Tuesday, January 10, 2023

Local-Regional News Jan 10

 One Person was injured in a single-vehicle accident in Trenton Township Monday.  According to the Pierce County Sheriff's Department, 17yr old Connor Rabuck of Red Wing was traveling southbound on Hwy 63, when he lost control, entered the ditch and the vehicle rolled over.  A female passenger in the car was taken to Red Wing Hospital, while Rabuck was not injured.


One person was injured in a two-vehicle accident Monday in Spring Lake Township.  According to the Pierce County Sheriff's Department, 20yr old Richard Epich of Elmwood was traveling southbound on Hwy 128, when he crossed the center line and struck a northbound vehicle driven by 64yr old Jan Krause of Elmwood.  Epich was taken to Western Wisconsin Health in Baldwin, while Krause was not injured in the accident.


The Mondovi City Council is meeting tonight.  Items on the agenda include a discussion of a PSC broadband grant proposal with Ntec, a presentation from Anthony Acres School, and reports from the mayor, city administrator, and department heads.  Tonight's meeting begins at 5:30 at the Marten Center in Mondovi.


The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) today announced that funding from the Cherish Wisconsin Outdoors Fund will help improve public lands in Pierce county. The funds will go toward creating and restoring habitat and improving recreational boat access to the degraded backwaters of Pool 4 in upper Lake Pepin. These project funds are contributing to a larger multi-million dollar project that will establish islands, wetlands and over-wintering fish areas.  The Cherish Wisconsin Outdoors Fund provides permanent support for habitat management and ecological restoration on Wisconsin’s state-managed public lands, including natural areas, parks, trails, wildlife and fishery areas, recreation areas, and forests. 


There won't be any movement in Lily Peters' murder case until the summer. The judge in the case yesterday turned down a request from the D.A.'s office to move the hearing on whether the suspect in the case should be tried as an adult from August til June. The suspect's lawyer says he cannot move the case up on his schedule. Once the juvenile court hearing is done, it will likely be several more months before the case actually gets to trial. Lily Peters was assaulted and killed last April.


Police in Chippewa Falls says an elderly man with dementia has been found and is safe. Officers canceled the Silver Alert for David Smith. Police say he disappeared after breakfast yesterday morning. His family was worried because they say he often drives off without a specific destination in mind. Police found him later in the day. They did not say where Smith went.


The grass may be a little longer in Eau Claire this May. The city is considering a No Mow May resolution. The idea is to let grass, but more specifically flowers, grow to give bees and other bugs or birds more chances to spread their pollen. No Mow May has caught on in recent years. Eau Claire City Council Member Joshua Miller says No Mow is completely voluntary but hopes Eau Claire adopts the idea. It will come up for a vote before the city council in two weeks.


Jenifer Dorow's bid for Wisconsin Supreme Court got a big boost yesterday. Retiring Justice Pat Rogensack endorsed Dorow in the race for the court. Rogensack, who is retiring, said Dorow is a 'leader amongst judges in our state,' and 'knows the proper role of a judge is to say what the law is - not what it ought to be.' Dorow is facing fellow conservative, and former Supreme Court Justice Dan Kelly in the Republican primary for the court next month.


Governor Evers is saying 'No' to a flat tax and universal school choice. The governor said on UPFRONT over the weekend that he won't sign a budget that includes either plan, because they are bad for the state budget. The Republicans who will write the next state budget are huge supporters of both tax cuts and school choice. Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu has said he wants to move Wisconsin to a flat tax. The governor will deliver his budget plan next month, and lawmakers will get to work on their plan after that.


 Minnesota Democrats are proposing new protections for those who manage state elections.  Secretary of State Steve Simon released a list of legislative priorities yesterday, including laws aimed at reducing threats and harassment against election workers.  Simon is proposing legislation that would make the intimidation and harassment of election officials a gross misdemeanor with fines and civil liability attached.  He cited a number of incidents where the safety of election workers has been threatened since the 2020 election.


One official in Olmstead County is raising concerns over the push to legalize marijuana.  In a Facebook post,  Sheriff Kevin Torgerson asked lawmakers to consider road safety and made the claim that legal marijuana would increase the population of people experiencing homelessness by "more than 100-percent."  Governor Tim Walz has already said he would sign the legislation.  Hearings for the bill are scheduled to start this week.


Republicans in the Wisconsin legislature are working to give themselves - not the governor - oversight on how the state spends any federal dollars it receives.  A proposed constitutional amendment would allow only the legislature to distribute federal money. The GOP-controlled legislature passed the amendment early last year.   Lawmakers must pass a proposed amendment in two consecutive sessions. If that happens, the question would then go before voters in a binding statewide referendum.


There’s plenty of tax cut talk at the Capitol in Madison, where Governor Tony Evers and the Republican-controlled legislature have a $6.6 billion surplus to work with. But the Republican co-chair of the budget committee cautions that the state also has big obligations and expenses. State Senator Howard Marklein of Spring Green says while he's all for tax cuts, he wants to make sure the state can afford them. Evers will introduce his proposed two-year budget next month, after which the Joint Finance Committee will set to work. Marklein hopes they’ll have a finished product by the end of the fiscal year in June.


Wisconsin Rapids Mayor Shane Blaser says is glad to hear that lawmakers in Madison are considering an increase in shared revenue for local governments. Blaser says even a small increase can help, especially for roads and infrastructure.  Governor Evers told reporters during a stop in Stevens Point last week that counties and municipalities can expect to see increased shared revenue as in the next state budget. Republicans who control the legislature will ultimately decide how much.


Four people face charges after two people held against their will escaped from the basement of a home in Pine Lake last month.  The Oneida County Sheriff’s Department says a woman who claims she was bound to a chair, beaten, and sexually assaulted was able to escape and get help from a neighbor. She was taken a Rhinelander hospital.  A man who was also held in the home also escaped.  The sheriff’s office says the two victims were lured to the house and held there from December 20th through the 22nd.  The victims and those charged in the matter knew each other.


The Wisconsin State Patrol is taking part in the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Alliance's Human Trafficking Awareness Initiative this week.  The State Patrol says motor carrier inspectors will reach out to every commercial motor vehicle driver they have contact with during their regular duties and provide a wallet resource card to each driver.  The State Patrol says knowing the number to call and reporting what you see could save a life.

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