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Sentencing is being ordered for an Eau Claire woman convicted in connection with the shooting death of a man three years ago.  Forty-six-year-old Eddie Banks was fatally shot and found dead in a ditch off of Mallard Road in June of 2022. Three people were charged in the case including Kristina Keppert who pleaded guilty to a charge of felony murder – false imprisonment.  Keppert has been sentenced this week to seven years in prison.

Xcel Energy is advising Wisconsin natural gas customers that they can expect to see higher bills this winter.  Xcel says that monthly bills will be 15 percent higher on average versus last winter.  The increase is being attributed to higher costs for natural has as well as higher infrastructure and other costs.

Eau Claire’s Sustainability Advisory Committee is considering making a recommendation to city council regarding outdoor cats.  At issues are domestic cats who are allowed to run free outside and pose a threat to birds and other small animals.  The American Bird Conservancy reports that outdoor cats kill about two-point-four billion birds every year in the United States.  The advisory committee is considering a recommendation to make it illegal to allow cats outdoors without a leash, to require that cats be

Authorities are sharing the name of a motorcyclist who died after a recent accident in La Crosse.  Thirty-seven-year-old Nicholas Smythe was riding near 33rd Street and Mormon Coulee Road on October 2nd when he side-swiped a truck that was pulling a trailer.  Smythe later died at a local hospital.

Eau Claire City Council is looking for ways to increase revenue.  City officials say that money coming into the city coffers is down compared to the rate of inflation in recent years.  Council is considering possible changes to parking and other fees.  A vote on a new city budget is expected on November 11th.

A Wisconsin farmer won big at a global pumpkin competition in Minnesota.  Jim Ford’s pumpkin had the heaviest pumpkin at the Stillwater Harvest Fest over the weekend.  The pumpkin weighed nearly 25-hundred pounds.  Ford says growing early and keeping it healthy played a big role in keeping the pumpkin huge. 

More than 130 million dollars in Wisconsin clean energy-related projects are at risk as the Trump administration moves to cut up to 24 billion dollars in projects originally approved by the Biden administration.  The Wisconsin grants on the list are a mix of projects that help boost energy efficiency, including supporting the expansion of energy storage battery systems. 

The 115th Fighter Wing of the Wisconsin Air National Guard will be going through flight training in the Madison area this week. The training will take place Tuesday through Thursday. Most training will occur during the day, but the DMA says pilots and maintenance personnel are required to have nighttime hours. The flight paths for the training have been designed to minimize noise to area residents, but the planes may still be seen and heard during this time.

Eau Claire received a 300-thousand dollar donation from the Jane Honadel Estate for amenities at Mount Simon Park.  The money will go to new playground equipment and a pavilion.  The new playground equipment will start arriving Monday and construction will last just over a week. The pavilion will be next year.

Eau Claire has set a closing date for the Graham Riverside Parking Deck for the winter due to safety concerns.  The upper deck will close on November 1st.  The lower level will remain open until March 1st of next year.