While the Durand-Arkansaw School District had a balanced budget for this school year, next year's budget could be very different. Durand-Arkansaw School Superintendent Greg Doverspike says because of the covid19 pandemic, districts may be seeing less aid from the state. This year was the 6th year in a row the district had a balanced budget.
The Eau Claire City County Health Department says a rash of quarantine notices that were posted o n business in Eau Clarie County and even on a few in Menonomonie are a hoax. In a statement to the media, the department said they had not placed any isolation or quarantine placards on any business, residence or facility. The department believes the notices were part of a campaign against a proposed communicable disease ordinances being considered by the Eau Claire City Council and County Board.
A circuit judge in St. Croix County is promising a quick ruling on a challenge to the governor’s statewide mask mandate. The conservative Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty filed the suit. A Monday hearing was held before St. Croix County Circuit Judge R. Michael Waterman where the institute requested a temporary injunction to suspend the mandate while the judge considers his decision. Judge Waterman told the parties he will decide about the injunction “very quickly.”
At $2.18, the national gas price average is at the cheapest start to the month of October since 2016. That average is the same as a week ago, four cents cheaper than the start of this past September and nearly 50 cents cheaper than last year. “Demand is likely to see some declines in the weeks ahead as drivers traditionally take fewer road trips in the fall,” said Nick Jarmusz, Director of Public Affairs for AAA -- The Auto Club Group. “That will mean gas prices are likely to push cheaper throughout the month.” Here in Western Wisconsin, gas was averaged at $2.01 per gallon compared to $2.66 last year.
Fairview Health Services is eliminating about 900 positions due to 163-millions dollars in losses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Fairview is closing or consolidating 14 primary care clinics in Minnesota and Wisconsin and shutting down Bethesda Hospital in St. Paul. The 90-bed hospital has been used for COVID-19 patients since March and will be transferred to Ramsey County for a winter homeless shelter. There will also be changes at the University of Minnesota Medical Center and St. Joseph Hospital. Fairview President and C-E-O James Hereford said the unprecedented health threat of COVID-19 further exposed the profound challenges we face and the unsustainable economics of healthcare today."
Forty-seven million dollars of funding from the federal CARES Act will be used to provide Wisconsin residents will childcare, food, rental assistance, and other expenses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Governor Tony Evers made the announcement Monday. The Out-of-School Support Grant Program will get 10 million to help state organizations providing care to school-age children. Another 10 million will be used by the Wisconsin Rental Assistance Program to stop residents from being evicted. The state’s Food Security Initiative gets 10 million and the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program – or LiHeap – will receive 15 million dollars. More money will be sent to the Keep Wisconsin Warm or Cool Fund, which helps people during energy-related emergencies.
Federal arson charges have been filed against the 26-year-old man accused of starting a fire in Madison’s City-County Building. Prosecutors say Marquon Clark threw projectiles through the building’s windows last June, then tossed in a burning roll of paper towels. U-S Attorney Scott C. Blader told the court Monday that throwing burning objects into an occupied government building isn’t a protest. Blader said, “It is a crime that places lives at risk.” Clark already faces two felony charges in Dane County court for his actions. He is being held at the Dane County Jail. A federal conviction could mean between five and 20 years in prison.
Police in Rochester are investigating what they call a "suspicious death." Officers said the body of a 27-year-old woman was found Friday at the Gates of Rochester apartments. The Southern Minnesota Regional Medical Examiner's Office is working to determine the cause of death. Investigators haven't said why it is suspicious.
Exit-polling at a weekend voter registration event in Milwaukee finds COVID-19 is still the main concern for potential voters. Cars were lined up at the former Bradley Center location in the downtown area Saturday for a registration and food drive event. Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett joined the program sponsored by the Milwaukee Bucks, saying people understand the seriousness of the pandemic – especially after the news of President Trump’s diagnosis. The state had exceeded two thousand positive COVID-19 test results each day for a week before Sunday.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources will spend almost 900 thousand dollars testing hundreds of drinking water wells in Marinette County. Scientists are looking for possible chemical contamination from a nearby firefighter testing facility. State officials have sent out more than 550 information packets to people living in Peshtigo about the new round of testing. Only wells used for drinking and cooking water are being checked.
U-S Senator Ron Johnson says he is asymptomatic and is feeling healthy, despite testing positive for COVID-19. The Wisconsin Republican had just emerged from a self-quarantine after he had been exposed to a person with the virus. Johnson tested positive Friday, the same day it was announced the president, first lay, several members of the White House staff, and several prominent Republican senators had also tested positive. Johnson says he will keep working while he is in isolation. He had attended a Friday fundraiser in Ozaukee County, but he says he wore a mask at the event, stood far away from others in attendance, and took the mask off only when he gave a speech.
Federal prosecutors have determined there isn’t enough evidence to prove than an 18-year-old biracial woman was set on fire during a protest last summer. Althea Bernstein has told investigators four white men sprayed her with lighter fluid and tossed a flaming lighter on her June 24th. A team of federal and state investigators conducted interviews and reviewed traffic cameras, but they couldn’t come up with enough evidence to prove the incident occurred. The woman’s family thanked the investigators and said the Bernstein is healing.
Multiple law enforcement departments took a wanted felon into custody over the weekend in Central Wisconsin. Police had been looking for 38-year-old Joseph Unger after SWAT teams and local drug agencies found drugs and numerous guns inside his Mosinee home during a search warrant. Police had been considering him armed and dangerous during that search. Unger is scheduled for an initial appearance in Marathon County Court on Monday.
St. Paul Police say they have recovered six collector cars stolen last week from a body shop. The 77-year-old owner of the vehicles is a lifelong car enthusiast. His name hasn’t been released. Officers found the 1967 Chevy Impala, 1965 Pontiac LeMans, 1965 G-T-O convertible, 2000 Pontiac Firebird, 2000 G-M-C pickup, and 1960 Cadillac Couple de Ville abandoned in a wooded area of Woodbury. Suspects kicked in a garage door early Sunday and drove the valuable vehicles away. Authorities are still searching for the thieves.
No comments:
Post a Comment