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Hello! Here we are in 2026. How are the first days of the new year treating you? Hopefully you’re off to a good start and feeling hopeful about the days, weeks and months ahead. Whew. On the other side of the holidays, we return to our Saturday morning routine to simply slow things down a bit. But first, it helps to know what Mother Nature is planning for us. CLICK HERE FOR YOUR FIRST ALERT FORECAST WITH WEAU 13. This

Several new laws and policies set to begin in 2026 are officially in effect. Among the most notable changes is a restriction on student use of wireless devices in public school classrooms beginning July 1st. Licensed foster parents and relatives caring for young children through the Kinship Care program will receive a two-and-a-half-percent increase in monthly payments. Multiple tax changes take effect for 2026, with paperwork due by December 31st to qualify.

Governor Tony Evers announced he’ll deliver his 2026 State of the State address next month. The governor’s office says the address will take place in the Assembly chamber of the state Capitol at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, February 17th. This is the 7th time in state history that a State of the State address was made later than January.

USA Hockey announced its Team USA Olympic roster for 2026. The team includes four current and two former Wisconsin women’s hockey players. Laila Edwards, Caroline Harvey, Ava McNaughton and Kirsten Simms made the final Olympic roster as active players for UW. Former Badgers Britta Curl-Salemme and Hilary Knight were also selected for the team. Current athletic trainer Stefanie Arndt and former Wisconsin director of operations Sis Paulsen will join Team USA in staff roles.

One person is dead after a Wednesday night fire in Trempealeau County.  Crews responded at around 8:30 p.m. to a garage fire in Independence.  Reports say a male adult was found dead at the scene.  The victim’s name has not been released and the cause of the fire has not been reported.

The new year brings free fares for school-age kids on Eau Claire Transit.  The city says that kids 18 and under — and all young adult high school students — will be able to ride the bus for free.  High school students will need to show their school ID in order to receive the free rides.  The offer went into effect on Thursday.

State legislators are proposing a bill to curb concert ticket scalping.  State Representative Jill Billings is co-authoring the so-called “SWIFTIE Bill,” which would limit purchases to eight tickets a person.  It would also prevent the use of bots, multiple emails, or IP addresses.  The bill’s name references issues with ticket prices during Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour.  Lawmakers hope to hold a hearing on the bill in the state assembly sometime this month.

UPDATE: Authorities have issued a press release to let us know that Kuntz was found safe. So far, no more details are being given about where she was found, but she has been located and we await further updates. PREVIOUS DETAILS 1.1.2026: The search continues for a teenager from Rusk County. On November 28th, 2025, Rusk County deputies took a report of a missing person from Townline Rd/County Rd B, Glen Flora, a residence in the township of True, County

The new year is here with celebrations across America, from the ball drop in Times Square to fireworks and street parties in cities nationwide. On the West Coast, it was a rainy but festive New Year’s Eve in Los Angeles. But as 2026 began, tragedy struck overseas, where at least ten people were killed in an explosion during a New Year’s Eve party at a popular Alpine ski resort in Switzerland. The cause of the explosion is still unclear. Here

A man charged following a deadly crash on I-90 is accepting a plea deal.  Authorities say Isaac Morales Jr was drunk behind the wheel when he crashed into a man working a road surfacing machine near the Village of Oakdale in November of 2024.  The worker died at the scene and Morales faced charged including first-degree reckless homicide.  Morales pleaded no contest this week to homicide by intoxicated use of vehicle and injury by intoxicated use of vehicle.  He will