Local-Regional News Jan 31

 The Dunn County Sheriff's Department is asking for the public's help in identifying blood-stained items and the owners of the items found near the Whitetail Golf Course in Colfax on Sunday.  The department was called after the suspicious items were found on Hwy 40.  It is unknown at this time if the items were intentionally discarded on the roadway or if they fell off a vehicle.  Anyone with information is to contact the Dunn County Sheriff's Department or Dunn County Crimestoppers.

With the closing of Sacred Heart in Eau Claire, there will be challenges for law enforcement in Western Wisconsin responding to those experiencing a mental health crisis.  Pepin County Sheriff Joel Wener says here in Wisconsin, it could take up to 16 hours for someone to be admitted to a facility if they are experiencing a mental health crisis and law enforcement is called. Wener said with Sacred Heart closing, deputies will have to transport those suffering a mental health crisis across the state to facilities in Green Bay, Oshkosh, or even Madison.

The questions about Chippewa County's sheriff may have forced a plea deal in a police chase case. Prosecutors announced a plea deal yesterday with Mitchell Ludtke. He was arrested last April, after police claimed he tried to hit a Cornell police officer and smashed into a Cornell police car. His lawyer was expected to question the credibility of Chippewa County Sheriff Travis Hakes if the case went to trial. He will be sentenced in April, he pleaded no contest to recklessly endangering safety, fleeing an officer, and drunk driving.

Hope continues to grow for Amtrak service to Eau Claire. The West Central Wisconsin Rail Coalition met yesterday to talk about the plan. Representatives from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation and Amtrak were both there. Eau Claire is on the shortlist for federal grants that could bring an Amtrak line to town. Local planners are optimistic but say there's still work to be done. 

507 will no longer be the sole phone area code for southeast Minnesota, as 924 joins the region.  With the new area code, you will need to type in all 10 numbers to make a call by July 30. Previously, when 507 was the only area code, you could make calls by only typing the last seven numbers.  The new area code was added as new numbers for the 507 area code are expected to run out of numbers early next year.

Snow plows in Wisconsin could soon have the power to control stoplights. Lawmakers are considering a plan that would give state and local government plows the same kind of gear that police officers and firefighters have to control traffic lights. The idea is to allow plows to do their job without having to stop every other block or so. 

 More details on the hand grenade found by the volunteers at the Goodwill in Ashland.  Ashland Police Lieutenant Brandon Marten says it was a Japanese grenade, and based on the explosion when the Marathon County bomb squad detonated it, they believe it was still live. Marten says they believe someone was cleaning-out an attic, placed it in a donation box, and never really checked to see what it was. 

A judge says the state of Wisconsin can force large dairy farms to get environmental permits before they do anything with their manure. The judge in Calumet County yesterday ruled that state law allows the Department of Natural Resources to proactively protect Wisconsin's waterways, and said that gives the DNR the power to force dairy farms to prove their manure won't pollute the local water system. Dairy farmers fought the idea, saying federal law doesn't allow environmental regulators to force farmers to get permits before they release any manure. The judge says Wisconsin law has a carve-out. 

Wisconsin's governor, as expected, has vetoed the political maps that he essentially drew. Governor Tony Evers yesterday vetoed the legislative maps that were 99 percent of the maps he drew and submitted to the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Republican lawmakers approved the maps last week. The governor says he vetoed the maps because Republicans made a handful of changes that put sitting lawmakers back in their districts. The governor said he wants fair maps, not Republican or Democrat maps. The governor's decision means the Wisconsin Supreme Court's experts will likely have the final say on who voters will see on their ballots later this fall. 

The Marathon County Health Department has identified an outbreak of whooping cough in the Athens area.  There have been “several” cases of the disease in residents near Athens, meaning anyone traveling to or from that area should take precautions and monitor their symptoms. Signs of whooping cough can develop 7-10 days after exposure and include cold-like symptoms including a mild cough that progresses into coughing fits that can last for several months. Vomiting is also a symptom of the disease. Anyone who develops those symptoms should contact their doctor. Treatment will typically include antibiotics.

Madison's Schoep's Ice Cream is facing a fine of over 145 thousand dollars for ammonia exposure. Federal investigators say the ice cream plant on Madison's isthmus didn't have proper safety management procedures in place after workers were exposed to ammonia, which can cause respiratory injuries and burns. OSHA issued 12 citations and recommended the 145 thousand dollar fine. The company that operates Schoep's has 15 days to comply, request a conference with OSHA's area director or contest the findings.

A group of Wisconsin Democrats are pitching a plan to have the state boost local journalism. State Rep. Jimmy Anderson, state Rep. Jodi Emerson, and state Senator Mark Spreitzer are asking the legislature to support a newspaper tax credit as well as a local journalism fellowship program, and what they are calling a Wisconsin Civic Information Consortium. The move comes after Democrats in Illinois suggested something similar to deal with the lack of local news coverage in their state. Local news coverage has shrunk in Wisconsin over the past decade, led by much smaller advertising budgets and dozens upon dozens of layoffs.

Wisconsin lawmakers are looking to clarify the law for sex offenders. Wisconsin's attorney general issued a ruling that sex offenders must register after two or more convictions, even if those convictions were for the same crime. The new law will likely mean more people will have to register as sex offenders going forward here in Wisconsin. The plan is up for a hearing at the statehouse later today.  

Minnesota is now offering an online assessment of assisted living facilities in the state.  The Assisted Living Report Card is based on a similar effort that assesses Minnesota nursing homes.  The site includes ratings for each facility in categories like quality of life, health, safety and staffing.  The state says that only about 20-percent of the assisted living facilities in Minnesota are currently part of the report card, but that more ratings will be added early next year.

Weigh in on the state’s new highway map.  The next edition of the Official Wisconsin Highway Map will be published next year, and the state Department of Transportation wants to hear from you. A survey is available on the department’s website, and public comment is open through February 29. The use of geographic information system (GIS) data, will enable the new map to show current infrastructure and help travelers navigate roads throughout the state. Free printed copies of the map are available at locations including rest areas, welcome centers and travel information centers.

Local-Regional News Jan 30

City of Durand officials met with members of the Durand Swim Club recently to discuss details of the new pool project.  Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren says one area they talked about was how to recognize all the donors to the pool project.  The city and swim club also discussed how the money raised by the fundraising will be transferred to the city to pay for the project.  Construction is expected to begin this year on the new pool.

The Durand-Arkansaw School Board has approved the 2024-25 High School Course handbook.  Superintendent Greg Doverspike says the handbook is more of a catalog of classes offered. Now that the handbook is approved, the high school staff will start scheduling classes for the upcoming year.

The group that will try and see Eau Claire through the closings at HSHS and Prevea has its leaders. The group yesterday named Retired healthcare executive Bill Rupp and president of Northwestern Bank in Chippewa Falls Jerry Jacobson to lead the task force. Their goal will be to help find answers for workers, patients, and the community once HSHS and Prevea close this spring. 

The Eau Claire man charged with beating his wife pleaded not guilty to her death on Monday.  John Berthold, 81, entered the plea of not guilty to the charge of first-degree intentional homicide. He is charged in the death last July of his 77-year-old wife Diane.  Authorities say he told investigators his wife was a narcissist and he "couldn't take it anymore." He also said he had been planning to kill her for weeks, and told a deputy he would do it again.  Berthold will return to court in March.

Tim Johnson is out at another western Wisconsin school district. Chippewa Falls Schools yesterday said Johnson resigned as their head of human resources and public relations. Johnson is under investigation for his time as superintendent of the Glenwood City Schools. A former substitute teacher says Johnson billed Glenwood City Schools about 80 thousand-dollars for grad school classes he may never have taken. Johnson left Glenwood City Schools last summer. Chippewa Falls' school board accepted Johnson's resignation last night. 

A longshot Democratic candidate for president is asking the Wisconsin Supreme Court to add him to the primary ballot. Minnesota Congressman Dean Phillips on Friday asked the high court to add him to the April ballot. Wisconsin Democrats added only President Joe Biden when they nominated candidates for the primary earlier this month. Phillips says he reached-out to Wisconsin Democrats back in December about being added to the ballot but never heard back. Phillips says he got about 20 percent of the vote in the New Hampshire primary, even though he had to run as a write-in candidate. 

WILL is going to court to try and save Act 10. The law firm filed a lawsuit yesterday to head-off potential challenges to the law that changed how schools have to deal with their teachers' union. WILL's case is on behalf of a public school employee who doesn't want to be forced into the union. Act 10 has saved nearly 17 billion-dollars since it became law in 2011. School teacher union membership has also plummeted in the decade-plus that Act 10 has been a law. 

A proposal in the Wisconsin Legislature would add a black-and-white license plate option to the vanity plate list. The plate, which would have a black background and white text, has been a popular option for motorists in Iowa and Minnesota. In Iowa, blackout plates have brought more than 30-million dollars in revenue since they became available in 2019. In Minnesota, the plates were introduced on January 1 and more than 16-hundred were sold in the first two days.  The Wisconsin bill's co-authors say the addition would be an extra source of revenue for the state's road projects. They would cost 25-dollars more than standard plates, and an additional 25-per-year as a renewal fee.

Wisconsin lawmakers are looking to do something about childhood obesity this week. An Assembly panel will hold a hearing on Wednesday on the proposals that came from the Speakers' Task Force On Childhood Obesity. They include two plans to spend about five million-dollars on childhood obesity prevention and management. There's another plan that would require schools across the state to have at least three hours of physical activity per-week.

 A new Forbes Advisor Study says Wisconsin ranks 40th in the US for E-cigarette usage.  Wisconsin is tied with Maryland and Florida for the third-lowest increase in vaping among adults between 20-16 and 20-22.  The study also found that nationally E-cigarettes are used by 11-percent of people in Generation Z.

The American Red Cross is still looking for donors after 15-thousand donations were canceled nationwide this month. Wisconsin Red Cross Spokesperson Mary Jane Thomsen says they've partnered with the NFL to give away tickets to the Super Bowl. You'll have to donate blood by the end of January to qualify for those tickets. You can find that app and sign up for a blood drive online at Red Cross Blood dot Org.

An Illinois man is looking at charges for a high-speed chase last week that deputies say topped 100-miles-per-hour. The sheriffs in both Dodge and Columbia counties say 19-year-old  Mario Gonzalez from Rockford, Illinois sped away from a traffic stop last Tuesday. Deputies finally had to use spike strips to stop his car. Gonzalez was in court last week and given a one thousand-dollar cash bond. 

Staff at a northern Minnesota Goodwill store got an unwelcome surprise as they were unpacking a donation box over the weekend.  Officials with True North Goodwill say a staff member at the Ashland store pulled a live hand grenade out of a box on Saturday.  Staffers put the grenade outside, evacuated and closed the store and called the police.  The grenade was secured by law enforcement and the store reopened yesterday.  The store's assistant manager said the grenade was probably part of a World War Two collection that was mixed with other items and donated when someone passed away.

Bear the dog was found in one the most Milwaukee places ever. Bear, a 16-year-old shih tzu, escaped from Jenny Hazard's backyard last Wednesday. She searched and searched, but couldn't find him. That's when she got a text from someone who spotted her dog online. Turns out Bear went down the street to Finks bar. The bartender says it looks like a group of women found Bear, and then brought him to the bar to warm up. Hazard says Bear was having the time of his life at the bar, and she now has a story to remember him by. 

Local-Regional News Jan 29

The Blues on the Chippewa may be moving from Memorial Park.  At last week's council meeting, the council discussed a proposal from organizers that would move the event down to Riverside Park between the boat landing and the veteran's memorial.  The main stage would be in the boat landing, while the food trucks would be parked in front of the city shop and the craft vendors would be on the walkway.  The council will have to approve the proposal.

 St. Joe's in Chippewa Falls is closing earlier than first expected. Originally, HSHS said the hospital would close in April, but a letter sent out last week said St. Joe's will now close on March 22nd. HSHS and Prevea announced this month that they are closing all of their hospitals and clinics in the Chippewa Valley. The closing means patients at St. Joseph's will need to find new doctors as of mid-March. 

Elected officials in western Wisconsin are still coming to terms with the departure of a major healthcare employer. State Senator Jeff Smith says of particular concern are mental health services offered at Sacred Heart in Eau Claire. HSHS Health System announced last week it will close its hospitals in Eau Claire and Chippewa Falls, and Prevea clinics in the Chippewa Valley. More than 1200 HSHS and Prevea employees will be impacted by the closures, most of which will be completed by mid-April.

A man wanted for opening fraudulent bank accounts in Menomonie and cashing fake checks has been arrested in Jackson County.  Authorities accuse 31yr old Michael Anderson of using a fake Georgia Drivers license to open up the accounts earlier this month and then cashing checks at four branches of the Citizens State Bank in Hudson, Roberts, Woodville, and Elmwood and at two branches of Dairy State Bank in Menomonie and Downsville.  On Thursday, the man tried to cash a fake check in Black River Falls. Instead, he was arrested by officers with the Black River Falls Police Department.   He is currently being held in the Dunn County Jail.

A Cadott man who was hurt in a snowmobile crash earlier this month has died. Mark Sibbers was hurt when he crashed his snowmobile along a public trail near Mauston. His friends over the weekend said Sibbers died from his injuries. Another man from Chippewa County also died in that wreck. The Department of Natural Resources and the Juneau County Sheriff's Office are investigating. 

Republican lawmakers plan to introduce a measure that would create a statewide referendum on the new Minnesota flag.  Wabasha County state Senator Steve Drazkowski says he will sponsor the measure when the legislature resumes on February 12th.  Several local governments have passed resolutions condemning the new flag and seal designs that go into use on May 11th.  Some have criticized the cost of replacing current emblems on uniforms and official documents, while others feel the state is erasing history.  Governor Walz responded to the criticism yesterday, telling WCCO-TV that he plans to be "building roads, bridges, and water treatment plants" while Republicans focus on the flag and seal.

You can pay your Wisconsin income taxes starting today. The Department of Revenue says tax filing season begins today. Once again the state is suggesting that people file online. The Department of Revenue says the WisTax system is the fastest way to get a refund. You can also track the status of your refund online. People in Wisconsin have til April to get their taxes filed. 

A proposed lemon law for agricultural equipment has a public hearing tomorrow at the Capitol. State Senator Andre Jacque drafted the bill in response to farmers who’ve repeatedly had to return machinery for warranty work.  The DePere Republican says other states including Illinois and Minnesota already have a similar law. Wisconsin has had a vehicle lemon law since the 1980’s.

Lawmakers at the Wisconsin Capitol are looking to ban ranked-choice voting in the state. An Assembly committee tomorrow will take up the plan to add a constitutional amendment that would prohibit ranked choice voting in the state. Supporters say ranked-choice voting would give other candidates and other parties a better shot. Critics say ranked-choice voting is confusing and often leaves voters without a clear winner on Election Day. 

A new analysis by the Legislative Fiscal Bureau breaks down how much people would save in tax breaks by the newly proposed Republican plan.  In total, the bill would see 75-percent of tax cuts go to the top 20-percent.  The largest breaks percentage-wise come to anyone making between one hundred and two hundred thousand dollars.  Anyone making less than 50-thousand will receive less than 700 dollars off their taxes.  Democratic Governor Tony Evers said he is open to tax cuts on WKOW earlier this month but has not commented on the current proposed bill. 

More than 266-thousand Wisconsinites are enrolled in state health coverage for 2024 -- a record-breaking number. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services says This is a 20-percent increase from the 2023 open enrollment period. Though the open enrollment period is over, individuals with large life changes such as marriage, having a baby, or sudden health coverage loss, may be able to enroll through the year. Tribal members and families can enroll in coverage at any time on the Wisconsin marketplace. 

Republicans in Wisconsin are moving ahead with a 14-week abortion ban, despite pro-life opposition and a promised veto from the governor. The State Assembly yesterday approved a plan that would ask voters in April if they'd like to end abortions at 14 weeks, as opposed to the 20 weeks allowed under current law. A number of pro-life groups yesterday blasted the plan. They would rather see if Wisconsin's supreme court will uphold the state's pre-Roe law that bans almost all abortions in the state. Governor Evers promised to veto the plan. He says he won't sign any law that limits a woman's right to choose. 

The Speak Up, Speak Out Tipline has received its 10-thousandth caller.  The Wisconsin Department of Justice Office of School Safety announced that since the inception of the line in September of 20-20 there have now been 10-thousand calls to report concerns of wellness and safety.  The call line has received about 200 concerns of planned school attacks, over 200 reports of guns or weapons, and over 350 related to suicide threats.

A possible cyber security incident was detected in Group Health Cooperative of South Central Wisconsin systems on Wednesday. The cooperative says it was found quickly, and all systems with internet access were shut down to be safe. This caused some services, like MyChart and telephones, to be unavailable for a length of time. The Cooperative says some services may still be affected while an investigation continues. Updates will be posted on its social media pages. 

Eau Claire ice skating rinks are closing, just six days after opening. Eau Claire's Parks, Recreation, and Forestry department says outdoor skating rinks and warming shelters closed on Friday. Warm temperatures expected through February are to blame for cutting the skating season short.  

Local-Regional News Jan 26

 The Madison Street project may be delayed by a year after bids for the project came in over $1 million over budget.  Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren says the city cannot afford the extra cost of the project. The project was expected to cost approximately $2.1 million but the lowest bid was $3.2 million

Add this to the list of concerns over the closing of two hospitals in western Wisconsin. UW-Stout yesterday said it will need a new student healthcare provider once Prevea [[ pru-vey-uh ]] closes its clinics in April. Prevea currently runs the Student Health Services clinic in Menomonie. The university yesterday said it is exploring its options. Prevea and HSGS this week announced they will close their hospitals and clinics in the Chippewa Valley because of cost concerns. 

There are now pictures to go along with the investigation into a check fraud scam in Menomonie. The  Wisconsin Crime Alert Network says the suspect opened checking accounts at both the Dairy State Bank and Citizen's Bank in Menomonie earlier this month by using a fake driver's license. A few days later, they say the suspect came back and cashed fake checks worth about 15 thousand-dollars. There are pictures of the suspect, but no one has a name or any kind of license plate to go along with the case. 

There could be pink slips coming at Jamf in Eau Claire. The company this week told the SEC that it will be laying off six percent of its full time workforce. Jamf, however, is not saying just when those layoffs are coming, or who will be laid off. Jamf started in Eau Claire and has an office near Phoenix Park. But there are also offices in Texas, and the headquarters in Minneapolis. Jamf says the layoffs should happen in the first quarter of this year, and should be wrapped-up by June. 

The 15-year-old suspect in the Lily Peters homicide case will be tried as an adult. Chippewa County Judge Steven Gibbs issued the decision Monday, siding with the state in ruling that court proceedings in the 2022 slaying of the 10-year-old Peters will remain in adult court. The decision denies the suspect’s petition for a reverse waiver into juvenile court. The suspect is charged with first-degree intentional homicide and two counts of sexual assault. Court documents show the suspect was evaluated by doctors and diagnosed with “multiple, verified psychological disorders.” Judge Gibbs agreed with prosecutors that moving the case to juvenile court would diminish the seriousness of the act.

Two of the Republicans who write Wisconsin's state budget say there's no need to scrap plans for a tax cut simply because the state is expected to take-in less money next year. The Legislative Fiscal Bureau this week downgraded its revenue estimate. The LFB says Wisconsin's budget surplus should now be three-point-one billion, as opposed to three-and-a-half billion-dollars at the end of next summer. State Senator Howard Marklein and state Rep Mark Born say that is still plenty of money to pay for a two billion-dollar tax cut. That tax cut, they say, is aimed at families making under 150 thousand-dollars a-year, and retirees in Wisconsin. 

Wisconsin's governor could soon be facing questions about his role as an elector in the 2020 election. A judge yesterday said lawyers for former President Trump can question Governor Tony Evers about what he said about the electors who met back in 2020 to support Trump. Evers said those electors committed a crime and should be held accountable. Those Trump electors have never been charged with a crime, and a lawsuit against them was dismissed without an admission or damages. The judge says the governor will get the questions in writing, and only after lawyers question everyone else in the case. 

Over-the-counter emergency contraception will now be covered for Wisconsin's BadgerCare Plus members. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services issued the standing order, which will allow members to get EC at Medicaid-enrolled pharmacies, without a prescription from a doctor. Currently, costs are covered only with a doctor's prescription, which may require an appointment.  DHS says the order applies statewide.

A bill, if passed, will allow doctors to help terminally ill patients die in Minnesota.  Medical aid in dying has been discussed by the Minnesota legislature for the past eight years.  So far, ten states allow it.  The bill, known as the End-of-Life Options Bill, has several qualifications, such as the patient has to be 18 years or older with a terminal illness that will kill them in six months.  The bill was passed yesterday by the health committee.    

Medical marijuana legislation hits a dead end in Wisconsin.  Speaker Robin Vos made it clear the bill from Assembly Republicans won’t be amended.  Now a key Senate supporter of medical cannabis says efforts to pass the bill are “pointless” absent a willingness by Vos to negotiate. Tomahawk Republican Senator Mary Felzkowski told Milwaukee’s CBS 58 that she doesn’t see anything happening this session. Senate Republicans object to having state-run medical marijuana dispensaries, preferring that to be done through the private sector.

President Biden is announcing billions of dollars in new infrastructure projects across the country.  While speaking in Superior, Wisconsin yesterday, Biden announced about a billion dollars from his infrastructure law will be used to replace the Blatnik Bridge that connects Wisconsin and Minnesota.  The visit to the key battleground state comes as Biden's re-election campaign is highlighting the president's economic agenda ahead of a likely general election rematch against former President Trump.  Biden claimed economic growth has been stronger than under Trump.  This comes after data released yesterday shows the economy grew at a healthy clip over the past year, surpassing three-percent. 

Wisconsin's governor says the new legislative maps that are 99 percent of what he drew are not his maps. Governor Evers yesterday promised to veto the maps that the State Assembly passed yesterday afternoon. Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos says the only reason Democrats won't take 99 percent as a win is because they believe they can get even more from the liberal-majority Supreme Court in March. Evers' maps drew new districts that forced more than a dozen current Republican lawmakers to run against each other. Vos says Republicans trimmed that number down. The governor says those changes are gerrymandering. 

The American Lung Association opposes legislation to allow some indoor smoking options in Wisconsin.   The bill, introduced last September, would allow the opening of more "tobacco bars". Currently, only businesses that sold primarily cigars and pipe tobacco before 2009 are exempt from the indoor smoking ban. A Lung Association spokesperson Molly Collins says the proposal would weaken the state's clean air laws, and expose more employees to secondhand smoking. The bill is currently awaiting action in the Assembly State Affairs Committee.

 Detectives are investigating a deadly two-vehicle crash just outside of Rochester.  The collision happened yesterday morning near the corner of Highway 30 and County Road 8.  Authorities say a truck crashed into a Prius killing its driver, 83-year-old Lenora Tahtinen of Mankato.  The driver of the truck was taken to a Rochester hospital and is expected to survive his injuries.

An audit of two U.S. Postal Service facilities in Minnesota has found substantial issues that affected mail delivery last year.  The report released yesterday by the USPS Office of the Inspector General shows the Apple Valley and Eagan branches found issues related to management oversight, package scanning, timekeeping, safety, security, and maintenance.  The report says over 50-thousand pieces of delayed mail were discovered in Eagan, and another 29-thousand were found in Apple Valley during the November audit.  The Inspector General says it now plans an investigation of the entire Minnesota-North Dakota postal region as a result of the audit.

A unique vehicle was in Durand on Wednesday as the Oscar Mayer Wiener Mobile made a stop in the downtown.  Samantha Benish of Nelson is one of the "hot doggers"-drivers of the Wiener Mobile.  While a student at UW-Madison she saw the Weinermobile on Campus and decided to apply for the one-year position.  Benish says she has already been to twelve states. According to Benish, the Weinermobile is available for events at no charge.  To apply to have the Weinermobile for an event, visit the Oscar Mayer website.

Local-Regional News Jan 25

 The Durand Ambulance Service will need a new medical director after the announcement of the closure of HSHS Sacred Heart.  Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren says the current director is employed by Sacred Heart.  The loss of the medical director would also mean the loss of training for ambulance members.

No one was injured in a vehicle fire in Pepin County on Tuesday.  According to the Pepin County Sheriff's Department, firefighters responded to the fire on Hwy BB and found a truck owned by Alyssa Bethke of Durand on fire.  Firefighters quickly put out the fire and the cause is unknown.

Business owners or those thinking of starting a business in the Durand area are invited to a Small Business Empowerment meeting tonight at 5:30 at Club 10.   Mark Tallman from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation will share strategies to help small businesses grow and succeed.  The event is free and is sponsored by the Durand Improvement Group.

Wisconsin's governor and the state's Health Services boss are saying a lack of a Medicaid expansion in the state led to the decision to close two hospitals in western Wisconsin. Governor Evers and DHS Secretary Kirsten Johnson were in Eau Claire yesterday, where they said the decision from HSHS and Prevea to close their hospitals and clinics leaves patients in the Chippewa Valley with fewer choices. The governor then tried to link a lack of Medicaid expansion to that decision to close. He said hospitals across the state need more money, and he said expanding Medicaid to cover more single, childless men would bring in more money. HSHS and Prevea said they were forced to close because of inflation, workforce issues, the pandemic, and other industry-wide trends. 

Two people are recovering from a house fire in Delmar last night. Firefighters say both suffered from smoke inhalation. Firefighters say the fire started in the garage and sent smoke into the rest of the house. Fire crews were able to put out the fire, but not before they said it did some serious damage to the garage.

The Pierce County Fair is looking for Century and Sesquicentennial Farms and homes in the county to recognize during this year's fair.  Liz Dietsche with the Pierce County Fair says qualified farms and homes must be owned by the same family throughout the 100 or 150 years.  Applications are available by contacting Dietsche at the Pierce County Fair and are due by February 22nd.  

A Chippewa man is accused of an OWI after police say he drove onto Lake Altoona while evading officers.  Lake Hallie Police say were trying to pull over a speeding pickup Tuesday night when the driver turned off the headlights and drove out onto Lake Altoona.  Then Altoona Police got a call for help and found the truck stuck in the snow on the lake.  Twenty-two-year-old Nicolas Rickey was arrested trying to cross the lake on foot. Police say he had alcoholic drinks in his pockets and in the back of the pickup. 

More details emerge about a grisly Juneau County death over the weekend. Prior to police finding a partially burned body on the side of a road near the parking area for the Oakridge Trail Saturday morning, a criminal complaint says an unoccupied, burning vehicle was found in the middle of a Necedah road earlier that morning. The found corpse, identified as 57-year-old Floyd Burdick of Grand Marsh, was missing the lower part of his left leg. Investigators believe a prosthetic leg which was later found five yards away from Burdick’s body was thrown. An autopsy determined that Burdick had been shot in the head multiple times. Two suspects have been charged with several felony counts in connection with the death, which has been ruled a homicide.

Wisconsin lawmakers are eyeing a change for fish fillets. The State Assembly is scheduled to vote today on a plan that would change state law to allow fishermen to take more filleted or dressed fish home. Currently, fishermen can only transport fish fillets that meet state length requirements for smaller fish, which often means taking the whole fish home. The new law would allow fishermen to fillet the fish, as long as they took a time-dated picture of the whole fish, showing that with the head and the tail, the fish was legally long enough to keep. 

The president of the University of Wisconsin says young people are not looking to go to the university's branch campuses. President Jay Rothman yesterday said the demand is different for the UW's local campuses than it once was. He says enrollment at branch campuses has plummeted over the past 10 years. He says online options have changed the marketplace for small, local campuses. Rothman's comments came after UW-Green Bay last week said it will end in-person classes at its Marinette campus at the end of the current semester. 

State Senate Republicans on Tuesday approved a revised version of Governor Tony Evers’ proposed legislative maps. The changes avoid placing Republican incumbents in the same district running against each other. The tweaked maps passed on a 17-14 vote with Republicans Joan Ballweg, Julian Bradley, Chris Kapenga, and Eric Wimberger voting no with Democrats. Minority Leader Dianne Hesselbein, dismissed the plan as “incumbent protection” in an interview with WisPolitics. Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu defended what he called “minor” changes to undo what he said was Evers’ attempt to target Republican incumbents.  The Wisconsin Supreme Court has said it is prepared to draw maps if Evers and the Republican-led Legislature cannot reach an agreement over a lawsuit that alleges the maps give Republicans an unfair advantage.

The latest tax cut proposal from Republicans at the Wisconsin Capitol is smaller and broken down into pieces. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu introduced a two-billion-dollar tax cut package yesterday. It would give married couples making up to 150 thousand-dollars a tax break, as well as expand Wisconsin's marriage tax credit and child care tax credit. The proposal would also make retirement for most people in the state tax-free. Vos says he hopes the smaller, piecemeal proposal is enough for Governor Evers to sign at least one part of it. The governor has vetoed the Republicans' other tax-cut plans in the past. 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Risk Management Agency (RMA) and the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) remind producers to apply for crop insurance premium rebates. The rebate application is web-based and will be available on DATCP’s website until January 31, 2024, or until program funding is exhausted.  There is $800,000, or 160,000 acres of coverage, to be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Eligible participants will receive a $5 per acre rebate on their summer 2024 crop insurance premium for acres that were planted with cover crops in 2023, and then planted with an insurable crop in 2024.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will spend nearly 150-million dollars over the next few years improving facilities around the state.  The money was set aside in the state budget by Governor Walz to help modernize outdoor recreation experiences across Minnesota.  In addition to 60-million for fisheries and 35-million for improving access to public lands, the DNR will spend 35-million to improve boating access and ten-million to restore streams and natural habitats.  Other funds will go toward camping and infrastructure improvements at several state parks.

A Madison man was arrested for throwing snowballs.   It sounds pretty juvenile, but it wasn't a laughing matter for the woman that was the target. On Tuesday night, police say a man became upset with a woman he thought was taking too long to get gas.....so he started throwing snowballs at her car and is also accused of pounding on her windows. Police arrested him on charges of disorderly conduct and bail jumping.

Voting is now open for MnDOT's annual "Name a Snowplow" contest.  Transportation officials have whittled down eight-thousand submissions to just fifty finalists.  They include "Barbie's Dream Plow," "Dolly Plowton" and "Don't Flurry, Be Happy."  To see the full list and vote for your favorite name, go to MdDOT's website.

Local-Regional News Jan 24

 With the announcement of the closing of HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital, there have been concerns about what that means for Advent Health Durand.  Advent Health Durand CEO Doug Peterson says things will continue even after the closing of Sacred Heart. Peterson says all the same services will also continue at both Durand Clinics.

 Lawmakers in western Wisconsin are worried about what comes next after two hospitals in the Chippewa Valley announced that they are closing. Hospital Sisters Health System and Prevea announced this week that they will close their hospitals and clinics by April. State Senator Jesse James of Altoona says that will leave a gap in care, particularly for people who need mental health or substance abuse care. James said the closing will be devastating. Eau Claire state Representative Jodi Emerson says the state needs to take a look at what it can do. She says it's not right to leave so many people with fewer choices for care. 

The Durand City Council is meeting tonight.  Items on the agenda include updates from the Mayor, City Administrator, and department heads, along with updates on the Madison Street and 6th Avenue East Projects along with an update on Blues on the Chippewa.  Tonight's meeting begins at 6:30 at Durand City Hall and will be livestreamed on our website.

One person was injured in a one-vehicle accident in Oak Grove Township on Sunday.  According to the Pierce County Sheriff's Department, 47yr old Damien Haas of Ellsworth was traveling westbound on Hwy 10 near Hwy QQ when he lost control and entered the ditch.  Haas was transported to Regions Hospital in St. Paul.

One person was injured in a single-vehicle accident in Gilman Township on Monday.  According to the Pierce County Sheriff's Department, 43yr old Brian Rud of Elmwood was traveling northbound on Hwy CC when he lost control and entered the ditch.  Rud was transported to Western Wisconsin Health.

There is an investigation into the head of HR at Chippewa Falls Schools. The district yesterday said Tim Johnson, the district's executive director of human resources and public relations, has been placed on leave. Chippewa Falls Schools aren't saying much else, but a report says investigators are looking into claims that Johnson billed his former school district for thousands of dollars in continuing education classes he never took. That report says Johnson was paid over 80 thousand-dollars by Glenwood City Schools for graduate school classes. A former substitute teacher in Glenwood City first started asking questions about Johnson's pay two years ago. Johnson resigned as Glenwood City superintendent back in May. 

Eau Claire's city council is officially on the record for the plan to resettle 75 refugees in the Chippewa Valley this year. The city council last night unanimously voted for a resolution that supports World Relief Wisconsin's effort to bring the refugees to the area. Some people in town, and some Chippewa County leaders, disagree with the move. They worry about where the refugees will come from, and what they will do once they get here. Eau Claire city council member Josh Miller says he wants the refugees to know that they are welcome. Miller was quick to point out, however, that the city of Eau Claire has nothing to do with the resettlement or the support of the refugees once they arrive.

The Department of Natural Resources is putting out a warning about shifting ice conditions. Warmer temperatures hovering around the freezing mark are expected for Wisconsin over the next week, and that could make river and lake ice unstable and spotty. Wardens remind you that no ice is safe ice, so be sure to bring safety equipment with you before you head out to fish or do other recreation. 

Wisconsin's governor is once again asking lawmakers to spend more on schools and the UW, as well as expand the state's healthcare program. Governor Tony Evers delivered his State of the State speech last night. He once again asked to send more money to Wisconsin's public schools and to spend more at the University of Wisconsin. He also, once again, pitched a Medicaid expansion. The governor specifically said he wants to use BadgerCare, the state's Medicaid program, to provide free birth control and Plan B pills to women in the state. The governor also pitched a plan to focus on workforce development throughout Wisconsin. Republican lawmakers say the speech was the "same-old same-old," and once again pitched more spending and a bigger government. 

A pair of Wisconsin congressmen want to make sure fishermen can keep on spearing sturgeon in the state. Congressmen Mike Gallagher and Glenn Grothman have introduced new legislation that would protect the annual sturgeon spearing on the Lake Winnebago system. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is studying whether to add the sturgeon to the Endangered Species Act. The congressmen say that would wreck the population management benefits of fishing, and would 'ignore the cultural importance and economic impact of lake sturgeon and sturgeon spearing to Northeast Wisconsin.' Fish and Wildlife managers are not expected to make their decision til later this summer. 

UW-Whitewater campus police are investigating an incident of anti-Semitism. The episode happened outside Knilans (NYE-linz) Residence Hall Sunday night. There, authorities say a group of four people shouted racist chants and displayed anti-Semitic symbols. By the time campus police arrived at the scene, the group of four had left. UW-Whitewater Chancellor Corey King says that the actions of the four are consistent with a group that has been visiting other campuses. The police presence on campus has been increased in response to the incident.

President Joe Biden will be in Wisconsin on Thursday. The White House Press Secretary says Biden will be speaking in Superior about Bidenomics and growing infrastructure. The visit comes days after Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers announced more than one-billion federal dollars was approved by Biden to go toward replacing the John A. Blatnik Bridge. That money will go to both the Wisconsin and Minnesota Departments of Transportation, who are splitting the costs for the bridge that connects Superior and Duluth. Biden also visited Superior in 2022, one day after announcing the trillion-dollar bridge and road infrastructure law providing the funds.  

Six Wisconsin construction companies are being honored by the state Department of Transportation for work done in 2023. The Excellence in Construction Awards are given annually to companies that work on Wisconsin infrastructure projects. This year's award for Excellence in Concrete Paving went to Trierweiler Construction out of Marshfield for reconstructing some of Blair Street in Madison. Others went to construction companies for work in Lafayette, Outagamie, Milwaukee, Polk, and Racine counties. The Wisconsin DOT Secretary says in the past five years, seven-thousand four-hundred miles of roadway and more than one-thousand seven-hundred bridges in the state have been improved.

 Authorities make a startling discovery in Minneapolis.   The Hennepin County Sheriff's Office says deputies found a rocket-propelled grenade while performing a search warrant at an undisclosed location yesterday.  They also discovered two handguns and what's believed to be fentanyl powder.  Two men were arrested at the scene.  

Representatives of the Minnesota agriculture industry are in Morocco this week to discuss trade opportunities.  State Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen is leading a delegation of state officials and agriculture leaders on a six-day to the African country.  The group will tour Moroccan food and agriculture businesses and explore ways to expand Minnesota's exports to that country.  The state exported over 13-million dollars in agricultural products to Morocco in 2022.

 

The Wisconsin State Fair continues to take shape. Fair managers yesterday announced that the Happy Together Tour will close out this year's Fair. The Happy Together Tour includes bands from the 60s like The Turtles, Jay & the Americans, The Association, Badfinger, The Vogues, and The Cowsills. Tickets go on sale Friday. The State Fair runs August 1st through the 11th this year. 

Local-Regional News Jan 23

A healthcare provider is exiting the western Wisconsin market.  Hospital Sisters Health System, with operations in Illinois and Wisconsin, announced Monday that it will close Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire and St. Joseph’s Hospital in Chippewa Falls as part of a complete exit from the region. Prevea Health, a physician network offering primary and specialty care, will also close all its Chippewa Valley locations. About 1,082 HSHS and 325 Prevea employees will be impacted by the closures, the majority of which are expected to be complete on or before April 21. 

There has been a jump in student enrollment for first-grade classes in the Durand-Arkansaw School District.  District Superintendent Greg Doverspike says it's a good problem to have.  In December it was announced that 12 new students came into the district.  Doverspike says the board is looking at adding an additional class for 2nd grade next year.

The city of Wabasha announced Monday it is partnering with the United States Army Corps of Engineers to manage the Mississippi River’s dredged sand.  Wabasha Port Authority President John Friedmeyer said this partnership between a local government and a federal government agency is one-of-a-kind.  Army Corps officials said the dredged sand will be available for both public and private uses — including for construction and agricultural projects in the Wabasha area.  On Monday, trucks began moving piles of sand to a pit owned by Kohner Materials.

The teenager accused of killing Lily Peters will be tried in adult court. The judge in the case yesterday ruled that the case will not be moved to juvenile court. Lawyers for the suspect, who was 14-years-old at the time, wanted to keep the case out of adult court because of the suspect's age, and because of the possibility of a life sentence. Peters was killed back in April of 2022, but it's not clear when her murder trial will begin. The case has been delayed this long because of a full court docket, and because of the back-and-forth over which court would hear the case.  

A new ride-sharing project could be developed by Eau Claire Transit. The Pilot Pass Program would allow people to request a ride on weekends, or weekdays after rush hour is over. The Transit says the idea is a response to periodic low ridership leaving empty busses driving their routes. Eau Claire Transit Manager Ty Fadness says there isn't an estimated cost yet to get the project going, but it would use American Rescue Plan Act funding. Planning is still in the early stages, and the Transit will be asking for public feedback. Last year, Eau Claire Transit saw the largest number of riders in a single year since the pandemic.

The battle over Wisconsin's political maps could take another step forward today. The Wisconsin Senate has scheduled a vote on the plan to create an Iowa-style commission to draw new maps in the state. Governor Evers has threatened to veto that plan, but there are now reports that Republicans in the Assembly have found some Democratic votes to override that veto. The move for a commission comes as Wisconsin's Supreme Court is working toward redrawing the state's legislative maps ahead of this year's elections. It's unclear just what a new commission would mean for that court battle. 

A man died in a snowmobile crash in Juneau County earlier last week, with DNR officials saying it's the first fatal snowmobile-related crash in Wisconsin this year. According to the Juneau County Sherriff's Office, Scott Williams, 60, of Chippewa Falls, died from his injuries at the scene. Mark Sibber, 53, of Cadott was also found at the scene unresponsive and was med-flighted to the hospital.  The cause of that accident remains under investigation.

 What was being called a suspicious death in Juneau County is now being called a homicide. The Juneau County Sheriff's Office yesterday said there are two suspects in custody in connection to 57-year-old Floyd Burdick's death. Deputies found his body last week near the Oakridge Trail parking area. Police haven't released the details of how Burdick died or the motive.

The federal government plans to spend over one-billion dollars to help replace an aging bridge connecting Minnesota and Wisconsin.  Governor Tim Walz announced the funding for the Blatnik Bridge replacement project yesterday.  Elected leaders from Minnesota and Wisconsin have been asking for federal help after committing 800-million dollars in state funding to the project last year.  Design work for the bridge replacement is expected to begin later this year.

The lawyers for a man charged in connection with the death of a southeastern Minnesota woman are seeking a change of venue.  Adam Fravel was taken into custody in June when the remains of Madeline Kingsbury of Winona were found near the Iowa border.  Investigators say the victim had a 170-thousand-dollar death benefit available through her employer and believe that may have been part of the motive for her murder.  Fravel's lawyers on Friday asked a judge to move the case to another court, saying Fravel won't receive a fair trial because of the media coverage.   

One person is dead after police say they responded to hang up 9-1-1 calls in Crescent and were met with gunfire. Three Oneida County Sheriff's deputies and two Rhinelander Police officers went to the house on River Street to investigate further. They say they entered the home and shots were fired at them - one deputy returned fire. Law enforcement then reportedly retreated from the house and created a perimeter, with a suspect still shooting at them. They say verbal instructions weren't followed, so non-lethal measures were taken and a suspect exited the house. Tactical teams from five area counties entered the home to find the other suspect deceased. No officers were injured during the exchange, but they were placed on administrative duty due to department policies.  

A ban on strip searches for kids in Wisconsin schools is now on its way to Governor Evers' desk. The State Assembly last week approved a proposal that rewrites the rules for school officials who want to strip-search students. The rewrite comes after a superintendent near Green Bay stripped a handful of high schools down to their bras and underwear to look for a vape cartridge. Prosecutors couldn't charge the superintendent because the current state law doesn't cover those kinds of strip searches. The new law would. The plan got votes from both Republicans and Democrats, but the governor has not specifically said what he plans to do with it. 

Fire volunteers in Princeton are reportedly so dissatisfied with the leadership of their fire department that they want the chief fired.  Thirty-three of the 36 volunteers who work for the department recently delivered a letter to the city council saying they had no confidence in Chief Ron Lawrence.  The firefighters say they don't trust Lawrence with their safety and accuse him of failing to communicate with them.  If Lawrence isn't fired by February 8th, the firefighters say they will quit.  City leaders say they can't fire Lawrence based on the threat of a walkout and instead plan to conduct a workplace assessment to address the situation.

Two men are now criminally charged in a crash that killed a retired Madison firefighter.  The November 10th crash on Madison’s north side killed 77-year-old Roderick Anderson. Court records show 39-year-old Michael Norsetter-Shiner is charged with homicide by negligent operation of a vehicle, while 22-year-old Drew Gonzales is charged with second-degree recklessly endangering safety. Evidence gathered by Madison police indicated Gonzales was racing Norsetter Shiner at the time of the crash, and that both were speeding at more than 100 miles an hour just before Norsetter-Shiner’s vehicle collided with Anderson’s.

A stand-in for the groundhog in Milwaukee.  The Milwaukee County Zoo announced that its annual Groundhog Day weather prediction will be done by penguins. Following the death of the zoo’s most recent groundhog named Gordy last year, the Zoo’s Humboldt penguins will be looking for their shadow on February 2nd while the zoo seeks a new groundhog. The rules are the same… if the penguin sees its shadow, six more weeks of winter. If not, an early spring. This year’s Groundhog Day ceremony will be held at the zoo’s Taylor Family Humboldt Penguin habitat. 

Local-Regional News Jan 22

 Firefighters from Durand and 8 other departments responded to a barn fire Saturday morning in Arkansaw.  According to the Pepin County Sheriff's Department, firefighters were called to W7838 Hwy 10 Saturday morning.  Firefighters found flames coming from all sides of a large 2-story dairy barn and the barn collapsed.  The main dairy barn and one additional outbuilding were a total loss, while several other buildings close to the main barn were saved.  Several beef cattle died as a result of the fire.  The cause of that fire is under investigation.

An 18yr old Arcadia man was arrested on Friday afternoon after a pursuit in the town of Arcadia.  According to the Trempealeau County Sheriff's Department, deputies attempted to pull over Kyler Kellicut for a speeding violation on Hwy 95 near Sorlie Lane.  Kellicut failed to stop and an 8 mile pursuit ensued with speeds of 90mph plus.  Kellicut pulled into a residence on Hwy 95 and the intersection of Hwy 53 where a brief standoff ensued.  Kellicut was taken into custody on charges of fleeing an officer.

Gov. Tony Evers announced today that he is seeking applicants for appointment as register of deeds in Pierce County. The appointment will fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Julie Hines on May 3, 2024. The new register of deeds will serve for the remainder of the unexpired term that ends Jan. 5, 2025.   Application materials must be received no later than 5 p.m. on Feb. 2, 2024. 

There are charges for the man who police say was shot after he broke into a house in Blair on New Year's Day. Prosecutors in Trempealeau County filed the charges against Shawn Gill last week. Blair Police say Gill allegedly kicked-in the door at a home early New Year's morning. The homeowner shot Gill. Investigators say Gill allegedly broke into two other homes as well. He was in court on Friday, where the judge set his bail at 20 thousand-dollars. 

One of the two who stole over a million-dollars from Eau Claire County taxpayers is out of prison. Kay Onarheim was released from prison over the weekend. She served just eight years of her 13 year sentence for helping former county treasurer Larry Lokken steal one-point-four million-dollars from the county between 2011 and 2013. She will spend the remaining nine years of her sentence on parole. Onarheim must also pay the county 700 thousand-dollars in restitution. Lokken remains in prison despite his repeated requests for an early release. 

The Eau County Health Department has released an update on its Harm Reduction Vending Machine.  Since opening in June 2023, the vending machine located at the Eau County Jail Lobby has given out just over one-thousand doses of Narcan and over 12-hundred fentanyl test strips.  The pilot project will continue through the end of June of this year. Anyone can use the machine with no questions asked, at any time of day.

More people used Eau Claire Transit last year than any year since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Transit Manager Ty Fadness says about 661-thousand passengers used the Transit in 2023, which is more than 200-thousand more than in 2020. That's also an increase of 60-thousand from last year. In the fall, a new Eau Claire Transit Center is set to open. 

 Another UW regional campus is ending in-person classes. UW-Green Bay at Marinette on Friday said this spring's classes will be the last at the campus. Green Bay Chancellor Michael Alexander says all classes will be streamed-in. There are just 213 students at UW-Green Bay Marinette. Alexander said in an email to students and staffers that the decision to end in-person classes is a 'a paradigm shift to redefine how the university operates. Many UW campuses, including UW-Green Bay, are looking at budget deficits heading into the spring. UW-Milwaukee at Washington County and UW-Oshkosh Fond du Lac are also ending in-person classes this spring. The UW campus in Richland Center closed this year after officials there ended in-person classes last year. 

Lawmakers in Wisconsin want to revive an agreement to make it easier for people to pay income taxes when they have jobs in Minnesota.  The two states used to allow workers to file one tax return when they lived in one state but worked in the other.  Minnesota ended the agreement in 2010 because Wisconsin was missing deadlines to pay the owed income tax revenue.  Wisconsin lawmakers are pushing for a study to determine the benefits of reviving that agreement, saying it would save time and money for taxpayers.  Minnesota has resisted attempts to revive the agreement and started giving tax credits to residents who work in Wisconsin in 2017.

A bill introduced in the Wisconsin Assembly would have Wisconsin voters consider banning abortion at 14-weeks. It does include an exception if a pregnant person's life is at risk. Currently, abortions in Wisconsin are restricted after 20 weeks, also with medical emergency exceptions. The bill will be up for debate today by the Committee on Health, Aging, and Long-Term Care. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said last month an abortion referendum would be his top priority in 2024. Governor Tony Evers has said we will not sign the bill if it does pass through the state Legislature. 

 A Wisconsin woman is sentenced to 18 months in jail after almost 200 goats were found deceased on her farm. Both Stephanie and Kyle Lincicum of Darlington were charged last June with 40 counts each of animal abuse and theft. Stephanie Lincicum pleaded guilty yesterday to 21 counts, and as part of a plea deal, twenty of her counts are now dismissed. Her husband also pleaded guilty to twenty charges last month as part of a plea deal, with half of his charges dropped. He is scheduled to be sentenced next month.

The United States Department of Agriculture announced an additional three-and-a-half-million dollars in grants will go towards domestic biofuels.  The goal is to help US consumers spend less at gas station pumps while also keeping that fuel clean and renewable.  Wisconsin's USDA State director believes this will help businesses upgrade their infrastructure and expand the availability of homegrown biofuels in Wisconsin. 

State officials say they will spend the coming months providing clean drinking water to residents in southeastern Minnesota whose wells are tainted with farm pollution.  In a work plan released this month, state regulators gave the EPA a timeline for providing the water treatment systems.  They added that the existing programs will eventually reduce the nitrate pollution that's fouling the wells.  A 2013 study shows that 90 percent of nitrate in southeastern Minnesota water comes from farming fertilizers spread on croplands.

 More Minnesotans are using MNsure to sign up for health insurance coverage.  Governor Walz announced yesterday that over 146-thousand people used the state's health insurance marketplace to get coverage before signups closed on January 15th.  That's a 15-percent increase from last year.  MNsure officials say 58-percent of all households who signed up for coverage will receive a tax credit to help them afford coverage.  The average annual tax credit per household was reported at just over 64-hundred dollars.

Local-Regional News Jan 19

 There are some questions to answer after police found a gun in a western Wisconsin school. Police say they found the gun yesterday at Spring Valley's joint middle and high school. It was unloaded, but police say there was ammunition nearby. There is no information on whether if the gun belonged to a student or a staff member. Police say once they secured the gun, there was no longer a threat, and no students or teachers were hurt.

A southeastern Minnesota dairy is being fined by the state's Pollution Control Agency.  The agency says the Plainview Milk Products Cooperative allowed nearly seven thousand gallons of cream to drain into the area's sewer system last April.  The spill overwhelmed the wastewater treatment plant's tank, sending a hundred gallons of wastewater mixed with cream into a ditch southeast of Plainview.  The dairy has been fined 20-thousand dollars and forced to recover the water that overflowed into the ditch.  The state is also asking the facility to find ways to prevent similar problems in the future. 

Wisconsin 3rd District's congressman says he didn't vote for the plan to keep the government running because it did nothing to solve the nation's problems. Congressman Derrick Van Orden was one of six Wisconsin Republicans who voted against the continuing resolution that will keep the federal government funded til March. He says Congress still hasn't done anything to secure the border, and voting to keep spending money isn't working. Wisconsin's two Democratic members of Congress did vote for the plan, which passed with overwhelming support. 

A capital campaign has been launched to reopen a shelter in Mondovi after one closed in 2022.   Western Dairyland is looking to raise $250,000 to purchase a house in Mondovi, fully furnish it, and have it be used for one homeless family at a time.  Western Dairyland would then work with the family to find permanent housing.  The money would also be used to maintain the home and case management services with the families using the home.  The group is hoping to raise the money this year with the goal of purchasing the home in 2025.  Western Dairyland also has shelters in Eau Claire, Jackson, and Trempealeau Counties. 

An Eau Claire business owner is under arrest and charged with sexually assaulting his clients. Chris Devlin, the owner of Botox and hair removal business Renew Aesthetics on Keith Street, is accused of taking nude photos of his clients without their consent. Eau Claire Police say one of the clients reported inappropriate contact from Devlin - through an investigation, they say more victims were found. Investigators say the incidents happened between July and December of last year. Devlin previously worked for the Mayo Clinic Health System, but the hospital says an investigation came up with no inappropriate patient contact there. 

A judge is ordering a competency evaluation for the Tennessee woman accused of crashing her van into a Chippewa Falls Christmas display. Ebony Hudson was charged with criminal damage to property after driving into the Irvine Park Christmas Village in December. Police investigators say when a Parks employee used his pickup to try and block her escape, Hudson rammed the pickup truck with her car four times.

Governor Evers made a stop in Eau Claire yesterday to check in on some grant recipients. The governor visited with the folks at the Black Kettle Tea Shoppe on Barstow Street. The Tea Shoppe was one of hundreds of businesses to get a Main Street Bounceback grant. The governor also stopped by the 123 Look At Me Learning Center which got a 300 thousand-dollar state grant for child care. The governor says state grant money made the difference for both local businesses.

One person is dead following a head-on crash in the town of Hammond on Wednesday.  According to the St. Croix County Sheriff's Department, an SUV was traveling east on Hwy TT and collided head-on with a westbound car.  The driver of the SUV and a passenger were treated at the scene and released, while the driver of the car and a passenger were taken to the hospital.  Another passenger in the car, 26yr old Isaiah Barns of Hudson died.  Authorities believe alcohol may have played a roll in the accident.

Juneau County deputies are investigating after a body was found near Camp Douglas.  Sheriff Andrew Zobel says the body was reported around 8:40 am on Thursday near the Oakridge Trail parking area. The death is being considered suspicious, but Sheriff Zobel says there's no danger to the public at this time. The victim's name and cause of death is not being released.

There is a push at the Wisconsin Capitol to make college campuses gun-free zones. Democratic state Representative Deb Andraca yesterday introduced a plan to add colleges and universities to the list of places where people cannot have a gun. Wisconsin's elementary schools and high schools are already on that list, but universities are not. Andraca said college students deserve the same level of protection that young kids get in the state. She says they need the piece of mind to be able to learn without having to fear that someone has a gun. 

Blood lead tests are being recommended for all Wisconsin children between one- and two-years-old. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services says in a press release that kids older than three and younger than five who haven't already been tested should be. DHS says lead poisoning can cause irreversible damage to a developing brain, which affects future behaviors and learning. The department says lead poisoning is still a serious public threat in the state, despite the progress made in the past decades. 

 Cases of young people self-harming rise after breaks from school end in Wisconsin. The state Department of Health Services says in the months of September 2022 and January 2023, both of which follow extended breaks from the classroom, there was a 40-percent increase in youth self-harm cases compared to the months before. In September of 2023, data shows a smaller spike of 14-percent, but still encourages caregivers to be aware and not ignore any concerning signs.

At the Capitol, an effort to impeach Wisconsin elections administrator Meagan Wolfe is going nowhere. Assembly Majority Leader Tyler August is dismissive of the effort by Representative Janel Brandtjen.   On Thursday, August accused Brandtjen of “grifting and making a big show for the cameras.” Earlier this week Brandtjen was ruled out of order when she tried to force a vote on her resolution to remove Wolfe, which has only five co-sponsors. 

The U.S. Department of Labor is suing Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota.  The federal agency claims the Eagan-based health insurer wrongly passed along a particular state tax to employer health plans.  It is called the provider tax, which is paid by hospitals and clinics.  The Department of Labor says for years Blue Cross had self-funded employer health plans to cover the costs of the tax as an undisclosed piece of the negotiated service rates they pay to health care providers.  The insurance company says the claims are without merit.

A new survey shows less confidence in the Wisconsin and U.S. economies than a couple years ago.  The Wisconsin Employer Survey shows 22-percent of Wisconsin employers rate the state economy as strong. That's down from 39-percent six months ago, and from 58-percent in 2021. They have lower confidence in the national economy, with ten-percent of Wisconsin employers rating it as strong and 28-percent saying the national economy is weak.

Minnesota State Fair officials say this will be the last year the fair offers recognition tables and benches at the fairgrounds.  The fair announced this week that it had a limited number of benches and tables left, and that they are being offered on a first-come, first-served basis.  Personalized benches will cost 25-hundred dollars, while customized tables will cost five-thousand dollars.  Proceeds from the program go to the Minnesota State Fair Foundation.

Local-Regional News Jan 18

Firefighters from Township, Rock Creek, Mondovi, Elk Mound, and Eau Claire responded to a structure fire in the town of Brunswick last night just before 9.  Firefighters responded to the blaze just off of Mitchell Road and found heavy smoke coming from a shed.  There were no reports of any injuries.  The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Those wanting to help Gina and Tony Hurlburt recover from the house fire this week can drop off donations at St. Vincent DePaul in Durand.  St. Vincent will take all donations including gas, gift cards, clothing, and other items at the store in Durand.  When dropping off items let the staff know it is for the Hurlburt family.  

Some changes are coming for the Durand Police Department explorer program.  During last week's city council meeting, Chief Ridgeway said that the program would run for two Sundays for 6hrs instead of the 6 Sundays at 2hrs each week.  Ridgeway said the goal was to get more participation in the program.  The Explorers program is open for 6th-12 grade students to let them learn about law enforcement, firefighting, and emergency responders.  More details on the dates of the program are expected in the coming months.

There's a warning about using too much power from the Eau Claire Energy Co-op. The Cooperative's Adam Westaby yesterday said there is only so much power available each day, and when it's cold outside people tend to use more power. The Co-op yesterday asked people to not use their electric water heaters, heat pumps, or boilers. The Co-op says peak times are the toughest, which means energy use is stretched to both start the day and once again when people get home from work. 

One of the Democratic candidates for the 3rd Congressional District is ending her campaign.  Tara Johnson cited in a statement to supporters that while having three women in a primary demonstrates the progress women have made, having a crowded field means the contenders are "consumed with competing for the money to win the August primary when beating Derrick Van Orden in November is the most important thing."  Rep. Katrina Shankland, Rebecca Cooke, and Eric Wilson are headed to the August primary for the right to face incumbent Republican Representative Derrick Van Orden in November. Van Orden has not yet said if he is seeking reelection. 

Wisconsin lawmakers want to spend more than five million-dollars to help kids in the state lose weight. The Speaker's Task Force on Childhood Obesity released its report this week. Among the recommendations are two plans that would spend five million-dollars to come up with childhood obesity prevention and management programs. Another plan would spend about a half-million dollars to help parents on food stamps buy more fruits and vegetables. In Wisconsin, 10 percent of children between two and five-years-old are obese, 15 percent of six to 11-year-olds are obese, and 18 percent of 12 to 17-year-olds are obese. 

Wisconsin lawmakers are looking to update the rules for strip searching students in the state's schools. The State Assembly is scheduled to vote today on a new plan that would expand strip searches to include students down to their underwear. The proposal would also make it clear just when someone can order a student to take their clothes off. The changes come after a superintendent near Green Bay ordered a group of high school girls to strip down to their underwear as part of a vape cartridge search. Prosecutors weren't allowed to charge the superintendent because Wisconsin law didn't cover underwear searches in school. 

Wisconsin lawmakers are looking to legalize lemonade stands for kids.  A Senate panel will hold a hearing today on a plan that would stop local governments from requiring kids and teens under 18 from needing a license to open-up a lemonade stand, or something similar.  The proposal says as long as the stand is 'operated only occasionally,' and doesn't sell 'potentially hazardous food,' then kids can open up a stand as they see fit. 

A Minnesota lawmaker is planning another effort to legalize sports betting in Minnesota.  Republican state Senator Jerry Miller of Winona unveiled his proposed legislation yesterday.  Miller made an unsuccessful effort to get sports gambling legalized last year but says he's been working to gather bipartisan support for his latest proposal.  Minnesota's 11 tribal nations would have the chance to offer retail and mobile sports betting, and licenses could also be issued to allow sports betting at horse tracks and sports stadiums.  According to Miller's proposal, Minnesota would levy a 15-percent tax on sports betting revenue.

 There is now a challenge to Wisconsin's congressional maps. Elias Law Group, which has ties to the Hillary Clinton campaign and has filed election lawsuits across the country, filed its challenge yesterday.  The new challenge asks the Wisconsin Supreme Court to order new congressional maps be drawn ahead of this November's election. The new liberal-majority court ordered just before Christmas that new maps be drawn for the state's legislative districts.  The Elias challenge claims the maps drawn in 2022 were drawn with the idea of 'least change,' which gave too much power to Republicans. Wisconsin has eight congressmen, six of whom are Republicans. 

 It could soon be much easier to find an EV charger in Wisconsin. The State Senate Tuesday overwhelmingly passed a plan that will allow gas stations and other businesses to build their own chargers. The proposed law changes Wisconsin's utility regulations that currently stop anyone who isn't a utility from selling electricity. The hope, lawmakers say, is to allow gas stations to add EV charges and build a network of chargers across the state. Senators also approved a nearly 80 million-dollar federal grant that will cover up to 80 percent of the costs to build new EV chargers across Wisconsin. 

Minnesota is reducing the limit of PFAS chemicals, also called forever chemicals, found in water before they are deemed dangerous to consume.  It is the first time the guidelines are being revised.  Data shows these chemicals can cause cancer, causing the change.  From the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Tom Higgins says a project to create healthier drinking water can cost a billion dollars.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is proposing a bonding bill of 982 million dollars with nearly half of the funds going toward repairing state infrastructure.  His plan is an early step in the process that sets the tone for the Legislature that goes into session on February 12.  Both Walz and Minnesota Management and Budget Commissioner Erin Campbell said the chosen projects address deferred maintenance on state buildings.  The governor added that 45 percent goes to preserving infrastructure, 22 percent toward water and transportation, 14 percent to public safety, 10 percent to housing, and nine percent to other projects.

Potential sites for a Madison Amtrak station are being narrowed down. The city of Madison is deciding whether the 3,200-square-foot station should be in its downtown area, near the Madison Public Market, or at the site of the old Oscar Mayer factory. A study on where to place the station recommended that it not be put on UW-Madison's campus, near the airport, or on the city's east side. The studies add that necessities for the site would include equitable access, ridership potential, rail operations, land use and development, and multimodal connectivity. The station is projected to be built and operational between 2028 and 2031.

 Country music legend Willie Nelson isn't slowing down now that he's hit his 90th birthday.  Nelson will be coming to Minnesota in May as part of his Willie Nelson and Family concert tour.  Nelson will play shows in Moorhead on May 20th and 21st before moving on to Duluth on May 23rd.  Tickets for the shows go on sale on Friday. 

Local-Regional News Jan 17

 Firefighters from Durand, Mondovi, and 6 other departments responded to a fire at a dairy farm on Hwy B north of Mondovi on Tuesday.   According to Mondovi Fire, the fire started in the milking parlor and the farm owners were at home at the time of the blaze.  All of the cows in the barn were evacuated and no one was hurt in the fire.  The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

4 people were hurt in a house fire in the city of Durand early Tuesday morning.  Firefighters were called to a home at 602 9th Ave East at 2:30 this morning and found smoke coming from the first floor.  Two adults and two children were injured in the blaze.. Durand Emergency Medical Services requested a helicopter, but it was unable to fly so the victims were taken to Advent Health and then to Regions Hospital in St. Paul.  The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

A plea deal has been reached in a fatal crash on the Hwy 25 bridge between Nelson and Wabasha.  Jacqueline Britt of Alma has pleaded no contest to homicide by driving while using a controlled substance.  In May of 2022 she was driving a car over the Hwy 25 Bridge on the Buffalo County side when she crossed the center line and hit a motorcycle head-on. The motorcyclist, 67-year old  Douglas Hildebrandt, from Redwood Falls, Minnesota, was killed.  Blood tests found methamphetamine in Britt's Blood.  She will be sentenced on April 18 and faces up to 10 years in prison.

An Eau Claire man is being held on a $15000 cash bond after a stabbing on Friday.  According to authorities, police responded to a home on Boardwalk Circle in Eau Claire and found a man stabbed.  Altherelle Robbins was arrested and charged with first-degree recklessly endangering safety with a dangerous weapon.  His next court appearance is next Tuesday.

 A Chippewa Falls man is sentenced to life in prison for killing his girlfriend. Scott Vanigan pleaded no contest to a first-degree intentional homicide charge for the murder of Lynn Smith. As part of the plea deal, arson and corpse mutilation charges were dismissed. Prosecutors say firefighters responded to a 9-1-1 call reporting Vanigan's home was on fire in July 2022. When they arrived, they say they found Smith's body -- and according to the autopsy, she was dead before the fire started. Vanigan was found and arrested later the same day. He will have the possibility of parole after serving 35 years and will have to pay more than 147-thousand dollars in restitution.

Chippewa County leaders are inching closer to asking for a pause in refugee resettlement. Chippewa County commissioners last night gave their first approval to a resolution that would ask the non-profit group World Relief to not bring 75 refugees to the area this year. No one is sure just where the refugees are coming from, where they will stay, or what they will do once they arrive. The Chippewa County resolution will need one more vote before its official. A similar resolution in Eau Claire County died because it didn't have enough support. 

 Chances for medical marijuana are dimming in Wisconsin. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos yesterday said he will not compromise on his plan to sell medical marijuana to very sick people in Wisconsin through state-owned dispensaries. Senate Republicans, including the Senate Majority Leader, say the idea of state-owned pot shops is a non-starter with him. Vos says he has enough votes to get the plan through the Assembly, and says renegotiating the plan would likely cost it some votes. 

Wisconsin organizations can now apply for up to 85-thousand in grant money to go toward preventing sexual violence. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services says the money will come from the Centers for Disease Control, and will go to one organization. Grant money is meant to be used to increase community awareness of sexual violence prevention, and promote health equity across the state of Wisconsin. Applications are available at www-dot-Wisconsin-dot-gov.

No one is saying how long it will take to clean up after the weekend fire at an agricultural building in southwest Iowa County.  Insight FS, which saw its building in Cobb burn to the ground on Sunday says teams from Iowa County's emergency management services as well as crews from the state are working to clean up the site.  Firefighters backed away from the fire on Sunday out of fears that pouring water onto a chemical fire may make it worse.  That prompted a shelter-in-place order that wasn't lifted til Monday.  No one was hurt in the fire.  Investigators say they are still looking for a cause. 

Voters can begin making their choices in Minnesota's upcoming presidential primaries this week.  Early voting for the March 5th primary begins Friday.  Voters must choose to vote in a specific party primary to receive a ballot.  Prospective voters have until February 13th to register to vote in this year's primary.

Remedial legislative district maps submitted to the Wisconsin Supreme Court generally reduce Republican majorities. The maps were submitted on Friday. Maps from Republican lawmakers would diminish but not eliminate that party’s majorities in the Senate and Assembly.  State Senate Democrats proposed maps would produce a 54-45 Republican Assembly majority and a 17-16 Republican edge in the Senate. Maps from Governor Tony Evers give Republicans a 50-49 advantage in the Assembly and Democrats an 18-15 Senate majority. Republicans now have a 22-11 majority in the Senate and a 64-35 edge in the Assembly.  The court also received submissions from UW-Milwaukee professors, the conservative Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty, and petitioners represented by the liberal legal firm Law Forward. Justices have until March 15 to enact new districts ahead of the August legislative primary.

Inflation slowed in 2023, while Americans continued to spend at the grocery store.  Average weekly grocery spending is highest in California, followed by Nevada, Mississippi, Washington, and Florida.  Households in Wisconsin, Iowa, Nebraska, Michigan, and Indiana spend the least on groceries, averaging 220-to-230 dollars per week.  Households with children spend 41-percent more than households without kids.  This is all according to an analysis by HelpAdvisor.com of the most recent data from the U.S. Census Household Pulse Survey.

Lawmakers at the Wisconsin Capitol are once again looking to require kids to learn cursive. An Assembly panel will take-up the idea tomorrow. Supporters say kids need to learn how to read and write cursive in order to have a better understanding of the world or to simply sign their names. The proposal before lawmakers would require that kids be able to both read and write cursive by the end of the fifth grade. 

Truckers in some parts of Minnesota are being allowed to carry a bit more weight in their trailers.  The Minnesota Department of Transportation is rolling out a ten-percent winter load limit increase for trucks that use unrestricted highways.  The load limit is already in effect in Mn-DOT's north and north-central frost zones, and dates for other areas have yet to be announced.  Truck drivers who want to take advantage of the seasonal increase are being urged to go to the Mn-DOT website to check out restrictions and permit requirements.

January is National Radon Action Month. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services urges homeowners, businesses and child care centers to test for radon.  You can find out about radon testing and mitigation on the DHS website.

Make Valentine's Day brighter for Wisconsin veterans. James Bond, Secretary-designee for the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs says last year’s Veteran Valentine's effort was a success. Mail those cards by January 31 to the Department of Veterans Affairs. Attention: Veteran Valentine's, PO Box 7843 Madison, 53707.

Local-Regional News Jan 16

Firefighters from the City of Durand, the city of Eau Claire, and Plum City responded to a house fire in the city overnight.   When firefighters arrived they found heavy smoke coming from the building and there were reports of 4 people injured.  No other information was available early this morning.

It is another day of bone-chilling cold for western Wisconsin. The National Weather Service says the Wind Chill Advisory for folks in the Chippewa Valley continues today. Temperatures will hang around 4 above today, and the wind chill is expected to be as cold as 30 below. That's cold enough to cause frostbite in under a half-an-hour. Forecasters say overnight tonight and tomorrow morning will be almost as cold. 

Add refereeing high school sports as another area for more people.  Durand-Arkansaw School Superintendent Greg Doverspike, who is also on the WIAA Board of Control says the reason people are leaving refereeing is because they don't feel safe.  Doverspike is concerned that if the referee shortage spreads the kids may lose chances to compete.  Doverspike is asking fans and parents to remember the referees are doing this as a service to give back to the game.  Anyone interested in becoming a referee is encouraged to contact the Durand-Arkansaw School District.

The Durand Fire Department is looking to replace the generator at the fire hall.  During last week's council meeting fire chief King told the council that the current generator is no longer operational.  During the discussion King also told the council that he would like to get a bigger generator to run more parts of the building.  The council is asking King to give them options on the costs of replacing the generator.

A River Falls man is charged in a sex trafficking case.  The Wisconsin Department of Justice says a nine-count indictment brought down Thursday charges Austin Koeckeritz with forced labor and sex trafficking, production of child pornography, and money laundering. The indictment alleges that Koeckeritz forced adults to engage in ‘commercial sex acts’ between August 2020 and August 2022. Koeckeritz is also accused of recruiting a minor to engage in commercial sex acts and transporting them across the Wisconsin-Minnesota state line to engage in the acts. The indictment also alleges Koeckeritz of using the minor to produce child porn. Koeckeritz is in federal custody pending his May trial.

The principal at North High School says Friday's gun scare was a 'concealed carry issue.' Principal Kim Koller sent a note home to parents after police were called to North last week. The note explains that a food delivery driver had a gun, but never walked into the school, and never threatened anyone. Koller told parents that there was never 'any known intent to harm students or staff at North.'

La Crosse Police are investigating a weekend north side shooting that left one person injured.   Officers were called to the 1800 Block of George Street Saturday night and found shell casings in the area.  Police were then notified of a person at the hospital with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound.  The investigation into the incident is continuing and the name of the victim was not released.

Hundreds of workers at Marshfield Clinic locations across the state are being furloughed. The health system made the announcement yesterday. Three percent of Marshfield's nearly 12 thousand workers are being furloughed. Marshfield says the furloughs will be in 'largely non-patient-seeing departments, including leadership roles.' The furloughs come after a wave of belt-tightening back in November, and after talks about a merger with Essentia Health fell through last week. 

 Wisconsin's LGBTQ+ lawmakers are furious with a plan that would let parents decide what name kids can be called at school.  The plan cleared an Assembly Committee last week. It would spell out that parents get to decide the name their children use at school, not teachers or the state government. The plan also spells out other rights for parents, like medical decisions, the right to see school records, and the right to opt kids out of certain classes. Democratic state Rep. Melissa Ratcliff says the plan isn't about 'rights, it's about wrongs.' Governor Evers has promised to veto the plan once it reaches his desk. 

A new Minnesota law makes hospitals screen patients before registering them in payment plans or applying them to collections.  The bill has been in effect since last year in November and is designed to help with medical debt.  Health systems will offer programs such as "charity care" to help patients with low income pay for medical expenses.   Hospitals have 30 days to figure out if patients are eligible. 

Even though we've gotten some snow and bitterly cold temperatures, many outdoor activities are on hold in the Northwoods because there's not enough snow. National Weather Service Meteorologist Cory Rothstein says parts of northern Wisconsin are short one or two feet of snow.  That means many snowmobile trails aren't ready to go just yet. Rothstein says we'll be seeing warmer temperatures next week, with a chance for more rain and snow.

The ice on some Wisconsin waterways was still hit or miss over the weekend.  In Columbia County late Sunday morning, 2 snowmobiles went through the ice on Lake Wisconsin at Sunset Bay. They were about 100 feet from shore. One person made it to shore on their own, but rescue crews had to throw a ski rope to the second person who was still in the water. Luckily, he was wearing a floatation device for snowmobilers that authorities say greatly helped in his rescue.

Fire broke out at a commercial facility that stores propane and pesticides in Iowa County on Sunday.  Residents near the small community of Cobb were under a shelter-in-place advisory for a time on Sunday. The fire broke out just after 8 on Sunday morning at the facility on Highway 18. The fire was contained by the afternoon but air quality is of concern. The Wisconsin National Guard's 54th Civil Support Team was called to the site to monitor air quality. No word yet on the cause of the fire. No injuries were reported.

A bill in the Wisconsin legislature would make 17-year-olds licensed EMS first responders. Three northwest Wisconsin Republicans backing the proposal say it would aid rural communities in the state in having adequate staffing for an ambulance response. Currently, candidates must be 18 years old to be officially registered as an EMS responder. The bill would not require organizations to hire 17-year-olds, but they would be allowed to evaluate the teen's maturity level before deciding to bring one on board. An amendment to the bill would also require any 17-year-old responder to be accompanied by an experienced EMS practitioner.

Minnesota U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar is continuing her push for a federal investigation into lead-tainted applesauce that has made several children ill statewide.  She joined a mother yesterday whose young daughter became sick after eating applesauce from the tainted pouches.  The pouches to look out for are from three different brands, Wanabana, Schnucks, and Weis.  They have been removed from store shelves, but the public is urged to throw them away if they have any.

Ticket prices are staying the same as last year for the Minnesota State Fair.  It will be 18 dollars for adults and 16 dollars for children and seniors.  Anybody under four years or younger can walk in for free.  Ten point two million dollars were approved by the fair's board of managers to help with upgrades for this year's event.

Local-Regional News Jan 15

 A busy construction season is expected in Durand.  At last week's city council meeting the city engineer reported that bids for the Madison Street Project will be reviewed later this week, as that project is slated to start in April, final contract numbers for the Tarrant Park Pool Project are expected soon and the city will also take bids starting this week for the 6th Ave East Project by the high school this summer.

 

The Chippewa Valley is looking at a bone-chilling start to the day with a Wind Chill Advisory until noon on Tuesday. All of western Wisconsin, in fact, all of the state, is included in the advisory. The National Weather Service says 10 to 15 mile-per-hour winds will make it feel as cold as 35 below. That's cold enough to cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes. Overnight tonight and tomorrow look just as cold. 

The Durand-Arkansaw School District is looking at redoing the parking lot and the front of the school this summer.  While the school district looked at putting in a ramp at the front of the school, Durand Arkansaw Superintendent Greg Doverspike said it wasn't feasible because of the slope the ramp would need to be.  The district hopes to save some money on construction and have the project done during the reconstruction of 6th Ave East.

One person is recovering from burns after a house fire in Eau Claire yesterday. Firefighters got a call about a fire at the home on  Peebles Street about 2:45 p.m. Two people who were inside were able to escape with their dogs, but firefighters say one of them was burned on their stomach, chest, and hands. Investigators say the fire started in the basement, though they are not sure just what started that fire. 

 Chippewa County officials are getting ready to end their investigation into Sheriff Travis Hakes, without his input. The County Board of Supervisors has told the Madison-based law firm that is handling the investigation to prepare a final report. That report will not include any comments from Hakes. Investigators say he refused to speak with them on at least three occasions. Hakes says he offered to answer their questions in writing, but he says investigators refused that offer. Hakes continues to call the investigation a witch hunt. It's not clear when the investigation will end, or when the report will be finished. 

 A Chippewa Falls woman who stole from two local charities will not spend any time behind bars. Kacy Bresina pleaded no contest last week to charges that she never paid two charities the money that she collected during a pair of fundraisers. In all, prosecutors claimed she stole about six thousand dollars. The judge fined Bresina just 473 dollars after she said she paid the money back in full. 

The Trempealeau County police chief arrested for OWI earlier this week hit a deer. New reports say Elva Police Chief Patrick McKillip hit the deer as he was speeding toward a 'high risk police call.' An Osseo police report says the chief was driving 85 miles-per-hour when he hit the deer in his squad car. The same report says the chief's blood alcohol level was point-109. The chief was not seriously hurt in the wreck. No one at city hall in Elva, however, is saying if the chief is still the chief.

A former village clerk in Monroe County is looking at charges after prosecutors say she allegedly stole thousands of dollars from the Village of Milton. Investigators say 40-year-old Leigha Barton allegedly stole as much as 200 thousand-dollars during her two years as village clerk. She quit last summer. Prosecutors say she made charges to nine different credit cards and reportedly spent the money on herself. Barton told investigators that she planned to pay the money back, but lost track. She's facing nine felony counts including identity theft and tampering with public records.

 It could soon be legal in Wisconsin to leave your body to first responders or rescuers. The Wisconsin Assembly will vote tomorrow on a plan that creates new rules for human body gifts. Currently, people can only leave their bodies to medical schools or organ donation organizations. The change would allow people to leave their bodies to 'rescue organizations or recovery teams that use human remains detection canines.'

Three southern Minnesota electric cooperatives are asking customers to reduce energy use today.  The Freeborn Mower, MiEnergy, and People's Energy cooperatives have issued a peak energy alert.  The cooperatives say expected high demand on the regional energy grid led to the alert.  They recommend turning down thermostats, using appliances like dishwashers and washing machines later in the day, and turning off TVs and gaming systems to help conserve energy.

Five years ago this week, a young girl named Jayme Closs showed us to never give up hope. It was October 2018 when Jayme Closs’s parents were murdered and the teen girl was kidnapped from her rural Barron home by Jake Patterson, who is now serving life in prison for those crimes. This week, January 10, marked the five-year anniversary of the unofficial “Jayme Closs Day,” the date in which she escaped captivity and rescued herself. Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald said it’s a day worth remembering for the strength and hope she showed us.  Fitzgerald said the family wishes to retain privacy, but Closs has graduated high school, is off to college, and is doing well. 

 The state Supreme Court will now decide between seven legislative maps before the 2024 election.  The court received final submissions from both sides of the aisle and third-party institutions on Friday.  In 2022, the nation's highest court threw out election maps drawn by Democratic Governor Tony Evers. The court has until March 15th to enact new districts ahead of the legislative primary.. 

There will not be a new Elections Chief for the upcoming 2024 election.  A judge ruled on Friday that Republican lawmakers do not have the authority to remove or replace Meagan Wolfe from her position.  Wolfe oversees a commission that has been under fire for three years because of false election fraud claims put forward by former President Donald Trump. 

Minnesota Governor Walz is happy with Minnesota's progress in expanding rural access to high-speed Internet service but says there's still more work to do.  Walz was in Blue Earth County Thursday talking about the state's investment in rural broadband.  The Office of Broadband Development has allocated about 300-million in grants over the past ten years, and 46-thousand homes and businesses were connected to broadband over the last year.  But there are still nearly 230-thousand Minnesotans who do not have access to high-speed Internet.  The Office of Broadband Development plans to hand out another 50-million in grants next month.

Three-term Democratic Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar is running for re-election without a Republican opponent.  Some experts believe that no GOP candidates will surface before the November election.  The head of the Center for Study of Politics and Governance at the University of Minnesota Larry Jacobs says opponents would be reluctant to run against a highly popular incumbent senator.  He added that Klobuchar wins easily in urban, suburban, and rural counties and has raised close to 12 million dollars between 2019 and 2023

Green Bay's Republican congressman is now pushing for statewide Packer broadcasts. Congressman Mike Gallagher yesterday signed-on to the Go Pack Go Act. It's a plan that's been floating around for years that would guarantee everyone in Wisconsin could see the Packers games on TV. Currently, Packer fans near the UP, as well as some folks in northwestern Wisconsin don't get Packer games. They get the TV out of Michigan or Minnesota, and get either Lions of Vikings games. Gallagher said no one in Wisconsin should be 'subjected to the torture of watching the Vikings or the Lions play over the Packers.' Democratic Senator Tammy Baldwin has been pushing the same Go Pack Go plan for years, but has yet to get it over the goal line.