The Northwoods River News

In parting shot, Biden administration denies petitions to delist/downlist wolves

In one of a series of parting gifts, the Biden administration last week denied two petitions to downlist or delist gray wolves, saying the requests from the Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation and other sporting groups were not warranted.

State Senate passes ballot question to require voter ID

Evers: Voters should be able to propose their own constitutional amendments

Gov. Tony Evers may be pushing a dead-on-arrival proposal to let Wisconsinites pursue constitutional amendments without legislative approval, but in the meantime the legislature itself is making sure voters will have plenty of proposed amendments to vote upon.

Supreme Court refuses to hear Wisconsin case on parental rights

Eau Claire policy allows schools to hide gender identity transitions from parents

In December, the United States Supreme Court dismissed a petition to hear a parental rights case involving a Wisconsin school district, in which a parents group had challenged the Eau Claire school district’s gender identity policies.

Marshfield Clinic Health System completes merger with Sanford Health

Marshfield brand will survive as a region of Sanford Health

Marshfield Clinic Health System and Sanford Health, the largest rural health system in the U.S., have completed their merger and will now operate as Sanford Health, the companies announced this past week. Sanford Health is headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Evers taps climate change activist to lead DNR

LeMahieu, Felzkowski express concerns

After letting the top spot at the state’s powerful natural resources agency sit vacant for more than a year, Gov. Tony Evers announced just before Christmas the appointment Dr. Karen Hyun to serve as its secretary.

GOP nixes reallocation of UW building funds

Swearingen blasts Evers administration for lack of transparency

Republicans on the state building commission shot down last week a bid by the Evers administration to redistribute tens of millions of dollars in University of Wisconsin building funds between projects, prompting Gov. Tony Evers to claim the GOP was yanking the rug from under the UW System and Republicans to counter that the governor was pulling an underhanded bait and switch.

Gruich remains jailed after hearing on $40,000 cash bond

After an adjourned initial appearance last Thursday, December 19, and as of press time, a Michigan man accused of threatening an Oneida County judge and a local newspaper publisher remained jailed in Oneida County as his spouse sought legal representation for him.

Legislature’s joint rules review committee suspends DNR gun rule

Agency had admitted rule was incompatible with state law

The Legislature’s Joint Committee for Review of Administrative Rules last week suspended a state Department of Natural Resources’ administrative rule that a conservative group said violated the Second Amendment and that the DNR itself conceded was inconsistent with state law.

$50,000 cash bond set on Bangstad supporter accused of making threats

Oneida County circuit judge Mary Sowinski imposed this week a $50,000 cash bond on a Michigan man who has been arrested and jailed in Oneida County for allegedly threatening Oneida County circuit judge Michael Schiek and Gregg Walker, publisher of both The Lakeland Times and The Northwoods River News.

Bangstad files notice of claim against Oneida County

MBC owner wants $10.75 million for violation of constitutional rights

Minocqua Brewing Company (MBC) owner Kirk Bangstad has filed a combined notice of injury and notice of claim against Oneida County, meaning Bangstad has formally notified the county of an alleged injury or incident by the county as a legal precursor of filing a lawsuit.