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Wisconsin’s finances just got a billion-dollars better. The state’s Legislative Fiscal Bureau yesterday released a new report that predicts Wisconsin will have an extra billion-dollars at the end of this current budget. Better than expected tax returns and a flood of federal money are driving the increase. Lawmakers who craft the state budget say the extra money will help shield Wisconsin from the economic downturn that other states are seeing because of the coronavirus.

A new CDC study says schools are essentially safe to reopen.  The study reports schools operating in-person have seen “scant transmission of the coronavirus,” especially when practicing social distancing and wearing masks.  The reports added, however, that some indoor athletics have led to infections and should be curtailed for now.  There has been a growing chorus of parent groups nationwide pushing for schools to open their doors.

The number of newly confirmed coronavirus cases today is 13-hundred and-one.  There have been 535-thousand total cases in the state since the beginning of the pandemic.  There were 54 additional deaths reported today, raising the death toll to five-thousand-753.  More than 336-thousand Wisconsinites have been vaccinated against COVID-19. CLICK HERE FOR MORE FROM WI DHS. On the global stage, the numbers continue to climb. There are now more than 100-million coronavirus cases around the world.  Johns Hopkins University says the U.S.

The next groups to receive the COVID-19 vaccine will include all staff in education and child care as well as medical and long-term care.  The Wisconsin Department of Health Services announced numerous groups today that will qualify to receive the vaccine beginning March 1st.  Officials say 911 operators, utility and communications workers, public transit employees, those involved in the food supply as well as retail workers and non-frontline healthcare workers are also eligible.  More information is available on the Wisconsin DHS website.

University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire faculty and student research will be part of an International Holocaust Remembrance Day on Wednesday, Jan. 27. The event at 6 p.m., “Finding Matilda: Uncovering the Life & Death of a Jewish Lithuanian Poet,” is hosted by the Vilna Shul, Boston’s Center for Jewish Culture. The event will include a panel discussion of a 20-minute documentary film about little-known Lithuanian Holocaust victim Matilda Olkin. Dr. Harry Jol, UW-Eau Claire professor of geography, is part of the

Communicable disease, mental health, and other hot topics will be on thevirtual coffee table in February when Chippewa Valley health partners ask the public to pick their top health priorities. A series of online Community Conversations will allow residents of Chippewa and Eau Claire counties to weigh in on key health issues from home, work, or any other convenient location due to the pandemic. COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS Eau Claire County  Tuesday, Feb. 9, 12- 1:30 PM Tuesday, Feb. 9, 6-7:30 PM Wednesday,

Northwest Park is packed and tracked for snow skiers to hit the trails this winter. The Eau Claire Parks, Recreation, and Forestry Department says Carson Park is packed, but there’s still not enough snow to lay any tracks down. The city is grooming several parks to make way for snow ski trails. 

Police say a drunk driver hit a light pole and knocked out power to the streetlights on the northeast side of downtown sometime around midnight Monday. Eau Claire police say the person was found to be well over the legal limit. They were charged with operating while intoxicated.

A new report ranks Wisconsin eighth out of 50-states with the fewest coronavirus pandemic restrictions. The Wallet Hub Survey compares states based on face mask requirements, workplace temperature screenings, open businesses, and more. Neighbor Iowa ranks third on the list and Oklahoma is number-one. According to the survey, California is the state with the most COVID-19 restrictions. 

Someone who bought a lotto ticket way up north is a big winner. The Wisconsin Lottery yesterday said someone bought a million-dollar winning Powerball ticket for last Saturday’s drawing at a Kwik Trip in Superior. The million-dollar winner is one of 15 to come from Saturday’s drawing.