Local-Regional News Jan 17

 The Durand Arkansaw School District has approved the space availability caps for open enrollment for the 25-26 school year. For the K-3 the board set 2 available spots in 1^st grade, 18 in 2^nd grade and 4 in 3^rd grade. For grades 4-12 no caps were needed. The reason for the low numbers in grades 1-3 was that the district receives grants for low-class sizes and did not want to jeopardize those grants.

The Durand City Council has set the rates for upcoming swimming lessons this summer. Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren says residents of the Durand-Arkansaw School District will have a discounted prices for lessons. It will be $25 for residents of the district and $50 for non residents. The new Tarrant Park Pool is set to open in June.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is hosting career fairs. Five career fairs will take place across the state over the coming weeks. The first is in Eau Claire tomorrow/Saturday, and other locations include Oshkosh, Milwaukee, Fitchburg, and Woodruff. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions, explore the natural resources field and learn how to apply online as new job postings become available. The DNR says it typically has job opportunities in a number of fields including engineering, law enforcement, and environmental sciences. More information is available on the DNR's website.

The Wabasha County Sheriff's Office is asking for help finding a sign thief. The sheriff's office announced Tuesday that someone had stolen the welcome sign that greets visitors to Millville. Investigators believe the sign was stolen on Sunday or Monday. Anyone with information is being asked to call the sheriff's office.

The Hiawatha Valley Mental Health Center (HVMHC) announced it will be opening a new Peer Support Network (PSN) Drop-In Center in Wabasha. The center will offer an inclusive environment for anyone to connect, share experiences, and support one another. Anyone who participates are also treated to free activities and refreshments. The drop-in center will be set to open on Tuesday, Jan. 21.

The Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District wants to change its elementary school boundary lines. This is because the district is experiencing a decline in enrollment. On Wednesday night, the C-F-A-U-S-D had its first public informational session and Superintendent Jeff Holmes said a study from Applied Population Laboratory validated the need to look at whether or not their boundaries needed to be adjusted. The potential new boundaries aren't available yet but the district is considering all options during this early stage. There are also no official decisions about whether changes will be made. The district will host more public sessions in the near future as the school board will be making a decision by the end of March.

"A hometown guy." That's how fans in Milwaukee describe Bob Uecker, that no matter his TV and movie fame, he always remained a hometown guy. Many fans left cans of Miller Lite and other items in front of his statue at American Family Field. One fan told 12 News her ring tone is Uecker's call of Ryan Braun's late-season home run in 2008 that helped the Brewers clinch their first playoff spot in 26 years. For years, Uecker dined at The Jackson Grill a few times a month during baseball season. The supper club paid tribute to Uecker last night with his pictures and candles next to an empty table and chairs. Mister Baseball died of cancer less than two weeks before what would have been his 91st birthday.

The Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions and other state regulatory agencies across the country are accusing the company behind Cash App of violating banking rules. Wisconsin DFI officials are involved in an effort to investigate Block, Inc. to determine whether the firm has kept up with all anti-money laundering regulations. Block is paying out an 80-million-dollar penalty under a multi-state settlement and they are agreeing to hire a consultant to generate and submit a report on Cash App usage. Banks and financial companies are required by law to verify the identities of users and to report suspicious transactions. State regulators believe Block has not complied with all of those rules.

UnitedHealth Group's CEO says problems with the country's health care system need to be addressed. In the first earnings call since the deadly shooting of UnitedHealth executive Brian Thomson on a Manhattan sidewalk, CEO Andrew Witty acknowledged Thursday that there are flaws driving up the costs of health care for people across the country. He blamed both the private sector and government for creating a confusing and costly landscape. The company reported record 2024 revenues.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is hoping state lawmakers will agree to cut the state's sales tax and reduce spending on some Department of Human Services programs. Walz unveiled his proposed state budget yesterday. The governor said his budget is fiscally responsible, reining in spending on disability waivers, special education transportation and Medicaid inflation adjustments. He also wants to expand the number of professional service businesses that would need to pay state sales taxes while proposing a slight cut in the sales tax rate. The two-year, 66-billion-dollar proposal now goes to the legislature for consideration.

The first pediatric influenza-related death of the season in Wisconsin is confirmed. The Department of Health Services says respiratory illnesses are currently high in Wisconsin with ER visits due to the flu and RSV increasing, especially for children and infants. Sixteen pediatric influenza associated deaths have been reported nationwide for the 2024-2025 season.

Former Wisconsin Congressman Sean Duffy is promising to focus on safety and infrastructure improvements if he is approved to serve as the U.S. Secretary Of Transportation. Duffy laid out some of his plans for the office during a confirmation hearing before U.S. Senators yesterday. Duffy has gotten bipartisan support in the appointment from Wisconsin's current Senate representatives, Democrat Tammy Baldwin and Republican Ron Johnson. If the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee approves Duffy his appointment will go before the full Senate for a vote.

The Wisconsin Court of Appeals is again rejecting a filing from convicted killer Steven Avery. The court issued the ruling on his third appeal request yesterday morning. Avery's attorney claims a different suspect killed freelance photographer Teresa Halbach in 2005 then planted evidence on Avery's property. The appeals court calls those arguments "speculative". Avery's case got widespread attention after it was featured in the Netflix documentary series Making a Murderer.

Wisconsin is one of the top states offering the most energy assistance. A report by Home Energy Club compared states based on financial renewable energy incentives, average energy prices, and low income energy assistance. Wisconsin was ranked fifth overall, with Indiana and Iowa in first and second place for providing the most assistance.

Negotiations to help build a nationally popular convenience store in Wisconsin are moving forward. The village of DeForest is working with state and local officials to obtain about $7 million in funding to update an interchange along Interstate 39/90/94. The work will support development of a Buc-ee’s  convenience store near the interchange. An engineering study found that the current infrastructure is unequipped to handle the expected traffic for what is expected to be one of the world's largest gas stations. The DeForest development would be the first Midwest location for the Texas-based Buc-ee’s chain.

The Federal Trade Commission is suing tractor-maker John Deere over its equipment repair policies. The suit filed yesterday in U.S. District Court in Illinois alleges violations of state and federal laws in refusing to provide customers with a way to repair their farm equipment. Minnesota and Illinois are also part of the lawsuit. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison released a statement yesterday saying John Deere has an "unlawful repair monopoly" that makes fixing farm equipment slower and more expensive than it needs to be.

Fishing will be free in Wisconsin this weekend. The Department of Natural Resources says anglers of all ages can fish without a fishing license on Saturday and Sunday. Regulations like bag and size limits and species restrictions will still be in place. More information about fishing regulations is available at DNR-dot-Wisconsin-dot-gov.