Listen Now

In Friday's WXPR midday news: What to do with all those plastic grocery bags? A Rhinelander project has a recycling solution. Contractor tax fraud in Wisconsin may be more severe than you might expect. Eagle River now has an ordinance regulating shipping containers. Wisconsin's unemployment rate remains far below that of the rest of the country.

Michigan expands antibody treatment to cut hospitalizations Harmful chemicals found at Gogebic-Iron County airport prompt PFAS sampling of residential wells in North Ironwood Kwik Trip plans to expand to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula Warm temperatures bring signs and sounds of spring

Wisconsin and Michigan pause administration of Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine COVID-19 cases rise in Wisconsin among people under the age of 18 Michigan extends workplace virus rules to keep office work remote The Wisconsin Conservation Congress Spring Hearing seeks public input

CDC director urges Michigan to “close things down” as COVID-19 cases surge Michigan focuses on vaccinating homebound residents Wisconsin receives less food aid after the Wisconsin Supreme Court’s decision to override Gov. Tony Evers public health emergency Wisconsin health experts express concern about the impact of climate change on health

Sno-Eagles Snowmobile Club of Eagle River and Landover ATV/UTV Club of Conover debate trail maintenance Opponents of Michigan’s proposed trans sports ban work to educate people about its dangers Michigan presses White House for more vaccines as COVID-19 cases continue to surge Three Northwoods schools drop mask requirements following the state Supreme Court ruling overturning Gov. Evers’ mask mandate

Plans being put together for fall wolf hunt in Wisconsin Over 3-million COVID-19 shots have been administered in the state Proposal would expand the Knowles Nelson Stewardship Program Winter Park & Nordic Center in Minocqua looks to add mountain bike trails

Jill Underly defeats Deb Kerr to become Wisconsin’s next top education official Lincoln and Oneida County voters voted against raising taxes to pay for road maintenance Tax levy increases for school funding were met with a mixed response from Northwoods voters Voter turnout is at standard levels for a spring election as people return to the polls a year into the COVID-19 pandemic

It’s election day in Wisconsin. Voters will select the next state superintendent and determine the winners of local elections for town and school boards. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources launched a new Lake Monitoring and Protection Network to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species. Gov. Tony Evers declared a State of Emergency because of wildfires across the state Stormy Kromer recognized as one of Michigan’s Top 50 Companies to Watch by Michigan Celebrates Small Businesses

Canadian National rail line sale could open options for local industry Wisconsin prisons and jails have their lowest population in 20 years Milwaukee mayor proposes holding the Major League Baseball All-Star game in Wisconsin Granite Peak closes its slopes early amid warm weather and a rainy forecast

Aging population a challenge for Wisconsin's healthcare system Construction work to begin this month to expand broadband service in Boulder Junction Lumber prices up, but loggers not benefiting Police seize drugs, money and a gun in Crandon bust

Governor encourages wearing masks after court overturns mask mandate Voters will pick top education leader on Tuesday Program will seek to connect students with employers Jail inmates may face challenges exercising right to vote

Wisconsin opens vaccine eligibility to everyone 16 and older starting Monday Rhinelander Oneida County airport will start offering daily, direct flights to Chicago this summer The Pioneer Historical Complex seeks volunteers

The election for superintendent of Wisconsin schools is just a week away The Marshfield Clinic Research Institute completed a study on the effectiveness of Moderna and Pfizer vaccines in the real world COVID-19 cases continue to spike in Michigan

Wisconsin libraries benefit from latest stimulus bill The Lakeland Area Mountain Biking Organization raises funds to build mountain bike pump track in Minocqua Gov. Tony Evers signs a bill to lower the cost of prescription drugs in Wisconsin and gives an update on the state’s vaccination rollout

Several school districts to ask voters for help during spring elections Cases down, but COVID-19 still a concern in Wisconsin Ticks already active after early snow melt Some in Michigan concerned by efforts to keep oil pipeline operational

Oneida & Vilas County Lake to Get New Name State Issues Water Warning for French Island in La Crosse County DNR Looking for Frog Survey Volunteers eSports Gaining Popularity in the Northwoods

Howard Young Medical center trains Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners to support sexual assault victims Aspirus treats its 300th patient with a COVID-19 antibody treatment Lakeland District school board plans to continue remote Fridays Low interest rates fuel home sales in Wisconsin

The Lincoln County Health Department did not properly prepare and wasted 100 doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine Firefighters are still on a alert after a weekend of nearly 100 wildland fires throughout the state Aspirus plans to base a medical helicopter at Howard Young Medical Center in Woodruff Chippewa tribes blast Wisconsin wolf hunt, saying the state did not consult with tribes before launching the spring hunt A local tribal commission responds to Deb Haaland’s confirmation as the first indigenous person to be Interior Secretary

Wildfires sprout up across Wisconsin, including in Oneida County, due to low humidity and gusty winds Wausau police arrested a man for shooting and killing a 30-year-old woman Sunday morning Michigan virus cases are up as the state expands vaccine eligibility today to those 50 and older Local garden centers expect another good year for business

Little free "diverse" library set up in Merrill Keeping up with demand a challenge for vaccinators New funding to help low-income Michigan renters Sex ratio off for some hatchery raised walleye in Wisconsin