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Today we highlight a story by Scott Girard of The Cap Times. He reports that homeschooling applications have more than doubled in Wisconsin as the pandemic fuels widespread uncertainty about how schools will function this fall.
“According to data from the state Department of Public Instruction, 1,661 families filed forms to homeschool between July 1 and Aug. 6, up from 727 during the same period a year ago and 599 two years ago,” Girard reports.
“With those students go funding, as district revenue limits and state aid both depend on enrollment. The Madison Metropolitan School District discouraged parents from leaving to homeschool or attend a private school in its Aug. 7 family newsletter, citing that funding loss.”
Top Stories
Homeschooling requests statewide more than double last year as pandemic continues — Cap Times
Three dead, 23 sickened in Pierce County outbreak; mass testing conducted Thursday — Leader-Telegram
After deaths at Racine County nursing home, federal VA nurses called in to help — Journal Times
How two Milwaukee natives are leading the city’s fight against COVID-19 — Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Evers has about $300 million more in federal aid he can spend to fight COVID-19 — Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Coronavirus stimulus stalemate could drag on for weeks as Congress leaves town — CNBC
Wisconsin will have fall high school sports, but WIAA approves alternate plan — Oshkosh Northwestern
How a shortage in substitute teachers and bus drivers is affecting Wisconsin — WEAU-TV
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.
Quotable
“There were millions of people in a three-month period of time who did not get their normal screening, and (a group of researchers) project that that will lead to an additional 10,000 deaths from colon and breast cancer. It’s imperative that we get people back in to get a screening colonoscopy, or a Cologuard test, or a screening mammography …. Cancer doesn’t wait for COVID.”
Exact Sciences CEO Kevin Conroy, speaking at a Wisconsin Health News event
“They have to wear a mask if they’re in buildings. They have to make sure their audience is physically distant from each other. We can’t afford to have these events make it more difficult for us to prevent the virus from being transmitted in the state of Wisconsin…My expectation is they’re masking up. They’re going to follow the order.”
Gov. Tony Evers, as quoted by WUWM, addressing looming campaign visits by President Donald Trump and other top Republicans.
Data to note
Here are the latest visualizations of COVID-19 cases and deaths 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.
His start-up bakery was growing when the COVID-19 pandemic struck. A central city church is helping it survive. — Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Racine Police distributing hand sanitizer and masks, thanks to Caledonia-based CKM Inc. — 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.
