MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is holding Free Fishing Weekend on Saturday and Sunday.
Anglers across the state can wet a line without a fishing license, trout stamp or salmon stamp.
“We encourage people that maybe haven’t participated in ice fishing in the past and want to check it out and learn a little bit more about it to join their family and friends or go to a nearby lake and consider giving it a try themselves,” Bob Nack with the Wisconsin DNR said.
Youth 15-year-old or under don’t need a license to go ice fishing any time of the year, so Nack says this free weekend applies to those that are 16-year-old and older.
“The idea is that hopefully they have a good time and enjoy themselves, want to do it in the future and that ignites that passion for natural resources that we have here in Wisconsin and their intertest in getting more involved with that in the future,” Nack said.
Nack says ice fishing doesn’t have to be a very gear-intensive sport.
“People shouldn’t feel intimidated if they don’t have all of the fancy equipment to go ice fishing,” he said. “You need a hole in the ice and some basic bait and getting advice from people that are out there fishing or the nearest bait shop is probably a good idea.”
Anglers can rent gear at various tackle loaner sites across the state. You can find those here, listed by county.
The Wisconsin DNR also wants to make sure everyone is safe out on the ice.
“Obviously, I would avoid areas of the lake where there’s nobody fishing because either the fish aren’t biting there or it could potentially be unsafe as well,” Nack said. “Just using some common sense and not exploring areas that may be unsafe.”
Nack adds ice tends to be a little bit thinner on springs and where there’s moving water.
The DNR is also hosting Learn to Ice Fish clinics during Free Fishing Weekend. You can register online or by calling 608-266-4711.
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Copyright 2025 WMTV. All rights reserved.
The biggest World Cup ever is here
The biggest World Cup ever is here, with 48 teams and three host countries. How will it change soccer and can the U.S. seize its home-field moment?
TORONTO – Jesse Marsch and Esmir Bajraktarević have never met.
But if the Canadian men’s national team coach and midfielder from Bosnia and Herzegovina, respectively, were to link up following the June 12 Group B kickoff as Canada hosts its first World Cup match? Break out the Euchre and cheese curds.
“Maybe we’ll get together and talk about the Packers and Cheeseheads and all that kind of stuff,” Marsch said at a June 12 news conference. “I hope he still remembers that.”
Bajraktarević was born in the United States – Appleton, Wisconsin, specifically – after his parents left war-torn Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2001. He maintained close ties to his parents’ home country and, despite coming up through the U.S. national team’s system, switched allegiances to Bosnia and Herzegovina in a move that was approved by FIFA in 2024.
“It’s just very proud for me every time I play for Bosnia,” Bajraktarević told ESPN Netherlands. “It’s a different feeling. It’s where my parents come from and it’s what I always thought of myself as – as a Bosnian. It’s the best feeling.
“In (my) heart, I always knew since I was little that it was going to be Bosnia at the end of the day. There’s videos of me wearing (Bosnian legend) Edin Džeko’s jerseys growing up. He was my favorite player growing up, and it’s just something you dream of.”
Dubbed “The Milwaukee Messi” after he netted the game-winning penalty kick against Italy to send Bosnia and Herzegovina to its second-ever World Cup (and first since 2014), Bajraktarević told FOX Sports the moment was “one of the best feelings I’ve ever had in my life.”
“It was like a dream come true,” he told FOX Sports. “It sounds (cheesy), but that’s the only way I can explain it.”
The soccer universe is expansive. It’s the world’s game, after all. Except in Wisconsin, the circles are close-knit.
A native of Kenosha, Wisconsin, Marsch said there is plenty of crossover between people they know from the Badger State. More importantly, for Marsch’s scouting purposes, he knows those who have coached the precocious 21-year-old at his professional spots, the New England Revolution and PSV in the Netherlands.
Bajraktarević left Wisconsin at 16 to start at the Revolution’s youth academy and made 48 appearances with New England from 2022-24. Since joining PSV, he’s logged 38 caps and scored 7 goals with 5 assists across all competitions
“Certainly, as a Wisconsinite, I’m proud of what a great player he is. He’s one of, if not the best, player to ever come out of that state,” Marsch said. “I maybe held that for, like, a three-week period.
“He’s a very talented young man. I still think he has a big future. And he is one of the players that we’re keying in on to make sure he doesn’t have an easy day, because we know when he has time and space, that he can be a creator, he can be a contributor. He’s an important guy for them for sure.”
Manuel Franco claims his $768 million Powerball jackpot
Manuel Franco, 24, of West Allis was revealed Tuesday as the winner of the $768.4 million Powerball jackpot.
Mark Hoffman, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
The Wisconsin Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at June 11, 2026, results for each game:
Midday: 9-3-1
Evening: 7-2-2
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Midday: 6-1-5-4
Evening: 8-0-4-1
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Midday: 02-05-06-11-12-13-14-15-16-18-19
Evening: 02-06-08-09-12-13-14-17-18-19-21
Check All or Nothing payouts and previous drawings here.
07-11-20-22-30
Check Badger 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
01-02-18-26-30-38, Doubler: N
Check SuperCash payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
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.
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.
(WBAY) – Severe thunderstorms moved through northeast Wisconsin on Wednesday afternoon, leaving thousands without power and causing widespread wind damage. More storms are forecasted for Thursday.
Here’s different images of the damage from our viewers. Submit your photos at wbay.com/photos.
Copyright 2026 WBAY. All rights reserved.
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