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Gas prices in northwest Wisconsin are continuing to plummet as the holidays approach.  The average price for regular unleaded in the state is two-dollars-26-cents per gallon, 15-cents lower than the national average.  Gas in Eau Claire and Chippewa Counties are just a tick higher than that at two-dollars-33-cents and two-dollars-37-cents per gallon, but that’s much lower than it was a month ago.  However up in Washburn County,gas is more expensive than the national average at two-dollars-54-cents per gallon. 

Yes, there is a bobcat in Whitefish Bay.  But the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources says, no, it’s not a monster.  DNR yesterday confirmed that the cat spotted by neighbors is indeed a bobcat.  Milwaukee County Wildlife Biologist Dianne Robinson says the bobcat is maybe two-feet tall,which is large for a cat, but not out of the question.  Robinson says the cat could be a threat to small dogs and cats. 

The Mayo Clinic is donating more than 100-thousand-dollars for the construction of the All Abilities Trane Park in La Crosse.  Yesterday, Mayo announced the 125-thousand-dollar donation, helping organizers get more than halfway to their six-million-dollar fundraising goal.  The park broke ground in October and is scheduled to open next July. 

Barron native Chris Kroeze is facing elimination on tonight’s episode of NBC’s The Voice.  Last night with his family in the audience, Kroeze performed Can’t You See by the Marshal Tucker Band and a mash up of Jumpin’ Jack Flash and Chain of Fools with the rest of the contestants.  Kroeze had an optimistic take on the situation, saying that no one is going to have a bad outcome at this point.  He will hear his fate at 7:00 tonight

Police are identifying the man whose body was found in a home on Seymour Road in Eau Claire.  Authorities say the missing man, Toby Cleasby, was found last Thursday and an autopsy shows he didn’t suffer any traumatic brain injury. A full toxicology exam is being completed to determine the cause of death. Police say the death is not suspicious, but the circumstances of Cleasby’s death are still being investigated.  

A Chippewa Falls 17-year-old is charged with sexually assaulting a child younger than 16.  Reece Swan was charged yesterday with four counts of sexual assault of a child.  Authorities say Swan raped the victim twice last month in a garage in Chippewa Falls.  He is due back in court next week. 

Plans for a new bus transfer center in Eau Claire are rolling forward.  Officials say they are still working on final federal approval, but the funds for the 23-million dollar project are secure.  The center will be built where the current center is located.  It will be seven stories high and will include parking, housing, and commercial space. 

A new boat launch could make a splash soon. The city council is set to vote today on a proposal to build a new boat launch on the Chippewa River.  A nearly 80-thousand dollar stewardship grant was awarded to the City of Eau Claire Department of Community Service to develop the southwest boat launch on Ferry Street.  Matching funds would be provided by the city. 

Members of a Sun Prairie Girl Scout troop are honoring a Chippewa Falls troop through service.  Three Girl Scouts and a troop mother were hit and killed as they were picking up litter on the side of a rural highway near Chippewa Falls.  The girls in the Sun Prairie troop are working with the Sunshine Place to wrap gifts being collected for 450 families in need.  The troop started a wrapping supplies drive yesterday.

The Eaux Claires music festival website says there will be no event held in 2019. The statement posted yesterday announced that the festival would return in 2020 in downtown Eau Claire.  The founders and organizers indicate they may have public events at the Pablo Center to discuss the new direction on the festival.