Local-Regional News Feb 27

 

The Colfax School District has a new Superintendent. The Colfax School Board selected  Eric Young as the district’s next Superintendent of Schools. Young’s background includes extensive experience in school leadership, professional learning communities, career and technical education programming, facilities planning, and district-level strategic initiatives. He begins on July 1^st

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation is seeking public input on a proposed Chippewa River Bridge project. The proposed maintenance project would be on the bridge carrying County H over the Chippewa River in the Dunn County towns of Rock Creek and Spring Brook. The project would include replacing and widening the concrete bridge deck, and reinforce the steel girders for the new deck. Construction currently is scheduled for 2027. During construction, the bridge will be closed, and traffic will be detoured. Comments are due by March 19^th. Visit the WI DOT website for more information.

Wabasha County Sheriff Rodney Bartsh, announced Thursday his retirement after close to 40 years of service. Bartsh says he made the decision after discussing the idea with his wife. Bartsh had previously announced his retirement during the 2022 election cycle but changed his mind before the filing deadline.

A contested case hearing in the permitting of Ridge Breeze Dairy is set for Tuesday at the State Government Center in Eau Claire. Opponents of the project say the expanded dairy would harm the environment and that the farm has not secured enough land to safely spread roughly 80 million gallons of manure. Ridge Breeze Dairy is wanting to expand from 1700 to 6500 cows at their location on Hwy CC in Pierce County. That meeting will begin at 9am on Tuesday morning and is expected to last three days.

Rochester's Mayo Clinic is rated again as the top hospital globally. Newsweek named the medical facility at the top of its World's Best Hospitals list for the eighth straight year. The magazine's annual rankings are based on patient survey results, an international survey of healthcare professionals, performance metric and implementation of patient-recorded outcomes. The rest of the top five hospital are Toronto General Hospital, Cleveland Clinic, Karolinska medical center in Stockholm, Sweden and Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.

A Wisconsin bill proposing roadside drug testing is sparking a public safety debate. The proposal would allow law enforcement officers to use roadside oral fluid testing in suspected drug-impaired driving cases. Dane County Sheriff Kalvin Barrett says deputies are encountering more cases involving drugs, including prescription medications, in addition to alcohol. Milwaukee defense attorney Andrew Mishlove says expanding roadside testing raises constitutional questions because bodily samples are considered searches. The proposal is still in the early stages of the legislative process.

The Wisconsin Lottery reports a scratch-off ticket recently sold in Black River Falls is a jackpot winner. The ticket in the lottery's Two-Million-Dollar Cash game is a top prize winner. It was sold at the Taylor Corner Store on State Route 95. There has been no word on the identity of the person who has won the two-million dollars.

Vice President JD Vance is pushing the Trump's administration's affordability message in Wisconsin today. Fresh off President Trump's State of the Union address, Vance traveled to the village of Plover, a hotly-contested congressional district in 2026 midterm elections. He's visiting a machine shop, stressing the importance of American manufacturing. Trump will hit the road himself on Friday for a stump-style speech in Texas.

WisDOT is updating several state-supported intercity bus routes to improve connections statewide. The changes include a new Route 11 offering direct service between La Crosse and Green Bay. The routes operate in partnership with Greyhound, Indian Trails, Jefferson Lines, Lamers Bus, and Wisconsin Transit Lines. Department officials say the updates better link rural and mid-sized communities with major hubs including Milwaukee, Chicago, and Minneapolis. The announcement also reshuffles service providers on multiple routes to maintain regional connectivity.

Attorney General Josh Kaul says Wisconsin is joining a lawsuit over federal changes to the childhood vaccine schedule. Attorneys general from 14 other states, along with the governor of Pennsylvania, are also part of the effort. The suit challenges the Trump administration's decision to remove several vaccines, including rotavirus, hepatitis A and B, and COVID-19. State health leaders report responding to measles cases in 2025 and 2026, including 36 in late 2025. Officials say all cases involved unvaccinated people.

Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul told a Special State Senate Committee that the Department of Justice relied on outside legal fellows because the agency is under‑resourced for environmental enforcement. Kaul said majority Republicans have been “hostile” to environmental efforts and were unlikely to approve additional staffing. Republican Committee chair Mary Felzkowski pushed back, criticizing Kaul for not bringing staffing requests to the Joint Finance Committee. The hearing centers on DOJ’s use of NYU‑funded legal fellows to handle environmental cases, help Kaul says was necessary after lawmakers reduced resources and oversight in 2018.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has finalized a permit allowing Enbridge to begin work on its Line 5 relocation project. An Enbridge statement says work is already underway on staging and clearing for the $450 million, 41‑mile pipeline reroute around the Bad River Reservation. The company calls it the most studied pipeline project in state history that will bring millions in construction spending to northern Wisconsin. Environmental groups and the Bad River Band have filed court petitions and are asking for an immediate halt to construction, arguing the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources failed to fully evaluate environmental risks when it granted permits for the project.

Wisconsin Public Service says colder temperatures and higher gas prices are driving up energy bills. The utility says this is the coldest winter in about a decade, and gas costs are up roughly 18-percent from last year. Officials say increased demand locally and nationwide has pushed prices higher, though WPS does not profit from the gas it buys. WPS says it uses storage and fixed contracts to help manage price swings. Customers struggling with higher bills are urged to contact WPS about budget billing, time of use savings, rebates, or payment plans.  

Local-Regional News Feb 26

 

Probation for a former Pepin County substitute teacher convicted on charges in a sex crimes case. Zachary Weber worked in the Durand-Arkansaw School District and last month pleaded no contest to charges of soliciting an intimate representation from a minor. Investigators say those charges stemmed from exchanges the defendant had with underage girls on Snapchat. Weber was sentenced yesterday to three years of probation and 12 months of conditional jail time.

State officials are monitoring environmental conditions following a manure spill in Trempealeau County. According to the Wisconsin DNR, the spill was discovered Monday -- coming from farm fields into the Town of Gale and impacting a pair of Beaver Creek tributaries. Dead fish have been spotted in the water.

An Eau Claire Police Department officer is being recognized as the Wisconsin Association of Women in Policing's Woman Officer of the Year. Officer Ariana Larson has been with the Eau Claire Police Department for just over four years. The Woman Officer of the Year distinction recognizes an individual who has exceeded the duty requirements expected of her position and has demonstrated a distinct pattern of community service coupled with professional achievement.

Investigators are working to determine the cause of a Monday night fire in Eau Claire. Crews dispatched to a Northland Drive duplex found the structure burning and were able to extinguish the fire. No one was hurt though a cat did die in the blaze.

The Chippewa Valley Technical College Foundation is among nine entities being announced this week as recipients of grants from the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development. The money comes as an award from the Commercial Driver Training Grant program -- an effort to support programs that prepare folk for earning their commercial drivers license. Northwood Technical College in Barron County and Northcentral Technical College in Marathon County were among the other recipients.

 Barron County is announcing the launch of Text-to-911 service through the Barron County 911 Center. Text-to-911 allows people to send a text message directly to 911 when they cannot safely make a voice call. To use the service, text 911 with your emergency. A trained emergency dispatcher will respond by text, gather critical information, provide instructions, and deploy the appropriate emergency responders-just as they would during a traditional phone call.

In La Crosse County, a man charged with killing his wife has taken the stand in his own defense. Investigators say that Zachary Fritz stabbed his wife to death in the couple's Shelby home on June 10th of 2024. Fritz has pleaded no contest by reason of mental disease or defect to a charge of first-degree intentional homicide. On Wednesday, the court heard from a clinical therapist who says the defendant has been diagnosed with bipolar one and the court heard from Fritz himself -- who says he has suffered manic episodes and bouts of paranoia dating back to when he was in high school.

A group of Onalaska residents who recently found themselves stranded in Mexico is making their way home. Members of the Onalaska Hilltopper Rotary Club were visiting Puerto Vallarta when Mexican authorities killed a top drug lord on Sunday. That action reportedly ignited widespread cartel-organized violence and left many Americans who were in the country without a way to get home. Mexico's president is now saying that normal activity has largely been restored in the country. The Onalaska Hilltopper Rotary Club reports that all members have now secured flights back to the U.S.

An annual report from the USDA shows that Minnesota lost 13-hundred farms in the past two years. The amount of farmland across the state also fell by 100-thousand acres. Minnesota Department of Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen said Minnesota's farmers are struggling. Local farmers have struggled to cope with the global trade wars triggered by President Trump's tariffs throughout 2025. State farming officials are glad to see the 12-billion-dollar Farmer Bridge Assistance program, but it still isn't enough.

A group of teachers and school districts are suing the Wisconsin Legislature for more state aid for students. The lawsuit was filed Monday in Eau Claire County by liberal Madison based law firm Law Forward on behalf of 19 plaintiffs. It accuses Republicans in the legislature of failing to uphold Wisconsin's constitutional requirement to provide all students a "sound, basic, and uniform education." Districts have long been restricted from raising their spending, and the Legislature under Republican leadership has reduced per-pupil state aid. The last time districts attempted to use the legislative process to change the school spending formula was in 2000, when the State Supreme Court’s conservative majority upheld the formula. The court’s current liberal majority will likely rule differently if this lawsuit advances.

A new report warns there will not be enough health care workers in Wisconsin to keep up with patient needs. The annual report from the Wisconsin Hospital Association finds there are too many job vacancies in the health care system, even with an increase in hiring since the pandemic. W H A vice president Ann Zenk says health care demands are expected to increase by 10 percent as the state's population continues to age. The report also shows doctors are increasingly leaving their positions because of friction with insurance companies that often lag in allowing coverage for needed treatments or denying those treatments entirely. The WHA wants better laws on prior authorization practices, better educational pathways to employment for health care workers, and better access to at-home care and telehealth to keep up with demands.

Wisconsin Democrats are proposing a boost to the state’s minimum wage, raising it to twenty dollars an hour by 2030. At a Capitol press conference, Madison State Senator and candidate for governor Kelda Roys said at least a million workers can’t afford basic needs like housing, child care, or health care. She blamed what she called a “right‑wing experiment” of waiting for wages to rise on their own. Service worker Sabrina Prochaska also spoke, saying her $15.81 hourly wage isn’t enough as living and health care costs continue to climb. The bill would raise Wisconsin’s minimum wage to $15 immediately, then increase it by $1.25 each year until 2030. With the legislative session nearly over, the measure is unlikely to advance this year.

An expansion of Bradyns Law, which defines sextortion as a crime, could soon be on Governor Tony Evers desk. Representative Brent Jacobson says it would allow sextortion victims and their families to sue for damages including wrongful death. The Mosinee Republicans says this language will make it clear in state statute that this is a cause of action plaintiffs can bring in this specific situation for death. The bill passed the Assembly with strong bipartisan support as the chamber ended its session last week and will head to Governor Tony Evers if approved by the state Senate. Jacobson of Mosinee says more follow up legislation is in the works, including requiring education for parents, students, and teachers to look out for the warning signs of sextortion, and to fund additional positions at DOJ within the Internet Crimes Against Children Division.

New research shows that salt brine can effectively clear Wisconsin highways. A UW–Madison study for the Wisconsin Department of Transportation compared salt brine to traditional rock salt on parallel highway routes during winter storms. Researchers found nearly identical road performance, but salt brine used 40 to 72 percent less salt. WisDOT says the findings reinforce what counties have seen for years, that brine helps clear roads faster, improves traction, and reduces environmental impact. All 72 counties now use some amount of brine, which can stretch budgets by covering far more lane miles than rock salt alone.

Submissions are open for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources 2027 turkey, pheasant and waterfowl stamp contests. Hunters are required to buy the stamps to legally harvest any of the game birds in Wisconsin. Proceeds from sales of the stamps generates hundreds of thousands of dollars a year for habitat management, restoration, education and research projects. Stamp designs need to be received or postmarked by August 1st and judging will take place August 22nd at the Waterfowl Hunters Expo in Oshkosh. More info can be found on the DNR's website.

Local-Regional News Feb 25

 

Mondovi schools were placed on lockdown for a time on Tuesday with reports of a possibly armed teenager walking through the city's downtown area. Police located the 16-year-old and determined that they were unarmed and posed no threat. Buffalo County Sheriff Mike Osmond reminds folks to play it safe and that if they see something that doesn't seem right, they should say something.

The Durand City Council is meeting tonight. Items on the agenda include discussion and possible action on the construction contracts with Cedar Corporation for the Madison Street and Water Filtration Projects, possible action on the American Legion donation of picnic tables and benches at Veterans Park and reports from the Mayor and Department Heads. Tonights meeting begins at 6pm at Durand City Hall.

A proposed solar farm in Dunn County is awaiting a final decision from the Wisconsin Public Service Commission. The proposed solar farm would be on 2000 acres in Spring Brook Township with over 700,000 solar panels generating 322 megawatts of electricity. The farm would also have a five acre battery storage system. The public comment period for the proposed project has closed, and if approved by the PSC construction could begin in 2027.

A Comstock man charged in connection with a fire that destroyed Shooters Showgirls in Elk Mound is pleading guilty. Colton Jansen faced arson charges stemming from the January 2025 fire. Despite Jansen's plea on Tuesday, he was found not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for a later date.

Advocates are asking the Altoona Police Department to end local cooperation with federal immigration agents. Demonstrators went to the Altoona Police Department after the recent arrests of four community members. Protestors say local police should focus on protecting residents and not assisting ICE. The group is demanding the release of body camera footage, an apology from the sheriff's office and the permanent removal of ICE agents from Eau Claire County. APD said they appreciated that protestors "felt comfortable exercising their 1st Amendment right to free speech."

An Eau Claire County judge is being asked to consider releasing a serial killer. Alvin Taylor admits to the killings of four people between the years of 1985 and 1987 -- having said previously that he did so after receiving messages through the radio and television. In court, Taylor was found not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect and he has confined to treatment facilities ever since. A psychiatric exam is now being ordered as the 79-year-old Taylor is petitioning for release.

No people are hurt after a duplex fire in Eau Claire. The city's fire department responded to the fire around 7:24 p.m. Tuesday on the city's north side. Black smoke came from the front side of the residential duplex, with crews working to contain the fire into the kitchen area. No people were injured, but one pet cat was found dead when crews arrived. The occupants are being temporarily relocated while the damage is being assessed.

Reports of norovirus are on the rise in Eau Clair County. Health experts say the most common symptoms of norovirus include vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain. Folks are encouraged to use soap and water when washing their hands before preparing food and after using the restroom.

A Sparta educator is facing allegations that she hit a five-year-old child. According to the report, special-ed teacher Melanie Hinz struck the child in an October incident at the Southside Early Learning Center. She pleaded not guilty yesterday to a charge of child abuse - recklessly causing harm.

Legislation that will benefit Wisconsin agriculture is ready for the governor’s consideration. The Assembly last week passed three bills that have already cleared the state Senate and now head to Governor Tony Evers. Senate Bill 474 allows soy-based firefighting foam to qualify for DNR fire suppression grants. That expands market opportunities for growers and provides a PFAS-free product to firefighters. SB 501 creates a veterinary loan repayment program for new vets who commit to large animal practices in rural communities. SB 783 provides commercial driver’s license training grants to help businesses offset the costs of employee training. Several Assembly bills are awaiting Senate action including measures to prohibit Wisconsin schools from serving margarine in place of butter and establishing a program to help facilitate farm transitions from retiring farmers to the next generation.

Wisconsin’s Bad River Chippewa Band is requesting a judicial review, after a judge upheld DNR permits for the Enbridge Line 5 pipeline reroute project. An administrative law judge upheld the permits earlier this month but did order Enbridge to make four changes to its wetlands permit, including added monitoring after construction. Attorneys for the tribe contend the decision threatens vital public resources. Earthjustice lawyer John Petoskey argues the area’s significance “cannot be overstated” and says rulings like this weaken environmental protections. The Bad River Band has filed for judicial review and is seeking to halt pipeline construction, while Enbridge maintains the judge’s decision confirms the DNR’s review was thorough.

A weekend swatting incident at UW-Parkside. A Saturday morning alert from university administrators closed the Kenosha County campus following a report of a potential threat, advising people to either evacuate or shelter in place. An indoor track meet on campus was shut down, men's and women's basketball games were delayed and a scheduled event at Parkside by candidate for Wisconsin governor Francesca Hong was moved to a nearby library. The campus reopened by early afternoon after law-enforcement determined the threat was a swatting incident. Police presence on campus was increased throughout the rest of the day.

Google is planning to build a data center near Rochester. The tech giant says the facility will be in Pine Island. Google also announced that it will be paying for a large amount of new wind, solar, and battery power as part of a contract with Xcel Energy. The project is a second attempt at a Minnesota data center for Google, which abandoned a 600-million-dollar Sherburne County project with Xcel in 2022.

A southern Minnesota man is going to prison for producing child sexual abuse material. Hunter Geidl has been sentenced to 16 years behind bars to be followed by ten years of supervised release. The Hastings man pleaded guilty last June to one count of production of child pornography. Prosecutors say Geidl solicited sexually explicit images from at least a dozen minor girls; the youngest was 13 years old. The U.S. Attorney's Office in Minnesota says there may be other victims related to this case. Anyone who believes their child had contact with Geidl is asked to contact the FBI.

Wisconsin’s dairy industry continues to dominate on the world stage. Alice in Dairyland, Sarah Hagenow, says Wisconsin cheese makers have earned more than 7,600 medals since 1995 — more than any other state or country. She credits the state’s 1,200 licensed cheese makers and 5,200 dairy farm families for their years of expertise and dedication. If you want to be sure you’re buying local, Hagenow says to look for the “Proudly Wisconsin” badge or the number 55 on dairy packaging. Wisconsin’s dairy industry now contributes more than $52 billion a year to the state’s economy.

Local-Regional News Feb 24

 

8 students from the Durand-Arkansaw School District will be in Menomonie on Thursday participating in the Wisconsin Skills USA Regional competition. Skills USA is a partnership of students, teachers, and industry representatives working together to ensure America has the skilled workforce needed to stay competitive, the SkillsUSA diverse talent pipeline covers more than 110 trades, technical, and skilled service occupations, mostly related to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Those students advancing beyond the regional competition will participate in the 53^rd annual Wisconsin Skills USA State Conference in Madison April 7th-8th with the chance to go to the National Conference in Atlanta June 1-5.

Pierce Pepin Co-Op Services customers will see an increase in electric rates. The Courier-Wedge reports that customers recently received an email with the increase in rates. The increase is due to an increase in power costs from Pierce Pepin’s main electric supplier, Dairyland Power, along with the strain on the grid caused by Winter Storm Fern, which cost the Co-Op and additional $500,000-$750,000.

The Wabasha City Council will hold a public hearing on March 3^rd at 6pm to consider minor language changes to Wabasha’s City Ordinance. These changes will allow the Ambulance Commission liasion member to be a voting member of the Commission, removes other membership qualifications, and also clarifies that the Commission meets monthly but is not required to meet unless there is business. Additionally, this cleans up the code so that it is clear that the Ambulance Commission does not manage the operations of the Ambulance Service, but serves in an advisory role to the Council. The hope is the changes will make it easier to recruit and retain members.

The City of Durand’s new GIS Program for Forest Hill Cemetery is complete. Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren says those interested in genealogy and others will be able to access the program.  To access the program, visit the City of Durand Website.

The UW-River Falls Athletic Department is in need of a new head football coach. Matt Walker who had led the team for the last fifteen seasons is leaving the university to accept the head coaching job at Drake University in Des Moines. In a statement, Walker says he appreciates everything that River Falls has given to him and his family..

The driver of two semi truck were taken to hospitals after their big rigs collided Saturday morning in Jackson County. The accident on eastbound I-94 left one of the cabs and trailers on its side. One driver had to be airlifted from the scene. An investigation into the accident is underway.

Winona County Emergency Management Director & Goodview Mayor Ben Klinger has withdrawn from the race for Winona County Sheriff, according to an announcement from Klinger himself. He said after “thoughtful conversations” with his family, he made the decision to withdraw from the race. Klinger added that now is “not the right time to put my family through the demands of a campaign.”

Democratic Governor Tony Evers says he's a no on the currently proposed Republican tax relief measures. Evers says a rebate check is a short sighted way to spend the state's tax surplus. He'd much rather see a base increase in school aid to school districts to help prevent local tax referendums in school districts. Legislative Republicans are offering some school aid as part of their tax relief package, but chided Evers in a letter saying directly providing more school funding would stop districts from finding "efficiencies". Evers also said he has no intention of turning over Wisconsin's voter rolls to the White House. He says that would simply put Donald Trump in charge of the state's elections, something that no one wants.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is reminding folks to be cautious when it comes to trusting the stability of ice on the state's waterways. Recent warmer temperatures means that ice is deteriorating and is often unsafe to be on. A number of recent incidents around the state have left people in precarious situations related to the ice.

At the Capitol, legislation advances to allocate $134 million for detection and mitigation of so-called “forever chemicals” across the state. Representative Jill Billings (D-La Crosse)  represents French Island. On the Assembly floor Friday, Billings said it was "horrifying" to realize some of her constituents had been drinking PFAs contaminated water. After years of Governor Tony Evers and Republican lawmakers trying to reach a deal to allocate dollars from a trust fund, two bipartisan bills passed the Assembly as it wrapped up its session. Representative Jeff Mursau (R-Crivitz), the bills’ author, said $80 million goes to private well owners. Mursau's district includes residents whose wells have been contaminated by years of production of PFAs containing firefighting foams. Evers vetoed a previous bill which he said let PFAs polluters off the hook but is expected to sign two bipartisan bills which passed the Assembly on Friday as the chamber wrapped up its work. Both will need to pass the Senate before going to the governor.    

A man accused of killing his girlfriend will be coming back to Wisconsin to face charges. Robert Chilcote waived extradition yesterday, allowing Marinette County to bring him back to face a homicide charge. Authorities say Chilcote killed Gabriella Cartagena February 4th and dumped her body in Michigan's Menominee County. He was arrested in Minnesota and agreed to return to Wisconsin. No court dates have been set yet.

The Wisconsin Assembly has passed the Beagle Freedom Bill. The animal rights group, Dane 4 Dogs, has been pushing this legislation with hopes of preventing a research dog breeder in Blue Mounds from euthanizing hundreds of beagles at the facility. In a deal with the state, Ridglan Farms has agreed to surrender its license by July 1st of this year. Dane 4 Dogs worries that they will kill their remaining dogs prior to that deadline. Ridglan has been charged with 311 violations of Wisconsin Administrative Code, including failing to handle dogs "in a humane manner that does not cause physical harm or unnecessary injury." The legislation still needs action in the Senate.

Online sports betting in Wisconsin is a step closer to being legal. The State Assembly passed a bill last week that would allow online sports betting through Wisconsin's tribal casinos. However, Wisconsinites would not be able to use popular platforms such as DraftKings or FanDuel. The measure still needs to be approved by the Senate, but it's unclear how many senators will support it. Governor Tony Evers is expected to sign the bill if it reaches his desk.

Over 200-thousand items of children's clothing have been recalled due to a potential burn risk. The Consumer Product Safety Commission said Meijer, a Midwestern superstore chain, has issued a recall for select MCS and Lullaby Lane branded one-piece footed sleepwear for babies. The products violate "the mandatory flammability standard for children's sleepwear, posing risks of burn injuries to children." The specific MCS and Lullaby Lane onesies in question are sized for children ages 12, 18 and 24 months and made in Thailand. The onesies were sold at Meijer locations in Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky from December 2024 through October 2025.

National Invasive Species Awareness Week is great time for planning your spring gardening and learning about invasive plants. Invasive species are nonnative and negatively impact Wisconsin’s ecology and economy or pose threats to human health. Invasive plants can degrade natural habitat and reduce biodiversity and crop yields, impact forest regeneration and even cause damage to infrastructure – see zebra mussels. During National Invasive Species Awareness Week, the DNR says you can help prevent the spread by planning ahead. – Plant native plants in your backyard, on your deck or in your garden space. That helps Wisconsin’s pollinators and natural areas. – Clean boots, pets or any other gear before you leave a site for the day. That keeps seeds from hitchhiking to a new location. – Learn about and manage invasive species where possible. Wintertime is a great opportunity for unwanted woody plant control. 

Local-Regional News Feb 23

 

The Durand-Arkansaw school district saw a drop in students during the January count. Durand-Arkansaw School Superintendent Ryan Nelson says the drop in the student count in January is normal.  The district saw a drop of 6 students in the elementary school and 8 students in the middle-high school.

A Medicare scam is happening in Western Wisconsin. On Friday, Durand Broadcasting received a call claiming that our Medicare Part A and B were not in compliance. Since a business cannot have Medicare, this is nothing more than a scam. Ingrid Kundinger from the Senior Medicare Patrol says the scammers are trying to get your Medicare Account number.  If you receive one of these calls, the best advice is to either not answer the phone or hang up immediately and do not give out any information. If you have concerns about your Medicare account, you can call the number on the back of your Medicare card, or you can also contact ADRC or the Senior Medicare Patrol and they can help you with that call to Medicare.

On Friday Sen. Jeff Smith (D-Eau Claire) and Rep. Christian Phelps (D-Eau Claire) introduced legislation to create a state level Premium Assistance Individual Income Tax Credit to help Wisconsinites maintain access to affordable health coverage. This legislation would allow Wisconsinites who pay monthly premiums for a qualified health plan under the Affordable Care Act to claim a refundable individual income tax credit equal to the amount they could previously claim under the now-expired enhanced tax credits. By immediately addressing the loss of federal enhanced premiums, this bill would work to stabilize the marketplace and help consumers maintain affordable coverage.

Wabasha County Health and Human Services workers have filed an intent to strike. The workers are concerned over Wabasha County’s attempt to take base pay language out of their contracts. According to AFSCME Local 3541, the current contracts to not let new employees be placed at a salary step higher than a current employee with equal or greater experience in the same step. The union says there was no reason to take that language out as the county has always had the ability to ask the union for approval to place someone at a higher step but has never asked. The union’s strike notice triggers a 10-day period under state law in which both parties are required to return to negotiations during that period.

The Rochester City Council is giving the green light to a nine-million-dollar Park and Ride project. The plan will be located off North Broadway near the Rochester Rec Center and is expected to benefit both commuters and area businesses. The new park and ride will add 200 parking spaces and connect to RPT's downtown routes. Rochester officials say the construction cost will be covered by a Federal Transit Authority grant, not affecting the city's budget of tax levy.

Wisconsin's longest-serving Assembly speaker is calling it quits. Rochester's Robin Vos announced yesterday he's going to retire at the end of the year following two decades of serving the 63rd District. The Republican spent the last 13 years as speaker, which he described as the "greatest professional honor of his life." Vos noted he had a mild heart attack in November, and doctors told him he needs to reduce the stress in his life. He added his job is very stressful, but believes he's leaving the Legislature in a strong position.

A bill strengthening Wisconsin's ignition interlock law is heading to the governor's desk. The State Assembly gave unanimous approval to the measure that aims to prevent repeat drunk driving offenses. It could legally allow offenders to drive soon, but only if an interlock device is installed to ensure sober driving. Advocates say the bill would allow faster installation of the devices for repeat and first-time high blood alcohol content offenders. The State Senate already passed a companion version of the bill earlier this year.

Some revisions are being made to policies concerning campaigning on University of Wisconsin campuses. The Board of Regents voted to approve revisions to those policies during its meeting this month due to "new threats to campus safety" and "attitudes towards student privacy." At UW - Madison, the change allows for political campaigning in designated areas of residence halls during certain times of weekdays. People need to register with University Housing ahead of time, and wear a nametag after checking in.

New moms in Wisconsin will soon be eligible to receive expanded Medicaid coverage for up to a year. After passing the state Senate on a nearly unanimous vote last April, the measure was opposed by Assembly Speaker Robin Vos as an expansion of welfare. Representative Pat Snyder said persuading fellow Republicans was a challenge, but he's glad Wisconsin beat Arkansas, which along with Wisconsin were the only two states not to have accepted the expanded coverage. Republican Representative Shae Sortwell of Two Rivers was the lone no vote as the bill passed Thursday, 95-1 and heads to Governor Tony Evers for his signature. The Assembly also unanimously approved and sent to Evers a bill to require insurance to cover additional cancer screenings for women with dense breast tissue.

State Assembly Republicans pass a bill to regulate wake surf boats and establish a sandhill crane hunt. The crane hunt was tacked on to the wake surfing bill in an amendment criticized as not relevant by Democrats before being passed on a voice vote Thursday over their objections The original draft of the wake surfing boat bill (AB 1033) was opposed by a coalition of more than 90 groups, arguing its requirement that the boats operate 200 feet from shore is inadequate.

It's lights, camera, action for a new state endeavor. Governor Tony Evers announced the launch of “Film Wisconsin” during his State of the State address last week. The tax credit application portal makes $5 million available to support Wisconsin filmmakers and attract out-of-state productions shooting in Wisconsin. The program, which is overseen by the Wisconsin Division of Tourism, is aimed at boosting economic growth, tourism and creativity in Wisconsin. The state was one of four in the country without a dedicated film office prior to the creation of “Film Wisconsin.”

The City of Menomonie is announcing a winner in their snowplow naming contest. Folks were encouraged to cast votes on Facebook -- to select a name for a veteran city snow plow. The 35-year-old plow's name -- as chosen by the people -- is Blizzard Wizard.

Local-Regional News Feb 20

 

The City of Durand currently has over $500,000 available in the economic development loan fund. Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren says the fund is to help with job creation in the city. Since itsinception over 30yrs ago, 50 businesses in Durand have taken advantage of the program, including Durand Broadcasting. Those interested in starting or expanding a business are encouraged to contact Durand City Hall about the program.

Dunn County Transit recently reported that 2025 ridership on the Community Route was the highest in history.  Facilities, Parks and Transit Director Austin Witt recently presented the 2025 Transit Annual Report to the Dunn County Board, which included the Community Route amassing 20,660 rides in 2025. That is a 29 percent increase over 2024 and 73 percent above the 10-year average.  The Community Route is Dunn County Transit’s fixed-route bus service in Menomonie. It operates on an hourly loop connecting key destinations such as UW–Stout, downtown, grocery stores, medical facilities and major employers.

Lake City, Minnesota, is declaring Taylor Heise Day. Yesterday, the US Women's Hockey Team defeated Canada two to one in overtime to win the gold medal. On the day of the gold medal game, Lake City declared it "Taylor Heise Day." Heise is a native of Lake City, Minnesota. Heise was credited for the assist on the game-winning, overtime goal that was scored by her teammate Megan Keller.

Township Fire responded to 140 calls in the month of January. Fire officials are worried that the number of calls will continue to increase once the weather warms up in the spring. While the department is currently has approximately 120 volunteers, the increase in calls and long response times could risk volunteer burnout.

The Buffalo-Pepin County ADRC will be holding homestead tax clinics in March. The Clinics will be held March 9^th and 11^th in Mondovi, Cochrane, Alma and Nelson. The homestead tax credit is available to Wisconsin Residents 18yrs and older who paid property taxes or rent in 2025 and have an income less than $24,680. For more information on the workshops, contact Buffalo-Pepin ADRC.

Charges are being filed against a La Crosse County man accused of possessing child pornography. Reports say that child sex abuse material was found on the cell phone of 40-year-old William Clark III [[ The Third ]] last month. If found guilty, Clark could receive a prison sentence of up to 20 years.

An Eau Claire man who recently pleaded guilty to charges in a car theft case is now facing new charges. Ethan Beebe was one of four people charged in 2024 in connection with a series of car thefts. He pleaded guilty to charges earlier this month and is now free on bond while awaiting sentencing. Since entering that guilty plea, Beebe has been charged in an incident in which he is accused of punching a child on Valentine's Day.

First time filings for unemployment are decreasing across Wisconsin. That's according to the U.S. Department of Labor, which says for the week ending February 14th, there were 39-hundred first time filings in the state. That number is about 900 less filings than the week prior. Nationally, there was a decrease in the number of initial filings for the week.

Democratic Governor Tony Evers is urging the Trump Administration to reverse its plan to dramatically increase U‑S beef imports from Argentina. In a new letter to the White House, Evers warns the move threatens American farmers and ranchers, especially in Wisconsin, where livestock and meat generate 34 billion dollars and support more than 43‑thousand jobs. The administration recently approved a four‑fold increase in Argentine beef imports, jumping from 20‑thousand to 80‑thousand metric tons. This also follows major industry disruptions, including Cargill’s plan to close its Milwaukee meat‑processing facility, impacting more than 200 workers.

Wisconsin’s population growth has slowed over the last year. As of July 2025, the state had just under 6 million residents, up about fifteen‑thousand from 2024, a growth rate cut nearly in half from the previous year. The slowdown mirrors a national trend tied to a major drop in international migration. Wisconsin saw a more than 60 percent decrease in migrants arriving from other countries in 2025, falling from over 19‑thousand the year before to just seventy‑two hundred, the lowest since 2020.

Tony Evers says Wisconsin should commit to renewable energy – and explore nuclear power options. In his State of the State address Tuesday night, the Democratic governor said nuclear energy represents the largest source of clean power in the nation and is a safe, reliable, carbon-free option to power homes and businesses. The state will partner with UW-Madison's Department of Nuclear Engineering and Engineering Physics to study future creation of nuclear reactors. In addition, the state plans to purchase certificates representing 225,000 megawatt hours of renewable energy from Wisconsin utility companies every year for the next two decades. That's enough energy to power half a million homes.

Governor Tony Evers is expected to veto a bill which would allow doctors to be sued by people injured from receiving gender affirming care as minors. During heated debate in the state Assembly (last week), Republicans argued it will protect children, while Democrats characterized it as an attack on trans people. The Democratic governor has supported the trans community throughout his time in office and is on record as opposing the legislation, which passed both chambers without Democratic support.

Wisconsin has seen a rise in reported sextortion cases against teens. The Wisconsin Department of Justice says there have already been over 100 sextortion cases reported this year. Special agent Jesse Crowe tells the Journal Sentinel that number only counts tips pulled from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children tipline and not cases reported by Wisconsin law enforcement. Sextortion targets teens, pressuring them into handing over money or sexually explicit pictures by threatening to expose them to peers or parents. A new state law making sextortion a crime was quickly passed by the Legislature last year after two victims died by suicide due to sextortion threats.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources needs volunteer campground hosts for the 2026 season. Hosts help greet campers, share park information and pitch in with light maintenance, all while staying on‑site for a one‑ to two‑month period. The DNR is also seeking equestrian campground hosts at several popular riding destinations, including the Kettle Moraine units, Wildcat Mountain State Park and Governor Knowles State Forest. Openings run from May through November, and volunteers typically work just a few hours a day. Anyone interested can apply through the DNR’s Volunteer Opportunities webpage.

The path to the Apostle Islands Ice is gone after the recent snowstorm. After the winter storm tore up most of Lake Superior's ice on Wednesday, the caves are closing for the season. The ice caves opened Monday for the first time in eleven years, only to be closed the next day because of the winter storm. The National Weather Service in Duluth says sustained subzero temperatures are crucial for forming strong ice miles from shore. Thousands were lucky enough to visit the spectacle on the one day it has been available in over a decade.