Local-Regional News June 11

Hwy 10 was closed for just over an hour last night after a head-on accident in the Town of Waterville near Hatchery Road.  According to the Pepin County Sheriff's Department, 21yr old Kaitlyn Miller of Durand was traveling eastbound on Hwy 10, when she was hit head-on by a westbound vehicle driven by 32yr old Cassondra Ojibway of Eau Claire.  Both vehicles sustained heavy front-end damage and Miller had to be extracted from the vehicle by the Durand Fire Department.  Both drivers were taken to Advent Health Durand with non-life-threatening injuries.  

One person was injured in a car vs deer accident Thursday in El Paso Township.  According to the Pierce County Sheriff's Department, 26yr old Linda Bowen of Ellsworth was traveling eastbound on Hwy 72 when a deer ran into the roadway and struck the driver's side door of Bowen's vehicle.  The deer partially went through the driver's side window, hitting Bowen in the head.  Bowen was able to safely stop the vehicle.  Bowen's 5 children were all in safety seats and not injured, while Bowen was taken to Mayo Hospital in Menomonie.

One person was injured in a single-vehicle accident in Oak Grove Township on Tuesday.  According to the Pierce County Sheriff's Department, 84yr old Donna Barlass of Oak Park Heights, MN was traveling northbound on Hwy 35, when she fell asleep.  Barlass's vehicle left the roadway and entered the ditch and struck a tree.  Barlass was taken to Mayo Hospital in Red Wing.

Durand, Mondovi, and other smaller communities can now apply for their share of Wisconsin’s federal coronavirus stimulus.   Communities of fewer than 50-thousand people have until a week from Friday to apply for their share of the American Rescue Plan. There’s no word exactly how much money is available. The money can be used for coronavirus relief, road and sewer work, pay increases for essential workers, or to make up for any money communities have lost over the past year. 

The number of new positive covid-19 cases in Pepin County continues to fall.  Pepin County Health Officer Heidi Stewart says the last confirmed positive case was on May 20th.  Stewart says natural immunity and the increase in vaccinated people have contributed to the drop in cases.  The Pepin County Health Department continues to offer vaccinations to those who wish to receive them.

Additional transportation aid could be available for Durand and other small communities in the next state budget.  Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren says if approved the city would receive a 2% increase each year in transportation aid and a state grant program will be returning.  That grant program in the last budget provided up to 90% in state funding for local transportation projects.  Durand and Pepin County had applied for the program for the 3rd Avenue East project but was not awarded a grant from that program last year.

Residents of Dunn and Trempealeau counties can expect to hear and see low-flying planes in the early morning beginning in late June. The planes are part of aerial gypsy moth treatments planned at 21 sites across Western Wisconsin.  Yellow planes contracted by the U.S. Forest Service in a joint project with the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) will be applying an organic, biodegradable mating disruptor.   According to the Environmental Protection Agency, this pheromone presents no health risk to humans, and no adverse effects have been reported in the two decades that it has been used for gypsy moth control.   Treatment dates and times are weather-dependent.

Authorities in Adams County say they were notified by military pilots about a small plane that had made an emergency landing Wednesday afternoon.  The military pilots spotted the private aircraft on the ground in the Township of New Haven at about 4:00 p-m.  The pilot wasn’t injured and his name hasn't been released.  When the plane’s engine started to fail, he was able to put it down in a farm field.  Adams County Sheriff Brent York says it was helpful to hear quickly about the downed plane from the military pilots.  It was determined that the plane had been flying through the Wisconsin Dells area.

 The Republican Party of Minnesota's 2022 State Convention will be in Rochester. G-O-P chair Jennifer Carnahan announced the annual gathering is set for May 13th and 14th at the Mayo Civic Center.  Carnahan said, "Rochester is one of Minnesota's most vibrant cities and we are excited to host this important event in southern Minnesota ahead of the 2022 election."  More than 22-hundred Republican delegates and alternates will head to Med City for next spring's convention. Rochester last hosted the G-O-P state convention in 2014.  It was a virtual event last year.

Former Wisconsin Governors Jim Doyle and Scott Walker are urging everyone age 12 and over in the state to get vaccinated against COVID-19.  Democrat Doyle and Republican Walker are featured in a new public service announcement produced by U-W Health.   In the P-S-A, Walker, and Doyle talk about something they both agree on:  wanting the  COVID pandemic to end.   About 49 percent of Wisconsin residents have received one dose of the vaccine and more than 43 percent are fully vaccinated.

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers will appoint a commissioner to conduct a hearing on the charges against Eau Claire County District Attorney Gary King.  Two women who worked in King’s office wrote to the governor asking that he be removed from office.  The commissioner would determine if an investigation is needed and he would forward any testimony to Evers.  The only way a D-A can be removed in Wisconsin is for cause – and only after a public hearing and verified charges from a county taxpayer.  King is accused of being impaired during office hours, sleeping during meetings, making inappropriate comments to female staff members, and behaving erratically.

Authorities in Barron County are not considering criminal charges after the discovery of a body in the late stages of decomposition in a Rice Lake home.  Neighbors had reported a strong odor coming from the house and a welfare check was made Monday.  Executing a search warrant, Rice Lake police officers and officials with the Barron County district attorney’s office entered the home and found the dead man.  His wife was reportedly extremely intoxicated and she told officers the man was “sleeping.”  He had apparently been dead for a long time.  An autopsy turned up no evidence of foul play and there were no apparent signs of injuries to the body.

A bill banning the use of chokeholds by police earned bipartisan support as it passed the Wisconsin Senate Wednesday.  Exceptions were made for life-threatening situations or the times that officers need to defend themselves.  Critics of the measure wanted a total ban.  The legislation is one of a series of police reforms being worked on by Wisconsin lawmakers following the death of George Floyd last year in Minneapolis.  Many police departments in the state have already put similar policies into force and law enforcement training no longer teaches chokeholds as a technique for compliance.

The sexual assault trial for a former Marshfield police chief has been set for December in Wood County court.  Rick Gramza made a court appearance Wednesday.  Gramza is accused of making unwanted sexual advances toward a female officer over a period of several years.  The incidents started before he was promoted to chief.  Gramza maintains the incidents were consensual.  He was placed on paid leave last fall and resigned from his position this spring before a scheduled hearing.  In addition to misdemeanor sexual assault, he is also charged with misconduct in office.

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers says he’s against anything that makes it harder to vote.  He’s expected to veto several Republican-backed election bills if they make it to his desk.  The measures have passed the Wisconsin Senate and will be considered by the Assembly.  Speaker Robin Vos says he’d like to try to find a compromise with the governor over a limit on drop boxes for ballots.  Vos wants guidelines for who can access the drop boxes and how the ballots are transported to the clerk’s office – so there’s no opportunity for anyone “to do anything nefarious.”  More than a dozen election-related changes were approved Wednesday.

As many as 40-thousand COVID-19 vaccine doses in Wisconsin will expire by the end of the month.   Many of them are Johnson-and-Johnson doses. The Milwaukee city health department says 24-hundred doses are about to go bad. Doctors say interest in the Johnson-and Johnson vaccine dried up after a few extremely rare cases of blood clots. Nationally, millions of Johnson-and-Johnson doses are due to expire sometime in June.

Local-Regional News June 10

 One person was injured in a one-vehicle accident in Milton Township on Sunday.  According to the Buffalo County Sheriff's Department, 50yr old Jeffrey Jandl of Fountain City was traveling on Bechly Road when he struck a bridge abutment.  Passenger 21yr old Jacob Jandl of Fountain City was taken to the hospital with minor injuries.  Alcohol and speed are believed to be factors in the accident and that accident remains under investigation.

The Pepin County Sheriff's Department has a new member.  Sherrif Joel Wener announced that he and Deputy Lowenhagen met and picked K9 Deputy Vegas.  Vegas is a German Shepherd and was born March 16, 2020, in the Czech Republic.  Deputy Lowenhagen will begin training with Vegas in the coming weeks and it is expected K9 Deputy Vegas will be on duty in Pepin County by this fall.

The Durand City Council has approved the funding for the 3rd Avenue East-Drier Street-Laneville Road Project.  At last night's city council meeting, members approved the bonding issues related to the projects.  The City also approved borrowing 700,000 to refinance a 2015 State Trust Fund Loan.  If the city can get a decent rate on the $700,000 loan, it would proceed with the refinancing of that State Trust Fund Loan.

The state Assembly has passed a "2nd Amendment sanctuary" bill from Mondovi Republican Treig Pronschinske.  Proponents say the bill is needed despite the state constitution's protections of gun ownership. Governor Tony Evers is expected to veto the bill if it gets to him.

Eau Claire police say two local men are charged in an April shooting incident.  Lefon Cantrell and Xavier Luce face several charges, including first-degree recklessly endangering safety.  Police were responding to a report that shots had been fired from one vehicle in Eau Claire, aimed at a second one.  Cantrell appeared at police headquarters last Friday to speak to investigators, but police say in the middle of the discussion he took off running and jumped into the Chippewa River.  After three hours of negotiating, he finally came to shore and was taken into custody.

Western Wisconsin officials are projecting that the River Point District redevelopment project could eventually provide a 110-million-dollar tax base.  City planners, engineers, and construction crew members have started work on the 60-acre plot of land at the Black, La Crosse, and Mississippi River confluence.  Additional housing, business locations, and river access are all part of the big project.  Planning meetings began seven years ago over what to do with the property formerly owned by Mobile Oil Company.  Construction of business at the location could begin by 2023.

A Minnesota Department of Corrections officer charged with two sex crimes for inappropriate contact with a detainee will spend 120 days in jail and seven years on probation.  Dakota County prosecutors say 54-year-old Randy Beehler of Foley was sentenced today (Wednesday) for having sexual contact with a female detainee he was transporting.  Beehler must also participate in sex offender treatment and register as a predatory offender.

The Wisconsin Legislature has voted to end the 300-dollar-a-week federal bonus payments for people drawing unemployment benefits.  Twenty-five other states have already done the same thing.  Most Republicans say the extra federal money makes it harder for local business owners to hire new workers because they’re making more by staying at home.  Democratic Governor Tony Evers has already indicated he will veto the measure.  The federal payment is scheduled to end on September 6th.

Republican attempts to toughen Wisconsin's elections laws have made it out of the state Senate.   The Senate bills would address a number of complaints from Republicans from the November elections, including restrictions on absentee voting and voter IDs, and completely banning the use of private funding to help clerks' offices run elections. It also prohibits clerks from sending out absentee ballot applications unless voters specifically request one, and would strictly limit how and where communities are allowed to use ballot drop boxes. Governor Evers is unlikely to sign the measures.

New drivers in Wisconsin may no longer have to take a behind-the-wheel driving exam under a proposal from Gov. Tony Evers approved by the Joint Finance committee.  The committee voted to allow the state Department of Transportation to provide waivers for the test effective next year.   The department last year initiated a pilot project in response to the coronavirus pandemic to reduce the number of people needing an in-person driving test.  From May 2020 through April 2021, there were 48,100 drivers who obtained their license without taking the traditional drivers test, according to budget papers prepared for the committee.

Minnesota Senate Republican Majority Leader Paul Gazelka says falling hospitalization and infection rates for COVID-19 mean it's time for Governor Tim Walz to give up his emergency powers.  The governor indicates he'll do that if the legislature leaves him with the ability to vaccinate Minnesotans and accept 45-million dollars from the federal government to do that.  Walz also said if lawmakers could fix the eviction moratorium, "I think the answer would then be yes."  Gazelka said in a statement there is simply no reason for Governor Walz to continue his "one-man rule."

A Rochester man is accused of punching a female Walmart employee in the face.  Police say 30-year-old Denard Ellis wanted to get a check cashed and became upset because the Walmart service desk was closed.  Officers say Ellis punched the 53-year-old woman in the face and she fell into a clothing rack before hitting her head on the floor.  Ellis was arrested Tuesday and charged with third- and fifth-degree assault and disorderly conduct.  The victim received stitches at the hospital.

Fourteen Wisconsin businesses are sharing 300-thousand dollars in grant funding as part of the 2021 Buy Local Buy Wisconsin campaign. Ryan Dunn with DATCP says the funding will go towards improvements at ag and food-based businesses across the state.   That money is going towards a wide variety of projects. 45 Mercantile in Antigo, B and E Trees in Viroqua, and Vesperman Farms in Lancaster will be spending it on new marketing campaigns, and the Wisconsin Sheep Dairy Association is improving its website and newsletters to potential members.

Parents are urged to get their teens vaccinated for COVID-19 this summer. Deputy Health Services Secretary Julie Willems Van Dijk says about one-third of 16-to-17 year-olds and about 22 percent of 12-to-15 year-olds have received the first dose, so the effort has a long way to go.

Republican state Representative Shae Sortwell is getting some heat for a Facebook post-Friday that compared a children’s museum mask policy to the Nazi Party.  The Central Wisconsin Children’s Museum in Stevens Point posted its policy online last week.  Sortwell responded with the post:  “The Gestapo wants to see your papers, please.”  That social media post is generating outrage and multiple calls for Sortwell to apologize.  The museum post said masks would be optional for people who showed vaccination cards and mandatory for everyone else.

Republicans working on Wisconsin’s next state budget want to expand Interstate 94 west of Milwaukee.   The Joint Finance Committee approved plans Tuesday to add more lanes to I-94 as part of the state’s transportation budget. It will cost Wisconsin 82-million dollars just to plan for the project; the work itself is expected to cost more than a billion dollars. Budget-writing lawmakers also cut mass transit funding to Madison and Milwaukee by 41-million dollars. Some of the savings would be spent on local road projects. 

 Madison’s new electric-powered fire truck has already been used on a few calls since it went into service last month.  The vehicle was developed by Pierce Manufacturing in Appleton and its parent company, the Oshkosh Corporation.  Madison Fire Department leaders say it will reduce emissions, minimize fuel consumption and make less noise.  This is a way, Fire Chief Steven Daniels says, for the city to continue its “green” focus without sacrificing fire-fighting capacity.  Madison has a goal of being 100-percent renewable and sustainable by 2030.

Local-Regional News June 9

 The City of Mondovi has found a new City Administrator.  At last night's council meeting the council approved the recommendation of the hiring committee to offer the position to Erin Harm, the former Administrator for Mineral Point.  The council directed Mayor Weis and the interim Administrator to work with the city attorney to draw up an employment contract with Harm.  Her estimated salary will be between $80,000 and $92000 per year.

The Durand-Arkansaw School Board is meeting tonight.  Items on the agenda include discussion and possible action on school breakfast and lunch prices, the elimination of athletic fees, and the possible hiring of an IT network administrator.  Tonight's meeting begins at 6pm in the board room at Durand High School.

The Durand City Council is meeting tonight.  Items on the agenda include discussion and possible action on financing the 3rd Ave East project, reports from the Mayor, and city department heads.  Tonight's meeting begins at 6:30 at Durand City Hall and will also be live-streamed on our YouTube Channel at Durand Broadcasting WRDN.

The Durand Arkansaw School District has announced the movie lineup for the summer movie series.  After a vote of residents, the district will show The Blind Side on July 7th, Miracle on July 22nd, Trolls, World Tour on August 3rd, and Tommy Boy on August 9th.  All movies will be held at the Bauer Built Sports Complex starting at 7:30pm and admission is free.

The National Night Out with Durand Police is returning to Tarrant Park this August.  The Durand Police announced the 5th annual event will be on August 3rd starting at 5pm.  Activities include food, cornhole, a children's raffle, police, fire and ems displays, and the movie at the Bauer Built Sports Complex.  The department is estimating attendance at around 500 and if you would like to make a donation to the event, please contact Durand City Hall.

The Tarrant Park Pool is open today.  Open swim will be held 1-7pm and the Lap Swim will be from 6-8am and Noon-1pm.  Memberships to the pool are available at a cost of $30 for individuals, $70 for families for Durand Residents, and for non-city residents, the cost is $50 for individuals and $95 for families.  Daily passes are $2 for kids 4 and under and $3 for ages 5 and older.   A reminder that the pool will close for Fun Fest Weekend.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin says it is working with the Cultivative Coalition as it files an administrative complaint against Chippewa Falls schools.  The A-C-L-U says the district hasn’t done enough to stop the bullying of L-G-B-T students.  The formal complaint cites “pervasive discrimination.”  The coalition is a group of current and former Chippewa Falls students who want more done about “discrimination and harassment of students of color and L-G-B-T-Q-plus students.”  The A-C-L-U says new policies are needed.  The district says it has already examined some of the student complaints and will looking into others in the future.

Members of the Wisconsin Legislature’s budget-writing committee have given their approval to one-and-a-half-billion dollars in building projects.  Almost 629-million is going to projects for the University of Wisconsin System.  Democratic Governor Tony Evers had proposed spending two-point-three billion dollars on the projects, but the Republican-controlled Joint Finance Committee left more than 800-million dollars in spending on the table.  Republicans say the governor was being irresponsible with his proposals, while they approve a reasonable expenditure on the projects.  Democrats say the majority party is missing opportunities to complete some needed work.

 A former Wisconsin pharmacist who pleaded guilty to spoiling 57 vials of COVID-19 vaccine will spend three years in federal prison.  Forty-six-year-old Steven Brandenburg from Grafton was also ordered to pay more than 83-thousand dollars in restitution to the hospital at sentencing today (Tuesday).  Court documents say Brandenburg purposefully removed a box of Moderna vaccine vials from a hospital refrigeration unit during two overnight shifts in late December.  Brandenburg admitted that he was skeptical of the vaccine and returned the spoiled vials to the refrigerator the next day.  Fifty-seven patients received the doses before Brandenburg's conduct was discovered.

Bail is set at two million dollars for a South St. Paul man charged with second-degree murder in a shooting in downtown Rochester.    Surveillance video shows a fight breaking out during a dice game early Sunday and 28-year-old Derrick Days pulling out a handgun and firing at one man who was critically wounded.  Video then shows Days firing multiple shots at 28-year-old Todd Banks, who was struggling with another man.  Banks died from his wounds.  A second defendant, 22-year-old Nautica Cox from Minneapolis, is charged with aiding and abetting.

The sun is going to look a little different if you gaze toward the sky Thursday morning.  A partial solar eclipse will happen over much of Wisconsin just after sunrise.  People living in Milwaukee will see about 31 percent of the sun covered and the partial eclipse will last for 29 minutes.  There will be a little less coverage in Madison, 23 percent, and the partial eclipse will last for 24 minutes.  Scientists warn us to not look directly at the sun, use special solar eclipse glasses, create a pinhole projector, or use a solar filter on cameras or binoculars.  The next total solar eclipse is coming April 8th, 2024.

Authorities are identifying the man fatally shot early Sunday in downtown Rochester.  An autopsy confirmed that 28-year-old Todd Banks, Junior of Rochester died of a gunshot wound.   Police say Banks and another man were shot while playing a game of dice on a sidewalk.  The other victim was in critical but stable condition.  Two suspects were arrested.  The Rochester P-D says it is increasing staffing and enforcement this summer to make the city safer.

State revenues over the next three years will be much higher than previously projected  An additional 4-point-4 billion dollars could mean tax cuts, reduced borrowing, increased funding for K-12 schools or other programs. But all of that hinges on whether or not Governor Tony Evers and Republican legislative leaders can reach an agreement - something that's rarely occurred. Republicans on the legislature's Joint Finance Committee have already warned about spending the windfall. Bob Lang, director of the nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau, wrote in a memo that "the increase in general fund tax collections in 2021, particularly in April and May, is unprecedented."

Wisconsin’s coronavirus vaccine numbers saw another sharp drop last week.  Wisconsin state health officials say about 86-thousand COVID-19 vaccine doses were administered last week. That’s the lowest number since the first week of January, and it’s the first time Wisconsin has dipped below 100-thousand weekly doses in five months. 

University of Wisconsin leaders recommend students and faculty members get their coronavirus shots.   But there are no plans for U-W system schools to require vaccinations. System President Tommy Thompson reiterated that point Monday after Marquette University announced it will require students to be vaccinated. Thompson says there will be an aggressive campaign to encourage students to get their shots. 

Washington County prosecutors are charging seven people with juvenile sex-trafficking charges as a result of a task force operation.  The seven suspects, ranging in age from 27 to 52, face charges of either underage prostitution or electronic communication with a minor.   Sheriff Dan Starry says investigations like these "are essential to decreasing the demand for commercial sex."  Officials say now that many children are on summer break, it's imperative that parents remain vigilant in protecting their children from dangers that exist online.

The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development says it’s not planning to aggressively pursue cases if people aren’t adequately searching for jobs.  Republican lawmakers have been pointing to reports of people who turn down job offers or fail to show up for job interviews.  Assembly Speaker Robin Vos last week said he wanted D-W-D to take a more active approach, following up on cases where unemployment benefits recipients don’t make the required four work search contacts each week.  A spokesperson for the agency says there have been few reports of employers whose job offers were rejected or job candidates that didn’t show.

Local-Regional News June 8

 One person was injured in a motorcycle accident Sunday in Maiden Rock Township.  According to the Pierce County Sheriffs Department, 59yr old Scott Beck of Waconia, MN was traveling eastbound on 20th Avenue when he collided with a rock in the roadway while attempting to cross a creek flowing over the roadway.   Beck's motorcycle overturned and he was ejected.  Beck was transported to Red Wing Mayo Hospital.

One person was injured in a motorcycle accident Friday in Oak Grove Township.  According to the Pierce County Sheriffs Department, 41yr old Mark McKnight of Hastings was traveling southbound on Hwy 35 when he lost control, entered the east ditch, and overturned.  McKnight was transported to Regina Hospital in St. Paul.  That accident remains under investigation. 

The Mondovi City Council is meeting tonight.  Items on the agenda include an update on the DNR fish stocking at Mirror Lake, discussion and action on approval of the hiring of a new city administrator, and discussion and possible action on re-opening city hall to the public.  Tonight's meeting begins at 6:30 at the Marten Center in Mondovi.

An Eau Claire Police Office is being recognized for saving a life on Sunday.  According to Eau Claire Police, Officer Zac Becker was at Phoenix Park on another call when he was approached by a male citizen saying his girlfriend was missing.   The girlfriend had been last seen under the Haymarket Landing Footbridge and during a search Officer  Becker heard splashing and located the woman in the water unconscious.  Officer Becker then went into the water to rescue the girl and other officers and EMS arrived to assist in getting the woman out of the water.  Eau Claire Police say Officer Becker's actions likely saved the woman's life.

Wisconsin's Republican U-S Senator says no one should be required to get the coronavirus vaccine. Senator Ron Johnson wrote an op-ed last week that said vaccine mandates would be a mistake. He says one of the fundamental pieces of healthcare is that people have a right to choose what care they receive, even if that means choosing not to get care. Johnson says no one should be pressured, coerced, or fear reprisal for refusing the coronavirus vaccine. Many businesses in the state and some small colleges are requiring vaccinations before people can come back to work or come back to class this fall.

The Pepin County Sheriffs Department will have a new K-9 unit on duty by this fall.  Durand Police Chief Stan Ridgeway says the new K-9 unit will be very valuable for the community.  Over the last three months, Durand Police have arrested 20 people on felony charges, most related to the use and distribution f methamphetamine. 

 This week, the Minnesota State Capitol Building re-opens to the public after being closed since March 27th, 2020 due to the COVID pandemic.    Department of Administration assistant commissioner Curt Yoakam says the building will open on Thursday with weekday hours from 8 a-m to 5 pm. The Capitol will remain open beyond regular hours for floor sessions and other legislative hearings conducted in Capitol hearing rooms.   It will remain closed on the weekends.  The Minnesota Historical Society hopes to resume guided tours later this summer.

 Wisconsin is following a national trend of seeing more traffic fatalities, even though there were fewer cars on its roads last year.  The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says even though the coronavirus pandemic had more people working from home, the nation’s car crash fatality rate is up by seven percent.  A researcher at the U-W-Madison Traffic Operations and Safety Lab says the number of miles driven dropped by 13 percent last year.  Despite that, the state has recorded 166 fatalities in the first five months of 2021 – well above the average for the period.

Legislation that would delay redistricting for local offices in Wisconsin would be delayed for a year will be a "payday for lawyers," according to Wisconsin Democracy Campaign executive director Matt Rothschild.    Proponents of the bill say it's necessary because the U.S. Census Bureau is months behind in producing data needed to draw new political maps. Governor Tony Evers is skeptical of the bill, which Democrats believe could give Republicans an edge in redistricting. It had a hearing Monday in a state Senate committee.

A Wisconsin Senate panel is meeting today (Monday) to start work on establishing new boundaries for political districts.  The question is expected to end up in court before the job is done.  That’s what happened after the 2010 U-S Census was complete and following a long legal battle.  Republican lawmakers will draw the map, but Democratic Governor Tony Evers will need to give his approval before it becomes official.  The boundaries have to be established before the August 2022 primary elections.

 Minnesota lawmakers return to St. Paul in a week with the goal of finishing a new budget before state government begins to shut down.  Democrats and Republicans have big differences in several policy areas.  Hamline University analyst David Schultz says one important question is:  can negotiators come up with an agreement that allows both sides to somehow “save face.”  Schultz says they will be trying to make the budget deal look like a win-win situation for both sides.  The parties have to point to something as a victory, especially if Minnesota’s government shuts down.

Wisconsin’s largest private university will require students to be vaccinated against COVID-19.   In a statement, Marquette University in Milwaukee says it will require all students to be fully vaccinated by August 1st. The statement goes on to say that vaccines are safe and effective, that caring for one another is consistent with Catholic and Jesuit teachings, and that vaccination will provide students with a richer in-person experience. Lawrence University in Appleton and Beloit College also require vaccinations. Meanwhile, University of Wisconsin System schools do not plan to mandate vaccinations.

According to AARP Wisconsin, more than 600,000 Wisconsinites do not have broadband access where they are currently living. AARP's Helen Marks Dicks says the state WILL allocate more money for broadband, in the next budget.  She says there are two competing philosophies on how to fund expansion, between Republicans in the legislature and Democratic Governor Tony Evers.

For the first time in 26 years the iconic burger chain Big Boy is returning to Wisconsin.  A franchise location will be opened in Germantown at the site of the former Jerry’s Old Town Inn on Main Street.  Partners Chaz Hastings and Scott Carleton say they hope the new restaurant will become the flagship location for more Big Boys over the next three years in southeastern Wisconsin.  The owners say the Germantown location will be open seven days a week for lunch and dinner.  The official first day of business hasn’t been announced.

Wisconsin farmers need some rain.  The latest drought report says 75-percent of Wisconsin is under some kind of drought condition. Most of the state, about half, is simply abnormally dry. Another 25-percent, mostly in southern and central Wisconsin, is under a moderate drought. The southeastern corner of the state, however, is listed as under severe drought conditions. 

Local-Regional News June 7

 A Wabasha County judge says a southeast Minnesota man is competent to stand trial for killing his father near Zumbro Falls.  Forty-five-year-old James E. Riley is charged with the second-degree murder of 73-year-old Edward Riley on March 5th.  Investigators say Riley admitted to hitting his dad with a hammer and stabbing him before using a tractor to put his body in the trunk of a car.  His next court hearing is July 7th.

Durand Fun Fest is this weekend and according to Durand Public Works Superintendent Matt Gillis, starting Tuesday, roads around Memorial Park will be closed for the event.  Fun Fest will be Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Xcel Energy has approval from the Wisconsin Public Service Commission to build the largest solar facility in the western part of the state.  Xcel says the project will generate almost 30-thousand dollars a year in shared revenue payments for the Town of Gilman and Pierce County.  The solar array will produce 74 megawatts of electricity.  The Minnesota-based company says the solar facility will provide clean, zero-fuel cost energy while helping it meet its carbon reduction goals cost-effectively.

People working in the Eau Claire County District Attorney’s office say their boss has been making inappropriate comments.  An outside investigator interviewed D-A Gary King in March and determined there was substance to the complaints.  King is accused of making one female employee the target in the majority of the comments.  The problem started in July 2019 and escalated until a complaint to H-R was filed last year.  Only one district attorney has had a governor try to remove him from office in the last 25 years.  Calumet County D-A Jim Kratz resigned before Governor Jim Doyle could do that in 2010.

A Chippewa Falls man has been arrested by the Wisconsin State Patrol for OWI 5th offense.  According to the Patrol, troopers stopped 65yr old Steven Quien after a report he was weaving from one side of the interstate to the other and even stopped on the interstate at one point.    Quien showed signs of impairment and failed a field sobriety test.    After being arrested he was taken to the hospital for an evidentiary blood test.

 The Wisconsin Department of Transportation is warning drivers to watch out for buckling pavement during a record-setting heatwave.  Several roads buckled in the Eau Claire area last weekend when temperatures moved into the mid-to-upper-90s.  An on-ramp to Interstate 90 in Columbia County was closed for repairs Saturday and more pavement was buckled that same day on Interstate 41 near Neenah.  The Department of Transportation says pavement buckles when road temperatures warm quickly after being cool for months.  The problem normally doesn’t happen in Wisconsin until the summer months.

The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a Sunday incident in Sparta that left one person dead and two others suffering serious injuries.  A 9-1-1 call brought deputies to the home shortly before noon.  Two of the victims were taken to a hospital and the third was dead by the time deputies arrived.  They had all been injured with what authorities are calling “an edged weapon.”  The suspect was outside the home with a rifle and he had shot himself.  Deputies say he was taken into custody.  No names have been released.  The sheriff’s office says the homicide case is under investigation.

A La Crosse man released on a signature bond admits he’s “mentally weird” for spying on his female neighbor.  Thirty-year-old Robert Kautzman was arrested after he drilled holes in the wall of his apartment to spy on the woman living next door.  The victim told investigators Kautzman broke in last month and stole her underwear.  She says she confronted him while he was walking up her stairs and he left.  He’s been charged with felony burglary and misdemeanor peeping and invasion of privacy.

Local and county parks departments could be getting a million extra dollars for maintaining ATV trails in the next state budget. Lincoln County forestry administrator Dean Bowe says usage is up over the last decade or so. Bowe says that bigger ATVs have hit the market over the past decade, meaning more people are using larger machines, which puts more strain on aging trails. 

 U-S Senator Ron Johnson says he doesn’t feel any pressure to make a quick decision about running for re-election.  The Wisconsin Republican says he’s still undecided about going for a third term next year.  During a virtual appearance from Washington at the Milwaukee Press Club Thursday he said he understands that President Donald Trump and others want him to run.  He says his primary goal is to keep the seat he’s held in Republican control.  Several Democrats have already launched campaigns and some Republicans are waiting to see what Johnson decides.

Edmund Manydeeds will serve as president of the University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents for the next school year.  Manydeeds is the first Native American elected UW Board of Regents president.  The Eau Claire attorney was first appointed to the Board of Regents in 2010.  Manydeeds said after being elected, "I think that I'm ready and prepared to deal with diversity of thought regarding political issues, regarding life issues, regarding issues that this board may face."  Manydeeds was elected on a 10-8 vote over fellow Regent Michael Grebe.  He will oversee the search for a new UW-System president.  Regent Karen Walsh was elected vice president.

The Joint Finance Committee voted along party lines Wednesday, to address a bottleneck in meat processing with new positions in the state Ag Department.  The JFC also voted along party lines to assist people with disabilities find employment. Republican members also continued to call on Governor Tony Evers to end enhanced federal unemployment benefits that add 300 dollars a week to the maximum state payment of 370 dollars.

 After nearly 50 years, a Minnesota man is arrested for the murder of a teenage girl from suburban Chicago.  Seventy-six-year-old Barry Whelpley of Mounds View is in custody and awaiting extradition to Illinois.  Fifteen-year-old Julie Ann Hanson was reported missing on July 8th, 1972 after leaving her house to ride her bike.  Her body was discovered later that day in a Naperville field.  The girl had been stabbed 36 times and sexually assaulted.  Whelpley, who was 27 at the time of the murder, used to live within a mile of the Hanson family home.  D-N-A analysis recently connected Whelpley to the murder.

A coalition of conservative groups is in support of expunging certain criminal records in Wisconsin.   Americans for Prosperity, Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce, the Badger Institute, and Americans for Tax Reform yesterday all say allowing more people to clear their criminal records will give more people a second chance in life. A bill in the state legislature would allow people over the age of 25 in Wisconsin to ask for an expungement for non-violent crimes. Two Republican lawmakers remain opposed. Senators Julian Bradkley and Andre Jacque say people should not be allowed to hide their criminal pasts. 

The Army is awarding a 942-million-dollar contract to Oshkosh Defense to update weapon systems on Stryker carrier vehicles.  Oshkosh Corporation said in a statement, " this upgrade will provide precision lethality capability to the Army’s Stryker Brigade Combat Team."  The company will "integrate a 30MM Medium Caliber Weapon System (MCWS) onto the Stryker Double V Hull Infantry Carrier Vehicle (ICVVA1)."  The contract was awarded by the U-S Army Contracting Command - Detroit Arsenal.

Local-Regional News June 4

 Durand is joining other communities in being shorthanded on the police department.  Durand Police Chief Stan Ridgeway says the staffing shortage is serious.  Right now, communities around Durand are also hiring, and many of the law enforcement academy graduates are finding jobs immediately upon graduation.

Sign up for level one swimming lessions began yesterday in Durand.  The Level One Lessons will be June 14-17 in the evenings at the Tarant Park Pool.  The class is limited to 20 students, and Durand Public Works Superintendent Matt Gillis says if there is a need for additional level one classes the city will consider scheduling more. Those interested in registering must send an email to dchall@nelson-tel.net.  Registrations will NOT be accepted in person or via Facebook messenger.

The Dunn County Health Department is announcing new updates to the COVID-19 gathering guidelines.  The Health Department is recommending mass gathering sizes of not more than 100 individuals indoors and 250 individuals outdoors. “Mass gathering” is any planned or spontaneous, public or private event or convening that will bring together or is likely to bring together 100 or more people in a single room or single confined or enclosed space at the same time.  

An angry father in Cudahy now faces several felony charges after threatening a middle school basketball coach.  Text messages from Michael Yumang’s cell phone to his son’s basketball coach included pictures of a gun and a threat that he would kill the coach.  The problem started December 14th when the volunteer coach told Yumang he would have to leave the gymnasium before practice.  That was based on a COVID-19 policy by the rec department.  When the coach reported Yumang’s threatening text, a search of the man’s home turned up four loaded magazines and drug paraphernalia, plus a plastic bag containing a suspicious substance.

A group of Republican lawmakers wants to prevent Wisconsin schools from teaching so-called 'critical race theory'. Representative Chuck Wichgers (wickers) says his pending bill would give parents the right to issue open records requests on school curricula and inspect them.  Speakers at Thursday's rally say students are being harmed by hearing that racism is still a problem in American society. State law already allows for open records requests on teaching materials and to petition school boards to change locally taught topics. 

The School of Education at U-W-Platteville is offering to help pay off the loans taken out by its students.  The Loan Repayment Assistance Program applies to the federal student, parent PLUS, and private alternative loans.  Incoming freshmen students majoring in elementary and middle education are being told that if they graduate, the school will pay off a portion of their loans until they are making a salary of at least 48-thousand dollars a year.  This is reportedly the first offer of its kind at any public institution in the U-S.  It’s aimed at helping some rural school districts find teaching candidates.

State park admission fees, fishing licenses and trail pass costs will all be waived this weekend as the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources holds its Free Fun Weekend.    All state parks will be open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., though the agency noted that some areas may hit their pre-determined capacity limit due to high demand. The properties will close if this happens until some visitors leave, reducing the capacity to allow more in.    Drive-up windows, playgrounds, bathrooms and observation towers will be open for visitors, plus concession facilities will be at 50% capacity.

As of June 1, one-quarter of Wisconsin is experiencing some form of drought.  According to the latest drought monitor from USDA, approximately 25% of the state is experiencing at least moderate drought conditions, including at least part of 30 of the state’s 72 counties. Included in that total is 5% of the state, including at least parts of nine counties in southeastern Wisconsin, currently experiencing severe drought conditions.  Record warm conditions are expected this weekend and our next chance for rain will be next week.

A federal judge has refused to dismiss a lawsuit against Netflix and the producers who created the “Making A Murderer” documentary.  Former Manitowoc County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant Andrew Colborn says the series about the homicide trials and convictions of Steven Avery and Brendan Dassey falsely depicted him as framing Avery, who is serving time for the murder of Teresa Halbach.  U-S District Court Judge Brett Ludwing ruled late last month that Colborn adequately pleaded claims for defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress under Wisconsin law.  The judge did toss out a negligence claim.

 Republicans on the Wisconsin Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee have blocked another attempt to legalize medical marijuana.  Democrats introduced a measure Wednesday to make the use legal and provide funding to regulate the drug.  Co-chairman Senator Howard Marklein ruled the motion was out of order since the budget-writing committee had already removed the medical marijuana provision from the two-year state spending plan.

Even though public health orders were allowed to expire this week in Dane County, the relaxed recommendations don’t apply everywhere.  Some hospitals and schools still require people to wear masks.  Leaders at S-S-M Health say they are still masked and will be “for some time.”  Eight county health organizations are on record as supporting universal masking in a health care setting.  Local authorities advise that if you’re going to a business, hospital, or church, it’s a good idea to check ahead of time to learn what the rules are for that location.

Minnesota health officials are keeping their fingers crossed as key indicators of the COVID pandemic continue trending in a positive direction. Kris Ehresmann (AIRZ-man) with the Minnesota Department of Health says they're also waiting to see what happens four weeks after Memorial Day weekend and a month after Minneapolis and Saint Paul dropped their mask mandates. Ehresmann said, "our hope is that, with the increasing vaccination coverage that we're seeing, that...that should help to moderate any potential blips." The seven-day average for COVID test positivity is three-point-four percent - below the five-percent "caution" threshold.

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is asking the public for its help in finding a 62-year-old predatory offender.  Authorities say Donald Dean Christiansen was last seen at a Target store in Rochester.  They say Christiansen removed an electronic monitoring device Monday and failed to return to his placement location.  A felony escape custody warrant has been issued for his arrest.  Anyone who sees Christiansen should call 9-1-1 or the B-C-A at 651-793-7000.

Fight the bite of the Lyme disease-bearing deer tick this summer. If you do get bitten, remove it right away. Rebecca Osborn is a vectorborne disease epidemiologist with the state Department of Health Services.  You can protect yourself from tick bites by using repellent on skin and clothing and wearing long pants and long-sleeved shirts. About 200 cases of Lyme disease are reported in Wisconsin each year, but that number probably vastly underestimates the true number of cases.

Local-Regional News June 3

 Residents along Drier Street, parts of 3rd Ave East, Auth Street  Lee Street, and Lanville Road were evacuated for a short time yesterday after construction crews struck a gas main.  The incident happened at approximately 8:30am while crews are working to replace the sewer and water mains as part of the 3rd Avenue East Reconstruction project.   The main was repaired and residents were allowed to return home by 10am. 

A bill authored by Republicans in the Wisconsin legislature would bar state government or private businesses from requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination. Representative Treig Pronschinske of Mondovi said "Requiring people to show a vaccine card to get into businesses or government entities at this point is jumping the gun. This bill prevents that from happening." Governor Tony Evers has already said the state government will not be imposing vaccine requirements - but that private businesses are another matter.  The bill had a public hearing in an Assembly committee on Wednesday. Sixteen states have banned vaccine passports. Two - New York and Hawaii - have adopted app-based systems that allow individuals to show their vaccination status.

Methamphetamine is becoming a problem in the city of Durand.  Last week Durand Police Chief Stan Ridgeway told council members that the department had arrested 16 people on felony charges in the last three months.  During an interview with WRDN yesterday, Ridgeway said that number had increased to 22  over the weekend.  Ridgeway says most of the arrested are related to meth.  The meth use has led to other crimes including thefts of vehicles, Ridgeway recommends residents make sure their vehicles and homes are locked.

One person was killed in a motorcycle accident in the Town of Hale on  Tuesday.  According to the Trempealeau County Sheriff's Department, 74yr old Gary Heath of the Town of Hale was traveling northbound on Hwy O when he struck a deer.  Heath lost control of the motorcycle and was ejected.  Heath was airlifted to a hospital but died from his injuries.

A Dunn County woman convicted of stealing more than $40000 from a veteran and veteran's home was sentenced yesterday.  Nola Tyrrell was sentenced to 30 days in jail and five years probation for charges of theft.  Tyrrell must also pay restitution and other costs totaling $44560.  Police said she admitted to using a victim's debit card at ATM's, retail stores, and the casino at Turtle Lake.

 Officials with Taiwan-based Foxconn say they will announce by July 1st if they will be making electric vehicles at the new plant in Mount Pleasant.  The tech giant hasn’t formally said what it will be building there.  Foxconn originally said it would hire 13-thousand people to make large television screens at the plant.  It was to get billions in tax breaks from the state as part of a deal reached in 2017.  Now, it’s estimated about 14-hundred-50 jobs will be created.  Curious people will get a virtual look at the inside of the big globe structure built on the site starting today 

  All COVID health orders in Dane County expired Wednesday including the mask mandate and limits on gatherings.  Public Health director Janel Heinrich said, "restrictions were necessary steps to keep Dane County safe and healthy, and after a difficult year of sacrifices, we are all seeing the results of those difficult decisions."  Seventy-six percent of eligible residents have received at least one dose of COVID vaccine.  Public Health recommends that unvaccinated people continue wearing masks indoors.  Everyone is still required to mask up in health care facilities in Dane County.

He hasn't officially announced he's running for a second term, but the Tony Evers campaign has made some new hires.   Those include a campaign director, finance director, and communications director, all of which point at Evers' intention to run for reelection in 2022. A campaign press release said the new  team and "supporters across Wisconsin are ready to continue building support for the governor’s Badger Bounceback plan and keep Wisconsin moving in the right direction." As of yet, no Republicans have announced they're running for governor.

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The line will be moving once again at the J-B-S meatpacking plant in Green Bay.   The world’s largest meat-packing company shut down production Tuesday and planned to start up again four hours late Wednesday. The delay came after a weekend hack of the company’s headquarters in Colorado. No one is saying what information was hacked, or how it impacted production in Green Bay. 

The C-E-O of Wausau-based North Central Health Care has been placed on leave.  The action involving Michael Loy was taken after a closed session held by the North Central Community Services Program Board.  That board had authorized a review of practices related to compensation and benefits received by N-C-H-C employees earlier this year.  Details of that report are going to be released.  Loy has been the organization’s C-E-O since October 2017.  Chief Financial Officer Jill Meschke will serve in the interim.

Mask-wearing is no longer required for visitors to the Wisconsin state Capitol.  The change went into effect Tuesday and it includes most other state facilities.  It comes after a change in recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  Federal health authorities have said people who are fully vaccinated can go without masks and can forget about social distancing in most activities.  The new Wisconsin recommendations indicate all unvaccinated people, including state employees and members of the public, should continue to wear face coverings while they are inside state buildings.

Minnesota's hospitality industry is welcoming customers back now that COVID restrictions have been lifted.  Hospitality Minnesota's Ben Wogsland says it was a rough year for many businesses as rent, utility and vendor payments piled up.  He says "many restaurants and overnight accommodations and hotels have significant debt and it's not a certainty that they're going to make it."  Wogsland says more than half of operators say they're in jeopardy of collapse in the next six to 12 months and it will likely take several years for the industry to bounce back--even if they see a lot of traffic this summer.

These are uncertain times for about 37-thousand Minnesota state employees who could be out of work by the end of the month.  They have received layoff notices that their jobs could be in jeopardy if the Legislature doesn’t pass a state budget by then.  When the legislative session adjourned in the middle of May no agreement had been reached on the details of the 52-billion-dollar budget.  If they don’t work things about the stage could be set for a state government shutdown.  Legislative leaders say they are still committed to passing a budget before the end of June, but there were government shutdowns for this same reason in 2005 and 2011.

Deputies in Barron County are giving a tongue-in-cheek credit to their “bovine unit” for finally ending a long pursuit.  Deputies say they had chased a Chevrolet Cavalier for about 13 miles, from Barron to Cumberland, when the fleeing driver found he couldn’t get through a group of cows.  The driver’s name hasn’t been released, but he was taken into custody and spent the night in jail.  Authorities say no one was hurt during the pursuit, not even members of what the deputies called a “moooving blockade.”  The sheriff’s office didn’t say what started the pursuit in the first place.