With only a few days to go until Election Day, hundreds of thousands of Wisconsinites have already turned in their absentee ballots โ and overwhelmingly, theyโre doing it in-person.
The post As Election Day nears, Wisconsinโs in-person absentee ballots have surged appeared first on WPR.
The Antigo School Board this week voted 5-2 to fund operations for the pool. The vote came after hours of budget discussion at multiple board meetings, the resignation of the former school board president and the election of new officers to the board.
The post Antigo pool will stay open, after public outcry and board resignations appeared first on WPR.
Firefighters in the small town of Hull are getting ready to say goodbye to one of their long-serving members โ a 1963 firetruck called โBig Louie."
The post Hull firefighters say โso longโ to 1963 firetruck โBig Louieโ appeared first on WPR.
Hackers appear to have stolen about $92,000 from the rural Adams-Friendship Area School District, according to a letter sent to parents.
The post A rural school district lost nearly $100K in โcybercrime,โ 1 of dozens of attacks on Wisconsin schools this year appeared first on WPR.
In Wisconsin Rapids and other communities, data center debates are a local political priority. But researchers say theyโre not a top issue.
The post Wisconsin voters hate data centers, but they may not be an election priority appeared first on WPR.
Republican Michael Alfonso and Democrat Fred Clark are near-opposites in the race for the open 7th Congressional District seat.
The post A MAGA loyalist and self-described independent Democrat vie for 7th Congressional seat appeared first on WPR.
Some dairy farmers and cheese makers in Wisconsin are worried an abrupt change in a federal grant program could make it tough for small operators to survive.
The post Wisconsin cheese makers say USDA funding match on dairy grants could kill small farms appeared first on WPR.
Less than a month away from Election Day, former President Barack Obama announced his endorsement of fellow Democrat David Crowley in Wisconsin's race for governor.
The post Barack Obama endorses David Crowley for Wisconsin governor appeared first on WPR.
During an hourlong TV debate Wednesday night, the candidates for Wisconsin's 7th Congressional District sparred over their platforms and the future of the Northwoods under their leadership.
The post In 7th District debate, Clark calls for working Congress, Alfonso stands for MAGA appeared first on WPR.
Wausau police say they've removed a repeat offender from local roadways, after he taunted them and attempted to run.
The post Wausau police seize juvenileโs e-motorcycle as frustration with e-riders grows statewide appeared first on WPR.
Wisconsin State Trooper Bradley Ritger died Oct. 2 after falling from a bridge in the line of duty. He was 29.
The post Wisconsin State Patrol mourns trooper who died after fall during traffic pursuit appeared first on WPR.
Children in ICE detention from Wisconsin may have to go without a lawyer in court after President Donald Trump halted millions in appropriated federal funds.
The post Trump funding halt means more children in ICE detention in Wisconsin wonโt have a lawyer appeared first on WPR.
A viral disease infecting thousands of deer across Wisconsin has been found in dairy cows in Waukesha County, according to state officials.
The post Viral disease infecting thousands of Wisconsin deer found in Waukesha County dairy cows appeared first on WPR.
Wisconsin Rapids Alder Michael Timm will have to campaign to keep his job after residents forced a recall election over an email he sent a local business.
The post An email about anti-data center signs could cost a Wisconsin Rapids politician his job appeared first on WPR.
Residents in Antigo are fighting to keep their local pool open after school district leaders said they didnโt have the funds for it.
The post Sudden closure of community pool fuels conflict in Antigo over school spending appeared first on WPR.
After a proposed federal farm bill moved out of committee last week, some farm workers are worried about the trickle-down effect of cuts to SNAP passed under the Republicans' One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025.
The post As farm bill advances, SNAP cuts worry Wisconsin farmersโ market vendor appeared first on WPR.
Over 140 people are losing their jobs in central Wisconsin, after two separate manufacturing plants announced they will shut down their operations in Tomahawk and Marshfield.
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A plane carrying Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Tiffany was forced to make an emergency water landing in Wausau Saturday night.
Tiffany, who represents Wisconsinโs 7th Congressional District, said the small aircraft lost power during its final approach for landing at the Wausau Downtown Airport.
During a press conference at the Wausau Fire Department Sunday, Tiffany said he believes the pilot, Leonard Boltz, attempted to restart the plane, but was unsuccessful.
โAt that point, he just said, โHang on, Tom, and buckle up because weโre going to go down,โโ Tiffany told reporters. โIt was just real shortly after that, I would guess 10 seconds, we hit the water.โ
Boltz landed the plane in the middle of Lake Wausau on the Wisconsin River, according toย information shared byย the Marathon County Sheriffโs Office.
Tiffany said he lost his phone in the crash, but Boltz was able to call 911. He estimates they stood on top of the sinking plane for roughly 10 minutes, before beginning to swim toward shore. He said they discovered a sandbar after 150 feet and were able to wait there for emergency responders.
The sheriffโs office reported dispatchers received the call at 8:49 p.m. Saturday. Firefighters from the Wausau Fire Department rescued the two men using an airboat around 9:05 p.m.
Tiffany credited Boltz for pulling up the landing gear before hitting the water, which he said likely kept the plane from cartwheeling and may have saved their lives. He estimates the plane was going around 70 miles per hour at the time of the crash.ย
โIt was quite a night, quite a day, and (Iโm) just grateful for the Lord for sparing us to see another day,โ said Tiffany, who became emotional when speaking to reporters Sunday.
Tiffany and the pilot were the only people aboard the aircraft. Both were transported to Aspirus Wausau Hospital with minor injuries.
Tiffany said he received 12 stitches to close a laceration in his eyebrow after his head hit the dashboard. The pilot also sustained minor injuries. Both men were released from the hospital Saturday night.
The congressman repeatedly thanked the Wausau Fire Department and other first responders for their quick rescue.
He said the incident would not keep him from continuing his campaign for governor, adding that he planned to be back on the campaign trail Monday.
โI signed up for this job. Weโre going to finish the job,โ Tiffany told reporters.
An investigation into the loss of power on the Beechcraft K35 airplane will be handled by the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board.
The aircraft remained in Lake Wausau, according to a statement from the Marathon County Sheriffโs Office. Officials asked boaters to avoid the area and use caution until crews can remove the plane.
David Crowley, the Democratic candidate for governor, wrote on X that he is grateful that no one was hurt in what he called a โhorrifying incident.โ
John Chmiel, Wausau Downtown Airport manager, was among those to survey the waterlogged plane on Sunday morning.
Chmiel noted aircraft incidents like this are incredibly uncommon.
โYou think about it, in your community thereโs probably multiple car accidents a day,โ he said. โIn the United States of America, there are less than a half dozen (aircraft incidents) a day in the entire USA, so that kind of puts things in perspective.โ
Chmiel said the pilot โ in his opinion โ had done everything right in identifying the area for the plane to land and guiding it into the water, especially after the sun had gone down.
โWhich was a very difficult maneuver to execute safely,โ Chmiel said. โAnd he was able to actually retract the landing gear, so he would have a better result of landing on the water.โ
Heโs also a pilot and owns Wausau Flying Service.
โRegardless of what happened leading up to the accident, once he knew he was committed to a water landing, he did every single thing right. It was awesome flying,โ Chmiel said.
When asked by WPR if this is a normal procedure for an emergency, to look for a water landing, Chmiel said heโs always taught pilots to look for alternative landing areas.
โThe beautiful thing about water is there typically isnโt obstructions or people or vessels in there that you have to worry about hitting,โ he said.ย
That said, actually pulling it off safely is its own art, he added.
โWe spend our whole careers trying to prevent that from happening, and sometimes things slip through the Swiss cheese, as we call it,โ he said.
When an aircraft accident happens at an airport, the process is different, Chmiel said. In this case, where the plane hit water off airport property โ it wasnโt necessary for him to be involved, but he said he was Saturday night.
โItโs not a common occurrence, but weโre always prepared for it, if it does,โ he said.
This story wasย originally published by WPR.
Tom Tiffany swims to safety after plane makes emergency lake landing is a post from Wisconsin Watch, a non-profit investigative news site covering Wisconsin since 2009. Please consider making a contribution to support our journalism.
Amid cloudy weather and surging winds, recovery crews removed the downed plane that was carrying a candidate for governor from the waters of Lake Wausau. U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, R-Minocqua, [โฆ]
The post FAA to begin investigation as plane in Tom Tiffany crash removed from Lake Wausau appeared first on WPR.
Tiffany suffered a laceration above his right eye that required stitches and was released from the hospital Saturday night, according to information shared by his campaign.
The post Tom Tiffany swims to safety after plane makes emergency lake landing appeared first on WPR.
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