Wisconsin

Small Town Restaurants Work Hard to Stay Open During Pandemic

Soft Pines Resort and Buckhorn Bar and Grill among Northern Wisconsin restaurants and bars struggling during shutdown

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Wis. – Restaurants and bars across Minnesota and Wisconsin are struggling to make ends meet during the COVID-19 shutdown. Businesses in small towns have been hard particularly hard by the pandemic, with at least half of some restaurants’ normal business gone. The owners are doing what they can to keep the establishments open, but it’s a struggle with…

First Confirmed COVID-19 Case Reported in Sawyer County

Hayward Area Memorial Hospital CEO discusses pandemic preparations

SAWYER COUNTY, Wis. – Sawyer County, Wisconsin has its first confirmed COVID-19 case. We’re told one person there tested positive and is now at home in isolation. The Sawyer County Health Department is now working to contact anybody who the infected person may have been in contact with. Hayward Area Memorial Hospital has been preparing for coronavirus patients for months….

Local Liquor Stores Taking Extreme Measures to Keep Customers Social Distancing, Avoid Closing

If customers crowd liquor stores as time goes on, they could be forced to close.

Many people stuck at home in both Minnesota and Wisconsin are heading to liquor stores. But when those stores become crowded, business owners have to choose between serving customers, an following the law of public health by maintaining social distance. One sign in front of Shanty Bottle Shop in Duluth’s Hillside neighborhood says it best: “Do not rush into the…

WI Voters Still Show Up To The Polls

SUPERIOR, Wis. – Wisconsin voters are taking their civic duty seriously even as Covid-19 poses a threat to public health This week, to protect the health of residents Governor Tony Evers attempted to have the Wisconsin presidential primary moved to June. That was shut down by a last-minute supreme court decision, which kept the elections from moving. This meant voters…

City of Superior Announces Restrictions on Beaches

SUPERIOR, Wis. – The City of Superior says it will be limiting access to its beaches in an effort to comply with Governor Evers’ Executive Order. According to a recent press release from the city, all public and private gatherings of people not part of a single household are prohibited. Outdoor activities including visiting public and state parks are still…

Wisconsin Voting Underway Despite Virus

(Angela Major/The Janesville Gazette via AP) MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Elections Commission reported Tuesday morning that it had received no reports of polling places being unable to open as planned. There had already been plans to consolidate polling places, especially in larger cities, due to poll workers refusing to show up due to fears of the coronavirus. Milwaukee reduced…

Wisconsin Voting Underway Despite Virus

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin is asking hundreds of thousands of voters to ignore a stay-at-home order in the midst of a pandemic to participate in Tuesday’s presidential primary election, becoming a test case for dozens of states struggling to balance public health concerns with a core pillar of democracy. The National Guard is helping to run voting sites across the state…

Superior Mayor’s Longtime Chief of Staff to Retire

Rani Gill has served six different Superior mayors.

SUPERIOR, The Mayor of Superior’s right-hand-woman, Rani Gill, is retiring after 30 years serving the city as the mayor’s Chief of Staff. Gill has served six different Superior mayors, and was actually the first official “Chief of Staff,” according to Mayor Jim Paine. “She’s an institution in this city,” Paine said, “she has served a number of mayors, a lot…

U.S., Wisconsin Supreme Courts Rule Against Evers; Election Day Stands

The Governor's attempts to change or postpone the election have been blocked on all fronts.

SUPERIOR, Wis.- After going through three changes in the span of one day, Wisconsin Elections will carry on as normal. Rulings from both the Wisconsin and U.S. Supreme Courts now make Wisconsin the only state with an election scheduled in April that is proceeding as planned. Governor Tony Evers signed an Executive Order early Monday postponing the election to June….

Top Wisconsin Court Blocks Governor’s Move to Delay Election

(AP Photo) MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The Wisconsin Supreme Court on Monday ruled that Democratic Gov. Tony Evers could not postpone the state’s presidential primary, striking down his order to move the election to June over coronavirus outbreak fears. The court ruled 4-2 that Evers lacked the authority to move the election on his own — meaning the election will…

Gov. Tony Evers Suspends In-Person Voting for Wisconsin Spring Election

(Steve Apps/Wisconsin State Journal via AP, File) UPDATE: MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The Wisconsin Supreme Court on Monday ruled that Democratic Gov. Tony Evers could not postpone the state’s presidential primary, striking down his order to move the election to June over coronavirus outbreak fears. The court ruled 4-2 that Evers lacked the authority to move the election on his…

UW-Superior Moves All Summer Courses Online

SUPERIOR, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin Superior announced on Monday that it has decided to offer all its summer 2020 courses in an online format. “In analyzing this decision, the dean’s office examined the summer 2020 course offerings,” said Maria Cuzzo, interim provost at UW-Superior. “The great majority of offerings were already planned online, so there is no disruption…

Wisconsin Moves Ahead With Election, Awaits Supreme Court

(Steve Apps/Wisconsin State Journal via AP, File) MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin moved forward Monday with plans to hold in-person voting for its presidential primary on Tuesday amid the coronavirus pandemic with help from National Guard members staffing the polls, even as the U.S. Supreme Court weighs whether to intervene. Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, who had originally pushed for the election to…

Wisconsin Primaries Continue as Normal, Superior Prepares for Tuesday

The Governor's request to make the election all-mail was shot down by state Republicans.

SUPERIOR, Wis.- A special session of the Wisconsin Legislature was held Saturday, to discuss making the Wisconsin Primary Elections all-mail, and extending absentee voting until late May. The meeting came to a halt when state Republicans shot down the request citing concerns for election security, and adjourned the meeting immediately. “Folks let me be clear this is not a Republican…

Wisconsin Republicans Ask Supreme Court to Block Extended Absentee Voting

State moving ahead with in-person voting despite health risks of coronavirus crisis

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – Wisconsin Republicans say they’re asking the U.S. Supreme Court to block extended absentee voting in Tuesday’s primary. Wisconsin is moving ahead with in-person voting despite concerns about the public health risks of the coronavirus crisis. A federal judge rejected lawsuits seeking to postpone the election but extended absentee voting by six days. The GOP says that…

Wisconsin GOP Says Election Should go on as Scheduled

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -Wisconsin Republicans Say Election Should be Held as Planned Tuesday Despite Governor’s Request to Delay Gov. Tony Evers is calling on the Legislature to meet in special session to approve moving Wisconsin’s presidential primary to an all-mail footing. Voting advocacy groups and Evers’ fellow Democrats have been pushing him and Republican legislative leaders to postpone Tuesday’s election…

Ashland: Heavy Rain, Snow Melt Cause 7.1 Million Gallons of Sewage to Overflow Into Lake Superior

ASHLAND, Wis. – According to Ashland City officials, an estimated 7,177,000 gallons of sewage waste overflowed into Lake Superior last week. The sanitary overflow started on March 29 at the City of Ashland’s Waste Water Treatment Plant and ended on March 31. The city says the overflow was due to heavy rain and snowmelt. “All necessary steps are being taken…

Update: Body Found in Ashland Ravine Identified

Update: ASHLAND, Wis. – Authorities in Ashland say the body of a man discovered in a ravine near Industrial Park Road on Thursday morning has been identified. The Ashland Police Department says the individual has been identified as 43-year-old Bradley J. Mattson who had lived in Ashland for the past several years. The Ashland County Coroner has ordered an autopsy…

Ashland Police Investigating Body Found in Ravine

ASHLAND, Wis. – Authorities in Ashland are investigating the discovery of a body near Industrial Park. According to the Ashland Police Department, the department received a call from a person around 8:19 a.m. on Thursday who said they may have discovered a deceased male in a ravine near Industrial Park. When officers responded to the call they found a body…

Judge Won’t Delay Wisconsin Election but Extends Voting

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A federal judge on Thursday declined to postpone Wisconsin’s presidential primary over the health threat from the new coronavirus, but he ordered that people be given an extra six days beyond Tuesday’s election for absentee voting. U.S. District Judge William Conley had signaled in a court hearing earlier this week that he was uncomfortable overruling the…

Less Driving, Demand for Gas Causes Prices to Fall

Prices across Minnesota and Wisconsin drop below $2.

SUPERIOR, Wis.- Gas prices across the Northland have dropped below $2 as demand for gasoline falls, as drivers get out less while stay-at-home orders are in place. One of the cheapest places for gas right now is Kimmes Oil in Superior. It was $1.49 a gallon Wednesday for Regular Unleaded. One customer normally spends $100 filling his truck, but only…

Wisconsin: 1,550 COVID-19 Cases, 24 Total Deaths

MADISON, Wis. – The number of positive COVID-19 cases in Wisconsin crossed 1,500 on Wednesday, with 24 deaths. Douglas County is now reporting its seventh case. The latest figures from state and local health departments show the coronavirus continues to spread across the state. Of the positive cases, about 26% were hospitalized at some point. The data does not say…

Republicans Support Waiving Unemployment Waiting Period

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin Republican legislative leaders said for the first time Wednesday that they support temporarily waiving a one-week waiting period for people to receive unemployment benefits as part of a state aid package in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald said in a conference call that work was…

Bayfield County Confirms Third COVID-19 Case

BAYFIELD COUNTY, Wis. – The Bayfield County Health Department says they have identified a third case of COVID-19 in the county. Health department officials say the patient is currently hospitalized, had not traveled outside the area, and had no contact with any individuals diagnosed with COVID-19. “The third positive case received today reaffirms the presence of COVID-19 in our community…

Evers Seeks Disaster Declaration as Unemployment Grows

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Gov. Tony Evers asked President Donald Trump on Tuesday to issue a major disaster declaration for the state of Wisconsin due to the coronavirus pandemic, as unemployment claims hit a daily high and the state’s health secretary warned lawmakers that Medicaid enrollments were going to increase dramatically. Evers said he hoped the declaration, which also would…

Ashland County Reports First Case of COVID-19

ASHLAND COUNTY, Wis. – Ashland County Public Health announced Monday that there is a confirmed case of COVID-19 in Ashland County. It is believed the individual contracted the virus due to domestic travel to an area with known community transmission. The individual self-quarantined as requested and has since been cleared of COVID-19 infection and is recovering at home. “We are…

More Labs Helping With COVID-19 in Wisconsin

MADISON, Wis. – Wisconsin will be able to double its capacity to process COVID-19 tests with the addition of new laboratories that will assist with the effort, Gov. Tony Evers said Monday. The new public-private partnership includes laboratory support from Exact Sciences, Marshfield Clinic Health System, Promega, and UW Health. Existing labs that had been doing the testing were able…

Wisconsin Dairy Farmers Hit Hard by Coronavirus

MILWAUKEE (AP) — The coronavirus has delivered a severe blow to Wisconsin dairy farmers who rely on selling milk to restaurants, schools and the hospitality industry. About one-third of Wisconsin dairy products, mainly cheese, are sold in the foodservice trade, the Journal Sentinel reported. Farmers say the coronavirus outbreak has caused milk prices to drop to unprofitable levels this spring, at…

Angler’s Isolation: Fishing on the Brule River

Coronavirus doesn't keep anglers from fishing for steelhead trout.

BRULE, Wis.- Since solitary outdoor activities in state parks are considered essential in Governor Tony Evers’s Safer-at-Home order, some anglers took advantage of that, casting their rods on the Brule River. The babbling brooks feeding into the rushing river are the only sounds that greet you out along the Brule. “This is about as isolated as we can get,” Eric…

Douglas County Confirms New Cases of COVID-19

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Wis. – Douglas County Public Health says there are now five individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 in the county. Additionally, the public health department says three other family members are symptomatic but have not been tested as they are presumed to have the virus. All eight individuals are isolated at home and doing well. According to…

Wisconsin: 842 COVID-19 Confirmed Cases, 13 Deaths

MADISON, Wis. (FOX 9) – Thirteen people have now died from COVID-19 and 842 others have tested positive for the virus in Wisconsin as of Friday afternoon. This marks the largest daily increase in Wisconsin, with 135 more confirmed cases and five more deaths than Thursday’s totals.  The state has returned 13,140 negative tests as well.  Earlier this week, Governor Tony Evers directed the Department…

Minong Grocery Store Owner Talks Wild Demand, Price Gouging, Summer Tourism Concerns

Owner Rob Henson believes snowbirds, cabin owners have all flocked to the area months earlier than usual because of the coronavirus outbreak

MINONG, Wis. – Small-town grocery stores are getting slammed with unusual demand amid the coronavirus outbreak. And for one grocery owner in Minong, there’s a fear there won’t be enough inventory out there to be stocked up for summer tourism season — a time that carries many small businesses through the slow winter months. “I don’t think anybody is prepared…

Wisconsin COVID-19 Cases Jump to More Than 700

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – Wisconsin health officials report another jump in the number of positive COVID-19 tests. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services on Thursday reported 707 positive cases of the coronavirus. That’s more than 120 cases since Wednesday, when 585 positive tests were reported. The number of deaths in Wisconsin caused by COVID-19 stands at eight. Milwaukee County has the…

Second Case of COVID-19 Confirmed in Bayfield County, Linked to Community Spread

Second Case of COVID-19 in Bayfield County Related to Community Spread

BAYFIELD CO., Wis. – On Thursday the Bayfield County Health Department confirmed a second case of COVID-19 in Bayfield County. This case is also considered the first known case related to community spread in the county. The lab-confirmed positive case received on March 26 did not have a history of travel or contact with a known positive case of COVID-19….

Evers Administration Closes State Capitol

MILWAUKEE (AP) – Gov. Tony Evers has decided to close the state Capitol building in Madison as the coronavirus crisis deepens in Wisconsin. The Department of Administration closed the building at 8 a.m. Thursday morning. The building will remain closed indefinitely, although DOA officials said they would reopen it if the state Legislature or the state Supreme Court decides to…

Wisconsin Reports 8th Coronavirus Death

MILWAUKEE (AP) – The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner says another person has died of coronavirus complications. That brings the number of COVID-19-related deaths in Wisconsin to eight. The latest victim is a 57-year-old woman from West Allis who died shortly before 10 p.m. Wednesday at Froedtert Hospital, according to the medical examiner’s office. She had been hospitalized since March 19….

Essential Businesses Currently Hiring in the Northland During the Pandemic

Many workers in the Northland have been laid off from jobs due to the response to the coronavirus pandemic. If you are currently looking for work, there are businesses still hiring in our region. If you are a business looking to hire workers during the coronavirus pandemic and would like to be added to this list, email news@fox21online.com with the…

Superior Mayor Jim Paine Reacts to Gov. Evers’s ‘Safer-at-Home’ Order

Mayor recognizes grocery stores as essential, but asks the public only go when they need to.

SUPERIOR, Wis.- Superior Mayor Jim Paine spoke out after Governor’s Shelter-in-Place order was announced. His main message: stay home and limit your trips unless absolutely necessary and that means even grocery stores. While Governor Evers has labeled grocery stores as essential, Mayor Paine wants residents to avoid those stores if you can. This comes after one of the four people…

More People Plug-In To Video Games While Stuck at Home

Games Then and Now in Superior sees increase in sale, but hope that continues as they move completely online.

SUPERIOR, Wis.- As more families deal with life stuck at home, video game stores have seen sales go up. But after Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers’s safer-at-home order, they hope those sales continue online. Last week the owners of Games Then and Now on Tower Avenue said they saw a huge jump in people buying games. It’s not just kids buying…

SuperOne Helps Social Distancing with New Plastic Barriers at Check-Out

Barriers installed at all 41 stores across three states, at over 270 stations.

DULUTH, Minn.- As SuperOne grocery stores across the Northland remain packed with people shopping for essentials, the store has installed acrylic barriers at cashier stations to limit the spread of Coronavirus. At the end of Tuesday, the new barriers were outfitted at all 41 grocery and liquor store locations across Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan. Products scan and carts screech by…

Virus Outbreak Halts Damaged Husky Refinery Rebuilding

SUPERIOR, Wis. (AP) – Husky Energy has suspended rebuilding its oil refinery in Superior that was damaged by an explosion two years ago because of the coronavirus outbreak. A spokeswoman for the Alberta, Canada-based company said Tuesday that Husky has “begun a systematic and orderly suspension of major construction activities related to the Superior rebuild project.” The fire and explosion…

Gov. Tony Evers: ‘Safer at Home’ Order to go Into Effect Wednesday

(AP Photo) MADISON, Wis. – Gov. Tony Evers issued his “Safer at Home” order Tuesday morning which prohibits all nonessential travel, with some exceptions, throughout Wisconsin. The order will go into effect Wednesday, March 25 at 8:00 a.m. and will remain in effect until Friday, April 24 at 8:00 a.m. “I know the COVID-19 outbreak has been difficult and has…

New COVID-19 Cases in St. Louis, Douglas Counties

Experts say while it's not confirmed, they are sure there is community spread.

The cases of Coronavirus continue to climb in the Northland. A second case has been discovered in St. Louis County, along with three others in Douglas County, bringing the total there to four–with one case in Superior. There remains one confirmed case in Bayfield County The newest case in St. Louis County is a woman in her early 60s who…

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers is Imposing A “Safer At Home” Order Beginning Tuesday

"We need people to look for ways to alter their lives to protect the health of their neighbors and fellow citizens," said Superior Mayor Jim Paine.

SUPERIOR, Wis – Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers is taking the next steps to help slow down the spread of the coronavirus across the state. He is imposing a “Safer at Home” order, beginning on Tuesday. This will cease the operations of non- essential businesses and make people stay home during the pandemic. The “Safer at Home” order isn’t something Governor…

Wisconsin: 416 Confirmed COVD-19 Cases, 5 Deaths

MADISON, Wis. (FOX 9) – There are now five deaths in Wisconsin linked to the novel coronavirus, according to an update Monday from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. The state now has 416 confirmed cases of COVID-19, which is an increase of 135 cases from Sunday. On Monday, Governor Tony Evers ordered the closure of all non-essential businesses starting Tuesday in order…