Local-Regional News June 12

The Durand Ambulance Service has a new director. During Wednesday's council meeting, Mike Miller was approved to become the new director. Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren says Miller has a career of experience.  Milliren says the city will be working with Miller over the next few weeks to get familiar with the position.

The Mondovi City Council has appproved A-1 Excavating for the Schmidtknecht Road construction project for the new wastewater treatment plant. On Tuesday , 6 bids were opened and A-1 Excavating has the lowest bid at $1.072 million dollars. The city is finalizing the purchase of the property this month.

The La Crosse County district attorney says he will ask a D-A in another county to determine whether charges should be filed against the mayor’s wife.  Tim Gruenke says he will do that to avoid any potential conflict of interest.  La Crosse Mayor Tim Kabat’s wife Christy was involved in a confrontation last month.  La Crosse police say she was the instigator.  Investigators say she ran up to a van at a downtown intersection and gestured for several moments.  The incident was caught on surveillance video from City Hall.  Kabat is accused of scratching the driver before he pepper-sprayed her.

With the recent heavy rains, rivers across the area are running high and fast. Authorities from around the area are advising residents to be extra cautious going out on the rivers to fish or for other activities. On Thursday, the Eau Claire Fire Department responded to several calls of people in distress after the switft currents sent their inter-tubes in the shore and debries. According to the national weather service, the Chippewa river is cresting today at 11.7 feet which is below flood stage but still about 6 feet higher than it was before the heavy rain.

Dunn County Authorities have identified the man found dead in the Chippewa River this week. Steven L. Field 66 of Eau Claire was found on Tuesday. Autopsy results are consistent with drowning and there were no traumatic injuries to the body. The matter remains under investigation and if anyone had contact with Field anytime after May 28, they are to call the Dunn County Sheriffs Department.

The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture reports two deer at Brush Ranch Outfitters near Galesville have tested positive for chronic wasting disease.  The neurological disease is found in deer, elk and moose.  Infected animals show the symptoms of abnormal behavior and loss of body functions.  The state agency says the remaining 495 deer and 10 elk on the ranch in western Wisconsin have been quarantined.  Veterinarians will investigate to determine which animals have been exposed.

Governor Tony Evers says hospitals in Wisconsin will receive direct payments in July to assist with losses from the COVID-19 pandemic.  The Wisconsin Department of Health Services will distribute 40-million dollars in federal CARES Act funding.  Evers said, "this support is critically needed as we continue to battle this virus and ensure high quality care for Wisconsinites."  Hospitals will receive a single payment from D-H-S based upon their percentage of both inpatient and outpatient Medicaid revenue, compared to other facilities throughout the state.  The Wisconsin Hospital Association said, "we appreciate this assistance and Governor Evers' recognition of the ongoing challenges facing hospitals and health systems across the state."

 Wisconsin lawmakers from both parties are pushing Governor Tony Evers to fire the staff member who made a clandestine recording of a private telephone meeting with Republican legislative leaders.  When asked Thursday, Evers didn’t say what action might be taken.  Audio of the call was released when the Associated Press made an open records request.  Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald – both Republicans – say the person should be fired.  Democratic State Representative Jonathon Brostoff agrees.  So far, the staff member hasn’t been identified.

U-S Senator Ron Johnson has authored a bill that would delist the gray wolf in the Western Great Lakes region as an endangered species.  The Republican from Wisconsin has been working on this for more than five years.  His amendment has bipartisan support, including Democratic U-S Senator Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin.  The gray wolf would be restored to its status determined in 2011 and it would clear the way for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to develop a wolf population management program.  Johnson says he is hopeful the bill will be approved since it has bipartisan support.

The Mayo Clinic is out with a new COVID-19 test designed to measure the level of neutralizing antibodies against the new coronavirus.   Officials say the test will help identify donors with the most beneficial convalescent plasma after recovering from COVID-19 and should help assess the effectiveness of potential vaccines.  Mayo Clinic Laboratories President Doctor William Morice said, "this new test provides us with incredibly important information about how effective a person’s antibodies are at neutralizing the virus."  The new test should become available by the end of this month.

 A Republican state lawmaker from west central Minnesota has no confidence for his safety and security when he returns to the Capitol Friday for special session.  Representative Tim Miller of Prinsburg is angry that Native American protesters tore down the Christopher Columbus statue and law enforcement did nothing to stop it.  Miller said, "we are not following rule of law here, we are following mob rule."  Miller wants Governor Tim Walz to call the National Guard back to St. Paul to protect the Capitol while legislators are there.

Coronavirus precautions are putting a dent in Wisconsin's tax revenues. May's tax report shows the state is down 66-million dollars compared to last year. State Senator Alberta Darling blames Governor Evers' decision to restrict commerce. Darling says an increase of online sales helped keep matters from getting worse. She also credits her fellow Republicans for blocking Evers' proposed tax increase last year.

Thousands of out-of-work Wisconsinites are still waiting for their unemployment checks. The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development says a little more than 626-thousand unemployment claims were filed from March 15th through last Friday. The agency says more than 15-percent of those claims are still "pending."

The Milwaukee Common Council won’t let police buy more tear gas to have it in stock for the Democratic National Convention.  The chemical irritant was used during the protests which turned into riots.  Police had requested the purchase several months ago.  City Council members turned their backs on the idea after two weeks of protests over the killing of George Floyd.  Alderman Nik Kovac has said he doesn’t think tear gas should be used on any American citizen.

Congressman James Sensenbrenner joins Democrats calling for a national registry of “bad cops.”  The Wisconsin Republican says defunding police departments isn’t the answer.  Sensenbrenner is a member of the House Judiciary Committee that heard from George Floyd’s brother Wednesday.  He told Philonise Floyd that the officer who killed his brother shouldn’t have been on the Minneapolis police force.  At least 17 complaints had been filed against Officer Derek Chauvin during his 19-year career.  He was disciplined just once.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is demanding quick action on police reforms during Friday's special session in response to George Floyd's death.  Republican lawmakers say the matter needs a thorough discussion.  G-O-P Senator Rich Draheim of Madison Lake said, "I think it's a good discussion we need to have, we need to make adjustments, but I don't think we should do it in a couple of days."  Draheim claims most police departments already prohibit the use of chokeholds.  Walz said Wednesday, "the time to debate, come up with solutions, implement them and continue to move forward is on us."

The Mall of America reopened Wednesday after 11 weeks of being closed by the coronavirus pandemic.  Only about 150 of the mall’s 500 stores were accepting customers, though others are expected to reopen in the coming days.  The mall blocked off about half of its parking spots and a spokesperson says only about 35 percent of the normal number of mall visitors are expected.  Face masks aren’t required for those wanting to enter the mall – but some stores won’t let you enter there without wearing one.  While other malls opened in mid-May, the Mall of America took longer to work out the logistics.

Wisconsin’s biggest attraction is back in business, but not like normal – yet.  Potawatomi Hotel and Casino serves more than six million guests each year, but it’s been closed since mid-March.  The doors opened to gamblers again Wednesday.  They were greeted at the door with a temperature check and some health questions.  At least one person was turned away.  The slot machines are separated by plexiglass panels and, so far, no card games, no dice and no chips.  With only 600 customers allowed on the floor at one time, three-fourths of the workers are still furloughed.