MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Deaths from the coronavirus in Wisconsin hit a new daily high as Gov. Tony Evers released a proposal to tackle the surging pandemic and health officials cautioned that even when a vaccine becomes available it will be months before most people receive it. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos also outlined Republican priorities Tuesday, but did not release specifics. Evers' proposal, and the Vos response, came as the […]
The first and only AAA travel forecast of the year projects what we already knew…fewer Americans will be traveling this Thanksgiving amid the pandemic. AAA spokeswoman Molly Hart says the COVID-19 pandemic, health concerns and unemployment are key factors in what is expected to be the lowest Thanksgiving travel volume in four years and largest yearly decline since the Great Recession. Hart says AAA projects 50 million Americans will travel, and almost […]
A popular holiday tradition in Ripon is being scaled back during the coronavirus pandemic. Ripon Chamber of Commerce director Jason Mansmith says due to the pandemic the Holiday Parade and Living Windows events have been removed from the Dickens of a a Christmas line-up this year. Mansmith says the decision to cancel the two large community gathering events was made in the best interest of protecting the health of the community. Mansmith says […]
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The Wisconsin Supreme Court is considering whether Gov. Tony Evers exceeded his authority by issuing a statewide mask mandate after his original public health emergency related to the pandemic had expired, a move that opponents said was illegal. The Supreme Court held virtual arguments on Monday and took the case under advisement. They likely won’t issue a ruling for several weeks. Evers argues that he can […]
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Officials say there is a critical need for blood plasma from recovered coronavirus patients in Wisconsin. Convalescent plasma has been shown to be effective in treating the most seriously ill coronavirus patients, but the demand is far greater than the supply. Versiti Blood Center of Wisconsin’s chief medical officer, Dr. Thomas Abshire, said the need for convalescent plasma in Wisconsin is about double the number of donors […]
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan of Wisconsin says he has been in quarantine since Nov. 10 after his 91-year-old mother tested positive for the coronavirus. Pocan is a Democrat who represents the Madison area. He said in a statement Monday that he drove with his mother for two hours Nov. 9 to move her into a nursing home. The next day, he found out she had tested […]
A retired Ripon College economist says a national lockdown to curb a massive surge in coronavirus cases would have a significant negative economic impact on the country. Economist Paul Schoofs was reacting to comments by Dr. Michael Osterholm, an advisor to president-elect Biden, that a four to six week national lockdown would curb a tide of rising COVID-19 cases. Schoofs says while the doctor is correct it would the strongest way to nip the […]
Schools leaders from throughout Fond du lac County are asking residents to take safety precautions to help keep or get schools open for in-class instruction. Eighteen Fond du Lac County public and private school administrators and principals have signed a letter addressed to families and the community. North Fond du Lac superintendent Aaron Sadoff says taking safety precautions to prevent spread of the virus is a health issue, not a political issue. The […]
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — It took Wisconsin seven months to log 100,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19, and it took only 36 more days to double that number. On Friday — a mere 18 days later — the state blew past 300,000 cases, breaking a record daily high set just a day earlier. There were 7,777 new cases reported by the state Department of Health Services on Friday, breaking Thursday’s record […]