Local-Regional News June 17

The Durand-Arkansaw School District is meeting tonight. Items on the agenda include action on Facility Re-Opening Plans for July 1^st, an update on the planning process for the 2020-2021 school year and an update on the Community Growth Discussions with the City of Durand and Pepin County. Tonights meeting begins at 6pm at the school board room at Durand High School and will be live streamed on the districts zoom account.

The Pepin County Board is meeting tonight. Items on the agenda include discussion and possible action on Lake Pepin Habitat Restoration Project Funding, Facility reopening and Employee safety plan, and annual reports from the Human Services Board, Sheriff's Department and Land Conservation and Planning Department. Tonights meeting begins at 7pm at the board room at the government center and will also be live streamed on the county's zoom account.

The City of Mondovi will be moving forward with a 4^th of July Celebration. The celebration will include a parade and fireworks over Mirror Lake at Dusk. During last weeks City Council meeting, it was decided to name Ed Mallon the Grand Marshal for the parade. Mallon has been a major contributor for the library fund and other projects in the city for many years.

The sale of the Tarrant Park Softball Fields from the city of Durand to the Durand-Arkansaw School District is moving forward. Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren is hopeful the process will be completed by the end of the month.  The District is hoping to have the new fields completed by the end of the summer which would allow the Durand Little League to use them next year.

The Chippewa Falls School District has listed the former Stillson Elementary School building for sale.  The new building that is replacing it is almost completed.  For the asking price of 725 thousand dollars, the buyer will get 24 classrooms and two gymnasiums, plus nine acres of property near Lake Wissota.  The listing Realtor says the former school building would be good as an assisted living center – or it could be converted into apartments.

The newest member of the Wisconsin congressional delegation has introduced a bill to compel schools to reopen this fall.  He calls it a “carrot-and-stick” approach.  Federal funding would be blocked from schools that don’t reopen in-person classes by September 8th.  Congressman Tom Tiffany says kids are largely not affected by COVID-19 and he doesn’t see a reason for schools to remain closed.  The Republican from the 7th Congressional District says federal funding is a small part of the budget for most school districts.

A divided Wisconsin Supreme Court has ruled that a judge's decision to become Facebook friends with a woman whose child custody case he was hearing created at least the appearance of bias. The court on Tuesday upheld a lower court's order that the case be re-heard by another judge. The ruling was the first of its kind in Wisconsin and it could test the boundaries of social media use by judges. It is the latest in a series of examples across the country where a judge's actions on social media call into question their ability to fairly consider cases before them.

A bill signed by Minnesota Governor Tim Walz will provide more than 62-million dollars in grants for small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.  Walz said one of our top priorities during this special session is to build a stronger and more equitable economy and this direct assistance is an important piece of that plan.  Eligible businesses with 50 or fewer employees can apply for grants of up to ten-thousand dollars. Half of the funding will go to greater Minnesota businesses, at least ten-million dollars will go to minority-owned businesses,  and two-and-half million-dollar grants are going to veteran-owned businesses, women-owned companies and cultural malls.  Sixty-million dollars is from the CARES Act and two-point-five million is state funding.

Governor Tony Evers is seeking guidance for his climate change task force.  Evers’ office says it is accepting input from the public on what the task force should look into.  The office is also announcing five virtual listening sessions that will help develop a road map for the work of the task force.  Those meetings will start next week and will be held until mid-July.

Cheryl Sensenbrenner is being remembered for her tenacity and larger-than-life spirit.  The wife of Wisconsin Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner died Monday at the age of 69.  The Sensenbrenners were married for 43 years.  She is survived by the congressman, two sons and a three-year-old grandson.  Cheryl Sensenbrenner is known for being an advocate for Americans with disabilities, making sure all are protected from discrimination.  She testified before Congress in 2007 to restore civil rights protections for people with epilepsy, diabetes, depression, cancer and other conditions.

Minnesota Senate Republicans added 350-million dollars to their one-billion-dollar bonding proposal in hopes that a bill which failed last month will get enough votes in this special session. Saint Paul Democrat Sandy Pappas (PAP-us) says even at one-point-35 billion dollars "it's still gonna be hard to take care of all the needs of our state facilities." Rochester Republican Dave Senjem says there's differences in some respects because we're different political parties - "but it's our job to come together... to reconcile with our opposite party in the House and to try to make this work." Minority Leader Kurt Daudt says it's "very unlikely" House Republicans will help pass a bonding bill unless Governor Tim Walz talks about relinquishing his COVID emergency powers.

A man wanted for the alleged arson of the Minnesota Police Department's Third Precinct is under arrest in Colorado.  U-S Marshals and the A-T-F say 22-year-old Dylan Robinson was taken into custody in Breckenridge and is being held without bail in Denver.  Robinson is one of several suspects accused of setting fire to the police station in south Minneapolis during the riots on May 28th.  Federal investigators are offering five-thousand-dollar rewards for information that leads to the arrest of more than a dozen  arson suspects.

Authorities in southwest Wisconsin say they've recovered the body of a swimmer who went missing on the Mississippi River. The Crawford County Sheriff's Office says the 18-year-old man from Waterloo, Iowa went underwater Sunday and apparently drowned. His name hasn't been released. Deputies say he disappeared after trying to swim from shore by the Gordon's Bay boat landing to island where friends were camping. Crews searched Sunday and most of Monday before finding his body north of Prairie du Chien.

The University of Wisconsin's policy for sexual harassment and sexual assault is in limbo. Governor Tony Evers called the new policy too vague when rejecting it Monday. Wisconsin is also joining a lawsuit to block new Trump administration rules to provide more protections for those who are accused of harassment or assault. Critics say it's bad for accusers. Evers prefers the rules enacted during the Obama Administration.

Local-Regional News June 16

One person was injured in a motorcycle vs deer accident in Cross Township last Friday. According to the Buffalo County Sheriffs Department, 35yr old Alan Keeler of Alma was traveling eastbound on Hwy 95 between Fountain City and Arcadia when a deer entered the roadway. Keeler attempted to stop, however was unable to in time and struck the deer causing him to be ejected from the motorcycle. Keeler was taken to a local hospital for non-life threatening injuries.

One person was injured in a motorcycle vs truck accident in the Village of Cochrane on Friday afternoon. According to the Buffalo County Sheriffs Department, 20yr old Andrew Rothering of Buffalo City was turning southbound from Hwy O to north Main Street and took the corner too wide striking a pickup truck head on driven by 33yr old Andrew Zeller of Buffalo City. Rothering was evaluated and released on scene by EMS, while Zeller was not injured.

One person was injured in a one vehicle accident in Nelson Township on Saturday morning. According to the Buffalo County Sheriffs Department, 27yr old Adam Ridgeway-Baader was traveling northbound on Hwy 35 when his vehicle veered off the roadway when it approached a curve. When the vehicle traveled off the roadway, Ridgeway-Baader tried to regain control of the vehicle but was unsuccessful. The vehicle continued off the roadway, over a driveway then striking a large tree. Ridgeway-Baader was air lifted by Mayo 1 to an area hospital.

An Altoon man, out on bond from Eau Claire County for a burglary charge was arrested in Dunn County on Friday. According to the Dunn County Sheriffs Department, Deputies responded to a complaint of a burglary to an occupied residents on Hwy BB in the Township of Menomonie. The Homeowner was able to provide a video from the Ring doorbell of the suspect entering their home. Arrested was 32yr old Steven Lorentz and he was charged with two counts of burglary, operating a motor vehicle while under the influence, bail jumping, possession of drug paraphernalia and other traffic charges. If anyone believes their home was entered into last week you are to contact the Dunn County Sheriffs Department.

A group of protesters in Menomonie engaged in a stare-down with people flying the American flag Sunday.  The two crowds were on opposite sides of the street.  The protesters said they were bothered that some members of the other group were carrying rifles.  The armed participants said they just wanted to protect their businesses from violence as they saw in Minneapolis.  Menomonie police were called and they stayed and watched the two groups, but they say there were no problems to report.

 A Rochester man makes his initial court appearance today on federal arson charges.  The U-S Attorney's Office says 25-year-old Montez Lee was caught on video footage starting a fire at a Minneapolis pawn shop during the riots and looting on May 28th. The A-T-F says Lee can be seen pouring liquid from a metal container throughout the pawnshop and later standing in front of the burning building.   Lee was arrested Monday in Rochester.

Americans are filling up at the pump more and more. Since mid-May, gasoline demand has increased 18% , according to the latest Energy Information Administration (EIA) report. The slow, but steady rise in demand has pushed the national pump price more expensive by 13% in the same timeframe. Today’s national average is $2.10. That is seven cents more on the week, 24 cents more on the month, but 59 cents cheaper on the year. Here in Western Wisconsin, gas was averaging 1.99 which was about 66 cent a gallon cheaper than one year ago.

The member of Governor Tony Evers’ staff who recorded a May 14th telephone conference call with Republican leaders may have committed a felony.  That’s the opinion of the chief attorney for the Wisconsin Legislature’s Reference Bureau, Rick Champagne.  Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald says the governor needs to name the person who recorded the call, say who authorized it, and what disciplinary action the person faces.  Members of both parties have criticized the clandestine recording.  The person who recorded the conversation hasn’t been named.

The search for a new president of the University of Wisconsin System will have to start all over.  Just hours before the search committee was scheduled to discuss whether to hire University of Alaska System President Jim Johnsen, he decided he doesn’t want the job.  Johnsen had gone through a series of interviews in Madison when he reversed field.  Although Board of Regents President Andrew Peterson called that decision “disappointing,” he called Johnsen “a fine person who conducted himself with professionalism and honor.”  Johnson had emerged as the only candidate for the position after others withdrew due to the coronavirus pandemic.

A Minneapolis-based business is moving forward with sales of a controversial test for COVID-19.  The tests were removed from the market due to questions about their accuracy.  When an assessment determined the Chinese-made tests performed well, Premier Biotech started selling them again.  The company got emergency permission from the U-S Food and Drug Administration.  The National Cancer Institute posted the results of a performance assessment last week.

 Minneapolis police officers say they are getting no support from department and city leaders.  At least seven have quit and another seven are said to be in the process of resigning.  Officers say they don’t feel appreciated.  High-ranking police officials say some officers simply walked off the job without completing the paperwork.  That creates confusion about who is still on the job and who isn’t.  A majority of the Minneapolis City Council members have already said they support dismantling or defunding the police department.

Wisconsin Senator Tammy Baldwin is backing a sweeping bill to overhaul how police departments are run in the United States. Baldwin says too often police have to deal with issues that they've never been trained for. She says investing in improving the public safety response to issues of mental health, social work and addiction could result in improved safety for everyone. The bill also aims to change qualified immunity laws that protect police from being sued and requiring more use of force reporting by police departments.

Congress is working on legislation to help support struggling farmers during the coronavirus pandemic.  U-S Senator Tammy Baldwin has introduced a bill to have the Small Business Administration step up.  The Wisconsin Democrat teamed with South Dakota Republican Senator John Thune.  The bill is aimed at farmers who have been denied by the federal payment protection program – or who have had smaller returns on their crops so far.

The familiar sound of the S.S. Badger Car Ferry pulling into Manitowoc from Ludington, Michigan on Friday, for the start of the pandemic delayed sailing season. Crowds were lined up to see an old friend come home. The season normally begins the Friday before Memorial Day but was pushed back twice to adhere to public health protocols surrounding COVID-19.

Local-Regional News June 15

One person was injured in a motorcycle vs deer crash on Sunday In Pepin County. According to the Pepin County Sheriffs Department 56 yr old Lloyd Rivers of Apple Valley,mn was traveling southbound on Hwy D near Vosker road when he struck a deer in the roadway. Rivers was ejected from the motorcycle and was med flighted to the hospital with serious injuries. That accident remains under investigation.

One person was injured in a motorcycle accident in Pepin County Saturday. According to the Pepin County Sheriffs Department, 63yr old Michael Mehsikomer of Forest Lake, Mn was traveling southbound on Hwy D near Stewart Lane when he failed to negotiate a sharp curve and was ejected off his motorcycle. Mehsikomer was med-flighted to an area hospital with serious injuries. Speed is believed to be a factor in that accident.

A 52yr old Menomonie man has been arrested by the Wisconsin State Patrol for operating under the influence, 6^th offense. According to the Wisconsin State Patrol, troppers stopped a vehicle for unsafe lane deviation on Saturday morning on Hwy 29 in Dunn County. After a standardized field sobriety test, Luke Bassler was arrested for OWI. He was taken to a local hospital for an evidentiary test of his blood and then to the Dunn County Jail.

A 57yr old Menomonie man has been arrested by the Wisconsin State Patrol for operating under the influence 6^th offense. According to the Wisconsin State Patrol, troopers stopped to check on an occupied vehicle on the side of Hwy 12 just west of 20^th Street in Chippewa County early Sunday morning. Troopers found 57yr old Eugene Vilz inside the car showing signs of impairment. Vilz failed a field sobriety test and was taken to a local hospital for an evidentiary test of his blood and then to the Chippewa County Jail.

No one was injured in an apartment fire in Chippewa Falls on Sunday morning. Crews were called to the fire on Island Street and found heavy flames and smoke coming from the attic and the rear of the building. Two people had to be rescued from the buildings roof and two children and an adult on the second floor were rescued by other residents of the building. Fire crews had a difficult time putting out the fire and damage is estimated at $250,000. The American Red Cross is helping those displaced by the fire.

The GOP-controlled Minnesota Senate voted Friday to cancel Governor Tim Walz's emergency COVID powers, but the measure failed in the DFL-led House.  Red Wing Republican Barb Haley says lawmakers from both parties stood behind the governor at the start of the pandemic, "but the time now is to chart a different course. We will be living with this virus for quite some time."  Democrat Alice Mann from Lakeville asked her colleagues to remember nearly 13-hundred Minnesotans who have died from COVID-19 and "the voices of the people who are currently in the I-C-U who may or may not come home. Mann added, "this emergency is not over."  Republicans argue business closures that hurt the economy must be stopped.

A northwest Wisconsin man is guilty of first-degree homicide for a shooting near Conrath in 2018.  A Rusk County jury deliberated for just over two hours today before convicting 32-year-old Preston Kraft in the shooting death of Robert Petit (Friday).  He was also found guilty of felony bail jumping.  Prosecutors say Petit was found with a gunshot wound to the head in his driveway in May of 2018.  Kraft could face a life prison sentence.

Rescuers pulled three people from a small island on Silver Lake Sunday morning. The Rochester Fire Department received reports of empty canoes floating on the lake and began a search of the area. Gusty winds reportedly pushed the canoes away from shore while the three were on the island. Two of the empty canoes ended up going over a nearby dam. No one was injured during the incident.

Sparta police are investigating the fatal shooting of a man that was reported early Thursday morning.  Officers were called to a location at about 1:15 a-m where they found a victim suffering a gunshot wound.  He was taken to the Sparta hospital, then transferred to La Crosse – where he died later.  The man’s name hasn’t been released.  The Crime Scene Response team from the Wisconsin Department of Justice was called in to help.  Interviews are being conducted, but police haven’t identified any persons of interest.

The University of Wisconsin System has announced that students, faculty and staff members will be able to return to its campuses next fall.  The news release from President Ray Cross said preparations being made that reduce the risk for a safe return during the coronavirus pandemic.  The System’s Plan Ahead Team has made a series of recommendations – including having only some courses meet in-person, while those with 50 or more students will move online.  The System has more than 180 thousand students enrolled, with another 39 thousand faculty and staff members on its campuses.

The moratorium on utility disconnections ends next month in Wisconsin.  Utility companies will be able to cut off service to customers for non-payment.  The state had placed restrictions on disconnections during the coronavirus pandemic.  The Wisconsin Public Service Commission lifted those restrictions effective July 25th.

The only finalist to be the next University of Wisconsin System president has withdrawn his name from consderation. Jim Johnsen was the only candidate interviewed by the search committee looking for Ray Cross' successor. Johnsen's candidacy was controversial among faculty and staff who complained about Johnsen's track record as the University of Alaska System president, and about the selection process in Wisconsin which shut them out. In his letter withdrawing his name, Johnsen said U-W officials "have important process issues to work out."

All members of the Wisconsin Elections Commission say they want to send voters a letter this fall about absentee voting – but they can’t agree on what it should say.  During the last commission meeting, Republican and Democratic members were divided over the language in that letter.  Republicans want the letter to make it clear that absentee voting will be safe.  Democrats say the other party needs to trust them.  The state Elections Commission hopes to mail the millions of letters by September 1st.

Marathon County's executive committee wants more time to craft an ordinance on how best to control the spread of COVID-19. The measure would have given the county health department very broad powers, but County Board Chairman Kurt Gibbs says they wanted to get more input from authorities and community members. He says he wants the public to know the ordinance is about controlling the spread of the disease. There was push back from some anti-vaccine protesters who claim this was about more than just handling COVID-19.

Ex-Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin could receive more than one-million dollars in pension benefits even if he is convicted of killing George Floyd.  Forty-four-year-old Chauvin was immediately fired after video surfaced of him kneeling on Floyd for nearly nine minutes until he lost consciousness.  The Minnesota Public Employees Retirement Association confirmed that Chauvin would remain eligible to file for his pension as early as age 50.  Retirement plan officials said that employees terminated voluntarily or for cause are eligible for future benefits unless they choose to forfeit their future benefit and receive a refund of all their contributions made during their employment.

Wisconsin Farmers will be able to sign up for the Farm Support Program starting on Monday. According to Wisconsin Agriculture Secretary Designee Randy Romanski, eligible farmers will received a payment based on their gross income from 2019.  Registration deadline is June 29^th at 11:59pm. The Wisconsin Department of Revenue will be administering the program and Romanski says the department is committed to getting the money distributed starting on July 15.

 While the Stillwater Area School Board was meeting electronically, a small crowd of students, parents, staff and teachers held a rally Thursday in support of the district’s superintendent.  Their support wasn’t enough.  At the end of the meeting that was live-streamed on YouTube a buyout agreement with Denise Pontrelli had been reached.  Pontrelli has led the Stillwater district for the last five years – and has had showdowns with the board over school boundaries, student growth and how to handle it, the closings of three elementary schools, and construction of a bus garage.  Her termination agreement will cost the district nearly a half-million dollars.

Local-Regional News June 12

The Durand Ambulance Service has a new director. During Wednesday's council meeting, Mike Miller was approved to become the new director. Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren says Miller has a career of experience.  Milliren says the city will be working with Miller over the next few weeks to get familiar with the position.

The Mondovi City Council has appproved A-1 Excavating for the Schmidtknecht Road construction project for the new wastewater treatment plant. On Tuesday , 6 bids were opened and A-1 Excavating has the lowest bid at $1.072 million dollars. The city is finalizing the purchase of the property this month.

The La Crosse County district attorney says he will ask a D-A in another county to determine whether charges should be filed against the mayor’s wife.  Tim Gruenke says he will do that to avoid any potential conflict of interest.  La Crosse Mayor Tim Kabat’s wife Christy was involved in a confrontation last month.  La Crosse police say she was the instigator.  Investigators say she ran up to a van at a downtown intersection and gestured for several moments.  The incident was caught on surveillance video from City Hall.  Kabat is accused of scratching the driver before he pepper-sprayed her.

With the recent heavy rains, rivers across the area are running high and fast. Authorities from around the area are advising residents to be extra cautious going out on the rivers to fish or for other activities. On Thursday, the Eau Claire Fire Department responded to several calls of people in distress after the switft currents sent their inter-tubes in the shore and debries. According to the national weather service, the Chippewa river is cresting today at 11.7 feet which is below flood stage but still about 6 feet higher than it was before the heavy rain.

Dunn County Authorities have identified the man found dead in the Chippewa River this week. Steven L. Field 66 of Eau Claire was found on Tuesday. Autopsy results are consistent with drowning and there were no traumatic injuries to the body. The matter remains under investigation and if anyone had contact with Field anytime after May 28, they are to call the Dunn County Sheriffs Department.

The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture reports two deer at Brush Ranch Outfitters near Galesville have tested positive for chronic wasting disease.  The neurological disease is found in deer, elk and moose.  Infected animals show the symptoms of abnormal behavior and loss of body functions.  The state agency says the remaining 495 deer and 10 elk on the ranch in western Wisconsin have been quarantined.  Veterinarians will investigate to determine which animals have been exposed.

Governor Tony Evers says hospitals in Wisconsin will receive direct payments in July to assist with losses from the COVID-19 pandemic.  The Wisconsin Department of Health Services will distribute 40-million dollars in federal CARES Act funding.  Evers said, "this support is critically needed as we continue to battle this virus and ensure high quality care for Wisconsinites."  Hospitals will receive a single payment from D-H-S based upon their percentage of both inpatient and outpatient Medicaid revenue, compared to other facilities throughout the state.  The Wisconsin Hospital Association said, "we appreciate this assistance and Governor Evers' recognition of the ongoing challenges facing hospitals and health systems across the state."

 Wisconsin lawmakers from both parties are pushing Governor Tony Evers to fire the staff member who made a clandestine recording of a private telephone meeting with Republican legislative leaders.  When asked Thursday, Evers didn’t say what action might be taken.  Audio of the call was released when the Associated Press made an open records request.  Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald – both Republicans – say the person should be fired.  Democratic State Representative Jonathon Brostoff agrees.  So far, the staff member hasn’t been identified.

U-S Senator Ron Johnson has authored a bill that would delist the gray wolf in the Western Great Lakes region as an endangered species.  The Republican from Wisconsin has been working on this for more than five years.  His amendment has bipartisan support, including Democratic U-S Senator Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin.  The gray wolf would be restored to its status determined in 2011 and it would clear the way for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to develop a wolf population management program.  Johnson says he is hopeful the bill will be approved since it has bipartisan support.

The Mayo Clinic is out with a new COVID-19 test designed to measure the level of neutralizing antibodies against the new coronavirus.   Officials say the test will help identify donors with the most beneficial convalescent plasma after recovering from COVID-19 and should help assess the effectiveness of potential vaccines.  Mayo Clinic Laboratories President Doctor William Morice said, "this new test provides us with incredibly important information about how effective a person’s antibodies are at neutralizing the virus."  The new test should become available by the end of this month.

 A Republican state lawmaker from west central Minnesota has no confidence for his safety and security when he returns to the Capitol Friday for special session.  Representative Tim Miller of Prinsburg is angry that Native American protesters tore down the Christopher Columbus statue and law enforcement did nothing to stop it.  Miller said, "we are not following rule of law here, we are following mob rule."  Miller wants Governor Tim Walz to call the National Guard back to St. Paul to protect the Capitol while legislators are there.

Coronavirus precautions are putting a dent in Wisconsin's tax revenues. May's tax report shows the state is down 66-million dollars compared to last year. State Senator Alberta Darling blames Governor Evers' decision to restrict commerce. Darling says an increase of online sales helped keep matters from getting worse. She also credits her fellow Republicans for blocking Evers' proposed tax increase last year.

Thousands of out-of-work Wisconsinites are still waiting for their unemployment checks. The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development says a little more than 626-thousand unemployment claims were filed from March 15th through last Friday. The agency says more than 15-percent of those claims are still "pending."

The Milwaukee Common Council won’t let police buy more tear gas to have it in stock for the Democratic National Convention.  The chemical irritant was used during the protests which turned into riots.  Police had requested the purchase several months ago.  City Council members turned their backs on the idea after two weeks of protests over the killing of George Floyd.  Alderman Nik Kovac has said he doesn’t think tear gas should be used on any American citizen.

Congressman James Sensenbrenner joins Democrats calling for a national registry of “bad cops.”  The Wisconsin Republican says defunding police departments isn’t the answer.  Sensenbrenner is a member of the House Judiciary Committee that heard from George Floyd’s brother Wednesday.  He told Philonise Floyd that the officer who killed his brother shouldn’t have been on the Minneapolis police force.  At least 17 complaints had been filed against Officer Derek Chauvin during his 19-year career.  He was disciplined just once.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is demanding quick action on police reforms during Friday's special session in response to George Floyd's death.  Republican lawmakers say the matter needs a thorough discussion.  G-O-P Senator Rich Draheim of Madison Lake said, "I think it's a good discussion we need to have, we need to make adjustments, but I don't think we should do it in a couple of days."  Draheim claims most police departments already prohibit the use of chokeholds.  Walz said Wednesday, "the time to debate, come up with solutions, implement them and continue to move forward is on us."

The Mall of America reopened Wednesday after 11 weeks of being closed by the coronavirus pandemic.  Only about 150 of the mall’s 500 stores were accepting customers, though others are expected to reopen in the coming days.  The mall blocked off about half of its parking spots and a spokesperson says only about 35 percent of the normal number of mall visitors are expected.  Face masks aren’t required for those wanting to enter the mall – but some stores won’t let you enter there without wearing one.  While other malls opened in mid-May, the Mall of America took longer to work out the logistics.

Wisconsin’s biggest attraction is back in business, but not like normal – yet.  Potawatomi Hotel and Casino serves more than six million guests each year, but it’s been closed since mid-March.  The doors opened to gamblers again Wednesday.  They were greeted at the door with a temperature check and some health questions.  At least one person was turned away.  The slot machines are separated by plexiglass panels and, so far, no card games, no dice and no chips.  With only 600 customers allowed on the floor at one time, three-fourths of the workers are still furloughed.

Local-Regional News June 11

A body was found in the Chippewa River on Tuesday. According to the Dunn County Sheriffs Department, the body was found in the river just upstream of the old railroad bridge in the town of Dunn. The body was determined to be that of a while male and an autopsy is being conducted at the Ramsey County Medical Examinier's Office in Minnesota. The body has been identified and the name is not being released pending notification of family and relatives.

The City of Mondovi will keep on hold a possible $400,000 reconstruction of Valley Estates Road after the city received a notice of intent to circulate a petition to Detach Valley Estates from the City of Mondovi and be annexed by the Township of Naples. During this weeks council meeting members took comments from some residents of Valley Estates that wanted to stay in the city. The city will be holding a Board of Appeals meeting on June 18^th to discuss some road connection requests to Valley Estates Road from landowners that have property in Naples Township.

Music in the Park in Durand may return this month. At last nights Durand City Council meeting, members of Durand Improvement Group requested the use of the park for the event on June 24^th. Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren says the council approved the request, with conditions. If the event is approved by the Pepin County Health Department, there would be no food served, no raffle drawings and all attendees would be asked to maintain social distancing. The JFT Party Band would perform for the June event.

The Pepin County Dairy Promotions Committee is encouraging business owners to decorate their windows to promote “June Dairy Month”. Email a photo of your window to kollermarissa@gmail.com. These photos will be posted on the Committee's Facebook page. The 3 photos with the most likes will win a dairy prize. The deadline to submit photos is Monday June 15^th at midnight. Pictures of your windows will be posted to the Pepin County Dairy Promotion Facebook page on Tuesday morning.

The Sawyer County Sheriffs department is reporting that 38-year-old Jason Desecki has been arrested for allegedly setting fire to the memorial of a deputy. Sheriffs officials say the investigation shows Desecki intentionally set fire to the memorial of Deputy Michael Villiard. Desecki is currently being held in the Sawyer County Jail and there are future plans to take the memorial down to restore it to the original condition.

A U-S District Judge in Madison says he will move a case involving changes to voting laws quickly so it will be resolved before the fall elections.  Judge William Conley declined a Republican request for dismissal of the suit with a Wednesday ruling.  He has set the next hearing on the question for June 29th.  Democrats are seeking changes in the law to make it easier to vote in the August state primary and the November presidential elections. Republicans argued what the Democrats want will undercut existing laws that protect voters and the candidates.

The Dane County Board of Supervisors says it is looking to dismantle racism in the county’s criminal justice system. That could result in fewer people residing in the county jail. County Supervisor Shelia Stubbs says the approach could switch to a more of a restorative system with new court alternatives. Stubbs says Madison and Dane County will stand up to police brutality as a community.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is calling a special legislative session this Friday to pass police reform, a bonding bill and assist businesses impacted by COVID-19. Walz said, "Minnesota is at a turning point. This is our chance to take strong action to combat persistent structural inequities, pass substantive police reform and build a stronger economy." Walz supports recommendations including proposals support use of force reform; funding for alternatives to policing; greater police oversight; voting restoration; community healing; and prosecutorial, investigatory, and training reform. Walz says he will also extend the COVID-19 peacetime emergency by 30 days.

Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo is withdrawing from the contract negotiations with the Minneapolis Police Federation union to help rebuild the department following the death of George Floyd. Chief Arradondo reassured citizens of Minneapolis today that they will not be abandoned by the police. He told reporters, "I've heard from families and individuals who are concerned that if they were in need of a police response that they would not get one, and I'm here to also tell you that we will be here for you." He says there will be expanded use of technology and data moving forward to follow officers' and managers' career paths --to better track who has had problematic interactions with the public.

A North Mankato woman is accused of slapping a Menards employee over the company's mandatory face mask policy.  Thirty-five-year-old Heidi Muller is charged with fifth-degree assault and disorderly conduct in connection with the May 17th incident.  Surveillance video shows Mueller trying to walk into the store without a mask and the employee telling her she needed to wear one.  The complaint says the two argued before Mueller slapped the employee, ripped off their face mask and threw it in the garbage.  Mueller fled the scene and was later charged.

Two thousand students and faculty members have signed a letter to the Board of Regents demanding a second search for a U-W System president be conducted.  They say they are upset that they didn’t play a role in the search and the lone finalist isn’t from within the University of Wisconsin System.  University of Alaska System President Jim Johnson spent Tuesday being interviewed.  All of the other finalists bowed out of the process due to the coronavirus pandemic.  Johnson has said he hopes to work on relationship building if he is hired.

 Wisconsin Republicans have asked a federal judge to let them intervene in a lawsuit over voting changes.  The Republican National Committee, the Wisconsin Republican Party and the Legislature say if successful, the effort to change laws and make it easier to vote in November will undercut existing laws that protect voters and candidates. Democratic-friendly groups are seeking to make it easier to vote in the presidential election in November.  The Republicans also argue the Wisconsin Elections Commission doesn’t adequately represent their interests.

Federal charges have been filed against a 38-year-old Milwaukee man who is accused of pointing a laser at law enforcement aircraft.  The F-B-I and Wisconsin National Guard aircraft were tracking protests last week.  Investigators say Jeremiah Belen had committed the same crime on multiple occasions.  He faces a large fine and up to five years in prison if he is convicted.  The U-S Attorney’s Office says the laser “illuminated the cockpit” of the aircraft, making the pilots concerned for their safety.

The Madison house fire that took two lives last week has been ruled accidental.  Investigators say the fire started in a screened-in porch and could have been caused by an electrical issue or improperly discarded smoking materials.  Two of the four people in the home at the time managed to get to safety, but Keani Braxton of Janesville and Brent Broge of Madison suffered fatal injuries.

The U-S Chamber of Commerce is honoring Minnesota Congressman Collin Peterson with the Jefferson-Hamilton Award for Bipartisanship.  Peterson received the award Tuesday during the U-S Chamber's Governing with Distinction Ceremony.  It recognizes the top ten scoring senators and top 20 scoring members of the U-S House.  The rating is based on the number of bills a member co-sponsors introduced by a member of the opposing party.  Peterson earned a 99-percent rating.  The House Agriculture committee chair said, "unless both parties are willing to work together and compromise, it is impossible to enact meaningful legislation in our country today."

Catch a flick, pick up a spare, pump some iron – phase-three of Governor Tim Walz’s plan to reopen Minnesota goes into effect today (Wednesday).  The easing of restrictions means movie theaters, bowling alleys, gyms and swimming pools are open to the public.  Restrictions for bars and restaurants are also being loosened.  The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development says most of the venues are limited to 50 percent of their capacity and outdoor spaces still can’t exceed 250 people.  The state still recommends everyone wear a mask – at least when they are not in the water.

Local-Regional News June 10

The Durand Fire Department was called out to the McDonalds at the Travel Center in Durand for a fire last night. The fire could be seen outside of the building. Firefighters quickly put out the blaze and no one was injured. No word on the cause of that fire.

The Mondovi City Council has moved to re-open city hall to the public. During last nights meeting council members also voted to allow employees at city hall to work with their office doors closed and to allow the city administrator to close city hall if the situation with covid 19 would change. City administrator Hanson told the council that the city has received a $45000 grant from the state due to the pandemic. Hanson says many cities are using that money to make improvements to their common areas at city halls to help prevent the spread of covid-19.

The Durand City Council is meeting tonight. Items on the agenda include a public hearing on the renewals of the city liquor licenses for area establishments, reports from the city departments and the council will also go into closed session to discuss the ambulance director position. Tonights meeting begins at 6:30 at Durand City Hall.

Authorities in Rusk County have arrested two young men and a juvenile for a double-murder discovered last weekend in Sheldon.  The Wisconsin Department of Justice says 21-year-old Adam Rosolowski and 17-year-old Joseph Falk were taken into custody.  Those two and the juvenile were booked into the Rusk County Jail.  Investigators haven’t released a motive for the murders of 73-year-old Robert Rosolowski and his 70-year-old wife Bonnie Mae.  Deputies were dispatched to their home Sunday after a family member visited and found the bodies.

A St. Paul man, arrested in Dunn County had 36 different forms of identification, 53 different financial cards, 65 different personal checks and 10 payroll checks with different account information. According to Menomonie police, they arrested Ronald Jenkins at a truck stop and a search of his vehicle turned up the items along with a small generator, printer, laptop, paper trimmer, laminating machine and blank sheets of personal and payroll checks. Jenkins was charges with taking a driving a vehicle without the owners consent, four counts of misappropriating identification information, improperly possession a credit card scanning device and a count of possession of drug paraphernalia.

Authorities in Eau Claire County say a man accused of a child sex crime was free on bond at the time.  New charges have been filed against Gerardo Lugardo.  Police say Lugardo assaulted 12-year-old and 13-year-old victims last week in Eau Claire.  He was arrested and the charges were filed Monday.  Lugardo is also charged with bond jumping.

Starting in late June the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) will begin another round of aerial treatments to control gypsy moth in 15 counties. Phase two targets adult male moths, whereas phase one earlier this spring targeted gypsy moth caterpillars. Residents in the following counties can expect loud, low-flying, yellow planes as early as 7 a.m. through mid-July: Buffalo, Chippewa, Dunn, and Trempealeau, Efforts in these counties will focus on where gypsy moth populations are low or beginning to build, to slow them from spreading further west.

A felony charge of hit and run resulting in death has been filed against a Holem woman accused of killing her husband by driving over him while they argued.  The complaint was filed Monday in La Crosse County against 50-year-old Lori Ann Phillips.  She told investigators she was driving away from their home February 23rd of last year when it happened.  Phillips says she didn’t know she had run over her husband, Mark.  When she returned home several hours later, she said she slept on the couch and didn’t realize there was a problem until she got up the next day.  She is scheduled to make her first court appearance next Tuesday.

 A 17-year-old boy died Monday while cliff jumping at a lake near Cannon Falls. The Goodhue County Sheriff's office says Garrett Berg of Farmington, was jumping off a cliff into Lake Byllesby when another teen jumped in immediately after him and landed on top of him. Berg never surfaced after the accident. The sheriff's office says the only way to access the cliffs is by crossing private property and they are often called to the area to issue citations and remove trespassers.

Wisconsin small businesses will be allowed to apply for a “We’re All-In” grant effective next Monday.  Governor Tony Evers announced 75 million dollars would be available three weeks ago, but Tuesday’s announcement by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation revealed when the application window would be opened.  Thirty thousand Wisconsin small businesses will be eligible to apply for a 25-hundred dollar grant funded by the federal CARES Act.  A small business is one with 20 employees or less and annual revenue of one million dollars or less.  The deadline to apply is midnight Sunday, June 21st.

 A fourth person has been sentenced to prison for a cold-case sexual assault after D-N-A connected him to the crime.  A 25-year prison sentence was handed down to Jason A. Smith Tuesday for the sexual assault of a child nearly 20 years ago.  Smith was found guilty on two counts last February after the evidence kit in that case was tested as part of the Wisconsin Sexual Assault Kit Initiative.  The 2018 initiative was started as an effort to test hundreds of sex assault evidence kits which had been sitting on shelves – in some cases, for years.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services reports there were no coronavirus deaths Monday.  Only 203 of the nearly 76 hundred tests resulted in positive results.  Health officials say the daily positive test rate remains under three percent.  Monday was the first day in almost a month with no coronavirus deaths.  The D-H-S says 322 patients are hospitalized for treatment of the virus – compared to more than 400 two weeks ago.

More people will be able to qualify for help through The Emergency Food Assistance Program with the easing of some of the restrictions.  Now, households with combined incomes less than three times the federal poverty level can get a monthly share of food, including meat, vegetables, fruit and other options from the food pantry.  The change is an effort to serve larger households.  Those with incomes below 38-thousand-280 dollars now qualify.  The new statewide policy for the U-S-D-A-funded program went into effect June 1st.

Political leaders from across the nation are responding to the promise from the Minneapolis City Council to dismantle the police department.  Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden says there is a need for reform, but he doesn’t support dismantling the department.  President Trump’s campaign is calling for Democrats to denounce the idea.  Congresswoman Ilhan Omar is openly giving her support, but Minnesota state politicians seem to prefer police reform legislation.

 A security guard from St. Paul faces arson charges for the May 28th fire that destroyed the Minneapolis Police Department’s Third Precinct building.  The fire was started during the rioting following the death of George Floyd.  Federal charges of aiding and abetting arson were filed against 23-year-old Branden Michael Wolfe Monday.  Investigators say Wolfe was found in possession of police equipment stolen from the burning building.  Wolfe told them he pushed a wooden barrel into a fire there, knowing it would help the fire continue to burn.

More than 900 people will be out of work by the end of next month, when Verso Corporation will idle its paper mill in Wisconsin Rapids. State Representative Scott Krug of Wisconsin Rapids - who still has his great grandfather’s retirement pin from the mill - calls it a “gut punch”.  Verso will indefinitely idle mills in Rapids and Duluth while exploring viable and sustainable alternatives for both mills, including restarting if market conditions improve, marketing for sale or closing permanently.

 The owner of a plant in Minneapolis says he can’t trust city leaders after they let his plant burn to the ground during protests and rioting.  Seven-Sigma Incorporated will reopen at a different location.  That means about 50 jobs will be moved.  The owner tells the Star-Tribune he is optimistic he will be back in business – but he says it won’t be in Minneapolis.

Local-Regional News June 9

The remnants of Tropical Strom Cristobal will lift up from the south and into the upper Midwest later today and tonight. Heavy rain is expected with rainfall amounts of 2-4 inches expected with some areas of 5 inches possible. Flash flooding could develop later today and into early Wednesday morning. The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood watch through Wednesday morning for the entire WRDN Listening Area.

Three people were injured after a two motorcycle accident in Lincoln Township on Sunday. According to the Buffalo county Sheriffs Department, the two motorcycles were traveling north bound on Hwy 88 just past Hwy T when the failed to negotiate a corner, crossed into the southbound lane and down the embankment. 54Yr old Peter Houghtelin of Chatfield and 52yr old Kimberly Cary of Rochester were taken to Winona Health with non life threatening injuries, while 56yr old Peter Quast of Rochester was airlifted to Mayo Eau Claire. Speed is believed to be a factor in that accident.

One person was injured in a one vehicle accident in Isabelle Township on Saturday. According to the Pierce County Sheriffs Department, 25yr old Andrew Rohrich of St. Paul was traveling northbound on Hwy 35 when he lost control of his vehicle, entered the east ditch and struck numerous trees. Rohrich was taken to Red Wing Hospital with undetermined injuries.

Three state law enforcement agencies are helping the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office investigate a double homicide. Deputies were dispatched to the home Sunday near Conrath when a family member had found the bodies of Bob and Bonnie Rosolowski.  Investigators say they believe this was a targeted incident and there is no public risk.  Neighbors say the two people who lived in the home were hard-working and mostly kept to themselves.  The sheriff’s office is leading the investigation, with help from the Wisconsin Department of Justice D-C-I, the state crime lab and the Wisconsin State Patrol.

The Pepin County Health Department has issued a new health alert regarding covid-19. The alert is broken down into categories for individuals and different businesses and organizations. Pepin County Health Officer Heidi Stewart says the use of face masks and social distancing need to continue. The health department is also recommending those that feel sick to stay home, and residents should limit travel and avoid areas where large groups of people would be along with areas of covid-19 outbreaks.

The lone remaining candidate to become the president of the University of Wisconsin System is facing a challenging day.  University of Alaska System President Jim Johnson faces a grueling schedule of interviews.  It starts this morning (Tuesday) with a meeting with the system’s presidential search committee.  That will be followed by questions from campus stakeholders and finally an interview with the entire Board of Regents.  If approved, Johnson will replace outgoing President Ray Croft.  The other finalists withdrew due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Wisconsin Elections Commission is being asked to outlaw a practice called “ballot harvesting.”  It involves partisan outside groups helping send or return to local officials large numbers of absentee ballots.  The conservative Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty could be a precursor to a lawsuit over efforts to boost mail-in voting during the coronavirus pandemic.  Three-fourths of all votes used absentee ballots during the April presidential primary.  Wisconsin state law doesn’t specifically outlaw ballot harvesting and that’s why the firm is asking the commission to enact the rule banning it.

Some groups who have spent years targeting police brutality now say they’re not sure how dismantling Minneapolis police would be done.  The president of the Minneapolis chapter of Communities United Against Police Brutality calls the demands to defund police “just plain optics.”  The action is rare.  Camden, New Jersey did it, but such a move comes with major legal issues, including a Minneapolis city charter which stipulates a police force.  The culture in the Minneapolis Police Department has been criticized for years for a racist and brutal culture that resists change.

A 17-year-old murder suspect is scheduled to make an initial appearance in Olmstead County Circuit Court Wednesday.  Kaleb W. Smith of Eyota is accused of killing his five-year-old brother at the family’s home.  The incident happened last week.  Smith told investigators their mother had sent the younger boy, Alex, to bed – but he kept crying and “throwing a fit.”  He says he returned to Alex’s room and pinched his brother’s nose and covered his mouth for “one-to-two minutes” until the screaming stopped.  The Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s Office reported the victim’s brain suffered swelling consistent with being smothered.

The Madison teachers’ union says its members want police officers removed from the schools.  In a Sunday statement, the union said school resource officers cause “racialized trauma.”  In the past, the same union had demanded to have officers based in schools as a way to protect teachers and students.  The union now says the negatives outweigh the positives.  The Madison Metropolitan School District Board of Education will vote on its policy for school resource officers at a meeting Wednesday.

 Fifteen Republican state lawmakers are calling on Wisconsin’s governor to do more to protect the State Capitol from vandalism.  They signed a letter to Governor Tony Evers late last week.  The lawmakers want the statehouse, the grounds and the statues and memorials protected.  They say vandals have spray-painted and defaced many already.  The Republicans say they support the protesters who are peaceful, but they want something done about people who are just looking to damage and destroy.

 Minnesota Governor Tim Walz will ease more coronavirus restrictions effective Wednesday.  Swimming pools, movie theaters, gymnasiums and spas will be allowed to re-open – along with indoor dining at restaurants.  Under the governor’s new order, no location can hold more than 250 people.  Churches, salons and restaurants will be limited to 50 percent of capacity while bowling alleys, gymnasiums and movie theaters will have to stay under 25 percent.

Jury trials are slowly coming back in Minnesota after a three-month shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Last week, Hennepin, McLeod, Olmstead, and Ramsey counties began jury trials in felony criminal cases on a pilot basis after implementing a new COVID-19 preparedness plan created by the state Department of Health. No other criminal trials can be conducted before July 6th and no civil trials can be held until September 1st. Meanwhile, the state's top public defender Bill Ward believes safety is still a major issue. He's concerned that counties returning to jury trials too soon and without proper safety and sanitary protocols in place could also hinder chances of a fair trial.

 Democratic Party leaders say people attending the national convention in August could be tested for the coronavirus. Details are still being worked out and a decision on the testing should be made a few days before the convention starts. Milwaukee Health Commissioner Jeanette Kowalik says there’s a good chance everyone who enters the Fiserv Forum will have to take a rapid COVID-19 test for clearance.