Local-Regional News May 8

 

Two people were injured in a two vehicle accident Tuesday in Trenton Township. According to the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department, 32yr old Brendan Kirby of Prescott was traveling southbound on Hwy 63, when he collided with a northbound vehicle driven by 78yr old Dale Edgar of Kasson, MN. Edgar and passenger 77yr old Julie Edgar were taken to Mayo Red Wing Hospital. Kirby was not injured in the accident.

Wisconsin 3^rd District Congressman Derrick Van Orden is changing his plans in response to a "credible threat" made against members of his family. According to a statement from his office, the Republican had to miss votes yesterday and reschedule his upcoming town hall. The threat was made against his wife, children, and grandchildren in a letter delivered to his Washington-based office. The congressman's office condemned threats of political violence against public officials and noted the incident has been reported to authorities.

Middle School Students from Durand-Arkansaw, Assumption and Pepin will be learning about the Civil War today with the Pepin County Heritage Center. Bob Zika with the Heritage Center says the Center is hosting the 2^nd Minnesota Battery of Light Artillery based out of Red Wing today.  The public is invited after 2pm, and as part of the visit today, the group will be shooting a large cannon throughout the day.

Mondovi residents who use North Washington Street will need to use Hwy 37 today. The City of Mondovi will have North Washington closed to through traffic for the majority of the day today. Utility Crews are installing pipes along the road and hope to have that completed by the end of the day.

The CPKC railroad will close multiple railroad crossings for repairs in Wabasha County over the next few months. The crossing on County Road 84 near Hwy 61 will be closed May 17-20, and by Kellogg May 29 through June 2^nd. The Gambia Street Crossing in Wabasha will be closed June 12-16 and the Lakewood Drive Crossing in Lake City will be closed July 8-12.

Plum City School District Students will be starting summer early. Because the district did not use all of the scheduled snow days, students will be released early on the last day of School June 5^th. Elementary students will be released at 12:50 and middle high school students at 1. All busses will run their same routes.

Fire crews are investigating how a fire started at an assisted living facility in Holmen. The fire took place yesterday on the 3000 block of Circle Drive. When fire crews arrived at the scene, they saw light smoke coming from one of the rooms, but no flames were spotted. The facility was evacuated as crews could put the fire/smoke out. No one was injured and crews believe the fire started from an air conditioning unit.

Applications are open for a new Barron County Sheriff. Current County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald announced his retirement to the public earlier this week after notifying Governor Tony Evers on Friday. Fitzgerald says he's leaving for a public relations role at Mosaic Technologies. Once selected, the new sheriff will serve until January 2027. Applications will be accepted through May 23rd.

The Wisconsin State Patrol is warning drivers about a higher risk of deer crashes as the weather gets warmer. State Patrol says the number of crashes involving deer increase in May and June as deer look for places to give birth and keep their young offspring. There were more than 17 thousand deer-related crashes reported last year, resulting in nine deaths and more than 700 injuries.

Farmers need to make their voices heard on agricultural equipment “lemon law” legislation. That from state Representative and farmer Travis Tranel of Cuba City, after no one testified on the bill during a public hearing at the Capitol this week. Tranel said although farmers are busy right now with spring planting, they and farm organizations need to show up for issues that are important to them, because their voices matter. The bill would entitle farmers to be eligible for replacement or refund, if equipment repairs are not correctly completed after four trips to a service department or if the equipment is out of service for 30 days.

A Republican authored bill in the Wisconsin Senate would require school districts to include a good-faith estimate of the property tax impact of a passed referendum on a single-family residence. Appleton Republican Senator Rachael Cabral-Guevara say it would offer more transparency for voters. Opponents say it will be hard to predict the impact of referendum at the start of the process versus when it eventually goes on the ballot. The Senate Education Committee also took testimony Tuesday on related legislation to restrict how often school districts can propose operating referenda. Another bill would require school boards make textbooks, curricula, and instructional materials available for inspection by district residents.

As expected, Republican budget writers will extensively rework Governor Tony Evers two-year state spending plan. Republicans who hold the majority on the Legislature’s budget writing Joint Finance Committee have signaled for weeks that they plan to essentially build a new 2025-2027 budget from scratch. That’s similar to how they’ve handled the three previous Evers’ budgets. When the committee meets Thursday, they’ll strip more than 600 policy items out of the budget the Democratic governor proposed earlier this year. Items to be deleted include the governor's proposed fifth state tax bracket for Wisconsin’s high wage earners; along with proposals to legalize marijuana, expand Medicaid eligibility, and increase state funding support for childcare providers. The finance committee will send their finished product to Evers this summer.

For the 30th straight year, Wisconsin leads the nation in cranberry production. The latest harvest report from the Wisconsin Cranberry Board shows that the state produced just over 6 million barrels of cranberries in 2024. That represents over 60 percent of the nation's cranberry supply, more than doubling the amount produced by the number two cranberry provider in the U.S., Massachusetts. Of the 19 counties delivering that output, Wood County was the state’s leader, producing nearly a third of the total amount.

Gov. Tony Evers announced the reappointment of Cindy Brown to the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) Board, effective May 2, 2025. She is the immediate Past-President of the Global Pulse Confederation. DATCP Secretary Randy Romanski. said“Ms. Brown is engaged and knowledgeable, and I look forward to continuing to work with her on the DATCP Board.” Ms. Brown served as President of Chippewa Valley Bean from 2011 – 2025 and currently serves as Chairman of the Board.

There's more solar power coming to the Madison area. Madison Gas and Electric received approval from the Wisconsin Public Service Commission to build a new 20 megawatt solar array in Fitchburg. The plant will be called the Sunnyside Solar Energy center, and will be able to power 6,000 homes. The plan also calls for a 40 megawatt battery storage system to hold that power overnight. M G and E already has 40 megawatts of solar power in its grid from other arrays in Fitchburg.

The site of a beloved decades-long Wisconsin Dells attraction is sold. The property that was home to the Tommy Bartlett water-ski show and Tommy Bartlett Exploratory has been purchased by Ripley’s Believe It or Not World Entertainment. The sale announced Monday comes five years after the Bartlett venues closed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The owners of the shuttered property searched for a buyer who would maintain the space as a tourism and entertainment spot. The new owners plan to keep the site open as a year-round attraction. 

Local-Regional News May 7

 

The Durand-Arkansaw School Board has approved a plan to have a late start for Wednesday Classes to allow for teacher collaboration. The plan would have teachers report to work on Wednesday at 7:30am for collaboration until 8:15 with classes starting at 8:20. Dismissal times for students would remain the same. The new plan for teacher collaboration will begin with the new school year.

One person was injured in a motorcycle accident in Rock Elm Township on Monday. According to the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department, 69yr old Jeffrey Kerg of Elmwood was traveling westbound on Hwy 72 when he struck a deer. Kerg was taken to Mayo Hospital in Menomonie.

Two people were injured in a motorcycle accident in Clifton Township on Monday. According to the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department, 46yr old Charles Cook of Gem Lake, MN was traveling southbound on Hwy F when he lost control and entered the ditch. Cook and passenger 23yr old Alexis Cook were taken to Regions Hospital in St. Paul.

Residents in Trempealeau will soon see a price hike in their utility bills. The Trempealeau Municipal Electric and Water Utility has put forth an application with the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin to get a tweak with rates that would increase it by 12 percent. This would be the first price hike since 2023.

Fire crews are investigating how a fire started at Bush Brothers in Augusta. Crews responded to the building yesterday in the early evening. Smoke damage can be seen on the outside of the building as crews were putting out flames. Employees were seen outside of the building. It is unclear of injuries as well as how the fire first started.

An investigation is underway in Monroe County after two people were found dead in a river. Monroe County deputies say the bodies of a man and a woman were found Sunday afternoon in a river just northeast of Fort McCoy in Wyeville. The pair went missing the night before from a nearby bar. The Medical Examiner's office has not identified the victims, but deputies are not suspecting foul play at this time.

The Minnesota State Patrol confirmed that a man is dead after riding his e-bike and being hit by a car in Winona. The incident took place at the intersection of 6th Street and Liberty Street Monday night. Police say another man was driving and turning on to 6th street when he hit the victim riding an e-bike. The man hit was pronounced dead at the scene. Police say the sun may have played a role in the crash, and that alcohol did not play a role.

Minnesota State Senator Matt Klein is running for Congress. The Mendota Heights Democrat is hoping to replace Southeast Minnesota Congresswoman Angie Craig, who is running for U. S. Senate. Klein believes his experience as a doctor and his nine years as a state legislator will help him to serve voters in the congressional district. He has already gained endorsements from the Minnesota Pipe Trades Association and Iron Workers Local 512.

Burn permits are suspended in 30 Wisconsin counties. The Department of Natural Resources says no precipitation for much of the state, combined with low humidity, makes for increased fire danger. The majority of fire danger is in the northern third of Wisconsin, with parts of central and southwestern Wisconsin affected as well. Here in the WRDN Listening Area, Pepin, Buffalo, Dunn and Pierce Counties are under a Moderate Fire Danger while Eau Claire and Chippewa Counties are under a High Fire Danger. More than 650 wildfires have burned in Wisconsin so far this year, burning more than 22-hundred acres of land. Current fire danger and burn restriction information is available on the DNR's website.

The deadline is finally here, and you'll now need a Real ID to be federally compliant. AAA Representative Brynna Knapp says you need one to fly domestically, enter a military base or some federal buildings. Knapp says you must bring several Department of Motor Vehicles accepted documents that help verify your identity, U.S. legal residents and citizenship status, and then your current address that you live at now. You can visit your local Wisconsin DMV office to get your Real ID. You can also make an appointment, which can speed up the process. More info is available on the Wisconsin Department of Transportation website.

The CDC is announcing a multi-state outbreak of salmonella involving backyard poultry in six states including Wisconsin. Seven people have reportedly gotten sick from contact with infected ducks or chickens. CDC health experts are offering tips for reducing risk of salmonella, saying wash your hands for 20 seconds after touching birds, their supplies, or collecting eggs. They also recommend using a pair of dedicated boots or shoes for your chicken coop and take them off before entering your house. Salmonella symptoms include fever, diarrhea and stomach cramps six hours to six days after being exposed.

Wisconsin joins 19 other states in a lawsuit against the U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary. Attorney General Josh Kaul announced that the state will join the suit which aims to stop Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the Trump administration from making cuts to HHS. Kaul says that's “…resulting in increased and unnecessary risk to people’s health and wellbeing.” Kaul also argues that the Trump administration can’t authorize the cuts, since Congress already approved the funding. Kennedy eliminated 28 departments from the agency and decreased its workforce by 25% during a restructuring last month.

Governor Tony Evers appoints three new members to the UW Board of Regents. The Democratic governor has appointed Tom Palzewicz, Linda Terwilliger and Noah Fritz to fill vacancies created by terms ending for the last three regents appointed by former Republican governor Scott Walker. Evers says the appointments come at a critical time, calling this a make-or-break moment for the Universities of Wisconsin and institutions of higher education across the state. Palzewicz and Terwilliger's terms end in 2032, Fritz's will end in 2027. State law requires the UW Board of Regents to be made up of at least one member from each of Wisconsin's congressional districts.

Police officers from Ohio are cleared of any wrongdoing in the death of a man during last year's Republican National Convention In Milwaukee. The Milwaukee County District Attorney's office won't be charging the five Columbus officers involved in the shooting death of 43-year-old Sam Sharpe during the RNC last July. The officers who killed Sharpe were among nearly 4,000 non-Milwaukee officers who assisted during the convention. Investigators said Sharpe was trying to attack another man with two knives when he was shot and killed by the Columbus cops. The DA found their use of force permissible under Wisconsin law.

A mental health grant designated for the Rochester Public Schools is terminated. RPS Superintendent Kent Pekel says he learned that the one-point-nine-million dollar grant will be cut off in the middle of a multi-grant period, effective December 31st. He added that students in need of counseling for depression, anxiety, and thoughts of suicide will not get the needed support. The federal grant covers tuition in the social work program at Winona State University, substitutes pay for staff while they complete internship experiences, while earning their degrees, and provides mentoring and supervision to support mental health practitioners.

A Minnesota company is planning to auction some of the possessions of late country music star Johnny Cash. Edina-based Karats by Auction House took bids online yesterday on such items as rings, furniture, belt buckles, and handwritten lyrics. The businesses owner says the auction was breaking records as it had well over 15-thousand potential buyers in the virtual room. Cash's daughter Cindy is donating a portion of the proceeds to the conservation group Sea Shepherd and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Local-Regional News May 6

The Durand-Arkansaw School District has hired Archie Sherbinow as the new Director of Athletics and Community Partnerships. Sherbinow has served as the Athletics and Aquatics Director at the Augusta School District and is the former athletic director at Chippewa Falls McDonell and was the boys basketball coach for 15yr at McDonell. Sherbinow will oversee all middle and high school athletic programming, coordinate youth recreation activities and work to expand community partnerships to benefit students and offer community education for the entire district. Sherbinow will begin in the district on July 1^st.

Spongy moth aerial spraying is set to begin this month in Pepin and Buffalo Counties. The Department of Ag, Trade and Consumer protection says residents in affected areas can expect loud, low-flying planes as early as sunrise on select mornings . During its caterpillar stage, spongy moth can defoliate many kinds of trees and shrubs. Spongy moth can also have a financial impact by forcing removal of dead trees and resultant loss of property values. More information, including a schedule of when treatment will take place, can be found on DATCP's website.

Buffalo County is again offering an Ag & Household Hazardous Clean Sweep collection program to residents, businesses and farms.   Residents and farmers may bring their materials to the Clean Sweep collection site in Mondovi this Saturday from 8-1 at no cost.  Proof of residency will be required. Contact Buffalo County Recycling for more information.

The City of Wabasha will hold an open house to discuss the results of a Feasibility Study of the scope of a new Ambulance, Police Station, and City Hall on May 14^th from 5-7pm at the Ambulance Station in Wabasha. The city had asked Brunton Architects to conduct the study, and the open house will give residents the chance to hear the results and provide input to city officials.

The entire Arcadia Police Department has resigned. WEAU reports that some of the officers took jobs outside of law enforcement and others went to other departments. Because of the departures, the city has had to rely on the Trempealeau County Sheriff’s Department to handle calls in the city. Arcadia is working to rebuild the force and has hired Nic School as the new chief of police.

The Barron County Sheriff is retiring. Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald said he notified the Governor of his retirement on Friday, effective June 1st. Fitzgerald says he's leaving for a public relations role at Mosaic Technologies. The appointment process to fill the Sheriff position is expected to start today.

Wisconsin is suing the US Department of Health and Human Services and Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Wisconsin is joining 19 other states in the suit, which concerns the firing of federal health workers and termination of several programs. Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul says in the lawsuit the changes are leading to a lack of oversight over lead poisoning risks in Milwaukee schools and tobacco use in young people. The Attorneys General of Minnesota and Illinois are also joining the suit.

Congressman Derrick Van Orden urged House Agriculture Committee Chairman G.T. Thompson to reconsider an adjustment proposal to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). To adhere to the reconciliation budget instructions agreed to by the House and Senate, the House Agriculture Committee proposed shifting a blanket 25% of SNAP costs on state governments. Congressman Van Orden proposed an alternative that would tie each state’s cost-sharing responsibility to its SNAP error rate. For instance, Wisconsin had a 4.74% overpayment error rate in 2023, so the state would be responsible for 4.74% of the cost. In addition to the letter, Rep. Van Orden signed on to a resolution that would prevent budget reconciliation from cutting Medicaid and SNAP benefits for the most vulnerable populations.

A cold case out of Wisconsin spanning six decades has been solved. The Sauk County Sheriff's Office said, Audrey Backeberg who disappeared at the age of 20 in 1962 has been found alive and well. An investigation by the sheriff's office determined she chose to disappear and no criminal activity or foul play was involved. Backeberg disappeared from her home on July 7th, 1962.

Washington County Executive Josh Schoemann  is officially running for governor. The 43-year-old Republican made the announcement at Sunday rally near West Bend after filing paperwork last week. The Army National Guard veteran has served as Washington County executive since 2020 and is the first candidate to enter the 2026 governor’s race. Incumbent Democratic Governor Tony Evers has said he will wait until after the state budget is completed to make his decision on whether to run for a third term.

Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul says he's surprised at the pushback against a memo from Governor Tony Evers on how to handle requests from federal immigration agents. Speaking to W I S N's UPFRONT, Kaul says state employees shouldn't be simply handing over documents to federal agents. The memo from the Evers administration drew criticism from Republicans at the state and federal level, with Trump Administration official Tom Homan hinting at arresting state employees who question ICE agents.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins last week announced the latest slate of presidential appointments for key Farm Service Agency (FSA) and Rural Development (RD) State Director roles. Kurt Blomgren was selected as State Executive Director for the Farm Service Agency in Minnesota. He is a fourth-generation family farmer from Butterfield, Minnesota, currently operating a diversified crop and livestock farm with his son Vance and family. Sandy Chalmers was selected as State Executive Director for the Farm Service Agency in Wisconsin. Sandy has served in a number of leadership roles advocating for farmers, ranchers, and rural Americans, and she returns to direct Farm Service Agency operations in Wisconsin. Sandy previously served in executive positions at the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection.

There’s a newborn zebra at the Racine Zoo. The Friday morning birth is the second for a Hartmann’s Mountain zebra at the zoo and is a part of a survival plan for the species. The baby zebra’s mother named Promise and father named Obi are zoo residents. Both mother and baby will be off exhibit to bond until warmer weather arrives. The zoo will conduct a name-the-baby contest and will also sell zebra-themed apparel to support the care of the new arrival. More information is at the Racine Zoo website.

 

Local-Regional News May 5

Don’t expect any new construction at the new industrial park on the west side of Mondovi anytime soon. Mondovi Mayor Brady Weiss says while the city does own the land, the infrastructure will be the issue for developing the west side industrial park.  The plans for the new park also include a housing component for workers and families.

Police in Menomonie need your help in finding the person who vandalized a bathroom at Point Comfort Park. The incident happened last Thursday between 2:30 p.m. and 3:45 p.m. Authorities say that someone lit a soap and towel dispenser on fire, causing major smoke damage. Anyone who was in the park and saw something is asked to contact the Menomonie police.

Officials in Eau Claire have closed the Eddy Street bridge in the Mt. Simon area due to structural issues. State inspectors noticed some structural flaws. It could stay open with weight restrictions but because it is one of the only ways from the area in and out of the city, officials could not risk the bridge staying open and have closed it indefinitely. Union Pacific will fund the maintenance needed to reopen the bridge.

The Trump administration is terminating a grant program that supports mental health staffing in schools. The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction was informed last week that the U.S. Department of Education is terminating the Biden era School-Based Mental Health Professionals Grant. The program provided one billion dollars in federal grants that districts in 22 states across the country have been using to hire mental health professionals, including counselors and social workers. Wisconsin’s grant was for $10 million. According to DPI the initial $2.2 million has already been received, but the remaining $8 million over four years will be canceled.

The search continues for a man who has been missing since 2019. Norbert Dantzman was last seen August 30th in 2019 when he was visiting for a family reunion in Sawyer County and left the hotel in which he was staying. Dantzman has dementia. The family has never given up, especially since the last time they were searching, they stuck a camera in a river and found a black shoe at the bottom. Dantzman was wearing black shoes when he was last seen. The family thanks the community for the continuing support.

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers opened the fishing season in Rice Lake. Evers and Lieutenant Governor Sarah Rodriguez took to the water in a friendly competition on who could get the biggest catch. It is tradition that the Governor visits a fishing community every year to kick off the season. The season runs now until the end of October. When the Governor and Lieutenant Governor returned, Rodriguez was declared the winner of the friendly competition catching a 21 and one half-inch northern pike. Evers caught one that was 19 and a half inches.

The Governor of Wisconsin says the Trump administration is sending "chilling threats" to his office in Milwaukee. The office of Governor Tony Evers [[ ee-vers ]] had recently issued advice on what to do if state employees were faced with immigration agents. On Thursday, "Border czar" Tom Homan responded and said it would be a felony if Evers were to interfere with immigration officers, and added, "we'll treat it as such." Evers said on Friday that he's not afraid and will continue to do the right thing.

Police in Oconomowoc are cleared in the killing of a sandhill crane. The birds are federally protected, so if one is deemed a nuisance, a permit is required to kill it. After a homeowner told Oconomowoc police that they tried everything to get a crane to stop property damage in excess of $2000, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service investigated and granted a permit to kill the crane. An officer found the bird near the home Monday and shot and killed it. Law enforcement, crane experts, and federal authorities all say the rules for killing the crane were followed properly.

The Arkansas man accused of kidnapping a pregnant Beaver Dam teen was bound over for trial Thursday. Dodge County prosecutors charged 40-year-old Gary Day with abducting the girl from her home in February. Day and the teen were eventually found at a truck stop near Omaha last month. Day, who authorities say is the father of the 17-year-old’s unborn child, is charged with two counts of abducting a child and two counts of child enticement. Day was already under investigation for crimes against children in his home state of Arkansas at the time of the kidnapping. He is due back in court in June for his arraignment.

Minnesota lawmakers are at odds over whether to roll back or revise some laws passed by Democrats two years ago. Republican legislators are pushing to repeal laws providing summer unemployment insurance to hourly school workers and health care to undocumented immigrants. Meanwhile, Democrats are defending the programs they created when the state had a huge budget surplus in 2023. In the DFL-controlled Senate, a bipartisan group of lawmakers is proposing changes to Minnesota's paid family and medical leave and earned sick and safe time laws. Legislators face a May 19th adjournment deadline to get their work done.

The discussion around class sizes in Rochester Public Schools is ongoing. In November, voters approved a referendum allocating over 19-million-dollars to prevent class sizes from growing. Despite this, some parents are expressing concern as several class sizes are set to increase significantly next year. One key point of contention is the Spanish Immersion third-grade class at Riverside Elementary. This year, the class has 17 students, but that number is expected to rise to 33 in the coming school year. District officials state that the target size for third-grade classes is 30 students and note that the current class size of 17 is well below that benchmark.

Brazen Head Pub in West Bend is the winner of the Second Annual Best Burger In Wisconsin Contest. The restaurant's Brazen Beer Cheeseburger won the award. The Wisconsin Beef Council started the contest last year to promote beef burgers made in restaurants statewide. Customers nominated their favorite burgers for the contest, and a panel of judges tried each of the eight highest vote-getters to decide the winner. 

Local-Regional News May 2

 

The man who was killed in a motorcycle crash in Dunn County is now identified. 55-year-old Joseph Kadinger was the victim killed, and he was from Eau Claire. Kadinger was driving his motorcycle near the 1500 Block of 420th Street when he swerved to avoid a deer. Unfortunately, his bike gave out and he was thrown off and later died.

The Buffalo County Highway Department will be closing a portion of Hwy K next Wednesday for Culvert Replacement. Hwy K will be closed between Little Bear Creek and Lindstrom Valley Road for the project. The road will be closed from 7am-3pm on Wednesday.

Caddie Woodlawn Elementary School was recently named one of the top elementary schools in Wisconsin by US News and World Report. One of the criteria measured was the increase in proficiency of reading and math skills by students. Durand-Arkansaw School Superintendent Ryan Nelson says it appears the students are rebounding from the pandemic.  US News is set to release its high school rankings in the coming weeks.

With summer just around the corner, the City of Mondovi is seeing an increase in the use of Mirror Lake. Mondovi Mayor Brady Weiss says the lake's dredging a few years ago and the installation of the new boat launch are making it a popular spot.  The lake is expected to be busy this weekend for the fishing opener.

Governor Evers kicked off Mental Health Awareness Month with Chippewa Falls Students. Evers was highlighting his 300-million-dollar plan at combating youth mental health that has seen a rise in numbers over the last 10 years. While at the school he also toured the Fabrication laboratory the school has and declared it "Fab Lab Day." Fab Labs provide students hands-on experience using advanced manufacturing equipment and technology.

A Republican authored bill would bar schools from joining the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletics Association unless the W I A A submits to open records requests. Bill author Representative Cindi Duchow of Delafield says the W I A A wields too much power. Madison Democrat Francesca Hong notes that there is no direct taxpayer funding for the W I A A and opening it up to open records could open up other groups like the Counties Association to the same treatment. The bill comes after several high profile decisions by the W I A A stopped students or schools from participating in playoffs and tournaments over the past several years. A similar bill was proposed a decade ago.

Wisconsin's general fishing season opens Saturday. Wisconsin residents and nonresidents age 16 or older are required to purchase a fishing license. If you head out, the Department of Natural Resources is asking you to help minimize the spread of invasive species, follow proper catch and release protocols, know rules and regulations, and stay safe. You can also use the DNR's new Fishing Finder tool to find access points, stocking information, and regulations. An annual resident fishing license costs $20. More information can be found on the DNR's website.

A Wisconsin man is sentenced to federal prison for his role in a nationwide “swatting” spree. On Thursday, a U.S. District Court judge in Los Angeles sentenced 23-year-old Kya Christian Nelson of Racine to three-and-a-half years in federal prison. Nelson and his co-conspirators gained access to Ring home security door cameras. Over a one week period in November 2020, they placed bogus emergency phone calls designed to elicit an armed police response, then livestreamed the events on social media, sometimes while taunting responding police officers. Nelson pleaded guilty in January. He has been in federal custody since August 2024 and previously was serving a prison sentence in Kentucky after being convicted in state court there in an unrelated case.

At the Capitol, Republican lawmakers want to reset regulatory red tape in Wisconsin. A package of four bills are designed to address a regulatory climate which state Representative Dan Knodl said is not friendly to business. Knodl said he hears about "businesses that are considering coming to Wisconsin are just frightened about the maze of regulations and all the hurdles that are in front of them.” Representative Adam Neylon said the red tape burden on businesses has worsened under Democratic Governor Tony Evers – who would likely veto the bills if they reach his desk. The conservative Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty provided research used in drafting the bills.

There are changes in leadership coming to Kohl's after the company found its newly installed CEO engaged in unethical behavior. Ashley Buchanan, a former chief executive of arts and crafts chain Michaels, began as Kohl's CEO on January 15th with the hopes of turning around the struggling retailer. However, the company says his tenure has been cut short after an investigation from an outside counsel found that he "violated company policies by directing the company to engage in vendor transactions that involved undisclosed conflicts of interest." Michael Bender, the current chairman of the Kohl's board, will become interim CEO until a replacement is found.

An early Republican entrant into the race for governor. Washington County Executive Josh Schoemann  has filed papers to run for governor in the 2026 fall election. Incumbent Democrat, Governor Tony Evers, has yet to indicate whether or not he’ll seek a third term, saying he’ll wait to make an announcement once work is complete on the state budget. The 43-year-old Schoemann was elected as executive of conservative Washington County in 2020, after six years as county administrator and administrative coordinator, and elected to a second term in 2024. Schoemann will make a formal campaign announcement this weekend. Other potential Republican candidates for governor are Congressman Tom Tiffany, former U.S. Senate candidate and Madison businessman Eric Hovde, and Whitefish Bay businessman Bill Berrien.

The majority of Wisconsinites already have REAL IDs. The Transportation Security Administration will start requiring a REAL ID to board domestic flights or visit federal buildings starting on May 7. A REAL ID meets higher federal security standards and requires multiple documents like a birth certificate, social security card, or passport. REAL IDs are marked with a gold star. According to the Wisconsin DOT, 64 percent of Wisconsinites have the gold star on their license. More information on getting a REAL ID is available on WisconsinDOT-dot-gov.

More details are being released about a deadly house fire in Rochester. Fire officials say the cause of the March 31st blaze has not been determined because of the extensive damage to the home. Investigators don't believe there was any foul play involved. Officials say the explosion reported before the fire was from medical-grade oxygen cylinders. They say they did not cause the blaze but did contribute to the heavy damage to the home. The victim, 69-year-old Patricia Spitzack-Havlish, was able to evacuate from the house but was eventually pronounced dead on the scene.

The Henry Vilas Zoo in Madison is welcoming two new river otter pups. The zoo announced the North American river otter pups, male Wasabi and female Ginger, were born in February and have been bonding with their mother Elva behind the scenes. Zoo Executive Director Ronda Schwetz says Elva is proving to be an attentive parent and they've been able to keep on eye on the pups over the last few months. Wasabi and Ginger will make their debut on Saturday at the zoo's annual Party for the Planet and money raised during the event will support wildlife conservation. 

Local-Regional News May 1

One person is dead after a one vehicle accident in Clifton Township on Tuesday. According to the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department, 41yr old Stephen Mountain of River Falls was traveling southbound on Hwy F when he lost control of the vehicle, entered the ditch and overturned. Mountain was ejected from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene.

The third annual Durand-Arkansaw FFA AG day was held yesterday at Durand-Arkansaw Middle School. The day gave a chance for middle school students to learn about agriculture from the high school FFA members. Durand-Arkansaw School Superintendent Ryan Nelson says the day is beneficial for both high school and middle school students.  Students moved from different stations and learned about the dairy, beef, pork, poultry and sheep, and goat industries, farm equipment, and even farm safety with the Durand Fire Department.

The Pepin County Land Conservation Department and Pepin County Sheriff’s Department is looking for the person responsible for dumping a truck load of used carpet at Holden Park. In a social media post, the Land Conservation Department says the person responsible was driving a 2000’s black extended cab Dodge pickup with an American flag bumper sticker in the lower right rear window. If anyone has any information on the owner of this vehicle, they are to contact the Pepin County Sheriff’s Department.

One person was injured in a single-vehicle accident in the Town of Arcadia yesterday. According to the Trempealeau County Sheriff’s Department , 23yr old Roberto Gonzalez of Arcadia was traveling eastbound on Hwy A and was unable to negotiate a curve and ran off the roadway, entered the ditch, and struck an embankment. Passenger 25yr old Rejina Gomez suffered a minor injury.

Because of a failed referendum earlier this month the Arcadia school district is going to need to make major budget cuts. They will need to cut over 800 thousand dollars for the next school year. The major cuts will include already vacant faculty positions and changing high school programs. One program that has already been cut was gymnastics. They don't have the students to participate, and officials say it's an extremely expensive sport. Once the school finalizes what they will cut, officials will update parents.

Plea deals have been reached in a sexual assault case in Eau Claire. The assaults happened in the early two-thousands. Christopher and Daniel Rodriguez assaulted the victim when he was eight years old and continued until he was a teenager. Yesterday, plea deals were made and if they follow their guidelines, both men can have their charges amended to disorderly conduct after three years.

The Eau Claire Health Department is asking for the public's help in locating a dog. The dog bit a girl over the weekend at Roadside Ice Cream and Diner on Menomonie Street. The dog is a German Shepherd and the man walking the dog was a male who is in his late 20's. The man walking the dog was wearing a blue t-shirt, red zip up and a red hat. They need to determine the dog's rabies status. If anyone has information, they are asked to contact the health department.

The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, is warning people about contractors looking to help clean up. The agency is reminding people to be on the lookout for door-to-door repair crews known as 'Storm Chasers'. The Department says chasers usually come from out of state and are known to take advantage of vulnerable people who have experienced damage to their home.  Storm chasers will take payments, not work at all, and then leave the area, making them difficult to track. The Department encourages residents with storm damage to hire local contractors and have a written contract before beginning any repairs.

Wisconsin is joining a multi-state lawsuit against the Trump Administration over recent cuts to the AmeriCorps program. Governor Evers and Attorney General Kaul say these actions will lead to major impacts on education, public safety, and overall community needs. They say the cuts will also lead to 430 job losses in the state across 25 AmeriCorps programs.

Another human trafficking operation is broken up in Wisconsin. In Whitewater on Friday, six men ranging in age from 24 to 57 years old were taken into custody. All face counts including prostitution and several drug charges. Oshkosh police took eight men into custody earlier this month and charged them with pandering following an undercover human trafficking investigation in northeast Wisconsin prior to last week’s 2025 NFL Draft in Green Bay.

A bipartisan plan to bring new nuclear power stations to Wisconsin was the subject of a state Senate committee hearing on Wednesday. New Berlin Republican Senator Julian Bradley says bringing more nuclear power to Wisconsin will better position the state for future growth. Two bills direct state agencies to revise and review policies on nuclear power, and to host a nuclear power summit once the new UW-Madison engineering building is completed. Wisconsin's only current nuclear facility is the Point Beach Power plant in Manitowoc County.

Wisconsin saw a record high enrollment in it's youth apprenticeship program. The Department of Workforce Development says 11,344 youth apprentices were enrolled in the program during the 2024-25 school year, which is a 14% increase from the prior year. Youth Apprenticeship is a one-year or two-year earn-while-you-learn program for high school juniors and seniors pairing work and related classroom instruction in a chosen occupation. The program also partnered with a record 7,447 employers. More information on the program can be found on the DWD website.

A Rochester care facility will have to pay a one-thousand-dollar fine to the Minnesota Department of Human Services. The state agency ruled that Rehoboth LLC abused a resident by using a high-frequency buzzer to correct behavior. The facility cares for seniors and people with disabilities.

The Walz administration is making adjustments to its return-to-office policy for state employees. The new measure says those living 50 miles away from work will be exempt from coming to the office. The previous rule was for more than 75 miles away. Governor Walz announced in March that the state workforce will have to start reporting to the office at least 50 percent of the work schedule starting June 1st.

This year's NFL Draft is among the most watched ever. An average audience of seven-and-a-half-million viewers watched the draft held in Green Bay, Wisconsin. That makes it the second-most watched draft ever, only behind the 2020 draft. This year had the most-watched day three on record with an average of four-point-three-million viewers as fans watched to see which team would draft quarterback Shedeur Sanders. The first day of the draft averaged 13-point-six-million viewers while the second day averaged seven-point-five million.