Wisconsin
Wisconsin’s first public library continues its legacy
BLACK RIVER FALLS, Wis. (WEAU) – Here’s something you may not know: Jackson County is home to Wisconsin’s first established public library. Now, more than 150 years later, the library continues its mission to serve its community.
The library was established in 1872 through Assembly Bill 87, which allowed cities and villages to create free libraries in their community. Black River Falls applied and was the first to be confirmed. Now, more than a century later, it’s still supporting its community.
Works from Stephen King, Agatha Christie and Nicholas Sparks fill the shelves of the Black River Falls Public Library.
“We have over 25,000 items including cake pans and senior connection kits,” Cara Hart, the Black River Falls Public Library Director, said.
It’s a collection bound to grow, with such a long history. The library has been running for 152 years, providing a variety of books for enjoyment and information to learn from.
“We try very hard to meet our community needs, whatever they may be,” Hart said.
One way to do that is through a glimpse into the past.
“People still come and want to look at old newspapers,” Mary Woods, the Black River Falls Public Library Historian, said. “They want to look at those family histories that aren’t available anywhere else.”
Family history is what Jeffrey Jones came looking for.
“I know that my family, my great grandparents moved here in 1868,” Jones said. “I’m here to try to find out more about what happened then where they lived, if their houses are still in existence.”
Jones lives in Sarasota, Florida, and came to Wisconsin to speak in Milwaukee. So, while he’s in the Badger state, he said he had to come to Black River Falls. The public library is no longer in the same building it started, but the impact of its presence and resources persist.
“This connection with my family roots, there’s an emotion involved that I don’t get anywhere else,” Jones said. “I just feel much more connected and that also gives me a greater sense of me.”
Hart said the library provides a variety of other resources to support the community from resume workshops to English language classes and information on the proper ways to clean gravestones. She said feel free to stop in, they’re never overbooked.
Copyright 2024 WEAU. All rights reserved.
MILWAUKEE – Soccer fans, this is your shot! The 2026 FIFA World Cup is around the corner. While you can catch all the action on FOX6, we also want to highlight our soccer stars here at home.
Look Who Kicks!
What you can do:
We want you to upload a picture of you or your child showing their soccer spirit as part of our Look Who Kicks segments. It could be a picture from the pitch, maybe a fun moment in the stands at a soccer game, or share a snapshot of you in your soccer fan cave!
IMPORTANT: Make sure the picture you share is one you or someone you know snapped. Professional photos will not be accepted.
What’s next:
Once the 2026 FIFA World Cup is underway, check out Look Who Kicks every weekday morning during the 8 a.m. hour of FOX6 WakeUp News.
The Source: Look Who Kicks is a promotion by FOX6.
Wisconsin football is deep into its offseason, and in the months between spring practice and fall camp, we won’t hear much out of the 2026 Badgers.
Recruiting is a different story, however. The month of June is one of the hottest times on the recruiting calendar, as official visit season means top prospects flock to visit their top programs by the dozens, yielding a myriad of commitments as classes really begin to take shape.
Wisconsin is on the cusp of its first big official visit weekend, which begins Thursday, May 28. The Badgers’ first big flock of official visitors is largely committed prospects, but there’s a handful of top targets still unsigned that Wisconsin hopes it can make moves with.
With that, here’s the top three most important recruits for the Badgers this coming weekend:
1) Cornerback Mekhi Williams (Ruskin, Florida)
Back in Madison Thursday! 🔴⚪️🦡@SteepDiesel @BadgerFootball @D_Hicks_ @PatLambert13 @247recruiting @Rivals @On3 pic.twitter.com/89mfQ9Qg1P
— Mekhi Williams 4⭐️ Defensive back (@Mekhiwilliams__) May 24, 2026
Not only is Williams the highest-rated prospect heading to Madison next weekend, he’s also the most important. New cornerbacks coach Robert Steeples appears to have done a great job reconstructing the Badgers’ cornerback room via the transfer portal, but landing Williams would be his first big high-school recruiting win for Wisconsin.
The consensus four-star and current Florida State commit is ranked as the 107th player in the nation on 247Sports and 180th on On3/Rivals. He lists 23 offers from the likes of LSU, Miami, Auburn and others. Though listed as a safety, the Badgers are recruiting the 6-foot-2, 165-pound defensive back as a corner.
Williams is obviously a blue-chip, national level recruit with several big-time programs seeking his services; he’d be a big add for any program in the nation. But especially for Wisconsin, who has yet to sign a corner in the 2027 cycle and has actively worked to add elite size to its cornerback room, Williams would be an enormous commit. He’ll also visit Nebraska, LSU and Florida State officially.
2) WR Tavares Powell (Bradenton, Florida)
There’s a handful of other important players headed to Madison next weekend past the clear top target in Williams, but I’ll assert that Powell’s visit is very crucial for the Badgers as well.
Wisconsin has yet to sign a wide receiver in the 2027 cycle, and while new wideouts coach Ari Confessor has made moves with some promising prospects, the Badgers have missed out on a few top targets. Powell would break the seal for Confessor, and add a highly intriguing option in the passing game with over two-dozen offers.
The 6-foot, 170-pound Powell has blazing speed as well as a knack for coming down with 50/50 balls, both things that can earn you playing time immediately. Wisconsin has had a receiver development problem, and a promising wideout like Powell is a good step towards changing that.
3) CB Royalton Allen (Hespiria, California)
Williams is the most impressive player coming to Madison next weekend, but Allen is no slouch himself as a cornerback prospect. The 6-foot, 175-pound consensus three star lists 18 offers including USC, Georgia, Ole Miss and Auburn, among others.
He isn’t a blue-chip prospect, but one glance at Allen’s offer sheet tells you that he’s an intriguing talent. The corner, who is a versatile chess piece in the secondary and can play outside cornerback, nickel or safety, is lauded for his motor and physicality.
Wisconsin is desperately trying to get more talented in the back end of its defense, and adding a player like Allen would be a big step towards that.
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Manuel Franco claims his $768 million Powerball jackpot
Manuel Franco, 24, of West Allis was revealed Tuesday as the winner of the $768.4 million Powerball jackpot.
Mark Hoffman, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
The Wisconsin Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at May 23, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Powerball numbers from May 23 drawing
04-16-41-48-66, Powerball: 26, Power Play: 2
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 3 numbers from May 23 drawing
Midday: 1-2-6
Evening: 6-3-3
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from May 23 drawing
Midday: 7-5-6-3
Evening: 9-0-8-7
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning All or Nothing numbers from May 23 drawing
Midday: 01-03-04-06-08-12-13-16-17-19-20
Evening: 01-02-03-04-07-10-11-15-17-19-22
Check All or Nothing payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Badger 5 numbers from May 23 drawing
03-09-16-26-28
Check Badger 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning SuperCash numbers from May 23 drawing
16-21-27-30-34-35, Doubler: N
Check SuperCash payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Megabucks numbers from May 23 drawing
10-31-34-42-47-49
Check Megabucks 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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