Local-Regional News Dec 11

A sex offender who was homeless in Durand has been relocated to Pepin.  According to the Pepin County Sheriff's Department, 55yr old Allan Owens was relocated to the Great River Amish Inn Hotel at 311 3d Street in Pepin.  Owens was released from prison in September of this year and for a while was homeless in the Durand area.  The sheriff's department says Owens will be at the Hotel until further notice.

The Wisconsin Office of Emergency Communications (OEC) has announced the award of 19 grant projects totaling $5,611,235.82 in state funding to local public safety answering points (PSAPs) across Wisconsin.  Dunn County received a $71,000 grant, Pepin County $162,000 and Trempealeau County received a $179,000 grant.  Funding will be used for various projects related to PSAP equipment upgrades, advanced training necessary for Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG9-1-1) implementation, and PSAP consolidation efforts

The Wisconsin Office of Emergency Communications (OEC) has announced the award of 28 grant projects totaling $1,458,838.48 in state funding to local county land information offices across Wisconsin.   The Pepin County Land Conservation Office received a $61,000 grant.  Funding will be used for various projects related to geographic information systems (GIS) data creation, preparation, and remediation activities necessary for enabling Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG9-1-1). 

The Wisconsin DNR is warning those wanting to go ice fishing to stay off the ice here in Western Wisconsin.   Jake Holsclaw, off-highway vehicle administrator with the Wisconsin DNR, said with the warm temperatures so far this month the ice can be unpredictable and to use caution before heading out on the ice. If you are heading out on the ice, Holsclaw said you can drill a hole close to shore to test the ice thickness. Bring a life jacket or floatation device with you, and always tell others where you are going and when you plan to be back.

Former Third District Representative Ron Kind announced Thursday he was appointed the title of an "Honorary Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire”, also known as an OBE. Kind served as the co-chair of two panels which promoted closer relations and understanding between elected members of the governments of the U.S. and the United Kingdom. The OBE is given by Great Britain to reward the contributions of civilians and members of the armed services for charitable work, public service, and contributions to the arts and sciences.

 

A missing western Wisconsin woman has been found, and the statewide Silver Alert for her has been canceled. The State Patrol issued a Silver Alert for 78-year-old Maureen Mahoney yesterday morning. Troopers say she was last seen in La Crosse, and they feared she may be driving to her property in Waukesha, or to see her family in Illinois. The State Patrol is not saying just where she was found, but they say she was found safe, and the Silver Alert was canceled. 

There won't be any pay raises for UW-Eau Claire, UW-Stout, or UW-River Falls workers for the foreseeable future. University regents on Saturday left all of them in limbo when they rejected a deal with Republican lawmakers on diversity, equity, and inclusion spending. Lawmakers offered to release the money for pay raises and millions of dollars more if the university would 're-purpose' some DEI jobs, and put a three-year hold on new DEI hires. Regents voted 9-8 against the deal. Regent Evan Brenkus accused supporters of the deal of 'selling out minorities for millions of dollars.'

People in Eau Claire are going to have to wait til next spring to see some of the city's big projects finished. Eau Claire on Friday declared an end to the construction season. That means both the city's new transit hub and the Menomonie Market project will have to wait to be finished. The halt to construction also means parts of Main Street, Gray Street and Hobart Street will remain closed til the weather improves. 

 The St. Paul Police Department says a missing 19-year-old woman from Goodhue County is home safe.  The woman at the center of a weeks-long search had last been seen on Sunday, November 26th.  Per the missing persons alert, the woman was in immediate danger.  According to reports from this weekend, the woman approached an officer on Saturday night saying that she was not missing.  

Two groups of demonstrators are working to pressure U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin to publicly call for a ceasefire in Israel and Palestine.   People associated with Madison for a World Beyond War and Jewish Voice for Peace have been staging vigils outside the Wisconsin Democrat's Madison office over the past week.  On Friday, they read the names of children killed in the bombings in Gaza.  They want Baldwin to join other members of Congress who have made public statements supporting a ceasefire and for the government to cut military aid to Israel.

Salmonella cases have doubled again since the start of an outbreak tied to cantaloupe. The Centers for Disease Control says there are now 230 people nationwide with the illness, with 18 cases reported in Wisconsin. Since the last update from November 30, 113 more people in four states reported new cases. The CDC says many people with salmonella recover without receiving medical treatment, so the real number of cases could be higher. The CDC says it's best not to eat pre-cut cantaloupes if you don't know whether the fruit is Malichita or Rudy brand. 

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The Lac Du Flambeau tribe is asking for millions in dollars in damages to roads they say were trespassed on for years.  WXPR reports lawyers for the tribe sent a letter to the Town of Lac Du Flambeau last week saying they will not issue any access permits to those roads on tribal lands until they are paid over 9 point 6 million dollars in damages. The town has paid out 140-thousand dollars this year to keep those roads open while negotiations continue. The town board discussed the issue in a closed session last week and said they'll be discussing it with their legal counsel.

Autopsy results are released on three Marines, including one from Wisconsin, who died last July in North Carolina.   The report released Wednesday from the Pender County Sheriff’s Office found that the three, including Madison native Tanner Kaltenberg, died of accidental carbon monoxide poisoning while sitting in a car with unconnected and rusted exhaust pipes. The car was parked in the parking lot of a convenience store about 30 miles from Camp Lejeune. The findings show no obvious signs of suicide, foul play or drug use. Toxicology reports had the three Marines' blood concentrations of carbon monoxide ranging from 24% to 27%. The 19-year-old Kaltenberg joined the Marines in May of 2021 after graduating from Verona High School.

Foxconn is once again getting paid by the state of Wisconsin for hitting its jobs goals.  Governor Evers' administration Thursday said Foxconn qualified for six-million dollars in tax credits for having just over a thousand workers at its Mount Pleasant facility.  The six-million is two-million less than Foxconn got last year but brings the total payment from the Evers Administration to over 43-million dollars.  Foxconn was originally in line for nearly three-billion dollars in tax credits under the deal it signed with former Governor Scott Walker.  But Foxconn was never paid under that deal because it never hired enough people.  Governor Evers rewrote the Foxconn deal in 2021 and has paid Foxconn each year since. 

Customers of Xcel Energy and Minnesota Power will be paying more for energy next year.  The state Public Utilities Commission approved an interim rate increase for Minnesota power that will increase residential rates by eight-point-six percent.  That will add about eight-dollars a month to the average residential bill.  The agency also approved a slightly smaller natural gas price hike for Xcel Energy customers.  Both utilities have asked for large increases that are still being reviewed by the P-U-C.

A new study by University of Minnesota researchers may provide a path to a permanent cure for polio.  The study says a human antibody can attach itself to the three different types of the polio virus and neutralize it completely.  While polio cases worldwide have been greatly reduced due to vaccinations, isolated cases have been reported in the last decade.  

Wisconsin’s two biggest cities are also among America’s most fun cities. The personal finance website WalletHub compiled a list of 180 fun American cities based on such metrics as movie costs, fitness centers per capita, and average business hours of breweries. Milwaukee placed number 40 on the list, and Madison came in at number 60. The website points out a Bureau of Labor Statistics report that says the average American spends over $3,400 on entertainment annually. And it should come as no surprise that the top spot on the list, by a wide margin, is held by Las Vegas.

Local-Regional News Dec 8

 Western Wisconsin's congressman wants the Biden Administration to do more in the dairy dispute with Canada.  Congressman Derrick Van Orden yesterday said the USDA must find a solution after a ruling will allow Canada to continue to keep America, and Wisconsin-made, milk and cheese out of their country.  Van Orden said the decision is 'an insult to the farmers, producers, and marketers' in Wisconsin who produce top-quality dairy products.  Van Orden said Wisconsin dairy farmers need an 'equal seat' at the table. 

The chances are growing for Amtrak service in Eau Claire.  Wisconsin Democratic U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin yesterday said the federal government has agreed to make five train routes in the state a 'priority.'  The routes include a Milwaukee to Minneapolis route that would bring trains to both Madison and Eau Claire.  There's also a Twin Cities to Eau Claire route, and a Chicago to La Crosse to St. Paul route.  Baldwin says the federal government is also interested in the Chicago to Milwaukee route, and a train that would connect Milwaukee and Green Bay. 

 

There were nineteen children in the school bus that rolled over in Chippewa County. Sheriff Travis Hakes says two kids were taken to the hospital along with the bus driver to get medical treatment for their injuries. He says the Sheriff's Office responded to a call yesterday afternoon about the bus leaving the roadway, driving into a ditch, and rolling. It still is not known what caused the bus to roll.

Investigators in Eau Claire think they've solved a series of arson fires.  Prosecutors yesterday charged 34-year-old Joshua Stromme with seven counts of arson.  Eau Claire Police say Stromme set several fires at local parks, inside dumpsters, and even at an Eau Claire bus stop between November 20th and November 30th.  Detectives say Stromme admitted setting the fires and said the fire at the bus stop near Sacred Heart Hospital was tied to his mental health struggles.  He's being held on a 25-thousand dollar cash bond. 

A couple of local non-profits support the plan to bring refugee families to Eau Claire.  Leaders with the Eau Claire Area Hmong Mutual Assistance Association, Joining Our Neighbors Advancing Hope, and Welcoming New Neighbors all spoke out yesterday.  They say their work with refugees, or their experience as refugees has them looking forward to welcoming 75 mostly Somalian refugees to town.  Eau Claire City Councilman Larry Mboga also spoke in support of the effort from World Relief to resettle the refugees.  Many others in Eau Claire, however, continue to oppose the plan out of concerns over housing, jobs, and cultural differences. 

Police in Altoona are asking for help in finding the last driver involved in a wreck on Highway 53 yesterday.  The crash happened about 12:30 p.m. near River Prairie Drive as officers were handling another crash.  The second crash left a car on fire, and sent a couple of people to the hospital.  Altoona Police say the driver they are looking for sped away from that crash.  There's more information over at the Crime Stoppers website. 

 Wisconsin's public health managers are reminding parents that there is an applesauce recall over lead.  The state's Department of Health Services yesterday issued a notice that four different brands of applesauce, all in kid-friendly pouches, have been pulled from shelves because they might contain too much lead.  DHS says parents should toss out any applesauce packets that they have that are covered by that recall.  The brands include WanaBana Apple Cinnamon Fruit Puree pouches, Schnucks cinnamon-flavored applesauce pouches, Schnucks applesauce variety pack, and Weis cinnamon applesauce pouches.  You can find out more about the recall at DHS' website. 

There are reports of a deal between Republican lawmakers and the University of Wisconsin to spend less on DEI in exchange for more money for UW pay raises.  Wisconsin's Republican Assembly Speaker put a hold on that pay raise money to pressure the university to cut diversity, equity, and inclusion spending.  He also held up money for a new UW-Madison engineering building.  Now, the university is reportedly willing to 'restructure' up to 60 DEI administrators, and shift their jobs to 'student success.'  There would also be, according to the reports, a three-year freeze on new DEI hires.  Lawmakers would then release 32-million dollars for the university, as well as the millions for the university's pay raises. 

Governor Walz isn't happy with the decision by the IRS to tax Minnesota's recently issued rebate checks.  Walz used an expletive to describe the decision during a press conference yesterday.  The decision could force Minnesotans who received the maximum rebate amount to pay up to 286-dollars in federal taxes.  Walz said he will press the IRS to reverse the decision, as will Minnesota Congresswoman Angie Craig.  She sent a letter to the IRS commissioner yesterday saying the decision to tax the rebate could create confusion and errors on federal tax returns filed next year.

A former deputy in Olmsted County is facing new charges after allegedly trying to destroy hard drives containing evidence of criminal actions.  The county sheriff's office announced the new charges against Mathew Adamson on Wednesday.  Adamson was arrested last month on charges related to sexual conduct involving a child.  He reportedly went to his home after his release and tried to destroy two hard drives but was stopped by his wife.  Investigators discovered images on the drives that were taken from cameras at the county's Adult Detention Center and from cameras hidden in several women's bathrooms.  The new charges include possession of child pornography, placing hidden cameras and officer misconduct.

A group of Wisconsin Republicans who posed as electors for Donald Trump in 2020 are acknowledging their efforts were part of a scheme to overturn the election.  The ten defendants settled a civil lawsuit brought by Democrats who served as electors for President Biden.  As part of the settlement, the Republicans agreed they would not serve as Electoral College delegates in future elections and acknowledged Biden legitimately won the state in 2020.  This comes as Trump is the leading presidential candidate in the Republican party. 

Governor Tony Evers has vetoed a bill that would have banned gender-transitioning medical treatment for minors. The governor had said he would veto the bill and any other anti-LGBTQ legislation before the bill being sent to his desk. Evers says in a press release that healthcare providers should be trusted to give medically appropriate care to their patients. Republican Wisconsin Representatives introduced the bill in late September, and it was presented to the Governor on November 30th. 

Wisconsin's governor says he hopes that free driver's education for some will lead to fewer reckless driving crashes.  Governor Evers yesterday signed a law that will spend six-million dollars on free driver's ed classes for certain low-income teens.  The idea is that by teaching young people how to drive properly and getting them a license, there will be fewer people on the road who don't know the rules of the road.  

Wisconsin now has a baby box law. Governor Tony Evers signed the law yesterday. It allows local governments to install baby boxes at fire stations or other public buildings that are manned 24/7, and allows parents to drop off babies within their first 72 hours. Wisconsin has allowed parents to surrender babies for years, but it had to be face-to-face. The new baby box law will allow new parents to do it anonymously. 

 A Rochester native is getting a new tractor as part of a 100th-anniversary contest sponsored by a farm equipment manufacturer.  Case I.H. asked customers to talk about how Farmall equipment has affected their lives and what they would do with a new Farmall 75-C tractor.  Minnesota's Steve Wilson talked about his family's use of the brand as well as his survival after battling cancer three times.  The company chose Wilson as the winner out of more than eight-thousand entries.  He also received 15-thousand dollars, which he plans to use to buy accessories for the new tractor.

 Eau Claire's Lego League team is headed for sectionals.  The team from the Pablo Center, named the Confluence Coders, qualified for sectionals by grabbing first place in their last competition.  The team is headed for a Saturday match-up with 28 other teams in Oak Creek.  Just eight of those teams will move on to the next round.

Local-Regional News Dec 7

Western Wisconsin will have warmer temperatures today and tomorrow.  The National Weather Service says strong southerly winds will bring in much warmer air.  Temperatures today and tomorrow are expected to be in the 50's, with little to no precipitation expected.  After the warm-up, seasonal weather is expected for the weekend and into next week.

Ezra McCandless is trying to appeal her murder conviction, again. McCandless' lawyers this week filed an appeal with Wisconsin's appellate court. Her lawyers want a new trial and want her interviews with the police to be kept out of that new trial. McCandless is serving a life sentence for stabbing her ex-boyfriend to death back in 2018.  She left his body in a car, halfway between Eau Claire and Menomonie.  McCandless's appeal comes after a Dunn County judge refused to give her a new trial a few weeks ago. 

A Fountain City Man is facing charges of sexually assaulting three children.   Kaleb Doerr, from Fountain City, was charged Monday in Buffalo County with three counts of first degree child sexual assault.  According to authorities, the girls said the assaults started when they were four, six and eight respectively. They all said the assaults continued for several years. They said the assaults sometimes happened under the guise of playing a game. Doerr would have been 15 when the assaults began, and 19 when they ended.  He will be back in court in January.

Wildlife officials have captured hundreds of invasive carp from the Mississippi River near Trempealeau, Wisconsin.   The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources announced last Friday that officials caught 296 silver carp, 23 grass carp, and four bighead carp on Nov. 30 in what the agency called the largest single capture of invasive carp in Minnesota to date.  Agency officials said the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources tracked six tagged invasive carp in that area of the river the week which led officials to larger schools moving upstream. Observations from commercial anglers also helped officials pinpoint the fish.  Grace Loppnow, the Minnesota DNR’s invasive carp coordinator, said the large number captured on Nov. 30 is concerning but it’s likely they moved upstream and didn’t hatch in Minnesota waters.

 Governor Evers has signed the deal to spend a half-billion dollars in taxpayer money on the Brewers ballpark. The governor yesterday went to American Family Field to sign the package. The agreement will spend just over 350 million-dollars from the state, and another 135 million from Milwaukee and Milwaukee County on renovations and upkeep at the stadium over the next 27 years. The Brewers are also kicking in 100 million-more. The governor says the package is a good deal for taxpayers because it keeps the Brewers, and the quarter-billion dollars in taxes the team generates, in Milwaukee til 2050. 

More salmonella cases tied to contaminated cantaloupes are being reported in Minnesota.  The state Department of Health says there are now 20 confirmed cases of the illness, including two deaths.  The agency is working with the state Department of Agriculture, the CDC, and the FDA to investigate the outbreak.  They want to find out if each case was caused by cantaloupes identified during the initial recall or if there were other reasons for each illness.  State health officials expect even more cases will be reported in the next few weeks.

A bill introduced in the State Capitol would decriminalize possession of smaller amounts of marijuana in Wisconsin.   Currently, the penalty for possessing up a half-ounce of pot in the state is a misdemeanor with a fine of up to $1,000 and six months in jail. The proposed bill which has bi-partisan support would change that to a fine between $100 and $250. The bill also removes the possibility of a repeat offender becoming a felon and lowers the penalty for paraphernalia possession to $10. Proponents see the measure as a smaller step the lower the punishment for marijuana possession as the state’s Republican-controlled legislature continues to oppose the legalization of pot.

A bill circulating at the state Capitol would cover school supply expenses covered by teachers. The proposal would have the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction reimburse teachers for as much as $250 on out-of-pocket purchases of school supplies for their classrooms. Teachers who qualify must work full-time in either a public or private school and would need to send the state a receipt with the signature of the principal where the teachers works. The proposal was based on laws in seven other states that give teachers money for classroom supplies. The bill could receive a public hearing as early as January.

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The University of Wisconsin is installing a heated field at Camp Randall. Crews began to tear-up the turf Monday. The plan is to install a heating system so the turf isn't so icy or slick. It will cost about five million-dollars to install the heat system. The university says the new heated field will look the same, and should feel the same for most of the season. 

 A Dane County judge has said Wisconsin's 1849 abortion ban doesn't really ban abortions. Judge Diane Schlipper yesterday ruled that the law, which bans almost all abortions in the state, only applies to people who intentionally kill a baby, what she called feticide. Schlipper says the law does not apply to consensual abortions where a woman agrees to end her pregnancy. While the specifics of the ruling are new, no one is surprised that Schlipper struck down Wisconsin's abortion ban. Planned Parenthood yesterday said the ruling is 'another important step forward in restoring and expanding access to abortion in Wisconsin.' Pro-life groups in the state say it's a step backward. 

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources wants to remind those who fish that they need to keep their trash off the ice.  A law that took effect on July 1st requires all trash to be put in secured containers attached to an ice house or vehicle.  That includes drink cups, cigarette butts, and fish remains.  The goal of the policy is to keep lakes and shorelines clean after the ice melts.  DNR officers can issue citations with fines of up to 100-dollars to those who refuse to obey the law.

Video footage from a Lowry Hill neighborhood home records a cougar walking in the area.  The cat was seen jumping over a fence and walking across a driveway before heading into another yard around 3:30 a.m. yesterday.  The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources says cougar sightings in Minneapolis are rare.  Since 2004, there has only been one other sighting captured in Hennepin County.  

The latest higher education package at the State Capitol includes millions of dollars more for UW schools.  Democratic lawmakers introduced ten pieces of legislation yesterday that they say will invest in higher ed.  The plans cover everything from expanding the UW's free tuition Promise Program, to a new needs-based financial aid system.  There's also a pitch for 49-million dollars more in state aid for technical colleges, and 60-million dollars more for the Universities of Wisconsin.

-  It's that time of year again--MnDOT's "Name a Snowplow" contest is here.  The Department of Transportation is asking residents to submit creative ideas by December 15th.  Past winners include "Betty Whiteout," "Sleetwood Mac," and "Blader Tot Hotdish."  You can only submit one name, and no vulgar or political names will be considered.  Name suggestions can be submitted on MnDOT's website.  

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 Wisconsin's DOT boss is warning that the state could lose-out on millions of dollars for electric vehicle chargers because of a quirk in state law. DOT Secretary Craig Thompson yesterday said 78 million-dollars from the federal government is at risk. The money has been earmarked to build a network of fast EV chargers across the state, but the money is in jeopardy because Wisconsin law doesn't allow anyone other than a utility to sell electricity by the hour. Thompson says Wisconsin has hundreds of EV chargers, but there are just four Level 3 chargers that can recharge an electric car in as little as 30 minutes. Lawmakers are looking to update the state's law, but it's likely won't happen until at least next year. 

  A pastor from Green Bay is going to prison for exploiting boys in Venezuela and Cuba. A federal judge sentenced 40-year-old Cory Herthel to 15-years behind bars this week. Herthel pleaded guilty back in August. He was caught after federal investigators got a tip about Herthel sending explicit videos to a 15-year-old in Venezuela. Prosecutors say he was also involved in a sexual relationship with a boy in Cuba, and was sending that boy's family money. Herthel was the pastor at the Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Green Bay. 

 Researchers at the University of Minnesota-Duluth say Lake Superior is warming due to climate change.  Data from the Large Lakes Observatory shows the lake has warmed about one-degree a year since the 1980s, making it one of the fastest-warming lakes in the world.  Researchers say that the warming trend leads to a variety of problems, including large algae blooms spotted on the lake during the summer.  One expert said in a recent study that if greenhouse gas emissions continue at their current rate, Lake Superior will stop freezing during the winter sometime after 2060.

Local-Regional News Dec 6

 The head of the Durand Food Pantry has retired.  Marcia Bauer has retired from the Director of the Durand Food Pantry.  She has served as director since 2018.  Jesse Pasek will become the new director of the pantry and has said that there will be no changes or interruptions of services with the pantry.  

A school bus went off the road and onto its side in the town of Anson Tuesday afternoon.  It happened on 205th Street, which is now closed off north of County Highway S.   According to Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District Superintendent Jeff Holmes, the bus was carrying Jim Falls Elementary School students. He said it happened during the routine afternoon route.  Holmes said there were four students and the driver on board at the time of the accident. Two of the students and the driver were taken to local hospitals for evaluation and treatment. The other two students received aid at the site before being released. 

 

The man accused of killing his neighbor back in 2016 is headed for another competency exam. A judge yesterday ordered Shane Helmbrecht to be examined by doctors to see if he is fit enough to stand trial. Doctors originally said Helmbrecht was not, and he was sent to a mental hospital instead of prison. But he walked away from a halfway house in Tomah back in September and went on the run. He was arrested last month in Mexico. Prosecutors have not yet said if they plan to refile charges in the homicide case.

A Barron County man is back in jail after two arrests in four days for domestic incidents. Deputies first arrested 60-year-old Donald Springer last Wednesday after he holed up in a home in Chetek, and refused to come out. The sheriff says Springer then punched and choked one of the deputies' K9 dogs. He posted a signature bond on Friday. Deputies then re-arrested Springer on Saturday after he barricaded himself in the same house. The sheriff's office used a battering ram to bust into the house and take Springer to jail. 

 A train that raises awareness about food insecurity and collects donations for regional food banks is rolling into southern Minnesota this week.  The Canadian Pacific Holiday Train will be stopping in Wabasha, and Hastings on Saturday.  The train features brightly decorated holiday-themed cars as well as performances by special musical guests at each stop.

The holiday season started this weekend at Lake Wissota Travel Shop on 17255 Cty Hwy X in Chippewa Falls. The Wisconsin retailer sold a winning $100,000 Powerball ticket for the Saturday, December 2 drawing. The winning ticket matched four of five numbers (28-35-41-47-60) plus the Powerball (3). The ticket included the $1 Power Play option turning a $50,000 win into a $100,000 win because of the 2X Power Play multiplier.  The winner has 180 days to come forward.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources told Eau Claire County that the Altoona dam must be repaired before October 2024.  The dam, separating the Eau Claire River and Lake Altoona, needs 105-thousand dollars-worth of concrete repairs.  Money for repairs was not set aside in the budget, since the county was notified after the budget was decided.  A proposed funding plan includes a grant which would split the costs between the city and the state.  

  A new bill introduced in the Wisconsin legislature would amend the state's Discrimination in Housing law.  Wisconsin Senator Democrat Jeff Smith of Eau Claire is sponsoring the bill, which would bar landlords, property owners, or agents from asking potential tenants about evictions from more than five years prior -- or deny housing because of such evictions.  Smith says the goal of the bill is to help fight a Wisconsin housing crisis, and he hopes Republican colleagues will allow it to move to public hearing.

Wisconsin's governor will deliver his update on the state a little early next year. The governor yesterday said he will deliver his State of the State speech on January 23rd. The speech is the governor's opportunity to set his agenda for the coming year at the State Capitol. There won't be a budget to write next year, so the governor is once again expected to ask for a Medicaid expansion, legal marijuana, and more money for schools. And, once again, Republican lawmakers are expected to ignore his requests. 

The city of Wausau has filed a lawsuit against dozens of PFAS manufacturers and the insurance companies representing them.   The city announced the action on Friday through a press release, saying they want to hold the companies that produced the Forever chemicals accountable for over 15 million dollars in expenses associated with removing them from the city's drinking water. Wausau discovered PFAS in all six municipal wells almost two years ago, leading the city's water utility to retrofit its new drinking water plant with a filter system. PFAS has been linked to various health issues such as cancer and high cholesterol. Wausau has retained a New York-based law firm to represent them in the process, Friday's release did not name the defendants- and further court action in the case is pending.

There is some disagreement, but no new movement at the State Capitol on pay raises for UW employees. The top Republican in the Wisconsin Senate yesterday said he disagrees with the top Republican in the State Assembly over withholding those pay raises in the on-going spat over DEI. Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu says the decision not to move forward with the raises hurts a lot of people who have nothing to do with diversity, equity, and inclusion programs at UW campuses. Wisconsin's Assembly Speaker continues to hold on to the pay raise money, saying he won't budge until the university moves away from DEI.

 There is another push at the Wisconsin Capitol to end the state's Elections Commission. The latest plan comes from Senate elections committee chairman Dan Knodl and 10 Assembly Republicans. They want to get rid of the Elections Commission and shift the power over election administration in Wisconsin to the Secretary of State. Republicans talked about a similar plan before last year's elections but dropped the proposal after Democrats won the Secretary of State's seat. Other Republicans say they need to see the final details before committing to the idea. Governor Evers' office yesterday made it clear he will veto any attempt to get rid of the Elections Commission. 

While colder temperatures are here, it's not yet time to get on the ice. Department of Natural Resources warden Jacob Holsclaw says we haven't had enough consistently cold days to make the ice safe.  Holsclaw says your best bet is to just stay off the ice if you're on an ATV, snowmobile or vehicle, and be very cautious if you're going out on foot. Be sure to bring a life preserver and other safety equipment if you're going to risk going in the water.

The results of an unofficial online vote to gauge support for new designs for the Minnesota state flag have been announced.  FairVote Minnesota says more than 12-thousand votes were made during the voting period late last month.  Design F-29, which features the Star of the North combined with a snowflake, was the favorite in the ranked-choice voting.

The Goodhue County Sheriff’s Office has added a new K9 to the team.  However, the Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help in naming the new pup.   The department put out the request for names on its Facebook page.  He is a Shepard and Malinois mix and will begin 15 weeks of training before going on duty in Goodhue County.

The Blue Angels will be flying high over the Chippewa Valley once again.  The U.S. Navy Blue Angels published their 2024 and 2025 schedule Tuesday, and on it they say they'll be in the Chippewa Valley on June 28 and 29 of 2025.  In 2022 when the Blue Angles visited, nearly 60,000 watched the show.  Visit the Blue Angels website for more information

Local-Regional News Dec 5

 A Democratic candidate in the Wisconsin Third Congressional District race says he is conceding. In a press release, Aaron Nytes says he won't be able to give his all to the role were he to be elected, and Wisconsinites deserve someone who can. Nytes says he believes the third district needs a different leader than Derrick Van Orden, its current representative. He has chosen to endorse Democrat Rebecca Cooke.

A dairy farm near Alma has been named the Wisconsin Leopold Conservation Award Winner.    Noll’s Dairy Farm of Alma is the 2023 Wisconsin Leopold Conservation Award® recipient.  Noll’s Dairy Farm was revealed as the award recipient at the November 16 meeting of the Board of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection in Madison. Mark, Curtis, and Scott Noll and their families receive $10,000 and a crystal award for being selected. A video celebrating the Buffalo County farm family’s conservation success was premiered during the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation’s Annual Meeting on Sunday.

The two people who died in a crash north of Fall Creek have been identified.  According to the Eau Claire County Sheriff's department, 33yr old Michael Rusch of Augusta was traveling at a high rate of speed on Hwy D between S140th and S150th avenues when hel lost control of the vehicle and it overturned.  Rusch died in the accident along with passenger 4yr old Evangline Rusch.  According to witnesses they had seen Rusch pass them minutes earlier on Hwy 12 going around 100mph.

A Wheeler man was arrested for allegedly driving under the influence for the 10th time.   According to the Barron County Sheriff's Department, deputies received a call about a suspicious vehicle parked at the end of a driveway just south of Dallas.  When deputies arrived, they found Levi Lauristen passed out behind the wheel.  Lauristen was given a field sobriety test and then arrested and was being held on OWI 10 offense, operating while revoked, and a probation hold.

Minnesota is responding to the EPA's concerns about nitrates in groundwater in southeastern Minnesota.  The Minnesota Departments of Health and Agriculture and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency sent a letter to the EPA on Friday outlining steps that will be taken to help those affected by groundwater contamination.  The state will conduct an outreach program to notify those with private wells, provide alternate sources of safe drinking water, and work to reduce nitrates in the aquifers that provide water to those wells.  The state has some funding that will go to the plan but is asking the federal government for money to help implement the proposal.

Two 17-year-old females, from Eyota, were taken to the hospital after a rollover crash Friday evening just before 7:30 p.m.  According to the Olmsted County Sheriff’s Department, the vehicle was driving at times of 100 miles per hour on 40th St. SE when the driver lost control and rolled a couple of times while hitting a mailbox, fencing, and eventually a powerline pole.  Both were able to walk to a home to call 911.  Both the driver and passenger were taken to Mayo Clinic St. Marys with non-life-threatening injuries.  The driver was cited for failure to use due care for the crash.

Wisconsin's outdoor recreation industry added a record-breaking nine-point-eight billion dollars to the state's gross domestic product in 2022. New data from the Wisconsin Office of Outdoor Recreation says this is a nearly seven-percent increase from 2021, which was also a record-breaking year. The Outdoor Recreation Satellite Account data shows the industry also supported more than 94-thousand jobs and gave out four-point-seven billion in employee compensation. Wisconsin's ATV and Motorcycle sector also contributed one billion, which is the most of any state in the US.

Wisconsin's latest bird flu case is once again in western Wisconsin. The state's Department of Agriculture on Friday confirmed a case of the flu in a commercial flock in Barron County. Over 114 thousand birds were destroyed in an effort to contain the flu. This is the fourth case of bird flu in western Wisconsin. The Department of Ag says there have been three confirmed cases in commercial bird flocks in Trempealeau County as well. 

The Minnesota and Wisconsin departments of Transportation are jointly requesting over a billion dollars from the federal government to replace the aging Blatnik Bridge between Duluth and Superior.  Governor Tony Evers says the bridge has reached the end of its service life and it's time to "replace this crucial connector with a safer, more efficient, and more reliable structure for the next generation."

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz says the Blatnik is "a critical connection point for transportation and commerce between Minnesota and Wisconsin - and it needs an upgrade." The states have each committed 400 million dollars to the project. Officials expect major construction to begin in 2026 and continue for four to five years, with traffic detoured to the Highway 2 Bong Bridge for a significant portion of that time.

A Montello man faces several charges after allegedly abusing his stepson with a cattle prod. The Marquette County Sheriff’s Office says they received information last month about a man with scars and scabs on his torso. The victim claimed his stepfather had allegedly used a cattle prod on him, allowed him one meal per day, and occasionally forced him to sleep outside. The victim also told authorities that his stepfather, identified as Philip Rose, began to curb-stomp him after trying to go into his home to get gloves. The victim reportedly suffered broken ribs and other chest trauma from the incidents. Rose, who faces multiple domestic abuse charges and a count of possessing an electric weapon, is being held on a $100,000 cash bond.

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A Baraboo man will spend time in prison for trying to blow up a Lyndon Station bar last year. Heath Fjorden was sentenced to 13 years in Juneau County Court Friday. Authorities say in September of 2022, Fjorden allegedly set off an explosion in the basement of Beagle’s Bar and Grill. Fjorden was working at the bar and in the process of buying it at the time of the explosion. A criminal complaint says after the explosion, Fjorden was later found with considerable burns to his body but denied being involved in the explosion, telling authorities his injuries came from a grill fire at his home. The complaint adds that employees at the bar were concerned that Fjorden may do something to the bar, with fire authorities receiving a complaint about the possibility of Fjorden “burning the building down."

The top Democrat in the Wisconsin Senate will, once again, be from the Madison area. Democrats on Friday elected Senator Dianne Hesselbein from Middleton as their new Minority Leader. She replaces Madison's Melissa Agard who is now running for Dane County executive. Hesselbein says her goal as leader is to make sure that every Democrat in the State Capitol, and Democratic voters across the state, have a voice. 

There is a plan at the Wisconsin Capitol to give big lottery winners some anonymity. The proposal from state Rep. William Penterman would allow anyone who winds over a million dollars to claim their prize without having to go public. Penterman says the idea is to protect lottery winners from the people who press them for money. If lawmakers okay the plan, and the governor signs it, Wisconsin would join 18 other states that allow lottery winners to claim prizes anonymously. Currently, anyone who wins more than 599 dollars has to file a lottery claim, and anyone who wins more than 50 thousand dollars has their name announced on the lottery's website. 

There won't be a shortage of people defending Wisconsin's Act 10. The Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty on Friday promised to defend the law both in the court of law and the court of public opinion. Several public sector unions want to roll back the law from 2011 that limited what public sector workers, particularly teachers, could negotiate for in their contracts. WILL says the end of Act 10 would be devastating to local schools and local governments. WILL's Rick Esenberg says Act 10 has saved over 16 billion dollars over the past decade. 

 Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has been chosen to chair the Democratic Governors Association.  Walz was picked for the position Saturday during the association's meeting in Phoenix.  Taking the job means Walz will be the face of the organization during next year's national election cycle.  He'll be expected to make appearances across the country to raise money as well as campaign for Democratic governor candidates in 11 states.

 Eau Claire's new holiday tradition of putting Santa Claus on a bike may be catching on. The city's Santa Cycle Rampage rolled through downtown for the second year in a row on Saturday. Dozens of Santas rode their bikes through the downtown, but there were also elves, reindeer, and even a makeshift sleigh. Organizers say they had perfect weather, and are looking forward to next year. 

Local-Regional News December 4

 One person is dead following a collision with a Wisconsin State Patrol vehicle in Chippewa County.   According to the Wisconsin Department of Justice, a Dunn County Sheriff’s Deputy began pursuing a vehicle just before 1:30 Friday morning. The chase entered Chippewa County, where the pursued driver reached a dead end, turned around, and crashed into a state patrol cruiser that was assisting in the chase. The DOJ said the driver was killed in the crash and a passenger was taken to a hospital with significant injuries. The state trooper was also hospitalized and later released. The state Division of Criminal Investigation is leading the investigation into the incident.  The names of the people involved have not been released.

The Durand Improvement Group is meeting tonight.  The group will continue its discussion of the future of the Durand Fest.  With the construction expected next year on Madison Street, the loss of a lot next to Memorial Park for the Carnival, and the lack of volunteers, the future of the event is in question.  Fun Fest is expected to again be held downtown, but DIG is in critical need of volunteers to help with the organization and running of the event.  Tonight's meeting begins at 5:45 at the community center at Durand City Hall.

Add Menomonie Schools to the list of school districts in Wisconsin that are asking voters for more money. The city's school board this week okayed a referendum question for next spring. Menomonie Schools say they need another four million dollars to make payroll and keep up with day-to-day expenses.  The tax hike vote comes after Menomonie Schools got more money in the new state budget. 

The man who police say killed his neighbor back in 2016 is expected to be in Eau Claire County court later today. Shane Helmbrecht was brought back to Eau Claire on Friday. He's been on the run since September when police say he walked away from a halfway house. He was arrested last month in Mexico. Doctors originally declared Helmbrecht unfit for trial, but that could change after his escape. Prosecutors in Eau Claire, however, have not made any formal announcements. 

We're waiting for more answers about a fire on Balsam Road Thursday night. Fire crews from Eau Claire and several other fire departments battled the fire for more than an hour.  Investigators say the fire started about 9 p.m. Thursday night. No one is saying how it started. It appears that the house is a total loss. 

There's another CWD case in western Wisconsin. The DNR yesterday confirmed a case in a wild deer that was shot in Jackson County.  The two-year-old buck was harvested in the town of Garfield, which is within ten miles of Trempealeau and Eau Claire Counties. The DNR says the confirmed case means Jackson County will have to restart its ban on feeding and baiting for three years.  Both Eau Claire and Trempealeau counties already have bans in place. 

Wisconsin airports will be getting more than 38-million dollars for safety and infrastructure upgrades. State US Senator Tammy Baldwin says the funding came from the Federal Aviation Administration Airport Improvement Grants. Projects include runway, terminal, and roadway improvement projects, along with sustainability projects. The Chippewa Valley Regional Airport in Eau Claire got one-million dollars.

Minnesota wildlife officials are expanding the scope of a special deer hunt to manage chronic wasting disease.  This comes as nearly two dozen deer have tested positive for chronic wasting disease this fall.  As a result, the CWD management hunt held December 15th through the 17th has been expanded to include deer permit area 342 near Wabasha.  More information is available on the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources' website. 

Wisconsin gas prices are essentially unchanged, and the story's the same in Madison.  Triple-A reports the statewide average price for regular remained at two-93 a gallon Saturday, while the average price in the Madison metro area was pretty much flat at two-94 a gallon.  The average price in the Janesville-Beloit area was down a penny at two-88 a gallon.

The Rice Lake Fire Department was on the scene of a barn fire Wednesday morning. According to the Rice Lake Fire Department, firefighters were called to the fire on 23rd Street in the Township of Oak Grove shortly before 4 a.m.  Officials said when crews arrived, they found a 40x100 two-story barn fully involved in fire with a complete roof collapse. They were on the scene for more than four hours.   The damage estimate is $225,000. One horse, one cow, and approximately 150 goats and some chickens died in the fire. Some other animals were able to escape. No people were hurt. 

The median pay for teachers in Wisconsin has fallen more than twelve percent in the last decade, according to a new report. The Wisconsin Policy Forum report shows the median, inflation-adjusted pay in 2009 was 67-thousand-500. In 2023, it's 59-thousand-250 - an eight-thousand dollar difference in salary. The forum says the 2011 Wisconsin Act 10 is a factor, limiting school spending from the time it was enacted, resulting in smaller budgets and less money for raises. The report predicts the trend will continue into 2025.

Democrats at the Wisconsin Capitol want to roll back the spending restrictions included in the state's new shared revenue agreement. Lawmakers agreed in the state budget to share more state sales tax money with local governments. In exchange, Republicans put limits on how local governments can spend that money. Yesterday, a group of Democrats said those restrictions are hurting cities, towns, villages, and counties. The Democrats want to keep the money, end the spending restrictions, and allow local governments to do more like ban gas-powered cars, invest more in apartment complexes, and give local public health managers more power to close businesses like they did during the coronavirus outbreak. 

Unions in Wisconsin are asking the new liberal-majority Supreme Court to strike down Act 10.  A group of public sector unions, including the state's teachers' union, yesterday asked the court to overturn the 2011 state law that limited how teachers unions could bargain.  That law limited teachers' unions to only getting raises, capped at the rate of inflation, in their contracts.  The union lawsuit says Act 10 created two separate categories of public employees and violated the state's equal protection clause.  Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos yesterday said ending Act 10 would bankrupt local schools across the state. 

Wisconsin's former attorney general is running for the Supreme Court in 2025.  Brad Schimmel Thursday said he is running to put a check on the new liberal-majority court.  Schimmel will be running against liberal Justice Anne Walsh-Bradley in the spring election in 2026.  That race is expected to be just as contentious, and as expensive, as last spring's election that flipped the Wisconsin Supreme Court.  Schimmel served as Wisconsin Attorney General for one term, he lost his re-election bid in 2018. 

An online guide is spotlighting holiday light displays across Minnesota and western Wisconsin.  The Give Me The Mike Holiday Lights Guide has been providing information about displays created by homeowners, nonprofits and other organizations since 2017.  Information for each show's free listing includes the number of lights on display and at least one photo. The producer of the guide says 80-percent of the light shows have more than ten-thousand lights on display.

 Residents in the city of Mondovi were without power for a period of time yesterday after a semi struck a power pole.  The semi was traveling eastbound on Hwy 10 when they hit the power pole near the intersection of Main Street and Memorial Drive.  Hwy 10 eastbound had to be closed while crews from Xcel Energy repaired the pole and the power lines.  No injuries were reported.

One person was injured in a semi vs vehicle accident in Buffalo Township on Thursday.  According to the Buffalo County Sheriff's Department, 65yr old Joseph Gassen of Trempleaeau was traveling northbound on Hwy 35, and was slowing to make a left turn into the 5A Dam entrance when he was struck from behind by a semi driven by 49yr old Shannon Modene of Wells, MN.  Gassen was taken to Winona Hospital.

One person was injured in a two vehicle accident in Trenton Township on Wednesday.  According to the Pierce County Sheriff's Department, 60yr old John Sullivan of Bay City was traveling southbound on Hwy 63 when he went left of center and struck a northbound vehicle driven by 49yr old Michele Schulte of Ellsworth.  Schulte was trapped in her vehicle and had to be extricated from it and was transported to Red Wing Hospital.  Sullivan was not injured.

One person was injured in a single vehicle accident Monday in River Falls Township.  According to the Pierce County Sheriff's Department, 47yr old Patricia Bovee of Arkansaw was traveling southbound on Hwy 65 when she struck a deer.  There were two passengers in the vehicle and both were not injured.  Bovee was taken to Hudson Hospital.

There are layoffs coming at Xcel Energy in Wisconsin. The company this week filed a notice with the state that it is eliminating 28 customer service jobs, all of them in Eau Claire. Xcel is not saying where the jobs are going, but the company said it is 'making changes to operate more effectively and efficiently.' Most of the layoffs will start February 1st, but some folks will stay on the job til March. .

Eau Claire wants to know where the next Fourth of July fireworks shows should be. The city released a survey yesterday that asks people where the next fireworks show should be. The survey also asks questions about noise, the smoke, and the mess leftover after the show. Some folks in Eau Claire weren't happy with this year's show being fired from the High Bridge as opposed to Carson Park. Eau Claire Police say Carson Park was just too much of a hassle to continue hosting the fireworks show. 

 Wisconsin's governor says he's not going to stop using his email alias. The governor told reporters in Eau Claire on Tuesday that there is nothing wrong with his warren.spahn email alias, and that he intends to continue to use it.  A number of reports revealed the governor's secret email earlier this week, and found that he sent 17-thousand emails from his other account over the past two years.  Evers says having a secret email account allows him to better use his work time.  There is nothing illegal about having a second email, but Republicans and reform groups in Wisconsin say it makes it look like the governor is trying to hide something. 

 A bus full of Minnesota state lawmakers, all members of the Senate’s Capital Investment Committee (CPC), toured southeast Minnesota Wednesday to learn more about development projects in communities from Albert Lea to Winona.  In Rochester, lawmakers learned about what new features could come to Rochester International Airport, such as solar energy and an updated parking facility. The legislators also took a walk by the Zumbro River in downtown Rochester, where the city presented its plans to bring big time changes to the riverfront.

It could soon be a felony to steal a catalytic converter in Wisconsin.  An Assembly panel will hold a hearing today on a plan to add catalytic converters to the list of 'major car parts' that trigger felony charges.  Currently that list includes engines, transmissions, doors, the car's hood, grille, bumper, front fenders, and a number of others. Lawmakers say the felony charges are needed because of the spike in catalytic converter thefts. 

There could soon be crane license plates in Wisconsin. The state's Department of Transportation says it received a request from the International Crane Foundation to start issuing crane plates in the state. The DMV will listen to public comments on the idea through the end of December. Wisconsin currently has 53 specialty license plates that cover everything from the Brewers and Packers to veterans organizations and the Ice Age Trail. 

One Wisconsin congressman is warning about possible Chinese spying at the nation's ports. Congressman Mike Gallagher, who leads the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, yesterday said his committee is looking into whether the Chinese are using giant port cranes to spy. Gallagher said the Department of Homeland Security is looking into possible vulnerabilities at the nation's seaports, including whether the CCP is monitoring our activity. Gallagher says the Chinese Communist Party is an existential threat to U.S. security, and will use every lever of power to gain an advantage over the United States. 

The bishop in Green Bay is the latest to criticize the Satanic Christmas tree at the city's Festival of Trees.  Bishop David Ricken said the tree, which features red lights and satanic ornaments, is an insult to Christians during the Christmas season.  He said in a note this week that the tree 'is not something families and children should be exposed to at any time, but most especially at Christmas.'  Green Bay's Festival of Trees allowed the satanic tree at this year's festival, saying it doesn't promote hate, drugs, or violence. 

There are not a lot of details about who said what to interrupt a UW-Madison student group's meeting on Tuesday. Campus police will only say that a group of people who are not affiliated with the university interrupted a student group's meeting in the Humanities Building with 'racist and threatening comments,' including 'anti-Arab and anti-Asian sentiments.' No one is saying which group was meeting, what they were talking about, or who the people who interrupted them were. There's also no word about just what was said. Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Lori Reesor yesterday said hate and racism have no place at the university. 

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is offering free tree seedlings to every fourth-grade student in Wisconsin.   It's part of the DNR’s annual Arbor Day tree planting program. Fourth grade principals, teachers and those who homeschool can now place seedling orders and coordinate delivery by completing the 2024 Arbor Day application by March 15, 2024. Planting seedlings from state nurseries is a great way to celebrate Arbor Day - April 26 - which is dedicated to increasing the number of trees across the country to help improve the environment. Annually, the DNR provides approximately 50,000 free tree seedlings to fourth-grade students throughout the state.

A 17-year-old boy is dead after a rollover crash in Dakota County.  The county sheriff's office says the boy was driving north on Highway 56 in Randolph when his vehicle left the road yesterday morning.  The teen was ejected from the vehicle as it rolled and he died at the scene.  The crash is under investigation.

There's a whole new set of fans looking forward to this weekend's Packers game. Green Bay will host Kansas City on Sunday night, and that means Taylor Swift may be at the game. No one has said anything, but Swift's boyfriend Travis Kelce plays for the Chiefs. One Milwaukee bar, The Brewery, is planning a special Taylor Swift themes watch party. Tickets for Sunday night's game have also jumped in price because of the increased interest.