11/12/2025

N. WISCONSIN - The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction has released the 2024-25 school and district accountability report cards.  The annual evaluations cover Achievement, Growth, Target Group Outcomes, and On-Track to Graduation.  In Northern Wisconsin public schools with the top scores include the Chequamegon School District which includes the towns of Park Falls and Glidden with an overall score of 75.8, followed by Hurley with 65.5.  Mellen Schools received a score of 64.3, Mercer 62.7, Ashland with a 60, Lakeland 59.9, followed by Bayfield with an overall score of 58.1.  Statewide, 94 percent of public-school districts and 85 percent of public schools met or exceeded expectations.

11/12/2025

N. WISCONSIN - Wisconsin has submitted a $1 billion funding request to the federal government to address and improve rural health care access.  The Wisconsin Department of Health Services outlined three main priorities including $337 million for recruiting and retaining health care workers, $329 million for technology and innovation initiatives and $279 million to strengthen rural care partnerships.  The funding request is part of the federal Rural Health Transformation Program (RHT), a $50 billion fund born from the Trump administration's 'Big Beautiful Bill' signed into law this summer. The program was designed partly to offset concerns over Medicaid cuts included in the same bill.  The Department of Health Services plans to recruit a team to manage the project if funding is approved. However, Wisconsin won't learn whether its request has been successful until the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announces award decisions at the end of the year.

11/12/2025

MADISON- The Wisconsin Department of Justice says Wisconsin ranked number one throughout the country for the most prescription medications collected during the fall 2025 Drug Take Back collection. Wisconsin collected 53,498 lbs. of unwanted medications this fall.