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Industrial hemp licensing applications and registrations are now available for the 2019 growing season in Wisconsin. The deadline to apply is Dec. 31. Wisconsin’s research pilot program requires that anyone who wants to grow or process industrial hemp in Wisconsin obtain a license from the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, and register their intent to grow or process in the coming season. Industrial hemp can contain no more than 0.3 percent THC, the psychoactive ingredient present in

An Eau Claire man is going to prison after being found guilty of sexually assaulting a five-year-old boy.  A criminal complaint shows the boy says he was assaulted by 58-year-old Jeromy Mathews at least eleven times starting in 2011.  Mathews will serve 25 years in prison followed by five-and-a-half years of supervised release.  He will also be registered as a sex offender. 

Two inmates at the Stanley Correctional Institute are being accused of starting fights.  If you were paging through The Leader-Telegram, then you likely saw the pictures of Frank Lashay and Rufino Martinez-Justo-who are both facing multiple charges including battery by prisoners after they were accused of starting fights on separate occasions last year.  They will both appear in court in December. 

A Black River Falls woman is facing bank fraud charges after being accused of cashing a phony check.  Police say 41-year-old Lindsey Shramek claims she got a three-thousand-dollar check from completing online surveys, then cashed it and spent the money on rent and utilities.  The check was later returned on suspicion of being a fake and Shramek has agreed to set up a payment plan to reimburse the bank. 

A new FEMA sponsored disaster recovery center is open in La Crosse.  The La Crosse County Disaster Recovery Center is working with state and federal agencies to assist people in the area who have been impacted by storms in August and September.  A FEMA representative says he recommends registering for funding either online or over the phone before actually going to the center.  The last day to apply for assistance is December 17th.

A clothing drive in the Eau Claire area is helping collect winter clothes for those in need.  The Winter Warm Up clothing drive began yesterday in Eau Claire, Cornell, and Ladysmith collecting lightly used coats, pants, gloves, and boots for children.  Donations can be dropped off at the Lori Stushek Agency of American Family Insurance offices in any of the three cities from now through the end of November.  The clothes will be donated to students in the three cities’

Republican U.S. Senator Ron Johnson is showing support for the Eau Claire area.  Johnson stopped in Eau Claire yesterday to meet with community members and discuss federal issues.  He addressed the strong state of the economy in Wisconsin and nationwide.  He also encouraged people to vote for Governor Walker, saying he deserves to be re-elected.  Johnson says he’s traveling the state to support Republicans before the November election.  The latest Marquette University Law School Poll shows Republican Governor Walker and Democratic challenger

Healthcare continues to be the most important issue to Wisconsin voters.  A Marquette Law School Poll shows 25-percent of those surveyed say healthcare coverage is the number one issue in deciding how to cast their vote.  Education, jobs and the economy where rated tops by 20-percent of respondents and 12-percent of those polled think roads and infrastructure are the pressing issues.

Federal officials are approving Governor Walker’s plan to require some people to work to receive health insurance through the BadgerCare Plus program.  Officials signed off on the plan yesterday, which would apply to healthy people with no dependent children who are under 50 and haven’t worked for four years.  The work requirement wouldn’t apply to people who are disabled or caregivers. 

The number of adult inmates in Wisconsin prisons is headed for record numbers in the next three years.  New figures from the State Department of Corrections today show the population will reach 25-thousand inmates by 2021.  The increases could require an additional 150-million-dollars in state funds for the 2019-2021 fiscal budget.  The request comes as Governor Walker has directed most agencies to submit zero increase proposals in their budgets.