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An Iowa man is charged with homicide in connection with a deadly crash in Polk County.  Probable cause statements say Michael Barkema turned in front of a car on Highway M near the Saint Croix County line Sunday night.  The crash killed the driver of the car.  Barkema was charged Monday with homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle.  Authorities say his blood-alcohol level was over three times the legal limit at the time of the crash.

UPDATE: The two men accused of beating another man with a baseball bat in Buffalo County are arrested in Michigan.  The county sheriff’s office says Erick Tepole and Rufina Tehuacatl  beat a man in Durand earlier this month, but took off before law enforcement arrived.  An update was recently issued saying the suspects are in custody in Michigan and awaiting extradition back to Wisconsin. PREVIOUS STORY: The public is urged to bring any information about the men involved in a beating

Altoona Schools Superintendent Dan Peggs is staying with family in Dane County after being granted a home release in federal court Monday.  Peggs is facing several child pornography and sex trafficking charges after being arrested last Thursday.  That same day, the 32-year-old Peggs pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.  According to court documents, Peggs is accused of creating a child pornography video involving a minor he recruited between October 2015 and May 2016.      

UW-Eau Claire’s Vice Chancellor of Enrollment Management is stepping down amid an investigation into gender discrimination.  Earlier this month, a complaint was filed against Albert Colom.  In a statement released Monday, Colom said that no matter the result of the investigation, he is unable to effectively continue in his position.  Concerns regarding Colom had been raised as early as 2018 and four employees say they left their jobs after working with him. 

A La Crosse woman who police say was missing since December with her baby boy is facing drug charges.  According to police, Tracy Cadogan was arrested during a traffic stop last Friday.  Inside her car, police found at least 25 grams of marijuana, prescription pills, and a straw with meth residue on it.  Police had been looking for Cadogan and her son, who they say was in need of critical medical care.

A Pepin man is facing several charges, including OWI after a traffic stop early Saturday morning.  According to reports, a preliminary breath test for 60-year-old Kerry Severson came back way over the legal limit.  This is Severson’s 10th OWI charge in Monroe County, according to police reports.  Severson was pulled over just after 1 a.m. Saturday after reportedly hitting several signs along State Highway 16.

Members of Eau Claire City Council are pushing for more access to travel throughout the state and beyond.  Two council members are seeking a resolution adding a shuttle bus from Eau Claire to Tomah’s Amtrak stop.  The goal is to allow more access to the rail service and in turn Chicago, Milwaukee, and the Twin Cities.  Eventually, the goal is to build a high-speed rail for direct access between Eau Claire, Chicago and Minneapolis.  .

This year’s winter season is proving deadly for snowmobiling across the state.  The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources says 17 people have died in snowmobiling accidents in Wisconsin this season.  Nine of those deaths have occurred in February alone.  DNR officials are asking people across the state to proceed with caution and be safe while snowmobiling on state trails.

A new online vendor portal is available for organizers and visitors to search for services they’ll need for this summer’s Democratic National Convention in Milwaukee.  The Milwaukee DNC Host Committee says the digital search platform lists more than one-thousand vendors interested in doing business at the convention.  Most of the businesses on the website are based in Wisconsin.

UPDATE: Altoona Superintendent Dan Peggs was in court today, as expected. Peggs was granted home release although that will not bring him back here to Altoona.  Peggs is not allowed on to have any contact with children, including his own. Nor, is he allowed on Altoona School Property. Earlier today: As our community continues to react to the recent arrest of the Superintendent of Altoona, we may have more details on the case today. If convicted, Daniel Peggs faces between