Wisconsin

Man Charged With Buying Gun For Rittenhouse Takes Plea Deal

MILWAUKEE (AP) – The man who bought Kyle Rittenhouse a rifle when he was only 17 has taken a plea deal to avoid criminal conviction. Dominick Black was charged with delivering a dangerous weapon to a minor, resulting in death. The charges relate to the two protesters Rittenhouse fatally shot in Kenosha. Prosecutors filed a proposed plea agreement that suggested…

Superior Fire Crews Respond to 4th Fire in 3 Days Since Warehouses Burned Down

No word on a cause for any of the fires yet.  

SUPERIOR, Wis.- The Superior Fire Department has kept busy the past three days with four different fire calls — the most recent a garage fire in Billings Park this morning. Crews responded to a three-stall attached garage on fire at a home on Bridgeview Drive. According to Battalion Chief Camron Vollbrecht, there were 20-foot flames shooting out of the garage…

Bidders Excited to Get Hands on Last Place on Earth Items Up for Auction

Dozens of collectors filled Sellers Auction on Belknap Street and auction owners said they came from as far as Chicago and Florida.

SUPERIOR, Wis.- It’s been roughly seven years since the infamous Last Place on Earth was shut down. Those memories were unearthed Saturday at an auction in Superior. Dozens of collectors filled Sellers Auction on Belknap Street and auction owners said they came from as far as Chicago and Florida. The controversial head shop closed operations after owner Jim Carlson was…

Superior Fire Crews Respond to ‘large amount of fire’ at Garage Attached to Home

Everyone was reported safely outside.

SUPERIOR, Wis.- Superior Fire Department crews responded to a structure fire early Saturday morning, which destroyed the vehicles inside, though no one was injured. According to a spokesperson with the Fire Department, crews arrived at the home at 4 Bridgeview Drive around 8:20 a.m, to find a fully involved three-stall attached garage with a large amount of fire coming out…

Bitter Cold Increases Risk for Dead Car Batteries

SUPERIOR, Wis. – Below zero temperatures can create a number of problems for vehicles, none more prevalent than a battery that isn’t working properly. One auto mechanic retailer says the design of a vehicle’s alternator helps to keep batteries better charged than in the past, but human error such as leaving lights on or charging chords plugged in after leaving…

Two Historic Superior Buildings Flattened after Frigid Firefight

Firefighters were faced with challenges left and right from the two warehouse buildings' immense size and the dangerously cold air.

SUPERIOR, Wis.- Ash was strewn throughout the City of Superior as two historic Superior warehouses on the North End burned to rubble, a challenge to crews battling the tall flames on the chilly Thursday morning. “Certainly, ‘dangerous’ is the first word that comes to mind,” Superior Fire Chief Scott Gordon said. Officials were forced to shut down the Blatnik Bridge…

Warehouse Buildings Destroyed in Fire Part of ‘1890s boom era of Superior’

Superior Mayor Jim Paine did tell us talks will continue on how to redevelop that space.

SUPERIOR, Wis.- The two buildings which burned to the ground were staples of Superior’s waterfront, providing space for storage and resale since the late 1800s. According to members of the Douglas County Historical Society the Eastern building built in 1893 as Osborn Mercantile, a wholesale grocery startup. A few companies called it home, but the Lake Superior Bay company was…

WI Breaks Record For Daily COVID Cases, State Hopeful With Antiviral Pill Distribution

MADISON, Wis. – Wisconsin just broke a record as it tallied up more than 11,000 new COVID cases on Thursday, the highest single-day total ever for this state. Just on Wednesday, the state saw roughly 10,000 new cases. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services says the daily rate is 200% higher than it was just two months ago. The state…

How A Grant From DSACF Is Helping Young Moms Who Have Nothing

TWIN PORTS–  The Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation plans to give another $1 million out to nonprofits in the Northland this year. One nonprofit is the Duluth YWCA’s Young Moms program, which is getting $20,000 from the foundation. Young Moms provides daycare while mothers, ages 16 to 21 who may be experiencing homelessness or are at-risk of it, go to…

Winning Tickets for Wednesday’s $632M Powerball Jackpot Sold in California, Wisconsin

(AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall) (CNN) – Two lucky lotto players will find themselves in a new tax bracket in 2022 after hitting the $632.6 million jackpot in Wednesday night’s drawing. The winning tickets, sold in California and Wisconsin, matched all six numbers: 6 – 14 – 25 – 33 – 46 with a Powerball number of 17. The winners will split…

UPDATE: Superior Warehouse Fire “Winding Down,” Sivertson, Bayside Buildings a Total Loss

  SUPERIOR, Wis. – UPDATE: Superior Mayor Jim Paine says both the Sivertson building and Bayside building in Superior’s North End district are a total loss after a massive fire broke out Thursday morning in the Severson building. According to an updated Facebook post, the fire started in the Sivertson building and quickly spread to the Bayside building near the…

Snow Emergency Declared for City of Washburn

WASHBURN, Wis. – A snow emergency has been declared for the City of Washburn effective at midnight on Thursday. The snow emergency will end at 12:00 p.m. on Thursday. The City of Washburn says a snow emergency means that all vehicles must be removed from all city streets, alleys, and parking lots to allow city streets to be cleared completely…

Wisconsin Tax Burden Rises for First Time in Decade

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin’s state tax burden increased slightly last year for the first time in a decade due largely to a pandemic-related economic surge, according to a report released Wednesday. The nonpartisan Wisconsin Policy Forum’s study found total state and local taxes in Wisconsin grew to $34 billion last year, up 7.1% from 2020. Overall, combined state and…

Superior School District Ends Mask Mandate For 4K-6th Grade Classrooms

SUPERIOR, Wis. — Masks are no longer required in the Superior school district. The mandate, which was only in place for students in 4k through sixth grade and the staff and visitors who were around them, was lifted on Monday when the holiday break ended. The superintendent, Amy Starzecki, said that there has been a decline in cases within the…

Trial Opens for Wisconsin Man Accused of Killing Parents

(Dane County Sheriff’s Office via AP) MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Opening statements were scheduled for Tuesday in the trial of a 23-year-old Wisconsin man charged with killing and dismembering his parents. A jury was selected Monday in Dane County Circuit Court to hear the case against Chandler Halderson, who faces charges of first-degree intentional homicide and mutilating and hiding a…

Milwaukee Schools Going Virtual Due to Staff COVID-19 Cases

MILWAUKEE (AP) – Wisconsin’s largest school district will transition to virtual instruction beginning Tuesday because of an increase in staff testing positive for COVID-19. Milwaukee public schools were scheduled to resume in-person learning Tuesday, but because of an influx of reported positive COVID-19 cases among district staff, the emergency safety measure is being implemented. The district says its goal is…

Douglas Co. Sheriff Tom Dalbec Announces 2023 Retirement 

He started his career in law enforcement more than 30 years ago with the Superior Police Department and was elected sheriff of the county back in 2003.

DOUGLAS CO., Wis. — Douglas County Sheriff Tom Dalbec has announced that he’s retiring next year. Sheriff Dalbec wrote on Facebook that this will be his last year serving Douglas County. He started his career in law enforcement more than 30 years ago with the Superior Police Department and was elected sheriff of the county back in 2003. Dalbec thanked…

Soaking in Sights and Sounds of Amnicon Falls Before Years’ End

SOUTH RANGE, Wis.- Some folks didn’t mind the cold, and decided t spend the last day of 2021 admiring and capturing the natural beauty available 365 days a year at Amnicon Falls State Park. FOX 21 Photojournalist Marcus Asmus takes us there. Categories: Entertainment, News, News – Latest News, Wisconsin Tags: Amnicon Falls, Linda Miller, RJ Miller

Twin Ports Prepare For a Lively New Year’s Eve

DULUTH/SUPERIOR — Authorities are expecting a busier New Year’s Eve this year with it falling on a Friday and local businesses and law enforcement have been planning all day to make sure they have their bases covered heading in to 2022. Last year’s holiday was a bit quieter coming out of the pandemic and that combined with the a holiday…

Police Departments Planning For a Busy New Year’s Eve

SUPERIOR, Wis. — Duluth and Superior police are taking extra precautions for Friday night’s deep freeze, as people celebrate into the New Year. Police are expecting extra excitement with New Year’s Eve falling on a Friday, and they’re reminding partygoers, if they want to go out and have fun, they need to do it safely, and try to find a…

Wisconsin Tops 10,000 COVID-19 Deaths

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – COVID-19 has now claimed the lives of more than 10,000 Wisconsin residents. The Wisconsin State Journal reported that state health officials counted 34 deaths on Wednesday, bringing the death total since the pandemic began to 10,014. The state tracked 5,748 COVID-19 deaths last year and 4,266 so far in 2021. Nearly three-quarters of people who died…

Iron County Sheriff’s Deputies Respond to Domestic Disturbance Involving Alcohol, Fully-Loaded Rifle

Deputies repeatedly commanded the man to drop his weapon but he refused, and told them to "just shoot me."

OMA, Wis.- A late-night domestic disturbance call for the Iron County Sheriff’s Office in Wisconsin resulted in a man in custody pending charges including Endangering Safety by Use of a Dangerous Weapon While Intoxicated. According to a press release from the sheriff, around 11:30 Thursday night deputies responded to a call for a domestic disturbance in the town of Oma…

‘Miracle 11’ Makes New Donations To 6 Local Organizations

SUPERIOR, Wis. – It’s been eight years since 11 skydivers with Skydive Superior played with death after a mid-air collision of two planes over Superior. And once again, those skydivers continue to put that highly publicized moment to good use in the community. Miracle 11is a non-profit that donates money every year to local organizations. This year included $2,500 to…

Dozens Of Vehicles Involved In Western Wisconsin Crashes

Courtesy: WI Dept. of Transportation OSSEO, Wis. (AP) – Authorities in western Wisconsin are trying to sort out multiple crashes along Interstate 94. The State Patrol said in a statement that freezing rain early Thursday left the interstate between Menomonie and Black River Falls icy. About 5:45 a.m. a semi-trailer apparently slid in the median near Hixton and caught fire…

Mask Mandate To Be Lifted For Superior School District Jan. 3

SUPERIOR, Wis. – The Superior School District is ditching its mask mandate after the holiday break, Supt. Amy Starzecki said in an email Tuesday evening to the Spartan community. Starting Monday, Jan. 3, students, staff and visitors can choose whether to wear a mask in any of the district’s buildings because Starzecki says COVID cases have been on the decrease…

Fairlawn Mansion Hosts Twinkling Evenings

DULUTH, Minn. –Fairlawn Mansion in Superior hosts Twinkling Evenings. Each room in the mansion is decorated with trees and other Christmas décor. Guests are welcome to treats and are challenged to find all the hidden snow globes throughout the mansion. Though the tour is self-guided, hosts are there to share the history and customs once held at Fairlawn. “Christmas was…

20-Member FEMA Headed To Overwhelmed Green Bay Hospital

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – A 20-member team from the U.S. Navy is headed to Green Bay’s Bellin Hospital to help the overwhelmed facility treat patients with COVID-19. Gov. Tony Evers announced Tuesday that the Federal Emergency Management Agency dispatched the team to assist. Wisconsin hospitals are struggling to keep up with a surge in COVID-19 patients while also dealing with…

Evers Signs Gambling Deal With St. Croix Chippewa

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – Democratic Gov. Tony Evers’ administration has signed a deal allowing gambling on sports and other events at St. Croix Chippewa tribal casinos. Evers’ administration announced Monday that it has amended the state’s gambling compact with the tribe to offer event wagering. The St. Croix Tribal Council approved the amendment on Nov. 30. The U.S. Department of…

Wisconsin Health Officials Concerned For COVID Surge Caused By Holidays, Omicron

96% of ICU beds and 98% of immediate care beds are full statewide.

WISCONSIN – State health officials in Wisconsin echo the desperate pleas of those regionally and across the country, declaring a public health advisory as they anticipate a surge in disease activity due to the Omicron variant. There were more than 13 hundred new COVID cases reported in the state yesterday, with 19 Omicron cases detected so far. Experts expect that…

Environmental Testing Finds Presence of Chemical Styrene at Spooner Middle School

SPOONER, Wis. – After a chemical exposure forced an evacuation of the Spooner Middle School, sickening several students and staff last month, district officials say in-person will resume tomorrow. Environmental testing, industrial hygiene, and occupational medicine reviews were conducted in the school, which indicated the presence of the chemical styrene. According to the school district, symptoms of styrene exposure include dizziness,…

Intertribal Agency Faults Wisconsin Review of Line 5 Reroute

SUPERIOR, Wis. – An intertribal agency says Wisconsin’s draft environmental review for a reroute of an oil and gas pipeline is incomplete and flawed. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources released its draft environmental impact statement last week for a roughly 40-mile reroute of Enbridge’s Line 5 in Ashland and Iron counties. The pipeline carries up to 23 million gallons…

Grad Walk Ceremony Celebrates UWS Fall Graduates

Around 50 students participated in the grad walk at the Yellowjacket Union.

SUPERIOR, Wis. — Saturday, dozens of UWS Yellowjackets walked in their cap and gowns to receive their diplomas in person for their fall graduation ceremony. 327 students graduated Saturday and even though the university is not back to traditional ceremonies just yet, they still wanted to recognize students in some way for their accomplishments. Around 50 students participated in the…

Wisconsin Unemployment Ties Monthly Low of 3%

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin’s unemployment rate tied a record low of 3% in November, a number last hit exactly three years ago, the state Department of Workforce Development reported Thursday. The state rate is below the national unemployment rate of 4.2% for November. The state rate was down from 3.2% in October. Wisconsin gained 12,300 private-sector jobs over the…

UWS Vaccine Clinic to Move to Northwood Technical College

SUPERIOR, Wis. – The COVID community-based vaccine clinic currently being held at UW-Superior will soon be moving to the conference center at Northwood Technical College’s Superior Campus, formerly WITC. “We are proud to have had our campus serve as the site for these services,” said University of Wisconsin-Superior Chancellor Renée Wachter. “Since the clinic opened on April 13, there have…

Milwaukee Submits Bid for Republican National Convention

MILWAUKEE (AP) — The City of Milwaukee has submitted its bid to host the Republican National Convention in 2024. The application, which includes more than 200 pages, highlights the city’s access to Lake Michigan, entertainment venues, festivals, the culinary scene, the Milwaukee Bucks’ championship, the Wisconsin Center expansion, Fiserv Forum, and more. Visit Milwaukee CEO Peggy Williams-Smith said it also…

Green Bay Man Gets 5 Years in Prison for 18th OWI Conviction

GREEN BAY, Wis. – A Green Bay man has been sentenced to five years in prison for his 18th drunken driving conviction. Seventy-four-year-old Wallace Bowers had a valid driver’s license when he was arrested last January after crashing into a power pole on Green Bay’s east side. Bowers pleaded no contest Friday to drunken driving, 10th or more offense. Two…