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Put your flags up and pay attention! The U.S. Postal Service wants to raise the price of stamps to 55 cents. The jump would be one of the biggest in history.  The USPS board of governors is also proposing higher rates on shipping and other services to help offset falling revenues.

A homeowner in Calumet County is lucky to be alive after a house was leveled by an explosion.  The owner was not home at the time of the blast around 8:00 this morning in the Town of Harrison.  There were reports of people hearing the explosion in surrounding communities and in some areas, houses shook and windows were shattered.  Two women injured in nearby homes are reportedly recovering and the investigation into the cause continues.

A flood warning is in effect for the Big Rib River at Rib Falls in Marathon County.  The National Weather Service in Green Bay issued the warning this morning as the river’s water level rose to just six inches below flood stage.  People with property along the river are being advised to prepare for the impact of flooding.   Areas downstream should also prepare for excess water. 

October is National Bullying Prevention Month and Wisconsin officials remind people there are state laws against bullying.  There are also resources for victims.  The state recognized a Bullying Awareness Day late last month and there are multiple websites to access bullying prevention resources.  The Wisconsin Safe and Healthy Schools Center has a series of webinars available addressing bullying among adolescents.  Additional information is available at StopBullying.gov.

The decision is back and a jury says that Jesse Lloyd is not guilty of first degree intentional homicide in the death of Kenneth Patterson.  Lloyd was found guilty of armed robbery and being a felon in possession of a firearm The Chippewa County jury entered its verdict yesterday after the case went for deliberations earlier that in the day.

An Eau Claire woman charged in connection with four crash deaths will be out on a signature bond.  Cara Stevens appeared in court yesterday and was officially charged with homicide by negligent operation of a vehicle.  The crash happened in May 2017 just east of Cornell, where a criminal complaint says she was traveling north on G and was going 60 miles an hour when she collided with a truck going west on 64. 

We have visitors coming our way. Vice President Mike Pence will soon be in the Eau Claire area campaigning for Governor Walker.  Walker and Pence will begin their stops in Green Bay at the Oneida Country Club. The pair will then travel to Precision Pipeline north of Eau Claire to deliver remarks.

The Wisconsin Science Festival is hoping to attract Madison’s weekend crowd.  The event is in its eighth year and opens tomorrow (Thursday), where 275 events will be held statewide including Capitol Square and State Street.  Many of the interactive events move downtown Friday night for Science on the Square.  Friday’s offerings include an overview of the cheese making process and an introduction to rock climbing and the physics behind it.

Governor Walker is ordering the U.S. and Wisconsin flags to be flown at half-staff this Saturday.  The governor says Saturday concludes Fire Prevention Week in Wisconsin and lowering flags will honor Wisconsin Firefighters Memorial Day.

We now know names of those involved in a deadly crash near Medford. It was on Monday that a crash occurred on CTH M at Knuth Road in TAYLOR County. A car driven by Edwin Emstrom was traveling westbound on County Highway M when it deviated and went left of center and struck an eastbound vehicle driven by Crystal Schaeffer, head-on. Both drivers were transported by Ambulance. Emstrom was pronounced deceased at the hospital. Schaeffer was treated for non-life threatening