It is not a buyer's market in western Wisconsin. The latest report from the Wisconsin Realtors shows home sales in the western part of the state are down 38 percent from this point last year. Sales are down nearly 40 percent in Eau Claire County, and down over 55 percent in Chippewa County. In the first quarter of this year, 16 homes were sold in Pepin County, 21 in Buffalo 52 in Pierce, and 72 homes were sold in Dunn County. The Realtors blame a lack of homes for sale, high prices, and high-interest rates for the drop in sales.
Two people are dead, and three others are fighting for their lives after a crash in Barron County. The Barron County Sheriff's Office says it happened yesterday afternoon on Highway 25, north of Ridgeland. The sheriff says a van with 10 people inside was hit by a car with four teens inside. A passenger in the van and a 13-year-old passenger in the car both died. The van's driver and two 17-year-olds from the car are fighting for their lives in the hospital. Deputies say everyone else in the van and the car were taken to the hospital for minor injuries. The crash remains under investigation.
One person is dead after a two-vehicle accident in Eau Claire on Friday. According to the Wisconsin State Patrol, 30yr old Brandon Nabak of Eau Clarie was traveling southbound on Hwy 93, approaching the intersection of the westbound on-ramp for I-94, when a northbound vehicle driven by 64yr old Ellen Didion of Elk Mound began to make a left turn onto the westbound on-ramp. Both vehicles collided and Nabak was pronounced dead at the scene. Didion was not injured. That accident remains under investigation.
A Red Wing man was arrested on Thursday following an infant’s death. According to the Goodhue County Sheriff's Department, deputies and emergency personnel, responded to a call of a 2-month-old baby not breathing in the 500 block of Maple Street in Red Wing last Tuesday. When deputies arrived they found the infant unresponsive. Life-Saving measures were utilized but the infant died. After an investigation, 27yr old Hunter McCutchen was arrested and charged with 2 counts of first-degree manslaughter, and two additional counts of 2nd-degree manslaughter. He is currently being held in the Goodhue County Detention Center.
A student from Alma scored a perfect 36 on the ACT. Claire Goeldner and her siblings are enrolled in the Rural Virtual Academy Charter School. Goeldner is graduating from high school with a two-year degree in software development. She is considering pursuing a four-year degree in computer sciences and cyber security. Her perfect score is getting noticed by Harvard, Yale, and MIT.
A crash in Barron County sent one person to the hospital in a helicopter. The State Patrol says 37-year-old Matthew O'Donnell drifted off the side of the road and rolled his car into a ditch near Haugen yesterday afternoon. Troopers say it looks like O'Donnell was drunk at the time. He was flown to hospital with life-threatening injuries.
A western Wisconsin non-profit is expanding on an imitative supporting mental health. Joining Our Neighbors Advancing Hope, better known as JONAH, is launching the Chippewa Valley Green Bandana Project. Lynn Buske, a community organizer with JONAH, told WEAU News that the initiative started on UW campuses but she wanted to expand it. Individuals are invited to wear or carry a lime green bandana as an easy way to show their support to those dealing with a mental health condition. Bandannas are available at locations in Eau Claire, Chippewa Falls, and Menomonie.
A Hudson man is charged with first-degree attempted homicide after allegedly stabbing his estranged wife in Willow River State Park. Dominik Serpico is also charged with mayhem, aggravated battery and disorderly conduct. According to authorities, on May 22nd police were called to the park and found Serpico on top of the victim applying pressure to her neck and the victim had multiple stab wounds on her neck, torso, hands, and face. She told police she had met Serpico to talk about their children, and when Serpico saw messages from another man, on her phone he began stabbing her. He is being held on a $100,000 cash bond and is in court later today.
One of Wisconsin's largest dairy groups says the Waters of the United States ruling is a win for all farmers. The Venture Dairy Cooperative says the ruling puts a check on 'unelected bureaucrats in Washington' who 'have run amok.' The unanimous ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court struck down an Obama-era regulation that gave the EPA broad power over any place that could hold water, including wetlands and some farm fields that regularly flooded. Farm groups complained for years that those federal regulations not only went too far but took power away from states to regulate farms how they saw fit. The Venture Co-op says farmers will now be free from 'punishing' federal regulations.
Minnesota State Governor Tim Walz is expected to sign a bill Tuesday that will legalize recreational marijuana. The bill passed the state senate earlier this month after making its way through thirteen committees, numerous hearings, and a conference committee. Legislators agreed on a ten-percent tax rate on cannabis products sold in the state. Governor Walz is scheduled to attend a bill-signing ceremony at noon and is to be joined by former Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura. The law will go into effect August 1st.
Hunters in Wisconsin have today and tomorrow to apply for an elk hunting permit. The Department of Natural Resources says the application period closes at the end of the day tomorrow. Elk hunting season is scheduled for October, then again in December. Only four people will be given an elk hunting permit, four others will go to the Ojibwa Tribes. The drawing for those lucky four licenses will be held in early June according to the DNR.
Many Wisconsin households could pay more on utilities next year. Wisconsin utilities, including Madison Gas and Electric and Alliant Energy, are proposing increases. MG and E's rate hike request is 3-point 8 percent, while Alliant is looking at a nearly 8-and-a-half percent boost. WE Energies, is also looking for at a 3 percent increase in residential rates, following last year's hike of 11-point 3 percent. The proposals need to be approved by the Public Service Commission.
A Wisconsin public access channel will be getting a state grant to continue operation. The legislature's joint finance committee voted on Thursday to offer 10 million dollars in grants to Wisconsin EYE. The channel broadcasts legislative sessions, public hearings, and other notable state interest programs. WisEye would have to match each dollar it requests from the grant in its own fundraising, and drop its paid access archive. WisEye currently relies mostly on private fundraising.
The Milwaukee County Board rejects a tax levy for ballpark repairs. In a rare unanimous vote Thursday, supervisors rejected using a long-term tax levy to fund American Family Field repairs and renovations. The Milwaukee Brewers current lease of the 22-year-old ballpark expires in 2030. Thursday's resolution called for the renovation-focused tax levy to help secure a lease extension. In a separate action on Thursday, the stadium district board approved $6.4 million for a new main scoreboard at the ballpark.
A 14-year-old boy is in custody for the murder of a man last month in Minneapolis' Stevens Square neighborhood. The teen was charged by warrant on April 27 with third-degree murder and three counts of second-degree assault. Police say the juvenile shot and killed 32-year-old Chris Bennet on April 18. The teen suspect was arrested on Monday and remains behind bars at the Juvenile Detention Center in Minneapolis.
The state of Minnesota is welcoming a new commissioner in the Department of Employment and Economic Development. Governor Tim Walz selected Matt Varilek to fill the position left vacant by Steve Grove, who is now publisher of the Star Tribune. The new DEED commissioner currently heads the Litle Falls-based Initiative Foundation and previously was the COO for the U. S. Small Business Administration. Varilek starts his new job on June 20.
A male zebra died Thursday in what the the Milwaukee County Zoo referred to as a "tragic accident." In a post on the zoo's Facebook page, officials said the zebra named Stuart "was exploring, running, and chasing the impalas in their habitat when Stuart inadvertently came in contact with the wire containment fencing surrounding the yard. Despite immediate response from the veterinary team, he did not survive his injuries." There was no further explanation or any word on whether an investigation will be conducted.
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