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A state of emergency is in effect in Wisconsin.  Governor Tony Evers issued the order Monday as winter storm Beth rumbles across the state.  It’s already dumped several inches of snow and will be followed by extremely cold weather.  The governor’s order directs all state agencies to help any emergency response and recovery efforts and allows for the Wisconsin National Guard to be activated if necessary. Communities across Wisconsin are opening warming centers as temperatures plummet.  Wind chills are expected well below zero and officials warn

U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin wants federal workers affected by the government shutdown to receive full back pay plus any interest accrued.  Baldwin says today it’s only fair if the federal government can charge you interest for being late on your taxes, then it should be paying interest on late paychecks.  Baldwin says she’s calling on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to bring the “Back Pay Fairness Act” to the floor for the vote. 

A new addition to the local social scene is set to sink a hole soon. Skill Shot, a coffee & pinball lounge, will open on February 19.  The lounge, which is located at Artisan Forge Studios, (1106 Mondovi Rd) will offer hand-crafted coffee drinks, tea, craft beer, wine, healthy grab-and-go food, and a selection of pinball machines. Upon opening, the hours of Skill Shot will be from 7:00 am-7:00 pm Monday through Friday, and Saturday from 8:00 am-2:00 pm.

Most schools in the Chippewa Valley are closed today due to winter weather.  Several inches of snow fell across west central and northwest Wisconsin overnight and much of west central Wisconsin will still be under a winter storm warning until noon today.  A wind chill watch is also in effect while another one to three inches of snow is still possible.  Blowing and drifting snow is also a possibility.  The City of Eau Claire is announcing a snow event and alternate side parking rules

A person is dead and another is injured after a single-car crash in Polk County.  The county sheriff’s office says the driver of a mini van was northbound on Highway 63 early yesterday morning when it blew through a stop sign and hit some trees near the intersection of Highway 8.  The driver was pronounced dead at the scene and a passenger was taken to a hospital in the Twin Cities.  Neither of the victims have been identified. 

A Wisconsin Rapids teenager is dead after a crash over the weekend.  Police say a 19-year-old boy hit a utility pole in the 700 block of 17th Avenue South around 8:00 yesterday morning and was partially ejected from his car.  was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead later that evening.  Speed and alcohol are believed to have played a role in the crash. 

A farm in Fall Creek has heavy damage after an overnight fire.  The Eau Claire County Sheriff’s Office says the fire started late last night at a farm along Highway 20 and continued into the early morning and many people who were parked along the highway had to be moved.  There’s currently no word on injuries to people or animals. 

A wind chill watch is in effect for much of western Wisconsin.  Snow began last night and will continue today.  Dangerously cold wind chills as low as 55 degrees below zero are expected to cross the area through Wednesday.  Eau Claire has implemented snow parking rules through Wednesday evening. 

The Douglas County District Attorney says he doesn’t expect to file new charges against Jake Patterson in the Closs case.  The DA says the decision involved several factors, including “victim-related concerns.”  He says the office will continue to consider filing charges until the statute of limitations expires for any crimes committed in Douglas County. 

Fire officials say there were no injuries reported in a kitchen fire in Eau Claire.  Crews responded yesterday to an apartment on South Barstow Street across from the Lismore Hotel.  Crews found the source of the fire in the kitchen and quickly extinguished it.  The cause of the fire is under investigation.