Local-Regional News Jan 11

 The Durand City Council is meeting tonight.  Items on the agenda include discussion and possible action on the potential use of ARPA funds for employee retention bonuses, Police Department use of grant funds and reports from the mayor and city department heads.  Tonight's meeting begins at 6:30 at Durand City Hall.

The Durand-Arkansaw School Board is meeting tonight.  Items on the agenda include discussion and possible action on the space availability cap for the 23-24 open enrollment, a resolution to approve the Pepin County All-Hazards Mitigation plan, and a public hearing on the safe-to-return school plan.  Tonight's meeting begins at 6pm in the board room at the High School.

The Department of Public Instruction won't be taking action against the Chippewa Falls School district for claims of harassment of students despite an appeal of a lawsuit brought by the ACLU of Wisconsin. DPI says that while Chippewa Falls officials failed to investigate those claims properly, the students involved no longer attend school in the district. ACLU attorney Elizabeth Lambert says there are serious issues that need to be addressed.  Lambert says she can't discuss the next steps they'll be taking in the case, but that more students are being affected by harassment. Officials from the Chippewa Falls School District did not respond to a request for comment. 

A Turtle Lake man is dead after a house fire Monday night.  According to the Barron County Sheriffs' Department firefighters responded to a call for the fire on 2nd Street just before 6 p.m. Monday and were told there may be someone still in the house.  When fire crews arrived, there was heavy smoke and heat. About an hour after they began to attack the fire, they found the 56-year-old male homeowner deceased.   The man's wife was able to escape the fire and was treated for smoke inhalation.  The cause of that fire is under investigation.

School leaders in Altoona are looking to ask taxpayers for money this spring. The city's school board will vote tomorrow night on whether to put a 26 million-dollar tax hike on the April ballot. Superintendent Heidi Eliopoulos says they want to buy the National Business Institute and turn it into an elementary school. Eliopoulos says Altoona is growing, and that means the city's schools need to grow as well.

There's new talk of a merger between Eau Claire and Altoona's fire departments. Eau Claire Deputy Chief Matt Jagger says the city already provides EMS service for Altoona, and there have been talks about a full-fire merger in the past. He says the new talks are not yet final. The biggest sticking point will be the cost. Both cities say they will need to add new equipment, and Altoona may have to hire more full-time firefighters. No one is guessing at a timetable for a possible merger agreement.

The Mega-Millions jackpot is growing again. No one won last night's drawing, so Friday night's drawing will now be worth one-point-three billion dollars. The lump sum cash payout on that would be 708 million dollars. One-point-three billion will be the second largest Mega-Millions jackpot ever. It's been three months since someone won the big prize. Your chances of winning the prize this time are about one in 300 million.

Wisconsin's bail reform amendment continues its fast track for the spring ballot. Lawmakers in Madison had a hearing on the plan yesterday. Advocates and activists continue to criticize the proposal, saying making it easier for judges to keep dangerous suspects in jail isn't the solution that Wisconsin needs. Republicans at the Capitol say there have been too many cases where a suspect is released on little to no bail, and then commits a new crime. The amendment started after the Waukesha Christmas Parade attack. The hope is for lawmakers to approve the amendment and get it on the ballot in April.

It appears to be smooth sailing for the spring elections, according to the Wisconsin Elections Commission. Elections specialist Riley Willman tells commissioners that staff didn't see any major issues with the circulation of elections petitions for the spring elections. However, several of those forms appeared to be prefilled by the person circulating the paper.   State regulations require other candidates in an election to file complaints about the petition process. 72 candidates filed for the election in 53 judges seats that will be open in the spring.

One Wisconsin congressman wants ESPN to cut ties with TikTok. Congressman Mike Gallagher sent a letter to ESPN's president this week, asking the company about its relationship with TikTok. Gallagher specifically asked what kind of vetting ESPN did of TikTok, and asked if ESPN knew that TikTok's owner is 'effectively controlled by the CCP.' Gallagher has been pushing for a TikTok ban in the U.S., he says the app gives Chinese communist leaders an opportunity to spy on American users, as well as edit the news they see. Gallagher also wants ESPN to stop letting TikTok sponsor shows or events on the network.

The employment future of the head of the Wisconsin Elections Commission is unclear. The Journal Sentinel reports that state Senate Majority Leader Devin Lemahieu said he had “no idea” whether Elections Commission Administrator   Meagan Wolfe will be confirmed for another term. The bipartisan commission provides election guidance to hundreds of clerks across the state. The commission and Wolfe were targets of criticism by supporters of former President Donald Trump following his 2020 election loss. The agency was also criticized by Republican leaders over changes to voting procedures put in place during the coronavirus pandemic. Wolfe is a nonpartisan appointee who’s held the job since 2018.

A Minnesota House committee is considering a bill that would allow undocumented immigrants to get a driver's license.  This isn't the first time local lawmakers have advocated for such a bill, but the state's DFL-controlled Legislature might actually be able to pass it this time.  The executive director of the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota told MPR News that "We have so many immigrants who are our neighbors, who are our friends" and this law would empower "those families to be able to thrive more in our communities."  Undocumented immigrants can legally drive in 18 other states.

Damage could be in the millions following a Sunday night fire at a Whitewater disposal facility. Fire crews arrived at John’s Disposal Services to find a sorting and recycling building fully engulfed in flames.  Officials say the fire went past five alarms due to the cold conditions and a lack of water at the site.  Whitewater Assistant Fire Chief Joe Uselding said during a Monday afternoon press conference the bulk of the fire has been put out, but hotspots around the property, as well as building structure issues, will keep firefighters busy. The cause of the fire is currently undetermined. 

Waukesha Christmas parade attacker Darrell Brooks may be heading back to court in the new year.   Brooks, who was sentenced to life in prison after a jury convicted him on all 76 charges tied to the parade attack, represented himself during his trial last fall.  Brooks has since filed a handwritten notice seeking post-conviction relief and has asked for representation from the Wisconsin State Public Defender’s Office for an appeal.   On Friday, the public defender’s office appointed Michael Covey to represent Brooks during the appeal.  Court documents show the office requested all transcripts for Covey to review.    Brooks has an April restitution hearing scheduled in Waukesha County.  If he does appeal, he’ll be back in court.

Governor Tony Evers has picked a new head of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and he has an auspicious name. Current D V A deputy secretary James Bond has been named to take over the position of his former boss Mary Kolar who stepped down last week. Bond is a disabled veteran, having served in the Marines as a clerk before being injured. Governor Evers says Bond will bring a wealth of experience to the position.

Not only are the Vikings-Giants playoff tickets in short supply but they are not cheap.  The average resale price is 324 dollars on SeatGeek.  In comparison, the average ticket price for the Viking's 2018 NFC divisional round against the Saints was 290 dollars on SeatGeek.  Experts advise fans to avoid tickets on Craigslist and instead buy from a ticket seller that has a brick-and-mortar presence.

Local-Regional News Jan 10

 One Person was injured in a single-vehicle accident in Trenton Township Monday.  According to the Pierce County Sheriff's Department, 17yr old Connor Rabuck of Red Wing was traveling southbound on Hwy 63, when he lost control, entered the ditch and the vehicle rolled over.  A female passenger in the car was taken to Red Wing Hospital, while Rabuck was not injured.

One person was injured in a two-vehicle accident Monday in Spring Lake Township.  According to the Pierce County Sheriff's Department, 20yr old Richard Epich of Elmwood was traveling southbound on Hwy 128, when he crossed the center line and struck a northbound vehicle driven by 64yr old Jan Krause of Elmwood.  Epich was taken to Western Wisconsin Health in Baldwin, while Krause was not injured in the accident.

The Mondovi City Council is meeting tonight.  Items on the agenda include a discussion of a PSC broadband grant proposal with Ntec, a presentation from Anthony Acres School, and reports from the mayor, city administrator, and department heads.  Tonight's meeting begins at 5:30 at the Marten Center in Mondovi.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) today announced that funding from the Cherish Wisconsin Outdoors Fund will help improve public lands in Pierce county. The funds will go toward creating and restoring habitat and improving recreational boat access to the degraded backwaters of Pool 4 in upper Lake Pepin. These project funds are contributing to a larger multi-million dollar project that will establish islands, wetlands and over-wintering fish areas.  The Cherish Wisconsin Outdoors Fund provides permanent support for habitat management and ecological restoration on Wisconsin’s state-managed public lands, including natural areas, parks, trails, wildlife and fishery areas, recreation areas, and forests. 

There won't be any movement in Lily Peters' murder case until the summer. The judge in the case yesterday turned down a request from the D.A.'s office to move the hearing on whether the suspect in the case should be tried as an adult from August til June. The suspect's lawyer says he cannot move the case up on his schedule. Once the juvenile court hearing is done, it will likely be several more months before the case actually gets to trial. Lily Peters was assaulted and killed last April.

Police in Chippewa Falls says an elderly man with dementia has been found and is safe. Officers canceled the Silver Alert for David Smith. Police say he disappeared after breakfast yesterday morning. His family was worried because they say he often drives off without a specific destination in mind. Police found him later in the day. They did not say where Smith went.

The grass may be a little longer in Eau Claire this May. The city is considering a No Mow May resolution. The idea is to let grass, but more specifically flowers, grow to give bees and other bugs or birds more chances to spread their pollen. No Mow May has caught on in recent years. Eau Claire City Council Member Joshua Miller says No Mow is completely voluntary but hopes Eau Claire adopts the idea. It will come up for a vote before the city council in two weeks.

Jenifer Dorow's bid for Wisconsin Supreme Court got a big boost yesterday. Retiring Justice Pat Rogensack endorsed Dorow in the race for the court. Rogensack, who is retiring, said Dorow is a 'leader amongst judges in our state,' and 'knows the proper role of a judge is to say what the law is - not what it ought to be.' Dorow is facing fellow conservative, and former Supreme Court Justice Dan Kelly in the Republican primary for the court next month.

Governor Evers is saying 'No' to a flat tax and universal school choice. The governor said on UPFRONT over the weekend that he won't sign a budget that includes either plan, because they are bad for the state budget. The Republicans who will write the next state budget are huge supporters of both tax cuts and school choice. Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu has said he wants to move Wisconsin to a flat tax. The governor will deliver his budget plan next month, and lawmakers will get to work on their plan after that.

 Minnesota Democrats are proposing new protections for those who manage state elections.  Secretary of State Steve Simon released a list of legislative priorities yesterday, including laws aimed at reducing threats and harassment against election workers.  Simon is proposing legislation that would make the intimidation and harassment of election officials a gross misdemeanor with fines and civil liability attached.  He cited a number of incidents where the safety of election workers has been threatened since the 2020 election.

One official in Olmstead County is raising concerns over the push to legalize marijuana.  In a Facebook post,  Sheriff Kevin Torgerson asked lawmakers to consider road safety and made the claim that legal marijuana would increase the population of people experiencing homelessness by "more than 100-percent."  Governor Tim Walz has already said he would sign the legislation.  Hearings for the bill are scheduled to start this week.

Republicans in the Wisconsin legislature are working to give themselves - not the governor - oversight on how the state spends any federal dollars it receives.  A proposed constitutional amendment would allow only the legislature to distribute federal money. The GOP-controlled legislature passed the amendment early last year.   Lawmakers must pass a proposed amendment in two consecutive sessions. If that happens, the question would then go before voters in a binding statewide referendum.

There’s plenty of tax cut talk at the Capitol in Madison, where Governor Tony Evers and the Republican-controlled legislature have a $6.6 billion surplus to work with. But the Republican co-chair of the budget committee cautions that the state also has big obligations and expenses. State Senator Howard Marklein of Spring Green says while he's all for tax cuts, he wants to make sure the state can afford them. Evers will introduce his proposed two-year budget next month, after which the Joint Finance Committee will set to work. Marklein hopes they’ll have a finished product by the end of the fiscal year in June.

Wisconsin Rapids Mayor Shane Blaser says is glad to hear that lawmakers in Madison are considering an increase in shared revenue for local governments. Blaser says even a small increase can help, especially for roads and infrastructure.  Governor Evers told reporters during a stop in Stevens Point last week that counties and municipalities can expect to see increased shared revenue as in the next state budget. Republicans who control the legislature will ultimately decide how much.

Four people face charges after two people held against their will escaped from the basement of a home in Pine Lake last month.  The Oneida County Sheriff’s Department says a woman who claims she was bound to a chair, beaten, and sexually assaulted was able to escape and get help from a neighbor. She was taken a Rhinelander hospital.  A man who was also held in the home also escaped.  The sheriff’s office says the two victims were lured to the house and held there from December 20th through the 22nd.  The victims and those charged in the matter knew each other.

The Wisconsin State Patrol is taking part in the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Alliance's Human Trafficking Awareness Initiative this week.  The State Patrol says motor carrier inspectors will reach out to every commercial motor vehicle driver they have contact with during their regular duties and provide a wallet resource card to each driver.  The State Patrol says knowing the number to call and reporting what you see could save a life.

Local-Regional News Jan 9

 A 12yr old is dead after a snowmobile accident in Wabasha County Sunday.  According to the Wabasha County Sheriff's Department, deputies and emergency personnel responded to rural Theilman after the snowmobile struck a tree.  Life-saving measures were given but the 12yr old was pronounced dead at the scene.    The name of the victim was not released.

Minnesota and Western Wisconsin will see above-normal temperatures in the next couple of weeks.  The National Weather Service's six to ten-day temperature outlook gives Minnesota and Western Wisconsin a 50 to 60 percent chance to see above-normal temperatures.  In the next eight to 14 days the eastern half of Minnesota and Western Wisconsin will have a 70 to 80 percent chance to see above-normal temperatures.

The sheriff in Buffalo County says a tanker wreck could have been worse.  Sheriff Mike Osmond says the tanker rolled down a steep hill and landed in a ditch Saturday morning. Deputies say the truck couldn't make it up the slick road on County Highway KK, slid backward, then rolled down the hill. The driver was the only person in the truck and wasn't injured. No one is saying just what was inside the tank at the time.

Eau Claire's school board is being asked to support the push for a universal free school lunch program in Wisconsin. The school board will vote on the idea tonight. It's one of several resolutions that the Wisconsin Association of School Boards is asking local schools to support. There is no word just what it would cost to feed every school kid in Wisconsin for free, or just where that money would come from.

It's not how the Milwaukee School of Engineering's wrestling team expected to end its weekend. The team bus caught fire Saturday night as they were returning from a wrestling meet in Minnesota. No one was hurt, and everyone made it off the burning bus in time. The sheriff in Barron County allowed the team and their coaches to stay at the sheriff's office until a new bus could come and pick them up. The sheriff is looking for the cause of the fire.

The stepfather of a 14-year-old boy killed in a shooting at a Woodbury graduation party is facing prison time.  Keith Dawson was sentenced Friday to seven years in prison after he fired warning shots from a vehicle outside a party where a group of young men attending had pointed a gun at his stepson, Demaris Hobbs-Ekdahl.  The men fired back, killing Demaris.  The judge called the case an "anomaly," but said that using a firearm to settle a dispute is "ill-advised and dangerous."  Minnesota sentencing guidelines called for nearly nine years in prison.

Republican lawmakers at the Wisconsin Capitol are not wasting any time in getting a constitutional amendment on bail changes to a vote. A Senate committee will have a hearing tomorrow on the plan to change the Wisconsin Constitution to allow judges to consider more things when setting bail. The constitution right now requires bail for everyone and stops judges from considering just how serious the crime is, or how serious the suspect's criminal record is. The hope is to fast-track the votes in the Capitol to get the bail amendment on the spring ballot.

Wisconsin will soon be on the list of states with a TikTok ban. Governor Evers on Friday said he'll sign an executive order sometime this week that bans TikTok from state phones, tablets, and computers. Republicans have been calling for a ban for weeks, saying TikTok's Chinese owners can track American users and censor the news they see. The governor says he spoke with both the FBI and Wisconsin Emergency Management officials and decided it was best to ban TikTok from state phones. The governor doesn't personally use TikTok, but his campaign created an account for him for the November election.

A Minnesota National Guard nurse is being honored with the nation's highest flight award.  Major Katie Lunning was presented with the Distinguished Flying Cross on Saturday.  She was honored for her actions following the 2021 Kabul Airport suicide attack.  Lunning aided the injured and evacuated 22 patients in the aftermath of the attack.  She is the second nurse to earn the award and the first in the National Guard.  Lunning is one of 12 women in the military to receive the award.

It's now a billion-dollar-plus Mega Millions jackpot. No one won during Friday night's drawing, which means tomorrow's drawing will now be worth one point one billion dollars. This is only the third time that Mega Millions has topped the billion-dollar mark. The lump sum cash prize for tomorrow night's drawing is 568 million, before taxes.

Governor Tony Evers has declared Wisconsin's second energy emergency in a month because of severe winter weather on Friday.  The order will provide a 30-day waiver allowing fuel suppliers to catch up on deliveries delayed due to weather.  Evers said the waiver also will allow for out-of-state utility restoration crews to arrive faster.  The governor said weeks of severe winter weather have had impacts on the distribution of residential heating fuel, including heating oil and propane and the order will allow for the delivery of those products. 

A northwest Wisconsin man has been sentenced to prison for the fatal shooting of a neighbor. Sixty-five-year-old Randy Erickson of the Town of Bayfield is sentenced to 15 years in prison and 10 years extended supervision on a conviction for second-degree intentional homicide. Erickson was found guilty last August of killing 64-year-old Michael Kinney, when a long-standing dispute between the two turned violent on May 8, 2020. Erikson’s attorneys argued he was acting in self-defense because Kinney threatened him with a shovel. Prosecutors argued Kinney’s intentions were clear: cellphone video of the confrontation revealed Erickson repeatedly saying he was going to kill Kinney before firing nine shots, hitting him three times.      

Wisconsin's U.S. senators are signaling they will start over the vetting process for a vacancy on the federal bench in Green Bay. A spokesperson for Oshkosh Republican Ron Johnson told WisPolitics.com that Johnson continues to oppose Milwaukee County Judge William Pocan over bail he set in a 2014 case. Pocan increased bail for a man charged with stealing a car and running over the owner from $2500 to $5000 following a request from prosecutors. The judge is the brother of Democratic congressman Mark Pocan. A spokesperson for Senator Tammy Baldwin told WisPolitics.com the Madison Democrat  "plans to re-form the bipartisan nominating commission and is looking to fill this vacancy as expeditiously as possible."

A large-scale conservation initiative is on hold due to objections from the State Legislature's Joint Finance Committee. A conservation group that owns the Pelican River Forest is looking for help from the DNR to open the land to public use, but the J F C has held up funding for the project. Republican State Representative Mary Felzkowski tells WXPR in Rhinelander that adding more land to state forests could hurt the economy and prevent future development and growth in the region. The properties would be sold off to other people, once preservation easements are secured for the state. Some 70-thousand acres are part of the potential program.

A woman faces charges for allegedly poisoning her veterinarian husband with euthanasia drugs. 50-year-old Amanda Chapin of Monroe is charged with attempted homicide for allegedly spiking her husband's coffee with barbituates. Police say she recently married the man and then worked to get his children written out of his will, going so far as to forge a power of attorney document. After that, police say Chapin started poisoning his coffee, eventually sending the man into a coma. Her husband has since filed for divorce. 

A Richland Center dairy company is helping its workers cover the cost of childcare.  Schreiber Foods is partnering with TOOTRiS childcare service to provide its employees with childcare benefits and five thousand dollars toward education costs.  Schreiber Foods said employees will receive five-thousand dollars a year as a recurring stipend, which will cut some annual childcare costs in half.

JJ Watt says his latest fan mail package had him take a step back. Watt, who played both high school and college football in Wisconsin before heading off to the NFL, says someone sent him a stuffed badger in the mail. It was professionally taxidermied and mounted. Watt shared pictures of it on Twitter. He said 'I have received a lot of wild fan mail over the years. This package that arrived today is certainly being added to the list.'

Local-Regional News Jan 5

 Only two people turned in candidate papers for 3 seats on the Durand City Council.  In Ward 2, Robert Weisapple and in Ward 3 current council member Matt Roesler turned in papers by the deadline Tuesday.    With no one running in Ward One, Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren says someone could run as a registered write-in candidate.  The three council seats are all up for election this spring.

Wisconsin legislators were sworn in this week for the new legislative session.  Rep. Warren Petryk will chair the Assembly Committee on Workforce Development and Economic Opportunities. He will also be serving on the Committees on Energy and Utilities, Financial Institutions, Insurance, Labor and Integrated Employment, and Veterans and Military Affairs.

Residents across Western Wisconsin are encouraged to visit the Federal Communications Website by January 13 and check to make sure their address has the correct information regarding broadband coverage.  The coverage information maps are intended to assist the FCC in determining how much Wisconsin will receive from the $42 Billion in federal Broadband Grants from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration.    If the broadband coverage information is incorrect for your address, you can change it on the website.  The website is broadbandmap.fcc.gov.

There's another big jump in Wisconsin gas prices.  Triple-A says the statewide average went up nine cents overnight to three dollars and eleven cents a gallon for regular.  That's also up over 20 cents from this time last week.  Here in Western Wisconsin, gas sits at 3.19 a gallon which is up 20 cents from last week.

They are hiring at the Eau Claire County Highway Department. The county says it needs six new, full-time snow plow drivers. Highway Commissioner Jon Johnson says they have 45 drivers right now. He says they've been trying to hire a half dozen new drivers since November. Johnson says they simply don't have the staff to keep up with all of the miles they need to plow.

Wisconsin hasn't seen any Republican defections in the fight over a new House Speaker. All of Wisconsin's Republican members of Congress continue to vote for Kevin McCarthy for speaker. McCarthy lost another round of votes yesterday, 20 Republicans continue to hold out. Newly elected western Wisconsin Republican Congressman Derrick Van Orden yesterday said he's encouraging all Republicans to support McCarthy and 'right this ship.'

A Rochester woman is learning her fate after admitting to helping her husband start fires during 2020 protests.  Twenty-four-year-old Mena Dhaya Yousif was sentenced by a federal judge on Tuesday.  This comes after Yousif pleaded guilty to being an accessory after the fact.  She received a sentence of three years of probation.  Her husband has already been sentenced to over six years in prison for his role in starting the fires.

Life in prison for a man convicted in a fatal ax attack  A Monroe County judge on Wednesday sentenced 38-year-old Thomas Wayne Aspseter to life without the possibility of extended supervision. Aspseter was convicted in September for the June 2021 ax murder of an elderly man in Monroe. According to the criminal complaint, Aspseter had broken into a residence. He was found by homeowner Bernard Waite, who was with his brother and sister-in-law and asked Aspseter to leave. Shortly after that, Aspseter attacked the three elderly people with an ax, killing Bernard Waite and injuring Michael and Margaret Waite. Aspseter was later hospitalized for a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He's been jailed since his release from medical care.

One of Wisconsin's largest dairy co-ops says a new farm bill and new regulations to their to-do and to-don't list for 2023. The Edge Dairy Cooperative has six things on its national priorities list for the new year. Pushing back against regulations that the co-op says will hurt farmers is top of the list. The co-op says farmers need to have a say in any environmental policy that will impact farms in this country. Edge managers also want to see a new farm bill passed this year, and would love to see a truth-in dairy law passed so that milk, cheese, and other dairy items are protected from non-animal-based alternatives.

One of Governor Evers' first tasks of his new term was a sit-down with the mayors of Milwaukee, Madison, Racine, Green Bay, and Kenosha. The governor met with them all separately yesterday. The mayors represent Wisconsin's five largest cities, and the mayors are also Democrats like the governor. The governor's office says they talked about how to 'invest' in local governments. Governor Evers has made getting more state money for local governments one of his top priorities for the new year.

Democratic state lawmakers in Minnesota are prioritizing a childcare tax credit this legislative session.  The expanded credit would give parents 15 hundred dollars for each child five and older, up to three thousand dollars.  Parents would also get five-thousand dollars for each child under the age of five, up to 12-thousand five-hundred dollars.  Democrats say parents with no taxable income would be able to receive the credits because they are considered refundable.

Hundreds of union workers who've been on strike for months at Case New Holland plants in Racine and Burlington, Iowa will be voting soon on a contract offer. Paul Iverson of the University of Iowa Labor Center says this is the first time the United Auto Workers has brought an offer up for a vote. About 600 workers at the CNH plant in Racine and 400 in Burlington went on strike May 2nd, seeking better pay and health care benefits as well as more flexibility in scheduling time off. The UAW describes the proposal as the company's "upgraded last, best and final offer."

Appleton’s new police chief Polly Olson is the first woman to lead the department. Olson was sworn in with a Tuesday morning ceremony at the Appleton Police Department. Olson has been on the police force since 2001, first as a patrol officer. She’s also served as a school resource officer, patrol captain, and captain of investigations and support services, and she became assistant chief in May 2021.

A 22-year-old man was found dead in his car with a gunshot wound to his chest following an altercation at a residence in the Marathon County Town of Elderon early Tuesday. Marathon County Sheriff Chad Billeb said police responded to the residence at 2:37 a.m. A 79-year-old man was stabbed in the face and during the incident with the 22-year-old, grabbed and fired a handgun. The 22-year-old fled the house with the gun. Billeb said the younger man was found dead in a vehicle nearby.

 A 14-year-old from Madison is in custody after leading police on a New Year’s Day pursuit that reaches speeds of 115 miles per hour.   The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office says when deputies responded to reports of vehicles being rummaged through in Lodi Township, two suspicious vehicles were spotted and immediately fled from the scene.  The high-speed pursuit then ensued on I-90/94 and continued over a span of 15 miles.  It concluded when one of the vehicles exited the interstate near DeForest and struck a light post. The 14-year-old who was the driver and lone occupant of the vehicle was apprehended and later placed into custody.  Deputies search the crashed vehicle, which was stolen, and found several firearms and a surplus of ammunition.

No injuries are being reported after a jet slid off the taxiway at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport last night.  Nearly 150 passengers were on the Delta Airlines aircraft when it veered off the pavement shortly after touching down from Mexico around 6:30 p.m.  An hour later, MSP closed all its runways due to freezing drizzle.  Flights resumed shortly after crews cleared the runways. 

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is extending the public comment period on its Wolf Management Plan.  The DNR says you can read the draft plan on its website and comment on it until February 28th.  The DNR says the plan hasn't been updated since 2017 and Wisconsin's wolf population has changed since then.

Local-Regional News Jan 4

 This should be the last day of winter weather worries in Eau Claire, at least for this round of snow. The National Weather Service is allowing the Winter Weather Advisory for western Wisconsin to end this evening. The advisory is set to end at 6 p.m. Till then, forecasters say there could be more snow and maybe some ice.

Buffalo, Pierce, Eau Claire, and Chippewa counties have new sheriffs. In Buffalo County, Mike Oswald takes over for outgoing sheriff Mike Schmidtknecht, while in Pierce County Chad Koranda takes over for Nancy Hove.  Both Schmidtknecth and Hove retired.  Meanwhile, Sheriff Dave Riewestahl and Sheriff Travis Hakes both took their oaths of office yesterday. Riewestahl takes over after not only the election but former Eau Claire County Sheriff Ron Cramer's suicide. Hakes takes over in Chippewa County after years as the police in Elk Mound.

There is an opening on the Pepin County Board of Supervisors.  The board is seeking those living in District 6, which includes the City of Durand, Ward 3 that would like to take over the seat that Tessa King held.  The term would be until April 2024.  Those living in District 6 have until January 13 to send a letter of interest to the Pepin County Clerk's Office.  

A hearing is scheduled for next month for a man accused of shooting and killing his neighbor. Shane Helmbrecht of Eau Claire was charged with first-degree intentional homicide in the death of Jenny Ward at her home in July 2016. In 2018 Helmbrecht was found not competent to stand trial, and he was ordered to be held at a mental health facility.    According to Jamie Kirchoff, the victim’s sister, Helmbrecht is no longer at the mental health facility. She says a hearing scheduled for Feb. 9 will determine if Helmbrecht goes back to the facility or if he gets another competency exam.

One person was hurt in a fire in Eau Claire on Tuesday.  According to Eau Claire Fire officials, firefighters responded to a report of a structure fire at 5346 Christopher Drive on Eau Claire’s West Side. It was reported that there was one occupant that was not able to evacuate the building.  Crews knocked down the fire in the garage before it could spread.  One person suffered “minor injuries” attempting to extinguish the fire. The person was treated at the scene. No one else reported to be hurt.

The speech to start the new year from Wisconsin's governor didn't go-over well with at least one statehouse Republican. State Senator Duey Stroebel slammed Governor Evers' speech yesterday, saying the governor's calls to work together fell flat. Stroebel said the governor asked for cooperation, then demanded a liberal policy wishlist. The governor began his second term yesterday by asking for more state spending and an expansion of abortion access in the state.

All of Wisconsin's Republican congressmen voted for Kevin McCarthy for speaker. McCarthy came up short three times yesterday as a group of hard-right Republicans that grew to 20 blocked the California congressman's ascension to Speaker on three ballots before the House adjourned for the day. None of those hold-outs, however, are from Wisconsin. Members will vote again today.

Minnesota lawmakers are back in Minnesota's capital city for the 2023 legislative session.  Legislators were sworn-in on Tuesday.  The DFL has control of both chambers for the first time since 2014.  This year, lawmakers will need to draft a two-year budget, but may also try to pass a bonding bill early in the session after a bonding bill was not passed in 2022.

A teenager missing from Minnesota is found safe in North Dakota.  Seventeen-year-old Chloe Lynn Garcia was declared missing November 9th.  On Monday, she was found in Jamestown, North Dakota, according to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.  She reportedly had ties to the area.

There is a warning about so-called forever chemicals in Green Bay. A team from the University of Wisconsin says it found a PFAS plume in the waters of Green Bay. Researchers say the chemicals are likely tied to the Tyco Fire Products plant in Marinette. Water and soil samples near the plant show contamination from the firefighting foam made there. No one is sure just how far the chemical plume extends into the bay, and no one is sure if the chemicals have made their way into Lake Michigan.

The Mega Millions jackpot is inching closer to a billion-dollars. No one won last night's jackpot, which means Friday night's drawing will be worth at least 940 million-dollars. The lump-sum cash payout on that would be 483 million, before taxes. Friday's jackpot will be the sixth-largest lottery jackpot ever in the U.S.

A fire causes damage at a Portage milk plant Monday night.   Fire officials in Portage tell WKOW-TV in Madison part of the roof caved in at the Associated Milk Producers, Inc. plant.  No one was injured from the roof collapse.  Officials point out the blaze got to the butter stored in the plant, which made it harder for crews to work at containing the fire.  They also voiced concern about the butter leaking into the Portage canal.  The fire department says the blaze is still under investigation, and the plant will be shut down for the time being.

As Wisconsin state legislators get to work following Inauguration Day, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos says he hopes his pre-Christmas meeting with Governor Tony Evers can lead to his chamber and the governor finding common ground during Evers’ new term.  The face-to-face get-together was the first for the two in two years.   Evers agrees with Vos, but that’s after setting the state record for the number of vetoes in a two-year legislative session.  The governor says he’ll keep his veto pen at the ready, saying that vetoing bills he’s not happy with is “my job.”  Common ground between the two may be found on items like infrastructure and broadband. 

A reported Monday morning child enticement in Elkhorn has authorities giving tips on how children should act in such situations.  Elkhorn Police say two girls, ages six and seven, were on their bikes on the sidewalk when a car with two men in it pulls up near them.  The passenger in the car tells one of the girls to get in the car.  When that girl yelled, "Stop," police say the driver of the car sped away.  Police in Elkhorn are asking parents to urge their children in similar situations to remember “No, Go and Tell”…yell “No”; “Go”, or run away; and “Tell” a trusted adult or police.

Melissa Hortman remains the Speaker of the Minnesota House.  Hortman was re-elected this afternoon in a 70-to-63 vote.  This comes on the first legislative session of 2023, where Democrats have control of the House, Senate, and Governor's office for the first time in a decade.  Today's session is mostly about members taking their oaths of office and getting back in the swing of things. 

 An anonymous threat is to blame for a police presence at a school in Portage this morning.  The Portage School District says Portage High School went into lockdown this morning because of a shooting threat, but police responded and found no threat.  All schools in the district remained with a secured perimeter for the rest of the school day.  The person that issued the threat hasn't been identified.

It's going to cost about 200 dollars per-person to see the Packers and Lions in-person this weekend. Tickets for the final home game of the season are available, but they are expensive. Resale sites like Stub Hub have plenty of seats, but they're averaging at least 180 dollars per-ticket, plus fees. The Packers and Lions are playing for the final NFC playoff spot. If Green Bay wins, they're in.

Local-Regional News Jan 3

 The Durand City Council is still working on how to spend the rest of the ARPA money.  So far the council has used the money for various infrastructure projects.  The council is exploring the possibility of giving full and part-time employees some type of retention bonus.  Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren says there have been multiple ideas discussed. The city has approximately $29,000 remaining of the nearly $180,000 that was received.

The Chippewa Valley has one more day of winter weather on tap. The National Weather Service is leaving a Winter Weather Advisory in place for Durand and the surrounding area until 6 p.m. tomorrow evening. Forecasters expect another two-to-four inches of snow between now and then. There's also a fear of a glaze of ice. The Weather Service says people should stay at home if they can today.

Longtime Buffalo County Sheriff Mike Schmidtknecht has officially retired.  Schmidtknecht spent 41yrs in the Buffalo County Sheriff's Department, with the past 16yrs as Buffalo County Sheriff.  He decided not to run again for sheriff in 2022.  Mike Osmond was elected in the fall and is now the new Buffalo County Sheriff.

Firefighters in Eau Claire say 2022 was a record year for calls. The fire department yesterday said they responded to 10 thousand 641 calls for help over the past year. That's nearly a thousand more calls than in 2021. Most of those calls were medical calls, as opposed to fires. Eau Claire's growing population is getting the credit or blame for the jump in calls.

It wasn't quite like the scene out of John Wick, but jailers in Eau Claire say an inmate did stab another man in the neck with a pencil. It happened back in August. The inmate, 41-year-old Gregg Shiver, was sentenced last week. Prosecutors say Shiver got into a fight with another inmate in the jail's common room, and during their scuffle stabbed him in the neck several times. Shiver pleaded no contest to one count of aggravated battery. A judge sentenced him to four years of probation.

One of the first budget proposals for the new year would make retirement tax-free in Wisconsin. Republican state Rep David Steffen has a proposal that would exempt the first 100 thousand dollars in income for single folks and 200 thousand dollars for married folks from state taxes. Steffen says allowing people to keep more of their own money in retirement may keep more people in Wisconsin.

A 42-year-old Missouri is sentenced to more than five years in prison for possessing multiple firearms at the August 2020 unrest in Kenosha.   A news release says Michael Karmo became intrigued by unrest occurring in various cities in the summer of 2020.  In late August of that year, Karmo and a friend decide to drive from Missouri to the unrest developing in Kenosha. Before he left, the release says Karmo contacted a woman in Iowa and sent her a photo of himself and his friend holding long guns. That woman became concerned and contacted the police.  Karmo and his friend were later arrested by FBI agents in Pleasant Prairie with large amounts of weapons and ammunition, a firearm muzzle attachment, body armor, tactical gear, a dagger, and other items in their possession.

The issue of abortion will remain a contentious one at the state Capitol this year.  Assembly Speaker Robin Vos tells WKOW there’s a lot of distance between him and Governor Tony Evers on the issue.   The 19th-century law went into effect last summer when the US Supreme Court overturned Roe versus Wade.

Another winter storm is threatening to cause travel disruptions at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport this week.  Several airlines are issuing waivers for passengers with upcoming flights.  American and Delta will waive change fees for people scheduled to fly today through January 4th.  Meanwhile, Jet Blue, United, and Sun County Airlines have rebooking options available for passengers scheduled to fly today.

There will be another change in the second Evers Administration. The governor on Friday announced that Mary Kolar is stepping down as V-A secretary. Kolar has been with the governor since he first took office back in 2019. She is leaving as the Veterans Affairs administration is facing questions about poor care and poor conditions at the Veterans Home in Union Grove. Neither Governor Evers nor Kolar talked about those problems in her resignation announcement. There's no word yet on who will replace Kolar.

Governor Tony Evers' pick for the next head of the Department of Natural Resources says he's ready to go. DNR Secretary Designee Adam Payne says caring for nature has been part of his life since childhood.Payne spent the last two decades as Sheboygan County's administrator. He'll be replacing outgoing Secretary Preston Cole.

Veteran Republican lawmakers are looking forward to the new legislative session. Representative Paul Tittl of Manitowoc says that includes working with Democratic Governor Tony Evers.  Republicans hold a 64-35 majority in the Assembly, and a 21-11 majority in the state Senate. 

Authorities say shots fired while suspects were drunk led them to a drug house.  Deputies in Columbia County say a pair of men were arrested Friday. They arrested 38-year-old Dale Deisinger and 41-year-old Caralee Dates after a shots-fired call turned into a drug bust. Deputies say Deisinger is a felon and should not have had a gun. They also say he had marijuana, cocaine, and a stolen firearm. Dates is being charged with drug possession. Both are waiting for formal charges later this week.

Sylvie Mae Udelhofen will never forget her birthday. In fact, she will always have a countdown to remind her. Sylvie Mae is Eau Claire's first baby of 2023. Mom and dad welcomed her at about 3 a.m. yesterday morning. Mom and baby are doing well. The nurses at Marshfield Medical Center celebrated their new New Year's baby with a couple of pictures and an announcement.

Local-Regional News Jan 2

Durand and the Chippewa Valley could see some of the worst of the next round of winter weather. There is a Winter Weather Advisory posted for the area starting at 9 p.m. tonight and running til midnight tomorrow night. Forecasters expect as much as five inches of snow and a glaze of ice. The worst of the storm is expected tomorrow morning into tomorrow afternoon. The National Weather Service is urging people not to head out during that time.

One person received minor injuries after a one-vehicle accident in the town of Maxville on Thursday.  According to the Buffalo County Sheriff's Department deputies responded to a vehicle that had struck a utility pole near S102 Hwy FF Thursday night.    The driver of the vehicle, 34yr old Gina Hurlburt of Durand was back at her residence and where she had called to report the accident.  Hurlburt was taken by private vehicle to the hospital for evaluation.  Speed and slick road conditions were factors in the accident.

A man is dead after rear-ending an SUV in Wabasha County.  According to the Wabasha County Sheriff's Department, the three-vehicle crash happened on Highway 42 in Kellogg on Friday.  22-year-old Bernard Christensen of Kellogg died as a result of the incident.  Another driver was taken to a Rochester hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and the driver of the SUV that was rear-ended was not hurt.

One person was injured in a two-vehicle accident on Hwy 35 in Trenton Township on Thursday.  According to the Pierce County Sheriff's Department, 42yr old Travis Rowan of Red Wing was traveling northbound on Hwy 35 when he struck a northbound semi stopped and waiting to turn onto 830th street driven by 80yr old Conrad Funk of Bay City.   Rowan was taken to Mayo Hospital in Red Wing.

A Georgia man has been arrested after a high-speed chase in St. Croix and Dunn Counties on Friday.  According to the Wisconsin State Patrol, troopers attempted to pull over a stolen vehicle driven by Martise Craig of Lithia Springs, GA on I-94 near milepost 28.  Craig refused to pull over and a chase ensued eastbound on I-94 into Dunn County and the city of Menomonie.  Dunn County Sheriff's Deputies were able to use spike strips to deflate the tires of the vehicle, and Craig stopped at milepost 43 and fled on foot, and was captured a short time later.  

A new minimum wage is now in effect for Minnesota.  The state's Department of Labor made adjustments for inflation, which began on Sunday.  This changes the hourly minimum wage offered by large employers to 10 dollars and 59 cents.  For employers who make less than 500 thousand dollars in annual gross revenue, the hourly wage will be 8 dollars and 63 cents.

Mega Millions is living up to its name with a 785 million-dollar jackpot. No one won Friday's drawing, which means tomorrow night's drawing will be worth about three-quarters of a billion dollars. Lotto managers say the lump sum on a 785 million-dollar jackpot will be worth 395 million, before taxes. Tomorrow's jackpot is expected to be the fourth-largest in Mega Millions history.

There's a new opportunity for Wisconsin students to save on a college education, but they'll have to move to South Dakota to take advantage of it. Regents in South Dakota last month voted to officer Wisconsin high school graduates in-state tuition to South Dakota schools. The agreement means Wisconsin students can enroll in South Dakota's largest schools, the University of South Dakota and South Dakota State University, for about half what they'd pay at UW-Madison. South Dakota offers in-state rates to eight different states, but not Minnesota because there are already enough students from Minnesota in South Dakota schools.

The new year officially begins tomorrow for Wisconsin lawmakers and elected leaders. Tomorrow is the inauguration at the statehouse. The governor will take his oath of office at 11 a.m. Lawmakers will take their oaths at 2 p.m. Tomorrow is mostly a day for pomp and circumstance. Lawmakers aren't scheduled to get to work on a new state budget for a few more weeks.

Wisconsinites are no longer limited to selling only baked goods from home.  Dane County Circuit Court Judge Rhonda Lanford ruled this week that other nonhazardous food items can be made and sold from home without a commercial license or kitchen.  That includes things like candy, cocoa bombs, fried donuts, and roasted coffee beans.  The judge's ruling against the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection specified that sales have to be made in Wisconsin, person to person.

Two people are dead after a shooting in Juneau County.  The sheriff's office says deputies were called to a home in Plymouth Township Wednesday night where they found a man and woman dead.  The sheriff's office says the woman was killed by the man and afterward the man killed himself.  The sheriff's office calls this an isolated shooting and there's no threat to the public.

2023 could be the year Minnesota legalizes recreational cannabis.  Advocates and opponents of recreational cannabis legalization are getting ready to plead their case when Democrats take control of the state capitol in the new year.  The leader of the MN is Ready campaign, Leili Fatehi, told KARE 11 that the House, Senate, and governor are all pro-legalization.  However, the Minnesotans Against Marijuana Legalization coalition is prepared to fight back with concerns over road and workplace safety. 

Warmer temperatures arriving in much of the state has led to the call for greater caution when heading out on the ice of lakes and rivers.  Rock County Sheriff’s Office Captain Mark Thompson says station the warmer temperatures won’t only melt the current ice, but the water that’ll accumulate and re-freeze won’t be as strong as it would be if the ice didn’t thaw.

A safe ending to a situation that could have turned tragic in Clark County. Duane Smith of Thorp got his vehicle stuck in a snowbank Wednesday evening. Friends and family said he told them he left the vehicle to go on foot through a wooded area but got lost, then his cell phone died, forcing his family to report him missing at about 6:30. Multiple search and rescue teams were called out, and Smith was found at around 3 AM. Sheriff's officials say he was in good spirits. Crews involved in the search included the sheriff's office, DNR, and Clark County Drone and mounted search teams.

Governor Tony Evers says he’s considering banning the popular Chinese social media app on state government-issued devices. Meanwhile, TikTok has been banned from all U.S. House of Representatives devices ahead of a government-wide ban that was included in the omnibus spending bill. Wisconsin congressman Mike Gallagher has proposed a nationwide ban of TikTok, citing security concerns over parent company Bytdance and the Chinese Communist Party.

Get ready for lacrosse, the sport not the city, at high schools in Wisconsin. The WIAA, the people who oversee high school sports in the state this week approved lacrosse as an official spring sport for high schools. Schools have been playing lacrosse as a 'club' sport for almost 20 years in Wisconsin. The WIAA says there are 42 boys' programs and 35 girls' programs across the state. Lacrosse will begin as an official sport in the spring of 2024.