Police in Menomonie are investigating after a teen posted a picture of themselves holding a gun outside the city's high school. Police first saw the picture Saturday night. They say the teen in the picture did have a BB gun at school last week, but police took that from them. It's not clear just how old the teen is, or even if they're a student at Menomonie High School. Prosecutors are reviewing the case, but no one is saying anything about possible charges.
The City of Durand will update the city website. Last week the council approved working with Catalis to update the site. Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren says the goal is to make the site nicer and easier to use. The company works with Pepin County on their website. The new site should be completed in about 6 months.
Eau Claire is waiting for the results of its trash study next week. The city spent 20-thousand-dollars to study how other communities collect their trash. Eau Claire uses private companies to collect garbage, and city managers say there've been a number of complaints about trash service over the past few years. The study is being done by the Wisconsin Policy Forum. It's due to be published and presented at a public meeting next Thursday.
There are about 20 more students on campus at UW-Eau Claire this fall. Yesterday, the university released the preliminary enrollment numbers for this fall. Overall, enrollment is up by about a thousand students. In Eau Claire, the UW says there are now nine-thousand-969 students. That's about 20 more than last fall. The university says there were also enrollment jumps in La Crosse and River Falls. UW-Madison continues to be the biggest campus with over 51-thousand students this fall.
The Goodhue County Sheriff's Department is warning of scammers claiming to be deputies with the department. In a social media post, the department says scammers are calling residents claiming to be with the department demanding payment over the phone to settle outstanding warrants. The department reminds residents deputies will never call you over the phone asking for money and if you receive this type of call you are to hang up.
A Minnesota City man was injured and taken to the hospital after a two-vehicle crash on Highway 14 last night in Dover. According to the Minnesota State Patrol, William Perry, 33, of Minnesota City, was driving eastbound on Highway 14 while Juan Bocardo, 22, of Winona, was traveling westbound when both vehicles collided near County Road 10 Southeast. Perry suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to Mayo Clinic Saint Marys. Bocardo was not hurt.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will stay on the Wisconsin ballot. A Dane County judge yesterday ruled that Kennedy cannot take his name off the ballot without causing a 'logistical nightmare.' Kennedy asked the judge to remove him, saying Wisconsin's ballot access law creates two different timelines for Republicans and Democrats, and independent candidates. The judge said Wisconsin law is clear that once you are on the ballot, you stay on the ballot. The judge said Kennedy has no one but himself to blame for being on the ballot at this point.
Minneapolis-based Target is looking for seasonal help. The retailer announced yesterday that it plans to bring on 100-thousand seasonal employees this year to fill positions in its stores and warehouses. Target's application window for seasonal help opens September 25th.
The state of Minnesota wants to provide funding for new farmers looking to purchase equipment and grow their businesses. Governor Walz announced the Beginning Farmer Equipment and Infrastructure Grant program yesterday. The program will provide approved applicants with up to 20-thousand dollars to reimburse costs associated with equipment purchases and infrastructure development. Applications for the program will be taken starting September 24th.
Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul wants to put warning labels on social media platforms. He's one of over 40 attorneys general who've written to the U.S. Surgeon General, urging warnings on platforms that use algorithms. The AG's cite research that links social media to anxiety and depression. They also note that features, like "infinite scrolling," keep kids hooked to their devices.
A new survey finds Wisconsin’s childcare industry is significantly understaffed. The state Department of Children and Families' Child Care Supply and Demand Survey shows nearly 60% of providers have unutilized capacity, such as closed classrooms, due to staff shortages. Providers would be able to serve up to 33,000 more kids if operating at full capacity. DCF Secretary Jeff Pertl says payment cuts through the state’s Child Care Counts Program have had a ripple effect on the childcare work force. Governor Tony Evers included Child Care Counts funding to make the program permanent as part of his most recent budget proposal, but Republicans in the State Legislature cut that. The DCF survey also found annual salaries for childcare workers fall well below the "recommended" wage based on the median Wisconsin wages for workers with similar levels of education.
Grocery prices in Minnesota have significantly increased since 2020, with notable rises reported at major stores like Cub Foods, Target, and Hy-Vee. Cub Foods saw the largest hike, with prices up substantially; Target and Hy-Vee also experienced notable increases. While some items, like soups, have become cheaper, the overall trend shows higher costs driven by inflation and "shrinkflation." Experts recommend comparing store brands, substituting products, and shopping around to save money.
Wisconsin's Legislative Study Committee on Artificial Intelligence continues its work. The panel met in Wausau last week, where committee chair, State Senator Julian Bradley, explained some of the challenges surrounding the rapidly emerging technology. Bradley said those include guarding against government overreach and protecting privacy and data. The bipartisan committee includes lawmakers and stakeholders and has held several meetings focused on different areas of AI. Additional meetings will be scheduled.
The University of Wisconsin is telling school leaders they cannot pick sides in political debates. The university on Friday said it has a new viewpoint-neutral policy at all of its campuses. The change comes after last spring's campus protests over the war in Gaza, and accusations that the chancellor at UW-Milwaukee sided with protesters against Jewish students. A UW spokesperson says the new policy is intended to create an opportunity for more people to speak their minds on UW campuses. UW-Madison's chancellor said when school leaders pick a side, no matter how well intended, they can crowd out other points of view.
The film and television industry is beginning to regain traction in Minnesota. More productions are moving into the North Star State since lawmakers approved annual tax credits up to 25-million dollars for producers in 2021. Melodie Bahan with Explore Minnesota says, right now, there is an indie film shooting in the southern portion of the state, another project getting started in Duluth, and a couple more indie movies that will go into production later on this year. Georgia casting director Bill Marinella says he is setting up a Minnesota agency in preparation for some more projects that are on the way in 2025.
The final pieces are in place, and the mural in Owen Park is complete. Crews finished the mural that is supposed to look like a river last week. It was a joint project with the Public Painting Project. The triple-P says over 120 people helped design and paint the new mural. The mural is designed to recognize Eau Claire's sister city, Lismore, Australia.
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