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It’s community service and a fine for a former Eau Claire nurse charged with stealing drugs, including fentanyl. Prosecutors yesterday agreed to a plea deal with Kathryn Coffin who used to work at Marshfield Medical Center in Eau Claire. She pleaded guilty to misdemeanor theft charges and promised to stay drug free. Investigators say Coffin lied about prescribing over 126 doses of pain medication. She later tested positive for that same medication.

Wisconsin lawmakers are looking to have a say on Governor Evers’ latest coronavirus order. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos yesterday requested the state’s Department of Health Services to submit the governor’s order to the legislature’s rule-making committee. That committee could vote to gut the order, or kill it all together. A number of Republican lawmakers have demanded a full special session to vote down the governor’s mask mandate, and the new order that limits bars, restaurants, and most stores in the state

The legal fight over whether Governor Evers can “out” business across the state for having coronavirus cases will continue for another month. A judge in Waukesha yesterday extended his freeze on the governor’s proposal to name businesses that are connected to coronavirus cases until the end of November. Governor Evers says there is a public health need to let people know which businesses have seen workers or customers with positive tests.  Wisconsin’s business groups, including the NFIB and Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce,

The worst of the coronavirus looks to be in the rearview mirror at UW-Madison. The school yesterday said the number of positive tests at the school have dropped significantly since last month’s spikes. Over the past week, just 137 people have tested positive. UW-Madison’s Health Services director Jake Baggott said there are a number of reasons for the drop, including more testing, more safety protocols, and more mask wearing. UW-Madison is still not back to normal, students continue to have

The latest piece of Wisconsin’s coronavirus stimulus money is going to theaters, cultural centers, and stages. Governor Evers yesterday earmarked 25 million-dollars for arts, cultural, and entertainment centers across the state that have been hurt by the coronavirus outbreak. Fifteen million-dollars will go toward live music and performance venues. Ten million will go toward privately owned movie theaters in the state. And another ten million is being set aside for non-profit cultural venues. Live entertainment organizers across the state say they’ve

Increased COVID-19 hospitalizations in the Fox Valley are prompting state officials to open an alternate care facility at the Wisconsin State Fair Park.  Governor Tony Evers said today the hospital systems requested the additional capacity as coronavirus cases surge in the Badger State.  A month ago there were 289 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 in Wisconsin and today 853 patients are hospitalized.

A new Marquette Law School poll finds little change in presidential preferences following the first debate between Donald Trump and Joe Biden.  The poll of over 800 likely Wisconsin voters released today surveyed people between September 30th and October 4th.  It shows Biden is the choice of 46-percent of likely voters compared to Trump’s 41-percent.  Libertarian candidate Jo Jorgensen garnered four-percent support while eight-percent said they would not vote for any of the current candidates.

Cash will no longer be the currency used at Lambeau Field.  Officials say all of the atrium businesses as well as the restaurants, concessions and the ticket office are eliminating cash transactions.  The only exception is parking on game days at the stadium.  The organization says going cashless should make lines move faster and reduce contact between workers and fans.

Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin is getting out of jail on a one-million-dollar bond.  He was the officer seen in viral videos placing his knee on George Floyd’s neck.  Floyd’s death in police custody led to months of protests, cost Chauvin his job and led to his arrest on second-degree murder charges.  Chauvin was released from the Minnesota Correctional Facility a little before noon today.  His trial is scheduled to begin March 8th.  Meanwhile, Minneapolis officials are seeking public

The YMCA of the Chippewa Valley has received a $7,000 grant from the Response and Recovery Community Fund of the Eau Claire CommunityFoundation to support The STRONG Challenge – a free, 6-week community-wide wellness initiative for the entire Chippewa Valley. The STRONG Challenge will start on Monday, October 19 and last for six weeks. Participants will be challenged to be active for 20 minutes per day, five days a week, for six weeks. Each week there will be an additional