Local-Regional News March 20

 A River Falls man is now facing federal charges in relation to a labor trafficking case in Pierce County.  29yr old Austin Koeckeritz, was charged in federal court in January with labor trafficking. Now, he is charged with nine counts: forced labor, sex trafficking by force, sex trafficking of a minor, interstate travel with the intent to engage in a sexual act with a minor, transporting a minor with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, producing child pornography and three counts of money laundering.  If convicted, Koeckeritz could face life in prison.

One person is dead and another injured after a two-vehicle accident Friday near Galesville.  According to the Trempealeau County Sheriffs Department, a pickup truck was traveling eastbound on Hwy 53-93, crossed the centerline, and struck a westbound car head-on.  The driver of the pickup had severe injuries and was taken to the hospital.  The driver of the car was also taken to the hospital but died from their injuries.  A one-year-old child in the car was not injured.  Names were not released pending notification of family members.

One person was injured in a single vehicle accident Saturday night in the town of Albion.  According to the Trempealeau County Sheriffs' Department, a pickup traveling northbound on Hwy 93 lost control on a patch of ice, left the roadway and rolled over.  The driver was taken to the hospital with nonlife-threatening injuries.  A 5yr old passenger in the truck was not injured.

No one was injured in a house fire on Pine Island on Saturday.  According to the Goodhue County Sheriff's Department, firefighters were called to the home at 50199 154th Avenue after a passing motorist discovered the fire.  Muddy conditions prevented firefighters to get trucks close to the home and they had to drag hoses nearly 50 yards.  The home and its contents were deemed a total loss.  A space heater in the back of the home is believed to be the cause of the blaze.  No one was injured in that fire.

The Wabasha County Board is meeting tomorrow.  Items on the agenda include discussion and possible action of an agreement between the Wabasha County Public Health Department and the City of Wabasha, Wabasha-Kellogg School District, and the Minnesota Department of Health.  Tomorrow's meeting begins at 9am at the Wabasha County Government Center.

There are questions to answer about the fire last night at Banbury Place in downtown Eau Claire. Fire crews got the call about 9:30 last night. Smoke was seen coming out of the roof of the building. Eau Claire firefighters say it's too soon to tell what started the fire. We could get some more answers later today.

A plea deal could mean 26 years in prison for a former Eau Claire man in a 2020 overdose death. Trenton Wik pleaded guilty on Friday to first-degree reckless homicide by delivering drugs. This comes after police found a man dead in his car on Cochrane Street back in December of 2020. Wik gave the man who died the drugs that killed him. Wik also pleaded guilty to a jailhouse fight in 2021 that injured another inmate.

Researchers say a new tactic in fighting invasive carp is simply eating them. Tim Campbell with the UW Sea Grant program says silver and bighead carp, or copi, is a plentiful source of protein across the border in Illinois.  While there's no commercial fishing for the invasive carp in Wisconsin waters yet, there has been a market for them in southern Wisconsin. There's been a large-scale effort to keep the fish out of the Great Lakes. 

The University of Wisconsin's president says most of the 38 million dollars he wants from a new tuition hike will go for pay raises for university employees. President Jay Rothman was on Capital City Sunday on Madison TV over the weekend. He said the UW isn't paying as much as other universities, and he wants to change that. Rothman says inflation is also driving prices higher at the university. Rothman wants a five percent tuition increase, starting next fall.

One person is dead and dozens are without a home after a fire sweeps through an apartment complex in Monona.  The Monona Fire Department says multiple crews were called out to the Monona Hills Apartments at about 3:45 Saturday morning and saw smoke coming from the second floor.  Photos of the blaze show flames shooting from the roof of the 70-unit complex.  About 70 people are displaced because of the fire, and fire crews say one person was found dead.  It's not clear yet how the person died.  Investigators believe the fire started on the second floor and was unintentional. 

Mississippi's Department of Human Services wants a judge to keep Brett Favre as part of their lawsuit to recover misspent welfare dollars. DHS lawyers in Jackson, Mississippi last week asked the judge not to allow Favre to walk away from the case. Favre has never been charged with a crime, but there is evidence that links him to a scheme to misspend millions of dollars that were supposed to go to needy families. Favre's lawyers say the state is using his status as a celebrity to distract from the real culprits in the case.

Wisconsin’s long-time Secretary of State abruptly resigns. Eighty-two-year-old Doug La Follette made the announcement Friday, a year to the day after announcing he was seeking a twelfth term. He narrowly defeated Republican Representative Amy Loudenbeck in November.  Governor Tony Evers names former state Treasurer Sarah Godlewski to serve the remainder of La Follette’s term. LaFollette said he’s proud to have served and grateful to meet so many people during his 40 years in office.     

Democrats at the Wisconsin Capitol want to overhaul the state's cash bail system.  A handful of lawmakers and some advocacy groups yesterday said they are working on legislation that would replace cash bail with a "dynamic risk assessment system."   The announcement comes as voters will decide on April 4th whether to change the state's constitution to make it easier for judges to set higher cash bails, or hold criminal suspects without any bail at all.  The Democrats' push is unlikely to make it through the Republican-controlled legislature.

One of Madison's state senators says people in Wisconsin bought a lot of marijuana in Illinois last year.  State Senator Melissa Agard said last week that a new memo from the Legislative Fiscal Bureau found that people from Wisconsin spent 36 million dollars in taxes alone on legal pot in Illinois.  Agard, who has been pushing for legal marijuana in Wisconsin for years, says it should upset everyone that our hard-earned tax dollars are going across the border to Illinois.

 Minneapolis-based Sun Country Airlines is accused of firing a dozen workers in retaliation for supporting a union formed in January.  The International Brotherhood of Teamsters filed a federal lawsuit this week against the air carrier.  The suit seeks unspecified damages for fired Sun Country ramp workers Monique Crisp and Sly Oliver along with ten other unnamed employees.  The plaintiffs are also asking for their jobs back and for the airline's boss to read the court's order to workers.

Appleton’s first in the nation “No Mow May,” may be going away. The study underpinning it has been retracted by the website which published it. Alder Chad Doran says other research questions the benefits. The research paper was published by Alder Israel Del Toro, an Associate Professor of Biology at Lawrence University, and claimed more bees were found in local yards that did not cut their grass for the month.

School breakfast and lunch will now be free for all students in Minnesota.  Governor Tim Walz signed a bill today to make sure no kid goes hungry at school.  The Democrat took to Twitter to celebrate the "historic, bipartisan win," writing "Minnesota is one step closer to being the best state in the county to grow up." 

Local-Regional News March 17

 The Mondovi City Council has decided to transfer $1.25 million to a savings account at CCF Bank.  During this week's council meeting the council decided to transfer the money that is earmarked for various projects and put it into the savings account and earn 4.5% interest.  CCF Bank offered the city the best interest rate.

With the new Dollar General Store coming to Durand, the city will be repaving 12th avenue east.  Bidding for the project started yesterday, and will be opened at the end of the month.  Construction will begin during the construction of the Dollar General Store this spring.

A mobile home in Jackson County is a total loss after a fire. Firefighters say no one was home and no one was hurt when the trailer near Alma Center burned. Pictures show the home completely on fire. Firefighters from Black River Falls, Clark County, Fairchild, Hixton, and Merrillan all played a part in putting out the flames. There's no word on what started the fire.

A Southeast Minnesota State Senator is facing backlash after saying he's never seen anyone go hungry in Minnesota.  Republican Steve Drazkowski made that comment earlier this week before the Senate voted on a bill that would give free meals to all students in the state.  A video of Drazkowski saying he's "yet to meet a person in Minnesota that says they don't have access to enough food to eat"  has been viewed almost six-point-five-million times on Twitter as of this morning, and many people are slamming his comments.  The bill passed with a 38-26 vote and now heads to the House for final approval. 

The state of Wisconsin is once again asking for volunteers to listen for frogs and toads in Western Wisconsin. The Department of Natural Resources is asking for 'froggers' to be a part of this year's Frog and Toad Survey. The survey has been running in Wisconsin since 1984 and is now the longest-running in the country. Froggers listen for the sounds in their area, then report back to the state. The DNR says the survey helps track the local populations of the state's 12 species of frogs and toads.

Parts of I-94 in Eau Claire County will be down to one lane for about ten weeks as crews make needed repairs.  Construction will get back underway on I-94 between the 312 interchanges and the Chippewa River.   Weather permitting, traffic will be routed on Tuesday to a single-lane in each direction on the highway's westbound side, so that repairs can be made to the eastbound lanes.   The project is expected to be completed by Memorial Day Weekend.

Folks who take an Uber in western Wisconsin could soon be on tape. Uber yesterday announced plans to launch an audio recording feature for both riders and drivers in Eau Claire and La Crosse. Uber says it's a safety feature that would allow people to record any incidents that may happen. The audio would be encrypted on the rider or driver's phone. Uber has offered the recording feature in 70 cities across the country since 2019, but Eau Claire and La Crosse would be the first cities in Wisconsin where it's available.

Xcel Energy reports it 's cleaning up about 400-thousand gallons of water containing radioactive tritium (TRIT-ee-um), that leaked from a broken pipe into groundwater for nearly a month at its Monticello nuclear plant northwest of the Twin Cities. Xcel’s Chris Clark says they're "quite confident" there is no threat to the nearby Mississippi River, drinking water, or public health.  A Minnesota Pollution Control Agency official said they announced the leak nearly three months after it was patched because there’s "now sufficient information to be able to share it out to a wider group."  The Minnesota Department of Health said persons would have to drink or breathe water with tritium to be harmed.

There's a plan at the Wisconsin Capitol to make the Henry 45-70 Wisconsin's official state rifle. New legislation from state Reps. Dave Armstrong, Treig Pronschinske, and James Edming, as well as state Senator Romaine Quinn, would be symbolic, no one would have to buy the rifle and the state wouldn't be purchasing any either. Henry is based in Rice Lake, and there's a Henry plant in Ladysmith. At least nine other states across the country have 'official' state rifles.

There's now a proposed law that would ban the kind of secret microphones that were installed in Green Bay.  State Rep. David SteSteffen and State Senator Eric Wimberger, both from Green Bay, yesterday introduced legislation that would spell out just when and how state and local officials can record people.  The legislation comes after Green Bay's mayor secretly installed microphones inside city hall.  The mayor claimed the microphones were legal, and part of a security system.  The new legislation would require cities, counties, or state governments to warn people when their conversations are being recorded.

Republican lawmakers at the Wisconsin Capitol want to do more about PFAS pollution, but they also want a firm price tag for what it will cost. State Senator Rob Cowles this week pressed Wisconsin's DNR secretary for more specifics on the governor's plan to spend 100 million dollars on PFAS projects. Cowles says the 100 million is 'doable' in the state's new budget, but he wants to know how much of that will go for testing, how much will go for treatment, and how much will go for other projects.

A Republican plan to modify Wisconsin’s 150-year-old criminal abortion statute has bipartisan opposition.  Just hours after Republican lawmakers announced legislation on Wednesday, Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu of Oostburg said the bill would not be considered on the Senate floor. In a statement, LeMahieu said abortion “is not a topic to use as a political football,” and criticized the response of Governor Tony Evers, who’s rejected anything short of full access to abortion. The bill would update language regarding the life of the mother in the existing law and also allow for 1st-trimester abortions in cases of rape or incest.  Senate sponsor, Irma Republican Mary Felzkowski, also said Republicans do not currently have the 17 votes needed to pass the bill in the Senate. 

Wisconsin is getting 24 million dollars in federal money to be used on road projects.  Governor Tony Evers says the money will be used on 18 different projects, including installing smart traffic lights, buying electric buses, and extending multi-use trails.  There's a full list of projects the money will go toward on the Wisconsin Department of Transportation website.

Kalahari is growing in the Wisconsin Dells. The resort yesterday announced a 50-million-dollar expansion that will add 237 new rooms. Kalahari Resorts President Travis Nelson said the growth is a reflection of the popularity and support they get in the Dells. The new rooms will be in their own building and will be connected to the resort with a skywalk. Nelson says they hope to open the new rooms by Memorial Day weekend of 2024.

A New Berlin man is arrested after starting an explosion in a Milwaukee parking garage Sunday.  A criminal complaint says a man dumped two bottles out of a vehicle driving out of the garage at Potawatomi Hotel & Casino.  One of the bottles exploded, while the other smoked and didn’t explode.    Casino surveillance video showed the man driving the vehicle presenting an ID to get a player's card. The name on the ID was Dennis Beard.  Police head to Beard's home and find clothing matching that worn by the man in the video, as well as materials used to make the improvised explosives.  The complaint states Beard "said his actions were stupid.”

 Minnesota isn't as dependent on federal aid as most states.  That's according to a new WalletHub study.  It ranked Minnesota 30th based on two key factors: residents' dependency on federal funds, and the share of state revenue that comes from the federal government.  Alaska was found to be the most dependent on federal aid, while New Jersey ranked dead last. 

It's a little early to start talking about icy cold treats for the summer, but this one is new. Coors Light is offering beer-flavored popsicles. The Coors-icles are non-alcoholic and marketed as 'made to chill.' Molson Coors is selling them for the NCAA Tournament as a way to 'stay chill when things get heated.' Supplies are limited, and you have to buy them at Coors online shop. A new batch is released everyday at 11 a.m. through March 24th. A six-pack of Coors-icles will cost just over 20 dollars.

Local-Regional News March 16

 The new wastewater treatment plant in Mondovi is nearing completion.  During this week's council meeting members received an update on the project.  The plant will start a limited operation late this month for testing before receiving its wastewater discharge permit from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. It is hoped by the end of April the plant will be fully operational and the city is looking at having an open house sometime in June.

Low-income families that own a home in the City of Durand are reminded to look into the CDBG Housing Program.  During last week's council meeting Renee Swensen from Cedar Corp gave a presentation of the program to council members.  The program offers loans to low-income homeowners for home repairs with no repayment until the home is sold.  For more information on the program contact Durand City Hall.

One Chippewa Falls city councilman is stepping down because he bought a new house. City Councilman Christopher Gilliam recently moved out of his Third District area, and has given-up his seat. His resignation comes about three weeks before voters were likely to re-elect him to another term on the city council. He is the only person on the April ballot for the Third District, and he will stay on the ballot. Chippewa Falls Mayor Greg Hoffman says it's sad to see Gilliam step away from the council. His replacement will be named after the election.

Wisconsin lawmakers want answers about the state's broadband expansion efforts. The state's Audit Committee yesterday pressed the Wisconsin Public Service Commission for answers about spending and record keeping on about 100 million dollars worth of broadband projects. An audit last fall said the PSC didn't have any documentation for most of the projects it looks at. State Senator Eric Wimberger said there is no evidence of wrongdoing yet, but he wants to know if any of the state's internet money has actually been put to good use. Wimberger says it looks like the governor's administration simply threw the money out the door.

The first clean-up at Houska Park in La Crosse is in the books. City crews spent the day yesterday moving what was left of the large homeless camp at the park. La Crosse ordered everyone out of the park earlier this week and started moving the stuff they left behind yesterday. Houska Park will stay closed til the snow melts and crews can clean the park again. City leaders say they tried to move the park's homeless into shelters but said no one will be allowed to camp at the park ever again.

Republicans in the Legislature reintroduce a bipartisan measure to broaden access to birth control in Wisconsin.   Anyone 18 or older would be allowed to obtain contraceptive patches and birth control pills at pharmacies. Current law only allows doctors to prescribe them. A previous version of the bill had bipartisan support, and support from the medical community.

Governor Tim Walz is being sued over Minnesota's "clean cars" rule.  A coalition of soybean farmers, gas stations, convenience stores, and ethanol industry representatives is suing the governor and state pollution regulators in federal court.  The lawsuit argues the requirements limiting climate pollution from tailpipes violate federal law and will damage their businesses.  The group says Minnesota can't legally regulate vehicle fuel economy beyond federal standards.

The Badgers Men's basketball team may be out of the NCAA tournament, but cats in the Eau Claire area are still taking part in... Meow Madness. WEAU reports that the Eau Claire County Humane Society is hosting its own bracket this March, and there are 16 cats on the list. All of the cats are older cats, or have been at the shelter for some time. As each cat gets adopted, the fees for the next one will go down. They're hoping to get all of the cats adopted before April, when they start seeing an influx of newborn kittens. 

A meat processing company in Minnesota employed children as young as 13 to work in hazardous conditions, such as operating meat grinders, while they worked overnight shifts and longer hours than allowed by law, the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry said Wednesday. According to the complaint, the Mankato-based Tony Downs Food Company employed at least eight children ranging from 14 to 17 at its plant in Madelia. Investigators also have identified other employees who were hired before they were 18 years old, the department said.  The Minnesota Department of Labor is asking a court for a temporary restraining order against the company while it investigates.

Republicans in the Wisconsin Legislature say they're adding exceptions to their proposed abortion ban bill.  Reports say those exceptions would be in the cases of rape, incest, and for health reasons.  The bill was unveiled this morning.  Governor Tony Evers says he won't sign the bill and it likely won't get any support from Democrats.

A Wisconsin Dells man is changing his plea for his part in a plot to kidnap Michigan’s governor.  Brian Higgins is one of five men charged in northern Michigan in connection to a scheme against Gretchen Whitmer.  Records show the 54-year-old Higgins has a hearing Wednesday in Michigan to change his not-guilty plea on charges of providing material support for an act of terrorism. Evidence shows Higgins trained with members of the conspiracy in a remote hunting area, then participated in scouting Whitmer’s vacation home.   Three of the other men involved were found guilty in a separate but related trial.  They are serving long prison terms.

A retired Manitowoc County detective loses a lawsuit over a TV show.  A U.S. District Judge ruled the producers of the Netflix docuseries “Making a Murderer” did not act with malice toward Andrew Colborn.  The series follows the story of Steven Avery and Brendan Dassey, who were both sentenced to life in prison for the 2005 murder and rape of photographer Teresa Halbach, and whether Manitowoc County officials framed them. Colborn’s 2019 suit alleged that the documentary defamed him by misquoting and editing his testimony in court to make him appear nervous and uncertain.  The judge found that the footage did not mischaracterize Colborn.

A shuttered entertainment venue in the Wisconsin Dells has a new owner.   The City of Lake Delton confirms Legacy Entertainment Group has purchased the Palace Theater.  A report from WMTV in Madison says a sign on the theater’s front door says the group plans to re-open this May.  The sign also stresses that the new owners aren’t affiliated with the old owners and cannot issue refunds.  The Better Business Bureau of Southwest Wisconsin has received complaints from several customers who purchased tickets for shows scheduled for the theater prior to its closing but haven’t yet received a refund.  The station says the theater’s former ownership sent an email to one of those customers in February stating their electronic database was hacked, thus delaying refunds.

The Adams County Sheriff's Office is warning about a new phone scam involving people impersonating law enforcement.  The sheriff's office says people are getting calls where someone claims to be law enforcement and threatens to arrest them if they don't pay money.  The sheriff's office says it doesn't ask people for money over the phone.

The Minnesota Senate is advancing a measure to provide free breakfasts and lunches for all students.  The bill in support of universal free school meals passed 38 to 26 on Tuesday.  It will now return to the House for final approval before heading to Governor Walz's desk.

Local-Regional News March 15

 The Mondovi City Council has approved an interview committee for the police chief position.  The Personnel Committee received 3 applications for police chief and the city will now ask if there are any current officers that would also like to apply for the position.  The interview Committee will be made up of city officials business and community members.  The city hopes to conduct those interviews in the next few weeks.

The city of Durand continues to meet with engineers, donors, and pool companies on the future of the Tarrant Park Pool Project.   During last week's council meeting, Mayor Milliren told the council the meetings continue on what to do next after the bids for the project came in over 30% higher than budgeted.  The decision on when to ask for new bids in the project and changes to the project should be announced in the next few weeks.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is asking people in Western Wisconsin to watch for an invasive species of moth that's eating trees.  The DNR says spongy moths lay their eggs in masses and eat the leaves of trees.  People with certain species of trees should be especially watchful, including oak, birch, crabapple, aspen, willow, and linden.  The DNR says if you have a tree with a spongy moth egg mass you should contact a professional for removal.

 We know who died in the Eau Claire County Jail, but we don't know how. The sheriff's office yesterday said 29-year-old Silver Jenkins was found dead in her cell on Sunday. There is no cause of death. The medical examiner has not yet completed its investigation.

People in Eau Claire can only have five pets, but a new plan before the city council would give them some flexibility in how to get to that limit. The city council is considering a plan that would drop the permit requirement to have three dogs or four cats. The permit costs 75 dollars, and city leaders say most of the people who ask for the permit are given permission for a third dog or fourth cat. If someone wants more than five pets, Eau Claire requires them to apply for a kennel license.

No one was hurt in a house fire in Zumbrota Monday Morning.  According to the Zumbrota Police Department, fire crews were called to the home on the 300 Block of 13th Street East on a report of an electrical fire in the garage.  Firefighters quickly extinguished the fire, preventing it from spreading to the home.  An investigation into the cause of the blaze is ongoing.

No one is hurt after a building collapsed in Chetek.  In a social media post from Chetek Fire and Rescue, the building has been vacant for some time. The building collapsed on Sunday at the intersection of 1st and Knapp Streets. Firefighters say that intersection is closed until further notice.  A portion of Knapp Street is also closed until crews can clean up the debris.  No word on what caused the collapse.

No one is reported to be hurt after a structure fire in La Crosse Monday.  According to the La Crosse Fire Department, firefighters responded to a structure fire at 1617 Jackson Street Monday afternoon and found smoke coming from the rear of a two-story, duplex residential home. Fire crews entered the rear of the first floor and were able to extinguish the fire and contain it in the room where it started.  All the residents were out of the home except for two dogs that remained inside.  No people were hurt and firefighters rescued the dogs with no injuries.  Improper use of smoking materials appears to be the cause of the fire and the home had minor smoke and fire damage.

There will likely be some pointed questions for Governor Tony Evers' team at the Wisconsin Capitol today. Lawmakers will hold the first confirmation hearings for the secretaries of Transportation, Natural Resources, Agriculture, and the Department of Financial Institutions. It's not clear if each of the governor's secretaries will have enough votes to be confirmed by the full Senate later on. Lawmakers refused to even give the governor's people a confirmation hearing during his first four years in office.

The Republican field for US Senate is shaping up.  Franklin businessman Scott Mayer told WisPolitics.com in a Tuesday phone interview he's considering a Senate run next year. Two-term incumbent, Democrat Tammy Baldwin of Madison will be up for reelection. A Republican primary could include Mayer and businessman Eric Hovde, as well as former Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke, whose spokesperson said he hasn’t ruled out a run. 

A Wisconsin healthcare provider will not require masks for visitors.  SSM Health announces Monday the ending of universal masking starting Wednesday.  They cite the "changing status" of COVID-19 in the communities they serve as the reason for dropping the requirement. SSM adds providers and staff will still need to wear personal protective equipment in conjunction with CDC guidelines. Plus, those with known or suspected COVID-19 infections or symptoms of upper respiratory infections will have to wear masks.  They’ll also continue to provide masks to patients who need them.

Plans to get tougher on reckless driving in Wisconsin are taking the next step forward at the Capitol today. A Senate panel will hear three different proposals to either increase the fines or jail time for people accused of driving recklessly. The third plan would make it easier for cities to take cars from reckless drivers.  The three pieces of legislation are part of a wave of tough-on-crime packages from Republicans, though the reckless driving proposals could be signed into law.

A trial awaits a Lincoln County man accused of drunk driving in a fatal September crash.  Authorities say a pickup driven by John Lahti crossed the centerline while driving south on Highway 17 near the town of Merrill.  Lahti’s truck struck another pick-up head-on.  The Wisconsin State Patrol says four people in the other truck were hospitalized following the crash.  One of them, an 8-year-old boy from Gleason, died from his injuries.  A preliminary breath test showed Lahti, who had a previous OWI conviction from 2004, was more than 3 1/2 times over the legal limit for driving.  He remains in the Lincoln County Jail on a half-million-dollar cash bond. 

A Michigan man is charged with making threats against UW Madison.  The Detroit News reported that 32-year-old Arvin Raj Mathur (mah-TOOR) is jailed and awaiting a detention hearing in federal court in Detroit. He’s charged with emailing threats to nine people, including graduate students and professors in the UW's anthropology department. Federal agents arrested the former UW graduate student at Detroit Metropolitan Airport following a flight from Copenhagen on Friday. Federal court records describe a series of threatening emails that investigators say were sent from Mathur's account to members of the university since August.

A Northeast Wisconsin ag operation is fined by the state for improper manure storage.  The Wisconsin Department of Justice says a settlement with Ledgeview Farms of DePere will have the operation pay $320,000 for reportedly allowing manure and wastewater to enter nearby waterways.  A release from the department says the farms repeatedly violated requirements stated in a pollutant discharge permit obtained from the state, stating the farms’ manure storage equipment “…did not comply with applicable engineering standards.”

Country music star Carrie Underwood is coming to Red Wing this summer.  The singer will take the stage on July 21 at Treasure Island Casino amphitheater near Red Wing.  The show is part of Underwood's Denim & Rhinestones Tour.  Tickets go on sale on Friday at ti-casino-dot-com.

Local-Regional News March 14

 One person was injured in a single-vehicle accident in River Falls Township on Friday.  According to the Pierce County Sheriff's Department, 45yr old Lisa Cary of River Falls was traveling northbound on Hwy E when she lost control on the snow-covered road, and the vehicle overturned.  Cary was transported to United Hospital in St. Paul.

The Mondovi City Council is meeting tonight.  Items on the agenda include discussion and possible action on authorizing Ehlers to solicit proposals for a $250,000 General Obligation Promissory Note to finance equipment for the Public Works Department, an update from the Chief of Police Interview Committee, and a recommendation from the Finance Committee on the investment of City Funds.  Tonight's meeting begins at 5:30 at the Marten Center in Mondovi.

Motorists along Hwy 35 from Alma to the Trempealeau County line are encouraged to slow down.  The Buffalo County Sheriff's Department along with the Wisconsin State Patrol has announced enhanced traffic enforcement for Hwy 35.  The enhanced enforcement will be this Friday from 7pm-Midnight and there will be extra patrols watching out for speeders and those driving under the influence.  

Residents here in Western Wisconsin in need of help to cover the costs of internet service should enroll in the Affordable Connectivity Program from the FCC.  The program helps ensure that households can afford the broadband they need for work, school, healthcare, and more. The benefit provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward internet service for eligible households. Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers if they contribute more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase price.  For more information or to apply, visit fcc.gov/acp

Six people are in jail in Black River Falls as the sheriff in Jackson County is investigating a death.  There aren't many answers about the case, but investigators say it began last week with a report of a missing person.  On Friday, deputies learned the missing person was actually dead.  They found the body and then arrested six people.  None of them, however, are facing any kind of homicide or accidental death charges.  They are all either facing drug charges or charges for obstruction.  The sheriff's office says the investigation is ongoing.

The standoff in Lac du Flambeau is over, for now.  The Lac du Flambeau Tribe on Saturday agreed to remove the barricades that essentially trapped more than 60 non-tribal members in their homes.  The tribe is upset over some roads that connect those homeowners to the Town of Lac du Flambeau.  The agreement pays the tribe 60 thousand dollars for the roads and buys the 60 people 90 days of negotiating time.  The tribe wants 20 million dollars for the roads, which it claims were built without permission.  The barricades forced people to travel over the frozen lake to get groceries or get to town, but that lake is starting to thaw and will soon be too dangerous.

There's a warning about a food stamp scam from the state of Wisconsin.  The Department of Health Services says it's received several calls from people who got a text asking them to verify their FoodShare account information.  The texters want pin numbers and account numbers.  DHS says that's a scam.  The state says people should treat their FoodShare card like an ATM card, and never give out their information.   Especially to a random text message.

There will be no shortage of money to close out Wisconsin's race for the Supreme Court.  Wisconsin Republican Party Chairman Brian Schimming said over the weekend that he expects more money to flow into conservative candidate Dan Kelly's campaign in the final three weeks.  Wisconsin Democratic Party Chairman Ben Wickler said they will meet and beat whatever money Republicans find.  The race for the court is already the most expensive in US history, with 15 million dollars spent so far.  Voters will make their decision on April 4th.

There's a bit more information about the baby found dead in a field in Whitewater.  Authorities yesterday said the baby was a boy and was less than 48 hours old.  Whitewater Police found the little boy in a bag, inside a cardboard box in a field on Whitewater's north side on March 4th.  There is still no word about the baby's parents, or how he died.  Investigators say the case is open and they are looking for tips.

Ten more people are facing charges in connection to the massive "Feeding Our Future" fraud scheme in Minnesota.  U.S. Attorney Andy Luger made that announcement today, bringing the total number of people charged in the case to 60.  Together, the suspects allegedly used over 250 million dollars in federal funds to buy property, real estate, and more--rather than feed underserved children.  One of the new defendants is accused of buying an airplane with the money, and another is accused of purchasing a laundromat with the goal of laundering money through the business. 

 A Minneapolis GOP donor accused of federal child sex trafficking will stand trial next week.   Anton Lazzaro is scheduled to appear before Chief U.S. District Judge Patrick Schiltz in Minneapolis on March 20.  Jury selection will begin the next day and prosecutors believe the trial will last 12 days.  Co-defendant Gisela Castro Medina is expected to testify about how she helped Lazarro track down young girls on social media.

 Don't expect the new state budget to look much different than the current state budget. The Republicans who will write Wisconsin's next spending plan were on Capital City yesterday. State Senator Howard Marklein and State Rep. Mark Born said they expect to follow the same path as they did two years ago, and write their own state budget. Both said there's very little from Governor Evers' plan that will make the final cut. Madison's State Senator, Melissa Agard was also on the show, she once again pushed for legal marijuana in the state.

Wisconsin lawmakers are looking to shed more light on the state's Parole Commission decisions. A Senate panel will meet tomorrow to take up a plan that would force transparency on the Parole Commission. Currently, the commission is exempt from the state's open meetings law. The new proposal would require the Commission to not only give the public notice of when it is meeting but also to post any parole decisions on the state's Department of Corrections website. The legislation comes after a series of questions about just who the Parole Commission was letting out of prison last year.

A boy was mugged on the streets of Sheboygan this weekend.    Police say the 11-year-old was walking home late Sunday morning with a shopping bag of items when he was attacked by a 57-year-old man.  The boy was taken to the hospital to get checked out. With the help of neighbors, Sheboygan police arrested the man, who they say has an extensive criminal history.

The Department of Natural Resources is looking for input on a possible restart of commercial trout fishing on Lake Michigan. DNR Fisheries Supervisor Brad Eggold says they're holding a series of meetings to get input from researchers and anglers to see if the current state of the fishery is strong enough to support a commercial season. The fishery collapsed in the 40s and 50s after invasives like sea lamprey made it into the Great Lakes. The next meeting is March 20th at Lakeshore Technical College. You can find out more online at D N R dot W I dot Gov.

The State Capitol got a visit from hundreds of Girl Scouts over the weekend. Nearly 300 Girl Scouts were in Madison to take part in Girl Scouts Democracy Day. Scouts of all ages got to meet state legislators, took part in debates, and cast mock ballots on voting machines. They also got to meet several Scouts from other countries and heard from Lieutenant Governor Sara Rodriguez, who is also a Scout. Democracy Day is designed to help scouts learn about being a citizen.

Local-Regional News March 13

 With all of the wintery weather as of late, potholes have become an issue in the City of Durand.  Public Works Director Matt Gillis told the council last week that the department is aware of the issue and is waiting for better weather before starting pothole repair.  Gills said it was not worth filling the potholes now, only to plow the fill back up with all of the snow.  Once the weather clears, he hopes to get the repair equipment from Pepin County and start those repairs.

With the spring thaw underway, weight limits are now enforced on Buffalo County Highways.  The Highway department imposed the weight limits on Wednesday and will remain in effect until mid-April.    Exemptions may be made to allow for vehicles carrying those commodities which are used to perform necessary and vital services for public health, safety, and welfare.  Emergency vehicles, school buses, municipal maintenance vehicles, refuse and recycle hauling, and vehicles transporting non-divisible perishable goods are exempt from the temporary weight restrictions.

The police chief in Menominee has changed jobs.  The Menominee City Council selects Eric Atkinson to become the city’s new administrator.  Atkinson, who has served as Menomonie's top cop since 2012, will replace Lowell Prange, who is retiring after 35 years of service as the city’s administrator.  Atkinson begins his new duties in mid-April

There is an investigation into just how a woman died in the jail in Eau Claire.  Guards found the unresponsive woman yesterday.  Details such as the woman's identity, how she died, or what she was in jail for haven't been released. The Eau Claire County medical examiner will look into the case, as will an outside agency.

The Wabasha City Council has authorized bids and specifications for the downtown street plan.  The plan would reconstruct water, sewer, storm sewer streets, and sidewalks on Bridge Avenue, Pembroke Avenue, and Main Street.  New lighting, seating, and ADA Compliant sidewalks would also be installed.  The first phase of the project would be Main Street and Pembroke Avenue this year, and Bridge Street in 2024.  The estimated cost of the project would be $8 million.

Pierce County teens are self-reporting decreased use of vaping products over the past few years.  Recent data from The Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System showed that the percentage of Pierce County high school students in all grades who reported ever vaping declined from 36% in 2019 to 27% in 2021.   Several factors may have played into this positive trend. Federal laws changed in 2021 to prohibit the sale of tobacco and nicotine products to anyone under the age of 21. The US Food and Drug Administration banned kid-friendly flavorings such as mint and fruit in cartridges or pre-filled pod devices like Juul. Community partners, including schools, healthcare providers, and public health agencies, have continued to spread the word about the dangers of vaping.

Wisconsin's Department of Natural Resources wants to get away from a specific number of wolves in the state, but some lawmakers aren't ready to follow.  A handful of Republicans are pushing a plan at the Capitol that would set a wolf population number into state law.  State Senator Rob Stafsholt says lawmakers don't have a specific number in mind, but they do want to have a number.  He says it was a shock to hunters and farmers that DNR's new proposed wolf plan doesn't have a population target.

State Senator Andre Jacque is proposing a new penalty for first offense OWI. His bill, which has co-sponsorship from Representatives David Murphy and Ron Tusler, would require the installation of an ignition interlock device after just the first drunk driving offense. Jacque noted that Wisconsin is always the highest-rated state in the union when it comes to drunk driving offenses. In fact, in 2021 the DOT reported 6,368 alcohol-related crashes in Wisconsin that killed 166 people. In a written statement, Jacque said, “The goal of this bill, which is strongly supported by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), is to reduce repeat drunk driving offenses by allowing people to go back to work and get their lives back on track with the security of knowing that an ignition interlock device is allowing them to do so safely.”

A federal judge says he won't order the Lac du Flambeau tribe to take down a series of barricades blocking private roads on tribal land.   Judge William Conley on Wednesday denied a request from a group of homeowners to immediately remove those barricades, which went up at the end of January. The tribe says those roads were illegally built when they went up and that they're owed money for continued easement of the land the roads are built on. The homeowners argued that since the tribe gets federal money to maintain the roads, they need to be open to the public and that blocking the roads is a danger for the homeowners. The lawsuit will move forward, and Conley says he wants to hear a response from the tribe by the end of the month.

More than 280 people don't have to worry about having marijuana possession violations on their records.  The City of Madison retroactively dismissed 282 tickets for possession of marijuana this week.  That means people who were fined between February 2019 and December 2020 will have the charge expunged from their records.  Weed is still illegal in Wisconsin but a 2020 Madison City ordinance loosened restrictions on small amounts of marijuana.

The autopsy of Ronald Henry is complete and his cause of death remains inconclusive.  The Grant County Sheriff's Office says his autopsy shows no signs of trauma.  Henry was reported missing from Platteville in early December and his dead body was found in a nearby ravine last weekend.  Now investigators are waiting for the results of his toxicology report.

Minnesota is seeing an increase in unemployment claims.  That's according to a new report by the personal finance website WalletHub.  There were over 30 percent more claims filed in the last week of February compared to the week before.  At the same time, most job sectors saw growth last month.   The Department of Employment and Economic Development says the state gained over 14 thousand jobs in February.  The state's unemployment remains at 2.9 percent. 

The Madison Roman Catholic Diocese believes it's finally found a new home, 18 years after a fire destroyed St. Raphael's Cathedral.  The diocese has plans to make St. Bernard's Catholic Church on Atwood Avenue its new cathedral.  The diocese is waiting for approval from the Vatican and church leaders expect to move into the new space within a year and a half after that approval comes through.

A Minnesota man is charged for a 2005 sexual assault in Madison.  A criminal complaint states the man forced a woman off a bike path at knifepoint and assaulted her.  After contacting the police, the woman submitted to an exam.  A DNA profile in the sex assault kit used in the exam matched with the DNA of Aidison Yang, who had moved from Madison to Minnesota.  A February arrest of the 41-year-old Yang in Minnesota led to the taking of a DNA sample for him which matched the DNA profile from the kit.

A bus driver is being celebrated for saving a lost child during a recent snowstorm in the Twin Cities.  Metro Transit shared Ambrose Younge's story on its website and social media today.  Younge apparently saw a young kid standing in the snow with a backpack on a day in late February when classes were canceled.  He then contacted authorities and helped get the child back home.   He told the Metro "it's my job to take care of people."

Local-Regional News March 10

 A Wisconsin State Trooper was injured in an accident in Dunn County yesterday.  According to the Dunn County Sheriff's Department, the trooper was outside of his vehicle standing by a pickup truck on the right shoulder of I-94 westbound near mile marker 33 when a westbound sedan slid into the pickup truck and struck the trooper.  The trooper was taken to the hospital with non life threatening injuries.  The roads were snow-covered and slippery at the time of the accident.

Prosecutors in Dunn County have cleared three officers in a deadly shooting from back in January. The D.A. yesterday said a Dunn County deputy and two Menomonie police officers were justified when they shot and killed 45-year-old Nicholas Ciccarelli after a traffic stop. Police were looking for Ciccarelli after a reported home invasion. Prosecutors say Ciccarelli pointed his gun at one of the officers before they shot him. The D.A. says the officers didn't have a choice and said Ciccarelli was high on meth at the time.

Eau Claire leaders continue to sell a wheel tax as the best way to fix the city's streets. There was another public meeting last night. City Engineer David Solberg says a 30-dollar wheel tax will mean one-and-a-half million dollars a year for road repairs. There are some folks who don't like the idea of paying more to own a car in the city, but city leaders continue to push forward. Eau Claire County has had a wheel tax for years. The city is set to vote on its tax next week.

A man is pleading guilty in connection to a prostitution sting in Rochester.  Forty-four-year-old Thomas Klees was one of three people arrested in November.  He's received a one-year probation sentence for engaging in prostitution.  Klees must also pay court fines and fees and take a class on the effects of human trafficking.

Strep throat is making its way across Wisconsin. The state's Department of Health Services this week said there's been an uptick in the number of cases turning up in doctor's offices and hospitals. As usual, most of the cases are in kids and their parents. Doctors say you should get tested if you have a fever and a sore throat before strep becomes something worse.

Wisconsin's unemployment rate is below three percent, but the state isn't back to pre-pandemic job levels yet. The latest report from the Department of Workforce Development puts the state's jobless rate at two-point-nine percent. That's down from three percent at the end of last year. The labor participation rate, however, continues to lag. DWD says 64-and-a-half percent of people in Wisconsin are working. That's about two points lower than the labor participation rate just before the coronavirus outbreak in 2020.

Two state lawmakers want to give local governments more say over wind turbine projects.  Citing public health concerns, Senator Andre Jacque and Representative Ty Boden seek co-sponsors on a bill to restore the ability of towns and counties to impose restrictions on new turbine projects, that are more restrictive than Public Service Commission rules. A sponsorship memo cites the January collapse of a wind turbine in Dodge County and notes turbine projects may potentially not be a good fit in some areas given the density of rural homes.

The Wisconsin Conservation Congress and Department of Natural Resources invite the public to attend an open house the week of April 3-6 .  The open houses precede the annual Spring Hearings. Location details for each county are available on the WCC/DNR Open Houses webpage. DNR staff and Conservation Congress delegates will be on hand to discuss local issues of importance, answer questions and dialogue about areas of interest and concern. The Conservation Congress will also hold delegate elections at each open house, with two of the five seats up for election in each county.

Wisconsin lawmakers have once again blocked a new meningitis vaccine requirement. The legislature's rules committee yesterday voted to suspend the vaccine rules from the state's Department of Health Services. Many parents were upset at the scope of the new rules, and lawmakers say DHS went too far and acted on its own. The rules would have created a new meningitis vaccine requirement for 7th graders, and changed the rules for chickenpox in Wisconsin. State Senator Steve Nass says the vote is a victory for parents and for the rule of law.

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Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers doesn't want the FDA to allow non-dairy products to be marketed as milk.  Today Evers wrote a letter to the FDA asking it to reconsider its recommendation that products like those that come from nuts and plants can be considered milk.  Evers says that the decision could hurt Wisconsin dairy farmers that take time and effort to produce quality dairy products.

 Two anti-reckless driving plans have cleared their first hurdle at the Wisconsin Capitol. An Assembly panel on Tuesday approved the proposal to increase fines and jail time for reckless drivers, as well as another plan that would make it easier for police to impound the cars of people, caught driving recklessly. Milwaukee state Rep. Bob Donovan says the pieces of legislation are not a cure-all for reckless driving, but he says they're a start. Both plans face several more votes at the statehouse, but there is an expectation that Governor Evers may sign them if they make it to his desk.

With the state girls’ basketball tournament underway in Green Bay, the WIAA reminds fans they're still struggling with a shortage of game officials – due in part to bad fan behavior. There’s a new PSA campaign focusing on that  The Bench Bad Behavior program is part of a national effort to address the ref shortage and encourage good sportsmanship. Resources available to schools include public address messages and a player-parent contract calling for good behavior.  

The Humane Society in Fond du Lac says it's done taking care of the city's responsibilities for stray cats. The Humane Society this week announced it will no longer care for stray cats, saying it simply doesn't have the money to cover the costs for 24/7 service. Instead, the Humane Society says the city of Fond du Lac needs to step up and deal with its feral cat problem. The Humane Society says it took in 977 animals last year, including 823 from the city. Fond du Lac's city manager says they are working on a plan to deal with strays and looking to rely on other animal rescue operations going forward.

Six prison guards are recovering after being attacked by inmates in Minnesota this week.  Three officers were assaulted while trying to break up a fight at a state prison in Stillwater on Monday.  Then on Tuesday, three officers were attacked by inmates at a facility in Oak Park Heights.  All six officers were taken to local hospitals and later released.  The Department of Corrections is investigating both incidents.  The inmates who were allegedly involved could face criminal charges. 

A traffic stop in western Wisconsin leads to a cannabis haul.  It happened February 28th when a Jackson County Sheriff’s Deputy pulled over Justin Kamrowski for speeding on state Highway 27. The deputy detected the odor of marijuana, and the 31-year-old Minnesota resident reportedly stated that he had a small amount inside the vehicle.  A search allegedly found 3 ½ pounds of cannabis and $9,000 cash. Kamrowski is due in court later this month on charges including felony possession of marijuana with intent to deliver.