Good morning, Wausau.

The North Central Wisconsin Labor Council will host the annual Wausau Labor Day Parade on Monday, September 1 at 4 p.m. as participants gather at Marathon Park by 3 p.m., with the new route leading to the Wausau Labor Temple where a family-friendly celebration will follow—marking a fresh approach for this local event.

A local nonprofit—the Jason Elliott Memorial Foundation—donated $20,000 to the Wausau Community Foundation to help bring more therapists into schools as the new school year begins.

The donation, its largest in two years, was presented on Monday at Dale’s Weston Lanes to honor Jason Elliott's legacy and aid mental health support for students.

On Monday evening, residents shared their feedback about the annual Taste N Glow balloon festival held west of Wausau as organizers estimated 12,000—13,000 people attended the two-day event.

The community input meeting took place at 6 p.m.—Dales Weston Lanes on Schofield Ave in Weston.

A criminal complaint said that fire chief Jared J.

Thompson of Rothschild was arrested on Aug. 22 for allegedly stealing prescription drugs after blood drops in a fire station bathroom raised suspicions—investigators found more than 1,000 vials missing—and he reportedly picked up extra drugs on days off—pretrial conference is set for Oct. 8.

Students are back in class at Northcentral Technical College using a new AI tutoring tool called Learnwise, which is available 24/7 to help with studying and practice tests.

Teachers can also access the tool to see student trends—information that can guide their support in the classroom.

Applications for the Driver Education Grant Program opened on Aug.

25th to help income-eligible students pay for classroom and behind the wheel training. The state will release $1.5 million in grants from a $12 million budget—aiming to reduce unsafe driving on our roads.

Fifteen young people from across Wisconsin filed a constitutional lawsuit in Dane County Court on Friday against the state legislature and Public Service Commission, arguing that a law blocking air pollution reviews for new power plants puts their future at risk (represented by Midwest Environmental Advocates and Our Children’s Trust).

Wisconsin will elect a new governor in 2026 since Gov. Tony Evers is not running—most candidates start with low statewide recognition and the race is unpredictable.

The Community Blood Center in Wausau warns that blood types O and A are critically low ahead of Labor Day weekend and the start of the school season—CBC holds a blood drive at Stratford VFW today from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. with more events scheduled through early September.

Rib Mountain Trail Race

7 AM — State Park Speedway — $70 – $125 — Experience the thrilling Rib Mountain Trail Race with scenic views and real trail challenges.

Wisconsin Oral Health Coalition Annual Meeting

4:30 PM – 3:15 PM — Hilton Garden Inn Wausau — Free entry — Engage in vital discussions on emergency care and oral health initiatives.