Local-Regional News May 1

 

Its the last weekend of the Durand City-Wide Clean up. Its a chance for city residents to clean up yards from this past winter. Durand Public Works Superintendent Matt Gillis says certain rules need to be followed.  A complete list of rules for the clean up are available on the city website or Facebook page.

Mondovi residents may experience discolored water over the next few weeks. The city water department will be flushing fire hydrants over the next month. If you experience discolored water after hydrant flushing, just run cold water until it clears up.

Colfax resident Jeff Foster is announcing his candidacy for the State Senate. Foster is running in District 23 -- a district that includes Barron, Clark, Price, Rusk, and Taylor Counties plus portions of Chippewa, Dunn County and Marathon Counties. Foster describes himself as a former social worker, dairy farmer and business leader.

The Wabasha Public Works Department has installed the boat docks on the Mississippi River in Wabasha. Crews will also install the storm basins on Market and Washington Streets for the upcoming road work on both streets. The public works department as has opened up the volleyball courts for the upcoming volleyball league season.

UW-Stout broke ground on its renovation project of the recreation complex yesterda. The Sports and Fitness center will receive upgraded locker rooms, the creation of on-site fitness studios and 10,000 square feet of new space. The two-year project is funded through student-fees and donor contributions.

Groundbreaking ceremonies were held Thursday in Chippewa Falls for a new behavioral health hospital. Rogers Behavioral Health is developing the facility near Highway 178. Plans call for the hospital to be fully operational next spring.

The City of La Crosse and the La Crosse School District are proposing a new public indoor pool on the city's northside. The discussions follow the announced closure of the city's outdoor pool at Logan Middle School this summer due to condition and cost concerns. School officials say a public pool meets multiple community needs, including having kids engaged and off their phones. The proposed project would also renovate the current pool at Logan High School. The initial project is estimated to cost around 33-million dollars.

Five people are injured after a six-vehicle crash in La Crosse. WisDOT says a school bus was traveling on I-90 Wednesday and failed to see slowed traffic due to a construction zone reducing traffic to a single lane, causing the bus to hit the cars in front. One vehicle became pinned beneath the bus and trapped two people. Emergency responders were able to remove the individuals. The crash is under investigation.

The former president of the University of Wisconsin system is calling for change after losing his job. Jay Rotham wrote an op-ed in the Journal Sentinel where he called out the Board of Regents following their vote to fire him. He said change needs to "start at the top" with the Board, saying clear direction needs to be provided to the people leading UW. Rotham noted his desire to be a fewer number of regents, which is currently at 18. The Board voted to fire Rotham on April 7th, citing a loss of confidence in his leadership.

Heavy rain over the past few weeks has left fields saturated across much of Wisconsin, especially in low‑lying areas near rivers. UW Extension Crops Educator Will Fulwider says flooding has delayed soybean planting and is now pushing corn planting back as farmers wait for soils to dry. Fulwider says some fields remain underwater and won’t be accessible for a while, especially those with clay soils that hold moisture longer. As planting dates slip later into the season, yield potential can decline, making timing critical. For now, Fulwider says, it’s largely a waiting game until fields dry out.

Governor Tony Evers is directing Wisconsin Emergency Management to submit a request to FEMA due to recent flooding. Evers says the state is likely to qualify for federal aid, as current assessments show the extent of the damage and that recovery needed is too much for the state to handle on its own. Once the request is submitted, the federal agency would gather their own damage assessment. The governor's office doesn't know when FEMA will respond.

The federal government sues Wisconsin over a lawsuit targeting prediction markets. Prediction markets allow people to place bets on the outcomes of just about anything – including sports. Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul filed the state’s civil suit last week. Kaul argued such markets violate the state's sports betting law. Sites targeted in the suit filed in Dane County include Kalshi, Robinhood, Coinbase, Polymarket, and Crypto.com. The federal Commodity Futures Trading Commission argues that it has exclusive jurisdiction over regulating prediction markets. The commission has already sued Connecticut, Illinois and New York.

Financial hardship is taking a growing toll on children’s mental health in Wisconsin. A new report from the Wisconsin Office of Children's Mental Health shows children who grow up in financially stressed households are far more likely to face bullying, anxiety, depression, and substance use problems. The report says kids exposed to poverty early in life face the greatest risks. Director Linda Hall notes the developing brain is highly sensitive to stress — but also responsive to support. With out‑of‑pocket mental health costs rising, the agency says policies like child tax credits, food assistance, and housing support can ease family stress and protect children’s well‑being.

Another powerful Republican in the Wisconsin State Senate won’t seek re-election. First District State Senator André Jacque of DePere announced Thursday morning he won’t seek another term. Jacque was first elected to the State Assembly in 2010 and was elected to the Senate in 2019. Jacque said in a statement that he reached his decision not to run again after “…much discussion with family and friends.” His district covers all of Door and Kewaunee counties, and parts of Brown, Calumet, Manitowoc, and Outagamie counties. Jacque’s decision not to run adds to a list of high-ranking GOP senators not seeking re-election, including Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, Steve Nass, Van Wanggaard, Jesse James and Rob Hutton.

Longtime Minnesota Republican lawmaker David Hann is out of the race for a vacant Minnesota U.S. Senate seat. The former Republican Party of Minnesota chairman announced yesterday that he is suspending his campaign. Hann did not say why he's pulling out of the race. A recent poll showed that the ex- Minnesota Senate Minority Leader received two percent support. The remaining candidates include Republicans Michele Tafoya, Adam Schwarze and Royce White. Democrats in the race are Congresswoman Angie Craig and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan. The primary election is set for August 11th.

Mitchell International is offering a free service no other airport in Wisconsin does. The airport is the first in the state to offer free American Sign Language interpreting services through an on-demand video interpreting app. Travelers can access the app on their computer or smartphone so they can communicate in security, at baggage claim, and other areas of the airport. Officials noted it can also be used to get safety instructions and other announcements after boarding a plane.

Local-Regional News April 30

 

The Durand-Arkansaw FFA Chapter held their annual Ag Day for Middle School Students yesterday. Durand-Arkansaw FFA Advisor Kenzie Person says AG Day is one of the favorite events for FFA Members.Middle School Students visited different stations to learn about machinery safety, various livestock industries and participated in games including a hay bale toss.

The City of Mondovi continues preparing for the Fourth of July Fireworks Display. With it being America’s 250^th Birthday, Mondovi Mayor Brady Weiss says the city is planning a special fireworks display.  Along with the display, the city plans on having some food booths available at Mirror Park.

The Durand City Council passed an amended ATV/UTV ordinance last week. Durand City Administrator Tracy Carlson says the amended ordinance was in connection with allowing ATV’s/UTV,s access to the Hwy 10 Bridge.  ATV’s and UTV’s will not be allowed to use the Hwy 10 bridge until Pepin County and the Town of Waubeek pass ordinances allowing access.

The verdict is in for a man facing charges after a 2024 fatal shooting in Trempealeau County. Investigators say that Todd Gieck shot and killed the victim -- Ettrick resident Kyle Dahl. Dahl was found wounded in his vehicle along Highway 53 in the Town of Gale and later died at a local hospital. Gieck has said the shooting was accidental. He found guilty yesterday on charges including reckless homicide.

A six-vehicle collision involving a school bus sent five people to the hospital Wednesday in La Crosse County. According to reports, the bus hit multiple vehicles that had stopped ahead of it in traffic on I-90 eastbound. The condition of the injured has not been reported.

The City of Wabasha is repairing the outfields at the athletic complex. Following the 2025 baseball season, the outfields were repaired and regraded last fall, including sand leveling and reseeding. This work was intentionally scheduled after the season to avoid disrupting scheduled games and activities. Because the work occurred late in the year, dormant seeding was used. Earlier this spring, periods of warmer weather followed by colder temperatures and snow likely affected seed establishment, resulting in areas where the grass did not fully take. Reseeding could not be completed earlier this spring due to weather and soil conditions. On Monday,  the contractor will come on-site and hydro-seed the area. The City expects the contractor to continue working with the City to correct the outfield conditions at no cost to the City and will continue to monitor progress to ensure the work is completed appropriately.

In La Crosse County, jurors are now hearing testimony in the trial of an Onalaska woman charged in the death of her young son. Josie Dikeman called 9-1-1 on February 11th of 2023 saying that her six-year-old was non responsive. Crews found the child dead at the scene with prescription drugs near the body. Blunt force trauma was listed as the cause of death with the use of a prescription sedative as a contributing factor. Jurors yesterday heard from the boy's father to whom the defendant said in a recorded conversation that she was free and that nothing was going to happen to her.

The Minnesota Supreme Court has upheld the murder conviction of a man who killed a Winona mother in 2023. Adam Fravel was sentenced to life in prison without parole after being found guilty of multiple murder charges in 2024. The court rejected his appeal, ruling there was enough evidence to support the verdict and that he received a fair trial. Madeline Kingsbury's body was found months after she disappeared in southeastern Minnesota.

The USDA is approving new grant funding to support the expansion of the Sparta Free Library. The library is listed among the National Register of Historic Places. The newly-announced 250-thousand-dollar USDA Rural Development grant is intended to help cover the cost of new furnishings, improved technology, and expanded accessibility.

A second liberal judge enters the next race for Wisconsin Supreme Court. Appeals Court Judge Pedro Colón announced Tuesday. Colon was appointed by Governor Tony Evers in 2023 to the 1st District Court of Appeals. Prior to that he was appointed to the Milwaukee County Court by Governor Jim Doyle after representing a Milwaukee state Assembly distirct as a Democrat from 1999 to 2010. Colon was born in Puerto Rico and holds degrees from Marquette University and UW Law School. Liberal Clark County Judge Lyndsey Brunette announced her campaign earlier this month for the seat being vacated by the retirement of conservative Justice Annette Ziegler. If no conservative candidate enters the race, a win by either Brunette or Colon in next April’s general election would give liberals a 6-1 majority on the state Supreme Court.

Wisconsin Republicans are announcing new legislation that would end emissions testing in Wisconsin. Under current law, regions that fail to meet the EPA's air quality standards face stricter regulations. The proposed legislation would remove Wisconsin from the EPA's list of problem areas unless federal authorities can prove the pollution originates within the state. U.S. Representative Glenn Gothman says the current law "forces the average guy and the below-average income guy to have to buy a new car."

There's a new lawsuit in connection to the April 18th clash at Ridglan Farms in Blue Mounds. Activists filed the lawsuit against the animal research facility and the Dane County Sheriff following a demonstration that resulted in several people being arrested. Protesters attempted to remove beagles from the facility, and the lawsuit claims police responded with rubber pullets, tear gas, and pepper spray. Multiple demonstrations have been held at the facility in Blue Mounds over the past couple of months.

Wisconsin prisons have seen a dramatic increase in inmates serving time for OWI. That’s another finding from Wisconsin Policy Forum’s comprehensive review of the state’s criminal justice system. Research Director Joe Peterangelo said  that in 2000, there were 646 adults who were incarcerated for a drunk driving charge. In 2023, it was 2,754.The Policy Forum is also preparing a more detailed study on the issue, looking at who is being arrested and incarcerated for these offenses by race, age, gender, how Wisconsin’s drunk driving laws compare with other states, and drunk driving crashes and fatalities.

Safety should be top of mind if you’re letting kids help with spring cleaning. UW Health pediatrician Dr. Megan Yanny says keep all cleaning chemicals locked up, out of sight and out of reach. Symptoms of exposure can include drooling, trouble swallowing, wheezing, vomiting, or skin and eye irritation. Yanny says kids can still help safely by organizing toys, sorting clothes, or folding laundry. If you think a child may have gotten into a chemical, call the Wisconsin Poison Control Center right away.

The Department of Natural Resources is investigating after people reported spotting sturgeon in flood waters in the Fox Valley. The D N R says it received multiple sightings of the ancient fish in unlikely places while high waters pushed through the Wolf River and other parts of the Lake Winnebago system following flooding earlier this month. That included parking lots, culverts and inland ponds. Each time wardens came to investigate, the fish had already moved back to faster moving waters and rivers. Fisheries officials will be keeping an eye on the sturgeon this summer to make sure the flooding doesn't affect the stocks of the popular game fish.

Local-Regional News April 29

 

The City of Mondovi will be replacing the HVAC controllers at the Marten Center. The city recently had the HVAC System replaced but the current controller at the center was not compatible. Mondovi Mayor Brady Weiss says its more than just a thermostat. The cost for the new controller is $3520.

Construction on the Madison Street project is ahead of schedule. Durand City Administrator Tracy Carlson says that Public Works Director Gills informed her the project is about a week ahead of schedule. Last week, the council approved the issuance of a $2.1 million promissory note to pay for the project.

Buffalo County has ended its contract with NIXLE and has partnered with a company called Regroup for a new notification app. The county is urging residents to download the app to receive emergency information from Buffalo County Emergency Management. For more information on the app, contact Buffalo County Emergency Management.

The Pepin County Land Conservation Department is looking for a summer intern. The position runs Monday through Friday up to 40hrs a week from May until August. The intern will help with GIS and public safety projects throughout the summer. For more information on the position contact Pepin County Land Conservation. The department is also announcing they still have swamp white oak and red maple seedlings for sale. The trees come in bundles of 6.

River Falls Police have arrested a man accused of stabbing a bank employee during an attempted robbery on Tuesday. The suspect reportedly fled the First National Bank branch after the incident but was later apprehended. The injured bank employee is expected to make a full recovery.

Eau Claire City Manager Stephanie Hirsch is resigning. Hirsch tendered her resignation yesterday after four years in the city manager role. In stepping down, she expressed her gratitude to City Council and the community for having given her the opportunity to serve.

A La Crosse man is facing charges with authorities saying he inappropriately touched a teenager at a city park. The incident happened last week at Cameron Park and involved a teenage victim. Police say the incident was captured on video. Charges against Jerrold Yttrie include attempted second-degree sexual assault of a child.

The search for a missing man in La Crosse County has come to an end. Stanley Howe was reported missing last week with his vehicle found abandoned at the Paul E. Stry Nature Preserve. The La Crosse County Sheriff's Office says Howe's body was found Monday in the Town of Shelby. Howe's family is encouraging anyone battling mental health issues to reach out for help.

Xcel Energy is reminding anglers, boaters and other outdoor enthusiasts to use caution around dams and hydroelectric facilities. The company says boating, canoeing or recreating above or below a dam can be dangerous-especially during periods of high or rapidly changing river flows. The company reminds those near dams to obey a warning signs, barriers, avoid boating or fishing alone near dams, stay clear of spillways and never swim or wade near a dam.

The CDC is issuing a warning about cases of possibly drug-resistant salmonella. According to an update from the agency, 34 people across 13 states have the same strain of salmonella that may be resistant to the antibiotics, and 13 of those who fell ill required hospitalization. So far, cases have primarily been found in the Midwest, with Michigan reporting the most confirmed cases at six, followed by Ohio and Wisconsin with five cases each. The CDC has linked cases to backyard poultry, but it's not clear which species in particular is to blame.

A second challenge to Wisconsin’s congressional maps has been dismissed by a panel of judges . A three-judge Circuit Court panel has dismissed a lawsuit challenging Wisconsin’s congressional maps, ruling that anti-competitive gerrymandering claims cannot be decided under state law. The judges cited a 2022 Wisconsin Supreme Court decision that found the state Constitution does not limit partisan considerations in redistricting. The case was filed by a bipartisan group called Wisconsin Business Leaders for Democracy, arguing the maps violate equal protection and voting rights. Republicans currently hold six of the state’s eight congressional seats. Supporters of the maps praised the ruling, while the plaintiffs’ attorneys say they will appeal to the state Supreme Court.

UW–Madison is launching a new college focused on computing and artificial intelligence. The university on Monday announced a 100‑million‑dollar donation and named the inaugural dean of its new College of Computing and Artificial Intelligence. The gift, funded by alumni and industry leaders, will help UW–Madison hire 50 new faculty members, expand research and build academic programs as the college opens July first. Remzi Arpaci‑Dusseau, who currently leads the School of Computer, Data and Information Sciences, was selected as the college’s first dean. University officials say student demand has surged in recent years, sometimes creating waitlists for introductory courses.

Wisconsin’s Youth Apprenticeship program is breaking records yet again. Enrollment has hit an all‑time high for a fifth straight year. More than 12,100 high school juniors and seniors signed up for the 2025–26 school year, a seven‑percent increase over last year. Youth Apprenticeships let students earn while they learn, pairing paid work experience with related classroom instruction. Nearly every public school district with a high school now offers it. Top career pathways this year include Health Science, Marketing, Manufacturing, Architecture and Construction, and Hospitality and Tourism, each with more than a thousand students.

State lawmakers are proposing a bill to penalize cities that fly the old Minnesota state flag. Eight Minnesota DFL lawmakers have proposed the bill to mandate that cities and counties only fly the 2024 state flag. However, Republican House Speaker Lisa Demuth says the bill has no chance of passing. This comes after multiple counties and cities have voted to reinstate the old Minnesota State Flag on city property. Elk River, Champlin, Zumbrota, and Plainview all voted to use the old flag.

Kids get stuck in the darndest places. Madison firefighters had to rescue a toddler who climbed into a claw machine on Madison's Far East Side. This happened last Thursday afternoon. A video of the rescue was posted on Reddit. Firefighters speculate he crawled in through the prize-retrieval window. In the end the boy was unhurt and reunited with his mom.

Local-Regional News April 28

 

The City of Durand has set the pool rates for the upcoming pool season. City Administrator Tracy Carlson says the city will offer a family punch pass at a reduced rate.  There are other levels of punch passes that will be available, and the one-time daily rate will be set at $5. The pool is expected to open in June.

The Mondovi City Council is meeting tonight. Items on the agenda include discussion and possible action on an offer to purchase a lot in Peeso Creek Terrace, a proposal for a controller for the Marten Center, and reports from the mayor and department heads. Tonights meeting begins at 5:30 at the Marten Center at 5:30.

Two people were injured in a three vehicle accident in Isabelle Township on Sunday. According to the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department, 31yr old DeShawn Gilles of Baldwin was traveling southbound on Hwy 35 and slowing to make a left turn onto Hwy C when he was struck by a southbound motorcycle driven by Michael Mecklenburg of Belle Plain, MN. The Gilles vehicle then struck a northbound motorcycle driven by 51yr old Nason Holets of New Prage, MN. Holets was transported to Mayo Red Wing, while Mecklenburg was med-flighted to Regions Hospital in St. Paul.

A man facing a reckless homicide charge after a 2024 shooting in Trempealeau County is going to trial this week. Investigators say that Todd Gieck shot and killed the victim -- Ettrick resident Kyle Dahl. Dahl was found wounded in his vehicle along Highway 53 in the Town of Gale and later died at a local hospital. Gieck has said the shooting was accidental.

Bond is being set at 100-thousand dollars for a man charged after a fatal weekend accident in Eau Claire County. Two vehicles -- a pickup truck and an SUV -- hit head-on just before 6 p.m. Saturday at State Highway 93 and Severson Road in the Town of Pleasant Valley. Three people were treated at the site of the accident. A passenger from the SUV -- since identified as 56-year-old Kimberly Clark of Onalaska -- died at the scene. The pick-up truck's driver -- 46-year-old Kirk Johnson -- is charged with homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle.

The trial of a man shot by Eau Claire Police in 2022 is underway. Police responded to Clayton Livingston's home after a neighbor accused him of pointing a gun at his house. Responding officers say Livingston also pointed a gun at them. Two officers shot and injured the suspect who is now facing six counts of second-degree recklessly endangering safety and a charge of operating a firearm while intoxicated.

A jury has been selected for the trial of an Onalaska woman charged in the death of her six-year-old son. Josie Dikeman called 9-1-1 on February 11th of 2023 saying that her son was non responsive. Crews found the child dead at the scene with prescription drugs near the body. Blunt force trauma was listed as the cause of death with the use of a prescription sedative as a contributing factor. Dikeman has pleaded not guilty to a charge of first-degree intentional homicide. Opening arguments are expected today.

A Western Wisconsin Food Pantry is reducing the number of monthly food distributions. Beginning in June, Feed My People will scale back its Eau Claire pop-up distribution from four events per month to two. Distributions will take place at the Hunger Action Center, on Alpine Road, on the second Monday from 5:00–6:00 p.m. and the fourth Friday from 10:00–11:00 a.m., continuing through December. In 2027, pop-ups in Eau Claire will move to an as-needed, emergency response model rather than have a regular schedule. This shift is being made in coordination with local pantries. This change is part of a broader effort to strengthen long-term hunger relief across West Central Wisconsin.

Many Western Wisconsin motorists are experiencing an increase in gas prices this week. Triple-A reports the average price of regular fuel in Eau Claire is now three-66 per gallon -- 16-cents more per gallon over the price one week ago. In La Crosse, the average cost of a gallon of regular fuel is three-77 per gallon -- 20-cents more compared to one week ago. The average cost of a gallon of regular fuel in the State of Wisconsin is three-92 per gallon.

Wisconsin is honoring schools that go the extra mile for students in military families. Osseo-Fairchild Elementary, St. Croix Falls Elementary, Middle and High School are among seventeen schools across Wisconsin have been named the state’s first Purple Star Schools—an honor celebrating strong support for students from military families. It’s part of a new Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction program designed to help children who often move many times during their school years and face shifting expectations and requirements. To earn the designation, schools must train staff, appoint a liaison for military families, offer programs that build social connections, and provide online resources to help students transition smoothly.

The Rochester City Council is expected to consider the future of a proposed local sports complex during today's meeting. Council members plan to discuss possible improvements for the planned Rochester Community and Technical College's Regional Sports Center. Some of the options considered include expansions, replacing the dome, or keeping the dome open year-round. Officials say nothing is final yet.

State authorities say residents are not to subsidize energy costs for data centers and other heavy consumers. That's according to the Public Service Commission's unanimous approval at Friday's meeting. We Energies will be eventually providing services to data centers in Port Washington and Mount Pleasant as they build out. Power plants and other related projects will be evaluated individually. A formal written order still needs to be issued.

A fire at a southeast Wisconsin egg packing plant on Thursday. The fire broke out at the Cold Springs Farm in Palmyra on Thursday. Media reports say the flames were contained to one of several buildings at the Jefferson County facility. Cold Springs is owned by Daybreak Foods and has been the site of multiple avian flu outbreaks over the past year. Daybreak Foods has laid off over 80 workers at two Wisconsin facilities that have been the sites for avian flu outbreaks, and is also in the process of remediating the Palmyra site after an illegal wastewater release.

The CDC says public health officials are investigating a multistate outbreak of Salmonella illnesses. The agency says the illnesses are linked to contact with backyard poultry, which can carry Salmonella. As of April 13th, 34 people infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella have been reported in 13 states. Illnesses started on February 26th to March 31st with at least 13 people hospitalized. The outbreak is mainly focused in the Midwest.

A flight to Orlando from Minneapolis makes an emergency landing in Milwaukee. Sunday night, a smoky odor was detected on Delta Flight 2309. Once the crew declared an emergency, the plane landed safely at Mitchell International Airport and taxied to a gate where it was met by fire crews. The 128 passengers onboard were deplaned safely. No one was injured. The cause of the odor is being investigated.

Wisconsin voters are showing signs of referendum fatigue. A new report from the Wisconsin Policy Forum shows support for school district referendums continues to slide. In the April 7 election, voters approved just over 61% of ballot questions, well below the 70% approval rate seen in 2025. If that trend holds through November, it would mark the lowest approval rate since 2010. School districts have increasingly relied on referendums to raise revenue above state-imposed limits, especially as federal pandemic aid expires, enrollment drops, and labor costs rise. Even with the declining support, voters still signed off on $541.9 million in new funding this spring, slightly more than last year.

An under-construction bridge in Waukesha County collapsed over the weekend. The bridge breakdown on Saturday near Oconomowoc's Riverside Park sent concrete into the Oconomowoc River below. Mayor Matt Rosek tells Fox 6 Milwaukee that the collapse followed another problem with the bridge last week. Rosek said the bridge collapsed while crews were working to remove concrete from the river after a beam failed during a Monday concrete pour. No one was injured from either incident. The mayor doesn’t know how the September completion date for the project will be delayed as the reason for the collapse is being determined.

An Earth Week cleanup on Milwaukee’s rivers sets a new Guiness record. Fox 6 Milwaukee reports more than 2,000 volunteers collected more than 100,000 pounds of waste on Saturday from locations on the Milwaukee, Menominee and Kinnickinnic rivers. The Guinness World Records book recognized this year's Milwaukee Riverkeeper spring cleanup as having the most participants in a multi-river cleanup. Organizers hope the record-setting feat, which Milwaukee Riverkeeper partnered with Tru Earth to accomplish, will help encourage more people to take care of the environment.

Local-Regional News April 27

 

Buffalo County authorities say an 89-year-old Eau Claire man has died from injuries he suffered in a motorcycle accident last Wednesday. The Buffalo County Sheriff's Office says the crash happened near Highway 88 in the Town of Lincoln on Wednesday. The man lost control of his motorcycle going around a curve, hit a culvert and flipped several times. He was treated at the scene and flown to a hospital, where he died. His name is being withheld pending notification of family. The investigation continues but speed is believed to have been a factor.

Two Twin Cities motorcyclists died last week after one crashed head-on into the other in western Wisconsin. The Pierce County sheriff’s office reported that 47-year-old Timitha Thein’s Harley Davidson collided with 26-year-old Evan Jorgenson’s Harley on Wisconsin Highway 35 just before 6:15 p.m. Wednesday. The crash occurred about seven miles southeast of Prescott which is about 25 miles southeast of the Twin Cities. Thien and Jorgenson were both transported to Regions Hospital in St. Paul, where Thien died on Wednesday and Jorgenson on Thursday. The crash is under investigation and according to the sheriff’s office there was no preliminary indication of impaired operation.

Hwy 85 js closed for a reconstruction project. The improvement project is starting just west of the north junction of County O west of Rock Falls and ending west of at 1010th Street, all in the Dunn County town of Rock Creek. During construction, Hwy 85 will be closed, with through traffic detoured via US 10 and WIS 37.  Hwy 85 will be open to access local businesses and the Chippewa River Trail will remain open.

One person is dead after a Saturday evening accident in Eau Claire County. Reports say two vehicles hit head-on just before 6 p.m. at State Highway 93 and Severson Road in the Town of Pleasant Valley. Three people were treated at the site of the accident. One died at the scene. One driver was arrested on a charge of homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle.

The Eau Claire City Council is scheduled to vote this week on a development agreement with ABF Ingredients North America to build a biomanufacturing facility in the Gateway Northwest Industrial Park. Documents filed with the city of Eau Claire indicate the complex will represent a 270-million dollar investment in Eau Claire with a taxable value of 56-million dollars and up to 100 new jobs. The city is offering five-point-six million dollars in direct assistance and it will build a regional stormwater facility to serve the property. The city council will vote on the proposal at its meeting Tuesday.

Eau Claire City-County health officials are tracking an increase in the number of flu cases in the region. The health department is not tracking specific cases but is studying trends based on wastewater tracking and hospitalizations. Health officials say it's normal to see increases in cases of Influenza B in the spring. Influenza B is milder than Influenza A. They remind residents to wash hands frequently to prevent catching the flu.

Eau Claire-based Menards is being ordered to pay five-and-a-half million dollars to an injured worker. A Eau Claire County court jury last week finds the home improvement company responsible after a truck driver was hit in the head by metal pallets that were being moved by a worker operating a forklift at Menards' Eau Claire facility. Workers called to testify at trial said the worker wasn't following company rules when the accident happened.

Deputy Sheriff Mark Hollister has formally announced his bid for Chippewa County sheriff. His announcement sets up an August primary challenge for incumbent Sheriff Travis Hakes. Hollister says his platform will focus on community engagement, proactive public safety and operational excellence. The primary election takes place August 11th, followed by the general election on November 3rd.

The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) will begin aerial treatments for spongy moth in May and early June in Dunn, Pepin and Trempealeau Counties. In June and July treatments will happen in Buffalo, Dunn, and Pepin Counties. Residents in the affected areas can expect loud, low-flying planes as early as sunrise on select mornings, spraying a naturally occurring soil bacteria to treetops and a mating disruptor. Treatment timing depends on spongy moth development and favorable weather conditions, so exact treatment dates cannot be predicted far in advance.

The Village of Lake Hallie has selected its next police chief. Wisconsin State Senator Jesse James is getting the gig. The Republican lawmaker currently represents the state's 23rd Senate district including all of Barron, Clark, Price, Rusk, and Taylor counties and most of Chippewa County -- but recently announced his plans to retire from the office. James has represented the district since January of 2023.

A 17-year-old from Rochester is in custody following several wrong-way crashes in Zumbrota. The collisions happened Friday morning on Highway 52 near mile marker 75. The suspected teen driver was arrested under suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol. There is no report of injuries. Charges are pending.

Polaris announces when it will be closing its plant in Osceola. The recreational vehicle manufacturer announced Monday that the plant in rural Polk County will be closed by January of next year. The site in Osceola is home to a parts plant for the Indian line of motorcycles, but the brand was sold to a private equity firm last year, and the new owner is moving the production line from Osceola to a plant in Iowa. The move will put 189 workers out of a job.

Wisconsin is suing online prediction markets on allegations of facilitating illegal sports betting in Wisconsin. Attorney General Josh Kaul says Kalshi, Robinhood, Coinbase, Polymarket, and Crypto.com have been able to work around state law.  Kaul says the suit has no impact on a new state law which legalizes online sports betting in Wisconsin.

A Wisconsin native, kidnapped in Iraq, is sharing her story. Shelly Kittleson, who graduated from Darlington High School in 1995, had been a journalist in the Middle East for nearly 2 decades. On March 31st, she was kidnapped in Baghdad by an Iran-backed paramilitary group. She was relased on April 8th. Shelly writes about her ordeal in an article published this week in The Atlantic. She says her wrists and ankles were zip tied and she was blindfolded. And if she made any noises, her kidnappers said they'll kill her. Shelly sustained several broken ribs and was forced to read a script which she described containing "nonsense", for a video. Shelly says they moved her from place to place and they gave her food, "shampoo, a toothbrush and pink pajamas.

High participation in Wisconsin’s Adopt-A-Highway program prompts a driver safety reminder. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation reports a record number of Adopt‑A‑Highway volunteers are out this spring. More than 3,100 groups took part last year, collecting over 170 tons of trash. Drivers need to slow down, stay alert, and move over to keep volunteers safe. In 2018, a hit-and-run driver killed three Girl Scouts and a mother on an Adopt-a-Highway cleanup in Lake Hallie. That driver was found guilty and sentenced to 54 years in prison. More than 2,700 miles of highway are currently still available for adoption. WisDOT provides safety gear and supplies. More information is available on the Adopt‑A‑Highway website.

April is Financial Literacy month. Financial literacy isn’t just about investing; it’s about making informed decisions and avoiding scams. The Wisconsin Department of Ag, Trade and Consumer Protection is encouraging consumers to take advantage of its free financial protection resources. DATCP offers downloadable Consumer Protection Fact Sheets and a 40‑plus‑page Consumer Guide covering everyday issues like protecting your money and navigating small claims court. More than 100 consumer topics are available online, along with educational videos in the DATCP's “Consumer Protection 101” series.

Local-Regional News April 23

 

With the spring planting season starting, motorists are reminded that they are not allowed to pass farm machinery in a no-passing zone. Pepin County Sheriff Joel Wener says the department has seen an increase in farmers installing cameras on tractors.  Farmers are also reminded to make sure any planting equipment or machinery does not extend past the centerline of highways.

Emergency crews were dispatched to tackle a fire yesterday at the La Crosse Milling Company in Buffalo County. According to the Buffalo County Sheriff’s Department, the fire appears to have been contained to a grain bin silo that contained nearly 100 tons of oats. No injuries were reported.

The city of Red Wing is reporting that a barge may have spilled up to 3500 gallons of crude corn oiil on Monday. According to the city, the incident happened at the ADM plant, and employees, along with Red Wing fire, placed containment booms around the spill to prevent it from drifting down the river. The cause of the spill remains under investigation.

The City of Mondovi is looking for people to add names to the Mirror Lake Veteran’s Memorial Wall. Currently the city has 3 names and if they can find at least two more the cost would be $200 per name. The deadline for requests is April 30^th, and for more information, contact Mondovi City Hall.

 Trempealeau County Sheriff Erica Koxlien is announcing her campaign to stay in office. Koxlien was appointed to the position in December of last year following the retirement of former sheriff Brett Semingson. She is a Trempealeau County native and a graduate of UW - Eau Claire.

Jeremy Gragert was sworn in Tuesday evening as the new Eau Claire City Council president. Gragert prevailed in the spring election with sixty percent of the vote in his contest versus Scott Rogers. Gragert previously served on council from 2018 to 2024.

The Olmsted County Board has decided to keep the $1.5 million in property tax assessments that were charged in error. The board voted 4-3 to apply the money with interest toward the 2027 tax levy. Some local lawmakers and residents wanted the money refunded this year. The county is taking steps to prevent the error from occurring again.

A pair of teens remain in custody following a crime spree of vehicle break-in in Rochester. All of the incidents happened Saturday. Officers responded to a group of individuals attempting to steal a car and then getting away in a vehicle. Police spotted several vehicles in the area that were tampered with and rifled through. Officers eventually arrested four teenage boys after finding the suspect's car, which had been reported stolen. A 16-year-old and a 15-year-old were taken to East Central Regional Juvenile Detention Center in Anoka County. They are in custody on the suspicion of possession of stolen property. Two other teens were released to their parents.

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Charges are filed in the break in at a beagle research facility in Dane County. Following last Saturday’s unsuccessful attempt by animal rights activists to break in and free dogs, four people have been charged in Dane County Court with burglary to a building or dwelling, as a party to a crime. All are from out of state and include the organizer of Saturday’s break in at Ridglan Farms, 44-year-old Wayne Hsiung. They were scheduled for initial court appearances on Tuesday. Dane County Sheriff’s deputies responded with tear gas and made numerous arrests, and no dogs were taken. Two Dane County Board supervisors are calling for an independent investigation of the law enforcement response. Ridglan Farms has also been issued a citation for manure storage without a permit, for a trench dug around the facility, which Ridglan says was a reasonable security measure.

Drug charges are being filed against a motorcycle rider who authorities say tried to escape a Tuesday traffic stop in Wood County. Authorities tried to pull 23-year-old Wyatt Landphier over for speeding but say that -- rather than comply with the stop -- Landphier tried to speed away. The suspect crashed in Hansen Township and officers say they found him in possession of more than 110 grams of cocaine.

Residents of Juneau County will be voting for a new sheriff in the future. Sheriff Andrew Zobal announced he wouldn't be seeking reelection to the post and is retiring from policing. Zobal has been in law enforcement for more than three decades, including the last four as sheriff in Juneau County. In a statement, Zobal gave credit to the people he worked with over the years, and thanked the residents who put their trust in him.

The University of Wisconsin - Madison is getting a major boost for its engineering building. The school says a pair of successful alumni made a 25-million dollar donation to help pull UW-Madison closer to its goal of funding the new state-of-the-art center. The donation came from John and Tashia Morgridge, John being the former president and CEO of Cisco Systems. It's the latest significant financial contribution the Morgridge's have made to their alma mater. The new engineering building broke ground last year.

The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction is celebrating standout success stories. DPI has announced that 95 schools statewide earned Schools of Recognition honors for the 2024–25 school year. The awards highlight exceptional work in helping all students succeed, especially those facing economic challenges. Sixteen schools were named High Achieving, ranking in the top ten percent for reading and math. Fifteen schools were recognized as High Progress for strong growth in student outcomes. And seventy‑one schools earned High Impact honors for outperforming similar schools while serving large numbers of economically disadvantaged students. Some schools earned recognition in more than one category.

Wisconsin is reporting big gains in its statewide tree‑planting push. Wisconsin’s latest Trillion Trees Pledge report shows the state planted nearly 12 million trees and conserved more than seventy‑eight hundred acres of forestland in 2025. That brings the total to more than 54 million trees planted since 2021, already more than halfway to the state’s 2030 goal. The Department of Natural Resources supplied over four and a half million seedlings last year, with millions more planted through public, private, and community partners. The state is on track for another strong year of tree planting in 2026.