The Associated Press, Author at Fox21Online

Hunters Kill 90,286 Deer During Wisconsin Gun Opening Weekend

That Figure is Down Nearly 24% From Last Year

November 26, 2019

The Associated Press,

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – Wisconsin wildlife officials say preliminary data shows hunters killed dramatically fewer deer during opening weekend of the state’s traditional nine-day gun season than in 2018. The state Department of Natural Resources released figures Tuesday that show hunters killed 90,286 on Saturday and Sunday. That’s down nearly 24% from 118,670 deer last year. The DNR had sold…

Wisconsin Sees Uptick in Fatal Police Shootings in 2019

November 25, 2019

The Associated Press,

WAUSAU, Wis. (AP) – Wisconsin is ending the year with more fatal police shootings than last year. Data collected by the Wisconsin Professional Police Association shows police shot and killed 16 people this year. There were 13 fatal police shootings in 2018. Wisconsin Public Radio reported Monday that 11 of those killed this year were white, three were black and…

Middle Schools Student Held, Accused of Making Bomb Threat

The Boy Made the Threat on November 18

November 25, 2019

The Associated Press,

INTERNATIONAL FALLS, Minn. (AP) – An International Falls Middle School student is in custody after he was accused of making a bomb threat. The Koochiching County Attorney’s Office is reviewing the case and deciding whether to issue a juvenile delinquency petition against the 12-year-old. He could have a detention hearing Monday in juvenile court to determine whether he should continue…

Home Destroyed by Fire in Greenwood Township

There Were no Reported Injuries

November 25, 2019

The Associated Press,

(photo courtesy: The Northland FireWire) GREENWOOD TOWNSHIP, Minn. – A house in Greenwood Township is a total loss after it went up in flames Sunday. The fire broke out around 3:00 p.m. at a home on the 2600 Block of Mordini Road. Multiple agencies responded to the fire at the residence which fire crews say was completely engulfed in flames….

Winter Snowstorm Could Impact Holiday Travel

November 25, 2019

The Associated Press,

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Forecasters say a winter snowstorm could muddle Thanksgiving travel plans in southern Minnesota. Up to 6 inches of snow is expected to begin falling Tuesday afternoon followed by strong winds on Wednesday. Minnesota Department of Transportation spokesman Jake Loesch tells the Star Tribune the agency has more than 800 snowplows ready to go and plenty of salt…

Four People Injured During Opening Weekend of Wisconsin’s Deer Hunt

November 25, 2019

The Associated Press,

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – Four people are recovering after they were shot during the opening weekend of Wisconsin’s gun deer hunt. The Department of Natural Resources says it needs more information about a man who was shot in Washburn County Sunday. Elsewhere, two hunters shot themselves in the foot in two separate incidents in Oneida and Marathon counties. And, a…

Minnesota to Do State Review of Proposed Twin Metals Copper-Nickel Mine

November 22, 2019

The Associated Press,

MINNEAPOLIS-Minnesota officials say they will do a state environmental impact statement for a proposed copper-nickel mine upstream of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. The Department of Natural Resources announced the move Friday, saying a credible and neutral assessment of the proposed Twin Metals mine depends upon both state and federal environmental reviews. Environmentalists have warned that the proposed mine…

TSA Reopens Strategic Checkpoint at Twin Cities Airport

November 22, 2019

The Associated Press,

MINNEAPOLIS-Transportation Security Administration officials have decided to reopen a Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport checkpoint it closed earlier this week claiming it was underused. The move to close the checkpoint linked to the Intercontinental Hotel riled airport officials who feared longer passenger wait times as holiday travel approached. The closure came just a year after airport operators spent $24 million to…

Evers Vetoes Bill Allowing Schools to Release Parents’ Names

November 22, 2019

The Associated Press,

MADISON, Wis.-Gov. Tony Evers has vetoed a bill that would have allowed public schools to release the names of students’ parents and guardians in student directories. Evers vetoed the measure Thursday, citing privacy concerns. Opponents had argued that allowing people to obtain the names of students’ parents was an invasion of privacy that could lead to unintended consequences. Supporters argued…

DNR: Ten Elk Shot in Wisconsin’s Second Hunt

Hunters Kill Ten Elk in Wisconsin's Second Hunt

November 22, 2019

The Associated Press,

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – Wisconsin wildlife officials say hunters killed 10 elk in Wisconsin’s second elk season. The Department of Natural Resources set a 10-bull limit for the season, which ran from October 12 to November 10 in Ashland, Bayfield, Price and Sawyer counties. The department says hunters authorized by the state killed five bulls. Ojibwe tribal hunters killed five….

New York Billionaire Michael Bloomberg Files Paperwork to Create Presidential Campaign

November 21, 2019

The Associated Press,

WASHINGTON-New York billionaire Michael Bloomberg is taking another step toward launching a Democratic bid for president. Bloomberg on Thursday filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission to formally create a presidential campaign committee. The move legally allows him to begin raising and spending money on a 2020 campaign. Bloomberg’s team says the former New York City mayor has yet to…

UPDATE: Victim Identified in Cass Lake Homicide, 15-Year-Old Suspect Arrested

November 21, 2019

The Associated Press,

UPDATE: Cass County Sheriff Tom Burch reports that the victim has been identified as Brandon Morgan Jr, age 19, of Cass Lake. Pursuant to the ongoing investigation, a 15-year-old male has been taken into custody and formal charges are pending. The cause of death has been ruled homicide and the investigation is ongoing. ___________________ CASS LAKE, Minn.-Authorities in northern Minnesota…

Evers, Legislature Approval Drops in Latest Poll

November 21, 2019

The Associated Press,

MADISON, Wis.-Gov. Tony Evers’ approval rating has dropped below 50% as the first-term Democrat continues to butt heads with the Republican-controlled Legislature. The latest Marquette University Law School poll out Wednesday also shows the Legislature’s approval rating has dipped. Evers’ approval rating was at 47% this month, compared with 52% in October. The Legislature had a similar drop from 52%…

Minnesota Violence Project Aims to Understand Mass Shootings

November 21, 2019

The Associated Press,

ST. PAUL, Minn.-Minnesota researchers have created a new database that seeks to help understand circumstances that contribute to mass shootings in the United States. Minnesota Public Radio News reports that the nonpartisan Violence Project’s database went online Tuesday. The project’s researchers chronicled traits related to 171 people who committed mass shootings. Violence Project co-founder James Densley says researchers looked at…

Impeachment Inquiry Latest: Diplomat Says He Overheard Trump-Sondland Call

November 21, 2019

The Associated Press,

WASHINGTON-A Foreign Service officer says he overheard a phone call between President Donald Trump and a U.S. ambassador in which they discussed investigations requested of Ukraine. David Holmes is testifying Thursday in a House impeachment inquiry into whether Trump wrongly held up military aid to Ukraine until the president committed to investigating Trump’s Democratic political rival. Holmes says he was…

Day Care Death Investigated in Brainerd

Sheriff's officials in central Minnesota are investigating the death of an infant at a home day care.

November 20, 2019

The Associated Press,

BRAINERD, Minn.-Sheriff’s officials in central Minnesota are investigating the death of an infant at a home day care. Emergency responders found the baby boy unresponsive after they were called to the home Nov. 12. The infant died a short time later at Essentia Health-St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Brainerd. State regulators have temporarily suspended the license of the day care…

Wisconsin DNR: Deer hunting license sales on par with 2018

November 20, 2019

The Associated Press,

MADISON, Wis.-The state Department of Natural Resources says it’s sold roughly the same number of licenses allowing hunters to kill deer as this time last year. The DNR released data Tuesday that shows the department had sold 538,643 licenses as of Sunday. That compares with 539,137 licenses as of the same date in 2018, a difference of 494 licenses. The…

Judge Orders Search of MPCA Computers in PolyMet Challenge

November 20, 2019

The Associated Press,

MINNEAPOLIS-A judge has ordered a forensic search of computers used by three former top officials at the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency as part of an investigation into whether they sought to suppress concerns by federal regulators about pollution risks from the proposed PolyMet copper-nickel mine. The order filed Tuesday by Ramsey County District Judge John Guthmann sets a date of…

Impeachment Latest: Schiff Warns Trump of Peril of Obstructing Probe

November 20, 2019

The Associated Press,

WASHINGTON, D.C.-House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff has opened Wednesday’s impeachment hearing with a warning for President Donald Trump’s administration. Schiff said the House has “not received a single document” from the administration as it has investigated Trump’s dealings with Ukraine. He said Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo have made “a concerted and across the board effort” to…

Wisconsin Firearm Deer Season Begins Saturday

Wisconsin's Traditional Nine-Day Firearm Deer Season Gets Under Way Saturday, November 23

November 19, 2019

The Associated Press,

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – Wisconsin’s nine-day gun deer season starts Saturday. The season begins just before dawn and will run until just after sunset on Sunday, December 1. Hunters will be allowed to kill does in every county for the first time in a decade, a sign that the herd is robust across the state. The state Department of Natural…

Governor Walz Urges Public Hearings to Break Insulin Impasse

Lawmakers Report Little Progress Made in Closed-Door Talks Over the Past Month Regarding the Cost of Insulin

November 19, 2019

The Associated Press,

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – Gov. Tim Walz is urging Minnesota lawmakers to hold public hearings to try to break an impasse over legislation to make insulin more affordable. Lawmakers have made little apparent progress in closed-door talks over the past month toward reconciling the differences between competing House Democratic and Senate Republican plans. Their last meeting was Friday. The…

Walz Calls for Public Hearings to Break Insulin Impasse

November 18, 2019

The Associated Press,

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – Gov. Tim Walz is urging Minnesota lawmakers to hold public hearings to try to break an impasse over legislation to make insulin more affordable. Lawmakers have made little apparent progress in closed-door talks over the past month toward reconciling the differences between competing House Democratic and Senate Republican plans. Their last meeting was Friday. The…

Mosquito-Borne Virus Found in Minnesota Ruffed Grouse

November 18, 2019

The Associated Press,

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – Minnesota wildlife officials say three ruffed grouse in Itasca County have tested positive for a mosquito-borne virus. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources said Monday it is the first time the virus called eastern equine encephalitis has been confirmed to cause illness in a Minnesota wild animal. The hunters who harvested the grouse brought them…

Highway Patrol Says Three Killed at Oklahoma Walmart

November 18, 2019

The Associated Press,

DUNCAN, Oklahoma (AP) – 11:10 a.m.: Police have confirmed that two men and a woman have been fatally shot at a Walmart in Oklahoma. Duncan Police Chief Danny Ford says two of the people killed were in a vehicle outside the store and the third person killed was in the parking lot of the store in Duncan. Ford says police…

Motive, Suspects Sought in California Shooting

Four Shooting Victims Have Died

November 18, 2019

The Associated Press,

(Larry Valenzuela/The Fresno Be via AP) FRESNO, Calif. (AP) – As police search for suspects and a motive in the killing of four people at a backyard party in Fresno, California, neighbors say they are scared because there have been other shootings in the same neighborhood recently. Choua Vang tells the Fresno Bee in a story published Monday that his…

Duluth Police Investigate Shooting In Lincoln Park

A Male Victim Suffered a Gunshot Wound to the Arm

November 18, 2019

The Associated Press,

DULUTH, Minn. (AP) – Duluth police are searching for a suspect in an overnight shooting in the Lincoln Park neighborhood. Authorities say a 35-year-old man suffered a gunshot wound to his arm sometime after 10 p.m. Sunday. The man told officers he was shot at an apartment building that had been declared uninhabitable on the 1900 block of West Third…

Rep. Loeffler Remembered as Fierce Advocate for Constituents

Loeffler Was First Elected to the House in 2004

November 18, 2019

The Associated Press,

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – Minnesota’s House speaker says Rep. Diane Loeffler has died after battling cancer. Speaker Melissa Hortman says Loeffler died Saturday at age 66. Hortman calls Loeffler a “powerhouse” whose absence will be a huge loss for the Legislature. Loeffler is a DFLer who was first elected to the House in 2004. She was a lifelong resident…

Minnesota Man Accused of Using Porsche as Battering Ram

November 15, 2019

The Associated Press,

LA CROSSE, Wis.-Prosecutors have accused a Minnesota man of using a Porsche as a battering ram to get his Nissan Altima out of an Onalaska impound lot. The La Crosse Tribune reports that Benjamin Gjere of Lanesboro was charged Thursday with operating a motor vehicle without the owner’s consent, property damage, theft and bail jumping. According to investigators, Gjere’s 2019…

Wisconsin Unemployment Rate up for Fifth Straight Month

November 15, 2019

The Associated Press,

MADISON, Wis.-Wisconsin’s unemployment rate is up for a fifth straight month and half a percentage point since a record low in May. The state Department of Workforce Development reported Thursday that unemployment in October was 3.3%. That is up from 3.2% the month before and 2.8% in April and May. That tied a record low for the state. The October…

Doctor to Examine Competency of Man Accused in Acid Attack

November 15, 2019

The Associated Press,

MILWAUKEE-A 61-year-old man accused of throwing acid on a Latino man’s face during a racist attack will undergo a psychiatric evaluation to determine whether he can assist in his criminal defense. Clifton Blackwell’s lawyer asked for the evaluation during a Friday hearing in Milwaukee. The doctor’s report is due Nov. 15. Blackwell, who is white, is charged with first-degree reckless…

Roger Stone Guilty of Witness Tampering, Lying to Congress

November 15, 2019

The Associated Press,

WASHINGTON (AP) – Roger Stone, a longtime friend and ally of President Donald Trump, has been found guilty at his trial in federal court in Washington. Stone was convicted Friday. He was charged in a seven-count indictment that alleged he lied to lawmakers about WikiLeaks, tampered with witnesses and obstructed a House intelligence committee probe. His trial highlighted how Trump…

Watch Live: US Diplomat Arrives for Impeachment Hearing

November 15, 2019

The Associated Press,

WASHINGTON (AP) 10:20 a.m. – Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch says she was told last April by a State Department official to return to the United States “on the next plane” because of concerns “up the street” – a phrase she understood to mean the White House. Yovanovitch said she received the call at 1 a.m. from an…

Wisconsin County Declares Itself Second Amendment Sanctuary

November 15, 2019

The Associated Press,

FLORENCE, Wis. (AP) – A county in rural northeastern Wisconsin has declared itself a Second Amendment sanctuary, a move commissioners say is designed to send a “keep your hands off our guns” message to politicians. The Journal Sentinel says the nonbinding measure gives the sheriff the ability to “exercise sound discretion to not enforce against any citizen an unconstitutional firearms…

Southern California High School Shooting, Three Confirmed Injuries

November 14, 2019

The Associated Press,

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. (AP) 9:40 a.m. – Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva tells KNX radio the suspect in the Saugus High School shooting is in custody. The sheriff says the suspect is a student and was one of several people taken to a hospital after the Thursday morning shooting and is alive. Reports on the number of people injured…

More Than 11 Rescued From Upper Red Lake Ice Floe

November 14, 2019

The Associated Press,

BEMIDJI, Minn. (AP) – Sheriff’s officials in northern Minnesota say more than 11 people have been rescued from an ice floe on Upper Red Lake prompting a warning for anglers to stay off the ice this early in the season. The Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office contacted Red Lake area resort owners this week asking for help in keeping people off…

Pence to Visit Wisconsin, Indiana Next Week

He Will be in Northest Wisconsin on November 20

November 14, 2019

The Associated Press,

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – Vice President Mike Pence is planning to visit Wisconsin and his home state of Indiana next week. Pence’s office announced Wednesday that he was scheduled to tour and deliver remarks at shipbuilder Marinette Marine in northeast Wisconsin on Nov. 20. Later that day the former Indiana governor was then to give a speech at the Strada…

Wisconsin Taxes Have Dropped Over Past Two Decades

The Wisconsin Policy Forum Released the Report Thursday

November 14, 2019

The Associated Press,

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – A new report shows that taxes paid by Wisconsin residents as a share of personal income have fallen by more than two percentage points over the past 20 years. The Wisconsin Policy Forum report released Thursday shows that the drop in Wisconsin is one of the largest in the country. However, the state still ranks 19th…

WATCH LIVE: Trump Impeachment Hearings

November 13, 2019

The Associated Press,

WASHINGTON (AP) 3 p.m. – The two veteran diplomats testifying in the House impeachment hearing are denying President Donald Trump’s accusation that they adamantly oppose him. Shortly before Wednesday’s House Intelligence Committee hearing began, Trump tweeted, “NEVER TRUMPERS!” He mentioned no evidence. California Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell asked both men if Trump’s claim was true. State Department official George Kent…

Shorewood Schools Closed After Hit List, Ammunition Found

November 13, 2019

The Associated Press,

SHOREWOOD, Wis. (AP) – All public schools in a Milwaukee suburb are closed after officials say a high school student wrote a hit list and was found in possession of a loaded magazine of ammunition. Shorewood School District officials said because of “ongoing safety concerns,” classes and activities are canceled Wednesday. In a message to parents, Superintendent Bryan Davis said…

Hundreds of Waterways Added to List of Impaired Waters

581 Waterways Have Been Added to a List of Impaired Waters

November 13, 2019

The Associated Press,

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – More than half of Minnesota’s lakes, rivers and streams don’t meet state pollution standards. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has added 581 waterways to its list of impaired waters in its biennial report to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released Wednesday. The 3,416 waterways represent 56% of the state’s waters. They have a range of problems, including…

Duffy Takes Job as Lobbyist After Resigning From Congress

Duffy Resigned in September

November 12, 2019

The Associated Press,

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – Sean Duffy has taken a job for a Washington lobbying firm after resigning from Congress two months ago, saying he wanted to spend more time with his family and newborn who has a heart defect and Down syndrome. BGR Group announced Tuesday that the Republican Duffy would be working for the firm as a senior counsel…

Former President Jimmy Carter Out of Surgery

November 12, 2019

The Associated Press,

ATLANTA (AP) – Jimmy Carter’s spokeswoman says the former president is recovering at Emory University Hospital following surgery to relieve pressure from bleeding on his brain. Deanna Congileo says there were no complications from the surgery. She says Carter will remain in the hospital for observation, and she doesn’t anticipate making more announcements until he’s released. Her Tuesday statement also…

Record-Breaking Cold Freezing Minnesota Lakes Early

Monday Was the Coldest High Temp in Three Decades in the Cities

November 12, 2019

The Associated Press,

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Record-breaking cold temperatures are freezing Minnesota lakes weeks earlier than normal. Monday was the coldest high temperature in three decades in the Twin Cities. The temperature reached 18 degrees at midnight, tying the coldest high record set in 1986. The National Weather Service said Tuesday and Wednesday may see record cold from the southern Plains to the…

Fired Wisconsin Agriculture Secretary Pfaff Gets New Job

November 11, 2019

The Associated Press,

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – The Wisconsin agriculture secretary fired by the Republican-controlled state Senate has a new job, still within Gov. Tony Evers’ administration. Brad Pfaff has been hired as the director of business and rural development for the state Department of Administration. The announcement Monday comes less than a week after his confirmation as agriculture secretary was rejected. Republicans…

Wisconsin Deer Stands Damaged; Animal Rights Group Suspected

The Dunn County Sheriff’s Office is Offering a $600 Reward

November 11, 2019

The Associated Press,

(courtesy: Fox News) NEW RICHMOND, Wis. (AP) – Authorities suspect animal welfare activists are behind the vandalism of several deer stands in western Wisconsin. The damaged stands have been seen in Dunn, Barron and St. Croix counties. Scott McDermott in New Richmond says the stilts of his stand were cut in half. The words “The hunters will be hunted” were…

Wisconsin Gov. Evers Issues Eight More Pardons

November 11, 2019

The Associated Press,

(AP Photo/Andy Manis, File) MADISON, Wis. (AP) – Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers has issued eight more pardons. Evers issued the pardons Sunday, a month after issuing Wisconsin’s first pardons in nine years. The Democratic governor says pardons “play a very important role in our criminal justice system and society by giving deserving folks a second chance.” Evers re-started the pardons…

Evers Goes Back to Calling Capitol Evergreen ‘Holiday Tree’

November 8, 2019

The Associated Press,

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – Gov. Tony Evers has gone back to calling the state Capitol Christmas tree a holiday tree, reigniting an old fight over what to call the evergreen. Wisconsin politicians began referring to the tree as a holiday tree in 1985. Former Republican Gov. Scott Walker declared the tree a Christmas tree in 2011, drawing the ire of…

Aitkin County Man Charged in Death of Missing Woman

November 8, 2019

The Associated Press,

AITKIN, Minn. (AP) – An Aitkin County man is charged with murder after authorities say they found a missing woman’s body buried in a crawl space under the home where he lived. The family of 35-year-old Michelle Mae, of Outing, reported her missing Oct. 3. Sheriff’s officials say her Jeep was found near the defendant’s residence a day later. WDIO-TV…

Wisconsin Guard Whistleblower Says He’s Being Discharged

November 8, 2019

The Associated Press,

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – A Wisconsin National Guard sergeant says he’s being discharged in retaliation for complaining about sexual misconduct in his unit. Wisconsin Air National Guard Master Sgt. Jay Ellis’ complaint last year has triggered two federal investigations. Ellis has alleged that Guard officials have launched a review of his medical history to set up a medical discharge and…

Walz Seeks Agriculture Disaster Declaration for NW Minnesota

November 7, 2019

The Associated Press,

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has asked U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue to declare a disaster for 12 counties of northwestern Minnesota where farmers are having a difficult harvest season. In his request Thursday, the governor said the unrelenting bad weather this season has come on top of challenges farmers were already facing from low commodity…

Author: The Associated Press

That Figure is Down Nearly 24% From Last Year

The Boy Made the Threat on November 18

There Were no Reported Injuries

Hunters Kill Ten Elk in Wisconsin's Second Hunt

Sheriff's officials in central Minnesota are investigating the death of an infant at a home day care.

Wisconsin's Traditional Nine-Day Firearm Deer Season Gets Under Way Saturday, November 23

Lawmakers Report Little Progress Made in Closed-Door Talks Over the Past Month Regarding the Cost of Insulin

Four Shooting Victims Have Died

A Male Victim Suffered a Gunshot Wound to the Arm

Loeffler Was First Elected to the House in 2004

He Will be in Northest Wisconsin on November 20

The Wisconsin Policy Forum Released the Report Thursday

581 Waterways Have Been Added to a List of Impaired Waters

Duffy Resigned in September

Monday Was the Coldest High Temp in Three Decades in the Cities

The Dunn County Sheriff’s Office is Offering a $600 Reward

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