Wisconsin Watch is a nonprofit newsroom that focuses on government integrity and quality of life issues, and we always provide our news for free.
You can read all of our coronavirus/COVID-19 coverage by signing up for our Wisconsin COVID-19 Update newsletter, and please consider becoming a member to support our nonprofit journalism.
Wisconsin’s GOP-controlled Legislature is asking the state Supreme Court to block Gov. Tony Evers’ order to keep schools and nonessential businesses closed through May 26 during the coronavirus pandemic. The Wisconsin State Journal has the story of Tuesday’s lawsuit, which comes one day after Evers unveiled his “Badger Bounceback” plan to reopen the state in phases if certain criteria are met.
We also highlight the growing impact from our reporting on Wisconsin hospitals that sued patients over medical debt during the public health emergency. Bram Sable-Smith, a WPR reporter based in the Wisconsin Watch newsroom, reports that more cases have been dismissed since we began digging into the issue.
Top stories
Republican Legislature asks Wisconsin Supreme Court to suspend Safer at Home order — Wisconsin State Journal
‘Wait until I call my mom’: Reprieve for some Wisconsinites who faced medical debt during pandemic — WPR/Wisconsin Watch
Wisconsin regulators warn debt collectors to back off during pandemic — WPR/Wisconsin Watch
‘They should have done something’: Broad failures fueled Wisconsin’s absentee ballot crisis, investigation shows — Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
At least 7 new coronavirus cases appear to be related to Wisconsin’s election, Milwaukee health commissioner says — Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
After doctor’s concern, Meriter Hospital, with UW Health, will test all pregnant women in labor for COVID-19 — The Cap Times
Green Bay plant sees outbreak as states work to keep meatpacking facilities open amid COVID-19 pandemic — Associated Press
Wisconsin Farm groups say new federal aid will help, not solve COVID-19 problems — WPR
What are we missing? And how are you coping? Help us provide critical information and accountability by filling out this form or emailing us at tips@wisconsinwatch.org.
Government updates
Wisconsin Department of Health Services
U.S. Centers and Disease Control and Prevention
Live updates
Live coverage from USA Today-Wisconsin reporters
Live coverage from Wisconsin State Journal reporters
Quotable
“This virus is going to look like positive test results and death tolls. It will. But don’t think it has to get to that to shake up your life entirely, for you to take this seriously, and make plans you don’t know how to make, and never thought you’d need to,”
Olivia Herken, local government reporter at the La Crosse Tribune, writing a first-person column for the newspaper.
Data to note
From our partners at WisContext:
!function(e,i,n,s){var t=”InfogramEmbeds”,d=e.getElementsByTagName(“script”)[0];if(window[t]&&window[t].initialized)window[t].process&&window[t].process();else if(!e.getElementById(n)){var o=e.createElement(“script”);o.async=1,o.id=n,o.src=”https://e.infogram.com/js/dist/embed-loader-min.js”,d.parentNode.insertBefore(o,d)}}(document,0,”infogram-async”);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.
Feeling restless inside? Get out and play Social Distancing Block Bingo. — Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
For black women and their businesses, help and networking move online — The Cap Times
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsIn our little Wisconsin country town, my neighbor’s son was diagnosed with Covid-19. He is a trucker.
— Philosophy (@annemwenninger) April 19, 2020
Semi trucks, pickup trucks, any trucks just held a huge surprise rally of support.
I like humans!???? pic.twitter.com/HkAp5F61JV
Access to some stories listed in the Wisconsin COVID-19 Update may be limited to subscribers of the news organizations that produced them. We urge our readers to consider supporting these important news outlets by subscribing.
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.
