By Courtney Everett- Wisconsin Public Radio As a kid living in Grafton, Kenneth Casper was drawn to Wisconsin’s many hiking trails as a way to experience the great outdoors. Even when he left the state for a short time to live in Connecticut as an adult, his passion for hiking continued, and so did his love for blogging his travels.

By Joe Tarr- Wisconsin Public Radio As the United States becomes more and more accepting of marijuana, many police and public health experts worry about the dangers people using those drugs pose on the road. Heather Barkholtz has been experimenting in a laboratory at the University of Wisconsin-Madison to try to understand how cannabis products affect people’s driving. Participants are given doses of Delta-8 or -9, or a placebo, and then get behind the wheel in a driving simulator.

By WisPolitics-State Affairs Jill Underly got reelected as state schools superintendent in April while being accused of avoiding debates. When she recently failed to show at a legislative hearing over her department’s handling of sexual misconduct cases, criticism mounted again. Underly responded to the backlash as a “partisan political sideshow,” dismissed GOP calls for her resignation as “preposterous,” and appeared before lawmakers.

Wisconsin Policy Forum A growing number of Wisconsin teachers hold emergency licenses, reflecting staffing needs and a greater reliance on non-traditional routes into the classroom. Amid a shifting educator workforce landscape that included turnover falling from 2023 highs, the number of emergency teaching licenses issued by the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) kept rising to 3,832 in the 2023-24 academic year (referred to as 2024).

By Anya van Wagtendonk- Wisconsin Public Radio Marijuana isn’t legal in Wisconsin, but a person driving down any number of city streets or past strip malls might be forgiven for not realizing that. Storefronts selling THC and CBD products, all derived from the same cannabis plant as marijuana, have flourished in Wisconsin. Those stores — along with the vapes, gummies, drinks and creams available for purchase at grocery stores and gas stations — are there because of a federal loophole.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — An immigrant who was arrested after a Milwaukee judge allegedly helped him dodge federal agents has been deported. Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, 31, pleaded guilty in September to illegally reentering the United States after he reached a deal with prosecutors. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security tweeted Friday afternoon that he has now been deported. The tweet did not say whether he was transported back to his native Mexico or some other destination.

By The Associated Press Today in history: On Nov. 15, 1864, late in the U.S. Civil War, Union forces led by Maj. Gen. William Tecumseh (teh-KUM’-seh) Sherman began their “March to the Sea” from Atlanta; the campaign ended with the capture of Savannah, Georgia, on Dec. 21. Also on this date: In 1777, the Second Continental Congress approved the Articles of Confederation.

When the November chill sets in, this Moroccan-inspired chickpea stew brings warmth and color to the table. It’s a one-pot wonder built on pantry staples — chickpeas, tomatoes, and sweet potatoes — layered with cinnamon, cumin, paprika, and a touch of spice that fills the kitchen with cozy aroma. The result is hearty enough to satisfy meat lovers, yet completely plant-based.

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo had 25 points, 18 assists and seven rebounds in his return and the Bucks outlasted former Milwaukee high school star Kon Knueppel and the Charlotte Hornets 147-134 in overtime Friday night in an NBA Cup game. The teams split a home-and-home set, with both also playing the front end of a back-to-back. On Wednesday night in Charlotte, with Antetokounmpo sidelined because of patellar tendinopathy in his left knee, the…

Q: Which bulbs should be planted in the fall? A: You need to plant spring blooming flower bulbs in late fall. This includes Crocus, Daffodils, Tulips and Hyacinths which all require a period of cold weather.  They need to go through cold weather to trigger a dormancy period which causes biochemical changes that are necessary for spring flowers, root growth and the development of future stems and flowers.

Wausau Pilot & Review Today Mostly cloudy through mid morning, then gradual clearing, with a temperature rising to near 53 by 10am, then falling to around 47 during the remainder of the day. Northwest wind 11 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph. Tonight Mostly clear, with a low around 26. West northwest wind 11 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph. Sunday Sunny, with a high near 42. Northwest wind 10 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph.

Wausau Pilot & Review The 2025 WIAA state football playoffs continued with state semifinals in seven divisions on Friday, Nov. 14, across Wisconsin. Winners qualify for the 2025 WIAA State Football Championships at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison. State title games in Divisions 7, 6, 5 and 4 will be played Thursday, Nov. 20, and championships in Divisions 3, 2 and 1 will be settled at the home of the University of Wisconsin Badgers on Friday, Nov.

Wausau Pilot & Review One man is dead and an 84-year-old Clintonville man is jailed after a shooting on rural hunting property near Tigerton, according to the Shawano County Sheriff’s Department. Deputies were called just after 9 p.m. Nov. 12 to a home on County Road M in the town of Germania after a 911 caller reported his friend had been shot during an argument.

Damakant Jayshi Wausau’s City Council will decide on Nov. 25 whether to override Mayor Doug Diny’s veto of the 2026 city budget, a move that two council leaders say stems not from fiscal concerns but from the mayor’s frustration that his late-stage proposals were rejected. Council President Lisa Rasmussen said Diny vetoed the spending plan because “he did not get his way on his recently released ‘veto proof’ amendment,” while Finance Committee Chair and Dist.

Wausau Pilot & Review WAUSAU – North Central Health Care has been recognized as the 2025 Children’s System of Care Champion by the Children Come First Advisory Committee, NCHC announced this week. Nominated by a state department partner and selected from among 19 nominees statewide, NCHC received the award for its continuum of care model that spans crisis intervention, community treatment, outpatient programs and youth behavioral health services.

One reason Wausau can’t afford to fund firefighting personnel to put out burning buildings is because the government has burned so much public money on private development schemes for the ultra-wealthy. Few in local government are going to tell you this. One reason is, no doubt, because multiple current elected officials have spent years voting for this elective decadence. This includes multiple policymakers who are currently advocating for increasing the property tax levy indefinitely via referendum.

Wausau Pilot & Review WAUSAU – The Marathon County Historical Society will present Holidays at the Houses: Honoring Heritage from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 13 at the Woodson History Center and Yawkey House Museum. Both places will be decorated for the holidays and visitors can experience the season with live entertainment, children’s activities and displays that celebrate our heritage.

Robert L. Woytasik Robert L. Woytasik, 87, of Wausau, passed away at home on November 11, 2025. He was born on March 8, 1938, to the late Philip and Gleora Woytasik. Robert joined the United States Army on October 15, 1961, and served as a medical specialist in Fort Lewis, Washington until he was honorably discharged. On March 7, 1964, Robert married Audrey L.

Editor’s note: Times listed are from The Sky This Week by Astronomy magazine, calculated for 40°N, 90°W. Central Wisconsin observers can expect sunrise, sunset and moonrise times to differ by a few minutes, but the events and general timing remain the same. Friday, Nov. 14: A trio of star clusters in Auriga Auriga the Charioteer rides high in the east tonight, reaching about 70 degrees above the eastern horizon by around midnight.

Aspirus Health is expanding its lymphedema services to help patients prevent and manage chronic swelling caused by a compromised lymphatic system. The expanded program offers early detection, personalized care and long-term support, led by a team of certified lymphedema therapists. Lymphedema affects millions of Americans and can result from cancer treatment, injury or infection. Left untreated, it can lead to pain, loss of function and significant complications.

By Shereen Siewert | Wausau Pilot & Review SCHOFIELD — Two men accused of operating a Schofield dog training business where investigators say animals were found starving, drenched in urine and suffering from preventable wounds now face dozens of criminal charges, including multiple felonies that allege mistreatment leading to death. Prosecutors on Friday filed 43 charges against former Kronenwetter Village Trustee Sean Dumais, 40, who operated Central Wisconsin K-9 at 401 Alderson St.

For Wausau Pilot & Review WAUSAU - Wausau Ignite Softball is excited to welcome back Jasmin Estrada for her second year as head coach. Estrada played a pivotal role in building a strong team culture in the inaugural season last year. "I'm beyond excited to be back for our second summer with the Wausau Ignite,” Edstrada said. “The atmosphere in Wausau is truly one of a kind — the energy at our games, the support from our fans, and the way the community rallies behind this team is something really special.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Cooper Catalano and Mason Posa believe they can help make Wisconsin a winner again. The freshman linebackers have offered ample evidence of that lately while finally providing Badgers fans something to cheer in an otherwise dismal season. In two games since moving into Wisconsin’s starting lineup, Catalano and Posa have combined for 51 tackles and 3½ sacks.