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Today we highlight a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel story about the difficulties and occasional dangers some businesses face in enforcing Gov. Tony Evers’ statewide mask-wearing mandate — the Democrat’s effort to slow the spread of coronavirus.
Analyzing police reports, reporter Jim Riccioli painted this picture of mask-related disputes at grocery stores and other businesses in Waukesha.
“It might involve threats, direct or implied, to the store or an employee from a customer who disagrees loudly and overtly with the policy,” he writes. “It sometimes involves vandalism, with store displays or merchandise upended. Sometimes, it escalates to the level of an assault, from a simple push to a firm punch.”
Evers’ mask mandate went into effect Aug. 1 and is set to expire on Sept. 28.
Top Stories
‘It is a problem’: Enforcing the mask mandate has led to threats, vandalism and violence at some Waukesha businesses — Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Trump moves to ban evictions nationwide through December — POLITICO
DWD secretary: It will be 6 to 8 weeks before recipients see new $300 unemployment supplement — WPR
South Korean study finds more than 1 in 5 children with COVID-19 show no symptoms — Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
COVID-19 outbreak reported at Juneau County prison —Wisconsin Rapids Tribune
During Madison visit, Deborah Birx urges college students to avoid crowds, wear masks — WPR
Intersecting crises: Fighting for climate justice in a pandemic — Great Lakes Now
Exact Sciences wins regulatory approval for home COVID-19 tests; home test must be ordered by clinician, then sent to lab for analysis — Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Despite COVID-19 shutdowns, preliminary figures show state tax collections increased — Wisconsin State Journal
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
“The more control countries have over the virus, the more they can open up. Opening up without having control is a recipe for disaster. No country can just pretend the pandemic is over.”
— World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, speaking in a virtual briefing
“I remember when kids would be all dressed up and parents would be out here taking their picture. They made a big deal out of it, you know? Now it’s just like, ‘OK, let’s go, get your mask on.’ It’s not the same as it used to be. It’s strange. Hopefully they can come back soon.”
— Phil Mamnebach, a veteran school crossing guard, as quoted by the Appleton Post-Crescent
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.
As youth agencies plan for fall, they draw on lessons learned from the summer — Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Badgers vs. the pandemic: Meet UW heroes in the fight against COVID-19 — OnWisconsin
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.
