The Mondovi City Council Tuesday postponed a proposal to extend Monroe Street to connect to an existing business. The Owner of Poeschel Transport wanted to have the opportunity to extend Monroe Street so his employees and customers could access his business. Only personal vehicles would be allowed, but residents were concerned with the possible increase in traffic. Monroe Street had existed at one time to the property but the segment has not existed since the late 80's. So far the city has not been able to find any record of abandonment of the road right of way but will look at some additional records before proceeding any further.
Pepin County buildings will begin the re-opening process starting September 1st. While all buildings will be open, the public is still encouraged to call ahead for an appointment, or to do business over the phone or via email. Face masks will be required inside of the buildings. In person court will begin on September 7ths, while public meetings will still be held online and county employees will still have travel restrictions in place.
The Eau Claire City Attorney is commenting on the City-County Health Departments covid-19 health order in regards to fall sports. A group of parents had considered a lawsuit against the Department to allow for fall sports to be played. However, the city attorney said as long as the requirements and recommendations in the order are put in place, the Health order would not prevent fall sports from being played in Eau Claire County. The attorney also said it would up to each school's administration to determine if fall sports should be played.
A barn is a total loss after a fire on Thursday. Black River Falls Firefighters responded to the blaze on West Road and found the barn engulfed in flames and heavy smoke. The owner of the barn was able to evacuate cattle from the building and no injuries were reported. The cause of that blaze is still under investigation.
The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction reports the state has nearly 30 percent fewer new teachers than it had 10 years ago. Recent stories have focused on the difficulty districts having in finding substitutes, but full-time teachers are in short supply, too. A D-P-I spokesperson says the problems are caused by how hard it is to become a teacher and the relatively low pay for some new teachers. Wisconsin’s numbers are actually similar to bordering states Illinois and Michigan, where new teacher numbers are down almost 60 percent over the same 10-year period.
A federal judge has blocked a rule that would have diverted pandemic relief aid from K-through-12 schools to private schools. Wisconsin and seven other states signed off on the lawsuit. Judge James Donato made his ruling in San Francisco Wednesday. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel had argued the money was meant to help public schools that were most in need of financial support. Nessel told the court the policy by U-S Education Secretary Betsy DeVos “does exactly the opposite.” In addition to the eight states and the District of Columbia, school systems in Chicago, Cleveland, New York City and San Francisco were part of the legal action.
Kenosha police say they arrested nine people Wednesday night as they filled gasoline cans which officers think they were going to use at the protests. Police had been tipped about suspicious vehicles with out-of-state plates who were meeting in a remote parking lot. U-S Marshals joined the police as they followed a black school bus, a bread truck and a minivan to a gasoline station, then moved in as the occupants began filling the gas cans. Investigators say those vehicles included equipment like helmets, gas masks, protective vests, illegal fireworks and suspected controlled substances. The names of the people taken into custody haven’t been released.
Minnesota officials are stepping up COVID-19 compliance checks at Minnesota bars and restaurants starting today. The Departments of Public Safety, Health, and Labor and Industry sent a letter to the state's hospitality industry explaining the increased enforcement. The letter says in part, "most establishments are following federal and state guidelines, but it makes it difficult for them to compete or to explain to their customers when other establishments are not in compliance.” Investigators will be making sure workers wear masks, following social distance guidelines, and employee health screening procedures. Officials will also be checking for 50-percent capacity.
Because he thought he heard some gunshots at about 4:00 a-m, a Madison resident decided to check his security system Wednesday morning. What he saw on surveillance video appeared to be a rolling gunfight between two cars. The resident reported to Madison police he could see multiple rounds being shot. When officers followed up, they found eight shell casings in the street outside the man’s home. No injuries have been reported that were connected to the incident. The person who reported it hasn’t been identified.
A study conducted by the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh finds remote learning will have an impact on state workers. More than 40 percent of business owners contacted say local schools that limit teaching to online presentations will result in keeping workers from returning to their jobs. It will be hard for parents to go back to work full time when their kids are learning at home. The researchers say childcare issues are always a problem, but usually a much-smaller problem than they are this year.
Dane County prosecutors say surveillance video shows protest leader Jordan King using a sledgehammer to damage the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Memorial outside the state Capitol earlier this week. King was released from jail Wednesday after a court hearing in Madison. Nearly 100 people had rallied, demanding that he be set free. Investigators say he caused 20 thousand dollars in damages by breaking windows at a downtown Madison restaurant. He’s free on a signature bond, facing charges of criminal damage to property and carrying a concealed weapon. Protesters were responding to the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha.
The Minnesota National Guard was called in to enforce a curfew put in place after civil unrest erupted in Minneapolis Wednesday night. Police released a video of a suspect shooting himself after rumors of police involvement led to angry crowds gathering. The body was found in a downtown parking ramp. The man’s name hasn’t been released, but he was suspect in a fatal shooting a few minutes earlier. Police say they released the video to stop the rumors.
A Sauk County judge has ordered a competency examination for a man accused of trying to abduct a two-year-old girl last year. James Sellers is charged with abduction of a child, burglary and recklessly causing physical harm to a child. His attorney says Sellers doesn’t have any understanding of what is going on. The incident happened in Lake Delton in May of last year. Police were called when the child was discovered missing and she was found outside. She had suffered minor injuries. Sellers was arrested three months later based on D-N-A evidence and finger and palm prints found at the scene.
One-hundred-million dollars is available to help pay rent and mortgages for those impacted by COVID-19 in Minnesota. State officials say the money is supported by the CARES Act through the Housing Assistance Program . Officials say the funding can also be used for back paying utility bills. Income must sit below 300-percent of poverty guidelines and expenses following March 1st. A moratorium is in place and is designed to protect people from evictions. That will expire September 11th. More than five-thousand have applied for the program.
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is now accepting applications for the new Grain Storage Facility Safety Cost-Share program. It is aimed at making grain bin safety more affordable and was prompted by the death of 18-year-old Landon Gran near Norseland last year. The program reimburses farmers up to 75 percent of the cost to purchase, ship and install safety equipment for grain bins or silos. Minnesota lawmakers put 50-thousand dollars into the program earlier this year.
After spending weeks cramped up inside by the threat of the coronavirus pandemic, Wisconsin residents are taking every opportunity for outdoor recreation. The Department of Natural Resources reports six-point-four million people have visited Wisconsin state parks. Fishing license sales are up by 14 percent and hunters have purchased 10 percent more turkey licenses. Parks give users the chance to enjoy the great outdoors while offering plenty of space for social distancing.
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