Houseboat searched after marina fire

Two houseboats moored at Hidden Harbor Marina in St. Paul Park caught fire early Friday morning, authorities said.

A press release issued Friday said it was unclear if there were any victims in the fire. The release gave the following details:

Shortly before 2 a.m., authorities received reports saying a houseboat moored in the Mississippi River marina had caught fire and was fully engulfed.

Numerous agencies responded to the call but before anybody arrived, a second houseboat caught fire, the release said.

The occupants of that houseboat were able to evacuate safely.

It is unknown if there were any victims of the first houseboat that caught fire.

The state fire marshal was on scene Friday afternoon investigating.

— Kristi Miller

Early in-person voting up nearly 40%

Wisconsin elections officials are reporting a nearly 40% increase in early in-person absentee voting over 2020.

Early in-person absentee voting began Tuesday. The Wisconsin Elections Commission announced that as of Friday morning 292,702 people had voted early in-person compared with 209,665 as of the morning of Friday, Oct. 23, 2020.

The total number of absentee ballots requested stood at 921,832, with 715,395 returned by mail or in-person early voters.

Voters cast about 640,100 total absentee ballots in 2008; 665,340 absentee ballots in 2012; 824,736 absentee ballots in 2016; and about 1.9 million absentee ballots in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Early in-person absentee voting continues through Sunday, Nov. 3. All absentee ballots must be received by local clerks by 8 p.m. on Election Day to count.

— Associated Press