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The Eau Claire Fire Department was dispatched in the early morning hours for a report of a structure fire at 618 E Grand Ave. Upon arrival crews found a working fire in the first floor ceiling of a single family two-story structure. All occupants were able to evacuate. The fire extended to the second floor and into the attic. The fire is currently marked under control, while crews remain on scene performing salvage and overhaul operations. Cold weather and unique

A woman who stole a dog and sold it as part of a disagreement over a drug deal will not spend any more time behind bars.  A Chippewa County judge yesterday sentenced Ally Hembd to probation and community service.  She pleaded guilty in the case.  Police say she stole the dog because she thought she was ripped-off in a drug deal with the dog owner’s brother.  She sold the dog, but it was found and returned to the owner.

Republicans at the Wisconsin Capitol are once again talking about forcing the Wisconsin Elections Commission to act.  Members of the state’s rule-making committee on Tuesday said if the Elections Commission doesn’t approve new rules for ballot drop boxes, they will consider some kind of action.  That could be a lawsuit.  Republicans at the statehouse want the Elections Commission to finalize rules for drop boxes so they can vote them down.

It is the latest snapshot of just how far Wisconsin’s coronavirus hospitalization numbers have fallen.  The state’s Hospital Association yesterday said there are fewer than 300 people with the virus in intensive care units across the state.  There are about 14-hundred people hospitalized with the virus in all.  That number is down from a peak late last month of over 22-hundred.

Wisconsin tourist destinations are set to get millions of dollars in help from the state.  Today Governor Tony Evers announced the state’s investing nearly 22-million dollars into the Tourism Capital Investment Grant Program.  The money comes from the American Rescue Plan.  Groups are getting anywhere from 29-thousand to three-and-a-half-million dollars.   Here locally, the plans are flying! Chippewa Falls wants to use its new tourism grant on a new frisbee-golf course.  Chippewa Falls’ share is about 30-thousand-dollars.  The Chamber says it

The first Wisconsin National Guard troops are now working in hospitals in Green Bay.  Ten soldiers started as CNAs at Green Bay’s Odd Fellow Home this week.  They spent the past few weeks training.  Governor Tony Evers ordered the troops to get trained and head to hospitals and nursing homes across the state in order to help overwhelmed civilian workers.  In all, 200 Wisconsin National Guardsmen will be trained and sent to healthcare facilities across the state.

A judge is allowing the state’s largest immigrants rights group to join the case against Wisconsin’s election investigator.  Dane County Judge Rhonda Lanford yesterday said Voces de la Frontera Action of Milwaukee can join the lawsuit that is fighting subpoenas from former Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Mike Gableman.  Wisconsin’s attorney general is already fighting the subpoenas.  Voces said last month that Gableman is asking for too much information about the group and what it did ahead of the 2020 election.  Voces is accusing Gableman

Many of the people who don’t want to add a required class on financial literacy in Wisconsin high schools work in schools.  Lawmakers are considering a plan that would require classes on credit cards, checking accounts, loans, and debt for all high schoolers across the state.  But the state’s Department of Public Instruction is against the idea.  The plan’s sponsor, state Rep. Alex Dallman, says DPI and many school districts don’t like the idea of new required classes.  But Dallman says many

Tables on sidewalks and in parking lots across Madison may be here to stay.  The city council on Tuesday took the first step toward expanding Madison’s outdoor dining options.  The city allowed restaurants to place tables outside during the worst of the coronavirus restrictions, and many people loved them.  The new plan would allow 175 restaurants across Madison to continue seating people outside.  City council members are set to vote on the expansion in March.

Republican senators are ripping the Biden administration over the situation along the U.S.-Mexican border. Wisconsin’s Ron Johnson said the U.S. has no idea how many drug traffickers and gangs are coming in.  Wyoming’s John Barrasso argued the President doesn’t care that the border is a mess.  South Dakota’s John Thune called it the worst border crisis in U.S. history.  Texan John Cornyn called Biden “oblivious” to the crisis.  Florida’s Rick Scott said Biden has no real plan to secure the