U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that more than $255.7 million in congressionally directed spending for Wisconsin projects has been included in the bipartisan Omnibus Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2023. AdventHealth Durand will receive $916,000 to expand and modernize the ambulance bay at AdventHealth Durand to enhance patient safety, accommodate the larger modern ambulances operated by local municipalities, provide enhanced isolation for decontamination and hazardous waste cleanup, and additional space for community services. The bill passed the Senate yesterday, 68-29.
Strong winds predicted at nearly 50 miles per hour will likely lead to blizzard conditions through tonight, with blowing and drifting snow, white-out conditions, and extreme cold. Those winds will also contribute to extraordinarily cold temperatures during the storm, with wind chills hovering around 40-below-zero creating life-threatening conditions for anyone who becomes stranded while traveling.
Dunn County Emergency Management along with municipalities across Dunn County are preparing for expected blizzard-like conditions. According to a media release, Dunn County Emergency Management has finalized the location of warming shelters around the County in the event that there is a long-duration power outage. At this time, these warming shelters are not open and will be opened as deemed necessary. If you lose power and are dependent on electricity for medical reasons, you are asked to reach out to Dunn County Sheriff’s Department dispatch center at 715-232-1348.
They're hiring in Chippewa Falls. The city says it is looking to fill one new police officer and three new firefighter positions. Voters in Chippewa Falls approved a new tax increase to pay for the new hires back in November, and now the city is actually doing the hiring. The tax hike will mean just over a million dollars in new money for Chippewa Falls each year. City leaders say in addition to the new hires, current cops and firefighters will see a raise from the tax hike money.
Eau Claire Police say a man broke into a home on Zephyr Hill Avenue earlier this month to get money for drugs. They say he broke into the same house again this week to get money for Christmas presents. Police arrested 40-year-old Christopher Lamb again this week after he broke into the same home twice. Investigators say he stole cash, checks, and personal identity documents during the first break-in. They say he grabbed another check during the second break-in. Lamb is now looking at formal charges, he's out on bond and due back in court in February.
A 79yr old man is dead after a three-vehicle accident on I-94 near Black River Falls in Jackson County on Thursday. According to Wisconsin State Patrol, the driver of a GMC Sierra was headed westbound on the interstate just past the Hwy 12 exit, when they rear-ended a slower-moving vehicle in front of them. They then went off the road and struck a tractor-trailer that was on the shoulder. Traffic was moving slower at the time of the fatal accident because of another crash being cleared in the same location. The name of the victim has not been released pending notification of family members.
Wisconsin is now under an energy emergency. Governor Tony Evers signed an executive order yesterday that starts a 10-day waiver to get more fuel delivered to the state. The governor says the state is suffering through dangerous cold and high winds, and there is a shortage of fuel in some communities. Evers says giving companies a waiver will help get more fuel to the state and will help utility crews maintain the power grid.
Winter storms and power outages can bring additional hazards. Birchwood Fire Chief Ken George says to make sure you know how to properly use your alternative heat source, a fireplace, before starting it. An overheating wood stove was the suspected cause of one house fire this week in Sawyer County. George urged people to clear snow away from their furnace exhaust vents and to clear snow and ice away from all exterior doors so they are not blocked in an emergency. Officials say to make sure you have a working carbon monoxide detector as well.
lu hospitalizations in Minnesota are on the decline. Just over 260 people were hospitalized with influenza during the last weekly reporting period. That makes two consecutive weeks with a drop in hospitalizations. State health leaders say the surge in cases may end sooner than expected. People are still urged to get flu and COVID-19 vaccinations.
The Wisconsin State Patrol is discouraging travel during the winter storm Friday. Patrol Superintendent Tim Carnahan tells WMTV in Madison the snow, cold temperatures and wind will make for dangerous motoring on the interstates. The strong winds during the storm may also cause larger vehicles to tip or lose control.
Governor Tony Evers says his administration continues to monitor the use of TikTok on state devices. But in an interview with the Wisconsin State Journal, the Democratic governor stopped short of committing to a formal ban of the popular Chinese social media app on state-issued phones or devices. Several other states have banned TikTok 0n government devices, and Congress is considering a similar move due to security concerns over the potential for data mining by the Chinese Communist Party. Evers told the State Journal that the number of state employees using TikTok on state devices is minimal and his administration is in frequent contact with the FBI and emergency management officials to monitor the app.
Madison is taking a bit of a different approach to treating the roads for this winter storm. The Madison Streets Division says it's using sand instead of salt on the snowy roads. The city says it's making the switch to sand because the extremely cold temperatures can make salt ineffective. Sand is meant to help drivers get better traction, but roads will still be slick.
U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar is sponsoring a bill that would require social media companies to be more transparent. The Minnesota Democrat joined a bipartisan group of lawmakers to introduce The Platform Accountability and Transparency Act yesterday. The bill aims to make social media companies' internal data more accessible to the public.
We're getting our annual warning about cannibal sandwiches in Wisconsin. State and local public health managers are once again reminding people that eating raw meat is not recommended, and can make you sick. Cannibal sandwiches, also known as Tiger Meat sandwiches, or wild cat sandwiches become a popular offering at many holiday get-togethers. Samantha Moore, a registered dietitian at the Marshfield Clinic in Wausau says anyone who is sick or has a compromised immune system may want to stay away from raw meat as part of their diet this holiday season.
No comments:
Post a Comment