Local-Regional News June 30

 A nine-inch downpour has washed out roads and streets and caused extensive damage in western Wisconsin.  The death of a 70-year-old driver is blamed on the flooding.  Gary Parent’s car was washed off a county road and fully submerged.  He died at a nearby hospital.  Eight families were forced to evacuate their homes near a flooding creek and St. Croix County deputies had to perform at least five water rescues. Flooding was reported in El Paso and Spring Valley as well, and due to water over the roadway, all east and westbound lanes on US 10 from County A to 390th St are closed in Pierce County as of early this morning.

One person was injured in a motorcycle vs car accident near Durand on Sunday. According to the Pepin County Sheriffs Department, 19yr old Conrad Klem of Menomonie was traveling westbound on Hwy 10 when he braked rapidly and started to make a left hand turn into a private driveway near the intersection of Hwy 10 abd 25, Klem's vehicle was struck from behind by a westbound motorcycle driven by 49yr old Alan Dickinson of Ellsworth. Dickinson was taken to Advent Health Hospital in Durand with unknown injuries.

Two people were injured in a one vehicle accident in the town of Buffalo on Sunday. According to the Buffalo County Sheriffs Department, 51yr old Scott Johnson of Madison was traveling westbound on Hwy P when he lost control of the vehicle while attempting to negotiate a curve. Johnson's vehicle went off the roadway and down an embankment and rolled. Both Johnson and passenger 30yr old Payne Kramer of Rochester, MN were treated at the scene for injuries. Johnson was arrested for operating while under the influence.

One person was injured in a motorcycle accident Friday in Hager City. According to the Pierce County Sheriffs Department, 28yr old Samuel Brady of Red Wing was traveling northbound on Hwy 63 when he struck some construction barrels on the east shoulder and lost control of his motorcycle and was ejected. Brady was transported to Red Wing Mayo with undetermined injuries.

Three people were injured in two separate motorcycle accidents in Pierce County on Saturday. According to the Pierce County Sheriffs Department, the first accident occurred on Hwy 35 near 1180^th Street in Prescott when 68yr old Patricia Benner lost control of her motorcycle and ended up in the north ditch of Hwy 35. She was taken to Regina Hospital in Hastings. The second accident occurred on Hwy 35 in Oak Grove Township, when 58yr old Troy Raverty of Lakeville, MN failed to negotiate a curve, and lost control of the motorcycle. Raverty and his passenger, 37yr old Phoenixx Herz of Lakeville, MN were ejected from the motorcycle. Raverty was med-flighted to Regions Hospital in St. Paul while Herz was taken to Regions Hospital via ambulance.

One person was injured after they jumped out of a vehicle on Saturday. According to the Pierce County Sheriffs Department, 28yr old Cory Thury-Birttnen of Rosemont, MN was traveling westbound on Hwy 10 near 570^th avenue, when 32yr old Rebecca Kaufman of Rosemount jumped out of the vehicle and into the north ditch. Kaufman was med-flighted to Regions Hospital, and that incident remains under investigation.

The Pierce County Board is meeting tonight. Items on the agenda include approving the 2021 budget guidelines, designate a new Emergency Managment Director and discuss and possible action on whether or not to hold the Pierce County Fair this year. Tonights meeting begins at 7pm in Ellsworth.

 A panel of federal judges from the 7th U-S Circuit Court of Appeals has given Republicans most of what they wanted in a ruling issued Monday.  The vote was unanimous to reinstate limits on early voting and ban most voters from having absentee ballots emailed or faxed to them.  Many of Wisconsin’s election laws were struck down by a lower court judge four years ago when he found they affected the ability of minorities to vote disproportionately.  The court heard arguments on the case more than three years ago and hasn’t said why the ruling took so long.

A Durand man has been charged with felony sexual assault of a child. Michael Scott was charged in Dunn County on Friday and according to authorities, Scott raped the child numerous times when the child was 5 and 6yrs old. If convicted, Scott faces 60yrs in prison. His next court appearance is July 14.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz says Minnesota has now reached his "moon shot" goal of being able to perform 20 thousand COVID tests per day -- although about a month later than he originally envisioned. Walz says that testing volume gives the state an accurate representation of where the COVID virus is in Minnesota. State Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm says the number of COVID hospitalizations remains stable in Minnesota, and I-C-U usage is at the lowest level since May 1st. The state has done more than a half-million tests.

Twins President Dave Saint Peter says fans will not be allowed in the Target Field stands at the start of Major League Baseball's abbreviated 2020 season. But what happens after that is up to Governor Tim Walz and the state Health Department. Saint Peter says the Twins are developing two plans -- one with no fans, but also one where fans would be re-introduced. He says that protocol will be shared at the appropriate time with the governor's office for their review. St. Peter added, "I wouldn't put a timeline on it -- I'm not sure it will happen -- but it's something we're monitoring around the league." Players report to summer camp Wednesday.

The death of a 19-year-old shooting victim in La Crosse means the filing of homicide charges against the suspected shooter.  Police were called to the La Crosse Bierhaus shortly after midnight Saturday morning.  The victim was taken to a local hospital and he died Sunday.  Anthony Fimple was working at the business when he was wounded.  Thirty-one-year-old Timothy Neal Young of Spring Grove, Minnesota is being held without bond in the La Crosse County Jail.

Some state prisoners who are being held in county jails are taking part in a hunger strike to protest.  They were placed there because prisons are overcrowded.  They’re not supposed to be held in the county facilities for more than 120 days, but the coronavirus pandemic has slowed the process.  Some have been in a county jail for up to eight months.

Milwaukee-based Briggs and Stratton is moving several production lines from its factory in Wauwatosa to New York.  It’s not clear how many workers might be affected.  The Wauwatosa facility will continue to build standby generators and engine components.  Production of lawn tractor, residential zero-turn mower, snow thrower and pressure washer products will be moved at the end of August.  Briggs and Stratton reported a 145-million-dollar loss in the fiscal quarter that ended in March.

 The Minnesota Department of Public Safety reports it has seen an almost 150-percent increase in drivers going 100 miles-an-hour or more.  Even though there have been fewer cars on the road during the coronavirus pandemic, speeding has caused 36 traffic deaths so far in 2020 – compared to 27 at this time last year.  That’s a 33 percent increase.  The absence of heavy traffic may be a factor in drivers deciding they can go faster.  Minnesota currently ranks 35th among the 50 states for the number of traffic deaths caused by speeding.

The U.S. Department of Justice says cards exempting folks from wearing facemasks are not legit. The D-O-J says cards claiming the holder is exempt from wearing a mask in public are fake. Many cities have made wearing masks mandatory in public as COVID-19 cases spike. The bogus cards are purportedly issued by the "Freedom to Breathe Agency."

The Dunn County Sheriffs Department is asking for the public's help in locating a stolen phone booth. The phone booth was taken from just outside of Ridgland during the night/morning hours of Saturday, June 27th, 2020 and Sunday, June 28th, 2020. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Dunn County Sheriff’s Office or if you wish to remain anonymous, please contact Dunn County Crimestoppers.

Local-Regional News June 29

One person was injured in a motorcycle vs van accident Saturday in Pepin County. According to the Pepin County Sheriffs Department, 38yr old Jeremiah Koller of Mondovi was stopped on Hwy 10 westbound waiting for an oncoming vehicle to pass so he could make a left turn into a private driveway. His van was rear-ended by a westbound motorcycle driven by 56yr old Leonard Dickey of Pine City, MN. Dickey was airlifted by Mayo One Air Ambulance to the hospital for life-threatening injuries. Koller was not injured.

The Wabasha County Board is meeting Tuesday morning. Items on the agenda include discussion and possible action on the repeal of the Feedlot Ordinance, and the designation of a county employee to work the noxious weed program, and reports from department heads. Tomorrows meeting begins at 9am at the Wabasha County Governement Center.

Barron County Circuit judge has sentenced a man to nearly seven years in prison for killing his infant daughter three years ago.  Curtis Strand had been charged with second-degree reckless homicide.  He was sentenced earlier this week.  Strand caused the child’s death by dropping her on a hardwood floor, causing a skull fracture.

A 21-year-old man suspected of killing his grandparents made an appearance in Rusk County Circuit Court this week.  Adam Rosolowski faces seven felony charges, including two counts of first-degree intentional homicide. Rosolowski, 17-year-old Joseph Falk and a juvenile are accused of committing the double murder June 7th in the town of Marshall.  Investigators say Robert and Bonnie Rosolowski were shot to death.

Rep. Ron Kind sent a letter urging the Administration to expand testing throughout Wisconsin and the country. In the last few weeks, new COVID-19 cases have spiked in La Crosse and Eau Claire counties after the state began reopening. The public health department in La Crosse County has reported a 607% increase in new cases.  “With new COVID-19 cases increasing, I am deeply concerned that any efforts to slow testing will only put more lives at risk,” said Rep. Kind. “Reducing access to testing will make it more difficult for Wisconsinites to get a prompt diagnosis and access to the care they need. We must prioritize testing in order to keep Wisconsinites safe and healthy.”  Rep. Kind is urging all Wisconsinites, whether they feel sick or not, to wear a facial covering when out in public, stay six feet away from others, wash hands frequently, and continue following the guidance from our county and state health officials.  

A Minnesota man is in custody after leading authorities on a high speed chase Saturday. According to the Wisconsin State Patrol, Troopers attempted to stop a vehicle on I-94 for speeding in Jackson County near Black River Falls. The driver, 44yr old James Connor of Bemidji, MN increased his speed to approximately 103mph. Troopers were able to determine vehicle was stolen and continued the pursuit onto Hwy 54. the vehicle became disabled and crashed into a ditch while crossing a set of railroad tracks. Connor then fled from the scene on foot and swam across a pond to evade capture. He was arrested and has been charged with fleeing and eluding law enforcement, operating a motor vehicle without the owners consent, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and multiple felony warrants.

The application period for the 2021 bear hunting season will open July 1 after the successful completion of legislative review. The application deadline remains Dec. 10, 2020. Applicants are reminded to be aware of the new bear management zone boundaries as their usual hunting grounds may change to a new unit beginning in 2021. State wildlife officials do not know precisely how these changes will specifically affect harvest permit wait times, but they expect there will likely be no significant changes across zones A, B, C and D. There will be no zone changes for the upcoming 2020 bear season. Wisconsin bear hunting is prevalent, and more people apply each year than the number of licenses available. For 2020, more than 119,000 hunters applied for a permit or a preference point for 11,535 available permits.

The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction is recommending that schools put extra emphasis on student mental health when classes resume this fall.  The state says those schools should assume that fear, loss and isolation have increased the need for that kind of support, whether it was the loss of a family member or the quick, unexpected shift in daily routine.  Many students went through huge changes in their lives, without the social aspects of school and little to no support from the schools.

 U-S Attorney Erica MacDonald is warning Minnesotans to be on the lookout for fraudulent cards that claim the Americans with Disabilities Act exempts them from wearing masks.  Printable cutouts of the cards have spread widely on social media, but MacDonald says the agency did not approve of its logo's use and the department does not endorse the cards.  A picture of the card says "wearing a face mask posses a mental and/or physical risk to me."  C-D-C recommends wearing a facial covering to prevent the spread of COVID-19 when social distancing isn't possible.  Some retailers, businesses and schools require customers to wear face masks.

 The protester whose arrest sparked protests in Madison is now facing federal extortion charges.  Twenty-eight-year-old Devonere Johnson was arrested Tuesday after walking into a restaurant with a megaphone and baseball bat.  The complaint says Johnson threatened to destroy the window of business unless an employee sent him money.  Johnson is also accused of threatening to have rioters destroy and burn down another business unless he and some friends got free food and drinks.  U-S Attorney Scott Blader said, "Those who attempt to take advantage of recent events to extort local businesses under the guise of community activism will be vigorously prosecuted."

 The pretrial for the four Minneapolis police officers charged in the death of George Floyd will not be broadcast.  A judge Friday denied a defense motion to video and audio coverage of the court proceedings.  The State objected to the request by the attorneys for 44-year-old Derek Chauvin, 37-year-old Thomas Lane, 34-year-old Tou Thao, and 26-year-old J Alexander Kueng.  The judge said the case has already received substantial pretrial media coverage and broadcasting the hearings could risk tainting a potential jury pool.  The defendants' filing said they were requesting coverage as "necessary to promote the possibility of a fair trial."  The four ex-officers are set to appear in court Monday.

U-S Senator Ron Johnson says all schools in Wisconsin should open for in-person classes this fall despite the COVID-19 pandemic.  Johnson said during a Milwaukee Press Club briefing, "it would be crazy to not completely re-open our schools system."  The Wisconsin Republican claims the risk of children getting COVID-19 in schools in low and said that virtual learning results have been mixed.  Johnson opposed business and school shutdowns in Wisconsin when the coronavirus outbreak began.

 A website that tracks the progress of states as they deal with the coronavirus pandemic has added Wisconsin to list of 30 states “trending poorly.”  Thursday totals from the state Department of Health Services revealed four-point-one percent of the people tested that day were positive for the virus.  CovidExitStrategy-dot-org uses public health information for its weekly reports.  Wisconsin had previously been on the list of states “trending better.”  The Badger State had previously been considered something of a success story.

Congressman Glenn Grothman says backers of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2020 are trying to “racialize” the issue and “make white people feel guilty and not like America.”  The Wisconsin Republican was speaking during a Thursday House debate of the broad-based police reform bill.  It includes many changes like banning chokeholds and no-knock warrants.  It also makes it easier for civilians to sue police officers.  Grothman’s main problem with the package is its changes to qualified immunity for officers.  He warns they would become afraid to make arrests – and the country would end up with a “timid, neutered police force.”

The attorney representing convicted killer Steven Avery has renewed her calls for a new trial.  Kathleen Zellner submitted a brief Thursday, but there is no timetable for the appeals court to issue a ruling.  Avery is in prison for the 2005 murder of Teresa Halbach on the Avery family property in Manitowoc County.  In an October appeal, Zellner cited 10 issues calling for the new trial or having his conviction overturned.  Requests for a pardon for Avery’s nephew, Brendan Dassey, have been refused.

 Harley Davidson is laying off about 50 employees at its Tomahawk manufacturing facility.  A spokesperson said the company announced "it will adjust its production volume, which will result in a workforce reduction of approximately 50 Tomahawk employees.” COVID-19 related economic slowdowns are to blame.  Some Harley employees say they are angry that the company will be bringing back some temporary workers, who are paid less, to replace regular employees.  Harley Davidson cut 39 workers from the same plant four years ago

Some students at the University of Wisconsin want a statue of President Abraham Lincoln removed from the Madison campus.  The Lincoln statue has sat atop Bascom Hill since 1919.  Nalah McWhorter of the Wisconsin Black Student Union said "just because Lincoln was anti-slavery doesn't mean he was pro-Black." She claims Lincoln said he believed white people should be the superior race during a presidential campaign speech.  U-W Chancellor Rebecca Blank says the university wants to keep the statue where it is.  She also says she'll soon announce new resources and initiatives to address systemic racism.

Big-box retailer Walmart has handed out five million dollars in bonuses to its workers in Minnesota this week.  The company says it is rewarding them for working through the coronavirus pandemic.  Assistant managers earned 400 dollars, full-time hourly associates and drivers got 300 dollars, and part-time and temporary workers received 150 dollars.  Those are the third bonuses given to workers in the last three months.  Walmart reports it is invested almost a billion dollars in cash bonuses and other employee initiatives companywide.

Local-Regional News June 26

With many people having to work from home due to the covid 19 pandemic, could there be an opportunity for Durand to grow? Durand-Arkansaw School Superintendent Greg Doverspike thinks so. As companies discover that working from home is affordable and profitable, Doverspike believes that will give families the flexibility to live in a smaller community.  Doverspike plans on reaching out to the City of Durand and Pepin County to talk about ways the area could promote and capitalize on the possibility of tel-communiting.

Authorities in central Minnesota are still searching for a western Wisconsin woman last seen four years ago in St. Cloud area.   St. Cloud police say Shannah Boiteau from  Chippewa Falls went missing from the area of Interstate 94 and County Road 74 on June 22nd, 2016 after running from her boyfriend's car.  She is five-foot-seven, weighs around 135 pounds and has brown hair.   Investigators believe she fled to Wisconsin when a warrant was issued for her arrest on a probation violation.  People with information about Boiteau should contact the St. Cloud P-D or Tri-County Crime Stoppers.

A Chippewa County couple has been handed probation sentences for Medicaid fraud.  The judge put Terrance Lade on probation for two years and Tonia Nye for one year during a Monday court appearance.  Prosecutors told the court Nye pretended to be Lade’s caregiver and they both entered guilty pleas to charges of misdemeanor theft.

Could passenger train service be coming to Western Wisconsin? The West Central Wisconsin Rail Colition has been working with a private firm to bring passenger rail service to the area. Corridor Rail Development of Chicago has agreed to invest $200,000 into a study that will look into what infrastructure improvements would be needed to have the train operate. The train would run on tracks owned by Union Pacific and could carry a maximum of 300 passengers per trip. If all goes according to plan, service could begin in 2022.

The state of Minnesota is distributing 853-million dollars in federal funding to communities impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.  Governor Tim Walz says 841 million will go to counties, cities and towns to support local relief efforts. The money can be used for government services as well as grants to businesses, hospitals and residents.    Twelve-million dollars is going to food shelves, food banks and efforts to combat hunger. Walz says work by the legislature helped determine the greatest needs across Minnesota.

Minneapolis- St. Paul International Airport is taking detailed steps aimed at reducing the risk of COVID-19 infection.  Metropolitan Airports Commission C-E-O Brian Ryks(ricks) says they are expecting to see an uptick in travel in the coming weeks.  Ryks said, "people are wanting to get out, again that's why we wanted to kick off this campaign at this time to insure that those people who are traveling in the coming week to two weeks, that we've taken steps to keep them safe."  M-S-P's "Travel Confidently" plan includes disinfectant fogging overnight throughout the terminals, social distancing signage, more hand sanitizer stations, plexiglass barriers at desks and counters along with touchless parking options.  Ryks says they are seeing a spike in bookings in the short term, but they don't expect to see a return to pre-COVID air travel levels for some time to come.

A Portage County man is going to prison for nine years for the role he played in another man’s overdose death.  Forty-six-year-old Jason Meisel had entered a guilty plea to a charge of reckless homicide.  Meisel and Gary Mayek of Junction City were in a Plover hotel doing drugs when Mayek died.  Meisel told investigators he provided the drugs they snorted that January night in 2019, but he said he didn’t spike them with fentanyl. An autopsy found fentanyl in Mayek’s system.

UW-Eau Claire will be using a contract tracing mobile app for the upcoming school year. The app will record temperature and symptoms of those logged in, helping the university track cases of COVID-19. UW-Eau Claire officials said the app will be the best tool available to prevent a coronavirus outbreak on campus and will be required of all students and faculty to use for the upcoming semester. The app is currently being tested to it's completely secure and will not track the location of it's users.

Durand residents are invited to join a drive by parade celebration to honor the class of 2020 tonight. Members of Durand High School Class of 2020 will be lined up along the perimeter of Memorial Park tonight from 7-7:30. Watch for the parade route signage at the intersection of Prospect Street and 1^st Avenue. After the parade, every senior will be invited to the Pepin County Dairy Wagon for some ice cream and receive a gift compliments of the Durand Lions Club and area business sponsors.

A 32-year-old Jackson County man is jailed after leading authorities on a chase Tuesday morning.  Deputies say Mikel J. Koller ran away during a traffic stop conducted by Osseo police.  Koller entered a nearby home and then left in a stolen truck.  A day later, he was spotted at a gas station in Merrillan, ran off and entered an occupied home.  When he refused to come out, deputies went into that home and took him into custody.  Koller faces charges of resisting and criminal trespass, plus he was already wanted on a felony warrant.

There are a lot of questions about getting back to school in Wisconsin this fall. State lawmakers heard nearly seven hours of testimony Wednesday in the first hearing about reopening schools after the coronavirus shut them down this spring. Some local school leaders says they're disappointed the 87 pages of recommendations are light on actual specifics about what the school year should look like, and how it will work.

Congressman Tom Tiffany is calling for Governor Evers to resign.  The Wisconsin Republican representing the 7th Congressional District says Evers ignored the crisis brought on by weeks of protests.  The Republican Tiffany claims the governor has done nothing about looting, mayhem and intimidation, standing by as the state Capitol has been damaged and statues defaced and destroyed.  Tiffany says public officials who refuse to stand up against those seeking to destabilize and destroy institutions should resign.

Agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are working with Madison police and fire investigators after a Molotov cocktail was thrown into the City-County building early Wednesday.  Damage was done to one city office and several windows were broken.  The Dane County Public Safety Communications 9-1-1 center had to be moved to a satellite location and dozens of people were inside during the attack – including jail inmates, corrections staff, dispatchers, police officers, support staff and custodians.  No arrests have been reported.

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development is awarding nearly 19-million dollars in grants for infrastructure and rehabilitation projects in 32 Minnesota cities.  DEED spokeswoman Meredith Udoibok  says this is to help some of these smaller communities that always don't always have big businesses or the resources and financial pieces in there to stay as healthy as some of the stronger metro cities.  She says these grants will allow small Minnesota cities move forward with essential improvements to housing and public infrastructure.

The federal coronavirus relief bill known as the CARES Act will provide the funding needed for Wisconsin residents to apply for more unemployment benefits.  The Department of Workforce Development made the announcement Wednesday – those who have exhausted their 26 weeks of state benefits can apply for Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation.  The same people are also eligible for an additional 600 dollars-a-week of Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation.

Minimum wage earners get a raise next week in Minneapolis.  The city is making changes like this to adjust to the changing economy as the result of the ongoing pandemic.  The minimum wage will jump to 11-75 an hour at small businesses and 13-25 an hour at businesses with more than 100 employees Wednesday. That base earnings figure is expected to slowly increase to 15 dollars-an-hour for large businesses by 2022 and two years after that for small businesses.

Local-Regional News June 25

 Bail is set at one-million dollars for a Rochester, Minnesota man charged with the murder of a northwest Wisconsin woman.  Forty-eight-year-old Randall Merrick appeared in Buffalo County court Wednesday for the first-degree homicide of Beth Johnson of Nelson and hiding her corpse.   Johnson's remains were found last week in Blaine, Minnesota.   She and Merrick were living in a trailer home near Nelson until she disappeared in late 2016.  Investigators believe Merrick killed  Johnson between Christmas Day and March 2017.  A cadaver dog identified burned human remains near their mobile home in April 2018.   Merrick's preliminary hearing is July 10th.

As testing for covid 19 has been expanded to included anyone, the number of cases among those age 20-29 have risen. Pepin County Health Officer Heidi Stewart says while the number of cases among 20-29yr olds is the highest, the mortality rate from covid 19 is highest among those 60 and older. The Health Department has adjusted its latest guidance on covid 19 to include increasing the number of people that can congregate indoors and outdoors. Continued social distancing along with wearing of masks while in public is still strongly encouraged.

The Durand Improvement Group held the first music in the park for 2020 last night. People were spread out throughout the park to practice social distancing, and the band JFT performed. While no food or refreshments were served many brought items to make it more of a picnic atmosphere. Even though the park was open, the playground equipment was closed off due to the covid 19 pandemic. DIG is hoping to hold the next music in the park on July 22^nd.

A northwest Wisconsin Tel-Com has received a USDA Rural Infrastructure Loan for Broadband. Chibardun Telephone Cooperative Inc. received the $10 Million-dollar loan that will be used to improve and expand the plant. This loan will extend Fiber-to-the-Premises (FTTP) to the rural areas of the Prairie Farm and Sand Creek exchanges, making them 100 percent FTTP. Chibardun Telephone Cooperative proposes to construct 328.5 miles of FTTP and install all associated electronics. The improvements will sustain customer demand in broadband connectivity.

The Mayo Clinic says it will bring back furloughed workers ahead of schedule, and restore normal pay levels for employees next month.  The workers temporarily laid off due to the COVID-19 pandemic will be returning by late August.   All staff will receive pre-coronavirus pay in mid-July.  Mayo says some employees will return to the Rochester campus while others will be working from home. The pay cuts and furloughs affecting around 30-thousand employees were announced in April. Mayo says patient levels reached 85 to 90 percent by mid-June.

Weather forecasters are asking the public about some of its terminology. Meteorologists with the National Weather Service are thinking of eliminating the term "advisory." A senior forecaster in the Twin Cities tell WQOW-TV in Eau Claire that people are confused with the terms "watch" and "advisory." A watch is when conditions are favorable for dangerous weather, and advisories are issued when storms pose little threat. The survey is available on weather-dot-gov.

There’s still going to be a Democratic National Convention in Milwaukee next August, but it’s going to look very different.  State delegations have been told not to travel to the city and the convention has been moved from the Fiserv Forum to the Wisconsin Center.  There will be satellite events around the country.  Delegates will cast their votes remotely, but former Vice President Joe Biden is still going to come to the city to formally accept his party’s nomination.  The Democratic Party made the changes based on consultations with public health officials about the coronavirus pandemic.

Minnesotans are sharing their concerns about distance learning during COVID-19 with state lawmakers.  At a House hearing Wednesday, Rochester High School student Shikha Kumar said the majority of her classes did not have any instruction or recorded live lectures, but rather material was pushed out on a weekly basis. She also told legislators there was a lack of coordination between staff about teacher office hours. Most people at the hearing agreed there's much room for improvement when it comes to distance learning.  The state Department of Education will release guidance on the next school year in late July.

 Politicians from both sides of the aisle are condemning the violent and destructive protests Tuesday night in Madison. Governor Tony Evers says he is preparing to activate the Wisconsin National Guard to protect state buildings and infrastructure. Evers said, "any single act of injustice against one person is less justice for all of us, and the people who committed these acts of violence will be held accountable." Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway says Madison Police are involved in a wide-ranging investigation. Republican leaders blamed Governor Evers and Mayor Rhodes Conway for a lack of leadership. Democratic Senator Tim Carpenter was beaten up by violent protesters and taken to the hospital.

Wisconsin cities are spending more on law enforcement efforts than they did 30 years ago, but more local tax dollars are still going to education.  The Wisconsin Policy Forum found that local communities spent just under 18 percent of their revenue on law enforcement in 1986 and 20 percent in 2018.  The report issued earlier this week put education spending at about 10 billion dollars.  Public welfare programs were second on the list of expenditures while policing was third.

The Trump administration’s extension of a freeze on temporary visas for foreign workers is impacting the attractions in the Wisconsin Dells. Business leaders there say they typically fill about 16 thousand jobs every summer and they rely heavily on the J-1 student visa program. The U-S State Department lets college students visit this country for a limited time to work and learn. The Dells program reportedly employs the second-most J-1 students in the country, but local businesses say they are going to be short about four-thousand young workers. Some businesses in the Dells community started reopening three weeks ago.

A new Explore Minnesota survey finds more than 60 percent of Minnesotans plan to take a summer leisure trip.  State Tourism Director John Edman says many are planning to stay close to home and you don't necessarily need to go far to enjoy a little weekend getaway or even a day trip somewhere in Minnesota.  Edman says the survey also shows another 50 percent of Minnesota families have at least tentative plans for fall travel in September through November.  The tourism industry has taken a big hit during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Marshfield Chamber of Commerce says Dairy Fest will return next month.  This year’s theme is “Dairy Strong.”  The week-long event celebrating the dairy industry will start July 12th and run through the 17th.  Organizers say public health safety guidelines during the coronavirus pandemic will be strictly followed, but they add that in-person events will be held that week.

Local-Regional News June 24

Two people were injured in a motorcycle accident in Oak Grove Township on Saturday. According to the Pierce County Sheriffs Department, 58yr old Troy Raverly of Lakeville, MN was traveling northbound on hwy 35 when he lost control on a curve, went into the east ditch. Both Raverly and passenger 37yr old Phoenixx Herz of Lakeville, MN were thrown from the motorcycle. Raverly was airlifted to Regions Hospital while Herz was transported by ambulance to Regions Hospital.

The Durand City Council is meeting tonight. Items on the agenda include reports from the Mayor, Administrator, and Department Heads, along with discussion and possible action on a reversal of Stormwater and Sewer late fee charges beginning August 1^st. The council will also go into closed session to discuss the property at 205 4^th Avenue West. Tonights meeting begins at 6:30 at Durand City Hall.

The City of Mondovi will move forward with the resurfacing project of Valley Estates Road. During last nights council meeting members approved moving forward with the project after it was determined that if a petition by some residents of Valley Estates to detach from the city would have to be approved by a vote of the entire city of Mondovi. CBS Squared will now complete the design documents and hope to have the documents approved and sent out for bid in the next few weeks, with bid opening in late July or Early August.

The Durand Improvement Group Music in the Park returns tonight with the JFT Party Band Performing in the band-shell at Memorial Park. Due to the covid-19 pandemic, social distancing and wearing of face-masks are strongly encouraged, the playground will not be open during music in the park and those attending are encouraged to bring their own food and refreshments as there will be no vendors. Tonights Music in the Park begins at 6pm and will also be live-streamed on the WRDN Facebook Page.

 Police in Hudson are investigating a suspicious package found outside the St. Croix County Republican Party's field office.  Someone walking by the building discovered the potential explosive device Tuesday morning and no G-O-P staff or volunteers were there at the time.  Officers blocked off and evacuated the area in downtown Hudson and the A-T-F from St. Paul was called in.  The metal ammunition can was deemed "clear" and there is no threat.  Republican Party of Wisconsin chairman Andrew Hitt said, " We have differences in our views, in our philosophies, and our vision for America, but violence or threats of violence cannot stand because such actions lead to potential destruction that can’t be overcome."

Authorities in northwest Wisconsin say bones found in a wooded area in December 2017 are a homicide victim from New Prague, Minnesota.  The Barron County Sheriff's Office says the remains have been identified as 63-year-old Gary Herbst.  Investigators say it appears Herbst died of a gunshot wound to the head.  The Wisconsin Department of Criminal Investigation and D-N-A Doe Project matched Herbst's remains with a sample from a close relative in February.  Deputies say the case is now an active homicide investigation.

Former Governor Tommy Thompson has set up a transition team for the University of Wisconsin System.  Thompson will take over as interim president Monday.  Former Assembly Speaker Tom Loftus and former state Department of Administration Secretary Scott Neitzel will be co-chairs.  Loftus is a Democrat and Neitzel is a Republican.  Thompson is asking the team to develop information on the System’s budget and organizational structure.  He was tabbed for the position while a nationwide search for a new president is restarted.

It's guidance, not a mandate. Governor Tony Evers says decisions about how K-12 schools will reopen in the fall will be made locally, and nothing that the state Department of Public Instruction issued this week dictates otherwise.  The 87-page "Education Forward" guidance released Monday by DPI is meant help districts with their reopening planning. Evers thinks most districts already have a good idea of what they’re doing.

Governor Tim Walz says the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) is now accepting applications for the 62-and-half million-dollar Small Business Relief Grants Program.  Businesses affected by COVID-19 with 50 or fewer employees may apply for grants of up to 10-thousand dollars.  The money will be evenly distributed between businesses in Greater Minnesota and the Twin Cities metro, with at least 10 million to go to minority-owned businesses, two-point-five million to veteran-owned businesses, and two-point-five million to women-owned businesses.

 A group of St. Paul police officers paid the veterinarian and cremation bills for a family who lost three dogs in a shooting.  Officers found a Rottweiler named Charlotte shot last Tuesday night and a blood trail where another Rottweiler named Kingston had been shot in the leg.  A Great Dane named Sky was found dead in the front yard.  Charlotte and Kingston had to be put down due to their injuries.  The police officers pooled money together to help the family pay the bills.   Investigators are still trying to determine who shot the dogs.

There is no shortage of scams coming from the coronavirus outbreak. The Wisconsin Justice Department is sounding the alarm about contact tracing scams. Attorney General Josh Kaul says usually, scam artists ask for personal information, like social security or bank account numbers. The state is trying to trace people who may have been exposed to the coronavirus, but Kaul warns that scam artists are trying to take advantage. Kaul says if anyone asks you for that kind of information, hang up the phone.

Hormel Foods is opening what it calls a “state-of-the-art” health center near its headquarters and production plant in Austin.  H-R vice president Janet Hogan says it will offer primary care, physical therapy, condition management, lab services to Hormel employees.   Hogan said this addition will ensure "our team members have easy access to high-quality health care." Around 47-hundred workers on the Hormel health plans will be able to get care through the center run by Premise Health starting next week.

The question over ballot harvesting in Wisconsin elections could wind up in court.  The Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty sent a follow-up letter to the Wisconsin Elections Commission Monday saying the commission is wrong when it tells local election managers that someone other than a voter can return an absentee ballot.  The commission reportedly told clerks last March that a family member or third party can return the absentee ballots.  The institute says that’s not what the statute says and it is again asking for clarification.

 It took a crew several hours Monday to remove a truck from the bottom of Lake Wausau.  Authorities decided to wait until warmer weather to pull the sunken vehicle out of the water near D-C Everest Park.  The lead operator for Jerry’s Towing of Wausau says it took almost 17 hundred feet of cable to get the truck free the muck and fine material that had coated it while it was underwater after an accident.  The Marathon County Sheriff’s Office kept the public away during the operation, worried the cable could snap and create a safety risk.  The truck has been impounded.

Madison police officers say they had to drag a 32-year-old arson suspect out of a burning building early Monday morning.  Kentrell J. Blair is accused of starting the fire during a domestic dispute.  When officers arrived shortly after 1:00 a-m they found a woman and her child outside.  Blair remained in the building until officers dragged him outside and arrested him.  Blair is being held in the Dane County Jail on two tentative charges of attempted first-degree intentional homicide, arson and at least two other counts.

 The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is shortening the window for camping reservations to four months in July.  You can currently reserve lodging and campsites up to one year in advance.  The D-N-R had planned to make the change this fall, but is moving up the date due to COVID-19 operational uncertainties and updated cleaning protocols.  Officials say the change is based on survey results, data analysis and a desire to improve fairness and equity in the reservation process.  More than 25-thousand reservations were cancelled during the pandemic in April and May.

Local-Regional News June 23

 Human remains discovered in Blaine, Minnesota are identified as a missing Wisconsin woman that a Rochester man is accused of killing.  The Wisconsin Department of Justice confirmed the remains found were Beth Johnson of Nelson.   Randall Merrick is charged with first-degree intentional homicide, domestic abuse and hiding Johnson's corpse in Buffalo County. Nelson was last seen at the trailer home she shared with Merrick on Christmas 2016. Investigators believe Merrick murdered Johnson sometime between December 2016 and March 2017.  The criminal complaint says Merrick admitted to a friend that he killed Johnson.  A police dog located burned remains on property near their mobile home in April of 2018.

The Mondovi City Council is meeting tonight. Items on the agenda include discussion and action on a resolution to allow for open containers during the Mondovi Business Association Shamrock Shuffle for July 30^th, discussion of the board of appeals decision, petition to detach and road repair of Valley Estates Road, and discussion of replacement recommendations for the Buffalo County Fair. Tonights meeting begins at 6:30 at the Marten Center in Mondovi.

If sports are coming back this fall, it will likely be professional teams playing in large facilities. Dr Jeff Pothof with UW Health says it's unlikely that high school sports will have the same resources to protect the safety of players and fans that professional sports have.  He says that schools and organizations are going to have to take a very close look at how to protect the safety of student athletes and fans.

School Districts around the state are reviewing the guidance from the Department of Public Instruction on re-opening school in the fall. One issue all districts will have to contend with is parents rights to not have their child attend school in the building over concerns over covid 19. Durand-Arkansaw School Superintendent Greg Doverspike says the district is working on a plan to make distance learning seamless for parents who do not want their child in the building. Doverspike does believe that there will be in person school this fall, but it will not be like it has been in the past.

A federal judge has sentenced a Clark County man to six years in federal prison for meth possession.  Agents say 50-year-old Keith Strong of Thorp intended to sell the 102 grams of meth in the trunk of his car when he was arrested last year in Wheaton.  Chippewa County deputies say Strong game them a fake name at first, then admitted there was a warrant for his arrest.  Investigators found texts on his phone discussing drug sales.  Strong pleaded guilty in February.

A Rusk County Man will be spending time in prison for distributing child porn. 32Yr old Gregory Huftel, pleaded guilty to posting child porn into a Kik chat room and to sending those images to an undercover officer. Huftel was sentenced to 10yrs in prison and 15yrs of supervised release. He will also have to register as a sex offender when released.

Minnesota health officials are concerned about a big decline in emergency room usage in Minnesota. E-R visits for things like heart attacks, strokes and diabetic incidents have dropped a significant amount over the last ten weeks.  The Minnesota Department of Health's Kris Ehresmann says the decline suggests that patients with these conditions could either not access care or were avoiding seeking care.  She says they want to make sure that people who are experiencing signs or symptoms of serious illness should seek immediate emergency care regardless of the pandemic.

Though officials have expressed disappointment that the special session failed to accomplish its objectives, one important thing was accomplished.  Lawmakers passed a 62-million-dollar relief package for small businesses that have been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.  Local government relief, a bonding bill and police reforms were left undone when the Senate adjourned early Saturday and the House followed suit a few minutes later.  It is expected that Governor Tim Walz will call a second special session to deal with those items.

Wisconsin is driving more and that means gas prices are rising again. The cost of regular gas in the Badger State is reported to be higher by two cents-per-gallon over last week. Triple-A says the average statewide price was two-dollars-and-seven cents per gallon Friday, four cents below the national average. Drivers are paying about one-dollar-and-97-cents in Appleton, two-dollars-and-five-cents in Green Bay, two-dollars-and-six-cents in Madison and Milwaukee, and as much as two-dollars-and-nine-cents in Eau Claire. Some locations were selling gas for less than one-dollar-per-gallon in April.

The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction is issuing guidelines for the safe return of students and staff to in-person classes. The D-P-I released the guidelines today as part of the Education Forward program. Officials say schools may have to reduce class size, or have students attend class in shifts and districts need to be ready to navigate a fluid situation that is dictated by the coronavirus. The Education Committee in the State Assembly will discuss the reopening plan this week.

 Governor Evers is including one-million dollars for community outreach in his police reform package. The governor introduced nine pieces of legislation on Friday he says will hold police officers across the state accountable and increase transparency for folks concerned about police brutality. The package would impose a statewide set of rules for police, ban chokehold and no-knock warrants, and spend a million dollars on community outreach. Some of the ideas have been introduced in the past, but didn't go anywhere at the state Capitol.

In the wake of the protests and riots following the death of George Floyd more than 15-thousand people in the Twin Cities metro were reportedly tested for COVID-19. Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm said the results have been encouraging, with a less than two percent case positive rate for those tested. The statewide total case positive rate for the virus has been falling over the last month.

Delta Air Lines will be the first U-S airline to resume routes to China since President Trump ordered a halt to travel from China on January 31st due to COVID-19. Delta will resume flights on June 25th, operating two flights per week between Seattle and Shanghai. In July, Delta will add a once weekly flight from Detroit to Shanghai.

An online study ranks Eau Claire among the most livable small cities in the U-S.  The western Wisconsin community was ranked third and Oshkosh was sixth.  The interim executive director for Visit Eau Claire, Benny Anderson, points to the beautiful parks, amazing people and a strong sense of community.  Last year, Eau Claire was ranked the 11th-best place to own a small business.  Eight of the top-10 small cities were located in the Midwest.  SmartAsset-dot-com used several metrics to rank cities of at least 65 thousand population, but less than 100 thousand.

Local-Regional News June 19

An Eau Claire man is dead after a motorcycle accident in the Town of Nelson on Wednesday. According to the Buffalo County Sheriffs Department, 50yr old Gary Engen was traveling northbound on Hwy D near the intersection of Hwy KK when he failed to negotiate a curve, causing him to lose control and rolling the motorcycle several times. Engen reportedly had a broken leg, and shortly after emergency services arrived, he collapsed and life saving measures were attempted. Engen pronounced dead at the scene.

One person was injured in a one vehicle accident in Oak Grove Township on Thursday. According to the Pierce County Sheriffs Department, 64yr old Terrence Solorz of Prescott was traveling southbound on Hwy 35, when he lost control of his vehicle, entered the south ditch and struck multiple trees. Solorz was taken to Regina Hospital in Hastings with undetermined injuries.

A Menomonie Man has been indited on Heroin and Gun Crimes in Federal Court. 32Yr old David Hartwig was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, possession of heroin with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The charges against Hartwig are the result of an investigation by the Dunn County Sheriffs Department, Menomonie Police Department, West Central Drug Task Force and the Bureau of ;Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. If convicted, Hartwig faces a maximum of 10yrs in prison on the firearms charges and 20yrs in prison on the drug charges.

The man accused of killing his girlfriend in Buffalo County then hiding her body made his first court appearance Thursday. Randall Q. Merrick is charged with First Degree Intentional Homicide-Domestic Abuse and Hiding a Corpse in Buffalo County in the death of Beth Johnson. According to the criminal complaint, Merrick told a witness that "I killed her," and when asked who was killed, Merrick said, "Beth." He then told the witness that "I hit her too hard." Merrick was arrested Tuesday at his residence in Rochester on a warrant from Buffalo County to extradite him back to Wisconsin to face the charges against him. During the hearing, a judge approved an order granting Merrick a public defender. He is scheduled to appear in court Friday morning. Merrick remains in the Olmsted County Jail.

The Dunn County man who used a bow-and-arrow to kill his roommate has been sentenced to 40 years in prison.  Fifty-four-year-old Richard Seehaver pleaded no contest to a charge of second-degree intentional homicide in April.  Seehaver reportedly told detectives he killed John Likeness two years ago to “put him out of his misery.”  The trial was initially delayed when Seehaver was found not competent.  Menomonie police were called to the home where they found Likeness dead in a recliner.  Seehaver admitted he killed him.

A former chaplain for two Catholic schools in Chippewa Falls has been charged with the sexual assault of a child.  Thirty-year-old Father Charlie Richmond made a court appearance in Chippewa County Circuit Court this week.  Investigators with the Chippewa Falls Police Department say the alleged incidents happened over an eight-month period between September 2016 and May 2017.  The victim told police Father Richmond touched her inappropriately at McDonell Area Catholic School.  She said he would have her sit on his lap and give him a lot of hugs.

Wisconsin's unemployment rate dipped slightly to 12 percent in May -down from 13-point-six percent in April. The Department of Workforce Development reports Wisconsin added 74-thousand 900 total non-farm and 72,100 private-sector jobs last month. Governor Evers' Safer at Home order was struck down by the state Supreme Court on May 13. D-W-D Secretary Caleb Frostman said, "May's job numbers show a strong increase in jobs, employment, and an unemployment rate that is more than a full percentage point lower than the national rate." The U-S jobless rate was 13-point-three percent.

Minnesota’s unemployment rate inched up to nine-point-nine percent in May. The Department of Employment and Economic Development says employers added 98-hundred payroll jobs and the private sector added 27-thousand-500 jobs. Government lost 17-thousand-700 jobs last month. DEED Commissioner Steve Grove said "our economy is facing an unprecedented challenge, which these numbers reflect. Slight job increases this month are a positive sign, but the employment rebound will continue to vary greatly by sector." May's numbers show the situation just before Governor Walz lifted the Stay at Home order and the phased re-opening of some businesses. Wisconsin's unemployment rate was 12 percent last month and the national jobless rate was 13-point-three percent in May.

 Not yet halfway through 2020 and it’s already the worst year for Wisconsin hotels on record.  A report from Oxford Economics puts the state’s loss in tax revenue from its hotels at more than 186 million dollars due to the coronavirus pandemic.  All Wisconsin hotels had to close their doors during the statewide Safer at Home order – and many are still shut down under local orders.  The Oxford study predicts it will take until 2022 before Wisconsin hotels return to the occupancy they had before the pandemic.  More than 70 percent of hotel employees have been furloughed or laid off.

There are still many unknowns circulating around the Democratic National Convention in August – but, a spokesperson for Joe Biden says the former vice president will accept the party’s nomination in Milwaukee.  The format for the convention and how many delegates will attend are still undetermined.  Convention organizers are mainly focused on safety during the coronavirus pandemic.  The crowds in downtown Milwaukee will likely be much smaller than the 50 thousand people originally expected.  Bill Russo of the Biden campaign says his candidate will be in Milwaukee to accept the nomination.

U-S Senator Amy Klobuchar is withdrawing as a potential vice-presidential running mate for Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden.  The Minnesota Democrat made the announcement Thursday night.  Klobuchar tells M-S-N-B-C Biden should pick a woman of color to campaign with him.  Klobuchar says to heal the nation such a choice would be the way to do it.  On Twitter, Biden praised Klobuchar but made no commitment about selecting a nonwhite running mate.

Wisconsin coaches and their players can return to summer athletic activities July 1st.  The W-I-A-A has released the guidelines for that resumption, leaving it up to the schools to determine if that can be done safely.  Each team will select a COVID-19 coach to respond to situations involving the virus.  The state association says close contact sports like football, wrestling and dance may have to be modified.  Training in safety protocols for all coaches is part of the return-to-play plan.  Despite the release of the guidelines, there is still no guarantee fall sports will actually happen yet.

Authorities in Rusk County say a double-murder suspect has confessed to killing his grandparents.  After interviewing Adam Rosolowski, investigators think he shot them to death because he wanted their truck.  Rosolowski originally blamed another suspect for the shootings.  Later, he told deputies he shot his grandmother in the head.  He and two teenagers are being held in the Rusk County Jail for the double murder committed earlier this month.

The Minnesota Supreme Court is ordering the indefinite suspension of a Rochester attorney’s license to practice law.  The state's high court says Duane Kennedy will not be able to petition for the reinstatement for two years.  Kennedy is accused of bartering with a client for sexual favors and making false statements to both police investigators and the director of the Office of Lawyers Professional Responsibility.  He was also investigated for bookkeeping failures in violation of his probation for previous misconduct.  Court records indicate Kennedy admitted to the bookkeeping violations - but denies that he sought sexual favors and that he lied to investigators.

A doctor of U-W Health says he is encouraged by the preliminary studies of the drug Dexamethasone.  Doctor William Ehlenbach says he has already used the widely-available steroid on one of his patients with good results.  Researchers in Great Britain say the drug could help some of the sickest coronavirus patients.  For those on a ventilator, it appears to reduce the risk of death by 35 percent.  The findings are still preliminary and it is too early to tell about long-term effects.  Doctors say it doesn’t work on all patients.

Minnesota officials are monitoring a potential COVID-19 hot spot in southern Minnesota.  The Department of Health's Kris Ehresmann says Mower County had 73 new cases Wednesday and now has the second-highest incidence of cases in the state.   Ehresmann says they have already been partnering with local labs to increase testing, and recognize that there is both workplace potential for exposure as well as a community activity.  Pop-up testing sites are planned in Austin on Saturday and Sunday with a capacity of around one-thousand people each day.

Milwaukee Public Schools could be the next school district to cut ties with the police. Hundreds of protesters gathered outside district headquarters Wednesday to demand the school district cancel a half-million-dollar contract that helps pay for police officers to patrol near several schools. Milwaukee Police have not been inside public schools since 2016. Milwaukee School Board President Larry Miller says the times have changed, he supports the protesters’ demands. Miller says the money spent on police officers could be spent elsewhere.

An unpleasant mess has Wausau public works asking residents for a favor. Don't flush anything but toilet paper or your own waste down the toilet- that's the word from Wausau Water Works after untreated wastewater ended up spilling into the street. The backup was caused by several non-flushable items such as wet wipes, paper towels, napkins, and feminine hygiene products- all items that should go in the trash and not down the toilet, even if the label says "Flushable." failure to follow those guidelines not only results in a mess for utility crews to clean up, it could also cause sewage to backup into your or your neighbors home.

Local-Regional News June 18

A man from Rochester is jailed in the death of a missing woman he was living with in northwest Wisconsin.  The Buffalo County Sheriff's Office says Randall Merrick is charged with first-degree intentional homicide, domestic abuse and hiding the corpse of Beth Johnson.  She was last seen at their mobile home in Nelson in December 2016.  The complaint alleges that Merrick killed Johnson between Christmas Day 2016 and March 2017.  Her adult son contacted authorities on March 12th after Johnson failed to call and wish him a happy birthday. He reported that he hadn't communicated with his mom since Christmas. A police dog located burned remains on property near their trailer in April of 2018.

The Administrative staff at Durand Arkansaw school district will begin working on a plan to re-open school for the fall. Superintendent Greg Doverspike says each school building will have a committee that will look at the logistical issues surrounding reopening while adhering to social distancing guidelines. The committees will be meeting throughout July to determine a plan for school board approval.   Meanwhile the board did approve re opening district buildings and facilities on July 1^st with restrictions.

The Pepin County Board has decided to keep the Government Center and other county buildings closed to unlimited public access until August 1^st. During last nights board meeting members felt it made sense to follow the Sheriffs Department in reopening in August. Residents that do need to meet with a county employee at the government center can still do so but they must call ahead and schedule an appointment. The board also approved to continue to allow committee members and county board members to meet remotely though December 31^st.

 Wisconsin’s K-through-12 schools and colleges and universities will receive more than 80 million dollars in financial assistance.  Governor Tony Evers made the announcement Wednesday.  The money is intended to help the schools deal with challenges related to the pandemic.  Forty-six million will go to local school districts and 37 million to higher education institutions. The Durand-Arkansaw School District is expects to receive $182,000 in aid from the program. The funding originates from the federal CARES Act and is being distributed through the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Fund.

A former officer at the Challenge Incarceration Program in St. Croix County has been charged with sexual assault by correctional staff.  Thirty-three-year-old Denae Saltness is accused of having a sexual relationship with an inmate.  He told investigators about having multiple sexual encounters with Saltness while he was an inmate and she was working there.  Saltness is scheduled to return to St. Croix County Circuit Court in August.  The inmate’s name hasn’t been released.

A La Crosse County woman accused of killing her husband by driving over him has made her initial court appearance.  Fifty-year-old Lori Ann Phillips is charged with second-degree reckless homicide.  If convicted of the felony charge in the death of Mark Phillips she could be sentenced to 25 years in prison.  Her husband was killed at the family home in Holmen last year.  She returns to La Crosse County Circuit Court June 30th for a status update hearing.

All the details have been hammered out and the Wisconsin Elections Commission is moving forward with a plan to mail two-point-seven million absentee ballot applications to voters.  The final step was approving the wording of a letter that will accompany the mailing.  About 80 percent of Wisconsin’s registered voters will get the mailing before the November presidential election.  The commission is also considering a request to establish a rule prohibiting the practice of ballot harvesting – where outside groups collect and return large numbers of absentee ballots.

 Republicans are blasting Secretary of State Steve Simon after he signed an agreement to ease absentee ballot rules for the August primary.  A judge approved waiving a witness requirement amid the COVID-19 pandemic.  Senator Mary Kiffmeyer accuses Simon of "circumventing the legislature--just sue until you're blue and get what you want through the courts."  Secretary Simon said, " That's mistaken, this consent decree has nothing do with preferred policy outcomes, mine or anyone else's, it has to do with what the law demands."  The agreement allows ballots that arrive within two days of the primary would be counted, as long as they are postmarked by Election Day.

A Staples,MN man is the third person accused of setting fire to the Minneapolis Police Department's Third Precinct on May 28th.   Twenty-six-year-old Bryce Williams appeared in federal court Wednesday for conspiracy to commit arson.   Prosecutors say he can be seen on surveillance video holding a Molotov cocktail while others attempt to light the wick.   A-T-F investigators also reviewed videos on Williams' TikTok account and more than one shows him standing in front of the burning building. Twenty-two-year-old Dylan Robinson from Brainerd and 23-year-old Brandon Wolfe of St. Paul are charged with aiding and abetting the police station fire.

The Wisconsin Emergency Operations Center and the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction are partnering to distribute a one-time allocation of cloth masks and thermometers to Wisconsin schools. Each public school district and charter school will be eligible to receive the supplies. Each district across the state is asked to fill out a survey to confirm they'd like the equipment, which will begin shipping in July.

The Milwaukee suburbs are leading the nation, in responding to the US Census. Nearly 82 percent of households in Ozaukee County have responded to the census, and the three WOW counties, Washington, Ozaukee and Waukesha counties, lead the country as well. Local officials everywhere are urging residents to do the same to make sure they get their fair share of federal government money and to prepare for legislative redistricting.

State Senator Van Wanggaard says things were supposed to be getting better at Wisconsin’s unemployment office.  Instead, the Republican claims  they are getting worse.  Wanggaard demanded answers from the head of the Department of Workforce Development Tuesday.  He wants to know why it is taking four-to-five weeks for people who have filed for benefits to hear back from anyone.  Wanggaard also claims one-in-four unemployment claims still haven’t been paid.  He says the problems continue even though the agency has added hundreds of people to its payroll to deal with the volume of applications.

Less than a week after he withdrew from consideration as president for the University of Wisconsin System there are troubles at home for Jim Johnsen.  The faculty union for the University of Alaska has released a petition calling for his immediate resignation.  Johnsen is president of the U-A System.  The petition outlines several reasons for his ouster, including deteriorating state funding, student enrollment and the elimination of several academic programs under his leadership.  Union leaders also pointed to Johnsen’s comments while he was interviewed for the Wisconsin position in Madison last week.

Wisconsin farmers have until the end of the month to apply for 35 hundred dollars in coronavirus stimulus money.  The Department of Agriculture said Tuesday the Wisconsin Farm Support Program is open.  About 26-thousand-500 farmers could be eligible for the 50-million-dollar program.  Applications can be submitted through the state Department of Revenue website, with the funds dispersed by mid-July.

Minnesota State colleges and universities are freezing fall semester tuition for undergraduate students.  The freeze will hold tuition rates at the fiscal year 2020 level for students at all 30 Minnesota state schools.  Chancellor Devinder Malhotra says a three-percent tuition increase will go into effect in the spring of 2021 to fund inflationary costs and bolster long-term financial sustainability.  He called the tuition freeze "a sign of our commitment to affordability and a compelling incentive for students."  For fall semester, the colleges and universities of Minnesota State will offer a mix of on-campus and online courses reflecting how each institution can best support its students and their success related to COVID-19.

Three recent alumni of Columbus Catholic Schools in Marshfield have begun an online petition to change that name. School President David Eaton says that's not something they can "jump into quickly" Eaton says he's "open to the discussion," but the focus now is on safely holding fall classes amid the coronavirus pandemic. The petition notes Columbus "acted in deeply racist ways," enslaving and murdering Indigenous Peoples.

Minnesota-based Target says it will raise its starting wage to 15 dollars an hour  next month.  The retailer said in 2017 it would increase the minimum the wage by the end of 2020.  Target says it will also pay all of its employees in stores and distribution centers a one-time bonus of 200 dollars at the end of July to thank them "for providing essential services to our guests throughout the coronavirus pandemic."