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When it comes to a summer staple, so far the Fair is still planning to take over the Northern Wisconsin State Fair Grounds…With some modifications. The Northern Wisconsin State Fairgrounds is monitoring the COVID 19 situation and continues to prepare and plan for the 123rd edition of the Northern Wisconsin State Fair (NWSF).  Officials offer this message as they plan to move forward: At this time, we cannot foresee what the COVID 19 situation will be in July and we are

Weekly jobless claims numbers are out and they’re still in the millions.  The Labor Department says four-point-four million Americans filed first-time claims for unemployment benefits last week.  That’s pretty much right in line with what analysts were expecting and is down from the previous week’s more than six-and-a-half million new claims. 

Domestic violence reports are rising amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The Family Support Center in Eau Claire says nationally, rates of domestic violence are expected to increase because of recent shelter in place orders. A spokesperson for the center says the current circumstances are keeping people home with their abusers, adding a layer of people who feel they must stay in unsafe situations. Those who work in the center know that it can be challenging for people who need help to

Chippewa Falls Oktoberfest is cancelled this year. The Chippewa Partners Board yesterday decided to postpone the event due to the impacts of COVID-19. Organizers said it’s likely large gatherings will be reintroduced slowly, so it isn’t possible to keep moving forward with planning for the 2020 event. The 18th Annual Oktoberfest is rescheduled to September 17th and 18th in 2021. 

A local bridal store is asking for nominations to give away bridal gowns to engaged healthcare professionals. The Wedding Tree in La Crosse has an online form to nominate an engaged and currently working healthcare professional in the Coulee Region. Nominations are accepted until April 30th, and the winner will be announced May 10th by noon.  CLICK HERE TO UNVEIL THE DETAILS

Single track trails at Lowes Creek County Park are opening tomorrow. The Eau Claire County Parks and Forest Department says the trails will reopen after the spring thaw, effective April 24th. The department is asking residents to limit trail use on days when it’s raining or recently rained.

The Barron County Sheriff’s Department is teaming up with other local officials to create a COVID-19 response team. Officials say the team plans for coronavirus response in Barron County. Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald said in a letter that the team is asking for the community to cooperate with a plan to safely reopen Barron County and its businesses. He says right now, there have been no issues in the community with compliance. The response team includes healthcare partners, public health officials,

Public health investigators are looking at nursing homes and meat packing plants as Wisconsin’s coronavirus numbers continue to grow. The state’s Department of Health Services yesterday reported 225 new coronavirus cases and four new deaths. Many of those new cases are in Brown County and could be tied or a meat packing plant there. The new cases yesterday are a jump as cases had been trending down over the past week. Still, here in our backyard we are not adding to

The suspect in a stabbing in Eau Claire is due back in court next week. Prosecutors yesterday filed formal charges against 30-year-old Taylor Simpson. Police say she stabbed a man outside the America’s Best Value Inn on West Clairemont earlier this month. Police arrested her on Monday. There is still no official motive for the crime.

Wisconsin’s temporary hospital at State Fair Park is sitting empty. N one of the 600 beds that were added as an insurance policy against the coronavirus have been used and most of the people tapped to staff the hospital are sitting idle. Still, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett says there is no reason to close it down. The mayor says it’s better to have the empty hospital and not need it, than need it and not have it. FEMA paid 24-million-dollars