Local News

A Republican lawmaker hopes to introduce a package of bills soon To stiffen Wisconsin’s drunken driving laws.  Republican state representative Jim Ott has been pushing for tougher drunken driving laws for years. One provision Ott says he definitely wants to see passed would require mandatory court appearances for first time offenders.  Ott says another bill addresses a loophole in the law involving ignition interlock devices.  Ott says some repeat drunken […]

Drug Free Communities of Fond du lac County is teaming up with local law enforcement  to get the message out about the dangers of binge drinking and driving during the Super Bowl  this weekend.  Clinical supervisor of Addiction Services at Agneisan HealthCare, Amy Johannes says the message is to Drive Sober on Super Bowl Sunday.  Johannes says binge drinking is defined as about five drinks for men and four drinks […]

A Senate committee listened to testimony Tuesday on a bill that has no sanctions for failing public schools. Tuesday's hearing was held as the Senate, Assembly and Gov. Scott Walker are trying to find common ground on the issue that's proven difficult to solve  in recent years. Fond du lac School superintendent Dr. Jim Sebert says he likes the senate version much better the assembly bill.  "It looks at public […]

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A Republican state senator says he does not believe the state can force failing public schools to be converted into independent charter schools.  Sen. Paul Farrow made his comments Tuesday while testifying in support of a measure he introduced that does not include sanctions. Assembly Republicans are backing a different approach with sanctions.  Gov. Scott Walker has said he does not support sanctions and wants to […]

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — One of the University of Wisconsin System's toughest critics in the Legislature is blasting Gov. Scott Walker's proposal to give the system more autonomy.  A spokesman for Sen. Stephen Nass, a Whitewater Republican who serves as vice chairman of the Senate's universities committee, said Tuesday that Nass fears the plan would allow the system to raise tuition dramatically.  Walker's plan calls for cutting the system by […]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker says the state will help the Milwaukee Bucks pay for a new basketball arena with $220 million in bonds that would be paid for by projected growth in income taxes from NBA players.  Walker said Tuesday the "Pay Their Way" proposal would protect the state's taxpayers, while keeping the team in Milwaukee. A new arena could cost roughly $500 million.  New owners bought […]

TOWN OF BREED, Wis. (AP) — Wildlife experts say wolves have killed or seriously injured six dogs in Wisconsin this month.  That's double the highest number for January in recent years. Two dogs have been killed in Oconto County.  Department of Natural Resources wildlife supervisor Jeff Pritzl says the spike in incidents doesn't necessarily reflect any changes wolf population or behavior. Pritzl says that more people are out hunting coyotes, […]

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Wildlife advocates have petitioned federal officials to reclassify gray wolves as a threatened species, hoping to retain at least some protections that lawmakers in Congress want to repeal. Wolves are classified as endangered across most of the lower 48 states except the Northern Rockies. "Endangered" is a more protective listing than "threatened."  Brett Hartl with the Center for Biological Diversity said Tuesday's petition asking the U.S. […]

A Fond du Lac used truck and car dealership, is expanding.  Lenz Truck Center has purchased one acre of property to the east of their main building.  “This expansion will give us even more space to have and thus sell more trucks,”  Lenz owner Brad Lenz said.  Lenz says the paving of the property is the first step in a five step expansion to to hold more vehicles.and to add […]