MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) – An inflatable replica of the future USS Wisconsin submarine was on display Friday at the Duck Pond, giving families and children a look at the vessel set to carry the state’s name.
The inflatable model is approximately one-eleventh the size of the actual submarine, which will measure more than 550 feet in length. The USSBN 827 Wisconsin is a Columbia-class submarine that began construction in 2025.
Jeff Davis, a board member of the USSBN 827 Wisconsin Submarine association, said the group is working to raise awareness about the submarine and build a connection between Wisconsin residents and the crew.
“We are currently promoting the building of the USS Wisconsin, the next SSBN in the District of Columbia class,” Davis said. “This is the latest technology; it started being built last year. The point of us is to build the awareness that we have this submarine named after the state of Wisconsin. And build a relationship between the citizens of Wisconsin and the crew that’s going to operate this submarine.”
Davis said the effort extends beyond awareness.
“It’s a great way to get excited about engineering. It’s a great way to get excited about being part of the Navy or any of the armed forces,” Davis said. “And basically, being a part of supporting our nation.”
Construction on the submarine is expected to be completed around 2028. Following completion, the vessel will undergo a christening — when it is placed in the water — followed by approximately two years of testing before being commissioned into service.
Once commissioned, the submarine is expected to remain in service for roughly 42 years. The association said it plans to remain involved with the vessel through its eventual decommissioning.
The inflatable replica is scheduled to make additional stops at parades and outreach events throughout the summer. For more information on where to see the inflatable sub, check out their website USSWisconsinsub.org.
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As America celebrates 250 years, Wisconsinites will pay a record-high total for an Independence Day cookout.
The Wisconsin Farm Bureau’s annual survey of grocery store prices found the cost to feed 10 people was $75.50, the highest total recorded since the survey started in 2013.
It’s a 7.5 percent increase from last year’s total, and reflects a number of economic pressures driving up costs for consumers and farmers, according to Cassie Sonnentag, senior director of public relations for the Wisconsin Farm Bureau.
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“Prices for everything from aluminum that goes into canned goods, or fuel, fertilizer, input costs on the farm — all of those things are up, and that all affects that food price,” she said.
Many of these changes can be linked back to increased tariffs put in place by President Donald Trump’s administration in 2025 and the impact of the ongoing war in Iran.
Unlike in previous years, Wisconsin’s meal total came in $1.68 higher than the national average, which was also at a record high in the survey.
Survey prices are typically been lower in Midwest states compared to regions like the West Coast. But Sonnentag said increasing processing and transportation costs have pushed regional prices higher to match or in some cases to exceed the national average.
“It’s truly just an indicator of where the economy is at and the challenges that we are facing when it comes to inflation,” she said.
The biggest price driver was ground beef, which cost an average of $14.60 for two pounds at Wisconsin stores. It’s more than 23 percent higher than last year, when beef prices were already rising.
Years of drought in Great Plains states have led to a shrinking U.S. beef herd and ranchers struggling to increase production.
Tammy Vaassen, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Beef Council, said demand for beef at the national level has remained strong, driving prices higher even in states like Wisconsin where cattle numbers have remained steady.
But she said consumers are changing their eating habits as they feel the pressure of higher costs in areas outside of food.
“They are trending toward dining out a little bit less,” Vaassen said. “Rather than going to a restaurant and ordering a steak, we do see them buying more at the grocery store and being a little more price-sensitive.”
She said beef demand tends to spike during the summer months, especially around holidays like July 4th when people celebrate by lighting up the grill.
Other foods on the annual survey also saw double-digit increases. The cost of a 32-ounce can of pork and beans was up 27 percent from last year, likely tied to the impact of increased tariffs put in place by the Trump administration on imported aluminum used for cans.
The prices of fresh strawberries were also up nearly 26 percent from 2025. A freeze in February caused more than $300 million in damage to Florida’s strawberry crops, limiting availability and driving up prices.
The cost of potato salad was down 14 percent in the annual survey. Potato producers in Wisconsin and other top states are struggling with an oversupply of potatoes due to strong crops and reduced export demand.
For price-conscious consumers, Sonnentag said July 4th weekend might be a good time to take advantage of holiday sales at grocery stores.
“Specifically for beef or any of the protein products, if there’s an opportunity to stock up when the prices are low and be able to freeze that product, that’s a great way to save,” she said.
Vaassen said consumers can save by choosing alternative cuts of meat, like an eye of round steak instead of a ribeye, which she said can be just as enjoyable with a little extra preparation time.
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A health clinic in western Wisconsin was temporarily put into lockdown Thursday afternoon after a threatening phone call.
Just after 2 p.m., Barron County officials received a 911 call from a staff member at the Marshfield Medical Center Emergency Department in Rice Lake, stating that someone called and said two men were going to “shoot up the hospital” in about 20 minutes.
After interviewing the staff member later, it was determined that the man who called had disguised his voice and got upset before hanging up the phone, according to the Rice Lake Police Department.
Rice Lake police, the Barron County Sheriff’s Office and Wisconsin State Patrol responded to the scene, and the medical facility was secured.
Any patients who wanted to leave the facility were allowed to do so, authorities noted.
During the lockdown, law enforcement discovered there were similar threats, known as “swatting calls,” at other places across the state on Thursday.
At about 4:18 p.m., the lockdown was lifted, and authorities cleared the scene. Rice Lake police added that no one was injured during the incident.
The police department said it will continue investigating the threat with other law enforcement agencies.
The Rice Lake health center is roughly two hours northeast of the Twin Cities, and approximately 50 miles north of Eau Claire. The center’s website says it offers both inpatient and outpatient practice, covering a wide range of services.
A spokesperson for the health system told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS that the clinic was closed for the rest of the day Thursday, but hospital operations have since returned to normal.
“The safety of our patients and staff at Marshfield Medical Center-Rice Lake is our top priority,” the system added.
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