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 Prepaid gift cards are a popular holiday present. They are easy to find, can be loaded with a value of your choosing, and allow the recipient to make their own purchases. But gift cards can also be a versatile tool for defrauding consumers. Protect your money and your identity by knowing how gift card scams work and remembering the following fraud prevention tips from the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP). When buying gift cards for friends

The man who police say killed his neighbor back in 2016 is expected to be in Eau Claire County court later today. Shane Helmbrecht was brought back to Eau Claire on Friday. He’s been on the run since September when police say he walked away from a halfway house. He was arrested last month in Mexico. Doctors originally declared Helmbrecht unfit for trial, but that could change after his escape. Prosecutors in Eau Claire, however, have not made any formal

Wisconsin’s latest bird flu case is once again in western Wisconsin. The state’s Department of Agriculture on Friday confirmed a case of the flu in a commercial flock in Barron County. Over 114 thousand birds were destroyed in an effort to contain the flu. This is the fourth case of bird flu in western Wisconsin. The Department of Ag says there have been three confirmed cases in commercial bird flocks in Trempealeau County as well.

The top Democrat in the Wisconsin Senate will, once again, be from the Madison-area. Democrats on Friday elected Senator Dianne Hesselbein from Middleton as their new Minority Leader. She replaces Madison’s Melissa Agard who is now running for Dane County executive. Hesselbein says her goal as leader is to make sure that every Democrat in the State Capitol, and Democratic voters across the state, have a voice.

There is a plan at the Wisconsin Capitol to give big lottery winners some anonymity. The proposal from state Rep. William Penterman would allow anyone who winds over a million-dollars to claim their prize without having to go public. Penterman says the idea is to protect lottery winners from the people who press them for money. If lawmakers okay the plan, and the governor signs it, Wisconsin would join 18 other states that allow lottery winners to claim prizes anonymously.

Eau Claire’s new holiday tradition of putting Santa Claus on a bike may be catching-on. The city’s Santa Cycle Rampage rolled through downtown for the second year in a row on Saturday. Dozens of Santas rode their bikes through the downtown, but there were also elves, reindeer, and even a makeshift sleigh. Organizers say they had perfect weather, and are looking forward to next year. CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE WITH OUR PARTNERS AT WEAU 13 NEWS.

There were bands, floats, and a big crowd in downtown Waukesha last night. The city hosted its annual Christmas Parade. This year’s parade comes two years after Darrell Brooks sped through the parade, killing six and injuring 60 others. In addition to extra security, parade organizers say they wanted to send a message of resilience.

The Green Bay Packers walked out of Lambeau with an improbable victory. The Packers stopped Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs on a last second throw to win the game 27-19. The game saw some questionable calls, and non-calls, toward the end. The game also saw Jordan Love throw three touchdowns, win his third game in a row, and pull the Packers to 6-6. Green Bay is on the road next week, taking on the New York Giants on

Wisconsin gas prices are essentially unchanged.  Triple-A reports the statewide average price for regular remained at two-93 a gallon Saturday, while the average price in the Madison metro area was pretty much flat at two-94 a gallon.  The average price in the Janesville-Beloit area was down a penny at two-88 a gallon.

A Baraboo man is going to prison for 13 years for trying to blow up a Juneau County bar. Heath Fjorden was sentenced Friday for setting off an explosion in the basement of Beagle’s Bar and Grill in Lyndon Station.  He was working at the bar and was in the process of buying it when he tried to blow it up in September of last year.