A broken sprinkler system pipe at Olson Funeral Home caused an alarm to be set off. The Menomonie Fire Department responded to the alarm on Sunday afternoon to the funeral home on Wilson Ave. No fire was found and the funeral home is cleaning up the water damage from the broken pipe.
No threat is found after police responded to a swatting incident at a University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire residence hall. According to UW-Eau Claire, campus police responded to Governor’s Hall to investigate an external distress call that is believed to be a “swatting” incident. The fraudulent emergency call came in at around 10:25 p.m. on Sunday. Officers responded to the scene, secured the area, and made contact with the residents in the room referenced in the bogus call. Police determined no one was hurt and no threat was found in the residence hall.
The Wabasha Planning Commission will hold a public hearing next Tuesday to consider an application from Larry Stegemann to allow a church to be built in the Stegemann addition. This meeting begins at 6:00 p.m. at Wabasha City Hall, and other items are on the agenda. Public comments can be submitted in person or via mail or email to the Wabasha City Hall.
Another member of the Leinenkugel family is taking over the Wisconsin-based company. A social media post last week announced Katie Leinenkugel would be the next president of the Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company. She takes over for her cousin Tony Bugher, and is just the second woman to hold the position in the company's history. The new leadership comes after Molson Coors recently moved brewing operations of Leinenkugel's to Milwaukee, but maintains a presence in Chippewa Falls.
A man facing kidnapping charges in a 2023 case involving an elderly victim is pleading no contest in La Crosse County. Prosecutors say that Caleb Crocker was one of three people who held an 84-year-old man prisoner in his own basement and subjected him to beating while demanding money. Crocker pleaded no contest to a kidnapping charge on Monday and will be sentenced at a later date.
Investigators are working to confirm the cause of a Monday fire in the Village of Bangor. A farm structure on State Road 162 that housed hay and other materials went up in flames yesterday afternoon. No injuries were reported though the structure was left in ruins.
The interim U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin now has the job for good. Chadwick Elgersma has served in the role on an acting-basis since June of last year. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi has now appointed Elgersma to the role outright.
UW–Extension is hosting the Chippewa Valley Healthy Water Summit, a one-day educational event designed to increase water quality awareness by providing local information that enables community members to make informed decisions. Open to the public, the Chippewa Valley Healthy Water Summit is relevant to homeowners, landowners, farmers, agency staff, and industries. The event will feature locally relevant information and expert-led sessions on key water-related topics, including PFAS, soil and water interactions, local water testing and services, and conserving soil, water, and nutrients. The event will be held at the Chippewa Valley Technical College West Campus on March 20 from 9-3:30. Contact UW Extension for more information.
Wisconsin health officials are reporting a second case of measles. The Department of Health Services announced Monday that a student at UW-Madison tested positive for the disease. The student caught the disease during an international trip, and it is not related to a case from Waukesha last month. Anyone who was exposed to the student is being contacted by health agencies to monitor for the spread of measles. The US has seen a sudden spike in measles cases, with 588 reported as of last Thursday. UW Madison does not require students to be vaccinated from the measles to attend.
The UW Health Transplant Center is celebrating a record‑setting year. The center performed more than 520 organ transplants in 2025, more than all other Wisconsin centers combined. That includes 273 kidney, 134 liver, and a record 67 lung transplants, along with 24 heart and several multi‑organ procedures. Doctors at UW Health credit expanded use of advanced organ preservation technology for boosting the success rates of transplants. The center also hit milestones with its 1,000th heart transplant and 2,000th pancreas transplant. 2026 will mark 60 years since UW Health’s first transplant back in 1966.
Storms across the country are contributing to a shortage of road salt for private snow contractors around the state. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources stormwater section manager Shannon Haydin tells Fox 6 Milwaukee the shortage is a good reminder to evaluate how much salt you use, to extend your supply and protect the environment. Haydin says overuse of salt can become toxic to aquatic life. Though the DNR is not opposed to use of salt for ice management and safety, the agency recommends measuring it carefully. An 8-ounce coffee mug can salt about 10 sidewalk squares.
At the Capitol, freshman Democrats in the Wisconsin Legislature want to amend the state Constitution to include include explicit protection for the fundamental right to privacy. Sun Prairie Representative Andrew Hysell says the federal government is “running roughshod over the law and the Constitution:” Hysell sees this as an issue that could get support from Republicans. Like all amendments to the state Constitution, this would require approval in two consecutive legislative sessions and in a statewide vote.
New long-term closures tied to the I-94 are now in effect. The 27th Street viaduct between St. Paul Avenue and Evergreen Lane, as well as the I-94 exit to 26th Street and St. Paul Avenue, are expected to stay closed through summer 2026. The closures are expected to lead to longer detours not only for drivers, but also for bus routes and nearby businesses. Construction on the I-94 East-West Project is expected to continue through 2033.
Target is welcoming a new CEO. Michael Fiddelke was named to the role in August. He succeeded veteran CEO Brian Cornell following a shaky performance and unrest in the retailers' hometown. Fiddelke previously served as Target's chief operating officer. The retailer has logged 12 straight quarters of weak or declining sales, and its stock has fallen more than 20 percent in the past year. Fiddelke's expected to share more details of his vision next month at Target's 2026 Financial Community Meeting, which will be held in Minneapolis rather than New York.
Lawyers for the Minnesota state government are considering the unprecedented move of prosecuting federal agents. There is no modern precedent of criminal charges being filed by the state, without the cooperation of the federal government, against federal officers for the use of deadly force. If charges are brought, the cases would first focus on arguments over federal vs. state court jurisdiction and whether federal officers have immunity from state prosecution. However, state attorneys said this legal process could take years to play out. The charges would pertain to federal agents killing Renee Good and Alex Pretti in January.
A food publication is picking its top brewery in Wisconsin, and it's located in Green County. Mashed recently released its list dubbed "The Best Brewery In Your State, Hands Down," which highlights what it found to be the number one spot for beer in each state. It looked at online reviews and accolades won by different breweries to make its choices. New Glarus Brewing Company was named the best in Wisconsin, a business that has been operating since 1993. It has earned awards at the World Beer Cup and Great American Beer Festival.
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