1410 WIZM

Senator Jennifer Shilling has released a statement in response to the news that a Republican challenger has announced his candidacy for the 32nd Senate District. She says “There will be ample time to debate political differences, but with less than two weeks left in the current legislative session, I remain focused on working with my colleagues in the Senate to address the serious economic challenges that are impacting families in our state. Shilling says she continues to hear from residents who are frustrated with the direction that our state is headed under the current Republican policies, and she looks forward to the ongoing discussions about how to move our state forward.

Bill Feehan officially announced his candidacy for the 32nd state Senate district at an announcement event on Monday. The County board supervisor and chairman of the La Crosse County Republican Party said his experience as a business owner and elected official give him a unique perspective on how to grow the economy and create jobs. “People in Western Wisconsin are hurting. Many people are unemployed and have given up looking for work. Others have accepted lower paying jobs," Feehan said. “We must grow our economy and create jobs," he added, citing a proposal in northwestern Wisconsin an opportunity to create thousands of high quality new jobs and generate new tax revenue. "We will see if our elected officials vote to grow our economy and create jobs or pander to environmental interests.” Feehan said we need to move beyond the current political climate. “Recalls are bad government, he said. "It’s time to set aside the bitterness and to start working together to create a better future for Wisconsin.” Feehan owns three local businesses with his wife, Sue Kolve-Feehan, who also spoke at Monday’s event. Feehan has also worked at Unilever Food Solutions for 16 years, where most recently he's been responsible for managing business with regional food service chains.

He initially announced an exploratory committee for the office in January.

For more information, visit www.feehanforsenate.com

Stevens Point Search and Rescue teams have pulled a body from the Wisconsin River. But the body has not been identified. Search crews spent the morning looking for Eric Duffey, a UW Stevens Point student who hasn't been seen since early Saturday morning.Police say they were searching the Wisconsin River for a missing college student who may have accidently walked into the water.  Assistant Chief Brian Kudronowich said firefighters were on boats today searching for 21-year-old Eric Duffey. The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point student disappeared early Saturday morning after celebrating his 21st birthday.  Since then, police and volunteers were scouring neighborhoods near downtown Stevens Point where Duffey was last seen. Kudronowicz says Duffey may have walked into the river. He says alcohol could be a factor.

UW-La Crosse’s new academic building, Centennial Hall, is popular and highly utilized by students and staff it’s also award-winning. The Wisconsin Department of Administration will give the building’s designer, River Architects of La Crosse, the 2011 Department of State Facilities Best Project Award. The honor recognizes the firm for its outstanding work as part of the design team for the $40 million project. Governor Scott Walker will present the award during a State Building Commission meeting March 21st in Madison. Centennial Hall, which opened in August 2011, is the university’s largest academic building on campus. It’s expected to receive at least a silver rating for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, given for features to save annual operating costs and conserve energy. The hall is the first built predominantly with state funding on campus since 1974 when Wimberly Hall was constructed.