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Lake Altoona Beach and Big Falls Beach have water quality advisories due to elevated bacteria levels. Water activities are not recommended. This water can make you sick and cause skin rashes. If you choose to use the water: don’t swallow it, wash your hands before eating, and shower after water contact. CLICK HERE FOR MORE FROM THE CITY COUNTY HEATH DEPARTMENT.

Chippewa County Farmers Union will host a public community forum, Data Centers & Our Communities, on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at Market on the River, 128 W River Street, Second Floor, Chippewa Falls. The forum will focus on what local communities should understand and ask when large developments such as data centers are proposed. The event will include discussion of local impacts, community benefits, land use, utilities, and how communities can respond when major projects

The Wisconsin Department of Tourism released its 2025 economic impact data, revealing that tourism in Eau Claire County generated a record $480 million in total economic impact—marking a 4.0% increase over 2024’s $461 million and thecounty’s fourth consecutive year of growth. Statewide, all-time high visitation drove Wisconsin tourism’s record-breaking $27.0 billion in total economic impact in 2025 surpassing the previous statewide record of $25.8 billion from 2024. The boost in visitation, economic contributions from across Wisconsin—including Eau Claire County—and strategic

The University of Wisconsin-River Falls College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences (CAFES) recently awarded five faculty research fellowships to expand dairy-related research through the Dairy Innovation Hub initiative. The selected faculty will lead projects across the Hub’s four priority areas: stewarding land and water resources; enriching human health and nutrition; ensuring animal health and welfare; and growing farm businesses and communities.    Funded by a $7.8 million annual investment from the state of Wisconsin, the Hub brings together research and development efforts

Hundreds of people across western Wisconsin are gathering over the weekend of June 13-14 for two separate events responding to new proposals for hyperscale data center developments in our region. With more than a dozen proposed data centers across Wisconsin, residents are starting to organize through Great Lakes Neighbors United and GROWW (Grassroots Organizing Western Wisconsin) to seek proactive protections from massive AI data center developments. On Saturday, June 13 in Eau Claire, more than 800 people have already registered

The thoughts and ideas are there.   The words to express those thoughts and ideas can be elusive, however.  For more than two million Americans, this condition is the result of a neurological disorder known as aphasia, most often caused by a stroke. Aphasia does not affect intelligence, but can affect a person’s ability to speak, write or understand language.  For years, students and faculty in UW-Eau Claire’s Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences have researched various forms of aphasia in an effort to help these individuals communicate more effectively.  This summer, a two-week intensive

“Tourism’s impact is wide-reaching and significant. The industry powers local economies throughout the state. Visitors sustain jobs and create livelihoods. Wisconsinites save money because of the tax dollars tourism brings in. Tourism is essential for Wisconsin and all its communities.” The Wisconsin Department of Tourism released 2025 economic impact data showing Chippewa County’s tourism generated a record economic impact of $205 million, contributing to Wisconsin tourism’s booming year. Chippewa County tourism broke its economic impact record set in 2024, marking

The trial of a suspect charged in the killing of an Altoona man is underway in Eau Claire County.  Brandon Gaston is charged with first degree homicide in the death of 79-year-old Dennis Schattie.  Investigators believe Schattie was killed in Eau Claire — though his body was found in the river near Rockford Illinois in April of 2022.  Opening statements were heard in Gaston’s trial yesterday.  The defendant’s former girlfriend — Tracey Clark — pleaded no contest to a charge

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is sharing results from the 2026 spring turkey hunt. Officials say hunters registered over 47-thousand birds between April 12th and May 26th. The harvest for this year was up about eight percent over the five-year average. DNR says turkey numbers remain stable across all 72 counties in Wisconsin.