Local-Regional News July 22

 

One person was injured when two semi trucks collided on I-94 in Dunn County yesterday. According to the Wisconsin State Patrol, a semi traveling slowly on the shoulder of I-94 eastbound near mile marker 48 was struck from behind by another semi. One of the vehicles caught fire, and one person reported minor injuries. I-94 had to be closed in both directions while crews put out the fire and cleaned up debris from the accident.

The Mondovi City Council is meeting tonight. Items on the agenda include discussion on the fall goose hunt and goose management, appointment of the Ward 1 Councilperson, and reports from the Mayor and Department Heads. Tonight's meeting begins at 5:30 at the Marten Center in Mondovi.

A decades old warning system for the Prairie Island Nuclear Power plant is being retired. The Pierce County Emergency Management says the outdoor warning sirens within 10 miles of the plant will no longer be used for official warnings for the plant. The decision to not use the sires for official plant warnings is because of new technology the alerts will be delivered through the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System.

The Pierce County Sheriffs Department is announcing the release of a convicted sex offender back into the county. 34Yr old Roman Serbesku is being released today back into the county as homeless. Serbesku will be monitored with GPS and will have to comply with standard sex offender rules, have no unsupervised contact with the victim or any minors, and comply with all lifetime sex offender requirements.

The Durand Woman’s Club is holding their annual Fill a Book Bag program to help students in Pepin County whose families are in need of financial assistance. The program is now taking applications through August 8 for students in need of school supplies. The bags will be filled with the appropriate supplies for the child's grade level and will be distributed on August 21^st at Faith Lutheran Church. Applications are available on the Durand Improvement Group Facebook page or call Jan at 715-672-8448.

Mental health treatment is being ordered for a man charged in connection with an April incident at Putnam Heights Elementary School in Eau Claire. Reports say that 33-year-old Andrey Sichuga, frustrated at not having been hired for a job, showed up at the school armed with a gun. No one was hurt but Sichuga was charged with possession of a firearm on school grounds, resisting an officer, and disorderly conduct. A court on Monday determined that the defendant was not competent for trial. Hopes are that he will regain competency during treatment and proceedings will be able to resume.

A Jackson County Corrections Officer is in custody following reports of a domestic incident. Christopher Loecken was arrested Sunday morning after his fiance called 911 to report a domestic incident. Trempeleau County Sheriff's Office is recommending charges of domestic-related battery, strangulation and disorderly conduct. Loecken is being held at Trempeleau County Jail until his court date.

Authorities are reporting the passing of Jackson County Emergency Management Coordinator Jack Workman. The 36-year-old died while at work on Friday. Workman had been employed by the county for three years. His death is being investigated but is not believed to be suspicious.

A new law going into effect on September 1st aims to eliminate the sale of non-FDA approved vapes. The Wisconsin Department of Revenue is expected to post a list naming unauthorized products in August. If stores don't comply, they'll be faced with a thousand-dollar fine per unit. For some stores still carrying unauthorized product, that could mean over a million dollars worth of fines.

The total economic impact of the largest event in Green Bay's history shattered projected numbers. Discover Green Bay CEO Brad Toll says the NFL predicted a $20 million economic impact in Brown County, but that number was actually $72.9 million. The statewide economic impact was anticipated to be $94 million, but that actually came out to $104.7 million. Packers VP of Marketing Gabrielle Dow says says the 2025 draft was the second most watched draft on TV behind 2020's draft during covid. Around 600,000 people attended the three-day event back in April.

Be careful before you buy tickets to see your favorite artist this season. Wisconsin Better Business Bureau spokeswoman Lisa Schiller says scammers have been making up entirely fake events and selling cheap tickets for them. Schiller says it's always important to research an online purchase before making it. Check your artist's schedule and see if they really are playing at that event, and check reputable online sources to see if an event is actually taking place.

Wisconsin school systems are some of the best in the country. A report by WalletHub compares schools in all 50 states and Washington DC based on metrics like student performance, safety measures, and education funding. Wisconsin school systems rank sixth best, with Massachusetts and Connecticut at the top of the list. New Mexico and Oklahoma are at the bottom.

Minnesota State Senator Eric Platt will run for Congress. The Prior Lake Republican is vying for the 2nd Congressional District seat held by incumbent Angie Craig, who is running for U.S. Senate. Platt was first elected to the Minnesota Legislature in 2012. Other congressional candidates include Republican Tyler Kistner, former DFL State Senator Matt Little, and State Senator Matt Klein of Medota Heights.

Officials are investigating after a Delta flight avoided crashing into a B-52 bomber while landing at an airport in North Dakota. The incident happened on Friday after Delta Connection Flight 3788 left Minneapolis. Sky West Airline, which operated the plane, says the pilot performed a go-around when another aircraft became visible in their flight path. The pilot said the tower in Minot, North Dakota, does not have a radar, and controllers rely on visuals to direct aircraft.

It's not every day you hear about a park closure... due to wasps. Police in the Manitowoc County city of Kiel put out a warning Saturday afternoon that Lions Park was closed on account of a massive number of ground wasps that were spotted by residents. A pest expert from Public Works was sent out to do a check, and it turned out the swarm was harmless sand wasps. Police gave the all clear later in the day.

Local-Regional News July 21

 

A Durand man is dead after a single vehicle accident in Springbrook Township on Saturday. According to the Dunn County Sheriff’s Department, the 36yr old man was traveling southbound on 960^th Street and his vehicle had a mechanical failure, causing him to lose control, enter the ditch, roll and struck a tree. The vehicle started on fire but was put out by bystanders. The Dunn County Medical Examiner pronounced the man dead at the scene. His name has not been released.

One person is dead after a head on collision on Hwy 79 in the town of Sherman on Saturday. According to the Dunn County Sheriff’s Department, a pickup truck was traveling southbound on Hwy 79, when a southbound car crossed the center line and struck the truck head on. The driver of the car, a 36yr old female from Boyceville was found entrapped in the vehicle and deceased. The driver of the pickup truck was med-flighted to the hospital. That accident remains under investigation and no names have been released.

The body of a 56yr old man has been located after an incident on the Mississippi River just north of Lake City on Saturday. According to the Goodhue County Sheriffs Department, a 12yr old female was wading in the water alongside the male on a sandbar near Long Point. The girl fell into a deep spot, and was seen in distress by a passing boater and was safely pulled from the water. The man also went underwater and was not found and a search was initiated.

One person was injured in a motorcycle accident in the Town of Mondovi on Sunday. According to the Buffalo County Sheriff’s Department, 47yr old Chao Vang of Bloomington was traveling north on Hwy 88 when he failed to negotiate a curve, left the roadway, went into the ditch and hit a culvert. Vang was taken to the hospital with minor injuries.

One person is dead and several others injured after a head on accident on Hwy 12 just east of Fall Creek. According to the Eau Claire County Sheriff’s Department, when deputies arrived they found two vehicles blocking both lanes of traffic. Five people were taken to the hospital where one person died later in the day. The name of the victim has not been released pending notification of family.

The new state budget includes an increase in funding for special education. Durand-Arkansaw Superintendent Ryan Nelson says it was one part of the budget he was happy to see passed.  Nelson says that while the increase will help the district, it won’t make any significant changes for the school district’s budget.

La Crosse Police are searching for a young woman who was reported missing on Sunday. Twenty-two-year-old Eliotte Heinz was last seen walking along Front Street South just before 3:30 a.m. yesterday. She is described as a white female standing five-feet-four and weighing 120 pounds with blonde hair and blue eyes.

A farm whose journey began around the Lincoln presidency is celebrating 150 years of operation. The Wolfe Family Farm started when Peter Steward settled on the land in 1862. Since then, the farm earned its name and generations passed it down to the younger ones. Don and Bonnie Wolfe own the land today, but his daughter is planning to sell it once she assumes control of the land.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is looking for volunteers to teach hunter education. Outdoor Skills Trainer Kayla Sasse says instructors are needed for both basic and advanced education courses. Since the creation of the hunter ed program in 1967, more than 20,000 volunteers have educated hunters in the state, certifying more than 1 million hunters. More information on volunteering can be found on the DNR's website.

A fifth tornado is confirmed by the National Weather Service. The EF0 tornado traveled on I-90 south of Mauston for a minute with minimal damages reported. It happened during Wednesday's storm through Juneau County. The agency is also tracking a funnel cloud sighting yesterday near Manitowoc. Officials say reports of property and tree damages suggest the funnel may have touched ground -- making it a tornado. It happened at Stone Road, near HWY 10 and I-43.

Starting this week, Wisconsin people getting Social Security Disability Income will also be eligible for unemployment if they qualify. Previously a state law denied unemployment to someone receiving SSDI. A judge ruled against the ban and ordered the state to stop denying the unemployment claims, effective July 20th. The question of whether people can collect back unemployment pay is not decided yet.

The body of a woman found in a crashed vehicle in Nebraska has been identified as a missing Dodgeville woman. The Iowa County Sheriff's Office confirmed Thursday that 67-year-old Dorinda Segebrecht was found dead in the back seat of a car spotted in Lincoln, Nebraska on Wednesday. After Nebraska State Patrol trooper spotted a vehicle connected to Segebrecht that wasn’t being driven by her, a brief pursuit of the vehicle ended with the driver crashing into a creek. The driver, a 23-year-old Dodgeville man, was arrested and jailed. The man faces several charges in Iowa County, including first-degree intentional homicide, burglary while armed and hiding a corpse. Authorities believe the crimes were random.

The second of two girls who nearly killed a classmate to please a fictional character will be released. Waukesha County Judge Scott Wagner has approved a release plan for 22-year-old Morgan Geyser. Then 12-year-old Geyser, along with then 12-year-old Anissa Weier repeatedly stabbed a classmate in 20-14 to please the Slenderman, an internet urban legend. Both were found not competent and sentenced to mental health treatment. Weier previously was allowed release, but Geyser's original release plan was shelved because she would live too close to the victim. The exact details of the new plan have not been released.

Minnesota lawmaker Nicole Mitchell has been convicted of first-degree burglary. The Democratic State Senator was accused of breaking into her stepmother's Detroit Lakes home last year. Defense attorneys argued their client went to the residence only to check on her stepmother because of concerns about her Alzheimer's. Mitchell faces up to 20 years in prison. It's unclear if she will continue to serve in the state Senate, where her party holds a one seat majority.

The Minnesota State Fair is announcing 70 new drink options. Some of the new drink options coming include a pineapple upside-down cake slushy, a frozen espresso martini hard seltzer, a scooby slush, and a caramel corn cream ale brewed by Lift Bridge Brewing Company. The fair takes place August 21st to September 1st at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds in Falcon Heights. Admission is 20 dollars for adults, and 18 for seniors and kids five to 12.

Local-Regional News July 18

 

The Durand-Arkansaw School District has been awarded a $56,000 grant to help staff in instruction of students with disabilities. Durand-Arkansaw Superintendent Ryan Nelson says the grant will allow the district to provide specific training for staff.  The grant will be paid over the next three years.

Additional charges are being filed against a Menomonie teen already charged in connection with a deadly Dunn County hit and run. The body of 54-year-old Ann Seidl was found lying in a ditch along County Highway Y on March 29th of this year. Authorities say that 17-year-old Addison Bowell was the driver of the vehicle that hit Seidl and failed to stop. Bowell had already been charged with homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle and one count of hit and run resulting in death with new charges including homicide by vehicle use - control substance now added.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court have unanimously reinstated a Dunn County 2017 child sexual assault conviction. A Dunn County jury convicted Jobert Molde of two child sexual assault charges in 2017, but the charges were set aside by the 3^rd District Court of Appeals after Molde claimed his attorney was ineffective for not challenging expert testimony. The Wisconsin Supreme Court rejected that argument saying the testimony of the victim was “crucial evidence” in convicting Molde.

The Friends of the Durand Public Library are hosting a month-long creative contest and silent auction to raise funds for digitizing the library's newspapers. Friends of the Library member Rosie Reckin says the library has newspapers from as far back as 1865.  The creative contest and silent auction continue through July 31^st at the Durand Public Library.

The Eleva-Strum School District is celebrating its new solar panel array. There is a total of 184 panels that will generate 100 kilowatts of power. It will produce about one-fifth of the high school's power usage. This will save the saving the district about $20,000 per year. The idea to install solar panels at the high school started two years ago. It was funded through the district's capital improvement budget.

Eau Claire Police are advising folks of heavy traffic expected in the area near Clairemont Avenue and Highway T today and tomorrow. County Jam is continuing with headliners including Cole Swindell tonight and Sam Hunt tomorrow night. Countryjamwi-dot-com has more details.

A program aimed at eliminating homelessness in La Crosse is receiving a financial boost. The Wisconsin Department of Justice is approving a 350-thousand dollar grant for the Pathways Home initiative. The initiative's goal is to achieve Functional Zero homelessness in La Crosse by 2029. The grant funding would be used in part to cover the cost of additional staffing.

At least two tornados touched down during severe weather in Wisconsin on Wednesday. The National Weather Service in Sullivan confirmed tornados in Beaver Dam and Hustisford. The Hustisford tornado was an EF-0, as was the one in Beaver Dam. Both only did minor damage to fields and no structures were affected. Meteorologists are still investigating other reports from around the state.

Former VP candidate Tim Walz says he's not running for President in 2028. Speaking on a podcast, the Minnesota Governor said even though he's not running, he will do everything he can to help the Democratic party. Walz was the running mate of former Vice President Kamala Harris when they lost to President Trump this past November. The governor likely had an outside shot of gaining his party's nomination based on recent polls.

Wisconsinites will be paying more for title transfers and driver's license renewals in the fall. The state's biennial budget will add fifty dollars more to vehicle title fees, anytime a car is sold or transferred. License renewal fees will increase from 24 dollars to 32 dollars and fifty cents. The Department of Public Works says each ten dollar increase in registration fees can generate three-point-one-million dollars annually. Wisconsin law allows counties to collect registration fees for transportation-related purposes.

Fundraising numbers fuel speculation that Governor Tony Evers might not run for a third term next year. Recently released campaign finance records show Wisconsin’s Democrat governor raised just over $750,000 in the first half of this year. That’s compared to the $5 million Evers had in his campaign coffers a month after he announced his candidacy for a second term in 2021. Evers has repeatedly said he'd announce his plans on whether or not he’d run in 2026 after the latest state budget was in place. Two Republican candidates have already announced they’re running in next year’s gubernatorial contest.

David Brom, the man convicted of killing his parents and younger siblings in Rochester back in 1988, is set to be released from prison. Brom committed the crimes at the age of 16. receiving a sentence of life in prison. A state law put in place in 2024 removes life sentences for juvenile offenders, with Brom set for release from prison in Lino Lakes on July 29th.

Grant applications for projects that will improve resources for hunters are now open. The Department of Natural Resources says the Hunter Recruitment, Retention and Reactivation Grant Program will distribute 75-thousand-dollars to this round of applicants. Past grant recipients have used the money for archery range upgrades, 4-H sports programs, hunting expos, and hunting education programs. Applications will be open on the DNR website through September 15.

Former Minnesota State Senator Scott Jensen will be running for governor once again. The Chaska doctor announced today that he will join the race after losing to Tim Walz in 2022 by less than eight percentage points. Jensen told the Star Tribune that he wants to bring Minnesota back to the days when communities were safe and schools were strong. The Republican joins candidate Kendall Qualls, an Army veteran and former health care executive. Meanwhile, Walz has yet to announce whether he'll seek a third term.

A popular cheese brand is bringing its production to Little Chute. Bel Brands USA is announcing the arrival of the Laughing Cow Brand to its Little Chute factory. The move will create 50 more skilled-worker jobs to its operations. The facility will see three million more pounds of cheese product upon the brand's arrival. About 20 million pounds of product are already produced per year, coming from fellow cheese brands like Kaukauna and Merkt's.  

Local-Regional News July 17

 

The US Department of Education has frozen grants to school districts across the country and the Durand-Arkansaw School District is no exception. According to Superintendent Ryan Nelson, funding for Title 1 programs has not been affect, but other title programs have been affected. Nelson says the district could lose $100,000. Wisconsin has joined 20 other states in suing the federal government over the freezing of the grant funds.

Dunn County Emergency Management is asking residents to take a preparedness survey. The survey will help Emergency Management set priorities and goals for training, equipment, planning and emergency response. Survey results will also support updates to Dunn County’s Hazard Mitigation Plan. Dunn County Residents are encouraged to contact Emergency Management or visit the Dunn County Emergency Management Facebook Page to take the survey.

One person was injured in a single vehicle accident in the Town of Hale on Tuesday. According to the Trempealeau County Sheriff’s Department, 23yr od Raeane Hamilton was traveling south bound on Hwy 53 when she fell asleep, left the roadway and crashed into a tree. Hamilton was transported to the hospital with minor injuries.

State Senator Jeff Smith and Representative Jodi Emerson have introduced a bill that would restore the $1.9 million in funding for the Veterans Housing and Recovery Program that was removed from the recently passed state budget. The bill is in response to the announcement of the closing of the Homeless Veterans Facilities in Chippewa Falls and Green Bay on Tuesday. According to Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs Assistant Deputy Secretary Joey Hoey, even if the bill would pass now, the closing of both facilities is most likely a done deal and only Union Grove will remain open. Hoey said that a Legislative Fiscal Bureau note during the budget process showed that $3 million was actually needed to keep all three locations open for the next budget cycle.

A Wisconsin nurse has been convicted after pleading no contest to charges stemming from an incident involving a patient in Pierce County. Authorities began investigating after the 2022 death of a 62-year-old man. The Medical Examiner took note that one of the man's feet had been amputated, though records show permission for that procedure had never been given. Mary K. Brown of Durand was convicted on a charge of negligently abusing patients-no harm, and faces possible discipline from the Board of Nursing.

The Miracle League of the Chippewa Valley is reporting damage by unauthorized individuals on their ballfield. The Eau Claire organization provides children living with disabilities the opportunity to play baseball at Miracle League Field without facing physical or social barriers. The field is specially designed to allow for that, but has reportedly suffered substantial damage during use by folks who were unauthorized to be on the diamond. Miracle League says they have come close to having to cancel games due to those issues. Anyone who sees unauthorized individuals on the field when the gates are locked is encouraged to report the incident.

Eau Claire Transit will be launching the newest addition to its transportation services on July 22. The Northern Lite is described as an on-demand, curb-to-curb flexible transportation option. Its attached mobile app matches riders with the routes of other riders, allowing for an efficient shared trip for the same price as a bus ticket. The option begins operations at 6:45 a.m. until 6:45 p.m. from Monday to Friday.

Bond has been set at ten-thousand dollars for a defendant charged in a shooting incident at a La Crosse park. Police responded to Pettibone Park Tuesday morning with reports that someone was firing a gun. Forty-year-old Jared Duddles was taken into custody and charged with 2nd degree recklessly endangering safety.

The Lansing bridge will be closing down for demolishing soon. The Iowa and Wisconsin Departments of Transportation are moving forward with a revised plan to construct a new bridge replacing the current one. The Black Hawk Bridge will close and be demolished in the fall later this year. This will ensure that the new bridge is built and opened by 2027. The team behind the project is considering bringing back the water taxi service to serve commuters while the new bridge is built.

Wisconsin joins a $720 million settlement against opioid drug makers. Attorney General Josh Kaul and forty-five other attorneys general have reached an agreement requiring eight opioid manufacturers to make payments. Kaul says that would amount to about $12 million for Wisconsin to combat the opioid epidemic. The settlement hasn’t been finalized, and there will be a sign-on period for local governments. In March, Kaul announced an opioid settlement with Kroger, which he said would bring $21.8 million to the state.

Thursday marks the day LGBTQ+ Wisconsin youth lose access to specialized services on the Suicide and Crisis Prevention Hotline . According to a Trump administration directive, starting Thursday people contacting the 9-8-8 number will still have access to crisis services, but there won't be a "press three" option for the specialized line. Family Services, which administers the 9-8-8 hotline for Wisconsin, calls that deeply concerning, because LGBTQ+ individuals, especially youth, are among the most at risk for suicide. The sub-network was launched in 2022, and more than 14.5 million callers have used the line since then. U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin helped created the hotline and calls the Trump Administration’s actions dangerous for LGBTQ youth.

Changes to the state budget will delay the opening of a potential Dane County Buc-ee's. Planned funding for road expansion to accommodate the mega-sized convenience store and gas station was cut in the final version of the recently passed state budget. DeForest had been asking for six million dollars in D O T grants for the expansion, however only four million dollars was provided. The total cost of the project is estimated to be 16 million dollars. That means either the village or the company will have to pay more to complete the project.

You can become a community scientist by participating in Wisconsin's Game Bird Survey this summer. The surveys will measure the reproductive status of game birds and provide Department of Natural Resources scientists with data needed to make informed management decisions for the species. No registration is required to participate in the survey and observations can be recorded using a mobile device. Participants are asked to collect information on the types and numbers of game bird broods they observe during the summer months. More information is available on the DNR's website.

A historic Dairy Queen in Rochester is reopening this week. The fast food business opened for the first time in 1947 and was closed last spring, and then sold. The Dairy Queen will start selling cones only to help the staff ease into operations. It hopefully moved into selling its full menu by the end of the week.

Local-Regional News July 16

 

The partisan finger pointing continues between republicans and democrats in Madison over the closure of the homeless veterans facilities in Chippewa Falls and Green Bay. Governor Tony Evers blames Republicans for not including an additional $1.9 million in funding for the Wisconsin Division of Veterans Affairs to keep the three locations open. WI 31^st State Senator Jeff Smith blames republicans in the state senate for not approving an amendment to restore the funding. In a statement to WRDN Radio, 29^th Assemblyman Republican Trig Pronschinske says that funding for the Veterans and Housing Recover Programs was increased by nearly 15% in the budget and the extra $1.9 million proposed by Governor Evers was not approved because the program is operating below normal capacity and was expected to stay that way and called the Governor’s request a “wish list”. Pronschinske says he was disappointed the Governor chose to close the two facilities.

The Durand-Arkansaw School Board is meeting tonight. Items on the agenda include approval of the academic standards for math, science, reading, writing, geography, history and financial literacy for the upcoming year, approval of the student handbook and reports from the administration. Tonights meeting begins at 6pm in the board room at Durand-Arkansaw High School.

Due to the possibility of stormy weather, tonight's Music in the Park/Durand Business Expo has been postponed. The event will now take place on Thursday night at 6pm at Memorial Park. Cory Wise will perform, along with the Durand Business Expo and Touch a Truck event. There will also be food and refreshments available.

Recently, the city of Menomonie developed a committee to look at housing issues in that city. The City of Durand is also looking at housing and other economic issues. Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren says the city is developing a comprehensive plan to address housing and other issues.  If approved Milliren expected the plan to be developed in 2026.

Preliminary numbers show about one-hundred-thousand people attended this year's Northern Wisconsin State Fair. The 2025 installment of the five-day fair in Chippewa Falls concluded on Sunday. Fair officials say that more people attended the event this past Saturday than have attended the fair on any other single day in the last 17 years.

The Amtrak Borealis route has officially served 250-thousand riders. The route runs between Chicago and the Twin Cities with 11 stops in Wisconsin, including La Crosse. And in Winona and Red Wing in Minnesota. The 250-thousand rider milestone was reached over the Fourth of July weekend. The Borealis route started its daily service in May 2024.

Eau Claire-founded software company Jamf is announcing plans to cut an estimated six-point-four percent of its full-time workforce. The company, now headquartered in Minneapolis, says the staff reductions are being done in part to improve operational efficiency. The company plans to lay out more than eleven-million dollars to cover the costs of severance packages and benefits for departing workers.

A Rochester woman is accused of threatening to harm staff at a local Kwik Trip convenience store. Jaime Copeland has been charged with fifth-degree assault. Police say the incident happened on Saturday when the 41-year-old defendant threw some items, tried to steal merchandise, and threatened staff with a metal stick. Copeland was taken to a medical facility for evaluation and was later transported to the Olmsted County Adult Detention Center.

Wisconsin communities are getting more than 174-million-dollars for road improvements. The money comes from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation and is included in the 2025-2027 state budget. Most of the money will go to local governments, while four-million-dollars will go to highway improvements.

Wisconsin State Patrol troopers are doing ride alongs with semitruck drivers as part of a law enforcement campaign starting today. The Department of Transportation says the troopers will use the higher vantage point to spot dangerous driving behaviors more easily. Troopers will focus on different cities each day of the campaign starting with Hudson, near the Twin Cities, today. Law enforcement in Waukesha, Madison, Green Bay, and Wausau will also participate throughout the week.

Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul is suing the Trump Administration over frozen education grants. Kaul, along with over 20 other states, are challenging the White House for stopping the distribution of over 6 point 8 billion dollars in funds for schools just weeks before classes start. Wisconsin will be losing out on 72 million dollars in grants. The states say those grants were cancelled with little notice, violating federal law on the separation of powers. Kaul says schools have already finalized their budgets with those grants in mind, and there is no room for losses like this.

The FAA is investigating after a Sun Country Airlines flight was redirected due to flames coming from the plane's engine. According to the airline, flight 430 was flying from Los Angeles International Airport to Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport with 166 passengers onboard when it experienced "an issue" with one engine after takeoff. The pilots declared an emergency and returned to land safely at LAX where they were met by fire trucks before eventually taxing to the gate. Sun Country said in a statement, "our passengers and crew are our priority, and we appreciate the professionalism of our pilots and flight attendants to ensure the safety of our customers."

A new report from AirHelp has ranked the best and worst airports in the U.S, with a Minnesota one high on the list. AirHelp said its factors included on-time performance, travelers experience and, food and shopping accommodations. Minneapolis-Saint Paul International ranked third, behind Salt Lake City and LAX. Newark Liberty International, Fort Lauderdale Hollywood Airport and the Philadelphia Airport received the lowest rankings.

The Wisconsin State Fair is bringing back a classic staple to its festivities. Following months of renovation, the Dairy Building will revert to its old name of "The Original Cream Puff." Managers say the new bakery should increase the efficiency of cream puff-making. The fair opens at the end of the month, through August 10th.

Local-Regional News July 15

 

The Homeless Veterans Center at Kline Hall in Chippewa Falls and in Green Bay will be closing on September 30^th. The closing is a result of the State of Wisconsin not increasing the funding for the program by $1.9 million. State Senator Jeff Smith said it's not an oversight by lawmakers, as he had offered an amendment to keep the funding, but the amendment failed.  With the closure of Chippewa Falls and Green Bay, the only facility left for homeless veterans is in Union Grove.

Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren recognized the Durand-Arkansaw School District’s new early learning/child care center project during the last council meeting. Milliren says the new facility will improve the quality of life for area families and he said it will be positive economically for the community.  The district plans to have the new facility constructed and open by fall 2026.

The Tarrant Park Pool has new hours. Starting next Monday, adult lap swim will be Monday through Friday from 6-9am, Open Swim will be daily from 11am-5pm and from 6pm-9pm. Adult lap swim is limited to those 18 and older and the open swim is open to everyone. The city is also looking at extending the season for the pool. Depending on staffing levels the city will try to keep the pool open until Labor Day Weekend.

The Dunn County Health Department staff will be providing Lead Screening tests for children. This screening is a simple blood test to see if there is lead in your child’s blood due to an exposure of lead in their environment. KT Gallagher, the Health Director of the Dunn County Health Department, encourages parents to get their children tested because, “Almost half of houses in Dunn County were built before lead based paint was banned. There is no safe exposure to lead. A blood test is the only way to know if your child has been exposed.” If you have any questions, or to make an appointment, please call the Dunn County Health Department 

One person was injured in a single vehicle accident in Martell Township on Saturday. According to the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department, 53yr old Karl Schneider of Spring Valley was traveling northbound on Hwy J when he lost control and entered the ditch. Schneider was taken to Regions Hospital in St. Paul.

Authorities are sharing the name of a man who died after being recovered over the weekend from the Chippewa River. Crews on Sunday responded to reports that an unresponsive man had been found on the water near the Water Street bridge. The man, since identified as 45-year-old Douglas LaBarge of Eau Claire, was taken from the scene to a local hospital for care but later died.

A woman who was attacked by a black bear Saturday in Barron County remains hospitalized today. Sixty-nine-year-old Karen Frye was attacked by the animal in Comstock and then called 9-1-1 for help. Frye was last reported to be in stable condition. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources says they are working to locate the bear with plans to euthanize it after it is found.

Charges are being filed against two suspects following a high-speed chase in Jackson County. Deputies on Sunday attempted to pull over a vehicle and arrest 47-year-old Jeremy Guy who was wanted on a felony arrest warrant. Police say Guy eventually stopped the vehicle but then fled the scene on foot. He was arrested a short time later as was his passenger.

A coalition focused on protecting Wisconsin's lakes from wake-enhanced boating is ready for challenges. Fred Prehn is a former chair of the state Natural Resources Board and a board member of the Lakes At Stake coalition. He says their goal is simple -- sound regulation based on science to protect the glacial lakes of Wisconsin. Wake boats have ballast tanks which create wakes large enough to surf behind. Lakes advocates say the downforce created scours lake bottoms, to the detriment of fish habitat and water quality. More than 40 local ordinances prohibit or restrict their use in the state, which Prehn says is ground zero for the wake boat industry. Wake boat owners in Burnett County have filed suit against a local town board, claiming an ordinance prohibiting the boats on four shallow lakes is preventing them from using their properties. Prehn says the lakes coalition is ready to respond to such legal challenges and to defend local control of Wisconsin's lakes.

Last week’s decision by the UW System Board of regents to raise tuition was unanimous, but not one taken lightly. Regent Ashok Rai said there were several considerations, including the recently passed state budget, inflation, and the likely loss of federal funding that supports students on UW campuses. System President Jay Rothman noted tuition has become a larger piece of the budget as state funding has declined. Tuition will go up 5% system wide this fall, except at UW Green Bay which will not take an optional 1% on top of the 4% increase Rothman proposed.

The state of Wisconsin is awarding five-million-dollars to the Taliesin Preservation Incorporated. The organization supports the preservation and restoration of Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin estate. The funding will come out of the recently-approved state budget. Directors of the restoration organization say the award kickstarted plans to focus on which structures will be restored first, and how to open more of the estate to visitors.

An iconic Superior business is shutting down. Global agribusiness CHS has notified the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development of the permanent closure of its Superior Terminal facility, effective August 31. The closure will result in loss of employment for some 25 workers. A company statement said CHS is focused on driving growth and efficiency and is committed to farmers in northern Wisconsin and Minnesota, and to providing farmers in the region access to global markets. According to the Duluth Seaway Port Authority, the terminal’s grain capacity is around 18 million bushels. CHS exports grain from the facility to the UK, Mediterranean nations, Mexico and Venezuela, and handles year-round rail shipments in the U.S.

A state study shows that a Minnesota prison labor program allowed private companies to profit from low-cost prison labor. The Office of the Legislative Auditor reported last month that Minncor Industries did not account for all of its costs when adding up the rates it charged private firms. The cost would normally be covered through wage deductions from workers. But the study found that Minncor did not cover those deductions in its contracts with two private companies. They charged millions less than it should have. The gap led to an indirect taxpayer-funded subsidy.

Milwaukee will host U.S. Navy Week. This week's event gives people who live far from major naval bases the opportunity to view Navy equipment, meet Navy personnel and welcome Wisconsin-based sailors back home. The event will also commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. The U.S. Navy Band will perform around the Milwaukee area. The week will conclude with the participation of the Blue Angels Flight Squadron during the Milwaukee Air and Water Show this coming weekend. More information can be found at the “Navy Weeks” tab at “Outreach, dot Navy, dot M-I-L.”