Good morning, Eau Claire.

Mr. Kitty’s Cat Cafe in downtown Eau Claire celebrated 500 adoptions on Tuesday when a white-furred cat renamed Sophia marked the milestone; owner Shelli Schuppel said the cafe + the Eau Claire Community Humane Association boost pet adoptions through a community foster program + partnership.

An anonymous donor gave $15K toward a new public restroom at Upper Mt. Simon Park, boosting the Northside Hill Neighborhood Association's $70K campaign.

The group holds Party for the Parks on Saturday, Sept. 12 at the park — locals are urged to donate by Dec. 31.

Tee It Up for the Troops (a fundraiser for veteran support programs) will take place on Sept.

11 at 9 a.m. at Hickory Hills Golf Course to help local veterans. Clubbers in the Chippewa Valley will have a chance to support the cause.

UWEC kicked off its fall semester on Sept.

1 with T-shirt pick-ups, fun games, and club advertising to help new students connect on campus (events continue until Sept. 5) as classes begin tomorrow.

UW-Eau Claire welcomed incoming Blugolds during Welcome Week with parades on Campus Hill and Campus Mall, academic meet and greets, and remarks by Chancellor Edwin Martini before classes began today.

ECASD Closet (Share the Warmth initiative) is accepting blanket donations to help students stay warm for the fall semester, with drop-offs available at seven local locations until Nov.

1.

SahLan Academy (nonprofit nail tech school) hosted an open house Tuesday in Eau Claire.

It opened in August and offers an eight-week course that prepares students to join the workforce.

Local farmers, residents, and members of GROWW (GrassRoots Organizing Western Wisconsin) celebrated a legal win after a judge ruled that Ridge Breeze Dairy’s permit failed to protect groundwater.

The decision means the DNR will reassess the permit to better meet water quality standards in Eau Claire.

Drivers on I-94 in Eau Claire and WIS 29 in Chippewa counties will face aerial traffic enforcement as the Wisconsin State Patrol uses planes on Thursday, Sept 3, and Friday, Sept 4 to spot speeding ahead of Labor Day weekend — troopers will follow up.

Eau Claire mom Brianna Chambers (mother to Lillian and Dorothy) struggled with postpartum anxiety after her second child's birth and found help through Mama Bear Family Care; licensed clinical social worker Missy Jenneman advises new moms to monitor mood swings and seek help if symptoms persist.

Local health agencies and organizations have partnered to release a survey in the Chippewa Valley that gathers opinions on community health improvements; residents must complete it online by the end of Oct. to help shape future health solutions.

UW Eau Claire men's soccer starts its season at home against Milwaukee School of Engineering today while the women's squad plays at St Benedict.

Prep sports feature Eau Claire Memorial versus Chippewa Falls on boys soccer + prep girls golfers facing Lake Hallie in the Big Rivers Conference.