Local-Regional News Jan 30

 

A former Pepin County substitute teacher has been convicted on charges in a sex crimes case. Zachary Weber worked in the Durand-Arkansaw School District and this week pleaded no contest to charges of soliciting an intimate representation from a minor. Investigators say those charges stemmed from exchanges the defendant had with underage girls on Snapchat. He will be sentenced at a later date.

A Menomonie teen charged in connection with a deadly Dunn County hit and run is pleading guilty. The body of 54-year-old Ann Seidl was found lying in a ditch along County Highway Y on March 29th of last year. Authorities say that then-17-year-old Addison Bowell was the driver of the vehicle that hit Seidl and failed to stop. Bowell has pleaded guilty this week to charges including homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle. She continues to face a charge of hit-and-run involving death.

The Eau Claire City-County Health Department reports that respiratory viruses -- including influenza and COVID-19 -- continue to be diagnosed at a high rate locally. Folks are being encouraged to get vaccinated, to wash their hands often and to stay home from work or school if they are sick. In regards to the measles, local health officials say that there is no evidence of exposure or community spread in the county.

A factory closure in Western Wisconsin will put 200 people out of work and end the Wisconsin production of a classic motorcycle line. Polaris has announced that its factory in Osceola will close, ending production of the Indian motorcycle brand in Polk County. Indian was sold to a private equity firm last year, and the company is moving the production line from Osceola to a plant in Iowa. The closure will occur sometime this summer, according to Polaris. The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development will be offering assistance to the displaced workers.

Bond is being set at 100-thousand dollars for a man authorities say violated a restraining order and injured law enforcement officers. Reports say that 19-year-old Nathaniel Witaker was served with a temporary restraining order Tuesday in Hillsboro. He was later found armed with a knife at a prohibited location. A police officer and a sheriff's deputy were injured while trying to take the suspect into custody. Whitaker faces charges including stalking and battery on a law enforcement officer.

Wisconsin residents are pushing for homeschooling as a valid education option for families. This comes during National School Choice Week, which helps raise awareness of all education options available for families. Supporters for this option say that it can provide "certain things that students can miss in traditional education." Critics are arguing that public funds should remain invested in only public education systems.

Help the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources track the state's black bear population. The DNR is asking for the public to report any black bear den locations as part of an ongoing statewide study on black bear reproduction and population. The survey will improve the accuracy of population models, as well as help researchers as they investigate a connection between consumption of human food and bear reproduction. If you come across a black bear den, note its GPS coordinates, take a photo from a safe distance, and describe the site and surrounding area. More info can be found on the DNR's website.

Minnesota farm communities are saying the ICE surge is going to be very damaging for business. In Willmar, the Minnesota Farmers Union has 18-thousand Minnesota members and says ICE raids have had a profound impact on their bottom line. One raid made headlines this month when ICE agents ate at a Willmar Mexican restaurant, then followed the workers home and arrested them afterward. Gary Wertish, president of the Minnesota Farmers Union, says workers are scared to come to Minnesota and even to other states. He predicts lower crop yields and ultimately higher prices at the grocery store.

Wisconsin and several other states won't have to give up federal funding for electric vehicle charging stations. A federal judge in Washington ruled last week that Wisconsin and 16 other states will continue to get grant funding to pay for improving coverage for those stations. The ruling preserves 62 million dollars in grants for the state. The Trump Administration last year froze the funding for the program over policy reasons, saying the country didn't need more electric vehicles. The judge said the White House violated procedures and couldn't stop congressionally approved spending.

After months of meetings and concerns from residents in the Deforest area, a big data center project has been officially scrapped. On Wednesday, QTS announced now is not the right time for our proposed project to move forward in the DeForest area. Earlier this week, the DeForest Village Board said the proposal was "not feasible." Many locals were apprehensive about the 12 billion dollar, 16 hundred acre data center campus proposal just outside of DeForest, citing worries of the environmental impact and decreasing property values. The “No Data Center in DeForest” group has more than 4-thousand followers on its Facebook page.

Donald Trump’s endorsement clears the Republican primary field for governor for Tom Tiffany. Washington County Executive Josh Schoemann announced Wednesday he will step aside from the race after President Trump endorsed 7th District Congressman Tom Tiffany. Schoemann said he was proud of his campaign, and that the move will allow Republicans to support one another, rather than fight. Tiffany wished Schoemann the very best and said he'll work to improve Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Democrat Party's response to Schoemann’s departure from the race was simply "Who?" The Democratic primary field to succeed Tony Evers remains crowded, with nine declared candidates.

Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar is formally announcing her bid for governor of Minnesota. She released a video this morning said that "these times call for leaders who can stand up and not be rubber stamps of this administration." Klobuchar's announcement comes after current Governor Tim Walz announced he would be dropping his bid for a third term over criticism surrounding a statewide fraud scandal. It also comes as Minnesota has become the epicenter of President Trump's immigration crackdown.

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation can help prospective voters obtain the necessary ID. Ahead of the Spring Primary Election on February 17, the Division of Motor Vehicles reminds residents how to obtain identification, free of charge, that is valid for voting. Valid ID for voting purposes includes a driver license, Tribal identification card, military or student ID and others. There is no separate “voter ID,” and a federally compliant REAL ID card is not required to vote. Not sure if your ID meets the requirements? Visit the Wisconsin Elections Commission website to check. To see a list of required documents needed to present at a DMV Customer Service Center in order to get ID to show at the polls, visit wisconsindmv.gov/idcards.