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As Wisconsin continues to set records for new cases and deaths from COVID-19, the pandemic is reaching the highest levels of state government. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that the offices of both Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, and Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, have seen infections among legislative staff. The Journal Sentinel reports that the Legislature’s two top leaders “have not disclosed how many or which lawmakers have contracted COVID-19, nor have they answered questions about contact tracing efforts — including whether anyone worked at the state Capitol after they were exposed to the virus.”
Top Stories
Senate Leader Scott Fitzgerald silent on his office’s recent coronavirus quarantine — Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
‘Winter is coming, and a lot of doors are going to be shut’: Restaurant and bar workers in peril as weather grows cold and COVID-19 keeps spreading — WPR/Wisconsin Watch
Milwaukee issues new order reducing gathering limits to 10 people indoors and 25 outdoors — Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
2 more Wisconsin prisons have COVID-19 outbreaks totaling more than 500 active cases — Wisconsin State Journal
Football: Wisconsin may be without top three quarterbacks for next three games — Badger Herald
Milwaukee memorial pays tribute to lives lost due to the Covid-19 pandemic — Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
UW to start second round of furloughs, increase minimum wage in January — Cap Times
Residents from Iowa, Wisconsin, traveling to Illinois for COVID-19 tests local health officials say — mystateline.com
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 service industry needs help. We need your help or we’re not going to survive this winter.”
— Madison bartender Amy Moreland, speaking to WPR as part of the WPR/Wisconsin Watch Outbreak Wisconsin series.
“We’re tired of listening to the president tell Americans that COVID-19 is disappearing when we’re seeing record numbers … We’re frustrated because President Trump isn’t taking COVID-19 seriously.”
— Milwaukee neurologist Dr. Ann Helms asking Trump to forego his campaign rally Tuesday in West Salem, as quoted in the La Crosse Tribune.
Food access trouble?
We know that when classes are virtual, many Wisconsin students and families lose access to food schools provide. And as the school year starts, some meal sites are closing. Share your experience with News414, Wisconsin Watch’s service journalism collaboration with Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service and Outlier Media. Click here for details.
You can also view a list of Milwaukee-area food distribution sites for students here.
Data to note
As the United States set a record for highest seven-day average in new COVID-19 cases, Wisconsin hit record-high numbers for cases and deaths on Tuesday. The state Department of Health Services announced another 64 deaths and a record-smashing 5,262 new cases from the pandemic — 671 cases higher than Wisconsin’s previous one-day record.
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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.
City considering rent adjustment for Madison Mallards baseball due to COVID-19 — Cap Times
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.
