Local-Regional News Oct 2

 

One person is dead after a logging accident in the Town of Canton yesterday. According to the Buffalo County Sheriffs Department, the tragedy happened near County Road VV in the Town of Canton. Authorities say a 71-year-old logger was hit by a tree and died at the scene. The accident is being investigated.

One person is dead after an early-morning vehicle collision Wednesday in Eau Claire. Police began a pursuit of a speeding vehicle just after 2:30 a.m. that ended near West Clairemont Avenue and Craig Road. Reports say the suspect -- who had turned off their headlights to try and evade police -- crashed into another vehicle whose driver then died at the scene. The suspect is in custody and facing charges.

One person was injured and another arrested after a two vehicle accident in the City of
Fountain City on Tuesday. According to the Buffalo County Sheriff’s Department, 26yr old Madison Tennant of Buffalo City was traveling on Hwy 35, when she collided with a vehicle that was stopped for a school bus. The driver of the second vehicle was taken to Winona Hospital, while Tennant was arrested after suspected methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, and a marijuana vape were found in her vehicle.

Health officials are confirming the first case of human West Nile Virus in Eau Claire County this year. West Nile virus is spread to people through the bites of infected mosquitoes. The CDC advises folks to take steps to protect themselves from being bitten. This includes the use of insect repellents, the wearing of long, loose-fitting shirts and pants so it is harder for mosquitoes to bite your skin and the use of screens on windows to keep mosquitoes outside.

Five people accused of swindling an elderly La Crosse County couple out of over 450-thousand dollars are facing charges. Authorities say the group carried out an elaborate Publisher's Clearing House and Mega Millions sweepstakes scam that saw the victims sending cash, gift cards and personal data to them over the course of an eight-month long period. Each member of the suspect group is charged with theft by false representation.

Authorities are investigating a deadly shooting that occurred Wednesday in Barron County. Officers responding to a local residence report finding a dead male victim, a wounded woman and the suspect who appeared to be suffering from a self-inflicted gunshot. A video of the shooting was reportedly shared on Snapchat and law enforcement has been working with the social media company to remove the clip.

Chippewa County deputies are warning residents about a growing bail scam. Authorities say fraudsters pose as law enforcement and demand money to release jailed loved ones. The scammers tell victims a relative is being held and must pay bail immediately to secure their freedom. Authorities urge anyone asked for payment by supposed law enforcement to hang up and verify with the agency. Residents can verify any claims by calling the Chippewa County non-emergency line.

Minnesota is reporting 13 more cases of measles. A cluster of ten cases has been found in Dakota County alone. These new cases raise the state's total to 18 for the year. The Minnesota Department of Health said measles is one of the most infectious diseases on the planet because it spreads easily, and can find those who are not vaccinated. A two-dose vaccine is 97 percent effective at preventing measles, but the infectious disease is making a comeback in the United States as more parents are declining the shots for their children.

A Burnsville DFL legislator is entering a congressional race. Democratic State Representative Kaela Berg is running for the second congressional district election. Berg is a third-term representative, a union leader of a working class background. She has had to work multiple jobs in the past to get by and went without health insurance during the pandemic. She enters the race with the endorsement of EMILYs List, several unions and more than a dozen fellow Minnesota state representatives.

A Beaver Dam man is accused of sex crimes in three counties. Tomah police began investigating the sexual assault of a girl there back in May and discovered that the suspect, 24-year-old Owen Sindelar, traveled around Wisconsin throughout the summer, allegedly committing multiple sexual assaults involving both children and adults. Sindelar has been charged in Monroe, Dodge and Dane counties on multiple counts. He’s being held in the Monroe County Jail on a $250,000 cash bond.

A partial government shutdown means uncertainty for federal employees in Wisconsin. There are some 18,000 civilian federal workers in the state. The partial shutdown went into effect just after midnight, the first since 2018, meaning hundreds of thousands of what are deemed nonessential federal workers across the nation will be without pay, possibly for weeks. In addition, President Donald Trump has suggested using the shutdown to facilitate permanent firings. Essential services including Social Security and the US Postal Service won’t be impacted, but federal grant funding to various state agencies could be.

Wisconsin Court of Appeals Judge Maria Lazar is entering the race for the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Lazar said in her announcement that she pledges to restore integrity to the court and fight against heavy partisan spending in judicial elections. She has served on the Court of Appeals since 2022 and was previously a Waukesha County Circuit Court judge for seven years. Lazar is the second candidate to run for the seat being vacated by Justice Rebecca Bradley.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and several DFL legislators are unveiling a new proposal for a special session to address gun violence. The ten-point plan includes bans on assault weapons, high-capacity magazines, and triggers for rapid-fire weapons. The proposal also expands funding for mental health, school safety, and introduces harsher penalties for violent gun crimes. Walz has yet to call a special session, but according to a draft agreement released yesterday, lawmakers could be called to return to the Capitol from October 6th to the 12th. Meanwhile, Republican leadership says no deal has been reached between the two parties and accused Democrats of avoiding the committee process. Some bipartisanship is needed to pass legislation with the House of Representatives deadlocked with 67 Democrats and 67 Republicans.

Minnesota schools' science test scores are on the decline. The state Department of Education released figures that showed that 26 percent of students met or exceeded the new standards. In 2024, nearly 40 percent of students were proficient in science. This year's breakdown indicated that among fifth-graders, twenty-six-point-one percent were proficient, compared to 16 percent in eighth grade and thirty-six-point-one percent in high school. The new state standards, which shifted the focus to the application of scientific methods instead of memorization, were implemented this year.