Local-Regional News June 23

 

Arson charges are being filed against a Buffalo City man accused of setting fire to his own home. Fifty-eight-year-old Jeffry Kostner reportedly set fire to the porch of the West 6th Street home on Sunday but refused to evacuate -- telling authorities that he himself was responsible for the blaze. The fire was confined to a three-season screened porch on the west side of the home. Firefighters from the Tri Community Fire Department extinguished the blaze before it spread further. Kostner had a blood alcohol content of .177 at the time. No injuries were reported.

The Mondovi City Council is meeting tonight. Items on the agenda include approval of the Wastewater Treatment Plant Annual Report, presentations from Mondovi Fire Department, and organizers of Oktoberfest along with reports from the mayor and department heads. Tonights meeting begins at 5:30 at the Marten Center in Mondovi.

A storage building for the highway department is being proposed in Dunn County. This building comes with an estimated cost of $17.5 million. County Manager Dan Dunbar said cramped and outdated storage conditions at the current facility at 3303 U.S. 12 in Menomonie are hazardous for Highway Department employees and complicate operations. Limited indoor storage capacity forces equipment, materials and vehicles into tight quarters, increasing the likelihood of accidents. The proposal calls for constructing a new 72,000‑square‑foot, semi‑heated equipment storage building that would house roughly 70 pieces of highway equipment now stored outdoors. The plan also includes a 2,900‑square‑foot automatic wash bay designed to accommodate larger trucks. Additional exterior covered storage would be added, and the existing cold-storage building would be repurposed for the Sheriff’s Department. Planning for the project would be in 2027 with construction in 2028.

The Emplify Health Clinic in Mondovi celebrated the installation of a new solar array for the clinic yesterday. Ariel Brophy, project manager for Emplify Health says the new array will cover just over 100 percent of the clinic’s electric needs. She says the clinic will save approximately $14,000 annually in electric costs.

A man accused of secretly placing a recording device inside a bathroom at the Menomonie medical office where he worked is now also facing charges in Eau Claire County. Medical Assistant Meng Vang has been facing 30 felony charges in Dunn County -- but now faces additional charges with prosecutors saying they found images secretly recorded by the defendant at a ReforMedicine office in Eau Claire. Vang is scheduled to appear in court on the new charges tomorrow.

A Dunn County man is being identified as the person who died in a recent St. Croix County vehicle crash. The accident happened Sunday morning in Hudson. Authorities say that 63-year-old Downing resident Dennis Swenby was driving a pickup truck that went over an embankment. He died at the scene.

Gas prices continue to fall in Western Wisconsin. Triple-A reports the average price of regular fuel in Western Wisconsin is now three-67 per gallon -- 19-cents less than the price one week ago. In La Crosse, the average cost of a gallon of regular fuel is three-67 per gallon -- 14-cents less versus the price last week. The average cost of a gallon of regular fuel in the Badger State is three-71 per gallon.

A Lake City kindergarten teacher has been recognized for her work educating students about agriculture. Lake City Public Schools said Monday that Bluff View Elementary teacher Marie Kruse is the recipient of the 2026 Outstanding Teacher Award from Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom. Kruse has participated in the Midwest Dairy Adopt-a-Calf program and organized a Farm Machinery Parade to help launch Bluff View Elementary’s agriculture-themed “I Love to Read” Month.

A Democrat running to be the next governor of Wisconsin is dropping out of the race. Missy Hughes was in Madison yesterday where she suspended her campaign and endorsed Lieutenant Governor Sara Rodriguez for the post. Hughes's decision comes after she placed last in a straw poll of candidates at the Wisconsin Democratic Party convention. She was considered the most moderate Democrat in the field. Hughes also called on other Democrats to back out of the race and throw their support behind Rodriguez.

Governor Tony Evers is asking the U.S. Small Business Administration to declare a Rapid Disaster Declaration for Wisconsin communities affected by severe storms and flooding. Evers is requesting for Marathon, Wupaca, Rock and Vernon Counties to be eligible for disaster assistance based on damage assessments from federal, state and local agencies. If approved, federal disaster loans from the SBA will be available for people and businesses in those four counties. In a statement, Evers said he's continuing to "urge the president and the federal government to meet this moment and get Wisconsinites and our communities the support they need and deserve."

A Reedsburg man has been sentenced after violating parole. David Davis was originally convicted of being party to a 1991 homicide and sentenced to life in prison, but was released on parole in 2020. He pleaded guilty in March to possessing firearms and ammunition as a convicted felon. Judge William M. Conley says Davis obstructed justice because he initially tried to have someone else claim the guns belonged to them. He's been sentenced to eight years in federal prison as a result.

One person is dead after a one-vehicle crash in St. Croix County. Officials received a call around 8 a.m. Sunday for the accident on the 700 block of Badlands Road in Houston. Deputies found the vehicle down a wooded embankment, with the driver, later identified as Dennis Swenby trapped inside. Authorities say the car was traveling west when it crossed over the centerline and entered the south ditch. Swenby was pronounced dead at the scene, and the incident remains under investigation.

Wisconsin childcare advocates warn of a looming funding crisis. A report from the Wisconsin Early Childhood Association analyzes the impact of pandemic-era stabilization funding coming to an end by July. Executive Director Ruth Schmidt says the bottom line from providers is the need for dedicated state funding, and she expects the childcare issue will play out in real time in this year’s campaigns for governor and the legislature.

A federal judge is dismissing six grand jury subpoenas against Minnesota state and local government office, which include Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey. Justice Patrick Schiltz Ruled that the subpoenas were retaliatory and unlawful. He added that the action was designed to coerce Minnesota officials into cooperating with ICE agents after those officials sued to block Operation Metro Surge. Subpoenas were also served to the Minnesota attorney general, Ramsey County's Board of Commissioners and Hennepin County's Board of Commissioners.

The Special Olympics USA Games kick off today in the Twin Cities. The four-day event is expected to attract 100 thousand visitors. Competitions will take place at the University of Minnesota Rast Bank campus and the National Sports Center in Blaine. Several sports include basketball, competitive cheer, gymnastics, swimming softball and track and field. The games are free and open to the public.

Local-Regional News June 22

 

One person was injured in a Motorcycle vs Deer accident near Wabasha yesterday. According to the Minnesota State Patrol, 66yr old David Deering of Minnesota City was traveling southbound on Hwy 61 near milepost 58 when he struck the deer. Deering was severely injured with potential life threatening injuries and taken to Wabasha hospital.

The cash bond amount for a man accused of secretly placing a recording device inside a bathroom at the Menomonie medical office where he worked has been increased. Other staffers at ReforMedicine say they found the device in November -- hidden in a non-public area. Medical Assistant Meng Vang faces 30 felony charges. Friday, in Dunn County, the judge in the case increased the bond for the 49-year-old Vang from ten-thousand to 30-thousand dollars. Vang had posted the ten-thousand dollar bond but now must raise another 20-thousand to leave jail. He's due in court in September.

Clean up continues after severe weather moved through Western Wisconsin on Friday evening. A shed was damaged at Merchants Baseball Field in Osseo along with damage to the roof of the pavilion and other tree damage. The National Weather Service says an EF-0 tornado with winds of up to 80mph was the cause of the storm damage.

Law enforcement officers from the Wabasha police department, Wabasha Sheriff Department, Wabasha Jail, Lake City, recently gathered in the wrestling room at Wabasha-Kellogg High School to complete their annual “Use of Force Training”. The main goal is using as little force as necessary to gain and maintain control of the situation.

This weekend, the lives of three young Girl Scouts and one of their mothers were remembered at Camp Nawakwa. It was eight years ago when the scouts -- Jayna Kelley, Autumn Helgeson, and Haylee Hickle and her mother, Sara Schneider, were killed in a car accident while they were cleaning along the highway. Areas around the camp have since been named in their memories. Camp officials say the memorials will help keep their names alive for future campers.

Rock Creek residents interested in the Lions Club are invited to an informational meeting for a new Lions Club for the Rock Creek Community. The group will be holding an informational meeting on July 14^th at 7pm at the Rock Creek Town Hall. The new club will also have a booth at the Rock Falls Offutt Park Celebration on July 4^th.

Another Wisconsin community enacts a data center moratorium. The Superior City Council unanimously approved a one-year moratorium last week and referred the matter to the city’s Plan Commission to consider the appropriateness and impact that a data center could have on the community. Mayor Jim Paine said the Plan Commission will begin its work on data centers when commissioners meet in three weeks. Google is building a 1.8 million square foot, $2 billion data center in the nearby Duluth suburb of Hermantown, a project that’s drawn opposition and a pair of lawsuits. In January, Madison enacted a 1-year moratorium on primary data centers larger than 10,000 square feet. 

Made in the USA, and Marshfield. Officials are celebrating the opening of a new multi-million-dollar Weinbrenner boot factory and retail store. City Administrator Steve Barg says despite Weinbrenner’s 90-year history there, it was never given that they would stay in Marshfield, as the company did due diligence and was getting offers from other states to lure them away. Barg says Weinbrenner workers have comfortable working conditions thanks to air conditioning and better windows. City leaders are considering a housing development for the former Weinbrenner factory.

A federal judge is ordering the release of the president of the Islamic Society of Milwaukee. Salah Sarsour has been in ICE custody in Indiana since March after federal officials argued he was a foreign policy threat. Sarsour's attorney's argued he was targeted because he spoke out against Israel and for Palestinian rights. A judge issued an order Thursday calling Sarsour "a lawful permanent resident" of the U.S. for more than three decades. The order said that the "mere invocation of foreign relations concerns does not automatically trump First Amendment rights."

Dozens are speaking out against dog testing at the University of Madison - Wisconsin. Protestors gathered at Library Mall on Saturday, many holding signs saying "save the dogs" and "free the animals." One demonstrator told 27 News the protest was meant to keep the momentum rolling after Ridglan Farms sold off all their beagles to animal groups. She mentioned that result came in part from protests increasing pressure on Ridglan Farms, and they hope the same can be done at UW-Madison.

The Republican Chair of the Wisconsin Elections commission wants all remaining ballots from the 2020 presidential election to be destroyed. Speaking on WISN's UPFRONT, Don Millis says pending litigation in Milwaukee County means some 265-thousand ballots could still be viewed, and he wants Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul to step in and hurry up the process. The request comes as FBI agents continue to ask questions about the 2020 election. Similar investigations have been opened in other parts of the country, and Millis worries voters' entire ballots could be viewed and tied to the voter.

A Rochester man who threatened to kill his apartment complex officials as well as himself in facing several criminal offenses. Michael Larsen has been charged with terroristic threats. The incident happened one week ago. After a warrant was issued, officers arrested Larsen and took him into custody.

The new Miss Wisconsin is being crowned in New Berlin. Jordenne Butler was named the pageant winner on Saturday, beating out 30 other competitors. Butler comes from Onalaska in the western part of the state, and she used a jazz dance for talent, as well as her community service initiative to help her take home the Badger State crown. She will compete in the Miss America pageant this September in Florida.

Local-Regional News June 19

 

The Pepin County Health Department is currently conducting a survey and community assessment on the health of the county. Pepin County Health Officer Heidi Steward says the assessment is a state requirement.  The survey can be found at the Pepin County Health Department website, and hard copies are available at the Health Department. The assessment is expected to be completed by the end of July.

Western Wisconsin continues to experience some areas of drought. The latest drought monitor shows a small portion of Pepin, Buffalo and Trempealeau Counties remain under a moderate drought, while the rest of the WRDN listening area is under abnormally dry conditions. The drought conditions should continue to improve as more rain is in the forecast for today before a sunny weekend is expected.

The future Druand-Arkansaw dog park continues to move forward. In a social media post, dog park organizers said that crews continue to remove invasive species including black locust and buckthorn and cleaning out dead trees from the location. The new dog park is expected to open this fall and is located across from Tarrant Park.

The co-defendant of Brandon Gaston -- who's charged in the murder of an Altoona man four years ago -- took the witness stand in Gaston's murder trial yesterday. Gaston is charged with first degree homicide in the death of 79-year-old Dennis Schattie. Investigators believe Schattie was killed in Eau Claire -- though his body was found in the river near Rockford Illinois in April of 2022. Yesterday, his former girlfriend -- Tracey Clark -- told the jury how she and Gaston cleaned up after killing Schattie and took Schattie's body to Rockford. She pleaded no contest to a charge of reckless homicide in the case last year.

La Crosse County leaders have approved an 18-month moratorium on new data centers in areas where the county has zoning authority. County Board members say the temporary ban will give them time to study the potential impacts of data centers before they make long-term policy decisions. They say the review process will also provide opportunities for the public to weigh in on data centers. .

PFAS have been found in all 27 groundwater testing wells in Dakota County. PFAs, also known as "forever chemicals" were also detected in 94 of the 114 private drinking wells tested. Some samples exceeded state and federal drinking water guidelines. A new online dashboard allows residents to view testing results near their homes. Officials say private well owners concerned about PFAS should consider testing and filtration.

New grant funding will help provide meals for Tribal elders and their families. Governor Tony Evers and the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture announced $1.5 million in grants to help provide healthy, locally sourced, culturally relevant food to thousands of Tribal elders and their families. The funding supports the Tribal Elder Community Food Box Program and will be distributed through Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin and Hunger Task Force. The groups will work with Tribal leaders to deliver food at no cost through local distribution centers. The program also supports Indigenous producers and local farmers. The governor has proposed another $3 million for the effort in the next state budget.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court rules a race-based college grant program is unconstitutional. The unanimous decision released Thursday saw conservative Justice Annette Ziegler authoring an opinion in which she was joined by conservative justices Rebecca Bradley and Brian Hagedorn and liberal Janet Protasiewicz. The court’s three other liberal justices wrote a concurring opinion. The conservative Wisconsin Institute For Law and Liberty represented plaintiffs and calls the ruling which will end the state’s Minority Undergraduate Retention Grant a “major win for students.” The program provides $2,500 annually for Black, Indigenous, Hispanic and certain Southeast Asian students attending private, tribal or technical colleges. Wisconsin voters in November will be asked to approve a Constitutional amendment to prohibit consideration of race by the UW System or state government.

The victim from Monday's deadly Atloona house fire has been identified. The victim is said to be suspect Tyler Stanton's dad. The DA's office is still reviewing the case, but they anticipate to have formal charges filed in a criminal complaint Friday. Stanton's home was found to be fully engulfed Monday, with the body found inside.

A proposed park development on Madison's east side could be called off because of a rediscovery of a Ho-Chunk burial mound. The Wisconsin State Journal reports tribal survey teams have mapped out a possible burial site at Hartmeyer-Roth Park near the site of a pair of low-income residential developments. Current city plans call for a fully developed park with amenities, but the survey could push the park to become a natural preservation site instead. City policy forbids development on mound sites, but the park would need a formal designation by the state Historical Society and tribal leaders.

A new grant initiative hopes to strengthen financial literacy education. The Department of Public Instruction and the Department of Financial Institutions are offering a total of $300,000 in grants, with awards up to $75,000 each. The program supports innovative teaching, student engagement, and partnerships. State Superintendent Jill Underly says financial literacy helps students build critical thinking and decision-making skills for life after high school. The grants will also help schools meet new graduation requirements for personal finance education. The grants are available for Wisconsin schools and community groups.

A well-known ice cream brand in Wisconsin is sold. Hoffmann Family of Companies announced Tuesday that they have purchased Cedar Crest Ice Cream. As part of the transaction, Renato DePaolis, CEO of Oberweis Dairy, will assume leadership of Cedar Crest, bringing together two heritage brands with longstanding reputations for quality. Cedar Crest President Ken Kohlwey says he and his brothers wouldn’t have handed over the reins to just anyone as they retire, but they knew they could trust the company to continue to grow their beloved business. Cedar Crest Ice Cream is made in Manitowoc while their headquarters is in Cedarburg.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is experiencing the lowest approval rating of his eight years in office. The Star Tribune/KARE 11/ Hubbard School of Journalism and Mass Communication poll shows the lawmaker's support has dropped to 39 percent. Respondents blamed Walz's handling of the state's fraud crisis for not backing him. His support has slipped among Democrats and Minnesotans who backed the governor and Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election. Last year, 91 percent of Harris voters in Minnesota said they approved of Walz's performance as governor. Now 69 percent say they do.

Don't just plug your phone or device into any public charging station. Wisconsin Consumer Protection administrator Michelle Reinen (RY-nen) says you can never know if an offered "free" charging station is there for just power, or if it can also look at the data on your phone. When in doubt, use a standard outlet with your own charging cable, or bring a battery from home.

Local-Regional News June 18

 

The School Resource Officer for the Durand-Arkansaw School District is resigning. Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren says Officer Bonnerup has accepted a position at Chippewa Valley Technical College.  The City and School District are currently searching for a new school resource officer.

A Red Wing Man is in custody after authorities discovered an unlicensed cannabis operation. Red Wing Police searched a home on East 4^th Street and found 33 pounds of suspected marijuana, evidence of a cannabis growing operation, and other drug-related items. 45Yr old Jamie Tri was arrested and charged with first-degree cannabis possession, third-degree substance crime, third-degree sale of cannabis, and endangerment of a child.

The City of Mondovi has installed new pedestrian crossing signs at the intersection of North Eau Claire Street and Mill Street. The signs operate the same as the ones that are on Main Street at Washington Street with flashing yellow lights to alert drivers of a pedestrian using the crossing. City crews installed the new signs last week.

Buffalo County residents with private water wells are encouraged to get their wells tested. Buffalo County has a state certified water lab that can test for bacteria, nitrates, and arsenic. Test kits are available at the county courthouse, or at Mondovi City Hall, the Buffalo City Municipal Building or at the G-Mart in Gilmanton. There is a charge to test the water. For more information contact the Buffalo County Health and Human Services Department.

Southeastern Minnesota is seeing an increase in black bear sightings this year. KTTC reports that more than 20 sightings have been recorded in southeastern Minnesota in 2026. State wildlife officials say the bears have appeared across a wider area than usual. They say the black bear population may be increasing in the region. Residents should secure trash, food scraps, and pet food to avoid attracting bears.

The second suspect in an armed robbery in Chippewa Falls has been sentenced. A Chippewa County judge has sentenced Jeremiah Maki to four months in jail and four years probation for the armed robbery of a woman in her home. Police say Maki and a second man -- Elijah Johnson -- broke into the woman's home, hit her with a gun and stole items from her. Police say they had been arguing over social media before the robbery. Johnson -- who's from Chippewa Falls -- is serving a six-and-a-half year sentence.

Former State Senator Jesse James has been recognized by Triple A for his work in the state legislature. This week the organization presented James -- who's currently police chief of Lake Hallie -- with its Steering Wheel award. It recognizes James for his accomplishments as a state lawmaker supporting traffic safety measures. He was instrumental in passing the state's Move Over law.

A large section of the U.S. Bank Stadium roof needs to be replaced. The owner of the stadium said it issued a request earlier this month to replace a translucent section that covers 60 percent of the roof. The Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority, which owns the stadium, said a hailstorm in 2023 damaged that section of the roof. The Minnesota Star Tribune reports that an engineering firm said the roof is still safe and stable. The cost hasn't been determined, but officials expect insurance to cover part of the work.

The Packers refute a Wisconsin Congressman’s challenge to the NFL ‘s broadcast agreement. 5th District Republican Scott Fitzgerald wants Congress to reexamine the 1961 Sports Broadcasting Act allowing the N F L to negotiate broadcast rights and distribute proceeds equally among teams. Fitzgerald and other Congress members are trying to determine whether anti-trust laws are being violated, and if the league is unfairly pricing out viewers. The Packers say those efforts threaten the team’s future: (quote) "The tremendously successful model of pooling media rights and sharing revenue equally amongst teams has allowed the Packers to survive and thrive in the smallest media market in professional sports." The Packers call the S B A the foundation that the team has been built on.

Three people accused in Wisconsin of attempting to overturn the 2020 election results are pleading not guilty. The trio were arraigned in Dane County Circuit Court yesterday for charges related to the so-called fake elector scheme. That includes Jim Troupis, who lives in the county and was a former Wisconsin campaign attorney for President Trump. The three are alleged to have played a major role in trying to stop the certification of former President Biden's win over Trump in 2020. Similar charges have been filed against Republicans in other states.

A former Milwaukee County judge's request to have her conviction overturned is being denied. Federal judge Lynn Adelman released her ruling yesterday, denying Hannah Dugan's motion to reconsider her conviction for interfering with an immigration arrest. Dugan's case will now move to sentencing, which was originally scheduled for earlier this month. A jury convicted Dugan of felony obstruction in December for helping a man in her courtroom evade an immigration arrest.

The Village of Wrightstown has passed an ordinance that imposes a moratorium on data center projects until voters voice their opinions. This comes after people living in Wrightstown have expressed concerns about the environmental impact if a data center would be built there. Village leaders say while no formal plans have been submitted, the ordinance prevents future proposals from being rushed. An advisory referendum will be added to ballots in August, where residents can vote on whether or not the board should take up any proposals.

U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar is stopping just short of endorsing Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan. The Minnesota Star Tribune reports that Klobuchar supports the full DFL-endorsed ticket but is staying out of the Senate race. Flanagan won the party endorsement last month. U.S. Representative Angie Craig is challenging her in the August primary. The winner will seek to replace retiring Senator Tina Smith.

You're being encouraged to help stop the spread of invasive species this weekend. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources invites residents to get outside and take action during Invasive Species Awareness Weekend. More than 30 events are planned statewide, including workshops, guided hikes and hands-on removal efforts aimed at stopping the spread of invasive plants and animals. The DNR says these species can harm Wisconsin’s environment, economy and even human health, and often spread through mud or debris on shoes, clothing or pets. For a full list of events, visit the DNR’s online events calendar.

Local-Regional News June 17

 

Due to the weather, the Durand Improvement Group has moved tonights music in the park indoors to the Durand-Arkansaw High School Gym. Music from Half Shebang starting at 6pm, and for the kids a face painter will be on site. Food and refreshments will still be served and you are still encouraged to bring a lawn chair for seating. The annual touch a truck event with the Durand Police, Fire and Ambulance Services and Pepin County Sheriff’s and Highway Departments has been move to July. Admission is free.

The Pepin County Board is meeting tonight. Items on the agenda include discussion and possible action on a policy regarding the use of Artificial Intelligence, the establishment of an Opioid Settlement Task Force for the use of Opioid Settlement Funds, and reports from county committee chairs. Tonights meeting begins at 7 at the Pepin County Government Center.

The Dunn County Board is meeting tonight. Items on the agenda include budget amendments to Human Services, the Sheriff’s Office and Emergency Communications, discussion and possible action on approving an intergovernmental agreement for passenger rail planning and a capital improvement request to support passenger rail corridor planning. Tonights meeting begins at 7pm at the Dunn County Government Center.

Construction crews on the Madison Street Project have a unique issue at the intersection of Madison Street and 2^nd Ave West, a tunnel under the street. The tunnel allows a creek under Memorial Park and the street to continue to the Chippewa River. Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren says crew will be surrounding the tunnel with concrete to shore it up.  The tunnel itself will remain after the project is completed.

The Trempealeau County Sheriffs Department has released the name of the person killed in a two vehicle accident over the weekend. 42Yr old Amber Shovald of Eau Claire was killed when the SUV she was in struck a deer on Hwy 93, then went into the northbound land and struck a pickup truck. 38Yr old Maido Yang of Eau Claire and 24yr old Aleck Lehnartz of Winona were injured in the accident.

Formal charges are pending for the suspect in a house fire in Altoona that let one person dead Monday morning. Officials at Eau Claire County Jail identify the suspect as 32-year-old Tyler Stanton. He's being held on a charge of felony arson. He's due to appear in court today. Crews responded to a fire on Skyview Drive at around 9:30 Monday morning and recovered a body from the scene. The victim's name has not been released.

Today, the Eau Claire Sustainability Advisory Committee is scheduled to vote today on a proposed moratorium against development of data centers within the city. Committee members say the moratorium would give the city time to put in place requirements for the development of any centers. The proposal would go before the city council for a final decision.

Eau Claire Police are searching for a man they consider armed and dangerous. He's identified as 35-year-old Dakota Leis. Police say he fled from law enforcement Monday. He's wanted on several charges. Police caution against approaching him and instead should contact police.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court has denied a petition for a review of Ezra McCandless' murder conviction. McCandless is currently serving a sentence for the 2018 stabbing death of her ex-boyfriend, Alex Woodworth. Her sentence is 50 years with the possibility of parole. The court did not give a reason for its decision. It was her third attempt to appeal her case.

A survey shows more than half the people polled support an indoor aquatic center on La Crosse's northside. In a report to the La Crosse School Board Monday night, Superintendent Dr. Aaron Engel said 52 percent of those surveyed support the idea, out of more than 41-hundred people who filled out the survey. The current North Side Community Pool is closed and in need of one-million dollars in repairs. The proposed aquatic center would cost an estimated 33-million dollars. The La Crosse Park Board will take up the proposal later this week.

Green Bay's common council is set to discuss a possible "vacant building tax" for buildings that sit empty for long periods of time. The idea is a city vacant property registry and fee program. The council's goal is to discourage property owners from keeping buildings empty at he risk of falling into disrepair. The longer a building is vacant, the higher the fee will be. The City of Durand had a vacant building fee, but the council repealed the fee due to lack and inability to enforce it.

A man accused of sexually assaulting a girl in western Wisconsin is caught in Montana. Police in the La Crosse County Village of French Island report 33-year-old Matthew Weber was arrested on Friday in Great Falls, Montana, and will be extradited to Wisconsin. Weber is accused of assaulting a 12-year-old girl and is also suspected to have attacked the girl's sister. Weber was already on a flight to Montana by the time the attack was reported to police two weeks ago.

The Wisconsin Housing and Economic Developing Authority have announced a new plan for tax credits and housing efforts. The plan sets priorities for awarding federal and state housing tax credits over the next two years, building on efforts that have already supported more than 33-thousand housing units since 2019. In the latest funding cycle, nearly $85 million helped create close to 3,800 units across 40 communities. The new plan increases award limits, updates scoring criteria and introduces caps and new categories to better distribute funding, hoping to improving affordability and meeting housing needs statewide.

A Kenosha couple are taking their fight over a 50-50 raffle at American Family Field to the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Matt and Annette Flynn claim they were unfairly denied the win for a 13-thousand-dollar raffle at a 2023 Brewers game when they failed to make it to the 50-50 table in time to claim the prize. The Flynns say they could not see the scoreboard to read the winning ticket number and then were directed to the wrong location when they found out they did win, missing the time to claim by about a minute. An appeals court this month ruled in favor of the Brewers Community Foundation, finding it had the sole right on the contest rules and in awarding the prize.

Fifteen Minnesotans are accused of conspiring to injure federal immigration agents during Operation Metro Surge protests. U.S. Attorney for Minnesota Daniel Rosen announced today that the defendants are linked to a pair of Minneapolis-based antifa groups. Twelve of the 15 are in custody and one defendant was already behind bars. Two others are not in custody, but prosecutors expect them to surrender in the near future. Last fall, President Trump signed an executive order designating antifa as a domestic terrorist organization.

Two Wisconsin students are among the world's top young Braille readers. First-grader Bo Bakke of Holmen and Delavan-Darien High School senior Mackenzie Karbash have both qualified for the 2026 Braille Challenge Finals in Los Angeles. They advanced after standout performances in February’s regional competition, hosted by the Wisconsin Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired. Only the top 10 competitors worldwide in each age group make the finals, making it one of the most prestigious events for blind and visually impaired students. The finals are set for June 25th through the 27th at the University of Southern California.

Local-Regional News June 16

 

The City of Durand found a serious issue with a downtown sewer line while working on the Madison Street Project. While installing a temporary by-pass for the Madison Street Sewer lines crews found a collapsed manhole and collapsing sewer line at 5^th Avenue West and Main Street. Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren says the city was lucky to find the issues now.  Milliren says the city will continue to provide access to Durand Fresh Market while those repairs are being made.

One person is dead and another is facing charges after a Monday morning fire in Eau Claire County. Crews responded to a fire on Skyview Drive in Altoona at around 9:30 a.m. and recovered a body from the scene once the flames were out. An autopsy is pending. Altoona Police say they have taken one person into custody on arson-related charges.

An Osseo man is in custody after being suspected of driving impaired with three young children in the vehicle. Officials received multiple reports Saturday night about an SUV being driven erratically on I-94, with a trooper later finding the vehicle on Highway 95 and witnessing multiple moving violations. The officer initiated a traffic stop and reported the driver showing multiple signs of impairment, as well as open intoxicants being scattered throughout the front and back passenger seats. Three children were not properly restrained inside the vehicle. Jayson Olson was arrested on suspicion of operating a motor vehicle under the influence, first influence, with a child under 16 in the vehicle.

Four teens are accused of stealing from vehicles in Altoona. Officers stopped a suspicious vehicle in the Hillcrest Estates Community off Highway 12 over the weekend, interviewed several individuals and let them go. Police then received reports Sunday of thefts from vehicles in the same area and re-interviewed the suspects, recovered stolen property and referred four teenagers for criminal charges. Altoona police are encouraging people to keep their vehicles locked and to contact officials if stolen property from their vehicles are discovered.

 A new stature commemorating US Navy and Coast Guard Veterans has been installed at Wabasha Veteran’s Park. The statue was donated by Jim and Tram Matias in celebration of Jim’s 50^th year since he left for boot camp in the Navy which led to a 22yr career in the Navy. Matias was a 1976 graduate of Wabasha-Kellogg High School and moved back to Wabasha in 2020.

Gas prices are down slightly this week in Western Wisconsin. Triple-A reports the average price of regular fuel in Eau Claire is now three-74 per gallon -- nine-cents less than where it stood just a week ago. In La Crosse, the average cost of a gallon of regular fuel is three-81 per gallon -- three-cents less versus the price last week. The average cost of a gallon of regular fuel in the State of Wisconsin is three-85 per gallon.

Governor Tony Evers and state health officials are rolling out 40 million dollars in grants to improve healthcare in rural Wisconsin. The funding will support projects focused on care coordination, community health workers, and expanding access to dental care. Department of Health Services Secretary Kirsten Johnson says the goal is to reduce gaps in care and strengthen services in underserved areas. $20 milion is set aside for community health worker programs, with additional funding for care partnerships and dental clinics adopting new technology. Applications are now open, with deadlines scheduled throughout July and August.

Wisconsin's Attorney General says President Trump can't force states to turn over their voter rolls to engage in mail-in voting. A G Josh Kaul has joined a lawsuit by multiple states to stop the White House's directive to prevent the US Postal Service from handling any ballots unless the Postal Service has access to voter rolls. While the President says his goal is to stop voter fraud, Kaul tells Fox 11 Green Bay it's just another attempt to disenfranchise voters. "The President and his administration need to stop trying to tell states how to run elections." The lawsuit argues that the states and Congress, not the president, are the ones to set election laws.

An electrifying performance at a festival in northwestern Wisconsin. Lightning struck a utility pole and stage at Rice Lake’s Aquafest concert Friday night, as the band and audience sought shelter from a thunderstorm. Thousands of people were attending the concert with 90s country band BlackHawk. Fortunately, no one was injured by the strike, but several crew members were checked out by EMS. The rest of the concert was canceled, and the grounds were evacuated. Damaged stage equipment was replaced and music continued Saturday night.

Ridglan Farms is releasing the rest of its beagles. The research facility in the Dane County Village of Blue Mounds will be selling another 325 beagles to Big Dog Ranch this week and handing over the remainder of its testing animals by the end of August. In a statement issued on Monday the facility said all the dogs have passed inspection by both USDA and Wisconsin DATCP and that they are happy and healthy. Ridglan will lose its breeding license at the end of the month after the company agreed to surrender it as part of an investigation into long standing allegations of animal cruelty. This agreement completes the successful rescue and relocation of 2,110 beagles carried out on April 29.

University of Minnesota students, staff and faculty are opposing proposed budget cuts and a tuition hike. The proposal would raise tuition by three-point-eight-percent and eliminate about 165 jobs. It would mark the sixth consecutive year of tuition increases. University officials blame flat state funding, uncertain graduate enrollment and rising employee benefit costs. The Board of Regents will vote on the five-point-four-billion-dollar budget on June 26th.

How many new homes will Wisconsin need by decade’s end? A recently released report from Forward Analytics, the research arm of the Wisconsin Counties Association, suggests that number is around around 84,000 housing units. Just three years ago, Forward Analytics projected a need for 140,000 units by the end of the decade to meet housing demand. The new number is based on revised population projections from the Wisconsin Department of Administration using 2020 Census data. Researchers found that new data shows Wisconsin’s prime working-age population — those aged 25 to 64 — is likely to drop by around 200,000 by 2030. Still, researchers believe the state should build more than that 84,000 unit target, to both retain younger residents and attract new ones.

U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar appears to be the frontrunner in the race for Minnesota governor. A recent Star Tribune/KARE 11/ Hubbard School of Journalism and Mass Communication Minnesota poll shows the lawmaker will defeat any of the Republican candidates. The closest contest would be between Klobuchar and Lisa Demuth. The U.S. senator's polling numbers are less than her huge margins of victory in four of her past elections. The poll also shows Minnesota Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan leads in the race to replace retiring U.S. Senator Tina Smith. She is facing Congresswoman Angie Craig in the DFL primary. Meanwhile, Adam Schwarze will contend against Michele Tafoya and Royce White in the Republican primary. Pollsters recognized Tafoya's name more than Schwarze, who won the Republican endorsement.

Local-Regional News June 15

 

Construction Crews have begun the 6^th Avenue West reconstruction project. Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren says the project is a complete rebuild of 6^th Avenue West.  That project is expected to be completed by August.

Trempealeau County was the scene of a deadly weekend collision. One person has died and two others were left injured after an SUV hit a deer Saturday morning on Highway 93. The force of the crash pushed the SUV into oncoming traffic where it collided with another vehicle. A passenger from the SUV was killed while both drivers survived with injuries.

The Durand Fire Department is looking for a house to burn. The department is looking for an old, abandoned home to burn down as part of training for department members. Anyone who has an old, abandoned home that is in the Durand Fire District willing to let the department use, should contact the Durand Fire Department.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation is turning off lights on three Mississippi River bridges as the annual mayfly hatch begins. The affected bridges are in Red Wing, Wabasha and Winona. Mayflies are attracted to bright lights and can create slick driving conditions. The lights will remain off until the hatch subsides. Officials are urging drivers to slow down and stay alert.

Western Wisconsin Motorists will have to find alternate routes in Chippewa County starting today. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation says that all ramps at the Hwy 53-Business 29 interchange will be closed starting today. Crews will be replacing the pavement on the ramps and widening the shoulders of the ramps. The project should be completed by the end of the month.

A three-year mural project has been recently completed at the Wabasha Public Library, which includes three murals that honor the community’s past, present and future. The “Instilling a Sense of Place” project, began with the need to update the library’s walls. Then Library Director Bev Hall and Librarian Liesl Knox, secured several grants and donations, to make it something even more. The library partnered with local artist Sue Mundy on the project.  She worked in collaboration with input from library staff, local historians, indigenous artist Jalayah Whitecloud, Dakota Educator Inkpa Mani, as well as the Wabasha County historical society, Wabasha Main Street, National Eagle Center, and Bird City Wabasha.

Strawberry season has begun amid another year of challenging weather. Farmers say late spring frosts and recent rainfall threatened crops statewide, with some reporting damage from winter injury and other related issues. Despite the challenges, farms are welcoming customers for strawberry picking and fresh berry sales. Growers are also encouraging residents to support local farms as they hope for a harvest season lasting closer to the typical two-to-three weeks.

A player who purchased a ticket in the Wisconsin Lottery's 100-thousand-dollar All or Nothing game recently in St. Croix County has come up a grand prize winner. The ticket sold at Bob and Steve's BP Amoco Shop in New Richmond matched all eleven numbers announced in the June 11th drawing. The winner has 180 days to step forward and collect their prize.

Wisconsin's Lieutenant Governor wins a straw poll at the state Democratic Convention. Sara Rodriguez led a WisPolitics poll of attendees at the convention this past weekend. State Representative Francesca Hong and State Senator Kelda Roys polled second and third respectively. The poll could be a sign of things to come as seven candidates vie for the chance to take on Republican Congressman Tom Tiffany in November. Also in the race are former Lt. Governor Mandela Barnes, Milwaukee County executive David Crowley, former Wisconsin economic development corporation CEO Missy Hughes and former Tony Evers Secretary of Administration Joel Brennan. Delivering the keynote address, Governor Evers called for unity. "Our Democratic candidate for governor will need every single one of us," Evers said.

The Wisconsin Department of Workforce awarded one-million dollars in grants to four organizations to train 84 educators. Mount Mary University Inc, Carroll University Inc, Concordia University Inc and Innovators in Learning and Achievement Inc each received 250-thousand dollars. This funding supports efforts to train and recruit teachers where shortages are most prevalent in Wisconsin. It also covers two years of program costs to help recruit, train and license teachers to meet the state's guidelines for serving qualifying low-income and-or urban school districts.

The man convicted of the 2004 shooting deaths of six hunters and wounding of two others in Northwest Wisconsin has died. Wisconsin court records said 57-year-old Chai S. Vang was deceased as of Wednesday, June 10. The nature of his death was not known. Vang was serving time for six counts of first-degree intentional homicide and three counts of attempted homicide, stemming from an incident November 21, 2004, in woods near Birchwood, known as the “Tree Stand Murders.” Vang was confronted for trespassing on private land during deer hunting season. He claimed the incident was racially-motivated and the shootings were in self-defense after being shot at. A survivor of the shootings testified Vang fired upon them first.

Oshkosh police say nearly a dozen people were involved in a disturbance near the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh campus. City and campus police responded to calls about a large fight and a report that a gunshot was heard Thursday night. Officers interviewed several individuals and were told the sound of the gunshot was a firework thrown into the air. No one was hurt in the disturbance and no one was arrested. The incident is under investigation.

Charges have been filed against a couple from Johnson Creek, accused of leaving their 4-month-old baby on a boat. This happened last Sunday at a bar near Milton in Rock County. The sheriff's office says a person called 911, to say this baby which was in the sun and unattended on the boat didn't look right and was sweating and turning red. Another witness told police the baby was left alone for about 45 minutes. The parents had been having some drinks at an outdoor bar and told cops their baby was always sweaty and they were nearby and keeping an eye on him. The parents have been charged with neglecting a child and part of their bond conditions are staying sober and not having contact with the child unless approved by child protective services.

A popular Minneapolis-based mattress maker is filing for bankruptcy as it plans to merge with a Canadian mattress business. Sleep Number executives announced last month that it was looking at other option after recording a 50-million-dollar quarterly loss. They did not say how much the deal to merge with Sleep Country Canada is worth. Sleep Number recently filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The company hopes to continue operating and has secured 260-million dollars of debtors-in-possession financing. Sleep Number has recorded four years of declining sales.

A beagle rescued from Ridglan Farms that had been feared killed by an alligator in Florida is in fact alive. The dog named Omelette was rescued last month from the research facility in Blue Mounds and adopted by a family in Florida. Last weekend, the dog got free from its back yard. On Wednesday Big Dog Ranch Rescue announced they found the remains of a dog mauled and killed by a gator, but Thursday, the actual Omelette was found alive and well. Rescuers matched the beagle to its microchip for a positive identification. The dog will not be going back to its adoptive family, but to a rescue foster instead.