Department Of Homeland Security Outlines New Deportation Practices, Wisconsin Town In Running For Nation’s Best City Hall

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• Department Of Homeland Security Outlines New Deportation Practices

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  Memos leaked this weekend show that the Department of Homeland Security will expand its deportation guidelines. We’ll speak with immigration lawyer Grant Sovern about the effect these deportations could have nationwide and in Wisconsin.

• Little Chute In The Running For Nation's Best Looking City Hall

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  An online March Madness style tournament looks to name the nation’s best looking city hall, and if you like a Cinderella story, you’re in luck. The village of Little Chute is cruising through the tournament, and could take home the title. Little Chute’s village administrator joins the show to talk about building, which features a working windmill on the property, and how the contest is bringing the community together.

• Little Chute Competes For Best City Hall In US

  The Village of Little Chute is like a classic college basketball Cinderella story, cruising through a bracketed tournament vying to hold the title of the best-looking city hall in the nation. It all started in January with a field of 64 contenders.

  Little Chute soundly defeated Glen Ellyn, Illinois, last week in the Sweet 16 of the online, NCAA-like contest sponsored by the nonprofit Engaging Local Government Leaders organization.

  Little Chute Village Administrator James Fenlon credits its success in “City Hall Madness” to its signature Dutch windmill operating in its recently renovated village hall that features Old World European architecture, a nod to the village’s Dutch immigrant heritage.

  “The windmill operates on two things: volunteer power and the wind. It’s all wood. It’s a pretty impressive machine, and to get up inside the windmill and tour it,” Fenlon told Wisconsin Public Radio. “You get some pretty cool views of the downtown from up above.”

  The windmill was constructed in The Netherlands and shipped in pieces to Little Chute where it was reconstructed. A grand opening for the windmill was held in May 2015. Fenlon said the project was a $4 million local fundraising initiative. It opens for the tour season April 1.

  Fenlon said thousands of visitors come to see the windmill and the 2,000 tulip bulbs tended by local residents.

  With the wind at its back in this City Hall Madness, the village is leaning on social media and church bulletins to rally votes, Fenlon said. It’s up against Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in the Elite Eight bracket with voting open until 10:59 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24.

  Little Chute is now in the company of much larger communities in the Elite Eight, including Pasadena, California; Durham, North Carolina; and Vancouver, Washington.

  Fenlon attributes the village’s success in the competition to a commitment to its heritage and maintaining the beauty of its surroundings.

  “I think it’s important to take care of your infrastructure and nothing speaks greater volumes than what your municipal hall or complex looks like. Regardless of whether you are a city, village or town, you get one chance to make a great impression, and we think our village hall does that,” Fenlon said.

  If the Village of Little Chute upends Cedar Rapids in the vote total, the Final Four round of voting is set for the week of Feb. 27. The national championship voting for best city hall is slated for the week of March 6. The winner receives the “Leslie Barbara Knope Greatest City Hall” trophy – in humorous homage to the hit NBC comedy “Parks and Recreation” starring Amy Poehler – and membership benefits from the Engaging Local Government Leaders organization.