Local-Regional News April 30

 The Durand City and Rural Fire Departments are exploring replacing a 30yr old fire truck in the next few years.  With the recent fire downtown that required assistance from the Menomonie Fire Departments Ladder Truck, it has been discussed that is what should be purchased for Durand.    Fire Chief Jamie King is to make a presentation to the council, and Mayor Milliren says the presentation will talk about where a ladder truck might be used. A new fire truck would cost about $850,000 while a ladder truck would cost about $1.2 million.

The Buffalo County Health Department is working on getting to covid 19 vaccines out to more residents.  The Health Department is asking for businesses and community organizations to host vaccination clinics.  Sarah Schlaefer says those interested should contact the health department.  The number of people receiving the vaccine has plateaued in many counties here in Western Wisconsin.

The Mondovi City Council has delayed moving forward with a proposed pickleball court development.  During this weeks meeting Mayor Weiss told council members of the decision to delay discussion on the proposal as organizers were still talking with the Mondovi School District on possible options for a court.  The Mayor hopes to have more information in May.

Charges have been filed in Eau Claire County Circuit Court against a Fall Creek woman accused of stealing 60-thousand dollars from a developmentally disabled victim.  Forty-four-year-old Michelle Eisold of Fall Creek faces a charge of felony theft, false representation.  It was filed Tuesday in Eau Claire.  A county Human Service social worker reported the theft, telling detectives the victim received a 90-thousand-dollar life insurance payout after her mother died.  Eisold told the detectives a 46-thousand-dollar check she got from the victim was a gift.  Prosecutors say there were additional large cash withdrawals over a three-month period last year.

The reward for information leading to the arrest of those responsible for killing 15 cats in rural Dunn County has been raised.   The Dunn County Humane Society says that donations have raised the reward from $500 to $3000.  The Human Society says that 18 other cats were found alive in the incident and are recovering but are not available for adoption at this time.

Wisconsin’s Democratic governor and Republican lawmakers are still at odds over the governor’s 91-billion-dollar state budget proposal.  Governor Tony Evers says he’s not meeting with the lawmakers because he’s listening to what the people of Wisconsin want.  Evers says Republicans in the Legislature should do the same thing.  Assembly Speaker Robin Vos says his party is listening to the people.  The G-O-P controls the budget-writing Joint Finance Committee where members are expected to remove many of the governor’s priorities when they meet – possibly as soon as next week.

Republicans in Minnesota's congressional delegation are urging Governor Walz to forgive the state tax on Pay Protection Program loans to small businesses.   Representatives Tom Emmer, Jim Hagedorn, Michelle Fischbach, and Pete Stauber wrote the governor requesting the federal funding be tax-exempt.  Congressman Stauber said, "Minnesota’s businesses required these P-P-P loans through no fault of their own, and it is unacceptable for the Governor to punish them again by taxing this much-needed relief." Walz didn't implement any special tax on the P-P-P loans.  Tax conformity is part of bipartisan legislation passed by the Minnesota Senate.

 A Wisconsin Dells man will give up his extradition fight and go to Michigan to face charges over his role in a plot to kidnap Governor Gretchen Whitmer.  Brian Higgins dropped his appeal last week.  Michigan prosecutors say he helped with surveillance in the case and offered his night vision goggles to the men involved.  The F-B-I says members of a Michigan-based militia planned to kidnap Whitmer and possibly put her on trial for the coronavirus restrictions she put in place during the pandemic.

A Dane County judge says Republican legislative leaders cannot pre-emptively spend taxpayer money on private lawyers ahead of a possible fight on redistricting.  The ruling means that Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu have to get back the money they paid to the firms.  One of those contracts could have cost taxpayers almost a million dollars, and G-O-P leaders have been paying the lawyers 30-thousand dollars a month since December.

Some conservationists are calling Wisconsin’s wolf hunt politically motivated and harmful.  A group called "Wisconsin’s Green Fire" says hunters took too many alpha males and bred female wolves, and that could eliminate pup production in 60-percent of Wisconsin’s wolf packs.  Green Fire’s report also says the hunt damaged relations with the Ojibwe tribes and exposed a gap between regulators at the Department of Natural Resources and state lawmakers.  Hunters in Wisconsin killed 218 wolves during what turned out to be just a three-day season in February.

A prominent Minnesota House Republican is joining the push by Governor Tim Walz and Democrats for additional police reforms this legislative session.  Representative Tim Miller from Prinsburg says Philando Castile's mother, Valerie, ultimately changed his mind.  Miller says Valerie made a comment saying she doesn't understand how a Christian person cannot listen to what's going on and doing something about it - and he first thought it was offensive.  But he says "God checked my spirit and said you need to listen to what she's saying."  Miller has not indicated which police reforms he'd support but says he wants to work on passing legislation.  Cambridge Republican Brian Johnson accuses Democrats of listening to their liberal activist base and pushing "partisan proposals... without input or support from law enforcement organizations."

Wisconsin public health officials say so-called “breakthrough cases” are very rare.  Those are instances where people who have been fully vaccinated go on to test positive for COVID-19.  Health officials report just three one-hundredths-of-a-percent have had that experience.  That’s basically one in every three thousand.  Wisconsin’s number of breakthrough cases is said to be about four times higher than the national rate reported by the U-S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

It ought to be a fantastic weekend for the fishing opener, according to the Department of Natural Resources. Fisheries supervisor David Rowe says that, unlike other years, the northern and southern halves of the state are in about the same position timewise when it comes to the fish spawning cycles. License sales were up last year thanks to the pandemic and Rowe is expecting big sales this year as well. You can get your license and more online with the GoWild app or get one at your local bait and sports shop. 

Local-Regional News April 29

 The Tarrant Park Pool passed its first test for the 2021 season.  Durand Public Works Superintendent Matt Gills reported to the city council that the pool was filled and the circulation system tested and everything was working properly.  Gillis said the boiler and the rest of the water system for the bathhouse will be tested in late May.  So far the city has hired 3 bath house employees and 2 certified lifeguards.  There are 5 other candidates for lifeguard that will need to pass the lifeguard class before being hired.  The pool is expected to open in June.

The Mondovi City Council has approved a proposal from the Mondovi Business Association to bring a circus to the fairgrounds this summer.  The circus will be held on July 23rd and the Business Association will continue to work with the City and Buffalo County Health Department to follow any covid guidance for a safe event.  The cost of the circus is $12 for adults and $7 for children.

A new executive director for the Farm Service Agency.  The Wisconsin Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced that Liz Hilts was selected as County Executive Director (CED), effective March 14, 2021. Liz Hilts will supervise and administer commodity, price support, disaster, and conservation programs for the Buffalo, Pepin & Pierce County USDA Service Centers.   FSA provides a strong safety net of programs to assist producers when market prices decline and disasters strike. The agency also provides conservation programs to assist in conserving natural resources.

The Dunn County Sheriffs Department is asking for the public's help after 15 cats were found shot to death near the Dunnville Bottoms in the town of Spring Brook.  According to the Humane Society, someone abandoned the casts on the side of the road next to a pile of food and 15 of the cats were killed.  A $500 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest of the person or persons responsible.  Anyone with information is to contact the Dunn County Sheriffs Department.

A La Crosse man has been found guilty of homicide by intoxicated driving and other charges in connection with the death of Scot Miller the owner of the Whitetail Golf Course in Colfax and Dave Howe owner of Menomonie Transportation in 2018.  According to authorities, Albert Shores struck the SUV Miller and Howe were traveling in on I94 near Wisconsin Dells, causing the SUV to go into the ditch and roll.  Shores was drunk at the time and also had cocaine in his system.  He will be sentenced in September.

 Rochester police say the girl struck by a school bus Monday afternoon will survive her injuries.  Officers say the 14-year-old suffered a broken femur, road rash, and a cut on her foot.  She was walking her bike in a crosswalk when she was hit by a Rochester Public Schools bus.  The 86-year-old driver is cooperating with the investigation.

 Some Wisconsin school districts say almost a full year of virtual learning has left them searching for students who just disappeared.  Information from the state reveals there are 27-thousand fewer students enrolled in Wisconsin schools now than there were last year.  It’s not just public schools.  The Department of Public Instruction says the state’s parochial schools are reporting about 10-thousand fewer students in class.  The D-P-I says 96-hundred students are being homeschooled, but there are still thousands unaccounted for.  Social workers are handling the difficult job of tracking them down.

More than 36-thousand Wisconsin utility customers are said to be struggling to pay their overdue utility bills.  The state is planning to use 21-million dollars in federal funding to help them.  The money for the initiative comes from the federal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program and will be distributed by the state.  The Wisconsin Public Service Commission voted unanimously last month to let the statewide moratorium on utility disconnections expire on April 15th.  Earlier this month, the governor signed a bill to fund the Citizens Utility Board as it helps lower utility costs in Wisconsin.

The Wisconsin State Fair is returning to West Allis from August 5th through 15th.  Chairman John Yingling said, "In January, the Wisconsin State Fair Park Board approved a goal to have a fair this August and we are pleased to confirm we are well on our way to meeting that goal."  The State Fair is still more than three months away and health and safety protocols will be determined closer to the event.  There is already increased sanitization throughout the 200-acre fair park.  The 2020 Wisconsin State Fair was canceled due to the COVID pandemic.

Republicans who control the Legislature's budget committee claim work on the next two-year state budget is being complicated, because Governor Tony Evers hasn't detailed how he'll allocate all of the 3-point-2 billion dollars of federal coronavirus relief the state is getting. Senator Jon Erpenbach is a Democrat on the Joint Finance Committee said "So here's the deal. Obviously, we want to know where the money's going to go. But the federal money doesn't really have anything to do with the state budget. This is one-time federal funding, and it's up to the governor to get it out the door as quickly as he possibly can, which he can do without going through the legislative process." Evers has already announced he'll spend some of the federal money on small business and tourism support, infrastructure and broadband access, and pandemic response measures, but has provided little detail.

We can expect another large drop in the number of Wisconsin residents getting a COVID-19 shot this week.   The Department of Health Services reported a little more than 31-thousand vaccine doses were administered this week, as of Tuesday afternoon. Some of that is because it’s early, but some of it is because fewer people want the shot. State health officials say doctors and nurses gave 292-thousand doses last week, that’s down from a peak of almost 420 thousand doses during the first week of the month.

A man from Ohio is accused of sexually assaulting a woman in Winona while she was having a medical emergency.   The victim told police that she had a seizure Sunday afternoon and when she was coming to a man she knew was sexually assaulting her.  The woman said she yelled, pushed him off her, and called the police.   Twenty-four-year-old Brantley Longacre from Troy, Ohio was arrested for third-degree criminal sexual conduct.  Investigators say Longacre admitted to trying to have sex with the woman but claimed that she was asking for it.

After years of trailing peer universities, U-W Madison faculty are getting paid better over the past several years.   Last year, average salaries for full professors ranked 5th out of 12, up from 10th place the previous year among a longstanding peer group. Before that, average salaries for full professors had been in the last place since 2004. The average pay for associate and assistant professors also improved. UW Madison's average salaries for full professors now rank 17th out of 36 public research universities nationwide.

Four Midwest dairy groups are backing a Federal Milk Marketing proposal to help farmers recovery.  The Dairy Business Association, Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative, Minnesota Milk, and the Nebraska State Dairy Association say the “Class Three Plus” proposal is aimed at long-term stability in the industry – and helping cover the losses by dairy farmers due to the coronavirus pandemic.  The groups say the up-and-down of dairy product prices also affects customers.  The proposal would lock in milk prices and help farmers be able to afford contracts.

Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul is launching a review of sexual abuse allegations against clergy.  Survivors of alleged abuse by Catholic priests are praising the state investigation into instances of sex abuse and allegations of cover-ups.  Kaul says it is important that survivors reach out to his office.  He says the state review is long overdue and it won’t focus only on the Catholic Church.  Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm is part of the effort.  The Milwaukee Archdiocese released a statement pointing out that Kaul is talking about a review of historical cases and not any new reports or cases. 

An advisor at Middleton Travel says the availability of COVID-19 vaccines has people thinking about vacation travel again.  That change is welcome after a year of canceled flights and refunds for trips not taken.  Mary Miller says the Spring of 2021 is like night-and-day when compared to 2020.  Miller says one customer was in her office looking at brochures when she stopped and said, “I don’t care where I go.”  A Triple-A survey finds 46-percent of Wisconsin residents feel comfortable traveling and 62-percent expect to take a trip this year.  A Triple-A spokesman says people are still exhibiting caution, with outdoor destinations leading the list of places people want to go.

Local-Regional News April 28

 The Mondovi City Council has approved applying for a CDBG grant for the reconstruction of North Eau Claire Street.  During last night's council meeting, members discussed the grant application and the project the grant should be applied to.  Members decided on the North Eau Claire street project which would replace the street, sewer, and water lines, and install sidewalks.  No information on when that project would be started if the grant was approved.

The Duran d City Council is meeting tonight.  Items on the agenda including an update on the Tarrant Park Pool, discussion of the concerns on the curb and gutter portion of the Drier Street project, and discussion and possible action on rezoning 502 2nd Avenue East from General Business to residential.  Tonight's meeting begins at 6:30 at Durand City Hall and will be live-streamed on the WRDN YouTube Channel at Durand Broadcasting WRDN.

A Dunn County man was in court on charges of 1st-degree reckless homicide in the death of his infant son.  Authorities accuse 28yr old Jonathon Lucas of killing his son who died of multiple brain and head injuries and bone fractures.  Dunn County Judge Rod Smeltzer declined to lower or modify the $30,000 cash bond and Lucas will have his next court date on May 20th.

A Chippewa Falls man was arrested after leading authorities on a high-speed chase on Monday.  According to the Chippewa Falls Sheriffs Department, deputies tried to pull over 56yr old Gregory Knitter of Cornell for driving over the center line near Hwy X and XX.  Knitter, who had a warrant out for his arrest did not stop and went onto highway 29 and reached speeds of up to 100mph.  After his tires were deflated, Knitter crashed into a ditch and attempted to run away.  He was arrested.  There were two children in the car aged 15 and 13 and one of the children were injured in the crash.  

Authorities in Monroe County say a highway worker was injured Monday when a semi-trailer truck slammed into a county work truck in a construction zone.  The accident happened at about 11:00 a-m on Highway 71.  The worker had been sitting in the county truck that was hit from behind.  The victim’s name hasn’t been released, but he was taken to a hospital for treatment.  His medical condition is unknown.  The Wisconsin State Patrol is investigating the case.  Work Zone Awareness Week started Monday.

The State of Wisconsin has reached a 242-thousand dollar settlement over a pair of manure spills in Vernon and La Crosse counties.  The agreements with K-and-D Manure Handling were brokered earlier this month and announced Monday.  The spills happened in 2017 and 2019, causing fish kills both times in Otter Creek in Vernon County and Bostwick Creek in La Crosse County.  Although Republican lawmakers passed a lame-duck law three years ago requiring Attorney General Josh Kaul to get their approval before signing off on settlements, the Department of Justice says the law wasn’t applied here because the settlements were reached before lawsuits were filed.

Wisconsin’s governor promises he will announce how he’s going to spend all of the three-point-two-billion dollars of federal coronavirus relief funding in a few weeks.  State law gives Governor Tony Evers, a Democrat, control over the way that money is used.  He doesn’t have to accept any input from Republicans, who control the Wisconsin Legislature.  Bills have been passed ordering that the money is used to cut property taxes, pay for local road projects, and on other things – but Evers vetoed each measure.  Evers has said talking with Republicans about his plans for spending the money isn’t a “top priority.”

Wisconsin drivers may find their gas station doesn’t have any fuel this summer.  It’s not a lack of crude oil or refined product – there’s a shortage of truck drivers.  The National Tank Truck Carriers Association says up to 25-percent of tank trucks are parked right now due to a lack of qualified drivers.  Tanker truck drivers require special certification and several weeks of specialized training.  Many drivers left the business last year when the pandemic caused the demand for gasoline to drop sharply.  At the same time, many driver schools closed their doors and they still aren’t meeting the demand.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is expected to loosen some COVID-19 restrictions on large gatherings next week.   The governor mentioned the possibility of easing capacity limits on sporting events during a visit to a mobile vaccine site Tuesday.  Outdoor venues in Minnesota are currently allowed to have 25-percent capacity or ten thousand fans while indoor arenas can have up to 15 percent or three thousand spectators.   The C-D-C just announced that people who have been fully vaccinated no longer have to wear masks outside.   Capacity is still limited to 50 percent at fitness centers and gyms and 75 percent in Minnesota restaurants.

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The conservative Wisconsin Institute for Liberty and Law has warned Madison schools that a lawsuit might be filed over an email sent to some parents.  The message from Madison West High School invited the parents to virtual discussions on police behavior.  The problem, according to the Institute is, the families were directed to separate virtual rooms for the discussion – based on their race.  The letter to Madison Metropolitan School District Superintendent Carlton Jenkins says the “justifications for racial segregation are indistinguishable from the segregationists of the 1950s.”  The district defended the email Monday saying it was “poorly worded.”

A bill signed into law by Governor Tony Evers  Tuesday will allow worker's compensation benefits for law enforcement officers and firefighters diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. Evers said, "we know the toll post-traumatic stress can take on our first responders might otherwise go unseen, but today we're going to help make sure it doesn't go unheard."  The governor signed the legislation at Madison Fire Station 14.  The law limits the liability for treatment and claims to no more than 32 weeks after the injury is first reported.

Those most at risk from coronavirus are the most vaccinated in Wisconsin.   The Department of Health Services says 80-percent of people 65 and older have gotten one dose of the vaccine. Nearly 60-percent of people between 55 and 64 have gotten a shot as well. The vaccine numbers go down among younger Wisconsinites. State health officials say two point-four million people in Wisconsin have gotten one dose of the vaccine, another one-point-eight million have gotten both doses. 

The Republican-controlled Senate is advancing a bill that would change same-day voter registration in Minnesota.  Those registering to vote on Election Day would fill out a provisional ballot that would be counted only if it's verified they're eligible.  G-O-P Senator Carla Nelson of Rochester said "election integrity is...just as important as voter turnout."  Burnsville Democrat Lindsey Port argued processes are already in place to audit elections, particularly very close ones.  Port said, "this bill does not deter fraud. It deters people's votes from being counted."  She warned that voters in Greater Minnesota might have to travel long distances to address problems with their provisional ballots.

Police in Rochester are investigating a school bus crash that injured a 14-year-old girl.  Officers say the teen was walking her bike in a crosswalk Monday afternoon when she was struck by a Rochester Public Schools bus.  She was taken to the hospital with lower-body injuries and possibly a head injury.  Investigators say the 86-year-old bus driver stopped right away and said he didn't see the girl crossing the street.  No citations were issued at the scene.

The U-S Department of Homeland Security (DHS) says the deadline for REAL ID travel requirement enforcement will be delayed to May 2023. The previous deadline was October 1st, 2021. D-H-S said the postponement was due to "circumstances resulting from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic." Last month, the Minnesota Department of Public Safety said only 22-percent of residents with a state I-D have a REAL ID. Beginning May 3rd, 2023, U-S travelers will need a REAL ID, enhanced driver’s license, passport, or other acceptable documentation to board a flight.

A Missouri man is in trouble with the law for attempting to get on a plane in Madison with a loaded gun. Dane County sheriff's deputies arrested 31-year-old Quadricous Sanford of St. Louis Monday night after the weapon was found in his luggage a security checkpoint. Officers say Sanford does not have a carry and conceal permit. He's the second Missouri man busted with a loaded gun at Dane County Regional Airport this month. Forty-two-year-old Brandon Winslow of Fulton was also jailed for carrying a concealed weapon on April 9th.

Local-Regional News April 27

 The City of Durand's citywide clean-up is underway.  Residents are encouraged to pile leaves, and branches 2 inches in diameter or smaller next to the curb, and city crews will be picking them up over the next few weeks.  The clean-up continues through May 9th and any resident that has questions is encouraged to call city hall.

The Mondovi City Council is meeting tonight.  Items on the agenda include a presentation from the Mondovi Business Association on a Summer Circus Event at the fairgrounds in July,  along with public comments and the mayor's report.  Tonight's meeting begins at 6:30 at the Marten Center.

Durand City Council meetings will be open to the public starting in May.  Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren says the council chambers will be set up to allow the public to attend the meetings but if people have concerns to discuss they can still contact the council in advance.  The Council meeting will continue to be live-streamed on the WRDN YouTube Channel at Durand Broadcasting WRDN.

The Catholic Diocese of La Crosse says it is working privately on issues with one of its priests.  The Reverend James Altman has apparently been telling his parishioners the COVID-19 vaccines are useless and he has been ignoring safety guidelines.  A photo of the priest presiding overcrowded Easter services at St. James the Lesser Catholic Church shows many in the congregation not wearing masks and about 170 walking up to receive communion.  The La Crosse Tribune says it obtained part of a church bulletin calling the vaccines experimental and “damnable.”

Gas prices in Wisconsin stayed stagnant last week.  According to GasBuddy, the average price in Wisconsin was $2.74 a gallon.  Here in Western Wisconsin gas prices ranged from 2.60 to 2.79 a gallon.   Patrick De Hann from GasBuddy says there may be a trend of small prices as the summer months close in as the nation has finished the transition to EPA-mandated summer blends.  DeHann also says while prices are up over $1 compared to last year, they are about the same as they were in 2019.

The first numbers released by the U-S Census Bureau reveal Wisconsin will retain all eight seats in its congressional delegation.  Monday’s announcement shows the Badger State has an official population of five million, 893-thousand, 718 residents – ranking 20th in the country.  The total population for the U-S has topped 331-million, with states in the south and west growing over the last 10 years and states in the northeast stagnant or losing population.  Wisconsin gained almost 207-thousand people since the 2010 census.

Minnesota by an extremely narrow margin is hanging onto all eight seats in the U-S House of Representatives.  That's based on new U-S Census population numbers.  Acting Director Ron Jarmin said if New York's population count had been only 89 higher, that state would have kept one additional House seat and Minnesota would have lost one.  Hamline University analyst David Schultz predicts a court challenge, even though it's very difficult for a state to win a lawsuit against the U-S Census Bureau.  Schultz says "losing a seat means losing representation in Congress...and it impacts billions of dollars in terms of federal aid."   Minnesota's population grew at a seven-point-four percent rate - just above the national average of seven-point-one percent.

 Minnesota and U-S flags are flying at half-staff across the state today (Tuesday) in honor and remembrance of Olmsted County Deputy Mark Anderson. Fifty-two-year-old Anderson was found unresponsive in the Adult Detention Center in Rochester on April 15th.    Governor Tim Walz's proclamation says, "Detention Deputy Anderson was a gentle giant of a man who was respected greatly by his colleagues and by detainees."  Anderson had served as Olmsted County detention deputy since 2010.  Minnesota homes, businesses, and organizations are invited to lower their flags to honor him.

An Elroy woman is suing Kraft Foods because she says the cheese in her Bagel Bites isn't real cheese.  Kailyn Huber says that Kraft Heinz is committing fraud by using the Real Cheese logo on packages of cheese Bagel Bites, calling the practice "false, deceptive, and misleading." She wants a court to grant her case class-action so other like-minded cheese lovers can pursue damages against the food conglomerate for allegedly not using top-quality mozzarella cheese.

Saturday is the opening of the general fishing season in Wisconsin, and the Department of Natural Resources is reminding anglers to keep things safe for everyone. Fisheries supervisor David Rowe reminds anglers that they need to keep their gear clean to prevent spreading invasive species.  You can get your current fishing license and find out this year's changes to the regulation from the DNR's GoWild app, or pick up a copy and a license from your local bait or sports shop. 

After a missed season due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Experimental Aircraft Association is anticipating big crowds for its AirVenture this summer.  E-A-A officials say they had been planning to host 30 percent fewer visitors than they saw in 2019, but that’s going to be low.  Now, they think the crowds will be even bigger than two years ago.  The AirVenture runs July 26th through August 1st in Oshkosh.  It’s not clear how many international visitors will show up, but usually, those numbers are in the thousands.  One difference – indoor gatherings like the Monday night concert won’t be offered this time.

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The Federal Communications Commission wants callers to start dialing all 10 numbers – even when making local calls.  The federal officials are wanting Wisconsin callers to get used to the change before it becomes official on October 24th.  After that date, seven-digit calls may not go through and callers will hear a recording.  The change is being made as part of the effort to establish 9-8-8 as a new, nationwide crisis hotline number.  It would be used to connect people to suicide prevention and mental health crisis counselors.  Right now, that hotline is slated for launch on July 16th, 2022.

 Wisconsin drivers over the age of 60 will have to renew their expired licenses next month.  The state’s extension for older drivers during the coronavirus pandemic is coming to an end.  The Department of Motor Vehicles extension of the deadline to renew expires May 21st.  The D-M-V says many drivers will be able to renew their licenses online, but others will have to appear for an in-person renewal.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services hasn’t said anything about resuming the use of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine.  Over the weekend, neighboring states like Illinois and Iowa announced they were adding J-and-J shots to their coronavirus vaccine supplies.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had paused the use of that vaccine to examine some blood-clotting problems.  About 15 patients among the eight million who had the single-dose shot suffered the bad side effects and one person died.  The C-D-C cleared the Johnson and Johnson vaccine for use Friday.

Some state and federal lawmakers are hoping to change the legal principle of qualified immunity. The practice largely protects police officers from most civil lawsuits. Representative Jonathan Brostoff (BROSS-toff) is a Milwaukee Democrat behind the proposal. He believes this step would result in a reduction of physical encounters and use of force incidents. The proposal is similar to what New York City did last month, becoming the first city in the U-S to eliminate qualified immunity for police.

The Good Samaritan who rushed to help a shooting victim Sunday afternoon outside a restaurant says he’s not a hero.  The drive-by shooting reportedly happened at about 4:00 p-m.  Police say the victim was hit in the leg, arm, and hip.  A witness says a person living nearby didn’t hesitate, ran up and tied off the victim’s wounds, and called 9-1-1.  The man has asked to remain anonymous.  He says he hopes someone would do the same for him.  He says the shooting outside Magnolia’s Restaurant is another example of the rising crime in the area.  He says he’s putting his house up for sale and moving his family away.

A Minnesota Senate committee heard from youth sports leaders Monday about the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on kids and sports. This comes as the group Let Them Play Minnesota updated a lawsuit against the Walz administration alleging they have provided no evidence to back up claims that youth sports have been linked to rising COVID-19 case counts either now or in the fall. Health officials continue to point to youth spots as a source of community spread.

Local-Regional News April 26

 The 3rd Avenue East, Drier Street, Lanville  Avenue project is beginning today.  A-1 Excavating is starting to stage equipment on 3rd Avenue East and installing erosion control measures, removing trees, and removing asphalt.  Traffic on 3rd avenue east will be affected and eventually, 3rd avenue east will be closed.    Skid Steer Guy will also begin to remove trees around Drier Street and Laneville Avenue this week.    The complete project is expected to be completed in October.

Motorists traveling from Durand to Eau Claire via Hwy 85 will have a longer travel time starting in May.  The Department of Transportation announced that starting May 3 the bridge and dam over Rock Creek in the Town of Rock Falls will be replaced.  While there will be a construction zone initially, Hwy 85 will be closed to traffic starting on May 17th.  Motorists will be detoured on Hwy 10 to Hwy 37 in Mondovi and then to Eau Claire.  That project is expected to be completed in September.

A Menomonie man has been arrested for OWI 4th offense.  According to the Wisconsin State Patrol, troopers pulled over 50yr old Kenneth Porter of Menomonie on Hwy 29 Saturday night after a domestic incident in St. Croix County.  The troopers detected signs of impairment and conducted field sobriety tests and Porter was arrested.  A woman and a 5yr old child were in the car at the time of the arrest and both the St. Croix County and Dunn County Sheriffs Departments are investigating the domestic incident.

A Rochester man is pleading not guilty to killing his pregnant girlfriend and her two-year-old daughter.   Thirty-year-old Renard Carter is facing two counts of second-degree murder and one count of first-degree murder. The bodies of 23-year-old Keona Foote and Miyona Miller were found in an apartment last September.  Carter fled to South Carolina and was arrested in that state after threatening to kill police while streaming on Facebook.  No trial date has been set in Olmsted County.

The Augusta Fire Department responded to three fires over the weekend.  According to the department, firefighters were called to a house fire on Madison street where the first floor was damaged.  While at that fire another structure fire broke out on Warner Road, and then the department was called to a grass fire.  The department received assistance from Fall Creek, Osseo, and Fairchild Fire Departments.  No injuries in any of the fires were reported.

 Federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act is headed to Minnesota to help build three veterans' homes. The 32-million dollars will fund the construction of homes in Montevideo, Bemidji, and Preston. The Minnesota Department of Veteran Affairs plans to start construction on the homes this fall. Another 80-million dollars in federal funding will also go towards helping the homes purchase P-P-E, vaccinate residents, and pay overtime costs to staff built up over the past year.

 Two people picking up trash along Highway 53 in Onalaska Sunday morning reported finding what they thought could be a dead body.  Police confirmed the discovery of human remains, saying it appeared that the body had been there for some time.  Authorities say it could take several weeks to identify the remains.  Highway 53 was shut down to traffic for several hours while evidence was collected.  State investigators are helping with the case.

Veterans Honor Flights participants will initially be required to have proof of COVID-19 vaccination:  According to local Never Forgotten Honor Flight leaders the requirement comes from the national Honor Flight organization in the name of safety for both the Veterans and Guardians on each flight. Should a Veteran not have proof of vaccination, or if they can't be vaccinated, they'll remain on the waiting list for future flights- but they won't be scheduled until the requirement is lifted. Honor Flights have been on hold since last spring when the COVID-19 pandemic set in.  Current plans are to restart flights by August 15th, but that is subject to change- again based on guidance from the National Honor Flight organization.

 Governor Tony Evers vetoed another pair of bills restricting how health officials can handle the fight against COVID-19.  The legislation would have prevented health officers from requiring people to get vaccinated against COVID-19 and also from closing places of worship due to the pandemic.  Evers says that he remains committed to following the science in the fight against the pandemic and giving health officials all the tools they need.  Republicans say that health departments are stifling freedom of religion and the right to choose their own medical treatments.

A new report finds that federal pandemic relief coming to Wisconsin and its local governments totals 20 billion dollars.   The report, by the non-partisan Wisconsin Policy Forum, provides the most accurate accounting yet of the nearly 20-billion dollars to Wisconsin from Washington. The report also notes that figure probably understates how much Wisconsin will ultimately get and that the influx of money from D-C means "communities in the state may be able to address some of their most longstanding needs."

Several lawmakers want the University of Wisconsin-Madison to allow parents to attend next month’s in-person graduation ceremony.  State Senator Andre Jacque is the sponsor of a bill that would require U-W System campuses to let mom, dad, or guardians attend any and all in-person graduations this year.  Fifteen lawmakers have signed on to the plan.  A spokesperson for the system said Thursday it would love to have families back in the crowd, but social distancing requirements and coronavirus safety measures make it impossible.  Even Camp Randall Stadium isn’t big enough.

 Rapper Cardi-B is responding quickly to a Wisconsin congressman’s comment about her performance during the televised Grammy Awards last month.  Republican Glenn Grothman said he received complaints about her performance.  Grothman said “millions of Americans would view” the performance as “inconsistent with basic decency.”  The artist responded by saying Grothman is ignoring more important issues like police brutality.  Wisconsin Congressman Mark Pocan, a Democrat, chimed in by re-tweeting Cardi-B’s post and saying she is “100-percent right.”

Students on the UW System’s two largest campuses will not need a coronavirus shot to return to class this fall.   The chancellors at Madison and Milwaukee say vaccinations will not be mandatory. Madison’s Rebecca Blank says students who don’t get the shot will be required to get tested. Milwaukee’s Mark Mone says about 75-percent of his faculty, and 20-percent of U-W-M students are vaccinated.

A Madison man will spend more than three years in federal prison for his guilty pleas in two separate fraud cases.  The U-S Attorney's Office says 49-year-old Ahmad Kanan was awaiting trial in an access device fraud case when he applied for two Paycheck Protection Program loans last year.  He applied for a 72-thousand-dollar CARES Act loan on behalf of Alkin Labs, Inc., but the bank noticed he spelled his name incorrectly and did not award funding.  He did receive a 47-thousand-dollar P-P-P loan from a bank in New Jersey while under federal indictment.  Kanan was indicted for using routing and account numbers from the Embassy of Libya to pay Wisconsin taxes, interest, and penalties.  The Libyan Embassy did not give him permission to use their bank account to make 191-thousand dollars in payments.

 Minnesota tourism is dealing with a black eye – a bad look – the state has gotten from the Chauvin trial, followed by the Daunte Wright killing.  Both made international headlines.  A Colorado woman who visited Minnehaha Falls during her first-ever visit to the state says her family questioned her vacation destination.  Kelly Foster says her father told her not to go to Minnesota, saying, “It’s really dangerous right now.”  Foster says she’ll be back.  She says she doesn’t think of the situation as a Minnesota problem, but instead as a country problem.

Local-Regional News April 23

 Some Durand property owners on Drier Street have some concerns over the upcoming reconstruction project.  Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren says there were two areas of concern.  The Public Works Department will be holding a meeting on Monday to discuss the issues with the curb and gutter.

UW Stout was host to a public meeting on the Governor's proposed budget yesterday.  Residents and leaders from Western Wisconsin discussed budget issues important to them including spending for improvements to UW System Campus, public school spending, and shared revenue for cities.   Another public meeting will be held virtually on April 28th.

Chippewa Falls police are accusing a 65-year-old suspect of taking cash from the rectory at the Notre Dame Church Sunday night.  Alvin Coffman is charged with burglary and criminal damage to property.  The priest says he had gone into the office and noticed a window had been smashed out and money was missing.  It’s not clear how much cash was taken.  Investigators say the suspect from Chippewa Falls has been arrested three times in the past for burglaries involving Holy Ghost Parish.

When local, county and state authorities executed a search warrant at the home where a convicted felon was living Wednesday they discovered nearly 50 firearms.  Forty-seven-year-old Leonard Peil was taken into custody and formal charges are pending.  Bloomer police, the Chippewa County Sheriff’s Department, and the Wisconsin State Patrol knocked on Peil’s door at 9:00 a-m.  A search of the property turned up 49 guns, more than a thousand rounds of ammunition, and more than 30-thousand dollars in cash.  He faces multiple counts of being a felon in possession of firearms.  Peil appeared in Chippewa County Court Thursday.

Reckless homicide charges have been filed against a truck driver who caused a crash that left a three-year-old girl dead.  The victim was a passenger in a van that slammed into a guard rail along Interstate 94 in St. Croix County, then was hit by an S-U-V.  Investigators say Michael Duvik of Kentucky was driving a tractor-trailer truck and was switching lanes back and forth while speeding.  The driver of the van said Duvik was passing her on the right side when he came into her lane and forced her to hit the guardrail.  The accident happened in October 2019.  When she honked at him, one of her children said Duvik made an obscene gesture.  Another truck driver was operating a dashcam and submitted the video to authorities.

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation says the 28-year-old Hixton woman charged with driving while her license was revoked last year had been charged with the same offense at least six previous times.  This time a passenger, Michael Greengrass, was ejected from the vehicle and died.  Autumn Holbach was charged Wednesday with knowingly operating a motor vehicle while revoked, causing the death of another.  The accident happened last December in Jackson County when Holbach lost control.  She told investigators she had reached down to pick up a cigarette when the car went out of control.

The Wisconsin Department of Justice is launching an investigation into clergy abuse at Wisconsin's Catholic Dioceses.   The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel obtained a letter from Attorney General Josh Kaul that was sent to the state's five dioceses laying out his intent to do a full investigation and determine the scope of the abuse. The letter goes on to request a meeting with the leaders of the state's five dioceses next Monday to discuss the investigation and requests that Catholic leadership preserve all documents and information. The Church has previously released lists of priests and other clergy known to have abused people but never listed out who the victims might be or how many of them there are

Authorities in southeastern Minnesota report two people are okay after a plane crash near the Faribault Airport Thursday afternoon.  The Rice County Sheriff's Office says the single-engine fixed-wing aircraft went down in a plowed field a half-mile south of the runway.  The plane had just taken off.   Deputies identified the pilot as 25-year-old Skyler Hackett of Prior Lake and his passenger was 33-year-old Todd Guyette from Osceola, Wisconsin.    There were both uninjured.  The cause of the crash is under investigation.

An Earth Day executive order signed by Governor Evers calls for planting 75 million trees by 2030 and conserving 125-thousand acres of forest land.  The governor's office says the pledge will result in 28-point-eight million metric tons of carbon dioxide stored over the next 50 years.  Evers says sustainably managing Wisconsin forests will not only generate climate change mitigation benefits but also contributes 24-point-four billion annually to Wisconsin’s economy, supports the health of our citizens, and helps maintain the high quality of life that defines our state.

Spring is here, which means one thing for farmers: It’s time to hit the fields.   Road travel with agricultural implements is an increased hazard, and often a dreaded part of farming. Sharing the road means farmers need to have their vehicles meeting legal requirements as well as operating in a safe manner for road travel.  According to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, 34 people have been killed and 684 injured since 2010 in crashes involving agricultural equipment in Wisconsin.  Motorists are reminded that it is illegal to pass farm machinery in a no-passing zone.

Governor Tony Evers on Thursday vetoed a package of Republican legislation that would have directed how the state should allocate more than three billion dollars in federal COVID-19 relief money. The Democratic governor also announced some 420 million dollars of the federal money coming to Wisconsin will fund a grant program* to assist small businesses.   The governor said about 84-thousand businesses with annual gross revenues between ten thousand dollars and seven million dollars could qualify for awards of five thousand dollars. More information will come after the U.S. Treasury provides more details about how the money is to be used.

 A review of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation finds the state agency is improving, but still lacking in some areas.  The report from the Legislative Audit Bureau finds that the W-E-D-C mostly complied with state law during the last fiscal year.  It apparently didn’t always award tax credits for wages paid as required by law.  Auditors say it also sometimes waited more than a year to revoke credits for businesses that failed to live up to their contracts with the state.  In the 10 years since the W-E-D-C was formed, only about one-third of businesses getting tax credit actually created the promised number of jobs.

A public safety budget bill passed in the Minnesota House Wednesday night includes police reform measures that have little chance in the Republican-controlled Senate.  Majority Leader Paul Gazelka says last July the legislature passed "the most comprehensive police accountability bill" he can remember, and in Derek Chauvin trial "I don't think anybody can say that justice wasn't served."  Democratic Representative Cedrick Frazier from New Hope responds the community sees the Chauvin verdict as "rarely-found accountability, but not lasting justice. "

 When a thief got away from authorities during a pursuit, he may have thought he was free and clear.  He was wrong.  Deputies with the Green Lake County Sheriff’s Office say they used G-M’s On-Star service to track the 2016 Chevrolet pick up and take Shawn Wheeler into custody.  He was arrested in the parking lot of an A-and-W restaurant in Waupun.  Deputies had started looking for Wheeler Monday night when a 9-1-1 caller asked for a welfare check.  When a deputy found him in the Village of Kingston, Wheeler allegedly refused to stop.  He got away by driving through a field, but the truck’s owner contacted On-Star and had the vehicle shut down.

Local-Regional News April 22

 The National Weather Service is warning against burning today.  The weather services say that very low humidity values along with winds between 10-20 today will result in elevated fire conditions.  Those considering any burning are advised to check for any burning restrictions.  Caution is also advised in using outdoor equipment that could create a spark and start a fire.  The DNR says fire danger is high across the WRDN Listening area.

The demand for the Covid-19 vaccine continues to drop in Western Wisconsin.  While the state average is 40% of the population has received at least one dose of the vaccine, only Buffalo County is above that average at 41%.  Dunn County reports 32% of its residents have received at least one dose of the vaccine, Pierce County is at 35% and Pepin County is at 36%.  Some local health departments are concerned that they will not be able to fill available appointments for vaccination clinics.  In Chippewa County, a clinic at Jacob's Well Church will allow walk-in visits without an appointment starting today.

The Durand Fire Department responded to a brush fire in the town of Peru yesterday.  A controlled burn near 650th Street and 50th Avenue got out of control.  Firefighters were called when the blaze reached over an acre in size.  No buildings were involved and no injuries were reported.

A local event to celebrate June Dairy Month is returning but as a drive-through event.  Organizers of the annual Breakfast in the Valley announced they will hold the event on June 11.  Breakfast in the Valley boxes will be available by pre-order only and will contain food items from local farms.  Orders must be paid in advance and to order, call the Eau Claire Chamber at 715-834-1204.

Eau Claire Firefighters responded to a fire at Oakridge Hall at UW-Eau Claire last night.  The fire was located in the basement trash area.  Firefighters extinguished the fire quickly and contained it to the trash chute.  Smoke was throughout the building and after it was ventilated, students were allowed back inside.  The cause of the fire is under investigation and damage is estimated at $1000.  No injuries were reported.

Authorities in Minnesota are identifying the western Wisconsin man shot and killed in an exchange of gunfire with police. The Hennepin County medical examiner says 30-year-old Bradley M. Olsen from Dresser died of gunshot wounds to the chest Sunday. Investigators say Olsen carjacked a woman in Burnsville and then fired at police and crashed the stolen vehicle. Olsen was taken to a hospital where he died. Four Burnsville police officers involved in the shootout are on leave.

A Wisconsin man charged with killing his daughter in southeastern Minnesota pleaded guilty to fatally shooting the girl's mother in Milwaukee.  Thirty-seven-year-old Dariaz Higgins admitted to the March 2019 intentional homicide of Sierra Robinson.   A few days later the body of two-year-old Noelani Robinson was found wrapped in a blanket in Steele County.  Investigators say Higgins shot Noelani in an Austin motel room before dumping her body in a ditch.  He will be sentenced on July 26th for the Milwaukee murder.  He still faces a second-degree murder charge for his daughter's killing in Mower County, Minnesota.

Governor Tony Evers has issued an executive order on police policies.  Evers' order requires state police agencies, including the State Patrol, Capitol Police, and Department of Natural Resources, to update use-of-force policies to bar chokeholds or blocking a person's airway except in situations where deadly force is allowed. The order also requires officers to take "reasonable action" to prevent another officer from using excessive force. Evers' order was issued Wednesday, the same day as a set of recommendations from a legislative task force on racial disparities.

A bill introduced in the U-S Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship Wednesday would provide more benefits and relief to Wisconsin farmers.  U-S Senator Tammy Baldwin was among the backers of the so-called “P-P-P Flexibility for Farmers, Ranchers, and the Self-Employed Act.”  Badger State farmers can apply even if they already received a P-P-P loan and had it forgiven.  The Wisconsin Democrat says she made a change to the existing law that gives farmers the opportunity to receive a bigger benefit with more generous loans.

A group of small Wisconsin newspapers has filed a federal antitrust lawsuit against online giants Google and Facebook.  The papers argue the monopoly the two have will have a negative effect on American democracy.  They say the control held by Google and Facebook of digital advertising threatens the existence of the papers.  An attorney representing the Wisconsin papers says about a dozen similar complaints have been filed in other states.

Wisconsin’s juvenile prisons have made a “vast improvement” in meeting court-ordered changes and the overall atmosphere since December.  That was in the report filed Tuesday by monitor Teresa Abreau.  She visited the Lincoln Hills School for Boys and Copper Lake School for Girls in Irma last month. Her previous report in December included details of conditions that were getting worse.  Abreau says continuing concerns include programming, use of force, restraints, and some other issues.  The reports are filed as part of a 2018 federal lawsuit settlement.

A report from the Speakers' Task Force on Racial Disparities includes a recommendation on police use of chokeholds.   The report includes 18 recommendations, developed by the panel's Subcommittee on Law Enforcement Policies and Standards. Those include a statewide prohibition against chokeholds, except in life-threatening situations or self-defense. The task force’s Republican co-chair is Representative Jim Steineke. He says he’s optimistic many recommendations will become law. Democrat Shelia Stubbs says this is just the beginning of police reform.

The U-S Department of Justice is opening a civil investigation to determine whether the Minneapolis Police Department engages in a pattern or practice of unconstitutional or unlawful policing.  Attorney General Merrick Garland made the announcement this morning (Wednesday).  Garland said, "yesterday's verdict in the state criminal trial does not address potentially systemic policing issues in Minneapolis."  Garland says if wrongdoing is discovered it's likely to bring a civil suit and a potential order from the D-O-J for the Minneapolis P-D to change its policies in a variety of areas, including use of force.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources wants to help you keep black bears away from your property. Black bears are most common in northern Wisconsin, but they’ve been slowly making their way south. Outdoor grilling, bird feeders, pet food left outside, and unsecured trash cans can all attract bears. D-N-R wildlife officials say to make sure all those things are inaccessible, especially in spring. That’s when bears' natural food sources are limited. If a bear finds food on your property, it will likely return.

 University of Minnesota researchers have developed a new field test for chronic wasting disease.  The team reported its findings in southeast Minnesota last month, making them the first-ever scientists to successfully deploy a C-W-D field test.  Researchers say the test is cheaper and produces quicker results.  The U of M scientists are investigating several new approaches with the hopes of obstructing the disease's spread to deer in the state.