For Muskie101 News,
I'm Maddie Schaefer.
As temperatures start to drop, state officials say heating scams are on the rise.
Here's Civic Media's Connie Feldman.
People are reporting urgent calls and official looking emails demanding payment right away or the heat will be shut off.
That threat is a scam.
Under Wisconsin's winter moratorium, utility companies cannot legally shut off your heat for unpaid bills between November and mid-April.
The State Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection urges people to hang up on high-pressure calls that impersonate utilities.
They say scammers can be convincing with made-up work orders, fake billing statements, even truck numbers.
They're ready to dispatch right away unless payment is made.
If you get one of these calls or emails, ignore it.
If you have any questions, just call your utility company.
Consumer advocates say if you're behind on your bill, call the power company directly to work out a payment plan.
or call 211 for help with assistance programs.
The Sherman and Ruth Weiss Community Library in Hayward is hosting two events this weekend.
From 10 a.m.
to noon on Saturday, visitors can make holiday ornaments using natural materials like acorns, twigs, and pine cones.
The library is also holding a dessert bar crawl on the same day where people can bring their favorite dessert bars to share or stop by to sample what others have made.
Anyone bringing dessert bars is asked to cut them into bite-sized pieces
and include a list of ingredients and allergens.
Both events are open to all ages, and people can choose to attend one or both.
More information is available on the Sherman and Ruth Weiss Community Library's website.
Lakuta Ray is holding a Thanksgiving dinner basket giveaway this month.
Ten food baskets will be given away through a drawing on November 20th at noon.
To enter, stop by the LCO Tribal Office reception desk and see Kathy Smith to pick up a ticket for the drawing.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
is proposing changes to ATV and UTV regulations that would prohibit open containers of alcohol.
Currently, Wisconsin law prohibits operating an ATV or UTV while intoxicated, but there isn't a statewide restriction specifically banning open containers of alcohol.
The proposed rule would change that, making it illegal for drivers and passengers to have open containers while riding on public roads, trails, frozen waterways, and other public areas.
The restriction would also
cover other intoxicants, including controlled substances, but would not apply to riding on private property.
During a public hearing last month, DNR off highway vehicle administrator Jacob Holesclaw said the goal is to improve safety.
Alcohol over the last several years has been a top contributing factor in ATV and UTV fatal crashes and serious injury crashes.
According to the DNR, alcohol was involved in 43% of fatal ATV and UTV crashes between 2021 and 2020.
The DNR also reports that citations for operating ATVs and UTVs while intoxicated increased from 68 to 255 over the past decade.
The DNR is also proposing changes to window tint regulations for UTVs, including exemptions for medical reasons.
The proposal would also exempt certain factory installed windows on UTVs manufactured before March 1 of next year from current tint requirements.
Another proposed change would require ATV and UTV
drivers to signal when turning or stopping on public roads and trails, allowing either turn signals or hand and arm signals.
The Wisconsin ATV and UTV Association and Wisconsin County Highway Association have both submitted letters supporting the proposed changes, citing safety concerns and the need for consistent operating regulations.
The proposed rules are expected to go before the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board at its December meeting.
For Muskie101 News, I'm Maddie Schaefer.
Now a look at Northwood's News, I'm Maddie Schaefer.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is proposing changes to ATV and UTV regulations that would prohibit open containers of alcohol.
Currently, Wisconsin law prohibits operating in ATV or UTV while intoxicated, but there isn't a statewide restriction specifically banning open containers of alcohol.
The proposed rule would change that, making it illegal for drivers and passengers to have open containers while riding on public roads, trails, frozen waterways, and other public
areas.
The restriction would also cover other intoxicants, including controlled substances, but would not apply to riding on private property.
During a public hearing last month, DNR off highway vehicle administrator Jacob Holesclaw said the goal is to improve safety.
Alcohol over the last several years has been a top contributing factor in ATV and UTV fatal crashes and serious injury crashes.
According to the DNR, alcohol was involved in 43% of fatal ATV and UTV crashes.
The DNR also reports that citations for operating ATVs and UTVs while intoxicated increased from 68 to 255 over the past decade.
The DNR is also proposing changes to window tint regulations for UTVs, including exemptions for medical reasons.
The proposal would also exempt certain factory installed windows on UTVs manufactured before March 1 of next year from current tint requirements.
change would require ATV and UTV drivers to signal when turning or stopping on public roads and trails, allowing either turn signals or hand and arm signals.
The Wisconsin ATV and UTV Association and Wisconsin County Highway Association have both submitted letters supporting the proposed changes, citing safety concerns and the need for consistent operating regulations.
The proposed rules are expected to go before the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board at its December meeting.
I'm Maddie
Schaefer.
A Wisconsin State Patrol trooper has been released from ICE custody after being detained at an airport.
Carl Aaron Van der Merve was detained Thursday while waiting to board a flight at Dane County Regional Airport.
The South African National has been waiting seven years for an asylum hearing and holds a valid work permit through 2030.
The Department of Homeland Security says Van der Merve overstayed his visa in 2019, while his attorneys argue he has a federal work authorization.
Van der Merve was released
Friday under electronic monitoring and regular immigration check-ins while his case remains pending.
Three people are now behind bars after authorities uncover a massive decade-long fraud scheme in Dork County involving fuel delivery.
Dork County Sheriff's deputies say 65-year-old Thomas Kazmarek, his wife Jean and their son Justin, are accused in a $1.8 million fuel, theft, and money laundering operation.
Please say the family targeted 14 local victims over 10 years.
Investigators are continuing to audit records to see if any other customers were affected.
One person is dead after a workplace accident last week at American Asphalt in North Central Wisconsin.
Cronin and Wetter police say the man was trying to check conditions inside one of the company's silos when he got trapped between the doors of a silo gate.
OSHA has officially launched an investigation alongside local police to determine exactly what led to the fatal incident.
The company has temporarily stopped production at the site.
The Packers came out on top and then some in New England yesterday.
The 45 points racked up by the pack is a new record for the most points allowed by the Patriots in their home stadium.
Final score 45 to 27.
Mike Clemens will have much more coming up in sports.
Four people and one dog were found dead in a Wisconsin home over the weekend.
West Bend police say they found two adults and two children dead inside a home while responding to a 911 call shortly before noon on Saturday.
Rescue workers took another child in the home to the hospital.
Police haven't released her condition.
Police say they also found a gun at the scene which they believe was involved in the incident.
The incident remains under investigation, but police say there's no threat to the public.
We Energy's customers are bracing for higher utility bills.
State regulators have officially approved a new energy rate increase.
The rate hike will take effect over the next two years, hitting wallets in 2027 and 2028.
Company leaders say the increase is necessary for infrastructure, but consumer advocates are urging families to budget ahead.
A massive political shift is hitting Madison.
Following last week's midterm elections, Wisconsin Democrats have flipped the state legislature, securing a government trifecta for the first time in 16 years.
Democratic leaders say their immediate priorities include slashing everyday consumer costs and pushing forward with long-awaited policy changes, including the legalization of recreational marijuana.
People walking along downtown Green Bay's waterfront this weekend may have come across an unexpected sight.
200 sleeping bags laid out on Green Bay's city deck landing.
Each sleeping bag was there to represent a person without a home in the community as the temperatures dropped below freezing.
The demonstration was organized by a Green Bay church to create a stark visual representation of the more than 200 unhoused people recorded during Brown County's recent homelessness survey.
Following the awareness event, organizers donated the sleeping bags to local shelters and outreach groups.
And that's your state news update.
I'm Connie Feldman for Civic Media News.
A record night for Green Bay.
Hi, I'm Mike Clemens with sports from Boston, where the Packers beat the Patriots 45 to 27.
That 45 points, the most a visiting team has ever scored in the Patriots Gillette Stadium Packers quarterback Jordan Love.
Man, it's just a great win.
You know, I think all around all three phases, great team win and you know, be able to have a stat like that that no one's done.
It's pretty cool.
Love with three touchdowns
and 373 yards passing Patriots quarterback Drake May struggled giving up an
an interception on the opening drive, the first of three.
Yeah, just throwing the football in spots that I don't think I don't think I should have thrown it.
You know, the first one, I think I just got to see him.
See the guys, you know, deep, you know, see the safe positions on the second one happens.
I got made though a little farther and the third one, they're jumping cross routes.
So I got to see in front.
NBA, the Bucks losing to the Celtics at home 117 to 97 at one and nine.
The Bucks are off to their worst start in over 30 years with sports on Mike Clemens.
Mostly cloudy this morning with a little sunshine by later this afternoon.
Our high today in the mid fifties.
Tonight mostly clear.
We're going to drop down into the low to mid thirties.
Tomorrow will be mostly sunny with highs climbing into the low to mid fifties.
I'm meteorologist Sean Cable.
That's your Hayward news roundup from WBZH and WHSM.
Find more news anytime at WBZH dot FM slash news.
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