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Wednesday’s Wisconsin Lottery Megabucks drawing features a $5 million jackpot, its largest of 2018. The $5 million figure also marks the game’s highest jackpot since 2015. A record $22.5 million jackpot on May 30, 2015 was the most recent in Megabucks history to surpass $5 million. Megabucks is Wisconsin’s own lotto game with drawings every Wednesday and Saturday night.

A Burnett County man is facing an attempted homicide charge after being accused of strangling a five-year-old.  Court documents claim police were called to a home in Trade Lake recently on report of a man abusing a young child.  They arrived to find the child with head, face and brain injuries which lead to the arrest of 39-year-old Charles Beenken.  He is facing ten other counts in addition to the attempted homicide charge. 

An Eau Claire man is going to prison for four years after being convicted of OWI for the 16th time.  Police say 63-year-old Bradley Armstrong was arrested back in August when he almost hit a house with his car after an argument.  He was arrested and he pleaded guilty to one criminal charge but had others dropped.  After his prison sentence he will serve three years of supervised release. 

A part-time show choir director for La Crosse School District is pleading to guilty to child sexual assault.  WEAU reports 33-year-old Dustin Bagstad faced 19 counts in relation to sexual assault after multiple students accused him of acting inappropriately.  Some say they didn’t come forward initially because the ydidn’t want it to interfere with the show choir season.  Bagstad will be sentenced in April. 

A Family Promise affiliate is one step closer to opening in Monroe County thanks to a donation by the Mayo Clinic.  Yesterday, Mayo donated ten-thousand-dollars to the organization which is hoping to start reaching families in need by the end of next year.  Once it opens, Family Promise of Monroe County will be the 12th affiliate to open in Wisconsin. 

Tonight’s the night when all of Wisconsin will find out if one their own gets crowned as this season’s The Voice.  Barron native Chris Kroeze performed three songs on The Voice last night including Sweet Home Alabama, Two More Bottles of Wine,and an original song written for him called Human.  Afterwards, his coach Blake Shelton said he’s one of those guys that you just can’t help but love.  Kroeze will learn his fate on tonight’s finale at 7:00 on NBC. 

The Eau Claire Area School Board held a meeting last night and here are the notes:  They are putting off a vote on the future of employees’ retirement plans.  The school board unanimously agreed to postpone the vote, deciding to take on a multi-month employee engagement plan and to look in-depth at revenue and savings.  The board said it will discuss the issue again at the next meeting.  ALSO, from last nights meeting we now have the Verde light on

The Eau Claire Police Department is working to keep student housing safe during the holidays.  Officials say UW-Eau Claire students can sign up for the free House Watch Program, leaving a description of what lights should be on in the house. Officers will drive by the homes when they have time to make sure the house matches the description.  The homes become easy targets for burglars while students are away on break. 

Markquart dealerships are announcing the first winner of Markquart Gives Back 2018. The Eau Claire County Humane Association will receive a ten thousand dollar gift from the dealerships.  Community voting was held from mid November until Friday choosing residents’ favorite organizations.  The top five organizations will each receive a ten thousand dollar gift from the dealerships.

Local organizations in Eau Claire are working together to help give children and families in need special gifts during the holiday season.  DeLong Middle School’s Student Council and the Eau Claire Area School District administration building staff met yesterday to wrap gifts purchased by the staff.  Staff members then delivered the gifts that will meet the needs of 14 families to the Children’s Hospital Community Services building.