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A Fallen Officer Remembered

By Morgan McCarthy | March 10, 2026

Our small community was shaken 35 years ago by the loss of an officer. Now, current Fairchild Chief of Police, Chad Halverson is reflecting on the 35th anniversary of losing Chief McCready during a barricaded suspect in a domestic disturbance and you can read his message below: As a young police officer, I was introduced to Fairchild Police Chief Pat McCready by a Kevlar vest pierced by a bullet that was passed around at training. The events of 35 years

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Officials Seeking Public’s Help in Search for Missing Woman

By Morgan McCarthy | March 10, 2026

Kimberly Schmidt was last seen leaving her residence in the City of Delavan, WI the morning of 03/07/2026. Later that day, she was traveled through Litchfield, MN. She has not been seen or heard from since, and her destination or current whereabouts are unknown. She was last known to be operating her red 2010 Toyota Corolla with Wisconsin Registration BAF9040. She has family in Montana; however, they have not had contact with her, and are not expecting her arrival. She

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Trial Continues in La Crosse County Murder

By Morgan McCarthy | March 10, 2026

The trial of Zachary Fritz continues in La Crosse County.  Fritz is accused of killing his wife in June 2024 and claims he was mentally ill at the time.  Jurors yesterday heard testimony from the defendant’s parents, describing his history, mental health and substance abuse struggles. 

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Former Library Director Sentenced

By Morgan McCarthy | March 10, 2026

Sentencing is being ordered for former Altoona Library director Arin Wilken.  Wilken was arrested in March of 2024 on charges of sexually assaulting a child but pleaded guilty to a lesser charge earlier this year.  He has been sentenced to one year in prison and five years of probation.

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Chippewa Falls Man to Appear in Court Facing Child Pornography Charges

By Morgan McCarthy | March 10, 2026

A Chippewa Falls man is facing charges with authorities saying they found him to be in possession of child sex abuse material.  Allen Laszinski has been charged with possession of child pornography and possession of virtual child pornography.  Laszinski is scheduled to appear in court today.

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Discrimination Lawsuit Dismissed

By Morgan McCarthy | March 10, 2026

A discrimination lawsuit filed against UW-Eau Claire chancellor James Schmidt has been dismissed.  The federal suit, filed by former UW-Eau Claire vice chancellor of equity, diversity, and inclusion and student affairs Olga Diaz, alleged that Schmidt fired her for supporting someone else’s discrimination claim.  The Western Wisconsin U.S. District Court tossed out the suit on the grounds of sovereign immunity.

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Oh, Ladies….

By Morgan McCarthy | March 10, 2026

Wisconsin women are living in a great state for strong opportunities.  That’s according to a recent study by finance website WalletHub, which ranked the best and worst states for women.  The research looked at more than two dozen indicators of women’s living standards, including median incomes, health care, and more.  Wisconsin ranked 12th overall in the country, and received a top-ten ranking in the economic and social well-being category.   Massachusetts was ranked 1st overall. CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS.

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WI Supreme Court Justice Not Seeking Reelection

By Morgan McCarthy | March 9, 2026

Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Annette Ziegler is no longer running for reelection in 2027. Justice Ziegler was first elected in 2007 and reelected in 2017. She said she looks forward to finishing out the rest of her term on the court and “handing the baton to a new justice in 2027.” Ziegler previously worked as a senior judge in Washington County and the District III deputy chief judge. She plans to step away from the high court bench to spend

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Chippewa Co. ATV Crash Under Investigation

By Morgan McCarthy | March 9, 2026

The Chippewa County Sheriff’s Office received a report of an ATV crash with injuries. The preliminary investigation shows that the ATV was traveling on 188th ST operated by a 64 year old male with two juvenile males as passengers. The operator lost control of the ATV resulting in the ATV rolling over in the roadway. The 64 year old male was flown to Mayo hospital with serious injuries. One of the juveniles was transported by ground ambulance with non-life threatening

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Looking Local: UW-River Falls to Host SciTech Grand Opening Celebration

By Morgan McCarthy | March 9, 2026

 The University of Wisconsin-River Falls invites the community to tour the new Science and Technology Innovation Center (SciTech) at a Grand Opening Celebration March 31 from 4 to 6 p.m. SciTech is located on the UWRF campus at 262 E. Cascade Ave. SciTech opened to students on Jan. 26 for the first day of spring semester classes. In addition to cutting-edge technology, the new building offers collaborative work and study spaces. Karl Peterson, dean of the College of Arts and

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