MADISON - The state Department of Natural Resources says Wisconsin's Chippewa tribes can exclusively hunt 85 of the 201 wolves hunters will be allowed to kill this winter.
Under treaties signed in 1837 and 1842, the tribes have the right to harvest 50 percent of the quota for any animal hunted in the so-called ceded territory, which makes up roughly the northern third of the state.
The DNR created rules for the state's new wolf hunt this winter allowing hunters to kill up to 201 wolves, including 167 in the ceded territory.
Under the treaties, the DNR has reserved 85 of the 167 wolves in the ceded territory for the Chippewa tribes. That means non-tribal hunters will be allowed to kill 82 wolves in that area.
BARABOO - A Wisconsin dairy farmer has been acquitted on three of four counts in a trial related to the sale of raw milk.
Dairy farmer Vernon Hershberger was found guilty on one charge of violating a holding order placed on products at his farm. This was after a 2010 raid.
Hershberger could get up to a year in jail and a $10,000 fine.
They found the 41-year-old not guilty of charges that he sold retail food, produced milk and operated a dairy plant without proper state licenses.
His supporters have said he was targeted because he sold raw milk through a private buying club with several hundred members.
RHINELANDER - You might remember the name Shannon Wolf. He chased his wife down, stabbed and choked her by the Hodag statue in Rhinelander last February. He'll now spend the next twelve years in prison.
Today Latoya Wolf testified she was partly to blame for what happened. She told the court Shannon Wolf was trying to cut his own wrists. But she got in the way and was cut in the struggle for the knife.
Prosecutors said the violent encounter and the victim's backtracking was a classic example of the domestic abuse cycle.
"I believe that there are significant pressures on Mrs. Wolf," says Assistant District Attorney Scott Moller.
Moller presented Wolf's extensive criminal history. He said there's also a documented history of domestic abuse.
Moller asked Judge Patrick O'Melia to sentence Wolf to 30 years.
Judge O'Melia said he believes this case is one of classic domestic abuse.
He sentenced Wolf to 24 years. He'll spend 12 in prison and 12 years extended supervision.
Wolf is not allowed to have any contact with his wife. He's also not eligible for early release or boot camp.
LAC DU FLAMBEAU - The back-and-forth between state lawmakers and the Lac du Flambeau tribe might be over.
Dean Kaufert is a Republican representing Neenah. He wanted to strip a quarter-million dollars of funding from the tribe. That money would have gone to fund a new cultural center.
His original move was a protest against the Chippewa lowering walleye bag limits. That happened on many lakes in the ceded territory this spring.
"I was kind of having some difficulty with some of my colleagues in the Legislature with convincing them that we needed to play hardball by holding this project back," says Rep. Kaufert.
Walleye spearing season by Chippewa fishermen is almost over. They only took about half as many as they expected. So, the DNR raised limits on 423 lakes in the ceded territory.
Kaufert now will not stand in the way of the cultural center money.
"The Governor asked me if I would consider releasing that project due to their ongoing discussions about trying to create a better environment up north for fish stocking and number of walleyes in our lakes," says Rep. Kaufert.
This week, Governor Scott Walker also proposed a state project to put more walleye in Wisconsin's lakes.
RHINELANDER - You don't need to get a library card to check out a book theses days. Boxes that look like bird houses are popping up all over.
They're called Little Free Libraries. Anyone can stop by to take or give a book. It's all based on the honor system. Maureen O'Melia put her's up at home last night across from Pioneer Park.
"I contacted Ed Hughes from the library. He was excited about the idea as well and he, a week later, says I built you one Maureen. But I had to stain it and get it ready for the outdoors," says Maureen O'Melia, who built a Little Free Library.
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