Local-Regional News November 4

 No one was injured in a house fire in Chippewa Falls on Wednesday.  Firefighters responded to the fire at 12 West Birch Street and when they arrived everyone was out of the two-story home.  Crews quickly extinguished the fire in an upstairs corner wall and damage was estimated at $7500.

As part of the changes in the winter parking rules in Durand, the city has started a new Nixel notification service to notify residents of a snow emergency.  Durand Police Chief Stan Ridgeway says a simple text will get you signed up.  Ridgeway says residents can also call the Tarrant Park Pool for updates on snow emergencies and the police department will also be posting snow emergencies on their Facebook page.

With the upcoming holidays, expect enhanced patrols from law enforcement to enforce seat belt use and drunk driving laws.  As the harvest wraps up, motorists are also reminded that it is illegal to pass farm equipment in a no-passing zone.

In collaboration with Vivent Health, the Pepin County Health Department offers the Lifepoint program, including free sharps disposal for used syringes and other supplies. This disposal can now be done in Durand at the Tarrant Park Dump Station and in  Pepin at 3rd and Locust Street.  The large, red, metal sharps containers are located at low traffic but common areas in a community. Residents can dispose of their sharps in the designated containers which will help keep used sharps out of the general trash, recycling centers, roadways, and ditches.

Democratic Governor Tony Evers’ is viewed favorably by 42 percent of respondents, a drop of four percentage points from the August Marquette poll. Republican U-S Senator Ron Johnson was viewed favorably by 36 percent of respondents, up one point from August. Evers' approval rating dropped by 5 points, from 50 percent in August to 45 percent in the new poll. Thirty-eight percent approved of how the Wisconsin Legislature is handling its job; 48 percent disapproved.  The poll interviewed 805 registered Wisconsin voters from Oct. 26-31. The margin of error is 3.9 percent.

Racine County Sheriff Christopher Schmaling is recommending that five Wisconsin Elections Commissioners be criminally charged.  Schmaling says so-called “special voting deputies” should have been sent to eight nursing homes last year to help residents who didn’t have the mental capacity to vote.  The commission says no crimes were committed when poll workers were sent to oversee the voting during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Republicans have already called for Elections Commission Administrator Meagan Wolfe to resign, but she refuses.  Attorney General Josh Kaul has echoed Governor Tony Evers’ response that county officials should file charges if they believe election laws were broken.

A convicted killer won’t be allowed to withdraw his guilty plea, but Jeffrey Wickman will get a new sentencing hearing.  Wickman is serving 36 years in prison for the killing of Daniel Kuehl in 2013.  Investigators say he broke into Kuehl’s home to steal guns that he planned to trade for cash or drugs.  While inside, he strangled the victim.  The Wisconsin Appeals Court left his conviction intact in the ruling issued Tuesday.  At question in the upcoming hearing will be how long Wickman will remain under extended supervision after serving his prison term.

The Wisconsin Department of Corrections announced Wednesday it is contracting with the mail management service TextBehind to begin photocopying the personal mail of all adult inmates. DOC says that’s due to a growing problem of dangerous drugs, including K2 and other synthetic cannabinoids, being sent through the mail. DOC had 182 drug incidents in the month of September, 16 of those requiring inmates to receive emergency medical treatment. The new practice begins on December 6th. More information is at the DOC website.

The 27-year-old pedestrian fatally injured in what Taylor County authorities think was a weekend hit-and-run has been identified.  An autopsy discovered Titus Kottke of Athens had injuries consistent with being hit by a vehicle.  He was found lying in the roadway in the Township of Holway Sunday at 6:08 a-m.  Emergency responders administered C-P-R, but Kottke died before he could be taken to a hospital.  Investigators have been told he was last seen alive at about 3:30 a-m, walking on the road where he was found.

The Forest County Sheriff’s Office is trying to find out who put what is basically a bio-hazard in a trick-or-treater’s bag last Friday.  A vial of synthetic blood was found and turned in.  Deputies were told it was discovered in an eight-year-old student’s bag at Wabeno Elementary School.  The student got into during the Trunk or Treat event at the school on October 29th.  The vial remained unsealed.  Investigators say it was identified by markings on the outside of the vial.

Essentia Health reports the dismissals of nearly 50 employees who chose not to get the COVID-19 vaccine or seek an exemption.   The Duluth-based health care system announced in August that November 1st would be the deadline for workers to get vaccinated.   Essentia said in a statement Tuesday that more than 99 percent of its workforce had complied, but 49 failed to do so.    Officials said, "while we’re sad to see them leave, we respect their decisions. We appreciate their good work, wish them well and these individuals are eligible for rehire at Essentia Health if they change their mind."

Four Mequon-Theinsville school board members survive a recall attempt.   In fact, each targeted incumbent got at least 58-percent of the vote. Petitioners say they were unhappy about the school district’s coronavirus policies and academic standards. A recall organizer says she’s proud of the fight, and that she’ll continue to fight for kids. 

Minnesota is launching a new webpage to help Minnesota parents and guardians find five- to 11-year-old children a COVID-19 vaccine and answer questions they may have about it.  Governor Tim Walz says Minnesota providers have ordered as many doses as possible from the federal government.  Doses will arrive in waves this week, with most providers receiving their vaccines by this weekend.  More than 500-thousand children across Minnesota are now eligible for the Pfizer vaccine, and 94-percent of Minnesota’s population is now eligible to be vaccinated.

The Wisconsin Historical Society says an ancient canoe pulled from the waters of Lake Mendota had been submerged for 12 hundred years.  The fishing canoe was recovered after five hours of excavation Tuesday.  A diver testing scuba equipment found the canoe dating back approximately to the year 850 a few months ago.  It was in about 30 feet of water.  It is believed the canoe belonged to the ancestors of the Ho-Chunk Nation.  Officials say it may take a couple of years to save the canoe, then it is hoped it can become a featured display in the society’s new museum.

Local-Regional News Nov 3

 The Durand Safety Committee is working on some changes to the winter parking ordinance.  The old ordinance said no parking unless the street is plowed to the curb line, and that was causing confusion for residents when the city plowed one side of the street.  Durand Police Chief  Stan Ridgeway says the new ordinance would state that both sides of the street need to be plowed first before parking would be allowed.  If the safety committee passes the changes they would be sent to the full city council on November 17th.

A River Falls man has been accused of child sexual assault in Dunn County.  According to authorities, Derek Johnson assaulted the victim 3-4yrs ago in Boyceville, and that Johnson threatened the victim that he would do the same to her sister if she said anything.  His next court appearance is November 30th and if convicted, he faces 60yrs in prison.

Jury selection was completed Monday for a Barron County murder trial.  Andrew Brunette of Rice Lake is charged with first-degree intentional homicide for the shooting death of another man in September of last year.  Investigators say Brunette’s estranged wife was living with Garrett Macone in Chetek when Brunette walked through an unlocked door, found Macone asleep, and shot him twice in the head.  Barron County officials expect the trial to last all week.

The Pepin County Sheriff's Department is once again holding the Christmas for Kids Campaign to help those families in need this holiday season.  At the Sheriff's Department, there is a Christmas tree with tags of children in need.  Sheriff Joel Wener says they are asking residents to come to the Department, pick a tag, and purchase that child's requests.  Monetary donations are also accepted, and if you have any questions visit the Pepin County Sheriff's Department, Facebook Page.

An Augusta man accused of trying to bribe an alleged victim of sexual assault has settled his case.  Corey Bauch was facing a charge of intimidation of a victim.  He was accused of offering money to one of two women who say they were sexually assaulted by his father.  Elvin Bauch is scheduled to go on trial in Eau Claire County Court next January.  His son pleaded no contest to a reduced charge Monday.

Minneapolis police have firmly rejected the charter amendment aimed at defunding the city’s police department.  With all 136 precincts reporting, more than 80-thousand voters said no and fewer than 63-thousand supported the idea.  That means a Department of Public Safety won’t be created to replace the Minneapolis Police Department.  Supporters of the amendment had said a complete overhaul of policing was needed to stop police violence.  Fifty-six percent of the voters who cast ballots disagreed.  

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett has testified at his Senate confirmation hearing.  Barrett testified by video before the U-S Senate Foreign Relations Committee.  He is President Joe Biden’s nominee to become the country’s ambassador to Luxembourg.  The next step for his nomination – if the committee gives its okay – would be a vote by the full Senate.  No timeline has been established, but it’s possible that could take place before the chamber wraps up its work for the year by December 10th.  If he is confirmed, a primary could be held on February 15th and the new mayor would be chosen on April 5th during the regularly scheduled spring elections.

The Department of Natural Resources tweets that pumpkins are great compost material. The department says about 20-percent of what goes to a landfill is food scraps and old vegetables like pumpkins which could be composted. The D-N-R says by composting, you can get rid of your jack-o-lantern, and help save some landfill space.

Xcel Energy is announcing plans to be a net-zero energy company by 2050.  Xcel just announced plans to build the largest solar project in Minnesota history seven months ago.  President and C-E-O Bob Frenzel say Monday’s announcement is an important evolution in the utility’s clean energy leadership.  The company recently requested a rate increase of 20 percent while industry experts are warning of a potentially significant increase in heating costs this winter.  Xcel says it has reduced carbon emissions by more than 40 million tons since 2005.

Dane County’s face covering mandate is being extended to November 27th, but public health officials say it will expire then. The mandate was set to end Friday.  Public Health Madison and Dane County say there are no plans to institute another mandate when it ends.  Decreasing case rates, increasing vaccination rates and the expansion of eligibility for booster doses are factors in the decision.  The expected approval of vaccines for kids between the ages of five and 11 also was a factor in the decision to let the mandate expire later this month.  Public health officials say their main goal has been to protect those most vulnerable to the virus.

 Increased demand and supply chain disruptions are being blamed for a shortage of ammunition experienced by Wisconsin gun dealers.  Some stores report empty shelves disappointing customers.  They say when they do get a delivery, the ammunition is quickly bought up and the shelves are bare again.  The National Shooting Sports Foundation estimates almost eight-and-a-half million people bought their first gun last year.  According to the F-B-I, federal background checks jumped 40 percent – even higher in Wisconsin where the state Department of Justice reports background checks for handgun purchases were up by 174 percent in 2020.

A Green Bay area lawmaker wants to get rid of a special tax district devoted to the upkeep of Lambeau Field. State Representative David Steffen of Howard says the district hasn't performed a mission-critical function since 2015 and still collects taxes through ticket sales and other sources.  The district has not collected a sales tax in Brown County since 2015. The plan would shift all obligations and responsibilities under the Lambeau Field lease to the City of Green Bay. 

The former executive director of the Minnesota Craft Brewers Guild will be the state's new tourism director.  Governor Tim Walz appointed Lauren Bennett McGinty as director of Explore Minnesota effective November 15th.  Former director John Edman retired after leading Explore Minnesota for 21 years.  Governor Walz says McGinty will bring her expertise in marketing to engage our residents and attract new visitors and talent to our state.  McGinty says she's honored to take on the new role as the tourism industry continues to work its way out of the pandemic.

A northern Wisconsin man who went missing in September has been found safe.  Authorities issued a Silver Alert for 69-year-old Anthony Scott Nicely when he first went missing from a nursing home in Price County.  Nicely had been placed there due to a medical condition, but he was seen leaving the facility with Virginia Nicely.  Authorities said the man was believed to have dementia or another cognitive impairment.  State officials say he was found Monday.  There have been no indications about where he has been or whether charges could be filed.

A poll being conducted this month will determine the formal name for a section of trails in Eau Claire.  The trails in the downtown area go across the Eau Claire and Chippewa rivers and are often known as “the loop.”  They include three bridges that connect Haymarket Plaza to the rest of the area.  Voters have five choices – Bridgelight Mile, Confluence Loop, Confluence Mile, Eau Claire Riverwalk, and Three Bridges River Trail.  Voting ends November 30th and the winning name will be announced four days later during the Haymarket Holiday.

Local-Regional News November 2

 The City of Durand Police Department is getting a new squad car after the 2013 squad began to have transmission and steering issues.  Durand Police Chief Stan Ridgeway says the vehicle the police use are not the same as civilian vehicles.  To fix the 2013 squad the department was looking at approximately $5000 in repairs.  The department received about $4500 for the squad.

The City of Mondovi has released its preliminary budget for 2022.  The budget includes an increase in the tax levy to a total of $923,966.  Mondovi Mayor Brady Weiss says while no one wants to raise taxes, but the council has to be realistic on how the city operates.  The public will have a chance to review and discuss the budget during the annual budget meeting on November 16.

The Durand Safety Committee is meeting on Wednesday to discuss the possibility of making permanent the one side of Country Lane no parking.   Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren says it makes sense for safety purposes.  To avoid any confusion, the no parking would be for all of Country Lane from Hwy PP to Laneville Road.

An inattentive driver has been cited for hitting a La Crosse police squad car and injuring an officer. The squad car was parked behind a stalled vehicle under an overpass for Interstate 90 last week. The driver slammed into the rear of the squad car, pushing it into the backside of the disabled vehicle. The officer suffered minor injuries and the people in the disabled vehicle weren’t hurt. No names have been released.

State Senator Kathleen Bernier says she's not convinced that the Wisconsin Elections Commission committed a crime in how it handled voting in nursing homes in 2020. Bernier tells Capital City Sunday that really doesn't matter, though.   Racine County Sheriff Christopher Schmaling says the Commission itself should face charges for keeping special voting deputies out of nursing homes in 2020. He claims that allowed nursing home staffers to cast false ballots in the name of patients. No charges have been filed by the DA's office.

Over the next few weeks, more than 850 Afghan refugees are going to be settling down in Wisconsin locations. Officials say their destinations in the Badger State will be Madison, Milwaukee, Green Bay, Wausau, and the Fox Valley area. Department of Children and Families Secretary Emilie Amundson says many of the Afghans living at Fort McCoy indicated an interest in staying in Wisconsin. When they arrive at their new home cities, partner agencies will help the families find employment and make a new place to live.

 Milwaukee-based Harley-Davidson is watching its stock price move higher after the European Union announced it’s easing out of a trade dispute that started during the Trump administration.  The Union had bumped up its tariffs on steel and aluminum.  After the weekend announcement, shares of the motorcycle maker’s stock jumped more than nine percent before Wall Street opened Monday morning.  The U-S had imposed a 25-percent tariff on steel and 10 percent tariff on aluminum three years ago – citing national security.  Motorcycles were among the American goods impacted when Europe retaliated through the World Trade Organization.

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The president of the Wisconsin Association of Private Colleges and Universities is retiring after nearly 30 years in the position.  Rolf Wegenke assumed the job in 1992.  Wegenke has spent much of his time convincing people that private colleges are affordable.  The average annual cost of attending one of the schools he represents is 33-thousand-422 dollars, but the average financial aid package is just over 29 thousand.  That means the out-of-pocket cost for students is four-thousand-415 dollars.  The Madison-based organization represents 23 private nonprofit schools and the almost 54-thousand students enrolled there.

 Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett is scheduled for a first Senate confirmation hearing Tuesday in Washington, D-C.  Barrett moves a step closer to becoming the country’s ambassador to Luxembourg.  The Democrat will answer questions from members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.  He is expected to deliver opening remarks before being questioned.  President Joe Biden nominated Barrett for the position last summer.  A vote on Barrett is expected to be taken in December.  He’s been Milwaukee’s mayor for 17 years.

The superintendent of schools for the Baraboo district has confirmed two of the three people killed in a car crash Friday were students.  Fire people were in the vehicle when it hit a tree alongside a county road near Fairfield.  Superintendent Rainey Briggs says the victims include two students and one former student.  No names have been released.  Briggs says the decision to identify the victims will be left up to the Sauk County Sheriff’s Office.

The chances that Minnesota’s frontline workers will be receiving COVID bonuses before the end of the year are melting away.  A special panel wasn’t able to agree on which workers should qualify, so the task has been left up to the Legislature.  One Democrat, Cedrick Frazier, says he’s not hearing an offer from his Republican counterparts for any compromise.  Senate Republicans are said to be upset with the Walz administration’s handling of COVID-19 and are threatening to fire Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm.  Walz says he won’t call a special session where Malcolm would be fired – so that means the bonuses could be put on hold until the regular legislative session beginning next year.

Wisconsin’s attorney general has released a legislative wish list .  Democrat Josh Kaul, who’s up for reelection in 2022, proposes a 155 million dollar “Safer Wisconsin” package. It includes funding for community policing and school safety programs, and grants to recruit more police officers. Republican legislators have already rejected other proposals from the AG, including expanded background checks for gun purchasers, and a red-flag law allowing judges to order temporary removal of guns from people deemed a danger to themselves or others. 

The state will use a half-million-dollar U-S-D-A grant to promote, develop and increase stress management and mental health resources for Wisconsin farmers.  Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection Secretary Randy Romanski says from unpredictable weather to fluctuating market prices, farmers are faced with challenges every day that can cause stress and anxiety.  The Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service will receive some funding to coordinate peer support training for 18 farmers through the Wisconsin Peer Specialists Program.

Local-Regional News Nov 1

The Durand City Council continues its work on the budget for 2022.  Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren says it appears the budget will have a 4% levy increase.  The public will have a chance to weigh in on the city budget during a public hearing on November 17 at Durand City Hall.

The Durand Arkansaw School Board has clarified the masking options for students that are identified as close contact.  Durand Arkansaw School Superintendent Greg Doverspike says parents will have three options to choose from.  Students of family members who are positive with covid-19 will still be required to quarantine for 14 days.

As FDA and the CDC look to approve the Covid-19 Vaccine for children 5-11 yrs old when would they be available here in Pepin County?  Pepin County Health Officer Heidi Stewart says the department has to wait for final guidance from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services before administering the vaccine to children.  Stewart says that could come as soon as this Wednesday or Thursday. Stewart says those interested should monitor the Health Departments Facebook Page this week or give the health department a call.

The Pepin County Sheriffs Department, along with Durand Fire and Pepin County Land Conservation have teamed up to purchase the three drones each with different features to provide safety to the community, search and rescue, and aerial assessment of land conservation projects.  Two drone team members have received their FAA certifications.  The total cost of the equipment was $36,964, with $25,000 of the cost covered by a private anonymous donation, $6000 was paid by the Durand Fire Departments' non-profit fundraising account and $5964 was paid with grants from the State of Wisconsin.

The Wabasha County Board is meeting on Tuesday.  Items on the agenda include discussion and possible action on the Wabasha County Extension Budget, salaries for the Sheriff, county attorney, and commissioners for 2022, and discussion of the quarterly financial reports.  Tomorrow's meeting begins at 9am in the board room at the Wabasha County Government Center.

The A-C-L-U is appealing to the state over claims of racial discrimination in Chippewa Falls schools.  The group asked the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction to review the case.  A student's mother claims the school district didn't do enough to address claims of racism and discrimination.  Chippewa Falls Schools say they responded with new programs and policies for students and teachers and told students to speak up about any discrimination they see in school.  The student's mother says that's not adequate.

A man from La Crosse is accused of leading Lincoln County sheriff's deputies on a chase and spraying officers with bear spray.  The deputy pulled over the 54-year-old driver for a license plate violation near Tomahawk Thursday night and the man gave a fake name.  Investigators say that's when he sprayed the deputy in the face and drove off.  Another deputy pursued the suspect vehicle and it kept driving at more than 70 miles an hour after all four tires hit deflation devices.  The vehicle became disabled in Merrill and burst into flames as four deputies took the man into custody.  He also sprayed one of those deputies in the face.

Dwindling resources and increasing call volumes are putting stress on fire and EMS services across Wisconsin. A new study by the Wisconsin Policy Forum shows that most of Wisconsin's fire and EMS staff are volunteers, and spokesman Mark Summerhauser says it's hard to keep that model going in a time when more people have to work longer hours.  Summerhauser says that many municipalities are unable to break free of the volunteer model due to tax increase caps and reduced state revenue sharing.

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Several Republicans are calling for the resignation of Wisconsin Elections Commission Administrator Meghan Wolfe after the Racine County sheriff accused the W-E-C of breaking state law.  Sheriff Christopher Schmaling claimed the commission illegally banned special voting deputies from nursing homes then told workers in those homes to fill-out ballots for people who were unable to do it themselves.  The W-E-C held an emergency meeting Thursday night to deny the allegations.  Chair Ann Jacobs said in a statement, "without action from the commission, many residents in care facilities could have and would have been disenfranchised from voting in the 2020 elections."  Wolfe added, "It would be irresponsible to spend any energy engaging a blatantly partisan and coordinated attempt to baselessly challenge the integrity of democracy in our great state.”

A federal judge is imposing an indefinite ban against state and local law enforcement in Minnesota from using force against journalists in the field.  Thursday's court action went into effect as a temporary restraining order is about to expire.  The order is linked to a class-action lawsuit filed by the A-C-L-U of Minnesota after the police killing of George Floyd in May of 2020.  The suit claims officers threatened, assaulted, and arrested members of the media, even after they identified themselves as journalists.

The jurors who convicted former Minneapolis officer Derek Chauvin in the murder of George Floyd say the camera doesn't lie.  Seven of them spoke out on C-N-N for the first time since finding him guilty in April.  The Hennepin County jurors said the video of Chauvin holding Floyd down for nearly nine minutes played a big role and continues to take an emotional toll.  They also admitted they likely would have reached the same decision even if he had taken the stand in his own defense.

 Two women are going to federal prison for stealing more than 700-thousand dollars from a Native American addiction and counseling center in Spooner.    The U-S Attorney's Office says 63-year-old Fredricka DeCoteau of Cloquet, Minnesota was sentenced to two years and 77-year-old Edith Schmuck of Rice Lake got one year and one day in prison.  DeCoteau and Schmuck pleaded guilty to embezzling a total of 777-thousand-283 dollars from Ain Dah Ing (A-D-I) by paying themselves unauthorized bonuses via payroll checks that were signed using a rubber signature stamp of the A-D-I treasurer.  Both were fired after the thefts were discovered.

 The U-S Department of Health and Human Services is providing 19-and-a-half-million dollars to more than 75 rural Minnesota hospitals for COVID testing and mitigation efforts.  The funding will be used for coronavirus tests and education, contact tracing, and personal protective equipment.  U-S Senator Tina Smith said these grants will help ensure that rural hospitals in Minnesota will be able to take important steps to fight COVD-19 and to give patients access to testing services.

The Wisconsin D-N-R is reminding waterfowl hunters to know their target and not shoot at swans this season.  All wild swans are protected in Wisconsin.  Conservation officers say hunters may encounter more swans because they are more abundant in the state and will start migrating in the next few weeks.  The population of the once-endangered trumpeter swan now exceeds 11-thousand since they were re-introduced in the late 1980s.  Shooting a swan could result in a fine and revocation of all hunting and fishing privileges in Wisconsin. 

Local-Regional News Oct 29

 Durand residents should begin to see activity at the old Pepin County Highway Shop for the new Kwik Trip.  Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren says the company plans on tearing down the old buildings starting in November.  Kwik Trip is hoping to have the new location open on December 1st of 2022.

Some good news for the Durand Arkansaw School District.  The number of students enrolled in the district surpassed the 1000 mark this year.  Durand Arkansaw School District Superintendent Greg Doverspike says it's the first time in his 10yrs as superintendent that enrollment has passed the 1000 mark.  Doverspike believes the district has an opportunity to grow further with more families moving to the area because of the quality of life, lower cost of living, and high-speed internet.

Halloween is this Sunday and motorists are advised to be on the lookout for children trick or treating Sunday Evening.  Durand Police Chief Stan Ridgeway says there will be officers on duty making sure traffic laws are followed.  Motorists are also reminded that Main Street in Downtown Durand will be closed Saturday from 2-6pm for the 4th annual Trunk or Treat.  Trick or Treat Hours are 5-7pm Sunday in Durand, Elk Mound, Ellsworth and Mondovi, and from  4:30-7pm in Elmwood.

A Black River Falls man has been arrested in Trempealeau County on drug and weapons charges.  According to the Trempealeau County Sheriff's Department, deputies pulled over 31yr old Jacob Wesson after a traffic violation in the City of Galesville.  During the stop, K-9 officer Luke alerted officers to the presence of drugs in the vehicle.  A search revealed  74 grams of suspected methamphetamine along with suspected heroin, other drug paraphernalia, and a firearm.  Wesson is a convicted felon and is not to possess any firearms and was arrested.

A Mondovi man has been found guilty in Buffalo County Court of Repeated Sexual Assault of a child.  46yr old Rex Bigger was accused of sexually assaulting the girl numerous times between 2011 and 2013.  She came forward last year.   Bigger will be sentenced on February 14th in Buffalo County Court.

An Olmsted County judge says a Rochester man is competent to stand trial for the killing of his pregnant girlfriend and her two-year-old daughter.  A competency exam was ordered for 31-year-old Renard Carter in August.  He had requested to withdraw his guilty pleas at that time.  Carter is facing three counts of second-degree murder in the September  2020 deaths of 23-year-old Kiona Foote, Miyona Miller, and the unborn child.  He was arrested in South Carolina on the same day Rochester police found the victims dead in their apartment.  Carter remains jailed on five-million dollars bail.

Wisconsin Republicans' redistricting plan was the focus of a lengthy public hearing Thursday at the State Capitol. The maps are largely based on current legislative and congressional districts drawn by the G-O-P following the 2010 Census. They will likely ensure that Republicans retain majorities in both the Wisconsin Senate and Assembly. Many people called for non-partisan maps and Assembly Speaker Robin Vos argued Democrats don’t hold more seats in the state Legislature because they are "out of touch with their communities." Governor Tony Evers has already said he’ll veto the maps, which will send the redistricting issue to the courts.

The family of a missing northwest Wisconsin woman is offering a ten-thousand-dollar reward for information that brings her home. Thirty-three-year-old Ashley Miller Carson of Grantsburg was last seen near Hinckley, Minnesota on September 23rd and her car was found abandoned nearby. The Burnett County Sheriff’s Office said that Carlson may be endangered. Anyone with information about Carlson is asked to contact the Pine County Sheriff's Office in Minnesota. Anonymous tips can be made by calling 218-241-0341.

Minnesotans who don't show up for their driver's exam road test will have to pay a 20-dollar "no show" fee when they get their license.  The new policy starts Monday.  Driver and Vehicle Services Director Pong Xiong  says this year from July through September, almost 16 percent missed their appointments -- six-thousand road tests that other Minnesotans could have taken.  Xiong says the whole goal for this effort is really to make sure that we can administer as many exams as possible.  Those who can't make it to their road test should cancel at least 24 hours in advance to avoid the fee.

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The former owner of a financial advisory company in Altoona is facing federal fraud charges.  The U-S Attorney's Office says 31-year-old Michael Shillin of Eau Claire was indicted Wednesday on nine counts of wire fraud and one count of bank fraud.  Federal prosecutors say Shillin lied about buying stocks for clients and sold them insurance policies that he made a commission off.  Shillin is also accused of defrauding a bank by obtaining two loans totaling 462-thousand dollars using fraudulent collateral.  A conviction on each wire fraud charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and the bank fraud charge could result in a 30-year sentence

 

A Madison paramedic accused of assaulting a woman in an ambulance in May of 2019 is found not guilty.  A Dane County jury acquitted 39-year-old Tim Ovadal on second-and four-degree assault charges Wednesday.  The Janesville woman who was being transported to Stoughton Hospital claimed Ovadal removed an E-K-G sticker from her chest, massage her breast, and exposed himself.  Jurors watched onboard video of the ambulance ride twice and it showed Ovadal doing nothing improper.  Defense attorneys noted that the patient had a blood alcohol level of point-three-seven at the time and her information was not reliable.

A bill passed by the Wisconsin Assembly would allow pharmacists in the state to administer oral contraception.  Republican Representative Joel Kitchens of Sturgeon Bay said "what this bill does really is it gives women more choices, it decreases unplanned pregnancies and by doing so decreases abortions. And it saves tax dollars and reduces generational poverty.”  The measure passed Wednesday on a strong bipartisan vote and would likely be signed by Governor Tony Evers is it passes the state Senate.

Dakota County authorities are investigating after three people were found dead in a Farmington home.  Officers called to do a welfare check discovered the three adults dead Wednesday night.  Investigators say a man was taken into custody.  Farmington Police Chief Gary Rutherford said it was not a random incident and they're not looking for any other suspects. No names have been released.

COVID bonuses for Minnesota's front-line workers could be delayed until next year after a special panel couldn't break its deadlock and sent two competing proposals to the legislature.  D-F-L Representative Cedrick Frazier of New Hope says Republicans' plan" excludes tens of thousands of workers, some of our lowest-wage workers, some of the workers that had the highest spread of COVID."  The G-O-P argues with only 250 million dollars allotted, to have a "meaningful" bonus, only nurses, first responders, corrections officers, long-term care workers, and hospice providers should be eligible.  Republican Senator Karin Housley of Stillwater says every week we drag this out is another week that these front-line workers are not getting their money.

State lawmakers say the first draft of a proposal to help restart idled paper mills in Wisconsin Rapids and Park Falls is being finalized.  Representatives Jeffrey Mursau of Crivitz and Scott Krug of Nekoosa have a new plan they say would help get those plants back online, bring back hundreds of jobs to those communities, and help out the trucking and logging industries.  Governor Tony Evers shot down a proposal over the summer that would have used federal stimulus funds for a short-term loan to allow a Northwoods cooperative to purchase the mill.

Local-Regional News Oct 28

 The preliminary assessment of property owners on Drier Street and Laneville Avenue will move forward.  After a public hearing and a debate on whether or not the assessment should move forward, the Durand City Council Spilt and voted 2 yes, 2 no and 2 abstaining to not move forward with the assessment.  Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren broke the three-way tie with a no vote, meaning the assessment is moving forward.  Milliren says the city needs to have a way to finance projects. Voting to not move forward with the assessment were councilmembers Gillis and Roesler, voting to move forward were councilmembers Hartung and Scofield, and Councilmembers Hooker and Schneider both abstained.

The City of Mondovi is beginning to plan for the reconstruction of North Eau Claire Street from Downtown to the edge of town.  The City has received a $1 million CDBG Grant which means residents will not be assessed for the project.  However, according to Mondovi Mayor Brady Weiss, the city is going to work with property owners to have them replace laterals to the main sewer and water lines, something that is not covered in the project.  It is hoped the project can begin in May of next year.

The Durand-Arkansaw School Board has approved the budget and tax levy for the 2021-2022 school year.    The district will have a total tax levy of just over $4.9 million dollars, which is a 1.38% increase over 2020.  However, the mill rate is dropping from $8.14 to $7.75  and property values in the district rose 6.46% over the last year to an equalized value of $639 million.    The budget for the school year is once again balanced at just over $12 million.

Bond is set at 100-thousand dollars for a Chippewa Falls woman accused of stabbing her husband. Police say Ashley Dietrich stabbed her husband in the chest with an eight-inch kitchen knife on October 15th. Dietrich initially told investigators that she was cutting herself when her husband tried to take the knife away and was accidentally stabbed. She was found unconscious in bed and appeared to have overdosed on medication. Prosecutors say a note found at the scene indicates the incident may have been an attempted murder-suicide. No word on her husband's current condition. Dietrich has another court hearing Tuesday.

A U-S Post Office in Eau Claire has some damage after being hit by a vehicle Tuesday afternoon. Police say a man in the parking lot thought he had put the car in reverse, but it was actually in drive. He stepped on the gas and crashed into the building. The damage included some broken glass. Officers say no one was hurt.

A Chippewa Falls man is going to federal prison for dealing methamphetamine in western Wisconsin.  The U-S Attorney's Office says 36-year-old Justin Barnard was sentenced to six years for possession with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of meth.  Dunn County authorities found more than 74 grams of the drug in Barnard's fanny pack during a traffic stop last November.  Deputies said he appeared to be under the influence and also had packaging materials and a scale in his mini-van.  Barnard is already serving a two-year sentence for an Eau Claire County conviction.

Governor Tony Evers is expected to veto several anti-abortion bills passed by the Wisconsin Senate and Assembly.  Democratic Minority Leader Gordon Hintz said, "Republicans know these extreme bills won’t become law. And they know most Wisconsinites support access to safe and legal abortion.”  Speaker Robin Vos says everybody in our caucus is proud to be pro-life and added, "just because a bill is errantly vetoed by the governor in a previous session doesn’t mean we won’t bring the topic up.”  One measure prohibits the state from certifying abortion providers under Medicaid.  Two others ban abortions based on sex or race and require doctors to provide expectant parents information about congenital conditions.

The University of Wisconsin System plans to follow the Biden administration’s executive order on COVID-19 vaccinations.  It requires federal contractors to comply with the vaccine mandate.  UW System President Tommy said the system “cannot afford to jeopardize millions of dollars in federal contracts, which are integral to academic and research missions.”  A majority of U-W campuses have already reached a 70 percent vaccination rate among students.  UW-Madison has a student vaccination rate of over 90 percent.

 The perennial debate over allowing wine and beer sales at grocery stores in Minnesota is back on at the State Capitol.  Jeff Bagniewski the owner of Jeff's Little Stores in Rochester, told lawmakers his three-two beer sales declined as product availability dwindles, eliminating choices for customers.  He said he doesn't want to miss out on being part of Minnesota's local beer boom.  But Tony Chesak with the Minnesota Licensed Beverage Association responds when he stopped at a Kwik Trip in Iowa, he saw no local beers on the shelves.  Chesak warns big-box operations will drive local liquor stores out of business and reduce product selection for Minnesotans.

 The sentence is five years in prison for a Rochester man convicted of trafficking heroin.  Forty-three-year-old Sean Alexander pleaded guilty to third-degree drug sales in an agreement with prosecutors.  Alexander was arrested after a traffic stop last February on Interstate 90.  Deputies say Alexander was caught with nearly an ounce of heroin or fentanyl during a search at the Olmsted County jail.  Authorities seized another 39 grams of heroin and T-H-C wax from his home and another vehicle.  He had a previous conviction for selling drugs in Hennepin County.

 Milwaukee County Clerk George Christenson is accusing someone of lying about his office’s participation in the recent audit of the November 2020 election. Christenson said claims that his office didn’t allow state auditors to view and analyze ballots are simply not true. He did not say if he’s speaking about Republican lawmakers or the auditors. The Legislative Audit Bureau said in its report that it was told it would not be able to handle the ballots from Milwaukee County. Christenson says he provided auditors with everything they asked for. That audit found dozens of problems with last year’s vote or with local election managers who didn’t follow the state’s election laws.

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos says the taxpayer-funded review of the 2020 vote could stretch into next year – and he points a finger at Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul.  Vos hired former state Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman to oversee the partisan probe and says he’ll sign-off on additional subpoenas if Gableman says they’re needed.

U-S Senator Ron Johnson is co-sponsoring a bill that would prevent essential workers from losing their job for not getting the COVID-19 vaccine.  President Biden has proposed a federal vaccine mandate for companies with more than a hundred employees.   Johnson says we are already suffering severe worker shortages and vaccine mandates will increase these shortages and degrade our health care system.  The Wisconsin Republican added, "no one should be pressured, coerced, or fear reprisal for refusing treatment, especially essential workers.”

It's unclear if a fresh influx of pandemic stimulus funding will be enough to help shore up Wisconsin's timber industry. Great Lakes Timber Professionals Association director Henry Schienebeck (SHIN-eh-beck) tells WXPR in Rhinelander that business has left Wisconsin due to mill closures and production downturns.   Shienebeck says many people have left the lumber industry altogether, mirroring employment shifts in other industries like retail and tourism.

 Preliminary numbers show Wisconsin hunters harvested just over 38-hundred bears during the 2021 black bear season.  That is a decrease from the more than 43-hundred taken last year and similar to the 2018 and 2019 harvests.  D-N-R large carnivore specialist Randy Johnson says this fall marked the first season using new harvest zones as outlined in the black bear management plan.  He says those zones better reflect the bear population distribution across the state and allow a more fine-tuned approach to management.  Officials say harvested bear data is critical to tracking bear population trends and ensuring the population remains healthy.

Wisconsin agricultural groups are applauding the unanimous Assembly passage of a bill that uses five million dollars to increase the state's exports. The goal of the legislation is to boost exports of dairy, meat, and other products by 25 percent in the next five years. Bill author, Representative Tony Kurtz of Wonewoc, said there’s a tremendous growth opportunity for Wisconsin farmers and for all of the wonderful products that our farmers make, everything from ginseng to cranberries to potatoes, to bovine genetics. Dairy Business Association president says this is an investment not only in our dairy farmers and processors but our rural communities as well. Wisconsin exported three-point-three-billion dollars' worth of ag and food products in 2020.

Local-Regional News Oct 27

 The City of Mondovi will have properties re-assessed over the next year.  Mondovi Mayor Brady Weiss says it's a standard reassessment to stay in compliance with state law.  The cost of the reassessment to the city will be approximately $45,000.

State Representative Warren Petryk announced that Pierce County Sheriff, Nancy Hove, is the 2021 First Responder of the Year Award for the 93rd Assembly District.  “Throughout her 14 years of service, Nancy has continuously demonstrated an outstanding dedication to serving and prioritizing the needs, well-being, and safety of all Pierce County residents,” said Representative Petryk. “Her commitment to the Pierce County community has remained incredibly strong in the face of adversity”.  In the fall of 2020, Hove was diagnosed with a brain tumor and continued to serve as Sheriff of Pierce County.  The First Responder of the Year award was created in 2019 to recognize the courageous individuals that serve communities across Wisconsin during emergency situations. 

Two public hearings will be part of tonight's Durand City Council meeting.  The hearings will be on the special assessment for property owners as part of the construction on Laneville Road and the second meeting is on the redistricting of the City of Durand that was recently approved by the Pepin County Board.  The council will also hear reports from the Mayor, City Administrator, and department heads.  Tonight's meeting begins at 6:30 at Durand City Hall and will be live-streamed on the WRDN YouTube Channel.

Jurors in Marathon County are convicting a Chippewa Falls woman in the 2006 murder of her husband in Hull. They deliberated for about four hours Tuesday before finding Cindy Schulz Juedes guilty of fatally shooting Ken Juedes. She now faces a mandatory life sentence with only the possibility of parole to be discussed at a later date. Prosecutors said Schulz Juedes had shown little remorse since the shooting, had profited from a financial windfall involving land and life insurance money, and told inconsistent stories in interviews. Her sentencing hearing hasn't been scheduled.

The Wisconsin Department of Justice says a man tased by officers in Altoona on October 8th did not survive. Eau Claire police say 43-year-old Demetrio Jackson died in the hospital last Friday. Investigators said Jackson was acting strangely and causing damage while standing on a vehicle. He reportedly resisted arrest and an officer said they used a Taser on him to stabilize the situation. Jackson was taken to the hospital in critical condition. The D-O-J said provisional autopsy results show the cause of death doesn’t appear to be from traumatic injuries and is still pending laboratory analysis at this time. The D-C-I is leading the investigation and will send its reports to the Eau Claire County District Attorney's office.

 A family from northwest Wisconsin is reportedly among the missionaries kidnapped in Haiti. W-C-C-O T-V reports the family of four is from the Ladysmith area in Rusk County. They were part of a group of 17 with Ohio-based Christian Aid Ministries on a trip to a Haitian orphanage. W-C-C-O has been asked not to identify the family because it could put them in greater danger than they already are in. The leader of the gang believed to be holding the group was seen in a recent video saying they’ll be killed if his demands are not met.

A bill introduced in the Wisconsin Senate would expand access to telehealth coverage in the state. Senators Chris Larson of Milwaukee and Jimmy Anderson of Fitchburg are sponsoring the Telehealth Parity Act. Larson says in-person health care is not as accessible as it could be due to a lack of providers or specialists nearby, transportation, the COVID-19 pandemic or limited hours that don't match people's work schedules. The legislation would require insurance companies in Wisconsin to cover virtual medical services, in the same manner, they would if the services were provided in person. A recent survey finds 94-percent of insurers expanded telehealth coverage in 2020 during the pandemic, but only 47-percent plan to continue those services.

Wisconsin agricultural groups are applauding the unanimous Assembly passage of a bill that uses five million dollars to increase the state's exports. The goal of the legislation is to boost exports of dairy, meat and other products by 25 percent in the next five years. Bill author, Representative Tony Kurtz of Wonewoc, said there’s a tremendous growth opportunity for Wisconsin farmers and for all of the wonderful products that our farmers make, everything from ginseng to cranberries to potatoes, to bovine genetics. Dairy Business Association president says this is an investment not only in our dairy farmers and processors but our rural communities as well. Wisconsin exported three-point-three-billion dollars' worth of ag and food products in 2020.

Police in La Crosse are looking for the thieves who stole thousands of feet of electrical cable from the city's Christmas light display.  Organizers of the Rotary Lights Project said someone cut the cable at the light display in Riverside Park.  They will likely look to sell the copper wire inside the cables.  La Crosse Police say they have alerted all scrap metal dealers in the area.  The Rotary Club says it could cost ten thousand dollars to replace the stolen cables.

Xcel Energy is asking Minnesota regulators to approve a 21 percent electric rate increase over three years -- more than half of it in 2022 -- with a big part of it going for transmission lines to connect to renewable sources.  It's estimated that residential customers would see an average monthly increase of 15- to 21-dollars.  Xcel is asking the Public Utilities Commission to okay a nine-point-four-percent interim rate increase, which would take effect in January while the agency considers the utility's larger request.

Attorneys for Kyle Rittenhouse will be allowed to call a use of force expert during his trial for fatally shooting two protesters in Kenosha. Circuit Judge Bruce Schroeder ruled Monday that John Black can be an expert witness next month. Black has claimed Rittenhouse killed Joseph Rosenbaum and Anthony Huber in self-defense. The judge will also allow video from a witness showing police officers thanking armed civilians and giving Rittenhouse and others water before the shootings. Jury selection is scheduled to start Monday in the 18-year-old's trial.

A suspect is in custody after a police situation at Neenah High School. Authorities were notified of a potential gun threat outside the school just before 1:00 p-m Monday. The high school and two elementary schools were locked downs as a precaution. Officers say the 17-year-old suspect was arrested less than an hour later in Appleton and the lockdowns were lifted. The Neenah Joint School District says the suspect does not attend the high school. No gun was found on school property and investigators say the threat was made toward a specific student.

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development is now accepting proposals from qualified non-profit organizations and government entities seeking capital investment funding grants.  DEED Commissioner Steve Grove says there is 18-million dollars available to help communities to take on infrastructure and buildings projects similar o what a bonding program would look like.  Grove says the maximum you can apply for is a one-and-a-half-million-dollar grant.

A police dog in northwest Wisconsin is retiring after eight years with the Sawyer County Sheriff's Department.  There was a community retirement party this week for Trace the K-9 officer.  Trace’s handler, Nick Al-Moghrabi, said It's been a wild ride, it's been the best job in law enforcement I've had."  Trace is side by side with Nick on all assignments from drug detection and patrol to apprehension, tracking, and building clearing.  He is also part of the deputy's family when he's not on duty.