A suspect is facing charges after leading police on a high-speed pursuit through parts of Trempealeau and Eau Claire Counties. Authorities say 29-year-old John Koplin was seen speeding Friday night and began a pursuit that eventually reached speeds of up to 120 miles per hour on Highway 10. A tire deflation device and a P.I.T. maneuver were eventually used to bring Koplin's vehicle to a stop. No one was hurt. Police say they later learned that Koplin's vehicle had been stolen.
Durand Police are reminding area residents to sign up fo rthe Nixle program to stay informed during snow emergencies. No parking is allowed on city streets until the street is plowed from curb to curb when a snow emergency is declared after 2 inches or more of snow has fallen. To sign up for Nixle, text DURANDWI to 888777. Snow emergencies are also posted on the snow emergency line at 672-5653 and on the Durand Police Department Facebook Page.
One person is dead and another injured after a Saturday evening crash near Black River Falls. Authorities say the two were in a vehicle that slid on a patch of ice on I-94 Eastbound and then rolled into a ditch. The victims are from Milwaukee County. Both were taken from the scene to a local hospital where one later died and the other was treated for less severe injuries.
The Eau Claire City Council President seat will open in 2026. City Council President Emily Berge has announced she will not be seeking another term, and will focus on her run for Congress in Wisconsin’s 3rd District instead. Berge was first elected to the City Council in 2018, reelected in 2021, and was elected to serve as City Council President in 2023. Berge is one of several democrats aiming to unseat Republican Congressman Derrick Van Orden, who is currently serving his second term.
The Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern Holiday Train will soon be making stops in Wisconsin. The holiday train makes stops across the country, putting on live concerts an raising money for area food banks. All stops are free and visitors are encouraged to bring food or cash donations to help support local communities. The holiday train will make stops in the Badger State from December 9th to the 11th. American authors and Pynk Beard will perform at all Wisconsin stops.
The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection has issued warnings about several types of holiday fraud. The department says to watch for online marketplace fraud, where scammers create fake listings for popular items like event tickets and vacation rentals. It warns to avoid upfront payments, keep communications within official apps and verify sellers before purchasing. The department is also alerting consumers over phishing messages, which are fraudulent texts and emails that look like they come from retailers or shipping companies, citing problems with purchases. It says to delete suspicious messages and visit company websites directly instead of clicking links.
Enrollment in Wisconsin's childhood disability program has sharply increased in recent years. The Children's Long Term Support program provides waviers for children with institutional-level disabilities. The number of children taking part has increased by 361-percent since 2017. There has also been a 28-percent jump in enrollment in just the last year and a-half. The Maciver Institute says the rapidly rising numbers signal either one of two things: a large increase in the number of children with severe mental/physical disabilities or a large increase in the recognition of these disabilities.
Wisconsin’s Highground offers programs for veterans. Chris Pettis, executive director of the Highground Veterans Memorial Park, said that began in 2017 and now includes retreats that focus on PTSD management, including one retreat for male veterans, two female retreats, a couples retreat and a winter retreat. Pettis said he's also working on developing a caregiver retreat that is focused on the caregiver, not just the veteran. The retreats allow participants to work through different mindfulness techniques to address some of the traumas of either combat or some of the struggles of service, or life after service. Everyone is welcome to visit the 155-acre park located just west of Neillsville on US Highway 10 in Central Wisconsin. Pettis said the park is open 365 days a year, seven days a week, 24 hours a day. The park is home to over 15 different tributes honoring service from World War One through current conflicts, as well as the nation’s largest memorial to Native American veterans. Pettis said a lot of people in Wisconsin, including veterans do not even know about the Highground, and that visitors will be amazed by it. Find out more online at https://www.thehighground.us/
School district consolidation gets a focus in the Wisconsin Legislature. A package of six bills Republican authored bills that would provide various incentives for districts to consolidate were introduced last month and fast tracked, receiving public hearings before being passed on largely partisan votes in the state Assembly. Districts that consolidate, and those that consolidate specific grades into one building, would be eligible for additional state funding. Democrats argued the Legislature has failed to adequately fund public education in Wisconsin. It’s not clear whether the state Senate will take up the legislation when lawmakers return to the Capitol in January, or how it would fare should it reach the desk of Democratic Governor Tony Evers.
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services is urging vaccinations with the holiday season here. Respiratory Disease Epidemiologist Tom Haupt says the combination of travel and colder temps makes this time of year the perfect recipe for spreading disease. Immunization Program Manager Dr. Stephanie Schauer says it's not too late to get those vaccines, and even getting them now will give you protection for the bulk of the respiratory illness season. DHS data shows just 23% of Wisconsinites have received a flu shot this season, and only 9% got an updated COVID-19 vaccine.
The
city of Sun Prairie is moving forward with a six-figure lawsuit
against the owners of an apartment complex. The Sun Prairie Star
reports that a lawsuit was filed September 22nd in Dane County Court
against owners of The Element On Main. It alleges that the 240 unit
complex went without hot water for an entire week at the end of May
2025. The lawsuit is for 810-thousand dollars, which accounts for
over 33-hundred separate counts for each day and each tenant that was
affected. The Star was unable to contact anyone representing the
property management company that owns The Element, and the property's
website has been removed from the internet.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Senator Amy Klobuchar are firing back following President Trump's claim Somali refugees are "completely taking over" Minnesota. Walz said in a Sunday morning interview on NBC's "Meet the Press" that Trump's insults are a "badge of honor." Trump said on Truth Social that "hundreds of thousands of refugees from Somalia are completely taking over the once great State of Minnesota," while also calling Walz a derogatory term. Klobuchar said in a Sunday interview on CNN's "State of the Union" that Trump was attempting to "stoke division."
The Wisconsin State Patrol is looking to add to its ranks next month. The agency posted on social media that it's preparing to hire for the next recruiting class starting January 11th. That process will continue through February 15th, which then follows a long process of background checks, offers, and exams. The recruiting class would begin in July and graduates would be celebrated in December.
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