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On the political scene, Governor Scott Walker says he is likely to veto some measures passed in the lame-duck session, but is indicating that he supports the package overall.  Walker said yesterday that he doesn’t agree with criticism that some of the legislation shifts powers from the governor’s and attorney general’s offices to the Legislature. 

And Bucky hits another high note, as our music talent continues to be recognized. A UW-Madison professor is nominated for a Grammy for his folk music descriptions.  Jim Leary is a professor emeritus of folklore and Scandinavian Studies and was nominated for writing the album notes for Alpine Dreaming: The Hevetia Records Story, 1920-1924.  The album of folk tunes was recorded by a Wisconsin label. This is Leary’s second Grammy nomination for Best Album Notes. 

Barron native Chris Kroeze will be competing against three other performers in next week’s finale of The Voice.  Kroeze performed Can’t You See by The Marshall Tucker Band as part of the final eight on Monday night’s show. 

Medical professionals in Eau Claire are being trained to recognize human sex trafficking victims they encounter during health care visits.  HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital hosted a training session yesterday afternoon for its staff.  The training was a joint effort between the Wisconsin Department of Justice, the Eau Claire Police Department, and non-profit Fierce Freedom.  The session taught employees about signs to look for, who to contact, and what local resources are available for human trafficking victims. 

Governor Scott Walker says he’s setting the record straight regarding the powers of the new governor outlined in recent bills passed.  The governor posted today that the incoming governor will still have some of the strongest powers of any governor in the nation, including the power to veto legislation.  Democrats oppose the measures passed last week by the Republican-dominated legislature saying the bills undermine and reduce the power of Governor-elect Tony Evers and incoming Attorney General Josh Kaul. 

The Better Business Bureau says anyone looking for a puppy or kitten this holiday season need to be aware of a popular scheme.  Officials in Wisconsin say the BBB Scam Tracker has seen an increase in people losing money to pet scams this year.  Sometimes scammers claim to be breeders and many times they have a website with pictures and videos of adorable puppies and kittens for sale, but that don’t really exist. The BBB advises to never buy a pet without

Rice Lake man is facing several charges out of Chippewa County including second-degree child sexual assault.  A criminal complaint claims 36-year-old Brandon Geigerforced an eleven-year-old girl to smoke marijuana with him and that he held her against her will.  A witness claims that Geiger also physically and sexually abused the girl.  He’s facing over 65 years in prison on the charges. 

A Lake Hallie man is in custody after police say he led them on a chase while intoxicated.  The Lake Hallie Police Department says officers tried to pull over 36-year-old Scott Weidler for not stopping at a stop sign around 1:30 Saturday morning but he fled.  Police say Weidler then left his vehicle and ran into his home where he was arrested.  He is facing charges relating to the chase, plus a drug and battery charge from separate cases. 

Gas prices in northwest Wisconsin are continuing to plummet as the holidays approach.  The average price for regular unleaded in the state is two-dollars-26-cents per gallon, 15-cents lower than the national average.  Gas in Eau Claire and Chippewa Counties are just a tick higher than that at two-dollars-33-cents and two-dollars-37-cents per gallon, but that’s much lower than it was a month ago.  However up in Washburn County,gas is more expensive than the national average at two-dollars-54-cents per gallon. 

Yes, there is a bobcat in Whitefish Bay.  But the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources says, no, it’s not a monster.  DNR yesterday confirmed that the cat spotted by neighbors is indeed a bobcat.  Milwaukee County Wildlife Biologist Dianne Robinson says the bobcat is maybe two-feet tall,which is large for a cat, but not out of the question.  Robinson says the cat could be a threat to small dogs and cats.