Oct. 25, 2024 11:45a
From WGTD News:
On a 13-5 vote, the Racine County Board approved the creation of a county-wide sales tax Thursday night. The half-point tax will be added to the state's 5% sales tax. Racine County had been just one of three counties without one. But this year the county found itself in a difficult financial bind, due to inflation and state aid not keeping up. The new tax is expected to generate $20 million annually for the county, helping to cover a projected $13 million deficit. County officials warned that without an alternative funding source 156 positions would have to be cut, most of them in the sheriff's department.
-0-
The primary ballot for Racine County Executive is set. Four candidates met the filing requirements by Thursday night's deadline. They are County Clerk Wendy Christensen, Deputy Racine County Emergency Government Manager Lorenzo Santos, former Racine School Board President Melvin Hargrove and Racine businessman Ralph Malicki. The primary will be held Thursday, Nov. 21st. The two finalists will then face off Thursday, Dec. Dec. 19th. The winner will then fill the unexpired term of Jonathan Delagrave, who died unexpectedly earlier this year.
-0-
A tree trimmer tasked with inspecting power lines and poles In Pleasant Prairie earlier this week wound up having to dodge bullets. A suspect, 55-year-old John Anderson, is being held on a $30,000 bond and is facing charges of 1st Degree Recklessly Endangering Safety, bail jumping and obstructing. The incident occurred Tuesday on County “M-L” near the state line. Neighbors had warned the trimmer about Anderson but he soon found out first-hand what they were talking about. Even though the worker stayed clear of the defendant’s property while doing his inspections, Anderson reportedly started yelling and making threatening comments at the worker, a tirade culminating with several shots in the worker’s direction. Anderson was arrested later in the day after officers fired pepper ball rounds to force him from a truck where he'd been holed up.
-0-
A former Kenosha News reporter has been hired by the City of Kenosha as a media specialist. Daniel Gaitan was at the paper for nearly a decade. Gaitan, who was raised in Kenosha, has a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a master’s degree from DePaul University’s College of Communications. Before being elected to the position of Kenosha mayor earlier this year, Dave Bogdala pledged to strengthen the city’s communications efforts.
-0-