Local-Regional News June 30

 Durand police have identified the person who drown in the Chippewa River on Monday.  According to Durand Police, emergency first responders were notified that Susanne Sockness of Durand was struggling to swim in the river.  A witness was able to pull her to shore and life-saving efforts were unsuccessful and Sockness was pronounced dead at the scene by the Pepin County Corner.  

Buffalo County Authorities have identified the man found in the Mississippi River on June 25th.  According to the Buffalo County Sheriffs Department, 63yr old David Lacher of Winona was found in the river in the town of Buffalo directly across from the city of Winona.  No foul play is suspected in Lacher's death.

Thirty-six workers at two restaurants in southern Minnesota are getting more than 435-thousand dollars in unpaid overtime, minimum wages, and interest.  A U-S Department of Labor investigation found that the employees of Rancho Loco Grill and Bar in Red Wing and Rancho Loco Mexican Grill in Canon Falls received only half the pay they deserved.  A federal court ordered owners Ramon Ruelas, Jorge Arcos, Nancy Arcos, and Medardo Acros to pay a total of 435-thousand dollars and they agreed to comply with the Fair Labor Standards Act in the future.  Investigators say they misclassified the employees as independent contractors and only paid them 60 hours every two weeks,  regardless of how many hours they actually worked.

The attorney for Altoona’s former superintendent of schools says the charges against his client are too broad.  Joseph Brugni is the court-appointed federal defender for Daniel Peggs.  He filed a series of pre-trial motions last week saying the human trafficking charge needs to be clarified.  Brugni says federal prosecutors haven’t identified when the alleged crime was committed, the way it was committed, and what actions allegedly committed by Peggs qualify as a commercial transaction.  Brugni points out that the discovery documents he has received from the prosecution total more than 171 thousand pages.

Two people have been charged with attempted burglary of the Princeton Valley golf Course in Eau Claire.  According to authorities, 28yr old Tayler Frank and 31yr old Nicholas Mason of St. Paul were charged after they attempted to steal an ATM from the course on June 23rd.  A third suspect, Ryan Munson is still at large and if anyone knows of Munson's whereabouts they are to contact the Eau Claire Police Department or Eau Clair County Crimestoppers.

Those wanting to take the train to Chicago or Minneapolis from Red Wing, Winona, or La Crosse, will now have a second option starting in 2024.  Amtrak announced a second train will begin service between the two cities starting in 2024 after the state of Minnesota set aside $10 million for the project.  Wisconsin, the Federal Government, and Amtrak had already set aside funding for the train.  The total cost of the project is $53.3 million.

Attention switches to the Wisconsin Senate after the Assembly gave its approval Tuesday to the state’s 87-billion-dollar budget.  Republican legislative leaders are hoping to get the two-year spending plan to the governor by Thursday.  Assembly Speaker Robin Vos says responsible budgeting has led to a gigantic surplus that enabled what he calls a “once-in-a-generation” tax cut for Wisconsin taxpayers.  The measure passed by the Assembly moves on to the Senate today (Wednesday).  The Joint Finance Committee has cut almost 400 items that were part of the initial budget submitted by Governor Tony Evers.

Wisconsin researchers have found the presence of a state prison in a county was associated with more COVID-19 cases.   According to a new study from UW-Madison, 11 percent more COVID-19 cases occurred through July 1, 2020, in U.S. counties with state prisons. Many of the cases were likely due to the spread of COVID-19 within those correctional facilities. However, researchers estimate that 95,000 cases and more than 3,300 deaths across the U.S. - the majority of the prison-associated cases - were due to spill over into surrounding communities. Study authors say counties with prisons should prepare for future outbreaks by prioritizing the health of both prisoners and residents of nearby communities. 

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Touting the need for an infrastructure bill during his appearance today/Tuesday in La Crosse, President Joe Biden said it includes funding to address the threat of PFAS contamination.   Biden is hoping to boost support for the proposed 973 billion, bipartisan infrastructure agreement, which is held together in large part by a promise of millions of new jobs. Biden toured the La Crosse public transit center and highlighted projects such as hybrid buses and road repair equipment that would receive additional funding through the bill.

A strong start has Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources officials optimistic for a strong fishing season on Lake Michigan.  Great Lakes Fisheries Supervisor Brad Eggold tells W-B-A-Y television the season is already off to a great start.  Eggold says millions of fish have been stocked on the lake this year.  The D-N-R is coordinating with stocking partners and neighboring states to secure the future.

Spirited debate Tuesday during a Wisconsin Senate committee hearing on the "Star Spangled Banner" bill. Madison Democrat Kelda Roys questioned the need for requiring the playing of the national anthem before every sporting event in the state including kids soccer games. Roys said, "I think the way that we promote democracy is by teaching people about voting and helping them get involved in government. And not by mandating that my three-year-old sit through the national anthem." Irma Republican Mary Felzkowski argues the bill protects the rights of those who want to hear the anthem. Felzkowski said, "we have deferred too long in this state to a vocal minority who are anti-American. The bill carries no penalty for not playing the "Star Spangled Banner."

Face coverings will no longer be required in Minnesota court facilities next week.  The Minnesota Judicial Branch says announced the July 6th end date today (Tuesday).  Chief Justice Lorie Gildea said, "as the pandemic's impact on Minnesota continues to recede, so too will some of the health and safety protocols that were in place in our district and appellate courts."  Face coverings will still be allowed, but judges may direct people to remove them when necessary to conduct court hearings.  On August 2nd, misdemeanor criminal trials will be added to the list of proceedings already being held in person again.  Some services of the court will continue to be done remotely until September.

Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison say the state’s workforce is aging faster than the rest of the country. A new study suggests ending the enhanced federal unemployment benefits may solve Wisconsin’s worker shortage in the short term, but the state will likely have challenges filling open positions for years to come. An analysis by U-W-Madison economist Noah Williams finds the only way to solve the problem long-term is to get new workers into the pipeline and bring more families into the Badger State.

The Minnesota State Fair is out with their list of new foods for the upcoming "Great Minnesota Get Back Together."  Fair spokeswoman Danielle Dullinger says with 26 new items "there is something for everyone regardless of your dietary needs I'm just excited that after two years we finally have some new foods to announce."  Dullinger says some of the new foods include the  Jumbo Doughnut Sundae, Bison Bites, Esquites Mexican street corn, a Kerala Fried Chicken Kati  Roll,  Buffalo Chicken Doughscuit, and a Spufull puff.   The entire list with pictures is on the State Fair's website.  She says nearly 500 foods will be available at 300 different concession locations throughout the fairgrounds.

Local-Regional News June 29

 Durand first responders responded to a body found in the Chippewa River near the Veterans Memorial Monday afternoon.  According to the Pepin County Sheriff's Department, a female had an apparent medical incident and fell into the water was deceased.  No other information was available and the identity of the victim has been withheld pending notification of family members.

One person was injured in a one-vehicle accident in Union Township on Sunday.  According to the Pierce County Sheriff's Department, 33yr old Jake King of Plum City was traveling southbound on Hwy U when he crossed left of center in the opposite lane of traffic and down an embankment in the east ditch and overturned.  King was taken to Mayo Hospital in Red Wing.

One person was injured in an ATV accident in Oak Grove Township on Sunday.  According to the Pierce County Sheriff's Department, a 15yr old was operating an ATV near Hwy QQ and 570th Avenue, lost control, and rolled over.  The juvenile was transported to Regions Hospital in St. Paul.

A 19yr old Menomonie man already charged with sexual assault is now facing new charges.  Wyatt Holcomb is now accused of sexually assaulting a girl starting when she was 6 and lasting until she was 11.  The girl told police of three different incidents involving Holcomb.  He was recently charged with sexually assaulting a girl when she was 9 until she was 13.  He could face up to 150 yrs in prison if convicted of both crimes. 

An Eau Claire man has been sentenced to 10yrs in prison for distributing Methamphetamine.  According to the US Attorneys' office for the Western District of Wisconsin, 33yr old Zachary Tepsa was handed the sentence from US District Judge James Peterson.  Tepsa pleaded guilty to charges of distributing 5 grams or more of methamphetamine after being arrested in March of 2019 after selling 12.9 grams of meth to a confidential informant in Eau Claire.

After declining last week, the nation’s average gas prices have begun to climb again, rising 2.5 cents per gallon from a week ago to $3.09, according to GasBuddy. The national average now stands 4.7 cents higher than a month ago and 92.1 cents higher than a year ago. The national average price of diesel has risen 2.3 cents in the last week and stands at $3.24 per gallon. Gas Buddy’s Patrick De Haan states, “As we approach July 4, it appears the only way forward is for gas prices to continue to rise as Americans’ demand for gasoline continues to act as a catalyst.”  Here in Western Wisconsin, average gas prices are approaching the $3 per gallon level.

Realtors say there simply is a lot of demand for homes right now. Wisconsin house prices are skyrocketing, but buyers are still willing to pay. One Realtor estimates there are 10-to-15 buyers for every house on the market. That means they have to be aggressive when making an offer. The Wisconsin Realtors Association is reporting prices in Stevens Point, Wisconsin Rapids, and Wausau are starting to fall off a little bit, but demand is still strong in Marshfield and other locations. If interest rates start to rise, that could cool the market off – but realtors say they don’t think this is a “bubble” like in 2008.

Triple-A is citing a nationwide prediction that more than 47-million Americans will plan a vacation around the 4th of July holiday. Triple-A says that is near recovery levels from travel lows seen last year and could make 20-21 the busiest 4th of July for travel on record. The travel predictions for the upcoming holiday represent an increase of nearly 40-percent compared to last year.

The Commissioner of Agriculture for Minnesota is concerned about worsening drought conditions in the state and says dryness has been an issue in northwest Minnesota for quite a while. Commissioner Them Peterson says things have gotten progressively worse over the last month. Now more than 20 counties are classified in the D-2 severe drought stage and many crops are being affected.

A conservative law firm is taking another shot at getting the courts to ban the use of absentee ballot drop boxes.   The Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty filed a lawsuit in Waukesha County on Monday that challenges the use of drop boxes. Two previous challenges to drop boxes went unheard by the State Supreme Court over procedural issues, and WILL says a legal issue still needs to be resolved. Drop boxes are officially recognized by the state Elections Commission and are encouraged for use, but conservatives, bolstered by claims from former President Trump, say they violate state law on the collection of ballots.

The State Supreme Court will not hear a lawsuit about how ballot boxes were used during the 2020 presidential election.   In a 4-3 decision on Friday, Justice Brian Hagedorn joined the court's liberal justices in deciding against hearing the challenge from conservative businessman Jere Fabick. Fabick had directly asked the court to stop absentee ballot boxes from being used in future elections and to stop clerks from helping people fix absentee ballot envelopes. The majority rejected the petition on procedural grounds. A package of bills that would address these concerns was sent to Governor Ever's desk last week. He's expected to veto them

The Wisconsin Supreme Court is expected to rule Tuesday on a convicted killer’s request for a new trial.  George Burch was found guilty of the 2016 killing of Nicole Vanderheyden of Ledgeview.  His attorney says Burch’s Fourth Amendment rights were violated by investigators with the Brown County Sheriff’s Office when they extracted data from his cell phone after it was originally seized by the Green Bay Police Department in an unrelated case.  Arguments were offered in April.  The case made national news because Fitbit and Google data were offered as evidence during the trial.

The Wisconsin legislature is scheduled to vote on a state budget this week.   With a historic 4-point-4 billion dollar surplus to work with, the Republican majority on the budget committee has included more than three billion dollars in tax cuts. It includes the elimination of the personal property tax for businesses, as well as income tax reductions. Republicans also put more aid to K-12 education into the budget, in order to secure about 2-point-3 billion in federal education funding. If passed by the Assembly on Tuesday and the Senate Wednesday, the budget goes to Governor Tony Evers, who can use his extensive veto authority on portions of it, or veto it altogether.

Minnesota’s attorney general says the 22-year sentence given to former police officer Derek Chauvin was “fair.”  A-G Keith Ellison says the death of George Floyd last year was particularly cruel – especially since it happened in front of some children.  Ellison says he wants to see Congress pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act.  He adds he isn’t totally satisfied with the outcome because nothing will bring Floyd back.  Chauvin still faces federal charges accusing him of violating Floyd’s civil rights.

Wisconsin’s coronavirus vaccine effort is the slowest it’s ever been.   Wisconsin health professionals administered about 35-thousand doses last week. That number is sure to go up, but there’s a long way to go to reach the 73-thousand doses administered the week before. Demand for the COVID-19 vaccine in Wisconsin has been steadily dropping since April.

Minnesota livestock producers say they are worried about the drought’s effect on the hay supply.  Many dairy farmers depend on alfalfa hay to feed their herds.  During the dry spell, there is nothing they can do but watch their fields dry up.  One farmer says he normally can cut his alfalfa four times during a growing season.  So far this year he’s only cut it once.  The problem is widespread enough that it could lead to a Midwest hay shortage.  They keep holding out hope saying it only takes one good rainfall to get things going.  It was dry last year in Stearns County until July when the rains came.

The usual summer ending of Minnesota wildfire season may be missing this year.  Minnesota authorities say they are bracing for an extended season.  Wildfires in this state are usually the worst in spring and fall, but the problem easies when trees and plants are fully green and more rain starts to fall.  Federal meteorologists are expecting dry conditions to last through the summer this time.  More than half of Minnesota is experiencing drought conditions.  The state had seen more wildfires by mid-June this year than it had in all of 2020.  A normal season is about 12-hundred wildfires, but the state has had more than 14-hundred already.

Local-Regional News June 28

  Authorities in western Wisconsin are working to identify a body pulled from the Mississippi River.  The Buffalo County Sheriff's Office says the body of a white man was discovered around 10:45 Friday morning near Aghaming Park - right across the main channel from Winona, Minnesota.  Deputies are asking the public for information about the man believed to be in his 60s.

Another phone scam to report, this time via text messaging.  On Saturday, WRDN received a text message claiming there were changes to the Wisconsin Unemployment Insurance Program and that if our "profile information" was not verified in 48hours our unemployment insurance would be ended.  A link to "verify our information" was included in the message.  This is nothing more than a scam and if you receive it, delete the message from your phone.

The Wabasha County Board is meeting tomorrow.  Items on the agenda include discussion and possible action on a land transfer consideration between the Lakewood Cemetery and the Minnesota DNR, approval of a speed study request on County Hwy 2, and approval of the sale of Forfeited Land.  Tomorrow's meeting begins at 9am at the Wabasha County Courthouse.

A Menomonie man, arrested in Chippewa County for OWI will spend one year in prison.  58yr old Eugene Volz pleaded guilty in Chippewa County Cort last week to OWI 6th offense.  In June of 2020, an officer pulled Vilz over and he admitted to taking meth before getting behind the wheel.  Along with the one-year jail sentence, Vilz will be under two years of extended supervision, must pay  $2327 in court costs, and complete 300 hours of community service.

The Dunn County Highway Department will work on an asphalt overlay of 610th Street from Hwy 29 to 490th Avenue today from 6am till 6pm in the Town of Red Cedar.  because of the project, 610th street will be closed and motorists will need to use alternate routes.  That project should be completed by 6pm tonight.

A Pierce County citizen has been recognized by the Pierce County Sherrif's Department for actions that may have saved a deputies life.  The department gave a citizen Commendation to Debbie Baire for her actions in December.  A deputy was on a traffic stop where the subject exited the car and started fighting with the officer trying to disarm him.  Baire witnessed this and called for help.  Another deputy then arrived on the scene and the suspect was placed into custody.

A property tax cut that's part of the state budget put together by Republican legislators would save the owner of a median-priced Wisconsin home about a hundred dollars.  That's according to a new report from the nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau.  L-F-B estimates the tax bill on a home just over 197-thousand dollars in 2020 would be three-thousand-214 dollars on the upcoming December tax bill, a decrease of 101 dollars from the previous year.  In the next year, the tax bill on the same home would increase by one percent or 32 dollars.  Those numbers are estimates for the entire state, and tax changes in individual municipalities would vary.  The state Assembly and Senate will vote on the budget next week.

A state of emergency has been declared for people living in Crawford County.  Heavy rainfall Saturday caused flash floods and damage.  Several state highways and county roads were shut down to traffic.  Emergency management officials say they have spent the weekend clearing the roads.  County officials estimate public infrastructure damage will cost almost 300 thousand dollars to repair.  Assessments of personal property damage are still being conducted.  An estimated 12 inches of rain fell on the northern parts of the county Saturday morning.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz signed five budget bills into law on Saturday. The bills signed included provisions for transportation, higher education, agriculture, commerce and energy, environmental and arts funding. The signings mean at least part of the government will remain funded beyond the June 30th budget deadline.

State Senator Patrick Testin says he is “pleasantly surprised” by the support for his Star-Spangled Banner Act.  It has passed the Wisconsin Assembly and is set for a hearing before the Senate Government Operations, Legal Review, and Consumer Protection Committee.  Testin says his bill isn’t about forced patriotism – it’s about reminding everyone of what unites us as a nation.  His measure would require the playing of the national anthem before all sporting events held in taxpayer-funded venues, but Testin points out that none of the languages says you have to salute the flag.

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos has hired two retired police officers to investigate possible “irregularities and-or illegalities” in last November’s presidential election.  Vos says he is also going to hire a third investigator and an attorney to oversee the process.  It’s supposed to take three months to complete, with investigators paid 32-hundred dollars a month.  Former President Donald Trump lost by just 20-thousand votes in Wisconsin.  There have been multiple claims of irregularities in the vote count, though lawsuits have gone nowhere.

Cases of  COVID-19 variants continue to be identified in Wisconsin   As of Thursday, the Department of Health Services' COVID-19 dashboard shows 36 cases of the Delta variant of concern have been identified in total. Forty-seven cases of the Alpha variant, originally identified in the United Kingdom, were reported for a total of more than 33-hundred in the state. DHS also notes the presence of other COVID variants here, designated as Beta, Epsilon, and Gamma. The presence of variants highlights the importance of getting more shots in arms. As of Thursday, just over 56 percent of those 18 and older were fully vaccinated.

On Wednesday, the Wisconsin state senate voted along party lines on a measure to delay implementation of city and county political redistricting until 2023. Democrats like Chris Larson of Milwaukee were opposed.  Under the bill, municipalities would have until mid-May of 2022 to adopt new wards, while counties would have until February 2022 to adopt a tentative plan and until July to finalize their supervisory districts following the work of the municipalities.

Warnings from the Wisconsin Motor Carrier Association that there is a shortage of truck drivers could cost us.  As consumers emerge from the pandemic and go shopping, somebody has to deliver the goods.  Association President Neal Kedzie says a shortage of about 60 thousand truck drivers is expected over the next five years.  More demand and fewer drivers could result in higher prices.  Kedzie points out that 94 percent of all manufactured goods in the state of Wisconsin are moved by trucks.  Diesel Driving School in Sun Prairie closed down last summer during the pandemic.  Now, there aren’t enough students wanting to drive the trucks.  Companies like Walmart are said to be offering as much as 80 thousand dollars a year to hire drivers with good driving records.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz says he plans to end his COVID emergency powers on August 1st.  Walz has already lifted most of his emergency orders and said Friday, "We have a handle on this," predicting the state would hit its goal by next Friday of 70 percent of Minnesotans 16 and older being vaccinated.  Republicans have repeatedly demanded Walz relinquish his emergency powers.  The G-O-P Senate Friday again passed a bill to do it, but the Democrat-controlled House is unlikely to go along with that.

The Wisconsin Natural Resources Board has approved spending one-point-six million dollars to add 220 acres to the state’s most-visited park.  The land is located on the southwestern edge of Devil’s Lake State Park.  It could be used for hunting and wildlife watching – or it could be developing into hiking and mountain biking trails.  Devil’s Lake welcomed more than two million visitors last year.  The park was created 110 years ago and covers about 92-hundred acres near Baraboo.

Local-Regional News June 25

 The City of Durand is beginning discussions with the Durand Rural Fire Department to replace a 30yr old fire truck for the City and Rural Fire Departments.  Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren says the discussion is on how to pay for a possible new ladder truck.  One of the biggest issues will be the spitting of costs for the new truck between the city and the rural fire departments.

Isolated severe storms moved through parts of Western Wisconsin yesterday.  A tornado was reported near Bruce that caused damage to a shed, home, and other tree damage.  Meanwhile in Chippewa County 2" hail fell from Bloomer to Eagleton causing tree and crop damage.  There are more chances for showers and storms this weekend.

 

A Menomonie man thinks his dog died of toxins in Lake Menomin earlier this month.  Cody Christianson brought his pet, Bing, to Wakanda Park, which is on the lake.  He says he and the dog had been there many times before.  Because it was a hot day, Bing ran into the water to cool down.  A few minutes later he was foaming from the mouth and having seizures.  Bing died at a veterinarian’s office.  The vet said his dog’s liver toxicity levels were “off the charts.”  That suggests the dog was killed by blue-green algae blooms in the lake.

A federal judge has denied a motion by the City of Eau Claire to keep a civil trial there.  Tyler Holte was shot twice by an Eau Claire police officer after a pursuit five years ago.  He was in a stolen vehicle at the time.  The city argued the likely witnesses live in Eau Claire and a change of venue would be inconvenient.  Holte’s attorney objected.  U-S District Judge James D. Peterson said in his ruling that courts usually defer to the plaintiff’s choice of location for such a trial.

Authorities in northwest Wisconsin say two men are dead after a crash involving a dump truck near Cumberland.  The Barron County Sheriff's Office says a car driven by 19-year-old Damien Weiss of Turtle Lake crossed the centerline on Highway 48 and collided with the truck.  Weiss and his passenger - 21-year-old Dallas McDowell of Amery - died at the scene.  The dump truck driver from Chippewa Falls suffered minor injuries.  The crash closed Highway 48 for about eight hours Wednesday afternoon.

State health officials report ten of Minnesota's 87 counties have reached the 70-percent vaccination rate for COVID-19.   Six of the counties are in the Twin Cities and the four in Greater Minnesota are Cook,  Olmsted, Houston, and Carlton.   Seven more counties have vaccination rates of at least 65 percent. The list includes  Fillmore, Wabasha,  and Goodhue.     Governor Walz had hoped that 70 percent of eligible residents statewide would be vaccinated by July 1st.  The current statewide rate is 66-and-a-half percent.

 The USDA said more help is on the way for agricultural producers and dairy farmers. The Pandemic Assistance for Producers Initiative will help farmers who have been struggling.  For dairy farmers, a new program will provide $400 million to address food insecurity and waste and $580 million will be made available to support the dairy margin coverage program.  There will also be up to $20 million available for organic farms or producers transitioning to organic farming, and $700 million available in grants for protection measures like PPE for those in agriculture to protect themselves against COVID-19.

 Minnesota is set to test a pilot program to offer same-day printing of driver's licenses.  The more than two million dollars for the program comes out of a provision in the state transportation bill.  The program will be tested in Moorhead and Lakeville.  Same-day service will only be available for standard licenses, not enhanced or REAL I-D.  Currently, temporary cards are provided after application for a license until the traditional card is delivered by mail.

Governor Tony Evers says the state will use 140-million dollars in federal relief funding to award grants for tourist and entertainment-related businesses.  The program will invest in live event venues, movie theaters, summer camps, minor league sports, and the lodging industry.  Department of Tourism interim Secretary Anne Sayers said, "from leisure travelers looking to reconnect with friends and family to business travelers attending meetings and conventions, these dollars will be crucial to help our industry bounce back."  The Wisconsin Departments of Administration and Revenue will award the grants with American Rescue Plan funding.

This weekend marks Christmas in June for HAM Radio enthusiasts. They'll be out testing and fine-tuning their equipment while attempting to make contact with others from around the globe. Gary Harrison with the Wisconsin Valley Radio Amateurs says the event helps them practice for worst-case, emergency scenarios.  This weekend's annual amateur radio activity was first organized in 1933.  

 Leave your money at home when you attend this year’s Wisconsin State Fair.  Just bring your plastic – or buy tickets in advance.  The 170th annual fair is scheduled to kick off on August 5th and run through August 15th.  There was no fair last year during the coronavirus pandemic.  Fair organizers are adopting a cashless model for parking and admissions and people are being encouraged to buy their tickets in advance.  As a safety measure, vendors won’t be offering reusable souvenir cups and this year’s events won’t include any eating competitions.

Wisconsin’s meat and dairy labeling legislation is a step closer to becoming law. Three bills passed the State Assembly Tuesday that would require food labels not to use terms like milk, cheese, and yogurt for non-dairy products. Representative Travis Tranel .  Another bill would stop cultured or plant-based meat substitutes from using the term “meat.”

 Leaders of the School District of Flambeau have been criminally charged over grade fixing accusations.  Superintendent Erica Schley and School Board President Julie Hauser are accused of failing to hold a meeting to hear a teacher’s official complaint.  The teacher reported that Schley’s husband, Jeff, threatened him if the teacher didn’t change his daughter’s grade.  The threat was allegedly made in January.  Jeff Schley is charged with disorderly conduct and his wife is charged with misconduct in office and disorderly conduct.  Hauser is charged with two counts of misconduct in office.  The teacher involved says state law requires a public hearing when an official complaint is filed.

Republicans on the state budget committee have included 202 million dollars to cover the cost of ending a tax that Wisconsin businesses pay on the property.  The tax has long been on the chopping block.  Democratic Governor Tony Evers hasn’t said whether he will sign or veto the bill that has bipartisan support.  The measure made it through two committees Wednesday.  One of them was the Joint Finance Committee.  A vote by the full Legislature is expected to come next week.

The Assembly has passed legislation that would use federal coronavirus relief money to save two closed paper mills.  The bill would make a 50-million-dollar loan available to a cooperative wanting to buy the Verso paper mill in Wisconsin Rapids.  It would also loan 15 million dollars to a second cooperative to buy the mill in Park Falls formerly known as Flambeau River Papers.  The Verso mill operated in Wisconsin Rapids for more than a century and had 900 employees when it ceased operations last summer.  Governor Tony Evers is expected to sign the bill when it reaches his office.

An overwhelming majority of Wisconsin businesses say they can’t find workers.   Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce says its latest Wisconsin Employer Survey shows 86-percent of business owners say they struggled to hire people this year. W-M-C’s Kurt Bauer says he wants Governor Evers to immediately end the extra 300 dollars a week in federal unemployment benefits that W-M-C says is keeping people from returning to work. He also wants lawmakers to look at worker training and retention programs. 

A new study says very few Wisconsin jail inmates voted in the last election.  About half of the 13-thousand people in jail in Wisconsin are eligible to vote, but a new study says just 50 of them did in the last election. The League of Women Voters cites a report by the group All Voting is Local. The report says that while sheriffs and jailers have improved access to voting, there’s more that can be done. Wisconsin law says anyone who is behind bars and has not been convicted of a felony can vote. Many people in jail are waiting for trial, and have not been convicted yet. 

State Lawmakers want to declare Wisconsin a Second Amendment sanctuary.   The State Senate has passed a bill that would put Wisconsin on the record as being against a federal gun registry, federal gun seizures, and as being against certain federal gun laws. The State Assembly approved the same bill earlier this month. The proposal is highly unlikely to become law. Governor Evers has promised to veto the bill.

Local-Regional News June 24

Barge traffic on the Mississippi River is being slowed down by lower water levels.  Drought conditions across the region are to blame.  The barges are experiencing navigation problems because they could run aground when they hit unexpected sandbars.  The U-S Army Corps of Engineers says the problem is especially bad at places like Wacouta, Minnesota where the river goes from a very narrow channel to very wide.  Only one barge can pass through the area in either direction.  A Corps spokesperson says there have been more groundings there than in the last 10-to-15 years.  The northern end of Lake Pepin is one of the main trouble spots.

Coming in July, motorists using Prospect will be detoured downtown as Prospect street will be closed at the intersection of  3rd avenue east as construction crews will be connecting up new sewer and water lines at the intersection.  Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren says the only detour was downtown.  The detour will be Hwy 10 to Main Street, to 3rd Avenue West, and then back to Prospect Street.  The closure is not expected to last very long.

The job of the Equity Steering Committee being formed in the Eau Claire Area School District is to help achieve the commitments in the district’s Equity statement.  That statement was adopted by the school board on March 1st.  An information session will be held next month so the public can learn more about what is going on.  The location for that July 14th session hasn’t been determined yet.  Steering committee members will advise the school district on how to fulfill the tenets of the Equity statement.  It will also advise if revisions are needed.

A Rochester man will spend 11 years in federal prison for his role in a methamphetamine distribution ring.  The U-S Attorney's Office says 34-year-old Jason E. Hoffman was a sub-distributor of meth supplied to him by John Netherton and also collected funds from the sales in the summer of 2019.  Hoffman pleaded guilty last August.  Netherton is doing 21 years of prison time and four other defendants have also been sentenced in connection with a meth-dealing operation.

A state appeals court is backing a judge’s ruling last April that legislative leaders broke the law when they hired private taxpayer-funded attorneys to represent them in expected legal challenges over redistricting.  The Republican leaders wanted Dane County Circuit Judge Stephen Ehlke to put his ruling on hold while they appealed.  The court said Wednesday Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu didn’t establish why a stay of the ruling was necessary.  The million-dollar contract with two law firms will be voided.

The president of the University of Wisconsin System says its pandemic response played a critical role in slowing the spread of the coronavirus.  System President Tommy Thompson released an Op-Ed piece Wednesday.  As of last week, nearly one-and-a-quarter-million COVID-19 tests had been administered at U-W System testing sites.  Thompson points out that at the height of the pandemic last fall, Wisconsin was the only state that was offering a community testing program allowing thousands of people to get tested for free at its universities.  The newest member of the Board of Regents, Doctor Ashkok Rai says, “The System saved the state.”

Animal shelters across Wisconsin are looking for more foster to help get potential companion animals out of shelters and into good homes. Angela Speed with the Wisconsin Humane Society says it's easy to apply to become a foster.  While W H S is dealing with their yearly influx of cats and kittens, they're also looking for fosters for adult dogs and also small animals. Find out more online at W I Humane dot Org. 

A member of the greatest generation returned home to Durand yesterday.  Paul Hilliard was born in Buffalo County and moved to Durand as a child.  In 1943, Hilliard hitch-hiked to Milwaukee to join the United States Marine Corps.  He flew 45 combat missions as a tail gunner while serving in the Phillippines.   After the war, he used the GI Bill to get a Law Degree and had a 70yr career in the Oil Industry in Louisiana.  Hilliard recently celebrated his 96th birthday, and the National World War Two Museum in New Orleans is filming a story about his life.  Hilliard was a guest of the Pepin County Land Conservation Council and the Durand Improvement Group at last night's music in the park.

A July 1st shutdown at Minnesota state parks will likely be averted after the state Senate passed a compromise funding bill Tuesday night which now goes to the House and then to the governor's desk.  Alexandria Republican Bill Ingebrigtsen said, "those weddings that were planned over the summer in the state parks are not gonna have to be canceled. The bottom line is, they're gonna be open, and I know that's very important to Minnesotans."  The D-F-L says the G-O-P held the environment funding bill hostage until Governor Tim Walz dropped his push for measures to encourage more Minnesotans to buy electric cars.  Minneapolis Senator Patricia (puh-TREE'-see-uh) Torres Ray said, "a lot of the industry people -- people who understand where we are headed with electric cars -- came and complained about it, and say, that's so unreasonable."

The Wisconsin Assembly has approved a bill creating a grant program to help local governments clean up contamination from so-called “forever chemicals.”  It was approved Tuesday.  The same Republican-backed legislation would ban the governments from suing those responsible for the pollution.  The 10-million dollar grant program must also be passed by the Senate, then signed by Democratic Governor Tony Evers before the grants are available.

Governor Tony Evers has signed a number of police reform bills into law.  Those bills passed the Legislature last week. Police are no longer allowed to use chokeholds, police departments will have to create use of force policies and make them public, and the Department of Justice will collect data about how police departments are using force. The bills also require parolees who move to Wisconsin to submit their DNA to the state if the Department of Corrections is taking over their supervision.

The next generation of U-S Postal Service delivery trucks will not be made in Wisconsin after all. Oshkosh Defense says will make the new trucks in Spartanburg, South Carolina. President John Bryant says the decision was made after a look at the company’s supply chain and worker needs. Oshkosh Defense has said the contract to make the new mail trucks would mean one- thousand new jobs. 

Country Fest returns to western Wisconsin this week.  The 2020 edition of the music festival in Chippewa County never happened, due to the coronavirus pandemic. At the time of cancelation, organizers said they'd consider 2020 a wash and make the 2021 festival as safe and successful as possible. The three-day festival at the Country Fest grounds in Cadott starts Thursday. There will be no requirements for masks,  or a negative COVID-19 test result or proof of vaccination. Those who've not been vaccinated are recommended to socially distance whenever possible, but no requirements will be made.

Local-Regional News June 23

The Durand City Council is meeting tonight.  Items on the agenda include a public hearing on liquor license renewals for area bars and restaurants, discussion and possible action on the first round of payments to contractors for the 3rd ave-Drier St-Laneville Road project, and reports from the mayor and department heads.  Tonight's meeting begins at 6:30 at Durand City Hall and will be live-streamed on the WRDN YouTube Channel at Durand Broadcasting WRDN.

The Mondovi City Council received an update on the fish stocking program for Mirror Lake.  The Wisconsin DNR says that based on a fish survey this spring, there is a nice selection of  7-9 inch and 14-16 inch rainbow trout in the lake.  The DNR is requesting bluegill, crappie, yellow perch and a low number of largemouth bass to be stocked in the lake this year and possibly next year.  Those fish could be added to the lake this fall depending on what is available from the Federal Fish Hatchery in Genoa.

The White House says President Biden will visit southwestern Wisconsin next week to discuss agriculture and the rural economy.  That will be the president’s second visit to the Badger State this year and Biden will be joined by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.  A White House spokesperson says more details about the trip – including where the visit will be held – will be released later.  

One person was injured in a one-vehicle roller accident in the town of Mondovi on Friday.  According to the Buffalo County Sheriff's  Department, deputies responded to a call of a Sport Utility Vehicle with a large amount of debris around it sitting in a yard at W1143 Hwy A.  When deputies arrived they found  29yr old Brandon Behlke of Chippewa Falls was found sitting in the yard.  Behlke told deputies he swerved to miss a tire in the road, but after an investigation, no tire was found.  Behlke was placed under arrest for OWI 3rd offense.  He was taken to Mayo of Eau Claire with suspected minor injuries.

One person was injured in a motorcycle accident Saturday in Lincoln Township.  According to the Buffalo County Sheriff's Department, 61yr old Michael Chamberline of Albert Lea, MN was traveling northbound on Hwy 88 when he failed to negotiate a curve and left the roadway.  Hwy  88 was shut down to one lane to allow Mayo 1 to land.  Chamberline was flown to Mayo Rochester.  It is believed that unfamiliarity with Hwy 88 was a factor in that accident.

The State Department of Health Services is working to make sure schools are ready to test their kids for COVID-19 next school year. DHS Deputy secretary Julie Willems Van Dijk says there are options on the table, whether it's just testing students who come to school sick, or if there's going to be wide-scale testing.   Willems Van Dijk says their goal is to ensure that districts can connect with the providers well ahead of the need for testing.

Under a bill being considered in the Wisconsin Assembly, new drivers could get their learner’s permit at the age of 15.  Currently, the age limit is 15-and-a-half.  The new rules wouldn’t change the 16-year-old requirement for a probationary license.  Triple-A Wisconsin is among the supporters who say new drivers would benefit from having more time to experience a variety of weather conditions before they solo behind the wheel.  Governor Evers hasn’t indicated whether he supports the change.

 University of Minnesota officials are excited to welcome Gopher sports fans back to campus.  All COVID-related capacity restrictions are being lifted this fall.   Athletic director Mark Coyle says it will be great to have T-C-F Bank stadium full and loud again as the Gopher football team hosts Ohio State in the season opener on September 3rd.   Coyle said, "Coach Fleck and our team is excited. It is a great time to welcome people back on campus and celebrate all that is so good about college athletics."   The first ticketed Gopher sports to welcome a full capacity of fans will be soccer volleyball and football.

Heading to the Lake this weekend?  The Pepin County Health Department is reminding everyone to be on the lookout for blue-green algae.  You should not be in the water with young children and pets if blue-green algae is present as the toxins can cause serious health problems.   The department recommends that everyone should shower off after swimming in lakes, rivers, or ponds, and if your pet swims in water with blue-green algae, you should rinse them off with fresh clean water.

The Wisconsin Wolf Harvest Advisory Committee is meeting in Madison today (Tuesday).  The state’s second wolf harvest season of 2021 is approaching and committee members will get information on the wolf population, wildlife science, and historic information so its members can plan the season.  It starts in November.  Department of Natural Resources winter tracking surveys estimate there are at least 944 animals in the state and possibly more than 13-hundred.  The numbers indicate a stable wolf population.  A license drawing will be held later this summer with the season to open on November 8th.

Wisconsin school district leaders are urging state lawmakers to spend more money on education.  Several showed up at the state Capitol Monday.  They are warning the lack of funding will force them to cut some programs and courses that could result in the achievement gap getting worse.  The Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee committed an additional 128 million dollars to schools in the two-year state budget finalized last week.  Republicans on the budget-writing committee say billions in federal coronavirus aid will give schools the resources they need.

The nine-member Wisconsin People’s Maps Commission is seeking public input as new political district boundaries are drawn based on the 2020 U-S Census.  The next big election is the congressional midterms in November 2022.  Democratic Governor Tony Evers has said 56 of Wisconsin’s 72 counties have passed resolutions or referendums supporting a non-partisan group to be in charge of redistricting.  Republican leaders in the Legislature have said it remains their job to establish those district boundaries.  Currently, there is no deadline for completing that job.

 Chances appear to be slimming at the Minnesota Legislature for an off-year bonding bill for state public works projects -- and lawmakers are looking at moving key initiatives like broadband funding into budget bills as the July 1st deadline looms.  Senate Republican Majority Leader Paul Gazelka said, "we hope a bonding bill gets done, but we cannot guarantee that."  Governor Tim Walz says he understands what lawmakers are doing, but hopes it doesn't disrupt negotiations on other parts of the budget that lawmakers must finish before month's end or state government begins to shut down.

Wisconsin’s coronavirus rate has dropped below one percent for the first time since the start of the pandemic.   State health officials said Thursday the seven-day positivity rate was point-nine percent. That’s the lowest since Wisconsin started reporting coronavirus cases in March of last year. The state’s coronavirus numbers have steadily fallen since they peaked in November.

Door County is having trouble hiring workers this year.   Business owners say many of the international workers who spend their summer on the peninsula aren’t coming to the U-S this year. Door County tourism officials say they usually get about 500 international workers each summer. This year, it’s closer to 280. Kit Butz with Al Johnson’s restaurant in Sister Bay says the shortage of workers means they’re having to change their business hours.  

Local-Regional News June 22

 Durand Fire was called out to a gas line leak on Drier Street in the construction zone yesterday afternoon.  A leak was discovered in a service line to a home and a few homes on Drier Street had to be evacuated.  No one was injured and WE Energies was called in to repair the line.

The Mondovi City Council is meeting tonight.  Items on the agenda include a report on the fish stocking of Mirror Lake discussion and possible action on applying for a loan through the State Trust Fund and a discussion of the Wastewater Treatment Plant annual maintenance report.  Tonight's meeting begins at 6:30 at the Marten Center in Mondovi.

The worldwide computer chip shortage has delayed the delivery of the new Durand Police Squad.  Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren says while the squad was ordered last year, the city doesn't know when the new squad will actually be delivered.  The new squad car was part of the 2020 City Budget.

A symbolic resolution making Trempealeau County a Second Amendment Sanctuary County was voted down last night by the Trempealeau County Board.   Opponents of the measure said it was unnecessary as it was responding to a law that doesn't exist, and others believe it would be government overreach.    The final vote on the measure was 4 yes and 12 no with one abstention.

A Trempealeau County man was arrested Friday in connection with a fatal accident on Hwy 35 last year.  According to the Sheriff's Department, On July 16th of last year, 39yr old Micah Harris was traveling on Hwy 35, crossed the center line, and struck a vehicle head-on driven by 57yr old Monica Knepper of Trempealeau.  Harris has been charged with homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle, as authorities alleged Harris had a detectable amount of a restricted controlled substance in his blood at the time of the accident.

Wisconsin’s governor has appointed a commissioner to investigate the Eau Claire County district attorney. D-A Gary King has been accused of harassment and working while he was intoxicated. Evers appointed William Ramsey, the deputy chief legal counsel at the Wisconsin Department of Administration, to conduct the investigation. King is still the Eau Claire County district attorney, but he is taking voluntary leave. Two of his former colleagues wrote to the governor asking that King be removed from office.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and legislative leaders all want to avoid a state government shutdown.    Senate Republican Majority Leader Paul Gazelka says a number of major state budget bills are close to being wrapped up with nine days remaining before state government begins shutting down.   Gazelka said, "It's my commitment that we not get to July 1st. I think that would be really bad for Minnesota. I do think that the governor and the speaker agree with that."  Governor Tim Walz says much is of this negotiation is less about money than it is about the ideological differences.    House Speaker Melissa Hortman says it's her hope that we would be done by Friday.

The UW system is reporting that applications for the fall semester are up 30% over last year. UW system president Tommy Thompson says there are especially encouraged by some of the numbers. Applications for the UW system are now digital, and Thompson says that one application can be sent to multiple different schools in order to better accommodate students who want to play the field and try to get into multiple UW schools. 

A Monroe County man charged with homicide and attempted homicide allegedly attacked his victims with an ax. Thirty-six-year-old Thomas Aspseter was charged Monday with first-degree intentional homicide, and two counts each of attempted first-degree intentional homicide, and aggravated battery using a dangerous weapon. The June 6th attack at the rural Sparta home of Aspseter's 87-year-old grandfather left that man dead. Two other people in the home were injured but managed to get to a  neighbor's house and called 911. According to a criminal complaint, Aspseter also called 911 and admitted to killing his grandfather, saying he “went (expletive) crazy." He also shot himself in the chin with a .22 caliber rifle before deputies arrived to arrest him.

A weekend shooting in Livingston has left one man injured and a second man in custody in the county jail.  Grant County deputies responded to a call at about 12:30 a-m Saturday at a bar.  They say they found a 34-year-old man lying outside the bar’s door bleeding from gunshot wounds.  He was airlifted to a hospital, but his condition isn’t known.  His name hasn't been released.  Later on Saturday, authorities were able to arrest 52-year-old Todd Holder for the shooting.  He’s being held in the Grant County Jail awaiting charges of attempted first-degree intentional homicide.

A Minnesota man has been arrested and charged with stealing dozens of golf carts in seven states, including Wisconsin.  Nathan Rodney Nelson has made an initial appearance in federal court.  He was reportedly taken into custody in Georgia while trying to steal golf carts there.  Investigators say the man took at least 63 golf carts.  The investigation reportedly started more than two years ago in North Dakota.  The federal authorities got involved because Nelson is accused of transporting the stolen carts across state lines.  Authorities say the value of the stolen carts is more than 280-thousand dollars.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison broke ground Friday on a 128-million-dollar expansion project at its School of Veterinary Medicine.  Funding for the project was included in the state budget two years ago, although 38 million dollars is coming from private donations.  The project plans include a new building, doubling the size of the small animal hospital, increases the square footage of the large animal hospital, expanding lab space, and increasing and modernizing the space for infectious disease research.

An educator at the University of Minnesota-Duluth says expanding broadband internet service to rural areas is very expensive.  Assistant professor of computer science Peter Peterson says the state and federal funding must keep coming.  Peterson says D-S-L, cable internet, and fiber are all delivered by wires that someone has to bury.  He says the cost “on the low end” is about 18-thousand dollars a mile.  Peterson says he hopes government subsidies and incentives will keep the work going, but it is going to take some time.

As summer gets underway, it's important to keep an eye on your home garden setups, especially with the continued drought. UW Extension horticulture educator Lisa Johnson says there's plenty of help available from the state.   She reminds people to especially keep an eye on water needy plants like peppers and tomatoes, which will need a close eye until the drought lets up. Give them extra water if you're growing them in dark pots, which can dry out faster.

Local Regional News June 21

 An issue with a power pole in Downtown Durand caused a power outage in most of the city.  The issue happened at around 5:45pm when sparks were seen coming from a power pole on Madison Street between 3rd and 4th avenue west.  That caused the substation that provides power to the city to cut power.  The power lines on the pole were repaired and power was restored at about 7:15pm.

The Joint Finance Committee has approved spending $3 million for improvements to Lake Pepin.  Due to sediment coming from Minnesota, it has caused a large sandbar that is affecting recreational and commercial boating traffic in the Bay City area.  93rd Assemblyman Warren Petryk says he has been working with legislators from Wisconsin and Minnesota, the Wisconsin DNR, and the Army Corp of Engineers to address the problem.  If the project is approved by the Governor in the final budget that project could begin as soon as next year.

Officials report former Eau Claire County Treasurer Larry Lokken is lagging behind on repaying the money he stole from taxpayers.  Lokken paid just 356 dollars over the last year, bringing his total to 18-thousand dollars.  He and former assistant Kay Onarheim were convicted of taking one-point-three million dollars and the court ordered them to repay 700-thousand.  Onarheim has repaid almost 90-thousand.  Lokken has requested an early release from prison.

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers has vetoed a bill that would have raised the income eligibility for the state’s private school voucher program to three times the federal poverty level.  Republicans said the change was needed because more families wanted to send their students to private schools during the coronavirus pandemic.  Evers says he doesn’t want to divert additional resources from public schools to private schools.  His move pleased the Wisconsin Education Association Council and groups representing public school administrators, school boards, and rural schools.

Rainfall across  Westen Wisconsin and  Minnesota came as a relief to many after dry and hot weather dominated the early parts of June. With a large portion of the farmland across both states relying on rainfall for irrigation, farmers are at the mercy of summer storms.  University of Minnesota ag experts told FOX-9 in the Twin Cities that only around 500-thousand of the 25-million acres of farmland have irrigation systems in place. With the conditions as dry as they have been, one or two rain events per week throughout the summer are needed to help crops recover.  Here in Western Wisconsin, anywhere 3/4 to one inch of rain fell on Sunday.  

Firefighters from Chippewa Falls responded to a fire at Advanced Lazer on Saturday morning.  Firefighters found heavy smoke and employees had evacuated the building.  A laser machine had caught on fire.  Damage is estimated at $1.5 million and most of that estimate is from the laser machine.  Two people were treated for smoke inhalation.

There's an urgent need for blood donations right now. Justin Kern with the American Red Cross of Wisconsin says it's more than just the usual seasonal shortage of available blood.  As a result of this shortage, some hospitals are being forced to slow the pace of elective surgeries until the blood supply stabilizes.  A blood drive is coming up on July 12 at the Plum City American Legion.  Call Pat at 647-4952 to schedule an appointment. 

Dunn Energy Co-Op is working with Dairyland Power, River Country Co-Op to install a fast-charging station at 29 Pines for electric vehicles.  Dunn Energy Co-Op CEO Jessie Singerhouse says the charger should be able to charge a vehicle in 30 minutes. The charger is expected to be installed before the end of the year.

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Two Democratic lawmakers are sponsoring introduced a bill that would increase Wisconsin’s minimum wage to 15 dollars an hour.  State Senator Melissa Agard of Madison and State Representative Lisa Subeck of Madison introduced the legislation Thursday.  It would initially raise the minimum from seven-25 an hour to 10-15 an hour, then bump it up again to 15 dollars an hour the next year.  Agard says, "Honest work deserves honest pay."  The proposal backed by Agard and Subeck would also adjust the Wisconsin minimum wage based on the consumer price index each year.

Two men busted with around six thousand oxycodone bills in Rochester are pleading not guilty to felony drug charges.    Twenty-five-year-olds Dahir Omar Dahir and Abdullahi Islaw are facing first-degree sale and possession of drugs.  They were arrested during a traffic stop in February after officers smelled marijuana and searched the vehicle.  Police said the pills had an estimated street value of 180-thousand dollars.  No trial dates have been set for Dahir and Islaw.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services has identified 35 cases of the new Delta variant of COVID-19.  The new variant is said to be more resistant to vaccines if the patient has received only one dose.  It often results in more severe medical outcomes.  The new strain has caused big problems in India recently and is fueling a surge of new cases in the United Kingdom.  The Delta variant represents only about six percent of U-S cases but could become dominant here as it has in those other regions.  Public health officials have elevated it to a “variant of concern” for Wisconsin, a step taken earlier this month.

State officials say Minnesota has gained about 60 percent of the jobs lost during the COVID-19 pandemic.  The state lost 416-thousand-300 jobs from April 2020 through February - and has since added just under 250-thousand positions.  Department of Employment and Economic Development Commissioner Steve Grove says we are seeing our jobs come back across the state.  Grove said "the strongest growth regionally is Duluth and the Twin Cities. Again those are two of the metro hubs, two of the hubs just more generally that were hardest hit by the pandemic."  Minnesota's unemployment rate dropped slightly to four percent in May.

 It’s the first new paper mill built in Wisconsin in 35 years.  Green Bay Packaging ceremonially cut the ribbon on its 500-million-dollar mill Thursday.  The original mill was built 74 years ago.  The family-owned business says it basically built a new paper mill from the ground up.  It includes two new boilers and will switch from coal to natural gas.  C-E-O Will Kress says that’s a big environmental improvement.  There’s a new water effluent treatment plant which means no discharges into the Fox River.  Owners are predicting a 50-percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

Local-Regional News June 18

 Severe storms moved through portions of the WRDN listening area last night.  The National Weather Services says reports of 3" hail was reported in Cannon Falls,  while 2" hail was reported in Ellsworth and Kellogg.   There was a report of 1" hail in Pepin and Elk Mound had 3/4" hail.  Heavy rain accompanied the storms with reports of 1-2 inches of rain was reported in many areas.

Area bars and restaurants are facing many challenges this year as everything re-opens from the covid-19 pandemic.  From staffing shortages to shortages of supplies, it has made it a challenge for owners and employees of area restaurants.  Amber Kohler, owner of the Rooster Tail Bar in Downtown Durand says you can help by just being patient and understanding of the situation.  Kohler says with the supply shortage there might be menu items not available at your favorite restaurant or bar, but all the establishments and suppliers are working hard to get the supply chain back to normal.

 

A Rusk County man has been sentenced in a 2020 Memorial Day shooting.  Chippewa County Judge Steven Gibbs sentenced Kyle Baker to four years in prison yesterday after Baker was convicted of recklessly endangering safety.  According to authorities, Baker was arguing with the victim outside a mobile home when Baker pointed a gun at the victim and shot the victim in the stomach.  

Western and southern Wisconsin are at risk for wildfires this weekend.   The Department of Natural Resources says there’s a high risk for fires from northwestern Wisconsin all the way down to Milwaukee.  Red flag warnings are in effect for NW Wisconsin, while here in the WRDN Listening area the rain from last night has lowered the fire danger.   The rest of northern Wisconsin and the Fox Valley are at moderate risk. Wildlife officials say the combination of little rain and dry vegetation is the perfect recipe for wildfires. 

The Dunn County Sheriffs Department along with local departments are asking motorists to watch their speed on area roads and watch for construction zones.  For the rest of June and all of July and August, the Sheriff's Department is working with the Boyceville, Colfax, and Elk Mound Police to expand patrols to enforce posted speed limits.  The Sheriff's Department also reminds motorists to buckle up when driving.

The Lake City Public Works Department is asking residents that live on the Water Ski Days Parade route to avoid parking on the street next Tuesday and Wednesday.  The Department will be doing street sweeping and cleaning of the parade route.  Lake City Water Days is June 26-27th in Lake City and the Parade will be on Sunday, June 27th.

 A former student at Viterbo University has made her initial appearance virtually in La Crosse County Circuit Court.  Police say Victoria Unanka admitted starting a fire in a trash can on the second floor of a campus residence hall last April.  Unanka reportedly told authorities she did it because no one was listening to her.  Several racial hate messages had been found inside residence halls at the time.  Some students decided to withdraw.  Unanka was arrested on arson charges, but she now faces a misdemeanor count of negligent handling of burning materials.  She is scheduled to return to court next month.

The final version of Wisconsin’s two-year state budget includes three-point-four million dollars in tax cuts.  Republicans on the Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee say the cuts will mean about 12-hundred dollars in savings for the typical family through income tax and property tax reductions.  A tax that businesses pay on items like furniture and machinery is being eliminated.  Republicans say they will fund two-thirds of state public school costs, saying that will ensure the schools get two-point-six billion dollars in federal coronavirus relief money.

Governor Tony Evers is applauding the U-S Supreme Court's decision not to hear a challenge to the Affordable Care Act.  In a 7 to 2 decision released today (Thursday), the nation's high court said that a group of Republican states couldn't show that so-called Obamacare was harming them because the mandate to have insurance doesn't carry a penalty.  Evers said that "health care isn't just for the wealthy, today’s decision is a critically important victory for our work to make sure everyone has access to quality, affordable healthcare coverage."  Governor Evers and Attorney General Josh Kaul withdrew from the lawsuit in 2019.

 The unemployment rate in Wisconsin remained at three-point-nine percent in May for the second straight month.  The Department of Workforce Development says employers in the state added 36-hundred total non-farm jobs and 34-hundred private-sector positions last month.  D-W-D Secretary-designee Amy Pechacek said, "the number of people counted as employed grew by 93-hundred over the month, a nice gain that demonstrates that the efforts to connect job seekers to jobs in Wisconsin are working."  The national unemployment rate was nearly two points higher than Wisconsin's at five-point-eight percent in May.

Wisconsin’s COVID-19 vaccination rate is going back up.   State health officials say close to 95-hundred more people in Wisconsin are fully vaccinated. That means more people got the shot last week than the week before. Close to 45-percent of eligible people in Wisconsin are fully vaccinated. Before last week, the state’s vaccination numbers had been steadily falling since their peak in April. 

An arbitrator has denied a grievance filed by a fired  Marshfield police officer.  Jared Beauchamp’s employment was terminated after he failed the city’s mandatory annual fitness test for officers.  Beauchamp wasn’t able to run a quarter-mile in two minutes, 15 seconds.  He had passed all of the other requirements and he was the first officer to lose his job for that reason since the fitness test was put in place two years ago.  Arbitrator Raleigh Jones determined that the city went beyond what was required to give Beauchamp an opportunity to pass the test.  He had been employed by the department for about 20 years.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court has ordered a new trial for a man convicted of killing his brother-in-law.  A Walworth County jury found Alan Johnson guilty of first-degree reckless homicide four years ago.  Johnson had told the court he shot Ken Myszkewicz after finding child pornography on his computer.  He said Myszkewicz attacked him right after he made the discovery.  Johnson’s attorneys argued the jury should have received instructions from the judge on self-defense doctrines.  On a four-to-three ruling, the justices agreed and remanded the case for a new trial Wednesday.

 Prosecutors say the trial for former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was fair and he was convicted by an impartial jury.  They say Chauvin shouldn’t get a new trial after he was already found guilty of murder and manslaughter in George Floyd’s death.  Chauvin’s defense filed papers Wednesday asking the court to hold a hearing to question members of that jury about possible misconduct.  Attorney Ed Nelson has brought up intense pretrial publicity, alleged prosecutorial misconduct, and some decisions by the judge – saying they made it impossible for Chauvin to get a fair trial.

Scientists at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire are asking questions like – where did this 12-pound piece of ice come from?  How was it formed?  They’re examining the thing that crashed through the roof of a home in Elk Mound that month to find out just what is inside it.  No one really knows where it came from.  The team says it might have formed in the upper atmosphere.  It does have a scientific name.  It’s called a megacryometeor.

Local-Regional News June 17

 A Nelson man accused of first-degree intentional murder in the death of his wife has reached a plea deal.  Jonathan Medeiros was charged in January with shooting his wife and killing her.  Investigators say that Mederios told them he had gotten out of bed and shot his wife.  He said his wife Jolene Mederios was screaming at him so he shot her again.  Yesterday Medeiros pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of reckless homicide.    He will be sentenced in August.

One person was injured in a car vs motorcycle accident in Maiden Rock on Tuesday.  According to the Pierce County Sheriff's Department 23yr old Paden Sabo of Pepin was traveling northbound on Hwy S and was attempted to perform a U-Turn in the roadway to park on the opposite side of the road, when a nortbound motorcycle driven by 38yr old Jordan DeJong of Maiden Rock struck Sabo's vehicle.  DeJong was taken to Mayo Hospital in Red Wing.

Congressman Ron Kind says 109 Rural Health Clinics in Wisconsin will share ten-point-nine-million dollars in federal funding for COVID testing and mitigation.  Each clinic will receive 100-thousand dollars from the American Rescue Plan.  Kind said, "as we turn the corner on this pandemic and vaccines continue to roll out, it's more important than ever to be giving our Rural Health Clinics the funding they need to continue fighting off this virus, getting shots in people's arms, and keeping Wisconsinites safe and healthy."  The Wisconsin Democrat co-chairs the House Rural Health Care Coalition.

The old Bubba's bar is one step closer to being torn down by Pepin County.  Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren says the county has filed a tax deed against the property in the first step toward demolition. Once the tax deed process is complete, the county will have the ability to tear down the building.  The cost of demolition is being paid for with a grant the county received late last year.

Durand Police continue to struggle in finding candidates for open positions within the department.  Durand Police Chief Stan Ridgeway says many communities in our area also have open positions. Ridgeway told members of the safety committee last month that the days of using part-time officers may be coming to an end as it's more expensive to train multiple part-time officers only to lose them after a few months to full-time positions.

Legislation backed by Assembly Republicans and local governments would delay the drawing of political boundaries for a year or more.  Under the bill, county boards and local aldermanic districts would stay the same as they are now.  Redrawing those boundaries based on the 2020 U-S Census would be put on hold.  The bill wouldn’t affect redistricting for congressional or legislative districts.  Those borders must be redrawn before next year’s statewide elections.  Democrats say the law would be unconstitutional.

The legislature's budget committee has agreed to increase state funding for some health sectors.  Under a motion approved by the Joint Finance Committee this week, the state would increase Medicaid reimbursement rates for skilled nursing and intermediate care facilities by 252 million dollars over the next two years. The state would also increase reimbursement rates for dentists treating low-income Medicaid patients by 40 percent. The committee also approved increases for long-term care and personal care workers' wages. But Republicans stopped short of including some of Governor Tony Evers' other requests to expand Medicaid coverage.

Governor Tim Walz is ordering the Minnesota National Guard to begin preparing to assist law enforcement in Minneapolis if they need help.  The move is in response to what Mayor Jacob Frey (FRY) terms "ongoing peaceful protests and potential civil unrest" after officers fatally shot Winston Smith in an Uptown parking ramp.  Frey asked the governor that a "limited number" of Guard soldiers be "available to assist in ensuring calm and order throughout the city, without immediately being deployed."  The Governor's Office says "The Minnesota National Guard has not been given any operational orders, and as of this time their assistance has not been needed."

Bail is set at one million dollars for a Clark County man accused in the death and disappearance of a woman last fall.  Forty-one-year-old Jesus Contreras Perez appeared in court Tuesday on charges of being party to first-degree murder and hiding a corpse.  The mother of his son - 27-year-old Cassandra Ayon - has been missing since October.  Court records indicate Perez and Ayon broke up three weeks before she disappeared.  Her body and car have not been found.   Perez has another court hearing June 23rd.

The Wisconsin and  Minnesota Better Business Bureaus are warning high school seniors not to post graduation pictures and other information on social media.  Doing so could leave students vulnerable to scams.   The B-B-B's Bao Vang says the ultimate goal is to steal your identity, your banking information and to take your hard-earned money, don't allow them any chance.   She says not to post your school name, graduation year, or hometown on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or Snapchat.  Vang says once scammers have that info, it's very easy for them to steal identities.

The Legislature’s budget panel has agreed to borrow 125-million dollars for broadband expansion in rural Wisconsin.  The money will go toward grants for companies or organizations that bring faster internet service to those underserved areas.  Governor Tony Evers has said he wants to spend 200 million dollars on the same projects.  The Republican-controlled Joint Finance Committee says Evers has billions of dollars in federal stimulus money that he can spend on it.

 People who come to Stillwater to look at the scenic St. Croix River say it is usually too high, but that’s not the case right now.  Even though visitors are enjoying walking along the river looking at the high water marks from previous floods, almost all of them say they hope the drought ends soon.  What happens over the next couple of weeks will be crucial to what happens to those water levels this summer and fall.  The best result would be for substantial rainfall upstream, so it could flow down and stop the water levels from receding.

 Last year, the COVID-19 pandemic kept everyone home.  This year, the attractions at the Wisconsin Dells are filled with vacationers.  Local officials say the tourist destination could break some records.  Many of the people filling the attractions say they put off travel and family vacations last year.  Now, cases of the virus are declining, more and more people are vaccinated, and most of the parks at the Dells are filled to capacity.  Business owners in the Dells say they don’t think their convention business will fully recover until next year.

Senator Ron Johnson is unhappy about a push to make Juneteenth a federal holiday, but won't press to stop it.  Johnson says that while he appreciates that recognizing the official end of slavery in the US is important, he isn't happy with creating an extra paid holiday for federal workers. He's also unhappy that no one else seems to want to debate the bill or offer amendments because of the significance of the day, so he won't object to any new attempts to pass a bill.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources will celebrate the Northern Highland Fishery Research Area's 75th year of operation on June 20, 2021.  Located in Vilas County, the NHFRA is the DNR's longest-running fisheries research project and an umbrella project for multiple fisheries research initiatives, contributing to understanding how fish communities respond to fishing regulations, environmental change, and angler practices.   The NHFRA was founded in 1946 to establish experimental fisheries research lakes to understand the role of angler harvest in altering the fish communities' size structure and growth rates. More recently, NHFRA lakes have been used to test regulations on length limits, bag limits, and gear restrictions for several Wisconsin species.

Leinenkugel’s is looking to find the next generation of minority brewers.  The Chippewa Falls brewery is starting a minority brewing scholarship at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. The scholarship is open to students who identify as Latino, Black, Native American, Asian, Pacific Islander, as well as L-G-B-T-Q-plus. Two people will be awarded the 50-thousand-dollar scholarship each year. The winners will also get a summer internship at Leinenkugel’s.

Local-Regional News June 16

 The City of Durand has announced that a Level 2 swimming class will be held next week at the Tarrant Park Pool.  The class is limited to 20 students and will be from July 21st through the 24th from 5-7pm.  Registrations will be open today from 9am till 4:30pm via email only.  To register, email your child's full name and age, the parents name, address, and phone number with the subject line Swimming Lessons in the subject line to dchall@nelson-tel.net

The Mondovi City has re-opened to the public.  At last week's council, meeting members approved re-opening the city hall to the public starting on June 14th.  Mayor Weiss felt with the reduction in covid-19 restrictions the citizens deserved to have the ability to come into city hall to conduct regular city business.  

N-Tec is warning customers of a scam.  A customer reported someone claiming to be a technician of N-Tec knocked on their door and asked to come into the home to review their bill.  N-Tec does not have technicians out knocking on doors and if someone comes to your door claiming to work for N-Tec, ask for their ID and verify they are driving an N-Tec Vehicle.

The Buffalo County Health Department will be conducting a Covid-19 walk-in vaccination clinic tomorrow.  The Clinic will be held at the Buffalo County Courthouse in Alma from 8-4pm and the department will be administering the Phizer as well as the Johnson and Johnson vaccines.  Residents of Wisconsin and Minnesota, 12yrs and older are eligible for both vaccines.  There is no cost and if you have any questions, contact the Buffalo County Health Department at 608-685-4412.

The dry weather has increased the fire danger in all of the WRDN listening area to high.  The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources' latest fire danger map shows nearly 2/3rds of Wisconsin under a high fire danger risk.  Anyone wanting to do burning should first check with their local fire districts for any restrictions and burning permits are required. There is a chance of rain in the forecast tonight and into Thursday.

A housing project in rural Eau Claire County appears to be dead.  Yesterday the Eau Claire County Board rejected rezoning land in the town of Washington from agriculture to rural home.   C@E Wurzer Builders wanted to build a housing development on the land, but town residents were concerned about what the project would do to local traffic and also concerns over the additional septic systems the development would have on the environment.  The board voted 5-23 against the rezoning.

The State of Wisconsin is sending postcards to nearly 187-thousand registered voters who have not voted in the past four years.  Wisconsin Elections Commission administrator Meagan Wolfe says these voters will have 30 days to respond and tell their local clerk whether they want to stay on the active voter list.  Those who to fail to respond will be placed on the inactive list and need to re-register.  Wolfe says this mailing is "just one of many ways we ensure the integrity of voting in Wisconsin."  Voters can register online up to 20 days before an election.

  It looks like the Minnesota Legislature could pass the first batch of budget bills as soon as Thursday, but a number of major bills are still unresolved.   The higher education, agriculture, commerce/energy, and legacy bills are all tentatively scheduled for floor votes in the House on Thursday.    House and Senate negotiators continue wrangling with an E-12 education budget bill, health and human services, and a number of others -- including public safety, where the holdup is police reform.  The tax cut bill is ready for a vote, but House leaders say they'll hold it back until closer to the end of the special session for negotiating leverage.

A northern Wisconsin man has been sentenced to 33 years in prison for the sexual assault of a child and plotting to murder the victim.  Russell Wilson had been charged with assaulting the girl when investigators say he tried to hire a hitman to kill her, her mother, and her mother’s boyfriend.  He was found guilty on all charges in March and returned to court last Friday in Washburn County for sentencing.  Courtroom observers say it took the jury less than 90 minutes of deliberations to return the guilty verdict on four charges.

The Wisconsin Department of Revenue is reminding smaller communities they won’t get any of the federal funding from the American Rescue Plan if they don’t apply.  Six hundred communities have applied, but another 12-hundred haven’t.  They have until Friday to do so.  The Revenue Department aimed its message at Wisconsin cities with a population under 50-thousand.  Revenue Secretary Peter Barca says the state can only send money to Wisconsin communities that ask for it.

Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce is challenging the governor’s assertion about federal unemployment benefits hurting businesses.  Governor Tony Evers claimed there is no evidence the additional benefits are keeping people from returning to work.  The state’s largest business group is pointing to research by an economist at the University of Wisconisn-Madison, data from the hiring website Indeed, and comments from the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco.  All three sources say the extra 300 dollars a week in federal unemployment benefits is enough to keep people from returning to work.

Minnesota House Republicans tried unsuccessfully again in special session Monday to cancel Governor Tim Walz's COVID emergency powers after they were extended another 30 days.  G-O-P Representative Dave Baker of Willmar said, "respectful employers -- himself included -- can't find workers because Walz won't end the 300-dollar weekly unemployment benefit "top-off" that makes it more attractive to stay out of the workforce."  House Majority Leader Ryan Winkler responded, "if we end the emergency powers, the capacity of the governor to re-instate them to respond to another crisis on COVID 19 is very much up in the air."  Republicans claim the COVID crisis is over.  State health officials reported 118 new cases and five more deaths Monday.

The Menominee Casino Resort confirms last week’s closing was due to a cyberattack.   The casino in Keshena and the Thunderbird complex shut down Friday.  At the time management referred to “technical difficulties,” and the casino’s Facebook page says there was an attempted attack on its computer systems.  The resort is working with law enforcement and cybersecurity experts.  So far, it appears no guess or staff member information was compromised.

Officials at the University of Minnesota are anticipating a freshman class that is the biggest in decades – and the most diverse in history.  Freshman confirmations are reportedly up 14-percent at the Twin Cities campus, with 75-hundred new students confirmed.  That compares to 65-hundred at this time last year.  Colleges are hoping for an enrollment recovery this fall after the pandemic hit their finances hard and forced most classes and campus operations online for more than a year.  Other Big Ten universities are said to also be reporting much higher enrollment projections

Local-Regional News June 15

 Firefighters from Durand, Plum City, Lund, Nelson, and Elmwood responded to a barn fire at the Jessie Richardson farm at N4846 Hwy D yesterday afternoon.  When firefighters arrived the barn was fully engulfed and had spread to another building and two vehicles.    A pickup truck and skid steer were lost in the fire.  There were no reports of any injuries or any livestock lost.  Firefighters were able to prevent the blaze from spreading to the home.  The barn was a total loss.

If the former chief of the Boyceville Community Ambulance District pays back the money he took, he could avoid prosecution.  Matthew Feeney entered a no-contest plea in Dunn County Court last week.  Prosecutors dismissed a felony theft charge and if he repays the district 22-hundred dollars the remaining count against him could be withdrawn.  Prosecutors say Feeney bought some personal items using the district’s credit card, then tried to cover it up.  He pleaded no contest to the remaining misdemeanor count of fraudulent data alteration.

The Wabasha County Board is meeting today.  Items on the agenda include approval of the sale of right of way on County Hwy 27, authorizing additional seal coat work on County Hwy 6, and discussion of the use of American Rescue Funds from the Federal Government.  Today's meeting begins at 4pm in the county board room at the Wabasha County Government Center.

Pepin County's newest member, K-9 Deputy Vegas is getting ready for training at a facility in Iron Ridge, WI later this summer.  Pepin County Sheriff Joel Wener says the first four weeks of training is to prepare Vegas to become state-certified.  If K-9 Deputy Vegas passing the certification, the 5th week of training will be out in the field to prepare Vegas for what will happen when he is on duty.  Sheriff Wener expects K-9 Deputy Vegas and his handler, Deputy Darrin Lowenhagen to be on duty in Pepin County by the fall.

 Former N-F-L player and Wisconsin All-American Thomas Burke is facing child sex abuse charges in northeastern Minnesota.   Forty-four-year-old Burke of Rice Lake, Wisconsin was arraigned Monday in Duluth for first-degree criminal sexual conduct.  The criminal complaint says a seven-year-old girl told her mother in February that Burke had sexually assaulted her multiple times in her St. Louis County home.   Burke is reportedly the ex-boyfriend of the girl's mother.  Court documents show he denied the accusations and said he was being railroaded.   The judge set bail at 100-thousand dollars.

The F-B-I Internet Crime Report shows a 69-percent increase in cybercrimes when last year is compared to 2019.  Wisconsin businesses haven’t escaped the online plague.  Authorities received reports from more than 83-hundred victims in this state with reported losses topping 36-million dollars.  Both the F-B-I and the Wisconsin Department of Justice are emphasizing how important it is for cybercrimes to be reported quickly.  Most of the losses came in compromised business emails, but investigators say ransomware is a growing threat.

The Department of Public Instruction has approved 13-and-a-half-million dollars in funding for Wisconsin charter schools.  State Superintendent Carolyn Stanford Taylor says the 19 federal grants help those schools with planning, opening, or expanding their education efforts.  State officials say this is the fourth round of funding from the U-S Department of Education.  The five-year grant program prioritizes schools that serve educationally disadvantaged students in grades six-through-12.

Gas prices are continuing to inch higher, and experts say it’s the result of two things: oil prices and demand as the U.S. recovers from COVID-19.  Patrick De Haan, the head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy says that oil prices are up to $71 per barrel, a price that hasn’t been seen since 2018.  According to GasBuddy, Wisconsin drives are paying an average of $2.91 a gallon at the pump. This is an increase of 2.7 cents from the month before and 84.2 cents from this time last year.

 Minnesota House and Senate negotiators say they have an agreement on a bill that would phase out Governor Tim Walz's COVID moratorium on evictions.  Tenants who have violated their lease for reasons other than non-payment of rent would have 45 days to correct it after the bill becomes law.  Others, depending on income, would have up to 105 days before eviction proceedings could begin -- and until June of next year if they have an outstanding request for rent assistance.  Republican Senator Rich Draheim from Madison Lake says we want to push people to that RentHelpMN website to help "both the housing provider and tenant."

Minnesota pork producers are concerned a recent court ruling limiting pork production line speeds would decrease capacity, drive consolidation and eventually lead to increased prices for consumers. Terry Wolters of Pipestone says limiting line speeds to just over 11-hundred head an hour would hit his region hard. Wolters, the president-elect of the National Pork Producers Council, says the limit, which advocates say would be good for worker safety, would also lead to longer working hours for those same workers.

The line for COVID-19 vaccines in Wisconsin is getting a lot shorter.   Wisconsin administered fewer than half the number of shots last week than it did just one month ago. State health officials say doctors and nurses administered about 64- thousand doses last week, compared to 87-thousand doses the week before, and 169-thousand doses in the second week of May. Wisconsin’s COVID-19 vaccination rate has been falling steadily since its peak in early April

A Kansas company says it is shutting down its plant in Manhattan and transferring the work to its location in Neenah.  McCall Pattern Company prints sewing patterns for many nationwide customers.  It has done the work in Kansas for 50 years.  McCall says it has 85 workers at the Manhattan plant where operations will be shut down by the end of this year.  At its busiest, the plant printed and folded about 200 million patterns each year.  That volume is down to 20-to-30-million currently.

Authorities in Washington County say they are looking for two more men in the fatal shooting at a Woodbury graduation party.  Charges of aiding and abetting second-degree murder have been filed against 23-year-old Enrique Davila and 19-year-old Jaden Townsend.  Authorities are also looking for a 17-year-old referred to as a “juvenile defendant” in court papers.  Fourteen-year-old Demaris Hobbs-Ekdahl was shot to death June 5th at the party.  His stepfather is accused of being the one who fired the shot.

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is investigating an incident that led to a Rushford police officer firing his gun Saturday.  The incident happened at about 6:30 p-m.  Police were responding to a report of a violation of a restraining order.  A suspect was taken into custody and no injuries have been reported.  Authorities in southeastern Minnesota haven’t identified the officer or the suspect involved.

Two weeks after the last real soaking rain, Minnesota farmers are worrying about their crops.  In Wright County, the corn crop is starting to dry up and curl inward.  Farmer Dave Marquardt tells W-C-C-O television his plants are beginning to wither.  Marquardt grows corn to feed his cattle and he’s worried about losing that food source during the drought.  That could force him to decide between selling his cows or buying more feed – and he says the prices are very high.  Making things worse, the city of Howard Lake is under a water emergency, meaning no watering of laws, washing vehicles, or filling pools.  Farmers say there’s simply nothing they can do right now but wait for rain.

The Honor Flight organizations of Wisconsin are restarting their flights this fall.   Old Glory Honor Flights says they're still hoping to get 300 veterans on trips this year to the war memorials built in their honor. Those flights were grounded last fall because of COVID-19, but will be getting back into business starting August 31st. Director Diane McDonald says they'll be following whatever safety procedures that are needed to ensure safety for the veterans and their guardians.

Local-Regional News June 14

 Severe storms moved through Pierce and Dunn County on Friday.  The National Weather Service said winds of up to 75mph were reported in areas of both counties causing buildings to lose roofs, trees down, and power outages.  The Pierce County Sheriff's Department is asking those that plan on filing an insurance claim to notify Pierce County Emergency Management at 715-273-6751.

A Pepin County Farm Group called Farmers 4 Health is working to improve the soil and water quality in Pepin County.  Pepin County Ag Extension Agent Mike Travis says the group is targeting 4 areas to improve the farm, soil, water quality, and quality of life. The group is open to anyone who is interested in improving the soil and water quality.  Visit Farmers 4 Health on Facebook or contact Pepin County Extension Service.

The Joint Finance Committee is continuing to work on the next state budget.  93rd Assemblyman Warren Petryk believes the budget will have great funding for schools and roads in Western Wisconsin. Joint Finance has proposed a 2% increase in transportation aids to communities in each year of the two-year budget.

The Buffalo County Agriculture Fair Association is looking for volunteers for this year's Buffalo-Pepin County Fair.  Volunteers are needed to clean up around the beverage garden each morning before the fair opens and will be paid $500 for the weekend event.  Plus the volunteers will be able to keep the aluminum cans for recycling.  The fair also needs volunteers to help track events including the Garden Tractor Pull, Skid Steer Drive, and track prep for the pull.  For more information, contact the fair at Lisa Kees at yahoo dot com.

A Wisconsin Congressman wants to create a federal definition of 'natural cheese'. Congressman Ron Kind calls the bill the CURD Act or Codifying Useful Regulatory Definitions. Kind wants to ensure that the only things that are labeled as 'cheese' on store shelves are made from cow's milk and not from other products. It's part of a series of continued efforts to differentiate dairy products from nut or vegetable products that typically also get called 'milk', like soy or almonds.   Senator Tammy Baldwin has introduced a similar bill in the US Senate.

The Wisconsin Legislature’s budget committee is going to extend the state’s land stewardship program for four years, but that’s less than what was requested.  Democratic Governor Tony Evers had wanted a 10-year extension.  Members of the Joint Finance Committee also voted Thursday to provide only half of the funding that Evers wanted for the program.  The committee is controlled by Republicans.  The Department of Natural Resources uses stewardship funds to buy land for the state.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services is winding down operations at six community-based COVID vaccination clinics as the need for vaccinations declines. D-H-S announced the clinics in Barron, Douglas, La Crosse, Marathon, Racine, and Rock counties, will gradually reduce hours of operation beginning Monday, to one to two days per week. Hours and days will vary by clinic. To schedule an appointment and for hours, go to "vaccinate-dot-wi-dot-gov" or call toll-free at 1-844-684-1064.

Minnesota legislative leaders spent the weekend trying to hash out the last disagreements over major budget bills ahead of the special legislative session set to being today. Headed into the weekend Governor Tim Walz expressed confidence lawmakers would finish by July 1st and avoid a government shutdown. Issues hampering negotiations include COVID-related emergency powers, changes to emissions standards, and police reforms. Late last week compromises were reached on some budget items including health and human services and education.

The Minnesota State Fair is officially "full speed ahead" in 2021--according to state fair general Manager Jerry Hammer. The fair will return August 26th through Labor Day, September 6th. Fair officials do not expect any daily attendance. And proof of vaccination will not be required for guests, staff, or state fair vendors. Pre-fair discount admission tickets, on sale through August 25th for all ages, are 13 dollars. Admission at the gate for adults age 13-64 is 16 dollars; kids 5-12 and seniors 65 and older will be admitted for 14dollars; children four years old and under are able to enter for free.

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers says he “most likely” will veto legislation that would end the 300-dollar-a-week federal unemployment supplement payments.  More than two dozen other states have stopped them saying they were contributing to worker shortages.  Appearing on the Sunday W-I-S-N television program “UPFRONT” Evers said he is reluctant to “take a very important benefit away from people when there’s no data to support that it’ll fix the problem.”  Businesses in tourist areas like Door County and the Dells say they have been forced to operate this summer with smaller staff sizes due to a lack of job applicants.

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More than 8-and-a-half million dollars in attorney’s fees have been billed to taxpayers, by leaders in the state legislature over the last three years.   The costs are contained in a memo from the nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau. Assembly Democrat Evan Goyke of Milwaukee requested details on the spending, which has included challenges to Governor Tony Evers pandemic response. Republican leaders hired the attorneys without consulting other members. Democrats on the finance committee on Thursday proposed requiring the Legislature to vote on hiring attorneys, but their motion failed.

Managers at two central Wisconsin furniture stores say they have started offering incentives for new hires because traditional recruiting hasn’t turned up the number of workers they need.  Furniture and ApplianceMart and Ashley HomeStore say they have about 65 open positions and they are willing to sweeten the deal for people willing to work.  The incentives are said to be worth thousands of dollars.  The idea is gaining some traction.  Those managers say the response so far has been promising.

Nearly 100-thousand people in Wisconsin who haven’t voted in years are getting a reminder about their voter registrations.  Instead of removing them from voter rolls, the Wisconsin Elections Commission will send postcards to lapsed voters. The reminders will first go out at the end of the month. They’ll ask voters to either confirm that they’re still living at that address or register at a new address. The postcards are the latest in the protracted battle over trimming Wisconsin’s voter rolls. 

A federal judge in Wisconsin has issued a temporary restraining order, halting a Biden administration program.   The Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty sued on behalf of two Wisconsin farmers and a dozen others. Their lawsuit says the loan forgiveness program that targets African-American and other minority farmers breaks federal law by making race a factor in deciding who gets government money. The Biden Administration announced the program earlier this year as a way to right past wrongs. WILL’s lawsuit says the federal government can’t discriminate, even with good intentions.

The former head of the D N R's sturgeon unit is being fined for his role in a clandestine caviar ring.   Ryan Koenigs pleaded no contest to one count of obstruction of a warden in Winnebago County Court. Koenigs was implicated in a scheme where sturgeon eggs that were collected by the DNR from spearfishers for testing purposes were instead being turned into caviar. Koenigs will pay a 50 dollar fine after the judge ruled that the loss of his job with the DNR was punishment enough.

A caller to a hotline operated by Minnesota-based 3M helped stop the sale of more than a million fake N-95 face masks.  At one point earlier this year, the counterfeit personal protective equipment had made it to frontline health care workers in Minnesota.  The company says it was able to work with the U-S Marshals Service and get the fake respirators seized at an operation in Kentucky.  3M is the country’s largest producer of respirator masks and the N-95 is sometimes called the gold standard for filtering out pathogens.  Forty-one million fake masks have been seized globally, so far.