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The lawyers of two men accused of shooting and killing an Eau Claire man in March are asking for more time to review evidence. Court records show Joe Moya and Juan Olivarez appeared in court yesterday. Their lawyers said they have binders of evidence yet to examine, as well as several flash drives and about 100-CD’s.  Another hearing is set for August 10th. Moya and Olivarez are charged for killing Edwin Garcia-Smith.

Micon Cinemas is closing again while the movie industry struggles with the COVID-19 pandemic. Talking with Connie from Micon, she said the theater is closing their downtown cinema because of Hollywood inactivity – nobody can make any movies, so nobody can see any new movies, either. A sign posted to the door at the downtown location says, “We’ll be back.” 

Chippewa County’s sheriff is looking at a propane tank as the cause of an explosion that killed two people. The house near the Chippewa-Eau Claire County line exploded yesterday morning. Two people, a man and a woman, died from the blast. Sheriff Jim Kowalczyk says no one is sure just what caused the explosion, but investigators are looking at the propane tank. The sheriff says he will identify the two victims later today.

Wisconsin’s coronavirus numbers are inching up. The state’s Department of Health Services yesterday reported just under five thousand tests. Last week that number was well over 12 thousand. Of the people tested, DHS says 484 tested positive. DHS also reported more people in the hospital, 254 people are now being treated in the hospital. That’s up ten from Sunday’s coronavirus count.

There is a desperate search for a missing ten-year-old from Baraboo. The Wisconsin State Patrol issued an AMBER Alert for Kodie Dutcher. She’s been missing since yesterday afternoon. Authorities say she may be suicidal. Her pictures is above, you are asked to contact authorities if you have any information about her whereabouts. Baraboo Police Department at (608) 963-5622.

Sheboygan Police are naming the officer who shot and killed an armed man last week. Police say Officer Bryan Pray, who is black, shot and killed Kevin Ruffin Jr., who is also black, when Ruffin refused to drop two knives. Investigators say Officer Pray tried less-than-lethal options first, but shot Ruffin when those failed. The state’s Department of Justice is reviewing the shooting.

Kids in Eau Claire schools will be ready for distance learning if it comes to that this fall. The city’s school board last night agreed to spend nearly two million-dollars to get elementary school kids iPads, and to get junior high and high school students laptops. The district’s Abby Johnson says the idea has been in the works for a while, but the coronavirus outbreak pushed the idea to the forefront.

There is going to be a conversation about Eau Claire’s police department and systemic racism. City Council member Emily Berge said she wants to talk about how people in the community see the police department, Eau Claire’s schools, and the city itself. Berge says she’s been flooded with emails about systemic racism since George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis. There will be no votes today, but the public is invited to the work session at city hall at 4 p.m. CLICK

Incoming students at the University of Wisconsin will have new rules for sexual assault and sexual harassment cases this fall. Governor Tony Evers last month quietly agreed to new rules that bring the UW System into line with the Trump Administration’s expectations. Evers last month made a big deal about rejecting the first draft of the rules. The Trump Administration wants to institute new protections for students, most young men, who are accused of assault or harassment. The changes come after a

The Brewers shortened schedule is heavy on key games that fans would have loved to see in-person. The team released its 2020 schedule yesterday. Milwaukee opens against the Chicago Cubs on July 24th. The Brewers play their home opener a week later against the Cardinals. The 60-game schedule also features games against the Reds, the White Sox, the Royals, the Twins and the Pirates.