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A significant flooding risk is being identified in the Eau Claire area.  The National Weather Service released flood outlook data for the Eau Claire area yesterday.  County Emergency Management says the Chippewa River in Eau Claire has about a 30 percent chance of exceeding flood stage.  A county-wide flood exercise will be held next week in preparation for a worst case event. But, as we are still shoveling, hauling, and dealing with the white stuff, winter weather is causing damage to

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers isn’t suing to to block the reforms that Republican lawmakers cemented back in December.  Instead, he’s simply not going to defend them in court.  Evers, and Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul, yesterday declined to fight a lawsuit filed by the Democratic Party of Wisconsin.  They say they have no duty to defend the laws.  The top Republicans in the state Assembly say the governor is colluding with his political allies to scuttle the reforms. 

Wisconsin Republicans are unveiling a package of bills to combat homelessness in the state.  State lawmakers gathered yesterday at Western Dairyland in Eau Claire to discuss eight bills that make up the A Hand and a Home: Foundations for Success plan.  One bill adds funding to a homeless prevention program to avoid evictions and another increases funding to the housing assistance program.  

Investigators are saying they’ve finally closed one of southeast Wisconsin’s oldest cold cases.  Prosecutors yesterday charged 78-year-old John Bayerl for the murder of his wife back in 1979.  Authorities in Florida arrested Bayerl, he’s being held there until he can be brought back to Wisconsin to face the charges.  Bayerl initially told police his wife left.  But, over the years, prosecutors say he admitted to abusing her, and alluded to the fact that she’s no longer alive. 

An Eau Claire church is offering free oil changes for those in need.  Valleybrook Church will be providing oil change services March 2nd.  Appointments are necessary and can be made by calling the church.     

Money from a holiday fundraiser is providing support to the members of Chippewa Falls Girl Scout Troop 3055.  Lasker Jewelers sold cardinal ornaments during the holidays, matching each donation 100 percent.  Three members and one parent of the troop were killed in November while participating in community service along County Highway P in Lake Hallie. 

Governor Tony Evers says his budget will include millions of dollars for women’s and children’s healthcare.  The ‘Healthy Women, Healthy Babies’ initiative announced today would expand the Well Woman Program and create an Infant Mortality Prevention Program.  The plan provides for cancer screenings, health exams and STI testing for women.  The cost of the governor’s proposal is about 28-million-dollars. 

A new report is painting Jake Patterson as still obsessed with Jayme Closs.  Radar Online has a copy of a letter that Patterson wrote from jail to someone who wrote him.  In the letter, he drew hearts around Closs’ name, and talked about how they cooked stuff together.  Patterson also said that he went from committing no crimes to doing the worst thing imaginable. 

A Blair man with over a dozen previous felony charges is in custody on suspicion of drug possession.  The Blair Police Department says 51-year-old Thomas Fuselier was arrested earlier this week after a traffic stop in Taylor.  Police say Fuselier tried to hide drug paraphernalia and refused to leave his car.  A K-9 later found meth, hydrocodone, and more drug paraphernalia inside.  Police say Fuselier had been in jail less than 24 hours earlier. 

Two more deer are being reported with chronic wasting disease in west central Wisconsin.  The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources says the two deer were harvested in Eau Claire County late last year.  They are the second and third deer with the deadly disease found in Eau Claire County.  Because of this, a three-year baiting and feeding ban in the county will be renewed.