The Durand City Council is meeting tonight. Items on the agenda include the reorganization of the council after the spring election, discussion and possible action on approval of the issuance and sale of $2.1 million in general obligation notes, setting the rates for the pool for the upcoming season and amending the ordinance regarding use of atv/vut’s on city streets. Tonights meeting begins at 5:30 at Durand City Hall.
While there are no major road projects in the city of Mondovi this year, next year there will be a big project on Hwy 37 from the 4 corners to south of town. Mondovi Mayor Brady Weiss says the city is already in the preliminary planning stages of the project. That project is expected to begin in the spring of 2027.
The Durand Youth Fishing Contest is making changes for this year. Organizers have decided to expand the official contest water boundaries. The new boudaries will include all accessible waterways withing 25 miles of Durand City Hall. Age categories have also been modified to 5-9, 10-14 and 15-18yrs old. The Durand Youth Fishing contest is July 22-26.
An Eau Claire man has been sentenced to 10yrs in federal prison for possession methamphetamine intended for distribution 41yr old Jason Bloedow was arrested in April of 2025 after selling methamphetamine to an informant. When arrested officers forund approximately 2 pounds of meth in Bloedow’s vehicle and he later admitted to selling 28 pounds of meth in the prior three months.
The City of Wabasha is undertaking a construction project to improve Market Street and utilities . The project includes the full reconstruction of the street, sanitary sewer, watermain, and storm sewer utilities. The project also includes the reconfiguration of the Market Street, Washington Ave, and Main Street intersection to improve safety. This project is scheduled to begin the week of April 27th and expected to take approximately 10-12 weeks to complete, depending on weather conditions. The contract substantial completion date is August 28, 2026; however, the final lift of paving will be completed in the Spring of 2027.
The City of La Crosse is considering a number of ordinance changes regarding the use of electric bikes and scooters. Members of the La Crosse Board of Park Commissioners last week voted to continue consideration of proposals that would allow e-bikes with pedal assist to be used on sidewalks while banning throttle use. E-scooters would be permitted on most sidewalks except in the downtown area. The proposals still require approval from the Judiciary & Administration Committee and from Common Council before taking effect.
Minnesotans are banding together after tornadoes wreck parts of Rochester. Olmsted County Sheriff's Office reported that no one was killed or injured despite some severe property damage. The National Weather Service confirmed three tornadoes of varying severity near Olmsted and Wabasha counties. Just outside Rochester, Marion Township, with a population of over four-thousand, suffered the worst. The sheriff's office said a dozen homes were severely damaged.
Minnesota legislators are asking Olmstead County to fix its property tax error. The error resulted in an additional $1.5 million being assessed to property owners in the county. County staff is recommending that the $1.5 million in funds be sequestered and allocated to the 2027 budget. However community members are telling lawmakers they would prefer the money be refunded now. There are state laws in place that would allow the county to issue refunds due to the error.
Hundreds of protesters were hit with tear gas and rubber bullets in Wisconsin during a failed attempt to raid a medical research lab that experiments on beagles. About a thousand protesters showed up at Ridglan Farms west of Madison on Saturday to try to rescue the beagles. Officials claim the protesters brought tools to break in, and one drove a truck through the front gate. The raid was thwarted by local authorities, who arrested about 26 people. The lab is set to surrender its license later this year after a special prosecutor found it had performed experiments that constituted animal mistreatment.
Amtrak could be serving Madison by early in the next decade. Following the successful launch of Borealis service connecting Milwaukee and the Twin Cities, Amtrak is moving ahead with more connections, including between Milwaukee and Madison. Westward extension of the Chicago-Milwaukee Hiawatha line could have twice-daily round trips in place by the early 2030s, according to an Amtrak presentation. Federal grants could cover up to 80% of the $215 million to $275 million "Hiawatha West" project, using existing track to connect downtown Madison and Milwaukee via Pewaukee and Watertown. A separate project could add an 8th daily Chicago-Milwaukee trip sometime this year.
A hectic week for severe weather in Wisconsin. The Journal Sentinel reports that Wisconsin’s four National Weather Service stations declared 92 different tornado warnings from Monday through Friday of last week. The most warnings were from the agency’s Milwaukee station, which issued 43 warnings. The La Crosse station declared 35 warnings, with 26 warnings on Friday alone adding up to the most in a single day in the office’s 29-year-history. The weather service confirmed at least 13 tornadoes touched down in the state Friday, with eight in southeast Wisconsin, three in western Wisconsin and two in Marathon County. The strongest were EF-3’s that touched down in the Buffalo County community of Cream, and the town of Ringle in Marathon County. Final touchdown confirmations aren’t expected to be complete until Tuesday. The State Climatology Office says, on average, Wisconsin gets 23 tornadoes every year.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is warning heavy rain and flooding could contaminate private wells across the state. DNR officials say floodwater and runoff may carry bacteria and other contaminants that can affect drinking water and increase the risk of illness. Private well owners are urged to test water, especially if they notice changes in taste, color, or sediment. Residents are advised to stop using contaminated water, disinfect wells, and test them before use. Authorities say public water systems remain safe, but warn contamination is possible.
You can help birds with their spring migration. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is encouraging residents to get outside and enjoy the return of more than 350 species of migratory birds traveling through the state’s flyways and forests this spring. Conservation biologists say the season is exciting for birdwatchers but dangerous for birds, with populations down nearly 3 billion since 1970. The DNR urges simple steps at home: turn off exterior lights at night in May, make windows safer with screens or markers, plant native species like serviceberry and dogwood, and avoid pesticides that harm insect‑eating birds. Birding events and festivals are happening statewide in the coming weeks, with details available on the DNR’s website.
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