Local-Regional News October 30

The Pepin County Board of Supervisors voted 11-1 last night to lock down the government center. The center will revert back to the policies of the summer where residents that need to meet with a county employee or department will have to call ahead and schedule an appointment and all the entrances to the building will be locked. Residents will be encouraged to conduct county business by phone, email, or regular mail. The building will be open on election day as it is a voting site for Town of Waubeek voters.

The Pepin County Health Department has issued a new health alert due to the increase in covid-19 cases. Pepin County Health Officer Heidi Stewart says the county has 161 positive covid 19 cases as of Thursday.   Because of the spike Durand-Arkansaw Schools have started remote learning, the Durand City Hall will be locking down after election day and the Pepin County Government Center will also be locking down.

The Durand-Arkansaw School Board has approved the budget for the 2020-2021 school year. Durand-Arkansaw School Superintendent Greg Doverspike says while on paper there was a budget deficit, the board was able to move some money from last years budget to this year to cover that deficit.  

The City of Durand received a pleasant surprise for the upcoming budget. Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren says heath insurance costs will not rise as much as expected.  The final budget hearing is scheduled for November 18.

Removal of the gray wolf from the Endangered Species list sets up another political battle in Minnesota because a recreational wolf hunt requires state authorization.  Governor Tim Walz and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan have both said they oppose wolf hunting.  Minnesota Farm Bureau President Kevin Paap  says farmers and ranchers need to be able to protect livestock and pets but added "it doesn't have to be necessarily a hunt."  Maureen Hackett with the group Howling for Wolves says "the vast majority of Minnesotans... want the wolf protected for future generations."   D-N-R officials say they're far from making any decision on a wolf hunt and have extended their public comment period until November 20th.

Nine months into the coronavirus pandemic and some Wisconsin businesses are barely hanging on.  The October coronavirus business and economic impact survey by researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh illustrates how critical the situation is.  Nine percent of Wisconsin businesses say they have no more than three months before they will have to close for good.  The poll-takers are finding a sharp decrease in business confidence in the state.  They say they don’t expect any more federal help and figure the pandemic will continue to impact day-to-day operations for anywhere from nine months to a full year.

A cyberattack has reportedly resulted in more than two-million dollars being stolen from the Wisconsin Republican Party.  G-O-P chair Andrew Hitt says they discovered they were victims of a sophisticated phishing attack last Thursday.  Party officials contacted the F-B-I after confirming two-point-three-million dollars was missing.  Hitt claims hackers lifted the cash by manipulating information in e-mails and invoices to vendors the party was using on the presidential campaign.   Hitt says the national party had warned state parties about potential cyberattacks, but "unfortunately, one slipped through the cracks."

 A ruling by a federal appeals court means that all absentee ballots in Minnesota must be returned by 8 p-m on Election Day.  The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals overruled a lower court ruling that allowed ballots postmarked by November 3rd to be counted within seven days of the election. The Minnesota Secretary of State's Office extended the deadline due to increased demand for absentee ballots during the COVID-19 pandemic.  The Trump campaign and Republicans argued the action violated the Constitution - and the federal appeals judges agreed.  Minnesota D-F-L chair Ken Martin said in a statement, "the Republican Party is responsible for potentially disenfranchising thousands of Minnesotans who were prepared to vote by mail in the coming days."

A 65-year-old Racine man has been arrested and charged in a 1986 murder cold case from Green Bay.  Lou Archie Griffin was taken into custody early Wednesday morning.  Court papers show investigators trailed Griffin in Racine last month and pulled his D-N-A off a couple of beer cans and a cigarette.  That linked him to the killing of 22-year-old Lisa Holstead.  Her body was found partially submerged in a swamp now known as the Ken Euers Nature Area 34 years ago.  Griffin initially denied that he ever saw Holstead.  When confronted with the D-N-A evidence, he told investigators he must have had sex with her, but he never killed her.  Griffin is due back in Brown County Circuit Court December 10th.

U-S Senator Tammy Baldwin is applauding the Navy's decision to name the next Columbia class submarine the "U-S-S Wisconsin."  Baldwin says "this is a real honor to our proud shipbuilding tradition and the men and women of our state who have worked hard to support this class of submarines."  Baldwin introduced a bipartisan resolution and led the Wisconsin delegation's request to the secretary of the Navy to name a submarine the U-S-S Wisconsin.  The last Navy vessel to bear the name served in every major U-S conflict after it was launched in 1944 until it was de-commissioned in 1991.

Under an emergency rule created Wednesday by the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board, fire departments will have to file a report any time they use firefighting foam that contains PFAS (PEE foss), also known as “forever chemicals.”  The decision prohibits the use of those chemicals during training exercises.  They can be used for emergency firefighting, fire prevention operations, and testing purposes as long as guidelines are followed.  Concerned citizens have testified about contamination of their drinking water.  PFAS are sometimes found in meat and fish, too.  The rule still needs to be signed by the governor and approved by a joint committee of the Legislature.

During a Wednesday Dane County Circuit Court appearance a not guilty plea was entered on behalf of a man accused of protesting outside a Madison restaurant earlier this year.  Devonere Johnson and two other men were accused of demanding free food and drinks.  Johnson, Gregg James, and William Shanley had allegedly said they wouldn’t destroy the restaurants if they complied.  James and Shanley are scheduled to return to court next month.

 In a split decision, the Wisconsin Supreme Court has decided it will hear a challenge to the governor’s authority to declare multiple emergencies during a single pandemic.  The high court’s three liberal judges dissented, pointing out there is already a challenge case filed in Polk County.  The court voted Wednesday to hear the case filed by Waukesha County resident Jere Fabick.  He says Governor Evers overreached his authority in issuing multiple orders rather than going through the Wisconsin Legislature.  The Department of Justice is representing the governor.  It argued there’s nothing in the law restricting the governor to only one emergency response.

 Border patrol agents say they seized more than 400 counterfeit hand-sanitizing stations at the International Falls Port of Entry.  U-S Customs and Border Protection officers targeted a rail container bound for Ranier and discovered Android hand-sanitizing stations that were in violation of intellectual property rights regulations.  The C-B-P seized 440 of these stations, which would have had a retail price of more than one-million dollars had they been real.  International Falls Port Director Anthony Jackson said counterfeiting adversely affects the ability of lawful copyright holders to profit from their original ideas.  He says counterfeiting also harms consumers because manufacturers of forged products have little motivation to use safe, high-quality materials in their products.

Students at UW-Madison are being asked to tone it down this Halloween. Both the city of Madison and the university are urging students not to party or get together Saturday night. The big worry is that students will spread the coronavirus. Madison’s mayor reminds students that public gatherings are limited to ten people indoors, and 25 people outdoors.

 Golden Valley, MN firefighters say if a passerby and two park maintenance workers hadn’t been there, a Wednesday morning house fire could have been fatal.  Three people who were inside the burning home were rescued.  Fire Chief John Crelly says it was a very fast-moving fire that destroyed the townhome and if the people living there hadn’t been alerted, the outcome could have been worse.  Seven other fire departments responded to help with the two-alarm fire.  No injuries were reported and no names have been released. 

Local-Regional News and local obituary for October 29

Because of the spike in Covid-19, Durand City Hall will be locking down after the election. That decision was announced by Mayor Milliren during last nights council meeting. Milliren says while the building will be closed, city hall will still be open for business.  Milliren says the lock down will continue until December 1^st and then revisited.

A southeast Minnesota fire department is mourning the loss of one of its own.  The Lake City Fire Department says firefighter Clayton Brandt died after a crash early Tuesday.  First responders pulled Brandt from a vehicle and he was taken to a local hospital and later airlifted to Rochester.  Brandt was taken off life support last night.  The department is asking people in the area to honor Brandt 's memory by putting a red light bulb in their porch lights.

Four people are homeless after a house fire Wednesday in Fall Creek. Firefighters from Fall Creek, Augusta and Township departments responded to the blaze on Birch Tree Lane Wednesday morning. The Red Cross is helping the 4 people displaced with lodging and other resources. The home is a total loss and a gas heater was the suspected cause of the fire.

Today is the first day of remote learning for students in the Durand-Arkansaw School District. The school board decided Monday to revert to remote learning after a spike in covid-19 related quarantines of students and staff. The remote learning will continue until November 9^th. Meanwhile, Eau Claire Regis has paused all sports until November 16^th including the November 6^th game against Durand. Because of the cancellation, this Friday's game against Elk Mound would be the last regular season game for the Panthers.

An Osceola man has been charged with homicide by negligent use of a vehicle in Polk County. 28Yr old Christopher Platzer was charged on Wednesday in Polk County Court in connection with a two vehicle head on accident on July 2^nd . Two people in the other vehicle died in the accident and authorities found a bottle of pills in Platzer's vehicle and his blood alcohol level was at .042. His next court appearance is November 23^rd.

The Dunn County Board had decided in September to end the County Recycling program due to lack of funding and municipalities in the county pulling out of the program instead of paying higher rates. Even though the program is ending on December 31st, Dunn County voters are voting on a referendum on the November ballot to exceed levy limits by $1 million per year for five years for the recycling program.

Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Robin Vos says he’s open to passing a second coronavirus aid package.  The Republican leader’s comments come as the state experiences another day of high numbers of positive COVID-19 test results – but no new records were set Wednesday.  Statewide deaths are approaching 19 hundred and an outbreak on the Wisconsin Badgers football team resulted in the cancellation of the game at Nebraska.  A new poll out this week shows growing concerns in the state about the virus as next Tuesday’s presidential election approaches.

 Motorcycle-maker Harley-Davidson is expanding its product line and entering a new marketplace.  The Milwaukee-based company will begin selling a series of electric bicycles.  It’s a hot market right now.  The new brand will be known as the Serial One Cycle Company, assuming the name of Harley-Davidson’s first motorcycle.  A company spokesperson says the e-bicycle market is surging while people look for a safe way to exercise and get out of the house during the coronavirus pandemic.  Electric bikes are powered by a small motor and battery, along with the pedal power supplied by the rider.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is telling its employees that total losses from the coronavirus pandemic could reach 320 million dollars by next summer.  U-W-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank sent a letter to those workers spelling out the school’s financial troubles Monday.  She says the university is short 24 million dollars in tuition and another 28 million in research grants.  Blank says it has to give millions of dollars back to the state and U-W Athletics has lost millions more.

Dozens of teachers in the Franklin School District say they want smaller classes and stricter rules for wearing face masks.  The teachers filed a grievance against the school district Tuesday.  They say Franklin schools aren’t doing enough to protect them during the pandemic.  The school district says it has a coronavirus safety plan in place and it is following the plan.  Thirteen students tested positive for COVID-19 last week.  Officials say 244 of the 37 hundred students in the school district are being quarantined due to the virus.

Experts aren't sure why, but research suggests that getting a flu shot can reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease by 17 percent -- even more if a person gets the flu vaccine every year beginning at a younger age.  Sue Spalding is C-E-O of the Alzheimer's Association Minnesota-North Dakota Chapter.  She says "it's super-exciting to hear that because hopefully everyone gets their flu vaccine anyway to protect themselves against the flu, but to have this added benefit is just-- it can be life-changing."  A separate study found pneumonia vaccinations for those between age 65 and 75 could reduce risk of Alzheimer's up to 40 percent in some cases.

The final Marquette Law School poll shows Democratic challenger Joe Biden with a five-point lead over President Trump among likely Wisconsin voters. Forty-eight percent said Biden is their choice for president, 43 percent support Trump and two percent back Libertarian Jo Jorgensen. Biden had a 47-to-42 percent lead over the Republican president in the October 4th poll. The latest A-B-C News/Washington Post poll suggests the former vice president has a 57-to-40 percent advantage over Trump in Wisconsin. Biden leads the G-O-P incumbent by nine points in the U-W Madison poll.

The developer behind a wind farm project in Green County has set aside his plans for a 65-megawatt project.  E-D-F Renewables has said why the project was called off.  There were plans in place for two dozen turbines to be erected in the town of Jefferson near the border with Illinois.  The wind farm would have been the sixth-largest in Wisconsin.  Opponents had worried it would affect their property values and health.  Letters have been sent to landowners who signed lease agreements notifying them of the decision.

Four Minnesota Governors -- Tim Walz, Mark Dayton, Tim Pawlenty and Jesse Ventura -- are featured in a public service announcement calling for civility and decency in the upcoming election,. They assure Minnesotans their ballots are safe even though results could be delayed. Governor Walz says "With so many of us voting by mail, it may take a little longer to verify a winner." Governor Pawlenty responds, "And that’s okay. It’s by design." And Ventura adds "A delay just means our system is working, and that we’re counting every single ballot." Former Governor Dayton says there may not be a clear winner on election night, but Minnesotans can have faith that their votes will be counted.

Local Obituary

Rhiannon Anderson Bauer, age 39, of Spring Valley, Wisconsin died Monday, October 26, 2020 at home, with her loving family by her side, after a tremendous battle with cancer. 

A walk-by visitation will be from 3-7 p.m. (with respect to social/physical distancing and masks requested) on Friday, October 30, 2020 at the Mark Mattison property, N7936 410th St., Spring Valley.

Rhiannon’s wish was for a Celebration of Life with family and friends.  The family invites you to the Celebration that will begin at 3 p.m. on Saturday, October 31, at Mark’s.  Please bring pictures and share a written memory.

Burial will be in St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery, El Paso Township, Wisconsin.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate that donations be made so that trees may be planted in her memory.  Please send your donations for trees directly to the family.

Local-Regional News October 28

The Durand-Arkansaw School Board is meeting tonight. The board will hold the annual budget meeting and set the tax levy for 2020-2021. and then hold the regular meeting. Items on the agenda include discussion and action on a policy regarding personal protective equipment during the pandemic, calendar adjustments to the school year and substitute teacher compensation. Tonights meeting begins at 6pm at Durand High School. The meeting will also be held on the districts zoom site. Meanwhile, students have today off as they get ready for remote learning to start tomorrow. The board approved moving to remote learning on Monday and remote learning will continue until November 9^th.

The Durand City Council is meeting tonight. Items on the agenda include confirmation of the new Library Board member, discussion and possible action on two zoning variances for Cole Hagness at 275 Country Lane, and discussion on the Durand Improvement Group Trunk or Treat Event Scheduled for Saturday. Tonights meeting begins at 6:30 at Durand City Hall and will be live-streamed on the WRDN YouTube Channel.

The Durand Improvement Group has made changes to this Saturday's Trunk or Treat event downtown due to the covid-19 pandemic. Event organizer Christina Hager says the event will now be drive through.  Hager says organizers wanted to still have the trunk or treat but have it a safe as possible for the kids and those businesses participating.

The City of Durand will be holding a public test of the voting machines on Thursday. Durand City Clerk Angela Morgan says the machines are tested for accuracy and correct spellings of candidates names.  That test is open to the public and will be held at 10:30am on Thursday.

Mayo Clinic Health System's Southeast Minnesota Region is banning visitors at all inpatient and outpatient facilities.  The restrictions begin today  (Wednesday 8 a-m) in the Austin and Albert Lea area.  Doctor Deepi Goyal said, "our test positivity rates continue to increase in southern Minnesota, which indicates there is more community spread of the virus."    Doctor Goyal says the restrictions can be difficult for some patients and their families, but the steps are necessary to protect patients and staff.    This no-visitor policy does not include Mayo hospitals or clinics in Rochester.

The City of Osseo has recevied a $7.6 million loan and a $750,000 grant from USDA as part of the Water and Environmental Program. This Rural Development investment will be used by the City of Osseo to upgrade the City's wastewater treatment system. The existing 1961 system that was upgraded in 1985 and 2001, has several unit processes that have either exceeded their useful life, are operating over design capacity, experiencing operational issues or were not designed to comply with future phosphorus limits. This project includes significant improvements to the system including upgrades to the outdated equipment that has reached its useful life and improvements to lift stations. The wastewater treatment facility upgrade will also address a number of issues in terms of meeting permit requirements which pertain to an overall health and safety issue as it relates to the environment and create a more energy efficient/cost effective and safer facility.

The U-S Supreme Court rejected a request from Republican candidate Tyler Kistner to delay the Second District congressional election until February.   Kistner appealed to the nation's high court after a federal appeals court denied his motion for a special election in February.  That is what state law called for following the death of the Legal Marijuana Now nominee in September.   Congresswoman Angie Craig said in a statement, "three different courts and five federal judges, including Justice Neil Gorsuch, have now confirmed what we have known all along: that the voters of Minnesota’s Second Congressional District deserve to have their voices heard as part of the November general election."

The Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association has decided to postpone its World Championship event for a year.  It was supposed to be held next February, but the ongoing coronavirus pandemic led to the delay.  The rescheduled World Championship Cheese Contest will be held at the Monona Terrace Convention Center over three days in March 2022.  Event organizers say they made the decision out of concern for the welfare of the judges, industry workers, and people who would attend.

The Rochester Police Department said a woman reported missing from an assisted living facility likely died from hypothermia.  Ninety-two-year-old Marion Keith was seen on surveillance video leaving Shorewood Commons early Monday.  A homeowner found a woman lying near his garage in the snow around 7:30 Monday morning.  Keith was taken to the hospital where she died.  She was wearing a jacket when left the campus.  Investigators say Keith had been dealing with memory issues.

Police in central Wisconsin are investigating after threatening letters were sent to the homes of Joe Biden supporters. The Wausau Daily Herald reports that those letters turned up in the mailboxes of homes in the village of Rothschild which had Joe Biden signs in the yard. The anonymous letters call the residents the enemy of a white and conservative neighborhood, and say that support for Joe Biden will not be tolerated. The letter goes on to call the residents evil, and that they should prepare for a war. The letters were delivered through the mail and originated in Green Bay, but were personally written to each home.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison says it will continue furloughs for the first six months next year as it tries to offset lost revenue caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.  Chancellor Rebecca Blank says the furloughs and continued hiring freeze won’t be enough to balance the school’s budget.  She says additional cuts will be announced in the next few weeks.  But, Blank also told the university’s 21 thousand faculty, staff and other employees that leaders “expect to avoid the sort of dramatic cuts that many feared.”  Blank sent an email discussing the future Monday.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is working on new rules which would increase the regulatory fees and costs for mining in the state.  If approved, nonferrous mining operations would have to pay an additional 502 thousand dollars-a-project.  The new administrative rules would also create a list of areas unsuitable for mining, including places where endangered species live, or those with unique geological features, wilderness areas, wild and scenic rivers, national and state parks, and wildlife refuges.

The Wisconsin Elections Commission is telling local election managers they should be prepared for a long day November 3rd. The commission sent a memo to two thousand clerks and commissioners Friday explaining what has to be done on Election Day – and what can wait a few days. All ballots have to be counted before election managers can go home. There is a long list of legal requirements that have to be completed on Election Day. The final vote total won’t be certified until December 1st.

Construction of a new candy factory in Kenosha County should start later this year. HARIBO (HARR-i-bo) of America makes gummy bears and other sweet treats. The Pleasant Prairie facility will be its first operation in North America. State officials say HARIBO is the fastest-growing confectionery brand in the U-S. The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation has been working on the deal.

We’re still a week away from Election Day and already a candidate is trying to get a jump on the 2022 vote.  Outagamie County Executive Tom Nelson says he will challenge incumbent U-S Senator Ron Johnson when he runs for re-election.  Nelson is a Democrat.  He says the people of Wisconsin have “had enough of Ron Johnson’s embarrassing tenure” and he added he isn’t going to wait another day to file.  Nelson pointed the coronavirus pandemic as evidence there is a lack of leadership in Washington.  He is the first person to officially enter the race for a position in the 2022 election cycle

Local-Regional News October 27

A former Cochrane-Fountain City School District staff member will not be going to prison after being accused of sending nude photos of herself to a student. 34Yr old Heather Treague was accused of sending the pictures to a 17yr old earlier this year. Charges of exposing genitals to a child and causing a child to view sexual activity were dismissed and Treague pleaded no contest to disorderly conduct and exhibiting obscene materials to minors. She was convicted and fined $643.

Xcel Energy has announced plans to build a solar facility in Pierce County. In a press release the company said the $100 million project would be built on 1,100 acres in the town of Gilman and would generate $300,000 in shared revenue for the town and Pierce County. If approved, construction would begin in 2021 with electric generation beginning in 2022.

Dunn County has released the name of the man killed in a one vehicle roll over accident on Saturday in the town of Colfax. The Sheriffs Department says 87yr old Frank Newton was killed when he lost control of his vehicle on Hwy M causing the vehicle to roll several times. That accident remains under investigation.

The Durand Area Food Pantry has announced another milk and cheese distribution. The distribution will be held on Monday from 4-6pm and is open to everyone. Along with milk, there will be cottage cheese and block cheese available. The Durand Area Food Pantry holds weekly food distribution to those in need every Wednesday from 9-Noon and Thursday from 1-4pm. Call the food pantry at 672-3203 for more information.

A Chippewa Falls stabbing has left four people injured, two of them in critical condition.  Police were called to Marshal Park at about 2:46 a-m Saturday.  A witness was reporting a fight involving several people.  Although several suspects ran from the scene before officers arrived, police say they believe they know who they are looking for.  No arrests have been made and the names of the victims haven’t been released.

A Chippewa Falls man has been arrested for OWI 7^th offense. According to the Wisconsin State Patrol, Sunday night, troopers had contact with 50yr old Robert Truitt who was stopped in the lane of traffic on Keller road in Washburn County. A subsequent investigation including field sobriety tested was conducted and Truitt was arrested for OWI and failure to install an ignition interlock device on his vehicle, 4^th offense.

The Eau Claire Sheriff’s Department is investing a fatal fire at a business in Fall Creek.  Emergency responders were called to S-and-S Auto Sunday.  Authorities say a pole building on the property was a total loss.  The name of the person who died in the fire hasn’t been released.  The sheriff’s department is investigating to determine the source of the fire.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources will suspend phone ordering of 2020 annual vehicle admission stickers. Online and property-based sales of 2020 annual stickers continue to be available. With the availability of online annual vehicle admission stickers, a new offering in 2020, and the return of sales at DNR properties, phone sales are decreasing and this change allows staff to focus on other duties. Starting this week 2020 annual vehicle admission stickers, state trail passes and daily admission passes will be sold at individual properties via self-registration station, electronic kiosk or drive-up window service where available. Credit cards, checks and cash will be accepted at drive-up windows, credit cards only at electronic payment kiosks, cash and check payments accepted at self-registration stations. Property offices are still closed to entry and only drive-up windows may be open.

The U.S. Supreme Court has rejected an effort to require the counting of absentee ballots that are postmarked on or just before Election Day. The court's 5-3 ruling means that absentee ballots will be counted only if they are actually in the possession of municipal clerks offices by the time polls close next Tuesday, November 3. The justices determined that the Constitution provides that state legislatures - not federal or state judges, governors nor other state officials - bear primary responsibility for setting election rules. The Wisconsin legislature hasn't met since April. Democrats, their allies and nonpartisan groups wanted ballots that are postmarked on or before Election Day to be counted, arguing the pandemic has slowed the mail.

The November election is just one week from today (Tuesday) and foreign interference continues to be a concern in Minnesota.  Secretary of State Steve Simon has been working closely with federal intelligence officials.   Simon said, "They have their eyes on it in ways that no one did in 2016, so I'm feeling very good about it.  Our systems are strengthened and hardened even more so now and more than they were in 2016."  He says Russia tried to hack Minnesota's election system in 2016 but did not breach the system.

An effort to recall Wisconsin Democratic Governor Tony Evers has fizzled out. A Monday post on the “Recall Evers Petition” Facebook page said not enough signatures were collected. There were no details on how close the group came to collecting the nearly 670,000 needed by the Tuesday deadline for the group to submit the signatures to force a recall election. The effort's organizer said no petitions would be submitted, in part to prevent the names of those who signed from becoming public, and that all petitions collected would be destroyed.

A new poll shows Democratic candidate Joe Biden holds a 9-point lead over Republican President Donald Trump in Wisconsin. The poll - by the UW-Madison Elections Research Center - found the president has the edge among respondents who haven't voted yet. But that margin does not appear large enough to compensate for Biden’s advantage among early and absentee voters. The poll found 53 percent of likely voters support Biden, compared with 44 percent for Trump. Biden led Trump by just five points among registered voters in last month's poll, and Elections Research Center director Barry Burden said it's the first time the margin is big enough to be statistically significant, even accounting for the margin of error.

A three-judge panel of the Eighth U-S Circuit Court of Appeals has rejected a request to delay voting in a congressional race.  Republican Tyler Kistner pointed to the death of a third-party candidate for his request.  The Friday ruling hands a victory to Democratic Congresswoman Angie Craig, who had sued to keep the race on the November ballot.  Kistner wanted it delayed until February.

 Public health managers in Dane County are saying it is the office, not bars or restaurants, that a spreading COVID-19.  Thirty-four different clusters of positive coronavirus test results have been linked to offices.  Tracing has connected 14 clusters to bars, restaurants, or public gatherings of any kind.  The Madison Chamber of Commerce says offices are safe places because most know how to clean and protect their workers.  The data was released at the same time Governor Evers continues his push for limits on bars and restaurants as a way to limit the coronavirus spread in Wisconsin.

A Minnesota state trooper has been acquitted on one sex charge, but the jury deadlocked on the second.  Fifteen-year veteran Gerald Barta was found not guilty by a Dakota County jury of first-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor.  The jury couldn’t reach a verdict on the second charge of second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a victim under 16.  A teenage girl first told her grandmother that Barta had been touching her inappropriately for about a year.  Barta told authorities during an interview that nothing had happened between the two.

Authorities say two shooting suspects are being held in the Dakota County Jail after a Friday incident.  Eagan Police were called to an apartment building shortly after 11:00 p-m.  When they arrived they found a man suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.  Witnesses were able to give them descriptions of the suspected shooters and the two men were arrested.  Their names haven’t been released.  The shooting victim is listed in stable condition at Regions Hospital.  His name hasn’t been released either.

 The price of a gallon of gasoline continues to fall in the Twin Cities metro area.  The Lundberg Survey reports people are driving less due to layoffs and partial shutdowns during the coronavirus pandemic.  Travel over the Thanksgiving holiday period is expected to be much lighter than normal.  The average price for regular unleaded in the metro is estimated to be as much as 60 cents-a-gallon lower than it was at this time last year. 

Local-Regional News October 26

One person is dead after a roll-over accident in the Town of Colfax on Saturday. According to the Dunn County Sheriffs Department an SUV was traveling northbound on Hwy M when the driver of the vehicle lost control on a curve, causing the vehicle to roll over multiple times. Emergency responders attempted life saving measures but were unsuccessful. The Dunn County Medical Examiners offices pronounced the driver deceased. The crash remains under investigation by the Dunn County Sheriffs Department.

A federal jury in Madison has found a former Chippewa Falls man guilty of stealing about four million dollars from the Pentagon.  The court determined Craig Klund used fake companies to charge the government for work that was never done 30 years ago.  Klund was accused of moving to South Dakota two years ago to avoid investigators.  He already spent two years in prison in the 1990s for the same scam.  If he is convicted this time, he could be sentenced to 20 years in prison.

A Rochester man is sentenced to 24 years in prison for sexually assaulting a young girl.  Thirty-seven-year-old Mark Mitchell pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct.  Olmsted County prosecutors filed a motion seeking a lengthy prison sentence for Mitchell based on the multiple assaults suffered by the child.  The criminal complaint says Mitchell began abusing the girl last December and it continued for several weeks before Rochester police were contacted in February.

 La Crosse firefighters found a body of a person inside a burning garage early Sunday morning.  Emergency responders found the detached garage fully involved, with heavy fire and smoke, when they arrived.  The dead body was found inside.  No identification has been reported.  La Crosse Battalion Chief Jeff Schott says fire crews first arrived on the scene at about 3:45 a-m.  They were able to put the fire out in about 10 minutes before it spread to any nearby buildings.  The fatality victim was the only person injured.

The Wisconsin Public Service Commission has voted to continue the moratorium on utility disconnections until April 15^th. While the moratorium continues, customers who are behind on their bill are reminded that while the utility cannot disconnect service, you are still responsible for the bill. You encourage to contact your utility to work out a payment plan and also to ask about home heating assistance plans from the state of wisconsin.

 COVID-19 vaccine trials at the University of Wisconsin are among those which have been resumed.  Pharmaceutical giant Astra-Zeneca suspended the testing last month when a trial participant in the United Kingdom became since.  A review determined the test vaccine didn’t cause the illness.  The resumption of the trials was announced over the weekend.  Scientists at U-W Health and the U-W School of Medicine will begin contacting participants after getting the approval to resume the trials.

 A new report from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources suggests the state's air quality is improving.  The report finds that concentrations of most pollutants under E-P-A national standards have decreased in all regions of the state since monitoring begin.  The D-N-R says the air quality has improved 25 percent along the Lake Michigan shoreline, which is historically impacted by elevated ozone concentrations.  The reports also shows air pollutant emissions decreased substantially from 2002 to 2017.  Researchers say the greatest reductions are the result of cleaner burning and more efficient fuel combustion from highway vehicles and electric utilities.

A bill co-sponsored by Senator Amy Klobuchar calls for a study on the effects of the COVID pandemic on the travel and tourism industry.  The results would be used to identify policy recommendations to assist the hard-hit industry.  Klobuchar said, “from Lake Superior to the Mall of America, Minnesota is home to exceptional tourist destinations—but as travel has been limited during the coronavirus pandemic, the tourism industry has been hit particularly hard.”  She says this bipartisan legislation will help support the travel and tourism industry, which will boost local economies.  Klobuchar co-chairs the Senate Travel and Tourism Caucus with Missouri Republican Roy Blunt.

Wisconsin officials question whether Foxconn’s plant in Mount Pleasant will ever fully open. The Department of Administration confirms it sent a memo cited in a recent investigative report that said Foxconn’s plant may be a better demonstration facility than a factory. The administration and the article both question whether Foxconn will ever make good on its promises of thousands of Wisconsin jobs. Foxconn says it remains committed to its project in Mount Pleasant, but didn’t offer any specifics.

Unemployment Wisconsin workers will be getting a little additional help.  The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development says people will have their benefits bumped up by 300 dollars-a-week.  The change means people getting unemployment could receive up to 18 hundred dollars for payments retroactive to August 1st and lasting up to the week of September 5th.  The additional funding comes from the federal Lost Wages Assistance Program as part of FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund.

 A new liberal legal group called “Law Forward” has been formed to defend what its organizers call “progressive traditions” and to fight voter suppression efforts.  Wisconsin attorneys who have represented Democrats and opposed interests against Republicans announced the formation Thursday.  The effort is to strike a counter-balance to the conservative Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty.  It has initiated several high-profile legal challenges to the actions of the Evers administration.  It’s currently asking the Wisconsin Supreme Court to accept a case seeking to have the governor’s face mask emergency order overturned.

 The U-S Department of Justice is taking the first steps toward the creation of a national center to help law enforcement agencies.  It will provide training and assistance to help prevent the use of excessive force.  The announcement was made this week in Minneapolis where federal officials are hoping the city will be the first to use the federal resource.  The Minneapolis Police Department has been pressured to reform since the May 25th death of George Floyd.  Police Chief Medaria Arradondo says he is grateful for the offer and hopes city leaders will take advantage of it.

Many Minnesota businesses have open jobs but are reporting having a hard time finding the employees they need.  At the same time, the state’s unemployment rate remains elevated with workers continuing to seek job opportunities.  That’s why DEED is launching the hashtag #GoodJobsNow, an interactive set of resources connecting Minnesota employers hiring right now with job seekers looking for work.  DEED Commissioner Steve Grove says "while we know that for many Minnesotans that changing jobs might be hard, we do want to highlight both what is available in the market and also how we can help people get those jobs."

The McIver Institute is questioning just how much it is costing the state of Wisconsin to treat one person at its 15-million-dollar overflow hospital at the state fairgrounds.  The hospital was built to handle up to 500 patients if Wisconsin hospitals were overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients.  Governor Evers ordered it opened up for 50 patients last week, but only one is being treated there right now.  The institute’s Brett Healy says Wisconsin’s regular hospitals were supposed to get nearly a half-billion dollars to treat coronavirus patients.  He wants to know where that money is and whether it is efficient to spend so much on the unused beds in the overflow hospital.

Local-Regional News October 23

Dunn County authorities have released the names of those involved in a fatal accident Tuesday in the Village of Wheeler. According to the Sheriffs Department, 27yr old Zekia Hodgson of Wheeler was killed when she lost control of her vehicle on Hwy 25, crossed the center line and was struck by a southbound pickup truck driven by 50yr old Jason Duncan of Minog. Initional investigation showed that road conditions due to the snow along with the conditions of the tires on Hodgson's vehicle and speed were contributing factors in the accident.

No reports of flu vaccine shortages here in Western Wisconsin. Pepin County Health Officer Heidi Stewart says she has not been notified of any shortages and is encouraging parents to have their children vaccinated.  Oneida County has reported shortages of flu vaccine.

Pepin County is notifying the public of an establishment within the Town of Waterville where  COVID-19 exposure could have occurred. At least one person who was at the Rec Hall in Arkansaw on Sunday, October 18^th from 3-6pm has tested positive for COVID-19. The Health Department is working to determine close contacts to the individuals and will be notifying them directly. Anyone who was at the Rec Hall during the dates and times listed should consider themselves at risk and should self-monitor for signs and symptoms while quarantining themselves for 14 days from the exposure dates.

A Red Wing man is pleading guilty to second-degree murder in a June 2019 shooting under a deal with prosecutors.  Twenty-year-old Michael Reyes was facing first-degree murder and 11 other charges in the fatal shooting of 28-year-old D'andre Hicks of Tampa Bay, Florida.  Hicks was shot in the head in downtown Red Wing and airlifted to a Rochester hospital where he died the next day.  Reyes fled Red Wing and was arrested a day later at a motel in Woodbury.  His sentencing hearing is November 18th.

A Rochester woman will spend five years on probation for crashing into the Mayo Civic Center and ramming a police squad car.  Thirty-six-year-old Jamie Copeland pleaded guilty to assaulting a peace officer, fleeing a peace officer, and damage to property in connection with the April incident.  The complaint says Copeland admitted to smoking meth before crashing her van into the Mayo Civic Center entryway,  getting back in her vehicle, and ramming a police vehicle several times.  Damage to the building was estimated at 50-thousand dollars.

 A conservative legal group has asked the Wisconsin Supreme Court to hear arguments in the case challenging the governor’s statewide face mask order.  A St. Croix County judge just ruled against the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty last week.  The lawsuit alleges the governor exceeded his authority by issuing multiple public health emergency orders for a singular pandemic.  The Institute wants the state’s high court to combine its case with a second challenge already in front of the court.  The St. Croix County judge pointed out the Legislature could end the public health emergency by passing a resolution in the Assembly and Senate.

Polk County authorities report an arrest has been made in a hit-and-run crash in January of 2014 that left two people dead.  Investigators say 41-one-year-old Richard Cobenais (KOH'-buh-nay) and 28-year-old Benjamin Juarez (WHAR'-ez) were walking on County Road E when a dark-colored Ford pickup truck hit them, stopped and then took off.  Deputies received a call September 28th from a person who said his estranged wife was intoxicated and told him that 32-year-old Andrew Endres from Randolph, Minnesota was driving the truck that killed Cobenais and Juarez.  The caller said Endres was staying at his parent's cabin in the area at the time.  Endres is now charged with two counts of hit and run causing death.

 An October snowstorm is postponed Thursday's debate between the candidates for Congress in Wisconsin's Seventh District.  G-O-P Congressman Tom Tiffany and Democratic challenger Tricia Zunker were scheduled to meet for two hours on a Twin Ports T-V station.  There will be no audience due to COVID-19 concerns.  The Tiffany and Zunker campaigns hope to reschedule for sometime next week.

More than 75-thousand people in Wisconsin took advantage of the first day of early voting. The Wisconsin Elections Commission says the number of people who cast ballots on the first day is just the latest sign of what Election Day 2020 will look like. Usually, the Elections Commission says about six-percent of voters vote early or absentee. The Commission says that number could be 60-percent this year. Milwaukee and Madison saw the largest number of first-day early voters.

Two Madison men face felony charges of criminal damage for helping topple two statues at the state Capitol last June.  Authorities say 21-year-old Sasha N. Clemente and 27-year-old Jacob K. Capps were identified when video from street cameras was reviewed.  The crowd June 23rd pulled down the statues of abolitionist Colonel Hans Christian Heg and the figure called “Forward.”  Hundreds of people were in the streets that night protesting the arrest of activist Devonere Johnson.  More than 40 people have been charged with felonies for causing damage or looting in the downtown area since May 30th.

The owner of a closed paper mill in Wisconsin Rapids says it is suspending efforts to sell the property.  Verso shut down operations in late July, costing more than 900 people their jobs.  Verso has reportedly spoken with potential buyers, but now the company wants to wait to see if the economy improves.  Local officials say that Wednesday’s announcement is frustrating.  A task force formed to help families hurt by the closure is planning to meet again in a few weeks.

A Hennepin County judge is dismissing the third-degree murder charge against ex-Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin in the death of George Floyd.  Chauvin will stand trial in March for second-degree murder and manslaughter.  The other three former officers are still charged with aiding and abetting Chauvin.  Attorney General Keith Ellison said "the court has sustained eight out of nine charges against the defendants in the murder of George Floyd, including the most serious charges against all four defendants."  Ellison said prosecutors are considering "our options in light of the court's strong order on the remaining charges."

Thousands of Minnesota state employees have been told they will keep working from home until next June.  The move was confirmed by the Minnesota Management and Budget agency Wednesday.  The decision essentially maintains the current situation through the end of the school year.  Currently, 28 thousand state employees work from home.  That represents about half of the workforce.  State officials say it is important to provide predictability for state workers, especially those with children learning remotely.

Jennie-O Turkey Store will have a float in this year's Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.  Marketing V-P Nicole Behne  says it's the first time in the parade's 94-year history that a turkey product company has been a sponsor.  She says the parade's always led off by a turkey -- that's their number-one float that goes through there -- "but there's never been a turkey company that has been a sponsor of the parade, and we're really excited about that."  Jennie-O is keeping details on the float under wraps for now, but Behne says it will have "a lot of glimmer, a lot of glam, high energy."  There will not be thousands of people lining the streets of New York City this year.  The traditional Macy's Parade is being replaced with a virtual event on T-V due to COVID.

Local-Regional News October 22

The spike in covid-19 cases and close contacts is starting to have impacts here in Western Wisconsin. Pepin County Health Officer Heidi Stewart says teachers and emt personnel are having to quarantine.  Stewart is asking members of the public to continue to social distance, wear masks while in public and wash your hands frequently to help slow the spread of covid-19.

An Altoona man has been sentenced to 48 years in prison for child sex crimes.  Bryan Broughton pleaded guilty to six charges, including the repeated sexual assault of a child, attempted child sexual exploitation, and two counts of possession of child porn.  More than 40 other charges were dismissed as part of a plea agreement.  Broughton had been a church camp counselor for two congregations over the last 19 years.  If and when he gets out of prison, he will have 25 years of extended supervision and will have to register as a sex offender.

 Authorities in Chippewa County are reporting the human remains found last week were female.  An unidentified persons case report lists “Rosaly” as a possible first name.  The report didn’t list any estimated age, height, weight, or race.  The Wisconsin Department of Justice Clearinghouse for Missing and Exploited Children and Adults website does list Rosaly “Cindy” Chavarria Rodriguez as missing from Wisconsin Dells since July.  Investigators report the remains were found in a suitcase near a barn on an abandoned farm along County Highway “T.”  Chippewa County authorities say they have a person of interest in the disappearance of Rodriguez, but he hasn’t been arrested.

 A federal grand jury has indicted a 26-year-old Madison man for allegedly setting a fire in the City-County Building last June.  Marquon Clark has had federal charges added to two felony charges he faces in Dane County.  If he is found guilty on the federal charges, Clark would face a prison term of five-to-20 years.  He was arrested June 30th and is currently being held in the Dane County Jail.  The criminal complaint was filed in U-S District Court in Madison earlier this month.

 Officials at Central Wisconsin Airport in Mosinee say no passengers were injured when a commercial skidded off the runway Tuesday night.  The American Eagle flight from Chicago got stuck in the snow while it was trying to land.  Passengers were held on the plane for about 90 minutes before they were shuttled to the terminal.  One passenger says the landing wasn’t rough and he didn’t realize what had happened until he looked out the window.

More Minnesotans are getting their flu shot this year.  Department of Health infectious disease director Kris Ehresmann says the latest figures show a 42-percent increase in the number of people getting vaccinated compared to this time last season.  Ehresmann said, "the fewer cases of flu we have, the less pressure there will be on our health care system and hospital beds as we head into a winter spike in COVID cases."  The C-D-C reports the flu vaccine last season was only a combined 45 percent effective against influenza A and B.

 Thousands of jobs are expected to be created in Minnesota after Governor Tim Walz signed the one-point-nine-billion-dollar bonding bill into law.   Walz said the bipartisan plan invests in the projects that local communities told us matter most to them.  Six-hundred-27 million dollars will go to local road and bridge projects, 269 million will fund water quality infrastructure, 166 million will be used by the U of M and Minnesota State, and 116 million dollars will help fund safe and affordable housing.  The measure also includes tax cuts for farmers and small businesses.

The chairman of the Wisconsin Assembly Health Committee says there is no “magic wand” to make the coronavirus disappear.  Republican State Representative Joe Sanfelippo says state government can’t stop the virus.  While speaking with WisEye Tuesday he did say the best thing for the state government to do is to make sure that Wisconsin doctors and hospitals have everything they need to fight the virus.  It has taken 16-hundred-33 lives in the state through Tuesday.  Sanfelippo’s opponent in next month’s election, Jessica Katzenmeyer, says his comments are “tone-deaf.”

Acting on a tip, Michigan State Police say troopers found a missing four-year-old boy from Pleasant Prairie Monday.  The 9-1-1 caller reported seeing a missing child on Facebook, saying he and his father were staying in a motor home in the Village of Kingsley in Grand Traverse County.  Troopers detained the father while confirming the boy was Azariah Petrick.  They say the father, Mark Petrick, was uncooperative and gave a false name.  He was arrested on an outstanding warrant and the boy was returned to his mother.

An investigative report suggests the 13 thousand Foxconn jobs promised from a project at Mount Pleasant aren’t likely to happen.  The Verge points out that Foxconn received a permit last month to change the status of its large factory from manufacturing to storage.  Wisconsin state officials informed the Taiwan-based company last month it wasn’t getting taxpayer incentives because it hadn’t made enough hires.  The latest version of the plan includes a six-billion-dollar investment and a workforce of 52 hundred.

Minneapolis-based Target is saying thanks to its frontline employees once again by handing out 200-dollar holiday bonuses.  The money will go to hourly staff members in stores and distribution centers.  Target officials say the company plans to spend nearly a billion dollars on the wellbeing, health, and safety of its team members.  They say they are awarding the bonuses to continue showing their thanks for the “extraordinary performance during unprecedented times” by those employees.

The Minnseota Department of Education is getting a 300-thousand-dollar grant to develop school meals made from Minnesota agriculture products.  The federal funding will be used to test and prepare meals for school nutrition programs that feature local beets, greens, squash and carrots.  Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith said it's important that students have access to nutritious meals especially during the pandemic.  The Minnesota senators say they pushed to ensure that school meal programs remain available to millions of students .

The state of Minnesota is launching an urgent hiring initiative to help nursing homes, group homes, and other care facilities deal with what is being called a critical shortage of workers.  Surging cases of COVID-19 are being blamed.  Several state agencies are working together in an effort to create a pool of 500 available workers who can be deployed for at least 14 days at a time.  Entry-level workers can earn 25 dollars-an-hour, with licensed practical nurses getting 35 dollars-an-hour and registered nurses 50 dollars-an-hour.  The new program could also offer travel, lodging, and per diem reimbursement depending on the worker’s situation.

 Waseca Police Officer Arik Matson received a hero's welcome home Monday and the community is now trying to get his family a new vehicle.  A GoFundMe page has raised more than 52-thousand dollars in less than four days.  The goal is 80-thousand dollars for a specialty vehicle to help transport Arik and his family.  The Minnesota Police and Peace Officer's Association says the remainder of the cost will be covered by an anonymous donor.  Matson was shot in the head in January and had been in rehabilitation in Nebraska before returning to Minnesota this week to continue his recovery. 

Local-Regional News October 21

One person is dead after a two vehicle accident in the village of Wheeler yesterday. According to the Dunn County Sheriffs Department, a 27yr old female was traveling southbound on Hwy 25 when she lost control of her vehicles, crossed the centerline and was struck on the passenger side by a southbound Ford F350. The female driver was extricated from the vehicle and life saving measures were performed but unsuccessful. Initial investigations shows that road conditions due to heave snow, combined with the conditions of the tires on the female drivers vehicle were contributing factors in the accident.

One person was injured in a car vs farm implement accident in the Town of Lucas Monday. According to the Dunn County Sheriffs Department, a 25yr old female was traveling westbound on Hwy 29 when she came up behind a tractor pulling a 61 foot grain auger and struck the auger. The farm equipment was displaying a slow moving vehicle sign. The driver of the car reported her footwear interfered with pedal operation with the accident. The driver of the car received minor injuries.

The founder of the Eau Claire-based nonprofit Helping Hands for Our Children is accused of stealing about 63 thousand dollars.  Eau Claire Police were notified about possible inconsistencies with the bookkeeping in January.  Shauna Hanson of Fall Creek now faces charges of theft-false representation after forensic investigators found tens of thousands of dollars missing.  Hanson is accused of depositing charity money into her personal bank account.  Samantha Osborne notified police she began to see the inconsistencies in September 2019 while she was handling donations after a tornado hit the Town of Wheaton.  Hanson is scheduled to appear in Eau Claire County Circuit Court November 24th.

Foremost Farms USA and Diversified Ingredients today announced that Foremost Farms plans to sell its Preston, Minnesota, manufacturing facility to Diversified Ingredients. The final closing on the sale will take place on or before Nov. 18, 2020. Foremost Farms dairy cooperative is Wisconsin’s largest cheese manufacturer. Headquartered in Ballwin, Missouri, Diversified Ingredients provides quality products and services to the food ingredient, pet food, and feed industries. The new entity will be called Preston Protein Products and will be a joint venture between Diversified Ingredients and Johnson Farms, Inc. Lime Springs, Iowa.  The 20 employees who work at the Preston plant were informed of the company’s plans earlier today. It is the intent of Diversified Ingredients to transition all current Preston Foremost Farms employees to its organization. 

One person has died after a three vehicle accident in St. Croix County on October 15. According to the St. Croix County Sheriffs Department, 53yr old David Melser of River Falls was traveling southbound on Hwy F and slowed to make a left turn onto Page Lane. He was being followed by 25yr old Christopher Noel of Pepin and Noel ruan into the back of Melser, which sent Melser's vehicle into the northbound lane and was hit by a northbound straight truck. Melser was taken to Regions Hospital in St. Paul where he died on Monday.

 Facebook has notified the La Crosse County Republican Party its page is being restricted for repeatedly posting incorrect information.  Party chairman Bill Feehan called the tech giant’s actions “intolerable” in an emailed statement to media.  Feehan says the move by Facebook restricting free speech is a “strike at the heart of our Democracy.”  The action by the social media company means the party’s ads have been disabled and it won’t be allowed to create or run any new ads.  The Republican Party received the notification Tuesday.

The Wisconsin Appeals Court is being asked to overturn a Monday ruling by Barron County Judge James Babler.  The fight over Governor Tony Evers’ emergency order limiting how many people can gather in bars, restaurants, and other indoor locations isn’t finished yet.  An Amery bar and Pro-Life Wisconsin are asking the court Tuesday to overrule Judge Babler.  They have requested a ruling by Friday – only two weeks before the emergency order is set to expire on its own.  The Tavern League of Wisconsin is also expected to go to the state appeals court.  Those fighting the order say the governor should have gone through the Legislature to issue an administrative rule.

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison's office is investigating a Tennessee-based security company that was reportedly recruiting military veterans to work the November election in Minnesota.   Ellison sent a court order to Atlas Aegis requesting information about who is hiring private security, what their anticipated role will be near polling places, and how they will meet Minnesota's requirements for licenses and permits.  Ellison said, "Minnesota and federal law are clear: no one may interfere with or intimidate a voter at a polling place, and no one may operate private armed forces in our state."   He says the presence of private security at polling places would violate these laws.

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Early in-person voting is now underway in Wisconsin.  Today (Tuesday) is the first day voters can cast absentee ballots for the November 3rd election.  There were long lines when the polls opened this morning in Milwaukee and Neenah.  More than 100 cars were lined up for drive-through voting in Eau Claire.  City clerks say additional tents have been set up to process more voters than the primary elections.  Election officials across the state are expecting record turnout in 2020.  More than 863-thousand absentee ballots had been returned in Wisconsin so far.

The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development is looking to tech giant Google to help it clear a backlog of unemployment claims.  The new partnership was announced Monday in Madison.  The state is hoping Google Cloud can help speed up the approval of nearly a half-million claims, some dating back to March.  Google’s computers will use “predictive analytics based on historical data” to figure out who should receive benefits.  State officials haven’t said how much Google is being paid for the assistance.

Just hours after she said there are almost enough signatures on petitions to recall Governor Tony Evers, the organizer now says she “makes things up.”  Misty Polewczynski told people in a Facebook group Monday not to believe the numbers.  She said she makes things up to make the media look dumb.  Polewczynski had said she had more than the 668 thousand signatures it would take to recall Evers.  She later claimed her comments were taken out of context, saying she wouldn’t be talking to the media anymore.

Outagamie County officials are assuring people that all absentee ballots will be counts – despite a misprint that is causing some problems.  They say the misprint is a scratch on a timing mark at the edge of the ballot.  Those forms were being replaced before the start of in-person early voting today (Tuesday).  Outagamie County has asked the Wisconsin Elections Commission for more time to count ballots and the commission will discuss the request at a meeting today.

 A Missouri judge will not drop two charges against a man accused of killing two brothers from Shawano County, Wisconsin.  Garland Nelson is charged with the first-degree murders of Nick and Justin Diemel.  He appeared in Johnson County court today (Tuesday) where a motion to dismiss two counts of abandonment of a corpse were denied.  The judge also rejected motions to allow Nelson to be unshackled in court and to allow cameras in the courtroom.  The Diemel brothers traveled to Missouri last summer to collect a 250-thousand-dollar livestock debt from Nelson.  The complaint says Nelson killed the brothers, burned their bodies, and hid them in a manure pile.  The Diemel family won a two-million-dollar wrongful death settlement in the case.

Department of Health Services Secretary designee Andrea Palm says, nearly one week after opening, the alternate care coronavirus facility at State Fair Park has yet to see its first patient.  The State Fair Park facility can accomodate up to 350 patients, who would already be of "lower acuity," that is, closer to being discharged.