Wisconsin

Largest-ever Wisconsin land conservation project dies in Legislature

Published

2 years ago

April 18, 2023

Largest-ever Wisconsin land conservation project dies in Legislature

Republicans on the Legislature’s finances committee voted Tuesday to kill funding for the most important land conservation undertaking in Wisconsin historical past, a transfer that got here following issues in regards to the $15 million buy of 56,000 acres of forest land that might have been open to each logging and leisure use.

Republican lawmakers objected in November to utilizing $4 million from the state’s Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program to assist finance the acquisition of the property east of Rhinelander in northern Wisconsin referred to as the Pelican River Forest. The remainder of the funding for the conservation easement would come from a federal grant.

Efforts to deal with lawmakers’ issues since objections had been raised had been unsuccessful, Sen. Mary Felzkowski, one of many Republicans who objected to the undertaking, stated Tuesday. She was among the many 12 Republicans on the Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee who voted to kill the undertaking, whereas all 4 Democrats voted to fund it.

WISCONSIN DNR BOARD APPROVES RESOLUTION SEEKING MORE MONEY FROM LEGISLATURE

Felzkowski raised issues about what impact it will have on northern Wisconsin’s economic system to take away that a lot land from future potential improvement. Republicans have lengthy raised issues about taking blocks of personal land off the tax rolls by means of the state’s stewardship program.

“Sufficient is sufficient,” Felzkowski stated Tuesday.

Felzkowski faulted advocates of the undertaking for not having conversations about issues raised by snowmobilers, native communities and others who can be affected by the undertaking. Felzkowski accused the state Pure Assets Board of voting to approve the undertaking regardless of issues raised by native communities that wished a number of the land accessible for future improvement.

Republican Rep. Mark Born, co-chair of the finances committee, stated the state Division of Pure Assets “needs to be ashamed for what they did on this.” He accused the company of making an attempt to “shove this down the throat of locals” and pretending like there have been no issues in regards to the undertaking.

A spokesperson for the company didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark in response to the committee’s actions and Born’s accusations.

Republicans within the Wisconsin Legislature voted to kill funding for the state’s largest-ever land conservation undertaking.

Beneath the committee’s course of, lawmakers can object to funding a undertaking in secret. The objection triggers a gathering to evaluate the undertaking, however tasks will be left in limbo and successfully killed with lengthy delays earlier than a gathering is known as.

Felzkowski beforehand got here ahead as a type of who objected, and on Tuesday committee co-chair Sen. Howard Marklein stated he was one other.

Democratic Rep. Evan Goyke stated he was grateful for the dialogue in regards to the undertaking in open, calling it “a bit of little bit of sunshine.”

However Born discounted that, saying issues in regards to the undertaking have been publicly reported for months.

“This wasn’t like I wanted to have some secret code to search out this info,” he stated.

The Conservation Fund, a Virginia-based nationwide land conservation group, purchased the land that features 16 parcels positioned largely east of Rhinelander in Oneida County, but in addition in Forest and Langlade counties. The land straddles the Nice Lakes and Mississippi River watersheds and is a hyperlink between the Oneida County Forest and Chequamegon-Nicolet Nationwide Forest.

WISCONSIN DNR RELEASES 3.5K PUBLIC COMMENTS ON WOLF MANAGEMENT PLAN

The Conservation Fund stated on the time it purchased the land in 2021 that it’ll shield wildlife habitat whereas persevering with sustainable timber harvesting in addition to leisure makes use of resembling looking and fishing.

Beneath the state’s buy plan, the land would have been left in an undeveloped state with public entry for looking, fishing, trapping and motorized recreation, resembling snowmobiles and four-wheelers.

State officers have beforehand raised the opportunity of launching a fundraising marketing campaign or in search of landowner donations to give you sufficient cash to match the $10 million federal grant. The Conservation Fund has additionally stated it could promote the property if the state DNR cannot safe funding for the undertaking.

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Clint Miller, central Midwest regional director at The Conservation Fund, stated the choice to not fund the undertaking was disappointing, however pledged to proceed working with the state to finish it.

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Wisconsin

Wisconsin factory-induced snow leads to busy Thanksgiving for local tow company

Published

44 mins ago

November 30, 2024

Press Room

Wisconsin factory-induced snow leads to busy Thanksgiving for local tow company

Factory-induced snow crashes surprise tow company

An Eau Claire-based tow company was caught off guard when it had to respond to multiple crashes on Thanksgiving after factory-induced snowfall covered part of I-94. FOX 9’s Leon Purvis has the full story.

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (FOX 9) – Some unexpected snow in western Wisconsin led to multiple crashes on Interstate 94.

What we know

The National Weather Service says the snow formed from steam coming from a factory in Menomonie.

How did this happen?

The National Weather Service reports that snow formed from steam coming from a factory in Menomonie, adding that conditions were in a “sweet spot” for snow formation to come from supercooled water droplets.

The result was a narrow 100-mile plume of snow.

“I read that this morning, and I wasn’t sure what to think about that. I guess it’s possible,” said Rehberg.

FOX 9 reached out to one factory in the area to see if they knew what the source of the steam was, but no administrative staff were available.

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Wisconsin

Wisconsin football alums disgusted with ‘sad state of affairs’ of Badgers program after loss to Minnesota

Published

9 hours ago

November 29, 2024

Press Room

Wisconsin football alums disgusted with ‘sad state of affairs’ of Badgers program after loss to Minnesota

Wisconsin football’s season is sunk.

And it’s a program that’s facing uncharted waters after Friday’s dreadful showing in its 24-7 loss to Minnesota in the regular-season finale.

No bowl game. A losing season. Questions about the coaching staff. Questions about the roster.

The season has actually been sinking for some time, but the Badgers still had a chance to salvage whatever was left of it with a win over Minnesota.

It was a rivalry game. It was at home. And it was for a chance to play in a bowl game, something that every Wisconsin team has played in for the last 22 years.

Instead, the Badgers lost for the fifth straight time behind an offense that is no longer recognizable to players from the past. Wisconsin also suffered its third consecutive defeat at Camp Randall Stadium and fourth this season.

Former Wisconsin football players have been following the season closely and speaking out in disgust on social media as the losses have piled up. Like the fans at Camp Randall Stadium on Friday, they again let their feelings be known about the direction of the program as Wisconsin finished the 2024 season 5-7.

Here’s a sample of the reactions from the likes of Brian Calhoun, Braelon Allen, Sojourn Shelton and others:

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Wisconsin

Where to watch Wisconsin vs Minnesota football streaming free today; TV channel, spread, game odds

Published

17 hours ago

November 29, 2024

Press Room

Where to watch Wisconsin vs Minnesota football streaming free today; TV channel, spread, game odds

Two plucky Big Ten teams square off when the Wisconsin Badgers take on the Minnesota Golden Gophers in what should make for an interesting matchup during Week 14 of the 2024 college football season. This game kicks off at 9 a.m. PT/12:30 p.m. ET (11:30 a.m. CT) on Friday, November 29 with a live broadcast on CBS, and streaming live on demand for free.

• WATCH: Minnesota vs. Wisconsin football live for free with Fubo (free trial), or see it streaming free on Paramount+ (free trial), or see even more streaming options below.

What TV channel is the Wisconsin vs. Minnesota football game on today?

When: Kickoff takes place at 9 a.m. PT/12:30 p.m. ET (11:30 a.m. CT) on Friday, November 29.

Where: Camp Randall Stadium, Madison, WI

TV Channel: CBS, or streaming on demand with Paramount Plus.

How to watch streaming live: The best way to watch this game for free is by streaming it on Paramount+ (free trial, then only $7.99/month) which will have massive Big Ten football games streaming each week. If you don’t have cable, you can still watch this game live for FREE with Fubo (free trial) or with DirecTV Stream (free trial). If you already have cable, you can also watch this game live on CBS Sports with your cable or satellite provider login information.

You can find out more about which channel CBS is on in your area by using the channel finders here: Comcast Xfinity, DIRECTV, Dish, Verizon Fios, Spectrum/Charter, Optimum/Altice.