Local-Regional News July 8

 

The Mondovi City Council is meeting tonight. Items on the agenda include the appointment of a new council member for Ward 1, reports from the Mayor and Department Heads and the council will go into closed session to meet with legal council about litigation the city may become involved in. Tonights meeting begins at 5:30 at the Marten Center in Mondovi.

A busy day yesterday for the opening of the Tarrent Park Pool. Area residents enjoyed a sunny day to enjoy the pool. The City has extended the open swim for the next two weeks and will open the pool for open swim from Noon-3. Swimming lessons are being held in the morning and late afternoon, with lap swim from 6-8am.

The City of Menomonie will create a housing committee to looking into housing in the city. The committee will focus on affordability, availability and quality of housing for owners and renters. Housing has been an issue in the city and has becoming a pressing situation that is affecting businesses ability to recruit and retain employees. Committee members would meet until December and then present their findings in January 2026. After that Menomonie officials would begin to develop plans to solve the issues.

Two people were slightly injured in a two-vehicle accident Monday in the Town of Hale. According to the Trempealeau County Sheriff’s Department, a delivery vehicle driven by 41yr old Amber Ross was traveling northbound on Hwy 53 and began making a left-hand turn, when it was rear-ended by a vehicle driven by 83yr old Edward Nelson. Both Ross and Nelson declined medical treatment and were released from the scene.

Charges are being filed against three women arrested over the weekend in Eau Claire. Investigators say that after monitoring Shannon Cockerham in May and June under the suspicion of drug trafficking, the suspect was taken into custody during a traffic stop on Saturday. A subsequent search of Cockerham's North Barrow Street home resulted in the discovery of cocaine and material involved in the sale of drugs. Two woman were arrested as they were seen trying to leave the residence.

Two men have been arrested in Arcadia after a fight that involved 20-30 people at Memorial Park on Sunday, June 29. According to the Arcadia Police Department, officers responded to calls of the fight at 1am on June 29^th, with one person armed with a machete. Officers arrested Juan Waldo on June 29^th and charged him with two counts of 2^nd degree recklessly endangering safety, two counts of substantial battery and disorderly conduct. On July 1^st officers arrested Antonio Blas and charged him with battery. Four people were taken to the hospital and that incident remains under investigation.

The American Red Cross is looking for blood donations. The Red Cross is urging you to donate blood now to keep the blood supply strong during the summer months. Type O blood products are most needed on hospital shelves. The Red Cross says in addition to summer holidays and vacations, severs weather can have a sudden impact on the ability to collect blood. Scheduling and keeping donation appointments are crucial this month to ensure blood products are constantly available in the weeks to come for all patients. A blood drive will be held next Monday from Noon-5 in Plum City. Call 800-Red-Cross to make an appointment.

Authorities are continuing to investigate a deadly vehicle collision in Polk County. The accident happened Sunday afternoon on State Highway 35. Reports say the driver of a pickup truck preparing to turn from 35 onto 240th Avenue was hit from behind by another pickup and thrown into oncoming traffic, where the vehicle was hit by a third pickup. The driver of the truck that was trying to turn onto 240th suffered injuries that proved fatal.

The Winona Fire Department was dispatched early Monday morning to a fire at a manufacturing plant in Winona. According to Winona Fire, the fire began after midnight at Core Molding Technologies and firefighters were able to contain the blaze to the building’s roof. No one was injured in the blaze and the cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Renovations to the Owen Park playground project scheduled for this summer, is being pushed back. The City of Eau Claire says the project has gotten community support for a larger replacement. Private fundraising campaigns for the playground project are asking for a bigger, more accessible playground. Now that the playground expansion is pushed back, renovations to the Donald "Sarge" Boyd Bandshell in Owen Park are being moved up to 2027.

Vernon County deputies say a child died last week in a U T V crash. The crash happened July 2 in the Town of Greenwood. Two children, aged 11 and 12, were riding the U T V when it turned over on a curve. The 12 year old was taken to a hospital where he later died. The 11-year-old child suffered non-life threatening injuries. The crash remains under investigation.

The state budget includes money to plan for eventual closure of the Green Bay prison. The 2025-27 budget signed by Democratic Governor Tony Evers last week includes $15 million dollars for the Department of Corrections to plan for closing the maximum-security prison in Allouez, which was built in 1898. But Evers used his line-item veto to delete a Republican authored provision to close the prison by 2029. Evers said there was no “meaningful or concrete plan” for that to occur. Allouez Village President Jim Rafter said in a statement that residents are frustrated and deserve certainty about when GBCI will close.

A sharp-tailed grouse hunt will be held this fall for the first time since 2018. State biologists noticed a steady decline in grouse population numbers beginning in the 1990s. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, federal agency staff and interested conservation groups have spent the last several years increasing habitat restoration work on both public and private land. That’s led to renewed growth in the sharp-tailed grouse population. An application period is open until August 1st for entry into a limited-drawing lottery. More info can be found on the DNR's website.

A new study by the Wisconsin Office of Rural Health finds fire departments across the state face serious challenges, threatening their ability to respond to calls. Rural EMS Program Manager James Small says staffing is one of the biggest issues. The study found nearly half of Wisconsin's fire departments are not able to respond to calls with a basic level of firefighting.

Madison is one of the least stressed cities in the nation, while Milwaukee is one of the most-stressed. A new report by WalletHub compares cities based on metrics like the average number of hours and divorce rates. Madison ranks 17th least stressed US city. Milwaukee is on the opposite end of the list, ranking 19th most stressed. The most stressed cities are Detroit and Cleveland.

Local-Regional News July 7

 

Authorities are investigating a fatal head-on crash that happened early Friday morning in St. Croix County. The accident happened on County Trunk Highway DD, where deputies found both drivers dead at the scene. The drivers were 18 yr old Cody Klasse of Emerald and 24yr old Maxwell Krueger of Baldwin. No passengers were involved in the crash.

Two People were injured in a motorcycle vs deer accident July 4^th in Maiden Rock Township. According to the Pierce County Sheriffs Department, 50yr old Jason Mailand of St. Paul was traveling northbound on Hwy 35 when he struck a deer. Mailand was taken to Red Wing Hospital, while passenger 48yr old Angela Buck of Holmen was med flighted to St. Mary’s Hospital.

Two people were injured in two separate motorcycle accidents in Pierce County. According to the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department, on July 3rd 54 yr old Matthew Feuerhelm of Beldenville was traveling northbound on Hwy D when he lost control of the motorcycle, and went into the ditch. Feuerhelm was med-flighted to Regions Hospital in St. Paul. On June 2^nd 64yr old Gerald Pribyl of Cannon Falls, MN was traveling southbound on Hwy 35 when he struck a deer. Pribyl was taken to Red Wing Hospital.

The new Tarrant Park Pool is open today in Durand. Last week, the city received final inspection approval from the State of Wisconsin. The pool will have some limited hours for open swim for the first two weeks. Until July 18, open swim will be Monday through Friday from 1-3:30pm, after July 18^th open swim will be every day from Noon-6pm. Lap swim is Monday-Friday from 6am-8am.

A segment of Hwy 12 is closed starting today. Hwy 12 is closed between Heller Road and Hwy 25 in Menomonie for the construction of a raised median. Traffic will be detoured via Oak Avenue and Hwy 25 north. The median is part of a resurfacing project of Hwy 12 between I-94 and Hwy 25. The project is expected to be completed by August 4.

UW-Stout’s Recreation Center renovation project has been approved by the State of Wisconsin. The project will renovate the recreation center locker rooms, convert a closed pool into a gym, and build an addition with a fitness center and multi-use areas. The state budget includes $32 million for the project, and construction is expected to begin sometime in 2026 and be completed in 2028.

UW-La Crosse is receiving state funding to aid in the continued development of its new science center. The first of two buildings planned for the Prairie Springs Science Center opened seven years ago but the second building has remained unfunded. As part of the new state budget signed Thursday by Governor Tony Evers, $194 million is being allocated for the project. Construction is expected to begin next spring.

The next state budget gives Wisconsin’s K-12 schools some breathing room. Governor Tony Evers signed the 2025-27 budget bill last week, after negotiations with Republican leaders and a marathon session in the state Senate and Assembly. The compromise provides the state’s 467 public school districts with an increase of some $500 million in special education funding and $30 million for mental health services. Districts statewide will have increased revenue limits, allowing them to increase spending by $1.4 billion more than the last budget cycle. That would come in the form of property tax increases, which could mean more referendums.

Authorities are reporting the arrest of a suspect in connection with a Holmen homicide. Investigators Sunday morning found a man dead inside a home on Granum Street. The cause of death for the victim was later determined to be strangulation and blunt force trauma. Thirty-eight-year-old Jacob Klaver was taken into custody Tuesday night in Minnesota on a charge of 1st degree intentional homicide.

More locations across Wisconsin may end up on the big screen with the passage of the new state budget. The two-year spending plan that was signed by Governor Evers Thursday includes five million dollars for film production and investment tax credits. A provision in the budget also sets up a State Film Office in Wisconsin. It has been over a decade since the state offered any financial incentives for filmmakers.

Smoking rates are declining in Wisconsin. The Department of Health Services says the smoke-free indoor air law put in place almost 15 years ago is part of the reason why. Along with smoking rates, DHS says the effects of secondhand smoke are also down in both adults and children. Smoking rates in Wisconsin are currently twelve-percent for adults and three-percent for high schoolers.

Baraboo fire says they made their first water rescue last weekend in Baraboo River. Officials say a kayaker had lost control and was found clinging to a log. Baraboo firefighter Noah Reppin was able to swim out to her and both were able to float back to the riverbank safely. Water currents were strong and the river was full from recent rains. The kayaker was wearing a life vest and is expected to be okay.

The man charged with killing former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband says he wants the public to know the truth. Vance Boelter [[BEL-ter]] appeared in federal court Thursday and gave up his right to a probable cause and preliminary hearing. Boelter is also accused of shooting and injuring State Senator John Hoffman and Hoffman's wife during the June 14th attack. In court, Boelter said he's ready to move forward with the case so the facts can be revealed. The judge ruled that Boelter will remain in custody without bail.

A wallaby that went missing near the Milwaukee Mitchell Airport has been found. It was reunited with its owner Thursday after a police officer found the animal. The wallaby, which resembles a small kangaroo, was found in a harness near a FedEx facility. Wallabies are native to Australia, but this one was returned to its owner in Cudahy 

Local-Regional News July 4

 

The Tarrant Park Pool opens Monday. The City of Durand has received a final approval from the State of Wisconsin for the pool to open. The pools will be open Monday-Friday from 6am=8am for lap swim and from 1-3:30pm for open swim through July 18. After the 18^th open swim will be everyday from Noon-6pm. Swimming lessons will also begin on Monday. Becuse of a donation from Advent Health, the first 800 people to visit the pool will receive free admission.

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation will be closing Hwy 12 from Heller Road to Hwy 25 on Monday for the construction of the concrete median. The closure is expected to be in place through August 4^th. A detour via Oak Avenue and Hwy 25 North will be in place. Construction of the median is part of the resurfacing project of US 12 between I-94 and Hwy 25.

The Durand-Arkansaw School District is exploring before and after school programming for elementary school students. Durand-Arkansaw Superintendent Ryan Nelson says the district is working on starting that program this fall.  Nelson said a recent survey of district families showed approximately 50-60 children would use the program.

The City of Mondovi is planning on having a fireworks show this Friday night. Mondovi Mayor Brady Weiss says there is a backup date in case of inclement weather on Friday and the city needs someone to take over the fireworks shoot for 2026.  There will also be a fireworks display on Friday night over Lake Eau Galle starting at 10pm.

The Buffalo County Sheriff’s Department will have additional traffic enforcement on Hwy 35 from Nelson to Fountain City on Friday and Saturday from 3pm-11pm. Deputies will be on the lookout for those speeding and driving under the influence. The Department says its committed to ensuring the safety of Buffalo County Roads and citizens over the holiday weekend.

The Dunn County Highways Department will be conducting seal coating of county roads starting on Monday. Roads will remain open during seal coating but traffic will be slowed by flaggers and pilot cars as roads will be down to one lane. Motorists can also expect loose gravel for 24-48 hours. The Highway Department will then sweep the roads to remove any loose gravel that remains on the road.

Wisconsin has a new state budget. Early Thursday morning Governor Tony Evers signed the budget agreement for the biennial budget. Along with a tax cut for most Wisconsin residents, the budget will have $1.4 Billion for K-12 schools, $360 million for child care costs, continued funding for agricultural road improvement program, and an increase in funding for the UW System. The budget agreement was reached between republican legislative leaders and the governor earlier this week.

A former FBI special agent is being named as the acting top federal prosecutor in the Western District of Wisconsin. Chadwick Elgersma has been named acting U.S. Attorney. Elgersma says his primary objective will be to keep Wisconsin residents safe through the vigorous enforcement of Federal law. The Western District of Wisconsin encompasses a 44-county jurisdiction including Pepin, Buffalo, Dunn and Pierce Counties.

A Vernon County woman faces charges of child sexual assault in a school setting. Police arrested 33-year-old Ashley Ann Benson on Monday and charged her with sexual assault of a child, sexual assault by school staff and sex with a child 16 or older. Prosecutors accuse Benson of engaging in sexual contact with multiple victims at multiple locations. Benson had been employed at both a public and private school in the Viroqua area prior to her arrest. She was released on a signature bond, and has been ordered not to have contact with anyone under the age of 18.

Attorney General Josh Kaul says the Wisconsin Supreme Court’s ruling on the state’s abortion law leaves room for action by the state Legislature. The court ruled Wednesday on a suit originally brought by Kaul and Governor Tony Evers, regarding Wisconsin’s 1849 law which criminalized most abortions. Justices ruled that the 1849 law has been superseded by several other state laws, and by a previous ruling from the Court that the law only applied to assault which resulted in death of an unborn child, not elective abortions. The ruling makes way for a return to the state's previous status allowing regulated abortions. Speaking at a Wednesday press conference, Kaul said "we can do better through state legislation and establishing protections for continuing access to safe and legal abortion and ensuring that our laws are updated.”

Both pro-life and pro-choice advocates are sharing their reactions to the Wisconsin Supreme Court's ruling on the state's abortion law yesterday. In a four-to-three decision, the court found that a ban on killing an unborn child initially passed in Wisconsin in the mid-1800's is no longer enforceable. Matt Sande with Pro-Life Wisconsin say he and his organization are disappointed in the ruling and they remain committed to banning abortion without exception. Planned Parenthood Wisconsin spokesperson Michelle Velasquez says members of the organization are "relieved and grateful" that the court is recognizing what patients and providers always known about reproductive rights.

A project to renovate and restore Milwaukee's Mitchell Park Domes may receive funding from the county. County Parks staff are requesting 30 million dollars for the Domes project, and to turn over operations to the group spearheading the restoration. The request from Parks Director Guy Smith acknowledges that the proposal would take other capital projects for the Parks Department off the table for the budget cycle. The Milwaukee Domes Alliance is fundraising a total of around 133 million dollars to fully renovate the site. The county parks committee will take up the proposal next week. The Domes were constructed between 1959 and 1967 at an original cost of four point five million dollars.

The pheasant population is growing in Wisconsin. The Department of Natural Resources says data collected during its Spring 2025 Survey show pheasant numbers growing for the second year in a row. Results of the ruffed grouse survey show a slight decrease from 2024, but the population is still higher than the five-year-average. Pheasant and ruffed grouse hunting seasons start in September and October.

Governor Tony Evers signs bills to bolster nuclear power in Wisconsin. One bill provides the state Public Service Commission with two million dollars to evaluate existing nuclear energy opportunities and identify sites for possible nuclear power development. Evers says Wisconsin must continue efforts to lower energy costs and improve energy independence by reducing reliance on out-of-state energy sources. He also signed a bill creating a Nuclear Power Summit Board to host a summit in Madison in 2028. Both bills passed the Legislature with bipartisan support.

Submissions are being accepted for the Packers' "Give Us A Sign" contest again this year. Fans can suggest jokes, phrases, and one-liners to be considered for the competition. Selected messages will go head-to-head in tournament style online voting to determine a winner. The suggestion that comes out on top will be printed on signs for fans at Lambeau Field during the upcoming NFL season. The person who submits the winning message will win game tickets and travel accommodations to Green Bay. Submissions can be made at packers-everywhere-dot-com now through July 23rd.

Local-Regional News July 3

 

The Durand-Arkansaw School District is exploring before and after school programming for elementary school students. Durand-Arkansaw Superintendent Ryan Nelson says the district is working on starting that program this fall.  Nelson said a recent survey of district families showed approximately 50-60 children would use the program.

The City of Mondovi is planning on having a fireworks show this Friday night. Mondovi Mayor Brady Weiss says there is a backup date in case of inclement weather on Friday, and the city needs someone to take over the fireworks show for 2026.  There will also be a fireworks display on Friday night over Lake Eau Galle starting at 10pm.

The Buffalo County Sheriff’s Department will have additional traffic enforcement on Hwy 35 from Nelson to Fountain City on Friday and Saturday from 3pm-11pm. Deputies will be on the lookout for those speeding and driving under the influence. The Department says its committed to ensuring the safety of Buffalo County Roads and citizens over the holiday weekend.

The Dunn County Highways Department will be conducting seal coating of county roads starting on Monday. Roads will remain open during seal coating, but traffic will be slowed by flaggers and pilot cars as roads will be down to one lane. Motorists can also expect loose gravel for 24-48 hours. The Highway Department will then sweep the roads to remove any loose gravel that remains on the road.

Wisconsin has a new state budget. Early Thursday morning, Governor Tony Evers signed the budget agreement for the biennial budget. Along with a tax cut for most Wisconsin residents, the budget will have $1.4 Billion for K-12 schools, $360 million for child care costs, continued funding for the agricultural road improvement program, and an increase in funding for the UW System. The budget agreement was reached between republican legislative leaders and the governor earlier this week.

A former FBI special agent is being named as the acting top federal prosecutor in the Western District of Wisconsin. Chadwick Elgersma has been named acting U.S. Attorney. Elgersma says his primary objective will be to keep Wisconsin residents safe through the vigorous enforcement of Federal law. The Western District of Wisconsin encompasses a 44-county jurisdiction including Pepin, Buffalo, Dunn and Pierce Counties.

A Vernon County woman faces charges of child sexual assault in a school setting. Police arrested 33-year-old Ashley Ann Benson on Monday and charged her with sexual assault of a child, sexual assault by school staff and sex with a child 16 or older. Prosecutors accuse Benson of engaging in sexual contact with multiple victims at multiple locations. Benson had been employed at both a public and private school in the Viroqua area prior to her arrest. She was released on a signature bond, and has been ordered not to have contact with anyone under the age of 18.

Take precautions handling fireworks this 4th of July holiday. UW Health occupational therapist Alyssa Villarreal says never consume alcohol or drugs and handle fireworks, avoid homemade fireworks, and only light one at a time. Villarreal says you should also avoid lighting fireworks while they're still in your hand and douse fireworks in water when they're done before picking them up. It’s estimated more than 14,000 people were hurt by fireworks last year in the U.S., more than double the injuries reported in 2023

An Olmsted County jury is awarding a man more than seven million dollars involving a sexual abuse lawsuit involving the Diocese of Winona-Rochester. The plaintiff, who is in his 50s, accuses Reverend Joseph Cashman of sexually abusing him as a child from 1973 to 1976. At the time, Cashman was the principal at Lourdes High School. The case was one of many brought this year against the diocese, which reached a 21-point-five million dollar settlement agreement with 145 people who were sexually abused by its clergy.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court has sided with Democrats and pro-choice advocates on a challenge to the state's abortion ban. In a 4-3 decision from the liberal majority court, justices ruled that an 1849 law against infanticide has been superseded by several other state laws, and by a previous ruling from the Court that the 1849 law only applied to assault which resulted in death of an unborn child, not elective abortions. The ruling makes way for a return to the state's previous status allowing regulated abortions. Conservative Justice Annette Zeigler wrote in the dissent that the court’s four liberal justices are “compromised on the issue of abortion,” calling their analysis “flawed.” In the majority opinion, Justice Rebecca Dallet said state lawmakers are free to pass legislation modifying the court’s ruling.

A woman accused of killing her cellmate at a Wisconsin prison pleads no contest. A Fond du Lac County judge found 29-year-old Taylor Sanchez guilty on a count of first-degree intentional homicide Monday after Sanchez entered her plea. In July of 2023, 68-year-old Cindy Schulz-Juedes was found unresponsive in her cell at Taycheedah Correctional Institution. Schulz-Juedes was serving a life sentence for the murder of her husband. Sanchez was charged with the death following an investigation and had previously pleaded not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect. She will be sentenced next month.

Madison man accused of violating sanctions against Russia has reached a plea deal in federal court. The Wisconsin State Journal reports federal prosecutors accused Andrew Pogosyan of selling eight pieces of scientific equipment to Russian buyers. Pogosyan allegedly tried to mask those sales by claiming they were going to other eastern European countries. The plea deal says at least one of those pieces of equipment made it to a branch of the Russian military that creates chemical weapons. Under the deal, Pogosyan faces a maximum of 10 years in prison for the most serious charges of smuggling.

Nine suspects from Wisconsin are charged in connection to a federal auto theft ring. Prosecutors say the suspects stole an estimated 175 high-end cars, transported them over state lines, altered VIN numbers, and created fake vehicle titles. In Wisconsin, the cars were sold as part of a drug trafficking operation. The thefts resulted is millions of dollars in losses. Most of the 23 total suspects tied to the case are from Wisconsin, but others are from Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, Delaware and North Dakota.

Local-Regional News July 2

 

The Durand-Arkansaw School Board has approved plans to move forward with construction of a district-owned Early Learning Center. The new Early Learning Center will serve children as young as six weeks old through age 12, offering comprehensive care and early learning experiences in a safe, nurturing, and developmentally appropriate environment. The facility will be large enough to accommodate up to 125 children, supporting the district’s mission of empowering all to learn, grow, and succeed from their earliest years. Construction of the Early Learning Center is anticipated to begin later this fall, with plans to open its doors to children and families by August 2026.

The Pierce County Sheriff’s Department is reminding residents that the main entrance to the Sheriff’s Office will be closed during the construction of the new government center. The department is asking residents to not drive through the construction zone, and if you have to contact the department for non-emergencies, to use the non-emergency number.

Authorities are advising weekend boaters and kayakers to avoid the Red Cedar River from 22 Mile Ford Park to past Colfax. The river’s high and fast-moving water, along with debris, is making the river dangerous for water activities. Rescue crews were called to the river to rescue 6 kayakers over the weekend. Rivers in Western Wisconsin will remain high over the Fourth of July weekend.

Xcel Energy is encouraging boaters and fishermen to steer clear of the area surrounding the Dells Hydro Dam in Eau Claire. The company says the area could be dangerous with a dam safety barrier having been washed out. A spokesperson for Xcel Energy says that boating, canoeing or kayaking above the Dells hydro dam is not recommended until they can safely reinstall the boat barrier.

The Wisconsin Joint Finance Committee approved two funding items to support mental health treatment in Chippewa Falls. The two provisions to the state budget authored by Sen. Jesse James (R-Thorp) and Rep. Clint Moses (R-Menomonie) grant $10 million to Rogers Behavioral Health to establish a behavioral health hospital and $1 million to Lutheran Social Services to re-open the L.E. Phillips Libertas Treatment Center. The proposed behavioral health hospital in Chippewa Falls would offer crisis stabilization, residential treatment, and adult and youth outpatient services.

The Chippewa County Health Cooperative reports it is now the new owner of the former St. Joseph's Hospital. St. Joseph's has been shuttered for more than 16 months but the Health Cooperative says they plan to reopen the facility under a new name -- Chippewa Valley Cooperative Hospital. A reopening planned for this fall will have the facility offering wound care and cancer services with additional services added over time.

Wisconsin's new budget has 110-million dollars set aside for direct payments to child care providers. Governor Tony Evers let Republican state lawmakers know that he would veto the spending plan if those funds were not provided. There is also over 120-million earmarked to help subsidize daycare for working families that have trouble affording the service. The Wisconsin Legislature is expected to take a final vote on the budget bill today.

Nearly one-and-a-half-million Wisconsin residents are expected to hit the road for this Fourth of July weekend. Triple A is estimating record-breaking highway travel for the holiday. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation expects today, Thursday, Friday, and this coming Sunday to be the busiest days on the road. Officials are asking motorists to be courteous and patient and watch for construction and emergency workers while driving around the Badger State.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court has a new Chief Justice starting today. Justice Jill Karofsky will serve as Chief Justice until her term ends in April 2027. She was first elected to the Wisconsin Supreme Court in 2020 and previously served as a Dane County Circuit Court Judge and with the DOJ's Office of Crime Victim Services. Previous Chief Justice Ann Walsh Bradley's term ended yesterday.

The Universities of Wisconsin System responds to the budget agreement between Governor Tony Evers and Republicans in the State Legislature. UW System President Jay Rothman says the roughly $240 million increase in the system budget marks the largest overall increase in over two decades. Rothman says with the new investments, UW schools can do more to provide the educational opportunities students deserve and parents expect. The deal between the governor and Republicans imposes a minimum faculty workload requirement. The UW System had initially asked for a $855 million overall increase, and Republicans had discussed the possibility of cutting the system's budget by $87 million.

You can help prevent the spread of the invasive Jumping Worms in Wisconsin. The state Department of Ag, Trade and Consumer Protection says the invasive species native to eastern Asia first popped up in Wisconsin in 2013. Jumping worms alter the soil and create a challenging environment for growing plants and trees and establishing lawns. You can help prevent the spread of jumping worms by cleaning your equipment when moving from one site to another, inspecting plant materials before installing, and ensuring wood chips and mulch are sourced from responsible suppliers. More information can be found on DATCP's website.

A Rochester man accused of firing at a vehicle during a botched drug deal is pleading not guilty. Katavion Leggins was arrested on June 17th. He was on probation when the incident took place. The defendant has been charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, reckless discharge of a firearm, and possession of a firearm as a felon. Leggins is scheduled to face trial on April 28th.

A new motorcycle law took effect yesterday. Both "lane splitting" and "lane filtering" are now legal in Minnesota, under certain scenarios. Lane splitting for motorcyclists will be allowed when two or more lanes of traffic are moving in the same direction. This allows a motorcycle to pass another vehicle going in the same direction, and in the same lane, but not over 25 miles an hour. Lane filtering is when a motorcycle moves between lanes of traffic when other vehicle aren't moving, and is now allowed at nothing over 15 miles per hour over the speed of traffic.

The Wisconsin State Patrol is entering a vehicle in this year's Best Looking Cruiser contest. The annual competition is sponsored by the American Association of State Troopers. Voters have until July eleventh to look through photos of police cars and trucks from across the nation and select their favorite. The top 13 cruisers will be featured in next year's AAST calendar, with the winner placed on the cover. A link to vote is posted on the AAST webpage at state-troopers-dot-org.

Local-Regional News July 1

 

A Mondovi man was injured and arrested after a one-vehicle accident Sunday in the Town of Gilmanton. According to the Buffalo County Sheriff's Department, rescue crews were sent to the scene on Hwy 88 near Lieberman Road and found a vehicle driven by 58-year-old Edward Stiner of Mondovi off the road. Stiner was taken to Mayo Clinic in Eau Claire, and after an investigation of the accident, deputies determined alcohol was likely a factor. Stiner was arrested for OWI 3^rd offense.

Compeer Financial is warning its customers of scam phone calls that appear to be coming from a Compeer Financial number. The caller identifies themselves as a member of the Compeer Fraud Team and is requesting confidential information related to clients' accounts. Compeer is reminding customers that they will never call, email, or text you asking for account passwords, usernames, social security numbers, or other personal information. If you receive a call like this, you are to hang up and call Compeer directly to report it.

Arcadia Police say more arrests may be coming following a large-scale weekend fight. According to reports, a fight involving 20 to 30 people broke out just after 1 a.m. Sunday at the Memorial Park Pavilion. Four people were taken to a local hospital for treatment of non life-threatening injuries. A suspect who police say was armed with a machete during the fight was later arrested.

Charges are being filed against a woman accused of stealing funds from an Eau Claire non profit. According to reports, Kayla Szydel stole thousands from the Wellness Shack mental health center. Charges against the suspect include theft in a business setting. Szydel is expected to appear in court tomorrow.

The National Weather Service says another tornado was confirmed in Wabasha County last Wednesday. The Tornado was and EF-0, with maximum winds of 50mph, and went approximately 2.7 miles just south of Lake City. This is the second tornado confirmed on the ground in Wabasha County from last week’s storms. The first was an EF-1 with 100mph winds and destroyed a home northeast of Zumbro Falls.

Many Wisconsin drivers are noticing a decrease in prices at the pump this week as the July 4^th holiday weekend approaches. Triple-A says the average price of regular fuel in Eau Claire -- for example -- is now two-93 per gallon. That's a drop of eight-cents per gallon from last week. The average cost of a gallon of regular fuel in the Badger State is two-96 per gallon.

The deadline to lock in Wisconsin's biennial budget has now passed. State lawmakers failed to approve the two-year spending plan before yesterday, meaning the budget has not been delivered on time for the first time in eight years. Republicans and Governor Evers did reach an agreement overnight on funding for things like childcare, public schools, and tax cuts. The state's Joint Finance Committee will be meeting this morning to put finishing touches on the spending plan, meaning the full Assembly and Senate could vote on it as early as tomorrow.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is asking residents and visitors to take extra precautions out on the water this Fourth of July weekend. Officials say the state's rivers and lakes are high right now because of recent heavy rainfall. Recreation Warden Joseph Mulrooney warns that rising water can make rivers unpredictable by changing currents and carrying more debris. DNR officials will also be joining the nationwide Operation Dry Water initiative this weekend, an effort to crack down on boating under the influence.

Victim service providers and advocates are calling on the Wisconsin State Legislature to fully fund the Department of Justice's victim services budget request. Late Friday, the Legislature's Joint Committee on Finance approved $20 million to go towards victim services. DOJ had requested nearly $68 million over two years. Bryan took part in a Monday media conference with Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul.

Flags will fly at half-staff across Wisconsin for a slain police officer. Governor Tony Evers issued the order Monday in honor of Milwaukee Police Department Officer Kendall Corder, who was killed in the line of duty at the age of 32. Corder and another officer, 29-year-old Christopher McCray, were ambushed while responding to a call last Thursday night. Corder died Sunday after being taken off life support at his family’s request. McCray was released from the hospital on Saturday. A 22-year-old man was arrested in connection to the shooting. Flags will remain at half-staff until sunset on Tuesday and again on the date of Officer Corder’s interment, which is yet to be announced.

Researchers at the Mayo Clinic have developed an AI tool that helps identify brain activity patterns tied to nine types of dementia. The tool, StateViewer helped researchers find the dementia type in 88-percent of cases using a single scan. The AI tool also helped clinicians interpret scans twice as fast with three times more accuracy than standard. Researchers trained and tested the AI on over 36-hundred scans, including images from patients with dementia and people with cognitive impairment. The AI tool helped identify the disease early which is a key challenge in dementia care.

Authorities say a man is in custody after a standoff with police early Sunday morning in Rochester. Police say officers were sent to a home Saturday night where a man was armed with a knife during a domestic dispute. The suspect left the scene before police arrived and drove to a different residence in southwest Rochester. The man left the vehicle with a rifle, and an officer discharged their weapon before the suspect ran into a residence. The defendant eventually surrendered after a SWAT team and the Crisis Negotiation Unit arrived. He was taken into custody without incident.

A total of thirty five people were ejected from two Morgan Wallen concerts over the weekend at Camp Randall Stadium. The Wisconsin State Journal reports Saturday's concert saw twenty-three ejections, followed by twelve on Sunday. There were technically ten arrests Sunday because one person was arrested a second time after reentering the stadium following his first arrest. UW - Madison Police spokesperson Marc Lovicott says the majority of ejections and citations were related to disorderly behavior due to alcohol consumption. The concerts over the weekend were the first live shows at Camp Randall in twenty-eight years.

A legendary Wisconsin Dells attraction is turning 80 years old. The Wisconsin State Journal reports the Dells Army Ducks started in 1946 when Milwaukee native Melvin Flath bought two of the amphibious assault vehicles and brought them to the Dells. Since then, the Flath family has bought more than 150 of the vintage vehicles. The Ducks tour the Lower Dells and the Wisconsin River, letting visitors see the canyons carved by the river. A special celebration is set for the 4th of July including a cookout and fireworks.