Home

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.

The University of Wisconsin System is taking the biggest hit in the first round of state spending cuts. Governor Tony Evers yesterday said the UW System will see 40-million-dollars less this year. In all, Evers wants 70-million in budget cuts. While the 40-million is the largest cut in the state, it is a small part of the UW System’s six-point-three billion-dollar annual budget.

Health Department officials say there are over 500 new COVID-19 patients and eleven COVID deaths recorded over the last 24 hours.  The state has received over ten-thousand test results in each of the last two days.  The number of total coronavirus cases in the state is nearing 17-thousand, with a death toll of 550. Here in Eau Claire, there have been 5 cases added since yesterday, bringing the total to 109.

The 2020 Wisconsin State Fair is canceled.  Organizers announced today that concern about operating such a big event in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic prompted the decision.  It is the first time in 75 years that the fair has been cancelled.

Governor Tony Evers says he’s happy to see the Wisconsin Election Commission acting to protect the health and safety of voters.  The commission voted to send absentee ballot applications to around two-point-seven-million registered voters.  The motion was approved unanimously yesterday.  In-person voting in the state primary caused a rancorous debate about the safety of the polling places during a health crisis like COVID-19.

The Dunn County Solid Waste and Recycling Division is opening collection sites June 1st.  Sites in Connorsville, Downsville, Ridgeland, and Rock Creek are open seven days a week. The Clean Sweep event to collect hazardous waste was also cancelled because of project costs. Officials said hazardous waste can be disposed in Polk or St. Croix counties.