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Plans to re-open St. Joseph’s Hospital in Chippewa Falls are moving forward and ahead of schedule.  The Chippewa Valley Health Cooperative agreed to purchase the old facility in March, and had 90 days afterward to decide if they wanted to move forward with the purchase.  The co-op members say they will, and have moved the timeline to open the facility in August.  The space will be a temporary location until the co-op opens a state of the art hospital in

A man will spend 17 years in prison for sexually assaulting a woman on an Oregon, Wisconsin, bike path.  Richard Cunningham Jr. pleaded guilty to a second-degree sexual assault charge in March as part of a plea deal.  The victim told police he tackled and assaulted her in 2023, and that he may have been smoking at the time.  Investigators were able to use a cigarette butt left at the scene to connect Cunningham to the crime.  One his sentence

Wisconsin’s Joint Finance Committee is releasing nine-million-dollars for a state-run literacy coaching program.  The funding is part of a 50-million-dollar package that was approved in 2023, however, it was delayed.  A recent Supreme Court ruling has cleared the way for its release.  Remaining funds will return to the general fund if not approved by Monday.

The Wisconsin Historical Foundation has reached its fundraising goal to build a new History Center in Madison with a recent twelve-million-dollar gift.  The community fundraising campaign was completed yesterday evening, and the state has also contributed more than 112-million.  Construction has been underway for the new building since April.  The center is expected to bring in about 20-thousand visitors annually when it opens in late 2027.

If you lace up for daily walks, make a date to hit the gym, or practice at the pickleball courts then you know healthy habits can help you manage stress and get through life.  For this week’s Friday Feel Good we hear from a woman who not only continues to remain active into triple digits, but also works out the details for how to live a long and happy life. A New York woman named Jerry Leo is still crushing it

The suspect charged in an officer-involved shooting in Eau Claire will go on trial in September.  Thomas Burback has pled not guilty to four charges, including intentionally pointing a gun at law enforcement.  The 54-year-old was shot by an Eau Claire officer on May 25, 2024 when the officer was responding to a disturbance call. 

Two Eau Claire men are in custody and facing charges of sexually assaulting a child.  Police say they arrested 54-year-old James Barbey and his neighbor, 82-year-old Robert Karstensen.  They say the two are accused of sexually assaulting several victims over the course of multiple years.  Karstensen is held on a million-dollar cash bond, and Barbey’s bond is 250 thousand dollars cash.  Both have preliminary hearings July 8th.

Wisconsin has won a lawsuit over the Trump administration’s efforts to block electric vehicle funding.  Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul was part of a multi-state coalition challenging the administration’s attempt to withhold funding from the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program.  In an executive order President Trump had directed the Federal Highway Administration not to distribute the funds.  Kaul says the case concerns tens of millions of dollars in funding that hasn’t been allowed to enter Wisconsin to support electric

“We’ve seen firsthand how effective retailer compliance can be—especially last  year, when there were no sales to minors. This year’s uptick is a reminder that consistent  education and vigilance are essential.”  -Grace VanDerhei, Drug Free Communities Project  Coordinator Recent tobacco compliance checks conducted by the  Chippewa County Department of Public Health (CCDPH) reveal a concerning increase in tobacco  and nicotine product sales to minors in 2025. These findings mark a reversal from the prior year,  when Chippewa County reported zero

Welcome to Hoofbeat – “Wild Wild Wisco!” Since the inception in 1987, this gathering has been the heart and soul of summer fun for country music lovers. Celebrated as the largest 3-Day Country Music & Camping Event in the US, our festival has been a summer staple, drawing fans back year after year. Get ready for three action-packed days of boot-stompin’ music, finger-lickin’ food, and barn loads of interactive exhibits. With over 7,500 campsites all within walking distance from the