Local-Regional News March 3

At $2.43, the national gas price average is just one penny more expensive than gas prices at this time last year. Gas prices have not been cheaper year-over-year since before Thanksgiving last November. Today’s average is also four cents cheaper than both a week and a month ago. Gas prices here in Western Wisconsin are averaging in the $2.37-2.39 range.

Monday was the first day on the job for the new Chancellor at UW-Stout. Katherine Frank officially assumed the role on Sunday. Monday she met with the chancellor's cabinet and then walked the campus to introduce herself to students and staff and get acclimated with the University's day to day operations. Frank is the eighth chancellor of UW-Stout and takes over for Bob Myer who retired last August. She previously served as vice president of academic innovation at Central Washington University.

Authorities in Dakota County have identified the 36-year-old man killed in an officer-involved shooting last Friday.  A deputy was serving an emergency order of protection late Friday morning when he was confronted by Kent R. Kruger.  Investigators say Kruger fired a shot at the deputy and was fatally wounded when the deputy returned fire.  Kruger was facing arrest for failing to show up for a court date a year ago.  After Kruger was shot Lakeville police performed life-saving measures, but he died before he could be taken to a hospital.

Officials will interview three finalists for the superintendent position at School District of La Crosse this week. Stacey Everson is the director of secondary education in La Crosse. The other two candidates are Rainey Briggs, the director of elementary education with the Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District and Aaron Engel, the superintendent for the Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau School District in Galesville. Parents and students will be able to meet with the three candidates this week.

Pointing out that suicide is the second-leading cause of death among young people, Governor Tony Evers signed a bill Monday which would require suicide hotline resources to be listed on student I-Ds.  A student at Wausau West High School committed suicide last year and a parent from the school came up with the idea.  The student I-Ds will also include state and national level phone numbers for resources.  If a student calls one of the numbers the school won’t be notified – making it more likely the resources might be used.

The Department of Natural Resources is working with the U-S Fish and Wildlife Service to find out who shot two bald eagles to death in northern Wisconsin. Investigators don’t think the crimes are connected. The birds were brought into the Raptor Education Group in Antigo, but they couldn’t be saved and they died from their wounds. The penalty for shooting a bald eagle starts at 100-thousand dollars in fines or one year in jail.

Minnesota voters head to the polls today for the 'Super Tuesday' presidential primary (Tuesday).  Secretary of State Steve Simon says it's just like any other election except you have to request either the Democratic or Republican party ballot, "which is new and it won't happen for any other election."  Today's contest is "not-so-super" for supporters of Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar after she dropped out of the Democratic presidential race.  President Donald Trump is the lone candidate on the G-O-P ballot.  Polls are open from 7 a-m to 8 p-m statewide.

Wisconsin Ice anglers are reminded that the last deadline in a series of March dates to remove permanent ice shanties from state waters is Sunday, March 15. Shanties must be removed from waters north of Highway 64 and all other outlying waters by the end of that day. Earlier March deadlines cover inland and boundary waters. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is urging anglers not to wait until the deadlines as possible warming temperatures and early spring rains could complicate removal.

There's some continued opposition to a plan to have F-35 fighter jets stationed at Madison's Truax Field Air National Guard base. Residents and activists gathered Saturday outside the base. The U.S. Air Force has Truax at the top of its list of sites under consideration for the fighters, although a final decision is still pending. The Secretary of the Air Force is accepting public comments through the end of March on its environmental impact study of placing planes at Truax.

Wisconsin is taking steps to make it tougher on repeat drunk drivers.  Governor Tony Evers has signed two new laws into effect to keep people who drink and drive off the roads.  One of the measures requires an 18-month sentence for a driver’s fifth or sixth O-W-I.  Evers also signed a law to revoke the driver’s license of anyone convicted for the fourth time.  Lawmakers say they passed the bills with the hopes of keeping people sober while driving rather than just sending more people to jail.

Two environmental groups have filed a complaint asking that Public Service Commission approval for a natural gas power plant in Superior be reviewed.  The complaint was filed in Dane County Circuit Court Friday by Clean Water Wisconsin and the Sierra Club.  Opponents to the Nemadji Trail Energy Center question the possible depletion of an aquifer and the lack of adherence to alternative sources of power – like wind, solar and battery storage.  The results of an aquifer pumping test conducted last fall are being challenged.

One of the best long-distance runners ever to run in Wisconsin will run for team USA this summer. Molly Seidel punched her ticket to the Olympics with a second-place finish in the Olympic-qualifying marathon in Atlanta Saturday. Seidel was a track star at University Lake School in Hartland, and went to run track at Notre Dame. She was the most decorated high school distance runner in Wisconsin history.

The University of Wisconsin is ending another study abroad program over coronavirus fears. The university on Friday told about 170 of its students in Italy to come home. The move comes after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention imposed new travel restrictions on Italy because of the coronavirus. The U-W also canceled study abroad programs in China and South Korea this year because of coronavirus.

 Organizers say the annual polar plunge to raise money for cancer may be over after 20 years in Cazenovia.  It has grown so much they can’t find enough volunteers to keep the event going.  Teri Benning started it to remember a young Cazenovia mother who lost her battle to cancer – and it has raised an estimated 350-thousand dollars.  About 50 people jumped into the cold water last Saturday.  Many people in the area are hoping new leadership will take over and more volunteers will come forward to keep it alive.