Local News

Body Identified as Missing UW-Eau Claire Student

Mike Ness — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 19:23:00 GMT

A body pulled from the Chippewa River belonged to a missing UW-Eau Claire student. The UW-Police Department confirmed the body as 20-year-old David Rogers of Northfield Minnesota. Canoeists spotted the body near the Short Street Bridge just before 6pm Monday. Rogers disappeared April 19th, and matched the description of a man witnesses say fell into the river from the campus footbridge.

Xiong to Deputies: "I'm Sorry For What I Did"

Dan Lea — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 17:40:00 GMT

Deputies say an Altoona man charged with murder told them he was sorry for what he did, but that, "She did something stupid." 41-year-old Ying Xiong is charged with first-degree intentional homicide in the death of 35-year-old Panhia Vue. He made his initial appearance in Eau Claire County circuit court this morning. Xiong appeared via video conferencing from the jail, along with a public defender and an interpreter. Xiong and Vue both lived at 1220 10th Street West in Altoona, and investigators say they were a couple with domestic issues. According to the criminal complaint, Vue was last seen alive late Sunday, June 9th at their home. Her body was discovered in a shed at the home last Tuesday. There were burns to the upper torso, and an autopsy revealed Vue had been strangled. Xiong had left the home that morning, switched vehicles and driven to Marathon County, where he has family and is going through a divorce with another woman. Xiong was arrested after fleeing from Marathon County officers, first in a vehicle, and then on foot. A search of the vehicle turned up more than 19,000 dollars in cash and a necklace identified as belonging to Vue. Investigators say Xiong had no known job and a large amount of cash was missing from the residence. Deputies who brought Xiong to a clinic Friday say that he started talking to them, though they did not initiate the conversation, and that he was sorry that they had to watch him, and that he was sorry for what he did. Xiong told the deputies he has been married twice before, and that both of his wives left him for another man. Xiong remains in the Eau Claire County Jail on a half million dollar cash bond. He's due back in court July 9th.

Man Mauled by Bear

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 11:42:00 GMT

A state wildlife expert says it’s really unusual for one black bear to attack a human – much less two. Northern Wisconsin had its second bear attack in two months on Monday night, when Jerry Brown of rural Shell Lake and his dog were hurt in their yard. State D-N-R carnivore specialist David MacFarland said Brown’s dog was apparently the first to have contact with the bear – and the animal then mauled Brown. McFarland said Brown’s brother came out of a cabin, and shot the bear. The injured animal then ran away. Officials were still looking for the bear at last word. Brown was taken to a hospital in Shell Lake, and then flown to a facility in Robbinsdale Minnesota. He was in critical but stable condition at last word. MacFarland says black bear are normally not aggressive enough to attack humans. Last month, a dog tangled with a bear in Marinette County before the bear attacked Gerre Ninneman. His wife then the bear’s head with a gun, and a sheriff’s deputy shot-and-killed the animal.

Mormon Tabernacle Choir to Perform in Black River Falls Today

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 11:38:00 GMT

It may seem like an unlikely venue for a short concert by one of the country's most famous choirs - the Mormon Tabernacle Choir will be in Back River Falls today, singing alongside a new trailhead historical marker. The marker commemorates Mormon pioneers who built a sawmill in Black River Falls in the 1840's. According to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir website, the mill sent 1.5 million board-feet of lumber down the Black River to the Mississippi to Nauvoo, Illinois - a city central to the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The lumber was used to build the Nauvoo Temple. The choir will sing 2-3 songs at a dedication cermony starting at 10am next to the Foundation Trail, which is near the Field of Honor and the Chamber of Commerce building. Black River Falls City Administrator Brad Chown says the historical marker was paid for by members of the choir. Chown says it's an exciting opportunity for local residents to see the famous group perform, even if it's just for a few songs. He expects the ceremony to run 45 minutes to an hour. Shuttles will run from the Jackson County Fair Park and Wal-Mart to help attendees avoid downtown construction.

Wisconsin Has a Venture Capital Fund

Mike Ness — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 20:40:00 GMT

The bill, including a minor amendment passed in committed, received bipartisan support. Racine Senator John Lehman one of two Democrats to vote against it. "I just don't want to throw the money on the table. I don't want to gamble the 25-million-dollars."

Many Democrats say the bill is less than what they wanted. Janesville Senator Tim Cullen had a message for them.
"I've watched this bill for a while now, and it reminds me of a pretty famous saying - don't make the perfect be the enemy of the good."

In the end, only Lehman, Senator Bob Wirch of Pleasent Prairie and Republican Senator Glenn Grotham of West Bend voted no.

The Assembly, on the floor today, will need to approve modified bill before it heads to the governor.

Man Dead After Van Collides with Train

Mike Ness — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 20:19:00 GMT

One man was killed in a car versus train crash Tuesday morning. The Clark County Sheriff's Department says 81-year-old Charles Podbelsek failed to stop at the stop sign approaching a railroad crossing on Century Road in the Township of Unity. He collided with a Canadian National train being operated by 56 year old Jeffrey Graff of Superior. Investigators say Podbelsek was ejected from his vehicle after it was thrown south of the crossing; he was pronounced dead at the scene. The investigation is ongoing.

Man Attacked by Black Bear

Mike Ness — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 20:09:00 GMT

A Burnett County man is recovering at a Minneapolis-St. Paul hospital after being mauled by a black bear. The Department of Natural Resources says the unidentified man was attacked in his yard near Shell Lake on Monday night. Authorities say a dog may have triggered the attack, the man's brother shot and injured the bear. D-N-R says the man is in stable condition and they are searching for the bear.

Rear-End Collision Injures 5

Mike Ness — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 20:07:00 GMT

A man that caused a crash resulting in injuries in Lake Hallie is being held at the Chippewa County Jail. The Lake Hallie Police Department says 46-year-old Robert Holm of Lake Hallie rear-ended a legally stopped van at the intersection of Highway 124 and 40th Avenue, Sunday afternoon. Five passengers in the van had to taken to a hospital by ambulance for non-life-threatening injuries. Police say Holm had no alcohol under his breath but he failed field sobriety tests. Holm was arrested for an active warrant, as well as operating while under the influence of a controlled substance causing injury, 2nd offense, and possession of THC among other charges.

Feingold Named U.S. Envoy to the Congo

Mike Ness — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 19:55:00 GMT

Former U-S Senator Russ Feingold of Wisconsin was named this morning as a U-S envoy to a troubled region of Africa. Secretary-of-State John Kerry announced Feingold’s appointment at a State Department media briefing in Washington. Feingold headed the Senate Foreign Relations’ sub-committee on Africa when he served in the Senate from 1993 through 2010. Kerry said Feingold would help U-S efforts in what he called a “long-troubled region” in the Congo. Kerry said the stakes in that part of the world are very significant – and when the two served together in the Senate, Kerry said Feingold was quote, “the leading advocate and expert on Africa.” The nation’s top diplomat said there’s a need to help those involved in the conflicts find a path to peace, make those committing human rights abuses accountable, and break down barriers between humanitarian aid and civilians who need it. Feingold was unseated by Republican Ron Johnson in 2010. Since then, he has written a book. He’s also been a visiting professor at Marquette, Lawrence of Appleton, and Stanford. Assuming he serves through the rest of the Obama administration, Feingold would not be available to run for governor in 2014. One poll earlier this year showed that Feingold would be the most likely Democrat to defeat Republican Governor Scott Walker.

Teen Detention Center Populations Drop Significantly

Mike Ness — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 19:53:00 GMT

Wisconsin is one of nine states that dramatically reduced its numbers of teens in detention centers during the last decade. That’s according to a report issued today by the National Juvenile Justice Network and the Center for Effective Justice in Texas. The report said the numbers of incarcerated youths dropped by 43-percent from 2001-through-2010. That’s four-percent more than the national decline of 39-percent. Back in 2000, the Badger State had 109-thousand juveniles who were held in detention centers either awaiting trials, or found delinquent by judges. That number dropped to 66-thousand by the end of 2010. Wisconsin and the other eight states all had huge increases in incarcerated youths from 1985-through-2000. Jim Moeser of the Wisconsin Council on Children and Families said the drop in teen detentions was due to strategic reforms at the state-and-local level which provided services to youths-and-families instead of just incarcerations. The other states recognized today were Washington, New York, Mississippi, Illinois, Texas, Ohio, California, and Connecticut.