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Prosecutors in Washburn County are moving ahead with child pornography charges against a local pastor.  Police arrested Jeffrey Vesta at his home in Spooner earlier this week.  Investigators say he was looking at child pornography.  Vesta was last working as the pastor at the New Hope Lutheran Church in Minong.  If you or anyone you know may have any information to assist in this investigation, please call the Washburn County Sheriff’s Office at (715) 468-4700.

More people are calling-in more tips about unsolved crimes in and around Eau Claire.  The county’s Crime Stoppers yesterday released its latest report.  Crime Stoppers says it saw an increase in calls in Eau Claire County last year.  Police say nearly 40 percent of all Crime Stoppers tips are drug related. 

The man who lead police on a high speed chase across Jackson County is facing formal charges.  The district attorney in Black River Falls yesterday filed ten felony counts against 21-year-old Quentin Labansky.  Police say he stole a car, fled from police, then fired shots at officers during a wild chase last week. 

There are too many deer in Eau Claire County.  The latest county survey says there are about 50 deer per-square-mile in the county.  That’s three times higher than normal for a county like Eau Claire.  Surveyors say people are likely feeding the deer, which is only increasing their numbers. 

Investigators are painting a clearer timeline of Tuesday’s standoff along I-94. It is still unclear why a man remained inside his van for hours before being shot by police.  Detectives with the state’s Department of Justice yesterday said the standoff began when the man refused to stop for police.  He then sped away, and was only stopped by police with spike strips.  After a nearly six-hour standoff, police fired tear gas into his van.  He ran while still holding a

Republicans in Madison are eyeing a ten dollar license plate fee increase to pay for roads.  It’s the latest idea to be floated at the Wisconsin Capitol.  Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald said the fee increase is an alternative to Governor Evers’ plan to raise the gas tax in Wisconsin by eight-cents per-gallon.  License plates cost 75 dollars in Wisconsin, the proposed fee would take that cost up to 85 dollars each year. 

The latest plan to change Wisconsin’s abortion laws are likely doomed.  Republican lawmakers yesterday sent Governor Tony Evers a series of plans that would end state funding for Planned Parenthood, ban selective abortions, clarify the rules for chemical abortions, and create born alive regulations for babies that survive abortions.  Governor Evers has promised to veto all four.  Republicans do not have the votes to override the governor.  

The Green Bay National Wildlife Refuge could soon become a hunting ground.  The Trump Administration wants to increase access to hunting and fishing at National Wildlife Refuges and Hatcheries.  The Green Bay Refuge is on the list as are Iron River National Fish Hatchery and the Sully Creek National Wildlife Refuge. If you want to chime in, you can voice your opinion about the plan HERE at www.regulations.gov. 

Mondovi School District will break ground on its $18 million referendum project to remodel and expand the building which houses Mondovi High School, Middle School, and Elementary School. The project includes 10,000 square feet of additions and the remodeling of roughly 30,000 square feet throughout the building. Enhancements include a new front entry and event lobby, enhancing the use of 21st century learning, expanding the high school tech ed wing, remodeling the science labs, library, and art department, replacing the heating

A Minnesota man is charged with two attempted child sex crimes in La Crosse County.  A criminal complaint claims a Holman police investigator set up a fake online account posing as a teenage girl and Shaun Wehlage responded asking for sex.  Wehlage agreed to meet the girl but was arrested by Onalaska police before getting there.  He’s facing multiple charges relating to the case and could go to jail for up to 60 years.