A competency hearing has been scheduled for 44-year-old Anthony Jackson. He's being charged with intentional homicide, attempted intentional homicide, and repeated felony bail jumping. Authorities said Jackson isn't a stranger to the criminal justice system as he's been arrested 26 times as an adult. The Eau Claire Police Department said he has eight open criminal cases. His hearing is taking place on February 4th.
The new year has started out cold but 2024 was one of the warmest years Western Wisconsin has ever seen. Western Wisconsin recorded the third warmest year on record with an average temperature of just under 49-degrees in 2024. This has been the warmest year since 2012 and Meteorologist Brennan Dettman, with the National Weather Service, said El Niño was the main reason. He said the warmer days during the winter brought the average annual temperature up for the whole year.
Minnesota conservation officials are taking action to offset an increase in chronic wasting disease affecting the deer population in the southeast region of the state. The Department of Natural Resources is putting an end to its deployment of sharpshooters in all Driftless Area disease management zones. In previous winters, the shooters were sent to the area to slow the spread of CWD by reducing whitetail herds in disease hot spots. DNR Wildlife Health Program Supervisor Michelle Carstensen says they are past the point where their efforts in the area will do any good.
Sanford Health and Marshfield Clinic Health System have completed their merger. They're now one nonprofit integrated health system operating at Sanford Health. According to a press release, both organizations' respective health plans, Sanford Health Plan and Security Health Plan, will continue their current operations. The goal of the merger is to "advance world-class care across the rural Midwest." More information is available on the Marshfield Clinic Health System website.
A second person is being charged in connection with two Jackson County bank robberies that happened in 2018. According to a criminal complaint, 24-year-old Alexander Pongratz is being charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit robbery of a bank. A criminal complaint before that shows 26-year-old Michaela Davis charged with two counts of robbery of a bank. In December, Davis admitted to robbing the Jackson County banks in Black River Falls and Alma Center. She also identified Pongratz as the man who was with her before the robberies. An initial appearance for Pongratz is set for February 10th.
Staff of the Wisconsin Elections Commission will investigate nearly 200 uncounted absentee ballots in Madison. During a special meeting Monday, Commission chair Anne Jacobs made the case, citing the seriousness of what happened and the fact that the elections agency was not notified "in a timely fashion.” About all that’s known at this point is that Madison election officials discovered 193 absentee ballots weeks after the November 5th election. WEC was made aware of the missing ballots on December 18th, the mayor’s office and the public after that. Commissioner Don Millis called the extended timeline "very disturbing.” Monday's vote by the six member commission to conduct the investigation was unanimous. Commissioner Marge Bostelman said she doesn’t see the goal of an investigation as punitive, but rather "to make sure this doesn't happen again." In a statement, Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes said she agrees that an investigation can help provide transparency and accountability, as well as hopefully provide lessons that all Wisconsin clerks can learn to prevent similar errors in the future.
Applications are now open to be Wisconsin's next Alice in Dairyland. The Department of Ag, Trade, and Consumer Protection will accept applications for the 78th Alice in Dairyland until January 31st. Alice in Dairyland travels extensively, promoting the agriculture industry and its impact on Wisconsin's economy. Applicants should have an interest in Wisconsin agriculture, public speaking experience, and at least three years of education or experience in some sort of public relations. More information can be found on DATCP's website.
State Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu is ready to get to work in Madison. The Oostburg Republican said the most important thing that lawmakers do every session is a budget. Governor Tony Evers will introduce his budget at some point in February. LeMahieu said leaders have been working with Evers on a date for a state of the state address and the budget address. The Republican leader tells WOMT radio in Manitowoc that providing tax relief from the state’s budget surplus of over four million dollars remains a priority. The new legislative session begins next week.
Xcel Energy customers in Minnesota will be paying higher rates in the new year. Xcel has asked the Public Utilities Commission to approve a two-year rate increase that would total almost 500-million dollars. Xcel customers will pay an interim rate increase of five-point-two percent while the PUC reviews that request. The interim increase went into effect yesterday. Xcel customers will get a credit on their bills if the commission approves an increase that's lower than the interim rate. The PUC doesn't have to make a final decision until the middle of next year.
Regulation
of AI could be on the agenda for state lawmakers. Senator Julian
Bradley co-chaired a study committee that held monthly hearings
beginning in July. Bradley said they wanted to hear from the people
that are utilizing this technology on a regular basis to make sure
that their viewpoint and the viewpoint of those that this is going to
touch on a daily basis is heavily noted in anything that lawmakers
take forward. The panel did not propose legislation, but does
recommend a permanent committee on AI. Bradley said our interactions
with AI technology will only increase. Governor Tony Evers and
Assembly Speaker Robin Vois also organized AI task forces last year.
Home prices in Wisconsin have risen much faster than incomes, according to recent findings from the Wisconsin Policy Forum. U.S. Census Bureau data shows that the median sales price of homes in Wisconsin increased by more than half between 2017 and 2022. During those years, the state's median household income increased by almost 20-percent. The state's home price to income ratio reached three-point-seven in 2022, the highest in 15 years. A general rule is that homebuyers can afford to spend roughly two-point-six times their household income on a home.
The shutdown of a Wisconsin manufacturer will lead to a major loss of jobs. The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development was informed that private label and contract manufacturer Guy & O’Neill Inc. will close its plant in Fredonia at or around the end of January. That means layoffs for 196 employees who have been notified of the upcoming closure. Positions lost range from machine operators to the chief financial officer. The company cites current economic conditions for the decision to close the plant.
There are now ten finalists who are vying for a spot in the Packers Fan Hall of Fame. Each potential winner was selected based on an essay from them or a friend that highlights their devotion to the team. Fans can read those essays on the Packers website and vote for their favorite nominee through the end of January. Those who cast a vote will be entered for a chance to score some Green Bay merchandise. The winner will be selected in February.
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