Good morning, Wausau.

Connexus Credit Union is collecting canned food donations through July 31 to help local food pantries as part of its Connexus Cares program.

Donations dropped off at select branches will support the goal of gathering at least 250 items.

Families celebrated America’s 250th birthday early at the Children’s Imaginarium, which set up a July 4th STEM lab in downtown (kids built safe firework experiments and enjoyed photos with Bluey and Bingo) through July 7.

Tonight's Wausau Events Concert on the Square remains set to start at 6:00 p.m. with the 80s cover band Rising Phoenix, as organizers report a two-hour window of good weather and advise guests to bring lawn chairs and blankets (and pop tabs) to support Ronald McDonald House.

With the nation approaching its 250th anniversary, local tribal leaders say groups like the Mohicans and Oneidas, who helped guide the American Revolution and settled nearby, played a key role in shaping government and call for native history to be recognized (their reservations lie close by).

The Dairyland Rail Commission is working to determine costs to restore the Spencer-to-Medford rail line for freight and tourism after local businesses showed interest since service ended in 2022.

Chairman Jim Schmidt said communities will not cover expenses + the rail remains available for negotiation.

With extreme heat hitting central Wisconsin today, Wausau City Forester John Kahon advises residents to water plants early in the morning to keep leaves cool (or water the base later) and ensure hung baskets and young trees stay moist.

Chuck Kerstell of North Central Health Care was named Wisconsin Co-Responder of the Year today at the Annual Crisis Intervention Team Symposium (nominated by Marathon County law enforcement and a health care director), recognizing nearly 40 years of dedicated crisis work in our community.

A new bipartisan law that Gov. Tony Evers signed earlier this year now extends Medicaid postpartum healthcare to 12 months for over 16,000 women on Wednesday, covering mental health and chronic condition care (including for women pregnant or within 60 days postpartum as of May 31).

Jazz on the River Concert Series

Sundays, Jul 19 – Aug 16 — Kickbusch Plaza — Free entry — Enjoy a vibrant series of free jazz concerts along the scenic river in Wausau.

Jazz on the River Summer Concert Series

5-7 p.m. — Kickbusch Plaza — Free entry — Enjoy a relaxing summer evening filled with live jazz while overlooking the river.

Painting with Sound

Drop-in to the Woodson Art Museum's sculpture garden on Thursday, July 30 from 5 to 6 pm to experiment with Coloratura technology, meet with inventor and artist Camry Ivory, and paint with sound! Watch and listen as your brushstrokes create art and music right before your eyes and ears. No registration is required and all ages are welcome to join in. In case of inclement weather, this program will be held at the Glass Box Studio.