Sam Fristed

Eau Claire

Reporter at WQOW-TV (Eau Claire, WI)

Reporter for Eau Claire's own WQOW News 18. Prior Lake, MN native/UW-River Falls journalism graduate. All tweets are my own unless otherwise indicated.

Articles

WPR future remains uncertain after President Trump's executive order

1 week ago | wqow.com | Sam Fristed

WISCONSIN (WQOW) - Wisconsin Public Radio, known as WPR, is unsure about its future after an executive order signed by President Donald Trump will cut its funding. President Trump ordered funding cuts for national public radio known as NPR. Wisconsin Public Radio is the statewide version which provides regional content. Right now, it's too early to tell how the cuts could impact the network but its fallout could lead to staff, network and programming cuts.
Rep. Van Orden speaks in Altoona about Trump tariffs' impact on small businesses

1 week ago | wqow.com | Sam Fristed

ALTOONA (WQOW) - Representative Derrick Van Orden made a stop in the Chippewa Valley on Friday to talk about tariff impacts for small businesses. The Republican congressman visited J&D Manufacturing in Altoona, a business that specializes in making industrial fans for agriculture worldwide. The purpose of Van Orden's visit was to talk about how the business is handling the impacts of President Donald Trump's tariffs.
You Ask, We Answer: What is going into the old Galloway Grille location?

1 week ago | wqow.com | Sam Fristed

EAU CLAIRE (WQOW) - In tonight's edition of You Ask, We Answer, Alex wants to know: what is going in the space of the old Galloway Grille location? The answer is: the Galloway Grille!The popular downtown restaurant will be opening its doors again after being closed for three years. The business opened in 2007 and was sold in 2022. Since then, restaurants like the Fremont and the Cranky Buzzard were in the space.
Governor Evers visits Chippewa Falls High School as district leaders advocate for mental health funding

1 week ago | wqow.com | Sam Fristed

CHIPPEWA FALLS (WQOW) - Governor Tony Evers was in the Chippewa Valley Thursday morning highlighting the importance of mental health access in schools. Evers visited Chippewa Falls High School to talk about services for students. The governor is proposing an approximately $300 million investment into his proposed biennial budget for mental health programs. The money would be used for peer-to-peer suicide prevention and expanding mental health training.
DATCP reminding people about 'storm chaser' scams ahead of severe weather season

2 weeks ago | wqow.com | Sam Fristed

EAU CLAIRE (WQOW) - After mother nature brought a round of storms on Monday, the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, known as DATCP, is warning people about contractors looking to help clean up. The agency is reminding people to be on the lookout for door-to-door repair crews known as 'Storm Chasers'.
Eau Claire artist will paint a mural along the Chippewa River State Trail

2 weeks ago | wqow.com | Sam Fristed

EAU CLAIRE (WQOW) - An Eau Claire artist is bringing life to a tunnel located on the Chippewa River State Trail. And he needs your help to complete the project. Starting in a few weeks, artist Joe Maurer will be painting the walls of the trail tunnel under 5th Avenue. That's located by Mayo Clinic Downtown. Maurer wants the space to showcase different themes of dams, beavers, nature and Eau Claire. Overall, he wants to create a vibrant space for people who use the trail.
'We Got to Go'; Augusta family reacts to tornado hitting property

2 weeks ago | wkow.com | Sam Fristed

EAU CLAIRE (WQOW) - Some residents across the Chippewa valley woke up Tuesday morning to damage left behind by Mother Nature. One family in Augusta got an up-close encounter with the storms. "We looked over here in the distance and you could see it. It was coming down from the sky and it was kind of twisting," said Elizabeth Pettis, a witness to the storm. Elizabeth and her family live off a rural road south of Augusta.
'We Got to Go'; Augusta family reacts to tornado hitting property

2 weeks ago | waow.com | Sam Fristed

EAU CLAIRE (WQOW) - Some residents across the Chippewa valley woke up Tuesday morning to damage left behind by Mother Nature. One family in Augusta got an up-close encounter with the storms. "We looked over here in the distance and you could see it. It was coming down from the sky and it was kind of twisting," said Elizabeth Pettis, a witness to the storm. Elizabeth and her family live off a rural road south of Augusta.
State Democrats introduce 'Economic Justice Bill of Rights' legislation

2 weeks ago | wqow.com | Sam Fristed

WISCONSIN (WQOW) - Local Senator Jeff Smith is sponsoring a new piece of legislation that would create a declaration for an 'Economic Justice Bill of Rights' for residents of the Badger State. He said the resolution would create 10 policies that would even the economic playing field for Wisconsinites. Some of those rights include prioritizing the funding of education, expanding affordable housing and pledge all jobs pay a livable wage.
Volunteers help train service dogs at Chippewa Valley Regional Airport

2 weeks ago | wqow.com | Sam Fristed

EAU CLAIRE (WQOW) - Half a dozen service dogs got some hands-on training at the Chippewa Valley Regional Airport this morning. Volunteers from Can Do Canines held a mock security training session. They're an organization based in the Twin Cities that provides service dogs for people with disabilities for free. Friday's training was a complete run through of what a person with a service dog may experience at an airport.