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Investigators say an employee of a Menomonie medical office secretly placed a recording device inside the facility.  Other staffers at ReforMedicine say they found the device last month — hidden in a non-public area.  Forty-eight-year-old Medical Assistant Meng Vang has been arrested.

A Twin Cities woman is going to prison after she confessed to having sexual contact with a boy who was one of her fifth-grade students in a Wisconsin grade school.   Madison Bergmann was recently sentenced to 12 years behind bars.  The defendant from Lake Elmo pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual misconduct by a school staff member and one count of child sexual enticement.  Bergmann will serve half of her term in prison and the balance on extended supervision. 

Four people were left injured Saturday after a collision in Pierce County.  The accident happened shortly before noon near State Road 29 and County Road I in Gilman.  A car and SUV collided at the intersection.  Two people from each vehicle were taken to hospitals for medical care and there has been no word on their condition.

Officials are confirming the discovery of chronic wasting disease in La Crosse County.  Chronic Wasting Disease is spread directly through animal to animal contact and is fatal for members of the deer family.  The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources says a test for the disease came back positive on a hunter-harvested adult buck.  Officials are moving to extend the current baiting and feeding ban in La Crosse County for another three years.

Authorities in Monroe County are charging a suspect in connection with recent break-ins at a self-storage facility.  According to reports, 29-year-old Mark Sayre Jr. cut a hole in the fence at VB Storage in Tomah to gain access to the storage units.  Officers arrested Sayre at the scene in Saturday. 

  Kenosha County Sheriff David Zoerner says six horses died yesterday after being involved in a vehicle crash.  The horses had escaped from a fenced area on nearby property and were on the roadway.  Officials say the driver did not report any injuries but the vehicle has significant damages.     

Governor Tony Evers is extending the energy emergency in Wisconsin.  The governor signed an executive order as disruptions continue to cause challenges within the Midwestern pipeline distribution system.  There is also a high demand for residential heating fuel, like heating oil and propane.  Evers’ office says the order will go toward the delivery of these products throughout Wisconsin.  It replaces an executive order signed on December 5th.

A Vernon County animal rescue is organizing a free surrender event.  J and R Aquatic Animal Rescue will host the event January 17th at the Houghton Street public library in De Soto.  Folks will be given the opportunity to surrender exotic pets including fish, invertebrates, reptiles and small mammals under judgment-free conditions.  Domestic animals like dogs and cats will not be accepted. 

Property taxpayers are expected to see the largest rise in local taxes since 2018.  A report from the Wisconsin Policy Forum says most of the taxes come from schools. Data from the Department of Revenue says property taxes for K-12 school districts are expected to rise to over six billion dollars in December tax bills. The report says nearly 29 percent of school districts have a tax increase of over ten percent this year.

Climatologists have confirmed that the August rainfall in the state was the largest ever recorded. It passed the previous record set nearly 80 years ago by about three inches. Between August 9th and 10th, a rain gauge recorded over 14 inches of rainfall in under 24 hours. The previous state record was over 11 inches in June of 1946. The 24-hour rainfall record was confirmed by scientists with the State Climate Extremes Committee.