Local-Regional News April 29

 

One person was injured in a motorcycle accident in Maiden Rock Township on Friday. According to the Pierce County Sheriffs Department, 28yr old Kolten Bongard of Pepin was traveling northbound on Hwy S when he lost control and entered the ditch. Bongard was not injured, but passenger 30yr old Tabitha Breland of Boyceville was taken to Mayo Hospital in Red Wing.

Two people were injured and one was arrested after a two vehicle accident in Arcadia on Saturday Afternoon. According to the Trempealeau County Sheriff’s Department, 34yr old Elmer Barreda of Arcadia was traveling westbound on Saddle Drive, crossed the center line and struck an eastbound Jeep head on. The occupants of the Jeep were taken to Tri-County Hospital, while Barreda was arrested for operating while intoxicated, first offense, causing injury.

Strong to severe storms moved through Western Wisconsin yesterday evening. The National Weather Service says a possible tornado moved through portions of Central Eau Claire County after developing just Northeast of Mondovi. Eau Claire County Emergency Management said crews responded to the damage last night and will coordinate with the National Weather Service on a damage assessment this week.

Fire crews responded to a fire that took place at an Eau Claire home that took the life of one person. Crews responded yesterday to 1707 8th Street. When fire authorities arrived, heavy smoke was coming out from all areas of the house. Firefighters were able to get one person out of the house safely; however another person was found dead inside. It took around an hour to get the fire out and the home is a total loss.

A Tomah man is in custody and facing attempted homicide charges. According to Tomah Police, officers responded to a disturbance in the 800 block of Dogwood Lane on Saturday night. Officers found one male with injuries to his face and a stab wound to his chest. The other male involved, 51yr old Edwin Ross fled the scene and was later arrested in Black River Falls. He has been charged with 1^st Degree attempted homicide, reckless injury, battery and disorderly conduct. The victim was treated at Tomah Memorial Hospital and released.

A food service contractor for Monroe County Jail is accused of delivering methamphetamine to an inmate. Authorities say Zechariah Borden [[ ZECK-uh-rye-uh BOR-den ]] was caught on a security camera handing a package to inmate Nicholas Hage [[ HAYG ]] during a food delivery. Corrections deputies intervened and recovered the package, which investigators say contained methamphetamine. Borden was booked into jail on suspicion of delivering contraband and drug charges. The incident remains under investigation by the Monroe County Sheriff's Office.

During a budget hearing on Monday in Hayward, superintendents of small northern Wisconsin school districts asked the Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee to fix the state funding formula. They also asked to be reimbursed for 60 percent of the costs of teaching special education students. The finance committee moves on to Wausau for a budget hearing today/Tuesday.

The Family Resource Center held a ribbon cutting ceremony at its new location in Durand yesterday. Becca Elhbert, Executive Director of the Family Resource Center says it was important for the center to have a consistent location for parents. Because of yesterday severe weather threat, an open house for families was postponed until May 19^th from 4-6pm.

Wisconsin has joined another lawsuit against the Trump administration. Governor Tony Evers says the lawsuit is aimed at preventing Trump from cutting federal funding for Wisconsin's public schools. It looks to protect more than half a billion dollars the state receives each year from the U.S. Department of Education. Evers says the funding cuts would make it harder to keep class sizes small, recruit and retain teachers, and ensure schools stay open. The Trump administration has threatened to cut funding over diversity, equity, and inclusion and transgender athlete policies. The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction has launched a website tracking the impacts of federal cuts.

Twenty-seven Wisconsin student visas that were terminated are now active again. The University of Wisconsin says the students and recent alumni have all been notified of the change. Thousands of visas have been terminated in the past couple of weeks nationwide, and some students have obtained restraining orders against the Department of Homeland Security in response. Several of those students attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

An undercover human trafficking investigation leads to arrests by Oshkosh police. Eight men from around northeast Wisconsin and Florida were arrested last Thursday for pandering. Their ages range from 20 to 48. Police said one of the men had a loaded handgun concealed in his waistband, while another faces a felony bail jumping charge. The arrests were a part of a collaboration between law enforcement and community advocacy groups to raise awareness about human trafficking ahead of last week’s 2025 NFL Draft in Green Bay.

Attendance at the NFL Draft in Green Bay beats expectations. ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that the final attendance for all three days of the draft in Titletown was 600,000 people. Packers CEO and President Mark Murphy last week said the forecast called for a total attendance of 250,000 people. Green Bay couldn't quite match the record attendance of 775,000 people at last year's draft in Detroit, but it's the second highest total ever since the draft left New York in 2015, matching Nashville in 2019.

Wisconsin is one of the best states for working mothers. A new report from WalletHub compares all 50 states and Washington DC based on metrics like parental leave policies, the average cost of child care, and gender pay gaps. Wisconsin ranks eighth best for working mothers. Massachusetts and Connecticut rank first and second.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is unveiling its new Fishing Finder tool. Fisheries System Biologist Alex Latzka says it'll help new anglers looking for the right place to fish, as well as experienced anglers who might want to explore somewhere new. The tool includes information like fishing regulations, boat launch locations, and lake habitat and fish stocking. The information on the DNR's TROUT tool, including trout streams, regulations and easements, is also available on the new Fishing Finder tool. More info is available on the DNR's website.