Posted Friday, July 13, 2012 --- 6:30 a.m.

Here is the latest Wisconsin news from The Associated Press:

MILWAUKEE (AP) -- The drought in southern Wisconsin has been officially declared severe with little rain in sight. Yesterday's new map from the U.S. Drought Monitor rates the southern third of Wisconsin -- which had been in a moderate drought -- as severe drought, including Milwaukee and Madison.

APPLETON, Wis. (AP) -- Two women who were in charge of paying the bills for the Town of Dale are accused of making more than $78,000 in personal purchases with town credit cards. Former clerk Marcia Kelly faces 29 felony charges while ex-treasurer Erica Siewert is facing 12 felonies. They've both resigned after admitting to the town council that their rogue spending dates back to 2006.

MILWAUKEE (AP) -- A Milwaukee County sheriff's deputy who was searching a suspect got stuck by a needle that was used to inject heroin. The sheriff's office says it happened after a three-vehicle crash Wednesday afternoon on Interstate 94. The deputy is undergoing treatment for the needle stick.

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) -- A Green Bay man has been jailed on suspicion of his fifth drunken-driving offense after he allegedly rear-ended a police car in Green Bay. Police say Officer Ben Schindel had stepped out of his marked police car during a routine traffic stop around 2 a.m. yesterday when it was hit from behind. Neither the officer nor the suspect was injured in the wreck.

Copyright 2012. The Associated Press.