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Current Black River Falls Police Chief Kelly Bakken is being offered the Altoona Police Chief position.  The city says Bakken’s employment will not be official until she passes a background check and a physical and agrees to terms of employment.  Bakken would take over for former police Chief Jesse James who was recently elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly.   

All the tickets to The Voice runner-up Chris Kroeze’s upcoming concerts in Eau Claire are sold out.  The Barron native has three performances scheduled at the Pablo Center at the Confluence, one on March 29th and two on March 30th.  The Pablo Center says all the tickets to the three shows that went on sale yesterday morning were sold out by the afternoon.  Kroeze also has a new album that will debut later this year. 

Anti-smoking advocates in Madison want to raise the age to buy a pack of cigarettes in Wisconsin.  The American Lung Association yesterday released its latest report card on the state.  Wisconsin got an F when it comes to the age to buy tobacco.  Opponents, however, say 18-year-olds are adults, and should be treated as such. 

The white peace flag seems to be waving…Temperatures are improving as the polar vortex recedes from western Wisconsin and we begin to thaw out and get back to life… Eau Claire businesses were affected as well as those that stayed open saw serious dips in revenue while many shut down.  At least 100 businesses or public facilities across the Chippewa Valley closed or changed their hours during the dangerous cold snap.  The bitter cold is impacting furnaces and pipes in Eau

An objection is being filed in a Chippewa County lawsuit against Gordy’s Market.  Gordy’s filed the objection Wednesday.  The multi-million dollar lawsuit accuses Gordy’s of violating a customer supply agreement. 

Governor Tony Evers’ Transportation Secretary is signaling possible increases in the gas tax or vehicle fees to help pay for roads.  Craig Thompson said yesterday that more money is needed for transportation and that the best sources of funding would be higher gas taxes or vehicle fees.  Thompson says a 2014 amendment to the state Constitution guarantees those fund would be used for transportation. 

A new boutique is offering free wigs and other comfort items for Eau Claire-area cancer patients.  The boutique is located in HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital and carries hand-knitted scarves and hats, blankets, wigs, and other products designed to make the treatment process for cancer patients more comfortable.  The store is open to all cancer patients, regardless of where they are being treated.  

The bone-chilling cold continues as clear skies and light wind dropped temperatures to minus 26 degrees in Madison AND NEAR RECORD lows here in our area. This morning’s temperature broke a record set in 1985 of minus 22 degrees.  The temperature will not climb above zero today, but will poke into the upper teens tomorrow before pushing into the mid-40s early next week. 

Four Subway restaurants in the Wausau area are paying out thousands of dollars in penalties for violating child labor laws.  The restaurants are operated by Shadowlake Enterprises which has agreed to update its scheduling system to control hours for their employees under the age of 16.  The U.S. Department of Labor said this week the four Subways allowed over 50 employees ages 14 and 15 to work more hours than allowed and to operate baking ovens, which are both labor

Senator Ron Johnson says the presence of the United States in Syria is crucial to maintaining stability for millions of Syrians who have been allies of the U.S.   Johnson said today the four million Kurds and Christians that have been doing most of the fighting against ISIS need the support of the United States.  That includes intelligence and perhaps air support to help root out pockets of sleeper cells.  Johnson says he hopes the administration bases its Syrian policy on