We are getting some more answers about a death investigation in Buffalo County. The sheriff's office says deputies went to serve an eviction notice on Wednesday, that's when they found a 57-year-old woman who'd died. Investigators say she was likely dead for more than a month. Deputies arrested a man who lived in the woman's trailer, but they are not saying why. In addition to the body, deputies say they found more than 70 pets. They have all been turned over to the Buffalo County Humane Association, Tails of Hope, and the Trempealeau County Humane Society. The sheriff's office says charges in the case could be filed later today.
Stepping Stones in Menomonie says it can't afford to hand out turkeys or hams this holiday season. Stepping Stones yesterday said the high costs mean they are struggling to keep the basics on their shelves. Stepping Stones has worked with local grocers and donors in the past to provide holiday turkeys and hams but said that's just not possible this year. Instead, the group is asking for donations like peanut butter, tuna, and pasta so it can provide more help to more people. Stepping Stones says they provide help to about ten-percent of people in Dunn County.
Some Pepin High School students are looking to help out area seniors this fall. Mr. Ingli's High School Active Outorrs Class is offering to help those in Pepin who may need help raking leaves. If you live in the village of Pepin and need some help, call Pepin High School.
The Pepin County Sheriff's Department is once again helping families in need this holiday season with the 5th Annual Christmas is for Kids program. This free and anonymous program helps any Pepin County Parent or guardian provide for the needs and wants of children in Pepin County. To be considered, contact the Pepin County Sheriff's Department on the non-emergency line at 715-672-5944 by November 7th.
It's 12 years in prison for one of the suspects in Barron County's home invasion last year. A judge yesterday sentenced Ricardo Dominguez to a dozen years in prison for tying-up a 70-year-old man in his home, tazing him, and eventually robbing him of guns and 13-thousand-dollars in cash. Dominguez is the second person sentenced in the case, another suspect was sentenced earlier this month to five years in prison. Investigators say they are still looking for a third suspect who they believe set-up the home invasion.
The attorney for Adam Fravel says he will call for a mistrial if witnesses for the prosecution don't modify the way they refer to Madeline Kingsbury in court. Fravel's murder trial continued yesterday in Mankato. Defense attorney Zach Bauer told the judge that he objects to witnesses calling Kingsbury "Maddie" or "Madeline" during their testimony. He also objected to witnesses calling the home Fravel and Kingsburg shared in Winona a crime scene. Fravel was arrested after Kingsbury's body was found in southern Minnesota last year.
Wisconsin and South Dakota based healthcare systems plan to merge. Marshfield Clinic Health System and Sanford Health, based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, announced Wednesday they plan to merge. The joint press release said the integration of the two health systems aimed to improve patient care with new technology, research and training. The merger is expected by the end of the year, subject to regulatory approval and closing conditions, the companies said.
Wisconsin's election managers say they are trying to pinpoint the problem that is slowing in-person, early voting. The Wisconsin Elections Commission yesterday said they continue to get complaints from local clerks about slow label printing. A Commission spokesperson says they're not quite sure what the problem is. Yesterday was the third day for early, in-person voting and many voters said there were once again delays. The Elections Commission continues to tell clerks to hand-write voter information on those early ballots as a way to speed things up.
There are worries about Wisconsin's new law that allows police to charge for edited body camera video. Tom Kamenick with the Wisconsin Transparency Project says the new law is poorly written and was hastily passed by lawmakers. He says the law has too many unanswered questions, while also having a threat toward people who make too many requests of the police. The law allows for a ten-thousand-dollar fine. Kamenick says it's going to take some court cases, and rulings either from the attorney general or Wisconsin Supreme Court to settle things out. The law is supposed to create a framework so police can charge media outlets or everyday citizens for the cost of redacting sensitive things out of body cam footage that is released to the public.
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jill Underly is requesting increased access to mental health services Underly says she'll propose more than $304 million in new investments to support youth mental health in her 2025-27 biennial budget request. That includes providing every local education agency in the state $100 per pupil, expanding mental health costs eligible for aid to all pupil services staff, increasing funding to expand mental health training, and allowing middle-school students to participate in the Peer-to-Peer Suicide Prevention Grant Program. Data from the 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey showed 59% of high school students experienced a mental health challenge in the last year. The full budget request will be released in November.
Minnesota Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan is touting the state program that provides free school meals to students. She says the initiative is completing its first full year and over 150 million meals were served last year. Osseo Area Schools officials say free meals have led to better attendance and better classroom performance. Superintendent Kim Hiel says the district served 42 percent more breakfasts and 18 percent more lunches.
The latest Quinnipiac Poll says both the presidential race and the race for U.S. Senate are too close to call in Wisconsin. Quinnipiac released a poll yesterday that says the race between Kamala Harris and Former President Trump is tied, 48-48. The poll says the U.S. Senate race between Democratic Senator Tammy Baldwin and Republican challenger Eric Hovde is 49-48, in favor of Baldwin. Pollsters say that's within the margin of error, and too close to call. Quinnipiac also looked at the presidential race in Michigan, and gave Harris a 50-46 lead in that state.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. continues his quest to be taken off Wisconsin’s presidential ballot. Wednesday, Kennedy asked the U.S. Supreme Court to remove him from the ballot in the battleground state. Kennedy argued in his longshot emergency request that Wisconsin is violating his First Amendment rights by keeping his name on the ballot, which is already being used for early voting in the state. Kennedy suspended his independent presidential campaign in August to endorse former President Donald Trump. While asking for his name to be removed from ballots in battleground states, Kennedy has encouraged supporters to vote for him in other states.
The WNBA may be coming to Milwaukee. The Sports Business Journal reports the Milwaukee Bucks have submitted a bid to bring a women's professional franchise to Fiserv Forum. Other cities including Philadelphia, Denver, Cleveland, and Nashville have also expressed interest. The WNBA has franchises in 12 cities, with an expansion team coming to the San Francisco Bay area starting next year. It wouldn’t be the first time Milwaukee had a women’s pro basketball team. The Milwaukee Does played one season in the Women’s Professional Basketball League back in 1979.
It's Bat Week in Wisconsin. The Department of Natural Resources says four out of eight native bat populations found are threatened in the state of Wisconsin. Another species, the silver-haired bat, is of special concern and needs immediate conservation action. The DNR says bat populations are declining partially due to white-nose syndrome, caused by a fungus that attacks bats while they're hibernating. The department recommends planting native plants, building a bat house, and avoiding insecticides and herbicides to protect the remaining bats.
A southern Minnesota agricultural educator is being honored by the Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation. Nick Schlitz of Riverland Community College has been named the 2024 Post-Secondary Educator of the Year. The judging panel noted that Schlitz exhibited a commitment to agricultural education and innovative teaching that inspired students and community members. He'll be honored at an awards banquet in Minnetonka next month.
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