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A homeless convicted sex offender is set to be released in Chippewa County.  Corrections officials say 24-year-old Austin Wooley will be released December 18th and has no permanent address.  He was convicted of two counts of third-degree sexual assault and will be supervised by the Department of Corrections for the next year. 

Republican legislators are continuing to work on a series of bills limiting the powers of incoming Governor Tony Evers and Attorney General Josh Kaul as part of a lame-duck session.  Neither chamber had passed all three of the controversial bills after working late into last night.  The bills would restrict early voting, limit the incoming governor and attorney general’s powers and address pre-existing health conditions.

The Chippewa Valley Free Clinic is now accepting patients.  The facility will serve low-income patients and has six exam rooms and three dental chairs.  The clinic purchased the property, then did extensive renovations.  It is located on Oak Ridge Drive behind Marshfield Clinic. 

Bolton Refuge House on South Farwell Street in Eau Claire is looking at expanding.  The facility is becoming too small to serve the needs of the emergency shelter.  The average length of a person’s stay is about 60 days.  

General Beverage in Chippewa Falls is being recognized for its energy-saving efforts.  The Focus on Energy company delivered a ceremonial check for 115-thousand-dollars to General Beverage.  The incentive from Focus on Energy will offset the cost of a large solar array recently installed at the Chippewa Falls facility. 

Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker says he wants to know why lawmakers in Madison are not talking about an incentive package for Kimberly Clark.  The governor yesterday told reporters that with all of the other items on the lame duck to-do list, there should be room for a deal.  Kimberly Clark has said for months that it will close two plants in the state if it doesn’t get an incentive package that could be worth as much as 70-million-dollars.  

A Clintonville man is facing prison time after being arrested on his seventh OWI charge.  A criminal complaint says 43-year-old Kent Hessing was going 40 miles-per-hour in a 25mile-per-hour zone recently and tested positive for being intoxicated.  Police say Hessing has six prior OWI convictions and that his vehicle registration expired last year. 

University of Wisconsin System employees could see a large annual pay increase if a new plan is approved.  The plan was released yesterday and would give thousands of employees a three percent raise for the fiscal 2020 and 2021 years if approved.  The Board of Regents will consider the new plan at its meeting on Thursday.  If approved there, it would also need to be approved by the Legislatures Joint Committee on Employment Relations and incoming Governor Tony Evers. 

The Dunn County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about a jury duty appearance scam. The office says people have been getting phone calls from someone claiming that there will be consequences if they fail to appear for jury duty.  Residents are being reminded that only the county clerk of courts will contact jurors and it will be by mail, email, or text. 

The La Crosse Skyrockers are holding a fundraiser at Myrick Park this weekend.  The annual Stuff the Mortars fundraiser will be an opportunity for people in the area to learn about fireworks safety and awareness and get to shoot off fireworks for a donation.  The group has been setting up fireworks displays around the region since the late 1920’s and will have its highlight New Year’s Eve show starting December 31st at 6:00 p.m.