7 Things You Need to Know: Thursday, January 25, 2018

By WSAW Staff

WAUSAU, Wis. (WSAW) -- Out the Door Forecast: Today will be mainly cloudy and mild with temperatures in the low 30's. Overnight lows will be in the mid 20's. Then tomorrow will be windy, with highs in the low 40's.

Here are the 7 Things You Need to Know for this Thursday, January 25, 2018.

  1. President Trump is in Davos, Switzerland today for the World Economic Forum. At the event, often described as the epicenter of globalization and free trade, Trump is expected to push his "America First" agenda. The President arrives in Davos with two issues lingering over him back at home: Immigration and the Russia investigation.
  2. Disgraced physician Larry Nasser will likely spend the rest of his life behind bars after pleading guilty to several counts of sexual abuse. A Michigan judge sentenced the former USA Gymnastics and Michigan State University doctor to 40-175 years in prison. The 54-year-old doctor was heard from more than 150 young women and girls who accused him of assault. While he worked for USA Gymnastics and Michigan State University.
  3. A lot of people are concerned about Gov. Walker’s plan to close the Lincoln Hills Youth Prison, as soon as this spring. While Governor Walker didn't give a lot of new information in his speech Wednesday. As part of the proposed $80 million change to the Department of Corrections, the Irma facility would be converted to an adult prison, and five smaller regional facilities would open for juveniles.
  4. While Republicans agree with Gov. Walker’s proposal, Democrats are critical of the timing. Democratic representative Katrina Shankland is demanding a public hearing to address Lincoln Hills as soon as possible. Republican Senator Jerry Petrowski says the plan could lead to more jobs. Regardless, lawmakers on both sides say they're happy there are plans for change at the embattled facility.
  5. Wausau public works crews say they have fixed a sewer pipe, but not before an unspecified amount of sewage leaked into the Wisconsin River. The pipe carries millions of gallons each day from the southeast side of Wausau. What was initially thought to be a crack, turned out to be a blockage. Based off of samples the DNR took from the drain site, It does not appear to be a public health risk, or have a detrimental effect to the river.
  6. Now that a mining moratorium has been lifted at the State level. Marathon County is in the process of creating a mining ordinance. Members of the County's Conservation and Zoning Committee, spent Wednesday in Minocqua, attending a mining seminar. Right now, Easton is the only town in Marathon County to express interest in bringing a mine to the area. The County is still working on the guidelines, set to be complete by March.
  7. As we first told you yesterday, it seems more cougars are roaming the State with an uptick in sightings in the past six months. Trail cameras are capturing cougars on the prowl from Antigo, to Fond du Lac County and many locations in between. Since the first confirmed sighting in 2009, in Milton, The DNR reports a confirmed sighting, or two, every year except for 2016. Cougars have been caught on camera in 17 different locations.