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The Mississippi Valley Conservancy is expanding its protection reach after receiving an anonymous donation of land adjacent to Perrot State Park.  The conservancy board says it made the decision to accept the donation because of its ecological significance and the land’s location in one of its priority areas.  The LaCrosse Tribune reports that the protected land’s status will remain intact regardless of future ownership. 

The La Crosse Center Board is approving both renovation and expansion concepts that were proposed last week.  Last night, the board was recommended to consider which concept it likes more but to put both options in front of the La Crosse Common Council to get more input.  The council is expected to review the concepts at its meeting in January. 

A hearing is meant to decide whether convicted killer and rapist Jeffrey Smith will get more freedom from supervision.  The hearing was held yesterday to determine if Smith is no longer a sexually violent person.  Currently, Smith can’t live in his home without some type of surveillance.  More testimony is taking place today and the trial is set to wrap up tomorrow.  Smith was convicted in 1987 for the killing and rape of Susan Fahrman. 

An Eau Claire woman is meeting with the court after being accused of stealing thousands of dollars from the Eau Claire County Humane Association.  Nicolle Wilson made an initial court appearance yesterday, charged with five felony counts that include theft and fraud against a financial institution.  Court documents say Wilson was the association’s bookkeeper from May to September of this year and tried to cash a check for 60-thousand dollars. 

A Minnesota man is accused of stealing thousands of dollars in goods from an Eau Claire gaming shop.  The theft of some of D20 Gaming’s most valuable Magic the Gathering cards happened in November 2015.  DNA evidence collected in another case and a witness statement led authorities to arrest Tyler Gehrmann recently for the burglary of D20.  He is charged with felony burglary and will make his first court appearance January 9th. 

Eau Claire’s State Street is set to undergo a major road project in 2019.  Early designs of the project would add roundabouts, bike lanes, and bigger sidewalks. The City Engineer says pedestrian safety was the driving force behind the plans. 

A set of controversial lame-duck proposals are in outgoing Governor Scott Walker’s hands.  Republican lawmakers pushed the sweeping bills through yesterday that would limit early voting and limit the powers of incoming Governor Tony Evers.  Walker recently indicated he would sign the proposals before he leaves office in early January.  He could also issue partial vetoes to at least two of the measures.  Democrats are considering litigation if the bills are signed.  Governor-elect Tony Evers says he wants to discuss

New numbers from the U.S. Census Bureau show that incomes across Wisconsin are generally up and the percentage of people in poverty and without insurance declined.  The numbers were released yesterday and also demonstrated a digital divide, where in many counties barely half of all households have a smartphone.  At least 30 percent of households in nine counties have no internet access. 

An art gallery in Eau Claire is hosting a weekly series featuring female writers from the Chippewa Valley.  The owners of 200 Main Gallery launched Women Writers on Wednesdays yesterday with its first author Cathy Sultan.  Sultan discussed her latest novel, Damascus Street.  Owners of the gallery hope to host the series at least once a month.    

A Salvation Army bell ringer is in custody after Madison police claim he stole the kettle he was collecting money in.  Police arrested 57-year-old Kemple Garrett Senior yesterday after someone reported he left his post at Woodman’s on Gammon Road with the kettle.  Police say Garrett claimed he was taking the kettle back to the Salvation Army, but an employee for the organization says protocol is for it to remain at the ringer’s location.