Starting
in May, the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer
Protection will spray for gypsy moth in 18 western Wisconsin
counties. Residents in the affected areas listed below can expect
loud, low-flying, small, yellow planes as early as 5 a.m.
Aerial
spraying in western Wisconsin will focus on where gypsy moth
populations are low or beginning to build, in an attempt to slow them
from moving further west. Spraying is scheduled for the following
counties: Buffalo,
Chippewa, Dunn, amd Trempealeau.
DATCP’s plan is to start in southern Wisconsin in mid-May and end
in the northern part of the state in July.
Some
changes to the safer-at-home order. Pepin County Health Officers
Heidi Stewart says some outdoor equipment can once again be rented..
Customers will still have to make reservations and pay for the
rentals online.
The
Mondovi City Council is meeting tonight. Items on the agenda include
the possible hiring of a new police officers, a proposal on an Away
with Geese Lighting System for Mirror Lake and a proposal on the sale
of the dredging material from Mirror Lake. Tonight's meeting begins
at 6:30 at Mondovi City Hall.
State
officials say COVID outbreaks at major pork plants in southwest
Minnesota and South Dakota have cut processing capacity for Minnesota
hogs by more than half. Some producers have been forced
to euthanize animals. Minnesota Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen warns consumers will see disruptions and could see
higher prices. Petersen says, “right now though, things are
stable because of what we have in storage." He farmers
have reduced pigs’ to delay how soon they’re ready for market
with not enough processors available. He added that
Willmar-based Jennie-O is diverting turkeys to other plants.
Just
a few months after he was fired from his role as State Ag Secretary,
Brad Pfaff says he'll be running for state senate. Pfaff announced
his run for Jennifer Schilling's seat on Monday. He says the actions
of the state senate haven't deterred him from listening to the people
in agriculture. Pfaff's confirmation to the Ag Department was denied
by the Senate after he publicly complained about delays in funding
for farmer mental health services, and after proposing new manure
rules for large farm operations.
Vice
President Mike Pence will see first-hand today Minnesota’s response
to the coronavirus outbreak. Pence is touring Mayo Clinic facilities
in Rochester supporting COVID-19 testing and treatment and meeting
with Mayo officials. Governor Tim Walz says the vice
president highlighted work Minnesota has done on flattening the
curve, social distancing and creative testing during a conference
call with all U-S governors. The White House unveiled what it
calls a comprehensive effort to make enough COVID tests available for
states to test at least two-point-six percent of their populations
each month. Pence visited 3-M in Maplewood last month.
As
farmers, business owners and families deal with the Covid-19
pandemic, mental health issues are a concern. The Wisconsin Farm
Center has taken 82 requests from farmers to receive vouchers for
counseling services from January through April. That is nearly as
many as were requested for all of 2018. In 2019 farmers requested
182 vouchers. The therapist that the farmers is referred to has some
agriculture background or some knowledge of the realities of life on
the farm so it makes it easier for the farmer to talk with the
therapist. If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health
emergency, call the national suicide hotline at 800-273-8255.
The
third man wanted in connection with a murder in Eau Claire is dead.
Lasalle County Sheriffs officials says that 22yr old Ian Kearns was
pronounced dead at an Illinois Hospital. Keares was wanted for his
role in the death of Edwin Garcia-Smith last month. Two other men,
27yr old Joe Moya and 23yr old Juan Olivarez have been arrested and
are being held on a $1 million-dollar cash bond. The death of Kearns
is still under investigation.
The
coronavirus pandemic has forced the cancellation of a drug take-back
day. It had been scheduled for Saturday. Attorney General
Josh Kaul says many of Wisconsin’s drop-off sites are closed now
due to the pandemic. Kaul says it’s best if people will lock
their unused prescription pills away in a safe or room in the house
which has limited access. The drug take-back day will be
rescheduled.
A
Wisconsin lawmaker is asking why protesters at the state Capitol
weren’t arrested last Friday. Milwaukee police took more than
100 people into custody on the same day for violating the governor’s
Safer at Home order. State Representative LaKeshia Myers says
the crowd in Madison clearly violated the order. Myers says the
rally was what she calls an “exercise in white privilege.”
Impatient
applicants for unemployment checks are being told they will get the
needed support, but it’s going to take some time. About 400
thousand people have filed an initial application for benefits over
the last eight weeks. State officials say that’s twice the
number they saw at the height of the Great Recession in 2008.
One hundred new staff members have been added from other state
offices to respond to the number of calls and another 200 are being
hired. A state spokesperson says they are just playing catch-up
at this point.
The
fact that fewer people are driving during the coronavirus pandemic
means funding for Minnesota roads is being lost. The Minnesota
Department of Transportation is estimating it will lose 440 million
dollars in funding while people stay at home. Most road work is
paid-for by the state’s tax collected when drivers buy gas.
Minnesota road projects will keep to the schedule, for now, despite
the reduction in funding.
Democratic
National Committee organizers say they expect to meet in person in
Milwaukee this summer. D-N-C chairman Tom Perez won’t say what the
convention will look like, though. but he says they're not putting
"their head in the sand" when it comes to the coronavirus.
The convention planning committee laid off workers earlier this
month, and some top Democrats, including presumptive presidential
nominee Joe Biden, have said they doubt the convention will happen.
Officials
at U-W Health in Madison say they are accepting all COVID-19 patients
right now – with or without insurance coverage. The hospital
says it isn’t billing any uninsured patients for services connected
to the virus during the pandemic. U-W health has already
launched a free hotline for people who want to call with their
questions about the virus. Anyone who is considering being seen
for coronavirus at a clinic, urgent care or emergency room is being
urged to call 608-720-5300.
Stevens
Point residents are getting together separately Monday night to take
part in a community cheer session via social media for the area's
health care workers. Mayor Mike Wiza says citizens are encouraged to
"cheer, clap, yell, hoot, holler and provide some recognition."
The Mayor's office may decide to compile some of the best social
media videos into on large video on the city website.
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