Power should be fully restored to Riverland Energy Customers in Buffalo County today. Crews returned to work this morning to restore the remaining 200-300 customers that were still without power overnight. Over 3000 customers were affected by the power outages in Buffalo, Trempealeau, and La Crosse Counties as a result of the severe storms from Wednesday.
The Pepin County Board has approved spending $100,000 in American Rescue Plan Funds to be used for a broadband expansion in the Town of Albany. Ntec is applying for a $1 million grant from the Federal Government and as part of the grant process there need to be public-private dollars. The Town of Albany also approved a $100,000, and the total cost would be approximately $2 million. The project is similar to a project by Ntec in the Town of Mondovi.
The Durand-Arkansaw School District along with the City of Durand and other private partners have reached an agreement with the Dunn County Economic Development Corporation to provide Economic Development Services for Durand. At this week's Durand-Arkansaw School Board meeting Superintendent Doverspike announced the agreement. While the City, School District, and other private partners committed to the project, Pepin County has yet to commit.
The Dunn County Sheriff’s Office is requesting the public’s assistance with information on a burglary that occurred at Jack’s Place Bar and Grill in Connersville. According to the department, the burglary occurred during the early morning hours of Monday. If anyone has any information or observed anything suspicious during this time period authorities ask that you please contact the Sheriff’s Office or report information anonymously at dunncocrimestoppers.com.
Farm Technology Days will be returning to Western Wisconsin in 2024. Chippewa County has been selected to host the 2024 Farm Technology Days. Farm Tech Days is the largest outdoor agricultural event held in Wisconsin annually. Chippewa County officials estimate up to 30,000 people may be in attendance, which could make a large economic impact. This is the second time in 20 years that Chippewa County will host Farm Tech Days— the last being in 2004. Officials from Chippewa County and Farm Technology Days will meet later this spring for a date and location for the 2024 Show. Last year, Farm Tech Days were held in Eau Claire County.
The Biden administration’s efforts at promoting its historic infrastructure investment brought Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to northwest Wisconsin on Thursday. The city of Bloomer will receive 27 and-a-half million dollars to upgrade its water and sewer services. Vilsack announced Rural Development infrastructure investments in 11 Wisconsin counties.
A Wisconsin appeals court has upheld the denial of a permit for a frac sand operation in Monroe County. Georgia-based Meteor Timber wants to build the processing and rail loading facility on a property that includes a rare forested wetland. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources issued a permit to fill 16 acres of those wetlands four years ago. A challenge by several entities – including the Ho-Chunk Nation – was backed by a lower court, then confirmed by the three-judge appeals panel Thursday.
Former Brooklyn Center officer Kim Potter is likely to take the witness stand today (Friday) as the defense wraps up its case. Potter is on trial for first- and second-degree manslaughter in the April shooting of 20-year-old Daunte Wright. She told the judge Thursday that she still wants to testify. Several witnesses testified favorably about Potter's character. Ex-Brooklyn Center police chief Tim Gannon called Potter a "fine officer." Gannon released bodycam footage soon after the fatal shooting and said it was an accidental discharge and that Potter meant to use her Taser.
As the investigation of the 2020 presidential election in the state continues, a conservative think tank has ranked Wisconsin high for election integrity. The Heritage Foundation lists the Badger State eighth in the country. The rankings are based on voter I-D implementation, absentee ballot management, vote counting practices, and access for election observers. Wisconsin got perfect scores in four categories, but it got zeroes for the way it verifies citizenship and the way it handles election litigation.
Authorities responding to two crashes involving school buses Wednesday say no children were injured. The first happened at about 8:30 a-m on Highway 49 near Poy Sippi in Waushara County. The school bus was stopped, waiting to make a left turn, when it was hit by a vehicle towing a trailer. Twenty-two students from the Berlin School District were on the bus, but none were hurt. A few hours later in Waupaca County, two people were injured when an S-U-V rammed a school bus that was waiting to make a turn. Four adults and 21 children were on the bus and two of the adults suffered minor injuries. Investigators say a heavy fog played a role in that wreck.
Doctors report more surgeries are being delayed at a time when coronavirus patients are crowding Minnesota hospitals. Procedures have been deferred to free up beds and that has left some patients in pain for longer periods. The state’s health care systems say patient demand over the last month has been the highest seen during the 21 months the pandemic has lasted. State leaders are hoping booster shots will slow the most recent wave of infections and help hospitals get back on schedule.
A proposal in the Legislature would roll back regulations on Wisconsin’s hunters, fishers, and trappers. An Assembly committee passed a bill Wednesday that would require the Department of Natural Resources to erase three regulations for every new regulation. State Representative Calvin Callahan says the idea is to make it easier to get out into the outdoors. The Department of Natural Resources’ 50-thousand regulations for hunting and fishing is reportedly more than the next three most-regulated state agencies combined. Democrats say the proposal will just lead to more red tape.
Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett’s nomination to become U-S ambassador to Luxembourg cleared a major hurdle Wednesday. The U-S Senate Committee on Foreign Relations gave its unanimous approval. The question now goes before the full Senate. If Barrett is approved by December 28th, the Milwaukee Common Council could order a special election to fill his seat at City Hall. The primary would be held February 15th and the general election April 5th. Barrett was nominated by President Biden last August. He has been Milwaukee’s mayor since 2004.
Stillwater Area Public Schools are hoping delays and cancellations are in the rearview mirror after its contracted bus company reports it has found replacement drivers. The district and the company were worried about an anticipated shortage of drivers impacting things next week. Metropolitan Transportation Network says it has hired 20 replacement drivers, mostly from other school districts who are closing their buildings next week. The company says it doesn’t expect any disruptions to Stillwater bus services anymore. Families had previously been put on notice about possible delays and cancellations.
Oshkosh is telling people in the community they aren’t being double-billed on their taxes this year. The announcement became necessary after about 500 duplicate real estate and personal property tax bills were sent out by mistake. It still isn’t clear how it happened last week. Residents only need to pay one property tax bill before December 30th. The city reminds people they can pay the bill online, in the mail, or drop the payment off at a secure box outside city hall.
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