Local-Regional News March 29

The Durand-Arkansaw School Board approved a plan to hire a new superintendent.  During last night's special meeting, the board approved the plan which includes a survey of district staff on what they would like to see in a new superintendent from April 1-12, the position will be open for applications from April 5-22, the board would review applications on April 24th and have first round interviews April 30th and May 2nd.  The second round of interviews would be on May 14th with the hope of having a new superintendent hired by May 21st.    The Board also approved having Board President Bill Yingst as the spokesperson for the district concerning school complaints.  The board took no action on the closed session item regarding the complaint against a district employee.  According to Board President Bill Yingst, the board will consider a proposal to allow the community to participate in a survey on what qualifications and qualities they would like in a new superintendent at the April 17th board meeting.

An Alma man is dead after a one-vehicle accident in Wabasha County yesterday.  According to the Wabasha County Sheriff's Department, 62yr old James Steiner of Alma was traveling on North County Road 11 when he lost control and the vehicle flipped over and landed in the Zumbro River.  Steiner was found dead at the scene.  That accident remains under investigation.

A new basketball court will be constructed in Tarrant Park.  During this week's Durand City Council meeting, members of the Durand Sportsman's Club presented the plan for the court.  Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren says the court will be something for high school-aged kids.  The Sportsmans Club is donating the $30,000 cost of the court.  Construction is hoped to begin later this spring.

A plant that employs more than 120 employees in Winona will close later this year.  BCA Access Business Systems US disclosed its plans to permanently close the automotive parts plant this week.  The company said workers at the plant would be laid off during the second half of this year.  No reason for the closure was given.

The Chippewa Valley Health Cooperative is not giving up on the idea of a community hospital. Organizers say there is a need for another hospital in Eau Claire since Sacred Heart closed last week. The state says its closure cost Eau Claire about a third of its care options. There is a lot of work to do, and no one is guessing when a new hospital could open. Part of that work is a study to see just how much the old Sacred Heart Hospital, and all of its stuff, is worth. 

Another slate of clinics are set to open in western Wisconsin following Prevea [ pruh-VAY-uh ] closures. OakLeaf Clinics says it's already hired some Prevea physicians and medical staff for the new clinics. They're set to open in May in Cornell, Ladysmith, Menomonie [ muh-NOM-oh-knee ], and Rice Lake, all of which have been affected by Prevea closures. OakLeaf says it's working to fill the gap in quality healthcare left by both Prevea and HSHS closures.

Tuition at UW-Eau Claire will top 96 hundred dollars a year under the latest tuition increase for the UW system. University President Jay Rothman yesterday proposed a three-point-75 percent across-the-board tuition hike. Rothman says regents need to raise tuition to keep up with inflation. The proposed tuition increase will start next fall and comes after a five percent tuition increase for the current school year. 

 A week or so worth of rain and snow has dramatically changed Wisconsin's wildfire picture. The DNR yesterday said Wisconsin's fire danger is moderate or low. That's a huge change from just a few weeks ago when the entire state was looking at a high fire danger risk. The northern third of the state is the wettest and has the lowest fire danger. 

Wisconsin will get twelve million dollars to distribute between local school districts for mental health aid. The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction says it'll distribute the federal funding to 40 school districts. State Superintendent Dr. Jill Underly says the money will help Wisconsin schools pay for resources and staff. DPI says addressing students' individual needs is a priority.

The people who want to oust Wisconsin's Republican assembly speaker say they are launching a new recall effort. The Recall Vos organizers yesterday said this effort will focus on Vos' new legislative district. The Wisconsin Elections Commission says the last recall effort, in Vos' old district, failed because organizers didn't get enough signatures. Prosecutors in Racine County have opened an investigation into that recall effort after getting dozens of complaints from people who say their signatures were forged on recall petitions. Recall Vos organizers say they are committed to removing Vos from office. 

Two Delta Airlines jets had a low-speed collision while they were taxiing out to the runway for takeoff at M-S-P International Airport Thursday morning.  Delta says the two plane's wings clipped, so the two jets returned to the terminal so passengers could deplane.  No one was hurt, though at least one of the planes suffered considerable damage to its wingtip.

The Packers and the city of Green Bay aren't talking about a new lease because of a disagreement about the team's rent. Team officials this week said they've broken off talks about a new lease and a new, 80 million-dollar improvement project at Lambeau Field. Green Bay's mayor says he hopes to find a way forward, but the city is refusing to lower the Packers' nearly one million-dollar-a-year rent payment. The Packers have more than a decade left on their current lease. 

Minnesota is launching a 200-million-dollar plan to reduce deaths from opioid abuse.  Minnesota Office of Addiction and Recovery director Jeremy Drucker says data shows an increase in opioid deaths throughout the state in recent years, making such a plan a necessity.  It involves the implementation of safe recovery centers, which could also include safe consumption areas, where people can bring their drugs to be tested for deadly substances like fentanyl.  The first recovery center could open as soon as next year. 

Wisconsin's homelessness rate is trending upwards according to a new report. The Wisconsin Policy Forum says the number of homeless Wisconsinites is up after years of decline. W P F says pressures from the pandemic pushed many people out of their homes as they lost their jobs, and the sudden rise in home prices and rent has only made it harder for people to get back into a permanent home. The Forum says Wisconsin communities need to look at expanding transitional housing for homeless people and try to make up the difference in lost federal stimulus funds to continue to provide shelter.

There is a warning from the sheriff in Dane County about a new phone scam. The sheriff's office says scammers are targeting senior citizens with an AI-powered scam. Investigators say scammers use AI to recreate a grandchild's voice, they then call unsuspecting elderly folks and ask for money. Sheriff Kalvin Barrett says it's a growing scam that could take money from a lot of people. The sheriff says older folks need to be careful what they share on social media, particularly videos of their grandkids. The sheriff says if you get a call, hang up and call your family immediately. 

Ships as large as the vessel that struck the Key bridge in Baltimore do not call on Wisconsin’s Great Lakes ports. The Singapore-registered cargo ship which collided with and collapsed the bridge is 984 feet long with a beam of 158 feet. That’s considerably bigger than vessels that call on Wisconsin ports. A statement from Port Milwaukee says it receives oceangoing ships of roughly the same length, but only only half the width. Ships up to 875 feet in length call on the Port of Green Bay, about 100 feet shorter than the ship that struck the bridge. And vessels like that which struck the bridge in Baltimore do not call at the Port of Duluth-Superior, where they wouldn’t fit through the locks.

Minnesota's oldest Dairy Queen is looking for a new owner.  A realty company announced the sale of the Rochester restaurant in a LinkedIn post this week.  The location on North Broadway Avenue opened in 1947 and is currently run by the grandson of the original owner.  The terms are flexible, with the possibility of buying both the business and the building or buying the business and leasing the building.   The price to buy both is one-point-four-million dollars. 

Local-Regional News March 28

 The Durand City Council has approved Next Level Excavating for the reconstruction project of 6th Avenue East.  The Contract approved last night is for just over $192,000 and will include resurfacing of the street and improvements to the sidewalks on the school side of the street.  That project will begin when the school year ends for Durand-Arkansaw Schools.

The Durand-Arkansaw School Board will be holding a special meeting tonight.  Items on the agenda include a discussion with the Wisconsin Association of School Boards on the search for a new superintendent, the appointment of an individual to make statements regarding school complaints, and then the board will go into closed session to discuss the procedure regarding an employee complaint filed with the district.  Tonight's meeting begins at 6pm in the board room at Durand-Arkansaw High School.

Changes are coming to Alcivia Co-Op.  In a press release yesterday the co-op announced that it would be selling its HVAC Divisions in Durand and Cottage Grove.  The Durand Division has been sold to Hurlburt Heating, AC, and Plumbing, while the Cottage Grove location was sold to Action Plumbing, Air Conditioning, and Electric.  Alcivia officials say the sale of the HVAC Divisions will allow Alcivia to continue its focused growth in the core areas of agronomy, animal nutrition, energy, grain, information technology, and input financing.

Calling it a historic day, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsak was at Great River Organic Milling in Fountain City, WI to announce the first ever commercially available product as a result of the USDA Partnership for Climate Smart Commodities.  Columbia Grain International, owner of the Great River Facility along with AgriCapture joined forces to introduce a long grain rice grown using climate-smart practices.   Vilsak says this is exactly what the Partnership is designed to do.  The rice is grown on 30,000 acres in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi and uses a combination of flooding fields and then letting them dry out, thus reducing methane and water usage by 50% along with increasing carbon capture. The rice is available through Enrich Foods via Amazon.  The company is planning on having the rice available at grocery stores by the end of the year.

A man from Menomonie accused of making threats at his workplace that resulted in a lockdown will get probation.  Garett Kinser was accused of trying to get his coworkers to help him make bombs to burn down their workplace, Phillips Medsize.  He was also accused of threatening to throw a coworker into a meat grinder.  Kinser was accused of terroristic threats but took a plea deal for two lesser charges.  He will be on probation for a year and a half and will have to pay court costs. 

Another local prosecutor says he will not file charges in connection to a campaign finance case tied to Robin Vos' 2022 opponent. St. Croix County's District Attorney Karl Anderson yesterday said he will not move ahead with charges against two locals for how they allegedly redirected money to the Adam Steen campaign. Wisconsin's Ethics Commission suggested charges in the case. Investigators claim state Representative Janel Brandtjen, Steen, and others conspired to move money around Wisconsin's campaign donation limits to benefit Steen when he ran against Assembly Speaker Robin Vos back in 2022. Prosecutors in Chippewa and Florence County have also passed on filing charges. The Ethics Commission has said Wisconsin's attorney general can take the case if local prosecutors opt not to file charges. 

Bagged milk is on its way out at Kwik Trip. The company yesterday said it will stop selling milk in bags in May. Kwik Trip's John McHugh says customers prefer their milk in jugs. Kwik Trip has sold milk in bags for about 40 years, and McHugh says they will offer bagged milk customers a special deal while supplies last. 

The Upper Mississippi Waterway Association (UMWA) has tabbed Gary Williams to lead the organization. Williams comes to UMWA with 35 years of experience in transportation, business development, and merchandising of commodities.  In addition to Williams, UMWA is requesting ideas for strategic planning from its membership. The board is looking for member input, including a request for member profiles.  UMWA is the association of waterway operators, shippers, and other waterway interests working together to promote the economic and environmental benefits of water transportation in the Upper Midwest.

With the April primary less than a week away, Governor Tony Evers has signed a measure to give more protection to election workers and clerks. It gives election officials whistleblower protection if they lawfully report cases of election irregularities or fraud. The bill also prohibits the disclosure of election officials' personally identifiable information and makes the intentional harming of any election worker a felony.  The bipartisan legislation had passed the state Senate 31-1 after the Assembly unanimously approved it earlier.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court has ruled that a group of Amazon delivery drivers are employees, not independent contractors.   Amazon had appealed a lower court ruling that drivers in its Amazon Flex program are employees and eligible for unemployment benefits when fired. The justices rejected the appeal in a unanimous ruling released Tuesday. The case stems from a 2018 decision by the Department of Workforce Development that Amazon owed over 200 thousand dollars in back unemployment payments. The ruling could have effects on other gig economy jobs.

Worker's compensation will increase in Wisconsin. Governor Tony Evers approved the bill, which increases the weekly permanent partial disability rate from 430 dollars to 438 for any injuries for this year. In 2025, it will increase by another eight dollars. Other alterations include extending the statute of limitations and gender-neutral language in marriage-related statutes. The bill was initially approved by the Worker's Compensation Advisory Council, which is made up of both employee and employer representatives and insurer reps. 

The Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council is dedicating millions of dollars to fight invasive carp in the Mississippi River.  The council, which is a state-formed group of citizens and legislators, is allocating twelve million dollars towards developing a deterrent to reduce the carp in the river near Winona.  The carp compete with native fish for food and if nothing is done, they are expected to travel further up the river.  The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service say they are working together on a plan and will release details of that plan soon. 

A new coronavirus has been discovered in Walleye fish in Wisconsin.  Professor of Epidemiology Tony Goldberg at the University of Wisconsin-Madison's School of Veterinary Medicine says it shouldn't be a big concern for people.   He says this particular virus has likely been in Walleye for a very long time and is only now being discovered. 

Rochester Community and Technical College will be offering a new degree in cybersecurity this fall.  The college announced the new associate of applied science program yesterday.  The degree is designed to help those looking for immediate employment in the cybersecurity industry as well as those looking to transfer to a four-year college for additional study. 

Local-Regional News March 27

 The Cities of Wabasha and Kellogg, Wabasha County, and Greenfield Township have formed the River Trail Joint Powers Board to work on a project for a future bridge over the Zumbro River and a bike trail link connecting the cities.  The Board has received a $1.5 million grant from the Transportation Alternatives Program.  The money will be used to construct a multi-use trail and trail bridge from Winona Ave near Kellogg over the Zumbro River connecting to 645th Street.    The Board hopes to start construction in the next few years.

Buffalo and Pepin County Senior Nutrition Program needs volunteers to deliver home-delivered meals in the Nelson-Alma areas.  Schedules are flexible and mileage reimbursement is offered if you drive your own vehicle.  Those interested in volunteering are to contact Matthew Bertelson at 715-672-8914 ext 163.  The Senior Nutrition Program also has meal sites in Durand, Pepin, Nelson, Buffalo City, Gilmanton, and Mondovi.

A principal in the Eau Claire Area School District has been dismissed over charges of alleged misconduct and failure to follow district policies.  District officials say Pete Riley was fired as principal at McKinley Charter School over charges of disrespecting students and staff and making derogatory comments about Black students.  Riley says charges of derogatory comments have been misinterpreted and that vulgar language was sometimes used to defuse tense situations. 

Following some route changes, the Dunn County Public Bus Transit System is seeing its ridership increase.  The system carried 126-thousand riders last year.  Ridership from Monday through Friday jumped by 62 percent and Saturday ridership increased by 81 percent.  Transit system officials say they shortened the community route to an hour and eliminated a few stops.  Meanwhile, an evening stop at the University of Wisconsin in Stout was added.       

Congressman Derrick Van Orden has announced that ten-million dollars in federal funding has been secured for the County Road T construction project.  County Road T connects Eau Claire and Chippewa Counties and will be converted from a two-lane to a four-lane highway.  Van Orden says about 30 percent of the project is already designed.  No timeline has been announced for the project.

Hunters and anglers will be able to comment on proposed changes to hunting and fishing rules in Wisconsin at the DNR's annual spring hearings next month.  Hearings will be held in every county, including Ppein, Pierce, Buffalo, and Dunn, on April eighth.  Proposed fishing changes include holding trout season open on the first Saturday in April instead of the middle of May and opening the Wisconsin waters of Lake Michigan to commercial fishing for lake trout.     

Buffalo County is looking for an assistant for the County Board Of Canvassing for the upcoming spring election.  The County Board of Canvassing reviews election materials and ensures votes were counted correctly.  The Board of Canvassing will meet on April 4 starting at 8:30.  Contact Roxanne Halverson for more information or to apply.

First responders in Eau Claire say they've seen ambulance turnaround times increase due to the recent closures of hospitals in the Chippewa Valley.  Eau Claire fire officials say ambulance turnaround times have increased from ten minutes to 15 and 20 minutes.  The increase means it's taking longer to transfer ambulance patients into hospital beds.  They say the best solution is for another provider to come into the market and set up another emergency service department for first responders to use.    

Wisconsin is monitoring reports of avian influenza in dairy cattle in Texas and Kansas.  Wisconsin State Veterinarian Dr. Darlene Konkle notes that pasteurization kills viruses or bacteria in milk, so it's safe to drink.   Cattle infected with bird flu typically recover, and the herd does not have to be de-populated.  Wisconsin has not had a positive bird flu case in dairy cattle.  Dr. Konkle is reminding Wisconsin dairy producers to report any illnesses in cattle.  

Major utility companies in Wisconsin and the state's building trade unions are announcing plans to further develop clean energy infrastructure.  Alliant Energy, Madison Gas & Electric, WEC Energy Group, and Xcel Energy say they will be building more solar farms, wind turbines, and battery storage facilities with the help of local union construction workers.  Dean Miller with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers says they are excited to be a part of what he calls a "historic agreement".  The Wisconsin Public Service Commission estimates that the planned projects will create close to 19-thousand construction jobs.

Two recently passed congressional spending bills include millions of dollars to support research at the University of Wisconsin.  The measures are setting aside a total of 56-million dollars toward projects at UW-Madison.  The largest chunk of the money, nearly 28-million, is going toward work at the Great Lakes Bioenergy Center.  Some of the other supported research focuses on biomedicine, the dairy industry, and rural development.

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The Department of Natural Resources is taking public comment on a new elk management plan. Biologist Joshua Spiegel says they've been working closely on the plan with farmers in the central region of the state. Elk have been doing damage to cranberry farms, so the D N R worked together with the U S D A and ag groups to minimize contact between elk and humans. You can enter your input online at D N R dot W I dot Gov, just search for "Elk".

A conservative group opposed to equal opportunity programs in colleges has filed a complaint against UW-Madison over access to grants for minority students. The Equal Protection Project says those grants for minority groups unfairly block out white students from funding, and are a violation of civil rights and anti-racism laws. They want the US Department of Education to investigate the program and open it up for all students. UW-Madison is among several colleges and universities that E P P is targeting with complaints. UW officials say they will cooperate with any official investigations.

Some elected Wisconsin Democrats say they won’t support Joe Biden in next week’s presidential primary. WisPolitics reports a total of 24 have signed a letter, vowing to vote “uninstructed” in the April 2 Democratic primary. It’s part of a campaign urging voters to vote uninstructed in protest of President Joe Biden’s handling of the Israel-Hamas war. State Representative Francesca Hong of Madison drafted the letter. Representative Kristina Shelton of Green Bay has signed it, as have Democratic Socialists Representatives Ryan Clancy and Darrin Madison of Milwaukee, Milwaukee state Senator Chris Larson, and local officials. Biden has already secured the Democratic nomination for president.

A Wisconsin first responder comes to the rescue in mid-flight.  Lake Country Fire & Rescue Assistant Chief Matthew Haerter was on a Southwest flight from Milwaukee to Arizona last week when a passenger lost consciousness. Haerter came to the man’s aid, giving him an IV that Southwest had on board. He stayed with the man for two more hours until they landed in Arizona, where emergency crews were waiting.   Soon after, Haerter said he found an email on his phone congratulating him on 30 years as a paramedic.

Next week’s Milwaukee Brewers home opener will be the debut for a bright new addition to American Family Field. At over 12-thousand square feet, a new center field scoreboard at AmFam Field is twice the size of the previous scoreboard, and the LED display will provide higher resolution for fans. Brewers’ President of Business Operations Rick Schlesinger says in addition to the increase in the scoreboard’s size, “…the visual experience will be really impactful and allows us to do creative things." The enhanced scoreboard is part of a new LED display system throughout the ballpark costing around $14 million. The Brewers begin their home schedule April 2nd against the Minnesota Twins.

 Plans to build a water park at Mall of America is resurfacing.  The Bloomington City Council will get an update and look at the concepts for the 143-thousand-square-foot Mystery Cove Waterpark during a joint meeting on Thursday with the city's Port Authority.  The proposal includes a wave pool, lazy river, 30 slides and a retractable roof.  Construction could begin in 2025 and could open in late 2027.

Local-Regional News March 26

 Two people were injured in a two vehicle accident in Spring Valley last Thursday.  According to the Pierce County Sheriff's Department, 18yr old Wyatt Schultz of Spring Valley was traveling eastbound on Hwy 29 when he lost control of the vehicle and struck a westbound vehicle driven by 49yr old Angeline Vodnik of Spring Valley.  Schultz was taken to River Falls Area Hospital, while Vodnik was taken to Western Wisconsin Health in Baldwin.

One person is dead after a one-vehicle accident in Otter Creek Township last Thursday.  According to Eau Claire County Sheriff's Department, 44yr old Chad Ladwig of Eleva was killed when crashed at the intersection of Hwy O and Nugget Road.  Upon arrival of EMS Ladwig had died from his injuries.  Alcohol and speed are believed to be likely factors in the accident.

 A stretch of Interstate 90 from the Minnesota border in La Crosse County to the intersection of Interstate 90 and Interstate 94 in Monroe County is now known as the "Ho-Chunk World War II Code Talkers Memorial Highway."  Yesterday, Governor Tony Evers signed legislation to that effect to honor 14 tribal code talkers who helped the Allies transfer critical operational information during WWII in code that was completely indecipherable to enemy forces.  Evers lauded yesterday's announcement, hailing the effort as a powerful recognition of the Ho-Chunk Nation - the "People of the Sacred Voice." 

Teachers at the Durand-Arkansaw School District will be using a science-based literacy program after Act 20 went into effect.  The act requires districts to use a science-based program to help improve reading levels for students.  The district will be using the ELA program and will receive a grant of up to 50% to cover the costs of the program.

Look for improvements to Hwy R and a town of Lima Road this year.  Pepin County will be making improvements to both roads to allow for heavier farm traffic and improve the infrastructure.  Money for the improvements is coming from the State of Wisconsin Ag Improvement Program which helps towns and counties improve rural roads.

The City of Wabasha has announced the date for the grand opening of the new athletic complex.  The St. Paul Saints will hold spotlight games for the Falcon Yout Baseball Association and the Wabasha-Kellogg Summer Softball Association on May 31st from 4-7pm at the new facility.  Those attending will be able to see the new amenities including pickleball and tennis courts, basketball court, hockey/skating rink, warming house, concessions stand, and restrooms.

The Minnesota Department of Health has updated fish consumption for Mississippi River Pools 2, 3, and 4 which includes Lake Pepin.    According to the Department of health,  women who are or may become pregnant or are breastfeeding and children under the age of 15 are not advised to eat any fish from the river.  For everyone else, it's recommended to only eat one serving of fish per month.  For more information or if you have questions you can call the Pepin County Health Department.

An El Paso, Texas man is dead following Saturday's freak industrial accident in western Wisconsin.  Officials in Trempealeau County say 30-year-old Carlos Medina was declared dead at the scene after he became stuck while cleaning sediment from an underground municipal water tank in the city of Blair.  His fellow workers alerted authorities when Medina complained about the cold water and loss of mobility.  First responders - aided by the man's co-workers - pulled him out a short time later.  However, efforts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful.  Medina's death was ruled accidental.

Wisconsin's blueprint for digital equity has been accepted by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. Wisconsin state AARP director Martha Cranley calls it a game changer for older adults.  Governor Tony Evers and the Public Service Commission announced the state is eligible for up to $30 million to implement its plan over the next five years. Cranley says in the next few months the state will provide information for local governments and other entities to apply for funding.

Wisconsin tourism industry officials are voicing their opposition to a state proposal that, if enacted, would enable public school districts to start classes before September.  Industry officials say operators of resorts, restaurants, and recreational activities say the move could deprive them of school-age workers during the peak month of the tourism season.  Supporters, meanwhile, assert that starting classes early would give educators more flexibility to do what they feel is best for students.  Authorities say the measure still needs to be approved both by the governor and by a legislative committee before it can be put on the books.

A plea to talk with the older drivers in your life.  It’s from police in the Racine County Village of Caledonia. According to a department Facebook post, an 85-year-old motorist was responsible for a four-vehicle hit-and-run crash Monday morning. That driver then returned to the scene and collided with a fifth vehicle - a police squad car. They received very minor injuries and were issued numerous citations for both crashes. The state Department of Motor Vehicles is now required to review the driver’s ability to safely operate a vehicle. It could have been worse and the request from police - please have a talk with elderly family and friends who may no longer be able to drive safely.

The Alzheimer's Association says Wisconsin is seeing a growing need for care professionals for older adults.  The organization estimates that current staffing levels for clinicians and long-term care workers will need to increase by well over 200 percent to keep up with demand across the state by 2030.  The organization reports that there are over 110-thousand Wisconsin residents currently living with dementia and, with those individuals, over 200-thousand family caregivers.  The family members who look after Alzheimer patients in Wisconsin provide unpaid care that would otherwise cost about five-and-a-half-billion dollars, according to the nonprofit.

Sales taxes on precious metals are being eliminated in the State of Wisconsin.  Governor Tony Evers signed Assembly Bill 29 and Senate Bill 33 into law last week, recognizing purchases of various forms of metals like gold and silver as investments.  Language in the law means buyers will not be charged sales tax for transactions on coins, bars, rounds, or sheets that are made up of at least 35 percent gold, silver, copper, platinum, or palladium.  

31-year-old Katrina Baur pleaded not guilty in Manitowoc County Court on Friday to multiple charges including chronic child neglect and obstructing an officer. Prosecutors filed amended charges earlier this month against Baur to include child neglect involving a six-year-old child. It’s been over a month since 3-year-old Elijah was last seen. The man police say was watching the toddler when he went missing, Jesse Vang, returns to court next week for his preliminary hearing. Neither Vang nor Bauer has been charged in Elijah’s disappearance.

Norovirus cases are dropping off in Minnesota and other Midwestern states after peaking in late February. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data shows that 2024 has had fewer cases than the last two seasons. Norovirus is often called stomach flu because of its symptoms.  

The owners of Kalahari Resorts say they are developing a 50-million-dollar property on Lake Delton that will include luxury treehouses. The property, to be called the Kalahari Treehouse Collection at Dawn Manor, will be near the flagship Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells.  A news release says the treehouses are being designed in partnership with Pete Nelson and his family, the former stars of Animal Planet's "Treehouse Masters."  The property's initial phase is set to open late this year.

Local-Regional News March 25

 One man was arrested after fleeing a Mondovi Police Officer early Sunday morning.  According to Mondovi Police, officers clocked 58-year-old Paul Winger traveling 67 in a 30-mile-per-hour zone by Mondovi Dairy Systems.  Winger refused to pull over and his vehicle was found abandoned on East Hudson Street.  Responding officers along with Buffalo and Pepin County Sheriff's Deputies set up a perminter and found Winger.  He has been charged with owi first offense and fleeing an officer.

A River Falls man was arrested on Saturday after a high-speed pursuit in Buffalo County.  According to the Buffalo County Sheriff's Department, deputies received several reports of an erratic driver traveling northbound on Hwy 35 in the Town of Buffalo. When deputies attempted to pull over 30-year-old Brendan Maher of River Falls he failed to stop and a pursuit began for about 12 miles.  Spike strips were used and the pursuit ended on Hwy 35 near Twilight Road in the Town of Belvidere.  Maher has been charged with fleeing an officer, operating while intoxicated, operating after revocation, and other traffic violations.

The School District of Mondovi is the first school district in Western Wisconsin to buy five electric school buses.  The Blue Bus Corporation buses are capable of holding 71 passengers each.  The district had new charges installed and the buses were delivered to the district.  Funding for the buses was made possible by a federal grant.   Drivers say the electric buses feel almost the same as driving gasoline-powered buses. 

The Trempealeau County Sheriff's Office says a man died while cleaning the City of Blair's water tank.  It happened Saturday afternoon when the sheriff's office was called to the water tank where a man was said to be trapped.  The man -- whose name is not being released as of now -- was wearing scuba gear while he cleaned sediment from the tank.  Officials say the man had complained to coworkers he was becoming cold but he kept working.  They believe he became hypothermic and lost the mobility of his hands.  They tried pulling him from the tank, but he became tangled in the suction tube and died.      

Investigators say they believe the cause of a fire at a duplex in La Crosse this weekend was electrical in nature.  Only moderate damage was reported to the duplex and there were no injuries from the fire that broke out Saturday night.  Firefighters were able to contain the fire before it spread.  It was mostly restricted to the attic of the duplex.

A new analysis says the University of Wisconsin-Madison is the most selective college or university in the state. Data for the analysis, developed from The Business Journal, used figures from the U.S. Department of Education. UW-Madison's acceptance rate last year was just over 49 percent while ultimately more than 29 percent of those accepted enrolled. UW-Madison was followed by UW-La Crosse, the Milwaukee School of Engineering, and UW-Eau Claire in the average rankings for state colleges.   

The Wisconsin Ethics Commission will be referring felony charges against the Save America political action committee and a state representative to other counties after three cited conflicts of interest. The county prosecutors of Chippewa, Florence, and Langlade will not prosecute claims that an alleged scheme took place between Donald Trump's Save America political action committee, GOP Rep. Janel Brandtjen, county Republican party officials, and the campaign committee of Adam Steen. The 2022 election was in hopes of replacing Assembly Speaker Robin Vos. The ethics committee believes that Trump and Brandtjen convinced Steen while pressuring him to illegally decertify the 2020 election. 

A woman charged in connection with the death of two children in a buggy crash in southern Minnesota will make her first appearance in court today.  Samantha Petersen will make her initial appearance in Fillmore County Court this morning.  Petersen is facing 21 charges, including multiple counts of criminal vehicular homicide tied to the September crash.  The two other children who were in the buggy were injured in the crash.  Petersen's sister has also been charged after allegedly trying to take the blame for the crash to help her sister avoid arrest.  Her first court appearance is set for Thursday.

A Wisconsin utility is requesting state funding.   WISN reports that We Energies has filed a special $25 million request with the state Public Service Commission. A utility spokesperson says We Energies wants to step up clearing branches and trees from around power lines, one of the major causes for outages in this winter's major snowstorm. The Citizens Utility Board is objecting to the plan, saying We Energies ought to have this sort of funding in its own budget, rather than asking the state for money.

Green Bay Republican US Representative Mike Gallagher has announced he will be exiting Congress next month. The four-term congressman already announced he would not seek reelection in February because he wanted to enter the private sector and spend more time with family. Yesterday he said he would be leaving on April 19th, leaving House Speaker Mike Johnson with just a one-member majority.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is sharing some reminders on encountering wildlife this spring.  Officials say it is important to "keep wildlife wild" and never try to care for an undomesticated animal if you don't have the expertise.  DNR officials say they receive many calls from people this time of year who may see a young animal alone and incorrectly assume it has been abandoned by its mother or orphaned.  Wildlife should be left alone in order to ensure health and safety for both animals and people, according to experts.  If you are very concerned about an animal that seems to be sick or injured the best course of action is to keep your distance, take pictures or notes, and call DNR.

Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul is joining other state attorneys general that's suing Apple over antitrust charges.  The attorneys general are echoing U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland's claims that the tech company held up improvements for customers while blocking competitors from having any real chance of success.  Kaul says Wisconsin consumers should not have to pay inflated prices or have their options limited by anti-competitive conduct.  Apple pushed back, claiming in a statement the lawsuit is -- quote -- wrong on the facts and the law.   

A Wisconsin GOP Congressman is calling for an end to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion policies in the U.S. military. In an interview with 27 News, Glenn Grothman said DEI policies lead to more division and have "contributed to a decrease in recruitment numbers." Grothman is the Chairman on the Subcommittee on National Security, the Border and Foreign Affairs, and has held hearings on Capitol Hill to discuss how DEI efforts negatively affect U.S. military operations. Democrats disagree and believe cases of sexual assault and mental health have caused retention rates to drop. Grothman has confirmed that lawmakers could take action by drafting a bill that would eliminate a percentage of DEI experts and officers. 

A Darlington man is sentenced after nearly 200 dead goats are found on a southwest Wisconsin farm he oversaw.   Kyle Lincicum will serve 15 years in prison and another nine years in jail after he pleaded guilty in December to several animal abuse charges, including intentionally failing to provide food for an animal, and intentionally not disposing of carcasses. The charges came after the Lafayette County Sheriff's Office got a call from the Farm Service Agency in March of last year about the dead goats on a farm in Seymour Township. Lincicum was also ordered to pay the victim of his actions more than $240,000 in restitution

 A goat in western Minnesota has tested positive for avian flu.  The Minnesota Board of Animal Health confirmed the case on Wednesday, saying the young goat was on a farm in Stevens County with a poultry flock that had the same virus.  The case was discovered after the owner of the farm told state officials about the deaths of some baby goats and a carcass was taken to the University of Minnesota, where it tested positive for avian flu.  Health officials say this is the first domestic ruminant in the U.S. to test positive for avian flu. 

The wrecking ball is coming soon for a beloved bar in La Crosse.  At the Board of Public Works meeting Monday, a contract is expected to be awarded for the Glory Days bar, which was heavily damaged along with nearby buildings in a fire two years ago.  Its owners had said they hoped to rebuild and reopen the bar, but have been unable to do so.  The bar was popular for its collection of Green Bay Packers memorabilia.

Local-Regional News March 22

 The fire danger risk will diminish significantly now that snow has fallen overnight.  Fire crews in Durand and Mondovi have battled fires this week.  According to Durand Fire, the wildfire near the intersection of Hwy T and L. Poeschel Road in the town of Lima on Wednesday burned approximately 80 acres.  Firefighters were on the scene for approximately 5 hours.  The cause of that fire is still under investigation.  No injuries were reported.

Funding is still available from the Pepin County Health Department for the nitrate mitigation reverse osmosis project.  Eligible landowners or renters can receive a grant to install mitigation systems that remove nitrate from a private well water supply.  For more information on the project and to apply, contact the Pepin County Health Department.

Pepin County Supervisors will be looking for money in the budget to help pay for interpreter fees related to a case in January.  Pepin County Judge Thomas W Clark told board members that a case in January involving a child and two adults who did not speak English has caused the court to use up all of its budgeted amounts for interpreter fees.  The judge told the board that they should expect a request for the extra money during the April board meeting.

The new substitute Superintendent for the Durand-Arkansaw School District is settling into his new position.  Troy Gunderson was named the substitute during this week's Durand-Arkansaw School Board meeting and says his main goal is to keep things running smoothly for the rest of the year. Gunderson will be in the district 2 days a week and working from home during the rest of the week through the end of the school year.  The Durand-Arkansaw School Board will begin the process of hiring a permanent superintendent on March 28.

Xcel Energy is urging customers to prepare for possible power outages as winter weather returns to Wisconsin.  The utility says it's preparing for the incoming storm on Sunday and that customers can help by immediately reporting any outages.  Xcel also recommends brushing snow and ice from gas meters to prevent leaks and pressure buildups.  The National Weather Service says a large winter storm could affect the region Sunday through Tuesday.

The Prairie Island Indian Community is hoping to open the third cannabis dispensary in Minnesota later this year.  Tribal leaders announced this week that they hope to open southern Minnesota's first dispensary this summer after getting the necessary licenses.  The Prairie Island community is considered a sovereign nation, giving it the right to enact its own cannabis regulations.  The Red Lake and White Earth nations have both opened dispensaries in Minnesota.  The state is still ironing out details of a cannabis licensing system for Minnesota, though licenses may be issued beginning next year.

Wisconsin is distributing more than 320-thousand dollars to improve county forest roads. Governor Tony Evers says the money will benefit more than 900 miles of roadway spanning 24 counties. The Department of Transportation says the money should help decrease the amount counties have to pay for the road improvements. To qualify, roads must be located in county forest limits and be open to the public for travel.

A northern Wisconsin county is ready to by a health clinic that’s slated to close.  The Rusk County Board of Supervisors voted on March 7 to pay $1.6 million for the Prevea Health primary clinic, with the contingency that the county could lease the building to a healthcare provider. The tentative closing date for the sale is April 19. The clinic in Ladysmith is set to close by April 21, along with 18 other locations, as Prevea and Hospital Sisters Health System exit western Wisconsin.

Swatting would be a felony offense in Minnesota if a new proposal being considered at the Minnesota State Capitol becomes law.  Whether swatting is meant as a prank, or to get someone in trouble, it is a fake emergency call that brings police, and often armed tactical teams called SWAT teams to someone's home or work. It's already a crime to make a false emergency report in Minnesota, but the new law, if approved, would elevate the crime to a felony with up to a year in jail for anyone convicted. 

The ongoing probe into a baby found dead in the Mississippi River more than a decade ago may have found a new focus.  The infant known as "Baby Angel" was found near Winona in 2011.  The Winona County Sheriff's Office says forensic evidence may have led them to the baby's mother.  The sheriff's office says DNA and forensic genealogy point to a 41-year-old woman who was found in Winona last year.  Initial testing using a genetic sample from the woman's trash showed a possible match to the baby's DNA.  Investigators are now asking for a warrant to get a blood sample directly from the woman.  

The Wisconsin legislature has passed a bill that mandates the teaching of Asian American and Hmong  American history.  It's headed to Governor Tony Evers for his signature.  Wisconsin public school districts are already required to offer instruction in the histories of Native Americans, African Americans, and Hispanics.      

Some Wisconsin farmers are planting early this year because of record warm weather, but they're hoping for rain.  The continuing drought plus unusually warm, dry weather this winter will be challenges for farmers.  Wisconsin's average temperature in December was the hottest on record.  The U.S. Department of Agriculture expects farm income to be 25-percent lower this year than last because of higher expenses, and possibly lower yields caused by the drought. 

The Mall of America is stepping up its security.  The mall is now using K-9s to sniff out guns that someone might be carrying.  The mall originally started using police dogs over 20 years ago, but the K-9s were focused on detecting explosives.  The Mall of America's security team says the new security measure won't change a shopper's experience.  The vice president of mall security says police dogs are "out on the floor every day, so if you're the average guest, you might not even know what they're doing."  

U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin has signed a letter calling for a two state solution to end the Israel-Hamas war.  The Madison Democrat - who is up for reelection in November - was among 19 Democratic senators sending the letter to President Joe Biden calling for a two-state solution amid the ongoing war. The letter led by Senator Tom Carper of Delaware proposes the establishment of a “non militarized Palestinian state” led by a reformed Palestinian Authority. Wisconsin Republicans criticized Baldwin for signing on to the letter. A state Party spokesperson said she wants to reward Hamas for its October 7 attacks, with a Palestinian state.

Winona State University has a new president.  The Minnesota State College and University system's Board of Trustees selected Kenneth Janz to lead WSU yesterday.  Janz has been the interim president of Winona State since August.  Before that he served the university for 15 years in different roles, including associate vice president of academic affairs, CIO and dean of the library.  

Wisconsin is ranked the tenth best state in the nation for singles.  The study by Consumer Affairs reports Wisconsin's median income is nearly 71-thousand dollars, with a lower than average cost of housing, overall cost of living, and low crime rate.  Wisconsin has an average size population of singles and the third-highest number of bars per person in the nation.  Neighboring Minnesota ranks ninth best for singles.  Illinois ranks fifth. 

Local-Regional News March 21

 Firefighters from Mondovi and Durand responded to a wildfire at S32 Hwy BB on Tuesday.  According to Mondovi Fire, the fire started after the homeowner was burning garbage and the fire got out of control and burned about 4 acres of woods.  Firefighters were on the scene for approximately 4 hours and the homeowner will have to pay $900 an hour plus other expenses.  A burning ban remains in place in Buffalo County today.

Firefighters from Durand, Mondovi, Rock Creek, and 6 other departments were dispatched out to a wildfire off of County Hwy T near Brantner Road yesterday.  The first call came in around 6pm and firefighters were on the scene for more of the evening.  Hwy T was closed for nearly 4 hours because of the blaze.  There were no reports of any building damaged or anyone hurt.  The cause of the fire has not been determined.

The Durand Arkansaw School District has hired Troy Gunderson as a substitute superintendent for the rest of the school year.  Gunderson is a past Principal and Superintendent for West Salem School District and is a professor teaching Superintendents at Viterbo.  The district also hired the Wisconsin Association of School Boards to find a new Superintendent at a cost not to exceed $10,750.  It is hoped a new superintendent can be found by May 15th.  A planning meeting is set for March 28th at 6pm to begin the process.  According to a representative from the WASB the vacancy has been posted and two people have expressed an interest in the position.  

The Pepin County Board has approved creating an Ad-Hoc Committee to review the pros and cons of changing the form of government from Administrative Coordinator to County Administrator.  Appointed to the committee are Supervisors Michael Wright, Kris Sabelko, Paul Hoch, John Andrews, and County Board Chairman Tom Milliren.

Winter returns to Western Wisconsin later tonight as the National Weather Services has Winter Weather Advisories in effect starting at 10pm tonight.  A Winter Storm will move through the area with snow starting this evening and continuing until Friday morning.  Two to Five inches are expected.  Another stronger storm is in the forecast for the end of the weekend.

A judge sentenced an Eau Claire man to prison for his meth-fueled rampage last Halloween. The judge Monday gave Cole Evenson 13 months in prison for threatening to burn a woman's house down, then breaking into another home and destroying a TV. Police say Evenson was high and naked at the time. He's also accused of killing his roommate's dog. As part of the sentence, Evenson must remain completely sober. 

An Eau Claire man is accused of shooting a crossbow toward a neighbor.  35-year-old Robert Willi is charged with recklessly endangering safety, use of a dangerous weapon, and disorderly conduct in the incident, which occurred last Sunday. WEAU reports Eau Claire police responded to a report that a man had shot a crossbow near a neighbor. No one was injured and Willi eventually surrendered to the police who found two crossbows in his home. A court hearing is scheduled for next week.

Buffalo, Pierce, and Dunn Counties have been ranked high in a category that other counties would likely envy: They are rated one of the healthiest counties in the nation.  The rating stems from the County Health Rankings and Roadmaps.  All three counties are rated above state and national averages, while Pepin County is ranked average for the state and above average for national rankings.  Health officials say several factors figure into this assessment, including the quality of healthcare and people's engagement in the community.   

Pope Francis announced Tuesday morning that he has accepted Diocese of La Crosse's Bishop William Patrick Callahan's retirement request and appointed his replacement.   Bishop Gerard Battersby will succeed Bishop Callahan as the 11th bishop of the diocese.   Bishop Battersby,  comes from the Detroit area. He will be installed as the Bishop of the Diocese of La Crosse on May 20 at the Cathedral of St. Joseph the Workman in La Crosse.

The man accused of killing his ex-girlfriend last year appeared in court in Winona County Tuesday.  Adam Fravel was present for a hearing ahead of his trial for first-degree murder in the death of Madeline Kingsbury.  The judge agreed to several motions by prosecutors, including a motion to withhold the release of grand jury transcripts related to the case.  The judge also heard a motion from the defense to suppress statements Fravel made to law enforcement during the investigation of Kingsbury's disappearance and death.  The judge did not rule on that motion.

The FAA is investigating after a hot air balloon crash in Rochester.  Three people were reportedly on board the balloon when it crashed near U.S. 63 South around seven o'clock last night.  A Rochester Fire Department spokesperson said the balloon got hung up on a power line as it tried to land and dropped to the ground after the basket separated from the balloon.  No one was seriously injured.

The ink is dry on a bipartisan measure to fund an electric-vehicle charging network serving Wisconsin's interstate system and major highways.  State officials say Governor Tony Evers signed a bill yesterday that authorizes nearly 80 million dollars in federal construction aid to help gas stations, convenience stores, and other businesses install and operate electric vehicle charging stations.  Lawmakers say the funding will enable the state to open 85 percent of Wisconsin's highway system to drivers of electric vehicles.  Currently, the Badger State has just under 600 charging stations available for public use.  

The superintendent of Wisconsin’s public schools responded to online threats made to a Waukesha middle school. Waukesha Police say Butler Middle School has received bomb threats and a school shooting threat over the past week. Though the department says the threats are not credible, noting that they came from Nigeria and Russia, an increased police presence has been placed at the school out of caution. Police believe the school received the threats because of "personal online posts" from a Butler staff member. The head of Wisconsin’s Department of Public Instruction, Jill Underly, said in a Tuesday statement that the threats are driven by hatred, particularly towards members of the LGBTQ+ community. Investigators continue to look into the matter. 

 A Wisconsin pastor is among the Americans rescued from Haiti. Reverend Steve Svensen of Providence Reformed Baptist Church in Rice Lake had been working with a non-profit in Port-au-Prince since late February. Last weekend, he and 12 others were airlifted out in a helicopter chartered by Florida congressman Cory Mills.  Svensen is back in Wisconsin and hopes other Caribbean nations can broker a deal to bring help to Haiti.

Wisconsin is giving out almost four million dollars in grants to help employers train thousands of employees. The state Department of Workforce Development says the money will go toward training in construction, health care, manufacturing, and transportation. With the funding, 22 employers will train more than two thousand workers. The Wisconsin Fast Forward Program has given more than 49 million toward training 34-thousand workers.

Republican lawmakers at the Wisconsin Capitol say it is worrying that neither the state nor the UW have a plan to know who is working where or when. The heads of the state's Legislative Audit Commission yesterday pressed both the Department of Administration and the University of Wisconsin for answers about two audits that show a lot of people are working from home, and a lot of state-owned buildings are mostly empty. Senator Eric Wimberger said the state and the UW need to know where their people are. State Representative Bob Wittke says the state has invested billions of dollars in office space over the years, and he says someone should explain why it's empty. The state audit shows nearly three-quarters of workspaces are empty as many as five days a week.

A Republican will not enter the race for U.S. Senate from Wisconsin.  The decision by Franklin businessman Scott Mayer leaves Madison and California businessman Eric Hovde to face two lesser-known candidates in the Republican primary. Mayer told WisPolitics he decided against running against Hovde to avoid a Republican primary that would damage their chances of beating Democratic incumbent Tammy Baldwin. Mayer expressed confidence that he would have beaten Hovde in the August primary and Baldwin in the November general election but said he didn't want to spend $20 million of his own money to do it. 

Over-the-counter birth control is covered under Wisconsin insurance. BadgerCare Plus members will be able to pick up Opill without paying out of pocket. Opill is the first birth control medication approved by the FDA for use without a prescription or discussion with a doctor.  It is in pharmacies now and is available in the next few weeks. 

The company that owns Noah's Ark Waterpark wants a judge to stop the Village of Lake Delton from tearing down some empty and run-down hotel buildings. The fight is over what is left of the old Flamingo Hotel in the Dells. It closed in 2019 and never reopened. Noah's Ark bought the buildings and initially wanted to tear them down. Now, Noah's Ark says it wants to redevelop them in a few years. Village leaders say the buildings are falling apart and dangerous, they want to be able to tear the buildings down on their own. 

Local-Regional News March 20

 The Durand-Arkansaw School Board is meeting tonight.  Items on the agenda include the hiring of an interim Superintendent, the hiring of the Wisconsin Association of School Boards to do a search for a new Superintendent,  and the board will go into closed session to discuss employee issues.  Tonight's meeting begins at 6pm in the Board Room at Durand-Arkansaw High School.

The Pepin County Board is meeting tonight.  Items on the agenda include action on a resolution to support grant applications to purchase the bike trail, action on a resolution to establish an ad hoc committee to review the pros and cons of changing the form of government to a county administrator, and reports from county board committees.  Tonight's meeting begins at 7pm in the board room at the Pepin County Government Center.

Last week, the Durand City Council approved a resolution to apply for a loan from the Wisconsin DNR's Safe Drinking Water Loan Program to replace the base of the Waste Water Treatment Plant in 2025.  If approved, the $850,000 loan could have 70% of the principal forgiven.  Any costs the city incurs for the engineering of the project could be paid for by the loan.  The city must get the engineering done and the application submitted by June.

Durand and the Chippewa Valley are looking at more than just a dusting of snow tomorrow and into Friday. Forecasters say the overnight snow could be plowable. That means between two and five inches of snow for the entire area, with some spots seeing as much as eight inches. The snow will be the first spring snow of the year, as spring officially sprung at just after 10 p.m. last night. 

Two people were injured in a 2 vehicle accident on Hwy 29 in Gilman Township on Sunday.  According to the Pierce County Sheriff's Department, 44yr old Julie Mortiz of Menomonie was traveling westbound on Hwy 29 and started to turn onto Hwy CC when she struck an eastbound vehicle driven by 83yr old Thomas Gunderson of Spring Valley.  Moritz was taken to Mayo Hospital in Menomonie while Gunderson was transported to Western Wisconsin Health in Baldwin.

One person was injured in a single-vehicle accident on Hwy 72 in Spring Lake Township on Monday.  According to the Pierce County Sheriff's Department, 42yr old Timothy Phares of Rice Lake was traveling eastbound on Hwy 72 when he lost control of the vehicle and entered the ditch.  He was taken to Mayo Hospital in Menomonie.

Republican lawmakers in the Chippewa Valley are calling Governor Tony Evers' latest visit to Eau Claire a stunt. A number of Republicans from across the area blasted the governor Monday for holding a press conference in Eau Claire just days ahead of the closings at Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire and St. Joe's In Chippewa Falls. The Republicans say the governor vetoed their plan to provide millions of dollars for the area's other hospitals once the two HSHS hospitals close this week. The Republicans say the governor is exploiting that crisis for his political gain.

Firefighters from Lake City and Goohue Fire Departments responded to a garage and shed fire in Frontenac on Tuesday.  According to the Lake City Fire Department, firefighters were called at about 3:30 Tuesday afternoon and found the garage and shed fully engulfed.  Windy conditions also caused the fire to spread in the neighborhood, but were quickly extinguished.  Both the garage and shed were destroyed while firefighters were able to save the home.  The cause of the fire appears to be a welding accident.

 There is a new federal lawsuit against UW-Eau Claire's chancellor over who was allowed to work at the school's Office of Multicultural Student Services. Former Vice Chancellor of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Student Affairs Olga Diaz filed the suit. She's accusing Chancellor Jim Schmidt of ordering her to resign after Diaz appointed a white woman to lead the Office of Multicultural Student Services. That woman, Rochelle Hoffman, is also suing the school and Schmidt. She says she was hounded out of the job because she was white. The university has denied any claims of racial discrimination or bias. 

Minnesota Lottery officials say a Powerball ticket worth one-million dollars was sold in Wabasha County.  The ticket was purchased for Monday's drawing at a gas station in Zumbro Falls.  The ticket matched the first five numbers drawn on Monday.  No one won the jackpot on Monday, so the big prize in tonight's drawing will be 687-million dollars.

Wisconsin's election managers are looking to set the rules for this fall's election. The state's Election Commission will meet today to talk about rules for absentee voters, election observers, and recount procedures. Today's discussion will not be the final discussion though. The Wisconsin Supreme Court last week said it will hear arguments about reinstating ballot drop boxes for the November election. That case goes to the court in May, and the Elections Commission would have to finalize the rules after that. 

A new documentary focuses on a northern Wisconsin tribe. “Bad River” opened in theaters nationwide last week. The film provides a look at the ongoing legal dispute between the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and Enbridge, the Canadian firm which operates a pipeline that crosses the tribe’s reservation on the shores of Lake Superior. The tribe wants the aging Line 5 shut down and removed from its lands, citing the damage that could occur in the event of a leak. Enbridge is appealing a federal judge’s order for that to happen within the next three years.

Avoiding trouble with your parents isn’t worth risking the lives of yourself or others over.   That’s the word from the Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office after a Friday evening incident. A Facebook post from the department says a deputy pulled over a vehicle for driving 104 miles per hour in a 40 mile per hour residential zone through Marytown. The driver of the speeding vehicle told the deputy he was in a hurry because he was late for curfew. The sheriff’s office reminded young drivers that a reason like that is no excuse for excessive speed behind the wheel.

The FBI has returned a pair of ruby slippers stolen from a Minnesota museum to their original owner.  The agency confirmed Monday that it returned the slippers that were worn in "The Wizard of Oz" to owner Michael Shaw during a ceremony on February 1st at the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids.  The FBI called the event a "restoration of justice," though the ceremony was kept secret due to the ongoing investigation into the theft of the shoes.  The slippers were stolen from the museum in 2005 and recovered by the FBI in 2018.  An elderly man has pleaded guilty to stealing the shoes, while a second man appeared in federal court last week on charges connected to the theft.

Minnesota Republicans are proposing a new state law that would overturn a new rideshare ordinance in Minneapolis.  The bill introduced at the State Capitol yesterday is designed to stop cities from creating their own rules regulating network transportation companies like Uber and Lyft.  The rideshare ordinance adopted last week in Minneapolis sets minimum rates for rideshare drivers and has prompted both companies to say they will exit the city on May 1st.  State Republican lawmakers say the new ordinance will ultimately hurt rideshare drivers and the passengers who depend on them.

A custodian from Wabasha-Kellogg High School is in the running for a national award offered by Cintas.  Bob Galewski has been working as a custodian at the school for the past 22 years.  His entry on the Custodian of the Year website says he tries hard to make a connection with each student and staff member and calls him a friend and a motivator.  Cintas will take online votes for the award through April 12th, with the top three finalists winning a trip to Las Vegas.  The overall winner will also get a ten-thousand-dollar prize.

Local-Regional News March 19

 Firefighters from Fountain City, Tri-Community, Trempealeau, and Dodge Fire Departments responded to a wildfire on the side of a bluff near W571 Castlerock Lane in the town of Buffalo on Saturday.  According to the Buffalo County Sheriff's Department, the fire burned approximately 10 acres and no structures were damaged in the blaze.  The fire is believed to have been caused by a rekindling of the fire that occurred at nearby Burt Lane on March 11th.  No one was injured.

While the calendar may say it is spring, winter is forecast to return to Western Wisconsin later this week.  The National Weather Services says a large storm system will move into the area on Thursday bringing snow and colder temperatures.  While the exact track of the system is still uncertain, the weather service says most areas could see up to two inches of snow on Thursday night.  Another system is forecast to bring snow for the weekend and into early next week, but the exact location and amounts remain uncertain.

The Durand Police, Fire, EMS, and Pepin County Sheriff's Department are hosting a first responders explorers program   The program is open to all students in 6th through 12th grades with an interest in a career as a first responder.  The course will be held two Sundays in April.  The departments will have an open house on April 3rd from 5-6pm at Durand City Hall for sign ups and to answer questions.  You can also visit durand wi police dot com for more information.

This is the last week for HSHS' hospitals in the Chippewa Valley. Both Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire and St. Joseph's Hospital in Chippewa Falls are set to close on Friday. HSHS announced back in January that it was going to close the hospitals because of costs and 'industry pressures.' Eau Claire's other hospitals say they are ready to handle the influx of patients from HSHS. Many of the people who work at HSHS have also gotten new jobs with other hospitals in the area. In all, Sacred Heart and St. Joe's make-up about a third of the care in the Chippewa Valley.

Governor Evers went to Eau Claire to blame Republicans for a lack of money for the city's to-be closed hospital. The governor yesterday said Wisconsin Republicans are blocking his plan to spend 15 million-dollars on hospitals throughout the Chippewa Valley. The money was originally earmarked for the area's other emergency rooms once Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire and St. Joseph's Hospital in Chippewa Falls close on Friday. The governor says he changed that plan so hospitals had more flexibility to spend the money as they see fit. Chippewa Valley Republicans say the governor gummed-up their agreement, and say he's the one standing in the way of the money being spent. 

Eau Claire County residents will going to have to pay to have old couches or TVs taken away. Eau Claire County yesterday said it will no longer cover the costs for bulky item pickup. The county says it was costing too much money. County leaders also say they want to keep things out of the local landfills. People will need to call their waste hauler and make an appointment for crews to grab larger things off the curb. The county says people can always take their brush and yard waste to the city of Eau Claire's brush site. 

One person was injured when a former church, now a home started fire in Hixton on Monday morning.  According to the Hixton Fire Department, firefighters responded to the former United Methodist Church and found heavy flames coming from the ceiling and walls.  One person who lived in the renovated church was med flighted to the hospital with burns.  The cause of that fire is still under investigation.

A potential federal ban on the social media app Tiktok could have farther-ranging consequences than just removing the app from the US. UW-Madison cyber security strategist Dave Schroeder says other companies harvest the same sort of data that TikTok does. Proponents of the ban say that data is being sent to Chinese government officials and that those same officials are using the app to push propaganda to its users in the US.

The former Milwaukee election manager who mailed three fake absentee ballots to a state lawmaker back in 2022 is finally going to trial. Opening arguments began yesterday in Kimberly Zapata's case. Prosecutors claim she broke the law by mailing the fake military ballots to state Representative Janel Brandtjen's house two years ago, but her lawyers say Zapata is a political whistleblower who exposed a loophole in the state's election law. She is facing one felony, and three misdemeanor charges. Her trial is expected to wrap-up by the end of the week. 

In-person absentee voting begins across Wisconsin today for the presidential primary and two constitutional amendments. Even though President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump have gotten the delegates needed for the presumptive nomination, Wisconsinites can still cast their votes. The amendments up for vote include one that would restrict private grant money use in state election administration. The second will only allow election officials that are designated by law to oversee elections. Voters can go to their local absentee polling place to vote until the 29 for local races.

A library named after former Israeli Prime Minister Gold Meir was vandalized on the campus of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. The school said two people allegedly threw an object through a window on the first floor and sprayed graffiti on the exterior of the building that says "Free Palestine."  It reportedly happened late Saturday night and the university said it will not tolerate vandalism or antisemitism.  Pro-Palestinian student protesters have made an issue of the library before, including a protest last month where protesters demanded that the library change its name.  However, the school isn't linking those student groups to the vandalism.

 

Kids in Crandon won't be back in school for two more weeks because of the mystery illness that made dozens of people sick last week. The school district called-in the Forest County Sheriff's Office after 10 students and teachers reported feeling ill on Thursday. By the end of the day, that number grew to 39. Crandon Schools say they are extending spring break by a week, and using the time to check and clean their school buildings. Kids are due back in school in Crandon on Tuesday, April 2nd.

 A second man is being charged in connection to the 2005 theft of a pair of ruby slippers from "The Wizard of Oz." Worn by Judy Garland in 1939 film, the ruby slippers were stolen from the Judy Garland Museum. Seventy-six--year-old Jerry Hal Saliterman is accused of helping Terry Jon Martin steal the slippers and witness tampering--threatening to release sex tapes of a woman to conceal the theft. The slippers were found by the FBI in 2018. Martin pleaded guilty in October to the theft, while Saliterman has not entered a plea. 

 Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is unveiling his 2024 budget proposal.  Speaking this afternoon, Walz announced his plans for the 226-million-dollar spending plan.  They include funds for public safety and emergency services and modernizing the state's child welfare and social services reporting system.  The budget also calls for spending on water quality and infrastructure for in-home water treatment and well replacement.

Jill Stein says the Green Party will not be a spoiler in November. Stein, who is expected to be the Green Party's presidential nominee in November, was on UpFront on Milwaukee TV over the weekend. She says she expects the Green Party to get about five percent of the vote in November if she's allowed on the ballot. Stein says Democrats have abandoned their base, and have no one but themselves to blame if voters leave them for the Green Party. 

Local-Regional News March 18

 Two people were seriously injured in a two vehicle accident in Elk Mound Township on Saturday.  According to the Dunn County Sheriff's Department, a pickup truck traveling northbound on 970th Street failed to stop at the stop sign at the intersection of Hwy 29 and collided with an eastbound vehicle on Hwy 29.  The pickup was engulfed in flames and the 16yr old driver and passenger escaped the truck assisted by bystanders.  The 50yr old driver of the other vehicle was also assisted by bystanders.  Both drivers were taken to the hospital with serious injuries while the passenger was not injured.  Alcohol appears to be a factor in the accident.

Motorists in Mondovi are reminded that North Franklin Street will be closed from W. Mill Street to West Vine Street today for tree removal.  Residents are advised to please avoid the area today.  Also in Pierce County starting today, Hwy 10 will be closed just west of Ellsworth to Prescott as a resurfacing and reconstruction project begins.  Traffic will be detoured on Hwy 65 to Hwy 29.  That project is expected to be completed by October.

An Illinois man is in custody after firing a gun near the Kwilk Trip on 3M Drive in Menomonie on Friday night.  According to Menomonie Police, officers responded to a call of gunshots fired.  Police set up a permiter and found shell casings on the ground adjacent to a semi-truck that was parked in the semi-truck parking lot.  Contact was made with the driver, 37yr old Saul Juarez.  He was arrested on charges of intoxicated use of a firearm, and 2nd degree recklessly endangering safety. 

The Trempealeau County Sheriff's Department is asking for the public's help in identifying a male who approached a female in Perrot State Park making concerning comments.  The incident happened on Friday evening when the female was hiking on Brady's Bluff.  Upon further investigations, several stranges items had been located by park staff over the last month and were reported to the WI DNR.  The male was described as being in his mid 40's , with a scruffy beard, and wearing a gray sweatshirt with green letters.  Anyone with information is to contact the Trempealeau County Sheriff's Department.  Because of the incident, there will be increased law enforcement presence at Perrot State Park.

The basement of an Eau Claire apartment building is damaged after a fire. Fire crews say they got to the scene last night (Thurs) at about eight P-M. They say smoke was coming out of several windows, but they were able to find the fire in the basement. The fire was put out quickly and the building was ventilated. Responding crews say one appliance and some vents in the building will need repair. 

The UW regent who was fired for supporting DEI says he may run for the State Assembly. Dana Wachs was a guest on Capital City Sunday on Madison TV. He defended his vote for the diversity, equity, and inclusion programs that led to his firing last week. He says he wants the University of Wisconsin to be more welcoming to all comers. Wachs served in the Assembly for three terms and says he's taking a hard look at running again. He'd run in a newly drawn district near Eau Claire that is 55 percent Democrat. He says he should have a decision by the end of the week. 

The Wabasha County Board is meeting tomorrow.  Items on the agenda include approval of the purchase of 11 mobile radios for the sheriff's department, discussion of the proposed Wabasha County Solar Energy Systems Ordinance, and reports from Extension and 4-H.  Tomorrow's meeting begins at 9am at the Wabasha County Government Center.

 The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is implementing new burn restrictions in more than three-dozen counties statewide including Wabasha and Goodhue Counties.  The agency announced Friday that it will not issue permits for open burning in those counties because of the current threat of wildfires.  The new restrictions go into effect today and will be lifted or adjusted as conditions change.  That could happen later this week, as the National Weather Service says there is a possibility of snow from a storm system expected to enter the state on Thursday.

A woman is dead and a man is injured after a fatal crash occurred in rural Sparta early Sunday morning.  According to the Monroe County Sheriff's Department, the UTV was traveling east on Janus Ave. in the Township of Wells. The UTV left the roadway and overturned, ejecting a female passenger from the UTV.  Life-saving measures were performed, but the woman was pronounced dead on the scene. The male driver was transported to the hospital for his injuries. Officials say alcohol is suspected to be a contributing factor in the crash. At this time the names of the people involved are being withheld. 

Wisconsin lawmakers are going to try and get more answers about the state's work-from-home policies this week. The Joint Legislative Audit Committee will hold a hearing tomorrow on two audits, one from the state's Department of Administration, and the other from the UW on who is being allowed to work from home, and what that means for the office space the state is paying for. An audit from December shows that nearly three-quarters of state workspaces aren't being used, and almost a quarter of the state's workforce is allowed to work from home up to five days a week. Lawmakers questioned at the time, why the state is paying so much for unused office space. 

7th District Republican congressman Tom Tiffany was among those voting this week for a bill that would require social media app TikTok be sold - or banned in the U.S. Wisconsin Republican Mike Gallagher has advocated for the bill, which passed the House and is now ready for Senate action. If it passes there President Joe Biden says he’ll sign it.

Catholic charities across the state are being told they must pay more after a ruling from the Wisconsin Supreme Court.  The new liberal-majority court ruled yesterday that charities associated with the Catholic Church are not exempt from unemployment taxes.  The case is more than that though.  Religious charities across the country were watching closely, worried that if churches lose one exemption, they may lose others.  That could lead to more taxes on all manner of church activities, and perhaps church properties. The Catholic groups involved in the case say they plan to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. 

A furnace issue created elevated levels of carbon monoxide inside a northern Wisconsin school on Thursday.  A total of 39 students and staff members at Crandon Elementary, along with responding EMS personnel, were hospitalized after experiencing shortness of breath, light-headedness, and elevated heart rate. Two patients had reported elevated levels of carbon monoxide in their systems. Oneida and Wausau Hazmat determined Friday that a mechanical issue with the furnace created elevated levels of carbon monoxide, according to a news release from the Forest County Sheriff's Office.

A new report is showing Wisconsin renters are seeing a higher rent rate increase than the majority of the country.  In a new report by WAOW Wisconsin renters saw an increase of eight percent from January 2023 to January 2024.  That places them among the top-10 in the country.  The National Low Income Housing Coalition estimates that there is a housing shortage of more than 123-thousand rental homes.

A Burnsville woman who was indicted yesterday for buying the guns used in a deadly shooting of three first responders last month has surrendered to federal authorities.  Ashley Dyrdahl faces eleven counts including conspiracy, straw purchasing, and making false statements for procuring five firearms on behalf of Shannon Gooden. She was seen trying to hide her face following her initial court appearance where she entered a plea of not guilty.  She allegedly bought to guns for Gooden, who was prohibited from owning weapons, saying in a text message to him that, quote, "We just gotta make sure we're smart about all this ya know?"

A bill to foster closer trade ties between Wisconsin and Ireland is ready for action by the governor.  Nothing pairs with a nice glass of Guiness like Wisconsin cheddar, and just in time for St. Patrick's Day, a bill requiring the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation to create a "Wisconsin-Ireland Trade Commission" awaits action from Governor Tony Evers. The advisory body would be charged with advancing and promoting "mutual economic interests between Wisconsin and the Republic of Ireland"

Local-Regional News March 15

 Motorists in Pierce County are reminded that Hwy 10 will be closed between Ellsworth and Prescott starting Monday as the Wisconsin Department of Transportation will resurface Hwy 10 from the South Hwy 63 Junction to Hwy 29 in Prescott.  Along with the resurfacing, the shoulders will be widened, and replacing culverts and installing new bridges.  That project is expected to be completed in October.

Expect traffic delays on Hwy 35 in Madien Rock on Monday as the Wisconsin Department of Transportation will replace two deteriorating retaining walls on Hwy 35 between Chestnut and Green Streets in Maiden Rock.  Along with replacing the retaining walls, crews will mill and pave the roadway and replace the curb and gutter. During the construction, traffic on Hwy 35 will be reduced to one lane.  The project is expected to be completed in September.

Dunn County is gearing up for the spring election.  Yesterday, Dunn County Clerk Andrew Mercil conducted training for approximately 100 poll workers in election rules and regulations.  The goal of the training is for a seamless and efficient voting process for all residents of Dunn County.  The Spring Election will be on April 2nd.

School leaders in Altoona say it was a false alarm that sent them into lockdown yesterday. Superintendent Heidi Eliopoulos says their emergency communications system sent a false alarm yesterday afternoon. She sent a note home to parents yesterday saying no kids were ever in danger, and there was no threat. No one is saying just what prompted the false alarm, Eliopoulos said they're looking into it. 

Someone who bought a scratcher in Eau Claire is a million-dollars richer. The Wisconsin Lottery says someone bought the winning Super Millions scratch ticket the Mega Holiday on Craig Road. Lotto Managers say someone also bought a half-million dollar winner at a Mega Holiday just a few blocks away. The ticket was a Maximum Cash Crossword, and it was sold at the Mega Holiday off Highway 93 and Lorch Avenue. Both stores will get a bonus for selling the big winners.

The level of drought across the state is getting more severe.  The latest report released yesterday by the U.S. Drought Monitor shows parts of southeastern Minnesota are the areas most affected by dry conditions, being classified as being in severe or extreme drought.   Here in Western Wisconsin, the drought is being classified as moderate.

A Chippewa Falls man will spend more than a decade in prison after convictions on federal drug and gun crimes.  Brandon Herman pleaded guilty to possessing 500 grams or more of methamphetamine intended for sale and possessing firearms as a felon after authorities found the drugs and guns after searching his town of Lafayette last year.  He was sentenced to 11yrs in federal prison.

There's no school in Crandon today because 10 people have gotten mysteriously sick. The city's schools yesterday said they don't know what is making teachers and students at Crandon's elementary, middle school, and high school sick. All 10 reported feeling ill yesterday. Crandon Schools called in the Forest County Sheriff's Office, which searched the school with a police dog. The sheriff's office says the teachers and students were feeling lightheadedness, tingling, numbness in extremities, shortness of breath, slurred speech, and rapid heartbeat. 

Wisconsin's newest laws cover everything from clean water programs to the size of fish filets. Governor Tony Evers signed 15 new laws yesterday. Most make small or technical changes, and many of them deal with the Department of Natural Resources. Those include changes for air gun hunting, a new year-long park pass, and a new law that allows fishermen to take home fish filets as long as they can prove that the whole fish meets the state's fish-length requirements.

Uber and Lyft say they plan to pull out of the Twin Cities after the Minneapolis City Council voted to force a minimum wage of 15-dollars an hour for drivers.  Uber says it will withdraw from the entire market area, while Lyft says it will leave Minneapolis. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey vetoed the latest council ordinance raising ride-share driver pay, but the city council voted to override the veto. Ride-share services would end when the new Minneapolis city ordinance goes into effect on May 1st.   

A suit against a timeshare company will result in at least 20-thousand dollars in refunds to affected Wisconsinites. The Wisconsin Department of Justice says the Missouri-based Relief Solutions sent illegal mailers to thousands of people in the state. The mailers advertised in-person events for timeshare services which led many people to pay upfront fees. The company's two owners will also have to pay more than two-point-five million dollars in penalties. Anyone who paid money to Relief Solutions and hasn't been identified for a refund can call the Department of Justice to request one.

People in Wisconsin will be able to get a free ride after celebrating Saint Patrick's Day this weekend if they need one. Triple-A says it'll offer its Tow to Go program on Saturday and Sunday. People who call in and need a ride within ten miles of their location will be able to get one from a tow truck. Triple-A says the service is free for anyone, but asks that it be used as a last resort so it can help as many people as possible. Rides will be available from six P-M tomorrow (Fri) until Monday at six A-M. 

Federal officials are opening an investigation into the cyberattack at  Minnetonka-based UnitedHealth Group.  The February 21 attack disrupted pharmacy refills and insurance claims processing at clinics and hospitals across the country.  The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services probe will focus on identifying the extent of a possible breach, and compliance by UnitedHealth and their Change Healthcare unit with the federal law.  Officials with the healthcare system say they will cooperate with the investigation.

A liberal arts college along Lake Superior is at risk of shutting down.  Northland College launched a campaign Monday to raise $12 million by April 3rd. If they fail to raise the funds, a press release says the Ashland school "will be forced to begin the closure process at the end of this academic year." The release says a review by the college’s Board of Trustees determined that there isn’t “…sufficient resources or the financial stability to continue current programs and operations” beyond this year, adding that the 132-year-old college must adapt and evolve, which might mean "refining the college's focus.

There’s concern about confirmed cases of measles not far from the Wisconsin border.  As of Wednesday, as many as ten measles cases have been identified at a Chicago migrant shelter. Health experts in Wisconsin warn of the highly contagious nature of the disease. They add that the best way to prevent infection from measles is by staying up to date with vaccinations. In the year 2000, The Centers for Disease Control said measles was considered eliminated in the U.S. due in large part to vaccines. However, there has been a decline in overall vaccinations nationwide. As of last week, 17 states have reported confirmed measles cases, but Wisconsin is not one of them.

 Usually, you can't golf in Wisconsin til at least April, but that's not stopping the folks at Golf Digest from naming Wisconsin the best state in the nation for public golf. Golf Digest came out with its rankings yesterday and put Wisconsin ahead of California, Michigan, Oregon, and North Carolina on the list. Wisconsin gets top marks for Whistling Straits and the course at Erin Hills, among others. Golf Digest says while other states may have more or better exclusive courses, Wisconsin's public courses are the best in the country.

Local-Regional News March 14

 One person was injured in a single-vehicle accident in Trenton Township on Tuesday.  According to the Pierce County Sheriff's Department, 46yr old Michele Huybers of Hampton, MN was traveling southbound on Hwy 63 when she lost control and struck a guardrail.  She was taken to Mayo Red Wing Hospital.

Wabasha Police are advising residents of a possible door-to-door scam offering carpet and upholstery cleaning.  The department has received reports  people were going door to door and were persistent on coming into homes, however there have been no solicitor permits that haven been granted in Wabasha.  The department says its unclear if the people are a legitimate business and the department is advising residents to not let these people into your home.

Add this to the list of new services for folks in the Chippewa Valley ahead of next week's hospital closures. UW-Eau Claire yesterday said it is expanding its speech therapy services to fill some of the need that will come when Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire and St. Joseph's Hospital in Chippewa Falls close next week. The university says students will step-up, under the supervision of licensed speech therapists, to help both children and adults. UW-Eau Claire launched the expansion back in January, but says it turned out to be perfect timing with this month's hospital closures. 

The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse has a new chancellor. The school yesterday introduced James Beeby as their new chancellor. He replaces Joe Gow who was fired after the university discovered the porn videos that he and his wife were making and sharing online. Beeby comes to La Crosse from Keene State College in New Hampshire. He did not talk about Gow's firing, or the reasons for it, during his first appearance at the university yesterday. 

 Wisconsin is looking at a statewide wildfire warning. The state's Department of Natural Resources updated its fire danger map yesterday, and the entire state is looking at at least a High Fire Danger level. A handful of counties in the middle of the state are looking at an Extremely High Fire Danger. The DNR is warning people against burning brush. A lack of snow and a dry start to the spring are being blamed for the heightened fire risk. 

Three Minnesota Native American communities will receive federal grants to help connect more tribal homes to reliable electricity.  Democratic Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith announced the grants to the Red Lake Nation, Bois Forte Band, and Prairie Island Indian Community yesterday.  The grants through the Tribal Electrification Program are designed to improve electric infrastructure on tribal lands while also providing connections to clean energy sources. 

Over 1000 Family Dollar and Dollar Tree stores will be closing soon.  The budget retail chain announced the closures on Wednesday. The company has been struggling in recent years due to inflation and an inability to properly manage stores. Many locations have seen widespread violence and theft, and a rat infestation at a warehouse forced the temporary closure of hundreds of stores. It's unclear how many stores will close in Wisconsin.

Creating a new can for Pringles chips. That was the aim of three UW-Stout students who took part in an international competition to redesign the can in order to improve the snacking experience. The Stout team of Lukas David, Ethan Myers, and Zach Hoffmire won the contest over eight other university teams from North America and Europe. The design of their Pringles can, which was made from recyclable plastic, included a tool that pushes the remaining chips to the top of the can, making access to the chips easier. There’s no word on whether the owner of the Pringles brand, Kellogg’s, will use their design for future cans of the chips.

Wisconsin's members of Congress were predictably split on the proposed TikTok ban. All seven of Wisconsin's Republican congressmen voted for the ban yesterday, while Wisconsin's two Democrats voted against it. Green Bay Congressman Mike Gallahgher has been pushing the plan for the past few years, he says TikTok's Chinese owner is spying on Americans, and is pushing harmful content on America's young people. The proposed ban would have TikTok's owner ByteDance sell the company or else. The proposal now heads to the U.S. Senate where no one is sure if it will come up for a vote. 

The prosecuting attorney in the Madeline Kingsbury murder case wants to block access to grand jury transcripts that led to the indictment of her former boyfriend.  The motion filed Monday by the Winona County Attorney says allowing access to those transcripts could impact Adam Fravel's chances for a fair trial.  Another request by the prosecution would block access to pretrial filings that mention the grand jury transcripts.  Kingsbury was reported missing last March and her body was found in Fillmore County in June.  Fravel was arrested last year and charged with first and second-degree murder.

Wisconsin's attorney general is joining the nationwide case against an alleged charity scammer. A-G Josh Kaul yesterday said Wisconsin is suing the Women's Cancer Fund, and its leader Gregory Anderson. Kaul says Anderson and the charity took in more than 18 million dollars between 2017 and 2022 but only 190 thousand-dollars of that money actually went to helping women with cancer. Kaul says Anderson pocketed 775 thousand-dollars, and professional fundraisers took more than 15 million-dollars for themselves. Wisconsin is joining nine other states and the Federal Trade Commission in the lawsuit. 

Minnesota regulators say they plan to crack down on retailers who sell illegal cannabis.  The Office of Cannabis Management has received complaints about businesses that are selling cannabis flower under the label of less-potent hemp.  State health inspectors will begin examining raw flower to confirm that it is hemp and not marijuana, which has higher levels of THC.  Minnesotans 21 and older can now legally use and grow their own pot but it's illegal to sell the product without having a cannabis business license.

Wisconsin's proposed rules for AI campaign commercials are heading to the governor. The state Senate approved a plan yesterday that would require political campaigns to let voters know if they used AI to manipulate video or audio in any campaign commercial.  Both Democrats and Republicans support the idea.  Democratic Senator Mark Spreitzer says voters need to know if what they're seeing is real.  The legislation doesn't ban AI commercials, it just requires a disclaimer to be added. 

Wisconsin's governor is promising to veto a proposal that would keep girls' sports for biological girls only.  The state Senate approved the plan yesterday.  It would ban anyone born a male from competing in girls sports in middle school, high school or college.  Supporters say not only would the ban keep girls safe, it would protect women's sports from being taken over by men.  Governor Evers feels this would hurt trans kids, and has promised it will never become law in Wisconsin. 

Aaron Rodgers could have another new job. Robert Kennedy Jr. yesterday said he is considering Rodgers as a possible vice president. Kennedy is making a longshot bid for the White House this year and says he's considering Rodgers and former actor, wrestler, and Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura as his running mate. Kennedy, like Rodgers, has questioned the coronavirus vaccine, and like Rodgers is not a fan of President Biden. Rodgers has not said anything about the possibility, at least so far.