Local-Regional News Feb 27

 

A 62yr old Alma man is dead. According to the Buffalo County Sheriff’s Department, deputies responded to a call of a man who had a tree fall on him near Hwy N and Hwy T. On arrival, deputies found the man and he was deceased. The man’s name has not been released.

The City of Durand has passed a room tax ordinance. The room tax will be set at 8% for all short term room rentals including the hotel and any AirBNB rentals. 70% of the room tax must be used to promote tourism, and a tourism commission made up of representatives from the city and the hospitality industry will be formed to determine how the money will be used to promote tourism in Durand. The room tax will go into effect on April 1^st.

A new texting scam to be on the lookout for. WRDN Radio received a text message yesterday claiming we had an unpaid toll from January that had to be paid by February 27th with a link included to pay the toll. Since there are no toll roads in Wisconsin and no one from the station has traveled to a state with toll roads, this is nothing more than a scam. If you receive a text like this do not click the link, delete the message and block the phone number.

A Goodhue County teen is dead after a single vehicle accident on Tuesday morning. According to the Goodhue County Sheriff’s Department, a vehicle driven by a male teenager was traveling westbound on County Road 9 when he lost control, and the vehicle left the roadway and rolled into a farm field. The teen was transported to the hospital but later died from his injuries.

A Wisconsin city treasurer is arrested and accused of stealing almost 300-thousand dollars from a Monroe County town. Investigators say Kelly Schleusener, the Town of Adrian treasurer, has allegedly been stealing money from the township's account since 2022. She was arrested yesterday and is in the Monroe County Jail. An investigation is ongoing, and she'll have a bond hearing tomorrow afternoon.

Minnesota's Mayo Clinic is rated the number one hospital by Newsweek in its annual ratings. C-E-O and President of the hospital, Gianrico Farrugia said in a statement "this is just another tribute to the dedicated staff who consistently deliver unparalleled, compassionate care to our patients." According to its methodology, the list, which includes hospitals from 30 nations, ranked hospitals based on many metrics. The Minnesota hospital ranked first or second among many of those metrics.

Next school year, the elementary public schools in Winona will have a different feel. Goodview Elementary will become a kindergarten center only. The other two schools in the district will be first through fourth graders. Depending on where you live in the area will be based on where you go to school. All students that went to Goodview will move to Jefferson Elementary. Superintendent Brad Berzinski said, "changes to attendance are the main reason behind the new system."

Police in Chippewa Falls are looking into multiple crimes committed in the area. Chief of Police Ryan Douglas said that multiple residents on the east side of town reported their mailboxes were damaged. Rural Street seems to be the center of all the damaged mailboxes. When police were looking into those crimes, they also found out that many cars were broken into and stolen. Douglas said that a man is in custody related to the crimes, however they are still figuring out additional suspects.

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers is proposing to increase fees for hunting and fishing licenses in his new budget proposal. Most of the licenses would go up by 10 to 20 dollars. This would include small game, deer, fishing and wild turkey licenses. Fees have not increased since 2005.

A Wisconsin health official says Trump administration actions are concerning, as bird flu continues to spread around the country. In a Newsmakers interview with WiscosinEye, State Public Health Veterinarian and Dr. Darlene Konkle said they are  concerned that there has been some communication pauses between CDC and their state and local partners. We are certainly concerned to see that people are being laid off in a time when there is a public health and animal health response needed to this virus. Konkle said public health veterinarians in the states continue to communicate, to maintain a national picture what’s going on with the bird flu.    

After the school shooting in Madison two months ago, it was time for officials to talk about what they are doing to keep students safe in schools. Kenosha Unified School District, along with State Attorney General Josh Kaul and the Wisconsin Department of Justice Office of School Safety, discussed what options are working best for schools. One of the ways KUSD is making schools safer is the controlled safety entrance where students can only enter and exit the building. This prevented a major shooting when an armed man attempted to enter a Kenosha school through a side door. This was the first of many meetings Kaul said. He hopes to get all schools on board with major safety plans.

A Wisconsin lawmaker is re-introducing legislation that would ban trans women and girls from playing in the sport that matches their gender. The bill from Oconomowoc Republican Representative Barb Dittrich follows the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association's announcement last week that it is changing policy on transgender athletes. WIAA will comply with President Donald Trump's executive order barring transgender women and girls from playing women’s and girls sports. Dittrich’s bill would require transgender women and girls in K-12 schools, Universities of Wisconsin schools and technical colleges to play the sport that aligns with their sex assigned at birth. Governor Tony Evers has criticized the legislation as discriminatory and has said he will veto any bill that makes Wisconsin less welcoming for LGBTQ people and kids.

Wisconsin state government is projected to finish the current fiscal year June 30 with a $4.3 billion surplus. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos says the last state budget has a lot to do with that. Republican lawmakers have begun work on the upcoming two-year budget, and Vos says he won’t raise taxes for anyone, rejecting the Democratic governor’s proposal to raise the top state tax bracket to 9.8% on income of more than $1 million for married couples and single filers.

A man from Pewaukee who was lost in a tropical rainforest in Puerto Rico has been found safe. Police said 64-year-old Abdur Rahman was hiking with a group in the El Yunque National Forest on Sunday when he became separated and lost in the jungle. An extensive search using dogs and drones located Rahman alive and safe Tuesday. He was transported to a hospital for medical treatment. El Yunque is the only tropical rainforest overseen by the U.S. Forest Service.

A Pardeeville man faces his 14th drunk driving charge. The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office says the 69-year-old man was pulled over on Monday in the Town of Lowville for an equipment violation. After a deputy observed that the driver had possibly been impaired and under the influence, he learned that the man had been allegedly consuming alcohol and also didn’t have a valid driver’s license. The man was taken to the Columbia County Jail and faces several charges.

Applications for the 2026 DNR stamp contest are now open. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources says local artists can apply for the wild turkey, pheasant, and waterfowl stamp designs. Winning artworks will appear on stamps next year. Hunters are required to buy the stamps in order to harvest each game bird legally. Entries must be sent to the DNR by August first. 

Local-Regional News Feb 26

 

One person is dead after a one vehicle accident Wednesday in the Town of Lincoln. According to the Trempealeau County Sheriff’s Department, deputies responded to a call of an overturned vehicle on Hwy 53 just south of Richter Road on Wednesday morning. First responders arrived and located a deceased male who had been ejected from the vehicle. It appears the crash happened overnight and the driver was the lone occupant of the vehicle. Speed and alcohol were factors in the accident.

No one was hurt after a vehicle struck three parked vehicles in Alma on Tuesday. According to the Buffalo County Sheriff’s Department, 70yr old Steven Donner of Buffalo City was traveling on Main Street in Alma, when he was reaching for food in his vehicle, crossed the center line and struck three parked vehicles. Donner was not hurt in the accident.

An Osseo Man is facing multiple charges after an incident during the Gilmanton Ice Fishing Contest. According to the Buffalo County Sheriff’s Department, deputies responded to the contest after receiving a report of a gun had been stolen from the raffle table. After an investigation is was determined that Timothy Busse had taken the gun. He was arrested in Mondovi and is charged with possession of drug with intent to deliver, possession of a firearm by a felon, possession of THC and Theft.

The Durand City Council is meeting tonight. Items on the agenda include discussion of the upcoming economic development planning session, reports from the mayor and department heads and update on the pool project. Tonights meeting begins at 6:30 at Durand City Hall and will be live streamed on the WRDN Website.

A new baiting and feeding ban will go into effect in Clark County on March 1, after a farm raised deer in Eau Claire County tested positive for CWD. This deer is within 10 miles from the border of both Clark and Jackson Counties.  Eau Claire and Jackson counties already have baiting and feeding bans in place.  State law requires the DNR enact a three-year baiting and feeding ban in counties where CWD has been detected and a two-year ban in counties within a 10-mile radius of a CWD detection.

It's time to get your ice shanty off the lake. The Department of Natural Resources reminds anglers that the deadline to remove their shed from the ice is March 2nd if you're south of Highway 64, and March 16th if you're north of 64. That is the latest date, but warm temperatures and rain have been softening lake ice around the state. If your shanty falls into the water, you're liable for its removal and could face fines from the D N R.

A Western Wisconsin man is dead after a head on crash in Stearns County Minnesota. According to the Minnesota State Patrol, 52yr old James Wilton of Fairchild was driving eastbound in the westbound lanes of Hwy 23 when he hit another vehicle head on. Both Wilton and the other driver, 35yr old Greg Steil of Richmond, MN were killed in the accident.

The La Crosse Parks and Recreation Department along with the Forestry Department, is reminding residents that use trails in the area to be careful of trail conditions. The re-freezing process that we are in makes unpaved trails vulnerable to damage. The Parks and Rec. Department gives the following guidelines: Avoid soft trails. Stay on the paved trails and be patient.

All Joann Fabrics stores are now closing. The company declared bankruptcy last month, and announced store closures earlier in February. But this week, after the company was sold at auction, the buyers announced plans to liquidate all stores and stock. It's unclear how many people will be losing their jobs. Joann has been in operation for over 80 years, but slow sales and staffing troubles forced it into bankruptcy twice in the past year.

The Wisconsin Department of Justice will investigate a fatal shooting Monday night involving a Fond du Lac County sheriff’s deputy. Deputies were sent to a Fond du Lac residence for a person with a felony warrant. After the suspect ignored repeated commands to comply, one of the deputies discharged a non-lethal weapon. The suspect then brought out what deputies believed to be a firearm, leading to a second deputy firing their weapon and striking the suspect, who later died at a hospital. No one else was injured. The deputy who fired their weapon is on administrative assignment while the incident is investigated.

A defendant in the federal Feeding Our Future fraud trial accused of witness tampering is behind bars. Abdinasir Abshir was arrested yesterday and is being held until a hearing on Friday. Authorities say the defendant tried to persuade a witness last week to have a private conversation with him in a bathroom near the courtroom as he waited to testify. The incident caused the judge overseeing the ongoing case to bar other defendants in the case from being on the floor of the courthouse during the trial.

A Wisconsin school administrator is charged in a fatal drunk driving crash. Rebecca Salomon is the associate principal of Cumberland Elementary School in Whitefish Bay. She faces a count of homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle for a crash last December in the Town of West Bend. Police said a car driven by the 51-year-old Salomon struck another vehicle after failing to yield at an intersection. The other driver later died at a hospital. A criminal complaint states that Salomon failed field sobriety tests. The Whitefish Bay School District said in an alert to parents that Salomon hasn’t returned to work since the district learned of the incident.

An Elon Musk funded ad in Wisconsin’s Supreme Court race includes a glaring mistake. The State Journal reports that the online attack ad from the Musk-funded Building America’s Future group labels Dane County Court Judge Susan Crawford as “wrong for Wisconsin.” But the ad on social media platforms includes a picture of the wrong Susan Crawford - Susan P. Crawford, a Harvard University law professor. Susan M. Crawford, a liberal, is running against conservative Waukesha District Court Judge Brad Schimel for the Supreme Court seat.

A proposal was introduced to a Minnesota Senate committee to require an emergency response plan in all schools throughout Minnesota. This would prevent deaths associated with cardiac arrest. Last session a bill was approved that required the Minnesota Department of Education to mirror plans at the state level, in which schools could use if desired. This new bill would require schools to have written policies on how to respond, where AED's are located and more training. Lawmakers on both sides appear to be interested in this bill, as they could vote on this within the next two months.

A rare Canadian lynx was spotted in Northern Minnesota this past Sunday. Sara Hamilton, owner of the Trail Center Lodge says the lynx was on her deck walking around. The Minnesota D-N-R said they have had fewer than 100 credited sightings of the Canadian Lynx in Minnesota over the last 20 years. The cat is a protected animal in Minnesota and ever since 2000 is federally threatened. 

Local-Regional News Feb 25

 

The Mondovi City Council is meeting tonight. Items on the agenda include discussion of a bid from VFD to replace the waste water treatment plant digester blower, discussion of a Wisconsin Department of Transportation offer to purchase a limited easement at 113 East Hudson and 131 West Riverside Avenue and reports from the Mayor and department heads. Tonights meeting begins at 5:30 at the Marten Center in Mondovi.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources approved a permit allowing a Pierce County dairy farm to expand from 1,700 cows to 6,500. On Friday, the DNR granted the Ridge Breeze Dairy approval for its permit under the Wisconsin Pollutant Discharge Elimination System. Opponents of the permit said Ridge Breeze Dairy didn’t have agreements to spread manure from all the landowners listed on the permit, but the DNR disagreed. With the permit approval, Ridge Breeze Dairy will now become the largest dairy farm operating in the seven county region of Barron, Buffalo, Dunn, Pepin, Pierce, Polk and St. Croix counties.

Wisconsin 3^rd District Congressman Derrick Van Orden has introduced a bill that would return the monthly allowance for milk for families using the WIC program to previous levels. In April of 2024 a rule was finalized that reduced the amount of milk to families using WIC. In a statement, Van Orden said milk provides critical nutrients for a child’s development. If approved the maximum monthly allowances for milk will be returned to previous levels.

In Madison, a Democratic lawmaker proposes legislation giving farmers the “right to repair” their equipment. State Senator Brad Pfaff says farmers are currently prohibited from making repairs or having local shops do the work on tractors and combines they purchase. He’s seeking bipartisan sponsors for the bill. Pfaff says it allows the owner of that farm equipment to be able to repair that farm equipment while also protecting the intellectual property of manufacturers. Attorney General Josh Kaul recently added the state of Wisconsin to a lawsuit against Deere & Company related to the right to repair.

One person is dead after a single-car crash in Altoona. Police say they responded to the crash scene Sunday night. Investigators say the driver likely lost control and left the roadway, entered a rail yard and hitting a stationary train car. The driver was found trapped in their vehicle and was declared dead at the scene. Police say alcohol and speed are contributing factors.

Logan Zdanowicz was officially charged with a felony, second degree sexual assault yesterday at the La Crosse County Court House. Zdanowicz went out drinking with a group of people and later returned to a dorm room on the U-W-L campus. A woman was passed out on a futon when she later woke up saw she had no clothes on. She told police officials that Zdanowicz was in the room and had non-consensual sex with her. Zadnowicz's signature bond is set at five-thousand-dollars. Zdanowicz will be back in court March 3rd for a preliminary hearing.

Wisconsin Senator Tammy Baldwin hosted a round table to discuss the future of Medicaid in Wisconsin yesterday. Republicans in congress are making major cuts to Medicaid. Baldwin says that these cuts would have a big impact for seniors in the state of Wisconsin. Baldwin introduced an amendment to stop cuts for seniors earlier this month but got rejected by Republicans. Eighty million Americans have Medicaid with about one-point-two-million in Wisconsin.

Minnesota D-N-R officials are warning people who ice fish to start removing ice houses on some Minnesota lakes. With the warming temperatures and highs in the 50's, ice may be melting at a high rate. The deadline for the removal in southern Minnesota is one week from yesterday. If they are not removed, a fine may be imposed. Ice fishers in the northern part of Minnesota have a few more weeks to go until ice houses must be removed.

You might be seeing some advice or tricks online on how to beat your taxes, but don't believe everything you see. I R S spokesman Christopher Miller says there are no magic steps around not paying your taxes and that filling out strange tax forms or signing documents and sending them to random places is a good way to get yourself scammed or to have your tax refund stolen. You can find out about filing your taxes and then file for free online at I R S dot Gov.

The body of a western Wisconsin man is found in a burned Racine County home. After initially saying no one was injured from a massive fire Thursday night at a Union Grove home under construction, the sheriff’s office later announced that the body identified as 38-year-old Jeffrey Paradise from the Black River Falls area was found inside the charred structure. A statement from the sheriff’s office said Paradise owned a construction company and was staying at the house while it was being renovated. He was using space heaters in the home to keep warm. His death and the cause of the fire are still under investigation.

UW-La Crosse is launching new majors in two high-impact fields, bolstering the university’s longstanding reputation for excellence in science and workforce development.  The UW System Board of Regents on Friday approved UWL to establish majors in engineering physics and data science. Both majors will be implemented in the coming months and will be open for student enrollment beginning in fall 2025.

Two people are dead after a potential gas leak in a Monroe County home. Crews responded to the scene yesterday evening after a 911 caller visited the home out of concern for the residents and smelled gas. After gas supplies were shut off, a man and two pets were declared dead at the scene. An unresponsive juvenile was taken out of the house, but life-saving efforts were not successful. Investigators say there was no foul play involved.

A man accused of plotting to kill two Wood County Jail officers may have a plea deal with the state. Jesse Hansen Schumann was scheduled for trial this week but court records show the 34-year-old will have a plea and sentencing hearing on Thursday as he faces two counts for soliciting homicide. Another inmate says Hansen Schumann asked him to help kill the guards because he didn't like they way they were disciplining him, so he planned to attack them in an area of the jail that didn't have security camera footage. The second inmate went directly to authorities saying he didn't wan to be part of the plot. Charges against Hansen Sshumann are Class A felonies, which carry a life sentence.

The Wisconsin Department of Motor Vehicles is warning consumers about increasing online car sale fraud. The Dealer and Agent department says fraudsters use stock images of cars to make fake social media pages for Wisconsin dealerships. The DMV says red flags include cars listed for less than their market value, and sales without in-person contact with the seller. Last year, almost 13-hundred people report being scammed through fraudulent online car sales. Anyone who thinks they may have been scammed can contact the DMV Dealer and Agent Section.

Girl scouts rejoiced with friends and honored different culture this weekend for World Thinking Day at the Omni Center. World Thinking Day is celebrated every February and gives all the scouts possibilities to learn worldwide issues in the community that impact them. They select a nation and teach the others with food offerings, dances or other cultural activities. World Thinking Day began in 1926 and is now rejoiced in over 150 countries.

Local-Regional News Feb 24

 

The City of Durand is now accepting applications for vendor and food trucks for the new farmers market this summer. The Madison Street Farmers Market will be on Monday afternoons starting in June. The market will be in Memorial Park and provide a local option for vendors, food trucks and residents to enjoy local produced goods and products. Contact Durand City Hall for application information.

One person was injured in a single vehicle accident in Clifton Township on Thursday. According to the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department, 18yr old Vioncent Romo of Cannon Falls, MN was traveling southbound on Hwy F when he lost control of the vehicle, entered the ditch and struck a sign post. Romo was transported to Regina Hospital in Hastings.

The Trempealeau County Sheriff’s Department along with other local departments will be holding a training exercise at the Whitehall Fire Station on Tuesday and Wednesday. During the exercise there will be numerous officers working in and around the fire station with numerous tools and or weapons. There will be no live ammunition or weapons fired during the training exercise.

The Executive Committee in Chippewa County has announced that it will meet on March 4th to complete a contract and designate Andrew Albarado as County Administrator for the county board. This will not be finalized until the county board takes formal action to approve it. When approved, Albarado will start working with the county on April 28th.

After the arctic blast last week with windchills at one point 45 degrees below zero, look for higher temps this week, as a splash of spring hits the WRDN listening area. It is expected to be into the 40's for much of the week, with even some parts of the area hitting 50 degrees. Overnight lows look to be mild as well. With many warm days ahead, be prepared for snow-melting to happen this week.

Two dairy organizations are suing Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul. The Wisconsin Dairy Alliance and Venture Dairy Cooperative are challenging the AG’s decision to outsource Department of Justice environmental litigation work. Kim Bremer is Executive Director for Venture Dairy Co-op. She said Kaul has taken money from New York University State Energy and Environmental Impact Center and used that money to hire a special assistant attorney general who is in charge of environmental litigation. Bremer says the privately funded center has a track record of advocating for policies that are harmful to farmers. She says the cooperative’s members, many of which are large dairies, wanted to proceed with the lawsuit. In a statement from his office, Kaul said with the harm pollution causes in many Wisconsin communities, better resourcing enforcement of state environmental laws shouldn’t be controversial. The lawsuit was filed Thursday in Calumet County Court.

Residents of an Onalaska apartment complex were awakened yesterday morning by gunshots. One resident told police that a round struck his garage, while two others hit a car. Officials stated that there is no ongoing threat to the public. No injuries were reported, as police are still investigating this incident.

This past weekend, kids got to work with the Viterbo Nurse Association in the annual teddy bear clinic. This was an opportunity for kids to see what nurses do, along with calming them with any doubts they have about visiting doctors. Kids brought their favorite stuffed animal or teddy bear, and learned about shots, routine doctor visits, along with other activities.

Racial restrictions added to Dane County property deeds decades ago are now being formally rejected. The County Board says the discriminatory covenants were added to deeds to try and prevent minority groups from buying the homes. The Deputy Land Records Administration looked at more than 300-thousand housing records, and found more than a thousand deeds with language restricting purchases by some racial groups, specifically Black people. The Dane County Board says it's now recognizing and rejecting those covenants. The Monona City Council did the same three years ago.

Minnesota Department of Corrections officials are asking lawmakers for funding to repair prisons around Minnesota. Governor Walz requested that 65-point-five million dollars be set aside for the MNDOC for repairs in the state correctional facilities. Some of the repairs would include fixing safety hazards and upgrading security systems. Officials with the department of corrections said that they have over 175 projects on hold until they receive the necessary resources. Lawmakers are in the process of making their adjustments the governor's budget.

Xcel Energy plans to shut down its coal plants to meet Minnesota's carbon-free law five years before the 2040 deadline. The utility giant could come close to doubling its capacity for wind energy by the end of the decade under a new power supply plan approved yesterday by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission. Xcel also has plans to build a new gas plant in 2028. Company President Ryan Long says they plan to advance their clean energy vision by adding wind and solar resources.

UW-Madison officials once more are asking for permission to tear down the campus's deteriorating humanities building. The State Journal reports campus officials have been asking for a complete demolition of the Mosse Building for over a decade. The brutalist style structure was built in the sixties, and is crumbling on the inside with elevators out of operation, leaks in classrooms and malfunctioning HVAC. The price to tear down the building and move the arts and music departments is nearly 300 million dollars, and it's unclear if that money will make it into either Governor Tony Evers budget proposal, or the budget that the Republican controlled legislature will approve.

A no confidence vote for the president of a Wisconsin college. In symbolic vote earlier this week a majority of faculty at St. Norbert College in DePere expressed “no confidence” in President Laurie Joyner, citing “failed leadership” throughout the school’s financial and enrollment crisis. The resolution makes several requests of the Board of Trustees, including a halt to proposed faculty and program eliminations and an independent review of the college’s finances. St. Norbert has already made two rounds of layoffs due to declining enrollment. Thursday’s vote came on the same day that Northland College in Ashland announced it will close at the end of the academic year, citing declining enrollment and finances.

Nominations are now being accepted for the Best Burger In Wisconsin contest. Establishments with the most votes will make the top eight in March. A secret panel of judges will visit each of the establishments to try the burgers, and judge them based on taste and appearance. A winner will be announced in May, which is Beef Month in Wisconsin. Pickle's Bar and Grill in Hazelhurst won last year's contest. 

Local-Regional News Feb 21

 

The Durand-Arkansaw School District may see lower health insurance costs next year. During this weeks school board meeting, Superintendent Nelson reported the Northwest Health Co-Op, which the district is part of, did a request for proposals and found that Anthem Blue Cross would have rated that would be approximately 8.5% lower than the current rate the co-op pays to Security Health Plan. The members of the co-op must vote on which company they will be going with for the upcoming school year.

The City of Durand still has money available for new small businesses or businesses looking to expand. Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren says the economic loan program is a low interest loan program designed for businesses.  For more information on the program, contact Durand City Hall.

The Eau Claire County Sheriff's Office released its annual crime report. Over 7,300 arrests were made in 2024. The biggest increase in crime the county saw in 2024 was camping on city property. Another increase officials saw was the use of cocaine. The largest decrease in crime that officials saw was Operating a Motor Vehicle While Intoxicated. Sheriff Dave Riewestahl said it is important for all the departments to "keep up their enforcement efforts."

Barron County health officials want residents to check their cinnamon for lead poisoning. Back in 2023 and 2024 many brands of cinnamon were found to have lead. The Barron County health officer says that cinnamon has a very long shelf life and that you should check anything you bought before August of 2024.

A real estate property scam is targeting vacation homes and vacant land. Scammers pose as property owners looking to make a quick sale of unoccupied land they don’t actually own. And with more deals being done electronically, it can be easier for scammers to dupe realtors and buyers. Burnett County Register of Deeds Jeanne Taylor, recommends owners sign up for property fraud alerts. If their property has been fraudulently transferred or sold through these scams, they would be notified upon somebody recording that. You can sign up for the free program at property fraud alert dot com. Anyone who is notified with an alert should contact their county register of deeds office and sheriff’s department.

The Y-M-C-A of Chippewa Valley says it bought two Menomonie Health & Fitness locations and will turn them into Y-M-C-A's. On April first, the two locations will be renamed to Menomonie South Y-M-C-A and the Menomonie East YMCA. The south location will be the first 24-seven Y-M-C-A in the Chippewa Valley. Community members said there was a big demand for fitness centers in these areas after a survey was conducted during the spring of 2024.

The Buffalo County Dairy Promotions has announced the host family for this years dairy breakfast. The Breakfast will be held at Rotering Ridge Beef and Dairy in Cochrane. The Buffalo County Dairy Breakfast will be Held on Sunday June 22.

The Durand-Arkansaw FFA Will be holding a Donkey Basketball Game on March 10^th. The game is a fundraiser for the FFA Chapter and tickets are $9 in advance and $13 at the door. Tickets can be purchased by any Durand-Arkansaw FFA Member or contact Durand-Arkansaw High School.

The NFL showed a sneak peak of what they are envisioning for the 2025 draft that will be in Green Bay this spring. The main draft area will be on the north-east side of the stadium and will cover about 250-thousand square feet. This is where the players drafted will walk out to and greet the fans. A kids area with games and concession stands will be located on the west side of the stadium. The NFL draft is April 24th-26th.

A school referendum in Juneau County crosses the finish line on the third attempt. Voters in the School District of Mauston on Tuesday approved the district exceeding state-imposed revenue limits by $1.75 million each year for four years. Officials with Juneau County’s largest school district had warned it wouldn't be able to operate beyond the 2026-27 school year without the additional funding, which will now allow it to avoid further cuts to staffing and student programs. Previous referendums in April of last year and November 2023 had failed to pass.

A northern Wisconsin college will close at the end of the academic year. The Northland College Board of Trustees voted unanimously on Wednesday to close the private environmentally focused liberal arts college in Ashland. Declining enrollment and growing costs of higher education were factors cited for the decision to close the college which was founded in 1892. That’s despite a major fund-raising effort last year which received more than 1,000 donations totaling over $1.5 million, only a fraction of the $12 million needed by an early April deadline to save Northland. The college enrolls around 200 full time undergraduates and employs some 150 faculty and staff.

Minnesota State Senator Robert Farnsworth wants to give high school students more flexibility when it comes to choosing math classes. One of the ideas he has proposed is to get rid of algebra two requirement in Minnesota schools. The bill would still require students to complete three years of math. The bill was brought up during the education policy committee hearing on Wednesday.

What’s next for Governor Tony Evers’ proposed state budget? The Democratic governor wants to use a little less than half of the state government’s current $4.3 billion surplus on tax relief. His budget now heads to the Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee, where Senator Howard Marklein is co-chair. The Spring Green Republican cautioned that the surplus is largely one time money, and pledged Republicans will be cautious as they work to build a new budget. Marklein said any tax cuts from Republicans will be affordable, and won’t create a structural deficit in the future. JFC will jettison nearly all of Evers’ plan as it builds a new budget, but the governor will be able to exercise his significant veto authority on the finished product.

One of the Madison area's largest employers has plans to again expand its campus. Medical records company Epic Systems is requesting the city of Verona approve a new building to handle conferences and meetings. Styled to resemble a building sticking out of the ground, the Deep Earth conference center is expected to hold meetings and host events outside of the company's massive annual conference. Epic has been in constant expansion in Verona for the past decade, with buildings that resemble Harry Potter's Hogwarts, Emerald City from The Wizard of Oz, and a large treehouse.

In his new budget proposal, Governor Tony Evers proposed a new butter-themed license plate. Money from special plates generate millions of dollars. Special plates cost twenty-five dollars. The Evers administration said it doesn't have a design for the new plate but wants to incorporate yellow in to mimic butter.

A husband and wife are being recognized by the Red Cross for their years of donating blood. The couple will be recognized as American Red Cross heroes. Jerry and Kim Porter have given over one-thousand units of blood and platelets. Over the last three years, the couple has donated the maximum number of times which is 24. The couple will be honored at the Heroes Breakfast fundraiser in Eau Claire on March 13th.

Local-Regional News Feb 20

The Durand Arkansaw School Board has approved the execution of a Sub Grant Agreement to apply for a federal grant. The grant from FEMA would pay for 90 percent of a fieldhouse that would also be used as a community shelter in case of natural disaster. The fieldhouse would have the capacity to shelter 2100 people and also have other amenities that the school district and community could use. If the grant would be approved, the district would have 36 months to construct the new Fieldhouse.

Two people were injured in a single vehicle accident in Ellsworth Township on Monday. According to the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department, 17yr old Jeremiah Johnson of Ellsworth was traveling eastbound on 410^th Avenue, when he lost control, entered the ditch and struck a tree. Johnson was taken to Red Wing Mayo Hospital. A 14yr old passenger from Hagar City was taken to River Falls Area Hospital.

A convicted Missouri sex offender is facing child sex charges in Wisconsin. Police say they were called to the Menomonie Walmart on Sunday after reports of a suspect staring at a nine-year-old girl and touching himself in the parking lot. Fifty-six-year-old Joseph Gladstone was pulled over shortly afterward and taken into custody. Officers say they found children's books and clothing in his car during a search. Gladstone is facing five charges, including carrying a concealed weapon.

Police received multiple calls Wednesday in the Chippewa Falls area that they were scammed in the so called "grandparents scam." The scam works when someone calls pretending to be their grandchild. They claim that they have been put in jail and need money. These days, con artists will even utilize artificial intelligence to make the voice seem like their grandchildren. Chippewa Falls police have instructed people who do get these calls to just hang up.

Students at Caddie Woodlawn Elementry are raising money and learning about heart health this week. This week the kids are participating in the kids heart challenges. Students go through a variety of Heart Healthy stations plus a snack station including cheese curds from Eau Galle donated by the Pepin County Dairy Promotion, water and bananas donated by Durand Kwik Trip. The kids have also been raising money for the American Heart Association and so far have raised nearly $17,000. If you would also like to make a donation, contact Caddie Woodlawn Elementry School.

The University Of Wisconsin-La Crosse chancellor got to meet with community members during a public forum Wednesday morning. This was an opportunity for Chancellor James Beeby to talk about partnership successes between the school and city. Beeby also talked about how he has been able to meet with 70-plus groups, community members and city leaders. Beeby pointed out that community members have a positive attitude where the city is going and how the University can partner to make things better.

In Washington, Senate Democrats raise alarm bells over cuts to Medicaid. After vowing earlier this week that he wouldn’t cut Medicaid, President Donald Trump on Wednesday indicated he’s on board with a House Republican budget resolution that calls for $880 billion in cuts to the program. Wisconsin Senator Tammy Baldwin joined Democratic colleagues on Wednesday to excoriate the move. Baldwin said vulnerable Americans will be expected to pay and sacrifice so that Elon Musk and Donald Trump and their like can get massive tax cuts. Baldwin warned that cuts to the program that provides health insurance for low-income Americans “will not be painless,” and will fall especially hard on rural Wisconsin.

The Wisconsin Assembly voted along party lines Wednesday to approve a bill that overhauls Department of Public Instruction test standards. Bill author Representative Robert Wittke says there's no legislative oversight on the scoring and assessment of Wisconsin kids, and the bill would establish that. Democrats said the bill is politically motivated and it won't help student achievement. It would reset state report card standards to levels set in 2019-20, align grades 3-8 with national standards, and restore high school testing standards to levels set in the 2021-22 school year.

Transgender student-athletes will be banned from girls sports in Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletics Association is updating its policy to comply with new guidance from the White House. Trans student-athletes may still be able to practice on women's teams, but won't be allowed to compete. The NCAA similarly changed its policy earlier this month.

No issues are reported for the Wisconsin spring primary election. Wisconsin Elections Commission Meagan Wolfe says the election process ran smoothly. Incumbent Jill Underly and Brittany Kinser will advance in the race for State Superintendent during the state general election on April 1st. Unofficial results for local elections are now available on county websites, and will be certified by March fourth.

Republican lawmakers quickly pushed back on Governor Tony Evers' proposed budget. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos says most of the Democratic governor's budget is "dead on arrival." Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu says Republicans will take the governor's irresponsible budget and turn it into a responsible budget that invests in education and health care but doesn't overspend and grow the size of government. When factoring in federal money and other sources of revenue, the Evers budget would spend $118.9 billion, an increase of 20.3%.

A group linked to Elon Musk is pouring money into a Wisconsin Supreme Court race. Building America's Future has spent one-point-five million dollars backing Brad Schimel, who's supported by the G-O-P. Musk has given money to the group in the past and publicly supported Schimel in the race for the Supreme Court seat. Schimel is facing off against Democrat-backed Susan Crawford, and the election has already attracted significant outside money. National interest in the race has grown as both parties look to the courts to advance their policy agendas.

Minnesota legislators are considering raising fees for electric and hybrid cars. The proposal would double the fee of buying an electric car, and add new fees for hybrid vehicles. Officials say money generated from this would be distributed in part to Minnesota's highway user tax distribution fund.

Traffic light cameras in Minnesota could be installed and active this summer. These cameras will be able to keep track of violations for people who speed and run red lights. This would lead to the violators being mailed a ticket to their home. This would start off as a pilot program in Mendota Heights and Minneapolis. These cameras are in use in over two dozen states.

Asking for help, for a pair of orphaned cats. And not just any cats. The Dane County Humane Society hopes to raise $5,000 to cover costs of caring for two bobcats. The male bobkittens were estimated to be just 12-16 weeks old, dehydrated and malnourished when admitted to the Society’s Wildlife Center a few days apart in August 2024. Since then they’ve received medical treatment, and a diet including pheasants, rodents and venison. The Humane Society said in a news release that as they grow larger, so do their voracious appetites. Just feeding them costs $200 per week. You can find out more at the Humane Society's Facebook page or at giveshelter.org. 

Local-Regional News Feb 19

 

The Durand-Arkansaw School Board is meeting tonight. Items on the agenda include hearings and possible action on a petition filed by Margo and Bryce Purgett to detach a small parcel of land from the Durand-Arkansaw School District and attach it to the Eau Claire School District, and a petition from Jennifer and Travis Smith to detach a small parcel of land from the Eau Claire School District and attach it to the Durand-Arkansaw School District. There will also be reports from the District Administrator and Building Administrators. Tonights meeting begins at 6pm in the Board Room at Durand-Arkansaw High School.

There is no Pepin County Board meeting tonight. Due to the lack of agenda items, Board Chair Tom Milliren canceled this month's meeting. The next scheduled meeting of the County Board is set for March 19^th.

The Dunn County Board is meeting tonight. Items on the agenda include a report from Health and Human Services regarding refugee resettlement, budget adjustments for the Health Department and Administration and reports from committee chairs and department heads. Tonights meeting begins at 7pm in Room 54 of the Dunn County Government Center.

Four Students from the Durand-Arkansaw School District will join more than 330 other students from Western Wisconsin competing in the Skills USA Regional Competition on Feb 27^th and 28^th at UW Stout. The students will be competing in various categories including manufacturing, technical math, 3-D printing and design and more. Those who place in the regional competition will advance to participate in the 52nd annual SkillsUSA Wisconsin State Leadership and Skills Conference in Madison. Founded in 1973, SkillsUSA Wisconsin, with more than 2,500 members in over 150 chapters, is a partnership of students, teachers, and industry representatives working together to ensure America has the skilled workforce needed to stay competitive.

Universities of Wisconsin President Jay Rothman has announced the appointment of John Chenoweth as interim chancellor of UW-River Falls. Rothman said he anticipates that Chenoweth will serve as interim chancellor for an extended period. Interim appointments can be for up to three years. Chenoweth, currently the provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs of UW-Whitewater, replaces Michael V. Martin. The appointment is effective on March 1, 2025.

A Western Wisconsin home is total loss after a fire. The Township of Brunswick says crews responded to the scene and found a fire at a house on Norrish Road. After fighting the fire for hours, crews declared the home a total loss. The Eau Claire and Altoona Fire Departments were there to help, along with first responders from surrounding areas. No injuries are reported. The Township says a cause is still under investigation.

The Committee on Finance and Budget members are contemplating renovations at the Eau Claire County Government Center. This would make security on the second floor safer. Right now, if an inmate must go to court in branches four or five, which are on the other side of the facility, they would need to be walked down a public hallway. Officials say this can present a "danger to families and witnesses." If this can get approved, a design would take three to six months and construction would take six to nine months.

The three candidates vying to become the next administrator for Chippewa County, got to meet with members of the county board. Each candidate got to share why they thought the board should pick them. They offered their own ideas, and new plans for the role. The current administrator, Randy Scholz, will be retiring in March when the new administrator is approved by the board.

The Chippewa Falls City Council voted Tuesday night to sell a parcel of land to Aspirus Health to build a new hospital.  The land on the southeast side of Chippewa Falls is currently owned by the city. The hospital would be built along Chippewa Crossing Boulevard, west of Highway 178.  This was the last step before construction can begin. 

The election on April 1 for the State Superintendent of Public Instruction is now set. Voters in Wisconsin selected incumbent Dr. Jill Underly and education consultant Brittany Kinser in yesterday's primary, with Sauk Prairie School District superintendent Jeff Wright coming in third. Underly has been the State Superintendent since 2021. She is supported by the Democratic Party, Kinser has the support of the Republican Party in the non-partisan election.

Starting next week, in compliance with USDA, the state of Minnesota will begin to test raw cow milk for bird flu. Since milk gets pasteurized, there is no worry about milk being sold in stores. Since last year, a total of nine cases of bird flu have been found in cows around the state of Minnesota. Health officials would like to remind everyone to avoid drinking raw milk and consuming dairy products that are made from raw milk.

Minnesota Congresswoman Angie Craig is considering a run for U.S. Senate. The moderate Democrat released a statement yesterday saying that she's seriously looking at a possible run for the open Senate seat in Minnesota. Incumbent Tina Smith announced last week that she will not run for re-election in 2026 leaving a wide-open race. If Craig formally announces her bid for Senate, she would be up against Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan for the party nomination.

The NFL Draft in Green Bay is less than 70 days away and organizers encourage everyone who wants to take it in to prepare early. Packers Director or Public Affairs Aaron Popkey (POP-key) says you should download the NFL's One Pass app, which will be used to communicate event details. You can also reach out to local tourist groups around northern and eastern Wisconsin, many of whom will be offering shuttles to Green Bay. If you are driving to Green Bay parking will be much like a Packers game day. Popkey feels fans will be impressed with the setup, which will integrate Lambeau and the area around the stadium. The April 24-26 draft will be free to attend but you must register for a ticket in advance. Those who still need to reserve lodging will need to look at options in the Appleton, Wausau, and Stevens Point areas and be prepared to pay as much as 250 dollars per night.

The Sauk County Sheriff's Office is investigating a new potential suspect in a missing person's case that's been open since 1977. Eighteen-year-old Robert Christian left his home to go bow hunting with a friend almost 50 years ago, but never arrived. After an extensive search including National Guard helicopters, Christian's car was found with its wheels, battery, and license plate missing. Investigators tell WKOW TV they're considering the possibility a serial killer from the 70s had something to do with it. More information could be available later this week.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court dismisses a lawsuit regarding the city of Racine’s use of a mobile voting van. Racine County Republican Chair Kenneth Brown had sued the Wisconsin Elections Commission for failing to act after a van was used for in-person absentee voting prior to Wisconsin’s August 2022 primary election. Writing for the court’s 4 justice liberal majority, Justice Jill Karofsky said Brown lacked standing to demand a judicial review of the WEC decision, because he failed to show the commission’s dismissal of his complaint caused him injury. Conservative Justice Rebecca Bradley wrote that liberal justices misinterpreted state law on legal standing. A Racine County Judge ruled last year that use of the van was illegal, and the Supreme Court agreed to take up the case directly, bypassing a state appeals court.

Darrell Brooks is back to being his own legal representation. Brooks’ court-appointed attorney, Michael Covey, filed paperwork on Valentine’s Day stating that Brooks wants Covey to withdraw from his case, stating that wants to represent himself going forward. Brooks did just that when a jury convicted him of all 76 charges tied to the Waukesha Christmas Parade attack of 2021. An SUV Brooks drove into the parade killed six and injured several others. Brooks is serving a life sentence in an undisclosed, out-of-state prison due to what the Wisconsin Department of Corrections calls "safety concerns."

Minnesota's new cannabis agency is accepting applications starting today for marijuana business licenses. Qualified applicants will get their licenses in a lottery later this spring. The Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management posted application instructions and other resources on its website last week for prospective cannabis entrepreneurs. Applications for most license types will be accepted until March 14th.

A local non-profit needs help in making sure that everyone buried at Fort Snelling National Cemetery is remembered on Memorial Day. Every year, American flags are placed at the headstones in the cemetery. Fifty-thousand flags are needing to be replaced in time for this year's Memorial Day holiday. If you would like to help, "Flags for Fort Snelling" will take financial donations to replace the flags.