Local-Regional News Dec 12

 

Expect construction in downtown Durand next year. The city of Durand has approved a contract with McCabe Construction of Eau Claire for the Madison Street Project. Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren says it will be a complete reconstruction of Madison Street in the downtown area.  The project's cost is just over $4 million.

Lake City Police have identified the suspect in a shooting on Wednesday. 81Yr old William Piar was arrested and taken to the Goodhue County Jail after the shooting. Police responded to the reports of gunshots on Lakeshore Drive and made contact with Piar and had to use non-lethal force to subdue and arrest him. Police also found a victim in an apartment building, and he was transported to St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester. Authorities have not released the victim’s name.

Charges are being filed against a Trempealeau County man accused of abusing a 14-month-old child. Twenty-nine-year-old Edgar Valdez is charged with physical abuse of a child. According to reports, the victim's mother took the little girl to a Whitehall hospital earlier this month, where x-rays showed she had fractures to both of her arms and legs. Police say Valdez later admitted to having hit the child on numerous occasions. He is being held on a 150-thousand-dollar bond.

The Community Foundation of Dunn County (CFDC) is currently accepting requests for new bricks for the Dunn County Veterans Memorial located at the intersection of 6th Ave. and Crescent Street in downtown Menomonie. The cost is $250 per brick. The memorial honors military veterans from all branches of service throughout any era. There is no residency requirement, and currently, over 650 veterans are honored at this monument.  A donation of $250 or more received before February 1, 2026, will purchase one brick inscribed with a maximum of 57 letters, numbers, and/or spaces. For more information or to receive an order form, contact the CFDC at 715-232-8019.  All new bricks will be formally dedicated at the Flag Day Ceremony on Sunday, June 14, 2026, at the Veterans Memorial in downtown Menomonie.

While we have seen plenty of snow this week, all snowmobile trails in Western Wisconsin remain closed. Groomers are out packing the trails, and snowmobile club members are out checking signs, clearing trails, and addressing other maintenance issues. Warmer weather in the forecast next week may also affect trail conditions and the ability to open them.

A Western Wisconsin Co-Op has sold its agronomy division. Alciva has sold its agronomy locations in Durand, Osseo and New Richmond to Ag Partners of Goodhue, MN. In a statement to Members, Ag Partners General Manager William Albrecht said the purchase will strengthen Ag Partners agronomy services and reach more growers in the eastern portion of their territory. The three facilities will begin operations under Ag Partners on Monday.

Officials have confirmed a Wisconsin graduate student found dead in the Mississippi River died from drowning. The La Crosse County Medical Examiner ruled 22-year-old Eliotte Heinz's death an accident. Autopsy results showed no signs of trauma or foul play. Toxicology tests showed Heinz had no drugs but a blood alcohol concentration of point-one-nine. Heinz was reported missing in July after walking home from a bar. Her body was found three days later in Minnesota.

Bond is being set for a Tomah man charged in connection with an overdose death. Fifty-four-year-old Harley Carlson is accused of providing the drugs that led to the death of a 28-year-old victim in August. Bond has been set at five-thousand dollars for Carlson who is charged with first degree reckless homicide for delivering drugs.

Tomah High School was placed on a hold for short time on Thursday as authorities searched for a possible weapon. Administrators and authorities were alerted to the possible presence of a weapon yesterday morning and a BB gun was subsequently found in a backpack inside a student locker. The school district advises that the student involved will be appropriately disciplined.

Lawyers for a former Mayo Clinic doctor are asking a court to dismiss a murder charge against him. Connor Bowman is accused of poisoning his wife in 2023. His defense team claims there was misconduct by the prosecutors when they presented the case to the grand jury. Bowman's lawyers have already gotten several pieces of evidence tossed out ahead of the trial, and this isn't the first time they've requested a dismissal. Despite this, even if the first-degree murder charge is dismissed, prosecutors will still move forward with a second-degree murder charge.

Another Democrat enters a crowded primary field running for Wisconsin governor next year. Joel Brennan launched his campaign Thursday. Brennan was secretary of the Department of Administration during current Governor Tony Evers’ first term. Prior to that, Brennan was executive director of Milwaukee's Discovery World science museum for over a decade. He currently serves as president of the nonprofit Greater Milwaukee Committee, which promotes economic and cultural growth in southeast Wisconsin. Brennan enters a Democratic race to succeed Evers which includes former Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes, current Lieutenant Governor Sara Rodriguez, and Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley.

A Dane County judge rejects a motion to force him off a case stemming from Wisconsin’s 2020 presidential election. Judge John Hyland rejected the claim of misconduct from former attorney for President Donald Trump James Troupis. Troupis claimed that retired Judge Frank Remington had a hand in writing an August ruling rejecting a motion to dismiss his case. Judge Hyland also found Troupis offered no evidence that he had any personal bias against Troupis, after Troupis filed motions to disqualify the entire Dane County bench because they have a personal animus toward him. He also wanted a judge in another county to hear his claims that Remington was involved in the earlier ruling. Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul filed 11 felony charges against Troupis, Ken Chesebro and Mike Roman, for their roles in the effort to cast Wisconsin’s 10 electoral votes for Trump. Joe Biden won the state in 2020.

A lawsuit against Milwaukee Public Schools alleges use of an unusual disciplinary measure. The suit filed by a group of parents Monday in Milwaukee County Court claims that during two recent school years, a paraprofessional at Thurston Woods elementary school would lock students in a dark boiler room known as 'The Dungeon’ “…with the lights turned off.” The suit says the room allegedly contained hazardous materials and machinery. The suit says the paraprofessional involved was later fired and that the children affected suffered lasting harm to their mental health and were scared to go to school.

A former Department of Natural Resources Secretary has died. George Meyer served as DNR Secretary from 1993 to 2001. His 30-year career with the agency included negotiations to establish treaty hunting, fishing and gathering rights for Wisconsin Chippewa tribes. His obituary cites acquisition of more than 142,000 acres of public land as among his accomplishments as secretary. Meyer grew up on his family’s farm in Calumet County, earned a degree in economics from St. Norbert College and a law degree at UW-Madison. Following his time with the DNR, Meyer served as executive director of the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation for more than two decades. He died Wednesday in Madison from a rare form of prostate cancer. George Meyer was 78.

MyPillow founder Mike Lindell is running for governor of Minnesota. The 64-year-old CEO of the Chaska-based pillow maker will get on the ballot as a Republican against DFL incumbent Tim Walz in 2026. Lindell is an ally of President Trump. Other GOP candidates include State House Republican Speaker Lisa Demuth, State Representative Kristen Robbins, Scott Jensen, Kendal Qualls, and defense lawyer Chris Madel.

Wisconsin's Capitol Tree is named one of the best holiday displays in the country. The tree was ranked number seven by USA Today in the public holiday light display category. Awardees were chosen from a pool of candidates across the nation through a public voting system, which closed December 1st. The Capitol Holiday Tree is displayed in the rotunda of the Wisconsin State Capitol throughout the holiday season and this year's tree features handmade ornaments made by students that honor educators, child care providers and school support staff.

Local-Regional News Dec 11

 

Some very cold temperatures are on the way this weekend. The National Weather Service is forecasting temperatures to drop into the negative single digits by Friday night into Saturday, with windchills as cold as 30 below zero in some parts of Western Wisconsin. If you are having to travel, be sure to bundle up and don't have any exposed skin while outside. Indoors, be ready to deal with increased energy usage, and maybe have a blanket or two ready. Do not use gas powered devices to heat the indoors, as that can cause dangerous carbon monoxide poisoning.

One person is in custody after a shooting in Lake City yesterday. According to Lake City Police, officers responded to a report of a gunshot fired in the 1300 block of North Lakeshore Drive. Upon arrival, officers learned that a male individual was in the back area between the 1300bock of North High Street and North Lakeshore Drive. While officers tried to get the suspect to surrender, they learned there was a male victim in an apartment building. The victim was transported to St. Mary’s in Rochester. Officers used non-lethal means to subdue the suspect, and he was taken into custody.

City of Durand Property owners will notice an increase in the tax levy in their property tax bills. Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren says the increase was needed to help pay for road projects next year.  The city will be reconstructing Madison Street from Memorial Park to the small boat landing next year along with 6^th Ave East. Property owners should be receiving their tax bills this week.

Wabasha County’s emergency notification system became the target of an organized cybercrime group in November. Wabasha County Emergency Management says its notification system, called ‘OnSolve CodeRED’ has been decommissioned and will not be restored. The impacted data may include information provided by CodeRED users, such as name, address, phone numbers, and passwords. Authorities say if you used the same password for CodeRED and any other accounts, they strongly advise you to change those immediately. Wabasha County says it is working to replace the system with new security enhancements.

Fire crews say a fire destroyed a shed on Highway 93 south of Eau Claire yesterday. According to Eau Claire Fire, when firefighters arrived on the scene, to find the shed fully engulfed in flames. An investigation into the cause is underway. No one was injured in that blaze.

An Augusta man has been charged with hunting deer out of season. 40Yr old Dusty Begman was charged yesterday in Eau Claire County. Authorities said Bergman admitted to killing a deer in October of 2024 and registered the deer under his son’s account as being shot with a crossbow. The gun deer season was not open at the time. Bergman also admitted to killing three more deer that month at night from the driver's seat of his vehicle. Along with the illegal poaching of deer charge, Bergman is also facing four counts of illegal shining of deer.

Governor Tony Evers has signed a bill to provide ten-million dollars in funding to build a new mental health hospital in Chippewa Falls. The funding had been earmarked in this year's budget bill. The area has not had a local mental health hospital since HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital closed. Rogers Behavioral Health has already bought the land for the hospital, which will be located at Highway 178 and Wissota Green Boulevard.

At the Capitol, Democrats reintroduce legislation to establish paid family and medical leave for all workers in Wisconsin. Madison Representative Francesca Hong says the legislation will continue to support, help and ensure that workers and families in Wisconsin have opportunities to be able to take care of themselves and their loved ones when they work. The bill would guarantee Wisconsin workers up to 12 weeks of paid family or medical leave – and up to 14 weeks if they’re eligible for a combination of both. Wisconsin would be the 14th state to adopt paid family and medical leave. The bill likely faces challenges in the Republican controlled Legislature.

More new laws are in the books for Wisconsin. Governor Tony Evers signed more than 30 bills into law this week. Those include a new requirement for Wisconsin public, private and charter K-12 schools to notify parents of any misconduct at school which could affect their students’ well-being or safety, newly increased penalties associated with human trafficking and trafficking of a child, and a law extending the statute of limitations for prosecuting the crime of hiding or burying a corpse. The Democratic governor also recently vetoed nine bills passed by the Republican majority Wisconsin Legislature. Lawmakers will likely pass more legislation when return to the Capitol in the New Year.

A woman convicted in the "Slender Man" stabbing in Wisconsin is no longer being held at a jail. Multiple reports say Morgan Geyser's attorney requested she be moved to a mental health facility while awaiting a hearing on her conditional release. Geyser escaped a group home in Madison last month after cutting off her ankle monitor. Authorities found her the next day at a gas station in Posen, Illinois, with a companion. Geyser was convicted for the 2014 stabbing of a classmate to please the fictional character Slender Man. Officials have not confirmed her current location.

Three Wisconsin Department of Corrections staff members have been placed on administrative leave pending an internal investigation. Officials say the decision is connected to delays in notifying law enforcement after Morgan Geyser's escape from a Madison group home. Officials are evaluating how alerts are communicated to law enforcement to prevent similar delays. A new teletype system is being implemented to ensure alerts reach authorities immediately.

Jury selection begins Thursday in the federal trial of a Milwaukee County judge. Judge Hannah Dugan is accused of trying to help undocumented immigrant Eduardo Flores-Ruiz escape ICE agents. Last April, federal prosecutors say Dugan escorted Flores-Ruiz out a side door of her courtroom. FBI agents arrested Dugan a week later, and a grand jury indicted her in May on charges of obstruction and concealing an individual to prevent arrest. Flores-Ruiz was facing misdemeanor battery domestic violence charges when he was involved in the incident. He reached a plea deal on the charges in October and was deported last month.

The Olmsted County Attorney's Office is investigating possible criminal charges after Byron Public Schools failed to meet state requirements for credit card purchases. County Attorney Mike Walters says his office asked the Olmsted County Sheriff's Office to assign a detective to the case. There are allegations that Byron Public Schools officials don't have the proper receipts for close to 60 thousand dollars of purchases. The missing documents were pointed out by an investigation in November by the Minnesota Office of the State Auditor.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation is bringing back its popular snowplow name contest. More than 100 people submitted names within the first hour of it opening for submissions on Tuesday. Through December 19th anybody can send in their best new on the agency's website. So far 44 plows have been named, but with over 800 trucks in the fleet, there are plenty that have yet to be named. The winner of the first contest, "Plowy McPlowFace," is still on the road in the St. Paul area.

Local-Regional News Dec 10

 

The Durand City Council is meeting tonight. Items on the agenda include a purchase agreement and easement for Xcel Property on Wells Street, discussion and possible action on a Certified Survey Map for the Xcel property near 514 E. Main Street to divide into to out-lots and reports from the Mayor and department heads. Tonight's meeting begins at 6pm at Durand City Hall.

Menomonie Police and Fire responded to a report of a bomb in a vehicle at the Hampton Inn and Suites on Tuesday afternoon. After an investigation, it was determined there was no bomb in the vehicle and no threat was present. The incident is being investigated as a mental health related incident.

The Dunn County Highway Department is preparing for a busy road repair and construction season next year. The 2026 plan includes reconstructing 17 miles of county roadways, along with two bridge replacements and one bridge rehabilitation project. The county board approved additional borrowing to fund the construction. Work will begin in spring and continue through the construction season.

A new Amazon Distribution Center is coming to Menomonie. The City of Menomonie announced Monday, it has sold 29 acres on 59th Street to Amazon to build a new last mile delivery center. That's part of the North Industrial Park, behind Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery.  Amazon estimates the delivery station will add about 100 jobs, mostly part-time with some full-time positions.

Minnesota State Sen. Steve Drazkowski announced Tuesday evening he will not seek another term. The Republican from Mazeppa represents Senate District 20, which includes Wabasha and Goodhue counties and parts of Olmsted, Winona, and Dakota counties. First elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in a special election in 2007, Drazkowski was reelected eight times before winning election to the Minnesota Senate in 2022.

The city of Chippewa Falls was allocated over $1.9 million in Lead Service Line Replacement funding from the State of Wisconsin, The money will be used to allow the city to repace lead water service lines. Of the $1.9 million dollars, over $957,000 will be given as a grant with the rest of the amount in the form of a low interest loan.

Wisconsin drivers are getting more options for license plates. Governor Tony Evers and the Department of Transportation unveiled two new designs yesterday, including an all-back design with white lettering. The other is a retro butter yellow color with black lettering that also has the tag "America's Dairyland" at the bottom. The state believes more than 25-million dollars will be generated by the new designs over the next three years, helping to fund infrastructure projects.

A new state law could make Wisconsin roads a little safer. Governor Tony Evers signs a bill that expands Wisconsin’s “Move Over” law to require drivers move over or slow down when approaching disabled vehicles on the side of the road, if flashing its warning or hazard lights, if emergency flares have been placed near the vehicle, or if one or more visible persons are working on or “attending to” a vehicle on the roadside. It also makes it a requirement to slow down or change lanes when disabled vehicles are “parked or standing on or within 12 feet of a roadway.”

A proposed federal cut could cause more than two-thousand people in Wisconsin to lose their housing. According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, about 170-thousand formerly homeless people nationwide would be cut from permanent housing. In Wisconsin, 52 percent of permanent housing is covered by more than 27-million dollars from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. HUD has claimed that cutting funding for permanent housing beds will restore "accountability to homelessness programs" while promoting "self-sufficiency among vulnerable Americans."

The new firefighting foam made out of soybeans used to smother fires that can't be put out with water is seeing expanded use in Wisconsin. Fox 11 Green Bay reports several northeast Wisconsin fire departments have been testing the foam, which does not contain PFAS or other forever chemicals. That is believed to be one of the primary sources of contamination in Wisconsin. State lawmakers are pushing for a rapid roll out of the Soy Foam, with the state Senate approving a bill that would offer grants and training to fire departments looking to switch to the option.

The Wisconsin man who faked his death and headed overseas is out of jail. Ryan Borgwardt was charged with obstruction after he was accused of misleading authorities by flipping his kayak in Green Lake in August of last year. He then used various means of transportation to travel to Europe to be with a woman he met online. After searching the lake for him for over a month, authorities eventually made contact with Borgwardt the following November and convinced him to return to Wisconsin. Last December, Borgwardt was sentenced to 89 days in jail, equivalent to the time spent searching for him. He finished that sentence last week. Borgwardt was also ordered to pay $30,000 for costs related to the search.

The Rochester City Council is giving the green light to a proposed 52-million-dollar sports complex. Council members approved the budget yesterday for construction labor and materials for the facility by a five-to-two vote. The Rochester Sports and Recreation Complex is located in the former Seneca Foods site. It will include eight baseball and softball diamonds along with 12 pickleball courts. The project is expected to begin in April, and the first phase is targeted to be completed by 2027.

A new case of highly pathogenic avian influenza has been confirmed in Wisconsin. State agriculture officials say 38 birds in a backyard flock in Marquette County have been affected. It's the first new case in Wisconsin in two months. All of the infected birds died from the disease. This is the fifth infected flock found statewide this year, along with two commercial flocks in Jefferson County. The total number of birds infected with avian flu so far total more than three-point-six-million.

Relics from the S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald will be up for auction. The DuMouchelle Art Galleries in Detroit are auctioning off a life ring and a wooden plank from the cargo freighter that sank in Lake Superior in 1975. The orange life ring features "S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald" in white stenciled lettering and is estimated to fetch between $15,000 and $20,000 at auction. The relics, believed to be from a lifeboat, were loaned to the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum in Michigan in 1988. Maritime collectors can view and bid on the items by visiting the DuMouchelle Art Gallery's website.

Local-Regional News Dec 9

 

Expect more wintry weather today. The National Weather Service says a strong clipper system will bring snow to portions of the WRDN listening area today and into tonight. Snow and freezing rain are expected to develop this afternoon and continue into early Wednesday. 2-7 inches can be expected with higher amounts to the north. A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect for Pepin, pierce, Buffalo, Wabasha and Trempealeau Counties, while a Winter Storm Warning is in effect for Dunn, Eau Clarie and counties to the north this afternoon until 9am Wednesday morning.

One person was injured in a single-vehicle accident on Wednesday in River Falls Township. According to the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department, 19yr old Gabriel Hove-Cernhous of River Falls was traveling southbound on Hwy 65 when he lost control of the vehicle, entered the ditch, and struck a culvert. Passenger 17yr old Tucker Wicklund of River Falls was injured in the accident and taken to River Falls Area Hospital.

One person was injured in a two-vehicle accident on November 29^th in Trenton Township. According to the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department, 31yr old Alexander Baillageon of Elmwood was traveling northbound on Hwy 63 when he collided with a vehicle traveling westbound on Hwy V driven by 45yr old Dania Molina of Red Wing. Molina was transported to Mayo Hospital in Red Wing.

The Mondovi City Council is meeting tonight. Items on the agenda include approval of a contract with Steinmeyer Inspections, consideration for public notice the purchase of 450 Madison Street for the Mondovi Fire Department, and reports from the mayor and department heads. Tonight's meeting begins at 5:30 at the Marten Center in Mondovi.

Less than a week after former Eau Claire City Councilmember Jeremy Gragert announced his candidacy for council president, another candidate is entering the race. Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce Senior Director Scott Rogers announced yesterday that he, too is running for the post. Both hope to replace City Council President Emily Berge, who is opting against a run for election in favor of a run for Congress.

One person is dead after being hit while walking along an interstate in Jackson County. According to the Wisconsin State Patrol, it happened Monday evening around 5:50 p.m. in the eastbound lane of I-94 near Black River Falls. The 30-year-old woman was pronounced dead at the scene. No other details, including why the woman was walking in the area or what led up to the crash, were given. The victim’s name has not been released pending the notification of the family.

The Osseo Police Department arrested two people after a traffic stop resulted in a high-speed chase on Sunday. According to Osseo Police, officers stopped a vehicle for a speeding violation early Sunday morning. The officer asked for a K-9 unit for assistance, and the K-9 alerted officers of the presence of narcotics in the vehicle. When officers then approached the vehicle, the driver sped away, and a pursuit ensued westbound on I-94, with speeds reaching up to 120 miles per hour with the driver was seen dumping items from the vehicle. The Wisconsin State Patrol deployed spike strips,  causing the vehicle to stop at mile marker 70. After a search, officers found cocaine, marijuana, and a firearm. Police arrested 41yr old Larome Clark of Duluth and 29yr old Taiwan Tellis of St. Paul. Clark remains in the Trempealeau County Jail awaiting formal charges.

Bond has been set for one of five people accused of swindling an elderly La Crosse County couple out of over 450-thousand dollars. Authorities say the group carried out an elaborate Publisher's Clearing House and Mega Millions sweepstakes scam that saw the victims sending cash, gift cards and personal data to them over the course of an eight month period. Each member of the suspect group is charged with theft by false representation. Bond for defendant Faedar Rockhead was set yesterday at one million dollars. Two other defendants are also being held on a bond of one million dollars each and authorities are continuing to search for the other two suspects.

A bill combating sexual extortion in Wisconsin is now law. Governor Tony Evers signed Assembly Bill 201 yesterday, also known as "Bradyn's Law." The measure creates a new crime for sexual extortion with gradual penalties, while adding suicide and attempted suicide to the victim compensation program. The bill was named in honor of DC Everest Junior High School student Bradyn Bohn, who took his own life following a sextortion scheme. Evers signed the bill during a ceremony in Weston where Bohn was from.

Deer hunters are encouraged to take advantage of late season opportunities. The late muzzleloader season runs until Wednesday, the statewide antlerless-only hunt takes place December 11th through the 14th and there's an antlerless-only holiday hunt from December 24th until January 1st. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources says hunters can use any unfilled antlerless harvest authorizations during any of those hunts, but they must be used in certain zones. Any harvested deer must be registered electronically by 5 p.m. the day after recovery. More info can be found on the DNR's website.

Strikes have been authorized at a number of Wisconsin dairy plants. The Teamsters announced Thursday that strikes are on the way at facilities in Richland Center, Lancaster and Sparta. The plants in Richland Center and Lancaster are owned by Foremost Farms, while the plant in Sparta was recently sold to Actus Nutrition. Teamster leaders say they ratified a deal at the Sparta facility just 30 days before the sale, and that the new owners are not recognizing the agreement. Local 120 President Tom Erickson says Foremost and Actus can't shuffle ownership of a property to get out of paying workers what they've negotiated.

Wisconsin doctors are highlighting common toy dangers parents should be aware of this holiday season. UW - Health pediatrician Dr. Megan Yanny says choking or suffocation remain the biggest concerns, so keep an eye out for toys that have small parts. Yanny says toys that include artificial intelligence are also becoming more and more popular. Yanny suggest testing out the toy before giving it to your child to make sure the content it produces is acceptable. About 3 billion toys and games are sold in the United States every year.

A new grant program could reduce crime and violence in Wisconsin communities. The initiative, announced by Democratic Governor Tony Evers and the Wisconsin Office of Violence Prevention, will support initiatives and programs at school districts, law enforcement agencies, domestic violence organizations, firearm retailers, and local governments. Grant applicants can seek funding for efforts focused on suicide prevention and firearm storage, violence intervention and outreach, criminal justice initiatives, domestic violence prevention and school-based initiatives. $10 million in federal funding will go towards the grants.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources wants you to stay safe on the ice. The DNR recommends you check local ice conditions with bait shops or clubs, wear proper clothing and equipment, carry safety equipment and have a plan. Operators of recreational vehicles like ATV’s, UTV’s and snowmobiles are advised to proceed slowly, avoid alcohol, and not travel in unfamiliar areas or at night. The DNR reports several vehicles went through the ice or drove into open water last season, resulting in six deaths. You should also carry a charged phone and let someone know where you're headed before you head out this winter.

A former United Health Group CEO is expected to join negotiations between Fairview Health Services and the University of Minnesota. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison announced that Doctor William McGuire will become a consultant in the mediation process. The two other consultants are former UnitedHealth executive Lois Quam and retired Hennepin County Judge Thomas Fraser. The two parties are working to create a new deal to preserve Fairview's substantial funding of the University's Medical School. The existing agreement expires next year.

A creative driver has led the Door County Sheriff's Office to remind drivers to check their vehicle equipment. The sheriff's office said on Friday deputies stopped a vehicle for speeding and noticed it was missing a driver's side headlight. The driver of the vehicle replaced the headlight with a handheld flashlight. The sheriff's office said a flashlight is not a safe or legal replacement for proper headlights. 

Local-Regional News Dec 8

 

Authorities are investigating after an Iowa man crashed his pickup truck into the Mississippi River on Friday. Twenty-four-year-old Amanuel Bauer reportedly lost control of his vehicle on State Highway 25 between Nelson and Wabasha, and went into the water near the Beef Slough Boat Landing in Buffalo County. Bauer escaped through a broken window just before the truck submerged in the river. Hwy 25 was closed for several hours while crews recovered the truck.

One person was injured in a two vehicle accident on Hwy 42 in Wabasha County on Sunday. According to the Minnesota State Patrol a car and pickup truck were both northbound on Hwy 42 and collided near mile post 23. The Driver of the car was injured and taken to the hospital in Wabasha.

Two people were injured in an SUV vs Car Accident just south of Kellogg on Sunday. According to the Minnesota State Patrol, the SUV and Car collided on Hwy 61 south of Hwy 42 in the J Turn Lane to turn northbound onto Hwy 61. Both drivers were taken to the hospital in Wabasha with non-life threatening injuries.

The City of Durand has announced a new online camping reservation system. Starting in 2026 all camping reservations will need to be made through the system, especially during busy times like Blues on the Chippewa. Reservations will no longer be taken over the phone or email. The new system is now available through the City of Durand Website.

Charges are being filed against a Chippewa Falls man accused of sexually assaulting minors. Prosecutors say that 21-year-old Keegan Peterson victimized two children two children under the age of 13 between May 2021 and June 2023. Charges against Peterson include repeated sexual assault of a child.

A man charged following a stabbing incident at a Tomah group home is pleading guilty. Investigators say that Jorge Luis Santos-Martinez stabbed someone with a knife in May of 2024 at a group home in Tomah. He had faced charges including attempted first-degree intentional homicide but pleaded guilty yesterday to a lesser charge of first-degree reckless injury. Santos-Martinez was then given a ten-year prison sentence.

More than four months after the body of 22-year-old Viterbo University graduate student Eliotte Heinz was recovered from the Mississippi River, authorities are releasing results of her autopsy. Heinz had been missing for nearly four days when her body was found near Brownsville Minnesota. Newly-released test results say she had a high Blood Alcohol Content and her death has been confirmed as an accidental drowning.

A new tool will help private well owners better understand their drinking water lab test results. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has partnered with UW - Madison, UW - Madison Division of Extension and the state Department of Health Services to design the "Be Well Informed" online tool. It’s tailored to Wisconsin’s drinking water environment and includes current water guidelines and standards. Resources are also available to help private well owners make informed decisions about the results. More info can be found on the DNR website.

In Douglas County, a police officer and a suspect are recovering from injuries suffered in an exchange of gunfire. The events began early Sunday morning in Superior when a police officer responding to a report of a domestic dispute pulled over the suspect near Tower Avenue and North 37th Street. According to reports, the suspect exited their vehicle and shot the officer who returned fire -- hitting the suspect. The suspect got back into their vehicle -- eventually crashing into Superior Middle School where they ran inside and held officers at bay for a few hours before being arrested. The wounded officer was taken to a local hospital, was treated and released and the suspect also received medical care before they were taken to the Douglas County Jail.

The governor declares an energy emergency. Governor Tony Evers on Friday announced an Executive Order declaring an energy emergency in Wisconsin. According to the order, that’s due to persistent challenges caused by a disruption within the Midwestern pipeline distribution system, coupled with high demand from severe winter weather for residential heating fuel, including heating oil and propane. The Executive Order will allow for the swift and efficient delivery of these products throughout the state, according to the governor’s office. According to the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin’s Office of Energy Innovation, multiple suppliers report challenges such as long lines at terminals and having to drive further distances to collect needed products.

A specialty school at the University of Wisconsin - Madison is going to go by a new name. The Board of Regents yesterday approved a proposal to reorganize the School of Computer Data, Information, and Sciences into the College of Computing and Artificial Intelligence. Planning for the new school is expected to begin immediately and be ready for the next fall semester. University leaders noted enrollment in Computer Science majors has more than doubled over the past ten years.

The Democratic governor vetoed nine bills including Republican authored legislation that would have prevented taxpayers from footing the bill for health care of undocumented immigrants. Authors said the measure would have prevented those in the country unlawfully from receiving benefits through Wisconsin’s BadgerCare program. Evers in his veto message pointed out that one bill author had acknowledged the fact that undocumented immigrants already cannot enroll in BadgerCare, and criticized Republicans for passing legislation to prevent problems they admit do not exist, to try to push polarizing political rhetoric. Other vetoed bills dealt with a ban on local guaranteed income programs, cigar bars, student teaching requirements, disputes with the Elections Commission, access to schools by military recruiters, building codes, emotional support animals and data from the Universities of Wisconsin.

Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Janet Protasiewicz won't step aside from disciplinary proceedings against former Justice Michael Gableman. Gableman is accused of committing ten ethical violations during his investigation into President Donald Trump's 2020 election loss in Wisconsin. Protasiewicz said Thursday she can act impartially despite describing Gableman's 2020 election investigation as 'disgraceful' and calling him unfit to serve on the bench. Gableman has filed motions demanding Protasiewicz and liberal Justices Rebecca Dallet and Susan Crawford recuse themselves. Crawford said in October she won't participate in the proceedings, leaving the Supreme Court with a 3-3 split of conservatives and liberals to decide the case.

The FDA says a dog food company in Mequon has recalled 300 cases of frozen food this week. The recall is due to possible plastic contamination. Wisconsin-based Fromm Family Foods voluntarily recalled the Bonnihill Farms Beefi Bowls Beef Recipe of gently cooked frozen dog food after getting complaints of plastic contamination. There have been no reports of illnesses or injury. The affected food was sold in pet stores in 12 states plus Canada.

A new report shows less than half of Minnesota's public colleges meet affordability standards, with only 48-percent of two-year schools and 25-percent of four-year universities considered affordable. The University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus has one of the widest cost gaps, while UMN Morris ranks among the most affordable. Families say rising tuition and growing campus expectations are making college decisions increasingly difficult. Minnesota placed 26th nationally for affordability, ahead of neighboring Midwest states that ranked much lower.

Organizers are announcing the first headliner for next year's Ashley for the Arts festival in Arcadia. The three-day music and arts festival takes place each year at Memorial Park and benefits a host of nonprofit organization. The 2026 festival is set to run August 6th, 7th and 8th and country music performer Jon Pardi has been announced to perform on the main stage on night one. Ashleyforthearts-dot-com has more details.