The City of Durand's 2023 budget was reviewed last month. As expected the public works budget for snow removal was lower last year due to the mild weather we had last fall and into the winter, while the police budget was over what was expected due to the difficulty in finding part-time officers. Meanwhile, the library used $20,000 from the fund balance to plug a hole in their 2023 budget.
Western Wisconsin's congressman wants the governor to help with the planned hospital closures in the Chippewa Valley. Yesterday, Republican Congressman Derrick Van Orden asked Governor Tony Evers to use any state or federal resources that can be tapped to make sure the people who use HSHS' hospitals or Prevea's clinics in and around Eau Claire and Chippewa Falls are not left without medical care. The two announced last month that they will be closing their hospitals and clinics by mid-April. Van Orden says the closures will leave parts of western Wisconsin with fewer emergency rooms, far less rural EMS service, and the loss of one of the region's cancer centers.
More concerns are being raised about the announced closings of healthcare facilities in western Wisconsin. The Eau Claire City attorney says the announced closure of Sacred Heart Hospital is shocking and difficult, and the way in which HSHS is doing it is "in part, potentially illegal." City Attorney Stephen Nick sent a letter to HSHS and Prevea, which announced last month that hospitals in Eau Claire and Chippewa Falls and Previa Clinics in western Wisconsin will close this spring. HSHS plans to close on April 21, but Nick said he has heard employees are being told their last day is March 22 and some have been terminated already.
Gov. Tony Evers previously announced that he is seeking applicants for appointment as register of deeds of Pierce County. The governor announced he is extending the application deadline until February 16. 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. Individuals interested in serving as a register of deeds in Pierce County can apply via the Evers Administration register of deeds application, which can also be found on the “Apply to Serve” page of Gov. Evers’ website.
The layoffs at HTI are not ending. The company yesterday announced that it is laying off 90 of its 121 employees at its Alpine Road facility. Hutchinson said those workers will lose their jobs in April. The layoffs come after Hutchinson laid off 237 workers in May of last year, and then laid off another 50 people in June. The company is not offering a reason for this latest round of layoffs.
Due to warmer weather conditions, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is raising concern over a possible increase in wildfires this spring. According to DNR Forestry team leader Andrew Sorenson, the lack of snow cover leads to dryer conditions, which can be concerning leading into the spring. Right now, fire danger remains low in most of the state, with moderate conditions in Northern Wisconsin. However, Sorenson expects moderate conditions to spread as the weather warms over the next few months.
Wisconsin lawmakers are looking to make it a crime to protest outside of a judge's house. A Senate panel will hold a hearing on the idea today. The plan would make it a Class A misdemeanor to 'picket, parade, or demonstrate at or near any residence occupied by a judge with the intent to interfere with, obstruct, or impede the administration of justice.' A Class A misdemeanor carries a maximum penalty of a 10 thousand-dollar fine and/or eight months in jail. The protest proposal is one of several that Wisconsin lawmakers are looking at to give judges in the state better security.
Wisconsin's members of Congress are predictably split on the latest border package. Democratic U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin and Democratic Congressman Mark Pocan yesterday said they support the package that would make changes at the southern border, as well as spend billions of dollars on aid to both Ukraine and Israel. Baldwin said the package is not perfect, but said it is a compromise. Republicans, like Congressman Tom Tiffany and Republican U.S. Senator Ron Johnson, say the package doesn't secure the border and only makes things worse. House Speaker Mike Johnson says the plan is dead on arrival in the House.
Rochester could soon ban homeless camping in its parks and public spaces. The city council voted 4-to-3 in favor of an ordinance banning camping on city property and in city-owned rights-of-way. The penalty for violating the ordinance is up to 90 days in jail and a one-thousand dollar fine. Another vote on the ordinance is expected later this month.
Minnesotans who bought or leased electric or hybrid vehicles may qualify for a rebate of up to ten thousand dollars. For those who purchased used E-Vs, the rebate is up to 600 bucks. Vehicles must be bought or leased on or after May 25, 2023, and titled in Minnesota. Consumers can apply for the rebate starting Wednesday on the Minnesota Department of Commerce website.
One person is dead after a truck allegedly backed into them Friday afternoon in Monroe. Green County authorities say the person reportedly struck by the vehicle was pinned under it and may have not been breathing. A preliminary investigation found that the truck was backing up when it struck the person, who was pronounced dead at the scene. The incident remains under investigation.
A state representative from Rochester has deleted one of his social media accounts after reportedly making a joke about an arson investigation. Democratic Farmer Labor Representative Andy Smith was called insensitive after making the post on X, last week. Federal agents are working with state and local investigators to investigate a possible arson at a building that housed three conservative political organizations in Golden Valley. Smith's post was criticized for mocking the investigation using an image from the TV series "The Office." Smith has not commented about the deletion of his X account.
A bill introduced at the Wisconsin State Capitol would protect people from AI-generated fake nude pictures. It is already a felony in Wisconsin to share nude photos of someone unless they give permission. A new Bill introduced at the Wisconsin Legislature would expand the existing law to include artificial intelligence-created nude pictures that resemble a real person. Someone's facial features, voice, or other unique personal characteristics would be protected if the bill is passed into law.
A Wisconsin program that helps homeowners avoid foreclosures is running out of money and will be shutting down. The Help For Homeowners Program will continue to take applications through 11:59pm March 8. The program offers up to 40-thousand dollars to help people who are behind on bills like mortgage payments, property taxes, and utilities. Applicants must have experienced a qualified economic hardship since January 21, 2020. Search the web for Wisconsin Help For Homeowners for information.
Police in Rochester say two men are in custody in connection with a deadly weekend shooting. Police were called to Broadway Avenue South on Saturday afternoon after gunshots were reported. The man wounded in the shooting died after being taken to the hospital. Police have charged Jose Ojeda with second-degree felony assault and Isaac Gutierrez with second-degree murder.
It looks like some record-breaking warm weather is in much of the Midwest this week, including Wisconsin. Record and near-record high temps are expected from Omaha, to Minneapolis, and throughout much of Wisconsin. Record highs are possible this week in Milwaukee, Madison, and Eau Claire. Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday will likely be the warmest days this week.
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