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As the state Department of Workforce Development struggles to handle a surge of unemployment claims during the pandemic, many out-of-work Wisconsinites are growing increasingly desperate — finding themselves forced to make impossible choices — as they wait for their benefits to arrive, Laura Schulte reports for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
“More than 500,000 claims for unemployment have yet to be processed — a number that doesn’t include people who haven’t even been able to file a claim, either because of struggles connecting with the DWD or navigating the online application system,” Schulte reports.
Top Stories
‘It’s been a rough ride’: Delays in unemployment claims leave some jobless Wisconsinites without money for food, bills — Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Pregnant black women navigate two public health crises during COVID-19 in Milwaukee — The Fuller Project
Tony Evers unveils COVID-19 guidelines for businesses; official reopening of economy remains uncertain — Wisconsin State Journal
Wisconsin near 400 COVID deaths: Men over 70 with health issues; obesity common among younger victims. — Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Number of COVID-19 deaths is based on actual reports; Flu deaths are estimates — WPR
Wisconsin hospitals and clinics are planning how to bring patients back after thousands of postponed doctor visits and surgeries — Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Madison to let homeless camp in certain parks and greenways during COVID-19 pandemic — Wisconsin State Journal
Student nurses welcome challenge to prepare for career amid COVID-19 crisis — Kenosha News
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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
“We are making societal decisions where we’re basically weighing deaths with other civil rights or economic rights. We will have to make a decision that weighs the economics, civil rights and so on against people’s right to live, literally, and not just their own lives, because they can infect others.”
Dietram Scheufele, professor of science communication at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, as quoted by The Cap Times
Data to note
Here is a look at Wisconsin’s dramatic surge in unemployment insurance claims during the pandemic — last week’s claims compared to those during the same week in 2019, according to state Department of Workforce Development figures. Claims totals now range 194% higher than the average number of weekly claims received during the first year of the Great Recession, the department said Thursday. But thousands of other jobless people are struggling to get into the system.
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.
‘She gave me hope’: Nurse helped Judge Derek Mosley through a harrowing night in ICU on his way to surviving coronavirus — Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Is graduation the same without hugs and crowds? Wisconsin schools are trying to replicate the feeling with virtual or drive-in ceremonies — Appleton Post Crescent
IN PHOTOS: Kenosha County rocks in face masks — Kenosha News
Hearts of Hope, more heart windows from around Racine County — Journal Times
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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.
