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.
Christmas has officially come and gone and now comes the time to return those gifts that
aren't quite right. It's important to remember that stores set their own rules and they're
not legally required to accept exchanges or give refunds unless the merchandise was defective
or misrepresented. While most stores do have a return or exchange policy, they can vary
greatly from store to store. The Better Business Bureau of Wisconsin recommends the following
tips to make returns easier. Research retailers before trying to make a return. Keep your receipt
and packaging. Most stores only accept returns in exchanges if you can present the item
with its receipt and original packaging. Always include a gift receipt with items you give
and hold on to any gift receipts you receive. Know the rules for returning gifts without
a receipt as this can be tricky. Without the receipt, most retailers offer store credit
or an exchange rather than a full refund to your original method of payment, especially
if the item is marked down or on clearance. Bring your ID. Many stores ask to see your
ID when you return an item to avoid holiday return scams. Sometimes retailers require
you to bring your ID and the original form of payment so you may need help from the gift
giver. Make returns in a timely fashion. Almost all return policies are valid during a specific
time period. Some stores modify their return period during the holidays. Watch out for return
scams. Be on the lookout for fraudulent return policies or suspicious third party return
services that promise to handle the process for you. Always follow official channels and
platforms when returning items. You can find more information and resources at bbb.org.
Small farmers in Wisconsin will tell you concentrated power and agriculture is making it harder
for the little guy to stay in business. Savannah Tome Olsen reports. A new report shows
when the USDA buys food for its nutrition programs, a small handful of companies get
almost half of all that business. In fiscal year 2024, friends of the earth researchers
say the federal government spent $4.8 billion on food for programs that support school
and senior meals, food banks and tribal communities. Nearly half of that spending went to just
25 companies. While a couple of those companies source from Wisconsin farmers, only two were
actually based here. Did he in milling in Columbia County 17th on the list and lakeside foods
in Manitouac, which comes in 25th. Chloe Waterman with friends of the earth says the government
may be saving money with these contracts, but they're leaving out many smaller farms
that emphasize sustainable practices. Some of these foods may have a low sticker price,
but a high cost to communities and to public health. Waterman says under both Republican
and Democratic leadership, the USDA has touted efforts to level the playing field for small
farmers, but she says seeing what the agency actually buys tells a different story.
We can start by ensuring that our own food procurement is focused on meat that does not
use routine antibiotics and the raising of those animals. The USDA does not do that
right now, and I think that that's a lost opportunity to fulfill some of those promises.
In August, the USDA announced it was planning to buy up to $230 million in fresh seafood fruits
and veggies from American farmers that would be distributed to food banks and nutrition programs.
It mentions supporting smaller-scale family farmers, but the initiative did not cover meat
and poultry, which data shows makes up a huge portion of their routine food program buys.
For civic media news, I'm Savannah Tome Olsen.
All Wood County snowmobile trails open today at 8 a.m. except for one. The Auburndale
Night Owl Trails from Arpan, North to Marathon County and East to Portage County opens at noon
today. These trails will have early season conditions, so park officials ask that you ride with caution,
stay on marked trails, and respect all private and public property. The Powers Bluffs ski and
tube hills are open now through January 4 with two sessions, 10 to 1 and 1 to 4. The multi-use
trail is groomed and open for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and biking.
Nebco Lake County Park has their multi-use trail open for cross-country skiing only,
and the Richfield 360 County Forest multi-use trails are groomed with a track set for cross-country
skiing. You can find county trail maps on the Wood County Parks and Forestry Department website.
A spirus Wisconsin Rapids Hospital is looking for volunteers to help with their home-delivered
meals program. Hot, delicious noon meals are delivered five days a week to residents in the area
who aren't able to prepare meals for themselves. Delivery drivers are needed between 11 a.m. to 12.30 p.m.
Monday through Friday. You can learn more information or volunteer by calling 715-421-7447.
Today is the last day to enter for the Find a Book Scavenger Hunt at McMillan Library.
Kids can pick up a scavenger hunt sheet at the children's desk, find books matching each
category, and drop off the sheet at the desk for a sticker and a chance to win a light-up reading pillow.
The winner will be chosen after today. Remember that the library closes at 5 today and is closed
all day on January 1. Local news at the top and bottom of every hour throughout the day
or on demand anytime at WFHR.com and WIRI.FM. From a Wisconsin Rapids local newsroom, I'm Melissa K.
The Badgers beat the Panthers. Hi, I'm Mike Clemens with sports, men's college basketball,
Wisconsin over Milwaukee, 80 to 60 at the Cole Center, the Badgers Greg guard, thank the Panthers
head coach Bart Lundy for adjusting their schedule. Bart's got a good team. I think they're going to
do very well in their league and to be able to fit this game in with their league playing games here
between the holidays and so it's credit to them to still want to play the game and now obviously we
wrap up the non-conference and head into league play starting Saturday night and get ready for
games coming next year. Wisconsin holds produced Saturday 7 p.m. NBA. It's the Bucks and the Wizards
tonight at Pfizer Form, Milwaukee looking for their third win in a row, NFL, the Packers making
roster changes, defensive tackle Jordan Riley and defensive back, Kamal Hayden placed on
season ending IR after their injuries against the Ravens, safety Zane Anderson recovering from an
ankle injury so they promoted two defensive backs from the practice squad for Sunday's game in
Minnesota with sports on Mike Clemens. A little light snow this morning, gradual clearing this afternoon
with temperatures in the mid to upper teams early on but we are going to drop through the day
into the single digits by late afternoon. Tonight mostly clear, we're going to drop to around two
to three below. Tomorrow mostly cloudy a little light snow with a high near 12. 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. Subscribe to this podcast on Spotify, Apple,
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