Local-Regional News Nov 22

 The Durand-Arkansaw School District is now accepting bids for the five-acre parcel on Marilyn and Grant Streets, also known as Hansen Park.  The District will accept bids on the parcel through January 8th.  Bids must include an outline of the anticipated use of the property and the district will reserve the right to refuse any and all bids.  The property was returned to the District earlier this year after the city of Durand decided it was not going to use the property for a park.

Firefighters from Alma, Nelson, Tri-Community, Waumandee, and Mondovi responded to a fire at a grain bin /grain dryer fire yesterday.  Firefighters were called to the farm on Hwy N yesterday morning and found the fire and it was also close to propane tanks that are used for the grain dryer.  There were no reports of injuries and the cause of that fire is still under investigation.

The Durand Police Department has a new member.  Yesterday the department introduced Sam, a Labradoodle who will be the department's therapy dog.  The therapy dog program has been completely funded with community donations and Sam was donated by Blueberry Cottage Labradoodles.  After a year of training and certification, Sam will help officers, victims, emergency responders and others during emergencies and other extreme events.  

Wisconsin's latest bird flu case is in Trempealeau County. The state's Department of Agriculture yesterday said a commercial flock in the county tested positive for the flu. DATCP says over 51 thousand birds will be destroyed to try to contain the flu. Wisconsin's only other bird flu case this year was in a flock of backyard chickens. Five birds in Taylor County were infected there. 

The Chippewa Falls Police Chief says he will be resigning from the force. In a letter sent by Matt Kelm to the Chippewa Falls Mayor, he says he expects to leave after February 16, giving a 90-day notice. Kelm has been the police chief for seven years, and it is unknown what he will be doing next. 

The search for a missing Goodhue County man is focusing on an area of the Mississippi River near Red Wing.  Water patrols were conducted by members of law enforcement on both sides of the river yesterday.  Searchers are trying to find Brad Nagel, who has been missing since last week.  Authorities say Nagel's truck was found underwater about 40 yards from a boat landing on the Wisconsin Channel.  The search of the area where the truck was found will continue today.

Shane Helmbrecht may once again be looking at homicide charges when he returns to Eau Claire. Prosecutors in Eau Claire this week said they are looking to resume their case against Helmbrecht, after police say he killed his neighbor back in 2016. Helmbrecht was originally found unfit for trial in the case, but that decision is under review after he fled from a halfway house in Sparta back in September. Authorities in New Mexico arrested Helmbrecht on Sunday. He's in jail in Chicago, waiting to be brought back to Eau Claire to face charges here.

Deer hunters in Wisconsin didn't get nearly as many deer this year. The state's Department of Natural Resources yesterday said hunters took 10 thousand fewer deer than during the opening weekend of gun season last year. This year's harvest stands at just over 92 thousand deer. That's compared to over 103 thousand last year. The DNR is blaming the weather and a decrease in the number of antlerless deer. The second weekend of gun deer season in the state ends on Sunday. 

Democratic lawmakers in Wisconsin are pushing what they are calling 'health herd' deer hunting laws. A number of Democrats yesterday introduced plans that would spend millions of dollars on CWD prevention. The first would use two million-dollars to better research CWD testing. The other would spend another two million-dollars to help get rid of deer carcasses across the state. State Rep. Katrina Shankland says hunting is a way of life in Wisconsin, and says a healthy deer population is key to keeping that going. 

The state panel discussing a new design for the Minnesota state flag and seal has narrowed thousands of submissions to a small group of finalists.  The Emblems Redesign Commission spent several hours debating the choices yesterday before selecting six flag designs for final consideration.  The commission also narrowed the field for a new state seal to five finalists.  The panel plans to accept public comments on each of the designs before making its final choice for a flag and seal next month.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday on a case challenging the state’s current legislative maps.   The topic considered by the court Tuesday involved "islands," or small areas disconnected from the rest of their legislative districts.  Opponents say the “islands” violate the Wisconsin Constitution, which requires districts be of "contiguous territory," while conservatives say they have been in approved Wisconsin legislative maps for years, adding that the state maps have had them because municipal maps have had them.

Public school libraries across the state will be getting a financial boost in 2024.  The Common School Fund, which the state’s Board of Commissioners of Public Lands oversees, will distribute $65 million to allow library staff to purchase new books, technology, and education materials.  The distribution from the Common School Fund is a 25% increase from 2023.

Animal health experts are warning dog owners about a new illness.  There haven't been any confirmed cases of this mystery respiratory illness in Wisconsin – yet - but it has shown up in Illinois.  Veterinarians aren't sure what is causing it, but the good news is that it doesn't seem to have a high fatality rate in healthy dogs, but older dogs and those with pre-existing conditions are obviously at a higher risk for death.  In the majority of cases, dogs have symptoms such as a cough, runny nose, trouble breathing, and being overly tired. You might want to steer clear of busy dog parks for the time being and also, make sure your pup is up to date on vaccinations.

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation has advice if you’re hitting the road for the Thanksgiving holiday.  The DOT is urging Thanksgiving travelers to watch their speed, focus on the road and expect many other motorists on major highways this week. According to AAA more than 960,000 Wisconsinites will be driving this weekend. Anticipated peak travel times are Wednesday from 2:00 to 6:00 pm, Thursday 11:00 am to 3:00 pm,  Friday 12:00 to 4:00 pm and Saturday and Sunday from 3:00 to 5:00 pm. Motorists can visit 511.WI.gov for real-time information on travel conditions including live traffic cams, construction and detours. 

Annual passes for Wisconsin state parks and forests will be on sale later this week. The 2024 admission stickers will be available starting Black Friday, and will give recipients access to more than 60 state parks, forests, and recreation areas across the state. Vehicle admission stickers will be sold on the Wisconsin DNR's website at 28-dollars for residents, and trail passes will be 25-dollars. They will be valid from the time they're purchased until December 31 of next year. 

A book checked out of a Minnesota library more than a century ago has finally been returned.  A Hennepin County resident found a book called "Famous Composers" while looking through a relative's property.  The book had been checked out of the St. Paul Public Library in 1919 and never returned.  The library did away with late fees in 2019, but a spokesperson estimates the fine for a book missing for that long could be about 36-thousand dollars.  The book won't go back into circulation, but is likely to be kept by the library as a historic artifact.

Local-Regional News Nov 21

 Police in Menomonie are looking for a number of men who they say robbed the ATM at WESTconsin Credit Union. It happened about 1 a.m. Monday morning. Police say multiple men pulled up, broke into the machine, and took some cash. The credit union says there was no personal information in the machine. Yesterday, the credit union said it was working to get the ATM back online. Police are looking through surveillance video to see if they can identify some suspects. 

Dollar General is getting in trouble again for charging too much. Wisconsin's Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection yesterday said the company agreed to pay 800 thousand dollars to shoppers throughout the state. DATCP says it looked at prices in 238 different Dollar General stores in January and February and found that hundreds of them rang up higher than the price on the shelf. On average, the state says, Dollar General charged 17 percent more than advertised. The company paid over 10 thousand dollars back to customers in 2018 after being hit with a similar complaint. 

The Pepin County Health Department wants the public to know that free in-home covid 19 tests are now available.  The U.S. government is offering to send another round of four at-home virus tests ahead of the typical surge in cases during the winter holiday season.  Anyone who did not order a batch of four COVID-19 tests in September can secure up to eight of them this time around at COVIDtests.gov. The U.S. Postal Service will deliver them for free.  For more information contact the Pepin County Health Department.

Lawyers for the teenager accused of beating, raping, and killing 10-year-old Lily Peters have more than two dozen reasons why he says the case should be tried in juvenile court. New court documents show the suspect's lawyers believe he will be better served by a trial in juvenile court and a sentence in juvenile detention. The teen, who was 14-years-old when police say he allegedly killed Peters last year, is waiting to go on trial. The decision about juvenile or adult court is just the first step. That decision is due before January.

A Wisconsin fugitive is in custody after being located in Mexico.  Eau Claire area media report that the sheriff's office has confirmed that Shane Helmbrecht was detained over the weekend and was being held in the Cook County jail in Chicago, awaiting extradition to Eau Claire. Helmbrecht is charged with first-degree intentional homicide for the 2016 death of Jenn Ward in her Eau Claire home. He went missing from a halfway house in Tomah in September. He was found in New Mexico, but police at that time had no grounds to hold him. A judge then ordered him to return to Eau Claire County, but he failed to do so.

A bi-partisan bill that is awaiting Governor Tony Evers’ signature aims to preserve farmland.  The bill lowers the length of time for a farmland preservation agreement from 15 years to 10 years. It would also increase various farmland preservation tax credits.  It essentially allows farmers to keep farming. Senator Patrick Testin (R-Stevens Point) says over the years Wisconsin farmers have lost lots nearly one million acres of farmland not a lot of people have been talking about it until now.  The bill is set to be sent to Gov. Ever’s desk on Nov. 30.

 Wisconsin's governor is once again saying 'No' to a tax cut from Republican lawmakers. Governor Evers yesterday vetoed the proposed two billion-dollar tax cut, calling it an unserious plan. Republican lawmakers want to use Wisconsin's record, nearly seven billion-dollar budget surplus to pay for the tax cut. The governor says he'd rather spend the surplus on child care, a Medicaid expansion, and other programs. This is the second time the governor has scuttled a Republican tax cut this year. He vetoed a three billion-dollar tax cut out of the state budget over the summer. 

Wisconsin's Supreme Court will hear arguments to redraw the state's political maps today. A number of Democrats and progressive groups in the state want the new liberal-majority Supreme Court to toss out the current maps because they favor Republicans. The maps, they say, are gerrymandered and unfair. Republican lawmakers say the request goes too far because it would also undue the 2022 elections for State Senate, and force more than a dozen lawmakers to run again next fall. The case is being closely watched, not just because Wisconsin is a swing state, but because newly elected Justice Janet Protasiewicz faced calls to recuse herself because of what she said about the maps during last year's supreme court election. 

Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport said the Thanksgiving holiday could be their busiest travel season in four years.  On Wednesday and Sunday, it's projected that 38 to 40 thousand people will be at the MSP airport.  Officials say to arrive at the airport early to get to the gates on time.  Authorities also say there will be a cell phone lot on Post Road where people can pick up their loved ones.  Triple A estimates about 4-point-7 million will travel by plane for Thanksgiving. 

It's a supply-versus-demand situation with broadband in Wisconsin. The state’s Public Service Commission says demand for the expansion of broadband in Wisconsin far exceeds the $42 million that’s available for the state’s Broadband Infrastructure grant program.  The commission says 125 applications for that program requested an overall total of more than $221 million.   In his state budget, Governor Tony Evers requested $750 million for broadband expansion, but the state Legislature turned that amount down over the summer.

Funds to help the mental health of veterans around Wisconsin are announced.   The Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs says just over $470,000 of aid will be sent to several organizations through two Veteran Mental Health grant programs.  The grants are part of Governor Tony Evers’ $10 million investment in veteran services, funded through the American Rescue Plan Act.  The first program will directly offset the costs for individual veterans receiving emergency and crisis mental health treatment through resources in Kenosha, Waunakee and Washington County; while a second will fund long-term and complementary mental health treatment for veterans through five resources around the state.  The state veterans’ agency says they will announce a second round of ARPA-funded Veteran Mental Health grants in the coming weeks.

A legislative task force hopes to get a handle on truancy in Wisconsin.  Representative Amy Binsflied chairs the Speaker’s Task Force on Truancy. The Sheboygan Republican said there are multiple areas that can be addressed. But first and foremost, and that truancy is disadvantaging some children from learning what they could. The task force has held hearings in Madison, Milwaukee and Crivitz, and will meet once more at the Capitol on December 5. Binsfield is hopeful the bipartisan panel can make recommendations that are applicable statewide, without "tying the hands" of local school districts.

Wisconsin has its first case of bird flu for 2023.   The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection reported Friday their identification of a case of highly pathogenic avian influenza in a backyard flock in Taylor County.  The bird flu infection is the state’s first since November 7th of last year. Over the past month, Iowa, Michigan, and Minnesota have announced new cases of avian flu in domestic flocks. The state agency is encouraging flock owners to engage in strong biosecurity measures to keep their birds from getting the virus.

Minnesotans this past week took to social media to comment about a manure-like odor that covered a lot of the state. Melissa Wilson is an associate professor at the University of Minnesota, and specializes in manure nutrient management and water quality-she says it's a common issue that she detects nearly every fall. Farmers lay out fertilizer on their fields ahead of winter, but recent cold weather, followed by warmer than normal conditions can create the odor. Wilson adds the fertilization process is about recycling nutrients back into the ground for crop production next year.

Don't drive drunk. And especially don't drive drunk to the county jail to bail-out your friend who was just arrested for drunk driving. Authorities in Washburn County say a local man learned that lesson the hard way Saturday night. The State Patrol arrested 36-year-old Anthony Koprowski in the jail parking lot for OWI after jail staff said he looked drunk. Koprowski was there to pick-up a friend who'd been arrested for drunk driving earlier that night. Police say Koprowski also had a six-year-old child in the car. He was taken to jail, and the six-year-old was given to a sober family member. 

Local=Regional News Nov 20

  A truck that belongs to a missing Goodhue County man has been found by investigators.  The Goodhue County Sheriff's Office has been searching for 57-year-old Brad Nagel since Wednesday.  The sheriff's office announced on social media that Nagel's truck has been found but said that he is still missing.  Investigators did not say where the truck was found, though Nagel was thought to be in the Diamond Bluff-Hager City area last week.

One of the western Wisconsin Girl Scouts hurt in a wreck back in 2018 has settled with the man who ran her down. A judge in Chippewa Falls last week signed-off on a settlement between Madalyn Zwiefelhofer's [[ zwhy-fell-hoffer's ]] family and Colten Treu, along with his insurance company and several local businesses. Madalyn was with the Girl Scouts that Treu hit while he was driving high near Lake Hallie. She was seriously hurt, three other girls were killed. Her family says the settlement will help with the mounting medical expenses since the crash. Treu is serving a 54-year sentence for the crash. 

The Dunn County Sheriff's Department has released the name of the victim of a vehicle accident last Monday.  According the the department, 70yr old Debra Bice of Elk Mound was killed when she failed to yield to an eastbound semi on Hwy 29 while attempting to turn onto 970th Street.  After impact, both vehicles went off the road, down a steep embankment, and struck several trees.

One person is dead after a two vehicle accident on I-94 near Baldwin on Friday.  According to the Wisconsin State Patrol, troopers responded to a vehicle driving westbound on the eastbound side of I-94 near milepost 19.  The vehicle continued driving the wrong way until colliding with an eastbound semi driven by 59yr old Stephan Halicki of Coon Rapids, MN.  The driver of the vehicle, 26yr old Rylee Greene of Hammond was killed in the accident.  That Accident remains under investigation.

A new passenger train through Wisconsin will connect Chicago, Milwaukee, and the Twin Cities in 2024. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation says the new service will run through the Wisconsin Dells and Portage, with connecting busses to Madison and Eau Claire as well. The new train will aslo stop in Red Wing.  The DOT is partnering with the Federal Railroad Administration, Amtrak, and railroads for the service expansions. There will be both morning and mid-day departures from Chicago and St. Paul.

The Wabasha County Board is meeting tomorrow.  Items on the agenda include approving a clarification on the aggregate tax ordinance, discussion and possible action on the 2024 aquatic invasive species management plan and response, and consideration of a contribution for the expansion of broadband in the county.  Tomorrow's meeting begins at 9am in the board room at the Wabasha County Government Center.

 

A man has been sentenced for attacking Minnesota Congresswoman Angie Craig in Washington, D.C. earlier this year.  A federal judge gave 27-year-old Kendrid Hamlin over two years behind bars followed by three years on supervised release.  The judge also recommended Hamlin be placed in a federal medical center, so he can get treatment for mental health and substance abuse issues.  Hamlin assaulted the Democrat in the elevator of her apartment, punching her in the face and grabbing her neck until she managed to escape him.  

The body of a missing Minnesota man is recovered from a northwest Wisconsin lake after a long search.   The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office says the body of 27-year-old Andrew DeRock was pulled from the Minong Flowage Wednesday after DeRock and 27-year-old Ryan Busch were reported missing since October 28th after a reported canoeing incident.  A week earlier, searchers recovered the body of Busch from the lake.  Both men were from New Ulm, Minnesota.  The weather, cold water temperatures, and such natural obstacles as submerged stumps and natural foliage affected efforts in the 18-day search for the two men.

Wisconsin's AI Task Force will be looking at AI equity today. Governor Evers' task force is set to meet again today. The governor wants the task force to look at how best to use AI for the state's workforce, which includes a focus on equity and economic opportunity. The governor's AI Task Force is slightly different from the task force of Assembly Speaker Robin Vos. That task force is also looking at the dangers of AI in Wisconsin. 

 The University of Minnesota is launching a Cannabis Research Center following the legalization of recreational marijuana in the state.  The school says the center will look at how adults will be impacted by using the substance and will help inform future marijuana policies and practices.  Dean Timothy Beebe, School of Public Health Interim, says they will first look at gathering staff and faculty members with expertise.  At the last legislative session, a two point five annual appropriation was passed by lawmakers to help launch the building.      

 Underage tobacco and vape sales are rising in Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Department of Health Service says underage sales of tobacco products increased from eleven-point-nine percent in 2022 to 13-point-six percent this year. On average, underage sales increased by 140-percent since 2019. The DHS says tobacco use causes almost eight-thousand deaths, 3-billion in health care expenses, and more than five-point-six billion in lost economic productivity every year. 

Governor Tony Evers approves pay increases for some state employees, while others remain in limbo.  The Democratic governor on Thursday signed bills giving raises to State Patrol troopers inspectors, and employees in the building trades craft collective bargaining unit. Evers also noted that already approved pay hikes for some 35,000 Universities of Wisconsin employees are still being held up by Republicans. A joint committee led by Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and Senate President Chris Kapenga has withheld the UW raises, as Vos continues to oppose diversity, equity, and inclusion programs on the campuses. 

Wisconsin's biggest business group is weighing in on the court fight over school choice in the state.  Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce this week filed a brief with the Wisconsin Supreme Court, asking the court to reject the lawsuit that seeks to end school choice and school vouchers in Wisconsin.  WMC says thousands of families across the state will be 'devastated' if school choice comes to an end.  The group is also arguing that any challenge should first go to a local court, and not directly to the new liberal-majority state supreme court.  Activist and progressive candidate Kirk Bagnstad filed the lawsuit, which claims school choice hurts Wisconsin's traditional public schools and is unconstitutional.

A march by neo-Nazis outside the State Capitol on Saturday is drawing condemnation from local and state leaders.  Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway, Governor Tony Evers, and UW-Madison Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin all blasted the demonstration.  About two-dozen people dressed in red and black, a few carrying flags with swastikas, walked up State Street to the Capitol before heading to James Madison Park between noon and 2 p.m.  Madison Police officers kept watch on the group and said none displayed any weapons.  

Flags on public buildings across Wisconsin will fly at half-staff Tuesday, in memory of the people who were killed in the Waukesha Christmas Parade attack two years ago.  A man drove an SUV through the parade on November 21st, 2021, killing six people and injuring 62 others.  He's serving six consecutive life sentences.

Local-Regional News Nov 17

 The Dunn County Board of Supervisors have approved the 2024 budget, which will lower county property taxes on a typical home by 26%.  According to a press release, county officials said for 2024, the owner of a house valued at $150,000 will pay $745.44 in property taxes for county purposes, down from the 2023 tax bill of $939.15. The mill rate was set at $4.97 per $1,000 of property value, down 26% from last year. 

The Construction on Main Street in Wabasha is wrapping up for the season as the new sewer and water lines are all installed.  However, the project isn’t completely over yet! The final layer of asphalt on Main Street will not go on until next spring when the weather warms up again.  Due to supply chain delays, the lights will go in mid-December.  In the meantime, the City encourages residents to use caution by the step up to the curb on Main Street, until spring when the final course is added.

Eau Claire County is discontinuing the system it uses to alert residents to emergencies.  Known as RAVE, county officials say they're shutting down the system after the first of the year because of its cost, which totals almost 36-hundred dollars a year. Plus, they say fewer people have been signing up for RAVE They say they'll alert residents by working with state emergency management officials to alert residents of any emergencies in an area, such as a train derailment or hazardous materials incident.  

 Eau Claire residents can expect to see an increase in their monthly water bills, beginning next year.  The city council this week approved an eight percent increase in water usage bills.  City officials blamed the increase on rising costs for electricity, chemicals and transportation in providing water for residents.  The city is also building a 20-million dollar treatment facility for PFAs -- the so-called forever chemicals that are hazardous to people's health.  The city is looking for grants that can help offset the cost of the facility. 

Wisconsin's governor took the spat over DEI money at the University of Wisconsin to the campus in Eau Claire yesterday. Governor Evers toured the medical lab at the university and once again pressed Republican lawmakers to release the 32 million that's being held at the Capitol until the university changes its policy on diversity, equity, and inclusion. The governor said the University of Wisconsin will not get better with less money. He says the school needs that money to continue to teach the next generation of people in Wisconsin. 

There is a plan at the Wisconsin Capitol to give folks from Wisconsin first dibs on campground spots. Senator Howard Marklein introduced the idea this week. He wants to create a two-week window for Wisconsinites to book campgrounds, then open-up registration to everyone. Currently, the DNR opens campground reservations 11 months ahead of time, and it is a first-come first-served basis. Marklein says that leads to a mad scramble, and sometimes people or groups from Wisconsin miss out on the best spots. 

 Wisconsin's Right to Garden plan is a step closer to becoming law. An Assembly committee this week approved the plan which would stop local governments from banning vegetable or flower gardens. State Rep. Shae Sortwell is pushing the plan. He says leaders in his hometown of Two Rivers okayed a local ban on gardens. He says people have the right to grow their own food, and he says local governments should not be getting in the way. The Right to Garden legislation now heads for a vote in front of the full legislature. 

 The flu, COVID, and RSV virus are on the rise in Wisconsin.  The Wisconsin Department of Health Services most recent Respiratory Virus Surveillance Report says the state is seeing an increase in hospitalizations for children with RSV. The department says influenza and COVID vaccines are in good supply, but national RSV treatments for infants are still affecting Wisconsin. 

The Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council is handing out grants to more than four-dozen applicants to help fund their operations and performances.  The grants announced this week will go to organizations in 11 southeastern counties and average between five and ten-thousand dollars each.  Grants were awarded for a variety of projects involving music, dance and painting.  The total amount of the grants adds up to just under 335-thousand dollars. 

A bill requiring the DNR to set a statewide population goal in its wolf management plan has passed a committee vote at the Capitol.  The Assembly Sporting Heritage Committee voted 7-4 along party lines on Wednesday. The Natural Resources Board last month approved a plan that eliminated the decades old 350-wolf goal in favor of zone based management with no specific population goal. Hunting and agriculture groups were opposed. State law requires an annual wolf hunt, but for now wolves remain on the federal endangered species list. The Senate passed the bill 22-10 along party lines last month.  

 A report released this week shows that the state agency responsible for overseeing Minnesota's Senior Nutrition Program isn't doing much oversight.  The Office of the Legislative Auditor says the Minnesota Board on Aging hasn't been doing many mandated compliance checks since 2017.  While the audit doesn't claim there are outstanding problems, the legislative auditor says the lack of oversight leaves the program vulnerable to fraud and exploitation.  The head of the Board on Aging told state lawmakers yesterday that his agency is working on improving its internal controls and coming into compliance with state and federal guidelines.

Target is reporting higher-than-expected revenue and earnings for the third quarter of this year.  The Minneapolis-based company reported earnings-per-share of two-dollars and ten-cents yesterday, more than 60-cents higher than anticipated.  The company's total revenue was 25-point-four billion, which was slightly higher than expected.  The news wasn't all good, as total revenue and sales were both down from the same quarter last year.  The company's chief financial officer says Target is "laser-focused" on improving sales and in-store traffic, though he says those goals are unlikely to be met this year. 

The Department of Natural Resources says this year's bear harvest was down because of a quirk of nature.  Large carnivore specialist Randy Johnson says hunters harvested about 25 percent fewer bears this year, likely because oak trees across many hunting regions put out a bumper crop of acorns. Johnson says that likely kept bears away from bait stations and out of the sight of hunters. Over 12 thousand licenses were issued to hunters, and about 23 percent of those tags were filled.

A Wisconsin man is recovering after a deer's smashed through his windshield.  Robert Fleuchaus says he was driving on I-43 last week doing about 75 miles an hour when the deer ran right into traffic.  The deer's body split in half after being hit by Fleuchaus and a box truck driving beside him.  Fleuchaus says all the windows shattered and the deer's head just landed on the seat next to him.  He says he's glad no one was in the passenger seat.  Wisconsin State Patrol says there have been over 23-hundred deer-related crashes in southeastern Wisconsin this year.

Local-Regional News Nov 16

  A Wisconsin hunter is not expected to face any charges after shooting and killing a cougar in Buffalo County.  State Department of Natural Resources officials say the it happened this past weekend when the unidentified man was hunting deer.  The hunter is said to have shot the cougar, which is a protected species in Wisconsin, because he was concerned for his safety.  He then reported the deadly shooting to DNR officials.  

Menomonie Fire Department announced over 30 "Stop the Bleed" kits will be going out to Menomonie District Schools.  These kits contain medical equipment used to stop someone from profusely bleeding. Each school will have a kit mounted to the wall, as well as a mass incident bag stored somewhere else. Freshmen at Menomonie schools will take a 'Stop the Bleed' course as part of their health unit where the fire department will teach them how to use the equipment.   They plan on installing the kits over winter break.

The Cairn House in Menomonie is ready to serve those experiencing homelessness in Dunn County.  Because of a long waiting list, the shelter is already full to capacity.  In the meantime,  those at the shelter can stay between four to eight weeks, with a possibility of staying a little extra time for any arrangements that need to be made. The Cairn House is the only general homeless shelter in the entire county according to Heidi Hooten, manager of the shelter.  The shelter was built at a cost of $1.5 million

Marshfield Clinic Health System is making big cuts as they struggles financially. Among them, are major pay cuts for upper-level management.   The changes were laid out in an email sent to all employees Wednesday. Starting yet this year, senior-level leadership, which includes the CEO, all chiefs, presidents and VP's, will have their pay decreased by 15%. Directors' pay is going down 10%.  The email said these changes will help the company "advance [its] financial turnaround strategy."  In March, Marshfield announced they were laying of 3% of their employee base, impacting 346 of their 12,000-employee workforce. 

  More than 120 applications were received for rural broadband infrastructure funding in Wisconsin. The applications for the Broadband Infrastructure Grant Program requested a total of more than 221-million dollars, but only about 42-million will be awarded. The ratio of requested funding to available funding is the highest since the first round of applications in 2014. Grant money will go toward projects aiming to provide high-quality internet in locations without adequate or affordable service options. 

Our neighbors to the south felt the earth move Wednesday morning.  The US Geological Survey says a magnitude 3.6 earthquake rattled parts of northern Illinois. The small quake was detected about 4:41 a.m. and was centered near Standard, Illinois.....a town about 100 miles southwest of Chicago.  Police say no damage was reported, but they had their hands full fielding calls from alarmed residents.  A Geological Survey earthquake map indicated that the shaking may have extended into parts of southern Wisconsin, southeastern Iowa, and northwest Indiana.

 A record number of apprentices have enrolled in Wisconsin's Apprenticeship Program. Governor Tony Evers says in a press release there are more than 16-thousand apprentices, breaking last year's record as the most the program has seen in its 112 years. Wisconsin Apprenticeship pairs on the job training with classroom instruction so apprentices can earn as they still learn. Wisconsin was the first U-S state with an apprenticeship program and is the only state requiring employers to pay their apprentices for time at work and in classroom instruction. 

 More officers and deputies will be patrolling than usual during holiday travel times. Madison Police are reminding drivers that it will be on alert while there are more drivers on the road, making sure everyone is buckling up and driving sober. The department says it's teaming up with the Dane County Sheriff's Office to put extra officers and deputies on the road. Police say someone in Wisconsin dies or gets an injury from a car crash involving impaired driving every two hours. The overtime to pay for extra law enforcement comes from a grant from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.    

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will be re-activating its popular "eagle cam" today.  The live camera was destroyed last spring when the nest it was monitoring fell, killing a baby eagle.  DNR officials say the camera will show different areas and images initially.  They are monitoring the eagles who used the original nest and plan to focus on them if they start a new nest near the camera. 

Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin is trying again to overturn his conviction in the murder of George Floyd in 2020.  He says there is new evidence indicating he wasn't the cause of Floyd's death.  He filed a motion on Monday claiming he would have never pleaded guilty if he knew about the theories of a Kansas forensic pathologist.  Chauvin is requesting a new trial from the judge.  He is currently in prison in Arizona, serving a 21-year sentence.   

A bill to combat PFAS pollution passed the State Senate Tuesday.  The bill creates PFAS contamination grants for Wisconsin cities, towns and villages, as well as private landowners and waste disposal facilities.  The grants will be used to test for PFAS in water treatment plans and wells.  The state’s Department of Natural Resources would be responsible for remediation at contaminated sites where the responsible party is unknown or can’t pay for the work.  Opponents of the measure say it limits the ability of the DNR to hold polluting corporations accountable.  Governor Tony Evers, who has said he shares those concerns, will likely veto the bill.

Two men from Minnesota are jailed after drugs and thousands of dollars in cash are found in their vehicle.  The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office says on the morning of November 7th,  a deputy pulled a vehicle going 97 in a 70 mile-per-hour zone over on I-39/90/94 in the Town of Dekorra .  After probable cause was obtained, a search of that vehicle led to the discovery of over 400 grams of fentanyl and more than $100,000 in cash. The two men in their forties from Minneapolis who were in the vehicle were arrested and sent to the Columbia County Jail charged with possession with intent to deliver fentanyl greater than 50 grams.

An arrest and charges in a nearly four-decades-old cold case from western Wisconsin. According to the Polk County Sheriff's Office, 80-year-old Mary Josephine Bailey was arrested Monday in Maricopa County, Arizona, in the death of Yvonne Menke. The 45-year-old Menke was shot three times in the head and neck after leaving her St. Croix Falls’ home for work, the morning of December 12, 1985. The Polk County District Attorney’s Office charged Bailey with first-degree murder. She remains at the Maricopa County jail, awaiting extradition to Wisconsin. The sheriff’s office declined to provide additional comment.

 Minnetonka-based UnitedHealth Group is getting sued.   They are accused of using a faulty artificial intelligence algorithm to wrongly deny coverage for Medicaid patients who need rehab after being hospitalized.  The lead plaintiffs are the families of two patients, who needed long-term care in post-acute facilities.  The suit alleges that UnitedHealth's Medicare Advantage health plans denied payments for claims from the patients medical caregivers, forcing up to 70 thousand dollars in out-of -pocket costs for continuing care.

 President Biden will spare the lives of two Minnesota-grown turkeys when the White House holds its annual turkey pardon ceremony before Thanksgiving.  This year's birds are being provided by Jennie-O and were raised on a farm in central Minnesota.  They will travel to Washington, D.C. by private coach and stay in the Willard InterContinental Hotel ahead of the ceremony.  After being pardoned, the turkeys will return to Minnesota to live on a University of Minnesota campus farm in St. Paul. 

Local-Regional News Nov 15

 Area Schools are getting a passing grade from the state when it comes to reading and math. The Department of Public Instruction yesterday released its school and school district report cards. They track how schools across the state did on last year's standardized tests.  Durand-Arkansaw, Mondovi, Pepin, and Plum City Schools all met expectations, while Alma and Elmwood exceeded expectations.  

The Durand City Council is meeting tonight.  Items on the agenda include a public hearing on the annual budget and the council will also approve that budget tonight, along with reports from the mayor and 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 a discussion of the school report cards, a discussion of the school district library plan and reports from the district and building administrators.  Tonight's meeting begins at 7pm in the board room at Durand-Arkansaw High School.

 UW-Stout is offering automatic admission to most Menomonie High School graduates. The university yesterday said kids who graduate with at least a two-point-five GPA will be accepted, without having to apply. The idea is to get more local kids to choose Stout as their higher education option. The automatic admissions program starts with this year's seniors. In fact, students can start talking to their guidance counselors right now. Stout is the latest UW campus to look to automatic admissions as a way to boost enrollment. 

 Chippewa County District Attorney says he doesn't have enough facts to make a decision about possible charges for the county's sheriff. DA Wade Newell yesterday wrote to the county's administrator, explaining that he doesn't have enough evidence to make an official misconduct case against Sheriff Travis Hakes. Hakes has faced a wave of criticism for his behavior and his outside job selling guns since he took office earlier this year. The county sent an investigation to the DA for review, but the DA said it's not enough. Hakes continues to say he's done nothing wrong and said the criticism all comes from his political opponents. 

 A Chetek woman has agreed to plead guilty in an Eau Claire County murder case from last year. Vanessa Ketteman agreed to the plea yesterday. She will be sentenced for felony murder-false imprisonment for her role in the June 2022 shooting death of Eddie Banks. Investigators say Ketterman and two other people lured Banks to a meeting after he failed to deliver 500 dollars worth of drugs. Ketterman says Banks died when he grabbed for the gun and it went off. As part of her deal, Ketterman will have to testify against the other two suspects in the case. 

The new overhaul of Wisconsin's liquor laws likely means an end to wedding barns. The legislature yesterday approved a rewrite of the state's depression-era liquor code. In addition to changing some of the rules for breweries, wineries, and liquor distributors, the plan all but puts an end to wedding barns by limiting them to six events per-year, or forcing them to get a liquor license. Supporters say the idea is to ensure safety at wedding barns that have been BYOB for years. Opponents say the Tavern League won, and is essentially erasing competition for local bars and taverns by regulating wedding barns out of business. 

 Wisconsin is a step closer to having a new baby box law.  The State Assembly yesterday unanimously approved a plan that would allow parents to surrender a baby within the first three days. State Representative Ellen Schutt says the plan would allow cities to install a box at a fire station or other city building that is open and staffed 24/7, and allow parents to anonymously surrender a baby. Wisconsin allows parents to turn-over their babies in-person, but this would allow them to do it without having to see someone first. Fifteen other states currently have baby box laws on their books. 

The Wisconsin Senate has approved taxpayer funding for American Family Field renovations. It passed on a 19-14 vote, as well as a companion bill to fund the improvements. The bill will return to the Assembly for concurrence, where Speaker Robin Vos says it will be approved. Afterward, the bill will be sent to Governor Tony Evers, who has expressed support for the bill. The bill asks for 375-point-four million dollars from the state, 67-point-5 million each from Milwaukee County and the city of Milwaukee and 150-point-seven million from the Brewers.

 The state Department of Natural Resources says Minnesota's deer harvest has dropped this year.  About 106-thousand deer have been harvested statewide as of Monday.  That's down five-percent from last year and off about 16-percent from the five-year average.  Northeastern Minnesota has seen a 17-percent decline in deer registrations from the same period last year, while the northwest region has seen a drop of about six-percent.  State officials are blaming some of the decline on a reduction in the number of hunters, with license sales for firearms deer season down by three-percent from last year.

Add this to the worries for Kia and Hyundai drivers in Wisconsin. The car companies are asking owners to park their cars outside until they deal with a looming recall over a fire risk. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says some Kia and Hyundai models could have a leak in their brake systems, that leak could lead to an electrical short, and that could cause a fire. NHTSA says over three million cars will need to be checked. Hyundai says it's getting ready to send people back to their dealer to get their cars checked, Kia hasn't said just what its plans are. 

Open enrollment for Medicare and Affordable Care Act Insurance plans brings scammers out in force. Wisconsin Division of Consumer Protection Director Michael Domke reminds people that Medicare will never call you to demand payment nor will they ask you for information they should already have like your social security number. If you're unsure of who you're talking to, hang up.

There's a recall on cantaloupes in at least 10 states including Wisconsin and Minnesota. The FDA says Sofia Produce is recalling the fruit with the Malichita labels sold between October 16th and October 23rd.  Officials say there is the possibility of salmonella contamination.  Anyone who has the fruit is being asked to throw it out or return it to the store where it was purchased. 

There’ll be no restructuring of Wausau’s high schools in the near future.  By a 5-4 vote, the Wausau School Board voted Monday night to stop the current restructuring plan, which involved merging Wausau East and West High Schools by the 2025-26 academic year.  The board also chose to stick with keeping the Wausau district’s elementary, middle, and high school structures the same, but to re-evaluate its elementary school structure.  That means elementary schools will continue to consist of grades K-through-5, middle schools will consist of grades 6-through-8, and high schools will be grades 9-through-12 for the time being.  Some members of the board had favored pushing the original restructuring plans back one year.

 Minnesota officials are encouraging everyone to visit a state park the day after Thanksgiving.  The Department of Natural Resources has announced that all state parks and recreation areas will be free to enter on Black Friday.  Some areas will offer naturalist programs and guided nature walks that day as well.  The D-N-R says Minnesota state parks and recreation areas are the perfect places to enjoy the tranquility of nature during the busy holiday season.

 The Minnesota man who set a world record earlier this year for the heaviest pumpkin ever grown is preserving the seeds for himself and others.  Travis Gienger tells KARE-TV that he plans to keep seeds from the 27-hundred and 49-pound pumpkin for his own use and send some to pumpkin clubs that request them.  The rest he plans to sell to other growers for 275-dollars each.  Gienger says there's no telling if the seeds will produce another record-setter, but adds that one of the seeds could produce the world's first three-thousand-pound pumpkin

Local-Regional News Nov 14

 Last night, the Durand Police and the Pepin County Sheriff's Department responded to multiple calls of shots fired in the area of Washington Street and 3rd Avenue East.  According to a social media post from Durand Police, officers responded and the investigation into the incident continues.  There is no threat to the public.

 

One person is dead after a semi vs pickup truck accident in the Town of Elk Mound last night.  According to the Dunn County Sheriff's Department,  a 70-year-old female was driving a pickup westbound on Hwy 29, attempting to turn south onto 970th street, and failed to yield to an eastbound semi that was hauling pigs.  After impact, both vehicles went off the road, down a steep embankment, and struck several trees.  The semi-driver was not injured, but the female was pronounced dead at the scene by the Dunn County Medical Examiner's Office.  That accident remains under investigation.

No one was injured when a fuel truck overturned in Canton Township on Monday.  According to the Buffalo County Sheriffs Department, 39-year-old Jason Bechel of Durand was traveling southbound on Tiffany Valley Road when he lost control, entered the southbound ditch knocked over a power pole and overturned.  Electric wires were over the semi and Excel Energy was called in to shut off power so the truck could be towed out of the ditch.  Approximately 5 gallons of fuel leaked from the tanker.  That accident remains under investigation.

The Mondovi City Council is meeting tonight.  Items on the agenda include a review of the 2024 property tax levy and budget, approval of a contract for a new city administrator and discussion of the contract for residential garbage and recycling services.  Tonight's meeting begins at 5:30 at the Marten Center in Mondovi.

The Buffalo County Board is meeting tonight.  Items on the agenda include discussion and action on the proposed 2024 budget and property tax levy, a resolution changing the fee schedule for environmental health and sanitation, and a resolution to support the designation of the Mississippi River Trail inside Buffalo County.  Tonight's meeting begins at 7pm at the government center in Alma.

The Dunn County Board is meeting tonight.  Items on the agenda include a public hearing on the 2024 property tax levy and budget,  a resolution to borrow $3 million, and reports from county committees.  Tonight's meeting begins at 7pm at the Dunn County Government Center in Menomonie.

The Durand Fire Department has announced 1st Lieutenant Mark Poeschel as the 2023 Firefighter of the Year.  Poeschel has been with the department for 8 years and was recently promoted to the rank of 1st Lieutenant at the beginning of this year.  

 There continues to be opposition to the idea of moving refugee families to Eau Claire. Nearly 50 people turned out at last night's city council meeting to once again say they don't want 75 mostly Somali refugees moved into the city. The group World Relief is pushing to resettle the refugees by the end of next year. Many of the people who don't want to see them moved here continue to ask what the refugees will do, and where they will work. World Relief says it's a matter of compassion. City leaders have said they don't have much to do with the plan, saying that between World Relief and the federal government. 

Police have identified a man accused who driving onto the runway at La Crosse Regional Airport over the weekend.  31-year-old Cody Anderson of Wallace, Idaho allegedly drove through a locked gate and boarded a private aircraft on Saturday. Airport staff prevented the plane from taking off and Anderson was arrested. Anderson was given a $500,000 cash bond in court on Monday. Online court records show he's charged with 5 felonies including making terrorist threats and attempted armed robbery.

Applications for grant programs to help private well owners in Wisconsin will be accepted until December 6 of next year or when money runs out. Governor Tony Evers says the Well Compensation and Well Abandonment Grant Programs are providing ten-million dollars in assistance to help well owners address contamination. Money can go toward replacement, reconstruction, treatment, or abandoning impacted wells. Due to expanded criteria announced last year, many people who previously didn't qualify for grants are now eligible. So far, the DNR has given more than 46-percent of the ten-million dollars in funding to 370 grantees.

We're going to get another look at how well Wisconsin's public schools are doing today. The state's Department of Public Instruction will release the school and school district report cards later today. The new report cards will give a better picture of how kids in Wisconsin are doing on the state's standardized tests. They will also provide parents a look at both their child's school and their school district. The statewide report cards came out last month, and continue to show that nearly 60 percent of kids in Wisconsin cannot read or do math at grade level. Today's report cards will show which schools and school districts are doing better than that mark, and which are doing worse. 

The new helipad for rural Rusk and Chippewa counties is now open. Leaders cut the ribbon Sunday on the landing area in Lake Holcombe. Town of Lake Holcombe Chairman Brian Guthman says the new helipad will allow paramedics to get to rural parts of the two counties much faster. Crews started work on the new helipad back in June, they will have some minor touch-ups to add come the spring. 

A new law is being proposed that would ban anyone convicted of violent offenses from buying or possessing guns in Wisconsin. The bill is supported by State Senator Kelda Roys and State Representative Lisa Subeck, both of Madison.  The idea is supported by Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul.   The bill reorganizes disorderly conduct and the definition of domestic abuse, so that someone convicted of disorderly conduct as a result of domestic abuse would be banned from buying or having guns.  

Plenty of Wisconsinites will be traveling for the Thanksgiving holiday.   Triple-A projects more than 1.1 million Wisconsinites will travel 50 miles or more during the period from the Wednesday before Thanksgiving to the Sunday after.  The number of travelers is the third highest on record and a 2.4% increase over last year.  Those travelers will be giving thanks for lower gas prices this year, with an average gas cost of $3.14 per gallon, down from $3.58 a gallon last Thanksgiving.  Most of the travelers in the state will drive, but over 113,000 Wisconsinites will fly to their destinations, which is an 8.3% increase over a record-setting 2022 total.  

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources says the gun deer hunting season that begins next weekend will see fewer hunters than last year.  DNR says 600-thousand hunters will be in the field, a two-percent decline in the number who bought licenses last season.  DNR wildlife experts say fewer hunters means Wisconsin's deer overpopulation could become worse and that's reflected in the number of deer killed by cars and trucks.  The Department of Transportation says vehicle crashes kill between 15-thousand and 19-thousand deer every year.  Gun deer hunting season runs from next Saturday, November 18th, through Sunday, November 26th. 

Minnesota Democrats are discussing the possibility of a state constitutional amendment to protect abortion rights.  Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman tells WCCO-TV that lawmakers are uncertain about pursuing such an amendment, saying it isn't a top priority at the moment.  But Hortman says it is a very "motivating" issue for state Democrats and could wind up on the ballot next year or in 2026.  Seven states have passed constitutional amendments to protect abortion rights, with Ohio becoming the latest to do so earlier this week.

 Microsoft is looking to double its billion-dollar-plus investment in Mount Pleasant. The company last week announced plans to spend another one-point-four billion-dollars on its data center project. Microsoft first announced its data center plans earlier this year. This announcement is on top of that original project. The Microsoft center will be built on some of the land that was set aside for the Foxconn project. Racine County and the village of Mount Pleasant will have to agree to some development terms, but Microsoft is pledging to spend the extra billion-dollars by the end of 2028. 

Minnesota has one of the worst pothole problems in the country.  That's according to a new report from USA Today.  It used Google Trends data from the last three years to find the states with the most pothole-related issues.  Minnesota ranked second in the nation, only behind Washington State.  The report also looked at U.S. cities with the worst pothole problems.  Minneapolis ranked third.  New York City took the top spot and Los Angeles ranked in second place.  According to data from Triple-A, 44-million drivers paid for vehicle repairs due to pothole damage last year. The average repair bill was around 400-dollars.