Six entities in Dunn County have come together to boost economic development in the region. The City of Menomonie, Dunn County, University of Wisconsin-Stout, Dunn County Economic Development Corporation, Greater Menomonie Development Corporation, and the Stout Technology and Business Park have signed a memorandum of agreement to jointly fund a position aimed at boosting business and industry activity throughout Dunn County. The new position will initially focus on the following areas: Retention and expansion of current businesses, New business development, including start-ups, Fostering the development of new housing, and Business attraction.
The report into Chippewa County's sheriff is now available to the public. The county yesterday released the 600-plus page report into Sheriff Travis Hakes and his past behavior. The report looked into complaints about Hakes as sheriff, and into his time as a police officer in Chetek. Hakes refused to be a part of the investigation that led to the report. In fact, the report notes several times when Hakes either declined or blew-off interview requests. Hakes says the investigation is politically-driven. The report concludes that there is "substantial evidence of dishonesty' by Hakes
The Northwoods' congressman wants a new federal law to spell-out who gets told about refugee resettlement in the states. 7th District Congressman Tom Tiffany this week introduced a plan on Capitol Hill inspired by the refugee resettlement effort in Eau Claire. A non-profit, World Relief, is working to resettle 75 refugees in the Chippewa Valley sometime this year. Only a handful of local officials knew about the plan ahead of time. Tiffany says his plan would allow state or local governments to vote to refuse to accept refugees. He says the federal government should not be forcing refugees upon communities that don't want them. No one with World Relief is saying what the refugees headed for Eau Claire will do, or where they will live once they reach Wisconsin.
An Illinois man is looking at OWI charges in Eau Claire county after police say he was driving high with five kids in the car. The State Patrol says troopers arrested 34-year-old Daniel Oconnell yesterday afternoon along I-94. Troopers say he had twin nine-month-olds, a 14-year-old, and two 15-year-olds in the car with him. Investigators say Oconnell showed clear signs of impairment and failed a field sobriety test. He was first taken to the hospital for a blood test, then taken to jail.
The Kasson Mantorville School District has a new leader. The School Board selected Ted Ihns to serve as the district's next superintendent. Ihns previously served as superintendent of Indianola Community Schools in Iowa. His pending start date is July first.
Hunters from outside of Wisconsin are going to have to pay more to hunt deer with a bow starting later this year. Governor Evers yesterday signed a law that increases the price for bow and crossbow deer licenses for out-of-state hunters. The new law bumps the price for an out-of-state license by 35 dollars, which makes the license an even 200 dollars. The DNR says the increase should bring-in over a half million-dollars more this hunting season. But that still won't be enough to offset the 16 million-dollar deficit the DNR is facing. Part of that is because there are simply fewer people buying hunting and fishing licenses in the state.
Wisconsin's attorney general is once again asking for more money for his Office of School Safety. AG Josh Kaul yesterday pushed state senators to approve the plan that would send more money to the school safety 24/7 tip line. The State Assembly has already passed the plan. The proposal would take some of the money that Wisconsin gets from concealed carry permits and shift that toward the Office of School Safety. Last year Kaul said if he didn't find more money for the office, he may have to make some changes.
Wisconsin lawmakers are sending the University of Wisconsin the 32 million-dollars they once held-up over DEI. The legislature's Joint Finance Committee yesterday approved the money, which is now earmarked for workforce development programs. Republican lawmakers held the money, which the university wanted to spend on diversity, equity, and inclusion programs and administrators. Democrats yesterday accused Republicans of holding the money hostage. State Representative Mark Born said Republicans decided the money was being wasted, and 'challenged' the university to spend that money elsewhere.
Wisconsin building projects will get 370-million dollars. Governor Tony Evers approved the funding yesterday. Projects getting part of the money include the Camp Randall Sports Center replacement and the Regional Forensics Science Center in Wausau. Evers says the projects will modernize and rebuild or renovate buildings for state agencies, universities, and technical colleges.
A Wisconsin healthcare provider will charge a fee for messages sent to doctors and other medical professionals. Group Health Cooperative says it'll be charging ten dollars as a flat fee for messages that take more than five minutes to read and reply to. Company reps say it's in response to more patients sending more messages. They say the network gets 27-thousand messages a month, one of the highest on MyChart. Patients will not be charged the fee if the provider starts the conversation.
There's a new call for the University of Wisconsin to end race-based programs on campus. The Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty yesterday asked the UW to end its race-based awards and fellowships. Specifically, WILL says the Board of Regents 2024 Diversity Awards are unconstitutional because they leave-out some students who don't meet the racial criteria. That's the argument that WILL uses against a handful of UW fellowships, including the BIPOC Fellows Program, which is currently at the center of a federal civil rights complaint. WILL said the UW is not following the ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court to end race-based programs on all college campuses.
The Green Bay Area Public School District will not be reinstating former superintendent Dr. Claude Tiller Jr. The school board there said in a statement that Tiller was given the chance to change his mind and rescind his resignation under the terms of the separation agreement between Tiller and the district. The statement said Tiller “…did not do so.” The statement adds that the window for his reinstatement has closed, and the board will make no further comments on the matter. Tiller received over a quarter-million dollars from the Green Bay district as part of his separation agreement. His resignation came after the board investigated comments he made on an Atlanta-based radio talk show.
A 43-year-old Merrill man reaches a plea deal in connection with a drunk driving crash. The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office and the Wisconsin State Patrol said in September of 2022, John Lahti’s pickup crossed the centerline on Highway 17 in Merrill and hit another pick-up head-on. An 8-year-old boy from Gleason died from injuries sustained in the crash. Three others in the struck truck were injured. A preliminary breath test showed Lahti was more than 3 1/2 times over the legal limit for driving. Lahti pleaded no contest last week to homicide by intoxicated use of a motor vehicle and operating while intoxicated causing injury. Five other counts related to the crash were dismissed.
Minnesota leaders say the economic forecast shows the state has a three-point-seven billion dollar surplus. The amount is a one-point-three billion dollar improvement from projections released last December. While the current state budget is stable, the February economic forecast released today warned that state spending could exceed revenues in the future. The money gives lawmakers more to work with during the 2024 Legislative session
There is now a Wisconsin voice on American Idol. CJ Rislove got his start while singing and playing piano at Chippewa Falls High School. He says the encouragement he received there pushed him into a career in music. Since graduation, he's been traveling around the country in a converted school bus and singing. His talent and his story landed him a spot on American Idol. He says he doesn't want to spoil the ending, but he says you can see him on Sunday's episode.
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