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Today we highlight our latest examination of Wisconsin’s overwhelmed unemployment insurance system, which has left thousands of people without income during the economically devastating pandemic.
Bram Sable-Smith, a WPR fellow embedded in the Wisconsin Watch newsroom, reports on national research showing that jobless Black and Latino workers have historically proved less likely than white workers to receive unemployment aid. Wisconsin’s Department of Workforce Development says it does not have race, gender, age or income reports available.
Some experts say Wisconsin — home to some of the country’s most severe racial disparities in education, public health, housing and criminal justice — should track whether its workforce agency equitably distributes unemployment during the economic crisis.
Top Stories
As the nation reckons with race, a mother awaits unemployment aid — and Wisconsin officials lack research — WPR/Wisconsin
Brown County’s Latino community ‘terrorized’ by coronavirus, and the numbers show why — Green Bay Press Gazette
Surge of Wisconsin COVID-19 cases in young adults concerns officials — Wisconsin State Journal
Don’t expect a face mask requirement or statewide bar closures in Wisconsin, here’s why — Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Health care workers renew call for hazard pay as COVID-19 cases rise — WPR
Municipalities brace for tough 2021 budget planning due to COVID-19 impact — Beloit Daily News
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
Quotable
“The accolades of being a hero quickly fade for us when we confront the reality of being on the front lines of every shift.”
Victorial Guttierez, a veteran critical care nurse in Madison and a member of SEIU Healthcare Wisconsin, which is calling for hazard pay for health care workers as COVID-19 cases rise, as quoted by WPR.
Data to note
A month after Gov. Tony Evers’ 60-day moratorium on evictions expired, 24,000-plus people are waiting for state rental assistance in Milwaukee, Ozaukee and Washington counties, according to Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service (NNS).
The Social Development Commission, which administers the program for the counties, says it is returning calls on a “first come-first serve basis,” Princess Safiya Byers of NNS reported. Many have yet to hear back.
The commission received $6.7 million through the Wisconsin Rent Assistance Program — a $25 million statewide program funded by Congress’ pandemic stimulus legislation.
Meanwhile, here is the latest visualization of Wisconsin’s recent increase on COVID-19 cases from our partners at WisContext.
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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.
‘We wanted kids to be able to play this summer:’ Milwaukee playgrounds will have socially distant activities at free meal sites — Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Pandemic leads Girls on the Run to change strategy for keeping youth active this summer — Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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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.
