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Today we highlight a story by Anna Werner of CBS News. She reports on tumult inside Epic Systems, Dane County’s largest private employer, as the medical software company prepares to send its 9,000-plus employees back to its campus during the pandemic.
The company is requiring even workers with high-risk health conditions to return this fall, Werner reports. Epic executives say the company has retrofitted offices to make them safer and that workers will be more productive after returning from remote work.
But internal surveys show hundreds of staff have voiced objections, Werner reports, with one employee writing: “There will be people who die because of Epic’s insistence on people returning to campus.”
Top Stories
Employees concerned over tech company’s reopening amid pandemic — CBS News
Latino businesses among most vulnerable in pandemic as entrepreneurship continues to grow in community — Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Nearly half of low-income communities have no ICU beds in their area — STAT
La Crosse School District navigates hurdles coming with virtual start — La Crosse Tribune
Madison School District aims to provide 1,000 child care spots during online start to year — Wisconsin State Journal
No COVID-19 surge in Milwaukee from Wisconsin’s April 7 election, CDC says — Wisconsin State Journal
Waukesha County one of the latest Wisconsin suburbs to be hit hard with COVID-19 — WPR
Pandemic disrupts traditions for Madison’s Muslims on the holy day of Eid al-Adha — Madison365
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.
State Poison Center issues hand sanitizer warning
“As the use of hand sanitizers has increased during the COVID 19 pandemic, so has the number of calls to poison centers related to possible toxic alcohol exposures. More hand sanitizer is being produced, either at home or in other countries, and it can contain a variety of chemicals and alcohols that can be dangerous, if not deadly,” the Department of Health Services said in a Tuesday news release.
Read more here.
Housing trouble?
Are you worried about losing your home or apartment because of the pandemic? Share your experience with News414, Wisconsin Watch’s service journalism collaboration with Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service and Outlier media. Click here for details.
Quotable
“We want everyone’s vote to count, so complete and mail your absentee ballot as soon as possible… The post office advises it may take a week for mail to get from you to your clerk’s office, so don’t wait.”
Wisconsin Elections Commission Administrator Meagan Wolfe, as quoted by Spectrum News
“Oh, and the mask. I feel so bad for the door greeters. One already quit because of the customers. I don’t feel safer from COVID-19, but what can you do? I have bills, and they need to be paid. I just wish people would think about how they treat retail workers. We try and keep the store clean and safe for everyone but get yelled at, spit on and treated badly. Kindness goes a long way.”
Maria, a Walmart worker and tax preparer, speaking to Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
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.
Madison Public Library bundles books for CSA-style pick-up — The Cap Times
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