The Durand-Arkansaw School District may use its buildings for mass vaccination clinics later this year. Superintendent Greg Doverspike says the district and Pepin County Health Department have worked together before on mass vaccinations in the form of flu shots for the students. It is believed the covid 19 vaccinations will be available for the general public later this spring or early summer.
Eau Claire Firefighters responded to a fire at the Indianhead Warehouse on White Avenue last night. When firefighters arrived they found the fire and requested additional units to control the blaze. Crews were on the scene for about 3 hours, and no one was injured. The cause of that fire remains under investigation.
Four La Crosse County buildings have a new tool to help fight the spread of COVID-19. The Global Plasma Solutions ion air purifier cleans the air by emitting charged atoms in the building which attach to viruses and bacterias to eliminate them. County Board chair Monica Kruse says it’s comforting to know that we have technology in place that can clean our air and take out the virus that could possibly infect us. The La Crosse County Administrative Center, Courthouse, Health Department, and Lakeview Health Center and Assisted Living are all equipped with air purifiers.
There's rental assistance coming in the new federal COVID-19 relief bill. State consumer protection administrator Lara Sutherlin says that until the end of the month, landlords cannot start eviction proceedings. Sutherlin says that people who are in need of help can visit the state's consumer protection website at D A T C P dot W I dot Gov and learn more about the rental assistance programs, as well as how to deal with rental and tenant issues in general.
Former Governor Tommy Thompson who is now the interim President of the UW-System is proposing adding back 20 agricultural agents to the UW-Extension to help farmers. Thompson says the University and Counties will need help from the state and federal government to make the expansion a reality. Thompson unveiled the proposal this week during the Wisconsin Agribusiness Classic.
Sheriff's departments across Wisconsin are calling for calm ahead of possible unrest on Inauguration Day. The Badger State Sheriffs’ Association is recommending people stay home rather than head out to protest during President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration. Grant County Sheriff Nate Dreckman says that they appreciate people's right to peaceably gather but warns "If you step outside the law, there will be consequences." Dane County Sheriff David Mahoney said, "our deputies and police officers will always protect the right to assemble and air grievances, but only in a peaceful manner." The F-B-I is warning of potential violence at state capitols.
Conservative groups want the Wisconsin Supreme Court to hear redistricting lawsuits rather than federal judges. During a hearing Thursday, Chief Justice Patience Roggensack said the high court is not equipped to draw new legislative and congressional districts. Roggensack said, "I have a judicial assistant and one law clerk, and myself...and drawing maps would take a huge staff. We don't have them." Former Assembly Speaker Scott Jensen and the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty want the justices to change the court's rules. A decision is expected at a later date.
A retired Los Angeles police captain who testified at the trial of officers who beat Rodney King is expected as an expert witness for the defense in the trial of Thomas Lane. He's one of the former Minneapolis police officers charged in the death of George Floyd. The Star Tribune reports Attorney Earl Gray filed notice with the court that he plans to call Greg Meyer, who testified in the 1992 trial that officers did not use excessive force against King. Ex-officer Lane goes on trial in August along with two other officers. Derek Chauvin will be tried separately in March for the second-degree murder of Floyd.
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The Evers administration says it’s optimistic about the future for Foxconn. W-E-D-C Secretary Missy Hughes said her office continues to have ‘good conversations’ with the company about its plant in Mount Pleasant, and any future tax breaks. Hughes and W-E-D-C have refused to give Foxconn tax incentives agreed to by former Governor Walker because Foxconn changed the nature of its plant. Hughes did not offer any specifics as to just what a new deal may look like, or when that new deal may be finalized.
The Aurora Health pharmacist who may have ruined hundreds of doses of the coronavirus vaccine will no longer be working in the state. The Wisconsin Pharmacy Examining Board unanimously agreed to suspend the pharmacy license of Steven Brandenburg of Grafton. Brandenburg is waiting to see if the vials of vaccine that he admits to leaving out actually spoiled. Prosecutors in Ozaukee County say they will decide about charges once they know if the vaccine is still usable.
The Mayo Clinic is outlining its plans to begin administering COVID-19 vaccine to its patients. Health care workers and long-term care residents are still at the top of the priority list. The second phase now includes patients at least age 75 and frontline essential workers. The shots will then be offered to patients 65 and older and anyone over 16 years old with a high-risk condition and essential workers. Mayo Clinic patients with an assigned primary care provider will receive an invitation to be vaccinated, while patients without an online account will be sent a letter when the vaccine is available for their priority category. Mayo expects to learn this week when it can begin bringing in patients for doses.
A major health care expansion in north-central Wisconsin. Aspirus Health has signed agreements to acquire seven Ascension Wisconsin hospitals, 21 physician clinics, and air and ground medical transport services. Aspirus has no plans to close any of the properties it’s acquired from Ascension, which include hospitals in Stanley, Stevens Point, Tomahawk, Merrill, Rhinelander, Eagle River, and Woodruff.
The judge in the sexual assault case against Marshfield Police Chief Rick Gramza is asking for more evidence before he determines whether all of the charges against him will lead him to trial. Gramza is accused of sexually assaulting a department employee on several occasions, as early as 2014 and as late as this past summer. Portage County Thomas Eagon gave prosecutors ten days to make a case for felony misconduct in office charges.
The Green Bay Police Department is preparing for the Packers playoff game Saturday at Lambeau Field. About six-thousand fans will be in attendance for the N-F-C divisional-round game against the L-A Rams. Officers are stepping up security and traffic management since fans were not allowed in the stadium during the regular season. There won't be any road closures due to the smaller crowd - but there will be a lot of fans walking and in the parking lot and officers on the streets. Fans cannot bring bags or stadium seats to the game.
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