The preliminary utility work in the Madison Street Project is underway. Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren says We Energies is now working on moving the gas lines. The main part of the Madison Street reconstruction project is expected to start in April.
No one was injured in a house fire in Menomonie on Thursday. According to Menomonie Fire, crews when crews arrived to the home the found it engulfed in flames. The fire collapsed the roof and created a gas leak. Xcel Energy was called to shut off the line. The cause of that fire is still under investigation.
Winter weather has created a nationwide blood shortage after storms forced the American Red Cross to cancel drives across the country. The Southwest Wisconsin chapter says the need for blood is especially critical for accident victims, medical emergencies, and surgeries. Executive director Kyle Kriegl reminds donors that giving blood is simple—just stay hydrated, eat a good meal, and get a full night’s rest. He adds that donations are sent wherever the need is greatest, and the Red Cross app will even tell you where your blood ends up helping patients. There will be an upcoming Blood Drive at the Durand United Methodist Church on March 1st from Noon-6pm. Visit red cross blood dot org to schedule an appointment.
An Eau Claire man, missing since January has been found dead. The Eau Claire County Sheriff’s Department said that Kenneth Lewis’ body was found in a wooded area on Wednesday. Lewis was last seen on January 13th and his vehicle was found on January 16 near Augusta. An autopsy has been scheduled to determine the cause of his death.
Winona County has provided residents with an update on the recent ransomware attack that has affect the county’s computer network. The county administrator is warning residents that certain county services may face delays while systems are offline. Officials investigating the incident are being assisted by cybersecurity and data forensics experts, while also working with federal law enforcement. It is unknown at this time if any personal information of residents was impacted.
First time filings for unemployment are decreasing across Wisconsin. That's according to the U.S. Department of Labor, which says for the week ending February 7th, there were more than 49-hundred first time filings in the state. That number is more than 18-hundred filings less than the week prior. Nationally, there was a decrease in the number of initial filings for the week.
The Twins are planning to use beer as a lure to draw fans to some of their home games this season at Target Field. The team will offer two-dollar beers before weekend home games all season long. Fans will be able to buy the low-cost brew before the first pitch of every Friday and Saturday home game. Meanwhile, season ticket holders will be able to get two-dollar pregame beers before every home game throughout the season. Twins have another offer on Friday nights. It's a pregame happy hour deal with two-dollar beers, hot dogs and snacks. Also, new this year is free ice cream for kids 12 and under on Sundays.
Changes to the federal SNAP program could soon impact thousands of Wisconsinites who rely on FoodShare benefits. A coalition of organizations across Wisconsin could be unable to meet new federal requirements without an additional 69 million dollars in support for FoodShare. Rebekah Sweeney is with the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association says the state could face federal penalties. Coalition members argue that funding is critical to protecting Wisconsin families’ access to food assistance. The additional funding would require bipartisan support in the Wisconsin Legislature.
A measure defining "grooming" as a crime in Wisconsin is awaiting the governor's signature. The state Senate passed the bill yesterday with bipartisan support, following last month's overwhelming approval by the Assembly. The legislation makes it illegal to engage in a pattern of behavior intended to condition or entice a child for sexual purposes. State lawmakers say the measure was prompted by gaps in state law exposed in a former Kenosha teacher case. Governor Tony Evers is expected to sign the measure.
The University of Wisconsin - Madison is bringing on a new leader later this year. The school announced Dr. Eric Wilcots as the interim chancellor effective May 17th. Wilcots has been with UW-Madison since 1995 and is currently the dean of the College of Letters and Science. He has also been a deputy dean associate dean for research. Wilcots is taking over for Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin, who is leaving to become the president of Columbia University.
Legislation regulating wakesurfing on Wisconsin lakes is on the fast track at the Capitol. Introduced on Monday, Assembly Bill 1033 was advanced to the floor for a Thursday vote after an hours long public hearing on Wednesday. In a social media post, Wisconsin Wildlife Federation Executive Director Cody Kamrowski called it “totally inadequate,” and urged people to call their Assembly representatives and tell them not to support the measure. A coalition of nearly 90 groups representing a variety of stakeholders contend the bill endangers lake health with insufficient restrictions on wakesurfing and other enhanced-wake activities. The groups support proposed legislation from State Senators Rachael Cabral-Guevara and Andre Jacque and Representative Nate Gustafson to establish responsible regulation and protect Wisconsin’s lakes from “wake-enhanced boating.”
The company that owns Kraft and Oscar Meyer is no longer planning to break up. Kraft Heinz announced last year that it was planning to split off some of its brands into separate companies for sale, but worsening economic conditions have made that impossible. Kraft Heinz has been seeing reduced sales both from a struggling food sector grappling with inflation, but also from consumers looking for healthier options. The company's CEO says they'll be working on marketing themselves to more people and business development. The company has a number of Kraft and Oscar Meyer facilities in Wisconsin.
Wisconsin
lawmakers are advancing a bill that would overhaul eligibility for
race based higher education programs. The Republican-authored bill
prohibits using race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, or
religion to determine eligibility, replacing them with a broader
“disadvantaged” category based on economic or personal hardship.
An Assembly committee approved the bill on a six‑to‑five
vote Tuesday. If it becomes law, the changes would affect
minority‑focused loans, grants, and enrollment programs across
the UW System, technical colleges, and several private institutions.
It needs to pass in the Republican controlled Assembly and Senate
before heading to Democratic Governor Tony Evers’ desk.
As Valentine's Day is quickly approaching, Wisconsin is being ranked as one of the best states for singles. That's according to a new WalletHub study, which ranked which states are the best and worst for singles based off of factors such as the number of single adults in the state, the economics of those who are single, and the number of restaurants, attractions, and nightlife options which can be used for dates. Wisconsin ranked as the sixth best state for singles, scoring its best marks in the categories of dating opportunities, romance, and fun. West Virginia ranked as the worst state for singles, while Florida, New York and Texas took the top spots.
A
judge is blocking the Trump administration from freezing funds for
Minnesota child and family services. On Friday, a preliminary
injunction was granted to pause any attempts to freeze funding. The
U.S. Administration for Children and Families froze all funds for
Minnesota and four other states following fraud allegations. On
Wednesday, the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth and Families
said they were grateful for the decision that protects childcare and
other essential services.
Wisconsin saw a jump in unidentified flying objects reports in 2025. The National UFO Reporting Center listed 74 reports of UFOs in Wisconsin last year for a 48% increase. Sightings range from a fast-moving star that disappeared suddenly and was marked as a potential satellite to a triangle of lights that appeared as large as a city block. The National UFO Reporting Center is one of multiple databases that tracks the self-reported observations of UFOs. The center, which is a private, non-profit organization founded in 1974, listed 50 reports of UFOs in Wisconsin in 2024.
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