State News

FRANKLIN, Wis. (AP) – Milwaukee Pug Fest, billed by organizers as the largest such event in North America, had its best year yet.  The annual gathering in a Milwaukee suburb Sunday attracted more than 1,700 pugs and other smushy-faced dogs along with 2,900 humans from the U.S. and Canada.  Pug Fest founder Rick Kopaczewski says early More >

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – State workers who smoke would have to pay $50 more per month for health insurance under a proposal by Gov. Scott Walker.  The Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee planned to take up the issue Tuesday. The nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau estimates that the fee will generate $6 million over the next two years.  Twelve More >

ELLSWORTH, Wis. (AP) – A River Falls man has died after falling out of the back of a party bus.  Police say 23-year-old Joel Velure fell out of the back door of the bus on Saturday in Ellsworth and was pronounced dead at the scene.   The bus is owned by Elijah Omweno and leased to Kilimanjaro. Omweno More >

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – Democrats say a move to standardize erosion control rules for commercial construction sites is simply another Republican effort to take away local authorities’ power.  The Republican-controlled Joint Finance Committee added the provision to the state budget last week. It would keep local governments from enacting ordinances that are stricter than rules enforced More >

TOWN OF MENASHA, Wis. (AP) – An armed robbery suspect is behind bars in Winnebago County following a police shooting outside a gas station.  Town of Menasha police say the man robbed a PDW store Sunday afternoon, then was confronted about a block away in the parking lot of a Citgo station. Authorities say an officer More >

TOWN OF WASHINGTON, Wis. (AP) – Investigators are looking for the cause of an explosion that leveled a house in Eau Claire County.    The explosion Sunday shook the neighborhood and sent debris flying. Town fire official Mark Porter says fortunately no one was killed or injured.   All that’s left of the house is a huge pile More >

TOWN OF HARRISON, Wis. (AP) – Lincoln County sheriff’s officials say a Rhinelander man who died in an ATV crash was wearing a helmet, but it was not properly secured.  Authorities say 49-year-old Randy Romenesko was operating the ATV on a trail in the town of Harrison Saturday evening when he lost control and crashed More >

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – Democrats say a move to standardize erosion control rules for commercial construction sites is simply another Republican effort to take away local authorities’ power.  The Republican-controlled Joint Finance Committee added the provision to the state budget last week. It would keep local governments from enacting ordinances that are stricter than rules More >

DULUTH, Minn. (AP) – Wisconsin’s historic Superior Entry lighthouse is free for the taking.  No longer needed by the U.S. Coast Guard, the lighthouse is being offered to any eligible group that would use it – and pay for its upkeep – for education, recreational, cultural or historic preservation purposes.  Construction of the lighthouse began in 1911. More >

WAUSAU, Wis. (AP) – The Humane Society of Marathon County says pit bulls are straining the shelter’s budget because it’s more difficult to find new homes for the breed with a vicious reputation.  About half the dogs at the Wausau animal shelter are pit bulls. Shelter operations coordinator Lisa Held says the pit bulls can More >