Midwest
Wisconsin library to accept animal photos in lieu of fines for damaged books
A library in Wisconsin announced an innovative new policy for the handling of damaged materials. Instead of paying a fine, library patrons can share a picture of the culprit.
“We understand that library materials can look delicious to pets and young children, so the Middleton Public Library has unveiled a new policy for fatally chomped materials,” said the Middleton Public Library in an April 29 post on its Facebook page.
Middleton is a suburb of Madison, Wisconsin.
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“In lieu of payment for the item, we would like to offer you the option of submitting a photo of the beloved culprit,” said the library, along with a dog emoji.
Since the policy was announced, four “chompers” have taken advantage of it, deputy library director Katharine Clark told Fox News Digital this week in an email.
From left to right, Daisy, Quik, Ward, and Sky were all featured on the Middleton Public Library’s Facebook page after they each ate a book their owners checked out from the library. (Courtesy Middleton Public Library)
The first, Daisy, ate a copy of “The Guest,” by B.A. Paris.
The second was Quik, an American water spaniel, whose choice of chomping material was not revealed.
The third was Ward, a goldendoodle who ate a book about yoga — and finally Sky, an Australian labradoodle who chomped on “Iron Flame” by Rebecca Yarros.
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“So far, all of our book chompers have been dogs, but we look forward to the diversity of animals we may see,” said Clark, noting that the library typically sees about two books a month that suffer damage from pets.
The new policy and subsequent posts were inspired by another library’s offer to waive fines in exchange for a photo of a cat, Clark told Fox News Digital.
“While the Middleton Public Library no longer has late fees for overdue materials, we do charge for lost or damaged materials,” she said.
The Middleton Public Library is located in Middleton, Wisconsin. It does not charge fines for overdue items — and will accept animal pictures instead of a fee for replacing a damaged item. (Google Maps)
Clark continued, “Quickly the conversation turned to the frequency of materials actually damaged by our furry friends, and we thought it would be fun to adapt this fine forgiveness program to showcase these ‘offenders.’”
Libraries, said Clark, “still have a lingering reputation for being places of sternness and punishment. People often approach us with a damaged item thinking that their library privileges will be revoked forever!”
“This exchange can go a long way to creating a positive and lasting relationship with the library.”
This, she said, is not true, noting “we are all human and understand that accidents happen; we would never want one damaged item to destroy someone’s relationship with the library.”
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And while the photos of pets are fun for social media followers, they have had additional benefits for library patrons, she said.
“When staff can present this photo option to a distraught patron, this exchange can go a long way to creating a positive and lasting relationship with the library,” said Clark.
The library’s Facebook post about Sky was shared nearly 500 times, with many people saying that they, too, wanted to “chomp” the book when they were finished with it. (Courtesy Middleton Public Library)
Although Sky was the fourth “chomper” to be featured by the library, the post about his misdeed garnered far more attention than the others.
The Facebook post was shared nearly 500 times, with many people defending Sky’s actions.
“Sky just did what we all wanted to do after finishing ‘Iron Flame,’” said one Facebook user.
“I mean, that book frustrated me, too. Sky is innocent,” said another.
“Australian labradoodles are EXTREMELY smart so I am sure Sky read it,” wrote another Facebook user.
Others said they were now going to follow the library’s Facebook page to see additional photos of dogs.
“I’m here for this type of puppy shaming,” said a Facebook user.
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The Missouri Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at July 1, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Powerball numbers from July 1 drawing
02-06-26-39-68, Powerball: 06, Power Play: 2
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 3 numbers from July 1 drawing
Midday: 1-3-3
Midday Wild: 9
Evening: 3-8-0
Evening Wild: 5
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from July 1 drawing
Midday: 0-5-9-5
Midday Wild: 1
Evening: 5-4-4-8
Evening Wild: 5
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash Pop numbers from July 1 drawing
Early Bird: 12
Morning: 03
Matinee: 01
Prime Time: 07
Night Owl: 02
Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Show Me Cash numbers from July 1 drawing
05-07-18-25-33
Check Show Me Cash payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Powerball Double Play numbers from July 1 drawing
10-20-30-60-64, Powerball: 07
Check Powerball Double Play 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
All Missouri Lottery retailers can redeem prizes up to $600. For prizes over $600, winners have the option to submit their claim by mail or in person at one of Missouri Lottery’s regional offices, by appointment only.
To claim by mail, complete a Missouri Lottery winner claim form, sign your winning ticket, and include a copy of your government-issued photo ID along with a completed IRS Form W-9. Ensure your name, address, telephone number and signature are on the back of your ticket. Claims should be mailed to:
Ticket Redemption
Missouri Lottery
P.O. Box 7777
Jefferson City, MO 65102-7777
For in-person claims, visit the Missouri Lottery Headquarters in Jefferson City or one of the regional offices in Kansas City, Springfield or St. Louis. Be sure to call ahead to verify hours and check if an appointment is required.
For additional instructions or to download the claim form, visit the Missouri Lottery prize claim page.
When are the Missouri Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 9:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 10 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
- Pick 3: 12:45 p.m. (Midday) and 8:59 p.m. (Evening) daily.
- Pick 4: 12:45 p.m. (Midday) and 8:59 p.m. (Evening) daily.
- Cash4Life: 8 p.m. daily.
- Cash Pop: 8 a.m. (Early Bird), 11 a.m. (Late Morning), 3 p.m. (Matinee), 7 p.m. (Prime Time) and 11 p.m. (Night Owl) daily.
- Show Me Cash: 8:59 p.m. daily.
- Lotto: 8:59 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday.
- Powerball Double Play: 9:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Missouri editor. You can send feedback using this form.
OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – Legalizing online sports betting has met with resistance in the Nebraska Legislature for years.
Tax Relief Nebraska, a group backed by Nebraska casinos and online sports betting groups, took the issue to the people of the state through a petition drive.
Those petitions are now in, and casino officials say they expect to have enough signatures to make the November ballot — but also expect pushback through Election Day.
The case for online betting
Currently, legal sports bets cannot be placed on a phone in Nebraska. Casino operators say people who choose to wager are finding other ways to do it.
“They’re just doing it illegally through a virtual private network, or they’re driving over to the first exit between Iowa and Nebraska, placing a bet and then driving back to their home,” said Lynne McNally of Warhorse Casino.
Nebraska casino operators say the state has already collected millions of dollars in state taxes and property tax relief from casino gambling, and that online sports betting would add to that total.
A majority of Nebraskans voted for casino gambling to enter the state in 2020, and casino operators expect similar support if the online betting petition makes the November ballot.
“As you know, we got 65% on the constitutional amendment and actually got nearly 70% on the tax portion of the statute when the casinos were legalized in 2020. I think that we’ll be in that area, if not maybe a little higher than that,” McNally said.
“There’s always going to be a sector of the public that doesn’t want to gamble. They don’t want to go to our facilities and that’s just fine. I guess I have an objection with trying to tell other people what to do,” McNally said.
The opposition
The Nebraska Family Alliance stands against online gambling and plans to campaign against the initiative across the state. The nonprofit group issued a statement that reads in part: “Online sports betting has been a massive public policy failure that benefits national sportsbooks at the expense of kids, student-athletes, families and businesses. While they have more money, they don’t have the truth.”
Pat Loontjer, director of Gambling with the Good Life, has opposed expanded gambling in Nebraska for 30 years.
“They’re telling the same lie — property tax relief. Well in Nebraska you say property tax relief and everybody says where do I sign,” Loontjer said.
Loontjer also raised concerns about the impact on young people.
“Sports betting on the phone is the most addictive thing for young people, young men especially. You’ve got kids that are going to lose their scholarships, lose their future,” Loontjer said.
What comes next
If enough signatures are verified and the issue is placed on the November ballot, Warhorse Casino officials say Nebraskans could be able to make sports bets on their phones by spring of next year.
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MEDORA, N.D. — Thousands of people from across North Dakota and around the country gathered in Medora on Wednesday, July 1, for President Donald Trump’s visit celebrating America’s upcoming 250th anniversary and the dedication of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library.
Under hot summer skies, the normally quiet western North Dakota town transformed into a tightly-secured venue filled with patriotic displays, music and enthusiastic crowds. Attendees lined the route waving American flags and holding signs reading “We Love USA” and “We Love Trump” as Trump arrived aboard the BNSF Freedom 250 train, a ceremonial tribute to the state’s railroad heritage and the Freedom 250 celebration.
Dorvall Bedford / The Dickinson Press
Many in the crowd wore red, white and blue clothing, “Make America Great Again” hats and other patriotic attire. Security was highly visible throughout the event, with law enforcement officers, emergency responders and medical personnel stationed across the venue. Snipers were positioned on nearby buttes and along the rail corridor while ambulances and emergency crews, including Billings County Ambulance and Ringdahl EMS, remained on standby.
Trump was accompanied by his sons, Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr.; Donald Trump Jr.’s partner, Bettina Anderson; and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt. Following his arrival, he was escorted by a mounted Rough Rider reenactment group as he made his way from the train to the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library.
Inside the packed Burning Hills Amphitheater, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum introduced the president before Trump walked onto the stage to Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the U.S.A.”
Dorvall Bedford / The Dickinson Press
During remarks lasting more than an hour, Trump spoke about Theodore Roosevelt’s legacy, American values, law enforcement, the Panama Canal and challenges facing the nation. He also announced $750,000 in support for the presidential library and joked with the audience after technical issues with the teleprompters prompted him to speak without prepared remarks.
Trump concluded his speech by thanking North Dakotans, describing the state as beautiful and ending with his signature dance to “YMCA.”
For many attendees, however, the day was about more than the speech itself. They described the event as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to witness a presidential visit to one of North Dakota’s most recognizable destinations.
Eli Waddington, one of the Rough Rider reenactors who led the mounted presidential procession, said participating in the event was among the greatest honors of his life.
“It’s a great honor, one of the greatest honors we’ve ever been presented with,” Waddington said. “We’re representing the men that have fought and died for this country over the years to make America what it is, and we’re bringing our president and his people to the top of the hill to dedicate the library to one of the best presidents that ever lived, Teddy Roosevelt.”
Dorvall Bedford / The Dickinson Press
Fellow Rough Rider reenactor Jayson Wayne Jones said months of planning, practices and security screenings preceded the event. Only 20 mounted riders were selected to escort the president.
“This is probably the largest honor I’ve ever been involved in,” Jones said. “There was a lot of back and forth, a lot of figuring out. We’ve gone through multiple practices and screenings.”
Among those attending were Dickinson High School seniors Ava Hauck, founder and CEO of the artificial intelligence biotechnology startup Clinivue, and Callie Bowden, the company’s marketing specialist. The pair documented the day’s events while taking in the historic occasion.
Bowden said the scale of the security and road closures was unlike anything she had previously experienced in Medora.
Dorvall Bedford / The Dickinson Press
“We’ve never had Medora blocked off before, so it’s really different,” she said.
Hauck said the visit brought rare national attention to western North Dakota.
“It’s just exciting because we don’t really get a lot of attention in North Dakota,” Hauck said. “It’s really good to see all the excitement brought to Medora.”
For Daniel Gannarelli, chief revenue officer of the Medora Foundation, the event represented a milestone not only for the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library but also for the town itself.
“The last time a president was in Medora was when Teddy Roosevelt was here,” Gannarelli said. “To have a sitting president choose us during the Fourth of July week and the 250th anniversary of the country, when he could literally be anywhere in the world, is quite impressive.”
Dorvall Bedford / The Dickinson Press
Gannarelli said he hopes future presidents from both political parties will continue to visit Medora, emphasizing the community’s desire to welcome people regardless of political affiliation.
“Where the American experiment is actually happening — left and right, all divides of the spectrum, all politically different people can come here to enjoy this,” he said. “I hope we have Obama. I hope we have Bush. Medora is for everyone.”
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As a professional writer with more than 10 years of experience, Kelly lives by these words. With a bachelor’s degree in communication, majoring in broadcasting and journalism, and a fiery passion for writing that began in childhood, she uses the power of words to make an impact in the community — informing, educating, and entertaining a wide range of audiences.
As a journalist, what Kelly loves most about her job is the ability to bring unique stories to the public and give people a voice that can be heard around the world. Whether through print or digital platforms, her goal is to share stories people enjoy reading while spreading valuable information that supports the welfare of southwest North Dakota and its people.
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