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Two interior design students at University of Wisconsin-Stout are working to ensure their peers have a more efficient, comfortable and warm experience at Helping Hand Food+ Pantry, the university’s student pantry Emma Walstra and Klaire Johnson – project co-leads who form the EWKJ Interiors team – reimagined the pantry space to create an “atmosphere that reflects the care UW-Stout places in serving its students.” Their three-week-long project was part of Lecturer Lindsy Tomski’s Educational, Civic, and Cultural Interior Design Studio course, which partnered with the pantry to simulate

A second person is being charged in connection with an overdose death in Tomah.  Fifty-four-year-old Harley Carlson was recently charged with reckless homicide with investigators saying they supplied drugs to someone that later sold those drugs to the eventual 28-year-old OD victim.  The victim was found dead at a Tomah home in August.  The middle man is now being identified as 47-year-old James Zinsmeister who now also faces charges of reckless homicide.

Charges are being filed against a Chippewa Falls woman following an investigation into allegations of animal neglect.  Earlier this month, police seized 14 dogs of varying breeds from the woman’s apartment.  Investigators say the dogs were being kept in crates that were too small for the canines and that most lacked access to food and water.  The dogs are currently receiving medical care. Suspect Hannah Swanson faces 35 charges including failure to provide proper shelter to animals, failure to provide

Authorities have identified the suspected cause of a Sunday afternoon fire in Chippewa Falls.  Crews were called to a location on Canal Street where a shed went up in flames.  Officials now believe a wood stove was the source of the fire.  No one was hurt.

Judge Hannah Dugan returns to Milwaukee County court today following yesterday’s opening statements and testimony.  Dugan is accused of obstructing immigration agents who were attempting to arrest a man in her courtroom back in April.  The prosecution’s first witness was FBI special agent Erin Lucker and she gave a layout of Dugan’s courtroom to the jurors.  There was also a discussion about emails that were sent about immigration arrests in courthouses.  Dugan’s case is expected to take four or five

State lawmakers are preparing to look into the Wisconsin Department of Justice.  Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu announced yesterday the Special Committee on Oversight of the Department of Justice will investigate the “operations, priorities, and external influences” impacting the department.  No specific reasons were given as to why the agency is being investigated.  The committee will be chaired by Senate President Mary Felzkowski.  The group is mostly made up of Republicans, while two Democrats will also be involved. 

Eau Claire Transit will be offering free fares to school-age kids in the new year.  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 begins January 1st.

St. Mary’s Hospital in Madison is unveiling the top baby names of 2025.  Officials said the number one name for boys this year was Theodore, followed by Owen, Noah, Henry, and James.  For the girls, the top five names were Violet, Charlotte, Chloe, Emma, and Olivia.  Nearly 19-hundred babies were born at St. Mary’s this year, including 43 sets of twins.  The hospital also celebrated 367 babies graduating from the neonatal intensive care unit. 

All schools in the Platteville School District are closed today after a cyber swatting incident. In a social media post, the district said they made the decision out of an abundance of caution for the safety of students and staff. The district said law enforcement determined the threat was not credible. The School district said an online message that referenced a bomb threat as a form of extortion was sent to the district. School district officials said state and federal

The Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce is proud to serve as Wisconsin’s official State Partner for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s National Civics Bee®, a national initiative designed to strengthen civic understanding and inspire community engagement among middle school students throughout the state. CLICK HERE FOR MORE. The 2026 Wisconsin State Competition will take place May 9, 2026, at South Middle School in Eau Claire, bringing together the state’s top young civic thinkers for a live quiz-style event.