97.5 W F H R and 105.5 W I R I. Your Wisconsin Rapids Home for locally grown radio. Here's
your Daily News Roundup.
For W F H R and W I R I News, I'm Melissa K. Is this your first Thanksgiving turkey? I hope
you're already thawing it. Lisa Hale has more.
Crepping for the big Thanksgiving Day feast is about to begin. People are peeling potatoes,
making pie crust and prepping the turkey. If you bought a frozen turkey to make this
year, now's the time to put it in the refrigerator to start thawing. Morgan Peterson, the environmental
health specialist with the Winnebago County Public Health Department, said thawing in the
fridge is the safest way to thaw your Thanksgiving bird.
Usually the fridge is where we would like you. That's where we would tell people to
thaw it. That's the best. Some people will thaw under cold water. As long as you're
changing that water regularly, but you have to cook it as soon as it's reaching that
thawed area. That's why putting it in the fridge is the best because it's going to stay 41
or below. If you're thawing it out on the counter, we do not recommend that because you
don't know when it's actually reached that true thawed state and then it's getting into
what we call the danger zone, the 41 to 140 if it gets to room temp or something like
that. So putting it in the fridge a couple days before and letting it thaw is what we
would recommend.
The USDA lists one more safe way to thaw it turkey. That's in the microwave, but cautions
cooks to start roasting the turkey immediately after thawing and to make sure the microwave
is large enough to handle the turkey. The USDA says never thawed turkey on the counter
in the garage or in the back porch. Don't thaw in a brown paper grocery bag or plastic
garbage bag and never use the dishwasher with or without water to thaw a turkey. There
is good news if the turkey is still frozen solid. Come Thanksgiving morning. You can still
roast that bird. It will just take about 50% longer for the turkey to reach a safe internal
temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. For civic media news, I'm Lisa Hale.
A provision in the funding bill that reopened the federal government could change the U.S.
hemp industry. The provision closes a loophole created in 2018 that allows for the development
and sale of hemp derived products. Amy and Paul Yanzer are co-founders of forward beverage
company in Wasau. They sell non-alcoholic beverages and what they call social celsers, which
contain hemp derived CBD and THC. Paul says the ban would change what they're able to sell.
There is language put into that bill that made the legal limit of THC from hemp 0.4 milligrams,
which would effectively ban 95% of the products in the hemp market right now.
Over 50% of forward beverage company sales are their THC drinks. Amy said. She said if
the ban takes effect, they would have to find other ingredients for their drinks.
Another plan that we have for a business because we're a non-alcoholic company is to lean
into other types of plans and adaptogens to create functional beverages.
Wisconsin Republican Senator Patrick Teston of Stevens Point has introduced legislation aimed
at keeping the hemp industry open in Wisconsin. He spoke with Civic Media's Melissa K.
We want to provide some framework and a pathway for this industry to continue to operate and grow
here in the state. Despite some of the setbacks we've had at the federal level.
Teston's proposal provides guidelines for growing and selling hemp and would regulate
how much THC can be included in consumable THC products. The legislation that we've put forth
seeks to implement some of those basic guardrails and ensure that these products are on hands of
kids and others. If Congress doesn't pass new legislation keeping the industry open,
the hemp ban will take effect next September. I'm Isabel Añeto for WFHR and WIRI News.
Average gas prices fell 4.2 cents over the last week for an average of 273 across the state.
This is 9.8 cents per gallon lower than a month ago and 12 cents lower than this time last year.
Officials at gas buddies say the Great Lakes region could see prices continued to decline at the
pump as refinery maintenance is wrapping up. The broader outlook is also promising with oil
prices dipping below $60 per barrel. Prices could decline further in many states in the weeks ahead
as we head into the holidays. Next Monday is the public hearing about the possible solar power plant
in Wisconsin Rapids. The Planning Commission meeting is December 1 at 4 p.m. This will also be
streamed live on the city's Facebook page Charter Cable Channel 985 and Solaris HD Cable Channel
3. Waterworks and Lighting Commission is considering an 80 acre parcel of land located between
Woodrock and Tumail Avenue. It would need to be re-zoned to allow for construction of the power plant.
The plan includes a generous tree buffer on all sides with roughly 25 acres in the center
cleared to accommodate the panels. Residents can comment on both rezoning and power plant construction.
People in Rome are invited to attend a meeting about the Rome Solar Project. The Public Service
Commission has two opportunities for residents on December 3, one meeting is at 2 p.m. and the
other at 6. The current meeting location is the Nicosite Community Center. Rome Town leaders
objected to the location but they've not heard back. The meeting will also be available by Zoom and
you can attend from the community room at the Rome Town Hall. Town officials advised you check
the town website and watch for emails in case the location changes before December 3.
I'm Melissa K for WFHR and WIRI News.
The Packers Prepare for the Lions. I amite Clevans with Sports, NFL. The Packers had to
Detroit to face the Lions on Thanksgiving kickoff at Ford Field at noon Thursday. We learned
that quarterback Jordan Love is dealing with a separated left shoulder. An AC joint sprain he
suffered last week against the Giants. Is that why he was only handing off the ball with his right hand
against the Vikings? Yeah, exactly. You know, it didn't affect me too much. You know, two
couple of hits on it, but it was fine for the most part and yeah. NBA, the Bucks losing at
home last night to Portland, 115 to 103. It's their fifth loss in a row. They play the heat in
Miami tomorrow night. And the Wisconsin Badgers Mimi Collier on being the number one pick overall
in the major league professional volleyball draft. It was so much fun. We're having a little
watch party in the locker room right now. The whole staff is there. Some of the girls are there.
And it's just been it's so nice just being surrounded by people that I love and experiencing
a moment like this and something I'll never forget. As Wisconsin's Mimi Collier was sports
on Mike Clemens. We have some big changes coming as we head through the next couple of days. Rain fog
today are high 46 tonight. Rain will eventually change to snow late tonight with a low of 29.
Snow tomorrow maybe an inch of accumulation and very windy with blowing snow high tomorrow 33.
I'm meteorologist Sean Cable. That's your Wisconsin Rapids news roundup from WIRI and WFHR
locally grown radio. Find more news anytime at WFHR.com and WIRI.FM.
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