Today we highlight the growing tension between public health and the opening of schools across Wisconsin. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel describes parents appearing before an Oak Creek-Franklin School Board meeting as outraged by the board’s decision to hold online-only classes to protect public health. Meanwhile, private schools and parents in Dane County have filed two lawsuits seeking to overturn a countywide order banning in-person instruction aimed at stemming the spread of COVID-19 as Wisconsin tallies more than 1,100 deaths from the disease.
Top Stories
‘Let them go back’: Parents outraged that Oak Creek-Franklin School District will begin the year with virtual classes — Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Lawsuits challenge Public Health’s authority to close private schools — Cap Times
Almost half in EC County who have had virus are in their 20s — Eau Claire Leader Telegram
Revved by Sturgis Rally, COVID-19 infections move fast, far — Associated Press
Extreme heat puts city in double jeopardy — Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
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Quotable
“The order for schools is lawful and we will defend it vigorously, because the reason Public Health put it in place is worth fighting for — the health of our kids and community.”
Dane County Executive Joe Parisi, defending the county’s order banning in-person instruction, which has been targeted by two lawsuits seeking to overturn it, as quoted in the Cap Times.
“This case challenges the authority of one unelected bureaucrat to upend the education plans of thousands of students and families and their schools located throughout Dane County via the stroke of a pen.”
Lawsuit filed in Dane County Circuit Court, challenging Parisi’s order
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.
A movie buff and his wife are turning their Milwaukee garage into a movie theater to entertain their family and friends — Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Beloit College to offer up to two tuition-free semesters — GazetteExtra
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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.
