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 This may be the best weekend to do a little leaf-looking in western Wisconsin. Forecasters say the fall colors are peaking this week. Further north the colors have already hit their peak. Travel Wisconsin says the trees from Eau Claire all the way down to Prairie du Chein are at their most beautiful.

 The U.S. Supreme Court is being asked to block President Biden’s student debt relief program.  A taxpayers’ group in Wisconsin directed their request to Justice Amy Coney Barrett, who’s responsible for the region.  Their filing asks the program that could cancel up to 20-thousand dollars of debt for millions of borrowers be suspended while their lawsuit plays out.  The U.S. Department of Education launched its application for loan forgiveness Monday and is expected to start processing requests as soon as Sunday.

 Today is the deadline to register to vote by mail or online in Wisconsin.  My Vote Wisconsin says voter registration forms must be sent in today and be postmarked by your municipal clerk with proof of residence.  If you’re voting in-person you can still register at your polling place on Election Day.

Wisconsin is getting 140-million dollars from the federal government to improve its water and wastewater infrastructure.  The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources says the money will go toward the State Revolving Loan Fund, replacing lead service lines, and addressing PFAS chemical contamination.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is trying to get library card holders interested in visiting the state’s parks.  The DNR says next month it will give one-thousand Wisconsin library card holders a free day pass to any park, forest, or recreation area in the state that requires admission.  The DNR says the passes will be given to 20 libraries across Wisconsin to give to library card holders.  The list of libraries is available on the DNR’s website.

Madison’s homicide rate is going down.  According to WalletHub, Madison’s homicide rate is down by nearly two homicides per capita this quarter compared to the same time last year.  WalletHub says Madison had point-seven-seven homicides per 100-thousand people this quarter.  Milwaukee’s homicide rate this quarter is sixth-highest in the country.

Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott is giving millions of dollars to a community health center in Watertown.  The Greater Watertown Community Health Foundation announced today Scott has awarded it five-million dollars to improve housing, education, and other needs in the community.

Nearly 60,000 pounds of unused or expired medication was collected in Wisconsin at PrescriptionDrug Take Back Day in April 2022 – the largest amount collected in the country, according to the Wisconsin Department of Justice. HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital is encouraging community members to help boost that number even more during the next event on Saturday, October 29. “These items can be stolen, misused or ingested by children or pets resulting in accidental poisonings.” The hospital is partnering with the

On Thursday, October 20, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin will join Climate Power and Eau Claire-based Solar Forma to celebrate the installation of an E-Cacia Solar Tree in Eau Claire’s Boyd Park and highlight how recent federal investments will benefit Wisconsin’s green businesses, make renewable energy more accessible, and drive down energy costs for consumers. Senator Baldwin recently voted for the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which President Biden signed into law earlier this year. The IRA includes federal tax credits for individuals that will cover 30 percent

Governor Evers’ former parole chief is no longer in the position of Madison’s first police monitor.  Madison’s Police Civilian Oversight Board last night said John Tate the Second has accepted another job.  Tate was selected to be the first civilian to oversee Madison’s police department last week.  He was pushed-out at the state’s Parole Commission as critics said he released too many dangerous criminals.  It’s not clear what Tate’s new job is, or who will take the police monitor’s job