Local-Regional News Jan 31

 The city of Durand continues to move forward with an agreement to join the Dunn County Economic Development Corporation.  The city joined the school district and other groups to explore the possibility of joining Dunn County EDC and has put up $5000 toward the effort.  Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren says the city economic development committee will be meeting soon to discuss some of the details of the plan.  It is hoped to have an agreement with Dunn County EDC sometime this spring.

The Wabasha County Board is meeting tomorrow morning.  Items on the agenda include the presentation of the 4-H and Extension quarterly reports, discussion, and possible action on the approval to purchase 3 new CAD workstations and committee reports.  Tomorrow's meeting begins at 9am at the government center in Wabasha.

A St. Paul man was arrested for OWI on Sunday afternoon in Dunn County.  According to the Wisconsin State Patrol, troopers pulled over 38yr old Louis Williams for a seatbelt and speeding violation on I-94 near Knapp.  The trooper observed that Williams showed signs of impairment and conducted field sobriety tests.   Williams was arrested and charged with operating under the influence of a restricted controlled substance while having a child passenger in the vehicle and possession of marijuana.  

No one was injured in a house fire in Menomonie on Saturday.  According to the Menomonie Fire Department, firefighters responded to the blaze on North Broadway Street at approximately 1pm Saturday afternoon.  The home was heavily damaged and is considered a total loss due to the fire as crews were on the scene for nearly 3hrs.  The cause of the fire was a heater the homeowner was using to thaw frozen pipes inside the home.  

Authorities in northern Wisconsin are investigating the death of a snowmobiler from La Crosse.  The Iron County Sheriff's Office says the 55-year-old was found unresponsive late Thursday night on a trail between Hurley and Gile.  Deputies believe the snowmobile missed a curve and struck a tree and that speed was a factor in the crash.  The victim's name hasn't been released.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court has sided with legislative Republicans on the question of hiring outside lawyers.  Republicans wanted to make the hires in anticipation of legal challenges to the state’s redrawn political maps.  They expected lawsuits.  The high court ruled taxpayer dollars could be used to pay for the lawyers.  Opponents had challenged the idea of entering into contracts with private lawyers before a lawsuit had been filed.  One of the two law firms would have been paid up to 965 thousand dollars last year for what was called “pre-litigation counseling.”

The Wisconsin Supreme Court has ruled absentee ballot drop boxes can be used in next month’s primary election.  The ruling was handed down late Friday.  The justices have also agreed to hear an expedited appeal.  That means they could decide on using those drop boxes before the general election in November.  The final four-to-three vote was supported by liberal justices Jill Karofsky, Ann Walsh Bradley, and Rebecca Dallet.  Conservative swing Justice Brian Hagedorn joined them in voting to allow the boxes.

A U-S House committee wants information from two so-called "alternate electors" from Wisconsin about efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election.  The Select Committee issued subpoenas Friday to former Wisconsin Republican Party chair Andrew Hitt, G-O-P activist Kelly Ruh - and 12 others who cast votes as alternative electors.  Committee chair Bennie Thompson of Mississippi said the panel is seeking information on attempts to overturn the election in seven states, "including the planning and coordination of efforts to send false slates of electors to the National Archives."  Hitt told Wisconsin Public Radio that he will cooperate with the committee's request.

The Minnesota Rural Electric Association (MREA) is among the groups vying for state funds in the 2022 legislative session.  The M-R-E-A's Mike Bull says broadband expansion and electric vehicle funding are top priorities.  Bull says for many co-ops rural broadband is the new "rural electrification" where farmers and other leaders are pulling together to provide an essential service that for-profit companies wouldn't bring to rural Minnesota."  He says dealing with standard pole attachment fees for cable companies is another priority.

 The Better Business Bureau (BBB) of Minnesota is urging consumers to watch out for look-alike websites when requesting a free COVID test.  The B-B-B’s Bao Vang says these scam sites may ask for payment or personal information such as your Social Security number.  But Vang warns a real website will not ask for your payment information or insurance details, the two main things are your name and address.  Vang says to look closely at the domain name and watch out for tricky subdomains.

Hit-and-run charges are expected to be filed in Dane County in last week’s fatal crash that killed a high school student.  Fourteen-year-old Jeremiah Broomfield died and a 12-year-old suffered serious injuries.  The man police say is responsible is in custody on a probation hold.  Madison police say the suspect ran away from the scene.  Broomfield was a freshman at La Follette High School on the city’s east side.  The two-vehicle accident happened Saturday, January 15th, at about 8:00 p-m.  The suspect’s name hasn’t been released.

A 31-year-old drug dealer from Illinois, whose activities connected him to multiple fatal overdoses, has been sentenced to 30 years in prison.  Neko Donovan Forbes was sentenced Thursday in Wood County Circuit Court.  Prosecutors told the court the Chicago man imported and delivered large amounts of narcotics from his home to two Nekoosa residents for sale in central Wisconsin.  Forbes was accused of deliberately cutting the drugs with fentanyl to increase their potency and to increase his profits.  He pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree reckless homicide in an April 2020 overdose death.  Two co-conspirators also entered guilty pleas.

 It sounds like the courts will again draw new legislative and congressional district boundaries in Minnesota, with no clear signs of agreement between House Democrats and Senate Republicans.  The deadline is February 15th.  Senate Majority Leader Jeremy Miller says he's had some talks with House Speaker Melissa Hortman, but adds, "it's gonna be a challenge. I'm not quite sure that it's gonna get done, but we are having discussions and if we can get there we'll do it. If not, then it'll be up to the courts."  Split control of the Minnesota Legislature has resulted in the courts drawing the boundary lines every decade except one for the last 50 years.  Redistricting happens every ten years after each census.

A former Albert Lea High school counselor and girls basketball coach is pleading not guilty to third-degree criminal sexual contact.  Thirty-two-year-old Richard Polley is accused of having sexual contact with a female student in his home.  The criminal complaint says the girl spoke with Polley as her counselor and the two became friends on Snapchat.  Polley was initially placed on paid administrative leave and later terminated by the school board.  His trial is scheduled for October.

The number of air travelers using Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport continues to rebound as the COVID pandemic continues.     The Metropolitan Airports Commission reports there were 25-point-two million passengers at M-S-P in 2021 - a 69-point-six percent increase from 2020.  That number is still 36 percent lower than the record 39-nine-and-a-half million passengers in 2019.   MAC chair Brian Ryks is encouraged by the increase in passengers in the last year but says M-S-P still faces many challenges and uncertainties because of the continued spread of COVID globally.

One possible strategy as Milwaukee tries to deal with its reckless driving plague is confiscating the vehicle that was being used.  That was discussed by members of the Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission during a virtual meeting Thursday night.  Milwaukee police would be allowed to tow vehicles associated with reckless driving or speeding.  Vehicles could be confiscated after involvement in reckless driving, fleeing an officer, drag racing, or going 25 miles an hour or faster than the posted speed limit.

Local-Regional News Jan 28

 Durand Firefighters respoded to a garage fire in the city of Durand last night.  The fire occured at 1211 Marylin Ave and when firefighters arrived they found black smoke coming from the garage.  No one was hurt in that blaze and no other information was available this morning.

Cities like Durand and Mondovi will be eligible for a grant program from the Department of Transportation that would pay for 80 percent of the surface work of a road reconstruction project.  The fund has nearly $1 billion and Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren says the money would be available through 2027.  The city engineer is will be working on a possible grant proposal for upcoming projects.

With nearly one-third of university students nationally food insecure, the University of Wisconsin-River Falls recently opened Freddy’s Pantry in Rodli Hall to help provide grab-and-go foods for hungry students.   The nearly 14-by-18 foot pantry will have insulated bags and currently has tables with breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack foods, and personal hygiene items students may need, Hunzer said. It is open from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday.  This is the 2nd food pantry to open on the UW-River Falls Campus.

Education students at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville could soon be helping local districts cover things during the substitute teacher shortage.  University officials announced Thursday that those students will be granted associate degrees while they are pursuing their bachelor’s.  State rules require substitute teachers to have an associate degree.  W-M-T-V reports university officials to say this helps the local schools cover a classroom when the teacher is absent and it sends them a future teacher with an appropriate skillset and a passion for the work.  The students benefit by applying what they have learned in their classwork.

 A Nebraska-based voting machine company has told the Republican-hired attorney leading an investigation into the 2020 presidential election in Wisconsin that it will not comply with subpoenas issued seeking a broad array of information.   Attorneys for Election Systems & Software told former Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman in a letter dated Jan. 21 that it would not comply, calling the subpoenas issued last month a “quintessential fishing expedition.”   The letter was obtained Thursday by The Associated Press after it was first reported on by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.  Gableman’s investigation into President Joe Biden’s win in Wisconsin is ongoing.

 Governor Tony Evers wants to use some of the state's three-point-eight-billion-dollar budget surplus on 150-dollar refund checks for every Wisconsin resident.  Evers says his one-point-seven-billion-dollar plan also includes more than 131-million dollars in targeted tax relief to caregivers and families and would invest almost 750 million in education.  The Democratic governor said in a statement, "Wisconsinites can’t wait for relief from rising prices. So, I hope the Legislature joins me in returning the projected revenue surplus to the taxpayers while supporting our workforce and providing additional relief to folks who need it most.”  Republican legislative leaders have said they want to use the budget surplus for tax cuts.

UW Health is nearing a blood crisis.  The health system says that it is just a few emergencies away from the crisis risking both covid and no covid patients.    UW health is blaming the lack of blood on a shortage of available donors due to the cold and covid and the labor force necessary to hold blood drives and transport blood is lower.    To find a local blood drive visit red cross dot org.

There may be a change in the state’s policy for hunting wolves.   Wisconsin’s wolf hunting policy might no longer include a specific number of wolves. A member of the DNR board (Greg Kazmierski) says the state should drop the idea of a population count and focus instead on whether the wolf population in Wisconsin should be allowed to grow or shrink. Wisconsin’s original hunting policy set a goal of 350 wolves in the state. The latest wolf estimate says there are over a thousand wolves in Wisconsin.

The Coalition for Greater Minnesota Cities (CGMC) is urging state lawmakers to address critical needs such as child care, water infrastructure and housing in the 2022 legislative session.  C-G-M-C executive director Bradley Peterson says Local Government Aid (LGA) remains a top priority and almost every city leader will tell you it’s absolutely vital to their community.  The group is asking for a 90-million-dollar increase this year to L-G-A appropriations.  Peterson says state aid helps restrain property taxes, reduce inequities and ensure all cities are able to provide high-quality services.

 Sun Prairie police say it was a “crazy situation” – incredibly dangerous, but also incredibly funny.  Police had to block some lanes of traffic because several head of cattle were wandering around near U-S Highway 151.  The trailer’s back door had opened, and the farmer didn’t realize it.  While he was driving at about 55 miles an hour three cows fell out, hitting the road, and suffering injuries.  Sun Prairie and Madison police, and Wisconsin State Patrol troopers used hay donated by a nearby farm to collect the cows, then corralled them.  The owner didn’t violate any laws and he isn’t facing any charges.  Other than the cows, no injuries were reported.

There will be a Republican primary for Wisconsin governor this year.   Kevin Nicholson formally launched his campaign Thursday. That sets up what may be a contentious primary with Rebecca Kleefisch, who’s been running since last fall. In recent weeks, Nicholson has signaled he’ll run as an outsider. Nicholson is a former U-S Marine. He lost to Leah Vukmir in the 2018 G-O-P primary for U-S Senate.   The winner of the Republican primary will face Democrat, incumbent Governor Tony Evers.

Video surveillance inside the Milwaukee Burger King where 16-year-old Niesha Harris-Brazell was shot to death now offers an alternative theory for what was going on.  Milwaukee police detectives say it appears that the teen had refused to cooperate with the armed robber and even screamed for help before she was shot by a co-worker.  The suspect told police the robbery had been staged.  Antoine Edwards said Harris-Brazell was in on the plan.  During a Wednesday hearing, investigators said the surveillance video shows the victim balk when Edwards leaned in through the drive-thru window and she was apparently calling for help.

People living in Juneau and Adams counties near the Castlerock and Petenwell dams are being reminded to take safety precautions starting next week.  Wisconsin River Power Company will be starting drawdowns at the hydroelectric dams.  This happens every winter in anticipation of higher spring river levels caused by melting snow upstream.  Drawdowns will begin at the Castle Rock reservoir next Tuesday and at Petenwell by February 10th.  Water levels will be reduced by five-to-six feet.  Those moves can cause unstable ice conditions.  W-R-P-C says snowmobiling or driving other vehicles on the ice should be avoided.

U-S Senator Ron Johnson is standing behind his comments on child care.  The Wisconsin Republican told a La Crosse television station earlier this month that he doesn’t feel it is society’s responsibility to care for other people’s children.  A massive subsidy for child care is a part of Democratic President Joe Biden’s Build Back Better Act.  Johnson was asked about the comments during a Wednesday stop at St. Ignatius Catholic School in Kaukauna.  He told W-B-A-Y he believes parents are responsible for their own children and he doesn’t want the government taking greater control of families.  He was immediately attacked by the candidates opposing him in this year’s campaign for the U-S Senate.

 Another round this year in a perennial battle at the Minnesota Legislature.  G-O-P Majority Leader Jeremy Miller says "Senate Republicans will make it a priority to repeal the tax on Social Security income. No more taxes on Social Security income."  Governor Tim Walz responds 60 percent of Minnesota recipients pay zero tax on their Social Security benefits and 80 percent pay on only a small portion -- "so Republicans he says want to remove a tax on millionaires."  Miller says the G-O-P is going to focus on "very large" tax cuts in the 2022 session.

The State of Minnesota is providing two-point-one million KN-95 masks to community groups, public health agencies, and schools across the state.  The governor's office says about 650-thousand masks will go to local health departments and schools will get 550-thousand.  Other recipients include child care centers, clinics serving Medicaid enrollees, and tribal nations.  Distribution of the masks begins this week and more shipments are expected.  Organizations receiving the KN-95 masks will provide them directly to Minnesotans, and they will inform you how to get the masks.  Officials are prioritizing getting these masks to people in higher-risk settings, higher-risk populations for COVID-19, and our state’s schools.

Local-Regional News Jan 27

 Firefighters from Durand, Alma, Township Fire Department and Mondovi responded to a fire at an old farmhouse at Hwy BB and Hwy 10 last night.  The building was a total loss and there were no reports of any injuries.   The Cause of that fire is still under investigation.

The Durand City Council has approved an agreement with the Rural Fire Department to lease a new ladder truck.  Durand  Mayor Patrick Milliren says the city will be a 30% participant in the lease. Milliren says it will cost the city approximately $53,000 each year of the 7yr lease.  It is estimated it will take 18 months to build and deliver the ladder truck to the fire department.

Tomah Police have determined that suspicious objects found in a truck near the Tomah Amtrak Station Monday are fireworks.  According to the Dane County Sheriff’s Office Explosive Ordinance Disposal technicians the objects, which were initially reported to police as possible sticks of dynamite, are aerial fireworks.  The area near the Tomah Amtrak Station was closed off from 10 a.m. until 3:45 p.m. Monday while law enforcement secured the objects and took them away from the scene to see what they were.

COVID-19 hospitalizations in Wisconsin are headed in the right direction – down.   Public health officials have said that hospitalizations, rather than overall case counts, have become the most critical indicators of how Wisconsin is trending. And while the number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 is still quite high, it is headed downward. As of Wednesday, the Wisconsin Hospital Association dashboard showed 1,831 COVID patients, including 366 in ICU beds. That compares to an all-time high of 2,278 hospitalized COVID patients just two weeks ago.

A Clark County man has been sentenced to prison for a drunk driving crash that killed two.  Trenton Bemis pleaded no contest to two counts of homicide by drunk driving in connection with a crash in December 17th that killed Michelle Kunze and Genie Schroeder after Bemis crossed the center line on Hwy 10 and hit their car head-on.  Bemis was sentenced yesterday to 15yrs in prison.  

Despite claims repeated thousands of times on the internet, the Wisconsin Legislature hasn’t recalled its electoral votes for President Joe Biden.  W-I-S-C reports assembly Majority Leader Jim Steineke says the idea is illegal and it will die in committee.  Republican State Representative Timothy Ramthun introduced it.  Steineke is also a Republican.  He chairs the Assembly Rules Committee that received Ramthun’s resolution and he made it clear Wednesday it won’t even be discussed.  Assembly Speaker Robin Vos disciplined Ramthun last week for allegedly spreading lies about his fellow Republicans.  Vos told reporters Ramthun does have a right to his false beliefs about the election results.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources policy board voted Wednesday to name board member Greg Kazmierski as the new chairman.  Kazmierski will assume the leadership position from Fred Prehn, who stays on the board.  W-I-S-C reports Prehn’s leadership term ended last May and Governor Tony Evers appointed a replacement.  That’s when Prehn refused to step aside and Republicans in the Senate never took the matter up.  Prehn claimed he didn’t have to leave until the Senate confirms his replacement.  The Wisconsin Supreme Court is reviewing the case.  Oral arguments are to be held in March.

 Governor Tony Evers will likely veto a pair of pandemic-related bills passed by the Republican-controlled Wisconsin Assembly.  The legislation would require businesses to accept employees’ past COVID-19 infections as a substitute for vaccinations.  Another would ban government-issued vaccine passports.  There are no plans for such passports at either the state and federal level, and the Biden administration has withdrawn its vaccine and testing mandate for businesses.  Evers is expected to veto both bills if passed by the state Senate.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is renewing his push to legalize recreational marijuana in Minnesota, even though it has little chance of passing the Republican-controlled Senate, particularly in an election year.   Walz says he's not encouraging people to use cannabis any more than over-indulging in alcohol -- but prohibition hasn't worked.  The governor says, "It's taken a huge amount of police resources away from things that they should be doing, of fighting violent crime, and it's had a disproportionate impact on communities of color."  Opponents warn legalizing marijuana will make Minnesota roads and workplaces less safe.

One part of the tough-on-crime package of bills approved in the Wisconsin Assembly Tuesday includes jail time for rioters when damage is done.  A series of bills were passed in response to crowd violence in Kenosha and Madison in 2020.  T-M-J-4 reports one new law would require at least 30 days in jail for anyone who knowingly attends a riot that ends with damage.  Participants could be sentenced to 45 days in jail.  Governor Tony Evers is expected to veto the package and Republicans don’t have the votes to override.

Republicans in the state Assembly have quashed a move to overturn the 2020 election.  That motion by Representative Tim Ramthun was sent to committee as per Assembly rules, but Assembly Majority Leader Jim Steineke called it an illegal resolution that would never see a vote. This is Ramthun's second attempt to overturn the election. He recently had his only staffer removed from his office for spreading misinformation about the elections.

A pair of GOP Lawmakers are hoping to restart talks on legalizing medical marijuana in Wisconsin. Assemblyman Pat Snyder says that the state would retain strict control over the industry through a new rules commission.   State Senator Mary Felzkowski is a cancer survivor and says that medical marijuana could have helped her through her treatments for cancer. She wants people to have natural options in their health care in the future. 

The Verona Area School District is being sued for allegedly paying female special education teachers and a school psychologist less than their male counterparts.  The U-S Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed the suit Tuesday.  The Wisconsin State Journal reports the district is accused of paying a longtime female psychologist more than 10 thousand dollars less than a male psychologist who was doing essentially the same job.  The E-E-O-C is asking for an injunction against the district through its filing in the U-S District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin.

 Lake Delton police are still working with state agents on the investigation of a large fire at the Wilderness Resort four years ago.  No injuries were reported, but the damage estimate approached five million dollars.  W-M-T-V reports investigators are still hoping somebody saw something early the morning of January 25th, 2018 – and that they will come forward with information.  The new employee housing building was under construction and unoccupied at the time.

It’s called a 136-year tradition.  The St. Paul Winter Carnival’s 10-day run starts Friday.  President Lisa Jacobson with the St. Paul Festival and Heritage Foundation says the annual event will again include everything from food vendors to the return of the warming house.  Jacobson says one of the ice sculptors will return for his 50th year.  Activities continue through February 6th.  COVID protocols will be in place.  High temperatures of 20-to-25 degrees are forecast for the first day.

Local-Regional News Jan 26

 The Durand City Council is meeting tonight.  Items on the agenda include a public hearing on the CBDG Grant from the 3rd avenue East Project, discussion and approval of a payment to Skid Steer Guy for Laneville Road, along with reports from the Mayor and Department heads.  Tonight's meeting begins at 6:30 at Durand City Hall and will be live-streamed on our website.

The court has set a cash bond at one million dollars for an Eau Claire man accused of setting his home on fire.  Investigators say 41-year-old Thomas Hicks has been accused of this behavior before.  W-E-A-U reports Hicks is charged with seven counts of attempted first-degree intentional homicide, seven counts of first-degree recklessly endangering safety, and one count of arson.  There were four adults and three children sleeping in the home last Friday when authorities say Hicks started the fire.  All made it out safely.

The Eau Claire Fire Department is taking steps to solve staffing issues after coming off what they say was one of their busiest years.  The Fire Department to apply for the SAFER grant from the Department of Homeland Security.  If awarded this grant, the Fire Department could hire six new firefighters at their station on Golf Road.  The department will apply for the grant this week and they should know if its approved by this summer.

Governor Tony Evers is almost certain to veto a bill banning the teaching of critical race theory in Wisconsin public schools.  The Senate sent the legislation on to the governor’s desk Tuesday.  The Assembly passed it last September, but Republicans don’t have the needed votes to override the veto.  The measure would prohibit the teaching of concepts like systemic racism and implicit bias.  It isn’t thought that any public schools in the state are teaching the concept.

 The U-S Department of Justice is awarding the Dakota County Sheriff's Office a 170-thousand-dollar grant for body-worn cameras.  Congresswoman Angie Craig says she worked closely with Sheriff Tim Leslie and advocated for Dakota County's application.   Craig said in a statement, “I will continue working to ensure that Minnesota law enforcement agencies receive the support they deserve to continue reducing crime and protecting public safety.”  Sheriff Leslie says the new body-worn cameras will allow for safer and more secure communities.

Legislative Republicans seem to be backing away from efforts to regulate ballot drop boxes following complaints from Former President Donald Trump.   The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that a bill that would have created rules on how ballot drop boxes could be used is out of the picture after Trump complained that it would make those boxes legal at all. The bill's author, Senator Kathleen Bernier, says that she hadn't heard a single complaint about the bill until Trump's statement and that any changes to the bill should come through the committee process and not through statements from Trump. She added that the change in plans was "disgusting"

The Legislative Fiscal Bureau projects the state of Wisconsin will end the two-year budget with a balance of three-point-eight billion dollars.  That's two-point-nine billion dollars more than earlier estimates.  Governor Tony Evers said, "I’m proud of our efforts to make smart decisions with taxpayer dollars, get folks back to work, and keep more money in Wisconsinites’ pockets."  Evers' statement also said, "Wisconsinites need help making ends meet and can’t wait until the next biennial budget—they need relief now."  Joint Finance Committee co-chair, Representative Mark Born, largely credits Republican policies.  Born said, "this is of course due to quality conservative budgeting for the last ten years,  as well as the influx of massive amounts of federal money into our state in the last two years.”

Oshkosh Defense reports it has developed a hybrid electric light tactical vehicle for the military.  The Pentagon hasn’t ordered any versions of the vehicle yet.  The military contractor has built more than 15 thousand joint light tactical vehicles for U-S forces in its history.  This one is an electric hybrid version.  The so-called e-J-L-T-V doesn’t require a charging station.  The battery charges itself while the vehicle is in use.  Oshkosh believes the design and capabilities make this an option the U-S military will buy.

The new director of the Minnesota Farm Service Agency looks forward to working through pandemic-related challenges to effectively deliver programs that help farmers succeed.  Whitney Place is a former assistant commissioner with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.  Place says she knows it's frustrating for some folks who can’t get into their F-S-A offices, "but says it’s a priority to keep all of our staff safe and our customers safe."  She says they're working through all those issues to make sure officials are available via phone or email.  Place says conservation and the environment will be focus areas, too.

Bipartisan love for Tommy Thompson on the floor of the state Senate on Tuesday, where lawmakers approved a resolution thanking the former governor for his service as acting UW System President. Senators, including Democrat Jon Erpenbach, also praised Thompson’s time as governor.   Thompson, who served four terms as governor, will step aside from his role with the UW in March. Milwaukee attorney Jay Rothman has been picked as the new UW System President.      

A coronavirus testing company accused of fraud has closed its locations around Wisconsin. It's not known if or when they’ll reopen.  The Center for COVID Control had planned to reopen last week, but now says it will remain closed for a while longer. The C-C-C is facing serious questions, and at least five lawsuits, over whether it performed coronavirus tests. One Milwaukee-area man says he got a negative test result before he even showed up for a test. The C-C-C has closed all of its offices across the country. The FBI served search warrants on the company Monday. The state attorneys general in Illinois and Minnesota are investigating.

Investigators with the Wood County Sheriff’s Department are asking people in Port Edwards to check their home security systems for anything suspicious earlier this month.  They are following up on a report received Monday after a January 15th shooting.  A 19-year-old woman reportedly suffered a wound to her upper arm inside her home on that date.  She was treated and released from Aspirus Riverview Hospital in Wisconsin Rapids.  Her name hasn’t been released.  Detectives think someone fired a shot at the home from the road.

Registration is now open for the latest round of the "Kids Deserve a Shot" program.  Minnesota parents can sign up for a 200-dollar Visa gift card when their children between the ages of five and 11 receive both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.  Kids in that age group need to complete the two-dose series in January and February.  Governor Tim Walz says getting children vaccinated is the best way to keep families safe from COVID-19.  Registration opened Monday and ends on February 28th.

Interest from some potential buyers is driving the price of stock in the Wisconsin-based big-box retailer Kohl’s higher.  There have been rumors of two groups showing interest.  The Wall Street Journal reports its stock price jumped by almost 17 dollars Monday – more than 35 percent – to just under 64 dollars a share.  Kohl’s has confirmed it got letters of interest from two entities, but officials say they haven’t made any decisions about the company’s future.

Local officials say the Packers' loss to San Francisco Saturday makes the team’s fans sad but the impact goes further than that.  Another home game in Green Bay’s Lambeau Field would have been guaranteed with a victory.  Hotel stays, food, and purchases at small businesses usually mean about 14-to-15 million dollars to the local economy for each home game.  A spokesperson for Discover Green Bay says it has been a good N-F-L season with nine home games already.

Minnesota native Bob Dylan is selling his catalog of recorded music to Sony Music Entertainment, in deal that sources tell "Variety" is worth 150 to 200 million dollars.  It includes classics like "Blowin' in the Wind" and "Knockin' on Heaven's Door."  Reuters reports the deal is the latest in Sony's relationship with Dylan that spans six decades.  In December, 80-year-old Dylan sold his songwriting catalog to Universal Music Publishing Group for more than 300 million dollars.  Dylan was born Robert Zimmerman in Duluth and grew up in nearby Hibbing.

Local-Regional News Jan 25

 Two people were arrested in Durand Friday after authorities were called to a local business because of a medical emergency.    According to Durand Police, the unconscious man was found in a restroom where employees began life-saving measures.  When officers arrived they found drug-related items in his wallet suspected a drug overdose and administered Narcan to reverse the effects of opioid drugs.  The two employees had symptoms of drug exposure and were treated at the hospital and released.  Pepin County K-9 officer Jack was brought in and alerted authorities to the possibility of drugs in the suspect's vehicle.    A second suspect, Chanel Chatham , was arrested and charged with possession of methamphetamine, THC, and drug paraphernalia.  The victim has also been charged with possession of narcotics Drugs, 2 counts of recklessly endangering safety, and possession of methamphetamine, THC, and drug paraphernalia.

The mask mandate at UW Eau Claire has been extended.  CHancellor James Schmitt says the requirement affects all three campuses including Eau Claire, Rice Lake and Marshfield, and will continue until March 18.  Face Coverings will be required for everyone on the campuses regardless of Covid 19 vaccination status.

A third Republican candidate has announced their plan to run for the state senate.  Current State Representative Jesse James announced last week that he will vacate his assembly seat to run for the 23rd State Senate Seat that is being given up by current Senator Kathy Bernier.  Two other Republican candidates, Brian Westrate and Sandra Scholz have also announced their candidacy for the seat.

Gas prices continue to rise across Minnesota. Patrick De Haan with Gas Buddy says early in the pandemic oil prices plummeted, demand crashed, resulting in oil companies cutting production. Demand however is now much higher than supply De Haan says, driving up prices. The average price of unleaded in Minnesota last week was three dollars and 16-cents-per-gallon, up four cents from the week prior. Prices in Minnesota at the pump are more than nine cents higher than a month ago, and over 88-cents higher than a year ago.  Here in Western Wisconsin gas prices are averaging anywhere from $3.09 to 3.19 per gallon.

Tomah police found a suspicious object near the Amtrack station Monday morning.  The department received a report of a person in possession of objects described as dynamite Monday morning.  After securing the area near the Amtrack Station they found the objects in the bed of a truck.  The Dane County Sheriff's Ordinance Disposal Team was called in and removed the object to be tested to find out what they are.  The scene was cleared by late Monday afternoon.  Police say they did not receive any threats before the incident.  

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation reports the state’s frozen road law is in effect. That means big trucks are able to carry bigger loads on the state’s roads and highways. The annual change went into effect Friday. It’s aimed mostly at trucks carrying logs, sand, or salt in Wisconsin. A map of the roads now opened to heavier truckloads is available online.

 Backers of legalizing recreational marijuana are readying for another push at the Minnesota Legislature, even as opponents form a new coalition to fight it. Paul Aasen with the Minnesota Safety Council says "we are very concerned about impairment in the workplace, and every place."  House Democratic Majority Leader Ryan Winkler responds, "using criminal justice as a way to regulate a substance that most people can use safely and moderately doesn't make any sense."  Winkler says "we don't do that for cigarettes.  We don't do it for alcohol.   We should not do it for cannabis."   The House passed a bill legalizing recreational marijuana last May - but it faces stiff opposition in the Republican-controlled Senate.     A State Fair poll suggests 58 percent of Minnesotans support legal cannabis.

A state appeals court has ruled that absentee ballot drop boxes may be used in the February 15 primary election.   The Journal Sentinel reports that the District 4 Court of Appeals ruling blocks Waukesha County Judge Michael Bohren’s ruling earlier this month, that ballot drop boxes may no longer be used in Wisconsin elections. Bohren ruled that absentee ballots could only be returned by mail or in-person by the voters who fill them out. The issue could eventually be resolved by the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

Sun Prairie police say it isn’t known where the cattle came from that disrupted traffic on U-S Highway 151 Monday afternoon.  The road was blocked for nearly an hour starting at 1:00 p-m at the Main Street interchange.  W-M-T-V Television reports northbound traffic couldn’t get through until the roadway was cleared.  Police haven’t said what they did with the cattle after they got them off the usually busy road.  The department tweeted an apology for the “udder chaos.”

Menomonee Falls-based Kohl’s Department Stores has reportedly received a nine-billion-dollar takeover offer.  The Milwaukee Business Journal and T-M-J-4 are reporting the offer came from a group connected to the Starboard Value hedge fund.  The company hasn’t released any formal statement and it apparently hasn’t responded to the bid.  Kohl’s has reportedly rejected other offers from credible buyers in recent months according to a letter sent to shareholders.

The F-B-I is offering a reward of 10 thousand dollars for information leading to the arrest of a man accused of shooting an off-duty Milwaukee police detective.  The incident happened January 13th.  The off-duty officer was trying to help a woman who had been attacked and he was trying to detain the person.  The suspect pulled out a gun during the struggle and shot the detective – who is recovering.  Two people connected to the shooting have been taken into custody.  Authorities are still looking for 19-year-old Keasean J. Ellis-Brown.

The Department of Natural Resources is warning residents about salt getting into the state’s water sources.  D-N-R officials are asking people to reduce their use of salt in water softeners, fertilizer, and ice and snow removal efforts.  W-E-A-U Television reports that chlorides in Wisconsin rivers are up by about 33 percent over the last two decades.  Forty lakes and streams in the state are designated as impaired by high salt concentrations.  The D-N-R says winter salt use can be blamed for five billion dollars in infrastructure damage each year nationwide, causing problems like roadway and bridge corrosion.

The head of the Wisconsin Assembly’s 2020 election investigation no longer wants to send the mayors of Madison and Green Bay to jail.   Michael Gableman’s lawyers say they still want the mayors to cooperate with his investigation. In particular, they say they want to know how Green Bay and Madison worked with the Mark Zuckerberg-funded Center for Tech and Civic Life, but he’s taking arresting them off the table. Meanwhile, a judge is also deciding whether Gabelman’s records from the investigation should be made public. 

A non-profit organization is seeking donations for hundreds of Afghan refugees who are moving to Minnesota.  A spokesperson for the group Alight says more than 250 families are expected.  Financial contributions can be made online, but a spokesperson says donations of items like pillows, bedding, food, and furniture are also being sought.  Former Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton and U-S Senator Amy Klobuchar are asking state residents to help the refugees – who often have very few possessions.

The head of the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development reports the state has gained back about 74 percent of the thousands of jobs lost during the initial COVID-19 pandemic early last year.  Between February and April of 2020 Minnesota lost more than 416 thousand jobs.  DEED Commission Steve Grove says the improvement is even stronger when the private sector alone is measured.  The state’s unemployment rate sits at three-point-one percent – its lowest level in three years.

Sixty-five police officer candidates have had a busy weekend trying to pass the department’s physical testing.  Competition is strong for the seven open positions.  W-E-A-U Television reports Saturday’s tests included a 300-meter sprint, a one-and-a-half mile run, a vertical jump, push-ups, sit-ups, and an agility test.  Those candidates already completed a written test.  The results should be released in a few weeks.

Local-Regional News Jan 24

 A shuttle service for train passengers is coming to western Wisconsin.  Currently, those passengers have to drive to Tomah or another location with a train stop.  W-E-A-U Television reports the West Central Wisconsin Rail Coalition wants to change that.  The shuttle would eliminate the need for people to drive from cities like Eau Claire to catch the train.  Backers say the T-C-M-C project should be completed next year or in 2024.  A second train is also expected to be added to the route in the next year or so.

 Authorities say drug overdoses caused the deaths of two men in a garage in southeastern Minnesota last Saturday.  The Olmsted County Sheriff's Office says three men were found unresponsive that morning in Eyota.  Brandon Mueller died at the scene and Anthony Holzer later died in a Rochester hospital.   The third man survived and is now recovering at home.  Investigators ruled out carbon monoxide poisoning.  The autopsy shows Mueller and Holzer died from cocaine overdoses.  Toxicology results will determine whether any other drugs were in their systems.

Three people are dead after a car vs semi accident near Black River Falls on Saturday.   According to the Wisconsin State Patrol, the semi was leaving a parking lot and attempting to cross Hwy 54 when it was hit by a vehicle traveling westbound on Hwy 54.  Troopers discovered three people in the car were deceased.  The three victims were identified as 34yr old Leonard Hopinka 36yr old Tyler Decorah of Black River Falls, and 35yr old JOrden Vidana of Onalaska.  That accident remains under investigation.

The Board of Regents has named a new University of Wisconsin System President.  The Regents voted unanimously on Friday to appoint Jay Rothman, the chair and CEO of law firm Foley & Lardner as the next UW System President. The 62-year-old Rothman was chosen over the only other finalist, UW Eau Claire Chancellor James Schmidt. Rothman will succeed interim President Tommy Thompson, who will step down on March 18. Rothman will start June 1 at a salary of 550-thousand dollars.   

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and former Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman have returned to court to protect the records of Gableman’s investigation into the 2020 presidential election.  They were in Dane County Court Friday trying to prevent the judge from releasing records sought in an open records request by the watchdog group American Oversight.  The Wisconsin Examiner reports this is the second case brought by that group.  Dane County Judge Frank Remington is scheduled to make a ruling March 8th.      

A South Dakota man has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison during a Thursday hearing in Madison.  Fifty-eight-year-old Craig Klund of Yankton pleaded guilty to wire fraud, money laundering, and aggravated identity theft.  The former Chippewa Falls businessman had been accused of defrauding the U-S military of nearly seven-and-a-half million dollars.  The U-S Attorney’s Office accused Klund of obtaining defense contracts under false pretenses from 2011 to July of 2019.

A fire spread to a U-P-S warehouse in Rochester Saturday after multiple vehicles parked nearby caught on fire. Just before 11:00 P-M firefighters responded and found multiple trucks on fire n the loading dock and smoke coming from the building. Crews were able to stop the spread of the fire further into the facility. The loading dock and several vehicles were severely damaged. No one was seriously hurt, but a firefighter did suffer a minor injury.

Organizers say your kids may not be wasting their time when they spend hours playing video games.  Hundreds of high school students competed in an e-sports tournament Saturday in Madison.  Nearly 80 Wisconsin high schools currently offer competitive video gaming as an after-school extra-curricular activity or club.  W-M-T-V Television reports that coaches say e-sports engage kids in the same way traditional sports do by building leadership skills, developing strategy, and teaching teamwork.

 The sentence is 18 years in prison for an Eau Claire County man convicted of sexual exploitation a child and possession of child pornography.  Forty-one-year-old Ryan Zimmerman of Fall Creek was found guilty of sexually assaulting a girl numerous times when she was in fifth through seventh grades.  The girl said in 2019 that Zimmerman when hold her down and take pictures during the attacks. He claimed he didn't remember committing the assaults because he was drinking heavily at the time.

The Wisconsin Elections Commission is appealing a judge’s order to shut down-ballot drop boxes.  A judge in Waukesha recently ruled that ballot drop boxes are not allowed under Wisconsin’s election laws.  Judge Michael Bohren says only voting in-person or by mail is legal in Wisconsin.  The elections commission wants the drop boxes to be allowed for at least the February primary election.  Disability advocates are joining the appeal.

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos would prefer that Republican Kevin Nicholson not oppose former Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch in a G-O-P primary for governor.  Vos says Nicholson has the right to run, "but I would rather focus on beating Governor Evers because our state needs a dramatic change. And I feel like spending a bunch of time arguing amongst ourselves is counterproductive to that effort.”  Nicholson is a Marine veteran who lost the 2018 U-S Senate primary to G-O-P nominee Leah Vukmir.  Incumbent Senator Tammy Baldwin topped Vukmir in the general election.

 Wood County court records show that former Marshfield police chief Rick Gramza has pleaded no contest to two counts of disorderly conduct.  Gramza had been facing sexual assault and misconduct in office charges after a female officer accused him of making unwanted sexual contact with her.  Some of the charges against him were dropped last year due to a lack of evidence.  W-S-A-U Radio reports Gramza reached a separation agreement with the city last spring and he was scheduled to go to trial at one point.  He was fined an undisclosed amount during a Thursday court appearance.

A U-S Senate committee has given its approval to legislation that is aimed at stopping unfair business practices on the internet.  U-S Senators Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and Chuck Grassley of Iowa introduced the bill in October.  Klobuchar and Grassley say it would level the playing field for smaller businesses needing to operate on the digital platforms owned by huge companies.  They say it would also benefit the consumers who use them.  The measure is worded to restore competition online by stopping the dominant digital platforms from unfairly giving preference to their own products and services. It isn’t clear when the full Senate might open debate on the matter.

Officials say MNsure has seen a ten-percent increase in health care sign-ups during the recent open enrollment period.  The surge is the biggest year-to-year jump in five years.  MNsure officials believe the sharp increase can be credited to expanded tax credit subsidies that led to significant discounts in premium costs.  The state's health insurance exchange allows individuals to shop for a health plan from several private insurers.

Kyle Rittenhouse wants his infamous rifle back, but he doesn’t plan to keep it.  Rittenhouse’s lawyers this week filed the paperwork to get the rifle back from authorities. They say he wants to destroy it. Rittenhouse is also asking for other personal items police confiscated, including his cell phone. A hearing is set for the end of January. Rittenhouse was acquitted of killing two people and wounding one other during riots in Kenosha in August of 2020.

Local Regional News Jan 21

 The Wisconsin Supreme Court has agreed to hear the case of a Dunn County woman who is suing Dunn County and the sheriff's department.  Rachel Slabey sued the county after she was assaulted by former Dunn County Jailer Ryan Boigenzahn.   The Supreme Court will decide if the county and sheriff's department are liable for a failure to address allegations that Boigenzahn was likely to cross a line sexually or romantically with inmates and they didn't protect Slabey from the assault.

Another Democrat has entered the race to replace Ron Kind in the third congressional district.  Dr. Mark Neumann of La Crosse made the announcement yesterday in Eau Claire.  He enters a primary with 4 other candidates in the August 9th primary.  So far, Derrick Van Orden is the only Republican running for the seat.

A former Minnesota firefighter has been sentenced to five years in prison for a hit-and-run crash in western Wisconsin.  Thirty-four-year-old Andrew Endres had pleaded no contest to two counts of hit-and-run resulting in death connected to the crash in 2014.  The Star-Tribune reports 41-year-old Richard L. Cobenais of Luck and 28-year-old Benjamin R. Juarez of Frederic were killed.  Cobenais and Juarez had been fighting and they were hit when the fight spilled into the road.  A witness told Wisconsin authorities she had heard Endres say he was drunk when he hit the men.

After the temporary changes to pesticide applicator certification requirements due to COVID-19, applicators will need full certification for 2022. This year the program will include online as well as in-person training.  Pepin County in-person Private Pesticide Applicator Training sessions are scheduled for Tuesday, February 1, and Thursday, February 24, 2022. Classes will run from 9:30 am to 3:00 pm (including testing) at the Pepin County Government Center. Space is limited and pre-registration is required for these sessions.  For more information, contact the Pepin County Extension Office.

The Federal Government will be spending $830 million for the Navigation and Ecosystem Sustainability Program to modernize locks and dams on the Upper Mississippi River according to Senator Tammy Baldwin.  The money is coming from the recent infrastructure bill.  Other river projects in Western Wisconsin include 350,000 for River Falls’ Kinnickinnic River Restoration to complete a feasibility study in Pierce County and $5.31 million for Arcadia to initiate construction on flood prevention projects. 

The Department of Workforce Development reports Wisconsin's unemployment rate dropped to a record two-point-eight percent in December.  The state's jobless rate was three percent in November.  The total number of unemployed people in Wisconsin declined to a record low of 86-thousand-200.  Total nonfarm jobs increased by 63-hundred last month while private sector positions rose by 53-hundred.  D-W-D says the manufacturing sector fueled the growth by adding 48-hundred jobs in December.

Governor Tim Walz is announcing a series of proposals to expand economic opportunity in Minnesota.  The supplemental budget proposals include delivering 700-million dollars in direct payments to Minnesotans through "Walz Checks."  Walz wants to distribute checks of up to 350 dollars for Minnesotans.  Single tax filers earning up to 164-thousand-400 dollars would receive a payment of 175 dollars.  A married couple filing jointly earning up to 273-thousand would receive a payment of 350.  More than two-point-seven million Minnesota households would receive a Walz Check under this proposal.  The money would come from the state's projected seven-point-seven-billion-dollar surplus. 

The Minnesota State Patrol is releasing photo and audio files from a drunken-driving crash involving Hennepin County Sheriff David Hutchinson in December.  Hutchinson was hurt in a single-car rollover about five miles east of Alexandria.  He was traveling 126 miles per hour just before the crash.  Hutchinson told witnesses and deputies at the scene that he wasn't the driver of the county-owned vehicle.  But later in the day, Hutchinson released a statement saying he drove the vehicle after he'd been drinking and apologized for his actions.  Hutchinson was charged with four misdemeanors.

 If you happened to be staring at the sky shortly before 7:00 a-m you might have seen it.  People living in eight states in the Midwest and Upper Midwest reported seeing a fireball.  The University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences caught the meteor on video at 6:48 a-m.  The American Meteor Society received 118 reports of sightings.  A report from the Milwaukee Astronomical Society indicates the presence of meteor showers between now and February 8th.  The most activity is expected January 27th and 28th.  The fireball was spotted as far south as the St. Louis area.

A newly-formed committee in the Wisconsin Assembly will tackle the supply chain issues that pose big challenges for retailers.  Speaker Robin Vos says getting answers about low supply volumes and rising prices will be good for businesses and families.  The Republican Vos announced the creation of a new Special Assembly Committee on Trade and Supply Chain Wednesday.  WisPolitics reports one of the tasks for committee members will be to examine the ways Wisconsin’s worker shortage is affecting the supply chain here in the state.

 Four Democratic members of the Wisconsin Assembly have introduced a resolution to end what they call the “sham” investigation of the 2020 presidential election.  State Representatives Mark Spreitzer, Gordon Hintz, Lisa Subek, and Jodi Emerson say the effort has wasted hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars.  WisconsinExaminer-dot-com reports the resolution would eliminate the Office of Special Counsel.  Spreitzer says the 2020 election “was open, transparent, and fair.”  He says it’s time for Donald Trump and the far right to accept that he lost.  Passage of the resolution isn’t likely in the Republican-controlled Assembly.  Speaker Robin Vos has said he wants the effort completed by the end of this month.

The immigrant rights group “Voces de la Frontera Action” has filed a lawsuit seeking to quash a subpoena issued by former state Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman.  He is demanding that the group surrender documents and internal communications related to the 2020 presidential election in Wisconsin.  Gableman was hired by Wisconsin Republicans to investigate the way the election was conducted last year.  The legality of the subpoena is being challenged and a spokesperson calls it “modern-day McCarthyite political theater, according to W-D-J-T Television in Milwaukee.

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development says Minnesota's unemployment rate dropped two-tenths to three-point-one percent in December.  That is the lowest level since 2019.  The state lost two-thousand jobs last month, but the November numbers were revised upward by five-thousand jobs.  DEED Commissioner Steve Grove said, "the good news remains that our economy is bursting with great job opportunities, and DEED will continue our proactive programs to Minnesota job-seekers across the state.”  Officials say more people moved from unemployment into employment in December.  The national unemployment rate was three-point-nine percent last month.

A bill passed on Thursday by the Wisconsin Assembly would allow people with concealed carry permits to have guns on school grounds. The author, Republican Shae Sortwell of Two Rivers, says permit holders currently must have their guns secured when picking up their kids at school.      Most Wisconsin schools are gun-free zones and opponents say guns don’t belong on school grounds. The bill would likely get vetoed by Governor Tony Evers if it passes the state Senate.

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos has sanctioned a member of his Republican caucus. Vos noted Thursday that Representative Timothy Ramthun claims Wisconsin can revoke the 10 electoral votes it delivered to President Joe Biden.   According to Vos’ office, Ramthun also falsely accused Vos of signing a deal with attorneys for former Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton to authorize ballot drop boxes in Wisconsin. Vos has stripped Ramthun of his sole staffer at his Capitol office.

The Minnesota D-N-R is seeking public input on deer population goals in 28 permit areas in portions of southeast Minnesota, the Arrowhead, and north-central areas of the state.  Population goals established in this process will provide direction for management in each goal-setting block for a 10-year period, with a midpoint review at the five-year mark.  The D-N-R's Barb Keller says these goals are very important because they guide the annual decision-making process with regard to deer regulations and bag limits in each deer permit area.  Minnesotans can provide feedback online beginning Monday through February 13th.

Local-Regional News Jan 20

 The American Legion Post 181 is asking the city of Durand to help with flag replacement at the Veteran Memorial at Riverside Park.    Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren says the flags have been ordered and the Legion's request will be taken up by the finance committee.  The Post is asking for $500 from the city to go toward the cost of the flags.

While households across the country are now eligible for free at-home covid19 tests, outside testing is still available at Advent Health in Durand.  Angela Jacobson, director of emergency preparedness with Advent Health says you need to call ahead before going to the hospital for a test. Jacobson says the hospital has seen a rise in the number of people coming in for testing over the last two months.

A longtime music festival is moving out of Eau Claire County and into Chippewa County.  Country Jam announced they have purchased 160 acres of land in the town of Wheaton just off of Hwy T and 20th avenue.  The event will build permanent facilities on the land, including 1000 campsites and will use the facility year-round for other events.   The move is expected to be completed for the 2023 festival.

The Dunn County Community Foundation is asking for donations to help replace the bricks at the Dunn County Veterans Memorial in downtown Menomonie.  The memorial honors military veterans from any branch of services and there is no residency requirement to honor a veteran.  Bricks cost $250 each and donations are needed before March 15th.  For more information call 715-232-8019.  The new bricks will be dedicated on Flag day.

An Edgar woman was found guilty of homicide by negligent operation of a vehicle in Chippewa County Court yesterday.  The two-day trial of 23yr old Miranda Miller ended yesterday with the jury finding Miller guilty of the charges after the July 2017 accident where she ran a stop sign and ran into the vehicle of 46yr old Jeremy Goodwin of Chippewa Falls.  Miller is facing 10yrs in prison and will be sentenced in March.

Several federal lawsuits are on hold while the Wisconsin Supreme Court considers redistricting maps for the state.  The high court listened to six hours of arguments Wednesday.  Republicans in the Legislature and Democratic Governor Tony Evers weren’t able to agree on political boundaries last year and that’s why redistricting wound up before the state Supreme Court.  The Journal-Sentinel reports the justices are considering proposals from Republican lawmakers, Evers, and a mix of maps from the two parties and independent groups.  The court hasn’t said when it might release its findings.

A snowman standing 40 feet tall is drawing impressed visitors to a village in northwestern Wisconsin.  The exhibit has arms made out of actual trees, a smile made of saw blades, and a pipe that used to be a five-gallon bucket.  The giant snowman was actually born two years ago when Milltown challenged businesses to a decorating contest for Christmas.  Craig Carlson and his business, Carlson Construction, locked down first place with a 19-foot snowman.  The next year he was 32 feet tall.  Carlson says he got permission to collect and use the snow plowed off nearby parking lots, then used construction equipment to put the big guy together.  The snow is braced by a plywood frame.  It’s located on Highway 35 in Polk County.

Voting is underway in MnDOT's 2022 "name a snowplow" contest.  More than 11-thousand names were submitted in December and the list has been narrowed to 50 finalists.   Eight winning names will be announced in February for a snowplow in each of the eight MnDOT districts in the state.    This year's finalists include "Betty Whiteout," "Coldy Gopher," "Dontcha Snow" and "Plowin' in the Wind."   Some of the 2021 runners-up made the top 50.   The public can vote on the MnDOT website through January 26th.

The talk about the need for bail reform has returned to the Wisconsin Legislature after last week’s shooting of an off-duty police officer.  Three teenagers have been charged in what started as an attempted carjacking.  Republican State Representative Janel Brandtjen says the low bails set for offenders in Milwaukee County make the whole state less safe.  State Senator Van Wanggaard will host a Thursday hearing on legislation that would set a mandatory minimum bail amount for certain crimes.  The suspects accused of shooting the officer were free on bail amounts of less than one thousand dollars connected to felony offenses.

Milwaukee apparently has no plans to enforce its newest mask mandate.  The Common Council reinstated the requirement Tuesday for all city businesses until March 1st.  Milwaukee Health Commissioner Kirsten Johnson says the city doesn’t have enough people to make sure its businesses are requiring everyone to wear a face covering.  A letter would be added to the business’ file if the city receives enough complaints.  It isn’t apparent what that would mean for the business.

 A Minnesota woman and six co-conspirators have entered guilty pleas to charges alleging they defrauded the state’s Medicaid program out of more than 860 thousand dollars.  Attorney General Keith Ellison’s office reports Trenea Deshawn Davis pleaded guilty to five counts of aiding and abetting theft by swindle.  She also admitted to operating the fraud ring.  Several of her co-conspirators are family members.  She will be sentenced next month.

Wisconsin’s never-used high-speed trains are headed to the African nation of Nigeria.  The Spanish firm Talgo has reached a deal with Nigeria’s Lago State for the trains, which were built in Milwaukee 11 years ago. Former Republican Governor Scott Walker blocked construction of high-speed rail between Madison and Milwaukee, and the trains have been in storage ever since.

 A new website set up by the University of Wisconsin-Madison will offer information about the search for the school’s next chancellor.  Details about the search and screen committee will be posted.  W-M-T-V Television reports listening session will be conducted the rest of this month to allow students and the campus community to give input.  The search committee leader has said it’s hoped that the chancellor to succeed Rebecca Blank will be chosen by May.

 Minnesota Governor Tim Walz says more than 100 nurses will start arriving immediately at health care facilities around the state.  Walz last week directed 40-million dollars in American Rescue Plan funding to hire emergency staff to provide care at certain hospitals dealing with staff shortages during the current COVID-19 case surge.  The nurses will work up to 60 hours per week for 60 days to provide care for patients.  The first round of nursing teams will arrive at 23 hospitals this week. Another wave of an additional 100 nurses will arrive in Minnesota in the days ahead to support even more health care facilities.

The Coulee Region Humane Society says an eagle is expected to survive after riding 80 miles stuck to the front of a train.  Rehabilitators were called when the conductor reported the incident.  The eagle was treated for pain management and is expected to soon be transferred to the Raptor Education Group in Antigo.  Miraculously, the eagle didn’t suffer any broken bones or serious injuries.  W-X-O-W Television reports the eagle is recovering and able to fly short distances.

Local-Regional News Jan 19

 A high service pump failed at one of the city of Durand Water Wells over the last month.  Public Works Superintended Matt Gillis told council members last week that city crews were able to craft some parts to fix the pump, but that it would need to eventually be replaced.  Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren says the city can run on one well, but the city will begin to budget for a new pump.  Because of the pump's age, replacement parts are not available and that is the reason it will have to be replaced in the coming years.

The Wisconsin Realtors Association is reporting a tighter supply of properties and the COVID-19 pandemic didn’t keep the state from setting a record for home sales in 2021.  The Monday report from the Association says there were more than 89 thousand closings last year.  In Pepin County, 8 homes were sold in December, Buffalo County 13, Pierce County 34, Trempealeau County 38 and Dunn County reported 64 homes sold in December.  The median price of a home in Western Wisconsin was $250,000 up 12%.  Statewide, the median price was also up, rising more than nine percent to 240 thousand dollars.  The busy market wasn’t statewide.  The number of closings was up four-point-four percent in southeastern Wisconsin, but it dropped by almost six percent in the northern part of the state.

The first meeting of the Pepin County Board for 2022 has been canceled.  There was no indication as to why the meeting was canceled or if it would be rescheduled for later this month.  The next regularly scheduled meeting will be on February 16.  

After warm temperatures on Tuesday, much colder weather is expected for the rest of the week.  An arctic cold front moved through the area overnight bringing a temperature drop of as much as 35 degrees.  Wind chill advisories are in effect through tomorrow at noon as the weather service is expecting wind chills from 25-30 below.

A woman charged with vehicular homicide is in Chippewa County court this week.  23yr old Miranda Jo Miller of Edgar is charged with homicide by negligent operation of a vehicle after an accident in 2017 killed 46yr old Jeremy Goodwin of Chippewa Falls after authorities say Miller drove through a stop sign before hitting Goodwin's vehicle.   That trial is expected to wrap up today.

 

A 26-year-old woman who crashed her car into an Eau Claire bar Sunday morning is accused of being drunk.  Maly Khang was taken into custody just before 1:00 a-m.  Police say Khang had been drinking at another bar before she drove to the Amber Inn.  Officers say she had a five-year-old child in her car at the time of the crash and that child wasn’t secured in a car seat.  No injuries were reported as a result of the accident.

The Bloomer School District is expected to have its elementary and middle school reopened today.  The district was forced to cancel classes for the elementary and middle school on Tuesday after the district experienced significant staffing shortages due to covid and other illnesses and medical situations.    As of last Thursday, the district had reported 133 students and staff were either in isolation or quarantine.

A half-million-dollar donation will be used to build a water research boat for the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.  The school’s River Study Center is getting the money from the Paul Fleckenstein Trust.  The boat will be used to study the Mississippi River.  The environmental services and harbor management company J-F Brennan will store and maintain the vessel.  A spokesperson says the company depends on science technology programs like the one at U-W-La Crosse for future workers.  Scientists at the school say researchers will study the physical aspects of the river, plus biology and water quality concerns.

The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and Western Technical College are using a donation from National Geographic to pass on learning materials to Afghan refugees living at Fort McCoy.  The student workbooks, C-Ds, and D-V-Ds will help the refugees learn English as they get ready to move away from the military installation and into the general public.  The learning materials are good for adults as well as children.  Many teachers from U-W-La Crosse and Western Technical are leading classes at the base in Monroe County.

 Authorities in southeastern Minnesota are still investigating a weekend medical call that left one person dead and two hospitalized.  Olmsted County sheriff's deputies found three people unresponsive inside a garage Saturday in Eyota.  The preliminary information suggests that carbon monoxide may have been involved.  No word on the current condition of those in the hospital.

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation is making some changes to help the state’s school districts find more bus drivers.  The D-M-V says it is doing all it can by removing barriers to more people will apply.  A portion of the test that has stopped some candidates will be waived until March 31st.  People who get the required license through the waiver would only be cleared for school buses – not trucks, motor coaches, or other commercial vehicles.  W-M-T-V Television is reporting many school bus companies are offering employment incentives, bonuses, and bigger paychecks.

Everyone in the US is now eligible to get free COVID 19 testing kits.   The registrations for getting those kits opened up on Tuesday, and are being distributed by the US Post Office. Every home in the country is eligible to get 4 free kits. Those will be delivered later in January once the Post Office gets people's requests for kits. You can sign up online at COVID Tests dot Gov.

More than half of all eligible people in Wisconsin are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.  State health officials are calling it a milestone in the fight against the coronavirus in Wisconsin. The Department of Health Services says as of Monday, a little more than one-point-seven million people have had a booster shot on top of their initial doses.

 A data scientist at the Mayo Clinic Kern Center in Rochester expects this state’s omicron cases to peak around January 23rd, then drop off.  That’s a pattern already seen in New York State and Florida.  Doctors in New York City and Miami have been dealing with record numbers, but now are reporting drastic drop-offs in the number of cases.  Doctor Curtis Storlie says projections suggest Minnesota will see record case numbers over the next week – possibly three times as has as the worst previous surge.  There may be a “honeymoon period” after the peak, but it isn’t clear what comes after that.

 Preparations continue in St. Paul for the federal civil rights trial of three ex-Minneapolis police officers charged with the death of George Floyd.  Jury selection is scheduled to begin Thursday for Thomas Lane, J. Alexander Kueng, and Tou Thao.  Kueng and Tou are charged with willfully depriving Floyd's civil rights for failing to stop fellow officer Derek Chauvin from kneeling on Floyd's neck for more than nine minutes.  Lane was seen on video asking whether Floyd should be rolled on his side.  St. Paul police have closed streets around the federal court building.  Chauvin pleaded guilty to federal civil rights charges in the case.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is proposing a two-point-seven-billion-dollar bonding bill for infrastructure projects across Minnesota.  The governor says "the bonding bill that you've heard about is an investment much like your home, whether it would be replacing your windows, or roofs or adding an addition when your family grows, that's what we do in Minnesota."  Lawmakers must prioritize borrowing and spending in the soon-to-begin legislative session.  And they're starting with a roughly seven-point-seven-billion-dollar budget surplus.  The 2020 bonding bill was one-point-nine-billion--the largest in state history.

Madison is listed among the safest U-S state capitals.  WalletHub released its list Monday with Madison in third place.  Wisconsin’s capital city was ranked first for quality of education and health and third for quality of life.  Its worst showing came in affordability where it ranked 20th.  WalletHub chose Austin, Texas as the safest state capital in the country.  Raleigh, North Carolina was the only other state capital ranked ahead of Madison.

The toll is 250 dollars per vehicle to drive the 37-mile ice highway from Warroad to the Northwest Angle resort community.  This is the second year the road has been built across the frozen surface of the Lake of the Woods.  Backers say it costs an estimated 15 hundred dollars per mile for plowing and maintenance.  The ice road lets people avoid a drive into Canada – or get to the Northwest Angle without using a plane or snowmobile.  The ice road was first built last year when the Canadian border was closed to nonessential travel from the U-S during the coronavirus pandemic.

Local-Regional News Jan 18

 Two people in Durand have been arrested on drug charges.  According to the Pepin County Sheriffs Department, a search warrant was conducted last Thursday at the apartment of 28yr old Leah Kramer and 28yr old Daniel Wagner after a joint investigation of the Drug Endangered Child Unit had received information that  Wagner was selling methamphetamine at his place of employment and using meth at the apartment.  During the search, authorities found methamphetamine, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia along with the couple's 1-yr old toddler.  Both Wagner and Kramer have been arrested for neglecting a child, possession of methamphetamine, possession of THC and drug paraphernalia.

A group of Durand residents is working together for the formation of a dog park in the city.  Last night the group met to discuss the park.  They are proposing having the park on land that was donated to the city near Caddie Woodlawn also known as the Hanson property.  They estimate that it would cost between $4500-$6500 for the fencing and that no fee would be charged just donations.  The Durand Improvement Group agreed to allow the group to be a part of DIG's 501c3 for the purposes of fundraising.    Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren says the group's proposal will be considered by the Public Welfare Committee.

The Pepin County ATV Club is asking the city of Durand to write a letter of support for changing state law to allow ATV's and UTV's to use the Hwy 10 bridge.  Currently, state law prohibits ATV's and UTV's on bridges longer than 1000 feet and the Hwy 10 bridge is 1600 feet.  Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren says the city has sent a letter to the State DOT in support of the ATV's and this letter would be sent to State Senator Jeff Smith and other members of the legislature.  That proposed change in the law is currently in the state senate.

Doctors at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin say the last child patient who had been hospitalized after the Waukesha Christmas Parade incident has been released.  The hospital treated 18 children injured when Darrell Brooks Junior is accused of driving his S-U-V through the people watching the parade in November.  One child died.  A news release from the hospital says some of the young patients will face a long recovery time as the result of serious injuries – both physical and mental.  Six people were killed and more than 60 were injured on November 21st.

Officials at the Mayo Clinic are supporting the new mask mandate in the city of Rochester.   Executive Dean for practice Doctor Amy Williams said in a statement, "Mayo Clinic appreciates the Declaration of Local Emergency requiring masking in indoor spaces in Rochester to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 during this surge." Williams also says "we have seen from prior waves of COVID-19 that masking correlates with the decreased transmission."   She's also urging everyone to get vaccinated and boosted to prevent severe illness.  Rochester's mask requirement is in effect through February 7th or when COVID cases decline significantly.

A federal website where Americans can order free coronavirus rapid tests will be launched Wednesday and allow each household to order up to four tests, officials said Friday.  The website, called covidtests.gov, will require that users provide their names and addresses to receive the tests. The government purchased 500 million rapid tests that will be available to every household and will limit to four the number of tests sent to each address.  

Minnesota Eighth District Congressman Pete Stauber is officially seeking a third term in the U-S House this fall.  The Republican from Hermantown said in a campaign video that he's running for re-election "because northern Minnesota needs a voice in Washington who will champion our causes built on the foundation of our values and beliefs."  Minnesota's 8th District could look a bit different under the new redistricting maps in November.   D-F-L Party chair Ken Martin accuses Congressman Stauber of taking credit for federal airport grants in his district that were funded by the bipartisan infrastructure bill he voted against in November.

 Legislation backed by Republican lawmakers would lower the minimum age to carry a concealed weapon in Wisconsin to 18.  Right now, a gun owner needs to be 21 before they can apply for a concealed carry permit.  Republican State Representative Shaw Sortwell of Two Rivers says 18-year-olds have the right to vote or go to war so they should also be allowed to carry a concealed weapon.  The N-R-A supports the legislation.  Among the opponents are the Wisconsin Anti-Violence Effort, Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, and the city of Milwaukee.  Sortwell is a member of the Assembly’s Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee.

State Attorney General Josh Kaul says a group of Republicans who sent a phony elections notice to Congress in 2020 should be investigated.   A complaint about that notice is currently in front of the Wisconsin Elections Commission. Ten Republicans, including Elections Commissioner Robert Spindell, signed a false notice to Congress saying that Wisconsin's electoral votes should go to former President Trump, rather than President Joe Biden. There were plans among the Trump administration to use those phony notices to have then Vice President Mike Pence declare Trump the victor.

Wisconsin Democrats say a judge’s ruling on the use of ballot drop boxes will make it harder to vote. Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge Michael Bohren determined that Wisconsin law allows for just two ways to vote – in person or through the mail. An appeal of Bohren’s decision is expected. Wisconsin election officials expanded the use of those drop boxes during the 2020 presidential election in reaction to COVID-19. It isn’t likely that the judge’s ruling could be set aside in time for the drop boxes to be used in the February spring primaries.

The attorney for a parents group says she is hopeful the Wisconsin Supreme Court “will take the lead in protecting a parent’s right to be a parent.”  The state’s high court agreed to hear arguments on the issue last week.  Attorney Kate Anderson represents a parents group that is challenging the Madison Metropolitan School District policy of not telling a child’s parent if their child identifies differently and uses a different name at school due to transgenderism.  The parents say they should be informed in situations like that.

 Wisconsin’s superintendent of public instruction says virtual classes are one of the best ways to keep schools open.  Jill Underly defended the move during the omicron surge as she appeared on W-K-O-W Television’s Capital City Sunday.  Underly said Wisconsin schools can’t remain open when they don’t have teachers, staff members, school bus drivers, and other support personnel.  She was defending schools that are being criticized for the move.  Underly says moving classes online for a week or two will help keep the schools open for the long run.

Fans wanting to attend any indoor events at the University of Minnesota’s five campuses will have to provide proof of vaccination or a negative test for COVID-19 in the last 72 hours.  Some college sports fans support the change, but others are pushing back against what they see as an unnecessary intrusion.  The system president made the announcement Friday.  It is in effect for any indoor events attended by more than 200 people.  The rule will affect campus events, leased-space events – including indoor sporting events.

The Minnesota State Fair is announcing ticket prices for the upcoming "Great Minnesota Get Together." Admission will be 17-dollars this year for adults, up one dollar from last year. Kids ages five-to-12 and adults over 64 can get in for 15-dollars. Hours are also being adjusted this year. The fairgrounds will be open from 7:00 A-M to 11:00 P-M Thursday through Sunday and 7:00 A-M to 9:00 P-M on Labor Day. The fair runs from August 25th through Monday, September 5th.

Local-Regional News Jan 17

 Some changes in when the fire horn is sounded in Durand.  During last week's city council meeting, Fire Chief King told the council the department is working with Pepin County Dispatch to not sound the horn from 9pm-7am as the department has received concerns about the horn sound late at night.  The fire horn will continue to sound during the day.

Durand Firefighters responded to a shed fire at W2114 Hwy T on Sunday.  When firefighters arrived the owners had managed to get the fire under control.  Firefighters removed some smoldering hay bales from the shed and no one was injured in that fire.

A Dunn County man has been convicted of repeated sexual assault of a child, and second-degree child sexual assault.  Kenneth Thibado was found guilty by a Dunn County Jury on Friday.  In 2019, a woman told authorities that Thibado sexually assaulted her multiple times between the ages of 15-18.    Thibado will be sentenced in May.

The National Weather Service has confirmed the 9th Tornado during the December 15th severe weather outbreak.  The Weather Service says the tornado was in Chippewa County on the east side of Lake Wissota.  The path of the tornado was 5.5 miles and was rated an EF-0 with peak winds estimated at 85mph.  The tornado uprooted and snapped trees and damaged roofs of homes.

A company that planned to develop land near the Sonnentag Center in Eau Claire has filed suit.  Southside Holdings and Big River Education Center say they are suing the U-W-Eau Claire Foundation because it has canceled their plans for new development.  They say they sold a piece of property to the university as part of a deal where they would develop the old Student Transit Center location.  Instead, that property is going to become a parking lot for the Sonnentag Center.  The Blugold Foundation says the plans for the center have changed many times.  It says it’s unfortunate that the disagreement is going to end up in court.

A special Board of Regents committee is naming two finalists for president of the University of Wisconsin System.  Jay Rothman, chairman and C-E-O of the Milwaukee law firm Foley and Gardner, and U-W Eau Claire chancellor James Schmidt will interview for the president position next week.  Regent president Edmund Manydeeds called Rothman and Schmidt "excellent candidates" and said each of whom would be an outstanding leader for our university system.  They will interview Tuesday.  The special committee will then forward a recommendation to the full Board of Regents which is expected to make a final decision on the next president by the end of January.

The Wisconsin Air National Guard is welcoming a new commander at Volk Field Air Base.  Colonel Matthew Eakins says he was humbled and honored to be named Volk Field's 13th commander.  Colonel Eakins is replacing Lieutenant Colonel Tom Bauer, who was interim commander at the base.  Colonel Leslie Zyzda-Martin was relieved of her duties in November.  Volk Field occupies most of the former Wisconsin Military Reservation, where Wisconsin National Guard troops began training in the 1880s.

U-S Senator Tammy Baldwin is touting federal funding for Wisconsin bridges from the new infrastructure law.  The Wisconsin Democrat says the state will receive 225-million dollars over the next five years to rebuild and repair bridges.  The D-O-T says Wisconsin has 979 bridges that are rated in poor condition.  Baldwin said, "when we invest in fixing our bridges and roads, we are strengthening our supply chains, which will help lower the cost of goods for businesses and consumers.”  She also says bridge projects will create good-paying jobs.  Wisconsin is set to receive 45 million dollars this fiscal year.

Wisconsin’s attorney general is calling for the F-C-C to crack down on spoof calls.  A-G Josh Kaul says Americans have lost hundreds of millions of dollars to scammers.  He and other attorneys general are proposing more restrictions on foreign companies.  Kaul says that will save people money and keep personal data secure.  The group of attorneys general is telling the Federal Communication Commission implementing more authentication technology will help prevent scams in the future.  Even with all the potential changes, Kaul says people still need to be vigilant when they answer calls from unknown phone numbers.

A Rochester man will spend ten years in federal prison for the arson of a pawn shop during the May 2020 protest riots in Minneapolis.  The U-S Attorney's Office says 26-year-old Montez Lee admitted that he and others broke into the Max It Pawn Shop during civil unrest sparked by the death of George Floyd.  Surveillance video footage shows Lee pouring a fire accelerant around the building and lighting it on fire.  The building was destroyed in the fire.  The body of a Burnsville man was recovered from the rubble and debris nearly two months later.

An officer at the Jackson County Jail faces four felony charges for allegedly having a sexual relationship with an inmate.  Bret Noltner is accused of taking the female inmate to a closet away from video surveillance cameras for sex several times.  The woman says she wasn’t forced to be intimate with the married officer from Tomah, but she did feel like he was taking advantage of her.  Noltner denied having sex, then claimed the inmate was the one who started the relationship.

 Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers says he isn’t surprised that the U-S Supreme Court has blocked the president’s coronavirus vaccine mandate.  Evers said Thursday he’s always had doubts about the Biden order that companies with more than 100 employees would have to force them to get vaccinated or get tested weekly.  The high court blocked the Biden administration from enforcing the requirements for large private companies with its five-to-four vote Thursday.  The mandate would have affected 84 million American workers.

A nationwide settlement with the student loan servicing company Navient will provide one-point-85 billion dollars in relief.  Wisconsin’s Josh Kaul was one of 40 attorneys general who was involved in the suit that alleged unfair and deceptive practices by the company.  Navient was accused of steering borrowers into costly long-term agreements rather than helping them find more affordable income-driven repayment plans.  The court still has to approve the deal.  About 350 thousand borrowers would receive restitution payments of 260 dollars each.

 Minnesota is set to receive around 300-million dollars over five years from the federal government to help fix bridges in need of repair.  U-S Senator Klobuchar says after the 35-W bridge collapse in 2007, Minnesota knows too well the importance of keeping our bridges safe.  Senator Klobuchar says the money will be used to fix roughly 600 bridges in poor condition throughout the state.  She was joined by Senator Tina Smith and Governor Tim Walz Friday morning as she touted the funding from the new federal infrastructure law.

The sentence is more than 31 years in prison for an Austin man who pleaded guilty to the second-degree murder of his stepson and attempted murder of his wife.  Twenty-eight-year-old Jaime Vaca stabbed 15-year-old Julio Rodriguez to death in December of 2020 and seriously wounded the boy's mother.  Vaca's wife underwent life-saving surgery.  Austin police say Rodriguez was trying to protect his mother during a domestic dispute.   Vaca receives credit for 394 days already served.

The Wisconsin Policy Forum reports alcohol-related deaths in the state were up by almost 25 percent according to data released Thursday.  The numbers come from 2020 when one-thousand-77 Wisconsin residents died of alcohol-related causes.  That was an increase from 865 in 2019.  The report was based on death certificates.  The numbers don’t include people who died in drunken-driving accidents or those who were killed during alcohol-fueled violence.  The state of Wisconsin has a history of binge drinking and high alcohol consumption.

Local-Regional News Jan

 The Boyceville Community Ambulance District is looking for solutions as it battles continuing staffing shortages.  For 13 hours last month, the service was unavailable and for nearly two-thirds of the time, it had only one person covering a shift.  E-M-S Chief Wayne Dow says that impacts the efforts to give patients adequate care.  Dow tells W-E-A-U Television he’s looking at a possible merger with the Colfax Ambulance Rescue Squad.  Colfax is about 17 miles away.  Things have improved slightly this month with two people available to cover shifts about 65 percent of the time.  Dow says he’s working to get people hired and trained, but it’s a challenge.  Low pay, the time commitment needed, and worries about COVID-19 are barriers to making things better in northwest Dunn County.

A Republican lawmaker questions whether there’s anything to be done, to stop the coronavirus. Representative Treig Pronschinske from Mondovi was asked about his party’s plans to combat COVID-19, during a legislative hearing at the Capitol on Wednesday.  Pronschinske testified in favor of legislation prohibiting businesses and government agencies from requiring proof of vaccination status. The hearing took place in a crowded room at the Capitol in Madison, with few people wearing masks. Medical professionals say vaccinations and masks are critical to slowing the spread of COVID-19, and preventing severe infections and hospitalizations.

One person is dead after a two-vehicle crash in St. Croix County early Thursday.  According to the St. Croix County Sheriffs Department, 39yr old Daniel Blietz of Hudson was traveling southbound on Hwy 35 when he collided with a northbound vehicle driven by 34yr old Bridget Clifton of Houlton.  Clifton was pronounced dead at the hospital as a result of her injuries, while Blietz was arrested after showing signs of impairment during an initial investigation with sheriff's deputies.  He is being held at the St. Croix County Jail.

A southwest Wisconsin man is dead after a hovercraft crash on the Mississippi River.  The Grant County Sheriff's Office says 77-year-old Gary Kaiser of Potosi was operating his vessel on the frozen waters of the river Wednesday morning when he is believed to have suffered a medical event.  Deputies say Kaiser struck a tree on an island and died at the scene.  Investigators are still looking into the incident.

Governor Tony Evers says Wisconsin National Guard soldiers will support hospitals and nursing homes facing staffing shortages due to COVID.   The Guard members are being trained as certified nursing assistants by Madison College.   Around 50 troops were deployed to six nursing homes this week.  Another 80 will be assigned at the end of the month and a group of about 80 will begin training in early February.  Evers issued a statement saying, "as we continue to see COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations surge, we are pursuing every available option to bring needed staffing support to Wisconsin’s health systems.”

The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce is applauding the U-S Supreme Court ruling Thursday that blocks the COVID vaccine mandate and testing for large employers.   Chamber V-P Vicki Stute (STEW'-tee) says they're pleased with the high court's decision "and continue to believe that employers across Minnesota know best how to manage their workplaces and keep their employees and their customers safe."  The nation's high court did not block enforcement of vaccine mandates for health care workers in facilities that receive federal funding.   Republican state Representative Steve Drazkowski from Mazeppa  says  over 700 Mayo Clinic employees were fired because of the mandate and calls the high court's ruling "selective constitutionality."

Legislation being proposed at the Capitol would have Wisconsin school districts offering classes on how to interact with police.  The bill, which had a public hearing before the Assembly Education Committee this week would require a fifth- through 12th-grade course on how to interact with law enforcement “with mutual cooperation and respect.” School districts could opt out of offering the curriculum. While several law enforcement groups are in support of the bill from Republican state Senator Andre Jacques of DePere, several education groups oppose it.

The legal dispute over where absentee ballot drop boxes can be located is expected to wind up before the Wisconsin Supreme Court.  A judge sided with conservatives Thursday by ruling they can’t be located anywhere other than at the clerk’s office – and no one other than the voter can return the absentee ballot.  If the ruling stands, it means those drop boxes can’t be used in the spring primary election next month.  There are currently three lawsuits filed on the contentious issue and Thursday’s ruling is certain to be appealed.  The Wisconsin Supreme Court could make the final decision on the legality of using those drop boxes to make it easier for people to vote absentee.

The Department of Natural Resources is hosting their winter Free Fishing Weekend starting on Saturday. Fisheries Coordinator Theresa Stabo says this is a fantastic chance to get outside and get some fresh air and maybe catch a fish or two.  If you don't have ice fishing equipment, you can borrow some from your local D N R office, or Stabo says this is a great time to make some new friends out on the ice. You can find out more online at D N R dot W I dot GOV.

 

A Wisconsin Senate committee is hearing a proposal that supporters say could save many lives.  Dillon’s Law was passed four years ago.  It allows anyone with proper training to carry epinephrine injections which can be used during severe allergic reactions.  Currently, a prescription is needed to get one.  The bill that is in committee this week removes the need for a prescription.  Dillon Mueller died eight years ago after he was stung by a bee and went into anaphylactic shock.  No one had an “Epi Pen,” not even first responders.  The new bill includes free training and access to the epinephrine auto-injectors.

 Federal officials say nearly half of all the people caught crossing the border with Mexico have failed to self-report.  They were told to check in with immigration officials in Texas but more than 47 thousand haven’t followed through.  Texas Republican Congressman Mike McCaul says it’s a huge problem and a national security threat.  The report from the Department of Homeland Security came in response to a request from U-S Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin.  Johnson is the ranking member of the Senate Homeland Security Committee.

Authorities in North Dakota are waiting for a murder suspect to be delivered, but he faces charges in Waukesha County first.  Nathanael Benton is accused of throwing bodily fluids on a corrections officer inside the Waukesha County Jail where he is being held.  Benton is charged with assault.  He was originally arrested on charges connected to the shooting of a Fargo man and two Wisconsin police officers.  Authorities say he will be tried in Waukesha County before he is extradited back to North Dakota to face the murder charges.

A conservative legal group is claiming racism over the way a state housing assistance program conducts its business.  The Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty says the state’s Help for Homeowners program gives more help to non-white families.  The group says state aid is based on the recipients’ race.  Under the program guidelines, minority families can have an annual income of about 50 thousand dollars more than white families and still qualify.  A spokesperson says it is unconstitutional for the government to distribute aid based on race.

  Congressman Tom Emmer is sponsoring legislation to create a bipartisan congressional working group to identify the causes of and propose solutions to the recent inflation.  Emmer says skyrocketing prices are the single most common concern he hears from my constituents as they pay more for from the grocery store to the gas pump.  The 6th District Republican says, "I believe one of the major causes of the inflation that we have been seeing is runaway government spending."  He says we owe it to the American people to identify the root cause and begin to address the problem.

  Snowplow drivers at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport have given formal notice of their intent to strike.  Contract negotiations with the Metropolitan Airports Commission have stalled.  Both sides will return to mediation during the mandatory 10-day cooling-off period.  Teamsters Local 320 represents the 94 snowplow drivers.  The dispute centers on pay raises and severance days.  The Commission says the full-time snowplow drivers early about 90 thousand dollars during an average season – meaning they are among the best-paid snowplow drivers in the area.

Older drivers in Wisconsin are getting another extension on their driver’s licenses.  The Division of Motor Vehicles says drivers who are 60 and older, with licenses expiring in January, February, or March, now have until the end of March to get them renewed. Many local D-M-V offices are still closed due to COVID-19 precautions, and the state is pushing people to renew their licenses online. Older drivers who want to renew their licenses in person can make an appointment on the D-M-V’s website.