News – February 16, 2021

(Wisconsin) The polls for today’s primary election are open until 8pm this evening. Everyone will see the race for State Schools Superintendent on their ballots while residents in Fond du Lac County will see a circuit court race and voters will be narrowing the Republican field in the 13th State Senate District, which is composed of parts of Columbia, Dane, Jefferson, Washington, Waukesha and Dodge counties.

(Brandon) On a six-to-three vote Monday night the Rosendale-Brandon School Board voted to consolidate the Brandon Middle School with Rosendale Intermediate School.  The decision was based on declining enrollment, which is expected to drop by 30 percent over the next four years. District officials estimate by combining the two schools and cutting some positions the district will save $68,000. The consolidation will take effect during the next school year.

(Madison) Governor Tony Evers is set to release his proposed two year budget tonight. Evers has only previewed a few budget items ahead of tonight’s address. The Governor wants to limit prescription drug costs under BadgerCare, expand funding for long term care and early education, extend broadband access, and offer more money to small businesses struggling with the pandemic. The full address is set for tonight at 7 pm. -WRN

(Madison) Governor Evers’ budget proposal to expand Medicaid is unlikely to survive the budgeting process. Evers says it is not welfare, even though Republicans call it that, adding that it is time for Wisconsin to join the vast majority of the country. State Representative Mark Born of Beaver Dam says the pandemic does not change the discussion on if the state needs to have an expansion of welfare in the medical system. -WRN

(Milwaukee) The eyes of the nation will be on Milwaukee and the Pabst Theater tonight for a town hall with the President. Joe Biden will be in Milwaukee tonight as CNN hosts tonight’s town hall. The White House says Biden will be laying out the groundwork for the Democrats COVID-19 relief package, and will be answering questions from a small audience in the Pabst. Tonight’s event starts at 8 pm.-WRN

(Juneau) Wisconsin health officials are reporting 405 positive coronavirus cases in Monday’s daily update. State health officials recorded four deaths bringing that total to 6,166. Dodge County has experienced 154 deaths and 11,313 cases, a one-day increase of two positive tests. County health officials are actively monitoring 112 people.

(Wisconsin) A Wisconsin economist says unemployment trends seen this year are not long-term. Scott Hodek of Wisconsin Workforce Development tells Channel 18 in Eau Claire that the pandemic has accelerated several trends that were already in motion before the pandemic hit. He says people have largely returned to the office with the availability of COVID vaccines, and the unemployment rate is slowly returning to pre-pandemic levels. -WRN

(Brownsville) A Brownsville man charged with assaulting a minor made his initial appearance in court yesterday (Monday). Carl Stewart allegedly assaulted the 11-year-old victim twice. A signature bond was set at $5,000 and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 25th.

(Kenosha) Protesters in Kenosha want the judge in Kyle Rittenhouse’s case to step down. Rittenhouse is accused of murdering two people during protests last year. The protesters laid on the courthouse steps in Kenosha on Sunday, upset that the judge did not send Rittenhouse back to jail. The group says had a person of color not given the court their real address, they would most certainly be locked-up. Rittenhouse’s lawyers say he is living in a safe house because of threats in the case. They gave that address to the judge last week. -WRN

(Madison) Madison’s Air National Guard unit is taking to the skies once again. The 115th Fighter Wing will be running nighttime training flights this week. That means people who live in and around Madison will hear the jets at night. In December, a pilot from the 115th died in a nighttime training flight after a crash in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. -WRN

(Wisconsin) Wisconsin’s Natural Resources Board has set a quota of 200 wolves for the rapidly-organized winter hunting season. The board met online Monday, unanimously supporting the Department of Natural Resources recommendations. Application for permits are on the DNR’s Go Wild website and will close this Saturday at 11:59 pm. Online applications for the November hunt will open March 1st, and applicants can apply for preference points without seeking a harvest tag. Permits cost 10 dollars and if applicants are drawn for a license, wolf harvest tags cost 49 dollars. -WRN

(Brandon) The state’s DNR is investigating a fatal snowmobile accident that claimed the life a 25-year-old man Saturday afternoon in Fond du Lac County. According to Sheriff’s reports the crash occurred near Sunny Knoll and Dixon Road near Brandon. A caller reported finding a man unresponsive and not breathing. A preliminary investigation of the scene found the man lost control of his sled and struck a tree.