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An Eau Claire man is scheduled to be arraigned next month for a murder charge.  Shane Helmbrecht was in court for a motion hearing on Wednesday.  According to online court records, the court is standing on its previous finding that the 53-year-old is competent to proceed.  No new competency examination was ordered. Helmbrecht is charged with intentional homicide for the shooting and killing of his neighbor Jenn Ward in 2016.  He was found incompetent to stand trial and ordered to

The Wisconsin Attorney General’s Office is urging the state Supreme Court to deny an appeal review from Steven Avery.  AG officials filed a legal brief yesterday making the recommendation as attorneys for Avery request a new trial.  The Attorney General argues that there is no issue within the law related to the case that the Supreme Court needs to address.  Avery is serving a life sentence in connection with the 2005 murder of freelance photographer Teresa Halbach.  The case received

Officials in La Crosse County say they are making progress with their Pathways Home plan.  The five-year initiative is focused on getting homeless families into permanent housing.  One-hundred families have now been placed into homes a little over a year into the effort, according to project leader Jim Drees.  He says the housing has come from a variety of sources including city public units and privately owned rentals.

Lawmakers in Madison are considering a measure that would make buying a gun safe in the state a little more affordable.  The safes would be sales and use tax-exempt under Senate Bill 12.  Republican state Senator Van Wanggard has introduced the legislation with support from several other senate members, including a handful of Democrats.  The bill will be reviewed in a public hearing before officials decide whether to move it through the legislature.

On the morning of February 13, 2025, the Village of Hammond Police Department, in collaboration with the St. Paul Police Department, conducted a coordinated operation to locate and apprehend Antonio Thelen of St. Paul, Minnesota. Thelen was wanted in connection with a violent incident that occurred in the early hours of January 30, 2024. On that date, Thelen was involved in an altercation with patrons at Ras’s on Main, a local establishment in the Village of Hammond. After leaving the

Two Wisconsin-based companies are ranked among the best large employers of 2025. Forbes says results of the Best Large Employers list are based on responses from employees about compensation, opportunities for advancement, and workplace well-being. La Crosse-based Kwik Trip ranked fifth in the nation in the retail and wholesale sector. Janesville-based Blain’s Farm and Fleet was the second-highest ranking Wisconsin company at 23rd.

A group of Wisconsin students are going to Washington DC for a national city planning competition. This year’s challenge for students competing in the Future City Competition is designing a floating city. A group of Waukesha STEM students are advancing to nationals and will be in the US Capitol to compete this weekend after beating out almost 50 other Wisconsin teams.

On Saturday, Judge Susan Crawford will meet with voters across Western Wisconsin as she campaigns for the Wisconsin Supreme Court. The Wisconsin Supreme Court race will be on the Spring election ballot on April 1, 2025. More information about Judge Crawford is available online at www.CrawfordForWI.com. WHAT: Meet and Greets & Canvas Kickoffs with Judge Susan Crawford WHEN: Saturday, February 15th TIME:

The March for Meals campaign through the Aging and Disability Resource Center in Eau Claire County is raising money for the Meals on Wheels program.  The campaign provides an opportunity for groups, businesses and people to support Eau Claire seniors who aren’t able to grocery shop or those who aren’t physically able to cook for themselves.  Donations that come in for March for Meals directly go to the costs of producing meals.  CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO.

Aspirus Health is expanding in the Chippewa Valley.  The Wausau based health system recently received a conditional use permit to build a hospital in Chippewa Falls. Aspirus is planning to build it along Highway 29.  The next step is to finalize the land purchase agreement and get approval from the full city council, which is expected to happen in a few weeks. The new hospital comes after two others closed in the Chippewa Valley last year. CLICK HERE FOR MORE