Local-Regional News June 25

 

With the resignation of Officer Bonnerup and Officer Tulip on military duty, the Durand Police Department is short staffed. Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren says its why the council approved an agreement with the Pepin County Sheriff’s Department for services in July and August.  The council has also authorized the city administrator to looking into paid on call time and authorize overtime for the Durand Officers so all shifts are covered in July.

The Mondovi City Council has approved the purchase of a new fire truck. Mondovi Mayor Brady Weiss says the new truck will have larger water capacities and enhanced seating for firefighters.   The new truck will replace a 40yr old truck that has a top speed of 40mph. Because of manufacturing backlogs it will take 4yrs for the truck to be built.

Motorists in Buffalo County can expect delays as crews will be doing shoulder work on Hwy 54 between the stoplights and Winona Bridge today. The Buffalo County Highway Department is also working on portions of Hwy I and Hwy AA as highway crews will be working on improvement projects to both roads. Motorists are asked to be patient with the work crews and to slow down in work zones.

Wabasha County has an interim Chief Deputy Sheriff. At this months county board meeting, supervisors approved the appointment of Jason Bade as the interim Chief Deputy. Bade succeeds Curt Struwe who was appointed Sheriff on June 1^st after longtime Sheriff Rodney Bartsh retired on May 31^st. Bade is also running for the sheriff’s position in the fall election.

A home improvement contractor is pleading not guilty to theft charges in Eau Claire County. Reports say that Anthony Brooks accepted payment to begin work in April of 2024 and -- four months later -- the work had still not begun. Brooks entered his pleas yesterday on charges including twelves counts of Theft by Contractor.

A Boston man is receiving a Carnegie Medal for rescuing a driver from the Mississippi River in southeastern Minnesota. The Minnesota Star Tribune reports 33-year-old Dustin Colson Leaning helped save Joseph Krische near the Dresbach rest area along I-90 last year. Officials say Krische had passed out behind the wheel and crashed his pickup into the river. Colson Leaning swam to the truck, pulled Krische out and helped him reach land safely. The Carnegie Hero Fund is also awarding Colson Leaning 75-hundred dollars.

Some Wisconsinites are finding it hard to believe ballots were counted accurately during the last election. A survey done by the Tarrance group showed three in ten residents have little or no confidence those ballots were accurately counted in 2024, noting the time it takes to get the ballots tallied. The poll also found 71 percent of Republicans believe those working in polling places need to be monitored. The results come just weeks before Wisconsin is scheduled to hold its primary election on August 11th.

Appleton public safety leaders are looking to end its use of automated license plate cameras. The move would go beyond ending the city's contract with Flock safety cameras and end working with all companies that make the cameras. The proposal would also remove access to any cameras in the city unless approved by both the common council and the police department.

Nobody is hurt after a massive barn fire at a Washington County dairy farm. At least a dozen fire departments were called to the blaze yesterday at Guttmann Dairy Farm near West Bend, officials saying the two-story structure was likely a total loss. Hay stored inside the barn burned for hours as crews worked to contain the blaze and protect nearby cows. It's unclear what started the fire, but investigators believe it has something to do with an electrical panel located right outside of the structure. Total damage is estimated to be over one-million dollars.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz says the Trump administration is targeting Minnesota. He's now filing 16 Freedom of Information Act requests with federal agencies. Walz is seeking records, communications and writings. The governor's action comes a day after U.S. District Judge Patrick Schiltz blocked six grand jury subpoenas that the Trump administration served against several Minnesota officials, including Governor Walz. The federal judge ruled that using grand jury proceedings to pressure political opponents into taking official action is a blatantly unlawful and unethical use of the grand jury process.

A man accused of serial burglary in northern Wisconsin has been arrested in Fond Du Lac County. Deputies arrested 50-year-old Toby Mullins of Rib Lake this week. Mullins is suspected in a series of burglaries across the state, including in Iron, Sawyer, Price, Taylor, Ashland and Winnebago Counties. Deputies in Iron County say Mullins was breaking into cabins during the offseason and stealing property.

The Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District reminds you – the label on “flushable wipes” is misleading. A photo posted to the district’s Facebook page serves as graphic evidence that unlike toilet paper, wipes don't break down in the pipes. They can build up and create clogs causing sewage backups in homes, damage to equipment, and requiring staff to manually remove them. Wipes of any kind even the so-called "flushable" ones, belong in the trash.

Remember that Wisconsin earned the title of America's Dairyland as we near the end of June Dairy Month. 78th Alice in Dairyland Sarah Hagenow says Wisconsin cheese has won over 76-hundred awards, and some types are still only being made in Wisconsin. When put on the spot, Hagenow says her favorite cheese is Wisconsin aged cheddar. Or maybe gouda. Or mozzarella. She says it's hard to pick with the 600 kinds of cheese made here in Wisconsin.

Local-Regional News June 24

 

A western Wisconsin man is accused of repeated sexual assaults of a child. Charges against 35-year-old Christopher Jensen of Menomonie are filed in Pepin County, where the alleged assaults occurred. Jensen is charged with four felonies including repeated sexual assault of a child, child enticement and possession of child pornography. According to a criminal complaint the victim was 13 years old when the abuse began. The victim told police Jensen recorded one of the assaults on his phone. Jensen has been released on a $20,000 cash bond and is due back in court next month.

The Durand City Council is meeting tonight. Items on the agenda include discussion and possible action on a $124,000 change order in the Madison Street Project to replace the manhole and sewer line on 5^th Ave West between Madison and Main Street, discussion on staffing issues with Durand Police and talking with the Pepin County Sheriff’s Department for assistance and reports from the Mayor and Department Heads. Tonights meeting begins at 6pm at Durand City Hall and will be live streamed on the WRDN website.

The Durand-Arkansaw School Board is meeting tonight. Items on the agenda include discussion and possible action on the 2026-27 Preliminary Budget, renewal of property, casuality, workers compensation and cyber security insurance and reports from the district and building administrators. Tonights meeting begins at 6pm in the board room at Durand-Arkansaw High School.

The City of Mondovi has approved donating $1000 to the Buffalo County Humane Association and target those funds to assist in the trapping and removal of feral cats in the city. Mondovi Mayor Brady Weiss says the Humane Association will target problem areas in the city. Council member Schultz questioned the $1000 amount as too little to address the problem, as it would only cover trapping 12-14 cats.

Xcel Energy has filed a proposal that would force large electric users like data centers to pay for all the electric grid upgrades themselves. In a filing with the Wisconsin Public Service Commission, the company is proposing a Large Load Tariff, would apply to any new customer or significant load expansion of 100 megawatts (MW) or greater. If approved, the tariff would require those customers to cover 100% of the costs required to serve them and not pass the costs onto other customers.

After a review of county facilities, Eau Claire County is considering possibly selling or development of the Eau Claire County Expo Center. An advisory committee is being formed to look at the center to determine if its in the best interest in the county to continue to operate the center as a public-private partnership or sell it. The advisory committee will be made up of members of the public and organizations that use the center.

The verdict is in for a defendant charged in connection with the killing of an Altoona man. The body of 79-year-old Dennis Schattie was found in the river near Rockford Illinois in April of 2022. Investigators believe Schattie was killed in Eau Claire. Brandon Gaston was convicted in Eau Claire County yesterday of being a party to the crime of first-degree intentional homicide and hiding a corpse. Gaston's former girlfriend -- Tracey Clark -- pleaded no contest to a charge of reckless homicide in the case last year.

A woman facing child abuse charges in Trempealeau County has now heard the court's verdict. Unlicensed daycare provider Maegan Valley was found guilty yesterday of charges including child abuse-recklessly causing great harm and neglecting a child where the consequence is great harm. The case involved a one-year-old child who was taken to a hospital in 2024 with second and third degree burns covering nearly a quarter of his body.

A Chippewa Falls man is facing drug charges in La Crosse. Thirty-nine-year-old Star Yang was arrested Monday night after police say they found him with fentanyl and cocaine inside his vehicle. Yang appeared in court yesterday where a bond was set at ten-thousand dollars.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court strikes down a challenge against the Menominee Tribe adding property to the reservation's trust. In a 4 to 3 decision Tuesday, the court upheld a dismissal of a lawsuit from the Legend Lake Property Owners Association that attempted to stop a tribal member from buying properties on Legend Lake in Menominee County and handing them back to the tribe. Liberal justices on the court ruled that a 1970s law re-establishing federal recognition for the Menominee Tribe and establishing its sovereign status means landowners' covenants do not apply. The move allows roughly 40 properties on the lake to once again return to tribal regulation, after similar rulings at the federal level.

It's a return of an unhealthy sight on Wisconsin lakes: blue-green algae. Recent sunny days following heavy rains have bloomed algae across southern Wisconsin, including on Madison's Lake Monona. The D N R says fertilizer and other runoffs can prompt the blooms of single cell plants, and winds easily move the resulting slime into piles on the shore. Some of that algae can be toxic, so just keep out of the water if you see it and keep pets out of the water as well to prevent serious illness.

Minnesota health insurers are seeking a double-digit rate increase for 2027. Medica is asking for an average increase of about 13 percent on individual MNsure plans. While HealthPartners is seeking a 12-percent increase and Blue Cross-Blue Shield of Minnesota is seeking a ten-percent increase. Regulators haven't approved the proposed increases, but final rates are expected by October 1st. About 125-thousand people bought coverage through MNsure as of last month.

Watch out for "free trials" you sign up for online. Lisa Schiller with Better Business Bureau of Wisconsin says you should be wary when a "free" trial requires you to pay anything upfront. In most cases, the company will have asked you to pay for shipping and handling, or to keep a credit card on file in case you want to keep the service. Be sure to read the fine print when you sign up, and mark down when you need to cancel that trial before you have to pay. Also be sure to keep track of any recurring subscriptions you do have, and regularly check your credit card or bank statements for irregularities.

The Madison School District has a new cell phone policy on the books. By law, all Wisconsin school districts must create rules surrounding student phone use by July 1st. On Monday night, the Madison school board, in a 5-2 vote, approved a bell-to-bell ban which covers phones, Smartwatches, Airpods and tablets. In grades K through 8, devices must be put away all day. For high schoolers, they have an exception to use devices during lunch - otherwise the items must also be stored for the day, including between classes, which was something supported by a number of parents and teachers.

A “stinky flower” is ready to bloom in Milwaukee. A corpse flower named Penelope is expected to bloom inside the Tropical Dome at Milwaukee’s Mitchell Park Domes at any hour today or Wednesday according to the Milwaukee Domes Alliance. The timing is not exact. Penelope's last bloom took place two years ago and once the bloom opens it lasts 24 to 48 hours. It releases a strong odor as part of the blooming process, which gives the corpse flower its name. Updates on Penelope’s progress are expected to be posted on the Milwaukee Domes Alliance Facebook page.

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.