Local-Regional News April 13

 The Durand City Council is meeting tonight.  Items on the agenda include reports from the Mayor and Department heads, an update on the Madison Street LRIP Grant, and an update on the Tarrent Park Pool design.  Tonight's meeting begins at 6:30 at Durand City Hall and will be live-streamed on our website at reelcountry1430.com

The Mondovi City Council is going to review the city ordinance regarding the reservation system for the Marten Center.  At last night's council meeting, Administrator Martin told council members that city employees have a difficult time deciding whom to charge for the center.  The current ordinance says only 501c3 non-profit groups should not be charged for use of the center.  In 2021 only 23 reservations paid a fee for the use of the center and the city lost approximately $10,000 last year. Administrator Martin will present some proposals on how to change the reservation system at the next council meeting.  

A scam surrounding the Durand Fire Department Youth Raffle has been reported.  The Durand Fire Department on its Facebook Page reported that there are Facebook Accounts claiming to have raffle tickets available.  The accounts are fake accounts and are trying to scam people.  The only way to purchase tickets for the raffle is directly from fire department members or local businesses.  For a list of businesses, visit the Durand Fire Department Facebook Page.

The reward is growing, for information about the shooting of a bald eagle in Chippewa County.  The Raptor Education Group in Antigo said in a Facebook post that they are “cautiously optimistic” about the female eagle’s progress in recovering from being shot two weeks ago. The eagle is on the second round of treatment for lead poisoning. The reward for information about the shooting is now over 18-thousand dollars according to the group. The bird was found near Colfax the weekend of October 3rd and appeared to have been shot in flight, with injuries from more than 20 shotgun pellets.

A Colfax man has been accused of causing hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage to his employer's equipment.  WQOW reports Oscar Hernandez II of Colfax was charged with destroying and modifying computer data, and theft of trade secrets.  In January officials at American Structures alleged Hernandez deleted thousands of blueprints from their laser cutters, then walked off the job.  He is also accused of changing the adjustment mirrors of a laser which could have caused the operator of the laser to be injured.  Hernandez's next court appearance is May 10.

No charges will be filed in the fatal police shooting at an Austin gas station in December. The B-C-A said 28-year-old Kokou Fiafonou had a knife when he was shot and killed by Officer Zachary Gast. Olmsted County Attorney Mark Ostrem says after a thorough review of the events, reports, and recordings, his office concluded that the evidence does not support criminal charges against any of the officers involved, including Gast. Ostrem stated that police officers in Minnesota are justified in using deadly force in the line of duty when it is necessary to protect the officer or another person from apparent death or great bodily harm.

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison says a Dakota County judge has granted his request for court supervision over the finances and operations of Feeding Our Future, as that embattled organization dissolves.  Ellison says court oversight will allow greater transparency.  The F-B-I alleges Feeding Our Future stole more than 40 million dollars from two federally-funded programs that provide feel meals to needy children.  Investigators say the organization inflated and even invented reimbursement claims at dozens of meals sites across Minnesota.  Feeding Our Future executive director Aimee Bock has denied wrongdoing.

A new survey finds more Wisconsin households are recycling or re-using old electronics instead of storing them.  The survey by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources shows Wisconsin households are hanging onto about 18-percent fewer old T-V’s, computers, and cell phones than they did the last time the survey was done in 2018. While state officials say they’re pleased to see recycling is on the rise, there’s room for improvement. Of the estimated 25-million devices in Wisconsin households, more than seven-and-a-half million old devices were sitting in drawers, closets, and basements

A federal economic development official joined members of the Wisconsin Paper Council Monday for a discussion about grants that are available to boost the already-strong industry.  W-S-A-W / T-V reports Administrative Assistant Secretary Alejandra Castillo discussed the “Build Back Better Regional Challenge.”  The Biden administration will choose 20-to-30 applicants nationwide to get up to 100-million dollars in funding.  The paper council met with Castillo Monday at Mid-State’s Wisconsin Rapids campus.  If Wisconsin gets the grant the money will help support eight paper industry projects.

 Former state Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman accuses two Republicans on the Wisconsin Elections Commission of acting like Democrats.  Gableman is overseeing the Republican review of Wisconsin’s 2020 presidential election.  On the conservative podcast, Bannon’s War Room, he said the commission had helped steal the presidential election from Donald Trump.  He also blamed two judges that he says have held up his work – Waukesha County Circuit Judge Ralph Ramirez and Dane County Circuit Judge Rhonda Landford.  He says they are responsible for the delays in his review which was supposed to be completed months ago.  He said Republicans Marge Bostelmann and Dean Knudson are, effectively, Democrats.

 A Madison soccer coach reportedly told investigators he knew it was wrong when he sent explicit messages to a teenager.  W-M-T-V reports that 34-year-old Jamie Lieberman faces a charge of exposing a child to harmful descriptions.  The victim getting the messages told Lieberman she had just turned 17.  The messages were reported by a guidance counselor at McFarland High School after the teen shared the messages.  The incident started with Lieberman contacting the victim because he wanted her to play for his indoor soccer team.  If he is convicted, he could face a maximum sentence of three-and-a-half years in prison.

 Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce has sued the Village of Pewaukee over its “transportation user fee.”  The suit was filed last Thursday.  W-M-C calls the fee unlawful and invalid, saying it disproportionately raises costs for local businesses there.  All utility accounts are charged a base fee of 15 dollars, 74 cents, then an additional usage fee.  W-M-C calls that an illegal tax under the Wisconsin State Constitution uniformity clause.  The suit was filed in Waukesha County Court.

 Negotiations between the Minnesota House and Senate on a drought relief package for farmers are “paused” until lawmakers return next week from their Passover/Easter break. Amber Glaeser (GLAY-zer) with Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation says for most of the general public, the drought is long past -- however, it’s “very needed” for livestock producers and specialty crop farmers “that didn’t have that safety net in place.” Elbow Lake Senator Torrey Westrom said before the break that one holdup is a provision in the House bill to help the D-N-R restore tree seedling supplies damaged by drought. But House sponsor, Esko Democrat Mike Sundin, has signaled he’s willing to temporarily set that aside so the drought and avian flu package can move forward.

A Wednesday public hearing could reveal more about plans to expand broadband in Wisconsin.   The Governor’s Task Force on Broadband Access is looking at ways to spend millions of dollars to bring faster internet connections to small, rural communities across Wisconsin. A lack of access to powerful, high-speed Internet is a challenge for economic health and growth in remote Wisconsin areas. State and federal grants are available to bring broadband to underserved areas of the state. Tuesday’s hearing is the first update on the plans for the spring.

J-B-S, which runs a large pork-processing plant in Worthington in southwest Minnesota, is facing lawsuits at two of its facilities in central Iowa -- in Waterloo and Marshalltown -- after five workers died during COVID outbreaks. Jose Andrade-Garcia died after contracting COVID while working at the J-B-S U-S-A meatpacking plant in Marshalltown. Andrade-Garcia was one of 27-hundred workers at the plant when the virus spread. A spokesman says J-B-S does not comment on pending litigation.  At least two deaths have been traced to the company’s plant in Worthington, including a man in his 60’s with underlying conditions, but there are no reports of Minnesota lawsuits.

Springtime brings warmer temperatures and blooming trees. But, for many, it also brings annoying seasonal allergies. Mayo Clinic allergist Doctor Alexi Gonzalez Estrada says there are steps you can take to protect yourself. He says the telltale signs of allergies are easy to spot, “itchy, watery eyes; itchy, watery nose; and nasal congestion.” And pollen is the most common culprit, as the tiny particles are inhaled through your nose and affect your upper airway. Doctor Estrada says there are over-the-counter and prescription medicines you can take to treat allergies, as well as getting allergy shots in more extreme cases. But the easiest thing to do, he says, is avoid or limit exposure.

Local-Regional News April 12

 Local ambulance services may receive more money from Medicaid reimbursements under a new law.  Assembly Bill 874, which was sponsored by representative Rob Summerfield was signed by Governor Evers last Friday.  The law requires the Wisconsin Department of Human Services to submit a plan to allow Wisconsin EMS providers to take part in supplemental payment opportunities to help reduce the funding pressure related to Medicaid reimbursements.  The plan would have to first be approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services.

Today is National Grilled Cheese Day and the Pepin County Dairy Promotions Board will be celebrating by serving grilled cheese and tomato soup tomorrow for students in the Durand-Arkansaw School District.   The lunch will feature cheese from Eau Galle Cheese along with donations of butter, milk, and cheese provided by the Pepin County Dairy Promotions Board.

A Menomonie man, who sexually assaulted and choked a woman on Water Street in Eau Claire last year is going to prison.  29yr old Larry Young was sentenced to 12yrs in prison, 10yrs of extended supervision, and 2yrs probation yesterday in Eau Claire County Court.  Young was found guilty of attempted 2nd-degree sexual assault, and other charges in connection with the October 25th incident.  

A Sparta man has been arrested on charges of possession of child pornography.  Monday, authorities arrested 54yr old George Bradley and charged him with 71 counts of possession of child porn.  Authorities were tipped off by cloud storage company Synchronoss about possible child porn images stored on Bradley's account.  During an initial investigation, Bradley denied having the images but upon further investigation, Bradley admitted to having the images on the cloud and on his phone.  

Two Rusk County men, accused of killing a Sheldon couple have pleaded guilty to the charges.  Adam Rosolowski and Joseph Faulk plead guilty to two counts of being party to first-degree intentional homicide in the June 2020 shooting deaths of 73yr old Robert Rosolowskie and 70yr old Bonnie Rosolowski.  Sentencing for both men will be July 27th. 

Thousands of turkeys have been killed at the site of the state’s latest bird flu outbreak. Over the weekend, the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection confirmed the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza at a Barron County turkey farm owned by Jennie-O. According to DATCP the facility was “depopulated” on Sunday. All the birds - a total of 46,507 turkeys –  were killed, and will be composted on site. The Barron County case was the fourth in Wisconsin as bird flu infections are being reported across the Midwest.

Gas prices continue to slowly fall. Gas Buddy says average gas prices in Minnesota have fallen five-point-six cents per gallon in the last week, averaging three dollars-83 cents a gallon. Prices in Minnesota are 13-point-three cents lower than a month ago. Diesel prices are also falling and likely will go back under five dollars per gallon this week. The national average price of gas has fallen seven-and-a-half cents per gallon in the last week, averaging four dollars, ten cents.

Fire departments from Southeast Minnesota and Wisconsin are donating fire gear to Ukraine.  The Oronoco, MN fire department organized the drive and over 30 departments from Minnesota and Wisconsin donated turnout gear, helmets, boots, gloves, oxygen bottles, and more.    The gear is set to be shipped to Ukraine by Chaplin Ministries International which uses donations to cover the cost of shipping.

Another member of the Wisconsin state Assembly won’t be seeking reelection this fall. Republican state Representative Tyler Vorpagel is the 17th member of the chamber to announce plans to retire, resign or seek another office. The 37-year-old from Plymouth was first elected to the Assembly in 2014. He didn’t indicate what he’ll do next. Six state Senators will be leaving that chamber. The departures top each of the last two sessions, which saw 20 lawmakers opt against running again.

A Madison-based non-profit is offering 15-hundred-dollar scholarships to technical college students.  A spokesperson for Ascendium Education Group says the funding is available for students working and studying in the trades industry.  W-M-T-V reports that Ascendium wants to inspire a new generation of skilled workers and address the current shortage in the skilled workforce.  Five hundred scholarships will be provided this year.  Recipients have to be enrolled at a Wisconsin technical college and work as an apprentice to be eligible.

The next step is up to the Wisconsin Department of Administration.  Bipartisan legislation approved last week requires it to come up with plans to build a new corrections facility in Milwaukee County for youthful offenders.  The location will have to be approved by the local Board of Supervisors.  The new facility will replace the troubled Lincoln Hills-Copper Lake youth prison in Irma.  When the young residents are moved that facility would be used to house adult offenders.  The move is still several years away and the work is expected to cost at least 42-million dollars.  The governor signed the bipartisan bill Friday.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court hears arguments in two high-profile cases this week.  Justices will hear arguments about school gender policies and ballot drop boxes. The Tuesday case on gender comes from Madison, where a parent is suing over the Madison school district’s policy not to tell all parents in all cases when a child changes gender identity at school. On Wednesday, lawyers on both sides will argue whether or not ballot drop boxes will be allowed in Wisconsin elections in the future.

The University of Minnesota will provide more education-related financial support to student athletes this fall. The U-of-M says a recent N-C-A-A law change allows schools to offer additional incentives to students playing sports. Athletic Director Mark Coyle says they’re continuing “to look for ways to enhance the student-athlete experience and how best to prepare them for life during and after college.” Coyle says they are still finalizing the plans. He notes that Gopher student-athletes posted a school-record cumulative G-P-A of three-point-44 in the past year, and Minnesota had a 96 percent Graduation Success Rate, which ranks second in the Big Ten behind Northwestern.

As spring and summer approach, Xcel Energy is reminding customers to be prepared. Xcel’s John Marshall says before severe weather strikes, it’s a good idea to put together a home emergency kit, which includes, “flashlights, batteries… backup phone chargers, bottled water,” and “non-perishable foods.” Marshall also says if power outages occur, it’s important for customers to have access to the most recent updates about their power restoration. You can check with your local power provider for the latest on outages.

Finally, in news, today is a special day at WRDN.  It was on this day in 2012, that WRDN returned to the air at 6am.  Over the years we have upgraded our transmitter to broadcast in AM Stereo, added an FM Frequency, began video streaming of Durand Sports and other events, and this year started a new internet channel.  We would like to thank all of our sponsors and each and every one of you for supporting us over the last 10yrs and we look forward to continuing to serve Durand and the surrounding area for years to come.  Thank you.  

Local-Regional News April 11

 No one was injured in a one-vehicle roll-over accident in Dunn County on Sunday.  According to the Wisconsin State Patrol, a motorhome was traveling eastbound on I-94 at milepost 41 just west of Menomonie when the driver lost control and crashed into the median, damaging approximately 100ft of guardrails.  Both eastbound lanes of traffic were closed during the removal and cleanup of the scene.    

Twelve rail cars derailed in Altoona on Saturday.  According to the Union Pacific Railroad, the cars derailed in the rail yard near Bartlett Avenue and Sunday Drive.  The cars were empty at the time and no one was injured in the derailment.  That derailment is still under investigation while crews cleaned up the scene.

Residents of Osseo will see a jump in their water bills.  In a letter sent to residents, the city says the reason for the increase is due to the need for a new iron filtration system that is set to be installed in the spring of 2023.   Starting in June, the average family's bill will rise from $65 a month to $110.  The rates were set by the Wisconsin Public Services Commission.  The city is working with state and federal agencies to find grants and other funding options to help fixed-income residents with assistance due to the increase.  

Minnesota's U-S Representative Angie Craig has tested positive for COVID-19. Craig says she was tested Thursday after learning about other Representatives in Washington who had tested positive. Craig says she is fully vaccinated and has had the additional booster shot.

A Union Center man has been arrested and accused of starting the house fire that killed his 64-year-old uncle.  W-I-S-C / T-V reports authorities in Juneau County have charged 45-year-old Travis Yirka will first-degree reckless homicide and arson to a building.  When emergency responders arrived on March 19th at the burning house, Yirka told them there were two people inside.  A woman was located quickly, but the body of LeRoy Siefkes wasn’t found until the fire was out and the structure was safe for searchers.  An autopsy determined the cause of death was injuries from the fire and smoke inhalation.

Nine Republican-back election bills were among the 43 vetoed by Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers Friday.  Evers had indicated that was what he was going to do several weeks ago.  The Democrat says, “Republicans know that it’s an important part of our democracy to encourage people and not discourage people to vote.”  Republicans called the package of bills "commons sense."  Evers has vetoed a total of 98 bills this legislative session.  That’s the most vetoes by any Wisconsin governor since records began being kept in 1931.

The cost of mailing a letter is going up.  The  US Postal Service proposed last week that starting in July, the price of a first-class stamp will go up 2 cents to 60 cents.   The postal service says the increase is needed due to inflation and increased operating expenses.  The proposed increase is to be reviewed and approved by the Postal Regulatory Commission before the increase takes effect in July.

A 36-year-old Thorp woman charged with intentionally mistreating animals has been sentenced to 10 days in jail.  W-E-A-U / T-V reports Jill Warminski will be on probation for a year.  During that time she will have to attend psychological treatment and won’t be allowed to care for or own any animals.  The court ruled Warminski can’t own, possess, or train any animal for four years.  She was originally charged in October 2020 when a dog was found with its front legs zip-tied together.  A Clark County deputy told the court the cut around the dog’s right front leg was so deep the bone was visible.

The Wisconsin Public Service Commission has approved the construction of the state’s largest renewable energy plant.  Chicago-based Invenergy wants to begin work in Dane County later this year or early next spring.  The project would be completed in 2024.  People living nearby have expressed concerns about aesthetics, property values, loss of prime farmland, safety concerns about battery storage, and the proximity to homes and Cambridge Elementary School.  The 23-hundred-acre solar array in the towns of Christiana and Deerfield would produce 300 megawatts of power and include 165 megawatts of battery storage.

 Minnesota lawmakers are leaving the State Capitol for their annual Passover and Easter beak with clear battle lines drawn on top issues.  Senate Republicans passed a permanent tax cut package that would also eliminate state income taxes on Social Security benefits.  House Democrats say that plan benefits the wealthy and they are focusing on tax cuts for low- and middle-income Minnesotans.  That would leave a good chunk of the budget surplus for public schools – creating a big point of contention with Republicans, who want more accountability for results.  The two sides also have big differences on public safety.  Republicans say the crackdown on crime while Democrats stress prevention and police accountability.

Minnesota’s net farm income was nearly a record high in 2021.  University of Minnesota Extension economist Pauline Van Nurden says 2021 “actually ranks second among the historical records.” Only 2012 was higher for net farm income. High commodity prices have been the primary driver as the median net farm income reached more than 166-thousand-200 dollars in 2021 ($166,262). Crop farms averaged just over 210-thousand dollars a year ago, while pork producers earned an average of 429-thousand-420 dollars. As for this year, Van Nurden calls the outlook very uncertain.

All poultry shows, exhibitions, and swap meets in Wisconsin are canceled through the end of May. It’s an effort to prevent the spread of bird flu. Wisconsin agriculture officials have already suspended poultry exhibitions in Jefferson County after bird flu was confirmed at a commercial chicken farm. Minnesota, Iowa, and Illinois are just some of the other states that have implemented similar restrictions on poultry event

After 66 years of operation, Wisconsin’s oldest independent record store chain will be closing. The news from the Exclusive Company comes about five months after the death of owner and founder James Giombetti, better known as "Mr. G." He first opened The Exclusive Company in 1956 in West Bend. That store has reopened under new ownership, with a new name. The Janesville store closed in February. The remaining locations in Green Bay, Appleton, Oshkosh, Milwaukee, and Greenfield will participate in National Record Store Day, one last time on April 23. The company said they could just not go on operating without Giombetti at the helm.

Local-Regional News April 8

 Governor Evers is expected to sign assembly bill 727 today.  The bill would address nitrogen levels in groundwater, by creating a commercial nitrogen optimization pilot program, provides crop insurance premium rebates for planting cover crops, and creates a new hydrogeologist position at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension.   Evers says the bill is a good first step in protecting Wisconsin groundwater.  Farmers in Pepin County have been working with UW-Extension and Discovery farms to find ways to reduce nitrogen levels in groundwater in the county.

The Pepin Public Library is hosting a series of health workshops in April.  On Monday, April 18th at 7pm on preventing type 2 diabetes, and then on Monday, April 25th at 1pm a workshop on pain medications and how to use them safely and effectively will be held.  There is no charge to attend either workshop and to register call Pepin Library at 715-442-4932.

The University of Wisconsin-River Falls Collegiate Farm Bureau will host Ag Day on Campus on Tuesday, April 19. The event is free and open to all.   The event will give UWRF students and community members an opportunity to engage with the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences student-led organizations and agriculture-related companies to learn about the positive impact agriculture is making.   The main event is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the UWRF University Center mall area. The outdoor event will include interactive booths from organizations and agricultural-related companies.

The Black River Falls School District will be closed today after an incident involving unauthorized access to the district's computer network.  According to Superintendent Shelly Severson, the network includes access to student information, parent contact information, and even medication logs.  The district has contacted the FBI and state cybersecurity teams to investigate the incident to determine where this unauthorized access happened. 

Dane County Judge Valerie Bailey-Rihn says there’s no reason to keep pressing Wisconsin’s Assembly speaker for more records on the partisan investigation of the 2020 presidential election.  Speaker Robin Vos has met the judge’s request to provide the records requested by the liberal group American Oversight.  Vos’ office provided 10-to-20-thousand emails to that group Wednesday.  The judge concluded enough had been done after a cybersecurity expert testified the scrutiny of phones held by Vos and his staffers wouldn’t likely lead to the recovery of more records.

A financial boost, for school mental health services in Wisconsin.  Governor Tony Evers announced this week that nearly every K-12 district in Wisconsin will be awarded funding through the 15 million dollar "Get Kids Ahead" initiative. Schools will be able to use the funds for a variety of mental health support services for students and families. Every public school district in the state was eligible to opt-in and was guaranteed a minimum of ten thousand dollars, with the remainder of the money allocated on a per-pupil basis.   The funds are from Wisconsin’s share of the federal American Rescue Plan Act.

Somebody could be holding a bunch of money for you, but it’s going away if you don’t beat the deadline.  If you haven’t filed taxes in a few years, I-R-S spokesman Christopher Miller says you may have a tax refund waiting for you.  Estimates are that almost 22-thousand people in Wisconsin could still get about 20-million dollars in unclaimed refunds.  The deadline is April 18th.  Miller says that’s when the three-year window to claim the refund money closes.  The average refund will be about 750-dollars.

Maplewood, Minnesota  police are investigating after a capuchin monkey was stolen from a vehicle outside a Cub Foods. Police say the victim left the animal, named Coco Chanel, inside her vehicle Tuesday night when she went into the store. The victim says she returned to her vehicle and discovered the monkey and its pink carrier were missing. State law makes it illegal to own a “regulated animal” such as a monkey.

Wisconsin stands to receive about 116-million dollars in transit funding from the federal government.  A news release from the U-S Department of Transportation says funding increases of 20-billion dollars for the states have been authorized under the president’s infrastructure law.  The money will be used by transit agencies to buy new buses and railcars, address repair backlogs, transition to new technologies to “address the climate crisis,” and modernize fleets.  The Milwaukee area will receive more than 32-million dollars, Madison will get 12-million, Appleton just under four million, and Green Bay a little over three million.

Congresswoman Angie Craig went after oil company executives during a U-S House hearing Wednesday. Craig complained that their six companies made more than 76 billion dollars in profit in 2021 while Minnesota families pay near record-high gas prices. She said, “I don’t fault you for making money. You’re a business. But we’ve got a pandemic and we’ve got Putin. And you are using these crises to gouge the American people.” Craig also questioned why oil prices are going down but the price is not dropping at the pumps.

The Minnesota House Agriculture Committee is advancing its 2022 finance bill aimed at strengthening farming and food production in the state. Representative Mike Sundin of Esko says there’s funding for soil health, cover crop development, invasive plant species eradication, small meat cutters and processors, and more. He also says, “this package, coupled with the drought package moving separately, represents a strong investment in agriculture” and moves Minnesota in the right direction. The measure also includes a moratorium on new white-tailed deer farms to help prevent the spread of chronic wasting disease among Minnesota’s wild deer population. The bill now heads to the House Ways and Means committee.

A lobbying group says Tuesday’s elections go to show how many local governments in Wisconsin need more help from Madison.   The League of Wisconsin Municipalities says voters in seven communities approved local tax increases to pay for firefighters, police officers, or emergency responders. The League’s Jerry Deschane says state lawmakers need to change the law so that local communities can raise taxes for those services without having to go to voters every two years. 

The Marathon County Clerk is explaining what happened Tuesday in two Wausau wards where poll workers ran out of ballots during Tuesday’s election.   Kim Trublood says due to the ballot shortage some voters chose to use an Express Voting machine to fill out a temporary ballot, which was then transferred over to a ballot that could be read by the tabulators through a process involving the watchful eye of two election inspectors verifying that the votes were transferred with integrity and without changing the intent of the voter. A record of the process has been documented as well.

Mac's Fish, Bub’s Gourmet Aussie Pies, and Soul Bowl are just a few of the food offerings available this season during Minnesota Twins games. Team President Dave St. Peter says, “food and beverage always play a central role in the game-day experience,” but it’s more special this year because concession options were limited by “two years of COVID.” Also new this year is the Market, a self-serve area for prepackaged snacks, hot food, and soft-serve ice cream, plus a massive walk-in beer cooler. St. Peter also says “fan favorites” will be back, including Kramarczuk’s, Red Cow, hot Indian foods, and Turkey to Go.

Local-Regional News April 7

 The weather sirens will sound today as a statewide tornado drill will take place.  The first drill will happen at 1:45 this afternoon and the second at 6:45 this evening.  It is all a part of Severe Weather Awareness Week.  Along with the weather sirens sounding the National Weather Service will activate the weekly EAS Test on radio and TV.

The Buffalo County K-9 unit was busy over the weekend.  According to the Buffalo County Sheriff's Department's Facebook Page,  K-9 Deputy Owen helped officers recover 21.8 grams of methamphetamine, 16 grams of cocaine, and 3.5 grams of fentanyl.  No other information was available on the drug recoveries or if any arrests were made.

An Eleva woman that was convicted of 2nd degree recklessly endangering safety has been sentenced in Eau Clair County Court.  61yr old Barbara Wiedenbeck pleaded guilty to the reduced charges after striking a bicyclist while driving on Hwy HH and leaving the scene in August of 2021.  As part of a deferred prosecution agreement, Widenbeck will have to perform 120 hours of community service.  

Lake Hallie police say an Eau Claire man-made verbal and physical threats to officers as he was being arrested for operating while intoxicated.  W-E-A-U / T-V reports that 57-year-old Scott Vanigan is also accused of threatening hospital staff when blood was drawn for a test.  Vanigan’s driving privileges had been suspended meaning he had a blood-alcohol content restriction of point-02.  The test showed his blood-alcohol content was point-15.  He was pulled over at 1:30 a-m Saturday in Lake Hallie after he was observed driving erratically.

The Raptor Education Group along with residents of Dunn and Chippewa Counties are offering a $6000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons who shot a bald eagle in the town of Crooks Valley.  According to the Raptor Education Group, the eagle appears to have been shot in mid-flight and is suffering from 20 wounds along with lead poisoning and a broken wing.   The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is investigating the shooting.

 Students at La Crosse Central High School say they are worried about the increasing number of school threats and they want someone at their school at all times to discourage vandalism and fights.  W-K-B-T / T-V reports a group of students presented a petition to the school board earlier this week seeking to keep school resource officers on the campus.  The petition held 300 signatures in support.  Students like Adam Manka spoke to the board members at the Monday meeting.  Manka says the responsibility for S-R-Os is to make sure students are safe during emergencies.  The agreement between the La Crosse Police Department and the school district is set to end this summer.

 Congressman Ron Kind says he voted to find two men in contempt of Congress Wednesday because they had failed to comply with subpoenas.  The subpoenas for Daniel Scavino Junior and Peter Navarro had been issued by the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th attack on the U-S Capitol.  The Wisconsin Democrat says Scavino and Navarro had a legal obligation to comply and they have refused.  Last year, Kind voted to hold Steve Bannon and Mark Meadows in contempt of Congress when they ignored a similar order to appear before the same committee.

 Homeowners in a rural area of Jefferson County are testing their groundwater over concerns from chicken carcasses buried nearby.  The confirmed cases of bird flu at Cold Spring Egg Arm led to the killing of nearly three million chickens.  Scientists say composting is the most environmentally-friendly way to dispose of the bodies.  The problem is, at least one farm is just six miles away.  W-T-M-J / T-V reports the noise of heavy trucks and the smell of the composting is worrisome, but the homeowners doing the testing are more worried that their well water will become contaminated.  The composting effort started March 27th.

Republican state Senator Van Wanggaard has filed a complaint with the Wisconsin Elections Commission over the way Racine officials handled Tuesday’s vote.  Wanggaard says the city of Racine openly flaunted the decisions by the circuit court, the Wisconsin Supreme Court, and the Wisconsin Elections Commission.  Racine accepted ballots submitted by someone other than the voter.  Wanggaard says the city “is intentionally ignoring the law.”  A Waukesha circuit court judge ruled in January that there are only two legal ways to return an absentee ballot in the state – personally through the mail, or a voter delivering his or her own ballot to the clerk.

U-S Senator Tammy Baldwin is working to allow all children to get a free meal this summer without needing to fill out the paperwork.  Parents would be able to pick up the meals at school when they are needed for a virtual learner.  The Wisconsin Democrat says when the pandemic emergency is declared to be over “we would go back to the old rules, the old eligibility requirements.”  She says there was concern that a lot of children would go hungry this summer if the U-S Agriculture Secretary isn’t given the ability to be flexible.

Sheboygan County prosecutors say a mother killed her eight-year-old son over fears he would be taken from her.  Forty-one-year-old Natalia Hitchcock is a Russian native who became agitated over the last few weeks by news of the invasion of Ukraine.  Hitchcock made an initial court appearance Tuesday.  She is charged with first-degree intentional homicide for the strangulation of her son, Oliver – and attempted first-degree intentional homicide for trying to drown a second son.  She is being held on a one-million-dollar bond.

The weekend collapse of a concrete span at a new parking ramp in Appleton has stopped work on the multi-million-dollar project.  Businesses nearby say the double-tee span came crashing down Saturday but they didn’t hear or see anything when it happened.  The project at the Appleton U-M-C-A is expected to cost seven-and-a-half-million dollars.  It was on pace to be completed in August but that could change.  The general contractor says once the investigation is completed more information will be released about timetables and needed repairs.

The perennial debate over Minnesota’s estate tax has re-ignited in the legislature. Democratic Governor Tim Walz’s revenue commissioner, Robert Doty, testified Tuesday that Senate Republicans’ proposed changes would benefit the wealthiest Minnesotans, allowing a larger amount of their estates to go untaxed. But the Minnesota Farm Bureau supports Republicans’ proposed change to the estate tax. Spokeswoman Kaytlin Bemis says “estate taxes can be a barrier to passing down farms to future generations by draining the financial resources of farmers and ranchers.”

 For the eleventh year in a row, Minnesota’s moose population remains relatively stable. The 2022 population survey estimates the moose population at 47-hundred, statistically unchanged from the last survey, which was conducted in 2020. The D-N-R’s Glenn DelGiudice says, “these surveys are best for looking at long-term trends.” DelGiudice points out that Minnesota moose remain at risk long-term as the population is 47 percent lower than its peak in 2006. An estimated 19 percent of the population was calves, and the estimated ratio was 45 calves to 100 cows.

Local-Regional News April 6

 The Durand City Council will have some new faces after the spring election.  Nick Weisenbeck, incumbent Travis Hooker, and former Councilman Dony Hayden were the top three vote-getters in the election for the three at large seats.  Incumbent Mayor Patrick Milliren defeated Herb Schneider in the Mayoral Race.  Meanwhile, all the Pepin County Board seats only had one candidate.  In Buffalo County Gary Stanton defeated Corey Lews for the District 4 County Board Seat, while Brian Michaels defeated Terry Schoonover for the District 9 seat.

Plum City voters have approved a referendum to allow the district to exceed state levy limits.  The vote was 374 yes to 178 no.  In Ellsworth, voters approved a referendum to allow the district to exceed the revenue limit by $1.3 million per year for four years on a vote of 1149 yes, to 659 no.  In Menomonie, there will be three new school board members after Donminique Stewart, Abe Smith, and Rachel Henderson were elected.

People in western Wisconsin are warned to throw out potentially-tainted lettuce.  The division of Trade and Consumer Protection says bags of Ocean Mist Farms brand romaine hearts, sold mainly in western Wisconsin, may be contaminated with Cyclospora. State officials say all of the suspect packages show a harvest date of March 10th. The questionable greens were grown in Coachella, California.

It’s Severe Weather Awareness Week and Xcel Energy is reminding customers to be prepared. Xcel’s John Marshall says before severe weather strikes, there are some simple things customers can do to stay safe. “If you come across any downed power lines, assume they’re energized and therefore very dangerous.” Marshall says don’t touch or try to move any downed power lines – “stay very far away” and leave the reported area immediately. He also suggests visiting Xcel’s website to sign up for outage notifications.

Wisconsin’s moratorium on winter-time power disconnections the power ends a week from Friday.  The Wisconsin Public Service Commission says people behind on their heat and light bills need to get caught up – or to make payment arrangements before April 15th. The state also has some money available for people who need help paying their utility bills.

Authorities are looking for the thieves who have stolen dozens of road signs in Vernon County.  Sheriff John Spears says more than 25 signs have been taken – some removed from the posts and, in some cases, the posts were cut and taken, too.  W-E-A-U / T-V reports stealing a road or traffic sign can result in a fine of up to 100-dollars and a 30-day jail sentence for first offense.  The Department of Transportation says the second offense doubles the maximum time in jail.  Sheriff Spears says missing signs can cause crashes and put people at risk while they are driving.  No arrests have been reported.

Wisconsin’s two senators will split their votes along party lines on the confirmation of U-S Supreme Court nominee Judge Kentanji Brown Jackson.  Democrat Tammy Baldwin said Jackson is well-qualified and offers strong experience as a federal judge.  Republican Ron Johnson released a statement saying while Judge Jackson “is a decent person with a compelling life story,” she is a judicial activist and he won’t vote for her confirmation.  A final confirmation vote could come as soon as Thursday – and Jackson is expected to become the first Black woman to serve on the high court.

Sixth District Congressman Tom Emmer was joined by Minnesota Republicans Pete Stauber and Michelle Fischbach and two other members of Congress in sending a letter urging action from President Joe Biden on rising fertilizer prices. Emmer said, “Skyrocketing and unprecedented input prices are robbing our farmers of their livelihoods, and even today’s high commodity prices simply can’t keep pace.”  Fertilizer prices rose significantly through March of this year. Diammonium phosphate (DAP), the world’s most commonly used fertilizer, reached its highest price on record last week, up 16 percent from the previous month. The price of urea rose 10 percent.  Prices have been further impacted by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, with sanctions bringing Russian fertilizer imports to a standstill. Russia is consistently among the world’s leading exporters of fertilizer.

Spring temperatures are nearly here and that means not only road construction but also bridge inspections, beginning in southeast Minnesota and expanding north as the weather improves. M-N-DOT’s Mike Dougherty in Rochester says some bridges are inspected annually, while others are on a longer schedule “based on the type of materials that they are, their age, any things that have been detected in a previous inspection.” Among the tools, M-N-DOT uses are “snooper trucks” with long, multi-jointed arms so crews can inspect the underside of bridges. Dougherty says in his part of the state, Mississippi River bridges are typically inspected every year. Drivers should watch for lane closures, slow down in work zones, and never enter a road blocked with barriers or cones.

The UW-System wants to poll its students on free speech issues.  That poll is being conducted by the Wisconsin Institute for Public Policy and Service. WIPPS will be asking students basic questions on the First Amendment and its protections, as well as questions on diversity in viewpoints. They're also interested to see if students are self-censoring for fear of blowback from fellow students for expressing their views. That survey will be released on Thursday.

The coronavirus pandemic created a huge backlog of criminal cases in Wisconsin courts and, now, a shortage of public defender lawyers is making the situation worse.  State Public Defender Regional Attorney Manager Thomas Reed says more than 200 cases a day are delayed in Milwaukee County alone.  W-I-S-N / T-V reports the State of Wisconsin is going to use 14-million dollars in American Rescue Plan Act funding to ease the backlog but that may not fix the overall problem.

 Authorities in Wood County are investigating the cause of a Monday house fire and the cause of death for the woman who was found inside.  Her name hasn’t been released.  She was taken to Aspirus Riverview Hospital in Wisconsin Rapids where she died.  Fire crews were reportedly called just after 10:00 a-m to the house in Saratoga.  They say active fire was coming from the single-family home as they arrived.  The victim was found while firefighters were battling the flames.

Prosecutors in Missouri have dropped one of the state charges against the man accused of killing two brothers from Shawano County.  Court officials say the charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm was dropped because the federal penalty is harsher.  K-S-H-B / T-V reports Garland Nelson still faces nine felony charges.  Nick and Justin Diemel were killed when they went to Nelson’s farm in northwestern Missouri to collect on a 250-thousand-dollar bad check.  The trial in state court is scheduled to be held next February.  He also faces federal mail fraud charges.

 Republican State Representative Joe Sanfelippo says decertifying Wisconsin’s 2020 presidential election is “never going to happen.”  During an appearance on W-I-S-N / T-V’s Capital City Sunday Sanfelippo says it is “nutty” to think the result of the last presidential election in the state can be overturned.  The vice-chair of the Assembly Committee on Campaigns and Elections says he would rather see lawmakers focus on new election laws and holding members of the Wisconsin Elections Commission accountable for what he says were violations of election laws last November.

Will we see a recession in 2022? St. Cloud State Economist King Banaian doesn’t believe the U-S will fall into a recession in 2022, but 2023 is still a possibility. He says if there’s a recession, it’ll likely be because “we’ll have to hit the brakes much harder to prevent runaway inflation than we would normally do -- and that could trigger a recession.” Banaian says he thinks at this moment, the U-S is “at least nine months to a year away” from a potential recession. Inflation continues to cause increases in products across the board. Some of the bigger ticket items include new houses and vehicles.

As the weather starts to turn warmer and you look to get outside and enjoy the sunshine, Minnesota health officials are reminding you that so do the ticks. State Epidemiologist Elizabeth Schiffman says when the temps climb into the ‘50s and ‘60s, the ticks become active and are looking to eat. She warns people to take preventative measures, like using repellant and checking yourself for ticks when you get back indoors. She says deer ticks are especially dangerous, as they can transmit diseases like Anaplasmosis, Lyme Disease, and Babesiosis. Schiffman says if you are wearing long pants, permethrin works very well on clothing and will actually kill ticks -- but it should NOT be used on bare skin. For that, use a repellent with DEET.

Local-Regional News April 5

 Polls are open from 7:00 a-m to 8:00 p-m today on Wisconsin’s Spring Non-Partisan Primary Election Day.  Voters will be choosing mayors, city council members, county board supervisors, school board members, and judges across the state.  There are several local referenda on the ballot.  Officials are reminding voters to bring their photo I-D when they show up at the polling location.

A Galesville man is dead after falling into Beaver Creek.  According to Galesville police, first responders pulled 63yr old Robby Sacia from the water Sunday afternoon.  Live saving measures were taken, but Sacia was pronounced dead.  The incident remains under investigation.

With Spring here another season is Wisconsin is beginning, road construction.  In Dunn County, crews will be replacing the Hwy 12 Bridge at Wilson Creek near Knapp through August.    Those using the North Crossing will see construction to improve safety at the North Crossing Jeffers Road intersection.  Later this summer, bridges over the east and west channels of the Trempealeau River will be replaced on Hwy 35-54 in Buffalo and Trempealeau Counties.

Groundbreaking is tentatively set for August on a replacement for the Northern Wisconsin State Fair’s red barn coliseum.  W-E-A-U / T-V reports the historic structure was destroyed in a windstorm.  The fair’s executive director, Rusty Volk, says about 80 percent of the six-million dollars needed for the project has been raised.  Volk says there will be four animal buildings consisting of two cattle barns, a coliseum show arena, and a livestock barn.  The new coliseum will be eight thousand square feet and it will be heated and air-conditioned – meaning it will be a year-round venue.  Volk calls it “an education campus for youth.”  It should be open in time for the 2023 Northern Wisconsin State Fair.

Monday, Winona City Council voted in favor of adding police bodycams for officers.  The bodycams would be used for all officers.  Police Chief Tom Williams said the department currently has 38 officers.   The total cost for the cameras and the technology to run them costs the city $330,000. The city also received a $78,000 grant from the state to help fund the cameras.  The Winona County Sheriff's Department is also purchasing bodycams for all deputies in the department.

A Slayton, Minnesota, man was sentenced to a year in prison for committing U-S Department of Agriculture (USDA) farm loan fraud. 54-year-old Mark Engelkes pledged more than 15-thousand bushels of soybeans as collateral to the USDA in order to obtain loan proceeds of nearly 80-thousand dollars. During the application process, Engelkes agreed to not move or dispose of the collateral until the loan was paid in full. However, the U-S-D-A learned in 2016 that Engelkes had removed the pledged grain without prior approval and sold it. Engelkes also defaulted on other farm financings from the U-S-D-A, resulting in a total loss amount to the government of more than 435-thousand dollars.

Authorities in Bayfield County say a two-year-old girl was killed over the weekend when a family member accidentally ran over her with a vehicle.  The child suffered crushing injuries to her head.  Investigators say the family member was moving their car in the parking area at the residence and didn’t see the victim riding a small bicycle nearby.  Life-saving measures were administered at the scene by police officers, and the girl was taken to a local hospital.  She died there.  W-T-M-J / T-V reports authorities say the death appears to be accidental.

A complaint against Milwaukee’s Summerfest maintains the music festival is not really a non-profit.   Lawyer Eddie Greim has filed a complaint with the Internal Revenue Service, saying Summerfest’s non-profit status exempts the festival from all manners of taxes that other for-profit concert venues have to pay. He’s not said why he filed the complaint. Summerfest organizers say the I-R-S has ruled in their favor in other similar complaints in the past.

The owner of Skateland in Waukesha says the company has updated its policies on who can come into the skating rink.  The change was announced in a Facebook post Friday.  The move comes after reports last week that the rink wouldn’t let teenagers from Milwaukee enter the business.  Lacey Anderson, the mother of a black teen from Milwaukee, told reporters her daughter had been turned away.  Shortly after that, Milwaukee County Supervisor Ryan Clancy reported that he and his daughter were admitted with no questions.  They are both white.  The rule about Milwaukee teens had apparently been in place for almost eight years.

The Manitowoc Company says it has cut its business with Russia.  Manitowoc makes industrial cranes in northeastern Wisconsin.  It says it has been curtailing its operations since the invasion of Ukraine.  Manitowoc has stopped taking new orders from Russia.  The company says it has about 20 employees in Russia and sales to the country represent less than two percent of total sales since 2021.  President and C-E-O Aaron H. Ravenscroft tell W-L-U-K / T-V the company will comply with all sanctions and it is doing its best to support local team members there.

The Wisconsin Elections Commission is implementing some of the 30 recommendations put forth by the Legislative Audit Bureau.  Administrator Meagan Wolfe says the commission “takes the Audit Bureau’s recommendations seriously.”  Wolfe says they met to consider and implement the ones that will improve the electoral process in Wisconsin.  W-T-M-J / T-V reports the changes to include increased training for clerks in topics like absentee ballot certificate envelopes, ballot processing, and post-election data entry.  Scope statements have been written on how missing witness address information is completed on absentee ballot certificate envelopes, polling place emergency planning, and certification and training of municipal clerks.

As the planting season approaches Wisconsin farmers are struggling to find the workers they need.  W-B-A-Y / T-V reports those farmers to need help in the fields and in the processing plants.  The situation has some farmers turning to automatic equipment.  There’s a big cost upfront, but it may make an operation more efficient.  Another option for Wisconsin farmers is applying for a federal H-2-A program to employ foreign nationals to fill temporary positions.  That process is long and difficult and it may force automatic equipment on some producers.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz signed an executive order waiving trucking regulations to help fight the spread of avian influenza and mitigate the risk to Minnesota’s poultry industry. The state is ranked first in the nation in turkey production, with more than 660 turkey farms that raise about 40 million birds annually. And turkey production generates 774 million in cash receipts. The current H-5-N-1 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Minnesota poses a high risk to poultry but a low risk to the public, and there is no food safety concern for consumers.

A bipartisan bill to help fix supply chains and ease shipping backlogs is one step closer to becoming law after passing the U-S Senate on a voice vote. Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar accused international shipping conglomerates of “ripping off American farmers, manufacturers and consumers by charging sometimes four times what they used to charge for shipping.” She says there’s no excuse for it because they’ve made seven times the profit from one year to the next. Klobuchar also says the bill will help American exporters get their goods to market in a timely manner for a fair price and help level the playing field for American manufacturers and consumers. A similar bill has already passed the U-S House.

A month-long crackdown on distracted driving in Minnesota is underway. Mike Hanson with the Office of Traffic Safety says that while there’s been progress in preventing distracted driving, they’ll be providing extra resources for law enforcement partners. There’ll also be a media campaign to alert motorists of the crackdown. Hanson says distracted driving contributed to one in nine crashes from 2017 to 2021. And somewhere between 25 and 30 people a year are still being killed on Minnesota roads due to distracted driving. The extra enforcement campaign runs through April 30th.