Home

Staff at UW Health are seeing long wait times as more patients with respiratory illnesses are seeking care.  Chief Quality Officer Jeff Pothof says triage workers are prioritizing patients based on the most immediate need for treatment.  The flu virus, and, in particular, RSV, have seen an early spread this year, prompting more people to visit doctors.  Pothof recommends scheduling an appointment with a primary care physician if possible, and consulting with pharmacists on over-the-counter remedies for most common cold

Family members of the victims and survivors of the attack on the Waukesha Christmas Parade last year have begun testifying during the sentencing phase for the man convicted in the case.  Yesterday, the mother of Jackson Sparks — Sheri Sparks — said her son was violently ripped from their lives by the attack that killed the eight-year-old.  Last month, 40-year-old Darrell Brooks Junior was convicted of killing six people and injuring dozens of others when he drove through the Christmas

An Eau Claire man has pleaded no contest to charges that he shot up a neighborhood this past March.  Police arrested 20-year-old Aaron Jones after they say he fired several shots near Boardwalk Circle.  No one was hurt.  Sentencing is set for February. 

Police in Waukesha County are investigating the crash of a plane that was carrying more than 50 dogs yesterday.  The crash occurred about nine o-clock yesterday morning at the Western Lakes Golf Course in Pewaukee.  Three people on board suffered minor injuries and some dogs were also hurt, though none seriously.  The dogs are described as at-risk adoptable animals and were being flown to shelters in Waukesha.  The animal welfare society in Waukesha is raising funds to cover the medical

Democrats in the Wisconsin Senate are selecting Madison’s Melissa Agard to serve as Minority Leader.  Members unanimously elected her to take over for retiring state Senator Janet Bewley yesterday.  Last week, Republicans made their leadership selections, choosing state Senator Devin LeMahieu to continue in the role of Majority Leader.  Wisconsin Republicans picked up a senate seat in last week’s elections, now holding a 22 to eleven majority.

The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction is releasing annual school district report cards.  Nearly 95 percent of public school districts in the state met or exceeded education guidelines last year.  Two dozen districts improved from their previous reports, increasing by one accountability rating.  Search WITH A CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE.

The University of Wisconsin’s Eau Claire campus is offering a program on a topic that’s become especially timely — climate change.  Campus officials say the program is designed to complement any degree so students can integrate knowledge about climate change into their career plans.  Dr. James Boulter says he created the program when he realized many people are not aware of efforts to develop solutions to climate change.  Currently, two dozen students are enrolled in the program.     

An Eau Claire startup that makes a private workplace reporting platform — Speakfully — has been sold to a human resources software company.  Speakfully’s founder and CEO — Jana Morrin — founded her company four years ago after experiencing harassment at her own job.  Morrin says the acquisition will help Speakfully reach as many employees as quickly as possible.  Co-founders are chief technology Nandini Easwar and local entrepreneur Zach Halmstad.  Terms of the deal were not disclosed.    

An Eau Claire hunter has bagged a ten-point buck that he thinks might be a new record in the county for a vertical bow.  Bobby Pagel says he first spotted the buck on his father’s property last month and he has been chasing it ever since.  He finally tracked down the buck November fifth.  The buck had a 22-and-a-half inch antler spread.  Wisconsin’s gun deer season starts this weekend.     

Today is National Fast Food Day.  The unofficial holiday is another excuse for Americans to head to the drive-thru, or the taco stand, or the food truck.  If today commemorated the start of the fast food industry it would honor 1921, when a place called the Pig Stand in Dallas, Texas opened the nation’s first drive-in restaurant.  The owners said they invented the drive-in because, in their opinion, “People with cars are lazy and they don’t want to get out