1. Triage counseling is available at UW-Platteville today, after a deadly shooting on campus on Monday. Two UW-Platteville students are dead, final exams are cancelled, and the university community is in shock. Both students were just 22. The University has identified them as Kelsie Martin of Beloit and Hallie Helms of Baraboo. The shooting happened at a residence hall. Police say it wasn't random, but “targeted”. Helms just graduated over the weekend, with a degree in elementary education. The shooting resulted in a "shelter-in-place" order for about an hour on Monday. In addition to the counseling that started today, the university also has an emotional support line available for students. A university rep says there’s no press conference planned on campus today, but we should expect a joint statement from University Police and the Department of Criminal Investigation later today.
2. The Future of Buc-ees in Oak Creek will be discussed tonight at a Public Hearing. The Oak Creek Common Council held an initial public hearing March 18th to discuss the proposed massive travel plaza and hear feedback from residents before moving forward with the project. Residents have expressed concerns about traffic, environmental impact, noise, property values, and the overall effect on their quality of life. Key points of discussion tonight are the conditional use permit which is required for the operation of a "fueling plaza" at the proposed location, the proposal requires rezoning of the land and a change to the city's comprehensive plan to accommodate the large-scale development. We're talking about a 73,370-square-foot travel center with 120 gas pumps and EV charging and those community concerns.
3. Mortgage rates are up again. The average for a 30-year fixed rate mortgage is now just over 7 percent, the highest level since April 11th. While inflation has shown signs of cooling, it remains above the Federal Reserve's target. President Trump has consistently expressed his desire for lower interest rates, arguing that they would stimulate the economy and make housing more affordable.