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A Milwaukee man is facing 25 years in federal prison for violently sex trafficking two teenagers in the Chicago area and in Wisconsin. That sentence was handed down for 28-year-old David Smith, who pleaded guilty to sex trafficking. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, between 2019 and 2020, Smith took sexually explicit photographs of the victims and posted them on commercial sex advertisement websites. He would then arrange for the victims to meet customers in hotel rooms. Prosecutors say on at

Staffers in the Eau Claire Area School District are going to receive a pay raise next year, and a pay hike for teachers goes before  the school board next month.  The Eau Claire School Board last night approved a four-point-seven percent pay increase, which will cost the district almost one-point-seven million dollars.  Board members say the pay increase is based on the Consumer Price Index and is meant to retain employees and make sure they do not suffer from inflation. 

The Eau Claire City Council has decided it’s time to return to in-person meetings.  Last night, the city council voted to do away with virtual meetings and resume in-person council meetings, starting with their April 11th session.  Interim city manager David Solberg recommended the change after consulting with the Eau Claire City-County Health Department.  He says they’ll explore offering an online streaming and participation option for anyone who does not want to attend in-person.    

Milwaukee will learn in the coming months if it will host the Republican National Convention in 2024. Last night a Milwaukee delegation arrived home from Washington D.C. after making its final pitch to the RNC. Nashville, the other finalist city also made its final pitch yesterday. RNC officials say a final decision is likely by summer.

 Kohl’s is reviewing multiple buyout offers.  The Wisconsin-based department store chain confirmed it has received several non-binding offers from interested parties and has hired Goldman Sachs to coordinate with the bidders.  Canadian department store operator Hudson’s Bay is reportedly among the interested parties.  Kohl’s had no comment on the report.

A former substitute teacher from Verona is convicted of sex crimes.  Court records show Dustin Schallert recently pleaded guilty to two counts of fourth-degree sexual assault and one count each of disorderly conduct and causing mental harm to a child.  Schallert’s accused of inappropriately touching two girls at Badger Middle School.  He’ll be sentenced in May.                                                

A Dane County supervisor is pushing for the Pledge of Allegiance to be dropped from county meetings.  Supervisor Heidi Wegleitner has proposed removing the pledge and prayer from meeting rules.  The rules are re-written twice a year and that process is currently underway.  Supervisors will consider her proposal this week, however a decision won’t be made until after the election on April 5th.

ABOVE PHOTO: A 3D animation student learns industry-standard software. University of Wisconsin-Stout’s Summer STEAM Experience is offering in-person, guided activities in science, technology, engineering, art and math for middle and high school students in June. The Summer STEAM Experience runs from Sunday, June 12, to Thursday, June 16. Students entering grades 9 to 12 are invited to explore career paths with UW-Stout faculty in a campus setting, with experiences that highlight the value of creative and critical thinking. The Junior STEAM Experience, for students entering grades 6

Local tourism industry leaders are approaching this travel season with the mindset of attracting more leisure travelers to the Badger State.  Room tax revenue from 2021 shows a massive increase over the previous year that was severely affected by the pandemic.  While up, the tourism numbers from last year are still not what they were pre-pandemic.  To make up for millions in lost revenue, officials with Destination Madison say they are shifting their marketing focus from business travelers to those

The 2022 International Hockey Federation Under-18 Women’s Championship is coming to Madison.  The tournament will be split between the University of Wisconsin’s women’s team rink LaBahn Arena and home of the Madison Capitols, Bob Suter Arena.  The tournament, that was supposed to happen in Sweden back in January, was canceled due to the pandemic.  Monday, USA Hockey announced the relocation to Madison for the week of June 6th through the 13th.