Local-Regional News June 30

 The City of Durand is supporting the agreement with the Durand-Arkansaw School District for the public library.  Earlier this month the School Board sent the city an 18-month notice of termination of the agreement.   The City Council passed a resolution supporting the agreement and directing the city administrator to negotiate a new agreement with the school district.  Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren says the goal is to clean up the current agreement.  The school board has also made similar comments in regard to cleaning up the agreement, and District Superintendent Greg Doverspike is wanting to have something in place by next summer.

No one was injured in a truck fire in Pepin County yesterday.  According to the Pepin County Sheriff's Department, a truck owned by A & J Insulation of Durand, was traveling eastbound on Hwy SS when the engine for unknown reasons malfunctioned and immediately burst into flames.   The truck was carrying a large amount of liquid chemical foam insulation and none of the chemicals were spilled.  The truck was a total loss and the driver, 27yr old Brent Hase of Spring Valley was able to safely exit the vehicle.

  

No one is saying what the Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action will mean for UW-Eau Claire, UW Stout or UW River Falls. The UW System yesterday said it is 'carefully reviewing' the ruling and waiting for 'further guidance' on what changes the university may need to make. UW-Eau Claire  says it does consider race as part of its 'holistic admissions process.' The Supreme Court yesterday said basing university admissions on race violates the constitution's equal protection clause, and discriminates against mostly Asian and white students.

The governor was in Eau Claire yesterday to help open the new Sojourner House expansion. Governor Tony Evers helped cut the ribbon on the four thousand-square-foot addition to the shelter in Eau Claire. Hope Elliot, the shelter's coordinator, said the new space will allow the Sojourner House to help more people in the community who don't have a place to live. The expansion has been in the works for years.

A western Wisconsin mailman isn't going to prison on meth charges, A judge yesterday instead sentenced 69-year-old Timothy Wilson to two years probation. The Barron County Sheriff's Office arrested Wilson while he was making his mail rounds in February of 2020 for possession of meth. It's not clear if he was dealing meth on his postal route, but the sheriff's office says they found about a thousand-dollars cash on him when they arrested him. Wilson pleaded guilty to meth possession charges.

A survey is seeking to find out the base compensation for jobs in the Chippewa Valley and western Wisconsin.   The Eau Claire, Menomonie, and Chippewa Falls Champbers are joining other chambers of commerce for the Western and Central Wisconsin Wage Survey.  The goal of the survey is to be a "definitive resource of base compensation information for commonly recognized jobs in our geographic area."  All of the information is confidential. The deadline has been extended to July 31. The results will be published this coming fall.   Visit the Eau Claire Chamber of Commerce Website to take the survey.

A man's facing charges in Richland Center after police say he threw axes and machetes at officers while they tried to arrest him.  Officers were called to investigate the man last night after people reported seeing him swing an ax around.  Police say the suspect swung the weapons at them and even hit several cars before being tased and arrested.

If you want to take part in some fireworks displays this 4th of July Weekend, make sure you're doing it safely.  Department of Natural Resources wildfire prevention specialist Catherine Koele says with the dry conditions outside right now, any stray spark could cause a disaster.  Koele says if you do want to shoot off your own displays, be sure to do so on non-flammable surfaces like gravel or concrete, and be sure to only use ground displays and nothing that goes into the air like a bottle rocket. 

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources advises boaters that they will see more DNR conservation wardens and area law enforcement on the water July 1-3 as part of the national Operation Dry Water campaign.   Wardens and other participating law enforcement agencies will be educating boaters about safe boating practices across the country, which includes sober boating. Operation Dry Water is a year-round boating-under-the-influence-awareness-and-enforcement campaign with the purpose of reducing the number of alcohol and drug-related incidents and fatalities through increased recreational boater awareness and by fostering a stronger and more visible deterrent to alcohol and drug use on the water.

The Fourth of July travel crowd in Wisconsin is expected to top a million people. Triple-A yesterday said it expects one-point-one million people in the state to hit the road or catch a plane this weekend. Most people will drive though. Nationally, Triple-A says more than 50 million people will take a trip this weekend. The Fourth falls on a Tuesday this year, so Triple-A says people have an even longer holiday weekend for travel.

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A teenage boy is accused of killing his niece in La Crosse.  When authorities made a June 14th visit to a La Crosse home, they found the body of a girl with several bruises on her face and body.  A criminal complaint says 16-year-old Kamitri Riles was taking care of his niece and other kids at the home. The complaint says Riles denied hurting the girl at first.  He later admitted to investigators that he hit and pushed his niece when she wouldn’t stop crying, adding that she then fell to the ground and was bleeding. Riles then picked her up and put her in her bed, where she was found dead by her mother.  Riles is being held in the La Crosse County Jail on a $250,000 cash bond.

Authorities are investigating the death of a woman who was found inside a submerged vehicle in Rochester. On Wednesday afternoon, Rochester police responded to a report of a car in a retention pond near 19th Street Northwest. Officers accessed the inside of the vehicle, where they found a woman's body. Officials say they believe the vehicle had been in the pond for a considerable period of time, and became visible due to low water levels. The medical examiner's office is working to identify the woman and establish a cause of death.

Wisconsin's beleaguered elections boss may be voted out of her job after all. The Wisconsin Senate last night passed a resolution to force a confirmation vote on Meagan Wolfe as Wisconsin Elections Commission administrator. Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu yesterday said commissioners voted earlier this week to appoint Wolfe to a second term. Democratic Elections Commission members abstained in the vote, and LeMahieu says that ended with a 3-0 vote for Wolfe, which now sends her fate to the Senate. A number of senators want to vote Wolfe out over how she handled the 2020 election. It's not clear when the Senate may vote on Wolfe's future, or whether the case will end up in court.

A Madison healthcare facility is named the top cancer hospital in Wisconsin.  UW Health’s Carbone Cancer Center took the honor in Newsweek magazine’s inaugural list of America’s Best Cancer Hospitals 2023.  UW Health added Wednesday that the center ranked number nationally.  The rankings were determined by a nationwide online survey, results from patient surveys and hospital quality metrics.  Other Wisconsin hospitals to make the list were Mayo Clinic- Health System in Eau Claire and Froedtert Hospital and the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee.

Minneapolis hotels brought in nearly six-million dollars last weekend, setting a new record.  Meet Minneapolis says Taylor Swift concerts, the Twin Cities Pride Festival, and the Kiwanis convention led to more than 19-and-a-half thousand rooms occupied between Friday and Saturday.  The tourism agency says 96-percent of all hotel rooms in the city were occupied Friday night.

The best jump ropers in the country are in Milwaukee this weekend. The city is hosting the American Jump Rope National Championship. Hundreds of teams from across the country, including a team from Fond du Lac, will compete for the national crown. Yesterday's competition focused on speed, but there will also be doubles, a double-dutch, and a freestyle category. You can watch the championships on YouTube or in person at Panther arena.

Local-Regional News June 29

 The Durand City Council has approved asking for bids for a new pool at Tarrant Park.  At last night's council meeting, members approved putting the project out for bids on August 1st.   Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren says the fundraising for the pool will need to continue to cover the final cost of the pool project. Last year when the bids were opened, they were over $1 million higher than expected.

 

A judge in Dunn County yesterday sentenced Ryan Steinhoff to life in prison without parole for the brutal 2020 murder of Bruce McGuigan.  Investigators found McGuigan's body in a mobile home in Downsville in 2020.  They say they also found evidence that he was beaten for hours and likely tortured with a blowtorch.  A second suspect, Ashley Gunder, pleaded no contest in the case and is serving a 25-year sentence.  A third suspect in the case was acquitted by a jury.

Residents in Pepin County are being urged to fill out a survey on internet service.  The survey is part of an effort between Pepin, Pierce, Buffalo and Trempealeau Counties to develop a broadband internet plan.  LeAnna Kavanaugh from Pepin County Land Conservation and Planning says the plan is needed before the state of Wisconsin can develop its broadband plan.  The goal is to have at least 355 households take the survey by July 14th.  As of June 28 only 13 had taken the survey.  To complete the survey visit the Pepin County website or call 608-261-6026.

State Senate Democrats said Wednesday's vote on the Republican-authored state budget wastes Wisconsin's budget surplus. Speaking ahead of the debate in the Senate on Wednesday,  31st State Senator Jeff Smith said child care funding that Republicans cut from Governor Evers's proposed budget would help Wisconsinites stay at their jobs.   Republicans say they decided to cut taxes for residents instead and give back the surplus to taxpayers. Over 3 billion dollars in cuts were made to the proposed state budget.

 Several people are in custody following a chase in Hudson Tuesday.  According to Hudson Police,  the incident began Tuesday afternoon when police were informed of a high-speed chase in Minnesota on I-94 heading toward Hudson.  The vehicle left I-94 and went into Hudson and the pursuit ended near an apartment complex on Aspen Drive.  Six to seven suspects fled the vehicle and went into the apartments, and authorities issued a shelter-in-place for residents.  After a standoff of nearly 3 hours, all seven of the juveniles were taken into custody.  The names of the suspects have not been released and the investigation continues.

The plan to change how kids in Wisconsin read is on its way to Governor Evers.  The Wisconsin Senate yesterday approved the plan which will go back to teaching phonics as the basis for reading, and focus on making sure that kids are reading properly by the fourth grade.  Education advocates say the plan is a game changer and should help most of the 70 percent of Wisconsin fourth graders who cannot read at grade level.  The governor might veto the plan.  He's not happy with a provision that would have kids take third-grade reading classes until they can hit their fourth-grade reading goals.

The latest Marquette Law School Poll shows a tight race for Republican presidential hopefuls and better approval ratings for Governor Tony Evers.  Poll director Charles Franklin says the June polling shows that former president Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis are neck and neck among Republicans. Overall, 31 percent of respondents prefer Trump, and 30 percent prefer DeSantis. But in a head-to-head race, more conservatives said they would vote for DeSantis. Democrat Governor Tony Evers's approval ratings were also up over the polling in October of last year, with 57 percent of respondents approving of his performance, and 39 percent disapproving. Those numbers were 46- approve and 47-disapprove last fall.

Wisconsin's Department of Natural Resources is reminding people that they need a sticker to get into a state park this holiday weekend.  The DNR yesterday suggested people buy their state park passes online, and skip the lines that sometimes clog state parks on busy holiday weekends.  An annual pass for Wisconsin's state parks is 28 dollars, and you can buy them online at the DNR's website.  The DNR says you can also find the rules for state parks, including check-in times for campsites, on the website as well.

Construction has begun on a new indoor recreation center in Rochester.  The project was organized by the Southeastern Minnesota Center for Independent Living, a non-profit organization that addresses the needs of people living with disabilities.  The facility will feature a playground, party room, basketball court, and ramps to allow access for people of all abilities.  The organization began planning the project in 2019, and the rec center is expected to open in November of this year.

Wisconsin's Elections Commission is likely headed for both a political and legal battle over its administrator.  Commission members last night deadlocked on whether to reappoint Meagan Wolfe to a second term as elections chief.  Commissioners like Wolfe, but if they approve her for a second term she would then face a vote in the Wisconsin Senate, which she is likely to lose.  But deadlocking, the Commission is relying on a Wisconsin Supreme Court ruling that says people can serve on a board or commission until a replacement is approved.  Commission Chairman Don Millis though said playing that game will only give 'grifters more ammunition' to try and paint Wolfe and Wisconsin's election system as tainted or corrupt.

A group of Republican lawmakers wants to make sure the top high school graduates in the state have a seat at the University of Wisconsin's biggest campus. State Rep. Jerry O'Connor and others are pitching a plan that would give automatic UW-Madison admission to anyone who graduates in the top five percent of their class. O'Connor says the idea is to keep the state's best and brightest within Wisconsin. The university yesterday said it shares the same goal, but didn't say if the school supports the lawmakers' plan. Republicans are concerned about Wisconsin kids getting into the University of Wisconsin. The UW's own numbers show that less than half of this year's freshman class is from in-state, the rest are from out-of-state or from another country.

Crowds gathered at the Wisconsin State Capitol Tuesday for education funding increases in the state’s budget.   Teachers, students, and parents involved in the “Day Of Action” want the legislature’s Joint Finance Committee to fund initiatives for childcare, free school lunches, and increased school staff, as well as the funding of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts in the UW-System. The Assembly and State Senate are expected this week to vote on the budget, which includes a $32 million cut to the UW-System.

A handful of new Minnesota laws go into effect on Saturday, July 1st.  They include free school meals for all K-12 students, safety protections for healthcare workers, and limits on no-knock warrants.  Other laws going into effect will improve broadband access in rural Minnesota and give first responders up to 32 weeks of mental health treatment. 

 The Minnesota State Fair is hiring.  Around 17-hundred positions need to be filled before the fair kicks off at the end of August.  Open positions include ticket sellers, barn attendants, and custodians.  Anyone age 16 or older can apply.  Applicants are encouraged to register online before heading to the State Fair's Employment Center, located across the fairgrounds. 

Local-Regional News June 28

 The Pierce County Board has approved the budget guidelines for departments in crafting the 2024 county budget.  At last night's board meeting, members approved a budget that would use the maximum allowable tax levy with a 0% increase in department budgets, excluding employee pay.  The recently shared revenue plan that was signed by the governor would give the county an additional $560,000 in shared revenue.

The Durand City Council is meeting tonight.  Items on the agenda include a discussion on the shared revenue bill and what it will mean for the city of Durand, reports from the mayor, administrator, and department heads, and the council will also go into closed session to discuss the Tarrant Park Pool Project and the agreement with the Durand-Arkansaw School District for the library.  Tonight's meeting begins at 6:30 at Durand City Hall and will be live-streamed on our YouTube Channel at Durand Broadcasting WRDN.

The Buffalo County Sheriff's Department is reminding motorists to slow down and don't drink and drive during the upcoming 4th of July holiday weekend.  The department will have enhanced traffic on Saturday along Hwy 95 and Hwy 35 from 6pm until 3am looking for speeders and impaired drivers.  The department is also planning enhanced enforcement on July 7th on Hwy 37 and Hwy 10 from 6pm-3am and on July 8th along Hwy 37 and Hwy 35 again from 6pm-3am.

The city of Eau Claire is giving Target some of its tax money back. The city council last night approved a 25-thousand dollar settlement with the company. Target had complained that its tax bill was too high. The 25-thousand dollars is just a portion of the 250-thousand dollars in taxes that Target pays the city each year. City attorney Steve Nick says the settlement amounts to a two-percent tax cut for Target.

Western Wisconsin is looking at another day of smoke, haze, and very unhealthy air. The state's Department of Natural Resources is keeping its air quality warning for more than a dozen counties, including Eau Claire, in place until midnight tonight. Forecasters yesterday said the Milwaukee area had the worst air quality in the world at one point yesterday afternoon. Madison and Dane Counties weren't far behind.

The Chippewa Valley Technical College Board has approved its 2023-24 budget.  The $113 million budget will be used to fund capital projects and education services at the college.   Because of an increase in property values in the CVTC area, taxes on homeowners with a house valued at $100,000 would go from $71.20 a year in property taxes to $71.18 a year.  The new budget is a 2.5% reduction from last year.

A horse in Dunn County has tested positive for the West Nile Virus.   The Dunn County Health Department says the virus is transmitted by mosquitoes, and this is the first documented WNV activity in the state this year.  The presence of a WNV-positive horse confirms that there are mosquitoes in the area infected with the West Nile virus that can spread the virus to people and other animals. The risk of WNV transmission from mosquitoes will continue to increase in the next several weeks and usually peaks in August and September. The health department is reminding residents to use an incest repellant when outdoors and to limit time outside at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active.   No WNV cases in humans have been reported in Wisconsin thus far in 2023.

Chemical manufacturer 3M has agreed to a settlement worth at least 10 billion dollars over PFAS (Pee-Fass) contaminations.  Over 300 communities are entering lawsuits against the company over widespread contamination of the so-called "forever chemicals". The total settlements will be paid out over the next 13 years, and could go as high as 12 billion dollars if more communities find contamination. Those chemicals were used in everything from fire-fighting foam to making non-stick pans, and have been linked to some cancers and immune diseases. 

One deputy is recovering and two others are on leave after a chase, and an officer-involved shooting in Washburn County. It started Sunday with a traffic stop. That's when deputies say the suspect sped away, drove to a campground, and tried to hide. He got away because a deputy's car reportedly malfunctioned and hit some trees. That deputy had to be cut out of the car and taken to the hospital. On Monday deputies were back searching for the suspect when they saw him. That's when the sheriff says the suspect drove at deputies, who then shot out his tires. The man was arrested a short time later. The two deputies who fired at the car are on leave, as is protocol in officer-involved shootings.

Authorities are warning about a scam that comes as a warning about scams.  The scam starts with a legitimate-looking warning that someone might have fallen for a scam on their computer, or were scammed at their bank.  The fake warning then has people call a number, and that's where the scammers get them.  Authorities say the scammers even warn people to be careful about sharing personal or banking information, but it's all a ruse.  Investigators say the biggest red flag is any request for payment, particularly with money orders or gift cards.  The police say your best bet is to ignore any of the scam warnings and don't click on any links.

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The Minnesota Association of Professional Employees have won their largest pay increase in three decades. As part of a tentative agreement reached on Monday, Minnesota Management and Budget agreed to give the union workers a five-and-a-half-percent pay raise in year one. The contract also includes a four-and-a-half-percent pay increase in year two. The deal also includes new health care benefits, including mental health care and fertility treatments for state workers. Minnesota Management and Budget has not yet ratified the deal.

A proposed sales tax for the city of Milwaukee passes its first hurdle.  The Steering and Rules Committee of the city’s Common Council recommended approval Monday of the additional 2% tax which the Wisconsin legislature and Governor Tony Evers approved through the state’s new bipartisan shared revenue law. Committee members, city officials, and local leaders spoke for several hours prior to the committee’s vote to ratify the tax hike. The proposal next goes to the full Common Council for a vote.

A head-on crash Sunday near Prairie Du Chien has claimed the life of a grandmother.  The Grant County Sheriff’s Office says an SUV driven by a 73-year-old Prairie du Chien man was struck by a truck that crossed the center line.  A woman in the SUV, identified as 73-year-old Cheryl Mader died at the scene. Her husband and the couple's five- and seven-year-old granddaughters were hospitalized with critical injuries.  The sheriff’s office says the driver of the truck, identified as 57-year-old Benjamin Streiger of Bloomington, was "heavily under the influence of alcohol and marijuana."   Streiger is being held in the Grant County Jail.

A Milwaukee man and woman are accused of taking two children from a Florida home.  Authorities say 18-year-old Adalyn Burkett was supposed to be babysitting a two-year-old boy and one-year-old girl in a Panama City, Florida home overnight Friday into Saturday.  The mother of the children told authorities she allowed Burkett to use her vehicle.  The mother then learned Burkett had left the state with both children and the vehicle and drove to Milwaukee while accompanied by 20-year-old Marquan Edwards.  When the two learned the state of Florida posted a Missing Child Alert for the children Sunday, officials said they dropped both children off in a public park in Milwaukee. The children were located that evening by police.  Burkett and Edwards were arrested Monday.

The Eau Claire County Humane Association is looking for the owner of a bearded dragon. The reptile was found in a residential yard on Frostwoods Street on Friday night. Officials at the Humane Association say if the bearded dragon isn't claimed, it will be put up for adoption pending a medical status.

Local-Regional News June 27

 Two people were arrested in Buffalo County over the weekend on drug and other charges.  According to the Buffalo County Sheriff's Department, deputies pulled over a vehicle on Hwy 54  driven by 30yr old Bolus Dimbiti of Arcadia for an equipment violation.  Dimbiti and passenger 24yr old Kayla Blom of Arcadia were asked to exit the vehicle and were searched.  Officers found a handgun in Dimbiti waste band and he then fled on foot into a backwater area of the Mississippi River with the handgun.  Deputies also found marijuana, cocaine, and a digital scale in the vehicle along with a seven-week-old infant.    Authorities were able to recover the handgun and Dimbiti is facing charges of possession of a firearm by a felon, resisting an officer, carrying a concealed weapon, and drug charges and was booked on a $5000 cash bond.  Blom was arrested and referred for drug charges.

The Pierce County Board is meeting tonight.  Items on the agenda include the first reading of a resolution to authorize a third-party health insurance plan administrator and the first reading of an amendment to rezone 26 acres of land from rural residential to general rural flexible in the town of Oak Grove.  Tonight's meeting begins at 7pm in the county board room at the Courthouse in Ellsworth.

Police are releasing more information on a body found in the Mississippi River in La Crosse last week. Investigators say the remains had an initial examination at the Mayo Clinic. Initial indications are that the body had been in the river for approximately five years and it could have been someone who was hunting at the time they entered the river, either from a backwater or a tributary. The remains will be further examined by a forensic anthropologist.

The intersection of Brackett and Hastings is the most dangerous intersection in Eau Claire. That's according to a recent traffic safety report by the Chippewa and Eau Claire Metropolitan Planning Organization, which showed the intersection showed the most traffic crashes in Eau Claire. There have been 128 crashes at this intersection within a five-year span from 2017 to 2021.

Several Sheep were killed when a tractor-trailer carrying them overturned on Hwy 53 at Hwy 12 yesterday.  According to authorities, First responders worked to gather dozens of loose sheep, some from as far as a half mile away. The driver was uninjured, but officials say several sheep were killed in the incident. 

The statewide Air Quality Advisory issued by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is in place for much of this week.  Smoke from Canadian wildfires again moved into the region yesterday.  Officials expect the heaviest particle counts from noon today to noon tomorrow, with an Air Quality Index rated at Very Unhealthy or Hazardous possible in some areas.  Outdoor activity should be limited for young children, older adults, and individuals who suffer from respiratory conditions or heart disease.

Wisconsin is getting a significant investment to increase access to high-speed internet.  More than one-billion dollars has been set aside for broadband expansion in the state through the one-point-two-trillion-dollar federal infrastructure bill that passed in 2021.  U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin says the dollars will help close the "digital divide" in Wisconsin, benefiting business and education.  Officials say 20 percent of the money will be distributed through subgrants, likely next summer, with state leaders placed in charge of investing the remainder into various projects starting the following year.

 A record-breaking weekend on Wisconsin roads is likely coming up ahead of Independence Day.  Triple A expects more than one-million state residents to travel more than 50 miles from home between Friday and next Tuesday, July Fourth.  The travel club says congested roads, fully-booked hotels, and packed attractions are likely across the state.  Experts say more than 50-million Americans are expected to take a trip over the holiday, with roughly 85 percent traveling by car.

The Wisconsin Beef Council is contributing to the effort to keep food on every table across the Badger State.  The group donated 25-hundred dollars to Feeding Wisconsin yesterday.  The council generates charity funding through the Burgers and Buns Fun Run held each year in celebration of May Beef Month.  Feeding Wisconsin provides food to those in need through nearly one-thousand local programs.

Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul wants the state legislature to put funding for the Office of School Safety back into the budget. On Monday, Kaul said the current proposed funding in the budget would effectively eliminate the office.  Kaul says schools across the state have benefitted from the program and helped keep students safe. The Office has seen bipartisan support in the past, and Kaul says it's strange that the legislative joint finance committee decided to eliminate its funding this year.

A former Plover youth pastor accepts a plea deal Friday in a child sexual assault case.  Court documents state Jordan Huffman was working as a youth pastor at Woodlands Church in Plover when he was contacted to mentor the alleged victim, who said the crimes began in 2017 when the victim was 12 years old.  Those documents also state the assaults happened more than a dozen times over a two-year span.  The 52-year-old Huffman pleaded guilty to two counts of repeated sexual assault of a child and was convicted as a result. Six other charges were dismissed as part of the plea deal.

A former Badger football player strikes a deal after his arrest with a stolen gun. Markus Allen was arrested at the annual Mifflin Street Block Party in April. The stolen gun was in his backpack.  On Monday... Dane County's district attorney announced that Allen reached a deferred prosecution agreement. Allen and his lawyers maintain he bought the gun, but police are still investigating a report of the gun being stolen from a vehicle in a downtown Madison parking garage.  A deferred prosecution agreement requires counseling and community service. If Allen fails to meet the program terms, he could be charged. Last Friday, Allen announced on Twitter he was leaving the Badger football program and entering the transfer portal.

A seven-year-old Fond du Lac child has died after being struck by a vehicle.  Fond du Lac authorities identified the victim as first grader David S. Custance, who was reportedly of struck by a vehicle driven by a 53-year-old man Friday evening.  Authorities say in a statement they believe the boy was attempting to cross a street while playing with his sisters when he was struck by the vehicle. The boy was transported to Children's Hospital Milwaukee where he later died.  Fond du Lac Police say they are actively investigating the incident.

A Merrill woman is charged with attempted homicide in her teenage son’s overdose.  Heather O’Neill reportedly called 911 last Tuesday to report she had taken, and given her autistic teenage son, multiple medications in order to cause a fatal overdose.  Once prescription bottles, sleep aids and allergy medications were found at her home, court documents state the 53-year-old O’Neill told investigators she could no longer handle the teen’s violent tantrums.  The teen had a seizure and briefly stopped breathing at the hospital from his overdose.  O’Neill’s cash bond was set at $100,000.

U. S. Bank Stadium is debt-free.  The Minnesota Department of Management and Budget closed on 378 million dollars to retire the remaining bonds. Governor Tim Walz and the Legislature agreed this year to pay off the debt early from money accrued in the stadium's reserve account.   The change saves Minneapolis six-point-two million dollars annually through 2046.

Minneapolis transportation officials are creating a plan that will urge drivers to leave their cars at home.  Their goal is to have 60 percent of trips in the city taken on public transit, biking, walking, or rolling. The proposal is part of the Minneapolis Transportation Action Plan that is linked to the campaign called As You Go Minneapolis.  Residents are expected to see social media ads, and wraps on transit vehicles and bus shelters this summer.

Local-Regional News June 26

 Pierce County may implement a livestock expansion moratorium.  The Land Conservation Committee is meeting tomorrow morning to discuss the temporary moratorium in response to a proposed expansion of a dairy farm in Ono that could house up to 5000 cows.  Tomorrow's meeting begins at 8:30am in the board room at the Pierce County Courthouse.  If the proposal passes the committee it would be sent to the full county board.

One person is in custody after a pursuit in Menomonie on Friday.  According to Menomonie Police, officers pulled over the suspect but then the suspect fled the scene leading to the pursuit.  The suspect struck a  Menonomoie Squad car leaving one officer injured.  After the crash, the suspect fled on foot but was apprehended and taken to the Dunn County Jail on suspected operating a vehicle while intoxicated causing injury and felony fleeing an officer.  

The calendar for the new Tarrant Park Pool Project should be clearer this week.  The Durand City Council will discuss the project at this week's meeting on Wednesday.  Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren says the calendar will include when bids and construction of the pool will happen.  The project was $1 million over budget but if additional fundraising can be done it is believed the new pool would open in 2025.

While public schools will be receiving more state aid after the governor signed a school funding bill, not everyone is happy with the bill because of the large increase in voucher school funding. State Senator Jeff Smith says while he voted yes for the increase in shared revenue for towns and cities, he voted no on the education funding.  Because of the new funding, a student attending a private voucher school will be worth $12,000 in state funding while a student attending Durand-Arkansaw School District will be worth $11,000 in state funding.

A Black River Falls man accused of possessing child pornography is scheduled for a court hearing tomorrow. Thirty-four-year-old Michael Vannet is charged on multiple counts, including sexual exploitation of a child and possession of child pornography. The criminal complaint claims police found evidence of child pornography on Vannet's phone and social media accounts. Vannet is currently being held on 25-thousand-dollars cash-only bond.

The Hackett addition at Central High School in La Crosse is set to reopen today after a structure fire last week. School officials say all summer school classes, co-curricular practices, lessons, and other activities will resume. It hasn't been announced when the rest of Central High School will reopen.

The search continues for missing Sauk County 13-year-old James Yoblonski.  Yoblonski has been missing from his home for two weeks along with a handgun and wilderness survival guides.  Authorities have said they do not believe the teen is a threat to himself and have said they are targeting their search to specific areas so as to not chase the boy into unfamiliar ground.  Volunteers gathered to search yesterday in an effort organized by the teen's father.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is urging residents to use caution when operating ATV's and UTV's.  Officials say 13 people in the state have died while using off-road vehicles so far this year.  DNR Warden Marcus Medina says he has seen many scenes where helmets and UTV seatbelts have saved lives.  Authorities are also reminding riders to make sure their vehicles are in proper working order before heading out into remote areas.

Democrat Governor Tony Evers will wait and see how the proposed state budget shakes out in the Legislature before making any calls on potential vetos. Speaking on WISN's Upfront, Evers says proposed cuts to the UW-System aren't what he wants to see.  Republicans in the legislative joint finance committee put over 4 billion dollars in tax cuts in their budget proposal, along with an agreement on more shared revenue with local communities and an increase in public school funding.

Department of Workforce Development Secretary Amy Pechacek is hopeful for Wisconsin's dairy industry as the state makes investments in education and internships. Pechacek and state ag secretary Randy Romanski took a tour of North Central Technical College's dairy training center in Wausau last week and says hands-on training in multiple branches of agriculture will keep the ag industry strong into the future. 

State Republican lawmakers move forward on cutting the UW System’s budget.  The proposed $32 million reduction was approved by the legislature’s Joint Finance Committee  Thursday. The funding cut represents the amount Republican estimate would pay for diversity, equity, and inclusion programs at the system's 13 universities, which GOP leaders have voiced their unhappiness about.  UW President Jay Rothman previously warned that the cut could lead to tuition increases and possible campus closures.  Governor Tony Evers had already threatened to veto the entire state budget if the university’s budget was cut.

A Cudahy woman faces charges after allegedly embezzling funds intended to fly veterans to national memorials.  Joni Nogay (NO-gay) admitted that personal financial issues led her to keep much of the money raised for the “We Run-They Fly” non-profit for herself.  The organization raised funds through fun runs and other events to give to the Stars and Stripes Honor Flight organization, which sends veterans to the memorials built in their honor in Washington, D.C. free of charge.  A criminal complaint states that of the more than $130,000 “We Run-They Fly” raised, only about $20,000 was donated to Stars and Stripes.

A Darlington couple is accused of letting nearly 200 goats die on their property.  Court records show Stephanie and Kyle Lincicum agreed with the owner of a farm property to take over her operation and eventually buy the farm from her.   The Lafayette County Sheriff's Office said it later heard from Farm Service Agency reporting a number of dead goats on the property.   The county’s sheriff, Reg Gill, tells WKOW-TV in Madison a veterinarian reported a lack of adequate food or water for the goats.  The couple could both serve prison time if found guilty on the animal mistreatment charges.

Security experts are warning of a new type of scam targeting your banking information.  It's called "smishing" and refers to spam mail in your text messages. Paul Benda with the American Bankers Association says the fake texts can look convincing. Those scammers will try to get your banking passwords and information, or try and get you to send them money. Benda says no bank will ever ask you for your username and password over the phone, so if you get one of these calls or texts, just ignore it. 

Wisconsin has experienced weeks of bad air quality due to Canadian wildfires, and a UW-Madison professor says that's likely to continue. Dr. Tracey Holloway tells WXPR in Rhinelander that pollution in the air is getting people sick.  Dr. Holloway says climate change and warming temperatures are contributing to the fires, as Canada dries out faster in the spring before rain can prevent those fires. 

 Wisconsin drivers are paying a little less for gas as the weekend begins.  Triple-A reports the state average for regular was down one cent Friday, to three-52 a gallon.  The average was three-40 a gallon in Dane and Sauk counties.  The national average was flat at three-58 a gallon Friday.

Local-Regional News June 23

 Governor Evers has signed a bill that would increase state aid to Wisconsin School Districts.  The bill also increases the voucher amount for children attending a private school.  Durand-Arkansaw Superintendent Greg Doverspike is concerned about how the funding is less for a public school student than for a private voucher school student.  Doverspike has asked state assemblyman Warren Petryk and state senator Jeff Smith about the reasoning behind the funding differences between private and public school students but has not received an answer.  In addition, the private school voucher funding would be funded first and the remaining state funding would then be split among the public school districts, which according to Doverspike means Durand-Arkansaw School District receives less aid and taxpayers are paying higher tax rates to make up the difference.

Prices are up for residential real estate in  Western Wisconsin despite a significant drop in sales.  Data from the Wisconsin Realtors Association shows the median price for a home in Western Wisconsin rose by nearly seven percent between May of 2022 and last month, from two-hundred-70-thousand to around two-hundred-80 thousand.  The report also shows a sizeable decline in overall sales during that time period, down by more than 29 percent.  Pepin County reported 2 home sales last month, Buffalo 4, Pierce 22, and Dunn 42 homes sold in May.  Experts believe higher interest rates and a slowdown in new home construction are contributing to a smaller supply of available properties

Wisconsin 3rd District Congressman  Derrick Van Orden Wednesday introduced the 'Warrior Call Day Resolution.' The bill encourages everyone, especially active-duty and retired service members, to contact and connect with veterans struggling with mental health issues.  The bill would designate November 12th — the day after Veterans Day — as 'Warrior Call Day.'  The goal of the proposed legislation is to raise awareness about the increasing number of veteran suicides.  Van Orden will also serve as a co-chair on the military Mental Health Task Force. That organization works with experts to provide resources to military families.

Eau Claire Police are asking for the public's help in finding a runaway juvenile. Police say 14-year-old Coiya Olson was last seen on June 11th and last spoke with her family on June 14th. Police say they have exhausted all leads in finding the teenager. A photo of Olson is available on the Facebook page of the Eau Claire Police Department. Anyone with any information is asked to call Eau Claire Police.

A man is facing charges in connection with a shooting in Tomah earlier this week. Yesterday several charges were filed against 23-year-old Krimzen Perea, including first-degree attempted homicide. Police say early Monday morning, Perea followed a man to the nine-hundred block of East McCoy where he allegedly shot him. The victim then managed to fight Perea for the gun. He was able to get the gun and run to a Super 8 Hotel on Berry Avenue for help. The victim is recovering from the shooting.

A man who was convicted for crashing his vehicle into cars parked at a Rochester restaurant has been sentenced to two years probation. Early last month, Rochester police were called to the parking lot of Rooster's restaurant, where Nicholas Loomis had reportedly crashed into three cars before driving away. Officers were able to catch up with Loomis and pull him over, and he was arrested. His alcohol blood level was found to be over the legal limit. A DWI charge related to the case was dropped as part of Loomis's plea deal.

A Taylor Swift concert will overlap with Minneapolis Pride this weekend, making for a busy time in downtown Minneapolis. The events are expected to draw numerous people into the downtown area, and businesses are preparing for massive crowds. Eric Forsberg, owner of The Devil's Advocate restaurant is bringing in reserve workers to help handle the expected rush. Forsberg says the events are "exactly what Minneapolis has needed for a long time.".

Wisconsin's Republican lawmakers are proposing sizeable income tax cuts.  Yesterday, the state budget committee introduced measures to reduce the income tax burden on residents by a total of three-and-a-half-billion dollars.  The plan would shift tax brackets, going down from four brackets to three, with all seeing a rate reduction.  GOP legislators are also holding their position on the University of Wisconsin System budget; planning to cut funding by 32 million dollars over UW leaders' intended investments in diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.

A bill was passed in the state Assembly Wednesday that would streamline Wisconsin’s liquor industry.  The proposal would create a new division within the state Department of Revenue to oversee and enforce the state's alcohol laws, affecting licensing, producing, selling, and distribution of beer, wine, and liquor in Wisconsin.   The measure would also require wedding barns to get a permit that would allow them to host events six times a year or obtain a liquor license like banquet halls and taverns.   State lawmakers like Oshkosh representative Michael Schraa believe wedding barns have been without regulations for too long. The bipartisan measure now goes to the Senate for final approval.

A man in prison for the death of a 10-month-old boy had his request for a reduced sentence turned down Wednesday.  Freddy Colon is serving a 15-year sentence after being convicted of neglecting a child and causing death following a 2018 incident at an Oshkosh home.  A state appeals court heard Colon’s appeal, arguing the sentencing judge was not aware of details from the plea hearing that Colon was convicted of failing to take action to prevent death, as opposed to actively causing the death. The court said those details did not constitute a new factor in the case that would lead to a lessening of the maximum sentence Colon received. 

A small plane crashed in a Waunakee neighborhood Wednesday afternoon.  Waunakee (WAH-nuh-key) Police said two people in the plane were taken to a hospital for treatment of minor injuries after the plane crashed into the back of a minivan, another car, and a sign. According to police, the single-engine craft had just left the city’s airport when it lost power and the pilot circled around to look for a safe place to land.  No homes were hit or damaged.  The minivan was unoccupied at the time of the crash.  Police are investigating, as are the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board.

Construction has begun on the Amtrak station near Mitchell International Airport  The Milwaukee Airport Rail Station or MARS Project is an improvement at the existing station located on the western edge of the airport property. It will add a west-side platform and pedestrian overpass connecting the existing station to the new platform. It’s one of the few Amtrak stations adjacent to an airport and is a station stop for Amtrak’s Hiawatha Service, which offers seven round trips per day between Chicago Union Station and the downtown Milwaukee Intermodal Station. Construction is scheduled to be completed by June 2025. 

An Andover man is going to jail for four days after he was convicted for his part in a huge brawl at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport almost two years ago.  Edward Triplett was sentenced in Hennepin County Court on one count of disorderly conduct and fifth-degree assault.  Prosecutors say the defendant was involved in a fight at the airport during Thanksgiving weekend in 2021.  Triplett was also ordered by the judge to serve 32 hours of community service and pay 378 dollars in fines and fees.

The remains of a World War 2 soldier from Jackson County have been identified and are headed back to Wisconsin.  Clinton Koloski was killed in France back in 1945 and his remains weren't positively identified until last September.  He'll have a full military burial in Beloit next Friday.

Local-Regional News June 22

 The Durand-Arkansaw School Board has approved giving an 18-month notice of termination of the joint library agreement with the city of Durand.    Even though the notice of termination was approved, it doesn't mean the library is going to close.    During last night's school board meeting, board member Jason Weisenbeck said with the notice being approved, it will give all sides an opportunity to dig into the agreement and look at all the pluses and minuses.  The City and School District will now have 18 months to hammer out a new agreement to keep the public library at its current location.

 

Residents in Pepin, Buffalo, Pierce, and Trempeleau Counties are encouraged to participate in a survey on broadband internet access before July 14.    The Wisconsin Broadband Office is asking residents to go to tieh Public Services  Commission website to fill out the survey.  The information collected in the survey and speed map will be used for a broadband planning grant between Pepin, Pierce, Buffalo, and Trempealeau Counties.  If you do not have internet services you are to call 608-261-6026 to take the survey.

A missing person in Dunn County has been found safe.  According to the Dunn County Sheriff's Department, Jeffrey Ericksen walked away from his residence on 370th Street on Wednesday morning.  Ericksen suffers from dementia and after a search of the area, Ericksen was located safe.

The reconstruction of North Eau Claire Street is ahead of schedule.  Mondovi Mayor Brady Weiss says the project is moving ahead faster due to the dry weather. That project is slated to be completed by this fall.

The man investigators say made social media posts threatening the Chippewa County Courthouse in May has been charged with making terrorist threats.   In May, Harley Alcala of Duluth made threatening social media posts against the Chippewa County Courthouse, leading authorities to lock down the courthouse.  He was eventually pulled over by authorities near Bloomer.  Alcala was charged in Chippewa County Court and given a $100,000 cash bond.  If convicted, he faces a maximum of sentence of 21 yrs in prison.

La Crosse County Authorities discovered the remains of a male in the Mississippi River on Tuesday.  According to the La  Crosse County Sheriff's Department, the body was found Tuesday, just to the south of the city of La Crosse.   The remains were in the river for some time and its believed the body may have passed through a lock and dam upriver.  The remains were taken to Mayo in Rochester to be examined by their pathology lab and for DNA extraction to occur.”

The Wisconsin Assembly is approving a measure aimed at changing the way liquor regulations are handled across the state.  AB 304 passed with broad support in a 90 to four vote yesterday.  The bill would create a statewide bartending license, establish a new division in the Department of Revenue to enforce alcohol sales rules, and require wedding barns to obtain a permit or license in order to serve.  Governor Evers is expected to sign the bill into law if it is approved by the state Senate.

State law changes that would allow pharmacists to prescribe birth control are getting the go-ahead from the Wisconsin Assembly.  AB 176 was approved yesterday, with only eleven Republican lawmakers voting against it.  Current state rules allow only doctors to prescribe hormonal contraceptive pills and patches.  Representatives passed legislation to make the same changes last year, but, that bill did not make the public hearing stage in the Senate.

Wisconsin lawmakers are looking to okay a sweeping change to how kids in the state are taught how to read.  But it might be doomed.  The State Assembly is set to vote today on a proposal that would go back to teaching phonics as the basis for reading.  The plan would spend 50-million dollars to re-teach teachers in the state, and focus on making sure kids can read at grade level by the end of the third grade.  That might be what dooms the plan.  Governor Evers has promised a veto because the reading overhaul would have kids who aren't reading at grade level take third-grade reading classes in the fourth grade, and that's something the governor doesn't like.

Childcare providers, parents, and kids rallied at the State Capitol Tuesday.   They seek to change the minds of Republicans on the Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee, who voted last week to remove more than $300 million for the Child Care Counts Program from the state’s next two-year budget. The program has distributed hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding to providers since 2020. Advocates estimate that 25% of childcare facilities could close without the funding. Others argue that pandemic-era funding for Child Care Counts should expire.

A Chatfield man has been charged for allegedly impersonating a police officer and attempting to pull over motorists. Last month, police responded to reports of a man in a white SUV trying to pull people over on Highway 52. Deputies located the vehicle and found that it had been fitted with blue and red lights attached with suction cups. The driver was identified as Dallas Burris, and he was charged with impersonating a peace officer. He's next due in court on July 18th.

Tensions between justices at the Wisconsin Supreme Court spilled over into filings this month.   The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that the court ruled 4 to 3 that a lawsuit against Madison School's gender affirmation policies has to go through the regular appeals process rather than jumping directly to the Supreme Court. Justice Brian Hagedorn wrote the majority opinion siding with the court's liberal justices. Amendments to the ruling include personal attacks against Hagedorn from Justice Rebecca Bradley, where she accuses Hagedorn of propagating false news and attacking conservative voices in the court, as well as disappointment from Justice Annette Zeigler that the court is ignoring important social issues. The court will be moving to a progressive majority in August when incoming Justice Janet Protasiewicz takes office

The Milwaukee Common Council is considering legal action concerning the new state shared revenue law.   The action gives Milwaukee and Milwaukee County the opportunity to pursue new and increased local sales taxes.  However, the revenue from those taxes can only be used to pay off pension debt and fund public safety.  City alder Marina Dimitrijevic (duh-mit-tree-AY-vitch) said Tuesday the council's steering and rules committee will discuss next week whether to direct the city attorney's office to see if the city can challenge parts of the new law that limits how Milwaukee can use its tax dollars.

It's not the kind of animal control call police in northwestern Wisconsin expect to get every day.  Deputies in Barron County took to Facebook yesterday to share their story of pulling a huge snake off of a home in Chetek.  The snake, either a boa constrictor or python, escaped at the house and made its way to the roof.  That's when officers got the call.  The sheriff's office shared pictures of the snake, which they call a 'nope rope,' and said the call about a giant snake was 'an undersell.'

Local-Regional News June 21

 The Durand-Arkansaw School Board is meeting tonight.  Items on the agenda include discussion and possible action on a Termination Notice of the Joint Library Agreement with the City of Durand, the 2023024 preliminary budget, and renewal of the 2023-24 board schedule.  Tonight's meeting begins at 6 in the Board room at Durand-Arkansaw High School.

The Pepin County Board of Supervisors is meeting tonight.  Items on the agenda include annual reports from the Health Department, Human Services and Extension Office, and discussion and possible action on the Pepin County Library Plan.  Tonight's meeting begins at 7pm in the board room at the Government Center in Durand.

Attorneys hired by Eau Claire County spent last night's county board meeting trying to explain the damning investigation into the county's Department of Human Services. The lawyers downplayed the three-million dollars in extra spending the investigation uncovered and tried to explain away some of the extravagant expenditures in the report.  For example, the lawyers said the mahogany high chairs the county bought were for a disabled child who couldn't use a cheaper one from Walmart.  Those explanations didn't satisfy the crowd that turned out to get answers about the DHS investigation, and why no one is being charged with a crime.  The attorneys suggest a new learning session to bring the county board up to speed on the county's budget instead.

A Red Wing couple accused of abusing and neglecting their children are being charged with multiple felonies. Benjamin and Christina Cotton are facing sixteen charges each, all related to the alleged abuse of their four children, aged three to nine. Last year, social workers and police found the children being held in makeshift cages inside the family's home. Authorities say the children had been kept in the cages for up to four years. The couple's bonds are set at 50-thousand with conditions and 500-thousand without, and their next court appearance is scheduled for July 12th.

Governor Evers made a stop in Chippewa Falls after signing the new law to share millions of dollars with local governments across Wisconsin.  The governor made an appearance at the city's fire station to talk up the new plan that will share 20 percent of the state's sales tax with local governments but requires that the money be spent on police, fire, EMS services, and roads.  There's also a 300 million-dollar innovation fund designed to get local governments to look at consolidations and mergers. The governor did not say just how much the new shared revenue law will send to Chippewa Falls or other local communities.

While Governor Tony Evers held a news conference to sign Wisconsin's new shared revenue law, he didn't bring as much attention to the other half of the deal. The governor yesterday signed a new school funding law behind closed doors. The law will send one billion dollars more to public schools in Wisconsin, but it also provides a huge boost for school choice funding. That part has many Democrats angry, Milwaukee state Senator Chris Larson called for teachers and schools to fight the new law. Meanwhile, school choice supporters say the funding increase is one of their biggest victories in years.

 Wisconsin lawmakers are looking to take their pollinator protections beyond No Mow May.  A handful of Democrats yesterday introduced what they are calling the Pollinator Protection Package.  State Senator Melissa Agard said the idea is to make sure the state isn't harming bees and butterflies, and other pollinators.  The package would create rules for state agencies on the use of certain insecticides.  As well as rules for certain native prairie and forage plants, allow local governments to limit or prohibit the use of certain insecticides.  Agard says protecting Wisconsin's pollinators is key to 'developing a positive coexistence between ecosystems.'

 Taylor Swift fans beware. The singer is performing in Minneapolis this weekend, and after nearly 200 reports of ticket scams nationwide, the Better Business Bureau is warning consumers on what to look out for.  The BBB's senior director of investigations Lisa Schiller said to avoid phishing scams through text or email. If someone reaches out to you first, it's probably a scam.  Try to buy tickets from someone you know and avoid buying through Facebook, Instagram, or Craigslist, and use a credit card instead of cash apps like pay pal or vemo.   Minnesota's Attorney General Keith Ellison put out a news release warning fans to not fall for ticket scams. He said secondhand sellers are scamming people out of as much as $2,500 for tickets that never come through.

Two people have died following a shooting inside a Barron County home.   The sheriff’s office there says 38-year-old Jeremy Wittrock and 37-year-old Beth Parker were found Sunday evening at the residence in New Auburn.  Authorities report Wittrock had a no-contact order due to a pending domestic abuse charge involving Parker, who was found in the home with a gunshot wound and later died from her injuries. Wittrock was pronounced dead at the scene from what authorities believe was a self-inflicted gunshot wound.  A 15-year-old at the residence at the time of the incident was unharmed.

Republicans Donald Trump and Tom Tiffany were at the top of the ticket at a straw poll at this weekend's Wisconsin Republican Convention in La Crosse.   WisPolitics.com reports that Donald Trump was the winner of the presidential straw poll, with 53 percent of attendees picking him for president. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis took second with 34 percent of attendees. For the US Senate race, Northwoods Republican Congressman Tom Tiffany was the front-runner to take on Democrat Tammy Baldwin with 35 percent of the vote. Former Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke took second with 19 percent of the vote.

A warming water warning from the DNR.  An alert issued Monday by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources advises anglers that because water temperatures are heating up, they may notice more dead fish than usual. The agency said many underlying causes can explain warm weather fish die-offs, from pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites, to environmental issues like low dissolved oxygen levels and thermal stress. Anglers and boaters should report fish kill events to their local DNR fisheries biologist.

The president of the University of Wisconsin says closing two-year campuses is an option if lawmakers don't give the school more money in the new state budget. President Jay Rothman testified before a Senate panel yesterday. He continues to push for an eight-percent budget increase in the new state budget. Rothman says the University of Wisconsin needs more money to both keep its 13 smaller campuses open, and to attract top-tier faculty members and students. Republican lawmakers haven't yet said what they plan to do about the university's budget -- they're focused on diversity, equity, and inclusivity programs at the school. The UW closed its campus in Richland Center earlier this year because there weren't enough students there to pay the bills. Rothman is not ruling out similar moves at other two-year campuses.

Legal marijuana sales could generate billions for the state of Minnesota in the next six years.  A recent study conducted by Vincente LLP shows that state pot sales could raise one-point-five billion dollars by 2029.  The report also indicated that more than 700-thousand people would be served each year. Marijuana sales in Minnesota are not expected to start until January 2025.

Three baby falcons in the state have been given names.   The trio of peregrine falcon chicks born at Wisconsin Public Service's Weston Power Plant in central Wisconsin now have names of popular Wisconsin college mascots.  After asking the public to choose the mascot names, the three selected were Norby, after Norby the Green Knight from St. Norbert College; Clash, which is the name of the UW-Oshkosh mascot; and Stryker, the name of the eagle mascot from UW-La Crosse.

Local-Regional News June 20

 One person is dead and two others are injured after a UTV accident in Waterville Township on Sunday.  According to the Pepin County Sheriff's Department, a convoy of multiple UTVs was traveling eastbound on Hwy Z when one of the UTVs struck a pile of gravel and overturned.  45yr old Jessica Bignell of Arkansaw was pronounced dead at the scene, 47yr old Richard Bignell Jr of Arkansaw was taken to Regions Hospital with critical injuries, and 54yr old Bradley Holz of Arkansaw was taken to an Eau Clarie Hospital with critical injuries.    At the time of the accident, and currently, Hwy Z is closed to road construction, and parts of the road near the crash scene are totally impassable.  The group of UTVs passed multiple road-closed signs prior to the accident.  This crash remains under investigation by the Pepin County Sheriff’s Office and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

One person was injured in a motorcycle accident in Alma Township on Sunday.  According to the Buffalo County Sheriffs Department, 45yr old Tara Roiger of Sambora, MN was traveling with a group of 4 other motorcyclists westbound on Hwy N, when the lead motorcycle, driven by 54yr old Marchele Walz of  Lamberton, MN lost control causing Roiger and the others in line to lose control as well.  Roiger was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

More layoffs are coming at HTI. Hutchison yesterday said 50 more workers are losing their jobs. The company made the announcement in a filing with the state, but no one is saying what is driving the layoffs. This latest round comes after HTI dropped over 235 workers back in March.

This weekend, winning $100,000 came in handy for an All or Nothing Wisconsin Lottery player. Handy Mart, on  Hwy 25 in Nelson, sold a winning $100,000 All or Nothing ticket for the Friday, June 16, 2023, evening drawing. The winning ticket matched 0 of 11 numbers.  I'm really happy for this customer," said the Handy Mart Manager. "He is a very good patron, so this is awesome."  The Handy Mart will receive a 2% retailer bonus for selling the winning ticket.   The odds of winning the All or Nothing $100,000 top prize are 1 in 352,716. 

As part of National Electrical Safety Month, Pierce Pepin Cooperative Services (PPCS) and the Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Association (WECA) teamed up in May to host an electrical safety poster contest that was open to all third graders in Pierce and Pepin Counties.  Azalyn Larson of Caddie Woodlawn Elementary was awarded the first-place prize and a $40 gift card, and Hailee Thoner of St. Francis Elementary was awarded the second-place prize and a $30 gift card. Larson also received a $25 gift card from WECA for her first-place finish. PPCS has forwarded their posters to WECA for judging in the statewide contest.

Lake Hallie is looking to get tougher on homeless people. Police Chief Ed Organ says the city is considering two ordinances that would move homeless people out of the community. One would ban panhandling in the city, and the other would allow police officers to ticket people who are living in their cars. The chief says the idea is to give officers tools to deal with people who don't have any place to go. Lake Hallie leaders talked about the ordinances last night. A final vote is expected sometime next month.

Deputies in Eau Claire County say speed and alcohol likely played a role in an ATV crash that left a man in Fairchild fighting for his life. The sheriff's office says the wreck happened Saturday evening at the intersection of Front Street and Plum Street. Deputies found the man in the middle of the road, with the ATV on top of him. He was flown to a local hospital. The sheriff's office says he was last listed in serious but stable condition.

Tomah police are investigating a pair of related shootings.  Police say that the shootings happened around 1 am on Monday at a Super 8 Motel and an apartment building. One man was injured in each shooting. The man shot at the Motel was alert and conscious when police arrived, but the man shot at the apartment had to be transported to a trauma center for treatment. Police say the shootings are related. The victims are not being identified at this time. 

There is a plan at the Wisconsin Capitol to give new parents a bit of a break. State Rep. David Steffen is looking for support for a plan that would end the sales tax on things like diapers, baby wipes, and even car seats. Steffen says he wants to ease the burden on new families in Wisconsin. He's calling his plan the Tiny Tots Tax Cut. Steffen says the tax breaks could save Wisconsin parents as much as 37 million dollars a year.

 Wisconsin's latest election reforms are back for a hearing at the State Capitol today. An Assembly panel will hear about a handful of plans that deal with everything from closing polling places to the rules for live streaming Election Night vote counts. There is also a hearing on a plan to spell out how illegal it is to attack or threaten election workers in Wisconsin. It still remains unclear, however, how many of the reforms will become law. Governor Evers has been clear that he won't sign anything that he believes will make it tougher to vote in the state.

One person is dead after a crash in Jackson County. The sheriff's office says there was a two-vehicle crash on Interstate-94 near Black River Falls just before 6:30 p.m. Sunday night. Deputies say the driver and two passengers from one of the vehicles were taken to the hospital in Black River Falls, where one of the passengers died. Investigators are not saying what led up to the crash.

Police in La Crosse say they have a suspect in custody for a drive-by shooting that sent six people to the hospital. The shooting happened about 2 a.m. Saturday morning in the city's downtown. Investigators are not saying what led up to the shooting, but police say  31-year-old, Deandrew Grant acted alone and used a handgun in the shooting. He's in jail, and looking at six counts of attempted first-degree reckless homicide and bail-jumping charges. 

There are questions to answer about a welfare check in western Wisconsin that ended with a deadly officer-involved shooting. It happened Friday evening in Vernon County. The sheriff says deputies were sent on a welfare check in Genoa when they saw the person they were sent to check on drive away from their house. The deputies stopped that person, but that person then sped off, dragging one of the deputies. It's unclear whether the deputy who was being dragged shot and killed the driver or if it was another deputy. Neither of the deputies were hurt. The state's Department of Criminal Investigation is now handling the case.

A federal judge is ordering a partial shutdown of an oil pipeline in northern Wisconsin.  Judge William Conley says Enbridge Energy must pay over 5 million dollars to the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and plan to shut down a stretch of Line 5 which currently crosses the tribe's reservation. The tribe won a legal battle in 2019 after easements to run the line across the reservation expired and Enbridge refused to renew them. The tribe says erosion near the pipeline could cause spills into the Bad River. Enbridge says it is not trespassing because of a contract signed with the tribe in 1992.

Wisconsin is looking to see if over 100 thousand voters are still living in the state. The Wisconsin Elections Commission on Friday sent postcards to 116 thousand voters who are still registered, despite not having voted in the past four years. Anyone who does not respond to the postcard will be listed as inactive, but will not be removed from the state's voter rolls. Voters who still live at their homes, but simply haven't voted, can return the postcard and will remain as an active voter in the state.

None of the recalled cases of Johnsonville sausage ended up on shelves in Wisconsin. The company last week recalled 42 thousand pounds of its Beddar with Cheddar sausages because they may contain small bits of plastic. Johnsonville says the sausages were sent to Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, Colorado, Oklahoma, and Texas. There are no reports of anyone getting sick because of the sausages, and the company says you can take them back to the store or just throw them out.

Minneapolis loves burgers.  A new study compared one-thousand U.S. cities to find the most burger-obsessed places in the country.  Real estate website Home Bay used data from Yelp, Google Trends, the U.S. Census Bureau, and other sources to compile the list.  Factors included average restaurant ratings, online search activity, and burger restaurants per 100-thousand residents.  Minneapolis scored eighth place.  Richmond, Virginia, ranked first place, followed by Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 

Local-Regional News June 16

 The Mondovi City Council has approved new playground equipment for Mirror Lake Park.  Mondovi Mayor Brady Weiss says some businesses and organizations have stepped up to help raise money for the new equipment.   The City hopes to reuse some of the older equipment at other locations in the city.  The cost of the new playground equipment is between $60000-70,000.

The Durand City Council has given its support to the police department to add a therapy dog.    The dog would be used to help victims and responders of traumatic events.  Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren says the cost of the program would be covered by donations. The Cities of Altoona and La Crosse and Dunn County are local departments that currently have therapy dogs.

The Eau Claire woman accused in a Dunn County home invasion is headed for trial. A judge yesterday said there is enough evidence against 21-year-old Megan Dehate to take the case forward. She's accused of forcing her way into a home in the Town of Dunn last week. The sheriff says she hit the man who lives there in the head with a chunk of metal. Investigators say Dehate was likely high at the time. She's looking at burglary and elder abuse charges for hitting the older man who lives in the home.

One person is dead after a motorcycle accident in Eau Claire Wednesday.  According to the Wisconsin State Patrol. 56yr old Steven Berndt of Eleva was traveling on the westbound ramp of Hwy93 when he crashed.  He was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire with life threatening injuries but died at the hospital.  The Wisconsin State Patrol is investigating the cause of that accident.

Eau Claire is the latest community in Wisconsin with a Narcan vending machine. The sheriff's office debuted its machine yesterday. In addition to Narcan, the vending machine has fentanyl test strips to make sure drugs aren't contaminated with the deadly substance.  Sheriff Dave Riewestahl says people can access to the machine 24/7, 365 days a year. The hope, the sheriff says, is to cut down on the number of opioid overdoses in the county.

La Crosse police are investigating the death of a child.   Police aren't releasing much information, but say that a child was found dead inside a home on the city's north side Wednesday night. Police chief Shawn Kudron says the State Patrol and State Crime Lab are already handling parts of the investigation, and an autopsy has been scheduled. He would not release any other information.

There are more calls from Republicans at the Wisconsin Capitol to trim the University of Wisconsin's budget if the school doesn't change its tune about DEI. State Senator Steve Nass yesterday urged the senators to stand with Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and strip 32 million dollars from the university's budget that is earmarked for diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Nass said the only power lawmakers have over the university is the power of 'the purse strings,' and stripping out the 32 million is how they can bring 'fear to the hearts of DEI socialists running our public university system.' Democratic Governor Tony Evers says the move is part of a "decade-long war on higher education."

Governor Evers says he will not sign the plan to change how kids in Wisconsin are taught to read unless there are more changes.  The governor's office yesterday once again promised to veto the plan because it could have some fourth graders taking third-grade reading classes.  The governor promised to veto the plan earlier in the week because lawmakers initially wanted to hold kids back if they weren't reading at grade level by the fourth grade.  Republican lawmakers dropped that part of the plan this week.  State Rep. Joel Kitchens says the governor's ultimatum will likely kill the plan that's been years in the making.  Lawmakers say about 70-percent of Wisconsin fourth graders cannot read at grade level.

The FAA is investigating a close call between two aircraft at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport. The incident occurred Wednesday and reportedly involved a Delta flight and an American Airlines flight. According to the FAA, air traffic controllers had to ask one airplane to abort its landing, as another airplane was still sitting on the runway. The aircraft that was landing was able to safely abort and circle around, and no injuries were reported.

Two lawyers from North Carolina have pleaded guilty to setting up a phony political action committee for former Milwaukee County sheriff David Clarke.   61-year-old Nathanael Pendley and 51-year-old Jack Daly are accused of gathering donations to try and convince Clarke to run for a US Senate Seat. The pair gathered over 1 point 6 million dollars despite the fact that Clarke announced he wouldn't be running in 2022, and that Clarke himself had called their fundraising a scam. Federal officials say the pair spent most of that money on themselves rather than campaigning. The pair will be sentenced this summer.

There's a tiny problem with the logo for Milwaukee's Republican National Convention. Organizers debuted the logo this week but forgot to add all of Door County. The logo essentially cuts off at Sturgeon Bay. The folks at Destination Door County are taking the snub in stride, saying they've seen worse. The RNC isn't saying who forgot about Wisconsin's 'thumb.' Milwaukee will host the Republican National Convention in July of next year.

The search for a Reedsburg teen continued Thursday around Devil’s Lake State Park.  James Yoblonski left home very early Monday morning in his family’s van. Sauk County Sheriff Chip Meister tells WKOW-TV in Madison over 100 officers and at least 10 K-9s covered around 5,000 acres of land, but still have not found the 13-year-old after two days of searching.  Meister adds the terrain in the area of the search is, in his words, terrible, saying, “There’s rocks and boulders all over, there’s cliffs, there’s very thick brush that you can’t see eight feet away from you.”  The sheriff asks anyone who thinks they may have seen the boy or has information on the case, to contact them.

A pair of young wild birds were rescued in downtown Milwaukee Wednesday.  People who noticed two banded baby peregrine falcons outside of the U.S. Bank building contacted the Wisconsin Humane Society, which says the young birds probably flew down from the roof of the building where a nest is set up with the Peregrine Falcon Recovery Program.  The society says the baby falcons don't have the strength yet to fly back up to the top of the building and reunite with their family, so they were given a thorough examination. Once the birds are deemed healthy, they’ll be released back into the wild.

Downtown Minneapolis retailer Hubert White is planning to close this summer.  The men's clothing store has operated in the Nicollet Mall for close to 90 years.  Hubert White owner Bob White announced on social media yesterday that he will retire and shut the doors of the business on August 1st.  He added that his decision to close was due to his age and the lack of customer traffic.

The downtown Eau Claire bear is getting internet famous. The city's police department shared a video of the bear wandering through downtown yesterday morning. The small black bear crossed the street and avoided traffic. Eau Claire Police say the bear was first spotted along Water Street, and then made its way to Phoenix Park before leaving the city limits. Both the PD and the DNR say if the bear comes back, people should stay away.

Local-Regional News June 15

 The City of Durand continues to work on finding ways to replace the Tarrant Park Pool.  During last night's council meeting, the Mayor updated the council on changes to the project to help lower the cost.  The new plan would remove the concession stand, and some of the shade structures and play features of the pool.  Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren says the goal was to find ways to get the project to move forward.  The changes would save approximately $250,000, but the city would still need an additional $1 million in donations to get the pool built.  The city council is looking at approving a construction calendar at the next council meeting and hopes to ask for bids on the project before the fall.

One person is dead, and several others are hurt after a two-vehicle crash at milepost 40 on I-94 in Dunn County on Sunday.  According to the Wisconsin State Patrol, 33yr old Benjamin Wilfer of Eau Claire was traveling eastbound on I-94 in the westbound lanes, when he struck a westbound vehicle driven by 28yr old Demarie Ward of Chicago.  Wilfer was killed in the accident, while Ward, passengers 27yr old Ceirra Ellis of Maple Grove, MN and an 8yr old male juvenile were all injured in the accident.   That accident remains under investigation by the Wisconsin State Patrol.

One of the Chippewa Valley's Democratic lawmakers voted with Republicans yesterday to pass the share revenue package. Senator Jeff Smith joined five other Democrats in voting Yes on the plan that will share a half-billion dollars with local governments across the state. Many Republicans were unhappy with the spending in the plan, as well as the piece that will allow Milwaukee and Milwaukee County to raise their sales taxes without a vote. Seven Senate Republicans, including Rob Stafsholt, of New Richmond voted No.

Three Jackson County teens have been arrested in connection with a break-in at the Alcivia Co-Op Convenience store in Pigeon Falls on June 5th.  According to the Trempealeau County Sheriff's Department, two of the teens threw a rock through the front door, entered the building, and stole several thousand dollars worth of Delta 8 and nicotine cartridges.  They fled in a red GMC Pickup driven by a third suspect.  When confronted by authorities, the three confessed and evidence was recovered.  All three have been referred for charges of burglary, theft, and criminal damage to property.

The Olmstead County Sheriffs' Department is reporting the death of K-9 Officer Ranger. On Sunday, Ranger and his handler Corporal Heimer were training for an upcoming K9 trial when Corporal Heimer noticed Ranger was not himself.  Ranger was transported to an animal hospital for a medical emergency but died at the hospital.  K9 Ranger began working with the Olmstead County Sheriff's Department in 2020.

 A Minneapolis man is looking at a 15 hundred dollar fine after he drunkenly called 911 and threatened to kill the family of the teenager who killed Lily Peters. Chippewa Falls Police say Herbert Badalich from St. Paul called one week after Peters' death last year and made the threats. He said he was frustrated and mad about the case. Badalich later said he was drunk when he made the call and wasn't a threat to anyone. A Chippewa County judge yesterday fined him for disorderly conduct.

A man has been arrested in connection with a multi-vehicle crash that happened near Eyota. Authorities say Joshua Wigham crashed into the back of a vehicle on College View Road East early Tuesday evening, sending the vehicle into the back of another car. The two cars had reportedly slowed due to animals on the road. Wigham was arrested on suspicion of DUI and criminal vehicular operation. He and one other person suffered minor injuries.

A temporary solution to blocked roads on the Lac du Flambeau reservation has been extended for a month.  WXPR reports that the town of Lac du Flambeau has paid for another month of access to a series of roads leading to private homes on tribal lands. The Lac du Flambeau tribe blocked off those roads in January, asking for compensation to use them after easements expired over a decade ago. The township paid for three months of access back in March for around 60 thousand dollars. The town's website reported this week that they've made another payment. A federal judge recently said he won't order the tribe to open the roads.

Wisconsin's new, 80-plus billion-dollar budget may be in trouble because of 32 million-dollars for diversity, equity, and inclusion at the University of Wisconsin. Governor Tony Evers yesterday said he may not sign the budget if Republican lawmakers push ahead with their plan to strip 32 million from the UW System. Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos wants the university to spend the 32 million on something else, the governor said that's 'ridiculous.' The Republican-controlled legislature is working to finish the new state budget by the end of the month.

Wisconsin Elections Commission administrator Meagan Wolfe says she may not be reappointed when her term ends July 1st.  In a letter sent to local clerks on Wednesday, Wolfe told election workers and clerks not to endorse her or advocate on her behalf. That's after reports that state Senate Republicans might block her appointment if the six-member commission selects her again as administrator. Wolfe oversaw the contentious 2020 presidential election and has been the center of disproven theories of elections fraud and government interference after former President Donald Trump lost to Joe Biden. Wolfe says that if she's not selected or confirmed, Wisconsin will have a "less experienced administrator at the helm."

The “Felony Lane Gang” may be back in Wisconsin.  The group has a nationwide reputation for committing “smash and grab” thefts from parked cars and taking cash, checks, and other personal ID cards from them to make fraudulent financial transactions and take on the identity of the crime victims.  Washington County sheriff’s deputies arrested two men from Florida Saturday who may be associated with the “Felony Lane Gang” after they allegedly broke into numerous cars at a park in the Town of Addison.  The sheriff’s office believes the two were also involved in similar thefts at a church in Dodge County earlier in the day, adding that evidence shows the two men had been around Denver, Colorado two days before possibly committing similar thefts.  

Some changes are coming to Minnesota's medical cannabis program following the passage of recreational marijuana in this legislative session.  Office of Medical Cannabis Director Chris Tholkes says the 200-dollar annual enrollment fee will be eliminated July 1st.  Tholkes says a patient's initial certification visit with a health care provider can be done via "telemedicine" on August 1st.  Recreational cannabis retailers aren't expected to open until early 2025.

The head of Wisconsin's largest teachers' union wants the governor to veto the latest school funding compromise Wisconsin Education Association Council President Peggy Wirtz-Olsen yesterday said asked Governor Evers to scuttle the deal that will send a billion-dollars to public schools across the state because it will also send millions to private and voucher schools as part of school choice in Wisconsin. She is also furious with the plan that would change how kids are taught to read in the state, and the clause in the plan that would require police officers in Milwaukee Public Schools. 

Marathon County deputies say a recent scam in Germantown highlights the need for better training for retail employees. Public Information Officer Sara Severson says a store was scammed out of nearly 25-thousand dollars when crooks convinced a clerk to activate gift cards without paying for them. Severson says it's likely that this was done by an organized group of criminals staying at a nearby hotel. When police arrived to investigate, the crooks were already gone.

A Bloomington man is pleading guilty to his part in the federal Feeding Our Future fraud case.  Abdulkadir Awale confessed to one count of wire fraud and agreed to pay two-point-one million dollars in restitution.  Prosecutors say the defendant falsely claimed to serve three-point-six million meals to low-income children at several locations through his businesses.  Awale received eleven-point-eight million dollars in federal funding for providing the reported meals between April 2020 and January 2022.

An annual tradition in Lake Geneva took place on Tuesday.  Rain didn’t prevent 17 high school and college-age students from participating in the Annual Mailboat Delivery tryouts there.  Each of the participants jumped off the moving mailboat onto a pier, put mail in a mailbox, grabbed outgoing mail, and jumped back onto the boat called the Walworth, which never stops moving.  The four students selected from the tryouts will also serve as guides during boat tours on the mailboat this summer.

Local-Regional News June 14

 The City of Mondovi is looking for a new city administrator.  Last night the council accepted the resignation of Administrator Garrett Martin.  Mondovi Mayor Brady Weiss says the city will now begin to actively look for a replacement. Martin's last day with the city will be July 1st.

The Durand City Council is meeting tonight.  Items on the agenda include public hearings on liquor license renewals. discussion and possible action on the Tarrant Park Pool Project, and discussion and possible action on the addition of a Therapy Dog for the Durand Police Department.  Tonight's meeting begins at 6:30 at Durand City Hall and will also be live-streamed on our YouTube Channel at Durand Broadcasting WRDN.

The man who hid in Kohl's in Eau Claire and then tried to clean out the jewelry case will not be spending any more time behind bars. A judge yesterday sentenced Thomas McRunnel to time served in his burglary case. McRunnel pleaded guilty to burglary and theft charges. Eau Claire Police say he hid inside the local Kohl's store, lying down on a shelf behind some luggage. He then emerged after the store was closed and stole 23 thousand dollars in jewelry. He's accused of similar cases in Minnesota as well.

The state of Wisconsin is asking small businesses that were approved for a 2021 "We're All In Grant" but were not eligible to repay the $5000 grants.  The request comes after a legislative audit bureau audit found that while the businesses truthfully filled out the application, the WEDC approved the grants even though the business didn't qualify.    During a visit to Pepin County yesterday, Governor Tony Evers told WRDN that his office will try and work out something with the legislature so the small businesses aren't harmed.   While the Governor says they will try and work something out, it doesn't appear the republican controlled legislature will go along, as they blame the governor for not working with them to distribute the money in the first place.  The Department of Revenue has been telling the affected businesses they could pay back the grant at $10 a month with no interest charges.  At $10 a month it would take over 41yrs for the grants to be repaid.

Western Wisconsin's congressman is pushing to add more federal rail inspectors. Congressman Derrick Van Orden yesterday introduced a plan that would spend three million-dollars to add 15 new inspectors. He says having enough rail inspectors is key to preventing and getting answers about train derailments. Van Orden said a lack of inspectors is one reason why we still don't have answers about the derailment in DeSoto, Wisconsin from back in April. 

 Searchers spent another day in the woods at Devil's Lake State Park yesterday looking for a missing 13-year-old. They didn't find him. The Sauk County Sheriff's Office says 13-year-old James Yoblonski left his house in Reedsburg overnight Sunday. He took a vehicle and a gun and headed to Devil's Lake. Deputies found the vehicle Monday, but they have not found James or the gun. James' father yesterday pleaded for his son to come home. The sheriff's office says the search will resume today.

The Wisconsin Broadband Office is encouraging all households to take the Wisconsin Internet Self-Report survey.  Through this collaborative effort with all WI residents,  the Wisconsin Broadband Office will be able to further improve internet access, understand associated costs, and support internet adoption for Wisconsin residents by identifying areas where the internet is not available, is too expensive, underperforming, or is intimidating to subscribe. The survey is confidential, and the number of responses will be visualized in an online mapping tool.  The Survey is available online at the Public Service Commission website or by calling 608-261-6026.

Democrats at the Wisconsin Capitol are furious with the Republican plan to cut diversity, equity, and inclusion money from the University of Wisconsin. Governor Tony Evers yesterday said the plan to cut 32 million in DEI money from the UW System's six billion-dollar budget is part of a ' decade-long war on higher education.' Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos wants to make the cuts to move the university away from its hundreds of diversity, equity, and inclusion administrators. The top Democrat in the Assembly, Greta Neubauer, said 'it is simply wrong' for Republicans to target DEI, and worried that the budget cut has put 'the well-being of our state at risk.'

A man has been arrested for reportedly pointing a gun at people inside a Rochester home. Police were called to the scene at a home on Ninth Avenue Southeast on Monday. A 911 caller reported that a man she knew came to the front door of the residence and aimed a gun at the occupants of the home. The suspect was arrested a short distance from the scene, and police recovered a handgun that matched descriptions given by witnesses.

Democrats in the legislature say some medium-sized Wisconsin cities are getting short-charged in the shared revenue sales tax bill.  An amendment to address that, by Senator Spreitzer and Senator Jeff Smith of Eau Claire was rejected in a committee vote on Monday. 

A Wausau School District instructor who has been at the center of controversy resigned his position on Monday.  Rob Perkins resignation was accepted on Monday following a closed-session discussion by the board of education- both Superintendent Keith Hilts and Vice President Lance Trollop- who was acting as president for Monday's session, said there would be no further comment about the resignation at this time. Perkins has been the subject of multiple investigations conducted at the local and state level following accusations that he used racist and homophobic language that was directed at a student on multiple occasions.

Milwaukee's RNC boss is promising a bigger and better convention. Elise Dickens sat down for her first interviews yesterday after being named RNC CEO. She said one of her first tasks is to get a team together to plan for the convention in July of next year. Dickens says it's been eight years since Republicans met in-person, and she expects the Milwaukee convention to meet expectations. Milwaukee won the Republican National Convention after Democrats picked the city for 2020, but had to cancel because of the coronavirus. Milwaukee will also be the host for the first Republican presidential debate in August of this year.

Low-income Wisconsin households may be eligible for assistance to pay for heating through another round of grant funding.   Governor Tony Evers announced the state is using $50 million in Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program - LIHEAP - block grants to help over 170,000 households that received benefits previously. They can get an extra $279 on average. Evers has also allocated another $8 million to deliver fuel oil and propane to qualifying customers. More information about LIHEAP and what households are eligible is available online.

The man indicted for firebombing the Madison offices of Wisconsin Family Action is seeking to have his case dismissed.   An attorney for Hridindu Sankar Roychowdhury argues the federal arson statute under which the 30-year-old was charged for the May 2022 incident is unconstitutional. Roychowdhury is also asking the court to suppress a search warrant, materials obtained in the execution of that warrant, and information from a search of his cell phone during his March arrest. Roychowdhury was indicted by a grand jury in April and pleaded not guilty. Investigators used DNA evidence, surveillance, and social media to track him down nearly a year after the office firebombing. 

A suspect in Watertown learned not to hide on the rooftop in the worst possible way over the weekend. Watertown Police say they chased the unnamed man to a house on Montgomery Street Saturday evening. That's when they say the man climbed onto the roof. He fell down a little while later and needed an ambulance to take him to the hospital before police took him to jail. The man was wanted as part of a hit-and-run case. Police are expected to also ask for charges for fleeing and drug paraphernalia possession.