Local News

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos says expanding the private school voucher program probably can't be done as Gov. Scott Walker has proposed.  Vos commented on the issue Wednesday after a new revenue forecast predicted no growth in the next two years above previous projections.  Walker proposed lifting the 1,000-student enrollment cap in the statewide voucher program, with funding for the expansion coming from public school districts […]

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The state Senate has approved a bill that would phase out Wisconsin's SAGE program.  The Student Achievement Guarantee Program provides aid to schools if they maintain an 18-to-1 or 30-to-2 teacher-student ratio for low-income students in kindergarten through third grade. Schools enter into five-year contracts under the program.  The bill would prohibit new SAGE contracts or renewals beyond one-year extensions for deals that expire this spring. […]

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The state Senate has approved a bill that would allow Wisconsin transportation officials to raise the speed limit on some roads to 70 mph.  The bill would permit the Department of Transportation officials to raise the limit to 70 mph on roads they deem fit. The proposal would prohibit DOT from going to 70 on four-lane roads with at-grade access, however.  The Senate passed the measure […]

Thirty-one teachers in the Fond du Lac School District were recently recognized for their 25 years of service to their students, our schools, and the community. This celebration of dedication took place at the District’s 25 Year Awards Banquet on May 4 at the Knights of Columbus. Highlights of the evening included favorite memories shared through brief stories read by Superintendent Dr. James Sebert. Shown here are: (first row L-R) […]

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin lawmakers have pushed forward a measure that would restrict products available to food stamp recipients. The Assembly's public benefit reform committee approved the bill Wednesday on an 8-6 vote. It would require food stamp recipients to use at least two-thirds of their monthly benefits to purchase nutritional foods such as beef, chicken and fresh produce. Users would be barred from buying crab, lobster, shrimp and […]

A man from the Netherlands accused of stalking a Fond du Lac High School student he had an overseas online dating relationship with faces additional charges.  Hendrikus Descendre  made his initial Fond du Lac court appearance Tuesday on two counts of identity theft to harm a person’s reputation.  Bail was set at $50,000 cash.  Descendre was earlier charged with stalking.   Police say Descendre flew from the Netherlands to Wisconsin and […]

Bike to School Day throughout the Fond du Lac School District will take place on Wednesday, May 6, 2015.   Not long ago, walking or biking to school was the norm. Over the past 30 years, the percentage of children biking and walking to school has declined from 50% or more to closer to about 15% currently. Today, parents drive as many as 50% of children traveling to school. School […]

The North Fond du lac school superintendent says his initial reaction is that requiring students pass a civics test to graduate from high school is unnecessary.  A proposed bill calls for students to pass the same civics test prospective U.S. citizens face to graduate.  North Fond du Lac superintendent and former social studies teacher Aaron Sadoff says everybody would agree that civics is very important.  But Sadoff questions the need […]

A Waupun woman is in custody following a home invasion.  Police Chief Dale Heeringa says shortly after midnight Tuesday officers were called to a Carrington Street residence  Just off Main Street.  Heeringa says a preliminary investigation indicates the subject was  intoxicated and may have entered the wrong home looking for someone.  Heeringa says the subject bit the homeowner and struck another woman in the head.  Heeringa says officers had to […]