Good morning, Eau Claire.

Three Eau Claire men—Dillon Linn, Antonio Cantu, and Vincent Archuleta—were arrested after a Thursday morning drug bust on the 500 block of Chippewa Street that recovered several pounds of marijuana, THC products, ketamine, cocaine, MDMA, and a handgun, and they will appear in court in September.

The Hmong Mutual Assistance Association partnered with Amerasian Market to fundraise for its Hmong New Year festival scheduled for October 11th—12th at the Sonnentag Center in Eau Claire; 50% of deli sales and 10% of grocery proceeds will cover the festival costs and help preserve cultural traditions.

Universities of Wisconsin reached a settlement of $265,000 with a UW-Eau Claire employee who claimed she was demoted because of race—an allegation the university denies.

Today the Wisconsin DNR warns locals to watch wildlife from afar (such as rabbits, squirrels, opossums and songbirds) as many species are raising young in the summer heat.

The agency said that close contact with fawns or other baby animals may stress them and disrupt their natural learning of survival skills.

Rep. Van Orden visited a Grace Lutheran Communities senior assisted living facility in Altoona where a clerical error in a COVID-era employee retention credit application had initially denied over $4 million—money his office helped recover—and he urged staff to keep in touch with his office for support.

Motorists traveling east and westbound I-94 will face single-lane closures from 6 a.m. until 3 p.m. Tuesday, Aug.

12 as WisDOT inspectors check bridges over the Chippewa River (from WIS 37 to WIS 312). The westbound I-94 ramp from WIS 37 (closed from 6 a.m. to noon) will also be shut, and drivers should plan for delays.

The Eau Claire County Department of Human Services will request a 5% budget increase for 2026 as rising placement costs require extra money (nearly 80% of its current funds come from grants and Medicaid).

The department will use a $10.1 million internal levy to cover the gap as it finalizes its preliminary budget before fall approval.

Prep football teams finished their first week of practice and previews continue with stops in Elk Mound and Mondovi; the Eau Claire Express lost their next-to-last game while the Cavaliers faced the Haugen Knights in the WBA Tournament.

We Care Eau Claire - Back to School Event

9 a.m.-7 p.m. — Phoenix Park — Free entry — Help local families by donating and packing backpacks for children returning to school.

Grand Evening on the Bridge

5:30-8:30 p.m. — Grand Avenue Footbridge — Ticket options starting at $15 — Experience an evening of food, drinks, and community spirit at Eau Claire's premier fundraising event.

The String Cheese Incident - Campout Concert

Two epic nights — August 15-16 — The Pines Music Park — Ticket price online — Enjoy a weekend of music, camping, and activities surrounded by nature.

Zach Bryson Live Performance

7 PM – 1 AM — Leona's Pizzeria — Cost TBD — Come hang out in Eau Claire and enjoy original songs from Nashville-based artist Zach Bryson.

Exotic Pet Fair 2025

1-4 p.m. — Eau Claire Expo Center — Affordable pet supplies and adoption opportunities — Discover a variety of exotic animals and great deals on pet essentials.

Seymour Fever Fest

August 22-23 — Seymour Town Hall — Cost info not specified — Enjoy a family-friendly festival with inflatables, donkey baseball, live music, and a cornhole tournament.

Fever Fest 2025

4-10 p.m. — Seymour Ball Club — General Admission starting at $1.93 — An evening of local and national musical acts raising funds for youth sports.

Driftless Revelers Chuck Wagons West Tour Kick Off

8 PM - 2 AM — The Plus — $10 — Celebrate the Driftless Revelers' departure for their west coast tour with live music and new album releases.

Peter Antoniou Live Performance

7-9 p.m. — The Plus — $20 adv, $25 door — Experience mind-reading mixed with sharp wit and comedy from an international sensation.

Live Music: 40 Fingers

2-5 p.m. — River Bend Winery & Distillery — Free entry — Dance to the upbeat sounds of 60s–80s hits performed by the talented 40 Fingers band.