Wisconsin

Need a Christmas tree? Here’s how to harvest one from Wisconsin’s state forests

Published

12 months ago

November 28, 2024

Press Room

Need a Christmas tree? Here’s how to harvest one from Wisconsin’s state forests

Need a Christmas tree now that Thanksgiving is over? Well, look no further than Wisconsin’s public forests.

Many state forests allow you to cut down a tree for personal use — provided you have a permit and follow a few rules.

Here’s how to avoid the naughty list at the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

Where are the public forests?

Trees can be cut down in the Brule River, Flambeau River, Governor Earl Peshtigo River, Governor Knowles and Northern Highland-American Legion state forests.

Brule River State Forest in Douglas County is home to a lot of balsam fir, a Christmas-tree favorite with its short needles that last long and smell great. Evergreens in this forest also include white pine and white spruce. Mound ranger station, W10325 Highway 12, (715) 284-4103.

Flambeau River State Forest, Winter: Look for white and black spruce, red and white pine, and balsam fir at this forest in Sawyer and Rusk counties just south of the CNNF. W1613 County Road W, Winter, (715) 332-5271.

Governor Earl Peshtigo River, Crivitz: Red, white and jack pines are the predominate evergreens in this forest in Marinette and Oconto counties in northeastern Wisconsin. N10008 Paust Lane, Crivitz, 715-757-3965

Governor Knowles State Forest, Grantsburg: Find jack, white and red pines in this forest along the St. Croix River in northwestern Wisconsin. 325 Highway 70, Grantsburg, (715) 463-2898.

Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest, Woodruff: Permits for this forest allow you to harvest a balsam fir, but not within sight of a public road, trail or body of water. Permits are available at the Clear Lake Visitor Station, 8282 Woodruff Road, Woodruff, (715) 356-3668; and the Crystal Lake Visitor Station, 3237 Crystal Lake Road, Boulder Junction, (715) 542-3923.

Holiday tree cutting is not offered at other DNR properties. However, some county forests allow non-commercial harvest of holiday trees, as does the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. Contact the forest where you’d like to cut a holiday tree before venturing out so that you know harvesting guidelines.

How much is a permit?

Purchase a permit at the headquarters of each forest. The price may vary slightly from property to property, but the average cost is $5 per tree.

Where can I cut a tree down?

Harvesting is prohibited within 100 feet or visual distance of roads, trails and water, and there is no harvesting from campgrounds or recreation areas, according to the DNR.

Trees must be cut at ground level with a maximum height of 30 feet. Trees taken from state forests cannot be resold.

Check the spongy moth map

Check the spongy moth quarantine map maintained by the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection to ensure you don’t travel with your tree out of the quarantined area. The area prohibits items from being shipped that could have the insect or its eggs.

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Wisconsin

Wisconsin continues honoring top schools after federal award’s abrupt end

Published

10 hours ago

November 19, 2025

Press Room

Wisconsin continues honoring top schools after federal award’s abrupt end

(WLUK) — Some school districts in Northeast Wisconsin are being recognized for exceptional academic performance.

The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction’s recognition of eight schools across the state comes after the U.S. Department of Education ended the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program earlier this year.

These eight Wisconsin schools had already been nominated and completed the rigorous application process when the program was abruptly terminated.

“While I am deeply disappointed by the sudden end of the federal program, we’re proud to continue celebrating the hard work of Wisconsin’s students and educators,” State Superintendent Dr. Jill Underly said. “These schools have shown remarkable results and a strong commitment to helping every child succeed.”

National Blue Ribbon Schools are honored in two categories: Exemplary High Performing Schools and Exemplary Gap Closing Schools.

Edgewood Elementary School (School District of Greenfield) – Gap Closing: A welcoming neighborhood school focused on both academics and emotional well-being, Edgewood builds strong family partnerships and provides all students with the support they need to thrive.

Prairie Lane Elementary School (Kenosha Unified School District) – High Performing: Known for its culture of kindness and collaboration, Prairie Lane helps students think critically and solve problems while proudly serving as the district’s elementary program for Deaf and Hard of Hearing students.

Karcher Middle School (Burlington Area School District) – Gap Closing: Karcher empowers students to become confident, caring, and capable learners, while ensuring every staff member and family plays a role in student success.

Forest Lane Community School (Montello School District) – Gap Closing: Forest Lane fosters a lifelong love of learning through teamwork among staff, students, and families in a positive, inclusive environment.

Shiocton Elementary School (School District of Shiocton) — Gap Closing: In a small district “where excellence is expected,” Shiocton Elementary focuses on the whole child — academically, socially, and emotionally — to prepare learners for future success.

T.J. Walker Middle School (Sturgeon Bay Schools) — High Performing and Gap Closing: T.J. Walker Middle emphasizes strong teaching, community engagement, and continuous improvement to support every student, every day.

Crivitz High School (Crivitz School District) — Gap Closing: Offering challenging academics and rich extracurriculars, Crivitz High School combines community partnerships with a caring staff to prepare students for college, career, and life.

St. Croix Falls Elementary School (St. Croix Falls School District) — High Performing: St. Croix Elementary School provides a supportive, student-centered learning environment focused on academic excellence, character, and growth for every child.

The DPI plans to continue a state-level version of this recognition program in the future to ensure Wisconsin schools receive the acknowledgement they deserve.

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Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin Police investigating stickers promoting violence against ICE

Published

1 day ago

November 18, 2025

Press Room

University of Wisconsin Police investigating stickers promoting violence against ICE

The University of Wisconsin-Madison Police are investigating stickers that appeared on campus encouraging violence against federal immigration agents.

Republicans are pointing to the imagery as another example of the hostile climate conservatives face on college campuses.

UW-Madison is removing the stickers and condemns violence of any kind, university spokesperson John Lucas said. He said he was aware of two or three stickers being removed.

One of the stickers showed a man wearing a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement shirt and face mask, with red streaks that appear to be blood near his head. “The only good fascist is a dead one,” the text read.

Freshman William Hong spotted a sticker on a lamp post outside Memorial Library on Nov. 13. He said he was disgusted because he believed ICE in most cases is just trying to keep America safe. He ripped the sticker off but chalked it up as protected speech.

Hong is a board member of the UW-Madison chapter of Turning Point USA, the conservative group founded by Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated in September. He said the campus climate since then has been mixed, with some progressive students celebrating Kirk’s death in chalk messages left around campus and others who were more respectful. He said most instructors have created an unwelcome environment in his classes, but many students are open to civil conversations.

Howard Schweber, a UW-Madison professor who is an expert in free speech, said the stickers were unlikely to be constitutionally protected expression. The question of criminal charges would hinge on whether the person putting up the stickers either intended for the work to be perceived as a threat or acted recklessly by taking the chance that it would be perceived that way.

“Ask yourself whether it is likely that an ICE agent seeing this sticker would feel threatened,” he said. “If that is likely, then it is not hard to say that the person putting up the sticker was at least reckless about the possibility that a threat would be perceived.”

Schweber said the state would have a strong case for a misdemeanor disorderly conduct charge. He was less sure about a new law adopted in February making it a felony to threaten judges or law enforcement officers because it seemed to need to be directed at a specific individual or group.

“That might be a question Wisconsin courts have to figure out,” he said.

The imagery was first reported by the Madison Federalist, a new student newspaper.

Both Republicans running for governor condemned the sticker on X, formerly Twitter. U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany said UW-Madison “cannot keep quiet and pretend it’s normal” Washington County Executive Josh Schoemann said he wasn’t surprised by the rhetoric and said it degraded the state flagship’s reputation.

Kelly Meyerhofer has covered higher education in Wisconsin since 2018. Contact her at kmeyerhofer@gannett.com or 414-223-5168. Follow her on X (Twitter) at @KellyMeyerhofer.

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Wisconsin

Wisconsin Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 results for Nov. 17, 2025

Published

2 days ago

November 18, 2025

Press Room

Wisconsin Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 results for Nov. 17, 2025

The Wisconsin Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Nov. 17, 2025, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from Nov. 17 drawing

07-33-50-57-66, Powerball: 23, Power Play: 5

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from Nov. 17 drawing

Midday: 0-6-9

Evening: 9-5-1

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from Nov. 17 drawing

Midday: 2-2-8-6

Evening: 1-2-8-1

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning All or Nothing numbers from Nov. 17 drawing

Midday: 05-06-08-10-11-12-15-16-17-18-21

Evening: 03-04-05-06-09-11-15-16-17-19-20

Check All or Nothing payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Badger 5 numbers from Nov. 17 drawing

01-04-05-14-20

Check Badger 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning SuperCash numbers from Nov. 17 drawing

04-17-19-25-29-36, Doubler: N

Check SuperCash 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

Prizes up to $599: Can be claimed at any Wisconsin Lottery retailer.
Prizes from $600 to $199,999: Can be claimed in person at a Lottery Office. By mail, send the signed ticket and a completed claim form available on the Wisconsin Lottery claim page to: Prizes, PO Box 777 Madison, WI 53774.
Prizes of $200,000 or more: Must be claimed in person at the Madison Lottery office. Call the Lottery office prior to your visit: 608-261-4916.

Can Wisconsin lottery winners remain anonymous?

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.

When are the Wisconsin Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 10:00 p.m. CT on Tuesday and Friday.
Super Cash: 9:00 p.m. CT daily.
Pick 3 (Day): 1:30 p.m. CT daily.
Pick 3 (Evening): 9:00 p.m. CT daily.
Pick 4 (Day): 1:30 p.m. CT daily.
Pick 4 (Evening): 9:00 p.m. CT daily.
All or Nothing (Day): 1:30 p.m. CT daily.
All or Nothing (Evening): 9 p.m. CT daily.
Megabucks: 9:00 p.m. CT on Wednesday and Saturday.
Badger 5: 9:00 p.m. CT daily.

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.

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