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Today we highlight a Wisconsin Public Radio and Wisconsin Watch report on the struggles of rural emergency medical services — already strapped for cash and short on volunteers — to secure personal protective equipment for first responders.
Meanwhile, the Wisconsin Assembly met in person — and virtually — to pass a COVID-19 relief bill aimed at supplementing $2 billion in expected federal government aid.
Read on to see a photo of the tiniest victory party and shortest acceptance speech following Wisconsin’s April 7 pandemic election. Results were (finally) posted on Monday.
Top stories
Rural EMS providers scramble to keep responders safe — WPR/Wisconsin Watch
Assembly passes COVID-19 response legislation in unique virtual session — Wisconsin State Journal
Trump administration set to unveil $15.5 billion in coronavirus aid for farmers, sources say — Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
‘No matter when they call, I pick up’: Mental health workers see increased demand for treatment, support — Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
First federal lawsuit filed following Wisconsin’s April 7 election — WPR
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Government updates
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Live updates
Live blog from Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporters
Live blog from Wisconsin Public Radio reporters
Live blog from Wisconsin State Journal reporters
Quotable
“If I don’t keep my people healthy, we’re not going to have anybody to respond to a call.”
Jim Aanstad, fire and ambulance chief of Iola, Wis., commenting on the lack of protective equipment for first responders, as told to WPR/Wisconsin Watch
Stats to note
Wisconsin and neighbors, state-by-state comparison of COVID-19 cases:
Michigan 27,001
Illinois 23,247
Wisconsin 3,555
Iowa 1,899
Minnesota 1,695
Source: State health department totals, April 14, 2020
Resilient Wisconsin
People helping others and showing resilience during this time of anxiety. Send suggestions by tagging us on social media — @wisconsinwatch — or emailing us: tips@wisconsinwatch.org.
Here’s how to celebrate winning a Supreme Court seat during a pandemic. In the driveway. With just the kids. And neighbors at a safe distance. Dylan Brogan of Madison’s Isthmus newspaper captured this smallest of victory parties by Dane County Circuit Court Judge Jill Karofsky.
And here’s perhaps the shortest ever acceptance speech by Katie Rosenberg, who upset incumbent Robert Mielke to become mayor of Wausau on Monday.
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsHOLY BALLS
— Katie Rosenberg (@katierosenberg) April 13, 2020
The Wisconsin Assembly met for the first time virtually and in person to approve a COVID-19 relief bill on a bipartisan 97-2 vote.
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The nonprofit Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism (wisconsinwatch.org) collaborates with Wisconsin Public Radio, PBS Wisconsin, other news media and the UW-Madison School of Journalism and Mass Communication. All works created, published, posted or disseminated by the Center do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of UW-Madison or any of its affiliates.
