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Wisconsin’s bail system is once again in the spotlight at the State Capitol. A pair of Republican lawmakers yesterday said last week’s shooting of an off-duty Milwaukee police officer continues to show the need for higher bail in the state. Two of the suspects in that case were released on less than a thousand-dollars bail for earlier felony charges. State Rep. Janel Brandtjen said Milwaukee County’s low bail policy is making communities across the state less safe. State Senator Van

Investigators in Kenosha are searching for the cause of a deadly apartment fire there.  Three people died in the fire late Monday night.  It took firefighters a half-hour just to get the flames under control.  Firefighters say it looks like two of the victims died from a “medical event” before the fire started.  No one is saying how the third victim died.  A Kenosha police officer was treated for smoke inhalation, but is now recovering at home.

Republicans at the Wisconsin Capitol want to move people back to work by moving them off unemployment.  Lawmakers yesterday introduced what they are calling the Stronger Workforce plan.  It would push people to take job interviews and accept job offers by taking-away some of their unemployment benefits if they don’t.  The Republican plan would also push DWD to investigate more unemployment fraud.  Lawmakers also want to switch Wisconsin to a sliding-scale for unemployment which would mean fewer weeks of benefits while the unemployment rate

One of the top-ranking Republicans at the Wisconsin Capitol is calling it quits.  State Rep. Jim Stieneke, the second highest ranking Republican in the Assembly, yesterday said he is not running for re-election this fall.  Stieneke has been in the Assembly since 2010, and has been a leader since 2014.  He says it’s time to pass the torch to someone else to represent Kaukauna and his part of the state.

Milwaukee has a mask mandate in name only.  The city council yesterday reinstated a mask requirement for all businesses until March 1st, but city leaders immediately said they will not enforce it.  Health Commissioner Kirsten Johnson says Milwaukee simply doesn’t have enough people to make sure businesses are requiring people to mask-up.  Johnson says the city will add a letter to a business’ file if there are enough complaints.  But she’s not saying what that will mean for the businesses’

The Ice Castles are back in Lake Geneva.  Tickets go on sale today, and the first tours are scheduled for Saturday.  This is the fourth year for the Ice Castles at Lake Geneva, though last year they closed early because of a warm February.  You can find tickets and more information at the Ice Castle’s website. CLICK HERE FOR MORE FROM THE ICE

The Betty White Challenge meant thousands of dollars for animal groups in western Wisconsin. Managers at Bob’s House for Dogs in Eau Claire County say they received over 12 thousand-dollars in donations during the challenge. That’s the same amount that the Eau Claire County Humane Association is reporting as well. The Betty White Challenge asked people to donate five dollars to their favorite animal welfare group in White’s name on what would have been her 100th birthday. On a state level,

A juror in the Chandler Halderson trial tests positive for coronavirus and is removed from the jury.  Judge John Hyland says the juror was tested for coronavirus last week when Halderson tested positive but their PCR test came back negative.  Hyland says the juror developed symptoms several days later and tested positive.  There all still 17 jurors seated in the trial.

Two people are dead and several others are hurt after an apartment fire in Kenosha.  The fire department says the fire broke out Monday night at the Saxony Manor, an apartment complex for seniors.  The fire department says a man and woman died in the fire and five people were taken to the hospital, two in life-threatening condition.  Around a dozen other people are now without a place to live.  The cause of the fire hasn’t been determined.

Researchers at University of Wisconsin-Madison are working on a coronavirus vaccine that will cover all strains of the virus.  The school recently got seven-million dollars in federal money to fund the research.  Researchers say the goal is for the vaccine to be able to train the immune system to fight off most coronaviruses, including the one causing the pandemic.  They say the vaccine is likely five years from being ready.