Governor Tony Evers says he’s ready to activate the National Guard to protect state property. The governor today says the damage assessment is underway at the Capitol and the Tommy Thompson Center following last night’s protests which turned violent. Evers says it’s important to remember the protests started in order to demonstrate against racism and structural inequality and the work must continue to reconcile those issues. But, not all approve of the way Evers has handled the protests. Congressman Tim
Read MoreThe Eau Claire City-County Health Department is alerting the public of potential COVID-19 exposure at two Eau Claire County establishments. Anyone who was at these establishments on the given days and times AND are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 should contact their provider to get tested. Both establishments are cooperating with the public health investigations and are following best practices for disease prevention. This alert is being released in light of new information that members of the public may have been
Read MoreA man is charged with possession of child pornography in Barron County Court. A criminal complaint says Kevin Blomberg was charged yesterday after he was found with hundreds of videos and photos. Police said Blomberg claimed to be high on meth when he was downloading the images. A cash bond was set at 15-hundred dollars.
Read MoreA couple accused of defrauding Wisconsin’s Medicaid program are on probation. A Chippewa County judge sentenced Terrance Lade and Tonia Nye Monday for medical assistance fraud. Nye pretended to be Lade’s caregiver and pleaded guilty to misdemeanor theft. Lade was given two years of probation, Nye was given one.
Read MoreThe local Boys and Girls Clubs are responding to racial inequality with more leadership training. The Boys and Girls Clubs of the Greater Chippewa Valley pledged to hold race training for staff, evaluate internal hiring processes, and push programming to support equity work. C-E-O Ann Kaiser said the company is listening and looking.
Read MoreThe Chippewa Valley Museum is collecting quarantine diaries. The Dear Diary Program asked residents to record quarantine experiences and document them for prosperity. Diaries can be dropped off at the museum or emailed to the museum archivist Jodi Kiffmeyer.
Read MoreWisconsin’s Capitol is now on the list of places where protesters have torn down statues. An angry crowd ripped down two statues last night, the Forward Statue and a statue of Hans Christian Heg who was a Union war hero and an abolitionist. The crowd is also being accused of attacking a state lawmaker who took a picture of the destruction. State Senator Tim Carpenter said on Twitter that the protesters punched him, then kicked him while on the ground.
Read MoreAs people get out and enjoy the summer, they are expanding their social circles, and that is making it tough to track the coronavirus in Wisconsin. Department of Health Services secretary, Andrea Palm, yesterday said people are gathering in larger groups as they get back out and enjoy their summer. Palm said that makes it tough for DHS to track everyone who may have come into contact with someone who’s tested positive for the virus. Palm yesterday said the latest numbers
Read MoreRestaurants in downtown Eau Claire and along Water Street will have an easier time adding seats outside. The city yesterday said it is willing to cut down on the permitting process that restaurants usually have to abide by. The move is designed to give restaurants more seats and more options as they look to recover from the coronavirus shutdown.
Read MoreEau Claire County’s former treasurer, Larry Lokken and his assistant Kay Onarheim, could be looking at five more years in prison. The two have until July 21st to repay one-point-three million-dollars that they stole from taxpayers. Lokken has paid only 18 thousand-dollars, Onarheim has paid over 73 thousand-dollars. Her attorneys are going to ask for a break, given that she’s paid back much more than Lokken.
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