The remnants of Tropical Strom Cristobal will lift up from the south and into the upper Midwest later today and tonight. Heavy rain is expected with rainfall amounts of 2-4 inches expected with some areas of 5 inches possible. Flash flooding could develop later today and into early Wednesday morning. The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood watch through Wednesday morning for the entire WRDN Listening Area.
Three people were injured after a two motorcycle accident in Lincoln Township on Sunday. According to the Buffalo county Sheriffs Department, the two motorcycles were traveling north bound on Hwy 88 just past Hwy T when the failed to negotiate a corner, crossed into the southbound lane and down the embankment. 54Yr old Peter Houghtelin of Chatfield and 52yr old Kimberly Cary of Rochester were taken to Winona Health with non life threatening injuries, while 56yr old Peter Quast of Rochester was airlifted to Mayo Eau Claire. Speed is believed to be a factor in that accident.
One person was injured in a one vehicle accident in Isabelle Township on Saturday. According to the Pierce County Sheriffs Department, 25yr old Andrew Rohrich of St. Paul was traveling northbound on Hwy 35 when he lost control of his vehicle, entered the east ditch and struck numerous trees. Rohrich was taken to Red Wing Hospital with undetermined injuries.
Three state law enforcement agencies are helping the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office investigate a double homicide. Deputies were dispatched to the home Sunday near Conrath when a family member had found the bodies of Bob and Bonnie Rosolowski. Investigators say they believe this was a targeted incident and there is no public risk. Neighbors say the two people who lived in the home were hard-working and mostly kept to themselves. The sheriff’s office is leading the investigation, with help from the Wisconsin Department of Justice D-C-I, the state crime lab and the Wisconsin State Patrol.
The Pepin County Health Department has issued a new health alert regarding covid-19. The alert is broken down into categories for individuals and different businesses and organizations. Pepin County Health Officer Heidi Stewart says the use of face masks and social distancing need to continue. The health department is also recommending those that feel sick to stay home, and residents should limit travel and avoid areas where large groups of people would be along with areas of covid-19 outbreaks.
The lone remaining candidate to become the president of the University of Wisconsin System is facing a challenging day. University of Alaska System President Jim Johnson faces a grueling schedule of interviews. It starts this morning (Tuesday) with a meeting with the system’s presidential search committee. That will be followed by questions from campus stakeholders and finally an interview with the entire Board of Regents. If approved, Johnson will replace outgoing President Ray Croft. The other finalists withdrew due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The Wisconsin Elections Commission is being asked to outlaw a practice called “ballot harvesting.” It involves partisan outside groups helping send or return to local officials large numbers of absentee ballots. The conservative Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty could be a precursor to a lawsuit over efforts to boost mail-in voting during the coronavirus pandemic. Three-fourths of all votes used absentee ballots during the April presidential primary. Wisconsin state law doesn’t specifically outlaw ballot harvesting and that’s why the firm is asking the commission to enact the rule banning it.
Some groups who have spent years targeting police brutality now say they’re not sure how dismantling Minneapolis police would be done. The president of the Minneapolis chapter of Communities United Against Police Brutality calls the demands to defund police “just plain optics.” The action is rare. Camden, New Jersey did it, but such a move comes with major legal issues, including a Minneapolis city charter which stipulates a police force. The culture in the Minneapolis Police Department has been criticized for years for a racist and brutal culture that resists change.
A 17-year-old murder suspect is scheduled to make an initial appearance in Olmstead County Circuit Court Wednesday. Kaleb W. Smith of Eyota is accused of killing his five-year-old brother at the family’s home. The incident happened last week. Smith told investigators their mother had sent the younger boy, Alex, to bed – but he kept crying and “throwing a fit.” He says he returned to Alex’s room and pinched his brother’s nose and covered his mouth for “one-to-two minutes” until the screaming stopped. The Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s Office reported the victim’s brain suffered swelling consistent with being smothered.
The Madison teachers’ union says its members want police officers removed from the schools. In a Sunday statement, the union said school resource officers cause “racialized trauma.” In the past, the same union had demanded to have officers based in schools as a way to protect teachers and students. The union now says the negatives outweigh the positives. The Madison Metropolitan School District Board of Education will vote on its policy for school resource officers at a meeting Wednesday.
Fifteen Republican state lawmakers are calling on Wisconsin’s governor to do more to protect the State Capitol from vandalism. They signed a letter to Governor Tony Evers late last week. The lawmakers want the statehouse, the grounds and the statues and memorials protected. They say vandals have spray-painted and defaced many already. The Republicans say they support the protesters who are peaceful, but they want something done about people who are just looking to damage and destroy.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz will ease more coronavirus restrictions effective Wednesday. Swimming pools, movie theaters, gymnasiums and spas will be allowed to re-open – along with indoor dining at restaurants. Under the governor’s new order, no location can hold more than 250 people. Churches, salons and restaurants will be limited to 50 percent of capacity while bowling alleys, gymnasiums and movie theaters will have to stay under 25 percent.
Jury trials are slowly coming back in Minnesota after a three-month shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Last week, Hennepin, McLeod, Olmstead, and Ramsey counties began jury trials in felony criminal cases on a pilot basis after implementing a new COVID-19 preparedness plan created by the state Department of Health. No other criminal trials can be conducted before July 6th and no civil trials can be held until September 1st. Meanwhile, the state's top public defender Bill Ward believes safety is still a major issue. He's concerned that counties returning to jury trials too soon and without proper safety and sanitary protocols in place could also hinder chances of a fair trial.
Democratic Party leaders say people attending the national convention in August could be tested for the coronavirus. Details are still being worked out and a decision on the testing should be made a few days before the convention starts. Milwaukee Health Commissioner Jeanette Kowalik says there’s a good chance everyone who enters the Fiserv Forum will have to take a rapid COVID-19 test for clearance.
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