The Durand City Council is meeting tonight. Items on the agenda include an update on the 2025 swimming pool season, an update on the 2026 budget process, and reports from the mayor and city department heads. The Council will also go into closed session to discuss the creation of the Durand Fire District. Tonight's meeting begins at 6pm at Durand City Hall and will be video-streamed on our website.
Enrollment at UW-Stout is on the rise. Enrollment for the fall semester, which began Sept. 3, is estimated at 7,047 students, a 2% increase over fall 2024. The figure put UW-Stout in the top five for overall growth among its 12 peers in the Universities of Wisconsin, according to preliminary numbers based on Day One enrollment. UW-Stout’s enrollment growth for the 2025-26 academic year is among the strongest of the state’s 13 public universities, with overall enrollment rising and the freshmen headcount growing by more than 6% .
After a week-long delay, Wabasha-Kellogg Public Schools began its 2025-2026 school year Tuesday morning. The school system was supposed to open its doors last Tuesday, September 2. However, on Aug. 27, a letter was sent out to parents stating that mold had been found in some of the elementary classrooms. The building was cleaned and the mold removed which caused the delay in the start of the school year.
The Eau Claire Fire Department reports they had a busy night Monday night -- responding to a pair of fires. The first happened at a detached garage on the city's north side. That fire was able to be contained and no injuries were reported. The second fire happened at a home on the city's west side and required one person to be treated for smoke inhalation. There has been no word on the cause of either fire.
Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers was in the western portion of the Badger State on Tuesday. Governor Evers is visiting schools around the state as kids head back to classes and that tour included a stop yesterday at Chippewa Falls Middle School. During the stop, Evers addressed the growing talk of vaccine mandates for students who attend public schools. Evers says that there are no changes coming to mandates for Wisconsin families.
Xcel Energy is launching a new initiative aimed at helping income-qualified customers improve their home energy efficiency and reduce their energy bills. Beginning this month, Xcel Energy is offering free home energy assessments to qualified customers. The assessments are conducted by trained contractors using specialized equipment such as blower doors and infrared cameras, which are designed to uncover air leaks, insulation gaps and assess combustion safety. A home energy assessment can be a crucial step in identifying the sources of uncomfortable drafts, high energy bills and potential health or safety concerns. Visit the Xcel Energy Home Assessment website to schedule an assessment.
In La Crosse County, a measure is moving forward that would reduce the financial penalties for those found to be in possession of marijuana. Under the proposal, fines that now potentially cost folks hundreds of dollars would instead cost them just one dollar. The proposal passes the county's Judiciary and Law Committee Tuesday by a vote of four to one, and will be considered next week by the full county board.
In La Crosse, fencing has now been installed to keep people out of Burns and Cameron Parks. The city closed the parks last week due to what Mayor Shaundel Washington-Spivey says is the behavior of sheltered and unsheltered individuals. Fencing went up yesterday. The mayor says there are concerns about the safety and integrity of those public spaces that include the selling of drugs, drug use, violence and other inappropriate conduct. Plans are being made to address those issues.
The Wisconsin D M V warns potential used car buyers about flood damaged vehicles. That comes as people in southeast Wisconsin look to get rid of cars that were caught in record flooding this summer. Buyers should be watching out for tell tale signs of water damage: musty smells, water stains, mud in places it shouldn't be, and corrosion of electrical components. As always, be sure to not only inspect a vehicle yourself before buying it, but have a mechanic do an inspection as well. Any flooded vehicle must be disclosed before purchase, and may already have a salvage title attached to it. If in doubt, use a service like Carfax or Autocheck to research the vehicle's history.
A state brewing company is dealing with allegations of providing unsafe workspaces. The Wisconsin Supreme Court heard arguments from the attorneys of a man who died from mesothelioma. Gerald Lorbiecki was exposed to asbestos while working as an independent contractor at Pabst's bottling facility in the 1970s. His family carried on his case against the company after he died, and is now asking judges to decide whether or not Pabst can be held liable for his death.
A poll shows medical debt collection lawsuits against Minnesota patients are at a five-year high. The Pew Research Center said lawsuits for overall consumer debt is rising. Other debt lawsuits such as auto loans and credit cards are also increasing across the country. However, the state has some protections in place. The Minnesota Debt Fairness Act doesn't allow medical debts to be reported to credit bureaus and limits wage-garnishing. Those facing lawsuits could potentially negotiate the debt to a lower price.
Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley enters the 2026 race for Wisconsin governor. Crowley announced his candidacy through a YouTube video Tuesday morning. The 39-year-old says his background and experience make him uniquely prepared to succeed Democratic Governor Tony Evers. Crowley’s prime opponent on the Democrat side is Lieutenant Governor Sara Rodriguez. Crowley would be the state's first Black governor if elected, while Rodriguez would be the first woman governor. Two Republicans have already declared their candidacy, and several others from both parties may enter the race before next August’s primaries.
The federal trial in Arkansas for a man accused of kidnapping a pregnant Wisconsin teenager has been delayed until January. WBAY reports that online court records show a jury trial for 40-year-old Gary Day has been rescheduled for January 20 in Little Rock. Day pleaded not guilty to multiple federal felony charges there after he and the now 17-year-old girl from Beaver Dam were found at a truck stop in Nebraska earlier this year. Day has a criminal record in Arkansas, and he cut off a GPS monitor before traveling to Wisconsin in February. He faces four felony counts of child enticement and abduction in Dodge County Court.
A woman who crashed into a Rochester city building is found competent to stand trial. Megan Swanston has been charged with first-degree assault, second-degree assault, felony fleeing, and DWI. Police say in April, the defendant had a confrontation with a man she was living with. Swanston reportedly held two knives to the man's neck before she rammed a vehicle into the building. She is reportedly due back in court on October 28th.
A new map features a statewide route connecting restaurants and supper clubs serving Wisconsin's best prime rib. The Wisconsin Beef Council is calling the route the 2025 Prime Rib Trail. The guide includes hidden gems in small towns and popular joints for both residents and travelers. The current map is available on BeefTips-dot-com, and submissions are being accepted for the 2026 Prime Rib Trail.
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