New winter ‘frozen road’ driving law changes how vehicles travel. See here if you now need a permit?

 HALF of a state is under new freezing road laws as temperatures continue to dip below freezing.

Thousands of drivers will need special permits to drive their cars and trucks on hundreds of winter roads.

The northern half of Wisconsin is under freezing road laws, which require permits for heavyweight vehicles.

The state is split up into five zones - Zone 1 and 2 are the northernmost regions of the state.

Both Zone 1 and 2 are currently under the freezing road regulations.

The law started on January 18.

All numbered state and federal highways in the top half of the state require special permits if a car's weight exceeds any of the following regulations:

• One wheel supporting 11,000 pounds
• Trucks with a 13,000 pounds steering axle
• A single axle supporting 20,000 pounds
• Tandem axles supporting 34,000 pounds

The laws intend to help road maintenance as abrasive anti-freeze additives, like salt, are added to surfaces.

This seasonal weight restriction program is a safeguard for Wisconsin's substantial investments in its expansive road network.

The frozen road determination for other regions is dictated by conditions as they unfold.

Local municipalities have the right to require frozen road permits.

More information on the permitting process and vehicle restrictions is available on the Wisconsin Department of Transportation webpage.

OTHER WINTER LAWS

Drivers in several other states are subject to dozens of new winter weather laws.

Michigan drivers have laws with up to $100 fines for cars that fail to clear enough snow from their rooftops.

Drivers in New York are forbidden from leaving their cars without turning off the motor.

They can face fines up to $18,000 if they are caught leaving their vehicle running.

Similarly, drivers in Mississippi are forbidden from starting their cars without a driver present.

Police can charge fines up to $169 for every driver-free idling vehicle.

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You Can Visit This Cursed Wisconsin Town!

Who doesn't love a good curse? The town in question has a population of about 15,000, and to many, it is most known as the home of the University of Wisconsin. However, others know it for its creepiness.

We have seen many different towns and cities in Wisconsin over the years thanks to our friends at Only In Your State. We've looked at dangerous spots, and beautiful spots, today we will be looking at the "creepest spot."

Thankfully there isn't just creepy stuff here, there are other highlights you can see here. Okay back to the spooky stuff.

This story usually takes place back in 1889 when the Morris Pratt Institute was built. This institute taught spiritualism and allegedly had a room used to conduct séances. So needless to say... witches were the talk of the town. So what is the town?

The Creepy Town In Wisconsin 

Whitewater is a city located in Walworth and Jefferson counties in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The town is known as Whitewater and has also been called the "Second Salem."

There are a few buildings seen as creepy, haunted, or cursed in this area. The library there is rumored to have a cursed book in the basement. One source went on to say,

The book is believed to be connected to the Witches of Whitewater and is said to be so dangerous that the library had to lock it away in the basement. The book in question is a large, antique hymnal written in Latin that was donated to the library after an area church closed its doors.

The creepy events don't stop at the buildings. the three cemeteries in the town make a perfect triangle. There are several stories linked to the graveyards. OIYS went on to say,

The instance in 1970, when the coffin of a little girl from one of the local cemeteries was mysteriously relocated to the nearby college campus.

Finally, the local legend that has stayed with many is the story of Mary Worth. The spot she is buried is at Oak Grove Cemetery and that location is reportedly teeming with tales of haunting.

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McDonald's brings back beloved dessert, Strawberry & Crème Pie, for a limited time

 

Now that the holidays are over, McDonald's has said goodbye to its seasonal McDonald's Holiday Pie — but the fast food chain is bringing back a fan favorite treat to replace it.

For a limited time, the Strawberry & Crème Pie is back on the menu at participating restaurants, McDonald's USA confirmed to FOX Business. 

"Start the year off sweet at McDonald’s with the return of the Strawberry & Crème Pie! This tasty treat is made with strawberries and vanilla flavored crème and baked side by side in a sugar-coated flaky crust," a McDonald's spokesperson said. 

"The Strawberry & Crème Pie is a regional menu offering currently available at participating locations for a limited time while supplies last in markets including, Los Angeles, Chicago, New York City and more," the company said. 

McDonald's baked Apple Pie is a menu staple, although some fans wish the pies were still fried instead of baked. Its strawberry cousin swaps out the apple filling for a mix of strawberry and sweet crème that som customers say is superior. 

The return of McDonald's delightful strawberry snack was first publicized by snackolator on Instagram last week.

"These are rolling out now to replace the Holiday Pies and have popped up in a bunch of markets already and are one of the limited time favorites," the snack-centric account posted on Jan. 10th. 

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Deceased male body found in Juneau County, Wisconsin

 The body of a deceased male was found at 8:41 a.m. this morning on County Highway M at the Oakridge Trail parking area in Juneau county, according to a press release from Juneau County Sheriff Andrew Zobal.

The death is being treated as suspicious, according to the release. The investigation into the death is ongoing. Police said County Highway M is presently closed from one mile south of State Highway 21 to Cranberry Creek Road, and it will remain so until the investigation is complete.

Police believe it is an isolated incident and the community is not in danger.

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Wsconsin Teen Arrested After Allegedly Shooting Dad 31 Times in Front of Family

 

Witnesses told police the father and son were arguing about D’Juan Eskridge's grandmother kicking him out of the house

A Wisconsin teen accused of shooting his dad 31 times and killing him in front of their family was arrested earlier this week after spending several months on the run.

William Eskridge died from dozens of gunshot wounds inflicted upon him by his son, D’Juan Eskridge, prosecutors alleged, according to WISN-TV .

Eskridge, 19, has been charged with first-degree reckless homicide in connection with 36-year-old William’s death, jail records indicate. He’s being held on $200,000 bond.

Responding officers discovered William's bullet-ridden body at a home in a Milwaukee neighborhood on Oct. 9, according to WDJT-TV .

He was pronounced dead on the scene.

Witnesses told police the father and son were arguing about Eskridge’s grandmother kicking him out of the house when the teen reportedly threatened to physically harm her.

"I believe William stepped in front saying, 'Ain't nobody gonna do nothing to my mother,'" Rosalind Jackson, the victim’s aunt, told the station.

Eskridge allegedly pulled out a gun and shot his dad until he fell to the ground.

Authorities allege he then "walked closer to (the victim) and shot additional rounds,” before fleeing, WITI-TV reported.

Eskridge was taken into custody Monday.

It’s unclear if he entered a plea to the charge or retained an attorney to comment on his behalf.

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President Biden signs short-term funding extension, averting government shutdown

 

President Joe Biden signed into law a short-term funding extension on Friday, the White House announced, averting a partial government shutdown after lawmakers raced the clock to pass the bill ahead of a key Friday deadline.

In a rare event, lawmakers had been confronting not one but two government shutdown deadlines on January 19 and February 2. The short-term funding extension sets up two new funding deadlines on March 1 and March 8.

But major challenges still lay ahead. Lawmakers will now attempt to pass a series of full-year spending bills before the new March deadlines – a painstaking process with a wide array of potential issues as the two parties fight for competing policy priorities.

Both chambers of Congress passed the short-term funding extension on Thursday. The Senate voted first to approve the bill by a tally of 77 to 18. The House passed the bill later in the day, 314 to 108.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, who presides over an extremely narrow majority, has faced intense pushback from his right flank amid the government spending fight as conservatives demand deep spending cuts. House Republicans were nearly evenly divided over the short-term funding extension, a sign of the deep rift within the conference and the challenges facing the speaker.

Johnson has been criticized by conservatives over a topline spending deal he struck with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, which would set spending at close to $1.66 trillion overall. Conservatives were also quick to criticize the proposal for a short-term funding extension after it was announced.

Johnson has defended the topline agreement and said in a statement Sunday that the short-term spending bill “is required to complete what House Republicans are working hard to achieve: an end to governance by omnibus, meaningful policy wins, and better stewardship of American tax dollars.”

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Wisconsin residents take precautions as brutal cold puts pipes at risk

 SUN PRAIRIE, Wis.

With brutally cold temperatures in the forecast, homeowners in southern Wisconsin are taking extra steps to safeguard their pipes from freezing.

It’s a concern that not only brings headaches but also significant out-of-pocket expenses.

"When it gets below zero, that's when you want to look at taking precautions. You should make sure to keep the thermostat at least above 55-degrees Fahrenheit," said Benek Young, a Sales Associate at Dorn Ace Hardware.

Young suggests various products to ensure home safety, such using heated electric tape for exposed pipes, insulation covers for outdoor spigots and insulation foam for exposed indoor pipes. Leaving a small amount of water running in unoccupied spaces can also prevent freezing.

The City of Madison has provided winter safety tips as well:

1. When leaving your home empty for several days, maintain the thermostat at 55 degrees or higher. Have a friend check to ensure the house remains warm enough to prevent frozen pipes.
2. For extended absences, consider shutting off and draining the entire water system. Shutting off the water at the street, removing the water meter and draining plumbing are recommended.
3. Be vigilant about vacant homes in your neighborhood. If you suspect unprotected plumbing, contact the Water Utility.
4. If you suspect frozen pipes, turn off the water at the main valve and seek professional assistance.
5. Ensure the water line to outside faucets is off, hoses are disconnected and the line is drained.

Even if pipes don't burst initially, repeated freeze and thaw cycles can weaken them.

As Madison residents brace for the frigid weather, Young said these precautions will help keep homes safe during the winter months.

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McDonald’s opens its first automated restaurant in Texas

McDonald’s has opened a new highly automated restaurant in Texas, giving customers a first look at the potential future of fast food.

The shake up: Bans on indoor dining early in the pandemic led fast-food restaurants like McDonald’s to serve more people via drive-thru, leading to longer wait times. The number of people ordering through delivery services also surged.

“[Customers] interact with others less in person and more through their digital devices with heightened expectations for the service they receive,” CEO Chris Kempczinski said during an investor update in November 2020.

At the same time, execs announced that they were testing concepts to better meet the needs of post-pandemic customers.

The future of fast food: Those concepts are now debuting at a new highly automated restaurant just outside Fort Worth, Texas.

Instead of placing an order via the mobile app and then either going into the restaurant or waiting in a drive-thru lane or curbside parking spot to get their food, customers can pick it up at the store’s dedicated Drive-Thru Express Lane, where it will be delivered via conveyor belt. 

Since no one in this lane will be placing an order or waiting for food to be made, the hope is that it will move much faster than traditional drive-thru lanes. 

The interior of the highly automated restaurant is smaller than the average McD’s. Customers place orders at a kiosk, rather than through a counter worker, and they grab their food off a shelf. Staff don’t have to take orders or regularly interact with customers.

“The technology in this restaurant not only allows us to serve our customers in new, innovative ways, it gives our restaurant team the ability to concentrate more on order speed and accuracy, which makes the experience more enjoyable for everyone,” said Keith Vanecek, the franchisee operating the test restaurant.

The bottom line: Some have criticized the new highly automated restaurant, arguing that McDonald’s is opting to install expensive automation systems to replace employees.

However, a spokesperson for McDonald’s told the Guardian that the test restaurant has a staff comparable to that of any other store — the difference is that crew members are all focused on making and packaging orders rather than taking or delivering them.

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