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The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has found traces of dangerous chemicals in some bodies of water in the state.  The DNR says it found elevated levels of per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances in Starkweather Creek in Madison and Silver Creek in Monroe County.  Lesser levels were also found in three other Wisconsin bodies of water, including the Mississippi River.  The Environmental Protection Agency says consuming these chemicals can cause cancer, thyroid disease, and low birth weight.

Xcel Energy customers could see their heating bill drop this winter.  Xcel says customers spent an average of 626 dollars between November and March of last winter.  This year, Xcel says it expects that average to drop by 12 percent to 556 dollars for the winter season.

The price tag for last month’s tornado in the town of Wheaton is at three-million-dollars, and likely will go up. Chippewa County Emergency Management director Dennis Brown yesterday said most of that is the cost of replacing the 29 homes that were damaged during the September 24th storm. Brown says the rest of the clean-up only cost the county 90-thousand-dollars, though he says those costs will go up over the next couple of months. Chippewa County will ask the Wisconsin Disaster Fund

A western Wisconsin man is headed to prison for almost 20 years for sex crimes committed against a child. An Eau Claire County judge yesterday sentenced 31-year-old Davy Cole to 16 years in prison. Prosecutors charged Cole with 17 crimes against a child, including trafficking and child pornography. Cole will be required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.

Two of the three victims of last week’s shooting at a Wausau cemetery worked there. Police yesterday identified the victims as two employees and an employee’s wife. Investigators also say the accused shooter, 64-year-old Henry West, also worked at the cemetery. Police say West was unhappy that he lost that job, though they are not saying just what sparked the shooting.

Be on the lookout for deer. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation says fall mating season is upon us, and that means there will be more deer out and about. Last year, WISDOT says police responded to 20-thousand car-versus-deer accidents in the state. Rutting season will last through the end of next month.

Western Wisconsin’s congressman is heading to Europe to talk about trade. Congressman Ron Kind says he hopes his trip to the World Trade Organization’s headquarters in Switzerland produces results for Wisconsin farmers. Kind says farmers in the state need every opportunity they can get to sell their products.

The to-do list for Wisconsin Democrats in 2020 looks a lot like their to-do list from this year. Lawmakers in Madison yesterday unveiled their Moving Wisconsin Forward agenda. Once again, Democrats are making an expansion of government healthcare their top priority. The plan also calls for the state to mandate a ‘living wage,’ and require that businesses pay women more. The newest idea from Democrats at the state Capitol is a focus on new water quality laws, though there are few specifics as to

We will have a lawmaker in our area. On Tuesday, October 8, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin will visit Yellowstone Cheese in Cadott to tour their business, meet with company leadership and workers, and highlight her Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives Program which helps dairy businesses add value to their products and reach new markets. As a result of Senator Baldwin’s work with dairy leaders to create the Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives, the U.S. Department of Agriculture selected Wisconsin to host the new

The Missouri man charged in the disappearance of two Wisconsin brothers is pleading not guilty to felony tampering with a vehicle.  Garland Nelson entered his plea in Caldwell County, Missouri court today on charges related to the disappearance of Nick and Justin Diemel who went missing on a business trip to meet with Nelson in July.  Nelson is charged for allegedly moving the brothers rental car off his property and to a commuter parking lot.  Human remains have been found on Nelson’s