Ehrisman Trial to Proceed
WISCONSIN RAPIDS, WI (WSAU) -- A Wisconsin Rapids man accused of trying to kill a relative will go to trial after being found not competent late last year. Tommy Ehrisman was in court on Wednesday where both his representatives and the state agreed that the case is ready to move to trial. He's accused of trying to smot...
May 08, 2024
Wausau Botanic Gardens To Keep Monk's History Front And Center After Community Calls To Reverse Name Change
WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) -- The Wausau Botanic Gardens has hinted at another name change after their most recent rebrand was met with significant community pushback, including sharp criticism from the family of Robert Monk. According to a press release, the organization acknowledged Monk's dedication and still plans to ensure...
May 08, 2024
Wausau Economic Development Committee Approves RFI for South Riverfront Land
WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) -- The Wausau Economic Development Committee has approved issuing a request for interest (RFI) for land in the Riverlife area near First and Fulton Streets. Economic Development Manager Randy Fifrick says this isn't a traditional request for proposals, or RFP, that the city has often used to fill vaca...
May 08, 2024
Rothman says UW System will Cooperate with DEI Audit
MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WRN) -- An audit of diversity, equity and inclusion practices at state agencies and the UW System will proceed. UW System President Jay Rothman on Tuesday told the Legislature's Joint Finance Committee that he's not clear on what exactly will be audited. "So I'm struggling with what the standards...
May 07, 2024
Joint Finance Committee Takes a Pass on Releasing PFAs Funds
MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WRN) -- At the Capitol, the legislature's budget committee met on Tuesday. But the committee's Republican majority did not take up "forever chemicals" or health care funding for western Wisconsin, as requested by Governor Tony Evers. "We will not be discussing PFAS or HSHS today," ...
May 07, 2024
Grand Rapids police chief retiring
GRAND RAPIDS, WI (WSAU-WAOW) - Police Chief Melvin Pedersen has more than 40 years of service. A decade of that time has been spent with the Grand Rapids Police Department. He's now retiring. A lot has changed since the 1970s when Pedersen first started his career in Law Enforcement with styles, music and culture chan...
May 07, 2024
Warrant Issued for Wausau Man Facing Child Enticement Charges After He Fails to Show for Court Hearing
WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) -- A Wausau man accused of trying to lure a teen for drugs and sex failed to show up for a pre-trial motion hearing on Tuesday, resulting in a warrant for his arrest. Jason Olerich didn't show for Tuesday's appearance, leading Judge Scott Corbett to cancel his $7,500 signature bond and issue a bench w...
May 07, 2024
Antigo Teacher Advances Into Quarter Finals In Race For America's Favorite Teacher
ANTIGO, WI (WSAU-WAOW) - Kelly Kohler, a special education teacher at Antigo High School, has advanced to the quarterfinals of America's Favorite Teacher, where she will have the opportunity to appear in Reader's Digest, win a trip to Hawaii, and earn $25,000. As a former student of Antigo High School, Kohler has becom...
May 07, 2024
U.S. Senate Candidate Eric Hovde Talks Regulations While Touring Athens Miltrim Farm
ATHENS, WI (WSAU) - Republican U.S. Senate candidate Eric Hovde made a campaign stop in central Wisconsin on Monday afternoon to tour Athens Miltrim Farm. Hovde spent time with the business owners discussing the farms' history and the impacts of regulations, foreign trade, and how the cutback of 2% on whole milk produc...
May 07, 2024
Israeli military take control of vital Rafah crossing from Gaza into Egypt
By Mohammad Salem and Nidal al-Mughrabi RAFAH, Gaza Strip/CAIRO - The Israeli military took control of the vital Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt on Tuesday, pushing into the southern Gazan town after a night of air strikes and as prosp...
May 07, 2024
Kronenwetter Administrator to Resign
KRONENWETTER, WI (WSAU) -- Kronenwetter Administrator Leonard Ludi has submitted his resignation, effective later this month. In a statement to WSAU News, Village Board President Chris Voll said Ludi submitted a letter of resignation to the Village. His last day will be May 17th. "He mentioned to me that it was ti...
May 06, 2024
No announcement after botanical gardens board meeting
WAUSAU, WI (WSAU-WAOW) - The issues between the newly renamed Wausau Botanic Gardens and the Monk family continue. For the first time, members of the Monk family are speaking out. This comes after the gardens announced its new name, changed to Wausau Botanical Gardens, on Facebook. Since then, there's been pushback fro...
May 06, 2024
Lo Sentenced to Life Without Parole
WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) -- A Wausau man found guilty of killing Mai Rue Vang during an argument in 2021 will spend the rest of his life in prison without the possibility of parole. Umberto Lo was sentenced Monday afternoon, four months after he was found guilty at trial. Judge LaMont Jacobson gave him the mandatory life sent...
May 06, 2024
US FAA opens new probe into Boeing 787 inspections
By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said on Monday it has opened a new investigation into the Boeing 787 Dreamliner after the planemaker told the regulator last month it may not have completed required in...
May 06, 2024
Report: NY Prosecutor In Trump "Hush Money" Trial Was Paid By DNC In 2018 For "Political Consulting"
NEW YORK, NY - (WSAU) - As former President Trump continues to be tried in the state of New York for paying former porn star Stormy Daniels "hush money" payments due to their alleged early 2000s affair possibly affecting his 2016 campaign, a new financial document shows one of the main prosecutors in the case...
May 06, 2024
Patrick Feller / CC
Packers 2024 Draft Class Completes First Week Of Minicamp; Jordan Morgan Will Get Chance To Win LT Job
GREEN BAY, WI (WSAU) - It was a big week for the Green Bay Packers 2024 draft class, hoping to make a great first impression and land a starting job come September. When speaking to the media after practice on Friday, first-round pick Jordan Morgan said he wants to show coaches that he can take over the left tackle pos...
May 06, 2024
Fewer low-income Americans took out mortgages in 2023, study says
(Reuters) - Fewer low-income Americans took out mortgage loans last year than 2020, real estate broker Redfin said in a report on Monday, as steep interest rates make homebuying less affordable. As aggressive rate hikes by the U.S. Federal Reserve ...
May 06, 2024
Mayors Monday: Wausau's Doug Diny
WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) -- Wausau Mayor Doug Diny knows the clock is ticking on a groundbreaking for the Foundry on 3rd project at the former Wausau Center Mall site, but so far he's not worried about the developers missing that June 1st deadline. "We're very optimistic," said Diny. "We've been in touch with a...
May 06, 2024
Forest County Humane Society Holds National Adoption Event
FOREST COUNTY, Wis. -- (WAOW-WSAU) If you're looking to add a four-legged friend to your family, then you're going to want to check this out. The Forest County Humane Society is participating in a national adoption event called "Empty the Shelters". The adoption of spayed or neutered pets, who are vaccinate...
May 05, 2024
Burglary at W.O.W. in Wausau
WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) - The Wausau Police Department is investigating a burglary that happened early Saturday morning. The robbery took place at the restaurant Wausau on the Water, popularly known as W.O.W, located in Wausau's River District. According to police, the suspect entered the building by breaking a window aroun...
May 05, 2024
Wausau Fire Department, DCI to Conduct Live Burn Exercise
WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) -- The Wausau Fire Department and Wisconsin Department of Justice- Division of Criminal Investigation will conduct live fire training on a home near Bridge Street this week. According to a news release from the city they'll conduct firefighting and investigative training on a home located at 1514 Nort...
May 05, 2024
Tucker Pleads Not Guilty for Attempted Homicide
WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) -- A Wausau man accused of attempted homicide and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon has pled not guilty to the charges in Marathon County court. Todd Tucker is said to have pointed a firearm at a woman who was trying to sell some items to another woman. Investigators say the woman had facil...
May 04, 2024
Wausau Botanical Gardens Leadership to Meet Monday as Name Change Backlash Continues
WAUSAU, WI (WSAU-WAOW) -- Board Members for Wausau Botanical Gardens will meet on Monday to go over feedback they've received regarding the recently announced name change for their facility. WAOW TV reports that members of the board have been cataloging the feedback to "survey the entirety of the community respons...
May 04, 2024
Three-Run Eighth Helps Brewers Sink Cubs
CHICAGO, IL (WSAU) -- The Milwaukee Brewers continued their comeback ways by erasing a 1-0 deficit with a three-run eighth to complete a 3-1 win over the Cubs on Friday afternoon at Wrigley. William Contreras, Willy Adames, and Jake Bauers each singled to bring home a run in the inning. Brice Turang finished 2-4 with t...
May 04, 2024
Former President Trump To Choose VP Candidate Before RNC Convention In July
MILWAUKEE, WI (WSAU) - Former President Donald Trump has lowered his VP candidate list to four and is expected to announce his running mate before the RNC arrives in Wisconsin this summer. According to a Thursday Bloomberg story, the former president has reduced the field to four candidates: Senator Tim Scott of South ...
May 03, 2024