Fond Du Lac man formally charged in Dane County on felony stalking (MADISON)
A man accused of stalking a woman for 13 years has his first court appearance. 47-year-old Benjamin Larson appeared remotely in Dane County court from the Fond Du Lac County jail on Friday on a felony stalking charge. Prosecutors accuse Larson of harassing and stalking a woman he had a brief relationship with in 2013, even though she moved to Canada and cut all contact. Larson allegedly started sending gifts to the victim’s mother and messages to the victim’s business referencing her husband and child. Larson also allegedly sent false business complaints to multiple licensing boards in order to force the woman to respond to him. Larson is being held in Fond Du Lac County, where he’s accused of possessing human remains and stolen items belonging to serial killers. He’s scheduled for arraignment there on September 28.
Madison city council rules vacant gangster bar not a landmark (MADISON)
Madison’s city council rules a Prohibition-era bar is not historically significant. The 94-year-old Wonder Bar near the Alliant Energy Center has been the center of a debate on historic preservation after a series of proposed developments on the site. The Madison Common Council voted that the bar does not meet city landmark status criteria, despite various tales of gangsters using the bar as a hideout. The property has been vacant for years and is deteriorating, and the Plan Commission will vote on demolition next month.
Community pushback on solar array near Oshkosh (OMRO)
Continued pushback on solar power development in the Fox Valley. Alliant Energy has plans to build a 15-hundred acre solar array in rural Winnebago County, in the towns of Omro, Utica, Nekimi and Algoma. More than 100 people showed up to protest the project at a public meeting on Thursday. State Representative Nate Gustafson tells Fox 11 Green Bay his constituents feel helpless about the proposal, and will be taking their concerns to the Public Service Commission. Alliant Energy says the Oshkosh Solar array will help the company serve customers with renewable energy and support the needs of the community.
Universities of Wisconsin fall enrollment levels remain steady (UNDATED)
More than 163-thousand students are enrolled at UW System schools this fall. The Universities of Wisconsin have been providing enrollment estimates based on Day One counts since fall 2020, and after three years of consecutive growth, overall enrollment levels remain steady. Enrollment decreased approximately 1% across the 13 campuses including significant decreases in international students. Estimates show fall 2026 enrollment at 163,260, a decline of 1,732 overall, with 1,100 of those being international students. Enrollments at the three largest UWs – Madison, Milwaukee and Green Bay, account for more than half of the UW System total.