Local-Regional News Nov 30

 UW-Stout is reporting a record-setting gift that will allow the school to renovate its rec complex.  The university announced the gift from Dallas and Edye Pankowski yesterday.  The five-million dollars will go a long way toward the rec center's 30-million dollar price tag.  The gift also means the new rec center will have Pankowski's name on it.  Stout says the state is going to have to come up with the rest of the money. School officials hope to get that in the next state budget, in 2025. 

 Wisconsin-based Kwik Trip is voluntarily recalling some fruit products due to salmonella contamination. The company and the Food and Drug Administration say the recall is for three pre-cut fruit cup and tray products. The products use TruFresh cantaloupe, which have the potential for salmonella contamination. The fruit cups and trays were also sent to Kwik Star, Stop-N-Go, and Tobacco Outlet Plus Stores in Wisconsin.

A River Falls man is facing a minimum of 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to federal charges Tuesday.   Austin Koeckeritz pleaded guilty to sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, as well as one count of sex trafficking of a minor.   According to authorities in Pierce County, Koeckeritz forced his victim to make sexually explicit videos. She told investigators she "lost her freedom" and was imprisoned in a room and forced to work daily, and he would take nearly all the money she earned.    A sentencing date for Koeckeritz has not yet been set.

 No one was home, and no one was hurt in a house fire in Chippewa Falls yesterday.  Firefighters got a call about a fire on Wheaton Street just before 12:45 p.m.  The woman who lives there says no one was home, though she says her cat died in the fire.  Investigators are not yet saying just what caused that fire. 

 Pink slips are coming for about 90 people in Tomah.  Managers at the Transcontinental plant in Tomah notified the state that it is planning to close its facility just after the new year.  In all, 90 people will lose their jobs.  The closing will affect both union and non-union employees.  Transcontinental is not offering a reason as to why it is closing the plant. 

 The Mayo Clinic is planning a five-Billion dollar expansion in Rochester.   The plan includes five new buildings, with space that can be converted as needed for use as patient rooms, to examination rooms, or operating rooms.  The new buildings will be designed so additional floors can be added in the future as needed.  Skyways and tunnels will connect all of the buildings.  Construction is expected to start in 2024.  

Some scams never seem to grow old.  The Dane County Sheriff's Office is the latest law enforcement agency warning the public of a phone scam, and it’s a familiar one. A scammer will call the victim, claiming to be a relative in need of help. They'll say they are handing a phone over to a lawyer, who then tells the victim to get $14,000. The scammer then asks the victim to call them back to arrange a meeting at a bail bonds office. The sheriff's office said two people reported the scam Tuesday morning. Scams can be reported to your local law enforcement, the Better Business Bureau or the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.

The Jackson County Sheriff's Office is still looking for a woman who went missing last week. 53-year-old Stacy Shramek was last seen at around 2 p.m. Thanksgiving Day. Police said she left her sister's home in Black River Falls and traveled north on the Black River in a kayak that was later found on a riverbank. Jackson County Sheriff Duane Waldera said they are looking for any information that could help. Shramek is 5'5, 200 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a black jacket, blue jeans, and a purple top. If you have information on this case you're encouraged to call 715-284-5357.

Wisconsin's proposal to allow out-of-state therapists to take on mental health patients in the state is gaining steam.  A Senate panel yesterday seemed to support the plan that would open up more mental health services, particularly in rural parts of the state.  Senator Rachel Cabral-Guevara said the idea is to expand the COVID-era emergency rules that allowed therapists and doctors in Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, and Michigan to treat people in Wisconsin. Reform groups like the Institute for Reforming Government say breaking down unnecessary regulations will simply help more people throughout the state. 

 Wisconsin will be giving almost two-million dollars toward financial and legal advice for small businesses. Governor Tony Evers and US Senator Tammy Baldwin, both Democrats, say the one-point-nine-million is coming from the US Department of the Treasury. The money will go toward two UW entrepreneurship programs, which the state says will help more than eleven-thousand small businesses apply for financial support over five years.

OSHA is fining two northeast Wisconsin construction companies after the death of a worker at Lambeau Field in June. The government this week announced the fines against Miron Construction and Mavid Construction.  Both companies will pay a combined 34-thousand dollars in fines.  The worker died after being trapped while working on repairs at Lambeau.  OSHA says the fines are 'associated with pinch-point and electric dumbwaiter hazards.'

The federal government is warning a Wauwatosa company not to make hand sanitizer with the same equipment it uses to make brake cleaner. The FDA last month sent a letter to Brenntag Great Lakes, informing the company that inspectors found 'significant violations' during a tour of the company's plant in Menomonee Falls. The letter said the company cannot make hand sanitizer and industrial solvents using the same production line. Brenntag told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that it never used the same equipment for the two different products, and blamed the whole thing on 'documentation error.'

 Rochester's Heritage Preservation Commission is recommending landmark recognition for a historic city water tower.  The commission voted unanimously yesterday to recommend the designation for the "ear of corn" water tower built in 1931.  The tower currently sits on land owned by Olmsted County and was recently restored as part of a 400-thousand-dollar rehabilitation project funded by the county.  The recommendation now goes to the Rochester City Council for final approval.

An elk was wandering the streets of the south-central Wisconsin village of McFarland late Friday night. A Facebook video showed the elk near the Maple Tree restaurant just before 11 p.m. Friday. The state Department of Natural Resources says the elk bull from a herd in the Black River Falls area has been heading south in the state looking for females during the elk breeding season. The DNR tracked the bull heading toward Waupaca, then up around Wausau and Taylor County, and then back toward Wausau, Shawano, Waupaca, and Wisconsin Rapids. They say his journey began back in September

Local Regional News Nov 29

 The Durand City Council is meeting tonight.  Items on the agenda include reports from the mayor and department heads, and discussion and possible action on hiring a new full-time police officer.  Tonight's meeting begins at 6:30 at Durand City Hall.

Hunters harvested about 11 percent fewer deer during the gun hunt this year than the 5 year average. Department of Natural Resources wildlife supervisor Jeff Pritzl says it's part of the ebb and flow of how the deer hunt works.  The DNR reported that hunters in Pepin County harvested 1159 deer, Pierce County 2292, Buffalo County 2833, Trempeleau County 3894 and Dunn County had 4361 deer harvested.  The archery season is going well, and is down just 2 percent from last year. Wardens say there were only three shooting incidents during the gun hunt, and no one was killed.

The Durand Travel Mart has been sold.  Mega Co-Op closed the travel mart recently and has sold it to Convenience Store Opperations LLC.  The Travel mart will change brands from Shell to BP.  The company is hoping to receive all its required city permits at tonight's city council meeting.

 

911 dispatchers in Eau Claire can now send texts and get live video back in return. It's part of the county's new Prepared Live 911 system. It's been up and running for the past two weeks, now the county is looking to let people know about it. Dispatch director  Greg Rosno says the idea is to give dispatchers, along with first responders, more information about what is going on the scene. 911 dispatchers can send callers a link, that link then activates their phone's camera, and gives authorities a live look at just what's happening.

Prosecutors say if it weren't for a license plate reader, the suspect in a grisly Wisconsin murder may still be on the loose. Police in Missouri arrested Jose Dominguez-Garcia last week after a license plate reader flagged his car. He'd been on the run since 2020 when police say he allegedly killed his estranged girlfriend, Rosaly Rodriguez, and left her body in a suitcase in Chippewa County. She was originally from Sauk County, and worked at the Dells. Dominguez-Garcia is waiting to be brought back to Wisconsin to face murder charges in the case. No one in Chippewa County or Missouri, however, is saying just when that will happen.

The Goodhue County Sheriff's Office says no foul play is suspected in the death of a man who was missing for more than a week.  The body of 57-year-old Brad Nagel was found on property he owned in rural Red Wing on Sunday.  Sheriff Marty Kelly announced yesterday that Nagel suffered a single, self-inflicted wound and that his body was found at the bottom of a steep embankment on the property.  Nagel was reported missing in mid-November and his truck was found in a back channel of the Mississippi River on November 19th.

Several people are displaced following a structure fire in Tomah. According to a press release from the Tomah Fire Department crews responded Sunday morning to an apartment on fire above Peking Chinese Restaurant. Crews reported seeing fire showing from the window, and that it was growing. Mutual aid was requested. According to the press release, crews were on scene for nearly 11 hours, and 10 people were displaced. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

A Wisconsin man found not competent to stand trial after being accused of killing his neighbor in 2016 in Eau Claire is awaiting extradition. WEAU News reports that 51-year-old Shane Helmbrecht remains in the Cook County Jail in Chicago. Court documents show Helmbrecht was detained in Mexico earlier this month, after a US Customs agent learned he had an out of state warrant. Helmbrecht is charged with first-degree intentional homicide for the death of Jenn Ward, who was shot and killed inside her Eau Claire home in August 2016.

Minnesotans can now comment on the final designs for the new state flag and seal.  The State Emblems Redesign Commission has posted the six flag designs and five seal designs on its webpage.  Viewers can click on the link for each design and submit comments about it.  The page can be accessed through the Minnesota Historical Society website.  The commission plans to pick a final design for the flag and the seal before the end of the year.   

 Mayo Clinic is expanding its Rochester campus in an effort to reimagine the future of healthcare.  The massive expansion is part of Mayo Clinic's new "Bold. Forward. Unbound." vision.  The Rochester campus will gain five new clinical buildings and new digital technologies.  Mayo Clinic says the plan will transform healthcare globally while reimagining patient and staff experiences in Rochester.  The expansion is projected to cost five-billion-dollars over a six-year-span. 

  Governor Tony Evers' office is defending his secret government email account. A number of reports yesterday confirmed that the governor used the email warren-dot-sphan@wisconsin-dot-gov. The governor's office says the email allowed him to communicate with top state officials, but Republican lawmakers and government reform groups say the governor doesn't need a secret email to do that. They now want to see the 17 thousand emails the governor sent from his other account. The governor's spokesperson says the Warren Spahn email gave the governor some more 'digital security,' by having an email alias. 

 Lawmakers at the Wisconsin Capitol are considering a plan that would guarantee student journalists freedom to cover the stories that they want. New legislation would make it clear that high schools and universities cannot 'exercise prior restraint' over student newspapers. That means schools cannot edit or block stories that the administration doesn't like. There was a hearing on the plan last month, and the legislation has support from both Republicans and Democrats. The proposal would clarify the law after a 1988 Supreme Court ruling that allows schools to edit student newspapers because those newspapers are sponsored by the school. 

Republican Brad Schimel plans to run for Wisconsin Supreme Court.  Conservative website Wisconsin Right Now reports that the 58-year-old Waukesha County judge and former state attorney general plans an announcement for Thursday in Waukesha. He’d become a conservative challenger to liberal Justice Anne Walsh Bradley. The 72-year-old Bradley is expected to seek a fourth ten year term in 2025. Schimel was elected attorney general in 2014. He lost in a close reelection race four years later to Democrat Josh Kaul, after which Governor Scott Walker appointed him to Waukesha County Circuit Court

 A Minnesota hunter is celebrating a rare find following a weekend trip to Granite Falls.  Chase Mortenson of Madison was hunting on his uncle's farm on Sunday when he bagged a buck with three antlers growing from its head.  The rare "unicorn buck" had a pair of normal antlers as well as a small outgrowth in the middle of its forehead.  Mortenson shot at the deer and initially thought he'd missed, but says he found the buck about 20 yards away from his stand.  

 A Minnesota town is ranked one of the 20 most beautiful winter towns in the country.  Travel plus Leisure recognizes Lanesboro, Minnesota, as the 18th best winter town.  The town is located in the southeast part of the state, between the bluffs of the Root River Valley.  Lanesboro has various outdoor activities during the winter and summer, with many bed and breakfast locations for people to enjoy.  

Reducing food waste in Wisconsin.  That’s the focus of a proposed bill in the Wisconsin legislature.  The measure would give excess food to those in the state who need it, and would lower the amount of food thrown away in the state, which the Department of Natural Resources estimated at over 850,000 tons in 2020, with most of it still edible.  The bill would provide $200,000 to groups for the initiation of food waste reduction projects in Wisconsin.

It looks like a nutcracker, but it opens your beer. That's the best way to describe Miller Lite's new beercracker. The company is offering the limited time bottle opener/decoration for the holiday season. The traditional nutcracker has been replaced with a mouth that opens beer bottles, and a removable hat that opens beer cans. There's even a small gift-wrapped box of Miller Lite at the beercracker's feet. You can get them at Miller Lite's online store, but you can't wait. They are on sale tomorrow, Thursday, and Friday only.

Local-Regional News Nov 28

 The Goodhue County Sheriff’s Office says no foul play is suspected in the case of Brad Nagel.  Authorities located Nagel’s body Sunday down a steep embankment with a single self-inflicted gunshot wound.  The Goodhue County Sheriff’s Office is thanking the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office, Environmental Learning Center, Ellsworth Fire Department, Red Wing Ambulance, Northstar Search and Rescue, Siewert’s Towing, Southern MN Regional Medical Examiner’s Office, and many volunteers for helping to locate Nagel.  Authorities say the investigation is ongoing.

A late-night fire in Goodhue County was quickly put out with no injuries thanks to a good Samaritan.  According to the Goodhue County Sheriff's Department, authorities received a call just after 11:30 Sunday night from someone who saw a fire at a home on 4th Street East in Zumbrota.  Firefighters arrived less than two minutes later and were able to evacuate the residence.   Authorities say the people living there were able to safely go back inside shortly after midnight.

The Village of Pepin Has a new ambulance.  The ambulance service reported the delivery during the Board of Trustees meeting on Nov 20th.  The ambulance service is holding an open house on Saturday from 2-4pm to let the public see the new ambulance.  Also on Saturday, Pepin Fire, Ambulance and Police are holding a food drive from 9-noon to pick up donations from area residents.

Those interested in running for Pepin County Board of Supervisors for the spring election can begin the paperwork process on Friday.  Paperwork can be picked up at the county clerk's office and must be returned by January 2nd.  The spring election will be April 2nd and for more information contact the Pepin County Clerk's Office.

Pepin County residents will see a lower mill rate on the county portion of their taxes for 2024.  Earlier this month the board passed the 2024 budget with a tax levy of $5.6 million.  The mill rate will now be $6.24 per $1000 of value, down from the $7.03 from last year.  Finance Director Pam Hansen told supervisors that 43.5% of the total budget is earmarked for salaries and fringe benefits.  

 Natural gas heating bills are likely to drop in the Midwest this winter. The US Energy Information Administration says it expects a 21-percent drop in natural gas home heating costs this coming season. Madison-based Alliant Energy says the lower prices are due in part because a large natural gas reserve is built up -- and the Wisconsin winter is more likely to be normal, or even warmer than normal this year.

Black River Falls Police are requesting assistance to find a missing woman. According to police, 53-year-old Stacy Shramek was last seen Thursday afternoon around 2 p.m. She was in a red and blue kayak on the Black River. The kayak was later found on the bank where Shramek left.  Her family said she was not properly dressed for cold temperatures. Shramek was last seen wearing a black jacket, blue jeans, and a purple top.

Someone in Western Wisconsin is $100,000 richer after winning the Wisconsin Lottery's All or Nothing game.  The lottery reports a winning ticket was sold at the Kwik Trip on Gateway Drive and matched none of the 11 numbers drawn last Wednesday.  All or Nothing players can win the $100,000 top prize by matching 0 of 11 numbers or by matching 11 of 11 numbers. 

Wisconsin will be giving more than two-million dollars in grant money to veteran's mental health services. Governor Tony Evers and the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary say they're now accepting applicants for three grants. The grants will go toward funding emergency treatment programs, as well as programs like dance, acupuncture, and equestrian therapies. Funding is also available for centers with family and marriage counseling and social workers. The DVA gave out nearly 650-thousand to 16 Wisconsin nonprofits in the first round of grants. 

A lawyer for imprisoned ex-Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin says there have been no updates provided to his client's family since he was stabbed behind bars.  Minneapolis attorney Greg Erickson stated that he tried to reach out to the Federal Bureau of Prisons about 15 times.  Chauvin was stabbed on Friday in the medium-security prison in Tucson, Arizona.  He is in stable condition and is expected to survive.

The woman shot in the hip by a deer hunter in Adams County is not going to push for charges. The DNR says a hunter shot 47-year-old Billie Johnson while she was walking her dog. Turns out, Johnson knows the hunter, says he taught her how to hunt, and says the man is an old family friend. Johnson says it was an honest mistake, and says she won't be pressing charges. Johnson's daughter says her mom was walking her dog during the first weekend of hunting season, and wasn't wearing any blaze orange. The DNR says the hunter fired at Johnson's sound. Johnson was one of two people wounded in hunting accidents during the first weekend of gun season. The other shot himself in the foot while in a deer stand. 

 Republican lawmakers want school libraries across Wisconsin to keep a list of what kids are reading. And they want libraries to turn that list over to parents. A Senate panel will hold a hearing tomorrow on a plan to let parents know what their kids are reading at the school library. Supporters say the idea is to make sure kids aren't reading anything inappropriate. The plan will likely never become law. Governor Evers has vetoed other parental notification plans from Republicans in Madison before. 

There will be a focus on mental health at the Wisconsin Capitol this week. A Senate committee will hold hearings on a series of plans from Republicans to expand mental health care in the state. One of the plans would start a pilot program to help first responders deal with the stress of their jobs, while another would change Wisconsin's telehealth rules to allow out-of-state doctors to take-on clients in Wisconsin. There is also a plan to connect mental health professionals with police officers during mental health calls. Lawmakers say the idea there is to help get someone to a doctor, and not necessarily jail. 

Car-versus-deer accidents in Wisconsin have remained steady.  That’s the word from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, which says drivers are expected to hit around as many deer this year as they have in the last three years.  The agency says the most collisions of that sort happen in October and November, during the breeding phase for deer.  The DOT adds that, though there's been a decrease in deer-vehicle collisions in Wisconsin since 2017, their data show you’re more likely to hit a deer now than you were 15 years ago.  They suggest driving slowly at night and scanning roadsides to prevent you from crashing into a deer.

The Mayo Clinic will team up with a Rochester medical technology company to research treatments for service members exposed to airborne hazards in war zones.  The U.S. Department of Defense is giving a three-year, two-point-four-million-dollar grant for clinical laboratory research on the subject.  The Mayo Clinic will team with the Army's Medical Research Institute for Chemical Defense and Rion [[ RY-on ]], a company founded in 2017.  The research will mainly center on using technology developed by Rion to treat lung damage as well as pulmonary conditions like COPD.

 It was another successful elk hunt in Wisconsin. The state's Department of Natural Resources closed this year's hunt two weeks ago, after all four hunters hit their quota. Wisconsin picked four hunters for this year's hunt at random. They are from Cedarburg, Green Bay, Sparta and Mount Horeb. Wisconsin has allowed for limited elk hunting since 2018

Local-Regional News Nov 27

 The body of a missing Goodhue County man has been found.  The Goodhue County Sheriff's Office says the body of 57-year-old Brad Nagel was discovered on his property outside of Red Wing yesterday.  Searchers had been focusing their attention on parts of western Wisconsin after Nagel's truck was found earlier this month.  More information on Nagel's death is expected later today.

Those wanting to run for office in the spring election in Pierce County will be allowed to file the required paperwork starting on Friday.  This will include County Board Supervisior, town board, and school boards.  The Deadline to file is January 2nd.  The spring primary is set for February 20th with the spring election on April 2nd.  For more information, contact the Pierce County Clerk's Office.

The Pepin County 2022 Audit is now available.  The public is allowed to view the audit of the county's finances at the Finance/Personnel Office from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Fridays.   The county is required to make the audit available for public review per the single audit act of 1994.

The Wabasha Port Authority applied for and received a $2,545,297 grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD).   The project will allow for the Wabasha Port Authority to efficiently partner with the US Army Corps and Kohner Materials to remove dredged sand material off the river and keep the river navigable.  The grant will support the construction of the Wabasha Barge Facility on a vacant, 59-acre parcel on the far west-side of Wabasha, known as the “Carrel’s site”. The Wabasha Port Authority would own the project site and contract out the port operations and transportation of material.

Chi-Hi's robotics team took first place at UW-Stout's Make48 competition. Coach Everett Sarauer says the team had to come up with an idea, build a prototype, pitch it to experts, a lawyer, and finally a panel of judges, all within 48 hours. The team, named Boards 'n Bots, beat out five other regional teams at the Stout competition. In addition to the two thousand-dollars in prize money, each student won a thousand dollar scholarship. 

 It was a busy Sunday for firefighters in Tomah. Dozens of firefighters spent most of the day fighting a fire at a building in downtown Tomah. Tomah's fire chief says the fire started in an apartment above a local Chinese restaurant. It took 11 hours to fight the fire because of the building's design, and because of an effort to stop the fire from spreading. Ten people were displaced because of the fire, but there are no reports of any injuries.

Kids in Lake Holcombe are getting an extra day of Thanksgiving break because a tow truck crashed into their school. The school district says the tow truck hit the school early yesterday morning and broke a water main. Crews spent the day yesterday fixing the water main and cleaning the school. Lake Holcombe Schools hope to have kids back in the building tomorrow. 

 Wisconsin lawmakers are looking to make it illegal not to accept cash at most stores. An Assembly panel is holding a hearing on the idea tomorrow. The idea, supporters say, is to make sure that people who don't like to or don't carry cards with them can still buy what they need. The idea came after complaints that post-COVID, some places are no longer taking cash. 

The pre-sliced cantaloupe recall for salmonella is growing. The FDA on Friday added three more brands of whole and pre-cut cantaloupes to the recall list. Those include Rudy brand whole cantaloupes, Freshness Guaranteed brand, and RaceTrac brand pre-cut cantaloupes. The FDA already issued recalls for Malichita brand whole cantaloupe, Vinyard brand pre-cut cantaloupe, and ALDI whole cantaloupe and pre-cut fruit products. The FDA says nearly 100 people in 32 states, including here in Wisconsin, have gotten sick from eating the tainted fruit. 

The Mayo Clinic is celebrating the 60th anniversary of its first organ transplant.  Doctors at the Clinic conducted a kidney transplant from a living donor on November 25th, 1963.  Since then, the Clinic has performed more than 31-thousand transplant surgeries, including more than 16-thousand kidney transplants and nearly 21-hundred heart transplants.  Doctors say they are researching ways to improve organ health to reduce the need for multiple transplants.  They also encourage more people to sign up to be organ donors, saying the lack of willing donors is one of their biggest challenges.

Filling up your gas tank in Wisconsin is costing less this holiday weekend than last.  Triple-A reports the current average price in the state for regular gas was at $2.99 a gallon as of Wednesday. That compares to last year when gas prices averaged $3.32 a gallon.  Though gas prices are greater than the three-dollar-per-gallon mark in pockets of western and southwest Wisconsin and Door County, the rest of the state is hovering slightly above or below three dollars. Nationally, the gas price average is at $3.28 a gallon.

The former Minnesota police officer who was convicted of killing George Floyd has reportedly been stabbed in prison.  Derek Chauvin is serving over 20 years in federal prison for Floyd's murder in Minneapolis in 2020.  Sources tell the New York Times that Chauvin was seriously injured Friday after being stabbed by another inmate.  The Bureau of Prisons has confirmed an inmate was assaulted at the prison in Tucson where Chauvin is being held.  Bureau officials say the inmate was taken to a local hospital for treatment.  No details have been released on his condition. 

Wildlife rehabilitation experts say a bird rarely seen in Minnesota was surprisingly found just outside the Twin Cities.  Last weekend, a good samaritan rescued an ancient murrelet in Hastings after he noticed the bird was unable to fly.  He brought it to the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Minnesota in Roseville, where it later died.  In a social media post, the facility thanked the good samaritan for giving the bird the best chance it had rather than leaving it to suffer in the road.  They say it's the first time they've ever admitted an ancient murrelet.  According to the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union, the bird has only been spotted in the North Star State nine or ten times since 1905.

The Green Bay man known as “Uncle Fester” pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges against him.  The 15 counts against Stephen Preisler include manufacturing/delivering amphetamine, maintaining a drug trafficking place, and possession with intent to deliver cocaine. The 65-year-old Preisler has said in court that many of the items seized from his home were not the drugs authorities claim and asked for testing of those items. Preisler is known for books on how to make ricin, methamphetamine and other items under the “Uncle Fester” pseudonym.  His trial in Brown County Court is slated to begin on February 7th.

Wisconsinites are being reminded of mental health resources ahead of the holiday season. Governor Tony Evers and First Lady Kathy Evers say in a video that the holiday season can have its highs and lows -- but there are ways to get help. Confidential support is available 24-seven by texting or calling 9-8-8. Evers notes the 2023-2025 budget expands mental health care access for all Wisconsinites. 

Annual passes for Wisconsin state parks and forests are now being sold. The 2024 admission stickers give access to more than 60 state parks, forests, and recreation areas across the state. Vehicle admission stickers will be sold on the Wisconsin DNR's website at 28-dollars for residents, and trail passes will be 25-dollars. They are valid from the time they're purchased until December 31 of next year. 

Local-Regional News Nov 24

 The Durand-Arkansaw School District is waiting to see just how much library money they will get from the state. Wisconsin's Secretary of State this week said schools across the state will share 65 million-dollars from the Common School Fund. That's money from the sale of public lands that is specifically earmarked for school libraries. 

At the Capitol,  debate over eliminating work permits for younger teens. A bill from Assembly Republican Clint Moses of Menominee would eliminate them for kids ages 14 and 15.  Two years ago Governor Tony Evers vetoed a Republican bill that would have allowed 14 and 15 year-olds to work longer hours.    

There's been an arrest in Chippewa County's suitcase murder.  Officers in Gladstone, Missouri arrested Jose Dominguez Garcia early yesterday morning.  He's the main suspect in the killing of Rosaly "Cindy" Chavarria Rodriguez in Chippewa County.  She was pregnant at the time.  She disappeared from the Wisconsin Dells, and wasn't seen again until her remains were found in a suitcase near the town of Wheaton in Chippewa County.  Dominguez Garcia is waiting to be brought back to Wisconsin to face charges. 

A Wisconsin nonprofit focused on addressing homelessness will get one-point-two-five-million dollars from Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon. The Wisconsin Balance of State Continuum of Care says the Bezos Day One Family Fund gave them the money. The Wisconsin organization coordinates services for homeless shelters, focusing on helping families without a place to live. They service the Sojourner House, Western Dairyland, Family Promise, and other resource centers in the Chippewa Valley. The grant money will go to one of 21 regional coalitions.

A doctor will decide if a murder suspect in Jackson County is fit enough to go to trial.  A judge this week ordered a competency hearing for 50-year-old Star Myers.  She's facing charges in Jackson County after the sheriff says she shot and killed her boyfriend for sleeping around.  She's been charged with homicide and a half-dozen other charges.  Myers originally reported her boyfriend missing, but deputies say they later discovered she's the reason why he went missing. 

 We are waiting for more details about a Thanksgiving Day stabbing that sent a Sparta man to the hospital. Police say they responded to a 911 call and found 44-year-old George Solis of Tomah inside a house on Main Street in Sparta yesterday afternoon. They also found a stabbing victim in the house.  Officers say that man is now fighting for his life.  Investigators are not saying how the two knew each other, or what led up to the stabbing.

The end of Thanksgiving Day marked the start of the holiday season in Chippewa Falls.  Christmas Village in Irvine Park opened last night.  The park's lights will shine each night until January 1st.  This is the 36th year for the Christmas Village, and this year there is a new mailbox for kids to send their letters to Santa.  Admission is free, but donations to Christmas Village are always welcome. 

Olmsted County is giving a mental health treatment center until Monday to relocate all of their residential clients.  The county sheriff's office announced Wednesday that the lodging license for the Oakridge Treatment Center has been revoked.  A statement from the sheriff's office indicated that the center has failed to remedy concerns about the safety and well-being of those using the facility and the surrounding community.  The drug and mental health treatment center was declared a public health nuisance by the county's Public Health Services Advisory Board earlier this month.

The state's Public Service Commission earlier this week approved a two-and-a-half percent rate hike for We Energies.  That comes on top of last year's eleven-percent increase.  PSC chairwoman Rebecca Cameron Valcq says the Commission will be looking at affordability if and when We Energies comes back for its next rate increase.  Cameron Valq says commissioners will be taking a closer look at utilities across the state, their transition to green energy, and how that impacts customers' bills. 

Wisconsin's governor is asking people across the state to shop small this holiday season.  Governor Tony Evers says Shop Small Wisconsin is a reminder that small businesses across the state have a lot to offer.  The governor says by shopping locally at small businesses, the money you spend stays in the community and goes further.  The official Shop Small Wisconsin effort kicks off tomorrow, with Small Business Saturday.   Locally, Durand Dazzle Day is tomorrow and many of the small businesses in town will have specials, there will be activities downtown and at Durand-Arkansaw High School with the Holiday Parade Downtown at 6pm.

As the end of the year approaches, the IRS says they're expecting an increase in phony calls about having to pay your taxes. Spokesman Christopher Miller says false claims that you need to pay taxes over the phone are just one of the many scams that are reported.  Miller reminds you that the IRS will never call and demand payment over the phone, and they aren't going to send the sheriff's department to your house. If you get a threatening call, just hang up.

The president and Chief Operating Officer at Kohl’s has left the Menomonee Falls-based retailer.  The announcement regarding Dave Alves came eight months after he joined the company, and just one day before Kohl's reported a net sales decrease of 5.2 percent in the third quarter compared to the same period last year, fueled primarily by a drop in digital sales. Alves had served in his role since April and reported to Chief Executive Officer Tom Kingsbury, who assumed his role in February after serving as interim CEO since December 2022. A spokesperson said in a statement that Alves left "to pursue other opportunities." 

Eighty-two more pardons have been granted in Wisconsin by Governor Tony Evers. The Wisconsin Constitution gives the Governor the right to pardon those convicted of a crime as an official act of forgiveness. Pardoned people are also given rights released felons are not, including the rights to hold public office and serve on a jury. Governor Evers' total number of pardons is now one-thousand-111. 

Some gravy sold at Hy-Vee has been recalled, just before Thanksgiving dinner. The Iowa-based grocery store chain says in a press release that some improperly labeled twelve ounce jars of beef gravy have been mislabeled with turkey gravy labels. The mislabeled beef gravy has a soy allergen that could cause a life-threatening reaction if eaten by someone allergic. As of Thanksgiving morning, less than one-percent of the product is affected.  There aren't any reports of illnesses related to the gravy.

The five finalists for the new Minnesota State Seal have been chosen.  Four of the designs feature variations of a north star, one features the state bird, the loon.  All of the entries for new state seal and flag are on the Minnesota Historical Society website.

It looks like many Minnesotans made creamy pumpkin spice bars for Thanksgiving.  That's according to a report by Pillsbury.  The company analyzes its top searched Thanksgiving recipes by state and says creamy pumpkin spice bars took the top spot in Minnesota.  The dish is made with sugar cookie dough, canned pumpkin, and whipping cream.  Across the Midwest, the most searched recipes included pumpkin and ginger flavors

Local-Regional News Nov 23

Recently, Dunn County has tested nearly  1000 water wells for water quality.  According to a report from the county 14 town hall water wells tested positive for Pfas while 128 private wells had arsenic, 113 showed nitrate concentrations at or above the limits considered safe and 50 wells had unhealthy levels of manganese.  Everyone whose wells were tested received information on the testing and those whose wells were flagged for having unhealthy water received information on the Wisconsin DNR's water conservation program, which provides financial assistance to those with contaminated wells.

Pepin County is once again partnering with the Salvation Army to raise money through the Red Kettle program.  Pepin County Chief Deputy Matt Roesler says that 80 percent of the money raised stays in Pepin County.  Red Kettles are usually set up at Durand Fresh Market along with other locations in Pepin and during special events in the county.  This year Roesler is hoping to have kettles set up during the Durand Holidazzle Parade.

 Xcel Energy is blaming a squirrel for yesterday's power outage on Eau Claire's south side. It happened yesterday morning. Crews say the squirrel 'came into contact' with equipment at a substation. The outage left about 43-hundred people in the dark, but also knocked out the lights to some major stores like Target, Walmart, and the Oak Wood Mall. 

Xcel Energy says an equipment issue has shut down the Prairie Island nuclear plant near Red Wing.  The Star Tribune reports the outage hasn't affect electric service, but it could drive up fuel costs on customers' monthly bills.  Xcel spokesman Kevin Coss says one of two units at the plant shut itself off on October 19th.  That happened shortly after the second unit was powered down for refueling and maintenance.  Coss said "all power plants experience outages from time to time, and Prairie Island is no different."  The electricity-generating units are expected to be back up and running by January.  

A search involving agencies from Minnesota and Wisconsin continues to look for a missing Goodhue County man. Brad Nagel has not been seen since last Wednesday. The 57-year-old Nagel's truck was found Sunday near a boat landing on the Wisconsin Channel. His cell phone record shows Nagel was pinged close to the landing Wednesday night. Water and drone patrols have been conducted on the Mississippi River in the area, but these have turned up no clues.   The Pierce County Sheriff's Department is joining in the search for Nagel this weekend.  Anyone with information on Nagel's whereabouts should contact the Goodhue County Sheriff's Office at 651-385-3155.

Olmsted County is renewing an effort to create more affordable housing.  The county's Housing and Redevelopment Authority approved new guidelines for the Growing Affordable Inclusive Neighborhoods program Tuesday.  The program was launched in 2021, using American Rescue Plan Act funding to offer down-payment assistance loans.  The idea only generated one project, so now it's being retooled.  The program will focus more on builders and developers, in hopes of creating more homes that cost less than 350-thousand dollars. 

A Winona County dairy farm will not be allowed to expand after a decision by a county judge earlier this week.  The judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by members of the Daley family, which has operated the farm near Lewiston for more than 150 years.  The family filed a lawsuit against the county after it denied a variance to expand the farm to support around 45-hundred cows.  An attorney for the family says they are disappointed with the decision and plan to appeal.

 The latest challenge to Wisconsin's wolf management plan accuses the Department of Natural Resources of giving hunters, trappers, and farmers too much say. The animal rights group, The Great Lakes Wildlife Alliance, filed a lawsuit this week. The suit accuses the DNR of having private meetings with hunting groups and farmers, and giving too much emphasis to their wants and wishes with the new wolf plan. They are also claiming open meetings act violations. Wisconsin's new wolf plan all but eliminates wolf hunting in the state, but the Wildlife Alliance says it overplays the dangers of a restored wolf population in the state. 

Minnesota is one of several Canadian Border States preparing for border crossings by wild pigs.  The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is taking public comment on its website through November 28th, and is working with other state agencies to develop a plan to stop the spread of the feral pigs into Minnesota.  The University of Saskatewan says wild pig distribution in Canada has reached the invasive species range.  

A couple firearm incidents from gun deer hunting activity in Wisconsin led to injuries. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources reports that a 53-year-old man was adjusting his rifle sling while walking to his tree stand when he accidentally pulled the trigger and shot himself in the foot Saturday morning in the Forest County town of Argonne. The man was sent to a nearby hospital and treated for his gunshot wound.  The following morning in the Adams County town of Big Flatts, a 62-year-old man shot at a dog he believed was an antlerless deer on private property. The man’s bullet hit a 47-year-old woman who was walking the dog in the abdomen.  The wounded woman was transported by way of Med Flight to a hospital.  The DNR is still investigating that incident.

 A proposal giving more leeway to prosecutors seeking sexual assault charges has been resurrected. Republican Senator Andre Jacque introduced the bill, extending the statute of limitations from ten years to 20. The lawmaker says the 20-year-limit has been enacted in other states and was approved in the Wisconsin Senate last year - but stalled in the Assembly.    

Cantaloupes sold in Wisconsin are linked to salmonella infections. The Wisconsin Department of Health says four people in four counties at minimum have gotten salmonella. Two of them had to be hospitalized. Some whole fresh cantaloupes sold between October 16 and 23, and ALDI cantaloupe and pineapple spears with best buy dates between October 27 and 31 are recalled. The department of health says any of the fruit, including any frozen for future use, should be thrown out. 

Victims of the 2021 Waukesha Christmas Parade Attack were remembered Tuesday.  The city dedicated a memorial on Main Street to remember the six people killed and dozens hurt when an SUV was driven into the parade route two years earlier.  A fundraiser to help pay for the memorial is selling customized clay tiles that will be incorporated into a larger parade memorial to be dedicated next November.

The Minnesota State Patrol will be increasing patrols to help catch drunk and impaired drivers during the holiday season.  The agency announced an increased enforcement effort yesterday that will last through New Year's Eve.  More than 300 law enforcement agencies around the state will be part of the effort.  Officials are asking Minnesotans to avoid driving and arrange for rides home if they plan to drink or use cannabis during the holiday season.

 An Eau Claire bride-to-be will never forget her proposal, and she has some police body cam footage to remember it by. Eau Claire Police helped with a proposal yesterday. Officers pulled Troy Goldschmidt over near the Pablo Center. As they were getting to handcuff him, he dropped to a knee and pulled out a ring. He asked his fiance, Moriah Prichard, to marry him. Goldschmidt says he got the idea after Moriah lost her phone in Eau Claire a few months ago, and one of the officers involved in the proposal helped her track it down. You can watch the whole thing on the Eau Claire PD's social media pages.

Local-Regional News Nov 22

 The Durand-Arkansaw School District is now accepting bids for the five-acre parcel on Marilyn and Grant Streets, also known as Hansen Park.  The District will accept bids on the parcel through January 8th.  Bids must include an outline of the anticipated use of the property and the district will reserve the right to refuse any and all bids.  The property was returned to the District earlier this year after the city of Durand decided it was not going to use the property for a park.

Firefighters from Alma, Nelson, Tri-Community, Waumandee, and Mondovi responded to a fire at a grain bin /grain dryer fire yesterday.  Firefighters were called to the farm on Hwy N yesterday morning and found the fire and it was also close to propane tanks that are used for the grain dryer.  There were no reports of injuries and the cause of that fire is still under investigation.

The Durand Police Department has a new member.  Yesterday the department introduced Sam, a Labradoodle who will be the department's therapy dog.  The therapy dog program has been completely funded with community donations and Sam was donated by Blueberry Cottage Labradoodles.  After a year of training and certification, Sam will help officers, victims, emergency responders and others during emergencies and other extreme events.  

Wisconsin's latest bird flu case is in Trempealeau County. The state's Department of Agriculture yesterday said a commercial flock in the county tested positive for the flu. DATCP says over 51 thousand birds will be destroyed to try to contain the flu. Wisconsin's only other bird flu case this year was in a flock of backyard chickens. Five birds in Taylor County were infected there. 

The Chippewa Falls Police Chief says he will be resigning from the force. In a letter sent by Matt Kelm to the Chippewa Falls Mayor, he says he expects to leave after February 16, giving a 90-day notice. Kelm has been the police chief for seven years, and it is unknown what he will be doing next. 

The search for a missing Goodhue County man is focusing on an area of the Mississippi River near Red Wing.  Water patrols were conducted by members of law enforcement on both sides of the river yesterday.  Searchers are trying to find Brad Nagel, who has been missing since last week.  Authorities say Nagel's truck was found underwater about 40 yards from a boat landing on the Wisconsin Channel.  The search of the area where the truck was found will continue today.

Shane Helmbrecht may once again be looking at homicide charges when he returns to Eau Claire. Prosecutors in Eau Claire this week said they are looking to resume their case against Helmbrecht, after police say he killed his neighbor back in 2016. Helmbrecht was originally found unfit for trial in the case, but that decision is under review after he fled from a halfway house in Sparta back in September. Authorities in New Mexico arrested Helmbrecht on Sunday. He's in jail in Chicago, waiting to be brought back to Eau Claire to face charges here.

Deer hunters in Wisconsin didn't get nearly as many deer this year. The state's Department of Natural Resources yesterday said hunters took 10 thousand fewer deer than during the opening weekend of gun season last year. This year's harvest stands at just over 92 thousand deer. That's compared to over 103 thousand last year. The DNR is blaming the weather and a decrease in the number of antlerless deer. The second weekend of gun deer season in the state ends on Sunday. 

Democratic lawmakers in Wisconsin are pushing what they are calling 'health herd' deer hunting laws. A number of Democrats yesterday introduced plans that would spend millions of dollars on CWD prevention. The first would use two million-dollars to better research CWD testing. The other would spend another two million-dollars to help get rid of deer carcasses across the state. State Rep. Katrina Shankland says hunting is a way of life in Wisconsin, and says a healthy deer population is key to keeping that going. 

The state panel discussing a new design for the Minnesota state flag and seal has narrowed thousands of submissions to a small group of finalists.  The Emblems Redesign Commission spent several hours debating the choices yesterday before selecting six flag designs for final consideration.  The commission also narrowed the field for a new state seal to five finalists.  The panel plans to accept public comments on each of the designs before making its final choice for a flag and seal next month.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday on a case challenging the state’s current legislative maps.   The topic considered by the court Tuesday involved "islands," or small areas disconnected from the rest of their legislative districts.  Opponents say the “islands” violate the Wisconsin Constitution, which requires districts be of "contiguous territory," while conservatives say they have been in approved Wisconsin legislative maps for years, adding that the state maps have had them because municipal maps have had them.

Public school libraries across the state will be getting a financial boost in 2024.  The Common School Fund, which the state’s Board of Commissioners of Public Lands oversees, will distribute $65 million to allow library staff to purchase new books, technology, and education materials.  The distribution from the Common School Fund is a 25% increase from 2023.

Animal health experts are warning dog owners about a new illness.  There haven't been any confirmed cases of this mystery respiratory illness in Wisconsin – yet - but it has shown up in Illinois.  Veterinarians aren't sure what is causing it, but the good news is that it doesn't seem to have a high fatality rate in healthy dogs, but older dogs and those with pre-existing conditions are obviously at a higher risk for death.  In the majority of cases, dogs have symptoms such as a cough, runny nose, trouble breathing, and being overly tired. You might want to steer clear of busy dog parks for the time being and also, make sure your pup is up to date on vaccinations.

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation has advice if you’re hitting the road for the Thanksgiving holiday.  The DOT is urging Thanksgiving travelers to watch their speed, focus on the road and expect many other motorists on major highways this week. According to AAA more than 960,000 Wisconsinites will be driving this weekend. Anticipated peak travel times are Wednesday from 2:00 to 6:00 pm, Thursday 11:00 am to 3:00 pm,  Friday 12:00 to 4:00 pm and Saturday and Sunday from 3:00 to 5:00 pm. Motorists can visit 511.WI.gov for real-time information on travel conditions including live traffic cams, construction and detours. 

Annual passes for Wisconsin state parks and forests will be on sale later this week. The 2024 admission stickers will be available starting Black Friday, and will give recipients access to more than 60 state parks, forests, and recreation areas across the state. Vehicle admission stickers will be sold on the Wisconsin DNR's website at 28-dollars for residents, and trail passes will be 25-dollars. They will be valid from the time they're purchased until December 31 of next year. 

A book checked out of a Minnesota library more than a century ago has finally been returned.  A Hennepin County resident found a book called "Famous Composers" while looking through a relative's property.  The book had been checked out of the St. Paul Public Library in 1919 and never returned.  The library did away with late fees in 2019, but a spokesperson estimates the fine for a book missing for that long could be about 36-thousand dollars.  The book won't go back into circulation, but is likely to be kept by the library as a historic artifact.

Local-Regional News Nov 21

 Police in Menomonie are looking for a number of men who they say robbed the ATM at WESTconsin Credit Union. It happened about 1 a.m. Monday morning. Police say multiple men pulled up, broke into the machine, and took some cash. The credit union says there was no personal information in the machine. Yesterday, the credit union said it was working to get the ATM back online. Police are looking through surveillance video to see if they can identify some suspects. 

Dollar General is getting in trouble again for charging too much. Wisconsin's Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection yesterday said the company agreed to pay 800 thousand dollars to shoppers throughout the state. DATCP says it looked at prices in 238 different Dollar General stores in January and February and found that hundreds of them rang up higher than the price on the shelf. On average, the state says, Dollar General charged 17 percent more than advertised. The company paid over 10 thousand dollars back to customers in 2018 after being hit with a similar complaint. 

The Pepin County Health Department wants the public to know that free in-home covid 19 tests are now available.  The U.S. government is offering to send another round of four at-home virus tests ahead of the typical surge in cases during the winter holiday season.  Anyone who did not order a batch of four COVID-19 tests in September can secure up to eight of them this time around at COVIDtests.gov. The U.S. Postal Service will deliver them for free.  For more information contact the Pepin County Health Department.

Lawyers for the teenager accused of beating, raping, and killing 10-year-old Lily Peters have more than two dozen reasons why he says the case should be tried in juvenile court. New court documents show the suspect's lawyers believe he will be better served by a trial in juvenile court and a sentence in juvenile detention. The teen, who was 14-years-old when police say he allegedly killed Peters last year, is waiting to go on trial. The decision about juvenile or adult court is just the first step. That decision is due before January.

A Wisconsin fugitive is in custody after being located in Mexico.  Eau Claire area media report that the sheriff's office has confirmed that Shane Helmbrecht was detained over the weekend and was being held in the Cook County jail in Chicago, awaiting extradition to Eau Claire. Helmbrecht is charged with first-degree intentional homicide for the 2016 death of Jenn Ward in her Eau Claire home. He went missing from a halfway house in Tomah in September. He was found in New Mexico, but police at that time had no grounds to hold him. A judge then ordered him to return to Eau Claire County, but he failed to do so.

A bi-partisan bill that is awaiting Governor Tony Evers’ signature aims to preserve farmland.  The bill lowers the length of time for a farmland preservation agreement from 15 years to 10 years. It would also increase various farmland preservation tax credits.  It essentially allows farmers to keep farming. Senator Patrick Testin (R-Stevens Point) says over the years Wisconsin farmers have lost lots nearly one million acres of farmland not a lot of people have been talking about it until now.  The bill is set to be sent to Gov. Ever’s desk on Nov. 30.

 Wisconsin's governor is once again saying 'No' to a tax cut from Republican lawmakers. Governor Evers yesterday vetoed the proposed two billion-dollar tax cut, calling it an unserious plan. Republican lawmakers want to use Wisconsin's record, nearly seven billion-dollar budget surplus to pay for the tax cut. The governor says he'd rather spend the surplus on child care, a Medicaid expansion, and other programs. This is the second time the governor has scuttled a Republican tax cut this year. He vetoed a three billion-dollar tax cut out of the state budget over the summer. 

Wisconsin's Supreme Court will hear arguments to redraw the state's political maps today. A number of Democrats and progressive groups in the state want the new liberal-majority Supreme Court to toss out the current maps because they favor Republicans. The maps, they say, are gerrymandered and unfair. Republican lawmakers say the request goes too far because it would also undue the 2022 elections for State Senate, and force more than a dozen lawmakers to run again next fall. The case is being closely watched, not just because Wisconsin is a swing state, but because newly elected Justice Janet Protasiewicz faced calls to recuse herself because of what she said about the maps during last year's supreme court election. 

Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport said the Thanksgiving holiday could be their busiest travel season in four years.  On Wednesday and Sunday, it's projected that 38 to 40 thousand people will be at the MSP airport.  Officials say to arrive at the airport early to get to the gates on time.  Authorities also say there will be a cell phone lot on Post Road where people can pick up their loved ones.  Triple A estimates about 4-point-7 million will travel by plane for Thanksgiving. 

It's a supply-versus-demand situation with broadband in Wisconsin. The state’s Public Service Commission says demand for the expansion of broadband in Wisconsin far exceeds the $42 million that’s available for the state’s Broadband Infrastructure grant program.  The commission says 125 applications for that program requested an overall total of more than $221 million.   In his state budget, Governor Tony Evers requested $750 million for broadband expansion, but the state Legislature turned that amount down over the summer.

Funds to help the mental health of veterans around Wisconsin are announced.   The Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs says just over $470,000 of aid will be sent to several organizations through two Veteran Mental Health grant programs.  The grants are part of Governor Tony Evers’ $10 million investment in veteran services, funded through the American Rescue Plan Act.  The first program will directly offset the costs for individual veterans receiving emergency and crisis mental health treatment through resources in Kenosha, Waunakee and Washington County; while a second will fund long-term and complementary mental health treatment for veterans through five resources around the state.  The state veterans’ agency says they will announce a second round of ARPA-funded Veteran Mental Health grants in the coming weeks.

A legislative task force hopes to get a handle on truancy in Wisconsin.  Representative Amy Binsflied chairs the Speaker’s Task Force on Truancy. The Sheboygan Republican said there are multiple areas that can be addressed. But first and foremost, and that truancy is disadvantaging some children from learning what they could. The task force has held hearings in Madison, Milwaukee and Crivitz, and will meet once more at the Capitol on December 5. Binsfield is hopeful the bipartisan panel can make recommendations that are applicable statewide, without "tying the hands" of local school districts.

Wisconsin has its first case of bird flu for 2023.   The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection reported Friday their identification of a case of highly pathogenic avian influenza in a backyard flock in Taylor County.  The bird flu infection is the state’s first since November 7th of last year. Over the past month, Iowa, Michigan, and Minnesota have announced new cases of avian flu in domestic flocks. The state agency is encouraging flock owners to engage in strong biosecurity measures to keep their birds from getting the virus.

Minnesotans this past week took to social media to comment about a manure-like odor that covered a lot of the state. Melissa Wilson is an associate professor at the University of Minnesota, and specializes in manure nutrient management and water quality-she says it's a common issue that she detects nearly every fall. Farmers lay out fertilizer on their fields ahead of winter, but recent cold weather, followed by warmer than normal conditions can create the odor. Wilson adds the fertilization process is about recycling nutrients back into the ground for crop production next year.

Don't drive drunk. And especially don't drive drunk to the county jail to bail-out your friend who was just arrested for drunk driving. Authorities in Washburn County say a local man learned that lesson the hard way Saturday night. The State Patrol arrested 36-year-old Anthony Koprowski in the jail parking lot for OWI after jail staff said he looked drunk. Koprowski was there to pick-up a friend who'd been arrested for drunk driving earlier that night. Police say Koprowski also had a six-year-old child in the car. He was taken to jail, and the six-year-old was given to a sober family member. 

Local=Regional News Nov 20

  A truck that belongs to a missing Goodhue County man has been found by investigators.  The Goodhue County Sheriff's Office has been searching for 57-year-old Brad Nagel since Wednesday.  The sheriff's office announced on social media that Nagel's truck has been found but said that he is still missing.  Investigators did not say where the truck was found, though Nagel was thought to be in the Diamond Bluff-Hager City area last week.

One of the western Wisconsin Girl Scouts hurt in a wreck back in 2018 has settled with the man who ran her down. A judge in Chippewa Falls last week signed-off on a settlement between Madalyn Zwiefelhofer's [[ zwhy-fell-hoffer's ]] family and Colten Treu, along with his insurance company and several local businesses. Madalyn was with the Girl Scouts that Treu hit while he was driving high near Lake Hallie. She was seriously hurt, three other girls were killed. Her family says the settlement will help with the mounting medical expenses since the crash. Treu is serving a 54-year sentence for the crash. 

The Dunn County Sheriff's Department has released the name of the victim of a vehicle accident last Monday.  According the the department, 70yr old Debra Bice of Elk Mound was killed when she failed to yield to an eastbound semi on Hwy 29 while attempting to turn onto 970th Street.  After impact, both vehicles went off the road, down a steep embankment, and struck several trees.

One person is dead after a two vehicle accident on I-94 near Baldwin on Friday.  According to the Wisconsin State Patrol, troopers responded to a vehicle driving westbound on the eastbound side of I-94 near milepost 19.  The vehicle continued driving the wrong way until colliding with an eastbound semi driven by 59yr old Stephan Halicki of Coon Rapids, MN.  The driver of the vehicle, 26yr old Rylee Greene of Hammond was killed in the accident.  That Accident remains under investigation.

A new passenger train through Wisconsin will connect Chicago, Milwaukee, and the Twin Cities in 2024. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation says the new service will run through the Wisconsin Dells and Portage, with connecting busses to Madison and Eau Claire as well. The new train will aslo stop in Red Wing.  The DOT is partnering with the Federal Railroad Administration, Amtrak, and railroads for the service expansions. There will be both morning and mid-day departures from Chicago and St. Paul.

The Wabasha County Board is meeting tomorrow.  Items on the agenda include approving a clarification on the aggregate tax ordinance, discussion and possible action on the 2024 aquatic invasive species management plan and response, and consideration of a contribution for the expansion of broadband in the county.  Tomorrow's meeting begins at 9am in the board room at the Wabasha County Government Center.

 

A man has been sentenced for attacking Minnesota Congresswoman Angie Craig in Washington, D.C. earlier this year.  A federal judge gave 27-year-old Kendrid Hamlin over two years behind bars followed by three years on supervised release.  The judge also recommended Hamlin be placed in a federal medical center, so he can get treatment for mental health and substance abuse issues.  Hamlin assaulted the Democrat in the elevator of her apartment, punching her in the face and grabbing her neck until she managed to escape him.  

The body of a missing Minnesota man is recovered from a northwest Wisconsin lake after a long search.   The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office says the body of 27-year-old Andrew DeRock was pulled from the Minong Flowage Wednesday after DeRock and 27-year-old Ryan Busch were reported missing since October 28th after a reported canoeing incident.  A week earlier, searchers recovered the body of Busch from the lake.  Both men were from New Ulm, Minnesota.  The weather, cold water temperatures, and such natural obstacles as submerged stumps and natural foliage affected efforts in the 18-day search for the two men.

Wisconsin's AI Task Force will be looking at AI equity today. Governor Evers' task force is set to meet again today. The governor wants the task force to look at how best to use AI for the state's workforce, which includes a focus on equity and economic opportunity. The governor's AI Task Force is slightly different from the task force of Assembly Speaker Robin Vos. That task force is also looking at the dangers of AI in Wisconsin. 

 The University of Minnesota is launching a Cannabis Research Center following the legalization of recreational marijuana in the state.  The school says the center will look at how adults will be impacted by using the substance and will help inform future marijuana policies and practices.  Dean Timothy Beebe, School of Public Health Interim, says they will first look at gathering staff and faculty members with expertise.  At the last legislative session, a two point five annual appropriation was passed by lawmakers to help launch the building.      

 Underage tobacco and vape sales are rising in Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Department of Health Service says underage sales of tobacco products increased from eleven-point-nine percent in 2022 to 13-point-six percent this year. On average, underage sales increased by 140-percent since 2019. The DHS says tobacco use causes almost eight-thousand deaths, 3-billion in health care expenses, and more than five-point-six billion in lost economic productivity every year. 

Governor Tony Evers approves pay increases for some state employees, while others remain in limbo.  The Democratic governor on Thursday signed bills giving raises to State Patrol troopers inspectors, and employees in the building trades craft collective bargaining unit. Evers also noted that already approved pay hikes for some 35,000 Universities of Wisconsin employees are still being held up by Republicans. A joint committee led by Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and Senate President Chris Kapenga has withheld the UW raises, as Vos continues to oppose diversity, equity, and inclusion programs on the campuses. 

Wisconsin's biggest business group is weighing in on the court fight over school choice in the state.  Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce this week filed a brief with the Wisconsin Supreme Court, asking the court to reject the lawsuit that seeks to end school choice and school vouchers in Wisconsin.  WMC says thousands of families across the state will be 'devastated' if school choice comes to an end.  The group is also arguing that any challenge should first go to a local court, and not directly to the new liberal-majority state supreme court.  Activist and progressive candidate Kirk Bagnstad filed the lawsuit, which claims school choice hurts Wisconsin's traditional public schools and is unconstitutional.

A march by neo-Nazis outside the State Capitol on Saturday is drawing condemnation from local and state leaders.  Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway, Governor Tony Evers, and UW-Madison Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin all blasted the demonstration.  About two-dozen people dressed in red and black, a few carrying flags with swastikas, walked up State Street to the Capitol before heading to James Madison Park between noon and 2 p.m.  Madison Police officers kept watch on the group and said none displayed any weapons.  

Flags on public buildings across Wisconsin will fly at half-staff Tuesday, in memory of the people who were killed in the Waukesha Christmas Parade attack two years ago.  A man drove an SUV through the parade on November 21st, 2021, killing six people and injuring 62 others.  He's serving six consecutive life sentences.

Local-Regional News Nov 17

 The Dunn County Board of Supervisors have approved the 2024 budget, which will lower county property taxes on a typical home by 26%.  According to a press release, county officials said for 2024, the owner of a house valued at $150,000 will pay $745.44 in property taxes for county purposes, down from the 2023 tax bill of $939.15. The mill rate was set at $4.97 per $1,000 of property value, down 26% from last year. 

The Construction on Main Street in Wabasha is wrapping up for the season as the new sewer and water lines are all installed.  However, the project isn’t completely over yet! The final layer of asphalt on Main Street will not go on until next spring when the weather warms up again.  Due to supply chain delays, the lights will go in mid-December.  In the meantime, the City encourages residents to use caution by the step up to the curb on Main Street, until spring when the final course is added.

Eau Claire County is discontinuing the system it uses to alert residents to emergencies.  Known as RAVE, county officials say they're shutting down the system after the first of the year because of its cost, which totals almost 36-hundred dollars a year. Plus, they say fewer people have been signing up for RAVE They say they'll alert residents by working with state emergency management officials to alert residents of any emergencies in an area, such as a train derailment or hazardous materials incident.  

 Eau Claire residents can expect to see an increase in their monthly water bills, beginning next year.  The city council this week approved an eight percent increase in water usage bills.  City officials blamed the increase on rising costs for electricity, chemicals and transportation in providing water for residents.  The city is also building a 20-million dollar treatment facility for PFAs -- the so-called forever chemicals that are hazardous to people's health.  The city is looking for grants that can help offset the cost of the facility. 

Wisconsin's governor took the spat over DEI money at the University of Wisconsin to the campus in Eau Claire yesterday. Governor Evers toured the medical lab at the university and once again pressed Republican lawmakers to release the 32 million that's being held at the Capitol until the university changes its policy on diversity, equity, and inclusion. The governor said the University of Wisconsin will not get better with less money. He says the school needs that money to continue to teach the next generation of people in Wisconsin. 

There is a plan at the Wisconsin Capitol to give folks from Wisconsin first dibs on campground spots. Senator Howard Marklein introduced the idea this week. He wants to create a two-week window for Wisconsinites to book campgrounds, then open-up registration to everyone. Currently, the DNR opens campground reservations 11 months ahead of time, and it is a first-come first-served basis. Marklein says that leads to a mad scramble, and sometimes people or groups from Wisconsin miss out on the best spots. 

 Wisconsin's Right to Garden plan is a step closer to becoming law. An Assembly committee this week approved the plan which would stop local governments from banning vegetable or flower gardens. State Rep. Shae Sortwell is pushing the plan. He says leaders in his hometown of Two Rivers okayed a local ban on gardens. He says people have the right to grow their own food, and he says local governments should not be getting in the way. The Right to Garden legislation now heads for a vote in front of the full legislature. 

 The flu, COVID, and RSV virus are on the rise in Wisconsin.  The Wisconsin Department of Health Services most recent Respiratory Virus Surveillance Report says the state is seeing an increase in hospitalizations for children with RSV. The department says influenza and COVID vaccines are in good supply, but national RSV treatments for infants are still affecting Wisconsin. 

The Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council is handing out grants to more than four-dozen applicants to help fund their operations and performances.  The grants announced this week will go to organizations in 11 southeastern counties and average between five and ten-thousand dollars each.  Grants were awarded for a variety of projects involving music, dance and painting.  The total amount of the grants adds up to just under 335-thousand dollars. 

A bill requiring the DNR to set a statewide population goal in its wolf management plan has passed a committee vote at the Capitol.  The Assembly Sporting Heritage Committee voted 7-4 along party lines on Wednesday. The Natural Resources Board last month approved a plan that eliminated the decades old 350-wolf goal in favor of zone based management with no specific population goal. Hunting and agriculture groups were opposed. State law requires an annual wolf hunt, but for now wolves remain on the federal endangered species list. The Senate passed the bill 22-10 along party lines last month.  

 A report released this week shows that the state agency responsible for overseeing Minnesota's Senior Nutrition Program isn't doing much oversight.  The Office of the Legislative Auditor says the Minnesota Board on Aging hasn't been doing many mandated compliance checks since 2017.  While the audit doesn't claim there are outstanding problems, the legislative auditor says the lack of oversight leaves the program vulnerable to fraud and exploitation.  The head of the Board on Aging told state lawmakers yesterday that his agency is working on improving its internal controls and coming into compliance with state and federal guidelines.

Target is reporting higher-than-expected revenue and earnings for the third quarter of this year.  The Minneapolis-based company reported earnings-per-share of two-dollars and ten-cents yesterday, more than 60-cents higher than anticipated.  The company's total revenue was 25-point-four billion, which was slightly higher than expected.  The news wasn't all good, as total revenue and sales were both down from the same quarter last year.  The company's chief financial officer says Target is "laser-focused" on improving sales and in-store traffic, though he says those goals are unlikely to be met this year. 

The Department of Natural Resources says this year's bear harvest was down because of a quirk of nature.  Large carnivore specialist Randy Johnson says hunters harvested about 25 percent fewer bears this year, likely because oak trees across many hunting regions put out a bumper crop of acorns. Johnson says that likely kept bears away from bait stations and out of the sight of hunters. Over 12 thousand licenses were issued to hunters, and about 23 percent of those tags were filled.

A Wisconsin man is recovering after a deer's smashed through his windshield.  Robert Fleuchaus says he was driving on I-43 last week doing about 75 miles an hour when the deer ran right into traffic.  The deer's body split in half after being hit by Fleuchaus and a box truck driving beside him.  Fleuchaus says all the windows shattered and the deer's head just landed on the seat next to him.  He says he's glad no one was in the passenger seat.  Wisconsin State Patrol says there have been over 23-hundred deer-related crashes in southeastern Wisconsin this year.

Local-Regional News Nov 16

  A Wisconsin hunter is not expected to face any charges after shooting and killing a cougar in Buffalo County.  State Department of Natural Resources officials say the it happened this past weekend when the unidentified man was hunting deer.  The hunter is said to have shot the cougar, which is a protected species in Wisconsin, because he was concerned for his safety.  He then reported the deadly shooting to DNR officials.  

Menomonie Fire Department announced over 30 "Stop the Bleed" kits will be going out to Menomonie District Schools.  These kits contain medical equipment used to stop someone from profusely bleeding. Each school will have a kit mounted to the wall, as well as a mass incident bag stored somewhere else. Freshmen at Menomonie schools will take a 'Stop the Bleed' course as part of their health unit where the fire department will teach them how to use the equipment.   They plan on installing the kits over winter break.

The Cairn House in Menomonie is ready to serve those experiencing homelessness in Dunn County.  Because of a long waiting list, the shelter is already full to capacity.  In the meantime,  those at the shelter can stay between four to eight weeks, with a possibility of staying a little extra time for any arrangements that need to be made. The Cairn House is the only general homeless shelter in the entire county according to Heidi Hooten, manager of the shelter.  The shelter was built at a cost of $1.5 million

Marshfield Clinic Health System is making big cuts as they struggles financially. Among them, are major pay cuts for upper-level management.   The changes were laid out in an email sent to all employees Wednesday. Starting yet this year, senior-level leadership, which includes the CEO, all chiefs, presidents and VP's, will have their pay decreased by 15%. Directors' pay is going down 10%.  The email said these changes will help the company "advance [its] financial turnaround strategy."  In March, Marshfield announced they were laying of 3% of their employee base, impacting 346 of their 12,000-employee workforce. 

  More than 120 applications were received for rural broadband infrastructure funding in Wisconsin. The applications for the Broadband Infrastructure Grant Program requested a total of more than 221-million dollars, but only about 42-million will be awarded. The ratio of requested funding to available funding is the highest since the first round of applications in 2014. Grant money will go toward projects aiming to provide high-quality internet in locations without adequate or affordable service options. 

Our neighbors to the south felt the earth move Wednesday morning.  The US Geological Survey says a magnitude 3.6 earthquake rattled parts of northern Illinois. The small quake was detected about 4:41 a.m. and was centered near Standard, Illinois.....a town about 100 miles southwest of Chicago.  Police say no damage was reported, but they had their hands full fielding calls from alarmed residents.  A Geological Survey earthquake map indicated that the shaking may have extended into parts of southern Wisconsin, southeastern Iowa, and northwest Indiana.

 A record number of apprentices have enrolled in Wisconsin's Apprenticeship Program. Governor Tony Evers says in a press release there are more than 16-thousand apprentices, breaking last year's record as the most the program has seen in its 112 years. Wisconsin Apprenticeship pairs on the job training with classroom instruction so apprentices can earn as they still learn. Wisconsin was the first U-S state with an apprenticeship program and is the only state requiring employers to pay their apprentices for time at work and in classroom instruction. 

 More officers and deputies will be patrolling than usual during holiday travel times. Madison Police are reminding drivers that it will be on alert while there are more drivers on the road, making sure everyone is buckling up and driving sober. The department says it's teaming up with the Dane County Sheriff's Office to put extra officers and deputies on the road. Police say someone in Wisconsin dies or gets an injury from a car crash involving impaired driving every two hours. The overtime to pay for extra law enforcement comes from a grant from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.    

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will be re-activating its popular "eagle cam" today.  The live camera was destroyed last spring when the nest it was monitoring fell, killing a baby eagle.  DNR officials say the camera will show different areas and images initially.  They are monitoring the eagles who used the original nest and plan to focus on them if they start a new nest near the camera. 

Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin is trying again to overturn his conviction in the murder of George Floyd in 2020.  He says there is new evidence indicating he wasn't the cause of Floyd's death.  He filed a motion on Monday claiming he would have never pleaded guilty if he knew about the theories of a Kansas forensic pathologist.  Chauvin is requesting a new trial from the judge.  He is currently in prison in Arizona, serving a 21-year sentence.   

A bill to combat PFAS pollution passed the State Senate Tuesday.  The bill creates PFAS contamination grants for Wisconsin cities, towns and villages, as well as private landowners and waste disposal facilities.  The grants will be used to test for PFAS in water treatment plans and wells.  The state’s Department of Natural Resources would be responsible for remediation at contaminated sites where the responsible party is unknown or can’t pay for the work.  Opponents of the measure say it limits the ability of the DNR to hold polluting corporations accountable.  Governor Tony Evers, who has said he shares those concerns, will likely veto the bill.

Two men from Minnesota are jailed after drugs and thousands of dollars in cash are found in their vehicle.  The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office says on the morning of November 7th,  a deputy pulled a vehicle going 97 in a 70 mile-per-hour zone over on I-39/90/94 in the Town of Dekorra .  After probable cause was obtained, a search of that vehicle led to the discovery of over 400 grams of fentanyl and more than $100,000 in cash. The two men in their forties from Minneapolis who were in the vehicle were arrested and sent to the Columbia County Jail charged with possession with intent to deliver fentanyl greater than 50 grams.

An arrest and charges in a nearly four-decades-old cold case from western Wisconsin. According to the Polk County Sheriff's Office, 80-year-old Mary Josephine Bailey was arrested Monday in Maricopa County, Arizona, in the death of Yvonne Menke. The 45-year-old Menke was shot three times in the head and neck after leaving her St. Croix Falls’ home for work, the morning of December 12, 1985. The Polk County District Attorney’s Office charged Bailey with first-degree murder. She remains at the Maricopa County jail, awaiting extradition to Wisconsin. The sheriff’s office declined to provide additional comment.

 Minnetonka-based UnitedHealth Group is getting sued.   They are accused of using a faulty artificial intelligence algorithm to wrongly deny coverage for Medicaid patients who need rehab after being hospitalized.  The lead plaintiffs are the families of two patients, who needed long-term care in post-acute facilities.  The suit alleges that UnitedHealth's Medicare Advantage health plans denied payments for claims from the patients medical caregivers, forcing up to 70 thousand dollars in out-of -pocket costs for continuing care.

 President Biden will spare the lives of two Minnesota-grown turkeys when the White House holds its annual turkey pardon ceremony before Thanksgiving.  This year's birds are being provided by Jennie-O and were raised on a farm in central Minnesota.  They will travel to Washington, D.C. by private coach and stay in the Willard InterContinental Hotel ahead of the ceremony.  After being pardoned, the turkeys will return to Minnesota to live on a University of Minnesota campus farm in St. Paul. 

Local-Regional News Nov 15

 Area Schools are getting a passing grade from the state when it comes to reading and math. The Department of Public Instruction yesterday released its school and school district report cards. They track how schools across the state did on last year's standardized tests.  Durand-Arkansaw, Mondovi, Pepin, and Plum City Schools all met expectations, while Alma and Elmwood exceeded expectations.  

The Durand City Council is meeting tonight.  Items on the agenda include a public hearing on the annual budget and the council will also approve that budget tonight, along with reports from the mayor and department heads.  Tonight's meeting begins at 6:30 at Durand City Hall.

The Durand-Arkansaw School Board is meeting tonight.  Items on the agenda include a discussion of the school report cards, a discussion of the school district library plan and reports from the district and building administrators.  Tonight's meeting begins at 7pm in the board room at Durand-Arkansaw High School.

 UW-Stout is offering automatic admission to most Menomonie High School graduates. The university yesterday said kids who graduate with at least a two-point-five GPA will be accepted, without having to apply. The idea is to get more local kids to choose Stout as their higher education option. The automatic admissions program starts with this year's seniors. In fact, students can start talking to their guidance counselors right now. Stout is the latest UW campus to look to automatic admissions as a way to boost enrollment. 

 Chippewa County District Attorney says he doesn't have enough facts to make a decision about possible charges for the county's sheriff. DA Wade Newell yesterday wrote to the county's administrator, explaining that he doesn't have enough evidence to make an official misconduct case against Sheriff Travis Hakes. Hakes has faced a wave of criticism for his behavior and his outside job selling guns since he took office earlier this year. The county sent an investigation to the DA for review, but the DA said it's not enough. Hakes continues to say he's done nothing wrong and said the criticism all comes from his political opponents. 

 A Chetek woman has agreed to plead guilty in an Eau Claire County murder case from last year. Vanessa Ketteman agreed to the plea yesterday. She will be sentenced for felony murder-false imprisonment for her role in the June 2022 shooting death of Eddie Banks. Investigators say Ketterman and two other people lured Banks to a meeting after he failed to deliver 500 dollars worth of drugs. Ketterman says Banks died when he grabbed for the gun and it went off. As part of her deal, Ketterman will have to testify against the other two suspects in the case. 

The new overhaul of Wisconsin's liquor laws likely means an end to wedding barns. The legislature yesterday approved a rewrite of the state's depression-era liquor code. In addition to changing some of the rules for breweries, wineries, and liquor distributors, the plan all but puts an end to wedding barns by limiting them to six events per-year, or forcing them to get a liquor license. Supporters say the idea is to ensure safety at wedding barns that have been BYOB for years. Opponents say the Tavern League won, and is essentially erasing competition for local bars and taverns by regulating wedding barns out of business. 

 Wisconsin is a step closer to having a new baby box law.  The State Assembly yesterday unanimously approved a plan that would allow parents to surrender a baby within the first three days. State Representative Ellen Schutt says the plan would allow cities to install a box at a fire station or other city building that is open and staffed 24/7, and allow parents to anonymously surrender a baby. Wisconsin allows parents to turn-over their babies in-person, but this would allow them to do it without having to see someone first. Fifteen other states currently have baby box laws on their books. 

The Wisconsin Senate has approved taxpayer funding for American Family Field renovations. It passed on a 19-14 vote, as well as a companion bill to fund the improvements. The bill will return to the Assembly for concurrence, where Speaker Robin Vos says it will be approved. Afterward, the bill will be sent to Governor Tony Evers, who has expressed support for the bill. The bill asks for 375-point-four million dollars from the state, 67-point-5 million each from Milwaukee County and the city of Milwaukee and 150-point-seven million from the Brewers.

 The state Department of Natural Resources says Minnesota's deer harvest has dropped this year.  About 106-thousand deer have been harvested statewide as of Monday.  That's down five-percent from last year and off about 16-percent from the five-year average.  Northeastern Minnesota has seen a 17-percent decline in deer registrations from the same period last year, while the northwest region has seen a drop of about six-percent.  State officials are blaming some of the decline on a reduction in the number of hunters, with license sales for firearms deer season down by three-percent from last year.

Add this to the worries for Kia and Hyundai drivers in Wisconsin. The car companies are asking owners to park their cars outside until they deal with a looming recall over a fire risk. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says some Kia and Hyundai models could have a leak in their brake systems, that leak could lead to an electrical short, and that could cause a fire. NHTSA says over three million cars will need to be checked. Hyundai says it's getting ready to send people back to their dealer to get their cars checked, Kia hasn't said just what its plans are. 

Open enrollment for Medicare and Affordable Care Act Insurance plans brings scammers out in force. Wisconsin Division of Consumer Protection Director Michael Domke reminds people that Medicare will never call you to demand payment nor will they ask you for information they should already have like your social security number. If you're unsure of who you're talking to, hang up.

There's a recall on cantaloupes in at least 10 states including Wisconsin and Minnesota. The FDA says Sofia Produce is recalling the fruit with the Malichita labels sold between October 16th and October 23rd.  Officials say there is the possibility of salmonella contamination.  Anyone who has the fruit is being asked to throw it out or return it to the store where it was purchased. 

There’ll be no restructuring of Wausau’s high schools in the near future.  By a 5-4 vote, the Wausau School Board voted Monday night to stop the current restructuring plan, which involved merging Wausau East and West High Schools by the 2025-26 academic year.  The board also chose to stick with keeping the Wausau district’s elementary, middle, and high school structures the same, but to re-evaluate its elementary school structure.  That means elementary schools will continue to consist of grades K-through-5, middle schools will consist of grades 6-through-8, and high schools will be grades 9-through-12 for the time being.  Some members of the board had favored pushing the original restructuring plans back one year.

 Minnesota officials are encouraging everyone to visit a state park the day after Thanksgiving.  The Department of Natural Resources has announced that all state parks and recreation areas will be free to enter on Black Friday.  Some areas will offer naturalist programs and guided nature walks that day as well.  The D-N-R says Minnesota state parks and recreation areas are the perfect places to enjoy the tranquility of nature during the busy holiday season.

 The Minnesota man who set a world record earlier this year for the heaviest pumpkin ever grown is preserving the seeds for himself and others.  Travis Gienger tells KARE-TV that he plans to keep seeds from the 27-hundred and 49-pound pumpkin for his own use and send some to pumpkin clubs that request them.  The rest he plans to sell to other growers for 275-dollars each.  Gienger says there's no telling if the seeds will produce another record-setter, but adds that one of the seeds could produce the world's first three-thousand-pound pumpkin

Local-Regional News Nov 14

 Last night, the Durand Police and the Pepin County Sheriff's Department responded to multiple calls of shots fired in the area of Washington Street and 3rd Avenue East.  According to a social media post from Durand Police, officers responded and the investigation into the incident continues.  There is no threat to the public.

 

One person is dead after a semi vs pickup truck accident in the Town of Elk Mound last night.  According to the Dunn County Sheriff's Department,  a 70-year-old female was driving a pickup westbound on Hwy 29, attempting to turn south onto 970th street, and failed to yield to an eastbound semi that was hauling pigs.  After impact, both vehicles went off the road, down a steep embankment, and struck several trees.  The semi-driver was not injured, but the female was pronounced dead at the scene by the Dunn County Medical Examiner's Office.  That accident remains under investigation.

No one was injured when a fuel truck overturned in Canton Township on Monday.  According to the Buffalo County Sheriffs Department, 39-year-old Jason Bechel of Durand was traveling southbound on Tiffany Valley Road when he lost control, entered the southbound ditch knocked over a power pole and overturned.  Electric wires were over the semi and Excel Energy was called in to shut off power so the truck could be towed out of the ditch.  Approximately 5 gallons of fuel leaked from the tanker.  That accident remains under investigation.

The Mondovi City Council is meeting tonight.  Items on the agenda include a review of the 2024 property tax levy and budget, approval of a contract for a new city administrator and discussion of the contract for residential garbage and recycling services.  Tonight's meeting begins at 5:30 at the Marten Center in Mondovi.

The Buffalo County Board is meeting tonight.  Items on the agenda include discussion and action on the proposed 2024 budget and property tax levy, a resolution changing the fee schedule for environmental health and sanitation, and a resolution to support the designation of the Mississippi River Trail inside Buffalo County.  Tonight's meeting begins at 7pm at the government center in Alma.

The Dunn County Board is meeting tonight.  Items on the agenda include a public hearing on the 2024 property tax levy and budget,  a resolution to borrow $3 million, and reports from county committees.  Tonight's meeting begins at 7pm at the Dunn County Government Center in Menomonie.

The Durand Fire Department has announced 1st Lieutenant Mark Poeschel as the 2023 Firefighter of the Year.  Poeschel has been with the department for 8 years and was recently promoted to the rank of 1st Lieutenant at the beginning of this year.  

 There continues to be opposition to the idea of moving refugee families to Eau Claire. Nearly 50 people turned out at last night's city council meeting to once again say they don't want 75 mostly Somali refugees moved into the city. The group World Relief is pushing to resettle the refugees by the end of next year. Many of the people who don't want to see them moved here continue to ask what the refugees will do, and where they will work. World Relief says it's a matter of compassion. City leaders have said they don't have much to do with the plan, saying that between World Relief and the federal government. 

Police have identified a man accused who driving onto the runway at La Crosse Regional Airport over the weekend.  31-year-old Cody Anderson of Wallace, Idaho allegedly drove through a locked gate and boarded a private aircraft on Saturday. Airport staff prevented the plane from taking off and Anderson was arrested. Anderson was given a $500,000 cash bond in court on Monday. Online court records show he's charged with 5 felonies including making terrorist threats and attempted armed robbery.

Applications for grant programs to help private well owners in Wisconsin will be accepted until December 6 of next year or when money runs out. Governor Tony Evers says the Well Compensation and Well Abandonment Grant Programs are providing ten-million dollars in assistance to help well owners address contamination. Money can go toward replacement, reconstruction, treatment, or abandoning impacted wells. Due to expanded criteria announced last year, many people who previously didn't qualify for grants are now eligible. So far, the DNR has given more than 46-percent of the ten-million dollars in funding to 370 grantees.

We're going to get another look at how well Wisconsin's public schools are doing today. The state's Department of Public Instruction will release the school and school district report cards later today. The new report cards will give a better picture of how kids in Wisconsin are doing on the state's standardized tests. They will also provide parents a look at both their child's school and their school district. The statewide report cards came out last month, and continue to show that nearly 60 percent of kids in Wisconsin cannot read or do math at grade level. Today's report cards will show which schools and school districts are doing better than that mark, and which are doing worse. 

The new helipad for rural Rusk and Chippewa counties is now open. Leaders cut the ribbon Sunday on the landing area in Lake Holcombe. Town of Lake Holcombe Chairman Brian Guthman says the new helipad will allow paramedics to get to rural parts of the two counties much faster. Crews started work on the new helipad back in June, they will have some minor touch-ups to add come the spring. 

A new law is being proposed that would ban anyone convicted of violent offenses from buying or possessing guns in Wisconsin. The bill is supported by State Senator Kelda Roys and State Representative Lisa Subeck, both of Madison.  The idea is supported by Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul.   The bill reorganizes disorderly conduct and the definition of domestic abuse, so that someone convicted of disorderly conduct as a result of domestic abuse would be banned from buying or having guns.  

Plenty of Wisconsinites will be traveling for the Thanksgiving holiday.   Triple-A projects more than 1.1 million Wisconsinites will travel 50 miles or more during the period from the Wednesday before Thanksgiving to the Sunday after.  The number of travelers is the third highest on record and a 2.4% increase over last year.  Those travelers will be giving thanks for lower gas prices this year, with an average gas cost of $3.14 per gallon, down from $3.58 a gallon last Thanksgiving.  Most of the travelers in the state will drive, but over 113,000 Wisconsinites will fly to their destinations, which is an 8.3% increase over a record-setting 2022 total.  

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources says the gun deer hunting season that begins next weekend will see fewer hunters than last year.  DNR says 600-thousand hunters will be in the field, a two-percent decline in the number who bought licenses last season.  DNR wildlife experts say fewer hunters means Wisconsin's deer overpopulation could become worse and that's reflected in the number of deer killed by cars and trucks.  The Department of Transportation says vehicle crashes kill between 15-thousand and 19-thousand deer every year.  Gun deer hunting season runs from next Saturday, November 18th, through Sunday, November 26th. 

Minnesota Democrats are discussing the possibility of a state constitutional amendment to protect abortion rights.  Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman tells WCCO-TV that lawmakers are uncertain about pursuing such an amendment, saying it isn't a top priority at the moment.  But Hortman says it is a very "motivating" issue for state Democrats and could wind up on the ballot next year or in 2026.  Seven states have passed constitutional amendments to protect abortion rights, with Ohio becoming the latest to do so earlier this week.

 Microsoft is looking to double its billion-dollar-plus investment in Mount Pleasant. The company last week announced plans to spend another one-point-four billion-dollars on its data center project. Microsoft first announced its data center plans earlier this year. This announcement is on top of that original project. The Microsoft center will be built on some of the land that was set aside for the Foxconn project. Racine County and the village of Mount Pleasant will have to agree to some development terms, but Microsoft is pledging to spend the extra billion-dollars by the end of 2028. 

Minnesota has one of the worst pothole problems in the country.  That's according to a new report from USA Today.  It used Google Trends data from the last three years to find the states with the most pothole-related issues.  Minnesota ranked second in the nation, only behind Washington State.  The report also looked at U.S. cities with the worst pothole problems.  Minneapolis ranked third.  New York City took the top spot and Los Angeles ranked in second place.  According to data from Triple-A, 44-million drivers paid for vehicle repairs due to pothole damage last year. The average repair bill was around 400-dollars.