1410 WIZM

A shooting and fire at a house in Monroe County on Sunday...

Sheriff's officers were called out to a house on Idell Avenue, after a man who was worried about his father phoned 9-1-1. They heard a gunshot inside the house, then saw smoke coming from the house, followed by a second shot. A man was found shot to death in the basement of the house. He apparently killed himself. There was also extensive damage to the house from the fire.

It might be harder to get access to your local Congressman in the future, because of the mass shooting in Tucson which wounded House member Gabrielle Giffords.

 

That's the opinion of former Green Bay area Congressman Steve Kagen, who entered the House four years ago along with Giffords. Kagen says he has spoken with several members of Congress this weekend, who said they would change their security routines because of the shooting in Arizona.

La Crosse Congressman Ron Kind calls Giffords a 'close personal friend' and says the shootings were a 'senseless act of violence.' In a statement released this weekend, Kind said Giffords was shot while doing 'what all (House) members should be out doing'...meeting with citizens in her district.

Last year, the Great Rivers United Way, went over their annual campaign goal by about 2 percent. Jen Dobrenz is hopeful they will do that again this year.....though the goal is higher.

She says the $2 million campaign is at 97 percent now....and though some may have thought the time was up to donate........not true. The books close on January 31st so you still have time to call them or stop by their offices in Onalaska.

 

Dobrenz says that getting to 97 percent now.....says a great deal about the entire Coulee Region.

Getting the voice of the people out to the people...that is a huge part of public access television. But is it going away?

The governor and Legislature cut out franchise fees when they approved a bill in 2008 to let cable operators negotiate service agreements with the state instead of each local community. A-T-and-T pushed for the change, saying it would be easier for them to expand their T-V service, compete with cable firms, and drive down rates for everyone, something an area lawmaker says has not happened.

 

Senate Democrat Kathleen Vinehout of Alma says the loss of the cable franchise fees will mean fewer employees and a loss of service. Vinehout tried unsuccessfully in the last session to restore those fees.