Local-Regional News Feb 9

 Hackers interrupted a Buffalo County Health Department community meeting on Covid 19 yesterday.  According to the Buffalo County Health and Human Services Department, hackers took control of the meeting at about 1:40 Tuesday afternoon.  The hackers defaced the slideshow, used profane language, and engaged in acts of nudity.    The department condemns the actions and said that additional security measures will be taken to prevent future hacking.  The meeting has been rescheduled for this Friday from 1:30-2:30pm.

The Durand City Council is meeting tonight.  Items on the agenda include discussion and possible action on a proposed dog park at Hanson Park, an update on the Tarrant Park Swimming Pool Project, and an update on the use of ARPA Funds.  Tonight's meeting begins at 6:30 at Durand City Hall and will be live-streamed on the WRDN Website and YouTube Channel.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz authorized disaster assistance for eight Southern Minnesota Counties that were impacted by the Dec. 15 storms.  Olmsted and Wabasha are two of the eight counties.  The Governor said the Minnesota Department of Public Safety Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management will work with the counties on the distribution of emergency funds.  The state will cover 75% of the eligible costs from the Disaster Assistance Contingency Account with local governments covering the remaining 25%.

A 34-year-old Chippewa County woman is accused of stealing more than 50 thousand dollars from her employer.  W-E-A-U reports Jessica Guthman was working for a Subway restaurant in Cornell.  Prosecutors say she stole the money by entering item corrections after cash sales then kept the difference.  The owner began checking things after noticing a reduction in revenue.  Investigators say the money was stolen over a two-year period ending in May 2020.  Initially, Guthman denied stealing the money, then she told authorities she took about 10 thousand dollars.  If convicted, she could be sentenced to 10 years in prison.

 La Crosse officials say a city-wide property revaluation will be conducted.  Mayor Mitch Reynolds says the move will bring La Crosse into compliance with Wisconsin statutes.  The law requires all properties to be assessed within 10 percent of market values once every five years.  The tight housing market has led to higher property values.  The mayor says the city-wide revaluation doesn’t necessarily mean a property owner will owe more taxes.  A notice will arrive in the mail when the revaluation is complete.

A Barron man faces charges in two separate sexual assault cases.  19yr old Jacob Nordeng is accused of two counts of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl he met on Snapchat. The girl said they had sex at his house, and at a cemetery. Nordeng did not deny her accusations. He is also charged with sexually assaulting a woman who had fallen asleep after drinking too much alcohol at a party.  He will appear in court on February 16.

Emergency responders say it took almost 90 minutes to rescue a worker who was trapped in a silo 30 feet above the ground.  The victim suffered severe injuries and had to be airlifted to a hospital.  A ladder truck was summoned from Merrill so rescuers could reach the top of the 50-foot structure and get down to the injured man.  His name hasn’t been released.  The incident happened Monday in the Town of Pine River at about 5:00 p-m.  Pine River Fire Chief John Uttech says none of the career firefighters who responded to the emergency had ever heard of an actual recovery of a viable patient in a similar situation.

Minnesota’s poultry producers are monitoring cases of bird flu found in wild birds in other parts of the United States and Canada. It’s an early warning for producers in Minnesota ahead of the spring waterfowl migration. According to the state Agriculture Department, Minnesota has about 550 commercial turkey operations and more than 3,000 poultry farms. In a 2015 outbreak of avian influenza, about 9 million birds in Minnesota and 50 million across the country were killed by the virus or euthanized in an effort to slow the spread of the disease.

A package of Republican bills that aims to make it easier to remove people from unemployment and medical benefits got a public hearing in the State Assembly on Tuesday. Representative Mark Born says that there are too many people on benefits and not enough people working.   Other bills would require those on medical benefits to reapply for those benefits more often or be removed. Republicans say too many businesses are looking for workers. The state's unemployment rate is at historical lows. The bills are unlikely to be signed into law. 

Government watchdog group American Oversight and Assembly Speaker Robin Vos' office were in court on Tuesday to discuss issues related to multiple open records requests. Speaker Vos was deposed in the case last month, and Dane County Judge Val Bailey voiced her concern that members of the Republican elections probe weren't informed of those records requests when they came in.  Bailey wants both sides to confer before she's forced to issue a summary judgment in the case.

 Wausau police say an Afghan refugee has been arrested as part of a sexual assault investigation.  W-A-O-W reports a woman has told investigators Matiullah Matie attacked her while they were in a car.  The victim says she was helping Matie and his family while they were getting resettled into the area.  Matie was taken into custody Monday and booked into the Marathon County Jail.  A sexual assault charge is being recommended to the district attorney’s office.

Governor Evers has vetoed a Republican bill to ban schools and employers from teaching about concepts like systemic racism and implicit bias.   The proposal would have prohibited teaching that one race or sex is superior to another, that a person is inherently racist or sexist by virtue of his or her race or sex, and that a person's moral character isn't determined by race or sex. Republican-controlled state legislatures around the country moving to thwart certain ideas associated with "critical race theory." Evers equates the vetoed bill with censorship. He says students deserve to learn without interference from politicians.

Some Minnesota lawmakers are warning businesses in the state will be hit with a tax increase this spring if the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund isn’t replenished.  House Democratic leaders appear willing to address the impending problem if Republicans also agreed to spend a billion dollars on COVID bonuses for front-line workers.  That’s about four times what lawmakers approved last year.  State Senator Eric Pratt of Prior Lake, a Republican, says the bonuses are “way too important” to be held up again.

Not everyone is thrilled about plans for a new Amazon fulfillment center that promises up to 15 hundred new jobs for Dane County.  W-M-T-V reports the 650-thousand square-foot distribution facility will be built on 130 acres of land near Cottage Grove.  Some people living nearby say they had no idea the massive project was coming.  Many say the online retail giant is an unwelcome addition to the otherwise quiet community.  They are concerned the environmental and traffic impacts will outweigh the economic benefits.  One woman says the operation will change their way of life.

Minnesota House D-F-L leaders are backing legislators who are introducing tougher restrictions for no-knock warrants.  State Representative Athena Hollins is the author of the bill that builds on a law passed last year.  The push for the change comes after the fatal shooting of 22-year-old Amir Locke by Minneapolis officers last week.  The new legislation includes a higher bar for exceptions and only allows no-knock warrants where there is evidence a civilian’s life would otherwise be put in danger.

The Zac Brown Band will be performing at the Minnesota State Fair this summer.   Zac Brown with special guest the Robert Randolph Band on Friday, September 2nd is the first show announced for the 2022 Grandstand Concert Series.  Tickets go on sale Friday.

Local-Regional News Feb 8

 The Mondovi City Council is meeting tonight.  Items on the agenda include an update on the planning for the North Eau Claire Street Project, a discussion of the FY22 Surface Transportation Program and a discussion of the Rural Energy Pilot Program Grant.  Tonight's meeting begins at 5:30 at the Marten Center in Mondovi.

One person was injured in a three-vehicle accident in Clifton Township on Monday.  According to the Pierce County Sheriffs Department, 44yr old Trisha Packard of Prescott was driving eastbound on Hwy 29, waiting to make a left turn onto 635th avenue when her vehicle was rear-ended by another eastbound vehicle driven by 74yr old Dennis Marchel of River Falls.  After the collision, Marchel's vehicle collided with a westbound vehicle driven by 44yr old David Nogle of River Falls.  Marchel was transported to Reginal Hospital in Hastings with undetermined injuries.

The man accused of stabbing a person outside of Domino's Pizza in Menomonie in November of 2020 has been found guilty in Dunn County Court.  43yr old Tasheen Goggins pleaded no contest to a charge of attempted 1st degree intentional homicide with the use of a dangerous weapon on Monday.    Goggins will be sentenced on April 8th and faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.  He is currently being held at the Dunn County Jail.

 

A western Wisconsin tire shop has been destroyed by a Sunday morning fire.  W-K-B-T reports the Galesville Area Fire Department was called to Jeff’s Service at about 4:12 a-m.  Fire officials say the burned building is a near-total loss, with damages estimated at one-and-a-half million dollars.  One firefighter suffered a minor injury and a cat that was inside the building died.  Twenty departments and agencies worked together fighting the fire.  The cause is still being investigated.

A Chippewa Falls man is facing mail theft charges after authorities found nearly 60 pieces of stolen mail in his possession.  According to authorities, stolen mail was found in Michael Melendez Jr's vehicle more pieces of mail were found in his home after a search warrant was executed.    Melendez Jr was charged with theft, mail theft, and multiple drug charges.

Tomah School District officials admit the support isn’t there so they are putting plans for a referendum on hold.  W-K-B-T reports voters in the district were going to be asked to give their approval to a 96-million-dollar plan to build new schools.  Local officials say the results of a survey indicate the measure wouldn’t pass.  Patrons were asked last fall about three different options for the district.  About 17 hundred people responded and the results led district officials to pause the effort.  One school board member says the survey doesn’t change things – those buildings are still aging.

The U-S Army Corps of Engineers is urging people to use extreme caution downstream of Lock and Dam 8 in Genoa, Wisconsin, this week.  The Corps says “an abundance of ice” will be released and that could cause safety issues for anyone on the river ice below that location. Contractors working on the lock chamber will cause the release.  People are being urged not to fish the Mississippi River in that location.  The work could cause open water or thin ice making the area very dangerous.

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation is warning of a texting scam.  The department has received reports of state residents receiving texts to renew their license or license plates that appear to be from the DOT,  asking the resident to go to a spoofed DMV website to reveal personal information.  The DMV says they would never send you a text asking you to respond with personal information.    If you have fallen for this scam, you are to call the state DMV and take the necessary steps to protect your private information.

The trial for a Missouri man accused of killing two brothers from Shawano County has been delayed until next year. Attorneys for Garland Nelson had asked for the postponement last week.  His double-murder trial is now scheduled to start February 6th, 2023 in Johnson County, Missouri.  It had been on the court calendar for this June.  The ruling Monday is the second time Nelson’s trial has been postponed.  He also faces federal charges for mail fraud but no hearings have been held in that case.

Blustery winter weather and geopolitical tensions are helping to drive the price of oil higher, which is in the low-$90s per barrel, nearly $30 more than in August. The recent cold weather in the U.S increased the demand for heating oil. Meanwhile, the concern that Russia will react to potential western sanctions by withholding crude oil from the already tight global market puts heavy upward pressure on prices. The national average for a gallon of gas has surged to $3.44, eight cents more than a week ago. Here is Western Wisconsin gas is averaging $3.34 a gallon.  Gas was last this expensive in 2014.

Minnesota governor Tim Walz has authorized the Minnesota National Guard to assist with security in St. Paul during the federal civil rights trial of three former Minneapolis police officers charged in connection with the death of George Floyd. But that doesn’t mean you’ll immediately see armed soldiers on the street, according to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. Walz said in a written statement that the National Guard will assist local police “only if necessary. The three former officers, J. Alexander Kueng, Tou Thao, and Thomas Lane are also waiting to stand trial before the state this year. The governor also says the Guard is ready to assist Minneapolis if needed following last week's shooting death of Amir Locke.

Wisconsin Library Association President Nyama Reed says managing through the coronavirus pandemic has been challenging for public libraries across the state, and they’re not yet back to normal. Tuesday is the Library Association’s Legislative Day at the Capitol.

Charges of sexual assault have been brought forward against a Wisconsin Rapids man for an incident at a Bible Camp.  Remington Nystrom is accused of inappropriately touching a sleeping ten-year-old at the Mount Morris Camp in 2009- an incident that the victim was afraid to report until recently thanks to the state's tip line for survivors of clergy or faith leader abuse. the 33-year-old was arrested earlier this week, formal charges of sexual assault of a person under the age of 13 are pending.

An accused bank robber allegedly tried to dig himself out of the Dane County jail.   Todd Templeton is awaiting sentencing in federal court for bank robberies last year in Stoughton, Madison, and Tennessee. Fellow inmates snitched on what Templeton was up to. Authorities say he managed to chisel a hole in a concrete block under his cell that was about six inches in diameter and several inches deep.

State lawmakers want to spend Wisconsin's incoming broadband expansion money to serve rural parts of the state. State Representative David Steffen says the 70 million dollars from the Biden infrastructure bill will go towards wireless broadband.  Steffen says some of that funding will also go towards creating a detailed and updated map of where broadband connectivity is available, down to the parcel of land you're on.

The sheriff’s office says a 51-year-old Fond du Lac man was able to escape his sinking truck as it fell through the ice on Lake Winnebago last weekend.  The incident happened near Frazier Point at Lakeside Park Saturday at about 2:30 p-m.  The man’s name hasn’t been released.  He says the lower half of his body was already submerged by the time he was able to get out of the sinking vehicle.  He made it to an ice-fishing shanty to wait for rescuers.  He was checked out at Lakeside Park West and released.  The man has 30 days to retrieve his truck from the lake.

Local-Regional News Feb 7

 Wisconsin 3rd Congressional District Candidate Derrick Van Orden has raised more than $2.6 million in the last year for his run for the seat.  The republican candidate reported the numbers to the Federal Election Commission.  The amount so far raised is more than the total amount he raised when he ran in 2020.  Current Congressman Ron Kind announced last year he was not running for re-election in 2022.

Another phone scam to report.  The Buffalo County Sheriff's Department is reporting that scammers are calling residents claiming they have won a large lottery prize or some type of sweepstakes.  The caller then tells the victim that they must pay taxes or other fees to get the prize and ask for the victim's credit card or banking information.  If you receive this type of call, do not give out your information, just hang up.

 

With bitter cold back in Wisconsin and Minnesota, there are ways to get help paying energy bills. John Marshall with Xcel Energy says the first step is to reach out to them and find out what specific options are available. Marshall says representatives can help customers set up payment plans that help work through potentially tough times. More information is available via Excel Energy's website.

An Eleva man charged in 2019 after meth and dozens of fake IDs were found in his vehicle was sentenced Friday.   Song Lee was placed on three years probation. He has already paid more than $14,000 restitution.   As part of the sentence, Lee must tell law enforcement how he was able to steal the victim's information to make the fake ID's.

A La Crosse man was arrested Friday after fleeing the scene of an accident.  According to the La Crosse County Sheriff's Department, the accident happened Friday night on Hwy B in Barre Township.  Deputies say that the driver, 25yr old Austin Olson fled on foot but was found quickly.  Olson refused medical treatment and was arrested for suspicion of operating while under the influence.  Authorities believe speed and alcohol were factors in the accident.

A member of the legislature’s audit committee is not optimistic that the partisan probe into the 2020 election will be audited.   Senator Tim Carpenter wants the nonpartisan Legislative Audit Bureau to look into former state Supreme Court Justice Mike Gableman’s investigation.  Carpenter and the other Democrats on the audit committee requested that in a letter to Republican co-chairs, but he’s not optimistic  Assembly Speaker Robin Vos has said progress has been slowed because local elected officials and others have refused to cooperate with subpoenas Gableman has issued.

 Authorities in Juneau County say a domestic disturbance suspect refused to communicate with them early Saturday morning.   W-M-T-V reports the man was eventually taken into custody by the county’s START team.  His name hasn’t been released.  Deputies were able to speak to a woman who had made it out of the house unharmed.  Several efforts to speak to the suspect were unsuccessful.  Authorities say the incident was first reported at about 3:30 a-m.  There were no reports of any injuries.

 Minnesota Senate Republicans roll out their plan today to replenish Minnesota's COVID-depleted Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund. They say their plan will avoid harmful tax increases on businesses. House Speaker, Democrat Melissa Hortman suggested compromise on the trust fund would be a way to break the continuing deadlock over COVID bonuses for front-line workers. She proposed one billion dollars for each. House minority leader Kurt Daudt doesn't like the idea, saying it is basically like Democrats are holding the funds hostage.

Two weeks into the Minneapolis and St. Paul city mandates requiring customers at restaurants and other entertainment venues to show proof of receiving a COVID-19 shot or a negative test, restaurant owners say they are seeing a notable drop in business. Luke Derheim, the co-owner of Craft and Crew Hospitality, told KSTP-TV they are seeing a 30-percent drop at in their Twin Cities location. Other owners report similar trends. Derheim says they own restaurants in the suburbs where there are no mandates and they have not experienced a similar drop in those locations. Unless ended early, mandates in Minneapolis and St. Paul will be in effect until the end of the month.

A Minnesota man is facing two federal charges for aiming the beam of a laser pointer at airplanes in Wisconsin in October.  The U-S Attorney's Office says 42-year-old Nicholas Link of Rochester pointed his laser at a Delta Air Lines commercial flight and a Minnesota State Patrol aircraft while in Wisconsin.  An indictment by a grand jury was unsealed Thursday.  Prosecutors say Link could face up to five years in prison on each count if convicted.  His initial court appearance hasn't been scheduled.

Monona police say a bomb threat directed at a charter school in Monona Thursday morning has turned out to be a parent experiencing a mental health issue. The threat was spotted on SnapChat. Police identified the person of interest and took that person into protective custody. There was no bomb at One City Charter School. Monona police say the parent has been put in touch with mental health professionals. Classes were called off and students were reunited with their parents or guardians. School was back in session Friday morning.

Menomonee Falls-based Kohl's says recent offers to buy the company are undervalued. Two companies have reportedly offered to buy Kohl's for between 64 and 65 dollars a share, but Kohl's says that's not enough. Kohl's also says it enacted a shareholder rights plan this morning that will avert a company takeover. Kohl's says it will release more information at an investor day next month.

Governor Tony Evers vetoed a bill that would have increased penalties for making or distributing butane hash oil marijuana. The highly concentrated version of the drug is gaining popularity but the process to extract the substance often involves butane, an odorless gas that could easily ignite. Evers, a supporter of the full legalization of marijuana, called the bill a step in the wrong direction. The Republican-backed bill also had the support of the Wisconsin Chiefs of Police Association.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court is rejecting a request to take over a challenge to the use of absentee ballot drop boxes.  Republican candidate for Governor Rebecca Kleefisch filed the petition, asking the court to take the case after a lower court ruling kept the current law in place.  Kleefisch claimed that the Wisconsin Election Commission did not follow the law on the use of absentee ballot boxes, the role of voting deputies at nursing homes, and the use of polling places.

Money from the federal infrastructure bill has made Amtrak’s proposal for a route between Milwaukee and Madison a possibility.  The Milwaukee Business Journal quotes Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway as saying it could happen within five years.  Several Wisconsin mayors sent a letter to federal officials supporting the expanded service last year.  The infrastructure bill includes 66 billion dollars for Amtrak to maintain its existing lines and expand its service routes.

Soon, there will be no way to miss it. Construction on Wisconsin’s tallest residential tower is moving on from excavation work and turning vertical. A monster crane was installed at the site Thursday. It is 175 feet tall, but will eventually reach 621 feet as work is completed on the 44-story hi-rise. The crane can pick up loads of eight tons and it will be used mostly as the concrete superstructure is put together. Backers say the 122-million-dollar project means an estimated 44 hundred construction jobs for Milwaukee. Work should be finished by the end of next year.

Local-Regional News Feb 4

 The Durand Police Department is seeking any information regarding a recent catalytic converter theft that occurred late Friday night into Saturday morning.  Investigators are asking the public to review personal security camera video for any suspicious persons or vehicles. Specifically, individuals living in the areas of 10th Ave E, 11th Ave E, Washington St, and Goodrich St. area are asked to report anything suspicious last Friday night and Saturday morning. . If you have any information please contact our department at 715-672-5948 or Pepin County Communication Center at 715-672-5944.

The sentence is nine-and-a-half years in prison for a Hastings man who provided the heroin that led to a fatal drug overdose.   Dakota County prosecutors say 42-year-old Jason Slattum pleaded guilty to third-degree murder in the July 2020 death of 50-year-old Michelle Cahill.   Hastings police located Cahill unconscious on her bedroom floor and were unable to revive her.   The autopsy determined she died of mixed drug toxicity heroin and fentanyl.   Cahill's husband told investigators that they purchased heroin from Slattum the night before she died.

 La Crosse police say the evidence suggests the deaths of two people found Wednesday night came as the result of domestic violence.  W-K-B-T reports it’s being described as a murder-suicide.  Investigators say they believe 26-year-old Jordan Garcia killed the dog found in the home, then shot 25-year-old Allison Rodgers, before taking his own life.  Officers had been called to the home just before 7:30 p-m about a possible death.  La Crosse police say their investigation is active and ongoing.

 A Facebook post from Wisconsin River Meats in Mauston says the old portion of the plant is a total loss.  A damaging fire ripped through the processing plant Thursday morning.  Venison customers were told their meat and orders are stored in a different building at the location and haven’t been affected.  The company is asking for patience as it sorts out the cause of the fire and transitions some of its business and invoicing to a warehouse location.  No injuries were reported and a damage estimate hasn’t been released.

Supporters say the package of “Unlock the Vote” bills introduced this week would make sure people who are incarcerated – or are currently behind bars – have the information they need to participate in elections.  W-M-T-V reports Democratic State Representative Jodi Emerson of Eau Claire introduced the package of four bills along with Democratic State Senator Lena Taylor of Milwaukee.  The main bill would clarify the restoration of voting rights to people who have been denied the rights due to a felony conviction.  Emerson says she hopes the package will be granted a hearing.

Police believe the man whose burned body was found near the U-W-Green Bay campus last fall had been killed over an 80-thousand-dollar drug debt.  W-B-A-Y Television reports first-degree intentional homicide charges were filed against business owner Pedro A. Santiago-Marquez Wednesday.  He is one of three men accused of the death of 36-year-old Jason Mendez-Ramos.  Police officers responded to a grass fire report last September.  Investigators think Mendez-Ramos was killed somewhere else, brought to the location near campus, and this body was set on fire.  A witness says Marquez told him he was going to “pop” the victim

The State Legislature is working out how best to spend some 70 million dollars in broadband expansion funding. State Representative David Steffen says lawmakers want to put together an interactive map for residents to see broadband connectivity in their area.   The state plans to spend those 70 million dollars specifically on expanding wireless broadband in remote rural parts of Wisconsin and also expanding cell phone coverage along state highways. 

 It will be easier for front-line workers who get COVID to claim work-comp benefits, under a bill the Minnesota Senate unanimously passed Thursday.  The measure extends through January 31st, 2023 the legal presumption that those front-line workers who contract COVID have an "occupational disease" covered by workers' comp law.  However, the original law expired at the end of December, so there would be a little over a month when any front-line workers who get COVID could have a harder time qualifying for work comp.  Duluth Senator Jennifer McEwen says the legislature should make it retroactive.  The Minnesota House is expected to pass the bill this afternoon.

The Minnesota State Fair will again recognize farms that have been in one family for at least 100 years.   The Minnesota Farm Bureau's Rachael Peterson says the importance of the Century Farm program stretches beyond our state's producers. Peterson says most people can say, "my grandparents were farmers, and connect to it that way. We really use this to store that information and retain a history of our farms in Minnesota."   Applications to be recognized for 2022 are due March 7th.

The contract between the Oshkosh Corporation and the U-S Postal Service may not be “green” enough.  The Biden administration said Wednesday the deal worth billions of dollars doesn’t go far enough to combat climate change.  Oshkosh agreed to build up 165 thousand Next Generation Delivery Vehicles over the next 10 years.  W-B-A-Y Television reports the deal is in jeopardy because only 10 percent of those vehicles will be electric.  Washington wants the entire federal fleet of vehicles to eventually be powered by clean energy.

  The immigrant rights group Voces de la Frontera will be allowed to intervene in the Dane County lawsuit over the investigation of the 2020 presidential election.  W-M-T-V reports Judge Rhonda Lanford made the ruling Wednesday.  An attorney for the group says the biggest question concerns the rules for the subpoenas issued by former Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman.  He's being paid by taxpayers to investigate any irregularities in last November’s vote.  An attorney for Assembly Speaker Robin Vos argued allowing the group to intervene would slow the process.

 Minnesota lawmakers and Governor Walz have a long list of public works projects for this year's bonding bill but don't agree on how large it will be.  The governor is proposing a state record two-point-seven-billion-dollar bonding bill.  Walz says, "It puts the state on solid financial grounds and it gets at the backlog."  But Senate Republican Majority Leader Jeremy Miller responds, "with all due respect to the governor, my first thought is his bill is probably too large."  House Democratic Majority Leader Ryan Winkler predicts as in prior years House Republicans will vote down the bill, triggering the "real" negotiations and we'll be at an end-of-session scramble to put together a bonding bill in a closed room."  Lawmakers have until the third week of May.

 Investigators with the Richfield police say Tuesday’s fatal shooting outside South Education Center stemmed from a lunchtime argument.  Fifteen-year-old Jahmari Rice was fatally wounded and a 17-year-old student is listed in critical condition.  A 19-year-old student was also injured.  Eighteen-year-old Fernando Valdez Alverez and 19-year-old Alfredo Rosario Salas, both of Minneapolis, are currently in the Hennepin County Jail.   The two accused shooters and three victims are all students at the South Education Center in Richfield.

 Governor Tony Evers says around 70 Wisconsin National Guard members are assisting at health care facilities after completing a two-week certified nursing assistant training course.   Evers says the Wisconsin National Guard has been an invaluable part of our efforts throughout the pandemic, and this mission is no different.  The troops are assisting the state in increasing capacity and adding bed space as both the Omicron variant of COVID-19 and staffing shortages at healthcare facilities plague the state.  About 50 other soldiers were assigned at long-term care facilities last month.

MnDOT is announcing the winners in the 2022 'Name a Snowplow' contest.  Officials say Betty Whiteout is the new name of the plow in District 8, Crtl Salt Delete is the winner in District 7, voters picked The Big Leplowski for District 4, Plowasauras Rex will be clearing roadways in the Metro District, the snowplow in District 3 is named Scoop Dogg, Blizzard of Oz is the District 2 winner, No More Mr. Ice Guy was the winning name in District 1, and Edward Blizzardhands is the plow in District 6.  Nearly 60-thousand names were submitted for the second annual 'Name a Snowplow' contest.

Local-Regional News Feb 3

 Another phone scam is going around the area.  Yesterday, WRDN radio received two phone calls from someone claiming to be the electric company, wanting to talk about our past-due bill.  They were attempting to get us to submit payment with gift cards for the bill or face the electricity being cut off in a few hours.  This is nothing more than a scam and if you receive such a call you should hang up.

Two Western Wisconsin organizations have received tourism grants from the state of Wisconsin.  The Barron County Pro Rodeo will receive a $36,500 grant to make needed on-site improvements and update technology to better serve their national audience.  The Chippewa Falls Area Chamber of Commerce will receive a $30,000 grant to create a Championship Disc Golf Course to attract new visitors, as well as tournaments and other events. Additionally, in the winter seasons, the course has been specifically designed to be used for snowshoeing and ski trails, with the ability to host regional and national meets.  The grants are part of the Tourism Capital Investment Grants from the State of Wisconsin.

No one was injured in an early morning apartment fire in Chippewa Falls.  According to fire officials, firefighters responded to a fire at 1027 Duchman Drive early this morning.  When crews arrived on the scene they found heavy smoke coming from one apartment unit.  The fire was contained to that unit causing an estimated $100,000 in damage.  The cause of that fire remains under investigation.

The St. Croix County Sheriff’s Office is looking for help solving a 20-year-old cold case.  In a release Wednesday, the Sheriff’s Office said they along with the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation needed assistance in identifying a Jane Doe whose skull was found on Oct. 21, 2002 near the St. Croix River.  Investigators said that the woman was likely between 35 and 50 years old, had a flat face, pronounced forehead, and widely-spaced eyes. Investigators added that the woman’s relatives may have emigrated to the Twin Cities area and that the skull had been left at its discovery site within a year of the skull being found. Anyone with information is asked to call James Haefner, an investigator with the St. Croix County Sheriff’s Department, 

The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction is telling parents the state’s Public School Open Enrollment Program for the school year starting in the fall begins next week.  A D-P-I news release says enrollment starts next Monday and continues through April 29th.  Parents and guardians can apply to send their students to any public school district in the state during the 2022-2023 school years through the program.  Applicants will be notified by June 10th about their status.  The news release reminds parents and guardians transportation of their students to a district where they aren’t a resident will be their responsibility.

Richfield police are identifying the two suspects in Tuesday's fatal shooting outside the South Education Center school building.  Richfield Police Chief Jay Henthorne says 18-year-old Fernando Valdez Alverez and 19-year-old Alfredo Rosario Salas, both of Minneapolis, are in custody.  Henthorne says the shooting was not random and the incident involved five South Education students.  Fifteen-year-old Jahmari Rice was killed in the shooting.  Another 17-year-old student remains in critical condition.  Officers say a 19-year-old student suffered minor injuries.

A bill that would require Minnesota Senate approval of the governor's appointments to the state Sentencing Guidelines Commission is moving forward.  It passed the Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday.  Republican Senator Warren Limmer of Maple Grove says, "we have a commission with members who are moving towards acting very much like a de facto legislature."  But Saint Louis Park Democrat Ron Latz says the commission is appointed, not elected, "to take it out of the partisan battles that the legislature inherently gets involved in."  G-O-P lawmakers have criticized the commission for setting a five-year cap on probation and reducing penalties for criminals.

State legislative democrats want to resume mandatory waiting periods and background checks on buying handguns in Wisconsin. The law was abolished in 2015 at the suggestion of the NRA. State Senator Melissa Agard (AY-gard) says the removal of that waiting period has led to senseless gun violence in the state.  Agard and other Democrats say the reinstatement of the waiting period would save lives, especially in domestic violence and homicide cases.

Hesitate too long to shovel the snow off your sidewalk in La Crosse and it could cost you hundreds of dollars.  Residents are pushing back against the ordinance that requires all public sidewalks to be shoveled within 24 hours after the snow stops accumulating.  One woman on the city’s north side says she was fined 500 dollars for failing to clear one inch of snow at a time when her children had COVID-19.  Bobby Bigalke won the appeal she filed.  She tells W-K-B-T she was just looking for answers to why the city fined her before issuing a warning.  La Crosse may be considering an amendment to the ordinance.

Wisconsin drivers are being told not to expect those high gas prices to come down anytime soon.  GasBuddy-dot-com analyst Patrick De Haan says the COVID-19 pandemic caused a drop-off in demand last year when most people stayed home.  That led to oil companies reducing production.  When demand came rushing back as the economy opened up, prices went up when oil production failed to catch up.  Tensions between major oil producers Russia and Ukraine have been factors, too.  The Wisconsin average price of a gallon of gas is about three dollars, 16 cents.  That’s 21 cents below the national average.  Prices are highest in western Wisconsin where the pumps are farther from the pipelines.

Investigators in Milwaukee may never know why a mother and child were killed last October. Milwaukee County prosecutors are opening up some of the files in their investigation into the murder of three-year-old Major Harris and his mother, Mallery Muenzenberger. The woman from Onalaska was found shot to death in a Milwaukee backyard. The files give some more insight into the search for her killer, his suicide, and ultimately the search for the toddler’s body. The files do not offer any details as to why it all happened. The suspect, Jaheem Clark, killed himself as police were closing-in to arrest him. 

The Marathon County man who accidentally shot his friend to death had entered a guilty plea to a charge of homicide by intoxicated use of a weapon.  W-S-A-U reports David Answelmo told investigators his finger slipped as he was checking to see if the handgun he was handling had a round in the chamber.  That caused him to pull the trigger, killing 19-year-old Trey Wilcox in June 2019.  As part of the plea agreement, the charges Anselmo was facing were reduced.  A pre-sentence investigation will be carried out before he is sentenced on a date that hasn’t been scheduled.  Anselmo, Wilcox and two other friends were drunk and partying at the time.  After the shooting, he left the house without calling 9-1-1 or getting help for his friend.  He was arrested when he returned.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has built a big campaign funding advantage to drive his reelection effort.  Walz received almost three times the amount of donations collected by top Republican challenger Scott Jensen.  Campaign finance reports issued Tuesday show the governor raised more than three-point-six million dollars over the past 12 months.  He has spent very little of that so far.  Jensen has raised one point-two million – a total that surpasses the combined fundraising of Republican opponents Neil Shah, Michelle Benson, and Paul Gazelka.

 People in Milwaukee are being assured that the “Bronze Fonz” hasn’t been stolen.  Many have commented on the statue missing from the Milwaukee Riverwalk.  VISIT Milwaukee is telling people the Fonz hasn’t jumped the shark.  The statue has been taken for some routine maintenance.  The Bronze Fonz will return to his home in a few weeks

Local-Regional News Feb 2

 Paul R. Miller, County Manager for Dunn County, announced Tuesday his intention to resign from his position. “I’ve worked for local government for 34 years,” said Miller. “At the start of this year, I did a lot of soul searching and had some long conversations with my wife. It just seems the right time to step away from my current position and assess what I want to do in the next phase of my life.”  Miller has served as the County Manager for Dunn County since September of 2016.   Miller’s last day as Dunn County Manager will be March 11, 2022.

A $500 private donation to American Legion Post 181 will help with the cost of the flag replacement at the veteran's memorial in Riverside Park this year.  Durand Mayor Patrick says while the costs are covered this year, the council will look at adding $500 to the budget for flag replacement next year. The cost of the flags is approximately $1000 with the American Legion covering half of those costs.

A Barron County man on parole from a case in 2010 where he killed a man while driving drunk has been pulled over for OWI  Eau Claire police say they arrested Lee Namtvedt and charged him with operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated fifth offense after Namtvedt stopped his car in the middle of the road, leaving in drive and going into an alleyway to urinate.  He is currently released on a $5000 signature bond and is due back in court in March.

One person is dead after an accident at Sustane Natural Fertilizer in Cannon Falls.  According to authorities, Cannon Falls Police responded to a call at the company of an employee that was pulled into a machine and unresponsive.   Officers arrived on the scene and confirmed a 37yr old male employee was dead.  Further investigation of how the victim died will be conducted by the Regional Medical Examiner’s Office of Southern Minnesota and the Minnesota Occupational Safety and Health Administration will be conducting an investigation.

Security Financial Bank is warning customers of a software pop-up scam.  According to SFB several customers were scammed after a pop-up window appeared on their computers advising them they had a problem with their computer and to call the number that appears on the screen.  After calling the number, the supposed technician states there is a virus or malware on the computer and talks the victim into giving the technician access to their computer when then the technician is able to download all the victim's private information.  If you receive a software pop-up alert with a phone number to call, please do not call the number on the screen. Instead, please contact a trusted IT technician

Richfield police say the two people taken into custody Tuesday are the only suspects in the fatal shooting at the South Education Center.  W-C-C-O reports family members have identified the student who was shot to death as 15-year-old Jahmari Rice.  A second shooting victim was listed in critical condition.  The names of the suspects arrested while search warrants were being executed have not been released.  One gun was recovered but police haven’t said if it was the weapon used.  The South Education Center will be closed today (Wednesday).  The case is being investigated by local, state, and federal agencies – including the A-T-F and the F-B-I.

Republican state legislators want to pass a constitutional amendment that would give the legislature, and not the Governor, control over how federal funds are allocated. The issue has come into the forefront following billions of dollars of stimulus funding that came to the states as part of the pandemic and infrastructure bills. State Representative Chuck Wichgers says the Governor's office shouldn't be the sole decision-maker in that process.   The G-O-P's proposal would instead give the legislature's joint finance committee control over those funds. Republicans stripped a number of powers from the Governor's office and handed them to the J-F-C just before Evers took control in 2019.

State Elections Commission chair Ann Jacobs says she’s appalled by language from a candidate for governor Rebecca Kleefisch (CLAY-fish). The Republican is standing by her comment that voters should have “one throat to choke” when holding elected officials accountable.  Kleefisch, who first made the comment on Monday, claimed on Tuesday that it’s a phrase used “in policy-making circles.” Jacobs says election workers need to be supported rather than targeted for doing their jobs correctly. Both Kleefisch and fellow Republican candidate Kevin Nicholson are calling for the Elections Commission to be dismantled.

Legislative Republicans are introducing a new set of changes for Wisconsin election laws.  Plans introduced by State Senator Kathy Bernier Monday would build off the report from the audit bureau and the conservative Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty.  The package of bills would include new limits on who is considered to be indefinitely confined, a new requirement for social security numbers to be included on absentee ballots and a ban on the so-called Zuckerbucks partnerships.  Bernier says the measures will address loopholes brought to the surface by the 2020 presidential election.  Democratic Governor Tony Evers has already said he will veto anything that makes it harder to vote.

 Wisconsin Republicans say education in Milwaukee Public Schools “just isn’t working.”  W-I-S-N reports a sweeping set of education proposals to be introduced this week would include the dissolution of the district and expanding school choice statewide.  Milwaukee School Board President Bob Peterson calls that “a recipe for chaos” and a disaster for students in the district.  The proposal being considered would dissolve the district by 2024 and divide it into four to eight smaller districts.  Backers of the idea say M-P-S is failing too many students.

 A fatal shooting outside a high school basketball game in neighboring Beloit has Janesville police planning to increase their presence at school sporting events.  A 19-year-old man was shot to death Saturday after the game between Beloit Memorial and La Follette High School of Madison.  The new plan goes into effect tonight (Tuesday) at Craig High School when the Beloit Memorial girls’ basketball team visits for a game.  Police say the new approach is being taken with the full cooperation of the Janesville School District – and it will be kept in place for the rest of the school year.

Results from a year-long study don’t say how many police officers Minneapolis should have on its force.  K-A-R-E reports both city and police leaders have repeatedly said the study would be crucial in determining the department’s future.  There were 889 cops assigned to the department in early 2020.  It’s down to about 300 officers now.  Several recommendations were made that call for more efficient use of resources – things like handling some complaints on the phone, switching from two- to one-person patrols, and giving more thought to assigning some non-violent emergencies to civil workers.

The presence of a new coronavirus variant is confirmed in Wisconsin.  Public health officials in Madison say there’s only one case of the new omicron variant known as B-A-2 in Dane county, but more are likely coming. Doctors say the new strain appears to be more than 50-percent more contiguous than the original omicron variant. Early studies show the new variant does not cause more severe symptoms than the first strain of omicron, so another surge in cases appears unlikely. People who’ve had booster shots, and people who’ve had omicron before appear to be well-equipped to fight off the new variant. The B-A-2 omicron strain has been found in 40 counties.

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation has improved its winter road conditions report.  The DOT has updated 511wi.gov to expand and improve those reports. More than 14,000 miles of roadway will now be updated at least twice an hour by devices pulling in data. Previously only 3,700 miles were covered by field observations, which could only be updated every several hours. According to a news release, the Maintenance Decision Support System, which counties use to schedule plowing and salting will provide data for the road conditions map. DOT recommends you check 511wi.gov as part of winter travel plans

Local-Regional News Feb 1

 Because of the delay in the completion of the Laneville road project, the city of Durand has reduced the payment to the contractor by approximately $68,000.  The project will also come in about $20,000 under budget.  So what happens with that money, Durand Mayor Patrick Milliren says that money can only be used on projects.  The contractor still has the right to appeal the city's decision to not pay the $68,000 in liquidated damages.

Rep. Ron Kind announced that the Chippewa Valley Regional Airport is set to receive $3,165,815 in federal funding. This grant will help reconstruct the existing aircraft rescue and firefighting building.  Kind said, “This funding will help the Chippewa Valley Regional Airport make necessary infrastructure upgrades and continue to provide all visitors with a safe and successful travel experience.".  This grant is being funded as part of the supplemental funding provided under the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2020 and through the CARES Act.

Many disgruntled Wisconsin residents are sharing their frustration over high heating bills online this winter. Utility officials say the rising cost of natural gas is causing the problem. Production of natural gas dropped off during the early parts of the pandemic because demand was off with many businesses shut down. A lack of supply this winter is pushing those prices higher than ever. People are advised to set their thermostat lower and put on a sweater or a blanket. If you can’t pay your bill you can apply for energy assistance through the Home Energy Plus Program.

Minnesota's Republican and Democratic parties have their precinct caucuses tonight. On the D-F-L side, it is more than likely the state convention this summer will end with an endorsement of current Governor Tim Walz to run for the office again. Meanwhile, the field of Republican hopefuls is large and could get larger. Minnesota G-O-P Deputy Chair Donna Bergstrom says the winner of tomorrow night's straw poll will be "really telling." and the candidates are anxious to see where they land. D-F-L Party Chair Ken Martin says in statewide races the caucusing process and the months leading to the convention will give them a solid idea of who they will be up against in the general election.

The Wisconsin Elections Commission will not be changing the way they recommend clerks handle mistakes on absentee ballot envelopes. Republicans on the commission wanted to require clerks contact voters whose envelopes have errors to confirm changes in order to prevent fraud. Commission Chair Ann Jacobs said that was trying to solve a problem that doesn't exist.  The vote means that the Commission will send the current guidance to correct changes when possible to the legislature's joint rules committee for a review. Republicans on that committee are likely to object.

Prices continue to rise at the grocery store with inflation, supply chain issues, and the impact of the omicron variant driving up the cost of food.   Overall prices are up 9% from a year ago.  Kraft Heinz is the latest to announce price hikes on things like Velveeta, Oscar Mayer meats, coffee, and Kool-Aid.  The company joins other big brands like General Mills, Campbell Soup, and Proctor and Gamble which are raising the price of products.  The entire food supply chain is facing surging costs, congestion, and a labor shortage, which have hardly improved. The number of cargo ships parked off the California coast hit a record high in January. More than 100 are still waiting, even after the ports unloaded 13% more containers than ever before in 2021.

Wisconsin high school students could soon be required to take a class on personal finance.  A  bill would make a lesson in financial literacy a requirement for high school graduation in Wisconsin. The class would cover things like balancing checkbooks and responsibly managing credit cards. Many schools already teach financial literacy, but supporters of the bill want to make it mandatory statewide.

Organized thefts are increasing at Wisconsin’s retail stores and state lawmakers are trying to take action to help.  W-I-S-C reports De Pere State Senator Andre Jacque wants to reduce the threshold for a Class-One felony theft charge.  His bill would cut that from 25 hundred dollars to one thousand dollars.  Passage would mean any stolen property valued at more than one thousand dollars would open the door to a felony charge – and that could mean fines up to 10 thousand dollars and three-and-a-half years in prison.

The leader of the Stockbridge-Munsee Tribe in Shawano County is scheduled to give this year’s State of the Tribes address to Wisconsin lawmakers.  W-L-U-K reports Shannon Holsey will give the speech at 1:00 p-m February 22nd.  The Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council selected Holsey for the task.  The address has been given at the Capitol since 2005.  It is an opportunity to give the 11 federally recognized Native American tribes in Wisconsin a chance to discuss issues with the Legislature.  Assembly Speaker Robin Vos has called the annual event “an important tradition.”

A marijuana advocate says the latest medical marijuana bill offered by Republican legislators falls far short of what Wisconsin needs.  Gary Storck of Madison heads the group Is My Medicine Legal Yet?  The new legislation would keep medical marijuana tightly regulation and it would only allow doctors to recommend non-smokable forms of the drug to their patients.  Storck says the vast majority of patients find the best benefits by smoking or inhaling the vapors.  He points out that most states do allow that.

Federal government scientists predict Lake Superior is looking at its third straight year of low ice cover.  It is projected to be 52 percent covered at its peak -- about 10 percent below average.  Most ice forms in February.  As of last week, the lake was about 12 percent covered with ice.  That’s actually double the amount of Lake Superior that was covered at this time last year.  Data on how much of the Great Lakes are covered by ice has been collected since 1973.  The high mark was in 1979 when almost 95 percent of all of the Great Lakes were ice-covered.

 It’s a good thing to have money in the bank when you show up for work.  As Minnesota legislators returned to the Capitol Monday for the first day of the regular session the state has a surplus estimated at seven-point-seven billion dollars.  Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle say crime will be a major issue this session.  All work will be done under the pressure of an election year.  Senate Republicans say they want to give some of the huge surplus back to taxpayers as permanent tax cuts.  The regular session is scheduled to end in late May.

COVID-19 hospitalizations and case activity continue to decline in Wisconsin.   The number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients as of Thursday was 1,774, as that key indicator continues a steady decline from its high of 2,278 earlier this month. All 72 Wisconsin counties continue to report “critically high” COVID-19 case activity, but according to the state Department of Health Services, that is declining in the majority of counties. There have been 10,997 deaths attributed to COVID-19 in Wisconsin, since the start of the global pandemic.

Hopeful young sledders who find themselves without equipment in Stevens Point will now have a chance to ride the hills.   Thanks to an anonymous donation of sleds, residents now have access to one of the winter staples through what Mayor Mike Wiza (WEE-za) is calling the "sled library"- a display set up at Iverson Park that allows users to grab a sled if they need one to enjoy the hill- no strings attached, just return it when you're done. The program cost the city next to nothing- just some time and effort by city workers to make the sign and the storage rack. Wiza says if you have some sleds that you aren't using, you're free to donate them as well, just drop them off in the display. Sleds will be available any time the hill is open.