A fire at a 30-unit apartment building in Dubuque displaced residents from 20 units Friday evening. The Dubuque Fire Department says crews were dispatched to 280 West 17th Street just after 6:15 pm. Firefighters reported heavy flames from a first-floor unit and brought the fire under control about 10 minutes after dispatch. Crews used ladders to rescue two people and helped other residents evacuate. Two residents were taken to a hospital with minor injuries. One firefighter was also treated for a minor injury. The Red Cross helped displaced residents find shelter. Damage is estimated at 580-thousand dollars. The cause remains under investigation. 

A 21-year-old Wisconsin State Trooper who was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement was released from ICE custody Friday night, according to his attorney.  Carel Aaron Van Der Merwe, who lives in Onalaska and works out of the Tomah post, was detained by ICE agents at Dane County Regional Airport in Madison on Nov. 5 while waiting to board a domestic flight. His attorney claims when Van Der Merwe showed agents his federal work permit and explained he had a pending asylum application, they told him they “did not care,” before detaining and taking him to the Dodge County detention facility. According to Van Der Merwe’s attorney, he will be placed on an order of supervision which requires Van Der Merwe to meet with ICE regularly and to be monitored by an electronic device. However, his attorney says their fight isn’t over. 

Rep. Derrick Van Orden has filed to run for Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District in 2028 after losing to Democrat Rebecca Cooke on Tuesday, according to the Federal Election Commission. Van Orden filed on Friday as he plans to take back his seat. During Tuesday’s midterm election, Van Orden lost by a margin of nearly 20,000 votes to Cooke. 

A 21-year-old Wisconsin State Trooper who was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement will be released from custody, according to Rep. Derrick Van Orden’s office, who says the congressman contacted the Department of Homeland Security secretary on his behalf. Carel Aaron Van Der Merwe, who lives in Onalaska and works out of the Tomah post, was detained by ICE agents at Dane County Regional Airport in Madison on Nov. 5 while waiting to board a domestic flight. According to a statement, Van Orden, who represents Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District, contacted DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin directly after learning of Van Der Merwe’s detention. 

The National Weather Service is including new warnings starting this winter storm season. Ne for this season, the National Weather Service is expanding its use of “Particularly Dangerous Situation” (PDS) wording to select Blizzard Warnings and Ice Storm Warnings. This language is reserved exclusively for rare, historic events where there is high confidence of extreme weather that poses an exceptional threat to life and critical infrastructure. If you see Particularly Dangerous Situation wording in a warning, take immediate action to protect yourself and your family, stay off the roads, and exercise extreme caution. 

An infant died from measles amid an ongoing outbreak in southwestern Wisconsin, the state’s Department of Health Services reported Thursday. This marks the state’s first death of an infant from measles since 1990. The DHS said it would not release further information related to the death in order to protect the privacy of the family and child. Measles has been spreading for several months across southwestern Wisconsin with more than 350 cases confirmed in the region. Statewide, the number of cases passed 400 earlier this week and Columbia County reported its first cases on Wednesday. 

Someone in Dubuque has a $50,000 winning lottery ticket. The Iowa Lottery announced that a $50,000 winning ticket from last night’s drawing  was bought at Hy-Vee on Dodge Street in Dubuque. The prize from the winning lottery ticket can be claimed at any Iowa lottery office.   

Columbia County Public Health confirmed three measles cases Wednesday as Wisconsin’s statewide tally reached 431, according to the state Department of Health Services tracker. Officials said all confirmed and suspected cases identified so far involve people who were not vaccinated against measles. No public exposure sites have been identified, and known exposures have been limited to private gatherings. Tuesday’s measles count updates shows the SW Wisconsin outbreak continues with 142 confirmed cases in Grant County, 115 confirmed or probable cases in Lafayette County, 97 confirmed cases in Iowa County, and 14 confirmed cases in Vernon County. 

A lucky player could win an estimated $835 million in today’s Powerball drawing and secure the game’s second largest prize of the year. Today’s grand prize trails the $1.04 billion prize won in Illinois in August. While today’s potential winnings total less than a billion dollars, the jackpot would rank as the tenth largest in Powerball history if won. 

John Deere is closing two Iowa manufacturing sites and making major changes at others. Windrower production will relocate from Ottumwa Works to Des Moines Works by the end of fiscal year 2027, with round baler production planned to follow by the end of Fiscal Year 2028. Upon completion of the transition, Deere intends to close its factory in Ottumwa. In fiscal year 2027, small planter production will move from John Deere Seeding in Moline, Illinois, to John Deere’s facility in Paton, Iowa. John Deere’s Construction and Forestry Division, which includes the Dubuque plant is evaluating strategic sourcing opportunities across its operations. Deere says it is to strengthen competitiveness, increase flexibility, manage costs, and increase investment in critical capabilities, including product development, technology, field sales, and customer support.