97.5 WFHR and 105.5 WIRI. Your Wisconsin Rapids Home for locally grown radio. Here's your Daily News Roundup.
From the Wisconsin Rapids local newsroom, I'm Melissa K.
You can watch the USA men's curling team compete against Norway during the Olympics at the Tri-City Curling Club this Sunday and try out curling while you're there.
The event is from noon to 3 p.m. on February 15th in Wisconsin Rapids.
Club members will be there to discuss the game and strategy. You don't need any experience to try curling.
The event is free and you just need to bring clean, rubber-sold shoes and warm clothing that's easy to move around in.
The Tri-City Curling Club is located at 131 Hurley Street in Rapids.
All Clark County snowmobile and winter ATV trails on public and private lands will close at 6 a.m. on Sunday.
Thorpe Snow Raiders trails are already closed as of 6 a.m. on Thursday and trails remain closed for the Nielsville Grandin Trail Busters.
You can contact the Clark County Forestry and Parks Department for current trail information at 715-743-5140.
February is National Heart Month. The American Red Cross is asking people to show how much you care by taking a Red Cross First Aid CPR and AED class.
Only about one-third of adults in the US say they feel confident and ready to act if someone goes into cardiac arrest.
Having the knowledge and confidence to act can triple someone's chances of surviving cardiac arrest.
You can visit redcross.org to find a class in your area.
There's only one more week to wait for the annual Port Edwards Knights of Columbus drive through Fish Fry.
Beginning on Friday, February 20th, you can get a Fish Fry to take home for 14 bucks with all the fixings.
Next week, they'll be serving from 3 to 6 p.m.
Local news at the top and bottom of every hour throughout the day or on demand any time at WFHR.com and WIRI.FM.
From the Wisconsin Rapids Local Newsroom, I'm Melissa K.
For Civic Media News, I'm Lisa Hale.
Vice President JD Vance visited Wisconsin yesterday speaking at a machining facility in Clover, in Portage County, as part of the post-State of the Union tour.
This was his first visit to the Badger States since last August when he was in La Crosse.
Republicans saw the visit as a chance to talk up manufacturing in the economy and to put a spotlight on third congressional district GOP Congressman Derek Van Orden.
Democrats called the visit a political photo op.
Meanwhile, the Wisconsin State Assembly has passed proposed legislation to reclassify the Sand Hill Crane and establish a hunting season for that bird.
Civic Media's James Kelly has the story.
The bill introduced by State Representative Paul Tittle would classify the Sand Hill Crane as a migratory gamebird with the reclassification the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources would need to authorize the hunt, establish hunting zones, and create a Sand Hill Crane Hunter Education program.
It now moves to the State Senate for consideration.
Sand Hill Crane's had become troublesome for farmers causing significant crop damage losses.
The legislation would allow farmers to take advantage of a U.S. Fish and Wildlife program called the Wildlife Damage Abatement Fund, which can only be accessed if the wildlife causing that crop loss is authorized for hunting.
For Civic Media News, I'm James Kelly.
The International Crane Foundation argues that data shows a hunting season would not significantly improve crop loss issues.
The DNR is looking into setting certain bird seasons for the next four years. Civic Media's Maddie Schaefer reports.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is asking for public input on migratory bird hunting season frameworks for 2026 through 2030.
In the past, Waterfowl and other migratory bird seasons were set year by year, but with near unanimous support from conservation groups and hunters, the DNR is moving to a multi-year structure for the first time.
Anyone interested in Wisconsin's migratory bird seasons can submit comments through an online form on the DNR's Waterfowl Hunting webpage by email or at one of the four public hearings.
Three in-person hearings are set for March 2nd, 3rd and 5th, with a virtual option on March 4th.
Comments will be accepted through March 6th. After that, a final season structure will go before the Natural Resources Board for approval. For Civic Media News, I'm Maddie Schaefer.
Wisconsin's top assembly leader, Robin Voss, is digging in his heels against a new lawsuit that claims the state school funding system is unconstitutional and over funds the school choice program.
The suit was filed Monday and argues that kids are not getting equal shots at basic learning that special education support isn't adequate and that $700 million in private choice programs this year defies a Supreme Court limit.
Voss called the suit a meritless activist ploy to ruin the voucher program and take control away from the legislators.
Lawmakers are working on legislation to regulate cryptocurrency kiosks. Civic Media's Melissa K reports.
Many in Wisconsin are being targeted in crypto kiosks scams.
It's not unique to Wood County. It is a statewide issue.
That's Wood County Sheriff's Chief Deputy Quentin Ellis talking with WFHR. He said the scammers use a variety of scripts.
They will call with any amount of different scenarios. One was actually people were calling saying they were me. Me from the Wood County Sheriff's Department needed you to put money in a cryptocurrency key ask to avoid coming to jail.
Scammers using emotional manipulation to threaten their victims with arrest or jail if they don't respond immediately.
They target vulnerable populations often elderly individuals and will pose as trusted authority figures.
It's definitely a statewide problem. It's just there hasn't been one telltale way to respond to it because of the lack of regulation of these machines.
Chief Deputy Ellis says several other states already have legislation in place to protect against this type of scam.
I'm very hopeful that this passing legislation will act as a major deterrent to these companies and keep them from allowing this type of thing to happen to our people in Wisconsin.
The bill has broad bipartisan support and would protect both consumers and operators.
Everybody accept these major major corporations that are based wherever else in the nation or in the world even.
They're getting their money and everybody else here in Wisconsin that's falling to these is becoming a victim.
I'm Melissa Kay, Civic Media News.
Assembly Bill 968 passed with amendments. It now goes to the Senate for consideration.
As rising costs and falling prices take their toll more and more Wisconsin farmers are turning to bankruptcy.
A new report from the American Farm Bureau Federation shows farm bankruptcies jumped 46% nationwide in 2025.
Wisconsin saw 16 filings in 2025 compared to just two in both 2023 and 2024.
A Madison bankruptcy attorney tells WPR that most farmers seek help too late.
An economist are saying that farmers are staying afloat by borrowing against their land.
For Civic Media News, I'm Lisa Hale.
Visit our website at civicmedia.us.
Another Bucks Home game tonight.
Hi, I'm Mike Clemens with sports NBA.
The Milwaukee Bucks were the great spot in the regular season schedule.
Nine out of their current 10 games are at home at five Sir Form and tonight it's the Bucks and the third place Knicks.
Milwaukee coming off a 1-18 to 1-16 win over the Cavaliers.
The Badgers play in Seattle 3pm tomorrow afternoon against the Washington Huskies.
Wisconsin looking to bounce back after losing to the Oregon Ducks Wednesday night.
We're at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis where Wisconsin Badger linebacker Mason Reichert ran a 4.7 in the 40-yard dash.
I asked him about playing for the Badgers last season.
Super blessed to have an opportunity to surrounded by great coaches and teammates alike and just really developing and meet or pushing me to be a better person and player throughout this last year.
You know, this is my last chance to play college football and to have the opportunity to do it at Wisconsin.
It was a great year.
That's Wisconsin's Mason Reichert with sports.
I'm Mike Clemens.
It is going to be mostly sunny today with a high in the mid to upper 40s this afternoon.
Tonight, partly cloudy, we have a big cold front that's going to kick through.
We're going to drop into the teams for an overnight low tomorrow.
Some off it on light snow and a lot colder with a high of only 21.
I'd be the urologist Sean Cable.