Chippewa Valley

[dramatic music] For 105.7 CFW News, I'm James Kelly.

Chippewa Valley residents gathered for an event featuring former Capitol Police officer Harry Dunn at the Pablo Center in downtown Eau Claire on Thursday morning.

Dunn was one of the police officers who defended the Capitol during the January 6th insurrection, and is now traveling the country to share his experience with voters ahead of the 2026 midterm election.

Prior to the event on Thursday, he said that January 6th was the worst day of his life, and he's been fighting for true accountability in the years since.

Give people a chance to...

We deserve better.

The event was put together by Chippewa Valley Indivisible, and organizers say nearly 200 local residents attended.

For 105.7 CFW News, I'm James Kelly.

We're gonna have a link in the show notes.

"We moved to Chippewa Valley a little over a year ago to be closer for my cancer treatment.

We were previously living in deep red Vilas County" That looks like Vilas County, "in northern Wisconsin.

Although my wife and I miss living in the woods, we are now nearer to children and grandkids here and are much more comfortable politically in our new bluish-purple area"

[clapping] [cheering]

Healthcare is another issue of particular interest to the Chippewa Valley after years of working to address the sudden closure of two hospitals and a number of clinics.

Amid those struggles, federal cuts to Medicaid have also put more rural healthcare facilities at risk, with more cuts scheduled to go into effect following the midterm election.

Crowley highlighted expanding BadgerCare and creating a public option as a significant goal for his administration, if elected, to address that issue.

A 23-year-old man was also arrested after an alleged shooting near the UWO campus.

With just weeks to go until the November election, Democratic candidate for Wisconsin's 3rd Congressional District Rebecca Cook spoke to voters around the healthcare crisis and the impact the Trump administration is having on rural hospitals.

Civic Media's James Kelly takes us to the Chippewa Valley campaign stop.

During a press conference outside the former HSH Sacred Heart Hospital site on Thursday, Cook criticized the One Big Beautiful Bill passed last year and the impact it could have on rural hospitals.

They're also encouraging residents to check on their measles vaccination status and to be on the lookout for flu-like symptoms with a high fever and a red rash that begins at the hairline before spreading.

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers visited the Chippewa Valley this week to highlight the importance of agritourism in the region.

According to a WEAU report, Governor Evers visited Avenue Orchards in Eau Claire County to show support for similar businesses that combine the agricultural and tourism industries, like apple orchards.

He also noted that nearly every state lawmaker has some kind of agritourism-focused business in their district, which makes it a great opportunity for legislators to find bipartisan ground to support those popular businesses.

That's Packers defensive lineman Jonathan Ford.

With sports, I'm Mike Clemens.

[upbeat music] Chippewa Valley weather.

It is going to be mostly sunny today with a high in the upper 60s to low 70s here this afternoon.