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A fund is now available for small businesses feeling the impact of the COVID-19 crisis.  Governor Tony Evers announced today 75-million-dollars to help small businesses cover the cost of the interruption of business or for health and safety improvements, rent, salaries and other expenses.  Businesses can begin applying for the grants early next month.  The governor says more information about applying will be available later this month.

Health officials confirm 144 new COVID-19 cases in the state in the last day.  Six additional deaths are reported today.  In total nearly 12-thousand-700 people have tested positive in Wisconsin for the coronavirus.  The virus has killed 459 residents. In other case count updates, researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh say there is a connection between in-person voting and the spread of the coronavirus following the state’s primary election.  Research led by UW economists and colleagues at Ball State University reveals what they

Eau Claire County community leaders and organizations across the government, education and the private sectors have joined forces to create an economic recovery task force. The formation of the Chippewa Valley COVID-19 Economic Recovery Task Force is an effort to pull together resources, organizations and talent from across the Chippewa Valley to help us emerge from the crisis in an orderly, successful, safe and stronger position to support our local economy. Leading the task force are co-chairs Mark Faanes and

There will be less dust, but no less inspiration this year for a local favorite. For 12 years, Chalkfest has been a popular event in our area and beyond-drawing nearly 200 artists and thousands of visitors each summer, most recently to the UW-Eau Claire campus. But amid the pandemic, this years event will be drawn out differently…and virtually! Volume One announced a Chalkfest of a different color for 2020. CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS ON THE EVENT PLANS FOR 2020

The Department of Children and Families (DCF) was approved to begin a $51 million payment program to support Wisconsin’s early care and education community. The funding comes as part of the state’s federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) monies. The Child Care Counts: COVID-19 Emergency Payment Program is broken into three smaller programs targeted at the most common circumstances early care and education providers are facing in the wake of the public health emergency. The department

The Bowl for Kids Sake annual fundraiser is still happening, but it will work a little differently this year amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Northwestern Wisconsin said the fundraiser is responsible for at least one third of their annual budget. This year Bowl for Kids Sake 2.0 will be a four-week virtual event, and participants will complete a weekly activity and fundraising challenge to be entered into a raffle. Organizers said they’re still trying to work

Mayor Tim Kabat is declaring this week Public Works Week. The mayor over the weekend designated May 17th through 23rd as National Public Works Week sponsored by the American and Canadian Public Works associations. The mayor is urging all citizens to pay tribute to public works professionals and the contributions they make to protecting community health, safety, and quality of life.

 It will be just slots, and face masks will be required, when the Oneida casino reopens next week. Casino managers last week said they will reopen on May 26th, with limited games and other coronavirus safety precautions. About half of the casino’s workers will be coming back to work next week. They will all be screened before hitting the floor with guests.

The Wisconsin National Guard is keeping open-testing open for another week. Guard commanders on Friday said there will be at least a few more days of testing in Milwaukee and other sites across the state to start the week. More than 11-thousand people have been tested in Milwaukee alone. The Guard says the mission is to try and get a fuller picture of the coronavirus by testing as many people as they can.

There are two official goals in Wisconsin’s latest coronavirus battle plan. DHS on Friday filed the paperwork with the legislature to create rules for a new coronavirus emergency order. The goals are to ‘box in’ the virus and reopen the state’s economy ‘without undue risk.’ The legislature will have to approve the new rules before DHS can issue a new emergency order. It’s not looking like that will happen as a number of Republicans say they don’t like the scope that