Green Bay ophthalmologist travels to Mongolia to expand eye care access

GREEN BAY, Wis. (WBAY) - A local eye doctor is helping tackle a global health challenge. She’s traveling across the world, working with other medical professionals to expand access to specialized eye care in under-served communities. For millions of people around the world, preventing blindness depends on access to...

Emplify Health by Bellin 6-17-26

Wisconsin hails Tyco's $10 million PFAS settlement; City calls it 'a drop in the bucket'

"The word of the day is underwhelming from our perspective."

St. Agnes Hospital Recognized for Zero CAUTI Rate

FOND DU LAC – SSM Health St. Agnes Hospital has been recognized by Becker’s Hospital Review for reporting zero cases of catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI), placing it among 508 U.S. hospitals with that distinction. According to Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services data, only 10 hospitals in...

Oconto Falls nursing home adds hospice wing with around-the-clock care

OCONTO FALLS (WLUK) -- A new hospice wing at an Oconto Falls nursing home will provide dedicated care to end-of-life patients. Unity Hospice, a nonprofit hospice and palliative care provider in Northeast Wisconsin, partnered with Meadowbrook at Oconto Falls to open the space. It's part of an effort to meet the growing demand for hospice care in this region.

ThedaCare completes Graduate Medical Education Simulation Lab in Neenah

NEENAH – ThedaCare has completed a new 2,200-square-foot Simulation Lab in Neenah to support its Graduate Medical Education (GME) program and enhance clinical training for future physicians and care teams. Chris Stenberg – vice president of graduate medical education and clinical research for ThedaCare – said the facility includes...

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recognizes Rennes nurses

PESHTIGO – Rennes Group proudly announced that both Rennes Health & Rehab Center – Peshtigo East and Rennes Health & Rehab Center – Peshtigo West have achieved a prestigious 5-Star Quality Rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) — the highest possible rating awarded to skilled nursing facilities.

Unity, Meadowbrook create hospice wing in Oconto Falls

Local news about the companies, people and issues that impact business in Northeast Wisconsin and beyond. The collaboration enables Unity and Meadowbrook to meet the growing demand for hospice care delivery. The Unity Sunset Wing at Meadowbrook, located at 100 E Highland Drive, Oconto Falls, provides around-the-clock hospice care until...

6-13-26 ssm health community health gift

Photo caption: Bryan Kress and Jeri Loewe, SSM Health leaders, present a $15,000 community health gift to Paige Kelley (center), Charis Pregnancy and Family Help Center executive director. SSM Health is investing in the health and well-being of families in Fond du Lac County through a $15,000 Community Health gift...

53-unit affordable housing facility for seniors to be built in Menasha

MENASHA (WLUK) -- A 53-unit affordable seniors housing facility will be built in Menasha. The complex will be located off Oneida Street, south of Midway Road. Construction is set to begin in 2027 and the facility is expected to open in 2028. The developer, MF Housing Partners, is receiving a...

SOH2O voices dissatisfaction over PFAS settlement outcome

PESHTIGO – Save Our H2O (SOH2O) — the grassroots advocacy organization that has spent more than eight years on the front lines of the Peshtigo and Marinette PFAS crisis — expressed deep disappointment following the June 4 announcement by Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul regarding the Wisconsin Department of Justice settlement with Tyco Fire Products LP and Johnson Controls International (Tyco/JCI).

Dementia villages in Wisconsin are redefining memory care

The first dementia villages in the United States will open in Sheboygan in July and Fitchburg in the fall of 2027, offering dementia patients an alternative to traditional nursing homes and memory care facilities. The first two U.S. villages are Dementia Innovations' Livasu in Sheboygan and Agrace's Ellen and Peter...

Company behind decades of PFAS-tainted water agrees to $10 million deal — residents say it barely scratches the surface

"The word of the day is underwhelming from our perspective."

SSM Health St. Agnes expands inpatient GI services

FOND DU LAC – Patients in Fond du Lac and surrounding communities will have improved access to specialized digestive care with the arrival of Dr. Christopher Magiera, a board-certified gastroenterologist, at SSM Health St. Agnes Hospital. Dr. Magiera's expertise supports the expansion of inpatient gastroenterology services at the hospital, ensuring patients have access to specialized care close to home, according to a community announcement. “I love what I do,” Magiera says in the announcement. “Gastroenterology really is the study and treatment of the digestive tract, and it’s an area of medicine where you can make a real difference in people’s daily lives. Seeing patients return to enjoying meals, good digestion and overall health is incredibly rewarding.” Magiera specializes in a range of gastrointestinal conditions Magiera specializes in a range of gastrointestinal conditions, including disorders of the esophagus, stomach, liver and pancreas, as well as inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. He also has a particular interest in conditions that require hospitalization and careful medical management. “Inpatient GI services are essential because many digestive conditions can become serious very quickly,” Magiera says. “Having specialists available in the hospital allows us to quickly diagnose, treat and stabilize patients,

SOH20 member dissatisfied with PFAS settlement

MARINETTE — Save our Water (SOH20) member and long-time PFAS advocate Doug Oitzinger says the state’s $10 million settlement with Tyco Fire Products leaves hundreds of town of Peshtigo residents effectively “on the wrong side of the wall” when it comes to clean water and long-term protection. Oitzinger, who along with other SOH20 members, attended a private briefing with Attorney General Josh Kaul before last week’s press conference, said his initial reaction was mild compared to how he felt after reading the agreement in full. “We knew we were disappointed, I use the term underwhelmed,” Oitzinger said of the briefing. “But then, we had a chance to take the document home and study it and we really felt we were deeply disappointed, this has got some stuff in it that we really do not like.” At the center of SOH20’s criticism is the Expanded Site Investigation Area (ESIA) — a broad swath of land south of Marinette. The Department of Natural Resources has long argued that Tyco is responsible for PFAS contamination there; the company has consistently denied it. Oitzinger says the settlement effectively ends that standoff in Tyco’s favor. “This settlement agreement basically cuts the legs out from under

Healthfirst Network expands in northeast Wisconsin

Healthfirst Network has announced the expansion of its reproductive health services into Brown, Oconto, Marinette and Shawano counties, increasing access to affordable, confidential and comprehensive reproductive health care for residents throughout northeastern Wisconsin. For more than 50 years, Healthfirst Network has provided high-quality reproductive health care services across central Wisconsin....

Attorney General Kaul announces historic settlement

MARINETTE — Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul was in Marinette Thursday where he announced what he called a historic settlement with Tyco Fire Products, saying the agreement will help clean up years of PFAS contamination and secure safer drinking water for residents in the area. “I am here today to announce that the Wisconsin Department of Justice has reached a historic settlement with Tyco Fire Products,” Kaul said. “It is going to help remediate environmental damage and provide access to safe drinking water for Marinette area residents who have been impacted by PFAS contamination.” PFAS — often referred to as “forever chemicals” — resist breaking down in the environment and can build up in the human body. “They may be linked to serious health effects, including certain cancers, weakened immune response and complications during pregnancy,” Kaul said. Kaul said he first met with Marinette-area residents about PFAS in 2019 and the state sued Tyco in 2022 alleging failures to notify the DNR of discharges and to properly remediate contamination around the company’s fire technology center. Under the proposed consent judgement, Tyco will pay $10 million into the state’s PFAS trust fund. The agreement, filed in court, still needs a judge’s

6-10-26 ssm health st. agnes hospital welcomes new inpatient gastroenterologist

SSM Health St. Agnes Hospital is welcoming Christopher Magiera, MD, a board-certified gastroenterologist, to its medical staff – further strengthening access to specialized digestive care for patients in Fond du Lac and surrounding communities. Dr. Magiera brings a passion for treating complex digestive conditions and a strong commitment to patient-centered care. His expertise supports the expansion of inpatient gastroenterology services at SSM Health St. Agnes Hospital, ensuring patients have access to specialized care close to home when they need it most.

Wisconsin reaches $10M settlement with Tyco, Johnson Controls over PFAS contamination

Gov. Tony Evers announced the state’s first settlement with a Marinette manufacturer of firefighting foam over alleged violations of the state’s spills law for failing to report PFAS contamination. Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul said it’s one of the most significant environmental resolutions in the state’s history, as...