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Wisconsin lawmakers could soon be in the business of deciding what is cheese, and what is not. Lawmakers listened to witnesses yesterday during a statehouse hearing about a proposed labeling law. Supporters of the idea say Wisconsin needs to make it clear that cheese comes from milk, not soy or nuts. Other states have tried truth in labeling laws, with many of those being challenged in the courts.

Brendan Dassey has hundreds of more supporters. A group of about 250 advocates and celebrities this week wrote an open letter to Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers asking for a pardon or an early end to Dassey’s life sentence. The letter says Dassey was tricked into confessing about the murder of Teresa Halbach back in 2005. Governor Evers has said he is willing to pardon some people in Wisconsin, but not until they finish their prison sentence. Dassey is serving a life sentence.

The Eau Claire man who threatened to shoot his co-workers at the Menards distribution center will spend the next four months on work release and the next three years on probation. Kevin Pinkham yesterday pleaded guilty to making terroristic threats. The judge in the case sentenced him to work release and ordered him to destroy his guns. Police say Pinkham had a number of guns and a journal that talked about killing his co-workers. He was arrested back in August.

It’s been a month since the town of Wheaton woke-up to a disaster. The town is still recovering after last month’s tornado that damaged a couple dozen homes and downed hundreds, if not thousands, of trees. Town Chair Mark Blaskowski says they are making progress in getting back to normal, and says he is optimistic.

Wisconsin’s Public Service Commission is telling people to get their power bills in order now, before the winter sets it. The PSC yesterday said people need to contact their power company to set-up payment arrangements or pay past-due bills before the winter billing moratorium begins. State law stops power companies from shutting people’s power off between November 1st and April 15th, but the commission says people should get their bills in order before that.

Eau Claire’s food bank is celebrating its new expansion. Feed My People yesterday cut the ribbon on its new warehouse. The added room will allow the food bank to store more food as well as deliver more food to hungry people in and around Eau Claire. Feed My People’s Susie Haugley says the expansion will make sure that the food bank is there for more people and there for a long time.

The support for convicted killer Brendan Dassey appears to be growing.  A letter calling for clemency for Dassey was signed by nearly 250 legal and political experts today and sent to Governor Tony Evers.  The letter says they believe Dassey to be wrongly convicted and the process that led to the conviction of the then 16-year-old special education student was “indefensibly flawed.”  Dassey is serving a life term for the 2005 murder of freelance photographer Teresa Halbach.

The DEA is adding vaping products to the list of accepted items at National Drug take-back day.  The agency and local officials are collecting old and unused prescription drugs on Saturday and vapes and cartridges will be accepted at drop off locations across the state.  Vaping pens must have batteries removed before disposal.

Managing food allergies at Halloween can be tricky because many popular candies include common allergens: peanuts, tree nuts, milk, eggs, wheat, and soy. Enter a new color in the patch. TEAL. The Teal Pumpkin Project, a nation-wide campaign from Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE), aims to keep all trick-or-treaters safe and healthy. A teal pumpkin on a doorstep is a sign that there are non-food treats or “treasures” handed out. Examples and Options: 1) Pick up low-cost toys or

The bird population is dropping across Wisconsin.  According to Beaver Creek Reserve, there are less and less birds in the Chippewa Valley because of the use of pesticides and loss of habitat.  Beaver Creek says the bird population across the U.S. has dropped by 30 percent over the last 50 years.