IN OTHER NEWS

Governor Evers signs off on Travel Grant that will help local tourism industry

Play Video

NORTHWOODS - COVID-19 has impacted many businesses, but Wisconsin just announced a new program trying to help businesses in need.



The grant will help cover operation costs for marketing and advertising.



"We talked about 'Let's Minocqua Responsibly'" said Krystal Westfahl, Director at the Minocqua Chamber of Commerce.



A nice catchphrase during a pandemic, but it was not the Minocqua's Chamber of Commerce's first marketing campaign.

"When COVID-19 happened, the safer-at-home order happened, we were working with our community leadership to make sure our messaging was correct," said Westfahl. "Safer-at-home was, 'Now is not the time. Dream about travel in the future.' So we had to change our marketing message."



Although people still traveled to the Northwoods the money didn't come with them



"All of our events were canceled," said Westfahl. "Our events series helps fund our operations for the chamber."



Part of funding the chamber also comes from a room tax from people staying in hotels or other lodging amenities.



"We make sure all of marketing dollars come from that room tax, and that is what we're required to do by law," said Westfahl. "Then our events really markets our local area in a different way."



That's when the government decided to step in.



"Many of those organizations have been faced with significant financial challenges," said Sara Meaney, Secretary of Wisconsin's Department of Tourism. "But, the dollars that are relied upon are also, most likely, going to be very slow to return."



A long rebuild that Meaney believes could be longer.



"Those activities, those events will not return until there is public confidence in attending those events," she said. "Right now, we're still seeing consumer confidence only at about 50% of US travelers. So, we have to think about how many things have to change in order for things to look kind of how they used to look."



Krystal Westfahl also said that the Minocqua Chamber lost around $300,000 this year alone and they are hoping to get back on track within the next couple of years. The travel industry has been among the hardest hit by the pandemic and now, Governor Evers has signed a travel grant program that will give out $8 million in relief to non-profits involved with the travel industry.

+ Read More

Eagle River residents might soon see a utility rate increase

Play Video

EAGLE RIVER - Eagle River Light & Water utility recently filed an application with the state Public Service Commission (PSC) for an overall electric rate increase of 7.47% or $234,847.

"We did file a rate application with Wisconsin Public service commission," said Utility Manager Mike Sanborn.



Sanborn said this increase is due to the company wanting to provide quality service



"Our top priorities at Eagle River Light and Water are too keep the electric rates for our customers as low as we can, but one of our other top priorities is to provide our customers with reliable power," said Sanborn.



Sanborn says with upkeep also comes a cost.



"In order to do that you have to reinvest back into the electrics systems," said Sanborn.



Sanborn says they started looking back at the possibility of a rate increase at the beginning of the year and filed for the increase at the end of July.



The last rate increase was approved in February, 2017 According to numbers a typical customers uses 493 kW, with the potential rate raise customers are expected to see an increase of $5.42 cents per month.



Sanborn said Eagle River benefited from a strong tourism summer and held electric sales strong.



"This summer due to the warmer temperatures that we had in July, it has been a fairly consistent summer for sales," said Sanborn.



Sanborn said the need for the increase still stands.



"With that being said there is still a need to continue on with this rate increase," said Sanborn.

The PSC will conduct a public hearing in Eagle River and Madison after a date has been set.

+ Read More

Wisconsin Legislature appeals absentee ballot ruling

MADISON - The Republican-controlled Wisconsin Legislature on Wednesday appealed a federal court ruling that allows for absentee ballots to be counted up to six days after the Nov. 3 presidential election in the battleground state.



The appeal was expected after Monday's highly anticipated court ruling in favor of Democrats and their allies. The judge even put his ruling on hold for seven days in anticipation of a quick appeal.

+ Read More

Chicago puts Wisconsin on quarantine list for second time

CHICAGO - Chicago officials Tuesday told visitors from Wisconsin for the second time that they must remain in quarantine for two weeks if they visit the city.



The order set to take effect Friday comes as Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers declared a "new public health emergency" because of a spike in coronavirus cases in that state and extended a statewide mask mandate there until Nov. 21.

+ Read More

RHS students encourage young voters in upcoming election

Play Video

RHINELANDER - Tuesday is "National Voter Registration Day" across the country.

For many young voters, this could be a milestone year--their first election able to vote.



Jared Arno just began his senior year at Rhinelander High School. Besides his studies, he's thinking about the upcoming election too.



"I am really excited to vote," he said.



For most "Gen Z" voters, this will be their first time casting a presidential ballot. And they'll likely be getting their information in different ways than older voters.



"I would see lots of tweets on Twitter about a lot of major candidates that I like to follow," said Arno. "So I based my decision off of that."



Important issues for younger voters are different too.



"I don't share a whole lot of the same opinions as a lot of other people," said Arno. "I'm personally more concerned about the environment, not so much social issues."



Annabel Ernst is also a senior at RHS.

+ Read More

COVID-19 surpasses 200,000 deaths in US

UNITED STATES - The death toll in the U.S. from the coronavirus has topped 200,000, a figure unimaginable eight months ago when the scourge first reached the world's richest nation.





That's according to the count kept by Johns Hopkins University, based on figures from state health authorities. The real number of dead is thought be much higher, in part because many COVID-19 deaths, especially early on, were probably ascribed to other causes.





The number of dead in the U.S. is equivalent to a 9/11 attack every day for 67 days. It is roughly equal to the population of Salt Lake City or Huntsville, Alabama.

+ Read More