Vilas County sees good voter turnout
EAGLE RIVER - A lot of people didn't vote in Tuesday's election.
But one Northwoods county doubled the state's estimated voter turnout.
24% of people in Vilas County voted Tuesday.
Full story: WJFW
Local Rhinelander Headlines
Progressive bloc takes Antigo school board elections; will break deadlock, stalemate
ANTIGO - For a year, Antigo's school board couldn't agree on much leading up to Tuesday's election.
Again and again, the school board tied with 4-4 votes on major issues.
That led to a frustrating stalemate.
Full story: WJFW
Northwoods rail advocates get good news from CN
ANTIGO - The Canadian National rail company, or CN, started frustrating economic development leaders in the Northwoods years ago.
It has left hundreds of miles of rail line abandoned, with no regular trains to carry goods.
Business leaders, including those in logging, have said they'd ship using rail if it was available.
Full story: WJFW
Oneida County Airport travelers on the rise
RHINELANDER - The cold weather hurt some businesses this winter, but the travel industry saw an increase of customers looking to get away. The number people traveling out of the Oneida County Airport rose 20% compared to this time last year.
Airport leaders believe one of the reasons for the increased travel could be cabin fever.
Full story: WJFW
Flooding a concern at Hodag Park Pavilion
RHINELANDER - Spring means warm weather, but it's also a time for all the snow to melt. Snow melting around Hodag Park Pavilion in Rhinelander is creating a flooding problem.
City leaders are concerned about the flooding problem. When snow melts off the roof of the pavilion the water has nowhere to go.
Full story: WJFW
Wausau teacher accused of keeping child pornography makes bond
WAUSAU - Prosecutors believe a Wausau teacher had nearly 100 pictures and a dozen DVD's of child pornography.
He can now walk freely.
50 year old Michael Switalski is free on bond.
Full story: WJFW
Snow removal continues after winter parking ban is lifted
RHINELANDER - Another snow storm may cause more headaches for snow plow crews than usual. Spring means that most cities and towns in the Northwoods lift their winter parking ban.
Rhinelander's parking ban lifted earlier this week. That means cars can park on the streets overnight. This makes it difficult for snow plows to do their job. But even with more snow in the forecast, snow removal crews aren't worried.
Full story: WJFW
National group targeted Iron County board candidates
MADISON - A national group with ties to the billionare Koch brothers labeled seven candiates in Iron County as anti-mine.
Three of those candidates won seats on the Iron County Board.
Full story: WJFW
Chemotherapy drug bill to be signed into law
MADISON - The bill to reduce the cost of oral chemotherapy drugs for cancer patients will be signed into law.
Governor Scott Walker plans a ceremony at at a Milwaukee hospital today.
The measure passed the Legislature with bipartisan support.
Full story: WJFW
Residential Rhinelander halfway house meets major defeat
RHINELANDER - Opponents of a halfway house in a residential Rhinelander neighborhood won a major victory Wednesday evening.
An agency called ATTIC Correctional Services wants to set up the halfway house.
Ex-convicts recovering from drug- and alcohol-related crimes would live in the home.
Full story: WJFW
30 Wis. soldiers safe after Fort Hood shooting
MILWAUKEE - Thirty Wisconsin soldiers are safe after a shooting at Fort Hood in Texas.
Wisconsin National Guard spokesman Maj. Paul Rickert says the 30 members of the 32nd Infantry Brigade Combat based in Camp Douglas were there to train for deployment.
Full story: WJFW
Wausau Paper president & CEO resigns
MOSINEE - The president and CEO of Wausau Paper will step down immediately, according to a Wausau Paper press release.
Henry Newell had worked for the company for more than 30 years.
Full story: WJFW
As Legislature ends, focus turns to campaigns
ACROSS WISCONSIN - With the two-year legislative session wrapping up, the campaign season is now heating up across Wisconsin.
Republicans will spend the next eight months campaigning on the roughly $2 billion in tax cuts signed into law over the past three years.
Full story: WJFW
Eagle River Sports Arena update
EAGLE RIVER - The Eagle River Sports Arena dome will be available to host events once more.
Last week the dome was closed to check possible structural issues.
Full story: WJFW
Marathon County man sexually assaulted woman nine times, prosecutors say
WAUSAU - Prosecutors believe an Athens man sexually assaulted a woman nine different times in February.
Many of the details that were discussed in Marathon County court Wednesday are too gruesome to share on television and the web.
But we can tell you 40 year old Michael Mayville faces nine charges of second degree sexual assault and 16 more felony charges.
Full story: WJFW
Tomahawk will soon get a new mayor
TOMAHAWK - Tomahawk will see big changes in leadership soon.
They'll be getting a new mayor.
Clarann Stocker is the first woman to be elected as mayor in Tomahawk.
Full story: WJFW
Northwoods syrup producers still waiting for warmth, cooking what they can
MERRILL - A warm up in the Northwoods means good news for people making their own maple syrup this spring.
The season typically starts in mid-March, but our prolonged cold temperatures have pushed the cooking dates for many producers back.
Full story: WJFW
Spring fling celebration
RHINELANDER - Students in Rhinelander celebrated spring today by going to the library.
The Rhinelander Public Library put on a "Spring Fling Celebration" program.
The celebration involved dancing, planting, and pinata smashing among several activities.
Full story: WJFW
Using e-cigarettes to quit smoking
RHINELANDER - Quitting smoking can be very difficult.
Some people have turned to patches, pills or just going cold turkey to quit.
But now, more and more are using e-cigarettes as a way to kick the habit.
Full story: WJFW
New technology promotes teamwork at Nicolet College
RHINELANDER - Nicolet College believes today's workplace requires a lot of teamwork. That's why the college introduced new technology that promotes working together.
Nicolet College has 4 of the Collaboration stations.
Full story: WJFW
Spring election results here
NORTHWOODS - The following are the latest voting results from Northwoods counties. Only contested races are included; for some results, including selected school board elections, please contact your county clerk. All results are unofficial until canvassed by county officials.
Full story: WJFW
DNR promotes hunting and fishing app for your phone
ACROSS WISCONSIN - Hunting and fishing used to be hobbies we did without technology. But now, you may find another reason to bring your cellphone into the woods or out on the lake.
The DNR designed an app geared towards hunting and fishing. The app offers several mapping options including a GPS locating feature. It also tells you the closest place to hunt or fish. But even if you know where you are, the app may still be useful.
Full story: WJFW
Retiring Senators call for more compromise
MADISON - Senators with a combined 94 years of experience think there needs to be more compromise in politics.
The four are retiring from the state Senate.
They gave their final speeches before the senate yesterday.
Full story: WJFW
Mother sent to jail after being accused of tossing dead baby in garbage
WAUSAU - The mother accused of wrapping her dead baby in a garbage bag and throwing it in a trash bin in Marathon County WILL go to jail.
A judge ordered seven months in jail for 33-year-old Zoua Yang Tuesday.
She'll also be on probation for three years.
Full story: WJFW
Bill to legalize marijuana byproduct passes Senate, families excited for opportunities
MADISON - The Wisconsin state Senate has passed a bill to legalize the use of a marijuana byproduct to help relieve seizure disorders in children.
The Senate voted unanimously Tuesday to pass it.
Full story: WJFW
Wisconsin Senate passes cancer drugs bill
MADISON - Chemotherapy drugs in pill form would be more affordable for cancer patients under a bill that has cleared the Wisconsin Legislature.
Gov. Scott Walker has said he will sign the bill the Senate passed Tuesday on a bipartisan 26-7 vote.
Full story: WJFW
Prosecutors argue over evidence in Lincoln County murder trial
MERRILL - Prosecutors believe a man killed his wife and hid her body last April.
Mark Bucki of Merrill will go to trial soon.
But his attorney first wanted throw out some details he felt shouldn’t be heard during trial.
Full story: WJFW
Zero deaths on Vilas County snowmobile trails this season
VILAS COUNTY - Snowmobile season helps keep tourism jobs in the Northwoods, but it also brings the chance of crashes and even death.
But this year no one died on Vilas County snowmobile trails.
Full story: WJFW
Construction on Highway 51 in Minocqua begins
MINOCQUA - Drivers, walkers, and bicyclists in Minocqua will have an easier time on Highway 51 after the newest project is done.
Construction began on Monday. Work started at the intersection of Highway 70 and US 51 in Minocqua. One of the improvements includes updated street lighting. Overall the project will benefit traffic flow in the area.
Full story: WJFW
WPS rates could go up
RHINELANDER - You could pay more for your electricity next year.
Today, WPS requested permission to raise the cost of electricity and natural gas.
WPS leaders plan to increase the electric rate by eight percent.
Full story: WJFW
