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As we head towards Father’s Day, mental health experts say it’s important to recognize that postpartum depression is not just for women.  A study published in the medical journal “Pediatrics” shows depression among new dads increased 68-percent during the first five years of their children’s lives. The peak is between three and six months and is caused by hormonal fluctuations, sleep deprivation and anxiety over new responsibilities.  Experts say men can combat postpartum depression by bonding early with their newborns

A local company is heading up a new project- Eau Claire-born and Minneapolis-based Jamf is partnering with global nonprofit MATTER on a compact classroom.  The “Innovation Pod” uses the inside of a shipping container to create a mobile education center packed with technology.  The first pod will be placed in Haiti.

Hang to your cherry bombs! The Eau Claire Police Department is stepping up patrols for the use of illegal fireworks in the weeks ahead of Independence Day.  Very few fireworks are legal in the city limits.  Last year, officers handled nearly 160 fireworks complaints in the two weeks before and two weeks after the Fourth…which we are creeping up on fast.

Today is Flag Day.  A quick history lesson so you can sound like a smarty pants today: The idea of setting aside a day to celebrate the American flag was suggested in 1885 by Wisconsin school teacher B.J. Cigrand.  He wanted June 14th to be that date because the Stars and Stripes were adopted as the official design of the U.S. flag on June 14th of 1777. The idea grew in popularity until in 1916 when President Woodrow Wilson released

We’ll start with the feathered birds…A new eagle viewing area in La Crosse is officially open for use. The viewing area opened yesterday for visitors and is an idea first brought up more than a decade ago.  The viewing area is located along the north side of Highway 53 at what local officials call “The Gateway to La Crosse.”

If you had to navigate around some road closures yesterday,  it was because The EC Police Department was investigating a suspicious object found at the intersection of Hastings Way and Highland Avenue, but we know those that there is no threat. Those two roads were closed yesterday while police investigated the situation and later determined that the object was safe and reopened the roads.

A Holcombe man charged with killing another man in Rusk County is facing additional charges.  Preston Kraft appeared in Chippewa County court yesterday on charges that include second-degree recklessly endangering safety. He is also charged in Rusk County with homicide in connection with the death of Robert Pettit, who was found shot in the head. Kraft was captured and charged in May, after a five-day search.

The public is getting a peek at the new Osseo Rural Fire Station after an open house.  The event was held yesterday to show off the 17-thousand square-foot facility. Features of the building include the ability for vehicles to drive through into the stalls, an added food pantry, and new offices and dispatch capabilities.  The cost of building the facility was just over two million dollars.

Eau Claire City Council president Kerry Kincaid is stepping down. Kincaid announced her immediate resignation at last night’s council meeting, and she has served as council president since 2009, and has been on the council since 2004.  She didn’t give any further reason for her resignation.

Geoffery the Giraffe is really sticking out his neck for sales…as these are the final days of Toys R Us and the chain is marking down prices even further. Retail analysts say prices on most items at Toys R Us are lower than competitors-and if you get a deal-rush…In some cases, they’re even as low as Black Friday doorbuster deals.