Local-Regional News Oct 9

 The Durand City Council is meeting tonight.  Items on the agenda include an update on the budget, reports from the mayor and department heads, and the council will go into closed session to discuss an economic development revolving loan for Little Beginnings Child Care.  Tonight's meeting begins at 6:30 at Durand City Hall and will be live-streamed on the video streaming page of the WRDN Website.

Two Mondovi Homeowners are concerned about the erosion of the shoreline of Mirror Lake.  During last night's city council meeting, Jennifer Bargmann and Cindy Brenner told the council how the shoreline of their properties has eroded over the last few years.  Joe Krumrie of Buffalo County Land Conservation had a presentation on the possible reasons for the erosion that included the possibility of the dredging of the lake back in 2021.  To fix the issue Krumrie suggested the shoreline be rip-rapped and soil be brought in for restoration.  Bargmann told the council that the erosion is so severe if the rip-rap is not installed this fall she would lose her home to the lake.  The council is sending out engineers to look at the issue.

  

The Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board recently delivered a new soybean-based firefighting foam to the Durand and Mondovi Fire Departments.  Justin Bauer of the Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board says the biggest benefit to the new firefighting foam is that it has no PFAS chemicals.  The Soybean Marketing Board delivered the new foam to sixteen departments across Wisconsin.

A proposed Dunn County budget would improve more roads. The Highway Commissioner says the department is asking to fix about 18-point-five miles of roads in 2025. That's about fifty percent more than this year. If approved, the county and the Department of Transportation would spend about nine-million dollars on highways. The county board will approve or deny the budget on November 12. 

The Wisconsin State Building Commission has approved three UW System projects under the Instructional Space and Technology Projects Program, targeting essential upgrades to instructional spaces across multiple campuses. Projects include renovations at the UW-Eau Claire Haas Fine Arts Center, the UW-La Crosse Wing Technology Center, and the UW-River Falls Agricultural Engineering and Agricultural Science Laboratories. These improvements are designed to enhance modern teaching and research capabilities, aligning with the growing demands of academic programs.

There's a new warning about a deer disease in western Wisconsin. The state's Department of Natural Resources yesterday said they've confirmed cases of EHD in deer in Chippewa and Jackson counties. EHD is deadly for deer, but it cannot be passed on to humans. The dead deer in Chippewa and Jackson counties were both found near ponds on private lands. The DNR says hunters need to be on the look-out for sick or dead deer. Before these cases, Wisconsin hadn't seen an EHD case since 2021. 

Eau Claire's election managers say they have a 'great' need for poll workers next month. Interim Deputy City Clerk Nicholas Koerner says they don't quite yet have the 500 poll workers that they are hoping for. Koerner says that's because they 've had some retirements, and some people just haven't come back. He figures the city is about 100 poll workers short. There's still time to sign-up, in fact there's a training session next Tuesday. 

There are finally charges in the death of a UW-La Crosse student from back in 1985. Prosecutors in Vernon County yesterday filed charges against Michael Popp for Terry Dolowy's murder 39-years-ago. He was arrested back in September after a DNA match on evidence from her death. Popp is being held on a million-dollars bond, and faces life in prison if convicted. 

A former Minnesota state trooper has been booked into Olmsted County Jail.  Shane Roper is facing manslaughter charges in connection with a crash that happened in Rochester back in May, claiming the life of a teen.  He's accused of driving 83 in a 40-mile-an-hour zone while pursuing a vehicle for a minor traffic violation. Roper has a court appearance next month and is set to go to trial in March of next year. 

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has officially designated a new wildlife management area. It is a 1,820-acre area in Washington County as, named Keystone Woods. This site, previously a cattle ranch, is one of the largest remaining undeveloped tracts near the Twin Cities. Located in May Township, Keystone Woods will provide opportunities for activities such as hunting, hiking, and fishing. The DNR plans to solicit public input on future uses of the area starting in November.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will remain on the ballot in Wisconsin.  Last month the Wisconsin Supreme Court upheld a lower court’s ruling that candidates can only be removed from the ballot if they die. On Monday the court denied a motion from Kennedy’s attorney to reconsider that ruling. Kennedy, who in August suspended his campaign and endorsed Donald Trump, filed a lawsuit to be removed from the ballot. He argued state law requiring independent candidates to withdraw up to a full month before Republicans and Democrats was unconstitutional. The latest Marquette Poll showed that three percent of respondents said they’d vote for Kennedy.

The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction has released the latest Forward Exam scores. Interim Communications Director Chris Bucher says they're the first scores since the state made changes to the test design.  Under the old standards from the 2022-23 school year, roughly 39% performed at proficient or advanced levels in English language arts, and 41% scored at the same levels in math. The conservative Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty argues the changes to the exam now make year-to-year comparisons of student achievement and school progress more challenging.

The Rochester International Airport is getting federal funding to help improve runways and other necessary infrastructure.  U.S. Senators Tina Smith and Amy Klobuchar announced over 15-million dollars in federal funding for the airport yesterday.  The money will go toward rebuilding and extending one existing runway while adding a safety area for another runway.  The airport also plans to build more than two miles of service road and install 15-thousand-feet of wildlife fencing.

 Minnesota Congresswoman Angie Craig and her Republican challenger Joe Teirab are coming off their second debate in four days.  The 2nd Congressional District candidates met at an event hosted by the Lakeville Chamber of Commerce.  Some of the issues discussed during the debate were inflation and abortion.  Tierab said that the country can't engage in "reckless spending bill after reckless spending bill" like the Biden administration's economic agenda that Craig voted for. Craig responded by doubling down on her votes

A suspect is in custody following a homicide in northwest Wisconsin.  Superior police responding to a Sunday night call about a man walking around the caller's garage and shining a flashlight into windows arrived at the scene to hear several gunshots. Officers found a wounded man who later died from his injuries. The suspect fled and was later apprehended in Iron River without incident.

The City of Duluth is holding its first-ever snowplow naming contest.  The city is asking residents to submit their favorite snowplow names by October 21st.  City staffers will select ten finalists to be voted on beginning October 28th.  The top vote-getter will be announced on November 11th.  The newly-named snowplow will be unveiled during the Christmas City of the North parade on November 22nd.

Local-Regional News Oct 8

 The Mondovi City Council is meeting tonight.  Items on the agenda include a discussion with the police chief on adoption of golf cart fines, sign and ordinance updates, and the Tourist Park Ordinance amendment and establishing fines.  There will also be reports from the mayor and department heads.  Tonight's meeting begins at 5:30 at the Marten Center.

The Durand Police Department has a new part time police officer.  Josline Carothers began her duties with the department over the weekend after graduation from the CVTC Law Enforcement Academy.  Carothers has been a part of the department starting with her attendance in the La Enforcement Explorers Program while attending Durand-Arkansaw High School.  She was also an intern with the department while attending CVTC.

The merger of two United Way organizations in western Wisconsin means the popular Day of Caring is returning to Dunn County, and volunteers and projects are needed to make it successful.  The event is an annual day of action connecting teams of corporate and government volunteers with nonprofits from across Dunn and Pepin counties. Volunteer teams complete half-day projects at local nonprofits.   Announcing the return of the Day of Caring in Dunn and Pepin on Oct. 10 was one of the first major initiatives of the merged organization, said Steven McCarthy, the group’s Executive Director.   For details about the inaugural Day of Caring, including how to become a sponsor, register a team, or submit a project, visit https://www.uwvalleys.org/dayofcaring 

The Minnesota Housing Commission approved a $2,950,000 Workforce Housing Development grant to the City of Wabasha for a 50-unit market-rate apartment building in downtown Wabasha. The City of Wabasha and its Port Authority selected Keller-Baartman Properties LLC, of Red Wing, to be its development partner on a city-owned site. The site is located at the intersection of Alleghany Avenue and Second Street.  The apartment building will be a four-story building, with studios, one, two, and three-bedroom units, an exercise room, a community room, and 38 underground parking stalls.  The project will be under construction next year, with apartments expected to begin leasing at the end of 2026.

It's nine years in prison for a St. Croix County man from a Fourth of July road rage incident last year.  A judge yesterday sentenced Thaddeus Smith to prison after he rammed a car, and then ran over two women at the boat launch in Hudson on July 2nd of last year.  Prosecutors say he was angry after a fight at the boat launch. Smith pleaded guilty to being drunk and hitting the two women. After his prison term, he'll spend the next ten years on probation. 

 A handful of UW-Eau Claire students marked yesterday's anniversary of the attack on Israel with a protest.  About a half-dozen students took to campus yesterday to talk about Gaza and the impact of the war on the people of Gaza. Yesterday was the one-year anniversary of the attack that killed over a thousand Israelis, and touched-off a war that has raged since. 

Eau Claire's new budget looks to spend more on city workers. The city unveiled its proposed 2025 budget last night. The spending plan tops 190-million-dollars for the first time. That'd be about a six percent increase from the current budget. Just over 40-percent of that money is for city workers' paychecks and benefits, the rest is for everything from fire trucks to new roads. City Manager Stephanie Hirsch says Eau Claire is looking to invest in core city services. That includes a big bump for Eau Claire's Neighborhood Services Division which looks to recoup its money with more fines through stricter code enforcement. 

Wisconsin's election managers say they are ready for the November election. Yesterday, the Wisconsin Elections Commission said their preparations are in place for next month's Election Day. That includes a new round of training for local election clerks, updates to the state's voter registration database, and new security measures. WEC says they want to make sure voters know how much work they've put into this year's presidential race. WEC Administrator Meagan Wolfe says they started getting ready after the 2020 election, and have spent the past four years leading-up to this day. 

 Dozens of people in Wisconsin have gotten sick from eating bad eggs in the state. The CDC yesterday said the egg recall based at a farm in Bonduel [[ bon-du-EL ]] has sickened 42 people in Wisconsin, and another 23 across the rest of the country. The CDC has upgraded the recall to a Class One, which means people can get seriously ill and even die from eating the bad eggs. No one has died yet, but public health managers say two dozen people have had to go to the hospital. The eggs were sold under the brand names of Milo's Poultry Farms, M&E Family Farms, and Tony's Fresh Market. Duck eggs from Happy Quackers Farm are also included in the recall. 

 It will soon cost a lot more to play Mega Millions in Wisconsin. Lottery managers say Mega Millions tickets will jump from their current two dollar price tag to five dollars, starting next year. The promise is that the more expensive tickets will lead to larger jackpots. This will be just the second time since 2002 that Mega Millions prices have gone-up. The new five dollar price tag begins in April. Lottery managers say there are no plans to change the price for Powerball tickets.

Wisconsin is getting 115-million dollars to bring internet access to public libraries and community centers. The state Department of Administration says 35 communities will benefit from the federal funding.  The Alma Public Library will receive $4.25 Million to  assist with the construction of a new public library and community facility.  The new library and community center will feature three computer labs, three telemedicine rooms, and a large multi-purpose community space with a kitchenette. Additionally, the project will include the installation of high-speed internet with digitally equipped rooms for work, education, and healthcare monitoring, which will help address the shortage of healthcare professionals in Buffalo County.

Voters will have their only chance to see Wisconsin's two candidates for U.S. Senate this week. Democratic Senator Tammy Baldwin and her Republican challenger Eric Hovde will face-off in their only debate Friday night. The latest Marquette Law School Poll has Baldwin up in the race by seven points, but other polls suggest it may be a closer race than that. Hovde is trying to unseat Baldwin after her two terms in the U.S. Senate. The debate kicks off at 7 p.m. Friday night. 

A six-point-five-acre wildfire at a Wisconsin state park is under control.  The Department of Natural Resources says a fire started at the top of the Roche-A-Cri stairway 3:30 p.m. yesterday.  Ten local fire departments are helping the DNR contain the fire.  The department and local crews will continue to check for additional smoke and flames.  Lack of precipitation and gusty winds have increased fire danger in Wisconsin, which the DNR says will continue this week. 

School threats are increasing across Minnesota.  KSTP-TV obtained records from the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.  They show a jump in the number of threats for the first few weeks of the 2024 school year.  The BCA stats show 14 threats reported this year.   That's compared to three threats for the same time period as last year. 

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has reached a settlement with a dairy accused of underpaying its workers.  Ellison accused the owners of Evergreen Acres Dairy of keeping three-million dollars in pay owed to workers in a lawsuit filed earlier this year.  The attorney general also accused the dairy of forcing workers to live in unsafe and unsanitary housing while being forced to pay rent.  The settlement announced this week will force Evergreen Acres to pay 250-thousand dollars in back pay to workers while improving living conditions for workers who stay in housing owned by the company.

We now know the site of one of Minnesota's favorite winter traditions.  Officials say Ice Castles will take place at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds for the 2024-2025 season.  The event has been held at several locations over the years, most recently in Maple Grove.  Plans include a one-acre winter playground made of ice, featuring slides, caves and fountains.  Tickets will go on sale November 26th.

Local-Regional News Oct 7

Two people were injured in a motorcycle accident in Mondovi Township on Saturday.  According to the Buffalo County Sheriff's Department, 63yr old Lonnie Averbeck of Winona was traveling northbound on Hwy 88 when he lost control of the motorcycle on a curve.  The cycle exited the roadway and Averbeck and passenger 63yr old Karen Palencia of Winona were both ejected. Both were transported to the hospital with significant injuries.

One man was arrested after a truck crashed into some homes in the town of Caledonia Friday night.  According to the Trempealeau County Sheriffs Department,  31 yr old Hunter Bordman of Galesville was traveling northbound on Hwy K when he drove off the road, struck a tree, and rolled several times.  The truck then hit a cement building at Country Road Estes Trailer Court.  Two vehicles and two residences in the trailer court were also damaged.  Bordman suffered minor injuries and was arrested for driving while intoxicated.  Excessive speed and impaired driving were believed to be contributing factors in the accident.

Fire conditions remain high across the WRDN Listening area due to the dry and windy weather.  The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has over half of Wisconsin under high fire danger.  While the winds will die down today, dry weather is expected for the week in our weather forecast, fire officials are asking people to refrain from burning at this time.

Expect traffic delays on I-94 in Dunn County starting today.  Construction crews will start repairing concrete on I-94 between Hwy 25 and Hwy B and drivers can expect lane closures, ramp closures and the rest area will also be closed this week.  With the dry weather expected this week expect the projects to be worked on week, with the repairs expected to be completed by Thursday.

A Rochester man has died after a motorcycle crash in Winona County.  The county sheriff's office says the man was riding north on Highway 74 near Park Road when his motorcycle ran off the road around 6 p.m. yesterday.  The man was later identified as 61-year-old Ross Stensrud.  The sheriff's office says alcohol may have been a factor in the crash.

Some folks in the Chippewa Valley are woke-up to their first frost of the season. The National Weather Service issued a Frost Advisory for  Chippewa, Dunn, Eau Claire, and St. Croix Counties overnight. Forecasters say temperatures dipped low enough overnight to leave frost behind. The forecast is supposed to warm-up a bit this week, ahead of a cool down for the weekend. 

Jury selection is set to begin today in the trial of a man accused of killing a Winona County woman.  Adam Fravel was arrested last year after the body of Madeline Kingsbury was found in a field in Fillmore County.  He's been charged with multiple counts of murder following the investigation into Kingsbury's death.  The trial was moved to Mankato after Fravel's lawyer convinced a judge that his client could not receive a fair trial in Winona County.  Jury selection is expected to last three to four days.

This week, the Wisconsin Supreme Court will hear arguments about just how far a governor can go with his veto powers. The liberal majority court is set to hear the challenge to Governor Tony Evers' 400 year school funding veto. The governor used his veto powers to erase some numbers in the current budget and turn a two-year school funding increase into a 400-year school funding increase. The Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce legal fund is arguing that Evers went way beyond what the law allows. The governor's office has defended the move as just part of Wisconsin's board amendatory veto powers. 

A new report says Wisconsin's election managers have less wiggle room than election officials in other states. The report from the group Informing Democracy says Wisconsin law sets pretty strict limits on what the state's 18-hundred local election managers can do. That, according to the report, is  a safeguard against election vulnerabilities. The report does say about 20-percent of Wisconsin's county clerks have resigned or retired since the 2020 election, but those numbers are not out of line with what other states have seen. 

The newest candidate for state superintendent in Wisconsin says he has the backing of the state's largest teachers' union. Jeff Wright, who is the superintendent of Sauk Prairie Schools, on Friday announced that he is running against current State Superintendent Jill Underly. Wright says he has the backing of the Wisconsin Education Association Council Political Action Committee. WEAC is Wisconsin's largest teachers union. Wright says they want to see new leadership for the state's public schools. Wright is Underly's first challenger in the race. Voters will have their say next spring 

The Food and Drug Administration is revising a previous egg recall that affects consumers in Wisconsin.  The CDC announced the original recall September 6th, but it's now been revised to a class one recall, a commodity that "will cause serious adverse health consequences or death."   The first recall issued said 65 people in nine states were sick with salmonella connected to eggs supplied by Milo's Poultry Farms LLC from May 23rd to August 10th.  There have been no deaths reported but 24 individuals were hospitalized, according to the CDC.  The recalled eggs were delivered to vendors in Wisconsin, as well as Illinois and Michigan.

A judge says Milwaukee's Archdiocese does not have to give Wisconsin's attorney general its abuse settlement records. The judge yesterday denied A-G Josh Kaul's request to examine the records as part of his church sex abuse investigation. The judge said unsealing those records could expose abuse victims, and said the attorney general didn't provide enough 'justification' to open them up. Kaul has been investigating past claims of abuse in the Catholic Church for years. Milwaukee's Archdiocese has said Kaul is targeting them specifically, and the church has not cooperated with the investigation.

 A Wisconsin rescue team is back home from North Carolina after helping with recovery efforts following Hurricane Helene.  Sixteen members of Wisconsin Task Force One arrived at Volk Field Air National Guard Base on Saturday.  The team brought supplies for victims, such as inflatable boats, life jackets, and protective gear.  The team manager said if needed, they'll return to North Carolina.  According to the last report, the death toll from the storm is 227.

 A former band director in Walworth County is charged with a ninth child sexual assault. John Rash worked at East Troy Middle School for 20 years and resigned in 2022. Prosecutors charged him after eight former students say he sexually assaulted them. A ninth former student, now 33-years-old, is also coming forward. Rash is currently out of jail after posting a thousand-dollar bond. He'll be in court on October 21 for the new charge. The trial for the other eight charges starts in December. 

Picking up and dropping off air travelers at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport is getting a bit easier.  The Metropolitan Airports Commission announced yesterday that the new location for doing so is in the Terminal Two Express Lane.  It's on the second level of the Airport's Purple Ramp.  The news comes as MSP is experiencing an increase in travel demand, including a record of more than 711 thousand passengers in March. 

Local-Regional News Oct 4

 The City of Mondovi is reminding residents to keep their dogs on a leash after receiving calls regarding dogs running at large, as well as reports of dog attacks. In the City of Mondovi Code of Ordinances Chapter 14, it states that dogs must be on a leash or under the control of the owner.  The city is reminding residents to follow the Animal Control Ordinance. 

The Pierce County Sheriff's Department has announced the release of a sex offender back into Pierce County. Dustin Larsen is scheduled to be released on Oct 8 and is listed as homeless.  He will be under supervision and is not allowed to have unsupervised contact with minors of the victim, will be under electronic monitoring and report weekly, and have face-to-face contact with law enforcement.

The Pepin County Zoning Department is reminding property owners that if their fire number sign is missing, damaged or faded new signs are available for $25.  The county re-designed the signs to be double-sided with larger numbers, and are easier to view about 5yrs ago.  Property owners are allowed to use the old signs as long as they are legible and visible from a public roadway.  Property owners are encouraged to call the Pepin County Zoning Department for more information.

Four people charged with stealing from cars in Altoona last month are facing new, more severe charges in Dunn County.   Ethan Beebe, 17, of Eau Claire; Kylia Nordlof, 19, of Colfax; Rubi Solis, 18, of Eau Claire; and Trapper Tate, 20, of Phillips are all charged with nine counts of theft of movable property as a party to a crime.  Two of the nine counts are felonies.   According to Dunn County Authorities, the four stole money and guns from 10 different vehicles in or near the Village of Colfax and gave the guns to a man from Minnesota in exchange for Percocet or Fetanyl.  The four were in Eau Claire County Court on theft charges yesterday.

Police in Chippewa Falls say they've found the body of a man who went missing after a weekend motorcycle crash. Officers say they found Matthew Harshman's body Wednesday near East Park Avenue. He was last seen Sunday night, and his family reported him missing after he didn't show-up for work on Monday. Officers say they found his body in the woods near the scene of a motorcycle crash. Investigators say it appears that speed was a factor in that crash. 

Wisconsin's attorney general says his office is investigating Wausau's mayor and the city's ballot drop box. Attorney General Josh Kaul yesterday said his office is looking into Mayor Doug Duny and his decision to remove Wausau's ballot drop box two-weeks-ago. Diny says he did nothing wrong, and was only trying to secure the unsecured ballot drop box. Kaul's office is not saying just what the investigation is focusing on. Wisconsin law is silent about ballot drop boxes, even though the Wisconsin Supreme Court has ordered that they can be used in the November election. Wausau's city clerk reinstalled the city's ballot drop box this week.

Walmart has signed a deal with the Mayo Clinic to offer employees more options for cancer screening and treatment.  The retailer announced yesterday that Walmart employees with health insurance coverage who are diagnosed with most types of cancer can now get a second opinion from the Mayo Clinic.  Those employees will also have the option to get treatment at Mayo Clinic locations.  The only cancers not covered under the new arrangement are three types of skin cancer that can usually be treated at a local doctor's office

 Wisconsin's school leaders want to take the burden of cyber security off of local schools. State Superintendent Jill Underly yesterday said there needs to be a focus on helping local schools deal with everything from phishing attacks to ransomware. She was part of a roundtable on cyber security yesterday. Harry Coker, Jr. with the White House National Cyber Security office said the federal government needs to help lift the burden of cyber security off the shoulders of local school districts. He said local schools need to look at the federal government as a partner in their efforts. 

 We're getting a better sense of voter fraud in Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Elections Commission is out with a report that says there were 30 cases of suspected voter fraud or voter irregularities over the past year. More than half of those were cases where people voted twice, and there were a half-dozen cases where felons were caught voting. Election managers in Wisconsin continue to say voter fraud cases are very rare. But critics say it's more about the opportunity for voter fraud or voter irregularities than the number of people caught voting twice.

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The latest tax cut plan at the Wisconsin Capitol is aimed at the state's older workers. A number of Republicans yesterday introduced their plan for tax-free retirements in Wisconsin. State Senator Rachael Cabral-Guevara and others introduced an updated version of their plan to make the first 75 thousand-dollars of retirement income tax-free. That amount would jump to 125 thousand-dollars for retired couples. Lawmakers passed a similar plan last year, but Governor Evers vetoed it as a tax break for the rich. Cabral-Guevara says they've included some changes this time that they hope sway the governor. 

A call for help for victims of extreme disasters.  The American Red Cross of Wisconsin is issuing an urgent appeal for volunteers willing to travel this fall to aid in major national disaster relief efforts such as Hurricane Helene. Those who choose to help will go through necessary training and and must commit to a two-week deployment. If you're interested, sign up today at “Red Cross dot org, slash volunteer”.

Workers at Milwaukee’s Miller Brewery are on strike.  The work stoppage began Wednesday after members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers voted to reject the final offer by owner Molson Coors. Issues driving the strike include wages that aren’t keeping up with inflation, and work-life balance. A Molson Coors statement says the multinational brewer believes the offer put forward was competitive and the company hopes for a beneficial resolution.

Wisconsin has two of the best small cities in the country. WalletHub is out with a new ranking for the best cities with between 25 thousand and 100 thousand people. Brookfield is second on the list. WalletHub says Brookfield has low unemployment and low poverty levels, it also has a strong work-life balance according to the people who live there. Appleton is fifth-best on WalletHub's list. Appleton scores well for its quality of life and low cost of living. WalletHub says Carmel, Indiana is the best small city in America this year. 

Holding a dresser on top of a moving car is not smart.  A picture posted to the Wisconsin State Patrol's Facebook page shows a car driving on Madison’s Beltline with a passenger holding a dresser on the roof. The driver was cited for a moving violation, and a few items were readjusted in the car’s trunk allowing the dresser to fit inside. The State Patrol says unsecured items on top of vehicles can be dangerous to everyone on the road.

 A Minnesota couple may be facing a big repair bill after a mishap at Lake Minnetonka earlier this week.  The state Department of Natural Resources says the couple was trying to launch their boat on Monday but somehow left their vehicle in neutral on the boat ramp.  The vehicle, trailer and boat rolled backward into the water before anyone could react.  Pictures showed the vehicle fully submerged before it was towed out of the lake.

Local-Regional News Oct 3

   Xcel Energy crews are on their way to the hurricane zone. A team of linemen left Eau Claire yesterday, they are on their way to Georgia. Xcel says the Eau Claire crew will join about 200 others who are already on the ground in Georgia, dealing with the damage from Hurricane Helene. Xcel said it expects the crews to be gone for two weeks. Yesterday's crews are heading to Augusta, where 100-thousand people don't have power. 

Windy conditions, dry vegetation, and leaves falling off of trees are creating a perfect storm for elevated to near-critical fire weather conditions.   The WRDN Listening area is under a high risk or greater for fires. Due to the increased danger, the Wisconsin DNR has issued a ban on any type of burning for all areas under their jurisdiction.  Yesterday the Durand Fire Department responded to a grass fire.  It is recommended that all burning be delayed until the dry, windy weather comes to an end.

There's a warning about fake 20 dollar bills in Chetek. Police yesterday said someone turned in 'several' fake 20 dollar bills. Officers say they found some others in the street. The money is clearly fake, it's labeled Copy Money on the front. Police are telling local businesses to be on the lookout for the fake bills, but there haven't yet been any reports of anyone trying to use it. 

UW-Eau Claire's McIntyre Library is the state's library of the year. The Wisconsin Library Association announced the honor yesterday. The Library Association says the McIntyre Library earned the award for its 'distinguished achievement.' UW-Eau Claire Chancellor Jim Schmidt says the library has shown its worth by spending years 'helping our students, and the campus and greater Eau Claire communities.'

Officials at Yellowstone National Park say their search for a missing Winona native is moving into a new phase.  The park's superintendent says the search for Austin King has shifted to a recovery effort as attempts to determine his location have not been successful.  King has not been heard from since September 17th, when he called his family from the top of a peak in the southwest corner of the park.  In an online post yesterday, King's father said he hasn't given up on finding his son alive.

 Kwik Trip is seventh on the list of best gas stations/convenience stores in America. The American Customer Satisfaction Index is out with a new customer survey that puts Kwik Trip in the top 10, but behind its Midwestern rival Casey's. Wawa is the top gas station/convenience store on the Customer Satisfaction list followed by QuikTrip out of Oklahoma, and Buc-ee's out of Texas. Wawa got an 82 out of 100 to grab the top spot, Kwik Trip scored a 78 out of 100. This is the first year for the Customer Satisfaction list. 

Firefighters spent roughly 21 hours fighting a fire at a La Crosse area business Tuesday into Wednesday. Town of Campbell Fire Chief Nate Melby says high winds made the fire even more difficult to fight. Melby says the fire at the Omaha Track railroad tie recycling yard on French Island is the largest industrial fire in the communities history. There were no injuries or fatalities as a result of the fire. No damage estimates are available yet, and an investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing.

Wisconsin's race for the U.S. Senate is starting to widen. The latest Marquette Law School Poll gives Democratic U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin a seven-point lead over Republican challenger Eric Hovde. The poll has her up 53-46. That's a larger lead than last month's Marquette Poll. It's also a larger lead than Vice President Kamala Harris has in the state. Baldwin is looking for her third term in the U.S. Senate. Hovde is making his second run at the same seat. 

The first of what could be several shipments of pets from the hurricane zone has arrived in Wisconsin. The Humane Animal Welfare Society of Waukesha County says 81 dogs and 44 cats from the storm-ravaged parts of South Carolina arrived in Milwaukee yesterday. The animals will be sent to shelters throughout the state in an effort to clear the shelters in South Carolina. Animal rescuers in Dane County, and Eau Claire are on the list to get some of the animals.

 The Minnesota National Guard is dispatching two cargo helicopters to assist with Hurricane Helene relief efforts. Eleven soldiers will be activated for the mission, expected to begin this Friday and last for one week, with the possibility of an extension. This deployment follows a request for aid from North Carolina officials through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, approved by Governor Tim Walz. 

Three family members are under arrest in Jackson County and accused of sexually assaulting a girl. Fred Hill and his wife, Sara Hill, are charged along with their 18-year-old son, Levi Moore. Investigators say an eight-year-old girl reported numerous sexual assaults by each of the three suspects. They'll all be in court on October 21. 

We Energies has big plans for renewable energy.  The utility has filed plans with the Public Service Commission to build five new large-scale renewable energy projects across the state. The projects would be eligible for federal tax credits and power about 250,000 homes. They would also include plenty of new battery storage to provide customers with what We Energies calls "sunshine after sunset." The proposed projects would be jointly owned by We Energies, Wisconsin Public Service and Madison Gas & Electric if approved.

The reward for information leading to locating a missing Dakota County woman has increased.  The previous reward of five-thousand dollars increased to 45-thousand dollars after a recent donation.  Fifty-six-year-old Nicole Anderson went missing on July sixth from her Randolph Township home.  She is described as a five-foot-ten white woman who weighs 135 pounds.  She has short blonde hair and brown eyes.

A measles outbreak in Minnesota is prompting new guidelines.   The state Department of Health is now allowing for the second dose of the vaccine to be given as soon as 28 days after the first dose. So far there have been 51 confirmed cases this year, primarily among unvaccinated children, with the majority located in Hennepin County.   Anyone who hasn't been vaccinated for measles is urged to do so as soon as possible.

Four people are accused of stealing close to 500-thousand dollars from ATMs in the Twin Cities.  Cornelius McDade, who was arrested in Wisconsin, has been charged with conspiracy, bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft.  Three co-defendants have yet to be captured.  Prosecutors say McDade and the three alleged offenders deposited phony checks and then made cash withdrawals at teller machines.  The scheme reportedly targeted Wings Financial Credit Union branches in Edina, St. Paul, and Maple Grove.

Local-Regional News Oct 2

  There are new charges for a registered sex offender in Dunn County. Prosecutors yesterday filed the charges against 40-year-old Nicholas Titus.  Investigators say he invited a 14-year-old neighbor girl over to help him move. Then, they say, he pushed her on to a bed, pulled down her pants, started taking pictures of her, and touched her. Titus is a registered sex offender with past convictions in Minnesota. A judge set his bond at five-thousand-dollars.

Public managers say they found a rabid bat crawling last week in Eau Claire.  The City-County Health Department says the bat was found near La Salle and Peterson Streets. It couldn't fly. The health department is now asking anyone who may have come into contact with the bat to get to the doctor immediately. There are no reports that the bat bit or scratched anyone, but the health department says rabid animals always pose some risk. 

ATV/UTV owners can now drive them on some city streets in Menomonie.  ATV/UTV's can only be used from the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m on approved streets. They must be ridden in a single file line and obey posted speed limits. All UTVs must have headlights, taillights, brake lights and turn signals. Operators also need to have a valid driver's license and carry proof of insurance.   The new rules took effect yesterday and for a map of approved streets, contact Menomonie City Hall.

Threats received by Menomonie Schools on Monday and Tuesday were deemed not credible.  According to Menomonie police, the department received multiple reports of a snapchat message indicating a possible threat of a school shooting at the Menomonie Middle School on Monday.  Authorities investigated and the threat was deemed not credible.     Then on Tuesday, authorities received a report of an additional, unrelated, threat to a different school. That threat was also determined to not be credible. Police are encouraging parents to talk with their children about responsible device use, internet safety, and the importance of protecting login credentials.

We don't have many answers about the massive fire at a railroad tie plant in La Crosse County. The fire at the Omaha Track plant on French Island burned almost all day yesterday. It took crews from a half-dozen fire departments to contain, then put-out the blaze. Police told neighbors yesterday that there were no worries about toxic smoke from the fire. The same plant saw a similar fire back in 2015, that fire did prompt warnings about toxic smoke. No one is saying how yesterday's fire began, or just how much was burned. 

Eau Claire is getting 400-thousand dollars to fund healthy trees in lower income neighborhoods. The urban forestry grant is coming from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Through the program, residents will be reimbursed for planting new trees or replacing dead, dying, and diseased trees. This includes trees dying due to Emerald Ash Borers. Applications will be available early next year.

Deaf inmates in Wisconsin prison are going to get hearing aids and some other accommodations. The state's Department of Corrections yesterday announced a settlement with the Justice Department that will have Wisconsin pay for hearing aids for deaf and hard-of-hearing inmates. Deaf inmates will also be allowed to use their hands for sign language, even when they are shackled. The settlement comes after three deaf inmates sued the state for violating the Americans with Disabilities Act. The three inmates will also get 15 thousand-dollars each as part of the settlement. 

 The Internal Revenue Service is giving Minnesota farmers and ranchers some additional help to recover from the most recent stretch of drought.  The agency has agreed to extend the normal window farmers have to replace livestock sold or exchanged due to drought conditions.  Farmers normally have two years to replace livestock before they have to declare capital gains on their taxes.  The extension will give farmers and ranchers an additional two years.

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Wausau's ballot drop box is back in front of city hall. The city's clerk yesterday had the box reinstalled, and bolted to the ground. Wausau Mayor Doug Diny removed the ballot drop box two weeks ago, he says to protect voter integrity. The whole thing remains under investigation. The Marathon County Sheriff's Office has an open investigation, and Wausau's clerk has asked the state's Department of Justice to look into the mayor as well. Diny continues to claim he did nothing wrong. The Wisconsin Supreme Court ordered ballot drop boxes be allowed for this November's election, but there is no state law that covers their use, security, or even possible removal. Wausau's clerk says voters can use the drop box to cast their early votes as they see fit.

Add Wisconsin's best first responders to the list of people on the ground in the hurricane zone.  The state's Task Force One is working in Western North Carolina, where Hurricane Helene did some of its worst damage.  The task force, which is made up of first responders from across the state, left Saturday.  Task Force One is trained in both search and recovery, and team leaders say they are doing both in North Carolina this week.  More than 100 people are dead, and thousands are missing after Helene caused widespread flash flooding in the mountains. Some towns are essentially cut-off, while others are all but wiped away. 

The City of Rochester is looking for some help collecting unpaid parking tickets.  Officials say the city is owed about 870-thousand dollars in unpaid tickets dating back to 2018.  Rochester is working with its parking system vendor to give those with unpaid fines a chance to pay up.  Fines still unpaid by January 1st will be sent to collections.

 A southern Minnesota woman arrested after a crash involving a horse-drawn buggy plans to plead not guilty to the charges against her.  Brittany Edgar was in court in Fillmore County yesterday for an omnibus hearing on charges including a felony count of criminal vehicular operation.  Investigators say she was driving near Spring Valley on February 16th when she hit the buggy, injuring six people.  She allegedly left the scene of the crash and later told investigators that she hit a deer before admitting she hit the buggy.  Her lawyer told the judge yesterday that he has been unable to reach an agreement with prosecutors to resolve the case.  Another hearing is scheduled for November 5th.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources will restart the process to change PFAS regulations for drinking water. The Natural Resources Board approved a request for public hearings on the subject at its meeting last week. The D N R wants to set regulations to meet federal guidelines, but the change must go through a full round of hearings and meetings. If the change goes through, DNR staff say 90 water systems will have to be remediated statewide. Legislative Republicans prevented a previous alteration of the standards after the agency used emergency rulings to push for remediation in several parts of the state. 

The Coolest Thing Made in Minnesota competition is down to its final week.  The contest's four remaining products were announced yesterday, with online voting open until Friday at 4 p.m.  The finalists include 3M Scotch-brand Magic Tape, the Red Wing Shoe Company's Beckman Boot, Action Manufacturing's Action Trackchair and Midwest Floating Island's Innovative National Aquarium Wetland.  The winner of the competition will be announced next week at the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce Manufacturer's Summit.

Local-Regional News Oct 1

 Two people were injured in a three-vehicle accident in Milton Township on Saturday night.  According to the Buffalo County Sheriffs Department, 36yr old Luis Alberto Jerez Vasquez was traveling on Hwy 35, crossed the center line and struck a vehicle driven by 83yr old Fred Prudoehl of Winona.  A third vehicle driven by 38yr old Matthew Prieur of Fountain City tried to avoid the crash but struck Prodoehl's vehicle. Prieur and his passenger 36yr old Brittany Prieur were both taken to the hospital, while Vasquez and Prudoehl refused treatment at the scene.  Vasquez admitted to drinking before the accident and was arrested on multiple charges including causing injury while operating while intoxicated.

The man charged with the death of Jessica Bignell pleaded guilty to homicide by negligent driving on Monday.  Bradley Holtz pleaded guilty to the charges stemming from the UTV accident that killed Bignell in June of 2023.  According to the criminal complaint, Holz was part of a convoy of five UTV's that drove past several 'road closed' signs and traveled on County Highway 'Z', which was closed for construction. Holz crashed, killing Bignell, his passenger.  Bignell's family called the incident a tragic accident and asked for leniency.  Holz was sentenced to nine months in jail and four years probation, during which time he is not allowed to consume alcohol.

A Durand man has been arrested in Buffalo County on OWI 8th offense charges.  According to the Buffalo County Sheriff's Department , Deputies pulled over 57yr old Danny Standifer for speeding on Hwy 25 on Friday night.  Deputies smelled a strong odor of intoxicants and Standifer admitted to drinking two beers.    A breathalyzer test showed Standifer's blood alcohol content at .128.  He was released on a $2500 signature bond and will appear in court on November 6th.

Two people are arrested in a northwest Wisconsin shooting.  Eau Claire County Sheriff’s deputies responded to an armed suspect outside a home in Fairchild Sunday evening. An armed suspect threatened to kill someone inside. Officers found several people involved in the incident and two firearms. One of the weapons was fired, but no one was hurt. The two persons taken into custody are expected to face several charges including possession of a firearm by felon and endangering safety while armed and intoxicated.

Former UW La Crosse Chancellor Joe Gow promises to challenge the latest decision by the UW Board of Regents to strip him of his tenured faculty position. The Regents, meeting at UW-Parkside in Kenosha on Friday, voted unanimously to strip him of his tenured faculty position on the La Crosse campus. It’s the latest setback for Gow, who was fired as chancellor after revelations that he and his wife produced pornographic material. Gow has maintained that wasn’t in his capacity as a UW System employee and that the Regents actions violated his right to free speech. Gow called the Regents “a board of hypocrites,” and said he and his wife Carmen Wilson seek not only to protect their own rights, “but to protect free speech and expression for all Americans.”

Eau Claire is losing its Big Lots. Big Lots yesterday posted on its website that the store on Hamilton Avenue is among those that are closing. Big Lots recently announced that it is filing for bankruptcy and will be closing its stores. There's no word yet just how many people will lose their jobs when the Eau Claire store closes its doors. 

Kwik Trip says electric charges are coming soon to some of their stations across Wisconsin. Kwik Trip yesterday said it will offer Kwik Chargers that can charge as many as four electric vehicles at a time. There's no word just how many stations will get the new electric charges, or when they will be available. Kwik Trip says the first two, in Ashland and West Salem, should be ready by the end of the month.

There's an increased chance of fire danger in Wisconsin this week. The Department of Natural Resources says fires are more likely with dry weather and low chances of precipitation as fall weather starts up. The department says debris burning is the number one cause of wildfires in the state, and burning brush and leaf piles also bring an increased risk this time of year. Debris burning is discouraged until the ground is completely covered with snow.  As of this morning, the fire danger is listed as moderate for the entire WRDN Listening Area.

One person is dead after a crash between a motorcycle and car in Barron County.  The Sheriff's Office says the crash happened yesterday afternoon, closing County Road W and 19th Street for hours. The driver of the car was treated and released while the cyclist was declared dead at the scene. The cause of the crash is still under investigation. 

  Wisconsin lawmakers will hear from experts as they continue to try and figure out what to do about the state's Sandhill Cranes. The Legislative Council Study Committee on Sandhill Cranes will hold its latest meeting today in Madison. The committee will hear from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, two people with the University of Wisconsin, and the Wisconsin Waterfowl Association. The committee wants to spend the next couple of months looking at the issue surrounding the cranes, then come-up with some proposals for lawmakers to vote on next year. 

If you're locked out of your car or home, be sure you're not going to get scammed by a locksmith. Better Business Bureau Wisconsin spokeswoman Lisa Schiller says one common scam is to increase the price once a technician shows up. Schiller says you should scrutinize any locksmith ad you find online, since scammers have been spamming phony ads on Google or other services. If you're unsure, check online at B B B dot org, or try calling your local police non-emergency line for a recommendation.

39-year-old Jesse Vang, the last person to see Elijah Vue alive, is getting another status conference in court.  The new status date for Vang was set for November 6th. Manitowoc County District Attorney Jacalyn LeBre asked for the new conference with the lawyers representing Vang agreeing to the November date. Vang is still only facing chronic child neglect charges for incidents that happened before Elijah Vue was reported missing back in February. Vue’s remains were found earlier this month on a hunter’s property, three miles northwest of where Vang reported the toddler missing. Elijah’s mother Katrina Baur, who’s also facing chronic child neglect charges, has another court date set for October 22nd.

Deer hunting season is underway, and the Department of Natural Resources reminds hunters to have deer tested for chronic wasting disease. Deer Herd Specialist Erin Larson says don't fret if a deer you harvested tests positive. Replacement authorizations would be issued to a Go Wild account within two to four days.

Wisconsin's State Superintendent of Public Instruction is asking the state Legislature to double its reimbursement of special education costs to local school districts. Jill Underly says the current reimbursement rate of 31.5% is not enough.  Underly made the request during her annual State of Education Address at the Capitol in Madison Thursday.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota is the target of a multimillion-dollar fraud scheme.  Authorities say the Eagan-based healthcare company was lured into wrongly wiring close to eight million dollars to bank accounts that were represented as belonging to Minneapolis-based Fairview Health Services.  A pair of unidentified health insurers in the Twin Cities also wired about three million and one-point-five million dollars.  Two Nigerian nationals have been indicted in the case and are fugitives.

 Wisconsin has a new record for the largest pumpkin. Jim Ford grew a pumpkin that weighed-in at two thousand-551 pounds at Saturday's Ginormous Pumpkin Festival in Altoona. Ford's pumpkin was one of five that weighed more than two-thousand pounds. The Chippewa Valley Giant Pumpkin Growers hosted the festival to promote the Chippewa Valley's pumpkin producing prominence.