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 House Republicans are blocking an attempt by the House to pass the two-thousand dollar stimulus checks President Trump wants. Speaker Nancy Pelosi tried to pass an amendment doing just that today, but the unanimous consent request required the approval of the Republican caucus.  Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy did not give it.  Under House rules, the body was not able to consider the increase at this time. Virginia Representative Rob Whittman announced House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy’s decision on passing an

Black River Memorial Hospital is receiving Moderna’s coronavirus vaccine this week. In a news release, the hospital says the first doses will be given to some of its staff who are frontline healthcare workers. CEO Mary Beth White-Jacobs says they strongly encourage people continue with current health recommendations like wearing masks, social distancing, limiting gatherings, and washing hands until the vaccine is widely available.

Citizens are showing their appreciation for frontline workers. A group of residents and some city officials gathered yesterday at the Eau Claire Transit Transfer Center to thank essential workers driving the buses. The group held up signs and braved the winter weather that was settling in.

You may not know what to do with those old Christmas lights you’ve been waiting to throw out after the holiday. Eau Claire County Recycling says you can bring them to the courthouse until mid-January, and they’ll take care of it for you. They accept strands of holiday lights, electrical cords, appliance cords, and phone cords. They say the bin is outside the building, so you won’t have to go inside.

A Thanksgiving Day stabbing in Eau Claire is now a murder. Prosecutors yesterday upgraded the charges against Kelly Weiberg. Police say he got into a drunken fight with another man on Thanksgiving morning and stabbed him. Investigators say Weiberg remembers the fight but doesn’t remember anything else. Weiberg is due back in court after New Year’s.

Investigators in Eau Claire are looking for a man who they say is at the center of a 2018 overdose death. Police got a warrant yesterday for 55-year-old Roger Minck’s arrest. Court documents say Minck gave Toby Cleasby oxycodone pills just before his death. The documents also allege that Minck broke into his brother’s home and stole things. Eau Claire Police say anyone who knows anything about Minck’s whereabouts should contact them immediately.

Wisconsin’s coronavirus count is down. The state’s Department of Public Health yesterday reported another dip in the state’s seven-day positivity average. That average is now just barely above nine-percent. It was twice that at the beginning of November. DHS yesterday reported 69 new deaths. Wisconsin’s app to track the coronavirus is now live. The state launched the Wisconsin Exposure Notification app yesterday. Governor Evers says it’s the latest tool for the state to try and get a handle on the virus. The

If Wisconsin’s statewide mask order ends, Eau Claire could add an order of its own. Both city and county leaders say they will consider a local mask requirement if Wisconsin’s supreme court strikes down the governor’s mask order. Nothing is expected until next month at the earliest. Eau Claire’s public health managers say wearing a mask is the best way to protect people from the coronavirus.

Wisconsin is looking to test more people at the state’s assisted living homes for the coronavirus. The Department of Health Services yesterday said teams will be extending regular virus testing to community-based residential facilities and adult family homes across the state. DHS says people living in group homes and assisted care facilities are most at risk for the coronavirus.

A pair of lawmakers from the Green Bay area are trying, once again, to overturn the November election results. State Reps David Steffen and Jeff Mursau filed a lawsuit yesterday. They want the Vice President and Congress not to certify election results from states where the legislature has not signed-off on the final vote counts. That would include Wisconsin. Their suit says there is a ‘cabal’ of groups that are seeking to undermine state laws designed to protect elections.