Local-Regional News July 11

 The City of Durand has a new administrator.  Tracy Carlson was introduced during last night's council meeting.  Carlson has been the clerk-treasurer for the last 13yrs for the village of Baldwin and began her duties with the City of Durand on Tuesday.  She takes over for outgoing administrator Scott Rasmuessen, who is retiring on Friday after a 35yr career in city government.  

One person was injured in a two vehicle accident in Gilman Township on Monday.  According to the Pierce County Sheriff's Department, 67yr old Daniel Hager of Ellsworth was traveling eastbound on Hwy 29 when he was struck by an eastbound vehicle driven by 37yr old Jessica Knutson of Spring Valley.   Knutson had four juvenile passengers in her vehicle an a 7yr old was taken to Western Wisconsin Health in Baldwin.

The City of Mondovi is exploring having an ordinance against trespassing.  During this week's city council meeting, members discussed the possibility of an ordinance and questioned why the police department cant fine those who have broken state laws regarding trespassing.  It was determined that the city would explore the possibility of an ordinance as a way for the department to issue tickets for trespassing in city limits.

The man wanted in a Memorial Day weekend theft of an UTV from the Ridgeland Tractor Pull has been arrested.  The Dunn County Sheriff's Department had issued a felony arrest warrant for Alex Sheare in connection with the theft.  On Monday, with the assistance of the Barron County Sheriff's Department, Shearer was arrested and the UTV recovered after authorities had received a tip on Shearer's whereabouts through the Dunn County Crimestoppers program.

The Eau Claire County woman who shot a gun at her boyfriend because he didn't get his taxes done is not going to jail. Prosecutors yesterday said Lily Hawkinson pleaded no contest to negligent handling of a weapon and disorderly conduct charges. More serious charges were dismissed. Police in Fall Creek say Hawkinson was drunk when she fired two shots near her boyfriend back in April. He wasn't wounded but ran out of the house. Hawkinson can see the charges dismissed entirely if she stays out of trouble for the next two years. 

The heat is being blamed for a road buckle I-94 in Eau Claire County. Wis-DOT yesterday closed the right lane near the Foster exit just before 7 p.m. last night. Crews say the heat baked the road and caused a buckle. No one is saying just how long the lane will be closed, or when crews will be able to get to that stretch of the interstate. 

Marshfield Clinic is once again looking at a merger. Marshfield yesterday announced plans to join South Dakota-based Sanford Health. The two hospitals say their merger talks are only just beginning, but they are both hopeful. Both Marshfield and Sanford have tried to merge with other companies. Marshfield was in talks to merge with Minnesota-based Essentia Health last year, but that fell through. Sanford has tried to merge with several other healthcare providers over the past five years but has been just as unsuccessful. 

Investigators say the suspect in last week's double murder in Abbotsford stabbed his two daughters nearly 20 times each. Prosecutors this week filed formal charges against Victor Manuel Gomez Acosta. He's accused of stabbing his two daughters to death, then stabbing his wife, and stabbing himself in the early morning hours of July 5th. No one is saying what led-up to the stabbing spree. Gomez Acosta originally told the sheriff's office that some 'crazy guys' stabbed everyone. If convicted, Gomez Acosta will spend the rest of his life in prison. 

A 42-year-old man from Chicago is dead after a crash in Olmsted County.  The Minnesota State Patrol says the crash happened on I-90 West in High Forest Township around 5:15 p.m. yesterday.  A Honda SUV went off the road and hit a tree, killing the driver.  The cause of the crash is under investigation.

Southern Minnesotans only have a few more days until they will be required to use ten digits when they make phone calls.  Consolidated Communications says all customers in the 507 area code must begin dialing all ten digits on July 30th.  Calls using only seven digits will not be connected as of that date.  The change is necessary because numbers using the 924 area code will be assigned in that area beginning August 30th.

A judge rejects the latest attempt to recall Assembly Speaker Robin Vos. Dane County Circuit Judge Stephen Ehlke on Tuesday said organizers of the recall collected signatures within the 63rd Assembly District, which Vos no longer represents. The judge said the state Supreme Court barred the use of those legislative boundary lines in any election after the state Legislature approved new legislative maps that now put Vos in the 33rd Assembly District. This is the second time recall organizers have failed to obtain the needed signatures.

New Wisconsin AARP survey results show former President Donald Trump ahead of President Joe Biden for the 2024 election by six points. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. came in with nine percent. The survey asks voters who they're most likely to vote for in the Senate and Presidential races. Results show Democratic Senator Tammy Baldwin leading against Republican Eric Hovde by five points. 

Wisconsin's election managers will talk about ballot drop boxes tomorrow. The Wisconsin Elections Commission will meet to plan out the guidance it will provide to the state's election clerks about ballot drop boxes. The Wisconsin Supreme Court reinstated drop boxes in a ruling last week. Now, the Elections Commission needs to set the rules. Ballot drop boxes were last used in 2022, and Election Commission managers say things have changed since then. The Commission says it will not be able to reuse its rules from two years ago.

Almost all of Wisconsin's public water systems met all quality standards last year. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources says 99 percent of systems were up to code in the 2023 Annual Drinking Water Report. Funding from the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law gave Wisconsin water systems 155-million last year, and ten-million additional dollars in funding were given by the state, to go toward ensuring healthy drinking water. 

Advocates and the families of people in Wisconsin's prisons begged lawmakers yesterday for accountability and outside oversight. Lawmakers listened to hours of testimony yesterday as part of their effort to get answers about the problems inside Wisconsin's prisons. One group of advocates suggested a Minnesota-style ombudsman program that can both hold guards and wardens accountable and be a place for inmates and their families to go with complaints. Prison officials say the problems continue to lie with a years-long staffing shortage. Republican state Rep. Janel Brandtjen said the problem lies with Governor Tony Evers and his lack of oversight and management inside his own administration. 

A Minnesota State Patrol trooper has been charged with manslaughter and vehicular homicide. The charges come after Trooper Shane Roper allegedly sped without lights or sirens and crashed into a Ford Focus, killing an 18-year-old girl in Rochester. When the crash occurred in May, the trooper was driving 83 mph in a 40 mph zone. Witnesses reported his car was "flying," and no sirens or lights were seen. Roper claimed he believed his lights were on and was trying to clear the intersection. The prosecutor described his actions as "grossly negligent," causing the death of a young woman celebrating her impending high school graduation. 

The Minnesota State Fair has introduced 33 new official foods and six new food vendors to its extensive menu this year, bringing the total number of menu items to 1,600 available at nearly 300 concession locations. Some of the new offerings include 3 Piggy Pals On-A-Stick, Afro Poppers, Blazing Greek Bites, Buffalo Cheese Curd and Chicken Tacos, and many more unique and delicious options. From savory to sweet, there is something for every palate at the Great Minnesota Get-Together this year.

Local-Regional News July 10

 The Mondovi City Council failed to change the ATV-UTV ordinance last night.  During the council meeting, a heated debate over whether those using ATV-UTVs on city streets should have insurance and a valid driver's license.  Mondovi Mayor Brady Weiss believes insurance should be a requirement.  While the vote was 3 in favor, 1 against, and one abstention, the ordinance needed 4 yes votes to pass.

The Durand City Council is meeting tonight.  Items on the agenda include reports from the mayor, city administrator, and department heads.   The council will also get an update on the 6th Ave West and Tarrant Park Pool Projects.  Tonight's meeting begins at 6:30 at Durand City Hall.

Drinking, a lack of childcare options, and the area's closed hospitals are the top health priorities in the Chippewa Valley. Public health managers unveiled the results of their community survey yesterday Alcohol misuse,  accessible child care, and access to health care topped the list. Dunn County Health Department director KT Gallagher said the survey looked at each of the five counties in the Chippewa Valley, but those three were the top priorities in each county. She said the public health focus going forward needs to zero in on those three areas. No one, however, is saying just what the plans are to address each issue. 

 It's 25 years in prison for a local man in a Dunn County child sexual assault case. A judge yesterday sentenced Derek Johnson to two-and-a-half decades in prison for the 2021 assault of a nine-year-old girl. Prosecutors say the abuse started years earlier. A jury convicted Johnson of first-degree sexual assault of a child back in January. Once Johnson is released, he will have to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life. 

The search for a missing western Wisconsin woman has come to a happy end. The sheriff in Burnett County says they found 22-year-old Ashley Janisch yesterday in Forest Lake, Minnesota. She'd been missing since Sunday when she left her group home in Meenon Township. Ashley suffers from cognitive delays and is under a court order to stay at the group home. The sheriff's office says deputies got a tip that someone rented Ashley a hotel room in Forest Lake. Local deputies found her safe at the room. 

Authorities in Winona County say an assault suspect is in custody after a search lasting several hours.  Law enforcement began searching for 25-year-old Stig Ure yesterday evening after he allegedly assaulted an employee of a business with a sharp object.  A shelter-in-place order was issued but caused confusion after one emergency platform said there was an alert for an active shooter.  Stig was spotted hiding in some weeds near Highway 61 and was taken into custody around 9:30 last night.

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is asking for help locating a woman reported missing in Dakota County.  Fifty-six-year-old Nicole Irene Anderson left her home in Randolph Township on Saturday and has not been seen since.  Anderson is described as five-feet, six-inches tall, 135-pounds, with blonde hair and blue eyes.  She left home on foot without her wallet, phone and medication and authorities are worried for her safety.  Anyone with information is urged to contact the Dakota County Sheriff's Office.

Wisconsin lawmakers are ready to look at the future for the University of Wisconsin. The legislature's Study Committee on the Future of the University of Wisconsin System will meet for the first time tomorrow. The idea is to look at the trends that are impacting the university, as well as look at what the university's needs are moving forward. There's no specific goal to make cuts or close campuses, but that will surely be part of the committee's discussions. The study comes as the UW has closed several of its two-year campuses, and is losing students at some of its four-year campuses. There have also been layoffs and tuition increases over the past two years.

Crisis response readiness trainings will be held at schools across Wisconsin over the summer. The state Office of School Safety will hold the training about a standardized, action-based, and practical response to emergencies in schools. These emergencies include fires, natural disasters, and threats or acts of violence. Training will be one day only and have both lectures and hands-on scenario practice.    

Transportation officials are happy with the results from the first month of a new Amtrak route from St. Paul to Chicago.  Amtrak released ridership numbers for the Borealis route yesterday, saying over 18-thousand passengers boarded the train since its start in May.  That's about 300 passengers per train for the two-way trip.  The commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Transportation said she was pleased with the first month's results, adding the number of riders clearly shows the need for the service.

 A federal judge has said RNC protesters cannot march into the convention's hard security zone. The judge yesterday ruled that  the Coalition to March on the RNC has the right to march, but that right doesn't give them the right to march 'where they choose.' The Coalition wanted to march literally to the RNC next week. Milwaukee, instead, has a designated march route for the group, the Coalition members say that's not within sight or sound of the convention. The judge, however, did block Milwaukee from banning speakers or marchers because someone has a criminal past. 

Backers of a failed effort to recall Assembly Speaker Robin Vos are appealing the decision to prevent that recall. The bipartisan Wisconsin Elections Commission ruled last week that around 190 signatures that were turned in for the recall effort were gathered past the regular deadline for a petition. The Commission had given the group behind the recall an extra two days because of Memorial Day to file their petitions, but not to gather them. The group, headed up by supporters of Donald Trump, says the ruling is illogical and is asking a Dane County judge to make a ruling.

 Wisconsin attorney general Josh Kaul wants lawmakers to put restrictions in place on "ghost guns". Those firearms can be built by hand and are a work around for background checks. Kaul says the weapons have been used in domestic homicides and school shootings, and until federal regulations and rulings catch up with the weapons Wisconsin lawmakers should pass legislation against them. Kaul's comments came after the US Supreme Court ruled last week that a ban on 'bump stocks' which can be used to speed up the firing rate of guns was unconstitutional.

 The sheriff in Rock County is warning people about fake phone calls using real deputies' names. The sheriff's office yesterday said people are reporting calls from someone who is demanding money, or threatening to arrest them. The callers then use the real names of actual Rock County deputies to try and sound real. The real sheriff says they never call people, and they never ask for money over the phone. The sheriff's office says anyone who gets a call should simply hang-up. 

The University of Minnesota's Raptor Center needs your help naming a pair of rescued owlets.  A young, female great horned owl arrived at the center suffering from injuries that likely happened when she fell out of her nest, while the other unidentified owl also fell from his nest, resulting in internal trauma.  Both are now on the mend, and a contest to name them is underway.  Submissions will be accepted until July 12th, and the public will be able to vote from the 15th to the 

Local-Regional News July 9

 The Mondovi City Council is meeting tonight.  Items on the agenda include discussion and possible action on repealing and recreating the ATV/UTV ordinance, discussion of a possible trespassing ordinance and reports from the mayor and department heads.  Tonight's meeting begins at 5:30 at the Marten Center in Mondovi.

Dairy Farmers in Western Wisconsin have been dealing with constant rain that is affecting their ability to harvest the hay crop.  Jerry Clark of UW Extension says some farmers are switching to using silage bags instead of hay bales so they can harvest the alfalfa.  He says that poses challenges to other farmers who don't have the equipment or storage and rely on dry hay bales.  Farmers may get a better chance to harvest the alfalfa next week as the extended forecast is calling for dryer weather next week.

 

UW-Eau Claire's chancellor is not among those getting a pay raise next year. University regents yesterday approved pay raises for eight of the school's 13 chancellors. Eau Claire Chancellor Jim Schmidt was not among them. Schmidt will continue to make 302 thousand dollars next year. UW-Stout Chancellor Katherine Frank, however, is in line for a raise. She's getting a two percent bump, which will take her salary up to 304 thousand-dollars next year. 

There is a new challenge to Eau Claire Schools' gender policy. The Liberty Justice Center yesterday filed a brief with the U.S. Supreme Court, asking the justices to weigh-in on the school's policy of keeping gender changes at school secret. The request comes after a federal judge dismissed the first challenge to the policy. The Liberty Justice Center says school districts like Eau Claire "are treating parents' constitutional rights as negotiable rather than essential." Eau Claire Schools have defended their gender policy as being inclusive, and looking out for kids who may not get LGBTQ support at home. 

Chippewa Valley Airport managers are open to SkyWest's return. The airport is in the middle of choosing a new air carrier. Both SkyWest, which served the Chippewa Valley til 2022, and Sun Country, which currently serves the airport, are bidding for the job. SkyWest is promising daily flights to Chicago's O'Hare Airport, while Sun County is promising similar service to what they currently offer, which is three flights a week to the Minneapolis-St. Paul, and two flights a week to "seasonal destinations." While airport managers will have some say, the federal Department of Transportation will ultimately make the final decision. 

 More families in Wisconsin may qualify for free and reduced school lunches this year. The state's Department of Public Instruction yesterday released the new income guidelines for the coming school year. A family of four can make up to 40-thousand-560 dollars and qualify for free lunches. That's up about 15-hundred dollars from last year. Families can make up to 57-thousand-720 dollars and qualify for reduced-price lunches. That too is up, over two thousand-dollars, from last year. DPI is not saying why the income thresholds are higher this year. 

 Most of the protesters who turned-out for President Biden's visit to Madison are from his own party. A small group of protesters greeted the president on Friday. Some are progressives who want the president to stop supporting Israel, and to get out of Gaza. But some were Democratic voters who want the president to get out of the race. They say the president cannot beat Donald Trump in November. One protester held a sign that said it was time for Biden to 'pass the torch.'

A grade that was removed from report cards during the COVID-19 pandemic will be making a comeback in Rochester.  Rochester Public Schools announced last week that failing grades will be marked as "Fs" this fall.  The school system had been using the term "no credit" for any class where the student failed to complete necessary coursework or failed to master needed skills.  Secondary teachers and administrators were surveyed and about two-thirds said they wanted to go back to using "Fs" on report cards.

Wisconsin's state superintendent is already looking for more money. A Dane County judge on Wednesday struck down parts of Act 10, the decade-old law that changed how teachers and other public employees can negotiate their contracts. State Superintendent Jill Undelry said striking down those contract changes will have a 'profound impact' on Wisconsin's schools and teachers. Act 10 supporters say the law has saved school districts and local taxpayers 14 billion-dollars over the past decade-plus. Underly said she hopes to see that money put back into public schools going forward. 

Two former Wisconsin elected officials want to restore voter confidence in elections. Former Republican attorney general J.B. Van Hollen spoke to WISN’s ‘UpFront.’ Van Hollen said elections in Wisconsin are fair because local poll workers work extremely hard to make sure of that. Former Wisconsin lieutenant governor Mandela Barnes said our poll workers have been faced with threats that they should not have to be dealing with, and they’re volunteering and showing up because they believe in the cause of democracy. Barnes, a Democrat, has joined Van Hollen board members on "The Democracy Defense Project."

There wasn't a lot of air travel among Wisconsinites during the Fourth of July holiday this year. Triple-A says out of the one-point-six-million residents traveling for the holiday, about one-point-four went by car. One traveler told WKOW-TV  the airports were quiet, with only about 57-thousand choosing to fly. The Dane County Sheriff's Office says there weren't any major incidents that disrupted road travelers' plans. 

 Minnesota is giving 150-million dollars in down payment assistance to first-generation homebuyers.  Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan made the announcement today along with several state lawmakers.  The funds will be used to help 45-hundred residents statewide buy their first-ever homes.  Flanagan said, quote, "all Minnesotans deserve a path to owning their own home." 

Expect a lot of pointed questions about crimes, cover-ups, deaths, and the conditions inside Wisconsin's prisons this week. The Assembly Committee on Corrections has a hearing scheduled for tomorrow to press Department of Corrections leaders. The hearings come after nine people, including the former warden at the prison in Waupun were arrested for two inmates' deaths. Lawmakers are also expected to ask about the attack at Lincoln Hills that left a DOC teacher dead. 

Target will soon stop accepting personal checks as payment.  The retail giant says the policy takes effect starting July 15th and noted stores will still accept cash and digital wallet payments along with debit and credit cards.  Target said the decision was due to "extremely low volumes" of checks being written, adding that it remains committed to creating an easy and convenient checkout experience.

The owner of the Stardust Drive-In in Chetek is looking to sell. Nick Meyer has owned the Stardust for four years, and says he's looking to hand it off to someone else. Meyer says it is not easy owning a drive-in, but says he will only sell if the new owners promise to keep it as a drive-in. Whoever buys the Stardust will get a lot, the sale includes two movie screens, games, a playground, and a private house. The property in Chetek is just under 20 acres, and it is listed for just under 750 thousand-dollars. Meyer says he's looking for a buyer, and says he will keep the drive-in open until he finds one.

Local-Regional News July 8

 The Plum City School District has a new administrator.  Chris Kamarath began his duties at the beginning of the month.    Kamarath has worked in the River Falls School District for the past 11yrs as an elementary principal at Westside Elementary in River Falls.  He is also a volunteer firefighter with the River Falls Fire Department.   He told community members he is excited to be in Plum City and is looking forward to having a positive impact on the school district and community.

Minnesota 2nd District Congresswoman Angie Craig is calling on President Biden to drop out of the presidential race.    In a social media post, Craig said while she has worked with the president on the Infrastructure Law and the Chips and Science Act, she believes that the president cannot effectively campaign against former President Trump and win.  She said she believes there is still an opportunity to select a new nominee.

For two weeks in June, 118 area high school students stepped into campus labs at University of Wisconsin-Stout and learned what it’s like to be a student at Wisconsin’s Polytechnic University.  In hands-on learning experiences led by faculty, they discovered career paths in science, technology, engineering, and art and design during UW-Stout’s Summer STEAM Experience.  The weeklong camps highlight the value of creativity and critical thinking in genetics; graphic design and printmaking; fashion; film making; metalwork; video game design and other disciplines.

People took nearly 900 boxes of Narcan out of Eau Claire's Narcan vending machine in the past year. The City-County Health Department says that's saved lives. The county installed the vending machine last year, and it has been busy since. The health department says in addition to the 892 boxes of Narcan, people took 517 fentanyl test kits from the vending machine. The health department's  Sarah Dillivan-Pospisil says there have been fewer reported overdoses so far this year, but she also said many overdose cases go unreported. 

 UW-Eau Claire is once again on Money magazine's list of best colleges. The magazine last week gave the Eau Claire campus three-and-a-half out of five stars. That's actually a little lower than most UW campuses, which got four stars. UW-Madison led the way on the Money list with four-and-a-half stars. The list tracks everything from costs, to financial aid, to graduation rates, to post-graduate earnings. 

The Juneau County cabin that went up in flames and killed six people didn't have a rental permit. Authorities say the cabin, which was regularly listed on Airbnb, was never licensed or inspected for rental. Six people died in the fire at the camp in Necedah last week. No one is saying just what caused the fire, and no one is saying whether a rental permit would have avoided the fire. The local health department says people have to have an inspection as part of their licensing, and those inspections include a look at fire safety. 

Authorities in Two Rivers say they don't want people to stop searching for Elijah Vue. Police in the city say the searches from volunteers are one of the key pieces to their investigation into the little boy's disappearance. Elijah went missing back in February after spending a few days with his mother's boyfriend. Two Rivers police say they don't want people to forget about the case. But there haven't been any solid leads in a while, and investigators say the case is at a standstill. 

Wisconsin's governor was the only Democratic governor who didn't meet with President Biden in Washington, D.C. Governor Tony Evers spent his Wednesday evening at a concert in Madison instead of traveling to the White House to meet with the president. The meeting was a chance for Democratic governors to see President Biden, and for the president to reassure them about his fitness. A spokeswoman for the governor says Governor Evers didn't go because he is focused on moving Wisconsin forward. 

The Wisconsin Supreme Court is ruling to reinstate the use of ballot drop boxes in the battleground state.  This overturns a decision the court made less than two years ago that banned the use of most of the boxes.  The court ruled 4 to 3 to reinstate.  It said the decision doesn't force or require any municipal clerks to use the boxes.  The court added the ruling acknowledges that clerks can lawfully use the drop boxes at their discretion.

Residents of Manawa have been allowed to return to their homes after a levee was breached on Friday.  Mayor Mike Frazier says the Manawa [[ MAN-ah-wah ]] dam did not fail, but that a levee beside the dam was breached by floodwaters, sending the Little Wolf River rushing down the streets of Manawa.  Police had evacuated residents living downstream after they noticed the erosion taking place.  The National Weather Service in Green Bay says over five inches of rain fell in about four hours in the Manawa area on Friday. 

 The state Supreme Court says GOP lawmakers overstepped their authority when they blocked Governor Evers from making decisions about land conservation.  The high court ruled 6-1 on Friday to prevent the Republican-controlled Joint Finance Committee from blocking projects proposed as part of the land stewardship program.  Evers had filed a lawsuit arguing that committees like the Joint Finance Committee violated the separation of powers established in Wisconsin's Constitution.

The Minnesota Department of Health says students who vape are showing signs of increasing nicotine dependency.  Findings released this week show nearly 80 percent of the students surveyed showed one or more signs of dependence, including unbearable cravings and reaching for their vape without realizing it.  About 50 percent of students vaped at least 20 of 30 days before the survey.  While seven in ten students want to quit, the survey shows nearly two-thirds of students have tried to quit more than ten times and were unable to do so.

A group of major drug manufacturers is suing the state of Minnesota over a law that regulates medication prices for some patients.  AbbVie, AstraZeneca and four other companies filed a lawsuit against the state in U.S. District Court earlier this week.  The companies claim that part of a law regulating cannabis also requires them to take part in a federal program that sends discounted medicines to hospitals that serve low-income and uninsured patients.  The companies accuse the state of overstepping its authority and taking property without due process.  They also claim passing the provision as part of another law violates state and federal single-subject requirements.

Eau Claire is now home to the Midwest's largest self-pour taproom. The Phoenix Taproom has 72 different beers to choose from. People get to pour their own, and pay by the glass. The idea is to let people try as many local, Wisconsin beers as they'd like.

Local-Regional News July 3

 The Pierce County Sheriff's Department is announcing the release of a sex offender back into the county.  Charles K Dallman will be released on July 9th and has been listed as homeless.  The conditions of his release include no contact with minors, and no alcohol consumption, he will also be required to meet with law enforcement and will be electronically monitored.

The City of Mondovi has approved a bid of $391,000 from Gerke Excavating of Tomah to replace the sewer on Riverside Avenue.  The City council approved the bid to replace the sewer during the last council meeting.  That project should be completed this summer.  Meanwhile, Police Chief Severson told the council that because of a new state law, the police will be allowed to charge a fee for those who request body camera footage.  The charge will be to pay for the redaction of footage before it can be released.

With the rain expected on the 4th of July, the Lake Eau Galle Association has moved its fireworks display to tonight at dusk.  Meanwhile in Mondovi, their 4th of July Celebration is tomorrow with the kiddie parade at 12:30 and the grand parade at 1.  There will also be a craft show and the Mondovi fireworks are still scheduled for dusk tomorrow night over Mirror Lake.

The City of Durand is facing a million dollar project for the water filter plant.  During the last city council meeting the council talked about that project and the $3 million Madison Street Project.  The water filter plant is in need of replacement and the city is looking at ways to pay for both projects in the coming years.  Because the water filter plant is part of the water utility, the city could issue revenue bonds for the project to save debt capacity for other projects like Madison Street.

A Rochester couple is facing charges after their six-year-old son was wounded by a shotgun.  Authorities in Wabasha County say the boy and two other children were playing with the gun inside a vehicle on June 25th.  The boy was wounded when the shotgun went off.  Nicole McGee and Raymond Duque were each charged with a felony count of child endangerment yesterday.  They also face several misdemeanors, including negligent storage of a firearm.

Chippewa County is going to look at the feasibility of a new hospital. The county last night listened to the pitch to spend 70 thousand-dollars to have the Chippewa Valley Health Cooperative look at what is needed to bring a new hospital to the Chippewa Valley. The 70 thousand-dollars is about half of the cost of the study. County Administrator Randy Scholz says in addition to a new hospital, he said the county needs a new morgue and new space for emergency services. No one is saying if the old St. Joe's Hospital is being considered for the possible new hospital in Chippewa Falls. 

Wisconsin's liberal majority Supreme Court is going to decide on abortion. The court yesterday said it will hear two challenges to Wisconsin's 1849 abortion law. The first is a challenge to the ruling from a Dane County judge that says the abortion ban deals with mothers who want to kill their unborn babies, and has nothing to do with doctors who perform abortions. The second case deals with a request from Planned Parenthood to declare that there is a right to abortion in Wisconsin. Pro-Life groups in Wisconsin say if pro-abortion advocates want to change the law on abortion, they need to go through the legislature and not through the courts. 

Wisconsin has landed another 50 million-dollars for being a regional tech hub. Governor Evers yesterday said the federal government made it official yesterday and said Wisconsin is now part of the second phase of the tech hub project. Wisconsin is focusing on biohealth and technological innovation. That means the state, several private companies, and the University of Wisconsin will use 49 million-dollars in grant money to grow a new biohealth sector in the state. Wisconsin made the first round of the program last fall and is just one of 12 states to make the second round this summer. 

Wisconsin troopers will be in buses and large trucks to watch drivers from a higher vantage point during a campaign in mid-July. Wisconsin State Patrol says the Trooper in a Truck campaign focuses on highways and aims to reduce crashes and injuries involving commercial trucks. In the last five years, there has been an average of seven-thousand crashes involving large trucks in Wisconsin. Seventy people died in those crashes. The campaign will run from July 8th until the 12th.

An organization that oversees the electric grid in the central U.S. says the region is facing a serious power deficit over the next decade.  The Midcontinent Independent System Operator released a report last month indicating a need for more electric generation for an area that stretches from Louisiana to Minnesota.  If electricity demand continues at the current pace, the grid could face a nearly four-gigawatt deficit next year.  That could grow to nearly 13-gigawatts by the end of the decade.  The organization said the report should be used as a tool to help utilities plan for growing demand over the next few years.

Xcel Energy is agreeing to a smaller bill increase for natural gas customers in Minnesota.  The Minneapolis-based utility announced yesterday that it would shrink its initial request for a nine-point-six percent hike to seven-point-five percent.  Under the deal, the increase for residential customers would be smaller than for larger commercial businesses. That would result in bills that are four dollars and 20 cents per month higher for the average residential customer.  The proposal still must be approved by the state utility regulator, the Public Utilities Commission.

A new law in Minnesota allows adopted individuals 18 and older to access their original birth records, providing valuable information that was previously unavailable. The law, which took effect on July 1, opens up approximately 150,000 birth records for public release. Advocates who discovered their birth family through Ancestry.com have worked for years to expand access to this information. Minnesota now joins 14 other states in granting unrestricted access to birth records for adopted individuals, with birth parents having the option to provide contact information or choose not to be contacted. This law marks a significant step towards equality and understanding for adoptees seeking to learn more about their origins.

A plea hearing is set for the mother of missing 3-year-old Elijah Vue.  The lawyer for 31-year-old Katrina Baur was back in a Manitowoc County courtroom and asked for the plea hearing on behalf of her client Monday afternoon. Baur and her boyfriend 39-year-old Jesse Vang are facing child neglect charges not related to the disappearance of Elijah, but to alleged incidents that happened before he was reported missing back on February 20th. Baur’s plea date is set for July 18th at the Manitowoc County Courthouse. Vang will be back in court in September.

About one-point-four million people will be driving on Wisconsin roads for the Fourth of July holiday. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation says peak travel times are expected to be between two P-M and seven P-M on this Wednesday the second, and two P-M until eight P-M on Sunday the seventh. Information about traffic, construction projects, and crashes will be available on the 5-1-1 Wisconsin app or website.

Learning about the NFL Draft in its 2025 host city. A new temporary exhibit at the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame provides a timeline of pro football’s annual player selection process which dates back to the 1930’s. It also shows how NFL teams use grading systems to assess risk when drafting players, and spotlights the first time Wisconsin hosted the draft, back in 1940 in Milwaukee. The exhibit is located on the first floor of the Hall of Fame near the community gallery. Green Bay will host the 2025 NFL Draft next April.

Local-Regional News July 2

  Many schools across Wisconsin will be getting less money from the state in the new school year. The state's Department of Public Instruction released its state aid estimates for the next school year yesterday. DPI says 57 percent of schools will see more money, while 30 percent of schools will see less.   Here in Western Wisconsin, Plum City will see a drop in aid to $1.9 million down from $2.2 million last year.  Durand-Arkansaw will see an increase of 7.1% in aid to $7.8, Mondovi an 11% increase to $8.5 million, Elmwood will see an increase of $49,000 to $2.56 million while Pepin will receive an increase in state aid to $838,000.

4 people were injured in a single-vehicle accident in the town of Montana on Sunday.  According to the Buffalo County Sheriff's Department, the vehicle was traveling southbound on Montana Ridge Road when it entered the west ditch, struck a driveway, and rolled over.  19yr old Nicole Majerous of Littleton and a 17yr old from Littleton CO, along with 19yr old Breah Golden and an 11yr old both from Arcadia were injured and taken to the hospital.

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers was in Durand on Friday visiting the Weiss Family Farm as part of his tour of the state during June Dairy Month.  One topic that was brought up was driver's licenses for immigrant employees of the farm.  Currently, immigrant labor is not allowed to get a driver's license.  Evers says that the ability to obtain a driver's license was removed from state law a few years ago. Water quality issues was another topic that was discussed during the visit.

 Governor Evers continues to demand that Wisconsin lawmakers change their tune on PFAS money. The governor was in Eau Claire yesterday to once again pressure lawmakers into releasing 125 million-dollars that has been set aside for PFAS cleanup. Lawmakers say the money is ready to go, but also say the governor vetoed the plan to spend that money. Republicans say they want to clean up Wisconsin's water, while the governor simply wants more power to sue people over PFAS contamination. The governor yesterday said someone has to be held accountable for the forever chemicals that continue to be found in the state's water supply. 

There is a new data center in Western Wisconsin.  The Metered, LLC hosted a ribbon cutting at its new location in Ellsworth on June 24.   The data center supports leading-edge technology such as AI, data analytics, cryptocurrency mining, and virtual reality.  The Metered is already 70% full on its first center and is in the planning stages for additional buildings here in Western Wisconsin.

The merger between United Way St. Croix Valley and Dunn County United Way is complete. Effective July 1st, 2024, the two nonprofit organizations have joined forces under the name "United Way St. Croix and Red Cedar Valleys". This strategic union aims to consolidate its strengths and enhance its collective impact on the region.  United Way St. Croix and Red Cedar Valleys will extend its outreach across Burnett, Dunn, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, and St. Croix counties. By pooling resources and expertise, the merged entity seeks to better address local challenges and foster sustainable solutions for community development.

 Parents in Chippewa Falls won't hear about every threat to their kids' schools. The city's school's board last night approved a new threat policy. It lays out the steps the school will take when there is a threat to a local school, including whether and how to tell parents. The policy says the superintendent will take into account the nature of the threat, the danger of the threat, any school security measures that are already in place, and the 'benefits' of telling parents and the rest of the Chippewa Falls community. The new rules are in response to a threat from October of last year when a student was caught with a threatening journal, but parents weren't told until after the story leaked online. 

Three of the six people who died in a house fire in Juneau County are children. Investigators yesterday said an early Sunday morning fire in Necedah killed Pastor Steve Witte and five other members of his family. Two people who were inside the home managed to make it out, but the others weren't so lucky. Firefighters say the fire appears to be accidental, but they are not saying just what started the fire. There is a GoFundMe set-up for the pastor's family.

One suspect is left in critical condition after an officer-involved shooting in Wisconsin. The Adams County Sheriff's Office says a deputy responded to a call about a woman driving under the influence of narcotics Saturday afternoon. About an hour later, the car was located. The deputy says the driver led them on a chase, and eventually fired at them. Fire was returned by deputies, hitting the driver. The suspect got medical attention on the scene and was taken to a hospital in critical condition. Involved law enforcement officers are on administrative leave, under department policy.

 An investigation into a mushroom-based product manufacturer is underway by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. The department says Diamond Shruumz [shrooms] brand products, including chocolate bars, cones, and gummies, may be causing severe illnesses. The brand makes its product with a proprietary blend of mushrooms and was available for purchase both online and at retailers. Retailers are advised not to sell or distribute the products until further direction is given by the FDA.

 A woman has died following a single-vehicle crash in Goodhue County.  The crash happened Friday night on Highway 60 near Zumbrota. The Minnesota State Patrol says 35-year-old Samantha Johnson of Kenyon died when her vehicle hit a deer.  A male passenger was not injured in the crash.  

A former youth pastor is facing child sex assault charges for alleged crimes more than two decades ago.  James Lane was a youth pastor at  Faith Reformed Church in Wisconsin Rapids when he allegedly assaulted the victim between September 2002 and December 2003.  Lane reportedly told investigators he had an inappropriate relationship with a girl in the youth group.  The victim has since reported the assault through the Clergy and Faith Leader Abuse Initiative.  

Law enforcement agencies from eleven states will help at the Milwaukee Republican National Convention. Officers from 25 departments as far away as Florida and Nevada will be at the convention. That doesn't include the officers coming into Milwaukee from across Wisconsin. The City of Milwaukee requested four-thousand dorm rooms and nearby schools be available to give them a place to stay. The City says rooms at Concordia, Wisconsin Lutheran, Whitewater, State Fair Park, and UW-Madison have been approved.

Wisconsin's largest business group says the Supreme Court delivered a victory for businesses in the state. Wisconsin Manufacturing & Commerce on Friday said the decision that struck down the Chevron doctrine means businesses will now be free from overly harsh federal regulation. WMC's Kurt Bauer says the decision from the high court will return the power to elected representatives, and take it away from unaccountable bureaucrats. Bauer said rolling back red tape and overly burdensome regulations could save the average Wisconsin business owner over 10 thousand-dollars in red-tape related costs. 

A southern Minnesota city is being praised for being one of the safest and most affordable in the U.S.  The recent study by GO-Banking-Rates-dot-com ranked Rochester fifth overall based on data from the U.S. Census and the FBI.  The city's monthly cost of living was estimated to be just over 41-hundred dollars a month, with an average monthly mortgage cost of just under two-thousand dollars.  That compares favorably to the rest of the top ten, with only two cities having a lower monthly cost of living.

The Brewers are not yet saying just what happened to one of their escalators that broke while people were riding it on Saturday. The team says 11 people were hurt when one of the escalators that goes from the Terrace Level to the Loge Level broke, and started moving very quickly. Six were taken to the hospital. People on the escalator say it started to shake, then it sped up like a roller coaster. The Brewers are not saying just what went wrong, or when the escalator may be back in service. 

Steer clear of people offering cheap fixes for flood damage. Advice from Bao Vang from the Better Business Bureau, who says criminals are out there looking to run off with your money. She said to beware of quick fixes and big promises that they do not intend to keep. While not all may be criminals, traveling contractors might not be licensed for your area. If you do need to get flood repairs to your home, contact a local, trusted contractor. Find out more online at BBB.org.

Local-Regional News July 1

 No one was hurt when a fire broke out at Beav's Restaurant in Plum City early Saturday morning.  Plum City/Union Firefighters were called to the scene at 12:30am for smoke and the sound of an explosion.    80 firefighters from 12 departments responded to the blaze and while no one was hurt, the building is a total loss.  Firefighters believe the fire started somewhere in the kitchen, but are still investigating the cause of the blaze.

The new library in Mondovi is officially open. Local leaders cut the ribbon at the library on Saturday. The new library is right across the street from the old library and has more room for people to work, read, and just get together. Ginny Gunderson with the library board says there is now plenty of room for everyone. The library had a soft opening a couple of weeks ago, but Saturday was its grand opening. 

The City Durand is replacing a pump at lift station number 1 after only 7 years.  According to Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren, the city had replaced the pump back in 2017, but have had yearly issues with it since. The money for the pump is coming out of the wastewater treatment budget.

The Dunn County Sheriff's Department is asking for the public's help in locating Alex Shearer after issuing a felony arrest warrant.  The warrant was issued for the theft of a UTV after the Ridgeland Tractor Pull over Memorial Day Weekend.  If anyone has any information on Shearer's whereabouts they are to contact the sheriff's department or Dunn County Crimestoppers.  The UTV has been recovered and the incident remains under investigation.

A Winona man is confessing to using social media apps to sexually extort dozens of girls across the country and abroad.  Valentin Quintana pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court to producing, distributing, and possessing child pornography.  Prosecutors say the defendant used social media apps to threaten, sexually manipulate, and exploit at least 65 girls between nine and 15 years old in Oklahoma, Texas, New Zealand, and elsewhere.  A plea deal says the defendant is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum of 70 years.  A date for sentencing has yet to be scheduled.

The sheriff in Barron County says a grandfather drowned over the weekend while trying to save his grandkids from the water on Red Cedar Lake. It happened Saturday, just below the Mikana Dam. The sheriff's office says the 71-year-old man went into the water to rescue his two grandchildren. They were at the lake to fish and swim. Deputies say the kids were wearing life jackets when they went into the water. Crews had to eventually close the dam to find the man's body. 

 A new audit raises questions as to whether Wisconsin's attorney general will be able to meet a new state requirement to get sexual assault kits tested within six months. The Legislative Audit Bureau released its new report on the state's crime labs on Friday. The report says there are fewer requests for sexual assault DNA kits at the crime labs, but it is taking the labs longer to process each kit. The audit says it takes about nine months to complete a test on a single kit. Lawmakers say that's too long. A state law, that goes into effect today, requires the state's crime labs to be able to turn-around those tests in no more than six months. 

The NFL will be in Green Bay this month to take a look at just where next year's draft will be held. The league is scheduled to meet with local leaders on July 17th to talk about area mapping and security planning. The NFL Draft will be held in Green Bay next April. As of now, the plan is to keep the draft grounds between Marlee Lane to Holmgren Way. The folks at Visit Green Bay say they've meeting with tourism officials in Door County to make sure the peninsula is included when thousands upon thousands of people are expected to flock to Green Bay for the draft next spring. 

The St. Croix River in Stillwater is expected to crest at just over 88 feet due to heavy rain causing flooding, leading to road and parking lot closures. The city has implemented no-wake rules for boats and closed the historic Stillwater Lift Bridge.  Local businesses, like Stillwater Trolley, have seen a decrease in foot traffic due to the flooding. While FEMA approved a federal disaster declaration for 22 Minnesota counties impacted by flooding, Washington County still needs to be included.

Fireworks will be banned from lands managed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources for the holiday. The DNR says fireworks won't be allowed in state parks, natural areas, forests, or state-owned public hunting and fishing areas. Fines for setting off fireworks in these spaces can be up to about two-hundred-dollars, and include costs related to extinguishing fires and paying for damages if a fire does start. Sparklers and fountains aren't considered fireworks, but the DNR says they still pose a fire threat.

Authorities are looking into a suspected murder-suicide that involved a mother and her son in Rochester.  Officers were sent to the River Glen Apartment complex yesterday for a welfare check.  Once inside, they saw the bodies of a 54-year-old woman and a 30-year-old man.  A gun was found near the body of the man.  Police say the remains had been there for some time.  The identities of the deceased have yet to be released.

The latest look at people's lives in Wisconsin shows more people struggling to get by. The latest Marquette Law School Poll asked people in the state about their personal finances, and more than half say they need some help. The poll says 37 percent of people are just getting by, and another 17 percent say they are struggling. Pollsters say 46 percent of people are living comfortably, but Marquette's Charles Franklin says that is down from about 60 percent of people who were living comfortably before COVID. The poll also says that more than half of the people asked say they are worried about Wisconsin's economy. 

 It doesn't look like work on Deforest's Buc-ee's will start this year. Village leaders say Buc-ee's wants the village to split the cost of building the new mega-gas station. Village administrators have not yet said yes or no, but the delay in talking about the request is likely going to push any work on the new gas station back into next year. Buc-ee's wants to build its new gas station just off the interstate in Deforest. It would be their first location in the Midwest. 

A second teen is charged in the death of a Lincoln Hills School staff member. Seventeen-year-old Rian Nyblom is charged in adult court with felony murder and two counts of battery in the Monday night attack against 49-year-old Corey Proulx, who was declared brain-dead Tuesday. Nyblom was incarcerated along with 16-year-old Javarius Hurd at the time of the attack. Prosecutors charged Hurd with second-degree reckless homicide in adult court on Wednesday.

A new online map will distinguish between private and public lands in Wisconsin. The state Department of Natural Resources says the mapping application will show state-owned trails, lakeshores, and rivers, along with state parks and county forests. The DNR says the map is simpler than earlier editions and will be kept up to date. The map is available through the Public Access Lands Atlas app and on the DNR's website. 

Fishing equipment is available to rent at no charge through the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. The DNR says most pickup sites will have rods, reels, bobbers, and fishing line, along with other equipment. The department requests equipment be returned clean and ready to use again and is available on a first-come, first-serve basis.