Local-Regional News Oct 13

 

The City of Durand has approved the site plan for the new Durand-Arkansaw School District Early Learning Center. Durand Mayor Patrick Miliren says the project met the city zoning ordinances.  Groundbreaking for the new center is expected this month and construction would be completed in time for the 2026 school year.

A bill being considered at the Capitol would bar health insurance companies from requiring providers to accept virtual credit card payments. Chiropractor and state Representative Clint Moses of Menomonee is the bill’s author. At a recent public hearing he said this payment method has a pitfall for providers - sticking them with a the fee that they end up having to absorb and basically pass on to their other patients. Patrick Tepe, a dentist and legislative advocacy chair of the Wisconsin Dental Association, compared virtual credit card payment requirements to deductions on your paycheck that you didn’t authorize. He said the payment method is not only not transparent, but is not fair business practice. The bill wouldn’t prohibit health care providers from accepting virtual credit card payments, but insurance companies would have to make any extra associated costs clear in contracts with providers.

Firefighters were dispatched to the scene of a blaze Sunday morning in Eau Claire. Flames ignited in the attached garage of a home on Shorewood Heights Parkway. Five people live at the home and all were able to evacuate without injury. There has been no word on the cause of the fire.

Trial dates have been set in the homicide case of 10-year-old Lily Peters. The case involves 17-year-old Carson Peters-Berger, who was 14 at the time of the crime. The trial is scheduled to begin November 2, 2026, and is expected to last ten days. Jury selection is set for later this month. Due to budget discussions, the trial may use an outside jury or be moved to a different Wisconsin county.

La Crosse City Council is giving its approval to a 719-thousand dollar contract for renovations at a local fire station. The station number three firehouse on the city's south side will see improvements including an update to crew quarters and upgrades to the building's electrical and plumbing systems. Work is expected to begin next month.

A new painting was unveiled at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire on Friday. Native American artist Christopher Sweet's new painting is inspired by Council Oak, a meeting ground for Indigenous nations on campus. Sweet was also inspired by his mother's journey as a student at the university, as she was the first Native American to graduate from there. The unveiling ceremony featured poetry read by his cousin and former Wisconsin Poet Laureate Dee Sweet.

A new report says Kwik Trip is one of the best at making customers happy. The American Customer Satisfaction Index ranked the Wisconsin convenience store brand at number one in customer satisfaction. It earned a score of 84, two points higher than Wawa and Sheetz, who tied with a score of 82. The report says Kwik Trip's commitment to building a positive culture and catering to a wide range of preferences brought its score up.

Minnesota is suspending the statewide use of alcohol breath machines in suspected DWIs. On Friday, the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension ordered law enforcement to stop using the DataMaster tests. According to the BCA, nearly 20 cases in Hennepin County could be affected, and over 100 in Olmsted. The Aitkin County Attorney's Office dismissed charges for at least one of the case already. While in Winona County, the machine resulted in about 45 compromised tests and charges filed with the faulty data will also be dismissed.

An arrest has been made in connection with a series of arson fires in one northern Wisconsin county. At least six fires were reported over a ten-day period last November in the Radisson, Exeland, and Birchwood areas of Sawyer County. Sawyer County Sheriff Doug Mrotek announced Friday that a 30-year-old Birchwood man was arrested in connection with multiple business and residential fires. The arrest follows a nearly year-long joint investigation between the sheriff’s department and state Division of Criminal investigation.

Wisconsin Democrats unveiled two new bills that would inject 80 million-dollars into higher education. The first bill would put 40 million-dollars towards a Tuition Promise Grant Program. The money would go toward students' tuition in the UW System for families with a household income of under 71-thousand-dollars. The second bill would provide 40-million for student success and retention for the UW System and technical colleges. Both pieces of legislation require Republican support to pass.

A federal trial is set for April involving an ex-high school dean charged with producing and possessing child sexual abuse materials. Records show former Sun Prairie West dean Robert Gilkey-Meisegeier allegedly had sexual contact with students and used cameras to photograph them. He also faces Dane County charges for child sexual exploitation and possession of sexual abuse materials. The Sun Prairie Area School District made personnel changes, including removing the principal and placing staff on leave. The district then hired an investigator and faced a no-confidence vote in Superintendent Brad Saron.

Farmers and immigrant communities across northeast Wisconsin are expressing concern over recent federal immigration raids. This follows the confirmed arrests of 24 people by ICE in Manitowoc County. DHS officials say the operation was tied to suspected human and drug trafficking rings. Among those arrested, six reportedly had prior criminal convictions, while others' immigration status is still under review. Agricultural leaders are warning of serious labor shortages and economic strain across Wisconsin's dairy industry.

There is now a plan to ensure safe and sufficient drinking water in the state. The Minnesota Drinking Water Action Plan was introduced yesterday. It's a ten-year plan to protect sources of drinking water, establish a drinking water infrastructure, ensure safe tap water, anticipate and manage emerging risks. The state Department of Health notes threats to drinking water include arsenic, lead, nitrate and PFAS, known as forever chemicals.

An ammonia leak at a Kenosha County meat processing facility. Fire crews arriving on the scene encountered a strong smell of ammonia inside the plant in Pleasant Prairie Thursday morning. The leak was located, isolated, and ventilated by a hazardous materials team. The building was deemed safe for re-entry about an hour later, and no other hazards were found. No injuries or illnesses were reported.

A West De Pere High School teacher was surprised with 50-thousand-dollars for his work in helping students build future careers. Industrial tech teacher Chris Glinski is one of 25 national winners of the 2025 Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence. Glinski and his school was presented with a 50-thousand-dollar check at a surprise ceremony today. West De Pere High School's high school trades program will receive 35-thousand-dollars and Glinski will receive 15-thousand-dollars. Glinski was nationally recognized for helping close the gap on a shortfall of over 93-thousand skilled- trades workers in Wisconsin. 

Local-Regional News Ock 10

 

Another drug bust in Western Wisconsin. A Wednesday traffic stop resulted in a drug bust for law enforcement in Buffalo County. In the Town of Buffalo, an officer pulled over a vehicle for speeding and an equipment violation on Highway 35-54. During the stop, a sheriff's department K9 detected narcotics, and the officer went on to find suspected fentanyl and Xanax. Geremy Phillips of Winona was arrested on charges including suspicion of possession with intent to deliver.

The City of Durand received a report from Dahlby Conservation Services on a possible forest management plan for the city. The report showed the city has a variety of trees including elm, oak, and maple that could be harvested. Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren says the company will develop a plan to harvest some of the trees and sell the lumber. It is hoped to have that harvest of trees done next year.

A local real estate developer has offered to build a replacement for Klein Hall at no cost to the state. The center which helped homeless veterans closed in September after funding to keep the location open was not approved in the current state budget. During an interview with WRDN this summer, Joey Hoey from the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs said the original $1.9 million dollars to keep Klien hall open was needed to start that project. Jerry Green, the developer who has offered to build the new facility is hopeful that a bill currently in the legislature that would restore the $1.9 million will pass and the project could move forward and possibly open next year.

Congressman Derrick Van Orden says his office remains available to constituents despite the ongoing shutdown of the federal government. The Republican lawmaker has offices in Eau Claire and La Crosse and says that both are open with folks available to speak with residents. Van Orden says that as it relates to the shutdown and Democrats' voiced concerns about the expiration of Obamacare subsidies, that the Dems voted to have these Obamacare subsidies sunset -- saying they did this to themselves.

Eau Claire is now the location of the world headquarters of a nonprofit whose work includes research into congenital heart disease. HeartWorks opened their new HQ Thursday on Sky Park Boulevard. HeartWorks has been in operation since its founding five years ago in Minnesota.

The family of a Dakota County Jail inmate is suing after his death. Kingsley Fifi Bimpong died of a stroke while being booked by police on suspicion of DUI. Officers and staff took over five hours to respond to his seizure-like symptoms and he was transfered to United Hospital were he later died. The wrongful-death suit lists the defendants as three Eagan police officers, eight correctional officers and Dakota County. The family is seeking 120-million dollars in compensatory and punitive damages.

At the Capitol, Democratic lawmakers introduce legislation they say will improve college access and affordability. Appleton state Senator Kristin Dassler-Alfheim says one bill would cover the remaining cost of tuition once federal aid and scholarships have been applied for students coming from households that make $71,000 or less. Another would invest $40 million in the Universities of Wisconsin and Wisconsin Technical College Systems to increase student retention through different programs. Neither bill is likely to advance in the Republican controlled Legislature.

Poultry shows and exhibitions across Wisconsin are suspended due to bird flu concerns. The Wisconsin Department of Ag, Trade and Consumer Protection has suspended events in Jefferson, Waukesha, Walworth and Rock Counties through the end of the year. Those include poultry shows, exhibitions, swap meets and the movement of poultry to other events. DATCP encourages poultry owners and people working with poultry to continue practicing strict biosecurity to protect their flocks. More info on the bird flu in Wisconsin can be found on DATCP's website.

The Department of Public Instruction secured temporary funding after federal support was cut. This funding will ensure essential services for deafblind children and young adults statewide. The U.S. Department of Education ended the state's Deafblind Technical Assistance Project grant mid-cycle, citing policy changes. In response, DPI obtained a subgrant from the National Center for Deafblindness to continue services for one year. The program serves 170 students statewide, providing assistive technology, coaching, family support, and training.

A free car ferry won't be ready when a bridge crossing the Mississippi River south of La Crosse closes. The ferry will allow commuters to cross the river between Wisconsin and Iowa at Lansing, but not until roughly two weeks after the Black Hawk Bridge closes on October 20th. The only option for commuters will be a more than hour drive to bridges in either Prairie du Chien or La Crosse. Ferry landings are still under construction on either side of the river, and the ferry will also shut down in mid-December during the bridge's demolition phase. Once operational, the ferry will run 16 hours a day, 7 days a week, and cross the river every 15 minutes.

A Wisconsin congressman says Democrats will continue to oppose a short term funding bill for the federal government unless Republicans agree to extend health care subsidies. During a Wednesday press conference at the Capitol in Madison, 2nd District Democrat Mark Pocan said Republicans are on a mission to kick people off the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid to pay for Trump Administration tax cuts. He says that will raise the costs for already struggling rural hospitals. Pocan blames White House budget director Russ Vought and presidential adviser Stephen Miller for refusing to extend the subsidies. Thursday was the 9th day of the federal government shutdown.

Prison time for a Madison man accused of smuggling lab equipment to Russia. 68-year-old Andrew Pogosyan will spend a year and a day in federal prison and pay a $10,000 fine. Pogosyan was charged in June with conspiracy to defraud the U.S. and smuggling. Prosecutors accuse Pogosyan of using his company to ship lab equipment to Russian companies in violation of Department of Commerce-imposed sanctions on exports to Russia in response to the country’s invasion of Ukraine. Pogosyan was sentenced this week after pleading guilty in July to all charges against him

Democrats propose legislation that would require health insurance plans to cover infertility treatments in Wisconsin. State Senator and candidate for governor Kelda Roys of Madison said Tuesday that IVF is the only way for some people to build a family, but is at risk "because of the very extreme elements that are in charge of the Republican Party that are pushing bans and trying to regulate not just IVF but also forms of contraception as abortion.” Assembly Minority Leader Robin Vos says Republicans weren’t aware the proposal was coming "but of course I support IVF, whether they're doing it for political reasons, like they do almost everything else." The bill’s provisions include coverage of diagnosis and treatment for infertility and fertility preservation services like egg retrievals and embryo transfers.

Local-Regional News Oct 9

 

The Creation of the Durand Fire District is getting closer. During last night's city council meeting, the council discussed the agreement between Durand Fire and the Rural Fire Department to create the district. Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren says the two sides are close to a final agreement.  The City is hoping to have the agreement finalized and the district in place by January.

The School District of Mondovi will be holding a planned public safety event today. This afternoon local emergency services will be conducting a simulated drunk driving crash scene with Mondovi High School. This exercise serves as a powerful educational tool for our high school students and will highlight the dangers of impaired driving. During the exercise, residents may see and hear a significant presence of emergency vehicles, sirens, and personnel responding to the staged scene behind the high school near the pool.

The Pepin County Land Conservation Department is holding their annual native tree sale. The native trees come in bundles of 25 and pick up will be at the end of April or early May depending on the nursery and weather. Contact Pepin County Land Conservation for more information.

The University of Wisconsin-River Falls will again host the Farm and Industry Short Course (FISC), a 16-week residential program that provides world-class, hands-on training targeting the skills and knowledge students need to know to step into the dairy industry. The program begins October 27 and runs through March 13, 2026, with a holiday break away from campus.   The courses will emphasize animal management, including animal health and welfare, nutrition, reproductive physiology and milk quality, and will also include an introduction to basic business management and accounting.   

Charges have now been filed against an Eau Claire man after a stabbing incident in Lake Hallie. Police responding to a 41st Avenue home on July 11th of this year found a man who was stabbed five times. Eighteen-year-old suspect Orestes Kouris was later located near the Lake Hallie Golf Course and arrested. Charges against Kouris include attempted 1st-degree intentional homicide. Kouris is being held in the Chippewa County Jail on a 300-thousand dollar bond.

In Chippewa County, new charges are being filed against a contractor from Osseo. Anthony Brooks is accused of accepting customer payments ranging from 13-thousand to 123-thousand dollars for home remodeling and renovation projects that he then never began and for which he failed to provide refunds. He faces five counts of theft by contractor. Brooks faces sixteen similar counts in Eau Claire County.

One of five people charged in connection with a scam that cost an elderly La Crosse County couple over 450-thousand dollars appeared in court yesterday. Authorities say the group carried out an elaborate Publisher's Clearing House and Mega Millions sweepstakes con that saw the victims sending cash, gift cards and personal data to them over the course of an eight-month long period. The defendants are each charged with theft by false representation. Defendant Malcolm Sterling appeared by video yesterday and his bond was set at one-million dollars.

Microsoft will not build a data center in the village of Caledonia. The tech company said in a statement Wednesday that it would not be moving forward with its plans to build the site. It comes after community members pushed back on the initiative, citing environmental concerns during village meetings. The proposed data center would have been the third in Racine County. The City of Menomonie recently pulled support of a proposed data center just north of that city.

The State Assembly passes a number of Republican-authored bills aimed at increasing access to affordable housing in Wisconsin. Saukville Representative Robert Brooks says some of the bills are focused on making starter homes more available for first time home buyers. Brooks says the bills will incentivize municipalities and counties to construct more of these types of homes. The bills approved Tuesday will also need to pass the Republican-controlled Senate before being sent to Democratic Governor Tony Evers' desk.

The Department of Natural Resources says an invasive grass is spreading through Wisconsin. Ecologists announced Tuesday that Japanese stiltgrass was found in Dane, Grant, and Walworth Counties. The invasive plant was originally spotted in the Coulee Experimental Forest near La Crosse in 2020. The grass has a wide root system that can upset local native species and crowd out the floor of forests. Stiltgrass has been spreading throughout the eastern and southern US over the past century.

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation and the Iowa Department of Transportation are preparing to close the Wisconsin 82 / Iowa 9 Mississippi River bridge. The span connecting Crawford County Wisconsin and Lansing Iowa will close to traffic on October 20th. The bridge will be torn down and a new one built in its place -- expected to open in the spring of 2027. In the meantime, a free car ferry will begin operations next month to get vehicles across the water.

UW Health is in discussion to start operating several Marshfield Clinic locations in Dodge County. UW Health announced Monday it’s in talks with Marshfield Clinic to transfer control of clinics and hospitals in Beaver Dam, Columbus, Waupun and Horicon. That would include the emergency facilities and hospital at Beaver Dam. A UW-Health spokesperson told the Wisconsin State Journal that the move would strengthen local health care for patients.

No charges are being filed in the shooting death of a home invasion suspect in Rochester nearly a year ago. Olmsted County Attorney Michael Walters ruled out criminal charges against the property owner. The incident happened last November. Police say the homeowner shot and killed Demetrious Tankhamvang and then called 911 to report that he had been assaulted in his home and shot the suspect. Walters determined that the lawful use of force was implemented in the shooting

A new book about the crew of the Edmund Fitzgerald is releasing soon. John U. Bacon's new book, "The Gales of November," is subtitled "The Untold Story of the Edmund Fitzgerald." His book has extensive information on the lives and experiences of the men who died. The result is a book that broadens the story of the Edmund Fitzgerald. One of Bacon's most revealing sources was Rick Barthuli, who was working in the engine room of the Arthur M. Anderson, the other ship to depart that evening.

Local-Regional News Oct 8

 

The Durand City Council is meeting tonight. Items on the agenda include a presentation on the city's Forest Management Plan, discussion and possible action on approval of the Durand-Arkansaw School District Early Learning Center plans, and the council will go into closed session to discuss the formation of the Durand Fire District. Tonight's meeting begins at 6pm at Durand City Hall and will be live-streamed on the WRDN Website.

A change to state law that would allow ATV’s/UTV’s to use the Chippewa River Bridge in Durand received a state senate hearing in September. Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren says if the law is changed, it would be good for tourism in Durand.  The Pepin County ATV/UTV Club testified in support of that change during the hearing in Madison in September.

The Dunn County Health Department has released its 2025 Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP). The action teams will work to accomplish the following goals in the next 3 years: Improve the accessibility, affordability, and quality of childcare for Dunn County families, Provide Dunn County residents with information and resources to make environmentally conscious decisions, Improve the overall mental health, well-being, and access to mental health care for Dunn County residents and Form and advance local partnerships, initiatives, and programs to develop safe, affordable, quality housing options for all Dunn County residents. Every three years, Health Departments are required to conduct a Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) to identify the top health priorities. After this assessment, departments are required to create a Community Health Improvement Plan to address those priorities before the next one.

Rochester Sand & Gravel is planning to start on the 2025 Street Improvement project this week in Wabasha.  Initial work will include asphalt reclamation (grinding up the existing asphalt, leaving it in place) along Skyline Drive, Buena Vista Drive, and the alley between Main Street E and Lawrence Blvd E. They will also be milling and removing the top layer of asphalt on the remainder of the streets in the project. Access along these streets will be maintained during these operations, with only minor interruptions. Next week, Fitzgerald Excavating, plans to begin replacing the culverts along Skyline Drive and Buena Vista Drive. The contractor plans to construct temporary bypass roads to maintain traffic along these streets during culvert replacement.

Officials have set a half-a-million-dollar bond on the suspect involved in a fatal police chase crash. This stems from a pursuit last week in Eau Claire involving 27-year-old Anthony Reyes. Reyes was driving at high speed and into oncoming traffic before crashing into another vehicle at an intersection. The victim, 35-year-old Jack Ritchie, was pronounced dead at the scene after his vehicle became engulfed in flames. Reyes was arrested and later transported to a local hospital, where he exhibited combative behavior. The crash remains under investigation by local and state authorities.

Child porn charges are being filed against an Eau Claire man. Investigators say they found multiple videos featuring elementary- and middle school-age children engaged in sexual acts on the cell phone of 33-year-old Abdul Bakhtyaar. Bakhtyaar is charged with multiple counts of child porn possession and was released from custody yesterday after posting bond.

Contract work at a software company in Chippewa Falls led to a small flash fire Tuesday morning. One person was hurt in the incident that resulted from ductwork being performed at Hewlett Packard Enterprise. Crews say the contractor was the person injured in the fire.

Authorities have made an arrest in connection with a La Crosse County arson. One mobile home was destroyed by fire and three others were damaged early last Wednesday at the Brookview Mobile Home Park. No one was hurt. Sixty-one-year-old John Galster was taken into custody Saturday on four counts of arson - building without owner's consent. Another individual is also facing possible charges in the case.

A man has been convicted of four counts of telephone harassment and eleven counts of misdemeanor bail jumping. Authorities say 52-year-old Jacob Sell made repeated, harassing phone calls to local law enforcement agencies, while labeling himself as a "police auditor." The calls often involved obscene and abusive language directed at dispatchers and officers. A sentencing date for Sell has not yet been scheduled.

Attorney General Josh Kaul is opting out of the 2026 Wisconsin gubernatorial race and will seek a third term as attorney general instead. He frames his decision as crucial at a time when civil liberties and state programs are under strain. Kaul was widely seen as a front-runner for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination due to his experience in statewide races. His departure leaves the Democratic field for governor wide open and competitive.

Access to free breast cancer screenings for women with little to no insurance is being expanded statewide. The services are provided through the Wisconsin Well Woman Program. It covers mammograms, breast exams, and other diagnostic tests at no cost for eligible women who meet income eligibility requirements. Enrollment involves a simple application process via phone, text, or mail that connects women to participating clinics.

Saluting the character—and unique characters—of Wisconsin dairy farming. Katrina Hoesly of the Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin says that’s what the “Wisconsin Originals-Born to Dairy” campaign is all about. You can submit a unique persona of Wisconsin dairy farmer you know, and find out more about the campaign by logging onto “Born to Dairy dot com.”

You can now order tree and shrub seedlings from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. The seedlings, grown at state nurseries, are meant to be used for reforestation and conservation plantings on private, industrial, tribal and public lands. A minimum order consists of a packet of 300 trees or shrubs in increments of 100 of each species, or 500 shrubs or 1,000 tree seedlings. Species available include white cedar, balsam fir, pine, spruce and tamarack. There's also numerous hardwoods and shrub seedlings available. More information can be found on the DNR's website.

An Onalaska woman has been named Wisconsin's best grocery bagger. The annual Great Wisconsin Bag-Off took place during the Grocers Association's Innovation Expo last week. Vicheka Oum was named this year's champion of the Bag-Off where contestants must bag a 24-item order into reusable grocery bags. She'll now have the chance to represent Wisconsin at the national competition in February.   

Local-Regional News Oct 7

 

Durand residents may see We Energies working on Madison Street this month moving gas lines. Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren says the utility wants to get a head start before the city reconstructs Madison Street.  The Madison Street Reconstruction Project is scheduled for next year.

A woman who was convicted of killing her ex-boyfriend is once again seeking to overturn the Dunn County court’s decision. On Friday, Ezra McCandless filed a petition to the state supreme court. In it, she asks the court to review if her statements to police were voluntary, were journals of the victim inadmissible evidence and the instructions to the jury. This is the third time she has appealed her 2019 murder conviction.

Sentencing is being ordered for an Eau Claire stepmother convicted on multiple counts of chronic neglect of a child. Prosecutors say that Mary Oram and Toni Hammonds starved Hammonds' four kids. Investigators say they got a call from Eau Claire Schools because teachers were concerned about the children. All four children had to be treated for malnourishment. Oram has pleaded no contest and been sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison. The status of the case versus Hammonds remains pending.

Authorities are offering an update on a deadly set of events that unfolded last week in the City of Barron. The Barron County Sheriff's Department says that -- last Wednesday afternoon -- a pregnant 17-year-old female went to the apartment of her boyfriend -- 17-year-old Marcus Hinojosa and was fatally shot by Hinojosa. Not long after, a man went to the apartment with a neighbor to check on the female and was fatally shot through the door by Hinojosa. Barron County Sheriff's officers were called to the scene and heard a gunshot that turned out to be Hinojosa taking his own life by suicide. The pregnant teen's baby was delivered and is reportedly doing well.

Police are investigating vandalism at the Black River Falls High School football field. Officers were dispatched to the scene Sunday afternoon after the discovery that someone had broken into a football equipment shed. Spray paint was used to vandalize some new football equipment as well as a bathroom, both sets of bleachers and some lighting structures. Anyone with information on the incident is encouraged to contact police.

Hundreds of citations and dozens of arrests at this year's Oktoberfest in La Crosse. La Crosse police confirmed Monday that they issued two-hundred twenty nine citations and arrested 50 people over the weekend. Over half of those citations were for underage drinking. They also dealt with a 60 person fight, people stealing manhole covers, a person who fought with cops trying to arrest them, and someone who nearly fell into the Mississippi River. In total, the department handled over 11-hundred calls for service, double their normal amount.

Minnesota soybean farmers are hosting buyers from Southeast Asian. Soybean farmers are struggling this year as China refuses to buy US soy in retaliation for US tariffs, and farmers aren't just waiting around for a federal bailout. Buyers from Vietnam and Thailand were invited to Minnesota as part of a broader and long-running effort to build more export markets for U.S. soybeans. As potential buyers studied a handful of soybean test plots, Governor Tim Walz declared "Soybean Week" to highlight the damage tariffs have done to market access. Minnesota Soybean Growers Association said about 26-thousand soybean farmers are in Minnesota, and more than half of the state's soybean crop sales as international exports.

Wisconsin congressman Tom Tiffnay say the US needs to “stay the course,” with the Trump administration’s tariff policies.  Tiffany, who’s running for governor, was questioned at the recent World Dairy Expo in Madison. He said the concerns of farmers who are losing out on overseas markets are being heard, and he expects revenues generated by tariffs will be designated to help them out.

A very early look at Wisconsin 2026 governor's race is out. The first statewide Badger Battleground poll shows among Republican voters Congressman Tom Tiffany leads the pack at 30% support. Former Republican U.S. Senate candidate Eric Hovde got 14%, and others followed in single digits, including the only other declared Republican candidate for governor, Washington County Executive Josh Schoemann. On the Democratic side, former lieutenant governor Mandela Barnes is on top with 16% though he has yet to declare his candidacy for governor. Several other Democrats, including all who have officially entered the race, were in the single digits. About 38% of Democrats polled remain undecided, while 34% of the Republicans in the survey still haven’t made up their minds.

Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Robin Vos might not run for office next year. Speaking to W I S N's UPFRONT, the Burlington Republican says he's not entirely decided. Vos has served in the Assembly since 2005 and has held the Speaker's seat since 2013. Vos recently faced a stiff primary challenge from supporters of President Donald Trump who thought he should have done more to help the president during the aftermath of the 2020 election. He says he's excited to work with a Governor other than Tony Evers, but that he'll make a decision in January of next year.

A new state law offers protections to victims of “deep fakes.” Republican state Senator André Jacque said victims whose images are manipulated into synthetic “deep fake” pornography for online display and distribution now have strong legal protections. Wisconsin Act 34 which Jacque authored with state Representative Brent Jacobson, was signed into law by Governor Tony Evers on Friday. Evers said that ensures the state’s criminal code is updated to reflect the increasing use and potential misuse of artificial intelligence. Senator Jacque cited a study from the cybersecurity company Deeptrace which found that about 96% of “deep fake” material is non-consensual pornography, and “exclusively targets and harms women.”

Hundreds of animals were rescued from an overcrowded property near Wisconsin Dells over the weekend. Brown Paws Dog Rescue said on Sunday that it had received a call to help a local farm. Nearly 100 dogs, over 100 rabbits, three dozen goats and some chickens were rescued from the farm. Rescue groups are now looking for foster homes to help the animals regain trust.

Kenosha County Sheriff David Zoerner says a man is suffering from minor injuries Friday after being rescued from a grain bin. The victim was inspecting an auger and then found himself buried in soybeans up to his chest. Officials say he called a family member for help who then called 9-1-1. He was transported to the hospital and is expected to be okay.

A ten-year-old from Chicago honored a fallen Milwaukee police officer at an event over the weekend. The child ran a mile at Cudahy High School carrying a thin blue line flag to honor Kendall Corder. He's part of the group Running 4 Heroes, which honors first responders who died in the line of duty. Corder and his partner were shot in June while responding to reports of a person with a weapon. Tremaine Jones is facing charges in connection with Corder's death.

Local-Regional News Oct 6

 One person is facing numerous drug charges after a drug bust in Durand on Thursday. According to Durand Police, officers with assistance from the West Central Narcotic Task Force, executed a residential search warrant at 208 West Main Street, Apt 2 and found 60 grams of cocaine, 31 grams of ecstasy, along with anabolic steroids, methamphetamine and other drugs. 45Yr old George Paquette of Durand was arrested on multiple charges and is currently being held in the Pepin County Jail.

No one was injured when a semi caught fire on Hwy 95 in the town of Glencoe on Friday. According to the Buffalo County Sheriff's Department, the semi was traveling eastbound on Hwy 95 near Joose Valley Road, lost control and entered the eastbound ditch and caught fire. Both the tractor and trailer were fully engulfed and Hwy 95 was closed for several hours while crews conducted cleanup and removal of the semi and trailer.

Two people were injured in a two vehicle accident on Hwy 93 in the city of Arcadia on Sunday. According to the Trempealeau County Sheriff’s Department, a car traveling westbound on Blanschko Avenue collided with a truck pulling a gravity box that was traveling southbound on Hwy 93. The driver of the car was extricated from the vehicle and med-flighted to Gunderson Hospital in La Crosse, while a passenger in the truck was taken to an Eau Claire Hospital.

The Aging and Disability Resource Center of Buffalo and Pepin Counties will hold a public hearing on an application for a 2026 Specialized Transportation Program for Counties grant to provide transportation services for seniors and individuals with disabilities in Buffalo and Pepin Counties on Tuesday. The public Hearings will be from 11-12pm at Beth’s Twin Bluffs Cafe in Nelson and from 1-2pm at the Pepin Public Library. Feedback on the grant application will be accepted until November 1^st.

Eau Claire police identified the suspect and victim who died in a fiery crash Wednesday. The victim is 35-year-old Jack Ritchie of Eau Claire. The suspect, 27-year-old Anthony Reyes, is in jail, charged with homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle and fleeing an officer. It happened Wednesday morning around 3 a.m. Police say Reyes was speeding with his headlights off, driving recklessly before hitting another car, which burst into flames. Ritchie was pronounced dead at the scene.

Residents in the City of Eau Claire may notice an influx of law enforcement officers this week. The city is playing host to the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Canine Handler Association 2025 Conference. K9 handlers and their working dogs from around the state will be training at over a dozen sites throughout the Eau Claire area. The event is closed to the public.

Candidates for Congress in northern Wisconsin are staking out their positions. 7th District Representative Tom Tiffany is running for governor, and Jessi Ebben is the first Republican in the race. Ebben said she is "Trump Republican" who wants "to provide President Trump the reinforcement he needs to get the agenda done to make America great again.” Democrat Fred Clark says he’s been spurred to run by what he sees in Washington, namely "a Congress that has just failed in their most basic responsibilities to serve as a co-equal branch of government.” Clark served with Tiffany when both were in the state Assembly and will face Chris Armstrong in a Democratic primary. Ebben ran for Congress in the 3rd District in 2020, losing to Derrick Van Orden in the Republican primary. She and her family have since moved into Tiffany’s district.

October is Cybersecurity Month, and Wisconsin Consumer Protection wants you to check if all your important files are backed up. Administrator Michelle Reinen says you can use either a cloud system, or buy some physical hard drives to store those files. Your phone or device might already offer those cloud backups through on board programs like Google Drive, One Drive or iCloud. Reinen says if you are using cloud storage, to be sure to keep your account secure, or else you could still lose access to your files. Good options for physical backups are solid state drives you can plug into your device to simply copy files, or to use a thumb drive stored in a safe place. Be sure to keep that storage separate from your device when you're not using it, to prevent viruses or malware from getting to it.

A plane lands in northwest Wisconsin with its landing gear still up. The FAA in La Crosse contacted the Jackson County Sheriff's Office Thursday afternoon after having difficulty making contact with the pilot, who landed at Black River Falls Municipal Airport. First responders arrived to find the pilot unharmed and the plane on its belly with its landing gear still up. The plane didn’t ignite or leak any fuel. The runway was closed for at least 24 hours for investigation and removing the plane from the scene.

Trump Administration is canceling a nearly half-a-billion-dollar grant for powerlines in Minnesota. The 12 canceled grants include a 460-million-dollar proposal to build large transmission lines in seven states. More than seven billion dollars worth of energy department projects have been cut by the Trump administration. State officials said losing the transmission line construction project could lead to higher energy prices that would fall the hardest on middle and lower income families.

At least four members of Congress from Wisconsin are among those foregoing pay during the federal government’s partial shutdown. House Republicans Glenn Grothman and Tony Weid both posted pictures to social media of letters sent to the House Chief Administrative Officer making the request to withhold their pay during the shutdown, which both blame on Democrats. Republican Representative Brian Steil and Democratic Senator Tammy Baldwin also asked for their pay to be held back. The annual salary for most senators and representatives is about $174,000 a year. Federal employees deemed essential, and members of the U.S. armed forces are required to work without pay until after the shutdown ends.

ICE agents were in Madison last week. Madison police say Immigrations and Customs Enforcement conducted an operation at a residential address on Thursday, but no specifics were given on the location. Madison police say while they were aware of the operation, they did not assist ICE. Madison's Centro Hispano wrote in a social media post that agents were on the city's northeast side and that 7 arrests were made. ICE agents last week were also in Manitowoc County, where 24 people were arrested. The Department of Homeland Security says those arrests were connected to drug trafficking and human smuggling investigations.

A second outbreak of bird flu has been confirmed in another Jefferson County commercial poultry flock. The site is under quarantine, and more than 500-thousand birds will be culled, with no risk to the food supply. Health officials say the public risk remains low as farm workers are monitored. This follows another outbreak in the county confirmed last week, where about three million birds were affected.

The Field of Screams is opening on Saturday. This year's theme is "Hunted" and visitors can experience scares, screams and new surprises from things that are nightmare fuel. The haunted attraction is supporting organizations in the Chippewa Valley, including Feed My People, the Eau Claire County 4-H Older Youth Council, Pleasant Hill Go Getter 4-H Club, Warehouse Warriors and more. This is the events 14th year and 150 scare actors are getting ready for opening day. Organizers say the haunted trail and bran are not made for young kids.