Home

Judging by some of the questions about Governor Tony Evers’ Safer at Home order, the Wisconsin Supreme Court may be looking to strike it down. Justice Rebecca Bradley yesterday asked the governor’s lawyers if the governor’s order to keep people at home and keep businesses closed isn’t the ‘definition of tyranny.’ Lawmakers are asking the Supreme Court to end the order before the governor’s deadline of May 26th. They say he doesn’t have the power to unilaterally keep it in place. Here

The two suspects in March’s deadly home invasion in Eau Claire likely aren’t getting out of jail anytime soon. A judge yesterday ordered Juan Olivarez and Joe Moya’s bond to stay at a million-dollars a piece. The two are charged with killing Edwin Garcia-Smith during a robbery attempt on March 20th.

While more people in Wisconsin continue to come down with the coronavirus, the number of people hospitalized because of it remains low. The latest numbers from the state’s Department of Health Services show 307 people are in the hospital because of the virus. Of them, 92 people are in the ICU. DHS’s numbers show that almost half of the people who’ve tested positive for the virus are now recovered.

The nerves over nailing a parallel park won’t keep some teenagers awake at night. First-time drivers in Wisconsin will not have to take the state’s driving test in order to get their license. The DMV yesterday suspended driving tests for teenagers because of the coronavirus. DMV Administrator Kristina Boardman says DMV offices are essentially shut down because of the coronavirus, and more than 10-thousand teens have been waiting to take their driving tests to get their licenses. Boardman says almost 98-percent of

School kids in Eau Claire will keep learning from home through the summer. Eau Claire’s school district yesterday said it makes sense to shift summer learning programs online. Testing director Jim Schmitt says no one knows how long the state’s Safer at Home order will last. He says Eau Claire schools are doing their best to get as much content online as they can.

Wisconsin Supreme Court justices will issue a ruling following oral arguments heard regarding the governor’s extension of the  Safer At Home  order.  The court heard arguments today about whether the order is unconstitutional and if state agencies have the power to issue such an order.  Opponents to the extension call the order tyrannical while supporters say lifting the order without replacing it with another plan will cost lives. 

Hospitals will have to meet three new criteria before the state can begin reopening.  The Department of Health Services announced today before Wisconsin can dial back Safer at Home restrictions three new guidelines must be met.  One requires 95-percent of hospitals to treat patients without crisis care, meaning when under-staffed or under-supplied.  Hospitals must also arrange testing for all clinical staff showing symptoms of COVID-19.  And third, the state can’t reopen until officials see a one-week downward trend in coronavirus cases among

Local public health departments in the Western Wisconsin region haverequested assistance from the Wisconsin National Guard to scale up COVID-19 testing and now we know where some of our local sites will be. The National Guard will be providing drive-through COVID-19 nasal swab testing. Chippewa County is partnering with neighboring counties to host two community COVID-19 testing events. Clark, Taylor, and Chippewa CountiesLocation: Thorp High SchoolAddress: 605 S Clark St, Thorp, WI 54771Date: May 13, 2020Time: 11 AM – 7

After an extensive nationwide search, the Board of Directors ofFeed My People Food Bank, Eau Claire announced today that Nancy Renkes has been named as the new Executive Director. Renkes takes over for Emily Moore who is retiring at the end of themonth after serving since 2004. Renkes comes to Feed My People with over 20 years of non-profit experience. Her most recent position was Vice President & Chief Partnerships Officer at River Bend Foodbank in Davenport, Iowa.

The Wisconsin Department of Tourism released a report showing $22.2 billion in total visitor spending and $13.6 billion in direct spending in 2019,showing a statewide increase of 3.02% from the previous year. The announcement comes as Wisconsin’s tourism industry celebrates this year’s National Travel &Tourism Week (May 3-9) and plans for an economic bounce back when public health authorities determine it is safe to do so. The City of Clear Water saw a clear boost as well. In Eau Claire