Wisconsin

GOP lawmakers call for state help to reopen shuttered Wisconsin substance abuse treatment facility

Published

11 months ago

June 10, 2025

GOP lawmakers call for state help to reopen shuttered Wisconsin substance abuse treatment facility

Republican lawmakers from western Wisconsin are calling on the state to pledge $1 million to help Lutheran Social Services reopen a substance abuse treatment facility in Chippewa Falls.

The former L.E. Phillips-Libertas Center was the region’s largest in-patient treatment center before it closed last year. It had been a staple of the alcohol and drug abuse treatment community in northwest Wisconsin for decades.

Its closure came with Hospital Sisters Health System’s “complete exit” from western Wisconsin. The treatment center — along with St. Joseph’s hospital in Chippewa Falls, Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire and all Prevea clinics in the area — closed their doors in the early months of 2024.

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Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan announced plans in December to purchase the former Libertas Center and reopen it as a 50-bed, in-patient substance abuse treatment facility for men.

To help offset the anticipated $3 million cost of buying and renovating the building, Republican lawmakers from western Wisconsin have introduced a bill that would require the state Department of Administration to give the nonprofit a $1 million grant.

LSS President and CEO Héctor Colón told WPR the rapid closure of the hospitals, clinics and treatment center “has left the area in desperate need of health care services, and very specifically, mental health and addiction services.”

“So, for us to be able to rise to the occasion and come forward to provide these much needed services is very much needed in this community right now,” Colón said.

During the bill’s public hearing before the Joint Committee on Mental Health and Substance Abuse Prevention Tuesday, Rep. Clint Moses, R-Menominee, said the closures “devastated” the region. He said the bill he introduced along with and Sen. Jesse James, R-Thorp, “can make a very big impact for a very small spend in a very quick period of time.”

“Reopening this facility as a substance use treatment facility will fill a significant void in the area’s growing mental health needs,” Moses said.

Amid testimony on the bill, Rep. Robyn Vining, D-Wauwatosa, noted Republicans have separated funding from other legislation introduced this session and are relying on the powerful Joint Finance Committee to authorize spending. She asked whether Moses and James had submitted a request to JFC for the $1 million. They said they have.

The finance committee has been withholding $15 million that was intended to bolster emergency department capacity at remaining hospitals in western Wisconsin after the closures last year.

While the legislation behind that funding was ultimately signed by Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, he used a partial veto to expand the scope of how the money could be used, stating he objected to “unnecessarily restricting crisis funding intended to address urgent healthcare access needs in western Wisconsin that exist well beyond hospital emergency departments.”

Republicans on the JFC who objected to the partial veto refused to release the funds. If the committee doesn’t act by June 30, the money will lapse back into the state’s general fund.

In an interview with WPR, James said Evers’ veto changed the bill’s scope from providing grants to expand emergency departments in Chippewa County and Eau Claire Counties to covering multiple services in a larger area.

“How far do you truly think $15 million is going to go? Because he also expanded … eligibility to 18 counties in the region. It totally defeats the emergency that we’re facing in our area,” James said.

James seemed more optimistic about his bill to help fund the reopening of the treatment center in Chippewa Falls. He said there “seems to be support” for the effort.

“I do see it, whether or not with the Democrat support, getting through,” James said. “And I do believe that the governor is going to support this.”

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Wisconsin

Kirk Bangstad enters Wisconsin governor’s race, two days after visit from FBI

Published

3 hours ago

May 3, 2026

Press Room

Kirk Bangstad enters Wisconsin governor’s race, two days after visit from FBI

(WLUK) — Just two days after he met with the FBI and Secret Service, Minocqua Brewing Company owner Kirk Bangstad has entered the Wisconsin governor’s race.

Bangstad made the announcement this afternoon during an event that was posted on the company’s Facebook page.

He says he wanted someone to “stand up to Trump” and that his main concerns is “saving our democracy.”

Bangstad also shared his dissatisfaction with the current group of candidates for the crowded Democratic primary later this year

“I never wanted to do this,” Bangstad said. “At least I’m part of the conversation that I feel like everybody needs to be hearing right now.”

The brewing company owner was under fire this week after he posted “well, we almost got #freebeerday” shortly after the latest assassination attempt on President Donald Trump.

Bangstad has been a outspoken critic of the president. His company currently has a promotion promising free beer on the day Trump dies, which has drawn heavy criticism in the past.

In addition, his company sells merchandise that’s critical of the president, including t-shirts that read “I wish it was free beer day at Minocqua Brewing Company” and “Is he dead yet?”

Bangstad did not share if he would be aiming for a partisan endorsement, or the status of various required documents to enter the race.

He previously ran for a seat in the 34th District of the Wisconsin Assembly in 2020, but did not win the race. The Democratic Party of Wisconsin did donate to that campaign.

The Democratic primary is up in the air, with several state legislators and officials already in the race.

These include State Rep. Francesca Hong, former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez, and Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley.

On the Republican side, U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany is the front-runner, following an endorsement from President Trump that led to Washington County Executive Josh Schoemann dropping out of the race.

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Wisconsin

Walleye and musky fishing season now open on Wisconsin lakes

Published

15 hours ago

May 2, 2026

Press Room

Walleye and musky fishing season now open on Wisconsin lakes

article

MADISON, Wis. – Walleye and musky fishing season will proceed as normal on Wisconsin’s lakes, despite resolutions by a local Tribe to restrict fishing on certain lakes.

On Friday, May 1, the federal Western District of Wisconsin issued a temporary restraining order that stopped the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians from restricting fishing of walleye and musky on certain lakes.

According to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR), over the past month, the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians have passed resolutions and made public statements that attempted to prohibit non-tribal members from fishing walleye and musky on nineteen lakes within the external boundaries of the Band’s reservation and from using forward trolling and forward-facing sonar on all lakes within the external boundaries of the Band’s reservation.

The State of Wisconsin filed a federal complaint in the Western District of Wisconsin to prevent the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians from enforcing these resolutions against licensed anglers.

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Where to fish

What we know:

The federal court issued a restraining order against the tribe, which means that non-tribal anglers may fish as normal in the following lakes:

Big Crawling Stone Lake
Big Crooked Lake
Bolton Lake
Fat Lake
Fence Lake
Flambeau Lake
Ike Walton Lake
Little Crawling Stone Lake
Little Sand Lake
Long Lake
Pokegama Lake
Poupart Lake
Signal Lake
Stearns Lake
Sugarbush Chain (Upper, Middle and Lower)
White Sand Lake
Whitefish Lake

The DNR says it remains committed to collaborating with the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians on important conservation work to protect the walleye and musky fisheries.

Anglers are also reminded to follow all fishing regulations and bag limits for lakes across Wisconsin, and everyone is encouraged to be respectful of all tribal harvesters, anglers, and recreators.

Head to the DNR’s website to check out the full fishing season schedule.

The Source: The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) sent FOX6 a news release.

Hunting and FishingNewsWisconsin

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Wisconsin

Wisconsin Lottery Mega Millions, Pick 3 results for May 1, 2026

Published

1 day ago

May 2, 2026

Press Room

Wisconsin Lottery Mega Millions, Pick 3 results for May 1, 2026

The Wisconsin Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at May 1, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Mega Millions numbers from May 1 drawing

16-21-27-41-61, Mega Ball: 24

Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from May 1 drawing

Midday: 8-3-1

Evening: 0-8-0

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from May 1 drawing

Midday: 4-5-0-8

Evening: 7-8-4-7

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning All or Nothing numbers from May 1 drawing

Midday: 01-02-03-05-07-10-11-14-15-16-17

Evening: 02-03-05-06-10-11-13-16-18-20-22

Check All or Nothing payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Badger 5 numbers from May 1 drawing

04-09-11-19-21

Check Badger 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning SuperCash numbers from May 1 drawing

16-18-21-22-28-29, Doubler: N

Check SuperCash payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

Prizes up to $599: Can be claimed at any Wisconsin Lottery retailer.
Prizes from $600 to $199,999: Can be claimed in person at a Lottery Office. By mail, send the signed ticket and a completed claim form available on the Wisconsin Lottery claim page to: Prizes, PO Box 777 Madison, WI 53774.
Prizes of $200,000 or more: Must be claimed in person at the Madison Lottery office. Call the Lottery office prior to your visit: 608-261-4916.

Can Wisconsin lottery winners remain anonymous?

No, according to the Wisconsin Lottery. Due to the state’s open records laws, the lottery must, upon request, release the name and city of the winner. Other information about the winner is released only with the winner’s consent.

When are the Wisconsin Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 10:00 p.m. CT on Tuesday and Friday.
Super Cash: 9:00 p.m. CT daily.
Pick 3 (Day): 1:30 p.m. CT daily.
Pick 3 (Evening): 9:00 p.m. CT daily.
Pick 4 (Day): 1:30 p.m. CT daily.
Pick 4 (Evening): 9:00 p.m. CT daily.
All or Nothing (Day): 1:30 p.m. CT daily.
All or Nothing (Evening): 9 p.m. CT daily.
Megabucks: 9:00 p.m. CT on Wednesday and Saturday.
Badger 5: 9:00 p.m. CT daily.

That lucky feeling: Peek at the past week’s winning numbers.

Feeling lucky? WI man wins $768 million Powerball jackpot **

WI Lottery history: Top 10 Powerball and Mega Million jackpots

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Wisconsin editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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