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DATCP says give your digital life a once over for privacy issues

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You should be thinking about what sort of information you’re sharing online, and with the apps on your phone. State consumer protection director Mike Domke says anything you share with a company or application is liable to be leaked, sooner or later.

Be sure you’re not sharing social media posts with people who shouldn’t be seeing them and consider limiting your sharing to friends and family.

Another good tip is to make a throwaway email account to use when you sign up for websites or loyalty programs and to only use your main email account for things you need to keep safe.

DHS seeks public input on opioid settlement spending

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The Department of Health Services will be getting another 8 million dollars in funding from a series of settlements from opioid drug manufacturers.

Director of Opioid Initiatives Paul Krupski says they’re asking for public input on how best to spend that funding. 

“We are really at the process right now of that data gathering, and making sure that we have everything we need to really look and determine what the best ways of using this funding would be or the best ways to propose that to the legislature for their consideration and approval.”

The department had over 30 million dollars to work with last year and used it to help the state’s tribes and to improve drug treatment facilities. Krupski says any choices that are made by DHS will have to be approved by the legislature’s Republican-controlled joint finance committee.

“Last year’s plan, they ended up approving about 85% of what the Department of Health Services proposed. And they made a few you know, a few alterations in there as well.”

You can find that survey online HERE: https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/7165956/Opioid-Litigation-Public-Input-2023

DNR seeks public comment on updated wolf management plan

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The Department of Natural Resources will be taking public comments on the future of the state’s wolf management plan next month.

DNR Large Carnivore Specialist Randy Johnson says that while wolves are currently under federal protection, a plan should be in place.

“As long as they are federally protected, the state has no authority to implement a wolf season one way or the other. However, again, if history is our teacher here, that status is likely to change at some point in the future.”

Johnson says it’s important to have everyone’s views before moving forward. “Wolves are controversial. A lot of folks have strong opinions. And so it’s important that folks have every opportunity to share their thoughts with us.”

You’ll have until the end of February to add your comments, and that live hearing will be on February 7th. You can find out more online at https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/wildlifehabitat/wolfmanagementplan

High wholesale prices to blame for rise in egg prices, says WGA president

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High egg prices across the county are due to high wholesale prices from producers.

Large egg companies have more than doubled the wholesale price of eggs over the last year.  Wisconsin Grocers Association president Brandon Scholz says those prices aren’t something a local grocer can easily absorb. 

“Grocers margins, especially in something that’s perishable, like dairy, eggs, produce meat, those sorts of things, you know, you got to sell it. And if you don’t, you can’t get your money back.”

Scholz says you should shop around to see if you can’t find better deals on locally produced eggs. “You’re gonna find some that are maybe private label that is priced lower than what you might find from a national brand, or maybe an organic product.”

Agriculture advocacy group Farm Action is calling for an FTC investigation into possible price fixing after reports that the company behind Eggland’s Best and Land o Lakes saw a 600 percent increase in profits on egg sales last year.

DNR tightens fish consumption advisories for Madison, Wausau, Stevens Point lakes

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There are new fish consumption advisories being posted for the Yahara chain near Madison, and some lakes in Central Wisconsin.

The Department of Natural Resources is recommending people limit the amount of fish they eat from the Yahara chain of lakes, Lake Wausau, and the Lake Du Bay chain.

DNR Toxicologist Sean Strom says new testing in those areas shows increased PFAS contamination in popular fish like bass, crappies, and walleyes. “So certainly go out continue fishing, continue to eat those fish, but just be aware of the consumption advisories that might be in place for that given body of water.”

Strom says the updates are part of the agency’s efforts to protect the public. “So in about 2017, we started to include PFAS as part of that monitoring. And as a result, the more you look, the more we have found. And so when warranted, consumption advisories are issued.”

You can find full fish advisories online at https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/Fishing/consumption 

Wisconsin Supreme Court hears arguments in Aurora Health Ivermectin case

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The State Supreme Court heard arguments on Tuesday in a case over the use of ivermectin as a treatment for COVID-19. In 2019, Aurora Health refused to administer ivermectin to John Zingsheim, after his family got a prescription for it from outside of the Aurora network.

The FDA and most major medical groups maintain that ivermectin is ineffective against COVID.

ZIngsheim’s nephew, Allen Gahl, sued the hospital to force the treatment, and a local court sided with him. The appeals court ruled in favor of Aurora, saying the courts had no legal authority to force doctors to perform medical treatments. Gahl’s attorney says this is a case about personal freedoms.

John Deere to allow farmers to repair own equipment under agreement with AFBF

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A deal between John Deere and the American Farm Bureau Federation could make it easier for farmers to repair their farm equipment made by the company.

As it stands, John Deere equipment will lock itself down if anyone outside of company technicians tries to repair it. UW Madison ag professor Brian Luck says that’s rough for some farmers who might not have time to wait.

“If I have a machine that’s broken, I can put you know somebody to fix it while I do other things. But I fix it on the farm it gets fixed, and then I can continue my work.”

In the past, some farmers have even turned to computer-cracking programs from Ukraine to do their own repairs. Luck says it’s a balancing act between the company wanting to ensure their equipment is repaired correctly, and farmers who can’t wait for a technician.

“The argument farmers are making is that you know, I’m not able to fix my machine when I need to, I have to send it to a dealership, and there’s an added cost for the labor that I’m having to pay to repair my machine.”

Previously, any time a John Deere equipment had a fault or detected a problem, it could lock itself up until it could be taken to a dealership, or until a company technician could come to the farm to clear the issue. Company officials say they will offer quote fair and reasonable terms to access those tools, but prices have not been laid out at this time.

DPI won’t take action against Chippewa Falls School District over alleged harassment

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The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction won’t be taking action against the Chippewa Falls School district for claims of harassment of students despite an appeal of a lawsuit brought by the ACLU of Wisconsin.

DPI said that while Chippewa Falls officials failed to investigate those claims properly, the students involved no longer attend school in the district. ACLU attorney Elizabeth Lambert says there are serious issues that need to be addressed. Lambert says she can’t discuss the next steps they’ll be taking in the case, but that more students are being affected by harassment. Officials from the Chippewa Falls School District did not respond to a request for comment.

Evers names James Bond to lead veterans agency

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Governor Tony Evers has picked a new head of the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs. Current DVA deputy secretary James Bond has been named to take over the position of his former boss Mary Kolar who announced her retirement last week.

Bond is a disabled veteran, having served in the Marines as a clerk before being injured. Governor Evers says Bond will bring a wealth of experience to the position. Bond will also be the state’s first openly LGBT cabinet secretary if he’s confirmed by the state Senate.

Evers names Sheboygan County exec as new DNR Secretary

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Governor Tony Evers has found his next DNR Secretary. Evers named Sheboygan County Administrator Adam Payne to the position on Tuesday. He’ll be set to take over leadership as of January 3rd. In a statement, Evers says Payne has a long history of conservation and led the Wisconsin Land and Water Conservation Association, and worked in the farmland preservation program at the state ag department.

Former secretary Preston Cole stepped down in November. It’s unclear if or when Payne will be confirmed by the Wisconsin state Senate. Numerous appointed positions in the last Evers administration were left unconfirmed by majority Republicans.