The Durand-Arkansaw school district saw a drop in students during the January count. Durand-Arkansaw School Superintendent Ryan Nelson says the drop in the student count in January is normal. The district saw a drop of 6 students in the elementary school and 8 students in the middle-high school.
A Medicare scam is happening in Western Wisconsin. On Friday, Durand Broadcasting received a call claiming that our Medicare Part A and B were not in compliance. Since a business cannot have Medicare, this is nothing more than a scam. Ingrid Kundinger from the Senior Medicare Patrol says the scammers are trying to get your Medicare Account number. If you receive one of these calls, the best advice is to either not answer the phone or hang up immediately and do not give out any information. If you have concerns about your Medicare account, you can call the number on the back of your Medicare card, or you can also contact ADRC or the Senior Medicare Patrol and they can help you with that call to Medicare.
On Friday Sen. Jeff Smith (D-Eau Claire) and Rep. Christian Phelps (D-Eau Claire) introduced legislation to create a state level Premium Assistance Individual Income Tax Credit to help Wisconsinites maintain access to affordable health coverage. This legislation would allow Wisconsinites who pay monthly premiums for a qualified health plan under the Affordable Care Act to claim a refundable individual income tax credit equal to the amount they could previously claim under the now-expired enhanced tax credits. By immediately addressing the loss of federal enhanced premiums, this bill would work to stabilize the marketplace and help consumers maintain affordable coverage.
Wabasha County Health and Human Services workers have filed an intent to strike. The workers are concerned over Wabasha County’s attempt to take base pay language out of their contracts. According to AFSCME Local 3541, the current contracts to not let new employees be placed at a salary step higher than a current employee with equal or greater experience in the same step. The union says there was no reason to take that language out as the county has always had the ability to ask the union for approval to place someone at a higher step but has never asked. The union’s strike notice triggers a 10-day period under state law in which both parties are required to return to negotiations during that period.
The Rochester City Council is giving the green light to a nine-million-dollar Park and Ride project. The plan will be located off North Broadway near the Rochester Rec Center and is expected to benefit both commuters and area businesses. The new park and ride will add 200 parking spaces and connect to RPT's downtown routes. Rochester officials say the construction cost will be covered by a Federal Transit Authority grant, not affecting the city's budget of tax levy.
Wisconsin's longest-serving Assembly speaker is calling it quits. Rochester's Robin Vos announced yesterday he's going to retire at the end of the year following two decades of serving the 63rd District. The Republican spent the last 13 years as speaker, which he described as the "greatest professional honor of his life." Vos noted he had a mild heart attack in November, and doctors told him he needs to reduce the stress in his life. He added his job is very stressful, but believes he's leaving the Legislature in a strong position.
A bill strengthening Wisconsin's ignition interlock law is heading to the governor's desk. The State Assembly gave unanimous approval to the measure that aims to prevent repeat drunk driving offenses. It could legally allow offenders to drive soon, but only if an interlock device is installed to ensure sober driving. Advocates say the bill would allow faster installation of the devices for repeat and first-time high blood alcohol content offenders. The State Senate already passed a companion version of the bill earlier this year.
Some revisions are being made to policies concerning campaigning on University of Wisconsin campuses. The Board of Regents voted to approve revisions to those policies during its meeting this month due to "new threats to campus safety" and "attitudes towards student privacy." At UW - Madison, the change allows for political campaigning in designated areas of residence halls during certain times of weekdays. People need to register with University Housing ahead of time, and wear a nametag after checking in.
New moms in Wisconsin will soon be eligible to receive expanded Medicaid coverage for up to a year. After passing the state Senate on a nearly unanimous vote last April, the measure was opposed by Assembly Speaker Robin Vos as an expansion of welfare. Representative Pat Snyder said persuading fellow Republicans was a challenge, but he's glad Wisconsin beat Arkansas, which along with Wisconsin were the only two states not to have accepted the expanded coverage. Republican Representative Shae Sortwell of Two Rivers was the lone no vote as the bill passed Thursday, 95-1 and heads to Governor Tony Evers for his signature. The Assembly also unanimously approved and sent to Evers a bill to require insurance to cover additional cancer screenings for women with dense breast tissue.
State Assembly Republicans pass a bill to regulate wake surf boats and establish a sandhill crane hunt. The crane hunt was tacked on to the wake surfing bill in an amendment criticized as not relevant by Democrats before being passed on a voice vote Thursday over their objections The original draft of the wake surfing boat bill (AB 1033) was opposed by a coalition of more than 90 groups, arguing its requirement that the boats operate 200 feet from shore is inadequate.
It's lights, camera, action for a new state endeavor. Governor Tony Evers announced the launch of “Film Wisconsin” during his State of the State address last week. The tax credit application portal makes $5 million available to support Wisconsin filmmakers and attract out-of-state productions shooting in Wisconsin. The program, which is overseen by the Wisconsin Division of Tourism, is aimed at boosting economic growth, tourism and creativity in Wisconsin. The state was one of four in the country without a dedicated film office prior to the creation of “Film Wisconsin.”
The City of Menomonie is announcing a winner in their snowplow naming contest. Folks were encouraged to cast votes on Facebook -- to select a name for a veteran city snow plow. The 35-year-old plow's name -- as chosen by the people -- is Blizzard Wizard.
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