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The number of babies being born in Wisconsin is declining.  According to data from the Department of Health Services, just shy of 65-thousand babies were born in 2017, the lowest since 1973.  A demographer at the University of Wisconsin-Madison says a drop in teen pregnancy is partially responsible for the decline.  He says less than four percent of total births in the state were teen births. 

Wisconsin’s lieutenant governor says Republicans in Madison are violating ‘the will of the people’ by saying ‘No’ to Governor Evers’ new budget.  Mandela Barnes was in Wausau last week to talk about the governor’s proposed state budget.  He says Republicans are living in their own little bubble if they think that can stop the ideas included in the spending plan.  The budget would raise taxes by a billion-dollars over the next two years, and spend six billion more on everything

Local activists are helping community members get involved in the state budget process.  The first of a series of half-day workshops to be held throughout the state took place in Middleton.  Organizers say the workshops are designed to help people learn how the budget process works and how to contact lawmakers with concerns. 

A student-led production in Eau Claire is raising awareness about human trafficking in the area.  Traffick was written, directed, and produced by Memorial High School Documentary Theatre students.  The students held three performances over the weekend at the Haas Fine Arts Center on the UW-Eau Claire campus.  All proceeds from the performances will go to Fierce Freedom, an organization that educates the community about spotting and stopping human trafficking.

The biennial U.S. Championship Cheese Contest is about to begin.  Volunteers spent last Thursday at the WOW Logistics warehouse among 100-million pounds of aging cheese as a backdrop, and unpacked, labeled, and repacked a record over-25-hundred entries for the contest.  The event begins tomorrow in the atrium of Lambeau Field. 

A special annual event is celebrating Native American culture in Eau Claire.  The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire hosted its Education Pow-Wow Saturday in Mcphee Center.  The event included dance performances and a feast, and was a way to bridge the past with 21st century Native American people.  The celebration was presented by the Office of Multicultural Affairs.

The Chippewa Valley Area Singers Involved In Neighborhood Giving, or CVASing, is once again raising money for an area food bank.  The group held two concerts yesterday at Trinity Lutheran Church in Eau Claire.  Both events together raised about six-thousand dollars for Feed My People food bank.

An annual event is offering kids the chance to experience a medieval adventure.  The Eighth Annual Royal Tea Party happened yesterday at the Children’s Museum of Eau Claire.  Children attending were able to dress as princes, princesses, knights, and dragons while participating in hands-on learning activities.  The event included a catapult contest, creating your own castle, and making princess hats.  Kids could also get their hair done at the Castle of Curls and get their face painted before enjoying a

The 40th annual RV show is over for the year in Eau Claire.  The event wrapped up yesterday after its first year at the Chippewa Valley Expo Center.  The show featured over 50 RVs from four different local dealers and was free to attend.  Organizers believe between two and three thousand people attended throughout the event.  

Area cities and villages are working to reduce climate change-causing carbon emissions.  Fitchburg, Marshall, Middleton, Monona, Stoughton, Sun Prairie and Waunakee are partnering with research firm Seventhwave.  This Madison-based energy consulting firm will help develop energy plans for each city to help reduce their carbon footprint.  The firm is being funded by a 200-thousand-dollar grant from the state Office of Energy Innovation.