Local Rhinelander Headlines

GREEN BAY - Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers will return to start Sunday's game for the NFC North title against the Chicago Bears. Coach Mike McCarthy announced Thursday that Rodgers will be back after missing seven games because of a left collarbone injury. Full story: WJFW

ACROSS THE NORTHWOODS - Last year, people spent three billion dollars on gift cards. But only half of that money was actually cashed in. Keeping gift cards in purses and drawers without checking their value can be one way a card goes unused. Full story: WJFW

ACROSS WISCONSIN - Unemployment rates increased in most Wisconsin counties and in 14 of the largest cities in November. The state Department of Workforce Development reported Thursday that rates increased in 53 of 72 counties between October and November. Unemployment also went up in 14 of the 32 largest cities. Full story: WJFW

MADISON - Talk of cutting taxes in Wisconsin grows as we head into an election year. The ideas vary widely. They include everything from a sales tax holiday to eliminating the state income tax. Full story: WJFW

WAUKESHA - Nearly 150 Wisconsin soldiers have arrived back home, just in time for the holidays. A WISN-TV report says 146 troops with the U.S. Army's 372nd Engineer Company arrived in Waukesha County on Tuesday. Full story: WJFW

MIDDLETON - An 82-year-old Middleton widow who cleaned houses for a living has donated $100,000 for the city to begin work on a new 11-acre park. A Wisconsin State Journal report says Lucille Taylor may not have been wealthy, but she lived a thrifty life and also made good investments. Full story: WJFW

FOND DU LAC - A Fond du Lac animal shelter is hoping to expand next year so it can provide more space for the thousands of animals that arrive each year. A Reporter Media report (http://fondul.ac/K4iGe8 ) says the Fond du Lac Humane Society has raised $350,000 of the necessary $600,000. Full story: WJFW

WAUSAU - A judge hearing a dog-torture case in Marathon County is expected to decide next week whether excerpts from the defendant's diary will be admissible at trial. A Daily Herald Media report says 21-year-old Sean D. Janas of Wausau is charged with mistreating an animal and causing its death. Full story: WJFW

RHINELANDER - A local store in Rhinelander helped their customers find the perfect gift for kids. Imaginuity on Brown Street wanted to make sure their customers picked out the right kind of gift. The manager encouraged people to try out the games before getting them as a gift for Christmas. Full story: WJFW

MERRILL - ---LATEST UPDATE--- Lincoln Sheriff's Deputies knew for weeks about the Gleason-area house with more than 50 dogs living in it. On Sunday, the Lincoln County Humane Society called the situation they found "part puppy mill, part hoarding." Full story: WJFW

LANGLADE COUNTY - Millions and millions of acres of forests cover northern Wisconsin. The peak of the logging era is over. But forestry remains an important field for people in the Northwoods. Full story: WJFW

PEMBINE - Democrats and Republicans in Wisconsin overwhelmingly agreed on a worker training proposal earlier this year. The Wisconsin Fast Forward will pledge $15 million in worker training grants. Full story: WJFW

RHINELANDER - Tis the season for giving, and the Rhinelander Food Pantry hopes you'll give some of your time this year. They are in need of volunteers. Right now the food pantry has between two-hundred and three-hundred volunteers. But they could always use extra help. Full story: WJFW

MADISON - The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has released a new atlas of public stewardship lands. The Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program is the DNR's primary mechanism for purchasing public land. Republicans have long criticized the program, saying it removes land from the tax rolls, closes off too much stewardship land to hunting and fishing, has run up huge debt and few people have a good idea of what land is actually open. Full Story: WJFW