Local-Regional News Sept 3

 

City of Durand Crews and Global Pools are winterizing the new Tarrant Park Pool. Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren says Global will also help with the restart of the pool next summer.  Final attendance numbers should be available at the next city council meeting.

Property values in the Durand-Arkansaw School District have reached an all-time high. Durand-Arkansaw School Superintendent Ryan Nelson says values have reached the $1 billion mark. Those values may increase even more after the city of Durand’s city-wide reassessment is completed next year.

Wabasha County authorities are investigating a suspicious death on Saturday. According to the Wabasha County Sheriff’s Department, deputies were called to Mac’s Park Place Campground in Mazeppa on Saturday evening. Upon arrival, deputies found 63yr old Barbara McBride-Law of Lakeville, MN, deceased in a camper without obvious injury or trauma. Authorities are awaiting autopsy results for a final determination of death.

Authorities are sharing the names of the victim and suspect in a deadly weekend shooting in Eau Claire. The incident happened Saturday afternoon at a home on Sunset Drive. Police say 37-year-old Michael Lee was found dead at the scene, and that 29-year-old Dakota Bilderback has been arrested and charged on suspicion of second-degree intentional homicide.

A Western Wisconsin man charged in an officer-involved shooting in Eau Claire is accepting a plea deal. Thomas Burback had previously pled not guilty to four charges -- including intentionally pointing a gun at law enforcement. Burback was shot on May 25th of 2024 when an officer responding to a disturbance call says the defendant pointed a handgun at them. Burback has now pleaded no contest to charges including failure to comply with an officer's attempt to take a person into custody. He will be sentenced at a later date.

State Senator Jeff Smith sent a letter Senator Chris Kapenga yesterday urging him to hold a hearing in the Senate Committee on Licensing, Regulatory Reform, State and Federal Affairs on Senate Bill 385 that would restore funding to the Veterans Housing and Recovery Program, which would allow the facilities at Klein Hall in Chippewa Falls and another in Green Bay to remain open. Both facilities are set to close at the end of September after the Joint Finance Committee did not include the funding in the new budget. The bill has 40 co-authors in the Senate and Assembly.

A duplex was severely damaged in a fire Tuesday night in Eau Claire. According to the Eau Claire Fire Department, firefighters were called to the duplex at 4154 Mary Place on Tuesday night and found flames coming from the back of the residence. Firefighters contained the fire to the one unit, but the duplex sustained nearly $550,000 in damage. The cause of that fire is under investigation.

The Jackson County Sheriff's Office reports they pulled an intoxicated driver over Sunday evening who had children in the vehicle. Officers responded to a location in Merrillan where a witness said that kids were inside a parked vehicle screaming while their parent was in a nearby bar. By the time officers arrived on scene, the vehicle was gone, though it was later pulled over on Highway 12 with reports noting it was being driven in an erratic manner. The driver -- who had two children in the backseat -- reportedly admitted to having been drinking. They were arrested on an OWI charge.

A newly released study finds flooding like that in southeast Wisconsin last month has been rising steadily in the state. The Wisconsin Policy Forum found Wisconsin has seen a dramatic increase in damage caused by flooding following heavy rains over the past 45 years. Researcher Tyler Byrnes says the state can expect to see floods to continue happening with at least the same frequency, if not more frequency as the climate continues to warm and as we continue to urbanize. The study concludes that while local governments can expand infrastructure to handle increasing rainfall, fees that fund that construction would have to rise to cover the growing costs.

Those flying commercially will notice new changes to TSA security like being allowed to keep your shoes on. University of Illinois Computer Science Professor Sheldon Jacobson says changes are made by assessing every layer of an airport security system. Jacobson says changes TSA has made to security, like letting people keep their shoes on, have helped people move through airports faster without compromising safety. Facial recognition could also be a game changer when it comes to improving airport security efficiency.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is planning to call a special legislative session to address gun laws. He's making the move after the recent deadly shooting last week at Annunciation Church in Minneapolis. Two children were killed, and dozens were wounded on Wednesday. Governor Walz didn't get into specifics, but he plans to release a proposal for legislators to consider in the coming days. It's likely to focus on types of weapons, red-flag reporters, mental health, and safe storage.

Wisconsin Congressman Scott Fitzgerald says he approves sending federal agents to Chicago to curb crime, but not Milwaukee. Speaking on WISN's UPFRONT, the Oconomowoc Republican says Milwaukee has a better track record on violent crime than Chicago. Fitzgerald says there could be 10th Amendment issues with a military deployment to Milwaukee, and that Congress would have to engage in oversight if that happens. Vice President J D Vance floated sending federal agents and troops to cities including Milwaukee during a stop in La Crosse last week.

The Diocese of Winona-Rochester continues to mourn the death of one of its spiritual leaders. Bishop Bernard Harrington passed away on Saturday. The 82-year-old was ordained in 1959 and served in several capacities, including pastor, superintendent of Catholic Schools, and Rector of Sacred Heart Major Seminary. Funeral arrangements are pending

The Eau Claire City Attorney's Office is seeking applicants for a paid internship position. The city says the post would be right for someone interested in municipal law who has a desire to serve the public interest. A full job description and application information can be found at eauclairewi-dot-gov/jobs.