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State agencies across Wisconsin need to tighten their budget belts.  Governor Tony Evers today directed agencies to find 250-million-dollars in savings in the next fiscal year.  The COVID-19 crisis has crushed government budgets.  The governor says he is hopeful the federal government will adopt proposals to stabilize funding for state and local services, but the reality is the state has to take steps to make significant cuts.

At its Monday meeting, the Eau Claire Area School District Board of Education approved an instructional model for the 2020-21 school year. The model aligns with the Eau Claire City-County Health Department’s Respond Together Eau Claire. That plan includes seven steps, designated as Safer at Home and Steps A through F, based on the risks posed by COVID-19 in our community. The district’s newly approved instructional delivery model outlines how teachers and staff will approach teaching and learning based on

Some roads are closed in Cadott this morning while road crews clean up after storms. Police Sergeant Daryl Pries said there’s several trees in the road around Highway-27 that they’re trying to clear out. There were also reports of downed power lines and leaning trees, posing a danger to people around them. Pries said police will also move door to door this morning to check on residents and offer help from the Red Cross. 

A second person is dead from coronavirus in Barron County. The Barron County Public Health Department said the person was in their 70s with preexisting health conditions. The health department has confirmed 76-cases of COVID-19 in the county to date. 

A judge rules a Chippewa Falls man isn’t competent to stand trial after his eighth O-W-I. Court records show Timothy Gould was arrested last July. The judge suspended the case until November.

A new affordable housing complex is coming to Menomonie. The city council voted on the Eastover Terrace Development near Menomonie Middle School last night. Concerned residents claimed the new development will pose a danger to students and parents getting to school and cause too much traffic. Local developer Bill Albright said they’re trying to help the community and meet the area’s affordable housing need. The project will include town homes, 12-and-8-plexes, and some single-family homes. 

Today’s the deadline to register for a mail in absentee ballot request for the August Partisan Primary election. Eau Claire voters can still vote absentee next week in a drive-through voting event at Eau Claire City Hall. Eau Claire City Clerk Carrie Riepl said by tomorrow, those who aren’t registered will still be able to register-in person at the clerk’s office or at the polls on election day. She said you don’t need a car to visit the drive-through, residents

Western Wisconsin’s tornado count from the latest night of storms is already at one confirmed, and that number will likely grow. Chippewa County’s sheriff last night confirmed that a tornado touched down in Cadott. There are no reports of any injuries, but there are plenty of reports of damage. There are also reports of funnel clouds or possible tornadoes in other communities across western Wisconsin.

Wisconsin is reporting the largest number of positive coronavirus tests ever, even as the state’s positive-test-rate is falling. The state’s Department of Health Services yesterday reported one-thousand-117 positive tests and over 13 thousand negative tests. That positive test number is a new record, the negative test number is almost a record. Despite the 11 hundred positive tests, Wisconsin’s positive-test-rate actually fell yesterday to just about seven percent. Eau Claire’s city-county health department is hiring. The health department yesterday said it needs people

The back-to-school plan in Eau Claire could change. In fact, Eau Claire’s superintendent says it will likely change. Superintendent Michael Johnson says chances are the two-day school week plan for most kids in Eau Claire will change because the coronavirus situation will change. School leaders approved their short-week back-to-school plan yesterday. Most kids will be in class two days a week, and learn from home the other three.