MADISON – The Department of Workforce Development (DWD) today released unemployment data from March 15 to November 14, 2020, revealingthat 93.28% of the over 8 million weekly Unemployment Insurance claims that have been filed since March 15, 2020, have been processed.

Hobbs Ice Arena in Eau Claire will be closed starting tomorrow (Wed. Nov. 18) due to a concern about the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. In a press release today:

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers and the state Department of Health Services (DHS) today have pledged an additional $80 million to support Wisconsin’s skilled nursing facilities through the end of the year. In addition, to address critical staffing shortages, DHS is partnering with the Departments of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) and Workforce Development (DWD) to enhance existing efforts to strengthen the workforce in Wisconsin’s health care and long-term care settings.

Conference call of Midwestern Governors on the pandemic crisis.

Note that locally grants have been awarded to Micon Cinema, Eau Claire Theater Group LLC (Oakwood Theater), and the Stanley Theater.

Today the Wisconsin Supreme Court heard oral arguments in this case, in which Mr. Fabick is suing the Governor's emergency orders for the COVID-19 emergency, claiming that the Governor may not extend emergency orders beyond 60 days without permission from the state legislature. This is the video of the proceedings thanks to Wisconsin Eye.

In a press release today the L. E. Phillips Memorial Library in Eau Claire announced that they will be closing temporarily due to COVID-19 concerns. This includes all in-person library activities including holds, pickup, and browsing. The library expects the closure to last at least until Nov. 30, at which time the library leadership will re-examine the status of the community and the public health data to decide if it is safe to open the library again.