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The man found with 67-pounds of cocaine in the back of a U-Haul in April of last year is heading to prison. A judge yesterday sentenced Samuel Serrano to nine years in prison. Investigators say the bust, which was made at the Menards distribution center, was the largest drug bust in Eau Claire County history. Serrano pleaded no contest to the charges.

Just about everyone who works for Eau Claire, except the sheriff’s office and 911, is taking an unpaid day off today. County supervisors last night approved a furlough plan that will essentially shutdown county government one day a month until the end of the year. Today is the first furlough day. Supervisor Colleen Bates says the furloughs will help the county overcome what is expected to be a million-dollar-plus deficit because of the coronavirus.

The VFW in Wisconsin says it is long-past-time for someone to clean-up the mess at the state’s veterans’ museum in Madison. VFW State Commander Jason Johns sent an open letter to state leaders demanding that they be allowed to clean-up after protests in late May turned violent. Johns says a group of volunteers has raised enough money to pay to remove graffiti from the museum’s building and restore what was damaged inside. But he said the Wisconsin Veterans Museum Foundation and the Wisconsin Department of Veterans

The University of Wisconsin Eau Claire yesterday announced it is offering a new major in public health. Dr. Karen Mumford says public health is not only top of mind these days, it is in demand. As part of the new major, students will be required to take classes in epidemiology, health policy, and environmental public health.

Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, and Racine all have mask mandates, and the rest of the state could soon have one as well. Governor Evers yesterday said he is considering a statewide mask mandate to counter the rising coronavirus numbers. The governor says he is still unsure of his options in light of the Wisconsin Supreme Court decision that struck down his safer at home order, but he said his office is monitoring the situation.

 A portion of the Republican presidential convention is canceled.  President Trump explained that with the coronavirus spiking in Florida, the timing is not right to hold a big convention.  Other events around the GOP nominating process will take place, but he’ll make an acceptance speech in a different form.  The President said he has a duty to protect the American people, even though his team assured him a convention could be held safely. On the other side of the isle,

Power companies in Wisconsin can’t shut off the power until at least September 1st. The state’s Public Service Commission yesterday extended the moratorium on utility disconnections. That was supposed to end this weekend, but the commission said too many people are still out of work or making less money because of the coronavirus. The commission says anyone who is behind on their power bill should make a payment plan immediately, and should see if they are eligible for state help to pay-down

The City of Bloomer has applied for funding through the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Safe Drinking Water Loan Program to address deficiencies in their public drinking water system. The project entails the replacement of lead service lines throughout the city.  The department has determined that the project will not result in significant adverse environmental effects and no further environmental review or analysis is needed before proceeding with funding the project, although public comments are welcome. Provide comments to Kevin

 For the second time in three days Wisconsin registers more than a thousand positive tests for the coronavirus.  The positivity rate as of this morning is seven-point-four-percent, which is over three points higher than yesterday.  The state also reported 13 more deaths from the virus and that toll has now reached 878.  Nearly 46-thousand people have been diagnosed with COVID-19 statewide.

There will be two start dates for fall sports in Wisconsin this year.  The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Board of Control met this morning to determine when fall sports will begin.  Sports like swimming, cross-country and golf are considered low-risk so they will begin on August 17th.  Higher risk sports such as soccer, football and volleyball will begin on September 7th.