Local-Regional News December 31

  There will be a candlelight vigil this evening to remember the Dunn County CO killed in a crash on Christmas Eve. The sheriff's office yesterday encouraged people to turn out at 6:30 tonight at the Sheriff's Department to remember Officer Jeff Reynolds. He died in an early morning crash on County Highway E in the early morning hours of Christmas Eve. Investigators say he was on his way to work at the time. Tonight's ceremony will last about half an hour, and there will be a moment of silence. 

A Fountain City teen is dead after a two-vehicle accident early Sunday morning in St. Paul. According to the St. Paul Police Department a sedan and pickup truck collided head on in the 700 Block of Shepard Road.  18yr Dylan Severson was driving the sedan and was pronounced dead at the scene by the Ramsey County Medical Examiner's Office.  A female passenger in Severson's vehicle was taken to Regions Hospital.  That accident remains under investigation.

Authorities in Western Wisconsin are reminding ice anglers to be extra cautious on the ice.  With the recent warmer weather those venturing out on the ice need to check ice conditions daily as the melting of ice has caused the ice to vary in thickness and be unsafe.  Within the last week, several people have been rescued from icy waters in western Wisconsin. 

Public health managers in Eau Claire are not saying if there are any local norovirus cases. Instead the city/county health department says they are monitoring the virus. There's been a norovirus spike across the country, and hundreds of people have already been hospitalized with the stomach bug. The health department's Sarah Seifert says this is the season for the norovirus, so she says some cases should be expected. 

 There's a hospital merger in Black River Falls. Krohn Clinic and Black River Memorial Hospital are combining into Black River Health, effective immediately. The hope is that the merger can better serve Jackson County and western Wisconsin. Black River Health says reports show folks in Jackson County have worse health outcomes than the average county in the state. 

Three people in New Lisbon are dead, and police say an armed man on the loose is their person of interest. New Lisbon Police last night said they found the three dead in a home yesterday afternoon. No one is saying who they are, or how they died. Police did say they are looking for 47-year-old Virgil Thew. They are calling him a person of interest. They also say that Thew is armed and should be considered dangerous. New Lisbon Police say they are planning a news conference for later today to provide more information in the case. 

 Chippewa County is looking to possibly replace the Highway M Bridge in Lake Holcombe. The bridge is now 74-years-old, and is in rough shape. The county has lowered the weight limit on the bridge twice in the past two years. The worry is that the bridge may fail. The only problem is that it will cost as much as 15 million-dollars to replace the bridge. No one at the county is saying where that money will come from. County leaders will meet about the bridge next week. 

A woman involved in a February buggy crash in Fillmore County has been sentenced to 30 days in jail and three years of supervised probation.  The judge overseeing the case has also ordered Brittany Edgar to pay just over 20-thousand dollars in restitution to the Amish family that owned the buggy.  Edgar pled guilty to a single felony county of criminal vehicular operation last month.  Investigators say Edgar left the scene of the crash on February 16th without stopping to help the family.  Three of the nine people in the buggy were seriously injured.

2024 had a little bit of everything when it comes to Wisconsin weather. UW - Madison Professor of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences Jon Martin said tornadoes were a big story - with a first-ever recorded tornado in February. May and June and were among the rainiest on record. May was the 10th wettest month of May for the whole state, and June was the sixth wettest on record. Our extremely wet May and June was followed by prolonged droughts. The statewide average temperature in 2024 was 31.4 degrees, roughly 12 degrees warmer than the average between 1991 and 2020.

Green Bay Packers fans won a border battle.   The first Border Battle Tug-of-War, was held on the Stillwater Lift Bridge Sunday morning, hours before Packers and Vikings took the field at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. Business owners in Stillwater and Hudson, Wisconsin organized the friendly competition as a fundraiser for first-responder associations in the St. Croix River Valley. Participants raised about $4,000 as Packer fans won three out of five rounds.

A Madison pastor says one of the children injured in a school shooting earlier this month is recovering.  Lighthouse Church senior pastor Marcio Sierra Junior said in a social media post that the student, only identified as Samy, is awake and conscious after being shot and critically injured in the attack at Abundant Life School earlier this month. The Wisconsin State Journal reports Sierra gave permission to publish that information he shared on Facebook. The students who were injured in the shooting have not been publicly named, and Sierra says the child's family remains very private.

The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development is honoring UW - Health for supporting Veterans .  UW - Health is recognized as a Vets Ready Employer and was awarded a gold certification in the large-sized business category. UW Health initiated participation in the Wisconsin Military Medics and Corpsmen Program. UW - Health also temporarily waives the credential and license requirements for eligible military members so they can work in civilian healthcare roles while getting additional medical licenses. UW Health also supports their employees who still serve in the military and those who have retired or separated from military service with a resource group.

Flags will be at half staff for almost a month in Wisconsin to honor former President Jimmy Carter. Governor Tony Evers ordered the flags to be lowered starting yesterday. He commended Carter for his work as a humanitarian, both during and after his presidency. Carter was the longest living former president, and lived until the age of 100 before he died yesterday. Flags will be at half staff until January 28.

 Almost two-point-three-million people made transactions at Wisconsin Department of Motor Vehicle locations in 2024. The department says more than 928-thousand people renewed, replaced, or got their first drivers license in person. Most other transactions were related to vehicle titles and registrations or taking knowledge tests or driving exams. The DMV says more than 60-thousand people renewed their licenses or requested copies of their driving record online in the past year.  

 A former Minneapolis police union leader is seeking President-elect Donald Trump's nod to become Minnesota's next U.S. Marshal.  The Star Tribune is reporting that Bob Kroll applied before the December 20 deadline created by a search committee for U.S. Attorney and U.S. Marshal candidates.  Kroll spent three decades as a law enforcement officer and earned the Minneapolis Police Department's Medal of Valor. 

Wisconsin is celebrating the state park system's 125th anniversary by hosting First Day Hikes on New Year's Day. The Department of Natural Resources says events are scheduled across the state, including group and self-guided hikes. The hikes will be free, but vehicle admission passes or state trail passes may be required. Some local public libraries have trail passes available for checkout. More information is available on the event's calendar on the DNR website. 

Local-Regional News December 30

There aren't many details about the off-duty death of a Menomonie police officer. The city's police department on Friday said Officer Sam Miller unexpectedly passed away. Officer Miller started with the Menomonie Police Department in January of this year. Before that, he worked with the Pepin County Sheriff's Department, Durand Police Department, Boyceville Police Department, and the Dunn County Sheriff's Department. Menomonie's police chief says officers from other communities will step-in over the next few weeks to cover Miller's shifts. Menomonie Police say don't be surprised if you see squad cars from other communities for a little while. 

The Durand City Council is meeting tonight.  Items on the agenda include discussion and possible action on using ARPA funds for the creation of an Employee Assistance Program, approval of city bills, and the council will go into closed session to discuss EMS facility needs.  Tonight's meeting begins at 5:30 at Durand City Hall.

 Don't be surprised if you get an emergency text from the Chippewa County Sheriff's Office today. The sheriff's office says it's planning to test its new emergency alert system. That means a practice text for some people. The new system is supposed to be able to alert people in specific parts of the county. The idea is to make sure people know about potential threats, including severe weather. There's no word who will get the text, or when it will be sent out. 

 Western Wisconsin's Republican congressman is remembering Jimmy Carter with some kind words. Congressman Derrick Van Orden yesterday took to Twitter to say his mother was always a big Carter fan. He then said Carter 'served our nation as a Navy Man, President, and Humanitarian.' Van Orden wished Carter's family peace after his passing. Carter yesterday died at age 100. 

Two teenagers are under arrest in Western Wisconsin, accused of lighting multiple mailboxes on fire. The Barron County Sheriff's Office says complaints about damaged mailboxes started coming in yesterday afternoon.  Six total mailboxes that had been lit on fire and destroyed were found.  Deputies pulled over a suspect car and said they found packages and other mail inside.  One 17-year-old and one 15-year-old were arrested on arson-related charges.  The case is still being investigated. 

The Olmstead County Sheriff's Department is warning residents of scam callers impersonating deputies.  The caller says there is an emergency and urges the person to call them back at a different number.  Authorities believe this is an attempt to get financial information and if you receive a call like this you are advised to hang up.  If any resident has questions or concerns they are to call Sheriff's Departments non-emergency number.

Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul shares thoughts on impaired driving. In a year end interview, the AG said intervention and treatment can play a role in reducing OWI cases. Kaul said for those struggling with addiction, having interventions happen early in the process, and following up to support those is likely to reduce the number of cases. The Democratic AG said the state has some good programs in place for addiction and substance use treatment. Law enforcement will be out on New Years Eve, traditionally one of the most dangerous times for crashes involving drunk drivers. Kaul says he knows Wisconsin’s district attorneys make appropriate charging decisions in OWI cases.

Taxpayers will have to pick-up the legal bill for the group that sued over the Gabelman investigation. An appeals court on Friday upheld a Dane County judge's order that the state pay the legal costs for American Oversight. That's the group that sued former judge Michael Gableman over public information involved in his investigation into the 2020 presidential election in Wisconsin. Gableman lost the case, and in addition to providing his documents, the judge said he had to pay American Oversight's legal costs. The total legal bill is just over 240 thousand-dollars. But that is on top of the nearly one million-dollars that Gableman's investigation cost in all. That investigation, ultimately, didn't provide any new answers about the 2020 election. 

The Minnesota Attorney General's Office says the state is experiencing historic lows of mortgage foreclosures.  Meanwhile, there is a rise in scammers targeting homeowners struggling to pay their mortgages.  Attorney General Keith Ellison recently released a statement warning property owners of the increase in complaints from property owners who have been duped.  Most of the cons use unsolicited emails to prey on vulnerable homeowners. 

A driver is miraculously uninjured after a rollover crash in Jamestown that destroyed his vehicle.  The Grant County Sheriff's Office says it happened Friday afternoon around 3 p.m. on Highway 151 North.  According to the Sheriff's Office, the vehicle had a mechanical failure and became airborne after veering into a ditch.  The vehicle rolled numerous times before landing on its roof in a residential driveway and bursting in flames.  Authorities say the driver safely got out of the vehicle and declined transport to a hospital after EMS crews examined him.  The Sheriff's Office called the vehicle a total loss.  The driver has not been publicly identified.

Prison time for a Price County man who admitted to killing a woman.  Christopher Dyer will serve life in prison for killing Denise Schwarz on April 13th outside a Park Falls home, though a judge did grant the 50-year-old the ability to apply for parole after 30 years, according to court records. Dyer previously pled not guilty to the crime but changed his plea on Thursday after reaching a deal with the state last month. Schwarz was 57 at the time of her death. Investigators say the couple had been in a relationship but broke up sometime before the shooting.   Dyer was taken into custody on April 15th and formally charged with the homicide in May.

Another bird flu outbreak in Wisconsin.  The state Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection said Thursday that birds at a commercial poultry farm in Burnett County, in northwest Wisconsin, were destroyed to prevent the spread of the H5N1 virus and that it will not enter the food system. Bird flu outbreaks have led to the destruction of commercial flocks in several Wisconsin counties and it’s also infected wild birds in the state. Earlier this month Wisconsin's first human H5N1 case was confirmed in a worker at a Barron County farm where an inflected flock was also destroyed. So far, there's been no evidence anywhere in the United States of human-to-human transmission of bird flu, which has also infected dairy cattle in several states.

Minnesota is getting 44 million dollars in federal grant money to help residents in rural communities access high-speed broadband internet.   Senator Tina Smith is credited with helping to secure the funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.  The money is expected to help at least 139 businesses and 368 farms. 

 Two Minnesota bakeries have been placed on a new list of the best bakeries in America.  The New York Times released the list of the 22 best bakeries in the U.S. on Tuesday.  Diane's Place in Minneapolis and Flour & Flower in St. Joseph were both praised by the newspaper.  Minnesota was one of four states with multiple bakeries honored by the Times.

 

Local-Regional News December 27

We now know who died in the Christmas Eve crash in Dunn County. Prosecutors yesterday identified the victim as Correctional Officer Jeff Reynolds. Investigators say he died when a drunk driver slammed into his car as he was headed to work. The driver in the crash, 40-year-old Mark Sokolowski, is now charged with homicide. The sheriff's office says it looks like Sokolowski ran the stop sign at Highway 12 and County Highway E and hit Reynolds' car. Preliminary breath tests show Sokolowski's blood-alcohol content was nearly twice the legal limit. 

The man injured in an  SUV vs Train collision in Elk Mound has died.  According to the Dunn County Sheriff's Department, 80yr old Gregory Nerbovig passed away on December 23rd from complications from injuries sustained in the accident.  Nerbovig failed to yield to the train at a crossing near the intersection of 970th Street and Highway 12.    Two other people in the car were also injured in the accident.

The Beneficial Ownership Information filing requirement is back in play for farmers and small businesses that are LLC's. The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in Texas overturned an injunction that had temporarily suspended the requirement. Jeff Poeschel with Sundstrom and Company, talks about the information required by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, or FinCEN.  The due date for the filing requirement was extended to January 13.

A judge wants a doctor to decide whether the suspect in the deadly stabbing at the Do Dodge Inn is fit enough to stand trial. An Eau Claire County judge has ordered a competency hearing for  44-year-old Anthony Jackson. He's accused of stabbing a man to death earlier this month. Police say Jackson attacked the victim out of the blue, and stabbed him several times. Jackson has a long criminal history in Eau Claire. There's no word when Jackson will be seen by a doctor. 

Two men are safe after their UTV fell through the ice in Barron County.  The Sheriff's Office says the two were riding a UTV near the Pokegama Boat Landing in Chetek on Christmas Eve. When responders arrived, the men had already been pulled out of the water by a family that was ice fishing nearby. One man was taken to the hospital and is expected to be okay. The other was treated at the scene.

An Olmsted County judge is scheduling an in-person hearing for a lawsuit filed against the Mayo Clinic.  The judge ruled Tuesday that the next hearing in the suit filed by Doctor Michael Joyner needs to be held in person due to problems that happened during an April video conference.  The judge found multiple requests by outside parties trying to join the Zoom conference "distracting."  The judge also believes the April video conference was recorded, which would have violated court rules.  Joyners is suing the clinic over a suspension caused by alleged unprofessional behavior and problematic statements to the media.  The next hearing in the case is scheduled for April 4th.

Firefighters from Eyota and Dover responded to a vehicle fire early Wednesday morning.  According to the Olmsted County Sheriff's Department, firefighters responded to the fire on Carolann St. NW in Eyota.  No one was inside the vehicle at the time of the fire and the cause of the fire is still under investigation and is not considered suspicious.

 Trees, yes. Christmas lights, no. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is reminding people about the post-Christmas recycling rules. The DNR says each local recycling program will have its own rules, but in general you can recycle most wrapping paper. Bows, ribbons, and shiny wrapping paper should be thrown away. The state says do not recycle old Christmas lights to keep them out of trash compactors. Christmas trees can be recycled, but they have to be decoration-free. The DNR has tips on its website, and says people should check with their local recyclers as well. 

 Almost 200 general election ballots were improperly processed in Madison.  The City Clerk's Office says the ballots were found while cleaning up after the election, still in sealed bags.  Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway says a review of the City's election procedures is underway so the same thing won't happen again.  The Clerk's Office says there weren't enough ballots to change the outcome of any races or referendums, but letters will be sent to affected voters apologizing for the oversight.

A former fire chief in Ripon is fined for misuse of his fire district’s credit card.   The Fond du Lac County District Attorney’s Office said Timothy Saul Jr. spent more than $30,000 on the card for personal use from 2016 to 2022 and didn’t inform the Fire Department Board. Saul pleaded guilty to three charges of Fraudulent Use of a Credit Card and was sentenced Monday to $1,000 on each count plus additional court costs. Investigators said using the card allowed Saul to benefit from a high line of credit while a high balance of late fees built up. Saul said in an apology letter he paid off the balance with his own money.

$2 million in grants is going towards housing assistance in Wisconsin.  More than 50 organizations will get funding from the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority to improve emergency shelters, transitional residences, and extremely low-income housing. Governor Tony Evers says expanding access to affordable housing remains a priority, and the grants will provide critical resources to those who need them and help foster safer spaces for Wisconsinites. Over the last five years, more than 17,000 affordable housing units and more than 26,000 housing units have been built across the state.

 A Sartell woman is confessing to taking part in a nine-million-dollar fraud operation that funded her baby shop business.  Adelle Starin pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud.  Federal prosecutors say the defendant knowingly gained money by conducting a scheme through fake companies from 2022 to 2024.  Starin is accused of submitting reimbursement claims to the government.  However, the claims were made for medical equipment that was not eligible for reimbursement.  The government TRICARE program initially paid out some of the claims before it noticed the scheme and then started rejecting the payments. A sentencing hearing has not been scheduled yet

Insights into the dark motivations of the Madison school shooter.  The Wisconsin State Journal reports that social media accounts believed to belong to Abundant Life Christian School shooter Natalie Rupnow indicate the 15-year-old spent time in online forums where violent videos and white supremacist beliefs are common. Rupnow would have had access to that sort of material on platforms popular with other school shooters like Discord and Telegram. Investigators are still sorting through evidence to try and determine Rupnow’s motivations for fatally shooting a teacher and a fellow Abundant Life student and wounding six others before killing herself just over a week and a half ago.

A Woodbury woman is coming off a major celebration on Christmas Day.  Lola Bennett turned 100 years old yesterday. and had an early birthday party on Christmas Eve.  The woman was born in 1924 in the South and has 20 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren, and six great-great-grandchildren. 

 

Local-Regional News December 25

 One person is dead and four others injured is dead after a two-vehicle accident in Dunn County.  It happened about 2:30 yesterday morning at the intersection of Highway 12 and County Highway E.   According to the Wisconsin State Patrol,  Troopers responding found an overturned car with a 56yr old man from Eau Claire who was pronounced dead at the scene.  An SUV with three passengers, driven by 40yr old Mark Sokolowski of Eau Claire was also found.  A 30yr old female is facing life-threatening injuries while the other two were taken to the hospital.  Sokolowski was arrested and charged with homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle.

One person was injured Sunday after getting trapped in a silo.  According to authorities, Boyceville and Menomonie Firefighters responded to a person trapped 60 feet high in a silo.  The victim's leg was stuck in a sweep auger.  First responders and firefighters climbed the silo chute to treat and rescue the victim, who was med-flighted to the hospital.

  Chippewa County's county administrator is leaving for a new job in Michigan. Randy Scholz is set to become city manager in Ishpeming, Michigan. That's on the UP, near Marquette. Schloz turned-in his resignation to Chippewa County back in mid-November. His last day is set for March. Schloz says the move to Michigan will put him closer to family. 

Add one of northern Wisconsin's state lawmakers to the list of people who aren't thrilled with Governor Evers' new pick for the DNR. Senator Mary Felzkowski yesterday said the governor's new DNR secretary doesn't have any 'experience with sporting heritage, forestry, or freshwater lakes.' She says that is concerning. Felzkowski is one of several Republicans at the Capitol in Madison who are up[set that it took the governor more than a year to name a new DNR chief, and that the woman he picked is a lifelong Capitol Hill bureaucrat. Felzkowski says the Republican-controlled Senate will have to think long and hard about the governor's new choice. 

 A southern Minnesota congressman has joined a bipartisan effort to transform the federal government.  Republican Congressman Brad Finstad announced in his most recent newsletter that he has joined the House DOGE Caucus.  The caucus is an offshoot of the proposed Department of Government Efficiency, headed by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy.  Finstad said the caucus held its first meeting last week and that he hopes it will help rein in the national debt by curbing reckless government spending.

The Department of Natural Resources is calling the 2024 elk hunting season a success. The DNR says the 2024 hunt represented a milestone in Wisconsin’s elk management because for the first time, hunters had the opportunity to hunt in both the Northern and Central Elk zones. Previous hunts only occurred within the Northern Elk Zone. The DNR received more than 17,700 applicants to hunt in the Northern zone and more than 7,700 to hunt in the Central zone. Eight hunters were then selected at random to participate in this year's hunt. In total, six bull elk's were harvested, with four coming from the Central zone and two from the Northern zone. The application period for the 2025 elk hunting season opens in early Spring.

AAA is using GPS to keep roadside technicians a little safer in Wisconsin. Spokesperson Brynna Knapp says AAA is integrating its roadside assistance calls with a pair of GPS providers. Drivers who use Waze or Google Maps for navigation will receive an alert when they approach a triple-A member or AAA technician on the roadside. Knapp says nationally, every other week a roadside technician dies on the road as a first responder. Knapp says users will have the feature automatically integrated, and no registration is required. Knapp says AAA hopes the new feature will reduce unnecessary roadside deaths in Wisconsin.

 Police in Rochester are looking for suspects after an attempt to steal a bank ATM.  Officers were called to the Mayo Employees Credit Union early Monday morning when a silent alarm went off.  They arrived to find a damaged ATM, an abandoned Ford pickup and tools like a tow strap and a log chain.  The thieves were not able to access the cash in the machine.

 Travelers through Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport on Christmas Eve say they were pleasantly surprised to find minimal delays.  Industry analysts predict a six percent increase of Americans who are traveling over the holidays compared with last year.  But they also note Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year's Day tend to see lighter numbers than the days before and after the major holidays.     

On Monday, the 5th U.S. Circuit Appeals Court lifted a federal district court’s earlier order, which had previously halted the January 1, 2025 deadline for small businesses to file their beneficial ownership information with the Treasury Department. The Corporate Transparency Act passed by Congress in 2021 requires the paperwork to be filed by the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network. The CTA requires that owners and part-owners of an estimated 32.6 million small businesses, including 230,000 farms, must register their personal information with FinCEN. The American Farm Bureau estimates that this appeals court ruling now puts tens of thousands of farms back on the legal deadline to register their businesses with the federal government. Of the 230,000 farms that are likely required to file, only 11 percent had done so as of October. Farmers are encouraged to contact an accountant or an attorney if they are unsure about whether they are required to file the information.

Former Wisconsin state Senator Tim Cullen has died. According to family members, Cullen died Monday afternoon at Oak Park Place in Janesville after being hospitalized for a heart attack. He was 80.  Cullen was among the Democratic state Senators who drew national attention during the 2011 Act 10 protests. They left the Capitol and traveled to Illinois, remaining there for nearly a month in an effort to prevent passage of the controversial measure from Republican Governor Scott Walker. After serving one term Cullen did not run for reelection, citing increased partisanship as a reason for his retirement.

Minnesota Senators Tina Smith and Amy Klobuchar and other members of Congress are taking flack for voting in favor of supporting a national defense bill.  The legislation is a measure that bans military healthcare from covering gender-affirming care for transgender children of service members.  Most of the criticism is coming from the Minnesota House of Representatives Queer Caucus.  The group recently released a statement that says asking members of the military to risk their lives is hypocritical to pass a bill banning their freedom to make medical decisions for their own families.

 Village leaders in Mount Pleasant don't think Microsoft's 'pause' is anything to be worried about. The company has paused construction on its new data center. Microsoft says the idea is to refine the design. Microsoft is still hoping to have the center up and running sometime next year. Microsoft made headlines when it paid over three billion-dollars for some of the land at the old Foxconn site in Mount Pleasant. The hope is to build a massive data center there. Mount Pleasant officials say they don't think the pause will change the overall nature of the plans. 

Minnesota health officials say the number of cases of norovirus has doubled so far this month.  Officials say the number of norovirus outbreaks has exceeded 40.  Health officials caution Minnesotans to be careful when gathering with family and friends over the holidays and prevent the possible spread of the virus.  The spread of norovirus -- also known as the stomach flu -- can be curbed by hand-washing and appropriate food handling.

The Minnesota State Patrol is investigating after a pickup failed to stop for a school bus in St. Louis County last week.  A video posted online by the St. Louis County Sheriff's Office shows the pickup going past the right side of the school bus at high speed on Friday afternoon.  Investigators said the bus was stopped and had its warning lights on when the pickup drove past.  A social media post yesterday said the driver has been identified by the Minnesota State Patrol, though no other information was released.

UW offering an online plant course as part of the spring semester.   UW - Madison course runs from February 1st to April 30th and is designed to teach you how to identify plant problems. The course will go over the plant diagnostic process and finding resources to use for diagnostics. The course is self-paced and includes videos, reading, and interactive activities. There are also two live webinars that students in the class can take part in. Early bird registration for the course runs until January 21st and costs $99, then the price goes up to $119 until registration closes on February 3rd.

Local-Regional News December 24

 Two people are in custody after a home burglary in the town of Milton.  According to the Buffalo County Sheriff's Department, deputies responded to the home and after an investigation identified two suspects.  Last Wednesday deputies executed a search warrant at a Black River Falls residence and found several stolen items along with methamphetamine and firearms.  43yr old Harland Hunter and 52yr old Rachel Lyngen both of Black River Falls were taken into custody and transported back to Buffalo County on charges of Burglary and Theft.  At the time of the burglary, Hunter was under state supervision for felony bail jumping and Lyngen was out on bond from Winona County for drug charges.  

High school teachers in western Wisconsin and eastern Minnesota will learn the latest advancements in computer science, thanks to a $550,786 National Science Foundation grant received by the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, UW-Eau Claire and UW-Stout.   Grant funding will allow the consortium to provide training to high school teachers for the next three summers. Teachers will spend four weeks at either UWRF or UW-Eau Claire to learn computer science research from faculty at the schools. They will then spend three weeks at UW-Stout to develop curriculum models and conduct educational research.   

The Western Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission is conducting a survey on the outdoor needs and preferences of Western Wisconsin residents and visitors.  Its hoped the survey will identify popular outdoor activities and destinations, challenges that limit outdoor recreation access,  and opportunities for improving recreation facilities and programs.    For more information on the survey, contact the Pepin, Buffalo, Eau Claire or Dunn County Health Departments.

One person is dead after a one-vehicle accident in Barron County on Sunday.  According to the Barron County Sheriff's Department,  a 44yr old woman from Downing was traveling westbound on 2 3/4 Ave when she lost control of the vehicle and it rolled and she was ejected.  She was flown to Regions Hospital in St. Paul where she was pronounced dead.  That accident remains under investigation.

Public health managers in Eau Claire say most of the people in the county continue to skip the flu shot. The city/county health department yesterday said just 28 percent of people have gotten the flu vaccine so far this year. That's down from last year's mark, which was 34 percent. The health department's Kristy Polden says people might just be putting off getting the shot. She says some people wait til the flu season is in full effect. Flu season starts in the fall, and usually peaks in the winter months when more people are inside. 

There aren't a lot of details about a deadly weekend stabbing in Hudson. Police yesterday say the stabbing happened Sunday at a house on Orange Street. There's no word about who was stabbed, or why. Hudson Police simply said the suspect, Jimmy Harriman Jr. was taken into custody and is now facing homicide charges. Hudson Police say the investigation remains on-going. 

 The latest multi-billion-dollar ask from state lawmakers comes from child care advocates in Wisconsin. The group Wisconsin Early Childhood Action Needed yesterday joined with a number of other advocacy groups to ask Governor Evers for two billion-dollars for child care in the next state budget. Evers has said for years that he wants to pump more money into Wisconsin's child care system. He says without it, many child care centers will close. The advocate said essentially the same thing yesterday. Republican lawmakers say they want to help Wisconsin's parents find good, affordable child care options as well. But they want to open more spots at more centers, rather than simply spending more money on what's already available. 

Ascension says its computer hack exposed the information for over five-and-a-half million people. The hospital last week said the hack from back in May affected as many as five-point-six million people. Ascension and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, however, say just 500 people have reported that their information has been compromised or used. Ascension was hit by a ransomware attack back in May, and it crippled their network for weeks. A report from last week said cybercriminals stole information about both patients and employees. The report says that information includes social security numbers, birthdays, driver's license numbers, and home addresses. 

After a year-long search, the DNR has a new secretary. Governor Tony Evers chose Dr. Karen Hyun to fill the position. Hyun has more than ten years of experience in policy and environmental work, including staffing the US House of Representatives Committee on Natural Resources. She will fill the vacancy left by Adam Payne, who stepped down from the position in November 2023. 

 The Sheriff's Office in Clark County is looking for a missing man. The County Sheriff says Brandon Langreck was last seen in mid-September in the Marshfield area. He's not believed to be a harm to himself or any other people, but family members are concerned about his safety and want to locate him. Those with information about the disappearance are asked to contact the Clark County Sheriff.

Wisconsin's frozen road law went into effect over the weekend. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation said the area affected includes numbered state and federal highways north of and including US Highway 10 near Stevens Point. The law allows trucks hauling abrasives or salt for winter highway maintenance and certain forest products to increase their maximum gross weight. The seasonal weight restriction program is designed to help protect Wisconsin roads during the winter months. DOT determines frozen road conditions for other parts of the state when necessary.

Republicans are celebrating a district court ruling that gives the party an advantage in the battle to control the Minnesota House.  A Ramsey County judge ruled last week that the DFL candidate in the District 40-B House race may not be sworn in next month because he violated residency requirements.  The ruling could lead to a special election in the district, though further court action is expected in the case.  The ruling gives Republicans a 67-66 edge in the House, and GOP leaders say they no longer plan to honor a power-sharing agreement made with the DFL following last month's election.

Minnesota's unemployment rate increased slightly last month.  The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development announced last week that November's jobless rate was three-point-five percent.  That's up a tenth of a point from October, but is still much lower than the national unemployment rate of four-point-two percent.  DEED officials say the uptick in the unemployment rate shows that there are more job openings than available workers in the state.

Funeral services for the teacher killed in a school shooting in Madison.  Monday’s service at Doxa Church in Fitchburg for 42-year-old Erin West came one week after she and a student were slain at Abundant Life Christian School. West had worked for four years as the substitute coordinator at the K-12 school where 15-year-old Natalie Rupnow opened fire with a handgun, killing West and 14-year-old Abundant Life freshman Rubi Vergara, whose funeral was Saturday. Six others were wounded before Rupnow turned the gun on herself. Investigators are still piecing together a motive for her actions.

Christmas traveling in Wisconsin will be easier on your wallet this year. The price-tracking website GasBuddy says nationwide gas prices will be at their lowest point on Christmas Day since 2020. Triple-A says the average for a gallon of regular gas in Wisconsin is around $2.82, with per gallon prices as low as $2.68 in Eau Claire and Buffalo counties in western Wisconsin and as high as nearly three dollars in southwest Wisconsin. Nearly two-and-a-half million Wisconsinites are predicted to travel 50 miles or more from home this holiday season, with around 90-percent driving to their destination.

Local-Regional News Dec 23

  The state of Wisconsin is looking into the weekend's deadly police shooting in Chippewa County. The shooting happened Saturday night in the town of Lafayette. The sheriff's office originally got a call about a domestic violence situation. Before they arrived, they say one of the suspects sped off. When deputies stopped him a short time later, they say he started shooting at them. Eventually the Eau Claire County Regional SWAT team was called in. That's when police say the suspect started shooting at the SWAT team, and they fired back. Those are the shots that killed the suspect. The Department of Justice is looking into the chase and the officer-involved shooting. 

One person was injured in a single vehicle accident in the town of Arcadia on Saturday morning.  According to the Trempealeau County Sheriff's Department, Manuel Ortiz of Austin, MN was traveling on Hwy A near Hwy 93, when he lost control of the vehicle, went over a driveway and the vehicle went airborne and rolled onto its side.  Ortiz was taken to the hospital, and was later charged with Operating While Intoxicated.

Amtrak's new Borealis train became stuck for almost four hours this weekend near Hastings, almost 20 miles from its destination.  Some 300 travelers were on board at the time the train became stuck late Saturday night.  Amtrak officials blamed the problem on a switching issue.  The Borealis launched in May as the second Amtrak train to provide daily service between St. Paul and Chicago.    

 

A Chippewa County man is found guilty of sexual assault. Raymond Buchli of Arizona was found guilty by of a jury of four out of five charges. Prosecutors say the victim was asleep then he began assaulting them. Buchli will be sentenced in Chippewa County in March. 

Eau Claire's city manager is seemingly blaming the D.A's office for last week's deadly stabbing at the Do Dodge Inn. The city manager's office took to its website with a response to questions about how Anthony Jackson was not in jail or prison. Jackson has dozens of arrests, at least 26 in Eau Claire alone. The city manager's office says once those arrests happen, however, it's not up to the city to decide what happened. The city manager said those decisions are made by the District Attorney, and after that by judges. 

 Both the state and Barron County's public health managers are keeping a close eye on the people who worked at the poultry farm that saw Wisconsin's first human case of the bird flu. The state's Department of Health Services on Wednesday reported that a man who works at the farm has come down with the flu. No one is sure how or just when. The man is being treated and monitored. DHS says the man had direct contact with a flock of birds that tested positive for the flu. The state says there does not appear to be a risk of anyone else getting sick.

 Two men are sentenced for a drive-by shooting that killed another man in Eau Claire. Prosecutors say Michael Purnell and Jamon Sullivan killed Christopher Conner two years ago after an argument at a bar.  Purnell was sentenced to five years in prison yesterday, including time served.  Sullivan gets two years of probation. Two other men involved in the murder have already been sentenced. Kemone Golden, who prosecutors believe pulled the trigger, was sentenced to eleven years.

A Sparta woman has been sentenced to 8yrs probation in connection with starting a fire at the Sparta Walmart last year.  18yr old Emma Smith plead guilty to Arson of Property and criminal damage to property in Monroe County Court.  In addition to the probation, Smith must serve 60 days in jail without Huber privileges.  In December of last year, Smith started a fire inside of the Sparta Walmart causing over $7 million in damages.

$2 million in grants is going towards housing assistance in Wisconsin.  More than 50 organizations will get funding from the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority to improve emergency shelters, transitional residences, and extremely low-income housing. Governor Tony Evers says expanding access to affordable housing remains a priority, and the grants will provide critical resources to those who need them and help foster safer spaces for Wisconsinites. Over the last five years, more than 17,000 affordable housing units and more than 26,000 housing units have been built across the state.

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation calls 2024 a successful.  In 2024, WisDOT moved forward 380 improvement projects valued at more than $1.3 billion. WisDOT also launched four new programs including a driver education grant, electric vehicle infrastructure projects, a bridge inventory program, and its Agricultural Roads Improvement Program. WisDOT launched the new Amtrak Borealis service in 2024, the first passenger rail expansion in Wisconsin in 22 years. The Borealis doubles service between the Twin Cities and Chicago with eight stops in Wisconsin. WisDOT also welcomed Wisconsin's first female secretary of transportation, Kristina Boardman.

A former Wisconsin supreme court justice continues to deny accusations of ethics violations. Mike Gableman says sanction recommendations from the state Office of Lawyer Regulations are unfounded and have no merit. O L R accuses Gableman of lying to Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, disrupting court proceedings and violations of Wisconsin's open records laws while he led an unproductive investigation into the 2020 presidential election. Gableman is offering an affirmative defense, saying one or more of those claims does not actually violate the state's rules on professional conduct for lawyers.

Lawmakers are furious with the UW for the latest move on university construction. The state Senate this week voted down about 70 million-dollars in funding for a handful of construction projects at the university. Republican leader Devin LeMaheiu said Republicans scuttled the money because the university refused to answer their questions, and seemed to be trying to rush the construction projects through without being honest. One of those projects is UW-Madison's engineering building. The university is not saying what the delay means for the building. LeMahieu said Republicans will consider releasing the money, but only if the UW comes back to the statehouse with answers and honesty. 

Prison time for a 12th drunk driving conviction. 59-year-old Jon Miner of Tomah pleaded no contest to charges on Thursday and was sentenced to 8 years in prison. Miner was pulled over for speeding in April of this year and admitted to a Kaukauna police officer that he was drunk. He then took a swig of vodka from an open bottle before his arrest. Miner, whose drunk driving convictions date back to 1997, apologized in court and said he knows he can't beat his alcoholism on his own.

 The investigation into Madison's school shooter is now looking at TikTok. An account that may have belonged to Natalie Rupnow contains all manner of violent images and content. The Anti-Defamation League on Wednesday said it found the account. The ADL says it connected the account to Rupnow through a geotag. The account has just two original videos, but has reposts of several violent themes. One of them links to posts about the man who's accused of killing UnitedHealthcare's CEO. That post says 'When all other forms of communication fail, violence is necessary to survive.'

 The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is reminding residents to use caution when heading out onto the ice this winter.  DNR is urging people to measure ice thickness before walking or driving on it to go ice fishing or enjoy other activities.  They say no one should go on ice under four inches and it takes about five inches to support a small ATV or snowmobile.  A large truck with a wheel house shelter needs at least 20 inches of ice, according to DNR.

The Wisconsin State Patrol is paying tribute to two retired K-9 officers who died last week.  On Facebook Friday, the State Patrol said K-9 Cirus had passed away December 12th at the age of 12.  Cirus spent eight years with the State Patrol, conducting narcotics detection sweeps that resulted in significant seizures of illegal contraband.  Also passing is K-9 Nora, who died last week at the age of 13.  Nora had a 9-year career of detecting large amounts of contraband in the Northcentral and Northwest regions.

Add this to the scientific resume at UW-Eau Claire. The university yesterday said a team of students helped discover a group of flesh-eating squirrels in California. The researchers studied the carnivorous squirrels for 12 years, and found that it is common for them to hunt and eat smaller woodland creatures like voles. UW-Eau Claire professor Jennifer Smith says this is the first time anyone has studied flesh-eating squirrels. She said the work from the team in Eau Claire is groundbreaking. 

Local-Regional News Dec 19

  Winter weather can be expected for the next few days across the WRDN listening area.  The National Weather Service is extending the winter storm warning warning til 3 a.m. tomorrow. Forecasters say the Chippewa Valley will see as much as another eight inches of snow today. That will once again make for a tricky drive to and from work or school. The Weather Service says 25-mile-per-hour wind gusts will only make the drive tougher. Forecasters say after the snow, it will remain cold til at least Christmas Day when the high is expected to be above freezing. 

The Pepin County Sheriff’s Office is urging residents to stay vigilant against a surge in scams targeting individuals and families across Wisconsin. Scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated, using technology, fake identities, and emotional manipulation to steal money and personal information.   The Sheriff's Department is reminding people that government agencies will never call you demanding payment or threaten arrest, tech companies will not initiate unsolicited contact to fix your computer and have questions ready that only your grandchild or family member would know if you receive a call saying a relative is in trouble and needs money.  If you receive a suspicious call never give out any personal information and just hang up.

Another tel-com in Western Wisconsin has received a grant and loan from the USDA to expand broadband internet access. The Bloomer Telephone Company received a $4.6 million grant and a $4.6 million low-interest loan from the USDA ReConnect Program.  The money will be used to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network to provide high-speed internet to 1,278 people, 32 businesses and 73 farms in Chippewa and Dunn Counties.

The weekly City of Mondovi garbage and recycling pickup will be delayed due to Christmas Day and New Years Day.  Mondovi residents that normally have a Wednesday garbage pickup, it will be on Thursday.  The Thursday recycling pickup will on Friday.  If you have any questions, please feel free to call City Hall with any questions.

The plan to bring a battery plant to Chippewa Falls is back on the table. KYMA Battery Technologies originally pitched Chippewa Falls on a plant to rehab old batteries, but decided to take that idea to Michigan instead. Now the company is back with plans for a plant to make brand new batteries. They're again talking about building at the old EOG Sand Plant property. Chippewa Falls Mayor Greg Hoffman says there are new leaders at KYMA this time, and a slightly different plan that's a lot less worrisome for the city. The hope is to start some work at the new plant by the spring. 

Wisconsin's Assembly speaker wants to borrow an idea from the new Trump Administration. Speaker Robin Vos yesterday suggested a state-based government efficiency effort similar to the DOGE office that President-elect Trump is planning. Vos said he wants to call his the GOAT: Governmental Oversight, Accountability and Transparency Committee. Vos said the idea is to reform state government, and look for ways to save taxpayers money. Vos isn't saying specifically what that means, but he's been clear for months that his top priority for the next two years is figuring out how to give Wisconsin's four billion-dollar surplus back to the taxpayers of the state. 

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services has detected the first presumptive positive human case of H5N1 infection. The human case follows an infected flock of commercial poultry identified in Barron County, Wisconsin, where this person was exposed to the infected flock. The case was identified through testing at the Wisconsin State Lab of Hygiene and is pending confirmation at the CDC. Wisconsin health officials are monitoring farm workers who may have been exposed to the virus and have provided them with information to protect their health. The risk to the general public in Wisconsin remains low. People who work directly with infected birds or animals are at higher risk. The H5N1 virus has continued to circulate in wild and domestic birds in North America since December 2021. The virus is highly contagious and often fatal to domestic poultry. The disease varies in severity depending on the strain and the species infected.

The end of Act-10 will have to wait. A Dane County judge yesterday placed a temporary hold on his declaration that Act-10 is unconstitutional. Judge Jacob Frost is the same judge who struck down most of Act-10 earlier this month. He says he's ordering the pause to give lawmakers and others a chance to challenge his ruling. Frost said Act-10 cannot stand because it separates public employees into two categories, and applies Act-10's collective bargaining limitations to just one group. Republicans are appealing that decision, pointing to other courts that tossed out the very same argument years ago. The pause means unions, like Madison's teachers' union, cannot move ahead with new contract demands just yet. 

Someone 'jackpotted' some ATMs in Marshfield, and walked aways with as much as 100 thousand-dollars. Police say it happened over the weekend. They say someone installed something on an ATM at the Simplicity Credit Union. That something allowed the thieves to essentially hack the ATM, and take out huge sums of money. Marshfield Police say the thieves took anywhere between 60-thousand and 100-thousand-dollars. There's no word about suspects or a vehicle description, but police are asking anyone who may have seen something to please speak-up. 

Make sure you're getting your lottery credit on your property tax bill. The Wisconsin Department of Revenue reminds you to closely check your bill this year to ensure your lottery credit is being applied. This year's credit should be around 213 dollars per household. You can only claim the credit once each year on your primary residence. If you think you're not getting the credit, check the state tax portal online at Revenue dot W I dot Gov.

Add Waukesha to the list of places with a verified drone sighting. A Waukesha County deputy reported last Friday that they saw a drone flying over the county courthouse. There's no indication that the drone was doing anything suspicious, but being over the courthouse meant the drone was flying too close to the Waukesha County Airport. It is illegal to fly a drone within five miles of an airport, and the sheriff's office says the Waukesha airport is a half-mile from the courthouse. No one is sure who was flying the drone, or what they were doing. The Waukesha drone sighting comes as people up and down the east coast are reporting drone flights almost every night. 

The Milwaukee Brewers will stay at American Family Field until at least 2050.  The Southeast Wisconsin Professional Baseball Park District approved a new lease agreement today.  It's been more than a year since Governor Tony Evers signed a state law with bipartisan support to keep the team in Milwaukee.  The ballpark has generated two-point-five billion dollars since it opened 23 years ago. 

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is investigating last month's oil pipeline leak in Jefferson County. The DNR yesterday said it has officially opened a case on the leak from last month that spilled 70 thousand gallons of oil in the town of Oakland. The DNR was first notified of the leak on November 11th, but initially said the leak was limited to just two gallons of oil. That number has gone-up steadily since. Enbridge, the company that owns the leaky pipeline, has blamed a leaky valve for the problem. The DNR says it is continuing to monitor the pipeline, and has not yet decided what kind of 'enforcement action' may be necessary. 

School threats increased following Monday’s fatal school shooting in Madison.  The Wisconsin Department of Justice Office of School Safety says over 80 tips about a possible school threat were reported over the last two days. That more than doubles the number received during the same period last year. The justice department began its ‘Speak Up, Speak Out’ confidential tip line four years ago allowing individuals to report concerns about student safety. DOJ says 114 people contacted the 24/7 resource last school year to convey information about a possible school attack.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is suing 3M and DuPont. The suit accuses the companies of deceptively marketing products containing the toxic chemical PFAS.  It has been used for decades as a nonstick, waterproof, and stain-resistant coating in products like 3M's Scotchgard and DuPont's Teflon.  3M is phasing out the use of PFAS in products by the end of 2025.  It hasn't used PFAS in Scotchgard for years.

Nominees are selected based on exceptional moral actions and character while out in the field. Examples can include helping other hunters find lost game, assisting new hunters, or protecting natural resources. Any hunter or non-hunter can be nominated for their actions during the 2024 calendar year. Established in 1997, the award recognizes a person whose action is symbolic of Wisconsin’s hunting heritage. Nominations will be reviewed by a five-person committee and can be submitted by mail or email by January 31st.

Local-Regional News December 18

 Forecasters say snow is forecast for the WRDN listening area.  The National Weather Service says Western Wisconsin could see as much as six inches of snow by the time the flakes stop falling tomorrow. The snow is expected to start overnight tonight, and just keep going. Road crews are asking for patience ahead of time. Forecasters say the roads across western Wisconsin will be snow-covered, and will need to be plowed throughout the day tomorrow. 

The Durand-Arkansaw School Board is meeting tonight.  Items on the agenda include renewal of the agreements with the Alma, Pepin, and Plum City School Districts,  approval of the 2025-26 course handbook, and reports from the district and building administrators.  Tonight's meeting begins at 6pm in the board room at Durand-Arkansaw High School.

One person was injured in a single vehicle in Maiden Rock Township on Saturday  According to the Pierce County Sheriff's Department, 76yr old Donald Warnke of Holman was traveling northbound on Hwy CC when he lost control and entered the ditch.  Warnke was taken to Mayo Red Wing Hospital with undetermined injuries.

One person was injured in a single-vehicle accident Saturday in Hartland Township.  According to the Pierce County Sheriff's Department, 18yr old Jackson Merrill of Ellsworth was traveling northbound on Hwy C, when he swerved to miss a deer and entered the ditch rolling the vehicle.  Merrill was transported to Red Wing Hospital.

Western Wisconsin could see a substance abuse facility re-open.  Lutheran Social Services is looking to buy the L.E. Phillips Libertas facility that was closed when HSHS closed Sacred Heart and St. Joe's Hospitals earlier this year.   A LSS spokesperson says the name would not stay the same, or have any affiliation with HSHS.  It would be open 24 hours every day, 365 days a year. LSS hopes the facility will help fill an increasing need for addiction recovery in the Chippewa Valley.  If everything goes according to plan, service could begin in early to mid 2026. 

 Prosecutors say the weekend stabbing attack at the Do Dodge Inn was unprovoked. Eau Claire County's D.A, filed formal charges against Anthony Jackson yesterday. Investigators say he was seen talking to himself at the bar not long before he stabbed 31-year-old Alex Graff to death. An autopsy shows Graff was stabbed in the heart, face, and side. He died a short time after the attack. Prosecutors say there's no evidence that Jackson knew Graff, or that the two had any kind of disagreement. Jackson is being held on two million-dollars bond, and is facing homicide charges in the case.

  A southeast Minnesota man is spending the rest of his days behind bars after being found guilty of killing the mother of his children.  Yesterday, a Winona County judge sentenced Adam Fravel to life in prison without the possibility of parole in connection with murder of Madeline Kingsbury.  The 26-year-old woman was last seen alive dropping her two kids off at daycare in Winona in March of 2023.  Her remains were found ten weeks later in a culvert near a home in Filmore County owned by Fravel's parents.  Fravel addressed the court before his sentence was delivered yesterday, saying he "Never caused harm to Maddi" and is innocent.

Thanks to a Supreme Court ruling last week, the Prairie Island Indian Community can begin to prepare to move its gaming operations -- if it becomes necessary.  Last week, the high court placed hundreds of acres of land that the Prairie Island Indian Community owns into a trust.  The land is located near Xcel Energy's nuclear plant and the tribe worried a major storm could render their gaming operation inoperable.    

Wisconsin's race for the White House is officially over. The state's 10 Republican electors cast their official ballots for President-elect Trump yesterday. The whole thing took less than 20 minutes. Trump won Wisconsin by about 30 thousand votes in the November election. Yesterday's vote was different from four years ago when Republican electors cast their votes for an alternative slate for the president. That vote continues to be part of a criminal case. 

A candlelight vigil was held last night in Madison, Wisconsin to remember the lives lost and pray for those injured in Monday's shooting at a private K-12 school.  A teacher and a student at Abundant Life Christian School were killed, and it appears the shooter - a 15-year-old girl - died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.  Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes says it's too soon to say what her motive may have been.

Prosecutors say the weekend stabbing attack at the Do Dodge Inn was unprovoked. Eau Claire County's D.A, filed formal charges against Anthony Jackson yesterday. Investigators say he was seen talking to himself at the bar not long before he stabbed 31-year-old Alex Graff to death. An autopsy shows Graff was stabbed in the heart, face, and side. He died a short time after the attack. Prosecutors say there's no evidence that Jackson knew Graff, or that the two had any kind of disagreement. Jackson is being held on two million-dollars bond, and is facing homicide charges in the case.

Police are investigating shooting threats at two Green Bay high schools.  Police identified three persons of interest Monday connected to reported threats at Green Bay East and West high schools. The three are juveniles who live in the Green Bay community. Investigators first heard about the threats in the middle of the night from students. A release from Green Bay Police said detectives and school officials spoke with the juveniles and determined there was no ongoing threat to the schools.

The Department of Motor Vehicles reminds people to get their updated REAL IDs. WisDOT says the REAL ID will take effect in May of next year after multiple delays due to the pandemic and rollout issues. You'll need those updated IDs to get on airplanes and enter secure federal buildings. If you don't have a new ID or need help obtaining one, you can contact the D M V online at Wisconsin D M V dot Gov to schedule an appointment to get a new ID. Only 62 percent of residents currently have that compliant ID.

The Department of Public Instruction says the $10.5 million from the U.S. Department of Education will help support recruitment and retention of special education teachers and leaders. The funding will improve professional development systems for educators and help districts implement innovative strategies to address critical special education staffing shortages. State Superintendent Jill Underly says the funding will help districts increase professional growth opportunities and implement innovative retention strategies. According to DPI data, 49.4 percent of Wisconsin’s new special education teachers either leave the state or the profession altogether by their sixth year.

A legislative study committee on sandhill cranes has made its recommendation. Following a fifth and final meeting last week, the panel of lawmakers, ag and conservation groups last week advanced a draft bill that would authorize sandhill crane hunt and fund compensation to farmers for crop losses. State Senator Romaine Quinn of Cameron said he thinks that represents the best opportunity for any movement to address the issue. But state Senator Mark Spreitzer of Beloit said he doesn’t see a bill that includes hunting the cranes, passing. The panel voted against a stand-alone crop damage support bill, and did not vote at all on a bill for a stand-alone hunt. The combined bill will go to the Legislature’s budget committee for consideration.

It's a two-million-dollar bond for the suspect in a double murder in Adams County from back in June. A judge yesterday ordered 38-year-old Cory Beck held for the murders of Sharon Miller-Robinson and her adult son. The sheriff's office says they were found dead at their home in Strongs Prairie. An autopsy shows both of them died of blunt force trauma to the head. Prosecutors say Beck knew both the victims, but they are not saying how. There's also no word about what led-up to the killings. Beck is due back in court in February. 

 Minnesota is recording a record high of visitors to the state in 2023.   Explore Minnesota recently released a new report that Minnesota attracted more than 80 million visitors last year but each tourist spent less than in previous years.  Tourists spent fourteen-point-one billion dollars on dining, shopping, fishing, and other activities in 2023.  Spending is still down more than nine percent from 2019.  One of the reasons for the rise in revenue was the Taylor Swift Eras Tour concert and several other large events that brought visitors back to the metro.

Local-Regional News Dec 17

 Western Wisconsin's congressman is accusing Madison's congressman of playing politics with yesterday's school shooting in Madison. Congressman  Derrick Van Orden took exception to Congressman Mark Pocan focusing on the lack of a farm bill early on Monday instead of the shooting at a Christian school in Madison. Pocan fired back that thoughts and prayers are 'useless.' Van Orden said the Twitter-tif was low, even for Pocan. The two have a history of arguing on Twitter and other social media platforms, often personally attacking each other.

The Ellsworth Police Department and the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office received multiple reports of vehicles being struck by an object, causing damage over the weekend. According to the Ellsworth Police Department, officers arrested Jeffrey Baker in connection with the incidents. They continue to investigate the incident and ask any residents who may be victims to contact the department.

Public health managers in Eau Claire say local whooping cough cases have skyrocketed this year. The city/county health department yesterday said there have been 26 cases of the whooping cough so far this year. That's compared to one case all of last year. The health department is not saying why the whooping cough has been so prevalent this year, or just who is getting sick. It's not just an Eau Claire problem, though, statewide public health managers say there've been over two thousand cases of the whooping cough so far this year. 

Water bills in Eau Claire are going-up next year. The city yesterday said it's raising the price of water by about four percent. That means the current 74 dollar bill for three months of water will jump to about 77 dollars. Community Services Director Lane Berg says part of the increase will be used to cover the cost of Eau Claire's new PFAS treatment facility. That's the 120 million-dollar project that the city began just a few weeks ago. The new rates are set to hit people's bills in February. 

Chippewa Falls is set to finalize its new hospital tonight. The city council is being asked to okay the local for the new Aspirus Health hospital. Aspirus wants to build on Chippewa Crossing Boulevard, west of Highway 178. The city currently owns the land. The hospital is being seen as one of the replacements for St. Joes, which closed earlier this year. The hope is to finalize the site tonight, begin work next year, and open the hospital by the summer of 2026. 

  Members of Minnesota's congressional delegation are praising the passage of a bill naming the bald eagle as the national bird of the United States.  Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith and Representatives Brad Finstad and Angie Craig worked together on the bill, which now goes to the President for his signature.  Klobuchar noted that Minnesota has one of the largest bald eagle populations in the U.S. and is home to the National Eagle Center in Wabasha.  The bald eagle has been part of the Great Seal of the United States since 1782 but has never been declared the country's national bird.

Barron County deputies have identified two people found dead at a home over the weekend. The sheriff's department says deputies found 53-year-old Michel Turnipseed and 51-year-old Michelle Turnipseed dead at their home in Chetek just before 1 pm on Sunday. Michelle was found outside the home, while Michael was found inside. Court records show Michael was facing domestic abuse charges, and that a divorce was proceeding between the pair.

 There's a warning about some of the Connie's frozen pizzas that may be in your freezer. Palermo's yesterday announced a recall of about 12 hundred Connie's Thin Crust Cheese frozen pizzas sold here in Wisconsin. The company says there's a worry that the pizzas may have 'potential plastic contamination.' The pizzas have all been pulled from store shelves, but the FDA says some people may still have them in their freezers. If you do, simply toss it out, or bring it back to the store. Palemro's says the pizzas were sold here in Wisconsin, as well as in Illinois and Minnesota. 

Oshkosh Corporation’s production of new delivery vehicles for the U-S Postal Service is off to a rocky start. In an investigative story, the Washington Post reports Oshkosh has delivered just 93 of the 3,000 Next Generation Delivery Vehicles that were expected by the end of November. The story cites internal documents and communications from the company blaming the delays on an inability to calibrate the vehicles’ airbags, leaking chassis, and problems securing bodies from Challenge Manufacturing in Michigan. Those issues were reportedly kept from the Postal Service by Oshkosh executives. The report also claims the Oshkosh plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina is producing just one NGDV a day–instead of the 80 that were expected by this point. The story quotes an Oshkosh employee as saying “This is the bottom line: We don’t know how to make a damn truck.” Oshkosh Corporation has not issued any statements regarding the Washington Post story. The value of the Postal Service contract could reach $10-billion.

One of Wisconsin's tribes is looking to block northern Wisconsin's pipeline expansion. The Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa filed two legal challenges to the proposed Line 5 reroute. Band Chairman Robert Blanchard says the Wisconsin DNR failed to consider his tribe and failed to consider Enbridge's troubles in Minnesota when agreeing to give the company permits to expand the pipeline around tribal lands. The tribe is both suing the DNR, and contesting the wetland and waterway permit that the state gave to Enbridge. Enbridge wants to reroute the pipeline away from most of the Bad River Band's land, and bring oil and gas from Canada into the United States. 

Minnesota's two U.S. senators are asking the head of the U.S. Postal Service about mail delivery problems in Rochester.  Senators Tina Smith and Amy Klobuchar sent a letter to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy last week.  They asked why some areas did not receive mail and package delivery for four days or more, despite promises from the local post office.  They called the lack of delivery during the height of the holiday season a "source of stress and frustration for Minnesotans."  Smith and Klobuchar asked DeJoy for a response to their letter by Thursday.

 A pair of Republican lawmakers want school districts and other local governments to let voters know the true cost of local referendums going forward. State Rep Scott Allen and state Senator Rachael Cabral-Guevara on Friday introduced a plan that would give voters more information about the monthly cost of local tax increases. Allen said voters are only given the big-picture price tag, and left to guess what it will mean for their taxes. Cabral-Guevara said voters need all the information so they can make the right decision. The move comes after a wave of local tax increase questions passed this year, leading the largest property tax increase in Wisconsin in nearly two decades. 

Welcoming visitors to Wisconsin during April’s NFL Draft in Green Bay.   The Packers, Travel Wisconsin and Discover Green Bay met up with businesses and organizations in Neenah Wednesday to pass along tips on meeting and greeting out-of-town visitors. Organizers of the event expect the draft to attract five times the number of visitors Milwaukee saw for the Republican National Convention. Discover Green Bay say as many as 240,000 visitors from around the country and world could provide a statewide economic impact of $94 million. The NFL Draft will be in Green Bay from April 24th thru the 26th.

Record holiday travel numbers are projected for Wisconsin. According to Triple-A, nearly 2.4 million Wisconsinites will travel 50 miles or more from home between December 21st and New Year’s Day, breaking the previous all-time high set last year by over 76-thousand. Nearly 90% of those travelers will drive to their destinations. Nationally, Triple-A forecasts that 107 million people will take a holiday road trip of 50 miles-plus, just missing the all-time mark set in 2019. They also expect air travel to set a new record this holiday season.

Local-Regional News December 16

 The Pepin County Sheriff's Office is increasing patrols and taking part in the national "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" campaign, running this Holiday Season through January 1, 2025. This campaign aims to ensure the safety of everyone traveling this holiday season by preventing impaired driving.  Law enforcement officers across Wisconsin will work throughout the campaign to identify and stop impaired drivers.  The department's message is simple: if you’re driving impaired, you will be caught.

The Buffalo County Board is meeting tonight.  Items on the agenda include discussion and possible action on an ordinance allowing former owners of property lost due to taxes preference to repurchase the property, a resolution on the issuance of a $400,000 general obligation promissory note, and approval of 2025 non-union wages.  Tonight's meeting begins at 7 in the board room at the government center in Alma.

The Buffalo County Sheriff's Department is warning residents of phone scams.  The department is telling residents if they receive a phone call with an unfamiliar number to ignore the call.  According to Sheriff Mike Osmond, the calls are from international scammers and make victims believe a loved one has called for bail money, is in a medical emergency, or victims have been made to think they are being blackmailed.  If you receive a call you are suspicious about, residents are advised to call the sheriff's department.  Remember Law Enforcement will never call you asking for money.

There's already another delay in Lily Peters' murder trial. The judge in the case yesterday pushed back the next hearing in the case till June. The two sides were supposed to be in court in Chippewa Falls in April to get a trial date for the case. The judge has previously said he doesn't expect a trial until 2026. Peters was killed in April of 2022. Lawyers for the teenager accused of killing her want to move the trial out of Chippewa County. They say it would be tough to get a fair trial in Chippewa Falls. 

There is a suspect in custody for a deadly weekend stabbing at the Do Dodge Inn. Eau Claire Police got a call about the stabbing at about 6 p.m. on Saturday night. Officers say they tried to save the victim, but say the victim died at the hospital. There's no word yet on who was arrested, who died, or what led-up to the stabbing. Eau Claire Police say some of those answers may come later today. 

Authorities in Barron County are investigating after they found two people dead at a home in Chetek. Deputies say they got a call yesterday afternoon about a woman lying outside the house in a pool of blood. When they arrived, they found the woman outside and a man inside. He was dead as well. The sheriff's office is not saying how the two died, but investigators say there's no danger to the public. We are waiting to see just who the two are, and how they knew each other. 

  It's prison time for a Chippewa Falls man caught by Bikers Against Predators. A judge yesterday gave 26-year-old Steven Burich four-and-a-half years in prison for sending pictures to a child under 13-years-old. Burich had just been released from prison one month before his arrest last year. The group Bikers Against Predators worked with authorities on a sting. They met Burich at a Kwik Trip in Chippewa Falls, they say he was there to have sex with an 11-year-old girl. 

 A Winona County judge is granting a request to allow media coverage of the sentencing of Adam Fravel.  Fravel was found guilty of the murder of Madeline Kingsbury last month and his sentencing hearing will be held next week.  The judge denied requests for in-court coverage of Fravel's trial but approved audio and video coverage of the sentencing hearing yesterday.  Kingsbury's family plans to give victim impact statements during Tuesday's sentencing.  

One of Eau Claire's lawmakers has gone to the police after he says his daughter stole thousands of dollars from his campaign fund. State Senator Jesse James on Friday announced that he discovered 32 thousand dollars in missing campaign money. He said his daughter, who is his campaign treasurer, is suspected of taking it. James says he is going public with the story to be honest with voters. And he said no one in Wisconsin is above the law. There's no word about just where the investigation into the missing money stands, or whether any arrests are pending. 

We're getting word of a pipeline leak in central Wisconsin that saw thousands of gallons of oil spill last month. The Department of Natural Resources says the leak on the Enbridge Line 6 pipeline spilled 70 thousand gallons of oil in Jefferson County. The leak was discovered on November 11th, but state regulators say the oil may have been leaking for days before that. Crews immediately jumped on the clean-up. There is no word just how bad the spill damage was. Environmentalists in Wisconsin say the leak was happening at the same time that the DNR was giving Enbridge the go-ahead to reroute its Line 5 pipeline through northern Wisconsin. 

President Biden has pardoned or ended the sentences for eight people from Wisconsin, including a couple of drug dealers. The president this week issued pardons or commuted the sentences of 15 hundred people across the country. In Wisconsin that meant two pardons, and six commuted sentences. Those six include heroin and meth dealers, as well as a Green Bay woman convicted of stealing millions from elderly investors, and a Sheboygan man convicted in a rare coin scheme. Biden's office said the people he commuted were  'serving long prison sentences - many of whom would receive lower sentences if charged under today's laws.'

 Wisconsin's presidential electors will follow the federal law next week, not the state law. The state's Republican Party yesterday said it will vote for the president next Tuesday, instead of on Monday. State law requires a vote on the first Monday after the second Wednesday in December. But the federal law requires a vote on the first Tuesday following the second Wednesday. The Republican Party filed a lawsuit this week, hoping to clear-up any confusion. Republicans say they are going to follow the federal law so there's not any confusion or challenges to their vote. 

One of President-elect Trump's cabinet picks can count on a vote from Wisconsin's Democratic U.S. Senator. Senator Tammy Baldwin yesterday said she plans to vote for Sean Duffy for Transportation Secretary. The two met this week, and yesterday Baldwin said she will support him for the new job, Baldwin says she looks at every cabinet appointment through the lens of 'will you be good for Wisconsin?' She said she knows Duffy will be. Duffy served five terms as the northwoods congressman before stepping away in 2020. 

 Wisconsin is getting a million dollars to help Central Wisconsinites better understand health issues.  The Department of Natural Resources says the money will go toward programs that help people better understand water quality, fish consumption, and other related health issues.  Urban and rural communities in Marathon, Clark, Taylor, Lincoln, Langlade, Shawano, Portage, and Wood counties will benefit.  The DNR says residents in Tribal, Hmong [[ MUNG ]], and Hispanic communities in the area can be disproportionally affected by these issues. Education projects will go on until 2027.

A Fillmore County judge has dismissed four of the 21 charges facing one of the defendants arrested for a deadly 2023 buggy crash.  The judge announced Wednesday that four of the felony charges filed against Samantha Petersen lack probable cause.  He accepted a defense argument that evidence related to THC use by Petersen at the time of the crash is circumstantial.  Petersen still faces 17 charges related to the crash, which killed two Amish children and hurt two others.

 A Dane County family is celebrating an early Christmas miracle after being reunited with their cat that was missing for more than a decade.  Dave Dexter says the family cat, Rutherford, apparently slipped out of the house one day in 2013.  He said that after about six months or a year, "we kind of resigned ourselves to the fact that he wasn't coming back."  A few weeks ago, they received a call from a veterinary office in Georgia saying they identified Rutherford through his microchip.  He had been found on the side of a road in the town of Dillard, about 900 miles away from the Dexter household and not far from where Hurricanes Helene and Milton hit during the summer.  After letting Rutherford stay a couple weeks with the Georgia vet for treatment, Dexter flew down, picked him up and brought him back home.

Local-Regional News Dec 13

 The Durand City Council is coming out in support of the Durand-Arkansaw School District applying for a FEMA Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities Grant to pursue building a new fieldhouse at the high school.  The fieldhouse would be multipurpose with one use being a community storm shelter.  Preliminary plans say it would be constructed near the library/cafeteria area of the school.

Three people were injured in a SUV vs train accident in Elk Mound.  According to the Dunn County Sheriff's Department a southbound SUV traveling on 970th street failed to yield the right of way from the stop sign at the railroad crossing causing a collision with a train on the passenger side of the SUV.   The driver of the SUV was med-flighted from the scene while two juvenile passengers were taken by private vehicle to the hospital.  That accident remains under investigation.

A rash of vehicle vandalism is being reported in Dunn County.  According to the Dunn County Sheriff's Department, several vehicles in the Village of Downing had their tires slashed the evening of November 22 into the early hours of November 23rd.  The Sheriff's Department is asking for the public's help in identifying the suspect or suspects involved.

Another phone scam alert for Pepin County residents.  According to the Pepin County Sheriff's Department, residents are receiving calls claming to be coming from the Sheriff's Department regarding jury duty being missed and the caller demands money over the phone.  This is a scam as the Sheriff's Department will never call you ask for payment for anything over the phone.

H5N1 bird flu has been confirmed at a turkey farm in Barron County. State Veterinarian Darlene Konkle says there have been more cases of avian influenza in poultry nationwide.  The Barron County flock contains more than 13,000 birds. Wisconsin has not yet identified cases of the H5N1 virus in dairy cattle or other livestock.

Chippewa County says the area needs a psychiatric hospital now that Sacred Heart and St. Joe's have closed. The county board this week passed a resolution asking either the state legislature or Congress to provide more money to treat people who need to spend the night, or more than one night, in a psychiatric facility. Right now those people are usually taken to Winnebago, and the county is billed for their stay. But Chippewa County Human Services director Tim Easker says that's expensive, and not always available. The resolution doesn't say just how much Chippewa County needs, or just how many patients the county has seen. The Chippewa Valley Health Cooperative has talked about reopening St, Joe's this fall, but nothing has been decided. 

The city of Eau Claire is asking the state and federal governments for help with the city's homeless. The city council on Tuesday passed a resolution of its own that asks for money and resources to deal with the growing number of homeless in the city. Council President Emily Berge says it feels like the number of homeless has jumped year-after-year, and she says the costs to care for them have certainly increased. Eau Claire is a hub for homeless people in other communities. Begre wants lawmakers to give the city the power to mandate affordable housing, which she hopes will get some people off the streets. She says Eau Claire doesn't have many tools in its tool belt, and needs to look upstream for help. 

Eau Claire Police say their latest meth bust took 10 pounds of drugs off the streets. City police, along with the West Central Drug Task Force this week arrested three people who they said had a large drug shipment in Eau Claire. The meth has a street value of over 360 thousand-dollars. All three are looking at a possible life sentence if convicted. 

The northwoods' congressman is once again pressing for answers about plans to resettle refugees in the state. Congressman Tim Tiffany fired-off a letter this week to the Bureau of Refugee Programs for the Evers administration, asking about plans to send Afghan and Ukrainian refugees to Marathon County. Tiffany said just like in the Eau Claire refugee case, there aren't a lot of answers about who these people are, and just where they are coming from. Tiffany says he has no faith in the Biden Administration's attempts to vet refugees. He said he hopes the Evers Administration is doing a better job. 

Minnesota Congresswoman Angie Craig is reportedly a strong contender to head the U.S. House Agriculture Committee.  Democrats are scheduled to vote next week on the ranking member.  Two others are in contention for the position of ranking member including incumbent Georgia Representative  David Scott and California Democrat Jim Costa.  

Wisconsin's Republican U.S. Senator is not going to be ambassador to Mexico under President-elect Trump. A different Ron Johnson will be. The new president yesterday named Johnson, who is a former ambassador to El Salvador, to the Mexican ambassadorship in his second term. Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson had to take to Twitter to say it's not him, and explain that there are a lot of Ron Johnsons in the country.

Wisconsin's state superintendent says if lawmakers would spend the state's surplus on schools, maybe property taxes wouldn't be going-up as much. State Superintendent Jill Underly yesterday reacted to the new report from the Wisconsin Policy Forum that says local school tax increases are driving the largest property tax spike in Wisconsin in almost two decades. Underly said if lawmakers would spend the four billion-dollars sitting in Madison on schools, local schools may not have to ask for as much money. Underly has been making the case for months to spend all of the surplus on public schools, but lawmakers and even Democratic Governor Tony Evers have said that's not likely going to happen. 

 There is a new challenge to Act-10, and it could get around the liberal-majority Wisconsin Supreme Court. The Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty filed the challenge yesterday. It says while a Dane County judge has struck down Act-10 as unconstitutional, that ruling doesn't cancel out rulings from the U.S. Supreme Court that says people cannot be forced into unions, or forced to pay union dues. The case was filed on behalf of a Kenosha school teacher who says her union is not asking for a recertification vote this year. WILL says the U.S. Supreme Court is clear that there are First Amendment protections against forced unionization, and protections against compelled speech

Children's Hospital Wisconsin says there is a desperate need for foster families. The hospital this week said there are about 700 kids who need foster care each year in southern Wisconsin, but there are just seven homes for them outside of Dane County. Children's Maria McDermott says they are facing a dire need for treatment-level foster homes in particular. There are some requirements to become a foster parent, but Children's says the opportunity is there for most people. 

 Latest numbers show five times more air quality advisories than average in Wisconsin in a single year due to Canadian wildfires.  The Department of Natural Resources says there were 15 PM advisories during 2023.  The warnings are issued when air is deemed unhealthy for sensitive groups.  Last year historic wildfires burned areas of land in Canada, about two-million acres more than the area of the state of Wisconsin.

A Funeral urn was intentionally left at movie theatre in Beloit.  The woman who did so says she has no plans to pick up the urn at the Beloit Police Department. The woman, who wants to remain anonymous says the remains were those of her father who she had no relationship with. She left the urn in the theatre during a screening of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice in October because she didn't want his presence inside of her house. The woman told Rockford TV station WREX that she left the urn in a specific location thinking she would never really hear about it. The theater turned in the urn to police after waiting a few weeks for someone to come back for it. 

The Minnesota Department of Transportation is accepting entries for its fifth annual Name a Snowplow contest.  Entries will be accepted through noon on December 20th.  The agency will sort through the entries and pick a group of finalists that will be posted online next month.  Eight winners will be selected through an online vote.  More information about the contest is available on the Mn-DOT website.

Local-Regional News Dec 12

 Voters in western Wisconsin could see a rematch on their ballots in 2026. Democrat Rebecca Cooke yesterday said she's considering another run for Congress in two years. Cooke says she out-paced both Kamala Harris and Tammy Baldwin in the western part of the state. She said she was just three points away from winning the race against incumbent Republican Derrick Van Orden. Van Orden said on Twitter that Cooke spent a lot of money to lose, and said he's not sure she can do any better in 2026. 

The judge in Lily Peters' murder says it could be 2026 before the case actually goes to trial. Carson Peters-Berger, the now 16-year-old charged with Peters' murder was in Chippewa County court yesterday. He pleaded not guilty. The judge said the case will proceed in adult court, but the judge also said he expects a number of roadblocks in the case. Investigators say Peters-Berger beat, strangled, then raped Peters as she was walking home back in 2022. The case has lingered because of a fight over whether to try Peters-Berger as a juvenile. Now, the judge says he expects a fight over which county to hold the trial in. 

One of Eau Claire's state representatives is once again asking for the HSHS money. State Rep. Jodi Emerson yesterday said the legislature needs to release the 15-million-dollars that was set aside to help other hospitals in Eau Claire and Chippewa Falls deal with Sacred Heart and St. Joe's closings earlier this year. She said the Chippewa Valley cannot afford any more delays. Republican lawmakers say Emerson needs to blame Governor Evers for the delay. He changed the plan to spend the money, and no longer wants to earmark the cash strictly for ER services to make-up for a lack of emergency care without Sacred Heart or St. Joe's. 

Eau Claire is going to require licenses for Airbnb's and VRBO rentals. The city council last night approved a new license plan. The idea, supporters say, is to differentiate between traditional bed-and-breakfasts, and short term rentals like Airbnb's and VRBO rentals. The council, however, did not approve new rules that would have required week-long stays, or that would have limited local Airbnb and VRBO rentals to just six months out of the year. 

A man is sentenced to four years in prison after he was found with five pounds of meth.  Eau Claire Police say they got an anonymous tip about Dalton Clayton, and pulled him over last year.  That's when officers say they found the drugs, worth about 118-thousand dollars.  Clayton pleaded no contest in court today before his sentencing.  He'll have six years of extended supervision once his prison sentence is complete. 

The family of a Winona County woman who was found dead last year is asking a judge to allow cameras in the courtroom during the sentencing of Adam Fravel.  Fravel was found guilty of murder in the death of Madeline Kingsbury last month.  Cameras were not allowed in the courtroom during Fravel's trial in Mankato, but members of Kingsbury's family have consented to letting cameras into court to record their victim impact statements.  Fravel will be sentenced on December 17th.

UW - La Crosse is adding two news majors to satisfy growing workforce needs. The engineering physics and data science majors will open for enrollment in the fall of 2025 and be typical four-year degrees. According to UWL, the engineering physics degree will focus on the physical and mathematical fundamentals of mechanical, civil, optical, and materials engineering. The new data science major is designed to help address the increasing demand for skilled professionals in Wisconsin and beyond. The number of data science jobs is projected to grow by 36% nationally over the next decade. The two new majors were approved by the Board of Regents during a meeting last week.

Two people are dead a crash involving a semi-truck in west central Wisconsin. The Wisconsin State Patrol says an SUV crossed a median on I-94 near Tomah Monday night and hit the semis. A 26-year-old Minnesota woman and a 47-year-old Wisconsin man in the SUV were killed, while the truck drivers from Michigan and Minnesota were hospitalized and are expected to survive. Shortly after that crash, another semi driver from Minnesota who didn’t follow cones and flares directing traffic around the crash rear-ended a State Patrol squad car. A trooper who hurt his head in that crash was hospitalized while the semi-driver involved wasn’t injured.

More year-end chances to harvest deer in Wisconsin. Though the gun deer hunt in the state has ended, the Department of Natural Resources reminds hunters that a statewide anterless-only hunting period will happen this Thursday thru Sunday. In addition, an anterless-only Holiday Hunt will run from Christmas Eve to New Year’s Day, and archery and crossbow deer seasons continue through January 5th, with those seasons extending through January in some areas with extended archery seasons. Check the DNR website for more details.

The Wisconsin outdoor recreation industry's latest numbers show a record-breaking boost to the state economy.  The state Department of Tourism says eleven-point-two-billion dollars went toward the state's gross domestic product in 2023.  Most of the money came from boating, fishing, and apparel.  Last year was the second consecutive record-breaking year for tourism as a whole, with 25-billion-dollars of economic impact. 

There are new charges in Wisconsin's fake electors case. Attorney General Josh Kaul yesterday added 10 new charges against the two attorneys who he says lied to the people who voted for President Trump after the 2020 election. Kaul is accusing Kenneth Chesebro and Jim Troupis of forgery to defraud. He says they lied to Republican electors about how to cast a vote for Trump after he lost Wisconsin four years ago. Kaul is also adding charges against a Washington, D.C. aide who helped get the slate of alternate electors to Vice President Mike Pence. Chesebro and Troupis have always said they were simply offering legal advice, and a what-if scenario to Wisconsin Republicans. They are due in court in Madison tomorrow.

Republicans in Wisconsin are asking a judge to strike down the state's presidential elector law, so there won't be any confusion next week. The Wisconsin Republican Party filed a lawsuit last Friday, asking a federal judge to invalidate Wisconsin's presidential elector law. That law says electors must vote on the first Monday after the second Wednesday in December. This year, that's next Monday. But the federal presidential elector law says the vote must be on the first Tuesday following the second Wednesday. This year, that's next Tuesday. The lawsuit says the discrepancy opens Wisconsin's electoral vote up to a possible challenge. Wisconsin's law has been on the books for years, but the federal law was changed back in 2022 to try and speed-up the presidential certification after the January 6th riot.

Officials with Michael Foods say they expect egg prices to go up again after an outbreak of the bird flu among their flocks.  Parent company Post holdings has confirmed a third-party contracted egg-laying flock in Iowa tested positive for the bird flu.  Almost four-and-a-half million hens -- or about 12 percent of Post's egg supply -- are housed at the Iowa facility.

All 19 protesters arrested at a UW Board of Regents meeting are getting citations. The pro-Palestinian protesters are accused of disrupting the board meeting last Thursday.  Representatives for student groups involved in the protest say they're concerned about the university's investments with ties to Israel.  UW-Madison police say the protesters will be ticketed for intentionally interfering with a university sponsored event       

Add this to your next order of Glazers. Kwik Trip is now offering snow globes and ugly Christmas sweaters. The sweaters say See Ya Next Time, and are just part of the new holiday offerings at Kwik Trips website. The company already sells hats, shirts, and even boxer shorts. Kwik Trip says they are online specials only, so don't look for the sweater section the next time you're in one of their stores.