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The St. Croix Valley Business Innovation Center (SCVBIC) in River Falls has awarded a second and final round of micro-grants supported by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) to help area businesses grow. During this final round, SCVBIC awarded $55,000 to 12 businesses to help with critical growth expenses.   The micro-grants are supported by $100,000 from the WEDC, provided to support businesses in St. Croix, Pierce and Polk counties. Awarded along with the grants was a matching $100,000 worth of in-kind volunteer hours, with the bulk of the hours coming from the committee’s volunteer judges. The funding is part of more than $1.6 million provided by WEDC to 14 Wisconsin

Getting a bachelor’s degree in three years could soon become an option in the Universities of Wisconsin system. The Board of Regents recently reviewed a policy change that would allow campuses to create accelerated degree programs requiring about 90 credits instead of the traditional 120. Three-year degree programs have been growing in popularity nationwide as schools look for ways to reduce costs and shorten time to graduation. The board is expected to vote on the policy at a future meeting.

A portion of the La Crosse Grand Crossing Trail will close Monday as Part One of a two-part construction project gets underway.  Officials say the project is aimed at improving the trail’s long-term resiliency and user experience.  Part One will have the trail closed from East Avenue to the intersection of Cottonwood Trail while the spillway is reconstructed and reinforced. 

La Crosse City Council is considering a measure that would enforce a minimum age of 21-years-old for the purchase or possession of cigarette & tobacco products and electronic vaping devices.  Council’s Judiciary and Administrative Committee gave its approval to the idea this week with a full council vote planned for next week.  If approved, the measure would bring La Crosse in line on the matter with state and federal laws.

The City of Eau Claire is recruiting applicants to serve on its Sustainability Advisory Committee. The committee’s role is to provide guidance to city council on policy and practices related to the environment, natural resources and other connected topics. More details can be found WITH AN EASY CLICK HERE.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services is moving to close an assisted living facility in Eau Claire.  The department is revoking the operating license of Care Partners Eau Claire West meaning that the facility’s current roster of 51 residents must be transitioned elsewhere.  The license revocation comes after the Department of Health Services issued Care Partners multiple violations for failed to provide proper notice to at least seven residents before they were involuntarily discharged. CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS WITH WEAU

Two people are in custody as a death investigation continues in Rusk County.  The body of Ladysmith resident Terry DuSell was found on Tuesday.  Sixty-two-year-old Charles Allers — who is currently being held on an unrelated probation warrant — has been identified as a person of interest in the case.  Meanwhile — DuSell’s wife — Terry DuSell has been taken into custody on a charge of hiding a corpse.

A Trempealeau County man is being identified as the person who died after a recent vehicle collision in Jackson County.  Seventy-nine-year-old Blair resident Harold Crivitz died after a February 24th head-on collision on State Highway 95 near the Town of Curran.  The accident remains under investigation.

Governor Tony Evers is calling lawmakers back to Madison to ban partisan gerrymandering.  The Democratic governor signed an executive order yesterday for a special session to be held beginning April 14th.  Evers wants to see a constitutional amendment passed that doesn’t allow gerrymandering, although the amendment wouldn’t specify how to draw electoral maps.  Lieutenant Governor Sara Rodriguez and both Democratic legislative leaders were absent for yesterday’s announcement.  It’s unclear if the idea has any support from either side of the

An Eau Claire City Council member is resigning her post.  Emily Anderson represents District 2 and says that she is stepping down due to a need to focus on other professional and personal responsibilities.  Anderson has represented District 2 since 2018.