Local-Regional News March 31

 A Winter Storm will be affecting the WRDN listening area today through Saturday morning.  Rain will change to heavy snow during the day Friday while strong northeast winds develop. Accumulating snow is expected across the entire area, potentially as high as 4 to 8 inches north of the Interstate 90 corridor.  Winter Storm Warnings are in effect for the entire WRDN listening area tonight through Saturday morning.

The City of Mondovi has a new police chief.  The city council approved a conditional offer to Buffalo County Sheriff's Deputy David Shapiro during last night's council meeting.  Shapiro is a longtime resident of the City of Mondovi and has also worked as a part-time officer for the Mondovi Police Department.  After all background checks are completed Shapiro will start in the chief's position.

The Buffalo County Sheriff's Department is warning about some new Facebook scams posting puppies for sale and Morgan Wallen Concert tickets.  The scammers ask the victim to pay using Venmo or other online money transfer apps like cash app to pay for the puppies or concernt ticket.  After the victim pays the scammers, they disappear.  The sheriff's department is recommending to not use money transfer apps until you physically talk to the person or verify their identity first.

While we have winter weather for the next few days, the Dunn County Emergency Management wants to remind residents that the county will begin testing the outdoor emergency sirens next month.  The tests will be conducted on the first Monday of the month at 10am starting this Monday and running through October.

With the winter weather, spring sports for many area high schools are delayed.  Should the spring sports schedule be changed?  Durand-Arkansaw School Superintendent Greg Doverspike is working with the WIAA to look at all high school sports schedules to see if the start times can be adjusted.  Doverspike points to the 2022-2023 school year when the Durand-Arkansaw Boys Football and Basketball went deep into the playoffs as a reason to examine the season start times.  There is no timeline for when the WIAA might consider changing the high school sports seasons.

A man who fatally shot three people at an Onalaska church decades ago in is now living in an Eau Claire adult home.  La Crosse County District Attorney Tim Gruenke has confirmed that Bryan Stanley was recently released from Mendota Health Institute in Madison. Gruenke said Stanley was placed in a “24-hour supervised adult facility” that will monitor his medications and whereabouts. Stanley was found not guilty due to mental disease for the February 1985 deaths of Reverand John Rossiter, lay minister Ferdinand Roth Sr. and custodian William Hammes at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church. He was 29 years old at the time and had been confined to Mendota for most of his life since then.

The University of Wisconsin Stout has received a million-dollar donation.  The money will be used for scholarships for first-year and transfer students in the real estate management program at the university.  The donation will also help hire a recruiter for the program and support current learning opportunities the program provides such as taking students on-site to properties and attending industry meetings.

A Missouri man, accused of breaking into a cell phone store in Menomonie and stealing nearly $12,000 in iPhones and ipads has been sentenced in a similar case in Eau Claire County.   Anthony Jordan pleaded no contest to burglary in the Eau Clarie Case and was sentenced to four months probation and ordered to pay restitution.  The Dunn County charges were dismissed as part of the plea deal.

Former Greenwood High School support staff member Dylan North will spend nine months in jail. He was sentenced this week after pleading no contest in January to sexually assaulting a student. Police were notified of the possible relationship in October 2021, and court documents said North had two victims.

In-state tuition rates at the University of Wisconsin are seeing a hike for the first time in a decade. Yesterday, the Board of Regents approved a proposal from President Jay Rothman that will increase tuition and room and board starting in the fall.  Rothman cited higher operating costs and a one-hundred-30-million-dollar shortfall in Governor Evers' proposed budget plan as reasoning for the hikes.  Rate increases vary by location but the average annual tuition hike is roughly four-and-half percent for in-state undergrads, close to five percent including other fees. 

The Wisconsin man accused of sending threatening messages to Governor Tony Evers is taking a plea deal.  On Wednesday Michael Yaker of Windsor pleaded guilty to threatening former Wisconsin Highway Commissioner Gerald Mandli.  In exchange, he had seven other charges dropped, including sending threatening messages to Evers, the Dane County commissioner, and the Dane County sheriff, among others.  He'll face five years in prison when he's sentenced in June.

A group of Wisconsin lawmakers is working on a plan to expand Medicaid benefits.  A bipartisan bill introduced this week would allow pregnant, low-income mothers to keep Medicaid coverage for a year.  The bill is being co-sponsored by nearly 50 percent of the state legislature.

An investigation is underway after a train carrying ethanol derailed and caught fire in a small Minnesota farming community.  Governor Tim Waltz says there's no toxic danger and no one was injured.  BNSF Railway says about 22 cars carrying "mixed freight" including ethanol and corn syrup derailed in the town of Raymond and several tanks caught fire.  It happened overnight and there was an evacuation area within a half mile of the crash site set up.

A new Marquette Law School survey finds diminishing approval of the US Supreme Court. The national survey finds 44% of adults approve of the job the Court is doing, 56% disapprove, a slight decline from January. Approval of the Court’s work hit a low of 38% in July 2022 and had risen gradually in every-other-month polling until this new poll. In all of these surveys since the middle of last year, approval has remained well below the 60% rate from July 2021.

This year's severe winter weather could be having a deadly impact on Minnesota's deer population.  According to the state Department of Natural Resources, the cold weather and snow could be making it harder for deer to find food and escape predators.  The DNR says the state's deer population is looking especially grim in northern and northeastern Minnesota.

The Milwaukee County Zoo loses its second giraffe in one week.  The zoo announces Wednesday the death of a 30-year-old reticulated giraffe named Rahna.   A Facebook post from the zoo says Rahna was humanely euthanized after experiencing age-related health issues.  Her death comes a week after the unexpected passing of a male giraffe named Bahatika, who was also suffering from age-related ailments.  The Giraffe Building at the zoo was closed to give the zookeepers and animals time to grieve Rahna’s death.

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation says the Merrimac Ferry is reopening soon.  WisDOT Southwest Region Operations Chief John Steiner says he expects the ferry to start running within the next week or two, but no exact date has been determined.  He adds that the agency is looking to have some hard-to-find parts for the ferry on-hand before opening for the season to avoid the mechanical issues that led to some shutdowns last year.  Residents can check the operation status of the ferry by searching Wisconsin-D-O-T-dot-gov.

Local-Regional News March 30

 No one was injured in a house fire in Fountain City Wednesday morning.  Firefighters from Fountain City, Tri-Community, Alma, and Waumandee responded to the blaze at 180 South Hill Street in Fountain City.  Upon arrival, there were visible flames coming out of the second-floor window.  The occupants were able to exit the home safely.  Firefighters were able to contain the fire to the second floor.  The cause of that fire is still under investigation.

A 14yr old rural Kellogg boy is in serious condition at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester after falling in a sand hole Tuesday.  According to the Wabasha County Sheriff's Department, emergency responders were called to a rural Kellogg home on the report of the 14yr stuck in the hole and becoming covered in sand.  The boy was rescued and life-saving measures were performed.  That incident remains under investigation.

Two Western Wisconsin Counties are ranked in the top 10 healthiest counties in Wisconsin according to new County Health Rankings & Roadmaps data from the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute.   Pierce was ranked 4th and Buffalo was ranked 10th in the state.  This year’s analysis finds counties with well-resourced civic infrastructure have higher rates of high school completion, higher household incomes, less income inequality, and lower rates of children in poverty and uninsured adults. Dunn County was ranked 14 and Pepin County was ranked 27th.  Visit countyhealthrankings.org to learn more. 

A Barron County man has been found guilty of possession of child pornography.  The jury found Duane Wisner of Cameron guilty Wednesday afternoon.   Wisner was a convicted sex offender when he was charged last year with possessing child pornography. The Department of Criminal Investigation found more than a dozen images on his computer. He will be sentenced in June.

Three teenagers accused of making terroristic threats have pled not guilty in court. An attorney entered the plea as 18-year-old Alex Pataska and 19-year-olds Hunter Gundlach and Brady Hove stood silent yesterday. The three are accused of yelling "you die" at elementary school kids out on recess. Gundlach admitted to driving near the school but says he never yelled anything out the window. Bullets were found in a backpack in the car, but no weapon was found.

A La Crosse man is facing several felony drug charges after he was revived with Narcan after an overdose. Simon Kleinertz was arraigned yesterday after police were called to a home on Ferry Street for two people who had stopped breathing. Hunter Melby was also taken to the hospital for treatment. Police found over 15 thousand dollars in cash, marijuana cocaine, mushrooms, LSD, nitrous oxide canisters, and substances believed to be fentanyl or heroin.

Food service workers for Hastings Public Schools are back at work after a nearly two-month-long strike.  The district announced yesterday that the school board had approved a tentative agreement with the food service workers.  The board also approved a strike settlement agreement.  The union has announced that its members ratified the agreement Friday after workers had hit the picket lines to call for better wages and employee recruitment and retention.

Officials are urging Wisconsin residents to take advantage of a state program meant to help with heating bills.  The moratorium on winter utility shut-offs is ending on April 15th which means families who may have been struggling to keep up with monthly bills could be without service in a matter of weeks.  Income guidelines and applications for the Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program are available by searching energy-and-housing-dot-W-I-dot-gov.  

Governor Tony Evers is requesting additional pay for corrections officers as lawmakers begin work on the state's new budget.  Recommendations from the governor's office include a big boost to starting pay for prison staffers, up from just over 20 dollars per hour to 33 dollars.  Right now, officers are getting a temporary bonus of four dollars per hour over their base salary, which corrections officials say has helped with employee retention.  The proposed salary increases are aimed at combatting staff shortages, with the state's prison system currently seeing a roughly 33 percent vacancy rate among officer and sergeant positions.

Vietnam War Veterans from Wisconsin were honored Wednesday with a "proper welcome home" event in Milwaukee. Fifty years ago on March 29th, the last of the U.S. troops and prisoners of war came home from Vietnam. During that time, many Vietnam War Veterans weren't welcomed with open arms because of the controversy of the war. Yesterday a "welcome home" procession took place, followed by a "lived experience" panel discussion by the Wisconsin Vietnam Veterans, and a wreath-laying ceremony.

A trial is underway where the state of Minnesota is accusing an e-cigarette maker of marketing to youth.  Attorney General Keith Ellison gave the opening statements yesterday in the case against Juul Labs.  He said the defendant and co-defendant Altria Group baited, deceived, and addicted a whole new generation with fruity flavors and fun ads.   The state of Minnesota is seeking more than 100 million dollars in damages in the lawsuit.

A state agency is asking for help after the Nashville school shooting. The Wisconsin Department of Justice Office of School Safety is asking state lawmakers to make room in the budget for funding to keep school safety efforts going in the wake of the deadly attack.  The agency’s director, Trish Kilpin, says their office has grown but existing funding is close to drying up.  Kilpin says they’ve been getting by through federal grants and COVID relief dollars, but Kilpin says they’ll require ongoing state funds to continue their work.  The Office of School Safety provides resources to help develop safety plans and they teach threat assessment, among other anti-violence efforts.

At the Capitol, work is underway on a new two-year state budget. Joint Finance Committee co-chair, Beaver Dam state Representative Mark Born, says they’ll model their work on the last state budget.   Co-chair, Spring Green Senator Howard Marklein, said the committee may begin voting on budget provisions as early as the first week in May. 

The state’s health agency submits its plan for the latest round of opioid settlement funds. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services submitted its plan to use nearly $8 million in opioid settlement funds to the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Finance. DHS wants to use the money to support prevention, harm reduction, and capital projects to address the state’s opioid crisis. The money is part of the $400 million the state receives in annual installments through an agreement with major pharmaceutical firms. The agency is required to submit a plan for the anticipated settlement funds to the JFC every year.  

Four Wisconsin cities are in the top percentile when looking at where people have the highest credit scores.  The WalletHub study says De Pere, Mequon , Muskego, and Pewaukee all rank in the 99th percentile for high credit scores.  WalletHub says people in De Pere have the third-highest average credit score in the U.S., 798.  Madison is in the 82nd percentile.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is holding a contest to design next year's Wisconsin State Park and Forest vehicle admission sticker.  The contest is open to Wisconsin high schoolers.  Designs can be sent in until the end of April on the DNR's website.

Local-Regional News March 29

 One person is dead after a home fire in New Haven Township on Sunday.  According to the Dunn County Sheriff's Department, firefighters were called to the home at E971 1330th avenue Sunday Evening.  The home was fully engulfed and there was still a resident trapped inside the home.  A body was found inside the home by Boyceville Firefighters and Sheriff's Deputies.  Firefighters from Boyceville, Sand Creek, Glenwood City, Clear Lake, Clayton, and Prairie Farm were at the scene for several hours.  The cause and origin of the fire remain under investigation. The Medical Examiner’s Office and Dunn County Sheriff’s Office are working to confirm the identity of the victim.

 

One person was injured in a pickup vs semi accident in the town of Montana on Monday.  According to the Buffalo County Sheriff's Department, a 76yr old male driver from Cochrane was traveling southbound on Hwy U and struck the rear end of a parked semi that was pulled over on the shoulder of Hwy U.  The driver of the pickup was taken to Arcadia Hospital.

Five children and two adults were injured in a vehicle vs school bus accident in the Town of Sumner Tuesday.  According to the Trempealeau County Sheriffs Department, a bus was traveling northbound on Hwy 53 and began to slow to make a left-hand turn onto Nelson Road when it was struck from behind by a northbound vehicle with two adults.  Five of the children on the bus and the two adults were injured.  Deputies are investigating the potential impairment and reckless driving of the driver of the car.

Residents around lake Eau Galle have formed the Lake Eau Galle Association to help find ways to improve the quality of the lake for recreational opportunities.  Over the years sediment has begun to fill in the lake, causing excessive weed growth and water discoloration.  Ted Weinzearl with the association says in order to dredge the lake an association or lake district needed to be formed.  The association will be holding a meeting and fundraiser on May 13 at St. Henry's Parish.  For more information visit Lake Eau Galle dot org.

Hy-Vee is recalling its boxed hamburger chili macaroni skillet meals sold in Wisconsin because of allergy concerns.  Hy-Vee says the food includes dairy but it's not on the allergen list.  The product is being removed from Hy-Vee shelves in Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Minnesota.  You can also return the product for a refund.

The Eau Claire City Council has voted 9-1 to annex land from the Town of Washington. The over 430 acres previously known as Orchard Hills will be added to the south side of the city. Residents rallied in opposition to the move before the city council meeting yesterday. The council last June approved annexing what is now known as the Stewart/Hauge/CDPG Development.

The city of Eau Claire's proposed 30-dollar annual vehicle registration fee commonly known as a "wheel tax" will not go into effect. The city council voted 5-5 on the fee yesterday. Drivers already pay a 30-dollar annual vehicle registration fee in Eau Claire County.

A University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire student is pleading guilty to making terrorist threats for a post on YikYak last fall. Mason Waymire admitted to making the post that "there's a bomb at Towers," which is a residence hall on campus, after a night of drinking. Waymire said he was dared to do it. The plea deal means he has to remain sober for a year and a half, write an apology letter to the campus, and not commit crimes.

Governor Tony Evers has made a visit to Eau Claire touting his administration's efforts on clean energy and workforce training. Evers was at Cortec Corporation, which is part of the state's Green Tier program through the Department of Natural Resources. The program is for companies with environmental regulations above state standards. Evers says Cortec "does a great job of meeting a lot of the expectations that the state has."

Wisconsin lawmakers are accepting a settlement from one of the state's largest dairy farms over manure pollution allegations.  Kinnard Farms is agreeing to pay two-hundred-15-thousand dollars to end legal action connected to manure spreading concerns at locations in Kewaunee and Door counties.  The agreement also directs operators to provide documentation outlining upgrades to be done at waste and feed storage facilities.  The state Legislature's Joint Finance Committee voted to approve the terms yesterday.

The Wisconsin Legislature is beginning its work in drafting the state's next budget.  Lawmakers heard from Department of Corrections and Department of Transportation officials in committee meetings yesterday.  Hearings will continue with representatives from the Department of Administration and the Department of Safety & Professional Services later this week.  The Joint Finance Committee is also hosting public budget hearings in Waukesha, Eau Claire, Wisconsin Dells, and Minocqua on dates through next month.

An arrest has been made in last year’s firebombing at the office of a Wisconsin pro-life group. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Madison announced that 29-year-old Hridindu Sankar Roychowdhury of Madison was arrested Tuesday at Boston’s Logan International Airport, where he intended to board a flight to Guatemala. The firebombing at Wisconsin Family Action took place on Mother's Day, Sunday, May 8 last year. The Madison office was empty but there was significant damage. Roychowdhury appeared in federal court in Boston on Tuesday and is in custody pending a Thursday detention hearing. The criminal complaint states investigators identified Roychowdhury by recognizing his graffiti at a January protest, which led to a match of his DNA with DNA found at the crime scene.

State legislative Republicans are rolling out a bill that will allow police unions to bargain for health insurance. This is after a labor ruling against the Racine Police department said that Wisconsin Act 10, which ended collective bargaining for public unions, also applied to the health insurance for police and firefighters. Racine mayor Cory Mason says he's pleased, but that he warned lawmakers this would happen when Act 10 was written. Mason says if Republicans really wanted to help public safety, they should spend some tax surplus on the problem.

Minnesota Senate Republicans are offering their budget proposal.  Republican senators called on DFL lawmakers yesterday to eliminate Social Security income taxes and increase funding for long-term care facilities and nursing homes.  Leaders also called on DFL legislators to increase spending in an omnibus agriculture bill and to avoid raising taxes.  Senate Republicans say if these conditions are met, they will agree to pass the bonding bill.

It looks like the recent radioactive leak at a nuclear power plant in Minnesota led to a large fish kill.  The Xcel Energy plant in Monticello shut down on Friday so crews could clean up 400-thousand gallons of contaminated water.  The Pollution Control Agency says that caused the Mississippi River to cool down, and the temperature change proved deadly for at least 230 fish.  The MPCA called it "unfortunate but not unexpected" and confirmed there's no contamination in the Mississippi River and drinking water sources.

You can now get your State Trail Passes for 20-23. Those passes are on sale for 25 dollars for both residents and non-residents. You'll need a trail pass if you plan on biking, horseback riding, or skating on trails, but not if you just plan to walk or hike. You may also need to get a state parks pass to access some of the trails. To find out where you can get a pass, head to the DNR's website at D N R dot W I dot Gov. 

The first eggs of the season have been laid at the Oak Creek Power Plant in one of We Energies' peregrine falcon nest boxes in Milwaukee. They belong to proud parents Michael and Essity, who have been nesting together for four years. The first chicks are expected to hatch in a little over a month from now. More eggs are also expected to be laid in the next few weeks. The program began in 1992 in an effort to help the endangered birds escape extinction. Since then, a total of 433 birds have been born at We Energies and WPS power plants in Wisconsin and Michigan.

Local-Regional News March 28

 One person is hospitalized after a crash Friday morning in Pierce County.  According to the Pierce County Sheriff's Department, 40yr old Luke Dziengle of River Falls was traveling westbound on Hwy FF and was turning into a private driveway when he collided with an eastbound vehicle driven by 17yr old Cloe Plourde of River Falls.  Dziengle was taken to Regions Hospital in St. Paul, Minnesota after he was injured in the crash.  Plourde was not hurt.

So far, students at the Durand-Arkansaw School District will not have to make up any snow days this year.  Durand-Arkansaw School Superintendent Greg Doverspike says virtual learning helped prevent any extension to the school year.  Doverspike says the district believes using the virtual learning days accomplishes more than having students and staff in the building for additional days during June.

Property owners are being encouraged to sustain healthy ash trees   The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources says “healthy, valuable ash trees” should be treated with insecticide this spring. That can help to protect against the emerald ash borer, which kills more than 99% of untreated ash trees it infests, according to a DNR media release. The agency says emerald ash borer was found in five additional northern counties in 2022 and is now confirmed in 66 of Wisconsin’s 72 counties.

 The annexation by Eau Claire of land in the Town of Washington was among the topics the Eau Claire City Council took comments on last night. The annexation included part of Lowes Creek County Park and the Orchard Hills development, which residents have spent years fighting. The Town of Washington sued, saying the annexation was not valid and the city filed a petition to annex it with the consent of landowners. Neighbors are continuing to push back.

The Dewey Street Bridge in downtown Eau Claire could reopen this week. An inspection of the bridge was done yesterday morning by an outside engineering firm that used a drone to check under the bridge and do sound testing to determine how much it had deteriorated. The bridge has been closed since March 25 when a hole was discovered two feet by two feet. The city has applied for nine-point-four-million dollars from the federal government to replace the 92-year-old bridge.

Volunteers are filling sandbags in downtown Stillwater today to prepare for spring flooding.  Organizers want to have as many as 30 thousand sandbags along the St. Croix River by the end of the week.  This comes after the National Weather Service said there's an 80-percent chance the river will see major flooding this year.

A 42-year-old La Crosse man is facing meth delivery charges after police found six thousand dollars of the drugs at his home. Alfredo Almanza was also charged with maintaining a drug house, possession of drug paraphernalia, and illegally obtaining prescription drugs. He told police he was not aware of any drugs in the home before admitting a small amount of meth was there. Police also seized over eleven-hundred dollars in cash, a digital scale, and 51 Clonazepam pills.

Experts are urging Wisconsin farmers to seek mental health support during the stressful spring season.  Many farmers are dealing with costly operating expenses, unpredictable weather, and other pressures as they begin to get production going for the year.  La Crosse physician Doctor Kim Lansing says she is also a farmer and sees a cultural barrier with many agriculture operators when it comes to seeking help for themselves.  She is urging anyone who needs support to contact resources such as the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation and the National Farm Medicine Center.

University of Wisconsin police and the Dane County Medical Examiner are investigating after a student was found dead on the Madison campus yesterday.  Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Lori Reesor has confirmed the individual was found deceased outside Smith Residence Hall, adding that police do not suspect foul play.  University Health Services is working to connect those impacted by the incident with counseling and mental health resources.  Reesor says officials are unable to share additional information on the incident at this time.

 The Dane County Humane Society is urging drivers to keep an eye out for turtles and other animals this spring.  Experts say female turtles begin looking for nesting spots as the weather gets warmer, sometimes leading them to cross busy roads and risk being stuck by vehicles.  Sarah Karls with DCHS says slowing down and turning flashers on can alert other motorists that they should pay attention.  If you choose to help a turtle get out of the roadway you should move it in the direction that it was headed, according to wildlife officials.

An Amherst man accused of shooting and killing an elderly man is expected to reach a plea deal.  Miles Bradley is charged in the November death of 92-year-old Clarence Banks.  Investigators said the 72-year-old Bradley and another person lived at the home where the shooting happened. Banks was visiting the other resident who is his relative. Investigators say Bradley and his co-resident got into an argument in which Bradley allegedly armed himself and made statements that he was going to kill Banks.  Bradley, who was arrested at the scene of the shooting, has his plea and sentencing hearing scheduled for April 27th.

A 39-year-old Whitewater woman has been arrested in connection with the death of a newborn baby boy earlier this month.   Whitewater police believe the woman is the mother of the newborn, whose body was found in a field near the Twin Oaks Mobile Home Park on March 4. The woman is in the Jefferson County Jail. She could be charged with concealing the death of a child and resisting or obstructing an officer.   

An arrest is made after a shooting outside a Monroe County gentleman's club.  The sheriff's office says deputies were called to The Hunting Shack in Sparta early Sunday morning after someone was seen waving a gun in the air.  The sheriff's office says the suspect fired several shots after being forced out of the club.  No one was hit and the suspect was later found and arrested after crashing their car in La Crosse County.

All flags in Wisconsin will be flown at half-staff today in honor of a World War Two veteran whose remains were recently identified.  Governor Tony Evers says Private First Class William Simon was killed in Germany back in 1944 and now his remains are being returned to his hometown of Middleton.  He'll be buried tomorrow with full military honors.

The US House has passed a Parents Bill of Rights. The Republican-sponsored legislation passed last week includes Wisconsin Congressman Scott Fitzgerald’s CRT Transparency Act. That would require school districts to post the curriculum for each grade on a publicly accessible website as a condition of federal funding. CRT, or critical race theory, is an academic concept which is not taught in Wisconsin K-12 schools. However, state Superintendent of Public Instruction Jill Underly said last year that “teaching about race and racism is the only way to teach the complete story of the United States.” The parent's Bill of Rights is unlikely to advance in the Democratic-controlled US Senate. 

A wildlife expert says you should clear the snow off a patch of your yard to help migratory birds. Raptor Education Group director Marge Gibson says that while some birds are just fine with birdfeeders, others need to pick bugs out of the dirt.  That includes Wisconsin's state bird, the robin. Gibson says clearing the snow warms up the turf, helping birds get at those bugs.

Local-Regional News March 27

One person is dead after they were struck by a road grader in Hyde Park Township on Thursday.  According to the Wabasha County Sheriff's Department, deputies were called to 330th Ave and County Road 72 on Thursday morning.   61yr old Robert Straub was driving the grader and got out to make repairs when he was struck by the vehicle.  

A Plainview man is dead after a two-vehicle accident in Farmington Township on Friday.  According to the Minnesota State Patrol,  a semi-truck southbound on Hwy 63, struck a pickup truck that was westbound on County Road 21 at the intersection.  83yr old John Johnson of Plainview was killed in the accident.  

Menomonie Police are warning residents of multiple thefts from locked vehicles that have been parked in area parks or near trails.  Police say the suspects are doing a smash-and-grab type theft where they smash windows of vehicles and take out any items left in the vehicle.  Police are reminding residents to not leave any type of valuables in the vehicle including purses and wallets.  If you must leave them, its advised you put any valuables in the trunk or other secure location.  

Nilssen’s Market in Clear Lake, Wis., is issuing a voluntary Class I recall for a packaged pork product sold at local retailers.  According to the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, The one pound-side pork product was sold at Nilssen’s Foods locations in Cumberland, Baldwin, and Glenwood City. The Nilssen’s Market label on the product does not bear an inspection legend.  No illnesses have been reported as a result of consuming this product. Anyone with signs or symptoms of a foodborne illness should contact their doctor. Consumers who have this product can discard it.

A house fire in the Town of Washington has left the home and its attached garage a complete loss, but no one was hurt. The fire happened Saturday night in the six-thousand block of Hillside Park Road and it took firefighters around four hours to put out the flames. They returned just before 9 a.m. after the fire rekindled. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Dairyland Power CEO Brent Ridge has been appointed to the policy advising task force at the Nuclear Energy Institute. The task force is charged with guiding the institute on policy related to spent nuclear fuel. Ridge says nuclear energy has to be part of the discussion on climate change, noting it needs to be part of the equation for carbon-free or low-carbon emission power along with being reliable and affordable. Dairyland powers around 600-thousand homes in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, and Illinois.

A Black River Falls woman is being held on a cash bond of a million dollars in a Jackson County murder case. Forty-nine-year-old Star Myers is accused of killing a man after he told her he had slept with other women and police say she and four others are charged with hiding his body. Myers appeared in court via Zoom Friday, as she is currently serving a sentence for meth distribution.

Legislation allowing the development of community solar projects in Wisconsin has been reintroduced in Madison. Adams County Republican Representative Scott Krug says farmers could benefit from such relatively small-scale projects.  The bill is similar to the one introduced last session. Wisconsin utilities argue it would give solar developers free access to the state’s electric grid while shifting costs to customers. 

Six people are facing drug charges, accused of having fentanyl shipped to Madison from Arizona.  The Wisconsin Department of Justice says the suspects helped ship over five kilograms of the drug through the U.S. Postal Service.  They were arrested Monday on drug trafficking charges.  The DOJ says it's still looking for two other people in connection with the case.

A Wisconsin soldier's remains are finally home, nearly 80 years after he gave his life for his country.  Army Pfc. William "Sonny" Simon's remains were brought home to Middleton Friday night, four months after the remains were accounted for overseas.  Simon, born and raised in Middleton, was killed in action in November 1944.  He was only 20 years old.  Police escorted the convoy carrying his remains past his childhood home.  Funeral services are set for this week.

Governor Tony Evers' budget would mean a net tax increase of over 100 million dollars for Wisconsin. A new report from the Legislative Fiscal Bureau says despite the governor's promise of tax cuts, his budget would substantially raise taxes and fees. The report says Evers' one-and-a-half billion dollars in tax cuts for mostly low and moderate-income families would be offset by a wave of new taxes and fees on businesses and investors. Republican lawmakers have been promising for months to ignore the governor's budget proposal and come up with their own spending plan.

The state Building Commission deadlocks - again. Thursday's action marks the third straight cycle in which the eight-member commission - four Democrats and four Republicans -  deadlocked on Governor Tony Evers's capital budget. That sends the $3.8 billion document to the Republican-controlled Joint Finance Committee without a recommendation on any projects. Projects included in Evers's capital budget include $25.1 million for a new Health Services Unit at Green Bay Correctional Institution and six and a half million dollars in borrowing to renovate the creampuff building at Wisconsin State Fair Park.

Wisconsin’s unemployment rate hit another record low last month. February employment estimates from the Department of Workforce Development are showing that the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell to a record low of 2.7%. That’s down 0.2 percentage points from January's rate of 2.9% and beats the previous record low of 2.8% set in January through April of last year. The information comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

A new report from the Wisconsin Realtors Association finds that low inventory is driving down home sales in Wisconsin. Association President & CEO Mike Theo suggests a look at regulations.  High demand and low supply have boosted the price of homes. The report found that the median price of homes rose 11.7% from February 2022 to February 2023. 

Hackers have attacked the Wisconsin court system's computer network.  Court officials say in a Thursday statement the cyberattack began early this week and was continuing into Thursday afternoon. Director of State Courts Randy Koschnick adds in the statement the court system has taken action to counter the attack, while state Supreme Court Chief Justice Annette Ziegler says the invasion of the system hasn’t caused a data breach, and court services continue as normal.  The statement also says there may be erratic service or slower response times from the system’s online services due to the attack.

A man tied bedsheets together and jumped from a fourth-floor window in downtown Wausau on Tuesday.   Police say the man had been drinking when he barricaded himself in his bedroom and told his roommate that the police were in the building looking for him. The roommate then heard the man jump from the window and called police. When officers arrived they found him injured on the sidewalk along with some bedding that he'd tied together to act as a rope. He was taken to a local hospital for treatment, and as of Wednesday afternoon, he was in serious condition. Police add that there was a warrant out for his arrest, however- they were not in the building looking for him before he jumped out the window. 

Local-Regional News March 24

 The Durand-Arkansaw School District has approved the settlement in a class action lawsuit against Juul, the company that makes vaping products.  Durand-Arkansaw School Superintendent Greg Doverspike says the district will receive approximately $17,000.  The district joined other school districts across the country in suing Juul claiming the company was targeting youth in its marketing for its vaping products.

There will be two open seats up for election on the Durand City Council.  While there is a candidate for Ward 3, there is no candidate for ward 1.  Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren says if anyone in Ward 1 is interested in being a registered write-in candidate they should contact city hall. If there is no registered write-in candidate or the person with the most write-in votes does not want to serve on the council, the mayor will appoint someone to serve on the council.

 

The woman who stole from the baseball and softball program in Ellsworth will spend a month in jail. A judge in Pierce County yesterday sentenced Whitney O'Neil to a month in jail, 250 hours of community service, then three years of probation. She also has to pay back the 107 thousand dollars she admitted that she stole from the Ellsworth Baseball/Softball Association. She took the money over a four-year period and used it for family trips and personal expenses.

Authorities in Chippewa County are searching for a missing 66-year-old woman. The sheriff's office says Rose DeVolve was last seen at her home in the Town of Lafayette about 11 a.m. yesterday. Deputies say she walked away from her home and doesn't have a phone. There is a picture of her online, and the sheriff is asking anyone who may know anything about her whereabouts to call 911.

There is now a murder charge in the death investigation from Jackson County that sent five people to jail. Prosecutors this week filed a first-degree intentional homicide charge against 49-year-old Star Myers from Black River Falls. Investigators say she shot a man in the head after he told her he'd been sleeping with other women. The four others in the case were arrested on either drug or obstruction charges. Myers is also facing drug charges, including intent to deliver meth and fentanyl charges.

Wisconsin's new Secretary of State says she was surprised to get the job. Newly-appointed Secretary of State Sarah Godlewski yesterday said she had no idea she was going to be named as Doug La Follette's replacement.. La Follette suddenly resigned last week after 30 years as Wisconsin Secretary of State. Governor Evers then appointed Godlewski. Republicans at the Capitol say the whole thing is suspect, and are accusing the governor and La Follette of collusion. Godlewski says there wasn't any kind of quid-pro-quo.

Add this to the list of worries for Kia and Hyundai owners. The carmakers this week warned people who own certain SUVs and minivans to park outside because of a fire risk. Kia and Hyundai have recalled more than 571 thousand vehicles because of the risk. The companies say the tow hitch harnesses can catch fire while they are parked or being driven. Hyundai Santa Fe and Santa Cruz models are affected. Kia says the Carnival minivan is also on the park outside list.

Xcel Energy's Monticello nuclear plant is temporarily powering down after a new leak of a radioactive chemical was discovered.  The company says the new leak of tritium-laced water was detected on Wednesday.  Xcel says hundreds of gallons of the tainted water have leached into groundwater.  Officials say the new leak poses no risk to the public or the environment.

 Minnesota's job market is bouncing back.  The state added more than ten-thousand jobs last month.  That's on top of over 14-thousand jobs added in January.  The Department of Employment and Economic Development. says this means the private sector has fully recovered from the pandemic, and the state government's employment rate is nearly back to pre-pandemic levels.

The Wisconsin State Patrol has two new four-legged employees.  The State Patrol says K9 Jamie is a German shorthair pointer and recently passed her training through the North American Police Work Dog Association.  K9 Thor is a Belgian Malinois and is working on his narcotics detection training.  Their pictures are posted on the Wisconsin State Patrol Facebook page.

Wisconsin's ban on conversion therapy will stay on-hold for the next few months at least. The Wisconsin Senate yesterday moved the legislation that would end the ban back to a statehouse committee. That move will allow lawmakers to hold off on voting to overturn the ban. Once they vote, the governor can simply override them, and the ban on conversion therapy could take effect. Republicans don't like the ban, saying the state's licensing board is trying to dictate religion and handcuff some therapists in the state. Democrats at the Wisconsin Capitol say conversion therapy is harmful to LGBTQ youth, and should not be allowed in the state.

UW-Madison researchers get a grant to help protect bats.   The funding will go to research to keep bats from catching the fungus that leads to the life-threatening disease known as white-nose syndrome. The ailment causes bats to awaken from hibernation and burn the fat they need to survive the winter.  The National Science Foundation and the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation provided the $2 million grant to study the ailment.

Governor Evers pushes for Badger Care expansion in Milwaukee Wednesday night.  During a roundtable to discuss his proposed budget, Evers says the enlargement of the program would give people better access to health care. The governor adds the expansion would also allow for investments in mental health initiatives.

A Green Bay man is going to prison for manufacturing and trafficking ‘ghost guns.’ The Wisconsin Department of Justice says investigators found a 3-D printing lab in the basement of the residence of Mitchell J. Guerrero in November of 2021.  Court records state The 30-year-old Guerrero was found to have a fully functional 3D-printed plastic handgun, magazines and rounds, silencers, and a device that could convert an AR-15 rifle into a fully automatic weapon.   The handgun, which ATF authorities found successfully fired, was also found by the TSA to go through a metal detector without setting off the alarm, a first for the agency.  Guerrero was sentenced to 46 months in prison.

The U.S. Department of Energy has awarded a UW–Madison-based research center another five years of funding to develop sustainable alternative fuels. Tim Donahue directs the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center Director Tim Donahue says the mission of the Center is to make liquid transportation fuels and chemicals out of non-food crop material. He says those “energy crops” can be grown without the need for fertilizers and pesticides, which are both huge sources of co2 emissions. The center was established in 2007 and is slated to receive $27.5 million this year, bringing the lifetime awards more than $410 million and making it the largest federally funded project in UW–Madison history. 

Representative Josh Gotthemier this week urged electric vehicle manufacturers to include AM radio in their cars and trucks. The New Jersey Democrat says, "I would think that if Elon Musk has enough money to buy Twitter and send rockets to space, he can afford to include AM radio in his Teslas." The lawmaker says that despite the public safety uses of AM radio, many EV manufacturers have stopped including AM radio in their vehicles. AM radio is the backbone behind America's National Public Warning System, which provides emergency alert and warning information to the public during major natural disasters and domestic threats. Gottheimer is writing to major EV auto manufacturers urging them to reconsider their decision to discontinue AM radio in their cars. Gottheimer also called on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to add AM radio to the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards to require that all automakers include AM radio as a stock feature in their vehicles.

Here's your chance to see some current and former Packer greats in Eau Claire. Tickets for the Packer Tailgate Tour are now on sale. The Bolton Refuge House will host this year's event on April 11th. Aaron Jones, Elgton Jenkins, and Romeo Doubs are scheduled to be there, as are former players Haha Clinton-Dix, Eddie Lacy, and Davon House. And Packers President/CEO Mark Murphy. Tickets are 50 dollars, and you can buy them online.

Local-Regional News March 23

 No one bid on the vacant lot of the former Bubba's bar in Downtown Durand.  Many believe the $40,000 minimum bid set by Pepin County was too high to attract any bids.  Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren says the county had no choice but to set the higher price due to state law.  The County Administrative Committee will be revisiting the sale of the land and may put the land back up for auction with a lower minimum price.

One person was injured in a two-vehicle accident in Gilman Township on Tuesday.  According to the Pierce County Sheriffs Department, 52yr old Rebecca Langhus of Elmwood was traveling northbound on Hwy BB when she struck a Timpte grain cart owned by 43yr old Adam Webster of Elmwood.  The grain cart was parked in the lane of traffic while getting filled by a semi-trailer.  Langhus was taken to Western Wisconsin Hospital in Baldwin.

The winter of 22-23 is now in Eau Claire's Top Ten Snowiest. Forecasters say this winter, which officially ended this week, saw 71-point-6 inches of snow. That is a little under six feet of snow. It is good enough for ninth on the list. This winter just barely beats out the winter of 2010-2011, but is a long way away from the snowiest winter on record. That remains the winter of 2018-2019 when Eau Claire saw just under 99 inches of snow.

School districts and police departments across Wisconsin had to deal with a series of "swatting" calls on Wednesday. One of the districts targeted was Chippewa Falls. Patrol Sergeant Sheridan Pabst says they have to respond as if it's real.   Chippewa Falls students are on Spring Break, so it was quickly determined to be a false call. Schools in Wasuau, Spooner, Superior, and Rice Lake dealt with similar calls. 

A home in the Town of Anson is a total loss after an early morning fire yesterday. It took fire crews from four different departments an hour and a half to get the flames under control. After the fire was out, there was nothing left of the home but some rubble. The two people who were inside at the time of the fire both made it out okay. Investigators say they are looking for a cause.

Some members of  Governor Tony Evers’ administration are finally official.  Many people named to posts by the Democratic governor in his first term have yet to be confirmed. But on Wednesday the state Senate unanimously confirmed several, including Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation Secretary Missy Hughes and Anne Sayers as Secretary of the Department of Tourism. Both had been serving in an “acting” capacity.  Hughes was appointed by Evers in 2019, Sayers in 2020 after her predecessor Sarah Meaney left without ever having been confirmed.  

While Governor Tony Evers may sign two new plans aimed at reckless driving, the rest of the tough-on-crime package from Republicans in the Wisconsin Assembly is going nowhere. Lawmakers yesterday approved a series of proposals that would do everything from guarantee prison time for repeat felons caught with guns, enforce more transparency at the state's parole commission, and clarify the details of Wisconsin's proposed bail changes. Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos says the crime package is the 'right public policy,' but says he's not surprised the governor likely won't sign the pieces of legislation.

Republicans in the Wisconsin Legislature want a special election for Secretary of State.  Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahiueu notes Doug LaFollette had hardly begun a new term when he abruptly resigned.  Republicans called foul when Governor Tony Evers named former state Treasurer Sarah Godlewski to the post.   Resolutions passed in the Assembly and Senate on Wednesday are non-binding, and Evers won’t be calling an election.

An East Central Minnesota City is getting ready for historic spring flooding.  The City of Stillwater declared a state of emergency last night in preparing for major flooding along the St. Croix River.  Officials are closing some streets, trails, and parking lots to combat flooding levels.  Crews are also placing barriers supported by sandbags along the river. 

A massage therapist is accused of sexually assaulting a female client at a spa in Stillwater.  Andrew Yang is charged with third-degree criminal sexual conduct.  Police say the 30-year-old defendant assaulted the victim last May at the Just For Me Spa.  The woman informed the spa's manager and the owner and they fired Yang the same day.

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A jury is in place for the trial of a former Minnesota Republican donor and strategist charged with sex trafficking and obstruction.  Prosecutors say Anton Tony Lazzaro recruited teenage girls to have sex with him in exchange for cash and other expensive items.  He is also accused of attempting to interfere with the testimony of one of the minor victims.  Opening statements and testimony are expected to begin this morning.

The leak of radioactive water at a Monticello power plant was among one many with the highest levels.  A recent report shows that the tritium leak in February was the sixth-highest on record among U.S. nuclear plants.  Tritium presents no health risk unless it's ingested.  State officials say none of the contaminated water has left the site or reached any drinking water source.

An oil spill causes a state of emergency in New Berlin.  An emergency declaration from the city says employees at an auto repair business were moving a 350-gallon oil storage tote Thursday when it became damaged, spilled onto the pavement, and ended up in the city’s storm sewers, a creek, and retention pond.    City officials said a man walking his dog noticed the smell Sunday and called 911.  When oil was found in a stormwater pond, New Berlin Emergency Management Manager Jim Burns says that’s when the cleanup process began.

Middleton police say an employee of an auto dealership was shot Monday afternoon by a woman who had previously purchased a vehicle from the business.  Police say the dispute was over the purchase. The victim was taken to the hospital, where he died of his injuries.  Police have the suspect in custody.  She's 23-year-old Jakira Anderson of Fitchburg. She's been booked into jail on a tentative first-degree murder charge.

A generous donation is extending the life of a program that puts teachers into Wisconsin schools. Best-selling author and UW-Madison alum Susan Patterson donated 5 million dollars to the school's Teacher Pledge program. Assistant Dean Tom Owenby says that the program will now have enough money to last until 2027. Owenby says the goal is to make sure Wisconsin's schools continue to have well-qualified teachers well into the future.

The state of Wisconsin is asking people not to feed the deer in the winter.  The Department of Natural Resources yesterday asked people not to leave corn, alfalfa, and other feed in their backyards.  Biologists at the DNR say feeding deer in the winter can actually hurt, or even kill, deer.  Feeding deer is actually illegal in most Wisconsin counties, and there are restrictions in the few counties where it's not.

Local-Regional News March 22

 The Durand-Arkansaw School Board is meeting tonight.  Items on the agenda include discussion and possible action on the settlement with Juul as part of the Vaping Class Action Lawsuit, an amended joint library agreement with the city of Durand, and reports from the district superintendent and school administrators.  Tonight's meeting begins at 6 in the Board Room at Durand High School.

The Durand City Council is meeting tonight.  Items on the agenda include discussion and possible action on a request from the Gruber trust to divide one lot into three, along with reports from the mayor, city administrator, and department heads.  Tonight's meeting begins at 6:30 at Durand City Hall and will be live-streamed on our youtube channel.

Pierce-Pepin Cooperative Services is launching a Community Solar Energy Project with One Energy Renewable of Madison.  The project will be located along Highway 35 and County Road K on property that was owned by Tim and Christine Truttma.  The solar project will generate around 4,290,000 kilowatt hours which is enough to power approximately 525 homes.  Pierce-Pepin will purchase the output of the array from OneEnergy. OneEnergy will own, operate, and maintain the facility including working closely on a productive vegetation management program that uses sheep to graze between the panels during the summer and fall.  Construction is slated to begin this year and its hoped to be operational by the end of the year.

The state is weighing-in against the plans to annex part of the town of Washington into Eau Claire.  The Department of Administration yesterday said the move is "not in the public's interest."  The ruling from the state comes after Eau Claire's Plan Commission voted Monday night against the annexation as well.  A local developer has been trying for three years to build a new subdivision in Orchard Hills, despite stiff opposition from neighbors.  The city of Eau Claire, however, continues to support the plan.  City Attorney Steve Nick says the state is both "factually, and legally incorrect."  City leaders are going to vote on the annexation next week.

Nearly one-in-five school districts in Wisconsin are asking for more money this spring.  The Wisconsin Association of School Boards this week said 82 schools across the state have tax hike questions on the April ballot.  That's just under 20 percent of the 421 school districts across the state.  Most of the referendum questions are for day-to-day operations, though some school districts are asking voters for more money to build or improve buildings.  There were 81 school districts that asked for more money back in November.

Oktoberfest is a big money maker in La Crosse.  A new report from UW-Whitewater says the annual beer and brat fest is worth 26 million dollars.  Researchers say that includes all of the money spent at Oktoberfest, the gas, hotel rooms, other food, and of course beer that visitors buy each fall.  The report says a lot of the money goes to or comes from local non-profits that then use the money raised for other good works.  A.J. Frels, executive director of Explore La Crosse, says Oktoberfest is the area's largest festival and is an example of the hospitality that La Crosse has to offer.

The candidates for Wisconsin Supreme Court, as expected, disagreed entirely during their only debate yesterday. Liberal Judge Janet Protasiewicz and Dan Kelly met on the stage for the only time this campaign. Protasiewicz tried to paint Kelly as extreme on abortion, while Kelly hammered Protasiewicz for light sentences for criminals and her politicization of the race for the high court. The race is being closely watched across the country and is the most expensive ever. Reports have the price tag somewhere between 20 and 30 million dollars so far. Voters will choose between the two on April 4th.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is moving forward with a bill designed to make it harder to sell stolen catalytic converters in Minnesota.  Walz signed a bill yesterday making it a crime to possess an improperly marked detached converter.  The new law comes as the market for reclaimed precious metals in exhaust components is skyrocketing.  St. Paul Police Chief Brian Sturgeon says the community has seen a 700-percent increase in catalytic converter theft in the most recent reporting period.

Democratic lawmakers in Wisconsin are working on a bill to make abortions legal again.  The bill was introduced today and Governor Tony Evers says it would restore Wisconsin's abortion laws to what they were before Roe v. Wade was overturned.  Right now abortions are banned in Wisconsin except for when the mother's life is at risk.  Republicans recently introduced their own bill that would continue restricting abortion access but allow exceptions in certain cases of rape and incest.  However, Evers says he won't pass legislation that doesn't return Wisconsin to Roe v. Wade abortion laws.

Minneapolis-based Foxo Technologies Incorporated is under investigation by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.  Officials with the biotechnology company said the regulatory agency is seeking documents related to Jon Sabes termination as CEO and his resignation from the company's board of directors.  The SEC is also looking at Steven Sabes's termination as chief operating officer.

“An odd story.” That from Governor Tony Evers, on suggestions from some Republican lawmakers regarding his pick for Secretary of State  That’s Sarah Godlewski, the former state Treasurer and US Senate candidate who dropped out of the primary. Mandela Barnes later lost to incumbent Ron Johnson.  Doug LaFollette, who’d been Secretary of State for decades, abruptly resigned last week, and Evers tapped Godlewski for the job. LaFollette was just reelected in November. Evers won’t call a special election to fill the remainder of his term, as called for by some Republicans. 

About 60 unlucky people got stuck on the ski lifts on Granite Peak in Wausau on Sunday. Ski hill general manager Greg Fisher tells WAOW-TV that says it it's something that ski parks have to be ready for.  Ski Patrol managed to get everyone down safely from the chairs using a rope system. The lifts are expected to reopen later this week after repairs and testing.

A man accused of stealing a van from a Rockford, Illinois funeral home with a corpse inside is arrested in Green Bay.  The Brown County Sheriff's Office says Deon Howard was arrested following a traffic stop Sunday morning.  A search of the vehicle Howard was a passenger in led to a gun stolen from Outagamie County.  Authorities then learn of Howard's warrants through Appleton and Rockford.  Police in Rockford say the van with the corpse in it was stolen on January 21st.  It was found without the corpse the next day by Chicago police.  The missing body was found on Chicago’s south side on January 23rd. Police identified Howard as the suspect in the case after a follow-up investigation.

Madison Police arrested a burglary suspect last week for the third time in eight days. Officers arrested the 37-year-old last Thursday after getting a 911 call that he was inside a woman's home on South Blair Street. Madison Police arrested the same man last Wednesday after he was found in an apartment building where he does live. He was also arrested back on March 9th after police say they found him checking the doors of cars in a parking deck.

Local-Regional News March 21

 Wisconsin gas prices look to be going back down.  According to Triple-A the statewide average sits at three dollars and 23 cents a gallon, down eight cents from this time last week.  Here in Western Wisconsin, the average is $3.18 a gallon.  Triple-A points to dropping oil prices, which are at their lowest point since August 2021.

The grant application process for infrastructure projects in the city of Durand is changing.  During the last council meeting, members were told how the city will first have to complete all the engineering of a project before applying for grants.  This is a change from the past when the city could apply for grant funding for a project, and if the grant was approved, then the city would move forward to pay for the engineering.  The new application process has been implemented with the applications for water system replacement grants and will be the norm with the CDBG grants the city applies for street projects.

The Mondovi City Council has approved a new front-end loader for the public works department.  The city will receive $76,000 in a trade-in and will purchase the new loader for $130,000.  Because the front-end loader is used year-round and can be fitted with extra attachments to handle snow plowing, the city decided to purchase the loader instead of a new plow truck at a cost of $220,000.

The Trempealeau County Sheriff’s Office has identified the person who died after a two-vehicle crash in Trempealeau County on Friday.  According to the department, 64yr old Jeannie Furlin of Trempealeau died when a truck driven by 25yr old Gavin Becker of Independence crossed the centerline of Hwy 53-94 and struck Furlin's vehicle head-on.  Both Becker and Furlin were taken to the hospital, and Furlin died of her injuries.

UW-Eau Claire will need a new athletic director next year.  Dan Schumacher yesterday announced his retirement.  He has been with the university since 2014.  Schumacher's legacy includes the upgrades to UW-Eau Claire's sports facilities, including Simpson Field.  Schumacher is leaving at the end of this semester, the school will launch a search for his replacement later this spring.

Wisconsin saw more snow than usual this winter, and that will lead to some wet spring conditions. National Weather Service meteorologist Mike Cellitti says long-term forecasts show the water won't be going away soon. While that may be good for spring planting, Cellitti says any extra water could lead to serious flooding. The National Weather Service says there is at least a 75% chance there will be minor to moderate flooding on the Chippewa River this spring.

The latest plans to get tougher on reckless driving in Wisconsin take their next step forward this week.  The Wisconsin Senate is set to vote on a couple of pieces of legislation aimed at repeat reckless drivers.  One would double the fines for reckless driving, while another will allow cities and towns to seize cars from reckless drivers who don't pay their fines and tickets.  The plans are all written by Republicans, but there is hope at the Capitol that they will be signed by the governor is they make it to his desk.

The record-breaking spending in Wisconsin's race for Supreme Court is not stopping. The Wisconsin Democracy Campaign yesterday said Judge Janet Protasiewicz and former Justice Dan Kelly, and the groups that support them, have now spent over 20 million dollars on their campaigns. Most of the money has come from outside groups. Elections Day is two weeks away, so the Democracy Campaign says more spending is on its way.

Wisconsin's attorney general wants Kia and Hyundai to do something about their cars that keep getting stolen. Josh Kaul and A-G's from 22 other states yesterday sent a letter to Kia and Hyundai pressing them for solutions. Kaul says most of the cars stolen in both Milwaukee and Madison over the past two years have been either Kia or Hyundai models. Thieves have figured out a way to start them without a key. Kaul said the software upgrade from Kia and Hyundai is a start, but he said in his letter that it is late and 'not enough.' He wants Kia and Hyundai to provide steering wheel locks to anyone who wants one.

A Minnesota Senate committee is hearing from state Department of Veterans Affairs officials about allegations of a toxic workplace environment at the Hastings Veterans Home.  An informational hearing will be held today, where the commissioner will answer questions about the allegations.  Deputy commissioner Doug Hughes and Hastings administrator Mike Anderson lost their jobs over the weekend in connection with ongoing issues at the facility.  The chair of the Senate panel says information about a "series of issues" in Hastings has been filtering to the committee since January.

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The U.S. Department of Energy is renewing funding for the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.  The Department of Energy says the research center could get over 147 and a half million dollars over the next five years.  The money will be used to find sustainable alternatives to gasoline.

Work begins in earnest today, on the two-year state budget.  The Wisconsin Legislature’s budget-writing Joint Finance Committee begins agency briefings at the Capitol, as members get into the nitty-gritty of crafting a two-year spending plan for state government. The Departments of Corrections and Transportation start things out, with the Departments of Administration, and Safety and Professional Services on deck for Thursday. Republicans hold the majority on the panel and plan to start from a base budget and reject much of Democratic Governor Tony Evers proposed budget of nearly $140 billion.

Two people are found dead in a Winnebago County home Saturday morning.  The sheriff’s office there says they’ve begun a ‘very active and ongoing investigation’ into the deaths at a home in the town of Wolf River.  The deaths are considered to be ‘suspicious in nature.’  Fox Valley law enforcement took a person of interest into custody after finding them at the YMCA in Kimberly Saturday morning.  An investigation of the deaths is ongoing.

A Kenosha man is arrested for his 17th Operating After Revocation charge.  The Racine County Sheriff’s Office says Dean W. Burns hasn’t had a valid driver’s license since 2015 and “has an extensive history of not paying fines from his citations.”  Deputies arrested the 35-year-old Burns late Friday morning in Mount Pleasant driving 101 miles per hour in a 55-mile-per-hour zone.  A search of Burns’ vehicle found a metal pipe used to smoke marijuana.  He’s being held in the Racine County Jail.

A Minnesota State Representative is revealing she had a minor stroke over the weekend.  In a statement, Debra Kiel said she was hospitalized on Friday after feeling dizzy and fatigued at the State Office Building.  The Republican thanked the neurology team at Regions Hospital in St. Paul for "their excellent care and quick work" that likely saved her from suffering any long-term effects of the stroke.  She'll have a few more tests over the next few days. 

The federal sex trafficking trial of former GOP political strategist Anton Tony Lazzaro gets underway this week. He has a pre-trial hearing set for this morning and his trial is expected to begin with jury selection tomorrow.  Lazzaro is charged with seven counts involving commercial sex acts with minors. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.  Prosecutors say the defendant would lure young girls as young as 15 to his downtown Minneapolis penthouse and would offer them alcohol and money in exchange for sex.

Wisconsin is a top-five state for doctors.  That's according to WalletHub, which says Wisconsin is the fourth-best state to practice medicine.  WalletHub says it uses 19 key metrics to make its rankings.  Wisconsin ranks second in opportunity and competition and has the second-cheapest annual malpractice liability insurance.  WalletHub says the best state for doctors is Montana and the worst is Hawaii.

Local-Regional News March 20

 A River Falls man is now facing federal charges in relation to a labor trafficking case in Pierce County.  29yr old Austin Koeckeritz, was charged in federal court in January with labor trafficking. Now, he is charged with nine counts: forced labor, sex trafficking by force, sex trafficking of a minor, interstate travel with the intent to engage in a sexual act with a minor, transporting a minor with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, producing child pornography and three counts of money laundering.  If convicted, Koeckeritz could face life in prison.

One person is dead and another injured after a two-vehicle accident Friday near Galesville.  According to the Trempealeau County Sheriffs Department, a pickup truck was traveling eastbound on Hwy 53-93, crossed the centerline, and struck a westbound car head-on.  The driver of the pickup had severe injuries and was taken to the hospital.  The driver of the car was also taken to the hospital but died from their injuries.  A one-year-old child in the car was not injured.  Names were not released pending notification of family members.

One person was injured in a single vehicle accident Saturday night in the town of Albion.  According to the Trempealeau County Sheriffs' Department, a pickup traveling northbound on Hwy 93 lost control on a patch of ice, left the roadway and rolled over.  The driver was taken to the hospital with nonlife-threatening injuries.  A 5yr old passenger in the truck was not injured.

No one was injured in a house fire on Pine Island on Saturday.  According to the Goodhue County Sheriff's Department, firefighters were called to the home at 50199 154th Avenue after a passing motorist discovered the fire.  Muddy conditions prevented firefighters to get trucks close to the home and they had to drag hoses nearly 50 yards.  The home and its contents were deemed a total loss.  A space heater in the back of the home is believed to be the cause of the blaze.  No one was injured in that fire.

The Wabasha County Board is meeting tomorrow.  Items on the agenda include discussion and possible action of an agreement between the Wabasha County Public Health Department and the City of Wabasha, Wabasha-Kellogg School District, and the Minnesota Department of Health.  Tomorrow's meeting begins at 9am at the Wabasha County Government Center.

There are questions to answer about the fire last night at Banbury Place in downtown Eau Claire. Fire crews got the call about 9:30 last night. Smoke was seen coming out of the roof of the building. Eau Claire firefighters say it's too soon to tell what started the fire. We could get some more answers later today.

A plea deal could mean 26 years in prison for a former Eau Claire man in a 2020 overdose death. Trenton Wik pleaded guilty on Friday to first-degree reckless homicide by delivering drugs. This comes after police found a man dead in his car on Cochrane Street back in December of 2020. Wik gave the man who died the drugs that killed him. Wik also pleaded guilty to a jailhouse fight in 2021 that injured another inmate.

Researchers say a new tactic in fighting invasive carp is simply eating them. Tim Campbell with the UW Sea Grant program says silver and bighead carp, or copi, is a plentiful source of protein across the border in Illinois.  While there's no commercial fishing for the invasive carp in Wisconsin waters yet, there has been a market for them in southern Wisconsin. There's been a large-scale effort to keep the fish out of the Great Lakes. 

The University of Wisconsin's president says most of the 38 million dollars he wants from a new tuition hike will go for pay raises for university employees. President Jay Rothman was on Capital City Sunday on Madison TV over the weekend. He said the UW isn't paying as much as other universities, and he wants to change that. Rothman says inflation is also driving prices higher at the university. Rothman wants a five percent tuition increase, starting next fall.

One person is dead and dozens are without a home after a fire sweeps through an apartment complex in Monona.  The Monona Fire Department says multiple crews were called out to the Monona Hills Apartments at about 3:45 Saturday morning and saw smoke coming from the second floor.  Photos of the blaze show flames shooting from the roof of the 70-unit complex.  About 70 people are displaced because of the fire, and fire crews say one person was found dead.  It's not clear yet how the person died.  Investigators believe the fire started on the second floor and was unintentional. 

Mississippi's Department of Human Services wants a judge to keep Brett Favre as part of their lawsuit to recover misspent welfare dollars. DHS lawyers in Jackson, Mississippi last week asked the judge not to allow Favre to walk away from the case. Favre has never been charged with a crime, but there is evidence that links him to a scheme to misspend millions of dollars that were supposed to go to needy families. Favre's lawyers say the state is using his status as a celebrity to distract from the real culprits in the case.

Wisconsin’s long-time Secretary of State abruptly resigns. Eighty-two-year-old Doug La Follette made the announcement Friday, a year to the day after announcing he was seeking a twelfth term. He narrowly defeated Republican Representative Amy Loudenbeck in November.  Governor Tony Evers names former state Treasurer Sarah Godlewski to serve the remainder of La Follette’s term. LaFollette said he’s proud to have served and grateful to meet so many people during his 40 years in office.     

Democrats at the Wisconsin Capitol want to overhaul the state's cash bail system.  A handful of lawmakers and some advocacy groups yesterday said they are working on legislation that would replace cash bail with a "dynamic risk assessment system."   The announcement comes as voters will decide on April 4th whether to change the state's constitution to make it easier for judges to set higher cash bails, or hold criminal suspects without any bail at all.  The Democrats' push is unlikely to make it through the Republican-controlled legislature.

One of Madison's state senators says people in Wisconsin bought a lot of marijuana in Illinois last year.  State Senator Melissa Agard said last week that a new memo from the Legislative Fiscal Bureau found that people from Wisconsin spent 36 million dollars in taxes alone on legal pot in Illinois.  Agard, who has been pushing for legal marijuana in Wisconsin for years, says it should upset everyone that our hard-earned tax dollars are going across the border to Illinois.

 Minneapolis-based Sun Country Airlines is accused of firing a dozen workers in retaliation for supporting a union formed in January.  The International Brotherhood of Teamsters filed a federal lawsuit this week against the air carrier.  The suit seeks unspecified damages for fired Sun Country ramp workers Monique Crisp and Sly Oliver along with ten other unnamed employees.  The plaintiffs are also asking for their jobs back and for the airline's boss to read the court's order to workers.

Appleton’s first in the nation “No Mow May,” may be going away. The study underpinning it has been retracted by the website which published it. Alder Chad Doran says other research questions the benefits. The research paper was published by Alder Israel Del Toro, an Associate Professor of Biology at Lawrence University, and claimed more bees were found in local yards that did not cut their grass for the month.

School breakfast and lunch will now be free for all students in Minnesota.  Governor Tim Walz signed a bill today to make sure no kid goes hungry at school.  The Democrat took to Twitter to celebrate the "historic, bipartisan win," writing "Minnesota is one step closer to being the best state in the county to grow up." 

Local-Regional News March 17

 The Mondovi City Council has decided to transfer $1.25 million to a savings account at CCF Bank.  During this week's council meeting the council decided to transfer the money that is earmarked for various projects and put it into the savings account and earn 4.5% interest.  CCF Bank offered the city the best interest rate.

With the new Dollar General Store coming to Durand, the city will be repaving 12th avenue east.  Bidding for the project started yesterday, and will be opened at the end of the month.  Construction will begin during the construction of the Dollar General Store this spring.

A mobile home in Jackson County is a total loss after a fire. Firefighters say no one was home and no one was hurt when the trailer near Alma Center burned. Pictures show the home completely on fire. Firefighters from Black River Falls, Clark County, Fairchild, Hixton, and Merrillan all played a part in putting out the flames. There's no word on what started the fire.

A Southeast Minnesota State Senator is facing backlash after saying he's never seen anyone go hungry in Minnesota.  Republican Steve Drazkowski made that comment earlier this week before the Senate voted on a bill that would give free meals to all students in the state.  A video of Drazkowski saying he's "yet to meet a person in Minnesota that says they don't have access to enough food to eat"  has been viewed almost six-point-five-million times on Twitter as of this morning, and many people are slamming his comments.  The bill passed with a 38-26 vote and now heads to the House for final approval. 

The state of Wisconsin is once again asking for volunteers to listen for frogs and toads in Western Wisconsin. The Department of Natural Resources is asking for 'froggers' to be a part of this year's Frog and Toad Survey. The survey has been running in Wisconsin since 1984 and is now the longest-running in the country. Froggers listen for the sounds in their area, then report back to the state. The DNR says the survey helps track the local populations of the state's 12 species of frogs and toads.

Parts of I-94 in Eau Claire County will be down to one lane for about ten weeks as crews make needed repairs.  Construction will get back underway on I-94 between the 312 interchanges and the Chippewa River.   Weather permitting, traffic will be routed on Tuesday to a single-lane in each direction on the highway's westbound side, so that repairs can be made to the eastbound lanes.   The project is expected to be completed by Memorial Day Weekend.

Folks who take an Uber in western Wisconsin could soon be on tape. Uber yesterday announced plans to launch an audio recording feature for both riders and drivers in Eau Claire and La Crosse. Uber says it's a safety feature that would allow people to record any incidents that may happen. The audio would be encrypted on the rider or driver's phone. Uber has offered the recording feature in 70 cities across the country since 2019, but Eau Claire and La Crosse would be the first cities in Wisconsin where it's available.

Xcel Energy reports it 's cleaning up about 400-thousand gallons of water containing radioactive tritium (TRIT-ee-um), that leaked from a broken pipe into groundwater for nearly a month at its Monticello nuclear plant northwest of the Twin Cities. Xcel’s Chris Clark says they're "quite confident" there is no threat to the nearby Mississippi River, drinking water, or public health.  A Minnesota Pollution Control Agency official said they announced the leak nearly three months after it was patched because there’s "now sufficient information to be able to share it out to a wider group."  The Minnesota Department of Health said persons would have to drink or breathe water with tritium to be harmed.

There's a plan at the Wisconsin Capitol to make the Henry 45-70 Wisconsin's official state rifle. New legislation from state Reps. Dave Armstrong, Treig Pronschinske, and James Edming, as well as state Senator Romaine Quinn, would be symbolic, no one would have to buy the rifle and the state wouldn't be purchasing any either. Henry is based in Rice Lake, and there's a Henry plant in Ladysmith. At least nine other states across the country have 'official' state rifles.

There's now a proposed law that would ban the kind of secret microphones that were installed in Green Bay.  State Rep. David SteSteffen and State Senator Eric Wimberger, both from Green Bay, yesterday introduced legislation that would spell out just when and how state and local officials can record people.  The legislation comes after Green Bay's mayor secretly installed microphones inside city hall.  The mayor claimed the microphones were legal, and part of a security system.  The new legislation would require cities, counties, or state governments to warn people when their conversations are being recorded.

Republican lawmakers at the Wisconsin Capitol want to do more about PFAS pollution, but they also want a firm price tag for what it will cost. State Senator Rob Cowles this week pressed Wisconsin's DNR secretary for more specifics on the governor's plan to spend 100 million dollars on PFAS projects. Cowles says the 100 million is 'doable' in the state's new budget, but he wants to know how much of that will go for testing, how much will go for treatment, and how much will go for other projects.

A Republican plan to modify Wisconsin’s 150-year-old criminal abortion statute has bipartisan opposition.  Just hours after Republican lawmakers announced legislation on Wednesday, Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu of Oostburg said the bill would not be considered on the Senate floor. In a statement, LeMahieu said abortion “is not a topic to use as a political football,” and criticized the response of Governor Tony Evers, who’s rejected anything short of full access to abortion. The bill would update language regarding the life of the mother in the existing law and also allow for 1st-trimester abortions in cases of rape or incest.  Senate sponsor, Irma Republican Mary Felzkowski, also said Republicans do not currently have the 17 votes needed to pass the bill in the Senate. 

Wisconsin is getting 24 million dollars in federal money to be used on road projects.  Governor Tony Evers says the money will be used on 18 different projects, including installing smart traffic lights, buying electric buses, and extending multi-use trails.  There's a full list of projects the money will go toward on the Wisconsin Department of Transportation website.

Kalahari is growing in the Wisconsin Dells. The resort yesterday announced a 50-million-dollar expansion that will add 237 new rooms. Kalahari Resorts President Travis Nelson said the growth is a reflection of the popularity and support they get in the Dells. The new rooms will be in their own building and will be connected to the resort with a skywalk. Nelson says they hope to open the new rooms by Memorial Day weekend of 2024.

A New Berlin man is arrested after starting an explosion in a Milwaukee parking garage Sunday.  A criminal complaint says a man dumped two bottles out of a vehicle driving out of the garage at Potawatomi Hotel & Casino.  One of the bottles exploded, while the other smoked and didn’t explode.    Casino surveillance video showed the man driving the vehicle presenting an ID to get a player's card. The name on the ID was Dennis Beard.  Police head to Beard's home and find clothing matching that worn by the man in the video, as well as materials used to make the improvised explosives.  The complaint states Beard "said his actions were stupid.”

 Minnesota isn't as dependent on federal aid as most states.  That's according to a new WalletHub study.  It ranked Minnesota 30th based on two key factors: residents' dependency on federal funds, and the share of state revenue that comes from the federal government.  Alaska was found to be the most dependent on federal aid, while New Jersey ranked dead last. 

It's a little early to start talking about icy cold treats for the summer, but this one is new. Coors Light is offering beer-flavored popsicles. The Coors-icles are non-alcoholic and marketed as 'made to chill.' Molson Coors is selling them for the NCAA Tournament as a way to 'stay chill when things get heated.' Supplies are limited, and you have to buy them at Coors online shop. A new batch is released everyday at 11 a.m. through March 24th. A six-pack of Coors-icles will cost just over 20 dollars.

Local-Regional News March 16

 The new wastewater treatment plant in Mondovi is nearing completion.  During this week's council meeting members received an update on the project.  The plant will start a limited operation late this month for testing before receiving its wastewater discharge permit from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. It is hoped by the end of April the plant will be fully operational and the city is looking at having an open house sometime in June.

Low-income families that own a home in the City of Durand are reminded to look into the CDBG Housing Program.  During last week's council meeting Renee Swensen from Cedar Corp gave a presentation of the program to council members.  The program offers loans to low-income homeowners for home repairs with no repayment until the home is sold.  For more information on the program contact Durand City Hall.

One Chippewa Falls city councilman is stepping down because he bought a new house. City Councilman Christopher Gilliam recently moved out of his Third District area, and has given-up his seat. His resignation comes about three weeks before voters were likely to re-elect him to another term on the city council. He is the only person on the April ballot for the Third District, and he will stay on the ballot. Chippewa Falls Mayor Greg Hoffman says it's sad to see Gilliam step away from the council. His replacement will be named after the election.

Wisconsin lawmakers want answers about the state's broadband expansion efforts. The state's Audit Committee yesterday pressed the Wisconsin Public Service Commission for answers about spending and record keeping on about 100 million dollars worth of broadband projects. An audit last fall said the PSC didn't have any documentation for most of the projects it looks at. State Senator Eric Wimberger said there is no evidence of wrongdoing yet, but he wants to know if any of the state's internet money has actually been put to good use. Wimberger says it looks like the governor's administration simply threw the money out the door.

The first clean-up at Houska Park in La Crosse is in the books. City crews spent the day yesterday moving what was left of the large homeless camp at the park. La Crosse ordered everyone out of the park earlier this week and started moving the stuff they left behind yesterday. Houska Park will stay closed til the snow melts and crews can clean the park again. City leaders say they tried to move the park's homeless into shelters but said no one will be allowed to camp at the park ever again.

Republicans in the Legislature reintroduce a bipartisan measure to broaden access to birth control in Wisconsin.   Anyone 18 or older would be allowed to obtain contraceptive patches and birth control pills at pharmacies. Current law only allows doctors to prescribe them. A previous version of the bill had bipartisan support, and support from the medical community.

Governor Tim Walz is being sued over Minnesota's "clean cars" rule.  A coalition of soybean farmers, gas stations, convenience stores, and ethanol industry representatives is suing the governor and state pollution regulators in federal court.  The lawsuit argues the requirements limiting climate pollution from tailpipes violate federal law and will damage their businesses.  The group says Minnesota can't legally regulate vehicle fuel economy beyond federal standards.

The Badgers Men's basketball team may be out of the NCAA tournament, but cats in the Eau Claire area are still taking part in... Meow Madness. WEAU reports that the Eau Claire County Humane Society is hosting its own bracket this March, and there are 16 cats on the list. All of the cats are older cats, or have been at the shelter for some time. As each cat gets adopted, the fees for the next one will go down. They're hoping to get all of the cats adopted before April, when they start seeing an influx of newborn kittens. 

A meat processing company in Minnesota employed children as young as 13 to work in hazardous conditions, such as operating meat grinders, while they worked overnight shifts and longer hours than allowed by law, the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry said Wednesday. According to the complaint, the Mankato-based Tony Downs Food Company employed at least eight children ranging from 14 to 17 at its plant in Madelia. Investigators also have identified other employees who were hired before they were 18 years old, the department said.  The Minnesota Department of Labor is asking a court for a temporary restraining order against the company while it investigates.

Republicans in the Wisconsin Legislature say they're adding exceptions to their proposed abortion ban bill.  Reports say those exceptions would be in the cases of rape, incest, and for health reasons.  The bill was unveiled this morning.  Governor Tony Evers says he won't sign the bill and it likely won't get any support from Democrats.

A Wisconsin Dells man is changing his plea for his part in a plot to kidnap Michigan’s governor.  Brian Higgins is one of five men charged in northern Michigan in connection to a scheme against Gretchen Whitmer.  Records show the 54-year-old Higgins has a hearing Wednesday in Michigan to change his not-guilty plea on charges of providing material support for an act of terrorism. Evidence shows Higgins trained with members of the conspiracy in a remote hunting area, then participated in scouting Whitmer’s vacation home.   Three of the other men involved were found guilty in a separate but related trial.  They are serving long prison terms.

A retired Manitowoc County detective loses a lawsuit over a TV show.  A U.S. District Judge ruled the producers of the Netflix docuseries “Making a Murderer” did not act with malice toward Andrew Colborn.  The series follows the story of Steven Avery and Brendan Dassey, who were both sentenced to life in prison for the 2005 murder and rape of photographer Teresa Halbach, and whether Manitowoc County officials framed them. Colborn’s 2019 suit alleged that the documentary defamed him by misquoting and editing his testimony in court to make him appear nervous and uncertain.  The judge found that the footage did not mischaracterize Colborn.

A shuttered entertainment venue in the Wisconsin Dells has a new owner.   The City of Lake Delton confirms Legacy Entertainment Group has purchased the Palace Theater.  A report from WMTV in Madison says a sign on the theater’s front door says the group plans to re-open this May.  The sign also stresses that the new owners aren’t affiliated with the old owners and cannot issue refunds.  The Better Business Bureau of Southwest Wisconsin has received complaints from several customers who purchased tickets for shows scheduled for the theater prior to its closing but haven’t yet received a refund.  The station says the theater’s former ownership sent an email to one of those customers in February stating their electronic database was hacked, thus delaying refunds.

The Adams County Sheriff's Office is warning about a new phone scam involving people impersonating law enforcement.  The sheriff's office says people are getting calls where someone claims to be law enforcement and threatens to arrest them if they don't pay money.  The sheriff's office says it doesn't ask people for money over the phone.

The Minnesota Senate is advancing a measure to provide free breakfasts and lunches for all students.  The bill in support of universal free school meals passed 38 to 26 on Tuesday.  It will now return to the House for final approval before heading to Governor Walz's desk.

Local-Regional News March 15

 The Mondovi City Council has approved an interview committee for the police chief position.  The Personnel Committee received 3 applications for police chief and the city will now ask if there are any current officers that would also like to apply for the position.  The interview Committee will be made up of city officials business and community members.  The city hopes to conduct those interviews in the next few weeks.

The city of Durand continues to meet with engineers, donors, and pool companies on the future of the Tarrant Park Pool Project.   During last week's council meeting, Mayor Milliren told the council the meetings continue on what to do next after the bids for the project came in over 30% higher than budgeted.  The decision on when to ask for new bids in the project and changes to the project should be announced in the next few weeks.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is asking people in Western Wisconsin to watch for an invasive species of moth that's eating trees.  The DNR says spongy moths lay their eggs in masses and eat the leaves of trees.  People with certain species of trees should be especially watchful, including oak, birch, crabapple, aspen, willow, and linden.  The DNR says if you have a tree with a spongy moth egg mass you should contact a professional for removal.

 We know who died in the Eau Claire County Jail, but we don't know how. The sheriff's office yesterday said 29-year-old Silver Jenkins was found dead in her cell on Sunday. There is no cause of death. The medical examiner has not yet completed its investigation.

People in Eau Claire can only have five pets, but a new plan before the city council would give them some flexibility in how to get to that limit. The city council is considering a plan that would drop the permit requirement to have three dogs or four cats. The permit costs 75 dollars, and city leaders say most of the people who ask for the permit are given permission for a third dog or fourth cat. If someone wants more than five pets, Eau Claire requires them to apply for a kennel license.

No one was hurt in a house fire in Zumbrota Monday Morning.  According to the Zumbrota Police Department, fire crews were called to the home on the 300 Block of 13th Street East on a report of an electrical fire in the garage.  Firefighters quickly extinguished the fire, preventing it from spreading to the home.  An investigation into the cause of the blaze is ongoing.

No one is hurt after a building collapsed in Chetek.  In a social media post from Chetek Fire and Rescue, the building has been vacant for some time. The building collapsed on Sunday at the intersection of 1st and Knapp Streets. Firefighters say that intersection is closed until further notice.  A portion of Knapp Street is also closed until crews can clean up the debris.  No word on what caused the collapse.

No one is reported to be hurt after a structure fire in La Crosse Monday.  According to the La Crosse Fire Department, firefighters responded to a structure fire at 1617 Jackson Street Monday afternoon and found smoke coming from the rear of a two-story, duplex residential home. Fire crews entered the rear of the first floor and were able to extinguish the fire and contain it in the room where it started.  All the residents were out of the home except for two dogs that remained inside.  No people were hurt and firefighters rescued the dogs with no injuries.  Improper use of smoking materials appears to be the cause of the fire and the home had minor smoke and fire damage.

There will likely be some pointed questions for Governor Tony Evers' team at the Wisconsin Capitol today. Lawmakers will hold the first confirmation hearings for the secretaries of Transportation, Natural Resources, Agriculture, and the Department of Financial Institutions. It's not clear if each of the governor's secretaries will have enough votes to be confirmed by the full Senate later on. Lawmakers refused to even give the governor's people a confirmation hearing during his first four years in office.

The Republican field for US Senate is shaping up.  Franklin businessman Scott Mayer told WisPolitics.com in a Tuesday phone interview he's considering a Senate run next year. Two-term incumbent, Democrat Tammy Baldwin of Madison will be up for reelection. A Republican primary could include Mayer and businessman Eric Hovde, as well as former Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke, whose spokesperson said he hasn’t ruled out a run. 

A Wisconsin healthcare provider will not require masks for visitors.  SSM Health announces Monday the ending of universal masking starting Wednesday.  They cite the "changing status" of COVID-19 in the communities they serve as the reason for dropping the requirement. SSM adds providers and staff will still need to wear personal protective equipment in conjunction with CDC guidelines. Plus, those with known or suspected COVID-19 infections or symptoms of upper respiratory infections will have to wear masks.  They’ll also continue to provide masks to patients who need them.

Plans to get tougher on reckless driving in Wisconsin are taking the next step forward at the Capitol today. A Senate panel will hear three different proposals to either increase the fines or jail time for people accused of driving recklessly. The third plan would make it easier for cities to take cars from reckless drivers.  The three pieces of legislation are part of a wave of tough-on-crime packages from Republicans, though the reckless driving proposals could be signed into law.

A trial awaits a Lincoln County man accused of drunk driving in a fatal September crash.  Authorities say a pickup driven by John Lahti crossed the centerline while driving south on Highway 17 near the town of Merrill.  Lahti’s truck struck another pick-up head-on.  The Wisconsin State Patrol says four people in the other truck were hospitalized following the crash.  One of them, an 8-year-old boy from Gleason, died from his injuries.  A preliminary breath test showed Lahti, who had a previous OWI conviction from 2004, was more than 3 1/2 times over the legal limit for driving.  He remains in the Lincoln County Jail on a half-million-dollar cash bond. 

A Michigan man is charged with making threats against UW Madison.  The Detroit News reported that 32-year-old Arvin Raj Mathur (mah-TOOR) is jailed and awaiting a detention hearing in federal court in Detroit. He’s charged with emailing threats to nine people, including graduate students and professors in the UW's anthropology department. Federal agents arrested the former UW graduate student at Detroit Metropolitan Airport following a flight from Copenhagen on Friday. Federal court records describe a series of threatening emails that investigators say were sent from Mathur's account to members of the university since August.

A Northeast Wisconsin ag operation is fined by the state for improper manure storage.  The Wisconsin Department of Justice says a settlement with Ledgeview Farms of DePere will have the operation pay $320,000 for reportedly allowing manure and wastewater to enter nearby waterways.  A release from the department says the farms repeatedly violated requirements stated in a pollutant discharge permit obtained from the state, stating the farms’ manure storage equipment “…did not comply with applicable engineering standards.”

Country music star Carrie Underwood is coming to Red Wing this summer.  The singer will take the stage on July 21 at Treasure Island Casino amphitheater near Red Wing.  The show is part of Underwood's Denim & Rhinestones Tour.  Tickets go on sale on Friday at ti-casino-dot-com.