Jonathan Fortier
Multimedia Journalist
Eau Claire, WI
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Jonathan joined WEAU in June of 2019 after graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire with a degree in History. He grew up in Eau Claire, graduating from North High School in 2012.
While at school, Jonathan was very active in Blugold Radio Sunday, a student run radio program, overseeing their award winning sports show. He also wrote for the university's newspaper, The Spectator. Through these organizations, Jonathan developed a passion for news and telling community stories that matter.
Jonathan was born in Columbus, Ohio which means he is a big Ohio State fan. When not cheering on the scarlet and grey, he enjoys golfing, fishing, and relaxing.
If you have a story idea or would like to connect, he can be reached at jonathan.fortier@gray.tv.
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The La Crosse Fire Department worked to put out a house fire Sunday afternoon.
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An Aurora, Illinois woman is arrested for operating a motor vehicle under the influence 4th offense.
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The 1-year-old passenger was turned over to the Bayfield County Department of Human Services.
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The race included a 5K run/walk, 12 mile bike ride and a one mile trip around Little Lake.
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The Eau Claire City Council and the Eau Claire County Board vote to repeal the local mask ordinances.
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On Friday, Hilltop Elementary students and staff came together to celebrate Dahlia Wigchers passing the U.S. naturalization test.
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An Augusta man is facing several charges following a house fire last month.
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State Senator Jeff Smith will be in Eau Claire on Tuesday to field questions from constituents on Governor Evers’ 2021-23 state budget proposal.
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According to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, despite decreased travel last year due to the pandemic, a crash in a work zone happened every 3.5 hours.
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A decision at Tuesday night’s Eau Claire City Council meeting could wipe out more than $600,000 worth of debt owed to the city.
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An area School Resource Officer designed a magnet that fits over a door lock and allows for classroom doors to remain locked in case of emergency, yet allow students to come and go.
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Walk-in clinics are available at UW-Eau Claire's mass vaccination clinic as well as the Prevea Health community clinic at Jacob's Well Church.
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When the first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine were given out in mid-December, health officials were uncertain if there would be enough supply to meet demand. Now, the situation is reversed.
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The superintendent in one local school district will have more decision-making power moving forward.
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Each year, more than 4,000 children in Wisconsin are identified as abused or neglected, that’s according to the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families.
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This past year has affected the way we live our lives amid the COVID-19 pandemic, including how we vote in elections like on Tuesday.
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Not many can retire after working at the same place for 37 years. One man who can say that is Dick Hebert, who retired from his post as Director of Chippewa Falls Parks and Forestry on Wednesday.
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A Menomonie man has been arrested and charged after being accused of offering a woman a ride to her hotel, where he choked and sexually assaulted her.
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According to data from Comscore, movie theater box offices sales plummeted by 80% in 2020 from the industry’s second-best box office haul ever in 2019.
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UW-Eau Claire's annual fundraising event for the arts department is going virtual after being canceled all together last year.
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Tuesday, the Eau Claire City Council passed a resolution condemning all forms of violence and hate against Asian Americans.
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RyKey Properties LLC is buying the lot for $400,000 to invest $17 million into a mixed-use housing development.
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A developer has come forward with a proposal that would invest $17 million into mixed use housing on the city’s north side.
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On Friday, the efforts of North High School teachers Kevin Mesiar and Janelle Petenaude were recognized thanks to a North alum who also used the event as a way to give back to the community.
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Some school districts in the area will start the next school year in August instead of September to make up for time lost when the pandemic shut down schools last spring.
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The Eau Claire City Council helped the expansion project at L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library move along after voting to approve the site plans and the budget.
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New data from Chippewa Valley Technical College shows more women are seeking careers in law enforcement.
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One person is injured after a crash in the Village of Viola in Vernon County.
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An emotional day in Cornell on Friday, as Firefighter Justin Fredrickson was released from an Eau Claire hospital.
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An Eau Claire man who was shot by police in 2015, after officers say he resisted arrest, has filed a lawsuit against the city and the officer who shot him.
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Health experts say the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is a game changer in the fight against COVID-19.
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The Trempealeau County Sheriff’s Office recently brought on a new K9, that isn't a typical breed in the industry, to help with drug detection and missing persons searches.
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The Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District board met Tuesday night to discuss the district’s $1.6 million budget deficit for next school year.
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A candidate running for state superintendent made a stop in Eau Claire Friday.
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Police say patrol officers carry 20-25 pounds of gear when on the job, and two years ago, the department switched from their traditional utility belts to load bearing vests to help ease chronic back pain.
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Neighbors helping neighbors in need, that’s the idea behind a local fundraiser organized by Eau Claire City Councilmember Andrew Werthmann.
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Snow and subzero temperatures are on the way and frigid air means traditional methods of keeping the roads clear, such as salt, will be less effective.
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The ordinance will go into effect only if the statewide mandate were to be repealed.
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An Augusta man is charged with three counts of animal neglect stemming from an inspection by the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture.
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With the COVID-19 vaccine becoming available to more people, local healthcare systems say they have an overwhelming amount of people interested in getting it.
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The repairs will help make sure the nearly 90-year-old lock is in good working order without disrupting the barge shipping season on the Mississippi River.
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A Memorial High School student has died from injuries she suffered in a vehicle accident.
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Court documents show 34-year-old Amanda Eyman of Barron County is accused of offering her underage daughter for a man to have sex with in exchange for drugs and money.
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Navigating the school year amid the pandemic has been a tall task for teachers across the country and two fifth graders in Altoona are showing just how much they appreciate their work.
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For the last 12 years, groups of UW-Eau Claire students have taken a trip south to learn about the civil rights movement, but due to the pandemic, they had to change things up a little bit this year.
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Rapid Search and Rescue is a network that spans thousands of people all working towards the same goal, bringing missing loved ones home.
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On Tuesday, representatives from the county voted unanimously to move forward with the process of passing a county-level mask ordinance if Evers does not extend the state mandate set to expire next week.
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A $40,000 grant from WHEDA will help repair two units Western Dairyland uses to help those struggling with chronic homelessness.
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With people using various heating sources during the winter months, there’s a higher risk of house fires, according to the National Fire Protection Association.
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As we get ready to say goodbye to 2020 and usher in the new year, Marshfield Clinic wants to make sure you are celebrating responsibly.