Local-Regional News Nov 25

 

The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction has released its 2024-25 School and District Report Cards, and the Durand-Arkansaw School District is proud to announce significant performance gains across all major indicators. Both schools in the district—Caddie Woodlawn Elementary and Durand Middle/High School—earned ratings of Exceeds Expectations, contributing to an overall district score of 74.8, also within the Exceeds Expectations category. This represents a substantial increase from last year’s score of 65.5. Superintendent Ryan Nelson stated, “The gains we are seeing across every major indicator—achievement, growth, target#group outcomes, and graduation—underscore the strength of our instructional practices and the hard work of our staff. “

Some staff and pay changes in Dunn County. As part of the recently approved budget, the position of chief information officer was eliminated, and the parks and facilities director position was merged with the transit director position, saving a total of $135,000 a year.  The policy for allocating salary increases was altered to give officials more options to reward high-performing employees.  Instead of using the traditional step increases, raises will be tied more directly to performance evaluations. “This is a more sustainable approach to wage increases,” said Jenalee Nutter, Assistant County Manager and Human Resources Director. 

In the days leading up to Thanksgiving, the Eau Claire Police Department is advising residents not to challenge wild turkeys. The department shared a post on social media Monday advising that they are monitoring flock activity near the High Bridge. The department is strongly suggesting that folks avoid confronting the bird.

The Chippewa County Sheriff's Office is welcoming a new officer. K9 Vader began patrols on Monday. Vader joins the department -- replacing the recently retired K9 Max. Chippewa County Sheriff Travis Hakes is thanking the community whose donations have made their K9 program a reality.

La Crosse Police are investigating a Sunday night incident in which a person was thrown from the hood of a moving vehicle. Police say the driver was intoxicated and hit the brakes -- ejecting the other individual from the front of the car and leaving them with life-threatening injuries. Twenty-one-year-old Hayden Holinbeck faces possible charges of causing injury while operating under the influence and injury by intoxicated use of a motor vehicle.

Amy Klobuchar, Tina Smith and Ilhan Omar are fighting the federal hemp ban. Minnesota's Democrats are making the push to revoke the ban that will began in a year. The bill to end the government shutdown featured a ban on a legal loophole about the amounts of THC from hemp. Breweries and small businesses in Minnesota said the prohibition will effectively kill the industry if federal lawmakers don't act. Hemp-derived THC products are a big business in Minnesota and have helped keep many breweries stay afloat during a decline in beer sales.

Lawmakers are reintroducing a bill to allow Sandhill crane hunting in Wisconsin. It's the third time in twelve years that lawmakers are trying to advance a proposal that would establish a hunting season for the bird in the state. The bill would also include provisions that would reimburse corn growers up to 50% of the cost of treatment to keep birds away from corn fields. Those in favor of the legislation says it would help farmers who have crops, mostly corn, that have crops damaged by the bird. Those opposed say it wouldn't help farmers that much and could have damaging effects on the sandhill crane population in Wisconsin. Previous versions of the bill have not reached the governor’s desk.

A Republican Senator is pushing back on President Trump's proposed tariff dividend checks. Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson says the country "can't afford" the president's proposal to issue two-thousand-dollar tariff dividend checks for working-class Americans to help them afford higher living expenses. Johnson, who is a leading fiscal hawk in the Senate, made the claim during a recent interview with Fox Business and warned that the nation could face a two-trillion-dollar deficit this year. He also said the debt total was "completely unacceptable" while explaining that officials must "start focusing on that and doing something about it."

A former EMS Chief for the Wausau Fire Department is pleading not guilty to theft and misconduct charges. Officials say Jared Thompson allegedly stole hundreds of vials of fentanyl and hydromorphone between January and June 2025. Staff reported unusual orders, missing medication, and signs of use in the fire station. Thompson was arrested in August and is no longer employed by the department. His next court hearing is scheduled for mid-December.

Allowing the processing of absentee ballots a day before an election in Wisconsin has bipartisan support in the Legislature but wasn’t part of any elections bills passed in the Assembly last week. Republican Representative Scott Krug thinks lawmakers will get there eventually. Krug noted last week that 43 other states have an early processing system of some kind, and that the Monday processing lawmakers have been discussing would be the strictest of all of those processes. Krug is hopeful that an informational hearing would allow his colleagues to learn how that would work and how would make a difference. The Assembly passed a bill that includes provisions changing how absentee ballots are processed, eliminates use of central count locations and prohibits “pop-up” absentee ballot collection sites. Krug says another which sets hours for voting by absentee ballot stands a good chance being signed into law.

The Fond du Lac County Sheriff's Office said a man was found dead after an apparent hunting accident. Authorities said they found the man dead near a tree stand "from an apparent gunshot wound" after receiving a call Saturday night. The caller said the man had been hunting near Stumpf Road and Wild Goose Road in the Town of Oakfield earlier in the day. Authorities with the Fond du Lac County Sheriff's Office, Lifestar Ambulance and Oakfield Department responded to the call, finding the man died from what they believe was an "unintended discharge." Police said the incident was isolated, but the case is still under investigation by the sheriff's office and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

A snowstorm is expected to arrive in Minnesota just in time for Thanksgiving. A watch that was issued yesterday for the northern half of the state has been expanded to the south. It now includes Stearns, Stevens, Grant, Pope, Douglas, Todd, Benton, Kanabec, and Mille Lacs counties. The snow is expected to fall Tuesday into Wednesday. The hardest-hit parts of the state, like the northeastern counties of St. Louis, Cook, and Lake, could see up to ten-inches of the white stuff.

Consider helping a local humane society this holiday season if you're looking for a way to give back. Marathon County Humane Society Executive Director Lisa Litermann says donations are a great way to help. Those can either be monetary or items that your local shelter might need. Litermann says after that, another way to help is by donating an animal if your situation allows for it. Contact your local shelter for more info on how you can help.