Wisconsin

Rare fungal infection leaves Wisconsin woman dead

Published

1 year ago

July 7, 2023

Press Room

Rare fungal infection leaves Wisconsin woman dead

Rare fungal infection leaves woman dead

There’s a hidden danger in some soil that can be deadly – a fungus that, when disturbed, releases spores into the air.

KENOSHA, Wis. – There’s a hidden danger in some soil that can be deadly – a fungus that, when disturbed, releases spores into the air.

Those spores can settle in people’s lungs and cause illness or even death. While cases are uncommon, Wisconsin sees some of the highest rates in the nation. A Kenosha family is warning others.

“My life. They took my life away from me. I’m not saying the hospital or whoever. Whatever this is took my wife,” said John Cruz.

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Cruz’s wife, Sonya, died Wednesday.

“What killed her was this blastomycosis. That’s what killed her,” Cruz said.

It’s an illness Cruz never heard of. Now, he wants to make sure everyone knows its name.

“I can walk out here and swallow a bullet, not literally a bullet, but a bullet of that,” he said. “I think this is something that needs to be shared around the world.”

Blastomyces is a fungus that can live in moist soil, rotting wood and leaves. Disturbing it can send the spores into lungs and cause a fungal infection.

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“It’s probably more common than we think,” said Dr. Bruce Klein of the University of Wisconsin Medical School.

Klein has studied blastomycosis for nearly 40 years. He said Wisconsin sees more than 100 reported cases every year.

“That’s probably only a fraction of the true occurrence of infection, because we know that at least half of the cases can have mild or asymptomatic illness,” Klein said.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services reports the state has the highest rate of blastomycosis in the nation. From 2011-2020, the department reports 1,142 cases – roughly 116 each year. Among those, 61.3% of patients were hospitalized and 124 died. It’s a fatality rate of 10.9% during that span.

So far in 2023, the DHS said there have been four reported blastomycosis in Kenosha County.

Symptoms might not appear for weeks to three months after breathing in the spores. They can include pneumonia, coughing, shortness of breath and shaky chills.

Dr. Klein said treatment can work – but can also take a long time. He said this infection is easy for even doctors to miss, so awareness is important.

Deaths are rare; the CDC reports, from 1990 to 2010, they found 1,200 dead. But those aren’t just numbers to Sonya’s daughter, Shatrice Staten, who is now beginning a life without her mom.

“It just sucks. I had to watch my mom take her last breath. It really does,” Staten said. “I don’t want anyone else to feel like what me and my dad going through.”

The family has set up a GoFundMe online fundraiser to help with funeral costs.

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Wisconsin

What channel is Wisconsin volleyball vs Nebraska on today? Time, TV, streaming, prediction, schedule, standings

Published

6 hours ago

November 23, 2024

Press Room

What channel is Wisconsin volleyball vs Nebraska on today? Time, TV, streaming, prediction, schedule, standings

The Wisconsin vs Nebraska doubleheader ends with volleyball taking center stage Saturday night.

After the Badgers-Cornhuskers football teams do battle in the afternoon at Memorial Stadium, the highly ranked volleyball teams square off down the road on campus in Lincoln, Nebraska.

And it doesn’t get any bigger in women’s volleyball than Wisconsin and Nebraska. The Big Ten rivals and national powers will meet for a second time this season with a lot at stake.

Wisconsin (21-5, 15-2 Big Ten), ranked sixth in the most recent American Volleyball Coaches Association top 25 poll, will look to exact some revenge after Nebraska swept the Badgers earlier this month in Madison. It was Wisconsin’s first and only home loss of the season. A win will also keep the Badgers’ Big Ten title hopes alive.

Nebraska (27-1, 17-0) is on a march toward perfection in the Big Ten and another conference championship. The Cornhuskers, ranked No. 2 nationally, haven’t lost at home this season and are poised for a top seed again in the upcoming NCAA Tournament.

Here’s how to watch Wisconsin vs Nebraska, part II.

Wisconsin volleyball vs Nebraska time today

Date: Saturday, Nov. 23
Time: 7 p.m.

What channel is Wisconsin volleyball vs Nebraska on today? TV, live stream

How can I listen to Wisconsin volleyball vs Nebraska on the radio?

Wisconsin vs Nebraska volleyball prediction

As winners of its last six matches, Wisconsin has found its groove. The Badgers showed their fight in rallying for a wild five-set win over Minnesota earlier this week and before that gave Penn State its first Big Ten loss of the season last Saturday.

Can UW now give Nebraska its first conference loss? The Cornhuskers might just be too good in 2024 and will avoid the upset. Nebraska has won 24 straight matches since its lone defeat on Sept. 3, and with another victory it’ll get closer to a second straight Big Ten championship. Few Big Ten teams have even come close to beating Nebraska this season. The Cornhuskers have 13 sweeps in their 17 conference victories.

One of those 3-0 match wins came against Wisconsin three weeks ago. Kelly Sheffield’s team won’t be swept again, but the Cornhuskers will outlast the Badgers in a hard-fought five-set match before a sold-out crowd at the Bob Devaney Sports Center.

Wisconsin volleyball schedule

Wednesday, Nov. 27, 7:30 p.m. CT, vs. Ohio State
Saturday, Nov. 30, 8 p.m. CT, vs. Michigan State

After its showdown against Nebraska, the Badgers return home for their final two matches of the regular season. And Wisconsin will be the heavy favorite against both Ohio State and Michigan State, two teams well under .500 in the Big Ten. Fans will get to see seniors Carly Anderson, CC Crawford, Devyn Robinson, Sarah Franklin, Anna Smrek and Julia Orzol play at the UW Field House one last time before the NCAA Tournament.

Big Ten volleyball standings

Nebraska (27-1 overall, 17-0 Big Ten)
Penn State (26-2, 16-1)
Wisconsin (21-5, 15-2)
Purdue (22-6, 13-4)
Oregon (20-6, 12-5)
USC (19-8, 11-6)
Illinois (18-9, 10-7)
Minnesota (17-10, 10-7)
Washington (19-7, 9-7)
Michigan (17-11, 7-10)
UCLA (12-13, 6-10)
Indiana (12-14, 5-11)
Ohio State (12-14, 5-11)
Maryland (13-15, 4-13)
Michigan State (11-17, 4-13)
Iowa (10-19, 4-13)
Northwestern (5-20, 3-14)
Rutgers (5-23, 0-17)

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Wisconsin

How much does a Thanksgiving meal cost in Wisconsin this year?

Published

15 hours ago

November 23, 2024

Press Room

How much does a Thanksgiving meal cost in Wisconsin this year?

What will Wisconsin Thanksgiving dinner cost?

The Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation said a traditional Thanksgiving meal will cost less this year than last.

MILWAUKEE – Some good news for Wisconsinites this year: According to the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation, the traditional Thanksgiving meal will cost 2% less than last year.

According to the WFBF’s survey, the price tag for a typical Thanksgiving meal in Wisconsin is $57.61 this year. The survey tabulated the total cost at $58.86 a year ago.

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That meal includes turkey, green beans, sweet potatoes, pumpkin pie and more.

For comparison, the American Farm Bureau Federation’s survey of the same items showed a 5% decrease from 2023 with prices nationally at $58.08 this year.

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Wisconsin

Minnesota leading nation in voter turnout, with Wisconsin still counting votes

Published

23 hours ago

November 22, 2024

Press Room

Minnesota leading nation in voter turnout, with Wisconsin still counting votes

Wisconsin man accused of faking his death, and more headlines

04:09

MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota will once again be one of the top states in the country for voter turnout.

The State Canvassing Board said 3,272,414 Minnesotans cast ballots in the 2024 general election, which is 76.41% of eligible voters in Minnesota.

According to the University of Florida, that’s the highest turnout rate in the country right now. Wisconsin, which is currently ranked second with a 76.37% turnout rate, is still working to certify its election results.

The turnout rate for Minnesota this election is slightly lower than the 2020 election, in which 79.96% of eligible voters in Minnesota voted.

On Thursday, the board certified the election results of contests for president, vice president, U.S. senate and the U.S. House of Representatives for Minnesota.

The board also approved plans for Monday’s recount in the race for Minnesota House District 14B and noted the publicly funded recount that took place Thursday in Scott County for House District 54A.

After all recounts are complete, the board will meet and certify the results of the two house races.

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