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MADISON - With the gun deer season just over a week away, hunters get some reminders about safety.
The Department of Natural Resources tells hunters to treat every firearm as if it's loaded.
You should always point the muzzle in a safe direction.
MADISON - Republicans will have a 63-36 majority next year in the state Assembly after a Democrat who lost a close election concedes instead of seeking a recount.
Dick Cates said in a statement Thursday that he won't ask for a recount in his race for the open 51st District seat in southwestern Wisconsin against Republican Todd Novak. Unofficial results showed Cates lost by 59 votes, and in his statement Cates says that grew to 64 votes after the votes were canvassed.
WHITE LAKE - Some teachers in White Lake could lose their jobs.
A school referendum failed last week. That's the second time in seven months voters rejected more funding for the school.
Now, the district can't afford to keep all of its programming. The district faces a $260,000 budget deficit.
RIB LAKE - More children in the U.S. will suffer tooth decay than any other chronic disease, but it can be prevented.
On Thursday, 35 students traded in a school desk for a dental chair for some preventative care.
They're some of more than 205,000 children across the state that have received preventative care from the Wisconsin Seal-A-Smile Program during the past 14 years.
RHINELANDER - The 10-year-old armored vehicle owned by the Oneida County Sheriff's Office still works, but the office will sell that vehicle and buy a new one by next June.
Oneida County Sheriff Grady Hartman knows the armored vehicle issue can be contentious.
But on Wednesday, he pushed for and won approval from the Oneida County Board.
RHINELANDER - A Rhinelander based group wants to do more to help people younger than 18 that have moved out of their parent's home.
Kids in Need in Rhinelander helps Northwoods children.
Workers at the program have seen many kids that don't live at home, but there wasn't much they could do.
NEW RICHMOND - Phillips-Medisize will spend $30 million to expand five of its facilities in Wisconsin, according to press release from the governor's office.
The move could mean 484 new jobs in four counties. The company designs, develops, and manufactures medical devices and pharmaceutical packaging.
"We are excited to announce the investments in our facilities that will expand our capabilities, enable us to hire employees with needed expertise and will allow us to deliver on our commitments to our customers with the right resources, at the right time." Chairman and CEO Matt Jennings said at the company's official announcement in New Richmond Thursday.
MADISON - Agricultural exports are moving out of Wisconsin rapidly.
The Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection says Wisconsin farms and agribusinesses have exported nearly $2.8 billion worth or products to 138 countries so far this year. That's a 17 percent increase over the same period last year.
ENTERPRISE - You couldn't pick a more fitting week to cut down the Capitol Christmas tree.
This week's snow storm provided the perfect holiday setting.
Veteran's Day gave a solemn reminder of this year's themeâ€"Honoring Wisconsin's Veterans.
WAUKESHA - A 12-year-old girl accused of trying to kill a friend in Waukesha may now be well enough to stand trial.
That's according to a report from a state doctor.
It found the girl's mental condition has improved enough for her to assist in her defense.
BIRNAMWOOD - Another video from an undercover employee shows farm employees kicking, punching, and stomping on dairy cattle.
This time, the animal rights group Mercy For Animals says the video is from Andrus Dairy Farm in Birnamwood.
Some cows are hit with poles.
MADISON - Hunters may hit the quota for Wisconsin's wolf season soon.
The hunt is only nine wolves away from Wisconsin's statewide kill limit.
According to the state Department of Natural Resources, hunters killed 141 wolves as of Tuesday.
MADISON - More Wisconsin residents can now connect to a high-speed internet service.
That's thanks to expanded broadband coverage across the state.
State and federal grants have helped.
MADISON - Plans for a mega-farm in Central Wisconsin might move forward.
A milk producer's wants to locate a 40-million-dollar farm in Adams County.
It's been tied up in the courts for about three years.
PARK FALLS - Someone shot and seriously hurt a cat in Price County last spring.
Catkins Animal Rescue in Park Falls took in the cat named Sunny.
Shelter volunteers weren't sure if Sunny would survive.
RHINELANDER - People who get a domestic abuse restraining order granted against them will now be required to turnover their guns to local sheriff's offices. It's a new law intending to cut down on domestic abuse-related deaths.
The law forces people with domestic abuse restraining orders to give up their guns for a set period of time. The Firearm Surrender Law took effect on November 1.
Lt. Terri Hook of the Oneida County Sheriff's Office says the county issues about 10 of these restraining orders each year.
PHELPS - Your next propane bill could help local schools stock up on supplies. AmeriGas in Eagle River is participating in their company School Days program. Customers using propane from the company can use their receipts to help. AmeriGas contributes money to the schools based on the amount of propane customers purchase.
"There's a portion on the receipt that says "Community School Receipt" and that's what is sent in to us," explained Phelps District Book-keeper Cindy Sturgeon. "So they still have a copy of their receipt, this is just a portion that says how many gallons and their account number, and the date."
RHINELANDER - You might credit a seminar for more people attending the Oneida County Board meeting Wednesday.
Turnout at Wednesday's annual budget meeting was much better compared to normal monthly meetings.
Every seat in the courthouse board room was filled.
MINOCQUA - Snow piles of ten feet or more dot the downtowns of Northwoods communities.
Plows created them in clearing the streets.
But now the piles need somewhere to go.
RHINELANDER - Expera Specialty Solutions owns four paper mills in Wisconsin, including mills in Rhinelander and Mosinee.
The company says it will buy a recently closed pulp mill in Maine.
The Old Town Fuel and Fiber Pulp Mill in Old Town, Maine shut down in August.
RHINELANDER - A suspect in an armed robbery at a Woodruff gas station appeared in court Wednesday.
Police believe 43-year-old Byron Lewis of St. Paul, Minnesota, robbed a Krist gas station clerk at gunpoint Sunday night.
The clerk told police a man in a black ski mask came into the gas station, took out a gun, and demanded money.
WOODRUFF - You might get more assistance while deer hunting this fall. The Woodruff DNR Service Center will now stay open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. It's part of their initiative to improve customer availability.
"We're trying to increase our face-to-face time and allow our customers more opportunity to get in and get their business taken care of," said DNR Customer Service Representative Jon Cooksey. "They can buy their licenses and take care of their registration needs with us."
MINOCQUA - Seasonal visitors to the Northwoods might stay longer if rural areas had better broadband internet.
A new project in the Lakeland area will help make that happen in the next year.
Wisconsin's Public Service Commission and local groups will chip in $90,000 to upgrade existing towers for better broadband service.
ONEIDA COUNTY/OSHKOSH - A sex offender accused of making a booklet filled with photos of young Northwoods girls could get his charges dismissed.
Albert Chagnon is charged with 23 felony counts for storing photos without permission from the girls' parents. Prison officers in Oshkosh found the booklet just a few days before Chagnon was released from prison.
Chagnon's lawyer filed a motion to have every felony charge against Chagnon dropped. He doesn't think what Chagnon did is illegal. That's because of the wording of the law.
EAGLE RIVER - Yesterday, many Veterans Day Ceremonies got cancelled due to the snowy weather.
But, many towns took time today to honor our Veterans.
The entire Northland Pines School District gathered to honor veterans. The assembly included a surprise for veterans. The Northland Pines School District Staff dedicated two tickets for the honor flight. The football team and the fire department each donated a ticket as well.
PRENTICE - The School District of Prentice will stay closed for the rest of the week.
That's because a fire in an art room caused significant smoke damage in the hallways.
The fire happened around 8 Tuesday morning.
MARSHFIELD - Some repeat drunk drivers in Wisconsin may not be getting as much jail time as they should.
A Gannett Wisconsin Media review found some frequent drunken drivers in Wisconsin spend little time behind bars on felony charges.
There have been at least a dozen cases across the state where judges imposed sentences below the minimum required by law.
MADISON - Katrina Shankland (D-Stevens Point) will serve as the Assistant Minority Leader in the State Assembly next session, according to a Shankland press release.
Shankland will replace Sandy Pasch at the position. It's the second leadership spot in the minority.
"I'm deeply honored to have the trust of both my constituents and my colleagues. Assembly Democrats are strong in their diversity and ideas, and I'm excited to work alongside them," Shankland said in the release.
GREEN BAY - A University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh student has been suspended after being charged with possession of ricin.
University officials announced Tuesday that 21-year-old Kyle Smith has been placed on interim suspension and cannot set foot on campus for the time being. He faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted of the biological weapons offense.
RHINELANDER - Most people might be preoccupied with shoveling their driveways or sidewalks in the Northwoods. To prevent ice, many people are putting down salt. That item has been flying off the shelves at Northwoods stores.
People also stocked up on food Sunday at the Walmart store Rhinelander, but people came to buy shovels and sand Monday and Tuesday.
