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Black River Falls Man Facing Pornography Charges

By Morgan McCarthy | January 8, 2026

Child pornography charges are pending against a Black River Falls man.  Twenty-two-year-old Peyton Littlegeorge-Dietzler was arrested Wednesday after the execution of a search warrant on his residence.  Authorities are recommending a possession charges.

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Cause of Fire Under Investigation

By Morgan McCarthy | January 8, 2026

Investigators are working to determine the cause of a Wednesday morning fire in Viroqua.  Crews from multiple department responded to a burning South Center Street home just before 9 a.m.  No people were hurt, though a dog died as a result of the fire.

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Sparta Man Picks Up 7th OWI

By Morgan McCarthy | January 8, 2026

A Sparta man finds himself in a familiar position after being arrested this week for the seventh time on an OWI charge.  Jackson County Sheriff’s officers pulled 42-year-old Leroy Woodworth over Tuesday night after they say his driving showed signs of impairment.  Woodworth was arrested after being put through a field sobriety test.

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Warming Shelters, Ice Rinks Closed

By Morgan McCarthy | January 8, 2026

The City of Eau Claire is closing three warming shelters and their outdoor skating rinks.  Higher than usual temperatures are leading officials to close their Boyd, Roosevelt and Putnam warming shelters through Saturday.  As for the skating rinks, people are being asked to stay off of the ice for now so as to allow the rinks to recover quickly when the temperatures drop again.

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Millions Set for Hunger Relief Efforts Statewide

By Morgan McCarthy | January 7, 2026

State officials are awarding five-million-dollars to expand hunger relief efforts statewide.  Governor Evers says Hunger Task Force Incorporated and Feeding Wisconsin will each receive two-and-a-half-million-dollars.  The funds come from the state’s 2025-27 biennial budget.  The organizations will use the funding to buy food that will be distributed to people and families across the state at no cost.  Evers says the program will ensure access to healthy, nutritious food while supporting local farmers and food producers.

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Supporters Push For Interlock Changes at Capitol

By Morgan McCarthy | January 7, 2026

Safety advocates and drunk driving victims’ families are urging state lawmakers to strengthen Wisconsin’s ignition interlock device laws.  Supporters gathered at the Capitol as the Assembly Judiciary Committee is hearing arguments on the bill.  The legislation aims to prevent repeat drunk driving offenses.  It could legally allow offenders to drive soon, but only if an interlock device is installed to ensure sober driving.  Advocates say the bill would allow faster installation of the devices for repeat and first-time high blood

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WI Hospital Sets Baby Record

By Morgan McCarthy | January 7, 2026

A Madison-based hospital is celebrating a record year as its birthing center delivers more babies than ever before.  UnityPoint Health-Meriter reports 52-hundred-and-five births in 2025, an increase of 167 babies compared to 2024.  Hospital leaders say the total includes 112 multiple births.  They credit the milestone to the work of doctors, nurses, pediatricians, and the broader care team.  The hospital has been named a Top Hospital for Maternity Care by U.S. News and World Report for three straight years.

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Looking Local:  UW-Stout Industrial Design Students Combine Engineer-Thinking, Artistic Expression

By Morgan McCarthy | January 7, 2026

The warm, sweet, earthy smell of fresh sawdust, the roaring sound of bandsaws and ventilation hoses, and the shush-shush-shush rhythm of sandpaper on wood grain greet you as you walk down the long ramp tucked away on the first floor of the Applied Arts Building. Tie your hair back and put on your safety glasses, because you’re about to enter UW-Stout’s Process Lab. Each year, one thousand School of Art & Design students visit the Process Lab – a space for them

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Local Point-in-Time Homeless Count Begins January 28

By Morgan McCarthy | January 7, 2026

Staff and volunteers from local homeless shelters and community organizations will be conducting a biannual count of unsheltered individuals in Eau Claire, Buffalo, Trempealeau, and Jackson counties starting on Wednesday, January 28, 2026. Known nationally as the Point-In-Time Count, the activity is intended to provide a statistically reliable, unduplicated count of people experiencing homelessness during a designated period twice each year. The data collected during the count is included in the Annual Homelessness Assessment Report (AHAR) that is provided to

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Teen Pleads Not Guilty in Stabbing Incident

By Morgan McCarthy | January 7, 2026

A defendant charged following a stabbing incident in Lake Hallie is pleading not guilty.  Police responding to a 41st Avenue home on July 11th of last year found a man who was stabbed five times.  Eighteen-year-old Orestes Kouris of Eau Claire was later located near the Lake Hallie Golf Course and arrested.  Charges against Kouris include attempted 1st-degree intentional homicide.  He entered his plea on Tuesday and remains in custody at the Chippewa County Jail on a 300-thousand dollar bond.

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