arm of a large glacier that is part of Folgefonna National Park. Luhn was in Norway with his wife to see family and was last seen Thursday, when he left for a four-day solo trip in the national park. According to a Norwegian newspaper, Luhn suffered a foot injury. The glacier Luhn was found near is described as the third largest icecap in Norway. Luhn was born in Stoughton and graduated from UW - Madison in 2010.

The man accused of shooting two Minnesota legislators and their families is pleading not guilty in federal court in Minneapolis. Vance Boelter is charged with killing state Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, as well as shooting and wounding Representative john Hoffman and his wife. Two of the defendant's federal charges carry the possibility of the death penalty. No trial date has been set.

University of Minnesota service workers are taking steps to stage a walkout. Teamsters Local 320 has filed an intent to strike with the university. The employees affected include those who clean buildings, maintain the grounds, service dorms, and prepare food. The union is seeking a pay increase for workers since their contract expired in June.

Local-Regional News Aug 7

 

Two Western Wisconsin State Fair Exhibitors sold their animals at last nights Governor’s Auction at the State Fair. Logan Bennett of Durand sold his Reserve Gran Champion Market Barrow for $15,000 while Josie Lorentz of Woodville sold her Grand Champion Steer for $35,000. The Wisconsin State Fair Continues through Sunday, and the Pierce County Fair gets underway today and also runs through Sunday in Ellsworth.

A Downtown Durand Business is planning on re-opening. The Rooster Tali Bar and Grill closed after a fire in February. In a social media post, the business announced that after months of planning and other challenges, the renovations to rebuild the business are underway. The business thanks the community for its patience and support while they make the necessary renovations to re-open in the future.

The Buffalo County Sheriffs Department is advising motorists that Hwy E in the City of Alma from Main Steet to 2^nd Street is closed due to a collapse of a retaining wall. Motorists are advised to use Cedar Street to Access 2^nd Street in Alma. Currently Hwy E will remain colosed until the retaining wall is repaired.

Over 110-million dollars have been approved for building projects across Wisconsin. Governor Tony Evers announced Wednesday that the State Building Commission approved the projects. One seeks to improve sidewalk infrastructure at the State Capitol, while another will improve UW-Stout’s Robert S. Swanson Library and Learning Center. Evers stressed the importance of investing in Wisconsin's future in the announcement.

Authorities are releasing the name of an Eau Claire County Jail inmate who died at the facility this week. Authorities found 39-year-old Robert Manning-Harris dead on Monday. His cause of death remains undetermined. Autopsy results have shown no evidence of trauma.

The Eau Claire Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department's 2025 Doggie Swim Fest is just around the corner. Registrations are being accepted now from dog owners who want to allow their pets to take a dip in the Fairfax Pool before it is drained for the season. The cost is fifteen dollars per dog. More details on the August 24th event can be found at eauclairewi-dot-gov. The City of Durand is also considering allowing dogs to go for a swim at the end of the day on August 24^th at the Tarrant Park Pool.

Winona Firefighters responded to a building fire near Winona Middle School yesterday. According to fire officials, the building was a workshop used for ISD 861 and suffered moderate fire, smoke and water damage. The building was unoccupied and no injuries were reported. The cause of that fire is still under investigation.

Applications are now being accepted to fill a vacancy on the Chippewa Falls City Council. Folks interested in filling the opening for District Four Alderperson must live in the district. The positions opened after Council member Scott Sullivan resigned two weeks ago. Letters of application can be emailed to bgivens-at-chippewafalls-wi-dot-gov and must be received by August 31st. District Five Council Person Heather Martell has also announced she is resigning from the council.

More than 460 high schools including Alma, Durand-Arkansaw, Mondovi, Plum City and Pepin Schools are part of the Direct Admit Wisconsin program. Under the Universities of Wisconsin System program, qualified high school students from participating high schools are automatically admitted to up to ten UW schools without ever having to submit an application. Students must choose to participate in the program and are admitted based on their grades and coursework after completion of the junior year. They must meet all admissions requirements, enroll for their senior year of high school, and stay on track to graduate. In total, Direct Admit Wisconsin delivered more than 33,500 admission offers to high school seniors from 467 high schools.

Olmsted County drivers will pay an increased fee for their vehicles next year. The county will double its wheelage tax from ten dollars to 20 bucks. The tax is applied to the purchase of vehicle tabs and helps pay for road projects and improvements. Only the tax applied to the tabs will go up, not the actual cost of the tabs.

A former Green Bay Packer is convicted of running a dogfighting operation. The U.S. Department of Justice announced Monday that a federal jury in Oklahoma convicted LeShon Johnson on six felony counts for “possessing, selling, transporting, and delivering animals to be used in fighting ventures.” The 54-year-old Johnson surrendered 190 dogs as part of the verdict, which is the largest number ever seized from a single person in a federal dogfighting case. Johnson, a Packers running back in the mid-1990’s, faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 on each count.

Governor Tony Evers has announced a 100-million-dollar tax credit for an upcoming pharmaceutical development. Eli Lilly and Company announced last year it had acquired a manufacturing plant in Kenosha County previously owned by Nexus Pharmaceuticals. The company will receive credits depending on it meeting capital investment goals and job creation targets. The expansion plans to add 750 jobs to the facility.

A new study highlights a need for more housing in Central Wisconsin. The 2025 Regional Housing Study from Wausau-based Centergy, Inc. prepared in partnership with the North Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission provides an in-depth analysis of housing conditions and future needs across Adams, Lincoln, Marathon, Portage, and Wood Counties. The study finds a pressing need for housing priced within reach of working households, units renting between $900–$1,499 and homes priced between $200,000–$299,999. It also outlines how rising construction costs, limited new housing supply, and a competitive market are making it increasingly difficult for employers to attract and retain talent to the region.

There are new security changes at Minnesota's State Capitol, days after a man was arrested for trespassing there while naked. Starting today, there will be two entrances instead of three for the public to enter the state building. The two entrances will also have more Capitol Security officers assigned there. Access to the Capitol from the Minnesota Senate building ramp will only be for key cardholders. The regular business hours of the Capitol will stay 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday to Friday.

The new owner of "Deep Thought,” the boat abandoned on a Milwaukee beach last year, is the man who towed it off the beach. Jeff Piller of All City Towing won the boat for just over 25-hundred dollars as bidding closed on Tuesday. Piller says he and his staff just couldn't bear to get rid of it. The boat is covered in street art and murals and Piller says he will try to preserve parts of it as an art piece. His winning bid is far less than the 20-thousand dollars the county was hoping to get to recoup the costs of the boat's removal. 

Local-Regional News Aug 6

 

One man is in custody after a manhunt in Wabasha County yesterday. According to the Wabasha and Olmsead County Sheriff’s Departments, the incident began yesterday morning after deputies responded to a suspicious vehicle with a man slumped over the steering wheel near Elgin. When deputies arrived, the man fled and ended up hitting another car in Wabasha County on County Road 25. The man then fled the scene, broke into a nearby building and fled into a cornfield. He was later arrested. According to the Minnesota State Patrol, the suspect was identified as Drew Douglas Wiskow Davis.

The City of Menomonie has approved annexing over 300 acres of land between 605^th and 690^th Avenue in the Town of Red Cedar for a possible new data center. Balloonist LLC filed the request for the annexation and rezoning. The city still has to approve the final plans for the proposed data center and if approved, construction could begin as early as 2027.

The Buffalo County Highway Department will begin construction on Hwy BB today. The project will be from Hwy 10 south to the Naples Town Hall and will include culvert replacement, widening and milling operations. Hwy BB will remain open to traffic, but motorists should expect delays.

The Tarrant Park Pool will be closed for a few days this month. The City of Durand announced the pool will be closed this Friday from 6-9pm and all day on Saturday. The pool will also be closed from 6-9pm on August 21^st and 22^nd. The final day of the pool being open for the season is scheduled to be August 24.

One person was hospitalized following an apartment fire. The Eau Claire Fire Department says a tenant found smoke and fire in her kitchen when they arrived. Crews found heavy smoke coming from a third floor apartment and initiated an evacuation. One cat was found unharmed and another person living there was treated at the scene before being transported to the hospital. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. The apartment fire broke out at a property on South Barstow Street and caused an estimated 40 thousand dollars in damage.

A date is being set for groundbreaking ceremonies on a new hospital in Chippewa Falls. Aspirus Chippewa Falls Hospital is to be developed across the street from Fire Station #1 on Chippewa Crossing Boulevard and will be a 35-thousand-square-foot facility with an emergency department and clinic. The groundbreaking ceremony is set for August 14th.

Governor Tony Evers was in western Wisconsin on Tuesday talking about healthcare. The governor visited the Chippewa Valley Free Clinic where he talked discussed his concerns about the impacts the recently passed One Big Beautiful Bill will have on Badger State residents. The governor says that an estimated 270-thousand people living in Wisconsin stand to lose their health care coverage.

Authorities are reporting the passing of a woman who was recently involved in a St. Croix County collision. The St. Croix County Sheriff's Office says a pickup truck and a semi hit head-on July 25th on County Trunk Highway G in Erin Prairie. According to the report, the vehicles hit when the driver of the pickup truck went left of center and into the path of the semi. The pickup truck's driver, 42-year-old Ashlie Rosen, died on Friday. The driver of the semi survived the crash with non life-threatening injuries.

Celebrating one year of the state's Home Energy Rebate programs. Wisconsin received $149 million under the Biden era Inflation Reduction Act for the Home Efficiency Rebate and Home Electrification and Appliance Rebate Programs. The programs are administered by the state Public Service Commission. Governor Tony Evers says more than $2 million in rebates have been distributed, helping Wisconsin families make home upgrades and keep more money in their pockets. Just under $75 million went to the HEAR program providing discounts for installing energy efficient appliances. Another $75 million went towards the HOMES program for whole-home efficiency improvements.

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A Wisconsin man was sentenced to 29 months in prison for possessing precursors to chemical weapons. James Morgan entered a guilty plea earlier this year after the FBI executed a search warrant on his storage unit and found the chemicals. His messages described a plan to take out approximately 20 government agents using large amounts of chlorine. Morgan was a chemistry student at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and described himself as a weapon designer.

Another batch of inactive Wisconsin voters have been pulled from the voting rolls. The Wisconsin Elections Commission says 192-thousand voters were removed as part of an ongoing maintenance of the rolls. Administrator Meagan Wolfe says anyone who hasn't voted in four years will be removed to ensure that the list of voters is accurate in each voting district. Wisconsin has at-the-polls registration, so if your name has been pulled from the list, and you've forgotten to register, you can still cast a ballot on election day.

Some Wisconsin members of Congress want to make sure airlines continue to have two pilots in the cockpit. In separate letters to Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, 45 U.S. Senators and more than 150 House members are urging him to oppose efforts to examine and test out proposals for having a single pilot operate commercial passenger flights. Current U.S. policy dictates no airline can operate an airplane “with less than the minimum flight crew,” of “two pilots,” and the lawmakers said that ought to remain the standard. Wisconsin House Republican Tony Wied, House Democrats Gwenn Moore and Mark Pocan, and Democratic Senator Tammy Baldwin all signed the letters. Duffy, a former Wisconsin congressman, has not commented on the issue since being appointed secretary.

Harley-Davidson has a new leader. The Milwaukee based motorcycle maker announced Monday that Artie Starrs will be its next president and chief executive officer. Starrs previously served as CEO of Topgolf Callaway Brands. Prior to that, he held leadership roles with Pizza Hut. Starrs will begin his new duties in October succeeding Jochen Zeitz (YO-ken ZITES), who is retiring. Harley-Davidson is struggling to attract young customers amid declining demand for its large motorcycles.

Milwaukee will host another convention of Republicans. This time, it’s the Young Republican National Convention in August of 2027. The gathering put together by the Young Republican National Federation is expected to draw 1,200 attendees and generate about $1 million in economic activity for the region. Last summer, Milwaukee hosted the 2024 Republican National Convention, which brought in over $300 million of business impact. Wisconsin has been a key state in deciding the most recent presidential elections.

A bear with a plastic jar stuck on its head was freed over the weekend in northwestern Wisconsin. According to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, the 70-pound, 2-year-old sow was first spotted with the jar on her head on July 26, and she traveled more than 50 miles for about a week while in that predicament. She was spotted in Sawyer, Bayfield and Douglas counties. After over a week of monitoring and trapping efforts, reports of the bear over the weekend indicated she was likely returning to the area where first spotted. On Sunday near Cable in Sawyer County, a trained wildlife professional was able to safely dart the bear with an immobilization drug so the jar could be removed. The sow did not have any injuries and has been relocated to a safe wooded area to recover.