Fearing that the Department of Interior may reverse a 1995 decision preventing a casino from opening in Hudson, the St. Croix band of Chippewa wants to intervene as a defendant in a lawsuit filed by three bands of Chippewa against the federal government.

Santa Claus arrived in Hudson Friday night to officially light the Christmas decorations on Second Street. He greeted children and parents for about 30 minutes before stopping at his workshop at Kelley Frame and Fine Art Galleries in Second Street Crossing. Santa is sponsored by Kelley Galleries and Lavender Thymes. Sleigh and horse owner Lee Schutts, Wilson, is on the left.

Residents of the city of Hudson will see a drop in their overall property tax mill rate of 87 cents per $1,000 of assessed value in 2000.

Local pharmacies and fuel businesses say they and suppliers will stock extra products as a hedge against possible buying sprees by consumers concerned about Y2K.

Former county board member Bill Oemichen, who is now a state administrator, joins three administrative coordinators from other counties, and the deputy director of the Council of State Governments as finalists for the position of St. Croix County administrative coordinator.

As President Clinton prepared to sign the $390 million federal budget package Monday morning, Congressman Ron Kind was back in Western Wisconsin toting around a foot-high stack of papers tied neatly with strong string.

Rick Reams, owner of RJ's Meats and Groceries, stands inside the venison cooler were he and his crew process deer for local hunters throughout the season. As of Monday morning, Reams said some 100 deer had been processed.

A prolific deer harvest has increased pressure on Rick Reams and his crew at RJ's Meats and Groceries and its after hours venison processing department.