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.
Gas prices have risen 27.9 cents per gallon over the last week, landing at an average
of 365 on Monday.
This is more than $1.13 higher than a month ago and 60 cents per gallon higher than this
time last year.
Officials at gas buddies say gas prices continue to rise nationwide.
Seasonal factors are taking effect and the ongoing supply concerns tied to the straight
of Hormuz could push the national average above the $4 per gallon mark later this week.
We haven't seen the national average that high since 2022.
Diesel prices are surging to multi-year highs with some markets nearing breaker-breaking
territory.
Officials say global oil prices continue to climb and early indications suggest consumers
may begin to pull back in response to the rapid pace of those increases.
Marshville Clinic Research Institute kicks off a third year of citizen tick collection.
Over the course of the past two years, nearly 6,000 ticks were collected in both 2024 and
2025 from nearly every Wisconsin County.
On 61% of ticks collected in 2024 were the American dogwood tick and the majority of
the remainder were the deer black-legged tick.
Researchers saw almost a 10% increase in the number of deer ticks in 2025.
The first two years of the study revealed much rarer species now appearing in the state,
such as the Lone Star Tick.
Deer and Lone Star Ticks are known to carry diseases such as Lyme's disease, anaplasmosis,
and other bacterial and blood infections.
We paid tick collection kits are available from the Marshville Clinic Research Institute
or by calling 715-389-7796.
The Wisconsin Rapids Public School District is sharing an overview of the operational
referendum that will appear on voters' balance on April 7th.
This operational referendum asks voters to consider a $3.8 million five-year proposal to support
the district's day-to-day operating needs.
This would fund essential school functions not fully covered by state funding, including
classroom instruction, student services, staffing, utilities, transportation, and building operations.
More information can be found on the district website.
In-person absentee voting is already underway and continues through Friday, April 3rd.
The spring election date is Tuesday, April 7th.
The annual United Weekend event is coming up with the United Way of Southwood in Adams
counties.
This year is the 14th annual food sculpture contest, and it will be at lunch by the river
on June 11th.
Teams can register to participate to build sculptures entirely from non-perishable food and
basic need items.
These will be donated to local food programs after the sculptures are displayed during
lunch by the river.
Since 2013, United Weekend has brought in over 84,000 pounds of food and $8800 for local
food programs.
This can register now at uswac.org.
The town of Rome is looking for part-time public work staff to help maintain the community.
These part-time positions include General Laborer and Mowing Crew.
You can apply in-person at the Rome Town Hall or online at roamedwa.gov.
There's open badging today at McMillan Library from noon to 5 p.m.
This is an opportunity to get badged on various equipment and receive an orientation
to the space.
You'll need this training to use the open make-hours on Friday, March 27th, which runs
from 10 a.m. to 5 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.
With Civic Media News, I'm Terry Miller.
A three-judge panel has thrown out a challenge to Wisconsin's Congressional map, a ruling
that keeps the current district lines in place for now.
The judges from Dane, Outagami, and Milwaukee counties said they don't have the authority
to weigh in without direction from the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
A lawsuit filed by 11 state residents claimed the map was the result of illegal partisan
jerrymandering.
The veterans are calling the decision a big win, while the case could still head to appeal.
Governor Tony Evers yesterday blocked several Republican-backed bills focused on transgender
and gender non-conforming kids.
Evers says the measures would endanger youth and fuel discrimination, while supporters
argue they're needed to protect fairness in sports and give parents a stronger voice.
The vetoes came on International Transgender Day of Visibility.
Lawmakers could try to override the vetoes, though that's unlikely, with current numbers
in the legislature.
And it's an all Wisconsin championship to be named the strongest town in America.
The competition by the foundation Strong Towns started with 16 locations and is now down
to the final two, with Madison taking on West Alice.
The foundation says the 2026 contest is about progress, not perfection, adding these
towns embody that spirit.
Voting for the championship round will be available through this Friday.
Shaboygan also made it to the final four, but was eliminated by Madison.
Some past winners of the strongest town contest include Watertown, South Dakota, Jasper,
Indiana, Braddleboro, Vermont, and Marion, Ohio from 2025.
Get details online about voting, strongesttown.com.
More news is available at civicmedia.us.
The Brewers beat the raise.
Hi, I'm Mike Clemens with sports from Amfam Field where the Brewers battled back to beat
the raise six to two home runs from Jake Bowers, Gary Sanchez, right-hander Brandon Woodruff,
gave up two runs, but struck out six in five innings of work to get the win featuring
his fastball.
If I was going to use bullets, I didn't want to use them in the minor leagues.
I was recovering.
You know, I'd kind of mentioned that before, and I wanted to be here with the guys.
You know, it's a good feeling breaking camp and just being with everybody and it was just
a good feeling for me.
I really wanted to do that.
And, you know, with the pitch count, I was out if I couldn't get through five innings
and that's on me.
The series wrapping up today, NBA the Bucks beat the Dallas Marrix at five serve form,
23 to 99, snapping a four game losing streak.
Doc Rivers says his guys haven't given up season hasn't gone the way we wanted to, but
you keep working on chemistry and building together that leads to the following year.
That's Doc Rivers with sports.
I'm Mike Clemens.
Partly to mostly cloudy today with a high right around 40 this afternoon, tonight some
light snow with some sleep and freezing rain tossed in could get very icy with around
an inch or two of snow accumulation.
Night, sleep, freezing rain, and then changing to rain with a high of 41, IBD orologist
Sean Cable.