MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Gov. Tony Evers has ordered $250 million in cuts to state agencies this year, the latest financial hit due to the coronavirus pandemic. The announcement of more cuts Wednesday was widely anticipated given a precipitous drop in state tax collections. Evers previously ordered agencies to cut $70 million in the budget year that ended June 30. Evers did not say which agencies would be cut by […]
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin health officials say there have been more than twice as many suspected opioid overdoses during the coronavirus pandemic than there were during the same period last year. Data from Wisconsin emergency departments show that there were 325 suspected overdoses from March through July 13 compared with 150 during that span in 2019. State Department of Health Services Secretary Andrea Palm says financial pressures and isolation […]
The Fond du Lac County Fair Board treasurer estimates up to eight thousand people may have attended a shortened Fond du Lac County Fair this past week. One of the few county Fairs to take place this summer operated with restrictions during the coronavirus pandemic. Fair Board treasurer Matt Immel says the Fair took steps to make sure people could socially distance. As far as fairgoers wearing face coverings? "There were […]
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul is teaming up with former Republican Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen to lead a new bipartisan group promoting absentee voting and safe in-person voting this fall. Kaul and Van Hollen announced Tuesday they'll serve as co-chairmen of a new Wisconsin chapter of VoteSafe. Members include former Republican Gov. Scott McCallum as well as Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett and Milwaukee County Executive […]
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by two dozen Wisconsin residents challenging a variety of local stay-at-home orders enacted to curb the spread of the coronavirus. U.S. District Judge William Griesbach on Monday dismissed the challenge, saying those bringing it did not properly join all of the defendants into one lawsuit. The judge says that mistake requires that the lawsuit be dismissed, but it […]
A retired Ripon College economics professor says a surge in coronavirus cases threatens the economic recovery in Wisconsin and across the country. The economy seized in unprecedented terms this spring with mandated lockdowns and economist Paul Schoofs says the virus outbreaks are threatening another recession this fall. Schoofs says unlike other countries, the United States has failed to get the virus under control, because people are not following public health guidelines, including wearing face […]
The president of Envision Greater Fond du Lac says there is some glimmer of hope in a new survey conducted by the state’s chamber of commerce on the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. The survey found three-quarters of Wisconsin companies said COVID-19 and the state’s safer at home order had a negative financial impact on their business, but only 23 percent predict they will end the year in the red. Envision president and CEO […]
More than 20 new COVID-19 cases have been reported in Fond du lac County over the last three days. Fond du Lac County Public Health Officer Kim Mueller says there are still people attending larger gatherings when they are either not feeling well, or are attending a gathering without realizing they had been exposed to the virus. There are now 448 confirmed cases in Fond du lac County, 64 active cases […]
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Teachers unions for Wisconsin’s five largest school districts are asking Gov. Tony Evers and the state’s top health and education officials to keep schools closed at the start of the year due to the coronavirus pandemic. The letter sent Monday was signed by union leaders for teachers in Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, Kenosha and Racine. It was sent to Evers, Department of Public Instruction Secretary Carolyn […]