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Today is Juneteenth. If you are online you’ll likely notice that  Today’s Google Doodle is honoring Juneteenth.  The animation on the search engine’s homepage shows important chapters in American history, such as African Americans becoming landowners and getting the right to vote.  The musical doodle is accompanied by a reading of the poem “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” by poet James Weldon Johnson, read by actor LeVar Burton.  If you are just learning about the date you aren’t alone. We are

There will be no overseas trips for students at UW Eau Claire this year. The university yesterday canceled all of its study abroad programs for 2020. The school says there are still too many worries about the coronavirus. About 450 students will miss-out on an opportunity. UW Eau Claire hopes to restart its study abroad program next year.

Expect some guidance from the state after the weekend about sending your kids back to school this fall. The state’s Department of Public Instruction is set to release its recommendations for restarting the school year on Monday. Public schools in Wisconsin have been online-only since March because of the coronavirus. Governor Evers and his administration have been silent about restarting them. Local school leaders need to know not only how to open safely, but when they can reopen and how many days

There may be a new look to high school sports across Wisconsin this fall. The WIAA, the folks who run high school sports in the state, yesterday released its Reopen School Sports report. The biggest recommendation is to ask coaches to wear face masks and allow players to wear them if they want. The WIAA is also recommending more hand sanitizer and cleaning of the balls in various sports. In the college arena, the Badger faithful are going to have to wait

The Fourth of July weekend starts Monday for the Wisconsin State Patrol. Troopers will be out in force between Monday and July 5th for the state’s annual Click-It or Ticket campaign. State Patrol Superintendent Anthony Burrell says troopers will be looking to make sure people are safe on the highways and interstates. That means wear your seat belt, slow down, stay off the phone, and never drink and drive.

As we continue to manage the addition of positive coronavirus cases locally while safely reopening Chippewa has announced some changes. Chippewa County buildings will be unlocked and open for the public. Visitors are still encouraged to call ahead to schedule appointments or use the drop box located outside of Door #1. However, it is not required for most departments. There are departments that will have additional requirements. FOR MORE INFORMATION AND DEPARTMENT SPECIFICS, CLICK HERE

The Department of Workforce Development says today the state’s unemployment rate dipped to 12-percent in May. That’s down from 13-point-six-percent in April.  There were over 24-thousand first-time applications filed in the state for the week ending June 13th.  That is about 16-hundred more new claims compared to the week prior but the overall unemployment rate is down because of the number of people returning to work.

Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul is encouraging Congress to build on today’s Supreme Court decision to protect the DACA program.  The program was created by President Barack Obama and protects about 700-thousand young undocumented immigrants who live and work in the United States.  Kaul says the high court ruling allows for a more equitable, inclusive and just immigration system which will be life-altering for hundreds of thousands of Dreamers.

A virtual Juneteenth observance and dedication of the new River Prairie bike racks will take place in Cinder City. This event will feature presentations from Altoona Mayor Brendan Pratt, Altoona Police Chief Kelly Bakken, Uniting Bridges President Dr. Selika Ducksworth-Lawton, Altoona High School Principal Jim Reif, and Chippewa Valley LGBTQ+ CommunityCenter President Breana Stanley. Juneteenth events will take place throughout the day on Friday (beginning at 9AM) and will be available to the public virtually through ZOOM. Attendees may register

The Chippewa Valley Museum in Eau Claire’s Carson Park will be holding a Virtual Fourth of July Celebration this year rather than its traditional Fun Fair. The Chippewa Valley Museum and next door Paul Bunyan Logging Camp Museum will be closed on the 4th  of July.   The Chippewa Valley Museum will use Zoom Meeting, Facebook Live, and YouTube for its first Virtual Fourth of July. Plans also include sending video out during the day through Facebook and Instagram. Schedule of activities:  12:00 Mayor Barron’s 4th of July proclamation, 1918, read