Local-Regional News December 14

 The City of Durand has settled its claim with its insurance carrier over money that was stolen by the former Library Director from the Library Fund.  Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren says the money will be put back into the dontation accounts of the library that had money taken.  The city is receiving $28,000 from its insurance carrier.

A worker at the Ashley Furniture Industries facility in western Wisconsin has died.  The death was reported Wednesday, but the company hasn’t said how the person died.  No names have been released.  The company issued a statement acknowledging the death and indicating the victim was a longtime employee at the Arcadia location.  Authorities in Trempealeau County are conducting an investigation.

 Five Democratic legislators have signed a letter saying they have “heard enough” and won’t be participating in an Assembly hearing looking into claims of voter fraud.  About halfway through a Friday hearing by the Assembly Committee on Campaigns and Elections the lawmakers wrote that they won’t take part in what they call a “sham hearing” any longer.  State representatives JoCasta Zamarripa, Lisa Subeck and Mark Spreitzer joined state senators Mark Miller and Jeff Smith in signing the critical letter.  They say the hearings will do nothing but “undermine our elections and election officials.”  Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos says his party has heard “thousands” of complaints about irregularities in the November 3rd election.

The Durand Fire Department will once again hold its annual Santa Ride Along.   Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren says this is an event that has grown over the  last few years. Santa will not be able to stop for pictures with the kids, and his ride along with the Fire Department will be on Sunday starting at 4:30.

The University of Wisconsin System has waved the 25-dollar electronic application fees at 10 of its 13 schools.  The intention is to provide students some economic relief during the COVID-19 pandemic.  The no-cost EApp will take effect at all schools except the Eau Claire, La Crosse and Madison campuses.  Students who meet financial hardship criteria could have the fees waived at all 13 campuses.  The system is estimating that the move to lead to more applications.  The Board of Regents approved the change Thursday.  That comes after several universities informally waived the fees this fall.

 The first shipments of a COVID-19 vaccine left a Michigan distribution center Monday – to start the biggest vaccination effort in American history.  The first shots will be given this week to health care workers and people living in nursing homes.  No precise date and time for the first shots have been established in Wisconsin.  About three-million doses were on the trucks leaving Kalamazoo.  All should arrive at their destinations no later than Wednesday.

As lawmakers on the state level debate how to provide relief to bars and restaurants impacted by COVID-19 related restrictions, the City of Rochester has a plan on a local scale. The plan would essentially result in the waiver of liquor license fees through the city's existing License Grant Program. If approved the plan would cost the city about 165-thousand dollars.

A new bill that's currently waiting for the President's signature will aim to patch a hole that scam artists use to try and trick people with student loans. Senator Tammy Baldwin says that they saw a recent upsurge in debt relief scams as discussions on student loan money circulated during the pandemic relief talks.  The bill would make it illegal to use official government records to try and find scam targets, which was up to this point not actually illegal. Baldwin says that with over a trillion dollars in student loans currently outstanding, it's crucial to protect people who are just trying to get by.


 The Wisconsin Policy Forum reports property taxes levied by school districts in the state are going to go up by three-point-three-percent.  That figure is smaller than 2019 but bigger than any other year in the last decade.  Those property tax bills will be mailed to Wisconsin homeowners this month.  They represent the single largest tax paid by state residents.  Property taxes are also the largest source of school funding, along with units of local government like police and fire.  The actual increase for homeowners will vary depending on where their property is located.

The chair of the Wisconsin Elections Commission says she has been threatened that a “crowd of patriots” will show up at her house.  Ann Jacobs says that’s just one of the threatening messages she has received through social media.  She adds her children have been mentioned.  Jacobs tells reporters photos of her home were posted on Twitter.  She says she has alerted her neighbors and police about the “constant threats.”  Election officials in Michigan and Georgia say they have received similar threats after repeatedly concluding there is no evidence suggesting voter fraud during the November presidential election.

Elderly Wisconsin residents may have to get in line for the coronavirus vaccine next week.  Frontline health care workers will be getting the first shots.  The people they treat in long-term care facilities may have to wait until next month.  The Wisconsin Department of Health Services says the state is expected to get only 60-thousand doses of the vaccine, meaning some groups of people will have to wait.  Medical facilities are making plans right now to distribute the vaccine when it arrives.  The F-D-A’s Advisory Committee cleared the way for emergency approval of  the vaccine Thursday.

An attorney for former Minneapolis police officer Tou Thao is requesting a delay for the jury trial in the George Floyd case.  The trial is expected to begin in March.  Thao's attorney today (Friday) asked a judge to move the trial to July, arguing prosecutors have repeatedly failed to disclose evidence in a timely manner.  The defense says that has hurt their ability to prepare for the trial and could potentially get in the way of Thao having a fair trial.  Thao is one of four officers accused in Floyd's death.

Governor Tony Evers says Wisconsin will use 60-thousand dollars in federal grants to restore statues damaged at the State Capitol.  The money will help with the restoration of the "Forward" and Colonel Hans Christian Heg statues that were toppled in June.  The governor is also encouraging the State Capitol and Executive Residence Board to consider diversifying the statues by honoring Vel Phillips.  She was the first Black woman on the Milwaukee City Council and to become a judge in Wisconsin.  Evers said. "I look forward to not only getting Colonel Heg and Forward back up on their feet at the Capitol, but also exploring new options to make the Capitol grounds a more accurate reflection of our state’s diversity and history."