One person is in custody after a pursuit in Dunn County on Thursday. According to the Wisconsin State Patrol, Ramsay County, MN Sheriff's Department was tracking a vehicle on I-94 Eastbound in Dunn County that was carjacked in St. Paul. A State Trooper located the vehicle and attempted to conduct a traffic stop, but the driver failed to stop and a pursuit ensued. A State Patrol Inspector performed a pursuit intervention technique on the vehicle at milepost 59 in Eau Claire County. The driver was taken into custody and transported to the Dunn County Jail.
The Pepin County Health Department has awarded nearly $150000 in grants to area organizations. Pepin County Health Officer Heidi Stewart says the department had to put a pause on community improvement goals due to the COVID pandemic. Stewart says the money came from ARPA funding. Stewart said over 30 applications for nearly $500,000 in grants were received and the applications were approved through a selection process.
With its recently renewed designation as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense, the University of Wisconsin-Stout has reached a standard that only about 4% of schools in the United States earn. The designation, through the 2028 academic year, is an extension of the university’s 2017-2022 designation, from the National Security Agency. UW-Stout was the first four-year university in the state to receive it in 2017. The designation broadens opportunities for research, grants, and collaboration.
A Menomine man was arrested for OWI on Tuesday. According to the Wisconsin State Patrol, troopers were dispatched to an accident near mile marker 26 on I-94 Westbound in St. Croix County. When heading to the scene, troopers were informed of 2 subjects fleeing the scene south across the interstate. The two suspects were later detained by the St. Croix County Sheriff's Department on 50th Avenue south of the accident. After an investigation, the passenger was released while the driver, 39yr old David Andrle of Menomonie was arrested for OWI 5th offense, possession of THC and drug paraphernalia, and operating after revocation. Andrle also had a felony warrant for his arrest.
Residents of Wisconsin and Minnesota will enjoy looking at their utility bill as it has been one of the warmest Decembers recorded. Xcel Energy says heating bills have decreased about 15 percent in Wisconsin and Minnesota this year. That is about 22 dollars residents were able to save.
The now-former chancellor at UW-La Crosse says he was stunned to be fired over his porn videos. Joe Gow said in a series of interviews yesterday that he did not expect to lose his job over the videos that he and his wife filmed, produced, and then distributed online. Gow said the videos had been up for about two months. He's not sure just how university regents found out about them. The UW board fired Gow on Wednesday. Gow continues to frame his porn career as an issue of free speech and free expression. The UW's president said Gow's behavior was abhorrent.
Keep New Years Eve safe if you plan to ring it in at your favorite tavern, by using the Safe Ride program. Scott from the Tavern League of Wisconsin. Safe Ride has more than 1700 participating establishments around Wisconsin. Local law enforcement will have enhanced patrols over the holiday weekend as part of the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign.
A bill circulating at the state Capitol would cover school supply expenses covered by teachers. The proposal would have the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction reimburse teachers for as much as $250 on out-of-pocket purchases of school supplies for their classrooms. Teachers who qualify must work full-time in either a public or private school and would need to send the state a receipt with the signature of the principal where the teacher works. The proposal was based on laws in seven other states that give teachers money for classroom supplies. The bill could receive a public hearing as early as January.
President Biden is among those remembering Herb Kohl. The White House yesterday issued a statement that called Kohl one of Wisconsin's greatest-ever advocates. The president said Kohl was 'a kind and principled man of integrity and character.' Kohl served alongside President Biden in the U.S. Senate for 24 years. Kohl died Wednesday after a brief illness.
A central Wisconsin Republican announces a long-shot campaign for US Senate in 2024. Private investigator Kyle Corrigan of Mosinee acknowledges he’s a political novice who attended his first Republican event just recently. Stevens Point Republican Rejani Raveendran has also announced she’s running. Democrat Tammy Baldwin is seeking a third term next year. No big-name Republicans have announced yet, although businessmen Eric Hovde and Scott Mayor are said to be considering it.
Flags will be at half-staff in Wisconsin starting today (Thurs) until former US Senator Herb Kohl's burial. Governor Tony Evers says Kohl was a born and raised Milwaukeean who dedicated his life and career to the state of Wisconsin. Kohl was the founder of Kohl's department store and the former owner of the Milwaukee Bucks as well as a politician. He died yesterday at 88-years-old after what the Herb Kohl Foundation says was a short illness. Kohl's funeral services will be held in January.
An effort to keep former president Donald Trump off the 2024 Wisconsin ballot is underway. Minocqua Brewing Company owner Kirk Bangstad announced Wednesday will file a petition with the Wisconsin Elections Commission Thursday to bar Trump from the Wisconsin Republican presidential primary ballot. Bangstad says his filing with the commission is the first step in a process to bar Trump from the state's ballot which he expects to end up in the court system. Bangstad’s announcement comes after the Michigan Supreme Court ruled Trump will be allowed to remain on the 2024 Michigan GOP primary ballot.
Wisconsin has been ranked the state with the second-most car crashes caused by animals. A new study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows 14-percent of fatal crashes in Wisconsin since 2017 involved live animals. Montana was the highest-ranking state at 23-percent. Wisconsin personal injury attorney John Foy tells WKOW 27 News many animals that cause car accidents are nocturnal, so using brighter lights at night when possible is safest. Foy also says it's best to stay calm and brake if safe when an animal is in front of a moving car - not to swerve away from it.
The commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources says the agency made significant progress on state goals for conservation and outdoor recreation in 2023. The agency released a list of its major accomplishments yesterday, outlining how each action met goals like connecting people to the outdoors and expanding diversity and inclusion. Achievements listed include expanding the all-terrain track chair program, creating an office of tribal relations, and updating wildlife area master plans. In a statement, Commissioner Sarah Strommen said she was proud of what the agency accomplished in 2023 because it benefits the health, environment, and economy of Minnesota.
Two Madison-area hospitals have released their top baby names of 2023. SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital-Madison and UnityPoint Health-Meriter say there were seven-thousand babies born between the two. The top names for the two-thousand babies born at St. Mary's were Hudson and Ava. For UnityPoint-Meriter's five-thousand babies, Theodore and Emma were at the top of the list.