Two injured in State Highway 27 crash near Westby, WI

WESTBY, Wis. 

The Vernon County Sheriff’s Office reports that two people were injured in a two vehicle accident near the intersection State Highway 27 and Reo Avenue on Thursday, June 27. The Sheriff’s Office received the call about 5:33 p.m.

According to the report 33-year-old Ariel Christenson was stopped on State Highway 27, attempting to turn left when her vehicle was struck by vehicle driven by 30-year-old Michael Aspenson who was traveling north on State Highway 27. The report said Asepnson told investigators he looked away from the roadway and failed to see Christenson stopped.

Both drivers reported minor injuries and were evaluated by Westby First Responders and Tri-State Ambulance.

Assisting the Vernon County Sheriff’s Office was Westby Fire Department, Westby First Responders, Tri State Ambulance.

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Wisconsin Has The Most Over Priced Grocery Stores In America

Paying to much for food is never fun. The great state of Wisconsin is known for a lot of things, overpriced grocery stores is not one of them. Yet Wisconsin is still home to one of the most expensive grocery shopping experiences in  America.

Most "Overpriced" Grocery Stores

Wisconsin has countless mainstream stores. Thanks to massive cities, many massive chains are seen in Wisconsin. Two of these chains are on the more expensive side of the spectrum.

Whole Foods

With multipul locations in Wisconsin, it is no secret to any of the population that Whole Foods is popular. while being well known we also know that it is one of the most overpriced grocery stores in the country. Reports go on to say,

There’s a reason why Whole Foods is often referred to as “Whole Paycheck.” Since being founded in 1980, Whole Foods has earned a reputation for being one of the most overpriced grocery stores in the country.

You can see the number of stores here.

Depending on how you see it, sadly or thankfully unlike Illinois, Wisconsin isn't home to this other expensive grocery store.

The Fresh Market

With 4 locations in Illinois, the Fresh Market still has some standings in the great state as well. It is also one of the most overpriced grocery stores in the country. Reports go on to say,

The Fresh Market was founded by Ray and Beverly Berry in 1982 after they took a trip to Europe and were inspired by all the open-air markets. They now have 159 locations in 22 states and are dedicated to offering high-quality groceries.

You can see the number of stores here.

Do you shop at these stores, are they really that overpriced?

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Would you enter this CBS Mornings Singing competition?

Take A Look At These Bizarre Items In Wisconsin's Deepest Lake

Where can you find the deepest water in Wisconsin? It depends on what you consider the deepest lake. The deepest natural lake in Wisconsin is Green Lake. The natural lake is 237 feet deep. That's impressive! However, there's an inland lake even deeper.

Wazee Lake is an artificial lake located near Black River Falls, Wisconsin. What is an artificial lake anyway?

Wazee Lake Was Once A Mining Operation

In this case, the artificial lake was created because of mining. It was a taconite mine pit before the steel market slump caused it to close in 1983. When the mine was in operation, large pumps were used to remove water from the pit. They pumped out 800 gallons of water a minute!

When the mine closed the pumps were shut off and water filled the pit, creating the deepest water in inland Wisconsin. Wazee lake is 350 feet deep.

It's now a popular destination for scuba divers.

The water is remarkably clear, making it a favorite spot for scuba divers in the state. There are still remnants of mining equipment, roads, signs, and all sorts of interesting things that people have put down there.

You could make a scavenger hunt for divers. Some of the things would be terrifying to run into.

I mean, could this really be the place where Jimmy Hoffa was buried?

Other things divers can find are a little less frightening, like this penguin.

Check out this awesome YouTube video shot by Curtis Lahr showcasing what it's like under Wazee Lake.

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Wisconsin City Has The 'Shortest Life Expectancy' In The State

 There's no guarantee how long one may live. Morbid, perhaps, or maybe an inspirational mantra to live life to the fullest . For those who do worry about their time on this mortal coil, there are ways to increase your chances of a longer life by taking certain measures like eating healthy, getting adequate exercise and sleep, and lowering your stress levels. However, some may have an easier time with this than others, whether it's because of better access to services or fewer opportunities for managing health.

24/7 Tempo compiled a list of the city in each state with the "shortest life expectancy," and the site named Racine as the Wisconsin city with the worst in the state. According to the site, Racine has an average life expectancy of 77.46 years, compared to the state average of 78.87. Here are some additional statistics:

• People who don't exercise regularly: 21.3% (state: 19.8%)
• Adults who get fewer than 7 hours of sleep: 33.3% (state: 31.2%)
• Adults who smoke regularly: 18.3% (state: 16.1%)
• Adult obesity rate: 36.1% (state: 32.7%)

This is how the site determined its list:

"To determine the cities in every state with the shortest life expectancy, 24/7 Tempo reviewed data on life expectancy in U.S. metropolitan areas from County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, a collaboration between the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute. Additional data on smoking rate, physical inactivity, and insufficient sleep also came from the 2023 CHR."

See the full list of the city in each state with the shortest life expectancy at 24/7 Tempo .

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No place like home’: Judy Garland’s hometown raising funds to buy stolen ‘Wizard of Oz’ ruby slippers

GRAND RAPIDS, Minn. — The Minnesota hometown of Judy Garland, the actress who wore a pair of ruby slippers in “The Wizard of Oz,” is raising money to purchase the prized footwear after it was stolen from a local museum and then later turned over to an auction company.

Grand Rapids, Minnesota, where the late actress was born in 1922, is fundraising at its annual Judy Garland festival, which kicks off Thursday. The north Minnesota town is soliciting donations to bring the slippers back after an auction company takes,

them on an international tour before offering them up to prospective buyers in December.

“They could sell for $1 million, they could sell for $10 million. 

They’re priceless,” Joe Maddalena, Heritage Auctions executive vice president, 

told Minnesota Public Radio. 

“Once they’re gone, all the money in the world can’t buy them back.”

The funds will supplement the 

$100,000 set aside this year by Minnesota lawmakers to purchase the slippers.

Dallas-based Heritage Auctions received the slippers from Michael Shaw, the memorabilia collector who originally owned the iconic shoes. Shaw had loaned them in 2005 to the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Minnesota.

That summer, someone smashed through a display case and stole the sequins-and-beads-bedazzled slippers. Their whereabouts remained a mystery until the FBI recovered them in 2018.

The man who stole the slippers, Terry Jon Martin, 76, pleaded guilty in October to theft of a major artwork, admitting to using a hammer to smash the glass of the museum’s door and display case in what his attorney said was an attempt to pull off “one last score” after turning away from a life of crime. He was sentenced in January to time served because of his poor health.

In March, a second man, 76-year-old Jerry Hal Saliterman, was charged in connection with the theft.

The ruby slippers were at the heart of “The Wizard of Oz,” a beloved 1939 musical. Garland’s character, Dorothy, danced down the Yellow Brick Road in her shiny shoes, joined by the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion.

Garland, who died in 1969, wore several pairs during filming. Only four remain.

Maddalena, with Heritage Auctions, says he sold two other pairs of ruby slippers. Actor Leonardo DiCaprio and a group of the actor’s friends purchased one set for the Academy of Motion Pictures and Sciences.

Advance notice could help venues like the Judy Garland Museum secure the slippers that will be auctioned in December, he said. The museum which includes the house where Garland lived, says it has the world’s largest collection of Garland and “Wizard of Oz” memorabilia.

“We wanted to enable places that might not normally be able to raise the funds so quickly to have plenty of time to think about it and work out ways to do that,” Maddalena said. “That’d be an amazing story. I mean, if they ended up back there, that’d be a fantastic story.”

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Budweiser Dairyland Super National Truck and Tractor Pull

 

TOMAH, Wis.

Tractor enthusiasts from all around the nation traveled to Tomah on Friday for the annual Budweiser Dairyland Super National Truck and Tractor Pull.

It has been a yearly competition ever since it was started by the Monroe County Agriculture Society in 1976.

They started out small, but the event has now become one of the largest tractor pulls in the nation, drawing an estimated 60,000 fans every year.

Ken Veney has been competing in tractor pulls for decades, and to him age is just a number.

"I don't want to be like most 84-year-old people and sit around a nursing home. I'd rather put forth a little effort and feel like whether I do good or bad I come out and I be competitive, and feel like I've accomplished something," said Veney. 

The event brings an estimated $15 million to community businesses every year.

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Expert Vet: The #1 Mistake That Can Cut A Dog's Lifespan In Half

According to Dr. Marty Goldstein — one of America's top veterinarians — canine health is on the decline.

Some breeds have even seen their average lifespans cut in half over the past 30 years.

And it all boils down to one thing — nutrition.

“Unfortunately, most commercial dog foods are full of artificial preservatives, additives, heavy grains, and low-quality proteins,” he explains. “Even foods that claim to be 'healthy', 'organic', or 'natural'.”

“To make matters worse, most commercial dog food is cooked at high temperatures, which can actually destroy most of the nutrients.”

And research shows the low nutritional value of these foods is a major contributor to low energy, digestive issues, joint discomfort, bad breath, smelly or mushy poop, itchy skin, and a host of other common problems in dogs.

However, after years of studying the issue and even writing a best-selling book, Dr. Marty says he has finally found a way to fight back.

Luckily, by recognizing the early signs of danger, Dr. Goldstein has helped countless dogs enhance their well-being.

This realization led to Dr. Marty saving countless dogs known as "Marty Miracles" including Whiskey the Rottweiler.

Whiskey, who was initially given just 24 hours to live by another vet, experienced a dramatic turnaround after Dr. Marty made just one simple change, The result? Whiskey was able to live another 6 healthy years!

Tap to watch Whiskey' story and other "Marty Miracles" now.

“Having looked after thousands of pets in my veterinary practice, I've identified the exact things you need to get back into your dog's diet to help them live a happy, healthy life.”

“It's actually quite easy, and you can do it right from your kitchen. It only takes about 2 minutes a day, and it can have a major impact on your dog's quality of life.”

Now, for the first time ever, Dr. Marty has created a short video explaining this exact method along with step-by-step instructions for how to do it at home.

The video is presented below, free and uninterrupted.

So far, the response has been amazing, with viewers saying their dog's health improved in a matter of weeks or even days.

One dog parent, Michelle, said:

“My dog LOVES this! Niko has become his old self again, I might even go as far as saying he's like a puppy again. His mood has improved and his energy level has skyrocketed. He is happier, more lively, and more loving.”*

Story Source: Dr. Marty or please CLICK HERE

FDA approves first menthol flavored e-cigarettes from Altria’s NJOY

The Food and Drug Administration authorized four of Altria’s menthol e-cigarettes for sale in the country on Friday, making them the first ever flavored vapes the agency has permitted on the market.

The decision shows vape makers can provide evidence satisfying the FDA that the benefits their products offer in terms of helping smokers quit outweigh the risks posed to youth.

“In this instance, the strength of evidence of benefits to adult smokers from completely switching to a less harmful product was sufficient to outweigh the risks to youth,” said Matthew Farrelly, director of the Office of Science at the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products.

The regulator has rejected the vast majority of the 26 million applications it has reviewed so far, including from British American Tobacco, and all of those relating to flavored products.

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This has sparked pushback from the industry, with manufacturers launching court cases to challenge its decisions, some of which were successful.

“This decision is especially troubling given the FDA’s failure to do its job and clear the market of unauthorized, illegal e-cigarette products,” said Yolonda Richardson, CEO of Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, adding that the decision was “hard to understand.”

The FDA’s authorization comes at a time when the U.S. government is reviewing a potential ban on menthol cigarettes.

Earlier this month, the FDA rescinded market denial orders issued in 2022 for four varieties of Juul Lab’s tobacco and menthol-flavored pods and its e-cigarette device.

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Something 'kicked' this hypervelocity star racing through the Milky Way at 1.3 million miles per hour

A simulated image shows the moment a low-mass star is about to get a kick out of the supernova explosion of a white dwarf (Image credit: Adam Makarenko / W.M. Keck Observatory)

A low-mass star has been discovered racing through the Milky Way at over a million miles per hour, a journey that began with either the supernova explosion of a vampire star or an encounter with black holes.

If you were attacked by a ravenous vampire star or were at risk of falling into two dueling black holes, you'd probably run, too! 

One of these terrifying scenarios is likely responsible for sending a low-mass star on the run through the Milky Way at a staggering million miles per hour (1.6 million kilometers per hour). That's about 1,500 times faster than the speed of sound.

The star is designated CWISE J124909+362116.0 (J1249+36) and was first detected by citizen science volunteers with the Backyard Worlds: Planet 9 project, who are exploring the vast amount of data collected by NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) mission over the course of almost a decade and a half. J1249+36 immediately stood out because of its immense velocity of specifically 1.3 million mph (2.1 million kph), which is almost three times as fast as the speed of the sun in its orbit around the heart of the Milky Way. The speed of this "hypervelocity" star is so great, in fact, that it is likely to escape our galaxy altogether.

To crack the secrets of this hypervelocity star, University of California, San Diego Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics Adam Burgasser turned to the W.M. Keck Observatory in Maunakea, Hawaii, aiming to observe its infrared spectrum. 

This investigation revealed that the star belongs to a class of the oldest stars in the Milky Way: L subdwarfs. These stars are very rare and remarkable because of their highly low masses and relatively cool temperatures. 

The team's spectral data was combined with a new set of atmospheric models created specifically to study L subdwarfs. This revealed J1249+36's position and velocity through the Milky Way. "This is where the source became very interesting," Burgasser said in a statement. "Its speed and trajectory showed that it was moving fast enough to potentially escape the Milky Way."

Is this star running from a white dwarf vampire? 

In the first scenario used to explain the hypervelocity nature of J1249+36, Burgasser and colleagues hypothesized that the low-mass star was once the stellar companion of a type of a "dead" star called a white dwarf.

White dwarfs are born when smaller stars like the sun exhaust the hydrogen supply in their cores. When that happens, a star's nuclear fusion ceases. This cuts off the outward flow of energy that supports the star against the inward pressure of its own gravity. While this ends the lives of lonely, isolated stars like the sun, however, white dwarfs in binary systems can return from the grave by cannibalistically feeding on stellar material stripped from a nearby "donor" star.

This material piles up on the white dwarf until that stellar remnant's mass exceeds the Chandrasekhar limit of around 1.4 times the mass of the sun, above which a star can go supernova. This results in a type of cosmic explosion called a "Type Ia supernova" that completely obliterates the white dwarf.

"In this kind of supernova, the white dwarf is completely destroyed, so its companion is released and flies off at whatever orbital speed it was originally moving, plus a little bit of a kick from the supernova explosion as well," Burgasser explained. "Our calculations show this scenario works. However, the white dwarf isn’t there anymore, and the remnants of the explosion, which likely happened several million years ago, have already dissipated, so we don’t have definitive proof that this is its origin."

Could twin black holes have something to do with it?

The second scenario considered by the team sees this hypervelocity star begin life in a globular cluster, a dense and compact conglomeration of stars bound together by gravity. These spherical clusters can contain anywhere from tens of thousands to many millions of stars.

The stars are concentrated toward the center of globular clusters, where scientists theorize that black holes of varying masses also lurk. These black holes can come together and form binaries that are adept at launching any stars that venture too close to them out of their home systems.

"When a star encounters a black hole binary, the complex dynamics of this three-body interaction can toss that star right out of the globular cluster," Kyle Kremer, an incoming Assistant Professor in UC San Diego's Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics, said. 

Simulations generated by Kremer revealed that, on rare occasions, these kinds of interactions can kick a low-mass subdwarf out of a globular cluster and put them on trajectories similar to what's observed with J1249+36.

The team also traced the trajectory of this hypervelocity star back to an extremely crowded region of space, which could indeed be the location of a currently undiscovered globular cluster — or, perhaps. more than one.

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