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.
From the Wisconsin Rapids local newsroom, I'm Melissa K. Former Family Court Commissioner
Ginger Murray is joining the race for Wisconsin's 7th Congressional District. Murray grew up
across Wisconsin, but says her family always came back to the North Woods. She attended
school in Wabino and took part in the statewide mock trial program where O'Night a County
Judge Robert Kinney encouraged her to pursue law. She later attended law school in Mississippi
and was eventually appointed as Family Court Commissioner by Kinney. She currently
owns and operates your family law center.
Murray has spent much of her career in public service, working as a public defender, special
prosecutor, and longtime family court commissioner and forest and O'Night accountees. She also
served as City Attorney for Crandon and Town Attorney for Laona, all while running her own
law practice. She previously ran for Assembly District 36, 26 years ago, but says now that
her children are grown, she's ready for another campaign, taking aim at current representative
Tom Tiffany Seat, who's running for governor.
Murray told R Sister Stations, WHSM and WBZH about her campaign better together.
I'm a divorce lawyer who settles 90% of her cases because I can focus on what brings
people together, and that's what this country needs right now.
She says that she'll focus on solving real-life struggles that residents face, which includes
making sure schools get needed funding and finding cost-effective ways to fund health
care, child care, and environmental needs. She joins Democrats Chris Armstrong and Fred
Clark, along with three Republican candidates, Michael Lafonso, Jesse Eben, and Paul Wasgren.
The primary election will be held on August 11, 2026.
Democratic state lawmakers have introduced new legislation to increase the reimbursement
rate for special education in public schools. James Kelly reports.
Under the new biennial budget, the reimbursement rate for special education was set at 45%.
Last month, however, the Department of Public Instruction notified schools the rate would
decrease to 35% with higher than expected cost increases for those services.
State Representative Christian Phelps is a member of the Assembly Committee on Education.
He says that because schools are constitutionally required to provide special education services,
local taxpayers could be on the hook for the increased cost.
But the details of how that happens are that if the state doesn't carry enough weight,
a lot of the weight on fulfilling that constitutional requirement falls on individual people in
their local property taxes.
Representative Phelps says the state originally reimbursed public schools for about 70% of their
special education costs.
Over the last decade, however, that reimbursement rate has dropped to about one-third of special
education costs, putting more of the financial burden on taxpayers.
At the same time, private and parochial schools that participate in the special needs voucher
program are getting nearly all of those costs reimbursed.
But we have the statewide special needs voucher program that is only one decade old.
And even though private and parochial schools, even the ones that take public funds are not
required to even admit students with disabilities.
If they choose to participate in the special needs voucher program, the state will fund
90% or more of their special education costs.
If passed into law, the proposed legislation would guarantee public schools receive the
45% reimbursement rate despite the increased cost of providing special education services.
The first case of highly pathogenic avian influenza in dairy cows in Wisconsin was confirmed
on Saturday.
The FDA-affected farm is located in Dodge County and is under quarantine to limit spread
of the disease.
The testing was confirmed by the National Veterinary Services Laboratory, according to the Wisconsin
Department of Agriculture Trade and Consumer Protection.
DATCP urges all livestock owners to implement strong biosecurity measures to protect their
flocks and herds from this disease.
This includes washing hands, disinfecting equipment, restricting access to animals, and separating
new additions to the flock or herd for at least 30 days.
Pultry owners are asked when possible to keep their birds indoors.
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services is working with DATCP to provide information
on personal protective equipment for those working with animals.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, the public risk from HPAI infections remains
low.
Wisconsin's frozen road law took effect yesterday for the northern half of the state.
Wisconsin's 1 and 2, which includes U.S. 10 near Stevens Point and numbered state and
federal highways north of U.S. 10.
The ground under the highway pavement in these areas is frozen to a depth of at least
18 inches.
The seasonal weight restriction helps protect Wisconsin's investment in roads.
People in the village of Port Edwards will begin to receive new trash and recycling cans
this week.
You will need to use your current bins until December 31.
On that Wednesday, village officials ask that you place both of the old trash and recycling
cans out for pickup and they'll be taken away.
Local news at the top and bottom of every hour throughout the day, or on demand anytime
at WFHR.com and WIRI.FM.
From the Wisconsin Rapids Local Newsroom, I'm Melissa K.
So Packers get beat by the Broncos.
Hi, I'm Mike Clemens with Sports NFL.
Green Bay was up 23-14 in the third quarter, but the Denver Broncos came roaring back to
win 34-26.
They're 11th victory in a row.
The Packers making key mistakes on offense, I talked to Ydris he were jaded and read.
I hold myself accountable because I'm late in the game, you know, in a critical moment.
I ran the wrong route, so I take the blame for that and I do think, you know, that's the
reason why we're in this position.
I hold myself accountable, you know, I'm very critical of myself.
You know, we just all got to be on point to give ourselves the best chance.
In defense, Micah Parsons, suffering a season ending torn ACL NBA.
The Bucks got bounced in Brooklyn 127-82, Doc Rivers, as Bucks had coached Doc Rivers
with sports.
I'm Mike Clemens.
It is going to be partly to mostly cloudy today with a high in the low to mid to 20s
here this afternoon with just a light, westerly breeze.
Tonight, mostly cloudy.
We're going to drop to a between 5 and 10 for an overnight low tomorrow, mostly cloudy
with a high in the mid to upper 30s.
I meet a urologist, 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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