A Durand man has been sentenced to 5yrs in prison for Drunk Driving in Eau Claire County. Douglas Van Buskirk was pulled over for OWI 10th offense in 2021 after an Eau Claire Convenience Store Clerk called the police to report a man very intoxicated purchasing alcohol. Authorities found Van Buskirk at another convenience store and a breathalyzer test put his alcohol level at .115. Van Buskirk pleaded no contest to OWI 10th offense on Monday.
Menomonie is ready to allow ATVs and UTVs on city streets. The city council last night approved the plan to let people drive their TVs in town. Mayor Randy Knaack says it makes sense to allow people to drive their ATV or UTV to one of the area's trails, as opposed to load it on a trailer every time you want to go out. The ordinance should be finalized next month, which means it will likely be October before riders can legally take to the streets.
There aren't a lot of details about the death of a woman who was a prisoner in the Chippewa County Jail. The woman was taken from the jail to the hospital on July 4th, was put on life support a few days later, and according to the coroner died on Sunday. No one is saying who the woman is, what she was in jail for, or just why she was taken to the hospital. Sheriff Hakes says the woman was no longer his responsibility after jailers took her to the hospital. The coroner's office says the woman will have an autopsy later today in the Twin Cities.
The first of four suspects in a 2022 murder in Eau Claire has accepted a plea deal. Michael Purnell yesterday agreed to a no-contest plea for the shooting death of Christopher Connell. Purnell's deal saw prosecutors agree to drop first-degree murder charges in exchange for new charges of being party to felony murder. Investigators say Purnell is one of four people involved in the murder. The other three suspects have yet to go to trial or accept pleas of their own.
Private well users in southeastern Minnesota can apply for free kits that they can use to test their water for a variety of hazards. The TAP-IN Safe Water Drinking Program is run by water conservation districts in the region and funded by the Minnesota Department of Health. Water tested through the program will be analyzed and some well owners may be eligible for financial assistance to help repair problems or drill new wells. Homeowners and renters with private wells in Olmsted, Goodhue, Wabasha, and Winona counties are eligible for the program.
A Winona auto parts manufacturing plant is closing. According to the Minnesota Employment and Economic Development State Rapid Response Team, BCS Access Business System U.S. will be laying off nearly 117 hourly and salaried employees from its facility in Winona. The layoffs and closing of the plant will begin on July 26.
A UW-La Crosse faculty committee recommends firing former chancellor Joe Gow. The committee recommends Gow be fired from his tenured teaching position. In December, Gow was fired as chancellor by the UW Board of Regents after he and his wife were found to be making online porn videos. In a report, the committee says Gow’s most serious misconduct was his response to the discovery of the videos and his firing as chancellor. The report states Gow exploited his role as a La Crosse faculty member to generate more views and revenue from his pornographic content. Gow has called the report and its findings insubstantial to terminating him as faculty. The firing recommendation now goes to new UW–La Crosse Chancellor James Beeby, who will decide whether to forward it to the full Board of Regents.
There is a new snapshot of the fundraising advantage that Wisconsin Democrats continue to have. The Wisconsin State Senate Democratic Committee yesterday said it raised nearly three million-dollars in the latest fundraising period. The Dems say the Committee to Elect Republican Senators raised just under one million-dollars in the same amount of time. Senate Democratic Leader Dianne Hesslebein said the fundraising haul shows that Democrats are 'running real and aggressive campaigns across Wisconsin.' This fall will be the first elections for state lawmakers under Wisconsin's new, Democrat-friendly election maps.
Minnesota Governor Walz will be leading a trade mission to Europe later this year. The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development says the trip to Ireland and the Netherlands will happen in November. Nearly three dozen Minnesota businesses and organizations in fields such as medical technology and food and agriculture will be part of the trip. The governor says the trip will be an excellent chance to create new business opportunities in Europe.
Mosquitos are out in force this summer thanks to continued heavy rains, but you can beat the bugs with some simple tips. UW Extension entomologist PJ Liesch (Leech) says reducing the amount of skin you have exposed is one of the safest bets. If you're at home, try to stay in a screened area, or if you're on your deck, bring some fans outside. Mosquitoes have a hard time maneuvering in the breeze. If you are going to wear bug repellant, make sure it's tested by the E P A for safety and follow the instructions.
Wisconsin coastal communities are getting almost one-point-three million dollars in grant money. The Wisconsin Department of Administration Coastal Management Program says 31 grants will go toward economic development and protecting natural resources on the Great Lakes. Recipients were recommended by a governor-appointed citizen advisory group.
A sailboat belonging to a missing man and his two children was found in the waters of Green Bay. It was found just south of Chambers Island Monday morning. A search began over the weekend for 32-year-old Bill Salnik of Little Suamico and his two children, ages 5 and 3, after they went sailing Saturday. The U.S. Coast Guard towed the vessel to Fish Creek and will provide more updates when appropriate. No word yet regarding the whereabouts of Salnik and his children.
Democratic Governor Tony Evers is asking the US Secret Service to ban guns in a wider area around this week’s Republican National Convention. The request follows the weekend assassination attempt at a rally for Former President Donald Trump. State law restricts local gun bans, and people will only be checked for weapons inside a security zone around Fiserv Forum. Evers says expanding the weapon checks will keep people safer in the outer security zone where many rallies and protests are planned.
A fire shuts down a portion of a popular Southwest Wisconsin attraction. Officials at the House on the Rock say a fire started there Friday morning in the Orchestra Bandwagon in the Upper Circus area of the venue. The fire was reportedly contained by area fire crews before guests entered the area. The Circus Portion of the house is one of three sections of the venue. The other two sections are part of the Highlight Experience, which remains open. The areas of the attraction affected by the fire will be assessed by professionals and reopened at a yet-to-be-determined date.
Spam is unveiling a brand new flavor. Minnesota-based Hormel Foods say the new offering is called Korean BBQ. They describe it as "sweet yet spicy." The new flavor becomes the 12th permanent variety of SPAM, which is manufactured in Austin. The latest labor is available online and at Walmart.
Before you sign a contract to get solar power at your home, do some homework. Wisconsin Consumer Protection director Michelle Reinen says some companies have been making wild claims about the benefits of solar power, like getting rid of utility bills entirely. Reinen says you should always do some research on a company before you sign anything. Make sure any government rebates or deals the company says you're eligible for still exist, and check with the B B B if you need to find some reviews.
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