The Broadsheet
Headlines from the Barron News-Shield June 18, 2025 edition, plus some extra, newsy recommendations from the editor.
Hello readers,
This week I did a bit of deep dive into the potential local impact of the federal “Big Beautiful Bill,” particularly Medicaid cuts. I tied in many comments for a recent “Hands Off Medicaid” event in Rice Lake. After I finished my story, I learned that the U.S. Senate’s version of the bill may propose even deeper Medicaid cuts. What might that mean for local people and around the country? Take a look in this week’s top story.
Headlines
The Barron County Board officially appointed Barron County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Jason Hagen as interim sheriff at its regular meeting on Monday, June 17. Hagen has been heading the department since June 1, following the retirement of Chris Fitzgerald. As of press time on Tuesday, Gov. Tony Evers had not yet named Fitzgerald’s successor, nor had the governor’s office responded to the News-Shield’s records request of the names of the three applicants for the job.
At a special meeting of the Rice Lake Planning Commission on June 5 the commission approved a plan by Menards to construct seven storage unit buildings. A total of 245 storage units will be located east of the Menards store on 6.8 acres on the southeast corner of the intersection of South Access Road (Hwy. O) and Wisconsin Avenue.
A Cumberland woman is scheduled to appear next Wednesday, June 25, 2025, in Barron County Circuit Court, in connection with a pair of felony theft charges involving the alleged theft of Wisconsin Lottery tickets from a Cumberland retail business. The June 6 criminal complaint alleges that defendant Melanie E. Zielinski, 56, stole more than $19,589 worth of Wisconsin Lottery tickets from Ginny’s Amoco, a filling station, convenience store and fast food restaurant in Cumberland. According to the complaint, the charges were filed after an investigation by the Wisconsin Department of Revenue that began on March 10.
Barron’s first appearance at the State Baseball Tournament didn’t go as hope Tuesday evening, June 17, at Fox Cities Stadium in Grand Chute. Playing the state’s top-ranked Division 3 team, Kenosha St. Joseph’s Catholic, the Golden Bears fell 14-4 in 5 innings.
Editor’s Picks
IN THE NEWS: The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel recently published an in-depth piece on Embrace, which provides support to survivors of domestic and sexual violence in Barron County and three other counties. The focus of the article is on how diminished funding resources are affecting the organization.
That’s all I’ve got for this week. Thanks for reading. If you need to catch up on local news or are looking for more Editor’s Picks, check out the archives at newsshield.substack.com.
—Ryan Urban