Local-Regional News Sept 16

 

The Durand-Arkansaw School Board is meeting tonight. Items on the agenda include a report on preliminary student enrollment, consideration of the 2026-2027 district continuous performance report and reports from district and building administrators. Tonights meeting begins at 6pm in the board room at Durand-Arkansaw High School.

The Pepin County Board is meeting tonight. Items on the agenda include discussion of the 2027 Budget timeline and goals, approval of changes to the Rural Functional Classification System in Pepin County, and county board committee reports. Tonights meeting begins at 7pm in the board room at the Pepin County Government Center in Durand.

The Dunn County Board is meeting tonight. Items on the agenda include approval of the hazard mitigation plan, addressing the 2027-2028 funding gap and establishing a plan to maintain compliance with county fund balance policy. Tonights meeting begins at 7pm at the Dunn County Government Center in Menomonie.

A Menomonie woman is facing arson charges after four fires at properties she lived at. Authorities are accusing Marquetta Rodey with setting fires to her home in September 2023, then again in July of 2024 along with an apartment building she was living at in October 2025. Authorities say that Rodey collected over $500,000 in insurance money. She is charged with four counts of arson with the intent to defraud. She will be in court on October 20.

Authorities are investigating a fatal crash that happened Tuesday morning on Highway 53. The accident happened around 11 a.m., just south of Clairemont Avenue. Police say a 65-year-old Eau Claire woman veered off the side of the roadway and into the concrete median -- suffering fatal injuries. Her name has not yet been released.

Wabasha County Highway 9 from Hwy 33 south to 670^th street is closed for the rest of the month as crews replace a bridge. Crews will replace the bridge with large culverts. That project is expected to be completed by mid October.

Authorities are releasing the identity of a man who was killed in a crash in Red Wing. The collision happened Monday on Highway 61 near Mile Post 89. Minnesota State Patrol officials say 71-year-old Michael Murphy's vehicle crossed the median, struck a guardrail and rolled several times. Authorities say the roads were wet at the time of the crash.

Governor Tony Evers visited multiple University of Wisconsin campuses on Tuesday as part of his annual back-to-school tour. Evers bragged on higher education in the state during a stop at UW-La Crosse, saying that 'whether it's a technical college system, or a UW System, higher education in Wisconsin is clearly better than in almost any other state in the nation.' The governor yesterday also visited the UW-Oshkosh and UW-Stout campuses.

Charges are being filed against a former nurse at the Tomah Veterans Affairs Memorial Center. Fifty-three-year-old Beth Holtz is accused of intentionally depriving a dying hospice patient of oxygen. The incident happened in August of last year, with Holtz reportedly telling a fellow staffer that she hoped the patient would die before the end of her shift because reporting his passing would be easier than writing up a fall that he had experienced earlier. Holtz was taken into custody yesterday on a charge of intentionally abusing a patient causing great bodily harm.

Wisconsin’s regular waterfowl hunting seasons begin this month. The goose season opens Wednesday in the Northern and Southern Zones, while duck season opens later this month in the North. Hunters are reminded to have required licenses, stamps, and federal HIP registration before heading afield. The Department of Natural Resources also recommends precautions when handling harvested birds because avian influenza remains present in wild waterfowl. Season dates and regulations are available through the DNR's website.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court will hear arguments this week on the state's congressional maps. Two lawsuits claim the state's congressional districts are illegally gerrymandered. Liberal legal groups argue the maps are unfairly drawn and have helped Republicans maintain a 6-2 advantage in Wisconsin's U.S. House delegation. One lawsuit claims the maps amount to partisan gerrymandering, while another argues they're designed to protect incumbents and reduce electoral competition. Republican lawmakers and congressional representatives oppose the challenges and say lower court panels were right to dismiss them. For now, the Supreme Court is only deciding whether those dismissals should stand.

Construction is set to begin this month on a 700-million-dollar soybean processing plant in Evansville. CHS Incorporated says the facility on 300 acres of farmland will be capable of processing 80 million bushels of soybeans a year into livestock feed and oil for products like biodiesel. Project leaders had briefly paused development in 2024 to wait for clearer federal policies, but recent EPA announcements convinced the company to press forward. The plant marks the most expensive single development project in Evansville's history and is expected to open in the fall of 2028.

The Wisconsin Department of Justice is pushing for tougher anti-robocall rules. Attorney General Josh Kaul says current safeguards aren't doing enough to keep scammers off the nation's phone network. A multi-state coalition wants phone companies to do a better job vetting providers that route calls, increase monitoring, and strengthen caller ID authentication requirements. The DOJ says Americans received nearly 30 billion scam robocalls and texts last year and lost almost two billion dollars to fraud.

More than 163-thousand students are enrolled at UW System schools this fall. The Universities of Wisconsin have been providing enrollment estimates based on Day One counts since fall 2020, and after three years of consecutive growth, overall enrollment levels remain steady. Enrollment decreased approximately 1% across the 13 campuses including significant decreases in international students. Estimates show fall 2026 enrollment at 163,260, a decline of 1,732 overall, with 1,100 of those being international students. Enrollments at the three largest UWs – Madison, Milwaukee and Green Bay, account for more than half of the UW System total.

New BCA data shows reported crime fell sharply across Minnesota in 2025. Murders dropped 23-percent, from 172 in 2024 to 132 last year. Violent crime fell 14-percent in the Twin Cities metro and nine-percent across the rest of the state. Robberies, carjackings and vehicle thefts also saw double-digit declines. The BCA briefly pulled the report after initially omitting the murders of Melissa and Mark Hortman.

The Badger State is a happy state, just not as much as you may think. A recent study by finance website WalletHub ranked the happiest states in America and whether it has an impact on people's daily lives. It used factors such as depression and unemployment rates, income growth, and more. Wisconsin fell into the above average category and ranked 27th overall. The state's highest rating came in the work environment category at number 18. In case you were wondering, Hawaii was ranked as the happiest state in the country.

Local-Regional News Sept 15

 

The Pierce County Sheriff’s Department is reporting the release of a sex offender back to Pierce County. 61Yr old Todd London is being released today by the Wisconsin Department of Corrections after serving his sentence for 1^st Degree Sexual Assault of a child. London is listed as being homeless and will be required to wear a GPS monitor, have no unsupervised contact with minors and have no contact with the victim.

The Durand Police have seen an uptick in property upkeep complaints. Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren says the police will write a citation if its something noticeable, but most of the complaints are called into the city.

Durand-Arkansaw School Resource Officer Schue is settling into his new position. Durand-Arkansaw School Superintendent Ryan Nelson says that Schue’s education experience will serve him well.

One person was killed in a single-vehicle accident near Red Wing on Monday. According to the Minnesota State Patrol, a 71yr old man from Red Wing was traveling on 7^th Street and attempting to go northbound onto Hwy 61 when he lost control of the vehicle and it went into the median, through the guardrail, and rolled onto its side. Roads were wet at the time of the accident.

The City of Wabasha and Three Rivers Community Action are looking for a child care provider to operate out of the historic Wabasha Mittle Schule building. The Wabasha Port Authority will provide 18 months of free rent, a fully equipped classroom along with business and licensing assistance. The goal is to make launching or relocating a childcare business more attainable and create another childcare option in Wabasha.

No one is injured after a fire in a four-unit townhouse in Eau Claire. Crews were dispatched Sunday morning and found heavy smoke and flames coming from a center unit. All occupants were safely evacuated, with the American Red Cross assisting displaced residents. Damage to the building and contents is estimated at one-point-two million dollars. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

An Eau Claire tattoo artist is pleading guilty to charges of sexual assault. Christopher Ardoin -- a former tattoo artist at the Skin Prints Studio -- had been accused of inappropriately touching three women, including two clients and a coworker. On Friday, he pleaded guilty to two counts of third degree sexual assault and no contest to three counts of fourth degree sexual assault.

A former Western Wisconsin fifth-grade teacher is pleading guilty to sex crimes charges. Former Hudson educator Abigail Faust pleaded guilty yesterday to charges including child enticement-sexual contact and sexual assault of a child. She will be sentenced at a later date.

Gas prices continue to climb in Western Wisconsin. Triple-A reports the average price of regular fuel in Western Wisconsin is now four-19 per gallon -- 24-cents more per-gallon than it was last week. The average cost of a gallon of regular fuel in the State of Wisconsin is four-oh-eight per gallon -- 27-cents-per gallon more versus the week before.

Wisconsin hunters need to be sure of their target before pulling the trigger. The Department of Natural Resources is urging hunters to make sure they're not mistaking elk for white-tailed deer during hunting season. Elk sometimes roam outside the state's northern and central elk management zones, especially during the fall breeding season. Elk are larger than deer, have different antler shapes, and distinctive markings, including tan rump patches and black legs. Some may also be wearing orange tracking collars. Accidentally shooting an elk can result in fines and the loss of hunting privileges. Hunters can find identification guides on the DNR website.

Everwood Farmstead Foundation has announced ten-thousand dollars in grants has been awarded to school arts educators through its Aspiring Artists Fund. The grants will help fund creative projects and classroom resources for students across western Wisconsin. Foundation leaders say the goal is to support innovative arts programs and give young artists more opportunities to learn and grow. The organization has contributed more than 70-thousand dollars to local school programs since 2012. Recipients were recognized for projects ranging from music and visual arts, as well as programs designed to foster creativity and student engagement.

De Pere police officers are no longer allowed to use Flock automated license plate reader cameras. De Pere Police Chief Jeremy Muraski made the announcement Monday, citing concerns over data integrity and public trust. Muraski says Flock violated agreements by disclosing data without authorization, including offering to sell up to five years of traffic analytics. The cameras will be covered immediately, but will remain in place until they're removed by November 15th.

An athlete is dead after suffering a medical emergency during the IRONMAN 70.3 Wisconsin competition in Madison. Officials said the incident happened during the swimming portion of the event Saturday morning. UW Lake Rescue personnel brought the athlete to shore and began life-saving measures before emergency crews took over. The athlete was transported to a hospital, where they later died. IRONMAN USA confirmed the death and is not releasing further information out of respect for the family's privacy.

The Wisconsin Department of Justice has joined a coalition of states in two lawsuits challenging Trump administration changes to the Endangered Species Act. The suits target new federal rules that make it easier to alter or develop habitat used by threatened and endangered wildlife. State attorneys general argue the changes weaken long-standing protections and could speed the decline of vulnerable species. Wisconsin officials say habitat loss is already the leading cause of species decline and note the state is home to 233 endangered or threatened plants and animals.

The SS Badger won't be making trips across Lake Michigan today. The National Weather Service is predicting gale force winds on the Great Lakes for Tuesday, with possible 12 to 20 foot waves. The operators of the car ferry say that will make the crossings far too dangerous and have cancelled all service. The Badger will attempt to run on Wednesday, weather permitting.

Wisconsin archery deer hunters may want to focus on food sources as the season gets underway. DNR Interim Deer Specialist Derek Johnson says red oak acorn production looks strong across much of the state, making food sources a key factor in early season deer movement. Hunters are also encouraged to monitor local water conditions, especially in drier areas. Meanwhile, the DNR reminds hunters that baiting and feeding restrictions remain in place to help slow the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease. Reporting natural resource violations can be done confidentially through the state's 24-hour TIP-WDNR hotline.

Local-Regional News Sept 11

 

Friday

The Madison Street Project in Durand continues to stay ahead of schedule. Durand Mayor Patrick Mililren says the second layer of blacktop could be done next week.  The substantial completion date is October 15.

The city of Mondovi is considering changes to its ATV/UTV ordinance. Mondovi Mayor Brady Weiss says the city needs to have some regulations in place for proper use of alternative transportation methods, including e-bikes.  The council hopes to have some new rules to vote on at future council meetings.

Today is the final day for those interested in applying for an open seat on the Durand-Arkansaw School Board. Durand-Arkansaw School Superintendent Ryan Nelson says the open seat is for a city of Durand representative on the board, and applications are due today.  The open seat is a result of Cathy Asher resigning from the board as she is moving out of the city of Durand.

The Annual Laura Ingalls Wilder Days is this Saturday and Sunday in Pepin. Deb Fisher with Laura Days says there will be many different activities on Saturday.  On Sunday there is a pie-eating contest and the grand parade. For a complete list of events visit Laura Days Dot Org.

Prison is being ordered for a man involved in a crash earlier this year in La Crosse. Back in January, police say Brandon Foster was under the influence of methamphetamine and THC when he crashed -- first into another vehicle -- and later into the La Crosse County Law Enforcement Center. Foster pleaded guilty this week to charges including causing injury by operating a vehicle under a controlled substance and was sentenced to two years of probation.

Westby Cooperative Creamery in Vernon County is revealing results of a 14-million-dollar expansion. The co-op announced last year plans to install new refrigeration systems, 10-thousand-gallon tanks and a 30-thousand-gallon milk silo for the state's only cottage cheese manufacturing facility. With the installations complete, the results are being seen this week. The updates are expected to allow for an increase in production volume at the creamery and a reduction in production time.

The Osseo Community Foundation is receiving grant funding aimed at helping to renovate Stoddard Park. Twenty-five-thousand dollars is coming to the foundation through a 2026 Kubota Hometown Proud Grant. The funding will help to cover the cost of new playground equipment for the park.

There's rarely such a thing as free money, especially when it comes to college students. Wisconsin Better Business Bureau spokesperson Lisa Schiller says scammers have been posing as agencies offering cash to freshmen. "Guaranteeing that they can help reduce your loan payments or offer some type of a grant." Schiller says the scammers will likely request your personal and banking information to steal your identity, and also request a "service fee" in order to get the money they are offering. If you get one of these messages, report it to the B B B or Wisconsin Consumer Protection.

An eastern Wisconsin community is now the 14th in the state to remove fluoride from their city drinking water. The Two Rivers City Council voted 7-2 Tuesday night to remove the chemical after putting it in the water for the last 70 years. The practice of adding fluoride started in the 1940s in the U.S. as a way to help prevent cavities. City Manager Kyle Kordell brought the discussion to the council in July since it’s something the city has always done and wanted to know if the practice is something Two Rivers should continue to do. Most of the council members who voted to take the fluoride out felt that having the chemical in the water should be a personal choice for residents and not "forced on them." Those who wanted to keep fluoride in the water were concerned about low-income families not being able obtain it if they want it.

The Madison Common Council has rejected two requests for funding tied to the deadly police shooting on Williamson Street over the summer. This comes after the July shooting of Corey Ruiz sparked days of demonstrations and renewed calls for police accountability. One proposal would've provided additional funding for Madison's independent police oversight office, while another would've created a recovery program for businesses affected by the protests and encampment that followed the shooting. Council members debated the requests during Tuesday night's meeting before voting them down. Supporters argued the funding could've helped address community concerns and assist impacted businesses.

A 36 year old tradition comes to an end. Since 1990, the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association has hosted a gubernatorial debate. The WBA represents radio and television stations across the state. They put out an invitation last month for an October 9th debate to the candidates, Republican Tom Tiffany and Democrat David Crowley. Crowley's campaign manager said he was looking forward to participating in the debate. Tiffany told a conservative radio host this week that he felt one debate was sufficient. There is one, confirmed, scheduled debate for October 21st. It will be hosted by Milwaukee TV Station WISN.

Local-Regional News Sept 10

 

Security Financial Bank is reminding customers that scammers continue to target Paycheck Protection Program loan recipients, using publicly available loan information to make fraudulent communications appear legitimate. Scammers are impersonating financial institutions or other organizations and requesting repayment of loans and sensitive information. If you receive a call, text or email do not click on any links and do not give out any personal information. If you have any questions, contact your local financial institution in person.

The City of Mondovi Fire Department is purchasing a used pumper truck. Mondovi Mayor Brady Weiss says the pumper will replace a 1986 truck that has failed its latest inspections.  The cost of the truck is $240,000, and comes with a 1yr warranty. The city will have a chance to return the truck if it does not pass inspection when it arrives later this fall.

Students, staff and parents are adjusting to the new release times for the Durand-Arkansaw School District. District Superintendent Ryan Nelson says that things seem to be going well at the Middle School High School, but its still a work in progress at Caddie Woodlawn Elementary.  Nelson advises motorists to avoid the elementary school at dismissal time as its very busy, and he thanks parents for their patience during the transition.

Governor Evers has approved a $554,000 contract with Lunda Construction of Black River Falls for a project rehabilitating the Hwy 35 bridge over Waumandee Creek northwest of Fountain City. The project will make repairs to the bridge deck, overlay the deck with concrete, and replace the wing walls. The project will start on Monday and Hwy 35 will remain open to a single lane of traffic controlled by traffic signals. That project should be completed in late October.

Dunn County has identified a $1.4 million budget gap for 2027. According to County Manager Dan Dunbar, the projected shortfall is a result of state-imposed limits on property tax increases, employee compensation and benefit increases, inflation, human services placement expenses and increasing operations expenses. While the county executive committee is discussing a plan to use $700,000 from the County’s fund balance to offset the gap, department heads are being asked to find $700,000 in cuts. Dunbar warned that there will be no easy cuts and services to the public will be affected. A public hearing on the budget will be held in the middle of October with the full board approving the budget by November 10^th.

Alcivia Co-Op’s Durand office is moving. The office is moving from its current location on Hwy 10 to a new office at N6387 Hwy 25 on Friday and will have regular business hours of 8am-4pm Monday thru Friday. The Co-Op says no services will be affected by the move.

One person is dead after a two-vehicle crash in Jackson County. The JCSO says the accident happened Tuesday morning involved a semi tractor trailer and an SUV. EMS arrived on the crash and found one of driver's was dead. The driver of the other vehicle was not taken to the hospital for treatment. The incident remains under investigation.

Rochester police are investigating several fentanyl overdoses over the Labor Day weekend, including two that resulted in deaths. Authorities say a preliminary probe shows that narcotics that contained fentanyl may have led to the pair of deaths. Officers also took life-saving measures for other people who may have been overdosing.

Absentee ballots are in the mail for the November election, ahead of a ruling on President Trump's attempt to change mail in voting. The Wisconsin State Journal reports nearly 50,000 ballots have been printed or mailed by clerks. The White House made an emergency appeal to the US Supreme Court on Sunday to lift a stay on his executive order altering how the U S Postal Service handles ballots. It would require U S P S, and not the states, to maintain a absentee voter list and only allow ballots to be sent to those homes. A federal judge in Massachusetts issued the stay last month after multiple states, including Wisconsin, sued to challenge the President's executive order.

The State Patrol is urging parents to check their children's car seats. The Wisconsin State Patrol wants parents to double-check that children are riding in the correct seat for their age and size and that the seats are installed correctly. State data shows a child under 13 was injured or killed in a Wisconsin crash every five hours this year. Officials say nearly half of all car seats are installed incorrectly and remind parents to check the manual for their seat and make sure the seat is dully secure when in use. Wisconsin law requires children to remain in age-appropriate car seats or booster seats until meeting minimum age, height, and weight requirements.

Wisconsin education officials are getting a $10.5 million boost in their effort to fill special education classrooms. The five-year funding award will expand the STAIRS-WI program, which recruits and trains new special educators through a paid apprenticeship model. The grant will also support mentoring and professional development to help retain educators. State data shows it is difficult to retain special education teachers, with fewer than 44% teachers still in Wisconsin public schools by their eighth year.

Wisconsin deer hunters could see plenty of action this fall. The DNR says deer numbers are strong across much of the state after a third consecutive mild winter, with healthy reproduction and good survival rates. Officials say hunters should focus on food sources, including red oak acorn crops. As archery season gets underway, the DNR is also stressing safety, reminding hunters to wear a full-body harness when using tree stands. Meanwhile, chronic wasting disease testing will be available statewide, with extra sampling planned in parts of central and northern Wisconsin.

Attendance at this year's Minnesota State Fair is falling short of last year's total. More than one-point-nine-million people attended the 12-day fair, which is about 17-thousand fewer than in 2025. The fair set attendance records on its first two days, including more than 204-thousand visitors on day two. Attendance dropped below last year's numbers on most weekdays as heat and humidity moved into the area. Around 160-thousand people attended on Labor Day, several thousand more than last year.

Summerfest has announced its first headliner for 2027. Festival organizers announced Tuesday that the Grammy-winning group Zac Brown Band will perform June 25th at the American Family Insurance Amphitheater. The show is scheduled for the second night of Summerfest's opening weekend. Tickets go on sale September 11th at 10 a.m. through the festival's website, Ticketmaster and the venue's box office. Each concert ticket includes admission to Summerfest on the day of the show.

Local-Regional News Sept 9

 

The City of Durand is meeting tonight. Items on the agenda include pay requests for both the Madison Street and Memorial Park Band-Shell projects, along with reports from the Mayor and Department Heads. Tonights meeting begins at 6 pm at Durand City Hall.

The City of Mondovi is exploring ending its contract with Flock Cameras early. The city has 2 cameras and pays $9000 a year. Mondovi Mayor Brady Weiss directed the city administrator to review the contract for any early termination. Weiss says he believes the cameras are a valuable tool for police to solve crimes, but is the city getting its bang for its buck paying for the cameras?  If the city decides to terminate the contract, it will be decided at a future council meeting.

42-locations in Wisconsin, including Waltz Ace Hardware in Ellsworth and the Dairy Queen near Hwy 93 in Eau Claire are receiving grants to build electric vehicle charging stations. Governor Tony Evers and WDOT made the announcement Tuesday. The project, which totals 25-million dollars, was secured through the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program. The charging stations are designed to ensure Wisconsinites and visitors will have access to charging stations needed to travel from point A to point B in the state. Governor Evers says "expanding our electric charging infrastructure and helping families save money on fuel is as important as ever."

A ceremony will be held at Veteran’s Park in Wabasha tomorrow to dedicate a new female Marine statue. The statue represents women who have served in the military, and was donated by the Wabasha American Legion Auxiliary Unit 50. Catherine Gallanberger, American Legion Commander, will preside over the ceremony, which begins at 10am tomorrow.

The Chippewa Valley Regional Airport is petitioning the State of Wisconsin for funding for airport improvements. The Airport would like to use state and federal aid to replace equipment in the air traffic control tower, construct additional hangar space, purchase new snow removal equipment, and make terminal improvements. While the airport has filed the petition, it could be a few years before all the projects are completed.

In Monroe County, one person is dead and five others are injured after a collision involving an Amish buggy. The Monroe County Sheriff's Office says the buggy was hit by an SUV this past Friday afternoon on Highway 131 in Tomah Township. A 37-year-old woman from the buggy was killed, while the SUV's driver and three people from the buggy -- ages 18 months to 24-years-old -- were taken to a hospital for care.

Students are returning today to Central High School in La Crosse. The school was closed yesterday after the discovery of damage cause by a burst water pipe. Clean-up will continue over the next few weeks, with the school's main office and Library Media Center having sustained the most damage.

A suspect charged in the killing of a teenager in Sawyer County is entering his plea. Sixteen-year-old Nolan Trotterchaude reportedly met up with 18-year-old Brennen Boswell and 19-year-old Xzavier Barreras back in June, with Trotterchaude interested in purchasing a firearm from one of the men. Prosecutors say Barreras fatally shot the young teen. Boswell yesterday pleaded not guilty to charges of felony murder and armed robbery.

The measles outbreak in southwestern Wisconsin is growing. Data from the state Department of Health Services shows there are now 151 confirmed cases of the illness, plus six probable cases. That's a jump of 15 cases from the previous count last week. Lafayette has the most confirmed cases at 71 and also has the six probable cases. Iowa County isn't far behind at 62 confirmed cases, followed by Grant County at 18. The agency noted the growing cases show an ongoing transmission among those who were previously identified as having the measles.

Senior homeowners are being warned about a fake property tax relief scam spreading online. The Wisconsin Department of Revenue is warning homeowners about an AI-generated video falsely claiming the federal government is offering property tax breaks for seniors. The video tells viewers to request a so-called "Senior Homeowner Tax Review Request" or "IRS Form 1098-SR," but state officials say neither exists. Revenue Secretary David Casey says the scam is designed to steal Social Security numbers, banking information, or fees for bogus filing services. Officials say property taxes are handled by state and local governments, not the federal government.

A new federal grant is helping the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources expand public hunting opportunities across the state. The agency has received three million dollars for its Voluntary Public Access Program, which pays private landowners to open their property to hunters. Program coordinator Gabriella LeFevre says it's the largest investment the program has ever received and will allow the DNR to offer stronger incentives to landowners. Officials say participating landowners see value in sharing their land with the public. Hunters can find participating properties and access maps through the DNR website.

It's peak season for some bothersome insects in southern Wisconsin. We can blame a mild winter in addition to an early, dry spring for a population boom. Pest control operators have been seeing a surge in calls for yellowjackets and hornets, which belong to the same family but are different. Yellowjackets are smaller, about a half an inch, while hornets can be an inch and a half. Yellowjackets will go after your food and drink and are quite aggressive about it. Hornets, grumpy pests themselves, are less likely to stalk us humans. And unlike honeybees, hornets and yellowjackets don't die after stinging. They do die from insecticides, of course or consecutive, hard frosts.

Wardens warn of increased boat crashes this summer. A report from the Department of Natural Resources shows 22 boat crashes so far this year, up 45 percent from last year. In most cases, at least one person involved in the crashes was not wearing a life vest. A drought statewide has caused water levels to drop on many lakes and rivers, making it more likely for boats to ground or hit debris in the water. Wardens also remind boaters to stay sober while driving, and to keep clear of other people on the water.

Republican nominee for Minnesota governor Lisa Demuth is defending close to three million dollars in outside PAC funding. She recently received the campaign donation from Restore Sanity, which is funded by Wisconsin billionaire Richard Uihlein, who is a top donor to President Trump. She denies any coordination between her and the outside group. Meanwhile, Demuth has been focusing on the nine-billion-dollar fraud scandal that forced DFL Governor Tim Walz to not run for a third term. She also holds opponent U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar accountable for the fraud crisis

Two Wisconsin cities rank among some of the best places to retire in the country. Finance website WalletHub recently published a study aiming to determine the top cities for retirees to hang their hat after a long career. The research used cost of living and housing availability as some of the factors when ranking the top 182 cities. Madison was the highest-ranked in Wisconsin and 11th overall in the country, receiving high marks in the quality of life category. Milwaukee also made the cut and was ranked 73rd overall.

Local-Regional News Sept 8

 

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is investigating a deadly ATV crash in Trempealeau County. The accident happened Friday morning in the Town of Arcadia. Reports say a 70-year-old man was involved in a rollover crash on Square Bluff Road and later died. The victim's name has not been released.

One person is dead after a truck vs motorcycle accident in Wabasha County on Saturday. According to the Minnesota State Patrol, 69yr old Donald Batty of Pine Island was traveling westbound on Hwy 60 near Glasgow and collided with an eastbound truck. Batty died from his injuries, while the driver and passengers of the truck were uninjured. That accident remains under investigation.

One person is dead after a Sunday night motorcycle crash in Trempealeau County. The accident happened just after 11:30 p.m. near East Main Street and Washington Street in Arcadia. Authorities say a motorcycle rider struck a utility pole and later died at Tri-County Gundersen Hospital.

Two people were injured when a motorcycle hit a deer in Trempealeau County on Sunday. According to the Trempealeau County Sheriff’s Department, 50yr old Joshua Storlie and passenger 50yr old Jamie Storlie of Eau Claire were traveling on Hwy 121 when they struck the deer and fell off the motorcycle. Both were taken to the hospital with severe injuries.

The Mondovi City Council is meeting tonight. Items on the agenda include reports from the mayor and city department heads, along with approval of operator’s licenses for employess at two businesses. Tonights meeting begins at 5:30 at the Marten Center in Mondovi.

The Durand-Arkansaw School District is exploring opportunities to expand the Community Education Program for the area. The district created a short survey for community members asking what types of classes, activities, and programs would interest the community. The survey takes a few minutes and is available on the district Facebook page or website.

A burst water pipe will leave Central High School in La Crosse closed today. School officials discovered the third-floor situation over the weekend and say water damage was done to multiple classrooms. Hopes are for the school to be open to students tomorrow.

In Clark County, a man charged in the killing of his two children is pleading no contest. Investigators say that Victor Acosta stabbed his kids and his wife in July of 2024 at an Abbotsford trailer park. His wife survived, while the children did not. Acosta has pleaded no contest to charges of first degree homicide and attempted first degree homicide. He will be sentenced at a later date.

A new March of Dimes report considers Houston County a maternity care desert. The designation means the county has no birthing facility and no obstetric clinicians who attend births. Houston County had moderate access to maternity care in the nonprofit's 2024 report. County officials say most local births take place at Mayo Clinic or Emplify hospitals elsewhere in the region, with transportation remaining a major barrier for some families. March of Dimes says about one in four Minnesota counties are now considered maternity care deserts.

Compeer Financial is warning customers of suspicious phone calls and text messages being sent to Farm Credit and Compeer Financial clients. The caller is impersonating Farm Credit associations and attempting to get personal information. These calls and messages are not originating from Compeer, any other Farm Credit association, AgriBank or any authorized service provider. If you receive one of these calls hang up. Do not give out any personal information.

The man convicted of killing ten-year-old Lily Peters is being ordered to pay more than 33-thousand-dollars in restitution. The money will go to the state's crime victim compensation program. This comes after 18-year-old Carson Peters-Berger pleaded guilty last week to first-degree intentional homicide. Peters-Berger was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of extended supervision after 25 years.

All Flock cameras in the city of Manitowoc are now deactivated. Local officials shut down the license plate readers on Saturday, citing public privacy concerns over the devices and the information they gather. City leaders say they have not had any real issues with the cameras locally, but are responding to an outcry from citizens. Wisconsin's U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin and Ron Johnson have both said they want restrictions on data collected by Flock readers.

A man is being ordered to stand trial after authorities found six human skulls and other remains in his basement. Court records show Benjamin Larson is charged with possession of stolen property after forensic exams identified three of the skulls as Native American artifacts. Investigators also discovered other human bones and a full skeleton inside a glass-covered coffin, along with alleged shrines to serial killers Ed Gein and John Wayne Gacy. Authorities are investigating the origins of the remaining bones. Prosecutors said additional charges could be possible.

FEMA has approved 36-million dollars in post-disaster funding for multiple states. Eighty-hundred-thousand dollars is going to Wisconsin Emergency Management for costs related to severe storms and flooding in the Milwaukee metro area in 2025. A press release from the U.S. DHS says more than 139-thousand dollars was approved for the state for the second phase of a flood study that will look into the causes of the flooding on a major road in Wrightstown, evaluate potential mitigation options and support the development of a future project to protect the community.

The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection is accepting applications for its Food Security in Wisconsin grant program. Program manager April Yancer says the funding helps stock pantry shelves with fresh Wisconsin-grown fruits, vegetables, dairy products, proteins and other locally produced foods. Yancer says the program not only helps food assistance organizations meet rising demand, but also creates partnerships between local farmers and food pantries. State officials say the grants support access to healthy, culturally relevant foods. More information is available on the DATCP website.

A southeast Minnesota diocese's insurer is agreeing to pay 30-million dollars in clergy sexual abuse claims. The settlement with U.S. Fire Insurance is expected to affect claims involving more than 145 survivors. The claims had been delayed by the Diocese of Winona-Rochester's 2018 bankruptcy and other factors. Attorneys say the insurer was responsible for claims involving abuse by priests in Rochester and Winona dating back to the 1970s. Three cases decided last year resulted in nearly 17-million dollars in jury awards.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is announcing the winners in this year's hunting stamp design contest. Artists from all over the state submitted designs for wild turkey, pheasant and waterfowl stamps. Ritch Miller of Hazelhurst won the waterfowl contest, Sam Timm of Wautoma has the first-place pheasant design and Douglas Schuster of Hatley won in the wild turkey category. Hunters are required to purchase digital versions of these stamps to take game birds each year. Collectors can also purchase physical stamps from the Wisconsin DNR.

Local-Regional News Sept 7

 

The missing Dunn County Woman has been found safe. According to the Dunn County Sheriffs Department, 56yr old Wendy Champion was found on Friday. Champion went missing on September 2 from a residence in Wheeler. The Department thanked the community for the support in finding Champion.

Compeer Financial is warning customers of suspicious phone calls and text messages being sent to Farm Credit and Compeer Financial clients. The caller is impersonating Farm Credit associations and attempting to get personal information. These calls and messages are not originating from Compeer, any other Farm Credit association, AgriBank or any authorized service provider. If you receive one of these calls hang up. Do not give out any personal information.

Health officials are closing Lake Altoona Beach and issuing a countywide advisory over harmful algae. The Eau Claire City-County Health Department said testing confirmed algae toxin levels high enough to significantly harm people and animals. Testing followed a report of a probable illness involving potential exposure to the bloom. Officials say algae blooms have also been reported at several other beaches and more are possible. Residents are urged to use caution around county lakes and avoid water that is discolored or contains crum, mats, or floating green material.

The man convicted of killing ten-year-old Lily Peters is being ordered to pay more than 33-thousand-dollars in restitution. The money will go to the state's crime victim compensation program. This comes after 18-year-old Carson Peters-Berger pleaded guilty last week to first-degree intentional homicide. Peters-Berger was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of extended supervision after 25 years.

A man is facing attempted homicide and several other charges following an alleged domestic dispute. Court records show 57-year-old Carl Hansen was arrested by Clark County deputies Thursday morning. A woman told investigators Hansen dragged and choked her until she lost consciousness after she went to his home to retrieve her belongings. Hansen is also accused of choking another person who tried to intervene and call 911 before he surrendered to authorities. Hansen's initial court appearance is set for later this month.

One person is dead after a swimming accident in Goodhue County. According to the Goodhue County Sheriff’s Department, 3 men were swimming in the Cannon River near Cannon Falls when one of the men went under the water and did not resurface. The mans body was recovered on Friday night, the man’s name was not released.

The US Army Corps of Engineers is advising boaters to use caution while on the Mississippi River between downtown Red Wing and where the Wisconsin Channel begins. Boaters are reminded to stay between the channel markers, avoid cutting across bends or outside the marked channel and watch your depth finder. The Corps will begin dredging in the area this week.

The City of River Falls will begin a structural inspection of the mound reservoir on Tuesday. The inspection requires the reservoir to be drained, and some residents may notice low water pressure or a discoloration in the water. The discolored water is harmless and those experiencing discolored water should run the cold water until it clears. That inspection is expected to be completed by Friday.

Olmsted County authorities say one person remains hospitalized with life-threatening injuries following a deadly two-vehicle crash. The collision happened Friday morning involving a Mazda CX-5 and a semi at the corner of Highway 63 and Mile Marker 44 in Oronoco Township. A five-year-old in the Mazda died and 34-year-old Brittany Kehoe also a passenger in the Mazda has life-threatening injuries. Two other suffered non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the semi was not hurt.

A woman convicted in the "Slender Man" stabbing wants to restart the process for conditional release. Morgan Geyser is currently serving 40 years of mental health supervision for her role in the 2014 attack on a classmate in Waukesha. Geyser had previously been on release in the Madison area, but cut off her monitoring bracelet and left her group home in September of 2025. She was found a few days later and returned to a mental health facility. Geyser is allowed to request conditional release every six months, and this would allow doctors to evaluate her again as part of the request.

An investigation after a 4-year old was left on a Southeast Wisconsin school bus. Kewaskum police were called by a parent on Wednesday when their child didn't make it home from school. Officers found the child still inside the bus after it finished its route for the day, with temperatures in the bus at over 100 degrees. Investigators believe the child fell asleep and did not get off at their stop, and the driver of the bus admitted to officers he did not do a required manual check of the bus. The 69-year-old driver is being referred to the Washington County DA's office on child neglect charges.

A Wisconsin prison plan would close Green Bay Correctional after 2031. The proposed overhaul would close the aging facility while investing hundreds of millions of dollars in others. De Pere Republican Representative Benjamin Franklin says a draft bipartisan plan calls for borrowing nearly $629 million, including about $259 million to rebuild parts of Waupun Correctional Institution. The proposal would also expand capacity at several prisons, convert the Lincoln Hills youth prison into an adult facility, and add mental health and family housing space at Taycheedah women’s prison. Lawmakers could introduce the bill when the next legislative session begins in January.

Flock cameras are becoming a factor in the race for Wisconsin governor. Republican Tom Tiffany and Democrat David Crowley have both proposed limits on the technology, as some citizens across the state and the nation raise concerns over constitutional rights and privacy. Tiffany says he would pause state funding for Flock cameras and put together a task force to set up safeguards for their usage if he is elected governor. Crowley announced this week that he is looking to establish new limits on Flock cameras in Milwaukee County, where he currently serves as county executive.

The Minnesota Supreme Court and the Minnesota Court of Appeals are victims of a third-party data breach. The user information came from backup data that both courts provided to their third-party vendor, Thomson Reuters Court Management Solutions. The business provides the judicial branch with a product called C-Track, which was hacked in March. The Minnesota Tax Court and Minnesota Court of Administrative Hearings were also impacted by the cyberattack. Case documents were not hacked, and Minnesota courts are operating as normal.

Wisconsin pheasant hunters will see fewer stocked birds this fall. According to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, budget pressures are forcing a reduction in this year's ring-necked pheasant stocking program. The agency plans to stock 65,000 birds on state properties this fall, down from the previous goal of 75,000. The stocking season will also end November 19th, eliminating the late December release. Officials say hunting license and stamp revenues have remained unchanged for more than two decades while program costs have climbed sharply. The pheasant hunting season itself is unchanged and runs from October 17th through January 3rd.

ICE arrests in Wisconsin spiked over the summer. An analysis from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel finds ICE detained and arrested more than 250 people in the state in June, which was an 82 percent increase from month before. Arrests did slow, but remained elevated in July. The youngest person detained was 4 years old. Data shows a majority of the arrests were for "nonviolent crimes," with traffic offenses being, by far, the most common. The Journal Sentinel based its analysis on data from the Deportation Data Project, which obtained its data through a Freedom of Information request to the Department of Homeland Service. Despite that, DHS claims the group is "cherry picking" the data.

The latest rankings show Wisconsin is home to one of the top party schools in the nation. Education research platform Niche has released its annual party school report based on student survey responses, access to bars and restaurants and the strength of athletics programs and Greek life. The University of Wisconsin-Madison is landing near the top of the list, placed at number three. Only Florida State and Tulane in New Orleans placed higher in the rankings.