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Police officers, firefighters, and anyone else who works along the side of the highway in Wisconsin could soon get some more protections. Lawmakers in Madison yesterday introduced a plan to increase the penalties for anyone caught speeding or driving recklessly past first responders. The proposal from state Rep. Katrina Shankland would also allow police to create a traffic zone, similar to a work zone, to slow down cars and make it safer for police officers and firefighters to do their jobs.

A man is in custody after police say he was found hiding in the closet of a home in Sparta.  Police say Kabian Coleman broke into the house on December 10th and yelled “ho ho ho” from behind a closet door when he was found.  Kabian later ran from the house but was found hiding in a nearby garage.  Police say Coleman admitted to using drugs.  He also reportedly told them he didn’t intend to hurt anyone and was just

Hope Gospel Mission is rolling out another welcome mat to the Chippewa Valley and would like to extend an invitation to the public to attend a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the new Hope Renewal Center for Women and Children on Frank Street in Eau Claire. This event will be held on Thursday, December 19, 10:00am- 12:30pm.   Hope Gospel Mission offers holistic programming to help those struggling with homelessness and addiction in western Wisconsin.

A Clark County daycare worker is facing 25 child abuse charges.  A criminal complaint claims Naomi Konieczny kept kids in a dark room and didn’t check on them for hours, among other claims.  Konieczny was charged last week.  She’s facing up to 140 years in prison.

A man is in custody and another man is on the loose after a shooting in Eau Claire.  A criminal complaint filed Friday says Antonio Wilson and Xavier Gentry were buying marijuana at a house on Clairemont Avenue on December 2nd when Gentry shot someone in the leg.  Wilson was arrested last week and charged with attempted robbery.  Gentry is facing the same charge but hasn’t been found.

The City of Eau Claire is looking for someone to buy the old Fire Station Number Ten.  The city says the building is worth about 365-thousand dollars and its open to any ideas.  Buyers can inquire about the building online or by contacting the city’s finance department.

The Salvation Army in La Crosse is changing the hours of its warming center next year.  If you were paging through The La Crosse Tribune, you likely saw the reports that the intake vestibule will be open from 10:00 p.m. until 7:30 a.m. when temperatures are below the 30-minute frostbite zone and when wind chills are between negative 20 and negative 48 degrees.  The gymnasium will also be open all day during extreme snow and when wind chills get below

The Wisconsin State Patrol is looking for some new recruits. The Department of Transportation, which oversees the Highway Patrol, last week said it is accepting applications. Troopers will be hosting an open house today at their headquarters in Eau Claire. Prospective troopers can be as young as 18, and the Highway Patrol does not require recruits to have a college degree when they apply.

It looks like the cookie sell-off challenge in Chippewa Falls came down to a plate or two. The Chippewa Falls Police Department out-sold the city’s fire department 576 dollars to 570 dollars to win the Cookies for a Cause challenge on Friday. The folks at Chippewa Manor Nursing and Rehab baked the cookies, and the departments sold them. All of the money will go to help the two departments provide better services.

The Packers are heading to the playoffs. Who they will play, and what they will be ranked remains to be seen. Green Bay guaranteed themselves a playoff spot yesterday by beating the Bears and seeing the Los Angeles Rams lose. The Packers could win the NFC North next Monday with a win against the Vikings. Green Bay could even secure a first round bye if the remaining two games fall just right.