Gov. Tony Evers announced Friday that he is seeking applicants for appointment as coroner in Pepin County. The appointment will fill the vacancy created by the resignation of John Albers on Jan. 18, 2023. The new coroner will serve for the remainder of the unexpired term that ends Jan. 4, 2027. Application materials must be received no later than 5 p.m. on Feb. 24, 2023. For more information about the position, please contact Pepin County Clerk Audrey Bauer. Those interested in applying must submit an online application with a cover letter detailing professional and academic qualifications, civic activities, and community involvement.
Firefighters from Elmwood and five other departments responded to a house fire Saturday. Firefighters responded to the fire at N4547 110th avenue Saturday night and found the home completely engulfed. Thomas and Angel Neubauer were able to escape the fire however some pets were killed in the blaze. The home is a total loss and a go fund me page has been set up for the family.
It's going to be a bone-chilling start to the day in the Chippewa Valley. The National Weather Service has a Wind Chill Advisory in place for the WRDN Listening area today. Forecasters say wind chills could be as low as 25-below. Things are expected to warm up by mid-week. But even then, forecasters say it will be cold across the western half of Wisconsin.
Gas prices continue to rise in Western Wisconsin. Over the last week, gas jumped another 6 cents to an average $3.39 a gallon. Triple-A and Gas Buddy say increasing demand due to the warmer weather is contributing to the jump in prices.
The Eau Claire Humane Association says more and more people are surrendering their pets. Addie Erdmann says they are seeing about one pet per day. She's worried, not only because more people are giving up their pets, but because the Humane Association is running out of room. Erdmann says people need to let them know in advance, so they can have space for the dog or cat. Erdman says, right now, they're booked through the end of February.
An Oronoco man had thousands of dollars worth of guns and ammunition stolen from his home Thursday. According to the Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office, the homeowner called deputies last night to report a theft. It happened in the 1200 block of Oak Lodge Ln NE in Oronoco Township. The thieves stole 2,600 rounds of ammunition, four rifle optics, four pounds of Tannerite, a 9mm handgun, three 12 gauge shotguns, one 20 gauge shotgun, one bolt action rifle, and one rifle. The estimated cost of the stolen items is anywhere between $5,050-$5,350.
Those involved with Southwestern Wisconsin Community Action program's Farm Well initiative meet with representatives from the Evers administration to discuss rural mental health programming. A participant in the meeting, dairy farmer Dan Wegmueller, says the program connects people who have the same struggles. The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection has a round-the-clock Farmer Wellness Hotline to help those struggling with mental health crises. Google “Farmer Wellness Hotline” to access the toll-free number.
There will be more choices for families looking at school choice in Wisconsin next year. The state's Department of Public Instruction on Friday released the list of schools participating for the 2023-2024 school year. There will be 339 choice schools next year, that's 25 more than this year. School choice is becoming more popular in the state, and enrollment in choice schools has increased as enrollment in traditional public schools has fallen.
The top Republican in the State Assembly says there doesn't have to be a flat tax in this year's budget. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos Was On UPFRONT on Milwaukee TV yesterday, he said he'd like to see Wisconsin move to a flat tax but he understands that the governor has promised to veto the idea. Vos said as long as lawmakers reduce the state's tax burden, he's fine with whatever they do. Vos has been adamant about using Wisconsin's record seven billion-dollar budget surplus to help taxpayers across the state.
Lawmakers in Madison are taking another look at so-called forever chemicals. A State Senate panel will hold a hearing tomorrow on new regulations for PFAS chemicals. Those are chemicals commonly found in firefighting foam that environmentalists worry are polluting soil and water in the state. Wisconsin currency doesn't have any regulations for PFAS pollution. Setting those standards is one of Governor Evers' top priorities.
Many Minnesota nonprofits are seeking state funding from the state's budget surplus. The requests are facing increased scrutiny following the Feeding Our Future fraud investigation. More than a billion dollars is disbursed annually to nonprofits through state grants. The Minnesota Council of Nonprofits recently released a report that includes ways to develop a more efficient and equitable grant system.
An 85-vehicle pileup on I-39/90 between Beloit and Janesville closed all lanes in both directions for hours Friday. At least 21 people were injured. The Wisconsin State Patrol says snow, ice, and whiteout conditions were factors in the initial crash around 12:30 p.m. The northbound and southbound lanes of I-90 were closed for about seven-and-a-half hours. Southbound lanes reopened shortly after 8 p.m. and all lanes didn't reopen until just past 9 p.m.
Less than one full month into 2023 Wisconsin has already seen five snowmobile deaths. The Department of Natural Resources said on Friday that all five crashes happened between January 14th and this past Thursday. The most recent fatal crash happened northwest of Rhinelander. Snowmobile deaths are trending slightly above last year and the DNR is urging snowmobilers to keep safety front of mind.
Governor Tony Evers said this week he'll veto the upcoming state budget of the Republican-controlled Legislature if it includes a flat tax. GOP lawmakers have said they want Wisconsin to transition to a three-point-25 percent income tax for all income levels. The Democratic governor said he's considering either a line-item veto or vetoing the entire budget if the flat tax is part of it. Evers said he believes the current progressive tax system is a good one and that the state doesn't provide what he called "some extraordinary large tax cut" to the wealthiest Wisconsinites.
The state Department of Health Services wants to know how the people of Wisconsin think the state should use a second round of opioid settlement funds. The state will have eight-million dollars to use for new projects and programs aimed at reducing the dangers of misusing opioids. The survey is available in English and Spanish on the DHS website and the public can submit suggestions through February 17th.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is announcing a 3.3-billion-dollar plan to maintain and update aging infrastructure. In a proposed bonding package unveiled Thursday, Walz wants to spend almost 900 million dollars from the general fund and 1.5 billion dollars from a bonding bill. The plan includes 650 million dollars for road, bridge, and water system work in the state as well as nearly 44 million dollars for Department of Natural Resources facilities. Under the plan, over 1.2 billion would be spent to repair or replace existing infrastructure and properties.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz's plan to pay off the one-point-one billion dollar U. S. Bank Stadium looks like a done deal. He announced in his budget speech this week that he wants to pay off the 377 million dollars in outstanding bond debt from the publically financed portion of the arena. Walz would use the balance in the stadium reserve fund as well as general fund money to make the final payment, which wasn't expected to happen until 2046.
A Memorial grad has been named Wisconsin's Poet Laureate. Governor Evers this week named Nicholas Gulig as Poet Laureate for the next two years. Gulig says it's an honor to receive some recognition for his work, he's written three books North of Order, Book of Lake, and Orient. Gulig will split his time between the laureate post and his full-time job as a professor at UW-Whitewater.
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