Local-Regional News June 8

The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, UW- River Falls and UW- Stout will be welcoming students back to campus for in-person class fall semester. The COVID-19 pandemic caused the spring semester to move to distance and online learning. All three universities say they will be implementing health and safety measures which include physical distancing and the use of masks. They also will be working with local health officials for plans to test symptomatic students. UW-Eau Claire and UW-River Falls will start classes on September 2nd and UW-Stout returns September 9th. Meanwhile University of Minnesota President Joan Gabel is recommending that in-person classes resume and residence halls re-open fall semester.  Gabel would also like classes to finish by Thanksgiving or earlier if state health officials say it's necessary.  The U of M Board of Regents will consider the proposal at their meeting Thursday.  Each of the five campuses would be able to adjust its plans for students and academic calendar.

A Dunn County man will be in court Tuesday facing multiple sexual assault charges. Kenneth Thibado Jr is charged with sexually assaulting a child approximately 10 times when the child was between the ages of 15 and 18. If convicted of all 4 charges, Thibado faces more than 100yrs in prison.

The sentence is 22 years in prison for a western Wisconsin man convicted in the reckless homicide of his son.  St. Croix County prosecutors say Kayle Fleischauer of New Richmond beat 19-year-old Chase Fleischauer before shooting him in the head in April of 2018.  This was his second conviction in the case after juror misconduct last year required it to be re-tried.  Fleischauer was also ordered to serve 15 years of extended supervision when he gets out of prison.

A Rochester woman is jailed for assaulting police officers for the second time.  Police encountered the intoxicated woman outside the Rochester Public Library Thursday afternoon holding a bottle of liquor and yelling.  Officers realized 43-year-old Torria Wells was wanted on a warrant for assaulting an officer and tried to take her into custody.  They say Wells grabbed one of the officers by the neck and threw punches at others before a Taser was used to subdue her.  She was booked on a new charge of assaulting an officer.

Meteorologists are warning widespread rain from the remnants of Tropical Storm Cristobal will start to develop over Wisconsin by Tuesday.  Cristobal made landfall along the Gulf Coast last night.  The experts say the remainder of the storm could track further west across Wisconsin than any other post-tropical storm in history.  That could mean heavy rainfall and flooding Tuesday and Wednesday, with the heaviest downpours in western Wisconsin.  Cooler weather will move in when the rain moves out.

Minnesota State Senator Karin Housley is demanding that the Minnesota Department of Health release more information on the spread of COVID-19 in nursing homes and assisted-living facilities.  The Republican Saint Mary's Point lawmaker has also threatened to subpoena the agency if it did not comply with data requests. Housley is the chairwoman of the Senate Family Care and Aging Committee.  She says the state health agency has turned down or ignored several requests for information.  This includes records on the number of virus cases and deaths at long-term care facilities across the state.

The Department of Natural Resources is getting ready to reopen campsites this week. DNR section chief Missy VanLanduyt  says that you'll still need to buy a park pass online, and do online registration and reservations. There won't be any garbage cans on site, so wardens remind you to pack in and pack out. You can find out more online at D N R do W I dot Gov.

The protesters who attacked the tanker truck driver on Interstate-35W in Minneapolis last weekend won't be charged.  The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension says its intent was to investigate the case against the truck driver, not the people who attacked him.  Bogdan Vechirko was arrested after driving through a group of protesters on Sunday.  Authorities do not believe he intentionally drove into the demonstrators.  He was released later in the week, but he's still being investigated.

 Indoor dining will be allowed in Minnesota bars and restaurants June 10th after Governor Tim Walz lifted some COVID-19 restrictions.  Fitness centers, theaters, bowling alleys and museums can also re-open June 10th at reduced capacity.  The Minnesota Medical Association says as more businesses and activities open, it doesn't mean it's safe for everyone.  The state's doctors encourage Minnesotans to remain vigilant and attentive to the "very real risks that this virus continues to pose."  The Minnesota Licensed Beverage Association doesn't think Governor Walz went far enough.  The M-L-B-A says it will continue working with the governor's office to get bars and restaurants fully re-opened as soon as possible.

The number of initial unemployment claims continues to decline in Wisconsin.  The Department of Workforce Development says 23-thousand laid-off workers filed claims lasts week - down from more than 26-thousand the previous week.  It marked the ninth straight week of gradual declines since the peak of COVID-19 layoffs.  People filing claims still report having some problems and delays.  Department of Workforce Development Secretary Caleb Frostman says he understands the frustrations and has hundreds of newly trained employees to help alleviate some of the issues.

Husky Energy is resuming work to  rebuild the Superior refinery.  Construction was suspended in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Husky spokeswoman Kim Guttormson said they decided to bring some local contractors back after consulting with experts.  She said they are working at three different locations around the refinery to maintain physical distancing.  There will also be some equipment staging at the nearby Mariner Center.  Some staff had remained on site since March to maintain the gas and diesel terminals and other essential operations like the waste water treatment plant.

A Milwaukee man is facing federal charges for throwing a Molotov cocktail into a Boost Mobile store.  Prosecutors say 26-year-old Tyshaun Smith is charged with attempted arson and possession of a destructive device.  The complaint says police saw Smith throw what appeared to be a burning Molotov cocktail into the store Sunday night and attempted to flee the scene.  He fell and was arrested with a loaded nine-millimeter firearm.  Officers say Smith's sweatshirt and gloves were coated in gasoline.  U-S Attorney Matthew Kruger said Smith "engaged in senseless violence, attempting to destroy an innocent business that serves Milwaukee residents.”

Schwai’s Meat and Sausage Market in Fredonia is issuing a voluntary class I recall for three Italian sausage products due to an undeclared ingredient that contains a soy allergen.  The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection says the recalled products include one pound packages of Italian, Hot Italian and Chicken Italian Sausage links sold at retail stores in Fredonia, Cedarburg and the West Bend Farmers Market.  No illnesses have been reported from consuming these products.  The affected products can be returned or thrown out.

Republican lawmakers in Madison aren't ready to allow the University of Wisconsin System to borrow a billion-dollars.  U-W President Ray Cross this week suggested a billion-dollar line of credit to get the school through the crunch caused by the coronavirus.  But state Senator Steve Nass, who heads the Senate's committee on universities, says the U-W System would need to pay that billion dollars back.  That either means more money from state government or more money from students.