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There is a good chance a lot of school kids in Wisconsin will be learning from home this fall. The state’s Department of Public Instruction yesterday released 87 pages of recommendations for reopening schools. The proposal starts with a warning that the coronavirus will be an issue for the next year to year-and–a-half, and the note that schools need to be ready for it. There are four recommendations for reopening schools: A four day week, two-days in the classroom and three days

There is no shortage of scams coming from the coronavirus outbreak. The latest warning comes from Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul about contact tracing scams. The state is trying to trace people who may have been exposed to the coronavirus, but Kaul warns that scammers are trying to take advantage of that. He says the most common scam involves asking for personal information, like a social security number, or financial information like bank account numbers. Kaul says if anyone asks you for

There are not a lot of details about Eau Claire County’s first coronavirus death. The county’s health director yesterday said someone who is over 65 and had underlying health conditions is the first person to die from the virus in the county. Since March, 163 people from Eau Claire County have tested positive for the virus. Most of them have fully recovered. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

Scratch one more thing off the summer to-do list in the Chippewa Valley. Organizers of OneFest, the Christian music festival at the Northern Wisconsin State Fairgrounds, canceled because of the coronavirus. OneFest was supposed to run from July 24th through the 26th. The hope is to try again next year.

We now have an update on a case involving human remains. Following last week’s arrest and charging of Randall Q. Merrick of Rochester, Minnesota in relation to the disappearance of Beth Johnson, remains were found in Blaine, Minnesota and identified as Beth Johnson. Randall Q. Merrick of Rochester Minnesota was charged with first degree intentional homicide, domestic abuse, and hiding a corpse.

 The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction is issuing guidelines for the safe return of students and staff to in-person classes.  The DPI released the guidelines today as part of the Education Forward program.  Officials say schools may have to reduce class size, or have students attend class in shifts and districts need to be ready to navigate a fluid situation that is dictated by the coronavirus.  The Education Committee in the State Assembly will discuss the reopening plan this week. CLICK HERE

The deadline for applying for the “We’re All In” small business grants is fast approaching.  Applications will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. tomorrow night.  The grant is designed to help small businesses get back on their feet during the coronavirus crisis.  The program will provide 25-hundred-dollar grants to 30-thousand Wisconsin small businesses and information is available on the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation website AND YOU CAN CLICK HERE TO GET MORE INFORMATION.

Chippewa County Department of Public Health continues to follow the COVID-19 situation as it develops. Below are updated cases counts and testing numbers.   Chippewa County Change Since 6/19/2020 Confirmed Cases 70 +4 Released from Isolation* 61 +1 Negative Test Results 4,164 +123 Deaths 0 +0 For more information, visit Chippewa County Public Health’s webpage or contact the Health Department at covid@co.chippewa.wi.us or 715-726-7900.

The Eau Claire City-County Health Department is confirming the first death of an Eau Claire County resident related to complications of COVID-19. As of today, Eau Claire County is reporting 161 confirmed cases of Covid-19. There will be a media breifing today at 3:30 and you can CLICK HERE for more information.

Pepin County farmers held a successful event this weekend. It might not have looked like breakfasts of the past, but the annual dairy promotion breakfast served around 2,400 people Saturday morning. The breakfast kit included milk, pancake mix, butter, sausage, and yogurt.  A spokesperson for the Dairy Promotion Council said the event helps locals learn about where their food comes from and gives them information about how dairy is processed and delivered to the store.