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The fate of an elementary school in the School District of the Menomonie Area is up in the air.  The district is considering whether to close Downsville Elementary School due to a decrease in enrollment over the last ten years.   The school board will vote on the matter at a meeting on April 15th.  CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE COVERAGE WITH OUR PARTNERS AT WEAU 13 NEWS.

The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire is naming Kara Metzger the new director of athletic bands at the university.  Metzger is an alumna and former member of the Blugold Marching Band.  She most recently served as director of bands at Central Methodist University in Fayette, Missouri.  Metzger is replacing Randy Dickerson, who will step down July 1st. 

Wisconsin residents are set to make a decision on the state’s proposed voter ID amendment next week.  If passed, the measure will require voters to present a valid photo ID in order to cast a ballot.  The stipulation will be a part of the state’s constitution if approved.  Election Day is next Tuesday, April 1st.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is encouraging state residents to consider native plants when refreshing landscaping this spring. Wildlife officials say choosing plant varieties that naturally grow in the area can be very beneficial for pollinators like bees and butterflies. Most native plants are also relatively easy to grow in Wisconsin since they have adapted to suit the region. More information on native landscaping is posted on the DNR webpage.

A new beer festival is coming to the Wisconsin Dells. Signature Springtime Sips is being held April 26th at Elm Street Plaza downtown. The event will feature craft breweries showcasing their finest classic and seasonal beers. CLICK HERE TO CRACK OPEN MORE DETAILS.

Despite reports that younger generations are drinking less, an estimated one in six adults are still binge drinkers. That’s according to the latest County Health Rankings and Roadmaps report from the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute. It also shows that in certain states and counties an even larger portion of adults are drinking excessively. Binge drinking is defined by the CDC as four or five drinks in one occasion depending on sex, and heavy drinking as eight or more

Wisconsin is one of the least stressed states in the US.  A new report by WalletHub compares all 50 states based on metrics like affordable housing, average number of hours worked, and number of adults with enough sleep.  Wisconsin ranks seventh least stressed, with Nebraska, Minnesota and New Hampshire at the top of the list.

A suspect from Chicago is accused of their eighth OWI in Wisconsin.  State Patrol pulled over the driver yesterday for defective brake lights in Jefferson County.  After a field sobriety test, the driver was arrested and booked for their eighth OWI and driving without insurance or registration.

ABOVE PHOTO: UW-Stout Blue Devil women’s basketball celebrates their win in the NCAA Elite Eight as they advance to the Final Four for the first time in program history. Photo by Jeremy Cwan. The University of Wisconsin-Stout Blue Devil women’s basketball team’s Cinderella run to the Final Four on March 20, marked the team’s best result in the NCAA Division III National Tournament. No. 22 UW-Stout faced No. 1-ranked, undefeated defending national champions New York University in their first-ever matchup

“We have grave concerns that the cancellation…poses extreme harm to producers and communities in every state across the country. At a time of uncertainty in farm country, farmers need every opportunity to be able to expand market access for their products.” U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and a group of her colleagues are demanding the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) immediately reverse the cancellation of local food purchase programs that allow states, territories, and Tribes, including Wisconsin, to purchase food