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Property taxes for Wisconsin school districts are up by the highest rate in the country.  A report by Wisconsin Policy Forum says school districts have levied over five-point-two-billion dollars in property tax bills sent this month, an increase of about four-and-a-half percent from last year.  Reports say that’s the largest increase since 2009.

It looks like raises for state troopers in Wisconsin are dead, at least for now. A proposed four-percent pay-bump for current troopers, and a 23-percent raise for new troopers is not part of a package that lawmakers are set to vote on today. Republican Senate President Roger Roth says lawmakers want more time to look at the long-term costs. He says there could be a vote at a later date.

The Governor of Wisconsin has ordered flags to fly at half-staff, December 18 – December 19, 2019, in honor of former Oneida Nation Chairman Rick Hill.  Chairman Hill was instrumental in developing and implementing national regulatory standards and policies for tribal government gaming, and under his leadership, the Oneida Nation signed its first gaming compact with the state of Wisconsin. 

A former Eau Claire man is going to jail after pleading no contest to drunk driving and sexual assault charges.  Reports say Jason Lucht was sentenced to one year and nine months in jail for battery and his sixth OWI charge.  He had two sex assault charges dropped as a result of his plea.  Lucht was accused of sexually touching a woman before driving drunk in February of 2018.

The Wisconsin State Patrol is holding another recruitment workshop in Sparta today.  The state patrol held an open house at its command post in Eau Claire Monday where people could learn about what it takes to become a part of the state patrol.  Tonight’s workshop is from four to seven o’clock at the Sparta weight enforcement facility.

The mayor of Onalaska is retiring due to medical reasons.  Mayor Joe Chilsen announced his retirement early Monday morning, saying doctors encouraged him to do so.  Chilsen was elected mayor in 2012.  City council president Diane Wulf will serve as acting mayor until a replacement is chosen.

The man who ran down three Girl Scouts from Lake Hallie could spend the rest of his life in prison. Colten Treu agreed to a plea deal yesterday for the deadly wreck along the highway in Chippewa County in November of last year. He pleaded guilty to one count, and no contest to four others. Police say Treu was high on air duster fumes when he ran down the scouts and one of their mothers. Treu is due to be

School leaders in Elk Mound want to ask voters to raise their taxes by almost 16 million-dollars. The city’s school board last night approved a referendum question for the April ballot. Elk Mound wants to use the tax increase to pay for a new gym, a school weight room, a new band room, heating and air conditioning upgrades, and a number of new security measures as well.

Eau Claire schools could be taking the next step toward being more energy efficient. The school district is considering a donation of almost 800 solar panels. The idea is to install the panels on school buildings to make Eau Claire schools less reliant on traditional sources of power. While the solar panels may be free, the school district would have to pay to have them installed. There is no price tag for that.

Wisconsin’s Supreme Court is likely going to decide the fate of over 230 thousand voters in the state who’ve either moved or who haven’t voted in years. The Wisconsin Election Commission yesterday refused to remove the voters from the state’s voting rolls, despite an order from a judge. Commissioners split along party lines as to whether the purge is a clean-up or voter disenfranchisement. State law says election managers have 30 days to drop voters who’ve changed addresses or ignored questions about