Expect a cooler, drier day; Missing boy still not found; more briefs

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It will be a sunny and cooler day in Wisconsin after heavy storms rocked the far southeast and far northwest Tuesday, and the heat index returned to the triple digits in the southwest.

A funnel cloud was spotted near Pleasant Prairie in Kenosha County just after 6 p.m. yesterday. Officials said debris was on the ground from downburst of winds in that area.

Winds hit 56 mph in Racine, where power lines went down. Trees fell near Delavan Lake, and two-inch hail fell near Janesville.

In northwest Wisconsin, folks are drying out after up to six inches of rain fell in parts of Douglas County late Tuesday morning. The Red Cross opened a shelter in Superior after Hwy. 35 and several other roads were closed, raising the possibility that people in isolated areas could not reach their homes.

Winds of up to 60 mph toppled trees in the Solon Springs and Trade Lake areas.

Meanwhile, the heat wave returned to southwest and south central Wisconsin. The highest heat index in the region yesterday was 107 near Boscobel and Mauston.

The National Weather Service says it will be much cooler and less humid today with highs in the 80’s statewide. The next chance of rain is expected Saturday night and Sunday.

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Missing boy still not found

A full-scale search was suspended Tuesday for a six-year-old La Crosse boy who is missing and presumed drowned in the Mississippi River.

Rescuers said the 90 degree heat exhausted them. They ended their search for Junior Thao around 4 p.m.

State Department of Natural Resources workers found what they called an “image of interest” with sonar equipment. They’ll return to that site today.

But La Crosse Fire Division Chief Tom Wallerich warned relatives not to get their hopes up. He called the follow-up effort a formality.

Junior Thao has been missing since Monday afternoon when he and family members took a swim in the river off Pettibone Park in La Crosse. Rescuers from 10 local, state and federal agencies had been searching for the youngster since then.

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Four bicyclists die in crashes in July

At least four Wisconsin bicyclists have been killed in crashes with motor vehicles since July 1, including two this week.

In Wausau, witnesses said a bicycle ridden by Easton Shryne, 22, of Wausau went through a red light and was hit by a car coming from the side. The accident happened early Tuesday. Police said the car driver apparently did not have much time to react.

Meanwhile, authorities in Outagamie County said Kris Hanson, 56, of Green Bay was killed on a tandem bike that collided with a car in the town of Oneida Monday. The car driver was not hurt. The mishap is still being investigated.

State officials said nine bicyclists were killed in Wisconsin last year – one fewer than the average for the past five years.

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Johnson votes no on debt ceiling bill

There were no surprises by Wisconsin’s two senators when the body voted 74-26 just before noon in favor of the compromise that avoids a default of the federal government.

Republican Ron Johnson voted no. Democrat Herb Kohl voted yes.

The measure passed with 14 votes to spare on the final day before the Obama White House had said it would no longer have enough money to pay the nation’s bills.

The compromise allows Obama to raise the debt ceiling. But future presidents would have to meet benchmarks in spending cuts in order to do the same.

GOP Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said the next president would most likely make another request in early 2013.

A total of $2.1 trillion would be cut over 10 years, and a bi-partisan commission would act on cuts in federal discretionary spending.

Johnson had said the cuts don’t go deep enough. Kohl had said a default had to be avoided at all costs, or it would have hurt Wisconsin families and businesses.

The package now goes to Obama since the House of Representatives passed the same compromise.

Madison Democrat Tammy Baldwin was the only one of Wisconsin’s eight House members to vote no. Milwaukee Democrat Gwen Moore did not vote. Her spokesman said she had barely missed the vote after returning from her Capitol office in a huge crowd. Moore would have voted in favor of the package.

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Elderly man gets 15-year prison term for killing cousin

A 71-year-old Milwaukee man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for killing his cousin in an argument over cigarettes.

Orteal Tyler told police he had a long-standing feud with 50-year-old Mark Chambers , and when he suspected that Chambers stole his cigarettes, it was the last straw. The victim was shot multiple times last December in the living room of the home the two had shared in Milwaukee.

Tyler was originally charged with first-degree intentional homicide. He pleaded guilty in May to a reduced count of reckless homicide.

A judge ordered 10 years of extended supervision once Tyler leaves prison. He must also pay about $8,500 in restitution.

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Gas prices still going up

Wisconsin gas prices are still creeping up. AAA reports an average price of $3.757 this morning for a gallon of unleaded regular.

That’s less than a penny more than Tuesday, almost three cents more than a week ago, and 12 cents more than a month ago.

But Wisconsinites are still paying less than in neighboring Minnesota, which is traditionally cheaper. AAA reports drivers in Minnesota are paying $3.775 – almost two cents more than in Wisconsin.

But MinnesotaGasPrices.com said prices rose by over a nickel a gallon overnight to $3.83 – 15 cents more than in Wisconsin.

But no matter how you slice it, we’re still paying about $1 more for gasoline than last summer. National analyst Trigby Lundberg recently blamed a jump in crude oil prices. Otherwise, he said gas prices would have fallen due to a weaker economy and continued high unemployment.

Tags: state news, wisconsin