Two people were injured in a one-vehicle accident in rural Pepin County Wednesday night. According to the Pepin County Sheriffs Department, 27yr old Amanda Spindler of Durand was driving west on Hwy T and Brantner Road when the vehicle lost control, and struck a tree at a high rate of speed, narrowly missing an occupied home. Spindler was med-flighted to an Eau Claire hospital with life-threatening injuries. Her passenger, 29yr old Jacob R Bauer was transported to an Eau Claire Hospital with serious injuries. Both Spindler and Bauer were extricated from the vehicle by the Durand Fire Department. The Sheriff's Department says impaired driving, speed, and no seatbelts appear to be contributing factors to the seriousness of the accident.
Even with the warmer weather as of late, the Durand Public Works has issued a freeze warning for the city. The warning is issued when the frost depth reaches 5ft or more and there is a risk of water lines freezing. According to Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren those that are concerned with their water mains freezing can run a trickle of water, but you need to call city hall to let them know. So far about 20 residences in the city are participating in the program.
Wisconsin 3rd District Congressman Ron Kind and Ohio Congressman Brad Wenstrup have sent a letter to Covid-19 Response Coordinator Jeffery Zients and Acting US Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Norris Cochran urging them to ensure rural communities are not left behind in the federal Covid-19 vaccine information campaign. DHHS launched the campaign via the internet and larger radio stations, but according to Kind says rural radio needs to play a role in the campaign. Kind and Wenstrup sent that letter to DHHS yesterday.
Dunn County authorities are asking for the public's help identifying a truck that passed a stopped school bus on Hwy 25 Thursday morning. The Department posted a video on its Facebook page Thursday showing the white pickup truck passing the stopped school bus that had its red flashing lights operating. The incident happened near the 7100 block of Hwy 25 and if anyone has any information they are to call the Dunn County Sheriffs Department.
One of the three suspects in a Rusk County double-homicide case has reached a plea agreement with prosecutors. Seventeen-year-old Tristan Shober is scheduled to be sentenced in May after pleading no contest to two counts of murder, with five other charges dismissed. Robert and Bonnie Rosolowski were shot to death last year. Shober and 18-year-old Joseph Falk have told investigators the victims’ grandson – 22-year-old Adam Rosolowski – shot them. Shober was the getaway driver. It is possible that he might avoid any prison time.
One of the teens involved in a crash between a buggy and truck in northwestern Wisconsin last week did not survive his injuries. The Barron County Sheriff's Office say a 17-year-old victim died in the hospital. The truck rear-ended the horse-drawn buggy last Thursday night near Rice Lake. The 17-year-old was airlifted to the hospital in serious condition and a 16-year-old had minor injuries. Deputies say the buggy had operating rear lights. A funeral is planned this weekend for the teen and authorities expected a large presence of horse and buggies in the area.
An unlicensed Winona therapist and her adult daughter are accused of collecting close to 200-thousand dollars through false claims under the Medicaid program. Kristine Hollund has been charged with aiding and abetting theft by swindle. The 53-year-old defendant's 34-year-old daughter, Brittany Lindner, allegedly handled the fraudulent billing and faces the same charge. Winona County prosecutors say the scheme lasted from April 2016 to January 2019. Hollund and Lindner are due in court on March 29th.
A bill awaiting the signature of Governor Tim Walz would allow Minnesota dentists to give the COVID-19 vaccine. The bipartisan measure passed unanimously in the Minnesota House Thursday and cleared the Senate earlier this month. Representative Mike Freiberg (FRY'-berg) of Golden Valley says “while the supply of COVID vaccines has yet to meet its great demand when that moment arrives Minnesota will be better prepared by allowing our dentists to administer this vaccine.” Dentists can already administer influenza vaccines in Minnesota.
Help is on the way for Wisconsin’s aging computer system at the Department of Workforce Development. The 50-year-old infrastructure delayed unemployment benefit payments for months for some applicants during the past year. Governor Tony Evers blamed lawmakers and previous administrations for failing to take the needed action for more than a decade. Evers absorbed some harsh criticism while people who lost their jobs due to the coronavirus pandemic waited to be approved, then waited for payments. The Democratic governor called the bill he signed “a step in the right direction” Thursday. That bill also waives the one-week waiting period for receiving benefits and extends limited liability from COVID-related lawsuits to state businesses, schools, and governments.
Wisconsin Congresswoman Gwen Moore says she is one of the people whose absentee ballot was lost in the mail last week. The Milwaukee Democrat has fired off a series of letters to top U-S Postal Service officials demanding answers. Moore says her office has received many complaints about mail delays and mail not arriving. Milwaukee television station W-I-S-N reported about a big batch of absentee ballots sent by the city of Wauwatosa that had been lost in the mail. The postmaster general has told Congress the agency is working on a new 10-year plan that will make fundamental changes in the way the postal service operates.
Public health officials are speculating Johnson and Johnson’s single-dose vaccine for COVID-19 could be available to Wisconsin residents next week. The F-D-A is scheduled to decide whether to grant the drug emergency use authorization for the public Friday. Testing shows it is effective at preventing the virus. Johnson and Johnson are estimating it is capable of producing 100-thousand vaccines by summer. Wisconsin doctors say it is easy to store and inexpensive to produce. Scientists say its effectiveness is less than other vaccines, but it stops the worst health outcomes for those who get COVID-19.
Wisconsin election officials are telling lawmakers poll workers are essential employees. Clerks across the state are asking that they be vaccinated as soon as possible. The Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled last year that elections wouldn’t stop despite the coronavirus pandemic. Dane County Clerk Scott McDonell says there’s no way around it, “there has to be in-person voting.” He has worked four elections during the pandemic – plus November’s recount. McDonell says he has been in the room with hundreds of people for nine days lasting about 14 hours each. The Wisconsin Municipal Clerks Association is asking to be considered essential workers before the April 6th vote.
Minnesota Republican lawmakers are expressing concerns about the COVID-19 Vaccine Connector aimed at helping Minnesotans find out where and when to get the shot. G-O-P Senator Karin Housley of the Stillwater area says the program asks for too much personal information. Housley asked State Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm to take down some of the questions including those about sexual preference. Malcolm said the information is necessary to "communicate with people in specific ways that apply to their specific situation." Malcolm says more than 400-thousand Minnesotans have signed up for the program.
Wisconsinites who have lost income due to the COVID-19 pandemic may be eligible for assistance Governor Tony Evers says more than 322 million dollars in funding will be available, to help with rent, utilities, and other services. Qualified applicants may receive up to 12 months of assistance, with rent and utility payments made directly to the landlord or provider. It's funded through a federal program. The state Department Of Administration will partner with community agencies to accept applications and distribute assistance.
Best Buy says it is giving its hourly employees a "gratitude" bonus for their work during the pandemic. The Minnesota-based electronics retailer announced that full-time employees will receive a 500-dollar bonus and part-timers are getting 200. Best Buy has seen a big increase in online sales since the pandemic began last spring. The company also says it's offering paid time off for workers to get the COVID vaccine.
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