Wisconsin
La Crosse, Wisconsin Celebrates Indigenous Peoples' Day
LA CROSSE, Wisc. — On Monday, October 14, 2024, the City of La Crosse hosted its annual Indigenous Peoples’ Day celebration in partnership with the Ho-Chunk Nation, marking a day of cultural appreciation, education, and community engagement.
Held at the La Crosse Center and Riverside Park, the event featured a wide range of activities, performances, and educational opportunities, all designed to celebrate the history, traditions, and contributions of Indigenous peoples, especially the Ho-Chunk Nation.
Indigenous Peoples’ Day is a crucial observance that replaces Columbus Day in many areas to honor the true history of Indigenous peoples and acknowledge the impact of colonization. This day encourages people to reflect on Indigenous resilience, contributions to society, and the ongoing struggles for sovereignty and cultural preservation.
The day began with a lacrosse tournament, a sport deeply rooted in Indigenous tradition, at Riverside Park. Following the tournament registration, the day’s educational programming kicked off at the La Crosse Public Library, where Dr. Ariel Beaujot presented A Story of Resistance to Colonization in the City We Now Call La Crosse.
A ceremonial flag raising and proclamation at Pearl Street Walkway further signified the importance of the day, followed by a welcoming address by Jon Greendeer, Ho-Chunk Nation President, at the La Crosse Center.
Throughout the day, attendees enjoyed various performances, including the Hoocąk Exhibition Dancing and the Majestic Monarch dance team, which brought traditional music and dance to life in South Hall.
Notably, performances by Sampson Funmaker (flute solo) and Irene Keenan Jr. highlighted the depth of Indigenous talent in the arts. The event also featured short educational talks by Josie Lee, Director of the Ho-Chunk Museum & Cultural Center, who discussed the importance of cultural preservation and education.
In addition to performances, the event included several educational components. A native plants and trees identification walk, led by Dr. Alysa Rembsurg, offered a hands-on learning experience about the local flora and their importance in Indigenous culture.
Guests were also invited to explore information booths and listen to readings by Indigenous authors such as Corey Rae White and Irene Keenan Jr., who read from their respective works. The celebration concluded with a performance by Irene Keenan Jr.
By celebrating the traditions, history, and contributions of Indigenous peoples, the event promoted greater understanding and respect in the community. As La Crosse continues to observe Indigenous Peoples’ Day, it sets an example for fostering unity and recognizing the vital role of Indigenous cultures in shaping the future.
About the Author: “Kaili Berg (Aleut) is a member of the Alutiiq/Sugpiaq Nation, and a shareholder of Koniag, Inc. She is a staff reporter for Native News Online and Tribal Business News. Berg, who is based in Wisconsin, previously reported for the Ho-Chunk Nation newspaper, Hocak Worak. She went to school originally for nursing, but changed her major after finding her passion in communications at Western Technical College in Lacrosse, Wisconsin. “
Contact: kberg@indiancountrymedia.com
About 1,000 animal welfare activists who tried to gain entry on Saturday to a beagle breeding and research facility in Wisconsin were turned back by police who fired rubber bullets and pepper spray into the crowd and arrested the group’s leader.
It was the second attempt in as many months by protesters to take beagles from the Ridglan Farms facility in Blue Mounds, a small town about 25 miles (about 40 kilometres) southwest of Wisconsin’s capital, Madison.
Dane County Sheriff Kalvin Barrett said in a video statement that 300 to 400 protesters were “violently trying to break into the property” and assault officers. He said protesters have ignored designated areas for peaceful protest and blocked roads to prevent emergency vehicles from entering.
“This is not a peaceful protest,” Barrett said.
The sheriff’s department said a “significant” number of people were arrested out of about 1,000 protesters at the site but did not give an exact total as they were still being processed as of the afternoon.
Protesters tried to overcome barricades that included a manure-filled trench, hay bales and a barbed-wire fence. Some protesters did get through the fence but were unable to enter the facility, where an estimated 2,000 beagles are kept, the Wisconsin State Journal reported.
Wisconsin guard Andrew Rohde reflects on early March Madness exit
Wisconsin guard Andrew Rohde said the Badgers ‘thought we could do so many things’ in the NCAA Tournament before it ended abrupty with an upset loss.
Wisconsin men’s basketball has added a sharpshooting wing via the transfer portal.
Miami (Ohio) transfer Eian Elmer has signed with the Badgers, the team announced April 18. The 6-foot-7 wing will join UW with one year of eligibility remaining.
Elmer averaged a career-high 12.7 points and 5.9 rebounds while shooting 49.8% from the field and 42.9% from 3-point range in 2025-26. His production helped the RedHawks go 32-2 and earn an at-large NCAA Tournament bid.
“We are really excited to add another excellent addition to our spring signees,” UW coach Greg Gard said in a release. “Eian brings a wealth of experience and scoring punch as a 6-7 wing. … A terrific shooter, his skillset and production fit excellently into our plan as we build out next year’s team. Throughout our evaluation process, our staff loved his size, power and skill and truly believe he will thrive in our system.”
Elmer is Wisconsin’s third transfer portal addition since the end of the 2025-26 season, joining former George Washington guard Trey Autry and former Hofstra forward Victory Onuetu. UW also added Australian guard Owen Foxwell.
The additions of Autry, Onuetu and now Elmer leave Gard’s staff with three more roster spots to fill ahead of the 2026-27 season.
The Badgers are looking to replace much of their production from a 2025-26 team that went 24-11. Nolan Winter is expected to be the team’s only returning starter after John Blackwell and Aleksas Bieliauskas entered the transfer portal and Nick Boyd and Andrew Rohde exhausted their eligibility.
MILWAUKEE – Friday’s severe storms have passed. And with that, the threat of any severe weather has also passed for the immediate future as no storms or rain are expected for several days.
However, plenty of damage remains across southeastern Wisconsin as of Saturday morning, in addition to the ongoing flooding threat.
Several area rivers are at flood stage, and there are multiple river flood warnings in effect.
FOX6 Weekend WakeUp on Saturday begins at 6 a.m.
On the scene in the morning
What we know:
Farmstead damage in Franklin
FOX6’s Hayley Spitler is in Franklin on Saturday morning, April 18, getting a daylight look at the damage from last night’s storms.
Storm damage in Caledonia
Friday’s storms left quite the mark across southern and southeastern Wisconsin, including at L and L Farms and Greenhouse in Caledonia.
FOX6 Weather Extras
Local perspective:
Meanwhile, FOX6Now.com offers a variety of extremely useful weather tools to help you navigate the stormy season. They include the following:
FOX6 Storm Center app
FOX LOCAL Mobile app
FOX Weather app
Maps and radar
We have a host of maps and radars on the FOX6 Weather page that are updating regularly — to provide you the most accurate assessment of the weather. From a county-by-county view to the Midwest regional radar and a national view — it’s all there.
SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News
School and business closings
When the weather gets a little dicey, schools and businesses may shut down. Monitor the latest list of closings, cancellations, and delays reported in southeast Wisconsin.
FOX6 Weather Experts in social media
The Source: Information in this post was compiled by the FOX6 Weather Experts.
-
Virginia2 minutes agoParachutist Slams into Jumbotron at Virginia Tech Spring Game
-
Wisconsin14 minutes agoUS animal rights activists clash with police over Wisconsin dog breeder
-
West Virginia20 minutes agoThe 2026 WVU Tommy Nickolich Award Goes to a Parkersburg Native
-
Wyoming26 minutes agoWyoming Gov. Mark Gordon won’t seek a third term. He won’t rule out running for other offices, either
-
Crypto32 minutes ago1 Cryptocurrency to Buy While It’s Under $80,000
-
Finance38 minutes agoBudget crisis is top concern for MPS leader Cassellius | Opinion
-
Fitness44 minutes agoI’m a running coach — I’ve just tested shoes actually designed for women’s feet, and they’re a total game changer
-
Movie Reviews56 minutes ago‘Hen’ movie review: György Pálfi pecks at Europe’s migrant crisis through the eyes of a chicken