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There was court action on Monday concerning a proposed natural gas-fired power plant in Superior, Wisconsin.  The Minnesota Court of Appeals said the state’s public utilities commission has to consider potential environmental impacts before approving contracts for the Nemadji Trail Energy Center, which is being proposed by Minnesota Power and the Dairyland Power Cooperative.  Initially, the public utilities commission approved the Minnesota Power stake in the project without requiring the review, but environmental groups appealed the decision.  In a statement, Minnesota

La Crosse police reported nine drunk-driving arrests over the weekend.  The police department says two of the drivers are facing their third charge of operating while intoxicated.  A fifteen-year-old was also arrested for violating the absolute sobriety law.  This was for the period between Thursday and Sunday.

A La Crosse woman is reimbursed for fraudulent charges to her Domino’s Pizza account.  Reports indicate someone under the name “Mohammad Ali” put in carry-out orders for Domino’s locations in Burnsville and Lakeville, Minnesota, both near the Twin Cities, on the woman’s account.  Police are investigating.

Investigators in Rice Lake say this month’s drowning of a two-year-old little girl was nothing but a tragic accident. Police offered a few new details into the little girl’s death. Police say she woke-up and left the house on her own that early December night, and hers were the only footsteps in the snow. The little girl drowned in the Red Cedar River. Prosecutors say no one will be charged in the case.

It’s amazing what a one-off news story can do. The city council president in Wausau says she’s considering ending the city’s decades-old ban on snowball fights after the little-used law made national headlines. City Council President Lisa Rasmussen says stories about the law come-up like a bad penny. She wants to see if Wausau can quickly change the rules, and take snowballs off the no-no list.

Prosecutors in Eau Claire say two people are behind bars for being a part of a drug ring with a Minneapolis connection. The D.A. filed charges against 26-year-old Tamara Howlett and 28-year-old Terrell Wilson for dealing cocaine and marijuana out of their home. Investigators say the two would buy drugs in Minneapolis, then resell them in Eau Claire. Howlett is in jail and due in court in late January, while police say Wilson is still at large.

The Republicans at the statehouse in Madison are looking to cut taxes. Just how large of a cut remains to be seen. Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald on Friday said the specifics of the tax cut proposal are still being worked-out. Fitzgerald says lawmakers want to figure out a way to cut property taxes across the state after a report last week said property taxes are going-up by nearly five-percent this year.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court will be one justice short if it decides to hear the case about cleaning-up the state’s voter rolls. Justice Dan Kelley yesterday said he will not participate in the case. But he is not saying why. Kelly is running for reelection next spring, and the case involving the proposed voter purge is sure to be an issue in the race. The Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty sued to get the Wisconsin Election Commission to follow state law and drop voters who’ve

A deal between the U.S. Navy and Lockheed Martin means big business for Fincantieri Marinette Marine.  The Navy signed a nearly three-billion-dollar deal to build military ships for Saudi Arabia.  It was announced today that half that work is slated to be done in Marinette.  The Navy will build four ships for the Saudi’s which are scheduled for completion in 2026.

Governor Tony Evers is one of a number of state executives voicing support for refugees.  The governor said Wisconsin has a rich history of opening its doors to refugees and will continue to do so.  President Trump has given states and counties the authority to reject refugees, but Evers says people of all backgrounds need to feel welcome in the state.