St. Charles and Stewartville Hy-Vee Pharmacies closing at the end of November, city leaders pushing back

(ABC 6 News) – After the Hy-Vee Pharmacies in St. Charles and Stewartville announced they will close on Nov. 30 at 12:30 p.m., city leaders are pushing back on the plan. St. Charles city leaders said they requested an urgent meeting with Hy-Vee corporate representatives to explore options to keep the pharmacy open. City leaders […]

WisDOT seeks public input on plans to rebuild 5 miles of US 53 in La Crosse County

Rochester Mayor Kim Norton Joins Klobuchar Transition Team

Rochester Mayor Kim Norton has been chosen to serve on Governor-elect Klobuchar's transition team.

8 County Outdoor Recreation Project Event - November 9th

Join us as we celebrate the completion of two major outdoor recreation plans, reconnect with partners across the region, and look ahead to what's next for the 8-County Outdoor Recreation Project!. Monday, November 9, 2026. 2:00 - 4:00 PM. Roger Marten Center. 120 S Franklin St. Mondovi, WI 54755. Who...

Rochester landlords can cut property taxes 80% with new affordable housing program

ROCHESTER, Minn. — Rental property owners in Rochester and Olmsted County can apply for a major property tax reduction through the 4(d) Affordable Housing Incentive Program from now through Jan. 31, 2027. The voluntary program helps rental property owners get property tax reductions while keeping affordable housing available for...

Joe Powers discusses his vision as Rochester mayor

(ABC 6 News) – A new face is taking over Rochester’s top office with Kim Norton leaving after eight years. Joe Powers defeated Dr. Jess Garcia in a close race Tuesday night and plans to hit the ground running — so what is he hoping to focus on first? “Affordable housing, first and foremost. I […]

Winona eyes big changes to promote housing

Winona is considering taking a couple big swings to address the city's housing challenges and promote more development. Last month, city staff presented to the City Council on barriers to development, and proposed eliminating parking minimums and replacing lot size minimums and dimension standards with aesthetic rules. Winona has faced...

Historic Eau Claire cemetery entered into state register

EAU CLAIRE — History is everywhere, according to UW-Eau Claire University Archivist Greg Kocken. It’s often just a matter of recognizing it. The State Historic Preservation Review Board has approved Forest Hill Cemetery to enter the State Register of Historic Places, a promising step into the location eventually being seen as an entrant in the national register, administered by the National Park Service (NPS). With Forest Hill Cemetery being a landscape, Kocken says those can be harder to see entered into the National Register of Historic Places compared to pieces of architecture — buildings often carry aesthetic markers of their respective eras, as well as encompassing famous figures or historic events that took place in the past. The university archivist argues that cemeteries as a whole have a place as important cultural landmarks though, and understanding their importance has become a noticeable trend in recent years. “Right now we’re starting to recognize that those cemeteries are important parts of our communities. They’re historic landscapes,” Kocken said. “They’re part of the cultural identity of a community. It’s more than just the memorials that are present there — it’s the cemetery itself as a part of the city, and recognizing that is

Winona Health offers First Aid, CPR/AED, BLS, ACLS and PALS certification opportunities

Whether preparing for a healthcare program, starting a new career, maintaining professional credentials or building skills needed for a current role or work, certification can be an important next step. Winona Health offers First Aid and Hands-only CPR/AED, Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certification opportunities through its Simulation Lab.

Sheriff’s races appear on Tuesday’s ballots

Three county sheriff’s races went before voters on Tuesday. The most notable one was in Monroe County where Mike Krause won against current Sheriff Wes Revels, who was running as a write-in candidate. Revels’ endorsed candidate Chris Weaver lost to Krause in the August primary, prompting the sheriff to...

Winona to consider final approval of St. Paul’s shelter Monday

On Monday, the Winona Planning Commission will consider final approval for an overnight shelter at St. Paul's Episcopal Church. The meeting will include a public hearing where community members can provide comments on the proposal. Catholic Charities of Southern Minnesota’s Winona overnight shelter was previously located downtown at the Edge...

DFL's Dan Wilson wins closely watched Minnesota House race

This election, Democrats won back a closely watched Minnesota House seat in an area that has shown a willingness to vote for both parties. DFL candidate Dan Wilson defeated incumbent Republican Aaron Repinski in a Winona-area district. President Donald Trump narrowly carried the district in 2024, the same year Republicans flipped the House seat after decades of DFL representation.

Repeal Winona’s 13.4% levy increase

In all of my 74 years, my grandparents, great uncles and aunts, cousins, parents, brothers and sister never got a 13.4 % increase in wages. When I worked in a place that had a union shop the most we ever got was a 2% or 3 % increase in wages.

Threat to Melrose-Mindoro School District

‘In the trenches’: Wisconsin’s struggling small businesses could turn a Trump ally’s district blue

After 18 years in business, Erin Klaus is closing her storefront, a handmade artisan market in downtown Eau Claire, Wisconsin, at the end of the year. She opened Tangled Up in Hue amid a recession, during a time when downtown was "kind of a ghost town", weathering construction and the pandemic. But the current economic crisis proved too much. She's seen a downward trend in sales for two years, and was dipping into her own pocket from her other job, as the executive director of business non-profit Downtown Eau Claire Inc, to pay staff.

Jeff Smith defeats challenger Michele Magadance Skinner in Wisconsin’s 31st Senate District race

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (WEAU) - Jeff Smith will be returning to Madison to represent Wisconsin’s 31st Senate District. He defeated challenger Michele Magadance Skinner who currently represents District 11 on the Eau Claire County Board of Supervisors. This will be Smith’s third term as senator in the state legislature....

Election results: Voters decide on newcomers, support school funding

Tuesday’s election results are in, and residents will have new representatives in Southeast Minnesota in the state House and Senate as well as the U.S. House. Voters also narrowly selected John Hazelton as the new Winona County sheriff, and there will be new faces on the Winona City Council. Voters also approved local and state school funding ballot questions.

Freedom Honor Flight discontinues Veterans Day Breakfast

LA CROSSE (WKBT) -- Freedom Honor Flight announced on Thursday that they will be discontinuing the Veterans Day Breakfast hosted with the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Intercollegiate Athletics Department, according to a release .

Wisconsin Has 6 Old Taverns Where The Booths And Bar Date Back Over A Century

Wisconsin has a tavern on nearly every corner, but only a few can say their wooden bars and booths have been around for more than 100 years. These six spots stretch from a tiny Mississippi River town to busy Milwaukee neighborhoods, and each one still opens its doors for regulars and road trippers.

Gas prices fall in Wisconsin and La Crosse County

LA CROSSE COUNTY, Wis. (WKBT) -- Gas prices have dropped since the midterm elections, with regular unleaded averaging $4.10 per gallon in Wisconsin and $3.98 in La Crosse County.