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Wisconsin sees labor force rise
Wisconsin’s unemployment rate ticked up up to 2.9% in May from its historically low 2.8% in April, but that is actually good news. That uptick wasn’t caused by job losses—in fact the preliminary estimates for May 2022 from the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed a historic high of 3,059,300 Wisconsinites were employed. What changed in […]
Thousands could lose health care when the federal public health emergency expires
State departments of health are bracing for the end of the COVID-19 federal Public Health Emergency (PHE), which will affect health care coverage for millions of Americans, especially those on Medicare or Medicaid — known in Wisconsin as BadgerCare. The PHE was enacted in January 2020 by then-Secretary Alex Azar of the U.S. Department of […]
Wisconsin restaurateurs couldn’t persuade Ron Johnson to vote for revitalization funds
The ceremony to recognize Madison-area chef Dave Heide as Wisconsin’s 2022 Small Business Person of the Year on May 4 drew several prominent politicians, including U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin and U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan. U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson was absent, though a member of his staff spoke on Johnson’s behalf. Johnson’s office also followed up […]
Wisconsinites protest threat to overturn Roe v. Wade
Hundreds of protesters filled the western corner of the Capitol lawn on Saturday advocating for abortion rights in light of the leaked Supreme Court draft decision that would overturn Roe v. Wade. Among them, one woman, who asked not to be named, held a sign showing a black-and-white photograph of her grandmother. With nine children […]
‘Day Without Child Care’ spotlights importance for parents, employers and kids
Nearly 300 child care providers in 25 states signed up for “A Day Without Child Care,” an event organized to call for living wages for child care providers, and equitable, affordable access to child care across the country. For the parents who spoke at an event Monday morning at New Glarus Village Park, “a day […]
Agricultural runoff an overlooked threat to public health
In Wisconsin, much of the discussions around water quality have been focused on contaminants including lead and PFAS. But George Kraft, UW-Stevens Point emeritus professor and emeritus director of the Center for Watershed Science and Education, says his biggest concerns looking to the future are nitrates and pesticides from agricultural runoff. “Instead of something that […]
Advocacy group shines spotlight on child care need, potential solutions
In late 2017, business leaders in Black River Falls started talking among themselves about how a lack of child care was causing absenteeism among their employees who were parents, even forcing some to drop out of the workforce. They formed the Jackson County Childcare Network. The group initially consisted of business leaders, then expanded to […]
Child care providers are still dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic’s toll
While many Americans are ready to move on from the COVID-19 pandemic, for some people, like Corrine Hendrickson, that isn’t an option. Hendrickson is the owner and operator of Corrines Little Explorers, a child care center in New Glarus and a former board member of the Wisconsin Early Childhood Association (WECA), an organization that conducts […]
Latina leadership program takes off
Beatriz Aguilar, chair of the music department at Edgewood College, will sometimes volunteer as a translator at Madison-area schools. One time at Madison East High School, some parents asked her what she does for a living, and when she told them, their high school Latina daughter perked up and asked Aguilar if she had a […]