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The Eau Claire Fire Department responded to a report of a fire in a residence at 1320 Altoona Ave. on Thursday, May 28th. On Arrival fire crews found light smoke coming from the siding and rear porch of a two-story residence. Crews were able to quickly extinguish the fire. Damage is estimated to be $15,000. The fire remains under investigation.

The Chippewa County Sheriff’s office is commenting on the recent death of George Floyd. Floyd was arrested and pinned to the ground with the arresting officer’s knee on his neck this week, causing him to pass out and soon after, die. In the three days since, riot-like protests have destroyed buildings and businesses in Minneapolis. Chippewa County Sheriff James Kowlaczyk said what happened to Floyd was not typical protocol that law enforcement should follow and that officers train repeatedly to

A man is sentenced to one year in jail after his seventh drunk driving offense. A Chippewa County judge sentenced 54-year-old Mark Hoel Wednesday after he was arrested in June 2018 for driving with a point-two-one-seven blood alcohol level. Hoel will pay nearly 25-hundred dollars in fines and complete 300-hours of community service. Hoel also served a year in jail in 2011 for a similar offense. 

A Jackson County jail inmate is dead. According to the sheriff’s office the 44-year-old was found unresponsive in the jail yesterday and staff attempted life saving measures before he was pronounced dead at the hospital. Officials said after an autopsy and review of camera footage, the man did not die from foul play or criminal actions. 

A woman is dead after a crash in Rusk County. The sheriff’s office said two people were hit by a vehicle driven by a 16-year-old. It happened Tuesday night near Mae West Road. All three people were taken to the hospital, and the woman hit later died. Police said charges are still pending investigation. 

Demonstrators have been out in force across the country, protesting the death of George Floyd during an arrest earlier this week by Minneapolis police.  A third night of unrest in that city saw a police station set on fire along with an unknown number of other buildings.  Elsewhere, hundreds of protesters took to the streets of Phoenix, Arizona last night marching from City Hall to the state Capitol.  Black Lives Matter activists were on hand in New York’s Times Square

The number of people who test negative for the coronavirus in Wisconsin continues to surpass the number of people who test positive. The latest numbers from the state’s Department of Public Health yesterday showed a one-day negative test count of 10-thousand-144. By comparison, DHS says 512 people tested positive. The 10 thousand-plus negative tests is a single day record for Wisconsin. The state’s positive-test-rate is a little under five percent.

It’s not a walk across the stage or a toss of the hat, but the Class of 2020 at Eau Claire North did celebrate. The school hosted an online graduation last night. Students and parents watched the graduation ceremony from home. There will be another online graduation for Eau Claire Memorial tonight.

Some catholics in the Chippewa Valley will be back in church this Sunday. The Diocese of La Crosse this week told churches across western Wisconsin that they can reopen this weekend. No one is being forced to reopen. Congregations will be limited to 25 percent capacity and there will be no song books or prayer cards. There will be communion, but everyone is being asked to wear masks and gloves.

The list of cancellations because of the coronavirus is growing. SpringFest organizers yesterday became the latest to pull the plug. Managers say there was no way to hold SpringFest in Chippewa Falls and keep social distancing guidelines in place. The hope is to return next year.