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House Democrats are taking aim at efforts to craft new voting laws in Republican-led states.  North Carolina Democrat G.K. Butterfield opened a hearing and said there’s no proof the laws are necessary. He accused Republicans of aiming to make voting inconvenient and said the new laws “disproportionately burden minority voters.”  Wisconsin Republican Bryan] brushed off Democratic concerns and said the new laws will help ensure voter confidence.  He accused Democrats of seeking a federal government takeover of state elections laws and systems.

Governor Tony Evers says flags will fly at half-staff from sunrise to sundown tomorrow to honor a Boscobel firefighter.  Joshua Fedie died on Memorial Day after contracting COVID-19 in the line of duty.  A celebration of life is being held for Fedie in Boscobel tomorrow.  He had been a firefighter for the Boscobel department for nine years and also served with the Prairie du Chien Department.

Local health departments cannot close private or religious schools for health emergencies.  The Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled four-to-three today in favor of five private schools that challenged a Dane County order to convert to virtual learning during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Dane County health officials say the ruling will make it much harder to prevent and contain future public health threats.  The High Court said the health department’s decision infringed on protected religious rights.

The average cost for regular gas is up four-cents-a-gallon statewide compared to a week ago.  Heading into the weekend Triple-A says the price at the pump in Wisconsin is two-dollars-and-92-cents a gallon.  The national average is three-oh-seven.  The lowest prices in the state are posted in Fond du Lac at two-2.74, while eight counties top three-dollars a gallon including Barron, Florence, Racine, Kenosha, Milwaukee, Iron, Vilas and Ozaukee.

Chippewa Falls police are patrolling traffic at the intersection of Seymour Gray Boulevard and Wissota Green Boulavard as they say some lanes are ripped up and dangerous for drivers.  They say the straight and southbound lanes from Wissota Green to Highway-178 are unable to be driven on in the busy intersection.  Construction crews are also trying to keep drivers out of the area with safety cones and construction signs.  Police are asking people to use the roundabout at Highway-178 and

A new special needs center will help Eau Claire’s students transition to adult life.  Some Eau Claire schools staff met yesterday to launch a new special education center in the East Ridge Center.  The new center will house the school’s GATEWAYS program for 18-to-21-year-old students with special needs.  It’s a transitional program to continue students education after graduation.  Student use is anticipated as early as this fall.

A live aerial arts performance is going on tonight in Eau Claire.  Sky Yoga and Fitness is hosting the event at the Phoenix Park Amphitheater along the Chippewa River.  More than 15-performances include aerial dance, aerial hammocks and silks, and hoops.  It starts at 7 p.m.

A national show has a local connection. An Augusta student will have her work displayed in Washington D.C. as part of a project. National History Day® (NHD), the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, and the Smithsonian Learning announce a new online showcase of 51 exhibits, researched by middle and high school students competing in the 2021 NHD National Contest. The virtual showcase premiers today, Tuesday, June 15, via the Smithsonian Learning Lab. Many of the NHD students whose projects

The former prosecutor who is representing Eau Claire County’s embattled district attorney is asking for patience. Former Dane County District Attorney Hal Harlowe yesterday said people shouldn’t ‘rush to judgment’ about D.A. Gary King. Harlowe also said they look forward to publicly commenting on the allegations against King. A number of former D.A. office workers say King was either drunk, or inappropriate, or belittling during their time at the office. Governor Evers this week appointed a special commissioner to look

The Chippewa County woman who admitted to stealing 40-thousand-dollars from her boss will not go to prison. A judge yesterday sentenced Karen Towberman, who is from Stanley, to five years of probation. She also has to pay back the money she stole from Dean and Associates in Eau Claire, write a letter of apology, and she can never work as a bookkeeper again. Towberman told police she was a single mom and needed the money to pay for groceries and