DNR increasing compensation for meat processers handling donated deer (UNDATED)
The Department of Natural Resources is sweetening the deal for meat processors that take donated deer. The D N R announced Wednesday it will increase the payouts it offers for each deer that’s handled by a processor to 125 dollars per deer, or 135 per deer if C W D testing is required. That’s up from the previous 100 per deer the agency was offering before. Since the program’s inception in 2000, hunters have donated over 100-thousand deer, which is over 4 million pounds of venison sent to local food banks. You can find a local store to donate to online at DNR dot WI dot Gov.
Former Kenosha County deputy charged with misusing Flock cameras (KENOSHA)
A former sheriff’s deputy faces charges for misusing Flock Safety cameras. Frank McGrath faces two counts of misconduct in public office. Prosecutors allege an internal Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office audit showed McGrath using the automated camera system to track a co-worker in fall of 2025. Those findings were forwarded to other Racine County deputies for an investigation. McGrath resigned in December after being put on administrative leave and faces up to 7 years in prison if convicted on both charges. The Sheriff’s Office has announced new policies requiring personnel to document Flock use and reasoning for it, reducing data retention from 30 to 7 days and requiring additional training.
Fox Valley animal shelters holding pets for displaced families (NEENAH)
Fox Valley animal shelters are giving residents more time to find lost pets. Many were separated from their families after an E F 3 tornado struck Menasha and Appleton last month, and area shelters are still holding pets that got lost or ran off. Neenah Animal Shelter director Mickey Mueller tells Spectrum News Wisconsin the shelter usually only holds animals for 5 days before offering them for adoption, but many pet owners that don’t yet have a permanent home are unable to claim their pets. The shelters are holding claimed animals while their families get situated and can again provide a stable place to live.