La Crosse’s wooden Hiawatha statue is the next to come down. The city’s Park Board voted last night to remove the statue from Riverside Park. Hiawatha has stood in the park since the 1960s. The family of the artist who carved it wants it back, and La Crosse’s mayor says given the climate in the country right now it is a good time to take the statue down. It’ll cost at least 15 thousand-dollars to remove the statue, work is
Read MoreMore people are getting back to work across Wisconsin. The state’s unemployment rate for June fell to eight-and-a-half percent. That’s a steep drop from April when unemployment topped 14 percent, and from May when the jobless rate in Wisconsin was over 12 percent. The state’s Department of Workforce Development says businesses added almost 100 thousand private sector jobs last month.
Read MoreThe warden and a handful of guards at the state prison in Portage are out in the aftermath of an escape in April. Warden Susan Novak and two guards resigned rather than be fired. So did the prison cook accused of helping James Newman and Thomas Deering escape. Several other prison employees were fired, and one was suspended. Department of Corrections Secretary Kevin Carr said they lost their jobs because of performance failures and unaddressed systemic failures.
Read MoreCOVID-19 cases are climbing by the day in Wisconsin. The seven-day average is up in the state to 817 cases per day. It was 596 cases a day just a week ago. Wisconsin reported its third highest total of new coronavirus cases today with 900. There was one new death in the last 24 hours bringing the death toll from the virus to 831. There have been over 42-thousand-400 cases reported statewide since the outbreak began.
Read MoreIt is a somber anniversary for the family and friends of a Marine sergeant killed in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Today marks five years since a mass shooting at two military installations killed five servicemen. The suspect opened fire at a Naval Operations Service Center after a drive-by shooting at a recruitment center. Wisconsin native Sergeant Carson Holmquist was one of the victims. Wisconsin Highway 87 is named in his honor.
Read MoreGovernor Tony Evers grants pardons to 18 people. The governor today says the Pardon Advisory Board met with applicants virtually late last month. Most of the pardon recipients committed crimes connected to drug addiction or credit card and check fraud when they were in their 20s decades ago. Individuals convicted of a Wisconsin felony may apply for a pardon if they completed their sentence at least five years ago and have not committed any new crime. Sex offenders are ineligible for a
Read MoreA man picked up his 5th OWI. 49 year old David L. Pederson, from Barnes, has been arrested by the Wisconsin State Patrol for operating a motor vehicle under the influence, 5th offense. It was on Thursday morning just after 5:30 in the morning when a Trooper stopped a vehicle for the driver operating without wearing their seatbelt. The driver was identified as David L.Pederson and showed signs of impairment. A subsequent investigation, including standardized field sobriety testing, showed that
Read MoreShowers and thunderstorms that have moved through Wisconsin are resulting in increased levels on the Chippewa River in Eau Claire. At noon on Thursday the Chippewa River gauge at Grand Avenue read just under 766 feet, which is about 7 feet below the flood stage reading of 773 feet. The current crest projection is for just over 766 feet on Friday. At its current level the river has entered Action stage and, as a safety measure, the following areas will
Read MoreKohl’s is now requiring masks inside their stores. In a statement, company leaders said beginning Monday, all customers will be required to wear masks. The company said greeters will be at the stores entrances to ensure masks are worn and signs will be posted. Walmart and Sam’s Club are also implementing a mask policy inside stores next week. And we can add Woodman’s to the list of stores across the state of Wisconsin that are requiring face masks. The hope is that
Read MoreDane County is handing out 100-thousand face masks after county health officials started requiring them in public places. The County Executive’s Office said since Monday, they’ve already handed out over 65-thousand face masks. They said it’s the most extensive free mask distribution system in the region.
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