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Groundbreaking ceremonies were held Thursday in Chippewa Falls for a new behavioral health hospital.  Rogers Behavioral Health is developing the facility near Highway 178.  Plans call for the hospital to be fully operational next spring. CLICK HERE FOR MORE.

Wisconsin’s U.S. Senators have reached agreement on nominees for two key federal prosecutor positions. Democrat Tammy Baldwin and Republican Ron Johnson are recommending Peter Smyczek for the Eastern District and Chadwick Elgersma for the Western District. The candidates were selected through a bipartisan nominating commission focused on identifying qualified applicants. Both senators say the nominees bring strong experience and are expected to enforce the law fairly. The final decision now goes to the White House.

New data shows more single-family homes are being approved across Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Builders Association says permits rose nearly six percent in the first quarter. Builders say the increase points to continued demand, even with high construction costs and interest rates. But they say the bigger challenge remains affordability—making sure enough homes are within reach for buyers.

The verdict is in for a man facing charges after a 2024 fatal shooting in Trempealeau County.  Investigators say that Todd Gieck shot and killed the victim — Ettrick resident Kyle Dahl.  Dahl was found wounded in his vehicle along Highway 53 in the Town of Gale and later died at a local hospital.  Gieck has said the shooting was accidental.  He found guilty yesterday on charges including reckless homicide.

Authorities are investigating a fatal shooting this week in Taylor County.  The incident happened Tuesday night at a home on County Road E in the Town of Little Black.  Officers responding to reports of an accidental shooting found a male victim who was later pronounced dead at the scene.  One person was taken into custody. 

The USDA is approving new grant funding to support the expansion of the Sparta Free Library.  The library is listed among the National Register of Historic Places.  The newly-announced 250-thousand-dollar USDA Rural Development grant is intended to help cover the cost of new furnishings, improved technology, and expanded accessibility.

A six-vehicle collision involving a school bus sent five people to the hospital Wednesday in La Crosse County.  According to reports, the bus hit multiple vehicles that had stopped ahead of it in traffic on I-90 eastbound.  The condition of the injured has not been reported.

Ridglan Farms is preparing to sell hundreds of dogs to animal rescue groups.  The research facility in Blue Mounds said yesterday nearly one-thousand beagles will be sold to organizations based in Florida and Washington, D.C.  The deal was made behind closed doors and it’s unclear how much the sale is worth, but more details are expected to be released during a press conference today.  Ridglan Farms has been the subject of protests over the past couple of months, including efforts

Governor Tony Evers is directing Wisconsin Emergency Management to submit a request to FEMA due to recent flooding.  Evers says the state is likely to qualify for federal aid, as current assessments show the extent of the damage and that recovery needed is too much for the state to handle on its own.  Once the request is submitted, the federal agency would gather their own damage assessment.  The governor’s office doesn’t know when FEMA will respond.

More than 90 females took part in STEM-related, hands-on sessions Tuesday during the Imagine Summit, a half-day event created by WIN Technology designed to inspire middle and high school girls to explore careers in science, technology, engineering, and math. Hosted at Chippewa Valley Technical College’s Business Education Center, girls in grades seven through 10 took part in hands-on sessions led by industry experts, educators, and community partners, exploring topics such as robotics, architecture, 3D printing, cybersecurity, and fiber optics—fields where