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Fireworks, heat and politics: America celebrates its 250th birthday

The 250th anniversary of American independence is colliding with political polarization and a heat wave as celebrations get underway across the United States on Saturday.
Todd Shaw, left, kisses his wife Shannon Shaw, right, as they pose for portrait during the...

News

Woodchucks completes series sweep; four Ignite players earn All-Star nods ahead of July 11...
Woodchucks sweep, stars are born: Wausau has plenty to celebrate on Friday night

News

Wausau Events is hosting a Fourth of July celebration at the downtown airport, welcoming the...
Wausau celebrates America’s 250th with free fireworks show at downtown airport

State

Three people died Friday afternoon after a boat they were on overturned in Geneva Lake in Lake...
Three children killed after boat capsizes during storms in Geneva Lake

TOP HEADLINES

News

Protecting your hearing during loud summer events

Protecting your hearing during loud summer events

Updated: 1 hour ago
|
By Jhett Sherry
Some of summer’s most fun events can be full of loud noises and their own share of risk.

News

Sunscreen

Does sunscreen expire? How to tell if your SPF still works

Updated: 4 hours ago
|
By Alan Lucks, MD
That half-used bottle of sunscreen sitting in a beach bag since last summer, but don't let appearances burn you.

National

Immigration and Customs Enforcement has arrested 10,000 people over a five-day period at the...

ICE arrests 10,000 in 5 days, a sharp late-June surge in Trump’s deportation push

Updated: Jul. 3, 2026 at 4:14 AM CDT
|
By REBECCA SANTANA Associated Press
Immigration and Customs Enforcement has arrested 10,000 people over a five-day period at the end of June.

News

"Red, White, and Blue Celebration" brings boost to Eastside Downtown

Merrill businesses celebrate Independence Day

Updated: 18 hours ago
|
By WSAW Staff
An early Independence Day celebration in Eastside Downtown Merrill brought a day of fun, and a boost to local businesses.

Holidays

Tomahawk Fourth of July

People flock to Tomahawk for Fourth of July celebrations

Updated: 21 hours ago
|
By Adam Mueller
The Tomahawk Regional Chamber of Commerce says people celebrating Independence Day are coming to the area earlier each year — and this year, visitors have been arriving since Wednesday.

First Alert Weather

Showers and a few storms are possible on the 4th of July

First Alert for showers and storms on Independence Day, limited sunshine this weekend

Updated: 10 hours ago
|
By Jeremy Tabin
Unsettled at times on Independence Day, staying humid
Radar Loop
Radar Loop

LATEST VIDEO

Weather Video

Your 4th of July forecast as more rain chances continue into next week.
WSAW weather and forecast latest - Friday evening

News

The event featured historical interpreters, a live band and the final batch of Wisconsin...
Old World Wisconsin marks 50 years of history

News

Police advise people to keep fireworks away from children as Wausau prepares for downtown...
City and police prepare for fireworks display

News

The party popped up in Banker's Square along Main Street.
Merrill businesses celebrating Independence Day

Most Popular

State

Three people died Friday afternoon after a boat they were on overturned in Geneva Lake in Lake...
Three children killed after boat capsizes during storms in Geneva Lake

Holidays

Celebrations and fireworks displays in North Central Wisconsin celebrating America’s 250th birthday

News

Oneida County police shoot and kill a man during an attempted arrest
Man killed in deputy-involved shooting during Oneida County arrest attempt

Breaking

Child found unresponsive in Shawano pronounced dead; investigation ongoing

News

A 8-year-old girl in California died after being 'struck' by fireworks.
Wausau fireworks show upgraded for America’s 250th birthday

MORE NEWS

News

Boulder Junction marks park upgrades with second annual recreation day

Updated: 4 hours ago
|
By Taylor Hughes
Boulder Junction hosts its second annual parks and recreation day Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., featuring a new disc golf course and family activities.

State

The event featured historical interpreters, a live band and the final batch of Wisconsin...

Old World Wisconsin marks 50 years of history

Updated: 21 hours ago
|
By Vanessa Kjeldsen and Greta Boatcher
Families and historians gathered at Old World Wisconsin on Thursday to mark the site’s 50th anniversary and celebrate the state’s founding history, one day before the nation’s 250th birthday.

Holidays

Celebrations and fireworks displays in North Central Wisconsin celebrating America’s 250th birthday

Updated: Jun. 25, 2026 at 10:57 AM CDT
|
By WSAW Staff
Celebrations and fireworks displays scheduled to celebrate Independence Day in central Wisconsin.

First Alert Weather

Showers with a chance of storms for fireworks times on Saturday evening

First Alert: Showers and storms could impact outdoor activities and fireworks this weekend

Updated: 19 hours ago
|
By Jeremy Tabin
Showers and storms expected for the 4th of July

National

ARCHIVO - Travis Kelce, izquierda, y Taylor Swift posan tras el partido por el campeonato de...

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are married in elaborate Madison Square Garden ceremony

Updated: 17 hours ago
|
By The Associated Press and KIMBERLEE KRUESI, JAKE OFFENHARTZ and ANDREW DALTON
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are married. Swift’s publicist confirmed the marriage took place Friday evening inside Madison Square Garden at a star-packed ceremony.

News

Oneida County police shoot and kill a man during an attempted arrest

Man killed in deputy-involved shooting during Oneida County arrest attempt

Updated: Jul. 3, 2026 at 8:50 AM CDT
|
By WSAW Staff
Oneida County authorities say a 76-year-old man was killed Wednesday in a deputy-involved shooting during an arrest attempt.

News

A 8-year-old girl in California died after being 'struck' by fireworks.

Wausau fireworks show upgraded for America’s 250th birthday

Updated: Jul. 3, 2026 at 8:01 AM CDT
|
By Mayra Parrilla Guerrero
Wausau’s annual Fourth of July fireworks show is scheduled for Saturday night, with organizers saying they are expanding the display to mark the nation’s 250th birthday.

News

Long balls light up central Wisconsin as Petsche, Calmes, and Marnocha go deep on Wednesday night

A night of home runs: Woodchucks and Ignite soar while Rafters stumble in Northwoods League action

Updated: Jul. 2, 2026 at 11:40 PM CDT
|
By Katlynn Gill
It was a night for the long ball across central Wisconsin, as the Wausau Woodchucks and Wausau Ignite both picked up wins Wednesday while the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters dropped a 14-3 decision to the Madison Mallards.

Travel

AAA projects 1.6 million Wisconsinites will travel across the state this Fourth of July weekend

AAA: 1.6 million Wisconsinites expected to travel this Fourth of July weekend

Updated: Jul. 2, 2026 at 9:19 PM CDT
|
By Sean White
AAA said its main focus heading into the holiday is emergency preparedness, gas prices, and overall traveler safety.

Community

Contest celebrates America's 250th birthday

Painted hydrants bring patriotic flair to Antigo

Updated: Jul. 2, 2026 at 9:24 PM CDT
|
By WSAW Staff
Community members repainted more than 60 fire hydrants across the city over the past month.

News

Swimmer’s itch: What lake-goers in northern Wisconsin should know

Updated: Jul. 2, 2026 at 5:44 PM CDT
|
By Madison Maronde
A microscopic parasite found in lakes and other bodies of water can cause a skin rash known as swimmer’s itch, and health officials say lake-goers should know how to protect themselves.

Summer on 7

Too Hype Crew to headline Riverfront Rendezvous in Stevens Point

Too Hype Crew headlines Riverfront Rendezvous main stage Saturday

Updated: Jul. 2, 2026 at 4:53 PM CDT
|
By Bree Bylak
Riverfront Rendezvous is bringing a range of music to Stevens Point this weekend, including rock, country, polka and hip-hop.

MORE NEWS

Futbol Frenzy

United States' Chris Richards (3) and United States' Timothy Weah, back, celebrate winning the...

US win over Bosnia-Herzegovina most-watched soccer telecast in English language history

Updated: Jul. 2, 2026 at 8:23 PM CDT
|
By STEVE REED
The United States won the game 2-0 to advance to the round of 16.

National

Lily Schloss won the Star-Spangled Sing-Off competition.

College student announced as Star-Spangled Sing-Off winner

Updated: Jul. 2, 2026 at 6:10 PM CDT
|
By KCRG News staff and Jordan Gartner
The winner of the Star-Spangled Sing-Off has been announced.

State

“We have had a lack of funding for our public schools for so long, and that really stemmed...

Rodriguez unveils Wisconsin Promise education plan ahead of August primary

Updated: Jul. 2, 2026 at 8:26 PM CDT
|
By Vanessa Kjeldsen
When asked how she would pay for increased school funding, Rodriguez said the money exists within the state budget and that property taxes would not bear as much of the cost

Local

Pop Tabs for Sophia collects nearly 1,300 pounds of pop tabs

Updated: Jul. 2, 2026 at 3:32 PM CDT
|
By Taylor Hughes
The Pop Tabs for Sophia fundraiser collected 1,279 pounds of pop tabs Wednesday night during Concerts on the Square.

Summer on 7

Riverfront Rendezvous at Stevens Point

Riverfront Rendezvous expected to draw thousands to Stevens Point

Updated: Jul. 2, 2026 at 4:01 PM CDT
|
By Bree Bylak
Rock, hip hop, polka and family activities headline this weekend's Riverfront Rendezvous in Stevens Point

Summer on 7

Riverfront Rendezvous at Stevens Point returns for Fourth of July

Riverfront Rendezvous returns to Stevens Point for Fourth of July weekend

Updated: Jul. 2, 2026 at 4:21 PM CDT
|
By Bree Bylak
Riverfront Rendezvous is returning to Stevens Point for the Fourth of July weekend, bringing music, carnival rides, family activities, food and a horseshoe tournament.

News

Jason Tourtillott, 26, has been charged with murder

Nekoosa man pleads no contest, found guilty of reckless homicide in father’s death

Updated: Jul. 2, 2026 at 4:09 PM CDT
|
By Heather Poltrock
A plea and sentencing hearing is scheduled Thursday morning for a 28-year-old man accused of killing his father.

Summer on 7

July 2 edition of Summer on 7

Summer on 7 previews Stevens Point’s Riverfront Rendezvous enhancements for 2026

Updated: Jul. 2, 2026 at 12:10 PM CDT
|
By Bree Bylak
“Summer on 7” returns Thursday with a preview of Riverfront Rendezvous, which organizers say will feature major additions tied to the nation’s 250th anniversary.

News

Crews work to take down former Graebel building in Wausau on July 2, 2026

Demolition underway in downtown Wausau for new senior housing complex

Updated: Jul. 2, 2026 at 11:38 AM CDT
|
By Heather Poltrock
Demolition of the former Graebel building is underway in downtown Wausau. The building will be torn down to make way for a new senior housing development.

National

About 13,514 Amana Window-Room-Air-Conditioners (WRAC) and Through the Wall (TTW) air...

Thousands of air conditioners recalled due to fire, burn risks as heat wave continues

Updated: Jul. 2, 2026 at 1:35 PM CDT
|
By Brandy Beard
Thousands of air conditioners are under recall due to the risk of fire or burn injury.
News
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