Today’s update covers everything from a troublesome fish kill to the next NFL Draft. There is a lot going on in Wisconsin, and we’re committed to bringing you the highlights of the news across America’s Dairyland.
So, here we go.
DNR investigating dead fish in Marquette, Green Lake, Columbia, and Dane Counties | Wisconsin DNR
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is investigating fish mortality events in two different locations in south central Wisconsin. The first is in the Buffalo Lake Watershed in Marquette, Green Lake and Columbia counties. The second is on the Yahara River in Stoughton. Due to recent heavy precipitation, additional reports of fish mortalities are likely, and the DNR will continue to investigate reports as they come in.
On Buffalo Lake, a large number of dead fish were reported to the DNR on July 10. The DNR began investigating the cause on July 11. Fish biologists sampled multiple locations throughout the more than 400 square mile watershed and confirmed low dissolved oxygen levels across the upper water basin and some tributaries.
Dissolved oxygen levels can result from a combination of natural processes and environmental conditions, including heavy, repeated rainfall that carries organic materials from wetlands, agricultural fields and other types of land use to the watershed. When a waterbody has widespread low dissolved oxygen levels and no deeper, cooler water for fish to move to, it can result in fish mortality.
Reports of stained or tea-colored water have been observed, and they are likely caused by tannic acids, a byproduct of decomposing vegetation, being released from flooded wetlands. In addition to changes in watercolor, the public may notice oily sheens on the lake’s surface, which occur as bacteria consume excess iron in the water.
All fish species in the watershed have likely been impacted…
DNR staff are also gathering data on a reported fish mortality in Stoughton on the Yahara River, and no additional information is available at this time.
The DNR appreciates reports from the public to aid in locating fish mortalities such as those occurring in southern Wisconsin. If you see a dying fish (swimming erratically or gulping for air near the water’s surface) or observe large numbers of dead fish, please report it immediately to your local fish biologist or the DNR tip line (1-800-TIP-WDNR or 1-800-847-9367). Do not try to collect or handle dead or dying fish.
Anglers and their pets should never consume dead or visibly dying fish. Always cook harvested fish thoroughly and follow the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s food safety guidelines.
With one more day of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, organizers of next Spring’s NFL Draft in Green Bay are busy preparing for an even bigger influx of visitors.
Countdown 2 The Draft: Campgrounds prepare for surge in football fans | WBAY
Some campers are counting down the days until they welcome 2025 NFL draft-goers to campgrounds across Northeast Wisconsin.
…The Brown County Parks Department decided to open up the Reforestation, Bay Shore and Fairgrounds campgrounds earlier than usual next year.
“There’s only so many motels and beds in Brown County and we knew those were going to be filled rather quickly,” Parks Director Matt Kriese explained.
…the NFL reported the draft is expected to bring in about $94 million to Wisconsin and about $20 million right to the Greater Green Bay area.
Kriese said his team is looking at every single opportunity to get people places to stay so they can be closer to the action and support local businesses:
The need for affordable single-family housing is real. It’s growing. And there’s not good news on the horizon.
Wisconsin housing permitting isn’t moving fast enough to make homes more affordable | WPR
The pace of housing permits being issued in Wisconsin has declined slightly over the last two years, and more of those permits were for multi-family units as single-family permitting has stagnated.
That’s according to a new Wisconsin Policy Forum report released Wednesday that examined housing permitting data to learn how permitting slowdowns contribute to affordability challenges.
…Mark Sommerhauser, a researcher for Wisconsin Policy Forum, said the increased pace of multi-family construction is likely good news for renters, while the stagnant single-family permitting means prospective homebuyers aren’t likely to see affordability improve in the near future.
“With that increase in supply of multifamily, we should be starting to see some relief in terms of housing prices for apartments and rental housing,” he said. “Conversely, with single-family (homes), it’s been a lot more sluggish. … That means there’s not much new supply coming into the pipeline — especially in some of those large metro areas — and that suggests high home prices are going to remain an issue.”
…From 2021 to 2023, Madison issued the most housing permits per capita of those metros, followed by Eau Claire and Appleton, according to the report. Each of Wisconsin’s 10 biggest metros — besides Eau Claire — issued fewer permits per capita than during the building boom of the early 2000s, the report says.
Police from Columbus Ohio responded to a violent altercation near the convention site early this week, fatally shooting a homeless man who was wielding knives and threatening another individual. As the incident is investigated, Milwaukee police announce a change in staffing arrangements.
MPD officers will accompany all visiting police bicycle units after fatal shooting | Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
After a fatal police shooting a mile from the security zone of the Republican National Convention, everyone from elected officials to activists and reporters had the same question:
Why were officers from Columbus, Ohio, in King Park?
…On Wednesday, Milwaukee police said they did not consider the Columbus bicycle unit to be a forward-facing unit, since it was a specialty unit primarily tasked with traffic control and responding to potential demonstrations.
But the department has since made changes. For the last two days of the convention, all bicycle units will have representation from Milwaukee police.
…On Tuesday, five police officers from Columbus, Ohio, shot and killed a man armed with knives as he moved toward another, unarmed man, according to Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman and a clip of body camera footage released that evening.
…”The information we have leaves a clear impression that these Columbus officers, they saved the life of an unarmed man from death or perhaps serious injury,” the mayor said at an early morning press conference.
The man killed by police was identified as Samuel Sharpe Jr. by a first cousin, Linda Sharpe, who spoke to reporters at the scene of the shooting. He was living in what activists at a vigil on Tuesday called a “tent city” at King Park. Activists condemned the shooting and the role of the out-of-state officer.
We sincerely hope the professional agitators won’t seize upon the opportunity presented by the presence of thousands of journalists across the country to cause problems on the last day and evening of the RNC in Milwaukee. But history informs us to pay attention today.
If any news breaks, we’ll be sure to update the main site.
