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Democrat relaunches his campaign for retiring Sensenbrenner’s suburban Congressional seat
Sidelined after the COVID-19 pandemic put a halt to in-person gatherings, Democrat Tom Palzewicz relaunched his campaign for Wisconsin’s 5th Congressional District Tuesday with a low-key kickoff at his Brookfield campaign headquarters — supplemented with an online connection via Zoom. The announcement from the business consultant and former banker reiterated the messages he offered when […]
State forecast points to slow improvements, sooner than expected
Wisconsin’s economy is faring better than expected in the aftermath of the shutdown of activity prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but it will still be two years before employment returns to pre-pandemic levels, according to the state’s latest forecast. The Wisconsin Department of Revenue (DOR) report, issued Tuesday, indicated employment made a rebound in May, […]
Grants aim to shore-up businesses hit hardest by the pandemic
With one day left to go before applications close for a $75 million grant program targeting small businesses that were hurt by the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 19,000 business owners have applied for one of 30,000 grants offered by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC). The $2,500 grants are being offered to businesses with the […]
Farms go from frying pan of trade wars to fire of COVID-19
As 2019 was ending and 2020 was about to launch, Wisconsin farmers like Cal Dalton were hoping things were about to look up. “At Christmastime things were getting a little more optimistic out here on the farm,” said Dalton, who raises cattle and grows corn at his farm in Endeavor, in Marquette County, taking part […]
Pay improves for women, but it still falls short
Pay is catching up for women in Wisconsin, but they aren’t yet even with men. And just letting the trend continue on its own might not be enough to eliminate the difference. Those are the findings of a new report that the Wisconsin Policy Forum (WPF) issued earlier this month. The report was commissioned by […]
Evers meets with lawmakers to discuss issues raised by protests
Gov. Tony Evers met with legislators Thursday and says he hopes to do so again next week to discuss new legislation to address issues spotlighted in more than a week of protests nationwide against police brutality and systemic racism. Evers, speaking at a media briefing on the state’s efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, held […]
Landlord groups to apartment owners: Hit ‘pause’ on evictions
While a state moratorium on evictions ended two weeks ago, two apartment associations are urging landlords to hold off on expelling tenants who are behind on their rent as COVID-19 persists and with it record-high unemployment. “Our success as housing providers is dependent on the financial stability of both our tenants and the communities within […]
Union wants insurer to keep work in Madison, not send it back overseas
The COVID-19 pandemic led Madison-based CUNA Mutual Group to bring some of its work back to Wisconsin after having outsourced it overseas several years ago. Now, as conditions have eased in Asia where the work came from, the company is making plans to offshore that work once again, according to the union representing about 500 […]
When being sick prompts fears of being fired
In late May, Mike Jackson collapsed on the job at Briggs & Stratton’s factory on Milwaukee’s Northwest Side. A few days later, on May 28, the 45-year-old father of eight died of COVID-19 after having worked for days or possibly weeks while he was ill with the deadly virus. “Prior to that, he had been […]
Study: Medicaid expansion funds could boost state’s health coverage
Expanding Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act in the last 15 states that have turned down federal aid for that purpose — including Wisconsin — could add 4.1 million people to the list of those who have healthcare coverage, according to a new study. The Urban Institute report, funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation […]
Fear of lawsuit leads Dane County to loosen limit on church gatherings
Threatened with the prospect of a lawsuit from the Madison Catholic Diocese, Public Health Madison Dane County (PHMDC) has revised an order on the size of worship services. A May 22 order from the health department classified worship services as “mass gatherings” limited to no more than 50 people. Other routine businesses that were permitted […]
‘This cannot be who we are any longer’
The regular briefings state officials hold to update the media on Wisconsin’s battle with COVID-19 are usually a mix of earnest public health reminders and upbeat encouragement for state residents to keep up practices to help everyone stay safe and curb the spread of the viral illness that has put the world back on its […]