College freshman need to watch out for common scams, says BBB (UNDATED)
New college students don’t just have to worry about adjusting to life in the dorms, they also have to watch out for scammers. Better Business Bureau spokesperson Lisa Schiller says criminals tailor their usual scams to better trap college students. A student might get a call or email from someone claiming to be from the financial office, saying they need to make immediate payments or be expelled. That is of course the imposter scam, a very common tactic used by criminals. If you get one of these messages, contact your school’s offices via known, safe numbers instead of relying on the contact information provided by the scammer.
Nearly 50,000 Wisconsin absentee ballots in the mail before possible ruling on White House changes to mail-in voting (MADISON)
Absentee ballots are in the mail for the November election, ahead of a ruling on President Trump’s attempt to change mail in voting. The Wisconsin State Journal reports nearly 50,000 ballots have been printed or mailed by clerks. The White House made an emergency appeal to the US Supreme Court on Sunday to lift a stay on his executive order altering how the U S Postal Service handles ballots. It would require U S P S, and not the states, to maintain a absentee voter list and only allow ballots to be sent to those homes. A federal judge in Massachusetts issued the stay last month after multiple states, including Wisconsin, sued to challenge the President’s executive order.
Parents urged to check children’s car seats (UNDATED)
The State Patrol is urging parents to check their children’s car seats. The Wisconsin State Patrol wants parents to double-check that children are riding in the correct seat for their age and size and that the seats are installed correctly. State data shows a child under 13 was injured or killed in a Wisconsin crash every five hours this year. Officials say nearly half of all car seats are installed incorrectly and remind parents to check the manual for their seat and make sure the seat is dully secure in when in use. Wisconsin law requires children to remain in age-appropriate car seats or booster seats until meeting minimum age, height, and weight requirements.
Wisconsin getting a boost in special education funding (UNDATED)
Wisconsin education officials are getting a $10.5 million boost in their effort to fill special education classrooms. The five-year funding award will expand the STAIRS-WI program, which recruits and trains new special educators through a paid apprenticeship model. The grant will also support mentoring and professional development to help retain educators. State data shows it is difficult to retain special education teachers, with fewer than 44% teachers still in Wisconsin public schools by their eighth year.
Wisconsin deer archery season approaching (UNDATED)
Wisconsin deer hunters could see plenty of action this fall. The DNR says deer numbers are strong across much of the state after a third consecutive mild winter, with healthy reproduction and good survival rates. Officials say hunters should focus on food sources, including red oak acorn crops. As archery season gets underway, the DNR is also stressing safety, reminding hunters to wear a full-body harness when using tree stands. Meanwhile, chronic wasting disease testing will be available statewide, with extra sampling planned in parts of central and northern Wisconsin.