Local-Regional News April 9

Western Wisconsin is coming together to help local dairy farmers. Area restaurants started offering cheese curds and milk with each take out order, others are making donations of Dairy Products to the Durand Food Pantry. The Pepin County Dairy Promotion Committee purchased 100 gallons of milk for the Food Pantry. Committee Vice President Kyle Danzinger says it was an eye opener the limits the food pantry has on dairy.  Eau Galle Cheese also donated 50lbs of cheese curds to the food pantry that will be given out during regular food distributions. Today from 4-pm, the Durand Food Pantry will have a special milk distribution of the 100 gallons of milk.

The Durand City Hall is closed till further notice due to the covid-19 outbreak. Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren says residents that do need to meet with city staff can still do so, but they have to call ahead.

Even though city hall is closed, all city services will continue to function as normal.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services has expanded the list of symptoms of Covid-19. Pepin County Health Officer Heidi Stewart. Stewart says the list was expanded because researchers found positive cases of covid-19 with those symptoms.  The new list of symptoms can be found on the Wisconsin Department of Health Services website.

One local resident wondered how he could help dairy farmers and his idea has resulted in cheese curds will be added to the lunches of Durand-Arkansaw School District Students. Dave Schneider heard the story of Ellsworth Coop asking farmers to retire early to lower the milk supply and he wondered what a non-farmer could do to help. He reached out to the School District with an idea. Purchase cheese curds from Eau Galle Cheese and included them in the lunch of the students. His idea was told to Karl Kurth at MH Insurance, and Karl then recruited Prime Realty, Maxville Truck and Repair, and First Choice Dairy Supply to purchase 150lbs of cheeses curds every week till the end of the school year. The first 75lbs of curds arrives Monday and will be included in the lunches the district is handing out.

Some Durand kids wanted to spread some cheer for their neighborhood while many are staying safer at home due to the coronavirus outbreak. Jessa Hayden, April Boigenzahn, Kaylie Besmer, Gavin Besmer and Ava Schultz decided to grab the sidewalk chalk and decorate 13^th Avenue in Durand with hopeful messages and happy pictures. The kids said they wanted to bring some happiness and smiles to everyone during these challenging times.

 La Crosse County Judge Ramona Gonzalez has rejected a request for a low bond for a man accused of shooting a police officer.  Allen Kruk’s attorney had asked that his client be released Tuesday so he would avoid the risk of contracting the coronavirus while he’s in jail.  Kruk was charged last September with attempted first-degree intentional homicide.  The 35-year-old Kurk has been in the La Crosse County Jail for the last seven months on a 50-thousand-dollar bond.

The Mayo Clinic is partnering with a Lake City company to provide personal protective equipment for Mayo employees dealing with COVID-19.  Pepin Manufacturing has an agreement with Mayo to produce about 200-thousand face shields for the health care provider.  Mayo staff will be supplementing the employees of the Lake City firm to assemble and package the masks over the next two weeks.  Around 35 to 40 Mayo staff have signed up to work the shifts.

Wisconsin public health officials are worried that holding Tuesday’s election in the middle of a pandemic will lead to a spoke of new coronavirus cases in the near future.  Doctors, poll workers, elected officials and many voters had called for a delay in the spring primaries.  Voters who didn’t receive absentee ballots in time were forced to choose between voting in-person or staying at home to avoid possible exposure to the virus.  Epidemiologist Kristen Malecki told broadcast reporters holding the election ran counter to all scientific evidence.

 Governor Tony Evers says some changes will have to be made before he gives his approval to Republican-backed legislation aimed at dealing with the coronavirus pandemic.  The bill would give the Joint Finance Committee the ability to make cuts to the state budget as it sees fit.  It would also eliminate a raise for state workers next year if Wisconsin’s revenues fall dramatically.  Evers says that provision has to be removed before he would be willing to move forward with the legislation.

 Unemployed Minnesotans are among the first in the nation to receive benefits through the two-trillion-dollar coronavirus stimulus package.   The Department of Employment and Economic Development says those currently receiving state benefits will automatically qualify for an additional 600 dollars in federal compensation.  DEED Commissioner Steve Grove says the agency has already completed about 200-thousand applications for a total of 115-million dollars. The week of March 29th is the first week for the extra payment.

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Wisconsin Elections Commission administrator Meagan Wolfe says problems with delivery of absentee ballots from Tuesday's election appear to be on the postal service, and not on the commission's MyVote website.  Wolfe says three tubs of ballots for Oshkosh and Appleton have been discovered at a mail processing center in Milwaukee. In the Milwaukee County Village of Fox Point, absentee ballots that were supposed to be mailed to residents were bounced back to the Village Hall by the postal service over a two week period.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is extending Minnesota's stay at home order due to COVID-19 from April 10th to May 4th.  Data showed by the governor puts Minnesota's COVID-19 rate at one of the lowest in the nation - but Walz was quick to push back on viewing that in a positive light.  He said, "we cannot rest, this thing can explode overnight if you don't take the proper precautions."  The latest order allows landscape and golf course maintenance workers to resume operations.  Bars and restaurants will remain closed until May 4th.  Health officials say they will not be prepared to share models that informed this decision until Friday.

Dane County officials have issued a public health alert after a recent increase in suspected opioid overdoses.  The alert is in effect to increase community awareness about the growing problem.  Eleven people were treated at hospital emergency rooms for overdoses during the last month.  Authorities say they’re not sure what is creating the growing number of overdoses.

Grocery customers should allow a little extra time when they go to a Pick ‘N Save or Metro Market store.  Cincinnati-based Kroger is limiting the number of people allowed inside its stores as a way to slow the spread of the coronavirus.  The number of people allowed in a store at the same time will depend on how big the facility is.  The restriction is similar to those in effect at other big-box retailers like Walmart and Target.

Authorities in Marathon County report a stabbing has left one man dead and a second one injured.  Both victims were in their 20s, but their names haven’t been released.  Captain Greg Bean with the Marathon County Sheriff’s Office says there were multiple people inside the home at the time of the attack.  The 9-1-1 call about a domestic incident was received at about 8:30 a-m Tuesday.  A suspect is in custody after a police pursuit.  He was finally arrested several hours after the incident, but his name hasn’t been released.

Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon is asking the Minnesota Legislature to give his office temporary expanded authority to help ensure safe elections during the COVID-19 pandemic.  He introduced his proposal this morning at the Capitol (Wednesday).  Simon is pushing for expanded statewide mail-in ballots and absentee voting.  He said, "it takes 30-thousand poll workers in Minnesota to put on an election, and if Wisconsin is any indication and if an election happens during a pandemic, people will not want to do those jobs, they will drop out, they will leave and they will quit."  The proposal also calls for a reduction in the number of polling places and extra time for elections administrators to process ballots.

An Eau Claire-based taxi cab company is offering its customers sanitized rides while they worry about the coronavirus.  The Ride Jam says it uses a special machine that kills COVID-19 and other viruses.  Owner Matt Boetcher  says the company is doing this to provide a safe and luxurious ride to every customer.  Boetcher says each car is cleaned before it picks up another rider.

Local-Regional News April 8

The Durand City Council is meeting tonight. Items on the agenda include reports from the Mayor and City Administrator. The council will also discuss issues related to the city's response to the Covid 19 outbreak including utility bill late fees, revolving loan payments, downtown business parking and the spring yard waste clean up. Due to the covid-19 outbreak and the safer at home orders, WRDN will live stream the meeting on our Facebook page starting at 6:30. Those with public comments are encouraged to call city hall as those will be taken over the phone.

Personal Protection Supplies from the Federal Government stockpile have arrived at Advent Health in Durand. Angela Jacobson, Director of Nursing for Advent Health says along with the supplies, all staff at the hospital are now required to wear a mask.  Jacobson says the new policy is from Advent Health as the company has spent $52 million to purchase PPE Supplies.

The daily reports on the Covid-19 testing in Pepin County is changing. Pepin County Health Officer Heidi Stewart says the changes are necessary for consistent information.  Stewart says the county will continue to report any positive test results once they receive that information from the State of Wisconsin Department of Health Services.

The Wisconsin Spring Election was held yesterday. Here in Durand, the city reported that 166 people cast their ballots in person. Across Wisconsin there were reports of long lines at some locations as 2400 Wisconsin National Guard members filled in as poll workers. Many were encouraged to vote absentee and approximately 990,000 ballots were cast absentee.

The Dunn County Solid Waste Department is announcing that the hours at the Boyceville, Colfax and Elk Mound area collection stations will be extended at the request of residents and to encourage safe social distancing practices. The stations will now be open Wednesdays from 10am-6pm, and Saturdays from 7am-3pm until further notice. A reminder that the Connorsville, Ridgeland, Rock Creek and Downsville Area Collection stations remain closed due to the covid-19 pandemic.

The Buffalo County Health and Human Services Department is reminding county residents that if you lost employment, or have reduced hours and are having trouble paying your utility bills to contact the department for energy assistance. In addition to the crisis funding available, the state of WI has made some changes to income verification process due to the covid-19 pandemic, which may make you eligible. For more information call Amy Dahl at 608-685-6306.

Hotels in Rochester are being asked to ease policies that are apparently preventing local health care workers from renting rooms during the coronavirus pandemic.  The city is formally requesting lodging and hospitality businesses "to temporarily adjust their policies" that prevent managers and staff from renting rooms to local residents.  Deputy City Administrator Aaron Parrish says the city has been receiving reports from medical professionals seeking temporary facilities and community members looking for safe spaces to self-quarantine, but they are being turned away from Rochester hotels.  Parish says relaxing the policies will allow Rochester residents to social distance to protect the health of their families and other members of our community.

Officials with Xcel Energy are urging boaters and fishermen to stay away from the dams at two of the company’s hydro plants.  Xcel says high water levels mean boat restraining barriers haven’t been installed at the plants in St. Croix Falls and Jim Falls.  Those barriers keep boats away from the powerhouse intakes and the spillway sections at both locations.  Plant manager Randy Volbrecht says boating, canoeing or kayaking near the dams aren’t recommended until the river water levels recede.

The Trump Administration is approving Minnesota's request for a major disaster declaration to help combat the COVID-19 pandemic.  U-S Senator Amy Klobuchar says this declaration is a step toward making sure those in need have access to critical resources.  It authorizes federal funding to cover costs for medical assistance, mental health counseling, hazard mitigation, food, and legal services. Minnesota could also be reimbursed for the State Emergency Operations Center, National Guard and law enforcement services.

At a time when lost jobs are topping the news reports Amazon is moving in the other direction.  The web-based retailer announced Monday it has hired 700 people for its fulfillment center in Kenosha.  The company says it needed the additional personnel to keep up with the demand from people who are shopping online rather than go into brick-and-mortar stores.  Amazon says many of its new hires are workers who recently lost their jobs and needed to get back to work quickly.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is hoping somebody saw something when a Tundra Swan was shot in a field in Outagamie County last month.  A worker at the Feather Wildlife Rehab and Education Center found the bird with a broken right wing in the Town of Maple Creek.  It was taken to the center for treatment and died six days later.  The D-N-R says the fine for shooting a protected swan could top 23 hundred dollars – plus a three-year revocation of hunting, fishing and trapping privileges.

The C-E-O of a Minnesota-based biomedical engineering company says a deal is being discussed with Foxconn to make ventilators in Wisconsin.  Chairman and C-E-O Omar Ishrak of Medtronic was interviewed on C-N-B-C Monday.  Ishrak said the two companies would like to make as many of the critical units as possible.  Medtronic is headquartered in Minneapolis while the work would be done at the plant in southeastern Wisconsin.

 Minnesota officials say tens of thousands of Minnesotans will receive unemployment benefits sooner due to an executive order issued Monday by Governor Tim Walz.  Employment and Economic Development Commissioner Steve Grove says the state is no longer required to delay benefits for people who are taking vacation, sick pay or personal time off when they apply for unemployment insurance.  Grove said DEED is going to issue payments to 45-thousand people "who are stuck in our queue right now, far faster than we could have before."  At last count more than 342-thousand Minnesotans have applied for unemployment benefits since mid-March.

 The Minnesota House and Senate passed legislation today that would guarantee workers' comp benefits to emergency responders, health care providers, corrections officers and others who contract COVID-19.  They would receive benefits even if they cannot prove a COVID-19 infection is directly related to their jobs.  House Majority Leader Ryan Winkler says the cost is estimated between 320- and 580-million dollars.  Winkler said "we have to get this protection for first responders right away. If we don't pass this bill today, they will not have protection tomorrow."  Governor Tim Walz has indicated he will sign it into law right away.

Dodgeville-based Lands’ End says it has furloughed about 70 percent of its corporate employees and nearly all of its retail workers.  The company released a statement saying the safety and health of its workers is the first priority.  Lands’ End employees involved in "critical tasks" will return to the job a week from today (Tuesday, April 14), but most of the other workers are not expected back before May 1st.  The company’s 26 national stores will remain closed until further notice, but distribution centers are open and operational.  Online orders are still being filled.

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and U-S Attorney Erica MacDonald are forming the Minnesota COVID-19 Action Team or M-CAT.  It's a coordinated statewide effort focused on investigating and prosecuting unlawful activity associated with the coronavirus and enforcing all state and federal laws and executive orders to put an end to such behavior. The M-CAT urges the public to report any COVID-19-related criminal behavior, price-gouging, scams, cyber crimes, hate crimes, or other unlawful activity to the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office.

Local-Regional News April 7

Gas prices continue to drop. Here in Western Wisconsin, the average price for gas according to AAA was 1.42, that is approximately $1.40 a gallon cheaper than one year ago. Across the state of Wisconsin the average price was $1.43 a gallon and nationwide the average was $1.92. A lack of demand due to the Covid-19 outbreak along with a price and production war between Saudi Arabia and Russia continue to drive down prices.

Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery is the latest dairy processor looking for ways to decrease milk production. Paul Bauer, General Manager of the Co-Op says instead of having farmers dump their milk, the Co-Op decided to give an incentive to those members that might have been thinking of exiting the business in the next year or two to sell their cows now.  Bauer says the co-op needs to reduce its milk intake by 100,000lbs of milk per day. If they cannot get to that level through the early retirement plan, they may force farmers to dump milk.

With schools closed due to the covid-19 outbreak, many special events like prom and graduation are in question. In the Durand-Arkansaw School District, it was decided to move prom to June 20^th. As for the Graduation Ceremony, according to Durand-Arkansaw Superintendent Greg Doverspike there has been no change yet for graduation.

Due to the current shortage of Personal Protective Equipment, the Pepin County Health Department and the Pepin County Sheriffs Department are asking the public's help to consider making and donating homemade cloth face coverings for local law enforcement. If you have some already made or have a sewing machine and are able to make some, please consider doing so. To schedule a time to drop off your donation, please call the Health Department at 672-5961

Pepin County Dairy Promotion and Eau Galle Cheese Factory have donated 100 gallons of 2% milk and 50 pounds of cheese curds to the Durand Area Food Pantry. The cheese curds will be included in the regular food distribution on Wednesdays from 9-Noon and Thursdays from 1-4pm. There will be a special milk only giveaway on Thursday from 4-6pm or until the milk is gone at the Durand Food Pantry. The milk will be given by curbside delivery at the Durand Food Pantry.

 A judge in La Crosse County has dismissed sexual assault charges which had been filed against a retired priest.  Monsignor Bernard McGarty had been accused of touching a woman inappropriately outside the La Crosse Library last May.  Video surveillance cameras captured what actually happened.  The woman told investigators McGarty gave her 20 dollars after she told him she’s homeless.  Then she claimed he asked to see some of her tattoos and placed her arm in his lap with what were called clear sexual intentions.

The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation now says Wisconsin’s peak date for its battle with COVID-19 will be April 17th instead of the 27th.  The I-H-M-E is also predicting fewer deaths from the virus in this state.  The latest numbers suggest Wisconsin will see 644 deaths by June 1st – less than half the original prediction of one-thousand-309.  By predicting the peak date will be on the 17th, the scientists are saying that is when Wisconsin will see the highest death rate and the greatest usage of hospital resources.  The I-H-M-E has also dialed back its estimated national death toll, from 93 thousand to fewer than 82 thousand.

 The Wisconsin Elections Commission reports more than one million requests for absentee ballots have been received leading up to Tuesday’s primaries.  Rock County Clerk Lisa Tollefson told W-K-O-W television her office has issued as many absentee ballots this year as the total of all votes in the 2012 elections – including in-person voting. 

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Workers' compensation will be discussed when members of the Minnesota Legislature reconvene Tuesday.  Workers’ compensation claims for first responders, police officers, firefighters, and health care workers, including home health care workers, who contract COVID-19, will be on the table.  The joint announcement was made over the weekend by House Speaker Melissa Hortman, Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka, House Minority Leader Kurt Daudt, and Senate Minority Leader Susan Kent.

Top Wisconsin Republican leaders have been turned down in their request for in-person Easter and Passover services to be allowed.  Governor Tony Evers denied the request Monday after a waiver of the Safer at Home order had been sought.  Assembly Speaker Robin Vos issued a statement saying “it is more important than ever that we allow Wisconsinites to observe their individual faiths.”  He suggested the services could be held outside.  A spokesperson for the governor said his decision was based on protecting the health and safety of all Wisconsinites.

The state of Minnesota is experiencing a shortage of some key personal protective equipment. The Healthcare system is running out of medical gowns. There are about 15 thousand remaining in the state warehouse, while other critical PPE supplies could last another two-to-six weeks. The shortage has prompted the State Emergency Operations Center to make it clear on the homepage of its website that donations of unused PPE are welcome.

Heavy rain and snow melt caused more than 7 million gallons of sewage to overflow into Lake Superior from Ashland's waste water treatment plant last month. According to city press release, the overflow occurred March 29 and 30. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has been notified. Residents are being ask to avoid contact with any sanitary sewer overflow due to "the potential for exposure to disease-causing organisms." Ashland city leaders told KBJR TV in Duluth last year that the city's sewer system is outdated.

Authorities in Houston County say a 66-year-old farmer died of the injuries he suffered Sunday while trying to help a cow deliver her calf.  Emergency responders were called shortly before midnight on a report of a livestock accident.  Richard Wagner was taken to a hospital in La Crosse, Wisconsin, but he died before doctors could save him.  Authorities in Houston County are investigating the apparent accident.

Divorced parents in Wisconsin who share child custody still have to work out a custody exchange during the COVID-19 pandemic. Family Law Attorney Lauren Otto says some parents don't want to exchange children for fear of the risk to spread coronavirus from home to home. Otto says Governor Evers "Safer at Home" order provides a specific exemption for child exchanges, and parents must still exchange custody of their children as required by the courts.

Local-Regional News April 6

One person has been arrested on drug charges in Dunn County. According to the Dunn County Sheriffs Department, officers conducted a traffic stop last Thursday in the town of Dunn which led to the arrest of an adult male and the seizure of methamphetamine. Based on the arrest and information gathered, a search warrant was executed in the Village of Boyceville which lead to the discovery of 110 grams of methamphetamine, ecstasy pills and packaging material. The adult male was charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, maintaining a drug trafficking place and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Over the weekend, the CDC issued a new guidance on face covers for those going into public. The guidance advises people to wear some type of face cover if they are going into places where it may be difficult to maintain the 6ft social distancing. According to Pepin County Health Nurse Nikki Gilles, the face cover is not to protect you from getting covid-19, but to try and prevent the spread of covid-19. The Pepin County Health Department has instructions to make a face cover on their Facebook Page.

Dairy prices have been in a free fall since the coronavirus outbreak began to accelerate. Several dairy groups in Wisconsin sent a letter to Congress asking for assistance for dairy farmers. Wisconsin Congressman Ron Kind says things continue to pile onto the already-struggling industry.  Kind is looking into a couple of other challenges that have been brought to his attention including the lack of dairy products in the stores and price gouging of dairy products.  

The Wisconsin Spring Election is still on for Tuesday. Because of the covid-19 outbreak, many municipalities across Wisconsin have a shortage of poll workers. According to Durand City Administrator Scott Rasmuessen, because of the cancellations city staff will have to assist in the election. A recent ruling by a federal judge allows mail in ballots to be returned before April 13^th. The results of the election will not be released before then.

 A convicted sex offender could be returning to prison after being accused of threatening probation officers.  Charges have been filed against Tyler Mills of Eau Claire.  Prosecutors say Mills threatened to set off a bomb in the probation department parking lot.  He’s also accused of threatening to kidnap, rape and kill a probation officer.  Mills was found guilty in 2008 of attempted child enticement.  If he is convicted, the threat charges would include a three-and-a-half-year prison term.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has granted the request for a major disaster declaration for Wisconsin.  That means all 72 counties will have access to public assistance programs as they seek reimbursement for the emergency measures taken in response to COVID-19.  Federally-recognized Native American tribes are eligible, too.  Wisconsin Emergency Management Administrator Darrell Williams says the state will work with local governments “to ensure the disaster assistance is received as quickly as possible.”  FEMA covers 75 percent of the costs, while state and local agencies pay the rest.

Some trash companies in Minnesota are urging people to take a measured approach to spring cleaning while Minnesota's "stay at home" order is in place. Companies are concerned if too many residents try to throw away too much at once their collection systems could be overloaded. A simple rule of thumb companies say, if it doesn't fit in your trash bin, don't throw it away right now.

The UW-System is looking to support local non-profit groups with 1 point 5 million dollars in grants to help fight COVID-19 and support their communities. Dr. Amy Kind with the Wisconsin Partnership Program says one type of grants they're looking to offer is to those groups that provide mental health support to those in isolation.  You can find out more and apply for a grant online at www.med.wisc.edu/wisconsin-partnership-program/covid-19-response-grant-program/

Social Security recipients in Wisconsin are being told they will be receiving a stimulus check.  Initially, there was some confusion about whether potential recipients had to file a tax return to get the benefit.  The U-S Treasury Department is assuring them those who earn less than 75 thousand dollars-a-year will have the 12-hundred dollars either electronically deposited in their checking account – or they will receive the check in the mail.  U-S Senator Tammy Baldwin joined a group of 41 senators calling for the U-S Treasury and Social Security Administration to ensure all beneficiaries would automatically receive the check.

Communities in Wisconsin’s Northwoods are repeating the plea issued in March – please stay away.  Normally, visitors from downstate are the lifeblood of the tourist area, but these times aren’t normal.  Waushara County Public Health Officer Patti Wohlfeil says there is only one hospital in her county and it only has 23 beds.  She says if visitors or vacation cabin owners bring the coronavirus up north, it could quickly overwhelm their ability to care for the people who live there permanently.

More than 320-thousand Minnesotans have now applied for unemployment insurance, and there are reports that claim processing has slowed down.  Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) Commissioner Steve Grove acknowledges numbers are rising and ability to handle them is being stretched -- but says his department is adding people daily.  Grove says 50 staff this week and as much expected next week, "adding to that team of people that is processing these claims at an incredible speed, given the amount of work to be done."  He says they're also preparing to issue the extra 600-dollar payments coming from the federal government.

President Donald Trump is ordering 3-M to make and sell millions of N-95 masks to FEMA.  Trump is using the Defense Production Act to speed up the distribution of personal protective equipment.  The president Tweeted Thursday, "We hit 3M hard today."  His order reportedly calls for Minnesota-based 3-M to stop exporting its masks to Latin America and Canada and to increase exports of masks made at its overseas plants to the U-S.  A statement issued by 3-M said, "there are significant humanitarian implications" if they follow the Trump Administration's request.  Vice President Mike Pence visited 3-M headquarters in Maplewood last month.

 Officials with ThedaCare Family Foundation and the St. Elizabeth Hospital Foundation say they are getting a big helping hand from an anonymous donor.  Ventilators will be bought with the donation of more than 170 thousand dollars.  Ventilators are used as a primary treatment facilitator for critically ill patients with the coronavirus.  Hospitals all across the country are rushing to buy more as COVID-19 cases rapidly increase.

As Americans are spending more time at home, parents may need some meal inspiration to keep the whole family happy. The Wisconsin Beef Council along with the Beef Checkoff is offering some help with recipes that everyone in the family can enjoy and even make together. Some of the family favorites the Beef Checkoff recommends include Personal Beef Pizzas. They only need four base ingredients and can be customized by each family member based on what’s on hand. Other recipes include a Chuckwagon Beef and Pasta Skillet, Cheeseburger Mac, as well as Peanut Butter, Chocolate-Hazelnut, and Chocolate Chip Beef Jerky Cookies. “BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com is a great resource for kid-friendly options that can be made with kitchen staples many families may already have on hand,” says Alisa Harrison, Senior Vice President of Global Marketing and Research at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. “These family favorites can help simplify dinner, lunch, or even snack time with easy prep and flavors that satisfy the whole family.” The website also has recipes that call for five ingredients or less and affordable meals under $15, as well as a full collection of cooking lessons. It even offers virtual farm and ranch tours to help educate kids when they’re being homeschooled.

Local-Regional News April 3

Easter is this Sunday and health officials are struggling to come up with a balance between continued physical distancing and allowing people to celebrate Easter according to their faith. Pepin County Health Officer Heidi Stewart says health officials do understand its a special time of year.  As of Thursday evening there was no guidance from the state division of health regarding easter services.

Starting next week, Advent Health in Durand will have two new services to assist residents with health care needs during the covid-19 outbreak. The tele-medicine app should be working allowing you to meet with you doctor via zoom and according to Angela Jacobson, Director of Nursing for Advent Health a virtual nurse will be set up to assist any patient that tests positive for covid-19. She says the app will work on your smart phone.  The virtual nurse app will be available through the hospital's website or by calling 877 VIRUS HQ.

Dunn County Golf Courses will be allowed to open. The Dunn County Health Department released a statement yesterday saying that the courses can remain open during the Governor's Safer at home order. However all clubhouses must remain closed, only members of the course are allowed and all tee times must be called in ahead of time. The Dunn County Health Department said the policy will change if courses or golfers are not following the guidelines.

A new policy at Menards bars anyone under 16 years old and dogs from entering their stores.  A Menards spokesperson says the move is in response to the coronavirus outbreak.  Customers who look like they may be 15 or under could be asked to show identification as well.  Signs posted at the stores say children under 16 and pets should remain in their cars because of the crisis.  Prior to the policy change, pet owners were allowed to bring their dogs into the stores.  The Eau Claire-based chain reduced hours earlier this month to provide greater time for cleaning and sanitizing.  Menards has also been accused of COVID-19 price gouging by attorneys general in several states.

A civil lawsuit claiming cruel and inhuman treatment filed by a victim of a sexual assault in 2017 against Dunn County, the Dunn County Sheriffs Department and other law enforcement officers has been ruled on. Barron County Judge Maureen Boye issued a ruling that Dunn County and the sheriff's department had proper procedures in place and dismissed them from the case. The only remaining person in the case is Ryan Boigenzahn, who was found guilty of 2^nd degree sexual assault in the criminal case.

 Wednesday afternoon in Red Wing, drivers were able to fill up their tanks on 99-cents-a-gallon gas.  A spokesperson for GasBuddy-dot-com calls current prices “an unprecedented event,” pointing to one of the biggest historical collapses in gas prices ever.  Twin Cities metro gas prices were about a dollar-59 cents-a-gallon, the lowest they’ve been in nearly two decades.  The statewide average is a dollar-82.

Organizers of the annual Spring Flood Run between the east metro and Winona are cancelling this year's event because of the COVID-19 outbreak.  Hundreds of Minnesota and Wisconsin motorcyclists were set to ride along the Mississippi River Saturday April 18th.  Money raised from the run is donated to Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare.  The event started in 1965 when a dozen people from the Twin Cities rode to Winona to help sandbag during spring flooding.  The Fall Flood Run is still planned for September.

Long time Democrat Senator Jennifer Shilling says she's stepping away from the Legislature. Shilling says that after 20 years in office, it's time to step back from her role in the Capitol. Her two children are nearly grown, and Shilling says she'd like to spend more time with them. Shilling was a state representative before being elected to the Senate in 2011, and then named as Senate Minority Leader in 2014. She says she's proud of her role in modernizing healthcare and pushing for criminal justice reforms while in the legislature.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is suspending in-person classes for more than 300 summer courses.  That means the university is expanding its online offerings.  The change is being made due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to a Thursday news released.  Online classes have been offered for the Summer Term for more than 10 years.  School officials say the scholarship deadline for the summer courses has been extended to May.

The Minnesota Senate is approving 47-and-a-half-million dollars from the COVID-19 Response Fund to purchase ventilators and N-95 face masks.  Majority Leader Paul Gazelka says the funding for the supplies is ready and available, "and I encourage the Walz administration to make these purchases as soon as possible, knowing that other states and nations are needing the same items we do.”  Expenditures from the fund must be reviewed and approved by the legislature within 24 hours.

A federal judge has ordered that Wisconsin voters be given an extra six days beyond Tuesday's election, to submit absentee ballots. U.S. District Judge William Conley said earlier this week he would not postpone the election despite his misgivings about public health from COVID-19 concerns. The deadline for voters to get absentee ballots to clerks had been 8 p.m. on Election Day. Conley's order issued Thursday extends that to 4 p.m. the following Monday, April 13, and lifts the witness signature requirement for absentee ballots. He said voters may state in writing that they could not safely get that due to coronavirus fears. Conley's order also extends the deadline to request absentee ballots to 5 p.m. tommorow/Friday.

The Wisconsin Restaurant Association is letting people know where they can go to find delivery, takeout or curbside services.  It is offering a database of open and closed restaurants around the state of Wisconsin.  More than one-thousand restaurants are listed to help hungry people find places to eat while supporting local businesses during the coronavirus pandemic.  The information can be found online at w-i-restaurant-dot-org.

 Republican legislative leaders would support a temporary waiving of the one-week waiting period for people getting unemployment benefits.  That change is part of a state aid package in response to the COVID-19 breakout.  Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald and Assembly Speaker Robin Vos criticized the governor Wednesday for failing to release more information about coronavirus patients in Wisconsin.  The state aid package would supplement the two-point-three billion dollars coming to Wisconsin as its part of the federal stimulus package called the CARES Act.  Vos says he expects lawmakers to meet soon to vote on passage of the state aid package.

The 2020 Democratic National Convention in Milwaukee is being postponed one month due to concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic.  The D-N-C says the event originally set for July 13th to 17th is rescheduled for the week of August 17th.  It is expected to draw 50-thousand people to southeast Wisconsin with the convention itself to be held at Fiserv Forum.  Democratic presidential frontrunner Joe Biden told Jimmy Fallon on the "Tonight Show" Wednesday that he doubted the convention was going to be held in July and thought it would be moved into August.  D-N-C committee C-E-O Joe Solmonese said, "I’m confident our convention planning team and our partners will find a way to deliver a convention in Milwaukee this summer that places our Democratic nominee on the path to victory in November."  Republicans still plan to gather August 24th through the 27th in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The latest Marquette Law School poll finds almost one-in-10 Wisconsin residents have lost their job because of the coronavirus pandemic.  Another 22 percent say their hours have been cut or they are working less.  Poll takers found a majority of the respondents support the way President Trump and Governor Evers are combating the virus.

The U-S Census Bureau says Wisconsin and Minnesota are doing it again.  The two upper Midwest states are virtually tied at the top for the nation’s highest share of households responding to the 2020 census.  A little over 46 percent of the households in both states had answered the short questionnaire as of Census Day, Wednesday.  The national average is 38 percent.  Census takes are scheduled to start knocking on doors May 28th, but the coronavirus pandemic could delay that effort.  Washington, Calumet, Ozaukee and Waukesha counties have the highest response rates in the country at just over 55 percent.

Local-Regional News April 2

While the Governor's safer at home order is still in effect, people are encourage to be outdoors, but not every activity is encouraged. Pepin County Health Officer Heidi Stewart says that part of the Governors order closed playgrounds across the state.  Stewart also said playing things like basketball, or soccer with other people is also on the list of prohibited activites. Stewart recommends activities like going for a walk, jogging, walking the dog or even biking as long as you are not with a group of people and you maintain social distancing.

Buffalo County has reported its 2^nd positive Covid-19 test. An 80yr old individual was confirmed to have Covid-19 on Wednesday. According to Buffalo County Health Officer April Loeffler the individual was exposed to a known Covid-19 case and is currently hospitalized. The department is actively identifying contacts that the individual may have had and will contact everyone who may have been exposed to provide appropriate guidance.

Congressman Ron Kind isn’t being specific, but he says people should start getting their stimulus checks soon.  The Wisconsin Democrat says he’s not sure exactly when the 12-hundred-dollar credits will appear in checking accounts – or when the checks will come in the mail.  Kind said Tuesday everyone with a Social Security number will qualify for the help.  The U-S Treasury Secretary has said checks could be sent out within three weeks.

Advent Health of Durand is gearing up to offer patients the ability to meet with their doctors through the internet with tele-mdeicine. Angela Jacobson, Directo of Nursing and Emergency Preparedness at Advent Health says the Hospital will be using the program zoom.  Patients that want to use the program need to call the hospital first and they will help you set up the program on your device and schedule an appointment with your doctor.

Some Wisconsin Dairy Farmers began dumping their milk as processing facilities are running out of room for fluid milk. The market has been upended due to the shutdown of schools and restaurants, while in the grocery store there are empty shelves in the dairy case. Darrin Von Ruden, President of the Wisconsin Farmers Union says that some processing plants are not able to switch from making milk in 8oz cartons to gallon jugs.  Other factors that could be affecting the processors is lack of workers plus dairy farmers can't just “turn the cows off” to lower supply. Here in Western Wisconsin, AMPI and Eau Galle Cheese Factory were reporting they were NOT having their members dump milk.

A federal judge says holding Wisconsin’s spring election next week is “a really bad public policy idea and they should stop it.”  Judge William Conley says he doesn’t have the legal authority to postpone the vote.  Conley was referring to Democratic Governor Tony Evers and Republican legislative leaders who he thinks have abdicated their responsibilities and refused to “step up” during a crisis.  Voters will cast ballots on the presidential primary, a seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court, and hundreds of local elected offices.  Judge Conley says if anyone gets COVID-19 while voting, the governor and lawmakers will be to blame.

The Wisconsin Elections Commission reports the number of requests for absentee ballots for next Tuesday’s spring election has topped one million.  A press release from the commission indicates many requests have come through the MyVote Wisconsin website.  Chief elections official Meagan Wolfe says the commission wants everyone eligible and who wants to vote to be able to do so safely.  The deadline for a registered voter to request an absentee ballot be mailed to them is today (Thursday) by 5:00 p-m.

The new Marquette Law School poll shows strong support for Wisconsin's stay-at-home order and government action to control the spread of COVID-19.  Eighty-six percent say it was appropriate to close schools and businesses and restrict public gatherings while ten percent say it was an overreaction.  Seventy-six percent approve of Governor Evers' handling of the pandemic and 17 percent disapprove.  Fifty-one percent strongly approve of providing direct cash payments to adults, 28 percent somewhat approve, nine percent somewhat disapprove and six percent strongly disapprove.  Fifty-one percent approve of President Trump's response to the crisis while 46 percent disapprove.  And, 51 percent think the April 7th primary election should be postponed while 44 percent say it should be held next Tuesday.

The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction is expecting even more school districts to ask to have their missed school days erased.  About 45 districts have already filed for a waiver to allow them to not make up the days missed due to the coronavirus pandemic.  That’s about 10 percent of Wisconsin school districts.  Governor Evers’ emergency order opened the door for them to make the request.  The schools have already been closed for about two weeks and it isn’t clear if students will return to class at all this spring.

The Wisconsin Elections Commission has released information indicating more than 100 municipalities in the state don’t have enough poll workers for next week’s election  Local clerks were surveyed as they get ready to run the state’s spring election Tuesday while everyone is dealing with the coronavirus pandemic.  The survey found 111 municipalities are short more than 670 poll workers – meaning they are too short-handed to offer in-person voting.  Another 126 municipalities say won’t be able to staff all of their polling sites because they are missing more than 27 hundred poll workers.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz acknowledges it could be some time before Minnesotans are again allowed to visit their loved ones in nursing homes and other long- term care facilities.  The COVID-19 pandemic has hit particularly hard in those places.  Walz said, "I think people are now -- and the president included -- have realized it's going to be longer rather than shorter. I think there is a school of thought... that it will be many months."  The governor says they're trying to figure out the best way to make that sustainable.  Families have been talking to their loved ones via telephone and "virtual visits" on the Internet.

  Absentee voters in next week’s election will still have to prove their identity.  The Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled that clerks in Milwaukee and Dane counties can’t tell voters to claim they are "indefinitely confined" as a way to get around voter I-D laws.  The state’s high court issued a restraining order against Dane County Clerk Scott McDonell Tuesday.  McDonell has posted information on his Facebook page saying Governor Evers’ Safer at Home order qualified as keeping people "indefinitely confined," meaning they didn’t have to include their picture I-D with their absentee vote.

 FedEx says it is hiring 400 package handlers in St. Paul to meet a critical demand for its services.  Applications by people over 18 years old can be filed on the company website.  FedEx says it is offering competitive wages starting at 16 dollars-an-hour.  Benefits include medical, dental and vision coverage, paid time off, holiday pay and tuition reimbursement.  Employees get discounts on cell phone service, groceries, car buying and more.  FedEx says both day and night shifts are available.

Governor Tim Walz will give his State of the State address Sunday night via YouTube from the Governor's Residence in St. Paul.  He was scheduled to address a joint session of the legislature March 23rd in the Minnesota House before the coronavirus pandemic.  Walz is under a 14-day self-quarantine.   He says hasn't decided yet whether to extend the stay-at-home order beyond April 10th.  Walz says he anticipates making a determination next week based on the data.

Local-Regional News April 1

So far students in the Durand-Arkansaw School District are adjusting to the new e-learing. Durand Arkansaw School Superintendent Greg Doverspike says one reason the e-learning is working well is that administration talked with students on how the school day should go. Doverspike said that in addition to the student input, the district had been preparing for e-learning classes to make up for snow days since last year.

If Pepin County has a Covid-19 positive test, how will the health department handle it? Pepin County Health Officer Heidi Stewart says the department will do an extensive interview with the patient.  That interview and investigation could take some time so additional information to the pubic will not come right away. Stewart says that the health department would not release the patients name for not only their safety, but because if they did, it would discourage people from asking for a test for fear of their identity being revealed to the public if the test came back positive.

Many people have questions on Covid-19 and have seen different cures or ways to protect themselves on social media. WRDN in conjunction with Advent Health of Durand will hold an on air town hall type of meeting on April 7^th to answer your questions. If you have a question on Covid-19, email it to brian at realcountry1430.com by Friday at 5pm. On April 7^th at during the 9am hour, Jane Poeschel from Advent Health of Durand will answer your questions. Again email your questions to brian at realcountry1430.com by Friday at 5pm.

The City of Eau Claire is receiving over $300,000 from the federal government to help in the fight against covid-19. The money will come in the form of community development block grants and will be used for community development initiatives to support workers and families during the public health crisis. La Crosse is receiving over $500,000 in cdbg grants.

Just a month ago the average price of a gallon of gas in Wisconsin was more than two-dollars, 40-cents.  Now, the national average has fallen below two dollars and some pump prices in this state are down to as low as a dollar-50.  GasBuddy-dot-com credits a price war between foreign producers for increasing the supply of fuel and pushing the price lower.  The experts say the low prices aren’t good for petroleum producers and they may be frustrating for customers who aren’t supposed to be doing any traveling right now.

The Mayo Clinic and C-D-C are warning that smokers could suffer more severe infection from COVID-19 than people who don't light up.   Doctor Taylor Hays of the Mayo Nicotine Dependence Center says early data from China show smoking causes a reduction of lung defenses that could mean challenges in treatment and recovery.    A recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine suggests smokers were more than two times more likely to have severe coronavirus symptoms.  Doctor Hays says this pandemic is a good time for smokers to kick the habit and protect their family.

The slowdown in the economy because of the response to COVID-19 is hurting the ag industry in Wisconsin. Alice in Dairyland Abigail Martin says more and more, people need to be looking for and buying Wisconsin-made food.  Martin says one in nine people in Wisconsin works in agriculture or food production, and that the longer the shutdown lasts, the harder it will be to rebound for farmers.

Congressman Collin Peterson discussed the federal response to the coronavirus pandemic Tuesday with U-S-D-A Secretary Sonny Perdue.   The House Agriculture Committee chair said he spoke by phone with Secretary Perdue about what farmers and producers need nationally as well as what he's hearing from Minnesotans.    He says they talked about "volatility in the commodity markets, particularly for our livestock and poultry industries, the bleak conditions for dairy farmers and the status of our food supply chain." 

Governor Tony Evers is requesting a presidential disaster declaration for all 72 of Wisconsin's counties due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  In a letter to FEMA, Evers wrote, "the response to this virus has required a tremendous response from the state and all of its communities that far exceeds the resources currently available to us."  Evers also said, "this outbreak has caused multiple deaths, resulted in record unemployment claims, and taken a toll on the community infrastructure that is in place to protect the public."  He's seeking federal funds to support several programs including Public Assistance, Direct Assistance, Hazard Mitigation, Individual Assistance and Community Disaster Loans.

 The Wisconsin Election Commission hasn’t decided whether to take action against clerks in Milwaukee and Madison who say they won’t require voters I-Ds with absentee ballots.  The commission isn’t doing anything right now and the next election is coming up in seven days.  The clerks in the state’s two biggest cities say Governor Evers’ Safer at Home order has essentially left voters "indefinitely confined."  The Legislative Fiscal Bureau joins Republican leaders in saying the order does no such thing.  The dispute is the latest one in the political maneuvering leading up to next week’s primaries.

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers says the worst is yet to come with COVID-19.  Evers says the coronavirus will get worse before it gets better.  He and his team are saying the virus could peak later this month, but they’re not saying what that peak may look like.  D-H-S Secretary Andrea Palm is refusing to back away from her comments last week that as many as 15 hundred people could die from the coronavirus by next Wednesday.

The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development is asking people to do their filing for unemployment benefits online.  The state says it had to deal with a record number of calls and claims last week.  At one point last Thursday the D-W-D says it received 400 thousand calls over a four-hour period.  The office has been swamped with more than one-and-a-half-million contacts and more than 115 thousand claims were filed for unemployment benefits.

Thousands of workers at Kohl's stores across the country are about to miss a paycheck or two. The Wisconsin-based department store chain says it's extending its closings until further notice. Store employees who had been paid for the past two weeks will be furloughed. Kohl’s CEO Michelle Gass says she made the decision to keep the stores closed to keep shoppers and workers safe. Some corporate employees will also be furloughed.

Steps are being taken to increase Wisconsin’s COVID-19 testing capacity by forming a public-private partnership.  The Marshfield Clinic Health System, Exact Sciences, Promega and U-W Health will join the Wisconsin Clinical Lab Network to bring most of the testing online.  The groups plan to share resources, knowledge and technology.  The Wisconsin Clinical Lab Network has reportedly been averaging 15-hundred-to-two-thousand tests-a-day.  Initially, the partnership is expected to double that capacity.

As farm markets contniue to struggle due to the Covid-19 outbreak, dairy has been hit particulary hard. Farmers needing someone to talk to are encourage to visit the National Milk Producers Federation Website. Chris Gale of National Milk says there is a stress and wellness resource link.

Galen says NMPF is also working with USDA to find ways to help dairy farmers financially during these tough times.

 At a time when thousands of workers are losing their jobs, Wisconsin-based Roundy’s supermarkets are recruiting.  Roundy’s locations around the state will be hosting job fairs Wednesday from 10:00 a-m to 4:00 p-m.  A company spokesman says hundreds of workers are needed to meet the increased demand for online ordering.  The company is reacting to a surge in demand for delivery service also.  Positions include health insurance, a flexible spending account, life insurance, a 401-K savings plan, tuition reimbursement, vacation and time off the job, and an employee assistance program.

The first day of distance learning in Minnesota was a challenge for both educators and students.  Two online programs that many schools use for virtual learning crashed due to high usage.  The programs called Schoology and Seesaw were both down for several hours Monday.  Minnesota’s governor order state schools to close due to the COVID-19 outbreak several weeks ago.  Distance learning is expected to be used until at least May 4th.