Local-Regional News Dec 19

 

The Durand-Arkansaw School Board has approved the 2026-2027 School Calendar. Durand-Arkansaw School Superintendent Ryan Nelson says the first day of school for 2026-2027 will be September 1^st.  Nelson says spring break will be the week before Easter Sunday in 2027.

The City of Durand has approved a new certified survey map of some Xcel Energy Property by the wastewater treatment plant. Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren says the plan buy the Arkansaw Sanitary District was one of the drivers of mapping out the property.  The City also approved another map for Xcel land near Alcivia’s Grain Storage facility.

A Tennessee man accused of sexually assaulting a Holcombe teenager is pleading no contest to charges. Investigators say that -- in 2022 -- Trevor Blackburn drove to Wisconsin and kidnapped the then-15-year-old girl from her home. Blackburn pleaded no contest this week to charges of kidnapping and 1st degree child sexual assault. He will be sentenced at a later date.

A former funeral director faces charges after investigators and DNA testing solved a 23-year-old cold case in Western Wisconsin. In 2002, a human skull was found at a Boy Scout Camp in St. Croix County. Authorities say recent DNA testing connected the remains with a 91-year-old Minnesota woman who died of natural causes in 2001 and was cremated. The sheriff’s department says 57-year-old Benjamin Hanson, of Minnesota, was the funeral director for her cremation, and said he fraudulently charged the woman’s family more than $2,700 for hair styling. Witnesses at the funeral home said Hanson was not acting normal at the time and he was eventually fired from the funeral home. Hanson faces charges of theft and hiding a corpse.

An Eau Claire Paper Company is receiving state tax credits for expanding. Cascade Paper will invest $6 million for the installation of a state of the art converting line to enable the company to increase capacity and introduce new products. The expansion will lead to 36 new jobs. The WEDC is providing up to $200,000 in performance-based state income tax credits.

A La Crosse-area resident is pleading no contest to sexual assault charges. Seventeen-year-old Jonah Larson is considered a crocheting phenom whose skills once earned him an appearance on Good Morning America. On Thursday, he pleaded no contest to a charge of second-degree sexual assault of a child. He is being allowed to enter a diversion program which -- if he completes it successfully -- will knock a conviction off of his record.

Winners are being revealed for this year's Sustainable Eau Claire Awards. The awards recognize individuals, businesses, and organizations that are committed to creating a more sustainable Eau Claire. Community beautification stalwart Mari Jackson is being recognized as this year's Outstanding Individual. The Riverflow Refillery home goods store is being recognized as Outstanding Business and Prairie Partners of Eau Claire is being celebrated as Outstanding Organization.

An escaped inmate from Columbia County is back in custody after being captured in Tomah. Authorities say Matthew William Mahoney was identified following a tip from Columbia County officials. Mahoney was found this morning near a Walmart and initially gave a false name when encountered by law enforcement. Tomah police are recommending charges against Mahoney, including identity theft and obstructing an officer.

The Wisconsin State Patrol wants people to be safe on the state's roadways this holiday season. The patrol is launching their "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" campaign -- an effort get impaired drivers off the roads. The patrol is stepping up education and enforcement of impaired driving laws through New Year's Day.

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville is adding programs for students looking to get into the cannabis field. The school announced this week the launch of six new Cannabis Career Certificate programs in partnership with Green Flower, a cannabis education leader. This includes areas such as cultivation, retail, and product development. All except one of the programs is 16 weeks long, with the other one being half that length. All of the programs will be online and will begin January 13th.

Eric Hovde won’t be running for Wisconsin governor. The former U.S. Senate candidate made the announcement on a video posted to X on Wednesday. Hovde said he wants to spend more time with his family following his narrow election loss run last year to incumbent Democratic Senator Tammy Baldwin. His decision leaves U.S. Congressman Tom Tiffany and Washington County Executive Josh Schoemann as the major Republicans in the August 2026 primary.

An assailant in the 2014 Slender Man stabbing won’t contest a revocation of her conditional release from a state mental hospital. Morgan Geyser cut her ankle bracelet off and escaped her group home in Madison last month. She and a 43-year-old friend were found and arrested in Illinois. Her attorney filed a letter in Waukesha County Court this week saying Geyser won’t contest her release revocation. That will return her to the Winnebago Mental Health Institute where she’d been for over a decade. Geyser had been in the and Waukesha County jail before being moved to an undisclosed location last week. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services filed a petition last month to revoke Geyser’s release. A hearing is scheduled for February.

Former conservative State Supreme Court Justice Michale Gableman has another recusal request denied. Liberal state Supreme Court Justice Janet Protasiewicz has again rejected Gableman’s request that she remove herself from an upcoming decision on whether to suspend his law license. Gableman faces a three-year suspension for his oversight of an investigation into Wisconsin's 2020 presidential election. Protasiewicz already rejected Gableman's first recusal request earlier this month, and Gableman filed a request last week asking her to reconsider. The review will go before the state Supreme Court, which currently has a 4-3 liberal majority.

Weather is considered a contributing factor in Green County's deadly plane crash last month. The NTSB released its preliminary report showing foggy and overcast conditions led to reduced visibility for the small aircraft ahead of the crash near Monroe Municipal Airport on November 24th. Two people were killed in the crash including the pilot and a pilot-rated passenger. Officials identified the men as being from Oshkosh and Omro.

The American Civil Liberties Union is suing ICE on behalf of six Minnesotans who say their First Amendment rights were violated. ACLU lawyers say the alleged abuses involving immigration agents from Operation Metro Surge are following a pattern seen in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Portland. The suit names several federal officials, including Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and ICE Director Todd Lyons.

Eau Claire health officials are offering tips to help folks avoid getting sick and spreading illnesses this holiday season. The Eau Claire City County Health Department recommends that folks wash their hands frequently and that they cover their mouth when they cough. Tops among recommendations from health officials is for people to get vaccinated for influenza and COVID.

Local-Regonal News Dec 18

 

The Durand-Arkansaw School Board has approved the parameters for the $1.3 million dollar borrowing for the new early learning center. Durand-Arkansaw School Superintendent Ryan Nelson says the approval is one step in the process.  During the presentation of the parameters for the sale, a representative from Baird told board members that the District's Credit Rating has improved to AA-.

The City of Mondovi has announced a public hearing for December 30 to discuss the proposal to purchase the property at 450 Madison Street to serve as a Municipal Fire Hall. With the new, larger equipment and additional firefighters, the current fire hall is too small. The public hearing will be on Tuesday, December 30, starting at 5:30 at the Marten Center in Mondovi.

The Wabasha Port Authority has a vacancy and is taking applications for Board Members. The Port Authority meets the third Tuesday of the month at 5:30PM. This board is focused on economic development in the City of Wabasha. This is a volunteer position and they will provide guidance to staff on business development, business loans, business grants, supporting new housing projects, childcare, and more! To learn more about the Port Authority, check out the Economic Development tab on the City’s website.

Firefighters from River Falls responded to a report of a gas leak at the new Vanguard Renewables Digester last Friday. According to authorities, a membrane on the digester separated from the digester tank structure causing the gas leak. There was no fire, and the gas dissipated quickly, and there were no injuries reported. The new anaerobic digester started operation this month and is using food waste from the River Falls Area to produce renewable natural gas. The digester is located at the Peterson Family Farm just outside of River Falls.

Eau Claire-based Menards is agreeing to terms of a multi-state settlement. The home improvement store chain had been accused of price gouging during the pandemic and misrepresenting their credit check program known as the "Menards 11% Rebate Program." With the settlement announced yesterday, Menards agrees to pay a total of four-point-two-five-million dollars to ten states including Wisconsin and abide by a set of guidelines to improve their business practices.

In St. Croix County, former Glenwood City School District superintendent Timothy Johnson is pleading no contest to charges. Johnson was charged last year on 17 felony counts with accusations that he stole close to three-hundred-thousand dollars from the district. Johnson pleaded no contest this week to charges including forgery and misconduct in office. He will be sentenced at a later date.

Bond is being set for a Western Technical College instructor charged in connection with the death of a pregnant woman whose body was found last month at the scene of a La Crosse house fire. Crews dispatched to a Taylor Street blaze November 13th found the body of 27-year-old Alexis Pickett. Pickett's former romantic partner Matthew Sierra was arrested Tuesday on charges including 1st degree intentional homicide, 1st degree intentional homicide of an unborn child and arson. Sierra appeared in court yesterday where bond was set at one-million dollars.

Wisconsin health officials are worried about the flu season. Data from the Department of Health Services shows a rise in emergency room visits due to flu over the last several weeks. Only 28 percent of state residents have gotten the flu vaccine compared to 35 percent at this time last year. Health officials are also concerned about a new flu strain circulating in Europe which could easily make the jump to the US as travel increases during the next few weeks. DHS advises getting a flu shot as soon as possible. The flu vaccine is covered for most people and you can find a location to get yours at vaccines dot gov.

At the Capitol a pair of Democratic lawmakers want to overhaul how the state delivers public affairs broadcasting. Whitewater Representative Brienne Brown and Beloit Senator Mark Spreitzer want to create a state funded outlet to cover hearings and floor sessions at the Capitol. The bill would provide 2 million dollars a year to run the network to be operated by the state's Educational Communication Board. The move comes after WisconsinEye, an independent network that had been covering those events shut down this week over lack of funding. It's unclear if the measure will be taken up by Republican leadership in Madison.

A new law requires Wisconsin schools to notify parents of sexual misconduct. Democratic Governor Tony Evers signed the Republican-authored legislation into law earlier this month. It requires schools to notify a student's parent or guardian promptly if their child is the alleged victim of a sexual offense by a school employee or volunteer. The new requirements set a timeline for school to notify parents, something the state previously didn't require. Schools will now have to provide a notice by 5pm the same day if a report is received during school hours, or by noon the next calendar day if it's received after school hours.

Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul said his office is pushing back against the Trump administration. In an end-of-year interview with Channel 15, he said the state is involved in 35 different multi-state lawsuits against the administration. Democrat Kaul is running for a third term in 2026. He'll face Eric Toney, the Republican District Attorney in Fond du Lac County.

Snow plow operators are warning drivers after 19 crashes in Minnesota. Darryn Maaninga has been a plow operator for 16 years and has witnessed dangerous driving behaviors firsthand. Maaninga recommends staying back at least ten car lengths and giving plow drivers room to work. He said drivers should remember that plow operators are working to help them travel safely.

President Trump and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz are both receiving subpar approval ratings. A KTSP/Survey USA poll shows the president has the support of 42 percent of registered Minnesota voters, with 55 percent disapproval. Trump keeps the approval of 89 percent of Republican voters. Respondents are most concerned about how he's handling the economy. Meanwhile, Governor Walz doesn't fare much better in the poll. He is at 48 percent approval and 48 percent disapproval. Walz's critics are concerned about his lack of stopping state government fraud.

Local-Regional News Dec 17

 

The Durand-Arkansaw School Board is meeting tonight. Items on the agenda include action on a resolution establishing parameters for the sale of $1.3 million General Obligation Promissory Notes, start college now and early college credit program course approvals for spring, and action on the 2026-27 school calendar. There will also be reports from district and building administration. Tonight’s meeting begins at 6pm in the board room at Durand-Arkansaw High School.

Lake City Police have identified the man shot last Wednesday. 60Yr old Daniel Jankowski of Lake City was shot during an incident in Lake City. The suspect, William Piar is being held on a $4 million bond at the Goodhue County Jail. Jankowski is still listed in critical condition at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester.

The City of Durand will be reconstructing 6^th Ave East in 2026. Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren says this is another smaller project similar to the 7^th Ave East project from this year.  It is hoped to start that project in May and have it wrapped up by July of 2026

A suspect is being charged in connection with the death of a pregnant woman whose body was found last month at the scene of a La Crosse house fire. Crews dispatched to a Taylor Street blaze November 13th found the body of 27-year-old Alexis Pickett. Pickett's former romantic partner Matthew Sierra was arrested yesterday on charges including 1st degree intentional homicide, 1st degree intentional homicide of an unborn child and arson.

Charges are being filed against a Rusk County teacher accused of sending a topless photo of herself to a teenager. Investigators say that Kayla Vavra -- a second-grade teacher in the Ladysmith School District -- added herself to a teenager's Snapchat account. On the app, Vavra reportedly described her own sexual experiences to the teen and sent the topless image. The school district has placed Vavra on leave as she faces charges including exposing a child to harmful material and intimidating a victim to dissuade them from reporting. Vavra was arrested earlier this month but is now free on bond.

South Middle School in Eau Claire has been announced as the host for the 2026 Wisconsin State Civics Bee. The event will bring together 20 finalists -- grades six through eight -- to take part in a knowledge competition in subjects including civics, U.S. government and current events. The winner will advance to the National Civics Bee in Washington. The 2026 Wisconsin State Civics Bee will take place in May.

Wisconsin is part of a group of states that filed a lawsuit against Uber. The lawsuit claims that Uber charged consumers for its subscription without their consent, failed to deliver promised savings including no delivery fees, and made it difficult for users to cancel the subscription. Users who try to cancel can be forced to navigate as many as 23 screens and take as many as 32 actions to cancel.

Wisconsin's FoodShare program will not see new restrictions next year. It comes as nearly 20 other states prepare to limit what SNAP recipients can purchase. Wisconsin FoodShare currently restricts purchases of alcohol and tobacco products, certain health products, and hot food served in stores, among other things. Over 350-thousand residents in Wisconsin are currently using the benefits.

State lawmakers are preparing to look into the Wisconsin Department of Justice. Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu announced yesterday the Special Committee on Oversight of the Department of Justice will investigate the "operations, priorities, and external influences" impacting the department. No specific reasons were given as to why the agency is being investigated. The committee will be chaired by Senate President Mary Felzkowski. The group is mostly made up of Republicans, while two Democrats will also be involved.

The criminal case against two of three men charged in Wisconsin’s 2020 false electors’ scheme will proceed. The charges stem from a meeting at the Capitol on December 14th, 2020. Ten Republicans voted to cast Wisconsin’s 10 electoral votes for Donald Trump, in the face of Joe Biden’s win in the state. Jim Troupis served as the Trump campaign's attorney in Wisconsin. Kenneth Chesbro was the scheme’s main planner, and former Trump aide Michael Roman is accused of delivering the slate of fake electors to congressional staffers. They each face 11 felony counts filed by the Wisconsin Department of Justice and Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul. Following a Monday court hearing in Madison, Troupis and Roman will proceed to trial. Chesebro's hearing was postponed because Judge John Hyland wants to verify whether comments he made to state investigators can be used in court. All three defendants are filing to have a different judge oversee their case.

Eight children were removed from unsafe living conditions in Lincoln County last week: It started on Friday when one of the children went to a neighbor, asking for food for themselves and their siblings because their parents were away. The neighbor feed the kids and called authorities, who later discovered that the parents were away on a marijuana run. Conversations with the children led to accusations of child abuse and neglect against the parents, who were arrested as soon as they returned to the home, which was an RV that didn't have a heat source. The children are being cared for through child protective services, the parents are facing numerous charges. Names of those involved will not be released to protect the victims

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison is suing Uber. The lawsuit accuses Uber of making it exceedingly difficult to cancel the subscriptions to its Uber One plan. On Monday, Ellison argues that a person might need a PhD to figure out how to cancel a monthly subscription. This has included in the past, the "End Membership" button not being visible to customers until the last two days of their subscription.

Scientists are warning that funding cuts could undermine walleye recovery efforts. Minnesota's Department of Natural Resources analyzes advanced computer model data to test different variables on walleye survival. In August, the Trump administration froze the federal funding for the walleye study, including money meant to pay for researchers. The moves are part of the Trump administration's broader effort to pull back federal funds directed toward climate change response.

St. Mary's Hospital in Madison is unveiling the top baby names of 2025. Officials said the number one name for boys this year was Theodore, followed by Owen, Noah, Henry, and James. For the girls, the top five names were Violet, Charlotte, Chloe, Emma, and Olivia. Nearly 19-hundred babies were born at St. Mary's this year, including 43 sets of twins. The hospital also celebrated 367 babies graduating from the neonatal intensive care unit.

Local-Regional News Dec 16

 

The City of Durand has received a grant from the Clean Water Program for the water filtration plant project. Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren says the grant amounts to close to $400,000.  Due to equipment delays, that project is not expected to start until late spring.

The Wabasha Port Authority recently wrapped up a one-year grant program, totaling $18,883 in grants to 5 small businesses, mainly in downtown Wabasha to improve the facades of their buildings, including new paint, new windows, safety improvements to the exterior. The grant required a 50% match and helped create an overall investment of $55,000 in building improvements for the City. The Port was not able to fund all the applications it received due to funding. While the grant program is closed because all funds have been expended, the Wabasha Port Authority hopes to offer the program in the future, as funds become available.

Authorities have identified the suspected cause of a Sunday afternoon fire in Chippewa Falls. Crews were called to a location on Canal Street where a shed went up in flames. Officials now believe a wood stove was the source of the fire. No one was hurt.

Charges are being filed against a Chippewa Falls woman following an investigation into allegations of animal neglect. Earlier this month, police seized 14 dogs of varying breeds from the woman's apartment. Investigators say the dogs were being kept in crates that were too small for the canines and that most lacked access to food and water. The dogs are currently receiving medical care. Suspect Hannah Swanson faces 35 charges, including failure to provide proper shelter to animals, failure to provide proper indoor shelter & ventilation, and mistreating animals.

Firefighters responded to a fire at St. Croix Castings in Woodville on Monday night. When firefighters arrived, they found smoke and flames coming from the building. The fire was knocked down in about 20 minutes, and all employees inside at the time of the blaze evacuated safely. The cause of that fire is still under investigation.

The Durand Fire Department has announced that Santa will be with the Fire Department on December 21^st for a ride around town. The ride will begin at 4:30 with firefighters handing out candy canes to the children. The Pepin County Sheriff’s Department will join firefighters and Santa for a food drive and residents are encouraged to give a donation. Visit the Durand Fire Department’s Facebook Page for the route map.

A second person is being charged in connection with an overdose death in Tomah. Fifty-four-year-old Harley Carlson was recently charged with reckless homicide with investigators saying they supplied drugs to someone that later sold those drugs to the eventual 28-year-old OD victim. The victim was found dead at a Tomah home in August. The middle man is now being identified as 47-year-old James Zinsmeister who now also faces charges of reckless homicide.

The Powerball jackpot continues to grow. No one matched all of the numbers announced in last night's drawing. The estimated top-prize jackpot for tomorrow night's drawing is now one-point-two-five-billion dollars. Also, Wisconsin Lottery officials are saying a ticket sold in Eau Claire for this past Saturday night's Powerball drawing did come up a winner. The ticket -- purchased at a North Clairemont Street Kwik Trip -- matched four of the five numbers drawn and puts 50-thousand dollars into the pocket of the winner.

Payments have gone out for Wisconsin's energy assistance program. The Wisconsin Department of Administration estimates 185,000 households will receive assistance paying their energy bills through the Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program. The average heating benefit is expected to be around $440, and the average electric benefit is expected to be roughly $244. The heating season began on November 1st, but Wisconsin didn't receive federal funding for the program initially because of the federal government shutdown.

One Wisconsin firefighter is dead and two others seriously injured in an Indiana traffic crash. 26-year-old Oshkosh Fire Department firefighter and paramedic Tom Diener died in the crash last Thursday. Diener was also a lieutenant with the town of Sheboygan Fire Department. Two other members of the Sheboygan department, Carter Haen and Robbie Betts, were seriously injured and transported to a South Bend trauma center. A post from the Professional Fire Fighters of Wisconsin Charitable Foundation says both face a long and challenging road to recovery. The three were traveling to Indiana for a company that installed and maintained emergency warning systems co-owned by Diener and Haen.

The Texas Attorney General has filed suit against Wisconsin based Epic Systems. Ken Paxton, who’s challenging incumbent U.S. Senator John Cornyn in the 2026 Texas Republican Senate primary, filed the suit last week against Epic, the medical software company which employs some 13,000 people at its campus in Verona, outside Madison. The lawsuit accuses Epic of being a “woke corporation” utilizing “anticompetitive” practices to maintain a “monopoly.” Paxton also charges Epic with “restricting parental access to children’s medical records." An Epic spokesperson said the action is action is “flawed and misguided” and that "decisions about parental access to children’s medical records are made by doctors and health systems, not by Epic." Paxton previously filed dozens of lawsuits against the Biden administration and attempted to overturn results of the 2020 presidential election in Wisconsin and other states.

No criminal charges will be filed against a Waushara County Sheriff’s deputy who exchanged gunfire with a man during an October standoff. The Waushara County District Attorney's report states that Deputy Alex Midthun was reasonable in his belief that his life was in danger when 51-year-old Timothy Lehman fired a round directly at him after failing to obey a directive to drop his weapon. Lehman was barricaded in his home the Town of Wautoma. Following attempts to negotiate Lehman was found dead after officers heard gunshots from inside the house. The DA's report said it was determined that Lehman died from the deputy's gunshots.

A cable channel which covers Wisconsin state government has paused operations. WisconsinEye has provided televised access to legislative floor sessions, committee hearings and press conference for more than 18 years. A two month long funding appeal came up short of the needed $1 million to continue operations for the next 12 months. WisconsinEye president and CEO Jon Henkes says conversations are ongoing with state lawmakers to find a solution to the organization’s financial challenges.

Be wary if anyone directs you to use a standalone cryptocurrency kiosk. Wisconsin Consumer Protection administrator Michelle Reinen says very few legitimate transactions are made at one of these booths. Data from The Iowa Department of Justice and the District of Columbia Attorney General office that suggests over 90% of transactions made through these kiosks were tied to fraud. Reinen says that usually happens when a criminal sends a victim to a kiosk to buy crypto and send it to them as part of another scam. No official agency will ask you to pay a bill in cryptocurrency, and these booths are not operated by banks.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is sharing tips on how to reduce waste over the holidays. DNR Waste Reduction and Diversion Coordinator Jennifer Semrau says there are some items that can go in any recycling bin. Those include containers made of steel, aluminum, glass, plastics numbers one and two, as well as cardboard, newspaper, magazines, office paper and other papers. Semrau says things like holiday lights, batteries, laptops, phones and other electronics shouldn't go in the recycling. Visit the DNR's website for a full list of what can and can't be recycled over the holiday season.

Local-Regional News Dec 15

 

The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture has announced that milk from a Dodge County Dairy Farm has tested positive for the HPAI virus. Since May, the state has been part of USDA’s milk testing strategy and has tested 24,000 samples of milk since then. Adam Brock, Administrator for the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture Division of Food and Recreational Safety, says the farm has been notified of the positive sample and that pasteurized milk and dairy products are safe.   The affected farm has been quarantined, and any cattle exhibiting signs of illness will be separated for further treatment.

The new Durand Fire District board has met for the first time. The Board Elected Jamie King as the fire chief of the district. The board also discussed the topic of payments for services to the district. Currently, when someone calls for fire service, the municipality where the call came from is charged, and then the municipality charges the person who called or needed the service. However, if someone gets lost on DNR land, and the person is from out of town and doesn’t pay, the municipality is left with the bill. Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren attended the meeting and said, while it's not a big issue for the city, it is for the rural townships.   While the board has not made a final decision, they will be discussing it at future meetings.

The Buffalo-Pepin County ADRC is looking for volunteers to help with delivering Home-Delivered Meals in the Mondovi Area. The delivery route takes about 1.5 hours and is Monday-Thursday. A county vehicle is available, or you can drive your own personal vehicle and receive mileage reimbursement. For more information on how to volunteer, contact the Buffalo-Pepin County ADRC Program.

A change is federal policy could affect your property tax payments. Buffalo County Treasurer Tina Anibas is encouraging taxpayers to mail their tax payments early as the USPS will no longer postmark envelopes at the post office, instead, the postmark will now be stamped at the regional sorting centers. This could lead to your tax payment being considered late if mailed too close to the due date. Anibas is encouraging taxpayers to either mail the payments early or use the e-check option.

Trempealeau County has a new Sheriff. On Friday, Governor Tony Evers announced the appointment of Erica Koxlien as the new sheriff. Koxlien has been with the Trempealeau County Sheriffs Department for a decade, working as a patrol officer and detective. She also developed the youth education program “BADGES” and is head of the child maltreatment multidisciplinary team. She replaces Sheriff Brett Semingson who retired, and will serve the remainder of the term until January 2027.

Investigators are working to determine the cause of a fatal fire in St. Croix County. Flames ignited at a home in the City of Hudson at around 1:30 a.m. Thursday. First responders found someone dead inside the residence. Their name has not been released.

The Winona Police Department is asking the public’s help in investigating a series of recent catalytic converter thefts in the Winona area. According to the Winona Police Department, three thefts were reported in the vicinity of Menards and Walmart between December 8 and 11. There is a reward of up to $200 offered for information that leads to an arrest in these cases. Anyone with information is asked to call the Winona Police Department.

The Wisconsin Election Commission rejects a Trump administration request for the state’s voter rolls. Commissioners voted 5-1 last week to reject the US Justice Department request that all states hand over unredacted voter rolls. Republican commissioner Don Millis said the state is obligated to protect voters’ personal information, and that none of the federal statutes cited by the DOJ can be read to preempt Wisconsin's protection of personally identifiable information. The DOJ request included voters’ partial Social Security numbers, drivers’ license numbers, and dates of birth. The commission of three Democrats and three Republicans voted in closed session to send a letter declining the request for unredacted voter rolls. Republican Bob Spindell was the lone no vote and only member not signing the letter.

A Minnesota high school student is in critical condition after being shot in a school parking lot Friday. Authorities in Stewartville say students and coaches waiting to board a bus heard a gunshot and found the student wounded. There was a second shot and deputies say an adult male was found dead from a self-inflicted wound. The victim underwent emergency surgery in nearby Rochester. Investigators are still looking into a possible motive and any connection between the shooter and the victim.

State health leaders will continue advising that all newborns receive the hepatitis B vaccine within 24 hours of birth. This follows the CDC's advisory committee change, which suggests the birth dose only for babies whose mothers test positive or were untested. The state's Department of Health Services says its guidance is based on decades of evidence and endorsement from the American Academy of Pediatrics. Officials say there is no new evidence justifying changes to the longstanding recommendation.

Wisconsin hospitals provided $2.2 billion in community benefits last year. A new report from the Wisconsin Hospital Association shows that contributions include charity care, subsidized services, health professions education and investments in behavioral health. $380 million went towards health professions education while another $220 million went towards charity care. The report also shows the financial pressures hospitals in Wisconsin are facing, including that one in four Wisconsin hospitals reported operating with negative margins due to rising costs, workforce shortages, and inadequate Medicaid reimbursement.

Former state supreme court justice Mike Gablemann is continuing to call for liberal Justices to recuse themselves from ruling on a complaint against him. Gablemann is facing a 10 count complaint from the state Office of Lawyer Regulation for his actions in and out of court in connection with a failed voter fraud investigation into the 2020 presidential election. The Wisconsin Supreme Court has to review a deal with O L R where Gablemann would lose his law license for three years, and Gablemann wants Justices Janet Protasiewicz and Rebecca Dallet to step away from the case. Both were public with criticism against Gablemann while they were running for office, and both said that does not impede their ability to rule on the case.

Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin is piloting a new program. Harvest Wallet will allow Second Harvest to distribute 200 dollars in digital funds to 100 families with school-aged children identified by the Mauston and Ithaca school districts to buy groceries. The digital funds can be used at local retailers like Walmart, Kroger-affiliated grocers and Dollar General to buy food.

A case of bad timing for an alleged shoplifter in southeast Wisconsin. Prosecutors accuse 24-year-old Sophia Malak of stealing more than $600 worth of items from a Walmart in Hartford last week. When Malak came back to the same Walmart last Saturday looking to pilfer more items, the store was hosting a "Shop with a Cop" holiday event, and the Hartford officers on hand recognized Malak from the shoplifting complaint. When officers caught up with Malak, a criminal complaint says she had $253 of items in her cart and around $900 worth of stolen toys in her car. Malak now faces a felony charge of retail theft.

Local-Regional News Dec 12

 

Expect construction in downtown Durand next year. The city of Durand has approved a contract with McCabe Construction of Eau Claire for the Madison Street Project. Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren says it will be a complete reconstruction of Madison Street in the downtown area.  The project's cost is just over $4 million.

Lake City Police have identified the suspect in a shooting on Wednesday. 81Yr old William Piar was arrested and taken to the Goodhue County Jail after the shooting. Police responded to the reports of gunshots on Lakeshore Drive and made contact with Piar and had to use non-lethal force to subdue and arrest him. Police also found a victim in an apartment building, and he was transported to St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester. Authorities have not released the victim’s name.

Charges are being filed against a Trempealeau County man accused of abusing a 14-month-old child. Twenty-nine-year-old Edgar Valdez is charged with physical abuse of a child. According to reports, the victim's mother took the little girl to a Whitehall hospital earlier this month, where x-rays showed she had fractures to both of her arms and legs. Police say Valdez later admitted to having hit the child on numerous occasions. He is being held on a 150-thousand-dollar bond.

The Community Foundation of Dunn County (CFDC) is currently accepting requests for new bricks for the Dunn County Veterans Memorial located at the intersection of 6th Ave. and Crescent Street in downtown Menomonie. The cost is $250 per brick. The memorial honors military veterans from all branches of service throughout any era. There is no residency requirement, and currently, over 650 veterans are honored at this monument.  A donation of $250 or more received before February 1, 2026, will purchase one brick inscribed with a maximum of 57 letters, numbers, and/or spaces. For more information or to receive an order form, contact the CFDC at 715-232-8019.  All new bricks will be formally dedicated at the Flag Day Ceremony on Sunday, June 14, 2026, at the Veterans Memorial in downtown Menomonie.

While we have seen plenty of snow this week, all snowmobile trails in Western Wisconsin remain closed. Groomers are out packing the trails, and snowmobile club members are out checking signs, clearing trails, and addressing other maintenance issues. Warmer weather in the forecast next week may also affect trail conditions and the ability to open them.

A Western Wisconsin Co-Op has sold its agronomy division. Alciva has sold its agronomy locations in Durand, Osseo and New Richmond to Ag Partners of Goodhue, MN. In a statement to Members, Ag Partners General Manager William Albrecht said the purchase will strengthen Ag Partners agronomy services and reach more growers in the eastern portion of their territory. The three facilities will begin operations under Ag Partners on Monday.

Officials have confirmed a Wisconsin graduate student found dead in the Mississippi River died from drowning. The La Crosse County Medical Examiner ruled 22-year-old Eliotte Heinz's death an accident. Autopsy results showed no signs of trauma or foul play. Toxicology tests showed Heinz had no drugs but a blood alcohol concentration of point-one-nine. Heinz was reported missing in July after walking home from a bar. Her body was found three days later in Minnesota.

Bond is being set for a Tomah man charged in connection with an overdose death. Fifty-four-year-old Harley Carlson is accused of providing the drugs that led to the death of a 28-year-old victim in August. Bond has been set at five-thousand dollars for Carlson who is charged with first degree reckless homicide for delivering drugs.

Tomah High School was placed on a hold for short time on Thursday as authorities searched for a possible weapon. Administrators and authorities were alerted to the possible presence of a weapon yesterday morning and a BB gun was subsequently found in a backpack inside a student locker. The school district advises that the student involved will be appropriately disciplined.

Lawyers for a former Mayo Clinic doctor are asking a court to dismiss a murder charge against him. Connor Bowman is accused of poisoning his wife in 2023. His defense team claims there was misconduct by the prosecutors when they presented the case to the grand jury. Bowman's lawyers have already gotten several pieces of evidence tossed out ahead of the trial, and this isn't the first time they've requested a dismissal. Despite this, even if the first-degree murder charge is dismissed, prosecutors will still move forward with a second-degree murder charge.

Another Democrat enters a crowded primary field running for Wisconsin governor next year. Joel Brennan launched his campaign Thursday. Brennan was secretary of the Department of Administration during current Governor Tony Evers’ first term. Prior to that, Brennan was executive director of Milwaukee's Discovery World science museum for over a decade. He currently serves as president of the nonprofit Greater Milwaukee Committee, which promotes economic and cultural growth in southeast Wisconsin. Brennan enters a Democratic race to succeed Evers which includes former Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes, current Lieutenant Governor Sara Rodriguez, and Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley.

A Dane County judge rejects a motion to force him off a case stemming from Wisconsin’s 2020 presidential election. Judge John Hyland rejected the claim of misconduct from former attorney for President Donald Trump James Troupis. Troupis claimed that retired Judge Frank Remington had a hand in writing an August ruling rejecting a motion to dismiss his case. Judge Hyland also found Troupis offered no evidence that he had any personal bias against Troupis, after Troupis filed motions to disqualify the entire Dane County bench because they have a personal animus toward him. He also wanted a judge in another county to hear his claims that Remington was involved in the earlier ruling. Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul filed 11 felony charges against Troupis, Ken Chesebro and Mike Roman, for their roles in the effort to cast Wisconsin’s 10 electoral votes for Trump. Joe Biden won the state in 2020.

A lawsuit against Milwaukee Public Schools alleges use of an unusual disciplinary measure. The suit filed by a group of parents Monday in Milwaukee County Court claims that during two recent school years, a paraprofessional at Thurston Woods elementary school would lock students in a dark boiler room known as 'The Dungeon’ “…with the lights turned off.” The suit says the room allegedly contained hazardous materials and machinery. The suit says the paraprofessional involved was later fired and that the children affected suffered lasting harm to their mental health and were scared to go to school.

A former Department of Natural Resources Secretary has died. George Meyer served as DNR Secretary from 1993 to 2001. His 30-year career with the agency included negotiations to establish treaty hunting, fishing and gathering rights for Wisconsin Chippewa tribes. His obituary cites acquisition of more than 142,000 acres of public land as among his accomplishments as secretary. Meyer grew up on his family’s farm in Calumet County, earned a degree in economics from St. Norbert College and a law degree at UW-Madison. Following his time with the DNR, Meyer served as executive director of the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation for more than two decades. He died Wednesday in Madison from a rare form of prostate cancer. George Meyer was 78.

MyPillow founder Mike Lindell is running for governor of Minnesota. The 64-year-old CEO of the Chaska-based pillow maker will get on the ballot as a Republican against DFL incumbent Tim Walz in 2026. Lindell is an ally of President Trump. Other GOP candidates include State House Republican Speaker Lisa Demuth, State Representative Kristen Robbins, Scott Jensen, Kendal Qualls, and defense lawyer Chris Madel.

Wisconsin's Capitol Tree is named one of the best holiday displays in the country. The tree was ranked number seven by USA Today in the public holiday light display category. Awardees were chosen from a pool of candidates across the nation through a public voting system, which closed December 1st. The Capitol Holiday Tree is displayed in the rotunda of the Wisconsin State Capitol throughout the holiday season and this year's tree features handmade ornaments made by students that honor educators, child care providers and school support staff.