Local Rhinelander Headlines

Man hit by car while helping at Marathon Co. accident

MARATHON COUNTY - A Wausau man got hit by a car while helping with a different crash Friday.

The Wisconsin State Patrol says a two car crash happened at the intersection of County Highway K and Rainbow Drive in Marathon County in the Town of Maine Friday. Several people got out of their cars to help divert traffic and remove debris from the road.

39-year-old Joseph Rupple of Wausau was standing in the intersection directing traffic.

Full story: WJFW

Northern Illinois fugitive arrested in Wisconsin

WOODSTOCK, ILL - A fugitive from northeastern Illinois who evaded capture by last month by ramming a police vehicle has been arrested in Wisconsin.

Fifty-year-old Wallace A. Henshall of McHenry had four warrants out for his arrest on charges that include burglary, possession of a stolen vehicle and possession of a weapon or ammunition by a felon.

The McHenry County Sheriff's Office says he was arrested Thursday in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.

Full story: WJFW

Heart of Milwaukee girl shot in head is donated

MILWAUKEE - A spokesman for the family of a 5-year-old girl who was killed while sitting on her grandfather's lap says the family has donated her heart.

The family and police held a news conference Saturday to urge the community to help find the people who shot at the home where Laylah Petersen was staying in Milwaukee, hitting her in the head Thursday.

Full story: WJFW

Northwoods high school musicians and singers learn from university professors

MINOCQUA - Some Northwoods teachers want students to learn about the importance of music.

That's why two music professors from Lawrence University worked with some of the best high school musicians in the area.

"I think from my perspective the goal is to inspire these eight students at each school to bring that energy back to Monday's rehearsal at their home school," says Festival Choir Director Stephen Sieck.

Full story: WJFW

New Wisconsin congressman discusses priorities

MILWAUKEE - Wisconsin's new congressman-elect is outlining his priorities for the upcoming U.S. House session.

Republican Glenn Grothman was elected Tuesday to succeed retiring longtime Rep. Tom Petri.

Grothman says a top priority will be changing policies that he thinks are "discouraging responsibility and causing the breakdown of the family," including welfare benefits that he says encourage people to have children without marrying.

Full story: WJFW

Traffic deaths, second safest month of October since WWII

WISCONSIN - It seems like fewer people are dying from car crashes in Wisconsin. The state had its second safest month of October since the end of World War II.

The safest month of October since World War II was in 2009. There were 39 traffic deaths that month. The deadliest was in 1971 with 127 deaths.

More than 400 people have died this year in traffic crashes.

Full story: WJFW

Reward offered for information regarding death of 5-year-old Milwaukee girl

MILWAUKEE - Law enforcement agencies are offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to an arrest in the shooting death of a 5-year-old girl in Milwaukee.

Laylah Petersen was killed Thursday night when a bullet went through the wall of the home where she lived with her grandparents.

Police say they have no motive or suspects in the shooting.

Full story: WJFW

Obama authorizes up to 1,500 more troops for Iraq

WASHINGTON - A senior military official says that American military advisory teams will now go to Iraq's western Anbar province where Islamic State militants have been gaining ground and slaying men, women and children.

The teams are part of President Barack Obama's new directive to expand the U.S. mission in Iraq by deploying another 1,500 U.S. troops to serve as advisers, trainers and security personnel.

The official said it is likely that the bulk of the additional troops will be in Iraq by the end of the year. This would bring the total U.S. forces in Iraq to about 3,100, and would mark their first return to Anbar since the war ended.

Full story: WJFW

Despite Republican control, Wisconsin lawmaker pushes peaceful discussion

GOODMAN - Republicans now control both houses of Congress. They could be tempted to aggressively push their policy and ignore Democrats.

One Wisconsin Republican might be hesitant to do that.

U.S. Rep. Reid Ribble (R-Sherwood) represents northeastern Wisconsin. He created the Problem Solvers Caucus this summer.

Full story: WJFW

Proposal to address competitive balance in WIAA schools

STEVENS POINT - In Wisconsin high school sports, some schools tend to dominate state championships. Often times, those schools are private schools.

For example, Whitefish Bay Dominican and Green Bay Notre Dame, both private schools, have been the most successful in boys and girls basketball the last three years. That concerns many less-competitive schools.

Full story: WJFW

Women vendors and business owners will get together at expo

EAGLE RIVER - You can find a bit of everything at this weekend's WRJO's Women's Expo in Eagle River. At least 19 female vendors and 8 crafters will be at the expo this Saturday.

The event gives women the chance to network with other female business owners. Local vendors specialize in services like women's health, career, beauty and family care.

Masseuse Carol Suriano owns Kneaded Relief in Eagle River.

Full story: WJFW

Temporary hold placed on campaign coordination lawsuit

MADISON - A federal judge has agreed to temporarily put on hold a lawsuit challenging Wisconsin's campaign coordination law and how it applies in cases involving political speech.

U.S. District Judge Rudolph Randa issued an order Thursday agreeing with a joint request made by the conservative group Citizens for a Responsible Government and the state elections board asking that the lawsuit be paused.

Full story: WJFW

Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald says voucher program could grow

MADISON - Republican Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald says he could see enrollment in Wisconsin's statewide private school voucher program increasing to 9,000 students, but nobody knows yet how much it will be allowed to expand.

Fitzgerald talked about Senate priorities Thursday after being re-elected as head of the Republican caucus without opposition.

Full story: WJFW

Wisconsin regulators approve WPS $9 electric rate hike

MADISON - State regulators have approved a $9 increase in electric bills for hundreds of thousands of electric customers.

Wisconsin Public Service Corporation (WPS) had asked the state Public Service Commission for permission to raise monthly fixed rates from $10.44 to $25 and reduce hourly usage fees by two to three cents.

The utility says the increase is designed to ensure consumers who use less energy pay their fair share to maintain infrastructure.

Full story: WJFW

Local Humane Society struggling to pay utility bills, keep animals warm

ANTIGO - Volunteers at the Langlade County Humane Society worry they won't be able to keep their animals warm this winter. The shelter is having trouble paying their heat and utility bills.

The shelter only had $19 in its bank account in August. Volunteers have raised some money through fundraisers and donations, but the bills are getting too expensive for the shelter.

"You'd be surprised how much water, electric, and gas we use to keep the kennels clean and keep the animals safe," says Robert Zoretich, the president of the Langlade County Humane Society.

Full story: WJFW

Common Core 'definitely' on Senate agenda

MADISON - Republican Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald says changes to Common Core academic standards are definitely going to be addressed by the Legislature next year.

Fitzgerald said Thursday that he wasn't sure yet exactly what would be done as the issue continues to evolve.

Gov. Scott Walker has called on the Legislature to replace the standards with something written in Wisconsin. But it's up to local school districts to adopt the standards, which are the basis for statewide tests and college admittance exams.

Full story: WJFW

Assembly speaker wants to focus on taxes, schools; Dems preparing to serve in minority again

RHINELANDER - Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Burlington) wants to start the January session with tax cuts, school standards and school accountability bills.

Republicans will hold very comfortable majorities in the Assembly and Senate next session. That will again give the party the opportunity to pass legislation by itself without any Democrat support.

Full story: WJFW

Snowplowing season begins early

RHINELANDER - You'll see more snowplow drivers cleaning driveways earlier than normal this year. We've already had two snow storms in the past week with more than an inch of snowfall. That typically doesn't happen until the second week of November in Rhinelander. One local driver had his plow on earlier than ever.

"In the four years that I've been doing this, I think it is the earliest," explained Local Snow Fighter Matt Wocelka.

Full story: WJFW

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