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.
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