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 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.

Friends Thomas Cook and Joseph Feeney shook hands in 1992, swearing if either one won the Powerball jackpot, they would split the winnings…no matter who bought the ticket. Tom, of Elk Mound, and Joe, of Menomonie, made good on that handshake when Tom realized a Powerball ticket he bought at Synergy Coop Exit 45 on 2100 County Rd. B in Menomonie for the June 10 drawing was the $22 Million jackpot winner. After learning of the win, Tom called Joe to tell him the

The housing market is making a comeback. After a huge hit in home sales in May, the Realtor’s Association of Northern Wisconsin says June sales were only down four-point-five-percent. May’s sales were down nearly 25-percent compared to last year. The association also says sales in Chippewa and Dunn counties increased from this time last year.

Oktoberfest is coming back to the Chippewa Valley. Celebrations were canceled this year because of concerns about coronavirus, but a local brewery is starting to make the “Oktoberfest” beer this week to give residents something to look forward to. Owner of Lazy Monk Brewing Theresa Frank said the brewery will make around 15-hundred gallons of beer in the next six-weeks, and they expect it to be out on the shelves by late August. 

Eau Claire County is adding another death to its coronavirus count. City-County health director Lieske Giese yesterday said a man who was over 65 and had underlying health conditions is the latest to die from the virus. Since March, Giese says 409 people in Eau Claire have tested positive for the coronavirus, and 346 have fully recovered. On the state level, Wisconsin has seen the largest number of negative coronavirus tests in a single day. The state’s Department of Health Services

Somebody is breaking into cars and mailboxes on Eau Claire’s south side. Eau Claire Police yesterday put out a warning after what they are calling a series of thefts overnight Tuesday into yesterday morning. The neighborhood north of Damon Street between Highway 93 and Oakwood Hills Parkway was hardest hit. Police are reminding people to lock their cars, and take anything of value inside.