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Some taxpayers in Wisconsin will be able to file their federal taxes for free next year. The Department of Revenue yesterday said Wisconsin is now a member of the IRS’ Direct File program. That means people filing simple tax returns can do so for free. The offer comes with a lot of exemptions, including people who have gig jobs, alimony, or are living off their pensions. You can find out if you qualify at the IRS’ website WITH AN EASY

Students at one UW school are getting a friendly reminder about the rules before they head-out this weekend. Police in Menomonie, where UW-Stout is located, are going door-to-door this week to talk with students about the laws for underage drinking, using a fake ID, noise, and other ordinance violations that could get them into trouble. Police even have a one-page piece of paper with the laws, the fines, and some helpful pictures to remind students of what to expect. The

A Western Wisconsin man is charged with homicide after a U-T-V crash that killed one passenger.  Bradley Holz from Arkansaw in Pepin [PEH-pin] County is charged for the lethal crash from last June.  Holz is accused of driving one of five U-T-Vs that traveled down County Highway Z, which was closed off for construction at the time.  Officials believe he hit a pile of gravel and the vehicle overturned, killing one female passenger.  Deputies say they could smell alcohol on

One person is in the hospital after an officer involved shooting in central Wisconsin.  Wisconsin Rapids Police say they responded to a call about domestic violence just after midnight yesterday.  The suspect shot at officers after leading a chase from the scene, and ran away when their car was disabled by police.  The subject hid on a nearby roof, and shot at police once they were found with a drone.  Officers returned fire and hit them.  The suspect is in

The annual fall clean-up for Hillside, Gate of Heaven, and Immanuel Lutheran Cemeteries in Marshfield is approaching.  All decorations, containers, shepherd hooks, solar lights, and other adornments at Hillside Cemetery must be removed by October 1st for fall clean-up.  Items affixed to headstones may stay (i.e., grave saddles, monument-mounted vases), but any loose trinkets or items stuck in the ground around the stone must be removed.  Staff will discard any remaining items beginning October 1st. It is strongly encouraged that

This Fall, Wisconsin Farmers Union (WFU) is hosting two harvest-themed meals around the state. Community members are invited to enjoy local foods from popular area chefs. These events are open to all, but geared toward people who are not currently WFU members. Wisconsin Farmers Union, along with area chapters, are hosting:● Northern Fall Harvest Dinner – Saturday, September 7, 2024, from 4 – 7 pm Where: Chickadee HillsHomestead, N6374 8th St, Spooner, WI 54801○ This event includes a farm tour

The Democratic National Convention closed Tuesday night with a pair of speeches from Barack and Michelle Obama.  Barack went after Donald Trump, saying re-electing him would be dangerous, while Kamala Harris will fight for the American people. Wisconsin’s governor had a tough night at the Democratic National Convention. Governor Tony Evers flubbed Wisconsin’s vote in last night’s DNC roll call, and was booed for mentioning the Green Bay Packers. The DNC, is of course, being held in Chicago. Evers couldn’t

There are new charges for a child sex suspect in Chippewa County. Prosecutors this week filed sexual assault charges against 44-year-old Scott Detlaff. Investigators say he abused a now 15-year-old boy over several years. Detlaff was already facing child pornography charges, though it’s not clear if the cases involve the same victim. The sheriff’s office says Detlaff admitted to the child porn images, but is denying the sexual assault.

There’s a report of at least one rabid bat in western Wisconsin. Polk County’s Public Health Department yesterday said it tested the bat after there was an ‘encounter’ with a human. The bat is the first rabid bat in Polk County in a decade. The fear is that rabid bats can spread rabies, but those cases are rare. Public health managers with the state say it’s been almost 15 years since a bat bit someone and gave them rabies.

There’s now a way for people across Wisconsin to track the state’s water quality changes. The Department of Natural Resources this week launched the Wisconsin Waterway Explorer website. It’s a one-stop site with all kinds of different water reports, on all kinds of different lakes and rivers. The DNR says most of the information is already available, but it’s not in one location. A lot of the information comes from Wisconsin’s Citizen Lake Monitoring Network, and will give people a