Local-Regional News April 22

 Spring means prom for high school students.  Durand-Arkansaw School Superintendent Greg Doverspike says the students are excited about this year's prom.  The prom for Durand High School will be Saturday, April 30th.

April 30th is drug takeback day in Wisconsin.  Pepin County Sheriff Joel Wener says while the sheriff's department won't a special dropbox on April 30th, there are permanent boxes throughout the county.  Wener reminds residents to not dispose of unwanted drugs in the trash or by flushing down the toilet as that causes groundwater contamination.

 

A Republican bill to toughen the state’s unemployment rules has been vetoed by Governor Tony Evers.  State Representatives Warren Petryk and James Edming say their legislation would have made it easier to track and prosecute unemployment fraud.  It would have expanded the way someone could be removed from unemployment, required the Department of Workforce Development to conduct more audits, and required any additional federal unemployment assistance to pass first through the Republican-controlled Joint Finance Committee.  The governor says Wisconsin has already lost out on federal funding through legislative interference and the measure would have just added more red tape to the process.

An Eau Claire business has settled on a 15-thousand dollar fine with OSHA after an employee death last year.  Police say Clayton Park’s neck became trapped in heavy machines at American Phoenix and he was crushed last October.  W-Q-O-W / T-V reports the federal agency cited the company for two serious safety violations, including the failure to have warning signs or guarding to keep people away from hazardous areas.  The company has agreed to correct those safety issues and the fine was knocked down from the initial figure of just over 21-thousand dollars.

 

La Crosse officials say they are working to make Houska Park a safe place for the homeless population.  W-K-B-T / T-V reports people who want to stay in the park over the next six months will have to register with staff members at the site Monday through Friday from 8:00 a-m to 8:00 p-m.  The city will be adding surveillance cameras, lighting, and fencing – and a city-hired private security firm will make nightly checks.  La Crosse says its homeless population has more than doubled – from around 120 people last year to 270 as the summer approaches.

Dane County Judge Frank Remington has ordered the Republican election review to stop deleting emails and texts.  Thursday’s ruling is the latest in a series of legal maneuvers between the investigation led by former state Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman and the D-C-based watchdog group, American Oversight.  That liberal group had previously succeeded in its efforts to get Gableman’s staff to turn over hundreds of pages of records.  Gableman’s attorneys had said “documents and text messages that are not of use to the investigation” are routinely deleted.  American Oversight asked Judge Remington to consider finding Gableman in contempt of court over the deleted communications.

Wolf hunting opponents turned back attempts to mandate a season in Minnesota if the federal government again takes the grey wolf off the endangered species list. During Senate debate of an environmental funding bill, Pine City Republican Jason Rarick told members they weren’t asking “to wipe the timber wolf out of Minnesota but said they want to “be able to manage their population,” just like the state does with deer, bears, and moose.” But Saint Paul Democrat Foung Hawj points out Indigenous Minnesotans consider the grey wolf sacred.

He lost his job and now the beer-drinking school bus driver in Green Bay has been charged with operating while intoxicated.  W-L-U-K / T-V reports that 70-year-old James Martin Nelson was fired after he admitted he was drinking beer while driving a group of elementary students on a field trip to Madison.  He was confronted when the bus arrived back at Lincoln Elementary in Green Bay Monday.  When a preliminary breath test was administered Nelson blew a point-5-6, which is usually below the legal limit.  However, the limit for operating a C-D-L vehicle is point-4-0.  Several teachers and chaperones told officers the bus had drifted during the trip so much it hit rumble strips on the highway about five times.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz says lawmakers need to pick up the pace on budget talks as a May 23rd deadline approaches in the current legislative session. He told reporters in Minneapolis Wednesday that the deadline is “carved in stone,” and says he will NOT call a special session if lawmakers don’t finish their work by the deadline.  Walz says Minnesota has a budget surplus and state finances “are as solid as possible.” Senate Republicans, House Democrats, and the governor remain far apart on how to deal with the state’s nine billion budget surplus.

A Milwaukee area couple is accused of running a multi-million-dollar Ponzi scheme.  The Securities and Exchange Commission says Kay and Chao Yang used investor funds for personal items, lavish vacations, luxury goods, and real estate.  At the same time, they were defrauding investors of millions of dollars. The Internal Revenue Service is also conducting a criminal investigation.  The Yangs are accused of raising at least 16-million dollars from investors in the Hmong community.  They told the victims they were making money when the money was being spent.

The deadline is the end of this month for farmers looking to grow and process hemp in Minnesota this season. So far, more than 200 people have applied for a 2022 license with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. More than 28-hundred acres and 318-thousand square feet of hemp were planted by 425 producers last year. M-D-A officials say first-time applicants need to submit fingerprints and pass a criminal background check. Hemp and marijuana are from the same plant and industrial hemp must have less than three percent of the psychoactive compound T-H-C. The T-H-C testing fee declined this season from 125 to 100 dollars per sample.

State lawmakers have some questions about what the Wisconsin National Guard is doing about sexual misconduct.  Lawmakers plan to hold a public hearing on the matter this summer. An investigation was done into misconduct at the Air National Guard base in Madison in 2019. That resulted in the base’s commander being replaced last year. Lawmakers say they want to study the issue further.

A cool, wet spring in Minnesota doesn’t mean that a below-normal summer will follow. Assistant State Climatologist Pete Boulay says 2013, 2014, and 2018 all had spring cold spells and warm summer months. He specifically singles out 2018, when the month of April was very cold -- but on Memorial Day, central and southern Minnesota saw highs in the upper 90s and lows 100s. As for this weekend, Boulay says high temperatures could reach the 70s in many parts of the state. He also says spring rains have helped the levels on some drought-stricken lakes.

Local-Regional News April 21

 The Hwy 10 Little Town Thrift Sale will be Friday and Saturday.  Pepin County Sheriff Joel Wener says motorists should be aware of the extra traffic.  The Thrift Sale will be all along Hwy 10 from Neillsville to Ellsworth.

The Durand-Arkansaw School District, like other districts in Western Wisconsin, has been seeing higher staff turn over the last few years.  Durand-Arkansaw School Superintendent Greg Doverspike says there are a variety of factors causing the turnover.  Doverspike says some staff members are also leaving to pursue other careers or to stay at home with their children.

Two Eau Claire police officers were injured while they were taking an intoxicated man into custody Monday night.  W-E-A-U / T-V reports one of the officers suffered a broken nose, a concussion, and an eye injury while 34-year-old Steven W. Bruns the Third was being arrested.  The second officer’s hand was injured.  Police had responded to a domestic disturbance on the city’s south side.  Bruns apparently fought with officers after he was in handcuffs.  He faces multiple charges and is being held in the Eau Claire County Jail.  He has a court appearance scheduled for today.

An Eau Claire area man who killed four people in the 1980s has withdrawn a petition to be released.  Alvin Taylor has been held at the Mendota Mental institution for the past 34yrs had petitioned the state for his release last month.  Taylor withdrew the request after his examining psychologist submitted a report on Taylor to the court before the hearing that had been scheduled for today.  

EPA Administrator Michael Regan was in West Salem and La Crosse yesterday.  According to a press release from Wisconsin 3rd District Congressman Ron Kind, Regan was in Western Wisconsin to highlight the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and toured the newly upgraded wastewater treatment plant in West Salem, and then stopped in La Crosse to see that city's electric busses.  Both projects received funding from the law.  

 Leaders of the Village of Viola say they are working to give residents some options to avoid the area’s repeated flooding.  W-E-A-U / T-V reports the village has dealt with the problem for decades with floodwaters damaging homes and businesses often.  The significant flood four years ago started conversations about what can be done.  Construction is now underway on the housing development on the south edge of the village, farther away from the Kickapoo River.  Two new apartment complexes are going up and a gas station will be located on the site.  Village President Daren Matthes says the work is being done to help people who want to move out of the floodplain.  More than three million dollars worth of federal grants is covering some of the costs.

Governor Tim Walz is criticizing Minnesota lawmakers from both parties for not replenishing the COVID-depleted Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund. Walz said it’s “absolutely ridiculous” the two sides didn’t reach a deal early in the legislative session -- meaning businesses are now seeing state tax increases. Chamber of Commerce President Doug Loon says Minnesota is the only state that had a trust fund deficit and hasn’t addressed it. Republicans and Democrats haven’t been able to reach a deal on repaying the trust fund or COVID bonuses for front-line workers.

 Duluth police confirm five bodies have been found in a home in the city’s East Hillside neighborhood -- and one of those who died reportedly was the suspect in an earlier standoff. Authorities say they believe the individuals are all related but are not releasing names and say the investigation is ongoing. It began late Wednesday morning in neighboring Hermantown, where police did a welfare check at a residence and couldn't contact the person. The information led authorities to a Duluth address, with concern there could be weapons on the premises. Police say after a methodical search they were able to enter the home and found five dead people and a dead dog.

The Mississippi Valley Conservancy plans to use a three-million-dollar donation to buy 16-hundred acres along the lower Kickapoo River.  Conservancy officials say the big gift from an anonymous donor is the largest it has ever received.  The land north of Wauzeka in Crawford County will be named the Plum Creek Conservation Area.  It will be restored to provide natural services and recreational opportunities.  The property includes more than five-and-a-half miles along the west bank of the Kickapoo and more than two miles along both banks of Plum Creek, a Class One trout stream.

Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul says the year-long effort by his office to find victims of clergy abuse has turned up 51 new reports.  Kaul’s office has started the process of charging one suspect.  He says many of the cases the work has found are outside the statute of limitations – meaning charges can’t be filed.  Kaul says his office is working hard to make sure the victims have access to services.  He says he doesn’t expect the effort to produce a lot of prosecutions because of the age of the cases.

Experts say wild birds are playing a much larger role in spreading avian flu than in 2015 because poultry production facilities since then have put biosecurity measures in place. So, should you take in their birdfeeders?  State Veterinarian, Doctor Beth Thompson advises “if you’ve got a lot of waterfowl in your yard and you have bird feeders, maybe it’s not a good idea to put them out.” But she also says they haven’t seen any “good research” that songbirds are infected with the avian flu virus. Thompson notes that raptors such as eagles, hawks, and owls ARE being affected by avian flu.

State and federal officials want you to know that while avian flu poses a high risk to poultry, the risk to the public is low. An array of top officials checked in with poultry producers Tuesday in Willmar, as avian flu numbers grew to nearly two million birds at 40 sites in 20 Minnesota counties.  But Governor Tim Walz stresses that the food supply is safe. He says to “get out and buy poultry, turkey,” and eggs -- that doing so “makes a difference.” Officials acknowledge producers and farmworkers are experiencing emotional stress and emphasize that mental health resources are available 24 hours a day at 833-600-2670, or text FARMSTRESS (one word) to 898211, or e-mail farm-stress-at-state-dot-m-n-dot-u-s.

Governor Tony Evers is unveiling a plan to save energy and fight climate change.   Evers’ first Clean Energy Plan boosts investment in solar and wind projects, incentivizes more people to buy electric cars, and aims to have Wisconsin carbon-neutral by 2050. The governor’s report says only about four percent of Wisconsin’s electricity comes from renewables like wind and solar. But accomplishing that may be difficult. Right now, Wisconsin gets about 40-percent of its electricity from coal and another 35 percent from natural gas.

 There will be no 155th Memorial Day parade in Milwaukee.  Organizers announced Tuesday the parade will no longer be held.  W-T-M-J / T-V reports they cite rising costs and falling interest.  A statement from parade chairperson Karen Armstrong says the volunteers who have run the parade for the last 30 years have tried to keep it going.  Armstrong says all options that were available have been exhausted in efforts to keep it going.

Local-Regional News April 20

 The City of Durand has received a grant from the State of Wisconsin to reconstruct Madison Street in the Downtown area.  Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren says the project will cost approximately $2.5 million.  The city will be applying for a grant from the Infrastructure Bill to help with the remaining costs of the project.  

The rising energy prices are not only affecting homeowners and businesses, but also public organizations like the Durand-Arkansaw School District.  According to Superintendent Greg Doverspike, the District explored purchasing natural gas for the upcoming school year earlier this month but found the cost was very high.  Doverspike says the district is going to try again in a few weeks.  Supply chain issues, the war in Ukraine, and increasing demand have all led to the rise in energy prices.

Another community in Western Wisconsin is dealing with what to do with their public pool.  The Chippewa Falls City Council decided earlier this month to close the Bernard Willi Pool as it was not worth the cost of renovating or replacing the pool.  Now some residents are organizing a petition drive to either restore or replace the pool with an aquatic center or indoor pool.    Here in Durand after many years of discussion on what to do with the Tarrant Park Pool, construction on a new pool is scheduled to begin in August.

Wisconsin 7th District Congressman Tom Tiffany has announced he will run for re-election.  Tiffany, replaced Sean Duffy in a special election in May of 2020 after Duffy vacated the seat to spend more time with his family.  The 7th Congressional District covers the majority of Northern Wisconsin.

The Sparta School District is searching for ways to find two-point-eight million dollars in savings while it deals with a budget shortfall.  A referendum failed at the polls earlier this month by just 39 votes.  Superintendent Sam Russ says finding places to cut will involve hard decisions.  W-E-A-U / T-V reports that 10 teaching positions, two educational assistants, and two secretarial jobs could be eliminated.  That reportedly would save 900-thousand dollars.  The district could save about 400-thousand a year if it closes Cataract Elementary School serving a small town north of Sparta.  Other possible strategies could involve reducing employee benefits and eliminating other half-dozen teachers.

More Wisconsin communities are encouraging residents to keep their lawnmowers in the garage next month to boost the population of bees and other pollinators.  The “No Mow May” initiative began a couple years ago and this year La Crosse, Wisconsin Rapids, and De Pere are participating in the initiative.  The idea is to give homeowners the option of letting their lawns become a bit overgrown for a few weeks to ensure that bees that are coming out of hibernation have plenty of options for the nectar and pollen they need.

A report shows that Wisconsin got less federal pandemic aid than most other states.  That report from the Wisconsin Policy Forum points out that research measuring federal revenue per capita – dating back to 2006 – ranks the Badger State in the bottom 10 states for the amount of aid received from Washington.  There is some good news buried in the report.  Wisconsin got less help because the feds used unemployment rates to determine how much money each of the states would receive.  Wisconsin had a lower unemployment rate than the national average at the end of 2020.

Republicans in the Wisconsin Legislature have scheduled a hearing on medical marijuana on 4 20 (Wednesday). State Senator Melissa Agard, a Madison Democrat,  says the bill getting a public hearing at the Capitol is a far cry from what Democrats have tried to offer over the past decade.  Agard says her bill would have allowed Wisconsinites to grow their own pot for use, would have prevented outside businesses from selling cannabis in Wisconsin, and would have allowed for judicial remediation for those with cannabis convictions on their records.

A 41-year-old man from Thorp has pleaded no contest to a child sex assault charge.  W-E-A-U / T-V reports authorities had been searching for Glen Fifer and found him in Warrens in February.  Fifer was using an alias at the time.  Investigators say the assaults happened between 2010 and 2017.  Fifer was found guilty of second-degree sexual assault of a child and the repeated sexual assault of a child.  He was also wanted for bail jumping, resisting or obstructing an officer, operating while intoxicated, failure to install an ignition interlock device, and operating with a prohibited alcohol concentration by Chippewa County authorities.

 A Minnesota man will spend 10 years in federal prison for trafficking large amounts of cocaine in western Wisconsin.  Prosecutors say 50-year-old Lashawn Bennett of St. Paul pleaded guilty to possessing more than 500 grams with intent to distribute.  Bennett was stopped for speeding in Eau Claire last March and state troopers found a bag containing three wrapped bricks of cocaine weighing seven-and-a-half pounds.  He was on probation for cocaine trafficking in Wisconsin and prostitution in Minnesota at the time.

Minnesota lawmakers are back at work in St. Paul to continue the legislative session.  House Democrats and Senate Republicans remain far apart on tax relief, education spending, and public safety measures.  They have until May 23rd to resolve those differences.  House Majority Leader Ryan Winkler says Democrats anticipate they will start moving the supplemental budget bills to the floor.  Both parties are focusing a lot of attention on public safety.  Democrats prefer intervention and prevention.  Republicans want tougher sentences and more police officers on the street.

Passengers flying to and from the Twin Cities no longer have to mask up. M-S-P Airport officials announced on Twitter Monday that masks are now “optional,” following a decision by a federal judge to strike down the Biden Administration’s public transportation mask mandate. The mandate was set to expire yesterday, but last week the Centers for Disease Control extended it to May Third to allow more time to study the latest COVID-19 Omicron subvariant, B-A-2. But Florida U-S District Court Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle ruled that the mask mandate “exceeded the C-D-C’s statutory authority” and that the agency “failed to adequately explain its decisions.”

Elections officials are in the process of updating Wisconsin’s new legislative district maps. The state supreme court issued a ruling Friday putting the legislature’s new district boundaries in place. The Wisconsin Elections Commission says it will take some time to update all of the information in the WisVote system. It will also take local election officials time to adjust to their new boundaries. There’s no timeline for when the Commission expects to be done.

 A rare medical procedure has been used to recover a dentist’s drill bit after the patient inhaled it.  It had started as a routine visit to a Kenosha dentist's office for Tom Joszki.  W-I-S-N / T-V reports the 60-year-old Illinois man was having a tooth filled when he apparently inhaled the inch-long drill bit and it became lodged in his lung.  It went in so deep normal scopes couldn’t reach it and it initially looked like part of Joszki’s lung would have to be removed.  That’s when Doctor Abdul Alraiyes and a team at Aurora Medical Center-Kenosha decided to use a device normally implemented for the early detection of cancer.  The team was able to retrieve the drill and avoid the need for surgery.  Joszki says he keeps the drill bit on a shelf in his home.

Local-Regional News April 19

 Two people were injured in a motorcycle accident near Fountain City on Saturday.  According to the Buffalo County Sheriffs Department, 32yr old Matthew Doelle of Fountain City was traveling on Hwy M when he went off the roadway and into the ditch.  Doelle and 38yr old Heidi Bagniewski of Chchrane were found about 30 yards off the roadway.  Both suffered significant injuries and were taken to Winona Health.   Alcohol and speed are believed to be contributing factors in the accident.

The Buffalo County board is meeting today.  Items on the agenda include the swearing-in of board members and board reorganization of the board, discussion, and possible action on amending the Zoning District Maps in the Towns of Nelson and Belivdere.  Today's meeting begins at 9 in the board room in Alma.

The Durand-Akansaw School District will be holding a dedication ceremony for the new Tarrant Park Softball Field.  Durand-Arkansaw School Superintendent Greg Doverspike says things are going well at the new field.  That ceremony will be on May 5th before the Durand-Glenwood City Girls Softball Game.

The Spring Clean-Up in the City of Durand begins this Saturday.  Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren says the clean-up is for yard waste like leaves and small branches.  The Clean up will run for three weeks.   

Altoona police have released the name of the man found dead in Rockford, IL.    Authorities found the body of 79yr old Dennis Schattie last Tuesday and considered his death suspicious due to the injuries he sustained.  Several people have been taken into custody for questioning and the investigation remains active.

 

Former Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson has decided not to run for that office again.  The Republican was elected to four terms as governor in the 1980s.  He announced today (Monday) that he will not oppose Democratic incumbent Governor Tony Evers this fall.  Thompson is 80 years old.  He most recently served as interim president of the University of Wisconsin System.  He also was Health and Human Services Secretary during the President George W. Bush administration.  He called the decision not to run “very difficult.”

No one was injured after an early-morning fire at a Rochester church. Crews were called to the Peace United Church of Christ just after 2:00 a-m after an alarm alerted them to the fire. The church sustained a considerable amount of damage, but officials say the alarm system and sprinklers kept things from becoming much worse. The cause of that fire is under investigation.

 The Plain Prescriptions Price Act would make sure the list prices for prescription drugs are disclosed in television ads.  Congressman Brian Steil says the bill would improve transparency and provide consumers with the best choices.  The Wisconsin Republican says prescription drug prices currently strain budgets for many families and seniors.  The bill is being considered because the list prices of prescription drugs are usually hidden from the public.  Supporters of the legislation think its adoption will have the effect of lowering prescription drug prices.

Republicans could gain a veto-proof majority in the Wisconsin Legislature if things go right this fall – but an expert says it won’t be easy.  The maps approved by the Wisconsin Supreme Court have opened the door.  Marquette researcher John Johnson says the G-O-P would need to take a seven-point-two-point win over Democrats.  That would be a better statewide performance than the party has had in years.  And, if it would be difficult for Republicans to claim more than two-thirds of the state’s legislative seats, it would be even harder for Democrats to gain a majority in either the Wisconsin Assembly or Senate.

The price of propane in Minnesota is well below the high cost of gasoline and diesel fuel -- two dollars, 34 cents a gallon, compared to three-94 for a gallon of gas. More drivers are making the switch or converting their vehicles to propane autogas.  Dave Wager (WAY’-jur) of the Minnesota Propane Association says you can fill up at several locations including their facility in Zimmerman. Wager says propane conversion kits are several thousand dollars, but the association offers incentives to help to cover a large chunk of the cost.   You can also buy dedicated vehicles and buses powered by propane.

A Milwaukee man who served 24 years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit could be getting a big check soon.  W-I-S-N / T-V reports the Wisconsin Claims Board is asking the Legislature to award Daryl Dwayne Holloway 975-thousand dollars.  Holloway was found guilty of two home invasions and two sexual assaults in 1993.  Both of the convictions were overturned.  The claims board awarded 125-thousand dollars to Holloway – the maximum amount it is allowed to hand out.  State lawmakers will have to decide if Holloway receives the larger amount for the time he lost.

The official purchase of the Verso paper mill offers Wisconsin Rapids hope it will be restarted and hundreds of lost jobs will return.  Mayor Shane Blaser says so far there have been no discussions with the Scandinavian company that bought the mill.  It’s been idle for nearly two years so far, with only minimum maintenance being performed on the equipment.  Local officials want the mill to be in shape for a restart if and when that decision is made.  More than 900 employees lost their jobs when the mill shut down.

For the first time in more than two years, public school students in Minneapolis and St. Paul no longer have to wear masks while in class. Mask mandates for both school districts have ended, effective Monday. K-A-R-E/T-V reports that both school districts are citing the low number of COVID-19 cases and higher vaccination rates. However, students, teachers, and staff will have to mask up again if infection rates rise again. And students still have to wear masks while using public transportation to and from school.

The Wisconsin Division of Agriculture says it’s confirmed bird flu cases in backyard chickens in Columbia and Sheboygan Counties. The flu was found on a farm in Polk County. The ag division says there are more than 20-thousand chickens that will have to be euthanized. The new discoveries mean the highly avian flu has turned up in nearly three million wild and domestic birds in seven counties.

Parched soils are being replenished by heavy rains in parts of southern Minnesota. Gary Prescher farms in Faribault County and says storms brought one to two inches of rain to his area Wednesday. He says people in his neighborhood were “starting to wonder again if it was going to be a repeat of 2012” (because) they’d been extremely dry since last spring. But Prescher says the latest rainfall is soaking in as frost moves down in the soil.

Local-Regional News April 18

 A Civil War Re-enactment will be coming to Durand in May.  Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren says the group putting on the re-enactment will be at the old courthouse square on May 17.  The event is being sponsored in part by the non-profit 2nd Minnesota Battery of Light Artillery.

The Durand-Arkansaw School Board approved the replacement of the main boiler at the High School and Middle School.  Durand -Arkansaw Superintendent Greg Doverspike says the new boiler will help the district save on energy costs.  Certified Plumbing of Altoona was the lowest bid at just under $470,000.  Doverspike says the money for the project had been set aside in fund 46.  That project will be completed this summer.

Pepin County Sheriff Joel Wener has announced he will run for re-election this fall.  According to a press release, Wener says his number one goal will be to continue to ensure the safety, security and wellbeing of the citizens of Pepin County.  Wener began his law enforcement career in 1991 in Trempealeau County and was first elected as Pepin County Sherrif in 2014.

The Wabasha County Board is meeting tomorrow.  Items on the agenda include the redistricting maps for board supervisors, authorizing additional seal coating on Hwy 26, and advertising for bids for the Hwy 86 project.  Tomorrow's meeting begins at 9am at the Wabasha County Government Center.

Police haven’t named an 80-year-old man from western Wisconsin whose body was found in Rockford Illinois last week. Altoona police Kelly Bakken said her department was notified after Rockford police determined the body found in the Rock River last Tuesday was that of an Altoona resident. Investigators deemed the death suspicious due to the nature of the injuries. Bakken said Friday that several “persons of interest” were in custody, but didn’t say if that was in Altoona or Rockford.

A La Crosse firefighter is expected to recover from the injuries suffered Saturday morning at the Valley View Mall.  W-K-B-T / T-V reports crews were called to the mall about a fire on the roof shortly before 7:00 a-m.  The flames were spotted on top of the building going up as the new home for a Hy-Vee grocery store.  Investigators say the fire was caused by welding materials.  The injured firefighter was taken to the Mayo Clinic Health System for treatment.  No names have been released.  That fire is not considered to be suspicious.

On Friday the Wisconsin Supreme Court adopted the legislative boundaries proposed by Republicans, setting the political maps for the next ten years. The adoption is a reversal from a previous decision and came after the U-S Supreme Court rejected Democrat Governor Tony Evers' proposal. The decision was 4-3 to adopt the Republican plan, deeming it "race-neutral." Evers had favored a map that would increase the number of Assembly districts with a majority black population from six to seven. The Republican plan adopted by the courts reduced the number to five.

You might have some valuables just waiting for you to claim. Each year, the Minnesota Department of Commerce receives millions of dollars in unclaimed property from businesses and organizations that have lost contact with the owners. The department is responsible for holding any funds or property until the rightful owners or heirs claim it. The property could include dormant bank accounts, uncashed checks, insurance claim checks, and more. Through this program, nearly 625-million dollars has been returned to Minnesotans. More information is available online at Minnesota.findyourunclaimedproperty.com

The state Department of Natural Resources announced new regulations for northern Wisconsin walleye fishing on Wednesday. Starting this May, anglers on a number of lakes in Price, Iron, and Vilas Counties can keep a daily bag limit of three walleye. But the fish must be between 15 and 20 inches long. DNR Fisheries Research Team Leader Greg Sass tells WXPR that climate change has been putting pressure on cold-water fish like walleyes.  The change in rules should help protect older, larger walleyes which are usually reproducing female fish. You can find the new regulations online at D N R dot W I dot Gov.

 You might need a scorecard with names and pictures to keep track of the roster of Wisconsin state senators and Assembly members next session.  Twenty-eight Wisconsin lawmakers have decided they won’t run for reelection and that number could go up before the fall vote.  University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point political science professional John Blakeman tells W-S-A-W / T-V that many of them find out it takes a lot more effort to get their agenda pushed through than they expected.  Blakeman says, “They just give up after a while.”  He says lawmakers who are centrist are usually the most successful at getting laws passed, but in today’s climate they spend a lot more of the time battling people on the fringes – and that may add to their discouragement.

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Wisconsin is changing how it reports coronavirus information. The biggest change is that the Department of Health Services will track vaccinations on a monthly basis now, instead of every week. The D-H-S says it’s making the changes to stay in line with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The C-D-C breaks down COVID-19 levels into high, medium, and low tiers, taking into account both local disease spread, and hospital capacity. The new levels replace the COVID-19 activity levels that the state used to feature on its website by region and county.

Reuters reports there is an offer from the owners of the Vitamin Shoppe to buy Kohls. The company is offering about 69 dollars a share, which comes to nearly nine billion dollars. Kohl's rejected an offer of 64 dollars a share in January. Company leaders said that offer was too low.

 A report from the Wisconsin Department of Justice finds that the state’s crime labs took longer to deliver test results last year than they did in 2020. Developing a D-N-A profile increased from taking three months to four. It took 61 days to analyze evidence for the presence of an illegal drug after taking 44 days last year. Turnaround times did improve in ballistics, tool mark, and footwear analysis. Attorney General Josh Kaul is taking some heat after criticizing his predecessor during the last campaign. He blames Republican legislators for refusing to fund all the lab positions he requested in the last two budgets.

The Minnesota Department of Human Services (D-H-S) needs more than 80 volunteers for citizen panels in Chisago, Hennepin, Ramsey, and Winona counties to help shape child welfare policy. Human Services Assistant Commissioner Tikki Brown says they’re looking for anyone who has “perhaps been part of the system,” has observed the system, or is simply looking for a way to contribute. She says serving on Citizen Review Panels for the state’s child protection system brings a “crucial” community voice to county and statewide child welfare policies and procedures. Panel members serve four-year terms, devoting an average of five hours a month to panel meetings and activities. For more information check with your local county offices, or contact the D-H-S.

Governor Tony Evers has issued a number of vetoes to Republican bills that made it out of the Legislature before recess.  On Friday, Governor Tony Evers vetoed 28 bills. Among those bills were measures that would have made it easier to kick people off of unemployment and medical assistance, a bill that would have dissolved the Milwaukee School District, a massive expansion of the school voucher program, and a "Parental Bill of Rights" that would have required schools to tell parents their children wanted to change their gender identities and given parents broader leeway on pulling their children from lessons that they viewed as objectionable. 

So, do you feel lucky? Several Wisconsin election races have been decided in creative ways. In Wauwatosa, a common council election ended with a win for Sean Lowe when a provisional ballot was opened, giving him a one-vote edge on Rob Gustafson. Lowe becomes Wauwatosa’s first Black council member. Sheboygan Common Council challenger Joseph Heidemann ousted incumbent Andre Walton when he drew the higher card. Timothy Shaw’s name was drawn from a hat, meaning he’s going to serve on the Kronewetter Village Board. And Collette Sorgel won a coin toss and a seat on the Oneida County Board after she tied her opponent in the number of votes received.

Local-Regional News April 15

 Health Insurance costs for the Durand-Arkansaw School District are rising, but not as fast as other districts.  Durand-Arkansaw Superintendent Greg Doverspike says the district will see an 8% increase for next year.  According to Doverspike, the district usually budgets for a 10% increase in health insurance costs.

One person was injured in a one-vehicle accident in River Falls Township on Thursday.  According to the Pierce County Sherrif's Department, 22yr old Kassidy Bauspies of Ellsworth was traveling southbound on Hwy 65, when she lost control of her vehicle and entered the west ditch.  Bauspies was taken to River Falls Area Hospital.

One person was injured in a one-vehicle accident in Oak Grove Township on Wednesday.  According to the Pierce County Sherrif's Department, 21yr old Hope Northagen of Maple Grove, MN was traveling northbound on Hwy 35, when she failed to negotiate a sharp curve, crossed the southbound lane, and entered the west ditch.  Her vehicle came to rest at the bottom of an embankment.  Northagen was transported to Region's Hospital in St. Paul.

One person was injured in a one-vehicle accident on Sunday in River Falls Township.  According to the Pierce County Sherrif's Department, 41yr old Mason Hutter of Ellsworth was traveling southbound on Hwy 65, when he lost control of his vehicle, entered the west ditch, and rolled several times.  Hutter was transported to River Falls Area Hospital.

A Monroe County Frac Sand mine project is dead.  Wednesday, The Wisconsin Supreme Court turns down a petition from Georgia timber company  Meteor Timber to build a frac sand operation in protected wetlands in Monroe County.   The company was sued in 2018 by Clean Wisconsin, an environmental group, and other groups to block the DNR issuance of a permit to allow the construction of the processing and loading facility by Meteor Timber.  In December 2021, an appeals court upheld a lower court ruling from Monroe County in 2020 that blocked the DNR permit.

Job numbers are looking incredibly strong for Wisconsin right now. The Department of Workforce Development's chief economist Dennis Winters says Wisconsin's unemployment rate hit a record low of 2 point 8 percent, and the total employed people also hit a record high.   Winters says the state's gross domestic product also hit a record high in March, capping off the state's record productivity. 

The Securities and Exchange Commission has filed fraud charges against a woman and her investment company for a fraud scheme that targeted the Hmong (MUNG) community in Minnesota and Wisconsin.  Federal regulators accused Kay Yang and her hedge fund of raising more than 16-million dollars by “making false and misleading statements to approximately 70 investors.”  The S-E-C says Yang promised her victims they could expect annual returns of up to 50 percent on their investments.  Instead, she used their money to pay personal expenses, including “gambling, real estate, extensive travel, luxury automobiles and repayment of investors from a previous venture.”  When the scheme collapsed the money was lost.

The state of Minnesota has continued showing job growth for a sixth straight month.  The Department of Employment and Economic Development reports that 11-thousand-500 new jobs were added to the workforce in March.  Commissioner Steve Grove says the growth rate in Minnesota was strong compared to what is being seen nationwide.  Grove says federal officials rank Minnesota as one of the top states for job growth in the country.  Minnesota’s unemployment rate is down to two-and-a-half percent – compared to the national rate of three-point-six percent.

Officials at the University of Minnesota do not believe cardinals, robins, and bluebirds in our backyards are spreading avian influenza. U-of-M Raptor Center Director Victoria Hall said during a webinar that “not having wild birds congregate right now is not a bad idea.”  Hall says songbirds are not thought to be a major driver of bird flu, but at least a couple of chickadees were infected during the 2015 outbreak. The wild birds that are likely carrying avian influenza include ducks, geese, eagles, gulls, and ravens.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources urges people to avoid burning through the weekend due to anticipated high winds.   The forecast indicates strong, windy conditions through Saturday. Easter Weekend is traditionally a popular time for people to be cleaning up their yards. The DNR asks the public not to burn debris since embers from any fire can easily escape control and cause a wildfire. This risk increases on windy days. There were nearly 60 wildfires, burning 175 acres in the last week. The DNR has responded to 126 wildfires burning more than 309 acres so far this year, most were related to debris burning.

Justices on the Wisconsin Supreme Court were asking some pointed questions to the leader of a group arguing against the use of absentee ballot drop boxes.  Oral arguments were made Wednesday.  Justice Brian Hagedorn pressed Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty President Rick Esenberg about the limits his organization wants.  W-I-L-L seeks to prevent anyone from returning absentee ballots in any other way than mailing them in personally or delivering them directly to a staff member in the clerk’s office.  Voting and disability rights advocates say disabled and elderly voters will be disenfranchised.

 Plans for rerouting a controversial pipeline could mean hundreds of jobs for northern Wisconsin.  A new 41-mile section of the Line 5 pipeline would go around the reservation that is home to the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa.  That tribe filed a lawsuit three years ago to have the pipeline removed from its land.  Canada-based Enbridge Energy will have to obtain permits from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to begin work.  Rerouting the existing line is expected to carry a price tag of 450-million dollars and result in the hiring of 700 workers.

More than one-point-nine million Minnesotans have filed their income tax returns this tax season, with more than one-point-one million already receiving their refunds. Ryan Brown with the Minnesota Department of Revenue recommends that those who haven’t filed yet do so electronically and use direct deposit for any refunds that may be owed. He says it’s the most secure and convenient way to file taxes and to get a refund. The deadline to file this year is April 18th -- next Monday. Brown also recommends paying as much as you can by the due date and contacting the state’s Revenue Department as soon as possible to set up a payment agreement for the remaining balance.

A Portage County concentrated animal feeding operation is being accused of polluting nearby water sources.  W-A-O-W / T-V reports the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is considering a modification to the permit for Gordondale Farms that would require groundwater monitoring.  Owner Kyle Gordon insists the farm has always met the state nitrate standards.  He says the monitoring wells could cost 100-to-200-thousand dollars.  Testing of private wells in the Nelsonville area found nitrate concentrations higher than the Wisconsin health standard.  A virtual meeting on the matter is set for May 12th.

A D-F-L lawmaker from Golden Valley wants to change the Minnesota state flag and the state seal. Representative Mike Frieberg is sponsoring a bill that would create a commission to design and recommend a new flag and seal, which would be adopted by May eleventh of next year. He told W-C-C-O/T-V that the current seal, which is in the center of the flag, has “racist undertones.” It depicts a white farmer plowing a field in the foreground and a Native American riding a horse in the background. Republicans have indicated that changing Minnesota’s flag and seal is not a high priority this session.

The Dane County Farmers’ Market kicks off its 50th season on the Capitol Square in Madison this weekend.  W-M-T-V reports it started in 1972 with five farmers but now has more than 250 producers selling fresh goods.  The market operates from 6:15 a-m to 1:45 p-m through November 12th.  It moves to Breese Stevens Field July 9th to make way for the Art Fair on the Square.  Patrons can park along the downtown streets or in city-operated garages and parking lots.

Local-Regional News April 14

 Plans for the Tarrant Park Pool are moving forward.  At last night's Durand City Council meeting, Public Works Superintendent Matt Gills gave members an update on the design of the pool and new bathhouse.  In one part of the bathhouse, a concession stand was one area where the council discussed options.    Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren says this was the first time the council discussed a concession stand.  The "hot" concession stand would require the building to be extended and extra sinks and plumbing would have to be installed due to state codes at a cost of approximately $20,000.  The council decided to have the enhanced stand designed into the building.

Strong winds are expected across central and southern Minnesota into western Wisconsin today. In conjunction with these winds, scattered snow showers are expected for much of the area. Some of these showers, while intermittent and brief, could produce a quick burst of moderate to heavy snow. This combination of strong winds with the snow showers today may result in a rapid drop in visibility due to blowing snow.  A wind advisory is in effect for the entire WRDN listening area until 7pm tonight.

The National Weather Service says the state’s first tornado of the year was an E-F-2 twister with winds between 111 and 135 miles an hour. It struck the tiny southeast Minnesota town of Taopi late Tuesday. Of that community’s 22 homes, at least ten are beyond repair -- and a historic grocery store that had been remodeled as a town hall will now have to be torn down. The Weather Service says the strongest storms were near the Minnesota-Iowa border, with storms weakening overnight as they moved into Wisconsin.

The Mondovi City Council has decided to spend $1000 of ARP funds to equip some new city vehicles with tools.  During this week's council meeting, members approved using the money to equip the vehicle and city shop with the needed tool.  The city has approximately $150,000 remaining from the American Rescue Plan funds.  Meanwhile, plans for the north Eau Claire Street Project continue to move forward.  Bids for the project should be opened in the next few weeks with construction beginning after school ends for the summer.

Police say a Facebook post got their attention recently, but it apparently wasn’t directed at any school board or member.  W-K-B-T / T-V reports the post discussing politics and school boards ended with the phrase: “when the ballot box fails, the last resort is the ammo box.”   The poster hasn’t been charged with a crime.  Holmen School Board President Cheryl Hancock says she reported the post to law enforcement.  When Holmen police spoke with the author he took it down.  Security was also stepped up at Monday’s school board meeting in the presence of another officer.

A new state report shows Minnesota could face an alarming health care worker shortage in the next five years.  Minnesota Nurses Association Staffing Specialist Carrie Mortrud says many workers in the industry are planning to leave the field and switch professions.  Staffing shortages have led to longer hours and worker burnout.  Job vacancies have increased in nearly all health care professions since the start of the pandemic.  The report finds one in five rural health care providers saying they plan to leave the profession in the next five years.  The most losses are coming from among physicians.

The new president of the University of Wisconsin System wants the Legislature to do more for the state’s public colleges.   Michael Falbo points out a new report that shows state taxpayer support for the system has fallen from 30-percent -- to 18-percent percent over the past 20 years. Falbo says students have made up the difference, which leads to more student debt and fewer students enrolling at U-W System schools. Falbo did not offer specifics on how much more spending he wants.

A judge in Waukesha County is essentially suspending efforts to clean up PFAS chemicals in Wisconsin.  Judge Michael Bohren’s ruling says Wisconsin’s rules on so-called “forever chemicals” need to be written down before they can be enforced. The Department of Natural Resources and environmental groups have suggested rules, but the Legislature and the D-N-R board have not formally approved them. The ruling is a win for Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce, which complained the D-N-R was breaking the law by trying to force companies to pay for clean-ups without spelling out what they were cleaning.  Eau Claire and La Crosse have reported PFAS contamination in some of their city water wells.

You have until Thursday night to give your input on the management of the state's natural resources through the Wisconsin Conservation Congress' annual Spring Hearing surveys.  The W C C surveys include questions on hunting, fishing, water quality, trapping, ATV riding, and other outdoor recreation. One question asks if the state should require canoes and kayaks should be registered with a fee, or require the owner's contact info on the boat, similar to hunting tree stands and ice shacks. The results will be used to advise the Natural Resources Board and the Department of Natural Resources on future rules and regulations. The deadline for the spring hearing surveys is 7 p.m. on Thursday. They can be found at D N R dot Wisconsin dot G O V.

The Grant County Sheriff’s Office has discredited reports of neglected horses at a farm along Highway 66 in the Village of Montfort.  The report came as a post on a community Facebook group.  W-M-T-V reports deputies weren’t able to confirm the report in the darkness Monday night but they met with the owners and a veterinarian Tuesday morning.  One of the ponies needed to have its hooves trimmed but the horses were determined to be in good health.  The owner says the person hired to trim the hooves had canceled several times.  Sheriff Nate Dreckman says the Facebook post resulted in trespassing and people bringing feed to the horses when they were already being fed.

The legislative session has completed its run so a bill legalizing medical marijuana won’t be voted on this time.  State Senator Melissa Agard of Madison says polling has shown a majority of Wisconsin voters think that should happen.  Agard says she’s hoping supporters of the idea will show up at the State Capitol next week for a public hearing on a medical marijuana bill.  The bill would clear the way for the limited, tightly-regulated use of medical cannabis in Wisconsin.  Neither piece of legislation will be passed before the next legislative session.

A Tomah man has been convicted on 11 counts in the death of a three-year-old boy.  Thirty-seven-year-old Marcus Anderson was found guilty of first-degree intentional homicide and child abuse in Monroe County Circuit Court Tuesday in the 2019 case.  W-K-B-T / T-V reports he had faced 16 counts in the death of Kyson Rice.  Prosecutors told the court the victim was covered with more than 200 bruises.  Anderson maintained the injuries came from a fall in the shower.  He was also accused of waiting five minutes to call 9-1-1 – five minutes which may have cost the child his life since he was clinically dead when emergency responders arrived.

There is still money available to help pay for the funeral costs of loved ones who died from a COVID-19-related illness. The Federal Emergency Management Agency says since the program launched on April First 2021, they have provided more than two-point-one billion dollars in funeral assistance to eligible applicants across the country. You may qualify for up to nine thousand dollars for each death, with a maximum of 35 thousand for families who have multiple funeral expenses due to COVID-19. Since the assistance began, the average amount awarded is 65-hundred dollars. You can apply by calling 844-684-6333 between eight A-M and eight P-M Monday through Friday.

As spring weather approaches, many of us are planning home improvement projects for the year. The Better Business Bureau of Minnesota urges consumers to use caution when hiring a home improvement contractor -- especially following a major storm, flood, or another weather event. The B-B-B’s Bao Vang says to be wary of high-pressure sales tactics, upfront fees, and fly-by-night businesses -- some of which “may offer quick fixes or make big promises that they are unable to deliver.” Vang says once started, a rogue contractor may “find” issues that significantly raise the price -- and if you object, they threaten to walk away and leave a half-finished project. She says to ask for references and do your research before putting contractors to work on your home.

Spring planting season is underway in Wisconsin.   It’s still early. The first crop report of the spring says Wisconsin farmers have tilled just one percent of their crop land. Farmers who are in the fields report good soil conditions. The crop report says only two percent of farmland in Wisconsin is very short on moisture, while more than 60-percent of land is said to be adequate.