A Nelson man will not face prison time after a plea agreement with prosecutors. In November of 2022, Hwy 35 in Nelson was shut down during a standoff with Samuel Holmes after he was accused of threatening Buffalo County Health and Human Services employees regarding visitation with his child. He had also sent threatening emails to a Lutheran Social Services employee. Holmes pleaded guilty to bail jumping and was sentenced to two years probation and must maintain complete sobriety. Charges of making terroristic threats were dismissed.
The Mondovi School district is inviting businesses to have a booth at the Mondovi High School Career Fair. The fair will be on March 14 at the high school starting at 9. Along with Mondovi High School Students, Durand, Gilmanton, and Osseo Fairchild students will be in attendance. Those that have questions, they are to contact Erica Zerr of CESA 10 or contact the Mondovi School District.
A Barron County woman is heading to prison for one year after she stole from one of Wisconsin's Indian tribes. A federal judge yesterday sentenced 55-year-old Karen Johnson to a year and a day in federal prison. She stole over 200 thousand-dollars from the St. Croix Chippewa Indians. She worked as a clerk in the tribe's housing authority, and investigators say she wrote herself checks and cashed phony invoices to line her pockets. The judge said Johnson needed to go to jail because the money she stole was supposed to go to people in need.
The University of Wisconsin's president says he fired UW-La Crosse's chancellor because of another 'occupation which requires your personal attention.' That's one of the lines in the full termination letter to now-former Chancellor Joe Gow. The UW released that letter yesterday. University President Jay Rothman fired Gow on December 27th after Gow's porn videos came to light. Gow and his wife made and distributed several videos on several different adult websites. The letter also fully explains the process for Gow's future with the university, including the possibility that he might be fired as a professor as well.
The two out-of-state experts who will likely redraw Wisconsin's political maps could very easily cost the state six-figures each. The state supreme court has okayed a contract to pay the two experts up to 100-thousand dollars a piece, but that number can go higher. The contract says the court can spend more if need be. The experts are being brought in to redraw the political maps for the Wisconsin Legislature after the Supreme Court tossed them out just before Christmas. The court said those maps were too favorable for Republicans.
Wisconsin's RSV death toll is now up to 14. The state's Department of Health Services yesterday said there have been 14 deaths so far this season. That number includes two children. Doctors say RSV typically peaks this time of year, and the very young and very old are always more susceptible to respiratory infections. There are RSV vaccines, including one for older people, one for pregnant women, and one for babies. Here in Western Wisconsin, those with RSV is still trending high.
Wisconsin's taxes are slightly up, but steady, in 2023. New data from the Wisconsin Policy Forum says the state and local burden rose about point-zero-four-percent to an even ten-percent compared to last year. The Forum says the rates have been declining as a whole over the past 50 years. Paid federal and federal state taxes are expected to decrease one-point-eight-percent.
Young people in Wisconsin will be allowed to stay on state medical programs for an entire year under new guidelines. The new federal rules require BadgerCare Plus and other Medicaid programs to keep people under the age of 19 covered for a full year, even if their families leave the programs or if they no longer meet requirements. Department of Health Services secretary Kirsten Johnson says the change ensures that children will be able to have stable access to wellness screenings, medical services and vaccinations, regardless of their parents' status.
Wisconsin wineries can now stay open past nine P-M and until bar time. The new state law is meant to give wineries similar opportunities as bars, and more abilities to host special events. New open time limits are two A-M during the week and two-30 A-M on the weekends. The law will also allow breweries to produce products like canned cocktails and sell beer that wasn't made in Wisconsin in tap rooms.
The Minnesota Farm Bureau wants to encourage more agriculture in the Twin Cities. The bureau will hold an urban ag conference on the University of Minnesota's campus in St. Paul on January 13th. The free event will focus on issues related to urban agriculture, including land access, water access, and funding. Organizers say they may hold similar events in places like Duluth, St. Cloud, and other parts of the state to expand their outreach to urban farmers.
The state Department of Justice is investigating a fatal incident in Central Wisconsin. During a welfare check at a Rothschild residence Wednesday night, officers contacted a person who ran into a bathroom and showed a firearm. A statement from the Justice Department says the person then shot themself. After being transported to a hospital, the person died. No officers were injured during the incident. The Justice Department’s Division of Criminal Investigation is examining the case while the involved officer has been placed on administrative leave.
Nurses at Planned Parenthood's clinics in Wisconsin are looking to unionize. The Wisconsin Federation of Nurses & Health Professionals yesterday said nurses at clinics in Madison and Milwaukee have agreed to join the union. The election will be set for next week, and Planned Parenthood said it supports its worker's right to join the union. There are already unionized clinics at Planned Parenthood sites in Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota.
Some area groups are receiving grants from Farm Aid. Marbleseed, Spring Valley, WI: $9,000 to support the Grow Organic Program, which fosters farmer-to-farmer engagement, through farmer-led events, and provides relevant and timely resources for the organic farming community, to both strengthen the current sustainable farming movement and empower the next generation of organic farmers. Wisconsin Farmers Union, Chippewa Falls, WI: $9,000 to support farmer-labor solidarity, coalition building and public messaging about shared experiences in the face of corporate consolidation in the food and farming system.
Another Minnesota dog sled race is being canceled due to the state's unseasonably warm weather. The Lake Minnetonka Klondike Dog Derby announced yesterday that they were pulling the plug on next month's event. Organizers said current conditions and long-range weather forecasts made it unlikely that the race could be held successfully. Several big wintertime events have been canceled around the state due to warm temperatures and a lack of snow, including the Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon and the Minnesota Ice Festival.
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