Friday News Roundup

Transcript

Friday News Roundup

WHSM/WBZH Hayward News · Fri Oct 23, 2026

Kathryn Lake

Maddie 6.9 WBZH and 101.1 WHSM Hayward's home for real news and great conversation.

Here's your Daily News Roundup.

Maddie Schaffer

For Muskie101 News, I'm Maddie Schaefer.

If you're heading out camping this fall, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is reminding people to be careful about bringing firewood along.

October is National Firewood Month, and the DNR says moving untreated firewood can also move invasive insects and diseases that can damage or kill trees.

Pest can hide on or inside firewood and emerge after it's moved somewhere new.

That includes spongy moths, emerald ash borers, and the fungus that causes oak wilt.

The DNR is asking camp

to buy local, burn local.

Buy firewood at or near where you're staying and leave any unused wood behind instead of bringing it home.

Wisconsin State Parks and other state managed lands generally don't allow firewood brought in for more than 10 miles away.

The exception is wood that's been certified as treated by the State Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.

The DNR says all staff state parks and forests with campgrounds offer local firewood for sale.

You can also find local firewood sellers and

vendors of certified firewood by visiting the Firewood Scout website.

The city of Hayward is getting ready for its fall leaf and brush pickup, and residents are being asked to have everything out by Monday, October 26th.

City crews will only make one pass through each neighborhood, so residents should have their piles ready along the curb or alley.

The city will collect leaves, pine needles, lawn clippings, and brush.

Leaves, pine needles, and lawn clippings should be piled together separate from brush.

Brush must be stacked neatly with pieces

no longer than eight feet.

The city says they will not pick up garbage, stumps or construction debris.

Residents can also drop off leaves and brush throughout the year at the city of Hayward Garage on Vermont Avenue.

Any questions should be directed to the Public Works Department at 715-634-4612.

Governor Tony Evers and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources have announced two new programs to help communities and private well owners test their water for PFAS contamination.

The programs

are funded through the state's $125 million PFAS trust fund, which was approved in the 2023 to 2025 state budget.

The first program, called the PFAS Community Grants Sampling Program, provides funding to municipalities to test private wells and public water supplies at eligible schools and childcare facilities, along with wastewater and other materials at treatment plants.

The second program, called the Wisconsin PFAS Private Well Testing Program, provides free home testing kits to private

owners who aren't covered by community testing grants.

Those who qualify can collect a water sample from their faucet and send it to the Wisconsin State Lab of Hygiene for testing.

Residents who discover PFAS contamination may also qualify for funding to install treatment systems, construct new wells, or connect to public water supplies.

The DNR says more grant programs are being developed with additional funding opportunities expected in 2027.

Wild River's Habitat for Humanity is expanding its winter weatherization program this year, offering up to 1,000 free kits to households across northwestern Wisconsin.

The kits will have supplies to help reduce drafts and heat loss as colder weather approaches.

From November 1st through the 15th, residents can pick up a kit at one of 18 participating locations across the region.

In Hayward, kits will be available at the Sherman and Ruthwise Community Library and Ventures Unlimited Thrift Store.

You can also find the

at the Spooner Memorial Library, Wild River's Habitat for Humanity Restore in Spooner, and the Russ County Community Library in Ladysmith.

The kits are available on a first-come, first-served basis with a limit of one per household.

No registration or income verification is required.

Kits can be picked up during regular business hours at each location while supplies last.

For Muskie101 News, I'm Maddie Schaefer.

Now a look at Northwood's News, I'm Maddie Schaefer.

Governor Tony Evers and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources have announced two new programs to help communities and private well owners test their water for PFAS contamination.

The programs are funded through the state's $125 million PFAS trust fund, which was approved in the 2023 to 2025 state budget.

The first program, called the PFAS Community Grants Sampling Program, provides funding to municipalities to test private wells and public water supplies at eligible schools and child

care facilities, along with wastewater and other materials at treatment plants.

The second program, called the Wisconsin PFAS Private Well Testing Program, provides free home testing kits to private well owners who aren't covered by community testing grants.

Those who qualify can collect a water sample from their faucet and send it to the Wisconsin State Lab of Hygiene for testing.

Residents who discover PFAS contamination may also qualify for funding to install treatment systems, construct new wells, or connect to public water supply.

The DNR says more grant programs are being developed with additional funding opportunities expected in 2027.

Wild River's Habitat for Humanity is expanding its winter weatherization program this year, offering up to 1,000 free kits to households across northwestern Wisconsin.

The kits will have supplies to help reduce drafts and heat loss as colder weather approaches.

From November 1st through the 15th, residents can pick up a kit at one of 18 participating locations across the region.

In Hayward, kits will be available at the Sherman and Ruthwise Community Library and Ventures Unlimited Thrift Store.

You can also find the

at the Spooner Memorial Library, Wild River's Habitat for Humanity Restore in Spooner, and the Russ County Community Library in Ladysmith.

The kits are available on a first-come, first-served basis with a limit of one per household.

No registration or income verification is required.

Kits can be picked up during regular business hours at each location while supplies last.

For Northwood's News, I'm Maddie Schaefer.

For Civic Media News, I'm Maddie Schaefer in for Connie Feldman.

Madison is earning global recognition after being named one of National Geographic's top 25 must-visit destinations for 2027.

The publication highlighted Wisconsin's capital city for its scenic lakes, vibrant parks and thriving local food and dining scene.

Tourism officials say the honor comes after years of building relationships with travel writers to showcase everything Dane County has to offer.

Business owners and community leaders are celebrating the global spotlight, calling it a huge

for the area's hospitality and culture.

The Madison Common Council has voted to terminate interim independent police monitor Arameek Glass effective immediately.

The move comes following weeks of controversy over her job performance outlined in an employment review from the city attorney's office.

That review states Glass had made no meaningful progress in searching for a permanent monitor after nearly 10 months with no approved job description, posting or interviews.

It also cited a missed July 17.

budget deadline, strained relationships with Madison police, and an open outside investigation into complaints about Glass's own conduct.

As we get closer to the November 3rd election, the Wisconsin Department of Motor Vehicles is reminding voters to make sure they have the proper photo ID before heading to the polls.

Acceptable forms of identification include a Wisconsin driver's license or state ID card.

A federally compliant real ID is not required to vote.

Other forms of identification

including certain military and student IDs may also be accepted.

For those who need an ID to vote, the DMV offers state ID cards free of charge.

And if the card isn't ready in time for election day, eligible voters can receive a temporary receipt that can be used at the polls.

And that's your state news update.

I'm Maddie Schaefer for Civic Media News.

Mike Clemens

The World Series is underway.

Hi, I'm Mike Clemens with sports from AmFamField, where it's the Brewers and the Rays in Game 1.

This will be the second time for the Brewers playing in a World Series, the third time for Tampa Bay, but neither team has yet to win the best of seven championship.

Manager Pat Murphy on what the Brewers did this week to prepare for tonight.

We played baseball.

That's how we prepared.

We went out there and played baseball every day and live at bats.

you can't recreate real.

You know what I mean?

It's a long way off and if we want to use it as an excuse, then let people use it as excuse, but nothing simulates the game the way it is.

Mike Clemens

Brewer's owner, Mark Antonasio.

It's just sinking in on what a historic step this is now.

When I talked to Pat Murphy the other day, he said probably 10 years from now we'll be looking back on this and thinking about it.

It's all happening so

Mike Clemens

fast.

NFL.

The Packers played the Lions Sunday in Detroit.

Quarterback Jordan Love on the injury report with a sore back, but was a full

participant in yesterday's practice and pads with sports on Mike Clemens.

Kory Hartman

I'm meteorologist Brandon Bormans, mostly sunny skies today with well above average temperatures once again highs in the low to mid seventies.

Mostly cloudy skies tonight and outside chance of a shower late lows in the mid fifties.

For Saturday partly sunny skies and breezy warm again with highs in the lower seventies.

Kathryn Lake

That's your Hayward News Roundup from WBZH and WHSM.

Find more news anytime at wbzh.fm slash news.

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