A bike trail in the Chippewa Valley could soon become publicly owned. The more than six-mile-long Chippewa River State Trail runs through Dunn and Pepin Counties and is currently owned by Xcel Energy. The counties have reportedly wanted to purchase the land for years, but weren't able to afford it. A non-profit recently secured state DNR funding, which would pay for half of the appraised value of the land. The utility, Pepin, and Dunn Counties are working to finalize a sale.
Four people were injured in a single-vehicle crash in Martell Township on Sunday. According to the Pierce County Sheriff's Department, 31yr old Adam Raschka of Baldwin was traveling northbound on 530th Street when he lost control of the UTV and overturned. Raschka and three passengers, 34yr old Kimber Raschka, 65yr old Perry Camodeca and a 5yr old were taken to Western Wisconsin Health in Baldwin.
Police in Chippewa Falls says a middle schooler grabbed the wrong backpack, and accidentally brought a gun to school yesterday. The gun was unloaded, in a case, and no one was hurt. Officers at Chippewa Falls Middle School say the student accidentally grabbed their parents' backpack yesterday morning. Superintendent Jeff Holmes says the mistake is a good reminder for parents to be extra vigilant with their guns, and with their kids' things.
A home in Elk Mound is a total loss after a fire yesterday. According to authorities, firefighters from Elk Mound, Menomonie and Colfax responded to the blaze on Juniper Avenue in Elk Mound on Wednesday afternoon and found flames coming from the roof and garage. Two people and multiple pets were inside and were alerted to the fire with the Elk Mound Police Chief kicked in the door of the home. Everyone got out of the home safely and no injuries were reported. The cause of that fire is still under investigation.
The Princeton Valley Park is open for kids. Eau Claire's parks managers say there are still some finishing touches to be taken care of before the park officially opens, but kids are more than welcome to go to the playground. Eau Claire spent 200-thousand-dollars upgrading the park, and it even has a wheelchair accessible merry-go-round. The parks department says the finishing touches should be finished soon.
A couple in Red Wing have pleaded guilty to child torture. This comes after their four children were found locked in cages in their home. The children, ages three to nine, were discovered in August 2022. They were confined in makeshift cages for up to 13-hours at a time. All charges except for child torture have been dismissed, with sentencing scheduled for December 13th, 2024. The case has been described as severe abuse, exceeding typical definitions of physical and emotional harm.
Olmsted County police officers will be getting new body cameras and tasers under a new contract approved Tuesday. The county's Board of Commissioners unanimously approved the nearly three-point-four-million-dollar deal to provide cameras for officers and their vehicles. The contract also includes nearly 200 stun guns as well as automatic license plate readers for squad cars. State public safety funding will cover about a third of the contract's cost.
The City of Durand is asking for the publics input on a regular season farmers market. The city posted on its Facebook page a request for public input on having the market from June through September. The survey not only asks what day or days would be best, but the best time and what residents would like to see sold at the market. If you need a paper copy of the survey, visit Durand City Hall.
Governor Tony Evers is kicking off another school year with his annual Back-To-School tour. The former State Superintendent of Public Instruction says having someone with the background he has is important in his role as governor. Evers says he hopes a number of school districts across the state across the state can get local referendums passed, because some of them need money just so they can keep the doors open. Wisconsin voters in February and April cast ballots for 103 school district referenda, approving 62 of them.
Wisconsinites with a lot of pine cones on their land may be in luck. The DNR says it wants help collecting red and white pine cones for its reforestation program. A DNR official says early September is the prime time to collect pine cones. Nurseries will pay 125-dollars per bushel of red pine cones and sixty dollars for white pine cones. A bushel is about eight pounds, and the department says an experienced collector can pick a bushel in about three hours.
The latest report on conditions at Wisconsin’s youth prisons shows improvement. The 28-page document shows Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake Schools are meeting most of their court-ordered requirements to improve, including limiting the use of restraints and eliminating strip searches. However, staff at the facilities fear for their safety. In June, a teenager attacked two staff members at Lincoln Hills, killing one of them, counselor Corey Proulx. The latest assessment comes as the state plans to close both youth prisons and build a new facility in Milwaukee they hope to open by 2026.
The latest push for legal marijuana in Wisconsin is coming from the state's tribes. The Indigenous Cannabis Industry Association and the Wisconsin Tribal Task Force on Cannabis yesterday announced plans for a public education push to try and get marijuana legalized in the state. The new Wisconsin Wellness program aims to get medical marijuana legalized in Wisconsin. The Indigenous Cannabis Industry Association' Rob Pero says marijuana is a "historically and culturally appreciated plant medicine," and it should be available to the people of Wisconsin. Wisconsin is one of the few remaining states in the Midwest that doesn't allow for either medical or recreational marijuana. Some Republicans at the State Capitol have said they are open to a medical marijuana program, but Governor Evers says he'd rather just fully legalize it for everyone.
September is College Savings Month in Wisconsin. Governor Tony Evers made that proclamation Tuesday. A release from the governor said higher education plays a critical role in recruiting, retaining and training talented workers for the state’s economic well-being. Evers added that a college education should be affordable and accessible for all who choose to pursue it. The two college savings plans Wisconsin offers are Edvest 529 and Tomorrow's Scholar.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is suing in Dane County Court to have his name off Wisconsin’s presidential ballot. The Wisconsin Elections Commission voted five to one last week to put Kennedy on the ballot, even though he's withdrawn his nomination. Lawyers for Kennedy argue state law creates a different standard for third-party candidates because Democrats and Republicans have until 5pm on the first Tuesday in September ahead of an election to certify their presidential nominee. There's no similar provision for independents and the suit seeks a stay of the Commission's ruling and an order barring WEC from placing Kennedy's name on the ballot.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison is warning more than five thousand retailers and distributors to stop selling unauthorized flavored tobacco products. The merchandise includes flavored e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches that have not been approved for sale by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Ellison says the sale of these products violates state law. Some of them have candy, fruit, or dessert flavors that may be attractive to minors. Ellison says several law enforcement agencies formed a task force to investigate and prosecute the sale and distribution of illegal e-cigarettes under federal law.
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