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Wisconsinites receiving unemployment benefits amid the COVID-19 pandemic are getting an extra 600-dollars. The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development yesterday began paying an additional 600-dollar unemployment benefit to people out of work. The department says this is a temporary benefit ending the last payable week in Wisconsin, July 25th. 

Low flying planes will start flying over Western Wisconsin this May. The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture is spraying for gypsy moths. The department announced Monday spraying will happen in 18-counties including Chippewa, Dunn, and Trempealeau. The department says spraying is dependent on weather conditions and when caterpillars hatch. Officials said the spray is not toxic to people, bees, pets, or other animals.

The Chippewa County Public Health Director says there aren’t enough supplies to provide COVID-19 tests to all community members any more. Director Angela Weideman yesterday at the county’s weekly COVID-19 meeting said the department is aware of people who are symptomatic and haven’t been able to get a test, and those people are being asked to just stay home. Weideman said there’s a need for increased testing despite a decrease of positive cases in recent weeks. 

Eau Claire County’s coronavirus count continues to tick-up slightly. The city-county health department yesterday reported two new cases of the virus. That brings Eau Claire County’s total to 29 cases so far. The health department says 20 of those people have recovered. Meanwhile, as we look at the larger scope, long term care facilities in Wisconsin are the state’s biggest hot spots for the coronavirus. The state’s Department of Health Services yesterday offered a look at where it has traced viral outbreaks

Some students at UW Eau Claire will get a bump from the school’s new grading system. The university yesterday said it is allowing students to be graded on a pass/fail basis. The grades will actually be listed as satisfactory or unsatisfactory. Anyone with a C or better will get a satisfactory grade. A C-minus or below earns someone an unsatisfactory mark. The new grades will not impact a student’s GPA.

Western Wisconsin’s congressman wants family farmers to get some of the Paycheck Protection Program money for small businesses. The way the law is written, farmers are shut out of the program. Congressman Ron Kind wrote a letter to the Small Business Administration yesterday asking the agency to level the playing field. Kind says the SBA can work with the USDA to make sure small farms use PPP dollars as they are supposed to be used. Kind says farmers in Wisconsin, and across

It’s shaping-up to be a low-key summer. The Altoona Lions Club yesterday pulled the plug on this year’s Cinder City Days. The Lions Club says they are canceling the celebration to protect the safety of visitors and volunteers. Cinder Days were supposed to fire up in June.

Confirmed cases of COVID-19 now exceed 65-hundred in Wisconsin.  Officials today say there are 65-hundred-and-20 cases of coronavirus statewide.  Eight deaths have been reported in the last 24 hours pushing the total number of deaths to 308.  The COVID-19 crisis could mean a loss of as much as two-billion-dollars for the state of Wisconsin.  Governor Tony Evers has ordered a five-percent reduction in spending for the rest of this fiscal year.  Republican leaders are calling for spending to be frozen beginning with

Based on current safety recommendations and restrictions affecting several scheduled performers, the Chippewa Valley Council, Boy Scouts of America recently announced the 2020 Chippewa Valley Air Show, scheduled for June 13 & 14, has been canceled. The air show was set to feature the U.S. Navy Blue Angels, along witha wide variety of other performers and static displays. FOR TICKET AND REFUND INFORMATION CLICK HERE

Recent rain runoff in the upper Chippewa River watershed is likely to result in increased levels on the Chippewa River in Eau Claire.At 6 a.m. the Chippewa River gauge at Grand Avenue read just under 762 feet, which is 11 feet below the flood stage reading of 773 feet. The current crest projection is 765 feet on Saturday. As that happens, the following safety measures can be expected along the lowest lying areas of the Chippewa River Trail. For the