Local-Regional News Feb 12

 

A bill that would allow the use of ATV’s and UTV’s to use the Hwy 10 Bridge has yet to be voted on in the Assembly. AB329 would change state law and allow ATV’s and UTV’s to use bridges that are 1000 feet or more and which would include the Hwy 10 Bridge in Durand. The bill was scheduled for floor time earlier this week but was not brought up for a vote. State Assemblyman Trig Pronschinske is working with Assembly leaders to have the bill brought to the floor next week.

As the City of Durand works on developing a comprehensive plan for the city, public input will be needed. Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren says there will be a number of ways the pubic can participate.  The city hopes to have surveys available sometime next month.

The Durand Fun-Fest Committee has announce the music entertainment for this year’s Fun Fest. The Johnny Holm Band will perform Friday Night, the Corey Wise Band Saturday night and the Bear Creek Band on Sunday Afternoon. Durand Fun-Fest will be June 5^th through the 7^th at Memorial Park in Durand.

University of Wisconsin-Stout will work closely with Wisconsin businesses to ensure a recently announced $2 million federal grant will provide hundreds of workers with the skills needed to fill the state’s most in-demand jobs. Over the next four years, UW-Stout FUSE (Fast Upskilling for Skills and Employment) will give adult learners, displaced and underemployed workers, and other students the skills needed to succeed through six new short-term programs serving high-demand sectors aligned with Wisconsin’s Hot Jobs, which may include health care and behavioral support, manufacturing and logistics, IT support and cybersecurity, meeting and event planning, and child care.

The Family Fare store in Chippewa Falls is closing its doors. SpartanNash, which owns Family Fare, says its Bay Street store will begin making layoffs in April, affecting 57 employees. A closure date and a reason for the closure have not been released. This comes after the Family Fare store in Lake Wissota closed in March of last year.

The Olmsted County Attorney will not bring criminal charges following a probe into Byron Public School's finances. Last fall, the Minnesota Auditor spotted several of the district's spending patterns that led to thousands of dollars in credit card purchases without receipts and gift card purchases. The Olmsted County Sheriff's Office conducted an independent investigation. County Attorney Michael Walters called the district's spending concerning, but there was no evidence that district employees stole or embezzled BPS funds.

Respiratory illnesses are beginning to trend downward across Wisconsin. The latest data from the CDC says that while respiratory illness activity is still "moderate" across the state, emergency room visits for COVID and the flu are beginning to decrease. COVID rates are currently higher than flu or RSV rates in the state.

A food corporation is planning to shut down operations at a Milwaukee facility. Cargill announced the protein processing plant in Menomonee Valley will close by the end of May, resulting in more than 200 people losing their jobs. Production at the plant is expected to start winding down soon and come to an end around the middle of April. This is the latest Cargill facility to be shut down over the last 12 years, with the last taking place on Carmen Avenue in 2021. Cargill's website shows just one other location in Wisconsin, and that's a grain elevator in La Crosse.

Republicans in the Wisconsin Senate propose using part of the state surplus on one-time payments to taxpayers. Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu (LEMA-hue) said Wednesday that he had not talked with Governor Tony Evers or Assembly leadership about the plan. Senator Patrick Testin of Stevens Point and 15 other Republicans have proposed sending $500 refund checks to individual taxpayers and $1,000 dollars to married couples who file a joint return. In a statement, Testin said the proposal would go a long way to "reduce the tax burden on residents," as the state surplus grows to nearly $8 billion. It's unclear how much support the measure has in the Assembly, or with Governor Tony Evers. The proposed refund bill is up for a committee hearing Thursday.

First time filings for unemployment are increasing across Wisconsin. That's according to the U.S. Department of Labor, which says for the week ending January 31st, there were more than 68-hundred first time filings in the state. That number is more than 19-hundred filings higher than the week prior. Nationally, there was an increase in the number of initial filings for the week.

Tuesday’s annual State of the Tribes address included pointed requests for lawmakers. Red Cliff Chippewa Chair Nicole Boyd says estimates suggests Wisconsin residents are spending hundreds of millions of dollars via unlawful and unregulated sports betting platforms located outside the state. Boyd called on lawmakers to pass legislation to allow tribes to offer mobile sport betting. She also asked the state to finally legalize medical marijuana and hemp products containing THC. She said "Wisconsinites are beyond ready and growing more impatient with lawmakers every day on this topic.” Boyd also asked for action to address gun violence and Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women. And she thanked Governor Tony Evers' for his advocacy on behalf of Wisconsin's tribal communities.

The state is finding no violations were committed by the Madison group home Morgan Geyser escaped from last November. Records show the Wisconsin Department of Health Services found the home had proper supervision in place at the time of Geyser's escape. An investigation that included an inspection and interviews with staff was completed following a complaint by the Bureau of Community Forensics. Previously, the Department of Corrections fired one staffer and two others were suspended following an investigation into Geyser's disappearance.

Two Philadelphia men accused of fraud are admitting to traveling to Minneapolis to set up phony businesses. Anthony Jefferson and Lester Brown pleaded guilty Monday to wire fraud in federal court. Prosecutors say the defendants create fake LLCs to take more than three million dollars from the state's Housing Stabilization Services program. Jefferson faces up to six-point-five years in prison and Brown could spend four years behind bars. Sentencing for both will be set at a later date.

The Mall of America is now offering airport parking. Travelers flying out of Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport can now leave their cars overnight and for multi-day trips. The mall will charge 12 dollars a night, tax included. More than 900 spaces have been reserved for travelers on the seventh floor of the East Side ramp. The area is equipped with cameras, emergency call boxes, and around-the-clock security.

The University of Wisconsin - Madison is being recognized by a major publication. The school says Time Magazine ranked it as the 20th best university out of 500 institutions worldwide. It also placed as the second best public university in the United States, with only the University of Michigan receiving a better score among those schools. Among the items looked at by the magazine include academic capacity, performance, and global engagement. 

Local-Regional News Feb 11

 

Authorities and rescue crews from Buffalo, Pepin and Wabasha Counties responded to a report of a plane crash in Tiffany Bottoms Tuesday afternoon. According to the Buffalo County Sheriffs Department, 911 received a call from an individual who reported observing a low-flying airplane. The caller stated that he lost sight of the aircraft and believed it may have crashed in the Tiffany Bottoms area, south of State Highway 35, between STH 35 and the Mississippi River, near the Village of Nelson. At the same time, several additional reports were received regarding a low-flying plane in the area. Search resources included coordinated ground crews, drone operations, airboats, the Mayo 1 helicopter, and a Wisconsin State Patrol fixed-wing aircraft. A thorough search of the reported area was conducted. At the conclusion of the operation, no aircraft was located, and no crash site was discovered. Based on the information gathered, it is believed that a pilot was flying at a low altitude and the reporting party subsequently lost sight of the aircraft, prompting the 911 call.

A Mondovi man is in custody and facing a list of drug and weapons charges. Search warrants were executed earlier this month after the Buffalo County Sheriffs Department received reports of gunfire within the City of Mondovi. The search uncovered illegal drugs and firearms including a modified fully automatic pistol and two short-barreled shotguns. During the investigation,, 27 yr old Patrick Fox admitted that in late October he had been using a significant amount of Xanax and discharged a fully automatic handgun multiple times in a neighborhood near North Creek Lane in the City of Mondovi. He further admitted to firing a round inside the residence he shared with his girlfriend, resulting in a bullet hole in a bedroom wall while he was under the influence. Fox -- who is prohibited from possessing firearms due to a previous conviction -- was arrested and faces reckless endangerment, drug and possession of firearms charges.

The Wisconsin Public Service Commission unanimously approved Dairyland Power Cooperative's 345 kV Alma-Blair Transmission Project. The 33-mile transmission line will span from the Alma Substation near the Mississippi River to the Tremval Substation near Blair. he project aims to relieve grid congestion, support renewable energy resources and ensure reliable electricity delivery to western Wisconsin. Construction of the line is expected to start this summer with a target in-service date of summer 2028.

The Durand City Council is meeting tonight. Items on the agenda include discussion and possible action on the Water Filtration Plant Project Bid, discussion of the 2026 Farmers Market Season and update on the Revolving Loan Fund Loans. There will also be reports from the mayor and city department heads. Tonights meeting begins at 6pm at Durand City Hall and will be live-streamed on the WRDN website.

The Wabasha County Sheriff’s Department is warning residents of scam emails being sent out after the City of Kellogg’s email was hacked. The emails ask victims to submit a proposal to the city for a project. If the link is clicked then the victims email and personal accounts are also hacked. The sheriff’s department is advising residents to not click on any links in any email you don’t know to be 100% legitimate.

A now former Hudson High School coach is pleading guilty to charges. Chase Madison was taken into custody last year after a 23-year-old woman reported that she had been in a sexual relationship with Wayne when she was 16-years-old. Madison has pled guilty to a single count of child enticement in exchange for having other charges dropped. Sentencing is scheduled for April.

In Barron County, a defendant charged in a child pornography cases is accepting a plea deal. Authorities report they received a tip from Snapchat that spawned an investigation leading to Tyler Sprague's arrest last year. Investigators say they found child pornography on Sprague's electronic devices. The defendant pleaded guilty this week to two counts of child porn possession and will be sentenced at a later date.

What’s next for Eddie Bauer? The outdoor apparel retailer has officially filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Eddie Bauer LLC is a division of Catalyst Brands, formed just last year when JCPenney merged with its parent company and several others. Manufacturing, wholesale and online sales will continue. There are 8 Eddie Bauer locations in Wisconsin including one in Eau Claire. USA TODAY reports stores will remain open for the immediate future, but if the company cannot ‌find a buyer for ‍its U.S. and Canada stores, all of approximately 180 locations will close.

Governor Tony Evers is criticizing the Trump administration after Wisconsin was once again denied disaster relief. Evers said Monday the decision to reject FEMA assistance for several areas, including Grant County, is "ridiculous" and needs to be reversed. This latest denial was an appeal made by the state after the original request was denied last year. Parts of Wisconsin were negatively impacted by storms and flooding last August, which caused damage to public infrastructure. Evers had declared a state of emergency in response to the storms.

The Wisconsin Department of Ag, Trade and Consumer Protection unveils the top consumer complaints of 2025. Housing disputes once again garnered the largest number of complaints. Landlord-tenant issues were the number one complaint of 2025 with 2,620. Problems including mold, infestations and security deposit returns have made landlord-tenant issues the top complaint category for Wisconsin consumers since 2022. Telemarketing complaints were the second most reported with 1,283, followed by 641 home improvement complaints. You can file a complaint by visiting DATCP's website or calling the consumer hotline.

Something smells in southeast Wisconsin. People in Kenosha County have noticed a strange odor described as similar to a chemical, vinegar or electrical burning. The fire department in Pleasant Prairie received enough calls Monday to issue an advisory about it. Reports of the smell have been widespread, covering an area from central Illinois and Indiana to as far north as Milwaukee County. No illness or injuries have been reported from the smell, which officials say has been originating from a source to the south of the area. Authorities in Wisconsin and Illinois are investigating.

Minnesota flag sales are soaring amid ICE Operation Metro Surge. Some residents are using them to show their state pride and opposition to the wave of federal immigration officers. Lee Harold, owner of Herold Flags in Rochester, said the sale of Minnesota flags has gone up 75 percent since the start of the surge. The owner of Alamo Flags sold out of non-handheld Minnesota flags and had to place another order with distributors on Monday. Activists want the thousands of agents involved in ICE's unprecedented enforcement sweep to leave Minnesota.

The Wisconsin Beef Council (WBC) is excited to announce the kickoff of the 3rd Annual Wisconsin’s Best Burger Contest starting this Friday. Through March 15 you can nominate your favorite beef burger from any Wisconsin restaurant (one nomination per person) on the Wisconsin Beef Council website. In late March, Wisconsin Beef Council will reveal the Elite Eight restaurants with the most nominations. A secret panel of judges will then embark on a delicious journey to taste and evaluate these top contenders. The winner will be announced on April 24.

Just how do you move a dinosaur skeleton? Very carefully. The Milwaukee Public Museum started closing exhibits Monday to prepare to move to its new location next year, and that includes its prized Torosaurus fossil. The Museum is working with Toronto-based Research Casting International, which is packing up the dinosaur, taking it to be cleaned, and then getting it ready for its new home. Over 4 million items in total will have to be moved a few blocks down the road to the new Nature and Culture Museum of Wisconsin which is set to open next spring.

Local-Regional News Feb 10

 

Authorities are sharing the name of the person who died following in a weekend crash in Jackson County. According to the Wisconsin State Patrol, a tractor-trailer went off of I-94 near Black River Falls Saturday afternoon and struck a number of trees. The truck's driver -- 58-year-old Mondovi resident Russell Back -- died at the scene.

After hitting a lift tower at Welch Village, a skier has died. Twenty-five-year-old Walker Nelson of Minneapolis, "died as he lived, doing what he loved," his obituary read. The Red Wing Fire Department said Nelson struck a lift tower at around 8:30 p.m. on February 1st. Nelson attended Minneapolis South High School and graduated from the University of Oregon before becoming the marketing director for the Skyway Theater in downtown Minneapolis.

The Mondovi City Council is meeting tonight. Items on the agenda include and update on the July 4^th celebration, and reports from the mayor and city department heads. Tonights meeting begins at 5:30 at the Marten Center in Mondovi.

Investigators have uncovered the source of carbon monoxide that caused two people to fall ill recently in the Town of Pleasant Valley. Crews initially responded to a home on Balsam Road January 30th with a reported of someone having trouble breathing. Two people were taken to the hospital for treatment with both found to have a high level of carbon monoxide in their blood. Investigators say the carbon monoxide poisoning was caused by an ice blockage in a pipe.

A former Rusk County teacher accused of sending a topless photo of herself to a teenager is pleading not guilty to charges. Investigators say that Kayla Vavra -- who was working as a second-grade teacher in the Ladysmith School District -- added herself to a teenager's Snapchat account. On the app, Vavra reportedly described her own sexual experiences to the teen and sent the topless image. Vavra was arrested Thursday on charges including Exposing a Child to Harmful Material and Intimidation of a victim.

Probation for a former La Crosse postal worker who prosecutors say stole money and gift cards out of the mail. According to investigators, Straub was employed as a mail carrier and in February of last year, stole gift cards and 350-dollars in cash from that was meant for delivery. She has been sentenced to a year of probation and ordered to make restitution plus pay a five-hundred-dollar fine.

In an annual report published on Monday, the Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office released data of seized drugs from 2023 through 2025. The agency said it seized 150,347 dosage units of methamphetamine last year a 70% decrease from 2024. The downward trend is also true for fentanyl. In 2025, Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office confiscated 216,536 dosage units—an approximately 30% decrease from the previous year. The department seized 20,488 cocaine dosage units last year, which is a 33% increase from 2024.

A lucky lottery player who recently purchased a Powerball ticket in Chippewa County has hit for 50-thousand dollars. The ticket sold 401 South Broadway Street Express Mart in Stanley matched four of the five white balls announced in this past Saturday's drawing. The winner has 180 days to come forward and claim their prize.

The City of Menomonie is asking residents to vote to name a city snowplow. The city received 212 submissions for names and have narrowed the list down to three. The top three are Plow Bunyan, Blizzard Wizzard and Clearopathra. Residents can cast their votes by Friday, and visit the city of Menonomie Website for more information. The winning vote will be added to the snowplow.

Plenty of people are buying those new throwback Wisconsin license plates. The Wisconsin D M V reports over 94-hundred people have bought the new blackout license plate, and another 12-hundred have purchased the yellow plate. Both of those plates were released in January as part of an effort to raise money for road repairs. That's a total of around 428-thousand dollars in revenue. State officials are hoping to raise a total of 25 million dollars with sales of the plates.

Wisconsin tribal leaders will gather at the state Capitol in Madison today for the 22nd annual State of the Tribes address. The address will be delivered at 11 a.m. in the Assembly Chamber by Nicole Boyd, chairwoman of the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, on behalf of the Great Lakes Intertribal Council which represents Wisconsin’s 11 federally recognized tribes. The annual address is intended to inform lawmakers on tribal priorities, and the role tribal governments play in the state. The Chairwoman told Tribal Business News that her remarks will reflect both progress and ongoing challenges facing the state’s tribal nations as they head into the 2026 legislative session.

Another case of measles in Wisconsin. The Department of Health Services confirmed the case in a person who traveled on a January 29th Southwest flight from Phoenix to Milwaukee, then made their way to Walworth County. The case is linked to another confirmed case in a different state. DHS says they also detected measles in untreated wastewater collected in Walworth County. The latest measles case is not connected to the confirmed cases in Dane and Waukesha counties. Health officials are working to identify and notify those possibly exposed to the virus and will contact individuals who may have encountered the individual.

You may love AI, but legislation in Wisconsin is looking to keep people from marrying it. Before you say that's ridiculous, consider this...Nearly one-third of U.S. adults report having had an “intimate or romantic” relationship with an AI system. A public hearing was held Wednesday at the Capitol on legislation to ban marriages between humans and artificial intelligence. AI would also be prohibited from marrying other AI systems. Backers of the bill say it spells out that AI is not human and the bill would also ban artificial intelligence from owning property or running a corporation.

A Stevens Point man is found guilty in a road rage crash that killed a Northwoods League umpire. A Waushara County jury on Friday convicted 70-year-old Michael W. Bartz of homicide by negligent operation of a vehicle and reckless driving causing great bodily harm following a three-day trial. According to online court records, Bartz is due to be sentenced on April 13. 29-year-old Conor McKenzie was thrown from an SUV on Interstate 39 in July of 2023. The SUV driver, 34-year-old Andrew L. Thomas, is scheduled to go to trial on the same charges two days after Bartz is sentenced. Thomas, McKenzie and a surviving passenger in the SUV were on their way to Madison after umpiring a Northwoods League game in Wausau. That passenger told police that Bartz and McKenzie passed each other multiple times at speeds approaching 90 miles an hour before Bartz slammed on the brakes causing Thomas to lose control and crash.

A woman is going to prison for a year after she defrauded the SNAP program out of more than 325-thousand dollars. LaTasha Thomas was also sentenced to a year of supervised released and has been ordered to pay restitution to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Federal prosecutors say the defendant, along with her daughter and another relative created temporary driver's licenses using phony names and then submitted them to Hennepin County to apply for Electronic Benefit Transfer or EBT cards. The cards were sent to the Roseville home of a codefendant, who lived under a fake name. They mentioned in their applications that they were experiencing high risk pregnancy and created fake doctor's notes.

A department of natural resources program lets frequent library goers check out state parks for free. The “Check Out Wisconsin State Parks at Your Library” program lets library cardholders check out free day passes to state parks, forests and recreation areas. More than 160 library systems with over 200 locations participate in the program, which launched in 2022. The initiative has expanded to include specialized libraries, with UW–Madison and UW–Superior among the first to join. Along with the free day pass, visitors may receive maps, stickers, accessibility information and more to help plan their trip. Details are available on the DNR’s website.

Local-Regional News Feb 9

 

Longtime local attorney and business owner Roger Hillestad has passed away. In a social media post on Sunday, the Durand Brewing Company, which Hillestad founded announced the passing. Funeral arragements are still pending.

Alcivia Co-Op has sold off more of its Agronomy Division United Cooperative in Beaver Dam announced on Friday that it has purchased the south region agronomy business from Alcivia. Recently Alcivia sold its northern agronomy division, including the Durand location to Ag Partners of Goodhue, MN.

Some changes in Downtown Durand over the weekend. On Sunday, crews began the demolition of the former Our Own Hardware Building at 2^nd Ave West and Madison Streets. The building was recently sold and plans for the property are unknown at this time. Madison street at 2^nd Ave West may be closed at times today as crews continue to remove the debris.

The Buffalo County Health and Human Services department is reminding county residents in need of rental and housing assistance is available. The Foundation for Rural Housing is offering programs to help those with unexpected expenses or a short term reduction in income pay past due rent, and help those stay in their homes to prevent homelessness. For more information on the program, contact the Buffalo County Health and Human Services Department.

Wisconsin's Department of Workforce Development reports Cave Enterprises LLC operating more than 100 Burger King restaurants in the state has more than sixteen-hundred violations of child labor and wage payment laws. The department is ordering the company make things right with regards to unpaid regular wages, overtime wages, and penalty wages to affected workers and come into compliance with the violated laws. Of the Burger King restaurants operated by Cave, five are in Eau Claire, two in Chippewa Falls, one in Menomonie, one in Onalaska, one in Holmen and two are in La Crosse.

Prison for an Eau Claire man convicted on sex crimes charges involving a child victim. Chippewa County prosecutors say that Spartacus Bruschuk began sexually assaulting the victim when she was between five- and seven-years-of-age and that the assaults continued until she was thirteen. Bruschuk pleaded guilty to charges including third-degree sexual assault and has been sentenced to five years in prison.

Winona County Emergency Management Director and Goodview Mayor Ben Klinger has announced his candidacy for Winona County Sheriff. He has also reportedly served as a part-time patrol officer since 2003, serving with the Lewiston and Goodview Police Departments.  Klinger said he will bring his 25 years of experience in law enforcement, emergency management and local government leadership to the race.

Three people are dead after a Saturday morning fire in Burnett County. Crews responding to a house fire in the Township of Anderson just before 5 a.m. found an intense fire at the scene. The cause of the fire has not been determined and the names of the victims have not been released.

The St. Paul City Council is passing a resolution to study a potential passenger rail route to Kansas City. After the success of the Borealis route to Chicago, state planners would like to keep up the momentum. The Federal Railroad Administration will open a new round of grant applications, and the city council is calling on the state Transportation Department to apply. It would also connect existing Minnesota Amtrak routes to Denver, San Francisco, Phoenix and Los Angeles. The city council resolution also said freight railroads would benefit from the increased capital investment that would accompany the expansion.

Three-year bachelor’s degrees may be coming to the UW System. The Universities of Wisconsin System Board of Regents on Friday reviewed revisions to a policy which would allow campuses to develop reduced credit degrees, which commonly require 90 credits rather than a minimum 120. The State Journal reports that Regent Joan Prince said the Regents will vote on the shortened degree policy at a future board meeting. Three-year bachelor's degree programs are on the rise nationwide. Mount Mary University in Milwaukee launched reduced credit programs in January and is so far the only four-year university in Wisconsin to do so.

Governor Evers said Wisconsin's Department of Workforce Development found over 16-thousand Violations of the states child labor and wage payment laws. The Violations are linked to Cave Enterprise Operations LLC, which operates 105 Burger King franchises in Wisconsin. The violations happened over a two year span ending in January 2025. The Evers administration says this is the largest determination of child labor and wage payment violations in modern Wisconsin history. The Department of Workforce Development says Cave Enterprises must pay missed wages, including overtime and regular wages, to impacted workers, which includes over 600 kids.

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation said highways statewide are frozen. Meaning Wisconsin's "Frozen Road Law" is in effect for the entire state. The DOT activated the Frozen Road Law for Northeast Wisconsin in December. The seasonal weight restrictions allow vehicles hauling salt or abrasives for highway winter maintenance and certain forest products to carry more weight. The Wisconsin DOT website has an interactive map on season weight restrictions and information about overweight vehicle permits.

Now is the time to start preparing for spring and summer storms with flood insurance. Wisconsin just experienced its wettest decade on record, and with flooding the state’s most common natural hazard, officials are urging residents to review their flood risk. Standard homeowner and renter policies don’t cover flood damage — you need a separate flood insurance policy, and most federal plans include a 30‑day waiting period. Flood insurance is available both inside and outside FEMA flood zones. Residents can check their address on FEMA’s Map Service Center and talk with local insurance agents about coverage options.

A family that runs a popular hotel chain is donating 100 million dollars to support the Mayo Clinic expansion in Rochester. The gift comes from the Marriot charitable foundation. The funds will also be used to invest in clinical space and technologies. Mayo in 2023 unveiled its five-billion-dollar project to improve convenience and care for patients traveling worldwide to the Rochester campus. A two-story welcome center is being named the Marriot Family Atrium in recognition of the gift. The full project is exapted to be completed in 2030.

Governor Tony Evers says he'll focus on using the state surplus to lower property taxes on before leaving office. He says no framework for property tax relief is in place but he hopes the legislature can prioritize that before they adjourn. Evers commented during an affordability roundtable in Wausau last week.

The Wisconsin State Patrol is reminding drivers to turn on their headlights. Superintendent Tim Carnahan says reduced visibility gives drivers less time to react, and headlights help everyone stay safe. State law requires headlights during hours of darkness, when you can’t see 500 feet ahead, and in fog, rain, or snow. Drivers should also make sure lights are clean, aimed correctly, and working—and dim high beams within 500 feet of other vehicles. The State Patrol urges extra caution for motorcyclists, bicyclists, and pedestrians, who rely on lights and reflective gear to stay visible.

Local-Regional News Feb 6

 

Dunn County has filled a key administration position by hiring Brittany Andrews as its new Chief Financial Officer. Andrews graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire. A Menomonie native, Andrews brings a strong background in financial and administrative support, including extensive experience with accounts payable and receivable, vendor invoicing, benefits coordination, and payroll management. She began in her duties on January 20^th.

The Durand Improvement Group has announced a fireworks show to celebrate america’s 250^th birthday. The show will be held on July 3^rd. More details will be announced in the coming weeks.

In Chippewa County, a Cadott Community School District employee is facing legal troubles stemming from her time working for the Lincoln School District. Danielle Mittermeyer has been indicted on charges related to her handling of Lincoln's financial affairs between March of 2021 and August of 2025. Mittermeyer -- who was hired to work in the Cadott district in August of 2025 -- has now been placed on administrative leave. In a statement, the Cadott district says they have no concerns about Mittermeyer's work in her current role.

The verdict is in for a La Crosse man charged in the shooting of his ex-girlfriend. Prosecutors say that -- in May of 2025 -- Diontae Booth shot the woman at her aunt's residence on Fifth Avenue South. Booth was convicted Thursday on charges including Second Degree Reckless Injury with a Dangerous Weapon. He will be sentenced at a later date.

University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire accounting students will be providing free tax services for eligible folks this year. The work will be done in connection with the IRS' Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program. More details including information on how to set up an appointment can be found at uwecvita.org.

Country music star Keith Urban is being announced as a headliner for this year's Ashley for the Arts festival in Arcadia. The three-day event is planned for August 6th, 7th and 8th. Urban will be the final main-stage performer on the night of the 8th. ashleyforthearts.com has more information.

The Amtrak Borealis route is announcing a record amount of riders and ticket sales in 2025. The route, which serves Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois, saw a 104-percent increase in ridership. Last year, it saw nearly 213-thousand passengers according to Amtrak. Riders can take in scenic views of the river, wildlife, wetlands and towns along the trip.

Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth is emerging as the leading Republican candidate following recent GOP precinct straw polls. Tuesday's polls showed Demuth getting about 32 percent of the roughly 17-hundred votes cast. Results were incomplete, but more than 96 percent of precincts had reported as of early Wednesday afternoon. Precinct caucuses are often described as the starting line for Minnesota elections.

A School Board candidate in Marshfield is facing felony child abuse and domestic abuse charges: Matthew Samson is in jail on a 50-thousand-dollar bond facing two different criminal complaints. In one case, he's accused of physically abusing a child. The other centers on a domestic abuse allegation in which the 41-year-old is said to have threatened to kill himself during an argument with a woman, then turned the gun on her when she begged him not to pull the trigger. He returns to court next week to enter a plea. Samson's name will appear on the ballot for a February 17th primary election as one of seven candidates vying for six spots on the April ballot, though--if found guilty--he would be ineligible to hold office as a convicted felon.

Legislation that keeps cryptocurrency ATMs from being a tool scammers use may come to Wisconsin. Senate Bill 386 would set daily transaction limits and cap fees, as well as "require operators to provide receipts, identify users in all transactions, and require refunds for scam victims." This would be the first time more than 700-bitcoin-kiosks would be regulated at convenience gas and grocery stores. Police say thousands of people in Wisconsin are reported to have lost "some or all of their life savings through crypto kiosk scams." The measure will get a hearing before the Senate Finance Committee at the Capitol.

DeForest is throwing out an idea of annexation tied to a QTS data center project. The village board voted unanimously against annexing more than 15-hundred acres of land in Vienna, which was required for the data center project to move forward. The DeForest village administrator said rejecting the proposal allows all parties to move forward while saving time and money. Meantime, an ethics complaint has been filed against Village President Jane Cahill in connection to the project. That will be reviewed by the DeForest Ethics Board today.

Children's Wisconsin is celebrating a major gift from a pair of Milwaukee-area philanthropists. The hospital announced yesterday it has received a ten-million dollar donation from Barri and Dave Drury that will be used for pediatric research. It is one of the largest gifts Children's Wisconsin has ever received. A hospital official told the Journal Sentinel the money will be used at the discretion of Children's, but the Drury's will get to provide input.

County highway departments are reminding drivers to keep back from snow removal equipment. The Wisconsin County Highway Association says 13 crashes between vehicles and snowplows have already happened this winter. In most cases, trucks are struck from behind by drivers following too closely for conditions. Be sure to give plows 200 feet of clearance to stay safe, drive slower than posted limits during poor weather, and if the roads are bad, simply stay home.

Six men are in custody after they were arrested in Stillwater in connection to a sexual exploitation ring targeting minors. Washington County Sheriff's Office says undercover agents posed online as a 16-year-old girl then several suspects allegedly arranged meetings to offer money for sexual acts. When the men showed up at the locations, they were taken into custody. The defendants are Vishwateja Guntupally, Christopher Kohn, Manuel Chunzo-Canar, Sanyi Tefera, Terry Reynolds and Dakota Ott. Other agencies that were involved in the sting operation include the Stillwater Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations and the Washington County Attorney's Office.

The Wisconsin State Patrol is looking for new troopers. The deadline is coming up to apply for the next class of Wisconsin State Patrol troopers. The agency accepts applications through Sunday, February 15th. State Patrol Superintendent Tim Carnahan says joining the patrol offers a path into a variety of law‑enforcement roles, from K‑9 and aviation to crash reconstruction and commercial vehicle inspection. Applicants need at least 60 college credits, though some requirements can be waived for military or relevant experience. Positions are open in every region of the state, and more information is available on the Wisconsin Department of Transportation website.