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On This Day…

By Morgan McCarthy | June 29, 2025

Hello. Welcome to your Sunday. We’re glad you are here! As the summer is in full swing it can be a whirlwind of activity, to-do lists, and trying to carve out time to have fun and soak it all in. It seems to go so fast. Hey, we get it. That’s why we take time to slow things down on the weekend with a simple “scroll down memory lane.” It’s just an easy way to look back at events that

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Tubers Rescued on Chippewa River

By Morgan McCarthy | June 29, 2025

The Eau Claire Fire Department (ECFD) responded to the Chippewa River for a water rescue involving people on floating tubes.  With the use of Fire Department boats, 2 people were rescued and brought to shore near the Lake St bridge. They were evaluated by ECFD paramedics and no medical transport was required.  At the same time a group of 4 people on floating tubes were reported in distress near the UWEC foot bridge. A second boat rescued the group and

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Plans to Reopen St. Joseph’s Hospital Move Forward

By Morgan McCarthy | June 28, 2025

Plans to re-open St. Joseph’s Hospital in Chippewa Falls are moving forward and ahead of schedule.  The Chippewa Valley Health Cooperative agreed to purchase the old facility in March, and had 90 days afterward to decide if they wanted to move forward with the purchase.  The co-op members say they will, and have moved the timeline to open the facility in August.  The space will be a temporary location until the co-op opens a state of the art hospital in

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Man Sentenced in Bike Path Attacks

By Morgan McCarthy | June 28, 2025

A man will spend 17 years in prison for sexually assaulting a woman on an Oregon, Wisconsin, bike path.  Richard Cunningham Jr. pleaded guilty to a second-degree sexual assault charge in March as part of a plea deal.  The victim told police he tackled and assaulted her in 2023, and that he may have been smoking at the time.  Investigators were able to use a cigarette butt left at the scene to connect Cunningham to the crime.  One his sentence

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Money Set for Literacy Efforts

By Morgan McCarthy | June 28, 2025

Wisconsin’s Joint Finance Committee is releasing nine-million-dollars for a state-run literacy coaching program.  The funding is part of a 50-million-dollar package that was approved in 2023, however, it was delayed.  A recent Supreme Court ruling has cleared the way for its release.  Remaining funds will return to the general fund if not approved by Monday.

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WI Historical Foundation Reaches Fundraising Goal for new History Center

By Morgan McCarthy | June 28, 2025

The Wisconsin Historical Foundation has reached its fundraising goal to build a new History Center in Madison with a recent twelve-million-dollar gift.  The community fundraising campaign was completed yesterday evening, and the state has also contributed more than 112-million.  Construction has been underway for the new building since April.  The center is expected to bring in about 20-thousand visitors annually when it opens in late 2027.

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Friday Feel Good: Working it Out

By Morgan McCarthy | June 28, 2025

If you lace up for daily walks, make a date to hit the gym, or practice at the pickleball courts then you know healthy habits can help you manage stress and get through life.  For this week’s Friday Feel Good we hear from a woman who not only continues to remain active into triple digits, but also works out the details for how to live a long and happy life. A New York woman named Jerry Leo is still crushing it

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Officer Involved Shooting Suspect Pleads Not Guilty, Trial Set

By Morgan McCarthy | June 27, 2025

The suspect charged in an officer-involved shooting in Eau Claire will go on trial in September.  Thomas Burback has pled not guilty to four charges, including intentionally pointing a gun at law enforcement.  The 54-year-old was shot by an Eau Claire officer on May 25, 2024 when the officer was responding to a disturbance call. 

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Preliminary Hearings Scheduled for Child Sexual Assault Suspects

By Morgan McCarthy | June 27, 2025

Two Eau Claire men are in custody and facing charges of sexually assaulting a child.  Police say they arrested 54-year-old James Barbey and his neighbor, 82-year-old Robert Karstensen.  They say the two are accused of sexually assaulting several victims over the course of multiple years.  Karstensen is held on a million-dollar cash bond, and Barbey’s bond is 250 thousand dollars cash.  Both have preliminary hearings July 8th.

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WI Wins Lawsuit

By Morgan McCarthy | June 27, 2025

Wisconsin has won a lawsuit over the Trump administration’s efforts to block electric vehicle funding.  Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul was part of a multi-state coalition challenging the administration’s attempt to withhold funding from the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program.  In an executive order President Trump had directed the Federal Highway Administration not to distribute the funds.  Kaul says the case concerns tens of millions of dollars in funding that hasn’t been allowed to enter Wisconsin to support electric

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