Local-Regional News Aug 12

 

Officers with the Buffalo County Sheriff's Office were called into action Sunday morning on the Mississippi River. A call came in just before 9 a.m. regarding a 75-year-old man experiencing cardiac arrest on an island. First responders reached the island by boat and took the man to a hospital for care. There has been no update on his status.

The Mondovi City Counil is meeting tonight. Items on the agena incclude authorization to apply for a DNR Urban Forestry Grant, along with reports from the mayor and department heads. Tonights meeting begins at 5:30 at the Marten Center in Mondovi.

A Chippewa Falls man is being indicted on federal weapons charges. Forty-two-year-old Michael Raskie Jr is accused of prohibited possession of a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon and possessing silencers that were not registered to him. The Chippewa County Sheriff's Office participated in the investigation that led to the charges.

Potential business owners can apply for Olmsted County's cannabis retail business registration lottery today. The upcoming lottery will focus only on retail business registrations. Applicants must submit their applications and pay the 100 dollar lottery fee by August 22nd. Other requirements include completing a background check through the Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management and providing proof of a pending state-level retail business application.

Weekend flash flooding in the Milwaukee area canceled Sunday’s final day of the Wisconsin State Fair. Debris and mulch were found scattered across the fairgrounds in West Allis after flood waters receded. People who held tickets for Sunday can exchange them for vouchers for the 2026 fair. That includes admission tickets and cream puff and bargain book vouchers, as well as ticket packs and wristband vouchers for the midway. Full exchange details will be announced next month. Those who purchased parking passes or concert tickets through Etix will have their purchases automatically refunded over the coming days.

A new challenger is entering the race for the seat of outgoing U.S. Minnesota Senator Tina Smith. Navy vet Tom Weiler announced his candidacy over the weekend. The Republican posted on social media that he's ready to lead with integrity, dedication, and commitment to the people of Minnesota. Weiler ran as a Republican against Democratic Congressman Dean Phillips in 2022 and lost by a 19-point margin. Democrats seeking the Senate seat are Minnesota Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan and Congresswoman Angie Craig. On the Republican side are Royce White, Adam Schwarze, Alycia Gruenhagen, Raymond Peterson, and Mike Ruoho.

Wisconsin is one of the best states to live in. A new report by WalletHub ranks all 50 states based on metrics like housing costs, education rates, and quality of hospitals. Wisconsin ranks fourth best, with the study citing better quality of life and health and education scores than most other states. Massachusetts, Idaho, and New Jersey are in the top three, with New Mexico and Louisiana at the bottom.

A Wisconsin man was found not guilty of killing two people more than 30 years ago. A jury acquitted Tony Haase  this morning after deliberating for four days. Prosecutors accused him of murdering Tanna Togstad and Tim Mumbrue in their Royalton home in 1992. The defense says a recorded confession during an interrogation before Haase's arrest was coerced, and that the decades-old DNA evidence was not reliable. He is acquitted of two first-degree intentional homicide charges.

Authorities are investigating a Saturday afternoon accident in Clark County that left one person dead. A horse-drawn buggy was struck by a van from behind just before 3 p.m. on County Trunk Highway K near Loyal. An adult passenger from the buggy died at the scene while a 12-year-old child survived with serious injuries. The van's driver was not hurt.

Governor Tony Evers signs bills into law, vetoes others. 17 bills were signed into law Friday by the Democratic governor, including one that would allow specially qualified nurses to establish private practices. Advocates say that will improve healthcare access in rural Wisconsin. Other bills signed into law include expansion of eligibility for caregivers supporting family members with Alzheimer’s disease and harsher penalties for harming police dogs. Evers vetoed five bills, including one that would have created a portable benefits program for many gig workers and another that could have sent thousands of formerly incarcerated people back to prison for violating release conditions.

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers is approving National Guard assistance for Milwaukee County following historic flooding in the region. Milwaukee saw 14 inches of rain at Timmerman Airport over the weekend. Evers says his office is monitoring flooding and keeping up with local officials to offer state assistance. Reports have come in of extensive damage to homes and cars submerged in floodwater.

Two hikers at Kettle Moraine State Forest lost consciousness after a lightning strike Saturday. Palmyra Fire rescue received reports of a man not breathing around 4:14 p.m. Crews were able to find the man and another woman who was also affected by a lightning strike. Both hikers were safely taken from the scene. Officials determined the couple was standing by a tree struck by lightning, and felt the effects through a ground current.

A 4-year-old in south central Wisconsin died in an accident involving farm equipment. According to the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, the child fell from a piece of equipment Wednesday evening at a farm in the Town of Marcellon. The child was already dead from severe injuries by the time first responders arrived. A statement from the sheriff’s office called the accident “…a tragic incident for all involved.”

Back to school shopping can be daunting task for parents and students alike. Marquette University marketing professor Alex Milovic says it’s important for families to keep cost in mind and spread out your shopping instead of doing it all at once. Milovic says don't be afraid to check and see if there are any leftover school supplies from last year you can re-use. The National Retail Federation estimates families will spend an average of $858 for the upcoming school supplies year.