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The Wisconsin Army National Guard’s “Iron Brigade” is back home after ten days of training at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.  The Warfighter exercises allowed the Brigade to work with members of the 101st Airborne in an advanced combat simulation.  The were able to test communications networks and war fighting capability as well as real-world decision making in a combat environment.

You may notice the flags flying lower. Governor Evers issued Executive Order # 51, relating to a proclamation that the flag of the United States and the flag of the State of Wisconsin be flown at half-staff as a mark of respect for Former State Representative Joseph Tregoning. Flags will remain at half staff until sunset Saturday.

A Cornell man is accused of sexually assaulting a six-year-old girl.  A criminal complaint claims the victim told police 53-year-old Adam Schilling forced her to touch him sexually on two separate occasions in August of 2018.  Schilling was charged in Chippewa County Court this week with first-degree sexual assault of a child.  He was released and ordered not to have any contact with kids under 16-years-old.

The winner of a new state-wide contest of everything cool is made right here in west-central Wisconsin.  The Big-Boy All Weather rifle manufactured in Rice Lake was recently named the Coolest Thing in Wisconsin.  The contest was put on by Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce and Johnson Financial Group.  The Big-Boy rifle got over 30-thousand of about 240-thousand total votes.

Jurors listening to the case against Ezra McCandless are not being spared the details. Dunn County prosecutors yesterday started their case by explaining the 16 times that they say McCandless stabbed Alexander Woodworth last year. Jurors heard about stab wounds to his head, neck, and groin. McCandless’ lawyers say she acted in self defense. Her trial continues today.

There will soon be more tiny houses in Chippewa Falls. The city council last night unanimously approved more of the little homes to go in at Notre Dame Catholic Church. The tiny homes are reserved for people who are living on the streets and trying to get help.

Eau Claire’s Little Red School House is a step closer to reopening. The school board last night finalized the sale of the empty school to Eau Claire’s Plumbers and teamfitters Union 434. The union plans to turn the building into an apprenticeship center.

More school kids across Wisconsin are leaving traditional public schools. The Department of Public Instruction yesterday released new numbers for charter and choice schools. The report shows a nearly nine-percent increase in choice school enrollment, to almost 44-thousand students.  That means that nearly 12-percent of kids in Wisconsin attend a choice school.

Lawmakers at the statehouse in Madison are looking to make the governor a little less powerful. The Republican-controlled legislature wants to limit how Governor Evers can use his veto pen. Wisconsin’s Constitution allows the governor to strike lines of law or the state budget, and move money to where the governor sees fit. Lawmakers say they want to make sure the governor can no longer use his veto powers to spend more than the state budget allows.

A survey by the American Association of Universities reveals over 25-percent of undergraduate women at the University of Wisconsin-Madison report being sexually assaulted.  The report released today says the assaults most commonly occurred in students’ residences and were disproportionately reported in Greek residences.  Alcohol was a common factor in 76-percent of the cases.  The survey findings are prompting the university to host three forums next month to talk about the results and strategies to increase safety.